Sneek-peek into my world

I spoke too soon...

2007-04-12T17:09:00.000-04:00

I must have jinxed it! Winter ain't gone yet!!! WTF?, indeed!

Firstly, I still have the heater on and running in my apartment! Heat in April?! Man! I thought I'd be able to cut down on my electricity bill once spring rolls in! So much for my financial plans! By the time winter is done, it's going to be time to turn on the air conditioner! Summers in Baltimore are intense!!!

Secondly, since I thought I wouldn't be needing my winter clothes anymore, I put them "away", someplace I didn't think I'd see in a long time... and frankly, I don't feel like digging them out... that's what I'm supposed to be doing in October/November! No one does this twice in one year!!! (You northerners know what I'm talking about!) Shoving away winter clothes (after a good dry cleaning) into old suitcases or heavy trunks all the way up in the attic, or underneath the bed, or somewhere deep in the closet! Who wants to go there again?!

Thirdly, ever since November, I haven't been out jogging in the fresh air, and since I am too poor to sign up with Bally's, I haven't really been exercising! :S
You can well imagine how much I really need to now that we're in April!

Lastly, I'm just tired of shivering and bundling my poor body with tons of layers of clothing. My skin needs to breath! My feet need to breath!!!

Yo Spring!!! Where you at?!

After Winter must come Spring

2007-04-02T14:51:00.001-04:00

As I lay on my couch on a Monday afternoon, sipping on some hot chocolate and staring out of my window, out at the barren trees, I was wondering when they would bloom like the other trees I see on the roadsides of streets and highways while I am driving to wherever my destination may be. Or like the cherry blossoms I saw lined along the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park in Washington DC.

After winter, must come spring…

Lauryn Hill’s aphorism from Everything is Everything, wouldn’t stop recurring in my head. After a bitter and gloomy winter, it was fantastic to finally see color again. Green luscious grass, splashes of color thanks to the blossoming flowers, both domestic and wild, the glare of the sun mixed with gentle breeze. “This is perfect”, I kept thinking to myself!

The weather was cooperating with my emotions for a change. And so was Mother Nature. A few friends and I were down in DC yesterday to entertain our sights and sounds at the annual Cherry Blossom festival.

Since words wouldn't quite do justice in describing the Cherry Blossoms, I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

A little History

According to Wikipedia, "The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual celebration in Washington, D.C., from March 31st through April 15th, commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift to the city of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo. Mayor Ozaki donated the trees in an effort to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan and also celebrate the continued close relationship between the two peoples."

The famous trees signal the coming of spring with an explosion of life and color surrounding the Tidal Basin portion of the West Potomac Park in a sea of pale pink and white. The two-week festival is kicked off with an opening ceremony, followed by a dizzying array of activities and cultural events. Every day there is a sushi/sake celebration, classes about cherry blossoms, and a bike tour of the Tidal Basin. Art exhibits figure heavily during this time, such as photography (both local and Asian), sculpture, animation, and various cultural performances throughout Washington, D.C. Rakugo, kimono fashion shows, art exhibits, dance, singing, martial arts, merchant-sponsored events, and much more can be seen during this time.

The Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run is held as part of the festival on the first Sunday in April. Because the festival must be planned long in advance, it sometimes fails to be celebrated during the peak of the cherry blooms. On the last Saturday of the festival, there is the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, followed by the Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival, a celebration of Japan presented by the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C.

You Go Girls!

2007-01-30T11:56:00.000-05:00

OK! So I've been away. And I didn't quite live up to my promise that made it sound like the blog was going to be bombarded with new interesting posts... and I apologize; didn't think grad school was going to be this demanding!

Excuses?! Maybe, but I'm here now.. . to share an article I just read on BBC News Online. I wasn't aware of an all-female unit of peacekeeping insurgents with the UN! I was even more shocked in a positive light that those deployed in Liberia are from India! And all this time I thought women were being shunned and ridiculed for thinking they could make a difference in India! Well, don't get it twisted... for that still happens in small towns and villages. Women today are still forced into child marriage or even just marriage, and some parents still think of their daughters as burden to their shoulders! Many poor families would rather send their sons to schools and home school their daughters to learn the oh-so-challenging art of housekeeping! Furthermore, some families that can afford to get their daughters educated do so only because it credits the girl’s bio-data (very similar to that of a Curriculum Vitae). No, seriously! In arranged-marriages, the primary step is for both families to exchange bio-datas enlisting everything from DOB to complexion to length of hair… to hobbies, career and degrees earned, oh yeah, and a picture or pictures of the girl and guy! I don’t know why that even matters because it is common for the woman to quit work after marriage! I suppose with the tremendous and unstoppable intervention of the western culture through media, cultural barriers are being fractured little by little.

And now... the article!

Female peacekeepers reach Liberia

Pic: The unit are experienced in battling insurgency

The first all-female unit of United Nations peacekeepers has arrived in Liberia's capital, Monrovia.
The group of more than 100 police women from India will stay in Liberia for six months, helping to train the local police force.

They will also carry out security duties in forthcoming local elections.

The UN currently has 15,000 peacekeepers deployed in Liberia, which is struggling to recover after a 14-year civil war.

The unit is made up volunteers drawn from across India and are experienced in battling insurgencies in Kashmir and the north-east.

UN police advisor Mark Kroeker, who has served with the Los Angeles Police Department for more than 30 years, says the presence of women in UN missions enhances their access to vulnerable populations.

"It also sends a message to the post-conflict societies where we work that women officers can have any position and play any role in a police organisation," he said.

Courtesy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6314263.stm

I'M BAAAACKKK!!!

2006-11-09T14:08:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z can be so inspiring,
If he can come back from retiring,
I can come back to blogging!

And guess what?

I'M BAAAAAACCKK!!!

When Kingdom Come, You ready?
The Queen will Come, I'm ready
I'm ready

Now everywhere I go they like sur-B back
Up out the corner office of cul-de-sac
Where's K-Dawg he was the coldest cat
Get your swag back daddy where your focus at?
Got to admit a lil' bit I was sick of the blog world
But despite that the girl has returned…

I’M BAAAACKK!!!

Yeah! Okay… I’m not tryin’ to be whack,
With my introduction,
But to tell you the truth,
I’m so excited.. I’m full of passion!
Enthusiasm… to share my views,
My feelings, my truth, my deals,
Share some info… show off my skills.
Let my business be known…
This queen’s on her thrown…
Forget that biscuit, that scone,
Those jokers, $ … O Kingdom hear me out…
I’m gonna be typin’ away… until my fingers crack… NO DOUBT!

Remix by Jay-Z feat. Sur-B

Nigeria and a long overdue Sestina

2006-07-15T10:49:00.000-04:00

So Italy went home victorious from the World Cup! However, it seemed like Zidane's little episode was more the talk of the town than Italy's win.

Anyways, I haven't updated this blog in a while, and that's because I'm currently in Nigeria... home of the Super Eagles, one of the OPEC nations, the land that holds all my childhood memories. Yeah, I'm back in Africa for a couple of weeks and I've decided to give back to the community during my short stay. So I have started volunteering at this NGO called Hope for AIDS Outreach. It's a relatively new NGO and apart from spreading awareness, it focuses on working with the already affected and tries to improve the lives of those who've lost their loved ones to AIDS. Of course, the NGO has a few financial set-backs, but this doesn't stop it from maximizing its resources like human power to spread awareness. In other words, the NGO relies on volunteers and a very low monetary fund to push the word of AIDS prevention throughout Lagos.

On my first day, the head of the NGO set up a tour, where a couple of people from South Africa and I were to learn about various health related issues being faced by the poor in some of the areas. I took some pictures, but I won't be able to post them any time soon. I visited a Malaria infested site, some really filthy slums, a tiny but well facilitated hospital for the poor owned by two brothers who are trying to make a difference in these people's lives, a couple of churches that are trying to break through some conventional barriers and start addressing the problem of AIDS, despite how stigmatized the topic might be and a brothel, yes... a brothel... a major breeding ground for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS!

So according to the plan, by next week I will be teaming up with a fund-raising expert from Canada who will be volunteering with the org. for 3 weeks to put the NGO on a financially sound platform. Once we see signs of progress, a 6 month plan and a budget strategy will be formulated keeping in mind the organization’s goals. I'll keep y'all posted on that.

Anyways... here is a 180 degree change of events... Brian, who taught me about Sestinas, a French poetry writing style, extracted a couple of poems out of me. But first, here is a little introduction of what a Sestina is by Brian:

"One of the most difficult and complex of the various French forms, the sestina is a poem consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy. It makes no use of the refrain. This form is usually unrhymed, the effect of rhyme being taken over by a fixed pattern of end-words which demands that these end-words in each stanza be the same, though arranged in a different sequence each time.

Now, I wanted to include that not to discourage, but to challenge. Ok, each of the six stanzas will follow a specific pattern. The only words that matter in the poem, for the style’s sake of course, are the last words of each line. The first stanza will start the trend and the last words of each line will be enumerated 1-2-3-4-5-6. The lines of the next stanza must then proceed to be 6-1-5-2-4-3. 3rd: 3-6-4-1-2-5. 4th: 5-3-2-6-1-4. 5th: 4-5-1-3-6-2. 6th: 2-4-6-5-3-1. Now, the final stanza, the envoy, is three lines long and each line will end with 5-3-1, with 2, 4 and 6 being buried in the lines."

All right, so I chose the following words:
Prince, Sweet, Well, Pour, Coin and Wine... for no good reason and drafted a little Sestina, without the last stanza! Here goes:

In my dream I see a prince
He looks not just sweet
But, charming as well
Seconds later it starts to pour
Rain as rich as a hundred gold coins
As thick as tremendously aged wine

His lips are now thirsty and he's searching for wine
Meanwhile, I'm searching for this charming prince
Hoping for this dream to be real like my silver coins
I can't afford much, not even a fancy sweet
His wine is now served as the servants pour
Into a deep goblet, a mini-well

Sigh, about to be drunk! Oh, well
It is the pleasure of wine
And the rich have sorrows that they'd like to pour
Even a young and charming prince
Who now enjoys the taste of the red sweet
And indulges in pleasant thoughts, happiness he coins

Meanwhile, there lay on the floor are my 2 silver coins
One of which I had reserved for the wishing-well
The wish I want to make, so pure, so sweet
I wish the prince would not have to depend on that wine
For he is to be a role-model for many men, he's a prince
If he doesn't fulfill his righteous duties, the streets will witness an outrageous pour

At the castle however, the servants continue to pour
Expensive wine, a barrel worth 500 gold coins
Affordable only by the dynasty of the prince
Who peacefully lies on his divan, perhaps he is un-well
Oh no! What is a bitter outcome has this wine
For it is poison disguised as a liquid red sweet

Pale has the look on his skin, but the pink lips still taste sweet
From my eyes, tears pour
Disastrous is the product of this fine wine
That originates from 500 gold coins
Yet, my dreams have a charming prince, who keeps himself well
He shall forever be remembered in my heart, my prince

Brian then came up with 6 words and reasons as to why he selected those words:

"Love- it is my one true emotion
Smile-happy when smiling
Hot-like hot weather, hot water
Song-listen to music soothes me
Book-read over 10,000
Curious-never stop learning"

Out of which I pulled out another Sestina...

Got to love a smile,a mile long smile;
who can ignore a smile bursting with love?
While there are some like the Mona Lisa, drives us all curious
For artists after artists, researchers after researchers have written many a book
And some even a song
Illustrating the effervescence of a smile, short or long, cold or hot!

Often hear guys say, "Oh, she's hot!"
probably coz of her sweet smile
that leads those very guys to sing her a song
Is it love?
Only in a fairy-tale book
that get us down to Earth women curious.

Now I am the one who is curious
When the weather is all hot
And I'm laying on the beach reading a book
I send this cute hunk a cute smile
and we both fall in love
or that's how goes that song

that song
that gets everyone curious
is it lust or love
lust for that body so hot
or love for that beautiful smile
So I decided to write a book

And in my book
there ain't no song
I keep it real about what I think of the smile
and for all those out there who are curious
I am not short of a hot
lustful love

I am indeed in love
not with a guy from a fairy-tale like book
and no he isn't exactly hot
and no I don't sing him no song
Oh! Aren't you just curious
But, all I shall reveal is a silent smile

There is more to love than a love song,
Love isn't written in a book, it is felt by the soul so curious
a feeling not warm, but hot like from an explosion, that doesn't bring sadness, but instead, a smile!

Come up with your own Sestinas, they're a great way to get over boredom!

Okay, Over and Out!

