'GIGAIM' rocks!!!

Although I would have hated to write a post like this, but after being almost cut off from the world for about one week, I really think www.gigaim.com rocks; and I more than love to write about it.

One week and no work, and lots of time to get bored, browsing through arbit stuff, access being denied to gmail, yahoo, or for that sake many other entertaining sites - that's how I define first week of my internship at GE, Hyderabad.

But, then I had Ugri (co-intern, college friend) on my side; and thanks to him, he finally broke off the shackles which were keeping us in a sort of solitary (not actually solitary, but 'dual'itary) confinement, in the 2nd week itself!!! Even I had tried to access the outer world through various proxy sites, but to my disappointment, all in waste.

With just one week over, I now know that I can connect to anyone out there, whenever 'I wish'. To all those surviving behind the walls, 'GIGAIM' is the answer to your calls.

Cheers to gigaim!!!

PS: Also, it gave me some stuff to 'pen' down in my blog. An added advantage!!!  ;)

When 'THE' Present Eclipsed the Past, Enshrined the Present and Etched into the Future!!!

On Sunday 'Greatness' was redefined. The phenomenon was born approximatley 27 years ago, however the initial, albeit insignificant vestiges of any marked grandeur were only seen in 1987. Within few years, the tennis world was to spectacle a legend in making. The world then was fortunate enough to watch him learn, and the world now is awed by his simple presence there, a legend's presence.

The final battle, on Sunday, ensued for four hours and 16 minutes with a scoreline of  5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14, a 78 game epic. The final set alone lasted for going on for over an hour and half, the longest set in the history of Wimbledon. The match established Roger Federer's supremacy not only in the current arena, but in the history of tennis; Federer regained the top spot as well. All the questions were answered- Had Roger Federer sealed his place in sporting history? Was he the greatest ever to lift a tennis racket? Had he transcended the likes of bygone greats like Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, and Pete Sampras?

With back to back victories in the 2 Grand Slams ( in French Open before Wimbeldon), Federer became one of the very few to win all four majors and surpass Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams. There is, perhaps, very little that can make an all-time grand slam record more special. And to that, Roger Federer owes Andy Roddick, the man who took runner's up trophy third time in a row.

Unfortunately, I didn't have access to this moment of glory, of reckoning. But, soon enough (next day :( ), I captured all that had happened, through various sources and would like to post some of those memorable quotes and happenings:

Just after the match-

Chants of “Roddick, Roddick” rang through the arena, as the crowd came to terms with the epic match it had just been witness to.

“I’m one of the lucky few that gets cheered for so thank you, I appreciate that,” said the ever-gracious American, quickly overcoming what was clearly a heart-wrenching loss for him. “I want to say congratulations to Roger: well done, he deserves it.”

“If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same,” reads a sign above the entrance to Center Court.

At the post-match conference-

Roddick, after the defeat -

For once a roomful of journalists were lost for words. There was nothing they wanted to ask Andy Roddick because every question felt too ghoulish. What did we need to know? Andy Roddick had played the greatest game of his life and had still lost.

Did you lose to the world’s greatest tennis player ever? “Yeah.”

“He just makes it real tough. You know, he was having trouble picking up my serve today for the first time ever. He just stayed the course. You didn't even get a sense that he was even really frustrated by it. He gets a lot of credit for a lot of things, but not a lot of the time is how many matches he kind of digs deep and toughs out. He doesn't get a lot of credit for that because it looks easy to him a lot of the times. But he definitely stuck in there today.”

And here's the Greatest-Ever himself, Federer -

“I used to get nervous when a friend would come and watch me play as a kid, and then it was my parents, and then it was legends. Today anybody can come and watch me play, I don't get nervous anymore. But with Pete it was a bit special. When he walked in and I saw him for the first time, I did get more nervous actually. I said hello to him too, which is unusual. But I thought, I don't want to be rude!”-  Federer grinned.

