To do justice to 2009, the word would be unexpected.
In a good way ... at least that is how I would see it.
A fulfilling year learning lots of new things (really), unearthing good people and discovering new opportunities; if I were to be succinct.
Of course there were equally matched incidents of drama but honestly I can't waste ATPs on typing them let alone think about them.
As much point there is in whining over lost time,
the same amount of worth is in basking over the good times.
Both are in past tense, and I am not doing a memoir, thank you very much.
While it has been quite a successful run, coming to think of it ... there was a lot of work done in order to get them ... sometimes much more than the next person.
I guess kites rise best against wind.
I don't do resolutions as I am a firm believer that I make God laugh when I make plans. The irony is that I always make plans and far too much of them. I could give Phileas Fogg a run for his money (not that he wouldn't put a wager). As much as everyone else reading this, I live an ordinary life and these plans sometimes bring extraordinary things into them ... hence we need plans. How much we follow them or rather how much I overlook a thousand things while planning is another story which you will have the entire new year to hear about.
So with that note, I wish everyone
A very happy new year and more happier ones to come!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
In somno securitas?
That means: In sleep there is safety.
Sort off cliched that the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland adopted this as their motto but that's not the point now.
While I suffer from somnolence now after the month long sleep-deprived state, I think about those days that even four hours of sleep was considered lucky. I thankfully did not suffer from insomnia and the sleep deprived state was voluntarily induced for a reason. However it was in sleep (which thankfully came quickly and left quickly), I truly felt free and safe. The rest of the hours were charged with some adrenaline or cortisol. Deadlines were the graffiti of those hours.
Now with sleep batting my eyelids easily, I marvel at how I was then. My then-self would have given the look of ultimate pity to my now-self; the weak-willed creature to sleep.
Surprising isn't it; how we mold to our objectives so quickly,
How subconsciously we accept change even though we consciously resist it,
How comfort zones are mere fixations of imagination.
Well I am not made of gold,
I am not made of iron either,
Or steel for that matter (that's Superman),
I am made of plastic.
Adapting, Malleable and Indestructible.
And so is the rest of the world.
Sort off cliched that the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland adopted this as their motto but that's not the point now.
While I suffer from somnolence now after the month long sleep-deprived state, I think about those days that even four hours of sleep was considered lucky. I thankfully did not suffer from insomnia and the sleep deprived state was voluntarily induced for a reason. However it was in sleep (which thankfully came quickly and left quickly), I truly felt free and safe. The rest of the hours were charged with some adrenaline or cortisol. Deadlines were the graffiti of those hours.
Now with sleep batting my eyelids easily, I marvel at how I was then. My then-self would have given the look of ultimate pity to my now-self; the weak-willed creature to sleep.
Surprising isn't it; how we mold to our objectives so quickly,
How subconsciously we accept change even though we consciously resist it,
How comfort zones are mere fixations of imagination.
Well I am not made of gold,
I am not made of iron either,
Or steel for that matter (that's Superman),
I am made of plastic.
Adapting, Malleable and Indestructible.
And so is the rest of the world.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Insight into Decision Making
A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused.
Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange.
You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids.
However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed.
Or would you rather let the train go its way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make ...
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child.
You might think the same way, I guess.
Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision
most people would make, morally and emotionally.
But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact
made the right decision to play at a safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday.
In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society,
the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority,
no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined.
And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens..
If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe.
If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake!
And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made,
we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.
---
The above tale is one which I got through a forwarded mail.
It seemed to have the relevance and the edge of these challenging times ...
P/S Children should never play in train-tracks even if they are disused. Think about it.
Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange.
You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids.
However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed.
Or would you rather let the train go its way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make ...
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child.
You might think the same way, I guess.
Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision
most people would make, morally and emotionally.
But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact
made the right decision to play at a safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday.
In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society,
the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority,
no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined.
And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens..
If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe.
If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake!
And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made,
we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.
---
The above tale is one which I got through a forwarded mail.
It seemed to have the relevance and the edge of these challenging times ...
P/S Children should never play in train-tracks even if they are disused. Think about it.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Sore Thumb of Polycytemia Rubra Vera
Somethings must remain normal
for a simple reason that
any glitch in that normality ruins
everything.
How anything behaves must remain normal
for yet another simple reason;
misbehavior in whatever the circumstance
is misbehavior nevertheless.
Indolent but nevertheless diseased, thank you very much.
In chess a pawn can be promoted but
in reality we are often pawned for gluttony.
Gluttony which both feeds and is fed, that is.
Gluttony which embarrasses and disappoints the poor pawn.
The worst of course is the ignorance and denial of the whole ordered chaos.
Very much like polycytemia rubra vera.
So would I have a sore thumb pointing wrongs out
or polycytemia rubra vera.
I think you know the answer already.
That was no question but
a statement of harsh reality.
for a simple reason that
any glitch in that normality ruins
everything.
How anything behaves must remain normal
for yet another simple reason;
misbehavior in whatever the circumstance
is misbehavior nevertheless.
Indolent but nevertheless diseased, thank you very much.
In chess a pawn can be promoted but
in reality we are often pawned for gluttony.
Gluttony which both feeds and is fed, that is.
Gluttony which embarrasses and disappoints the poor pawn.
The worst of course is the ignorance and denial of the whole ordered chaos.
Very much like polycytemia rubra vera.
So would I have a sore thumb pointing wrongs out
or polycytemia rubra vera.