Loving Soccer

2006-06-27T16:05:00.000-04:00

Yeah! Soccer/Football definitely brings us (people of various ethnic backgrounds, races, sexual orientations, and so on) together... It's all love (unless you're some fanatic, of course, in which case, it's not just love)!!! Praise be to FIFA World Cup 2006! Look at 'em boys! Aww... Group Hug Everyone!!!!!!=)

Bewilderment

2006-06-14T14:55:00.000-04:00

From slow to fast, from liquid to solid,
soft to harsh…like gentle waves forming a tsunami;
like the soft breeze developing into a hurricane;
That's the manner thoughts have been rushing my brain.

The little noises in my head creating confusion,
as they artfully muffle the sounds with mystification;
or they scatter around and nauseatingly yell in incomprehension.

And when those noises get rowdy,
it pushes my mind to a state of perplexity,
raising cause for uncertainty;
questions arise, "Why me?", "Why me?"

Why such stupefaction,
followed by such hesitation,
My mind is about to explode due to such puzzlement,
Watch out! For it is about to create a sweltering dent!

I need answers,
I need your honesty;
I need your faith,
I need your integrity.

I need your love,
I need our happiness;
yes, there will always be pain,
but with you by my side, I'm ready to confront that ugly crane.
Only with you by my side though, only with you by my side,
for if that's not the case, this body shall lose that face in which you reside.

Da Word of Da Day - "D"

2006-05-26T11:38:00.000-04:00

Recently, Madame Mahima came up with 10 L-words and described each one as to how they fit her best! For the sake of entertainment, I asked her to give me a letter and have me continue this little game and she generously gave me, D! The idea is to jot down the first ten words that come to your mind starting with the underlined letter, and then write on that letter. So many poured into my mind as I sat down to think of my D-words, but these are my top ten...

Daniel
I've always loved names starting with 'D', but Daniel is more of a recently "acquired" one. The names that I have liked include, Dimitri (from Anastasia), Diya (lamp, Hindi), Deepa (lamp, Hindi), Daisy, Dennis (...the Menace), Damon (loyal, Greek), Daniel (God is my Judge, Hebrew), Dilton (from the Archies), Diana (Divine, Greek), Dwayne (also just recently acquired... hint-hint... Wade) *gives a big cheesy smile*

Dogs
I love dogs. Man's best friend. And that's for real! Is too... I can prove it!
Incident 1: Surbhi falls sick in the middle of the night; everyone tries to shove medicines down her throat so they could get back to their beauty sleeps, but my grandpa's dog, stayed by my side ALL NIGHT!!! I found him right next to me in the morning, staring at my face... I swear!
Incident 2:
My little brother thinks he can beat me up whenever he likes, and he does so by first teasing me and tries to get me all worked up, but grandpa's dog notices and looks hard at my brother! (Smart dog!)
Then my little brother comes close and the dog starts to snare at my brother.
Boys aren't too smart, so obviously he ignores those warnings, and is about to hit me, when ::boom:: grandpa's dog comes between us, almost rips of my brother's shorts and starts barking!!! (Smart, faithful and brave!)

Dream
I love to dream. Whether it's while sleeping or during the day, I love to dream! Wait, there's nothing wrong with dreaming. Didn't the greatest inventions of today first start via a dream?! Who knows, I could be a future-great-inventor! The most common complain my mom would get during Parent-Teacher's meetings was that I seemed so lost in thought, like I was day dreaming. I was physically present in class, but my mind always seemed busy elsewhere. Of course, I denied it, and told my mom I didn't know what my teachers were talking about. I was and am a dreamer! Oh, dreams can be so sweet. You can choose exactly what you want to dream about, and *poof*... you're out on this beautiful adventure, for instance, an Indiana Jones spoof, where I'm leading a top secret mission, holding a map to a magic spell, fighting snakes and lions, and hey… if things go wrong, you can always snap out of it without a scratch on your delicate skin! Why do I feel like no one is feeling me on this one? Whatever, haters!!

Deep
I can be deep
.
.
.
.
.
Uh... that was deep! Too deep, too deep!

Dolls
As a kid I was always surrounded by dolls in my little playroom. I had this one particular doll that I loved, my Russian doll! It was gorgeous, and if I allowed myself to surgically change the way I look, I'd change me to look like her! She was fabulous... until my baby brother poked her divine blue eyes out! I don't remember crying as hard as I did that day! And let's not forget my Barbie and Ken collection!!! I still have some of them boxed up somewhere in my parent's garage! One of the reasons why I want a daughter (well, when it's time) is so that I could buy her all these dolls and a doll house and join in and play with them or just seize all the dolls for myself!!! A pathetic mom!?! I know!

Desserts
Dessert should have been my middle name. [Surbhi Dessert Seth or Surbhi D. Seth] Desserts!!! My biggest weakness! I'm surprised I didn't think of it before the rest of the D-words, but better now than 2 points later! My dream is to work in an environment that would surround me with desserts, for instance owning a bakery/cafe/restaurant! I want to join a top culinary school's baking and dessert's program sometime in the future. If saccharine delights were actually healthy and good for you, I'd be a top model and on the cover of every glamour magazine!!! Scientists have actually found cocoa to be good for you, something about it harboring anti-oxidants, which as we all know keeps our immune system healthy! But on a more serious note, yes serious... imagine a rich chocolate truffle on your tongue, melting away in the heat of your enclosed mouth...
.
.
.
.
.
Oh... sorry for that long pause, I seemed to have gotten drifted there for a bit..... Yeah, so where was I? *gains composure* Right! Back to savoring that piece of chocolate... spreading to every taste bud on your tongue, into every nook and corner of your mouth....until you can't take it anymore and you mind explodes with joy... you swallow, but still enjoy the remnants lingering in your mouth. It's addictive, and you can't stop yourself from arresting another truffle... and the process repeats...
.
.
.
Darn... I drifted off again! Yes, it's that serious! Now we know why chocolates are said to be aphrodisiacs! Absolutely orgasmic!

Draw
Drawing has been a favorite pass time of mine. From middle school to high school, I had more sketches of women and things than I had of classnotes, etc. Sometime teachers wondered if I were drawing them. Either they'd ask to see what I was doing, or would dismiss it and have me carry on with it, in the hopes of having me frame it and present it to them! But little did they know, my cartoon-infested mind was working up a story/fantasy using art as a medium! Of course, I'd get in trouble with my parents, when they'd see endless sketches of whatever in my notebooks, so at times I remember resorting to drawing across my hands and legs instead! Crazy eh!?!

Diamond
I'm not too big on jewelry, but I have two favorite stones: the Emerald and the Diamond! And when they come together, they look even more gorgeous!!! Diamond is a girl's best friend they say... sometimes I wonder why is that, perhaps because... as Jay-Z put it, 'Diamond is Forever'!

Demand
Yes, I studied Economics in college and how could I possibly forget the line that endlessly rings in my head, ok it's not that serious but I shan't forget the professors passionately screaming, "Demand and Supply!" in those dingy classrooms! Outside the classroom, however, some say I can be very demanding! Now, when demand and supply equal each other, there is equilibrium or a balance. And balance is good... so as long as there is demand, there should be an equal amount of supply to balance things out. Which goes to say, when Surbhi demands something, it should be supplied!!! A simple theory, ain't it?!

Distinguished
Last, but not the least, D is for Distinguished! Distinguished stands for someone who is different or unique, or someone eminent, characterized by excellence! Yeah, it was one of the words that popped in my little tête! For those who know me and are currently shaking their heads as they read this, allow me to explain!

For one, I'm crazy! Now, I agree, there are numerous crazy folks out there... nothing unique about that, but hey... how many crazy people out can wrestle and pin a 6'2" tall 180 lbs. human to the ground?!! Yeah! I'm definitely unique!!! [I declare myself exempt from giving any further examples on how I fall into the 'distinguished' catagory!]

Thanks Mahi! :)
Anyone else want a letter?!

Women as POW

2006-05-24T13:49:00.000-04:00

It is rare that a woman from a developing or an under-developed country be allowed to fight in war. Perhaps the government rather have them take care of the family and the household, underestimating their strengths. To avoid a discussion on how women are physically not capable of handling the pressures in the battlefield, let me just say, don't fool yourselves. Today, women are active members of the armed forces in many countries, including the United States. But that isn't the point I'm trying to make.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, women are made prisoners of war (POW), not from taking up arms to fight the rebels, but because the rebels freely capture and torture them brutally. Of course, the government has other important things to worry about, such as pulling the country out of a political strife before it can file rape cases and bring justice to the victims. And I know that isn't realistically speaking, going to happen, not anytime soon and maybe even never.

What has been happening and is going to continue happening, is the increasing number of victims, victims to gang-rape, captive sex-slaves, victims to HIV/AIDS, victims to mental and physical torture, victims to the sickening by-product of war.

Today, thousands of women: daughters (including little girls), mothers, sisters and even grandmothers, all have lived through those episodes. For some it was a recurring ordeal. This morning I came across an article on Sexual Assault on the Women in Congo. The journalist, Jeff Koinange, who covered the article for CNN, did a good job diving into a pool of naked tears pouring from the eyes of the unfortunate Congolese women. All I know is they don't deserve this, no one deserves this, and because they can't voice their human rights, the more fortunate are going to have to.

Enlighten yourselves to the grieving truth of the world we live in and discover all that was bravely covered by Koinange.

If you can, check out the gallery and the video as well.

For those of you who would rather not read the article, please understand it is important to know and let others know or else, how are we supposed to successfully come together and speak for the metaphorically voiceless?

3 Strikes & you're OUT

2006-05-18T14:47:00.000-04:00

The ringer was set on vibrate, and since I was busy with work, an early morning call went unnoticed. A few hours later, I called my voicemail only to find myself invited to a baseball game. The following week the Baltimore Orioles were playing the Boston Red Sox. I immediately called my friend back and told him I was down with going to the game. This was supposed to be my first baseball game ever.

If you recall my first football game, you'll understand how being surrounded by a competitive, full-energy spirited crowd gets my adrenaline pumping, something about mass-cheering touches me and I can't help but join in, despite how silly it makes me look (especially if you don't really follow the sport).

The game was scheduled to commence yesterday. As soon as I wrapped things up at work, I headed home to shower and get ready to meet up with two of my high school mates and their friends. Gowri came to get me and together we drove to DSX, where Arun and his co-workers were preparing themselves for the 7 o clock game with some food and lots of beer. A couple of watered down shots were passed around and everyone cheered before gulping down their respective liquids. My Pepsi was watered down too, but the buffalo chicken tenders were yummy. Of course, everything tastes good when you're starving.

Lost in socializing, we soon sensed how deserted the bar was, signaling that it was time we paid the waitress and made our way to the stadium. Only a couple of blocks away, stood the home to the Orioles, the famous Orioles Park at Camden Yards. Right when I was passing through security, one of the security guards decided to be funny and asked, "you got pets in that purse, ma'am"? Baltimore humor, I tell you! Some definitely need to work on theirs.

A quick stop at the ice-cream stand, and I was ready to explore the world leading to all the roars coming from within. Since the tickets were cheap (hey, I'm not complaining... they were free for me!), our seats were all the way to the top, but close enough to the pitching field to be able to recognize the batsman and the pitcher. And yes, each batsman had their gluteus maximus sticking out as they were getting ready to bat. We showed up in the middle of the 6th inning. Yeah, we sure spent a tad too long at DSX!

Lucky for us, the weather was great, with the perfect wind speed. The guys stocked up on some more beer. The lovely hyped up crowd to our right were somehow equally entertaining, if not more, than the baseball players. They sang songs that you'd hear at soccer games… probably high school soccer players, I thought. Then, there was the 'STRETCH TIME!' and everyone stood up to sing in chorus:

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, your out,
At the old ball game."

By the end of the ninth inning, the Orioles silenced the mass of the Red Sox fans in their midst with a 4-3 win! Yeah!

It was past 9 o clock, when we headed toward the EXIT openings. Too bad it was a weekday, and everyone had to get back home especially for Arun and his colleagues, for they had an hour long drive ahead of them. T'was time to say our goodbyes as Gowri and I headed back to her place for a two hour-long episodes (re-runs) of Sex and the City, burried in her cozy couch, each holding a chilled can of Coke. Aaahh!

To Do or NOT to Do!

2006-05-08T15:09:00.000-04:00

Just saw Darrin Bell's Candorville Sunday's Cartoon and I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. That's right... post it on my blog! This one artistically sketches one of the many ironies behind two dissimilar societies, who somehow share the same ideas on two dissimilar situations! Note the, 'Thank God for Cultural Clash' (bottom right).

PS: Don't strain your eyes, click on the comic strip for a more legible view!

Current Curries

2006-05-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

Okay, so nothing much is happening here. Just a couple of things I wanted to bring to the spotlight...

