Fear Industry

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I picked up this article - Can't afford to ignore the enemy at the gate from J. while this is not new, many people have written about it in great detail and with numbers/stats but still voice of reason is away from public discussion, media house, policy maker/politics.

Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear", is a brilliantly done documentary explains in great detail about politics of fear.


"The things we fear most may be least likely to occur, which means the time, trauma and treasure we invest in them is a complete waste.

Security itself is an illusion. It is a perception that exists only between our ears. No army, insurance policy, hazmat team, video surveillance or explosive sniffer can protect us from our own immune system, a well-intentioned but clumsy surgeon, failing to look before crossing the street, an asteroid randomly hurtling through space or someone willing to die in order to do others harm.

In this sense, the only things that can truly make us more 'secure' are not things. They are the courage to face whatever comes with dignity and intention, and the strong relationships that assure we will face the future together, and find comfort and meaning in doing so."

Idea or Reality?

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I wonder is it just me or we people fall in love with idea of things rather than reality of things. !?

Music: Chicken soup for the soul

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Recently I wrote about how I don't like habits turning into additions, but their are few exceptions to that rule. Music is one of the them. I don't know how? from when? but its been part of DNA. I always like to expose myself to new genre, musicians, language. Growing up- radio was my main source. Late night FM used to play very nice songs and that's how I got introduced to many artists specially in English. I used to lock myself in the room and record cassettes from FM-radio. I didn't learn hindi at school, I learnt it by watching some very interesting DD serials and music...(big thanks to Gulzar, KishoreKumar, M.Rafi,) 

And my hometown is big on Indian classical music. December is music festival season and Its getting bigger & better every year. When I was little- for couple of years may be, my dad used to get seasonal pass for Music Academy concerts. That's when I realized the magic of Live performance. Since then I try not miss any opportunity to watch live performance. Over the years, I watched countless performances live bands/musicians from east, west..classical, opera, jazz, fusion, some great orchestra,.. Watching Live always makes me wonder why am I not blessed with such talent to play musical instrument. And I always wished somehow magically, I woke up one day then I can play guitar(because Iam lazy to learn & practice).

My habit rather addiction for finding new music continued. with few interesting friends we share playlist. that is another source. then came youtube & iTunes.. african, arabic, persian, etc....wonderful music of the world became accessible. and my additions of digg for new music continues... I bookmark some of my finds at youtube playlist

my recent fav: Karsh Kale, Rahul Sharma, Imogen Heap, Anais Mitchell, Faithless, Oceanlab,..

Share your playlist.

Its one of those days

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I got hooked Imogen Heap music. I found out that she is touring europe and visiting Luxembourg just couple of week before. Managed to get tickets & saw her Live. Opening act was by American singer Back Ted N Ted - Ryan. He was good. but when Imogen perform its like watching- birth of music. she is great, making wonderful tunes from anything & everything on the stage.

View all

Get your own

Watch her interview & music

And that's just start of my weekend.. I didn't had any plans for the weekend. After wonderful music night on friday, slept late woke up late on saturday. Cooked myself nice bruch. It was a cloudy day, went for long walk. I got last minute message from a friend that old movies are been played in local theatre and if I would be interested to join her. checked the timing & surprised to find Cinema Paradiso was showing. No brainier. Someone was explaining about this movie but now I can't recollect with whom I had this conventions. anyways, Movie was nice. finished at 10. meet another friend, went to local music bar watched live performance from 2 indie bands from UK- HomeLife and Savoy Grand.

Another wonderful day,weekend..one that I had no plans for. Well, turns out my plan was- to be surprised.

Its one of those days...

Changes

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Last week I was bit down and on Friday I was sick. I woke up on Saturday to notice wonderful sunny day but streets were covered with overnight snow. Took a picture of my backyard and went about doing the usual weekend morning routine(I say morning but its actually around 12.))..making coffee, breakfast, took shower and in about 2hrs, I noticed all the snow gone... What a difference 2hours of sun makes.

Its perfect analogy to Life. is it not? One sick day had cleared my memory for not-so good days in that week and everything started fresh..like that 2hours of sunshine. Fact is life has so many uncontrollable parameter at play. Thinking about those too much will only keep the focus away from other controllable parameters.

