Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A bolt of Blue
When one of the training wheels on my 5 year old boy’s little blue dirt-bike-style cycle feel off, I said to myself “Yup! it’s time for the universal father-son ritual. I take the other wheel off. Hold the seat firmly while he gets his little unsure butt on the seat. We take a couple of practice runs. I secretly let go off him and before he knows it, he’s riding a bike – without training wheels.
He remains eternally grateful.”
He was managing well enough with the single extra wheel so I didn’t think it was a huge hurry to get down to training day.
I opened the front door the other day and was startled by a streak of blue that whizzed past me.
Turns out the other wheel fell off too. And he just kept riding. The little bugger learned to ride on his own. And how! I didn’t know whether to be proud. Or to be angry. I guess I was both. Proud of him. Angry with myself.
Because once again I'd forgotten.
That life can’t wait.
He remains eternally grateful.”
He was managing well enough with the single extra wheel so I didn’t think it was a huge hurry to get down to training day.
I opened the front door the other day and was startled by a streak of blue that whizzed past me.
Turns out the other wheel fell off too. And he just kept riding. The little bugger learned to ride on his own. And how! I didn’t know whether to be proud. Or to be angry. I guess I was both. Proud of him. Angry with myself.
Because once again I'd forgotten.
That life can’t wait.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Unforgiven
For some reason I got thinking of Metallica's Unforgiven trilogy, and going through the lyrics i thought i saw distinct shifts in the tone of the lyrics - which is also true of the music.
I've pasted parts of the songs here. To me Part 1 is aggressive. Angry. Accusatory. Part 2 is more empathetic. Accommodating. Part 3 seems to be accepting. Like the fingers are no longer pointed outward.
This journey somehow seems to be summed up in a quote from an American Novelist, Leon Uris:
“The ability of a person to atone has always been the most remarkable of human features.” (courtesy Shopdead)
Or maybe I'm just crazy. ;-) Talk to me!
UNFORGIVEN - I
They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN
UNFORGIVEN II
Lay beside me, tell me what I've done
The door is closed, so are your eyes
But now I see the sun, now I see the sun
Yes now I see it!
What I've felt, what I've known
Turn the pages, turn the stone
Behind the door, should I open it for you?
What I've felt, what I've known
So sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?,
'cause I'm the one who waits
for you
Or are you unforgiven too?
I take this key (never free)
And I bury it (never me) in you
Because you're unforgiven too
UNFORGIVEN III
How could he know
This new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea
But pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid
Always afraid
Of the things he's feeling
He could just be gone
He would just sail on
He'll just sail on
How can I be lost,
If I've got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
In remembrance I relive
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
I've pasted parts of the songs here. To me Part 1 is aggressive. Angry. Accusatory. Part 2 is more empathetic. Accommodating. Part 3 seems to be accepting. Like the fingers are no longer pointed outward.
This journey somehow seems to be summed up in a quote from an American Novelist, Leon Uris:
“The ability of a person to atone has always been the most remarkable of human features.” (courtesy Shopdead)
Or maybe I'm just crazy. ;-) Talk to me!
UNFORGIVEN - I
They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN
UNFORGIVEN II
Lay beside me, tell me what I've done
The door is closed, so are your eyes
But now I see the sun, now I see the sun
Yes now I see it!
What I've felt, what I've known
Turn the pages, turn the stone
Behind the door, should I open it for you?
What I've felt, what I've known
So sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?,
'cause I'm the one who waits
for you
Or are you unforgiven too?
I take this key (never free)
And I bury it (never me) in you
Because you're unforgiven too
UNFORGIVEN III
How could he know
This new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea
But pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid
Always afraid
Of the things he's feeling
He could just be gone
He would just sail on
He'll just sail on
How can I be lost,
If I've got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
In remembrance I relive
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
"Sorry, Tommy"
Some years ago i heard that Tommy Hilfiger made a pretty nasty racist comment.
So i became a self-appointed anti-brand-ambassador of sorts. And ensured I never even considered buying his products. I was pretty vocal about my dislike for Tommy. after all, i thought, it's typical of a firang to say something like that.
Until the other day when my friend Hetch sent me a link that kinda opened my eyes (and ears) to the truth. There he was. Grey haired. Dignified. Pained by the hurt inflicted by the rumor.
Tommy was innocent. I was the guilty one. He had said nothing. I was the one who was judgmental.