1. US ex-homeland security spokesperson, Brian Doyle was released on bail (note his perfectly inverted smile) that cost him $10,000 per count. He was imprisoned for indulging in a sexual conversation with a minor on the internet. Ill-fated Doyle believed the recipient of his explicitly sexual messages and nude pictures was a minor, when in actuality she turned out to be a Polk County detective posing on the Internet as a 14-year-old girl. Watch out all you internet perverts!!!!

2. Zacarias Moussaoui has formally been sentenced to life in prison bringing his fanatical episodes in the US Federal courtroom to a halt! He was known to repeatedly roar anti-American and pro-bin Laden shout outs towards the end of his legal escapade. It was even reported that he would often insult his lawyers and call them incompetent and would rather defend himself. In the final hours of the case, the Judge had some final comebacks for the pathetically convoluted Moussaoui that thrilled me quite a bit.
"God curse America and save Osama bin Laden. You'll never get him," he told a packed federal courtroom that included family members of people killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"You came here to be a martyr and die in a great big bang of glory, but to paraphrase the poet T.S. Eliot, instead you will die with a whimper," U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said, borrowing a line from Eliot's "The Hollow Men." (CNN.com)

Yeah!

3. Something to be awed at, for the first time, a positive approach towards ending the genocide is finally taking place amongst the rebel leaders and the government of Sudan. The peace talks held in Abuja, Nigeria seem to have brought about hope to the Sudanese citizens and the International community (to those who care at least). The rebel leaders have decided to sign a peace deal proposed by the Brits and the Americans, which supposedly caters to everyone's wants while at the same time it strives to end the genocide in Sudan. Tonight at midnight, is the deadline for the submission of the signatures on the treaty. This is gravy and all, but one of my current fears on this issue is the little gray area between signing the peace treaty and actually carrying out what the treaty proposes. Time of course will reveal the sincerity of these leaders.

4. Now, on the entertainment side, I watched the movie Darna Zaroori hai (English translation: It's necessary to be scared) at an Indian theater in Laurel, and realized that more than the movie, I tend to scare myself. Want to enjoy a scary movie... have me sit next to you and I promise you, you'll get more than your money's worth. And yes, my screams add to the special effects!!!

5. Furthermore on entertainment, I'm hooked!!! Yup, hooked on Sudoku like a fish on a fish-fly (used as fishing bait)!!! For those of you who, like me, play games on the internet, while at work… check out www.websudoku.com. It's FREE!!!

Okay, that's all folks!

A World without AIDS?!

2006-04-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

The very thought of living in a world without AIDS, seems so unreal to me, and yet such a time did exist, not too long before I was born. As I was reading the following article today, I couldn't help but want to share it with my blog viewers simply because I feel the need to continue talking of it as a serious topic. Why do I fear that the perception of AIDS might become a normal affair, where we become comfortable with the idea of the existence of AIDS?

On that note, I introduce to you an article by Dr. Sanjay Gupta (dated: April 26, 2006) courtesy of CNN.com:

Imagining a world without AIDS

NEW YORK (CNN) -- About 8,000 people die of AIDS every day. Another 6,000 people between ages 15 and 24 contract HIV on a daily basis.
Think about that: At the end of this month, more people will have died from AIDS in April alone than were killed in the Southeast Asia tsunami that shocked the world in late 2004. And the epidemic keeps spreading. There are currently an estimated 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS across the world.
How can a disease so deadly and so rampant not make the news any more? How could it have fallen off the radar screens of news executives?
It turns out that fighting the apathy surrounding HIV/AIDS is as tricky as fighting the virus itself. And, by today's standards, the only way AIDS will really be in the headlines again is when it is cured or eradicated.
That is a difficult standard by anyone's measure, and it unfortunately belittles the real and effective gains made against AIDS.
Today, there are more than 20 drug regimens available that allow a person with AIDS to live a normal lifespan, if he or she can get treatment. The risk of heartbreaking mother-to-child transmission has been reduced significantly with simple drugs. And for the first time, thanks to the efforts of non-governmental organizations like the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, many of these medications are affordable to those who need the drugs most.
President Clinton once told me, "AIDS used to be about two things nobody wanted to talk about: sex and death. While the disease still centers around sex, it is no longer just about death."
It is also true that though the disease often involves sex, it isn't sexy.
Why don't more people care about this disease? It could be that despite the extraordinarily high numbers, the vast majority of people have never been personally touched by AIDS. I came to better understand HIV/AIDS as a doctor and a journalist when I traveled the world meeting patients.
From Thailand to Kenya to Rwanda to India to the United States, the faces staring back at me were the same faces I had seen my entire life.
A soft-spoken veiled woman on the predominantly Muslim island of Zanzibar told me of her life with HIV. A struggling Kenyan mother named Nancy Ndegwa who had worked for 20 years as a prostitute miraculously never became infected, despite thousands of exposures to the virus. I spoke with young Thai teenagers who had been kicked out of their homes because of their HIV status, and I met a couple in North Carolina who can no longer afford the medications to keep them alive, unless they give up some of the necessities of life.
"My son was diagnosed several years ago as HIV positive," a CNN.com user wrote. "We come from an upper-middle-class background. I look at the way AIDS has become a disease that effects all. Just as we have an obligation to support countries that are victims of genocide, so should we support the hungry and those suffering from AIDS."
All across the world and right here in our backyards, people have shared their stories with me and with CNN viewers to provide a better understanding of what it is like to live and die with the disease. Once you have met these people, you could not help but want to learn more about the disease and its many ramifications. It is probably also the reason I cried out loud when I recently read that a 15-year-old boy in Nairobi was hacked to death with a garden fork after he was diagnosed with HIV.
It has been 25 years since the world was first introduced to an AIDS patient, and now anyone born after 1980 has never known a world without AIDS.
The attitudes have changed: The general feeling among young people we interviewed was, "Sure, it's a bad disease you don't want to get, but it is treatable, and people can live with it."
Of course, that might explain a resurgence of high-risk behavior and a reluctance to get tested in the first place. Those same young people were shocked when I told them "in some communities, 90 percent of the people living with HIV don't even know they have it."
The simple fact is that AIDS is not going away, and we are not even close to a cure or eradication. For now, treatment and prevention are the most vital part of the fight.
Many organizations are working on many forms of prevention. We are making strides toward striking a comfortable complacency with AIDS, but I want to take it one step further.
This weekend, I will host a town hall meeting about AIDS. The discussion will take place in New York, and my guests will be former President Bill Clinton, the heads of several major pharmaceutical companies, dignitaries from around the world, the chief of MTV and actors who have shown true commitment to this issue.
I hope you will join us. "The End of AIDS: A Global Summit with President Clinton" will air at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 29.

An Ode to Spring

2006-04-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

Easter weekend didn't just bring joy and pleasant blessings, but it blessed us here with a pleasant weather. It is only now that I feel the sweetness of spring in the air, sprinkling my mind and body with hope, excitement and life! That's what the beautiful suburbs of Maryland have to offer, something I sadly lack in the city.

After visitng my aunt's for the weekend, I came tête à tête to one of nature's beautiful creations, the Spring. On that note, I shall unveil a short poem, my ode to Spring...

The blue robin chirps to say,
"Hello, missy, how you doing today"?
Up in the trees in his nest he is feeling, he is listening,
he is excited to meet his darling.
Truly romantic, truly intoxicating,
the weather now is more than just breathtaking.
With shades of every color on the spectrum,
coalesced and spread everywhere t'is part of the blossoming rhythm.
The neighbor's wind charms make sweet music as a subtle breeze passes by,
allowing for a short greeting, "Hello, will come again, good bye"!
Music so sweet and yet so stuffing,
makes you feel the fat building up right under the skin.
Perhaps, a swelling from the rich quality of nature,
a happy weather over a flirty moist layer.
That makes you just want to forget everything,
spread your body and lay on the green!
Hoping and wishing,
for this to be an everlasting feeling!
The pleasure of spring, the nostalgic smell in the air,
Disclosing once again, that spring is here!

A Shout-Out to The Boondocks!

2006-04-12T11:53:00.000-04:00

As per KK's request, I sorted to writing on our favorite cartoon... 'The Boondocks'! The Boondocks is an intelligently funny cartoon, created by Aaron McGruder. He first started his career as a Boondock's creator for the University of Maryland's local newspaper namely, The Diamondback. (Yeah! 3 cheers for fellow Marylander! Man! Am I proud or what?!)

Huey and Riley Freeman (ages 10 and 8 respectively) are the two ever-frowning stars (gotta have the-hood-look going on), of the comic. Huey, a knowledgeable, young black kid, wants to start a revolution to bring about awareness such as, Jesus was black and Regan was the devil. He also believes that the government isn't doing their job efficiently and would like to let the "light shine" on people to rid them off all evil. He speaks to us through his mind and speaks his mind only when he has to, a quiet observer! His brother on the other hand, is loud, daring and praises the "thug life". His ignorant little ass aspires to be like the gangsters and thugs he sees on television.

Then there is the Granddad (Robert J. Freeman), an old school disciplinarian (you should see him undo his belt and swoosh it out to spank the boys when they misbehave)! He took the boys under his wing after they lost their parents. Together, they moved from the Chicago hoods to Woodcrest (most likely in Maryland, as seen from the area code stated in the March 16th, 2000 strip) AKA White Suburbia, where McGruder artistically brings a comic tale of 'The Boondocks' to life!

Based on the comic strip, 'The Boondocks' can be caught on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, every Sunday at 11pm (EST)! And while you're at it, (here's a warning!!!) look out for Uncle Ruckus... he's the nastiest thing in the history of cartoons!!! Okay, there have been worse. He just hates black people, which is ironic 'cause he's black himself! Oh! There are so many other interesting characters like Jazzmine Dubois, the biracial daughter of Thomas and Sarah Dubois and Huey's little naive buddy. Shoot! Even celebrities like Oprah, R Kelly, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, etc... have guest starred on the show... that speaks for itself!

Just a side note: Today, on my way to the post office, while waiting for the 'Walk' sign to come on, a classy car seating an old man with suave shades playing MC Hammer's Can't touch this on full blast drove by. Lol... soon I noticed a little 5-year-old sharp looking kid start singing the lyrics to that song. When his young looking mother asked, "Boi! Whatchu know ab't MC Hammer, Boi?!", he didn't just have an answer, he had the moves too! His response? He did an exact copy of the MC Hammer move, while singing... naaaa nana naaa... Can't touch this!!! And I left smiling!

The Walk for Freedom

2006-04-02T12:18:00.000-04:00

Along with being April fools day, April 1 had supporters for Sudan's freedom walking 15 miles from Laurel to College Park in Maryland. I refer to the 300 mile Sudan Freedom Walk that was headed by Simon Deng, bearing the American flag, inaugurated on March 5 from Staten Island (through Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland) until it reached Baltimore on March 30. Many have walked along the east coast on a mission to spread awareness for the victims of violence and injustice. The walk will end in Washington D.C. on April 5 at the Capitol where a major rally is to start at 3:30pm.

Last week, through the regular emails I get from organizations I so actively once associated myself with… okay, I was not too involved, but nonetheless, they still believe I should be well aware of what is going on at the Alumna abode! I had received an email from an active member, trying to start a chapter of an existing and maturing organization namely, S.T.A.N.D. [Students Taking Action Now: Darfur] asking the masses to join 'the walk'! As soon as I saw how many miles we were going to be walking, I had to think it over. Conversely, as soon as I thought about the condition the innocent Sudanese were suffering, I thought to myself, "Only 15? That's nothing compared to what people go through on a daily basis there".

My knowledge on Sudan's troubled world was first sparked when I started reading Francis Bok's Escape from Slavery. I would recommend it to all those who want an in-depth view of the life of a common Sudanese villager from the south. Honestly, it is very much like hell on Earth. I would not recommend this book to the fragile ones out there. Oh no! I had to read the book in fractions, bit by bit. Tears would often roll down my cheeks, not the way it would when I used to read Danielle Steele's fictions. If only this too was fiction, a long tragic story with fictional characters. For those who are not aware of the injustice starring the Sudanese in the face, I shall summarize it for you. But first, I'd like to tell you a bit about the country. Sudan, Africa's largest country, is located between Egypt and Ethiopia. Its land lodges over 39 million people. It is overwhelmingly divided between northern and southern areas of the country, where the north is largely Arab, while the south is largely various tribes of black Africans. As a result, the religious affiliation in the north is Muslim and in the south, Christian and Animist. Many of the northerners advocate Sha'ria law for the entire country, whilst the southerners favor a secular federal government.

Now, the Sudanese government is accused of closing their eyes to slavery. While there is convincing evidence that slavery does occur there, the total picture is far more complicated. Large numbers of Sudanese men, women and children lose their freedom in many ways.

