In and out

Watching the new today. One news rolled out, another swept in. Japan out and Libya in.

A natural disaster we can’t do anything about...another self created mutual hatred that we can do without...both fodder for news. Both scary spectacle and the world a stunned audience.

The news played the horror of tsunami and earthquake in a loop like it was an never ending series...and ended it as abruptly to switch to man-made war and 24-7 reports on Libya.

It is mind boggling - the information, the velocity of information and just the non-stop need to show, explore, dissect and discuss. Photos, videos, experts, live coverage...it is a bit too much.

When the time came pause and mourn the cameras turn away to report the next “crisis” coz’ that’s new...

Mooning...

Perigee Full Moon rose on March 19th and the world went crazy. Cloudy skies doused my plans to gaze at the spectacle but internet came to rescue and I experienced the whole thing vicariously.

Pictures and videos looks spectacular albeit some suspicious photoshoping. As it turns out neither event, full moon or perigee, is rare but together they form a SUPERmoon and a rare sight.

The giant red-turning-to-white-by-the-minute ball does look like a giant rising over cities, jungles, houses and churches (for some reason that’s the motif for moon pictures). It appears to be melting in ocean, dwarfing trees, swallowing clouds...and yet it is a calm slow rise.

As it turned out, the only affect the whole thing had was it made for a beautiful view. no mishaps, no tides inundation, no werewolves.

My favorite part in all this - The perigee illusion is not explainable by science or psychology yet. So, it is fascinating to see a phenomenon with an awe and mystique. Humans have untangled so many mysteries....from orbit shapes to calculation of moon distance. So, to be able to see an event and see it with a wonder, without explanation of why....is a feeling we don’t experience often. And, as uneasy as it might make some people, it is such a vivid reminder of how much bigger, mysterious, beautiful and balanced nature is.

The perils of leaderless revolution

As much as we idealize mass revolution, the organic, raw power of people – it has pitfalls that could be a recipe for disaster.

I have a theory that it does start within one person. The seed germinates in one head and then gets re-planted and reproduced. And perhaps fertilized and nourished in another head.

But, the bigger problem is when none of those people are the leaders or at least it appears that way...like in Egypt.

The masses revolted and it seems they almost got use to doing nothing but taking to streets. In absence of clear and dominant leader, no one really knows when to and how to stop. No one knows why either and so there's no negotiation that can happen.

It is a fairly accurate assumption that people in Cairo and neighboring cities are not going to work, shops aren't open, children aren't attending schools amidst the chaos on streets. In absence of a leader for the revolution, there's no one to restore normalcy by calling it all off.

Who is in charge of listening to what is being offered, done and said? To think it over, negotiate and decide when can the city and the country can get over rioting and start healing.

When is it a sign of civility when fellow countrymen and neighbors fight each other in streets? Never.

But, if things are so bad and a change is needed, who is responsible for deciding the change is being offered and its time to go home.

It appears to be a tipping point ...and a tipping point without any plan to get things back up and running.

The new day, the new dawn, the new world.

Where...

Every neighborhood has peace
and
Every home has fuel and fire to cook food

No child cries of hunger
and
Every man, woman and child sleeps content

There's no storm of hatred
and
The seasonal harvest is a crop of love

No killings and no blood-shed
and
No deafening noises of chaos or bombs

No one suffers in bitter cold and sweltering heat
and
No one is homeless

Warmth in homes and hearts
and
Serenity in minds and actions

New year rings in...2011

A brand new, freshly scrubbed decade. A new slate. A blank sheet

How lovely if we could start afresh every 365 days

How wonderful if we carried away the learning and left the sorrow behind

How amazing if we evolved such that we leave the malignant prejudice, judgment and bias right at the doorstep of every new year

Won't that be a truly good start. An ideal place to start every time

So much to look forward to, so much potential

Like old snake skins, we slough our negativities and embrace a better tomorrow.

Want to fly away? sure 'bout that?

Saw some birds flying in the strong wind today. It seemed like they were having a great time, riding waves of wind. It was like they were out surfing. Swinging, looping, riding the perfect wave.

Or so it seemed!

Everyone at some point has thought how would it be, how great would it be...if we could fly like birds. Free and high...soaring in the sky. But, as I watched those birds I thought about the perils of flying.

Imagine the fatality from gusty-stormy winds as they sway birds in their strong current. Imagine the fight to fly against wind, imagine the loss of direction, the dis-orientation if you had to fly against the wind. I get lost in ordinary conditions, imagine constantly shaking, moving, changing roads, lanes and exits.

Of course, you can't always ride the waves, you can't always use wind to your advantage, what if you were headed the other way? That'd be a rather hard day. Hard and harsh and almost unsafe.

Imagine a walk in the wind, against the wind with no protection in form of a warm car or other transportation and now imagine having to fly. Not so fun now.

So, as much as I think flying would be rad...constantly having to fly to get anywhere and having to fly in all conditions...seems like a lot of work. Surfing on air would be awesome but fighting hurricane winds...to get home...not so much.

Winter storm cooks up a trifle

The way the leaves withered away in a winter storm reminded me of ...an english trifle. If the leaves stuck to ground and if no one blowed them into a neat pile...and if my front yard would scale into a circular serving dish...(lots of ifs but I do have a point) the way the leaves fall would make for a delightful, colorful trifle. Edible, probably not. But, a masterpiece to look at.

Imagine the first pink, green leaves as they fall and settle to make a base. Followed by the rubicund and then the last to leave the tree, the yellow layer. All winter colors, all perfectly shaped and colored and layered.

Now if all the 'ifs' could happen I would have something to show for it. In fact, I'd have a showcase in my front yard and would charge ticket for it. But, in my imagination where these layers settle one on top of the other...in perfect harmony, it is a spectacular sight. A feast for the eyes. The storm cooks it all and serves it cold!