tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352349092024-03-14T01:32:23.890-07:00Reflections...My thoughtsPritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-22253381395126595272022-09-11T21:51:00.003-07:002022-09-11T21:51:53.458-07:00"The World Is One family"<p><i><b> </b></i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam</b></i> is a sanskrit phrase that means "the World is one family". It was a very popular phase in the 90's, right about the time B</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">erlin wall was brought down and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">the Soviet Union disintegrated. The world was thawing, at the end of the cold war.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apartheid ended, tying Africa to the rest of the world. Human rights and equality seems to be finally getting the focus it deserved. Most countries were independent from their colonizers and on path of building democracies with zest and idealism. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were dreams and hopes of the world coming together to pool resources, to shake hands, to help and be helped .. and globalization promised to make the world a better place.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">The world is a much worse place, today.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In my opinion the turning point was 9/11. Attack on America and its response highlighted the fallacy of the better world. Hatred, boundaries, violence, disregard for innocent lives, weapons, wars ...resurfaced!! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The instability in middle east, the Syrian war and refugee crisis, the rise of China as the "cheap commodity provider" of the world and its brazen violations of human rights, the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the absolutely audacious Ukraine war, the global pandemic that spread like wildfire killing millions, man-made Yemen famine, war in Tigray, takeover of Hong Kong, Climate Change .... today the miserable events of the world has directly or indirectly, through volatile stock market, inflation, food insecurities, energy crisis, famines, drugs, guns, wildfires, tornadoes, storms, disease and death..... impacted all of us</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Trump, Boris Johnson, Bolsonaro, Viktor Orban, Scott Morrison, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping of a singular country ...impacted the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today, there is no region of world that enjoys peace, stellar democracy, unblemished record on human rights and a foreign policy not driven by short-sighted, narrow-minded gains and appeasement of its citizens. Oh and continuous contribution to climate change...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So we are still "one family", now we are bonded in misery...shaped by human insecurities and disregard for nature. I really hope our journey as a family could have been different...</span></p>Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-17937052685908347552021-08-21T20:32:00.002-07:002021-08-21T20:32:53.203-07:00Multiverse<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As a comic book/Sci-Fi fan I usually find the concept of parallel universes, as shown the movies/TV-series very underwhelming. They really try to dumb it down by keeping the key characters very similar across the universes with limited changes to their appearances and relationships to allow us to observe the concept.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In reality, the possibility and probability that each moment brings will cause the parallel universes to differ enormously, to the extent that it will be impossible to draw parallels</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the question is that do we even have to travel outside our world to experience concept of multiple, diverse realities?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was a week of turmoil in Afghanistan while Elon Musk talked about creating Tesla bots.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are talking about a mineral rich country with which a bunch of other countries played puppet masters. After many years of interfering with the country, now it's in hand of people who do not believe in human rights, education, woman rights or freedom in general. Like Taliban do not believe in performing,selling or listening to music. A free country where most have lost their freedom.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Afghanistan is unfortunately not the only country where human rights and freedom have a different definition. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How will AI bots help with human rights?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As human species, we are in unimaginable diverse position when it comes to existence, development, growth, potential , safety, opportunities and hope... to the extent that world leaders and organizations are unable to keep up with the chaos and trying to formulate a basic minimum mandate for human rights. While some lives are plunged into regressive changes and other travel to the space for recreation, let's try to make more realistic sci-fi movies about parallel universes so we can ignore the gut-wrenching reality of this world.</span></div>Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-24577948586447185292020-05-31T12:47:00.000-07:002020-05-31T12:47:30.060-07:00Us and Them ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At some point in its life, even the Sun grows so large that it collapses under its own weight. <div>
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At seven billion, mankind is exploding and imploding at the same time. As we excel in science, medicine, technology; explore outer space and alien life; learn about nature and natural phenomenons;visit and marvel the unreachable corners of the earth... most humans suffer.</div>
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There are man-made wars, conflicts, injustice, hunger, disease, trafficking, exploitation, misery in every corner of the world. But still what is more baffling than the fact that we the "superior race", needs to oppress its own kind to feel empowered like a very ordinary group of hyenas, is that we give terminology to "our opinion" of these crimes against humanity and use these mindless terms to divide us</div>
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All blood that is shed is red. Pain, hunger and fear is universal. Empathy is not unique, but definitely universal to humans.</div>
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But wait. The terms...</div>
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No man of any color should die while being taken into custody.</div>
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It's not "black lives matter". It's opposite is not "Blues Lives Matter". It's not "All Lives matter" that was designed to weaken the warcry of "Black Lives Matter".</div>
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Its Wrong! Just Wrong. And that should be enough for all!!!</div>
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Because lives do not have color. Because injustice and callousness for someones life, does not wear a coveted uniform.</div>
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Just like Mourning and protests are constructed of pain, tears, anger, memories, resolve; even the public ones. Have you ever heard, someone looted a target because they lost a brother?</div>
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But why just unjustified violence, there are teams for everything. From moral bearing like </div>
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Women's rights on their own body, rights of LGBTQ community, racism to financial decision like protecting the vulnerables of the society, the business of education and health care, the nexus of money and politics, .... oh and the biggest con humankind ever played and got played by... religion.</div>
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We are forever divided as socialist, comminitist, capitalist, feminist, republicans,democrats, gun activists, liberals, Right wingers, supermists, confederates, activists, pro immigration, anti immigration,environmentalists, hunters, animal activists, climate change deniers, flat earthers, conservationist.</div>
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The idea is to not use absolute terms of wrong and right. This way there is always a doubt on what action is warranted. A debate on topics which do not require one, allowing the unacceptable to continue. </div>
