Initiative 30 on 30

One of the fellow bloggies Prashant aka Om a wonderful photographer has started an initiative to raise money for a cause using his photographic skills with some of his friends.

Here is the link to http://www.30on30.net/ - Do check it out.

Also dont forget to read rather see my last post Re session !

Re session

Have been busy. Will visit your blogs soon. Here are some random pictures taken in New York depicting the state of COMMON man strangled by recession.
Also have updated the Short Story blog with Strangers (the link is on the right bar)

Been there Done that!

The Hope fool !

Free Wedding Invitations Open to All
(guess people dont want to attend
as they have to give a gift!)

Even A Virgin have Lost her Charm - No suitors.
People Flock to the Almighty for Answers
St. Patricks Cathedral, NYC

But even He is Clueless!

St. Patricks Cathedral, NYC

So one lights A Candle

for HIM to see better and clear all this mess!

(Even I lit one - just in case)

St. Patricks Cathedral, NYC

Symbiotic City

This is a view from my apartment of NYC at night with the half moon in all its glory.

Currently I am reading a book called Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino :

There is a chapter Cities and Memories. Paraphrasing from that - It describes what a city really is :

"I could tell you how many steps make up the streets rising like stairways, and the degree of the arcades' curves, and what kind of zinc scales cover the roofs: but I already know this would be the same as telling you nothing. The city does not consist of this but of relationships between the measurements of its space and the events of its past : the height of a lamppost and the distance from the ground of a hanged usurpers swaying feet: the line strung from the lamppost to the railing opposite and the festoons that decorate the course of the queen's nuptial procession; the height of the railing and the leap of the adulterer who climbed over it at dawn...."

Like in any great city or town, its identity is not only its physical structure but the very people residing there, their dreams, aspirations and fears which ultimately dictate the outcome of how they perceive their home to be.

I write this because in the past few weeks, there have been lots of blogs that mentioned about why many people did not like Slumdog Millionaire - as it is based on marketing of the poverty of Bombay or India per se. But that is the most visually tangible aspect of our country where inspite of these great economic divide - each of us is allowed to dream to make it big in our own little way - it is the celebration of this co-existence and freedom that shapes the very spirit of the city of Bombay that is brilliantly captured in the movie.

I understand that many people feel that the West markets the poor -

there are two reasons -

one they have plenty here in terms of material wealth but there is a dearth of communal feeling here - its each for his own

and secondly they are unbiased and this allows them to be bold and show it as IS rather than put a glossy make up or shy away from reality.

Another book the dwells into this subject brilliantly is -

Shantaram - by Gregory David Roberts - it elucidates the experience of coexistence and how the city makes a person and in turn these collective groups of persons define the very nature of its existence. I

It is a symbiotic realm of mutual give and take.

Another picture Midtown Manhattan taken from a park on the cliff in West New York, New Jersey. Sitting in this park its fascinating to see the accomplisment of this urban jungle.

जिन्दगी का Suffer

Remember the famous song "Zindagi Ka Safar" from the movie "Safar" sung by the legendary Kishore Kumar.

Replacing the word Safar (meaning journey) with Suffer (Look at the different meanings and connotations of the word) here is my take on the individual lines of the song in the current times.

Had attempted similar post with a dialogue from Sholay - titled "RGV ki Aag Ceedy Ka Pani" a while back and had got rave reviews and feedback - so am reposting this one (had posted it in pre bloggie friends era)

Structure of the post:
Original song in Hindi - English Translation (found here online)
Usual banter
The Hindi script is provided by Blogger (not a perfect tool ) and there are many spellings errors - overlook them (this is not an Hindi Exam!!!)

जिन्दगी का Suffer हे ये कैसा Suffer - (Channel of life, what sort of ride it is)
Replacing the word सफर with Suffer makes the song appropriate for most of us.

कोई समझा नहीं कोई जाना नहीं - (No one understands no one knows)
(Life is a complex program - more close knit than probably the code for Microsoft and yes GOD did not design it to be Open Source)

है ये कैसी डगर चलते हैं सब मगर - (What sort of road is it everyone walks on it but)
(People are not patient enough to walk - speed is the in thing and time is a expensive commodity thus everyone is on the move and now we are worried about the planet being warm instead of the warmth to sharee with fellow beings)

कोई समझा नहीं कोई जान नहीं - (No one understands it, no one knows)
(Complexity and contradiction - thats what life is - difficult to comprehend but fun nontheless)
जिन्दगी को बहुत प्यार हमने किया - (I have loved life a lot)
(Honestly I would like to meet someone who just loves life as meted out to him/her. Not trying to escape or change through the medium of philosophy, religion, bias etc etc.)

