Social Networking for social good?

I was just watching a French popper-break dancer called Salah strut his stuff on stage. He is an amazing dancer and a performer and most of the time I was scraping my jaw off the floor at his talent. And while I was doing this it occurred to me that if not for face book and you tube, I would have never stumbled on to this guy or seen his talent. Its really amazing how the borders and limits on knowledge has changed. 

Causes

Today we are literally in the drivers seat, accessing what we want, when we want. There was nothing, I mean absolutely nothing like that when I was born. Considering we were late in catching up with the first world countries, that is still barely three decades of progress to this height. Whether it is good or bad for us in the long run is an question that I don't want to debate here. But things have changed irrevocably for us all. Little known places and people are suddenly now reaching the far corners of the world through face book share and other social networking tools. 

I am sharing this French guy's video with my friends on face book, who are scattered all over the world and may have never seen this type of dancing before. Some of them will like this video and share it further with their friends. Imagine the network made available to this guy's video because of my one little mouse click. 

 

Jumo

It is true that we still have huge problems in the world, including poverty, war, hunger, natural disasters and so many things that need to be addressed and solved, despite our progress. But surely this connectivity is also touching and changing the way we solve these problems as well? Isn't it the prefect tool for fighting the evil, propagating a cause and letting the world know what lies beyond the glitz and glamor of the upper crust? If I can use this connectivity to share videos and stories of what is happening in our rural communities, spread the word of what needs done and how one can help, in think we can put this power to good use. To quote Spider-man, "with great power comes great responsibilities". 

The flip side it are the socially helpful social networking sites that are also making quite a bit of money for themselves. Sites like Jumo, Causes, Crowdrise are social networking platforms built to help non-profit organizations raise fund or get support for their causes and projects. But these sites also charge a sweet little fee for all their services. Which may not be bad if the overall financial support received is good. But a large number of people from the non-profit organizations also feel that this may actually backfire on the cause of social responsibility in social networking.

The fear is that people may feel that by donating their obligation to the society is over. Many people compare it to Carbon Offsets, bought by corporates to weasel their way out of paying for the environmental damage caused by their business. As far as using social network for social good is concerned, it might be better if it used to bring people closer to the cause, informing people of the reality, for gathering support for petition, organizing a marathon etc. All these will help people come together for social good rather then simple offload their extra change for the feel good factor. 

In the summer time, when the weather is high…

Summer doesn't mean beach and bikini's when you are India. When you are in India, especially Kolkata, you wait for winter and absolutely dread summer. It means scorching sun, sweaty armpits and stifling traffic jams. In summer, we Indian's take vacations in Hill Stations to get some cool relief. If only things were so rosy here in UK.

It’s almost April now, and BBC weather says "SNOW ON WEDNESDAY!!" Give me a break! Last summer had sunny spells, so we went to beaches. The water was too cold for us hot-blooded desi's. I dipped my toe a couple of times and came back with a dark enough tan to warrant a fair and lovely treatment. 

Of course I didn't take that treatment. I just happen to go back to Kolkata for a couple of months, and the mosquitoes there detoxified my blood and the sweltering heat gave me natural steaming treatments. The result, apart from a few pollution induced rashes here and there on the face, a rosy-cheeked complexion in 180 days!

I really miss summer in India, but not necessarily in Kolkata. My summers in Kolkata were mostly spent commuting to and fro from office in chicken coops...ahem...I mean local buses. Work places were, of course pleasantly air-conditioned. But there was a time when I worked for a company that had recently moved and there was no air-conditioning installed in that building. The promise of a/c seemed far when April rolled in and all we got were huge stand fans to keep us cool.

Those hot and stuffy days were full of hilarious memories though, courtesy those fans. In the middle of the day, sudden frantic chorus of "move it, move it" meant someone had dared to stand right in front of one of those fans, thus blocking the life saving breeze. Ladies wearing dupatta found the fans hazardous as they often sucked in the long fabrics, yanking the person attached to it as well. After a few scares, the men folk took up the mantle of saving the damsel in distress and dutifully shouted "watch it!" from their seats whenever a dupatta wearing female got too close to any of those fans.