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It is almost impossible. No actually impossible to not adopt these terms because of the morality associated. Our love and respect for Science, nature, "our god", our community, our opinions, our friends and family, force us to take a stand. Though the stand is pretty useless and only holds one purpose ...to make us "different" from the people who do not use associate with our terminology. It also lays burden to defend the imperfections of that group/classification. Like as a supporter of "right to bear arms" one should someone defend or ignore its fatal impact of domestic violence, mass shootings and active shooter drills at schools..</div>
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We are who we are, and others are wrong, stupid, immoral and corrupt. This is the general consenses and we are all losing to it.</div>
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-62926809265474839072020-05-24T16:26:00.000-07:002020-05-24T16:26:21.295-07:00X stages of Quarantine - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wooohooo!!! I finally found the use of Algebra!!! My friend X came to return the favor of representing the unknown, for the million times I found value in him.<br />
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So let me tell about the stages I have unearthed so far.<br />
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Stage 1: Denial<br />
Features:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Information Vortex:</b> We watch news like our life depends on it. No. We read, hear, see, breathe and think news. We hang on to every statistics, graph , date published about any aspect of the pandemic, for any geographical location. We look for patterns, predictions and possibilities, to take back control of our lives.</li>
<li>We hoard food as if the markets will become empty soon, because the empty aisles haunt us. And then stress eat all the hoarded food.</li>
<li> We still dress up for working from home, postpone setting up a home office or buying gym equipment. We wait for "it to be over" to shop anything except essentials.</li>
<li>We count days, hour, minutes and seconds to get back to normal.</li>
</ul>
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Stage 2: Realization<br />
Features:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Renounce Information</b>: The romance with information comes to an abrupt end. We soon realize that scientists and doctors are dealing with a new virus and know little. But as news channels line-up for a sound bite, they say anything and everything that comes to their mind. Politicians are still their evil self. While people die, there are country premier's, preparing and focusing on reelection, privatization, indulging in corruption, circumventing judiciary, causing conflict and redefining the boarders along with hollowing democracies</li>
<li>We start respecting and rationaining food. The respect for expiry dates, best buy dates or five second rules vanish. We want to be effective and efficient with food not only because stepping outside is very uncomfortable; But Also because we see the future supply of food dwindling. We take solace is cooking.</li>
<li> We accept the futility of changing cloths to work from home. Or combing hair. We plan to change our lives to contain it in the safety of our homes.</li>
<li>you not only loose hope to return to the normal, you question how good was the "normal" life </li>
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This is where we are.<br />
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I do not know how many more stages will emerge or what they will look like. But I sure hope that end result include these</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Reduce the wasteful activities, specially if it hurts the environment. Simple things like "fashion". Fast fashion hurts the environment more than it fixes one's low self esteem. Or activities like going out with family to enjoy "family time", something which a lego set can do very well at home</li>
<li>Drive less. </li>
<li>Denounce all day news channels.</li>
<li>be kind! </li>
<li>Use our money to give donation instead of tithes. </li>
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P.S. : Thoughts and observations of a fortunate and privileged individual with no urgency to walk hundred's of miles, struggle as an unwanted refugee, deal with civil wars, conflict or violence, face religious persecutions or be old enough to be accepted as a sacrificial lamb to the God's of wall street.<br />
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-55782787252947909182020-04-21T21:38:00.000-07:002020-04-21T21:38:09.562-07:00Losing My Mind - Part 1 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The little bugs that are trying to eat my rose buds are wondering, who is this person and why does she need to come and observe us closely seventeen times a day. Food and exercise are limited and limitless at the same time. Sleep is oblivious of my mind's need to rest. Work from anywhere is challenging because the brain constantly harbours a potpourri of thoughts, fears, plans, worries, hope and hopelessness while surfing through life of existing routines and new abnormal.<br />
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The real challenge of the quarantine times is not that there is a lot of time on our hands. Even though it may be the most obvious observation. The real challenge is that there is a lot on our minds.<br />
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What do we do to not get sick? How do we know, what we are doing is working? Are we taking enough precautions or too many precautions? How do we keep our loved ones from getting sick? Are they doing enough?<br />
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How do we help the sick, the needy or the people who are helping the needy? Where and how much should we donate?<br />
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What is happening today? How is the virus progressing? What does this number and information mean for me and my neighbourhood? What is the information in my family's /friends's locality and what does that mean for them? Which newspaper should i read? How many newspapers should i read? How many news briefing are ok to watch?Should i read and collect more news to process or i should just take refuge in watching puppy and baby videos?<br />
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Why does my knee hurt? Is it from all the exercising? Why only one knee hurt? I can't afford to exercise because i cant get medical help. What if not doing exercising make me sick? I can't afford to not exercise because i cant get medical help.<br />
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How is politics still a thing when people are dying from a still incurable virus? ok. Politicians are scumbags. But who are the people going to the beaches? Who are the people protesting for economy to reopen? Who will go out if the stores get reopened? Will they take up all the beds in the hospitals because they went for a hair color? Will the doctors admit patients with shabby hairdo over proper hair because that will be a tell on who got infected despite precautions versus the one who was a dumbass? Will this system be unfair for sick individuals whose spouse is a hair stylist?<br />
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When will this end? Will it ever end? Will it come back? Will it keep coming back?<br />
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Why does my stomach hurts? Is it the crunches? How do i get medical aid? How do i know i need medical aid?<br />
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Where are we with the vaccine? When will it be available? Will it be foolproof or be 17% effective like the flu shot?<br />
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Who will ever go to the gym, movie theatre or concerts? What will happen to my favorite dine-in theatre? Will it be converted to a restaurant? But who will go to a restaurant and worry about who previously sat on their table and who used their cutlery before? So will all restaurants become takeout joints? If that happens, what will happen to the environment as styrofoam and plastic trash will sky rocket?<br />
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When and why will we buy new clothes?<br />
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Who is the liar talking about meditation? Which dumbass is preaching positive thinking? Believers don't believe that god is outside churches, temples and mosques, should they still be called believers? Is God mad at us? He should be, but is he? If he is mad, is he allowed to be?<br />
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How privileged are we to have a roof and food and a COUNTRY? OMG, there are millions without a country.<br />
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Should i use the food i have, to start a kitchen garden? What if food trucks stop? What if exports stop?<br />
