It's Diwali, and I'm sitting alone in my office in Bangalore. The sound of fireworks outside makes me feel both happy and sad. Happy because it reminds me of home, but sad because I'm not there. It's been two long years since I've visited my village near Bhopal. As I work, my mind wanders to our last Diwali celebration at home. I can almost see the whole village gathered in the center, laughing and talking. We'd set up a big white sheet as a screen and watched a movie together. Then, we'd light diyas and burst crackers. The joy on everyone's faces, the smell of sweets in the air - it was magical. Here in Bangalore, the celebrations are bigger and fancier, but they don't have the warmth of my village. Growing up wasn't easy for us. After my father passed away when I was young, money was always tight. But somehow, during festivals, none of that mattered. We'd all come together and share what little we had. Now, as I look at my computer screen, I wonder what I'm missing back home. Is mom making her special laddoos? Are my younger siblings running around with sparklers? But then I smile, thinking about the smartphone I bought for mom last month. It cost ₹15,000 - a big amount for us, but worth every rupee. Mom was so excited when she got it. At first, she was afraid to touch it, worried she might break it. But now, she's become quite the pro! She calls me every day, her voice full of pride as she tells me about the new thing she's learned. "Beta, I sent you a good morning message with flowers!" she'll say, or "I saw the photo you posted of your office. It looks so big!" Her excitement over these small things fills my heart with joy. It's like a piece of home reaches me through that phone every day. Thinking about mom makes me miss her even more. I miss the smell of her freshly made rotis, the way she'd fuss over me to eat more, her gentle scolding when I'd stay up too late. But I know why I'm here, working on a festival night. PS: My mom sent me this photo

Max max budget 1.5L per head

Let's be real, tech "bros" aren't bros at all. While they're stacking FAANG salaries and living in their Rs.50k/month mathbox apartment in Bangalore, finance guys are ACTUALLY living the high life. Here's the brutal reality: **Virgin Tech Guy** 1. Makes Rs. 20L but spends Friday nights debugging code and arguing about Vim vs Emacs 2. Thinks "networking" means TCP/IP protocols 3. Splurges on a EV scooter that catches fire but can't hold eye contact. 4. "Team building" = awkward board game nights with lukewarm Red Bull. 5. Dating strategy = swiping right on algorithms **Chad Finance Bro** 1. Crushes deals by day, crushes bottles by night 2. Has actual social skills from years of client dinners 3. Knows every bouncer from Mirage to Kitty Ko. 4. Summer in Kasol, winter in Goa. 5. Genuine brotherhood from suffering through analyst years together. The truth? Tech money is NEW money. These guys grew up optimizing Minecraft servers while finance bros were learning how to command rooms at prep school. You can't code your way into social dominance, that stuff gets built over GENERATIONS. Finance has mastered the art of turning money into STATUS. Meanwhile, tech guys think wearing a Patagonia vest makes them part of the elite. News flash: your Series B funding means nothing when you're standing awkwardly at Toit clutching your craft beer. Until tech bros learn there's no API for charisma, finance will keep eating their lunch in the social and dating scenes.

I was out with a friend, she was telling me how her parents have messed up her life and try to interfere in all aspects of her life. Her bachelors was in her home city, so anytime she wanted to go out other than college hours, there was proper question answer rounds. Where, who, when, what time you will return home and her father used to pick and drop her. To avoid conflict she restricted going out. After bachelors they didn't allow her to pursue masters out of India. Then when she convinced them to allow an MBA in another state, there were constant calls and video calls just to make sure she was in her room. But that stay away from home developed her a lot, I can see that. She is more mature now and confident. Now she lives in a metro city, is financially independent but still has to update any plans to her parents otherwise they make sure to make a ton of calls to her and her roommate. She can't be outside home after 9 9:30. She has a vc from home around that time. Infact she got a call when we were out. I understand parents want to protect her but at what cost. I asked her to set some boundaries and to push back, but she answered its no use and would only lead to more restrictions. My point is first, is it so hard to push back parents who are so controlling and ask for some space, second now that she is financially independent, there wouldn't be any consequences right, worse comes to worse a break of communication

