Behave

Be blessed and extremely happy, not by getting the love of a woman, but by having better than the best of things on offer, just for the momentary feeling of an exalted emotion. Temporary as it maybe, at the very least, there won't be a regret on the death bed haunting the conscience with - 'what could have been?' Or - 'if only I had tried..'
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Strangely, the age old saying - adversity will reveal the true feelings and friendships, appeared out of nowhere to ensure the difficult lessons are not just learnt but are also recalled.
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Many a times, irony plays a wicked joke by making authenticity dependant on the support of the circumstance; without which disbelief and or surprise just won't budge.
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Acknowledgement and acceptance are probably the most underused and undervalued concepts and as such, tend to be sparingly understood. By the simple association of ego and the nasty habit of being judgemental, the human nature binds itself to a false sense of honour, superiority and grandiose expectation of getting our desires fulfilled.

Desire

As cunning as the mind can be, its the so called heart, which is more difficult to satisfy and please. Unlike the mind, the heart knows no reason to accept, no rule to follow and most certainly has no qualms about proving itself to be plain stupid.

They say, best thing you can do in life is to follow your heart. So what is this thing called heart which is apparently supposed to automatically figure out the best solution? Is it separate from the creative processes of the mind we think we are aware of?

Whatever it might actually be in reality, the only truth we can actually account for, is that - which fulfills our core needs., thirst and hunger. All the rest is the result of having excess brain power left over and is just circumstantial.

Over all, during the ~17 years of conscious witnessing, torturous lessons and incessant but mostly unnecessary passion - there came a point of realization when certain aspects of living in a judgemental society, became apparent. Not only are wants wanted desperately, they are to be acquired in an acceptably pleasing manner.

The conditional response generated, by experiencing reality from an individually unique point of view, as a reflex is extraordinarily sensitive to how it is perceived irrespective of what it actually is. Simply put, there are no 0's and 1's with universally constant values. How much and what those 0's & 1's represent is not a result of logical deduction to be arrived at in principle but is dependent on what is already fed into the conscious. Simpler still, its not that 1+0=1, its the answer 1 we want, which forces us to create the 1+0!

'Half known is completely confused' said the realization., 'Still working on it..' replied the progression.

..and then some

[1] One should never attribute an action to malice when it can adequately be explained by sheer stupidity! - Max Igan

[2] The smart are more biased to think they are less biased - Robin Hanson

[3] Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens - Jimi Hendrix

[4] To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others. - Albert Camus

[5] There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. - R. Buckminster Fuller

[6] If you're happy, don't worry you'll get over it. - Edward Murphy

[7] It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. - William Blake

[8] We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. - Maya Angelou

[9] Relationships never die of natural causes and are always murdered by suspicion, ego or jealousy. - Someone

[10] It's a terrible thing to look over your shoulder(when you are trying to lead) and find no one there. - Franklin D.Roosevelt

[11] Adjustment with right people is always better than argument with wrong ones because, a meaningful silence is always better than meaningless words. - unknown author

[12] Getting married is very much like going to a restaurant with friends. You order what you want, then when you see what the other fellow has, you wish you had ordered that! - author unknown

[13] We fight with and scold the person whom we love a lot, but interestingly, we wont let others do the same to that very thing - author unknown

All glory is fleeting.

World of View

Glycerine - Bush

Must be your skin that I'm sinkin in
Must be for real cause now I can feel
and I didn't mind
it's not my kind
not my time to wonder why
everything's gone white
and everything's grey
now your here now you away
I don't want this
remember that
I'll never forget where your at
don't let the days go by
glycerine

I'm never alone
I'm alone all the time
are you at one
or do you lie
we live in a wheel
where everyone steals
but when we rise it's like strawberry fields

If I treated you bad
you bruise my face
couldn't love you more
you got a beautiful taste
don't let the days go by
could have been easier on you
I coudn't change though I wanted to
could have been easier by three
our old friend fear and you and me

I needed you more
when we wanted us less
I could not kiss just regress
it might just be
clear simple and plain
that's just fine
that's just one of my names
don't let the days go by
could've been easier on you
glycerine

b32/m80

As the realization of tolerance dawns, it becomes more and more clear why there could be a logical and completely acceptable reason to simply move on to the next phase of what can only be described to be - before time. Funnily, as difficult as it may seem to the non-transient beings around me in this physical life, going simply by their observation, I am pretty sure I have always been late. For the meetings, waking up, going to sleep, being energetic, wasting time for the sake of being just there in the moment, feeling my heartbeat rise if only for having imagined, smiling hopelessly, being lost.. Oh dear lord - so dark the con of man!

Some one said - After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Without music, life would be an error.
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Apparently, post modernism says: there is no absolute certainty or truth in life, every persons view of life is as valid as everyone else's.

