(credit) card tricks

one of the first things i remember hearing about when i came to the US was 'credit history'. apparently, from when you get a Social Security number, every transaction you ever participate in which has a written record goes into your file. so for those of you buying porn using your credit cards, don't think the Government (aka your girlfriend) won't know you have a subscription to 'Big Boobs Weekly' just because it arrives packaged in brown paper. i hear the magazine can't make up their mind if they want Lindsay Lohan in it, or not, or in it, or not..

anyways, getting back to the point, basically what happens is that every dealing you make, paying bills, buying groceries, bidding on ebay, buying weed, booze and cigs, health insurance, rent.. everything with records in one of your bank accounts is in your credit history, so that when you apply for a loan or a mortgage, the money-lenders decide whether they want one pound of flesh (or more) to go with its repayment, and whether it should be be from the rump steak region or from the spare ribs area.

most graduate students lived in poverty throughout undergrad - just that it never seemed that bad then. i would SMS my dad this:
me: "no mon, no fun, your son."
hoping that he would catch my drift and cash would soon be on the way. without missing a beat, he replied:
dad: "too bad, so sad, your dad."
where other feeble-hearted kids would give up, my thirst for knowledge (actually, whiskey) would lead me to mailing mom:
me: "hi ma! i was looking to apply to some grad schools in my specialization. they told me that they were very impressed with my qualifications, and i just needed to go through the preliminary application process, and i was a shoo-in for a scholarship."
the next time the brown-suited postman came around room C-313, he would be a messenger bearing good tidings in the form of a cheque which got promptly converted to a more eatable and drinkable form.

so a lot of us were duped into going to grad school, with visions of milk & honey for some, and chicken wings & beer for others. however i find that life at the grad level is a delicate balance of credit limits and 13.5% APR, the latter number being the interest to be paid on the credit card. smarter folks have learned an advanced form of the 3-card poker (aka 5-card stud), with credit cards though, whereby you keep transferring and juggling balances throughout the three, interspersed with calls to the Help Desk for an increase in credit limit.

these calls to the Help Desk are a lot of fun, as mostly they are routed to Bangalore, India.. and a very nice feminine voice answers: "hi, thank you for calling **** (bank's name withheld to protect my credit rating), this is May speaking, how may i help you?" at this point i am wondering if her real name is Malika, or Mayuri, or Mahima.. and whether she is breathing heavily into the phone because she likes my voice, or hmm.. !! but usually her name turns out to be Manjula or Madhushri or Mandodari, and she is as willing to increase my credit limit as she is to meeting me for coffee the next time i'm in bangalore. damn.

now you know why i am so desperately looking for a job when i finish, and not because i am looking for "a field where maximum utilization can be made of my academic training and research skills" (verbatim from my resume), but because i am nearing the credit limits on the cards, and the price of alcohol is increasing all the time, as if the stuff was distilled from crude oil, the cost of which strangely refuses to obey Newton's law of gravity and come down.

hire me, dammit!

i can do that.. hehe!!

Yuletide wishes

season's greetings to you all, have a great time!

NB: the 'other' gf has gone on the blink again, thereby once again ditching me when i needed her the most. she's scheduled for some replacement surgery, and i will only get her back in the new year. *sigh*

the needy 'other' gf!!

the 'other' gf has been getting on my nerves again, whinin' and bitchin'.. nothing's ever good enough for her! sometimes she wants me to not push her so much, other times she's all teary-eyed when i haven't spoken to her for a few minutes.

the last couple of days she's been bugging me, complaining of mysterious illnesses, even after i've bought her so much stuff. yes, like most needy gfs, this 'other' gf needs to be pampered with material gifts, and even then she wants more!

