Chief Belief Officer November 21, 2009
Posted by Sandeep in Current Affairs, Regular Posts.Tags: experience, Hinduism, inspirational, Interesting, presentation, religous, story
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I have been ignoring this “TED” thing for a long time, but I became interested once I discovered we are going to have one in India also (sadly we had one in Dubai also, but I missed it already.)
So far, I watched two TED Talks one The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology by Parnav Mistry and the second East vs. West — the myths that mystify by Devdutt Patnaik. Ideas in the first talk regarding the sixth sense are quite revolutionery but anyone well versed and up-to-date in technology would argue they are not that easy to implement. So, despite his great ideas he failed to convince me. From the demos I would make out they were not even the original demos but a prototypes especially built for this presentation.
The second talk by Devdutt Patnaik I would say is awesome, one of the best presentations I have ever watched on such boring and intellectual topic. I might say he is the genius, his delivery and presentation style was flawless. It was backed up by strong content based on good research and well thought presentation plan. I liked the concept of belief officer to. How great it would be to have one in an organization to create, maintain, manage, evolve good beliefs & finally destroy the bad beliefs. At the end I would like to say:
Beliefs orginate from the stories we tell and listen. Behind every story there is a belief and behind every belief there is a story. It is upto us to identify that story and connect to it in a deeper level.
No need to smile, unless you are invited…? November 13, 2009
Posted by Sandeep in Technology, Whining.Tags: consumerism, experience, failure, google
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I am upset. I am upset the way google launches its products. I am really upset with the “Invite” marketing gimmick. Why offer a half baked product to a selected privileged consumers, instead of offering the full fledged version to all. I think google has a big marketing department that thinks this is the only way to create hype.
It is publicity my dear. Good or bad, it is publicity.
First all, my predictions, Google wave will fail. It is too confusing for the common person who just wants to send a simple message and nothing else.
Now, I am a user of Orkut. No, really, I am. Only because all of my friends are at orkut. Facebook I think is much more sophisticated. Orkut is slow, dysfunctional and old. They are coming out with a new Orkut. I was waiting for it. And yeah, you need to be invited to use the new orkut. I am really upset.
And yeah Maruti is coming out with a new Car, you need to be invited to test drive it. And yes, our Pakore (snacks) wale uncle (snack maker) has new offering of new pakoras (snacks), hey again you need to be invited to taste them.Our City Muncipaplity has a new public tansport system launch in a few days time, guess what you need to be invited to try it out. I guess and I pray not all the organizations start doing this. (We have already seen commercialization of this, reportedly you can buy “Wave” & “Gmail” invites at eBay or other auction sites)
My message to google: Hey buddy I know you are pretty big organizationa and one consumer experience won’t ruin your repo. But for the sake of it, please, please stop making me feel inferior & “left out” by adopting “Invite only” policy. and yes this is the only reason I don’t use your Gmail system.
Unexpected Fog in Dubai and Sharjah November 8, 2009
Posted by Sandeep in My Favorite, Random Post.Tags: emotional, experience, global warming, happiness
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In the morning, here in Sharjah and Dubai for the first time I have seen such a thick fog. It was damn unrealistic. As I walked down the stairs of my Building entrance, holding my Tiffin-carrying-bag in one hand & iPod in another, fumbling all of them to check time on Nokia 5800 xpressmusic, I see a lot of fog greeting me to this wonderful morning. Am I missing something? Where I am?
It might be the smoke of fire nearby or may be a road mishap, I run to the nearest Road to check if there’s an accident. No, as I look over the road, its fog all over, blurring the far away objects & dimming the lights. It was a great sight, reminding me of my days I spent in India. I love fog and I love the winter days cherishing the fog in front of my home, my school playground & college park. I am very fond of fog and my heart has a special connection with it (much like the rain.) Fog reminds me of a Winter season in Punjab, which is like a festive season in itself. Special foods, winter arrangements, thick bed covers & blankets, electric heaters & indigenous developed ones (we call it Agithi in Punjabi) are the mementoes of winters.
I thought fog will be one of the many things that I’ll be missing about India. But apparently its not. According to the people it rarely fogs here in Dubai, and according to my bus driver it is too early for the fog to be here in Dubai. Well, one of the effects of Climate Change is clearly visible now. It was such a thick fog, that otherwise fast moving traffic of Dubai came to a screeching halt.
Looking forward for more such fogs…
Capture an experience January 31, 2009
Posted by Sandeep in Self-Improvement.Tags: Creativity, experience, photo, writing
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Whenever you feel that some experience is beyond what you normally have, pop up your Creativity and capture it. Do something immediately to capture that experience, to remember it and to re-live it whenever you want. Here are some ways just to do that.
