Congrats CP

Heartiest Congratulations for

 

A decade so full

of beans and grinds,

of SKUs and scones

of the design that binds,

of PIM and locations

of daylight rewinds,

of cherished memories

and the Analytical minds !!

 

Happy Anniversary C P

 

Thank you JA

 

 

You don’t have a rank

you are special each way

you clear all my doubts

and push my worries away

 

Cant fathom that you are

As mean as you say

Your warmth and concern

Could brighten any day !!

                                     — Khushi

 

 

A few good men – in Seattle

HAMMERING MAN

As a part of the City of Seattle’s public art program, The Seattle Arts Commission installed the 48 feet tall Hammering Man on September 12, 1992 at the entrance to the downtown Seattle Art Museum at First Avenue and University Streets.

The Hammering Man’s arm “hammers” silently and smoothly four times per minute from 7 am to 10 pm every day. It runs on a 3-hp electric motor set on an automatic timer. Hammering Man rests its arm each evening and every year on Labor Day. 

Read more  : http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/hammerMan.asp

 Img src        : http://gocalifornia.about.com/bl_wastlphoto_art.htm

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The Seattle Coffee Works installed this coffee drinking Man on July 14, 2009 outside their store on the intersection of First and Pike. The 15 feet tall kinetic Coffee Drinking Man’s hand moves while he enjoys his coffee. To date he remains nameless.

Read more: http://www.citizenrain.com/2009/07/giant-coffeedrinking-man-takes.html

 

 

 

 

**************************

The Beer Drinking man: In front of the (in)famous Blue Moon in the University District.

Also called the hammered man as a parody on SAM’s hammering man, this was installed about 12 years ago and is supposedly the most drunk man in Seattle  

Ref: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/432108572_e03fdb294c.jpg?v=0

 

The Procrastinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He slept beneath the moon;
He basked behind the sun;
He lived a life of going-to-do;
And died with nothing done !!

 

Coca Cola aaaaha !!

A disappointed salesman of Coca Cola returns from his Middle-East assignment.

A friend asked, “Why weren’t you successful with the Arabs…?”

 

The salesman explained:

“When I got posted to the Middle East, I was very confident that I would make a good sales pitch as Cola is virtually unknown there. But, I had a problem. I didn’t know the language (Arabic). So, I planned to convey the message through three posters…”

 

First poster: A man lying in the hot desert sand…totally exhausted and fainting.

Second poster:  The man drinking our Cola.

Third poster: Our man is now totally refreshed.

 

These posters were pasted all over the place.

 

 

“Then that should have worked!” said the friend.

   
 

 “The hell it should have” said the salesman. 

“Didn’t realize that Arabs read from right to left”

 

J Know your customers J

 

 

 

 

Debt

 

 

 

 

Words to say

Feelings to sweep

Love to express

And promises to keep

A trivial inhibition

But a wavering mind

A selfish decision

And an act unkind

Sky owes him ……Some Empathy

 

Unspoken thoughts

Actions to justify

Direction to pursue

Notions to defy

Worldly reasons

Messed up heart

A faltering love

And time to part

He owes her ……An Apology

 

Unsolicited lies

Reality endorsed

Futile concerns

Betrayal exposed

Shaken trust

Baffled mind

Time to move on

Emotions to unwind

She owes him ……Forgiveness

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Khushi

 

Happy Valentines Day

 

 

It?s amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don?t say a thing.

 

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There?s a truth in your eyes sayin? you?ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you?ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old mr. webster could never define
What?s being said between your heart and mine

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There?s a truth in your eyes sayin? you?ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you?ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There?s a truth in your eyes sayin? you?ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you?ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all.

 

- Alison Krauss

 

‘Bailout Bill’ giving away money in Times Square — big heart and wads of cash

Bad times can bring out the best and the worst of us. There is a character with a huge heart and apparently stacks of cash for needy folks willing to wait in line for it in Time Square.

He has been cast as “Bailout Bill” and he has created a stir because he is giving away money directly to those in need, figuring that the folks on the bottom rung of the ladder need just as much help as those at the top, that the government has been bailing out.

According to reports, In order to get the money people have to go to the ‘Bailout Booth’ in the heart of Manhattan’s Times Square; to a small cubicle, where, depending on your story you can get a cash stipend to help out with a present financial dilemma.

Anyone is eligible if they are willing to stand in line. The handouts range from $50 to a maximum of $5,000. I imagine Bailout Bill is hearing some pretty sad stories and the occasional ‘whopper’. You should not have to worry about taxes either because anyone can give up to a $13,000 gift to anyone they want without creating any tax obligation.

