tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128195372024-03-13T22:29:02.885+05:30No Free LunchMuttley!!! Do SomethingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-4734181298644063362011-11-17T07:27:00.004+05:302011-11-17T08:03:08.599+05:30The WaitIs our world essentially made up of good people or bad people? That is a question that has plagued philosophers from a long long time. I think you will agree with me, if I were to say that being good or bad for most people is a temporary state and we are all good or bad at some point or time. Is violence of any form good? Is fighting a war good? A war for a good cause perhaps. <div><br /></div><div>Due to our increased interference with environment it is apparent that we are opening windows to alternate worlds or our forces of projection are becoming so powerful so as to force reality. A couple of years back, a strange young man was suddenly seen somehwere around Bangalore. He was wearing an attire never seen in those parts before, a wrap around of some sort and heavily armored. His crown was made of pure gold and was armed to the teeth. Even from a distance it was easy to tell that this man belonged to some class of nobility, a class that does not possibly exist right now. When he was caught by the police, he was carrying a bagful of antique gold coins and had claimed to be a king. The police claimed he was an antique thief. </div><div><br /></div><div>The picture of him was too authentic, so I went to meet him. One rarely gets to meet different people these days. The jailer told me that "king" knew that people wanted to meet him and the authorities had made long visiting hours possible. I was led through a few corridors and soon was being led to the main library. The jailer and his men had taken a liking to this "king" and had given him the largest accommodation, library. They had managed to find a bit of antique furniture and through a real antique smuggler and had arranged all of these to resemble a court for the king. One of the other jail inmates was reading something to the self-proclaimed king when I entered the court. The king welcomed me warmly and said it was important to treat travelers like me very well because we were the only history that people would refer to eventually. Written history in the same kingdom will have the bias of the winner and oral histories would be corrupted. It was important that I wrote about him. I told him that it had to be a story worth writing about. </div><div><br /></div><div>He claimed to be Pulakesin II, the great Chalukya emperor. Taking that on face value was difficult enough, but the guy either had enormous wealth or was a sorcerer considering what he had converted the jail into. Human beings innately want to be led, they need a larger sense of purpose of living their lives. People like me provide the channel. A long time back me and my minister had concluded that the sum total of the number of people who are willing to fight and die was infinite and the sum total number of people who could lead their people into that fight was limited. So, it is easy to entice foot soldiers into dying for whatever cause they are drilled into whereas the generals need opportunities to create the events. He had found that the world now had billions of people, the concept of the world and his people was amusing to him. The current generals are doing a bad job he said, people need to believe that theirs is the only single society that had stood the test of time and there was only darkness around. It was important to propagate this so that the people remain under control. He was reading lot and this sort of control was best served through democracy, give people a semblance of choice and they will always feel contented. He held referendums at the drop of a hat and never lost any. </div><div><br /></div><div>He would now prepare an army and attack I told him about being organized as nation states and that it would be future to attack another state (Pulakesin was reading maps and history to find out what happened to the clans he hated) and Pulakesin had a hearty laugh. I was not getting the point, going to war was an end in itself. It was in him and it was in every person that had a few followers. If an opportunity of attack persisted, he would attack. Otherwise it was important to let everyone knwow that you are ready, have an army and are ready to attack. The some total of violent people had to be constant, someone would get violent enough soon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last I heard Pulakesin was still waiting for the war, though he was member of parliament now. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-51809424557526923002011-11-16T08:30:00.002+05:302011-11-16T09:00:18.044+05:30Knee TwistThe park is symbolic, it almost stands out in defiance surrounding it. The parks are gardens are symbolic of cities of which they are a part of. For large cities, they are places of recreation. For cities that are cramped for space and teeming with millions, they offer space - albeit of a different variety. <div><br /></div><div>The other day I was walking in the park in the morning. The park is circular and is relatively small. It was a mix of running and walking and within a short period I had completed a significant number of laps. It was damn hot ( I am usually highly delusional, heat makes it even better) and slowly I saw the path turn on itself, sort of a mobious strip. The thing is, if you create an electro-magnetic field in the form of a mobious strip and then cut along the centre, you can get transported (not really, but I had read about this "experiement" a long time ago and this seems a suitable explanation). My own physical energy created the field and I had walking along the centre cutting the field. The more I think about it, the more details I can remember about the exact sequence of events that led to this remarkable course of action, almost as if my memory is willing to accept the reality that which fits its logic. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately I did not seem to get transported well or to a land of naked women. I sort of seemed to be an apparition in a world which was dimensionally complicated. People and objects could move through me and I could the same myself, so I was not physically present there. The movement was almost cartoonish, the way they show some who has massive inherent speed criss crossing from one point to another. This criss crossing was happening in a three dimensional realm, so lots of people were seemingly simultaneously everywhere (that must be physically possible, if you did travel at the speed of light then the observer wouldnt know the difference of where you are, at any given point you are present everywhere). Atleast the physical features were similar to ours. </div><div><br /></div><div>Technologically and visually, the place was a paradox. The place was a mix of our technology few thousands year back and a futuristic technology (houses that appeared and disappeared at will, made of a strange material). Given the fact that I hadnt been transported fully meant that I might not have too much time here. I was observing this particular gentleman (who looked a lot like Captain spock), who was appearing all over the place, with completely different expressions each time. Upon closer examination I realized that the clothes that I was seeing on him were but some sort of clock, his real clothes seemed to be changing everytime he appeared. It was the same with everyone there. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was now dawning on me, I had entered the no-man s land of universes. Everyone and everything was there at the same time, but they werent. </div><div><br /></div><div>A sharp pain bought me back to reality. Funny that it should always be pain of some form that brings reality into focus, I had twisted my knee. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-84186477731197345102011-11-15T06:56:00.002+05:302011-11-15T07:17:36.347+05:30PressureI say it is not so easy anymore. No, its not a "our fathers had it easy", sort of thing. Nor is it anywhere related to the economic crisis (though I would have wanted to be invited to Silvio s parties). Well, maybe its got to do a little bit with the trauma of watching Freida Pinto as Phaedra, but to blame this entirely on Freida would be giving her way too much credit. <div><br /></div><div>These days everyone is under pressure to do something cool, something unique - something that will put people in awe of you. The normal does not catch attention, it has to be something unique. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kya</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Yeh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gaay</span> Alien <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hai</span>" comes close, I am sure the editor saw it as an unique opportunity. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of my friends who expert culinary skills include being able to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">maggi</span> was talking the other day about cooking seafood and the different varieties of olive oil. "Crash, boom" - sorry even while thinking I crash into "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Don't</span> know what to do, will become a photographer" kind, gotta be banned. Someone was going bonkers in a "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">desi</span>" store for clothes, turns out that to be taken seriously while talking about unknown world movies it is important to look like a culture vulture. The other day while I was taking a walk in the park, I got pulled into a group for a discussion. There was this one guy who said <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">today's</span> topic was "has the govt. done enough for this park" and proceeded to then talk for the next one hour. Found out later that he was training to sound like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Arnab</span> (bugger <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">doesn't</span> know that there can be one and only <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Arnab</span>). My friend tells me that people on twitter are all into unique stuff, so unique that she shudders at the ingenuity being displayed. </div><div><br /></div><div>I tell you that this social networking is a conspiracy to keep unsuspecting people from thinking clearly. Imagine the bygone days, you went out and saw an A<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">kshay</span> K<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">umar</span> movie and quickly retreated home hoping that no one saw you. These days you would announce it on your favorite network and quickly wait for the race to see who has seen the worst movies (nice try, people can watch absolute crap). The Arab spring has its roots on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">facebook</span> we are led to believe (and if reports are true <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">CERN</span> is run from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">facebook</span>), so we ought to take it seriously. </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to take these things seriously, but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">wouldn't</span> make me unique would it (must control urge to declare that I have produced something unique by writing this. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-52792240715073918482011-07-17T22:31:00.003+05:302011-07-17T22:50:54.740+05:301. Whatever goes around comes around<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 1.2; list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors</span><div class="std" style="padding-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 1.2; list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >(of an action or its result) Showing or caused by a lack of attention</span><div class="std" style="padding-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 1.2; list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Not concerned or worried about</span><div class="std" style="padding-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 1.2; list-style-type: decimal; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Showing no interest or effort; casual</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; " >These are the various meanings of the word careless. I like the one that says not concerned or worried about the most, but it is actually best defined by meaning no. 2: lack of attention. This lack of attention can afflict me at any given point of time, in whatever I do, irrespective of my proficiency in it. Truth be told, now that I think about it, there is no such thing as a careful person. Every person is careless at something or the other during any given day, its just about how the plot unravels - explains the seriousness of the carelessness. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;" >I tend to bunch up my visiting cards in my shirt pocket. So if a card that is similar to mine ends up being clubbed with my cards there is very high likelihood that I could hand over someone else s card as mine. Sometimes I end up meeting foreigners. Sometimes these foreigners are are of chinese origin. Sometimes such chinese people hardly understand who they are meeting, will not ask questions and will stick to e-mail for correspondence. Sometimes, I could hand over my card to one of them. Sometime that card could have a woman's name on it. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;" >And you know what the consequences could be. In India, you possibly still keep your job. But out of the various careless things that I can and do, like stepping onto a manhole while reading a book or banging onto a pole while walking, I begin to wonder which of the carelessness will eventually turn out to be harmful. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;" >I have a very common name with a different spelling. I have handed thousands of my cards. Sometimes my cards are with foreigners. Sometimes these foreigners are of chinese origion. Sometimes such chinese people hardly understand who they are meeting, will not ask questions and will stick to e-mail for correspondence. Sometimes, they mark me assuming it is someone else. Sometimes it ends up being the same person I gave the wrong card to. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"> </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-34851338748729687722010-10-14T16:42:00.000+05:302010-10-14T16:46:55.546+05:30Loneliness<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">born</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">way</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">course</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">see</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">currently</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">possible</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">do</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">now</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">swayed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">feelings</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">sel</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">pity</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">depressed</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">So</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">see</span>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">knew</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">feel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">better</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">everyone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">mom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">expects</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">something</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">dad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">does</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">notice</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">seema</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">wants</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">alone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">dad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">does</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">room</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">erupt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">stood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">silence</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">Uncle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">Rakesh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">spoke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">divorce</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">instinctively</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">during</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">times</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">spoke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">dresses</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">people</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">TV</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">internet</span> (i <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">cant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">believe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">information</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">world</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">available</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">gadget</span> - a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">gadget</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">itself</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">imaginary</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">vivid</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">imagination</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">changing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">colour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">seasons</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">That</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">above</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">all</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">changing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">colours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">seasons</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">depressed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">her</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">lot</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">maybe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">smell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">change</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">couldnt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">times</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">usually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">unsuccessfully</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">change</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">topic</span>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">Dad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">supportive</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">treat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">problems</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">Luckily</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">well</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">heeled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">latest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">hearing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">aids</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">to</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">good</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">school</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">blind</