When I danced with Shivanna

For all you Shivarajkumar fans, here is one thing more you can be jealous of...I finally got to dance with my childhood hero on stage..

For my parents generation, Annavru was the hero, for our generation, we grew up watching Shivarajkumar and Ravi mama movies... My favorite movies include Anand, Rathasapthami, Janumada Jodi, Om to name a few..

Little did I know when I registered to Navika that I would be going on stage to dance with him.. I knew Shivarajkumar was coming to the event and I would get to see him.. My aunt and uncle were also organizers and this gave me easy access to the backstage and moreover, this was the US, and people sit in the seats without flocking the backstage.. In the backstage, I got to see Shivarajkumar up close, and was surprised by his calmness and patience. He didnt show any attitude of being a 'star' and my appreciation and respect did increase for him.

Then, when he came on stage, he sang a few songs and the song "Huttidare Kannada Nadalli huttabeku" set the mood for the crowd. Everyone started dancing and some fans went onstage.. 

Realizing I had the 5 MP powered, 4" display, Android based, Samsung Smartphone in my pocket, I immediately gave the phone to my friend, jumped up on stage, danced a few danka-naka steps and got him to click this posted snap.. Wow.. chance of a lifetime.. This was the highlight of the evening and definitely set my spirits high for the rest of the night.. 

I hope I have made a few jealous and if I have, this makes me even more happy....

Concentration

Am sure such things happen to others as well.. But today it happened so many times that I HAD to vent out!
It has been a while since I updated myself with English pop.. Was hunting online for latest songs and hit upon a song I liked..played it and got back to work..Maybe it was half hour or so I went back to the website playing and saw that it had already played 5-6 songs further and I hadnt realized the playlist advancing. (By mistake, I had heard 5-6 bad songs as well)

Played the first song again from the beginning of the playlist.. Maybe 20 mins later realize that I never enjoyed the song coz I didnt remember hearing it. Played again from the beginning of the playlist, got back to work and half hour later, same story.. Didnt remember any of the songs playing.. Seemed like I 'heard' something in the ear but never 'listened' to the song. Before long, I think it repeated about 5 times in a row.

Now that is what I call concentration! Very recently I heard a lecture about 'FLOW' and a state of enjoyment when a person is really liking what he is doing. It is his/her passion and is involved in it. It is said that he is in a state of FLOW. It could be a person playing a piano, work, climbing, sports, research or anything for that matter.. That is another topic for another day.

Anyway, I am always amazed about the brain and its capacity to isolate things. We should use it positively to put the past behind, plan for the future and worry about just the present. Live life to the fullest.. Hats off to the creator..

Calculated Risk!

To explain the role of calculated risk in my life, here is an incident that happened few days ago. I bought a bluetooth headset, brought it home and had to open the package.
There is a knife in the kitchen, there are scissors in the room. The kitchen is nearer and I head to the kitchen...I start cutting the plastic packing.. It is a bit risky using a knife..

As a recap, I once(2007) was opening a parcel with the knife and used a wrong angle which made me end up with a cut finger and the laziness to visit a doctor rendered me with a crooked(minor) finger permanently...

Anyway, I remembered this incident and thought I must be careful. So, without putting much pressure, and taking care of all the angles, I try to cut open the package... And yet, I eventually 'cut' my finger(I ended up with a scratch and the bleeding stopped in few mins).. But the fact is, I was 'aware' I was doing a stupid thing... I took all care to 'minimize' the risk... I had a choice of scissors.. But no, I had to use the knife..

The same thing applies to my other aspects of life. I have been asked a 100 times by my family, some relatives and some friends as to why I do the risky adventures (rock climbing, skydiving, etc).. It all comes down to Calculated risk.. where you calculate how safe it is, probability of failure, etc.. And to minimize the chances of injury or unsafe situations...

Modesty - Even in a prayer !!!?

This other day, I was in the temple praying..Sudd-Suddenly I realized that I have been praying for the same thing for as long as I can remember. Meaning, what I was praying when I was 6, I pray the same even at 27 like a poem recital... Well, thats what my parents taught..its in our Blore Telugu, Translated, it goes like this. 'Oh God, Protect me, keep everyone healthy, keep everyone happy, let us get good education, let me get first rank, let me study well, you are the only one who can show correct direction'.
Goes to show how important it is what you learn in childhood..

I could not believe myself that even to this day, if I start in first line, until I finish the last word, it flows like a "2 1 za 2 ", "2 2 za 4" table recollection..

Then, I have to recall what specifically I have to pray for.

