2010: The Pisser-Offers

I’m not one to mince words; but you already know that. And while my blog has only been up a short while, it has managed to garner much hatred which makes me über super happy. The comments calling me crude names help me sleep at night and at the same time bring you back. You know you love it. So for my final post for the year, I decided to write a list of people who have totally pissed the crap outta me in the last year. These are stars, politicians and popular personalities who have managed to really irk me to the extent that I had to write about it. Check it out.

Sonam Kapoor: She needs a book on etiquette and a finishing school course. This mannerless girl just prances around using her father’s last name with no talent. What exactly she is riding high on is beyond me. And her crassy wise-ass comments on Twitter just go to prove she is all talk. Get a life.

Shobhaa De: What is up with all the drama? Goodness! Spare us and everyone else with your nonstop banter please. We get it: you don’t like the Khans and their likes.

Barkha Dutt: Where do I begin with her? This so-called renowned Indian journalist has managed to make us all look bad and how. I hope you get taught a hard lesson next year.

Rahul Gandhi: Why would you go breaking my heart like that Rahul? Your recent comment about Hindu fanatics and terrorism was totally out of line. Sigh. Even the best can piss you off. Sad.

Karan Johar: Dude, Koffee with Karan is getting far too L.A.M.E. What’s up with all the Botox questions? If you’re interested in trying it out, ask a doctor instead of stupidly asking your guests.

Katrina Kaif: How on earth she is everywhere and doing so well is beyond me. Just goes to show you talent is a meaningless word in Hindi cinema. You can be a statue and still be successful. And why does she have this nonstop scowl on her face. Smile much?

Okay before I am officially barred from blogging forever, I think I’ll stop. You can be sure I’ll be back with more next year and it will be more vile, more brutal and more honest.

Here We Are Again...

An entire year has passed literally like the blink of an eye. I remember starting out the year distressed and oppressed; unhappy and upset. And here I am 12 months later and I've never been happier. It's so interesting to see how time can heal wounds, fill voids and change your perception of life. 2010 was the year I grew up; "passed the age of innocence" as I've been told. I wish I could sit here and go on about how magical it was, but it was hardly that. However, it's been a year of self-discovery. I found myself and more importantly, I fell in love in 2010 - with myself! I've always heard people say, "Until and unless you love yourself, you'll never be able to love anyone else." It is only now I realize how true that statement is. And while I learnt to love myself for the good and bad, I learned to respect myself; to speak up, say no and most importantly insist on not taking any cr@p...from anyone.

As the year began, I was coming out of a tough situation. I fought long and hard with demons that wanted to bring me down. However, like many things in life, this too came to an end and I walked into a life of nonstop work. But that is what kept me going: my love for writing. I wrote and wrote. Blogs, articles, interviews, you name it, I did it. Fully absorbed in my admiration for the pen was when I realized how important I was to myself. So while I walk out of the year without a boyfriend, fiance or husband, I will never be the same girl I was on December 31st 2009. It almost feels like I was reborn in 2010 and I love it!

2010 was a year that I couldn't have gotten through without my friends. At every step of the way, my friends walked, ran and hopped with me. With their sound advice and guidance, I managed to get through a number of sticky situations. In fact, it was this year that I also went on to realize friends can know you for years and yet will bring you down...and how! I was verbally attacked on various occasions this year and while I was furious at the childish name calling, I was surprised at the support that came my way whether it was my family or friends, they all stood by me. So to those who called me a number of names I say a big-fat :P (that's a sticking-tongue-out emoticon). And in fact, bring it! I'm not afraid and nor will I retract what I write because that would mean I was wrong. I think about every article I write very carefully. So now, I will not fall at your feet. Deal with it. Don't expect me to write things you want to hear or like; it ain't happening.

Love was DOA (Dead On Arrival); i.e. non-existant in 2010 but bad health was everywhere. I managed to really get ill this year and the month of October tested my body to the maximum. After injuring my eye majorly (I still suffer on occasion - such are the repercussions) I managed to get a flu that turned into a sinus infection. It was then I realized what real pain and suffering was especially when I had a throbbing headache. But here I am, alive and kicking which goes to prove, nothing can bring you down unless you really let them.

