Doggy Style

This is the dog that silently enters open dorm rooms and cosies itself under our beds. I've never heard it bark. Always has a pensive expression on its dog-face. Correction. bitch-face.

to jump or not to jump; that is the question

 hmm...depends on how pathetic my life is.

naah. I'm on the first floor...I'd probably just end up with fractures

PLACED!!!

After a hiatus which seemed like extending indefinitely, I am saying hello again - now as a final year student of Engineering. I got placed on the 17th of August, at a UBS Investment Bank affiliate (Verity Knowledge Solutions), Hyderabad. Term starts June next year.

I'm here to share my experience of the whole day...

8 30 AM

In bed, knowing that the PPT was at 8. Still awfully tired from the 10pm show of Lafangey Parindey. Heard that shortlisting was based on CGPA. Thought of chucking the ppt. Something happens in the mind that induces more and more restlessness. Awake I am, in 10 minutess. Brush my teeth, skip breakfast. Rush to the Training and Placement Section.

9 AM 

Company reps aren't there yet. Arriving late. Also, rumors that the cutoff CGPA lowered to 7.5 from last year's 7.9. At 7.60, I'm mildly hopeful that I might just get a shot at this company. Rush to room. Quickly done with my ablutions. Get back at 11 for the ppt. 

11 AM

Interesting and quick ppt. Cutoff for first round of interviews declared by the company to be 7.5. 105 shortlisted. Odds of getting through even if they recruited 10? 9.5%

Rush back to room to get into formal clothing. CV and certificates ready. My second ever interview experience.

PERSONAL INTERVIEW (TECHNICAL)

The first round lasted 20-25 minutes. The interviewer asked me to introduce myself and lead him through my CV. He saw that I had done NCFM (NSE's certification in financial markets) tests, and started quizzing me on the modules that I had done. 

_________________________

1.What do you mean by equity?

Investment vehicles - basically shares and securities that investors can own of a company.

2. What are derivatives?

functions of an underlying that provides us with returns with lower risks, as derivatives are used as hedging instruments

3. What do you mean by underlying?

It could be an asset, a basket of assets, and index, a currency, etc

4. Which are the 4 major currency derivatives?

Yen, Dollar, Pound, Euro

5. Why isn't the Chinese Renminbi traded in the derivatives markets?

Illiquid currency, and it's grossly undervalued. 

6. Explain how the markets work

Companies need to raise capital for their businesses. This requires huge money, and this they do by releasing IPOs in what is known as the primary market where these are bought for a price (determined by different methods). These bought shares of the company are then bought and sold again in the secondary market, ie the stock exchanges at prices based on company valuations, public sentiment, and external factors.

7. How does power transmission and generation take place? Explain it to me as you would to a layman.

Power is generated at generating stations (hydel, thermal, etc) at low voltages in the order of 13.6kV. It then has to be transmitted over long distances to the loads - where we, the consumers need it. For this, the voltage needs to be stepped up to higher voltage so as to avoid transmission losses, and this is done using a transformer...

8. A layman wouldn't know what Stepping up means. Why high voltages...?

Consider this analogy. If one needs to transfer water through a pipe from one place to the other, it can most effectively be done if water at one place is at a higher gradient as compared to the other. Same goes with electricity. A high potential gradient causes smooth and efficient transfer of power to the load. Once at the receiving end substation, the voltage is again stepped down using transformers to match the voltage requirements. 

_______________________

That was all. He asked me whether I had any questions about the company. I asked him about the analytics work of the company. He cleared my doubts. We talked about working hours, and the quality of work. The interviewer was friendly and we shook hands. He said he hoped we'd meet again at Hyderabad next year. I had sort of nailed it already.

PERSONAL INTERVIEW (HR)

The second round was a breeze. There were 2 interviewers on the panel. They asked me to introduce myself, and sought reasons for my interest in the company. They asked me whether I wanted to do an MBA or not. I told them that I definitely was interested in MBA, but only after saving enough for it. I made it clear that I had no intentions for higher studies anytime soon. They asked me about Option Calls. When are Calls in-the-money? Brief us on the concept of finite investment and infinite return in Options. Under what circumstances is it the other way round? Why are Call options sold?...