Highest liked sweet wins the worst award

Aaj ke zamane mei kya kya kar na pad raha hai, Stock portfolio banao crorepati wali, Inner child ko trauma se heal karo, Destiny manifest karo to live into the purpose of your true self, AI ke bare mei daro, US economy ke bare mei rath ko neendh chod ke chinta karo, 10000 steps chalo aur meals ko "curate" karo, Pyar dundo,(Nahi milega par dundo) Kutha ya billi palo(tere shakal ko koi insta mei like kaun dega) Plants ko ghar ke andar ugao, Tu bhar kadha ho jao sunlight mei warna depression ah jayega, Hobbies karo dopamine ke liye varna tu nas kat lega Dopamine zyada ho gaya detox karo!! detox karo!! Dusare country ko trip jaoto discover yourself (aisa specimen hai tu ke foreign research ka zarurat hai samaj ne ke liye). Skin care ka routine banao self love ke liye Affirmations aur positive self talk karo (kudh bhi apna baklol suno) Ye sab kar ne ke badh 30% tax baro. Tak chuka hu yaar

CR7 for me. But I am open to listening from GVers on other sports or players.

I’m not trying to romanticize burnout or act like overworking is the goal - no one’s asking for 80-hour weeks or to be glued to a desk. It’s just about showing up and really putting in the work during the hours you're actually there. Get through the day, put in the grind for the 8-9 hours, instead of always finding little workarounds or boundaries like work’s this huge burden. With some folks, especially Gen-Z? It’s like they’re expecting applause just for clocking in. Honestly, the entitlement sometimes is hard to understand. Wanting work-life balance? Totally fair, makes sense. But there’s still a basic commitment that comes with a job. Every time there’s a project with a bit of grit, it feels like there’s this immediate instinct to push back, sidestep the tough parts, and look for the smoothest route. Nobody’s above rolling up their sleeves, you know? But some of these guys, they treat working hard like it’s an outdated concept, like giving full effort is optional. And for those with the big names on their degrees? Sometimes it feels like they think that alone should mean they’re past the heavy lifting. They want the titles and perks, but without really showing the effort. On the other hand, working with folks who didn’t have all those privileges? Whole different story. They’re here ready to prove something, fully leaning into whatever task’s in front of them. They don’t get caught up in endless boundary-setting or second-guessing feedback - they’re putting in the work, seeing it as a chance, not a chore. And they don’t expect shortcuts; they’re in for the real effort. It’s not about glorifying long hours - it’s about being fully present for the hours you’re on the clock. Seeing some of this avoidance around commitment, it’s like somewhere along the line, the understanding got lost that success is built in the small, daily grind - the stuff that doesn’t come with instant validation.

Mine is to build six pack abs and 10 inches biceps

When I look back at my own journey, my biggest growth spurts weren't from my wins (though those felt great!). They came from those moments when I was sitting in my room at 2 AM, fixing shit that wouldn't work, or getting rejected from that "perfect" job opportunity. Yesterday, I was mentoring someone who was frustrated about a project not going perfectly. Found myself saying "Good! This is where the real learning happens!" Then realized I sounded exactly like what Huang was talking about 😂 It's kind of wild, we spend so much time trying to shield ourselves (and others) from failure, but maybe that's exactly what we need? Not because suffering is good, but because learning to get back up might be the most valuable skill we never knew we needed. Think about it - how many "overnight success" stories actually took 10 years of failing first? Probably most of them. Maybe Huang's just being real about what it actually takes, even if it sounds harsh at first. What's your take on this? I know WLB is a big thing now and maybe this is an old fashioned take.

