Mindless musing

That’s right de woman is uh smarter – claims Harry Belafonte. I have tremendous respect and admiration for Harry. Yet, my male ego doesn’t approve of his statement. So, I asked him to convince me. He sang Ever since the world began Woman was always teaching man And I you listen to my bid attentively I goin’ tell you how she smarter than me Samson was the strongest man long ago No one could a beat him, as we all know Until he clash with Deliah on top of the bed She told them all the strength was in the hair of his head I didn’t agree with him (of course, I didn’t tell him that I have no clue who Samson and Deliah are). So, he continued his persuasion Garden of Eden was very nice Adam never work in Paradise Eve meet snake, Paradise gone She make Adam work from that day on I strongly objected, saying she didn’t make him work. Adam started working as he wanted to prove to Eve that he is stronger and that she is just plain fairer. Harry laughed, and said that is THE point. I contin...

Way back in 1950 NPR (National Public Radio) started a series titled “This I believe”, where NPR listeners share their personal philosophies and core values that guide their daily lives. One of those stories is titled “Life is Wonderfully Ridiculous”. It caught my attention. Here is a person who echoes my state of mind. He said “It's not easy trusting in the ridiculous. When my friends ask what my career plans are, I sometimes feel like Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear. How can I tell them I have no plans — that I'm just waiting for the ridiculous to happen?” If you ask little kids what they want to be when they grow up, you get different answers. Some say nurses, some say pilots, some say brain surgeons, some unwittingly say dads and moms. But fact of the matter is every one wants to become some one great (the definition of “great” depends on the maturity of the person, of course). Every one seems to be determined to be determined, because, I never heard of...

I received news that one of my colleagues just passed away. Though I did not meet this person (just spoke to him on phone twice), I felt bad. Though I know that life is a journey and has to end at some point, I feel bad. I feel bad that a person I knew is no longer here in this world. It is not the first time, nor is he the closest person to disappear suddenly. Yet, I feel bad. Just this morning a friend of mine told me that she read my earlier blog and was inspired. “It changed my, mood. I feel happier - just like that”, she told me. I am happy for her, yet I feel bad that the human race is not able to overcome the inevitable. We landed on moon, successfully explored Mars. We can fly – in the air and in space. We have theories for our evolution. We know how we come into this world. But we don’t know how and when we leave this world. This makes me feel bad. We remember what happened yesterday, we sometimes realize what’s happening now, we have no clue what’s in store for to...

This morning on the way to work I heard the Green Day song “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” It is ironic that I should listen to this song on this day. Because, thousands of miles away one of my friends is saying good bye to loneliness and embracing a life partner, and millions of others from all corners of this world are happily falling victims to Cupid (you know what I am talking about; just in case there is someone who doesn’t understand, today is Valentine’s Day – the chances of such people existing are 0.00000001%). If I remember correctly the song goes something like this – I walk a lonely road The only one that I have ever known Don't know where it goes But it's home to me and I walk alone I walk this empty street On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams Where the city sleeps and I'm the only one and I walk alone I walk alone I walk alone My shadow's the only one that walks beside me My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating Sometimes I wish someone out t...

Happy Valentine’s Day every one!!! Now, that is an interesting (millions of dollars worth) idea. Like all other customs/beliefs, here also people are following it to the letter, rather than to the spirit. Let me explain my self. What is better than a story to make things clear. So, here it goes. Once upon a time, in rural India, there used to be a priest who wais highly religious (I mean he used to perform all the rituals religiously – pun intended). Every morning, he used to pray to God and offer food (“Prasadaa”, as they call it in Sanskrit) to God. There used to be a cat on the premises and it always used to interfere (as milk is one of the offerings). So, before he started his ritual offering, he used to tie the cat to one of the temple pillars, and go inside the sanctum sanctorum and finish the offering, open the doors and light the camphor, go home and have lunch. Every day his teenage son used to observe this routine. One day the priest had to go out of town on urgent wo...

Hello every one. At the outset, I would like to wish every one a great New Year. While I am at it, why not I wish every one a bright future and happy life. Now that I took care o f the formalities, let me dive right in to my meaningless musing. At first I wanted to write about happenings around me, my thoughts about world peace, my plans for life. Then I thought better of it and felt who will be interested in it (not that I think any one would be more interested in this rambling any way). I started wondering why I wanted to write, or for that matter why I do things I do. In general, why people do what they do? After long introspection I concluded that this is only a tip of the ice berg and is just a corollary to the fundamental question - what is the purpose of life? I heard some one say that God created life form. Why on earth (or any planet) did He/She do it? Assume for a second that I am a teacher. What is my purpose? Is it to educate people? Then what? Once my pupil learn w...