My little busy weekend 13-15 Aug

This was a real busy weekend for me, A trip to kerala, my cousin got engaged and flying back, can't call it a vacation as I had no time to rest, but really took away the monotony which had become my life of office and home :(

I took a day off on friday, I could have gone to office and got out early and flown to Kerala, like what was my original plan, but looking at the heavy work in office I thought better take a leave (though I think it annoyed my TL) than go to office and get stuck in a situation you can't leave on time to catch the flight.

So rested in the morning, went to airport and took the flight to kerala, I need to say that I am impressed with the new airport terminal at Mumbai airport, Terminal 1C, there is a bar at the airport, though I couldn't really check it out and drink cause my uncle was with me, I guess he might have joined me if I asked, but I felt I better act as the good Kid ;)

Flight was pretty uneventful, Reached there and the drive to home, about 2 hours I part of any trip to Native place which I hate. Anyway as we reached pretty late in the eveing, just had food and went to sleep, not before opening my big mouth and being appoined as the Driver :), also got time to tease my cousin about getting engaged.

Cousins Engagement day, Get up had breakfast and took her to the beati-parlor, dear cousin, how many times I have told you, "You are really naturally beautiful, you don't need the make-up" but yet you never listen to me, and had to waste 2 hours in there. Luckily I had my cell-phone with me, Thank God for facebook and twitter for keeping me company.

Now the 2 hour beauti-waste-treatment, after which my cousin came out looking as beautiful as always threw the whole schedule off, so now my cousin had to rush home, Take blessing from everyone and rush to Church, say thanks to Me, the brother cum driver who made it was possible. :)

It was possible true, but not without the hic-ups, my Grand-Father suddenly started not feeling well and had to be rushed to the hospital, which dampened the mood a bit, but by gods grace everything is fine with him and everything went fine with the engagement.

So how was my second opinion about the guy my cousin sisters parents have selected for her? It agrees with my first opinion that the guy has struck a gold-mine with my sister while I don't know what my sister got (I am gonna get stoned for this statement I guess ;) ) But truth is the truth, isn't it?

Anyway, food was good, everyone enjoyed it, I finished with my duties as brother got time to play with my niece, meet various relatives, tell hello to various people I don't know and have already forgotten the name also, well thats a engagement right? Main part of Kerlite Cristian Wedding is still to come ;). Lot of teasing still remaining My sis, you still have plenty of photos to pose for.

And then today Sunday, drove to the airport, great drive enjoyed it, But I really feel back-seat driving should be banned, when someone is driving you somewhere, please give that person a peace of mind to drive. Flight to Mumbai again was uneventful. so now again resume normal life for me tomorrow.

Want to add this, All relatives I met in Kerala said "Savio, You look great, you are glowing". Glowing?? hello, what does that mean, can some one explain? I don't have a 100W bulb inside me to glow, I think that statement is a complement, but whats the complement in it?

Another common statement, "Savio, we need to find a girl for you before your hair goes" 1st Question, are all girls only so shallow to look at the hair, if yes, me happy single. 2nd question, What difference does it make for the world if I am single or married, Please mind your own business people, (I hope you have one)

Weltschmerz

Weltschmerz: (German) The depression that arises from comparing the world as it is to a hypothetical, idealised world.

Why have I started a blog with this word, don't know. But when I heard it it stuck me somewhere, I guess I can't explain where it struck me but it struck me, I am not in depression but I sometimes compare my current world to a idealized world and make me wonder why aren't we in that.

Weltschmerz, I really have no idea how to prounce this word also. So mostly I won't ever really be using it in a ordinary conversation too, but still the word strikes a cord.

Now what would be my ideal world? would it be a one in which I am a multi-millioire with Greek God like looks and females fauning over me, or would my Ideal world would be one in which the earth is at peace, All of man-kind working for the betterement of their fellow creatures, No war, no poverty and no tears? Which would really be a ideal world for me to compare with? Both impropable as it is.

I don't know, but thinking about it I will settle for a bit of wealth to live comfortably without really worrying about money, surrounded by a set of family and friends who really care for you because they love you and not cause of your money, success, looks or they got to act as if they like you cause you are family. This combined with pretty good health will really be the best place to live in. (am I becoming too senti now?)

Coming back to the word "Weltschmerz" makes me wonder why was this word coined to cover such a complex emotion? I mean i have heard there is more than 100 words decribing snow for eskimos, (though this article proves it wrong), Why do Germans have this word in their dictionary, is there too many Germans comparing there real world to their ideal world?

