A late late late late realization

It is so simple and obvious - Keep away from distractions, Go to work, Try your hand at a few things with effort and consistency, Take small steps towards doing something meaningful, Earn your fun, Keep Calm and Enjoy!

Easy steps to a decent living, or in my case - a decent MTP; yet something I have repeatedly failed to keep up in the past few months. After months of degeneracy, the D-day is here and I am utterly clueless - not just for now but for the coming future as well...

Anyway, without jumping the gun, let me make my point. In a bizarre parallel universe - getting work done is just like writing this blog post. You may think of a hundred things, or you may think of nothing - both are essentially same and lead nowhere until you actually start writing. And once you do start writing - its important to keep consistency and clarity throughout - or else the end result turns out to be a gobbledygook. And the end is important - make a point before signing off..

And that is it - The End!

(See what I did there :D)

The Giving Up syndrome

As a man of immense personal experience, here is me sharing a few thoughts/rants on the classical art of giving up, of being the opposite of "When the going gets tough, the tougher get the going" thing!

The first sentence gives a fair idea that this is going to be a boring post - that I am writing for no obvious reasons. Hoping that it does not kill too much time of the reader..

The issue starts small - not wanting to spend 10 more minutes on a problem, postponing a homework until the deadline comes, bunking a class because it is boring etc. And slowly it hogs on the bigger things - things like courses and decisions. Laziness acts as a great catalyst to it!

Coming to personal experience - dropping Mrudamgam learning, leaving cisco( afraid of commiting to work life so jumping back to the familiar raft of education - somehow sounds like 'giving up' inside my head!!), and the impending doom - MTP. For the past months, I have been kind of avoiding the project and meeting my guide - now leading to the Give Up stage: Time to turn hypocritical and hope that there is some higher power to help me out :D :D

Anyway, I am not the self-advice or advice others kind - and there are tons of material out there that help people in getting out of it. However, I do want to say one thing before giving up on this give up post - once it sets in, it is tough to get rid off!

Thus ends another pointless post. 

Behind Proxy Lines !!!

" I want to grow up, but netmon won't let me!"

Quite a famous quote this one - on the T-shirts of many IITians. Apart from the pretension and humor in the quote - sometimes 'netmon' - the IITB proxy really pisses you off!

It tags along a whole bunch of extra work!

There is the ritual of setting up the proxy for all applications accessing the internet, the extra hit of Enter/OK to authenticate the proxy each time you fire up the browser, and then with the Aakash tablets - rooting them and installing ProxyDroid to make the wi-fi device usable(plus Connectify Me on laptop for sharing the ethernet connection as wi-fi).

But you get stumped when there is a software you are installing that demands internet connection, but does not have proxy authentication feature!

So coming to the background for this post - A bunch of my school friends started a Group chat on WhatsApp - and asked me to join. Here lies the problem - I dont have a smartphone!(and for incompatibility reasons, I couldn't install it on the tablet..)

A quick search on the met came out with a workaround - run the BlueStacks android emulator and install WhatsApp on it. Here is Hurdle 1 - Bluestack downloads some binaries online - termed 'runtime data'; and well - no proxy support yet as it is still in beta. Also, by the virtue of its beta status - the installer just freezes at this point!

To pass this hurdle, I had to use ccproxy - which is kind of a proxy in front of the netmon proxy for the computer. So there I spent around half an hour getting the settings right so that Bluestacks continued installation; and then revert back the network settings to the old ones(I personally feel ccproxy is kind of a messy business!)

Now things seemed well and good, but wait - The native application of Bluestacks cannot access internet, and as it is already established - No proxy support. One of the forums suggests the use of ProxyCap - another application that lets you specify those applications that use proxies. So - one more precursor was met - installed ProxyCap and added a 'rule' to allow the network access executable of Bluestacks to have a proxy redirection!

Things were not over yet - as ProxyCap allows setting of HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4 and SOCKS5  proxies. I wasn't sure what goes for what kind of requests - so had to do a trial and error - there went another hour.

The end result was this - To load the initial Top Charts apps in the home screen(well, there is the Retry or Cancel popup, but the Cancel button almost never works!), it uses HTTP connection, but to install apps, run network dependent apps or surf the internet via the browser, it uses HTTPS. This translates to me starting ProxyCap in HTTP mode for the startup of Bluestacks, and then switching to HTTPS mode for running Whatsapp(Standard non-marketplace installation; download .apk file and run it via Bluestacks application installer).

Oh yeah, there is that standard trick of installing WhatsApp on non-phone devices - Wait for the SMS verification to time-out, and then get the call with the activation code and use it. 

For some reason, Bluestacks refuses to use the HTTPS proxy during startup; so I have to do the start in HTTP mode and then switch to HTTPS mode to view Whatsapp messages all over again!