Government-backed militias, mainly from the Baggara tribe in western Sudan, primarily raid villages belonging to the Dinka tribe in Southern Sudan. These raids are a demonstration of a long-standing religious and racial conflict in that country and have been fueling a civil war for the past 40 years. Purportedly, more lives have been lost in Sudan's civil war than in Bosnia, Rwanda and Kosovo combined! From what I've read thus far through Bok's biography, news reports and learning about Simon Deng, armed militias (guns and swords) mounted on horses and on foot storm through villages, setting everything on fire, looting money, food and livestock (in Dinka villages, livestock is the prime scale of wealth for the people). All men are then killed like ants, as the women and children made are prisoners. Together, with all the loot (of course, humans included) they travel back to the north, where they force their newly acquired slaves to work under inhumane conditions. Those who fail to cooperate or those who complain face a 'non-surgical amputation' of limbs and are left to rot. By and large, the slaves are made to see pictures of a limbless man, and are warned that if they complain, they would face similar consequences. Of course, many try to escape, risking their lives in the process. Some like Bok and Deng have been successful, but many have not.

Feud amongst southern tribes continues to exist to date. A common practice is where women and children are abducted and held captive until their relative can scrape up enough money to buy them back. In the meantime, one can only imagine the torture faced by those unjustly held.

Camps adorn the land in a scattered fashion, but due to lack of sanitary conditions, water and adequate food, deadly epidemics threaten to breakout. Many humanitarian international camps have been setup, but there is only so much scarce resources can accomplish. Thousands have tried to flee (and many have been successful too) to neighboring countries, thus turning into refugees, living under a different regime. Being forced out of your one's home country, begging for shelter elsewhere, gives rise to new problems.

I am not going to elongate this post any further, but I am trying to get as much as I can out there. This is why I've linked the following websites to make it easy for you to discover and maybe even find ways to help the innocent in Sudan. See what the UN, and other countries are trying to do to help free the country from auto-genocide.

www.iabolish.com

www.savedarfur.org

www.sudanactivism.com

Thanks for caring! They need us!

PS: I understand that the main concern here is the Solution... will write on that!

Planetary Protocol

2006-03-29T10:39:00.000-05:00

Schoolchildren wear protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday.

Schoolchildren shouted and even scientists shed a tear as the moon's dark shadow sped across Earth's surface from Brazil to Mongolia on Wednesday, marking the first total solar eclipse in more than two years.
"God is great, this shows the greatness of God," Nana Appah exclaimed as she joined the crowds on Ghana's Cape Coast beach. "This shows the greatness of nature. It is very, very beautiful. I’ve never experienced anything like this before."
Cape Coast was one of the first spots on the African continent to fall under the spell of totality, which drew tourists to Libya, Egypt and Turkey as well.

The last total solar eclipse was visible primarily over Antarctica in 2003. Although totality could be seen only from a narrow track of territory, the partial eclipse was visible this time around from wide stretches of Africa, Europe and Asia. No part of Wednesday's eclipse could be seen from North America, however.

Wednesday’s eclipse blocked out the sun entirely in highly populated areas — including West Africa, where governments scrambled to educate people about the dangers of looking at a partial eclipse without proper eye protection.

Tens of thousands of pairs of simple sunglasses or “solar goggles” were sold or even given away to allow people to view the eclipse safely. Togo’s government declared a half-day holiday and recommended that parents keep their children indoors to keep them from damaging their eyes.

Prayers and praise in Ghana
The air cooled and an eerie half-light descended over the ancient slave fort at Cape Coast, west of Ghana’s capital Accra, as the moon obscured the sun for approximately three minutes. Cries of “Hallelujah” and “Praise the Lord” rang out as watchers shouted and clapped in excitement, sharing protective glasses. Drivers hooted their horns.

Foreign tourists traveled to Ghana especially to see the eclipse. For 51-year-old amateur astronomer Lou Petterchak, from Denver, it was the fifth he had witnessed.
“I am touring the world, one eclipse at a time. I enjoy the eclipse, it is much more of an excuse to travel,” he said.

“The eclipse is the coolest natural phenomenon I have ever seen in my life,” said another U.S. tourist, Evelyn Alton. “I turn 50 next month, it is kind of a treat for my birthday,” she added.

Dancing in Egypt
Across the continent at Sallum, an Egyptian town on the border with Libya, thousands of people — including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his wife Suzanne — gathered to watch. Some onlookers blew trumpets, beat drums and danced.

Astronomers observed the phenomenon through telescopes, and tourists from all over the world peered through protective sunglasses and binoculars as the moon passed in front of the sun and the temperature dropped. “I feel excited. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this in life,” Egyptian Hady Gohar said.

Cheers and tears in Turkey
In Turkey’s Mediterranean town of Side, hundreds of people flocked to an ancient Roman amphitheater to view the eclipse, as market sellers hawked T-shirts and protective glasses. Cheers and screams went up as the eclipse reached totality.

Day turned to night, and a delicate corona — the usually invisible extended atmosphere of the sun — glowed around the edges of the moon as it came between the earth and the sun. Through telescopes, observers could see tiny red prominences licking up from the sun's obscured disk.
Joaquim Boix traveled from Barcelona, Spain, to view the eclipse. He said he became addicted to eclipses after seeing one in Germany. “It’s fantastic,” Boix said. “It’s the color, the metallic blue-green color on the skin of the people. The sky with the stars in the background. Usually you watch the stars in a black background. ... The background is blue. It’s a special feeling.” Less than four minutes after darkness fell, the moon moved on and the amphitheater brightened again in the Turkish afternoon.

For Isabel Hawkins, a NASA-sponsored astronomer at the University of California at Berkeley, the total solar eclipse was a first. She admitted to shedding a tear or two as she co-hosted a live broadcast of the festivities, organized by the San Francisco-based Exploratorium science museum and NASA. "This is fabulous," she said.

Turks welcomed the tourism boost after a recent bird flu outbreak and protests over the caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. “It should happen more often,” said Hamza Bikmaz who was selling eclipse T-shirts outside the theater.

Superstition and science
Superstitions followed the eclipse around the world, as they have for generations. One Indian paper advised pregnant women not to go outside during the eclipse to avoid having a blind baby or one with a cleft lip. Food cooked before the eclipse should be thrown out afterward because it will be impure, and those who are holding a knife or ax during the eclipse will cut themselves, the Hindustan Times added.

In Turkey’s earthquake-prone Tokat province, residents set up tents outside, despite assurances from scientists that there was no evidence of any link between eclipses and tremors. In August 1999, an earthquake in northwestern Turkey killed about 17,000 people just six days after a solar eclipse.

Along the path of totality, the moon blacked out the sun for up to four minutes. That is longer than most eclipses, which only last a minute or two, according to a NASA statement.
Total eclipses are rare because they require the tilted orbits of the sun, moon and earth to line up exactly so that the moon obscures the sun completely. The next total eclipse will occur in 2008.

The Associated Press, Reuters and MSNBC.com contributed to this report.
© 2006 MSNBC Interactive

Smoke Away...

2006-03-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

At work, I've been assigned an Internet Cigarette Sales Project where I issue out notices to those involved in the act of cigarette purchasing online, which by the way is illegal. It is illegal due to the simple fact that by purchasing cigarettes online, one avoids sales and tobacco tax making the transaction a very affordable one. Now, these folks have 20 days to pay this tax before I put them on the intercept list and have them assessed (which basically means they won't be able to receive the refunds from their tax returns unless they pay and until then the interest and penalties are just going to keep piling)! Upon their receipt of these notices, my phone rings non-stop... with complaints ranging from how unjust I am to how they cannot afford the money anymore.

Now, a lot of them are either sick in the hospital or dead. I had one case where in the beginning of the month, one of the tax-evaders was in the process of undergoing heart surgery and 3 weeks later, her husband called to break the unfortunate news.

I even had this one woman, who fled to Tennessee to avoid the expensive life in Maryland (you don't have to pay taxes in TN). But, she called anyway to tell me that smoking is her only source of entertainment, since she has no life but to work 3 jobs. Then she went into the theory of why the government infuses taxes on cigarettes. And whether she smoked or not, underaged kids were doing it anyway!

That is when my concious brain fell into the cunning hands of confusion. The question here was, why does the government enforce tobacco tax? Well for one, it is a bulky form of revenue. And two, it's a danger to the lives of the citizens.

To avoid such confusion, and to be able to better articulate myself in my battle against the smoking tax-avoiders, I decided to research on the ill-effects of smoking. The following is what I gathered from the American Lung Association and because I care so much about all my readers out there... I shall impart my knowledge with you!

WHAT IS LUNG CANCER?
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women. An estimated 173,700 new cases of lung cancer and an estimated 160,440 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States during 2004.
The rate of lung cancer cases appears to be dropping among white and African-American men in the United States, while it continues to rise among both white and African-American women.
There are two major types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common. It usually spreads to different parts of the body more slowly than small cell lung cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are three types of non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer also called oat cell cancer, accounts for about 20% of all lung cancer.

WHAT CAUSES LUNG CANCER?
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer may also be the most tragic cancer because in most cases, it might have been prevented -- 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are proven cancer-causing substances, or carcinogens. Smoking cigars or pipes also increases the risk of lung cancer.
The more time and quantity you smoke, the greater your risk of lung cancer. But if you stop smoking, the risk of lung cancer decreases each year as normal cells replace abnormal cells. After ten years, the risk drops to a level that is one-third to one-half of the risk for people who continue to smoke. In addition, quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Many of the chemicals in tobacco smoke also affect the nonsmoker inhaling the smoke, making "secondhand smoking" another important cause of lung cancer. It is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually.
Radon is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. Radon gas can come up through the soil under a home or building and enter through gaps and cracks in the foundation or insulation, as well as through pipes, drains, walls or other openings. Radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States -- 12 percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon.
Radon problems have been found in every state. The EPA estimates that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. has indoor radon levels at or above the level at which homeowners should take action -- 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) on a yearly average. Radon can be a problem in schools and workplaces, too.
Because you cannot see or smell radon, the only way to tell if you are being exposed to the gas is by measuring radon levels. Exposure to radon in combination with cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer. That means for smokers, exposure to radon is an even greater health risk.
Another leading cause of lung cancer is on-the-job exposure to cancer-causing substances or carcinogens. Asbestos is a well-known, work-related substance that can cause lung cancer, but there are many others, including uranium, arsenic, and certain petroleum products.
There are many different jobs that may involve exposure. Some examples are working with certain types of insulation, working in coke ovens, and repairing brakes. When exposure to job-related carcinogens is combined with smoking, the risk of getting lung cancer is sharply increased.
A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association suggests that particulate matter pollution can cause lung cancer.
Lung cancer takes many years to develop. But changes in the lung can begin almost as soon as a person is exposed to cancer-causing substances. Soon after exposure begins, a few abnormal cells may appear in the lining of the bronchi (the main breathing tubes). If a person continues to be exposed to the cancer-causing substance, more abnormal cells will appear. These cells may be on their way to becoming cancerous and forming a tumor.

HOW IS LUNG CANCER DETECTED?
In its early stages, lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms. When symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced. Symptoms of lung cancer include:
.Chronic cough
.Hoarseness
.Coughing up blood
.Weight loss & loss of appetite
.Shortness of breath
.Fever without a known reason
.Wheezing
.Repeated bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia
.Chest pain
These conditions are also symptomatic of many other lung problems, so a person who has any of these symptoms should see a doctor to find out the cause. When a person goes for an exam, the doctor ask many questions about the person's medical history, including questions about the patient's exposure to hazardous substances. The doctor will also give the patient a physical exam. If the patient has a cough that produces a sputum (mucus), it may be examined for cancer cells. The doctor will order a chest X-ray or specialized X-ray such as the CT scan, which help to locate any abnormal spots in the lungs. The doctor may insert a small tube called a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth and down the throat, to look inside the airways and lungs and take a sample, or biopsy, of the tumor. This is just one of several ways in which a doctor may take a biopsy sample.
A growing number of doctors are using a form of CT scan in smokers to spot small lung cancers, which are more likely than large tumors to be cured. The technique, called helical low-dose CT scan, is much more sensitive than a regular X-ray and can detect tumors when they are small.
More studies on this type of screening will show whether routine screening of smokers and others at risk for lung cancer will save lives.
If you are diagnosed with cancer, the doctor will do testing to find out whether the cancer has spread, and, if so, to which parts of the body. This information will help the doctor plan the most effective treatment. Tests to find out whether the cancer has spread can include a CT scan, an MRI, or a bone scan.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT LUNG CANCER?
If you are a smoker, STOP SMOKING. Your local American Lung Association has books, videos, and group programs to help you quit for good.
The Lung Association is also offering a new way to stop smoking through its Freedom From Smoking® online smoking cessation clinic. Find out more by visiting the American Lung Association website at www.ffsonline.org.
If you are a nonsmoker, know your rights to a smoke-free environment a twork and in public places. Make your home smoke-free.
Test your home for radon.
If you are exposed to dusts and fumes at work, ask questions about how you are being protected. Don't smoke -- smoking increases your risk from many occupational exposures.

