Good old Bangalore

It was two years ago that I visited Bangalore before this trip - as one would imagine, I expected a city that I would not recognize given the pace of things in India. However to my surprise, Bangalore has not changed much, the traffic has gotten worse, new malls and shopping places have cropped up, may be the number of beggars on the road is less - but nothing dramatic. When I told someone that I lived here 12 years ago, he commented that 12 years ago, this place was Mangalore. That is funny, but what is unique to the development in Bangalore has been that newer and 'better' places have come up, but the old haunts, restaurants and shops haven't totally disappeared. The market for Indian goods and services has a big range - that is what I love about this place and I find unchanged. I could spend 5o Rupees for a coffee at Coffee day while I could get the authentic south indian coffee at Shanti Sagar for 8 Rupees, I could get a sumptuous Mughalai buffet for 600 Rs and I can also get a quality meal for 70 Rupees at a local restaurant. Even comparing to the city of 12 years ago, as I walk around with a nostalgic vibe, it still is amazing to me that with all the glitter and glamor, a lot of the old places haven't changed at all. With all its problems of endless construction, traffic chaos and bloated real estate prices, it is good to see that a relatively few rich folks haven't changed the dynamics of the entire city.

Happy New Year, 2010

Here we are opening up another decade in the endless passage of time. The world around has changed dramatically in the last ten years - the world has become a more troublesome place in the last 10 years. The new century has brought a new type of warfare in its extreme form - from 9/11 to Iraq war, from the dot com bust to the latest recession, the stability of lives have become more unpredictable than ever. But the desire of the vast majority of human beings to stay in peace will prevail, however perilous it looks now.

In the new year, let's pick hope over hopelessness. Peace to you All!

Journey to the dark side

President Obama hasn't turned out to be exactly the breath of fresh air that we expected in Washington, instead he has completed the journey to the 'dark' side - he has become a war president! To the hopeful nation and a concerned world, Obama has turned his back. To appease the centrists and right wingers, to not being labeled as weak on national security, he has declared "our national security is at stake" and men and women will be sent to the mountains of Afghanistan to fight a war with people who have been fighting off invaders since time immemmorial.

“ during the preceding year [...] shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

Somebody, please take this man's Nobel Peace Prize away!!!

A Perfect Bow

Every time Obama bows there is group of clowns that go crazy on Foxnews. God, how much love that! Just for that entertainment, I am glad that Obama continues to perfect his bow. 

On a serious note, I think it is the continued strategy of de-legitimizing his presidency and personality is what is behind such blatant attacks by the right wing media. 

China and Pakistan

While reading about Obama's press conference with chinese students, I was reminded of the meeting Clinton held in Pakistan with almost the same format. The difference is that Clinton's Q&A session was broadcast live with no censoring and the students did ask some real tough questions.

On the contrary, Obama's Q&A was not broadcast live in China - worse, it got censored by the government and released later edited by the government run media. The following questions will give a sample of how serious this Q&A has been.

how does Mr. Obama keep fit; who pays for Mrs. Obama’s dresses; does the president like kung pao chicken; is he adept with chopsticks; how much wine can he drink at one sitting; does he allow his children to play games?

There were some questions about weapons to Taiwan and economic issues, but the overwhelming issues seem to be the kind quoted above. I draw the comparison to Pakistan because here is a country that we consider as a dump, its rendezvous with democracy has always been questionable and its arms are twisted for any fight that we need them for. Yet, the people for the most part are free to ask and do whatever they want. But, in China, despite its economic success, censorship and oppression have become the way of life, but we don't dare say anything about it. The philosophy that governed the world for centuries - might is right - still seems to be the natural state of affairs, democracy and freedom of expression have only meaning when the leaders do not heed to our demands.

Khalid Sheik Mohammed

6 years ago when Khalid Sheik Mohammed was nabbed from his home in Pakistan, he looked only a bit sleepy and irritated.


Now after years in U.S. custody, he looks like Osama's brother.



Apparently, this is not the first time, Khalid Sheik had been behind bars in American prisons. According to wikipedia.

However, according to a US intelligence summary reported on August 29, 2009 by the Washington Post, his time in the U.S did lead him to become a terrorist. "KSM's limited and negative experience in the United States — which included a brief jail stay because of unpaid bills — almost certainly helped propel him on his path to becoming a terrorist," according to this intelligence summary.