"I'm happy at least that I became No. 1 in the world by winning the tournament, not just by him not playing at all, or me playing decent or someone else playing decent and getting to No. 1. That's not the way it's supposed to be. You win big matches, big tournaments – that's how you get back to it.” - Federer on Nadal's absence.

“My career has had a lot of ups and downs but Mirka has always been there. I’m unbelievably grateful to her. She had to stop playing because she had such pain in her foot, but she went really quickly from being a player to my girlfriend and my helper, and it was never a problem for her. I’m really lucky.” - Federer for Mirka, his wife.

Tennis legends on Federer's greatness -

“should just watch his feet, just watch Roger and not the ball, and you'd see how great a player he is to pull off some of the shots. ” - Australian great Rod Laver, to anyone who is unsure of Federer’s greatness.

And finally, Sampras -

"He's a great guy, he's humble, which I like. He's sort of effortless, he doesn't seem like he's working that hard out there. He plays at that level so easily, he serves big, he's got a great forehand, his backhand's solid, he's got everything and he's got the belief. The critics say (Rod) Laver, and (Rafa) Nadal beat him a few times in majors, but he's won all the majors, he's going to win a few more here, so in my book he is. "

The win, on Sunday, apotheosized Federer.

The Pensieve

This was few days back, rather few weeks ago - I stood in front of the ATM, trying to gather my thoughts, unable to find what I was searching for. A crunching noise from within the ATM made a similar rumbling noise within my mind, as if all thoughts were shuffling together to find their right place. The receipt popped out, to show me 1793. The number confirmed that the last transaction had been successful and the memories that I had been juggling till now, to evade that silent force, finally formed a pattern.

There was no running away now, I knew that my tenure as a Soc-Sec was over. It was now best for me to recollect whatever I can and cherish and enjoy till that fades out. At that instant, I unbarred the doors of my mind to let all the thoughts flow out. The flow was less than expected; during this one year, somehow few of the memories had slipped out into nowhere and now they were lost forever.  Still there was lot to catch hold of - saw an year younger, slightly anxious Oval adressing Freshies for the 1st time alongwith Arun(Bhadwa), Lit-Sec --> hidden in a crowd of jubilant freshies, after a great start to Saras' Lit-Soc journey with 1st position in Queen of Sheeba, a proud Oval --> saw all the shades of Oval, while coloring my life once again with those fond memories -->uff, that's a concerned Oval at Fine Arts--> angry Oval at Diwali  --> now disappointed for Choreo--> I think I am happy now, twin victory at Drams and SFM -->ecstatic -->almost tearful at the Freestyle Solo Dance for the freshi wins............--->acting as a lunatic at Holi --> AHA!!!. Finally, the most memorable event - when actually the entire hostel worked as a team to seal the 1st place for Saras - Treasure Hunt, enjoying the bums now...all of us now gathering together to rejoice that moment, yelling aloud just one name...SARAS...SARAS...that's what binds us together. I see everyone from 1st years to final years - no one knows when Saras won the trophy before, but now everyone will know, because it's now...it's over...we have won!!! Thanks to Bhadwa, freshies, seniors (won't mention all names) - they achieved it, worked hard for it. It's done and over...Hurrah!!!

Alas!!!It's all over now. How good it was to re-live those moments in parts, to feel them again. I wish I  had a Pensieve (remember Harry Potter?).

"I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form."

If there would have been a Pensieve....

Welcome to the Hard Truth!!!

Don’t you feel stifled in your environment?? If you are happy in your life and content with what’s going around you, then leave now.

What’s that they say, “For Ignorance is Bliss”. I say - It’s Dangerous.

Is it because you have adapted yourself to the environment?? Isn’t that the best way to survive?? Isn’t it better to be like that – but better for whom?? For you or for the Society?? I don’t think that either you or the Society need to just survive, it’s your LIFE – you need to LIVE it!!!