We were a close, jolly group. Breaks from the hectic schedule were always filled with raucous laughter. Sometimes those breaks came in the form of power cuts. Our office has huge French Windows, which actually let in some mild breeze if opened, even in summer. That was mainly because we had fisheries and marshland nearby. Albeit the breeze smelt like fish, but beggars can't be choosers. So, in the incident of a power cut, the windows were thrown open and a crowd would gather near every window. A passerby once even commented that it reminded him of crows sitting on electric wires. How mean!

There was the one memorable afternoon in June 2004, which still makes me laugh whenever I think of it. I think we had a thunderstorm the night before and lightening had fried a nearby transformer. The better part of the morning had gone by without any work or power and people were starting to go mad. A group of us, all senior people, decided it was time for a break. 

We ended up in the almost vacant amusement park that straddled the marshland near our office. We had cool snacks to counter the mid-afternoon sun and then picked some juice packs and decided to enjoy the park's Shikara rides. For all of you non-Indian's, it’s kind of like punting. But since its India, we had chauffeurs.

There must have been eight or nine of us. Sid, who had reputedly swam in the Ganga, refused to hop into the Shikara since the water was only waist high (If you ever read this Sid, I swear I mean nothing by it!). We equally divided into two boats, which resulted in one almost sinking, courtesy one of my best friends who loved his chicken butter masala a little too much. 

After adjusting a little bit, we managed to keep the boat floating with three people in it (Ok, so all three us liked our chicken butter masala a little too much as well). Then we set off to enjoy the murky, fish smelling waters of that bog, side by side. Soon our empty juice packs, now filled with that disgusting water, were flying like missiles from one boat to another. Any attempt to avoid those resulted in near capsizing and loud screams and curses.

Occasionally, my best friend would lean this way or that way, to get a better aim or to get his lighter out his pocket. This made the boat tilt slowly, with us screaming "sit straight you fatso!” The people in the other boat would immediately take advantage at this distraction by hurling more water bombs. 

In the middle of this hilarious ride, fishes suddenly started jumping from the water, flying past our noses and smacking our faces. Whatever was the reason behind that, the result was general pandemonium as people starting squirming to avoid the fishes and tilting the boats this way and that way. We screamed, squealed, and hung on to the sides of the boat to avoid capsizing into that disgustingly dirty water. Our chauffeurs rolled their eyes at our antics.

Alas, our sweet ride ended and we all stumbled back to office, sweaty and flushed with heat, but grinning like mad people. I cherish that memory still and the memory of a friend who was there that day but not with us anymore. I haven't had such a memorable summer since that one really. Hope this summer brings some more laughter again. 

In the summertime

when the weather is high

You can stretch right up

and touch the sky....

-Shaggy

Summer 2009 UK: Pearls of Wisdom from the seasoned traveller

"Whats the big blob in the sky?" - that was the running joke this summer in UK. A sight so rare to this rain soaked country, that you want to run back to the 45 degree C roasting cauldron you call home. However, owing to global warming, the big blob did give us a unique "summer" this time, which we capitalized by running around this island like headless chicken. At the end of this long journey (we chalked up quite a bit of mileage) I gathered a few pearls of wisdom that I would like to share with my unwilling readers-

