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This week had been just a "plain vanilla" week. Nothing much happened. Will be travelling out of station this Friday, so preparing and posting the quick takes a day earlier.
Since many days my daughter has been asking me to plan a trip to Ahmedabad. This place is like my second home. My uncle, aunt and brother live there. Myself and my daughter are also fortunate to have good friends there. Somehow I have taken a liking to the place and my family also loves spending time there. Last summer my daughter took a certificate course in French language from the Ahmedabad branch of Alliance Francaise, which she completed successfully. So now to collect her certificate we have planned a weekend trip. Looking forward to a good time there!
Illusions and delusions
Came across this interesting post "How your habits become productivity-draining distractions" on a group that I follow on Facebook. The post starts with an optical illusion called the Lilac Chaser, where, when we concentrate our vision on the black cross, the running dots encircling the cross seem to completely disappear; and they promptly return with our slightest distraction. The discussion in the post leads us to getting unplugged from this wired world. So true! We are surrounded by a variety of gadgets, all connecting us to the digital world. We have become so obsessed that we cannot imagine even a single minute without them. Could not agree more with what the post has rephrased Emerson as: "It's easy to unplug when one is off in the woods, but great is he who in the midst of his technology, keeps the independence of unplugging." An eye opener indeed. I am thinking of spending one day in a week (perhaps Sunday?) totally unplugged. I hope it will not join the stream of unfulfilled resolutions.
Came across this interesting post "How your habits become productivity-draining distractions" on a group that I follow on Facebook. The post starts with an optical illusion called the Lilac Chaser, where, when we concentrate our vision on the black cross, the running dots encircling the cross seem to completely disappear; and they promptly return with our slightest distraction. The discussion in the post leads us to getting unplugged from this wired world. So true! We are surrounded by a variety of gadgets, all connecting us to the digital world. We have become so obsessed that we cannot imagine even a single minute without them. Could not agree more with what the post has rephrased Emerson as: "It's easy to unplug when one is off in the woods, but great is he who in the midst of his technology, keeps the independence of unplugging." An eye opener indeed. I am thinking of spending one day in a week (perhaps Sunday?) totally unplugged. I hope it will not join the stream of unfulfilled resolutions.
One of my very good friends in the US is moving and relocating nearer to his family. We got in touch seven years ago (in 2006) while I was working in the university system, through a forum for Theological Librarianship. What wonderful guy he is! He is one good friend I will always cherish. As he starts his new job, I am sure, we will have more things to share, laugh and learn. Wishing him a very happy relocation, luck and best times in his new job, new life!
New savoury found!
Sharmi's Passions posted a new savoury preparation that attracted me to trying it out myself. Oats Crackers - looks like a totally healthy version of something yummy to satiate my in-between hunger pangs. Oats are known to be health benefactors for all age groups. I have been trying out several recipes with oats. This one seems to a little different. One of my cousins is a huge fan of oats, so much so that she practically lived only them to reduce. This reminds me to share this recipe with her.
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This week's song
O re pakhi....... from Khoya Khoya Chand. This film has not been a commercial success though. The songs are good. Music by Shantanu Moitra and lyrics penned by Swanand Kirkire, the movie reminded me of the olden days, Guru Dutt's movies. Well, Sonu and Shreya have been very very versatile in their rendition. I am also reminded of the time when we lived in Pune while my husband was served the most coveted Film & TV Institute of India (FTII) in the media field. Memories of old Prabhat studios, the passion of film lovers, the Saturday screenings of film lovers club at National Film Archives of India (NFAI), just across the lane. What beautiful time! It never struck me back then, but now I feel I should take the Film Appreciation course conducted by NFAI-FTII. I have been so immersed in higher education, research, science & technology areas for the past fifteen odd years that when I think of my Pune times I wonder what a different world it was! Different, yet, ever-attractive and wonderful!
O re pakhi....... from Khoya Khoya Chand. This film has not been a commercial success though. The songs are good. Music by Shantanu Moitra and lyrics penned by Swanand Kirkire, the movie reminded me of the olden days, Guru Dutt's movies. Well, Sonu and Shreya have been very very versatile in their rendition. I am also reminded of the time when we lived in Pune while my husband was served the most coveted Film & TV Institute of India (FTII) in the media field. Memories of old Prabhat studios, the passion of film lovers, the Saturday screenings of film lovers club at National Film Archives of India (NFAI), just across the lane. What beautiful time! It never struck me back then, but now I feel I should take the Film Appreciation course conducted by NFAI-FTII. I have been so immersed in higher education, research, science & technology areas for the past fifteen odd years that when I think of my Pune times I wonder what a different world it was! Different, yet, ever-attractive and wonderful!
Well, I hope you'll enjoy Sonu Nigam in this song.
These words caught my attention. I am suddenly reminded of a person who used to say we should not do any such work or service that extracts less of our skills. If we are capable to performing better, thinking better for an improved or an enhanced contribution, we should never settle for less even though we may presently not see an opportunity to contribute. We will surely be given a suitable opportunity at the right time. It is in us to identify, acknowledge, receive and utilize it to its brim. This week's debates and discussions at home concluded by acknowledging the above words.
A young friend of mine writes about "experience" in her blog. She quotes Albert Einstein "the only source of knowledge is experience" and discusses various facets of experience. Appreciate her eloquent expression. My take on experience is the length of experience may not matter really. What matters is whether or not we have derived something from it. What matters is whether or not we could put that experience to any betterment in our lives. If the only source of knowledge is experience, and Albert Einstein is right, then we should also acknowledge that the only method of helping ourselves through situations is by putting that knowledge to work….. i.e., turn it into wisdom, to discriminate our thoughts and actions so that we can make our lives more meaningful and worth living.
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Himalayan Tsunami
Nature has once again roared its fury. The Himalayan Tsunami in Uttarakhand has been an unprecedented unfortunate "national calamity", the cloudbursts again. Hundreds of lives lost and thousands lost and stranded! News reports state that the met-man's warnings haven't been taken seriously. We have not taken many warnings seriously. We have been clearing forests and building concrete jungles mindlessly. Necessity and perhaps our greed (powered by our necessities and wants) to some extent have driven us to this extent. However, it is our own people who have suffered. I thank God that our house owner had a narrow escape. He, along with his group members went to Vaishno Devi, Amarnath during this time. Glad that he returned just the day before this calamity struck. Efforts are on to rescue the people and help the affected. Indian Army deserves applause and kudos yet again. Prayers are being said for the departed souls and for the stranded souls. Hope we will come out it soon.
Nature has once again roared its fury. The Himalayan Tsunami in Uttarakhand has been an unprecedented unfortunate "national calamity", the cloudbursts again. Hundreds of lives lost and thousands lost and stranded! News reports state that the met-man's warnings haven't been taken seriously. We have not taken many warnings seriously. We have been clearing forests and building concrete jungles mindlessly. Necessity and perhaps our greed (powered by our necessities and wants) to some extent have driven us to this extent. However, it is our own people who have suffered. I thank God that our house owner had a narrow escape. He, along with his group members went to Vaishno Devi, Amarnath during this time. Glad that he returned just the day before this calamity struck. Efforts are on to rescue the people and help the affected. Indian Army deserves applause and kudos yet again. Prayers are being said for the departed souls and for the stranded souls. Hope we will come out it soon.
Wishing you all a happy weekend to begin yet another eventful week.
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