“Throughout the world…we use the word ‘politics’ to describe the process so well: ‘Poli’ in Latin meaning ‘many’ and ‘tics’ meaning ‘bloodsucking creatures’. Don’t you think that we are among these ‘tics’??Yes, WE are!!! And I learnt this harsh reality after entering IIT. There are many things that I have learnt at IIT the hard way ( :) ), as these were theoretical (all the courses). However, one thing that, I am damn sure, will always remain in my mind as I see it everytime, I feel it everywhere, it’s there always and that is – Regionalism, Politics. Before entering into IIT or for that matter for anyone entering any of the institutes, we sense a feeling of pain and of being cheated, swelling within us, a surge of anger against the people governing the country – ‘POLI-TIC-IANS’. The feeling is justified.

We do feel the same even after coming here – Is the feeling justified now?? One would say, “Why not!! We have become more responsible.” I ask, “Responsible for what??” During institute elections or even elections within the hostel, we see regionalism at its peak. If a Northie wins, it would have been due to Northie majority; and if a Southie (from A.P) wins, it would have been otherwise. Here credentials matter, but only if you are facing a neutral person, who are in minority. Favoritism being shown based on region, is that what we were appealing for to our dear ‘Politicians’. If not, then why are we becoming like them!!! Politics leads to regionalism, and Regionalism, in turn, leads to Regional Politics. It has become a vicious circle – a loop, without a beginning or an end. We are tying a knot, a noose around our necks, strangling ourselves, which will eventually suffocate us to death. We are preparing a Doomsday for ourselves. It may be tough to untie the noose, without a beginning or an end, but I ask, “Why are we looking for its ends, for its causes, for its consequences, when we know it’s infinite?? We can never reach its ends.”

But there has to be some solution. How can we otherwise bring a change in the Indian politics?? Why do you think are politicians not justified in showing favoritism, bringing quota in all the fields, when we are justified in doing the same for some petty, mere posts in our institute itself?? If in your mind an answer pops up, “They are justified”, then I assume – we have lost the battle against corruption, against regionalism, against communalism and against all those evils that we are preaching ourselves. We are being damn bloody hypocrites!!!

As Gandhiji said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Till we wage a battle within ourselves, against us; we can be sure that we won’t be able to win a battle with this government, against those corrupt officials. This is the only solution - to cut the knot in between, where we are standing, to destroy the entire structure – anyways a better structure may be built later easily.

I would like to quote Nandita Das, “Lot of times, or may be always, we try to identify ourselves with something for which we have not at all contributed. We feel proud for something that we have not done – we feel proud for being a Sikh, Hindu, Muslim etc. Ponder for sometime and tell me – What have you done to be one of these. Aren’t there better things to be proud of, where you may have contributed!! ” This idea/ notion is so common – to be proud of your birthplace, family background – so explicit, so much revealed; but yet so hidden. Why? Because we are afraid of losing our identity, why do we need to sweat out our body for something, when we already have a readymade substitute for it!!!

We crib over National politics, when majority of us ‘Don’t Even Vote’. Why don’t we raise a voice against the internal politics, the game being played at a much lower level? Remember, we do ‘Vote For This’!!! How is the statement then justified, “Your vote counts”?? Is it just for the sake of counting?? Why is our vote not changing the political scene within our local boundaries??

Think over this. A song from movie “Rann” truly depicts the state of affairs in India, however it asks “Vidhata(God) to save India”. I beg to differ – it’s us or no one else.

Irrational Pessimism??

In my previous post, there was mention of rationality of customers being a prime reason for the recession. Although this idea may seem to be fundamental to many of the readers, I was a bit reluctant in accepting the entire notion - "How can 'Rationality', an ideal concept, result in something so disastrous like 'Recession', miles away from ideality!!" It's the fact that we assume customers to be irrational, while they make their choices, that makes 'Rational' - 'Irrational'.

