tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23139530746177975532024-02-21T02:13:29.669+05:30Open MindAn open-minded unbiased look at life.Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-68644481438592497132015-10-20T14:05:00.001+05:302015-10-20T14:19:38.471+05:30On The Edge<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvSN6VKD_42cUjhHSg-ZHKyMyMtwiqWv7dWTLAB9gj3ZPA_4w8-oiSnYvRSEkFGG3p-CMy-N1OklVy-Q8EGL3nF0iuA2sn27T1mD0IDkY_y6BLKiiIOV_phbGX4UtrDgG8OG4Z7e3KaKt/s640/blogger-image--1859709859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvSN6VKD_42cUjhHSg-ZHKyMyMtwiqWv7dWTLAB9gj3ZPA_4w8-oiSnYvRSEkFGG3p-CMy-N1OklVy-Q8EGL3nF0iuA2sn27T1mD0IDkY_y6BLKiiIOV_phbGX4UtrDgG8OG4Z7e3KaKt/s640/blogger-image--1859709859.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Photo credit: <a href="http://esciencecommons.blogspot.in/2014/10/top-10-reasons-to-learn-to-make-stone.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://esciencecommons.blogspot.in/2014/10/top-10-reasons-to-learn-to-make-stone.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The heart bleeds in agony</div><div>As the news breaks on the screen,</div><div>Another lynching in another town</div><div>Another grave filled with politics</div><div>Another nail in the coffin of harmony.</div><div><br></div><div>On the worktable, a black granite block</div><div>Chipped and chiselled into God Almighty,</div><div>Unfolds beholds, a perfect human creation</div><div>Standing there amidst designed destruction,</div><div>Debris of a beautiful-whole lay all around</div><div>Will-less to be the whole ever again.</div><div><br></div><div>And one stands out as if by providence, </div><div>In that vast debris is one sharp stone</div><div>With a razors edge that will sharpen perfectly,</div><div>Just right to be grasped in the hand of the one,</div><div>Whose heart overflows with sorrow of the lynching.</div><div><br></div><div>Who’s God Almighty better than who’s,</div><div>Which hand does HIS work to HIS satisfaction,</div><div>The hand that lynches? Chisels? Or Which sharpens?</div><div>For sure, it a hand that held a microphone</div><div>To spew out words of communal trite!</div><div><br></div><div>Like little mushrooms on a dead tree trunk</div><div>That need just a splatter of the first monsoon rain.</div><div>Hearts and hands burgeon in millions to answer</div><div>Those faceless faces in the ocean of emotions</div><div>Whose voices sound shrill bugle calls of hate.</div><div><br></div><div>Speak up! </div><div>You and I!</div><div> Speak up!</div><div>Or all roads lead to the hell round the corner</div><div>A Hell of our making in which we'll broil alive,</div><div>In cultures that suffocate, and traditions that smother</div><div>Burning our innards with the fascism we inhale.</div><div>Speak up! </div><div>You and I ! </div><div>Speak up!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">October 2015<br>© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><br></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-28032899756825247392015-10-07T10:20:00.001+05:302015-10-07T16:01:13.476+05:30Morning Symphonies<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQARSRVcSJU7Bht46OKW0YKhw41DdvBalbpgZuhxNT4L3u2EoBKLS58JlyVvhyphenhyphenP-fgHImlRgR8RtpNRqqMBXp9sMFwJtY0ucROWk6mLOlesYHGbcfc-q5gB6SocOaz4oN2i9w1_AxIBBEG/s640/blogger-image-437419482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy6MF3WyIwwaWzIrQkb53ERKtq28DjDHlacZ7HMpyR7xPwn-ciM6Vt416dhlFH4NNDsfymeffoUma06AQj5Ke6l3Cj807q1JyzzYDqtzS9TrCPo38LuPtQHO_7xlYmT_fxDPmgf6Ed4LD/s640/blogger-image-1286195234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy6MF3WyIwwaWzIrQkb53ERKtq28DjDHlacZ7HMpyR7xPwn-ciM6Vt416dhlFH4NNDsfymeffoUma06AQj5Ke6l3Cj807q1JyzzYDqtzS9TrCPo38LuPtQHO_7xlYmT_fxDPmgf6Ed4LD/s640/blogger-image-1286195234.jpg"></font></a></div></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Morning Symphony 1</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On quiet mornings before the sun swallows darkness,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Up are the mynas, the koels, the pigeons and the babblers,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Singing songs of joyous greetings for the soundless riser,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The silence between the cacophony fills up the air</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With expectation and hope, of sustenance and tomorrow.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I too rise with bright eager eyes and thoughtless prayer,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And He rises, with me and in me, over the blue horizon</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As we rise together in unison, the world ours to embrace,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In me, his light lives to survive the darkness of nights;</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Red blackness of emotions that turn green and grey.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">He sets off a vibration that resonates and amplifies,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In cells and it's electrons, and all spaces in between,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Bells and chants and fragrances, lamps that light up,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In the silent quiet morning air silence settles in silence,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Stillness and animation in each reverberation.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Morning Symphony 2</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On quiet mornings before the sun swallows darkness,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Up are the mynas, the koels, the pigeons and the babblers,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Singing songs of joyous greetings for the soundless riser,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The silence between the cacophony fills up the air</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With expectation and hope, of sustenance and tomorrow.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Blaring microphones of the church, temple and mosque,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Shatter the quiet, scatter the birds drowning their greetings,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In the cacophony of praises, pledges and pleadings, </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A reminder of sins and of hopes and desires unfulfilled,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A reminder to renew your password to the heavens.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It sets off a vibration that resonates and amplifies,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In cells and it's electrons, and all spaces in between,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Bells and chants and fragrances, lamps that light up,</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In the noisy edgy morning air, unsettling anxiety pinches</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Every nerve-ending animated with the reverberation.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">October 2015<br>© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-80320681259174079482015-10-01T23:30:00.001+05:302015-10-01T23:31:58.083+05:30Yin and yang<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj526h1BmQe7f60PzInOZ3VaiWLwWtI3FVqY-Uoch_jvunwFhMVhjR5RQTbmKTET3BxA28Nd_nWgDAZpp8Bb0KH7ymOwc-I-G5d7PVd57PxshZuEA311dqWfG1OGLkQczzVztTv1JOeFwo3/s640/blogger-image--751620748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj526h1BmQe7f60PzInOZ3VaiWLwWtI3FVqY-Uoch_jvunwFhMVhjR5RQTbmKTET3BxA28Nd_nWgDAZpp8Bb0KH7ymOwc-I-G5d7PVd57PxshZuEA311dqWfG1OGLkQczzVztTv1JOeFwo3/s640/blogger-image--751620748.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The sky was beautiful today. It was the yin and yang of the sky's. A wonderfully orange sunrise set against the blue sky complete with puffy and streaky white clouds, and right next to it a huge mushroom cloud, so menacing and powerful. It gave way to this haiku in me.</div><div><br></div><div>Orange and blue sky</div><div>Black mushroom umbrella-</div><div>Sunrise in the rain</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">October 2015<br>© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-17989177168363720262015-10-01T22:31:00.001+05:302015-10-02T05:10:55.227+05:30Meditation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Habit, lessons from the past</div>
