Strange Ramblings

Google just launched their new messaging app Allo in an already overcrowded market. Now there are plenty of opinions online, that you can read, talking about what are the chances that Allo succeed, so we are not going to talk about it here. However, when trying to download the app on iOS through App Store, an interesting thing caught my attention. The content rating that was given to this messaging app was 17+ with further click ins such as: Nudity, Profanity etc. On the other hand, a simple comparison with WhatsApp (the debatable leader in the market), you'd realize the same has a rating of 4+. Screenshot Dt. 23rd Sept 2016: Taken on India App Store on iPhone Similar to PG ratings on entertainment contents, App Store has the following scale : 4+, 9+, 12+ and 17+ with the varying scales of nudity, profanity, violence and other such adult (not "child" safe) references. But its simply baffling to have such a huge gap between the content rating for tw...

"Quiet is the most important book published for a decade" Amazon - Link Goodreads - Link Rating ***** Firstly, Highly Recommended ! A book review is never easy. It becomes even tougher if you love the book that you are about to review so much so that you read it at a snail's pace over months, and then don't have excerpts to recall. Hence, No Spoilers Here, You. Quiet is an extremely powerful book. The Author, Susan Cain has done extensive research on the topic of Introverts / Extroverts and how the world reacts to each of the personality types. She has been able to deliver a great narrative on basic understanding of each of the personality types, and how can each one of us react when we encounter people to make all our lives easier, covering diverse perspectives from that of a parent, to a teacher or to simply a friend. “There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” This line above, captures so much of the e...

Ambiance ***** Food **** Experience ***** Overall ***** Often, we wonder, how would it be like to experience the world in someone else's shoes. Dialogue in the Dark gives you an overwhelming experience on one such foray. Located in the sprawling Madhapur area of Hyderabad, a stones throwaway from the Hitech City, this is the area of the city that will blend modern India with the city of Nizams for you. Located on the 3rd floor of Inorbit Mall, as soon as you reach the reception desk of the restaurant, you'll start feeling awe. What greets you is an 'unassuming' person at the reception, who matter of factly mentions, that this experience would be unique for you. There are rules to be followed, and he hands over a list of the same - key being, you don't have anything on you which emits light, in any environmental condition. Curiously placed are a few Walking Sticks lying in a corner allow your imagination run wild for a little while. The m...

In reality, this is the "righteous" path that all of us have already trotted onto. The mediums of communication, that help us substitute physical interactions, keep on flooding our ecosystem. Be it virtual classrooms, virtual conferences or even attending virtual concerts , they are all there. And every now and then, there is something disruptive, or let me rather call it confusing, something that is Yo! Let's not try and get into the super high valuation that the app is getting. But, some of the use cases that have been developed, like the alerts that Israelis have been getting whenever there is a rocket strike back home. With some of these apps raising insane amount of bids, with the likes of Whatsapp ($19 Billion), Instagram ($1 Billion) and Snapchat ($3 Billion), even when the base itself has no angle for justification, we can probably place a bet on the way Yo is headed. The game changer though remains, if at all, the app will be able to break into the stock th...

At the risk of sounding sexist, here we go... The argument started in the usual setup. You are on the verge of passing out of the college. Stuff on your mind is limited to placements. You have forgotten all about why you wanted to study in the first place, and how knowledge was at the pinnacle of your priorities.  Then walks in, 'Rebecca Black'.  And the conversation flows like this: -------- Situation: You are still unplaced. Everything in your paper says, you should have more interview opportunities, and better chances of getting through. RB is already placed. Her calibre seems good, but when stacking up, perhaps it doesn't compare. At all points, you are happy for her, but, you blame your stars after getting angry at the cosmic actions of the world. Me: The world is so unfair. I am not getting enough opportunities, because organization's are too concerned about their HR policies and their Gender Ratio. RB: Perhaps. But I don't feel an iota o...

Talk about the words that are being thrown dime a dozen these days, in the food circle, "Molecular Gastronomy". Humans, being the curious beings that they are, have since ages tried to break down and rebuild everything around them. Be it the molecules that the universe is made of , or Reverse Engineer the only Alien Aircraft that we have, stashed away at Area 51 (well, maybe). You get the point, though. Molecular Gastronomy, dwells into these very realms. Being an Engineer, and a Science person myself, it shouldn't surprise anyone of where my loyalties lie.  Humans, though, are also very different from one another. We are not like the Bee Colony. With All Hail the Queen attitude, or the necessity of social strata being developed inside the colony, where everyone has a purpose, and everyone works for the benefit of the colony. Point being, we are Individuals, with our own set of ideologies and beliefs. One such belief, that irked me, was this comment by ...