While googling to find the basis for the theory, I came across an entirely new term - "Irrational Pessimism". This state of mind is a result of the ongoing recession. Most of the stuff that follows is part of other blogs. It is quite amazing to see the unanimosity in everyone's outlook: “It will get worse by the end of 2009”, “it will take 3-5 or even 10 years or more to recover”, and “it is the worst since the Great Depression”.

Pessimism is ‘everywhere’! The argument that this pessimism is justified is ‘everywhere’.  I would like to cite the reasons why it may be “irrational pessimism”.

“Misery Index”, simply adding unemployment rate and inflation, shows that we are just at 7.6 %, which is far below the recessions of the 70s and 80s when it was 22% and 19.9%.

This recession is, of course, not over yet, but none of the above statistics are expected to get as bad as the prior recessions. There are stories of massive lay-offs, but unemployment is only expected to rise to 8.9%.

So, how do we explain the stock market hitting the rock bottom?

Reasons for the Crash being Larger:

1. Popping of 4 bubbles at once – real estate, oil/commodities, China (BRIC countries) and a debt/financial bubble.


2. Fear among consumers due to the Banking Crisis, made it harder to get credit.


3. Recession is global.

Are these enough to justify the current pessimism??

1. All the 4 bubbles have probably deflated fully, except may be for real estate.


2. The US financial index is down 80%, not much room to fall further.

Everyone is wondering how bad the economy could get, but the economy is not the problem. Everyone is wondering how low the stock market will get, while trillions of dollars sit in cash on the sidelines waiting for the right time to jump back in.

Is “Irrational Pessimism” the latest bubble? We need to wait and watch as to what will be the impact, when this one pops.

Commentophobia!!!

Did you read it right?? Does it mean "fear of comments"?? Yes, that title do mean 'fear of comments on blog'.  That term 'commentophobia' has been coined by me (as far as I know :);  not that it seems innovative or sounds awesome, but still...). In my first post, I asked people to share their views through comments.

Response to the first two comments: Thanks to both ugri and ankit. Then provided an explanation for a point put up by Ankit regarding my post.

I was really encouraged when I got the first 2 comments (let it be from 2 of my best friends). The 3rd comment quadrupled my enthusiasm (I can really receive 3 comments within 2 hours of my post!!!), with another really nice and appreciating comment.

However, with each of the comments that followed I got a bit restless. Each comment that followed objected to a certain viewpoint held by me, put up in the post. Initially, it was one-on-one (war between the comments and replies had begun), then it shifted to two-on-one (obviously, i am the one and not one of the two). Both of them objected to the same point, and became more and more specific each time; both supporting each other and validating each others' points. I felt the fear of accepting the defeat in my first post itself, of giving up my viewpoint (how can one win when the people writing comments are going deeper than the author himself). But, then I held myself, 'thought' sincerely, not giving up to my 'heart's weakness'; I pinged Ankit, who was one of those who had troubled me with the comments, and the following battle ensued, where I overcame my fear. Have a look at the "War of Words", with my expert comments in between:

Note: Comments have been written in quotes

"The fear"

prateek: arey tu apne comment ka kuch reply soch yaar baap re...itna to

depth mein main khud nahi gaya

Sent at 10:34 PM on Friday

"Soon, I had come up with a reply, and was going to post when I thought (out of my fear) that it would be better to have Ankit's reaction informally before seeing it formally in form of comments: here is my reply to the chat, asking for his response"

prateek: I may not have interpreted "rationalisng creatures" in the correct sense.

But the point remains the same, i.e., when did the human kind evolve, or make progress - when they were 'rational' or were 'rationalising'??

