Sea Shells on the sea shore...

Im back..

2006-12-13T21:39:00.000-05:00

I am going to try to be back here.. Getting ready for my brother's wedding, hope it all goes well and smoothly.

Time passes by so quickly.. and things change in the blink of an eye.

I wonder what the new yr will bring..hopefully good luck for everyone.

May Days..

2006-05-24T21:45:00.000-04:00

A couple of more days left here in Toronto and back to school soon.. sigh.

Monday was an eventful day; I went Wine tasting with my best friend and friends. It was really nice to be with ppl who genuinely care and are interesting! We left after a not so eventful brunch at a vietnamese restaurant.. including appetizers of frog legs:) Looking at them made me want to anayzle the anatomy of the legs more than making me want to eat them..

We set off for Niagara- the region, an area before Niagara falls which is known for many wineries of all sizes. Its interesting how intricate this hobby is for some.. There are alot of things to look for like aroma, colour and taste. The aromas give a hint about the flavour of the wine, the darker or red wines are usually more aged than the whiter type, and the taste can be acidic or tannic... some wines are sweeter than others based on the constituents. If a wine has a "fuller body" it has more viscosity compared to one with a lesser body.

My personal favourite was the Icewines! They were a big hit among all of us. They are made from frozen grapes and hence the sugar concentrate is much higher than other wines. Yum..

After visiting some cozy authentic wineries, my friends decided to take me to a casino, the trump casino at the Falls. The drive wasnt too far. Once we got there, we realized how much ppl really do love to gamble! The place was packed with ppl betting away their lives.. and who knows what else. I enjoyed playing at the slot machines, it really gets addictive:)

It was a nice day and a nice break since I've been home.. A break from all the other craziness.

A mini update-

2006-05-03T13:37:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I went to see the BodyWorlds exhibit at the Franklin institute of science,here in philly. First of all the weather was perfect for an outing to the city. I reached and enjoyed the lively aura of the city that sometimes is just enough excitment for those of us living out in the suburbs, sadly but true. I first watched a movie called the Human Body which was really fun to watch and informative for the general public. It was a busy day at the museum since it was Easter sunday and i thought it would not be so busy-a great place to spend some time with anyone.

After the movie, I went to the exhibit which was divided up into the different systems in the body with exhibits in between showcasing individual cadavers shown in special positions such as gymnasts, a chess player, figure skaters etc. The muscles were enhanced in some and right beside each exhibit there was a detailed chart of all the muscles and nerves in the bodies. This seemed like a better learning tool than the cadavers they used to teach us with :)

My fav exhibit was the fetal development and embryology- it showcased a pregnant cadaver with an 8month child, babies that died from developmental issues, conjoined twins, the size of the fetus from 4 weeks onwards and so forth.Makes you think about how magical and miraculous life is; how many things can go wrong with the human body during development but dont..

All in all, the whole exhibit was done artistically to highlight anatomical components gracefully while emphasizing the complexity of the human body.This also made me think about intelligent design vs. evolution but thats another story:)
Also, it made me think about how we all have common frameworks despite our differences externally-culture, socioeconomic status, beliefs, etc. I have to say the intricacy of it all is mindblowing and baffling at time despite all the progresses in science.

More info- www.bodyworlds.com

What else? April is over- and with its end, it brings a new month, a new beginning.Is every end a new beginning? Does something have to finish in order to start afresh?

I met an old friend recently, he went to Western with me. I had not seen him for the last few years and he was in town on business- and also, since hes moved back to India. He recently got married to a lovely girl so I was thrilled for him. It was really nice to reminisce (sorry my spelling is awful), walk down memory lane.. and just think about what we have been up to the past few yrs.The whole experience was engaging and I hope I meet him again in december.

My brother might be getting married in december in India; so looks like our whole family will be making a trip.

This yr seems to be full of weddings.. sigh, dont think I will be able to go to many of them. I love one of my professors, she openly asked me whether I had a love interest and told me about herself, she married at 30 and shes probably in her 40s now but to me the whole part of it that seemed lovely was that she was truly happy. I think its sad that in our culture marriage is "pushed" on too hard, right Stiletto?:) If only sometimes they would let us be.. and if it isnt our parents, than its someone else..

Today was interesting- we took a trip to the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf to take a tour of the facility. Our guide was delightful, he signed and spoke throughout.. and it made me really want to learn sign language soon! Communication is the basis of everything we do.. and i cant imagine not being able to do so. Children r such beloved creatures..they still have so much innocence, hopes, dreams.. and are not tainted by insecurities, by the viscousness of the real world yet.

Anyhow.. will try and update more soon!

Oops.. the truth for once

2006-04-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6056633.html?tag=cnetfd.sd

A different kind of film fest..

2006-03-25T20:10:00.000-05:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060324/en_nm/environment_films_dc

Today's quote

2006-02-20T18:46:00.000-05:00

"Were it not for hope the heart would break." an old scottish proverb

A quote for today..

2006-02-15T20:40:00.000-05:00

"Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is key to unlocking our potential. "

Currently listening-What am I to you?, Norah Jones

Happy Valentines Day

2006-02-14T21:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentines to everyone:)

Here is a passage from Anne of Green Gables, with a beautiful passage between Anne and Gilbert, one of my favourite love stories:)

"What are you thinking of, Anne?" asked Gilbert, coming down the walk. He had left his horse and buggy at the road.

"Of Miss Lavender and Mr. Irving," answered Anne dreamily. "Isn't it beautiful to think how everything has turned out... how they have come together again after all the years of separation and misunderstanding?"

"Yes, it's beautiful," said Gilbert, looking steadily down into Anne's uplifted face, "but wouldn't it have been more beautiful still, Anne, if there had been no separation or misunderstanding...if they had come hand in hand all the way through life, with no memories behind them which belonged to each other?"

For a moment Anne's heart fluttered queerly and for the first time her eyes faltered under Gilbert's gaze and a rosy flush stained the paleness of her face. It was as if a veil that had hung before her inner consciousness, had been lifted, giving to her view a revelation unsuspected feelings and realities. Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down: perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways: perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps...perhaps... love...unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.

Then the veil dropped again; but Anne who walked up the dark lane was not quite the same Anne who had driven gaily down it the evening before. The page of girlhood had been turned, as by an unseen finger, and the page of womanhood was before her with all its charm an mystery, its pain and gladness.

Gilbert wisely said nothing more; but in his silence he read the History if the next four years in the light of Anne's remembered blush. Four years of earnest, happy work... and then the querdon of a useful knowledge gained and a sweet heart won.

Currently listening-Michael Buble, Quando Quando
Josh Groban-You're still you, Chris Botti-My Funny Valentine

Perfect Wine for the perfect meal...

2006-02-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

http://www.bertolli.us/recipes/index.cfm?cl_id=&t=The%20Perfect%20Wine%20for%20the%20Perfect%20Meal

The website also has have easy italian recipes...Enjoy!

Genetics and Earwax

2006-02-06T11:15:00.000-05:00

Whether your earwax is wet or dry is determined by a mutation in a single gene, scientists have discovered.

More info-http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4661366.stm

Nature Genetics Journal- http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/ng1733.html
Human earwax consists of wet and dry types. Dry earwax is frequent in East Asians, whereas wet earwax is common in other populations. Here we show that a SNP, 538G A (rs17822931), in the ABCC11 gene is responsible for determination of earwax type. The AA genotype corresponds to dry earwax, and GA and GG to wet type. A 27-bp deletion in ABCC11 exon 29 was also found in a few individuals of Asian ancestry. A functional assay demonstrated that cells with allele A show a lower excretory activity for cGMP than those with allele G. The allele A frequency shows a north-south and east-west downward geographical gradient; worldwide, it is highest in Chinese and Koreans, and a common dry-type haplotype is retained among various ethnic populations. These suggest that the allele A arose in northeast Asia and thereafter spread through the world. The 538G A SNP is the first example of DNA polymorphism determining a visible genetic trait.

Its been a while..

2006-02-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

So school has been coming along.. I like how this semester is a mix of things, not just classes but clinic and work stuff. I also feel like I have a little time for myself which I relish.

A couple of things I have learnt about myself-
1) I love the aroma of sizzling Olive oil (extra virgin)
2) I really feel like I have alot of ppl in my life- and only have genuine relationships with a precious handful
3) Chocolate is still one of my favs refuges:)
4) There is so much out there to learn, to enjoy and experience apart from the monotony that comes with routine.
5) It is important to think about yourself- as a seperate entity occasionally.

So many of you may have heard of ipods/MP3s and hearing loss. This is one story that is making it all over the news, so if you havent heard about it, here a couple of links that talk about it and the possible long term damage that can be caused by these innocent looking players.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4162028.stm
http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/05/12/20/earbuds.hearing.loss/
and the latest of course, is a lawsuit!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20060202/bs_nf/41385

I dont know about the ipod manual, but my ibook manual does warn about hearing loss and volume. There are also alot of studies being conducted to figure out how much hearing loss can be caused by ipods, and one such study is being conducted at our school. There is also a relation btw hearing loss and loud music during exercising- what many people do not realize is that when there is more background nosie, they are likely to increase the volume on their players or stereos accordingly, and doing so, slowly causes you to get used to higher volumes of sound and causes a temporary threshold shift in hearing sensitivity until it becomes a permant shift after repeating such listening practices.

One neat feature about some earphones such as ones by Etymotic Inc. is the noise-cancelling feature and thus, you are not adjusting ur volume when the noise arounds you changes. If you want more information-
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6.aspx

What else? The Conservative Party has won the Canadian elections.. n I really wonder how that will fare and what sort of changes will happen- many ppl were disappointed with the results and I definitely was as well.

Here is an interesting link about shopping- and how stores lure customers to buy more unconsciously.
http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/storesecrets_10242001.xml

Well, thats alot for today!
Have a great weekend.

Currently listening- Josh Groban, Michael Buble, U2 & Pernice Brothers

Courage

2006-02-02T13:48:00.000-05:00

Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.
— Dan Rather

Food for thought..

2006-01-30T20:35:00.000-05:00

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

2006-01-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. — Mother Teresa

Currently listening to-Gilmore Girls Soundtrack

Put on a happy face..

2006-01-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

I was reading this article about optimists and pessimists, regarding the differences in their longevity. I really liked it because it is solid research that is telling us how important it is to try and be positive and happy- that everyone has problems of some kind and ups/ downs that we are not aware of but in the end, we all go through a myriad of emotions and have felt this way some time or the other.

Here are some key points from the article, the research was done at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota.A recent study and the findings were reported in October 2005.

Stop negative self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking that, you will not enjoy an event or do well on a project, stop the thought. Instead, identify the positives in the situation.
If you are irritated with your spouse or partner, think back to those qualities that you found so attractive when you fell in love. Keep those qualities in the forefront of your mind.
Find joy in your work. No matter what kind of job it is, find some aspect that is personally satisfying.
Surround yourself with positive, upbeat people.
Deal with situations that you can control, and try to accept those you cannot.
Put things in perspective. Life may take you on difficult paths. Try to find the adventure. A bump in the road is only temporary.
Each day, write down three positive things that happened that day as well as speculations about why those good things happened.

and the link to the article;
http://audiology.advanceweb.com/common/Editorial/Editorial.aspx?CC=64998

Bring on the poker:)

2006-01-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I was amongst my best friend, sister and friends after a long time. We were all hanging out and I had a chance to get introduced to the newest member of the crew, a parakeet named Punkh. Punkh is adorable and is a grayish-blue bird that is pretty friendly and entertaining:) It made me think about how our precious bonds are; even between humans and their pets- there is something very endearing about such relationships.

Anyhow, after we got acquainted with Punkh, I was asked whether I'd like to join in a game of poker. Despite having no experience with the game, I must say my luck did shine last night and it was fun being silly and poking fun at everyone around me. Playing a board game can be extremely engaging and everyone became engrossed in the game, so it made it more challenging. Nonetheless, I kind of know how to play Poker:) and truly enjoyed my first experience. I am sure with a little bit of experience, I can become a pro player..lol.

After our game, we went to Playdium- which is like a bigger verion of an arcade with many other interactive games for kids and adults. I enjoyed the motorcycle race, with the motorcycle actually swaying from side to side and making me feel like I was in control( well, for the most part.. not the times where I kept crashing into the sides). We went on a mini roller coaster, raced on dirt bikes, and raced in the Molson Indy:)

It was a memorable night; quality time with some special people that I don't get to do often:)

Happy New Yr!

2006-01-01T01:36:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2006:)

Bulla Ki Jaana?

2005-12-30T21:48:00.000-05:00

I was browsing through some indian magazines my dad brought back from his trip yesterday and came across an artist whose unique style and philosophy caught my eye.

I would like ot share this video with you; the website also has lyrics and I am including the artist's blog as well which translates line by line from punjabi into english.

http://www.mtvdesi.com/video/

http://rabbism.blogspot.com/

Enjoy:)

Quote for today

2005-12-27T18:29:00.000-05:00

A kind and compassionate act is often its own reward. — William John Bennett

So far, not bad and random thoughts

2005-12-27T18:12:00.000-05:00

So far my holidays at home have been fairly good. Although at times I feel like it is important to take a break from everything and everyone.

Yesterday was boxing day- yes, I went shopping greedily for many hours at end and probably spent more than I anticipated on before entering the mall. It has been relaxing and time is going by so quickly and I hope I get a chance to do more of the things on my list like meeting some friends, watching some much awaited movies etc.

More importantly, yesterday was the one year anniv for the Tsunami. While much aid has been promised, sadly, alot has still to reach the victims and their families.

Another sad day for some families in Toronto because of some shootings downtown between two youth groups- sad because a few bystanders were killed and it makes you wonder how safe it is to go outside in broad daylight.

Speaking of crime, Philadelphia has had the highest rate of crime this past year - the highest its been in the last 7 years with up to 386 killings or so.

Apart from that, there are a few cities that are actually safe. I live in Brampton which is a suburb of Toronto. Mississauga is a bigger city which is right beside Brampton and closer to Toronto. The point is, Mississauga has been named one of the safest cities in Canada and their Mayor has been internationally honored. It is nice to hear something positive!
http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/mississauga_05.html

Happy holidays to everyone:)

A quote for today

2005-12-21T11:45:00.000-05:00

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.
— Eleanor Roosevelt

Friday hues..

2005-12-09T19:38:00.000-05:00

Hi All,

This week has been pretty hectic and stressful. We had clinical evaluations this past monday; testing last most of the day. This was done to ensure that we are ready to leave our on campus clinic and move on to outside clinics and hospitals etc. I believe it went well and that was huge relief. Following that, I had another practical which I was worried about but managed to get through. Today was an exam to finish off the week; wasn't bad but long. I am not really the written type of exams type of person even though I always manage to do well on them. Multiple choice is short and sweet and to the point. Next week is another bunch of exams and on the 20th I get to go home!

Anyhow, enough about school. What else is up? Yesterday was John Lennon's death anniv. I have listened to some of the main Beatles songs but I am sure the real fans were upset. I didnt know much about his death until I saw it on the news. Apparently, he was shot in NYC by an obsessed fan who shot him a couple of times and took out a copy of the book, Catcher in the Rye and kept reading until police arrived. Strange... and more interestingly.. John Lennon once remarked that he thought he would probably be shot by some "loony" and ended up that way. There was also a broadway play called Lennon this past summer, what isn't there a broadway play about? :)

I came across an article that caught my attention. It seemed like an article written by a desi "Carrie Bradshaw" from Sex in the City. I watched the whole series this semester with my roomate and actually went on a Sex in the CIty Tour in NYC in sept. I really enjoyed that and got to learn alot of facts about the show I had no idea about. We also got to go to diff spots where the show was shot and learn neat tidbits about the actors/actresses. More about this later...

Here is the link to the article...
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/11621/index.html

Hope you all have a great friday:)

Current Music-
John Lennon-Imagine All the People..
Rob Thomas-Ever the Same

A grownup xmas list..

2005-12-03T18:14:00.000-05:00

One of my friends had this as an away message...

Do you remember me?

I sat up upon your knee.. I wrote to you with childhood fantasies..Well, I am all grown up now and still need help somehow, I am not a child but my heart can still dream, so here's my lifelong wish..My grownup xmas wishlist:

Not for myself
But a World in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, no
This is my grownup xmas list..

Currently listening- In the Deep- Bird York, Crash Soundtrack:)

Its been a while..

2005-12-01T20:45:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

Havent blogged for a while; will start up again soon. :)

Will post the hightlights of the last two months..

See ya soon!

Katrina

2005-09-05T14:16:00.000-04:00

I am sure all of you have heard of the recent hurricane Katrina and all the devastation caused by it. Here is an informative link not only about the nature of it but how you may be able to help:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/katrina/

5 pet peeves..

2005-08-28T19:48:00.000-04:00

These have just seem to be building up.. so it seems imperative to let them out now.

1) Annoying roomates with complete lack of consideration with possible voodoo dolls under their beds with your name on it.

2) Coffee shops in airports that charge $9.19 for a chicken wrap!( with no combo!)

3) Places that want to charge you a million dollars for a few secs of WiFi

4)Streaks of bad luck

5) Having time when you wish you didnt; and not being able to use it on people you believe deserve it.

oh one more, I am on a roll!

6) Mean people! Oh, grow a heart or something.

How about one more?

7) Getting on the wrong flight

And the last..

8) Missing opportunities

Doubt/Faith

2005-08-28T19:47:00.000-04:00

"Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother." ~Kahlil Gibran

Strength and not weakness..

2005-08-12T21:51:00.000-04:00

Look for strength in people, not weakness; for good, not evil. Most of us find what we search for.
— Wilbur J. Chapman

Chris and I ..