If it is, is that one of the reasons why Germany has risen so fast to become a real developed country after it was reduced to ruins in the 2nd world war? A lot of people working to make a ideal world reality will really bring a whole country into a ideal world, don't you think,

So if all of India worked to make this world a ideal world i feel we would live in a ideal world, what do you say people?

But again what is a Ideal world??????

Office: Senior Software Tester Tag and what does it really mean to me

I am again writing after pretty long time, almost a month, again its not that stuff wasn't happening in life just wasn't feeling in a mood to write it.

Plenty has been happening, but the point that really has been running in my mind for last few days has been my raise in salary and post, I am officially a "Senior Software Tester"

I don't know why this point is something that has been running in my head,

I am given a Title "Senior Software Tester" but am still doing the same thing I have been doing before, nothing new. True my TL keeps telling me to delegate stuff to juniors but when I look something or the other would already have been given to them by my TL,  Now if he has already given them work what do I do.

Another thing is that takes up plenty of my time is the small small work which has to be done, so by the time I delegate and explain to my juniors how to do it I can finish the work myself so I do the work myself which again increases my work.

Apart from that I have been told to coordinate with the marketing team to solve the technical support query, this is something which I don't call it a headache, because I like to solve stuff, but when I have to keep following it up with someone else who is very busy to complete the technical support makes it irritating.

Have been in the same project for almost more than 1.5 years, I kind of know what happenes where on the site, so many things are routed to me by TL or others, its a good feeling, but this small stuff also takes up time.

Now I dream  to do a MBA, to manage stuff, if I can't manage things in such small scale how will I be able to manage stuff in large scale? really? Am I cut out for the big stuff, the stuff I dream about, I really hope so I am

"Senior Software Tester" the tag really sounds good, especially the Senior tag, ;)
But since I am still doing the same job how much of a difference does it make? If I had a choice between getting this "Senior" tag or getting extra money I am really not sure which I would have chosen.

Extra cash is always welcome, but after working for 2-3 years you need to have a feeling that you are progressing somewhere and not still stuck at the same place. Thats where the tag helps, it gives you a feeling of importance (I am not sure if thats a good thing) but when you are continuing to do the same stuff you really start questing the tag.

Can I ask you guys who ever is reading this, If you had a choice between a cermonial tag and extra cash, which whould you take and why?

When will the “Aam Aadmi” get some balls?

July 5th all India Bandh called by opposition parties protesting against the prize hike, Great, I have never understood the concept of this bandh thing, cause of a few people who think they are the leaders of the people I have to sit at home today and work on a Saturday, and I really hate working on Saturday, Saturday and Sunday is not for work but to enjoy that’s why its called weekend (End of the weakness called work).

Congress, the party that coined the term “Aam Aadmi” and came to power is now being hit back by the opposition that the prize hike on fuel is hurting the “Aam Aadmi”; Question to the opposition isn't your bandh harming the “Aam Aadmi”? But am sure none of the opposition is going to answer this question.

Which brings us back to the “Aam Aadmi”, I think I feel I have understood about the “Aam Aadmi” is that he doesn't have Balls!!(Which brings another question to my mind, If he doesn't have balls can he still be called a Aadmi?)

If the “Aam Aadmi” would just go about his work and not sit like a coward at home this Bandh would have been a total failure, but no, He will sit at home thinking why to take the risk, Its better I lose a days pay rather than a hand or foot to the fools who have called the bandh, But what I feel is that he doesn't understand he sitting at home is really giving the Jackasses who are calling the Bandh more power.

Why does the normal person listen to the people who are calling the bandh and depriving him of a days pay rather than to the government he voted to power saying "don't worry, we will protect you, police will be out, we won't allow any disruptions to take place". Now if the people don't trust the government then why did they vote them to power? Should have voted the wolves only to power right? It better to be friends with the devil rather than the enemy of the devil right?

Please, I don't support the prize hike, it hurts me too, but what I am trying to say is that covering down in front bullies is not the best idea, I can preach this because I at least tried to go to office before being told that office is closed today and we working on Saturday :(, But seeing the police protection and trains running smoothly I really feel we are making a big mistake by helping the Opposition making this strike a success.

Music Musings

Was listening to FM today and  I heard these two lovely songs,”Give me some sunshine" from the movie 3 Idiots and "Fireflies" of OWL CITY.