मौत से भी मोहब्बत निभाएंगे हम - (I will even welcome death with love)
(This is not in our hands but if you do live everyday of the life as it is the last day on earth and if you wake up next day feel its a bonus and time to parteee again for a day then you are in love with Death - come when you have to dear I am ready)

रोते रोते ज़माने में आये मगर - (I came into the word crying)
(Now this always amuses me - that a baby has to cry when it is given birth or else there is an issue - now what baby will not cry - imagine sqeezing yourself out of a narrow tube - and try not to whimper - ever wonder how the toothpaste feels every morning )

हंसते हंसते ज़माने से जायेंगे मगर - (Will leave this world cheerfully)
(This is not in our hands - its the embalmers and funeral directors job to make us DEAD look cheerful - also am not sure but many others around will be really cheerful once I am gone)

जाएंगे पर किधर है किसे ये खबर - (But where will I go, who knows this)
(This is solely dependent on your bank balance and visa approvals in case of personal travels and placement manager or clients mood in case of work)

कोई समझा नहीं कोई जान नहीं - (No one understands, no one knows)
(How can we seem to understand HIS masterplan when we are paying for bottled water or pure Oxygen (there are Ozone bars in some cities) - something that was given to us free - it is matter of time - along with our miniral water bottle - we will be saying"Oh I like breating Bisleri")

ऐसे जीवन भी हैं जो जिए ही नहीं - (There are souls who have have not lived life )
(Most bloogies will agree -Live life on ones on terms - try doing it and you are squashed by peer pressure or personal conquests of balancing the daily rut - every person in the world goes thru this - we are killing our native souls)

जिनको जीने से पहले ही मौत आ गयी - (They died before living a life)
(Definately once the soul is dead how does the physical body matter - these are just zombies awake on the assembly line called LIFE)

फूल ऐसे भी हैं जो खिले ही नहीं - (There are flowers that never blossomed)
(Flowers blossoming - have you seen the pollution in the cities)

जिनको खिलने से पहले फिजा खा गई - (Those who have been killed by Fizaa (climate) before blooming)
(Now Who the fcuk is Fizaa - shoot the M*&^%$ F&^%$#)

है परेशान नज़र थक गए चारागर - (The eyes are worried, the world is tired)
(No wonder sitting in front of the computer and seeking technical support from Smell or Yech Pee - or solving American Local or Vpatel credit card issue - help from the call centers - what else do you expect)

कोई समझा नहीं कोई जान नहीं - (No one understands no one knows)
(My little advice fellow reader - Dont even try it - just live life or else you will end up writing posts like this)

God's Inc (GI) -3

I have had two earlier conversations with GOD'S INC.
Transcripts of which can be found here. (they are a bit long but precursor to this talk - these were written when I did not have a reader base - if possible read them)
God's Inc - 1 (September 2007)
God's Inc -2 (November 2007)

It is almost 3 months - finally I was able to pay off all my holiday bills - so decided to call God's Inc again. (they dont have a toll free 800 number!!) Also due to the Christmas Holidays, God's Inc had doubled the price on the call for December to reduce the frivolous calls for stupid gadjets people wanted. They had to take this drastic step as HIS model Santa -11, serving this part of the world during Christmas, had contacted arthritis.
(Dialed the number. After the customary chosing 1 then 3 then finally four....the customer service rep picked up the phone)
Me: Hello

GI Rep: Hello, ME-74, this is Manish. How may I help you today?

Me: (Surprised) How do you know its me and isnt that an Indian Name?

GI Rep: Sir, we have your phone number on the record and God's Inc have hired Bee Pro to outsource and answer their calls.

Me: (WTF - even God Outsources) Oh Ok.

GI Rep: I see you have interacted twice before. Also from the last transcript I see that you alongwith 11 other ME-74 were upgraded for the Green Design. How do you find the changes.
Me: Well (thinking - I know he is testing me - I transmit the data and he already knows it - again looking for that elusive antenna for the umpteenth time - so I play along) for starters I feel pure and energetic, have had good food supplements and am trying to use energy efficient design modules.
(A loud siren in the background and hush hush noise)

GI Rep: Well, sorry to interupt but, can I put you on a hold.

