Facebook Equations

This is a new series that tries to simply the sometimes amazing and sometimes morbid world of social networking. Though I would like to state that these are just initial computations and I might change them myself or on a recommendation if someone a has much better explanation.


Facebook Equation #1 - How many responses will you get to your status message?
X = ( |V|/5 ) * ( N/20 ) * (1/F*O)
V = negativity or positivity of ur status message from -10 to 0 to 10 with -3 being like "traffic sucks" or +4 being like "I love XYZ"
N = the number of friends you have. Round it off at a 1000.
F = number of status updates you do every week. round it off at 10 if its more.
O = originality of the message (how many friends have already posted it) round it off at 3.




Note : If you think its too obnoxious of me to try and compute human behavior, then frankly you don't know me at all and as such I don't give a rat's ass about your opinion :P

Facebook Terminology

For those who missed the torture with my facebook status updates ;)


Facebook terminology #1 - Facebook Fillers
People that you add to your Friend list, but never ever interact with.

Facebook Terminology #2 - Facebook Resume
The sum total of your personal info, favorites, pages you like, etc which on an average tells more about you than your daily status messages.

Facebook Terminology #3 - Facebook Cheerleaders
People who have the habit of clicking the 'Like' button a lot more than normal.

Facebook Terminology #4 - Facebook Jocks
People for whom life on Facebook is for a lack of a better word 'Plain Sweet'. They get more than average comments and likes on every letter they type.

Facebook Terminology #5 - Facebook Lurkers
People who never post status messages or comment or hit the 'Like' button on any post. All they do is keep a close eye everyone else's profiles and updates.

Facebook Terminology #6 - Facebook Intellectuals
People who often post statuses, links, videos etc that they believe portray information that will change\save the world. But mostly no one is interested.

Facebook Terminology #7 - Facebook Grumpy
Person who joins a long discussion thread only to start dissing everyone involved and always talk against the general flow of the discussion

Facebook Terminology #8 - Facebook Wannabes
People who are under the misconception that 'likes' and comments that you get on your status depends only on that status alone and not on who is actually writing it.

Facebook Terminology #9 - Facebook Siblings
A group of 2 or more people who might or might not be related, but always have inside jokes running over posts on each others walls which only they understand, but everyone else has to go through.

Facebook Terminology #10 - Facebook Snobs
People who are extremely selective in deciding whom they add to their list. They usually change their account settings so that no one can even send them a friend request. Only they can invite others.

Facebook Terminology #11 - Facebook gullibles
People whom you can convince into doing the stupidest things on Facebook , if you only give them a little attention.

Facebook Terminology #12 - Facebook Connectors
Those who will have atleast or close to 1000 contacts. They are the most significant contributors to the proposed phenomena of 'six degrees of separation' as it is applied to Facebook.

Lapses in Judgement

This one is inspired by those silly moments in which you share something with a friend that you never thought you would tell anyone. The single most impulsive but easiest way to make life long relationships.

In moments joy,

In moments of pain

for a few seconds,

you loose control of your brain.

In a bid a impress,

In a bid to connect.

Something you might say,

for which you could later, pay.

These lapses in judgement

can forever be your bane.

Share yourself like this, though,

and a friend you might gain.

Though these moments are small

A defining step you take

The more you share these moments

Better relationships you will make.

Throughout your life these moments will stick

but will also be validation, of your friendly picks

A true friend will never let these moments go,

will remind you about them, at a moments go.

But hey! atleast the friend will always be around

Yup. that friend which these moments found. 

The Pilot Episode

Cant believe its been so long since my last post. Wish it were because I was busy studying ;). Anyways, this one is as much a dedications to my friends as much as it is a silent plea to remind me how the fun started :)

I think about my friendships both present and past

Its like a favorite show I want forever to last

But do we remember how did everything start,

Or did we forget the pilot episode so fast

There are moments with friends both good and bad

Times to rejoice and times we were sad

Some we remember and some slip our mind

But really precious is the start of the adventure,

that had us forever intertwined

You could hav shared colors while drawing in elementary school

Or could have found kinship while acting like complete tools

You could have started as a team in a school yard pick

Or you could have bonded while faking to be sick

You could have been sitting together in class by fate

Or you could have ended up together since one of you were late

Maybe you were put in the same group

Or you bonded during lunch while sharing your soup

Sometimes meetings are deliberate on our part

Sometimes its pure luck, like bullseye with a dart

Luck or not, what matters is we met

taking and giving, as good as we get

It might lead to colleagues or lovers or friendships tall

It was that Pilot episode that started it all

There will be moments in the adventure both big and small

Count this one too, after all this is where you took the fall

If you remember our pilot episode, give me a call

Help me break down my memory wall

If I had a chance to go back to these moments in the past

I would take a picture to forever make them last

Smile

I wanted to write this for a couple of weeks now. But just could not get a start in mind. But then atop the tallest structure in Coba inspiration struck and my poem was complete :)

Sitting atop an ancient pyramid I pondered.
To beat this view, it will take while
So wrong was I as moments later, beside me,
I saw a kid with the largest smile

The sense of wonder you mind can only capture
when it records faces that mirror a similar rapture
Memorable moments do not a smile make
A brilliant smile infact, is what gives them a memorable take

A parent's proud smile on your graduation day
Or your smile of accomplishment with your first pay

