He woke with a start. Was that the birds he could hear? Birds chirping? Could that mean... could it really... was spring actually here?
Would this spring bring with it something new, something fresh?
Sometimes its just time to wonder.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Spring Wonder
Would this spring bring with it something new, something fresh?
Sometimes its just time to wonder.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Exploited.. Threatened... In Duress..
Sensationalism. Something the media seems to pine for. Today's news is no longer about accurate, honest reporting about the facts. Its more than that. Only the facts that would cause people to think, or protest, or just listen in awe are the ones being broadcast by the media. If its not sensational its not newsworthy. If something changed and the story lost its sensational attributes, silently drop it. Maybe nobody will notice. In most cases nobody does.
The world is in a crisis today. There is a systemic failure, and its mainly been caused by greed and laziness. Greed in New York, where bankers saw a quick way to make money, and pass the buck on to someone else who could repackage the bad, into something good and keep up the chain. Laziness in Detroit where the auto manufacturers refused to innovate, and improve their cars because they had the unions to hold them up. Cue the failure of NY, and the money disappears, this causes less spending, which then chokes the entire system. People start losing jobs, and the cycle continues. Someone needs to break the cycle, but nobody is brave enough, or has the resources to do so. The government may be trying, but there's only so much it can do. If you let capitalism rule the roost, add expect the fit to survive, you'll end up in a monopolistic world with the few guys smart enough to have planned for this surviving. One can argue, good for them, they had back ups and they knew how to make it through the worst of it. I agree with them, but its hard to voice such an opinion with the media adding its own spin, bias and lack of information to it all.
Recently, a comedy host, one of my best sources for news these days, exposed the way a reputed news channel squandered away every opportunity it had to be a good reporter, and one which would have been respected and honored all over the world. Its all about the feel good factor, one would say. If you really want to spread the feel good factor, don't call it news, call it a soap opera, or a drama. Going by the ignorance is bliss philosophy doesn't really help, and now there are a whole lot of people with really messed up investments, and a lot of lost money, just because they followed the trusted sources that the anchors had. Have a look at the story:
Another favorite topic of the media, is the visa situation. A certain class of employees are hired from overseas under a temporary worker program. In most cases, such people are talented and highly educated. The argument being put forth by most people here is that such people take away the now scarce jobs from the locals. Its reached a point that some senators have issued letters to companies asking them to eliminate the foreigners before the locals. This might make sense, if you decide to ignore the macroeconomic scenarios. These foreigners are mainly Indians and Chinese. These guys [1] will work no end to make sure work gets done. They will make sure they pay off all their loans. They will save. They will spend as needed. They will make sure that the credit crunch doesn't hit credit cards. We'll let it slide that this was ignored.
This "request" by the senators got picked up by the Indian media, and immediately caused an outpouring of complaints by companies that work as consultants to send people to work the same jobs at less than half the cost. The ones that really exploit this program. They complained the loudest, and their voices were heard. The government also issued a statement that this was unjust and discriminatory. When, finally, one of the companies here, to whom this letter was written, refused to comply with the senators request, the story mysteriously disappeared from the news. Not one blog/news channel/website in India reported it, and left people thinking that there was an undue bias out there.
Why is it that we have such a powerful organ in the media, that works so unchecked, and wantonly creates stories out of nothing, with no concern for correcting false impressions that their stories create? Why can the media just go about and do this? Are we that gullible? Are we so inundated with the boredom of life that we need to have something sensational happen for us to pay attention? Where are the days of news being reported because its news, not because its a story? These are some of the many points that I ponder about when I accidentally reach a news channel these days.
The world is in a crisis today. There is a systemic failure, and its mainly been caused by greed and laziness. Greed in New York, where bankers saw a quick way to make money, and pass the buck on to someone else who could repackage the bad, into something good and keep up the chain. Laziness in Detroit where the auto manufacturers refused to innovate, and improve their cars because they had the unions to hold them up. Cue the failure of NY, and the money disappears, this causes less spending, which then chokes the entire system. People start losing jobs, and the cycle continues. Someone needs to break the cycle, but nobody is brave enough, or has the resources to do so. The government may be trying, but there's only so much it can do. If you let capitalism rule the roost, add expect the fit to survive, you'll end up in a monopolistic world with the few guys smart enough to have planned for this surviving. One can argue, good for them, they had back ups and they knew how to make it through the worst of it. I agree with them, but its hard to voice such an opinion with the media adding its own spin, bias and lack of information to it all.
Recently, a comedy host, one of my best sources for news these days, exposed the way a reputed news channel squandered away every opportunity it had to be a good reporter, and one which would have been respected and honored all over the world. Its all about the feel good factor, one would say. If you really want to spread the feel good factor, don't call it news, call it a soap opera, or a drama. Going by the ignorance is bliss philosophy doesn't really help, and now there are a whole lot of people with really messed up investments, and a lot of lost money, just because they followed the trusted sources that the anchors had. Have a look at the story:
Another favorite topic of the media, is the visa situation. A certain class of employees are hired from overseas under a temporary worker program. In most cases, such people are talented and highly educated. The argument being put forth by most people here is that such people take away the now scarce jobs from the locals. Its reached a point that some senators have issued letters to companies asking them to eliminate the foreigners before the locals. This might make sense, if you decide to ignore the macroeconomic scenarios. These foreigners are mainly Indians and Chinese. These guys [1] will work no end to make sure work gets done. They will make sure they pay off all their loans. They will save. They will spend as needed. They will make sure that the credit crunch doesn't hit credit cards. We'll let it slide that this was ignored.
