Anything for a Click...

At a party one of my friend spills a drink her lovely dress and is all upset that the red wine that may leave a stain on her priced possession. Suddenly she breaks into a beautiful smile when she spots one of our friends clicking the party photographs.In a fraction of a second, she completely forgot her moment of agony and is all set for a best pose for the snap..

Ever wondered how our brains are ususally wired to smile, pose, act the moment you see a camera around.. Well...this is what a camera can do to you... :)

This lil black cube with a lens on one side and a wanna be fotographer on the other (Not always) can at least for an instant make people forget about what is happening and Pose for a snap for an everlasting memory... It is very difficult to capture natural, innocent snaps of the subjects unless it is taken without their knowledge. The xception being Babies and Animals whose brains are not yet tainted by the latest show on Mtv, Fashion Tv and hell of a lot of add ons that come along... Or so I feel.....

Recently, in Goa, We were playing beach volley with a couple of my friends. Suddenly we just stopped the game, Pulled our tummies in and gave the best plastic smile we could manage in the hot sun. All this coz one of our friends wanted to take a casual snap of us playing.. he he.. His attempts to get the natural look failed coz all of us were aware of the lil black cube waiting to capture us, so we wanted to be in the best possible self.

But this was how it used to be some time back. Now with the easy availability if cameras, Social networking sites and digital media, I feel that the current generation prefers to throw caution out of the window. Everyone is vying for their quick shot to fame. The youngsters today are ready to fall to any level if they are sure that fame is bound to follow.

The success of all the silly shows on TV like Splitsvilla, Emotional Atyachar, Roadies, Truth, Love Cash and a truck load of others just go on to prove that Sleaze, Abuse, Sex, Dirty talk, anything, just about anything is fine with the guys as long as they are on TV.In this crazy rush for fame, many often forget the sensitivities associated with it.

Not many have had a pleasant experience always. There have been incidents where the subject often becomes a victim of voyeurism. I believe all this can be attributed to the easy and cheap availability of technology and a media which doesn't think beyond TRP.

I myself being a person who loves photography, would love to see the camera being in the right hands and doing the right job.


Image Source: - Google Images

Are you Listening ???

I often find myself amidst conversations where I wonder, is the listener actually listening ! Blame it on the non stop nonsense that my talking is often referred to. But how does one actually find if we are sounding "boring" to the listener? Well based on my little research and experience, this is what I have observed.... Read on to find out more....

Repeated, perfunctory responses. A person who says, “Oh really? Oh really? That’s interesting. Oh really?” is probably not too engaged.

Simple questions. People that are bored ask simple questions. “When did you move?” “Where did you go?” People that are interested ask more complicated questions, which shows curiosity, not mere politeness.

Interruption. Although it sounds rude, interruption is actually a good sign. It means a person is bursting to say something, and that shows interest. Similarly …

Request for clarification. A person who is sincerely interested in what you’re saying will need you to elaborate or to explain. “What does that term mean?” “When exactly did that happen?” “Back up and tell me what happened first” are the kind of questions that show that someone is trying closely to follow what you’re saying.

Imbalance of talking time. I suspect that many people suppose that they usually do 80 percent of the talking in a conversation because people find them fascinating. Sometimes, it’s true; if a discussion involves a huge download of information desired by the listener, that’s a very satisfying kind of conversation. In general, though, people who are interested in a subject have things to say themselves; they want to add their own opinions, information, and experiences. If they aren’t doing that, they probably just want the conversation to end faster.

Body position. People with a good connection generally turn fully to face each other. A person who is partially turned away isn’t fully embracing the conversation.

Audience posture. Back in 1885, Sir Francis Galton wrote a paper called “The Measurement of Fidget.” He determined that people slouch and lean when bored, so a speaker can measure the boredom of an audience by seeing how far from vertically upright they are. In addition, attentive people fidget less; bored people fidget more. An audience that remains upright is still interested, while an audience that is horizontal and squirmy is bored.

I often remind myself of La Rochefoucauld’s observation, “We are always bored by those whom we bore.”

Well that is a cursory glance at identifying boredom... Hope it did not bore you guys as well.. hehe....


Image Source: Google Images

Not the usual Sunday…

Well the previous weekend wasn’t a regular kind of chill out weekend. It was more of an action packed Sunday, if put across in the most subtle manner.

The day kicked off with a long ride to the Madras Motor Race track to catch up with the MRF International Motor Challenge 2010. It was an adrenaline pumping session. The race began with the MRF 1600 CC race cars burning rubber (that was the max they could do with their puny little engines). It was fun to watch around 15 cars starting the race with an enormous roar bursting out every little bit of power from the engines. The Local ace Ashwin Sunder ended up winning the race. It was indeed a nail biting finish.

The next session was that of 600 CC superbikes, a race which I have been dying to watch it live. The engine roars of 8 superbikes together on the tarmac was just unbelievable. It was like rock music to my ears. Just to see all the riders decked up in complete riding gear, with souped up rides between their legs and race like there is no tomorrow was an experience of a life time.