The shy smile of girl on her first date
Or the wry understanding smile of your best mate

The sad smile when your plans sort of tank
Or the devious smirk of a well accomplised prank

The conspiratory smile of a secret that supposed to be kept sush
Or colons and brackets that give your chat the emotional push

The toothless smile of an enamoured little child
Or the carefree laughter of a kid who is just wild

Every smile has its special place in our heart
To cause them, should make you proud of your part
Sometimes these smiles do not get their deserved credit
It can make someone's day, when without reason you smile a little bit

Never underestimate the importance of a charming smile
They are all noted, when people make your file
Sometimes, a smile might be hard to come by
It's easy though, after all, it takes very few muscles to try :)

Traditions

Traditions. We all have them. Some we like while some annoy us. Some that we religiously follow and some that we just want to get done wit. They are part of almost everyone's life. It's one of those human experiences that is hard to escape. Traditions are generally defined as experiences that are past on from one person to another. These usually have a religious and cultural connotation to them. These are not the kind of traditions I want to talk about though. No. What I want to talk about are traditions that are personal. That are usually platforms for discussing our present and threads to our past whether good or bad. Traditions that are not handed over but created by us and for us using the people and things around us.

Recently, I had another visit from my parents from India. This was the second time in 2 years. I think in hindsight its because of frequent visits of family, that maybe I don't feel that strong an urge to go back as soon as possible. I think I get the necessary recharge from time to time :). Since parents and cousins were all around we  decided to call the grandparents back in home. After each one had had their fill of conversation we kept the phone down and discussion was shifted somewhere else.

My mind though stayed back to my grandparents. Its no secret that my grandparent's town is one of my favorites. Countless summers lazing and playing around a certain place does tend to create a bond. Speaking of my grandparents, one thing about my grandparent needs mention for this discussion. My grandfather, who works around the house at an age well past 80 is probably the most hard working and no- nonsense people I have seen in my relatively short life. He has always been a shining example and inspiration for hard work and good work ethic. Though another thing that has struck with me through the years is the weekly card games my grandfather plays with his friends. Every Sunday, without fail, for the past 60 plus years the half dozen friends get together and play cards!!! This activity has outlasted all kinds of achievements in each of their lives. Jobs, marriage, children, grandkids and great grandkids. In case of some of the players the game has even outlasted their entire life. Now after 60 odd years, some of the players aren't even alive. But still the games continue, every Sunday, without fail. This is the sort of tradition I want to talk to about.

Its a funny thing with constants in life. Even though we change all the time, these constants remain the same. Traditions which I want to talk about fall under the same category. Though they never change, our perception of them changes over time. When I was young, I could not understand why my grandfather, who did not like wasting a single minute, used to spend so much time doing practically nothing. I grew up a little more then I reveled in the fact that atleast there is a lighter side to my grandfather. I grew up a little more and then I was in awe of this endeavor. For me to be able to do something continuously for so many years, come hail or rain was exemplary. It was amazing how these group of friends managed to keep their small tradition alive for so long. No matter how much their lives changed, they all came back to this constant once every week. Why come back though? That is something my then teenage mind could not answer. Was it habit? Was it lack of creativity to do something else? Was there some real sense behind it all?

Now as we kids in the family have all grown up and went our own way. As we have moved away from each other and our friends, our constants, I think I finally realize the sense behind the trivial exercise. I realize the drive behind keeping it going for more than half a century. Its probably not an intense love for card games ;). It probably is preservation of that constant, that is a recurring reminder of good times and a platform to share more of their lives with each other. A platform to share troubles and joys as these emotions enter and leave their lives all the while under the pretense of a silly game. A simple yet effective solution.

When I said these thoughts out loud I was told that it was probably easy for my grand father to do this. That since they all stayed not far away and even though they achieved success individually they were still within visiting distance that it was possible. I had to disagree though. Now, in this day and age with all the technology that we have to play with, I feel its even easier for us to implement these simple solutions in our lives. I don't think distance and time are adequate enough excuses for us. With every second in this rapidly changing world our excuse sounds lamer and lamer. We have more ways to implement such simple solutions that there ever was.

Its probably why my grandfather, even at an age of above 80 is never bored, but we are bored, sad, depressed at quarter that age. I think it would serve us well to cultivate such traditions too. Something trivial, something simple to keep us connected, to maintain our constants.

The Eureka moment

Eureka!! A word associated with an idea. With discovery. With finding something that was around you all along but suddenly made sense to you only now. But I am not interested in scientific achievements over here. No. This one is personal. Just like the novel thoughtas that often changes ways of life, in personal life there are occasions when there is sudden realization on your part. A point in time when everything just suddenly made sense. A realization which you feel is going to help for the rest of your life. We all probably have many of these moments. But some just rank out over others. It could be because of who caused it or when was it or simply because it had the most impact.

Out of many such moments in my life I think one stands out the most. Being so thin for so long now I have gotten use to the frequent light hearted jibes. People always confirm with me (or atleast the decent ones do) as whether I am getting offended or not. I quite simply give them a smile and say no matter and truly those jibes have long since lost their effect on me.