Celebrating Women

2006-03-08T13:30:00.000-05:00

Today, women across the globe are celebrating International Women's Day!!! To observe this day in my own special blogging way, I am posting the following which I conveniently stripped from CNN.com!

Women's groups around the world mark March 8 as International Women's Day, an annual holiday to reflect on the struggle for equality, justice and peace. Click through the gallery to see celebrations, protests and commemorations this year.

A woman smells Mimosa flowers, one of the symbols of the International Women's Day, in downtown Rome on Wednesday.

A student inspects a rose before buying it for his girlfriend on a Hanoi street Wednesday. The day is marked throughout Vietnam, especially in the urban areas, mainly by men offering gifts and flowers to women.

Protesters picket the U.S. Embassy in Manila Tuesday to show their support for a Filipino woman who filed a rape case against four U.S. Marines who took part in military exercises last year. The protest was meant to coincide with the weeklong worldwide celebration of International Women's Day.

Turkish women in traditional Anatolian costumes gather Sunday in an Istanbul square as part of demonstrations for the upcoming International Women's Day celebrations.

An Afghan woman's portrait on a shopping booth advertises International Women's Day in Kabul on Tuesday.

A man selects roses Tuesday in the center of Moscow to give as a gift for International Women's Day.

Women bang on pots and pans at a protest in front of the Presidential Palace in Brasilia on Wednesday. They are demanding the right for homemakers to collect retirement funds.

Sri Lankan teens perform with traditional instruments Tuesday during an event organized by a women's alliance in Colombo. The "We Can" alliance organized the event to demand an end to violence against women.

Female prisoners celebrate the day by participating in a beauty contest Wednesday in the village of Stepnoye, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) outside of the country's capital Bishkek(Kyrgyzstan).

Bangladeshi victims of acid attacks join a People Awareness rally organized by the Acid Survivors’ Foundation at the Central Sheed Minar in Dhaka on the eve of International Women's Day. According to the foundation, a total of 268 people, mostly women, were attacked with acid last year in Bangladesh. Most of the victims are attacked by spurned lovers, the foundation said.

Demonstrators in Warsaw hold placards with feminist slogans on Sunday during an early celebration to mark International Women's Day.

Voice Against Violation

2006-03-06T13:07:00.000-05:00

What I am about to discuss here is serious. It shrieks abuse, violation, lack of freedom, and a possible barricade on future dreams. What I am about to discuss is going to be frank, direct and repugnant. Only those willing to handle this harsh and unfortunate reality are advised to read on. It is sick. There comes a point when girls refrain from competing with boys on grounds of physical strength. The truth of the matter is: Men are physically stronger than women. Unless a woman is trained in the field of self-defense or in the so-called sport of "wrestling", chances of her being helpless when attacked by a man are high.

A regular case where man decides to take advantage of his strength is when he decides to rape a woman. Now there are many cases and degrees of rape. Date rape, statutory rape and violent rape are only a few examples. Nonetheless, rape is rape, a sexual violation and/or abuse of a fellow human being. Reading several cases of rape has helped me put the following scenario together, an illustration to assist our understanding of the raised issue.

He looks at her as if she were bait and he were a big fish in the sea. He knows she is helpless. He looks around him and when he sees no one around, he grabs his bait against her will to a more secluded environment. There, he pins her to the ground, unzips his pants, undresses the girl in the most convenient spots of her clothing. She struggles one last time before he finally penetrates. It hurts, but that's not the only thing on her mind. Perhaps ways to end the life of this monster. She cries. No point screaming now, the worst has been done. Once he’s done. He zips up, and then what? An optimistic rapist would let the girl go, threatening to kill her should she narrate the contents of the incident. A pessimistic one wouldn’t wait to find out. Instead, he’d shut her up for good.

You get my drift. A yarn on other gruesome situations where a girl is raped doesn’t seem further needed. Upon reading today’s article on Zuma on CNN online, I was overcome by a wave of distress. It is with that agony that I type this post. The questions swirling through my mind include: Why pressurize someone against his or her will? Why can't one learn to respect another's wishes? Why is it hard to curb ones desires and easy to violate that of another? A rapist transmits his power for 'need' to his victim. As he fulfills his aspiration, another is being created for the victim. Only that in her case, her deepest aspiration is either to flee or to take the life of this demon.

The way I see it, there is not much point crying over such poignant facts. What is done is done and hence, I find it more important to speak of ways to prevent or if possible, cripple this sick act. Due to lack of sufficient research over this topic, I find myself leaning more toward the need for spreading awareness. Adequately educating today’s children of the ill effects of rape, implementing the need for respecting other’s wishes and the importance of using one’s powers for good and not evil.

Rape, a grisly form of violence is controllable. Unlike the battle against poverty and corruption, the battle against rape can be won with cooperation and proper education. Spread the word, and see what you can do to raise your voice against the cruel act of rape.

Please note: Not all rape victims are women. Though women hold the upper end of the scale, over 10% of rape victims are men.

Right or Wrong?!

2006-03-03T14:51:00.000-05:00

Always listen to your parents!
They know what is best for you!
Do as your parents say; do not argue with them!

This is what most of us are taught as toddlers. However, my question is'nt if it is followed or not. What I want to know is, are parents always right?
Okay, that was just to get y'all to start thinking. The answer is obvious. Parents are humans and humans make mistakes. Therefore, parents make mistakes.

That was simple logics; one does not need to be a philosophy major to understand how those premises led to that conclusion.
Yet, trapped in a web of innocence, as kids we have no reason to but take their word for it and do as they say.

What triggered me to write the above is the following.

Picture this. Third grade, little tomboyish Surbhi indulges herself in girl-play. In case you did'nt know, many girl-plays end bitterly, and sometimes even brutally. Well, in my case, I had verbally conquered a fellow classmate. Nevertheless, the female species is not very good at accepting defeat, so she decided to take what had been a petty-fight to a completely new level. She smacked my cheek!

In no time, a faint figure of my mother appeared in the distance (about 3 ft. away) and I heard her say, "If someone slaps you, you slap them back!"

That is exactly what I did.

SMACK

Once again, I had conquered my classmate in what now became a more-than-just-a-petty-fight operation. Since, there was nothing else she could do since both verbally and physically she had been defeated, guess what her next step was…

To cry! Yeah, she started crying!

Oh, those crocodile tears! Of course, I was happy to see them! Okay, so I was an evil child, but she was too!

Anyway, she cried herself to the teacher.

"What happened dear? Why are you crying?"

"Teacher…*sniff*…teacher….she (pointing at me) slapped me".

Of course, I stood there pleased (like a hero) with what I had done, as if I had saved the world from a group of wicked aliens, because she clearly deserved that slap and besides, I did the right thing since that is what dear mom had once advised!

"Surbhi, is that true? Did you slap her?"

"Yes", said I with a huge proud grin on my face. "I did".

-I deserve a prize, don't I?!-

"Why?"

"Because she slapped me first!"

"So, if someone slaps you, you should slap them back?!"

I can't remember if I actually uttered a, "yes" but that is definitely what I was thinking. What went wrong? Isn't that how things are supposed to work? When someone slaps you, you slap him or her back! Right?

Wrong! There came my teacher's stern voice. I was now perplexed. I had to rewind the whole thing in my head because something definitely went wrong. Did I mention I was slapped first?! Okay, I did.

As my punishment, I wasn't allowed to go out to the playground that afternoon. However, that didn't bother me as much as to the reason behind my punishment. That was the first time I realized parents aren't always right.

As an older, more educated and experienced girl, I think I see it now:
My teacher was probably a huge Mahatma Gandhi follower whilst my mom is a Subash Chandra Bose fan!

The Human Race

2006-02-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

The above cartoon, For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston has an implanted message, something to ponder over perhaps?!
PS: To view the cartoon clearly, click on the comic strips!

An Everlasting Impression

2006-02-17T00:46:00.000-05:00

Home, “home is where the toothbrush is”.
Home, “home is where your heart is”.
Home, “home is where the family lives”.
Home, “home is where you spend your nights”.
Home, “home is where the smoke from your kitchen never dies”.

I’ve heard so many definitions for the term ‘home’, yet none of them appear satisfactory. The more I hear of what people consider home, the more I feel homeless. What is home to me? I sit here scratching my head, thinking to myself, Surbhi, where is home? Is home where one belongs? In that case, where do I belong? Who am I? I am an Indian girl by nationality, who lived the majority of her life in Nigeria, and intellectually matured in the United States. One would perhaps enlist me in the fortunate few to have so many places to call home. Yet, I feel homeless.

Lost, is what I am right now. I’m trying to figure where my home really exists. Then again, the definition of ‘home’ varies from person to person. Some think home is where the family is, but presently, my family is miles away from me.
If home is where the toothbrush is, mine is right here..
If home is where my memories are implanted, then that’s in Nigeria.

The nostalgia-filled flashes are definitely back, but this time I’m not sure for how long. I daydream, most of which I comprehend. However, these dreams are not intentional; they are uncontrollable. Without sounding poetic, I shall succinctly reveal what I miss. I miss Indian Language School. I miss wearing my school uniform, with the school badge ironed on my starchy white shirt. I miss skipping class to busy myself in extracurricular activities. I miss being entertained by the class clowns. I miss the chatting that would go on after every class, while we’d await the next teacher’s arrival. I miss practicing for Sports Day as well as Annual Day (if you are a fellow ILSian, you’ll know what I’m talking about). I miss listening to the gossip that mostly twirled around student’s crushes. ILS wasn’t the best school in the Nation, but to me it was the only school I had ever belonged to, from kindergarten to 12th grade. Most of all, I miss rooting for Krishna House!!!

I miss the luxury of having parents to take care of every problem I’d have, with the exception of exams and boys, of course. I miss the weather, including the ever famous Harmattan. I miss playing outside in the evenings, and subsequently dealing with mosquito bites. I miss being carefree. I miss the beaches that unfortunately, are responsible for drowning many. I miss the noisy and suffocating markets. I miss chitchatting in pidgin. I miss the smell of fresh vegetables and the voices of loud vegetable vendors. I miss watching the yellow buses with three-fourths of the conductor’s body hanging outside the entrance, yelling the name of the bus’ route. Surprisingly, I miss the go-slows, I miss the go-slow vendors. Oh! I miss the smell of the air… the atmosphere of Lagos. I miss everything about Lagos! If Lagos is home, I'm home away from home.

Reminisce & Ruminate

2006-01-10T19:22:00.000-05:00

"Remember when getting high meant swinging at the playground, the worst thing that you could get from the opposite sex was cooties, your worst enemies were your teachers or your siblings, race issues was who ran the fastest, war was a card game, the only drug you knew was cough medicine and a girl that wore a skirt didnt have to be a slut; the only thing that you smoked were the tires on your bike, the only thing that hurt was skinned knees and the only thing that can get broken were your toys. life was simple and care free, but what I remember the most was wanting to grow up!"

I stole the above from a friend's profile, but that isn't the point of this blog. The point is, it felt so true that it had me reminiscing an exact occasion in my life, when I was about 3 years old. It scares me when I think about how much I remember from my barely-childhood and childhood days. But, I swear, I'm not making it up; I just happen to have extraordinary powers when it comes to recalling sweet memories!

What I remember is, looking at my mother in disbelief, right after she had disclosed that under no circumstances was I allowed to go out and play that evening, like I usually did, and she didn’t even have to explain herself. It was then that I had acknowledged what a boon it was to be an adult! They seemed to have all the freedom in the world as though it was permitted by some sort of ‘Law for Adults’ to do whatever they pleased, when they pleased. It wasn’t often that one would get successful when trying to reason with them, so they didn’t really have to worry about getting sued either.

Never really did I faithfully pray (not at the age of 3), but I did that day! I prayed long and hard to have God speed up “time”, for I couldn’t wait to become an adult. And how could I, when being an adult included opportunities like: ordering kids around, making rules that I deemed cool and fun to me, and simply having a whale of a time!

In this day and time however, I just want that segment of life that made everything seem so peaceful, yet lively, while also cherishing the feeling of independence experienced by adults fused with the feeling of security experienced by the younglings.

Note to self: We can’t have it all, or can we!?!!

Happy 2006; Happy Birthday!!!

