Nil Thinking... by NILay

Searching for light...

2010-12-04T13:09:00.003+05:30

Lost in the darkness,
I am searching for light;
Walking in quest of
Something that is bright.

Little seems the scope,
For me to get back,
Times have gone by,
In the quest for things I lack.

It has been quite some weeks,
Since I am moving on and on;
But I don’t seem to get,
The right path to move along.

Struggling and fighting hard
Trying to further grow,
Searching for the light of hope,
Or just its faint glow…

'Baggage'

2010-04-09T22:06:00.004+05:30

I carry some baggage, too wretched and heavy,

Pins me to the ground, makes me walk so slow.

It seems like a curse, a never ending bane;

I need to live with it, yet not allow the misery to grow.

I know I am depleted; I have carried it for so long,

But there's something stubborn in me, that won’t let it go.

Even if I froze, somewhere along the path,

I hope to turn into a milestone, for others to follow.

I drag my feet and carry them, for some more distance,

Look ahead in eternity, where the stars of my hope glow.

A new baggage awaits me, at the destination,

I'll take the new baggage. This old one, I'll throw!

The destination is far and seems quite distant,

But on reaching there, I hope to make an impact, a blow!

There's something which encourages me to move forward,

I'll make it to the destination, and let the whole world know!

Around the corner

2010-01-10T11:30:00.005+05:30

A marvelous poem by Charles Hanson Towne...

Around the corner, I have a friend

In this great city, that has no end.

Yet the days go by, and weeks rush on,

And before I know it, a year is gone,

And I never see my old friend's face,

For life is a swift and terrible race.

He knows I like him just as well,

As in the past days when I rang his bell

And he rang mine. We were younger then,

And now we are busy tired men;

Tired of playing a foolish game,

Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow", I say, "I'll call on Jim

Just to show that I am thinking of him,"

But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,

The distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away...

Here's a telegram, Sir, "Jim died today"

And thats what we get and deserve at the end,

Around the corner, a vanished friend...

- by Charles Hanson Towne

It's not the distance that separates, its ourselves... Call your friends now, before its too late!

New Year Resolutions

2010-01-01T12:43:00.005+05:30

I am sick of making similar kind of new year resolutions year after year. This time I am planning to keep resolutions which I can actually accomplish.

Hence, I am making the following resolutions for 2010 :
1. I want to gain weight. Put on at least 5 kgs.
2. Stop exercising. Its just waste of time.
3. Read less. Strain my brain a little less.
4. Watch more TV. I've been missing some good stuff.
5. Procrastinate more.
6. Drink. Drink some more.
7. Take up a new habit: smoking.
8. Spend more time at work.
9. Reduce time spent at cooking: I should eat out more.
10. Quit giving money & time to charity.
11. Start being superstitious.
12. Speak in a monotone voice and only use monosyllabic words.
13. Keep my status message ‘Busy’ as much as possible and avoid talking to friends.
14. Only wear jeans that are 2 sizes too small and use a chain or rope for a belt. Only wear white T-shirts with those fashionable yellow stains under the arms.
15. Bring back disco.
16. Change my sleep timings daily. Be the king of insomniacs.
17. Lend more and more money. Get stressed due to the debt.
18. Waste more time relieving the past and worrying about the future.
19. Do less laundry and use more deodorant.
20. Avoid taking a bath whenever possible and conserve more water.

Wish you all a wonderful 2010

PS : This post is inspired by a similar email sent by a friend.

Khayalon ki Coffee

2009-08-20T22:13:00.007+05:30

One fine evening, I was making some coffee while thinking about all the miseries in life. It was raining outside and the weather was just perfect to make my mind write down something!
The outcome is quoted below :

Title : Khayalon ki Coffee

Yaadon ke patile main, Samay ki aanch par
Dheere dheere khayalon ki, coffee bana raha hoon!

Door tak, der tak, paidal chale the jo saath hum,
Un Gujari-dhundhli yaadon pe, paani faila raha hoon.

Woh doston se baatein, Woh nostalgic Raatein,
Woh khushi ke pal me chhupe, sugar cubes mila raha hoon.

Sar par hai tension, par Dil mein hai ambition,
In Motivational Coffee beans ka main, powder bana raha hoon.

Kuchh haseen lamhon ko, kuch udaas palon ko,
Maturity ki chamach se, ek saath mila raha hoon.