I think a particular conversation in my life is the most profound reason for this acceptance than I now portray. While still back in 9th grade I was walking back from school to the bus stop with a friend I have long since lost touch with. Till then you could say, the teasing really did affect me. It saddened me, annoyed me sometimes it irritated me. We were in quite a jolly mood. As was his custom he was busy with his good natured jibes about my weight. Quite suddenly with an insight that I did not expect from him, he asked me whether the constant teasing bothered me. I too quite maturely for my 14 year old self I must say replied by asking that would they stop if I said YES it did bother me. He looked at me, gave a nice laugh and said no way. That was it. Then we went back to mundane conversations. I don't think he would even remember it now. But I did. I realized that a simple conversation we had was so sensible beyond belief. To my 14 year old self that was the EUREKA moment.

Ever since the realization that day, the ignorance to these jibes has improved and their effect has become almost non existent. So I ask you now? Tell me about your biggest EUREKA moment? Some train of thought or way of working that just simplified your life manyfold.

Concept of Relativity

Epiphany. Big word. Its usually associated with a huge realization too. Something that just puts pieces into place. Something that just completes a set thoughts that seemed unrelated just a moment ago. Sometimes it just rotates the whole thought process in the opposite direction. When you have friends that are much smarter than you, these epiphanies are a more common occurrence. You talk to them thinking you would popose your novel way of thinking and they listen to you and reply in the same discussion vein without even the slightest realization that what they just told you in normal conversation just turned your way of thinking on its head or atleast gave it a nice spin.

But why am I talking about epiphanies when the topic is relativity. I suppose I should start the story. Ever since I was a kid I have always been on the leaner side. Pretty soon I was at the bottom of the pile among my friends when it came to the kilogram scale. Now I will not romanticize the the fact of being the leanest in a group. Its seldom fun. But what it did do was to give me the opportunity to see a unique phenomena. Well I guess its not unique but you only get to see it at the bottom of a chain. The person just above you always finds solace in the fact that he is second from last. That he is not the bottom of the pile. Every new group of people I met, the second leanest person always was the one who pointed out my lack of fat more than any other. I guess they found relief in my misery (or atleast that's what they convinced themselves). As I grew older, this became a more visible pattern and I observed it in other walks of life too. People somehow are always relieved if they are not last. Even though technically they are no good but they find relief in besting atleast some others. My emotions towards these folk changed from annoyance to irritation to finally pity as I grew older.

But, I think somewhere along the line we all develop this concept of relativity. If we don't do very well in an endeavor then we look at other who did not do well either and gain solace from their misery. I think somewhere along the line though, even after being a part of such interactions for ever I too developed a similar concept. I called it the concept of relativity. I would very sagely say to anyone who would hear that circumstances are always relative. There is always someone better or worse. You can look towards any of them depending on how you want to feel about your situation.

This is where the epiphany part comes in. When traveling by train with a very good friend we were discussing academics and personal life. Even though I was bombing academically, when you combined it with personal happiness I was doing a lot better than many of my counter parts who were miserable personally inspite of good grades. I started explaining how atleast I was taking full advantage of my time to have adequate fun as compared to others who were just sitting and complaining. I was all ready to propose my concept of relativity again. But she had been listening to my rant like she usually does and then talked about one of her experiences. She told about her conversation with a person with no legs and how difficult it must be. But, the guy replied atleast I don't suck like the ones who have no legs and feet. Imagine how much it would suck to be them. Suffice it to say my friend was aghast at that attitude. She very simply asked me if maybe I was doing the same thing. If maybe I was the guy with no legs who still thought atleast he was better than a person with no limbs at all. I replied by saying that I was comparing myself with others not to feel better because of their misery but because I wanted to not be like them. For me it was about motivation rather than wallowing in shared misery. It was one of those moments when you yourself realize you have said something really smart. She thought so too I guess because she actually wrote my rohanism down ;).

But this is what your smart friends do to you. They extract these insightful thoughts out of you, but still leave you with doubts. But this is what I relish. This is what I feel is the best part about having them around. Life would be so much simpler if you were surrounded by people as dumb as as yourself. But smarter ones make life interesting. They challenge and disagree with your way of thinking without intending too. That conversation left me in a similar place. Even though I seemed to have convinced my friend, I wasn't sure I had convinced myself.

But, the great thing about that conversation is that ever since that day, I have pretty much abandoned my silly concept of relativity. Now every time I compare myself in a situation, I take a moment to figure out the reasons for which I am doing it. Ever since that day, I have tried to follow that smart rohanism I uttered out of nowhere. For the most part, it has helped :)

Summer vacation syndrome

I like analogies. I love drawing parallels in life. Compare one stage with another. Find something in common in two completely different walks of your own life or others. To see how as we change we still remain the same. Friends say its an annoying habit of drawing analogies between seemingly disparate sources. To try and explain every occurrence I see by comparing it to something totally mundane and unrelated. As if it's a self trained mechanism to automatically explain things to myself that might seem out of the scope of my knowledge base.

One thing I have observed with a lot of friends as they have moved away from home for jobs or studies is the sudden onset of loneliness. The feeling of boredom that apparently never bothered them before. Its even more apparent in those that have moved away temporarily with no friends or family. Its like they are on a summer break from school. Only difference is the time of summer break is too long or short depending on the individual in question. They seem to be bitten by the summer vacation syndrome.

