AYN RAND sayz...

Atlas Shrugged -=>

"I like to think of fire held in a man's hand. Fire, a dangerous force, tamed at his fingertips. I often wonder about the hours when a man sits aone, watching the smoke of a cigarette, thinking. I wonder what great things have come from such hours. When a man thinks, there is a spot of fire alive in his mind -- & it is proper that he should have the burning point of a cigarette as his one expression."

Reason would suggest that analyzing these set of words in the current context & existing scenario would not do sufficient justice to the authors brilliance & would definitely defeat the spirit for which these words stand...

The first edition of the book was published in the fifties which was a decade when smoking was a fad to put it modestly, the then medical fraternity was blisful to the connection between smoking & carcenoma...

The one thing which I would like to say about the author is that shez got the gift for extression how else can anyone come up with analogies & associations that she has in her literary works...

Cooling heels in HYD, its a nice feeling being back home...

Signing off!!!

ME B.TECH MBA!!!

Tas rite am a MBA as of day b4!!!
Day b4 tat is 27 was convo...
Everythin i mean preety much everythin seemed normal as in just like ne other day till the time the event began, the proceedings started & all kinda jazz was thrown at us with little if any effect. Then the individual recognition started, thins started gettin weird in my mind -=> 2 come to think of it i would be a masterz holder in a few mins -=> this gave me a queer feelin, kinda hard to describe!!!
Took my stuff from the dignitaries & waited till every1 else did & finally "HATS OFF" -=> well though not appropriate the phrase seems to fit the bill, the moment of reckonin when v all threw our hats up (must admit it felt gr8)!!!
Have been kinda bz partyin aroun n rite now am back in gudol HYD!!!
Signing off...

My SECOND holiday in as many months!!!

Was in ORISSA for a week long holiday, AMAZING HOLIDAY!!!
Well "holiday" may not be the most appropriate word to use (went more for a wedding but turned out to be a visit tour) however thatz exactly what it turned out to be!!!
Day 1 :-
-> Left Madras on the 13th morning in COROMANDAL express -=>
Day 2 :-
-> reached Bhubaneshwar after a 20hr train journey (must admit ATLAS SHRUGGED made the journey that much more interesting)
-> shot off to PURI, visited the temple & the beach... dinner at MAYFAIR, hung on over night
Day 3 :-
-> drove to KONARK, visited the SUN TEMPLE, an absolute master piece (this has even more relevance coming from a person whoz not really into architecture & monuments). From KONARK drove back to BBNR stopped on the marine drive on route to KONARK...
-> Went to CCD twice...
Day 4 :-
-> drove to CUTTAK for my friend's wedding & hung out in BBNR in the evening, dinner at Triumph residency...
-> Big Market...
Day 5 :-
-> hung around in BBNR for the day doing nothing out of ordinary, dinner at NAKLI DHABA...
-> Lingraj temple & CCD
Day 6 :-
-> Visited the NANDANKANAN zoological park & safari, fun place...
Day 7 :-
-> Met Sid, shot sticks had lassi at "LINGARAJ lassi centre" (amazing stuff), met my friend at his reception & was off to the station...
-> Left BBNR at 9ish in the night...
Day 8 :-
-> Back in Madras... BLOGGING!!!

Signing off!!!

6 Months <-> 10 Cities <-> Good going!!!

Ahmedabad
Bangalore
Bhubaneshwar
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Mumbai
Pondicherry
Pune
Puri & not yet done.....
Midway thru a holiday, having a ball of a time, will post the happenings later!!!

Welcome to the AXE-land!!!