This "request" by the senators got picked up by the Indian media, and immediately caused an outpouring of complaints by companies that work as consultants to send people to work the same jobs at less than half the cost. The ones that really exploit this program. They complained the loudest, and their voices were heard. The government also issued a statement that this was unjust and discriminatory. When, finally, one of the companies here, to whom this letter was written, refused to comply with the senators request, the story mysteriously disappeared from the news. Not one blog/news channel/website in India reported it, and left people thinking that there was an undue bias out there.
Why is it that we have such a powerful organ in the media, that works so unchecked, and wantonly creates stories out of nothing, with no concern for correcting false impressions that their stories create? Why can the media just go about and do this? Are we that gullible? Are we so inundated with the boredom of life that we need to have something sensational happen for us to pay attention? Where are the days of news being reported because its news, not because its a story? These are some of the many points that I ponder about when I accidentally reach a news channel these days.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Nine pm on a Friday night, and who would have thought it possible; especially as widespread as this? All hours, and spread across "cities." Who would have thought it possible at all? It was day one, but it still is hard to fathom. A Hindi movie sold out both in Santa Clara, and Fremont. Delhi-6 sure seemed popular. And I thought, it would be strange not to bump into someone we knew.
Slightly more than 12 hours later, we did get to see the movie. Standing outside the theater, after the show, I met three friends, and had I looked around I would have seen at least 2 more, I am assured.
*****
Sometimes, he just acted on impulse. Standing out on a limb, with nothing to prove, but just the impulse to go on. Maybe someday this impulse would generate a response. Someday soon, before everything is sold out.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Lady Snow
Its a different feeling, when, living in the rain and sun, you embark on a journey to see the snow. Waking up early in the morning, to take a bus in order to do this, adds to the effect. Going to sleep in the rain, and waking up surrounded by snow, almost makes it magical.
Throw snowboarding into the mix. All the while, the snow just kept cascading down. The snow coupled with the winds, and, me, constantly tumbling around in it, was a lovely feeling altogether. Add to this the fact that my moustache froze over completely. Lunch time, and i was combing off icicles.
Tumbles and falls later, a quick change, some hydration, and back in the bus for the ride home. By now the snow was almost pounding down, as if sad to see us go. Not to worry, lady snow, for we shall return.
Throw snowboarding into the mix. All the while, the snow just kept cascading down. The snow coupled with the winds, and, me, constantly tumbling around in it, was a lovely feeling altogether. Add to this the fact that my moustache froze over completely. Lunch time, and i was combing off icicles.
Tumbles and falls later, a quick change, some hydration, and back in the bus for the ride home. By now the snow was almost pounding down, as if sad to see us go. Not to worry, lady snow, for we shall return.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. This beholder has seen a lot of beauty today. Rain drops which float to the ground masquerading as snowflakes. Blue skies with a patch of black and that black causes ice to come crashing down. The soft cotton look of clouds coating the hills in the distance.
It is often safer to be in chains than be free. But then what's life all about? To stay secure and safe and not take a leap? That's not living, that's existing. Think different, be different. Be the change you want to see in yourself.
And once again its a small world. A party for a friend's roommate's girlfriend, at a friend's house and whom do i meet? The roommate of the guy i met for dinner prior to the party. A whole bunch of people who work for the company in the area. A few more familiar faces with no names attached. And of course, a very good friend's very good friend, who in fact, at one point faked knowing me.
*****
It is often safer to be in chains than be free. But then what's life all about? To stay secure and safe and not take a leap? That's not living, that's existing. Think different, be different. Be the change you want to see in yourself.
*****
And once again its a small world. A party for a friend's roommate's girlfriend, at a friend's house and whom do i meet? The roommate of the guy i met for dinner prior to the party. A whole bunch of people who work for the company in the area. A few more familiar faces with no names attached. And of course, a very good friend's very good friend, who in fact, at one point faked knowing me.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Next?
And so it happens. A casual conversation. I was glad, of course. But it took a while to sink in, to register.
People have been looking to me. Its not like I don't know, its just that I take too long. When the brain decides to listen, its already too late. Of course, there are also the million restrictions that the world decides to enforce.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Why Care?
He looked dazed. Maybe he was thinking. Or was he day dreaming? One couldn't tell by looking at him. He just sat there with a sloppy grin on his face, and looked at the people who passed him. Only he would know what was going on in his mind. So I moved on.
*****
I looked at him. He stared at me wondering what I was doing. Thats when I realized I had a stupid smirk on my face. Before I could wipe it off, he had walked on. I had been too deep in thought to worry about my face.Why care so much? The world around is a mess. The people are a mess. They think too much of themselves (me included). You take time to cultivate a bond, a friendship, and you get blown off at any opportune moment. You strive hard to attain the impossible, and the impossible moves on, leaving you with outdated goals. Update your goals, and you move too fast, don't, and you go extinct. People live nomadic existences. Where you are isn't as important as who you are, or what you do. We move from one lush pasture to another. Degrading everything as we go. A line from the movie Matrix, comes to mind, but its been too often thought about, and will not be quoted here. Greed is rampant. Its every being for themselves. Selfishness seems to be the way of the world.It was a complex thought process. And I wondered, why DID I care? What chemical imbalance did I have that others didn't have to suffer through. They could move on untouched, and unharmed, while I just had to stop and think.
In such a world, why care? Cut the throat of the competition and get ahead. Make your own mark. Ignore everyone. Ignore everything. Its me and I time. Say it. "Why do I deserve it? Why not him? Or her?"
But then, is this how we work? No. Its one big intertwined mess. A tangle of threads that the sisters of fate have made a mess of. The tapestry that is us, started out well, and then went from patchwork to just a knotted mass of twine.
So, again. Why care so much? Is it just our nature. Is our "evolved" brain doing this for some benefit, or it some outdated characteristic of ours that forgot to go the way of our appendix?
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