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Should i write more or save some for part 2? Should i write a part 2? Should i post this? Will there be a part 2 or will the process complete before documenting part 2?<br />
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-90638643390669887342020-03-15T11:10:00.001-07:002020-03-15T11:10:32.939-07:00Big World! Small World!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The paradigm of the world, is chaos!<br />
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It was, at least before the Corona virus took over our lives, work, social commitments, social media, grocery shopping hours, vacation plans, news bulletins and conversations. Now he word "chaos" no longer describes our situation, adequately. I am sure some "working from home" Oxford dictionary contributor, in her pajamas, sitting at a dirty kitchen table, with a pile of dirty dishes behind her, will think of better word or coin one.<br />
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In the 1980's and 90's, globalization was deemed the answer to all problems. It promised us a lot. The end of cold war, elimination of economic disparity, the proliferation of democracy, world trade to efficiently and adequately use the resources provided to us by mother earth and the ultimate unification of humans over color, race, cultures and borders.<br />
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We never saw the realization of the "globalization promise"<br />
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In fact it was followed by a wave of right wing populism and such governments in most countries; closed borders, "walls", trade tariffs and fear of immigrants/refugees became the new norm. We can't call it de-globalization. The countries still seek to benefit from other countries and their goods and services but without any responsibility, with a blind eye and cold shoulder towards the countries that do not provide any monetary benefit or can cause "empathy expenditure".<br />
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My friend, the Corona virus, provides us a different perspective on how the world without and with borders exists, almost simultaneously.<br />
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It shows, how closely woven the world is, for a virus with very specific origins to travel across the globe, in matter of days. How common are international and national conferences and vacations, sporting events, "entertainment needs", supply chain, essential and not essential services, how economy are interconnected and how we panic on bad news anywhere across the globe. Yet, working from home, cancelling the cruises and postponing the flights,social distancing, grocery hoarding, self-quarantine and attending church over facebook live comes so easily and naturally to us.<br />
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As part of a society that at least at some point in time yearned for "Vasudev kutumbakam" (world as one family) , who knew all we need was 75 rolls of toilet paper and absence of a viral infection, to be happy.<br />
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-55824804485508813112019-04-21T10:39:00.001-07:002019-04-21T10:39:32.803-07:00Miss Intriguing Bones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My new name.<br />
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Intrigue is not a word that usually describes me. Except for the people who see me through the airport x-ray machines.<br />
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As someone with no criminal past, present or future, I may be the most stopped ,searched, swabbed and patted-down person in my category, at both domestic and international airports. I have so many stories to tell. I have missed so many connecting flights. Also the reason why i prefer not to travel through Heathrow airport.<br />
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Ok, some of these incidents were my fault. There should be packing 101 course teaching you not to pack a huge bag of pistachio in your cabin language, which i was told look likes ammunition in the x-ray machine. But then last evening was, when my body scan came up with the need to pat me down. I almost wished i had something in my pockets to explain the trigger. But there was nothing on me, except confused thoughts and the sinking feeling of "oh no! not again".<br />
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My personal best was at Melbourne airport when my hands were swabbed by security agents 20 feet apart as I entered the security check area. I am not, but I am sure even if I was a very talented criminal, I cannot make a bomb at the airport between two enthusiastic security agents just 20 feet apart.<br />
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I have discussed this topic extensively with my friends. We agreed that long flights across time zones can leave you groggy and confused, though its not a the ideal look of your average "terrorist" , it can explain why I may stand out. But, not all my journeys are across time zones. Travel for work and pleasure to near by cities result in the same fate of "feeling special".<br />
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I understand the need for airport security, even appreciate it. If my persona creates any doubts, I am willing to submit myself for extra checks, every single time. All I ask for, is a Q&A session after each swab and pat-down, on "why?" just so I know what to do in my life outside airports to become a "head turner".<br />
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-22884395935631411802018-10-21T21:26:00.003-07:002018-10-21T21:26:53.347-07:00Travelogue: Rio De Janeiro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The sole peril of being sensitive to life experiences is becoming "cautiously optimistic". When you are let down by the grandest of dreams and plans; and find the most embellished moments of life in inconspicuous and undocumented events and things, you can no longer predict bliss or make a bucket list.<br />
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But if i had a bucket list, Rio De Janeiro would have definitely featured.<br />
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I am not a rogue traveller. I am as adventurous as a girl who spends most of her day sitting in front of a computer, check her locks twice and actively avoid public restrooms. So this trip was not about finding the best drinking party, enjoying local cuisine (as a vegetarian i can't) and being spontaneous. It was a well planned trip with safety as a priority. At one point in time, i even planned to cover the exposed circle at the back of my phone case that revels that i have a red iphone with electrical tape; But I of coarse, I could not act on this edgy idea as i am also the girl who do not do house hold repairs and do not have electrical tape handy in the house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As a person born in Rajasthan and living in Arizona, the first trip i booked was an open jeep tour to the Tijuca rain forest. I fell head over heals in love with the concept of city planning where a man made forest is the heart of the city and people live around this forest harvesting the benefits of controlled climate, no flash flooding and no land slides. It is the largest urban forest in the world.<br />
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There were hardly any trees in the Botanical garden or on the roadside where the trunk of the tree was visible. They were all covered with money plants and other vines growing on them.<br />
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It was a treat to see the jackfruit and mango trees laden with fruits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ the Redeemer: If a monument/place is marked as a "Wonder of the world" it will never disappoint you. the concept of a simple, majestic and conspicuous statue of God guarding the city is illustrative, classy, artistic and appealing even if you are a non-believer</td></tr>
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A trip to historical downtown was a mixed bag. the history of the city was less robust then many countries in Europe and India. The highlight for me was Escadaria Selarón or Selaron Steps and the drawing/murals by Jorge Selarón. An artist wanting to give back to society by making art public, free and inclusive is the ultimate symbol of an evolved society.</div>
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Getting a vegetarian and vegan diet was a huge struggle. The vegetarian pizzas were disaster, subway provided no options of vegetarian sandwiches, Holy cow app was pretty ineffective and Indian food elusive. There was no options of tea available. Of coarse the fruits were fantabulous and if as a vegetarian/vegan you can eat them 3 times a day, you will be golden.</div>