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">private</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">braille</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">tutor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">home</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">diligent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">student</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">absorbed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">thrown</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">her</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">soothing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">voice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">friends</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">in</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">blind</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">school</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">loved</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">school</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">everybody</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">spent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">long</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">hours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">together</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">each</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">felt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">normal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">world</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">understand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">thought</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">abnormal</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">couldnt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">lay</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">finger</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">case</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">talked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">different</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">things</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">Things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">touch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">easy</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">apple</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">phone</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">book</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">learn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">remember</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">appreciate</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">countries</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">universe</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">physics</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">anyone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">learn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">goes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">beneath</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">see</span>?) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">etc</span>... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">culture</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">culture</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">world</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">imagined</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">culture</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">normal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">world</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">thats</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">right</span>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">Her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">world</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">views</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">simple</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">sufficient</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">If</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">misunderstand</span>?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">Medical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">technology</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">amazing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">strides</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">recent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">years</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">found</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">treating</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">try</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">method</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">dad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">her</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">operation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">successful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">needed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">about</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">week</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">open</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">eyes</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">Slowly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">terms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">world</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">everyday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">experience</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">see</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">understood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">well</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">do</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">Dad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">spent</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">fortune</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">countries</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">boundaries</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">understand</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">understood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">physics</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">challenge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">understaning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">movement</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">understood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">culture</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">each</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">person</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">sees</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">hence</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">misunderstanding</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">understood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">universe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">expanding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">particular</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">reason</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">was</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">What</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">understand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">connect</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">anyone</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">No</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">talk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">under</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">earth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">freely</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">giving</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">shape</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">heard</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">seen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">coming</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">terms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">perceptions</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">each</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">other</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">hit</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">wall</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">people</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">Almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">decide</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_591">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_592">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_593">point</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_594">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_595">cannot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_596">allow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_597">someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_598">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_599">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_600">further</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_601">inside</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_602">Initially</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_603">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_604">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_605">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_606">hightlight</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_607">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_608">everyplace</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