Kozhukattais, Kanjeevarams and Karting!!!

Today, after what seemed like ages, set foot in a temple. Three of us drove over to Livermore after a blissful lunch involving kozhukattais at S Bhavan. The stereo system was churning out Rahman's numbers from the 90's and we were involved in a discussion about the subversive eroticism (perhaps subversive is not the right word, too much of a negative connotation) that's very common in Tamil lyrics. Conversation that was benign from my perspective but would have made my grand-pa ask god to redeem my soul. Anyways, we arrive at the temple and are greeted by quite the crowd dressed in it's resplendent best. Men in pattu veshtis and sherwanis and the women flaunting their kanjeevarams and salwars reminding me of all the obligatory social occasions I was dragged to back home. Turned nostalgic for a bit and felt a calm descend on me. My belief systems preclude the possibility of god, so it set me off thinking about why temples had such an effect. Was it the memories from many summers past as a kid of the umpteen visits to the thousand gods, the thrilling myths and legends that morph into history, the sounds, the smells, the proud grandpas and the doting grandmoms, the food and the familiar tug of mum's voice making sure you didn't go off making chums with the monkeys and squirrels in the trees. Whatever the reason was, I did appreciate the time there. The day ended with a session at a local kart track. Modesty aside, did splendidly well and burnt quite a bit of rubber. Was a great end to a week that brought wonderful news about 2 of my friends getting engaged. And I still have a concert lined up for tommorrow and a book to finish :). And regarding the kanjeevarams, realized that i am still a sucker for a woman in a well draped saree. Sigh!!!!

-shri

Rings True!!!

via The Daily Dish.

"With every day that passes, I am more convinced that the act of writing is a conscious act of humility."

That explains why i feel like i am scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

-shri

Visual Poetry

Paradox of Choice

Came across this while trolling through the TED comments section on a talk about choice and am sure it's true of the most of us, for value is relative...

dad to two sons: Boys, i have got you christmas gifts and I haven't decided who gets what. Since John is the younger of the two, i will let him pick first and then Mark can take what's left.

John: i will have whatever Mark's picking!!!

and in that one smartass line, i believe, is the reduction of every man's motivation to do what he does... to have what the next guy has!!!!!!!!!!!

-shri

Scrubs - Holy Inferiority Complex Batman

ROFLMAO!!

I dreamed a dream!!

Susan Boyle has been plastered all over the news and the internet these past few days and I ended up watching this endearing and mindblowing performance of hers. It was one of those truly "In your face, sock it" kind of moments that highlights in bold all your cynicism and prejudices.

What i was happier to find was the song itself... "I dreamed a dream" from Les Miserables. It is from a West End musical of the same name. I am absolutely smitten by this song. Such anguish, frustration and sadness. It could have been penned by Tolkien himself :). A very moving piece of poetry and the last two lines, they are worth their own weight in gold.

Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

-shri

Dumb and Dumberer

Texas as a whole just got a little dumber today. Here

Here is one of the creationists' contentions

One amendment calls for students to "analyze and evaluate scientific explanations concerning any data on sudden appearance and stasis and the sequential groups in the fossil record."

They should realize that they are shooting themselves in the foot by asking people to "analyze" and "evaluate" theories. I am sure their own positions do not stand up to a first grader's questions without resorting to "faith" as the answer.

Stupidity does seem to be enjoying a resurgence. Right no?

-shri