Me: (as if I had a choice - and I was witnessing chaos as GOD's Inc) Sure.....(I waited for almost almost 10 mins -this is going to be an expensve call)

GI Rep: Sorry we had an emergency, there was a bunch of people who were decommisioned in Iraq. We has to take care of their soul inputs back into our system and so the siren.

Me: What do you mean - people killed by another suicide bomber. (I was a little sad)

GI Rep: Sir, since you are a model that can only transmit data and not act on your own congnizance - let me share some fascinating information today.

Me: Wow, I was feeling privileged.

GI Rep: You know that there are constant calamities happening on earth in the past few years. There was a WTC Tragedy, Tsunami, Bomb Blasts all over the world, Earthquakes...

Me: Yeah, terrible and so many people died - I hope no one of my 24 ME-74's were killed

GI Rep: Well no, all the ME-74 were positioned appropriately to avert any such incidences. But the thing is what you think as a tragedy is basically HIS way of decommisioning old, derilict, useless or faulty models. Sometimes due to lack of time some good models are also decommisioned.

Me: Means ( I was getting confused at this point )

GI Rep: See, to make your life easy, GOD borrowed the technology from Galaxy Automubuloma. They sent their best technicians who work in big coglomerates manufacturing cars, disguised as earthlings. So if there is some problem in the car, then the manufacturers recall that part and replace it or sometimes decommision it. Similarly HE has to do this from time to time. What he does is get the programmers to make these "extra" earthlings to gather at a place and decommisions them at a time by infusing some natural or man made event.

Me: But why in such a tragic manner?

GI Rep: See when GOD leased this planet Earth from Galaxy Inc - the lease says that no more than 7 billion models can inhabit it at a given time. So HE has to take these drastic measures.
Me: So, you are telling me, that these tragedies are planned. (damn). But then why did HE infuse this emotional gadjet in us. Why do we feel sad?

GI Rep: Well that is where the problem is. When earthlings were being designed - there was a brilliant engineer Emostein - who designed these two gadjets. One for the male earthlings and one for the female. Both have subtle differences.

Me: So then why cant he reprogram and RECALL the gadjet - so that atleast we dont feel this pain

GI Rep: Well its all corporate politics. Due to certain early faulty designs like the Mussolini-1, Hitler-1 and Stalin-Jr, stock of God's Inc dropped. Seeing its great potential, Saturn Corp wanted to buy the earth. In an effort to avert control of HIS company, HE traded Emostein to Saturn Corp.

Me: So are you telling me there are more ME's like me on Saturn.

GI Rep: That is exclusive information, I cant divulge. Well so in short Emostein took his programs with him and GOD was stuck with these dual emotional gadjets that he cant recall.

Me: Well, ok....(did not know what to say here). My credit is almost getting over. Just one more question.

GI Rep: Go on...

Me: As discussed last time, Bush-2 will be decommisioned, but why this neck to neck battle of Clinton-2 and Obama-1.

GI Rep: Well that again ME-74 is classified information. In time to come you will see his MasterPlan.

Me: Ok...then, Manish, hope all is well in India.

GI Rep: Yes it is. As usual do not divulge this information to anyone. Thank you for calling God's Inc. (click!!!)

Me: As if I have control over it.

Lunar Eclipse

(click to enlarge)
Enjoyed the Lunar Eclipse yesterday. It was spectacular.
Tried to take a video but with temperatures below zero - it felt like I was shooting a Scary Movie.
Here are some pics that I took with the timeline.
The next one to occur over this region is on December 10th - 2010.
If you are in India you can witness it tonight - Thursday night - here is the link to TOI

23andMe

Are you interested in a pair of jeans? (oh genes I mean )

23andMe is a Biotech Genome Service founded by Anne Wojcicki, Google cofounder Sergey Brin's wife.

You can read in detail about the project and what it deals with at 23andMe. The data they produce is optimized to provide information about our ancestry, our inherited traits and how our genes may affect our chances of developing certain diseases or conditions.

I have always been interested in .Genetics. This service costs $999.00 to analyse one Genes and unlock the secrets of one DNA. Someday I will sent my "spit" and get it analysed.

