Sunday 12 December 2010

(Ir)responsible Media

No one could have ideally said it better than Sir Paul McCartney himself. The thin line that the media often oversees is the right to information and right to revealing. Angelina Jolie (for whatever unscrupulous reasons be) is trying to get a law passed that bans reporters from prying on their personal lives. There's a reason it is "personal" because it is purely no one else's business. The media sometimes gets so bent on getting news that sell, that they quite often than not forget their mortal mission, reporting 1-0-1 if you may - you broadcast news to make money but not at the cost of the society.

Say for example, the 26/11 incident. Covering the incident was important, but what was deemed unnecessary was them camping right outside the hotel and covering from every possible angle how, when, who and what was then being done. What was unnecessary was them to give out globally, where a certain group was safe and soundly hiding. While I do get it was partly the cabinet ministers fault who let out that juicy piece of information of the same but under such tormenting situation it is a mere miracle that they didn't blow themselves up but rather held on patiently waiting that soon something good is going to come out of it.

While the media has more than often abused their right to speak and write; they have on a very few occasions brought justice to the ones deprived of the same. Like the Jessica Lal murder case. Shot down publicly at a socialites party, brimming with evidence yet the case was suppressed. The criminals were acquitted after the initial hearings. Devoid of media pressure the criminals would be going around scot free. It took 7 years to drive the criminals to their rightful places, behind bars!

There is always two sides to any story and the media is supposed to cover not just the two sides but the possible parallel dimensional third side as well. However lately the media seems to be interested only in the dimension that clears their bills and good spirited journalism seems shockingly passée . Hope this is one thing that sure makes it back in vogue.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

"We dont need no Hateration"

We all know about Speed dating. Be it up front or on the screen. Strangers sit in a room and everyone gets two minutes with the other person after which a bell is rung and the person has to move on to the next seater. If they like each other then the person stays and they talk on and exchange numbers and all that. If they don't like the person at the other side of the table before two minutes are up, they can sound an individual bell and the person has to step aside from the chair and wait for his turn with the next participant.

In today's pessimistic world we have made our own hateful version of it. Also known as, "Speed Hating". You just come across strangers and you blurt out stuff that you don't like or that is piled up inside you.

I for one, fail to see what good comes out of that! Of course you get to yell stuff and that ought to feel good, but what about the unnecessary rants of others that you get to hear. Don't you already get to hear that everywhere;  in the form of your colleague who keeps thinking you give a damn about his computer that has broken down or your boss asking you to run an extra errand or your friend breaking up for the n'th time in a blink of an eye and thinking that you still care. Besides, don't we all come across enough people who don't get you either way already?

All this makes me wonder, Didn't anyone hear Mary J. Blige singing out in "Family affair" :
"Don't need no hateration, holleratin'
In this dancery
Let's get it percolatin', while you're waiting
So just dance for me."


Wednesday 7 July 2010

Mtv v/s Channel V

When I was growing up MTv and Channel V were at each others neck in competition just as Coke and Pepsi still are. I remember the scandalous shows - Mtv Loveline with the fabulous Malaika Arora being the perfect agony aunt on screen. Who cared what the solutions were as long as she still read out those long letters in those short dresses! ;) Channel V had VJ Sophie and VJ Shehnaz doing the same with the Indian blonde flavour to it.

I particularly remember this horrible show that used to come on both the channels that used to make my blood curdle. MTV and Channel V had their versions of it. Mtv had this show with a theme of what wouldn't you do for your loved one. In this show one would set out to do a task designed by Mtv or something that they decided that included something they fear or something that disgusts them ( you get the idea!). Channel V had a fight off. Two guys or girls would fight for the girl/guy they love and the winner would get to take the girl/guy, not take her home; just take her! Don't worry it isn't as crude as it sounds, it was way worse.

Off late I have indulged myself happily into world of the blabber box. I came to notice just exactly how much materialistic we had turned over the past decade of recession and wars. Although the shows mentioned above were crude the end prize was love and perhaps their 15 seconds of fair share of fame. Now Love is the game and cash is the prize, served with bitchiness: "Swaad anusaar"!

Mtv Roadies Producer Raghu Ram discovered this piece of gold with 'Splitsvilla'. Channel V retorted with "Truth Love Cash", "Axe ur Ex" and "Sprite Love Net" - each worse than its predecessor. 'Truth Love Cash' is like an Indian take on "Sex, Lies and Videotapes". Couples fighting it out for cash, love and often falling head along when the truth is revealed.
"Axe ur ex" is something that is just wrong on so many levels, that it wouldn't go beyond its 1st episode if it were aired in any country where suing is taken up as a hobby with uncontrolled passion and Channel V would be out of it business before it could complete the word "Axe". The plot seems amusing enough, a "Damsel in distress" Ex walks up to Channel V and Channel V plans out a day in hell for the counterpart starting from harassing her in public to downright breaking into her room and booby-trapping it to spook the other party- playing God if you will.
"Sprite Love Net" is as bitchy as it gets. Two strangers who have been in contact with each other via the net and with a wish to be romantically involved are helped by Channel V. The guy and a VJ break into the girls place snoop through her place, talk to neighbours etc. While the girl with another VJ snoop through the guys stuff (magazines, posters in the bathroom, dirty laundry etc.). Then they are out face to face and obviously they would have a lot of uncovered grey area and both of them set out clearing them and triggering each others defence alarm.