_609">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_610">went</span>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_611">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_612">person</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_613">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_614">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_615">begun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_616">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_617">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_618">recently</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_619">everybody</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_620">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_621">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_622">talk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_623">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_624">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_625">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_626">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_627">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_628">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_629">world</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_630">appeared</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_631">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_632">her</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_633">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_634">soon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_635">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_636">realized</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_637">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_638">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_639">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_640">just</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_641">novelty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_642">factor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_643">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_644">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_645">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_646">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_647">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_648">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_649">interested</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_650">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_651">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_652">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_653">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_654">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_655">thought</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_656">Even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_657">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_658">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_659">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_660">interested</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_661">interpreted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_662">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_663">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_664">tought</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_665">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_666">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_667">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_668">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_669">theory</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_670">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_671">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_672">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_673">fit</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_674">Men</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_675">especially</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_676">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_677">understanding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_678">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_679">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_680">narrow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_681">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_682">thought</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_683">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_684">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_685">lead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_686">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_687">thought</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_688">process</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_689">anywhere</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_690">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_691">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_692">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_693">follow</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_694">Women</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_695">understood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_696">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_697">better</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_698">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_699">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_700">spent</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_701">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_702">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_703">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_704">talking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_705">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_706">women</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_707">About</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_708">men</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_709">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_710">dressing</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_711">aoout</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_712">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_713">lives</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_714">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_715">struggles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_716">everything</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_717">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_718">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_719">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_720">point</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_721">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_722">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_723">hit</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_724">wall</span>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_725">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_726">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_727">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_728">saw</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_729">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_730">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_731">lonely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_732">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_733">felt</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_734">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_735">soothing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_736">nature</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_737">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_738">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_739">voice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_740">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_741">gone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_742">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_743">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_744">felt</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_745">strong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_746">attack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_747">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_748">self</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_749">pity</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_750">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_751">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_752">better</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_753">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_754">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_755">normal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_756">world</span>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-19711141855983072222010-05-01T17:49:00.002+05:302010-05-01T17:56:00.723+05:30State of AffairsBbcworld wanted to do a story on the issues of food and education in<br />india. So they decided to ask each of the political parties for a<br />view. The reporter was quite new to this part of the world actually, so he decided to start at the ground level, the party worker:<br /><br />Congress worker: We will go as per the diktat of the party high command.<br /><br />Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati (no one else could be found as they were busy<br />building statues): Hum jo bhi karenge bahujan samaj ke hith mein<br />karenge<br /><br />Samajwadi Party (SP): Its a conspiracy against minorities. Amitabh and Amar<br />are behind this. We will continue to fight this oppression.<br /><br />Communists: We will tell you after reading arundhati s (roy) views in outlook. And do you say you want to speak to workers? We are Indian communists. Btw, while we wait for Arundhati to write, you can always refer to the notes of Chairman Mao on this. <br /><br />Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): what did the edhar kachi (other party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)) say? Bottles, stones, riots.