Women in a rat race?

This morning, when I came out of doing radio, I met an old friend.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I need to start a real job anytime now,” I sighed.

“What do you want to do?” he prodded on.

I didn’t have an answer. I am enjoying my stress-free life. Do I really want to go back to the life I that led when I was working? I didn’t quite enjoy the rush to work every morning. The deadlines. The meetings. The works. I am not a 9 to 5 person. I’ve said that many times and people who know me know that well enough too. I am a hard worker. Real hard worker. But only when I can set my own time of work. I don’t like to be supervised. I don’t want to be told of deadlines. I’d rather set my own. Tough, it can’t be the case in your regular corporate setup. You have to learn to deal with authority. (Unless, as P keeps suggesting, I start my own business … pshhh who has the energy for that (as I further explain)?)

“I think I want to be a bank teller,” I said to my friend.

He looked shocked. “A bank teller????” he couldn’t believe me.

Sure you have to deal with authority there too but it is relatively a stress-free job than a decision-making role where your decision makes or breaks your employer’s profit.

“Sure,” I replied to his query, “I did it back when I was 19 and I think I can still do it.”

“Of course, you can do it, you idiot … but what with your education and all?”

“Honestly, that’s the only time I remember really enjoying my job,” I defended, “Part-time hours, no stress, you go in attend to customers, go home without any stress of what is to come tomorrow. I love talking to people, I love numbers, I love easy hours, it’s a perfect combination! Yeah, money is not great at all … but big money’s never my concern. I think, a bank teller it is.”

“You are crazy”, he concluded. Like that was something new. Bah. ;))

But am I really though? It has somehow become a taboo now to say that despite being an educated woman, your husband is the primary breadwinner. I feel that conflict too many times and I express it to husband plenty of times as well in so many words. Ironically, it is he who has to remind me that it’s a choice that ‘I’ made. It was my decision to take it easy. Then why do I let others make me feel guilty? Why does everyone look confused when I tell them that I am not doing anything (except radio of course) rite now? I volunteer my time away, dedicate my time to hobbies that I enjoy, take care of my house, and just chill *pardon the cliche*. If I am lucky enough to have a partner who is able to take care of us, it should be alright for me to live my life as I please, rite?

Unfortunately, in our extra drive towards equality to men, we’ve somehow lost ourselves. In our pursuit of perceived equality, we don’t focus on what we really want. Our generation was raised to prove that as women, we are capable of doing everything that a man can. And we have proved that too! Many times over! But does that necessitate that we live with that burden all our lives? The movement of feminism has done us much good. However, if we lose ourselves to the ideals of feminism without figuring out what we want, some of us are bound to burn ourselves out eventually. That’s not to say that there are no women for whom only high flying careers with 16 hour days mean happiness. There are. Plenty. Good for them too. Just as long as they don’t – consciously or subconsciously – feel socially pressured to prove their caliber as women.

As I was processing these thoughts in my head while driving home, I was reminded of an article that I had read not so long ago: Women opting out of the rat race. I came home, read it again, and a few lines stood out to me this time more than when I had read it:

Every week we hear stories of former high-fliers who find the happiness working in their local coffee shop  -  or volunteering with the RSPCA  -  that they never found in their private banks or property jobs. Who needs to work 15-hour days for a job that could be gone in a second? And did success even make us happy?

Vanessa now spends her days painting and doing some freelance marketing work. Despite having a masters degree and ten years of corporate experience, she reckons she’s bringing in a £15,000 salary  -  about the size of her expense account at her old job.

In the run-up to Christmas she even helped out in a friend’s restaurant to get some cash. She admits it’s quite a step down for a girl who was one of the youngest directors in her last company.

‘Some nights I worried that someone from my old job would come in and see me waiting tables,’ she says, ‘But then I had to remind myself that I’m happier now than I ever was.

‘In the past few months, I’ve spent time with my grandmother, who isn’t going to be around for ever, I’m there for friends who need me and I’m just so relaxed. Some days, the biggest thing I do is go for a walk  -  and I love it.’

Oh I thought of that too! On the drive home. What if I do take up a job as a teller and someone I know walks in? Again, like the lady in the example, I had to remind myself that it would be my choice. I would no longer be socially pressured to perform more than I want to. A flawless argument it is. :) It only falls flat when P looks at me with a straight face and says, “World needs more out of you. You must do your share by living up to your potential!” Blah! It shall happen when the time comes. For now, I’d be depositing your cash and advising you not to spend it. ;D That is, if any bank hires me. haha

Moral of the story simply is that as being a househusband is gaining coolness, being a housewife shouldn’t be forced to lose it. It’s best to figure out what you want and not just be as the society expects you to be. Be the person that you are and that’s when you’ll be your happiest.