What bothered me the most was how stupid i was to not get to the truth myself. I easily could have. But i just sat on my high horse and did something easier - I pointed a finger.
I was no better than the dogmatics. The fanatics. The critics. I was "Them".
Last night i went out and bought my first Tommy product.
A pair of shades. At full price. (I really hope they marked it up like crazy!)
Finally.
Finally, I am seeing things through Tommy's eyes.
So i became a self-appointed anti-brand-ambassador of sorts. And ensured I never even considered buying his products. I was pretty vocal about my dislike for Tommy. after all, i thought, it's typical of a firang to say something like that.
Until the other day when my friend Hetch sent me a link that kinda opened my eyes (and ears) to the truth. There he was. Grey haired. Dignified. Pained by the hurt inflicted by the rumor.
Tommy was innocent. I was the guilty one. He had said nothing. I was the one who was judgmental.
What bothered me the most was how stupid i was to not get to the truth myself. I easily could have. But i just sat on my high horse and did something easier - I pointed a finger.
I was no better than the dogmatics. The fanatics. The critics. I was "Them".
Last night i went out and bought my first Tommy product.
A pair of shades. At full price. (I really hope they marked it up like crazy!)
Finally.
Finally, I am seeing things through Tommy's eyes.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Love you, MJ
Like most people, I'm deeply saddened by MJ's death.
Another unwanted reminder that life gives us no guarantees.
I always hoped that he would bounce back. As a popstar. As a person. I'm secretly hoping that he had his quiet moments with his maker. And that God's amazing grace, drew him to a place of reconciliation. That's all it takes. A moment.
what follows is a song that has always haunted me.
as you read it. say a prayer. That Michael would moonwalk again ... all the way home.
Gone too soon - Michael Jackson.
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse
To inspire to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
Another unwanted reminder that life gives us no guarantees.
I always hoped that he would bounce back. As a popstar. As a person. I'm secretly hoping that he had his quiet moments with his maker. And that God's amazing grace, drew him to a place of reconciliation. That's all it takes. A moment.
what follows is a song that has always haunted me.
as you read it. say a prayer. That Michael would moonwalk again ... all the way home.
Gone too soon - Michael Jackson.
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse
To inspire to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
You vs. Me
"I'm not saying be me, but can you not be so you?"
I was actually privy to this conversation. :-)
I was actually privy to this conversation. :-)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Movie Idea!
Film opens in a massage parlor. Candles throwing soft shadows on the sparse walls.
For years he had worked his skillful hands. Alone. For what he did not know.
A gust of wind blows the chimes hanging at the front door. And that's when he sees her standing. Her red silken dress revealing more than she knew, as the street light silhouetted her incredible body.
"Are we closed?" She asked.
Moments later she was undressing. She lay on the table. And his fingers dug deep rejuvenating furrows down her smooth back.
Moments later they were wrapped around her feet. Slithering up her calf muscles. Caressing her thighs.
And then, risking everything that he had left his hometown for, he looks at the lush white towel covering her ample curves and braced himself for what could be the biggest mistake of his professional life.
In what felt like a mere nanosecond, her hand was at his face. It was her left hand. Her fingers curved in delicately.
"Marry me"
He smiles. Fishing for something in his pocket.
She smiles.
Her eyes filled with need, she takes a step towards him, and the candles are magically snuffed out by a second gust of wind.
In the darkness, a soft sigh is heard. Followed by another. And another deeper, stronger one.
Like a soft ripple of water, the movie title appears:
"Rub ne bana di Jodi"
For years he had worked his skillful hands. Alone. For what he did not know.
A gust of wind blows the chimes hanging at the front door. And that's when he sees her standing. Her red silken dress revealing more than she knew, as the street light silhouetted her incredible body.
"Are we closed?" She asked.
Moments later she was undressing. She lay on the table. And his fingers dug deep rejuvenating furrows down her smooth back.
Moments later they were wrapped around her feet. Slithering up her calf muscles. Caressing her thighs.
And then, risking everything that he had left his hometown for, he looks at the lush white towel covering her ample curves and braced himself for what could be the biggest mistake of his professional life.
In what felt like a mere nanosecond, her hand was at his face. It was her left hand. Her fingers curved in delicately.
"Marry me"
He smiles. Fishing for something in his pocket.
She smiles.
