Monday, February 27, 2006

Of Wilderness and More

This was an old composition for someone...........Yet my original work so I thought let me put it out there.................


I think of the wilderness and the paths that converge there.
Not one is ever treaded or bare.
What i think then is let me go on one of 'em I fail to see what or where it leads to, but even then i go on hoping i will meet a traveller or two.
I don't assume happiness and of course I am scared.
But when i end up alone at the destination I have a traveller waiting there.
I realize the path i treaded on wasn't the wrong one.
I was all alone but the journey wasn't invain
all because I had someone waiting at the end.
I never knew about it so perhaps it was nice.
Had I known i would have probably reached earlier too.
What i want to tell u is your path is barren and you are travelling alone too
but speeden up soon for i am waiting for you !!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, February 26, 2006

WORDS....EVERLASTING WORDS....

Hundreds of people have asked me "what is psycholinguistics?" i have explained it a hundred times too but this friday I actually got an opportunity to delve in the linguistics side of it.Wow, what a seminar.
The english department at my university coordinates a seminar series every spring.So this year their first speaker of the series was a Polish Professor, Dr. E.Tabakowska from Krakoff, Poland.
A very learned lady with an excellent sense of humor.
I thought let me share some of the highlights of this talk with other language enthusiasts.So essentially we come to a question ' Why do we need language?'
Answer isn't complicated at all.
Language is a medium to express.However how the iconicity is interpreted universally alike is a mysteriously interesting proposition of study.
Dr. Tabakowaska began with a simple sentence .............'The language I use is because I see what I see and I want you to see what I see.'
Well we all agreed to that. We do communicate because we want the other person to know our perspective but then the next statement she said,raised a few sighs and gasps.............' We see icons of a language, could be pictures, symbols or letters (also symbols in a way), these are arbitrary but they each have an assisgned motivational value to them.And this motivation helps us communicate and interpret.Often when the signs are assigned the same motivation in a culture, they convey the same meaning.However there are symbols that are universal and grammar that is universal and we often make sense of the world from the world itself.'
Now this was a little heavy to take it at face value but she made it a point to give us apt examples to explain what she meant by iconicity and language perception and comprehension.
To quote a few would be as follows.

" People took pride in the peruque(instead of using a word like wig and the puffed petticoat, in the landscaped park , in the painted porcelain and the powdered pudendum (ibid, 595)
Now this statement not just describes the people of that historical period.......just the sheer use of words conveys their proud behavior, their uptightness and so many other things that the word order could have not if it were differently put.

Another one was about how a statement can be made into a command or it can be impinged on the memory sheet forever by minimum usage of words and also it can be a much more sharp / decisive command if the words are equal length.Like Caeser's description 'Veni, Vedi, Vici.
Three words, crisp and starting with V which somehow reminds people of distinctiveness.

Also another interesting thing was...........Ever thought about it...whenever we give instructions/ descriptions to people about where things are located/ kept , we give them in such a way that if the listener were to look for them they would just follow the sequence of the sentence and then get to the destination concerened.Although grammatically placing one clause before the other wouldn't be wrong we never do so.An instance would be as follows.
The book is upstairs, on your right, in the top shelf of the cupboard, right across from the blue folder.Now the right across from the blue folder could have been before we described that the book was in the top shelf, but we do not do so.
Now is it that cognitive linguistics are trying to study this phenomenon.However what remains to be found is whether it will make a huge difference in perception if this order were changed.I think it would certainly affect their cognitive maps.

I would leave you with an age old Chomskian argument "Words do not make sense without meaning even though they follow the right syntax, for e.g the following sentence is grammatically correct but semantically it doesn't make any sense at all.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously!!!!!!!!!!!!
So well think about why you speak the next time you do and wonder whether the motivation behind your language is the same as another person's......................................................