I can get angry easily. Doesn't take much. But more often than not, it is controlled, leads to a healthy argument or stubbornness, leading most definitely to an adrenaline rush for me, and an interesting phase of human observation for others. A few things that piss me off, are a completely different story. One of them is how we Indians are all gaga over our expeditions abroad, and care trifle about the diversity that India has to offer, mostly. We call into the equation, of places across Europe, of what historical spread they have to offer, along with powerful natural beauty. We call into the equation, of the Developed Countries like America, of what modernization and skyscrapers they offer, alongside their standard of living. We call into the equation, of the horrid state of affairs in the countries that are unstable politically. We call into the equation, of Africa, of what ethnic diversity it offers, and add to that, the diversity of its flora and fauna. We also call into the...

Yeah, new job, and the workload that comes along, can keep you occupied. So, I have been busy. Well, not really. You always find time for something that you like to do. There has been a break with blogging for completely different reasons, and I am back now. So here goes something on a lighter note, Weird, Tangential and Iconic Smiles :) :D :-) :\) >:) >) :-D The title says it all. You'll always find people around you with smiles that are different, not necessarily weird. And it is a big turn-on for most of us, figuratively. It is just awesome on so many levels to be surrounded with not only people, but living beings, with that quirky laugh and that weird looking smile. To think back, i have had so many crushes all my life,  just because of the way she smiled. I can hardly bring those original photos here, for obvious reasons, but i'll still try and pick on some of the most iconic public smiles around. The Artsy Smile: There are far more qualified people...

OR NOT Disclaimer: Expressed below are my views on a topic that I believe to be touchy with many people. They, are not, in any way, related to Google or any other giant, and are not endorsed in any capacity by the same. What little knowledge that I have gained in the little time that I have spent in the company yet, has no implication on what I express here. Every idea has a seed. Some may call the idea itself a seed.  Big or small, the seed is the key. The origin of this post has something that is similar and very interesting. Something that has stemmed over a good part of the internet age. The argument between where to draw the line in terms of privacy. Having started recently, there was a healthy argument on the same with a fellow noogler during one of the sessions. And that brought back everything from the vault. The argument always remains, that big internet companies, with the extent that they have penetrated into the internet sphere, and the amount of informati...

It has been said aplenty, "Life is a Journey. And the Journey is more important than the Destination." More often than not, if you follow this principle, you'd be left in good stead. So ditch all the long term plans, and live in the moment. Or a collection of them, like Graduation. One can truly break that in your face  question of Why MBA very easily. From where I stand, it is likely to be one of this: Break away from your undergrad university where you weren't exposed to your dream opportunities A complete U Turn, in terms of the chosen path, say from an Electrical Engg to IB Bored and hence getting back to the good ol' student ways, meeting people partying, lazing around Obviously, the whole concoction of stuff starts way before the actual gassing up  in a MBA. So you would be averse to yourself, and come up with THE answer, which would mostly border upon the first two. Rightly so, it ain't a small investment. There always will be people that...

The Road Less Traveled "It's always about the journey"  I just arrived back from the Maha Kumbh, Allahabad, and I feel overwhelmed; Not at the mysterious religious beliefs that a place like Kumbh and Sangam would hold; after all, we'd have to live another 144 years to experience another, but at the very fact that I have started to feel more comfortable living out of my suitcase, on the road, than with a closet, and the fact that that happens only once in 144 years. So why should we Travel at all.. I am sure you'll find your own reasons, as soon as you take that first step out of your city. For me, it has always been for the love of the experience. Loose term, yes, but you'll get it once you travel. And for the uninitiated, Experience can be about that clear blue green water, the golden sand, the rocky coastline, the twinkling starry sky, the fresh soft snowy morning, the blazing hot sun. But there are finer tastes to travelling than the landscape and ...

I never would have imagined such a day, in existence. I surely can call myself a Reader now. What kind, is still a mystery. But what entails is, give me a random piece and I would eat it up. Keeps things interesting  and that is how I see it. It is a matter of perspective after all. And what pushed me to finally write this, after putting out for long, is a fellow blogger. Perspective, is something that our brain is wired to have. And it is at the heart of what makes your personality. You often draw from these very experiences to give you direction in time of need. I truly believe one would be lost if they don't form their opinions. Key though remains to avoid overdoing and be open minded when it comes to people. Everybody makes mistakes. Where am I getting with all this bull, you ask? It's the other side. I am an opinionated person to an extent. I do believe though, I am good at reading people somewhat. I am rigid, and also, flexible, if only you reason wit...

If only it were that simple. Sometime's I wish to be in the genius world of C & H. Best darn comic strip around, always puts a smile to your face, perhaps not because of it's revolutionary ideas and ingenious thoughts, but mostly because of its simplicity, the thing that you crave most for in this warp paced life of todays. As for the Writer's block, its a fascist thought. Not only does it spread like weed, it also is an omnipresent excuse to not getting down to business. And well, there would always be the block until you try and push through it. It is only when you free your mind from such shackles and allow it to roam in the wilderness, do you get ideas in the truest sense. You know what though, what still remains as your daily dose of peace and power as a writer, is your attention to your surroundings and observations that you derive from the same. Keep your eyes wide open, your mind uncluttered, and for heaven's sake WRITE !!

