"Left" Abandoned

This is a repeat post - want to share it again to more readers.
I am a "total LEFT handed person". A "southpaw"

Here in the United State there is a building code (bylaws) called ADA (Americans with Disability Act). It regulates the building designs in order to accomodate people with any diability - handicap, blind, hearing impaired. The law came about so that the disabled dont feel neglected and are able to participate to their best abilities in all different activities that a normal person performs.

Now in my case - I feel there should be a "World Lefties Act". We are a minority- approximately 17% of the world population (as posted in my earler post 23&ME). Apart from social stigma attached to being a lefty in certain cultures - this statement that I read reflects my constant challenges with me being ME

"In 2007, researchers discovered LRRTM1, the first gene linked to increased odds of being left-handed. The researchers also claim that possessing this gene slightly raises the risk of psychotic mental illnesses such as schizophrenia"

I will cite my reasons why I think the above law should be enacted - there are so many things a "left handed" person cant do or simply enjoy or has to adjust to - this is a list from personal experiences and research on net

- Scissors are always designed for Right Handed Person (No wonder I failed all my craft lessons but was good at abstract art)

- Fold flap chairs in school/colleges are always right handed - (I had to take two desks, one to sit and the other to write on - with the ire of anyone sitting next to me)

- Computer Mouse in all public places and libraries is always on the RIGHT. (But I dont complain - it made me ambidextrous)

- Glad that I will never be able a sharp shooter - all Firearms are designed exclusivly for right handed people

- Japanese kitchen knives are Right Handed (so cant be a Sushi Chef)

- Most vegetable peelers are Right Handed (Have to look for one to use it with both hands)

- Any ATM or check out scanner or a automated ticket booth is always geared towards the Righties. (Need to find out if Lefties spend less money due to this)

- Most Musical Instruments are right handed

- Most sports luckily are designed for both the hands baring - golf or hockey which are Right Specific. (Try asking for a Left Handed Driver in a golfing range)

- I only get two choices of seats when I go out to restaurants with friends. It has to be either end left corner. (Good part is I always get to order - bad because the bill lands on my lap)

- Ever realize when people say "Yeah Right" "Ahh Right" "All Right" - how do we lefties feel.

- The other big rejection I face all the time is forwarding my hand at a temple to accept favours (prasadam) - invariably my left hand goes up and Mr. Swami looks at me like I am some retard.

So I hope someday there is a Lefties Union who fight for our survival -
and makes us feel "Left Accepted" rather that "Left Abandoned"

23andMe

Are you interested in a pair of jeans? (oh genes I mean )

23andMe is a Biotech Genome Service founded by Anne Wojcicki, Google cofounder Sergey Brin's wife.

You can read in detail about the project and what it deals with at 23andMe. The data they produce is optimized to provide information about our ancestry, our inherited traits and how our genes may affect our chances of developing certain diseases or conditions.

I have always been interested in .Genetics. This service costs $999.00 to analyse one Genes and unlock the secrets of one DNA. Someday I will sent my "spit" and get it analysed.

Learnt some interesting facts browsing the website:

- I am among only 17 percent of worlds population being a complete left handed person (check this slides - tells you other percentages )
- What this service offers and analyses is different from the forensic DNA analysing database that Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Codis Database contains.
- DNA differs by a mere 0.5% between humans and 1.5% from a Chimpanzee - Imagine if GOD sneezed while creating you....
- As a sperm or an egg contains only 23 chromosomes picked from a total of 46. 23 chromosomes from the father in a sperm and 23 from the mother in the egg. These when combine form the total of 23 pairs of chromosomes -to make you. Since the 23 chromosomes in each is random selection - you differ from your siblings.
- Certain variations in the type are what determines our likeness for sense, taste, preference etc. but even here they are not able to still determine what guides our emotions. (Is that an unexplored part of science)

Its interesting to see the complexity with which we are formed - the constant mutations and permutations that our cells undergo.

Ruminations

Tis the end of another week!!! but these past five days were very interesting. Mulling about it today - I realized that there was an inherent pattern where past, present and future were juxtaposed simultaneously in few aspects.

First there were interesting discussions on couple of blogs - about past relationships, past mistakes, past ghosts and at the same time there were issues that dealt with what you seek in the future in terms of relationships. It helps in certain ways to heal oneself - get feedbacks - and look with a smile that future is not all that bleak.....(to all those fellow bloggers - thank you) .

Secondly met a friend - discussed the past and future course of actions

Last - I had vowed will not talk about work on this blog - could feel like an ego trip or get boring - but have to take this one instance.
This happened yesterday - in the morning I visited an early 1800 barn and a stable - in Coltsneck NJ. This is a project where we are going to add modern kitchen and living spaces. Also will be restoring parts of the interiors. The trick is to respect the past and be sensitive when adding to it. I have attached few pics below. The house from outside is not very interesting - but interiors are impeccable and maintained very well. The site is 4 + acres - and the owners love horses.