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More an invisible cloak familiar,</div>
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God still speaks words of caution</div>
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The right, the wrong, dos and don'ts,</div>
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And you still tread your beaten path</div>
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Life unfolds in all its majesty</div>
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But your life is caught in drabness </div>
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As monotony dawns with the sun,</div>
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Anxiety draw drapes across eyes</div>
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That no longer see a thing of beauty.</div>
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Uprooting ideals taprooted to every cell,</div>
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Skimming scum that surface uttering verdicts,</div>
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Ploughing entrenched values of the yore,</div>
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Freeing minds of pent up baggage,</div>
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Misplaced ones that rake up nonsense.</div>
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Into a place unexplored unknown</div>
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Deep within the recesses of the mind</div>
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With each breath you travel</div>
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Accelerating, slowing down</div>
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To clear pastures of springtime.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">October 2015<br />© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved.</span></div>
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Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com0Kavali Kavali14.91448 79.989978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-59541845422094010982015-05-29T22:04:00.001+05:302015-10-01T22:48:44.819+05:30Masks We Need To Break Down<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>Photo credit : </i></b><a href="https://miacannedy.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/masks-masquerade-9009733-800-799.jpg" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">https://miacannedy.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/masks-masquerade-9009733-800-799.jpg</a></div>
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<b><i>Like a wrap of cellophane around the soul</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Like a fog that hides the doom ahead</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Comfort is what each mask bestows.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Within your skin where you live forever</i></b></div>
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<b><i>A stench you know as your very own</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Becomes the smell the world smells of. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>With damp stagnant suppressed thoughts</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Pictures painted of pleasant grandeur</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You see what the mask of today sees.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tear away the masks you wear</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And naked before you stands</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You, a person you refused to like.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Learn to love that tortured being</i></b></div>
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<b><i>That whimpers omnipresent as ever</i></b></div>
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<b><i>In every frame you call your life.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Nurture it for it's all you have got</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The life within only you can feel</i></b></div>
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<b><i>It's saviour, none other than you.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Fragile and fleeting it looks for touch</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Your touch and only yours it craves</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You are it's master, sole caretaker .</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Unwrap, unwhirl, peel away the layers</i></b></div>
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<b><i>That pink newborn helpless creature</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Hold it's finger, look again at the world.</i></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May 2015<br>© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009 - all rights reserved.</span><b><i><br></i></b><br>
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Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com0Kavali Kavali14.914359 79.990056tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-25336329038637607092011-10-08T11:54:00.002+05:302011-10-08T11:56:16.519+05:30Haiku 182 – Optimism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img height="400" src="http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/wp-content/uploads//2008/08/around-the-corner.bmp" width="266" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">around every corner<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">coming fast at you-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a perfect miracle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-69609039021507476612011-10-05T12:37:00.000+05:302011-10-05T12:37:35.671+05:30An All-Weather Friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The progress of the mind can be gauged by the phases it goes through trying to find answers to the 'why' of life. For some, life remains a blame-game. For the lucky few, who refuse to accept life as just a string of mundane activities, the mind looks inward for answers. Finding them needs patience and perseverance. Control of the thought process is, according to me, the key. Finding truth within oneself and being true to the discovered self is nirvana. Life is a joyful journey, and it you will find is a true friend.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.nurturingart.com/shop/self_discovery490.jpg" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nurturingart.com/shop/self_discovery490.