I grew up when the phrase "Love sells" was used more often than the phrase "Sex sells". I guess I now understand what Black Eyed Peas were singing when the released their 1st track of Elecphunk  and  asked us all, "Where is the love?"

As far as the competition goes there is no doubt that Mtv has won it by leaps and bounds. They achieved what Sony tried to achieve with 'Walkman' and 'Blu Ray discs', they created a novel market and tapped it at its full with - Mtv India,Mtv International and Nickelodeon. So I guess when Mtv v/s Channel V is compared, this show is more than over!

Monday 21 June 2010

The EnigmA of a Superhero!

Try remembering the first day you came back from school, what did you do (in my case what I think I did) was possibly sleep a lot and then finished the homework or something. What did your parents whisper in your ear that very day? "You are special, and one day you are going to be a radical person!" Every time you got enrolled into any extra curricular activities what did you think? You thought you are going to be the best of its kind; not cause you worked really hard or that there is a major breakthrough happening in that field but simply cause the media and your parents told you that you are "One of a kind". I don't blame my parents for thinking I am one of a kind, but I blame the media for making me believe it! 
Moving back to original topic, being a superhero just takes alllll that pressure off! You know you don't have to do something extraordinary or work really hard for something, just your mere existence makes allll the difference! Spiderman, had a major early-life crisis even though he was a full-on nerd with top notch A's he wanted more and he turned into Spiderman and it more or less ended there. He was one of a kind and suddenly he discovered this genre of one-of-a-kind enemies and all he does is reduce the scope of uniqueness. 
Gautam Buddha was perhaps the only peson who had it all figured out, he said man's mortal quest is not for happiness but for ultimate power; seeking power is what makes man unhappy. 
True on so many many levels. The ultimate quest for power brings us so much closer to fighting to survive and all this gets so easy when you are a superhero. the only people for who the "I am,...." sentences make sense! 
If Hulk says, "I exist, Therefore I am." It just bears so much more gravity than every other riff raff using the term. 
The comics developers realised this wish of man to be so much more than just a mere mortal resulting their existence,and their scintillating mutli-million dollar majestic success. I almost forgot the movie that whooped Box Office ass, The Matrix Trilogy!
I guess this article bears its roots from Jim Uhls's much appreciated screenplay in Fight Club (1999) where Brad Pitt goes on to say, "We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars. But we won't. We're slowly learning that fact . And we're very, very pissed off!"

Wednesday 12 May 2010

What's on the table?

Anyone who knows me, and knows me well...will know my love, zest and passion for food..not just any food, good food; might be nutritious as well :P . I have friends who live their lives for food, have had their parents courier them kilos of food stuff over international shores, cause they share the same passion.
I am not just yet another person who loves food. I like everything about food. The way you have to gather raw materials and every different spice not only adds a different aroma but completely changes the taste of the food.
As kids, full on cartoons were scarce and animes didn't exist; me and my brother kept ourselves busy by baking and cooking, severely and by tonnes! To the limit, till my mother got fed up of us and hid the kneader. We built an extension cable and kneaded out in the lawn! Yes, we were that bored, it was summer vacations, what do you expect?
Since then I have borne a love for confectionery. Food isn't just something you feel in your mouth and fills your stomach.
For me when a cake steps out of the oven, its browned hard crust lends it an added taste and smell, which fills me. When you cut a piece of cake, I like the feel of knife cutting through the cake, I like the crumbs that fall out when you retract the piece from the main chunk. I treasure the way your fingers compress into a cake when you hold it and it melts in your mouth.
The entire setup is the feeling I cherish. Those of you who do know what I'm talking about, who understand exactly how I feel may be a bit better or a bit lesser; this post is an ode to you all, for the sake of your loyalty!
:)

Tuesday 6 April 2010

The couple

It had been four months and Julia knew what was going on. She had nothing to complain, she had had a good life- a loving family, a faithful husband, a couple of good friends and her beloved dogs who never made her wonder whether she had enough love to go round. She waited patiently for the results; not expecting a miracle but just a tentative date as to when she leaves her family, loving husband and friends behind to rest for once and for all. She saw a glimmer in his husband's eyes which said,"I'm not ready! I never will be!", she placed her hand on his and reassured him with a look of,"I need you to be strong my love!" Her parents had left for heavenly abode and she was glad that they had, cause her mother used to say,"There's nothing more painful than to lose a child with the parents still alive". Few of her close friends were taking care of her house, her dogs and her husband who was growing ever more lean.
The doctor came in with the reports. She felt like it was a repeat of Scrubs/Grey's anatomy; she knew the look, the pauses, the sense of practised guilt of having nothing more that they could deliver. But she was a strong woman, she made it easy for the doctor. She asked him,"How much time do I have left?", her husband stared at her startled with the question as she felt her husband's world shatter and noticed a tear roll out from the corner of his eye.