I think you know the answer already.
That was no question but
a statement of harsh reality.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Tale of the Brass Idli Maker
http://product-image.tradeindia.com/00274000/s/0/Brass-Handi-.jpgI was pondering about this issue for quite a while; whether to write about it or not. It had been some time you would have noticed that I actually wrote something.
Anyway, throw rotten tomatoes at me if you have to.
The situation I am about to tell you came from a conversation some few dinners ago:
In a marriage (I think this does not apply to live-in relationships), if a particular spouse in anger chooses to break a family heirloom of another spouse to prove a point, how should the other spouse react?
In impulse people might do anything but common sense (however uncommon it is) would be somewhat exercised in most sane individuals.
Nothing crass, crude nor drastic.
If it was up to me, I would plainly pack all the other heirlooms (from the ancient hairpin to the one-of-a-kind brass idli maker) and send it to some other relative where it is probably safer and appreciated.
My point is heirlooms are not just things, they represent your heritage.
A part of who you are.
If your spouse could not respect that and choose to fire their neurons at such an astounding cranial capacity, to do something so intelligent --- either they have some underlying psychological problem or its time to think what you are doing in the relationship.
It is not just a thing,
It is not about you valuing a thing more than a person,
It is not about being a MCP,
It is about you
and about you knowing that you have self-worth and dignity.
Somehow that element is lost in most relationships these days.
Monday, September 14, 2009
It's Complicated
When benign sights (maybe walking to the washroom together is slightly unholy) and romantic comedies results in depression; I think the term "it's complicated" is completely merited for. Even more so when it is a movie watched in complete exhaustion and only a tiny bit of the movie sets-off an emotional downpour.
In a weird convoluted way, being immensely busy with mainstream issues keeps us from realizing emotional handicaps. As someone puts it, these handicaps are very disturbing. However thankfully, the lifelessness has numbed us of pain. Not essentially a bad thing but not a good thing either as lifelessness leaves us pretty much devoid of humanity.
However, nothing can be compared to the confused, insecure, fearful and unsure state that being complicated renders one to.
We end up living by leaving it to chance and that is truly disturbing.
In a weird convoluted way, being immensely busy with mainstream issues keeps us from realizing emotional handicaps. As someone puts it, these handicaps are very disturbing. However thankfully, the lifelessness has numbed us of pain. Not essentially a bad thing but not a good thing either as lifelessness leaves us pretty much devoid of humanity.
However, nothing can be compared to the confused, insecure, fearful and unsure state that being complicated renders one to.
We end up living by leaving it to chance and that is truly disturbing.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Rough Winds Do Shake the Darling Buds of May
A choice of personal preferences should be allowed and it is a right.
We are at free will to like or dislike a certain thing to reasons most applicable to us.
Even to the extent; to some it may seem derogatory.
Fundamental fact: it is one's life and how one chooses it is simply one's own business as long no toes are stepped upon. This is highly applicable to busybodies who provoke people and create storms in many people's teacups. Bless me, my tea was ruined!
The point is that one's point is not discriminatory if it doesn't involve active participation to stand-up for the point. The action matters and creating a hoo-hah for nothing is simply self-initiated sympathy-co-mud slapping; the point where one descends to being discriminatory to anothers passive self-indulgent thought.
The fact of knowing such people disgusts me and I wonder whether the day will come when I am not allowed to like purple and eat mash potato.
And now; we know where the holier-than-thou attitude roots from and discriminates underdogs of all kinds.
We are at free will to like or dislike a certain thing to reasons most applicable to us.
Even to the extent; to some it may seem derogatory.
Fundamental fact: it is one's life and how one chooses it is simply one's own business as long no toes are stepped upon. This is highly applicable to busybodies who provoke people and create storms in many people's teacups. Bless me, my tea was ruined!
The point is that one's point is not discriminatory if it doesn't involve active participation to stand-up for the point. The action matters and creating a hoo-hah for nothing is simply self-initiated sympathy-co-mud slapping; the point where one descends to being discriminatory to anothers passive self-indulgent thought.
The fact of knowing such people disgusts me and I wonder whether the day will come when I am not allowed to like purple and eat mash potato.
And now; we know where the holier-than-thou attitude roots from and discriminates underdogs of all kinds.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
In the name of God, the most Gracious and most Merciful
Picture from: http://dakchomey.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/6f8aea9ea87f4459ae619931.jpg Us.
Us.
Us.
Finally in death, she achieved what she set out to do.
Never mind the critics and the censors of her films,
Never mind the people who jeered at her efforts to appreciate our diversity,
But mind the fact we may never have another Sepet, Funeral or Talentime.
Yasmin Ahmad was and is a Malaysian,
More Malaysian than so many of us,
because she harboured hope in the Promised Land and acted upon it.
Now in death,
the storyteller,
the filmmaker,
got her ovation.
The full-stop, the finality, the exclamation mark;
death has its way of making things heard.
Yasmin believed in Malaysia and
she left me the trickle of hope.
A little bit less bitter,
A little bit less suspicion,
A little bit less prejudice,
A little bit more open,
A little bit more respect,
And a little bit more love,
Makes our little imperfections beautiful.
I met a person who acknowledged me after just mere glances,
He was not of my skin but sought to see the similarities that bonded us instead of highlighting the differences; let it be even the position of bus seats or the time we would be in SP.
Yasmin believed in Malaysia and
she left me the trickle of hope,
this person restored it to full brim.