Learnt some interesting facts browsing the website:

- I am among only 17 percent of worlds population being a complete left handed person (check this slides - tells you other percentages )
- What this service offers and analyses is different from the forensic DNA analysing database that Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Codis Database contains.
- DNA differs by a mere 0.5% between humans and 1.5% from a Chimpanzee - Imagine if GOD sneezed while creating you....
- As a sperm or an egg contains only 23 chromosomes picked from a total of 46. 23 chromosomes from the father in a sperm and 23 from the mother in the egg. These when combine form the total of 23 pairs of chromosomes -to make you. Since the 23 chromosomes in each is random selection - you differ from your siblings.
- Certain variations in the type are what determines our likeness for sense, taste, preference etc. but even here they are not able to still determine what guides our emotions. (Is that an unexplored part of science)

Its interesting to see the complexity with which we are formed - the constant mutations and permutations that our cells undergo.

SuperB(r)owl XLII NY Giants Victory Parade

This weekend was SuperBowl Sunday - a season long end of National Football League.
Here is a brief description of the Game.
The competetion started in Mid August and ended with a final between New York Giants and New England Patriots.
Giants were underdogs and Patriots had had a clean season - they had won all their 16 games in the Tournament and were favorites to win. But in the end the Best Team Won.
To pay respect to a brilliant win - I attended the Giants victory parade (locally called as Ticker Tape Parade) in Manhattan (called in sick :( at the office :)). Here are some pics.....

Go GIANTS!!!!!

The li'll GIANT

The Enron Ticker Shards

The FANS

Most Valuable Player (MVP) Eli Manning

The Spirit of New York

The Victory Paper Trail
I like to attend such events - where for those moments everyone becomes one - there is no difference between classes, race, color, sexes - its just mass Hysteria. Here is a link to additional pitures.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.....

Adios 2007:Share a smile with Calvin and Hobbes

Probably my last post of the Year. Want to share a smile with all my real and e-friends.
Hope this coming year brings you whatever you seek.
I have the entire collection of Calvin and Hobbes all of ten years - some COOL ones for the season.
(know someone will ask if I love cartoons - which I do - and that is a post I promise in the coming months - its importance to get me thru many a tough times :)

Happy New Year folks !!!!! Enjoy.

Taare Zameen Par - An Interpretation

Finally the day arrived and I was able to see the first day first show like many other Aamir Movies I have watched in the past. Had a half day at work, movie was playing near the office - off I went - was the only lukha I guess - as I was the only one to see the first show besides the person who had rented the theater here in Newark, NJ.

TZP is about recognizing the inner hidden talents, respecting the individual for his characeteristics, letting the child be a child and about looking at life not as a competetion of like minded people but a garden where all different flowers having different shades, colors and fragrance can exist.

TZP manages to ask so many questions at so many level and is about children - what better way to interpret it than asking questions and allow the readers to be children and count - and decide if they will like the movie. Take a paper and pencil and write down the answeres for these questions.

First 3 questions about AK and the movie

a) Do you like Aamir
1- Yes I love him
2- Sometimes
3- No he is an ego maniac and I hate him

b) Do you expect something different from AK
1) Yes, certainly do
2) Lets see, if he delivers
3) His mouth is bigger than his films

c) Do you like movies that are slow but meaningful
1) Yes certainly do,
2) Yes only if the message is worth it
3) I like fast paced - non sensical movies

Now about yourself:

d) Do you always feel that nobody understands you
1) Yes
2) Sometimes
3) No, I am very explicit and confirming

e) Do you question life and its nuances
1) Yes, always
2) Sometimes depends on what it is
3) Life is just about answers, we have to live it

f) Do you like to think outside the box
1) Yes, always, there is a solution for all problems
2) Maybe, it all depends on what the defination is
3) What box! Everyone should just follow the norms

g) Do you feel that anything you do is always wrong - thus instead of explaining it - you fight with others to leave you alone
1) Yeah thats me
2) I sometimes do wrong but like to explain
3) I am never wrong

h) Solitude is my best friend
1) Yeah that certainly is
2) When I am down I want to be alone but otherwise I like to be around people
3) If I am not around people who will adore me

i) Your views about children
1) Adore them - they are the light of life
2) I like older kids - real little ones are a pest
3) Why cant they be born straight as teens?

j) Rules in society have to be followed no matter what
1) Rules can be broken and new ones formed - thats progress
2) Cetain aspects need to have rules and certain can be thought about
3) Rules are there for a reason - one should not tamper with it.

Hope you enjoyed this little questionnaire - See the comments section for interpretation.

Kite Runner - Fly your own Kite !!!!