58BPM 1Month average

GVers, I am willing to support if anyone is facing any professional/mental/social or any other issues. You may share the problem here or feel free to DM if you think the topic is too personal or not relevant to share on group/broader audience. Thanks, OutOfRatRace

"Beta, you really don’t have a single steel tumbler?” Dad yelled from over from the kitchen, and I could almost hear the look Mom was giving my cabinets. My folks were in Bangalore for Diwali, and within minutes, my apartment didn’t feel like *my* place anymore. My kitchen had turned into a mini spice market, packed with steel dabbas and enough snacks to feed the neighborhood. I watched her rearrange everything, quietly accepting that my “system” didn’t stand a chance against her logic. See, in my world, life’s all about keeping it simple and quick. Coffee’s done in five minutes, food’s mostly takeout, and my whole setup is based on speed and convenience. But now? Every move had become a family debate. *“Why don’t you cook more?”* *“Why so many coffee mugs but no steel glasses?”* And honestly, it just cracked me up how differently we did things. Diwali night, we lit diyas together, and Mom kept adjusting each one until it faced the “right way.” Watching her, it hit me: this wasn’t just about me and them. This whole “different world” thing probably happened when my parents moved out too, back when my grandparents thought their “modern ways” were too fast or too loose. Each generation has its own rhythm, I guess. Everyone tries to set up life their own way, while holding onto what feels like home. By the time they left this morning, my apartment was this mix of both worlds - their dabbas lined up next to my coffee pods, the kitchen all “reorganized.” And even though I went back to my usual routines, the place felt warmer, like they’d left a bit of home behind. Just a reminder that, no matter how different we all live, we’re all just trying to build a home that feels right.

A female student in Iran was arrested after stripping to her underwear in protest at Tehran's Islamic Azad University. The incident occurred after she reportedly had a confrontation with Basij paramilitary forces who allegedly harassed her about not wearing a headscarf and tore at her clothes. Videos on social media showed her removing her clothes and later being forced into a car by plainclothes men. Amnesty International has called for her immediate release and an investigation into abuse allegations. Iran's Fars news agency confirmed the incident but claimed security guards had acted calmly.

My hot take is, Cher was right, "my mom said to me, 'You know, sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man,' and I said, 'Mom, I am a rich man.'" I will personally send Rs. 500 to the highest liked comment.

Feel free to mention your favorite model, search tool, coding tool, writing tool etc…

I'll go first, the Porsche 918 Spyder that was on my bedroom wall as a poster throughout my teens. You know, that iconic sports car with its razor-sharp edges and scissor doors. Back then, it felt as distant as the stars, existing only in magazines and dreams. Now, technically, I could work towards owning one. But somehow, the magic has shifted. The poster child of my youth has become just that, a childhood dream. Yesterday, I was driving my MG Gloster and spotted a kid, maybe 10 years old, pressing his face against a BBT dealership window, staring at this lovely AMG with the same wonder I once had. For a moment, I was transported back to being that kid who'd spend hours drawing cars in his notebook during class. That pure, unfiltered enthusiasm isn't quite the same anymore. Now I think about maintenance costs, practicality, and fuel efficiency. The dreams have evolved, matured perhaps. But sometimes when I hear any engine roar past, that little car-obsessed kid in me just goes wow. And you know what? Maybe that's okay. Because while I may not want that Countach anymore, that dreaming kid would be pretty amazed that I can drive at all, that I have my own car, and that I'm able to make my own choices. Sometimes growing up means letting some dreams transform into beautiful memories. 🚗✨ What's your dream car story?

most of the people who manage these donations are corrupt af

“Optimizing for ceiling rather than local maxima is exactly what it means when the cost of staying still is more than the cost of moving. Trading current momentum for higher-order potential - it's stochastic gradient ascent for your career Here’s what ChatGPT wrote to me and it might be the most insane thing ever.

What are your thoughts?