1. A "beach" in UK does not necessarily conform to the Indian idea of it. Most often, it lacks sandy shores or warm waters.
2. Like the towels mentioned in the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, here you should never step out of the house without the latest AA Road Atlas. Or you will spend half of your life circling some blasted castle in the heart of the city, rather than getting into it.
3. It doesn't matter how sunny the weather forecast, it never hurts to carry a jacket. Don't bother with an umbrella, its more likely to snap like arthritic bones.
4. There are more sheep in England than people.
5. Safest food to order anywhere is the "English Breakfast". Everything else is at your risk.
6. The tallest peaks in England are tiny hillocks to us. If you expect more, go see the Himalaya's in your backyard!
7. Don't expect a lot when you visit a castle. Its more likely to resemble a "bhoot bangla (haunted mansion)" than anything like the palaces of Rajasthan. Interior or to that matter exterior decoration is not of much importance here. Its all about be-headings!
8. If you have doubts about what clothes to get here, anything in white, black or grey will be fine. You will blend right in.
9. Whether you are going uphill or downhill or getting on a single lane bridge, the sheep have the right of the way 
10. In a place so small, even uneven nooks and cranny's are made out to be major tourist attractions. England's biggest gorge may not look more than that crack you crossed on the way to school (well, that may be a little too cruel!)
11. British people rarely smile, unless they are drunk. Scottish people often smile, even when they are not drunk. Haven't been to Ireland.
12. Round-Abouts is a secret weapon used by MI-6 to keep most citizens and aliens confused while in the country.
13. All houses look the same in any given county. If you are visiting anyone, please carry a Sat Nav and the post code.
14. Don't depend on Sat Nav's. Only time it works well is when you key in "Go Home". Otherwise, its as good as having your spouse (I mean me) do the navigation.
15. Car Rental companies are a necessary evil. We use them often, so we know how evil they are.
16. Wear sneakers. The ground is always muddy. Wonder why!??
17. Last but not the least, never comment on the weather early in the day and jinx yourself. If you went through the day without getting wet, you can worship the weather god at night.

I can go on and on and on. But I will keep that for a future blog. Sleep on this few bits, while I try to dig up the elusive wisdom tooth. 

Vote For Your Tomorrow

Indian Election 2009 seems to have hit a new high as far as the pre-election theatrics and dramatics are considered. It’s has become the mother of all reality shows. And it has done nothing to inspire the voters' confidence or motivation.

As a matter of fact, voters have just continued to get more and more disappointed with our politicians and their empty promises. The rural populace, who generally come out to vote in higher numbers, have suffered year after year as elected leaders never delivered on their promise of education, employment, health and other basic amenities. The urban voters on the other hand have not been active participants till late. But the recent escalation of terrorist activities in the Indian metros have brought the urban populace into the 2009 election.

However, as many of these first-time voters are not aware of the political history of the parties and candidates, they are confused. Even the few veteran voters are also confused, as none of the candidates and parties are inspiring total confidence. And let’s not forget the many alliances either. In reality, these ever changing alliances, with enemies becoming friends and friends becoming enemies overnight just for a chance at the seat of power only goes to show the voters what drives our politicians. Indian Voters have pretty much come to regard our politicians as power hungry, unethical people who abuse their position at every chance. And it will take nothing less then a miracle to sway that view anytime soon.

We voters are also at fault for our current situation. Specially the urban voters who have the education and the means to bring about changes should be definitely more aware of political issues and be more involved. We ELECT our politicians, no one is arm-twisting us into having this or that person as our leader. So we are responsible for our choices and we should demand more accountability and transparency in their dealing. Recently, this has meant that politicians are openly flaunting their crimes and then getting away from punishment, for people in power have been abusing Justice in our country as well. We need more awareness among youth about current issues and requirements, involvement in the process and follow up after voting.

What India needs now is fresh faces, not jaded with five decades of power-abuse, with progressive ideas and ethics. Voters need to see candidates who honestly care about the country and its people, are willing to sacrifice their comfort for delivering on their promise, to instill back the non-existent confidence in politics. Our future politician should go back to the basics and provide us our fundamental rights.

In the meantime, we are still left with the choice between the fire and frying pan in the upcoming election. One must take into consideration the bigger picture while voting because who we elect will now govern our country for the next six years, which is a long long time. A mistake in our part will not be corrected anytime soon. So, read the paper, watch the news, think hard about what our country needs and then vote for your tomorrow.

Lets Talk About The Weather

At one time, discussing the weather meant either you are British or you have absolutely nothing else to talk about. But these days weather is the hottest topic around and the pun is intentional. You don't have to be a watcher of Discovery channel or other science programs to know what is happening to our climate - you can literally feel the oddity of every season shifting from the age old patterns that you were used to. Summer comes early, snows at the oddest times, not snowing when its supposed to, more rains and less rains...all erratic and out if its cycle.

