A neat movie with lots of creativity sprinkled in- 'A Bug's Life' takes you from your space and transports you to a world where you know reality exists but you are amazed at the extent to which the makers of this movie have been creative.
This is a story about the ant world where the sole duty of these ants is to gather food for the grass hoppers that terrorize them. Amongst the ant community is an individualist ant 'Flick' who decides to bring in what he thinks 'warrior bugs' to save the ant community from the grass hoppers. And within this spectrum emerge a whole load of laughter, cuteness(this word would aptly fit in here), emotions, intelligence....the list is endless.
What amazes me is the extent to which the makers have brought in simple, everyday happenings and have neatly packaged it with a huge dose of lateral thinking. An example would be the usage of flowers. The central portion of the flower that hold pollen grains is used as a bed for these bugs. Two leaves appear as curtains to the rooms where the warrior bugs are placed.
The mind blogging scene is where all these ants and the bugs create a bird. What a sense of imagination!! Leaves and twigs neatly placed to form a bird's structure, twigs inside arranged so that ants could get in and move them as the bird propels forward!! Truly astounding!! Imagine ants teaming us to create something and fly it across the sky by the movement of twigs.
Tere is an Old queen ant, a Princess ant, the other ants who are subjects.
If you really want to unwind and have a ligt day, just have a watch of this movie. Its beautiful:)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
The Good Old Broom
I was just cleaning my kitchen with our vacuum cleaner when I realised I missed the good old broom-the most simple device for effective cleaning. I am sure you will agree with my as to why I say so. So, here I go dedicating this post to the broom at my house-the Monkey Brand one.
The broom has several names in Tamil-thodapam, seemaru, velakkamaru,chool(by palakkad iyers).
It has occupied a firm place even in fantasies and fiction. Remember reading 'Sabrina-the teenage witch'? Doesn't she fly across with her broom?
The broom has lasted for ages.
It has conquered even the dustiest of places and has remained invincible despite the introduction of the vacuum cleaner.
Now here are a few reasons why a broom reigns supreme over a vacuum cleaner.
a) It is cheaper.
b) It occupies less space in the house.
c) It is easily available in any provision store.
d) It is easily portable. Maybe you can even dispose it when you move and buy a new one.
e) It does'nt use electricity. So it saves power.
f) Also, it is not interrupted by the power cuts. Hence you can use it anytime.
g) It is made of a natural fibre.
h) You dispose the dust immediately in contrast to that of the vacuum cleaner where the dust accumulates in the dust bag for sometime.
i) Anyone can use it-even children
j) It can remove dirt/dust particles that are larger in size and which would not go into the tiny gap that a vacuum cleaner offers.
k) It can never go out of service-hence no repairs would apply.
l)It offers a good form of exercise because if you have to clean beneath your cot or your study table, you need to bend and stretch whereas a vacuum cleaner offers you the comfort of just inserting the tube.
m) It is faster. If you are in a hurry to go to work and you have just a couple pf minutes, all you have to do is grab the broom and swish-swash-the kitchen is clean. On the other hand, if you are using a vacuum cleaner, you need to bring it to the kitchen, insert the plug, see if the right dust panel is connected, move it inch by inch, switch of, remove the plug, move the vacuum cleaner back to its place.
The list is endless.
I seriously contemplate bringing a set of brooms by some airlines the next time I visit my motherland.
What say???
The broom has several names in Tamil-thodapam, seemaru, velakkamaru,chool(by palakkad iyers).
It has occupied a firm place even in fantasies and fiction. Remember reading 'Sabrina-the teenage witch'? Doesn't she fly across with her broom?
The broom has lasted for ages.
It has conquered even the dustiest of places and has remained invincible despite the introduction of the vacuum cleaner.
Now here are a few reasons why a broom reigns supreme over a vacuum cleaner.
a) It is cheaper.
b) It occupies less space in the house.
c) It is easily available in any provision store.
d) It is easily portable. Maybe you can even dispose it when you move and buy a new one.
e) It does'nt use electricity. So it saves power.
f) Also, it is not interrupted by the power cuts. Hence you can use it anytime.
g) It is made of a natural fibre.
h) You dispose the dust immediately in contrast to that of the vacuum cleaner where the dust accumulates in the dust bag for sometime.
i) Anyone can use it-even children
j) It can remove dirt/dust particles that are larger in size and which would not go into the tiny gap that a vacuum cleaner offers.
k) It can never go out of service-hence no repairs would apply.
l)It offers a good form of exercise because if you have to clean beneath your cot or your study table, you need to bend and stretch whereas a vacuum cleaner offers you the comfort of just inserting the tube.
m) It is faster. If you are in a hurry to go to work and you have just a couple pf minutes, all you have to do is grab the broom and swish-swash-the kitchen is clean. On the other hand, if you are using a vacuum cleaner, you need to bring it to the kitchen, insert the plug, see if the right dust panel is connected, move it inch by inch, switch of, remove the plug, move the vacuum cleaner back to its place.
