Red Scarf - Pencil (2010)

This is my attempt at a middle-eastern woman's image from the TIME magazine. Hope you like it! Please comment if you like it.

Coffee beans, Coorg ("kodagu"), India

    Red and ripe...Ready to roast!
 

Inside a cave (Virginia, USA)

This is a shot from Luray Caverns in Virginia, USA. These caves are homes for the most enchanting views  of stalactite and stalagmite formations. This shot is one of my best captures of the stalactites and their reflection in the pond below (there are no stalagmites in this pic!) The still water of the pond provides the perfect reflection of the structure above.  The visual was as deceiving in reality as in this photo.

If you enjoy poetry, here is the one I wrote sometime back on this visual.

Cheers!

Playing with Fire!

Fire is something that amazes me the most with its mysterious form and appearance. I have thoughts rushing off my head about this magnificent element of nature, but will hold them back this moment due to lack of time and just share this image from a camping trip last year with some friends out at a lake. You can see that the right shutter speed helped me capture the gliding embers in the air which almost look like streaks of light spiraling off the fire and then catching the path of the breeze. A great visual that only a camera can provide you!

Hues Infused (Take Flight with Color)

I was thinking of writing my thoughts on the indiblogger trend topic 'Take Flight with Color' and I could only imagine beginning with a poem to express them. 

Hues Infused

Blue for the calm, red for the heat

Green for the freshness and pink for the meat

Each stroke and hue emotes in a way

Hard to express yet determined to stay

Bristles stroking a canvas of eternity

Emotion of colors infusing the mind

Trying to fill every space of emptiness

With all that sorrow and happiness

I have different perspectives of how I think about colors. Although these persepectives come from the same mind, they yet, in essence, capture two facets or contextually, two diferent hues. To stay in context to the topic I will express my thoughts related to only my aesthetic perspective of colors- what colors mean to me visually and emotionally. 

I think the poem above speaks a lot about my thoughts in this perspective. Every hue around me has its own significance and specifically every shade of that hue represents the naunces within. For someone who dislikes darkness and dealing with it when still awake, black would be a color of torment. However, a thinner stroke or spllatter of dark would make my day- like the dark black eyes of a beauty, the dark shade on her eye lids, her black hair to mention a few. The same holds true for any other hue that I can think of. I love colors and the emotions involved with them and how my mind perceives them. I like waking up daily to the beautiful yellow light trying to pierce through the crimson red curtains on my half-white windows. I also look at those dull half-white walls and think about painting them bright yellow. I like my predomintantly blue and white spread in the wardrobe and thats they way I prefer it, even though my wife wishes to add more color to my everyday life, of course figuratively. My tooth brush is blue too and I wish my eyes were too! Driving the gray car to work makes me feel ordinary on the road and feel safer among the reds, whites and yellows - lesser insurance and fewer eyes of coppers. The blue skies, the black tires and the gray roads diffusing at the horizon because of the mirage is a sight worth seeig on a hot sunny day. The beautiful colors of the foliage that bank the road with strokes of white fence railings fending a brown herd grazing on the greens - a sight I would digress for from my daily route which has some hues but mostly shades of gray. I dont mind spending half my salary to buy a camera to capture this sight thats worth a lot. But what my mind captures of this vision is undoubtedly priceless! 

My taste buds could not indulge any lesser if not for the beautifully seared pink salmon, the fresh green brocoli and sauteed colorful peppers and carrots. Who would ever close their eyes at a meal so deliciously infused with colors? It would be sinful to miss a sight of the beautiful smile from those lovely pink lips of my love who dark black eyes are infused with nothing but that emptiness wanting to be filled any moment. Those colorful dreams smudged, splattered and splashed with bright and dark colors lacking a definition and yet perfectly portray the emotions hidden in your subconscious mind. Like a dream that has no beginning, I will never know when I began my journey with colors but I do know that it will continue to be cherished till my last breath.

                                                  Fall 2011 (New Hampshire)

This blog entry is for Indiblogger's "Take Flight with Color"

http://www.hp.com/in/laserjet

With deep grief, I say: "No meat please!"