Just being a spectator to these superfast cars and bikes had actually charged up my emotions as well. I somehow wanted to race on the track.. So what could the next best option be? Karting.. J Yes.. As soon as the race was over, me and my buddy left for a place called KART ATTACK.. One of the very famous Karting tracks in Chennai. We raced our hearts out during the sessions and it was even more fun as I was completely charged up with the race event in the morning. Some bumper to bumper racing on those karts were really exciting.

Post the racing session, we had plan to celebrate the weekend with a lovely dinner. We headed off to a one of the best Spanish joints in Chennai, Zaras. It was an amazing place to be… An awesome combination of Whiskey Cocktails, Beer, One of the best DJs in town and an amazing company. What more could I have asked for. It was a Funtaastic experience.. ;)

Wait.. The day doesn’t end here. Post the party someone goes – “Hey there is a Sale going on in Levis and the store is open till 12AM. “ Well that was it. All of us headed off to the showroom and for the first time did some shopping at 12 AM and that too when I was off my senses.

All in all it was an activity packed Sunday and I am definitely looking forward for much more Sundays like this one.

| Happy 2010 |

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself.... Gift yourself a new soul !!!

Wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year... I know its a bit too late, but as they say"Better late than never"..

Cheers

Kash !!!

Guilty or Innocent ?

I owe a major one to Amrit… I am really sorry for the long delay in completing the tag buddy.. But its better late than never ryt??

So here is it goes and the tag name is Innocent..or Guilty? Please read the rules carefully!

RULE 1- You can only say Guilty or Innocent.

RULE 2- You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!

RULE 3- Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag to your friends..

• Asked someone to marry you? Guilty
• Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Innocent..
• Danced on a table in a bar? Innocent
• Ever told a lie? Guilty …No survival without this.. J
• Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Guilty
• Kissed a picture? Guilty
• Slept in until 5 PM? Innocent.. 2PM is the limit… J
• Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty
• Held a snake? Guilty
• Been suspended from school? Innocent
• Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent
• Stolen from a store? Innocent
• Been fired from a job? Innocent.. uuh… Not yet I believe.. ;)
• Done something you regret? Guilty L
• Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Innocent.. Yuck…
• Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent.. Never got a chance till date in 25 years.. Can you beat that???
• Kissed in the rain? Guilty… It was awesome :) …
• Sat on a roof top? Guilty
• Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Guilty.. Still cant believe it happened..
• Sang in the shower? Guilty.. Always..
• Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Innocent.. Was in my Shorts.. ;)
• Shaved your head? Guilty
• Had a boxing membership? Innocent.. (Hey Amrit, Did u Add this question???)
• Made a girlfriend cry? Guilty
• Been in a band? Innocent
• Shot a gun? Guilty
• Donated Blood? Guilty..
• Eaten alligator meat? Innocent
• Eaten cheesecake? Guilty
• Still love someone you shouldn’t? Guilty
• Have/had a tattoo? Innocent
• Liked someone, but will never tell who? Guilty
• Been too honest? Guilty
• Ruined a surprise? Guilty
• Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterward? Guilty
• Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty
• Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Guilty…
• Joined a pageant? Innocent
• Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty
• Had communication with your ex? Guilty….
• Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Guilty
• Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty

Wow.. I have scored 26…. Now that’s a pretty decent score I believe.. J

A Reason to Celebrate...

It was a regular day in Office.. The same old Client presentations, the same old pretending to be busy etc etc.. Somehow spent 11 hours in office and reached home.. As expected out of a typical Bachelor, the first thing I did was to turn on the Television.

I love the company of some good music especially when I am alone at home. So the obvious choice was VH1. Made myself a cup of tea all the while enjoying the latest number from Lady Gaga. Finally I freshened up and decided to watch a beautiful series on Discovery Channel – TIME WARP.. ( A Genuine statement to people who have not watched it.. you are missing something).. And so I was watching Time Warp and enjoying every bit of it till the inevitable ad break..

I was just staring at the screen when suddenly one ad caught my attention… My Hero, My Daughter… Celebrate Daughters’ day on 27th September, with Archies Cards.. I was like.. Duh.. WTF… Daughters’ Day. Hey... I am not against the Fairer sex or anything like that. I am just amused by the way these Greeting card companies make regular calendar days something really important.. I mean, no one ever celebrated these kinda stuff had these Greeting Card companies not made cards on Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Teachers’ Day even Valentine’s Day. I mean there is nothing wrong in it, but somewhere I feel the emotional value is getting lost... (I am bound to find plety of differences in opinion in this context)

But now , somehow I feel there has to be a limit somewhere. There is nothing wrong in Celebrating a day specially for someone, but there has to be a history behind it. There is a specific reason why Valentine’s day is celebrated, why Teachers; Day is celebrated and so on. But Daughters’ Day – on what context.. May be I am ignorant or unaware, but I don’t think the significance of an Intense relationship between a Father, Mother and their children should intensify on a particular day! It is something to be celebrated throughout ones’ life…

May Be I am thinking too much.. May be it would be better if I set my mind at rest and enjoy the next episode of Time Warp…

Disclaimer -- I have nothing against the celebration of any day, Just that I personally feel that the significance of certain relationships are lost into thin air behind the marketing gimmicks by a few companies..

Cheers.. I sign off...