OR

Another moral is that I am just lazy. HA HA HA!!!! :D

Cheers homies.

Edited to add:

So why is it just women who are dropping out of the rat race? Why don’t men get equally stressed at work? I don’t know. I am no anthropologist or a sociologist. But my layman explanation is that while we, women, can’t get the stress of dirty dishes in a sink out of our heads, men don’t even see ‘em dishes. :/

And hey, look, even IHM wrote a post on something similar!! :) In extension to what IHM writes, I want to add: Be who you are and don’t be apologetic about your choices either. At least, you have a choice … which many don’t.

A mess can only be defined …

… when husband decides he shall cook. For himself of course. I wouldn’t eat his food (as per him). A perfect excuse to not cook for me (as per me). The argument stays unresolved.

This past Friday, he figured he wanted Roti, and Roti it was (kindly excuse the unnecessary tools of cooking trade lying around … the man needs ‘em all … apparently):

AWWWWW:

VICTORY BHANGRA?????

What can I say? The man’s an excellent student!!! :D Or I am an excellent teacher. Ahem. I don’t know about yours but my bets are on the latter. haha

Anyway, the moral of this post is that it is due to the cleaning up I had to do whilst he was busy doing his victory lap around the house with his hands in the air is why I prefer to not have him in the kitchen. I had to spend double time putting everything away, cleaning counters, stove etc. than I would’ve had to if I had done the rolling and the baking.

Anyone with similar marital issues? :D If you are a man, does your wife kick you out of kitchen cuz you just cannot keep it clean? It’s genetically impossible, P excuses himself with that. :|

Oh by the way, what was I doing whilst he was assaulting dough to eventually burn it stiff? I was documenting the whole process with my camera of course. (;

news from idhar udhar again

We’ve all heard of fake college degrees in India but not to lose heart, my dear friends, it happens elsewhere too. Recently, a university registrar official in UK was sentenced to nine months in prison and suspended for twelve months for giving out fake university degrees in exchange of spanking sessions. He would spank girls in the privacy of a hotel, film them, sell those videos, and give out forged university certificates in exchange. What a deal!! You’d think it’d be easier to sit through classes and write exams rather than getting spanked and caned. ;D Must give it to the girls for their drive and determination to achieve a set goal though! :D

Also:

James Ward, prosecuting, said his wife’s ethnic origin satisfied Woodgett’s particular sexual interest.

‘He did not want Kah for sex, but to indulge his spanking fetish with her because she had a black bottom,’ he said

;) Who said racism didn’t exist? What about brown bottoms? White bottoms? Discrimination at its worst!

I wrote that as a joke …

… but racism is real. Discrimination is real. It happens everywhere. Including India. A man’s hand chopped over not being able to pay back Rs. 600 to moneylenders. What’s worse is that the people who did this won’t face any consequences! They’d be let free (if caught) after paying off the police. And this 20 something laborer who lost his hand now has nowhere to turn to and has to live without a limb. His life now would be worse than it was. He doesn’t have a hand anymore to earn whatever little that he could previously. Please remind me again to be glad to have been born where I was.  How cruel can people be?! Over Rs. 600!!!?! It’s not even a matter of the amount. A limb is priceless! A hand! How can you stand there listening to a man crying in pain and chopping his hand off knowing well enough that he would be left without a hand after that and his family might die of starvation? I don’t know man. Such ruthlessness is something I can never comprehend. Heck, I tear up when I see someone begging for money because s/he is out of work. This is just … heights of cruelty. These people don’t deserve to live! It’s them who should be bombed and killed off! On the contrary, sadly, all of these cruel cruel people will continue to live rewarding (monetarily and otherwise) and fulfilling lives. There is no concept of karma that the world keeps talking about. None.

As I type this, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is singing on my puter speakers: sab virad karo … allah allah … ohnu (us ko) yaad karo … allah allah … jehra saare jag da vaali hai … ohda (us ka) zikr karo … allah allah …

Sure.

If there was a S/He/It, would this be a reality?:

(click on the photo for a larger image of this photo, and more photos and facts about poverty in India)

I am changing the song.

Clicked on next.

Itunes is set to shuffle.

Ironically, it’s playing ‘Why should you come when I call‘ by Counting Crows.