<br /><br />Bjp: we are waiting for our next national committee to convene a "different" response to this problem. Its on our agenda. We have run through 4 party presidents to get to this point. The future is ours. Btw you guys did a story on our rise, can you share it we me? We need to train those rss fellows.<br /><br />Finally, manmohan singh: "it is a grave problem and will take difficult decisions".<br /><br />And bbcworld reports: india is shining away in the 21st century. There is increasing political resolve to solve the age old problems of food and education.<br /><br />The correspondent: My boss told me India is an important market and I love my job.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-84691185523027148042010-02-27T02:37:00.003+05:302010-02-27T02:42:20.126+05:30Organization building1) How soon does it take to put up blinds on a window ? : 6 months<br /><br />2) HR figures that the actual working hours are next only to France on this planet and hence proposes a siesta time which would be added to daily working hours<br /><br />3) There are value systems, value coaches, value huddles and other things that would increase value<br /><br />4) Firmwide HR responsible for a business does not know what the people in that business do<br /><br />5) A million dollars and more on executive training<br /><br />6) Everything is stuck between the nth meeting and the n+1th meeting<br /><br />welcome to the growth organization. god bless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-5809292497797227602010-01-02T23:24:00.003+05:302010-01-02T23:38:19.843+05:30PerpectiveOur times cannot product great art writes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aakar</span> Patel in his <a href="http://www.livemint.com/2010/01/01221245/Comatose-art.html">piece</a> in mint. Everything that is great in art has already been done and hence from here on our lives shall be doomed to wander in a rewind mode. True? Quite possible. After all, in most fields what s to be created has since long since been created. New particle, new political theory, new religion have been true relics of the past, we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">don't</span> hear about such things so easily. Why would art be any different?<br /><br />Art becomes an important barometer because of two very unrelated reasons: Measurement (of the goodness of an artist) and a sense of perspective (for the the artist regarding the wider world). What s so different about the current artistic environment against maybe something two or three centuries ago? Patronage. As any artist will tell you, patronage allows one to pursue art for art s sake. Art was/is opium of the nobility: My court artist is better than yours, I can identify a high note, this piece is so good lets put it up at the Louvre, the whole audience gave in to the uplifting music.....these are phrases that we seldom here these days. The reasons for that are too obvious: nations are comfortable about their culture and communications have fundamentally changed.<br /><br />Sculpture: Give me rapid prototyping. Literature: The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">twitterati</span> are waiting. Paintings: Everybody is a photographer. Without the opportunity to put people on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pedestals</span> and the ability to compare them, art will never seem creative enough. Till we get that "perspective", we shall continue to believe that we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dont</span> see great art these days. Someday, 21 st century art will be great, but the measurement of the same will definitely not be traditional.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-23516543015711568792009-11-18T07:41:00.000+05:302009-11-18T07:42:16.182+05:30Short Story: The Beautiful NightWhen do you realize that the night is beautiful? When it has passed right? You, know you wake up suddenly and realize that the night has passed? Of course the night is beautiful when the stars are shining on you? Hmmmm, what then on a starless night? That happens in cities you know. Of course you do, don’t lie you looked it up on google right? Anyway, the night is still beautiful today in its starless moonless way. I was just wondering how cats possibly think about night? I mean if they do think i.e. They must surely be thinking about it because my mom says they can see at night. Good thing for cats, otherwise they would be falling of walls or bumping into parked cars just like that. The good black cat, actually for this story line why should the cat be black, lets make him white, ok why only white, maybe white with a black star on its head like black beauty, for that I would need to give the poor cat one off foot to be black too. Maybe we should give it that too. But then maybe I should let the poor black cat go in peace and continue with my story. Three cheers to that. So where was I exactly? Ah the beautiful night.<br /><br />Why are love stories set in night times? Candle lit dinner, moonwalk sort of thing, maybe some Greenpeace guy thought up of it to save electricity, that one sounds lame so it likely isn’t the reason., but lets continue with our man “the night” as the protagonist. I mean the night and not the Knight, caught ya, I am sure you word spell checker using idiots wouldn’t have known the difference whether it was knight or night. Gotcha. I digress.<br /><br />I was not exactly sure how I was born, nor who was born first, my brother or is it sister day or me but suffices to say most people understand that I only appear after the day. If it were not for love stories I would have been confined to some corners of the English dictionary (actually its got more to do with time and physics), but here I am alive and kicking. Today as it is my season, I started a bit early for work. Kind of monotonous it is, not to have the option of not appearing to work one day. Hmmm. There was this couple over something. From afar I thought it was one of those couple fights, random with no particular reason but possibly essential to a relationship. I crept up on them as they sat on the park and realized that were discussing Star Trek, some discussions on space etc. I am getting ahead of myself, the couple were busy in an argument and seemingly were unaware of my distant cousins the stars brightening the sky or the vain display of her beauty from my wife the moon. You cant miss my wife easily can you? But these two were completely oblivious of the entire surroundings and left each other s company cursing me for the darkness I brought upon them. They have been repeatedly replaying the conversation of what went wrong trying to figure out what went wrong.<br /><br />That’s how it goes, take it or leave it. I alone remain witness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-69496388813083945352009-11-17T10:15:00.000+05:302009-11-17T10:16:21.839+05:30Short Story: Being an Author<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Csrickant%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Ladies and Gentlemen, let me begin by thanking you for entertaining this humble soul today. I do not know what each of you does for a living, what your thoughts are, what your ideals are, what keeps you awake at night…. infact I know nothing about you. You are but a face that I see, faces that I most likely will not remember, nor will I be able to tell apart. What I do know is the fact this 30 mins will change your life profoundly, it will provide you a beacon of hope in your dreary humdrum existence, it will help you connect to what is possibly your most important possession: a book. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What does a book represent? A book is but a means for an author to propagate his thoughts. The author is the representative of the sane voices of society. We live in an extremely topsy turvy world, a world where change is the only constant. A world in which you are looking for symbols, something to hold on to, something that will keep you from going insane. The book and hence the author is your route to sanity. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Writing a book is a tedious and mind altering process, something that the author goes through so as to help humanity. Each word is carefully weighed, thought upon, rehashed and then re-written, do you even understand the meaning of such careful thoughts? I bet you just read every book as if it were a piece of fiction, without ever bothering to read what the author is trying to tell you. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Every author goes through a self discovery process. He travels through different lands and sometimes time itself, he meets different people, assimilates different cultures, adopts new ideas and acts as a funnel to supply you with words that best represent all that he has learnt during the course of his life. He is a mirror to the society that he is a part of, he probably defines what a society means. You look at a terrorist and you feel insecure, the author feels for the terrorist because he has grown to understand what creates a terrorist in the first place, the society itself. You are bound for fickleness, living for the next moment, whereas the author is looking for the larger piece that will provide you meaning in you life. If you have not read an author who has changed your life, you haven’t lived life at all. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Is he usually like this?” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Not really, this happens once a fortnight, rest of the time, he is deeply reading” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“So what next?” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“What next indeed – keep watching?” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Professor Rudrasen – don’t you think that most authors are just writing for commercial reasons?