The year that went by - 2011

As the year ends, pondering down significant aspects of my life in this (almost) past year 2011.

The year that went by - 2011

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

My new Alienware M14x

So after almost a year of planning, strategizing and begging, finally got my Alienware M14x thanks to dad, distant cousin Shyamala and a lil bit me :P :D

 

Thats me, happy with my new lappy :D

And for the first time shot an unboxing video, did this completely myself so might not be satisfactory but still a good start.

My new Alienware M14x

Mission Accomplished

Thanks to my good timing, Vh1 India and Viacom18, managed to win a pass for the premier of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Red Carpet and special fan screening here in IMAX Wadala, Mumbai. My lucky day indeed, got to meet Tom Cruise, Paula Patton and Anil Kapoor who had come to promote the film and the main reason for my and 99% if everyone to go :D

And that was the start... with my entry ticket to the event!
 

 

 

The Day 

 

Paula Patton

 And finally Mr. Ethan Hunt aka Tom Cruise arrives

And Mission Accomplished! He was nice with the fans, gave autographs and took pics with everyone (the latter depended on a lot of luck thanks to the rush, dam media and security but he was good nonetheless)
Even gave me an autograph the second time when the first didn't come proper.

 This is specially for my Kalyani :)

Mr. Anil Kapoor was nothing of less than suprised when he saw this '24' poster of mine and asked everyone how did we get this. Got to speak with him specially for a moment for this, with a BIG thank you, autograph and pic with my compliment :)

 Finally  with a few fellow co-winners whom I met and befriended. That is the specialty of Mumbai :)
Followed by the movie which was no doubt good. Check my review at Imdb here.
A great day to remember indeed! :)

Mission Accomplished

My childhood's hardest decision

This picture describes it perfectly...

Nostalgia anyone? :)

.

My childhood's hardest decision

Mumbai 26

After 3 years of the drastic terrorist attacks in Mumbai, history showing 26 (and around) to be a deadly number, comes this incredible work by some citizens actually showing the 'Spirit of Mumbai' than the most crap posted online and that are telecast by the media. Kudos to the makers and all involved.

Mumbai 26

The Art of Googling

Most people who use the world wide web and the giant Google (which pretty surely one can say ~99% of the population) actually cannot search efficiently and are not aware of what is infamously called 'Art of Googling'.

So check this out with this well explained infograph, huge help and useful.

Click to enlarge

The Art of Googling

An Avereage Day... on facebook

(Click to enlarge)

An Avereage Day... on facebook

A man must constantly exceed his level!

This inspiring story is about Bruce Lee, the legendary martial art master.

“Bruce had me up to three miles a day, really at a good pace. We’d run the three miles in twenty-one or twenty-two minutes. Just under eight minutes a mile [Note: when running on his own in 1968, Lee would get his time down to six-and-a half minutes per mile].





So this morning he said to me “We’re going to go five.” I said, “Bruce, I can’t go five. I’m a helluva lot older than you are, and I can’t do five.” He said, “When we get to three, we’ll shift gears and it’s only two more and you’ll do it.”

I said “Okay, hell, I’ll go for it.” So we get to three, we go into the fourth mile and I’m okay for three or four minutes, and then I really begin to give out. I’m tired, my heart’s pounding, I can’t go any more and so I say to him, “Bruce if I run any more,” –and we’re still running-” if I run any more I’m liable to have a heart attack and die.”

He said, “Then die.” It made me so mad that I went the full five miles.

Afterward I went to the shower and then I wanted to talk to him about it. I said, you know, “Why did you say that?”

He said, “Because you might as well be dead. Seriously, if you always put limits on what you can do, physical or anything else, it’ll spread over into the rest of your life. It’ll spread into your work, into your morality, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.”

From The Art of Expressing the Human Body

By Bruce Lee, John Little

A man must constantly exceed his level!

LPU11 Launches

The eleventh year of the Linkin Park Underground has launched and due to the hard work of the band, the LPUHQ and with the inputs of the fans, this year a completely brand new revamped members only site is launched like all the previous years and better! Powered by ground(ctrl)

A highly promising and innovative design adds to the awesome privileges the inner circle already provides it's members with package including a t-shirt, membership laminate and lanyard, LPU flag, and an earplug case and earplugs.
-FREE worldwide shipping for LPU11 Annual merchandise packages
-New benefits including early entry to Linkin Park shows and downloads of LPU-TV episodes
-All existing benefits are still included such as access to meet & greets, presale tickets and invitations to LPU Summits, exclusive downloads and more. The LPU 11 CD has also been launched at the same time, featuring Linkin Park demos from Hybrid Theory to A Thousand Suns and it's available at an exciting price of just $ 1.11 when you buy the annual membership! So go and purchase the membership that'd leave you with an experience of a lifetime. Below is the tracklis:

