This blog is the backup of my original one “Life Untold” I write my posts in that blog and just import them into this blog (including the comments). Since I want to gather the comments into a single one, I would rather suggest you to post your comments in that blog. You are also welcome to post your comments in this blog. This blog will be updated as usual. Thank you.
Boom boom Aadi : Tricksters
Posted by Kavin on August 13, 2009
The aadi season has almost ended and one could see the massive crowd in T.Nagar. It was really massive that there could be even 5000 people in a textile showroom. I guess people would save up all their cash to buy dresses and jewellery and other goods only during the Aadi season but are they really saving money or is it only their mind that gets tricked in to believing that they are saving money?
I would like to tell an incident which I heard from a relative. There were two dresses, both are exactly alike except for the color. Let us assume the first one is yellow in colour. It was bought for Rs.100 before the aadi season. The other color, which is green, was sold at Rs.225 and reduced to Rs.150 in the name of discount. This was done by the same shop which sold the previous yellow dress. If you think this is a joke, it is not. It is a true incident. This is what they call as aadi season. Shops actually sell their goods at profit and people get fooled into believing that they are actually saving their money during the aadi season.
I have been to shops during the aadi season. One of the famous shops, also famous for giving big discounts, is also one of those shops. The reason that made me believe it was a new prize tag that was attached to every dress. Why should they attach a new prize tag to every dress? Why not use the existing tag and just put a board saying 10% discount or 15% discount? The new prize tag has the ‘claimed’ original prize of the dress which is striked out and below is the new discount prize. If this is a marketing strategy, they can’t stoop more.
I am not blaming all the shops but only a few. I have seen shops where they retain their original prize tag and have a banner or board saying the discount rate. Discount should be made only during the billing and not before it. I hope people do realize it and put an end it to the bogus discount sale.
Posted in Day-to-Day, Experiences | 2 Comments »
Paradigm Shift
Posted by Kavin on July 27, 2009
If you go and ask an automan why he wouldn’t reduce the charges even after the petrol prices have gone down much, you shouldn’t be surprised if he replies, “Recession”. This word has spread around the world much that everyone is claiming to be struck badly by the recession. We cannot blame them. Starting from the prices of petrol cans to the cost of vegetable greens in the market (I wonder why!), the prices have soared up. Thanks to recession!
Everyone knows that IT sector has most deeply been affected by recession. If that could affect the jobs of the IT employees, then it has affected the future IT prospects as well. I am not talking about the recent graduates from colleges but am talking about the future college prospects. It seems that in the present counselling for the engineering seats, students are opting themselves out of the Information Technology field.
Five years back, when I, one amongst fellow batchmates, was sitting in my school auditorium for a workshop on job opportunities, the guy in the dias looked at us and asked us how many of us want to be a doctor. Almost the entire bio group students raised their hands. That would be around 110 students.
Two years back, the demand for medical seats got too less and the demand for IT seats were at the peak. Are students inclined to choose the course that is always at the top or do they choose it with complete interest? Students tend to choose the field that will keep them secure. We cannot blame them. Fruits like mangoes, water melons comes only during summer season and not during any other season. One cannot see them in the roadside vendor stalls. Just because they don’t come in the other season, you wouldn’t begin to hate them, would you?
Posted in Day-to-Day, Experiences, World | 14 Comments »
God of Pop!
Posted by Kavin on June 28, 2009
I woke up on last friday morning with a news that the legendary singer and dancer Michael Jackson has passed away due to a cardiac arrest. It was a shocking news to the world and to all his fans. The fact that this has happened at the time when he was about to perform his final concert is really sad and I am sure a lot of fans throughout the world, and also all the people, who loved him and also hated him, would shower their respect to this legend.
It is as if I know MJ right from my birth.I remember my dad and uncle listen to Michael Jackson songs when I was a kid. I still remember watching a young guy waking up from his bed and dancing to the tunes of ‘Beat it’. It was only a few years later when I was introduced into the world of pop music from the ‘Dangerous’ Album of MJ. I even remember the day when they announced on music television that they are going to play the premiere of a song from his album ‘Invincible’. I remember the days when I listened or watched MJ songs without break along with my cousins. But now I have to remember the day when I heard about the demise of the King of Pop – Michael Jackson.