I think this is a great idea and I hope the word spreads fast because this is the type of behavior that would be worthy of copycats. The ideal copycat to me would be those Wall Street traders (or traitors, depending on your view) that reaped billions of dollars in fallacious bonuses.

Of course ‘my pal Warren’ (Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) fame) should have thought of this first and I hope he is reading this or one of his associates passes this along. The board members of every company that has received federal bailout money should also take notice.

This idea can also be extended further. Some people might just need some counsel about how to deal with a short term problem when they cannot afford top tier advice. Ahh — but free advice might not be worth much and cash is king. Bailout Bill is doing his best to make those in need feel like king for a day.

Source:

 

Relationships 101 – Happily Ever After

“The truth is,

you never know how strong your relationship is

until it’s tested.“

A great relationship is not just about what you have. It’s about what you do to make a relationship stronger, safer, more caring and committed.

Step #1: Find a shared dream for your life together.

Step #2: Choose each other as your first family.

Step #3: Learn how to fight right.

Step #4: Find a balance between time for two and time for you.

Step #5: Build a best friendship.

Step #6: Face down a major challenge together.

Reference : Yahoo

 

Everythings falling in Seattle

First the gas prices…..

and now the snow……….

 

and some day hearts might fall too ……….

 

Save a life today – without knowing which one

 

Today, when I walked into the room where every wall and booth were covered with posters stating “Save a life today” – “Save one without knowing which one”, I had no prior realization, that 60 relaxed minutes and 600 grams of blood that I’ll donate could be a life savior for someone.

 

I am a first time donor and somewhere deep down it fills me with pride to be able to contribute (even if it was in a small ‘gram-ular’ way). The donor room is one place where sight of blood brings relief instead of fright. The only frightful part of the whole experience is the registration – a stack of forms that need your check marks or initials before any needle could touch thy skin. All that follows…..you’ll have no recollection of. (just kidding J).

 

 

 

 

And the Bravo award goes to:

Pudget Sound blood center

for being the first ones ever

to successfully extract

610 grams (roughly 22 oz)

of my life’s ‘hard earned’ blood.

 

 

 

 

Financial Meltdown – Wallstreet bloodbath 08

September 14,2008: The month of September any year doesn’t seem to be very favorable for financial markets in New York. The recent developments point to what experts say could be yet another depression in US history.

 

·        Lehman files bankruptcy

·        BOA buys Merrill – $50 billion

·        AIG plans sales to raise billions

·        WaMu in line ?

 

A bright and sunny weekend in Seattle and an overcast sky in New York for months to come.

 

 

 

More news:

 

1.      Wall Street on Red Alert

2.      Lehman – Chicken Game over

3.      After Frantic Day, Wall Street Banks Falter

4.      Greenspan: Economy in a once-in-a-century crisis

5.      Wall Street awakes to 2 storied firms gone

 

 

 

Stress

 

• Stress is to refuse to accept a circumstance in your life for which you have no control.
• Stress is measured by the amount of energy that you invest resisting those circumstances.
• Stress is to waste energy attempting with your thoughts and feelings to change a person, an event or a circumstance surrounding you.

The trick to avoid stress is to realize that no amount of effort can ever change the circumstances while they are happening to you, no matter how bad, do not oppose the moment instead, accept and feel what is occurring.

Take life a day at a time and let it unfurl new surprises for you. Embrace everything with open arms and make it a point to smile…..no matter what

 

At Microsoft Pete learnt that…

 

An anonymous Microsoft employee  identifies himself with Pete Seeger  who will be proud to see his song valid in 21st century albeit with some modification . I came across the following song penned (typed) by the anonymous MS employee :-

 

What did you learn at work today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn at work today,
Dear little boy of mine?

 

I learnt that bill gates never told lies
I learnt that chairs seldom fly
I learnt that open source is not really free
that’s what my boss told to me
that’s what i learnt at work today.
That’s what I learnt at work.

  

I learned that corporations are my friends.
I learned that profits should never end.
I learned that executives never pay for their crimes.
Even if we pay million fines.

that’s what i learnt at work today.
That’s what I learnt at work.

  

I learned our corporation must be strong.
It’s always right and never wrong.
Our leaders are the finest men.
And I should never question them again.
that’s what i learnt at work today.
That’s what I learnt at work.

 
I learned that monopoly is not so bad.
I learned of the great ones we have had.
We fought in EU and in japan
and someday I’ll too be rich man.
that’s what i learnt at work today.
That’s what I learnt at work.