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The flora of the City obvious and omnipresent. The green is interrupted by colorful and luscious orchids.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The best things about the city:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Gorgeously green landscape, magnificent beaches, green ocean</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The not so good things about the city:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">reputation of being unsafe(I was warned at the passport control desk when i landed in Brazil) language problem(be it road signs, contents of medicine, people in hospitality industry), food options</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This trip for me was a bliss with a wonderful sister beside me and beauty all around.</span></div>
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-36664391977855974142018-10-08T14:23:00.001-07:002018-10-08T14:23:18.824-07:00I am seriously jealous of ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<li>Those drivers that move from behind you into the next lane, in an attempt to over take you, even though the sign clearly shows that their new lane is meant to end and merge back. Can you imagine how interesting their life must be to put in so much effort, just to return to their life with 3 extra seconds? </li>
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<li>Professionals who go to work with a wallet and phone. I need a purse filled with chargers, moisturizers, cough drops and blah blah blah. Another bag full of lunch, snacks, silverware and cloth napkins as i refuse to pollute environment with the free plastic cutlery and paper tissues provided in the breakroom. As a hippie i also carry massive bottles of green tea and .... as a <i>true</i> <i>hippie</i> i also bring empty ones back as i don't trust my office's recycling. Oh and gym bag with change and shoes.</li>
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<li>Home owners who do voluntary upgrades to their house. There is a hissing sound coming from my bathroom and i can assure you i would have been half as scared if there was a snake in my bathroom. Like all fears, my fear of house maintenance stems from lack of knowledge.</li>
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<li>Women who wear heels. I feel incapable of rationalizing the amount of discomfort of wearing heels; they will have to make flat shoes illegal for me to wear heels. Is't the whole idea of wearing shoes is to prevent your feet from hurting?</li>
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<li>People who can have a sense of direction. Coming out of the new mall's parking lot yesterday, the google maps threw "south", "east", "right", "left" so hard at me that i was more confused then when i watched the movie Inception. I just followed a black sedan hoping he/she was going to the same freeway i was trying to reach. So the best way to kidnap me is to leave a location unfamiliar to me, just before me and i will probably follow you to the house where you plan to hold me .</li>
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-90282820292713859222018-09-07T20:38:00.000-07:002018-09-07T20:38:06.106-07:00Confessions of a Serial Killer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yup!! This is the point where you squint and say "I always knew something was off about that girl!!"<br />
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I kill not because I hate them but because I love them. But they don't love me back!!<br />
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And yes I have a type. I can't resist chlorophyll.<br />
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And again yes!! It is because of my family. It is really tough to be born in a family where everyone has a green thumb. My mom still squeals like a little girl when new flower buds show up. And my sister shares more pics of her the plants in her garden than the humans in her life. Dad takes his watering duties more seriously than his health.<br />
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I am the only brown sheep of the family. And I can't stop buying and killing plants.<br />
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I have killed because I left them out, I brought them in, they were small, they were big, I didn't give them water, I over watered, they were tropical, they were for damn succulents, they were in water management pots, they were in terracotta pots, they were in clay pots, they were fruits, they were decorative, they were hardy arizona locals ... oh there were vines, there were shrubs and those miniature roses... aaarrrggghhhh!<br />
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I am currently in process of killing a jasminum whose pic made dad glee with hope" This is robust. It will live" .... sigh. oh i potted and repotted and changed soil and watered and moved it out and then moved it in .... and its pretty much gone.<br />
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I know its easy to blame it on the desert, but then succulents should have lived. I can blame it on the sun, but some of them have been house plants that never left the insides of my home. I blame insects but i have the best organic neem oil protection ever made. So, I have stopped blaming and embraced my killer instincts.<br />
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I go through the garden section/nurseries , checking and buying only the plants i have not killed yet as if the others are conquered territories.<br />
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An addiction is seriously problematic if while confessing and acknowledging, you actually get inspired to act on it. So while penning this blog I went and bought 2 new plants. Please feel free to ask me in two weeks, how they died.<br />
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-1393242753644941822018-06-23T12:46:00.000-07:002018-06-23T12:46:08.693-07:00Death and other cursory contemplations.... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since last few days, my head has been buzzing. While navigating through the changes in my life I have been excited, exuberant, nostalgic, apprehensive, confident, bothered, optimistic, sad; sometimes concurrently, with a 'to-do list' continuously running through my mind.<br />
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It made me recognize the compulsiveness of thoughts and consciousness and life.<br />
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So what happens when we die? how does this all stop? will we notice the stillness and silence? will it be dark and lonely? Will it transform into something or it will just be absolute like squishing a bug?<br />
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While we struggle to navigate through life, dealing with death is an absolute curve ball with no concept or precedence.; at least not something we remember even if the concept of reincarnation is real and we have experienced it before.<br />
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No wonder, all religion and numerous rituals assure/maps/exploit the unknown, promising a "life" beyond life. "From riches and servants being buried with the pharaohs in the pyramids" to "a feast served to members of a particular caste in Hindu culture" to "a complicated system of karma and reincarnation in buddhism" to " a promise of 72 virgins" to "Saint Peters and the gates of heaven and hell" to "burning fires in hell"... and many more notions/fear/concepts of afterlife are known to shape a lot of life decisions for many.<br />
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I have my doubts.<br />
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Humans lack imagination. Even though we have seen the body disintegrate after death, we still propose that the soul survives to seek and enjoy the pleasures meant for flesh and blood.<br />
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So what does death entail?<br />
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We don't know. And we will not be able to tell when we know. But may be the better scenario will be that we don't know about it when we know.</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-90030840276873085652018-04-04T22:38:00.001-07:002018-04-04T22:41:09.564-07:00Point of No Return?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really like to rationalize my decisions and stay open-minded about my choices. Several years ago converting from a non-veg-craving youngster to an animal-loving-vegetarian adult was one such choice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Restaurant Menu's and travel shows repeatedly highlighted what experiences I was missing as a vegetarian. When Anthony Bourdain says you are making a mistake, you are forced to ponder. You also notice the handful of dishes you can eat at each r<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">estaurant while you meat eating friends browse through booklets of options</span>. When at Emeril's, they have to cobble you an entrée from their side dishes, it hurts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But an animal dying for my dietary convenience still did not seem worth reverting my decision.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Then an amazing revelation happened last week. I ordered the veggie <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Quesadilla at my office cafeteria; one of the two vegetarian options. The second being a veggie burger which is so dry and hard to chew that you wonder if its incorporated with the pieces of the same packaging it was sold in. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;">My veggies cooked next to all possible meats on the grill. There was chicken , steak , turkey breasts and more steak. I had no objection to sharing the grill. But t<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">he chef was extra sloppy that day. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span>