2005-08-09T20:59:00.000-04:00

Sunday came around and I was again at the airport; another time to travel. I was excited about going home because I was going to NJ that night to see Coldplay perform live for the first time. I can't believe how quickly this concert came around; felt like I had been waiting for ages.
The fun thing about going to see a band play that you are crazy about is going with people who understand your enthusiasm and feel elated just as much and the more you talk about it, the more euphoric you get:) Makes you realize how music is another medium ppl feel connected not only to themselves but to others who share the same feelings.
We reached downtown Philly at 630 and quickly bought tickets for the ferry to cross over to the Tweeter Center in NJ. The lines were chaotic; there were tons of people of all different ages and background sharing the same feeling of excitement and anticipation. We got onto the ferry and finally made it through many people to the Center and got a couple of drinks and finally headed up the stairs for one of those moments that you know you will never forget. We were on the lawn area and as we climbed up and peered around, the opening band had already started playing.
There were screens for us since they were pretty far and to my disappointment I couldn't really see the band that great. The opening band was actually canadian; Cold Mountain from Vancouver.
They also showed some footage of Chris Martin visiting third world countries and how his band promotes fair trade and Oxfam. It truly touches my heart when I see artists like him who make wonderful music turn out to be good human beings and promote that in their lyrics and philsophy. U2's Bono and Elton John among many others have also done alot of causes around the world and I really respect how they have made time for ppl who are really deserving of that effort.
I hoped that when Coldplay came on they would be more clear. Within no time, each speck of grass was covered with someone and I truly believe I have never seen so many ppl in one place at one time before. I have been to concerts before and there were many ppl, but this was just beyond what I had imagined. There was a stench of weed and smoke entangled among the chatter of people settling in and getting comfortable. I didn't really understand why ppl would be doing weed because I felt naturally high just being there; and so did my friends from PCO. I thought it was really neat how Tony in my class surprised his gf with this concert; both of them being huge fans.
Finally around 915pm, I heard his voice. Chris Martin opened with the song, square one from their new album, X&Y. Everyone stood up and most ppl remained in that state of awe for the next two hours. I screamed, my heart pounded and I sang offkey throughout the performance. Standing atop of a hill, overlooking the city of Philly with a gentle breeze and swaying to their music was truly a dream come true for me. I never thought it would happen so soon; although I always dreamt of it for so long. One of my friends used to own the Coldplay live 2003 dvd and he would come over with some friends; we would all talk about the songs and sing along and express our views on the different songs and lyrics. My favourite songs from the performance(although all of them were unbelievable) were clocks, in my place, the scientist, Yellow & white shadows. They were accompanied by different visual effects which was another enthralling aspect and made the experience all the more surreal. Another thing I really liked about the concert was that Chris' voice was crystal clear; it really seemed the acoustics were taken care really well and that made it complete. :) One of my dreams has come true.. and I will be chillin to their music for years to come:)

Starkey

2005-08-09T20:35:00.000-04:00

I went on a student workshop from last wed to sat in Minneapolis at the Starkey headquarters. For those of you who are not aware of Starkey, it is a major hearing aid company from the US and has offices worldwide. There were many neat aspects to this workshop; first off they pay for the students' plane and hotel. We got lucky because they put us up in the Marriott and I got even luckier getting to be on the Concierge level:)
I arrived on tuesday and unpacked my belongings and waited for my ex-roomate Pooja to pick me up. It was a nice coincidence that she wasn't too far from where I was staying so things worked out nicely. I had not seen her since her wedding which was almost 2 years ago. We chatted until we reached her apartment and the chatting continued incessantly throughout dinner which was really just catching up on things. Pooja's husband, Prasad seemed interested in my program so that seemed to become a topic of interest for quite some time. The short rendezvous ended quickly since I had to get back to the hotel for the next day's series of seminars. We started with a little history about the company( which after a while seemed like quite a bit of history), followed by a indepth lecture on a certain type of microphone in hearing aids. This lecture was a little too complex for me and the other seminar that day more focused on one of their own products. The dinner was the highlight of this day because it was held at William Austen's mansion which was open to all the students for fun and frolic(yes, alcohol does that to a bunch of grad students). His house was absolutely mindblowing. I have not seen a house like that till date although the one that came close to that was one that my brother showed me that was selling for a million on Mississauga Rd in Toronto. I am sure this house was many more million than that not including all the fascinating memorbilia collected in his personal art gallery as well as his basement. HIs walls were adorned by muhammed ali's robe, gretzy's jersey, elvis and lucille ball's signatures, many platinum cds from artists like Micheal Bolton, Rod Stewart, etc. His backyard had a breathtaking view; it opened up onto a private lake with his own personal boat. Some students took a trip on that while other students did some karaoke and others indulged in succulent dinner.
Friday we had alot more interesting lectures and I enjoyed them because the topics were presented in a way that I like; with a pinch of humour and of course, simplicity. After our day, our evening had another fun filled evening. We went upon a dinner cruise on Lake Minnetonka which is one of the many lakes in Minneapolis. This particular lake surrounded gigantic houses i.e. 36,000 sq ft for the mere price of millions of dollars. I thoroughly enjoyed this evening because I had a chance to mingle with many other students from across the country and met some really nice people. Some ppl offered sheer comic relief while others offered sincere conversations of substance. The view was amazing; especially when the sun began to set. It was extremely relaxing and the weather was perfect. The colours seemed to dim quietly in the background and the dark shubbery became accentuated.
Saturday came around in no time; our last day of seminars. After our day at Starkey, I came back to the hotel to pack up and meet Pooja for another evening. We chatted and I decided to expose her to a new world; a world filled with musical notes:) I made a few cds for her and was happy she enjoyed them. We watched a movie and the night came to an end in another blink.
I am really grateful I had a chance to go to this workshop and hope I can go to another one next yr!

Proof

2005-07-30T23:51:00.000-04:00

This is my latest Coldplay fetish..This is my current source of peace:)

So I waited for you
What wouldn't I do
And I'm covered it's true
I'm covered in you

If I ever want proof
I find it in you
Yeah I honestly do
In you I find proof

Light, dark
Bright spark
Light dark
And then
Light

So I waited all day
What wouldn't I say
And all the things in your way
Things happen that way

And if I ever want proof
Then I find it in you
Oh, yeah I honestly do
In you I find proof

Light, dark
Bright spark
Light dark
And then
Light

Light, light, light...

And again its over

2005-07-30T23:50:00.000-04:00

My heart is like a smoked out lung
Thin, dark, burnt from the pain and hurt
That colours my existence
The fire that once lit my heart
The bright red and ember
Has been extinguished with time
My bright eyes that use to smile and dance
Are now like sunken ships;
Battered and old.
I wish I could reach out and hug you
But I know I wont be able to feel again.

My tears fall so quickly
Along that familiar path
As if everything else has been frozen
And their urgency prevails all.

It is all a blur,
Time to say goodbye to everything
That once meant the world.
Take it and its gone.

Happy friday:)

2005-07-29T19:37:00.000-04:00

Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
— Hans Christian Anderson

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.
— Oscar Wilde

5 things about my quarky self

2005-07-28T21:48:00.000-04:00

1) One of my goals is to speak even half the speed a Gilmore Girl does articulately

2) I am subscribing to a magazine rather than buying off the stands AND its one I haven't even read before! *gasp* (talk about taking a plunge)

3) I would rather count my nose hairs than learn about speech sciences and sound out anything phonetically.

4) I love my Mac; don't think I will be going back to PC:)

5) I want to learn how to play and read music again; being in a quartet for me was one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. Not sure if it would be a guitar or piano, but it will happen:)

Currently listening-Coldplay-White Shadows, Yanni-The Nightingale, Hexes and Ohs-Whadya know?, David Guetta-The World is Mine

Coldplay:)

2005-07-27T18:27:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of one of my fav bands.. Of course they are very well known but for those of you who have not yet been exposed, I urge you to listen to one of their songs and enter a different realm altogether:) I am very excited about going to see them live in NJ on Aug 7th!:)
Here they are..composed of Chris Martin (vocals/piano), Jon Buckland (guitar), Will Champion (drums), and Guy Berryman (bass) .. thats Coldplay for you:)
Their website is www.coldplay.com , it has lyrics and audio clips as well info about their latest tours.

Perfection?

2005-07-01T12:40:00.000-04:00

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
— Sam Keen

A special evening..with the stars

2005-06-27T12:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday evening my family and I travelled to downtown TO to indulge ourselves in a much awaited musical event. Sudesh Bhonsle was the first singer to come on stage and enthralled everyone with his energy:) He is actually a very funny guy and amazingly accurate in imitiating other artists:)He sounds exactly like Amitabh when he alters his voice! I loved his impression of Shakti kapoor singing an Adnan Sami song, Kabhi nazar milao.That was one of the themes of the evening; how different artists would present Sami's song.
After Sudesh, Asha Bhonsle took the stage and that was pretty magical. She took us along with her back to older times enmeshed with the foot thumping tracks of today. My personal favs were Dal gaya din, ho gayi shaam and aye hi aya meharbaan. She had a very cute introduction with her talking about "some girl" growing up and naming her family members and a bit of about herself and ending off saying that this girl is now 71 yrs old. She definitely does not look that old and I admire that her stamina and strength to still be one of India's finest singers. It was endearing to see her mischeivious side as well imitating her sister, Lata:)
After Asha, Kumar Sanu took the stage. He has been one of my personal favourites for a really long time. His fav song is one of my ultimate favs; Sochenge tumhai pyar from Deewana. Then he went on to include a bunch of heartwarming/melting songs like Tere Dar Par sanam, songs from Aashiqui and some fun songs from Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge. I could listen to his voice forever; makes you want to think about the beauty of love all day!:)
Overall, everyone enjoyed the show and their jolly personalities. I think it makes the show so much more fun when the artist has a good sense of humour along with meaningful lyrics.I feel really lucky to have been able to see two of my absolute fav artists live;Kumar Sanu and Gurdass Mann. Gurdass Mann presented his work in a similar manner and that evoked a similar response from the audience; an overwhelming state of satisfaction for all ages:)

This is one evening from this summer I won't forget:)

Quotes galore

2005-06-20T13:24:00.000-04:00

This quote applies to me personally because it has become one of my philosophies towards life after being someone who has always had a tendency to overplan!