" Commerce changes the fate and genius of nations " - Thomas Gray If anything, reading the concept note, and making that revision for the umpteenth time, has ingrained this particular quote in my mind. For right reasons, I would have to say, because it is true to the hilt. I call this phase of my life as  Do Not Disturb . Why is it appropriate you ask? First thing, my demeanor itself,  over the past few weeks, gives it away. There was perhaps a hint of conscious decision in the way I carried myself around people. Conscious, because, it makes it easier on me to work that way. Focused, and absolutely no frivolous tasks or banter. But everything has its own time and place. Precisely why I ended up free beyond college hours, most of the day. Life had not stopped, changed yes, but there was still time to indulge, as always. And that is what was my first takeaway from the experience. Secondly, was what people around me complained about. Right...

It's the oldest play in the book, coming right out of the playbooks of the Mayans. And still it couldn't have been historically more different or similar. Mayans were a competitive race. And more so than anything else, their passion and competitiveness was displayed when it came to sports. Fierce fighters, standing their own till the very end, often making sacrifices to their gods to help them excel, human sacrifices. But history never repeats itself completely. So reveals the sting operation that our correspondents myself and an inside source  executed impeccably, although being busy with other more important, and the so called, Breaking News'. I can safely say that there were no human sacrifices made, yet atleast. But then again, there are these levels to which the "co-owners" (as pointed out promptly by someone, being the mistake in my last piece) have stooped to. Human Sacrifice, or your Self-Conscience sacrifice? And then they play hide and seek wit...

Disclaimer: You know what this means. I ain't responsible for any shit that comes out of his mouth. I am just putting forward his point of view in a completely unbiased manner. This does, in no way, pledges my allegiance to any of the teams. I am, and always will be, a free agent. Not to bash in on something that works in your favour, so instead of the press conference, it turned out to be a plain-simple one-on-one interview which wasn't really explosive, but an inside scoop nevertheless.  Interview Transcript - Udhav Malik, Co-Captain, TMK THIS IS ME, UD !! Q1. How important is Titanomachy in the mix of things that are served to you at IIFT? What kind of question is that? Titanomachy, of course it’s one of the most important things. Mix of things, what mix of things I see nothing! Next question please! Q2. How important is winning for your team? Well winning for any team is important. But the question is winning what? The main focus, goals and wh...

I never really understood what is all the hooplah, that goes around in getting lost. Or how is it really important for self-actualization or self-realization as many would term it. And still I probably am one who somehow gets it at some level, because I am the one who is found lost more often than not. They say, the real art in an artist is only as good as what their surroundings scream at them, and the real words written by any writer are the ones that one writes blindly, lost in this world, in his own world. What you need is a simple backdrop that I have at the moment, a surrounding full of life be it the fish, the insect or the plant, and well something that just helps you switch everything else off, music for me. Tip all these off with a few sins, a few musings and live a little, a little large, a little more. There's always a new party to crash, There's always a wall to thrash. There's always a new brain wrecking puzzle around, there's always a new crush that ...

Simply put, you don't need to look for inspiration. It is all around you, it will find you, and when it does, you should be ready to greet it with both arms. Herein lies the tale of a much unknown Chateau de Vizille, France, and this particular room in the chateau. And a promise that I made to a certain German, and how a random trip in the serenity of India reminded me of it, and gave me possibly a location. And how it all just inspires life out of you. An odd morning, the first month of Euro Trip, when we were just trying to get by and know each other. The group, that traveled to the Chateau, I meant. Lying on the outskirts of Grenoble, a true country side place this was. And much like other stuff that I had a feel of, in Europe, by this time, this too was alien, beautiful beyond comprehension, not the castle probably, but the grounds. It almost felt like injustice, that God had somehow blessed these places with that extra colour, extra brightness, and extra vib...

Flick. Fly. Fumble. Fall. Flash. Finish. That was me, playing with the idea of this. I had wondered, a good few months after the 1.0 chapter ended, what would it be like to be on the other side. Vague theories and unreasonable visions are what I got. But it all amounted to the fact that the conceptualization of the whole event, would be nothing less than adrenaline pumping rush. Such are my vested interest in the event. And for good reason . I remember what we used to say about the host last year. Let me just put it this way, it was like someone had left a mad dog after us, who even kept wagging his tongue and showing his teeth now and then. Such was the craziness that he brought to the table. I just hope that I was not that same dog, rather a pacified one, baring my teeth only to smile. But one thing that I remember is him commending me on the way we went about it this year, and he had only a small glimpse into the big picture. And it simply wouldn't have been the same witho...