We see only what we want to see
We are only as happy as our minds make to be
We are only Malaysian if we choose to be.
And Yasmin lived to be.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Not The Whole Truth
There is nothing in substitute for the truth then where do white lies fall in place? Well somewhere on the gates of the greater good where gray prevails. Speaking of gray, the de-novo colours of sweatshirts, we find there is this curious little habit of ours of not telling the whole truth.
Of course you did go outstation for that conference but well, little intelligent you did not tell that your extra day was actually not accidental. The official version of events was bad weather and the flight got delayed. Oh yes, your clandestine activities did go undetected.
This is one example and we have others like taking a whole day to shop in a sale where you bought that leather bag with a 5% discount. Yet what you tell your friends over brunch on Sunday while munching on rolls is that you were bargain hunting and things were indecently cheap, probably even cheaper than the rolls you are eating.
It seems diluting the truth either by exaggerating or over-simplifying it is something of norm. Weaving florets on monotony and obscuring rancid from the fluorescent mess is something we rather do than stray into the lanes of lies. It maybe something deemed trivial or something downright dangerous but who is do deny it wasn’t necessary. Yes, a necessary evil it was; to deglaze and shine and yet we were not lying, thank you very much.
We do it for many reasons. For obvious ones like avoiding unnecessary conversation by people who have more time than us at the present so that it sounds mundane and we can continue on real business and these people will find some other victim. Sometimes it is not to lose face and be lapped with some attention for something totally ordinary. Most of the time it is for ourselves. An individualistic desire to not to be put in a situation of being bitten by our conscience for lying. By doing this, we avoid pangs of guilt and are contented by the fact that there was a morsel of truth beneath that waffle.
Call it cheating yourself, call it suave but the best of us and the worst of us do it.
Of course you did go outstation for that conference but well, little intelligent you did not tell that your extra day was actually not accidental. The official version of events was bad weather and the flight got delayed. Oh yes, your clandestine activities did go undetected.
This is one example and we have others like taking a whole day to shop in a sale where you bought that leather bag with a 5% discount. Yet what you tell your friends over brunch on Sunday while munching on rolls is that you were bargain hunting and things were indecently cheap, probably even cheaper than the rolls you are eating.
It seems diluting the truth either by exaggerating or over-simplifying it is something of norm. Weaving florets on monotony and obscuring rancid from the fluorescent mess is something we rather do than stray into the lanes of lies. It maybe something deemed trivial or something downright dangerous but who is do deny it wasn’t necessary. Yes, a necessary evil it was; to deglaze and shine and yet we were not lying, thank you very much.
We do it for many reasons. For obvious ones like avoiding unnecessary conversation by people who have more time than us at the present so that it sounds mundane and we can continue on real business and these people will find some other victim. Sometimes it is not to lose face and be lapped with some attention for something totally ordinary. Most of the time it is for ourselves. An individualistic desire to not to be put in a situation of being bitten by our conscience for lying. By doing this, we avoid pangs of guilt and are contented by the fact that there was a morsel of truth beneath that waffle.
Call it cheating yourself, call it suave but the best of us and the worst of us do it.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
"It is important to look good"
I have heard the phrase above many times.
You know in reference to interviews, engagements, dates and a whole lot of other important end-outcomes.
Those dreaded first impressions?
Does the colour of a necktie or a cut of a dress tell whether a person is efficient? Does it mean that if you naturally have hooded eyelids; you are condemned to be lazy? The point is that first impressions do not tell anything much about character. It in fact hides a lot of things like laziness, inefficiency and all kinds of lousy traits.
However, I am not championing on going to meet a person with T-shirts stained suspiciously and unwashed hair. Those things are detrimental to you and the person next-to-you and is not pleasant on the eye.
Not pleasant on the eye.
Not pleasant on the eye.
Contradicting it sounds, actually because if you take it far enough, it would be alright to hire the handsome gentleman because the guy with the braces is an eyesore. Few words: it is plainly unfair. For one simple logical reason: you might not be choosing the better person because of something so superficial. Period.
We have to draw the line and I think the part about whether whatever that irritates your occipital lobe* is really detrimental or not should be defined. Not technically very hard: I sometimes choose to write them out on paper to remove the visual bias. I am open to better techniques though.
* the part of the brain concerned with interpreting what we see
Mirror, mirror on the Wall,
Who is the Fairest One of Them All?
We humans like beautiful things and everything positive is associated with being beautiful in the loosest sense. What was supposedly neutral is perceived as positive. Cinderella was beautiful and her evil sisters had to be ugly. Witches were undoubtedly with crooked noses. In short, ugly humans were bad humans. Even food had to look good with garnishing so much to wet our appetites. Is it instinctual? No, I think it is a very wronged learned behavior to appreciate skin-depth beauty based on pigmentation preferences. Cavemen were icky. Look I am into this now. It is ingrained to say so much. Before we are mature enough to appreciate true beauty (the one which is formed by positives), this dangerous principle has been seeded into our subconscious. Even this skin depth philosophy is tainted and crooked in its own way, some people still see tall, fair (which is so unfair ... oh the malignancy has spilled into syntax too) and thin as beautiful. The irony of fair being unfair is enough to speak volumes on our so, civilized nature.
My point is ...
Bad habits are difficult to weed out. Watching children watching their weight, dying of anorexia, resort to stealing to finance their labels, losing self confidence and the ensuing vicious cycle. This dreaded prophecy is almost as equivalent to shoving the reality of the situation right under our noses. If we still choose to deign to ignorance and continue teaching our kids wrong lessons, don't complain when civilization crumbles because it was important to look good.