M<span style="font-family: verdana;">y ninja cook sliced and diced and sautéed and tossed the different piles of food ... with little respect for boundaries. I did not complain, complying to my own need to "Play it cool" and " be an open minded person" who should not make fuss over self-imposed preferences. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">I collected my order and got me the usual side of buffalo sauce and returned to my workstation to eat.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">To my surprise, my food looked as suspicious as a politician's good intentions. Every brown bit looked as much like a piece of sautéed meat as it looked like a sautéed bell pepper. The smell seemed "meaty". It became mighty clear that I should have not observed the "grill action" with such close attention. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">To my horror, my crossover to the "grassland" may be more permanent than earlier appraised. Though I am still respectful of everyone's choices , I think I should accept that being vegetarian is less of a choice for me, now.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One more reason to wish that there is no Zombie apocalypse. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></b>
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-36623648254368135412018-03-22T21:34:00.001-07:002018-03-22T21:34:28.546-07:00Aabbbabbaaa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>I am seriously questioning the definition of good communication skills!!!</i><br />
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I am pretty sure Aabbbabbaaa is my toddler Nephew's favorite word. And I have never understood, loved, effectively entertained, got entertained and connected with someone like I do with him. Just a few mins with him washes away my stress like some good iced tea can wash down bad, greasy fast food.<br />
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Despite his limited vocabulary he is fed, cleaned, entertained as per his will and specifications. He melts our hearts, makes us smile, tell us when he needs attention, approve and rejects our desperate attempts for his giggles, choose his nursery rhymes and effectually guides us to serve him better.<br />
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He makes me wonder if there is anything like an effective communicator.<br />
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We speak incessantly. We learn multiple languages and accents. We ruminate over completed and upcoming conversations. We pre plan responses to a phantom conversation or arguments. We try to access people and situations based on the words and their tone. Even with a plethora of words, most relationships, personal and professional, suffer with miscommunication and misrepresentation of our true expression.<br />
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May be speaking, with intent, finesse, consideration is over emphasized.<br />
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May be like in my nephew's case, the key of good communication is to communicate with the people who are willing, receptive and excited about what you want to express. May be while we over stress on what and how we communicate, we miss finding an audience who is compassionately wanting to hear us. May be this is why romantic relationships, managerial initiatives and political arguments fail.<br />
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Though we cannot have completely receptive audience with predictable reaction till we become successful dictators with very creative ways to vanish unfavorite people , we still owe it to ourselves to hang out with some kind-hearted and open-minded audience. Or we can be mindblowingly adorable like little Aaron.<br />
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Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-64720595881301950922017-06-18T22:37:00.001-07:002017-06-18T22:37:48.939-07:00Why We need only two news bulletins a day?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I am a self-confessed
news junkie!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I started with hating
news at a very young age, as news time meant no other TV programs. Dad insisted
on watching it from the beginning to the very end, revising the headlines.
Those were the days of 20 minutes of structured news bulletin starting and ending
with headlines; featuring twice, once in Hindi and the other time in English.
The news readers dressed formally, stared into the camera and read from the
prompter with a very straight face. Dad as a middle class man with finite means
and influence felt the genuine need to know the bigger picture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Soon his interest and
need rubbed on us, me and my sister. Our young minds started finding the news
as captivating, intriguing and thought provoking. It was stranger than fiction,
the quest for truth and justice, conspiracy theories, corruption, power,
politics, foreign policies… we followed Dad's interest in it.
People often noticed and complimented our knowledge of news worthy events. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We were very excited at
the onset of cable TV as news became more interesting. The monotone was
replaced by analysis and discussion and investigative journalism where the
quest for truth became a little more intense and a little more dramatic. But it
was mainly marked by our new found role models; smart, intelligent, confident
TV journalist who oozed passion and conviction …. came across as good
Samaritans. The khadi kurta’s, rolled up sleeves of pin striped shirts, the
enunciated appeals, the visits to far reaching villages or war zones, the
discovery of unknown statistics, the analysis panels and hard hitting questions
to and from social activists were embraced by us with awe and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But as common wisdom
goes, everything is good in moderation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Soon news channels were
24X7. And many more in number. More reports, more repetition of news, more
not-so-true news, more of over the top discussion panels, more non-breaking
breaking news, more repeated shots of news crew shoving camera in the face of grieving parent/celebrity/undertrial, more
Bollywood gossips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Indian news casters
and journalists tried to strive for a bigger role, as celebrities and
political supporters The discussion panel became more dramatized and chaotic much like
facts and news. They try to make fashion statements. Many were seen by rubbing
shoulder with politicians while standing with and behind them; making a
personal profit from their professional influence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">At this point I moved to
US. The media here is sinister in its sincerity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">You can believe in
anything and there will be a newspaper/news channel to say how you are right and more
importantly those who do not believe in your belief are wrong. You can believe
your neighbor is an alien, dinosaurs still exist, bigfoot reads newspapers,
unicorns can rap. And there will be a “news” medium to verify and validate it
while shaming the non-believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Same news and opinions
are badgered. Mistakes/gaffes/typos are highlighted till they get set in stone.
People with different opinions are showcased so they can be mocked. Attention
grabbing headlines are first engineered, then analyzed, then repeated till they provoke a reaction… then the reaction becomes the next headline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Left, right, center!!
All kinds of opinions color the newspapers/</span><span style="font-size: 18px;">podcasts</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">/news sites/new TV channels.