Now to the main reason for this post - during the day I was involved with restoring and loving the past - a history that one likes . I was studying this building - imbibing it.



And then in the evening along with probably most of America I was watching the debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - one of them possible future Presidents - to help forget the horrific tenure of George Bush.

Isnt it ironic that life puts forth many scenarios, sometimes none for years and sometimes many in a matter of a week. One has to be always aware of these nuances not get sluggish - or else you dont know when such an opportunity might come again.

Splash of COLORS

Caught up at work and put the thinking cap in the laundry.
So sharing some pictures meanwhile :)

Hi there The Tree Beckoned Shaking in Mild Wind - Captured it forever.
Edison, New Jersey (vibrant color of spring after a dull winter)

Knowledge defying gravity
Exhibit at Ground of Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ (click for link)

Google ke choote choote tukde (damn I want to be a kid again :)
(little pieces of Google)
Play Pen IKEA - Elizabeth, NJ (click for you know what)

Breaking the monotony
Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London

Inlay Glass Mosaic
Mor Chowk, City Palace, Udaipur, India (better High resolution pics)

Tag - Dhi Na Dhin

Was tagged twice not so long ago.....finally decided to dwell into them and write them down:
Tag 1 : (by pri)
5 Things in My Room:
My Writing Pad and Pen (for every little thing i scribble it down or sketch it)
My windows to the outside world (one real window for light and air and my bills gates's window for rest of the stuff)
Books - lots of them and all kinds - simultaneosly reading 5 different books depending on mood
Hard Drives loads of music -desi, english and hinglish and movies - in short my entertainment center)
Thought Balloons (every now and then there is some thought that I have - i blow it into a imaginary balloon and let it float in the room - in times of solitude - i burst few and carry them on - beleive me the mind stays light and the thoughts dont dissolve)

5 Things in my Bag
Sorry I dont carry any - like some other blogger had mentioned earlier - probably this was created by girls - mere bag me tereh bag se kam samaan kaise !!!!( how come my bag is lighter than yours)

5 Things in my Wallet
Wallet is the physical existent identifier of who I am in this country - and with relevant safety resources
License - identity
Credit Cards -need to eat and fill fuel
AAA Card - American Automobile Association card - for emergency situations like car break down - accidents etc etc
Medical Insurance Card - a must as I am on the road a lot - never know what can happen
Metro Card and NY Pocket Map - love New York - so carry it in my wallet with a metro card for the subways.

Phew!!!!!!There I finished the first tag.

Tag 2 : (by jaggu)
My 8 Habits - Facts in Life

1) Beleive in myself - to a point that people think I am despotic - but its part of my training as an architect - where if I dont beleive in my design how can I build something for someone - has now become my inherent quality
2) Movies and Music - anytime anywhere no matter whats happening in the world - I can watch a movie or listen to some sounds from any part of the world
3) Books - as described above love to read
4) Experiment with Food - am a vegeterian and love to cook so experiment with different cuisines from all around the world and give them a vegeterian twist - well honestly have not required to cross that line as yet - find everyone happy to serve you their version of vegeterian food - and have eaten in restaurants here from almost 24 different countries and cuisines.
5) Tea - love desi chai (tea) - can drink it anytime, anywhere -
6) Chocolate - damn this is my weakness - really in any form - chocolate bars and candies, truffles, cakes, mousse, bourbon biscuits, chocolate milk, chocolate horlicks and complan :P......
7) Rum and Coke (previously old monk and thumps up ) - dont know how long and how many i must have had -but always go back to my dear old rum - reasons are simple -
Gam ka Sathi Rum (friend in the time of sadness is rum)
Khushi mai bhi hamesha saath denge Hum (will also be you friend when sharing happiness)
8) Travel all over
Thats it - how I wish life was as simple and straightforward as doing this tag. I dont want to tag anyone - if you like it pick it up and let me know when you complete it so I can visit you and read it.

Taare Zameen Par

After the two Diwali duds, (almost) OSO and Saawariya, I am anxiously waiting for the next Aamir movie "Taare Zameen Par",- (crazy aamir fan here :)). This is his first directorial debut and hope he is able to pull it off.
Listening to the songs already for the past 10 days.

Here are all the interesting links: (I told you I am crazy):
Official Website
Wikipedia Trivia
Internet Movie DataBase (Imdb) - this is a site where you can see the upcoming projects for different stars, directors, producers, etc. etc. from all over the world....
Songs online

And finally here is the link to Aamirs Own BlogSite

Enjoy !!!!!