All these questions were related to NCFM modules that I had completed.

Then they asked me a puzzle. Incidentally, it wasn't the first time I came across that problem:

You are provided 9 identical looking balls. 8 of these balls are of equal weight, and 1 is of unequal weight. You are provided with a pan balance. Find the minimum number of weightings one needs to do in order to find the unequal weighted ball. (Note: we don't know whether the unequal ball is of weight greater than or less than the 8 equally weighing balls)

Ans: 3

I'm sure you'll figure out how. :-)

SUGGESTIONS TO JUNIORS

To anyone who wishes to pursue an MBA later on in Finance, this is really good work experience to start with. NCFM helped me a lot, and so CGPA wasn't a deterrent at all. In fact CGPA never is a deterrent, as long as you qualify the minimum requirement. They were looking for people who could think fast when faced with a problem situation, with decent academics. Go through the basics of Engineering Economics and Accountancy that you've studied in your third year. Know a little about Indian economy and reforms, current M&As, etc. Be thorough with whatever is in your CV.

This was my second company that I made to the interview. I remember that the first one was a failure because I was desperate to get the job, nervous and was talking fast - thought all jammed. :-) Avoid that. Contract. Relax, and let the day be yours!

Stay cool during the interview. I don't know whether I had a smile on my face or not, but my heartbeat was definitely not racing. Maintain eye contact, and avoid lapses in concentration :-)

Don't be too desperate about getting the job. Opportunities shall abound in plenty. All the best!

THE (DISTORTIONS IN A) NORMAL CURVE

(click on the image to make it larger)

This cartoon is dedicated to all the low-scorers and the handful of high scorers who made this possible.

LATEST UPDATES COMING SO LATE

Dudes and Gals of NIT Warangal. After what might seem like a long long sabbatical, myself, mister A.J pocketful of PJs is back with his tales of woes.

Latest khabar from NIT Warangal is that Electrical Engineering students have started growing tails. Tails of patch chords from the Control Systems Lab. This is pukka and pukka tail, folks - No cooked up tale.

and
:-)

Anyway, enough of serious talk. Let's see the latest fun thing that's going on at the hostels. Today morning, I was hungrier than Oliver Twist. But what I got for breakfast was this:

Not that I'm complaining. That's because my stomach makes these rumbling noises in the classroom and Prof. Kantala (Vishu-nathan) gets all worked up and blames our ancestors for what a burden the whole class is, and how we'll be talking and talking incarnation upon earthly incarnation. But woh sab to lite hai yaaron...zara yeh padho:

(agar padha nahi ja raha to doosre tab par kholein)

Happy ronaa, dhonaa, nahanaa and _________

;-)

NIT WARANGAL ROOM ALLOTMENTS / ACCOMODATION

Yup, the room types have been allotted to the whole lot of us, and from the looks of it, most of the 2nd years have landed with 13th block (2-guys-in-a-room) arrangement, even thoughsome of them have been lucky enough to make it to the 1k mega-hostel. A majority of the third years on the other hand, have the mega hostel rooms dished out to them, which involuntarily draws frequent yippees and yuhoos from me. Final years (4th years) have got the 14th block to themselves, while some of them couldn't make it, or have voluntarily chosen the 1k mega hostel over it - maybe because the majority of us - would like to use unused bathrooms and probably leave marks on freshly whitewashed walls.

:-)

The situation of the LH is most likely to remain unchanged. I've not really updated myself on that.

The allotment list is available here

ACADEMIC CALENDER 2009-10 / REGISTRATION DETAILS

The academic calender for the year 2009-10 is out. NITW Registration for even semester 2009 is on the 16th and 17th of the month of July.

ACADEMIC SCHEDULE 2009-10

Save a copy by clicking on the link

PS: Won't blame you for mumbling expletives under your breath for the exclusion of 'list of holidays' from the single page schedule ;-) .

Registration Details are up too...

TAKE YOUR PICK! QUICK

Hey Folks!

It's been quite some time since I posted anything informal in these spaces. CORRECTION.

It's been a while since I've posted anything at all here. [CLICK HERE FOR SOME TIMEPASS LITERATURE]

Chalo, koi nahi....bound to do that soon.