The doctor said,"Three weeks, I am extremely sorry. But, we can still........." . She looked at her husband and said,"Let me go while I am not a vegetable, let me pass away like a human being!" He didn't know how to respond, after all she was just 40 years of age and to him, she still looked like the teenager he fell in love with on the first day of high school. He felt there were so many things that he had promised that were yet to be done, they were yet to buy a condo and shift to Los Angeles and stay by the sun and sand; they were yet to take a world tour, yet to love each other more...so much more. He thought of the times he had disappointed his ever loving beautiful wife.

A thousand thoughts were swirling through his mind...it was like the entire thing was a bad dream and he just couldn't shake it off and wake up. He tried hard, but he could not! He saw the doctor mouth a few words that seemed like,"I'll give you a minute", he wasn't sure though; he wasn't sure of anything that was happening. He had unknowingly started walking, walking out of the room and almost out of the hospital; he heard his wife's soft screams calling out to him but it was like his legs were not in control of his body. His childhood friend caught up to him and shook him and said,"Tim! Tim! Can you hear me??? Julia needs you!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME!!! TIM!!!"

A couple of minutes later, Tim had regained his sense of talking. John had informed Julia that Tim is with him and fine and that she should not worry. They'd be back soon. After a while the first words Tim uttered were,"Who is with Julia?" John said,"Rosanne is there, don't worry. Even she needs a friend and Rosanne is just as strong as Julia; but we need to take care of you right now. Tim, she is dying and you know that; don't act like you didn't. I know you hoped against hope; but deep in your heart you knew. I guess it is time you pulled out that courage and used it. I know you can't be prepared for death; but you have to...for your sake, for Julia's sake."

Tim stayed quiet, he looked down at the unevenness of the cemented floor and he noticed the blobs, he didn't want to listen to what John was saying, even though he knew every word he is saying was true and he will have to do it sooner or later. He was really concentrating on this particular blob that had a fine thread around it which reminded him of Julia's blonde smooth hair and how it sways in the wind and how it smells every morning when he wakes up next to her. Before he knew he noticed tiny circular formations on the floor, he realised he was crying; not crying out of anger, not crying out of a sense of loss; but crying that he has to stand and face the fact that his loved one is dying and he had to be standing next to her stronger than ever before cause he loved her so much more than this mere gesture. He felt John's arm on his shoulder and he knew that though he is not alone on this road but he realised that in a matter of three weeks nothing will ever be the same. His first and only love, will no longer be there to grow old with him. He quivered as he bent into two and John knew just the thing to do at least that's what they've done ever since they were little kids; a hug. John's hugs were magical; he would soak away all the gloom that anyone had and if it were a joyous moment it would get quadrupled. Tim picked himself up and walked to the water tap, splashed his face with the cold Michigan winter water.

Tim walked in to the room and greeted his love with a smile and looked towards Rosanne and said,"Could you give us a minute?",Rosanne as prompt as ever left the room with a smile and without much delay.
Tim looked deep into Julia's eyes, which still bore that blue ring around her cornea just like the first day that he met her. He said,"Julia, you know I love you, more with every fleeting moment and this is not easy for you or me. But I love you enough to let you decide how you live your life...[pauses, sniffs]..or leave this world. So what I'm trying to tell you is that I'm going to stand by you in whatever decision you make.(Smiles) But, only if you promise me you'll get us a good condo in heaven, cause baby I'm gonna come to get you soon; so don't flirt around too much with those handsome angels; cause I will break those pricks bones once I get there." She giggled through her tear filled eyes and clogged nose and said,"Thank you hon. Thanks for standing by me, I have always and will always love you. If on days you find that you hear the bell ring but no one's at the door, that is cause I'm asking you to clean the house, clean yourself, feed Goldy and Snoopy and take them out for a walk."

Julia wanted to come home and spend the last few days with friends and her dogs. One fine day as she woke up next to Tim, she noticed that Goldy and Snoopy were waiting expectantly by the bed that they'll get to go for a walk soon. She turned over to Tim and called him softly, her voice still groggy with sleep. She covered her mouth as she had done for the past 18 years of married life and called him softly. He turned around and hugged her and said,"I like your morning breath why are you robbing me of that smell?" She shied away from him just like the first time he had said the sentence and said,"Cause I don't get kicks out of spreading germs and I wish I could have taught you that in the past 18 years, alas! Some people are just spoilt beyond repair!" Tim groaned,smiled and said,"Fine. I'm going to get you your brush and I'll clean up, we'll take these lazy bums (pointing to Goldy and Snoopy) for a walk and then we can get some breakfast ok?" She smiled and nodded. She never felt more loved.

