tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32494553406010726032024-03-13T14:33:01.336-04:00ItEludesMeHKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-2876567987696670222012-06-18T23:17:00.002-04:002013-04-23T20:29:48.284-04:00Santa Claus is red and bearded; Mickey Mouse is a fascist!! (Sic)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyKB8OYL8nc">La Faut a Fidel</a>" / "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0792966/">Blame it on Fidel</a>" (2006), set in the France of the wonderfully tumultuous 70s, is essentially a story of change and adaptation, from the point of view of a feisty and determined nine-year-old girl, Anna, whose household changes from one of idyllic bourgeois dreams to a hub of politically-radical aspirations. Her attempts to hold on to her cherished but irreversibly bygone lifestyle, and her chagrin alternated with a desperate need to make sense of the changes forced upon her world, make up for the decidedly ironic and amusing tone of the film.<br />
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The arrival of Anna's widowed paternal aunt and cousin from Spain, after the death of her uncle at the hands of pro-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Franco">Franco</a> forces, foment the latent activist propensity of Anna's father. He ditches his career in favor of aiding pro-Marxist Chilean activists working to bring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Allende">Salvador Allende</a> to power. Her mother's work transitions from writing for the popular Marie Claire magazine to documenting stories of women and their access, or the lack there of, to abortions. The family moves from a beautiful house with a lovely garden to a little cramped apartment. Money is tight. But Anna plays her part, with a wee bit of over-enthusiasm, by turning off the lights and the heat to help her family. She is also is distrustful of and distant from her cousin, who seems to symbolize these changes. <br />
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Her fascination with etiquette and parties of her former lifestyle gives way to unsuppressed annoyance and disdain for the long-haired, bearded, chain-smoking, noisy revolutionaries who hound her parent's living room all the time. A slew of immigrant nannies alters diet and children's stories. Moussaka and pho replace proper French food and dining manners which include peeling, slicing and eating oranges and peaches with a fork and knife. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_creation_narrative">Genesis</a> learns to coexist with Greek mythology, Asian tales with Divinity.<br />
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The flawed idealism, irrationality and chaos of the world of adults trickle through the cracks that appear in the fragile veneer of wisdom and infallibility when subjected to the innocent questions of a child, questions so simple that they are profound. Anna is at the cusp of age where one begins to the shed absolute faith in what is told, and starts to question in order to understand, especially when something conflicts with what was hitherto assumed to be right. When subjected to the notions of socialism and group solidarity, she tries to test her understanding of the concept in her classroom. And when it backfires, she tells her parents that she would never trust groups again. Rather amused and proud, they tell her about differentiating it from herd mentality. To which, she asks, "Can you tell sheep from group solidarity? Are you never mistaken?"<br />
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Her little brother is a foil to her character. She tries to allay his concerns by telling to him that policeman ticketing their father's car would not through Napalm at them, since it was only used in wars, and nor would he start a Nuclear War. No, that would be job for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution">Barbudos</a>, the Commies, who by the way were "red and bearded". Francois retorts, "Well, you got that wrong. Santa Claus is red and bearded!" Wisdom knows no age.</div>
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As the movie explores these themes of ideology and culture through Anna's eyes, she begins to understand and sometimes just make peace with her new life. While Anna learns to like the new foods, accept her new home, and befriend her cousin, she also gets a taste of the notion of our right to choose to believe in something from amongst a multiplicity of "right" ideas, and stand by it. So when your father forbids you from watching cartoons because Mickey Mouse is a fascist, you would know whether you want to express group solidarity, be one among the sheep or stand out.</div>
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HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-89651264156263524882012-05-13T21:20:00.002-04:002012-06-19T10:11:28.982-04:00Of Muses and Musings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"An artist should only know beautiful people". Or something to that effect had read my English Literature text book on a humdrum afternoon of the sultry Mumbai autumn. Over the din of the rotating dusty fans in the classroom, the faraway shouts of the students in the playground, and the dull drone of my teacher's voice, cutting through the unbridled wanderings of the adolescent mind, this statement registered with me.<br />
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It was simple yet profound. Beauty appeals to our basic instincts, it causes joy and inspiration. The artist inspired by the beauty he perceives, turns it into another form of beauty. Almost like the first law of thermodynamics.<br />
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History is abundant with the examples of beautiful people who captured the imagination, and the hearts, of many a great artists leading to such lasting works. Thus, it barely comes as a surprise that Pattie Boyd allegedly led Harrison and Clapton to pen some of their most famous works, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something" target="_blank">Something</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layla" target="_blank">Layla</a>, respectively. Or that Edie Sedgwick notably influenced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhol_Superstar" target="_blank">Warhol</a>, the Velvet Underground, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Like_a_Woman" target="_blank">Dylan</a>. And <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gala_Dal%C3%AD" target="_blank">Gala Dali</a>, Salvador Dali's wife and lifelong model, also took on the double role of muse and benefactor of other painters and musicians including her ex-husband, poet Paul Eluard. Of course, no mention of muses can ever be complete without Yoko Ono, credited amongst other things with the break-up of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles" target="_blank">Fab Four</a>, Lennon's solo career as a musician, and his much vocal political activism. Although how effective <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed-In" target="_blank">lying in bed</a> for weeks with your muse was in bringing about world peace is anyone's guess, and besides the point here.<br />
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It is fascinating how something as capricious and mercurial as an affair can inspire such lasting works. Or was it that the act of creation from artistic interpretation that led to the great passion it inspired? Nevertheless, many of these artist-muse associations were rather transitory and ever-evolving. The talent and intellect of these creators was so immense that they would exhaust their fascination quickly, constantly seeking perhaps the next source of inspiration. But then again, the human mind is limited in its ability to perceive depth contiguously. The need for something fresh, something new, for change, is in our DNA. Even though it often inspires fear and resistance, evolution and reinvention is a basic attribute, it is a cause and an effect.</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-87739436356645983272012-05-02T23:09:00.001-04:002012-05-03T17:34:10.025-04:00It's Business As Usual<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, here goes. Another day of watching people go chest-beating, ra-ra-rah, building grandiose plans with ridiculous names. Of course, we conveniently missed even an outline on how we will attain the goals, no roadmap, no metrics, hence no sense for course correction. Some people here call this the Xanadu train, others call it the Good Idea Fairy. I was reminded of a South Park episode where the boys try to learn about how to run a business from gnomes who steal underpants to make profits. How? Exactly.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TFFuZ01F6ZI/AAAAAAAABrs/FvA8p9-CNs4/s1600/photo+(1).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499298009953200530" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TFFuZ01F6ZI/AAAAAAAABrs/FvA8p9-CNs4/s400/photo+(1).JPG" style="float: left; height: 299px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-48861987139161339492011-08-25T08:52:00.008-04:002012-05-03T17:46:02.176-04:00Aug 24, 2011 - Jobs Quits as Apple CEO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is arguably going to be the most prominent and significant news of the day, for the tech industry to say the least.<br />
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It's the end of an era when the man, the logo and the product(s) were viewed as a singularity. CEOs resign every now and then but this one is significant because not every leader can claim to have dramatically shaped, and not just once, entire industries, standards and lives across the world. Not every leader is a living legend.</div>
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Mr. Steve Jobs will serve as the Chairman of the board while handing over the reigns of his iconic company to current COO, Tim Cook.</div>
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Here are some of the noteworthy articles from this date paying a tribute to Mr. Jobs and his contribution to-date to the world of hi-fi gadgetry and human interaction-</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><a href="http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904787404576529240707351276.html?mod=WSJPRO_hpp_LEFTTopStories">Jobs' Legacy</a></b></span></div>
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<b><a href="http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904875404576532342684923826.html?mod=WSJ_article_onespot&mg=reno-wsj">Marrying Art & Tech: Job's genius</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576613572842080228.html">Find what you love....don't settle</a></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">So long, farewell, RIP.... Oct 05, 2011</span></div>
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The human mind is delightful. It turns inspiration to art, perception to reality, emotions to rationale, faith to truth, and truth to cliche.<br />
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The memories of the trip to Spain (chronicled to perfection by Rush in <a href="http://rushwrites.blogspot.com/search/label/Spain">Spain Vignettes</a>) still fresh and abound, I had been working on <a href="http://hkl-iteludesme.blogspot.com/2011/07/gift.html">The Gift</a>, reminiscing the wonders of Museu Picasso de Barcelona. Then on one weekend in the Burgh with Rush, I happened to see Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. And there she was. The Muse. La Salchichona. Adriana.<br />
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I was convinced that Adriana, portrayed with such delicate sensibility by the gorgeous Marion Cotillard, was the name of an actual muse, and a lover, of Picasso, the one who had inspired the Woman in the Mantilla. I was certain for quite a while that the lady who had described the paintings in the Picasso Museum to the blind man, had said that the lovely lass in La Salchichona was named Adriana, and she was, perhaps, one of Picasso's lovers.<br />
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With effervescing with joy felt at the discovery of an uncanny coincidence, I mentioned to Rush, and at another time to Arj, that Adriana from the movie was the same girl from the painting. While polite enough to indulge me in my recounting of how it all lined up, they pointed to the lack of chronicled evidence that Adriana was inspired from a known muse of Picasso's. But to me it was indubitable. Marion greatly resembled the woman in La Salchichona, both of such spectacular beauty. The character in the movie was the muse and a lover in Picasso's. The girl in the painting was <b>speculated</b> to be a muse and a lover of the real man. And the lady in the museum (<i>ref:</i> <a href="http://hkl-iteludesme.blogspot.com/2011/07/gift.html">The Gift</a>) had said that the subject's name was Adriana. Or had she?<br />
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After Googling for hours, realization dawned upon me that my mind had played a fancy little trick fusing facts, fiction and wishful thinking into a beautiful, warped reality. The human mind is delightful.<br />
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I still call her Adriana.</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-32331030813170159512011-07-12T08:21:00.021-04:002012-05-03T17:46:51.738-04:00The Gift<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I love museums. Absolutely do. I feel a squealing joy within especially at the sight of man-made creations- the inventions, the ingenuity, the resourcefulness, the translation of perception or imagination</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> into art. Needless to say that when I visited Spain a day trip to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Museu Picasso de Barcelona</i></span></a></span><span style="color: black;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> meant sheer bliss.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's not the passion and the prowess of the prolific Pablo that I wish to propound on here but rather an unexpected incident that brought forward the very ability of mankind to overcome limiting circumstances and create inspiring beauty that I bow to.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">As I walked through the hallowed halls dedicated to the greatest artist of modern times I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> noticed a blind man. Yes, in a museum! I am certain it wasn't a first but it still is positively incredible.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was apparent that he had been blind for many a years if not born that way. Two reasons behind my assumption, one his listless, light-less half-shut eyes were sunken deep into their sockets. Second, he moved with more than a fair deal of ease, acquired through years of practice by my guess. He was accompanied by a woman who was helping him "see" the museum. With an earnest attempt to be discreet, I trailed behind them to quench my curiosity on how this was supposed to work. And in the process I experienced something I can only call magical.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I heard her use a most florid language to vivify the paintings to the man. I wanted to see what my blind friend was seeing. So I </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">closed my eyes a few times to hear and visualize her descriptions of some of the paintings. Now</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> I do not for one moment believe that my visualization of her words would even come close to what our friend experienced.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> But I thought that the man had been very fortunate to have a chance to enjoy art in its most visual form, something that nature had made its business to deny him.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I stalked the couple, I kept my vision low in order to see the paintings after the kind lady was done describing them. There were two sessions that were most memorable and I will relate them as best as my memory serves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i>In a room after the one dedicated to his </i></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picasso%27s_Rose_Period"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Rose Period</i></span></a></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Lady:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> <span class="Apple-style-span">"<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">....This painting is of <b>a very beautiful woman with an elaborate head dress </b>with<b> cape </b>behind her... She has <b>big, beautiful eyes with a far-off gaze</b>...very <b>pretty oval face</b> with <b>full</b>, red <b>lips</b>...<b>tuft of dark hair curl over her forehead </b>trough under the head dress..Picasso focuses on the face, her <b>head dress</b> and the <b>ruffles </b>on the front of dress..<b>she is sitting, drawn waist up..her hands </b>held together<b> on her lap are hastily sketched</b> on the off-white medium...it's said to be a<b> work of practice </b>because of the <b>unfinished look</b>...there's is an elaborate use of <b>bright colors..</b>oranges and reds with some green..painted in <b>large pigments </b>on the <b>head dress, the dress ruffles </b>and <b>the background</b>..uses pastel colors for face..captures <b>her radiance </b>through <b>intense coloration...</b> <b>some experts believe that she was one of his lovers</b>.</span>.</span>" </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">As I opened my eyes, my imagination and vision collided. There she was the exquisitely beautiful..</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">.</span><a href="http://hkl-iteludesme.blogspot.com/2011/07/adriana.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Adriana</a><b>.</b> But that's what I call her. The painting is actually called <span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.soho-art.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop.pl?fid=1133151315&cgifunction=form">La </a></span><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.soho-art.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop.pl?fid=1133151315&cgifunction=form">Salchichona</a> </span></span><span style="color: black;"></span>or <i>Woman in a Mantilla</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i>In a room dedicated to his later works in </i></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubism"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Cubism</i></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lady:<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">"...is a <b>Cubist </b>work...<b>geometric </b>patterns...<b>dark shades</b>....inspired from a <b>performer that Picasso knew</b>...it<b> appears as a single figure</b> but a careful look at the <b>composition </b>shows<b> a couple dancing</b>..for example if you look at the feet the colors and lines defining the shapes show <b>two pairs of feet</b>..you can see a <b>skirt</b>..the girl is also holding a <b>fan...</b>well-defined, <b>sharp shapes...</b>but has<b> soft, graceful </b>fluidity to show <b>movement</b>.."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Presentarles la </span></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bcn.cat/museupicasso/swf/en/lacoleccio/highlights/mpb110-013/print.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Blanquita Suarez</i></span></a></span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iKsL512UMk/Ti8K9pbMgSI/AAAAAAAAB0c/lbRX3nNtiWU/s1600/blanquita.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633733713071997218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iKsL512UMk/Ti8K9pbMgSI/AAAAAAAAB0c/lbRX3nNtiWU/s320/blanquita.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 202px;" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am not sure what a blind person would perceive when told that the background was composed of orange pigments or the woman's bodice and man's vest were superimposed. But I wish that the hope and endeavor of this karmic poetry showed him the kaleidoscope of life.</span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-71817150678867766072011-03-25T18:36:00.023-04:002012-05-03T17:34:02.183-04:00An Ode to Peggy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Parking lot shenanigans, over-zealous logistics department, neurotic coworkers and other work-inappropriate capers- all in a day's work</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZEeIceDYYY/Ti64IatRhPI/AAAAAAAAB0E/9TyIM7fA3vM/s1600/what.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633642638634747122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZEeIceDYYY/Ti64IatRhPI/AAAAAAAAB0E/9TyIM7fA3vM/s320/what.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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What are you trying to say??</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ujvsf9GwSn4/Tgy_6ReONCI/AAAAAAAABy4/OTvO1KzLzSE/s1600/Picture9.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624081042522387490" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ujvsf9GwSn4/Tgy_6ReONCI/AAAAAAAABy4/OTvO1KzLzSE/s320/Picture9.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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I am saving a spot for my friend</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ysUiM1VNwTQ/Tgy_w1Y5ELI/AAAAAAAAByw/50UA0VhcOZo/s1600/Picture2.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624080880365015218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ysUiM1VNwTQ/Tgy_w1Y5ELI/AAAAAAAAByw/50UA0VhcOZo/s320/Picture2.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Shrink-wrapped popcorn shipped 1500 miles</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnyX-xqdoDQ/Tgy_bSApqzI/AAAAAAAAByo/KdB9kVPVOZM/s1600/Picture8.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624080510090849074" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnyX-xqdoDQ/Tgy_bSApqzI/AAAAAAAAByo/KdB9kVPVOZM/s320/Picture8.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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We forgot to get you a gift, so we wrapped your truck</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm0DqtI4EiU/Tgy_MCQYalI/AAAAAAAAByg/tTJ3UcX-QBk/s1600/Picture1.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624080248163822162" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm0DqtI4EiU/Tgy_MCQYalI/AAAAAAAAByg/tTJ3UcX-QBk/s320/Picture1.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Fun is a company value! <i><span class="Apple-style-span">(While working at a trade show)</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdKhIrDpzTI/Tgy_Frh11yI/AAAAAAAAByY/wzHTatzqWjI/s1600/Picture4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624080138983823138" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdKhIrDpzTI/Tgy_Frh11yI/AAAAAAAAByY/wzHTatzqWjI/s320/Picture4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 239px;" /></a><br />
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You are a great team player!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmgBU4B13HM/Tgy-1B4pLVI/AAAAAAAAByQ/yxXRe2-Da0U/s1600/Picture6.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624079852927266130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmgBU4B13HM/Tgy-1B4pLVI/AAAAAAAAByQ/yxXRe2-Da0U/s320/Picture6.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 280px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 188px;" /></a><br />
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Wrap people too....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEYz3OgGWwo/Tgy-kSqATHI/AAAAAAAAByI/Mr11iHTcLmY/s1600/Picture3.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624079565371493490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEYz3OgGWwo/Tgy-kSqATHI/AAAAAAAAByI/Mr11iHTcLmY/s320/Picture3.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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After a day long negotiation</div>
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<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cTT4mMSV_G4/Tgy-V0SeieI/AAAAAAAAByA/GK3d4st0YRw/s1600/Picture5.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624079316701579746" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cTT4mMSV_G4/Tgy-V0SeieI/AAAAAAAAByA/GK3d4st0YRw/s320/Picture5.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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If this is in the fridge, where is your food? Wait, don't tell me</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBuKt0VF8OY/Tgy-N2z5PLI/AAAAAAAABx4/BCjvliWLduo/s1600/Picture7.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624079179939658930" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBuKt0VF8OY/Tgy-N2z5PLI/AAAAAAAABx4/BCjvliWLduo/s320/Picture7.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 280px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 210px;" /></a><br />
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So tired....</div>
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</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-80108097435885822072010-09-12T14:11:00.007-04:002012-05-03T17:34:33.275-04:00NM-2: Back to the roots- Burning Man 2010<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TI0ZUc_awbI/AAAAAAAABsM/RH1HymVEkK0/s1600/DSC_0944.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516092957768991154" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TI0ZUc_awbI/AAAAAAAABsM/RH1HymVEkK0/s320/DSC_0944.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 213px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The seed of an idea planted a few years ago finally sprouted last weekend in the open wastelands of the Black Rock desert. Now it grows, reaching for the sky, nourished by fluids of creativity, winds of possibilities, protected from predatory biases and hatred by tolerance and acceptance.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When Sau told me about it in the summer of 2008, I had a vague understanding of it, but nonetheless I was bubbling with excitement to be at the Burning Man one day. The concept stimulated my ceaseless yearning to experience boundless energy that lies latent within any and all of us. And perhaps participate in the creation of something remarkable and joyous.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Earlier this year when Bubula and I decided to make it happen, I embarked on learning more about it. So I read more about it, talked to Burn alumni, saw pictures archiving the past years. The excitement grew. And still the nebulousness of my understanding of it persisted. One old Burner summed it up on the eve of my journey to the playa, "Go with no expectations and an open mind". Best advice ever.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was everything I had imagined, everything I wanted it to be but hadn't realized. It was one big celebration- Of Freedom. Of Art. Of Engineering. Of Nature. Of Creativity. Of Perspectives. Of Diversity. Of Sexuality. Of Individuality. Of Society. Of Life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The theme was <i>Metropolis</i>. There were the usual elements of urban life- buildings, transportation, sanitation, clothing, streets, homes, recreation centers and of course crowds of people. But the nature of all of this was so unusual. It interpolated and then fused with human behavior. Outside of this microcosm, the things we saw, did, or just plain observed would be weird, in simplistic of all terms. It seemed entropic at first. But a quick second look revealed a most coordinated, nearly symphonic system of a quasi-government and law-abiding citizens that kept this temporal city in order. It was feral and primal. At the same time it was pure and refined. It was like a <b>New World Order. </b>Derived from the collective history of human civilization, it was functional, disciplined and liberating. There was equilibrium and peace.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Never before had I experienced something so startlingly raw and intense. It was all around me, absorbing me into itself. But it felt like it came from within.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*****************************************************************************</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://justflipa.co.in/the-desert-commons">http://justflipa.co.in/the-desert-commons</a>. This piece by my gifted little psycho-bubble vividly articulates my whole experience. I read it every time I want to relive Burning Man 2010.</div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-21257432392679988682010-07-29T08:06:00.005-04:002012-05-03T17:46:14.820-04:00Gloat and Sigh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TFFu9WCUDRI/AAAAAAAABr8/C4_09PUwb0E/s1600/photo.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499298620162444562" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TFFu9WCUDRI/AAAAAAAABr8/C4_09PUwb0E/s400/photo.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></u></span></div>
In the past week or so, during all the brouhaha over the leaking of the classified military documents on the war in Afghanistan on the aptly named whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, we Indians were simultaneously gloating and stoically sighing. We have cried ourselves hoarse about Pak's <i>chaddi-buddy</i> relationship with the terror pods and pouted at the aid showered on Pak by the States, instead of a rightly deserved tight rap on the knuckles. So when the documents pointed out how one of the sources of Taliban's funds was the redirected aid, we couldn't help but do the "I-told-you-so! I-told-you-so!" routine. <br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Warning</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: The dance must only been performed under under the professional guidance of </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Goupa</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">. Please don't try this at home. Or in public. It can be very embarrassing for those with you and annoying for the onlookers. Though, you might have fun.</span></span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-6156271121508190812010-06-28T09:24:00.013-04:002010-09-07T12:35:22.067-04:00PD vs. Aging<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TCiqIZPkv4I/AAAAAAAABrI/VhAsWhVLAI8/s1600/clv100627.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/TCiqIZPkv4I/AAAAAAAABrI/VhAsWhVLAI8/s400/clv100627.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487823207142834050" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">A tribute to my gal pals who have serious issues with aging, especially dedicated to one lovely lady, PD</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">5 Stages of Grief </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">caused by aging:</span></span></i></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Denial</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">- “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">I look really young for my age.” “People still think I look like I am in college!” </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Big whoopieee!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Anger</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">- </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“WTF?! Die wrinkle die!” “ Yeah right</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">'insert name of pretty friend here<insert>' </insert></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><insert></insert></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"> looks young, have you seen all those products on her dressing table?” “I am sure she went under the knife” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Bargaining</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">- </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“Maybe if I alter my diet to only </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">'insert name of gross healthy food here<insert>'</insert></span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">. I believe it works wonders for your skin” “Maybe I should try</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6666;">neti </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">(Ugghhhh!) It purifies your system and keeps you healthier and younger”</span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Depression</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">- </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“Since when were celebrities and pop sensations younger than us?” sniff :’(<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Acceptance</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">- </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“Apoorva, you can call me auntie R@$#~! now”</span></span></i></p></div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-70679119900956682352010-06-04T14:06:00.015-04:002012-05-03T17:35:20.444-04:00A Murder On Any Given Balmy Summer Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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A wave of heat rises, undulating the street</div>
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On which rises the mansion of deception, lies and greed</div>
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Why may that be worthy of our attention now</div>
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An ode to pulp fiction this is, that’s how</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
As the moon waxes, a mouse with a fidgety snout</div>
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Explores for treasure, treading with doubt</div>
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In the kitchen, a pot of soup boils to the brim</div>
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A family gathers around for supper, stiff and prim</div>
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<br /></div>
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They say grace and exchange pleasantries</div>
<div>
Over stew, turnips, turkey and other savories</div>
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The night sky likens to the dried ink on little Sue’s essay</div>
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The men puff cigars, to the parlor the ladies sashay</div>
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<br /></div>
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Derby bets and stocks and bonds make the din of the chatter</div>
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A sole nimbus cries, rain drops fall pitter patter</div>
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Shrieking with joy, little Sue and cousin Boo rush into the house</div>
<div>
Drowning the last sighs of two souls, one them a mouse</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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In the attic, by the shattered window pane</div>
<div>
In the dark, dusty shadows there lay slain</div>
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The very mouse that had run amok</div>
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But that’s not the murder of which we talk</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
An act of sinister unfolds on another floor</div>
<div>
Many flights above, a maid steps through the attic door</div>
<div>
As the clock strikes another hour of a game of cards</div>
<div>
She cries at the vision among the glassy shards </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For that was Winky, her pet so sweet</div>
<div>
Now there it was lifeless and limp, like a piece of meat</div>
<div>
But while, for her dear departed companion she wept</div>
<div>
The attic floor awash with dirt must be cleaned and swept</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So she bawled and scrubbed the floor of hard wood</div>
<div>
“No more s’mores dear Sue, it is no good”,</div>
<div>
Said Jen, her mother, elegant in a dress of teal and white</div>
<div>
As the poor maid came down and saw another terrible sight</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The mistress, an old maid, not the kind who clean and labor</div>
<div>
Was found by the other, who was now in a stupor</div>
<div>
A shriek that never left her quivering mouth</div>
<div>
Brought the rest of the family out and about</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“It is too sudden”, said Joey, the eldest nephew, twice removed</div>
<div>
Even though her face had been, for so long, lined and grooved</div>
<div>
“She had just settled on the porch in her favored nook”</div>
<div>
And now her frail neck was twisted, eyes off her book</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Uncle Bill bellowed, “Yes Joe boy, I agree with you</div>
<div>
For I smell foul play in this affair too”</div>
<div>
A semi-retired detective, he was man of wit and skill</div>
<div>
Also the keeper of old and now dead Tammy’s will</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wealthy, powerful and pretty she had been all her life</div>
<div>
But no nice fellow took Tammy to be his wife</div>
<div>
For it was her bitter, conniving manner towards all</div>
<div>
That kept her circle of allies awfully small</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And those who stood by her were leeches and crooks</div>
<div>
People of social standing but dangling morals by the hooks</div>
<div>
All of them now on and around the porch, beside the deceased</div>
<div>
Each trying to look sad and shaken, though they felt pleased</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“Murder! Murder!” screamed the tabloids and headlines</div>
<div>
The wealthy witch’s death covered and parodied many times</div>
<div>
The tale of intrigue and mal-intent entertained the bourgeoisie</div>
<div>
While Tammy’s heirs silently thanked their unknown angel of mercy</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For a year or so the investigators interrogated them all</div>
<div>
“They all are suspects, the stinking parasites” said officer Kroll,</div>
<div>
Rather contemptuously, “They all stand to amass a fortune”</div>
<div>
But none seemed bothered by his ceaseless importune</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perfect alibis they had, no incriminating weapon ever found</div>
<div>
Everybody got a share of the wealth, split down to the last pound</div>
<div>
The legends of family deceit and the elusive malefactor continue</div>
<div>
The beneficiaries know not who made their wishes come true</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happily ever after for all but the pale, frightened, no more little Sue</div>
<div>
Never the same for she could never tell the truth, her only rue</div>
<div>
Had it not been the baseball that she and Boo hit that balmy night</div>
<div>
That is not how their dear Tammy would have died</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-50719522604407233412010-04-28T14:46:00.005-04:002012-05-03T17:35:29.079-04:00Hallowed Be Thy Name<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
At 2 Minutes to Midnight, a Man on the Edge of the Darkness</div>
<div>
watches the Children of the Damned do the Dance of the Death.</div>
<div>
The Number of the Beast has the land in Total Eclipse,</div>
<div>
Invaders and Prowlers are Running Free in this Strange World.</div>
<div>
He has been the Prisoner of the Lord of the Flies,</div>
<div>
a Powerslave to the Evil That Men Do.</div>
<div>
The Clairvoyant makes the Revelations of the Futureal,</div>
<div>
"'O Moonchild, To Tame a Land you must Die with Your Boots On"</div>
<div>
After Wasted Years in the Fear of the Dark,</div>
<div>
he Runs to the Hills, to face the Gangland.</div>
<div>
A Purgatory or a Sanctuary Where Eagles Dare,</div>
<div>
he knows not how to Remember Tomorrow.</div>
<div>
<div>
Now a Stranger in a Strange Land,</div>
<div>
he awaits the Judgement day, </div>
<div>
a Wickerman to go up in Holy Smoke.</div>
</div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-41743833708401675482010-03-24T22:49:00.008-04:002012-05-03T17:47:29.645-04:00Infidelity and us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My favorite show, South Park, is back on prime time. It is crude, satirical, biting and bizarre to say the least, besides being freakin' hilarious. Now in its fourteenth season, it opened with "Sexual Healing", lampooning the media-led brouhaha over Tiger Woods' domestic troubles that were attributed to his infidelity. It openly mocks people's holier-than-thou disbelief that this happens and their high-minded condemnation of those who get caught. Well I agree with the show's stand- yes it does happen, and given a chance most people would indulge in it. Too bad no marketing research firm or anthropological institution collects, collates and broadly publishes this information, but I bet it's more prevalent than we would expect or would like to know. I am also inclined to think that men are more prone to it than women. No, I am not a misandrist, utlra-feminist, PMSing weirdo undergoing hormone therapy to counter the imbalances. It's just how it is.<br />
<div>
Arguably, monogamy is the meme of the modern, civil society- not to say absolutely, because we seem to have made peace with serial multiplicity of partnerships but definitely balk at parallel arrangements. I wonder how and when it was decided that humans should mate for life. As for why, I have a whimsical theory =).<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Please bear with me, especially if you have a better hang of the theory of evolution and/or the chronological landmarks of the establishment of civilization as we know it today, i.e. talk to the finger)</span></i><br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's go back to the glorious era of the Caveman. The civilization is in nascence and social norms are still bubbling in test tubes in the laboratory of human interactions. The pure survivalist animal instinct suggests the <i>Wham, Bam, Thank you Ma'm</i> routine (though I doubt the third bit, because our manners are still wild), spread your seed as far and wide as you can. The female of the species is somewhat restricted by the inconvenience of pregnancy and child raising, the male is at an advantage. But when faced with a favorable option to procreate, neither of the sexes would think twice. With time, along with our numbers and resilience, our species' cognitive abilities and emotional needs evolved. We figured out it was easier to raise the offspring in packs or groups or a couple at least. It also seemed more conducive for of the sake of collective sanity to have one, rather than many, to dump the emotional baggage on. And finally it was a lot less draining to find and remain with one, because the chase could be exhausting and less fruit-bearing than not. In the name of practicality, we chose to sacrifice our basic instincts. To oppose it, of course, would seem like a degradation of human intelligence.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-56303819936110987242010-03-22T23:18:00.014-04:002012-05-03T17:45:26.028-04:00United we hate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/S7YCiRZ_zbI/AAAAAAAABpI/n7QVtHrgCEU/s1600/20100127-calvin.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455550786417184178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7To-Q3PiGJU/S7YCiRZ_zbI/AAAAAAAABpI/n7QVtHrgCEU/s400/20100127-calvin.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 331px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of my buddy's and I have a super secret, ultra-exclusive, co-owned blog that we started to chronicle the stupidity of one our dear pals. Clearly, our indubitable fondness for this person is the source of all the blog's content and many a shared snickers. During a rare moment of uneasy conscience, we realized that this 'common interest' was in no insignificant way responsible for bringing my accomplice and me into a closer friendship. In a continuing moment of guilt and admission, we also remembered that we had had a comparable sink for our dislike and meanness even at the time when we first befriended each other. Not wanting to have to confront that hatred was one of the foundation stones of our friendship, in hasty and decided manner we moved on to other distractions (the idiot box, of course). But that realization has stayed on my head and I am certain that it has on hers (Why I think so, isn't relevant at the moment).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hate is such a powerful emotion. It seems highly effective in getting people together to get things done- riots, terrorism, vandalism or general mob activities, all these seem to achieve their goal of destructions and chaos with high efficiency. It seems even more so when you notice that amount of effort that can go into trying to rally support for a good cause- climate control, wildlife protection, poverty eradication, education, etc., all to no avail. One recent piece of news on NY Times, <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/online-hate-sites-grow-with-social-networks/?hpw">http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/online-hate-sites-grow-with-social-networks/?hpw</a>, mentioned online hate sites had grown by 20% over the last year. Hatred just evolves to keep up or keep ahead of the times. It's definitely an industry leader in terms of market capitalization (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;">impact on people's lives and property through the expression of an emotion times the number of people that simultaneously feel and express that emotion</span></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">).</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe I mustn't feel sorry for my species or be dismayed by the reflection of our true faces, beneath the facade of civility. Maybe chaos is the natural order of things, and Hobbes is right, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9999ff;">"People are just crazy."</span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-1395374391365933672010-03-22T23:11:00.009-04:002012-05-03T17:35:43.954-04:00NM-1: Blues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">On a quiet evening of a grey Monday, as rain poured down as if to wash off the blues of darker blue Sunday, and silence loomed heavy on the swoosh of the wind and rumble of the sky, I listlessly sank into my couch with a DVD in my laptop and some comfort food. After days and nights of hanging out with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mr. Dumb</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ness</i> and his not so lovely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mrs. Numb Ness</i>, I hope to take leave of their company. I must keep my manners and politely excuse myself. I know they do not get along with anything even remotely stimulating. Maybe the idiot box would provide the guise. It worked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I watched ‘Habana Blues’, a Spanish-Cuban <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pelicula</i> that weaves through a period in the lives of two Cuban rock musicians looking for a breakthrough into music industry and breakaway from the harshness of their everyday lives. The movie touches upon several themes such as the tug of war between the essence of art and commercialization, patriotism and personal aspirations, and, as expected, capitalism and communism. But music, of course, is at the core of the movie. The exposure to traditional Cuban music flavouring the mainstream genres of rock and rap was like a bountiful feast to my creativity-starved mind. The Cuban culture is not only the fountainhead of the musician’s creations but also their distinguishing trait of their trade.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It got me thinking about how powerful a hold someone’s roots or sense of belongingness has on their actions and reactions and channelizing their expressions and creations. And how a lack of that sense or a feeling of general detachment can sterilize the very same.</span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-72077850238295492092010-02-18T13:05:00.006-05:002012-05-03T17:42:40.705-04:00Chime of the chubby moroner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffffcc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">June 23, 2008</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span>It's a chubby moroner,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and he thinketh sugar and spice.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With the </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266516185_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">glowing eyes</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and innocent smile</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dreameth of donuts and liquorice</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He stoppeth his lady, tall and fair,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Woeful mind and a look of doubt,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"What hath come into your head,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for you feast on cabbage and sprout?"</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She smiles at the cherubic face,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Crown tilteth, glittering eyes,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spake no word,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">proceeds to swat the flies</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A half-eaten donut</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the moroner lefteth behind,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for he hath a</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> fresh </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266516185_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Belgian waffle</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">seared onto his mind</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Springing feet and merry heart</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">he flippeth at the sight</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of scrumptious food and of his lady love</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with whom he findeth delight</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Music in his soul,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266516185_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gaiety</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> he spreads</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Charming every maiden,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Tid many a man dreads</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Restless, brimmeth thoughts,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">his brilliant mind ashine</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In his hands lie</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the will to make all fine</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'My chubby moroner,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why art thou woebegone?'</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Smiling spake he,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'My troubles are not gone'</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'For many a times in the days by gone</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We hath had many a fight,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am yet to find peace</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But I try with all might'</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="953351616-23062008"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Smiling back, she sighs</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Glinting, sure and calm,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Honey it will be fine"</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="953351616-23062008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He resteth his chin hopefully in her soft palm</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-45347323860962159642010-02-18T00:53:00.007-05:002012-05-03T17:52:22.079-04:00In the Middle of Nowhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Writing my last blog entry, and reminiscing about <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffff66;"><a href="http://hkl-iteludesme.blogspot.com/2010/02/ode-to-mr-salinger.html">the Catcher in the Rye</a></span></i> reminded me of my attempt to capture my own teenage angst and restlessness, quite amusing in hindsight. Here's from times of care-free free music download, anti-fit jeans, countless vada pavs, endless hours of Basketball and 'just-chilling' by the sea-side...</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #009900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Encircled by obsession</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Of “I, me, myself”…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Don’t know where I am heading</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Why want to know myself?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Have it all…?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Yet discontent I feel…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Nothing, anymore,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Seems to appeal…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">On a lone trail</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> To vanquish the “evil”</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Within me,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">But “why the “solitude”?”, </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> I fail to see…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Lone crusaders</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Is that what we are?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Just like pawns</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> On the chessboard,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Near yet far…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Queries, confusion,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Answers but no solutions …</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Amid a mist of</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Riddles and illusions …</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Wishes, dreams, desires,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Hatred, rage, fire,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Sting, contort, burn me,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> No apparent reason there be…</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Vendetta I wish to wreak,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> My insanity is what speaks.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">No reasons to be scorned,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Elusive bliss pierces like thorns…</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">A shrieking silence</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Ripping me apart,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">My mind deludes</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> But hear it in my heart…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Existential puzzle</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Tortures my soul,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Not “WHO” but “WHY” am I?</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Leaves me all sore…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">In me, in you,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Within us all,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Fear to admit</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> The vicious reality,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Plunging, headfirst,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Towards my downfall…</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Chained to shackles </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Of hallucinations,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Under pretense of control,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Burying the hard truth</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Trampling it under the sole…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">“Truth”- or a convenience?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> What is it? Why matters?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Hidden by lies </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> And muddy splatters…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Twisted and harsh,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> No strings attached,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Conquest for it,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Supposedly unmatched.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Virtuous or vile?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> A compulsive yardstick,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Ram raiding the world, </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Just a bagful of tricks,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">In the middle of nowhere,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Bewildered and mute,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">I try to find me,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> In an attempt to suit</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> The enigma that envelops me</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Is it really me or</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> All I can see?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Want to pour out </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> This heart to someone,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">But that’s what I shun</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> When coming and</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Going alone</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Why need that “someone”</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> To burden up with </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> My solitary moan?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Going round in circles,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> In search of what?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> I have no clue… </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">A feeling of doom</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> In shades of blue,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Age and era</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> May bear the blame,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">An unreal realm of </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Ineptness is the name…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Impermanence, passing phase</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Perhaps just neuroticism</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">A seeming ceaseless darkness</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> No flicker of light</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> No spectrum from a prism</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Like grains of dry sand</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> My-so-called life,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Slips away from my grasp</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Leaving behind an empty hand…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">An ambiguity captures</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> My mind… </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Just want my freedom</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> From this uncertainty</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Leaving all these doldrums behind…</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Away from the darkness</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Away from the muted screams</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">With eternal unbounded wings </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> Fly away to an eternity of WHITE DREAMS……</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-43295861424464791322010-02-18T00:13:00.008-05:002012-05-03T17:45:45.252-04:00Good-bye Mr. Salinger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holden Caulfield</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">J. D. Salinger</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> created one of the most identifiable-with literary characters - the protagonist's passion and contempt, his fierce need to be his own person, the nonchalance towards people yet an inexplicable yearning to talk to them anyways, his hunger for knowledge and disdain for pretension, his borderline Messiah complex- we all have had such emotions and internal conflicts. Especially in our youth - the rawness, the passion, the romanticism, and the nascent cynicism. But as we grow up and mature, these still exist, but we filter our thoughts and moderate our behaviour to fulfil the societal definition of well-adjusted human beings. At this stage, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holden's absolute emotions and reactions elicit a fear of the very ability to relate to him. To be that way</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, in my opinion, might be liberating but is socially sacrilegious- acceptable during the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Terrible Teens</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> but not after. I guess people who would continue to act like him would be outcasts or committed to institutions or kept suppressed and restrained by the “saner” ones in their families. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The angst and struggle between society and individual is chronic. The extraneous expectations and your personal judgment are in a constant conflict. Acceptable for one is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">phoney </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">for the other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* * * * *</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* * * * *</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* * * * *</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* * * * *</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* * * * *</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another thing that stood out to me is Holden's thinking that yelling “Good luck” to people is plain terrible. I do see some credibility in the statement. In fact, “good luck” & “anybody would be lucky to be with you” are the two things people think will others feel better, give them hope. But it is such a norm, said so mechanically and superficially that it worsens things if you think about it. As if one could not get about without someone wishing them luck, their ability and intent would lack the necessary bearings without it.</span></span></span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-27937096413231359292010-02-17T13:02:00.022-05:002012-05-03T17:42:05.819-04:00Buzzitripudoconia Moroni<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffff33;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or Morons' Venture for Fun on </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Buzz"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffff33;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buzz</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00cccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by AC, Bubby and H</span></span></span></i></span></i></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'lucida grande';"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shuteye Demon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">briefly dated the</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Idea Fairy</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bfbfbf; font-family: 'lucida grande';"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">offspring is running amok<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second Thought Witch</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, with an evil laughter, plots against the offspring<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Idea Fairy</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">holds</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">close to her bosom<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the shadows lurks the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This Won't Work Ogre</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who tempts the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Easily Corrupted Elf</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">playmate of the reckless offspring<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Together, they arrange for a game at dusk to draw out</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For as the darkness grows so does his restlessness<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Restless</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">playfully joins the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Easily Corrupted Elf</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not paying heed to his mother's restraining<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This Won't Work Ogre</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">rubs his hands with glee even as the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Overly Optimist Prince</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">rides into the scene<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Swiftly, the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Overly Optimist Prince</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">slays the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This Won't Work Ogre</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Easily Corrupted Elf</span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and restless</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">begin their game,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm So High Hobgoblin</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">joins them<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second Thought Witch</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, now cleverly disguised as the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm So High Hobgoblin</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, sneakily leads </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">away<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She takes out a green vial of</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Strangle The Idea Potion</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and lets out another high-pitched laughter<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second Thought Witch</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s shriek of delight threatens to rent</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">' innocent mischievousness,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shuteye Demon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">seeks his progeny,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A primal instinct to protect his seed violently clashes with his pragmatic aloofness<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alas! The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shuteye Demon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s pragmatic aloofness wins and he decides to take a nap<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Knowing she has little option, the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Idea Fairy</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">takes on the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second Thought Witch</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on her own,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They agree on a mud wrestling battle to settle the matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's the crack of dawn, and the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Morning Gnome</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">rides in on the first rays of sunshine<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">His merry rhyme rudely awakens the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shuteye Demon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just when the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Idea Fairy</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second Thought Witch</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">were about to settle matters in the muddy arena<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh no! For it was not but a dream!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shuteye Demon</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">awakens to a surprising scene</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Idea Fairy</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">has reconciled with the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Second Thought Witch</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After she told her where to get the best bargains on brooms<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nocturnal Musings</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">looks at</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shuteye Demon</span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and asks the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good Idea Fairy</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: silver;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, innocently, 'Are men necessary?'<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bfbfbf;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-71026922176234005962010-02-03T12:37:00.003-05:002011-07-01T08:35:15.409-04:00Auto-Driver's Creed: An Ode to Bubbles and my Wanderlust<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i>This is my car. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My car is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My car, without me, is useless. Without my car, I am stuck in space, as the time goes by. I must drive my car far and through. I must drive faster than the creeping humdrum and complacency that is trying to subdue me. I must escape it before it devours me. I will...</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i>My car and myself know that what counts in this life is not the how many miles we travel, the duration of our drive, nor the fuel we burn. We know that it is the discoveries that count. We will discover...</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i>My car is human, even as I, because it lets me make my life. Thus, I will learn it as me. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its engine. I will keep my car clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i>Before the expanding universe I swear this creed. My car and myself are the purveyors of my nomadic yearnings. We are the masters of the route to the wonders of this world that we seek. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until curiosity is in my mind and no rut, but a Road to travel, a Place to see and People to meet...</i></p><div><i><br /></i></div></span>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-60865308608614612972010-01-28T09:36:00.004-05:002012-05-03T17:48:46.941-04:00The Internet Chronicles from Mera Gaon, Mera Des: Adaption to Social Networking in Rural India and its Repercussions on Linguistics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rupa</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></i></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aaj kono Gowri Sankar hamaar ko </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">friend rikwest</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> bheje hain.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33ccff;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Champa:</span></span></i></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kaun Gawri Sankar? Arre uuh Nirmal kaki ka door-daraaj ka bhanja, jinki </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">boxers</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> mein hum mendhak chhode the, Bholu ke lagan mein?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rupa</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hat gadharia! Uuh to Badri Sankar-wa rehat, jo ki Teevri nadi ke Teer mein basat rahi. Ee koi </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sa-weedun</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> gaon ka </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dude</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> hai.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33ccff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Champa:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Suh-weedun</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">? Bahar-gaon? </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holi Cow</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rupa</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hum yeh sochat rahi, ki uu ko hamaar </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pi-rofile </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">milat to kaise milat rahi? Kono </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">common friend</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> hi naahi hai!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33ccff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Champa:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hmmm..tanik itna batao, dekhan mein kaisat hai?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rupa</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kermit </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mendhak-wa ka chachera bhai ya</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Peter Griffin</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-wa ke mausi ka ladka - oh kaisan kehat? haan - </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">F-ugly!</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Giggles!</span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33ccff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Champa: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peter Griffin <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">to phir bhi theek-thak rahi Par uska kutta, jab uski lugai ko taktaki bandh kar dekhat rahi, Shiv Shiv Shiv Shiv! Oo chhod, h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">amari maan to rejekt kar de. Hamaar bhauji kehti hai ki bahar-gaon jaane ke baad mard log ekdum </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">jerks</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> ho jaat rahi.</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rupa</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc33cc;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hai Raam! Hamaar bhains-wa, </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mary Jane</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, tumse behtar samajh rahi ee duniya ko. Eeh sab </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">f**k-tard</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-wa log hi kehat hai. </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Internet</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-wa par kono samay bitao to tumhaar khopadiya mein bhi kuch padega!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33ccff; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Champa:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chill-pill</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> khaat lo! Tumhaar ghar ma </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wii </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hot, is kaaran Tinku, Billu, aur Radha tumka paresaan nahi karat. Humaar yahaa Dhondu aur Kamla ko </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">World of War Ka-raft</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> se hatao to Daddu </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">computer</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> nahi chhodat. Aur amma boli ki jab Daddu </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hot </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nepali chhori ka </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">search </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">karat rahi aur hum pass ma dikhai diyat to uuh hamaar </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">asses whoop</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> karat rahi!</span></span></span></span></div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-8728100483701499002010-01-10T19:49:00.007-05:002012-05-03T17:47:54.777-04:00Customer Service - How much is too much?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To me, Marketing is the most fascinating of business disciplines- it is dynamic, complex and powerful. Constantly reinventing itself and its vocabulary, you will have had heard of the ubiquitous 3C's or 4P's, CRM tools, metrics of ROI and Brand valuation, the list goes on and on and on. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just as in Fashion, there is always a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Flavor of the Season- </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a concept or theory that is </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">IN</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. And just as in religion and spirituality, there is a constant quest for <i>the enlightened state</i>. Our current <i>Holy Grail</i> is the <i>Social Media Marketing</i>. A while ago, it was <i>Customer Service</i>. Just as everything associated with marketing, it, too, is rife with rules, frameworks and acronyms. There are even ISO standards on CS. It had been touted as a key differentiating factor between you and your competition, especially in mature markets. It could make or break your business.