                                                 – The Anonymous  MS employee

 

Chaandi Ki Deewar – VISHWAS

In my growing years, my dad used to sing a funny parody of this song. One of my dad’s favorite songs and hats of to youtube, this lands on my blog now

Singer: Mukesh Chand Mathur
Song: Chaandi Ki Deevar
Movie: VISHWAS (1969)
Music: Kalyanji Virji Shah Anandji Virji Shah
Lyric: Gulshan Bawra
Cast: Jeetendra, Apara Sen

Lyrics:

 

Health problems !!

 

Calvin sees Elmer and asks: What’s up?

Elmer says; first I got tonsillitis, followed by appendicitis and pneumonia. After that I got erysipelas with hemachromatosis. Following that I got poliomyelitis and finally ended up with neuritis. Then they gave me hypodermics and inoculations.

Calvin says: Boy, you had a time!

Elmer: I’ll say! I thought I’d never pull trough that spelling test.

 

Proposal

 

He took her by surprise
To a paradise near the sea
Gathered all his courage
And bent down on his knee

He held her hand to say…….

In your embracing arms my dear
Forever I want to be
Wanna grow old with you
Your ‘Yes’ is all I plea
I’ll be your shield always
Till Lord sets my soul to free

Bedazzled as much as she was
Could hardly express her glee
Paved his way to her heart
He had found the master key
He set her emotions ablaze
And afloat his loving spree

Her lips were numb and silent
Eyes spoke the bliss of thee
Paramount was his exuberance
for in love with him, was she !!!

                                                  — Khushi

 

Craigslist vs Wall Street :)

THIS APPEARED ON CRAIG’S LIST

What am I doing wrong? (Read till the end for the answer)

Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy. I’m not from New York . I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don’t think I’m overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 – 250. But that’s where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won’t get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she’s not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

 

Rabba (Musafir)

 
Another of my favorite songs:
The lyrics combined with the music and Sukhwinder’s voice just sweeps me off my feet. Not only is the meaning deep but the voice has that pain which makes it wonderful.
Movie : Musafir
Song  : Rabba (Kiss of Death mix)
Listen here 

Singers : Sukhwinder and Krishna

 

Tanhai

Kitni ajeeb see
hoti yeh tanhai hai
Lage apno se apni
kabhi lagti paraai hai

Rooh ki chhavi see
yeh lagti anjaani bhi
syaah se bhi kaali
kabhi lagti perchhaai hai

Chhoo nahi pati jisko
jaane hai kab bazm mein
tabha karta hai jiska hona
kabhi chubhti jiski judai hai

Karti nahi main iski arzoo
phir bhi aaghosh mein le leti hai
dum bharti hai wafaa ka
kabhi ban jaati harjaai hai

na koi aas paas ho
to samjhun ke main tanha hun
par duniya ki bheedh mein
tanha kar jaati tanhaai hai

– Khushi 

One of my favorites from Nuzrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Ghazals: saaya bhi saath jab chodh jaye

 

 

Love Insurance

 

With the hype created by Michael Moore in the flourishing insurance markets, another type of insurance would probably interest most of the young generation. “Love Insurance”

If my readers are not already intrigued by the concept, just imagine, with a little premium investment, one would be assured of 

• No heart breaks. 
• No sleepless nights
• No blank gazing  
• Financial assistance
• Enhanced productivity
• Sense of security 
• Third party evaluations and credentials 
• Another insurance industry – More jobs -improved Employment rate - Better economy

So what could be the concept like.  Read on……

 

Happy Father’s Day – Dad

 

Happy Mother’s Day

 

My Angels

 

Bestowed upon me
By the loving grace of God
are some wonderful angels
Worthy of an applaud.
 
An abundance of strength and love
and full of embracing care;
are my Mom and Dad
who make an adorable pair.
 
Together they’ve stood always
against that could not be cured,
Shall Always look up to them
for all they have endured
 
Lord seemed really pleased

 

Thought for the day

 

They say that you never know what you have until you lose it.

This is not true, you know what you have; losing it is what makes you appreciate it.

 

Eternal wish ;-)

 

Mitran dee Yaadaan

Umrah de pende Lang Challe..
pher oh zindgi de nazare yaad aunge,
Jinah naal san-jah goorian si..
sanu oh miter Pyare yaad aunge,
Loki Ta Mile C Bahut Par,
Tuhade naal pal Guzare Yaad Aunge,

Uhna guzare palan naaal yaad aunge
uh mitran de kaul te karaar
uhna kandhe bahaye saadhe hanjhun
atte uhna naal kiti hoi takraar
asaan unha hath hath paake hunse
Hun uhne de vichhodhe yaad aunge

                                               — Khushi

 

Whimsy wishes

 

 

A hundred days
Of knowing you exist;
A hundred hours
Of honest conversations;
If I sit and account; like seconds they flew by.
 
Forgetful as you are
For listing the mundane
Still detailed you could be
To plan with precision
If I sit and wonder; you are elite and rank high.

 

We always nourish our whims
That all is in our power
Shattered by a thrust of fate
We see He overrides all
If I sit and grieve; can’t prevent a heavy sigh.

 

Wish it was only me
Whose efforts would do
My will would have been stern
To change the things around
If I sit and regret; I’ll always be stuck on “Why”. 

 

Life is not a matter
Of milestones as we think
It’s about the moments
We stop to smell the roses
If I sit and appreciate; the limit is the sky.

                                                    — Khushi 

 

Ever wondered…

 

If it does not have ‘you’
Then there exists no ‘we’
It was always about ‘us’
Never only about ‘me’

We share the ideals and the whims
The chases and the charms
But Life is about the challenges
And to stand as one, against the harms

The ones I care about
Are my eternal pride
If you shun the concern
Then here’s a huge divide

I was constantly accused
Of vital information delay
And you skipped a mention
Of the assurances you would sway

All I ever wished
Was for you to stand high
Be there……forever
And not to say goodbye

For all that was left unsaid
And all that silence tells
I feel I wrongly assumed
You to be someone else

Feel sad for you to lack
The valor and the nerve
To face the legacy called life
And offer the abject your serve.

                                   – Khushi

 

Try and succeed :)

 

I don’t really remember when I first heard the above quote; but this has been like some guiding light for me ever since. I think it dates back to my school years, especially those examination quarters. At times I take some time to ponder over words and these phrases which other wise would seem to be just a sentence but have a deeper meaning. This in particular has always motivated me….pushed me forward. During the hours when I was discouraged and wanted to give it all up, this reminded me that I can’t give up without giving it my best shot. That’s what life is all about………

Give your best and don’t worry about the rest.

I have always been the go-getter girl, mainly because of my mom who always encouraged me with her saying “If someone can do it….so can you”. I can actually credit all my achievements to them both – mom and dad: Mom for her constant pushes and Dad for his never ending trust and faith in me. Time and again they reminded me the importance of being worthy of my actions……having confidence in my abilities and remembering always that even when not all shall be in my hands ……. even if the whole universe conspires against me, I should always trust and believe that it is ME who can make a difference and I shall leave no leaf unturned to ensure it.

Those who believe sky is the limit; have a very limited imagination.

 

Scaling the heights !! I am still growing

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953 he scaled the highest mountain then known to man-29,000 feet straight up. He was knighted for his efforts.

He even made American Express card commercials because of it! However, until we read his book, High Adventure, we don’t understand that Hillary had to grow into this success.

You see, in 1952 he attempted to climb Mount Everest, but failed. A few weeks later a group in England asked him to address its members.

Hillary walked on stage to a thunderous applause. The audience was recognizing an attempt at greatness, but Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure. He moved away from the microphone and walked to the edge of the platform.

He made a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain. He said in a loud voice, Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat you the next time because you’ve grown all you are going to grow… but I’m still growing!

 

Hope is Belief in ourselves

What is hope?

Hope (according to the dictionary) is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. And hope against hope is, to continue to hope, although the outlook does not warrant it. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance — i.e. believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary. Hopefulness is somewhat different than optimism, in that hope is an emotional state, where optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern which leads to a positive attitude.

Hope is passive in the sense of a wish or a prayer – or active as a plan or idea, often against popular belief, with persistent, personal action to execute the plan or prove the idea. Consider a prisoner of war who never gives up hope for escape and, against the odds, plans and accomplishes this. By contrast another who simply wishes or prays for freedom, or another who give up all hope of freedom.

What is hope in realistic terms for humans?

For an old man in his 80s, hope is not that life is eternal, but instead hope is health and happiness. For a blind person, hope is not the colors of the rainbow, but instead the tears of joy which fill his eyes when he feels the smiles of his loved ones.For a 6 year old suffering from leukemia, hope is the fairy’s magical wand that’ll steal away the pain. 

What is hope without faith in your self….without the courage and perseverance…… without the urge to achieve the impossible………without your will to see through the circumstances and believe in your instincts……in your strengths? With every Hope in our heart, we need a SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis……   

Mind is what baffles us……Heart directs us to things which are more humane……but we choose to run after the materialistic things………in the hope of a better future……we make compromises with our present……when future in itself is a mystery……and which future are we talking about……when we are unsure about what happens the next moment………but we are humans……we are influenced by not what is within us……but with that which is around us……and that is our biggest issue.  