Yes, why should S/He/It come to the aid of those who call?

Edited to add an afterthought:

As I walked away from desk after writing this post, I was thinking … maybe these sweet little kids who my heart goes out to now … maybe … just maybe … they were those cruel people in their last birth, and they are suffering now for their deeds in their last birth. It sounds cruel, isn’t it? But that’s the only justification I can think of if this Karma thing is real. If it aint, then sad are the ways of the world. I shall continue to be grateful for every breath I take living a relatively easy life.

Edited again to add:

Solilo posted a trailer of Kavi – a film about an Indian boy who is forced to work in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave – on her blog. Do have a look if you haven’t already.

What would you do?

What would you do if you saw a woman abuse her man at a local park?

You’d surely jump in to rescue a woman being abused by her man but would you rescue a man being beat up by a woman? Check the following video to see what others would do:

But what would YOU do? :)

Would your first reaction be the same as most women in the video? ;)

my thoughts in words

Words that I couldn’t write are written by someone who is paid to write (now we know why I am not paid to write cuz I simply can’t do half a good a job as this writer does):

The polemics emanating from the IPL affront to Pakistani cricketers again brings to the fore the confused morass that is the Indian psyche; a jumble of misplaced morality and mawkish sentimentalism that revels in sadomasochistic self doubt and translates into a gibberish that has no functional value.

The net result is a floundering nation unsure of how to confront the inimical forces that confront it. In simple terms, a country that is unable to make strong decisions and stick by it.

Rajasthan Royals’ co-owner Shilpa Shetty unusually forthright response to the brouhaha that followed the non-selection of the Pakistani players was a breath of fresh air. She bluntly remarked: “People have to be a little more sensitive, a bit more mature. Let’s not be hypocrites and let’s not turn a blind eye to the already volatile situation.  …you must look at it pragmatically and see that we have had these people who are constantly threatening.

“It’s not something we hold against the Pakistani players. We completely understand the situation but as franchise owners are we willing to take that risk? If something happens to the Pakistani players, the onus lies on us and who is going to take responsibility for a situation like that? When we said ‘availability’, we wanted complete assurance that those players would be available in the country and that we were going to be able to provide security for them.”

At the outset the near unanimity of action of the IPL was praiseworthy. It was grounded in reality, made good business sense, accounted for security concerns and above all resonated with the national sentiment prevalent in the nation post 26/11.

Although the IPL refuted the charge of a premeditated conspiracy there was no denying the undercurrent of patriotic fervour. It was strong decision but subtle and hurt the enemy where it hurt most. And for once India revealed a depth to its character, an ability to stand up for itself, a new found confidence that clearly said: ‘Don’t toy with us’. But alas the satisfaction was short lived.

Soon notes of dissent surfaced with our honorable home minister and a Bollywood icon mouthing a namby-pamby view that was in line with India’s perpetual guilt complex.

There was no need to be apologetic about the IPL stance. Yet there was Shah Rukh Khan decrying the decision not with a logical counterpoint but by singing paeans to Pakistan and invoking personal ties. He remorsefully exclaimed:” It (Pakistan) is a great neighbour to have. We are great neighbours, They are good neighbours. Let us love each other.
Let me be honest. My family is from Pakistan, my father was born there and his family is from there,”

Two glaring inconsistencies stand out in this remark. One, if Pakistan is really a great neighbour then I am Albert Einstein. Without mincing words let me say that Pakistan is a deadbeat nation that is nothing more than a drag on India’s progress. The less we have to do with this nation the better.

The second objection concerns the merging of private and public domains. I have no issue with Shah Rukh Khan’s personal empathy for Pakistan borne out of familial affiliations even if it cuts across hostile boundaries. But can a national icon cite family ties to influence the professional decisions of an India based organisation or to sway public opinion?

The home minister’s response too was unnecessarily defensive with an uncalled for dose of self reproach. He dubbed the non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers as a ‘disservice to cricket and contended that ‘these players were coming as individuals, it was not a Pakistan team.’

Another misperception that stems from a lack of pragmatic thinking. A perusal of the following excerpt (Saba Naqvi. It’s Not Cricket. Outlook, January 25) reveals that these Pakistani players are not isolated individuals but members of a larger hate India club that is Pakistan.