But in the meantime, there's something about hostel allotment that we all might want to discuss. I was laden with hope that those of us - like me - who were now third years in the becoming, would for the first time in NIT W, get 'single occupancy' quarters to soliloquize in. (Till last year, it was only the final years who had the umm...privilège)

OPTION FORM FOR ACCOMMODATION

Now...

This time they've given us an option on the type of accommodation.

• triple seated
• double seated
• single seated

I am of the opinion that despite hard-hit recessionary times, most of us would want to make the most of a pick on privacy options for the 2 semesters to follow. Regarding the numbers - the option seems to be open to all the second, third and fourth years to be. So we can expect nearly 80% (or more?) of us going for the single seated allotments (costing nearly 2.5 to 3.5 times the amount you would have to shell out for a triple seated room). In any case, the triple and double seated options aren't that inviting to the average NITWit. Apparently, you don't know where to include your room mate option in case you go for the multiple accommodation choice.

Strange.

First Come, First Serve seems to be the mantra...

...and 3rd July happens to be the dead-line. (Indian Postal Service - dhyaan rahe!)

You're all bright folks, and you know what to do next.

:-)

NOTE: It's believed that the final years have 4th block in preference. Best for us to go for the Mega Hostel (1K room hostel)

Contact Number of Dean Student Affairs: 9490165362

NIT WARANGAL 2009 EVEN SEMESTER RESULTS

eOne of the few posts I have to associate with dipassionately...

Anyways, here's where you get the NITW RESULTS 2009 -

CLICK HERE -> :-P <- CLICK HERE

'CHAL SEENU' - AN APPLAUSE TO SEENU POINT

12 midnight. I'm done with a session of rummaging through my notes amidst blaring dB levels from noise created by metal from the adjacent room. It's hot, and I need water...

Why is the water always gone?

;-)

My brain quickly chucks the idea. Thirst is postponed temporarily.


Alighting from my bed, I work my way through the corridor for a moment by the joey, to find a spectator in a dog that has found the bathroom the best place to chill! Very economical - rats abound for the belly and a clogged drainage for tequila - But I wonder how they stand the ammonia in the air...

Anyways, this is when I usually barge into 8-3-16, making my presence felt with a 'CHALO SEENU!'

30 minutes later...

I'm high already. Time for the next bout of mugging. It would only be a couple of hours from now when I would enter dreamland.

5 30 am:

I wake up to my alarm that goes - 'We don't need no education...'


I need another dose of Seenu. I search my wallet for Rs 5 (which would buy me a cup of tea and two biscuits). All I have is a Rs 500 note. It would do no good. Classic example of water, water everywhere and yet not a drop to drink! I try my roomie's wallet - not a penny in here either. I rush to room number 7-1-5 where I find Abhinav doing his upside-down yogic asana. I ask for some change. Still vertically inverted, he directs me to where he keeps his cash. I latch on to a fistful of coins; mumbling a thank-you, tickle him on his belly; he can't bear the merriment that translates into giggles - he loses balance and curses at me even as I hear a thud, and hurriedly make my way to the compound wall that needs crossing. Seenu, here I come! keep that kettle simmering...

6 15 am:

Once you're on the other side of the wall, everything looks rosy as you walk through some 50 metres to the much talked about 'Seenu Point'.

The nip in the morning air is a turn-on. To my left, women drawing rangolis at the entrances to dwellings which look more like shops (dukaan and makaan rhyme, don't they?), and three girls drawing their hopscotch ground in the middle of the road with the same rice flour...then you have that man dressed up real funny- in a costume that my friend Seenu says, helps him climb those coconut trees. Anyways, he's the one we go to for coconut-water at noon. Cocks being chased by dogs who seeing you, get distracted - come wagging their tails to exercise their sense of smell...

And when you finally get there - the thatched hut where Seenu has all his cookies, chaai, 'cakes', ciggies and cool drinks for you to choose from - with the morning ginger tea topping the list - The simmering potion is poured into a glass with elan and what is pushed into my hand is a 4 rupee wonder recipe that sis, even you can't beat! Challenge, what say?