Oliver wendell Holmes once said: What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. 

We shy away from the known in pursuit of an unknown.

But what we fail to remember is that: Life is not a bed of roses and every rose comes with thorns – sooner or later. We can’t change the inevitable……What we can do is to trust ourselves and our abilities and march forth.  

“If you look at what you do not have in life, you don’t have anything, If you look at what you have in life, you have everything”.

 

Food for thought

 

” We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere.” 

“In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part” – Alexander Pope

 

Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win

When the going gets tough…..the tough get going

 

Yes !! You Can

If you think you are beaten, you are;

if you think  you dare not, you don’t;

if you like to win, but you think you can’t

it’s almost a clinch you won’t. 

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost;

for out in the world we find

success begins with a fellow’s Will~

it’s all in the state of mind. 

If you think you are outclassed, you are;

you’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve just got to be sure of yourself

before you can win the prize. 

Life’s battles don’t always go

to the stronger or faster man,

but sooner or later the one who wins

is the one who thinks  I CAN.

 

Zikr aata hai jo labh per unka

 

Zikr aata hai jo labh per unka
Mehfilein rangeen see ho jaati hain
Rukhsaar par aata hai jo ahsaas unka
Nigahein shamsheen bhi ho jaati hain

Har nazar dhoondti hai unko lekin
Palkein kabhi sharam se jhuk jaati hain
Har dhadhkan mein woh baste hain lekin
Saansein kabhi ik jhalak se ruk jaati hain

Har nazar, har ahsaas mein shaamil
unki yaadein mujeh bechain kar jaati hain
ho meri mohabbat issi jahaan mein kaamil
sab dua, bus yehi iltejaah kar jaati hain !!

– Khushi

 

Week-Days

Ever wondered what my week days do? 

Monday mourns while fighting the morning blues
Tuesday tangles with all my tough dues
Wednesday whims of freedom from work
Thursdays thrusts to quench my thirsts
Friday fuses the fun with friends
Saturday suits my pleasure and trends

Sunday satiates and sends a reminder – Its about to start all over again.

 

Funny One-Liners

42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
A day without sunshine is like, night.
A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

 

Christmas Lights

Some folks down the street have already put up their Christmas lights. But I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, Christmas is only four months away. It’ll be here before we know it, that glorious occasion when millions of people around the world are filled with joy, thankful that they got out of the mall alive.

Already brimming with the Christmas spirit, I decided to compliment my neighbors on the nice set of icicle lights on their eaves. “They’re beautiful,” I said to the middle-aged couple. “How did you get the energy to put them up so soon?”

The man seemed slightly annoyed. “Eh … I never took them down.”

I should have known. They looked like a religious couple, the type of folks who believe that Christmas should be celebrated every day of the year. I didn’t ask any more questions, but said to my wife later, “I really admire that couple. Celebrating Christmas is so important to them, they’re probably giving more money to the electric company than to charity. They’re going straight to heaven, I tell you, straight to heaven.”

She looked at me like I was crazy. “Did you ever think that the man is too lazy to take down the lights and the woman is too busy?”

“No,” I said. “I never thought of that.” I had thought that perhaps the man was too busy and the woman was too lazy. But I didn’t get into that with my wife. She wouldn’t understand.

 

Magic at Red Robins

After quite a long gap, yesterday, I and my salsa friends got together for dinner. Red Robins was quite a spur of the moment choice… closer / easily accessible to all.  As we were all chatting and laughing around, a 75 year old unacquainted visitor called Ted stopped by our desk. My friend Ann got a bit apprehensive about his sudden appearance. His presence was somewhat susceptible and impervious to the rest of us too. After a few casual greetings and introductions (he happened to be a RR employee and a magician), he asked us if he could pull a chair and join us for a while till our meal arrived. In the absence of any apparent objection from our side, he proceeded with his desire. He started off with some magic with sponge balls. He squeezed two sponge balls and put them on Laura’s hand and then asked her to close it. He then asked Ann to wiggle her fingers over Laura’s hand and boom; there were three sponges in her hand. Ann gave a ridiculing smile so he repeated the same on her hand. Then he had some tricks with moving keys and bending spoons and forks. He said over and over again that magic is all about mind over matter. Also that with your mind, without even uttering a word, u could manipulate what the other person was thinking.

We had a nice time pondering over his tricks over our meals, long after he left. Apparently he performs there every Wednesday. He also stopped by again to ask us to be back the coming wednesday with a card pack and two sets of dice to see more Magic – MindoverMatter

 

   

 

I am reminded of another jolly good quotation :   If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter

 

 

Are Indians the Model Immigrants?