So what is the causing this freaky weather? Its called global warming. In our solar system, Earth is the only planet that is currently livable because it has an atmosphere with enough oxygen, water, heat etc to make the surface suitable for us humans. Now this atmospherere consists of Green House gases, which filter the sun rays to reduce the radiation level that reaches the earth and lets the excess heat out of the atmosphere to keep the temperature stable. Now, due to the use of many new appliances and industries the percentages of green house gases in our atmosphere has increased dramatically, thereby throwing the filter off-course, and trapping more and more high radiation sun beams into our climate, increasing the level of CO2 etc. The result has been a gradual increase in our surface temperature. The effect- gradual meting of ice and increase of sea level, change in precipitation cycle that controls rain, - leading to increase in desert areas and decrease in forest area, extinction of many species in those regions and an allover imbalance in the ecological system - and if you are thinking Ice Age was a funny movie, you might want to read this.

I happen to watch a documentary this weekend -An Inconvenient Truth. Directed by Davis Guggenheim the documentary showcases the Climate change presentation that US Senator Al Gore has been making for quite sometime now. He has been campaigning quite long to get the US congress take initiative to take steps to stop the global warming phenomenon with little effect so far. Whatever be his political motives, the presentation IS quite an effective eye opener.

Except for the data on the actual rate of increase in CO2 emissions in our atmosphere and the resulting hike in temperatures, most of the results mentioned were familiar to me, as I am a rather avid watcher of Discovery and other such scientific programs etc. However, many facts seem to shock my fellow watchers, making me aware of how unaware most people are about the extent of the damage so far.

There was one animated segment in the documentary which shows how we react to situations. A frog is tossed into a beaker of hot water - it jumps right out with alacrity. The same frog is put into a beaker of cold water and heat is turned on. Now as the water gradually turns hot, the frog continues to sit there looking a little perplexed and confused but not reacting with the same alacrity as before because the effect is rather gradual. While the audience laughs, we are also hard pressed to admit how true the depiction is. We are apparently not moved by the melting and vanishing glaciers, the ever increasing storms and heat waves and droughts. After all unless climate change causes to set your seat on fire, its hardly any reason to react.

The sad truth that the program reflects is that we have already messed with the ecological balance quite too far to completely restore it back anytime soon. However, rather than despair, the documentary carries the message that - THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE, ITS NOW OR NEVER!

Now, most often people are asking what can we do about it? Isn't it the duty and responsibility of the Government and big organizations to cope with this? How did we contribute to this ourselves - its the effect of big industries! Here is a gem I picked from the net - Climate change has been happening since time began, we should not have to blame civilization now just because. Denial!

Well there are things you can do personally

1. Start with using less appliances like Refrigerator and Air- conditioning - when not needed switch it off.
   
2. Plant more leafy trees around - they absorb a lot of these gases thus reducing the level in the atmosphere.
   
3. Use energy efficient bulbs to reduce the pressure of the energy resource
4. Use less water, again to conserve the resource.
   
5. Keep your car emission low by taking it for periodic servicing etc
6. Carpool to reduce the overall use of fuel and emission into the system
   
7. If there is a municipal garbage recycle system, take time to throw the garbage in the bin rather in the nearest vacant plot.

On a more large scale, we as voters do have the right to push for laws that make emission check mandatory. We have the right and should take the time out to push against the destruction of forests and natural resources for Malls and Supermarkets - people in Goa stood up for their land, why can't the rest of us do the same. We can and should demand that our elected leaders put a better garbage disposal measure in place, introduce recycling etc. These are better reasons to call for a bandh or dharna anyday than the useless political ones that we come across always. Lets wake up and shake up people, or else will end up floating around in some space ship waiting for WALL-E to clear the mess.

You know you are getting old...

when all you can talk about in a get-together is the "good old days". And those little kids that you lorded over and bullied send you their wedding cards! There was a time when people measured the coming of old age by the advent of gray hairs. But not anymore because, well, it's kind of become fashion and who knows if the gray is real or dyed!! Just kidding. Don't think anyone other then actors actually dye their hair gray. After all we all dream of being Dorian Grey and let our portraits grow old instead of us.