You know in reference to interviews, engagements, dates and a whole lot of other important end-outcomes.
Those dreaded first impressions?
Does the colour of a necktie or a cut of a dress tell whether a person is efficient? Does it mean that if you naturally have hooded eyelids; you are condemned to be lazy? The point is that first impressions do not tell anything much about character. It in fact hides a lot of things like laziness, inefficiency and all kinds of lousy traits.
However, I am not championing on going to meet a person with T-shirts stained suspiciously and unwashed hair. Those things are detrimental to you and the person next-to-you and is not pleasant on the eye.
Not pleasant on the eye.
Not pleasant on the eye.
Contradicting it sounds, actually because if you take it far enough, it would be alright to hire the handsome gentleman because the guy with the braces is an eyesore. Few words: it is plainly unfair. For one simple logical reason: you might not be choosing the better person because of something so superficial. Period.
We have to draw the line and I think the part about whether whatever that irritates your occipital lobe* is really detrimental or not should be defined. Not technically very hard: I sometimes choose to write them out on paper to remove the visual bias. I am open to better techniques though.
* the part of the brain concerned with interpreting what we see
Mirror, mirror on the Wall,
Who is the Fairest One of Them All?
We humans like beautiful things and everything positive is associated with being beautiful in the loosest sense. What was supposedly neutral is perceived as positive. Cinderella was beautiful and her evil sisters had to be ugly. Witches were undoubtedly with crooked noses. In short, ugly humans were bad humans. Even food had to look good with garnishing so much to wet our appetites. Is it instinctual? No, I think it is a very wronged learned behavior to appreciate skin-depth beauty based on pigmentation preferences. Cavemen were icky. Look I am into this now. It is ingrained to say so much. Before we are mature enough to appreciate true beauty (the one which is formed by positives), this dangerous principle has been seeded into our subconscious. Even this skin depth philosophy is tainted and crooked in its own way, some people still see tall, fair (which is so unfair ... oh the malignancy has spilled into syntax too) and thin as beautiful. The irony of fair being unfair is enough to speak volumes on our so, civilized nature.
My point is ...
Bad habits are difficult to weed out. Watching children watching their weight, dying of anorexia, resort to stealing to finance their labels, losing self confidence and the ensuing vicious cycle. This dreaded prophecy is almost as equivalent to shoving the reality of the situation right under our noses. If we still choose to deign to ignorance and continue teaching our kids wrong lessons, don't complain when civilization crumbles because it was important to look good.
We do not borrow this earth from our grandparents, but we owe them from our children.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Just Not Into You?
I watched a show many months back and I think there is a book ,"He is Just Not Into You?"
Though it was mainly for romance and dating, let's just extrapolate into the lives of the lonely and empty.
Humans much like Sims yearn for social company.
To be acknowledged, to be praised, to be shot down, to discuss, to be inflamed, to bicker or plain gossip.We love to be the centre of attention even if it boils down to one person. Actually most people just it with one or two or three. Crowds of millions might just call for propranolol.
Nevertheless very few enjoy being lonely.
Yes, we love our moments of solitude. Alone is when one hears one's own voice. This is important for this self forms the crux of impulses and split-second decisions which matter.
It however best kept in durations of moments.
But when it stretches out into a monotone that you start hearing your own echos, feel alone even when you are amongst people and the fact that people actually only converse to you when they need you; seems to be like they are just not into you as yourself. The worse being those moments when you are physically alone for a few seconds and it hits you like a truck: the realization of the ugly side of everything superficial.
Not that anything is wrong with you. Even if you are "difficult", every cloud does have its silver lining. Sometimes it is appearance, sometimes it is in the nature of being reserved, sometimes it is the boundaries of norms and the list is truly endless. Plainly it is hard to meet like-minded people who aren't stereotypical. I still haven't met someone who likes paleontology and astronomy. Sometimes it is also the part about the lack of reciprocation: you are there with a 110% invested and they seem to throw you blue moons' worth of responses for your many missed calls.
Yet we do meet people who are like-minded though they can easily fall into the "just not into you?" category when you haven't heard from them like for awhile. That is when you take a breath, try to clear ,"Lonely ... I am so lonely" out of your head and stop being a little selfish ... People have lives to live just like you do. Unseen to you are their many commitments, obligations and a many other things pleasant and unpleasant. It is of little compensation but a logical rationale nevertheless.
It is sometimes not always about you. Yes people are not always into you. Some people plainly need you for your abilities rather than your own emotional needs. I always imagine that you end up being dry, crusted and extremely lined if you only think about this.
This is because it is truly depressing and restless but think about the millions who live a physically much difficult life than yourself. Going to school involves kilometres on foot, getting clean water being a miracle and suddenly apple martinis and your need for devotees seem guilty.
Oh perspectives! Nasty essential speed-breakers are they? Just not into you or are you yourself not into yourself? Or is this feeling deeply rooted on the need to fill up your time? Endless debates that we orchestrate ourselves which actually have simple solutions:
Fill your time.
Live your life.
Stop thinking about stopping.
And you will realize happiness is neither an exclusive privilege or unaffordable luxury.
Though it was mainly for romance and dating, let's just extrapolate into the lives of the lonely and empty.
Humans much like Sims yearn for social company.