To understand this better, roll back that memory film and pause it during your school days. Summer time was what every one eagerly awaited. But which then started to drag towards the middle and then felt like should never end near the end. No schools. No work. Just relaxation and play. But everyone had a different summer. Some visited their relatives. Some spent days with their friends. Some even attended summer camp. Anything different from the routine of classes. But then sometimes friends traveled when you wanted to play. You got stuck with relatives that annoyed you. Some dreaded that summer camp that they would be attending without friends and no family.

As we grew older the classes became longer and the vacations shorter. We became used to spending time in
the classroom. We enjoyed it actually. So much so that during vacations we missed the countless pointless hours spent with friends. Though you could meet them, it just wasn't the same. Those who genuinely liked work got bored out of their minds. But most generally realised the classroom was the best place to hang out ;). Then vacations just became about catching up on pending things in personal life or catching up with relatives who by now had become less and less frequent equations in your schedule.

Then you go onto work and there are no vacations anymore. Its just work, family and friends. But then some of us get that summer vacation. We get sent away from family and friends. Just like that summer camp when we were kids. Its still the same feeling irrespective of your considerable gain in life experiences, its still something that will benefit you but you would rather stick with friends back home. Its still something that presents new opportunities to learn to grow but which also carries the potential of being friendless and boring.

But our mind by now is hardwired on how to handle summer vacations. We develop hobbies to spend our time. Make new friends. Just like that summer camp when we were kids. We find things to do that we hang onto for rest of our lives. Sometimes we bump into friendships that too last forever long.

But just like summer camps, these phases in life end too. So if you are one of the people who are waiting for it to end it will end sooner than you know. Those who actually flourish in a summer camp situation, well this one is better because it does not need to end like the camps from your childhood.

Another cool page

Here is another blog I visit. It's less a blog but a story in progress. Though it may not look like a best seller to many I have read enough independent stuff on the web to know its pretty decent. If you think chapters are short, then try writing one (trust me I have ;)) .

As to what the story is about you can read the author's FAQ section. It's much better explained over there.
http://1point059.wordpress.com/

Block

It's been a long time since I posted anything in this space. What can I say? I could blame my courses that have finally caught up to me. Or I could blame my classmates in the boring lecture that just isn't as boring anymore because of them. Maybe I finally developed some interest in my studies...probably not it though :P.

No matter my excuses, the dilema that stares me in the face is that I am in the middle of a big time writers block. Atleast by my standards anyways. One of my fellow blogger smartly pointed out that it was only natural I would run out of topics to talk about. He sagely mentioned that it was foolish of me to expect to be prolific for such a long time. I suppose he was right. But I guess I m faced with a problem that is really common among people who partake in artistic/creative endeavors. There are times when we will be faced with a block in our creativity. Maybe we get busy, maybe life interferes. Maybe we are just scared that what have to write will just not compare to what we have written already.

But, I wasn't worried. I found solace in this wonderful TED video which just took the pressure of me.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
The speaker reiterates that maybe we should not put so much pressure on our creative genius after all. Don't make it about you. Refer to ancient wisdom. Do it like the Greeks did. Attribute your genius to an outside non tangible entity. So start believing the genius is not about you but because of this entity that visits you from time to time. Then not getting that eureka moment all the time isn't as much of a downer anymore.

I want to expand this same concept. Attribute not only you genius but your entire creative spark to this entity. We all worry about it. When will we write our next song. When will I write my next poem, my next story the list goes on. Will I ever do as well in a future course as I did in my first one. Will I top my class again. Will I remain as impressive with my work as I started of as. Will I make the same cool friends in this new place I am at? Will I make friends at all??

The trick I think is to not make it about you. To keep doing the things you usually do. Be yourself. To not let lack of inspiration change your way of approaching your life. Make it about that unseen entity that will come around to you eventually. You just keep crossing the same paths waiting to bump into it from time to time. So keep being yourself when you meet new people. Keep showing up to work. Keep studying the way you always did at your courses. You will do well given enough time. Life turns a full circle all the time. The way we think is usually half the battle and this part of the battle we have complete control over.

So thats what I will do. I will always keep my fingers on my laptop in that boring lecture ;). I will still keep that last grocery receipt and pen in my jacket everytime travelling in a bus or a train. Who knows when the unseen entity shows up and I need to write :)

Some other pages

Here are some other blogs I read. All unique and having their own flavor. Maybe you will find something to your liking in one of these pages.

http://myfeelings-intuit.blogspot.com/

http://craptalksunlimited.blogspot.com/

http://darshanmehtaworth.blogspot.com/

http://mkk5001.blogspot.com/

I am hoping I have the permission from all the authors to publish their links and no copyright infringements are being made over here :).

Guidance

This one is a collaboration between a friend and myself. A true jugalbandi of poetic verses. We both alternately came up with verses to attach to the ones already present:). Sort of like two minds coming up with a story on the fly.


It was a dark and scary street
To traverse it was a challenge indeed
I took my steps in sulking doubt
Guidance was hard to come about

But there was no need for despair.
Guidance like luck, often catches you unaware.
The right path is not easily seen
Visible to eyes, that remain keen

Spoken words cause a magic unique
Encourage me to aim for the peak
Am keen to turn words into actions
this dark street will not beat my intentions

Other times there is no need for a talk.
Magical sights can inspire us on our own walk.
Guidance here is languishing in third person view
Don't ignore, just take it as your queue.