Anyway, did find out a few things - you can run WhatsApp on PC, although not in the most elegant way, and also I just found out that Whatsapp did not install on the tablet earlier due to space running out - so process repeat now :D!

3 Idiots - A Double Bluff message??

I usually watch repeats of one or two movies on my laptop - so I thought: Why not review one of my favorite movies that I watched tonight, in a new found light....

No doubt it is one entertaining movie - the earning figures spoke well for that claim. Its one perfect Bollywood recipe with all the tadka: comedy, songs, emotion, romance, message, alas - no fist fights - but still great. But ultimately - its no different than a fantasy themed film like Iron Man; which I also love by the way - in providing unrealistic yet gripping scenarios that keeps you captivated:

From delivering a baby using a vaccum cleaner run on car batteries(and god knows how the internet worked - assuming it was part of the LAN that also needs power), being lucky that the heroine is getting married the same day, driving a sick man on scooter directly into the operation theater, fultu honesty and nothing else getting a job - and many many more! 

The story - witty, great, funny and motivational and all that (I can go as far to say that it improves upon the Chetan Bhagat novel that it is based upon)  - gives a lot of know-how on the creepy things a person can do: Fake a heart attack, electrocute a guy's weak spot(ouch!), screw up a language-unaware guy's speech and make him a laughing stock, gatecrash a wedding and more...

That being said - its out and out hilarious - whether its Chatur's speech, the fake Chanchad confession, Farhanitrate and Prerajulization, Raju's home that looks like the 50s, showing the Gadhapan of Suhas, drunken adventure at Virus' home, and starting of an induction motor !

Finally, the point I wanted to make: The Double Bluff...

The Bluffs: The film goes in lengths to drive the idea, in the protagonist's words : "Baccha, Kabil bano, Kamyabi jhakh marke tere peeche aayegi". It shows the flaws in the educational system, that the futility and arrogance of characters like Chatur and Virus shall meet their match and all that typical Bollywood funda(actually, the funda of most movies).

The Double Bluff: But then, one cannot fail to notice that it is the Chaturs, Virus' and Suhas' that are successful, be it materialistic; and Ranchos are but an idealism that everyone adores but nobody intends to be. Whether it is Chatur's way of determining success by how well-off he is, or Virus striving to keep his institute number one: Its just the way the world works - Kab tak Kabil banta rahega Baccha ??

One also has to sympathize with Chatur in the end - who tries to prove himself better all the way through; but is outdone by the 'A faar Apple, B faar Bal' yet 400 patentee Scientist :D

To list or not to list - Thats also the question!

Its a funny circle of events - You make a list of things to do, then do some of them and leave out a lot, then make a list of things remaining and start with them, then scrap them out and back to creating the new list!

Over the past few months - thats what has been happening in my life. The above pic is a snapshot of the exact thing. Made the list of To Dos - and didnt follow up with any one of them in the right sense. Made a list of things to study - just glanced through few of them, left out a lot...

The whole thing makes you question the credibility of the process and yourself - why make lists when you dont follow up ? Let things stay chaotic - atleast you have something to lay the blame on! But again, you cannot let anarchy of things decide for you either!

Consciously or otherwise - you list out things to do and start working towards them - Thats one way to look at life... 

So here is my refined list, that I don't intend to keep:

  

Machaxx Valfi!

Aage padhne se pehle bol du ki pehle baar is post ko Hinglish(English mein likhi hui Hindi) mein likh raha hoon - kyon ki apna Valfi bhi zyaadatar usi style mein hua tha - aur uss wajah se aur bhi mazeedaar tha. To thoda bahut grammar aur transliteration ka galtiyon ko maaf kardo..

Kal raat zabardast thi - Aakhir mein apne H-14 walo ki Valfi ban gayi - aur wo bhi poora pagalpanti aur masti ke saath :)

Sabse pehle to hamari CS Mtech batch ki procrastination aur baad mein last minute effort dalne ka character ko tarif karna hi padega - valfi se ek din pehle tak log thanda the - itni ki valfi ke liye stage bhi book nahi kiya! Aur phir valfi ke pichle sham ko aakhirkar kuh paanch saath logo ka facebook mein valfi threads chalu kar diya...

To phir jaake valfi ke ek ghante pehle function ke coordinator aur Secy ke saath fight marke bacha hua 6th floor ka jagah le li - stage-vage kuch nahi - magar ek light to lagwa liya. Aur 10 baje tak logon ka profile banate rahe, banate rahe...

Magar apne bande bhi hain bahut hoshiyar - music room se laaye speaker aur mike, tablet aur laptop mein profiles ke saath; aur khudh ka cameras, extensions aur chargers leke ready ho gaye valfi ko 11 baje.

Aur tab se shuru hua - laughter pe laughter, bharpoor bhakchodi, dher saare non-veg gande jokes, total taang kichayi, past aur present ke girlfriends aur crushes, nashe mein kiye hue cheesey, sharamnak incidents, dark secrets, aur end mein thoda appreciation bhi - bole to fultu entertainment !!