It had been a week since she passed away. Tim still didn't know how to live his life. He didn't find the will to wake up or get up or feed the dogs or clean the house. Goldy and Snoopy were very sensitive and they tried their best to not seek any attention. They had managed to make the dog food box drop from the shelf and they ate it off of the floor. They answered their calls of nature in the garden.

It was the 21st of December, he didn't know how he was going to spend the festivities of this season without his beloved. He didn't know if he'd be able to make it past a mistletoe without having a complete breakdown. He just kept reeling through the memories- her hair, her smell, her clothes, her smile, the loud cackle of her laughter reverberating through the house and another few houses....THUDDD!!!! Tim heard a noise, but he didn't have the heart to get up. While he laid down their wondering, steal what you want just let my dogs and the photos be! He heard a voice, a voice that he knew meant trouble. He heard it again, "TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! Are you there?!!! TTTTTTTTIIIIIMMMMMMMM!!!!!" Crap, it was his sister Donna, he knew she was going to lecture him. He could hear her proceeding footsteps towards the door. He wanted to run and hide, but his muscles failed to. Donna marched in and said,"God! TIM!!! Will you look at yourself. I cannot tolerate you and your awful smell! Go get decent! We have the hearing of the will today and I will not take no for an answer and you know there is no point arguing with me. So go on, go ahead. I'll lay out your clothes for you,just get ready! Then come down for breakfast! Wonder what Goldy and Snoopy are eating!"

Tim marched on and followed his sister's orders mostly cause he didn't have the energy to do anything else. 45 minutes later they left in Donna's car.

They reached the hearing on time. Tim couldn't have cared less, he just wanted his wife back at the cost of his complete fortune. After the hearing, the lawyer came up to him and said,"Julia had left a letter for you."
He rushed into the bathroom as he knew that's the only place where he could read undisturbed. He ripped apart the envelope. The letter read:
"Dear Tim,
Hi baby. So I guess I kicked the bucket before you eh? YOoohooo, I don't have to be the last one, I beat you to the race. Come on Tim you know, it has always meant everything for me to win. Anyway, I love you hon. And don't worry if any of the rockstars land up here am not goinng flirt with them, you have my word ;). I guess you are not cleaning the house, or yourself. Do that hon, it hurts for me to see you live like that. We are all responsible for our own lives. As far as Snoopy and Goldy are concerned I bet they are being the absolute dolls that they are. Or dogs, whatever :P ! I know we've discussed this a million times before but I'll say it again. Don't end your life, just cause mine has ended. I cannot see you live like this. Go out there, live your life and as Joey said,"Grab a spoon!" ;). It would make me so delirious to see you live and love again. Take your time but do move on hon. And about loving, I guess Missy Higgins has said everything I want to say. Since I'm sure you don't know about the song or the artist here goes the lyrics, and I will alawys love your for everything you do, everything you don't, everything you are and everything you aren't!

"I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none

There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
Oh, she who dares to stand where I stood"

Love you darl.
Muaah Muaah!
Forever yours loved wife,
Julia."

Tim didn't know what he was going to do after he finished reading this letter. But he realised he doesn't need to do anything but live, for Julia's sake; and learn to live without Julia. As he stepped out of the building, he found the rays of Sun sparkling on yesterday's snow, and was reflected to his eyes. He took out his shades, descended the steps and he said to himself,"Here goes nothing!"

Saturday 3 April 2010

"Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings"




Attempt:
Around a year back someone had asked me, "What does Stairway to heaven mean?" I had given him a little perception of the song. Then I went hunting on the net. What next shocked me was the various range of explanations I found for the same, ranging from God believing Christian fanatic views to extremely dark Satanic views, and all these views suit the song so well its hard to tell what is true and what is not. 

The God believing Christian view of it is as follows:
There is a lady entwined in the materialistic pleasures of the world. She is so engulfed by the mortal pleasures to the extent that a word fetches her all her hearts desires to an extent that she thinks she can buy her stairway to heaven. But, she doesn't find the store  that sells her the stairway to heaven; but she's determined to find it; as she's been blinded by her stubborn nature.
And the materialistic world has made her shrewd enough to make sure that when she does buy it, it is what she paid for. Songbird, is symbolic of angel incarnate as music is deemed to be good and pure much like an angel; and preaches that all of our views are dyed with misconceptions that we bear of today's world.
There is a feeling that overpowers Plant when he looks towards the setting sun as it yearns to be liberated and attain moksha. His thoughts symbolically represent him being stranded amidst a burning forest (more thoughts) yet he finds the will to stand strong and be faithful to his beliefs. This prevailing confusion makes him ponder. It could also be symbolic to deforestation and how we are all not doing anything about it.
While being lost the only thing that is keeping him positive is that somewhere his conscience whispers to him that singing the tune of faith, Jesus will lead them to reason. It will lead to a new day that will echo with laughter of triumph of all that is good, with forests reclaiming the land.
If there is a sound in the forest don't be alarmed it is God weeding out the evil and all that is good in the world prevails. The May Queen signifies the Queen of bloom and the season for blossom, representing all that good is in full bloom. There is always two ways you can approach a problem; as an ancient Sanskrit text (Samyutta Nikaaya) reads,"Tasmaa satan ca asatan ca naanaa hot ito gati, asanto nirayam yanti santo saggaparaayanaa" meaning, "Therefore do the paths of the good and the evil of this world divide; the evil go to hell but the final destination of the good is heaven.” We always have the option of changing what and how we do something; it is never too late to 'change the road you're on'.
Once you're enlightened by the ways of God, you will be attracted by the sheer vitality of His existence. Referring to the old lady's idea of buying your way into heaven is fleeting with the wind.
And as year goes by with barely any time left to live, we all know of a lady who irrespective of her age is still not wise or realistic as she still believes she can buy her way into heaven.
If and when you open your souls to the truth, after the spring cleaning of the May Queen all are together and equal, and to put an end to moribund thinking and come to rest and attain nirvana. 
While some of us get wiser there are and will always be people who believe they can buy their way into heaven.

