Music

I never want to accept that music and singing (bearable) is God's gift and still believe that they are achievable. Music is not an art..nor science..not maths. [;-)] Music is a language for me..means to communicate. But there are certain rules to this language which we need to follow.

I am sure you make out the difference when you hear chinese and when you hear hindi. I feel the chinese use high notes from the chord in between sentences and something like 'krrrrrinngggg'. .Ears Bleed. And If you put forward tamil to an american, same would be the case.

Though music is universal, the rules of the language have a variety ranging from hard to soft to rock to metal..bla bla bla. Atleast if I can learn the basic rules, I would consider it as a great accomplishment. I have been trying to do so for many years now :-(

When we speak..there is a music attached.....and how words can be musically-directed in different ways. The variety of music we use in "Hey Bhagwaan". Sometimes like ARR and sometimes like Himesh depending on the mood. And actually there are languages which people almost sing [:D]. One of them is Oriya as I have understood with my limited exposure to the language.

If you are a softspoken person..try listening to Judas Priest..may be u can try 'breaking the law' or 'painkiller'. Its bout liking the language and its rules. Chinese can be sweet if you like the rules. I see a obvious influence of music in language and communication. I can talk and talk endlessly without making much sense. I like devotional music also..its tries to lift you up..ur morale..simiar is what judas does in 'breaking the law'. But are they comparable ?

Moozic ka topic bas itna hi.

All Knowing But Knowing Nothing

Have been fortunate enough to travel to most parts of India...access to different cultures..languages..people and personalities. All the more inspirational and heart-warming amidst the diversity. I thought I knew all until I jumped from a smaller pond to a bigger one and so on....and now have got access to culture even outside India. Very interestingly....I love to travel[though money plays a game of dice in the back of my mind]. "I thought I knew everything until I realized I knew nothing". And realization is a slow process and an ingredient to keep up the enthu to learn more. Even if you dont know tamil, go and watch 'Anbe Sivam' , movie starring Kamalhasan and Madhavan as the protagonists. Try it out with a subtitle. The best movie I have seen from Kamal. Link to my fav. song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAwXMP-C18Y&feature=related

I relate to the movie in so many different ways...having the sense of humour and tackling yourself is so important in life. Thanks to my parents who have a astoundingly astonishing sense of humour. The learning for me began at home. My favourite and self-consoling line from the movie is - "Idhu enna kaadhala.... asingama sollikute irukkarthuku". Watch the movie.

As a fan of Amitabh, when movies like AnbeSivam and Pithamagan come across I pity bollywood. And there comes hit movies like 'Rab ne bana di...' from srk. I understand the commercial part of cinema..but atleast srk sucks big time in RNBDJ. Movies like Khosla Ka Ghosla does mean entertainment to me....engulfs you in the plot. Anyways..as Beatles said... 'Let It Be'.

Will watch the new tamil movie 'Naan Kadavul' as the review seems good. BTW..I even like LuckByChance from FarhanAkhtar.

Devil

I have never seen a devil. How would he look like. As I look in the mirror and slowly enlarge my eyes...raise my eyebrows..the upper set of tooths out of the mouth..with a stare. - I think may be this is how a devil would be. If everyone has a god in him/her......the person does have a devil in self. Are the terrorists devils ? Or the Demons / Rakhshashas.

People who follow their own interests and dont care about what happens to others are devils. Being selfish and hurting others create devils in humans. We all are devils in one way or the other. Its something like matching the balance sheet at the end of your life and see if the God wins or the Devil. Depending on that your life-after-death would be decided.

I recollect a story related of Jesus - When someone sinned, he/she would be stoned to death. That was the law practiced. When they asked Jesus about the woman who was caught practising adultery, Jesus told " Only those can throw a stone at her, who have never sinned in their life". Everyone backed out. The moral is - we have a devil in ourselves. Purify yourself before you ridicule others. All these may not be a bit practical, but kill the devil in yourself and tame the God [:-)].

Devils can also be cute, handsome and beautiful. Its all in the character, the mind and heart. Look at the mirror and judge to what extent are you a devil. I would suggest..either be a devil or be a God..dont live like a dead man.

Love

An attempt to define love. Or you can say an article on love. What is love..define in one word. You might have had innumerous discussions on what love is ..and your unique definition of love. Or as SRK says..pyaar dosti hai.

For me, love in one word is "Unconditional". There should be no conditions in your conscience to love the other person. To me thats what love is.... the love of a mother for her son. Even the mother-son relationship is sometimes not enough to explain the extent of love one can have. It depends on the person. Mostly, parents have unconditional love for their children as I have seen and experienced. To have a condition means having a self interest, I believe. Are boyfrens and girlfrens made of that kind of "unconditional" stuff. Do we have friends who we can say are unconditional ?

The shadow of a tree is unconditional, no matter whoever wants to rest under the shadow of a tree can do so. That is nature's love for you. No matter who are and what you do..... your true love will like you and love you more. As I write this line I remember this song...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsVPThOPlX4&feature=related

Arguments: What do you say if my son goes into bad company ..do i still love him...bla bla bla ?