‘Consider this conversation that took place in a TV show titled ‘A morning with Farah’ on ATV, a Pakistan channel. Sohail Tanvir, who helped the Rajasthan Royals win and got the highest number of wickets in the first IPL is being interviewed by another journalist while the glamorous hostess, Farah, looks on. Consider Tanvir’s remark: ‘Hinduon ki zahaniyat hi aisi hai (the Hindu nature is like that only)’ the implication being that the Hindus have deliberately deceived and humiliated Pakistanis. The journalist responds with a remark about Indians being baniyas and says: ‘bagal me chhuri/ muuh me Ram Ram’ (they are ready to plunge a knife behind your back though they will keep saying Ram Ram). The gentleman with this shocking view of Indians in general and Hindus in particular then goes on about how India is tricking Pakistan out of hosting the World Cup next year.’

This vitriolic outpouring is shocking but what makes it even more despicable is the prime time prominence given to such Hindu/Indophobic venom. In comparison, it is hard to find such rabid talk from even the far right of the India’s political spectrum and certainly not on national television. It is this stark difference between the two nations that needs to sink into the fuzzy minds of our peaceniks.

We, in India are quick to vilify those who propose a hard line approach to Pakistan that includes severing cricket ties by branding them as radical and uncivilised. We cannot mix cricket with politics is the oft quoted mantra. But what is so sacred about this dichotomy? Is it a directive derived from logic or common sense or an abstract feel good notion with no utility value?  And has continued cricketing ties mitigated Pakistan’s terror shenanigans?

I would like to look at in another way. This is not about cricket and politics but cricket and humanity. I am passionate about cricket and love the game. But that is the point. Cricket is merely a game and must take second place to humane concepts.

Is it not barbaric that we choose to continue playing cricket with a people whose compatriots routinely massacre our innocent civilians? I find it uncouth when we walk over the dead bodies of the carnage of 26/11 and extend a ‘loving’ hand to Pakistan? This suggests that we care little for the lives of our citizens and more for our image and entertainment.

This train of terror cannot go on. We must draw the line somewhere and it is here and now even if it means no cricket.

news from idhar-udhar

What if you wake up one nice sunny (weekday) morning, grudgingly go to work with a big coffee mug in hand, and sit on your desk to sleepily check your email to start your day only to find a flood of emails claiming you as a Messiah destined to save the world?!!

:) :)

This recently happened to Raj Patel.

Hey, if anyone’s listening, I am toooooooooootally interested in being some sort of a Messiah, Prophet, Maata … whatever your religion wants me to be. :) There’s not an easier job for the kind of profit it has to offer!! I am readily accepting applications … Pliss have a look-see at ‘Contact Us’ for more details. :D

Ah I only kid!!! I could still use a few years to get the signature wrinkly, grey-haired look necessary to fool the masses. ;) And I don’t think I am ready to retire to wearing only whites or oranges yet. Some time pliss. Thank you. :p But not to forget me!

In other news, BBC did a report on a 13 year old girl who fled from her family in Pakistan because they were forcing her to become a suicide bomber. Here is the link. It is gut wrenching to hear her talk about how her little 9 year old sister was forced to detonate herself  by her father and brother. The little girl couldn’t bear the weight of the bomb vest strapped on to her and she cried whilst her mom fainted at the sight of her young daughter being sent off to kill herself. It makes us thankful to have been born where we were, isn’t it? As human beings, we have quite the capacity to be atrociously mad. Religion (when misused/misinterpreted) only makes it worse.

In the interview, the girl says: “I told them … what about all the people I kill? They are all Muslims.”

What if they were not Muslims?

I hope this girl is kept in safety and is able to get over the emotional trauma that she had to go through in the name of religion at the hands of people who are meant to love her and care for her. I hope she recovers … although I seriously doubt it.

SRK-Shiv Sena

Everyone and everyone’s dog in blogworld is writing about the SRK-Shiv Sena controversy. Why should I be left out of it? In fact, after reading quite a few blog posts on the same, I got so impassioned to write about it that I couldn’t wait till morning to go to my desktop to write this; hence, I am writing from my phone from under my blanket ;p.

So everybody is rightfully accusing Shiv Sena for being a bully that it is but why the unconditional support for SRK? Were his comments fair? As an Indian that he claims to be, should he not have put his businessman hat aside for a moment and shown some empathy for his countrymen who recently suffered massive losses in 26/11?

I don’t want to get into any politics in relation to Pakistan here. That’s not the intention. All I want to address is what those who lost their loved ones in 26/11 (and are still waiting on Pakistan to help get them justice/closure) might feel hearing SRK’s comments.