Monday, February 20, 2006

Auto - Show 2006

The day had finally arrived (February 18th 2006) , unvieling the desires, overcoming the excitement..................... the final rush....the kick that acceleration sounds give us..... CHICAGO AUTO SHOW!
Probably the nation's biggest Autoshow and so far as the range of machines on display......well everything from the usual Toyota Camry to the very desirous Aston Martin and Maseretti.
With a group of 7 people it was hard keeping track of where who was, in throngs of millions in the Mc Cormick place (just over a million sq. feet of space for showcasing these beauties)
It's hard to believe what a beautifully designed car can do to your adrenaline.Yes you right.It shoots up to no bounds.
Starting the show with Ferraris and Porsches on display was almost like walking in dream county.
It hurt a hell lot not to be able to even touch these splendid speedsters , however oogling at them was not taxed.Posters were out so didn't get any of those, except one for a Volkswagen.Nevertheless, photos were good enough.Yes it is one of these events when you really love having a digital camera..............
There were SUVs, two doors, trucks, Jeeps, Bikes (wish they'd let us ride them though) and yeah a lot lot many concept cars.Concept cars are more or less like dream cars.They are still in their conception stage, new ideas are incorporated and functionality is honed till they actually arrive in the market for a fair share in the consumer trade.
Oogling at the beauties got a little boring after a while.Yes coming from an ardent car lover, this sounds pathetic, but what should I say afterall human heart is sensitive to disappointments more than it is to moments of happiness.Sheer joy of seeing a car leads to a myriad other wants ; namely; being able to afford a luxury like a BMW convertible two door, or a Infiniti Coupe.Nah that's hard to surpass the reality that probably it will be until eternity till I am able to get one of those.Yeah there are short cuts like some of my friends were talking about..............Marrying a guy who has one of these.But then again it's an ego hassle......No marry for money , honey............
Anyways so after much ado and a lot of heart ache, I managed to curb the desire of taking one of those beauties with me.Simple reason (not that I don't have money) I don't have a driving license yet.
One of the most exciting things I have done in the U.S of A so far....................
A thrill, a rush a kick unknown,
cars aplenty owners unknown,
designers unnamed, companies pride
I wish all these memories always dwell by my side!!

Friday, February 17, 2006

MAIN HOON NAA


MAIN HOON NAA

  1. Every time you wonder if anyone really cares for you or not , don't hesistate to ask,
  2. Every time you think the worlds falling apart, don't stop to cry
    Everytime you question the rights of friends don't be disappointed.
    For you least expect someone around, there are loads of people out there.

Just give a call , for I'm only what 10 digits away, Ask for my advice it's free anyways.

Or just ask me to listen and I promise I won't say a word.

Empty your sore misgivings , we'll try to do what we should.

I'm there for you like you've been there for me before , Goodness given is goodness restored

What's the world if it ain't social enough to have all the sadness cleared????????


Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Sympathy No More


Every year the time of the year when I feel so low, lower than dust sometimes, has arrived finally.
14 th February, a day they say to show your love.A day they say when you express your deepest feelings for someone you care for.
Well for me every year in the past and this one too, this day hasn't brought much luck.
Of course there have been friends who shower their love and gifts too.Yes in that aspect I am not totally abandoned, do get to experience minimal human affection.
However , like a close friend of mine would comment.....The constant 'petting' that I need sometimes is on a very low supply chain.
I am an attention seeking, affection wanting, love demanding individual but I ask no one's sympathy.
Well I may be standing on the shore of an ocean and stretching my arms wide open to embrace every single lovely human being that I think is worth sharing my time with,
but if you disagree which you might and have the right too, my only request is .......No more sympathies I bequeth.
I dislike every minute when friends say , hey what are you doing this V - D....and then they sort of stop short of completing their question.I wonder what stops them? Guilt, mockery or even worse sarcasm.....intending on hey what could she do, poor her doesn't have anyone in her life right now.
Well to these and others who show this sympathetic approach, I don't care ....I am happy the way I am. I live like a queen and enjoy my freedom.
I live in earnest that someday I will meet the man of my dreams and then again Valentine's won't be any different for to me it's just another day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, February 13, 2006

LET GO

Early morning I wake up to a bright blue Monday,
Snowflakes that drift past wish could catch them in sachets,
Let go my sleep and let go the peace of the day

Standing by the desk, I wait for a call.
Thinking someone is going to let me in on some low,
Hearing the best from people and ignoring the rest
I let go of the tensions with deepest earnest.

Slowly the clock ticks past, I move on with the tasks,
A police officer, some anger and cooperation without much slog
I wonder why things go so wrong when you wish they wouldn't
I let go the reins and harness patience.

Lunch it is then I decided I'd have,
a friend or a collegue to seat herself by the table,
frustration of the job and too much to do,
Let go I said to her, only then will your emotions will be stable.

Coffee with someone, a big theory to learn.
senses and colors hover in the setting sun
Let go I tell her, let go of your fears
for if you don't love ought to bring tears.

The night brings peace,
filled with preperation of all kinds
shadows sleep in a darkness well
Let go I say of the world and in your own embrace tonite you dwell !!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

A Nameless Day


Nameless I say for I don't know how to qualify the noun,
Loads of nerves but not a single frown......
If the day starts and we don't do anything,
We feel lost, unaccomplished , filled with nothing!
Today begun quite a lot, meetings, classes and library lab stuff
Putting together a schedule was so tough.
Had lunch @ Watterson, Salad and Coffee with Amaretto,
Caffeine is bad they say, but I never seem to give it up.
Resume Updates, Applications filled and every other list that I was set to do.
Bills that were paid was like money from accounts vanishing ditto!
All the same, a meeting done, souls convinced, hearts won.
Henna tattoos and smiles a galore
The day ended with studies and food coupled with laughter pure!