Grab pen and pencil and write whatever comes to your mind, focus on your thoughts how you are feeling and what made you feel like that. Or what about taking picture??? if you think what you see cannot be capture through writing, the mobile phone you purchased last month comes with in-built camera? So, what? Use it.
If you want to make it more surreal capture a video out of it. Hey but don’t be too immersed in capturing the experience that it loses it charm. Other options might be to tell other person about your experience, you can also tell it to your life partner. Now, one aspect about telling your life partner about your experience is that you have someone who have witness your life. Cool.
One more way is to capture a part of the experience may be the empty cold drink can, movie ticket or whatever that reminds you of the experience.
Now that was some serious creativity (in practical sense).
Take Care April 4, 2007
Posted by Sandeep in My Favorite, Technology.Tags: experience, food, funny, Technology, windows
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In last post, I had mentioned about my new computer which come pre-installed with windows vista. Few minor corrections in that sentence 
, it is not my computer, actually ownership of it goes in the name of my brother and it doesn’t come with windows vista. WOW experience, to be precise. It is loaded with Windows Media Centre.
Now, it doesn’t mean that I should start crying 
like a small baby who is denied his milk bottle, but I have various reasons to smile
. My parents bought me a new computer 4-5 years ago, when I was in 9th. My brother got computer when he is in +1. And mom says I can use that computer freely. Free as in “Buy one get one free” not as in freedom i.e. I don’t have to pay anything for using it but I have to leave it when my brother wants to use it. Freedom, oh you understand. What’s the problem then? Nothing, and computer dealer said he would install Windows Vista on 15th of this month. I am smiling….
My brother had already instructed me not to enter his room
, when service man would come to install the computer. So, my heart sank a little as 
I ponder over the thought that I will not be able to watch the auspicious ceremony of new computer installation, and I can’t brood over as he unpacks the realm of ultimate male nirvana i.e. a media centre pc. But luckily, the service man called on my mobile, asked me to receive him on the outskirts of our village. It was once in a life time situation, that I praised my villagers for settling down in their home in no particular pattern or organized manner, which when looked above from a chopper would look like a puzzle game. It was because of them that the service man was not able to figure out our little home sweet home.
Anyways, when he came home I lay down in my bed pretending to be sick
and I swear by myself not to go out to living room. But then who cares, I wanted to see how 17” TFT screen looked, and how fast is a 1 GB RAM and 3.06 GHz computer processor
. Then who cares, shamelessly I went into the room
. I swear again and crossed my fingers and put them on my lips, and promised to myself that I will not speak a word
. But to my utter dismay, he announced that Windows Vista is not installed. Now, this is not fair
. You would have clearly noticed expressions on my face. My eyes popped out and my jaws dropped down (enough to swallow 5 kg water melon). I was shocked; to me it was like being at the day of my marriage, and knowing that my bride had run away with local vegetable seller (who had twice cheated me by selling 7 days old tomatoes)
. Now, lot of vegetable 
and fruits in my this post has to do a lot with my life, to be precise, right now, as I am feeling very hungry. Hungry reminds me of Chicken soup, It is very tasty… anyway my parents say we should not diverge from the focus of our life… err… this post.
I was sad a little bit as I was not able to run Windows Vista. Anyways, few days later, it awaits me… with its arms open… I will run and hug it like a lover meets his beloved after spending 5 years in jail. Oh my vistu (love name) I am coming…
On that note I sign off, bye see you again… and don’t forget to read the title of this post.
Lonely but happy valentine… February 15, 2007
Posted by Sandeep in Random Post.Tags: experience, Love, sad
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Courtesy: www.gapingvoid.com
okay I have to wish, Happy valentine day to everyone… So what, if it was all lonely but it is valentine day, the day of lovers.
Happy Valentines Day February 14, 2007
Posted by Sandeep in Announcements, My Favorite.Tags: Creativity, experience, funny, india, Love
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Picture Courtesy: www.gapingvoid.com
Umm… I am so lazy… I open my only one eye lid… uh where my watch is… looking for it ah… 6:30 AM in the morning. A very happy Valentines day to me. I look for light – no electricity. Quick decision in split second. I won’t be going to college. Why? No light means no electricity means no geezer means no hot water means no bathing means bad odour all the day means girls running away from me means bad valentine day. Take a breathe. I just want to say I don’t want to have bad Valentines Day.
