Thursday, August 29, 2013

“Every moment is the paradox of now or never.” ;)



VMWorld is an annual conference for IT professionals, focusing on virtual server environments, put on by VMWare . It is the largest virtualization-specific event. It is held in San Francisco, California, and in Europe.

I had attended some of the expo-events of other high-tech companies in the past and yes I wouldn't say that I didn't enjoy. But attending VMware's event that too being an employee of the company it was not only a sheer pride but also an excitement of the  announcement of the products that they launched and the celebration of all was the cherry on the cake.

I have never thought I would get an opportunity to attend even a single day but thanks to good friends that you never know where they come from and make you feel so special.



I had the opportunity to visit the VMWorld's 10th Annual 2013 Defy Convention event on the day where the discussion was on Solution Exchange, Training and Education and the VMware Time Machine - I missed the game but it was fun to know that people had to express if they want to go backward or go forward in time perspective and why? 

It was amazing to see VMware and it's partners how they clubbed together and put up a brilliant show. My enthusiasm had no limit as I was witnessing other companies where some them I have worked for and some of them I am working with as they being our partners and vendors. Having a connection with them in one or the other way really puts you on the Cloud Sphere Horizons :)



I was thrilled and overwhelmed with the presentation and overall event management. As the day was getting over everyone was getting ready for the Party at AT&T Park. 
There were huge buses and many buses were arranged as shuttle for people to go from Mascone Center to AT&T Park for the party. 
To manage something of this level definitely a lot of money the company has spent and its for the people to come and learn and enjoy - what a goodwill thought. It gives me goosebumps as I write this line and that's how I feel about the company - Very Proud.

The exciting part was that I attended the concert of the two awesome bands - Dragon - a rock band from Sydney - where Todd Hunter (bass guitar, vocals), Pete Drummond (drums, vocals, keyboards), Mark William (vocals, guitar) were awesome to warm up the crowd. People were playing games on the field and winning toys and the band really kept up to the par to make people those moves as well.



The second one was Train - an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California. The band currently consists of a core trio of Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford, and Scott Underwood. It need not to say as they started the crowd went loco all the way and I couldn't resist when they started with 'Hey, Soul Sister' - I think one of my best event that I have attended in a long time.

As the night was turning into a beautiful queen, the pride of being part of this history was sinking in and was thanking for all the pieces of the puzzle that made this picture come into reality.

For a long time, I will remember this world of VM - which not only brings the company's product to launch but it brings people together.

I don't even know some of the people around who encouraged and wished good luck for the games and clapped when I won and some of them shared their own toys and batches and at the end I had a final ride on the field where I could yell out and bring out my sheer joy and excitement of the entire day.

Some moments in life are just to be THANKFUL!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?


Love towards story telling is something we all have enjoyed as we stepped into this world, I believe.
This hobby of interest in stories is what makes me watch all kinds of movies. Recently, happen to watch many English, Hindi and Malayalam movies out of which one of them touched me deeply and may be more because of the recent brutal murder of Late Dr. Narendra Dabholkar.

The Malayalam movie – “Prabhuvinte Makkal” – it’s a very thought provoking movie I would say. The story is written and well directed by Sajeevan Anthikad.

When I saw this movie, it reminded me of why I am scared of people who keep imposing religion or keep talking about religion and even wearing the saffron colored clothes… it gives me a sheer cold feet with always a doubtful feel as what is his /her intention?


This movie very well shows how a young college going guy – Vinay Forrt gets curious about the world and he being a devotee leaves all the luxury of life and goes to Himalayas to find the truth. Vinay Forrt has done a very good job in this movie and Jijoy who has acted as Vinay’s elder brother - an atheist who advise his younger brother not to get carried away with these spiritual Gurus and yet Vinay, who wants to experience it, takes that path to find the truth and the truth is that he leaves his home to find the truth in spirituality but he returns as an atheist :-) . Prakash Bare as the god-man who is also the villain in the movie.