No, SRK must not bend over for the ridiculous Shiv Sena. But I would like to see him apologize. I would like to see him apologize to a mother whose son’s sacrifice seems a waste with SRK’s irresponsible comments. I would like to see him apologize to the man (GM of Taj) who put lives of others ahead of his own family. I would like to see him apologize to hundreds of victims and their countrymen who are still living with the pain of that dreaded day of 26/11 awaiting justice.

Till then, I boycott SRK and hope any human being with half a heart would do the same. My personal objection against SRK is not the words that he used (since I thankfully don’t have any personal connection to 26/11: it’s easy to detach and don our secularist garb for most of us eh?) … but that he put his self-interest in front of sentiments of so many he calls his countrymen.

I shall polish this post up tomorrow. For now, I had to let go of these thoughts.

Edited to add an afterthought: I shan’t polish it. Emotions are best expressed unedited. :D

2 posts in 1

FIRST post:

Thank you Thank you, D, for awarding me the ‘honest’ blogger award. Strangely, ‘honest’ is all I mostly get. No ‘cute blogger’ award. No ‘ahotNspicysexbomb‘ award. Nah, just honest. See, we got one earlier this year too. Not that we mind. :D We accept it with both hands – washed or not – and Brazilian stomp our feet in joy too. :D Honesty is honestly the easiest thing to accomplish. All you gotta do is reach into your heart, not think about what others might think or say about you, and spit out whatever it is that you have inside. How easy is that! Undeniably easier than being the hotNcutesexpot! ;D

So we celebrate this award and seek your participation in the celebration too. Jalebis and khoya burfi are most welcome. :)

Now, as per the award rules, I must share 10 things about myself … honestly. There is little that I haven’t already shared on this blog but here I go again:

1. My first job was in a fast food joint making milk shakes all eight hours of my shift and I gained 10 lbs in the two months of summer vacation that I spent working there. Simply because my daily lunch comprised of a burger, fries, and a milk shake. A big smile spreads on my face as I type this and it immediately shrinks as I think of my today’s lunch: salad. Blah.

2. I am obsessed with correct spelling. I’d notice a word if spelled wrong even if it is lost amongst tens of words written on a billboard that I am driving by.

3. I can’t stand dirty dishes in the sink and dirty dishes have been the ONLY cause of scream-fests between me and P (one just happened last night hee hee hoo hoo haa haa).

4. I’ve won plenty awards in debates and public speaking but the award that still perplexes me is the first prize in rifle shooting when I was in Grade 9! :/ And now, I can’t even shoot to win me a teddy bear at those balloon shooting stalls in carnivals or amusement parks.  I am happy with the thought that ‘em ‘toy’ (of course, they’re not real pfft) rifles are rigged to not let anyone win. Hmph!

5. My first crush happened in Grade 3. He was in Grade 4 at the time. A gorgeous little (= an afterthought) boy. I clearly remember lying on my bed, sighing, thinking of him, and listening to some hopelessly romantic number. In GRADE THREE! Ugh. Makes me fear for my future children. I am not sending them to a co-ed! :|

6.  I agreed to the first boy who asked me out when I was in India. He had asked, “would you make friendship with me?”. Although I did raise my brows at his English but ‘making friendship’ with him didn’t seem dangerous to me. How wrong was I! I’d learn that only after I’d receive ‘I love you. Thank you for being mine.’ Archie cards from him. :| This was when I was 12, I believe. *shudder* (Note to self: If I have little girls, they’re staying away from all boys until 18. And vice versa.)

7. I’m pickle-crazy about carrot, cauliflower and chili pickles.

8. I am against all new cell phones, and rebel to stay with phones of yesteryear. I especially like ‘em scratched, looking extremely outdated, antiqued, and about to fall apart any minute. On that note, old Nokias rock! :D

9. I have some dreams for myself that I have never shared with anyone and never shall. Some of them have come true. Some shall. Some might not. We’ll live to see.

10. If in the mood, I can listen to a song in repeat mode for hours on end. Like I’ve been listening to the following all morning:

Now I am to award 8 people to pick up this tag. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Here goes:

Silvara: She IS one of the most honest people in the blogworld! Hats off to her! About time you write again woman!

AlwaysHappyKya: I don’t see a facade in her writing either. She writes for the sake of sharing and I love that! You rock, woman!

Prashanti: There’s never a front in her writing either. She writes it as it is.

Pal: Although she mostly only does fiction, there is this endearing honesty in her writing that’s not fiction that makes you want to go have a cuppa coffee with her and chat away.