Accomplishments were many but I'm still hungry for more and Lord knows if he blesses me, I will achieve all I want in 2011. This year I chose not to blog on 26/11 simply because I don't know what I could have said that I haven't said in the past. I came close to such an encounter on 26/11/2010. During my Thanksgiving break in Portland, Oregon, my family friends and I went to watch the lighting of the Christmas Tree in downtown Portland. And amidst the crowds and hoards of cars was a car bomb that thankfully didn't go off but the terrorist intended for it to kill as many people as possible. His car was parked at the corner where we were watching the lighting. He was caught and charged. So it's not just India, it the entire world that needs to get together to work on peace and social reform.

As for 2011, well I have my plans but as they say, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." That's a scary thought so I've decided to go with the flow. I'd like for the things to happen just the way I planned it but knowing my luck and life, God has other plans for me.

Happy Diwali!

63 Years; 63 Achievements

63. A natural number. Number of years that lasted the walking of Ram. The number of independent years India has accomplished. Of course, it is the last that is most pertaining to this post. Today, August 15th 2010, marks 63 years of Independence for India. That's a whole lot of independent years. However, it also means that we must quantify 64 accomplishments for every year of independence. If we can allocate an achievement for every year since 1947, only then will it be possible to claim that we have fully utilized our independence from the British.

1. Largest democracy in the world
2. World class education. IIM Ahmedabad is the toughest Management school to get into; ahead of Harvard
3. Best Dabbawalas in the world with an efficiency rating of 99.9999 percent
4. Largest milk production in the world
5. Largest railway system in the world
6. India recycles 60 percent of its plastic waste. The figures for Japan and China are 12 and 10 respectively
7. Largest postal system in the world
8. World's second largest labor force
9. Largest film industry in the world
10. Literacy rate is at a constant increase
11.With reformed health care, life expectancy has increased from 32 to 65 years
12. Built 1.25 million miles of new roads
13. Steel production has been multiplied by 50
14. Cement production has been increased by 20 times
15. India has a GDP of $ 2,375 billion, making it the fourth largest economy in the world
16. 2nd largest bicycle producer in the world
17. Untouchability is now (and finally) a criminal offense
18. Improved investment climate
19. High economic growth
20. A young population - 70% of the population is below 34
21. Indian foreign exchange reserve crossed $ 1 billion
22. Indian companies netted over Rs. 70000 cr. in exports when global economy was seething in 2002-03.
23. There are 16 companies whose exports net over Rs. 1000 cr.
24. 15 companies exports goods worth Rs. 500 cr.
25. 150 companies which earn over Rs.100 cr. in foreign exchange.
26. The FORBES list has included 18 Indian companies under its list
27. The country rose form 12th to 10th in dollar term between 2002-04
28. The economy of India has grown by more than 7% in the past two years
29. The per capita availability of grain and cloth is greater
30. Foreigners are coming to India for cheaper medical treatment
31. The gap in male female literacy rate has decreased from 24.84% in 1991 to 21.60 in 2001
32. Times Higher Education Supplement ranked the IIT's as 3rd in all Technological Universities of the world
33. Won Cricket World Cup in 1983
34. Won three wars against Pakistan
35. Abhinav Bindra won Gold Olympic Medal in 10m rifle shooting
36. Indian Hockey Team is ranked 9th in the world
37. Indian played Sania Nehwal is currently ranked 2nd
38. GM Vishwanathan Anand is the current World Chess Champion
39. Prakash Padukone triumphs at All England Badminton Championship in 1980
40. Rajyavardhan Rathore winning Olympic silver for Double Trap in 2004
41. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were the most dominant tennis pairs in the world
42. Narain Karthikeyan races in Formula 1 and puts India on the F1 map
43. Sania Mirza is also the first Indian woman to win immense accolades in international tennis
44. India's first Test series win overseas in 1971
45. India win Twenty20 in 2007
46. Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to reach space in 1984
47. CV Raman: Awarded with Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on scattering of light
48. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar: Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983
49. India sends first Indian moon probe, Chandrayaan-1 to moon
50. Possessor of India possesses nuclear weapons
51. First Miss Universe: Sushmita Sen in 1994
52. Kottayam, Kerala becomes first city to 100% literacy rate
53. Ahmedabad becomes first city to have an e-court
54. Elects first female President: Pratibha Patil
55. More than 62 universities engage in biotechnology training and education
56. India has indulged in strong roots of secularism
57. Immense progress in technology
58. Self sufficient in food
59. Strengthening of regional co-operation in foreign policy
60. Poverty is at a constant reduction
61. The availability of food grains per capita rose from 395 grams per day in 1950 to 466 grams in 1992
62. Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined
63. A.R. Rahman becomes first Indian to receive two Oscar awards on an international platform