Zeevan ke is safar mein, ban gaye jo hamsafar,
Un hamraahiyo ko is coffee ke kuchh ghoonth pila raha hoon.

Yaadon ke patile main, Samay ki aanch par
Dheere dheere khayalon ki, coffee bana raha hoon!

Gone Too Soon...

2009-06-26T21:23:00.004+05:30

There are a lot of tributaries for the World's Best Entertainer, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson... Instead of writing about him or his life, I would just like to recall words from his own song. It seems the song was written for him for this day itself...

Title : Gone too soon.
Album : Dangerous, 1991
Artist : Michael Jackson

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Project Team Mein Aayi Ek Ladki...

2009-06-04T18:58:00.005+05:30

Disclaimer : The poem is purely fictional and not related to any person dead or alive. If any resemblance to anyone is found, write another poem like this and add this Disclaimer on top of it! :-)

Aaj meri project team mein, eek nayi ladki aayi hai
Usne team ke sabhi ladkon ki, soyi ummeeeden jagai hain.

Shruwaat mein to doston, relations the bade professional
Dheere dheere, mujhe iccha huyi, baat karu main kuch personal.

Technically to pata nahi, par beauty mein to woh strong hai,
Aisi khoobsurat ladki ki help karne mein kya wrong hai?

Haalat aisi huyi meri kharaab, doston kya bataun main tumhe,
Pakki duffer nikli wohi, aur bade irritating the woh lamhe.

Ek minute discussion ka, lagta hai jaise ek saal,
Frustration itni badh jaati hai, ki kheench lun apne baal!

Das baje aati hai woh, 5.30 ko chali jaati,
Kaam khud se kuch na kare, sab kaam mujh se karvati!

Kaam saara maine kiya, credit ki woh nikli chor,
Isliye appraisal ke time pe, doston, ho gaya main ignore.

Uske peeche barbaad hue sab type ke projects,
Fir bhi rehti hai woh on top of boss's list of favourites..

Jaise taise, mar mar ke, complete kiya technical project,
Saath hi mere personal interests ko, usne berehami se kiya reject.

Is haadse ke baad, IT companies ki har ladki se main darta hun
Project team mein koi ladki na aaye, bas yehi dua main karta hun.

Mere Labz...

2009-05-06T18:33:00.011+05:30

Khamosh meri shayari, kanjoos mere labz;

Karte hain har khayal ko, misuse mere labz...

Kuch soch samjh hoti to, appreciate bhi kar deta koi,
Khud apni hi aavaz mein, confuse mere labz...

Kabaadi vaala de gaya, vapas mere kagaz;
Main khud nahin kar pata, re-use mere labz...

Chhapte nahin kahin pe, koi padhta bhi nahi hai,
Bas mere andar hi rehte hain, mehfooz mare labz...

Kuchh sachi feelings, kuchh puraani yaadein,
Aur kuchh imaginations ko, karte abuse mere labz...

Khamosh meri shayari, kanjoos mere labz;

Karte hain har khayal ko, misuse mere labz...

Marketing People : Beware

2009-04-22T10:29:00.000+05:30

At a recent Microsoft Users Group meeting, Microsoft was demonstrating its latest speech-recognition software: Vista Talker 15.5.

The Microsoft Marketing representative was just about ready to start the demonstration and asked everyone in the room to quiet down.

Just then someone in the back of the room yelled, "Format C: Return."

Someone else chimed in: "Yes, Return."

Unfortunately, the software worked !!!

Searching for something lost. Please help !!!

2009-04-07T18:38:00.005+05:30

A request to find something thats lost! Please find the description below:

Badi Naazuk si cheez tha, chota sa naam tha,
Left side main rehta tha, dhadakana hi kaam tha...

Kuch keh raha tha kal se, dhuk-dhuk si kar ke woh,
Waise to banda kush tha, jab tak be-zabaan tha...

Yaadon ki jeans, Khwabon ki T-shirt, Josh ke shoes pehne huye,
Chehre se bhola-bhala, nazaron se hairaan tha...

"Abki baar jaunga to, uss se jaake milunga"
Yeh keh ke uss Deewane ko, manana aasaan tha...

Dekh lo aye yaar zara, tumhare pass hi na ho,
Mil jaye agar to kehna, koi deewana pareshaan tha...

(Inspired by a friend who lost his heart. But this poem is on behalf of all those people losing their heart often!)

Mamma I Don’t Feel, Good In These Shoes

2009-03-10T18:43:00.001+05:30

Title – Mamma I Don’t Feel, Good In These Shoes

A depressing poem which metaphors pain in career with that of pain of a shoe!!!