Ok, I have decided to stop eating meat. I know, many would remind me of making such resolutions in the past and eventually breaking them. Well, for some reason I feel it is going to be different this time around. For people who do not know me so well, I love eating non-veg- chicken, pork, beef, seafood, anything that crawls, swims, runs and flies and this is a big decision and I would want to make it serious this time! This time around I think I have found enough good reasons to keep up this resolution and here are few of them:
* Eating Animals- This book I have been reading called 'Eating Animals' seems to have a big impact on my decision. The author did a whole lot of research about the origin of our meat products because he wants to ensure that he knows everything about what his new born kid should eat. His explorations were impactful not because I was not aware of the animal farming system of the modern age but just the reinforcement of this fact in my brain. (Digressing slightly, when I speak of reinforcement of known facts having an immediate influence, there was a study done by an MIT group that more people took stairs than the adjacent escalators when a banner speaking about risks of heart attack due to lack of exercise was added over the staircase.) I have seen the PETA videos about humanity issues with animal farming but that did not affect me as much this book did.
* Weight factor - I would not consider myself an obese person but it would be ideal if I lost a few pounds. There is no better way to do this by cutting off my meat intake and replace it with more veggies and pulses. I love veggies as well, so I should not have a problem with this replacement. However, I travel quite a bit for work and tend to eat meat as veggie options are minimum- I would say that was the biggest reason why I started eating meat in the first place (yes, I was vegetarian originally). So, that take me to the next reason...
* Self Control - I have always had low self control and I believe this has had some influence on certain decisions I take. I want to change that and I think my attempt at sticking to the new diet choice will give me an opportunity to make that change about myself.

Well, now those are some good reasons,  I guess, for parting form my beloved meat dishes. I have already hoisted the 'green' flag and it has been flying high for 4 days now....

Signing off with a paraphrase to Yoda's quote: "Meat, or no meat. There is no try".

PS: Going green is my decision and I do not intend to influence anyone else's diet choice. I think everyone has the right to make their own decisions and eat their own food. :)

Clips from the past (2010)- Location: New England area

Vacation to India - A spiteful respite!

Quite a while since I have posted something...well, I could easily blame it on the pre, during and post vacation chores that keeps most of us busy especially when the vacation involves complications of getting a VISA stamp and attending weddings to name a few. 

My last few vacations to India have taken a toll on me, to be frank. It would not be fair to even call them a 'vacation' where you would ideally want a respite from the usual monotony of work life and scattered slogs to get things done before (mostly 2 mins after though) the deadline (just kidding, I love my job like everybody else does!). Why cant I ever sit down in the verandah of my grandma’s with a glass of hot kapi and watch local kids play cricket across the compound. All I ask during my vacation is that relaxing moment where I do not have to think about travelling across towns to meet relatives and be stuffed with all the savories and sweets (not that I would defy them completely!), or where I don’t need to break my head about getting a VISA stamp to return to USA or even don’t have to go on a pilgrimage trip because we do not tend to be ‘devoted’ enough back in the US (that’s what my relatives would claim). Well, I have my reasons for not having to prove my devotedness by going to holy places, but I guess that will be different blog entry.

This is, I believe, is the case with most NRIs and I am sure they will agree with me, mostly even if not completely. The situation for folks who are married becomes even more terrible because now they have to go through the ordeal not just once but twice. I am sure married folks will understand what I mean. They also have to negotiate with their spouse about how much time to spend at their in-laws’ and parents’. In most cases breaking half way with the # of days saves all the arguments and hard-feelings.

Well, I have made a strong resolution to not spend all my vacation on India – I know this might seem selfish but I think it a logical one for I deserve that respite at least once in a year. Guess what, I have a weeks’ vacation left this year but there are chances of it being spent as my parents are visiting us very soon. Sigh!

Anyway, in the next post, I will try to crib less and share some glimpses from my India trip.

"Moral of the story is...

This is an excerpt from an NPR talk show with 2008 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Prof. Martin Chalfie. I found this part of the conversation most interesting:

.......
SIEGEL: And the money - what did you do with the money, the prize?
Prof. CHALFIE: Well, the money is a funny thing. I think people hear about this massive amount of money that people get. It's a very nice sum, and I'm very grateful for it. But there's a number of things that happened to the money. And for my - in my particular case, the exchange rate tanked between the announcement and the distribution. And, of course, it was a prize that was shared with three people.
SIEGEL: Uh-huh.
Prof. CHALFIE: But the lion's share of the prize money, since the Reagan presidency, when the tax codes were changed, has gone to the government. Because before Reagan, the rule was if you won an international prize, you kept the money. It was tax-free. Now, it's taxed. So 50 percent of it went immediately to the city, the state and the federal government. The rest of it is going to help put my daughter through college.
SIEGEL: Yes, there's an interesting premise there that if you win a Nobel Prize, you can pay your daughter's tuition in college today in America.
....
[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130407233]

...if you win a Nobel Prize, you can pay your daughter's tuition in college today in America. "

Oye Bunty Bunty Oye!