The list is endless.
I seriously contemplate bringing a set of brooms by some airlines the next time I visit my motherland.
What say???
Friday, January 04, 2008
Two Sides of a Coin
It's generally when you have had an argument or a misunderstanding that you realise people have different opinions about the same issue. When it comes to the work environment, we hear the term 'lateral thinking' or we hear people say 'think differently'. Why is it that some people look at an issue in a way different from ours? Attribute it to upbringing, the friends circle they have been with, their attitudes.
The way a teenager would look at an issue would be different from the way a matured adult would look at.
This provoked me to write something long time back which I post now.
He leaped around with joy. She watched him as the auto she sat in slowly plummeted through the traffic. His joy knew no bounds. She had given him a rupee that had resulted in this extreme happiness. He bounced through the zebra crossing and ran across to the other side of the road, enthusiastic to earn more, approaching the oncoming traffic that halted as the lights turned red. Was it good or bad, she wondered? She had saved him from a night’s hunger. She had been generous, showed him love and had not looked at him as a mere beggar but as a boy who deserved more than what he was actually doing.
She felt what she did was for his good and carried on.
She had removed three late charges from his account. She did that despite repeated updates from the management that not more than two late charges be removed. But would her conscience permit her? Here was a man suffering from cancer, whose life line had reached its nadir, who was not expected to see the oncoming spring, who had spent his life savings on medication, who had struggled to clear his dues. Was it right or wrong?
She had done that on moral grounds. She was humane.
She felt what she did was for his good and carried on.
The cries of the infant pierced her heart. Though the umbilical cord was broken, the bond of motherhood bound her strong to her baby. But she had to move on, never to look back, never to cast her shadow on the infant. Yes! There was a couple waiting outside to claim her rights on the baby- to adopt it. Was it for the good or for the worse?
She wanted her daughter to shy away from the evil world she had been exposed to. She wanted her daughter to have legitimate rights, equal opportunities, a loving family and a home. She knew she would never be able to give any of these.
She felt what she did was for her good and moved on.
He slowly removed his answer sheet so that it revealed its contents to his friend behind. The sound of his heart beat scared him as he felt it reverberate around the room with guilt and fear. His hands trembled as he slightly nodded signaling that his friends could look at his sheet. Beads of perspiration rolled down as he waited for the moment to pass by. But he did not stop. Was it right or wrong? A mother whose eyes shined with hope, sat fervently outside the examination hall, praying that her son would clear these exams, would bring up the already dead family honour, would show that he could stand on his own legs.
He wanted the mother to realize her hopes and hence helped her son.
He felt what he did was for her good and moved on.
The jury sat in silence as she rolled out her evidence. The accused stood paralyzed, rooted to the ground. Firm with conviction stood his wife in the witness box, providing evidence for something that never had happened. His trust shattered. His twenty eight years of marriage crumbled. Why did she have to lie?
Was it right or wrong?
Her heart wrenched with guilt as she falsely provided witness. Yet she knew what she was doing- protecting the future of another woman who was about to be entangled in the claws of her venomous husband. She had been the cynosure of all abuse that been cast on her as a result of marriage. He was about to walk out on her to the other woman- the other woman, a soft, innocent, demure lass whose vision of truth was limited to this lover.
She guiltlessly provided a false witness, watched as her husband was sentenced to imprisonment, felt her heart go light at the prospect of securing a future for the other woman.
She felt what she did was for her good and moved on.
The way a teenager would look at an issue would be different from the way a matured adult would look at.
This provoked me to write something long time back which I post now.
He leaped around with joy. She watched him as the auto she sat in slowly plummeted through the traffic. His joy knew no bounds. She had given him a rupee that had resulted in this extreme happiness. He bounced through the zebra crossing and ran across to the other side of the road, enthusiastic to earn more, approaching the oncoming traffic that halted as the lights turned red. Was it good or bad, she wondered? She had saved him from a night’s hunger. She had been generous, showed him love and had not looked at him as a mere beggar but as a boy who deserved more than what he was actually doing.
She felt what she did was for his good and carried on.
She had removed three late charges from his account. She did that despite repeated updates from the management that not more than two late charges be removed. But would her conscience permit her? Here was a man suffering from cancer, whose life line had reached its nadir, who was not expected to see the oncoming spring, who had spent his life savings on medication, who had struggled to clear his dues. Was it right or wrong?
She had done that on moral grounds. She was humane.
She felt what she did was for his good and carried on.
The cries of the infant pierced her heart. Though the umbilical cord was broken, the bond of motherhood bound her strong to her baby. But she had to move on, never to look back, never to cast her shadow on the infant. Yes! There was a couple waiting outside to claim her rights on the baby- to adopt it. Was it for the good or for the worse?
She wanted her daughter to shy away from the evil world she had been exposed to. She wanted her daughter to have legitimate rights, equal opportunities, a loving family and a home. She knew she would never be able to give any of these.
