Thought Overflow

You deserved it. All of it.

For too long now, we’ve read about Australian sledging and saying unnaceptable phrases and getting away with it. Glen McGrath’s exchange with Sarwan is probably one of the worst sledging exchanges in the history of cricket. I say “probably” because I’m basing this on a few lists of the world’s most (in)famous sledging incidents. But that’s just one incident. Given at the end of this post are a couple of links you could check out. Notice how most if not all incidents involve Australians.

And I also encourage you to read the third article which, admittedly, has been written by an Indian. It does make some valid points, which I’ll state in my own words:

• It appears that as long as they’re the ones sledging, they should be allowed to get away with anything, including calling the Sri Lankans “black monkeys” or “black cocks”, but if they’re sledged at, they run to the authorities.
• Why is it that calling others “bastards” should be allowed internationally if it’s not such a big deal in Australia, but calling others “monkey” should not, though it’s less than an everyday insult here in South Asia?
• The Australians claiming to have played the 2nd test in “the spirit of the game” is pure bullshit. Cricket is a gentleman’s game, Mr. Ponting. Not one where you claim grounded catches and celebrate.

Anyway, here’re the links:

1. Ten Most “Hilarious” Sledging incidents in World Cricket
2. Some Classy Cricket Sledging Incidents
3. Aussie Sledging and other strong arm action leads to reaction: What is sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander

(4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

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I have an idea.

That’s it.

You’re not going to find out any more about it for now, because I don’t trust you all.

(Just kidding)

(No, I’m not)

(3 votes, average: 2.33 out of 5)

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How long will we let our “customs” come in the way of our sisters and daughters leading a fulfilling live? Why do we live physically in the 21^st century and sentimentally in the last century? How long shall we curb their potential and restrict them to being doting housewives and all-sacrificing mothers?

Why do we raise our daughters with the thought of dowry in mind? I had the chance to read an article by a woman recently where she described a harrowing experience in which the mother of a prospective groom took her out in the sunlight to make sure she was really as fair as she appeared indoors. Ridiculous! Let us also not forget how parents are willing to give huge dowries to sons-in-law who are well-off and preferably working abroad. Women may be lucky to get such “prized catches”, but please remember that even men may need to be similarly lucky to get understanding, wonderful wives.

It’s sad to think that in a modern and progressing India, there are still families where grandmothers tell their daughters that their grand-daughters have studied enough, and it’s time to look for a husband now. From a young age, girls grow up seeing their brothers being given preference and importance, and accept this as a way of life. Unfortunately, they come to accept the thought that they’re worth less than their male siblings. And even more unfortunately, thanks to their lovely and overbearing families, they incorporate these same values into their lives when they marry and have families of their own.

I personally dislike feminism a tad bit more than I dislike male chauvinism and false shows of machismo, so such a post by me could be thought of as a pretty big deal. It’s time to wake up. Women are capable of doing most things as well as men; and in some cases, doing things better than men. Let your daughters and sisters breathe. Give them choice, freedom… give them life!

(5 votes, average: 2.8 out of 5)

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My last post was published on Dec 21. If I waited another 8 days, an entire month would have gone without my having blogged. I was seriously considering doing that, but since I’m in a generous mood right now, I hereby offer you a post to enjoy, and allow you to bask in the glory of my writing. So, here it is:

This is a post.

Bask away.

Goto page : 1 2

(4 votes, average: 2 out of 5)

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Breaking my tradition of pre and post-exam blog posts, last semester, I just went ahead and wrote the exams. I was hoping to have done well enough to get 75% or more, but when the results came in a couple of days ago, I was shocked at my result. I’ve scored 82.8% this time, and topped my section (ECE-1). Only one other boy from 3rd year ECE (a boy from ECE-2) scored higher than me, and he got 83.2%, just 3 marks more than me in total (621 vs 624 out of 750). Needless to say, I was stunned. I was almost in shock for a few minutes after I got my result. Also completely needless to say, I’m ecstatic.

However, some of my close friends haven’t done particularly well, and it was quite heart-wrenching speaking to them on the phone or chatting with them on IM. I know it’s very silly of me to feel guilty for having done well (and indeed, I don’t) in these exams but I do wish with all my heart that my friends had done better. I know some of them really deserved to have got much better marks than they did.

While I do not feel guilty about having done well (as I said), I still feel humbled and down-to-earth. I hope I do just as well this semester, and I hope my friends do well as well. Here we go with yet another semester of college.

(4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

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Nothing is constant except change. Then why is it that I always have the same answers to a lot of the questions people ask me, even though they’ve been asking these questions for months/years now?

• How are you?
  I’m fine, as always (alternate: I’m fine, I’m always fine )
• What’s new?
  Nothing (alternate : not much )
  
• How’s college?
  Boring (alternate : shitty)
• How’s your love life?
  What love life? (Alternate : Don’t have one)
• How’s that girl in your class you like?
  I don’t exactly like her. But she’s fine. (Alternate : She’s fine.)

(7 votes, average: 3.29 out of 5)

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So I went looking for the dictionary meaning of the word numbskull. Guess what? It doesn’t exist. Apparently, it’s a variant of the word numskull which means a dull-witted or stupid person; dolt.… DAMN!

