You get as you deserve..

..or do you really? What is my motivation to do any good? Isn't it just easier to slack, not do any good, or even just be bad (can I be corny and quote the great 21st century philosopher, Brian Adams, and say "if you wanna be bad, you gotta be good" :))? Why do any good? Are better things going to happen to me then? But, is that always the case? Haven't we all seen those people who get dealt a terrible hand "undeservedly", the guy whose family was blown in a bomb blast somewhere in the world for no fault of theirs? Why??

The much-abused Indian philosophical concept of Karma says that things we do now dictate our further lives and our behavior in previous lives dictate our lives right now (this is my understanding and interpretation of the concept, if you beg to disagree, would like to know your take on it). So, do good now so your next life will be a good one, but you are helpless about things that happen to you now because that's been pre-ordained already. As far as a convincing, complete theory goes, this is right up there, but I don't want to believe it - I think its defeatist! To just sit back and say, things this life are pre-determined for me already has brutal helplessness written all over it. But the Bhagvad Gita also says, "do good, without expecting results" - I think that approach requires greater amount of nobility than I may be capable of :)

My philosophy as I go through my mundane existence is, "life is a great leveller" - helps keep me stable. When things don't go well, its comforting to think a better day might be around soon, and lifewise, when you are having a top day, keeps you on the ground to think that it won't always be this way, and might as well enjoy it while it lasts. Its all relative right, even a crippled beggar has a "better day" when he earns more money, gets better food, etc - sounds harsh I know, but you see the drift..

But then, is any attempt to assign any justification or symmetry to the ways of life just plain futile?! I don't know - whatever - my dabble at some philosphy here..

New laptop :)

Got it day-before - luvin it! Check it out - Toshiba Satellite - click on Product Tour and see the Features. Went crazy customizing it! Haven't tilted it yet into a tablet (because Toshiba haven't shipped my pens yet), that should be even better!

But anyway, now I don't have an excuse for my sporadic blogging - hope to be more regular.

A few minor quirks

We've all got those. Here is my disclaimer, my Lewis Black tirade:
1. Don't call me and ask me directions to the last place we went together because now you want to go with *someone else* and you cant seem to find the place again and you are lost! When I put my annoyance aside and try to help you, you could get on my nerves further by giving me totally unhelpful co-ordinates - "I am outside THE Starbucks" (the only co-ordinate worse than that would be "I am at the intersection of Cross and Don't Cross"). Don't do that - please

2. To strike an "Indian connection" don't talk about elephants or cows on roads - please...don't do that..(all those "crossover" Indian movie makers who make movies about India (like Bride & Prejudice) showing elephants and cows - just pray you are not my first celebrity sighting in NY)

3. When you find out I am from Bangalore and I work in IT in NYC, in a disgusting display of global know-how and wit, dont say, "then what are you doing here?" I don't claim to know where I am going and what I am doing here, but I sure as hell don't need you to bring it up!

4. If you are hanging out with me on a Sat night and you arrive without an ID, I will enter that bar and leave you behind! What were you thinking?!

5. I like ironing, I believe its quality alone time. But when I tell you that in an attempt to show off how everything about me is not normal, dont give me that "wise-crack", "haha, maybe I should give you my shirts/blouses too". Let me just say I like to smell my shirts before/after I iron them. Do you still want me to lay hands on your clothes (with or without you? :))?