Expressions Unedited

Yesterday I was at a house where I got to hear a moving story of a victim of injustice and his family. 

12 years being separated from family. The wife, she smiled. She was warm and friendly, a  good host. Her children, took after their mother. Made us feel comfortable. 

She opened up and cried when the eldest daughter opened up and told us her story. 

12 years a slave of injustice. 12 years a slave of the society's charity. 

Last week, we had a great workshop on 'the ways of seeing' by Nitesh Mohanty. The very first exercise he gave us was an 'eye opener'. We were made to look for every letter of the Alphabet within the campus and take pictures of whatever we could find. It was fascinating to find letters formed in the branches of the trees, in the shapes and patterns if the tiles, in everyday objects. 

Although the exercise was a great example of how to train your eyes to look for things, something that all creative people and artists should do, I still couldn't help but feel 'blind' weeks later. 

It's unfair that I've been exposed to so many experiences, yet I still can't seem to 'see'. I feel like I've lost the sense of vision. Has my artist gone blind? Is that how work becomes mediocre?

A classmate told me once, that he could stare at a chair for one hour if that's what was needed to understand something. I guess that explains why visitors take time and sometimes come crying out of art galleries. 

It's true, no matter how much you 'see' in life, no matter how much you've travelled, if the eyes of your artist are not opened, you've seen nothing yet. You've seen nothing yet. 

Information Overload

Data Smog

Infobesity

Infoxication

We use the internet as an 'external memory' drive

Withdrawals when we can't find something immediately

The internet is the primary place where information is stored

THE internet is becoming our main source of memory - instead of our own brains, a study has found.

Just today I discovered a piece of writing on one of my notebooks, that was given to me by neighbour. 

Here's what it says:

A few days back I had heard that one of my colleagues was contemplating on buying a car and I again felt the coils of envy and jealousy begin to rewind and choke me. I was envious of the new post he was going for and the money it would get him. So I concluded after a lot of thought that I was jealous of his power to buy more and attain more material wealth. My envy for him sprung from the fact that I could not and he could. I did not have and he did. 

Desire therefore through a life meaning force is such a thin line between the path of Godliness and worldliness. It does not mean that I totally and completely shun the worldliness but if I desire something then I have to create conditions that would lead me towards fulfilling that desire. There is no point in berating the other man for his possessions. There are so many times in my past that I have not acknowledged his capacity to acquire his desires. I have always grudged him for his "good fortunes". But whatever and how much ever I cursed and grudged, the more I was unhappy. The minute I entered office he would be on my mind. Even though I have quit my job and its been six months he still has the power to "move" me towards paths of unhappiness and jealousy. I still lose sleep over him and this is how much he affects me. 

But after the yoga class, I have been slowly been able to get rid of this demon from my shoulders. Though its not easy, its working. The secret is to learn to be content and search for happiness which is applicable to you alone. 

The happiness he derives from acquiring a better salaried or a new car will never be mine. It's a unique experience which is his alone. His happiness is not applicable to me. Instead of envy, probably I should be creating my own unique experiences of happiness which is mine alone. I think that is what contentment is. 

There are many reasons that are unique to each individual and therefore I cannot grudge them their experiences. Probably I could get inspired to follow their path but happiness is as unique as the individual. 

Something occurred to me, today. I was at the mess taking up food on my plate and the TV was on with the news running.  Somehow, the voice of the news anchor vomiting out points on the stock market felt comforting. 

"So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  Revelation 3:16

For the longest while I couldn't understand this analogy. I remember a preacher once saying that the water in Jerusalem was lukewarm that it gave people a pukish feeling when consumed. Still didn't get it. 

Until now. 

What made me realise this? Tea. Yes, the simple nonsensical beverage - chai. Having recently taken to drinking green tea - i've come to love it slightly hot. (I used to disdain any hot beverage before)

Any tea drinker would be familiar with the nauseated feeling you get when you drink your tea after its cooled down to the point of being neither hot nor cold. It is simply disgusting. You make a face and immediately ask for it to be re-heated. One would either drink iced-tea or hot, even warm tea. But nothing in between. It's a struggle to swallow a beverage in that odd-a-temperature. Your gag reflex gives way. It's neither hot, nor cold.

It's very rare for me to crack up at ads. But here are a couple that made my sides hurt.

I was watching a movie with my mother and there was a commercial break in between. The movie itself was about ghosts, spirits and what not - so this new Cadbury Chomp ad was very placed. I laughed out loud for a good two minutes, my parents thought i had lost it. 

I'm always fascinated by multiple-interpretation logos. Took a second glance at the iheartradio logo today and noticed that every element of the name is depicted in the logo as well. It's wonderful and not very easy to do that. 

1. 'i'

The stick figure - also as an 'i'

2. 'heart'

the big red heart, obviously!

3. 'radio'

radio waves around the stick figure

Additionally, showing the i as a stick figure/person is a lovely touch. Could be the listener, could also be the RJ. 

Simple and good design!

At church last Sunday, I heard the pastor say: "Prayer is not a gift, it is essential."

Immediately I was reminded of a counter statement made by another preacher on TV many moons ago in the same vein, although probably harsher: "Prayer-less-ness is not a weakness, it is a sin."

Continuing on the subject of prayer, the pastor said, that God was not impressed by our vain repetitions,  or our eloquent words, or our idle babbling. He is only interested in our heart. 

That got me thinking about writing too. It would seem extremely shallow if it isn't from the heart. How many slogans, copy and presentations are from the heart, anyway?

I just watched a great documentary on Maurice Binder and I feel like I can relate to the man. I kept nodding throughout, whenever anyone recalled one his quirks, because that's usually what I do as well. 

To be so persuasive, a smooth talker, a good salesman that you could:

"Sell ice cubes to Eskimos"

"Sell a pair of spectacles in the valley of blind"

"Sell a comb to a bald man"

"Diplomacy is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip."

The counter logic is:

A while back I began corresponding with the admissions department of an Art University in San Francisco, CA. I had been enquiring about one of their courses. After going back and forth with questions and answers, the contact person at the University sent me a rather funny email: 

"I wonder if you are a US citizen or Permanent Resident since your English is very good. If so, I cannot help you with your admissions procedure, because I only work with International Students. I will reassign you to the right admissions department and they will follow up with you. So please let me know your status."

I was taken aback at this email. It's one of those times when you're not sure whether to feel flattered or offended. Does she expect every person who is born or bred in the US to have a strong command over English? Does she also expect every person outside of the US to communicate only in broken sentences of English?