Kurt Cobain's Suicide Note!!!!

Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complain-ee. This note should be pretty easy to understand.
All the warnings from the punk rock 101 courses over the years, since my first introduction to the, shall we say, ethics involved with independence and the embracement of your community has proven to be very true. I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond words about these things. For example when we're back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins., it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can't fool you, any one of you. It simply isn't fair to you or me. The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I'm having 100% fun. Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage. I've tried everything within my power to appreciate it (and I do, God, believe me I do, but it's not enough). I appreciate the fact that I and we have affected and entertained a lot of people. It must be one of those narcissists who only appreciate things when they're gone.
I'm too sensitive. I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasms I once had as a child.
On our last 3 tours, I've had a much better appreciation for all the people I've known personally, and as fans of our music, but I still can't get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone. There's good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little, sensitive, unappreciative, Pisces, Jesus man. Why don't you just enjoy it? I don't know!
I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what i used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can't stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I've become. I have it good, very good, and I'm grateful, but since the age of seven, I've become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess.
Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I'm too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away.
Peace, love, empathy. Kurt Cobain
Frances and Courtney, I'll be at your alter.
Please keep going Courtney, for Frances
For her life, which will be so much happier without me. I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!

It is time to 'March' ahead!!!!

It is that time of the year, when calculators come out of the drawers, excel becomes the hottest thing ever and tax consultants make obscene amount of money. Yes, you have guessed it right, this is March. A month which has IPL 3, but for once that is not the most important reason behind the importance of this month...To remind you, this is also the month that most of us pay our taxes in!!!!

In this context, getting hold of proper tax saving instruments become very important...Investments are made and declared and we 'donate' our hard earned money with a lot of grudge against the government...Insurance, is a widely used instrument in this period.

Over the last couple of weeks, when I myself have been losing sleep over how to save taxes, have often hit upon the idea of buying insurance policies. It is here that I started thinking about all the ads of various products from insurance companies.

Insurance, is a negative reinforcement product. This means that Insurance is bought to avoid the aftermaths of an unwanted situation, like death, accident, and in most cases taxes. The underlying emotion or sentiment belying an insurance buying decision is fear. We fear that we might not be able to support ourselves financially if the earning member/s of the family are no more there, and hence we buy an insurance policy!!!

Now if we have noticed carefully, none of the insurance ads, with a few aberrations, even remotely speak of this. Insurance ads are mostly feel good ads where a daughter is shown gifting her father a bigger and better car. A grandfather who wants to extend a helping hand to his grandson who is about to trip, is stopped by the father, et al.

There is a reason to it.


Research shows that we, as consumers do not prefer to see negative messages on television. We do not empathise with them. What happens is that we form a very clear demarcation of 'them' and 'we'. If an ad shows a death, we analyze that it happenned or can happen to 'them' (the characters potrayed in the ad) and not us. Also, the average Indian consumer, is pretty egoistic when it comes to his/her family. In the case of insurance, the decision maker is mostly, the earning member of the family, that is largely, the male. If we look carefully, there is a good amount of ego massage that is done by these ads. How? Recollect the HDFC Standard Life "Sar Utha Ke Jiyo: ads.

One aberration in recent times, has been, again, HDFC Standard Life. The ad shows two friends. One is going on a tour, and the other friend is seeing him off tha the airport. They discuss what will happen to the family if the friend does not return from the tour at all. To me, this ad is a very blatant and in your face kind of an ad, that drives home the point without mincing or sugarcoating words. I am eagerly looking forward to the kind of reaction that the ad stirrs!!!

Till that time, I shall continue contemplating on which insurance to buy, how much investments to declare, etc. Ads or no ads..Life, you see, has to 'March' ahead!!!!