Saturday, October 17, 2015

Why this is not a great time to be alive

Photo Credit
A few months ago, I wrote about why these are the best times to live in. But as I delved deeper into this, I realised that everything has a good and a bad side. And nothing can escape this rule of nature. Here is why I feel the times aren't that good either:

Information download is at an all time high

There are several choices to everything. Social media numbers are themselves staggering. Be it social media options, review sites, online shopping sites and apps, travel portals, scheduling apps and then reviews of everything that has already been reviewed. We are so inundated with so much information that it's just too much! It is harder than ever to convert information into knowledge or gain insights from all the fast paced information thrown at us. 

Everyone is an entrepreneur

While the times are conducive to being anything you want to, I feel that the start up space is getting too crowded. Every second person is an entrepreneur. The very freedom for anyone to start what you like is going against credibility and originality. I realised this when I was hunting for someone to manage my social media. Too many names, too many people offering the same services - no way to figure out the real experts. I had to go for the only way possible - spend money and see if it is worth it. It wasn't! 

'Unique' is a rare commodity

Do you blog? So do a million others. Are you an entrepreneur? So is your 20 yr old neighbour who works out of his garage. Are you an independent rock band? Another one will form in 2 minutes with 5 people from a college you never even heard of. There are more avenues to get you noticed but you aren’t unique. Anything that you can think of is more likely already not just explored but done to death. And attempts to flog the dead horse give rise to my next point.

Over marketing is the norm

What adds to the confusion is that it's no longer in fashion to call a spade a spade. There are fancy names to prove oneself unique from the others. Depending on who you are, you can choose to call it a shoveling instrument or a mud digger. And it sells! (I guess). I have come across  a mind reader, a idea chef (guess?), a human scientist (don't even ask!) and a happiness coach. I don’t know what any of that means. And with subjective professional vocabulary like this, it's hard to tell what people do. You may seem fancy, but how good are you at your job? 

Experience has diminished in value

Don’t get me wrong - I truly believe that nothing can ever beat experience. Someone who’s been there and done that will always have know better. But with the exposure that the internet and social media gives, someone a decade younger is more comfortable and equipped to deal with the new fangled technology and the fast paced world that we live in. Youngsters actually know certain things even better than the oldies. It’s a level playing field that way but experience no longer makes you exceptional. 

The peaceful times are over

With every passing day, the dream of ending the day with a quiet cuppa just like our parents did is a distant dream. We are so attached to our devices and the lure of the deluge of information they bring to us is so addictive that life is never going to be the same again. Adaptability is the key and we cannot afford to sit back and relax without the fear of being left out. 

There are a several other aspects that can be added that make these times not so great. This is my list. Would you like to add something to it?

Sunday, October 11, 2015

6 Reasons Why 'Comedy Nights' Doesn't Work Anymore

Comedy Nights is reduced to just insipid slapstick comedy (Photo Credit)
While switching channels recently, I ran into a recent episode of Comedy Nights with Kapil. This used to be my favourite program on TV for a long time. I have lived on re-runs of the comedy show. I lost touch with the program as I got busy and couldn’t catch up with episodes online. (I haven’t watched live TV in years!) The last I remember was the revamp of the old set and the repetitive punch lines that had lost punch. 

When I ran into it again, I wanted to see what’s up now. And I could tolerate it for exactly 10 minutes. Here’s why?

1. The current set is garish beyond words. What led to that change is still a mystery to me
2. The gigs have become insipid and repetitive
3. The character acts have become sheer slapstick comedy. I was never a fan of physical fight on the program
4. It’s run for 2 years too long for it to retain freshness/novelty
5. The verbal wife bashing, another thing I have always hated, is almost nauseous now (sic!)
6. It’s just another film promotion program with no original, creative content in it. 

Asking Akshay Kumar if Prabhu Deva wore a vest under his shirt, to check the working relationship between the two, is definitely a new low in the program. And he got a fitting response in the typical Akki style that the question make no sense. Kapil might next ask if Prabhudeva wore undies under his pants. Sheer nonsense! 


Comedy nights did bring back comedy into fashion. And how! But unfortunately it has been dragged for long enough to fall from grace. It's sad to see something so unique deteriorate to this and I have no clue why Kapil or the channel may want to continue to telecast it. It could be a popular film promotion scene and the star power might be bringing in the TRPs. But if you ask me, it's time to call it a day. And maybe come back another day with a fresh look, new characters and better gigs.

I hope Kapil and his team will consider this soon.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

These are a few of my favourite things...

Photo credit
I wanted to make a list of 100 things I love. But the task turned out to be tougher than I thought. So I decided to chuck the counting and just put down things that I love.

Warmth of a comforter
The first, hot sip of coffee
The whole cup of coffee
The goey, choclatey bite of chocolate pastry
A warm hug from that someone special
The smell of books
The notes of my favourite music
Legally Blonde series (the movie)
Shopaholic series (the books)
Initial books of Harry Potter
Watching FRIENDS re-runs
HIMYM re-runs (sometimes)
A great piece of writing
Blogging
Training 
Coaching people 
Chatting up with friends
A good twitter fight
Shopping, even window shopping will do
Watching movies
My make up
Amitabh Bachchan - need I add more?!
Curling up with a great book
People who can have intelligent conversations
Girlie time with best friend
Sitting around with that special someone and music playing
The assurance of that special someone being around
Working in cafes
Bright sunshine on a winter day
Kicking people’s a**es when they think they are too smart
Being the Queen of Sarcasm
Coming up with a good piece of writing
Offering my help wherever it is appreciated
Dressing up
Learning new things
A challenge that I am up to
A quite evening with wine
Hot cuppa with a view of the mountains
Comedy films
Watching the rain from my window
Any dish with chicken and fish in it
Or chicken and fish cooked alone :)
Playing with my superstar nieces

I had fun making a list of things I love. So what are a few of your favourite things? Go ahead, make a list of your own!

Warning: The list is by no means complete. So expect another one some time soon. 

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