But what does it mean for us? Does this mean we should ring the funeral bell, order our caskets or put in the order for scented sandal wood for funeral pyre? One of my friends, who actually brought up this topic, mentioned she finally used a neighbouring kids wedding to try and convince her parents that at 30+ she was old enough to come home after curfew without earth shattering consequences. Her parents simply rolled their eyes and told her to make it home before 11. Can't win with them veterans!

Me, I glibly side step questions about my age and spout lines like "18 till I die" and promptly call up a friend to discuss those golden years of college days- heh heh. The hairs are still black, thank heavens!

For the love of the written word..

I was having a discussion recently about whether book readers are dwindling in number. Without any proper statistics to back any argument, all I could put forward was the almost all of my friends are voracious readers. Of course, that earned me the "your friends are as freaky as you" look.

Nevertheless it got me thinking. I was a book worm since I could read. And most of my friends also started early. Now though, I rarely come across any youngster interested in a book. Does that mean the the next generation will not be readers? Or can people pick up the love of reading at any age?

Being a reader has done me lot of good in life. Not so much to do with enlightening me but to give me a better alternative to perhaps television or video games? Oh wait, we didn't have cable television when I was growing up! Coming back to topic, books can often take your mind of the stressful life and for a few hours take you through an entirely different world. I think books stay with you more then movies. I can be biased though.

I wonder if it will do good if we start shoving a comics in a kids hand rather the TV remote? I rather see someone buried nose deep in paper then the idiot box or Nintendo. But the it's just me. In the meantime, I hope books continue to exist and be written until I cease to exist. That way I can read till I die!

With some luck..

In a recent conversation with my intellectually inclined father, he suddenly told me - no one can achieve any remarkable success without some luck! My knee jerk reaction was to deny it. But then I mulled over it a bit and realized it was partially true. And then I mulled over it a little longer and realized 'By god, it is true!"

Of course this so-called second hand epiphany did nothing for my sour mood. Because my subsequent thoughts were - so we can never achieve anything in life even if we are extremely talented, unless we are also lucky. Because we can have talent and bad luck and never go anywhere with that talent. Depressing thought there. And where does it out the other contradictory epiphany of "where there is a will there is a way!"'.


Can some one succeed on just sheer talent and will, even if luck never favors them? Of course, we have seen semi-talented people make it big in this world because they had the lucky break. More personally speaking, does that mean I can write deliciously and come up with zilch if lady luck turns away. Bad bad epiphany. I liked my naivety before where I believed it was all destiny, which sounded so much better and solid than luck. Luck always follows in my brain with the word fickle. Can't I just pair luck with lottery and greatness with destiny? It sounds a little less scary.

Coming back home...

For everyone of us who have left home to go far away, whether it was another state or another country, coming back home is always a bittersweet experience. Some only see the dust and dirt and some can smell the sweet air of home.

I remember the winter breaks when I was in school. We used to travel to Kolkata where the majority of the relatives stayed. Even though we enjoyed the warmer weather and meeting friends, as the vacation drew to its end, my feet will get restless and my heart will start fussing. It was time to go home.

We use to fly to either Silchar or Guwahati in Assam and then drive our little town of Haflong. It wasn't until we reached half way to Harangazao that the whole "I am almost home" feeling would hit.

We used to stop in Harangazao in the little tea shops for a break and as we stretched and took in the fresh and cold mountain air, it will smell like home. Some thing will flutter in my heart and it will not stop until I was back well inside my house.

Now that I am globe trotting, the feeling hits me the moment I step outside the airport. You can hear the buses, cars, honks and occasional crows crowing and all you can think is "Damn, it feels good to be home!" And if you don't feel it that's fine.

But there is that one little ingredient necessary to make any place feel like home. Good memories and friends. As they say, home is where the heart is. If you don't have either about a place, there is little there to make it a home. So whatever is home to you, whether its a place or even just a house - you should have someplace to come home to.

We the outsiders!

What happens when you fear being an outsider in your own country? I am referring to the ever growing trend of regionalism and separatism that seem to have caught on globally. And for a country like India, which is a kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnic origins, the possibilities are rather terrifying.