I sip - and like magic, all propagation delays are accounted for, and an active high clear signal is sent to my neural flip flops...

And I am all 'set' for the day.

BIRD HUNTING: A TECHNICAL PAPER

ABSTRACT:

A study was conducted on a sample of birds/chicks caught unawares (too lend the report creditworthiness). An investigation was made on the possible reasons for the failure/ success in game /bird hunting (including success/failure with chicks). The studies revealed the applicability of the following rules in our day to day bird-hunting endeavours.

• The Naked Rule
• The Nas(h)ty Rule
• The Pyramid Rule
• The Foursome Rule

Important Note: The terms chicks and birds have been used, as a convenience measure, synonymous to each other, as both of these are essentially similar in quality, apart from the fact that game birds take more effort. Both prizes are cherished, nonetheless.

INTRODUCTION:

Since the dawn of humankind, dating back to the days of Adam, his apple, Eve and the serpent, men have found it necessary to go bird-hunting. The pleasure derived out of the catch seems to be the driving force behind the motive. The nuances of the complex art of ‘scoring chicks’ have been studied, drawing some conclusions.

EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS:

‘Four-play’ was conducted on the following sample:]
1) THE SITTERS – Easiest to hit on. Score!
2) THE GEESE – These birds have the ‘Geez! You blow me’ look on them. Expressive birds, mind you!
3) THE JUNGLEFOWL – All junglee and foul! Proceed with utmost care with these ones
4) THE WOODCOCKS – You need to dip your beaks hard into these ones.

Note: For one’s own satisfaction, different combinations of foursomes can be experimented with.

DISCUSSIONS:

1) It has been observed that occupying a chick’s attention grants an immediate upper hand, even though it might not seem that apparent. From here, it is advised to play slow at first, and make steady moves. Best to fire when IT starts getting hot. For it is then that the fame turns its head away, unaware of the impending pounce. It is advised to be a tigger all the way!

2) It has been found that a firm grip on the barrel increases the odds of a confident shot (and needless to say, no one’s in the mood to wet their pants doing so, or are we?! ;-) ). In any case, it’s best to oil the gun well before use!

3) Even among chicks, we find something called the ‘pecking order’ (an organisation of people as different ranks in an administrative body). It’s not much of a job segregating the hi-fis from the normal ones.

Now here’s a piece of advice right from my family archives. It’s a poem written by my great-grand-uncle...

O boys and girls from now and then,
Your goofs and b***s excite this pen;
No paltry aid you gift today...
And I was never – ever this gay!

For I bequeath into your hands
The code, the Rulebook of these lands;
And I don’t want this strain delayed;
For here’s the secret on how to get laid...

A roast, a toast; beef and mead;
You dine on these and pay me heed
The dame awaits, a child no more...
Do not delay, I must implore.

‘All worlds’s a play’, it has been said
Is that enough for your appetite to be fed?
We’ll see about that once the game’s begun
You load your barrel and head out for fun!

The bird dictates your movements, yes!
A peek, a glance is enough to guess
Here, the Pecking Order comes to play
And then you go –“What does the rulebook say?”

It says -

“When a chick’s eggs are tasted raw
The ‘entire-course’ would hold no flaw”
Protein exchange - I call it thus;
Play ‘IT’ cool, and make no fuss...

And that, my friends will hold you good.
As long as you like it – hunt you should!
Treasure this gift I pass today...
And you’ll ‘BANG FINE’ and ‘ROLL IN THE HAY’!

DISCLAIMER: Let the above poem convey a clear message on what is expected of us. Misconstruing the poesy in any way other than the direct implication is totally the reader’s problem.

;-)

RESULT:

The Naked Rule (also referred to as the ‘Naked Truth’) –

One should have a clear idea of the amount of jungly vegetation one’s dealing with before going game hunting. The ‘Naked Truth’ is that whether or not you have an upper hand as far as artillery is concerned, a nearly barren hunting ground is best for clean shots!

The Nas(h)ty Rule –

In the event of being part of a band of hunters on the prowl, John Nash’s theory on Governing Dynamics comes to play. The best result comes when everyone in the group does what’s good for him and the group.