To the less informed am going to write about what I think is the most creative & artistic at the same time extremely sensual & business increasing add in the twenty six years of television advertising -=> The new AXE commercial!
From the first add which was captioned "talk to me" to the current one which invites you to "come to the axe land" the brand has journeyed a great distance from being criticised to induce sexuality (or sunsuality as claimed by the brand managers) to being by far the most effective user of ad-scope. I used to find it rather absurd when profs constantly harped about how advertising especially in the initial phase should be conceived very carefully so at to make sure that a lot of scope is left for futhur horizon widening & elbow space -> I would constantly be on the look out for brands which have actually managed to design a campaign with a solid eye to work on it furthur in the future only to realise that brands seldom manage to sustain it (not even the really good ones for that matter) & even those that do could not sustain it over a long period of time -> one glaring example for this can be Britannia's 50-50 which came up with an extremely catchy series but eventually fizzled out & one other brand would be fevicol (defenitely to a slightly lesser extent).
The case in question as far as AXE is concerned is completely different, the whole idea of relating "attracting the opposite sex" with fragrance is actually as old as the earliest animal however such associating the same thing to humans was slightly off tangent & a very novel idea. Accepted conceiving the diea itself was a perfect example of "out of the box" thinking but that defenitely could not be the end of it since giving it a visual form was a monumental task owing to multiple reasons :-
-> Television & print being visual mediums & fragrance a nasal experience, this seemingly straight forward omniscent fact was actually working against the concept because the ad-maker had to create an ambiance which should almost be experiencable not thru the conventional sense but thru a different one <-> a near impossible feat
-> The concept from the physical look of it was far to sensual for family viewing, this was not that major a hindrance & to the contrary it was a clear cut case of "positioning" bang on
-> Prior to it most Indian ads (if not all) were very clear (maybe straight forward is a better word) be it in the message they wanted to convey or the way in which they did it, the same was not the case with this campaign be it the functional advantages (AXE gives you women like BMW says ultimate in speed)
To come to think of it not everything was going against the brand in the begining there were some issues that were working in its favour :-
-> The song Sikdim by Tarkan was quiet a rage by then & it not only fit the bill to the tee but was also cute in an unconcentional kind of way (added advantage)
Awrito, now that that idea was conceived & created it was time to take it to the next step, but it so happened that there was not only a next step was so many steps followed..........
The latest one I personally reckon is virtually unbeatable, I mean it'll call for someone as creative as god (me probably) to extend it furthur & create the next phase!!!!!!!
Amasing is not the word be it the island country in a ladys shape or the map which indicated what all you can find in the geographic mass, whats more the island has a national monument, sport, flag, dish, costume, day & brid, come to think of it also has an element of mystery shrouding it. India, Malaysian & Thai citizens have a priviledged entry!!!
Looks like I can virtually go on & on & on, ought to stop sometime & now seems a good enough time so........
Signing off!!!

Elixir, ThE Uthopia, Eve, Europe & mE!!!

ThE lEss said about the fivE ElEmEnts in thE titlE the dEEpEr thE mEssagE that will bE convEyEd!!!
Elixir -> a magical or mEdicinal potion,
a prEparation that was supposEdly ablE to changE mEtals in to gold, sought by alchEmists,
a prEparation supposEdly ablE to prolong lifE indEfinitEly!
thE uthopia-> an imaginEd placE or statE of things in which EvErything is pErfEct!
EvE-> thE first woman!
EuropE-> paris, romE, london, zurich, amstErdam, lisbon, dublin!
la gioconda, colossium, big bEn, banks, diamond, vasco da gama, bourbon!
what to "mE" havE to do with all thE abovE briEfly dEscribEd ElEmEnts, wEll mEz got a lot in common with thEm -=>
with thE first E -> magic
with thE sEcond E > mysEtry
with thE third E -> magnitude
with thE fourth E-> multiplicity.....

Signing off!!!

The FISH In Me !!!

My swimming potential is surpassing all cerebral boundries that I earlier set for myself & my aquatic escapedes have rekindled the dormant & latent marine traits of mine!!!

Being Cyrus... (from my eyes)!!!