Things I've Learned - Pt.5

Shopping can be equally fun for guys too!

yes, there.. i said it! only that guys usually prefer to do their shopping online. or when the direst set of circumstances cause them to have to venture out to a store, they make it a smash n' grab, hit n' run kind of a situation. but when i get Timberlands for $40, New Balances for $20, Levi 501s for $25, ribbed polos for $15 and 160 Gb for $80, then i love me an xmas sale too! ;-)

silent night

winters are a very eerie time. if you take a walk in the dead of the night, it is very quiet. not just because everyone is cosily wrapped up and ensconced in their couches and beds, but because the snow deadens all sound, muffling everything. the snow covers everything with a blanket of silence. and as the wind whips the snow around, everything becomes a curtain of white, and the ground rises to meet the sky.

walking into snow being driven into your face is a very disorienting experience, as the snowflakes whizz past you, some hitting you and condensing on the exposed parts of your face, some pitter-pattering against the hood of your jacket. it gives the feeling of flying through space, ducking and weaving through the Milky Way, with stars, asteroids and comets hurtling past you.

wires and lights in a box

what part does television play in your life? i use the word 'television' to describe the press in general.. how much of what we listen to, watch or read determines the extent of our knowledge? how often do we take an extra step to scratch beyond the surface, probe a little deeper than the skin?

a certain Senator Joe McCarthy and his witch-hunting policies in the early 50's took advantage of the paranoia sweeping the country during the Cold War. read this for more info. a few men in the press decided to do something about it. these men worked for the broadcasting house CBS when there were just three big networks, ABC, NBC and CBS.

the movie 'Good Night, and Good Luck' is a story about those pressmen, and how they worked to save the country from McCarthy. directed by and also starring George Clooney, this is a crisply-made movie, and definitely leaves you with a lot of things to ponder about. its a period-piece, and excellently done too, shot in black and white, with jazz music setting the mood of the film.

this film was not made for the masses, the population led in droves to the theaters like dull, witless sheep.. watch it if you want a thought-provoking film, that raises a few questions about the role of the press in our lives, and how much of it we can believe and how much is actually controlled by entities much larger than us, namely corporations. as the lead character in the film, Ed Murrow says, "it is up to us to make television an instrument of learning and wisdom, or else it's just wires and lights in a box".. wise words indeed, even much more so considering this statement was made in 1958!

the joys of winter

there are a few things in winter that bring a smile of warm contentment to my face when it's minus something something outside and snowy gales lash against the windows..

a hot home-cooked meal, cuddling up to watch old sitcom reruns, a tumbler of aged scotch on the rocks, classic rock playing on the stereo, sleeping warm and comfy in my bed.. wow age has caught up on me!

a couple of years back it was way different.. it was trudging through knee-high snow to a party, doing endless tequila shots, drinking gallons of beer, smoking up ounces of weed, headbanging to trance, then mellowing down to ambient, and passing out on the nearest horizontal surface available!

speak to me!

whats your favorite hot accent? what is the accent that turns your knees to quivering jelly and the rest of you into a pool of mush? i find quite a few accents particularly hot..

elizabeth hurley's dulcet british accent totally puts me at ease, and makes me feel i could listen to her go on and on.. wait a sec, why would she be talking so much in the first place when there are better things she could do with her lips!



laetitia casta's lilting and lascivicious french accent brings to mind sitting in a sidewalk cafe in paris, sipping coffee, and enjoying the ambience of the city as it goes by, the smell of freshly-baked croissants in the air, and the company of a beautiful lady too!

salma hayek's lisping latina accent arouses unbridled lust, with thoughts of tequila shots, sucking lemons and the ripping of clothes.. and it inspires a thousand songs strummed on a guitar, and makes you wanna sway with the rhythm!



charlize theron's faint south african accent is tinged with raw sexuality, a kind of animal magnetism that is carried across in her eyes too.. she manages to look both homely yet wild, and when she has that look, she just puts the two 'o's in 'oomph'!

Black Label HNT

i've heard some gals love a guy who appreciates his scotch
and some gals who love a guy with some hair on his chest
what do you like?

for newbies, this is what its all about.. and here is where you can see all the entries for the day!!(scroll down till you see Hiding Half-Nekkid This Week in the Back Row on the right!)

a teacher called Ms. Experience

experience is such a funny thing.. we all have our very own experiences, and our own way of remembering things. similarly, we all take away very different lessons from what life throws at us. so no matter how much people warn you about their bad experiences, you never learn until you've been burned yourself. i guess in a way it's a good thing, as we all have to learn for ourselves.. we came to this world alone, and will leave alone too.

but when you've already been hurt, and don't want to see a loved one go through the same, it really is a Catch-22 situation: let the person go through with it and get hurt, and learn? or protect them so that they don't get hurt, but not learn either?