Thought these are called the Programmer's boot
As they program their world however they choose.
Yes, the guys say they look good on me
But mamma I don’t feel, good in these shoes!

It’s a heavy pair and rough from inside
The laces keep on tightening, nails from the sides
Force me to walk for bigger career virtues
But mamma I don’t feel, good in these shoes!

If the soul is the sole, then it’s all worn out
Somehow I can just type, but I can never shout.
I maybe technically strong, unable to refuse
But mamma I don’t feel, good in these shoes!

Rush Hour Calendar

2009-03-02T20:47:00.007+05:30

Once, while 'NIL' thinking, I figured out that the current Gregorian Calendar is not the best form of Calendar to be used in current work environments. Hence, I have come up with an improvised and efficient Calendar. This is a special calendar for handling rush jobs.

Following is the Format of the newly proposed Calendar, devised specially to be used in Typical Office Environments :

I know, this Calendar does not seem easy to understand. This is purposefully done so that the calendar looks intelligent !!

Below are the considered while preparing this Calendar. Hopefully, this shall explain why the Calendar is designed so :

All rush jobs were actually required to be submitted yesterday. With this calendar, a job can be ordered on the 7th and delivered on 3rd. Much like what our Managers generally expect !!!
Most Jobs are required to be done by Friday, so there are three Fridays every week
There are eight new days added to each month to allow for end-of-the-month panic jobs.
There is no first of the month – thus avoiding late delivery of the previous month’s last minute panic jobs.
The unlucky considered days like 13th, 29th and 31st have also been abolished, so as to avoid the blame on the unfortunate dates.
Monday morning hangovers are abolished together with non-productive Saturdays and Sundays.
A new day – Negotiation Day – has been introduced keeping the other days free for uninterrupted ‘panic’.

Hopefully, this "Rush Hour Calendar" shall improve the efficiency at your work place !!!

Main Aur mere Roommates....

2009-02-25T19:25:00.005+05:30

This Poem is dedicated to Our dirty House, My roommate, Mr. Mosquito and his Families, and the all the heap of stuffs over which I am sitting while writing this blog...

Main Aur mere roommates
Aksar Yeh Baatain Kiya Karte Hain
Ghar saaf hota to aisa hota
Hum saaf rehte to kaisa hota...

Main kitchen saaf karta,tum bathrooom dhote
Main hall saaf karta, tum balcony dekhte
Log is baat pe hairaan hote
Aur us baat pe haste

Yeh hara bhara sink hai
Aur bartanon ki jang chidi hui hai
Yeh color full kitchen hai
Ya masaalon se holi kheli hai

Hai farsh ki hai nayi design
Ya yeh dhuli hui hai doodh aur beer se,
Yeh airfreshner ka naya flavour hai,
Ya fir dardnaak badboo aati dustbin se..

Yeh sochta hun main kab se gum sum,
Ke machhar nahi hai, kaheen nahi hai,
Magar mera dil hai ke keh raha hai
Machhar yaheen hai, yaheen kaheen hai !

Toand (Pot-Belly) ki hai ye haalat, meri bhi hai, uski bhi..
Exercise karne ka decide to karte, par roj subah uthne ka nahi hai dum
Guitar bhi sikhna hai, Books bhi padhni hai,
Karne ko bohut kuch hai magar kab kare hum..

Dil kahta hai koi ek aakar room mein bikhra saamaan jama de.
Ye Carpet jo jeene ko joonzh raha hai, fikwa de!
Safai se rehne ke fayde, hamein bhi jata de
Hum Safai mein rahe sakte hain, logon ko bata de!

Main aur mere roommates
Aksar Yehi Baatain Kiya Karte Hain !

Keh Denge....

2009-02-19T23:03:00.006+05:30

I wrote this after a usual talk with a friend at Shambhu's cafe. I laughed first after writing & reading this, but then realized it could hurt someone too... Whats your take?

Pehli baar mili,
To socha chall, keh denge...

Thodi batein hui to samjha,
Jaldbaazi thik nahi, aye dil sambhal, keh denge...

Woh to pass ho gayi, apni ATKT lag gayi,
Hum peeche hi sahi, tu aage nikal, baad mein, keh denge...

Haantho main haanth daale ghume bahut,
Acche se mil jaayen agar do pal, to, keh denge...