01. YO (MTM Demo)
02. Slip (1998 Unreleased Hybrid Theory Demo)
03. Soundtrack (Meteora Demo)
04. In The End (Demo)
05. Program (Meteora Demo)
06. Bang Three (What I’ve Done Original Demo)
07. Robot Boy (Test Mix, Option Vocal Take)
08. Broken Foot (Meteora Demo)
09. Esaul (A Place For My Head Demo)
10. Blue (1998 Unreleased Hybrid Theory Demo)

Here's what the post signatured by Rob said on LinkinPark.com

LPU11 has officially launched! This new year of the LPU launches with a brand new members-only online community, an exclusive merchandise package and additional benefits, including LPU members' request for early admission into Linkin Park shows.
We are also releasing our annual LPU CD. The LPU11 CD is filled with unreleased demos from Hybrid Theory to A Thousand Suns. Some of the songs on this CD are early versions of familiar songs, such as the “In The End” demo. Other songs on this CD never made it on a Linkin Park album and remained unfinished and in raw form. All of the songs represent the journey it takes to create an album as a whole, and we're excited to share them with you.
To learn more, visit us at LPUnderground.com
Thank you to our dedicated members for making LPU such an amazing place for us to connect with our fans!
Rob

 

So heres to another great(er) year! Find and add me in the LPU here

LPU11 Launches

All about the 1's 11/11/11 11:11:11

As the title says it all, its kinda funny, all these years sometimes as this particular date approached in a year, it was cool to watch all the 1's lined up in the watch, calendars, etc. as a kid. Now in this 'one of a kind' date, its funnier to see the hype and speculation like another big event (somewhat of the 21/12/2012 type, only not with some certain drastic outlook)

So I wonder whats so special? As far as I know and concerning me, except the facts like some movies like Immortals and video games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is going to be released and I have my end semester exams coming up, another normal day of life, yet.

PS. Check out my submission for The Dark Knight Rises campaign here. For all the bat and Nolan fans out there, must see and to try out. Spread the word!

All about the 1's 11/11/11 11:11:11

Thank You Steve

So (today) 16th October 2011 is observed as Steve Jobs Day as declared by the Governor of California as a tribute to the great man, one of the greatest innovators and entrepreneurs who ever lived. Now I'm not going to write down his entire life story, since many might be somewhat aware of it in his recent demise. And as the old saying goes a picture speaks a thousand words.

Instead, I want to take time and write about my feelings, thank him for how he changed not only mine but millions of lives across the globe. My father being an enthusiastic in the world of stocks, I was often inquisitive and tried to get along with him in his doings as a kid. At that time, I just knew a guy called Steve Jobs was like the 'creator' of personal computers that day used worldwide, and I was nothing less of amazed at my little understanding that time how he ruled the share market. Being a computer (and video game) geek since way back then, my access to this world was limited to my cousin's and uncle's laptops since I didn't own a computer then. As time rolled by, as the world changed, Apple was a king in tech and here in India owning one became a status symbol. Although I was amazed as millions of others when I saw the iPhone for the first time in 2007, as I said before owning one here would be a luxury. But it was not just the fine Apple products which brought my attention most to him but it was far more.

Never did I imagined years ago as a kid, or later watching random videos at youtube of his before watching this (or this, heck I must have posted that over a dozen times in the years and god alone knows the number which I watched)  the charisma and innovative-ness of the Great Man. Yes, I'm referring to his Standford commencement speech back in 2005, but the moment I saw it in 2008 (during my 'exile to study' for 2 years after finishing high school) my love for him as a computer/tech/game geek increased exponentially making me surrender to him with nothing else but respect.

Since that day onwards he became a 'mentor' for me in my life.

Since that day he was a role model for me giving inspiration with each action.

Since that day he gave me a sense of direction in my life, become one of the big (or perhaps in a way the sole) reason for me to pursue Computer Science Engineering


Since that day whenever someone asked me about my idol (in any context), you can guess the answer which I shouted!

Since that day a purpose to my life was discovered.

And this is my story, one of many thousands in the world. Not to anyone else, but for me it made a big difference as to my perspective to my life. Little did Mr. Jobs knew that he would not only inspire the students there in the convocation but move millions across the globe. That short speech  remains one of his best moments till date. Not even many volumes of books can be compared to his short 15 min 'talk'.
And since that day I can truly say I became a 'Steve Jobs fan'. Just to see him speak always during an announcement was like a moment of glory. He was very simple, subtle and extremely impactful.

He was the man who changed the world, who always remained himself.

So I would just want to thank him for everything...