She felt what she did was for her good and moved on.
He slowly removed his answer sheet so that it revealed its contents to his friend behind. The sound of his heart beat scared him as he felt it reverberate around the room with guilt and fear. His hands trembled as he slightly nodded signaling that his friends could look at his sheet. Beads of perspiration rolled down as he waited for the moment to pass by. But he did not stop. Was it right or wrong? A mother whose eyes shined with hope, sat fervently outside the examination hall, praying that her son would clear these exams, would bring up the already dead family honour, would show that he could stand on his own legs.
He wanted the mother to realize her hopes and hence helped her son.
He felt what he did was for her good and moved on.
The jury sat in silence as she rolled out her evidence. The accused stood paralyzed, rooted to the ground. Firm with conviction stood his wife in the witness box, providing evidence for something that never had happened. His trust shattered. His twenty eight years of marriage crumbled. Why did she have to lie?
Was it right or wrong?
Her heart wrenched with guilt as she falsely provided witness. Yet she knew what she was doing- protecting the future of another woman who was about to be entangled in the claws of her venomous husband. She had been the cynosure of all abuse that been cast on her as a result of marriage. He was about to walk out on her to the other woman- the other woman, a soft, innocent, demure lass whose vision of truth was limited to this lover.
She guiltlessly provided a false witness, watched as her husband was sentenced to imprisonment, felt her heart go light at the prospect of securing a future for the other woman.
She felt what she did was for her good and moved on.
New Year Resolutions...Oh Really??
What is it about the New year that motivates people to make resolutions?
Is it because it offers a fresh set of 365 days to create a change?
Is it because the clock starts ticking again?
Is it because it is an opportunity to start afresh?
Well, most of the time these resolutions lose their spirit before we have even stuck up to 25% of what we had determined.
I got a new year wish this time that said ' Very Happy New Year to You, Friend!May all your troubles last exactly as long as your New Year's resolutions! :)'. Ha ha!! How true about resolutions.
The first time I heard that there was this concept about new year resolutions was when I had attended a summer camp after I had completed my 7th std. And yea,from then I had resolved staunchly every year not to bite my nails (I have again resolved). I succeeded finally last year , actually mid of last year and did not bite for exactly 3 months. And then now I am back to my old state!!!
I wonder why is it that we look up to the New Year to resolve. How about starting now? Now is the best time to change. This is the moment if you have realised that a chnage is needed. This is the moment if you think things can become better by a resolution. Why wait?
Is it because it offers a fresh set of 365 days to create a change?
Is it because the clock starts ticking again?
Is it because it is an opportunity to start afresh?
Well, most of the time these resolutions lose their spirit before we have even stuck up to 25% of what we had determined.
I got a new year wish this time that said ' Very Happy New Year to You, Friend!May all your troubles last exactly as long as your New Year's resolutions! :)'. Ha ha!! How true about resolutions.
The first time I heard that there was this concept about new year resolutions was when I had attended a summer camp after I had completed my 7th std. And yea,from then I had resolved staunchly every year not to bite my nails (I have again resolved). I succeeded finally last year , actually mid of last year and did not bite for exactly 3 months. And then now I am back to my old state!!!
I wonder why is it that we look up to the New Year to resolve. How about starting now? Now is the best time to change. This is the moment if you have realised that a chnage is needed. This is the moment if you think things can become better by a resolution. Why wait?
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Onam in UK:)
The festival of Onam was just around the corner. Flower kolams, payasams, festivity in the air, the traditional malayalee saees adorned with golden zari..well, I really wanted all of these no matter which part of the world I was in.
It was just the eve of Onam when we realised that we had to gather flowers. It was almost 4:00 pm and all stores had closed for the day. We had relied on the bouquets that were sold in the super markets as out source of flowers to decorate the kolam.
Onam in UK- this is how it was going to be, I thought!!
But it turned out to be more fun. We reached home, had a cup of tea and decided to venture out and try our luck with flowers. I reminisced my trip to poomarket. What a lovely trip that always used to be. Flower keepers exhibiting richly coloured ones on either sides of the pathway, lotuses blossoing with glory, jasmines and roses filling the air with their fragrance, bright yellow saamandhi flowers painting the atmosphere with yellow, orange kanankambaram flowers hanging from the stalls....UK presented a different picture.
With a plastic bag in our hands, we ventured to the nearby lake where we had seen golden yellow flowers dancing in the breeze. We had relied on them. But suddenly, they were missing. The whole landscape which had once been carpeted by their existence was just plain and dry now.
Without losing our enthusiasm, we ventured to another street where we thought we would see bright pink, lavender flowers. On our way, we say bushes covered with flowers, flowers that grew with noone catering to them, flowers that just sprung from nowhere.
We started gathering them-some known, some unknown-small ones, medium sized ones-pink, yellow, white, lavender, red. We must have been the only people gathering flowers from the road. Did we mind? Not at all!!