Take for instance the Jaipur bombing. Two days after the bombing, when news trickled out that a Bangladesh based terrorist organization was allegedly involved, the reaction over the table was very disturbing. All Bangladeshis will be rounded up and interrogated, I was told by one person. Which than translated to anyone speaking Bengali will be rounded up. Since the instances of mob justice have grown in the past few months in India, can anyone be blamed for fearing such a situation? Will a mob know the difference between a Indian Bengali and a Bangladeshi? To that matter, what will be the fate of those legal migrants from Bangladesh who probably have been in India since Independence. Will the angry, scared mob think twice?

The answer I am tempted to say is no. But since it has not happened yet, I will reserve my judgment and keep my fingers crossed in hope. But, aren't we, collectively the mob, being encouraged to pick on the outsider in the name of regional pride these days? Mumbai and Thackeray comes to mind, Assam and ULFA comes to mind, and numerous other outsiders will soon be feeling the brunt of being not in their own backyard very soon if the trend continues.

So what is the alternate? Last time I looked I was an Indian and India was my country. But should I now stay where I was born or where my mother tongue is spoken. Will I be an outsider in my own country, if I am in the wrong city or province. Are all our labor over writing those 'Unity in Diversity" essays in school going to waste? For a country which stood united and fought for its freedom barely half a century ago, isn't it deplorable that we took no time to fall apart and tear at each other at the name of regionalism?

The art of communication is not lost....

..its just hiding behind the television set. I read this phrase long back in Reader's Digest I think. Then television was the baddest influence on our culture and people still met over coffee, not orkut. Not that I have anything against that medium. But a recent blog by a fellow scribbler brought the whole new age communication thing into my mind and I set down to blog it.

Since my work is all about communication, I have found myself unconsciously eaves dropping on other peoples communication style - picking up the good bits and trying to avoid what doesn't work. This has also led me to realise there is a huge difference between the good communicators and the bad communicators, and it has nothing to do with their intelligence or other skills.

A lot of very intelligent and smart people fail to make the right impression or get their point across because they either cannot communicate properly or do not care to communicate properly. And I have also met many excellent communicators who can sell you the Moon. And somewhere in the middle are the truly exceptional jewels who measure their words, edit their sentences while speaking, pause at the right time, emphasize the right words....to create a crisp, clear communique that leave a great impression.

I remember back in my journalism class, we had a lecture by P. Sainath, the Magsaysay award winner journalist. He was slated to speak on Ethics in Journalism. In he walks into a class of 65 odd brats who have nothing better to do then tear the speaker apart at the first chance. And he starts by asking what we know of the Hiroshima Bombing. Did we know about the Australian reporter who was in Japan at that time and was the first to reach Hiroshima and report? No?

And then he told the story of this reporter who knew nothing about what had happened, and continued to report of the horrors until the Australian media was forced to block his report due to international pressure. He spun the ethics angle on it by and by and we were hooked. The story was told with such finesse that you could have heard a pin drop in that lecture hall. And I will always remember having met such a brilliant communicator in my life.

Of course, I have aslo come across Actors, celebrities, politicians, authors - who are able to deliver their sentiments in words or writing, precisely and concisely. And somehow I have always wished I can reach that level of communication in whatever media I choose to communicate in.

Getting back to the original argument, I feel in today's world of media exposure and trial by television, communication is not hiding behind the television set anymore, it is being flaunted in front of the camera and put up in Youtube. And we should take note and start dotting our i's and crossing our t's and try our darnest best to get our point across - or be lost somewhere in the editor's table.

Need Coffee To Live?

Don't we all. I mean need coffee to live? My mother will disagree. She swears by tea. But then she is old generation (she is so killing me for this). I my self didn't become a caffiene worshipper until I went to study in Chennai. Here I had two major compulsions which led me to convert to Caffeinism - One, we had 90 minutes long classes which could be survived only by drinking gallons of coffee and two, the smell of filter coffee was just too damn enticing. It also didn't help that my then room-mate and current best friend can't string a simple sentence together without having her cup of black coffee. So every morning after kicking me off the bed and sending me to finish a hurried bath she would present me with a cup of that poison and who could say no to such indulgence in hostel life.