Sea Change

I picked up this book as I wandered around in the library looking for something that would give a glimpse of life at sea. This is all thanks to my recent enthusiasm in learning sailing.

Sea Change by Peter Nichols is nothing profound - it is an ordinary story of an ordinary sailor narrated in ordinary language. It is about his solo voyage across Atlantic in his wooden boat. The life at sea forces him to reflect upon his life, his love and the endless passages done by sailors before him. What it exposes is the soul of a sailor, the longing for the sea, the heart that finds solace in the wilderness of the ocean.

The last line in the book is pretty revealing

What I will do now is to find my way back to sea

Mahatma Gandhi

Another oct-2 passes by, a reminder of a soul who lived in a way that is unimaginable in this modern world. Every oct-2 reminds me of an indifferent world of today that is apathetic to the suffering of people, non-violent protests of any kind having no way to break through the cycle of violence, whether it be Darfur or Iraq or Palestine or Iran - despair is the only world that comes to mind.

Mahatma Gandhi too lived in tumultuous times, unprecedented violence like holocaust, world war, nuclear annhiliation, but he wasn't conflicted by the idealogies, his steadfast conviction in non-violence as a tool of protest never gave way based on the parties involved in it. But i often wonder, for all of good words by the world leaders, how many of them truly believe in the words of Mahatma Gandhi? Is he just an ideal of bygone times, much like the teachings of Jesus - turn the other cheek? How many christians believe in the puritanical view of non-violence that Jesus preached?

Yet, in today's times, if Mahatma Gandhi lived today, I am afraid if he would have been considered a peacenik oblivious to the real practical politics, pushed to the sidelines and forgotten!

Burning Man Video (source: vimeo.com)

Evolution (Burning Man time lapses) from Delrious on Vimeo.

This is awesome time-lapsed video from Burning Man. ((source: vimeo.com)

Tom Delay?

what the hell happened to Tom Delay?

To Rachel Maddow

I love Rachel Maddow for the liberal that she is. But come on, what's up with all these you tube videos of obscure rants from some crazies in the red states? Quotes from people-who-will-never-make-it-to-anywhere-near-washington? Carefully selected out of context clips?

I have no doubt in believing that there are enough crazies in this country, but even for a liberal like me, I cringe when i see some of these tactics by the media. Don't stoop to the level of Fox news and O'reilly and Glenn Beck, you are far more intelligent than any of them!

The Burning Man

5 days at Burning man was a mind blowing experience. It was all that I had imagined it to be and more.

This was my first trip and I had read and heard all about it; but the reality could not be more different, the scale is just beyond imagination. For me, it was a celebration of life, relentless spirit of humanity to push the limits of human potential and a radical form of self expression. Sure, the people get there for various reasons - some for drugs, some for all night partying, some for the wilderness that becomes a city for a week. For me, it was the whole concept of a city that was born out of nothing and disappears into nothing, like life itself, that attracted me to Burning Man in the first place - the only thing that comes alive in the middle is sheer creativity, from kinetic race cars, mutant vehicles to sculptures that defy imagination. In the backdrop of the Black Rock Desert, under the dark night sky, the temporary city never sleeps. To the wee hours of morning, the music, dance and shows continue. With weary legs and groggy eyes, the campers return to their tents only to sleep for an hour or two before returning to the infinite theme camps that adorn the playa. The temple at the Playa is an outstanding experience, the burners write with marker pens on the wooden structure the tales from their hearts, a heart rending emotional and spiritual experience.

We built a shade structure from scratch which turned out to be a humongous project for our skill set, but it still withstood the ruthless sand storms. The self reliance in the harsh climate of the desert is no joke and the spirit of Burning Man does not allow any commerce on the playa. Instead the burners trade things, help each other out - it is a social experiment at one level. The strict rules imposed on the playa is to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the desert.

After 5 days, when I left the Playa, I couldn't help wonder; was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I return? Probably. But I don't know when. There is too much to prepare just for five days; but there are no regrets - it was a thing of beauty.