The Pyramid Rule –

Start at the base, working your way to the top step-by-step. Spending too much time at the nadir would mean missing out on a ‘higher taste’.

The FOURSOME Rule –

A sample should contain not more and not less than 4 varieties of birds (This is a tried and tested number for me. One may come up with one’s own AWESOME ‘X’SOME rule depending on their unique tastes)

HAPPY HUNTING (Wings Tails Feathers !)

LET'S CELEBRATE 8 OSCARS. CHUCK THE COMPLAINING

With Slumdog finally bagging 8 Oscars, I'm sure the debate on whether the movie portrayed India in a 'certain light' has far from ceased. I think most of us have read Arindam Chaudhri's "Don't see Sumdog Millionaire" article where he has gone on to crucify the movie totally, even to the effect of changing many of my friends' outlook towards the film.

Here's a link to this particular rant:

http://arindamchaudhuri.blogspot.com/2009/01/dont-see-slumdog-millionaire-it-sucks.html

But what he has come up with is hypocrisy in a sense, as none of us would be fighting over our 'image' worldwide (which according to people who share his views, has portrayed India as an accidental 'Millionaire') had Slumdog turned out to be an ordinary movie.

Also, I've heard people complaining about how Rehman has come up with better music to be getting this sort of recognition only when he's associated with a Hollywood banner. That's nothing short of silly, since you need a 'good' movie for people to acknowledge the music that's part of the package.

In the end, Slumdog won, and not because of the idea of 'India pigeonholing its identity into the straitjacket of depraved poverty for a global audience.' For the movie portrays realities, only with exaggerations here and there (as if we could come up with a single Bollywood flick that hasn't been romanticized). Plus the cinematography was unique (Could an Indian have brought us to go wide-eyed looking at Dharavi), screenplay adapted near-perfectly and amazing direction.

We all tend to love the underdog, and derive inspiration from Cinderella stories. You want it? So be it!

COPING WITH A FAST WORLD

I was 15 minutes into nerdy conversation, when I realised that I had crossed the threshold I had set for myself. Occasionally, I do indulge in such guilty pleasures. Really in no mood to go forward with where this discussion might lead...

Ahem...I’d been socialising with the gang-leader of this tribe of nerds for a while now...trying to get a peek into his psyche before an exam...kind of hoping I could tap the vibes of genius around him . I saw myself suppressing the playful desire to bring up topics of girls or vodka – the expression on his face would be least photogenic!

Anyways, this isn’t what I was driving at. I wanted the prose to lead to this – Our Nerd leader, obviously pissed off at the total mismatch of frequencies between us came up with – ‘Okay, I need to study speed adders ! bye’. Grammar being a soft spot with many over here, I got myself to believe that he actually meant being done with the 'adders' portion as soon as he could.

Only 12 hours from that little chat did I come to terms with another of fate’s unique ways of slapping you in the face - Question 4 (b) surprised me with -‘Differentiate the normal binary adders with fast adders in terms of calculating carries and propagation delays.’ That’s why it’s advisable not to miss classes (duh!). At least stay aware of what’s being taught. Not that I’m too bothered leaving 4 (b) unanswered; it’s just one case in point. There are a dozen others.

Talking about speed, let me tell you I visited the post office a week ago to send out a speed post. I found only a bored woman behind the counter with a pile of enveloped content stacked around haphazardly; and bespectacled worn out postmen. Not too enthusiastic about the job at hand. Whenever these guys come to our rooms with the once in a blue-moon mail (usually courier or speed post) the contorted glare dims only upon handing out a Rs 10 note without their prodding.

Can’t really blame them.

Surprising your loved ones with a papery something when they dig into the mailbox is something that’s not done much often nowadays. The idea that words soaked in ink so far away made their way through storm and scorch all the way up to your doorstep – the touch of the brown cover – the scent of starchy gum – the hurried tiff with the adhesive – finally to the sound of paper being ripped - reading word by word...mentally imagining how each syllable would have been mouthed had it been actually said...

I love it, and I’m sure, so do most of us. Can’t we chuck the email once in a while to do it the tortoise’s way? Let’s see more people frequent the college post office now on.