Disturbing behaviour

Something that I have always noticed while browsing the web, social networking and while on chat clients. A large number of status updates are increasingly becoming negative - complains, sad, depressing etc.

I took this long to actually post this is because first time for a blog entry i actually did some research.  The first criteria towards making such a claim would be to have considerable hours of experience in the above mentioned media, which if you know me then I do not need to explain that I most definitely do. So onto my research. For a complete week I made notes of the status updates on Facebook and Gtalk and other chat clients. Considering the amount of time I spend online, data was easy to acquire. Then I simply divided the messages into negative and positive. Some messages were just so insipid, well there was no point in even categorizing them ;). My suspicions were indeed correct. The number of negative messages was definitely larger (62%/38% to be precise). The negative messages were more popularly received on facebook - they had more reactions and more comments on an average. Somehow it felt disturbing. As if being pathetic, sad, depressing or complaining is the new social fashion on the web.

To say I was surprised was an understatement. I mean people always complain and be negative in real life from time to time. But why take special time out to even type it out. Why give that emotion so much importance. I decided to dig deeper. A friend of mine sent over a link www.tedmosbyisajerk.com and through that I also found a similar page that said tedmosbeyisnotajerk. Guess who had more hits. Yup. you are right the former. It had almost 50 times as many hits. I found similar websites that liked and disliked elements of popular culture and every time the negative aspect was more popular. This only meant 2 things for me. Either people dislike more things in the world than like them or they are going out of their way to emphasize their dislike and not doing the same for things they like. I mean if you dislike something you do and that is it. Why waste extra time to go ahead and register you opinion. Would you  not rather concentrate of talking about and finding things you like. Wouldn't that be a more prudent way to spend time. The fan pages on facebook told me a similar story. 'I like/love XYZ' was always less favored then 'I hate/dislike XYZ'. Is this just a geeky observation?? Or does the observation hold some merit?? Share your thoughts.

And yes before you dismiss this as geeky ramblings I would like you to check out this TED link. Someone doing something similar but on a much larger scale was considered good enough to share their idea with the world. If you do not know what TED is, I can excuse it if you are not an engineer otherwise...we seriously need to reconsider our relationship :)


http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_harris_tells_the_web_s_secret_stories.html

The Movie Analogy

This one is inspired by a very brief conversation with classmates in a bus while travelling back home from class. It all started when for a few brief seconds they made me consider a world without movies ;) .

Traveling with mates by bus,
'twas the middle of the week.
As is usually the case,
About movies I started to speak.
They laughed and said, without movies,
my existence would be meek.
"Fear not!" I said, without movies,
people are whom I would seek.

Like Trailers, first you take peak.
Like them, then further information you seek.
In movies, certain genres you prefer.
Likewise, certain quality every person will offer.
Like it, and talking to them doesn't make you suffer

The kind of movie you watch,
sometimes depends on your mood.
A certain individual you prefer in a given setting -
The practice is really not that rude.

Some movies, set into motion a trend.
Some people too, have the ability to make your thinking bend.
Some movies you never tire to watch.
Some people for you, are really a perfect match.

Some movies out there are
quite ahead of their time.
Being different among a group too,
is certainly not a crime.

As is with movies, so is with people
There are a lot of options from which to choose.
If every once a while the choice fails,
There is nothing much that you loose.

Failure

I would like to make special mention of my classmate who helped me with a couple of rhyming words. I was in class and the computer battery had given up on me, so without google to help me, my classmates rhyming prowess was a great help.

In the long dock of life,

many enterprises we set sail.

While many of them reach their end,

Quite a few of them do fail.

Success and failure are reversals in grammar

but in real life it isn't so.

They are both results of showing up,

of repeated tries and never letting go.

Accept failure as an inevitable fact,

To face it, you just might learn some tact.

When you do fail, avoid the grimace, try the smile.

The habbit will become second nature, after a while.

Often occurrence of failure,

can potentially be a learning tool.

But craving failure to learn,

That is an idea of a fool.

Confessions of a chatoholic

This is another guest appearance from the 'Online Nemesis'. I feel bad that I did not write this in the first place ;). But I guess its a good thing that it comes from a better writer to express the feelings of my kind.

Confessions of a Chatoholic!

It' a part of my life, for better or for worse,

To my family it seemed, like an inexorable curse,

It's to the world of chatting, that I dedicate this verse

Let me try and keep it, short sweet and terse

It’s a part of our existence, integral to our life,

A form of socializing, which has lately become so rife

Helps you network with the world around or reconnect with your past

Or often build relationships, which for years to come shall last

An escape from the boredom, a break from the mundane

Often comes in form of a chat, which just might be very inane

Be it Yahoo!, MSN, Facebook or our very own Gmail

Always a boon to the average Joe, trying to woo a female

It helps you transcend boundaries, making geography a part of history

Getting in touch with a distant one, is no more a shrouded mystery

Though abundant with its advantages, it’s an addiction like any other

Takes time to recover from it and get back to being sober

A word of caution I must add here, for this virtual outlet for fun

Let this not enslave you and decide how your life shall run!

- Online Nemesis!

Impressions

This one is inspired by a poem I dedicated to all my cousins. As I wrote that poem and started describing each person I realized that as long as I have known these people there are many sides of them I am surely not aware of. My perception of them is most certainly not whole.

