The Right to Demand Respect.

The title of this blog is an irony. No one can demand respect, you have to earn it. My Dad passed down some words of wisdom that his father passed down to him once. "You can take a lifetime to build respect, and only few seconds to destroy it" The advice didn't go any further which was the best part, cause it didn't tell me what do to keep it, if I should behave or act a certain way or to dodge those seconds. This is always been true, and my fastest frame of reference is the Rachel Wik fiasco. This week someone demanded respect, not gonna mention the persons name, but if you know the guy should be pretty apparent.

Gandhi said there was two types of discrimination in India, one against Indians and one against women. Unfortunately he missed one. This discrimination is against the in-laws on the women's side. So a bit of background...all flows with the drowy system where a guy's family feels entitled to the fucking every bit of what the girls family owns. The story now then goes, a buddy's brother in law asked me for a copy of MS office for Mac. I said OK, I didn't have internet for a while, then my drive with the file was with someone else for a while. Anyways took me a month to get it to him in its entirety. I kept getting repeat messages that he need it. During one of those message, I replied saying, I have priorities, this is not one of them, a new copy is $100. My intent was to say, "Hey...I can't get this to you, in case you gotta a assignment or something due" But it was taken as an insult to honour.  I implied that he was cheap (this guy took 3 hours to decide if he was ready to spend $1 on angry birds, after loving the trial, and this somehow implied he was cheap). He wrote me a really angry email, calling me a, "little person, rude, disrespectful, and noxious and that I may never contact his family again for any reason." He also cc my buddy who couldn't careless, and his father in law on this message expecting something hard to be taken care off, as he has just demanded respect cause he married a daughter of the house. Now, this guy is a special case..I couldn't ever picture anyone getting there father in law involved in some soo petty and soo small. No matter how shallow the culture gets at its core.

I had a great time laughing my ass off with his with my co-workers in the morning. But my room-mate had some very exciting thought that kind of justified this. Its very very petty, but he believed being in the mid-thirties and living with a family on student loans leaves a man very insecure, always on edge so this should be very expected. Bit of migration on a gold digging, and then struggling to get into school...all that has to be very very tough on anyone. It made me realize that age is still a number, this is petty to me cause I am mature beyond it, and I guess some people don't make that post adolescent leap till they are forty. All in all, great entertainment.

The Corporate Life

So its been a just over a month, living in the corporate world. I can't complain, maybe its the culture at SHAW, which is very laid back...by my standards anyway.  Very very good work life balance...infact..I have soo much free time I have to get increasingly creative on how to entertain myself.  Also learning the ABCs of the corporate politics...its still easier than SU politics..

Lots of going out this weekend, hangin with Dimitri, Devanshias and randoms. This discretionary income deal is dangerous. But I gotta start saving one day..might as well be this day. I still don't know if I am bar person...I think I am a people person. I have this deep resentment of Sam time that I use to love...now always always around people...much happier this way I think.

Roommate, Olivier... well he is 'frugal,' but it's really working out this time. It surprising cause he is one of the only roommates I have ever had that I haven't known before, and blows my mind on how conservative people think.  Always been a big fan of the late night comedy making fun of the 'republican way' but it's actually surreal when you meet someone with that value set. To each his own I guess...but when you start arguing with I don't believe in global warming, and even if it is real, the best people to take responsibility is the private sector....sounds like Fox News propaganda to me.

There and back again - by Sam Singla

It's funny, I have always been told that if you tell God your plans for the future, he will laugh. As I get older 24 yesterday, I am starting to realize that which is true. I don't think I've ever had a 5 year plan in my life which has worked out as planned, its always been better. I love my life...its a great great life, I am very blessed and for the life of me can not figure out what I did to deserve it.

So we left off at the IBM offer not working out, but as the case has always been - something better happened. I drove down to Vancouver for an interview in Calgary. Yes, I know I hate Calgary...and yes..I vowed I would never come back. But that all got left in the dust for a passionate project that I want to be a part of. Making western canada a wifi Zone. I love the people that I work with, I love the work I am doing. I was really scared about my qualifications in taking this position, 2 weeks in, it feels way too right. And being in Calgary feels too right, I miss my family, but all my friends are here. It nothing I could've ever pictured, but now that I am doing it I glad and happy. Oh right, my role is product strategy and financial modeling for the Wifi project...but I am doing a a lot more and a lot less..till I really figure out where I belong in there I guess.

 Christmas this year felt very divided. But there were parts of it which were the best, Sheetal wasn't home this year so Dan came over to help with Tree, the Temp Apple Job was just brilliant. I met some great people, and some not so great ones..but it was a welcome change after spending so much time alone this part few weeks. Xmas gifts...real joy in giving, also went broke, giving and moving this week. I am living above one of my fav restaurants, Glory of India..so can't complain about the living situation, I think I found a good roommate but I am going to need another one in 6 months, which is probably for the best. My Birthday yesterday was spent with Vik's family which is starting to feel like my family, plus the excessive drinking. Actual Xmas day, coupled with Mandir duty just didn't feel so right..but w.e...things happen. On the ending note... finally having a job in the field that I want,

Working for something I am passionate about - Epicness. Also completely independent for the first time in my life. Man can I start telling people to F*off (thinking in the family, if you read this...you'll know if your one of them...)

Fall Blues/Dragons' Den

Haven’t blogged for weeks!! There been much going on recently So came very very close to getting a gig at one the best companies in the world, but then I just got an email saying that they were no longer in a position to fill that spot because of some very recent changes. Maybe its bad luck, maybe its destiny, I am just hoping its not karma. Disappointed by that news, I felt very much to be left alone, and I just called it a early night. That was literally the most exciting thing to happen on my Halloween. Regardless, I am still optimistic about the future, and always try to the think the best of things that happen around me.

Writing this blog from Kamloops right now, here to drive my sister to an interview at a ‘hotel’ called 540…I don’t understand why I am here or why there needs to be an interview in Kamloops. The industry is far more dominant in Kelowna and really nothing about this town that makes me wanna be here…but I am not her, I think she is probably scared that she doesn’t have a job, having a risk adverse personality, some people take the job they get offered rather than a job that’s really right for them. Maybe that’s the right way, I really don’t know, but that’s not what my intuition tells me to do.

So in other news, watching a ton of Dragons’ Den. I always loved the show, but now that I actually started watching it in some capacity and started to analyze it..it makes no sense to me. Its hard to be a judge of the process on the show, because to the best of my knowledge the process compromised for the entertainment value. Being on a national broadcast, and having ‘more accomplished’ just scrutinize yourself only appeals to three types of people. I made a demographic out of them!

Type1: Inventers

 An ambitious inventor, who is not an entrepreneur, does not understand anything about business. These are the people who are more or less on the show can support some claims with sales, typically get the cash. These people are fully aware of the situation and are realistic about expectations Examples include the spike shoe, and the shoelaces. I think the show was probably designed best for these people, and it’s a great avenue for them to develop an idea, as they need the investors resources that are far beyond the cash. The inventor who doesn’t understand evaluation, and inventors seldom do is worth nothing or everything.

Type2: The Moron

 The idiot whose ideas suck so much and they continue to believe in it cause of their own social groups. I think these people at some level know their idea is shit, but they are desperate, so if your desperate, no one local is willing to invest in your idea, you will be attracted to a show like Dragons’ Den…so they take a gamble…pride for potential cash. Plus, they are super entertaining so I am sure the show loves em too. The most extreme example of this is the retard that tries to sell magic water. The less extreme version are all the stupid female specific ideas that exist cause of dirty dirty men....fixin vixen, and that Mrs. Lube..what the fuck was she thinking.

Type3: The I duunos

These people don’t have a clue what they are doing. Hitting up highly saturated markets and claiming that 1% of blah blah blah. Even if they have a decent product/idea…they are not the right people to invest in. They typically don’t have a clue of what’s the cost to market. What’s the competition, what’s the value of the patent…NO clue what is going on. They just throw a number out there and hope other people think they are worth something. Seldom successful, they just don’t understand evaluation. You are NOT worth what you think you will be in 5 years. No one wants to give them money now so in 5 years they’ll be worth the investment they put in today. The whole point of going to an angel for money so that an angel can bet on you and what you worth in five years. The reason that these people don’t work is cause they are gamblers, and the dragons are risk takers. The difference between a gamble and a risk is that a risk is calculated.

Anyway! Favorite Dragon: Brett Wilson. Not just cause we graduated from the same school. But the man thinks with the ethics system that I do. He may have a background in finance, but the man’s a marketer by heart! I loved him from his very first episode, where he opens with, “all this money is for charity anyway, I have enough, your children are going to have enough.” Watching him on the show for me makes him a great role model. The sad news is that in School events, I’d see him all the time, wearing jeans, where everyone else was wearing tuxes. Before the show he was intimidating, soo intimidating to approach as I never did talk to him. After the show, I feel like I can just run up to the guy and share a life story…maybe not quite. But saying Hi to Brett just kind of feels like a missed opportunity, not cause I think it could have led to potential cash or employment! but because I would’ve just been able to take so much away from him in his personality.  Things happen, maybe we’ll meet some other day working for charities we both love

What to blog about this week! Well, I am the most antisocial I have ever been in my life, but that has also made job hunt more productive. Right now I am looking at hopefully and potentially three different employers. Most of this week has been sitting and waiting for someone to call for a phone interview, I know to expect one on a particular day but that makes it even worse, every time the phone rings, my heart skips a beat.  The feeling is probably best described as the SU elections, but only the last half hour and the anxiety building up, hopefully next week I am employed but I can't say for sure...

Also, this week watched the Kennedy's miniseries, it deserved a higher budget but entertaining/informative regardless. Downloaded a lot of music this week too, weird that Gurdaas Mann is coming to town, and I've never been to big of a fan, but picking up some of his 90's stuff. 

Vik's Engagement

It's Tuesday today, last tuesday I was driving back from what I can only say was the best engagement that I've ever been too.  Soo many epic memories...