Hey friends - most of you must be aware of the book Kite Runner - By Khaled Hosseini.
Now you can watch it as a movie : Kite Runner - The Movie
An interesting feature within the website : Fly Your Kite - Be Good Again

Dont forget to check out the Kite I flew for all fellow bloggers who visit me -

On the Be Good Again webpage there is a search bar on lower left corner -

Type "ceedy" there and then click on the Kite to see the message

Thats the Kite waiting !!!!!!

Outsourcing American Presidency

Reading a recent article, I noticed that the approval rating for American Presidents has been a low 60% among its last five presidents.
Maybe its time for them to think different and Outsource its Presidency.

Lets say they Outsource it to India - my viewpoint on some Advantages to both the coutries (readers are welcome to add more)

1) They will be an ON CALL 24/7/365 President
2) Even a primary school student in India will have a better IQ than Dubya (Bush) - and the person will work on 1/4 the salary
3) The President will be a corporate entity who will be overlooked by a Board of Directors
4) They dont have to worry about interns and sex scandles
5) Cricket will become Prime Time here (my personal agenda)
6) Bollywood will get lot more masala to make more MASALA FILMS
7) Indian will get the best security personal working in India to protect the President - will help make the desi Pandu Hawaldars a little professional
8) In India over and above the many holidays we enjoy we will get Presidents Day, Veterens Day, Memorial Day etc etc American Holidays too
9) They will be able to enjoy the real RICE and not this Condi...
10) India-Pak dispute will be amicably resolved as now they will have to be ally to India in the non existent war on terror

I think I should copyright this idea.....

God's Inc (GI) - 2

On September 14 of this year I had a call made to Customer Service at God's Inc.

The transcript of the previous talk can be found here (http://ceedyreflections.blogspot.com/2007/09/gods-inc-gi.html).

Yesterday following up on that call - I got a call back from GI Rep. Last time I was speaking to Travis - a rather stern character. Today my luck I was talking to a chirpy Stacy - something was not feeling right (a hunch)

GI Rep (Stacy) : ME-74 this is Stacy, calling on behalf of God's Inc. How are you doing today, hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Me: Yes, thank you (in my mind cut the chase tell me the reason for you call fast.....)

GI Rep: I see that you had called a few weeks back and had asked to see if any peripherals were available to upgrade your model ME-74. At that time when you called we were having a secret research going on and did not want to leak out the news. So GOD told you that there is no upgrade availaible.

Me: OK..... (So even GOD lies. Hmmmmm)

GI Rep: As you are aware that we have been constantly monitoring data coming from you and are happy that you have been selected alongwith 11 others out of the total 24 in your design group.
(started again poking my ears, checked my eyes and entire body...to see if there are any probes that are transmitting the signal...)
This upgrade is to make you fellow ME -74's compliant with the future research that we are going to conduct here.

Me: Why are you asking for my consent this time - why like last time am I not told that I am simply designed to transmit data.

GI Rep: This again is confidential data that we cannot divulge. Let me go through the process and you will understand. Tonight post Thanksgiving dinner at 9.30 please go to the balcony and face East. Close your eyes and tap your head three times. We will then start the process of upgrading your database.

Me: Ok....as if I had a choice. (just to be smart) Stacy, thats your name right?

GI Rep: Yes

Me: What if I dont go to the balcony? What then.

GI rep: Sir you are aware that these design desicions are not in your hand. We implement the entire program. Here is what can happen if you dont comply. Thanksgiving dinner is as you know heavy and you will have had wine. You will start to feel nauseous and caustrophobic whereby the only option for you is to be on the balcony outside. Also we will activate the code for severe headache whereby you will have no option but to tap your head. So in short simply just comply.

Me: Ok (damn - why did I open my mouth. Now I understand why this polite girl is talking to me today - Marketing man, marketing - hope she is as hot as she sounds :))

GI Rep: So the update is based on the current technological advances implemented by an Intelligent Design Model Gore-1. We are trying to make Me-74's green and energy efficient. This way the data collected from you will help us design a better versions of Green Models and updates for the ME85-95 derived from you.

Me: Ok. Is there anything special that I will have to do.

GI Rep: No dont worry. Everything has been taken care off. You will do exactly as planned.

Me: Hmpfffff. Ok. Hope it is an useful update. ( I have limited control as I was made to understand before)

GI Rep: Tommorow then we will forward you the relevant documents that you can email back to us - have to make sure that there are no bugs and the upgrade was sucessful.

Me: Ok, thank you, will do as PROGRAMMED. (again I felt all quesy and started to look for that stupid antenna)

GI Rep: And by the way you are not supposed to divulge any information that you email back to us to fellow ME. We understand that you have started a BLOG.

Me: Yeah I kinda know, secret right and if I dont comply I will get a flash and will loose part of my current memory and........Oh!!! One more question, last time you mentioned that you guys were figuring out what went wrong with Bush-2, can I know if there was any progress.

GI Rep: Sorry again confidential, but be assured that we are upgrading and constantly reprogramming Clinton-2 and Obama-1 so that everything comes back to normal. Also we are looking into the possible recommisioning of GORE-1 to head the state as his work to implement Green Design is almost over.

Me: Ok, Thank you. I feel good as there is hope and maybe then my being reprogramed will make sense.

GI Rep: Have a nice day. (Click)

(just sitting here wondering - there are some obvious signs on me after this upgrade, but I cant divulge - GOD's INC gives us all the necessary programs and operating systems but it is left upon us to make them useful and if you stray you stand a chance of being decommisioned)

Thanksgiving

Starting today is a four day holiday Thanksgiving weekend here in the US. It kind of is the start of holidat season which will last till January encompassing Christmas and New Year.

It is a nostalgic day for me as lots of things have changed in the past one year. Today marks the ninth year I am here in the United States and life is again at the crossroads. But the spirit is much brighter today.

Today marks the busiest travel day of the year when everyone who is away from their home - studying, working, teaching - get together and celebrate the Thanksgiving Dinner.

Also 8 years ago tommorow marks my initiation into the American culture. I was lucky to be part of a Thanksgiving Feast hosted by my German Professor for whom I was a Teaching Assistant at the college here - invited me alongwith a fellow Chinese student, a Banglasdeshi couple, a German girl - exchange student and her Husband who is an Egyptian.
The reason for me to write the different countries is to elaborate that no one of us was an American - all immigrants - all here to expand their horizons in their own ways. Each with a dream and aspiration - separated from near and dear ones back home either because of personal choice or aspirations or need.
She was a very nice lady who invited us knowing that none of us had our families here and also her own son was away and could not make it. A special gesture -as mostly Turkey is served at this dinner - she made vegeterian dishes for me. It was a memorable evening etched forever in my memory.

Today thus I take this opportunity to say Thank You to everyone I have known till now, I have not yet known but are part of this Universe, and extent it to all I will know in the future.

We have been given an identity and placed on this planet. But single handedly we are just objects with with reasoning powers - it is only after the interaction among different people that we get classified and categorized based on our similarities and differences, This is then what defines that identity and it becomes a being.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving !!!!!

Taare Zameen Par

After the two Diwali duds, (almost) OSO and Saawariya, I am anxiously waiting for the next Aamir movie "Taare Zameen Par",- (crazy aamir fan here :)). This is his first directorial debut and hope he is able to pull it off.
Listening to the songs already for the past 10 days.

Here are all the interesting links: (I told you I am crazy):
Official Website
Wikipedia Trivia
Internet Movie DataBase (Imdb) - this is a site where you can see the upcoming projects for different stars, directors, producers, etc. etc. from all over the world....
Songs online

And finally here is the link to Aamirs Own BlogSite

Enjoy !!!!!

Long (Lost) Friends

Every few months I have this nagging habit to search for my old friends and see if they have their presence online. Many of my efforts have been sucessful as I have somehow found people I knew 15-16 years ago.
It makes me very happy to know that I know friends who are all over the globe- something unthinkable 10 years ago and maybe if Richard branson has his way - might have a friend who is on the Moon.
Some of these contacts turn out to be a great nostalgic journey - where I can relive my personal history. Also it sometimes amazes me that some of them are exactly where they are after so long - complaining but happy - only older - whereas I have been put thru a difficult journey of life shipped to survive in a foreign land....(some of which are my personal choices though.
It makes me wonder what is different within us that some of us are always on the edge ready for something new to happen or try and some are laid back and happy in whatever situation we are in.
Sometimes its irritating getting in touch with some of them - they will reply to the email - saying where they are what they are doing - and inspite of me sending them my phone -expect me to call them after I took the pain to get in touch with them.
But with the advent of Facebook, Orkut, MySpace, LinkedIn - reliving the past will not be difficult unless you wish that some of those people were really LONG "LOST" friends.

Immigration Anxiety Attack

Shrink: How are you today.
Me: How do I look.
Shrink: You seem stressed, come lie down and lets start our session.
Me: Ok, but let me make it clear, I dont know if you can help me with this situation.
Shrink: Let us see. Now what seems to be the problem.
Me: I have anxiety attacks, I perspire and am completly frustrated every few weeks. These attacks are related to my immigration process here in the United States.
Shrink: Ok, explain in detail.
Me: (So I explained in detail my situation, of how many yeras I am here and still there is now answer). I just dont know what is happening.
Shrink: Hmmmm, it is a real problem, you work, you pay taxes, you obey the law and still you are screwed.
Me: Exactly, sometimes I wonder if I am pushing myself on this country, whether it really needs me - a professional who can add to the society - or it really wants those illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries.
Shrink: Dont think that way, you definately are needed.
Me: Ok Doc, for a minute think you are here for a decade, are treating patients day in day out, making a difference to everyones life - but you yourself are unsure everyday if you will be able to stay here next week, next month. What if you have to wrap up your practice and go back to your home country.
Shrink: That is really a problem but I cant help you here as this is a problem caused by external forces and there is absolutly no reference case in our medical journal. You simply have no option but to worry and wait.
Me: Geee, thanks doc, is this why you charge so much......to tell me that you are helpless.
Shrink: Well it sounds stupid, but you are right that I cant help you here unless there is some miracle and they sort out this immigration mess. (at this he straightened his spectacles, coughed a little and started to gape in thin air)
Me: Whats the matter
Shrink: Looking at your situation and putting myself in your position is making me Anxious....maybe even I am having an Immigration Anxiety Attack!!!!!!!

Gods Inc (GI)

(Ringing, Ringing.....Choices, pressed 1 then 3 then 4 finally....my turn to talk to customer service representative from God's Inc.....Am on hold......(this message will be recorded for new born integration purposes).....waiting...click)

Me: Hello

GI Rep: Hello, this is Travis from God's Inc. How may I help you today....

Me: Hi, I have a question regarding ME, have some operating problems.

GI Rep: Sir, before we proceed I would like you to confirm certain things....

(He goes on to confirm my dad's, mom's name and place of birth - he gets my record in their database @ God's Inc.)

GI Rep: Ok sir, now what seems to be the problem

Me: I need to upgrade my operating system and memory to relate to other people.

GI Rep: Let me check your record sir....will be with you in a minute (puts me on a hold)

GI Rep: Sir, the model that ME-74 is built of is an experimental model. There are only 25 such models that were designed by Mr. God. Right now all those models are functional and active in different servers of the world. ME-74 are not allowed to upgrade or have any changes.

Me: Hold on, so you are telling me I am a Guinea Pig. A mouse !!!!!!!!

GI Rep: I cant say that sir, after we all are still HIS creation, but I do beleive that in your case it is somewhat like that.

Me: Damn, no wonder then I cannot proceed with simple daily functions as I am still primitive in my actions while all other BIOSes have been upgraded. Is there anyway I can attach a peripheral device to enhance what I have atleast instead of replacing it.

GI Rep: Sir, I am sorry that cannot help you. You are put there to undergo certain life events that we are monitoring constantly. The data received from you and 24 others put in different servers helps us design the future parts. ME 85-95 are ungraded versions of ME-74 and you mignt find them to be congrous to you but not similar.

Me: So without my consent I am helping others while I cant be helped. I have to undergo this trecherous journey without any respite from the INC.

GI Rep: Sir, I dont think you have a right to give a consent, you are programmed to transmit the data.

Me: (started poking my ears, checked my eyes and entire body...to see if there are any probes that are transmitting the signal...)

Me: So you are saying that virtually I have no warranty whatsoever on any of ME-74. It is a limited edition experimental model. So is there any possibility of ME-74 getting any help to make things a little easier.

GI Rep: Sorry sir, but you are an absolute. You were derived from experiments of ME58-68. And are an advanced version of those but a primitive version of the current. The only way you can get upgraded is that one of the other 24 ME is deactivated and their parts are reattached to you. But currently you are going through a phase where you might be shipped to a different server from the one where you were first transplanted and so are the others.

Me: Now I started to feel oblique. I am special but at the same time I am common. What luck!!!!!! So I will go, but is there any way I can leave a message for Mr. GOD.

GI rep: Sir you are lucky as he is in the office today, trying to figure out what went wrong with the model BUSH-2. He is in a meeting with the engineers to see how to decommision this model or atleast change its system. Hold on let me get him for you.