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">When questions find no answers, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">And no rationale breaks the ground,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Hurt beyond hurt </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">You pirouette to blame</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">The first thing you chance upon-</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">A person, the place, <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">A biased unseen force <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">A destiny so cursed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Beyond the hurt, behind the twilight,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Darkness holds with tendrils tight,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">And as they grow into knobby fingers,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Ask the honest question rarely posed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">“Am I the real problem?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Do I choose to feel the feel I feel?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Can I choose to feel another feel?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">That critique inside now sharply slams,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Criticizes ‘ME’! Not the people outside!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Not the times! Nor the forces!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Not even fate!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">What has changed, I ask myself?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">How now have these fingers changed direction?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">I am the owner of my thoughts, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">And so am I of my feelings,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">My warts and moles there for you see,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">For now trashed is my concealer cream,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Laugh if that’s the way you are,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">For I have made peace with the self.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">No storeys of sorry stories,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">No promotions or demotions<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">No notions of grandeur,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">No ego to flatter or coerce<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">No fetters of hate or expectation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">This living ship sails the unknown,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">The water, the sun and the wind <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">The only truths that sail along.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Weather, season, high tide and low,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Life and I no shadows cast,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">In life I found a dearest friend <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">And only in death shall we part.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-83138448530464919912011-08-11T20:26:00.001+05:302011-08-13T07:55:17.495+05:30Time for Change is here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><img src="http://www.doyouknow.in/Articles/images/201104060920412135000.png" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone strives to live life on his own terms but is forced by circumstances to pick an opinion that is least detrimental to his comfort. Upheavals in life are as uncomfortable as is a daily ride on a bumpy road! One would choose a hovercraft instead of a car and wouldn’t be blamed for it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">People work more towards maintaining the status quo of ‘harmony’ and less towards trying to get to the bottom of the problem that makes them miserable. More often than not our priorities at any given moment define our reaction to an event. Does that make us a hypocrite? Oh no, not the least. We cannot practice everything we preach every single time. We humans do let prudence rule over emotions most of the time. We may believe in many things that are right but self preservation makes us do just the opposite when our interests are at stake. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is not easy to stand up and protest against injustice, and if you do, chances are that you become the person who is accused of disturbing the harmony of the family/society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To stand up and protest needs character. It needs a firm conviction that tells you that you will settle for nothing less. It needs tremendous belief to work towards an end seen only by you. It could lead to an upheaval in the routine of life that we wrap around ourselves like a security blanket. Are you up to it? Most aren’t, I guess! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.” said <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Sonia Johnson</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">,</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> an American</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist" title="Feminist"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;">feminist</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">activist. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We have a great movement going on in India. A small group of activists, who have a vision of a corruption free India, are fighting a battle that has been aptly called ‘The Second Freedom Struggle’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict” says Saul Alinsky. This movement promises upheaval of giant proportions in lives of all Indians for we have got used to paying bribes and taking them too. A kickback to us Indians is just a kickback; we don’t care unless it’s our back that is being kicked! All this has to change. Old habits are hard to break but broken they must be. The giver of bribes is as much to be blamed as the taker. A giver prefers to go on with his life as if nothing else matters but his smooth movement through shark infected waters where feeding the sharks is the only way he moves on unhindered. It has become a game, and one-upmanship the only means up the social ladder. Where have all the morals gone? Has success and money become the only goal? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In my interactions with those around me, it has dawned on me that people perceive those who are not world-wise in the art of ‘give ‘n’ take’ as simpletons; and those who do, savvy role-models. The hype around politicians, businessmen, God-men and government employees, even though everyone knows them to be dishonest, is downright shameful. Have we become a nation that has forgotten to speak up against evil? This has to change for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The change has to begin at home, in classrooms, on the streets and in the marketplace. The patriarchal hierarchy and the boss-chaila pseudo-mannerisms have eaten into our cultural behaviour so much so that people are wary of speaking their minds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Children should be taught to stand up for what they believe, to speak-out without fear in front of people. Indian culture, with its emphasis on respect for those older, stronger or richer, has ingrained in most of us the etiquettes of a ‘nodding yes minister’. We appreciate a smart talking toddler but fall short of acknowledging a teenager with a mind of her/his own. We fail to see that a creative mind has a need to break free from the ‘rules for harmony’ society has set for itself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We adults need to grow up. We need to grow with the times. We need to grow up for our children so that India of the future is full of dynamic freethinking assertive sensitive humane Indians, and not merely a collection of citizen who know how to follow instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Time for Change is here whether you like it or not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com/">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-25151934698941505062011-02-08T11:00:00.007+05:302011-08-13T07:56:19.478+05:30The Greatest Marriage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogjunta.com/images/stories/editors_choice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="http://blogjunta.com/images/stories/editors_choice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #943634; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This poem is about a woman who has a suspicious husband. Her life with him needs to end but can she take that leap away from the complacency that sets into every marriage? She needs to do what is right for her. She owes it to herself. Here's what I think of marriage. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is it that will make a marriage a happy one? This question has remained unanswered in my mind as my boat of matrimony travels through sunny calm seas and choppy stormy oceans. But one thing is for certain, a marriage is about 2 well groomed sets of wings and not about a pair of handcuffs. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3lx9DaRXTzJ2CS1bhNiIz4_6Jxz9a0ic9vhqXIwLrlWNxIcit&t=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3lx9DaRXTzJ2CS1bhNiIz4_6Jxz9a0ic9vhqXIwLrlWNxIcit&t=1" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a marriage to be a happy one, you have to be happy with yourself. Marry yourself and love yourself more that you love anything or anybody else, and when you do that your actions will speak for themselves. Fight for what you think is right. You owe yourself that.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The concept of two people living together for 25 years without a serious dispute suggests a lack of spirit only to be admired in sheep.</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/apherber106679.html" style="color: #0011ff; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;">A. P. Herbert</a> </span> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="body">Marriages are not made in heaven but are lived </span><span class="Apple-style-span">in hell o</span><span class="Apple-style-span">n earth. So are some marriages. Or are most so?</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people enter the institution called marriage unable to fathom the depth of the narrow well they just jumped into, for love sings in their souls and sex growls in their groins. As they wake up from the cozy dream, the rigmarole of the breakfast roll and tired nightly hit-the-roll can be so taxing and unnerving that love, and then sex, flies out of the window. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">They dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake.</span></span> </span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="bodybold" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alexanderp166212.html" style="color: #0011ff; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;">Alexander Pope</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The so called 'division of labour' was designed to keep this institution in good working order, well oiled and organized. But with changing times, the unequal equation became unbalancingly unequal. That's when the blame game takes over, a horrible game that takes its toll on the health and the well being of the members of the sacred institution called marriage, which includes the children.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="body">Marriage is a bribe to make the housekeeper think she's a householder.</span> </span></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <span class="bodybold" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thorntonwi106667.html" style="color: #0011ff; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;">Thornton Wilder</a> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are women of today happy 'tending only to hearth and birth' as a career option? Is self worth and expression in the market place taking precedence over an ordinary existence? As more and more women are seen out there looking successful and beautiful, the drudgery of domesticity is something a woman is forced to do. and surely not something she would opt to do!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">In olden times sacrifices were made at the altar - a practice which is still continued.</span></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="bodybold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="bodybold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="bodybold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <span class="bodybold" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/helenrowla106677.html" style="color: #0011ff; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;">Helen Rowland</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anger and regret swim about </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chasing each other in the sea of confusion,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She cursed the day she set her eyes upon</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The man she felt she could live with forever. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was it she liked in him</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That she her life joined with him.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was it the silence she thought attractive?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Alas! Each silence, an untold secret!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sparks did fly for the chemistry was there,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unanalyzed chemistry that shocked and awed.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Out-awed but in shock, for years of wedlock</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had drained her of both self worth and health.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every argument ended in a spray of venom</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About her character and her sexuality,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suspicions and allegations spoken of,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A device wielded to scissor dissent!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why does a man use loose phrases with</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mouthfulls of them in gratis fashion,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every time the woman dares speak up</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About the way she feel things should run?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a privileged pedestal he thus elevated, </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In his closed mind and in his soaring soul,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All voices that reach out to him loud</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are voices he wishes fatal silence on!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Built is the male psyche with bricks so peculiar,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unmovable blocks reinforced with lies,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taught, molded and cast since birth,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lovingly cured by men and women alike.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">End of a marriage is not the end of a life,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fortunately, life is more than just a marriage!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The greatest marriage is the one with oneself,</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bond that no loose words can ever break.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><br />