Since then coffee and I have had a tumultuous relationship. There has been times when sloppy quality had driven us apart. Sometimes, stressful life has brought us too close together for comfort. There had been days when I could only tolerate coffee in my life, when I had confessed my deepest sins to a coffee mug. But at the end of the day, I confess I do need coffee to live. But I will take my tea on Sundays!

Living on the swing

When was the last time you actually lived?

Sounds like an odd question? But mull over and honestly answer, when was the last time you actually enjoyed the act of living, was overjoyed that you are alive and felt alive? I have dared pop this question from time to time on unsuspecting strangers. Along with the customary eye roll and the “she is nuts” looks, I also received a few honest answers.

“I sat on a swing”, one person told me, a goofy smile on her place. “I took my nephews to the park and they left me alone to play. The grass was wet and I sat down on the swing. I don’t know what happened but sometime later I was flying through the air, shrieking, my hair flapping around blocking my view. When I finally stopped swinging I noticed a whole bunch of people staring at me and my nephews looking very mortified. They never went to the park with me again. I often go by myself nowadays. The people got used to the shrieking by the way”.

I can identify. I have been the shrieking loony in the park often. I see a swing and I loose all my sanity. Nothing beats flying on a swing, wind through the air, the world fleeting through the up and down motion of the swing. All I can think at times like this is "Maaaaaaaan, its good to be alive!!"

Life has a humor

Life has a humor
I often think
Only we are the joke
Life is laughing

What we want
And what we get
It seldom seems
To have an object

For the want of a laugh
We make some cry
For the want of life
We let some die

Choices we make
Lines in the sand
Life comes in waves
All is wiped away

Laughter we say
Often takes the hurt away
Wonder if it so
Why life laughs too

One day your life will flash before your eyes......

.........Make sure it's worth watching!!

This is my mail signature and almost the credo by which I live. When I stumbled up on this line, it was like love at first sight. I always felt that there is more to life then mere existence. Whether there is a reason why men was supposedly given "intelligence" and put somewhat higher up in the "food" chain, I intend to make the best of it.

As those who read this blog will know, most of my stories are memories from my life. And this is just how I want it to be. Full of memorable memories, twists and turns, ups and downs, new experiences and challenges. While living safe is good, many of us I feel miss out on incredible experiences by NOT taking the chance.

I am not asking people to jump out of an aircraft. Sometimes taking chances are as simple as going to a wedding a little far away or say going for white water rafting, a chopper ride. While accidents can happen, it can happen as much as at home then on such an excursion. Fear should not be a reason to miss out on these.

Take for instance roller coasters. I hate them, my husband loves them. I allowed my self one and only one slip and rode a two minute terror called California Scream in Disney. I definitely did not enjoy it. I like speed, as in a speed boat, fast car. Roller coasters are simply too fast and too nauseating for me to enjoy. But that was an experience I do not regret.

I have also done stuff that would have made my parents scream with terror. Like running across the train tracks to catch a train just before starting and literally climbing on to it like monkey (The girl in front of me ended up using my nose as a step).

There was this one time when we went to see off a friend, whose train got late, ticket was not confirmed, and finally we three girls ended up walking down Majestic Bus Stop in Bangalore (for those who do not know, its a red light area and is notorious for criminal activity) at 1 in the night, looking for an auto. We got wolf whistled by three cops, did not see any criminals though!

As I was saying, all these were very very bad things to do I am sure, but boy they sure were some experience. I am sure I will have people shaking their head and "tsking" over this, and I am sure I will also throw a fit if my kids do any such thing, but I do not regret them. It’s all part of life, taking chances, doing new things, experiences that are strange and sometimes even scary. But you only live once. Make sure it's worth watching - on replay!

A Blue song

Dear me, its been such a long time since I wrote anything useful. Been a little lazy, if you know what I mean. Currently, I am feeling very very blue and adding to it by listening to Kenny Rogers croone about "Lucille". I am like that person who wrote the song that goes like "Hey won't you play, a somebody done somebody worng song, to make me feel at home cause I miss my baby (yes Rogers sang that too). I guess a better option would be to listen to peppy songs to pep-you-up. But the moody mood disagrees.