They viciously attack and demonize the “others”. The
newspapers/channels/website sale has been miraculously revived. I myself read
several newspapers but the bigger picture that my dad sought </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">and found is made blurry
for me by the large number of sources of constant news, business of profiting from news, propagation of opinions, advice on how I should think and the assurances that “I
am right”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-27308770859027322132017-01-22T19:50:00.000-08:002017-01-22T19:50:04.254-08:00The carnage of Social Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Nowadays, the need to take sick time off from work is specially
excruciating because of the absence of the endearing crutches of the social
media.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Once upon a time
you could swift through the sweet, non-abrasive, non-political updates and
pictures posted by your friends, very safely. Remember, the good times when the
worst thing about Facebook was friends showing off the cakes, cars, kid's
crafts and nausea inducing PDA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As thinking
individuals, we cannot escape forming opinions. As social beings, we can’t stop
ourselves from sharing our opinions. But conversations and josh and smart-ass
sarcasm have been replaced with a lot of nastiness. You come across a lot of
name calling, insulting meme, a lot of aggression and propagation of one’s own
ideology with no respect of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The age old wisdom
of "</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 13.5pt;">don't say anything
if you have nothing kind to say</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"
have been thrown out of the window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A lot of friends
seem uncomfortable. Some threaten to leave Facebook while others invite friends
with differing opinions to unfriend them; Some maintain a balance trying to
showcase their life/updates/check-ins along with their opinions, some others
pretend to miss the new-age-social-media-activism while others have anointed
their ideology, prepared a game plan and are set to convert all who disagrees
with them... though meanness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It’s not a complain. I am not requesting helpful tips. It’s a documentation
of an observation on how disturbing it is to see the people you respect, disrespecting
others; propagating a very unnecessary commotion outside the immediate working of
democracy; yet the urgency you feel to express yourself in response to some of
the appalling information that threaten to rollback the progress we made as free and civil
society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I wonder if the level of nastiness would have been the same if
people had to write their opinion/news/fake news/articles/memes in their own
words instead of sharing what seems to be coming from “professional bullies”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We adapt to our </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">environment</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> and this may be the new face of it. May be
new social media friend/follow requests will accompany have a sequence of ideology questions to guarantee
a rather “happy experience”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Twitter believe me, is much kinder to me. May be I find respite
in sharp perspectives, cleaner words, less attachments or just the comfort of reading from and
writing to strangers. Instagram is heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Before I end, thank you to all who show constraint and thank you
to all others who don’t. The former group inspires and guides while the later can
always be ignored. This is indeed a very "First World Problem".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-65600765054100041452016-11-19T10:05:00.002-08:002016-11-19T10:05:36.337-08:00Paralell Universe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every visit back home, to India, is rejuvenating and re-calibrating.<br />
<br />
Every visit home now also feels more disconnected to my life here. It is a funny feeling, where I stay the same person with my thoughts and views, needs and wants, dreams and duties... but the world around me and my position in this new cosmos changes dramatically.<br />
<br />
It is like the singer performing in a musical where the set behind her changes while she is still singing the same song.<br />
<br />
From the king of my jungle I turn into a claw less kitten, from chef extraordinaire to the ginger & green chilies retriever from the fridge, from a driver to scared passenger who closes her eyes and say a silent prayer just too often, from a decision maker to a permission taker ...<br />
<br />
Characters of my musical change too quickly from friends who 'forget' their wallets when we go out for dinner to people who pay for my meals, shopping and existence, from people who think i am funny to those who see every hidden tear in my eye when i try to smile just a little too much, from taking care of myself to getting frustrated of being taken care of by the people who should take care of themselves before me.<br />
<br />
..to knowing to each idea of mine will first be thrown out of the window, everyone proposal of help will be met with dismissal and from the head of the family i will move to being the kid of the family who has forgotten to act her expected age.<br />
<br />
It is good to be part of two universes where you can still be yourself despite all the changes around you, wherehere you are loved, respected and missed ...is different ways for different reasons and how you love them both again for very different reasons.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-24115385236374035612016-09-09T23:24:00.000-07:002016-09-09T23:24:28.054-07:00#unpopularopinion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Here is my share</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4TbBJ-JeAphyphenhyphenq80FmVNF4qH83UXxEI_6ZWfaTabVB4cx2AoK3UFKSrccke4DDMsITg0t2MhI2efkzQfNyEi7EUGCTpgdkUIfaDUV89mWwHaTgFmJZKqqP37MOUcSiWEY4J3p/s1600/potato.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4TbBJ-JeAphyphenhyphenq80FmVNF4qH83UXxEI_6ZWfaTabVB4cx2AoK3UFKSrccke4DDMsITg0t2MhI2efkzQfNyEi7EUGCTpgdkUIfaDUV89mWwHaTgFmJZKqqP37MOUcSiWEY4J3p/s320/potato.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Making your bed in the morning is the most inefficient
activity of the day. You will live through the day and get to sleep in it
again!! Be positive people!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I hate the name of the "family size" potato
chips packs in the supermarket. They should be called “Motivated individual
with right couch and good TV” size.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Dog or cat may be your babies, but they are still
animals. You cannot love them unconditionally while eating other animals. Be
Vegan/Vegetarian to declare your true love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Facebook is not a conversion tool. Also the post about
your opinion should follow the same rule of kindness and manners that you teach
your kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">"American (lack of) choice 2016" is a
conspiracy for media ratings like the story of movie "Tomorrow Never
Dies". </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Netflix should have a “happy ratings” on the movie. I
can’t afford to have another bad day at work and come back to watch a movie
where the dog dies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We should close all weapon manufacturers for one year and open
them back only if the world become a worse place without them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We should introduce intolerance tax. I promise all governments
will have enough for all the good work (if any) they want to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone should be made to try five cuisines, visit four
continents, have three passions, try two alcoholic drinks and fall in love with
one CAR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-82931864418646281742016-07-04T21:30:00.002-07:002016-07-05T07:40:49.882-07:00Professionally Amateur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have a lot of ideas about an alternate career. I want to be a driver for a 18 wheeler truck or an auto mechanic. A writer, a photographer, a chef...<br />
<br />
I am a good,safe driver, but I am not sure how easy it will be to take u-turns in a 18 wheeler's, I am known to miss exits or be jumpy and turn before its my turn. I also have a slight confusion with left and right. Just slight. Friends usually look at me when i navigate to match my words with the direction in which my hand points...<br />
<br />
A mechanic with depleted strength, incapable of changing tires; a writer who writes short, random thought-farts because as a reader she skim over details consistently ; a photographer with no camera; a vegetarian chef .... hmmm<br />