now that i look back at it, my parents were amazing, balancing the perfect amount of restraint: i messed up lots, got stung quite often and learned loads.. but grew up pretty straightforward, and without suffering any serious traumas or mental instability.. i think! ;-)

hit or miss?

music is always a very contentious issue to write about.. because just like beauty lies in the eye of the beholder (or beerholder), musical judgement resides in the mind of the listener. i remember having read a few weeks ago about some bloke who took the 'genetic code' of hundreds of hit songs in various genres, and actually could decipher what constituted a popular song from the ordinary fare.

i feel a good song has two essential components: a rhythm that attracts you, and words that speak to you. it's almost a subliminal feeling, at a more primeval level. true musical skill involves blending the two into a seamless amalgam that seems to flow through your veins and beat with your pulse. i listen to lots of rock, in its many avtars: grunge, alternative, heavy metal, classic, industrial, progressive, etc etc.. for most bands i either like the music/instrumentals, or the lyrics/songwriting.. but very very few can actually transport me to a universe far far away.

apart from a few of the the renowned bands that everyone knows and talks about, there are some more which i have come across.. this blog has always been a forum for me to introduce them to you.. older readers might have heard some of these names before.. newer readers, get ready to broaden your musical perspectives..

Tool are the greatest gift to the world since sliced bread and lingerie. they redefine the boundaries of musical conception, and are definitely worth a try. if you are scared to take the plunge into the deep end, try A Perfect Circle, an offshoot of Tool's. remember, think for yourself, question authority.

Alice In Chains are to grunge what Tom Hanks is to acting: multitalented, does the job awesomely yet passes under the radar when fame and fortune come knocking. when angst and soul-searching are preying on your mind, this is the music you soul seeks.

System Of A Down can be described by just one word: eclectic. combining various musical flavors such as folk, opera, and classical music with catchy tunes, staccato vocals and an underlying message that meld together to form a series of cocktails, like having a dry martini, a shot of tequila and a strawberry margarita in quick succession.

Shinedown represents a younger generation, with a newish feel to their music while paying ample tribute to the older generations by staying true to what really matters.. the music. what new band right now dares to play 7 minute songs with long melodic guitar solos and are best enjoyed with a whiskey and coke in hand?

10 Years are the newest kids on the block, counting among their influences both contemporary and classic bands. the jury is still out on this group, as they only have one album out, and its the second album that decides whether a band shall rise to epic proportions, or fade away to playing in dimly-lit smoky nightclubs half-filled with yuppies and frat-boys.

someday i'll be saturday night

had a lovely productive day yesterday.. did all i had planned and had loads of fun too..

- the thesis is coming along quite well, and i should be done with it really soon. i think i've gotten over my initial writer's block and writing is much easier now.
- after the initial burst of interviews it's all gone quiet now.. gonna have to start up the job hunting process again once i'm over the thesis hump.
- we came across last minute tickets to the UB basketball game yesterday.. we kicked some Rutgers ass, yeeha!! i like this year's team, they're hard to pin down, and fast.
- had a post-game party with some of sank's colleagues from work at Fuddruckers.. i love the place, 1 lb. burgers and 1 $ beers.. what's not to like?!
- i am completely in love with the Scion tC now, and cannot wait to test-drive one. i am almost certain that this will be my first car, in azure pearl or nautical blue.

- i think i definitely get better at darts when i have wet my throat and whet my appetite with a few drinks, preferably beer, with shots thrown in for good measure!
- last night was the first time we'd hung out in a long while, we made up for that by drinking the place dry and bringing the party home for some more!

i am not sure my body will ever forgive me for what i have put it through.. my sincere apologies to mr. liver, mr. lungs and mr. brain..

tasty tag!

got tagged by Blazngfyre on this one, and it looks like lots of fun too! so here goes, 10 totally titillating tidbits.. how about those then eh?! ;-)

1) during a family x-mas party, i saw half a bottle of beer, and wondered what all the hype was, so i knocked it back bottoms up. felt really light and refreshed after that. i was told i asked santa if i could have more the next year! i was in grade 4.

2) one of my favourite tv shows growing up was Benny Hill.. dirty ol' man!! it was a bit odd though, cos my dad and i would sit and roll with laughter watching girls in undies being chased around trees!

3) i really admire a girl who can hold her drink. and even more so one who can sit with the boys and smoke a bowl. and not get all sobby and stuff. of course, if she feels the need to remove clothing, who are we to complain?!