I like sleeping, so I did until 10:00 am in the morning. After waking up, went through the regular brushing, bathing (light was back by then, damn local electricity department), changing, television, fighting (for the remote, of course) and finally getting bored. I think nothing special about this valentine day. Why these people make such hypes? I thought until my friend called me up “Hi! Dude, where are you? I am waiting in the park. Come let’s do some fun. Local guys are protesting against valentine day, why not join them?” (Our India is a country of protests; we like to protest, demonstrate, revolt continuously about something without ever stopping. Even if we have no reason, so what, we invent our own reasons. Many people say we try to ape west, and valentine day is also a part n parcel of westernization. So, on Valentines Day many people protested against it blah blah blah)
As I reached the park, a guy was distributing free posters “Stop Valentine. Save Culture”, “Say no to Valentine Day, preserve cultural values”. I grabbed one from it, and stood in a line, next to my friend, as I whispered, “Why we are here? I want to celebrate it and I am not against it.” He gave me a silly look, “Celebrate? With whom? You don’t have a girl friend” I replied, “but you have, then why are you against it. Go celebrate it with your gal” “Shut up, you idiot, I am here because I am against it. What valentine day, I have to spend my whole pocket money on buying gifts for a silly girl who keep calling me to remind that she’s my girl friend and keep crying ‘I can never understand her’.” He Explained.
Then I asked another guy, “Why on the earth you are so against the valentine day?” he explained he hates some guy and that guy has flower shop. So, during this season (i.e. valentine) his business starts booming, I want valentine day to be stopped, so his business get sucked. I discovered later on, none of them was against valentine day. Oh I forgot to introduce another guy, name not known, but he is here protesting with us because his wife really makes him sick. He just wants to time pass, so he has came here to protest.
We did lot of things, we hacked valentine cards into small pieces and burnt them, we razed buildings, burned flowers, made traffic jam and a lot like that. And when I was tired I returned home.
Sitting on bed, I picked my phone and called my girl friend, “Hello, sweet heart, happy valentines day”. LOL. I lied the last one.
Life – Part 2 January 14, 2007
Posted by Sandeep in Whining.Tags: experience, Life, story
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And she was done with all the candidates, rejecting them all. I was bit
nervous. But still confident. She called my name, and I try to be as
decent as I can be while entering the interviewer’s cabin. She came, I
stood up.
“What happened?” she said. “No ma’am, it is considered a custom to
stand up when you see some elder”. I try to be as innocent as I can be, but
helpless. “Have I asked you to stand up?” she further demonstrated her
attitude. It’s okay with me. It was the first impression, “first
impression is the last one.”
She asked for my paper’s which I gave. And she asked common questions
“what’s your name etc.” “What is your qualification?” she asked. “I have
just passed my senior secondary”, I replied. “What is senior
secondary?” she enquired further. “Umm… +2”, I replied while stumbling across the
thought that she really doesn’t know the meaning. “So, why don’t you
say you have passed +2? Everyone says that they have passed +2. You say
you have done senior secondary, are you trying to confuse me?” She fired
back at me. “Certainly not ma’am but it means the same.” I had to
reply. At this point she really lost her cool.
My English is very good, I don’t know why? Why is it so? Is it because
of good schooling, because I have the habit of reading, writing and
talking with people in English? She pointed out, “You are speaking so
fast, slow down.” I said “okay” But again “Have you prepared for the
interview or learnt it?” she said, checking my temperament. “No, I speak like
that, a little bit fast, but understandable, don’t you see my IELTS
score 7.5. I am a good English speaker”. This was the point when she went
completely against me.
“Why you want to go abroad?” She questioned, “Is it India not okay for
you?” I replied humbly, “It was my childhood dream to go abroad and
study there. I always wanted to stand on my own and become responsible
person. I love the challenging life.” Her expression was like this, “I am
not impressed!!!” I thought, “Yeah, I am not trying to impress you, I
deserve something better.” And “Is it India not okay for you?” “I think
India is not as good in providing higher education. Student teacher
ratio is not good and the kind of quality education does not conform to
the international standard. It will be an added advantage to my resume” I
went on to explain. “Do you know what the student teacher ratio is in
India?” she asked further. “Not exact figures, but it is very high as
compared to Canada.” She was tried to outwit me, “What if there was no
Canada? Where would you go then” I said, “Canada is not a priority for
me, I want to go their because of the education not because it is
Canada.” While I thought, “So stupid, if there was no Canada there would be no
embassy here in India. And you would have not got the kind of the job
you are enjoying and you would have not been sitting here and
interviewing me, but would have been in your country”
And finally she said, “You are not able to convince me. I am DENYING
you the VISA. Don’t dare to blame your country for anything. Be loyal to
your native land. It has given you the primary education.” Dreams were
shattered, and the vision was challenged. Defeat was felt. But I lost
no hope, “its okay ma’am, but you can see my IELTS score and my
certificates, I am good student as well as a person” I admitted that I didn’t
deserved the visa, and tried to show her my qualification. I had to ask,
“Ma’am, why you are denying me the visa?” she replied, “Because you
don’t have sufficient funds”.