2006-01-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

And it all started with a big bang, followed by many other uncountable ones… the dark sky was lit by a superb spectrum of colors and creative patterns!! It was an ongoing affair of fireworks to start the New Year! The long anticipated hour had finally arrived and it was greeted with tremendous joy! The thrill of shouting out ‘the countdown song’ in unison with thousands of other Baltimoreans felt as if we were possessed by the spirit of festivities! 10…9…8…7…………3…2…1… Happy New Year!!!
It wasn’t just New Years that was celebrated at home though, for it was my Aunt’s Birthday as well!

Speaking of Birthdays, today is my Birthday (yes, thank you very much!) and it has been a beautiful day!!! Got lots of Birthday Wishes from all over the world!! This blog goes out to say THANKS to all my well-wishers. The day started off with a prayer and not too long after that, I was munching on some rich blueberry pancakes prepared by my Aunt especially for me! Next, I went on a little shopping-spree, a little gift to myself if you may! That was followed by more food and a delicious homemade chocolate cake! Later on in the evening, my lovely friend, Grace took me out to feast on some good old Steak!!

This lovely day shall now end with a brand new episode of The Boondocks, and subsequent to that, a prayer, to thank the Lord for this beautiful life His graciousness has bestowed upon me!

A Christmas Story

2005-12-27T13:52:00.000-05:00

The lighted Douglas fir stood proudly showing off its carefully chosen ornaments in front of the huge sliding window of the living room. This way it could be admired from both within and outside the house. Due to a last minute decision to acquire a Christmas tree, it had once stood sadly at a Home Depot’s nursery close to home. Deepa and I had gone to pick out a tree and we found this gloomy-looking tree. It was one of those trees that didn't 'make the cut' with the other customers, due to its lifeless outlook. However, there was something about it, which made us feel like we needed to adopt it, get it out of the freezing weather and give it a warm home. Once we gave it some water to drink and decorated it, we accepted it like proud parents. The room was filled with the scent, the warm yet crisp scent of the tree. On the night of Christmas Eve, each one of us quietly tucked away carefully and exquisitely wrapped gifts under the tree on our own time, trying not to bump into each other like suspicious-looking criminals.

The following day, Christmas had knocked every door of every house ever built and at 8:00am, I was wide-awake, desperately awaiting the ‘moment of truth’, the truth behind the wrapping paper and bows, of course. Ah! The time finally arrived, and we started the gift-exchanging jamboree, feeling a bit guilty about beastly tearing apart the traditional looking wrapping that hid the gifts; the wrapping that had someone painstakingly make perfect folds and creases and perfect bows with meticulously chosen ribbons… but, oh well! Now was the time to reveal what lay beneath! It was quite entertaining, to see the look on everyone’s faces when bombarded with gifts. Some faces expressed disappointment, while some surprised, and some not so surprised as if they were bestowed with what they had anticipated. Also, gift receipts were being pocketed by some who knew exactly what they were going to get in exchange for their endowment. Meanwhile, Snoopy, the family basset hound, was happily tearing off the remains of cardboard gift boxes and tissues, with one paw placed on his dummy prey, while his teeth concentrated hard on making bits and pieces of his nonliving feast; possibly imagining it were some fresh piece of recently dug up bone. Who knows!?!

After all that Christmassy fête, it was time to bite into a lovely assortment of warm and delicious homemade breakfast that covered the dining table. There was a bit of everything! Croissants, hash browns, omelets, French toasts, bacon, sausage links… you name it… I guzzled it! What a day to commit one of the seven sins… on Christmas of all days! O Lord, forgive me, I was only enjoying the roller coaster ride I was put on ever since the clock struck 8:00am. Subsequent to some much needed stomach resting, Deepa, Maya and I headed out to the movies. Of course, we watched a Christmassy family movie, for if we had watched a movie like Syrania, we would have felt like we were cheating the Christmas spirit, just so we could drool over George Clooney’s magnificent work of art. The move was The Family Stone with Sarah Jessica Parker and Luke Wilson. How was the movie? Umm, it was interesting!

To complete my Christmas tale, I came home and just chilled, enjoying the fragrance of the warm scented candles that had spread like butter in every crack and hole of the house. Later on in the night, I gazed at the television set, as a repeated episode of The Boondocks was on, before I ::yawn:: called it a night!
Bonne nuit mes amis! I hope y’all had a fun Christmas day… I know some of you did!!

A Peace of Poetry

2005-12-19T21:14:00.000-05:00

From the ink of Jyothsana's pen, to the excitement of my blog, I bring to you a short, yet thought-provoking poem that she once jotted during the Kargil War (1999). I read it and couldn't help but think of the truth buried under it. Furthermore, it has the ability to engulf one into a tranquilizing reverie, while in unison relating warfare, a conflicting affair indeed. Read on to unfold this invigorating piece of poetry.

Peace

The world is a desert
We are like travellers
Thirsting for peace
Here a mirage, there a mirage
Alas! Not a trace of reality
The only way to the Oasis
Is Disarmament
Its now or never.

- Jyothsana Chandramohan

Mission Success

2005-12-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Thou daughter doth needeth to geteth herself a job, but I goteth a job Sir Shakespeare!!!

I suppose being 30 minutes late for the interview didn’t leave a scar on my file. Yes, it’s the job at the Comptroller of Maryland that I had interviewed for a couple of weeks back.

How True! or How True?

2005-12-04T19:34:00.000-05:00

Like many of us, I too have experienced situations such as this, receiving emails from crooks (mostly from Africa), trying to slickly launder large sums of money from potential, gullible people. This strip from FoxTrot (by one of my favorite cartoonists, Bill Amend) reminded me of those emails and I just had to share it with y'all. Also, I wonder if these wrongdoers actually get lucky, and if yes, then what kinds of people (apart from gullible) actually fall for such asinine tales??!

World AIDS Day

2005-12-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

Firstly, may I state that over 8,000 people die of AIDS per day and 5 every minute - WorldAidsDay

Today is World AIDS Day, a day that shouts, ‘action on HIV and AIDS’. It’s a day for people to get involved. It is through spreading awareness and proper education that we can battle AIDS.

‘Prevention is Better than Cure’… how many times have we heard this phrase? Over a million times, through one source or the other, I’m sure! Nevertheless, how many of us actually observe the actual principle of prevention? It is of great importance that the educated-lot of us impart our knowledge on the issue of HIV/AIDS prevention to the less informed, and if we aren’t well aware ourselves, then I suggest we take the time to find out more about it.

http://www.worldaidsday.org/ has everything you need to know about AIDS, ranging from symptoms and prevention to how to get involved to fight this deadly and unfortunate disease!

Don’t feel like browsing through the site? Then just read on… (I’ve extracted what I thought was most important and would like to share it with you)

There are only 4 ways to contract HIV:

1. Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (the most common)
2. Sharing needles or other contaminated injection or skin-piercing equipment
3. Blood and blood products though, for example, infected transfusuins and organ or tissue transplants
4. Transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding.

HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing, by sharing toilet and washing facilities, by using eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who has HIV; it is not spread by mosquitoes or other insect bites.

PS: Take a minute to remember the ‘billions’ who have lost their precious lives to the incarceration of this monstrous virus, AIDS.

Food for Thought: It took 12 minutes to type this up! If the above-mentioned statistics hold true, then in the past 12 minutes, approx. 60 people passed away as a result of AIDS!

Reality Check

2005-11-22T23:04:00.000-05:00

At 0915 hours I was in downtown Baltimore, freezing away at a bus stop while waiting for the number 10 bus. I looked down at the words scribbled on my black 5 X 7 in. planner.

301 Pratt St.

Sitting in her personally operated, power wheelchair, this middle-aged woman looked up and smiled. She was heavily clothed. “Neva thought it’d get co’like dis”, she uttered in Ebonics followed by a soft, yet coarse chuckle. I nodded and smiled in comprehension. By this time, my attention was more focused on her lower body. I was drawn to the image of just one leg dangling from the seat, instead of the usual two. It was not too long before she acknowledged my candid stare and revealed, “It ain’t bin like dis befo; bin three years since I lost dat on’!

“Oh! I’m sorry!” I said mortified by the confrontation. To hide my shame, I looked at the watch wrapped around my wrist, realizing I had 0130 hours before my interview. I’ll be there in time, I supposed. The shuttle from Timonium (where I currently reside) dropped me off at W. Preston Street.

An hour more and I was scheduled to be bathed in a tub full of technical questions, except the number 10 bus was still absent. I must add that prior to this, I had never used public transportation in Maryland alone. Therefore, I wasn’t even sure there was a number 10 bus to begin with. Placing my faith in the shuttle bus driver, I devotedly followed the directions given to me. But it was getting late now, so I decided to take the metro right across the street.

It wasn’t like the other metros I was familiar with. This one was dark, deserted, devoid of benches and had two tracks on either side of the platform, one going north and the other, south. If you weren’t geographically sentient with the area, then you’d have to ask the grumpy woman safely seated in a bulletproof Information booth (that’s how you know the place is seriously dangerous)! I did like so and proceeded to take the metro train to Charles Center. I got off and rushed to the escalator, when a 6 ft tall guy who weighed approximately 200 lbs., took me by surprise by breathing down my neck. “Could I walk with you and be your protector?” came a gravelly voice. On politely declining his offer, I hurried to the street. This isn’t Charles Center I thought to myself; it’s Lexington Market! Oh boy, I got off at the wrong stop, probably because the train driver wasn’t articulate when he called out the name of the current venue into his microphone. Now I had to go back down to that dark underground tunnel and wait for another 15 minutes before getting on the train again.

Those 15 minutes seemed long while I noticed the lack of diversity in the subway. I was not the only Asian, but the only one dressed in a business (skirt) suit as well as the only one carrying a leather attaché case. To say that I felt out of place would be an understatement. As I stared on the blank brown wall overlooking the tracks, my hearing senses seemed to have grown stronger. My ears picked words and phrases from every corner. Ebonics was being splashed around the entire subway, and I couldn’t ignore some of the expressions that echoed through the tunnel like, “Baby loke” and “Facheezie on the reezie”! It was the real thing, coming from real people and not from wannabes; and I got a chance to witness it, first-hand!

I got out of the metro station, this time rightly at the Charles Center. I walked about 8 to 9 blocks before arriving at Pratt Street, finally! Another 3 blocks before I’d be knocking the gates of 301 Pratt St., I thought. I saw 300 to my right, so I figured 301 would be across the busy street. I turned to look for 301, but instead I found myself facing a gargantuan parking lot, where cars spread the ground like an old checkered quilt. As if time had no value, I starred at the panorama of cars. 5 minutes later, I snapped out of it.

With only 10 minutes left and feeling wholly helpless, I marched through the contemporary looking, huge circular door of the building, that was exteriorly adorned with a huge 300 gold-plated sign and asked the lady behind the reception desk for 301 Pratt St.

“301 Pratt Street? It doesn’t exist!”

Okay time to go home then, I thought to myself worryingly, all that journeying for nothing.

Seeing my troubled reaction, she posed, “Where are you trying to go, Madam?”

Ah, hope!

“The comptroller’s office”, I sheepishly answered.

“Oh! That’s on W. Preston Street”, she said with a smile.

I saw a ray of light come in through an imaginary window. I barely thanked her when I caught myself waving for a cab, there was no way in hell I was about to walk; my feet crushed by the pressure of balancing my entire body on a pair of skeletal heels. The cab driver was Nigerian, and he took me to my final destination, whilst cursing in Yoruba, “You dey craze, oya c’mot fo here”! I looked out of the window, pretending to not follow his foreign tongue, and wondered why the view seemed so familiar, so fresh in my memory bank. Then I become conscious of the fact that I was back to square one, to where I froze myself waiting for the number 10 bus, at W. Preston St.!

Now, not only was I 30 minutes late for the interview, but I had wasted 2 whole hours of my time, hustling around Baltimore city, only to find myself coming back to where I started! This is insane, grumbled I while rushing into the tall building that was plastered with security.

“Hello, my name is Surbhi Seth and I’m here for my 11:30 appointment. I’m sorry I’m late, but I was told to come by 301 Pratt St.”.

“Oh! You made the same mistake the others made! I wonder who sent out the invitations! We’re truly sorry for this misunderstanding. Thank you for coming”! The lady at the front desk laughed it off and escorted me to an office, where two scrutinizers were awaiting my arrival.

The interview began, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my 2 hours long escapade. All this, just because someone conveniently allowed herself the luxury of misleading me away from where I was supposed to be?! Could this be a conspiracy just because she might have wanted this position to herself? I don’t know, but while those 2 hours were the most nerve-racking hours in the history of my life (there are a few exceptions, of course), they were also enlightening. I saw the world from a different perspective. There were people out there, with shallow pockets and complaining stomachs. Some of the hardworking people go home aggravated, mainly because they feel their hard work isn’t paying off, and the thought of giving up to do illegal activities is only normal. Regrettably, poverty is everywhere, but can something be done to eradicate it, or are the well-dressed men and women sitting on, contrarily speaking, well-cushioned surfaces in pompous government buildings doing nothing about it?

