Can't turn away

I am so glad that I don't have a TV at home. Looking at the pictures on the net is bad enough. A Tsunami in India, who'd have thought of it? If media reports are to be believed, about 20,000 people have lost their lives. Shocking! One morning, you lie half-awake in bed, or take a walk on the beach, enjoying the sunrise - and before you know it, the ocean opens its mouth wide and gobbles up everything - you, your home, your loved ones, everything.

Christmas

The time of the year when Santa comes ho-ho-ing with Rudolph's red nose lighting up the hearts of little children (and some not-so-little-children) with the joy of giving, and more importantly, receiving gifts. For a non-Christian kid, it is about carols sounding from the neighbour's house, begging Dad to let me hang a star on the porch, and hoping that the jolly old man in the funny red suit doesn't discriminate on the basis of religion -" I know all the stories from the Bible, Santa". Christmas is about the colour Red, chocolate cake and wine. And the beginning of a long party session.

New monkey species found

Scientists have found a new species of macaque in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The Macaca munzala lives in high altitudes, IMO, the first known macaque species to do so. Nice to hear about the discovery of a new species of primate, when so many others are fast becoming extinct.

On Phiolosophy, or why we invent it

'Swades' turned out to be one long movie. Shah Rukh is a surprise, with a performance that is devoid of most of his usual antics. However, the movie lacks depth and utterly fails to convince me that a guy should give up a potentially promising career at NASA and settle down in a gaon in India. Is the movie trying to tell us that we can actually do something about everything else? Yes, the plight of villagers in India is miserable, but haven't we learnt to turn a blind eye to misfortune when it is not ours? How many young sparks have we met that have turned into wizened old men who think that action depends on a veil of illusion. Understanding destroys action, says Philosophy. The sad part is that most of us understand too well.

On working out

I'm at an age and position where I simply must start to exercise. It is a pain to discover that the days of eating everything you can lay your hands on and still stay skinny are over. The age of working out has arrived. What's the problem with that? - it requires a supreme effort of will to make yourself start after a dull day at work and 3 hours of travel. But get past that, and its a real good way to bust the accumulated stress. Plus, the bliss after the workout is almost spiritual. May the Powers That Be give me the courage to start everyday!

What's life without a little fantasy?

One of the best things about travelling in Mumbai's local trains is the conversation. This morning, I was trying my best to sleep in the women's first class when three college kids got in. Usual talk - clothes, boys, parents... till the topic of movies came up. Harry Potter. One of the girls then said that she hates movies about magic, like Harry Potter, Star Wars (!), and the Lord of the Rings. Quote - they have no base in reality!-Unquote. Well, as a person who reads fiction like my life depends on it, I'd like to say this - What's the fun in reality? We are faced with more than enough of it in everyday life, work, money, people... What's life without fantasy? A little bit of the unreal can spice up your life. Try it, and you'll be amazed!