To be acknowledged, to be praised, to be shot down, to discuss, to be inflamed, to bicker or plain gossip.We love to be the centre of attention even if it boils down to one person. Actually most people just it with one or two or three. Crowds of millions might just call for propranolol.
Nevertheless very few enjoy being lonely.
Yes, we love our moments of solitude. Alone is when one hears one's own voice. This is important for this self forms the crux of impulses and split-second decisions which matter.
It however best kept in durations of moments.
But when it stretches out into a monotone that you start hearing your own echos, feel alone even when you are amongst people and the fact that people actually only converse to you when they need you; seems to be like they are just not into you as yourself. The worse being those moments when you are physically alone for a few seconds and it hits you like a truck: the realization of the ugly side of everything superficial.
Not that anything is wrong with you. Even if you are "difficult", every cloud does have its silver lining. Sometimes it is appearance, sometimes it is in the nature of being reserved, sometimes it is the boundaries of norms and the list is truly endless. Plainly it is hard to meet like-minded people who aren't stereotypical. I still haven't met someone who likes paleontology and astronomy. Sometimes it is also the part about the lack of reciprocation: you are there with a 110% invested and they seem to throw you blue moons' worth of responses for your many missed calls.
Yet we do meet people who are like-minded though they can easily fall into the "just not into you?" category when you haven't heard from them like for awhile. That is when you take a breath, try to clear ,"Lonely ... I am so lonely" out of your head and stop being a little selfish ... People have lives to live just like you do. Unseen to you are their many commitments, obligations and a many other things pleasant and unpleasant. It is of little compensation but a logical rationale nevertheless.
It is sometimes not always about you. Yes people are not always into you. Some people plainly need you for your abilities rather than your own emotional needs. I always imagine that you end up being dry, crusted and extremely lined if you only think about this.
This is because it is truly depressing and restless but think about the millions who live a physically much difficult life than yourself. Going to school involves kilometres on foot, getting clean water being a miracle and suddenly apple martinis and your need for devotees seem guilty.
Oh perspectives! Nasty essential speed-breakers are they? Just not into you or are you yourself not into yourself? Or is this feeling deeply rooted on the need to fill up your time? Endless debates that we orchestrate ourselves which actually have simple solutions:
Fill your time.
Live your life.
Stop thinking about stopping.
And you will realize happiness is neither an exclusive privilege or unaffordable luxury.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Apples and Oranges: The Search for the Balance between Opposing Worlds
It is inevitable that things will never be the same as you left it.
Either you would have fast-forwarded or worse ... degenerated.
Suddenly you realize: how did I get here?
Why is everyone speaking Greek and Latin?
When did everything known and safe change?
Ultimately ... the "Why am I so in the dark ages?" question will pop up and there is little remedy to that except going on thinking and thinking about choices and fate until you sound psychotic (pretty much like now).
The other end is equally unpleasant: dealing with cavemen is not easy, thank you very much.
And where are we? Right in the middle.
Stuck in this stalemate, we are resigned to make do with what we have.
Not a bad thing, actually.
Greener pastures do not exist, we form them.
We have to fertilize, plough, seed and weed our niche.
Image Copyright: http://www.greenhutgalleries.com/products/images/0wha025.jpg
In that, maybe we would
find that elusive golden mean,
where true happiness and peace lies,
where life's very framework lies.
To own the sense of independence, the deciding-stroke of your destiny and to live.
What a hope!
Either you would have fast-forwarded or worse ... degenerated.
Suddenly you realize: how did I get here?
Why is everyone speaking Greek and Latin?
When did everything known and safe change?
Ultimately ... the "Why am I so in the dark ages?" question will pop up and there is little remedy to that except going on thinking and thinking about choices and fate until you sound psychotic (pretty much like now).
The other end is equally unpleasant: dealing with cavemen is not easy, thank you very much.
And where are we? Right in the middle.
Stuck in this stalemate, we are resigned to make do with what we have.
Not a bad thing, actually.
Greener pastures do not exist, we form them.
We have to fertilize, plough, seed and weed our niche.
Image Copyright: http://www.greenhutgalleries.com/products/images/0wha025.jpg In that, maybe we would
find that elusive golden mean,
where true happiness and peace lies,
where life's very framework lies.
To own the sense of independence, the deciding-stroke of your destiny and to live.
What a hope!
After Anne and Beyond
Finally Anne Frank is done.
Few simple words: non-fiction and real life accounts are by the law of life: incoherent, unpredictable and don't simply have the edge to hold ones attention unlike their fiction counterparts.
Nevertheless, Anne was something I deemed necessary and yes, it was worth it even with all the teenage whining, over-thinking and asphyxiation.
Now it is done and I can finally have peace of mind.
Few simple words: non-fiction and real life accounts are by the law of life: incoherent, unpredictable and don't simply have the edge to hold ones attention unlike their fiction counterparts.
Nevertheless, Anne was something I deemed necessary and yes, it was worth it even with all the teenage whining, over-thinking and asphyxiation.
Now it is done and I can finally have peace of mind.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Uh Uh ...
That's what you feel when you realize that a Pulitzer Prize winning book is not your cup of tea. Hopefully, the other book I bought- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl lives up to my insanely evolved razor-edged reading taste-buds (or maybe I have fallen in love with Miranda Priestly's character).
Either way; its not relaxing reading such books or helps you to fall asleep (it conversely keeps you awake debating for hours and hours with yourself ... hopefully I have not misread my first signs of insanity). Nevertheless, they are eye-opening or if you'd rather say: making you stop turning a blind eye on the inevitable truth shoving it right before you and ringing a klaxon saying, "WAKE UP!"