4) when i was 16 i had an instant crush on a stewardess on a flight i was on. everytime i willed myself to speak to her though, my tongue refused to co-operate. she smiled knowingly when i left the plane, and my legs turned wobbly!

5) i think the hardest thing ever for a guy to do is to tell a girl he likes her, and wants to ask her out. it definitely is for me!

6) when i was in grade 6, a friend flicked his brother's stack of Playboys. we promptly redistributed them to the class. i didn't have to do my own homework for the next month at least!

7) a girl in black, and a 'come-hither' smile, will always have me hooked. like a fish. on a short line.

8) i still don't know how i got to grad school without ever getting suspended, for various things.. rigging school elections, making out in the library, switching two teachers' car license plates, setting off fireworks in school toilets, stealing the headmaster's goldfish, etc etc!

9) when working as an intern mechanic, i slowed down work on a female customer's car so that she would be back again the next day. she was very hot, i should be forgiven!

10) i turn into a babbling incoherent blob when the gf looks into my eyes, puts her hands on me, and goes "miaowww".. hehe!

hehe, so there you go, that was me.. and now some tasty tempting treats for some of you.. Sanny, Ektz, Little Eyes, Nick and Kfarmer.. you know you wanna do it!

Things I've Learned - Pt.4

Always utilise company resources efficiently

it makes sense to not pig out when the interviewer takes you out for a lunch meeting. however, when the company is paying for an overnight stay at a pretty top-notch hotel, then you must make full use of the hotel bar and restaurant, especially if the bill is charged to the room.

clean cut HNT

i return to the world of HNT after a long hiatus.. i love getting haircuts, and the slick 'new' feel to it!

for newbies, this is what its all about.. and here is where you can see all the entries for the day!!
(scroll down till you see Hiding Half-Nekkid This Week in the Back Row on the right!)

everything she wants, nothing she needs

if you didn't watch the 10th annual Victoria's Secret Show last night, then you have no idea what you missed, but this should give you an idea..

when the first show aired ten years ago, the US Secretary of the Treasury calculated the loss in work-hours in billions of dollars! last night the effect must have been just as huge.. the show has grown in size over the years, and is now one of the most-watched annual tv and internet events!

it was Tyra Banks' farewell show, while Heidi Klum, Giselle Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima and all the other pretty girls did what they do best, look pretty, wearing pretty lingerie.. hehe!

so get in the holiday spirit, and give your gal everything she wants, nothing she needs!!

erratic

firstly i'd like to apologise for the last month or so.. the posts haven't been as regular as i would have liked them to be, and i have been quite atrocious in reading up on your blogs. my excuses remain the same.. neck-deep in the thesis, busy with work then went away for the the Thanksgiving holiday, studying for a some interviews, and then working on the template..

this irregularity might continue for a while, things don't seem to be getting any less hectic out here.. but the good news is that the thesis is definitely on the last lap now, and the end is in sight. i will be going off for the Christmas weekend, and am trying to get all the work done before that, and hopefully land a job too by then!

but i will try to drop by your blogs a little more often.. so take care of yourselves this winter, and keep blogging!

New York, New York!

NB: have gotten the new template up, thanks for bearing with us! a big thank you to kavi for making this possible!

down in a.. nutshell

feeling me now being what i wanted to be
seeing me bow to the God i yearned to be
downed by the storm that swirls inside

speaking no more of the feelings beneath
leaking no words from the grinding teeth
crowned by the king that tries to hide

trying to fly by wings that were so denied
prying to find the eyes that were so blind
found by the home that whirls to ride

sleeping to hear a voice calling me inside
creeping to allow foregone mistakes slide
bound by a parody in reality applied

fleeing a forgiveness sought of God done
freezing the coldest winter chill in no sun
aground on a heaven where it's tried

This is a part tribute to one of my favorite bands, Alice In Chains

Things I've Learned - Pt.3

Focus on the interview, not the interviewer

when in an interview, it always make more sense to pay attention to what the pretty female engineer on the committee is asking, rather than wondering what a nice girl like her is doing in a place like this, and still looking so smokin' hot at the same time too..

that required a lot of concentration that one.. and for once i felt saying "howyoudoin?" with a raised eyebrow wasn't going to seal the job for me! damn!