MJ was surrounded with controversies right since he became famous. He overcame all the controversies and stood like a king as he is. He loved children. He built a theme park for children, called it as Neverland and also took children from orphanages and schools on a free trip to his theme park. Though he suffered financial crisis, he never wished to sell away the land and in the end, but in the end, he sold that land as a last resort.
I always wished that MJ and ARR should perform together in a song. To my shock, they were indeed preparing themselves for a performance to support unity in humanity. This incident had happened after ARR had won two oscars. People would always remember MJ for two things – his passion for entertaining people and his concentration on social causes.
There may be people who would try to fill his place but it is not really easy to replace a king who has ruled for more than three decades. He is the King of Pop and will always be the King. I pray for his family and well wishers Let his soul rest in peace. The world may have lost him but his music will be remembered forever. His dance will be remembered forever, not to forget the famous moonwalk. And most importantly, just like every other legend, MJ would be remembered forever. The fact that the increase in the download of the music video thriller, which has been a record breaking sensation of all time, even after his death only proves that his music journey has not ended. It will continue forever. His voice will still be heard, his moves will still be watched and like God, his presence will be felt wherever music is. He is the God of Pop!
The following video appears in the Dangerous video album. This video is a great tribute to him. Brace yourself!
Posted in Celebrities, Entertainment, Music, Tribute, World | 6 Comments »
The day I got my driving license
Posted by Kavin on June 22, 2009
“You will lose your touch if you don’t come in for a month”, the driving coach said to me when I said my exams were coming by. It was the second week of November and the exams were scheduled to begin on November 25,2006. Only three or four classes were pending including the two classes for reverse drive. He wanted me to finish it as soon as possible. So I agreed with finishing the remaining classes and attend the driving test which was scheduled on November 18th.
The remaining classes went smoothly and with ease. Driving the scooty was left to me as I had to practise driving the vehicle in the shape of 8. I practised two nights before the scheduled test. Irrespective of the place, whoever stood there, especially kids, stopped their work in order to watch me drive in the shape of 8 as if I am doing a stunt show. After practising every night, I was ready for the final show.
November 18, 2006.
I was asked to be at the RTO in the morning and I made it correctly on time. We were asked to go to a place where I first started driving. That was the place where the two wheeler test was supposed to be conducted. I started practising along with everyone. I was almost making the shape when I realized that the road was empty and I was the only person there. Everyone else had left. I circled the area to find any group standing there but there were none. Just then I received a call from my driving master that the test is in the RTO office itself. How did I miss that announcement?
I was back at the RTO. I was told that the senior most police was there for inspection and his policy is to keep it simple. Thats why he wanted the test to be conducted at the RTO itself. Everyone taking the test were allowed to use their own vehicles. They took turns in riding their two wheelers in the shape of 8. Almost everyone succeeded in doing so and got a nod from the police.
My turn came. It started out well. Almost made the shape and then I had to take a U-turn. That was when I kept my legs down. I thought “Gone!”. But this police was not really strict and gave me one more chance. I have to do it again from the beginning. I started again but this time, it ended up in a worst scenario. Before I could make the U-Turn, I placed my legs down and even went out of the path. The police need not say anything. I knew that I had lost the battle.
I was waiting out with my scooty for the car test. Just then the driving assistant came to me and said, “What is this? Why couldn’t you balance your vehicle?” Then came the turn of the coach, “What happened? If you fail in two-wheeler, there are high chances that you will fail in four wheeler as well. Let us see what happens!”. That was great news for me! If that happens, that would totally be unfair. “If only I had one more chance”, I thought.
The two wheeler test had ended. All of a sudden, the coach came running to me and said, “Start your scooty fast. He wants to give you another chance”. I couldn’t believe it was all happening. The police is giving me a third chance? But why? I immediately took my scooty in. I was almost near the starting place when the coach told me, “No, he didn’t call you. I misunderstood”. I got frustrated and looked at the police as I started turning back.
The police looked at me again and gestured to me to come back. I got my third chance! I started again. It seemed the entire place was too silent. I completely concentrated on what I was doing. It came out simple. I completed the 8 and also took the U-turn and brought it to a halt with a hand signal. I looked at the police to know the result. After giving a brief thought, he gave a nod. I had passed the test!
