Why do You like the things that you Like?

I have a lot of time on my hands. And its times like these that make insignificant things highly noticeable.

So, what did I notice, you ask.

Facebook's widely popular feature of liking a comment/status/picture or what-have-you.
I know, I know. Its is not a remarkable observation.
But the question is :

What makes people press the 'Like' button?

People will like anything due to one of the following reasons:

1. Because it is witty/new/enjoyable etcetra and they appreciate that.

2. The emotion behind the status/picture/comment resonates within them 

3. To show support/faith

4. To publicize the event/widespread distribution of knowledge

5. To engage in battle of wits

6. They agree with you but have nothing more to add to the conversation thread

7. Because of herd mentality -  Everyone is liking it

8. To gang up against someone they do not hold in high regard

9. Because they do not like the alternative

These are all I could come up with. Do feel free to add to the above list.

'When the the stage is set right, a scene shall unfold.
When the thoughts are ripe, words shall follow.'


I rise from my lotus position and make a dash for the nearest table. Too late, its gone. The very last piece of  the delicacy I had been lusting after for the past 3 days. I see the impish twinkle in his eye, the half-concealed smirk, only so because table manners won't allow him to open his mouth and express his true feelings. He loves getting away with food, especially the food that I like. God forbid, he develops a taste for all the food items that I like. I remember how he didn't really fancy chocolate ice-cream or fizzy drinks. Now, I have company for whenever I open a bottle of Coca-cola or a new brick of choc-chip ice-cream. Life is Hard.
I come out of my reverie quickly. But it wasn't quick enough. I missed another round. I am not fast enough. Or maybe he's had way too much practice.

# LifeWithASibling

The opening lines simply refer to a state of mind at some point in time.

My Favorite Muse

Some people are either simply too photogenic or have the innate talent to make you want to dig out your camera from the depths of your bag and *click* store that particular memory forever. Hoping against hope that the camera captures what the eyes see.

For me, these moments present themselves in abundance. There are quite a lot of people around, who present themselves as prospective subjects from time to time. I try to capture that moment.

And sometimes I do get lucky.   

I miss this guy

Traditional colors bring out the fighter in him

This one was taken by the subject in the first two pictures. Him and his love for dogs.

Ekla Chalo Re

I haven't seen Kahaani yet. They say Vidya Balan's acting is impressive. I guess I am still recovering from the shock of her last movie. Especially, the dailogs. Anyway, I suspect Kahaani will be better. Ms. Balan got her share of talk for her second provocative role in a row. But enough of that. A friend of mine, who happens to be a Bengali saw Kahaani. And all she could talk about was Calcutta and the way it was depicted in the movie. And all I could truly understand, having never been to Calcutta myself, was the song composed by Rabindranath Tagore was the song titled 'Ekla Chalo Re'.
Here's the English version:

If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.


If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
O thou unlucky one,
trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.


If they do not hold up the light when  the night is troubled with storm,
O thou unlucky one,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
and let it burn alone.

Here's the earliest version I could find by Suchitra Mitra. It is diametrically different from the original sung by Gurudev.

Sickness, trips and whatnot

I feel sick. Not the soul wrenching sickness that plagues so many youngsters of today. Its the troublesome sickness generated due to one(or more) of the following -
1. Jumping in a waterfall (not from the ledge though) and staying put in the extremely cold water for close to an hour.
2. Celebrating a slightly wet Holi despite clear signs of common cold being just around the corner.
3. Being in close vicinity of a person already infected by common cold and what-not.
4. Clothing myself thinking its June when its closer to mid-February in the City.

Though no.1 may seem like the clear winner, the other three should be given certain amount of credit too. Its been nearly a week. The cold and deadlines have kept me from talking the hell out of the recent trip to Jim Corbett. From switches* to waterfalls and waiting in an open jeep for a tiger that wouldn't show up to being so desperate to see a tiger that a dozen kids almost believed that any random video of a tiger behind some bushes in a random cell was an authentic one and that "It all comes to those who wait"- this is what the Corbett trip was all about. And some other stuff squeezed in here and there in a 3 days and 4 nights trip(2 nights in the resort and 2 in the bus).

Lessons learnt-

When on a  trip with people from college, be sure to run low on sleep. Sleep deprivation is something you simply cannot avoid. Specially when a bunch of kids consider it their foremost duty to wake up anyone who chances to fall asleep. Almost as if it'll be bad for them to sleep on the trip. I count myself lucky to have been a part of this bunch at times. It prevented me from dozing off myself. Then there was this kid who dozed off on a bench(surrounded by black dogs) because his room had been converted into a card room. Or maybe simply because he found the bench cozier than his bed.