7 characters in all & must admit each character's personality has been developed & betrayed admirably well be it -=>
Cyrus, a guy with both a pleasant disposition & an air of mystery who walks in to a world renouned potter & his wife's life,
Dinshaw Sethnan, a artistic genius turned "pot head" living in Panchgani along with his wife,
Katy, Dinshawz promiscuous & polygamous wife who dreams of a high life in a more vibrant city (Bombay),
Farokh, Dinshawz crooked brother who batters his father while romping his sister-in-law & neglecting demure wife all at once,
Tina, Farokhz wife who is subjected to constant oppression but again with a spark of rebellion be it smoking after her husband leaves or when she vicariously derives pleasure by the was her husband gets humiliated by an elderly lady neighbor,
Fardounjee, Dinshaw & Farokh's father, an aged guy living by despite the ill treatment being meted out to him by his younger son &
Inspector Lovely, lastly the selfish, lascivious & boastful cop.
The movie begins on an interesting note & unfolds beautifully though some might find it to be slightly out of sync mid way thru but by the end of the movie all loose ends are tied & loop holes in the script plugged.
Relationz have been handled with immense finesse & the effect that little everyday happenings have on relations has been projected with a lot of class.
Some things that goes against the movie are that fact that its far too single community oriented, characters behave in a very predictable fashion & the climax some might argue has an odd filmi moment.
MY TAKE -> Slightly on the heavier side but definitely worth a watch.

Same place Different city -> MOCHA, Chennai...

I graced the Chennai outlet of MOCHA for teh first time today. Me, Saurab, Tariq, Sid, Ajay, Bipin & Harshil went to MOCHA in the evening, it was a typical enactment of the phrase "out of the bule". It was actually my third visit to MOCHA, first was in Ahmedabad & second as those who've read a specific previous post of mine about MOCHA would know was in Hyderabad. Todays experience was no less invigorating & stimulating than my previous encounters with the brand MOCHA.

LAYOUT -> Itz physical layout is on similar lines as both the other MOCHA's I have been to giving me an impression that it is their signature design, it has a decently big parking lot & sufficient open roof space for the SHEESHA<->Nicotine lovers & an ornate indoor space, then there is a good amount of lounging space in the first floor.

FURNITURE -> MOCHA Chennai has in my mind lived up to its reputation as a place which is tastefully decorated & with weird modes of seating, this edition of MOCHA has a "rickshaw chair", "car seat chair", "an easy chairish chair", "a swing chair" & a good number of comfortable regal chairs. One "defenitely must'ne miss" place is the "LOO LIBRARY" an enclosed place with a few racks full of books & a comfortable seating arrangement. A few tables have amazingly comfortable chairs (amazing leg rests which almost makes one feel like regalia).

PLACE'S PARAPHERNALIA -> Old times pendulum clocks on wall beside the stairs are difficult to miss & so is the inculpation & ebullience of the guests. The attire of stewards seems to be a brand equity element of theirs.

FOOD & STUFF -> I'm not well placed to give an objective comment on food for the plain reason that I did'nd eat anything & whats worse is the fact that we did'nt even have hookah (pathetic), the cold coffee I had called COFFEE SHAKE or some such thing was just about oaky to put it subtly.

EXPERIENCE -> The whole thing started & ended on a decent note thanks to the security & parking personnel, who were very cordial. I'm afraid the same cant be said about the stewards or not to the same extent atleast, neither were they timely nor were they resourceful (necessary traits of good hosts). My wish to have a customized MOCHA match-box was also not fulfilled thanks to the fact that they've stopped holding them as people are taking them away (ridiculous).

SUGGESTION -> CAN VISIT IT ATLEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES, IF FOR NOTHING ELSE ATLEAST FOR THE AMBIANCE

Signing off!!!

ORKUT Buyukkokten sayz!!!

sing as if no one is listening
dance as if no one is watching
love as you've never loved before
live as if heaven is here on earth

The peripatetic in me!!!