Me: Whoa.....I was going to talk with the master himself.....man I started sweating and became nervous. (after a long pause)

GOD: Hi, ME-74, this is the master speaking. You wanted to tell me something.

Me: In a fit of nervousness, yes Sir, I just wanted to thank you for this journey on earth but wanted to ask you why was I chosen for the experiment.

GOD: First of all, I appreciate you thanks. Dont despair though, atleast you have a journey that is exciting. There are many rejects in my office here. There is no special picking of you, it was random. So enjoy it while you can or else I will have to decommision you.

Me: No, its fine, now I know my place in this whole wide big world. I will carry on this exciting journey and keep transmitting you data to design a better ME in the future. (again I fidgited with myself to see if there is any probe on ym body)

GOD: Great, have a wonderful life and please dont hesitate to call us if you have any doubts or questions. Click.......

(If you like this fictional writing you will surely enjoy the movie The Truman Show)

American Nightmares

Another one of my favorite subject ARCHITECTURE - actually my life line from where I administer the intravenous fluid to survive this physical world.
I am working here in the US for the past 5 years in a small office that deals with Residential Projects. I opted to shift to a smaller office from a big one - to come in touch with the REAL PEOPLE - WITH REAL DREAMS (obviously based on thier income) and PROBLEMS (created becoause they dream bigger than they can eschew).
I think to be a good architect you have to be socially sensitive and design to exhilerate the spirit.
It has been a very interesting journey - I have met people from all walks of life -people from all different nations - religions - aspirations -dreams - apprehensions.
But all these people have common goal of attaining the "American Dream" - their Home.
But it is sad that I am unable to push the boundaries in this contractor-mortgage dominated field of practice. Any Tom-Dick-Harry who can weild his weapons of mass production (construction tools) can become a contractor.
Their lack of sensitivity backed by the ever hanging cloud of mortgage and loan payments - trickle down on bastardizing the home designs.
I have designed houses where the bathrooms for a certain class of people is a bedroom for the other where a family of two three share that room. But the windows and the configuration and the materials and the look of the houses is almost the same.
It is very surprising - a country like US - priding itself for individualistic growth - the individual has accepted this form of architecture.
I also beleive the social problems in this country are because of the way these houses are - lacking sufficient daylight - smelly, creaky and cramped - (most because of the absurd zoning laws) - people tend to avoid being home or are just simply stressed once they are there.
I simply wonder sometimes and ask is this really THE AMERICAN DREAM or NIGHTMARE

God Warriors - A CNN Special - My view

Past three days from Tuesday to Thursday CNN aired a special by Christian Amanpour : http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/.
It was an intersting program to witness as it opened my eyes to the reasons of struggle of millions of people around the world based on the fanatic following of a particular religion. The program talked about the Jews, Muslims and Christians. The point of criticism here is that the program was too focused on certain countries that the United States has personal interest in.

The world is currently divided by imaginary boundaries that have country names as tags. Protection and respect of the "country" is taught to be the primary function of every human for that particular country. Even then there are innumerable wars across these imaginary lines as people dont agree on certain issues, or there are hidden agendas to procure energy, labor, food etc etc.

Beyond that now countries with one common tag - namely similar religion are teaming up against other countries grouped under a different religion. So the teams have reduced as the players have merged.

One thing though people are forgetting is that they are still physically bounded by the EARTH. We talk about GREEN LIVING - but not about ONE LIVING.

It seems every religion is waiting for a messiah to emerge and make the world peaceful. Instead of waiting for the messiah - can each of us help the next person and help make the world better - rather than killing so many in the pretext of someone else doing the job to save us.

Religion has moved from its spiritual existence to that of a political agenda. Power struggle to control the world based on converting people to follow a certain way of life is ridiculous.

I come from India - where according to me religion is a national time pass. If not for religion most of the billion people would not know what to do in their daily existence.

My question to every person from every religion is what are you REALLY seeking. Will being in a lonely group that has survived after all this madness make you HAPPY. What guarantee is there that there is a MESSIAH and he/she will come. What guarantee is there that after you survive this religios strife you will not divide again to make smaller group who share personal interests.

Wake up and relaize that if you do beleive that there is GOD - and you really want to make him happy - you have to be first happy within yourself - not hate your neighbour who chose to pray in a different format then yours. Realize that the final goal of each of us is the same - and instead of fighting amongst each other -let us help each other to acheive this common goal.