Then came the car test. Again the police wanted to keep it simple. Instead of the usual drive in the road, here we just need to start the vehicle, move it to a little distance, stop, put the reverse gear and move back the vehicle to where it started. As simple as that. It was easily finished. As I was little upset about my performance in two-wheeler test, the coach came and cheered me up. It was indeed a day to cheer up as from then, I was licensed to drive in the entire nation. “Why don’t you drop this old man in his house on your way?” The coach told me pointing to an old guy standing nearby. My experimentation with driving had begun. It began on a happy note! 🙂
Posted in Experiences, Flashback, Travel | 10 Comments »
Confusions
Posted by Kavin on June 5, 2009
Confusions happen in everyone’s life. They are bound to occur when you don’t understand what is going on either with the surroundings or with the people. A thousand of confusions would’ve occured in anyone’s life. Some of them would have been funny. I would like to tell some of those of mine.
Mathematical Confusion
I was in the VI std and a Scholastic book fair was going on. They were offering 10% discount on any book exclusively for the students of my school. After searching for a book, I landed upon a good kids horror book. The book costed Rs.60. I had Rs.50 in my pocket. I thought to myself “10% discount means 60-10 = Rs.50”. Satisfied with my calculations, I went to the only counter where a young lady was handling it. I gave her the book and also the Rs.50 note.
The lady said, “I need four more bucks”
I stood there giving a shocked expression.
“How? 60 – 10 = 50, right?”
I held my stand but the lady gave a chuckle and continued to explain clearly, “The book costs Rs.60. 10% of 60 is 6. So after deducting the 10%, i.e 6, the remaining amount should be 54. You gave only 50 bucks. I need four more bucks”.
I didn’t have any more money. I had just brought a 50 buck note. When I stood there still confused at the calculations, the kind lady smiled again and said, “All right, You did not understand. I will pay the four bucks for you. But you must promise me that you won’t tell anyone, ok?”
I nodded, still confused with the calculations she did. After giving a brief thought, I thanked the lady and left.
Pronounciation Confusion
It happened four or five years back. Arunkumar, M.S.Karthikeyan and myself went to a Pizza Hut outlet. After ordering for a pizza, the delivery boy asked us whether we want anything else to eat and after a negative reply, he placed a bill. The delivery boy did not come to collect to bill after we finished eating. So we were busy chatting after eating the pizza.
The delivery boy finally came and said, “Check”
Karthikeyan looked at the guy and answered sincerely, “No cheque! Only cash!”
The delivery boy smiled and now said the complete words, “No sir, Check the bill!”
We laughed aloud as we exitted the shop.
Language Confusions
This incident happened six years back. The train had just stopped in Howrah and we were still waiting in the station for further arrangements to be made. People were lying spread on all the spaces available and atop a pillar, there was a TV attached and the movie “Predator” was being shown in a channel. We were waiting for a long time and my uncle told me to get two bottles of pepsi from a petty shop in the platform. I got the money and went to the guy handling the petty shop. Though I knew only a few words in hindi, I decided to test my hindi with him.
“Dhou pepsi bottle” (Two pepsi bottles), I said pointing at the 500 ml pet bottle.
He took out two bottles. I knew the standard prize but I still decided to test my hindi knowledge further.
“Kitna rupee?” (How much rupee?) Only after saying those words, I realized that I wouldn’t understand whatever he replies. Too late! He said some amount in hindi which I hoped he didn’t lie. I handed him a hundred buck note. Like all shopkeepers, he was also honest as he handed me the remaining amount. I realized one thing, “Look before you leap”
Another incident happened in a hotel in Nepal. We have heard from people that the nights in Nepal would be chilly. Who would know much better than the room boy? So my aunt and myself and one more person were there questioning the room boy. We expected the room boy to know some hindi and the room boy expected us to know hindi. Unfortunately, all of us knew only little hindi (or we knew worst hindi than the room boy). I knew that the word “baahar” means outside and the word “thandaa” means cold. “Kya” means “what?”. So I decided to experiment.
“Baahar mae thaandaa kya?”
The room boy blinked.
Then I wondered where the word “mae” came from. I replaced the word with some other word.
“Baahar thou thandaa kya?”