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.
— Sir Winston Churchill

I joined my dad's gym and while I was on a bike, I was flipping through a magazine. I came across an amusing line that applies to me and my sweet tooth. Disappointment is followed by fulfillment, sorrow by joy and a good workout by ice cream:)

Hope everybody had a chance to wish their Dad a Happy Father's Day yesterday.

Film festival..

2005-06-18T18:34:00.000-04:00

For those who love the cinema..a treat:)

http://www.worldwideshortfilmfest.com/

A quote

2005-06-17T17:46:00.000-04:00

This quote is quite meaningful to me because I believe that familial strength is an important factor in raising a healthy child.

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
— Theodore Hesburgh

Hi

2005-06-15T11:17:00.000-04:00

Hi All,
Its been a long time since I posted a hello. I haven't been doing much or even been thinking much for the matter, hence not alot to write about:)Ah, lazy summer days.. I did finish reading the Five People You Meet in Heaven By Mitch Albom, the same author who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie. Some ppl do not like one book as much as the other; I however feel that both of them are wonderful. I love his gentle, heartfelt yet simplistic writing style. Simple words with simple yet significant messages for all:) And, another bonus point for some ppl is that the books arent long at all.
Other than that, I saw Zeher the other day and liked it. Not that it didnt have its predictable parts. I liked Shamita Shettys role(not sure if thats her name) and liked the main song alot.
Time is flying by really quickly; it always does when you are on a break. I am looking forward to my friends wedding. Things happen so quickly sometimes!
Will write more soon :)

Musical notes

2005-06-08T23:56:00.000-04:00

One emerging indo-canadian artist is Kiran Ahulwalia. I bought her cd last summer for my dad from the local chapters and I enjoyed it. The music was refreshing, more geared towards a classical/folk fusion.

Here is her website for additional info:
http://www.kiranmusic.com/

Another artist, Mukesh Khanna is actually a family friend who migrated from Canada to India. His love for his country surpassed many of the comforts of the Western world:) Truthfully, having a sufficient amount of money yields alot more luxury than does in North America. Nonetheless, he is talented and I wish him all the best. Apart from his talent, I grew up thinking about the uncle who could do the "disappearing thumb" trick:)
www.mukeshkhanna.com

Lastly, my beloved Coldplay released their latest album, X & Y. You may have had a chance to listen to their track, Speed of Sound. I have not had a chance to sample any of their other tracks; I will probably buy the album regardless.
www.coldplay.com

Oops one more... The canadian artist David Usher has released If God Had Curves.. If you enjoy alternative; you will probably enjoy his style. It is soothing with well thought out lyrics.
www.davidusher.ca

Enjoy..

She is released..Shame on the canadian justice system

2005-06-05T17:30:00.000-04:00

One of the biggest news in Ontario is Karla Homolka's release from prison after her 12 year jail term. I am sure I join many other canadian sentiments when I say that her sentence has been too lenient and she was more than just an "impressionable" girl looking for her ex-husband's approval, Paul Bernado. These two sadistic killers have become notorious for their crimes; gruesome, shocking and plain disgusting.

Here is the link about them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_Homolka

I hope that her release does not become another chance for her to prey upon innocent victims; may the victimes family find peace because I do not believe they have found justice.

Canadian wins Miss Universe

2005-05-31T13:35:00.000-04:00

Toronto woman crowned 'Miss Universe'
CTV.ca News Staff
Canadian Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe 2005 in the Thai capital of Bangkok last night -- only the second Canadian to ever win the competition.
"I am absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed right now," Glebova told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday, in a phone interview from Thailand.
"I can't believe this happened. I'm so happy. It's fantastic."
Glebova, a 23-year-old model from Toronto, was picked over runner-up Cynthia Olavarria of Puerto Rico after answering a question about what she thought her biggest challenge in life had been.
"I always try to maintain a positive outlook on life,'' she said, adding that being optimistic was most challenging.
It was a big win for Glebova, who said she only watched the Miss Universe pageant for the first time about three years ago.
"I really didn't expect a whole lot out of this. I just went in to have a good time and kind of see what happens, and I turned out the winner," she said.
Glebova was born in Russia and moved to Canada with her parents when she was 12. In addition to modelling, she also studies information technology management at Toronto's Ryerson University.
She is a trained pianist and composer. According to the Miss Universe website, she says her most unusual talent "is being able to read upside down just as well right-side up."
"This (question) was seen by the judges and I thought I have to put something a little more unusual than just playing a musical instrument," Glebova said.
"Because, you know, a lot of people have that talent. But I would say definitely one of my talents is music. I love to play and compose."
She said she planned to use her role as Miss Universe to raise awareness and money for HIV/AIDS research.
Karen Baldwin of London, Ont., was the first Canadian to win the Miss Universe contest, in 1982.

Quote of the Day

2005-05-31T12:48:00.000-04:00

Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.
— Mahatma Gandhi

High aspirations..

2005-05-24T11:25:00.000-04:00

A cute kid with high aspirations..

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116615024414_15?hub=Canada

Yesterday I went out with my dad for dinner at KAMA, which is a restaurant in Brampton run by the same owners of Bombay Palace. Bombay Palace has been around in downtown Toronto for as long as I can remember; the quality of dining is definitely above all the other indian restaurants I have been to. Bombay Palace is a franchise in North America and no wonder it is standing strong after all this time despite all the new places out there. After dinner we went to see Jo Bole So Nihaal-the film had a alot of action, cheesy lines and stupid sexual humour. It left alot to be desired and I don't really see the reason for all the controversy behind it besides the fact that Bollywood is horrible at portraying Sikhs in any roles. Even though Sunny deol is one himself; his acting was goofy and makes people from India look more backward than necessary. I liked being able to go out with my dad for a movie but sadly, the movie was not worth the time and money. I would not recommend it!

Currently listening-Micheal Bolton

An Ode to Pedagogy..

2005-05-16T15:15:00.000-04:00

Today I had my neuro exam after a weekend of studying in hibernation. I believe it went pretty well except for a few structures in the lab component that I wasn't too sure about. I do think I studied a fair decent amount for this test but I must say that I will miss my professor. Dr.Lombardi is one of the most brilliant professors I have had and not to mention, enthused about teaching. It has been a while since a professor has been able to instill the same amount of curiousity towards a course. It has truly been enjoyable despite the studying:) Each time I've had a really good teacher or professor, I have not been able to forget them because their inspiration to me remains with me in some form or the other. I am lucky to have met some very intelligent and passionate individuals in my academic career and hope to meet many more along the way.
Before our exam we had a surprise baby shower for our professor. It was endearing to see her joke around with her husband who is also an adjunct professor at PCO. We won't have him until summer; so maybe the funny marital jabs might fade into the background.
I also had the chance to meet one student who had an interview for the incoming class and that was fun because she was from Toronto. I do hope she ends up coming here because she seems like a fun person and we could use more of those people in our program.
I have recently taken a liking to the show, Family Guy.(It's hilarious!). I watched My Brother Nikhil and the performances by Sanjay Suri and Juhi Chawla left me speechless and teary eyed. The movie did a phenomenal job of portraying an individual who is HIV positive and becomes estranged in a homophobic Goa. The simplicity, the tumult of emotions and social repercussions are woven beautifully together in this film. One aspect that really touched my heart was the relationships in this film. The bond that brother(Sanjay Suri) and sister(Juhi Chawla) is a rare and pure connection that many of us today may not experience with our own sibilings. Some people need to go through difficult times to realize the value of each other; I liked the fact that their relationship remained special throughout. Do watch it if you get a chance:)

Currently listening-Le Chale-Shaan(My Brother Nikhil soundtrack)

This is where I would like to be..

2005-05-15T12:42:00.000-04:00

Currently listening-Raghav-Weakness,Joe Cocker-Wonder Yrs Theme

Don't close your eyes...

2005-05-12T00:25:00.000-04:00

Snug in my bed with a comforting breeze and my lovely ibook, I am smiling to the lyrics of This Your Life by Switchfoot(my latest new favourite). I love how this song questions me and my decisions as an individual; how and whether I have reached where I want to be. I know in my heart I have a long way to go. The path seems endless and exciting;challenging and satisfying.
Today has been a productive day for the most part. With exams looming, I have been trying to study amidst practice for a practical exam on friday. So far, so good. My major concern is my exams next week which have alot of material and some of it is remorseless.

Don't close your eyes.. This your Life. Are you who you want to be? Is it everything you dreamed it would be?

I am looking forward to the 21st and going home but not to getting up that early for my flight:( I really hope that June is a productive yet fun-filled month.