Ussne card de ke invite kiyaa hai apni shaadi pe,
Aur dil keh raha hai, aaj to shaadi ka mahol hai, kal, keh denge...

Truth Behind The Origin of Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T16:53:00.006+05:30

In spite of what you have been told by everyone, the truth is that Valentine's Day originated many years ago, in India, and to top it all, in Gujarat!!

During those days, Gujju men, continually mistreated and disrespected their wives (Gujjuaini). One fine day, it happened to be the 14th day of February, one brave Gujjuaini, having had enough "torture" by her husband, finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a belan (rolling pin).

Yes....the same belan which she used daily, to make chapattis for him.... only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened.

This was a momentous occasion for all Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their husbands with the belan. There was an outburst of moaning "chapatti-ed" husbands all over Anand and Amdavad. The Gujju men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and started to behave more respectfully with their Gujjuaini wives.

Thereafter, on 14th February, every year, the womenfolk of Gujarat would beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day. The wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the belan and the men having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved. Soon the Gujju men realized that in order to avoid this ordeal they need to present gifts to their wives....they brought flowers and sweetmeats. Hence the tradition began.

As Gujarat fell under the influence of Western culture, 14th February became the 'Belan time' day.

Through the wide Desi networks of Gujjus, the ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catch words 'Belan time!'

Of course in their foreign tongues, it was first anglicized to 'Belantine', then to 'Velantine' and then to 'Valentine'.

And thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as Valentine's Day!

So....if you see a Gujju with a black eye and a Gujjuiani with a V(B)ELAN in her hand, then you know....its V(B)ALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Happy BELAN TIME Day!!!

PS : Thanks to KP and Mr. Sudhir.
Note: No offense intended for any community or anyone.

I believe....

2009-02-04T11:15:00.002+05:30

Some beautiful lines taken from a wonderful song :

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

Taken from 'Affirmation' by Savage Garden !

Moan and Piss off !!!

2009-01-30T10:13:00.001+05:30

An elderly lady phoned her telephone company to report that her telephone failed to ring when her friends called - and that on the few occasions when it did ring, her pet dog always moaned right before the phone rang. The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile elderly lady.

He climbed a nearby telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house. The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned loudly and the telephone began to ring.

Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found:

The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire via a steel chain and collar. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the phone number was called. After a couple of such jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate on himself and the ground. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring.

Moral of the story : Some problems CAN be fixed by pissing and moaning !!!

Obituary to the Pillsbury Doughboy !

2009-01-28T13:35:00.005+05:30

I was going through the newspapers and reached the obituaries section. I wondered if people are valued more after death than their value while alive.
But than I thought, what about those things that will not die... They may never be valued properly?

Consider an obituary to Mickey Mouse, Barbie or maybe to Ronald McDonald of MacDonald's.

Just as my train of thoughts took off the station I was considering the obituary for Pillsbusy Doughboy.
How interesting would be his obituary...

I decided, let me give it a thought and I came up with this one :

Veteran Pillsbury spokesman Pop N. Fresh died yesterday of a severe yeast infection. He was 71.

Known to friends as Bake-n-Serve, Fresh was an good chef, an avid gardener and tennis player. Fresh was buried in one of the largest funeral ceremonies in recent years. Dozens of celebrities turned out including Mr. Doughnut, Ms. Butterscotch, The chocolate pudding and Apple pie.

The graveside was piled high with flours as his wife Poppie Fresh delivered the eulogy, describing Fresh as a man who "never knew how much he was kneaded."

Fresh rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with many turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes - conned by those who buttered him up.

Still, even as a crusty old man, he was a roll model for millions. Fresh is survived by his wife Poppie Fresh. They have two children, Biscuit and Muffin, and another bun in the oven.

The funeral was held at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Yoo Hoooo !!!

We Will Meet Again

2009-01-16T19:49:00.011+05:30

This poem that I composed during 7th semester in my college. I was planning to sing/recite this poem along with my guitar performance at the Annual Talent evening in college, but could not do so due to time constraints...
I was just allowed to play the song, no poems !

We sat in the lawns of campus yesterday,
Remembering the moments spent in joy and disdain.
Soon each of us will go in a different way,
But they say, that someday, we will meet again.

We have grown together through this 4 years of time,
In this duration we lived our lives to its prime,
But there's more to come, separation is just a pain,
For the say, that someday, we will meet again.

My mind however is caught in a confusing maze,
To think about the future or live in these days,
Tomorrow when I will take a trip down memory lane,
I will recall, that we were to meet again.

