Archive for January, 2005

31
Jan

Tests and quizzes….sigh….

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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And my quest for finding some sort of a semblance of a reason behind the pointless tests goes on….

[Listening to: A Piece of Liquid - Joe Satriani - Crystal Planet (3:03)]

© Shantanu Goel | Tests and quizzes….sigh….

Quote of the day: "Stan, what did I tell you about watching the Osbournes? It's going to make you retarded!" -- Stan's Mom
27
Jan

Happy Republic Day (albeit belated)

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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Got this in mail:

“An amendment to a motion may be amended, but
an amendment to an amendment to a motion may not
be amended. However, a substitute for an amendment
to and amendment to a motion may be adopted and
the substitute may be amended.”
— The Montana legislature’s contribution to the English language.

AfterThought:
The law came to force today.. much to the misery of written and spoken language, and all her initiates!

[Listening to: genocide - JUDAS PRIEST - unleashed in the east (0:-1)]

© Shantanu Goel | Happy Republic Day (albeit belated)

Quote of the day: "Too bad drinking scotch isn't a paying job or Kenny's dad would be a millionare!" -- Cartman
24
Jan

Miracleman or just another conman??

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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Benny Hinn came to India. Some moved rhythmatically to his tunes and prayers, while many others moved to get him out of the country…
Hinn came, put up a hell of a show, punctuated by the usual “I got healed” testimonials and went out, his pockets heavier by another few millions. People thronged the Hinn show, with genuine faith, and out of curiosity what the furore was all about. Hinn, the miracle healer, supposedly healed many there and then. The healed ones, then being invited on the stage to recount their experience. But why wasn’t there any place for the ones that didn’t get healed. They were told that they “weren’t ready” yet.
Human mind is a wonderful thing.
It has the power to heal the body all on faith itself. Even a pouch of sugar taken on faith works wonders. Is Benny Hinn that pouch of sugar??
It also has the power to make u “believe” that u r healed even though u r not. Is Benny Hinn that “make believer”?? Sometimes, people testify that they got healed just by feeling “something”. Like feeling a “warmth” inside them. Infact, just a quick search on google will tell u about news reports of hundreds of such incidents where people have “felt” being healed but are not really healed. And there are incidents where the on-spot doctors have given false reports of the healings having taken place.
The famed healing of “Evander holyfield” that is paraded around by hinn every now and then was not a healing after all as it came out later. Holyfield himself says that there wasn’t even anything to heal about his heart, so there is no chance of a healing taking place.
And yes, one’s own personnel interspersed among the crowd isn’t out of the consideration too.
This is why I’m sceptical of such healers. Why do they claim something if only 100 people out of crowd of 10000 get healed. That makes it just a 1% success rate(even if we consider that all of them really got healed). What makes them (and the followers) assume that they did it.
Atleast, we thinking individuals shouldn’t give in to this kind of insane drama….

[Listening to: Aerosmith - 032 - Aerosmith - (0:-1)]

© Shantanu Goel | Miracleman or just another conman??

Quote of the day: Ralph: Me fail English? That's unpossible.
20
Jan

My birthday

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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Hey Guys, today is my birthday and guess what my orkut fortune says:
Today’s fortune:
You are next in line for promotion in your firm.

:)
© Shantanu Goel | My birthday

Quote of the day: "The individual desires judgment. Without that desire, the cohesion of groups is impossible, and so is civilization." - Morpheus
18
Jan

Kudos to the Indian judiciary

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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Finally, an act that proves that justice is still alive….
Rahul and Amit awarded life sentences. NEWS
Rahul and Amit, who? Rahul and Amit, the prime accused in the MAMC rape case. In the words of justice Chander Shekhar
“Murder destroys the physical frame of the victim. But a rapist degrades the soul of a helpless female, in consequence whereupon the victim suffers and dies everyday. The convicts have been held guilty of committing gangrape on an unmarried helpless girl who was a medical student. Such act of bestiality deserves stringent punishment. They do not deserve any mercy and have to be given exemplary punishment so that it acts as a deterrent to others also.”
The verdict might have taken two years to come but it came nevertheless and in quite appropriate proportions too. Some people might have said that those sickening criminals should have been hanged instead, but I say that this is a worse punishment for them. They’ll live out their entire life, burdened with guilt, enduring the rigours of the prison, and repenting over the henious act they committed. Yeah, a death sentence would have been like an easy acquittal.
I hope that this verdict results in lesser Rahuls and Amits…..
© Shantanu Goel | Kudos to the Indian judiciary

Quote of the day: "You will be who you will be. We are our choices. And we can choose to lead humanity away from this... darkness." - Icarus/Helios
14
Jan

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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I think all of us can relate to the predicament of asok (the one with the paper in his hand)

[Listening to: Jesus Of Suburbia - Green Day - American Idiot-RETAIL (9:08)]

© Shantanu Goel |

Quote of the day: "Bravery is not a function of firepower." - JC Denton
13
Jan

A new dimension to racism??(update)

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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Yesterday I read it in the newspaper and today I heard this clip on net http://www.edrants.com/_mp3/Power99_Call_to_India.mp3.
This is the infamous call made by a radio jockey in US to a call center in India. Read about it here.
This is a post that was made on our internal newsgroup:
———
Hello All

We all know that lots of calls are outsourced to India by majoy MNC in US. Here is a link to audio clip which is from theradio jockeys Star and Buc Wild’s show.

http://www.edrants.com/_mp3/Power99_Call_to_India.mp3

There is apparently a campaign against suchoutsourcing and some people are encouraging others to spend 20 min of time of the day to give such kind of callsto thecall centers inIndia and thwart such initiatives by MNC’s.