Satanic version:
The satanic version is very inane as only certain parts of it show complete relevance while other parts just seems a forced upon thinking.
"There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'cause you know sometimes words have two meanings."
This humours one's sense of hell and heaven. If Plant were a devil worshipper he would think of hell as heaven.


"There's a feeling I get when I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving".
Christians believe that Jesus will arrive from the east and hence are buried facing east. Looking at the west shows that he is yearning to be one with Satan at its earliest.


"And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul".
In this part of the song it refers to our shadows as something darker and possibly "evil" and our souls are usually referred to as something holy. Our shadows are taller than our souls could refer to being on the path of hell.


"Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.”
This raptures that in the end you will be rewarded for the path you take.



History:
There are several accounts of the song's existence. In one, Plant says that he wrote it after a period spent before the fire contemplating “spiritual perfection” at the band’s country house in Headley Grange. In another, Plant says that Page played him the chord changes and his hand spontaneously began writing the immortal first words. In another version, Page recalls that Plant jotted down about three quarters of the lyrics on the spot at the band’s very first rehearsal of the song. Stephen Davis maintains that Plant had written under the spell of Lewis Spence, particularly his Magic Arts in Great Britain. Of course, these versions are not mutually exclusive – one or more could be combined. This was considered as Plant's epiphany of spiritualism.

Perceptions:
The Christian views believed that Heaven and Christianity was so ideally represented, that God gifted Led Zep with the #1 spot in all music countdown thereafter even now! While songs like "Highway to Hell" ended up being just another song in the history of rock. "The key to understanding ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is in the cover art on the album. On the back is a prophet on a hill holding a lantern with a six pointed star in it.This is a direct reference to the world of sacred geometry, which has a connection to the world of the occult. (Hence the connection with Aliester Crowly). When you start to understand the teachings of Plato, and why the sign over his academy read, “Let no man enter here who does not understand geometry”, you will begin to understand how the song was created, and why it resonates with our souls.You will also begin to understand that the lyrics of the song is a prophecy that has only started to become relavent in the last few years, and consequently, could not have been correctly interpreted before this time."

Satanic believers have their own set of beliefs, obviously. It is believed that Plant was heavily intoxicated when he was at Headley Grange and he saw Satan speak to him through the flames in the bonfire and he promised him sheer success if he were to write a song preaching Satan's dark words. It is believed that Plant agreed and fudged back-masking into the song dedicating the song to Satan on a global platform. 

I don't believe that Zepellin intentionally put the stuff about Satan in there, but rather that they did draw these dark entities into their music via their lifestyle and Page's then fascination with Aleister Crowley. This pact is also to be held responsible for the death of John Bonham; another price that the band had to pay for their success. Obviously Led Zep denies this, who wouldn't!

Back-masking:
Back-masking is a way of hiding messages which are revealed once played backward. 

The lyrics turn into:
"Plaaaay backwards,
Hear why its sung here, oppositioner..
Allll on track, all arriving
They all sing, and they are one.
Shall I loathe you now, parishoner?
Oh hear Him, Christian within me.
It stirs my sin; the river,
Oh, she swells with our lousiness.
All my life will end for him?
We’re all out of signs,
I know I’m sorta shocked
To hear The Lord,
My God now will save me!
Oh I will n’er be saved,
Because I live with Satan..
One wish today;
That you’ll all pray for
Three who will make it here late.
Pray now and you’ll see..
The ‘Lord’ turned me on,
But, oh, I was the shaggy fool..
Clothed in agony,
Lost at a height.
There’s No Escaping it.

Nor his woes.. 
So here’s to my Sweet Satan. 
The one who’s little path 
Would make me sad, 
Whose power is satan. 
He’ll give you 666. 
there was a little toolshed, 
where he made 
us suffer sad Satan. 
Ohohohoh... 
“Family won’t get loose, 
They’re offered me”
Always soothes the worker. 
Always will be as we know now 
“I see ruins,” said he, 
“the world they offered me? 
Who wished the Lord’s fall”
If we lose feather, 
Say you’ll save me! 

And no wimps can bend the rules.. 
And no wimps can do.. 