Kuch highlights is tarah hain:

• Dan ki to sab lete hain; aur uske khane ka range gazab hain.
• Aarif hain download, DP aur online shopping ke expert - hai isko penthouse ke sapne aur bahut kuch.
• Peeyush hain ladkibaaz aur bhayankar coder - aur Mumbai ke trains to isse hi chalte hain.
• Madnani ka sirf do mood hain - spiritual aur sexual(aur unke rangeen daastane)
• Bol Burange ka pol khul gaya - Goa ho ya IITB - Burange ulti optimize karta hain.
• Kashyap ek hi wo banda hai jo PB ke bare mein complaint nahi karta, aur koi negative point nahi hai iska.
• Rajesh ki daaru ke baad kiye hue kaarnaame hai bahut saare.
• Yogesh ke explanation kisi ko samaj nahi aata - phir bhi koi phir se Samjha Na sunna nahi chahta.
• Manish hai senti aur fundebaaz - aur poore wing ko pata lagta hai ki kab ye naha raha hai..
• Siddhanth to 11 baje ki baat alag hi aadmi ban jata hai - aur uska oracle ka interview ka koi jawab nahin!
• Anuj nikla sabse bada chuppa rustam - hai iski GF bahut pehle se - Google, Visa aur GF: kuch baaki nahi raha is bande ki!
• Dabre ki muh uske height se jyaada hai - bahut ladkiyo ko kiya impress, phir bhi pata nahi paya ek ko.
• Ananth ke paas hai bahut stories - lekin hai bhulakkad bhi, sabko course mein help karta hain, par uski grade ka lag jati hai end me.
• Senthil ka to hain kahi punchlines, aur Deepika pe hain fida all the time; Khud ko kahta hai LPG - Low Profile Guy.
• Ramteke hain best bahut saare cheeso main, phir bhi hain Down to Earth.

.......................

aur bhi bahut saare kisse - jin pe has has ke sabhi log thak gaye!

Mera bhi thoda bahut khichayi hui - upar wale hastiyo ke saat compare nahi kar sakte ho, phir bhi - mazaa to aaya. Pehle to Title diya 'Chindi' - aur pizza ka har piece main hisaab dalke pay karne ka kaarnaama bataaya. Phir aayi baat naya facebook profile banane ka reason. Isi bahane main ne 'self-experience' ke do baat bataaya:

1. Jab ladki ke saat ho to kaan pe earphone lagake usko ignore mat karna

2. Jab uske saat bus mein jaa rahe ho to use sone mat dena - kuch baat mein lage raho

Magar apne class ke ladke to iss baat mein mahir hain - shaayad kisi ne suna bhi nahi; aur kahi doosre baaton mein bhi bahut bakkarchodi hui :D

To anth mein poore raat masti aur baatein ki barsaat ke baad subah ko 7 baje hamara Valfi khatam hua, aur last wala Valfi toh dirty jokes ke limit paar kar di! Bas uske baad breakfast kiya aur so gaya - aur utha to shaam ke saade-paanch baj chuke the!!

Is sab ke baad to picture kheechna banta hain(Kuch log to missing hain - picture main aur upar ke kahaniyon me, maaf karo aur adjust karlo...) :-

Job Treat v/s Farewell Party

The season of big treats is coming to an end for us IITBians - viz Job Treat, Farewell and Valedictory functions. Valfi is just around the corner - and we had the other two in the recent past. 

For those unaware of the whole thing - As per IITB tradition: Job treat is what we seniors give after the placements to our juniors in celebration, and the juniors reciprocate by giving us a Farewell Party. 

As any outsider ready to pass judgement, here is my verdict: To put succinctly - the Job Treat was a brave attempt, the Farewell Treat was conventional but well executed..

To elaborate on the details (because this is a blog and not a facebook post so that I can end as above!) - our Job Treat was on boats - a few kilometers away from the shore facing the Gateway of India. An innovative idea indeed - rather than the usual Hotel or Party Hall plans. Except for one thing - the constant rocking of the boat implied that no one even needed to dance; it sways you automatically - both good and bad! And everyone unanimously agrees that the food too was a spoilsport - I still get goosebumps imagining the almost non-veg tasting Paneer sabzi x-( 

But still; it was quite adventurous to party in the middle of the sea - albeit those with Thalassophobia (of course I googled that!) 

The Farewell party was in a more common party place; and in keeping up with the current trend of Confessions and Secrets - there were games of share your secret, get others to confess a secret etc. Food definitely scored more points than Job treat; and so did the Memento - A photo/scrap book of all the current batch students.

Since I don't have any of the pics of the event - I am sharing pics of the book itself, also seems symmetric with the above content...

Oh, and here is my entry in the book; thanks for the geeky description +Amitkumar Patil !!