Calvin - My Friend

I wont reiterate my love for Calvin and Hobbes. I have mentioned about them in August (here is the link to the previous post).
This is one simple cartoon but as always I like to analyse the smallest of things. For me this has lots of life lessons embedded within.
Firstly the childhood innocence - you do what you feel like, when you feel like and where you feel like. Nothing, absolutly nothing besides having fun and getting tired and delerious matters. In this case Calvin is enjoying the task of simply nailing the coffee table.
Secondly the apathy when you grow up - you start possessing things - that are valuable in kind but these actually bound your spirits and self as you are always worried about them. Here the apathy on the moms face is evident as her possesion - the table - maybe prized - is being damaged.
Lastly the question "Is this a trick Question" - the ultimate quiz - that we all have in life. In all our daily grind, emotional shrouds, and physical labor to make a living - we do not see what is apparent - we forget how to live - we keep trying to coax, cajole and try to find answers where sometimes none exist.
Some people might see this as a losers attitude - but I differ, I see it as self pride - you can only do so much - beyond it just let it all go - it will come back if it is meant to be - if not like the old sufi song
"सितारों से आगे जहाँ और भी हैं " (there is a world beyond the stars) "
- there will be another door open.
One should always ask that kid within you - the simple questions -it does not mean that we have to behave like one just keep that spirit alive - I experienced it first hand recently what it feels like to be a child again.
Let me know your input while I play with my dear friend Calvin

Gone Baby Gone

Watched the directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone" by Ben Affleck - who I already liked as an actor. The movie stars his brother Casey and according to me is a brilliant rendition of Moral Ambiguity.
I wont give out the movie - it is worth a watch. It tackles the issues of social evil that are widespread in American Society because of their abuse of Freedom. The evils like drug abuse, child molestation, pedophila, arms possesion, gangs, that lurk in the shabby neighbourhoods are generally hidden behind the "Bigness" and "Glamour" seen on prime time TV.
The movie also scrapes the issues of ones personal fight between ethics and legality. What seems to be ethical is not legally feasible most of the times and by picking one or the other - we are always faced with self indingnation (that is if you are sensitive). You also run the risk of losing people who are close to you if you choose something that is not in line with what they want.
Sometimes one we decide something - there are two ways one deals with them - one is forget about it and feel good that it is done with - and the other where it keeps haunting you "what if it were different" or "what is the outcome of your desicions on others". Both are valid and equally difficult to go through.
All in all kudos to Ben Affleck.

Dreamers Dictionary

As a kid I was gifted a book called "Dreamers Dictionary" - it describes and interpretes elements you dream about. It somehow is very close to the state of ones mental status at that current time. It is an interesting analysis if you can remember your dreams/nightmares.

I found lots of similar websites doing basically the same thing. What made me look at it again was I did have some dreams recently where I saw some modern objects/gadjets and wanted to see if there is a meaning to it. Those specific objects are not in the list yet - they need to update their database.

It is interesting to learn that what one sees as scary/negative in ones dreams is a positive for life and vice versa.

Just something to waste some time when one has nothing to do :)

The Sea Inside

Another Classic movie I saw recently. "The Sea Inside".
I wont go into the storyline (you can read it with the link above). This movie moved me. It questioned what is Love - is it about possessing it - making the one you love suffer because you are selfish and cant seem to see life without him/her.
Or it is about liberating - and being unselfish - release the one suffering from the others clutches.
Similar idea can be witnessed in the Hindi movie "Fanaa" where Kajol liberates Aamir from his dilemma by killing him in the end. For me that was an unselfish move by her to end his life - which lightened the burden on him to choose between his love and his calling.

Calvin and Hobbes

I am a big fan of Calvin and Hobbes and admire Bill Watterson for his wonderful comic strip. I have the entire collection of his 10 years work and everytime I read it I loose myself into a phase of life I wish I never came out off....childhood.
The mischievous way in which he questions and lives life reflects a state of mind which is in constant influx of data - analysing it - rejecting it and poseing a new question - that really makes you think of many facets of life that we take for granted.
Childhood is a time when we are innocent (most of us are) and we live life as a adventourous journey rather than a daily chore.
Why is it then we give up this wonderful feeling of being a child, why is maturity that only brings a lot of pressure and sadness a journey that one is forced to partake rather than live a life of free spirit.
Dont get me wrong here as critics will question that as we grow older we need to be more stable- I dont deny that but like my friend Calvin - I just feel like asking - if everyone out there has an issue with the way their life is going- isnt there a better way to maybe try living our lives.
I may or may not suceed - but I will not regret trying it - it makes the journey adventourous just like my Childhood.

If interested you can follow this strip @ http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/