——–
I ask what is this?
Is the whites v/s non-whites rearing its head again?
Am too stumped at this stupid outburst of hate to comment anything more. Please take a look at the clip and just ponder over whats happening….

Update: One of my colleagues wrote a mail to the GM of WUSL-FM regarding the matter. Here is the transcript of the mail and the reply:

Hi Sir,
> I would like to say something in context of recent Controversy that
> is erupted on abusing Indian
> call center worker by your RJ
> Through I do know that outsource wave is let to resentment in
> US for the same. We all know,
> per dollar saved on outsource ultimately help developed world only to
> focus their resource on advance
> Technology. It is different matter , the cycle of change takes time. If
> today it is flip flop based computers
> Tomorrow it can be nano-technology based machines that will help making
> more MNCs from US .
> Making this outsource resentment as laughing matter
> /Abusing lady by your man
> is highly regrettable matter. I am sure taking feeling of large population
> feelings. You will do the needful to
> not to repeat such act again. Better Mr Troi Torain make public apology to
> the lady in question. That will be
> gentle-man act on his part.
>
> Regards
>
> Gagandeep

Reply:
Dear Gagandeep:
Thank you for your email, i wanted to response quickly as your email popped up
as I was checking my inbox this morning.
Please accept my apology for the use of the language you referenced in your
email.

All of us at WUSL-FM do not condone the use of offensive language in any form,
on or off-air. This situation has been discussed with the people in question,
the on-air hosts have apologized and been suspended, and I am confident nothing
of this nature will happen again, so I do feel the level of action taken is
warranted. I have also reprimanded the staff and reminded them that posting
such material on our station’s Web site is not acceptable and will not happen
again. I sincerely regret any discomfort this may have caused you or any
friends and family. WUSL-FM (POWER-99), for many years, has been synonymous
with being a helpful resource for our listeners and offering a great radio
station to listen to, and my goal is to continue to build on that. Again I
apologize to you personally for this and I understand your point of view.
Gagandeep, I do appreciate your taking the time to let me know your thoughts
and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Richard Lewis
RVP & Market Manager
Philadelphia, PA
© Shantanu Goel | A new dimension to racism??(update)

Quote of the day: "When due process fails us, we really do live in a world of terror." - JC Denton
13
Jan

Apple launches iPod Shuffle

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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iPod Shuffle smaller than a pack of gum
It may be smaller than a pack of gum, but this baby packs in a lot of punch.At less than 150$ (about 6500 IRS), it doubles as one of the most amazing MP3 payers in the world and also as a 1 GB USB drive. A great deal all in all.
Just take a look at some of the features:

  • weighs only .78 of an ounce
  • Run, jump or shimmy down to skip-free playback
  • Enjoy up to 12 hours of continuous playback
  • Play MP3, AAC and audiobooks

All u guys in love with technology and music, go get it.

PS: The apple site lists a warning/suggestion on its page which goes like this:

  • Music capacity is based on 4 minutes per song and 128Kbps AAC encoding
  • “Do not eat iPod shuffle

[Listening to: Shook me All Night Long - ACDC - Back in Black (3:30)]

© Shantanu Goel | Apple launches iPod Shuffle

Quote of the day: Grandpa: My Homer is not a communist. He may be a liar, a pig, an idiot, a communist, but he is not a porn star.
12
Jan

Mogambo ab khush nahin hoga….

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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Amrish Puri

Its a shock to hear that our dear old next door villain is no more.
The guy who single handedly revolutionalized the role of vilains in the Indian Cinema has left for the heavenly abode…
The best thing I liked about him was the intensity with which he performed, no matter what the scene demanded, monstrosity of the devil or the love of a father.
His eyes had such power that one look from was all that was needed to keep u riveted to the seats in anticipation of another great performance.
How can I forget the shivers that went down my spine as i saw him, as a little child, laugh in “Mr. India”.
How can I forget the roles he played in DDLJ, Hero…
Indian Cinema has lost a true actor, a true star…..
I salute u “Mr. Mogambo” and I wish that your soul rests in ultimate peace and happiness.
© Shantanu Goel | Mogambo ab khush nahin hoga….

Quote of the day: All we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us-Penelope
12
Jan

The beginning of a new era…

   Posted by: Shantanu Goel   in Uncategorized

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or is it the return of the Emperor???
Well, actually this is about the change of the catering service at my company’s cafeteria. For too much time now, we all have been cribbing and cribbing about the quality of the food that the caterer dishes out to us. But to no avail, that is, until now.
Initially, the atmosphere was almost ecstatic when we heard that the caterer’s being changed but there hung a pause of uncertainty as soon as the name of the new one was declared. This new one is the guy that was removed a couple of years earlier due to “poor quality” of food.
Am keeping my fingers crossed that the new caterer doesn’t cross my stomach out…..
Pray for me, guys.
And yeah, may be put in a few words for my colleagues too…:-)

[Listening to: I Love Rock n Roll by Joan Jett - - I Love Rock n Roll by Joan Jett - (2:54)]

© Shantanu Goel | The beginning of a new era…

Quote of the day: Grandpa: My Homer is not a communist. He may be a liar, a pig, an idiot, a communist, but he is not a porn star.