I got consumed by wanderlust, not that I was not before but was never in to the travel monster like I'm at this point in time. I chalked up some names off hand & came up with a tentaive list of about 50 countrys and a rough estimate of how much time to spend in each country. Coming up with the names itself was a herculean task, if I were to take this as a yardstick then there is a very high probability that I might take ages to come up with the itenary. The amount of exposure the whole experience would give me be it in terms of "people understanding", "geographic cognizance" and "culture consciousness" on the softer side & "multi-national contacts", "connoisseurz collection of stuff, what with me being blessed with a shrewd eye" on the more tangible side.
Country:
1) Australia,
2) Austria,
3) Canada,
4) China,
5) Denmark,
6) Egypt ,
7) France,
8) Germany,
9) Holand,
10) Italy,
11) Japan,
12) Mexico,
13) Pakistan,
14) Newzealand,
15) Greece,
16) England,
17) Poland,
18) Russia,
19) Taiwan,
20) Singapore,
21) Thailand,
22) Malaysia,
23) Indonesia,
24) Portugal,
25) Switzerland,
26) Nepal,
27) Venezuvela,
28) Sri Lanka,
29) West Indies,
30) South Africa,
31) Turkey,
32) Tibet,
33) Taipai,
34) Scotland,
35) Spain,
36) Zimbabwe,
37) Argentina,
38) Norway,
39) Finland,
40) Korea,
41) Morocco,,,,,,,,
The list is by no means exhaustive, ought to add atleast nine more names. "Fifty countries" sounds kewl right. I personally feel I'l need atleast 15-17 years before I reach anywhere to visiting most of the places, mental math suggests that I'l need atleast 3 years of holidaying to reach my DREAM.

This is what "BLOGTHINGS" has to say about me, I don't approve of everything, Obviously!!!

Your Hawaiian Name is:

Kahoku Kane

What's your Hawaiian Name?

Your Seduction Style: The Charmer

You're a master at intimate conversation and verbal enticement. You seduce with words, by getting people to open up to you. By establishing this deep connection quickly, people feel under your power. And then you've got them exactly where you want them!

What Is Your Seduction Style?

You Belong in London

You belong in London, but you belong in many cities... Hong Kong, San Francisco, Sidney. You fit in almost anywhere. And London is diverse and international enough to satisfy many of your tastes. From curry to Shakespeare, London (almost) has it all!

What European City Do You Belong In?

Your French Name is:

Vallis Marie

What's Your French Name?

Your Love Life Secrets Are

Looking back on your life, you will have a few true loves. You've been deeply wounded in the past, and you're still recovering from that hurt. You want to be with someone who's a success. A person with the right job, right family, right clothes... In fights, you speak your mind and don't hold back. You know you're right, and you can get quite angry about it. A break-up usually comes as a shock to you. You always think things are going well.

Your Love Life Secrets, Revealed

You Should Drive a Saturn Sky

You're sleek and smooth, and you need a car to match your hot persona. Besides, sometimes you want your top up - and sometimes you want it down.

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt. And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting. Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt. And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

Your Japanese Name Is...

Kenta Shimizudani

What's your Japanese Name?

Your Life Path Number is 1

Your purpose in life is to lead others. You have great drive and determination. Nothing is going to stand in your way. You seek out challenges and the spotlight. You'll take all the work - and all the glory. Status and success are important to you. You demand the best from everyone and everything. In love, you tend to take a protective role. You enjoy being the provider in relationships. You expect others to be like you, and as a result, you are often disappointed. A little selfish and vain, you always put yourself first. Remember, everyone already knows you're great - you don't need to remind them!

What Is Your Life Path Number?

People Envy Your Confidence

You have the attitude and self esteem to take on anything. Failure is beyond not an option for you - it doesn't even cross your mind. People envy your ability to take on any challenge ... and they're secretly afraid you think you're better than them. You don't. You're just sure of yourself.

What Do People Envy About You?

Your Hidden Talent

You're super sensitive and easily able to understand situations. You tend to solve complex problems in a flash, without needing a lot of facts. Decision making is easy for you. You have killer intuition. The right path is always clear, and you're a bit of a visionary.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Your Sexy Brazilian Name is:

Pele da Costa

What's Your Sexy Brazilian Name?

You Should Learn Chinese

Surprised? You shouldn't be - Chinese is perfect for an ambitious person like you. You're a natural entrepreneur, and a billion people are waiting to do business with you!

What Language Should You Learn?

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Your Observation Skills Get A C-

You tend to notice the big things in life... But the details aren't exactly your forte

How Observant Are You?