I just love these songs, it’s because it makes a connection to me, the wordings just touch my deepest thoughts and feelings. so just felt like sharing it.

Am putting in a few lines from the song Give me some sunshine, not the entire lyrics here, and my thoughts on the side about the lyrics

Saari umar hum Mar mar ke jee liye Ek pal to ab humein jeene do Jeene do Give me some sunshine Give me some rain Give me another chance I wanna grow up once again	I wanna grow up once again, I miss my childhood, like I have read many times in emails and facebook status messages "Getting High" meant "On Swing" "Drinking" meant "Apple Juice" "Dad" was the only "Hero" "Love" was "Moms hug" "Highest place on earth" was "Dads Shoulder" my "Worst enemies" were "My own siblings" Only thing that could get "Hurt" were "Skinned knees" The only thing "Broken" were my "Toys" and when "Goodbyes" meant till "Tomorrow"
Kandhon ko kitabon Ke bojh ne jhukaya Rishvat dena to khud Papa ne sikhaya 99% marks laaoge to ghadi, varna chhadi Likh likh kar pada hatheli par Alpha, beta, gamma ka chaala Concentrated H2SO4 ne poora Poora bachpan jalaa daala	I remember being send to the room when you wanted to play, but I got to say the line about dad beating you up if you didn’t get 99%, well I got to give it to my dad, he never said anything to me, Ya he scared me when I didn’t get good marks, but it always ended with "I know you can do better, you just need to put in the effort Savio". And those words broke your heart all the more to see the disappointment, he never asked for a 99%, just the decent marks
Bachpan to gaya Jawani bhi gayi Ek pal to ab humein Jeene do jeene do Saari umar hum Mar mar ke jee liye Ek pal to ab humein jeene do Jeene do	This is something that really hurts, Bachpan to apne hat sa gaya, now working and not living the dreams you is like letting your life go, I know my life is running away from me I just don’t know how to correct the situation, sitting in front of the computer in a 4 walled office when such a big world awaits, I want to be free, I want to see the world, I want to fly a plane, I want to do a lot of things, things in the real world that require money. Thinks that without money I can only dream about, So now sitting and trying to make money by working and is my life go by is so depressing.

And this other song Fireflies by OWL CITY, I am pasting the whole lyrics here I just love this song.

You would not believe your eyes If ten million fireflies Lit up the world as I fell asleep 'Cause they'd fill the open air And leave teardrops everywhere You'd think me rude But I would just stand and stare I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems 'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs From ten thousand lightning bugs As they tried to teach me how to dance A foxtrot above my head A sock hop beneath my bed A disco ball is just hanging by a thread	Various things about this song affect me, starting with the fireflies stuff, Every summer vacation, I used to be packed off to Kerala, My native place, apart from playing with cousins, grandma’s cooking, something that really strikes me was fireflies, they used to come out at night, and sometimes when the power goes, which used to happen often in Kerala at that time, these fireflies were a sight to watch some 100s of them just shining there green lights, I used to enjoy just gazing at them, now its been a real long time since I have seen one. (1 thing if anyone of you are trying to catch it for me, they smell bad when you crush them) Another thing was that like the line says I would rather stay awake when I am asleep, because everything is never as it seems, Really, nothing is ever as it seems
I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems When I fall asleep Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here) 'Cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here) Why do I tire of counting sheep (Please take me away from here) When I'm far too tired to fall asleep To ten million fireflies I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyesv I got misty eyes as they said farewell But I'll know where several are If my dreams get real bizarre 'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems When I fall asleep I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems When I fall asleep
I'd like to make myself believe That planet earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep Because my dreams are bursting at the seams	I wished planet earth could stop for me, so that I may catch up with things I want to do, because really my dreams are bursting out a lot…. :(

to listen to the songs check the youtube links given below
FIREFLIES by OWL CITY 
Give me some sunshine from 3 idiots (anyone find a better link please let me know)

Sick Leave

1 week of leave,
hmmm...what all can we do with it? Visit Goa, go to Ladak, etc, No one would like to spend 1 week of precious leave sitting at home watching crappy television. If I heard some one had done that I would be laughing at their face, but its so difficult to laugh at yourself.

Thats correct I have been sitting at home watching crappy television cause of some kind of fever that raises my body temperature up every day, ya I know Fever does that to your body, but isn't fever something that comes and goes in two days not hangs around you for 2 weeks like a guest who doesn't leave.