All Leaf colors, can they be found on a painter's pallet? I doubt it.
No camera can capture the feeling of seeing a forest view in person. Situations, yes. Certain landscapes, yes. Cameras do capture all that. But not this feeling. And I don't think this should be called seeing(or any of its synonyms). The sensation is not merely limited to being able to see/view/look at an object. Of course, all other senses supplement what the eyes see to generate that feeling. Bottom line- Cannot capture all the senses worth of feelings in a photograph.

Artificial Rappelling turned out to a shade tougher than the real deal. But its also less scary. Take your pick.

One should never underestimate the photographer's ability to capture one's most ridiculous expression. Just freeze whenever you try/try not to pose for a picture. Don't twitch or anything because that is the photographer's window of opportunity.

Lastly, nature hikes are the best. The BEST. Specially the ones that have a waterfall towards the end.

Also, Holi is a blur. Colors and balloons are all that I can recall. I do remember waking up that day to see a huge face looming large above me. My imp of a brother was trying to wake me up by asking for my permission to hit me with a pink water balloon.


*Not the regular kind. The special emotional switch.

The Law of Jugaad

The law of Jugaad dictates that the following must be obeyed. Only then will one have mastered the art of Jugaad.

1. When one metro card fails to function and two need to pass through the barrier, one shall pass quickly enough to ensure that the other gets to pass through the use of the same card.
2. When almost broke and certain ends need trimming to ensure the basic necessity- food, adjust with friends of friends. It is a great way to make new friends along with being a classic Jugaad.
3. Suction will not always work and sometimes the bot that was created with the sole purpose of picking up balls through a suction mechanism may not work. The chances of Jugaad in such a situation are negligible if and only if your friend does not have the quick-mindedness to readjust the balls with an expert hand.
4. Jugaad must be your first resort the moment you enter a certain college that shall not be named for anonymity purposes. I've met good, average and below average students who attend the college in question. All bow down infront of the power of Jugaad.
5. When the necessity arrives, seven people can be adjusted in a room meant for three. All hail the power of Jugaad!
6. Jugaad will always come to the rescue of those who need it.

History is witness to the exercise of Jugaad. Remember Birbal? The famous courtier in Akbar's court who was one of his nine gems? He was one of the most jugaadu person of all time. Pick up any Akbar and Birbal book.  Apart from the wit and the humor, you will see a shade of jugaad in almost every other story.

Latest Addition to Travelogue

I took another trip to Mumbai. This being my second visit in the last one year. A different team. A different purpose. The same old me.
New aspirations and apprehensions.

I'll let these pictures do the talking.

The last four images depict a bot called 34 by 2. The reason this requires mention is that it was designed and  manufactured almost* completely by four second year students- one out of those four being the author of this post. Also, because it made the Quarter-finals!

I cannot lie to you, my dear blog. Its been a long time since I felt this peaceful. I guess it has something to do with being around school friends.

Or maybe its just the waves.

Stare at the water crashing against the rocks and you'll find your peace

*A senior student played the guiding angel

Lyrical talk

When you get what you want but not what you need
Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones

                                                                                                            - Fix you (Coldplay)

She finds colors in the darkest of places and she finds beauty in the saddest of places.

                                                                                                            - Walk Away(The Script)

Its all a game, avoiding failure
When true colors will bleed,
All in the name of misbehavior
And the things we don't need. 

........

When the world is burning, don't walk away. 

                                                                                                          -Carnival of Rust (Poets of the Fall)



More than once in a while, a song is released. And the lyrics catch hold of you. They seem to possess you. You hear yourself humming them all throughout the day.
The lyrics are so great that the otherwise awesome music score becomes all the more extraordinary. Makes you listen to the song on the loop.

P.S.: The songs mentioned above weren't released anytime in the past few months.

Blood Suckers

*I dug this post out from the depths of my Drafts. I had meant to post it earlier (as is obvious from the date). I guess I am not very different from the general forgetful multitude.

Vampires- moody, xerophobous, strangely intriguing undead creatures that have, over a surprisingly short period of time, transformed from foul blood suckers to tragic heroes. Vampire stories originated from the Eastern European folktales and have now become an integral part of the clan of supernatural (alive/partially dead/undead) creatures that walk the earth.