[edited later]

At dinner table recently, this discussion came up - how green is BM? It is not green or anything getting to burning man and all the preparation you have to do. In fact, that is one of the discussions we had while driving up there. But given the nature of the different elements involved in it, they have tried to make it as eco friendly as possible. It is very unique to get the different elements blended in as well as it has at burning man, art, music, self expression and reliance, extreme nature, no-commerce environment and 50000 people who build a temporary neighborhood and share the values of being good neighbours for a week. if you take any of these elements away, burning man won't be the same. I came back with a sense of awe - the whole experience of construction and destruction, while not green necessarily, symbolizes the life itself - in fact, its origins belong to some budhist ideals i believe. the ability to burn something that you worked dearly for symbolizes the detachment one should feel for everything that surrounds you, with the fire what burns down is more than the physical elements in it, but the desire, ego, pride, and all that. Well, there are infinite ways to look at something like this - the simplest way to look at it is that BM is a celebration of life and its beauty. At the end of it, it is an experience that fills your heart with joy, one should experience (burn!) it to know it.

RIP: Senator Kennedy

Kennedy's death is a huge loss to the liberal movement in the U.S. Rest in Peace!

'Social Studies' by Fran Lebowitz

Fran Lebowitz was an accidental find during a recent stay at Venice Beach, L.A. Among the countless books adorning the book shelf in the living room - most of them have only the decorative value - I found a book titled 'Social Studies'. The book was small enough to finish over a couple of days and looked lighthearted. Sure it was. It is a hilarious depiction of high society living, the perils of being wealthy and the insurmountable problems that besiege the 'successful'. It is also a sarcastic look at modern day parenting and a whole lot of awkwardness that we have created around us in our day to day lives. A fine read, it will give you a good laugh for sure.

Newbie in Big Rock Desert

For the first time, I will be attending burning man this year. Regardless of what you read about other people's experiences, I am told that the overall experience of this counter culture festival can only be experienced in person. And so we will see. As the first thing in preparation, we are building a shade structure, thanks to the instructions from here. We have concerns about its ability to withstand 70 mph winds - we have a backup plan to introduce further stability if the situation arises. In any case, there is much work to be done, more stuff to be bought. But an RV, shade structure and a whole lot of excitement are in place.

The violent sea

"The violent sea"

Quick 10 minute painting in Oil. Inspired by a sunset in half moon bay, CA.

Another painting

This is copied from a Picasso painting; i picked up the post card of this painting from Picasso Museum in Barcelona. (Oil)

Don't be afraid

she walked in silence,
miles on end, beside her father
through the heartless wilderness
that Iran has become;
a young woman who had dared to dream,
heart to speak out
a whole life to live.
she walked in silence,
stay with me - her father whispered,
so she did, miles on end.
through the distraught neighborhoods,
rooftops resonating with voices of defiance.
roads filled with people after people -
where did all these people come from - she wondered.
then she heard the gunshots,
stay with me - her father held her hands.
they turned back, but too late,
she felt the burning inside her heart,
soaked in blood,
she tripped, her father screamed - stay with me.
Don't be afraid, stay with me - her father wept.
Gazed into eternity, she died in defiance,
She told the world - don't be afraid!

Media in the dark

The foreign news media has been banned by a paranoid regime in covering the events unfolding in Iran. Then what did the main stream media do? They packed their bags and left; and then they subscribed to twitter feeds and you tube videos. Last night, CNN was streaming a you tube video continuously lamenting that they do not have access to information.

Really, aren't there other ways to get news for these major corporations? Don't they have telephone contacts with local news agencies and so forth? If indeed this is how it works, it seems like Iranian regime's ban is working to an extent.

The end game

I have been addicted to the news from Iran for the last few days - even in the middle of the night, I checked my twitter feeds to hear the latest from the streets of Iran. It has been an emotional roller coaster seeing the vast sea of humanity filling in every corner of Tehran, defying the supreme leader's order to end the demonstration.

For the longest time, I believed that Iran has more potential to evolve into a real democracy than most of its Arab neighbors. Compared to the monarchies of the Middle East, Iran's elections have been generally fair and square, of course with the catch that the power doesn't lie with the elected president, but it lies with the guardian counsel and supreme leader, who controls the revolutionary guard and the powerful militia. This time, people snapped when the only real thing in the Iranian democracy - the voting - turned out to be fraud; but I am not sure anymore whether it is just the fairness in elections that they want back. Or is it about curtailing the infinite powers of the parallel power structure built by Mullahs. If it is the latter, bloody days are ahead of us. It is ultimately the people's right to build a government they want and deserve; Mousavi's latest statement seems to indicate that the protests will continue. I hope he has a clear goal in mind on how to end this.

PS: How refreshing it is to see U.S keeping a low key and thus passively helping the cause in Iran. There are still reasons to like Obama :)

[picture courtesy: http://niacblog.wordpress.com]