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</div>Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com/">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a></div></div>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-64488616998034474142011-01-03T22:24:00.002+05:302011-01-03T22:39:01.283+05:30An Award to CherishTop 25 Blog post of 2010 by BlogAdda<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X1bTVF2ff_jXmIT2y-MciA?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickamNGg-NZDNr62l52rpaD65A_VNFgzvLq_LazY986J3etqGDm8dX8cFM5Mb2NWma_CYPHGLXEGU_3O1cVJsDUE5VgO0PoRTNdBvdKm3pDKxEirq4kh3dGPjfx0sCYUcC0Cr-jao6yfsP/s800/blogaddatop25spicy%20(4).jpg" width="140" /></a><br />
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">"Did you check out the best humour tweets of 2010 at <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2010/12/27/collection-of-best-indian-funny-tweets-1" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Perky Tweets Collection, 2010</a>? Since we are winding up the year to collate the awesome things that happened at BlogAdda this year, how can we forget our Tangy Tuesdays and Spicy Saturdays. The Indian Blogosphere is filled to the brim with extreme creativity, new talent and brilliant writers! Twice every week we bring to you the best blog posts from the Indian Blogosphere.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">So now that we are wrapping up the year, we bring to you the <strong>25 Top Editors Pick</strong> of the year! If you liked our Tangy Picks then you will love this collection. <img alt=":D" class="wp-smiley" src="http://blog.blogadda.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" style="max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> This collection includes the posts which were the double-must reads from the <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/category/tangy-tuesday-picks" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Tangy Tuesday Picks</a> of the year. What more us blog addicts could wish for this new year?!"<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Congratulations! </span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We are pleased to inform you that your wonderful post has been selected by BlogAdda at <a href="http://adda.at/TopSpicy">http://adda.at/TopSpicy</a> as one of the '<b>Top 25 Spicy Saturday Picks</b>' of the year 2010. It is the testimony that your post is best amongst the best and was read by thousands of Indian Bloggers. :) Keep writing and keep the wonderful posts coming in and we are here to do the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Wow! Thanks and congrats to all the other 24.</div><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-1059698982741611772010-12-29T10:49:00.003+05:302010-12-31T09:47:38.897+05:30Dance – Haiku 180Back after a holiday from the computer...a holiday filled with doctors and physiotherapy and a painkillers that gave me a rash and 4 days of facial edema...and now I faithfully sit in front of my dear comp with a collar around my neck..Woof! Woof! <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2348189145_37e37200a9.jpg?v=0" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2348189145_37e37200a9.jpg?v=0">Photo Credit</a></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>full moon night-</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>the leaves dance </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>behind a silver drape</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-2738031687707855092010-12-17T14:21:00.004+05:302010-12-17T14:26:05.973+05:30I apotheosize herKiran Bedi was one of India's top cops -- tough, innovative and committed to social change. Now retired from the national police force, Bedi runs two NGOs that benefit rural and urban poor.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/kiran_bedi_a_police_chief_with_a_difference.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2010-12-15">Click to Listen </a></span><br />
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<img src="http://www.ispm.in/kiran-bedi.jpg" /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold;">Why you should listen to her:</span><br />
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<div style="color: #545454; float: none; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.34em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 7px; width: 516px;">Before she retired in 2007, Kiran Bedi was one of India’s top cops. As the first and highest-ranking female officer in the national police force, she earned a reputation for being tough yet innovative on the job. Her efforts to prevent crime, reform prisons, end drug abuse, and support women’s causes earned her a Roman Magsaysay Award, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Bedi also served as a police adviser to the UN Secretary General.</div><div style="color: #545454; float: none; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.34em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 7px; width: 516px;">In retirement, Bedi has become one of the most trusted and admired community leaders in India. She advocates for social change and civic responsibility through her books, columns, and a popular reality-TV show. She reaches out to more than 10,000 people daily through her two NGOs, Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation, which provide education, training, counseling and health care to the urban and rural poor. Her latest initiative, Mission Safer India, aims to ensure that police log and address citizen complaints. Her life is the subject of the 2008 documentary <em style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Yes, Madam Sir</em>, narrated by Helen Mirren.</div><blockquote style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 20px;">"What makes Bedi ... one of the most admired Indians is the way she reaches out to people as a police officer and person behind two NGOs founded for causes close to her heart -- women's emancipation and education for independence. "</blockquote><cite style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.ted.com/images/cite_dash.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 36px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 14px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Week</cite><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-16602083322381711752010-12-11T12:13:00.002+05:302010-12-11T12:21:46.462+05:30Learning to hunt - Haiku169<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found this photo and felt it conveyed a lot more than what it seems...here's my take.