So dark the con of man.. letting go for the sake of holding on. I no longer belong. I know I am sane, so far.. I can consider, weigh out my options, conclude, survive, any which way sweet leaf, I seek you not, for you are already mine.

Still, better Mr. Late than Late Mr.
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In other news, Stephen Richard Covey, a famed author, educationist, inspirational kind of guy(*limited to business and management afaik), went to a better place on 16 July 2012 at the ripe age of 80.
Never got myself to read any of his books in-spite of having many chances at various times and stages. Strangely, in a forwarded email highlighting his principles in simple list, I found two which I liked and agreed upon, one almost a revelation. Having sold an estimated 35 million copies, he must be giving out something right in his book! That's when I realized an age old lesson I had learnt during my late teens/early twenties - if everyone who bought Dale Carnegie's - How to make friends and influence people - with over 100 million copies sold(at least) the world would simply have been a whole lot more friendlier, understanding and happier - without any racial prejudice or intentional judgement and most certainly on a better economic parity between the rich and the poor! Sadly, that is not the case at all. If anything, the reality is far from being that simple. The rich would never want to just give away their power and money and the poor will always seek to get it for themselves with as little effort as possible - this remains irrespective of whether or not it is righteous. Also, it will serve well to know that Mr. Dale Carnegie is Mr. Andrew Carnegie's sibling. Yes, the same guys from Carnegie-Mellon Univ. and the vast steel empire, founded when railroads were privatized businesses and on an uptick only behind shipping. It's almost like the Rockefeller's and Rothschild's were giving lessons in grooming a horse, to a rancher, just because they can afford to gamble and lose big money without flinching a bit, on a horse race.

Anyways, having said things, I am also not the one to shy away from giving credit where it is due. And I am glad Mr.Covey cleared up a couple of fundamental things for me and for that, I am thankful indeed.

1. Maturity is when you accept that the person you've become is not necessarily the person you wanted to be.
2. There are three constants in life... Change, Choice and Principles.

Coming to think of it, am wondering, Steven Jobs and Stephen Covey., who could be the next Steve..?

How and why it matters - China

Whenever there is talk of world domination and a debate ensues around which country actually inherits the status of being a super power after the end of the second millennium and the post cold-war reshuffle, the topic of maximum interest has always gravitated towards China. Sure, USA has also been there as the undisputed winner of the cold war era competition, but it no longer holds the position of "undisputed" and overarching decider of any countries fate.

The debacle that ensued soon after the dissolution of communist Soviet states(Warsaw pact countries), the capitalist empire led by USA(NATO) fell into a crisis of its own making. Nobody realizes that if a champion who is used to compete, fight and win every step of the way, finally wins, the glory of having won a difficult fight soon fades away, as no challenger comes forward to seek the same glory. In essence a fighter always needs someone to fight with or else the very existence becomes meaningless. Ditto with the world order in the decade following the end of cold war(1991-2000).

The downfall of the victors started with what was then known as the Y2K bug and subsequent dot-com bubble bust and it has been a slippery and uncontrolled slide for economies ever since.

While all of this was happening and everyone, as usual, was focused on the first and second worlds., a silent but spectacular dragon was starting to breathe out fire, after being starved into submission for ~two millennia.

The aim or agenda of the PRC(Peoples Republic of China) seems to be:

1. to add the word - "Peoples" as a suffix to everything and anything related to and defined by the state. Like for example, Peoples Liberation Army of China - as their armed forces are actually called, The Great Hall of People - as their parliament is officially known etc., but jokes apart..
2. The governing body known as the Peoples Party, of the Peoples Republic of China - mainland China, recognizes and establishes the "[[One China]]" policy which can be interpreted as having the legal right to own and administer entire territories under former Ming/Qing dynasty rule(16th century).

Strangely, the general populace of the world does not seem to actually know that the resulting dispute between PRC and Taiwan is more or less like two cousins fighting for the throne and neither of them is the legitimate heir apparent. Its simply not about PRC claiming Taiwan! The official name of what we know as Taiwan is .. guess what? Republic of China! aka ROC. And further more the ROC claims the right to rule over the huge mainland China by claiming the right of succession. Who knew!!!

Anyways, having given the background of just the later half of the 20th century, let us see how and why, the first and second worlds, have snapped up to pay attention in today's age and making note of every little movement the dragons tentacles make. These few points are not just sensationalist in nature but are genuine concerns.

China has 19% of the world’s population, but consumes ...