Her eyes filled with need, she takes a step towards him, and the candles are magically snuffed out by a second gust of wind.
In the darkness, a soft sigh is heard. Followed by another. And another deeper, stronger one.
Like a soft ripple of water, the movie title appears:
"Rub ne bana di Jodi"
whatmarkism volume.17
He was on a journey of self-discovery.
When somewhere along the way he caught himself wishing.
That he wouldn't fully find himself.
When somewhere along the way he caught himself wishing.
That he wouldn't fully find himself.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Hey Maark
Written by my copywriter-friend. Set to the tune of "Maa" from taare zameen par.
Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Body Copy Se Darta Hoon Main Maark
Yun To Main, Dikhlata Nahin
Kabhi Aise Waise Copy Likhta Hoon Main Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata Mere Maark
Ideas Mein Yun Na Chod Mujhe
Office Mein Bhi So Naa Paoon Maark
Briefs Na Itna De Mujkko Tu
Yaad Bhi Tujhko Aa Naa Paoon Maark
Kya Itna Bura Hoon Main Maark
Kya Itna Bura Mere Maark
Jab Bhi Kabhi Servicing Log Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Kaam Dete Hain Maark
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamega Maark
Kisi Aur Se Tum Yeh Kehte Nahin
Par Mujhe Hi Daante Ho Maark
Chehre Pe Aana Deta Nahin
Dil Hi Dil Mein Ghabraata Hoon Maark
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Hai Naa Maark
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Mere Maark
Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Body Copy Se Darta Hoon Main Maark
Yun To Main, Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Mere Maark
Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Body Copy Se Darta Hoon Main Maark
Yun To Main, Dikhlata Nahin
Kabhi Aise Waise Copy Likhta Hoon Main Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata Mere Maark
Ideas Mein Yun Na Chod Mujhe
Office Mein Bhi So Naa Paoon Maark
Briefs Na Itna De Mujkko Tu
Yaad Bhi Tujhko Aa Naa Paoon Maark
Kya Itna Bura Hoon Main Maark
Kya Itna Bura Mere Maark
Jab Bhi Kabhi Servicing Log Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Kaam Dete Hain Maark
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamega Maark
Kisi Aur Se Tum Yeh Kehte Nahin
Par Mujhe Hi Daante Ho Maark
Chehre Pe Aana Deta Nahin
Dil Hi Dil Mein Ghabraata Hoon Maark
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Hai Naa Maark
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Mere Maark
Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Body Copy Se Darta Hoon Main Maark
Yun To Main, Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maark
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Mere Maark
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Drop D
They say that everyone
Is moving on to you
But I can’t seem to get myself
To fall in love with you
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
What do I do?
I can’t seem to get myself
to fall in love with you
They say you make the strings
Much easier to work
But low registers don’t work for me
They leave me in the dirt
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
Why me?
Why me?
Is moving on to you
But I can’t seem to get myself
To fall in love with you
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
What do I do?
I can’t seem to get myself
to fall in love with you
They say you make the strings
Much easier to work
But low registers don’t work for me
They leave me in the dirt
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
Why me?
Drop D.
Why me?
Why me?
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Join me for Brunchner?
Breakfast + lunch is Brunch
Lunch + Dinner is Linner
Well, a friend of mine is now popularising a revolutionary concept called Brunchner.
yes, you guessed it. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner! all in one sitting
The ritual starts at around 11.30 am and the meal goes on till night fall.
When asked to comment on this lifestyle, he simply said, "Not when I'm eating."
But rumor has it that he is chewing on the idea of pioneering Brunchnerack.
Yes, You guessed it. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Midnight snack!
As of publishing this post, our correspondent is still waiting for his comments.
This could take a while. Please be patient.
Lunch + Dinner is Linner
Well, a friend of mine is now popularising a revolutionary concept called Brunchner.
yes, you guessed it. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner! all in one sitting
The ritual starts at around 11.30 am and the meal goes on till night fall.
When asked to comment on this lifestyle, he simply said, "Not when I'm eating."
But rumor has it that he is chewing on the idea of pioneering Brunchnerack.
Yes, You guessed it. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Midnight snack!
As of publishing this post, our correspondent is still waiting for his comments.
This could take a while. Please be patient.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Rock On!
It seems like everyone i know thinks my life would be incomplete without watching Rock On. So here's the good news: I watched Rock On.
Yeah they told my story for most parts with honesty. "Screw advertising. Let's hit the stage."
