Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Path of the Seeker

Through the mists of time, towers his shadow,
As the stench of the myths settle, he looms through the haze.
As he passes by, our broken spirits bow deep,
Those among us looking for a way out of this maze.
The defeated rise out from the depths of hell,
To wash their sins away, and say a silent prayer.
The fallen dust their sleeves, to relive their past,
His eyes pierce through the gloom, they're the eyes of a Seeker.

The flame he lights, chases the dark from us,
The path he follows is barren, but we follow him still.
His passion is dark, and yet we cling to it with broken fingers,
The secrets of his past, will lead him beyond the hills.
Silent as the night the army marches on, in his wake,
As his cloak rustles on, among the graves of our brethen.
His vision is blurred, yet his step is firm,
His mind unwavering, he strides along the path of the Seeker.

We know not what he sees, or what he is looking for,
But we know he will lead us, and we are prepared to follow.
To the ends of the earth, if that is what it will take,
To redeem our pride, and rebuild our egoes.
The horizon spreads endless, as the sun glows through,
Our sights are lifted, by the sight of our redemption.
As our souls revive themselves, he waits for us,
For the journey, is not yet over for the Seeker.

With verve on our lips, and strength in our hearts,
We climb the final barrier, and face the endless plains.
The sun bright behind us, the dust settling down,
Our sins have been cleansed, our hands are now steady.
Vigour back in our steps, we wait for his command,
And his cold smile, which has so inspired us.
For he has found his answers, beyond that silent hill,
The deeds left to be done, are waiting for the Seeker.

-Varun

The Dusk of the Ambitious

I remember
There was a time when he played the hardest.
I remember
Him working on through the night, as everybody slept.
I remember
His ever-alert eyes, looking for the next chance to prove himself.
I remember
His never-say-die attitude, even after he stumbled.

Day after night, he dreamt of glory,
The greatest victory, the perfect win.
Covering all corners, always hungry for more,
Give him an inch, and he would take the whole mile.
Never gave a damn about criticism,
Made it a point to come back stronger.
Every bout he fought, every round he lost,
Steeled his grit further, hardened his desire.

I remember
The fire that drove him on, even if if it burnt him.
I remember
His desire to win every battle, even if he took more blows.
I remember
The glint in his eyes, and the clarity in his vision.
I remember
His amazing determination, and yet his unparalleled modesty.

A long time has passed, since then,
And yet his passion drives him still, forever more.
His muscles worn out, his hands unsteady,
Yet the same razor focus, and the very same grit.
The aims he had set, he kept raising,
We didn't know his final destination.
Probably, neither did he, but it didn't matter anymore,
When the curtains fall, I'm sure, he'll be smiling.

-Varun

Dronos versus the DUNCE

(The following is a work of fiction, or rather, exaggerated truth, based on a few loose truthful events that took place ;P).

Here's a funny dream about a B-Plan Presentation I had last night....hope you enjoy it!

The scene is:
The presentation team Dronos has just finished filming an ad to repair it's lost reputation.
Dronos is essentially a series of high class, luxury segment watches. The special features include: auto-synchronization according to time zones, high rate of durability, and an accuracy to boast of.

The judge is, let's call her....Mrs. Partiallity Encountering Some Teams, a.k.a PEST.

During the questions round, the audience, which essentially comprises of the team's rivals and competitors (though not necessarily in the same field and segment), there was a multitude of questions asked by the PEST's favourite brand owner.

Let's call him.....Mr. Do U Know Cheating Endures, a.k.a DUNCE.

The DUNCE had already finished his round, where he and his team had showcased a done-to-the-boots idea about a series of gift delivery outlets and a convenient website called E-Blings.

Let's not get into trashing THAT idea now.... reserve it for a later date.

Coming back to the questions round.

Dronos Team members include...for convenience sake...Mr.1, Mr.2, Ms.3, Ms.4 and Mr.5.

The team leader was not apparent...so let's skip that part...but I believe it was either Mr. 2 or Ms. 4

PEST: Let the questions flow!

DUNCE: (immediately rising up, no apparent consultation to his own team mates) What research have you done about your product?

Mr.2: (He’s a brilliant sonofabitch, knows how to handle himself in terse situations like this one) You have to elaborate that.

Ms.4: ( Don't really know her so well, but am hoping to... :P ) The product we have shown is perfect for the ever-traveling businessman of today...Considering the amount of traveling involved, we believe this product is the perfect solution to the time changing patterns.

DUNCE: No, no, I mean - What is your consumer base?

Ms.3: (Very cool under pressure, had earlier changed a potentially drastic situation of bad audio quality to the team's advantage by a clever interplay of words) the consumer base we are aiming for is essentially the higher class businessman.
This mostly includes people who occupy the top positions in the corporate sector, and who have to travel to many countries to settle their deals and acquire more profits for the company.

DUNCE: You haven’t given me any facts or figures. How can you judge the success of the product then?

Mr.2: Well, you want facts and figures... Do you know the O'Hara Airport? (The DUNCE shakes his head)...In Chicago?... (Further shaking)...In the USA??...(Agitated shaking, apparently unaware of the sniggers around)...Well, I suggest YOU do YOUR research on that. Anyway, the facts suggest that there are 40 million unique visitors to this airport every year. Considering that there are hundreds of airports in the world today - you can do the math...Or can you??

Ms.3: And we are looking at a potential 20-25% profit on each product, accounting for the various factors such as R&D and advertising.

DUNCE: Are you sure of your number? What's your source?

(Here the Event Manager, GIBSON, rises...) GIBSON: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, but I believe time's up for this event.

PEST: (smiling) Yes, DUNCE, thank you very much.

DUNCE: (not budging) Ma'am, at least let them answer the question!!