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well young lady, it is true that some people have sullied the profession by writing purely for commercial purposes, but what else can they do, they have succumbed to the same need to attend to the basic instincts that inflicts mankind today. That wouldn’t have happened if society at large maintained a funding mechanism for authors, who are the true purveyors of art, not some random movie maker or your next youtube hero. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So professor, in your opinion a fiction writer is upto no good? – another young voice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hardly my friend, fiction is just a stepping stone for one to think of higher reaches of literature, a stepping stone towards realizing one’s true kind of author. As you rise up the level of literature, you shall find the life-changing author. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Hmmm, who all attends these lectures?” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“All the junior doctors here and sometimes the senior doctors who are interested in literature too. The Professor is quite good you know”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Is he harmless?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, he needs an audience to talk to every fortnight that’s about it” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Since when has been here” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Since the time Professor wrote his seminal work: Being an author – a guide towards sanity.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Hmmm, it figures” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah I guess, time to put the good Professor to sleep for today, till the next fortnight”</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-63416724400949661892009-03-26T00:07:00.002+05:302009-03-26T00:13:45.453+05:30Hedgies are not dead .... not yet.<a href="http://www.iimagazine.com/Alpha/Articles/2165684/TODAY/Brother,_Can_You_Spare_a_Billion?.html">http://www.iimagazine.com/Alpha/Articles/2165684/TODAY/Brother,_Can_You_Spare_a_Billion?.html</a><br /><br />Inspite of the stupendous losses that the markets have seen (a year of great learning as a colleague puts it) a few fund managers have made staggering amount of money. On average $474 million. Awesome. Someone should put out a number on funds that went down.<br /><br />Mr Obama are we going to regulate this next?<br /><br />Next story about their lifestyles? Voyeurism at its best.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-41259134179764936752009-03-04T20:43:00.003+05:302009-03-04T20:51:49.149+05:30RBI cuts rates!!I have been tied up a bit - but this rate cut by RBI is very very intriguing. By clearly signaling that they want to keep the window of rate cuts only for the next crisis only a few days ago, the RBI has done an about turn and cut key rates. The cuts are even more baffling considering the comfortable liquidity position of the system and by now it has become pretty clear that interest rate cuts will not lead to increase in lending by banks.<br /><br />In terms of monetary actions there is nothing that this cut would do unless there is expectation that govt. borrowing would suck out all liquidity from the market. Or more likely is the this a politically forced bailout to stimulate the now dead real estate market.<br /><br />None of the commentators I have read have called for a rate cut. What is going to happen?<br /><br />1) A large scale govt. borrowing program<br />2) Calls for banks to reduce lending rates (whether they lend or not is a different matter). Having recently seen the benefits of the PM s scheme to build local roads I am convinced you are better off putting money into people s hands that way.<br />3) Rupee under further downward pressure.<br /><br />Interesting times.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-7906782447640617062009-02-12T10:31:00.001+05:302009-02-12T10:31:55.067+05:30What is the reason for the optimism?Been traveling and working late the last few days. There seems to be a muted optimism in the markets, almost as if people expect a breakout. I am not very good at this predicting thing, so lets see what has been dished out.<br /><br />A flurry of positive news<br />1) We did (will do) 7.1% growth apparently, what grew that much you might want to ask?<br />2) The Govt. will announce a new stimulus plan on Feb 16th, they have a lot of room to play with the interest rates how far will they go and how soon<br />3) Implied change in FDI classification, I mean implied because the fine print is what determines the validity of any of these announcements<br />4) A host of real estate firms have rolled on their debt, falling interest rates hence are making home owners come back<br />5) The worst is over, Q 3 is possibly one of the worst ever quarter, but you cant really go down on earnings from here<br /><br />US collapsed yesterday, but India (along withe Asia actually) held pretty strong. Deal flow seems to be pretty good and fund managers seem to be more inclined to listen to stories.<br /><br />Everybody is a friggin realist now. Bhalue is king.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-62253237918947440452009-02-05T00:15:00.004+05:302009-02-05T00:43:14.892+05:305 lakh jobless; Stats and wicked stats<span style="font-style: italic;">Sample size of 2581 units covering 20 centres across 11 states was taken up for the survey. Eight major sectors like textile and garment industry, metals and metal products, Information Technology and BPO, automobiles, gems & jewellery, transportation, construction and mining industries were also included in the survey</span>.<br /><br />5 lakh? ~0.04% ? Not a chance, must be way higher. Ports are at a standstill, house construction has stopped (when was the last time you heard of someone you know buying a house), auto sales/CV sales are down, bank disbursements are down, industrial productivity is flat, tax collections are down....<br /><br />This should be seen as to be in the category of the "quick" estimate released by the Central Statistical Organization (they have two revisions from their first numbers - this is the first revision). GDP will still grow spectacularly. Election tactic? Not so sure. Heard that the 'noodle strap' agitation is being done in national interest, if you wear more cloth it will mean more employment in the textile industry. In the same vein the well draped Sushma Swaraj is going to ask all of us to wear more, now that she is not contesting.<br /><br />Anil Bhai and Mukesh bhai, all their 'refined' and 'power'ful troubles not withstanding are still close the top of the Forbes list... among other news.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-69726636625215141992009-02-02T00:03:00.003+05:302009-02-02T00:23:53.083+05:30It takes great courage to cry....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SYXrRIJ3paI/AAAAAAAAAac/Sz07sfvJ4T0/s1600-h/b_federer_1_11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SYXrRIJ3paI/AAAAAAAAAac/Sz07sfvJ4T0/s320/b_federer_1_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297899216150439330" border="0" /></a>In what turned out to be an extraordinary ending to an extraordinary Australian open, Fed Ex, the great Fed Ex broke down. Federer - the expressionless almost cold demolisher. Match after match, game after game, tournament after tournament Fed Ex played his impersonal game. Till he faced his counter at the other side (both are of the gentlemen kinds tho'), a guy who knows his limitations, a physical player and a guy who has nerves of steel.<br /><br />"God, it killing me", he said and then he started crying. He could not stop it even if his life depended on it. I guess modern sport is unforgiving, putting you under the scanner. Every single shot analyzed. Every statistic replayed. And then there were the records. When you ve lost the chance to make it to the history books, it becomes lonely.<br /><br />Was Nadal into his psyche - making his task near impossible? Was it being so close to greatness? Was it just the reaction because he blew it, this time more than any time ever in his 13 defeats. It was his match to lose after all, and he lose he did. Spectacularly falling apart in the final set. Why could nt he, arguably the greatest player ever effectively conquer his only true competitor? What more could he do?<br /><br /><br />Some week it was? Murray and Djokovic - the new entrants to the drama were blown apart. The French Triplet (or how many ever there are) Tsonga, Monfils, Simon all played their part. Verdasco stopped everybody in their tracks and he seemingly should have taken out Nadal too - he hit 90+ winners in that epic match. That match was atleast 2 notches above the tennis quality of the final and Nadal had stood his ground.<br /><br />Thats precisely what you love Nadal for. His sheer will, his game honed through enormous practice and a steely determination and his superstitions. Banana, bottles, undie .... and the guy is a sportsman. Nobody will ever doubt that Fed Ex is possibly the greatest tennis player of all time --- its only unfortunate that he has to face Rafa Nadal the greatest tennis athlete ever seen.<br />I thought after winning the US, Federer would regain his confidence. Thats not to be...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-51507748710552292882009-01-29T19:23:00.002+05:302009-01-29T19:30:17.260+05:30National award for Shakeela please<p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Whats the criterion for selection of the Padma awardees one may ask? It’s a topic that raises questions repeatedly, it is by the way our money that is being spent for the awards. Maybe we should use RTI to find out what exactly goes through.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This year atleast a few blokes must have been easy: you can beat Kazakhs and Cubans as Sushil and Vijender did but that would mean little to the organizers. You need to have a life time full of achievements like that of an Akshay Kumar who s made a khiladi<span style=""> </span>of generations of Indian s and our very own death knell of acting, that 27<sup>th</sup> wonder of India, Mrs Bachan, not the older one, but Aishwarya. Other notable awardees include the Tamil comdedian Vivek for his outstanding contribution to the mirth in Tam land.