Another surprise I realized was that when I do pray specifically, I am being too modest even here. Why? I dont know. If I pray saying 'Lord, let me get lot of money'. The very next moment, I think that this may be too much to ask. I correct my wish to be 'May not be a lot, atleast enough to keep me happy', which I know is not extravagantly ambitious. Now, I dont understand why I want this modesty even in praying. Maybe if I pray without being modest, I might have been richer than I currently am.. It is funny the way mind works..

Maybe it is the movies or people who have brought in this modesty.. Everywhere maybe I saw people praying and praying and finally crying that their prayers were not answered (especially the movies.. how many mothers have not cried with blood on their forehead in front of an idol).. So, in my childhood, I may have thought that if I pray too much, I dont get what I want, so be realistic and ask for what is possible. Have I got what all I wished for. Maybe I did, maybe I didnt. Maybe I was still being greedy..

Anyway, I first started this blogroll to write my thoughts and experiences.. whether they are stupid, funny or inquisitive, here is one more that came across..

Smart spending!!

Time and again, I have been accused of being a miser. But deep down, in my heart, I know lurks a spendthrift... I have umpteen number of unwanted stuff I have bought, many wanted stuff I havent used in a while.

So, this article on msn attracted me and I am just sharing it here.

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/06/16/the-difference-between-want-and-need-three-months.aspx

The jist of the article is this. If you think you want to buy something, list it down and make a note if it is a 'want' or 'need'. After 2 or 3 months, go back to the list and see if you still 'want' it or 'need' it. If it is a need, only then do u buy it.

Recollecting the forgotten! :O

“A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory”

Maybe this is the root of all my problems.. I can never forget my forgetfulness(if such a word exists). What is my brain's memory? I figure 256mb.

Why am I writing this blog?
Got inspired to write this blog when I came onsite to Seattle on office work for Tmobile. I packed my suitcase thinking I might be staying 4 weeks and took the bigger suitcase. Plan to check-in online, take printout, schedule myself to reach airport 30 mins before flight takeoff. ( I had forgotten I had a big suitcase and had to reach 40-45 mins early to check-in the bags). I apply shaving cream in the morning to realize it is 45 mins to flight. This isnt the only thing I forgot.
I had put the SLR camera battery for charging. Took the camera, not the battery. I had to postpone visiting Seattle downtown for over a week until I received it through UPS.
I knew Seattle was a beautiful town. I had geared up to do some photography. Forgot the tripod.
I knew I had only one pair of shoes. I forgot to take my slippers.
The worst thing I am ashamed of is this incident: I complain to the receptionist that the coffee machine is filling too much hotwater and my cup overflowed. Only later I realized that I had put a cup full of coffee under the machine.

School and College days remind me of my mother reminding me to write down stuff(that i have to remember) on my right hand and to write down on my left hand to have a look at the right hand. I once didnt even realize that my friend (whom I had to pick up from Parking lot of a movie theater) hadnt yet sat on my bike and I drove away. Whats worse? I would write down things to get from the shop on a piece of paper and forget the paper at home.

There have been times I have forgotten to pay the shopkeeper (sometimes intentionally, I am also ashamed of this ofcourse), times when I have put reverse gear(when I intend to move forward) and sped off just to bang into a car behind, times I walk to pantry to have coffee, only to realize I already have a filled hot cup of coffee on my table, times I forget to wash clothes and go c*******, times when I go on a camping trip forgetting the swimming trunks and buy them there(this explains the 5-6 swimming trunks I have, all used just once), times I take bath and take bath again because I forgot to apply soap.
Ah! this reminds me of my mother cheating me into eating curd rice second time because I would have forgotten I already had it once.(I would be watching tv, and I mix sambar to curd rice, the plate looks brown, logically if no memory of eating, the plate depicts that I just finished sambar rice and curd rice is pending).

Times when I watch the entire movie (without knowing what movie), get to know the movie name in the end to realize I had watched it earlier, times when I am driving, forgot that I am supposed to go to my granny's house and reached college instead, times I am looking for my mobile while talking on my cellphone..lol..

However, there are some things I dont remember forgetting. My cellphone. (Wallets have been forgotten a couple of times).

And not to mention I know I have a lot more things I have forgotten in the past. So, I will come back and update this blog now and then.. till then read this, http://health.howstuffworks.com/10-ways-to-improve-memory.htm

Plunge from the sky!!!!!!

Ok.. I first thought of skydiving 2 years ago...

September 2006. Joined Extreme Sports club at University at its formation, attracted by the 'Skydiving' activity on their agenda.

March 2007: I realized I still didnt have an internship and did not go to the skydiving event.