Well, we now needed a place to draw a kolam. The outside was carpetted and I didnt want to risk drawing on that. One of us had bought a new shirt that had a piece of cardboard placed. Optimum utilization of available resources:)
A little bit of colouring, some sketching....
And the ultimate result of that adventure is what you see here.
It was just the eve of Onam when we realised that we had to gather flowers. It was almost 4:00 pm and all stores had closed for the day. We had relied on the bouquets that were sold in the super markets as out source of flowers to decorate the kolam.
Onam in UK- this is how it was going to be, I thought!!
But it turned out to be more fun. We reached home, had a cup of tea and decided to venture out and try our luck with flowers. I reminisced my trip to poomarket. What a lovely trip that always used to be. Flower keepers exhibiting richly coloured ones on either sides of the pathway, lotuses blossoing with glory, jasmines and roses filling the air with their fragrance, bright yellow saamandhi flowers painting the atmosphere with yellow, orange kanankambaram flowers hanging from the stalls....UK presented a different picture.
With a plastic bag in our hands, we ventured to the nearby lake where we had seen golden yellow flowers dancing in the breeze. We had relied on them. But suddenly, they were missing. The whole landscape which had once been carpeted by their existence was just plain and dry now.
Without losing our enthusiasm, we ventured to another street where we thought we would see bright pink, lavender flowers. On our way, we say bushes covered with flowers, flowers that grew with noone catering to them, flowers that just sprung from nowhere.
We started gathering them-some known, some unknown-small ones, medium sized ones-pink, yellow, white, lavender, red. We must have been the only people gathering flowers from the road. Did we mind? Not at all!!
Well, we now needed a place to draw a kolam. The outside was carpetted and I didnt want to risk drawing on that. One of us had bought a new shirt that had a piece of cardboard placed. Optimum utilization of available resources:)
A little bit of colouring, some sketching....
And the ultimate result of that adventure is what you see here.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Emirates-Word Building
This is in continuation to a post I wrote sometime back about the number of words I formed from the word EMIRATES. Here is my list.
Stream
Armies
Time/s
Steam
Rate/s
Tar
Mar
Mars
Mite
Stem
Rat/s
Emit/s
Set
Stir
Tea
Eat/s
Ate
Rim/s
Trim/s
Art/s
Tram/s
Meat
Mat/s
Seat
Ram/s
Tame/s
Mate/s
Easter
Its
Arm/s
Ire
Tease
Teaser
Mare
Tear
Tears
Seer
Seam
Tire/s
Team
Teem
Steer
Same
Stair/s
Ear/s
Irate/s
Sat
Satire
Merit/s
Term/s
Smear
Air
Site/s
Stare/s
Aim/s
Sir
Sire
Mist
Mast
Rise
Raise
Tier/s
Rest
Star
Mart/s
See
Smart
Item/s
Mister
Tree/s
Sea
Meet
Tie/s
Seem
:)
Stream
Armies
Time/s
Steam
Rate/s
Tar
Mar
Mars
Mite
Stem
Rat/s
Emit/s
Set
Stir
Tea
Eat/s
Ate
Rim/s
Trim/s
Art/s
Tram/s
Meat
Mat/s
Seat
Ram/s
Tame/s
Mate/s
Easter
Its
Arm/s
Ire
Tease
Teaser
Mare
Tear
Tears
Seer
Seam
Tire/s
Team
Teem
Steer
Same
Stair/s
Ear/s
Irate/s
Sat
Satire
Merit/s
Term/s
Smear
Air
Site/s
Stare/s
Aim/s
Sir
Sire
Mist
Mast
Rise
Raise
Tier/s
Rest
Star
Mart/s
See
Smart
Item/s
Mister
Tree/s
Sea
Meet
Tie/s
Seem
:)
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
July- So, What's Special?
The scent of July has set in with flowers blooming to the joy of summer, the wind joyfully singing as it traverses landscapes beeming under the golden rays of the sun , the amosphere bright with reverbrance...
And so wht is special about July? What is it about July that has captured the imagination of poets? Here is a list of lyrical eulogies showered on this month.
July maatham vandhaal jodi serum vayasu-One of the popular peppy numbers during the nascent stages of AR Rahman's career as music director, this song has foot tapping beats.
July malargale july malargale ungal ethiriyaa oru azhagi irukiraal- A romantic number staring Vijay and Reema Sen, this song topped the charts for sometime. With soothing and pictursque locales captured in the lens, it was a hit.
Santhipoma iruvarum santhipoma july kaatril jupitaril oru murai santhipoma-A girl and guy meet once in a train and then its love at first sight(rather love at the first meet). And this song is sung when they roam around the streets of chennai in search of each other.
