<24 hrs to go

And I should be studying. And I really can't see how to enjoy these moments!!!

Another Weird Sighting

Not in the same league as this one I saw some time back, here's something that caught my eye:
On my way home from the dentist's clinic, I saw a small boy perched on his bicycle holding a packet of Lays in one hand, eating the chips with the other while his maid held the bicycle and "drove" him forward.

The dentist, by the way, sent me home because she had a couple of patients and didn't want to keep me waiting as I have my exams approaching. My dentist cares more about my exams than me. Damn.

Must Read

Here's a father and son story that moved me to tears. Thought I will share it with you. Thanks India Uncut.

Hi! Howdy?

In the context of blogging we often hear of people leaving comments on your blog for the sole reason that they want you to comment on their blog too. You scratch my back I scratch yours. This phenomenon seems harmless when restricted to comments on blogs. However, a lot of friendships developed over the internet seem to work on the same principle.

These friendships, hereafter referred to as net friendships, usually start either through a chat room, blogs or one of the social network sites like Orkut. They are characterized by almost daily contact between the two individuals over chats, mails and telephone. Actual meetings between the two individuals are rare. What really makes a net friendship appealing?

The answers seem obvious. Each one of us has a desire within us to share our lives with somebody, to have someone we can express ourselves freely to and very importantly, to be able to do this without fear of the other person using it to his/her advantage. Conventional forms of friendship fail to fulfill this requirement. Siblings, colleagues, friends from school/college- with every single one of them there exists a conflict of interest. Invariably, there is that one common thing that both of them would be vying for and it leads to mistrust between the individuals. Waiting for that one special person to come along isn't a very attractive option either (not sure if there doesn't exist a conflict of interest there).

Net friendships, on the other hand, give you the space to speak your mind. Be yourself. You don't need to put up appearances. There exists no conflict of interest. People can share their most personal thoughts. Another reason is that the usual parameters of judging a person don't apply. Physical appearance, personality, habits, etc. are conveniently ignored. It is possible that a person befriends another person online whom he wouldn't have liked to be seen with or associated with in real life. Hence, people end up having (best) friends, brothers and sisters whom they believe they truly love even though they usually have a conveniently formed selective perception of the other person. A perception that consists of only the good in the other person.

These friendships might and even tend to develop to an extent where they create a dependence on the other person since they satisfy a very basic psychological need of people. Ignoring the possibilities of criminal intent, one person being more serious than the other and true love, Are these friendships healthy?

Check on 15th..errr..17th..err.. 20th

The Authorities seem to have taken pity on me and now instead of trying to do an year's worth of studying in 20 days, I have the luxury of doing it in 25. The date sheet is not out yet and they seem to be delaying it pretty much the way they delayed the admission (my course started in October instead of July). The exams will happen late. The results will get delayed. The next year will again start late...

Meanwhile, trying to stuff all of hypothesis testing into your head in one day can lead to embarassing situations like when you go and sign a bill at the local chemist's shop (after having paid cash). I mean, seriously, sign the god damn bill? What were you thinking?!!!!

Just before I dozed off...

The lights are switched off. I am left alone with my thoughts. As the eyes adjust, I see shadows moving across the walls. Nothing is clear: neither outside nor inside.

Something that I have always imagined while walking alone is the warm feeling of a surprise hug from behind from that unknown special somebody.

The trashy magazine section of the useless newspaper listed out symptoms of a relationship addict. It seems I am one. That might explain a lot of things.

The exams are here and I have done nothing in the name of preparation. It isn't the 'I have done it but I don't recall anything' feeling. It is the 'I have never ever done it' one. What's worse is the 'I don't want to do it'. If I can't do this, how will I do what I had planned ahead? Why can I not see a pattern in my past? Something that will tell me where I am headed?

All that I see are things I don't want to see. I can't hide from them in the darkness when all the lights are switched off and I am alone with my thoughts.

And then the voice inside says.."There is no reason why anyone would love you"

Suspicions Confirmed

I always thought that the Department gave my course step-daughterly treatment. This was confirmed when I saw its derelict website proclaim the following about my course:

"The Department runs the prime curse of Master of XYZ for which the department was established in 1967"

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Congrats to sis and the guy who plays cool computer games. Thanks for filling our lives with so much joy (and food :p)!!