Chuck fast for a change...

At least you won’t be losing out on Question 4(b)!

Cheerio.

MY MONTHLY GET-AWAY???

I head to this place occasionally. I don't like others to spot me here. Plus, the job's usually over in half an hour or less. And yesterday I was tempted to come here for no solid reason. I think it's the company you keep that makes you 'do that thing you do'. I'll try to be careful next time. Anyways, I've promised myself never fall to such temptation again. You can't really predict when your screws fail you. I thought I would only go there for a 'change of scene', but...

:-)

Before you make any judgement calls, here's a spoiler: This place I head to now and then has its Latin root - liber.

The college library till now has only been to me, a book-lender meant to save some bucks I could spend elsewhere. I also find myself making the monthly doorstep visit to save me from fines. Reissue is the term for it.

I remember back in the 'day' (roughly 10 years from now), when Mommy( a working lady) used to force a sulking me, and book-o-phillic sister into the air conditioned library during those summers when I would have rather swung the willow even at 40+ degree scorch. I think I was naive not to demand pocket money for the 9 hour torture I had to sit through, which was my parents' idea of free and constructive babysitting. Little did mommy know that instead of being a good sonny and reading bound volumes, Suppandi, Shikaari Shambu, Kapish, Cheeku, Chacha Chaudhry, Superman, Batman and the band had come to my rescue. Sis however, kept herself occupied with 300 odd page reads more often than not.

Fast forward to 2009

I now flash my library-card and bow gently to Saraswati and her veena, and find myself greeted with volumes of books whose spines are the only parts that I've ever cared to read. They give their usual haughty attitude and sneer - not that easy to miss. And I still look up to my saviors of yore. But I've never found them here. Not once. That's why these walls suck! (Suck! - would that be called blasphemy?) I understand that I'm on ground where equations and refined logical verses bounce off the walls. I wouldn't want anyone to hope I'd fall prey to their triggered excitation and explode! Far from that.

I'm as 'responsible' as I was back then. Chuckles.

One thing I never miss when I get here are young Mr.s and Ms.s trying to make 'combined and fruitful' study. I've never succeeded at that. I'd never like to be spotted with a lady over here. C'mon guys, isn't it like watching a good movie with blaring music in the background?

I made a trip to renew books yesterday.

Next one's due in 4 weeks.

Sigh.

ONCE UPON A CLASSROOM

I’m well lodged in a front bench, and there’s this black-haired old-man. A funny face masks a man who I doubt would have ever cracked a joke in the last 20 years of a falling mane. His weak vocal chords betray my hearing. He’s moving his lips. He’s standing some 10 yards from where I write.

He doesn’t seem to be bothered as long as we’re doing whatever we want, and as long as we aren’t sound sources ourselves! We hate interference, don’t we? Harmonics, on the other hand, we love.

I’m bored.

This is when I start acknowledging the presence of the inanimate objects around. It’s an art (that I’ve learnt over 3 semesters). The chalkboard stares at me. I stare harder, so used to competing and competition. Chalkboard retaliates with a gape stiffer still – with a hypnotic effect. Some boys around might notice I’m not paying attention. I fumble momentarily – and wait for a while.

Wires...capacitance...basic principles...and the likes are the background noise that interfere with my thought-tune. Hmph!

Next, I look at my watch. 45 minutes gone already! And this bloke’s drone hasn’t yet distorted or sought creative pitch-variation. Just has paused – Once or twice for breath, maybe. Should I care?

YAWN.

‘The next bridge you deal with would be the Anderson’s bridge...’ oops! Glam-Pam intrudes into my imagination. I must keep a tab, lest I start sketching!

I’ve already counted 8 who have pulled their faces to pass on contagious yawns from one bench to the next, ignoring the possibility of the soliloquist’s chastisement. I believe I spread it.

Ah...I see one missy doing a baboon-yawn! That’s mine, girl!

It’s 4 - and an abrupt end to my reverie. Awake, sonny –attendance routine. And I’m winding up.

