Life begins... this time, in Greece

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OK.. starting over again in new country.. this time in sunny greece/athens.

to earlier to make any conclusion but life here (like must place)- its largely good over bad.. few issues with customer service, setting-up infrastructure(telephone, mobile, internet), traffic, but iam fitting-in slowly. manage to find beautiful, big, furnished, 2BHK appartment (twice as bigger than london and half-the-price) with balconies in living room and in both bed rooms.. in the centre of the city, 10mins walk to work, just behind arcopolis, wow... wouldnt ask for me.

sun, landscape, summer - is awesome.. it shame, that i dont know many people here to go around & socialize. now trying to meet & make new friends.. fun is with the people rather the place.

to all you people in athens.. yet another new member to your community may be bit different then others since not many indian professionals specialy from down-south..

till now went around touristy places, went to nafpilo, halakida http://ayuva.myphotoalbum.com/ its fab.

if you or your friends in athens/greece.. would be glad to keep-in-touch..

drop a line at iamyuva@yahoo.co.in

just me thinking this way..!?

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Every day ends with a smile, memory/experience yet begins with a surprise
I get on the tube and people just stare at the floor
The tube is so crowded, yet of course there is room for few more
The blue skies of summer are now replaced by the grey
I wish I could blow hard enough to chase them away
Sat here at work very late, a place where I don't want to be
Yet it pays for the good times, where I can truly be free
The wrinkles get bigger; another hair turns from black into grey
Time flashes by like lightning across the sky
Our lives moving in the blink of an eye
Friends they come and friends they sure go
The good times are locked in our minds, we just go with the flow..

..may be life is not about choices, its all about priorities...

History of the Middle Finger...

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Well, now......here's something I never knew before, and I feel compelled
to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel
edified.

Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?

                                            _

                                         /'_-/)

                                      ,/_  /

                                     /    /

                                /'_'/'   '/'__'/','/'

                           / '/    /    /    /  / _

                           ('(    '    '     _     

                                                   |

                                               '    /

                                             _./'





Giving the Finger

Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory
over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured
English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to
draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable
of fighting in the future.

This famous weapon was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act
of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking the yew" (or "pluck yew").

Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and
began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated
French, saying, "See, we can still pluck yew!"

"PLUCK YEW!"

Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant
cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F', and thus the words
often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute!

It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the
longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird."
And yew thought yew knew everything.

Marketing Concepts

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Professor at a University was explaining Marketing Concepts:

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, "I am very rich.Marry me!"
That's Direct Marketing.

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl.
One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says,
"He's very rich.Marry him."
That's Advertising.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day you call and
say "Hi,I'm very rich.Marry me."
That's Telemarketing.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink.
You open the door for her, pick up her bag after she drops it,
offer her a ride, and then say, "By the way, I'm very rich.Will you marry me?"
That's Public Relations.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl.
She walks up to you and says, "You are very rich.."
That's Brand Recognition.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, "I'm rich.Marry me" She gives you a nice hard
slap on your face.
That's Customer Feedback !!!!!

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, "I am very rich.Marry me!"
And she introduces you to her husband
That's Demand and supply gap.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and before you say, "I am very rich.Marry me!"
she turns her face towards you ------------

she is your wife !
That's competition eating into your market share.

Words Inside Our Heart

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It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even the fierceness of the nature. Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer. I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it I have it. I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.

My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them everyday, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family everyday. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother. I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face. The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days. The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Everyday I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend. It's true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body. Quite a few to flirt, but no one to love. Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.

Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back. I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room.

After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,

XYZ,
I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD. ;)

(This was sent by a friend: Often times, we find ourselves looking back over the years we have spent and we find ourselves missing those times. Actually NOW has always been the best time for change)

Charles Schultz's Philosophy

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read this recently thought nice one to share...

PostItem Starts Here following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mailstraight through, and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)

It's all in the asking...

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a worldwide survey was conducted by the UN. The only question asked was:
"Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?".

The survey was a huge failure. Here's why:

In Africa, they didn't know what "food" meant.
In Eastern Europe they didn't know what "honest" meant.
In Western Europe they didn't know what "shortage" meant.
In China they didn't know what "opinion" meant.
In the Middle East they didn't know what "solution" meant.
In South America they didn't know what "please" meant.
And in the US, they didn't know what "the rest of the world" meant.

Techies...its was me...

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In the confines of cubicles by artificial light, Sipping coffee from the machines day and night. Speaking on phones , in meetings we sit. Staring the monitor, the keyboard(s) we hit. Far away from loved ones whom for days we do not meet. Remembering them, working, on our seat. This is life for us, Working away from homes and loved ones in places afar. What a life, indian techies we are....

Wonder...

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Do you ever wonder
At the wonder of it all?

Do you ever stand in awe
of the tiniest things
and how perfectly they work together?

Do you ever stop to think
about all the possibilities
and how even though they have no limit
they grow in number with every minute?

Do you ever wonder
when the leaves flutter down in autumn
at the incomprehensible power of life
that brings them back in spring?

Do you watch the waves roll in
and then look out far beyond them
where the water seems to touch the sky
and realize
that the vast expanse before your eyes
is only a small little corner
of all there really is?

And do you comprehend that all there really is,
as unimaginably grand as it may seem,
is only a smaller corner still
of all that there can be?

Do you ever wonder
how love can stay alive
past every pleasure and every pain
and even when there can be no hope
there is more than ever?

Do you ever struggle to lift a heavy rock and wonder
how a massive mountain can rise
thousands of feet above the plain
without even trying?

Do you ever realize that
no matter how much you may know,
no matter how many wonders you may have experienced,
there will always, always be more?

Do you ever wonder
why it is you wonder
and why you know what beauty is
even though you can't define it?

Do you ever wonder
who is doing the wondering,
who is looking out through your eyes
and feeling completely at home
with the wonder of it all?

Whatever you believe,
whatever you profess,
whatever you doubt or fear or hope for,
there are some things
your heart cannot deny
when you let go
and let yourself know
the wonder of it all....

Missed Opportunities..

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The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer's
beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission.
The farmer looked him over and responded, "Son, go stand out
in that field and I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time.
If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls,
you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull.
The barn door opened and out ran the biggest,
meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that
one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one,
so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the
pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen
anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood - pawing the ground,
grunting, slinging slobber - as it eyed him. Whatever the next
bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one.
He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face.
This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen.
This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned
himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment.
He grabbed... but the bull had no tail!

in simple words - Life is full of opportunities.
Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult.
But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better),
those opportunities may never again be available.

Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it
to beckon us with beepers and billboards. Jumping at several small
opportunities may get us there more quickly than
waiting for one big one to come along.

"Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending."