Barrack Obama has created history by becoming the first African American to become the President of United States of America. Defying opinion polls he has won by a comfortable margin over Senator Mccain. It's a turning point in American and World history.

It's not merely about breaking the aparthied jinx. It's not merely the slandering campaign unleashed regarding his middle name. It's also not merely about the fact that he is considered to be 'too young and inexperienced'. The fact is Obama is a charismatic leader. A great orator who talks to his crowd directly. On a one to one basis. When he says, 'America needs change' you know yes this man is serious about the 'change'. And then he also has that Hollywood style penchant for dialoguebaazi too. Makes for a nice picture.

Now, it won't be a rosy picture once he gets ensconced in the throne of contention. America is facing a big disastrous economic meltdown. A big part of the world dislikes America and Americans for their autocratic policies of 'Either you are with us or you are against us'. More over Obama may not be ideal for India either for his conflicting remarks on Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan. But still, it's a goose pimple moment...for a man from Kenyan origin has gone on to take over the Top Job in the world.

Here's hoping Obama gives America a good name....and hopefully the world will be a better place to live in with less imminence of war threats.

Some days are diamonds, some days are stones. We were going to delhi today. We were supposed to go rather. Going home to Aligarh after so many days. Our rajdhani train ticket didn't get confirmed even though we had tried a high level source. Maybe others had even higher source than us. It was such a sinking feeling watching the train go. Since the last few times me, my wife and little daughter have always flew down. But since three months back the air ticket prices have more than doubled. After watching the train simmer away from us leaving us cold with tiredness, we hopped into a cyber cafe and promptly booked ourselves to n fro air tickets. Cost a tidy 40, 000/ Add another 10 grand and the trip will be worth 50 K. Now that's a tad too expensive especially when we are visiting home under normal circumstance and its not an emergency. But then meeting your parents and loved ones is an incentive in its own way. Isn't it! My wife is a bit circumspect as she loves haggling in the vegetable market and here a neat sum of money was siphoned off just like that. Tomorrow around this time we will be on our way to aligarh in a taxi at this time. Hope the day and night glitter with diamonds...

A quirky piano wave
Or was it a
Guitar strain
Sauntering in style.

Sullen night,
Tired of the
Day's brightness.

I felt sapped,
Energy juices
Squelching silently.

Philosophising
Flows naturally;
Smiles shall
Find a way...

Saw an article on this lovely hill station Coorg in Hindustan Times yesterday. Long walks, lots of greenery and calmness. Immediately I rewinded to a recent holiday in Mahabaleshwar. We had gone away for four days. Mahabaleshwar and Panchagani are blessed with nature's grandeur but somehow I don't think I made the most of it. Why? Well, because I carried my work along with me...

Mobile Phone isn't a good idea. For you're always approachable especially if you're willing to. And somehow I was willing to, because I was not sure if the updations on the site will go smoothly. Sense of responsibility is a good thing but when it's too much then it's bad.

Yes, I enjoyed running on lonely roads early in the morning. I have never experienced air so fresh, cool and Mahabaleshwar is very windy too making it all rather cold specially early in the morning. Most of the points that we went to, were breathtakingly beautiful. Panchagani specially had some awesome scenery straight out of sylvan picture postcards. Strawberry and cream was yummy but considering we had several helpings of it during the course of the day it must have been liberally fattening as well.

It was a good relaxing period for us but since I was several times on phone, somehow I wasn't totally at ease. Anticipating a phone call or sending a few smss here n there robs you of peace (even though you may not accept it). Reading about Coorg I made a promise to myself that whenever I am on a holiday next firstly I'll try n take a longer break and more importantly delegate work before coming in such a manner that I can enjoy at leisure.

It's a Monday. The remnants of a laidback weekend are still tresspassing. Although my work began at 8 am in the morning itself since the updations have to take place on the site and I like to follow responsibilities religiously. Yet, there's a bit of an ambiguity...and at the same time there's a rejuvenated feeling of doing some great work in the coming week.

Shakespeare said, "Security is mortal's chiefest enemy". Somehow the thought has always stuck with me...people like being secure but security is a killer. For the moment you are secure you stop striving for more. And one should never stop expecting from one's own self. There's a huge reservoir of special talent in everyone that needs constant churning.

Well, I have the work cut out for the day...just have to ensure that it's executed to perfection. Will be doing a video interview with Farhan Akhtar for his acting debut 'Rock On' and his directorial plans. He is a talented guy, though he should stick to directing for that's his forte. Have interviewed him earlier and yes always makes for humour smeared talking.

It's time for me to head to the office. Yes, a positive attitude, a bright incandescent smile and genuine warmth....it's time to take on the world in a whole new way....Cheers!