My perception about zem vampires has never been very good. Here's how I saw them up till now.

The Cartoon Age: Vampires could be seen lying in coffins and lurking in the shadows. These animated vampires could only have been slightly scary when they played a sweet host to a lost damsel or passenger looking for shelter for the night. The gracious host kept an eye on his guest by looking through a painting or hiding behind secret doorways in his extremely ancient and spooky mansion. This was all very adorable because I liked Dracula.

The Teenage: Those sitcoms with cute guys playing a vampire trying to live a normal life. Frankly, I don't remember seeing any vampire movies. Werewolves were much more popular despite vampires being more attractive to the human race. Ruskin Bond's omnibus did nothing to increase my interest in vampires. Those nocturnal blood suckers failed to leave a mark.
Oh and vamps(short for vampires) became synonymous with the female soap opera villains.

The Sad Age: Its sad when a single series changes the definition of a vampire. Whether you believe in a certain mythical creature or not, you cannot, all of a sudden, change the way it functions. And now according to Stephanie Meyer widely popular series, vampires shine instead of burning. The 'hottest' vampire on the block has made girls fantasize about vampires than fear them for all eternity. Shocking.
The latest vampire craze is a show called Vampire Dairies. And when I did give it a chance after a lot of persuasion, I found it to be nothing more than a soap opera that gets too dramatic for my taste.

If you are a vampire fan , this might interest you.
Speaking for myself, the only way I see myself actually liking vampires is if I myself turn into one.
Even then, the chances aren't too high.

That Christmassy Feeling

Is it time for Christmas ALREADY?
Time flies by. Why, its been over a year since I have been blogging regularly now. But anyway, back to Christmas.

Jingle Bell Jingle Bell Jingle Bell rock
Jingle Bells swing and Jingle bells sing
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the Jingle hop has begun...

No snow. Lots of carols being sung at the church around the corner from dawn to dusk. Jingle Bells. Rudolf, the Red-nosed Reindeer. Long time ago in Bethlehem. We wish to you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Christmas Polka. And the lot.
I do remember a few Hindi ones back from my school days, the most popular one being - Jaago sone waalon koi jagaane aya hai- for the simple irony of the song. Once the audience sniggered to its heart's content and the song still wouldn't get over, nearly everybody fell into a droopy sleepy state. Christmas used to be so much fun, despite the fact that it was always celebrated during exam week.
A few Christmas decorations here and there - enough by Indian standards. I might decorate a pot plant with the remnants of bells and stars I found in a box in one of my drawers. In addition, I am going to bake a beautiful cake this Christmas. I might watch the Ghost of Girlfriends Past again. Or maybe not.
For those who cannot bring themselves to get into the Christmas mood here is a little something that might help counter that.

Tips to help get into the Christmas mood:

1. Christmassy Movies: Revive that Christmassy feeling with a Christmas comedy. The first three Home Alone movies ought to do the trick. If not, try Christmas with the Franks. The Polar Express-an animated view of the North Pole is another good one.
2. Christmas food: If you belong to one of those not-so-rare breed of people who love to cook, you could choose some rich, savory dish to cook for Christmas. It'll serve the dual purpose of exercising your culinary skills and getting you all worked up because its Christmas. From a simple Christmas pudding to roasted chicken or turkey- there's a wide range to choose from. It's just another excuse to stuff yourself with delicious mouth-watering goodies.
3. Watch a season of Friends everyday. That'll get you into the mood for Thanksgiving too. They celebrate Christmas once every Season, like we all do.
4. Go caroling: If you have a pleasing voice(or even otherwise) join the choir in your nearest church. And if denial is all that you get from that end, you could simply enjoy watching the choir sing.
5. Become a benefactor: All those clothes that don't fit you anymore should no longer be allowed to occupy valuable space in your closet. Donate them. Its getting colder with every passing day and there are many unfortunate souls who could use a little warmth. This'll generate a great feeling even if doesn't get you all worked up for Christmas.
6. Host a Christmas party: It could be great party on Christmas Eve or a simple affair for some of your close friends. Or simply go for an outing on account of Christmas.
7. Create presents: Make something for family and close friends. Making a gift adds a personal touch and a gift is always appreciated. Moreover, why should gift culture be only limited to Diwali? Christmas should be a chance to gift things that are more meaningful than that given/received during Diwali season.

Or think outside the box and start a new Christmas tradition and do tell me all about it.