The room boy still blinked. My aunt also tried to explain. I decided to go on with word by word.
“Baahar?”
He nodded.
“Thandaa?” He nodded again, smiling, probably proud that he is getting to understand us.
“Baahar thandaa kya?”
He once again blinked. We decided to quit with the idea as it was turning out to be fruitless. In another fruitless conversation, my aunt ended up saying in tamil, “Poda, neenga pesuradhu engaluku puriyala. Naanga pesuradhu ungaluku puriyala” (You don’t understand what we are speaking, We don’t understand what you are speaking”
Posted in Flashback, Funny, Tour | 6 Comments »
Confusions
Posted by Kavin on June 5, 2009
Confusions happen in everyone’s life. They are bound to occur when you don’t understand what is going on either with the surroundings or with the people. A thousand of confusions would’ve occured in anyone’s life. Some of them would have been funny. I would like to tell some of those of mine.
Mathematical Confusion
I was in the VI std and a Scholastic book fair was going on. They were offering 10% discount on any book exclusively for the students of my school. After searching for a book, I landed upon a good kids horror book. The book costed Rs.60. I had Rs.50 in my pocket. I thought to myself “10% discount means 60-10 = Rs.50”. Satisfied with my calculations, I went to the only counter where a young lady was handling it. I gave her the book and also the Rs.50 note.
The lady said, “I need four more bucks”
I stood there giving a shocked expression.
“How? 60 – 10 = 50, right?”
I held my stand but the lady gave a chuckle and continued to explain clearly, “The book costs Rs.60. 10% of 60 is 6. So after deducting the 10%, i.e 6, the remaining amount should be 54. You gave only 50 bucks. I need four more bucks”.
I didn’t have any more money. I had just brought a 50 buck note. When I stood there still confused at the calculations, the kind lady smiled again and said, “All right, You did not understand. I will pay the four bucks for you. But you must promise me that you won’t tell anyone, ok?”
I nodded, still confused with the calculations she did. After giving a brief thought, I thanked the lady and left.
Pronounciation Confusion
I happened four or five years back. Arunkumar, M.S.Karthikeyan and myself went to a Pizza Hut outlet. After ordering for a pizza, the delivery boy asked us whether we want anything else to eat and after a negative reply, he placed a bill. The delivery boy did not come to collect to bill after we finished eating. So we were busy chatting after eating the pizza.
The delivery boy finally came and said, “Check”
Karthikeyan looked at the guy and answered sincerely, “No cheque! Only cash!”
The delivery boy smiled and now said the complete words, “No sir, Check the bill!”
We laughed aloud as we exitted the shop.
Language Confusions
This incident happened six years back. The train had just stopped in Howrah and we were still waiting in the station for further arrangements to be made. People were lying spread on all the spaces available and atop a pillar, there was a TV attached and the movie “Predator” was being shown in a channel. We were waiting for a long time and my uncle told me to get two bottles of pepsi from a petty shop in the platform. I got the money and went to the guy handling the petty shop. Though I knew only a few words in hindi, I decided to test my hindi with him.
“Dhou pepsi bottle” (Two pepsi bottles), I said pointing at the 500 ml pet bottle.
He took out two bottles. I knew the standard prize but I still decided to test my hindi knowledge further.
“Kitna rupee?” (How much rupee?) Only after saying those words, I realized that I wouldn’t understand whatever he replies. Too late! He said some amount in hindi which I hoped he didn’t lie. I handed him a hundred buck note. Like all shopkeepers, he was also honest as he handed me the remaining amount. I realized one thing, “Look before you leap”
Another incident happened in a hotel in Nepal. We have heard from people that the nights in Nepal would be chilly. Who would know much better than the room boy? So my aunt and myself and one more person were there questioning the room boy. We expected the room boy to know some hindi and the room boy expected us to know hindi. Unfortunately, all of us knew only little hindi (or we knew worst hindi than the room boy). I knew that the word “baahar” means outside and the word “thandaa” means cold. “Kya” means “what?”. So I decided to experiment.
“Baahar mae thaandaa kya?”
The room boy blinked.
Then I wondered where the word “mae” came from. I replaced the word with some other word.
“Baahar thou thandaa kya?”
