It is possible to walk through walls.

It is possible to be in two places at once.

It is possible to be standing and moving at the same time.

It is possible to create life.

It is possible that we were created.

It is possible that we are not alone.

It is possible that we evolved.

It is possible to move mountains with our minds.

It is possible that there is no Ultimate Truth.

It is possible that there is Ultimate Truth.

There are infinite possibilities. And, they are all relative.

I came across a fascinating article about the usage of eye contact in every day life. The author starts off with a childhood tale about his father’s ability to sift through to detect lies using the voice of God. Soon, he realizes that his father uses his eyes to see if the child is lying or not. Actually, this isn’t very hard to do. If the person is unable to make eye contact when you ask something, they are usually not giving the complete truth. I’ve used this myself.

I think my fascination with eyes come from its amazing clarity and volumes it can speak. They come in so many shades of brown, green and blue. My eye fetish began with seeing the National Geographic’s image of the Afghan Girl. Those brilliant emerald eyes captivated an entire generation, and showed a peaceful innocence through the turmoil of the region during the Soviet occupation. Every public figure must have eyes that are clear and brilliant. People watch eyes to discern facts and what’s going on in their heads. There are people who can effectively neutralize their eyes and those are who succeed in professions requiring secrecy.

Over the years, I have learnt to make eye contact while speaking. There is a difference between eye contact and staring. Staring is indiscriminate constant eye contact with singular portion of the face. While the right kind of eye contact is one where they are fluid and moving within a small frame of the region of the eye. This is of course good in cultures where such eye contact is not deemed disrespectful. For example, in India, eye contact is never made for too long with older people as a sign of respect. Same goes for most patriarchal societies.

The way people can use their eyes to acheive their purposes is endless. Most people are intimidated by constant eye contact, and are more likely to respect you and do what you want. Women can use their eye contact to get out of practically any situation. I’m not being sexist but the female sex has a rather good hold over the male sex (most of them anyway). You can also use it to hide a lie because most people watch for shifty eyes to detect dishonesty. Good eye contact is a sign of confidence, and it shows people that you are still actively participating in the conversation. You would think that people in the teaching profession would understand this. I remember a professor at University at Maryland that never made eye contact even once during a 25 minute conversation about his research, and what I am interested in. It was surreal experience, and a very weird one. I figured he was an introverted person because I’ve seen that behavior in people who are socially awkward and shy.

To end this post, I want to say how miraculous the eye is. I still can’t believe the complexity nature has produced with evolution. It’s one of the most sophisticated body parts. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Which is your favorite cuisine: Indian or Thai?

What would you rather have: singular secular society, or discrete religio-societal structure? Why?

In the future, if the technology was sufficient for some of these choices, what would you consider: mental reprogramming (brain washing), or death (quick), or death (slow, torturous), or life imprisonment (solitary, w/o parole)? Why?

The act of writing is like swimming under water. Before we dive into the water, we take a deep breath. Then when we are fully immersed in the water, it feels like moving from one world with worries to one with tranquility. The view under water is serene. While underwater, one is cut off from the top world and can be at peace with oneself. It’s a place where a person can be truly by himself. Writing is a very personal activity. It’s how we put out our random thoughts in an organized pattern so that other people understand our viewpoint. While writing I need peace around so that my writing shows a calm ordered thought process. I block the rest of the world out while writing because I can think better while concentrating. Just like swimming involves rhythm, writing also requires a certain cadence which goes out of phase sometimes. As we start writing, we build up tempo reaching a peak and then slow down. But as when diving under water, we need a breath of fresh air to revive the heart periodically and bearing in that analogy in mind, we shouldn’t be submerged in the writing world for too long a time. A small period of rest does wonders to the tired grey cells and then writing comes fluently once more just like we can make powerful strokes again with our lungs filled with precious oxygen. And the cycle keeps going on and on till the task is over.

Technorati Tags: Personal, Writing, Style, Short Essay

Here is a morbid question I’ve been chewing on for a few days. It was inspired by a Boston Legal episode, where Allen was caught unawares in the rage of a father whose children were taken away. The father came to their office and held him at gun point.

If you were about to die, what would your final thoughts be?

Some possibilities that I thought of were

• All the people I loved
• Things left incomplete that I wished to finish
• pray for forgiveness for all my sins
• What I did to deserve such a ghastly death
• Most likely to occur from experience, my mind going completely blank

What would your answer be?

Technorati Tags: Death, Questions, Curiousity, Boston Legal

The Dixie Chicks were on Larry King Live. This was their first prime time interview since their infamous anti-Bush statement in 2003. Valerie’s anti-war statements were interpreted as anti-armed forces. This is something that distresses me. I don’t see why the public consider being anti-war unpatriotic. You can support soldiers and not support their cause of war. Thereby, it’s personal. Honestly, we know soldiers don’t have a choice since they follow orders. If they choose not to fight, they are dishonored for being cowards. Being involved in such circumstances is unfortunate, but that’s the choice they made by joining the armed forces. Blindly following orders is ignorance personified. I feel sad for those who have to fight for a cause that they do not believe in, or are brainwashed to believe with all of their heart.

Now, as for me. I would never ever joined any military. If India and Pakistan went to war, I would blame both of the government having not worked out their difference diplomatically. I would not support India’s decision to go to war if it did. If that makes me unpatriotic, then so be it. I have morals and ethics I abide by, and will not alter them to be “patriotic”. We live in civilization, and I think wars are barbaric. They also cost a lot of money. It’s a black hole for resources that are better used elsewhere. I can’t condone the percentage of annual budget that is used for defense by India, Pakistan or US for that matter. It’s just not right while people are dying from poverty and lack of resources to make a livelihood.

Technorati Tags: War, Peace, Bush, Politics, Iraq, Soldiers, “Armed Forces”, “Dixie Chicks”, Music

The entire world is enamored by the prospects of receiving gifts or tokens of affections/appreciation. So, great thought is usually put into the decision making process..So, what exactly do you think before buying a gift?

I’ll talk about some things that run through my head as I ponder about what to buy for those who mean a lot to me, and for those required by courtesy.

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IF knowledge is power, AND money is power, THEN why is knowledge NOT money?