Mutton Haleem

One of the main reasons behind the trip to Hyderabad

Learnt a lesson today.

Never tell a client that you are ready to meet ANYTIME.

I need to have a discussion with a client today. Yesterday, I reached out to the client asking for the time and venue. He indicated that he is not available today and indicated that he can meet tomorrow. Now, I am flying out tomorrow and my day is jam-packed. However, the meeting is important as well. So, I wrote to the client that it would be great if we can meet today and ANYTIME is fine with me!!!

He has asked me to come to a resort at 9 PM!!! The meeting would last for few hours!!!

So, I will be getting ready in the evening and will go to meet a client in a resort. I am feeling like a HOOKER!!! But at least the resort is a premium one. So at least I am a A-League hooker. 

:(

Debate or Shouting Match?

Watched a Newhour Debate this morning. It was a 2-3 days old episode and the discussion was about India's retaliation against Pakistani aggression or ceasefire violations on the border. I made the following observations;

1. Having a different set of representatives from Pakistan was a welcome change. Most people have got bored of listening to the same set of representatives (usually Syed Tariq Pirzada, Gen. Rashid Qureshi and Zafar Hilali), who seldom make any sense and indulge in rhetoric only. This time Abida Hussain, Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, Brigadier Javed Husain were invited to present Pakistan's views
2. I could not watch the entire debate as it became increasingly irritating after a few minutes. Two out of three Pakistani guests were not making much sense. Brig. Javed Husain had probably come to the show after watching a couple of Pakistani versions of Sunny Deol movies as he was overexcited and was not making much sense. Abida Hussain, on the other hand, tried to divert the topic and starting talking about the human tragedies. These did contribute to the irritation but the main cause was something (or rather, someone) else
3. Arnab Goswami was highly irritating during this debate. Several people find him loud and irritating on most debates but not me. I have started to find him irritating only recently. On this occasion, he was not letting Air Marshal Masood Akhtar to speak much. I do not think that anyone can justify what Pakistan is up to. Yet, the Air Marshal was speaking sanely. He was not only talking from Pakistan's point of view and was being quite reasonable. But, Arnab Goswami did not allow him to put forward his opinion. Arnab kept interrupting. What is the point of watching a debate if one gets to hear only one side. Of course the other side would have blabbered and given shitty responses. But then, Arnab and others could have countered the Pakistani guests and cornered them. He was extremely unfair to Air Marhal Masood Akhtar and that made me switch to some other video. Off late, Newhour Debates have become quite boring. 

Movie Review: Chef

I get paid in SORRYs

I wish I could encash all the 'Sorry' that I have collected here. I would have probably become a millionaire!!!

Straight from the heart....

Have not picked up the camera in a long time. Everything is so disorganized. A lens is lying in the living room. Another one is in a drawer!!! One more is in a safe place but I cannot recall the location of that safe place. I am usually not like this. At least not with the camera equipment. If the camera and lenses are lying diaorganized, it bothers me a great deal. However, I am not finding time to get bothered!!!

In the past few weeks, I have not spent much time with the family either. I leave in the morning and come back late. And then work from home till the wee hours.

Things have been super-crazy. Deliverables, proposals, meetings and lots of worries. Official and personal worries.

What do I get out of this? Am screwing my health, not getting enough sleep and not getting anything in return!!! Body clock has gone for a toss. Even if work finishes at (comparatively) sane hours, I am unable to sleep till 2-3 AM. Sometimes it is difficult to lose the momentum and on other times, there are too many things bothering me.

Will I try and change this? Well.....May be.

Not that I am confused. Just that I have made such resolutions so many times that now I am embarrassed to even make such resolutions. 

One thing is for sure though. I have firmly realized that 'it is not worth it'. I do need to manage my time slightly better but more importantly, I need to stop the charity by 'donating' additional hours and weekends. Those are not investments as they do not fetch me any returns. That is plain and simple charity which must be stopped. Had they been fetching any awards/rewards, I would have still been motivated. No more.

I just hope that a matter that has been long pending gets resolved and soon. It wont help the resolution but it will help in getting back the motivation. It will surely do.

Minutes of Various Meetings

BANJO, YEH WEEK SAALA KHATAM KAB HOGA!!!

Papa - Aanu Time!!!

Another Whole Nighter

Aur isi ke saath aaj ka Maata Ka Jagraata sampann hua!!!

5 baj gaye!!!

Movie Review: Million Dollar Arm

Movie Review: Draft Day

Movie Review: Transcendence

Bad and Sad Day

The day started with tiredness and frustration. That was work related. However, things were moving as per the plan/schedule.