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feel free to pen a photo inspired haiku as a comment...:)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><img height="265" src="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/feb2009/4/3/665E11D2-B271-623A-7A49A60DCC704635.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/feb2009/4/3/665E11D2-B271-623A-7A49A60DCC704635.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">high headed sniff</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">studied eyes steady-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wildebeest at the river</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as grasshoppers dance </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the tall alert grass-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">cubs smell the fear</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-1578619004830535462010-12-09T07:15:00.001+05:302010-12-09T07:45:14.440+05:30Sea cliff – Haiku 177<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Akin to a tired mother waiting for her children to fall asleep<br />
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<img height="425" src="http://www.asiaexplorers.com/indonesia/bali/uluwatu/10.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><a href="http://www.asiaexplorers.com/indonesia/bali/uluwatu/10.jpg">Photo Credit</a></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jaded sea cliff -</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>boisterous waves</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>calm down just twice a day</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img src="http://www.picturesof.net/_images_300/A_Tired_Mother_Walking_To_Her_Crying_Babys_Crib_Royalty_Free_Clipart_Picture_100410-163229-979009.jpg" /></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.picturesof.net/_images_300/A_Tired_Mother_Walking_To_Her_Crying_Babys_Crib_Royalty_Free_Clipart_Picture_100410-163229-979009.jpg">Photo Credit</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>watchful eyes </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>wait </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>to droop </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>and rest-</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> tomorrow too a high-tide day </b></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-75283098376534856452010-12-06T10:02:00.001+05:302010-12-06T10:10:46.741+05:30Warm Nest - Haiku 165<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img height="442" src="http://www.hbci.com/~mwalter/Birds_Nest_Winona_Airport_Fall_2004.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><a href="http://www.hbci.com/~mwalter/Birds_Nest_Winona_Airport_Fall_2004.jpg">Photo Credit</a></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>wings on first flight-</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>warm nest </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>for falling leaves</b></span></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-26302118629359406682010-12-02T08:16:00.003+05:302010-12-02T08:21:38.641+05:30Goodbye - Haiku 176<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoGGWhE-oSvUGwCQ39h1uevt_hd6yCAlbtHW1mUcWd1bTY38uQC7dO6rzn4-Tezyy5MsqJCkED9xrb3sNYf69YkDtccl2JbZqP7Pb97lEjbhQ5D27EeQHqTgQNo65pzY3UugR50BlI0p6/s640/OH-Fall-LeavesInWind-XL.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoGGWhE-oSvUGwCQ39h1uevt_hd6yCAlbtHW1mUcWd1bTY38uQC7dO6rzn4-Tezyy5MsqJCkED9xrb3sNYf69YkDtccl2JbZqP7Pb97lEjbhQ5D27EeQHqTgQNo65pzY3UugR50BlI0p6/s1600/OH-Fall-LeavesInWind-XL.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>falling leaves surf the wind </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>twirl around often</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>to wave goodbye</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-9324275488446337792010-11-29T09:03:00.000+05:302010-11-29T09:03:25.755+05:30Morning - Haiku 172<div class="MsoNormal">Good morning to all of you!...am back after a short intentional hiatus away from blogging...the reason?...Nothing.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sometimes even blogging can get monotonous...a rat race for eyeballs and comments!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><img height="426" src="http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1557/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1557R-02071.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1557/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1557R-02071.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>bull’s eye on toast-</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>the sun climbs up</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">the orange juice</span> </b></span></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-26313563842368727582010-11-24T10:20:00.007+05:302010-11-24T10:29:05.446+05:30Am I this?<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">‘He who has a ‘why’ to live for can bear with almost any ‘how’</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> - Friedrich Nietzsche<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">So before we ask why it is important to ask how. Value systems and social ethics prescribe the accepted method. But what if those don’t satisfy your individual quest? What if at some stage in life, the monotony of it all just renders you incapable of enjoying life beyond an avatar of biological needs and social role player? Chronic meaninglessness, apathy, and aimlessness and an acute awareness of the superficiality of life plague many a lives to a point of no return.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">What defines a human being? What is it that makes us unique in this world of over a zillion creatures? I think we are unique because we ask questions. And the biggest and the toughest question we have ever asked is ‘Why have I been born?’ The saddest element of any search is that we forget to enjoy the journey, concentrating hard only on the destination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We search for the meaning in life and during this search, evolves a story unique to each individual. As life unfolds before us, we discover aspects of ourselves we never thought existed. It is this wonder, about an amazing individual that resides within you, that is the real meaning of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">‘Am I this?’ takes a look at the different ways in which we look at ourselves in wonder.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><ul><li><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">Firstly, a body that physically feels and responds to stimuli from the environment - a ‘living’ thing in the true sense of the word.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">Then, a thinking conscience that reacts to the offered stimuli in unusual ways. So different from individual to individual that you wonder is the stimulus offered in the first place was really the same!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">Thirdly, a wonderfully evolved mechanism that works in a magically complex way - the human body and brain – the wonder machine!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;">And lastly, the insignificance of human life. The human body is just a item in the pathway of energy in the universe.