I was always a curious child when I was growing up and I questioned every other myth that I was told to follow. I always liked to challenge those even though I used to get this advise that bad omen will come upon you.

Somewhere inside me that told me its all what we believe in or else there has to be a logical or scientific reason.

Everyone should watch this movie and to be precise one shouldn’t force upon anyone to follow any religion until and unless a person decides to base on his/her findings and beliefs.

This movie unveils step by step of all the magical things that a yogi or spiritual guru does and frankly speaking I was feeling very happy and content because it felt as if all this time I was asking and challenging for things which they showed in the movie that its all a game – a trick that anyone who practices can also do it.

After this movie I was thinking if there was any threatening issues for this movie, writer, producer or director or even the actors for supporting these thoughts and beliefs? Dr. Dabholkar was raising these points and was trying to bring awareness and look what people did to him? Sad, but then when you see what the killers have done to Dr Dabholkar, how can you say there is God? If there was then this God should have come and protect the lives of such people who are trying to enlighten the society with non-violence movements… something to think about and fear with ourselves and not ‘The God’.

The movie has English sub-titles and if possible everyone should watch this ;-). Loved the song written by Changampuzha and sung by G Venugopal.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”

Thursday, August 15, 2013

I'd rather die my way than live yours....

Independence Day ... yes my memories that can go as far as I remember is we had to be in our best uniform, be early to school and perform well in the programs that we have participated such as drill, lazhim dance, group songs singing all patriotic songs, recite great people's speech and then listen patiently to the long speech given by the chief guest. We used to patiently wait for the sweets distribution.
During that time in class whatever we studied about pre-independence struggle made by our leaders and the struggle that they had in their life. The sacrifices that they made by not limiting their thinking for their family but for the nation.
All these stories used to make me think why would they do such a big sacrifice and then I used to fall asleep with those thoughts.
I am sure for me it was a story recited and to some extent I could feel and figure out the pain and the sacrifices that they made at young age.
Frankly speaking what is independence? Only those who have gone through the trouble and trauma by losing their independence has the value but then they are not their to even feel this independence.
To us this independence comes as a heritage, so do we really know it's value and meaning?

 I think our great leaders did their part but now we are dependent on other things which still gives us the responsibility to fight for our independence. Independence for living like a common man. Independence of living like a rich man, independence of living righteously because currently the system is such that one cannot get his work done without bribing and those who have money they bribe and get away with it but the common man - the poor man is still struggling. He is chained with all such systems which doesn't allow him to live a free life in his own country.
Being in the country, independence day is always about celebrations, programs, sweets and the best it was a holiday nationwide. I used to get my parents to be home.

But when I am out of my country, living freely with the freedom of speech and rights I can feel the context of freedom, when I can get my work done exactly the way another fellow can get it done. I don't have to bribe anyone and I don't have to suffer for any such reasons which differentiates and discriminates. When I hear the story of my friends here who have come from all across the world, how they suffered and what trauma they have gone through due to political or other reasons, one really think back as what was wrong their...yes who doesn't have good habits and bad ones... we have to just not nurture the bad ones and be strong and stand out to bring harmony, peace and equality. It is tough but nothing is impossible in today's time. When in 1947 people were tortured in the prison, they were with no food and were beaten all the time as a punishment - they could bear all that to get the freedom then why can't we stand together to fight the discriminating factors?


A true freedom is not only about freedom of speech and thoughts, but freedom should mean in action too. Racial discrimination or caste or gender discrimination or even the status of an individual in a society shouldn't be the reason to decide one's freedom.

Equality for every living being on this planet that should be motive.


“Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”  ~ Rumi

Monday, August 12, 2013

Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it... ;-)







When I heard about Chennai Express movie, I was kind of skeptical and made up my mind that I am not going to watch this movie. My reasons were that someone who is so from North and the movie mostly will be shot in Chennai and I could relate the settings, locations and the extras in the movie and my summary of the movie was a disaster and hence not to waste my time.
Accidentally meeting with friends and quick plan to watch this movie was on plate and nothing could tell me to say - "No".
The best part was that irrespective of my presumption about the movie, I was quiet open to face whatever is being shown and to tell you the truth it was hilarious.
I mean I don't remember the last time that I was in a theater and laughed out so loud that my neighbors could also join in me with it.