Indian Home Maker: Well, of course. We might not know her name but we do know a lot about her and her family through her writing. We appreciate it how she welcomes us into her home and the dynamics of her family to spread messages that need be spread.

Broom from Monologues from the Glass Closet: Undoubtedly honest.

Sonia: Again, we don’t know much about her except her name but there’s plenty on her blog that is written without any restraint!! and is well worth multiple reads.

Ritu: I’m sure she’ll get tagged multiple times but I’d do it too. (:

And here comes the reason why I dislike doing these awards: It is so unfair that I’ve missed out on so many other people who I also think bare their souls!! There’s our sweet Sakshi, WSW, Tara, Rakesh, Asaaan….. and so on!!! And I can’t mention them cuz I am restricted to mention only a few. :( Now I am sittin here feeling miserable. Blah Blooh Bah!

SECOND post:

Celestialrays wrote about how women bitch about women. True that. We’ve all known that a while but her post reminded me of something I wanted to write about a while back. All my cousins and relatives are constantly in awe of P because he ‘listens’ to me. I have some family say that I have him in full control. However, on the other hand, NO ONE notices that I listen to him TOO!! No one would dare say that he has me in full control too because, first, they won’t notice it at all and, second, it is not politically correct! :/

A woman is supposed to be listening to her man, right? So her ’submissive’ behavior (if we were to call it that) is nothing to notice and acknowledge; however, if a man were to do the same, he is lauded and applauded! Hey, I want the praises to be showered on me too every time I take the initiative to cook and clean. I want to be lauded to the skies too when I listen to P if he tells me that we won’t be or would be doing something that evening. I am honestly tired of hearing about how great a husband Pati is. I want to hear about my greatness as a wife too!!!!!!

Think about it! How often do you hear people praising a wife for being nice and considerate to her husband? But if a man is nice to his wife, he is the best husband there is! Isn’t that a tad unfair?!? Isn’t it about time we change our attitude towards men and give them some credit for being human? Hey, they can be nice too!! They can have emotions too! They can be empathetic too!! They are not just robotic units designed to function to fill in the bank balance alone. Just like how we, women, are not walking around this planet only to be serving the other half of our species: the ones with a pen!$.

Look P, I can be a writer!!!

Not many people tell me that I am a good writer. Well, how does it matter? As long as I live in the illusion that I can possibly churn a story long enough and entertaining enough to fill a 20 Chapter book, I am doing ok, rite? ;D The reason I write this is because Parul, the author, – yes, a real author – awarded me with a Superior Scribbler Award. This blog only meant to be an avenue for me to throw out all the gunk that I have hidden in the recesses of the device that thumps in my chest at some beats a minute. But it has been more than that for me. It has me surrounded by a wonderful group of friends who I can undoubtedly count on in my times of need. All I have to do is put up a post shelling out my miserable state at the time and words of encouragement pour in! What else can a lonely soul want!? :) Thanks guys! I shall continue to scribble as long as I can cuz I need you more than you need my words. :) And thank you, Parul, for the acknowledgment. It sure feels nice especially coming from you. :) Also, with this acknowledgment, the file titled ‘bookerworthbook.docx’ that I have seated on my desktop got a hit from me today after days of having written those 1000 words that haven’t seen an extension since. :D

I’ve been exploring blogworld today. I do that every once in a while when I want to remind myself of my rightful place. It helps putting things into perspective really. Man, the amount of talent, creativity, ideas etc. that we have amongst us, it never ceases to amaze me. There are people who put plenty time into their blog just out of sheer passion and love of connecting with their readers. It’s amazing! While I was reading various blogs, I was thinking to self about who I should be passing the SS Award to. Honestly, I can’t judge any one blogger a superior writer to other. Everyone has a unique flair to their writing and expressions, and I loved reading all of them. So I award this award to everyone who makes an effort every now and then – if not everyday – to update their blog … not just for their own sake but for those who have come to expect to read something from their favorite blogger on a regular basis. It requires commitment, passion, consistence and all that jazz which most of y’all have!! And I look up to you for that! :) Happy writing for many many many years to come!

Also, another observation … in the Indian blogging world … majority of writers (barring metros like Mumbai, Delhi) are either of South Indian origin or Bengali!! Did you notice that before????? Of course you did. Well, I did now too. Pliss to pat on back. :D

King of Sarcasm

If sarcasm is something that gives you a kick, you must watch the following video (Charlie Brooker: How to Report the News) and walk around with a smile for a long period of time afterwards like I did hehe: