Music for the Soul

"I enjoy listening to music".

How often have you heard someone say this statement? Too often, isn't it?

Most of the people I know enjoy music in some form or the other. Some are inseparable from the ear plugs connecting their MP3 device, others enjoy an occasional quiet evening with soft lilting music in the background. However intense the experience there has to be some reason why we all enjoy music, to varying degrees of course.

Music can uplift a dull mind, can soothe frazzled nerves and can even add a whiff of perfume to a perfect romantic evening. I feel music has some divine affiliation into our minds and souls. How else can you explain the curative effects it can have on us?

The best part about music is its versatility. Music can be your best friend in lonesome times and also be there when you want to celebrate or party. The range of music genres is baffling for the uninformed and extremely exciting for the true fans. Although I do not consider hard rock to be music, I do enjoy an occasional head breaking heart thumping song.

Technology is also trying to keep up the pace with the rhythm of music. Music lovers can choose from a plethora of devices today to fire up their passion. I remember the time the walkman came into the market as a blessing in disguise for people of all ages. However, it is the young adults that took to it initially before it caught on for people of all ages. Today every thing you own, from your phone to your jacket can be wired up for music!

It is more accessible today than it was a couple of years ago, with Internet Radio and Music Downloads available on most websites. iTunes has its fair share in the market, though others are catching up. Music albums are available online even before the movies are released. Of course the DRM (Digital rights management) team has its hands full to try and minimize piracy.

However, its a challenge, because...

Music is Everywhere.

Euphemistic Lives

This post is a spin-off from the article I read in Time, Words Don't Mean What They Mean. I started reminiscing on how true this actually is.

Every so often, I have heard people say things that are far too mild compared to what they actually want to say. We rely on euphemisms to soften up the social situation or sometimes to just hint at what we mean to express. Why is it so hard to say something candidly? Why do we play with words instead of unreservedly blurting out what is intended? After all, an onion wrapped in faux rose petals will still be an onion! Yet, we tend to take to euphemisms more easily as compared to the bare truth.

Maybe its easier said than done (pun intended)!

As far as being direct is concerned, we often wish to save face and hint at something instead of saying it unequivocally. It is human nature to be polite, for the most part. We do not want people to dislike us or to think ill of us, at least not deliberately... and hence the politeness.

Socially, this seems more acceptable, right? We don't want to intentionally hurt someone but at the same time, need to word our thoughts, for which this fits the bill perfectly. Moreover, it helps save face in case the situation back fires.

However, these may be a blessing in disguise to appeal to a person's sensitivity. It is easier on the ears to say that someone has passed away, rather than died. It is more agreeable to say between jobs than unemployed. And of course the very common term full-figured or healthy instead of fat.

I guess the eventually we will use the words we feel right, as and when the situation asks for it.

Around the Corner

As we skim from one day to the next, it is often hard to tell what turn life may take. The future can be highly unpredictable with its highs and lows. Around the corner may lie a whirlpool of joyous occasions, while for some it may be the worst of the worse periods of their life. Sometimes they are so synchronous, that while one week you have great luck and upbeat cheerful moments, the next may lead to dispirited downcast days.

I believe that Life balances it out for me. Drinking my smoothie of personal experience and uncanny superstitious beliefs, I clearly see that my share of joys and sorrows is equal to the microsecond. If I am jubilant one morning, then by some bizarre twist of fate, I face a despondent moment not too far along the road.

It's just how Life treats me - Fair.

I believe that Life is comparable to a Roller Coaster. We are strapped in, secure and while the world continues to swirl upside down around us, we remain unscathed, unless... unless we go weak. Mental strength helps pull us through these times. Armed with the knowledge that we can not do much except for scream, we need to stay focused and get through these times and these moments with calm composure.

More often than not, it's easier said than done.

Regardless, Life goes on. I try not to peek too far ahead or even analyze the goodies in my mind's basket, just play along with what is in store for me. I try to enjoy the ride.

Do you?

What's in a name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Have you ever wondered why we name things the way we do? Are we able to justify the importance given to names and the phenomenon of naming people, pets, software, books or blog posts for that matter.

Personal names could be attributed as the most important part of one's life, apart from our family, salary, dinner, loved ones, health, food, movies and ....oh alright, its probably not the most important, but it does figure amongst them. Our names are, after all, the most used words, most typed, and as kids, it was probably one of the first combination of letters that we learnt to recognize (although I'm told mine was "Goofy").

Discovering the meaning of our name could enlighten us to pursue our purpose in life and lead us on the path into the light. Or on a much lighter note, we could use it as a conversational topic once we've exhausted the typical, "It's is a lovely day today". Simply by having an innate connection to our name cannot magically help improve our grades or earn us money. Meaningful names add character, but cannot redeem one's personality.

Most parents these days are aiming for meaningful, unique and yet crisp and easy to pronounce names. Some do run dry out of ideas (and a sense of humour) and name their kids after themselves, with a "Jr" suffix or go ahead and pick their favourite media icon. Either ways, I've heard and seen several people wanting to change their names once they are old enough to do so for convenience, simplicity or (thanks to the generation gap) to avoid embarrassment.

So, how do we figure how much importance to ascribe to the one word which identifies us? There is a wide range of people in this world, some of them just take their names for granted and don't think twice before using it, saying it or giving it to someone. On the other hand, there are those who would go lengths to change it, just because it sounds embarrassing or doesn't "work" for them.

The Namesake" is a book by Jhumpa Lahiri, about a multigenerational story of an Indian family and their journey across continents and cultures. It has been picturized into a beautiful movie by Mira Nair starring Kal Penn (a stage name for Kalpen Suresh Modi, aha!). A must-read, it is centered around the character of Gogol Ganguli, who, with his awkward name, tries to find his place in society, while learning to define and accept himself.

My name has had its variations too and when I think back at the times and situations where I've had to use it, an amused smile does escape my lips. The Japanese language has fewer syllables than its Indian counterparts, so it was little surprise to me that the "ksh" sound wasn't available to them. However, the "pre" sound was also alien, since the Japanese do not have sounds which combine more than one syllable. My name, therefore, was minced and tethered into a "pu-re-ku-shya". Close enough?!

Moreover, to my absolute surprise, I've been subjected to a "Prakash" (that's a different name and gender!), "Presshka" and "Rachael" (o-yeah, don't ask), which has me convinced that my name should feature somewhere on the global tongue-twister-names list. What say?

Sequel Mania

With the flood of "Part Three" Movies this year, movie goers have been waiting in anticipation for some gratifying big-screen entertainment to break free from mundane routine of everyday life. However, it seems that movie producers have run out of imagination, while their focus has shifted from creativity to lucre. I guess its when the movie producers try to ape blockbuster hits like Star Trek, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings without concrete substance that they fall flat on the face.

While Spider-man 3 was just-another-superhero-movie depicting the conflict between good and evil, Shrek the Third was stretchy and boring. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was also a let down in spite of its stellar cast and mammoth sets.

I wonder how Ocean's Thirteen, Fantastic Four, Die Hard and Bourne Ultimatum will turn out to be. It's rather hard to predict, let's just wait and watch.

Interviews Redefined

Job hunting and Interviews is something each one of us destined to cross paths with at some point in life, no matter which career path we have chosen, unless ofcourse your family name is Hilton or you join your Dad's business. Interviews can be a breeze for some and can cause stressful agony for others. Either way, it is trend our society follows and can be a great learning experience for all involved.

While you strive to stand apart from the croud of candidates, you may want to probe into the Video Resume trend. Although it is still in its early stages, several job sites and video hosting sites are exploring the possibilities of uploading a video profile versus a word document. Risky and absurd as it sounds, click here to find out what some people have to say about it.

During one of my random surfing sprees today, I came across an article on Interviews in Second Life. For the uninitiated, Second Life is an online virtual world, where you can have an avatar to represent yourself, meet and interact with people just as you would in real life. You can even buy property using Linden Dollars, which can be exchanged for US Dollars in a marketplace consisting of residents, Linden Lab and real life companies.

The article "Welcome to the virtual interview" talks about the corporate world diving into this virtual reality space for recruiment. Typically you would expect a gaming geek to live in such a world, date and build his social circle from his living room. However, the tides are slowly turning where people are flocking to embrace this technology in their stride. Interestingly, this 3D existance has attracted around 6,471,214 residents with $1,545,408 spent in the past 24 hours.

This being just a trial setup, recruiters are going to interview prospective avatars and ask them questions via IM. This initial screening is usually done via telephonic interviews, often followed with in-person interviews. Second Life is making this process more interactive, definitely hip and possibly fun, as candidates can also ask questions and access a variety of information on the company through videos.

So, what are you waiting for? Other than updating your resume, start working on your creative skills, make your Second Life avatar and practice walking, flying and shaking hands in this vast virtual parallel universe.

Expectations Breed Disappointments

Just to illustrate my point, I would like to request you to make a mental note of the last three times you were disappointed. Out of these three moments, was any one (or all) of them because you were disappointed that your expectations weren't met? For intance...

• That movie was such a disappointment, although the previews looked snazzy.
• I was waiting for her call all day.
• The entree I ordered looked so delicious in the photo, but the taste is so flat.
• I expected him to propose, he broke up instead.
• I expected an outstanding appraisal and a raise for all my hard work.

The list could go on and on...

I reckon our letdowns are, for the most part, the result of expectations. We are, after all, the Kings and Queens in our own worlds. A whoosh of the magic wand and the world must sing our tune. We wish, we assume, we anticipate that events to go by our feelings and people take to our way of thinking. Alas, this doesn't always happen.

Invariably we end up building a great deal into our imagination or emotions and when things don't work out we feel let down, cheated or just plain ol' sad. Sometimes we take it to heart and it takes days or weeks to get over it; sometimes a tub of ice-cream will suffice; and yet other times just a wave of the hand is enough to forget about the episode. Whatever the intensity or ramification, we do experience the pang, even if it is for a few moments.

In that case, how can we avoid it, knowing full well that it is us, our minds, our conscience that is partly responsible for it. Must we try and avoid looking forward to anything and anyone, for fear of disappointment? Can we cure disappointments by taking an anti-expectation pill?

Wishful thinking is always encouraged, however the mind has no boundaries. Our thoughts can race faster than the speed of light and can travel in perpetuity across the universe. As humans, we are gifted with emotions such as anticipation, contemplation and purpose, to curb this means to domesticate the energy, which, as we know it, is brimming with potential. To put it simply, life would be dull without expectations.

Quite a conundrum, isn't it?

The Road Not Taken

This famous Robert Frost poem has been one of the most analyzed, quoted, anthologized poems in American poetry. I read it for the first time in school and would like to quote it here.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Since I've just been dabbling in English Literature I would not do justice to the poem if I try to analyze it. However, I would like to quote an analysis about this poem in my post.

"Robert Frost, in this poem, has been out walking the woods and comes to two roads, and he stands looking as far down each one as he can see. He would like to try out both, but doubts he could to that, so therefore he continues to look down the roads for a long time trying to make his decision about which road to take. The second one that he took seems less traveled, but as he thinks about it, he realizes that they were “really about the same.” This poem says that choice is inevitable but you never know what your choice will mean until you have lived it."

Our Choices

We all are faced with innumerable choices in life, no matter where we are or what we are doing, no one over the age of 15 is exempt of making a choice for himself or herself. Here I am talking about the life-altering decisions. The decisions where you choose fries versus mashed potato for your side dish unfortunately do not qualify. However difficult or unreasonable these choices seem, inescapably we have to choose one, in spite of poor visibility of its consequences into the future.

So, how do we decide? Just like Frost had little cognizance of the nature of the roads beyond what he could see from the point where he was standing, we too can only contemplate and make assumptions as to the outcome of our decisions. With just this much in hand, how do we make the right choice?

It is indeed a gamble of sorts. The only difference being that it is not a matter of money at the roulette wheel this time, it is our life at stake. Well, ummm... no pressure there! It is only after such an analysis that one tends to scrutinize one's decisions, without which all seemed fine and dandy. Right? Wrong.

There are decisions which are strongly ingrained as the "perfect" choices and no matter what you could never go wrong. However, one often tends to question the decisions and motives even after making it and taking the step. It is simply human nature at play. There are decisions which tend can make you falter, which can make you question your faith and even change your outlook toward life after the consequences.

It is the deadly "if only..." phrase that I am talking about.

If only had I done this sooner...

If only I hadn't chosen this path...

If only I had gone the other way...

In retrospection, it is wise to realise one's mistakes and learn from them. But there has to be a line drawn here. Every decision cannot be catagorized as a "mistake". One must learn to move on, accept the consequence and take things from there. It is this act of acceptance and deliberate action that adds on to one's character. It is the maturity gained from such experiences that people see through our personality, that people may come to respect.

Sometimes I like to embrace the optimist inside of me and try not to take life too seriously. I strongly, very very strongly believe in this phrase :

Whatever happens, Happens for the Best

Even though we may not know it at that time

I literally live by it, never regretting my past decisions, confident to take on new choices, following my heart, heeding my mind, with a sense of adventure and ofcourse a smile.

Everything Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is one of the recent buzz words in the tech world, the fresh new wave for the next gen Internet users and maybe even a fetish for geeks around the globe. The focus here is content, collaboration and collective intelligence.

Click here if you want to know what Web 2.0 is.
This YouTube Video is a creative way to get a whiff of this buzz word.

It certainly is a monumental task to keep track of something as dynamic as Web 2.0. Applications such as Del.icio.us, Cafepress, Bittorrent, Digg, FeedBurner, Stikipad are just a few of the commonly used Web 2.0 applications rampant today.

If you want to refresh your Web2.0 list, or simply dive into this vast ocean, look at "All Things Web 2.0". The Web 2.0 Open Directory is the new complete and up-to-date reference for Web 2.0 apps.

Geek Warning: Extremely Addictive.

American Reality for Indian Wife

H4, for those who aren't a part of the 'H' world, is the visa type which is given to dependants (typically spouse, parents, kids) of people working in the USA on an H1-B (Skilled Worker) Visa. With the tide of young computer consultants flowing into USA from India, there is no denying the abundance of IT labour workforce. Since most of them are in their mid 20's to early 30's, they are in the just-married or about-to-get-married phase. This article is for those who have been awarded the H4, are in India or USA, those who will be getting their spouse to USA on H4 and for everyone who knows anyone on H4.

Marriage is a very exciting phase in one's life. It signifies a new life, a different lifestyle, a new partner, romance and is full of red roses floating all around with little heart-shaped bows tied to them. Indeed, it is beautiful. Having someone to share the rest of your life is a very special feeling and it is well comprehended by those who have already embarked on this journey. However, it is hard to see too far beyond marriage. One tends to take life as it comes, but here I want to prove that in case of H4, it is imperative to plan ahead.

Before coming to America, I had an extremely rosy picture about the life here. Ofcourse its easy to blame the media and Hollywood movies, but mostly it was the image that we, as individuals, have in our minds about the life and culture of the Americans. America has been portrayed as a very glamorous nation with a very high standard of living and incredibly swank lifestyle.

It is true to a certain extent, but I consider these to be the frills of life, and after a while they shallow out. What remains for a girl is a life of CVLD (Cooking-Vacuuming-Laundry-Dishes) with occasional Ironing. With the husband leaving for work from 9 to 5 (ideally ofcourse) the wife is left behind at home to manage the house and kids. "So, what's new in that?", you would ask, "Women have been doing that since generations. My mother did this and my grandmother was a housewife too". The difference is that here she is not a housewife by choice. Its when talented, qualified and career-oriented women are forced to become housewives, that there is a problem. Going from having a full-time professional career to stay-at-home housewife, is like a sudden halt, and you'd think that this is the 21st century.

There's more to it than just complaining about house work. Being in USA can be lonely, unless you live in the heart of a city like Manhattan Downtown or are surrounded by Indians like in New Jersey. Most of us aren't that fortunate. I have spent so many days where I haven't spoken to a single person, other than my husband in those 24 hours, who by the way has been of tremendous help and supported me through all this.

America is a vast country, with the main mode of transportation being a car. Unless you have a car or know how to drive, you cannot commute. Sometimes the nearest grocery store is around 3 miles (6 kms) away. Here's an important tip for you, if you are in India, are coming to USA on an H4 and are going to stay in a city where there is a dearth of public transportation: Get your IDP (International Driving Permit) done from India. It's relatively easy to apply for it at RTO and once you have it, you can drive or rent cars here. Once you get to USA, take lessons and register for the driving test. It makes a big difference!

Expenses also become a concern here, maybe because suddenly you feel like a responsible adult or maybe because everything is just so damn costly. One wouldn't want to go shopping everyday or join an activity workshop costing $$$. That limits the choices one has. That constricts the domain of activities one can do during the day, eventually leading to 8 straight hours of watching TV.

When I came to USA, I was very happy with the change. In contrast to the hectic round-the-clock routine back in India, I had all the time in the world to catch up on the things I loved doing - reading, watching movies, lounging around listening to music, embroidery and so on. I relished every moment of it. I even started cooking full-time (believe-it-or-not) and enthusiastically looked up recipes online, most of which turned out alright (I think). I am now adroit at fixing an Indian meal (roti-dal-sabzi-chawal) in 20 mins... aha, beat that Pizza Hut !!

It was 3 months later that I felt stagnant. I wanted to get back to work. That's when the next tsunami hit me, H1-B Visa! Another problem with being on H4 is that it's getting increasingly difficult to convert to an H1B (work) visa. Unless your husband already has a green card, you will have to stand in line for the H1B applications... and that's when life becomes another wreck. There is a quota of 65,000 H1B visas per year. Applications start on April 1st and processing starts on October 1st. In 2005 this quota got filled up a month and half before processing would start, on Aug 10th. In 2006, it was May 25th and this year, 2007, on the first day itself, with over one lac applicants!!! Click here to read more about this.

Despite having a degree from India, work experience in the field, company sponsorship and a will to work, it's eventually fate which decides whether you get to work from October or have to want another year and a half. If you get lucky and get your H1B petition approved, don't hurraay yet, there are a few more monsters lurking around the corner. Getting your SSN is just one of them which may take upto 3 months (or more). Again, while you may think you are now ready to face the music of work-life, for those who work for consulting companies, it may mean staying on bench and keep hunting for projects.

My pessimistic tone and immeasurable frustration may surprise some, but its this two-year journey which has led me to this state. The idea of writing this article was not to accumulate self-pity or win accolades for pouring my heart out, but to connect to those in a similar state who can relate to this situation and spread awareness among those who may be joining this bandwagon.

However, I must stress that I don't regret my time spent here, not one minute. I have learnt to take life with a pinch of salt and not to take things too seriously.

Life is too short for that.

H4 Activities

You've just got married. You've come to USA on an H4 Dependant Visa. You don't have a Social Security Number (SSN). You cannot work, atleast not officially. You are caught in the CVLD (Cooking-Vacuuming-Laundry-Dishes) rut. You have started getting bored at home and its going to be a while before you can start working again.

What do you do?

1. Study.
You can get admission to universities in the USA and study on an H4 visa, yaaay! So, if you are keen on furthering your knowledge in the field that you work in, enroll into a post-graduate course and earn a degree. You can look up universities by using the Google University Search Engine. For a compiled list of US Universities by state, click here.

2. Library.
Join the nearest public library. Find the library closest to you by going to http://www.publiclibraries.com. They are free and can have a wide variety of books, magazines, music and DVD's. I can spend hours in a library and not get bored. Besides, there’s a lot to learn from books.

3. Workshops.
Look up the library or community college in your area for courses or workshops (you should be able to find these online). They are relatively inexpensive, sometimes free, and have a host of activities, classes and lessons from salsa dancing to creative writing to robotics to photography.

4. Volunteer.
Contact your local schools/businesses for volunteer positions. You may have a skill and they may need it. Even though they can't put you on payroll, you will enjoy it. For instance, you can try to volunteer at your local school as an assistant teacher in case you like to teach.

5. Get Creative.
If you even have an ounce of creativity in you, look up your local arts and crafts store (Jo-Ann Fabrics is a good one). You can pick up inexpensive DIY (do-it-yourself) kits, cultivate a hobby and decorate your home. You can get crafty ideas at http://www.hgtv.com/ too.

6. Blog.
Start your own blog - go to http://www.blogger.com/, its easy, its free, share your thoughts, your ideas, share some tips, talk about your hobby, anything that works for you. You can also look up http://www.h4help.org for H4 related forums and http://www.lekhika.com/h4help for H4 related blogs.

7. Exercise.
Start going to a gym. The one in your society should be free or you may need to join one. (I'm sure those of you who've spent atleast one winter here agree to this point.) Yoga classes are also offered all over the country and surprisingly the american instructors know all about the 'asanas' and 'mantras'.

8. Socialize.
Most of the US States have an Indian Association. Look them up and participate in the festive activities. This will reduce the feeling of home-sickness and help you make friends. Join a social networking site, like orkut or hi5. You need not reveal too much personal information, just meet your old friends, keep in touch, find new friends in your area and participate in the forum discussions.

9. Family.
Invite your parents/in-laws here or start a family. I know, its easier said than done! Life turns into a completely different ball game with kids.

10. Meditate.
Preachy and spiritual as it may sound, this is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Please feel free to add to the list and/or share your comments on these activities.

Squidoo

Squidoo is a site where several enthusiasts put up their interests, ideas, hobbies and so on, on a page, called a lens. You can spread the word about any topic you wish and even earn a royalty for the same. Fellow lensmasters can rate your lens or leave blurbs (comments) too.

I heard about it from a friend of mine and she suggested I try making a page on Japanese Language (Thanks Claudia). Here it is.

Introduction to Japanese Language

You can try it out too... get inspired and make your own lens!

Plastic People

We all may differ in our perception of God or the process of creation of life, but have to accept and agree on the one common trait we all share - our uniqueness. Each of us has an exclusive configuration of personality tendencies: physical, mental and emotional, which set us apart.

However, only a handful of people (if any) are truly satisfied with what they have and with what they are. Have you ever looked into the mirror and wondered "My nose is too big for my face" or "My breasts should be fuller". Apparently there are people (with fat bank accounts) who make this bizarre wish, and Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons who happily oblige.

Appallingly nearly 11 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in the United States in 2006, up seven percent from 2005, with $11.5 billion spent on these cosmetic procedures alone*. That's the GDP of Rwanda, in Central Africa!! Did you also know that Breast Augmentation is the top Surgical Cosmetic Procedure with 329,000 procedures in 2006. And you were wondering why Pamela Anderson had more fans than Mother Teresa!

So, why are these people ready to undergo surgery and its painful post-ops to enhance their appearance? Do they feel pressurised by society or obligated to do so, just to fit in? Is the media-obsessed generation giving undue importance to what's on the outside, rather than on character or personality? No doubt its easier to get a 'tummy tuck' rather than get a dose of 'intelligence'.

What about the surgeons? Are they joining the beautification rampage just to cash in on the flow of opportunity? I wonder if society would also benefit if these surgeons decided to turn their attention to patients who really need their expertise (as opposed to those who want it). Maybe the millions of dollars could be put to better uses like promoting education or getting rid of poverty in developing countries.

I guess eventually its a demand-and-supply situation here and may even get into a vicious loop, when Hollywood personalities flaunt their perfect selves down silicone valley, affluent citizens ape them to gain exterior perfection and Plastic Surgeons flourish under this umbrella. Meanwhile some patient somewhere slowly slips into a coma due to lack of skilled medical aid.

Luckily for us, society slowly adapts to these new, albeit absurd, indulgences. Take braces for instance, people visit orthodontists for straightening their teeth, not because they can eat better, just so that they look better. I've had braces, my sister has had them and so has my neighbour. Maybe the same will hold true for plastic surgery... maybe not.


* According to statistics provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

Think Globally, Recycle Locally

I have recently joined the Freecycle Network, an online community where eco-friendly citizens recycle their unwanted items by giving them away to others। You can find some pretty cool items in your area, and all you have to do to get it is reply to the post. All items listed are free, so you can either give away or get neat stuff. This post should answer your questions (if any) and hopefully cajole you into joining and doing your bit for the community and for our planet.
What is Freecycle?
Freecycle is a volunteer-run grassroots movement facilitated over the Internet. Members give away and receive items for free in their own communities. The goal is to reduce waste and save items from needlessly going to landfills.

Is it really free?
Absolutely. The main rule is that everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

Why should I join the Freecycle Community?
Because you can. We have been taking our planet for granted and its time we change that.

Can I be a part of this movement?
Ofcourse. It is open to all communities and to all individuals who want to participate. Once you are a member you are free to give away or get stuff, as long as you follow the Guidelines.

How can I join my local Freecycle group?
Visit Freecycle Groups or Yahoo Groups, search for your local Freecycle Group and "Join".

What items can I put up?
Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, as long as its in good condition, you can put it up. Posting one's kids, however, is not allowed... no matter how crazy they make you.

A Freecycle Video



Click here to see what abc7news.com has to say about this.

Some More Videos
Freecycle™ in London
New Zealand's Freecycle™ Member
More about Freecycle

They say "One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure". Sure enough, the word is spreading like wildfire and people are slowly, but surely, joining in from across the globe and forming this cohesive community which is concerned about the environment and others.

Perfection

Another Honda Ad here (yeah, I'm a dedicated Honda fan!)



Incredible, Impressive, Its Perfect!

This two minute video, inspired from The Way Things Go, was meticulously planned and exquisitely executed. The complexity and attention to detail is impressive and one can certainly appreciate how effortlessly the 600+ parts work in-sync with each other. After several efforts (I'm sure) the ad turned out to be perfect!

This video got me thinking... What exactly is Perfection? Is it the pursuit of excellence? How do you define excellence? We all have our own perception of perfection and while its hard to impute any single occurrence, we can see diverse examples of perfection all around us. That perfect cup of coffee with just the right amount of sugar and cream, the perfect fit of jeans, the perfect dish, the perfect code (geek-special), the perfect weather, the perfect relationship, the perfect color, the perfect song, the perfect date, the perfect blog-post...

We face endless choices of perfection in our daily lives, no matter who we are, where we are or what we do. Day-after-day we commit ourselves to a choice of perfection or less-than-perfection. We strive to be that quintessential perfectionist to gain self-satisfaction, respect from peers or even a smile. We always strive to be par excellence.

However, when and where should we draw the line? We've always been told that too much of anything is bad. I guess that holds true for perfectionism too. Perfection is synonymous with happiness, until it becomes compulsive and starts interfering with normal routine, like in the case of Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).

Balance !

We need to strike that balance within us. Nature intended life to be in equilibrium, like the Yin and Yang Model, its only when this is disturbed that things go astray. So here's my opinion, absorb yourself in the search of perfection, but don't loose your stability, retain your balance.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes...
...These are a few of my favourite things !

Innocent and Dreamy as it sounds, while one part of me was enchanted by the beauty of snow trickling down everywhere, another part of my brain was telling me that my toes were cold, very cold, almost numb. Snapping back to reality, I realised that the winds were howling up the mountain and visibility was down to zero. Inspite of the chilly breeze, I adjusted my gloves, pulled down my woollen cap, grabbed my poles, and started the descent down Spruce Mountain.

Although I have skied several times before, our trip to Vermont last weekend reminded me that this sport can teach you some valuable lessons, drawing an analogy to life, exemplifying life if I may...

Lesson #1 : Speed is thrilling, as long as you are in control
(and aren't heading for the edge of the cliff)

Lesson #2 : Don't take it too seriously, enjoy yourself
(but don't forget to slide off the chair-lift at the top of the mountain)

Lesson #3 : Don't fall !!!
(Okay, so this doesn't qualify as a life lesson... regardless its very important...only people who have fallen and tried to get up {aaarrrgh} know how important it is to stay on your feet, umm, ski's)

With this ski vacation we kept our pledge alive, improved our ski-skills, lost a couple of pounds, gained a few sore muscles and returned home with beautiful memories.

H2O

Pure Water, chemically H2O, is more synonymous with Hard2Obtain these days.

$7.99 read the label on the 8oz (250ml) bottle of "Spring Water", eight dollars?! Rs.360 ?! Stunned as I was, after a quick calculation of frugality versus thirst versus health, I opened the bottled and gulped it down in seconds. It was only then that I gave the situation a little more thought as I sat down in the hotel room overlooking the Hudson, on one of our overnight trips to New York City last year. Of course, the price we paid was partly owing to inadequate planning on our part, but hey, who knew that we would have to spend four times the cost of a crate of a dozen bottles on just one.

School taught us that water is one of most easily available, naturally-occurring commodities on our planet. Seventy-one percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water and it is sometimes also called "the water planet". So, how and when did we become slaves to these water purification and bottling systems?

Just a few years ago people would have scorned at the thought of paying money for drinking water. Yet today, most homes have some form of water purification system for drinking purposes. Our intrinsic concern for health forces us to make a choice, a choice which is safe and healthy, for us and for our family.

Our efforts to tactfully avoid water-borne illnesses lead us to trust labels which say "pure distilled water". Misleading labels and deceptive marketing strategies lure consumers into believing that bottled water is safer than tap water... which is true in most cases. However, there have been cases where bottled water has been unfit for drinking and has lead to an outbreak.

Nevertheless, water is the way to go, essential for human existence. Drinking water has numerous benefits, from digestion and metabolism to body cooling and even weight loss. After all, it is recommended that we drink eight to ten glasses of water a day for optimal health.

Wait a minute... if water is so polluted today... what about air ???

If we take a sneak peak into the future...
Do you think we will be installing oxygen filters into our homes?
Carrying air purifiers and oxygen masks in our backpacks?
Or buying O2 tanks when we go on our vacations?

Love Actually

Here's wishing a Happy Valentine Day (albeit belated) to all.

Valentine Day can be
....Beautiful for those in love,
....Depressing for those who have lost in love,
....Just-another-day for those who are single,
....Stressful for those who still need to ask her out
....And very lucrative for florists and restaurant owners.

However, personally I can't understand why its such a big deal. C'mon get over it, don't wait for that one day to profess your love or go on that fancy date... do it anyways !

Are we getting lazy?

...Or are we getting more efficient?

This is a question I have often asked in the past couple of years. This is not the typical procrastinator-couch-potato's lazy I'm talking about, its the one where we (which here refers to our generation) are being offered everything on a platter, a one-click byte-sized-platter.

Right from 24-hour online banking to 24-hour grocery stores, from home delivered pizza's to file-your-taxes-online, from e-commerce websites to match-making on the Internet, there are a plethora of examples out there which seem like a boon to the average individual. Is it really?

Further, I take this argument home, to India, where inspite of a steady rate of progress, a lot of systems aren't in place yet. One still has to go to the sabzi mandai (local produce market) to buy vegetables and one still has to stand in the queue to pay the electricity bill each month. Super-stop-n-shop-online and using credit cards to securely pay monthly bills is still a far cry for people there.

I have lived through both these "worlds" and that's what gets me thinking. I have to admit that I owe these conveniences and flexibility to technology and intelligent ideas and I truly cannot imagine life without them. Its an addiction for which rehab centres are in the process of "Coming Soon".

However, what are we doing with all that extra time we save? Are we really gaining efficiency?

We seem to be harnessing the true potential of the Internet, but at the cost of what? Are these point-and-click services severing human relations by replacing in-person with on-line?

Is technology replacing the otherwise active lifestyle we could have had? Do we have that maturity to embrace the technology and become competent enough to take on the responsibility we are being handed?

What do you think?

Winter Wonderland

Actually its more like, "Geez, I Wonder where the Winter went!?"

This winter has been rather bewildering for us in the northeastern part of the country. It ranged from being one of the warmest Decembers (the fourth-warmest according to statistics*) to one of the coldest Februarys in several years.