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I think in the same breath I propose to give a national award to Shakeela (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0787631/#actress">imdb reference here</a>, and maybe a posthumous reference to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810427/">Silk Smitha</a>) too, those beauties who have provided to large part of South Indian lands (or maybe South Indian xxxxx after the close sounding Hindi word). In an era where women were not seen in pubs (and hence did not get bashed up), the only (ok not the only) source of entertainment to those masses have been these two breath taking women. The horny southie (it progressed very fast across south of the vindhya s I am told) <span style=""> </span>male s lust was quenched by banging the moth filled chair in some dingy theater (or his own home after all those channels started beaming them later) and more often than not the first introduction of the male to nirvana. For educating thousands, I hereby propose Shakeela name for national awards – lifetime contribution.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The other way to do this is for someone to stand up and say, “we give a damn to what you guys think about who should win awards, we will award them to whoever we please”. Maybe they already did and I did not listen. Too dense to understand about national honours.<br /><br />PS: No offense to the actors mentioned...i mean Shakeela and Silk Smitha </span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-57565381153853907542009-01-28T14:11:00.003+05:302009-01-28T14:16:48.087+05:30Chart of the day (via bloomberg)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SYAagPTKGjI/AAAAAAAAAaU/GYzYwkwDsg4/s1600-h/berg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SYAagPTKGjI/AAAAAAAAAaU/GYzYwkwDsg4/s320/berg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296262302952725042" border="0" /></a>Bloomberg shows the attached chart on performance of banks in which the Govt. has bought in through TARP. They have lost 4 times more than the S&P.<br /><br /><br />How far will the fed go in its bailout?<br /><br />Surreal, Dilbertesque.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-64010832818077568522009-01-22T23:09:00.003+05:302009-01-22T23:27:20.050+05:30Drop in Merchant Power Demand?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SXiwHPyt4FI/AAAAAAAAAZw/xOa01QjvM4M/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SXiwHPyt4FI/AAAAAAAAAZw/xOa01QjvM4M/s320/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294175000518844498" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.iexindia.com/introduction.htm">Indian Electricity Exchange</a> started operations over a month ago and some of the trends in the day ahead market (the so called merchant/spot) market have been interesting. The peak tariff went up close to 9 rs/kwh and now has moved back to close to 6 rs / kwh (currently we may even have excess capacity, almost as if the power companies prefer load shedding rather than buy expensive power).<br /><br />IEX is promoted by the Financial Technologies (there is another Power Exchange too promoted by the NSE) and has some key players with stakes in it. Currently the regs are a bit unclear (ahem - when were they clear? ) on who will regulate the prices (you cant allow profiteering you see). The govt. also might want to control the prices because buying/selling electricity is a zero sum game.<br /><br />Each state is allocated a certain quota based on its requirements (given by the SLDC s to RLDC s to the national grid). If you overdraw, it becomes kind of an overdraft and that would force the defaulting state to pay up. So states can make a killing by managing their demand effectively.<br /><br />A quick download:<br /><br />Source of fuel: Non-thermal power plants can ride the merchant game much better because they can be switched on that much faster. Thermal plants cannot really be shut down and hence their ability to service the spot market entirely is questionable.<br /><br />Transmission: Regional Load Dispatch Centers to State Load Dispatch Centers to the national Grid on the broad level. Transmission returns are still regulated (the new CERC ROE applies to transmission too? ).<br /><br />Contracts: Contractual obligations are usually over 10 years, you just cant sign variable fuel contracts in the country. <br /><br />How does it work? Power traders buy capacity from producers (PTC, Adani etc) and sell it in the day ahead market (producers need to give the schedule of availability in intervals 24 hr s before production).<br /><br />There is likely to be a pricing upturn close to the elections as every party will maximize power availability in this parts of the country. Any clue on how to trade this?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-74444056127141140172009-01-19T23:43:00.004+05:302009-01-20T00:21:03.667+05:30Tata Capital: Public Issue; Why now?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SXTEGIvNuOI/AAAAAAAAAZo/lxJWvnTnMVY/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1yCoVHKhlMI/SXTEGIvNuOI/AAAAAAAAAZo/lxJWvnTnMVY/s320/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293071071770949858" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the large Indian Business Groups true to form diversified into every conceivable <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">business</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tatas</span> possibly lead the pack in this.<br /><br />2008 was a forgettable year: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Corus</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">JLR</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Singur</span> and the blasts took a toll on the group that still possibly represents true blood Indian Corporate: Mai-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">baap</span> types.<br /><br />So which is the one business that trust is very important? Banking for sure. Considering that financing as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">NBFC</span> was not making any great deal of money (and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">NBFC</span> s have gone of out of fashion) now, banking is the only business left. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Tata</span> Capital (coming in with a fund raise, download document <a href="http://www.tatacapital.com/#">here</a>) is possibly the first step in that direction.<br /><br />The prospectus will be for non-convertible <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">debentures</span>, 500 Cr raise. The pricing possibly will be determined at the time of the offer. The total leverage of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">NBFC</span> would be about 3.38 times post the issue, not bad except that most the funding is in the retail sector which could end up leaving higher <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">NPA</span> s than the current 0.5 times. The document per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">se</span> is very interesting.<br /><br />Proceeds of the issue is general purposes mostly. At 6,000 odd <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">crores</span>, the business does possibly need capital - but the timing is odd. RBI is unlikely to hand out banking licenses to industrial groups, primarily because of the obvious conflict of interest.<br /><br />In a falling interest rate regime, should be interesting to look at the pricing that the market offers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-20756436790207290582009-01-18T19:05:00.002+05:302009-01-18T19:19:41.571+05:30Retail is dead - long live retail?With the numbers of <a href="http://moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/retail/pantaloonretail/PR03">Pantaloon Retail</a> coming, finally the wheels of the Indian Retail dream seem to be falling apart. The economy might be contributing to this, but the problems are more deep rooted. Same store growth, the benchmark for most organized retail has been stagnant or negative for most retail chains for quite some time now.<br /><br />The very same reasons that were touted for the success of organized retail seem to be sounding the death knell:<br /><br />1) One stop shop: High overheads - power, personnel. One needs to provide for a/c in the whole bloody store to keep customers entertained. Look at the number of clueless salesmen in most of the retail stores. You keep training them and they keep leaving. Very little connectivity.<br /><br />2) Centrally located: The lease rental kills you - this would likely change. How much leeway the contracts leave for such an eventuality can be debated.<br /><br />3) Sourcing: Central sourcing is not very easy, especially given the high Logistics costs in the country.<br /><br />4) Strategy: Retail chains make the most money from in-house brands. And most in-house brands across chains are priced in a similar range as other brands or are absolutely inferior in quality. No headway made there.<br /><br />5) Buying behaviour: Unless someone is shifting to a new place or wants to buy a lot of things together most of the items under sale in a Big Bazaar are just not useful to most customers. Food and groceries fly but every other section mostly has a deserted look to it.<br /><br />Retail chains have transformed the way we think about buying, but will they ever make money? In an environment where ROE will drive investments, will retail see further investments or are they scheduled to go through a bout of restructuring? A bit of both, managements will get time to figure out what works. Indian consumer is not so easy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-17452247374604425462009-01-18T09:16:00.003+05:302009-01-18T09:31:29.820+05:30Play Review: The Shape of ThingsWriter :Neil LaBute, Director : Sid Kumar, Cast : Vivek Gomber (Adam) , Diksha Basu (Evelyn) , Nayantara Roy (Jenny) and Digvijay Savant (Phil) <br /><br />I saw it in Prithvi - amongst the sprinkling of short skirts kurtas and strong perfumes. There is no Indian adaption (that would be interesting na, it somehow seems more personal with identifiable names), the play continues to be set in a small town university town somewhere in the US of A.