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for realizing us the importance of listening to our heart and intuition. Your quest for knowing what you love which even led you to drop the college is unparalleled.

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for letting us know who a real champion is. Not someone who never falls but one who has the ability to rise after every fall. Your exit from your own company and its return is scarcely believable.

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for making us believe anything’s possible. You transformed computer from a geek’s device to everyone’s personal computer, the idea which seemed unattainable and was scoffed at that time.

Thank You Mr. Jobs,  for showing that a one who is crazy enough to change the world, actually can. You love and dedication to your work made the world realize that is what makes an ordinary man extraordinary.

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for showing us what passion really means. All your hardships at college and a turbulent return and success shall serve as an example for all of us.

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for truly giving a meaning to the old saying 'A successful man is the one who lays his foundations with the bricks that others throw at him.'
Sometimes life can throw a brick at you, don't lose faith in yourselves...

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for proving us that its innovation and imagination that truly drives and changes the world…

Thank You Mr. Jobs,  for 'Think(ing) Differen(tly).'

Thank You Mr. Jobs, for teaching us to be “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish”…
Never be content with what you do and keep pursuing for the better. Excellence has no end.

Thank You Steve…

You have might ended your journey here, but you and your legacy will always be remembered for generations to come and we will proudly say we lived during 'The Era of Steve Jobs'

"Heavens... Be prepared, Once your apple changed the future of Earth forever… 

Now, our Apple’s founder is gonna change your world in ways you can never even imagine…"

The Life of Steve Jobs

(Click to enlarge)

(Click to enlarge)

image courtesy of Mashable

Thank You Steve

And he moves on...

"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

- Steve Jobs (24 February, 1955 - 5 October, 2011)

And he moves on...

Everyone have their own view!

Each one has his/her own view of the world. Brilliant picture I came across depicting this! Have a great day.

Everyone have their own view!

13 year old giant

And that is none other than - Google

Changing almost everyone's lives. So big in just almost a decade, quiet a oxymoron isn't it?
Happy 13th Birthday Google! (By the time 'Teenage' and 'Adulthood' is reached I wonder what will happen)

13 year old giant

i - iCaptain!

i - iCaptain!

Not Today But One Day

Below is a poem written by a Bansalite in November, 2010 during his study at Bansal Classes.

As it was the last day of Bansal Classes.

So I thank B.C. for making thousands of students to wear glasses.

 

Thanks Bansal for making me to realize where I am weak.

I will work hard, I will encore and one day I will reach the peak.

 

Today, I don’t have a good batch.

But I have a FIRE.

Today, I don’t have a good cumulative rank.

But I have a DESIRE.

 

Yes I agree that I don’t belong to the layer of cream.

But I have a DREAM.

 

I don’t have the “AUKAT” of A-1 Batch today,

But remember “EVERY DOG HAS IT'S DAY”.

 

So what in there two years at B.C. I don’t become a HERO.

But remember Sachin Tendulkar in his first match scored just a “ZERO”.

 

Thanks Bansal for making me to realize that life is about hard work and competition.

But one day I will swing this world with my sensation .

 

One day, I will have that “AUKAT”

You just wait and watch.

 

Today you don’t find any thing extraordinary in any activity of the mine.

But remember every “Diamond” take some time to shine when it comes out the mine.

 

Every one say that I have not developed so much as compared to the rest of the masses.

But  I know that I have developed a lot as compared to the first day I arrived at Bansal Classes.

 

I know for selection in JEE a good batch is very important.

But remember “Students makes batches, Batches does not makes student”.

 

I promise you, I will be sharper one day, I will be smarter one day, I will be faster one day.

 

ONE DAY I WILL GET EVERY THING WHAT I DON’T HAVE TODAY.

 

Life is much Bigger than any competition.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Being an ex-student myself this clearly reflects what most of us faced and everyone else in general. Thanks to Jitendra and BCPL for these beautiful words. Original can be found here.

Not Today But One Day

Who is a Teacher?

From A School Principal's speech at a graduation:

He said that a Doctor wants his child to become a Doctor,
Engineer wants his child to become Engineer,
Businessman wants his ward to become CEO,
But a teacher also wants his child to become one of them!
Hardly anyone wants to become a teacher 'By Choice'. Very sad but that's the truth!

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.


One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education and the system, the endless lists of flaws. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

To stress his point he said to another guest;
"You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Teacher Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,

"You want to know what I make?
(She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an iPod, PC or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?
(She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them how to write and then I make them write, keyboarding isn't everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?

I make a difference in all your lives, educating kids and preparing them to become CEOs, Doctors and Engineers...

Well, what do you make Mr. CEO?
His jaw dropped; he went silent.

Who is a Teacher?