Did you ever know that the movie 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye' is based on this real 'Super Chor' ("chor" ="thief" ) popularly known as Bunty (aka Devender). When I watched this movie the first time, I was aware that the story was inspired by a real burglar, however I got to watch the real Bunty on a popular Indian reality show, 'Bigg Boss 4'. Bigg Boss, for who are not familiar with the show, is the Indian version of the very popular British show called Big Brother. The show is based on the idea of locking up a dozen celebrities in a huge villa and giving them tasks to do. There is obviously evictions every week based on public voting. This show has been one of my all time fav Indian reality show for the psychological factor that is involved in the show. You get to see how celebrities who are always on the silverscreen portraying a different role than their real life (as they say the 'reel' life) succumb to suspicion & belief, hatred & friendship, trust & backstabbing and more in their 3 months stay in the Bigg Boss' villa. Life in the villa for these celebrities pretty much makes them realize who they really are, their strengths and mostly weaknesses.

Most celebrities, I believe, end up on the show with the hopes to redeem their image that has been scarred due to a recent incident or just by the media. Well, what better opportunity to do so when you have millions of viewers watching and listening your entire stay at the villa. This was probably the big reason why Bunty entered the show too! It is alleged that Bunty was a small time thief in Delhi who made big news because of his nation-wide burglary acts. He is mostly popular becuase he has spent some jail-time but never been caught red- in the over 500 cases against him. Bunty appeared be at the show to redeem his image as a 'Super Chor', which was furthered by the hit movie 'Oye Lucky...', however that did not seem to be the case completely. He did not socialize with the rest of the particiapants and seemed to be an easy target for others (for voting him out). On the second day of the show, Bunty was punished for not following certain voting rules and that aggravated the silent Bunty. He did not stop swearing at the cameras or trying to exit the villa until he was eventually sent out of the show. This is the earliest eliminations I think in the 4 seasons of the show. During this period of turmoil, Bunty kept yelling 'Maine bola tha..Maine bola tha in &%^%^ ko ki muje nahin aana hai' (I did tell these %$%^^$^% that I did wanna be on the show).

Now, I thought why did such a petty thief want to be on a show that mostly showcases celebs who are mostly looking for attention and further promotion on media. Did he really want to be on the show or was he forced by the makers convincing him about public redemption. Whatever it was, one thing was clear -he never knew what the rules of the show/game were. He was utterly 'clueless'!

BTW, the show is hosted by our Mr. Chulbul Pandey (Dabangg) or Salman Khan.

More on Bigg Boss:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigg_Boss_(Indian_TV_series)

More on Bunty Ustaad:
http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2010/09/3683

Jai Hind!

Cosmos -1980 (Carl Sagan)

"The choice is with us still, but the civilization now in jeopardy is all humanity. As the ancient myth makers knew, we are children equally of the earth and the sky. In our tenure of this planet we've accumulated dangerous evolutionary baggage — propensities for aggression and ritual, submission to leaders, hostility to outsiders — all of which puts our survival in some doubt. But we've also acquired compassion for others, love for our children and desire to learn from history and experience, and a great soaring passionate intelligence — the clear tools for our continued survival and prosperity. Which aspects of our nature will prevail is uncertain, particularly when our visions and prospects are bound to one small part of the small planet Earth. But up there in the immensity of the Cosmos, an inescapable perspective awaits us. There are not yet any obvious signs of extraterrestrial intelligence and this makes us wonder whether civilizations like ours always rush implacably, headlong, toward self-destruction. National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinisms are a little difficult to maintain when we see our planet as a fragile blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars. "

Random thoughts 1....

Why is that we know what is right or wrong? How do we develop conscience? What determines our ideas, thoughts and feelings? These are some of the million philosophical questions that jump in my mind when I think of how we make decisions in life and how we choose our path. Why is that my principles and moral values are weaker than his? Or is 'weaker' the right thing to say because who decides what are the 'right' principles and values that we all need to follow. When I dare to taste some beef for I believe that 'when I have eaten a chicken, why spare the beef', why is it held against me by some who strongly believe in Hinduism. Who decided what the religion is and will be? When human beings evolved into what they are, there was propbably no religion, no god, no evil. All they cared about was eat, sleep and procreate. These are the basic actions for existence among all animals and thats what human begins were too. Then what made us to differentiate ourselves from animals? Why did we choose to become what we are today? Do you think lions, tigers or even consider the primates that are closest to us according to Darwinian's idea have changed from what they were when we were cavemen?
I think what makes us different all the animals and why we are here todays is because we believe. We believed we are more powerful than other creatures on Earth, we believed we have someone with superpower up there, some of us believe in not believing this belief, we believe that we need to have principles and values in life either our own or those from our religion, we believe in many other such beliefs that were made by us. Can we ever give up living based on our beliefs and live by the truth?