</span></span></li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: 2.25pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I am just a minute fragment floating in a gigantic system far, far beyond my comprehension. I should let my universe shrink to a few meters around me. This would give me a better perspective of what life expects from me and what I should expect from life. Continued ripples of change rip and reshape the complex universe that surrounds me, in much the same way as it does the larger universe.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"></span></span>Evolving in this system of a zillion changes is this little life of mine. I am a complex molecule getting more complex by the day. And older and wiser too! What do I have to offer to this universe in flux? Well, nothing much. Just a little more changes, maybe! And a promise to keep the fires of quest burning and the arrows of questions flying in all </span>possible directions !</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><img alt="kitteh_ether.jpg" src="http://aggregatemadbox.com/bloggregate/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/kitteh_ether.jpg" /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><a href="http://aggregatemadbox.com/bloggregate/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/kitteh_ether.jpg">Photo Credit</a></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I! Am I this body<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that feels the heat and cold?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that in indignity hackles raise?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that in triumph or defeat sheepishly grins?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I! Am I this dream<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that showcased my might?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that took away the bashfulness?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that lets me speak out my true mind?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I! Am I this magic<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that makes my body work?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that in impulse and reflex reacts unprompted?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that deduces answers to hundreds of questions I pose?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I! Am I this unknown entity<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that is just an insignificant particle?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that is but a living vessel of transient energy?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>that transcends the universe to the space beyond?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"></span>Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-56095033371144950462010-11-20T07:50:00.002+05:302010-11-20T07:53:05.286+05:30The Charm of Indian Culture<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">Life in India is never boring. Little charming customs dot our rich and colourful tapestry of tradition. Some are hilariously outrageous but some make us want to pull our hair in rage. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">We need to preserve those harmless customs that entertain while bringing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">togetherness in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">the community. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">The Khap panchayat, a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> 14th century custom started by upper caste Jats to consolidate their power and position that says that all boys and girls within a khap are siblings, is a custom in urgent need of some stringent action to be taken against it. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">Chhindwara, 300 km from Bhopal, has a unique custom. The villagers believe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">that for rain to fall they need to ‘please’ the frogs. An </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">amphibian marriage and a subsequent </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">‘honeymoon’</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">in the nearest pond is celebrated with great</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"> fervor.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is an old post but today as the rain lashes at my window ceaselessly, I wonder if frogs need to be married in some other not as fortunate place. Global warming has flipped many a fortunes - snow in the desert and rain in dry places. I don't pray for snow - I want my electricity bills to freeze at the amount they are on now!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do read this poem and celebrate India!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/02/for-rain-to-fall.html">For Rain to Fall</a></b></span><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-923966270465230712010-11-19T05:49:00.000+05:302010-11-19T05:49:53.358+05:30Promote to over 10 million users across the globe<a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10/aa76d0c4.html"><img align="left" alt="Increase search engine rank" border="0" hspace="8" src="http://www.bigextracash.com/images/increase.png" /></a><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-43572783243660494082010-11-16T09:09:00.000+05:302010-11-16T09:09:03.149+05:30Elephant - Haiku 168<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5GvbII3P3gZPpioqeOZEcvHSVsqBzDzL4TC30pPoKExOzTgSbztvvbCr997JkSrIe42b8oDjS9lZmQ4CN6PTV2qcsqHaEvyFtDNHI_SfcIypLLuqVsQQF43FT8BLZCMolwWKhlhGpnI/s640/pond+copy.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5GvbII3P3gZPpioqeOZEcvHSVsqBzDzL4TC30pPoKExOzTgSbztvvbCr997JkSrIe42b8oDjS9lZmQ4CN6PTV2qcsqHaEvyFtDNHI_SfcIypLLuqVsQQF43FT8BLZCMolwWKhlhGpnI/s1600/pond+copy.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>serenity sea shone on-</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>till the elephant slurped in</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>the high moon</b></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0070c0;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div>Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-13779499314226766702010-11-09T08:09:00.005+05:302010-11-09T08:18:08.443+05:30The God of Silly Things“If we say that God has always been, why not save a step and conclude that the universe has always been?” (Carl Sagan, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cosmos</span>, [New York: Random House, Inc., 1980], p. 257).<br />
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Is God for real or is it a fabrication of a mind overawed by and grappling with the unexplainable magic of the universe?<br />
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The topic, for all I care, can be dropped like a hot potato into the sea of hot questions that plague us as we search for the meaning of life. What bothers me is what we are doing in God's name, a creation- of a tool, of a caring figured- designed to help people live a peaceful life cocooned in its warmth, safe as a baby, shielded from the unfathomable mystical vagaries of nature and life. If not shielded, at least unjust happenings are justified with, "Everything happens for a purpose!" "What God takes away, he provides in another way."<br />