While avid skiers and snowboarders eagerly awaited the white powdery downpours and sub-zero temperatures in November, the weather-God's were leisurely enjoying the balmy breezes, scoring high with golf enthusiasts instead. It was not only disappointing for those who thoroughly enjoy the season, it was also unnerving for those who owned the Ski Resorts. They get about a third of their business from November through January, and this year seemed like they were getting no assistance from Mother Nature.

Not for long though! Come February and suddenly the mercury plummets, the wind starts biting and the freezing air blows mercilessly across the continent. It's here, it's cold, the cold winter is here. Not a big "yaay" factor with me because I categorize myself as more of a warm-weather person... but this time I welcomed it.

Friday evening was the first real snowfall of the season and with wide-eyed almost enchanted, magical wonder (yep, it happens every time) I watched the snow flakes glide lazily to the ground. I guess the child in me always gets excited at such flawless beauty and (inspired by Zach Braff from Scrubs) I immediately imagine myself out there, in the moon light, surrounded by the glistening snow, twirling with pleasure, arms outstretched, smiling, happy... very happy. I don't need moments of epic proportions, for me its these few moments of simplicity and beauty that remind me: eventually it's all worth it.


*Facts mentioned according to the government's National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

Vacations are Imperative

This is the latest mantra I'm chanting : Take a break... Go on a vacation... And let yourself free ! Sometimes we are so engulfed in the fast-paced technology-splattered life that we forget to take that deep breath and forget to stop and look around. Sometimes its hard to let go of routine and sometimes we just don't think its important enough to do so. In my opinion, it is imperative !

Well, we just came back from our four-day vacation to Florida and that's why I'm so preachy. Soham and I had been thinking of going some place since a while now, but nothing had materialised in the past couple of months. This little trip was a welcome break, like a whiff of fresh spring air in my otherwise mundane routine.

The temperature is perfect this time of the year and going from sub-zero temperatures of Connecticut to long sunny days in Florida, it seemed like we were magically transformed to a place exuding happiness and innocent cheerfulness. The "Universal Studios Theme Park" was like sailing in heaven for hard core movie buffs like us and "Universal's Islands of Adventure" turned us into adrenaline junkies, going from one wild coaster ride to the next.

Screaming uncontrollably on roller coasters, or para sailing over the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, or even watching the sunset while we lay sprawled on the white sands, we enjoyed every bit of our trip to the Sunshine State. Soham was also lucky enough to get bumped up to business class on our flight back, so he was quite refreshed and definitely rejuvenated after the elite service he received.

All-in-all a superb vacation, which ends with a pledge to take at least a couple more every year.

Yume No Chikara

Power of Dreams



This Honda Ad is good !

Some of you may find this entertaining and some of you may be highly inspired. I belong to the latter. Honestly, I would like to believe that dreaming is the core of our lives. Ofcourse I'm always up for the shut-eye-cozy-in-the-bed dream experience, but its the open-eye goal-oriented one which im talking about. Its the matter that keeps us going, keeps us from giving up and its the very thing that makes us get out of bed every morning. Without dreams life would be dull, we'd be chugging along from one day to the next in a linkless and clueless existance. Trust me, ive been through this monochromatic experience and nope, wouldn't want to go back there again! So, for all of you who don't already have a dream to dote on, get right to it. Hunt down that ambitious spark inside you and light it. Seeing your dream fulfilled one day will make everything worth it.

Good Luck.

Overcoming Inhibitions

This would be my first actual post to the blog, and frankly I'm feeling a bit uneasy. First its been a long time since I wrote, wrote this way, so please excuse the rust. Secondly, its a bit unnerving to know that my blog is public, where anyone and everyone can read it. Ofcourse, in this is new "internet age" privacy has been taking a backseat, especially with social networking sites like mySpace and orkut attracting people of all ages. In spite of these privacy concerns, I think I really need to overcome my inhibitions and jump onto the bandwagon.

On the other hand, sometimes I don't understand why I have these concerns. After all blogging isn't just about revealing your personal self, its also about sharing thoughts and information, expressing opinions, publishing critiques or even sharing a joke or two. That said, I would classify myself as more of an escribitionist, focusing on personal experiences and reflection rather than reporting or political commentary.

Using this post as a launch pad for further, hopefully more interesting, posts, here's something for you

The pen is mightier than the sword,
and considerably easier to write with.
-Marty Feldman

So keep visiting and keep smiling.

Happy New Year

Well, the first thing I would like to write here is : FINALLY !

I have been thinking of starting a blog since a really long time and now that the resolute me won the conflict with the procrastinator in me, hurray for new year resolutions.

Happy New Year !!!