Scary but a necessary realization.
At least I realize, I am not frightened of ending up working without holidays and I am at the core ... culturally rooted unlike some of my fictitious acquaintances.
Though I secretly wish they were.
Either way; its not relaxing reading such books or helps you to fall asleep (it conversely keeps you awake debating for hours and hours with yourself ... hopefully I have not misread my first signs of insanity). Nevertheless, they are eye-opening or if you'd rather say: making you stop turning a blind eye on the inevitable truth shoving it right before you and ringing a klaxon saying, "WAKE UP!"
Scary but a necessary realization.
At least I realize, I am not frightened of ending up working without holidays and I am at the core ... culturally rooted unlike some of my fictitious acquaintances.
Though I secretly wish they were.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tum Ti Tum Ti Dum ...
To loyal readers (if any are out there): I have been doing a lot of stuff and plainly my lack of organization left my blog ... well untouched. There were a couple of instances I did have something worthwhile to say but either a lousy net connection or like a short-lived firework I am just back to doing mundane things.
Now I am reading the mini-budget a.k.a. the economic stimulus package which is actually quite interesting. I am reading also the National Geographic which has lovely pictures (helps you when you get those headaches ...) and I actually found out that Neanderthals have bigger brains than us. Who would have thought about that? Anyway reading is something I enjoy doing in the holidays. I always seem to get hold onto good books by simple virtue of checking whether they made the New York Times Bestsellers List. This time however either the Times got it wrong or I have evolved tastes.
Anyway I really hope to push up readership through some miracle.
Now I am reading the mini-budget a.k.a. the economic stimulus package which is actually quite interesting. I am reading also the National Geographic which has lovely pictures (helps you when you get those headaches ...) and I actually found out that Neanderthals have bigger brains than us. Who would have thought about that? Anyway reading is something I enjoy doing in the holidays. I always seem to get hold onto good books by simple virtue of checking whether they made the New York Times Bestsellers List. This time however either the Times got it wrong or I have evolved tastes.
Anyway I really hope to push up readership through some miracle.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Dacryocystitis
I have been in blog void, writers block or whatever you choose to call it.
Needless to say the cause.
Currently recovering from an allergic bout of a really irritated opthalmic nerve.
I am thinking of alcohol syringing while meeting a really old acquaintance really soon.
Needless to say the cause.
Currently recovering from an allergic bout of a really irritated opthalmic nerve.
I am thinking of alcohol syringing while meeting a really old acquaintance really soon.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Happy Lunar New Year!
SOURCE: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/2244295698_a9d23d3917.jpg?v=0Wishing all of you a prosperous and fulfilling lunar new year ahead!
Mahendra, Behari, Ashalata and Binodini
SOURCE: http://mimg.sulekha.com/hindi/chokher-bali/Stills/bali6.jpg,http://mimg.sulekha.com/hindi/chokher-bali/Stills/bali3.jpg and http://mimg.sulekha.com/hindi/chokher-bali/Stills/bali4.jpg
Told in poetry and the finest of expression, Chocker Bali is a timeless tales on human anthropology. I happened to watch it today and it was beautiful (even though I only watched half of it).
It speaks of tendrils of human behavior, desires and how we swim through the reeds of society. I can't possibly do enough justice for this movie and the novel by Nobel prize winning Tagore (reading it is a new birthday wish). The four main characters represent the essence of living affluently though Mahendra is a personal favourite along with Binodini.
If you are a thinker, go for it.
The portrayal and authenticity would intoxicate, inflame and inspire you.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
BMJ, Facebook and Medicos
As weird as this article sounds, please read it. It is important and relevant to my more ... let's say "outgoing" medico friends.
I could not put up a link in my Facebook account, so here is the article itself from Student BMJ and Medscape:
Student BMJ
I hope this prompts people to act more sensibly in the future.
P/S I by the way do NOT own any piece of the article above and the ownership and rights of the article above is clearly stated above anyway.
I could not put up a link in my Facebook account, so here is the article itself from Student BMJ and Medscape:
Student BMJ
The Dangers of Facebook
Neil Graham; Philippa Moore Stud BMJ. 2008;8(10):354-355. ©2008 BMJ Publishing Group
Posted 12/29/2008
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Increasing numbers of doctors and medical students are turning to websites such as Facebook to make friends, chat, and organise social events. These innovations have made some aspects of life easier and are a powerful tool for communication, but they also blur the line between our personal and professional personas. With the veneer of friendship that's offered on these sites, it's all too easy to reveal more information than is appropriate. If this information falls into the wrong hands, problems can arise about your integrity, employment, and fitness to practise medicine.
Introduction
In a recent study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the Facebook profiles of a group of medical students in Florida were scrutinised with the aim of establishing how dangerous Facebook could be in the intersection of personal and professional identities. The study found some profiles publicly displaying photographs of trainee medics drinking to excess, engaging in sexual behaviour, and, in one instance, posing with a dead racoon. Three of the 10 students in the sample had also joined groups on Facebook that could be interpreted as sexist or racist.[1]
Whether the private activities of a medical professional have an impact on their ability to practise is debatable, but it cannot be denied that putting private material in such a public arena has the potential to undermine trust in the profession.
Who Uses it?