You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep seated need to believe. - Carl Sagan

Life of a Joker (A tribute to Heath)

Away I want to wander

Nowhere I wish to reach

But just that eternity

Where nothingness has a meaning

I have learnt to live now

Live like that clown show

Make others happy and more

With a smile painted on my face

Reflection

Golden towers of salt before me

Lined up and posing for all to see

I have seen such a thing never

Dark caverns have owned these forever

Some I see on the ground and some above

Breeze on the water below and I say 'Wow!'

There are none stacked on ground

Thats what I just found

"Its the relfection of the above

On the still pond, my love!"

Here she goes clicking at them

Sparkling and shiny, each like a gem

Stars shining bright above me...

"Hey Guys! You should come out and check out the Milkyway. I can see it so clearly.. its just beautiful", said Aishwarya who came running from the balcony of our lake house. "Could someone please switch off all the lights in the room? I can see the stars better then" and she looked around the room to find the switches for the 3 lamps in the room. I was puzzled when she said Milkyway. "Are you crazy? How can you see our galaxy from here? I think you are confusing it for something else". For a moment I was so sure of what I had said, but the very next moment I began to question my awareness when Jerry said "Yes, the Milkyway is visible from here!" I rushed to the balcony, dazed and confused as to what they meant; I looked up at the sky and voila!

"The disc of our spiral galaxy is quite visible as nebulae in the clear night sky especially on a no moon day. You can see all the stars are concentrated along this axis of the disc and few stars out lie around the axis..." went on Aishwarya, who sounded like a Wikipedia on the tape.

I kept looking at it awestruck; I just could not believe what I could see. The white dusty band of luminescence stretched from the horizon over my head. Upon glaring at them a little longer I could look through the haze a million twinkles along the band. I have never seen anything like this with my naked eye! "You can never see this in our smog covered city skies", said Jerry, who had been for sometime now looking at me gaping at this beautiful scene. "I used to watch this sky back home in Texas when I went fishing with my Dad". Finally, when my senses were done tripping, I spoke. "I never knew you could see the galaxy disc like this from the earth. I always wondered how Galileo figured out that we were in such a galaxy when they had no technology during his times. I wish I had my tripod to take a clip of what I can see right now." Seeing me feel hopeless, Aishwarya assured that her colleague was a photographer who had a few clicks of the Milkyway and she will share them with me. I could not get my eyes off this ecstatic view, so I pulled up a recline chair and relaxed myself on it. The panoramic view of the night sky, the sparkling stars, the glimmering lake and the unforgettable nebulous disc all stood right in front of me like a painting on a gigantic canvas. Jerry, on the chair next to me, strung his Eukelele and sang….

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper “I love you”
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me…………

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_070zWcEuk)

Making 'sports' conversations at work...

I have always felt it quite difficult to make small conversations with colleagues or people around at work when it comes to 'American sports'. Speaking about my perils of embarrassment, it grinds my gears when I cannot involve myself in a group talk about a NY Yankees' game the last weekend or I have to admit that I do NOT follow NBA- not even the Celtics games. I also envy folks who can make 'intelligent' conversations with their bosses about game philosophy, history records and their fanaticism - I strongly believe bosses build favoritism towards them. For a guy like me who always believes in being on the good cards of friends, colleagues and relatives, I feel disheartened when it comes to making 'sports' conversations among them.
I have always been an avid fan of sports, all kind of them actually. However, I have preferred learning and playing them to watching or following them (with exception to cricket). I have always wondered why I cantfind time to watch some NFL or NBA over the weekend. I have the sports channels, I have a 50inch HDTV and I also have Sunday mornings available for leisure. Maybe I need to make a more conscious decision in the begnning of the week about making 'watching the Sunday game' a part of my weekend routine. May be I should atleast follow the scores and highlights on espn.com. Or, may be atleast get updates from a friend who understands my situation. Ah, I could then impress my boss and colleagues with all the amazing game statistics I have imbibed myself with. And may be then I could prove everyone that I am a 'typical guy' who follows sports and enjoys talking about it. Hmm, may be I will just be myself....