Good things about the movie, SRK who didn't show anywhere as King Khan in the movie... he easily let go himself in the hands of Chennai folks and that really made it more hilarious and made the comedy to be true.
The communication of SRK and DP via songs was something very thoughtful I felt to be included in it. I also loved the part how they connected Chennai and Sri Lanka - hilarious.
Some of the assumptions of north folks about south and the words that they form to convey that (seatam for seat), they do know a bits and pieces of south language was quite well portrayed here.
Myself, being grown outside of south and being from south it actually sets up the stage to understand the joke from both ends.
Another key thing I liked about it was SRK's movie and some of the dialogs or even songs were well used at right situation in the movie. That really gave more credit as SRK's movie than a Rohit Shetty's.





I really didn't care about the "Lungi dance" song as it seems the over marketing strategy of it took it out of my mind. But I did like the song "1234 get on the dance floor" and "Kashmir main tu Kanyakumari" was another song that I liked it. I was not so much into 'Titli'  song but one thing I felt like mentioning about SRK is he coped up well with the south dancers with those fast moves. I was really appreciating it based on his health conditions on shoulder etc.
The good part was that SRK was playing his age than a chocolate hero. DP was so so nothing great that I felt about her. Anyone could have done this role kind of feel she left.
Overall, worth watching one time and have a good laugh from your heart.
I enjoyed the Chennai Express ride and I would say it's not bad to go and watch for one time at least ;)

"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone" ;-)

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Parrot and The Man ...

He was lonely and so he used to go for a walk
Everyday he used to go to the market
Saw a parrot very beautiful and attractive
One day he decided to bring home this parrot
He named 'Beautiful' and he kept reciting his love
He used to play when he wanted and kept away as he felt
Things were going good for him, until
The parrot 'Beautiful' learned few things from him
The day Beautiful started demanding the time
He became angry as 'how dare you'?
The parrot looked and waited for his company
He neglected and went to find his space
The parrot who was happy in the market lost all here
Today the parrot is still their with him
But only sitting quiet and lonely.
The parrot learned the lesson for life
Never give company to a man
They are selfish born.
~ Dawn

Friday, August 02, 2013

You only get better by playing... ;)

Power to woman, has always inspired me and thrilled me somehow. Not to be prejudice or so but growing up in a society where you keep seeing men dominating most of the part of the fields...some of these women such as Jhansi Ki Rani - Laxmibai, Phulan Devi, Kiran Bedi all these women are an inspiration for me in one or the other way.
The sheer courage to face their issues and deal with it has always taught me to be up there. You wont get any help, unless you take that first step to help yourself or to anyone else.
But at the same time power and freedom are such sweeteners that anything extra or less will have its own effects and consequences.

 But the power and freedom Cindy Blackman Santana has can never ever do any damage but only bring it more spiritual and energetic.
The first time when I saw last year playing drums with Jack Brice, John Medeski and Vernon Reid - it just thrilled me.

I have seen men dominating in this field and when a woman showed up - boy that was it for me - unable to describe the happiness in words, yet the freedom with which she shows her power on those drums is incredible and sexy.

Allison Miller was another one who was terrific and brilliant from Boston. I had thought there will be a competitive drumming between Cindy and Allison  - but I guess it would have been a war on stage with two such strong women on the drums - very humble and down to earth nature yet, is what brings the true artist in them.





Yesterday night was one of those moments where I could feel the energy and the freedom - Music is one field where power with freedom will never hurt anyone. It can only create magic moments.

Thanks Cindy and Allison for being an inspiration!

~ Dawn

We are all different. Don’t judge, understand instead!!!

This year, right from its inception, has unfolded with a profound sense of intrigue. My surroundings are bustling with noteworthy events – t...