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/sep2006/sb20060913_157784.htm
BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2006
Viewpoint by Vivek Wadhwa

A BusinessWeek.com columnist and accomplished businessman, Wadhwa shares his views on why Indians are such a successful immigrant group.They have funny accents, occasionally dress in strange outfits, and some wear turbans and grow beards, yet Indians have been able to overcome stereotypes to become the U.S.’s most successful immigrant group. Not only are they leaving their mark in the field of technology, but also in real estate, journalism, literature, and entertainment. They run some of the most successful small businesses and lead a few of the largest corporations. Valuable lessons can be learned from their various successes.  

According to the 2000 Census, the median household income of Indians was $70,708-far above the national average of $50,046. An Asian-American hospitality industry advocacy group says that Indians own 50% of all economy lodging and 37% of all hotels in the U.S. AnnaLee Saxenian, a dean and professor at University of California, Berkeley, estimates that in the late 1990s, close to 10% of technology startups in Silicon Valley were headed by Indians.You’ll find Indian physicians working in almost every hospital as well as running small-town practices. Indian journalists hold senior positions at major publications, and Indian faculty have gained senior appointments at most universities. Last month, Indra Nooyi, an Indian woman, was named CEO of PepsiCo (PEP) (see BusinessWeek.com, 8/14/06, “PepsiCo Shakes It Up”).A MODEST EXPLANATION: Census data show that 81.8% of Indian immigrants arrived in the

 

A Tribute – 9/11

A tribute to the brave
Who never pledged
Still went to the grave
In steel, got wedged

At home were we
watching their news
their smashed debris
being lifted by crews

They never saw
what lied ahead
audacious without flaw
they now lie dead

Martyrs were those
Who embraced the death
Crashed themselves in pose
To grant others some breath.

Their loss is unbearable
Swiftly ended their bourns
Their demise so terrible
For them, the nation mourns
– Khushi 

 

Arizona – Nature’s humble abode.

My vacation to Arizona had been a long awaited one. And must I say that it was fully embraced too. I got to meet an old friend and also the scenery was such a treat to the eyes.

Three days vacation off a hectic week was more than what a software engineer working on H1 would expect (when atleast a 3 week india visit is an unshaking priority.) But I must say that 3 days are nothing to explore a state like Arizona which is rich in National heritage. Sedona, Grand Canyon, Nevajo Reservation, Kartchner Caverns, Tempe, Phoenix, Arizona State Univ, Tucson were a few areas I was fortunate enough to explore.

 Driving into Sedona on scenic highway 179, the gorgeous red rocks craved out in beautiful shapes (bell rock, twin rocks, snoopy rock) offer a breath taking scenery. The Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River over a period of thousands of years. Grand Canyon summed up in one word – MESMERIZING. As you get closer and the canyon comes into view, you’ll be struck with awe & wonder by the massive chasm that lays there since thousand of years. You can hike it, camp in the resort a little ways down, or even take a helicopter tour. In all seriousness, if you truly have a heart condition, then drop the “hike” idea as I am told its 15 miles round trip and it takes double the time to traverse ur route back up. This being my first trip there, so I had taken a guided tour. He showed us three scenic points and then we had to head towards an american indian civilization Nevajo Reservation. Nice artifacts and handicrafts and must I say, very expensive too. They say one exquisite rug was once prized at a few hundred thousand dollars (would be so far my most expensive b’day gift if u chose to buy me that )

 

The Kartchner Caverns are two caves (Big Room and Throne Room) discovered by two young cavers, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts, were exploring the limestone hills at the base of the Whetstone Mountains in Nov 1974. In the bottom of a sinkhole they found a narrow crack leading into the hillside. Warm, moist air flowed out, signaling the existence of a cave. After several hours of crawling, they entered a pristine cavern. It wasn’t until February 1978 that Tenen and Tufts told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their amazing discovery.The cave’s existence became public knowledge in 1988 when its purchase was approved as an Arizona State Park.