April Mayile pasumalaeile kaanju pochu da.........idhu thevaiya ada pongaiya june julya- A college romeo with his freinds frwon in the summer sweat as they realise it is vacation time with none to ogle at
July 16 vanthaal vayathu 17 thaan-Again a romantic number with a demure lass and a strong man
June ponaa july kaatru - Again a peppy number from 'Unnale Unnale' with a very different sort of picturization, this song was a chart buster
June July maathathil rosapoovin vaasathil- A dream song beween a very different sort of a couple- one of whom is deeply in love with the other, the other not realising the reality
Well...what more can I say? Maybe it is indeed a special month.
Maybe I know it!!!
:)
And so wht is special about July? What is it about July that has captured the imagination of poets? Here is a list of lyrical eulogies showered on this month.
July maatham vandhaal jodi serum vayasu-One of the popular peppy numbers during the nascent stages of AR Rahman's career as music director, this song has foot tapping beats.
July malargale july malargale ungal ethiriyaa oru azhagi irukiraal- A romantic number staring Vijay and Reema Sen, this song topped the charts for sometime. With soothing and pictursque locales captured in the lens, it was a hit.
Santhipoma iruvarum santhipoma july kaatril jupitaril oru murai santhipoma-A girl and guy meet once in a train and then its love at first sight(rather love at the first meet). And this song is sung when they roam around the streets of chennai in search of each other.
April Mayile pasumalaeile kaanju pochu da.........idhu thevaiya ada pongaiya june julya- A college romeo with his freinds frwon in the summer sweat as they realise it is vacation time with none to ogle at
July 16 vanthaal vayathu 17 thaan-Again a romantic number with a demure lass and a strong man
June ponaa july kaatru - Again a peppy number from 'Unnale Unnale' with a very different sort of picturization, this song was a chart buster
June July maathathil rosapoovin vaasathil- A dream song beween a very different sort of a couple- one of whom is deeply in love with the other, the other not realising the reality
Well...what more can I say? Maybe it is indeed a special month.
Maybe I know it!!!
:)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Summer Solstice-Makes Me Think!
Today is June 21st-the longest day of the year with the summer solstice. It is 10:34 pm and I peer outside through the glass windows to see if it is still bright. The sky is painted a dark blue with a tinge of black slowly creeping and seeping into it. Night is slowly treading into this part of the earth, noiselessly and subtely. It is such a contrast to be here and experience the daylight for a longer period of time. There have been days when my room mate and myself used to wait for the outside to get dark in order to have dinner because we were so used to having dinner after sunset that we did not realise it was already way past dinner time. And when we used to check our watches, it used to be close to 10:00 pm!!! And we slowly started getting used to this.
Dawn breaks as early as 4:15 am and the sun's rays are arrested by the curtains that are tightly pulled across the windows not to awaken us sleeping soundly.
How different is nature in different parts of the world! And we all get used to this fact, accept it and carry on as a matter-of-fact. What if we follow the same principle in relationships too- accepting the fact each one is different in his/her own ways. We could still respect and accept the difference and move on with our lives.
Point to ponder!!
Dawn breaks as early as 4:15 am and the sun's rays are arrested by the curtains that are tightly pulled across the windows not to awaken us sleeping soundly.
How different is nature in different parts of the world! And we all get used to this fact, accept it and carry on as a matter-of-fact. What if we follow the same principle in relationships too- accepting the fact each one is different in his/her own ways. We could still respect and accept the difference and move on with our lives.
Point to ponder!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Brewing Thoughts...
Imagine the smell of freshly brewed coffee! The aroma that floats around in the morning and stimulates your nostrils as you wake up! The sight of foaming coffe with steam forming waves right above the steel tumbler, the coffee waiting to be gulped, in slow sips first till the liquid slowly seeps down the throat, warming the body, sending ripples of energy waking up the drowsy mind- the sheer thought prompts me to dream of my next cup of filter coffee.
Whoever conceptualised this drink must have been a genuis.
A universal drink with variations- call it espresso, capuccino, cold coffee,kaapi,black coffee, irish coffee....I love the South Indian Filter coffee the best, followed by Tropical Iceberg at Coffee Day:)
Coffee tastes good in freshly made milk-milk that is boiled for the first time.
Serving in a copper tumbler does wonders to the aesthetics and the senses.
And it is indeed an art to prepare the right bend of coffee with the perfect amount of sugar dissolved in it- not too sweet nor bitter-just perfect- perfect to awaken every cell of the body to the morning freshness and the streaming sunlight-perfect to lighten a hectic day at work-perfect for a headache- perfect while hanging out with friends-perfect to spend an evening in the balcony relaxing-perfect when it rains-perfect when its shivering outside-perfect for anytime of the day:)
Anytime u feel low, u know what to do? The beverage is right there, at any corner, waiting to be savoured, waiting to gulped and sink into its ecstasy.
Whoever conceptualised this drink must have been a genuis.
A universal drink with variations- call it espresso, capuccino, cold coffee,kaapi,black coffee, irish coffee....I love the South Indian Filter coffee the best, followed by Tropical Iceberg at Coffee Day:)
Coffee tastes good in freshly made milk-milk that is boiled for the first time.