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

Following bliss

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Sometimes when you are feeling lost with no sense of direction and don't know where you are heading then you should close your eyes and think about moments of joy & happiness, deep happiness. Its called Following your bliss. I am trying...

Vote for Backpacking Ninja

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Travel has been part of my dna. Growing up my dad never missed any opportunity for family holidays to travel all corners of india (and nepal). Every couple of years, we used up his LTC scheme to travel 30/45days summer trip to travel across the country. we started from Kashmir when I was 7/8yr old and his last LTC trip before retirement was to Andaman islands. Traveling was part of my childhood, so it was natural for me to use up all possible to relocate and travel with every possible opportunity i had to explore new places and people. its great liberating experience.

My personality test say i am a explorer type. but frankly for most part i had decent job with possibilities to travel to various countries and I did my pick for 20-30days/year vacation travel. and I even took break from my worklife to explore few corners but minute I got good decent job offer, I came back to comfort-zone.
I always had great admiration for traveler, lonely planet book maker. (Roff's vagabonding was good read and now he is my facebook friend..;))

anyways, point is-I have been stocking Backpacking Ninja aka aparna for sometime now. All I know is- she has passion to explore and courage to let go daily lazy life. That's very admiring skills to have.

Now I hear she is finalist for India Today's search for explorer.

and for me, her story is worth voting for. Ok honestly I am biased even other's stories seems to be cool. but vote for her anyways.;)
vote here @ Titan World

Buzzing

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with Google announcing Buzz, I was wondering- How many online avatar one can manage!? it's all getting overloaded. although i like to the idea of gmail integration but I would much rather prefer if orkut would be integrated instead.

Interesting start

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Year so far: 2010 had interesting start with mixed emotions. Now visiting my beloved city, which I call it second home(London). During past month, big part of my attention was about thinking thru how & where next 11months should be. Hope the months ahead would evolve to shape my thoughts more clearly.

Backlog: I did complete 20books in 2009 but I was so lazy to update book review blog. I should do back dated update…I should. I should.

Addiction: I have some impulsive habits and when I feel its becomes addiction then I test myself to check if I can live without it. I thought I was addicted to TV so when I relocated to new place, I didn’t buy TV. For almost 5+yrs I don’t have TV but I did watch some favorite shows via www. I don’t feel the need for TV. Because of that I could spend more time reading & writing. Fewdays back I thought I am addicted to facebook. so tested myself and again I manage to avoid log-in for week without hurting my brain-cells. Hip hip.. so I can live without facebook(If I have too..))
Now I know, I am addicted to internet.. rest is fine.

And ya, someone had time & interest to publish what I have to say—at webneetech

Me in 2009

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Thanks to Suicide Hotline and Enigmatic Rantings, I landed on
Final week of 2009 @ Sunday Stealing

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Tattoo

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not really.

3. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
with friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes

5. What countries did you visit?
Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, UK, Switzerland, India, etc...

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
hmm..Probably relocation.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
3rd weekend of July..spent lovely weekend in Bangalore with a friend.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
9. What was your biggest failure?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
my DSLR Camera & Pair of rings for parents on Dad's 60th birthday.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, phonecalls, investments,..

13. What song will always remind you of 2009?
MJ's songs for obvious reasons and for very different personal reasons..
Citizen Cope - Son's Gonna Rise
(Telugu) Anand - Nuvvena
(Hindi) Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
calls

15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
eating

16. What was your favourite TV program?
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

18. What was the best book you read?
House of Stairs, Life of Pi,

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Tracy Chapman, Thirteen Sense, Citizen cope,...and more.

20. What was your favorite film of this year?
District 9, Hangover,..

21. What did you do on your birthday?
home party with friend celebrating me becoming wiser

22. What kept you sane?
Optimism

23. Who did you miss?
will always miss the friend who lost during the year.

24. Who was the best new person you met?
many of them..folks from Alicante needs specially mentioning.

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Do as little as possible, and that unwillingly, for it is better to receive a slight reprimand than to perform an arduous task. The corollary to this is that an awful lot of life’s problems solve themselves if you leave them be.;)

May this new year bring many opportunities to your way,
to explore every joy of life &
may your resolutions for the days ahead stay firm,
turning all your dreams into reality
and all your efforts into great achievements.
Happy New Year to you & your loved ones.

Never a year like 2009 (american news summarized)