Today I pondered a bit about the future of my profession and my own professional life. I feel some distant goals forming in my mind but it is quite early to discern the actual direction just yet.

My eyes are beginning to droop so time to catch some shut eye and wish you all a goodnight:)

Currently listening-This is Your Life-Switchfoot

Quote of the day: "When you can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment."

And it goes on..

2005-05-07T22:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't been posting much lately because of school and I have been subject to my own shell. The past week went by quickly; a histology quiz, a physiology lab and a group presentation on audiological rehabilitation were my main focus. Today was a nice change. Mike, Tony and I went to university city to grab a bite to eat at the New Delhi restaurant. It is always nice to go downtown because the aura is completely different than suburbs. It seems like there are many places to go, people to meet, things to discuss and engage yourself in. I doubt I would fit the prototype of being a city girl although I have my moments and really enjoy the unique experiences one can only find within the chaos of city life. Mike really enjoyed trying indian food for the first time. So that was the afternoon.
This morning I spoke to Raina after a long time online. How things do change and how we change as individuals is almost like a slow invisible process that creeps up on you and taps you on the shoulder a few times until you become brave enough to turn. And when you do turn you either realize that everyone has changed except you or maybe it is you that has. I am not surprised that I don't completely "know" anyone in my life; that is something I cannot really vouch for. What surprises me at times is that I don't always know myself.
I was suppose to meet a dear friend a few days back who was in town for business. Rahul went to university with me and I met him during my 2nd yr. Probably one of my more rocky years and he was a good friend. We studied together and laughed together watching South Park. Rahul has travelled many places; he has places in Toronto and Manhattan and recently moved back to India. He mentioned that he likes Toronto better than the other main north american cities even New York. I was surprised but at the same time, I felt proud. I have realized how much more of a better city Toronto is comparatively to Philadelphia as well. He recently got engaged and I am extremely happy for him:) He is getting married this christmas but it seems like another wedding that I might have to miss.
I really want to go to Montreal this summer; it feels like I've been longing for it forever. Anyhow, as you can tell I am a travel buff.
Sometimes it seems better for the heart to let go of certain things and embrace others.
Currently listening-Robbie Williams-No Regrets

Time to reflect a little..

2005-04-30T13:17:00.000-04:00

Interrogations: The Way We Live Now

Ophelia Benson

An eclectic, literary challenge to everyday thinking.

We think the way we live is normal and usual, until something reminds us rather sharply that it isn't. That, actually, the way we live (‘we' who live now, in 2005, in the Anglophone world, reading essays on the Internet) is highly artificial, is very new in human history; is geographically and demographically minority and peculiar, socially and economically lucky, medically shielded, militarily protected, technologically propped up and made easy, comfortable, safe. That the way we live is not normal or majoritarian at all but a protracted, luxurious, prosperous exception to the genuinely normal usual majority human experience of endless desperate struggle, effort, labour, hunger, cold, heat, illness, danger, bereavement, fear, death. It's the Hobbesian version of life that's normal, and ours that is anomalous.

One can think of a good many metaphors or thought experiments or horror-movie-like mental pictures that stand for this realization or reminder, this rending of the curtain. We are on a train, or a cruise ship, or in a resort hotel sitting on the terrace, admiring the view. We are gazing at the beautiful tranquil landscape - the hills and fields, the lambs and horses, the mountains and lakes, the gently heaving ocean - when suddenly there's a ripping tearing crunching shredding sound - the pretty landscape wrinkles, warps, crumples up, and disappears, and we see what's really there, behind the pretty painted delusive backdrop - we see the teeth, the claws, the slobber, the bubbling lava, the sulfur, the heaps of bodies, the screaming struggling victims

Click on the link to read more..

http://www.philosophersnet.com/cafe/cafearticle.php?name=interrogations

And there he was..

2005-04-28T00:08:00.000-04:00

It has been long since I've said hello to everyone; so here I am:) I enjoyed my visit to my masi's place. I left on saturday morning and came back this sunday night. Saturday night was an enjoyable event; it was a holi function that had several performances including two dances by my cousins. They both did a superb job! It is endearing to see little kids put so much effort into a program that helps them express themselves. It was a nice weekend overall; made me feel more homesick though being reminded of a "home". Where memories are made and life is celebrated silently through the little victories. Yes, I am homesick:) Two more weeks of classes; than finals.Ugh! They always seem to just creep up on you sooner than you expect it. Like a fly that gnaws you to the point where you cannot find solace of any kind until the climax of a brutal and abrupt death can only bring. And than you sigh, and say, "that wasn't so bad" after the fact. And than the cycle continues.

I had an exam today which wasn't bad at all; and unfortunately, our time together today is short yet sweet so I bid you adieu for tonight. Yesterday and for the past few days, I was thinking about my cousin and missed him because we had not spoken for a while whilst both us being emerged in the pursuit of knowledge:) I felt touched when he messaged me last night just to simply say"goodnite" to reassure me gently that he did think of me as well. Small occurences make me wonder about the special bonds and connections people do share; unspoken words felt without the curfew of time.

Gnite!

A few quotes..

2005-04-22T16:21:00.000-04:00

Wherever you go, go with all your heart-Confucius

Anything that has real and lasting value is always a gift from within.
— Franz Kafka

Mistakes are the portals of discovery.
— James Joyce

A little tidbit..

2005-04-21T08:53:00.000-04:00

Last night I was reading an article from National Geographic about a lady who was having a brain tumor removed(she had to be kept awake in order to make sure surgeons did not take away her ability to speak) and the article did a really good job at talking about the complexity of the human brain along with some specific areas. I found one part particularly interesting that I would like to share.The article also reiterates how delicate the brain is and how damage to one area can result in loss of some type of function. Here is the excerpt:

" If there is a single theme that has dominated the past decade of neurological research, it is the growing appreciation of the brain's plasticity -its ability to to reshape and reorganize itself through adulthood.Blind people who read Braille show a remarkable increase in the size of the region of their somatosensory cortex-a region on the side of the brain that processes the sense of touch-devoted to their right index finger.Violin players show an analogous spread of the somatosensory region associated with the fingers of their left hand which move about the neck of the instrument playing notes, as opposed to those of their right hand which merely holds the bow."

It is fascinating how our body and brain works; definitely not simple stuff:) Other than, I have been busy with a presentation and an exam previously this week. Only a few weeks left of school and finals to go.. than off to home:) Last friday was relaxing since I spent that with Priya. We went out to a asian bistro that had dishes from Hawaii, Korea, Thailand,Malaysia etc. Thai food is amazing:) I would love to visit Thailand amond all the other places on my list:) I enjoyed my dinner with a pretty strong lychee martini; seemed pretty yummy at the time but didn't feel so great in the morning:(
This weekend I am going to go to my masi's place to watch my cousins perform a dance at some function; so that should be fun. Looking forward to getting away from school..

Currently listening-Speed of Sound-Coldplay, We belong together-Mariah Carey

Floral Language

2005-04-14T10:36:00.000-04:00

The Floral Language

When sending flowers to someone, the infamous marketing slogan “say it with flowers” hits the nail on the proverbial head. Since the beginning of time, the language of flowers has been used to express a multitude of human emotions, everything from love and hate, to sympathy and congratulations.

In fact, this special ‘floral’ language reached its climax in Victorian England when ‘flower readers’ were in demand because of their knowledge and ability to interpret the meanings of flower bouquets.

In more recent times floral arrangements satisfy the quest for individuality among today’s consumers. With the hundreds of colours, shapes and sizes to choose from, the art of giving can be customized in a number of special ways.

When sending a floral arrangement, it is always best to first consider the preferences of the person who is on the receiving end. For example, flowering or green plants, meadow flowers and woodsy accents suit people who are casual, earthy and like the great outdoors.

Bouquets of soft colours and light fragrances with accents of lace and ribbon are well suited to more the more reserved, highly sensitive and romantic types.

Bolder arrangements are suitable to more gregarious personalities and unconventional types are attracted to exotic flowers and unusual combinations.

If you’re on the receiving end, get the most longevity from your arrangements by following a few steps;

check your arrangement daily to make sure it has plenty of clear, fresh water. When more water is needed make sure it is lukewarm or room temperature.
for best results, use floral preservative by mixing it with room temperature water. Floral foam can also be used, but make sure it is always thoroughly saturated.
display your arrangement in a cool location, always out of direct sunlight and away from electrical appliances. Avoid extreme heat or cold.
when rearranging flowers, re-cut the stem ends under water using a sharp knife or scissors. Then, insert each flower back into the arrangement. If floral foam is used, be sure to insert the stems firmly and deeply.

Remember, you can say a million different things in a million different ways, with flowers, and in some cases, colours really do play a role. Here is a list of some of the more common flowers used in everyday floral arrangements and their signification.

ACACIA
Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love

AMARYLLIS
Pride, Pastoral Poetry

CARNATION (Pink, Red, White)
Love and Admiration, Positive, Optimistic, You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.