Sunday, February 05, 2006

'When The City of Destiny calls.'

RANG ---- DE----- BASANTI..... and more.
The day was bright and sunny.The moods all upbeat except one.And the time perfect.
Planning is often hard and when you take the task of making everyone happy, it's seldom successful.
Nevertheless, we all set out on a big trip to the city of destiny. I am not kidding.It was really where we went on Saturday.The name of the place is Des Plaines.Literally speaking described as the city of destiny.This is a local hub of sophisticated people of Chicago suburbs,close to the village of Shaumberg.
We set out from our home at around noon.With lunch and a family visit in mind, reaching the destination soon was driving all of us nuts.
Music accompanied with lot of Chit Chat and useless arguments of anything and everything ranging from food to love were good time and boredom killers.
Finally after a beautiful,hassle free two hours drive we reached Shaumberg.
First stop : Lunch buffet at India House.Probably the first and only well decorated Indian Restaurant I have seen in Illinois till now.Really impressive decor and yet pocket friendly!
Food? Dosa, Idali (till date I am still confused about the right spelling....) , Naan, Paneer Maakhani, Chicken Curry and Gulabjamun topped the list of buffet favorites.
We ate till our hearts content and the driving force was the since the place is so beautiful and the food range is decent and the food also tastes alright, the price ought to be high.Yes another of those factors which make people overeat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To our dismay the buffet price was lower than expected and that made us really sad.Yeah who would be sad with a little money saved........But we were.
So off we were to my friend's sister's house.The village of Shaumberg has several number of fellow Desis living there.Infact its kind of an all Indian neighborhood so to say.
Each time I visit my friend's sister, I feel her daughter has become even more cuter.This time however I was going to see this kiddo after almost 6 months.And given that infants progress geometrically in late infancy and early childhood, I was not surprised at all to see this smart kiddo do all the stunts that she was doing.
Draped in a beuatiful white Ghagra - Choli, embroidered with mirrors, she could give Aishwarya a run for her money!
Took tons of photos.Yes people think now that I am a camera freak but what is the use of a digital camera if you do not make the most of it.
An hour or a little over that was spent in Shaumberg and then we bid goodbye to the kiddo, who wouldn't want us to leave.Anyways we were then finally off to our final destination.The movie theatre.It was about 25 mins. away from where we were.We reached the actual venue ten minutes early.However as fate is , we still took a wrong left turn and landed on a street with no turns, no u- turns and no short cuts with tons of ice and thus very very low speed.
We managed to somehow find our way through all this and reached the place for the movie.Got the tickets and went in and sat amongst about two scores of others who were just like us.....yes Desis.
The movie had already started.I hate it when people miss even a little bit of the movie.But this time it wasn't that bad.Afterall I think my patience has proabably increased atleast a tiny wee bit more than what it was in high school.
Anyways so the movie...........Rang de Basanti posed a big question to me or rather it made me wonder why people hype movies so much.If they do why do I trust other peoples' opinions and even if I do that why am I ruesome when a movie comes along that is good but leaves a bitter feeling in my heart too.Somehow somewhere something in the movie made me think what I was doing abroad and why I am not doing anything to change the way things are in my homeland.Is it because I am waiting for getting an opportunity or is it sheer diffusion of responsibility? Or is it that I am scared to take initiative.Whatever it is, it is unsettling and it has made me even more determined to return back home after I finish with my studies here in the States and do something worthwhile which will change the face of the future for the coming generations in my Matrubhoomi.
Overall the movie was good.It was really good to see for a change that five heros in the movie acted their share equally well and talent was not wasted.Music was a treat for the ears and the Indian Air Force planes , a treat to the eyes.
Loved the song, Luka chupi bahut hui saamne aaja na.............Cried a great deal, and then again there were moments I could stop laughing like Aamir's laugh riot song"SUEkar mere mann ko...." Cool locales of North India and yes........................ the place where the friends would love to hang out.That cool cliff which was right beside water where they danced and sang a number of times.
Indian Cinema is changing, and so are the people.Often I wonder , does the society mirror cinema or is it the other way around.Besides the violence, booze and rallying shown in the movie, I would really be impressed if youth picked up a good message from the movie.
To end this write up , I'd narrate one of Aamir's dialogues : "There are just two ways to lead a life; one: Sit quietly and watch whatever is happening and two: constructively criticize take it upon you to change things."
"No country is perfect. You have to make it perfect.And hopefully we all shall!"
Well I am determined to fall in the second path of life.What about you?