Serving in a copper tumbler does wonders to the aesthetics and the senses.
And it is indeed an art to prepare the right bend of coffee with the perfect amount of sugar dissolved in it- not too sweet nor bitter-just perfect- perfect to awaken every cell of the body to the morning freshness and the streaming sunlight-perfect to lighten a hectic day at work-perfect for a headache- perfect while hanging out with friends-perfect to spend an evening in the balcony relaxing-perfect when it rains-perfect when its shivering outside-perfect for anytime of the day:)
Anytime u feel low, u know what to do? The beverage is right there, at any corner, waiting to be savoured, waiting to gulped and sink into its ecstasy.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
So, What is Everything?
Today I saw the ultrasound image of my room-mate's baby. Astounding!! The image showed the foetus comfortably curled up in the security of the mother. The baby rests there, patiently waiting for the d-day when the world would await its arrival.
And we all started that way- a tiny cell, multiplying into millions to form what we are today. And yes, we all started fresh- our mind was a clean slate. No imprints- fresh as a newly painted slate. Just like this foetus.
As years pass by, we let imprints be left on our mind- some indelible, some evaporated, some faded. This is one of the wonders of life- how we originate.
From nothingness into forming what is everything. So, what is 'everything'?For this baby, everything is the security the mother's umbilical cord offers. For some, it is their work, for others it's their family. And this concept of 'everything' transcends people, boundaries and forms different images in different people's minds.
What if we forget all our prejudice, bias and dissolve for a moment into a state of nothingness and start afresh? Afresh, with new thoughts, visions, zeal from the beginning.
It would be a new life- like this baby-free from inhibitions and conditioning.
And we all started that way- a tiny cell, multiplying into millions to form what we are today. And yes, we all started fresh- our mind was a clean slate. No imprints- fresh as a newly painted slate. Just like this foetus.
As years pass by, we let imprints be left on our mind- some indelible, some evaporated, some faded. This is one of the wonders of life- how we originate.
From nothingness into forming what is everything. So, what is 'everything'?For this baby, everything is the security the mother's umbilical cord offers. For some, it is their work, for others it's their family. And this concept of 'everything' transcends people, boundaries and forms different images in different people's minds.
What if we forget all our prejudice, bias and dissolve for a moment into a state of nothingness and start afresh? Afresh, with new thoughts, visions, zeal from the beginning.
It would be a new life- like this baby-free from inhibitions and conditioning.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
05/06/07:)
I like today's date. It is 05/06/07 :) Cool, isn't it? And it also happens to be the 'World Envronment Day'. I remember when I was in Std VI, I had to make a speech in the morning assembly on this topic. And as years passed by, there were more environmental conversation speeches made during competitions. But as I grew, I realised the importance of this conservation. When I reflect back and compare my childhood days, compare what I had read in mythological tales and what I see now, there has been a dramatic transmogrification. And hence, here is a message. It is our duty to conserve the environment that we habitate. Call it social responsibility or belongingness. But the underlying fact is we live here.
If we only pause in our tracks and observe the way nature operates, we would be deriving life's lessons- adaptability, letting go, living in sync, perseverance...the list is endless.
Adaptability- The cactii in the Thar desert and mangroves in rainy forests
Letting go- Pls read my post on the same topic
Living in sync-different species all together in a forest
Perseverance- have you noticed how a plant emerges stronger and lush when it has been chopped off its stems and leaves to get rid of the insects around it?
And as my previous posts go- Nature: Thy name is Beauty!! And yes, it does stand testimony to time.
If we only pause in our tracks and observe the way nature operates, we would be deriving life's lessons- adaptability, letting go, living in sync, perseverance...the list is endless.
Adaptability- The cactii in the Thar desert and mangroves in rainy forests
Letting go- Pls read my post on the same topic
Living in sync-different species all together in a forest
Perseverance- have you noticed how a plant emerges stronger and lush when it has been chopped off its stems and leaves to get rid of the insects around it?
And as my previous posts go- Nature: Thy name is Beauty!! And yes, it does stand testimony to time.
Monday, June 04, 2007
The Grass is Greener on the Other Side of the Fence...is it???
A very oft heard saying!! True..and how not true! True in the sense that we tend to think and fantasise the 'if only's and 'what if's. Not true when the actual reality actually hits us hard.
We see people longing for a particular job because his batchmate managed to bag one. And the current job seems worthless in front of the plush locales the batch mate travels to. And once this person manages to secure a similar job, does he realise the freedom, working hours his previous job offered. If only he had stuck on to it.
And here is the next scenario. A house-wife sighs and wishes she could also be a career woman and command authority and have a sense of accomplishment. And the career woman wishes for the day where she can afford to quit her job and be a home maker, cooking the choicest dishes for her husband, making up the house, knitting mufflers for the new born and what not.