It was supposed to be just a quick code sprint. That’s how it always starts, right? "I'll be done by midnight, max," I used to tell her, not knowing it was the last lie I’d get away with. Midnight turned to 2 AM, then 4. By the time I shut my laptop, the first light was coming through the blinds, and her side of the bed was empty. But that was our normal. I thought she got it, she knew I was building something big, something that would finally change things for us. I was knee deep in solving a critical bug that only I seemed to understand, believing in some twisted way that the endless grind was proof of my dedication to **us** . Each time I thought about taking a break, I'd picture her smile when all this hard work finally paid off. But that smile was getting rarer. I'd catch her looking at me across the room, and I'd just wave her off, saying, "Just a bit longer, promise." And every time, she’d nod, but there was this look in her eyes, a mix of disappointment and something I couldn’t quite place. I was too busy building, too buried in code to ask. The worst part? I didn’t even see it coming. She’d been pulling away for months, leaving early in the morning, taking calls outside. I convinced myself she was just giving me space, like she always did. I remember thinking, **Wow, she's supportive,** when really, she was letting go. When she finally left, she left a note, and all it said was: “I need someone who’s here, not always **almost there**.” The first time I truly felt her absence was in the silence. After the adrenaline of a thousand deadlines, a million late nights chasing bugs and fixes, there was this... nothing. I’d sit there, blank screen in front of me, waiting for the relief that usually came after a build worked. But there was just this sinking feeling that none of it meant anything without her. Here’s the real kicker: I’d never considered it toxic. I thought it was the price of greatness, of pushing myself to be better. Should I call/text her?

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On October 8, 2024, the Internet Archive (Archive.org) was hit by a major DDoS attack, forcing it to operate in read-only mode and halting new web archiving. For the first time in decades, there’s a major gap, as three weeks of online content are missing, making it harder to track changes or verify past statements. At the same time, Google quietly removed its cached-page feature, which once let users access older versions of web pages, and Amazon shut down its Alexa web ranking service in 2022, taking away a popular tool for assessing site traffic and influence. This isn’t just about outright censorship—it’s also about "quasi-censorship" through algorithms. Search engines are now ranking results based on “trusted sources,” pushing alternative viewpoints lower in search results. Many creators on platforms like YouTube have faced restrictions, forcing them to switch to places like Rumble to keep their content available. As access to online history becomes more limited, the internet’s original role as an open, democratic space seems at risk.

I saw a post on Grapevine about using Modafinil for focus. Here's my story and I hope you learn a lesson from it: I never thought I’d be here, writing this. But here I am, trying to piece together a warning from my own regrets. When I started college, I was eager, maybe a little naive, but I felt sure of who I was. He was charismatic, older, and full of trouble. He introduced me to things I had no experience with, things I never thought I’d be interested in, including drugs. At first, it was casual. We'd take something before a party, just to "enhance" the night, as he put it. It seemed harmless, just another part of the college experience. Everyone was doing it, or so it seemed, and I felt like it was opening up new worlds for me. My grades didn’t suffer at first, so I figured I was still in control. But that was just the start. Before I knew it, drugs became less of a weekend thrill and more of a regular routine. He seemed fine with it, almost proud of this lifestyle. And I got pulled in deeper, ignoring the signs, brushing off the voice inside that warned me to stop. But the truth is, drugs slowly unraveled me. My focus, something I used to pride myself on, just disappeared. Lectures became a blur, assignments piled up, and my once-clear goals felt distant and pointless. I lost track of who I was and what I wanted. Drugs didn’t just fog up my brain; they fogged up my ambitions, my passions, my purpose. I couldn’t concentrate on anything meaningful, and it felt like my motivation had been hollowed out. Eventually, my grades plummeted, and I found myself skipping classes I once enjoyed. Friends I used to connect with drifted away, and him and I? Our connection was nothing more than a shared escape from reality. When he left, I was left with the pieces of a life I barely recognized. The worst part is, it wasn’t just my focus that slipped away. I lost time, confidence, and, for a while, any sense of direction. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: focus is everything. It’s what fuels ambition, creativity, and growth. Without it, you’re just drifting. If you’re reading this, maybe you’re standing where I stood, thinking it’s harmless, thinking you’re in control. Please, don’t let drugs steal your focus, your time, or your future. Believe me, the cost is so much higher than you’ll ever think in that first, casual moment.

Need to reach 15K fast

I knew the response to GV news will be good. But I wasn’t prepared for this much love :) Thanks to the 2000 early adopters here who helped make GV News better by giving so much feedback over last 2 weeks. We’ve iterated and it’s more ready now We will now roll out GV news to about 15000 more people who signed up for early access on 4/11. Happy Diwali folks