Ok, whatmark will put thoughts down in point format so your comments can be more focused. (yes, yes you have to comment).
1. Great Movie.
2. If they really had the balls to be true to every Indian rock musician, they would've been an English band. Playing covers to the gallery and occasionally sneaking in an original. But i guess they had to make the "minor" change of being a Hindi rock act.
3. It was really nice of Channel V to allow themselves to be portrayed as the Musician-bullying, pander-to-the-audience, V-don't-give-a-shit-about-your-sound company they are.
4. Nice of Anu Mallik to agree to the guest appearance. Again, honesty in the fact that his keyboard player is not happy. ;-]
5. Hats off to Javed Akthar for making it look easy to cross the generation gap, and write like a 25 year old. (Damn!)
6. They should have deleted the scene where they re-compose a song. That was laughable at best. "Hey guys let's try something different ... you change beat + you change scale + you change riff + I'll sing same lyric = tadaa!"
7. Umm where's the bassie? I know they tried to imply Luke Kenny was handling it on keyboards. Really Luke, Really? (Bassie's please note: your days are numbered. Show up for practice you bastards.)
8. While the music was good, I'm sure Indian lead guitar players could do much much better.
9. Frankly if they followed Charkaview's kick-ass act, with the na-na-na-na song, they would never have won. Oh wait it was a channel V thingie. I stand corrected.
10. Arjun Rampal looked delicious. But he should've put a little more work into acting like he was playing lead. And yes, I'm still straight.
11. Purab was fabulous.
12. Luke should never cut his hair. Still have a ton of respect for him, though his character was kinda ... umm ... girlie?
13. Farhan's vocals made it very honest and believable. Thank you for screaming three times.
14. Guitar players please note: India's hottest band used a Zoom G2! Yay! I have one which i use to tune my acoustic guitar.
15. There are three small mistakes in the music: Shankar, Loy and Ehsaan. Love them otherwise. Not the best choices for this job.
16. They should've named the Kid Rabindranath. And then started calling him "Rob" after he got a job as a Writer in an ad agency. Correct no?
17. Again, great movie. (I'm suffering from PMS as i write this.)
Yeah they told my story for most parts with honesty. "Screw advertising. Let's hit the stage."
Ok, whatmark will put thoughts down in point format so your comments can be more focused. (yes, yes you have to comment).
1. Great Movie.
2. If they really had the balls to be true to every Indian rock musician, they would've been an English band. Playing covers to the gallery and occasionally sneaking in an original. But i guess they had to make the "minor" change of being a Hindi rock act.
3. It was really nice of Channel V to allow themselves to be portrayed as the Musician-bullying, pander-to-the-audience, V-don't-give-a-shit-about-your-sound company they are.
4. Nice of Anu Mallik to agree to the guest appearance. Again, honesty in the fact that his keyboard player is not happy. ;-]
5. Hats off to Javed Akthar for making it look easy to cross the generation gap, and write like a 25 year old. (Damn!)
6. They should have deleted the scene where they re-compose a song. That was laughable at best. "Hey guys let's try something different ... you change beat + you change scale + you change riff + I'll sing same lyric = tadaa!"
7. Umm where's the bassie? I know they tried to imply Luke Kenny was handling it on keyboards. Really Luke, Really? (Bassie's please note: your days are numbered. Show up for practice you bastards.)
8. While the music was good, I'm sure Indian lead guitar players could do much much better.
9. Frankly if they followed Charkaview's kick-ass act, with the na-na-na-na song, they would never have won. Oh wait it was a channel V thingie. I stand corrected.
10. Arjun Rampal looked delicious. But he should've put a little more work into acting like he was playing lead. And yes, I'm still straight.
11. Purab was fabulous.
12. Luke should never cut his hair. Still have a ton of respect for him, though his character was kinda ... umm ... girlie?
13. Farhan's vocals made it very honest and believable. Thank you for screaming three times.
14. Guitar players please note: India's hottest band used a Zoom G2! Yay! I have one which i use to tune my acoustic guitar.
15. There are three small mistakes in the music: Shankar, Loy and Ehsaan. Love them otherwise. Not the best choices for this job.
16. They should've named the Kid Rabindranath. And then started calling him "Rob" after he got a job as a Writer in an ad agency. Correct no?
17. Again, great movie. (I'm suffering from PMS as i write this.)
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