And how about onsite travel? We see people who really wish they could move across airports for every meal of the day. And vice versa, people who actually do that are desperate to get back home and have a meal from the same old plate that has been in the kitchen for years now, that brings back memories of good homeland.
What this goes to prove is that we forget to live in the present and relish what it actually offers us.
It is this moment that matters. The moment of truth. The moment that actually holds promises that we fail to see.
We see people longing for a particular job because his batchmate managed to bag one. And the current job seems worthless in front of the plush locales the batch mate travels to. And once this person manages to secure a similar job, does he realise the freedom, working hours his previous job offered. If only he had stuck on to it.
And here is the next scenario. A house-wife sighs and wishes she could also be a career woman and command authority and have a sense of accomplishment. And the career woman wishes for the day where she can afford to quit her job and be a home maker, cooking the choicest dishes for her husband, making up the house, knitting mufflers for the new born and what not.
And how about onsite travel? We see people who really wish they could move across airports for every meal of the day. And vice versa, people who actually do that are desperate to get back home and have a meal from the same old plate that has been in the kitchen for years now, that brings back memories of good homeland.
What this goes to prove is that we forget to live in the present and relish what it actually offers us.
It is this moment that matters. The moment of truth. The moment that actually holds promises that we fail to see.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The third kind...
We meet different people from different walks of lives. Some shaped by society, some shaped due to circumstances, some without inhibitions who can let go. It is the third kind that amazes and certainly can teach a lesson or two on how we should be living and not just merely existing. Setting aside the prejudice of the mind (if at all they are prejudiced), it's a pleasure to see them sing along to the tunes of the breeze, walk through life with gait and joy, shoving aside burdens of everyday life creating a picture that they never exist and dance their way through.
I have come across such people in different stages of my life. Some in school who used to remain unpertubed despite not doing their day's home work, some chilling out in the class rooms and still topping exams, some at work who after a day's work gulp in barrels of beer and watch a basket ball match while others just crash after a day's work, some who sing their way through at work, greeting everyone with a cheery smile, snging jingles as the day progresses..that indeed makes you pause in your tracks and wonder if these people ever have worries at all. Well, maybe worries seem to crumble in front of their cheery disposition.
It is they who actually celebrate living than merely existing through.
I have come across such people in different stages of my life. Some in school who used to remain unpertubed despite not doing their day's home work, some chilling out in the class rooms and still topping exams, some at work who after a day's work gulp in barrels of beer and watch a basket ball match while others just crash after a day's work, some who sing their way through at work, greeting everyone with a cheery smile, snging jingles as the day progresses..that indeed makes you pause in your tracks and wonder if these people ever have worries at all. Well, maybe worries seem to crumble in front of their cheery disposition.
It is they who actually celebrate living than merely existing through.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
If I Could...
If I could reach for the stars above letting go of emotions around
shoving away prejudice and bias
bathing in the glory of present
revelling in the happiness of small things
If I could be one with all
uniting the commonality that binds us all
bringing in a sense of acceptance
transcending the obvious disparity
If I could smile with the breeze
as it caresses my cheek
linking the fragrance of the world around
and mellow out till eternity
standing tall with age
glorious would be the path tread upon
for Utopia would be right here
brimming with dreams that come true
with a touch of sunshine in every moment
and a life that would have truly lived.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Atrai Thingal Vaanidum...
A lilt of freshness...melody enraptured....romance filling the air...pure Tamizh lyrics...'Atrai thingal' from the movie 'Sivappathikaram' is a breath of fragrance. Truly beautiful music, excellent singers- Madhu Balakrishna and Sujatha doing justice to the song.
Vidhyasagar has crafted this piece with perfection. The tune, background music seem so harmonious. Set in the ragam Dharbari Kanada, this song creates a mellifluous atmosphere.
The sudden change in the tune between the lines
'Thalumbinean enai nee thoda,paainthida,aainthida' and
'Kaanugindra kaadhal ennidum' brings a surprise and keep you captivated to the melody.
Madhu Balakrishna is a promising singer. His voice is just perfect for this song. Sujatha brings a lot of feminity to the song. Her voice is beautiful.
A brilliant composition...waiting to play the song this evening :)
Vidhyasagar has crafted this piece with perfection. The tune, background music seem so harmonious. Set in the ragam Dharbari Kanada, this song creates a mellifluous atmosphere.
The sudden change in the tune between the lines
'Thalumbinean enai nee thoda,paainthida,aainthida' and
'Kaanugindra kaadhal ennidum' brings a surprise and keep you captivated to the melody.
Madhu Balakrishna is a promising singer. His voice is just perfect for this song. Sujatha brings a lot of feminity to the song. Her voice is beautiful.
A brilliant composition...waiting to play the song this evening :)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
All I Want...
All I want to do is dream
dream away from reality's realm-with
a circle of comfort enveloping me
portraying everything I want to see.