We drove from phoenix through tucson to explore the Kartchner Caverns. The drive showed u teh farthest ur eyes could see….at times even 100 miles far away. At Kartchner National Park, we took a 1 1/2 hour tour of Rotunda or the Throne Room. The big room is closed in August as the bats chose to mate there and for the first time, the Govt. chooses not to interfere.
On the throne room tour we discovered the role water has played in the creation of Kartchner Caverns. We saw some of the tiniest, most delicate formations including speleothems, helictites and stalactites found in the cave, as well as the world’s most massive column in Arizona – Kubla Khan:58 feet tall. This tour includes an up-close look at the variety of formations and colors that makes this cave one of the top ten in the world. And for you music lovers…the music that’s played at the end of this tour is entitled “Adiemus” (Virgin Records Ltd.). And remember, it all began with a drop of water………( read more – Kartchner Caves )

To fulfill my quest for exxcitement, there was sunset at Papago park, Echo Canyon, Camelback Mountain,  a guided tour of Arizona state univ by my always busy friend who now happens to be an associate professor there, Bird Eye view of Phoenix and its suburbs from the pinnacle of South Mountain, the A mountain of ASU and Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix Downtown.

The rich and diverse vegetaion, from cactus covered barren lands to grand gorges and canyons and mesas to alpine forests, the vastness of nature forces us to look down upon us as low humble creations of God. Our pride and ego sees a very low lying image in the clear waters of Colorado river. I would really recommend a rendezvous with this miracle of God. A must visit :: 

 

Humility – Lost and Found

Of all God’s creations, the most intriguing is the one he bestowed with a brain. And then may be he created a balance in the head and heart.

Why is it that one who has the brain tends to be so small at heart?

The more success he achieves, the prouder he gets; whilst a tree loaded with the blossom and the fruit, bends over to share the boon.

The more he grows the loner he is, with his fake pride and ego as the only companions. The more a tree grows the shadier it gets surrounded by the passer-bys to relax and refresh.

The more he has, the more he looks down upon the unfortunate; whilst the clouds so gladly shed off the extra water to irrigate the lands below.  

So, did the extra organ which was supposed to give him the ability to judge the right and the wrong, actually cause him to lose the noblest virtue of all – his humility?  

Shouldn’t, on the contrary, he feel blessed of so much that he has…to cherish.  

The ability to see the flowers bloom…….

The ability to hear the birds sing……..

The ability to feel the butterfly sit…….

The ability to walk by the creek…..

The ability to embrace the seasons…….

The ability to hold closer the ones he loves….. 

             Make a wish……Beg for humility.

I am so blessed………. and so are you

Cherish and embrace, the way I do

It’s a short life and a smaller chance

To feel from the soul the happiness so true

 

A Princess is born

Most part of my last week, has been occupied…by an adorable princess. My best friend for the first time has become a proud daddy of a cute and preciously pretty princess on Aug 16. Both Mom and kiddo are doing great. The enthusiasm and exhilaration is so ardently visible on the so new parents faces.  I havent seen him that happy ever. I guess its something like a divine touch that embraces the souls within. One glance at her is so refreshing. It just does wonders.

               

Welcome our little princess. Welcome to our world.

 

Jai Hind – August 15

The mystic aura of India and the enigma that she is has captured the
imagination and fancy of great minds. Take a look at what they have to
say about India.

“Where the mind is without fear, and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by
narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary
desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is lead forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father,
let my country awake.”
“GEETANJALI” -Rabindranath Tagore

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made. -Albert Einstein

If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India.- Max Mueller (German scholar)

Mark Twain said:
India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.French scholar Romain Rolland said: If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and
pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions, whose yesterday’s bear date with the modering antiquities for the rest of nations-the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien prince and alien peasant, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined. – Mark Twain

When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous. – Albert Einstein

India – The land of Vedas, the remarkable works contain not only religious ideas for a perfect life, but also facts which science has proved true. Electricity, radium, electronics, airship, all were known to the seers who founded the Vedas. – Wheeler Wilcox (American poet)

 

My tryst with Arizona – Preface

Before the feeling of guilt for deserting my blog and depriving it of my own creations, is stamped all over my soul, I would want to touch base with it and jot down my thoughts/feelings and experiences which definitely deserve the eminence my blog exposes them to. Also don’t want to fall short on my readers’ expectations who might have tried venturing out here in vain over the past couple of weeks. So here I present a narrative of my journey ….. A discovery into the soul intrigued by the greatest of all – Nature

This past weekend, I was off on my first vacation in almost 8 months. Last time when I left my loft to venture into the vastness little further from my vicinity into the far lands was way back around Thanksgiving. Oh no….please I am not the geek or the slacker kinds who just likes being a couch potato or like being confined in 4 walls. The nature admirer that I am ……the confinement would be a misery. But to my dismay, work and work put me into some sort of Dearborn arrest. So this past vacation was something I enjoyed and embraced with all my heart. Not to hurry in things, I even took an extra day off to relish the time I would spend at a place which made me realize the diminutive stature of humanity as a whole.