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A few months ago, I was in a meeting with some people who were retained post a recent acquisition by my company. We were discussing the integration of our marketing efforts, and the conversation steered towards what their strengths had been versus ours. One person, rather passionately, made the case for customer service. I will give it to him though, customers were pampered way more by his former company. But to elucidate the key takeaway of his argument, let me quote him as best as my memory allows- "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffff99;">You know, you guys are bigger and all that, but you treat your customers like numbers. We on the other hand were good with them. It's like the difference between Best Buy and Circuit City. You know what I mean, Circuit City was so much more personal than Best Buy.</span></i>"</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes sir, I do know what you mean:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6666;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff99ff;">You = Circuit City = Bankrupt</span>; <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33ccff;">We = Best Buy = Still in business.</span> <i>Also, we acquired you.</i></span></span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-40382522818589232782010-01-07T22:49:00.001-05:002012-05-03T17:48:01.773-04:00Avatar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><i><b>Avatar</b></i></span>, the James Cameron flick, is a visual marvel. That's to say the least. The technology and effects are incredibly convincing and awe-inspiring. Stats have it that it is the 2nd highest grossing film of all time, worldwide. And that, in just three weeks after release. Everybody loves it. I, frankly, was utterly disappointed. It was just <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>too eff-ing predictable</i></span>- unimaginative dialogues, mono-dimensional characters, a mish-mash of done-to-death plots. For, creativity's sake, even the creatures on Pandora seemed out of Jurassic Park, so vividly colorful that I thought they were having a rave party. Well clearly I had too high expectations and/or I am missing the point.<br />
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At one level, it also seemed like a perverse tribute to all the native civilizations and tribes ousted and destroyed by invaders, traders, saviors and others of imperialistic leaning. Instead of falling prey to the technologically superior, singularly self-centered and obstinately uncompromising enemy, the underdogs are victorious. Reality check - it happens only in movies. The rest happens all the time, for real.</div>
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An example of a real-life Avatar happening on our very planet. Here are the parallels:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff9900;">LOCATION</span>- PANDORA, a satellite of a fictitious planet: EARTH, in a remote part of the mineral rich state of Orissa in eastern India</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff9900;">SPECIES </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff9900;">of concern:</span> the NA'VI- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">blue-skinned, pointy-eared, 10-foot feline humanoids : the <i>DONGRIA KONDH- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">brown, lean, 5.5-foot simple human beings</span></i></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff9900;">COMPANY:</span> RDA Corp. : Vedanta Aluminium Ltd.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff9900;">PRIZE:</span> <i>Unobtanium : Aluminium</i></div>
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Check out this video<i> </i>by <i>Survival International: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/mine">http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/mine</a></span></i></div>
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The incidents are frighteningly are similar. The fact that it is far from over and how real life usually turn out, makes this numbingly scary. It also doesn't help knowing that this is not an isolated or a singular event at any given point in time.</div>
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I think I actually appreciate the ending of <i>Avatar</i>.</div>
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</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-86584648889072860112010-01-04T23:26:00.000-05:002012-05-03T17:48:20.011-04:00Re-reading mythologies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last week, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Psychobubble </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">drew my attention to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Myth=Mithya,</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Devdutt Pattanaik,</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> an honorable interpretation of a few but nevertheless crucial aspects of the Hindu mythology. It provides a refreshing perspective on culture amidst the everyday conflicts of our modern, ambiguous lives. It also reminded me of how infuriated I get at traditions that seem anachronistic, literal or obtusely followed. (Sometimes, though less admittedly, my own lack of understanding is the culprit). Here's a glimpse of my outrage.</span></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">REF: “Re-reading mythologies” Santosh Desai, City City Bang Bang TOI, </span></span></i><st1:date day="6" month="5" st="on" year="2006"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saturday, May 6, 2006</span></span></i></st1:date></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The article talks of the role extensively played by the society to lay down the rules of behavior and regulate the same for its people. Through folklores and myths a community embeds its dogma in our mindsets from even before we can start to think. To elaborate how powerful these stories are in defining our outlooks and the appropriate societal code of conduct, the author draws upon the great Indian epic, the Ramayana. The subject: Fidelity.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He dissects the famous Sita abduction episode. In the choice between two “rights”, there is no room for personal discretion for the woman. She must do what the society dictates. In case of Sita, the crossing of the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Laxman-rekha</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to give alms to Ravana disguised credibly as a God-man that led to her abduction, serves as a lesson for all, that for the woman, it’s her man, first, before all else, including God. There is complete subjugation of discretion when held up against this collective verity. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Other incidents in the such as the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">agni-pariksha</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and the banishment of Sita highlight the nonnegotiable aspect of female fidelity. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You are guilty even if you are proven innocent</span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So deep-rooted is this message, that female adultery is still a taboo subject and fidelity and virginity a dogged demand from women. So much for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> all the women's-lib movement. The self-declared mouthpiece of free expression and modern society, the Indian movie industry or the Bollywood still keeps its yard-arm clear by portraying the adulteress, time and again, as the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">wrong </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">bad woman</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But what really is perplexing is a society that is so obsessed with fidelity, has practically no rules for the wayward men. No popular myths or folklores even mention, let alone demand on the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">patni-vrata</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> prototype for men. Ram is not required to prove his fidelity after years apart from his wife nor is Ravana questioned for abducting another woman while being a married man. And then of course Bollywood plays its ubiquitous role by showing the adulterer being forgiven by his wife, because that is the right thing to do. No apologies from him. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffcc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To err is hu-MAN. Bad woman!</span></span></span></i></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Time to re-read our mythologies; instead of blind acceptance of these skewed social norms, an objective evaluation of our folktales is essential to imbibe the right “rights” in our mindsets. After all adaptation and evolution are the natural codes of conduct. </span></span></div>
</div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249455340601072603.post-37860783615368448112010-01-04T23:22:00.009-05:002011-10-10T12:11:38.630-04:00Coming of Age<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";">Parents often toggle between denial and muted acceptance of certain behaviour that their children indulge in. They want the best of the world for their progeny- happiness and wisdom, but avoid confronting the fact that their little ones have to undergo some “unpleasant” experiences to come of their own.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";">What’s remarkable is the sense of guilt, confusion and pacification you go through, because eventually the standards you set for yourself as a person and those as the child of your parents tend to diverge, run parallel or just run along a collision course.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";"><i>***************************************************</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";"><i>Kahlil Gibran</i> - Excerpt from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prophet_(book)">The Prophet</a>....On Children</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(235, 227, 208); "></span></span></p><p>Your children are not your children.</p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";">They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.<br />They come through you but not from you,<br />And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";">You may give them your love but not your thoughts,<br />For they have their own thoughts.<br />You may house their bodies but not their souls,<br />For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,<br />which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.<br />You may strive to be like them,<br />but seek not to make them like you.<br />For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";">You are the bows from which your children<br />as living arrows are sent forth.<br />The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,<br />and He bends you with His might<br />that His arrows may go swift and far.<br />Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;<br />For even as He loves the arrow that flies,<br />so He loves also the bow that is stable.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";" ><i>src: <a href="http://www.katsandogz.com/onchildren.html">http://www.katsandogz.com/onchildren.html</a></i></span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="Arial","sans-serif"font-family:";"><br /></span></p><p></p></div>HKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894483031977059361noreply@blogger.com0