And then came the news and all hell broke loose. It has been a sad day ever since. Have not been able to think straight since then.

Just want to end the day with prayers that everything will be okay. 

Hmmmph!!!

A deliverable of a project that I am working on is staring at me and; 

• I do not have a single slide to show so far
• I am helping someone to prepare a deck for someone else's speaking engagement
• I am helping someone in creating a market sizing and forecasting model for a project that I am not supposed to work on. Only my guidance is required but it is going way beyond that
• I will not be able to start work on the deliverable till Sunday morning. Afterwards, Sunday and Monday (a public holiday) would be spent on preparing the deliverable
• I was up till 3 am staring into decks and spreadsheets for other projects
• I am feeling really really REALLY tired
• I am writing this blog in hope that it will freshen me up

I hate this.

I need a wheelchair...please!!!

There was a time when I used to play squash continuously for couple of hours. And there have been several days during MBA times when I have played Table Tennis for 3-4 hours at a stretch.

Now the story is very different. Bad ankle, bad knee, bad wrist and tonnes of weight.

Last evening, I played 7 games of Table Tennis and afterwards I concluded that I will not be able to represent India in the next Olympics. 

As I say it, "My legs are giving answers"!!! Hmmph

We have been ROBBED!!!

Breaking News: India's boxer Sarita Devi gets a Bronze in the Asian Games.

That was the news that flashed on my phone yesterday. It made me curious because of the use of 'gets' instead of 'wins' or any other suitable word. I wondered if there is more to the story or is just a bad choice of word by ToI or NDTV (I do not really remember which among the two applications gave that Breaking News alert).

Soon, another notification followed which indicated that Sarita Devi's semifinal bout was marred by controversy. Her coach, the management as well as Indian spectators had protested the result, which had gone in favor of the Korean opponent (Note: Asian Games is currently going on in South Korea). India later made a formal appeal against the final decision but it was promptly turned down.

Honestly, the story did not evoke too many emotions except the minor disappointment over India missing out on a Silver or Gold medal. Minor because India did win a medal. In sports, such controversies are not uncommon. After all, no one likes to lose. I did not or rather failed to look at the human side of the story.

Today, the news alert flashed an interesting news. In the prize distribution ceremony, unlike the usual practice, Sarita Devi refused to wear the Bronze medal around her neck!!! Now, that demanded a google search.

I figured that she asked the official to just hand over the Bronze medal to her and she later handed it over to the Korean boxer, who had 'managed to' win Silver medal!!! Later, overtaken by emotions, Sarita Devi broke down on the podium.

That is when I started to see the human side of the story. Sportsmen put so much effort in order to get adequate chances and win glory for themselves and their country. Boxing is not a popular or lets say, financially attractive sport in India. And it is quite demanding as one has to put a lot of effort to improve the technique,  speed and strength. One has to follow a strict regimen and proper diet in order to perform well in this physically demanding sport. Boxers are definitely not among the rich or well-to-do sportsmen in India and they have to make a lot of sacrifices for the sport that they love. Only if they do well, they get a chance of bagging a sponsorship deal or of winning a sports award (e.g Arjuna award, Khel Ratna award etc.), which come with certain financial benefits. I am not suggesting that a boxer or any other sportsman wants to do well only to get the financial support and benefits but these are aspects that cannot be ignored. However, sportsman are primarily driven by their competitive spirit and a hunger to do well for the country. Sarita Devi, to a certain extent, was denied that. Of course she 'got' a bronze medal, which is no ordinary accomplishment, but you know what is better than winning a Bronze medal?....Winning a Silver or Gold medal!!!

She was denied a chance to fight for a Gold, which would have ensured that the National Anthem plays in the background during the prize distribution!!! She was denied that chance and hence, she took that bold step of not wearing the medal (which may attract a disciplinary action against her) and gave away the medal to her semifinals opponent. She took a stand and I completely agree with her. The entire nation should support her.

So, the story finally managed to evoke more emotions. I have been pissed for most part of the day. And, just a short while back, I watched the highlights of her semifinals bout. Saying that she has been denied anything would be a huge understatement. She dominated the fight all through. From the beginning, she was like Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby!!! She has been ROBBED....all of us have been robbed. This is disgraceful and sheer favoritism on the part of the judges. Moreover, it should not be good for the pride (hopefully) of the Korean boxer (Ji Na Park) as well.

I sincerely hope that the Indian government acknowledges the good performance of Sarita Devi. At 32, there may not be too much boxing left in her. She completely deserves award and recognition from the government and public. She has done us proud by putting up a good show and by taking a stand against the unfair result. Kudos to her!!!