With every person you meet, this is a norm.
Some sort of impression they continuously form.

A false impression is not difficult to make.
This illusion however can easily break.
Some impression are made over a while,

With each one, people make your file.
Other impressions you never intend.
Up or down, regardless, your perception will bend.

With everyone on your social chart,
you share but only a part.
In every case, no matter your role,
Rarely do you share your whole.

Since our data on someone is never complete,
Never discard them without a beat.

Words of Optimus Prime, I cannot Deny.
When it comes to people,
there is always more than meets the eye

First time

This one is for first times ;)

For every experience worth its dime,
nothing beats the feeling of the first time.
We are usually nervous with worry,
or just excited and in a hurry


If it were my first date with a girl,
I would try my best to make her swirl.
If it were my first tooth to fall,
I would celebrate with icecream down the hall.
If it were about my very first ride,
I would have someone special by my side.
If it were the first verse I ever wrote,
A jubilant jiggle would have my vote.

But sadly this is none of those.
Something important - naah!! not even close.
Still I lie awake the night before,
Wishing I could just sleep and snore.

You might ponder my need to rhyme,
Alas! this first is always a stressful time.
It ain't the first girl or ride or some other life's gem.
Its just simply the first exam of the sem. ;)

Approval

In response to a discussion I am part of on google wave. And yes its good to finally write something after a long while. What can I say with college starting the thoughts are consumed with course work and daily chores and the mind just doesn't take those idle walks anymore.

These set of emotions we all face,
No matter our position in life's race.
We could be stubbornly strong or mildly meek,
Some sort of approval we all seek

It could be an opinion on a dress,
or reaction to academic success.
Appreciation of the way we look,
or understanding of a different path we took.

We might think everyone is evaluating how we fare,

But really most of them don't even care.

Universal approval is a foolhardy quest,
Its like attempting an unpassable test
The right way is but only one
To not worry about everyone

But that is easier said than done
Preached by all practiced by almost none

You could define a smaller set called 'everyone'
Within this set you can worry about each one
This set should have people you think are the best,
trust me it will take care of the rest.

Online Friend Spotting

Dedicated to all those special people who bear the brunt of the digital nuisance called 'rohandargad@gmail.com' ;).

Online Friend Spotting

While on online chat,
its easy to spot a friend.
Need not pick names from a hat
Seldom in the background they blend

Everytime you feel bleak,
these are the people you seek
To readily share your fun,
first to them you run

Their absence is the only one you miss
Their presence is like instant bliss

No greeting or farewells you need
For hours they pay you heed

To actually see you,
They only need your word
Without smiley's, your feelings are heard

Yet another day at the office

This one is written by a friend, As you will realise its a lot better than any of mine and the said friend should start doing this themselves. But until they do, its an absolute pleasure to host their work over here.

Yet another day at the office

Yet another day at the office,

my imagination starts to flutter,

‘Escapism’, as some might call it,

my heart longs to flee the clutter!

Staring at my laptop screen,

my work seems so very drag,

My jaded mind is ignited,

though it’s hardly worth the brag!

I wish I were home,

 with nothing to do but to relax, unwind and laze,

And my day would just pass by

with this stupor in a dreamy haze

Thinking about my life,

it seems so humdrum and workaday

For a moment then I wonder

‘Could it really be any other way’??

Looking at my coworkers,

with their sincerity personified face

I think ‘is it just me?’

and can hardly conceal the grimace!

My mind wanders some more,

is it a purpose it’s trying to find?

Or is it just another way

to escape the usual grind?

As I keep pondering about my life,

 a mail pops in to interject,

I wonder to myself,

will it cause me any deject!

It’s my sup who reminds me

of status reports and daily updates

‘Keep your cool and be yourself’, I tell myself,

no matter where life takes!

 - My Online Nemesis

Lectures

This is a tribute to all my lectures, specially those that leave me bored. I hope this one is atleast worth a laugh when I sit in one of those boring courses again.


Lectures

It was a bright and clear day
On a ever repeating thursday
Too bad I had to be in class,
wishing I could give it a pass.

Sometimes courses we have to take,
our interest in which is completely fake
The prof was playing his boring part
His talks leave you completely out of sort

I was busy with online chat
I know I sound like a brat

While I was checking for new downloads
He was talking about cryptographic codes

Suddenly, I heard a familiar word
My treacherous hand, flew up like a bird
Everyone was looking at me
Had to give them something to see

Made a response on the go,
recalling something I read long ago
Luckily my answer was right
Good thing it wasn't an embarrasing sight

The prof seemed happy with me
I just hope he leaves me be.

An ode to Rohannets

As I keep telling my friends, the best part about this blog has been not discovering my own talents but discovering the same in my friends. This one is from a friend and I thank them with a few words to start

Of all the ones I have written
This one is special by far
My poems have somebody smitten
Their own skill being above par


An Ode to Rohannets

For your poems which are so well written
I can help, but be smitten!

A talent of yours that was for years in the hide
I make my 'not so nice' comments, knowing you mind the chide

You should continue with your poetry and me with my critique
That makes our friendship so very unique

Never mind my criticism, I know you write from the heart
And blogging so well everyday is no less than an art!


 - Your Online Nemesis!

Youtube

This one is dedicated to that special part of my life, without whom life would be.... well I cant even imagine how it would be.