Going to Calgary at this time was exciting, everyone in University knows that September is the best month to be in School. Lack of homework + summer cash + 20c weather = epic party time.  I knew I didn't want to back to any part of school after graduation (cause I wanna remember it as I last left it), but I did expect to see all my close friends, Dimitri, Camille, Scarlett, Jen, Spencer, the Arabs and obviously the wedding man, Vicky Saab.  In an interesting turn of events, although I let everyone know that I was town, I didn't actually have time to go see anyone. Mostly, cause Vik and his Dad (Anil Uncle) left me no choice. 

So arrival in Calgary at Vik's place, and Vritty(his younger sister) wants me to walk to this view spot with all the little kids....I didn't understand..I live in Kelowna and she was forcing to go check out Calgary 'view'..and then Uncle's got mad at me for not eating...and leaving with the kids...... like he thought I wanted to go. Anyways, met Sonu, very interesting character, never met someone who goes so far right and so far left in his political/ethical spectrum at the same time. Also that night, I met Suki, Arun & Sara.

Engagement Day - Saturday..

What a shit show of a day, early morning shopping trip, emergency visit to the Mexx for a immediate belt...wrote my roast while being driven back from Chinook..Picked up Jiju...despite Di having attachment issues and also showing up to the airport to pick him up... So back at Ashwin Uncle's house me and Sonu are chilling cause we didn't want to get dressed too early. Then we were too late getting ready cause we just waited way too long.  I forgot my hair varnish, the belt was too long, apparently my current hairstyle (Paul McCartney's 60's look) apparently qualified me to do everyone's hair. Jay was really cute that day, followed me everywhere I went...such an adorable kid..God bless him.


So at the engagement, I found that when uncle asked me to do a stupidji speech, he didn't mean a roast. He meant one about how great I thought Vik was. So less then 20 minutes before on the stage, I found out that I was the best man, the MC, and the coordinated with the family on their speeches. They were all nice and short, and my roast (the unedited version from what I wrote on my iphone is below) The night eventually rapped up, with myself, Brij, Raj, Sonu, Harshy, and Birji destroying the dance floor, and passing out...Dadji was historical with the Kusra...where you do even find a Indian tranny in Canada... wtf....

This for babi, before you get engaged there are five things you need to know Vicky and will need to accept as a part of along life commitment.
1. Vikcy will share half of everything with you to try and appreciate your love. There is one thing he won't share half with you, and no matter how much you ask for it.. That one thing is the bed... You'll have to sleep in one tiny corner, amd don't be suprised if you occasionally wake up on the floor.

2. Don't ever get to comfortable sleeping late, Vik has commited to god before all else and as such he wakes up at 6am for a early morning arti, and plays his favourtive instrument, the ganti in the mardir.

3. Always get in the shower before vivek. When in the showe vik likes to read and follow the directions om the Shampoo bottle preciously.  When the water turns off in the shower doesn't mean he is done. It means that he has now finished applying shampoo, and 5 minutes later the shower will turn on again, that means he is ready to rinse it off.

4. When driving, Vik has no middle ground , fast on the gas and hard on the brakes. What is worse is that he has convinced himself with no help of anybody else that he is the best driver in the world. What's important for you is that you never question him on his driving, or this arrangement will never work out and I'll be here giving the same speech 6 months from now.

5. Bhabi, I am sad too say this but you are not the first love of his life. He first love is the great video game known as Final Fantasy. Don't be suprised if after a néw realease, he is spending late nights with the playstation while probably on the phone with me.

= Vik, Bhabi, and Sam Post Toast

Sunday

Early morning Banff trip, too bad Brij and Raj had to leave and couldn't be part of it, it was great time. I also learned that people from England have trouble walking distances that are further than the garage.  Just kidding, but Sonu, and sister couldn't walk to save their lives. Johnston Canyon isn't that far away...like 2 km walk...Arun almost ran into the tree, bending it, and Suki found out why people take dogs on hikes.

Dinner in Banff at the earls, idiot waiter, and cause Viky didn't wanna take Gitu, me and Sonu never got a chance to check out the sunday night in Banff. Things didn't die down in Calgary, we had enough gas to make it, Vicky passed out, and me and Sonu hit up the night life.....so thought about the strip club and the casino and thank God we went to the strip club first, or my $160 in winnings would've been spent on lap dances...Also Sonu...what a saint ..doesn't even gamble a dime..amazing...

Monday/Tuesday

Some shopping, some napping, Bhabi made some amazing Shahi Paneer...although we had no room for it...fell asleep in a movie about daddy issues and then followed it with another movie...RACE...and early morning trek back to Kelowna on Tuesday..then straight to Penticton..Tayaji had some knee surgery that he is recovering from.

Website looking Good!

So far the site has been up for just over a day. I have over 135 visiters, 83 unique visitors. I have SEO working well, first hit on Google and Bing(Yahoo) as well.

Vistors from every part of the world, well not every - Canada, US, Australia, France, Korea, Yemen and Kazakhstan...

Other interesting facts - 60 hits to the site where direct (non social media or search engine). Facebook is by large my biggest traffic driver to the site. Google Analytics (when it works) is great!