But just for today lets keep these worries at bay,
For one fact holds simple and plain,
With great friends and moments we have come a long way,
Thus, we can say that, we will meet again.

New Year’s Reality Check

2009-01-02T19:35:00.000+05:30

Another year, another chance
To start my life anew;
This time let me leap old barriers
To have a real breakthrough.

Let me take one little step
And then take one more;
My unlimited potential
Let me now explore.

Let me discover my hidden talents
And inspire everyone;
Then hardwork will claim success
And the prizes to be won.

Let me reach out the skies
Perform and acheive a lot;
All my goals shall be accomplished,
Starting 2009,
with this positive thought...

Happy New Year !!!

Mistaken Reflexive Utterance !!!

2008-12-19T12:12:00.004+05:30

It was a special night at the Teatro La Fenice theater and the Amazing Eileen was topping the bill. People came from miles around to see the famed hypnotist do her stuff.

As the Amazing Eileen took to the stage, she announced, "Unlike most stage hypnotists who invite two or three people up onto the stage to be put into a trance, I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience."

The excitement was almost electric as the Amazing Eileen withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from her coat.

"I want you each to keep your eye on this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It has been in my family for six generations."

She began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting, "Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch... "

The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface.

She continued, "Now you are feeling dizzy... Keep watching the watch. Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch... "

Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch.

Suddenly the watch slipped from the hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor, breaking into a hundred pieces.

"SHIT !" cried the hypnotist.

And it took three weeks to clean up the theater !!!

Stock Market Defined !

2008-12-03T10:16:00.001+05:30

Once there was a little island country. The land of this country was the tiny island itself. The total money in circulation was $2 as there were only two pieces of $1 coins circulating around.

There were 3 citizens living on this island country. A owned the land. B and C each owned $1.

B decided to purchase the land from A for $1. So, now A and C own $1 each while B owned a piece of land that is worth $1.

* The net asset of the country now = $3.

Now C thought that since there is only one piece of land in the country, and land is non producible asset, its value must definitely go up. So, he borrowed $1 from A, and together with his own $1, he bought the land from B for $2.

* A has a loan to C of $1, so his net asset is $1.
* B sold his land and got $2, so his net asset is $2.
* C owned the piece of land worth $2 but with his $1 debt to A, his net residual asset is $1.
* Thus, the net asset of the country = $4.

A saw that the land he once owned has risen in value. He regretted having sold it. Luckily, he has a $1 loan to C. He then borrowed $2 from B and acquired the land back from C for $3. The payment is by $2 cash (which he borrowed) and cancellation of the $1 loan to C. As a result, A now owned a piece of land that is worth $3. But since he owed B $2, his net asset is $1.

* B loaned $2 to A. So his net asset is $2.
* C now has the 2 coins. His net asset is also $2.
* The net asset of the country = $5. (A bubble is building up.)

B saw that the value of land kept rising. He also wanted to own the land. So he bought the land from A for $4. The payment is by borrowing $2 from C, and cancellation of his $2 loan to A.

* As a result, A has got his debt cleared and he got the 2 coins. His net asset is $2.
* B owned a piece of land that is worth $4, but since he has a debt of $2 with C, his net asset is $2.
* C loaned $2 to B, so his net asset is $2.

* The net asset of the country = $6. (Even though, the country has only one piece of land and $2 in circulation.)

Everybody has made money and everybody felt happy and prosperous.

One day an evil wind blew, and an evil thought came to C's mind. "Hey, what if the land price stop going up, how could B repay my loan. There is only $2 in circulation, and, I think after all the land that B owns is worth at most only $1, and no more."

A also thought the same way.

Nobody wanted to buy land anymore.

* So, in the end, A owns the $2 coins, his net asset is $2.
* B owed C $2 and the land he owned which he thought worth $4 is now $1. So his net asset is only $1.
* C has a loan of $2 to B. But it is a bad debt. Although his net asset is still $2, his Heart is palpitating.
* The net asset of the country = $3 again.

So, who has stolen the $3 from the country? Of course, before the bubble burst B thought his land was worth $4. Actually, right before the collapse, the net asset of the country was $6 on paper. Though B's net asset is still $2 dollars, his heart is palpitating.

B had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. C as to relinquish his $2 bad debt to B, but in return he acquired the land which is worth 1 dollar now.