1. 53% of the world's cement
2. 48% of the world's iron ore
3. 47% of the world's coal
4. .... and the majority of just about every other major commodity.
5. In 2010, China produced 11 times more steel than the United States.
6. New World Record: China made and sold 18 million vehicles in 2010.
7. There are more pigs in China than in the next 43 pork producing nations combined.
8. China currently has the world’s fastest train and the world’s largest high-speed rail network.
9. China is currently the number one producer in the world of wind and solar power, but they don’t use it themselves. 
10. While they manufacture 80% of the world’s solar panels, they install less than 5% and build a new coal fired power station every week. 
11. In one year they turn on more new coal powered electricity than Australia's total output.
12. China currently controls more than 90% of the total global supply of rare earth elements.
13. In the past 15 years, China has moved from 14th place to 2nd place in the world in published scientific research articles.
14. China now possesses the fastest supercomputer on the entire globe.
15. At the end of March 2011, China accumulated US$3.04 trillion in foreign currency reserves -- the largest stockpile on the entire globe.
16. Chinese people consume 50,000 cigarettes every second …
17. They are already the largest carbon dioxide emitter and their output will rise 70% by 2020.

Now, some more sobering facts about the same china, these are from considerably more reliable sources which I did mention at the end of the point definition.

• China has 150% more soldiers than America does, plus a high tech 'Kill Weapon' the U.S. can't deal with.
• China has about 3.4 million active military personnel compared to America's 1.4 million. Moreover, in some key spaces, China might even have a tech advantage:
• After years of conjecture, details have begun to emerge of a "kill weapon" developed by the Chinese to target and destroy U.S. aircraft carriers.
  
• "The size of the missile enables it to carry a warhead big enough to inflict significant damage on a large vessel, providing the Chinese the capability of destroying a U.S. super-carrier in one strike. Because the missile employs a complex guidance system, low radar signature and a maneuverability that makes its flight path unpredictable, the odds that it can evade tracking systems to reach its target are increased. It is estimated that the missile can travel at mach 10 and reach its maximum range of 2000km in less than 12 minutes."
• "If operational as is believed, the system marks the first time a ballistic missile has been successfully developed to attack vessels at sea. Ships currently have no defense against a ballistic missile attack.”

Source: U.S. Naval Institute

• By 2025, China will build TEN New York-sized cities.

"[By 2025,] 40 billion square meters of floor space will be built -- in five million buildings.
50,000 of these buildings could be skyscrapers -- the equivalent of ten New York Cities."
Source: Mckinsey, "Preparing for China's urban billion"

• By 2030, China will add more new city-dwellers than the entire U.S. population.

“[By 2030] China's cities will have added 350 million people—more than the entire population of the United States today.”        
Source: Mckinsey

• China already consumes twice as much steel as the US, Europe and Japan combined.

China is the steel market.
Even in 2010, as developed nation steel demand is expected to rebound, Chinese steel demand will still dwarf all other major economies.
This also means that China drives the seaborne iron ore and coking coal markets as well, as these commodities are key ingredients in steel.
Source: Posco Steel

• If the Chinese, one day, use as much oil per person as Americans, then the world will need seven more Saudi Arabias to meet their demand.
  
  
  
• There are already more Christians in China than Italy, and China is on track to become the largest center of Christianity in the world.

Due to the extremely rapid expansion of Christianity in China, there are now an estimated 54 million Christians in the country comprised of about 40 million Protestants and 14 million Catholics.
Meanwhile, Italy has just 60 million people in total, of which only 79% are Christian these days. Which means Italy has 47.4 million Christians, a full 12% less than China. It's partly because 16% of Italians are now irreligious.
Source: Vatican

• Chinese internet users are five times as likely to have blogs as Americans.

Yet these prolific bloggers are under the watchful eye of an internet police army:
"Although the existence of an internet police force - estimated at more than 30,000 - has been known for some time, attention has previously focused on their work as censors and monitors.
Countless critical comments appear on bulletin boards of major portals such as Sohu and Sina only to be erased minutes, or sometimes just seconds, later. In the most recent case, all postings that blamed corrupt local officials or slow-moving police for the deaths of 88 children in floods last Friday were removed almost as soon as they appeared."
Source: The Guardian

Well, where do you think India stands in comparison?

Collective granary

The result of following - in order to explore the rationale behind someone drilling the reality, so as to gain an understanding and clarify, our own follies. These few things are most certainly not the end of it all. Thank you - Mark(C) - for making me realize.