The room boy still blinked. My aunt also tried to explain. I decided to go on with word by word.
“Baahar?”
He nodded.
“Thandaa?” He nodded again, smiling, probably proud that he is getting to understand us.
“Baahar thandaa kya?”
He once again blinked. We decided to quit with the idea as it was turning out to be fruitless. In another fruitless conversation, my aunt ended up saying in tamil, “Poda, neenga pesuradhu engaluku puriyala. Naanga pesuradhu ungaluku puriyala” (You don’t understand what we are speaking, We don’t understand what you are speaking”
Posted in Flashback, Funny, Tour | 7 Comments »
Tagged #2
Posted by Kavin on May 31, 2009
Tagged by Nithya. Alright here it goes…
AMICABLE- Friends ofcourse
BEAUTIFUL- Mountains, sea, clouds, nature, altogether Earth
CUNNING- Fox
DARING- Bear Grylls of Man vs Wild
ELEGANT- A thing that you need when are you are walking on something like a red carpet
FRESH- Fruits
GRUDGE- Horror movie… lolz
HUMBLE- Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam
IMMORTAL- Immortality – something which is believed to have been existed, and crazed by most living.
JOVIAL- Too many I know
KILLER- Sharks
LAZY- Other than me?
MAJESTIC- Kings
NINCOMPOOP- Can’t think of anyone right now… but I guess it would be Suppandi 😉
OPPORTUNIST – ya I know a few
PRIDE- The way to motivate oneself
QUICK- Instant coffee
RATTLE- Stone Cold Steve Austin 😀
SERPENT- Cobra
TREE- shady, selfless
UMBRELLA- oh, I kept losing that
VENOM- Spiderman character… lolz
WIT- Albert Einstein
XYLOPHONE- wish I could play that
YELLOW- pleasant
ZEST- without which things go unpleasant
Now I would like to TAG
Posted in Tagged | 9 Comments »
Destiny
Posted by Kavin on May 22, 2009
I wrote this song a month back. The original song is ‘The Call’ from Backstreet Boys. I have modified the lyrics here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6GRKRDicTU
Hello.
Hello. Hi dude. Where is the bus? Listen, I am going to be late today. So don’t wait for me, ok?
Where are you?
Could you hear me?
Hello?
Listen I must catch the bus. We will meet in college, alright? Now gotta go!
Let me tell you the story about the bus miss that changed the history
Me and myself stepped out just when the bus had left for its destiny
Was about to go to Mad Kai when there was a 19b in the Saidapet
I thought, “Wow! I got a place in the bus, Now it should go!”
I shouldn’t have boarded, the bus was moving forward
But stopped a distance apart, conductor said,
“Listen people, I am sorry. Wanna tell you this bus is so crowdy.
You will be fined, so just wait and get the tickets from me”
“We would like to tell that we are being crushed like a tomato green
Oh no! Do you know? I could have got a dozen other buses on time,
Had I said no!
Now four years gone, nothing has been done.
Yes I can’t take it back, what’s gone is gone.
One of my friends told me that 19b wasn’t the only one
I should’ve kept the list aside. But they don’t start on time.
Its just because I missed the bus and so I said,
“Listen friends, I am sorry. Wanna tell you not to make a row over me
I am being late. So please stay there and wait for me
I am telling you again that I will be there. So be panic-free
Say it aloud. So you know? I will be there in the place in sometime.
Now gotta go”.
Let me tell you the story about the bus change that decided about my destiny
Me and myself stepped out just to board another mystery
Almost reached the gate when the watchman was
standing in front of me, he said “ID Card!?”
“I got it somewhere in my bag! Let me gooooo!”
“Listen boy, I am sorry! Wanna tell you, this is my duty!”
“No I am being late, so don’t make me stay and wait for silly things.
I will tell you again you are making me lose my class duties
It almost now! So you know, I must reach the class on time, Gotta go”
Listen friends, I am sorry. Wanna tell you that I am worried
that I will be missing the class again and wait for eve
But I shouldn’t be missing here, cause I am dropping out my morning meals
So you know, we should wait and know, I have reached the class on time
The staff should allow me; should be fine but
“NEXT CLASS!”
Posted in College Life, My Songs, Travel | Leave a Comment »
Breathing Neon (Beta) 