EVEN SEMESTER GLOBAL ELECTIVES 2008

Electives for a 'change' and hopefully some fun! Though, let's hope our choices are determined not by learning from our seniors on which courses throw better grades. Make the most of your choices:

They are:

1. Materials Processing Technology - III B Tech
2. Bio Fluids - III BTech
3. Numerical Solution of Differential Equations - III B Tech
4. Electric and Magnetic Fields - III B Tech
5. Material Science - III B Tech
6. English for Career - III B Tech
7. Group Discussion and Presentation Skills - III B Tech
8. Fuzzy Logic and Neural Networks - IV B Tech
9. Geo Information Systems - IV B Tech
10. Communication Skills - M Tech
11. Human Resource Management - M Tech
12. OOPS - M Tech

THERE AND BACK AGAIN...!!!

8:10 pm -

8:30 pm -

For the last twenty minutes, I've been trying hard to rivet my attention to one screen, incandescent amidst the dimness that prevails - a deliberate setting, owing to my affinity for black. I love the windows closed and curtains drawn, so that I can't see anything but the flat screen and its containment, my keyboard, a pencil stand propped next to my mouse - which, by the way, I repeatedly knock down - and curse on each occasion, when another set of pencils and pens find their way beneath the old mite consumed bed of mine... besides, I'll have a new piece of furniture next time I'm back home.

8:42 pm -

Hmmm... I've prattled only this much in 30 minutes. God, how slow can I get!

I had loads of sweets, went to a couple of weddings, and receptions - the punjabi ones being the most lavish of 'em all...and a delight lending an ear to the the full-of-make-up, kettle-bellied aunties maneuvering through the 'subtle-dig-at-each-other' conversations akin to school girls - A funny contrast compared to the sonni-kudis, looking gorgeous and well in shape - maidens laden with curiously adult-like attitudes, engaging in repartee,we find ourselves more okay with...chuckles! Seeming to be getting nowhere...

Period.

Period.

Period.

When we get back to our hostels and let loose our long bottled uninhibited banter, (aaaw! a whole month being all 'finger-on-lips' was injustice to our foul-mouthed selves!) aye, what a relief ! And as a new semester begins, another relish would be 'Mortal Combat' to satiate our baser instincts :-) (this is exactly how one fellow gamer put things to perspective when we set out to dig out the root cause of our gaming obsessions) Me - "Dunno why I'm so hooked to these blasted keyboard games!" Fellow Gamer -"It's our natural instinct to kill, and relish each man mutilated. You know you love it, no?" Me-"Haan, woh to hai...perhaps" concurred I, putting the matter to rest.

Come day-after, we can look forward to those late night strolls to the cafeteria and our midnight escapades which find us howling names, hollering about Kishore da's numbers - bare chested afore a silent Ladies Hostel - 'Mere Sapno ki rani kab aaegi tu...', amounting only to a brief pause in the watchman's wheezing, followed by a muffled grunt, and snores again.

Aye!

NIT WARANGAL EVEN SEMESTER REGISTRATION DETAILS

Hey folks!

We're now all set to get back to what I refer to as 'Untamed Telangana' - where (let's face it) we've got to celebrate Christmas and the New Year... Sigh!

But we can still make the most of it - and if I'm not wrong ;-) , I'll expect a good number of us to unleash the beast in them on New Year's Eve. So 'Untamed Telangana' it is!

On a more sober note:

    Details of the fees to be paid in II semester 2008   

Use Mozilla or Internet Explorer for this link as Chrome doesn't seem to support...try feeding it enough doughnuts! ;-)   

RECOILING FOR A FIGHT...

Note: Even though this issue has nothing to do with NIT Warangal, it still has weight enough for you guys and gals to give it a thought. Not just that. More than just thought-

Mumbai 26/11.

We all know what happened, so I'll spare you those grum details!

Read the papers. No one's denying the lapses - PC admits, and so does the PM. Apparently, our Hon. PM-ji wanted to quit over having failed us...Sob! we are soooo very touched!

Moral Victory to the jihadi asses!

So, what do we do to curb the menace? Newspapers flash you with details. But come have a look here-Let's see what new strife troubles battle-ground Mumbai!