Go Ravens Go!!!

2005-11-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

Loud was the atmosphere! Loud clamor of fans covered in purple attire. Excitement was everywhere! The Ravens were playing the Bengals. I was shoved by devotees into the huge M&T stadium (situated in downtown Baltimore that can conveniently seat over seventy-five thousand people) with the pre-conception of which team was going to end triumphant, only because I had spotted the orange helmets with black stripes on the ESPN channel several times, typifying that they must be good enough to be broadcasted on TV. The noise was intense followed by mixtures of different music genres, from rock to hip-hop, that were played to hype the mood. It was a crisp, but sunny Sunday afternoon; a contrast from the typical fall weather that was experienced the day before. Deepa and I were generously offered two season tickets by a friend of the family; perhaps hoping our support for the home team would prove fruitful. Yes, we were excited! Our first football game, especially since neither of our Universities had provided us with football teams to root for. Our tickets brought us great happiness as we proudly unfolded our chairs for we were only 19 rows away from the action! Great seats, but surely a bit disappointing to waste them on those who had less appreciation for the game in comparison to the surrounding spectators.

The national anthem was already playing when we entered. The marching band performing on the field reminded me of those several occasions when I would march in the Indian Language School marching band, at the Onikan Stadium, that housed our school’s Sport’s Day, and blow nursery rhyme tunes into the trumpet. Sadness developed when I realized that I had missed most of the opening ceremony. But my disappointment didn’t last for more than 2 seconds as I was livened back up by the applause and cheers of the spectators as the national anthem concluded. On a hunt for a disposable camera, I dashed to the stadium foyer. There was no way I was going to leave without making the experience a more permanent one by storing it. On successfully purchasing the camera, I sped back to the comfort of my seat, to find the players out on the turf. The way we were seated, we were faced with the backs of the Bengals sitting on the benches as they supported their teammates who were already lined up on the field against the Ravens. The game began, and the crowd cheered.

As I soaked in the atmosphere, I began to get comfortable. Soon I found myself cheering away, rooting and supporting the home team. We were losing, but that didn’t stop me from allowing myself to believe in the possibility, however grim, of our team scoring a touchdown. One can never really tell when a miracle would pop in to say hello. During time-outs, there was a frequent display of fans waving on 2 big-screen TVs, which were positioned on either tips of the oval stadium.

The fans were the most entertaining to me. Some brought props and pompoms, wore purple wigs, painted faces, purple beads around their necks. One fan carried a huge D-shaped cutout cardboard in one hand and a fence shaped cutout in the other. Put them together and you have: Defense! As I skimmed through the crowd, I noticed more than 80 percent of them were dressed in the Raven’s jersey, while less than 2 percent sported the Bengal jersey. I wonder if the Bengal fans were intimidated by the Raven fans. What did I wear? I threw on a pastel purple polo shirt and jeans and a borrowed cap that read “Pebble Beach Golf Links”. Forget what I was wearing, the cheerleaders were more attractive in their white and purple cheerleading attire. Lucky for them it was warm enough to be sparsely dressed for they would have surely invited the flu into their fragile-looking bodies.

Back to the game, the cheering got more intense as the Ravens showed signs of progress, which, unfortunately, didn’t help much with the score. Towards the end of the fourth quarter and the scoreboard exhibited 20-6, indicating the inevitable victory of the Bengals. The experienced spectators gradually began dismissing themselves, as they knew how crowded the exits would get once the referee blows into his whistle, signaling that the game was officially over.

The Ravens aren’t going to be playing in the upcoming Super Bowl, but I can’t wait for the next home game, for hopefully I’ll be able to afford those great seats and immerse into my NFL experience all over again!

Our Changing Earth

2005-10-21T18:10:00.000-04:00

When will this deadly pattern end? What pattern you may ask. And I shall reply, “but the climatic pattern, of course”. Must I demonstrate the continuous affairs of various forms of precipitation occurring around the globe? The Tsunami, Mumbai overflowing by rainwater, a flood-ravaged Southern Europe, proximities of the Gulf of Mexico and a slice if the Pacific sea beastly being conquered by an assortment of hurricanes namely: Katrina, Rita and a newborn, Wilma, may all be symptoms of a bigger mishap yet to come. As some parts of the world witness an overabundance in natural water supplies, some parts witness a shortage. For instance, Malawi and parts of the Amazon in Brazil are currently facing a dreadful drought as a result of sporadic or lack of rain showers.

According to a team of scientists, it has lately been found that the ice cap in Greenland has slightly thickened, an event possibly triggered by global warming. Apparently, the thickening of the ice cap is consistent with the theories of global warming. Heat-trapping gasses from burning fossil fuels in power plants, factories, automobiles, etc… results in warmer air, which carry more moisture even if the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Centigrade. The extra moisture then falls as snow when below freezing point.

While global warming causes glaciers to thicken, it also causes them to melt. The thawing of the ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland results in an increase in sea levels. If the far bigger ice cap on Antarctica melted along with Greenland, oceans would rise by 70 meters. According to CNN (dated October 21, 2005), “the panel that advises the United Nations has predicted that global sea levels might rise by almost a meter by 2100 because of a warming climate. Such a rise would swamp low-lying Pacific islands and warming could trigger more hurricanes, droughts, spread deserts and drive thousands of species to extinction”.

Perhaps, a reduction in human-induced global warming could end these catastrophic weather-related disturbances. I bet most of us optimistically trust scientists and leaders to come up with something to reverse the progression of global warming, but how about taking individual action... perhaps if we start domestically, by making sure our water taps are turned off when not in use, or by conserving electricity, carpooling… whatever we can to help reduce global warming!

Working Together

2005-10-12T18:34:00.000-04:00

Just as I was going about my daily ritual of browsing CNN's online headlines, waiting for one of them to catch my attention... one of them did. Of course, it was news about India's neighboring country (also presumably a rival country) as they continue to recover from the aftermath of a massive and deadly earthquake. Needless to say, the country is working hard to assist survivors as they provide medical assistance and shelters for the homeless, so on and so forth. I'm sure by now you all must have ample information about the earthquake that affected Pakistan, probably more than I do. So, news about the earthquake is not what I am about to discuss on my blog.

As you all know (okay, you might not have caught my drift by now, but...) I love seeing people and/or countries work together in harmony and peace (peace being the key word here!) Especially since, it's hard to find countries that lack mutual conflicts today! However, Mother Nature has her own way of showing us what is more important, and that is love and peace! She demonstrates to us how materialistic things are far petty and what we humans should really be concerned about are things like happiness, harmony, love...etc. Unfortunately, these are so scarce, and yet so valuable. Natural disasters like these just make one appreciate what one already has. Sadly enough, we get to learn this through other people's unfortunate experiences (emphasis on learn).

On reading the following 2 extracts from CNN's online articles, I couldn't help notice how the Indian Army, crossed the LOC (Line of Control between India and Pakistan), went to Pakistan controlled Kashmir's side... to help the Pakistani soldiers fix "a damaged bunker"!!! [I don't know if it’s so that the Pakistani soldiers could continue to fire arms back at the Indian Army... perhaps, a way to thank them for fixing their bunker!?!]

Jokes aside, I wanted to share the following dated articles from CNN.com:

"The two sides separately said Monday that India would send the aid for victims of last weekend's 7.6-magnitude quake, and officials in New Delhi said it would be a planeload of about 25 tons of food, tents, medicine and other supplies for possible delivery by Tuesday.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "has directed that a consignment of these items should be put together on a very urgent basis and delivered to Pakistan at the earliest," Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters in New Delhi.An Indian transport plane will fly the aid into Pakistani territory, Saran said.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said there was no problem accepting aid from its rival."When it is a question of tragedy of this magnitude it's not a question of one-upmanship," Kasuri said in an interview with India's New Delhi Television, broadcast live. "That is why the president of Pakistan has gone on record as having said that we aren't going to stand on ceremony."
In Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan hoped the aid would come soon."Our High Commissioner in India has informed Indian authorities what we need for the victims of earthquake," she told The Associated Press.However, Pakistan earlier declined an offer of Indian helicopters to help distribute aid and has ruled out a joint rescue operation along their frontier dividing the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.Besides its humanitarian value, the Indian aid will carry immense political implications for the two hostile neighbors who have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir. However, the two sides have taken several steps since last year to improve relations.
Soon after Saturday's earthquake, the Indian prime minister had called Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and offered humanitarian help. Musharraf also made a similar offer for the victims of the quake in the Indian portion of Kashmir where more than 800 people died. In comparison, at least 20,000 people died in Pakistan.
Saran said Singh on Monday called the Pakistan's ambassador in New Delhi, Aziz Ahmed Khan, and "reiterated his offer to send relief aid to us for earthquake victims."Khan later contacted the Pakistan government, which after highest-level consultations accepted the Indian offer, Aslam said.Pakistan had sent two planeloads of relief material to India to help victims of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit the western state of Gujarat in January 2001."

-India, Pakistan working together
Nations put aside rivalry with Indian offer of aid, CNN
Tuesday, October 11, 2005

"In the latest sign that Saturday's magnitude-7.6 quake could be easing tensions in the region, Indian troops Wednesday crossed the disputed line of control in Kashmir to help Pakistani soldiers repair a damaged bunker, an Indian army spokesman said.
The Indian soldiers were responding to a request for help from the Pakistani troops manning the bunker near the Aman Setu bridge, the only crossing between the regions of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan and India, the spokesman said. The Indian defense ministry was working around the clock to clear the road to the bridge, also known as Kaman Bridge, which likewise was damaged in the quake, the spokesman said. "Five to six soldiers from our side went across," the Indian army spokesman said. India also sent a relief plane Wednesday to Islamabad carrying tents, medicines and other materials. After initial reluctance, Pakistan decided to accept aid from India, with whom it has fought three wars -- two of them over the disputed Kashmir region that took the brunt of the quake."

-Musharraf: Earthquake 'a test for nation'
Nuclear rival India provides assistance amid devastation, CNN
Wednesday, October 12, 2005

With crossed fingers, I wish working together would, if not unite, help both governments to reanalyze and weigh what is more important... Peace and Harmony, or War and Destruction.

Note: This isn't just directed to the Indian and Pakistani governments, but to all of us, as we practice serenity in our day-to-day lives!

My Surreal Life

2005-10-06T13:06:00.000-04:00

Last night I won $543,500,000 in the lottery!!! I didn't have to worry about my GREs anymore. I'm set for life...as long as I don't loose my lottery ticket! Oh shit! Where's my ticket? I look everywhere...from the great wall of China, to the Egyptian pyramids, to the Golden bridge in San Fransisco, finally I found it in Pet's Mart's adoption centre (the wind had blown it all the way there (some Pet's Mart 2 mins from where I live) and it was in this dog's cage. I look at the dog; the dog looked right back at me. I smiled hopefully at the dog; the dog barked meanishly at me. Then all the dogs got excited and started barking from their tiny cages. And then I woke up. And Snoopy was barking. *Sigh*

Gandhi Jayanti

2005-10-01T13:41:00.000-04:00

October o2 is marked as Gandhi Jayanti, the day Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (AKA Mahatma) was born. First of, I should mention that I do not agree with a lot of his teachings or beliefs, for instance, his ideology about the ill-effects of industrialization and modernization and how he thought it was best for man to go back to living in the villages, as from his perspective it motivated peace and harmony.

But, since I really appreciate him for valiantly promoting non-violence at a time, when the world was sour and bitter, and saw nothing but war, a second hell if u will; a time that freshly witnessed World war I & II, imperialism, colonialism, political unrest, so on n so forth. To add to all that, had there been a huge natural calamity, I wonder what mother Earth would be like today.

Anyway, since I believe in World Peace, I thought of dedicating my blog for today to this immortal figure known to us as Mahatma Gandhi. On non-violence, Gandhi said, "Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man." I believe that practicing non-violence not only benefits the environment, but also transforms us into discipline, patient individuals awarding us with a somewhat self-satisfactory feeling. So, everyone gets to profit from non-violence. Isn’t that just nice?! *happy face*

I'm not saying that if someone smacks you, you turn your cheek and let him cruelly paint your other cheek black and blue (not because you are an Inter Milan fan)! Instead, you must defend yourself without the use of violence. By being violent, you would only be stooping to his level, making you indifferent from that mean person; therefore making you mean. The best way to go about this would be: practice sprinting, that's right, you never know when you'd be put in an uncomfortable situation where you'd have to run away from the "violent-one", but keep your sneakers handy at all times.

