Taste

Just finished reading an interesting article on Psychology Today. It talks about how our choice of books, movies, music, and art go to the core of who we are. It discusses how different kind of people have a tendency of some peculiar taste in music or movies or art form. Relevant examples are quoted to make the point. 

Some points from reading:

Taste Hunters-constantly sampling new music, scouring movie reviews for undiscovered gems, and visiting art museums. Their curiosity drives them to explore the world in search of novelty.

Thrill Seekers -lively, active, social people who crave sensory excitement in the art they seek out, drawn to pornographic and horror films,drawn to art with "sensational elements"—wild colors, forceful action, and themes of sex or violence—such as paintings depicting war, castration, or rapture

Self Medicators-  tend to be artistically creative and gravitate toward emotionally turbulent art, including films, songs, and literature often seen as romantic,more likely to enjoy rap and heavy metal

While reading it I found that many of my traits overlap in different categories.....and as it turned out in the end of article author refer that we all are precisely a mix of many traits but I guess one dominates. As some of the references and examples are quoted with reference to US personalities which a non US person cannot identify directly to but still quite useful. One thing I could relate to is some of my friends who seem quite similar to me have more or less very matching taste in music. For books and movies I would say the variation was larger. I don't know...somehow it sounds foolish but I guess I am yet to discover myself in completeness. Sounds confusing to myself but that's just the feeling I get. Now which kind of people do that ?...yeah introspection ones.

Other note from reading : 

Most popular method of reducing stress- Listening to music (followed by watching TV and taking bath). I definitely agree with it :).

Festival of Lights - Diwali

Financial Crisis

Finance has always eluded me in understanding. From what courses I took during the MBA it gave an impression of simple made complex type. So I was never a finance enthusiast. Recently the debacle on the Wall Street which sent jitters across the world prompted me to look at how exactly did these guys manage to screw up so badly. So for past 3-4 weeks  since 15th Sept I was following the events on Internet. First everything went of over head as I didn't have the basics in place. After repeated studying of the stuff I was able to get some understanding on the topic. Since it took me quite a while and knowing the importance of such event I thought of why not putting down my understanding on a PowerPoint and share with others who are still confused. There are many references on net so mine would be just a drop in the ocean in terms of information. Hope people are able to get something out of it.

Financial Crisis-2008

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A more detailed version is available here:

Financial Crisis in detail

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It's not about the Bike

I was awe at the wonders and capability of human fighting back spirit against all odds.Nothing is impossible. That's what it felt like after reading the latest book by world famous cyclist Lance Armstrong. It is sort of short biography ...though I would say not in full as the book was published in 2001 and a lot has happened in Lance life after that. The book covers Lance earlier years being brought up by a very strong and supportive mother, the hardships she faced as a single parent raising a child , how biking became his profession , his ascent in international arena and then about a tragic halt brought in a booming career by being diagnosed with Cancer . The prostrate cancer being in advanced stage by the time it got diagnosed , though symptoms appeared earlier but he had ignored it. He details out in depth of what all he had to go through as part of the cancer treatment and how he fought his way back to recovery. He explains out the medical jargon in a very simple layman language. After recovery how he fought his way back....initially just giving it up ...but because of his friends and wife's determination got back into cycling. The period referred to as survivor ship where he describes how after becoming physically fit again it was much difficult to get back mentally into the world again. One complete section then details out the first Tour de France (most prestigious event in cycling world , a test of endurance of pain and hardship) victory, the rivalries, the tactics and the growing and disturbing press attention.

I had never read much about bicycling nor about cancer so I had a lot to learn in terms of knowledge on both. One of the my famous quotes from the book as taught to Lance by her mother " You never quit".

After diagnosed and cured of cancer Lance wanted to do something for other and so he opened Lance Armstrong Foundation. He has a site of his own (link).