"Guru kumhar shishya kumbha hai ghadi-ghadi kadhat kot
Bhitar haat sahar de bahar bahe chot"

Translation: A teacher scolds you on your mistakes but he also supports you to do your best so he can be defined as a potter who beats the pot on outer side to give good shape and design while supporting the pot by putting a hand inside it so that it does not break.

Love unconditionally does not mean NOT to show the right path. The teacher does not have a self interest in beating the child and so its unconditional love and aim to guide the child in the right path.

More to follow. Still open for discussion. Give it a try...be unconditional to whom you really love.

28th Street South East

Every damn thing I need is available on 28th Street, Grand Rapids. Seems my world is now limited to 28th Street same as the frog in the well. Early morning even before the hens wake up..I leave for office..in the dark...into 28th Street and take a right on Patterson Avenue..driving slowly, afraid the car might skid. As the darkness fades away..we are already done with our standup meeting every morning.

The only best friend I have in US is my laptop. I know its angry with me for tapping its board..every now and then, no regular timings. As I peep out of the window, the basket ball court is filled with snow....my car has a snow-blanket over it. I had to buy some groceries today and unwilling got ready to go out and firstly clean the car and go to "Meijer". Meijer is departmental store..something like Walmart. And you get all the indian vegetables there....That too is on the 28th Street [:-)] just after the I-96 flyover. For all other indian requirements..specifically Green Chilli and Paneer, I go to "Spice of India", again on the 28th Street. A bit expensive I felt, but you have no other option in Grands Rapids. Bole toh monopoly hai.

I dont live on 28th Street. The hotel is in Stahl Drive but at a stone's throw from 28th Street. No covered parking for vehicles..even though they are sure..it snows almost half the year. The county corporation toils hard to clear the roads [of snow] to ensure safety. I was always under the false assumption that being with snow would be great..but this is too much. Anything in excess is not good. The good season to visit Grand rapids is like May to October....m waiting for those moments of view free from snow.

Everything New

Leaving San jose was bit difficult for me...and my frens ..the weather and adjustments I had made to the atmosphere [both work and personal life]. I moved to a different project....was moved. And on the verge of entering the ninth year of the 21st century, I am in Michigan on a different project..new people-to-be-made-frens, new challenges...new weather..and a changed Kartik. Learning from past experiences and carrying the burden of uncertainity..I moved.

And then a trip to columbus to meet good old frens...a learning experience on many fronts...meeting new inpsirational people who can change "thought-process". Amazing trip it was..to gatlinburg and had a nice time..thanks to folks whom I joined. Slept on New Year night - with a thought to wake up will all new energy for the new year and march towards a year..which is going to change my life.

One thing I have concluded in last year is - The more things that you see and are accessible to, the more you learn..the more you grow as a person. Its bout opportunity and making the most of it. Have met some really wonderful guys over a period of time..my orkut list has grown from around 100 to almost 200 now ;-)

Change is inevitable. Changes the way I work...my thoughts..dream more [:-)] ... and I also intend to have a great personality. Kya karu..mere bhai !! Changes are needed when you are not upto your own expectations - this is what I believe in. I have started to spend a lot of time in my iPhone and Nintendo. I am sure this is not achange I was looking for..but very happy to get involved in both :-)

Not been able to post or even change the blog-image...technical problem :-(

Blind to what we dont want to see

The attacks on mumbai has made us feel ashamed and forced us to look at the mirror....this time with more deep thought.

Who are these indians.... 700 years partly ruled by Mughals..250 years by British. Who are we.. the guys whose history speaks bout Mahabarata and Ramayana or are they just simple early-morning-after-bath stories and soap operas. Why do we have the 'dont-care-attitude'. Even Arjun fought for what was true and against his own brothers / teachers. What is the concept of Hindutva..is it a political jargon?. What bout those innocent muslims who face the wrath of unwanted comments.

Diversity has its own challenges..and atleast in India..there are a number of political wings who run on divide-n-rule policy. Religion, Caste ...Region and so many other unwanted man-made identities. Now as it gets confirmed day by day the role of some elements of indian-born country named Pakistan, its disheartening to see how the terrorrists are brain-washed on religious grounds and made to spoil their life. Is it just to terrorise people or is there any other alternate motive. Or is it something that was done to Russia by external forces which everybody knows about.

Nations dont have friends, they only have interests. And to manage the greatest democracy, there are politicians you cannot find in this Universe. After serving 3 decades to shiv sena..one of the ministers plans to join congress....may be with a precondition that he would be made CM. And he fights cheaply in the aftermath of the terror strike in mumbai once his dreams are shattered. Now we are in a shocked-state..donno what to do and how to proceed. What I can do is write a post and test my vocabulary..shameless fellow. Hope God shows me the right path and help me contribute something. Lots of things eat up my mind but I am helpless..or infact I am so selfish that I am not able to help in any social cause. Life moves on.