Okay, I meant this blog to be serious...but, I don't see myself going too far with this, also technically it is still October 01 right now, but, I'm just going to go ahead and post it. By the time you see this, Gandhi Jayanti would have probably passed! Bottomline, stay peaceful... and try not to fight!

Peace y'all hommies!

Quote Jokes

2005-09-26T20:58:00.000-04:00

Stumbled upon some quotes:

This is why jocks are stereotyped in the "stupid" category…

"Pitching is 80% of the game. The other half is hitting and fielding." - Mickey Rivers, baseball player

"Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is 10, or something." - Dennis Rodman, NBA Basketball player, on Chicago Bull's team chemistry being overrated

"The team has come along slow but fast." - Casey Stengel, Baseball player/manager

"I think the team that wins Game 5 will win the series. Unless we lose Game 5." - Charles Barkley, NBA Basketball Player

"Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing - but none of them serious." - Alan Minter, Boxer

But, can one blame them when they've got mentors who say things like:

"You guys line up alphabetically by height." - Bill Peterson, Florida State football coach

"Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season. One word and one word only: Super Bowl." - Bill Peterson, football coach

"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is." - Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota.

"The only reason we're 7-0 is because we've won all seven of our games." - David Garcia, baseball team manager

"We're just physically not physical enough." - Denny Crum, Louisville basketball coach

I know no one is perfect, but political leaders that represent counties, states and countries should be a bit more careful with what they say; you’ll see what I mean… just read on!

"Solutions are not the answer." - Richard Nixon, former U.S. President

"I do not like this word "bomb." It is not a bomb. It is a device that is exploding." - Jacques le Blanc, French ambassador on nuclear weapons

"We're going to move left and right at the same time." - Jerry Brown, Governor of California

"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas." - Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery

"If you give a person a fish, they'll fish for a day. But if you train a person to fish, they'll fish for a lifetime." - Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President

"It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago" - Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice-President

"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system!" - Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President on the concept of a manned mission to Mars

"I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix." - Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President

"The internet is a great way to get on the net." - Bob Dole, Republican presidential candidate

"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese." - Charles De Gaulle, former French President

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law." - David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.

Chapter 16

2005-09-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

So I am currently reading this New York Times Bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, where you read a chapter a day. I started to read this book about 4 months back, however I caught myself reading chapter 16 yesterday! Yeah, that just means I get lazy sometimes and procrastinate on my readings! (That's just the way I am!)
Anyway! You can probably guess what the book is about from it's title, but to go more in depth, it's about God, our Creator, and His purpose for us, His children. Chapter 16 was interesting and I wanted to share it with you.

I'm sure some of us have thought about love, and pondered over how to show/tell our loved ones/our special someone how much we love them! I know I always did. Often, I'd try to come up with something cute, that would bring a smile on their face. According to chapter 16 however, the best way to show someone how much you really love them, is by giving them your TIME!!! Can you imagine!

Warren's explanation for this theory was that "time" is the most precious thing one could have... since everyone's time here on Earth is limited! By giving your loved ones your this special thing called time, you're showing them how special they are for you to be wasting your precious time on them!

So for those of you who complain about wanting your space 'coz your boyfriend, or girlfriend, hubby or wife, mother or daughter, etc... are constantly breathing down your neck, know that they are doing it, because they truly love you! They are spending their precious and I repeat, precious lives over you!

Quiz:
Q. How do you spell love?
A. T-I-M-E

You see how much I love you all?! By taking time off my precious life to type this!! And yet you still wonder... *tsk tsk tsk*

Spread the Love y'all!!! Peace!

101 Things about Surbhi

2005-08-31T14:03:00.000-04:00

Stole this idea from Faraz, who stole from Mahima... I guess the chain is not meant to be broken! (except that mines got 100+1)!!! Anyways, here are a hundred and one things about me:-

1. I was born on January 8, 1984
2. That makes me a Capricorn
3. I love tulips and white lilies
4. I don't have a favorite color, but I like Red and Orange and Pink
5. I played with Barbie dolls for the longest time
6. I don't drink or smoke
7. I don't do drugs
8. I'm as stubborn as a pretty mule
9. I enjoy reading people's biographies
10. I have a little brother
11. I've lived all my life in Nigeria
12. But, I don't hold a Nigerian passport
13. I consider myself Nigerian, but by nationality: I'm Indian
14. I enjoy playing basketball with amateur girls...prolly coz I'm not so good myself
15. I was once on the school's women's rugby team
16. I couldn't live [happily] without the internet
17. That doesn't necessarily mean I like technology
18. Okay, I like technology
19. I feel like I'm getting to know myself better as I type
20. I am God fearing
21. I love God
22. I think there is only one God
23. Whoever created this Universe is God
24. I think tattoos are hot
25. But, I don't have any tattoos
26. I have a total of three piercings on my body
27. Okay, they are all on my ears
28. I like to dance
29. People think my dance moves look goofy
30. I think they look hot!
31. I love chocolates
32. But I don't like chocolate ice-cream
33. I like chocolate ice-cream cake though
34. I want to open up my own restaurant someday
35. You might have guessed this already, but I love food
36. I care a lot about my weight
37. I can't stop eating the delicacies of 'foodland'
38. I exercise a bit
39. Working on my abs right now
40. 50 daily sit-ups should do the trick
41. Wondering how am I going to make it to 101
42. I enjoy good art work
43. I like to draw
44. I love going on trips to museums
45. I enjoy shopping, as long as I have the $$$
46. Jigsaw puzzles are my thing
47. I like reading comics
48. Mainly because they are creative and some of the art is just amazing
49. I like watching cartoons for the same above reasons
50. Wow... I made it till 50!
51. I would like to work for the United Nations someday
52. Violence is not the solution to any problem
53. This World has too many problems (Oh wait, this is supposed to be about me...)
54. I once wanted to join the Backstreet Boys and change it to the Backstreet Boys and Girl
55. That way I get to chill with Nick Carter & Co.
56. I have better things to do now
57. I used to play the Trumpet in Highschool
58. I used to sing pretty well too
59. I'm sure I still do, just haven't tried since
60. I can be very lazy
61. If Madame Mahima is right, I, along with the other lazy people shall soon inherit this World
62. HA HA HA HA HA....*evil laugh*
63. My favorite sitcom is "Friends"
64. And no, I'm not a looser, I have friends of my own
(Gosh...this is harder than I thought..)
65. I like the outdoors
66. Would like to go skydiving someday
67. And jet skiing
68. And paragliding
69. And parasailing
70. My mom would kill me if I did any of the above, that is if I'm not dead already after trying them out
71. I like watching Comical movies
72. I've tried but horror movies aren't my thing
73. And no, I'm not a wuss
74. I am 5 feet 2 inches tall
75. Most of the time I joan on my own height
76. That way I don't leave others with much to say
77. I don't know how I lived without a cell phone for most of my college career
78. I enjoy bowling
79. I can think of the most random things to do at the most random time
80. 8 happens to be my favorite number
81. I like Math
82. My dream house has an indoor swimming pool and a hearth in the bedroom
83. Having a fireplace in the bedroom won't make sense if I decide to habitat in a tropical country
84. Oh well, I'll just turn the AC on!
85. A personal home theater would be cool too
86. I have yet to figure out if the glass is half full or half empty
87. I am currently working on a scrapbook
88. I intend on getting my autobiography published, once I've started and hopefully completed it
89. I am 11 points away from 101
90. I am almost there
91. Speaking of 101, (which reminds me of the 101 Dalmations classic) I love dogs
92. Mostly cute ones and definitely puppies
93. Not skinny dogs like Paris Hilton's Tinker Bell (Chihuahua)
94. Kittens are okay but cats get on my nerves
95. Yeah, I'm not a cat person
96. I have traveled quite a bit
97. I once wanted to pursue my career in Fashion Technology
98. Yeah..the rents thought I was kidding
99. I studied Financial Economics instead and actually enjoyed it
100. Just graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore Co.
101. Finally...!!! Okay... I can do this...umm...yeah... Mango is my favorite fruit!!!

I know I cheated a bit...but there you have it.. a 101 things about me!

Shravan Mahina: Time to be Vegetarian!

2005-08-28T18:35:00.000-04:00

As we drove down the back roads of Timonium trying to get to a nearby grocery store, my aunt finally popped the question.

"So are you going to stay vegetarian for the whole month?"

"That's the plan!"

"And why are you doing this? You never did it before."

"Well, I knew nothing about it before. But, when a friend of mine, Bhavin introduced this old religious custom to me, I wanted to do it. He even briefed me on the myth behind Shravan Mahina."

"Well then, what's the story?"

"It goes like this: There was a wise King called Bali who was so powerful that he conquered all of Earth. Soon the Devthas began to worry that someday this King would take over Heaven as well. So they went to Lord Vishnu, the protector of the Universe and asked him to do something about it. So he came down to Earth as a dwarf called Vamana. One day, the King was about to commence a ritual ceremony that would give him the necessary powers to take over Heaven, when Vamana came to him. He asked the king if he would give him land the size of two of his footsteps. The king laughed and said, "Sure!" As Vamana took two steps, he began to grow, and grow until he was big enough to cover all of Earth. The king realized that Vamana was none other than Lord Vishnu. He then bent to offer his head. Lord Vishnu was pleased and stepped on his head, sending him to the third world (Not sure, but I think it's Hell). Since this third world was not really a pleasant place to be, Lord Vishnu offered to stay with him there. A month passed, and Goddess Laxmi started to miss Lord Vishnu up in Heaven. So she decided to come to Earth as Vishnu's sister, and ties a thread on his wrist to signify the holy festival of Rakhshabandhan. To complete the custom of Rakhshabandhan, he asks Laxmi what she wants in return. Of course, she asked him to come back to Heaven. So he leaves. Since he spent a month with the King in this unpleasant place, the Hindus (mainly from South India) celebrate this month as the Shravan month."

"Interesting, but what does this story have to do with giving up meat for a month?"

And I was speechless. It’s almost going to be a month since I gave up on non-vegetarian meals (okay, I wasn't entirely faithful with the whole giving meat up for the month thing, but I tried!) and I don't even know why! Not really!

Then my aunt told me how, back in the day people were so illiterate and the only way the knowledgeable priests could get through to them about health related issues, were by instilling fear in them. This time around every year, the monsoons hit the coastal shores of India, due to which many water-borne diseases spread. That's why the priests suggest not eating fishes, etc. during the monsoon season. But, the only way they could gain complete attention of the comman man was by telling them that eating meat during the Shravan month is a sin. Due to fear of being punished by God, the commoners listened to the priests, and gave up meat during the Hindu holy month of Shravan.

Ahh! No wonder the Hindus in the north don't recognize the month of Shravan in the same fashion as the Hindus of the south!
[Incase you didn’t know, seafood isn’t as well known in the North as it is in the South of India.]

People in different parts of India recognize this holy month in their own special ways. For instance, some grow their hair out, while others fast the entire month. Either way, I believe that all God is looking for is a 100% true devotion.

2005-07-08T20:48:00.000-04:00

2005-07-08T18:33:00.000-04:00

Inspired by friends, I've finally gathered up the energy to post my first blog! I'm not lazy… just have too much on my hands right now. Anyway... here is a little about me... I'm 21, currently located in Baltimore, MD [for those of you who don't know where that is, and are lazy to look it up on the map, it's about 80 miles east of Washington D.C.]. I just graduated from UMBC [short for University of Maryland, Baltimore County] with a bachelor's degree in Financial Economics. I had an amazing 4 years college experience, with wonderful memories and some not so wonderful ones. College has made me wiser. I definitely have transformed from a naive schoolgirl living a life of comfort and unrealism. I say unrealism, because I had no clue about some of the things going on around us. To me, the world was such a colorful picture, all happy-happy AKA unrealistic. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the truth could not me held from me for too long, and that colorful picture I had painted as a child just became a little shaded! My ideas about certain things have changed, for instance my 2 cents on alcohol, relationships, politics, etc…Anyways, back to the jest of my blog… about me… I enjoy sports; I hate video games (unless if I’m winning!); I like hanging around people with a sense of humor; I love food, but I need to cut down on some of the things I eat; I have a weakness for good chocolates; Trying to get myself to speak French fluently; I spent my entire childhood and teen hood in Lagos, Nigeria; I call it home; I can speak Nigerian pidgin (even though some think otherwise); I’m an Indian according to my passport, but I’ve only visited India on vacations; Someone told me that I was more old school than his grandmother; I am more open-minded than some may think; I love technology, but some technology is unnecessary…okay I don’t know where I’m going with this anymore…so I’m going to end it here…more later folks!