Online social networking in the medical community is a worldwide phenomenon and one that is no longer the sole domain of medical students ( box 1 ). With 90 million active users around the world,[2] it's a fairly safe bet that your colleagues and boss are on there, not to mention many of your patients. You don't need a degree in computer science to go online and see who is using this technology.
Many students now rely on this technology for organising social activities and keeping up with their friends. "Without it you wouldn't know what was going on," said a student at St George's Medical School, London. Students are using these networking tools to show their support for causes, exchange answers to exam questions, and disseminate course notes, in addition to sharing the mandatory photos of alcohol fuelled antics. In a remarkably diligent act of altruism, a group of medical students ("podmedics") have even taken to recording and sharing their notes as audio files for others to download and enjoy on the road.
Junior doctors are making time for the technology too, with most UK schools boasting groups with a few hundred members. In a quick survey, 36 regional groups of trainee general practitioners were found, and these are often open to all to observe, interact with, and market to. "Protect general practice" groups had 5000 members from diverse clinical and non-clinical backgrounds, including some of the few specialist registrars making use of the technology. In addition, a small but active group of tech savvy senior professionals use Facebook to upload videos of endoscopy cases and discuss them with small groups of colleagues.
Medicopolitics thrives in this environment. More than 10 000 individuals took action through Facebook to show opposition to recent changes in the provision of hospital accommodation for young doctors in the United Kingdom, while others weighed in to the debate about medical education. More diverse groups such as "The NHS is sucking my soul dry" and "I am a doctor and I hope my patients don't see me on Facebook" are also popular, though much to the disappointment of its 5700 members the latter was recently closed down. Perhaps a patient found it.
What Are the Dangers?
The General Medical Council guidance from Good Medical Practice hasn't changed—"You must make sure that your conduct at all times justifies your patients' trust in you and the public's trust in the profession"[3] —but it's undeniable that the advent of online social networking has increased the chances of being caught acting disreputably.
One of the problems arising is how we choose to define a friend online. If one's personal profile—detailing hobbies, groups, interests, photos, and videos—were available only to true friends, there would be little cause for concern. But the online environment breeds a false sense of security, where online friendships are often formed with little thought for the possible consequences. Michael Anderson, one of the growing ranks of junior doctors in the United Kingdom keeping a blog, was recently added by a patient, and though he was touched by the sentiment, he decided that his privacy would be compromised if he accepted.[4]
Notably, the profiles of two thirds of the medical students in the Florida study were available to Facebook users not listed as friends. This may have been a conscious decision in some cases, but more likely it reflects a widespread ignorance of the enhanced privacy settings that are available. This is hardly surprising, given that website providers, in their efforts to reassure nervous users, have produced a multitude of confusing options. There are no prizes for guessing that the default situation is to share information with users and advertisers alike.
Aside from the risk of identity theft (two in five Facebook profiles reveal information that can be used to set up bank accounts and so on[5]), it is the professional implications that are of greatest concern to the medical community. Recently the Highland Deanery suspended a trainee in general surgery for "scatological" comments made about a senior medical colleague in an online discussion, which was seen by a concerned friend who felt duty bound to take action.[6]
A senior tutor at the University of Cambridge admitted to viewing applicants' Facebook profiles out of curiosity during the admission process.[7] Although he maintained that this had no bearing on his decisions, one wonders what he may have thought had Amy Polumbo applied to Emmanuel College that year. Ms Polumbo, Miss New Jersey 2007, was thrust into the public eye last year when her title dangled perilously in the balance after lewd images from her Facebook profile surfaced in the national press.[8]
"The cost to a person's future can be high if something undesirable is found by the increasing number of education institutions and employers using the internet as a tool to vet potential students or employees," says David Smith,[9] for the Information Commissioner's Office, in relation to recent UK governmental guidance on online social networking.[10]
To some extent the medical regulators are playing catch-up with the advances in social networking, but guidance is available and it's well worth observing in your online activities.
How Can I Protect Myself?
The American Medical Association advises doctors to "recognise that your personal conduct may affect your reputation and that of your profession,"[11] and a spokesperson for the General Medical Council made it clear that regulators appreciate the need for balance. "Medical students and doctors are entitled to a private life, and to use their time away from studying and work as they wish [they] should consider whether the images of what was fun at the time could cause embarrassment if they were accessed by patients, or the public, later. In extreme cases such images could lead to a complaint being made."
The fact is that doctors and would be doctors are held to higher standards of personal conduct than other groups in society. Saintly behaviour is neither demanded nor expected, but with the job there comes an expectation of a reasonable level of common sense and decency. It is possible to protect one's personal and professional reputation while enjoying positive interactions with patients and colleagues outside the professional arena.
With the potential for such difficulties you might wonder about the rightful place in our lives for this technology. It is no doubt here to stay, but it doesn't have to be a minefield of ethics or mistrust. With a little care and attention ( box 2 ), online social networking has the potential to make life a good deal easier for medics: to connect us with our friends and colleagues, facilitate learning and communication, arrange events, and share our knowledge with the wider world. You could even join the General Medical Council's Facebook group and continue the discussion there,[12] but bear in mind that when you're online, you're anything but off duty.
Box 1. What is Online Social Networking?[13]
These websites offer a virtual space where people can share information and communicate with other people. This is usually in the form of a personal "profile," elements of which other people, "friends," can see.
- A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and activities.
- Popular websites include Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Orkut, Hi5, and Friendster.
- Revenue is typically gained via advertisements.