Oct 2007: I was about to travel to India in December and expenses were already skyrocketing.. Failed to participate then

March 2008: I had 3 tough courses along with an internship. Didnt go then

August 2008: Renewed my membership with 'Extreme Sports' though I graduated from University ( To avail the discount for students )

Nov 2008: Parents were here... Geared myself up, woke up at 7.30, took my parents along for the Skydiving. Got the discounted Skydiving ticket through the club. Unfortunately it was cloudy. We waited for 3 hours before calling the day off. I even have a album titled 'Skydiving FLOP SHOW'.

2009: Right since March, have been looking forward for a weekend with Sun, my free time and company. It came together today when Swetha called me up ( she is my skydiving partner).

It was a blast.. No more talk... I mean blog. Just a log..

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/prashanth.guha/SkyDiveDallas?feat=directlink

Video: http://www.skydivedallas.com/videos/playsddvideo.php?studentvideo=20090517_Prashath_Gulfa.wmv

Yet another movie story

Kids face lot of peer pressure... I say this coz this happened to me when I was a kid..

Probably I was in 3rd or 4th standard when friends at school and neighbourhood were constantly talking about this tamil movie titled 'Gentleman'. Constantly discussing and appreciating the nice songs in the movie..And succumbing to 'peer pressure', I wanted to watch this movie too..

I ask my dad to take me to this movie and he takes me to the nearest 'Kamakya theater'. I didnt know to read Tamil. Neither did I understand Tamil. I watch the movie happy that the songs and the story were good as expected.. ( I understood the story by the facial emotions and hand movements).

Years later when in PUC, I watched the movie 'Thiruda Thiruda' and realized that the movie I watched supposedly 'Gentleman' was actually Thiruda Thiruda. And to this day, havent watched Gentleman.

Very Recently, had read on rediff that Ghajini is a remake of the hollywood movie 'Memento'. Days later, I forgot entirely about this, but still watched Ghajini. Few friends while on climbing trip, were talking about 'Memento'. So I had to say "I remember to have watched the Indian remake of 'Memento' but I dont remember what movie, so I cant comment on Memento's story". Cant believe my memory could be so bad...

Not to be disheartened, I remind myself of the story where Newton cut a second smaller hole in the door when his cat gave birth to a kitten.

Strictly Technical: build clean

I am going to give you the 'Lesson Learnt' right in the beginning as an introduction.. "Dont work too much"

I was out climbing this weekend in Oklahoma.. After a tiring Saturday, we are sleeping in the tent.. rather I am sleeping alone in my tent.. It is cold, drizzling outside.. I am in my sleeping bag.. waking up every 5 mins.. rolling left and right, half asleep.. knew I woke up for some reason and go back to sleep..

After a couple of times, I realized, I am doing a 'build clean' command in my dream. For some reason the build is failing.. And I dont know why it is failing.. When I fall back half asleep again, I do a 'build clean' command again.. After a few more times I woke up, I realized I had to pee and was doing a 'build clean' in my dream corresponding to this bodily function..

As a prolog to the introduction, I chose not to pee before sleepin since it was raining and the restroom in the campground was half mile away. As a preface to the prolog, I was working hard all week to fix a Build error in office..

Back to the story: I realized that it was hard to sleep further, got up, found a tree, but being afraid of snakes around, went on to the nearby road, finished my nature call and went back to sleep.. No more dreams and a peaceful sleep for a couple of hours before a dog started barking non-stop..

Shortest Kannada Movie

So many things happening in life that I am finding very little time for blogs these days..

The Premise: Several attempts to watch 'Milana' the movie had failed due to unavailability of good prints or movie not in theatres when I went to India ( i dont remember if was already released then).
Neither did plans of getting a VCD/DVD from India workout since my cousin Swaroop failed to secure a copy.. :P

Success comes along: A mail from my cousin saying the movie is available and I download it.

The Story: I starting watching the part 'Avseq01.dat'. The hero Puneet is in the process of uniting some girl with her long last.. i mean lost boyfriend. A few mins into the movie, the BF exposes his real cruelty and some crying and a few days later Puneets mom and dad come home. I realized that Puneet is actually her husband. A few more story elements, very beautiful songs and some fights and finally the airport scene where the girl and the hero start lovin each other..A black transition effect and I was expecting an 'Intermission' message when the ending credits start off..

I was suprised and checked the duration of the clip coz I had not started Avseq02.dat. It was 1 hr 12 mins and that is when I started Avseq02.dat to realize that it was actually the first part and I indeed had watched the second part wrongly named '1' without even realizing that it had started from middle of story.

The Epilogue: I am used to the Indian movies where the movie name and credits start after some introduction scenes. Thought this was that kind of movie.. Thought this was a story with flashbacks and stuff... Few mins into the movie, forgot that the introduction credits had not come up. The point is.. anything is possible in an Indian movie and NO SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE IS REQUIRED to follow the movie even from middle. So, eventually I got to watch the shortest movie ever in Kannada... :)