I am happy being here in India. India is the best. It’s not because
grapes are sour, it’s because where I belongs to, where my family belongs
to. I think life is more challenging here then any other country in the
world. For me she made a right decision.
My determination says, one day in life, I will make her feel that she
made a mistake by denying me the VISA.
(PLEASE NOTE: All are my personal views and represent my thoughts. I
have not tried to portray any one wrong, but tried to bring about the
indifferences that the life makes”
Life is what happens, when you plan to do other things. January 13, 2007
Posted by Sandeep in Random Post.Tags: experience, going abroad, Life, story
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It was another day for me. I recieved a call from my agent (eductaion services) that my file is forwarded to the Canadian High Commission, and There are 90% chances that I will get a visa. All I Have to do is to appear for the interview. It’s okay, I love being interviewed.
My agent said, he can provide me the assistance in preparing for the interview. I have learned to be humble, I said ok. And he gave a me a set of questions. Like what is your name? where do you belong to?
To be frank, I was sure that I will get a visa. Why? I have got 7.5 bands in IELTS and good marks in +2. What more they (canadian embassy) can ask for? Anyhow, believed it is just a formality which I have to complete and I proceeded as.
The date arrived, I dressed up beautifully and combed my silly hairs. Standing in front of mirror, I said in a long breathed, “Perfect”. I was very confident, and very proudy. Dressed in a black coat pant and a red shirt, I thought, anyone can hand down me a visa. No questions asked.
I arranged for the driver. Canadian embassy is in chandigarh. A 3 hour drive from my home. I called up the driver in the mid night asked if everything okay. You know that pretty stupid thoughts on the eve of something important in your life.
My interview was fixed at 1 pm. I reached there, at 12 noon. You know that silly interview (how to tackle them?) articles, that always shout “Arrive early”. I did. But I had to wait.
I was stumped at the beauty of the furniture and the kind of state-of-the-art facilities. I sat there with the rest of the candidates, I wasn’t nervous, and I had a grin on my face. Hun! they can’t match with my IELTS scores. I whispered to one of the interviewee, “How’s the interviewer?”. “She is okay”, he replied. She. SHE. Yes I listened it. You mean a lady. Ladies at high authority were always a source of trouble for me. Remember. Principal. College Dean. and now the interviewer. But that doesn’t detered me for appearing in the interview.
“How is she reacting?” I asked. and the reply “Very bad. She is rejecting the visas. No one visa is stamped since the morning.” Again I laughed, “Um! I will break the jinx”. One by one all the candidates were gettting reject. Just a second ago, they were demonstarting me their skills, their education, their dedicationa and hard work. I thought, they deserved the visa, atleast, If I am not.
(to be continued)
Entry for June 17, 2006 June 17, 2006
Posted by Sandeep in Regular Posts.Tags: experience, Life
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It is long time since we had anything construction in our house. 1998, it was the last time when we had constructed some concrete in our home. It was when we turned our small house into two storeys to accommodate our ever-increasing need of more space (I still want more… I WANT MORE)
But the fever is back with gang of ill-dressed people roaming all over our place, as we are having some minor repairs and major (MAJOR) developments going on in our house.
I was envy of those people who had windows in their room (yeah, I read their beautiful picturesque reviews) into some beautiful scenes or natural beauty. And I am not sure if I still envy them. My room being the last one in the house, I decided to have window in my room.
Okay, I lied the last one, my dad decided it. Yup! Window in my room isn’t it fun. The fun remained till mason and bad-odor labor invaded my room. The hammer hitting hard the concrete (of your room wall), and dust falling all over your place, is a worst nightmare. Unfortunately, it came true for me.
They took away my pride of claiming my room TIDY AND CLEAN, and left me with a big window (almost a door, had it touched the floor).
Ah! New window, so now sun rays will enter, I would be able to experience rain from close now, the feeling is great, and the light is in (fresh air blah blah blah). God don’t want me to be happy, through that window I can’t see anything. And all I see is a wall, a newly made wall. It is almost a ft. away from my window.
But the room is airy now and I am having positive thoughts. I am feeling sleeping. I will write about it later.