Youtube

We are all familiar with the link
Some even teach us how to think

We have all given it a look
for gods sake it even shows how to cook
It relaxes you with an old song
we all have playlists that are just too long
You can learn to make a tie
Some people look as if they are plain high

You can post videos of your own
You could even make some money
The need for hits might seem looney
Ohh but getting them is sweet as honey

If youtube were a living thing
It would be richer than a king
It has a place, right in my core
Without it, life would be such a chore.

New Beginnings

This is an adaptation to the original I dedicate to a dear friend who is starting a new phase in life. I hope & wish and know she will do great.

New Beginnings

Every once a while in life,
you will start something new.
You should be in minimal strife,
I kid you not its true.

Seldom, new may not be what you want,
But it could just be what you need.
Sometimes, the choice of new might haunt,
But its just a scratch, no bleed.

When your are starting something new,
May you have luck, like is bestowed on a select few.

You maybe nervous and worried,
But no need to keep those feelings buried.
You need to be a certain degree of bold,
to leave the comfort of the old.

You may also be excited and giddy,
that kind of attitude, sure is handy.
But most of all, you want to be happy,
Otherwise the whole endeavor will be useless and crappy.

Joy of Rediscovery

This thought I had as soon as I had finished my first verse. I had always enjoyed reading poetry as a kid. Before school started every year, I always read the English book in advance. As much as I enjoyed the reads I never could manage to write them myself. Years later on vacation in DC, when I purchased a book on poems, I was suddenly struck with the same kiddish delight. Twelve days down the line, it is still making me smile. Maybe it was the right time to turn to my old hobby, maybe I was better able to write. But it definitely made me think. There are so many other things I loved as a kid. Maybe now I could enjoy them even more. Not only enjoy the joy it brought, but take it to another level too. :)


Joy of Rediscovery

For young adults on the block,
bored and with time to burn.
Perhaps you should turn back the clock,
and turn to the kid, who always had his fun.

It could be riding a bike,
or dancing like a foolish tyke.
It might be an old cartoon,
or singing like a bufoon.
It could be a forgotten game,
or old books that are still the same.

Though sense this idea might lack,
it could bring some good times back.

We constantly change with time.
New skills we learn, while on life's climb.
Giving something old a try,
might just be worth your dime.

This theory may not always be right,
But you need to trust the kid inside.
Carefree and joyous, it was doing something right.
Joy might just find you, on your blindside.

Im...Perfection

This one is dedicated to a dear friend who is the first one to request :)

Foreward
This is my first request
I knew I couldn't wait
I started at the earliest
Before it got too late :)


Im... Perfection
It was a sunday like any other
I was chatting with a friend
We were talking about films
As is our usual trend

We were talking about perfection
She said perfect characters were fake
I said I respectfully diasagree
It depends completely on your take

Perfection is a complex term
It is hard to get the gist
To be perfect in the long term
You have to check of a list

The list is never the same
So the concept of common perfect is lame
The list always has its flaws
Making the imperfect perfect by law

Whats perfect for one is not for some
Thus rendering the discussion moot
But who cares, talking to a dear friend
Has, is and always will be a hoot.

Unfinished Business.......

This Poem is dedicated to a dear friend who has been struggling with the guilt of unfinished work and call to others who are similarly plagued.

Everyday, for hundreds of jobs that are done
there are still plenty that are left undone

That book you never read
That friend you never made
That class you never took
That dish you wanted to cook
That girl you wanted to date
That vacation you wanted to take

As a mountain of these jobs is built
It keeps adding to your guilt

To complete them you need positive intent
Doing so is the only way to be content

Pay heed to these pedestrian words, don't wait
Get up and finish what's undone, least its too late

The Email Analogy

A random thought that went down as a facebook status which an hour later became this :)

Checking my mail one day,
I was suddenly struck by a thought
Looking at my life I thought
how much like a inbox it was
Going into overdrive my mind sought
similarities that would prove my thought

Emails became experiences
Some I never opened from fear or ignorance
Some I never deleted from glory or reverence

Drafts became my thoughts
Some of them I wrote in all
but never had the courage to send
Some of them I hardly checked
But sent them without thinking they would offend

Labels became groups
Just like sorting emails I had
sorted people in my life
Just like the emails in a inbox I had
prioritized the important people in life.

Now as I proceed to make fun of my geeky mind
It jumps uncaringly with joys of the creative kind

The Solo Vacation conclusions

It is a good week after the conclusion of my first solo trip that I write this. The logic was that maybe after a week most of the euphoria from all the fun I had would have died down and I can talk about it in a rational and objective fashion. But, obviously I was wrong. No matter how insignificant this small trip was in the grand scheme of things it was still an unforgettable experience for me. It has definitely left a mark on me. Has inspired me to think about many more. But the objective of this post is not to advertise the joys of traveling alone, its merely state the thoughts of someone who enjoyed it beyond his expectations. To see if I had the same fun as people who travel alone usually do. To maybe make someone see that its not that crazy or bad as they think. To maybe appease the apprehensions of people who have been thinking about it but have never tried it.

