The spiral never ends...

Have been reading a book called "Gangs". It basically profiles some of the most notorious gangs around the world in an attempt to glamorize the whole gang persona.

One thing that is stark is that gangs tend to breed in places where the disparity between the haves and the have-nots is almost insurmountable. So you will be stuck in the place where you were born and look for people who you can "belong to" and then stick it to "the man".

In India we have invariably had a class to aspire to and reach since there was always the next best thing in sight. The poorest had the roti-kapda-makan dream (Lower middle class). The lower-middle class aspired for the 2nd hand Maruti (R-K-M and Maruti). This upper middle class aspired for the next level - get one kid in the US. So the rat race was always there to keep you busy and not take to the gun.

I wasn't born when the naxal movement started but whatever little I know about them, their basic ideology was to reduce the gap between the land owners and the workers => Naxal gangs.
I think at the rate we, the middle class are "prospering", there is going to be a HUGE problem of resentment and helplessness that will lead to our dive into a cycle of violence. Unless we plan to take the people who are not as fortunate as the rest of us (purely in monetary terms) along for this "development ride" that is impending, we better start buying guns and armed guards...

Red faced

Saw this one in the Deccan herald issue dated 17th May. These articles are actually side by side.
I wish politicians made up their minds...

Cut-throat

Blood oozing out of his veins,
Warmth of the flow enthusing his skin.
He urges it to flow out faster,
Egging it on to cleanse him forever.

Red blots against a white sink,
The water flow too weak to erase the past.
The blood stains will stay there for long,
Reinforcing life's lessons - don't mess with a bloody pimple.

Objects in the rearview mirror....

I am not a supporter of congress. Hell I don't support any of those "parties". Ironic isn't it...they call themselves parties and say they are doing serious work for our development...anyhooo...I'm glad these guys got a major share of the vote. At least we won't have to hear who is in bed with whom for the next month with the stocks going up and down like Malika Sherawath's neckline (well technically it never goes up but what the hey...was talking about the stocks you pervert)

****

It makes me SO happy when the exit polls are off by a country mile! Maybe it is the aversion to studying stats at college. Maybe it is just the pleasure of watching the attempts from all the pseudo-news channels to save face.

****

I am a die hard fan of Sachin, but I think he is a lousy captain...there I said it...Now I can sleep peacefully

****

Going into a pretty bad downturn (swing doesn't have the "current" sound to it) in my mood...may not post for a while...if I do its gonna be a downer..so you have been warned..

Champions....

For all the liverpool fans....beter luck next time....maybe you'll win SOMETHING

Ooh Aah Cantona,Ooh Aah Cantona
Ooh Aah, Ooh Aah, Ooh Aah Cantona....
Ooh Aah Cantona.......

...

Fading photographs, clouding memories
Trying to fit her face back in my life
Longing for that sound of laughter
Can't remember the feeling of laughing along

Your laughter when you knew it wasn't gonna last
Looking after you like you looked after us
Trying to drink that bitter wheat grass shake with you
Shaving my head so that I could give you company

No one knew it would end so soon
It was the best time while it lasted
Goodbye and thanks for all the paronthas :)
Happy mother's day Ma....

No Speeding!

Saw this on the bike India site..Bike has an average speed of 70 mph??? SO if I am driving in Bangalore, which means I won't cross 30 Kmph for most of the time....Half way through the commute the bike will speed up automatically to achieve the 70 mph average???? BAH!

300

THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

sorry..couldn't resist ;)

300th post!

Killing me softly

Tears rolled down his cheek. He had known all along this would happen. He pushed the knife through again. Another slice of the skin fell down. He will need to destroy all evidence of this happening. He should have hired someone to do the dirty work. His hands were just not made for slicing onions.

Check this out...

Story available here

lot of work to be done

Saw this TED video by James Nachtwey. I don't think i'll be able to sleep peacefully for quite some time....this is just one of the photographs that keep flashing in my head every time I close my eyes...Mr Nachtwey said this in the background while this picture came up "This man was being helped in every way he could be. He was just a skeleton. But he still had hope. He was trying to move. " I think I'll stop cribbing on this blog now...its time we get out of our own selfish cages...

Pic copyright James Nachtwey

You thought your life was hard?

Heard this on a talk by Dean Kamen on TED...

This kid was sitting with eight other kids like him. He said he was lucky, he still had had lost his left arm, but he was a righty....Then he pushed his chair away from the table and he had no legs....

You can get the talk here

Shit happens...

Rant alert..

You think you are ahead of the curve
The normal curve that evaluates your worth
The target you had set yourself is achievable
The target that defined you has almost become you (2 point someone)

Then life grabs you by the balls
and drowns you in your own guilt
where the fuck did I go wrong..
or should I have slept a few hours less...

You are set to give it all up
the bottom of the class is a comfortable place
but then that is not what should define you
the least you can do is struggle for air

You know you are gonna loose tomorrow
You know your self worth is bankrupt
You still know where you wanna be
You just need to figure out how to get there

Who is the dog?

For every other kid we don't know about - Kid for sale

There is one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love
Never get to be cool
Keep on rockin in the free world

- Neil Young

Rat race

Had a re-think after reading Cynic's post

Get up, get out, get on with it...
Another day in paradise
Tired limbs, wasted brain and a numb soul
Take a shot of your fix and get on with it.

Blank stares into infinity
Programmed fingers programming machines
Clocks running your brain
Your brain running you like clockwork

Finally, back on the road to redemption
Road rage and speed that is the rage today
Get back to your "secondary" education
Groggy eyes and tired mind thinking, I can't do this again.

7:00 a.m....Get up, get out, get on with it...