Dell Blogathon 2012 – The unfortunately titled event

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Dell Blogathon 2012 was an interesting event, that it had nothing to do with blogs per se is a different matter altogether.

The event was hosted at The Second Sin, MGF Metropolitan Mall in Delhi and sponsored by Dell, Belkin and Yebhi.com. Fairly big names who, as was expected, spent a decent amount of time self-promoting. Dell showcased its three latest laptops including the XPS 13. Fancy machine. Representatives from Belkin and Yebhi.com talked about their latest ventures.

The parched crowd having traveled from various parts of the city (and some even from different cities) in the scorching heat heaved a sigh of relief when the drinks started flowing (free Foster’s for the win!). Once the snacks were dished out the mood improved further. The taste palette was in for a real ride with dishes like Lazy Snakes Rolls, Farmville Potatoes and Spotify Paneer, but my favorite was the Instagram Cake, probably the tastiest strawberry cheesecake I’ve had in a long time.

Once everyone had had their full, we settled down again for the ‘Amazing People Series’ and met four interesting fellas. Karan Singh, the psycho-illusionist, wowed the audience with his ready wit and extraordinary talent. This was followed by a talk by Abhishek Baxi who planned his entire wedding on Evernote. Unfortunately, I missed Gaurav Mishra, or more popularly, Gauravonomics, for I was craving a smoke. But I’m glad I returned in time to catch Andrew Hoffland or Uncle Andy as he is fondly called. ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’ (his words, not mine), he is one colorful personality who infused a new enthusiasm in the crowd with his excellent mimicry skills and crackling wit.

I even got the chance to use my dormant Twitter account to tweet about the event, but since I was only doing so for the prizes, I got bored soon enough and stopped. Prizes were distributed and the event came to a close with cameras clicking away to glory.

Finally, to elaborate on the opening statement: here was an event that called itself a blogathon, but sadly, forgot an essential quality of bloggers. You may choose to disagree, but most of the bloggers I have come across are a tad socially inept (yours truly included), and take some time before opening up. Sadly, the maze-like decor of the venue, lack of open spaces and absence of a formal introduction session dampened the enthusiasm. I, for one, chose not to roam around and mingle because no matter where I went, I kept bumping into people or awkwardly placed furniture.  Another grievance many voiced was regarding the agenda of the meet. Bloggers come from all walks of life and the event saw in attendance food bloggers, photo-bloggers, writers, fashion-bloggers, social commentators, tech-bloggers and even power-point bloggers (wonder what that constitutes). It was a mixed bag of people who, at a certain level, failed to connect for myriad reasons. I reckon if the agenda was spelled out clearly in the invite, it would’ve helped attract like-minded individuals.

Nevertheless, one must applaud the organisers’ effort. For an inaugural event, it was quite successful. So, kudos to them, and here’s hoping that the next blogathon is even better.

Photographs from the event -

Yebhi.com

Demonstrating the Belkin contraption that connects to the set top box at home and lets you watch TV on the go.

Uncle Andy

Dear

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For Mercy has a human heart;
Pity, a human face;
And Love, the human form divine:
And Peace the human dress.

-from The Divine Image by William Blake 

dear,
your slightly parted lips – I cannot see
their hues, but know they are not unlike
the Dame Edith Helen I once kissed,
roseate and velvety – only slightly parted,
promising a mellifluous voice to charm
us all: the amazement of a thought
sketched out thus and captured.

If I were that ear-ring, brushing
against your soft skin, heavens
couldn’t tempt me, but I am a mere
painter of words, sitting here,
wondering if you would tell me
what amused you so.

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My first post after my longest hiatus from the blog ever since its conception is something that has been in planning for a rather long time, a whole month in fact, but took so long because I was never satisfied with the poem I wrote to accompany the picture. No, I’m still not satisfied, I don’t believe it does justice to the subject of this picture, but my exams are over and I had to start somewhere. :)

My inbox tells me I missed some 500 odd posts from my fellow bloggers. I will try and read as many as possible over the course of the next few days. If I miss out anything, consider my sincere apologies in advance.

There are certain other things I want to talk about but those will have to wait for another post because I really am in a hurry to hit publish now.

Cheers,

Kriti free-bird Sharma

PS: Credit for this intriguing style of signing of goes to Amritorupa . Trust me, you want to visit her site. :)

Moves Like Jagger

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Take me by the tongue
And I’ll know you
Kiss me ’til you’re drunk
And I’ll show you

All the moves like Jagger

- Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5

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Yes, all my posts of late have been from the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, but you see, I just haven’t had the time to take my camera out for a little spin. The one time I did, I ended up clicking a graduation party who aren’t quite game to have their pictures up on my blog. I promise, as soon as these exams end, I am going on a photography spree with a vengeance! Till then, I’ll keep fishing out old photographs that never saw the light of the day and keep posting; sporadically, of course.

And I apologise in advance if I miss any of your posts this month. You have Language and Linguistics 0201 to blame.

Gurus of Peace

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What are you waiting for another day another dawn
Somewhere we have to find a new way to peace
What are you waiting for another sign another call
Someday we have to find a new way to peace.

- Gurus of Peace; A R Rahman and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

(Click on picture for better resolution)

Waterfall

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You can’t trust water: Even a straight stick turns crooked in it.

- W C Fields

As piercing showers hit your pretty

face, replacing pretentious smile with

crooked obscenities, the ensconcing

veil was lifted and naked truth glintzed,

across the surface of tiny rivulets

flowing down your slender neck.

Crazy, crazy night (and bonus doodle)

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A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?
- Albert Einstein

When you find

Yourself, crying

Middle o’the night

Let Edna die, Orlando transform

from man to woman

change not just clothes, but form

Shakespeare kill an entire

Fleet and then revive

But you, you cannot survive

Without a smoke, a light, a puff,

do not fret

draw crazy-ass stuff,

and post it on your blog.

No kidding.

~insert poker face~
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In case you’re wondering why the picture, well, that’s a random doodle I was drawing when I was supposed to have been studying. In case you’re wondering why the poem, don’t. In fact, please excuse this entire post. I’m going crazy. I need to drink the shit out of my textbooks. Alas, that’s not an option right now. So, good night, for crazy it is, a crazy crazy night! (sing that last bit like Aladdin’s theme song ends.)