Hunt next to the shore, 
‘Cause they see all from there, 
See here’s the news, 
Who walks with mute grief! 
Perhaps no-one found thee... 
“Heavy, lift me out,” 
Spake the Reve, 
“Someday, failed, we’ll lose one line-up, 
They’ve gotta leave forsaken”

And no wimps can do.. 
And no wimps can do... 

He, who say the lords 
Thoth have our laws, 
Maat must be superb. Mass is ended.. 
Over there, 
He who should learn thee. 
Any moot that serves by my sworn music, 
I wish it with snow be shushed, All for my mass’s sake. 
Hear why its sung, 
here, oppositioner, Ohh.. 
He who should show 
May make his show worthy, 
To look, for us, odd.. sickly, 
There’s one chance - take his show. 
Hold thy head, 
Hear why its sung here. oppositioner. 
Who owns this earth built below? 
Oh sweet Israel… "


Well I have heard it too and it sounds exactly like that. While I agree the content is true; I find it highly unlikely that he had intentionally put all this content in there. What I guess makes up my mind is that I'm listening to it when it plays forward so the backward content of it is really irrelevant.

Spiritualism, is very complex, bearing a certain sense of duality. You can interpret it in any form you wish to. It is like Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, meaning we can't really know the truth, but merely seek glimpses of it.

Friday 2 April 2010

Career diversity

I had once read, "There's no such thing as a fun job! Have you ever seen an advertisement that read 'Wanted Pizza eater', of course not! Work is supposed to stink and that comes by the basic definition of it!". Nonetheless, with an assignment less than a week left to cover, I am busy procrastinating  in my dream world, thinking of all the wonderful things! 


I wondered, if there were any fun jobs and I came across seemingly fun jobs like a Theme park employee, Hollywood wardrobe stylist, groomer, hairstylist, baker, wedding planner, publicist..but all these careers I could see myself getting tired out, by a max of 2 years and most probably strangling my clients. LOL. So I moved on...I searched the internet for fun courses. I thought to myself, what do I really adore and is a part of my daily life. I heard my soul speak almost howling, MUSIC! So I looked for courses in music.
I was fascinated by the number of courses focussing on rock music. I found Perth university, which offers you a MA in Rock Music Studies and Maryville University of St. Louis offering B.A. in Cultural Studies of Rock Music. But the most obnoxious degree of all requires a run up, and I will give it the much demanded honour.


UK is perhaps one of the most recession hit countries, its pound rate from a 82 INR went down to as low as 62 INR, had 10% more unemployed people in the age group 16-25 and raised its VAT from 15 to 17.5% in order to recover from this blizzard hit state. If the bigger picture goes down then obviously its sub-parts go down too, basic logic. Liverpool, in the light of "The Beatles" is considered to be where it all began! The town realises its potential and pools in the "ka-ching" like no other with the "Hard Day's Night Hotel", which is perhaps the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas's English version. Enough said about the backdrop now the real run. 


Liverpool Hope Foundation offers a MA degree in "The Beatles, Popular Music and Society”. I understand you want to pool in cash but do it with some class. Do not mistake me, I am an ardent classic rock fan and it doesn't get more classic than "The Beatles", but what do you do with this degree? In what scenario is this degree relevant! There are already more than 8,000 books in the market! What novel stuff could these people write or stumble upon 40 years of disintegration of "The Beatles", 2 dead artists (John Lennon and George Harrison) and 8,000 books later? More hauntingly who could want a masters in Beatles?
I realise that in India we do not have such wide career options but at the end of the day, you need some direction; this isn't a summer camp, its a masters degree.


Funny how people will get pooled into anything. I hope people realise this money scam for a masters degree and decide better. 


[Hope you enjoyed a work of my critical self, as pointed out by someone; I suffer from Multiple personality disorder! :P ]

Thursday 1 April 2010

Stupidity: Not passée but In Vogue!

Stupidity is commonly interpreted as lack of intelligence, understanding or maturity.
As kids, the word "Stupid" was treated with same hostility from our parents like we used a f---aar worse word, if you catch my drift. Although, soon enough we acted so stupid that our parents were forced to utter these very unholy words and chide us with a common and much heard, "Stop acting so stupid..get serious... deal with your life and don't act like an ostrich!" So commonly heard, that it is almost a cliché  now.  We were incessantly told not to act stupid and the harder we tried the stupider we got. Sometimes we didn't even realise that we are acting stupid, to an extent that stupidity got incorporated into acting polite.

For example, today when I got back home with a huge amount of food supplies peeping out of my bag; my flatmate politely asked, "You went grocery shopping?" , I nodded yes; we smiled and parted ways. It was without a doubt,very clear to her that I had gone shopping, but stupidity prevails. If I were in her situation I would say the same thing!
Someone colours their hair and when they look at you with a look of "praise me", you say-"Coloured your hair?", she says "Yes!" and somehow amidst this, a thought gets passed that you were praising them, I don't know how that works out; but it does!