<br /><br />Plot (Spoiler Alert!!!): Evelyn has a chance meeting with Adam when she sets out to vandalize a nude male sculpture in museum Adam is supposed to be guarding. Adam is your typical nice guy or loser as he would put it. The interaction with Evelyn brings about a change in him and he begins to change under her guidance, first his external appearance and slowly begins to change internally. Adam s friend Phil (extremely full of himself) warns Adam about this, but Adam boy has moved on to make out with Phil s fiancee. He becomes a much more desirable person in his obsession with Evelyn. Evelyn is an artist on a project, we learn very little about her except her arguments on the act of vandalism with Phil. She eventually forces Adam to drop his friends too.<br /><br />In the final act, Evelyn is making a presentation to the audience on her project and reveals that the material used for it is none other than Adam. She has achieved what her professor told her, if not the world she has made someone better. Not only did she change Adam s outward appearance but his inner perception of himself and his conscience itself. She had chosen him and delivered. No more no less. In their final confrontation she reveals to Adam that there was only one true moment and Adam is left reflecting on that.<br /><br />Very very good. The execution is near flawless. Basu has so much energy, as the audience you will fall in love with her let alone poor Adam. A lot of scenes, including the love-making is captured on a screen and the effects are telling. More of the screen could have been used perhaps and in some places Vivek is not audible at all. The music and the lighting make the flow of the story very smooth.<br /><br />Nice. Should do more of these.<br /><br />Rating: 8/10Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-66438285743938074142009-01-18T08:35:00.002+05:302009-01-18T08:49:36.643+05:30All Govts should give Citi money?City (aka s****y group) split into two and got lots of money from the US govt. Now only the US govt seems to be having fun printing all those currency (their balance sheet has now expanded by more than a trillion) , the world should follow in their foot steps and pay money to the large US banks.<br /><br />Of course, our nationalist brigade wont like it if we paid to Bank of America you know ( its not a Global Trust Bank you know) but then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Citi</span> is different <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">na</span>. They have local arms who employed a lot of people (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">citi</span> financial in India <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">et</span> all). If these local arms close it would be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">catastrophic</span>. I mean even Venezuela wont mind up paying for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">their</span> erstwhile one-stop shop even if the shop resembled a butcher selling groceries (no offense to the poor butcher).<br /><br />Actually you know what Goldman is probably pitching to foreign <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">govts</span>. on what can be done to bailout the world. According the some sources, now that Goldman has a veto on all important positions in DC they want global domination. And this whole mars methane has got them all excited, They are selling Greenpeace (or was it peas?) backed securities on the impending colonies in Mars. The theory, if not actual construction we are producing enough manure these days to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">atleast</span> create a Mars farm. The US govt leads in this manure for its companies, some of it can only go to Mars. The world generally follows the US so we are likely to follow suit in creating a lot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"></span>manure you see.<br /><br />We should give these companies money from a global stabilization fund, we do not want to give up the comforts of a gargantuan under-regulated global financial system to leave us without financial engineering can we? What will happen to us mortals?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-14029977027961549222009-01-18T08:27:00.005+05:302009-01-18T08:35:21.340+05:30Raju will be accepted back<a href="http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/jan/17satyam-once-hes-out-the-society-will-embrace-raju.htm">http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/jan/17satyam-once-hes-out-the-society-will-embrace-raju.htm</a><br /><br />This puts what most of us think in perspective. You have a lots of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">investigations</span> going on, what will come of it? What came out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Harshad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mehta</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Telgi</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">JMM</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bofors</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tehelka</span> ? The facts get muddled, what is right or wrong gets lost further from what we can comprehend. We will just harbour the feeling that something was wrong, a lot of people were involved.<br /><br />But what happened exactly will soon get lost, the numbers (whatever you can make of them) would come out, a few more stories. And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">thats</span> about it.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Raju</span> is a celebrity <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">atleast</span>. Maybe a book ?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-16127699275597422162009-01-17T20:49:00.001+05:302009-01-17T20:52:46.889+05:30The White Tiger Review: Hunt it downThe booker can to better! That s what I first thought while reading Arvind Adiga s "The White Tiger".<br /><br />The plot is simple enough: Balram Hawai, a nameless faceless man from the "darker" part of India rises to become a successful entrepreneur. Along the way he undergoes countless changes in his search for his one chance to escape his drudgery. When it finally comes, Balram changes forever by committing the ultimate crime: he kills for the money.<br /><br />The tale is refereshingly told, in first person but not to you. Even though the hardback was over 300 pages, the writing style is very fluid and the first person account sometimes does feel like reading a print version of Forrest Gump. That s the pity. Everything could have been much more layered. You are not expected to linger on any page, to think about the what the implications of what is happening are. The hero (or the anti-hero) is not subtle and neither is his handling by the author. Everything is single-layered, almost as if the audience is expected to be dumbed down. The entrepreneur phase is unexpectedly short - the moment till the total transformation takes place consumes most of the book. The settings are very sketchy at best - not enough research possibly (I can see an alternate career for myself here). Is there a dark underbelly that is shown? Hardly.<br /><br />Is there a receptive global audience for this sort of writing? India has moved on, where it has not - the problems are much more complex than the books suggests. India is the land of entrepreneurs and it is the ultimate escape from drudgery but its got nothing to do with situations. And a guy on nation-wide poster is not caught? A mole perhaps?<br /><br />What was Balram s destiny. His parents wanted him to be the one that escaped, was what he did a fact of that choice of their parents? would his brother have acted similarly? Was the white tiger just acting as it was supposed to? The white tiger is one of a kind - is he hunted more than the others?<br /><br />Rating: 3/10Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12819537.post-1393754307163826212009-01-17T17:01:00.003+05:302009-01-17T17:09:12.118+05:30Emosanal Attyachaar - LyricsOne of the wildest songs of recent times:<br /><br />Jia Jia Jia Jia Doleh…<br />Ek-do-teen-char, cheh.<br /><br />Yeh dil pighla ke saaz bana loon,<br />dhadkan ko awaz bana loon,<br />smoking smoking nikle re dhooaan.<br /><br />Seene mein jalti hai armanon ki arthi,<br />Arrey what to tell you darling kya huaaaaa.<br />Hai sapne dekhe jannat ke par mitti mein mil jaen,<br />phooken re ghar baar ki duniya to bole good bye..<br />Chad jae haye Allah,jisko bhi yeh bukhaar.<br /><br />Tauba Tera Jalwa, Tauba tera pyar,<br />Tera Emosonal Attyachaar!<br />Tauba Tera Jalwa, Tauba tera pyar,<br />Tera Emosanal Attyachaar!<br /><br />Jao Jao dilbar,<br />oh dilbar oohh!!<br />Tauba Tera Jalwa, Tauba tera pyar,<br />Tera Emosanal Attyachaar!<br /><br />(This part is the awesome scene, where the bride just starts dancing :D )<br /><br />Ho gai dil ke paar tragedy,tragedy.<br />lut gai re bahaar, gul sukh sukh murjhae,<br />Ho gai dil ke paar tragedy, tragedy,<br />lut gai re bahaar, gul sukh sukh murjhae,<br /><br />Bol Bol why did you ditch me,Zindagi bhi lele yaar kill me,<br />Bol Bol why did you ditch me whore.<br />Bol Bol why did you ditch me, Zindagi bhi lele yaar kill me,<br />Jao pia jao pia jao pia….<br /><br />Tauba Tera Jalwa, Tauba tera pyar,<br />Tera Emosanal Attyachaar!<br />Tauba Tera Jalwa, Tauba tera pyar,<br />Tera Emosanal Attyachaar!<br /><br />For original source (minor edits above) and the rock version lyrics, please click <a href="http://harryjerry.com/music/emotional-atyachar-full-lyrics/">here</a>. Awesome fun this. <br /><br />Here is more about the song (through Pradosh Biswas):<br /><br /><a href="http://passionforcinema.com/devd-emosional-atyachar/">http://passionforcinema.com/devd-emosional-atyachar/</a><br /><br />Rocking.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1