Quote of the day...

“Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.”
- Frank Zappa

"Not only is stupidity the most abundant element, it is also the lightest. It seems to make people rise up in an organizational hierarchy faster than anything else."
- Av's corollary
(derived through experience in the corporate world)

Av

Glimpses from Sinhagad

Hi Everyone!

Incase you are wondering where I got that lovely snap from the last post, let me tell you I have taken the shot myself! On an otherwise would-be non-descript friday, I had gone biking up Sinhagad with a few of my KPIT cronies!

Presenting, the gang!

The moon reflected in the waters of the Khadakwasla Dam, en-route to Sinhagad!


The mesmerizing view from atop..


Some random photography..






When life and dreams collide!


And finally, as you can see, I have an almost unhealthy penchant for shooting bugs!

It was fantastic to take some time out and slow down for a while. I was feeling all relaxed even after two days! I guess the little trip really soothed everyone's nerves a bit.
It was a pretty creative time. While I was running around taking snaps, "shighra-kavi" Sudip composed a poem! Even I composed half a poem, but was too taken up by things begging to be photographed to complete it. I did have a good conversation with a certain Mr Tanaji Malusare, though!

All in all, it was a great time! Even though we had to ride straight back into office after that!

Luv-n-Luck,
Av

Stand in my Shadow

Stand here in my shadow,
Stay safe under my wing,
Fear not the many struggles
That tomorrow shall bring;

Take some time to introspect
Just a moment's silent repose,
Learn to smile under the rain,
If you aspire for the rainbows;

Take life along where you go
Be dragged not in life's wake,
All that your life will ever be
Is what you decided to make;

Leave behind all your regrets
Break free of your every guilt,
Brick by brick, hope by hope
Is how your life shall be built;

Live each moment to its fullest
Heed the old words of the wise,
Whether you be tiny or be huge
Remember to live life king-size!

Av

A small spark..

There is something cool about saying - "I come from the land of a billion sparks!"

This sentence, spoken by Chetan Bhagat a few months back at Symbiosis College here in Pune, has somehow stuck in my head. Yesterday I saw one possible interpretation of it.

I was riding along the road, when I saw a spark. Or I thought I did, cause it was something really bright. Turned out to be a smile. A bright radiant smile. It was serene, and not even remotely defiant, but it almost seemed to mock at the countless scowls that surrounded it. Maybe that contrast was exactly what made it stand out so starkly. It was the best smile that I've seen in weeks. It came from a soul. It came from a heart. The heart of a man who was happy.

A man who was carefree.
A man who was living in the moment, without the past weighing him down, or the future pulling him ahead too fast.
A man who was either completely oblivious or absolutely immune (or both) to his surroundings.
A man at peace.
A man, who was standing on top of a heap of waste-bags loaded into a garbage truck.

Surrounded by busy, "successful" people with "respectable jobs", holding their handkerchiefs to their noses, but trying to go around the garbage truck, acting as if the truck itself did not exist, leave alone the man perched on top of it.

A single smiling human amongst a wave of mindless rat-robots... That's a spark for you!

Av

Hibernation Update - 2

Hi everyone,
The suspense is over. The results are out!
I am now a certified Nutrition & Wellness Advisor.
Get over it. Its true.
:D
Luv-n-Luck,
Av

PS - Oh btw, I scored 95% on the certification exam.

Hibernation update..

Hi everyone,

Especially everyone who has been pestering me to post something. :P
I am presently on intellectual hibernate mode, but having said that, I do have something up my sleeves that I shall be posting soon.

P.S. - For all the people who are wondering about my Orkut line (Exams Rock!), the result of my exam should be out VERY soon, and I'll be posting it here.. :D
Watch this space!

Luv-n-Luck,
Av

Blogging on the "FLY"!!

For a few days, I was thinking about what would be a good follow up to the last post. Then it struck me that yet another one of my compositions is in a similar vein to the last one, in terms of the hope, possibility and anticipation. Also the theme of this one is also loosely based on the idea of rising to the next level. What is interesting is that this composition also plays upon Death and Life using the word "fly". However, in juxtaposition to the last post, the word "fly" denotes going away from Death, and not closer to it. These two compositions were written by me as an exercise in twisting ideas and words around to suit one's intentions. (Its not actually as evil as it sounds.. Hehe..)

The real story behind the curtain is that ever since the first time I read William Wordsworth's and Robert Herrick's contrasting poems on daffodils in fifth grade, I always wanted to compose about something from two points of view. With these two compositions, I have not exactly done that, in the sense that both the compositions are in a optimistic vein. However I have endeavoured to treat a single word in two exactly opposite contexts. While the last song dwells on the absolute, unchanging finality, this one talks about

WINDS OF CHANGE

You've lived this life
One moment too long,
Just leave it behind
With me come along,

You're trapped in your world
You're trapped in your mind
Its time you wake up and
Leave this illusion behind.. (1)

Take off your masks
Shed off your skins,
Get out of these
Cities of ruins,

Lets sail to those lands
far beyond the sea
And when we reach there
You'll be glad you came with me.. (2)

Fly with me my friends,
Fly with me tonight..
Fly high my brothers,
Fly by my side..

Lets fly..
To where the children of tomorrow spread their wings,
Lets fly..
To where every moment new joys brings,
Lets fly..
To the world which yet seems out of our range,
Lets fly..
Gliding along the winds of change..

Now its time, to move ahead,
Now its time, to leave the pain,
Now its time, to come back from the dead,
Now its time, to live again...

Just as a sidenote, this was the song that I'd sung for my first-ever public performance with the guitar, and that after about 5 years, I sung it again for my guitar students last sunday. :D

Luv-n-Luck,
Av