Dreams-knocking my tribulations away
while I revel in joy and gay
reaching for the known unknown
clasping it as if it were my own.
Clouds of doubt seem melting
for faith is what dreams bring
sweeping me into wonderland
as hope walks aside hand in hand.
All I want to do is dream
about a rosy world that gleams
as sunshine seeps through with dawn
making my troubles seem gone.
dream away from reality's realm-with
a circle of comfort enveloping me
portraying everything I want to see.
Dreams-knocking my tribulations away
while I revel in joy and gay
reaching for the known unknown
clasping it as if it were my own.
Clouds of doubt seem melting
for faith is what dreams bring
sweeping me into wonderland
as hope walks aside hand in hand.
All I want to do is dream
about a rosy world that gleams
as sunshine seeps through with dawn
making my troubles seem gone.
Memories...
Melting visions of the past,
of days gone by, of bliss enthralled
of joys reverberating, of tribulations haunting
all woven into a common thred
linking the present to to that bygone
treasured deep within me
carving the path tread upon
never to be visted again
but to be felt only in thoughts-
the memories of life lived.
of days gone by, of bliss enthralled
of joys reverberating, of tribulations haunting
all woven into a common thred
linking the present to to that bygone
treasured deep within me
carving the path tread upon
never to be visted again
but to be felt only in thoughts-
the memories of life lived.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Letting Go with Nature
I had been to Scotland recently and to describe it in one word would be 'breath taking'!!Absolutely beautiful!!So much in sync with nature and heavenly.
Nestled within the harmony of nature, the highland tour took us to places beyond imagination. At one place, I saw this huge mountain imposing beside the roadside, huge beyond thoughts and so near to one's path that it looked scary.
The next instance, I saw a small peak hidden slightly behind this mountain and sunshine seemed to stream on it reflecting serenity- capped with snow, this peak revelled in the security of the huge mountain in front of it and enjoyed the glory of the sun's rays pouring on it- slowly, steadily.Awesome.!And looking at this mammoth structure and the gentle one beside it, I stood- gazing at it with wonder and astonishment letting go of emotions and thoughts at that moment. And I was tempted to compare how small we human beings apeared in front of it..almost like microbes, scurrying around, conquering territories, claiming ownership on something that does'nt belong to us while this structure stood where it had been created, for almost a millions of years, looking down on us, not reacting to exploitations but in one place imposing what it should. At that moment, worries crumbled and I felt free. I engulfed the beauty of that moment, savoured the sight in front of me which kept me enraptured for how long, I don't know.
Time seemed frozen at that instance and all I longed was for that moment to last longer.
Nestled within the harmony of nature, the highland tour took us to places beyond imagination. At one place, I saw this huge mountain imposing beside the roadside, huge beyond thoughts and so near to one's path that it looked scary.
The next instance, I saw a small peak hidden slightly behind this mountain and sunshine seemed to stream on it reflecting serenity- capped with snow, this peak revelled in the security of the huge mountain in front of it and enjoyed the glory of the sun's rays pouring on it- slowly, steadily.Awesome.!And looking at this mammoth structure and the gentle one beside it, I stood- gazing at it with wonder and astonishment letting go of emotions and thoughts at that moment. And I was tempted to compare how small we human beings apeared in front of it..almost like microbes, scurrying around, conquering territories, claiming ownership on something that does'nt belong to us while this structure stood where it had been created, for almost a millions of years, looking down on us, not reacting to exploitations but in one place imposing what it should. At that moment, worries crumbled and I felt free. I engulfed the beauty of that moment, savoured the sight in front of me which kept me enraptured for how long, I don't know.
Time seemed frozen at that instance and all I longed was for that moment to last longer.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Filling in!!
I was waiting for the lift yesterday and as it landed and the doors opened, I stepped in but suddenly realised there was little space for me. I was taken aback and realized there was a gentleman in the lift with a lot of things strewn around him in huge bags. I found a cartload of cds too. Well, just as I was thinking that he was moving into an apartment, he said his car was broken into and he was moving stuff from the car to the house. Whoa!! Pretty surpised how much a car can hold. I jocularly remarked that I thought he was moving into here. It looked as though he had practically lived a part of his life in the car looking at the amount of stuff he was carrying..made me think what we also do with our cars, the handbags, the office draws. This reminds me of another incident. I was shifting from one desk to another because of some changes in the seating arrangements at work. I was to occupy a desk previously occupied by a gentleman. He was removing his stuff fro there to make space for me. And as I approached, my eyes just popped out. The draw of his desk literally held a fruit market!! There were dozens of bananas, apples and what not! My! The whole office could have bought fruits for lunch from him.
And then there is this joke about a woman's handbag on how she has everything from a lipstick to an organizer in it.
Makes me wonder or rather feel astonished at how we fill in space.
And then there is this joke about a woman's handbag on how she has everything from a lipstick to an organizer in it.
Makes me wonder or rather feel astonished at how we fill in space.
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