I will start with the reactions I had received when I had first suggested my plans. I got encouragement. Some were overjoyed that I was trying it. Some were glad for me but would never think about it themselves. The family thought I had no friends ;) . Most thought it was an absurd and crazy idea. To most of them I can now smugly say that atleast I have tried both so as to give an educated opinion. But I would be lying if I said that my friends opinions do not matter to me. The majority of negative reaction did fill me up with little apprehension. 'Little' being the operative word here. Finally it was the excitement and the novelty of the experience that had won over.

On my very first day itself, in the hostel, one thing that became apparent was that traveling alone wasn't a big deal after all. People of every conceivable nationality were present, flitting in and out, many of them traveling alone. you would go to breakfast every morning and see a new set of 30 people in the room. On my first breakfast I was approached by a Japanese studying in San Diego. After half and hour of pleasant conversation I was pleasantly amused that he wanted my facebook details and I was among the forty others he had noted in a small book. This quirkiness set the tone for the rest of my trip.

It seemed that even the hostel itself was designed to encourage communication. Be it the single long table for taco night when I met a fibbing American or the excruciatingly slow elevator which allowed to get acquainted with a sweet and polite Australian. Or the Wi-fi connection that was only available in the lobby where I met the wordly Chinese who had traveled every continent except the poles.

One of the questions when I talked to everyone that I certainly wanted answered was what they thought about traveling alone. Why do it? What was it about traveling alone that they liked? A working girl from Canada probably gave the best answer. Told me how it was easier this way when you wanted long vacations. You would not have to convince your friends to go around with you to places they rather would not go to. Of course friends would do it for you, but that she said and I agreed would only make it worse for you. On a more selfish note it would save you from going to places you would rather not go. Hey, sue me if I would rather avoid things I don't like. Later after killing my toes in those horrid snow shoes when I used to come back in the evening these words made perfect sense as I declined offers for dinner or a drink outside. My monosyllable interactions with a bunch of Germans only proved that presence of a group only hindered your efforts to socialize and step out of your comfort zone.

For people like myself, who are less prone to talking to strangers, such trips should be made compulsory. For those who can do it easily, you will have an even better time of it. Its like a camping trip that takes away all your material comforts. A trip of this kind takes away your social comfort zone. One problem I had with this arrangement was that without a friend nearby when you see a spectacular sight during your travels you would not have anyone to turn too and say WOW. But as I realized, when staring dumbfounded at the ceiling of the  main reading room of the library of congress, when faced with a spectacular sight you are usually speechless much less coherent enough to discuss it.

In conclusion, I would implore everyone to atleast try this once. I will leave you with a verse from a wonderful travel poem from Walt Whitman I was reading during new years eve. It seemed to match the mindset of a lone traveler.
We make trials of ourselves and invite men and women to hear,
We  say to ourselves, Remember, fear not, be candid, promulge the
body and the soul,
Dwell a while and pass on, be copious, temperate, chaste, magnetic,
And what you effuse may then return as the seasons return,
And may be just as much as the seasons.

New year's eve amplification

Not a long time ago, a good friend and a fellow blogger had posted the following question? Where will you be this 31st december? I am sure he got a lot of replies. Grand plans for the special day. People travelling to their favourite vacation spots or attending the hottest parties or hosting one of them.I am sure I will sound like a regular cynic when I say I don't understand the importance attached to this particular striking of 12. People will not be concerned if they had fun a week before or after it, but on that particular event in time they should be having the time of their lives. What I rarely hear from anyone is what they were doing  leading upto to that time or how much they enjoyed the weeks before and after. God forbid you are one of the people who had fun just before the special day you are considered stupid or crazy.

On the last day of my DC trip, during which there was 10 hours of walking involved, I was in no mood to walk anymore by 6pm. So it came as a simple choice for me to go directly to the airport before new year's eve instead of heading to a party. Spending a quite night with close friends or a good book would come before a noisy party for me anyday. Me being on a solo trip, the good book was my best option. While talking to people both before and after new years, I informed them of my pleasing plan of reading a good book with a hot coffee at the airport. I was a quite surprised then that my choice was called wierd, crazy, sad and worst of all philosophical. It baffled me that a friend of mine who had good plans on 1st jan was not satisfied that they had no plans on the special time. It made me laugh that my friend back in India had the worst new year's eve because he was made to stay back at home of no moon. Both of which are situations completely acceptable to me. But, my situation wasn't favoured by anyone I talked too. I think these two like many others were suffering from the new years eve amplification effect. Instead of concentrating on good times ahead they were fussing over a customary turning of the clock.

What happened to my plans you may ask? I did reach the airport 5 mins to new year's eve. And like I say, "When you really truly strive to be happy, even fate tickles you". Instead of just getting a comfortable spot to sip coffee  and read poetry, I got a seat that had a full view of all the planes taking off in different directions. Endless directions. Endless possibilities. I was once told as a kid that whatever you do on new year's eve you end up doing the rest of the year. I took it quite literally. Since then I have always strived to do what I love most during that time. If that means ditching a party in the terrace to read a book then so be it. So here I was reading a good book sipping hot coffee looking ahead at endless possibilities. That sure made me smile. And after all who doesnt like being happy all year ;).

I am sure whatever you just read is nothing original, but is nonetheless intented to put a point across. So as I sit here in the same airport getting ready to board a plane to chicago, here is  me hoping whatever you did during that so called special minute, it was something that made you happy, and maybe you can believe that something different no matter how insignificant it seems, did make others happy in its own way.