We were taught to be polite; but in today's world, with oh! So many morons floating about, it is almost impossible. While some are naturally stupid, others just abuse the privilege. We try to fill the gap and the best we can come up with is, stupidity.

I would say, being stupid is the new being polite.

I rest my case, sire!

Sunday 7 March 2010

Playlist

"I wish my life had background music" is such a commonly used statement these days. For my case I guess it's been happening quite a lot these days. You see when you need to study for quite sometime, you need something keeping you sane; but not wasting your time. Music just about serves and fits the purpose. I have had been listening to music quite constantly indeed. Either it's at home, in the wee hours at the library or the endless hours that me and my friends have spent waiting in the coffee room; either for some one to get free to help us or for our endless number of ELISAs to complete, while feeling even more unwanted than cancer! LOL. 
Anyway, getting back to my original topic,Music...AAAhhh! What would be doing without it. I had ended up with a  rather weird music collection being the soul-sold-out classic rock fan that I am, being friends with metal heads and pop lovers, and the "old man's music" is just something that you get from being part of a family, any family! So nothing can really shock me at this point. I have tracks from "Blah blah blah" to "The Joker" to "Rose of Sharyn" to "So happy together". 
Today feeling extremely exuberant and happy, I was wondering what to have for dinner and I decided just to keep it simple cause I was too lazy to begin with. Then I heard the iPod playing, "..We were meant to live for so much more have we lost ourselves..", thinking of it as a mere coincidence, I smiled to myself. I stepped into the kitchen thinking of my flatmate who is super sensitive to noise and busts me every time I try cooking at odd times. To be fair it was only 00:30 :P . While I was figuring how to keep it low, I heard the following track playing,"..If we're adding to the noise turn off this song. If we're adding to the noise turn off your stereo, radio, video...". I was pretty impressed about the synchronisation of my thoughts and my iPod and wondered what all Apple could do to make that happen. As my potato wedges turned golden brown. I turned off the stove and added salt and pepper to the wedges. I tasted them and it was too hot and the music ringing in my ears went to "Dead God in me" which kinda suited the scenario on the account that it was too hot and I was breathing fire to add to its effects. LOL. Then I placed them on hot steaming rice and strangely enough I had Christmas carols playing "..It's the most wonderful time..", which makes sense cause I love having hot food on cold winter nights (it's March but summer is yet to arrive in Nottingham). 
I added some butter, generously, remembering how my mum always said that my grandad loved nothing more than rice with ample amount of butter and some potato wedges.I also pondered what my mum would say if she saw me having that, and I remembered that period during which my "not-so-sane" family had gone on to a "no-oil" phase. I had visited a friend during winter and he saved me, on the account of his mother being an amazing cook. I noticed that her nose was rather red and I asked her if she was running a cold. She said that it's her sign that it's winter and that is why people refer to her as "Rudolph". Unsurprisingly enough it was playing "..Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.." ; by now my iPod had become too predictable and didn't surprise me any more. 
I finished my meal feeling extremely content and it was playing "Y'all want a single..". Now ain't that the stuff I'm talking about. 
God, this was come rambling I don't care. I love the "shuffling" cause "This is the new $hit..."..Yep, that is exactly what is playing. Believe it! :D


"Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside of us."

Tuesday 16 February 2010

----

I do not have a title for this post. I do not have any opinion. I do not have a way to react. I do not know why I am writing this. I do not know what I am getting at. I do not know whether this makes or will make any sense by the end of this article.

I witnessed my golden retriever dying, as the doctor had forgotten to prescribe vitamins with steroids. I saw him suffer an agonising death at the age of 8. My parents fixed it by never getting a dog again.

I witnessed my grandmother die of breast cancer, everyday lying in that bed, everyday I could feel her slipping away from us and stepping closer to the doors of death. There were three things she told me when she died. "Remember the cash I gave you, please buy your mum a watch with that on her birthday, take care of your mother and take two of my bangles, I would be glad if you had them". I tried to fix it by getting into a course that dealt with therapy of cancer.

I lost two of my batch mates in something that I do not have the courage or heart to type through, and I do not know how to fix it.

I had been fortunate enough to have and share my room in my undergraduate years with splendid friends. A hell lot of fun during holidays, and were often yelled at during exam times.
Every time I choked and I didn't have water in my room I would run to adjoining rooms, and Sindhuri would run and hunt for water and get me some from somewhere. Every time we were at the mess tables eating that horrible fodder called "food" on our plates, Sindhuri would kindly present her pickle to make the food edible. Every time we had an outing, some grand social occassion and some one missed some matching accessories Shilpa would bring out her big bag of jewellery and help us, and even suggest us people who could help us out. I remember once I had to get to Ranchi and I didn't get my seats confirmed she let me and Aayushi take her berth while she and Shreya bunked together.

People say you don't realise the value of something till its gone and I empathise. I now realise that they weren't just people who lived next to my room, they weren't just faces I came across every now and then at the canteen, at the corridors of the institute, at the O.C.; somehow we all shared so many million memories that it's just difficult to put a finger on the fact as to why this loss is so painful to come to terms to.