<br />
A nutritionist with a serious chips addiction; an interior designer with money-matters attitude; a life coach with many socially-renounced life choices ...<br />
<br />
All my talents lack a thing or two for me to completely adopt and bloom.<br />
<br />
I think I need to go back to school. I definitely need a course in how to objectively weigh the complexity of personality and professional inclination to quantify the qualitative features of talent for deduction to acquire consistent financial gains. Also a guide on soul searching, mind reading and action taking...<br />
<br />
Till then I do what I am happy to do everyday ... my current job.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-31708719960554265162016-06-25T20:57:00.000-07:002016-06-25T20:57:44.769-07:00#Brexit #Regrexit #Badshit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Thursday evening was spent with a close friend
talking about relationships, breakups, toxic associations, decisions and the
impact of them and I woke up to the news of Britain's divorce with EU on Friday
morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt like I was too distracted watching omelet
while the tea boiled over, too engrossed in the US politics and totally unaware
of the changing world just a few thousand miles away. You don't expect few
things like UK quitting EU, Trump winning republic nomination, Rio allowed to
host Olympics despite the epidemic of Zika or gun 'common sense' reforms
sacrificed for politics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The order seems to be crumbling. The foundations
are shaking. The rights and wrongs, even the 'Absolutely!! Gosh!! Hell NO', are
changing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">How do you make decisions on something which
have both pro's and con's? British Exit from EU takes away its big brother role
and contribution to EU, relieving UK of many responsibilities like contributing
to EU budget and towards the security of the region but then the removal of the
same big brother association with other countries hit it adversely in all
aspects taking away the favorable climate of economic development, respect and
power. Basically UK decided to stop being the cool kid in high school and no one
knows the impact because it is absolutely unprecedented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">What is also questionable is that a complicated
decision which holds most of its implications based on probability of events in
the future was put through referendum and not left with the government and lawmakers.
Common man tends to be governed by emotions and nearsightedness, this is why
they select a body of people they trust to rule them. So was the referendum a
right choice? Again the answer is not 'Absolutely not' because there are many democratic governments that
refuse to enact a very defined will of the common man like US government's
apathy towards gun laws and change in economic safe-keepers by the Indian
government, overlooking the gawking needs of their people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">But what is baffling is the issue of
'immigration' associated with #Brexit, the reason I am writing about UK, a
country that I never even visited as a tourist is because this historic
decision impacted me and may continue to impact if the predictions of global
economic recession materialize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Globalization is real. You cannot have
globalization and trade without immigration. The problem of the world is not
relocation of people but the economic disparity and aggressive fight for its
preservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Hate, racism, crime, marginalization of
communities, regionalism, religious intolerance, fear as a tool to grab power
and money, difficulty is forming partnerships due of insecurities; these
features have always existed in our socities, but now they grabbing headlines
with their unadorned advocacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-17028015733462595762016-04-03T15:24:00.000-07:002016-04-03T15:24:31.236-07:00Pain Only!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;">At physiotherapy, I saw another patient and was absolutely baffled.
Despite her injured knee, she wore makeup and her legs were shaved. I on the
other hand, totally overwhelmed by pain look like the bear from the movie ‘The
Revenant’. I have gained weight, can’t sit still for a
haircut and wear loose cloths in which I can sneak into without my right
shoulder finding out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;">My friends talk about my future as casually. new gym routine, travel and changes. I fail to comprehend all of their plans at this point. Its crazy i know, its a small non-life threatening injury, a injury which is only known to cause pain and temporary impact to the range of motion. My condition is debilitating to normal thinking as much as its to the routine of normal life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;">Now I understand pain better. I am no longer surprised that people confess to the crimes they have not committed after ‘persuasive interrogating’ from cops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;">My mom says health is the biggest wealth and she also says we
don’t enjoy any of the luxuries in life while sick or in pain. Except for Netflix, she
is right. </span><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms" , sans-serif;">I am not the bravest soul in the world. So there is no longer a quest to find balance in my life,
with this pain. The plan is to accept my challenges/grumpiness/handicap with left open arm , till the
pain starts to be my busy friend again visiting me only once in a blue moon.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-85972606328365135152016-03-13T16:50:00.001-07:002016-03-13T16:50:09.281-07:00Pain and Zen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My idea of Zen, inner peace, attempts to be a better and kinder
person along with detailed road map to anger, stress & health
management, all went out of the window with my shoulder injury.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My biggest problem with my current situation is that it’s
defying what I learned from the Indian and Chinese philosophy. The Yogi’s,
saints, judo master , martial arts guru’s and kung fu pandas have taught us
that pain, hunger, repetition makes you a better person. But I am grumpy and complaining
and at my lowest level of patience and restraint.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does one meditate with hungry stomach or sitting on the
plank with nails or walk on fire and not want to punch someone. And mind you time is not a factor and you do not learn to see beyond the pain with time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What am I missing? Why was the term 'no pain, no gain' coined? I have only gained a dirty house, wasted gym membership and bad temper as the result of this pain. Are there easier paths of enlightenment for people with lower pain tolerance?</div>
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<br /></div>
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For now i work out a plan restore me to my painless, Zen-less self. But now i have a new quest for 'painless gain' and to find a way to add Ibuprofen to my Chi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-84598245511475381512016-02-29T20:09:00.000-08:002016-02-29T20:09:08.040-08:00Back to Communities <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">When
humans first came up with the idea to stay in groups, it stemmed from a genuine
need for survival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The geographical areas and its resources became territories. Weapons and the brave were soon diverted to defend these boundaries instead of fighting the wild animals. The history books almost singularly dedicated to Men defending and extending these </span><span style="line-height: 16.8667px;">territories</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. The </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">boundaries</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> became the best way to stay alive and the worst way to die</span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; line-height: 115%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="line-height: 16.8667px;">Another powerful way people organized, was in the name of God and faith. Religion transcends boundaries. It brings people together because of the fear of the almighty and the greed of a good life, before and after death.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="line-height: 16.8667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="line-height: 16.8667px;">When our forefather collaborated, t</span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">hey never fore saw their idea of forming groups will grow into
this intricate system of societies, castes, religion and nations. Today there is a