And this is 64 of numerous thousands of achievements that the country has achieved. However, this in no ways means that there is no room for improvement. In order to be really be fully considered a developed nation. I, personally, am completely blinded by the negativities and cons that India houses; to me the country has been through years of strife and always manages to bounce back. 64 years and rocking! I love you India! Jai Hind!

How To Live in 2010!

On the occasion of Chinese New Year, welcome to the Year of the Tiger, I decided to make a list of tips for the new year to help make the rest of the year superly-duperly fantabulous! Hopefully they will inspire me and you. So in no particular order, the top 25 ways to stay Tigeriffic for the rest of 2010.

1. Find a new favorite song every week.

2. When in doubt - dress up!

3. Go on a picnic - pack your favorite sandwiches and eat them under a tree.

4. Buy flowers for yourself.

5. Do things that scare you ever once in a while for the endorphin kick and a sense of pride afterwards.

6. Sit on the phone with your best girl/guy friends until the wee hours gossiping or chatting about random things.

7. Send a postcard to an old friend.

8. Be kind, caring, loving and friendly.

9. Fly a kite - literally.

10. Wear glitterly eyeshadow on a rainy day.

11. Buy yourself a trendy pair of sunglasses and parade around town.

12. Learn how to bake the best cake in the world to utter perfection.

13. Buy a dress you would never wear.

14. Walk in the rain.

15. Buy a pair of green red or purple stilettos.

16. Fall in love!

17. Make a list of goals to accomplish this year. Even if you don't manage to accomplish all, at least you would have created some sense of direction in your head.

18. Let your hair down and dance around your living room when no one is around.

19. Travel to a new city.

20. Cry out loud. It can be very therapeutic.

21. Eat ice cream for lunch.

22. Take a vacation. Shut off all ways to communicate with the outside world and enjoy time away from technology.

23. Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

24. Do what your heart tells you to without feeling guilty.

25. And lastly, live it up! Life's too short!

I could go on but.. that's enough for now! Happy Year of the Tiger!!

Add 1 to 2009 = 2010

2009 was a washout. Okay, it was a mixed year. Boring on a social level but extremely beneficial on a work level. I reached ultimate highs and managed to touch the lowest of all lows. But should I have expected that? Check out my great numerological math. Supposedly factor of three (3,6,9,12 and so on) are lucky for me. 2009: 2+0+0+9 = 11; 1+1=2 and I turned 26; 2+6= 8. Basically factors of 2. Numerologically, 2009 was not meant to be much of a year and towards the end of the year, it really did manage to challenge me and slap me across the face pretty damn hard. Anyway, the year is over and all in the past. A new year always means new beginnings and I have a gut feeling 2010 is going to be my year. And numerologically, it works too. 2010: 2+0+1+0= 3 (YAY! factor of 3) and this year I turn 27: 2+7= 9 -- yet another factor of 3! Alright this is all superstitious banter but I do hope it does happen.

I bought it 2010 rather quietly but that didnt really bother me. I'm used to quiet New Years Eves. Its become a part of my life now. I just hope I have a quiet productive 2010 with no unnecessary hungama. And that is all I really ask for along with successes in my personal and professional life. I dont think that is TOO much to ask for...is it now?

This year:
Chase a dream, Walk along a stream,
Laugh out loud, Whistle a tune,
Whisper a promise, Cherish a memory,
Lend a helping hand,
Wipe a tear, Never fear.
And live it up! Happy 2010!