Death, no matter in what form it comes; is always hard to come to terms with. But forced unnatural death; it just doesn't give you enough scope to come to terms with something like that.

My friends and batch mates had a peace march and a condolence that made them get closer and come to terms with their sorrow and grief. I have no vent, I have no mourners who are in the same denied state. I am still somehow foolishly led on to believe that they are alive and we are mistaken.

I never realised Shilpa and Sindhuri had touched my life in such different ways.

With this article I hope I come in terms with my grief and sorrow. With this article I pull myself up and say,


R.I.P. Shilpa & Sindhuri....

Thursday 28 January 2010

BRO-rigination

Barney Stinson, the "Casanova",the person responsible for causing an entire season of controversies, books, blogs, facebook "SUIT-UP" events and generating quite the business for CBS. After seeing tonnes of series and its complete seasons over and time and over again, what came pretty apparent was that "Barney Stinson" ain't any radical that they stumbled upon.


A mere progression from one successful cast character to simply another one. I guess the evolution starts from the discovery of "Patrick Maitland" of Coupling (2000-2004). Patrick is a successful businessman and is very competitive with others in the same business, but he does have a vague sense of loyalty to his friends. A guy with a narrow opinion of women, or a "one track mind". He is good at courting women and collects videos of nights with his girlfriends in his rather large "cupboard of love."


"Patrick" was taken to the next level by "That 70s Show"s character 'Michael Kelso'. A dumb-witted fool who gets off by his looks. He has been pretty lucky "in the sack". He has had a series of off & on relationships with 'Jackie Burkhart' which initially prematurely ends as he cheats on her with numerous other "skanks". But goes on to sleep perhaps with most number of girls in the series and practically floats by nothing apart from his good looks. He bypasses adolescence the first in the series as he impregnates a girl over a one-night stand.


Warner Bros. Television tapped this source and incorporated in the famous sitcom of all times, "Friends" and tried this phenomenon with 'Joseph Francis Tribbiani'. In Season 1 they experimented with the witty, smart, casanova, but as the season progressed they realised that the audience prefers the sweet cocktail of dumbness and playboy. For the rest of the seasons he was a loyal and  true friend but just kept getting dumber.


BARNEY STINSON, the CBS production and mark of absolute awesomeness had been ensued as risky business. But it all turned out for the best with his "Lemon Law", "Suit up" and other insanely bizarre rules, the audience just could not have enough of his charm. Everybody tuned in with an intent of hearing Barney's statements rather than see where the story led up to. CBS even tested with him in a relationship with Robin Scherbatsky, something which severely destroyed the "BRO"ness entailling him and was called to an end so that he could continue being the single guy that he is. After all, he is "awesome" at it ;) 


To end the day, all I'd say, Barney Stinson, the notch above notches of various Don Juans, classy, charming and witty. The perfect CBS creation.

Saturday 2 January 2010

Withdrawal Symptoms

In today's world when people are getting addicted to tobacco, cocaine, ecstasy, coffee and even chocolate; I brutally and quietly suffered from a different kind of addiction. Facebook! Yes, you might be laughing your a$$ off the chair, but I did and all of you on my facebook friend list suffered the wrath!
Around a year ago I was made aware of this addiction by a fellow sufferer, its termed as FAS (Facebook Addiction Syndrome). While I laughed heartily at him, little did I know that I was to suffer from this sooner or later.
About three months ago, my real life ceased to exist, studies flooded my life, old bonds were too far to fetch and hence I sought the "known" solace on Facebook. I knew the people, there was no "new" akwardness (the old akwardness sufficed :P ). Slowly, it became a habit, too much of it!
Yesterday, with the onset of upcoming papers I realised what's going on, and decided to take charge. Till my exams get over, i.e. the 18th January,2009, I take recluse from Facebook.
Its been 24 hours since I had last logged on. And its not that simple.
On a daily basis, I wake up, check and respond to my notifications. Log in every now and then and reply to the posts etcetera etcetera. Today not having done that, it feels like I didn't do something, that was due to me. Man is a creature of habit, and for an ex-BIT-ian lazying around comes more than naturally. And when you combine the two, it indeed gets quite lethal! Every now and then when I get bored I feel like logging in, more like what the smokers state as "Sutta-break". I guess more or less all of us are hooked on to it, but without being freaked out about it like me, or may be I did get a bit hyperactive! :P
On the plus side, I did get a surplus of time. I updated my blog site, read my fellow bloggers blogs, saw new videos, played a few rounds of Counter Strike. Just like the old life. :)
Lets see how many more days do I last.
And you know what perhaps is the saddest or best part is?
The fact that when you people reply to this on Facebook,all those snickery,sarcastic and cocky comments that you'll post, I'll have no clue!What-so-ever!
Curiosity always gets to me, so hoping that curiosity doesn't kill the DOG ( HATE cats! ) this time, at least!
So long, farewell.... :)

[P.S. : LMAO! It reads like a log entry of a hardcore drug addict!}