This post was supposed to be about the word “numb-skull”. I was going to contemplate on how the word could possibly have been devised. The two obvious parts are of course numb and skull. Taking skull to mean head, one would assume that the skull has become numb because of being hit repeatedly with the same data, and still not registering it. Alternately, a numb skull could also imply a skull that’s numb and devoid of feeling or thought, thus making it… numb!. But since the damn word is numskull and not numbskull, I’ll just leave you with the supposedly official origin of the name:

1717, from num (see numb) + skull. Numskulled (adj.) is attested from 1706.

Hey, what do you know! I was right all along!
Anyway, I leave you now to ponder over why I would make an entire post about a word… specifically, the word “numbskull”. There are a multitude of possibilities, of course, ranging from an unpleasant encounter with an idiot to a heated debate with an imbecile. Think about it.

Also, I must confess that the thought that seems to be making my head numb is the thought of impending doom - examination results are going to be announced shortly … skull numb with fear.

To those of you thinking really hard over what prompted me to make an entry about “numbskull”, the answer is really much simpler than unpleasant encounters and antagonizing debates… I’m simply a random guy!

(4 votes, average: 2.75 out of 5)

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Seeing as how I had never technically gone anywhere, my singing “Guess who’s back?… na na na… back again!” would be a little silly, BUUUT since that’s just how I am:

Guess who’s back?
na na na
Back again
na na na

Ok so yeah, I’m back. Unlike the last couple of times, I haven’t made a post predicting how well I will write these exams, and so they have come and gone without your knowing, possibly. Today was the last exam, and I am finally free
Or am I? Hell no!

I’m off to Bangalore for a few days on Monday evening. No internet there. I wonder if that’s a bad thing, though. I might get some time to curl up with a book (I’m about to start Sophie’s World… and no, that is not a GIRLY book! It’s a book on philosophy) or just listen to music or go for a couple of walks or something. That takes care of this coming week. You would assume I’m then really free for the week after that?

Obviously not! The H.O.D has had this brilliant idea to start working on some projects and/or papers, and though it’s not compulsory, he wants some of us to go and work on these. And guess who’s among this privileged lot which is expected to get their tired posteriors to college?

Apart from that, I’m free.

(2 votes, average: 3 out of 5)

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This post is, in a way, a statement of love for my new earphones, the Sennheiser CX-300. The first day I took them to college, I wore them on the return journey from college to home. The moment I put them on and closed my eyes, I forgot I was in a bus. I forgot that I was surrounded by people who were doing what they’re best at : being noisy. Jokes and laughter was being rallied to and fro between people seated rows apart. The bus itself was roaring like a monster awoken from deep sleep by a toothpick being jabbed in its eye everytime the driver hit the accelerator. In the midst of all this madness, I lay surrounded by nothing but music and my own thoughts.

I fell asleep. I fell into such a deep, comfortable sleep that I didn’t realize I had been sleeping for over 45 minutes. I have never slept so peacefully in the bus ever.

True… I still find the bass a little high, and the treble a little low (I’ve reduced my bass setting to 0, and increased my treble by 2 points), but the sound is still very rich. The only problem is that since these are in-ear earphones whose rubber sits snugly in the exterior ear canal, your own voice reverberates quite loudly, so you can’t really sing along. Also, when I rest my head against the seat, the vibrations are amplified and do interfere with the songs.

However, when all is said and done, I’m really thrilled with these earphones. The bonus is that they come with a 2 year guarantee, so I know they’ll last for at least 2.5 years. All I need to replace are the rubber pads, which I think are available for about a dollar.

I should probably mention once again that it was Tobias who ordered these for me from ebay, which refused to let me order on account of my being an Indian (to put it crudely).

I will also try putting up some pictures shortly.

Yay, I love music all over again

(8 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)

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Yesterday was a perfect day… almost.

Now that I’ve piqued your curiosity, I’ll explain why:

1. I did my test pretty darn well. Sir corrected our papers the same day, and I got 20/20.
2. I finally got my scooter fixed on the way home, including the horn. I can hoot again! All it now needs to become a noble steed all over again is a little more air in the tyres… should probably do that tomorrow morning. Oh, and petrol! Need to fill it up tomorrow.
3. Mum came back from Kenya. She got hotdogs :D, but more importantly, my dad got a new cell phone, so he’s giving me the one he was using for the last few months. I’m finally getting a cell phone. I AM NOT TECHNOLOGICALLY BACKWARD ANYMORE! For those interested few, it’s a Nokia 6230i
4. The Sennheiser CX-300 earphones Tobias ordered for me last month finally got delivered yesterday! They absolutely rock! They cut out a hell of a lot of ambient noise. Yesterday, I put them on, and I couldn’t hear the TV any more. The only point of concern is that the bass appears to be a little high, but I reckon that’s probably because I’ve just gotten used to low bass output from my current pair of earphones. Thanks, Toby, for the earphones
5. We ordered pizza home for dinner.

As I asked in the title… do they make such days anymore? I can certainly remember instances when a lot of things have gone wrong all at once, but rarely does a day come along when a lot of things go right all at once.
PS: To cap it off, someone special came online exactly as I was wishing she would

(9 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)

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