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But what are we doing in the name of God?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="449" src="http://blog.beliefnet.com/faithfunnies/imgs/god_politics.gif" width="640" /></div></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Imagine the time when all these things</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The newspaper, the TV and the blogs,</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Not around to spread hottest information</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Delivered in the instant of its creation.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>We do know of gossip mongering,</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For how many times do we end up saying,</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“That’s not what I heard, that’s not true!”</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“I never did that, how’re you so sure?” </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Why are fewer heroes made now days?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Of types that graced Earth of those days?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Like Rama, Ravana, Arjuna, Pandavas</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Like Hercules, Atlas, Ulysses, the Titans?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A great man is one above most men,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Attributes not found in folks common,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Making him seem larger than human,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Possessing an aura of the unknown</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Word of mouth was the order of the day,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Changed and added-on from faint hearsay</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>With nodding heads and wagging tongues,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A short man Tom Thumb and a big, Hercules</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This is how through stories Man made God,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Far from the original when told and retold,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>With miracles, heals, powers, strengths, flights,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Walks on water, time travel & transmutations.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Blown beyond proportion but lovely stories,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>To learn morals, to dream as pictures,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>To read, and read to others, heard and enjoyed,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Not to think they are Gods to be idolized!</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Stats say we are digging deeper trenches</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Between regions and between religions</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Continents drift as these volcanoes erupt</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For small lapses we wait, defenses upped.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>In small closed spaces dissent is louder </b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Flashing swords to words of dishonor,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>In God’s name we justifiably butcher,</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Another God’s children ours slaughter.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Did we make God for human good?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Will goodness be sacrificed for God’s sake?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Will we be wiped out in a fight over God?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Or will God terminate us for fighting silly?</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Outcome <span class="apple-style-span">disquieting</span> for </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>this big </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>a creation </b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For selfishness plagues a selfless intention.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God just a façade for money and control.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sillier we get, smarter God’s men stroll.</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF6QsLSh5JbBVeKu5blGZLeKkC1_QVXIZmbiJ-4je8OrOaCWhj6OWEwZwCyvV2-r2ZdoNoIRFYaQ3Fu_qC2y8TtU0fQQ96wCAiotpjdMNRq-B4rJjYWk4YRYs9sozkX4HTdUsxNbysKo/s1600/god_loves_stupid_people.jpg" /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF6QsLSh5JbBVeKu5blGZLeKkC1_QVXIZmbiJ-4je8OrOaCWhj6OWEwZwCyvV2-r2ZdoNoIRFYaQ3Fu_qC2y8TtU0fQQ96wCAiotpjdMNRq-B4rJjYWk4YRYs9sozkX4HTdUsxNbysKo/s1600/god_loves_stupid_people.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-64698497237343951842010-11-04T12:22:00.000+05:302010-11-04T12:22:42.822+05:30Umbrella – Haiku 181<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><img height="273" src="http://img3.visualizeus.com/thumbs/09/12/02/bearded,old,man,photo,photography,rain,umbrella-685eb2d07810eb28f98b262814db641e_m.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img3.visualizeus.com/thumbs/09/12/02/bearded,old,man,photo,photography,rain,umbrella-685eb2d07810eb28f98b262814db641e_m.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>under grandpa’s umbrella</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>papa takes baby steps</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>into the rain</b></span></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-89952328736124165292010-11-02T06:59:00.001+05:302010-11-02T07:00:01.831+05:30Pen and Paper - Haiku 176<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1OkneRmbKI9KPD7f0lJjkAloVVfhThGBx-Vel7TXc5ZNokVDrHi0DZ_m2WVq3H4D54KNgtk3VKMU7bmizNVfgpLs_78P50esujetJkz1YfyMLlrMmrc4SmzPIRj20iMfNK65snLPvX0/s640/pen-on-paper.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1OkneRmbKI9KPD7f0lJjkAloVVfhThGBx-Vel7TXc5ZNokVDrHi0DZ_m2WVq3H4D54KNgtk3VKMU7bmizNVfgpLs_78P50esujetJkz1YfyMLlrMmrc4SmzPIRj20iMfNK65snLPvX0/s1600/pen-on-paper.jpg">Photo Credit</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">tears and thunder</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">as pen touches paper-</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">monsoon storm</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313953074617797553.post-11808467787834007462010-10-29T09:59:00.001+05:302010-10-29T10:18:54.311+05:30Cicada - Haiku 174<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><img src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/cicada-sam.jpg" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/cicada-sam.jpg">Photo Credit</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">cicada cries all night-</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">maybe she heard</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">her forests’ story</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://nalinihebbar-poetry.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-haiku.html">How to write a Haiku</a></span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bigextracash.com/aft/2b6a2e10.html">Click This</a></span></i></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">© Nalini Hebbar/openmind/2009-all rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0070c0;"><b><br />
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Explore My PhotoBlog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2313953074617797553">http://triggerhappyhunter.blogspot.com</a>Nalini Hebbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15829943036546766563noreply@blogger.com7