Arrival

" We were born with our eyes wide open
So alive with wild hope
Now can you tell me why
Time after time
They drag you down
Down in the darkness deep
Fools in their madness all around
Know that the lights don't sleep

Step into the silence
Take it in your own two hands
And scatter it like diamonds
All across these lands
Blaze it in the morning
Wear it like an iron skin
Only things worth living for
Innocence and magic - amen" -- David Gray, Silver Lining.

Humans (aka Technology Part II)

I should techincally list my best friend as a technology. No one makes my life easier more than my best friend, at least at this point in my life.
I vent at her, make her cook for me, get angry if she doesn't laugh at my jokes, and tell her totally pointless stories and expect her attention, which I actually get. It's awesome.

Invention of friends was the greatest thing ever. For example, mine are a really eccentric and assorted bunch.

There are some who I have known since high school in India. I tend to have really long heart to heart talks with them. They know where I am coming from and they generally tend to be more understanding of things that sometimes don't even make sense to me. My old friends are my all time favorites.

Others, I know because I chose a certain major. We usually sit in classes together, bitch about college together, do homework together and have nervous breakdowns together. I am serious about the last part. There is no real bonding unless you've shared a panic attack and screamed at each other. You hate this now but you'll be all emotional and tearing up about it at your graduation.

Next come the people who work the Triangle.
We're one hell of a family. As in all families, we too bitch about each other behind their backs. Sometimes, it's all the fun we have in a week. Most of us become friends because we just inevitably end up spending an insane amount of time together. It's like, initially you don't know anyone; none of your tastes match. You think they're weird, their music is weird, the fashion police should totally lock up them, they have no political judgement and the world would totally be a better place without them because they just downright suck. But what can you do, you need them. And then eventually, you learn to laugh at and with them, tolerate them and possibly even thank them at the end of the day. It's awesome. No really, I mean it. It's the only place where I really learnt to like people I didn't like at all.

I also have some friends who I know because we worked together. It's sometimes hard to imagine how much other people can enrich your life and make you grow, if only you choose to reach out to them. And let them reach out you and be honest and trusting. I'm a big fan of companionship and sharing my life with people of consequence to my heart. To me, that's what relationships are. These friends of mine have taught me about love, respect, warmth, culture and people. I feel myself falling into a new personality as I discover through these people, who I am and what I connect with.

Yay to my friends. I would have named you all in this post but then chose not to for a variety of reasons.

Technology

I am writing about technology. Oh yeah.

Well, I'll ramble off on tangents as you continue reading but I had to pick something to get your attention.

So, let us start. What is technology? Anything that makes my life easier.
Good.

So, what are some of my favorite technologies?
Soap, paper, the wheel, catapult, elastic bands, velcro, shoes, elastic bands, my bike (a unicycle is kinda neat too), my laptop, Internet, cell phones, ball bearings, and toothbrush.

While listing these things, I couldn't help but think about paper. No one gives paper enough credit anymore. I mean, look at me. Writing a freaking blog on a website instead of jotting down my thoughts in a diary. And no, its not because I don't want to waste paper because I care about trees. Typing is faster than writing.

Sucks.

So, I work at the Triangle, student newspaper at Drexel. We're weekly and independent and all that good stuff. Got our own website too. So yeah, we're quite snazzy, or at least we try real hard to be so.
Producing the paper every Thursday involves computers, programs, templates and ...um, food.
No paper. It's weird. Come to think of it, the only thing we use pens for it to leave rude/endearing messages on post-its on people's computers, and to throw them at each other when we need attention. Mind you, we only leave written post-it messages on your machines if you don't have a post-it widget installed on your computer. The only thing we use paper for is to see previews of the newspaper in print.

Interesting.

Ball bearings are really underestimated too. They are the heart and soul of all your freaking machines, except some really weird and annoying machines like computers. Trust me, computers wouldn't be half as annoying and weird if they got some good old ball bearings. I'm not kidding, ask those mechanical engineers. I mean, they are everywhere. All your motors use them, all those yo-yos that you used to play with, your bike, your car and even some real neat stuff like earthquake proof buildings. Think about it, there would be no pyramids in Egypt if there were no roller bearings.

Catapults. Or slingshots. You really can't ignore them; they're just so unique. And if you're from a country like India where kids use them to steal fruits from trees in other people's gardens, you'll really connect with what I'm talking about. Back in the day -- when I was all little and innocent -- I used to have this wooden masterpiece that my friend had made for me, and it was all purpose. I used it to get my mother's attention (I would make paper balls and shoot them at her and then get whacked in the head when she came by but that's a different story...), I used it to break my neighbors' windows whenever they dumped garbage in our yard, for the aforementioned fruit stealing and etc. Life isn't the same anymore without a catapult.

Your mouth has a healthy population of protozoans if you don't appreciate toothbrushes. You might have noticed people cringe when you open your mouth. Take the hint.

And you should die if you don't know why velcro is awesome.

Forget me not.

I am a poet, not.
Lover, not.
Believer, not.
A giver, not.
A florist, not.
Beautiful, not.

My faith is barren,
My dreams are colored with no bright hues.
Dry kisses touch my parched soul,
Fullfilling me, not.

And I have seen the eyes of slient whimpers,
Wrapped in the agony of twisted emotions,
Destructive and powerful,
But shattering me, not.

And I have heard cacophony of hollow simpers,
Reverberating with their own illusions,
Enthralling and luring,
But captivating me, not.

Running barefeet on the path of life,
Bleeding on the rocks in my way,
They cut me deep,
But I give up, not.

I have cleaved the skies with my hands,
Shone through the clouds,
Light bright and radiant on my face,
It's mine to feel,
Follow me, not.

Hate me, not.
Love me, not.
But forget me not.


copyright June 2007

Let's talk

[Start]

So. Let's go for a walk.

“Your life beckons you. Are you ready?”
“No. I never was. I don’t think I will ever.”
“Oh yes, you will. You don’t have a choice.”

Silence.

“Your favorite color is black?”
“Yes. So?”
“Nothing. But…Isn’t Black what you get when all other wavelengths of light get absorbed?”
“Yes, so?”
“No other color can threaten Black. They all merge into it.”
“I like Blue was well.”
“Just as much as you like Black?”
“No.”

Pause.

“So, what threatens you?”
“What?”
“What are you afraid of?”
“I am not afraid.”

Pause.

“Why so much escapism?”
“There is no escapism. Leave me alone.”
“What do you fear?”
“Failure and rejection.”
“Those are just society’s perceptions. Break away from them.”
“I can’t.”
“You don’t need their judgment. You are not for sale.”
“Maybe I am…Stop looking into my eyes!”
“But they are doors.”
“And they are closed.”
“If I look long enough, they will open.”
“No, they won’t. Go away!”

Continue walking.

“What is in the rain?”
“Acid.”
“And in tears?”
“Water, Salt and Pain.”
“But you love the rain, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“The rain teaches you how to kiss.”
“Yes.”
“The rain brings back memories.”
“Yes.”
“The rain bleeds you white.”
“Yes.”
“The rain…it speaks.”
“What does it say?”
“It says… ‘Be free, my love.’ Let go.”

[End.]