CARNATION (Striped, Yellow)
No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You, You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection

DAFFODIL
Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining When I'm with You

DAISY
Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity

HYACINTH (Blue, Red, Pink)
Constancy, Play, Togetherness and Fun

HYACINTH (Purple, Yellow)
I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow, Jealousy

HYACINTH (White)
Loveliness, I'll Pray for You

IVY
Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection

LILY (White)
Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You

LILY (Yellow)
Happiness, Head over Heels in Love, Gaiety

LILY OF THE VALLEY
Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete

ORCHID
Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children

ROSE (Dark Crimson)
Mourning

ROSE (Red, Pink)
Happy, In Love, Hope and Trust, Love at First Sight

ROSE (White)
Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence

ROSE (White and Red Mixed)
Unity, Flower Emblem of England, Togetherness, Everlasting Love

ROSE (Yellow)
Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Unrequited Love

SWEETPEA
Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time

TULIP (Red, Yellow)
Believe Me, Declaration of Love, Beauty, Flower Emblem of Holland

VIOLET (Blue)
Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True, Modesty

VIOLET (White)
Let's Take a Chance

ZINNIA (Magenta)
Lasting Affection

ZINNIA (Mixed Colours)
Thinking of You, In Memory of an Absent Friend

ZINNIA (Scarlet)
Constancy

ZINNIA (White)
Goodness

ZINNIA (Yellow)
Daily Remembrance

2005-04-13T00:20:00.000-04:00

One of those long days and felt very far from everyone who is supposedly close to me. I felt really sad and I am not really ever sure I will figure out why. Hope tomm isn't the same. On the brighter side, my grandfather is slowly recovering from his surgery and I wish him a speedy one.

Currently listening-Mr.Lonely-Akon

Terry Fox family, friends celebrate 25th anniversary of Marathon of Hope

2005-04-12T20:06:00.000-04:00

ST. JOHN'S, Nfld. (CP) - Family and friends huddled in a cold rain on the St. John's waterfront Tuesday for the unveiling of a monument on the spot where Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope 25 years ago to the day.

"It's a day full of a lot of happiness and some sadness," Fox's mother, Betty, told several dozen people who gathered where Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to start his cross-Canada run on April 12, 1980.
Fox lost his right leg to cancer three years earlier and, moved by the suffering of children undergoing treatment with him, was determined to raise money for research.
With his best friend, Doug Alward, and later his younger brother, Darrell, at his side, Fox ran a marathon a day - 42 kilometres - for more than four months.
For 5,373 kilometres and 143 days, Fox battled wind and snow, then stifling heat and pain, before having to stop outside Thunder Bay, Ont., because of a recurrence of cancer that eventually killed him.
Rolly Fox recalled seeing his son dip his foot in St. John's harbour on television the night the run began.
"It's hard to believe it's been that long," he said during Tuesday's ceremony. "It seems like yesterday.
"Because we live with it every day, it seems like just a few days ago that Terry started."
It was also raining the day Fox started the run, and two days later he would battle a typical Newfoundland spring snowstorm as he made his way across his first province.
The waterfront monument, made of brown slate, is engraved with Fox's name and Mile O, indicating the run's starting location.
Part of the inscription reads: This slate marks the spot where one man's dream began and where a nation's hope lives on . . . His run continues always in our nation's soul.
The day before they helped unveil the monument, Alward and Darrell Fox ran a marathon out of St. John's in the Canadian hero's honour.
"(We) wanted to do the first 42 kilometres to get some sense of what it was like for Terry," Alward said.
"When we went across Canada, I doubt if I ran 10 kilometres the whole five months on the road because I was busy in the van."
The Monday marathon reminded Alward of Fox's incredible athletic feat.
"It's so amazing and I'm so pleased that people are still pursuing Terry's dream for cancer research," he said.
As he flew out from British Columbia on the weekend, Fox's older brother, Fred, read Terry's journal entries from those first few days. Terry wrote about wind that nearly knocked him over as he ran.
"Reading in his journal, the predominant word in his journal was wind and cold," said Fred, who didn't get to accompany his brother on the run.
"We experienced that a little bit yesterday, so I have such a bigger appreciation of what he went through."
Fox ended his run on Sept. 1, 1980, after the spread of cancer to his lungs forced him to stop just outside Thunder Bay. He was more than half way home.
"Never," Betty and Rolly Fox both chimed when asked Tuesday if they ever thought their son's dream would be celebrated 25 years later.
"Even today, sometimes you sort of have to pinch yourself," Betty Fox said.
Annual Terry Fox runs are held around the world and more than $360 million has been raised in his name for cancer research.
"That's what he'd be most proud of, I think," said Fred Fox. "The fact he passed the torch on, the legacy has been left, and we're continuing."
Added Betty Fox: "Hopefully, we'll find the causes of cancer and, hopefully, it will be with Terry Fox funding."
In the Newfoundland legislature, Premier Danny Williams described Terry Fox as a brave, tenacious and spirited young man whose incredible accomplishment made him a great Canadian.
"I am delighted that Terry's family has returned to the place where their beloved son's journey began all of those years ago," he told the House of Assembly.
His dream was simple. He wanted to raise money for cancer research and he achieved that goal beyond the wildest dreams of those who were on hand that very first day at St. John's harbour."
On the other side of the country, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell issued a statement from Victoria saying the name Terry Fox was synonymous with "courage, sacrifice and determination."
"While he did not finish his journey . . . he taught us all the power of hope, heart and humanity," the premier said. "That legacy has carried Terry far further than he ever dreamed . . . As a province and as a nation, we are forever in Terry's debt."

2005-04-11T19:23:00.000-04:00

"Youth is something very new: twenty years ago no one mentioned it."

— Coco Chanel

Books make good companions..

2005-04-10T23:09:00.000-04:00

I miss India sometimes; there is nothing like the innocence of youth and discovering the world for the first time. Armed with a bunch of dreams thinking that this ammunition is all you will need to get you through life. Yes, I would say I am one of the those people who isn't really interested in growing up completely; it does not fancy me. Feels slightly sad that I have seemed to have lost touch with a few close friends that I have vowed I would not. I suppose there are points in your life that distance does become a factor in alienating friendships. I think I should work on developing stronger friendships with my textbooks:)
I have an exam tomm and have been reading all day for that although I am not quite sure the material has quite sunk in:) I feel like my memory was so much better in high school and not so great after that. I came across a few movies that I am interested in checking out hopefully. I would like to see My Brother Nikhil and My Wife's Murder with Anil kapoor. Anil Kapoor is at the top of my list with the calibre of movies he has come out with and not to mention the substance of roles that he chooses.

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine."

-Lord Byron

Currently listening-Saathiya soundtrack

White Daisys

2005-04-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

Currently listening- Aksar by Shaan

Snow Owl

2005-04-08T18:36:00.000-04:00

At the convention, one company called Phonak gave out a bunch of stuffed snow owls. I didn't think much of it at the time but came home and read that there were a few interesting facts about the snow owl and that there was a reason that it was chosen for Phonak's campaign on Savia; their latest behind the ear hearing aid.

-The snow owl has discs of special feathers around the eyes to reflect certain frequencies of sound into the ear for outstanding hearing

-Owls have the most highly developed sense of hearing of all birds

-The owl is capable of remembering the locations of auditory stimuli with great accuracy and uses this information to guide its flight and strike

-The snow owl can fly without making any noise because of special feathers at its wing tips
-The snow owl combines its various abilities to become one of nature's most beautiful and skilled birds
-Finally, the owl reminds me of my boyfriend because he is nocturnal most of the time:)

http://www.saveowls.org/

What is Audiology?

2005-04-06T08:11:00.000-04:00

This is in response to anyone who is interested:)

Audiology primarily is focused on the study of hearing and balance disorders.
Audiologists in the stand at the center of the team providing advanced hearing care. Audiologist evaluate, diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders, prescribe and fit prosthetic devices to patients with hearing impairment, direct rehabilitative programs for the hearing and balance impaired, design and direct programs to identify newborn babies with hearing impairment, assist children with learning disabilities auditory processing disorders through various auditory training strategies, and provide identification, prevention, evaluation and treatment of a variety of hearing disorders.

A prayer

2005-04-05T08:36:00.000-04:00

Prayers for my grandfather tomm; he has surgery tomm so I hope that it goes well. I am glad that he will be surrounded by the support of many family members coming to be there with him and he is in my heart as well.

AAA in DC

2005-04-03T23:33:00.000-04:00

Tuesday the 29th
I went to a NAFDA ( Audiology student association) meeting all day and did not feel like I had a lot to contribute because our school just formed a student chapter. Of course, the running of any association has a lot of planning and effort to put into it and I had a chance to peek into that. I also met a lot of other student reps from across the country and it made me realize that the field of Audiology is young yet progressing slowly. After the day long meeting, I got back to my room around 5pm. We walked around downtown Washington and eyed the Capitol building, the Washington monument and a lot of huge buildings with pillars. We stopped for ice cream at Haagen Daaz and I decided to get one scoop of cinnamon ( I have never heard of this flavour in ice cream before) and one scoop of chocolate. It was delicious; served as a companion while strolling over to the International Spy Museum.