Now this is breaking news and I have to share with you guys. India won its first ever individual Olympic Gold Medal today with Abhinav Bindra clinching the first place in 10 metre Air Rifle event in Beijing, China. This is India's first Gold Medal since 1980 when we won the Gold in Hockey.

Watching 23 year old Bindra gently shaking hands with his crew members after the victory is a sight that will be etched in the collective consciousness of the country for a long time to come. Rathore won a silver in last olympics and maybe was instrumental in inspiring a horde of youngsters in believing in themselves.

I am having goosepimples right now while its raining heavily outside my window. We all want to be proud of our nation and when the politicians, filmstars and cricketers have let us down...this one moment is worth celebration of the biggest kinds. Here's hoping we clinch more medals in Beijing and hopefully a few more Golds (and we have a realistic chance of doing the same especially from the shooting team).

Abhinav Bindra...take a bow!

It often happens that we tend to procrastinate. At times endlessly. It's 8.30 in the morning and I should be hitting the gym...but I am finding some excuse to maybe delay or postpone the visit. I know I shall feel great once I'm done with the workout and the gym is just a stone's throw away from my place...So, lemme think aloud as to why all of us tend to be lazy or a wee bit too thoughtful about small things. Well, it doesn't have too great a negative fallout but still, following a routine is always a good thing...Isn't it!

Every morning there's a plan, a time table for doing things...get up at 6.15, drink tea, bathe my daughter, make her wear clothes, feed her the breakfast, then see her off in her school bus with extended ba...byes and flying kisses. Hmmm...so you must be thinking what does my better half does....well, she's the meticulous one in our house. I follow this routine maybe three days a week with precision whereas she is up at 5 in the morning, makes lunch for both of us and wakes me n my daughter with a cup of tea n bottle of milk respectively. She leaves the house by 7.05 for work. It's admirable but she sticks to this routine with an amazing precision. And just imagine there are days when she has to do my side of morning chores as well.

I leave for office a bit late. So, after coming back from gym, I get down to my comp. Since I am heading the videos team at indiafm.com, I have to send the links and titles for the early morning updation. Now, once I'm onto surfing through our site, I get totally immersed, checking the number of views...how to give attractive captions to the videos to maximise views, checking, answering and writing mails, taking and making calls etc. (Now include checking out mouthshut all over again in the same routine).

Now, invariably, almost everyday, I tend to do a hurried breakfast (even though i like eating an elaborate one) because I tend to spend longer time on the comp than what I had planned. It's only the weekends that I can gorge on the delectable paranthas etc for my wife is around.

Well, I think...or I should rather go slow on procrastination and do things rather than thinking them out all the time. My wife would call it lovable laziness but I'd say see it's genius at work...one requires the laidback energy to come up with ideas....I guess the truth is somewhere in between...

Well, for starters...lemme put on my shoes before there's another excuse for skipping gym today...have a good day guys...Faisal, Mouthshut continues to rock...Thanks!

The colour of the sky above
Is not what you've
Made me believe it to be
Butterfly stars flip
Through the smiling tree
Hey, did you see!
Fishes like dreaming
In crystal unclear waters
Can you just let them be?

There are times when things happen in a strange manner. Rather than looking at our own victories we are more keen on 'why someone else is winning'. The sense of satisfaction is non existent and no matter how much one tries to justify, there's an iota of jealousy and lack of fulfillness that simmers inside.

In these boisterous times when it is fashionable to be a terrorist and spew venom at anyone within a bullet's length, I guess being safe enough should be a big satisfaction in itself. I earn quite well but still I travel in Mumbai local trains for work as it saves time big time. But yes, each time I travel there's a prayer on my lips to avoid being blown apart in a moment of madness. Reaching my station, isn't that satisfaction in itself?

Having a family to go to or wake up with, is a constant source of equanimity within one's own mind. Yes, there were times I remember when I was new to Mumbai, sundays were dreadful, for I was dependent on friends for movies or to hang around with. And the kind of person I am, I don't make friends easily (though when I do, I'd like it for keeps). Having a wife and then a daughter around makes weekends a source of many a smile. And I really look forward to the afternoon nap lying down on drawing room sofa while surfing idly through reality strewn tv. Sundays are when I like cooking (it involves marinating, the detailed cutting, buying meat etc). Having a peaceful weekend or each night...isn't that a source of big satisfaction? Yes it is...it surely is....

I guess success or failure is an on going process...one should just enjoy what one does, work very hard and rather than peeping at other's routine...stay focussed on one's own triumphs....and more importantly, don't underrate the importance of what brings satisfaction in your life....for that's what will decide the longevity of your success in general...

Hi guys
...check out this DVD review written by me on Taare Zameen Par

http://www.indiafm.com/movi
es/dvdreview/13306/

Hope you guys like it...aamir is launching the dvd in mumbai on friday although its already available in the market...goin for a video interview with ram gopal verma right now...time to get into a gangsta mood...what do you say!