1. The perceptions of an arrogant mind eventually led to certain conclusions. This is in no possible manner, strange or unexpected. If you prick a bull, it will go berserk.
2. The acquisition of knowledge doesn't mean you’re growing. Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.
3. Always remember, results are more important than the time it takes to achieve them. Sometimes we do things that are permanently foolish simply because we are temporarily upset or excited.
4. True perfectionists have a hard time starting things and an even harder time finishing them, always.
5. Sadly, an abundance of choice often leads to complication, confusion and inaction.
6. Respect is earned, honesty is appreciated, trust is gained, and loyalty is returned.
7. You don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of. The terrible truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need. When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave.
   The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great people you can count on.
8. We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our real ones are. So when people walk away from you, let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you. It doesn't mean they are bad people; it just means that their part in your story is over.
9. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.
10. Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.
11. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”
12. Sometimes, a lack of concern hurts more than angry words.
13. Live by choice, not by chance. The only challenge greater than learning to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, is learning to walk a lifetime, comfortably in your own.
14. Past mistakes should teach you to create a wonderful future; not cause you are afraid of it.
15. Life is actually pretty simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
16. Give what you want to receive. Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world.
17. You must accept the fact that life is not perfect, that people are not perfect, and that you are not perfect. And that’s okay, because the real world doesn't reward perfection. It rewards people who get GOOD things done.
18. Don’t walk away from negative people, RUN! Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. Never create an unnecessary drama and keep away from people who do.
19. Forget what everyone else thinks and wants for you. One of the greatest freedoms is simply not caring what everyone else thinks of you. Don’t let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big. They aren’t.
20. Oftentimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth, but because we finally realize our own worth.
21. Putting something off instantly makes it harder and scarier. If you feel like your ship is sinking, it might be a good time to throw out the stuff that’s been weighing it down. The next time you decide to un-clutter your life and clean up your space, start with the things that are truly useless, like old regrets, shame, and anger. Let it go.
22. You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading your previous one.
23. Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects. Don’t censor yourself. Speak the truth – your truth – always.
24. Never let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life. Its better to have a life full of small failures that you learned from, rather than a lifetime filled with the regrets of never trying.
25. The mind must believe it can do something before it is capable of actually doing it.
26. Being hurt is something you cant stop from happening, but being miserable is always your choice. Your mistakes and failures should be your motivation, not your excuse. Failure is not falling down; failure is staying down when you have the choice to get back up.
27. To be upset about what you don’t have is always a waste of what you do have. The happiest of people aren’t the luckiest, and they usually don’t have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes their way.
28. The reason so many people give up is because they tend to look at what’s missing, and how far they still have to go, instead of what’s present, and how far they have come.
29. Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours.
30. Don’t allow your temporary wounds to permanently transform you into someone you aren’t. A strong person is not the one who doesn’t cry. A strong person is the one who cries for a moment openly, and then gets up and fights again for what they believe in.
31. Even in the most peaceful surroundings, the ungrateful heart finds trouble. Even in the most troublesome surroundings, the grateful heart finds peace. Choose to see the world through grateful eyes; it will never look the same again.

TrueBlue

Its not a smell, its a fragrance

All of this is definitely not my content but its important enough to paste it here in the hopes of clarifying certain essentials, most of which no-one even thinks about.

"Eau de" is simply French for "Water of." Phonetically, it's like saying: O-dee.

Most perfumes are complex combinations of natural materials, such as essential oils from plants, and synthetic products that increase the lasting power and heightens the senses. Alcohol is used as a liquid base for perfume, and the ratio of alcohol to scented perfume concentrates determines what the final concoction is labeled as. Most frequently it's a nice little marketing gimmick to extract the most from an ignorant little guy, trying to impress a girl. Or at the very least, how it starts!

From highest concentration to the least, the different forms of perfume essentially consist of:

1. Perfume, also called extract or extrait perfume, can include 15-40% perfume concentrates. This is the purest form of scented product and is the most expensive as a result.
2. Eau de parfum contains about 7-15% perfume concentrates. This is the most popular and common form of perfume. It provides a long-lasting fragrance and generally doesn't cost as much as extract perfume.
3. Eau de toilette has around 1-6% perfume concentrates. This makes for a light scent that doesn't linger as long as the more intense versions. It was originally intended to be a refreshing body splash to help people wake up in the morning.
4. Eau de cologne is sometimes used interchangeably with the term eau de toilette. However, the concoction began as the name of a light, fresh fragrance mixed with citrus oils and was made popular by Napoleon. Some perfumers today have a version of this called eau fraiche.

While these are the main classes of perfume, other products are frequently scented with perfume concentrates too. Lotions, creams, powders, body splashes, aftershaves, soaps, and other cosmetic products may contain variable (though usually small) amounts of fragrance.

Passing

One of the most humbling experiences, by virtue of being a human is to witness miracles as they happen. It is an equally benevolent vice which only occurs to the human mind, to think that one can affect change by merely working for it.

None of this has ever happened; as the default disclaimer goes..

There have always been times when the wits of the most educated eloquent have been pitted against the raw standards of experienced artisans. The debate between wanting and needing has neither been won nor lost. It rages on for ever either in the form of being populist or an opportunist.

I've been warned said the high priest, and you have been promised - replied the willing.