Wed was the opening reception for AAA. The whole convention is being held at the Washington Convention Center which seems to be the ideal location for it. It seems huge in its capacity and since there are many presentations, workshops, exhibits etc to be housed works out well. The reception was another word for free food, mingling (or those of who just like to eat without much talking works fine as well) and a politically based comedy night. I enjoyed the portion where one guy was impersonating Donald Rumsfield and another guy was impersonating George W. Bush were engaged in a conversation. After Rumsfield dissed Bush, Rumsfield muttered to Bush “no offence” to which Bush replied, “none comprehended”. That was one of my personal favourites☺ Another one I liked was Bush going to Paris and telling President Chirac that the French really need to come up with a word for “entrepreneur.”

On Thursday, I went to two lectures. In the morning, I went to Genetics and hearing loss which was done really well. We had the chance to go the Expo hall as well and this was huge. There were many different companies showcasing the latest in technology and medical equipment. Apart from that, there was a lot of free stuff☺ Thursday and Friday nights were spent at two different parties. Thurs night we went to a nice club called Home and Oticon hosted the party that housed four different levels with DJs, chocolate fountains and lots of food. Friday I went to the expo hall again; followed by an afternoon of lectures. Although some of the lectures were pretty interesting and informative, I still felt that I wasn’t exactly sure about a particular area of interest. I am sure there is enough time to decide that! I did miss one lecture on Philanthropic Audiology which was on Saturday but I had to leave early so did not have a chance to go to that one. Friday night we went to two different parties; one hosted by Beltone and than one extremely posh party hosted by Widex at the Ronald Regan building. This party was extremely classy and had amazing food(as you can tell, this is def one of my areas of interest). I enjoyed dancing with Tony and Amanda the most to a live band in a jovial crowd. Overall, it was an interesting and hectic experience and now I know what to expect next yr.

A tribute..

2005-04-02T23:10:00.000-05:00

May the souls of Terri Schiavo and John Paul Pope the II rest in peace

Gone to Washington, DC

2005-03-30T23:01:00.000-05:00

I will be in Washington, DC until sunday.. So will probably post a bit more when I get back to Philly than.

See you soon!
Shell

Too bad some people still think this way..

2005-03-30T22:49:00.000-05:00

Canada radio station rapped for anti-Sikh insults

OTTAWA (Reuters) - A Canadian radio station was formally reprimanded on Wednesday after one of its presenters insulted immigrants to Canada and then said the Sikhs of northern India were "a gang of bozos".

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council said the item on Montreal's CKAC-FM was "abusive and unduly discriminatory" and ordered the station to make a public apology.

Immigration is a sensitive issue in Canada, one of the few western countries that still accepts large numbers of immigrants each year.

In a show broadcast in December 2003, CKAC-FM presenter Pierre Mailloux told listeners that immigrants who came to Canada should abandon their habits and traditions.

"You cultural communities come from a wacko country. You live a wacko culture. Don't bring it with you. That's the message to convey," he said.

Later in the show he remarked: "I flee northern India because the Sikhs are a gang, a gang of bozos, and then I bring all that with me. No, no, you really don't get it. If you flee your country because it makes no sense, then don't bring those senseless things with you."

The standards council said that while freedom of expression laws entitled Mailloux to express his opposition to wide-scale immigration, he had gone too far with his anti-Sikh comments.

"(We) consider that the host is entitled to espouse his chauvinistic intolerance until such time as his disrespect leaks into individual races and nationalities, as it did when he referred to the Sikhs as 'a gang of bozos'," it said.

The radio station said Mailloux had shown "manifest ignorance of the immigration policies and procedures in Canada" and said it had told him to "show more compassion and reserve concerning immigrants".

The Notebook

2005-03-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

I watched The Notebook last night with my roomate, Harmony. I really enjoyed the movie since I haven't seen a good romance in a long time. This one sure hit the spot:) This is my fav quote from the movie.. The other one I thoroughly enjoyed was Raincoat.

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I'd hoped to give you forever."

Raindrops n Blue Daisys

2005-03-25T11:29:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed going home for a week and chillin with my dad. He is a work out fanatic and I love that. I wish I could be more like that but I dont have the discipline to work out consistently every day like he does.Nonetheless, while I was there he was a good motivator and we went regularly for most of the week. I really like the gym we go to at home because of its facilities, sheer number of pieces of equipment and vibrant decor. Apart from that, the highlight of my trip was meeting John and Abhi and making a trip to downtown Toronto. Going there always brings back a flood of memories.. I feel like time there is never enough and many places are left unseen and unexplored.
Anyhow, we ended up going to the Royal Ontario Museum which was exhilirating:) I loved touring the different exhibits on biodiversity, natural and cultural history. The butterflies were particularly beautiful and one my personal favourites. I also enjoyed listening to diff bird songs, exploring diff types of gems, reviewing the different phylums. I took a picture of a Giant Panda as well; couldn't help myself :) After touring this level we went to the third level after a quick lunch break. This was another fascinating milieu of exploration. From rich designs adorning arabic marble to eygptian mummies to displays on Roman Britain to Arms and Armour. I also learnt about the diff forms of art decor such as Classical, Neo-Classical, Modern etc.( I will post a little bit about this later on).
My mom, brother and sister will be back from India tomm morning and I can't wait to hear all the details about their excursions. I have a pretty lax weekend ahead of me and plan to work on a small presentation coming up in a few weeks. Other than that, I will be going to Washington this monday for a week and will try to post while I am there. I rented the Notebook and Red Violin, so will let you know my two cents about that.
Have a good weekend :)

Currently listening- You are so Beautiful-Joe Cocker
Can't Get enough of your Love- Barry White

St. Patrick's Day

2005-03-17T09:52:00.000-05:00

St. Patrick's Day (March 17), is the Roman Catholic feast day which celebrates St. Patrick (387-461), the patron saint of Ireland. It is celebrated worldwide by the Irish and those of Irish descent. A major parade takes place in Dublin and in most other Irish towns and villages. The three largest parades of recent years have been held in Dublin, New York, and Birmingham. Parades also take place in other places, including London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and throughout the Americas.

Because of the importance of the day, the celebrations in Dublin have been extended to a week-long event called St. Patrick's Festival, encompassing a spectacular fireworks display (Skyfest), open-air music, street theatre and the traditional parade. The topic of the previous year's (2004) St. Patrick's Symposium was "Talking Irish," during which the nature of Irish identity, economic success and the future was discussed. Many Irish people wear a bunch of shamrock on their lapels or caps on this day, while children wear tri-colour (green, white and orange) badges. Girls traditionally wore green ribbons in their hair (many still do).

The biggest celebrations in Ireland outside Dublin are in Downpatrick, where St. Patrick was buried following his death on March 17, 461. In Downpatrick in 2004, according to Down District Council, the parade, during the weeklong St. Patrick's Festival, had over 2000 participants and 82 floats, bands and performers. The parade was watched by over 30,000 people.

The smallest parade is said to take place in Hot Springs, Arkansas in the United States; this parade is less than a single city block and is nevertheless the highlight of the day.

The first civic and public celebrations of St. Patrick's Day in the American Colonies took place in Boston in 1737. The first St. Patrick's Day celebrated in New York City was held at the Crown and Thistle Tavern in 1756. Since then the New York celebration has become the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world. The parade itself dates back to 1762, and in 2003 more than 150,000 marchers participated, including bands, military and police groups, county associations, emigrant societies, social and cultural clubs. The parade marches up 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

The New York parade has been dogged with controversy in recent years as its organisers have banned Irish gays and lesbians from marching as a group. Gay rights groups have fought in court to obtain the right to march alongside other organizations, and there have been calls in Ireland (which, since 1992, has some of the most liberal gay laws in the world) for a boycott of the parade. The gay groups and their sympathisers would lie down in the middle of the street at the start of the parade route, and would be arrested when they refused to move; in the late 1980s such arrests averaged several hundred per year, but had dwindled to a dozen or less annually by the early 2000s. A tradition has begun in Queens, New York of organizing a parade the week before the official St. Patrick's Day parade which is open to all organizations wishing to march.

The parade is organized and run by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) [1]. For many years, the St. Patrick's Day Parade was the primary public function of the AOH. On occasion the AOH has appointed controversial Irish republican figures (some of whom were barred from the U.S.) to be its Grand Marshal.

The New York parade is moved to the previous Saturday (March 16) in years where March 17 is a Sunday. The event is also moved on the rare occasions when, due to Easter falling on a very early date, March 17 would land in Holy Week—this last occurred in 1913, when the parade was held on Saturday, March 15 because Easter that year was March 23 (making March 17 the Monday of Holy Week); this same scenario is scheduled to arise again in 2008, when Easter will also fall on March 23. In many other American cities (such as San Francisco), the parade is always held on the Sunday before March 17, regardless of the permutations of the liturgical calendar.

Some U.S. cities paint the traffic stripe of their parade routes green. Others, including Chicago, dye their principal rivers green, an act that most native Irish find bizarre.