PEST: ( already packing her bag, has no actual idea about the competition, is already thinking about which potion to brew next, and which socks to sew ) Oh, all right, answer the question.

(The Dronos team looks at each other, in amusement) Mr.2: Of course, the Airport Logs have the figure. Well, this was the figure in 2006....

DUNCE: (jumping) AHA!! I knew it!! NO credibility whatsoever...Do not make up fictional entities such as AIRPORT LOGS!! (Scratches his head)

( Laughter everywhere...Even as his own team mates try to budge away from him trying to distance themselves from the DUNCE, he, apparently gets more agitated)

DUNCE: Well, what if the same customer decides to go twice or thrice to the same airport? What about then, huh???

Mr.2: (Shoulders sag down to show the hopelessness of the situation, cannot believe that this idiot is actually asking more questions) Excuse me... I did say 4 million UNIQUE customers.

DUNCE: (finger in his mouth) Oh.

(Again, the EM, GIBSON stands up...he's had about enough...) GIBSON: Thank you, DUNCE. Now--

DUNCE: (paying no heed to GIBSON) What is the cost of your product?

(The Dronos team, just about to leave, looks at him in bewilderment) Ms.4: Cost?

DUNCE: Yes, cost. I am a consumer to you, and I want to know the cost of your product.

Ms.4: (looks at him as if she would press charges on him if he ever decided to become a consumer of their product) Well, obviously, no one can estimate the price of the product. This is not a marketing round; it's only an advertising one.

DUNCE: (scenting blood) Aha!! So you cannot even tell the cost of your product to me!! How can I be a concerned customer then?

PEST: (amused) Come, now, DUNCE... don't be so prickly.

DUNCE: Ma'am, but if I were them, then I would have done market research on my product! That too, with my lights shut!!

PEST: What YOU do with your lights shut is no one's concern, DUNCE.....

DUNCE: (amid loud sniggers, even from his own disgruntled team mates) No no!! Suppose I want to buy a packet of peanuts.
It would cost me 10 Rs. Now if you didn’t tell me the price of the product before hand, how would I buy it?

(Here the Dronos team looks at each other. Of course, even though the question is related to marketing strategy and not advertising, they can choose to ignore it. But after all, it IS a legitimate question.)

DUNCE: ( obviously has no idea of what he's talking, oblivious to the fact that he's just asked his first decent question, continues to blabber ) Suppose I had 100Rs. in my pocket. Now the product, if it costs me 50 Rs. only, how would I know?

GIBSON: Eh??

DUNCE: I would pay you the entire 100 Rs. and have no idea about the actual cost.

Ms. 3: ( as though she would love it if she over-priced the fool) Well, we cannot tell you the actual cost... but considering the consumer base we have, and what with the profit we are talking about, I'm sure it'll be decent sized.

(The DUNCE is apparently not amused.)

Ms. 4: You say you are a concerned customer. What is the actual cost of the watches in the luxury segment nowadays?

DUNCE: Uh.....

Mr.2: What about YOUR product...... if I asked you to tell me the price of each and every gift in your outlet, would you be able to do that?

Mr.5: Yes, with the transportation charges, too, obviously.

Mr.1: Do you even know the price of courier services and speed mail today? How will your prices be any different?

Mr.2: Of course it'll be different. In fact - they'll charge more to add the cost of setting up the website!!

(The DUNCE is at a loss for words. His team has already left...leaving him to his state. )

DUNCE: But...but....

GIBSON: (relieved) Thank you, Ma'am, and all contestants for your participation. Deputy EM's - If that man (points at DUNCE) says another word), drag him out of the Lecture theater please... Another event's about to begin.

Here I left the lecture Theater, obviously amused at the level of intellect that a national level tech-fest could latch up!!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

About the three metallica songs that I've posted


Are you Unforgiven too?

The three Unforgiven songs that Metallica has given to the world...are simply mind-blowing. What makes these songs so unbelievably magnificent is the depth involved, the flawless lyrics, and the guitaring that strums my heart. Call me old fashioned, but clearly three of the best songs I've ever hfallen in love with.

The Unforgiven III - Metallica



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?
Searched the seas of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost
In remembrance I relive
How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?

These days drift on inside a fog
It's thick and suffocating
This seeking life outside its hell
Inside intoxicating
He's run aground
Like his life
Water's much too shallow
Slipping fast
Down with the ship
Fading in the shadows now
A castaway

They've
All gone
Away

They've gone away

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?

Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me, why can't I forgive me?

Set sail to sea but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
How could he know this new dawn's light
Would change his life forever

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
So how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?

The Unforgiven II - Metallica


Lay beside me, tell me what they've done
Speak the words I want to hear, to make my demons run
The door is locked now but it's open if you're true
If you can understand the me, then I can understand the you

Lay beside me, under wicked sky
black of day, dark of night, we share this pair of lives
The door cracks open but there's no sun shining through
Black heart scarring darker still, but there's no sun shining through

No, there's no sun shining through
No, there's no sun shining

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
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Come lay beside me, this won't hurt, I swear
She loves me not, she loves me still, but she'll never love again
She lay besides me but she'll be there when I'm gone
Black heart scarring darker still, yes, she'll be there when I'm gone
Yes, she'll be there when I'm gone
Dead sure she'll be there!

What I've felt, what I've known
Turn the pages, turn to stone
Behind the door, should I open it for you?

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

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 waits
The one who waits for you

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 oohh
What I've known
I take this key
And I bury it in you
Because you're unforgiven, too

(Never free)
(Never me)
'Cause you're unforgiven, too

The Unforgiven - Metallica


New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules

With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away-eay

Chorus:

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

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

whoa, whoa

Never Free
Never Me
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN
You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN
Never Free
Never Me
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN
You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN
Never Free
Never Me
So I dub thee UNFORGIVEN