* A owns the 2 coins; his net asset is 2 dollars.
* B is bankrupt; his net asset is 0 dollar. (He lost everything !)
* C got no choice but end up with a land worth only 1 dollar.

* The net asset of the country = 3 dollars.

End of the story...
There is however a redistribution of wealth.

IT'S ANALYSIS TIME !

A is the winner, B is the loser, C is lucky that he is spared.
A few points worth noting -

- When a bubble is building up, the debt of individuals to one another in a country is also building up.

- This story of the island is a closed system whereby there is no other country and hence no foreign debt. The worth of the asset can only be calculated using the island's own currency. Hence, there is no net loss for the country.

- An over-damped system is assumed when the bubble burst, meaning the land's value did not go down to below 1 dollar.

- When the bubble burst, the fellow with cash is the winner. The fellows having the land or extending loan to others are the losers. The asset could shrink or in worst case, they go bankrupt.

- If there is another citizen D either holding a dollar or another piece of land but refrains from taking part in the game, he will neither win nor lose. But he will see the value of his money or land goes up and down like a see saw.

- When the bubble was in the growing phase, everybody made money.

- If you are smart and know that you are living in a growing bubble, it is worthwhile to borrow money (like A) and take part in the game. But you must know when you should change everything back to cash.

- As in the case of land, the above phenomenon applies to stocks as well.

- The actual worth of land or stocks depends largely on psychology (or speculation)

PS : Thanks to Alan

Female Perceptions Vs. Male Perceptions

2008-09-20T15:02:00.001+05:30

Here I am presenting a typical incident focusing on the differences between Male perceptions and Female perceptions. Both these creatures belong to same species, but they think totally different than each other.

Take a case into consideration when a guy named Rahul is attracted to a girl named Vedanshi. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few days later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and after a while neither one of them is seeing anybody else.

And then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Vedanshi, and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that, as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"

And then there is a silence. To Vedanshi, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation that he doesn't want, or isn't sure of.

And Rahul is thinking: Gosh. Six months.

And Vedanshi is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily toward . . . I mean, where are we going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading towards marriage? Towards having children? Towards being together for lifetime? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?

And Rahul is thinking: . . . so that means it was . . . let's see . . . February when we started going out, which was right after I had the new car, which means . . . lemme check the odometer . . . Whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here.

And Vedanshi is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed -- even before I sensed it -- that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of being rejected.

And Rahul is thinking: And I'm gonna have them look at the gears again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting correctly. And they better not try to blame it on the bad handling this time. What bad handling? this damn thing is shifting like a goddamn garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves 1200 bucks to get it repaired.

And Vedanshi is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry, too. God, I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure.

And Rahul is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty. That's exactly what they're gonna say, the scumballs.

And Vedanshi is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic fantasy.

And Rahul is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a goddamn warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their . . .

"Rahul," Vedanshi says aloud.

"What?" says Rahul, startled.

"Please don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Maybe I should never have . . . Oh God, I feel so . . . " (She breaks down, sobbing.)

"What?" says Rahul.

"I'm such a fool," Vedanshi sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."

"There's no horse ????" says Rahul.

"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Vedanshi says.

"No!" says Rahul, glad to finally know the correct answer.

"It's just that . . . It's that I . . . I need some time," Vedanshi says.

(There is a 15-second pause while Rahul, thinking as fast as he can, tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he thinks might work.)

"Yes," he says.

(Vedanshi, deeply moved, touches his hand.)

"Oh, Rahul, do you really feel that way?" she says.

"What way?" says Rahul.

"That way about time," says Vedanshi.

"Oh," says Rahul. "Yes."

(Vedanshi turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she speaks.)

"Thank you, Rahul," she says.

"Thank you," says Rahul.

Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn, whereas when Rahul gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Ruffles, turns on the TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match between two Czechoslovakians he never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car, but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it. (Precisely, That’s also Rahul's policy regarding world hunger.)

IT'S ANALYSIS TIME

The next day Vedanshi will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word, expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it, either.

Meanwhile, Rahul, while playing table tennis one day with a mutual friend of his and Vedanshi's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say: "Nilay, did Vedanshi ever own a horse?"

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I am not talking about people having different wavelengths here.

I am talking about people living on different planets, in completely different solar systems.

Vedanshi cannot communicate meaningfully with Rahul about their relationship any more than she can meaningfully play chess with a duck.
And the sum total of Rahul's thinking on this particular topic is as follows:
Huh?