Box 2. How to Have a Hassle-free Facebook Experience
Short of severing your electronic umbilical cord and suspending yourself in a box over the Thames, is there any way of using services without jeopardising your privacy or integrity?
- Make your profile private, so only your friends can view it.
- As in life, choose your friends carefully.
- Use common sense and discretion when choosing your profile photo. A happy snap of you at a party—lovely; a photo of you doing shots blindfolded at the same party—perhaps not.
- "De-tagging" is a fair way to deal with a photo which portrays you in a poor light, but persuading your friends not to publish it in the first place is even better.
- If you must act in a questionable way, be smart and don't get caught.
References
|
Reprint Address
Neil Graham, E-Mail: neil@zeebit.com
Neil Graham, medical student, University College London
Philippa Moore, freelance journalist, London
Philippa Moore, freelance journalist, London
Competing interests: None declared.
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I hope this prompts people to act more sensibly in the future.
P/S I by the way do NOT own any piece of the article above and the ownership and rights of the article above is clearly stated above anyway.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A Great Time and ....
First of all, minus getting lost a few times; today was a great day and I finally got to see PJ thanks to a very good friend of mine. We had a great time and even more interesting conversations which I think I could never have had anywhere else. LOL.
Then, I came back home (3oo km south bound) and saw this online:
NEW DELHI, Tues:
The services of these air-hostesses, who were grounded by the national carrier for being overweight, have been terminated for their failure to reduce their weight to the acceptable standards and refusal to take up alternative ground duties.
Confirming the decision, the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted an airline spokesperson as saying that the termination of their services was carried out “strictly under the terms of their appointment,” a claim that has been dubbed as illegal by the sacked employees.
Sources said the “overweight” hostesses were given sufficient opportunity to reduce their weight to the acceptable standards, and they were also offered alternative jobs on ground, which they refused to accept.
The sources said while 10 air hostesses were sacked in the Northern Region, there were some more across the country who have been served similar notices.
The sacked air hostesses, however, said that the action of the national carrier was illegal as they were not served any notice and the decision was taken when the matter was pending in the Supreme Court.
“The action is illegal and against natural justice. I will soon file an application in the Supreme Court against the order,” advocate Arvind Sharma, lawyer of the air hostesses told PTI.
The rules prescribe different weight limits according to their height and age. For an 18-year-old air hostess with a height of 152 cm, the maximum weight permissible is 50 kg while for air hostesses in the age group of 26 to 30 and a height of 152 cm, the weight limit is 56 kg. — BERNAMA
---
Well talk about stupidity. People really have very little brains to let stupid things like this to get into their contracts. What were the people in-charge doing?
While image is important in the service industry, such lewd discrimination would foster only malignancy on self-image of individuals who already have enough assault from the media's potrayal of "beautiful."
Being overweight is never healthy, but sacking people because of it is pointless. Not that it is going to positively encourage people to take care of their weight.
I suppose in their heart of hearts, these companies are even concerned about their employees' welfares? Looks like more of like an attempt to show that they need to sell their image by using their employees. Talk about sexism and being cheap.
I suppose they don't understand that weight problems often stem from diverse reasons like underlying endocrine problems. They should probably elaborate on their "sufficient opportunity".
And I thought this Scale God nonsense had altars in Western countries but now it looks like even Eastern people are governed by the scale.
Next thing you know; if you burn a tone darker (sun burn perhaps) you might get sacked?
Talk about a mass soul maiming.
Then, I came back home (3oo km south bound) and saw this online:
Air India sacks 10 overweight air-hostesses
BernamaNo one knows better the virtues of looking slim and fit than 10 air-hostesses of Air India, who have lost their jobs for failure to shed those extra kilos that rendered them unfit for flying duties.
Confirming the decision, the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted an airline spokesperson as saying that the termination of their services was carried out “strictly under the terms of their appointment,” a claim that has been dubbed as illegal by the sacked employees.
Sources said the “overweight” hostesses were given sufficient opportunity to reduce their weight to the acceptable standards, and they were also offered alternative jobs on ground, which they refused to accept.
The sources said while 10 air hostesses were sacked in the Northern Region, there were some more across the country who have been served similar notices.
“The action is illegal and against natural justice. I will soon file an application in the Supreme Court against the order,” advocate Arvind Sharma, lawyer of the air hostesses told PTI.
The rules prescribe different weight limits according to their height and age. For an 18-year-old air hostess with a height of 152 cm, the maximum weight permissible is 50 kg while for air hostesses in the age group of 26 to 30 and a height of 152 cm, the weight limit is 56 kg. — BERNAMA
---
Well talk about stupidity. People really have very little brains to let stupid things like this to get into their contracts. What were the people in-charge doing?
While image is important in the service industry, such lewd discrimination would foster only malignancy on self-image of individuals who already have enough assault from the media's potrayal of "beautiful."
Being overweight is never healthy, but sacking people because of it is pointless. Not that it is going to positively encourage people to take care of their weight.
I suppose in their heart of hearts, these companies are even concerned about their employees' welfares? Looks like more of like an attempt to show that they need to sell their image by using their employees. Talk about sexism and being cheap.
I suppose they don't understand that weight problems often stem from diverse reasons like underlying endocrine problems. They should probably elaborate on their "sufficient opportunity".
And I thought this Scale God nonsense had altars in Western countries but now it looks like even Eastern people are governed by the scale.
Next thing you know; if you burn a tone darker (sun burn perhaps) you might get sacked?
Talk about a mass soul maiming.
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