Our very own Riteish's (Heyy Baby! remember?) dad, Deshmukh ji says good bye to CM-panti. And what happens to be the new recipe to make up for spoiled broth and soothe Bombay's wounds???A certain 'Chavan Junior' who (yippeeee! )makes him and 'Chavan Senior' the only Baap-Beta Dyad to cap top 'Maha job'! Ain't that a solid boomerang to the fasadis? 

Naaaahhhh!!!!! cries a woebegone Rane. He was promised the next CM cake, and Chavan stole it. The whole world had conspired against his dreams of CM-giri! His tantrums make way into the morning papers too, while his young lads mess around the Mumbai roads on their Bentley... 

And such stories endure...with our middle class eyes aimlessly gobbling up story after story... 

Period.

I wonder whether we are truly free 6o years since a man hailed as 'mahatma' walked on these soils, which now bleed for such a saviour to tread on them again...

I wonder whether we are truly free to keep electing more or less the same debauched bunch of hoary fatsos over and over again...

I wonder whether we shall ever be able to unite the two Indias - the one in perpetual darkness, and inertia of complacency- and the India that yearns to overcome the scars from time - the history of wanting to be ruled by others.

When will our anger be channelled to fight these forces rather than taking form only with the switching on and off of our television sets, or the putting up and down of of those crisp papers delivered at our doorsteps each morning?

Even as I introspect, I want to share this interesting piece forwarded from a friend studying in IIM Lucknow:

Here's the pattern followed by the terrorists:

13 May                   -                                 Jaipur

------------------June--------------------

26 July                                            Ahmedabad

----------------August--------------------

13 September                                   New Delhi

-----------------October------------------

26 November                                       Mumbai

---------------November------------------

13 December                                           ?????

WHERE NEXT?

Next might be Lucknow/Kanpur....and then Goa!

(I suggest you open the image on another tab to have a better look!)

The pattern observed closely resembles the Jewish symbol of the Menorah,

which is a branched candelabrum used on Hanukkah. Blasts resembling the killing of Jews, starting from the country which projects itself as a global conglomeration of all religions...

We must stay vigilant. Let them elected babuas do their jobs, whatever it is supposed to be...

The all-India terror-free help line is 1090. Your city's ATS or police would take action as quickly as possible.

NIT WARANGAL EVEN SEMESTER RESULTS 2009....

Watch out for this space for the results. Don't let the pressure build up...Just let the fart out! ;-) Ha! Kidding... 

RESULTS NOVEMBER-2009

 

 

NOTE: It seems that google chrome doesn't support the format. Try Internet Explorer instead...

ALL THE BEST!

TO P OR NOT TO P...

Now don't get me wrong. Even though I'm in no mood for Shakespearean conflict, I find the knot not very funny. It's solely the teacher's problem- whether to P or not. 

To P or not to P, that is the question;

Whether 'tis nobler for the child to suffer

The bings and bangs of outrageous grades,

and by failing mend them. To cry, to weep...

So much depends on us (read male). Only if you're a good mama's boy and mug the needful, do them ol' papas "P". Let us make their choices simpler, so that they can relieve themselves of the nobility of letting the child suffer (with all due respects to the bard, and a tinge compunctious for the mockery of the Hamlet)...let them P, would be the Band-aid! 

Now, what could be the reasons behind the hard (or maybe seemingly stooopid) feelings? Ummm....

What's with these balding oldies to favor the effeminate when it comes to grading. I've witnessed them being 'pushed' to higher grades. Or the occasions where you can do anything but ignore the squint in quality of attention and patience in hearing. Gender bias would be too loose a term. The issue is also something that one wouldn't challenge directly, owing to reasons plain and clear. Trying to refrain from twisted theories (which might as well make more sense!), I'd like to think they're silently trying to promote the cause of encouraging female participation. 

Wow! Am I kidding!!!

And then we have had a lecturer this sem who had enough nerve to say all the things he said, and do all the things he did. We can't do anything but stand the nonsense. Pitfalls of autonomy and relative grading. Yet, none would risk complaining.

So where does all that peeing come from? Leave me the frustration of going through annotating the joke. 

It'd be easier for them to P or F a young laddie than deny a girl an EX. Me over-reacting? Gratuitous criticism, eh? Pass me a drink, willya!