social order to societies and nations, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">However, this has long stopped being the need for safety and is now a petri
dish to multiply and groom the darkness of human nature.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> The high of power and wealth, the greed, the intolerance, the oppression and apathy for others, the rule of fear, the need to fake social hierarchy... all find multiple examples in today's world. There is actually a list of countries which are governed by dictators. There are research organization still dedicated to develop more lethal weapons by superpowers who do not face any real threat of wars.There are numerous religious heads and evangelist with unlimited money and private jets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Today the biggest reason for death, fear and human suffering is the overwhelming need of humans to protect or push boundaries and </span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms';">propagate </span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms';">religion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">May be we should look for small nurturing communities, self sustaining societies and believers being faithful to all faiths. May be we should re-calibrate and reorganize, find reasons to live instead of finding excuses to kill.</span></div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-51743239852894349132016-02-13T12:08:00.000-08:002016-02-13T12:08:56.742-08:00I love comics!! Again!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
As kids we grew up reading comics. We used to rent them to
ensure we could afford as many as possible. The excitement of papa coming with the new lot
every evening was one of the highlights of my childhood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soon as youth set in, we were introduced to magazines. Politics
and current affairs were much more intriguing then the template following, hero
worshiping, imagination laden, safe and unreal comics. It felt mighty and
empowering to be introduced to the real world. The comics were retired unceremoniously.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After few years in the real world, the intrigue changed to
disdain and excitement to dejection. The problems of real world are persistent
and seriously embarrassing. The deduction that we are still marred by the primal
issues of greed, control, entitlement, hunger for power, reign of fear and apathy
for others, is heartbreaking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the CNN world page refuse to change for the better,
Social media drips with drama of humans who drool like babies for attention and
life continues to be an oxymoron; I have decided to retreat to my happy place
again and embrace the comfort of imaginative illustrations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Contrary to popular belief i know exactly what i'm doing –
Iron Man <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-85106600061371458472016-01-23T11:08:00.000-08:002016-01-23T11:08:36.225-08:00New Muse!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So if you know me personally you know I have serious commitment issues :) I not casual about it even in casual dressing... ;)<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(50% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/qLSV26HmsP/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#commitmentphobia</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by @pritisankhla on <time datetime="2014-07-08T04:17:29+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 7, 2014 at 9:17pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
But I have been smitten by Instagram for quite some time now. The crazy Arizona sunsets are poetic and soul rendering enough to captivate the imagination of a wanna be writer<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(50% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BA0oMmlHmgQ/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#sunset #sunsetporn #sunsetlovers #sky #skyporn #skyline #skylovers #instasky #instagram #instaaddict #colorful #color</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by @pritisankhla on <time datetime="2016-01-22T01:08:00+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 21, 2016 at 5:08pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
Those along with the crazy beautiful places I have visited with beautiful friends<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(50% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/0zIPxnnmmw/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#NewOrleans #Art</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by @pritisankhla on <time datetime="2015-03-29T04:52:50+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 28, 2015 at 9:52pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
Or anything that is a riot of colors ...<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(50% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/p2gxDPnmpw/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">i love color!!! #food #foodporn #vegetarian #vegan #loveanimals #PETA</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by @pritisankhla on <time datetime="2014-06-30T02:39:29+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 29, 2014 at 7:39pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
I find worth loving and sharing, I am ardently posting on my Instagram.<br />
<br />
Or may be like "MarkBaynard" tweets in the book Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros "May be" I am "just secretly one of those people who would rather have Followers than Friends." </div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35234909.post-59050789345008779312015-11-28T13:34:00.000-08:002015-11-28T13:34:34.295-08:00Couch Activism <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will burn in hell if I ever condemn social media. It gives us a mythical and endearing mirage of society. It helps us to see what we crave for ... friends liking
us, appreciation of our creativity, respect and need
for our opinion and somehow makes our words sound clever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am an animal and human right supporting, environmentalist ... living a vegetarian lifestyle while chasing the unicorn of loving, peaceful, tolerant, just mankind living on a green, pollution and war free earth. Proof you may ask, check my Facebook,Twitter,Instagram and blog. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We propagate our thoughts, land our support, oppose vehemently what we do not believe in from the hideout out of our couch, keyboard as our tool, words/like buttons/emoji's as our weapons and hope to make a difference. Just because we are on the couch does not make it easy, we feel strongly, we hurt deeply, we love and lend support obsessively. We, well some of us, even think. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What we do not do, is stop ourselves forming and displaying opinions. Vivid, graphic, heart felt opinions. Like some of us support tolerance to the extend that we become viciously intolerant to ones we perceive as intolerant or support forests to a level that we support criminal uprooting of villages and tribes for forest sustenance, support victims of a war enough to support the execution of anyone clouded by the doubt of being a perpetrator.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life is simple of the couch. Words are clear. Intentions pristine.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We do not have to deal with the murky and the grey. We do not deal with human nature. Its easy to love people than live with them. Its easy to fight for a fair world free of power hungry dictators when seeking power is a form of and not necessarily distinguishable, from seeking respect, faith and followership. Its easy to seek end of terrorism, while there may not be a big difference between terrorists, freedom fighters and hell, even crazy activists. You can support end of a war, without thinking that it will take a war to end that war and that war that will be needed to end the war will need warriors, who may loose their limb, life or minds. They will, only because people are good and bad, motives are good and bad, reasons are good and bad, justice is good and bad, weapons are good and bad; create new reasons for a new war.</div>
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<br /></div>
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How many of these opinions that we live by, talk by, believe by, argue by, seethe in... will make us make a banner and stand at the street corner or shout slogans in a rally, or participate in an uprising or fight or even die.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a tough question. Let me seek the answer, which may warrant a new, more comfortable couch and a better coffee maker. Let me pull the blinds on the window so I shall not be distracted by the view of the world while I save it.</div>
</div>
Pritihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545832648016702230noreply@blogger.com2