Saturday, June 23, 2007

Mish mash post, Grooks, Jobs.

Hmm long time isnt it? This is gonna be one cocktail-post.

At the work front, things have at last fallen back to the usual routine. Although, things have known to change rapidly and drastically every time I think this very thought. To moot, our manager now uses our team as an example in meetings and urges other teams to match our levels of 'commitment'. Quite a thing huh?

I've never been a poetry guy. I mean, I am not into poetry in english in a big way, although poetry in hindi has been a favourite. Well, who can forget Saroj Smriti by Nirala, Madhushala by Bachan Srmost ( Well if you haven't heard of Harivansh Ray Bachhan , thumbs down to you mate! :( ) , Satpuda Ke Ghane Jungle etc? Those were the days of Swati and Parag. Hmmm....good old days!

But recently, thanks to a friend of mine at office, I've been exposed to some real good English poetry. One of my personal favourites, among these are the works of Piet (which are referred to as grooks. Grook, wikipedia tells me stands for "GRin & sUK" ,"laugh & sigh" in Danish). Here's one for you to enjoy.

An ethical grook

I see
and I hear
and I speak no evil;
I carry
no malice
within my breast;
yet quite without
wishing
a man to the Devil
one may be
permitted
to hope for the best.

Liked it? Ok, here's another,

A psychological tip

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No - not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.


Real good ,eh? Thanks due to my friend!
If you want to read more, google Piet Hein.
(Its speaks a lot about the strength of a brand name, when it is used a verb doesn't it? Hail Google! )

One thing long work hours have brought in, is late night telly watching. After a long day at office, it feels good to round off the day with an episode of Sienfeld followed by one of Friends ( and of course, the now routine scoldings about working late by the folks at home).

The last book I read was iCon. A well researched ( I hope!) book about the life and times of Apple Inc's CEO Steve Jobs. It was a pretty good read. A lot harsh things have been said about Jobs, his (mis)management style, aggressive attitude and misdemeanor. But all said and done , at 22 (my age) Jobs had already found Apple (Jobs went on to found nEXT and Pixar too!). And here I am fixing bugs in a stupid tool! Well, the urge to 'make a dent in the Universe', as Jobs would put it, has grown stronger ( and with it the desperation of dealing with the work I am doing at off right now).

Aur ab aap bataiye, aap kaise ho?

Friday, June 01, 2007

And when they reached the Black Gate, Strider said,"Brothers of Blogger! Of Blogspot! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same strain that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the wrethcedness of work ceases; when we forsake our servitude and break all bonds of stupid God-forsaken work... but it is not this day! An hour of joy and uninhibited laughter, when the Age of the Manager comes crashing down! But it is not this day! A day when one can send off one's brother (the only one at that) on a three month trip,without getting a call asking one to return to office as soon as possible! A day that doesnt seem like monday. But it is not this day! This day I work!".

And then he unsheathed his id and walked into his office.