Apart from couple hours drive in my vicinity and/or friends visiting me, it had been long that I flew out. My cabin suitcase had started accruing a thin layer of dust somewhat invisible to the eyes still boasting off the negligence bestowed on it so unwillingly. Packed all the possible necessities a day before in an attempt of executing the optimization plan (which I unintentionally learnt from a friend who is on the go every week for his consulting job). Friday was another busy day @ work and I guess its Murphy’s law that whenever you ask for an easy going day…..its the one loaded with all possible issues that could bother and keep you on your toes. I had planned an early start in desire for an early relief. Reached the airport just in time to go through the security checks smoothly and board in time. Just a mention, but Security check post is the place where u wish u hadn’t carried so much…. particularly you wish you would have not decorated yourself…especially with those steel bangles/jewelry, metallic framed belt and athletic laced shoes. All in all, I boarded the flight with all my co-passengers voicing their harsh opinions about the heat wave in Michigan, when ironically we were heading west …..towards the land known for heat…..Phoenix, Arizona.    

 

Fanaa shayeri (aamir-kajol movie)

 

*************
tere dil me.n merii saa.nso.n ko panaah mil jaa’e
tere ishq me.n merii jaan fanaa ho jaa’e
*************
adhuurii saans thii…..dhaRkan adhuurii thii
adhuure thei ham
magar ab chaand puura hai falak pe
aur ab puure hain ham
*************
rone de aaj hamko tuu aa.nkhe.n sujaane de
baaho.n me.n le le aur khud ko bhiig jaane de
hai jo siine me.n qaid dariya voh chuuT jaa’ega
hai itna dard ke tera daaman bhiig jaa’ega
*************
E Khuda Aaj Ye Faisla Karde,
Use Mera ya Mujhe Uska Karde.
Bahut Dukh Sahe He Maine,
Koi Khusi Ab Toh Muqadar Karde.
Bahot Mushkil Lagta Hai Usse Duur Rehna,
Judai Ke Safar Ko Kum Karde.
Jitna Duur Chale Gaye Woh Mujhse,
Use Utna Kareeb Karde.
Nahi Likha Agar Nasib Me Uska Naam,
To Khatam Kar Ye Zindagi aur Mujhe FANAA Karde.
*************
Ankhein to pyar mein dilki zuban hoti hai,
sachi chahat to sada bezuban hoti hai,
pyar mein dard bhi mile to kya ghabrana,
suna hai dard se chahat aur jawan hoti hai.
*************
Phool hun gulaab ka,
chameli ka mat samajhnaa,
Aashiq hun aapka,
apni saheli ka mat samajhna.”
*************
Dur Humse Jaa Paoge Kaise,
Humko bhool paoge kaise,
Hum woh kuhshbu jo saanson mein utar jaaye,
khud apni saanxon ko rok paoge kaise.
*************
Bekhudi ki zindagi hum jiya nahi karte,
yun kisika jam hum piya nahi karte,
unse kehdo Mohabbat ka izhaar aakar khud karein,
yun kisika peecha hum nahi kartei.
*************
Tere dil mein meri saanson ko jagah mil jaaye,
tere ishq mein meri jaan fanaa ho jaaye,
adhoori saans thi dhadkhan adhoori thi adhooren hum,
magar ab chaand poora hai falak pe aura ab pooren hai hum.”

 

Sakhi meri sasuraal chali

Ek aangan mein nahi khele thei,
Meri naani ke ghar nahi pali
De yaadein saalon ki dosti ki
Sakhi meri sasuraal chali

Mahino saalo ke bandhan yeh
Hazaron mein teri yaari bhali
Kai raaz mere, dil mein chhupaa kar
Sakhi meri sasuraal chali

Waqt nahi rukta hai roke
Bhool jayegi tu meri gali
Sajayegi tere piya ka aangan
Sakhi meri sasuraal chali

Dua har pal deti hun tujhko
Teri khushi rahe phooli phali
Tu yaad bahut aayegi laado
Sakhi meri sasuraal chali

– Khushi  

 

Jab dil se ishq farmaya ho

Jab dil se ishq farmaya ho
Ho bewafaa koi janaa nahi
Jazbaton ka gar basera ho
Ho chaahat mein koi fanaa nahi

“Khushi” ka bus sarmaya ho
Ho gham se bhari koi sabaa nahi
Har syaah ke baad savera ho
Ho Mayusi se koi tabaah nahi

Jeevan ki har subah achhii ho
Yeh chahana koi gunah nahi
Har ibadat khuda ki sachii ho
Uss se badhi koi panaah nahi.

– Khushi