Songs have always been my soul food, good or bad times. Music soothes me, fires me up, makes me bawl (forget I said that!). I remeber my days in th hostel where i kept borrowing my roomamte and best friends walkman to listen to some music. I kept replacing her batteries as i kept using them up. Later on I even got my self a small radio that lasted about a few motnhs and konked. But the little bit did provide me with some good music. I remember working late nights with the radio on and music playing no-stop as RJ's go to sleep so late :-). Hmmmmm...any thoughts?

Swimming in a sea of Phlegm

If the title is offensive to some, I apologise. But it is the reality. You know we develop nuclear missiles every other day, but are yet to find a cure for common cold? For the past four days, my life has been an endless echo of sneezes, sniffles and caughs. I am driving myself crazy, not to mention the other privy to the sound effect. Hopefully I will distribute some of these germs to my well meaning colleagues. What are friends for if not that!

My well meaning blogger buddy Illusions has requested more blogs. But as she didn't specify where, I ended up scribbling long comments on her blog. So if you are missing my witty repertoire, please use the link to Whispering Windows and spare me the trouble. Illusions - lets come up with a pay per click arrangement here. For every visitor directed to your site you can be forever indebted to me or something like that. ........................On second thought you probably turn into an evil genie. Lets just be friends and call it my generosity. Oh well, the show must go on.......and I am becoming comfortably numb! Adios Amigos.

Back in the Saddle

Sorry folks for the loooooong gap in reading material (This is in hopes that I actually have readers J) Hopefully, my muse is back. Keep the comments coming……tinker bell needs believers guys!

Whatever whatever

True to the blog style, I am venting here people. I am having THE writers block and the bloody blinking eyes are not helping. Dry eyes my foot - which are fine by the way. At least one end is working.

Spent the last few days trying to write a blog. trying to pretend to work so that the boss doesn't suspect the lack of it. And trying not to sink in a funk. Atleast the weather has been good. 'Illusions' lament of warm fuzzy weather gave me a positive feeling here at least. When the rains hit last week, there was wild uproar in the office premises. I am sure people would have kissed the wet ground if it was cleaner. Hum hum.....anyways this is just to keep the blog alive. I will kill for some filter coffee right - the only reason I forgave Chennai for being Chennai, when i stayed there.

Having A Bad day

Today was one of those days when nothing goes right. The glass has to fall, the milk has to spill and the traffic has to come to a standstill! Well that’s not exactly what happened but you get my drift.

The problem started when I was making my lunch this morning. I forgot to throw in the chili, which my hubby loves, as I was in a hurry (my maid is absconding and the morning is a rush job). So I decided to substitute it with chili powder. Of course, the container had to go flying out of my hand and all that red chili power to spill all over my recently mopped kitchen floor.

And this happened with only 20 minutes to go before we get really late to office. So I dashed for the broom and tried to sweep it off without getting any powder in my eyes or fingers. Even though the floor got cleaned my mood was already feeling the burnt of the chili.

But I didn’t have the time to brood. So I dashed off to get ready. Of course then I had to drop my earrings under my bed and then crawl on all four, while wearing that well-ironed formal dress looking for that earring. Got into an even crappier mood by then.

Thank god though the traffic was merciful and reached the office without hassle. Now, owing to the fact that my husband had an early morning meeting, I reached office half an hour before time. But I wasn’t worried as I planned on having my breakfast in the canteen, by which time my one of the guys would have turned up with the office key.

I work in small law firm with a handful of people. So we most of have a keys. But as luck goes I had given mine to another colleague the night before as he was staying late. So imagine my irritation and surprise, when no one turned up by office time. I called my lucky colleague and he shamelessly informed me that he woke up late and was still at home. Well same story was repeated with others until one guy turned up half an hour later.

Now, I am a true believer of every bad thing comes in threes. That was three things, so hoping I don’t have any more nasty surprises today. Oh god, don’t you just hate this kind of days?