If I am correct, rationalising would mean that men/women would have performed an instinctive action (a result of feelings and emotions). When we say that men have not been exactly rational, but tried to be rational; it strengthens the basis of my viewpoint. Man seeks a logical reason behind any achievement, any development, any discovery. Then why not be rational, although it may be tough. As I say,"Be what you would like to be and not impersonate what you would like to be (i.e. a rational being)."

ankit.ashok: people are uncomfortable with instinct, they seek to rationalise and that too most actions are not rational - the whole economy and especially marketing depend on the non-rationality of the customers

tu ye comment likh de..fir main apna likh dunga

Sent at 11:02 PM on Friday

"Did you notice the time gap, I thought of a reply "soon" i.e. "11:02 PM"!!! Now, I am almost hysterical"

prateek:

tune wo comment likh diya to to meri watt lag jayegi...koi defence hi nahi kar paoonga...kya boloonga uske liye main?? hudd hai!! par wahi to ideal case mein to rational hona chahiye na

tu keh raha hai market depends on rationality of customers but in a perfect competition which is ideal, customers are also assumed to be rational

ankit.ashok: irrationality of customers is how it works thats the flaw in economics as it is now

"Finally, overcame my fear and a 'sensible' discussion follows"

prateek: nd every1 wld like not to deviate frm ideality

ankit.ashok: and time and again it has led to recessions they would like to think that they dont deviate from rationality

prateek: rationality has led to recessions??

"Next Post Topic: Rationality leading to Recessions!!!"

ankit.ashok: like, agar mughe koi pooche ki tughe short skirts pasand hai ya intelligence, main ob intell boloonga.. par i want short skirts

ankit.ashok: the assumption that customers will be rational when they are not

prateek: ya thy r not, but thy shld be na thts the whole point fir kya!!!

ankit.ashok: y should they be?

prateek: bec thts wht is ideal and to judge a rational person's behaviour is much easier

ankit.ashok: just becoz that person found it too difficult to under human behavior without the assumption, y should the world change? arey thats the mistake of the guy who is modelling it

prateek: arey hudd hai, dekh tujhe agar short skirts chahiye to tu woh bol, assuming that u wld like intelligence is irrational

ankit.ashok: geniuses are supposed to model the real world correctly - not the real world to follow whatever the geniuses dreamt of

prateek: or u sayin tht u wld like intelligence bec it's expected frm u, is totally irrational...a nd this expectation comes bec before this ppl like u wld hv said 'intelligence' irrationally

ankit.ashok: would u believe, I am chatting to u more than I am to the girl?

prateek: hehe

"A good example on the way...read the following"

thts an instinct...bec u r njoyin tlkin abt this now...howevr if u use ur mind, u may chat or talk with me later, but u wont to tht girl so u shld chat with tht girl instead of me...nd i shld mug, but i m not... thts all instinct

ankit.ashok: again, humans are good at rationalising : they look at their responce to a problem and say - ok this is what I should have done - so when they have ample amt of time and nothing to lose, they follow whatever i think they SHOULD do, not what they WOULD do

prateek: its only whn we need to justify our mistakes tht we rationalise  or whn we dont hv any basis for our actions nd we want to justify it to ourselves, tht we rationalise if we want to justify tht to ourselves and can thnk of a rationale later, why not before taking actions its not a question of what humans are, but what humans shld be?? mind or heart??

ankit.ashok: again, what determines what humans should be? only your model na? a model can never dictate

prateek: forget abt the model, see wht man does whn he rationalises... he wants some proof or justification for wht he did...a person will be satisfied nd wont search for rationale if he wld hv already taken tht path... already done tht... so for satisfying himself, he shld do tht... say, wht happens if he is unable to rationalise??

ankit.ashok: no, he will still look for reason  becoz humans seek acceptance abe tere se baad mein baat karta hoon

prateek: arey ab jab tune soch samjhke kuch kiya hai thn it wont matter hehe... mind at work

"And there ends the discussion, when a girl interrupted him on GTalk, anyways this is long enough...Hope you all liked it...if not then wait for the next post after end-sems, this was just a series of comments and responses, which I thought would not classify as comments but as a post."

Now, I would really wish people to comment on any of my posts. It's nice to have different viewpoints, sometimes you do feel that you are wrong (not in my case).