I always complain how dumb work is and how difficult it is for me to drag my ass to work everyday, but guess what for the last week sitting at home and watching television I have been wondering how much better it would have been if I could go to office, and save my leave for something better like going on a vacation.

Everyones heard the saying health is wealth, how true is that, I am being sick and my doctor is getting wealthy on my health. dam the guy "Savio, lets observe the fever for a week", nice so I am a observance tool, some kind of lab rat to be experimented on. "Ok RAT, have this drug, lets see how your body reacts to the drug".

and you know parents the few real people who care about you, well I don't want to say anything, but taking care sometimes becomes a bit too irritating when a 23 year old is treated like a 5 year old.

Ok, I know, my mistake that I became ill, but how the hell is it my mistake that the germs found my body attractive, well atleast some one found it attractive right? ;)

Let me stop complaining and wish myself "GET WELL SOON SAVIO"

Humans, do we only try to survive and reproduce?

Humans, the earth’s dominant species, Ok! Are we so great or is it just a lot of water under the bridge?

Let’s take it point by point, we have conquered the whole world, visited almost every region, found ways to survive all kinds of situations Mother Nature could throw at us, from the Cold of the arctic to the Heat of the desert, we have conquered the tallest mountain (Mount Everest) and visited the deepest place (Marina Trench) on earth. We have found ways to fly like the birds or swim like the fish even if we weren't designed to do so and I think we will all credit this to one organ the BRAIN.

Look at us, 2 legs not made to run fast, the fastest a human can run is 9.6 miles per hour that also a 100 meter dash, a predator like a lion would make an easy meal of us. Two hands, ok, put us in front of an angry Ostridge, it will peck us to death and then turn and say "Look mom!! No hands". Two eyes that can see only in a limited wavelength, no wonder we are compelled to return home at night, Two ears that’s limited to a particular range of frequencies, nothing so great about us, apart from the one organ BRAIN.

The brain discovered fire, the wheel, thought the hands to wield tools, made instruments to run faster, fligh higher, swim deeper than nature could. And so what happened we became the dominant creatures of the planet. Ok, I don't want to disagree to that! But are we really the smartest?

I am quoting from a famous book Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "Humans think that they're smarter than dolphins coz humans have invented the wheel and slogged to make a lot of progress while the whales just muck around enjoying life all day... Dolphins on the other hand feel that they're smarter than humans for precisely the same reason". Sounds pretty reasonable right? Wasn’t mucking around whole day much better than the pressures of the day, how to earn money, how shall I impress her/him so that I may mate? How can I provide that little rascal? etc etc. Sounds mucking around is a much better alternative.

Ok! one argument I heard against this was, we got a highly developed brain, we have emotions, we feel love, we get scared, we get bored, which proves for a fact that our brains are better than a Dolphin cause we feel emotions, and cause of that, if we just mucked around we would be bored. Also we can talk, we communicate, and there is no other species that can communicate the way we do.

What is it to prove that animals don't have emotions, that animals don't communicate? Dogs bark, birds sing, what you think it is random sounds? It’s been proved that Whales communicate over large distances, that Plants communicate by the means of pheromones.

Again how can you say animals don't have emotions? You feed a dog everyday, play with it, it comes running to you, wags its tail to show it’s happy that you are around. Isn't that emotion? Beat the same dog up, you will see it start whimpering and running away the next time it saw you, I would call it being scared, another emotion,   Elephants have been know to remember who was kind to them and who was not. Take what is called the dumbest animal, a Donkey; it will try to protect its kid if you try to harm it. Motherly love? Emotion?

Wait I am hearing what you guys saying, all the things above can be explained by one word Instinct. A baby being born knows by instinct that it has to breathe, animals running away from fire, Instinct. Ok then I can say that our emotions are nothing but instinct, We feel we love someone and don't want that person to get hurt, ok I will say we got that instinct a modified version of motherly love. I don't think anyone reading this has jumped off a 100 foot tower, we know its crazy, we will get hurt, how? Instinct. So how are humans better than any other creature?

I would say that humans like any other animal are just another species trying to survive and reproduce. The so called great developments and progress made by humans which made us the dominant species of the planet are mostly always made by a few ultra smart talented people who comes along once in a while (Einstein, Newton) an exception rather than a rule.

To start with fire, some unnamed unrecognized "Einstein" recognized the power of it,

The rest all human race are just copycats who are trying to survive and reproduce...