The longest running St. Patrick's Day parades in the U.S. are:

New York City, New York, since 1762

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since 1780

Savannah, Georgia, since 1813

Carbondale, Pennsylvania, since 1833

Chicago, Illinois, since 1843

New Haven, Connecticut, since 1845

San Francisco, California, since 1852
The longest running St. Patrick's Day parade in Canada takes place in Montreal, which began in 1824.
St. Patrick's Day parades in Ireland date from the late 19th century, originating in the growing sense of nationalism of the period. Since the 1990s, Irish Taoisigh (prime ministers) have attended special functions either on St. Patrick's Day or a day or two earlier, in the White House, where they present shamrock to the President of the United States. A similar presentation is made to the Speaker of the House. Originally only representatives of the Republic of Ireland attended, but since the mid-1990's all major Irish political parties from north and south are invited, with the attendance including the representatives of the Irish government, the Ulster Unionist Party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Sinn Féin and others. Sinn Féin was banned from these functions in 2005 [2]. In recent years it is common for the entire Irish Government to be abroad representing the country in various parts of the world. In 2003, the President of Ireland celebrated the holiday in Sydney, the Taoiseach was in Washington, while other Irish government members attended ceremonies in New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Jose, Savannah, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Korea, Japan and Brazil.
In Britain, the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother used to present bowls of shamrock specially flown over from Ireland to members of the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army made up of Irish people from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
In many parts of the US, UK and Australia, expatriate Irish, those of Irish descent, and especially ever-growing crowds of people with no Irish connections but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's Day, usually by consuming large quantities of alcoholic beverages, including lager often dyed green, Irish beer, such as Murphys, Smithwicks, Harp or Guinness, or other Irish liquors such as Irish whiskey, Irish Coffee or Baileys Irish Cream, and by listening to Irish folk music. (Former Mayor of New York Ed Koch once proclaimed himself "Ed O'Koch" for the day.)

2005-03-16T20:45:00.000-05:00

The Ides of March-March 15th

2005-03-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

The soothsayer's warning to Julius Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March," has forever imbued that date with a sense of foreboding. But in Roman times the expression "Ides of March" did not necessarily evoke a dark mood—it was simply the standard way of saying "March 15." Surely such a fanciful expression must signify something more than merely another day of the year? Not so. Even in Shakespeare's time, sixteen centuries later, audiences attending his play Julius Caesar wouldn't have blinked twice upon hearing the date called the Ides.

The term Ides comes from the earliest Roman calendar, which is said to have been devised by Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome. Whether it was Romulus or not, the inventor of this calendar had a penchant for complexity. The Roman calendar organized its months around three days, each of which served as a reference point for counting the other days:
Kalends (1st day of the month)
Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months)
Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months)
The remaining, unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3 would be V Nones—5 days before the Nones (the Roman method of counting days was inclusive; in other words, the Nones would be counted as one of the 5 days).
Days in March
March 1: Kalends; March 2: VI Nones; March 3: V Nones; March 4: IV Nones; March 5: III Nones; March 6: Pridie Nones (Latin for "on the day before"); March 7: Nones; March 15: Ides
Used in the first Roman calendar as well as in the Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C.E.) the confusing system of Kalends, Nones, and Ides continued to be used to varying degrees throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.
So, the Ides of March is just one of a dozen Ides that occur every month of the year. Kalends, the word from which calendar is derived, is another exotic-sounding term with a mundane meaning. Kalendrium means account book in Latin: Kalend, the first of the month, was in Roman times as it is now, the date on which bills are due.

Swiss lead

2005-03-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

LONDON (AP) - Luxembourg is the world's safest city, but Swiss cities lead the way for combining safety with high quality of life, according to a survey released Monday.
All five Canadian cities in the survey scored well, with Vancouver coming in third for overall quality of life. Geneva and Zurich were tied atop that list, with Vancouver and Vienna, Austria, tied for third. The German cities of Frankfurt, Munich and Duesseldorf tied for fifth.
Toronto was ranked 14th for quality of life, Ottawa was ranked 20th, Montreal was 22nd and Calgary was 25th.
The Swiss cities of Bern, Geneva and Zurich ranked just behind Luxembourg for safety, along with the Finnish capital, Helsinki, said the survey conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
The safety survey evaluated 215 locations for crime levels and internal stability.
All the Canadian cities covered by the survey appear in the top 20 rankings for personal safety and security. Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver rank jointly in position 18 with scores of 112.
In the United States, the five safest cities tied in 45th place: Honolulu; Houston; Lexington, Kentucky; San Francisco; and Winston Salem, N.C. New York was 58th, while Atlanta had the lowest U.S. ranking at 90.
In Britain, the top-ranked city as far as safety is concerned is Glasgow, Scotland (39), followed by Birmingham (51) and London (69).
"The top-ranking cities for personal safety and security are in politically stable countries with good international relations and sustainable economic growth," said Slagin Parakatil, senior researcher at Mercer. "Most of the low-scoring cities are in countries with civil unrest, little law enforcement and high levels of crime."
The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was ranked the world's least safe city, followed by Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Bangui, Central African Republic; the Nigerian cities of Port Harcourt and Lagos; and Bogota, Colombia.
In its overall quality-of-life survey, Mercer evaluated 39 criteria such as crime, health, education and transport.
Other cities at the top in that category are Auckland, New Zealand; Bern; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Sydney, Australia.
Honolulu and San Francisco ranked highest in the United States at joint 25th, while New York and London tied at 39th.
In Asia, the top three cities were Singapore and Tokyo, both 34th, and Yokohama, Japan (36).
In South America, the top quality-of-life cities are Montevideo, Uruguay (76) and Buenos Aires, Argentina (78)

Vous etes a deusieme l'aeropore

2005-03-05T12:23:00.000-05:00

Hello!

It's been a while hasn't it, fellow bloggers? Here I am back in T.O., sipping on my beloved Cafe Mocha from Tim Hortons:) The flight back was pretty picturesque; the Toronto skyline was breathtaking with a view of the Toronto islands, Ontario place and the CN Tower. Surprisingly, our little plane was pretty full.
Last night, I went out with some of my classmates and we went to a place known as Manayunk. Amanda, Zorina and I went over to Mike's place and Tony shortly followed suit. We had a slightly cliche evening in the sense that the words beer, bar and dancing did apply. Despite that, I enjoyed walking along the way from Mike's place to the bar because it had a small town feel; antique shops, exotic imported jewellery shops, cozy cafes etc. Kind of reminded me of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls( Thanks Swati; you got me hooked:).
I got back home around 3:30am and somehow managed to make it to my flight ontime. Thanks to my personal alarm clocks; John & Ashu:)
I just found out that my favourite professor from UWO is not going to be presenting at the AAA and am highly disappointed :( I am thinking about getting him to PCO for a talk; so lets see how that goes.

Hope all is well with u all:)
Take care!

The ear is the organ of education- Aristotle

My weekend

2005-02-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

Seems like its been a while since I've written much. I have been thinking about posting for the past few days but got lazy. Yesterday was spent in Philly at my french class which I mentioned about previously and so that took up most of my day there. I left early because we all know how reliable public transportation can be at times; and I didn't want to be late for my class:) We had two enthusiastically vibrant teachers who engaged us into french conversation from the moment we entered our classroom until we left. It had been a long time since I had been exposed to french but I seemed to remember some words that I hadn't heard in many years and thus, it was refreshing like revisiting an old friend or walking down a familiar path. The day overall was mentally stimulating; filled with vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation to help review french syntax and semantics.
Downtown reminded me of my hometown, Toronto and made me miss it. I wandered down Walnut St. with a bit of curiousity and there were many posters of Dali's upcoming exhibit. There were many diverse restaurants promising of a cultural flavours for a bargain price; chique cafes and bistros. There is nothing exactly like the hustle and bustle of city life; it is extremely fast paced and makes you think that everyone is rushing because they seem late for their destination. If it hadn't been cold and windy, I probably would have taken a longer stroll. Nonetheless, it was a gratifying experience and made me realize that learning a language is alot of work like anything else; especially for those who are linguistically challenged like myself. I must say though that the language sounds beautiful; you could be saying the weirdest thing but it sounds chique and important:)
I spent the morning with Priya at the library reviewing for a small quiz I have tomm and she studied for a big exam tomm. I am sad that she is moving out tomm although our new roomate seems pleasant as well. I thoroughly enjoyed Priya's company because she was not just a roomate but a friend as well. She is one person I would like to keep in touch with:)
Speaking of which, I called an old friend who went to high school with me and it was brought back some memories hearing her voice. Shaila went to a univerisity in Toronto, and I headed to Southwestern Ontario so we sort of lost touch for a bit on and off. I do hope to see her in my March break and catch up among a couple of other friends:)
I caught a little bit of the glitter of the Oscars today and made my list of to see movies longer:)
Hope you all had a good weekend..
Take care!

Currently listening-Do Pal-Veer Zaara

Thoughts for today...

In short, the habits we form from childhood make no small difference, but rather they make all the difference.

Aristotle

For what is the best choice, for each individual is the highest it is possible for him to achieve.

Aristotle

Hi All:)

2005-02-26T00:02:00.001-05:00

Hello,

This is going to be a short post to let you all know that I will be posting a longer post tomm with more to share:)
Tomm is my french class in Center City, so it should be an interesting trip:) On the other hand, my roomate Priya is moving out this weekend; she hasn't left yet and I already miss her.

Anyhow, see you tomm :)
Shell

Nighty nite..

2005-02-21T00:46:00.000-05:00

I am exhausted:) Time to catch some zzz's, so yup this is going to be a short post. It hasn't been an ultra productive day but I did manage to read a little bit about the cardiovascular system. I mean, really.. how important is that?? :) Besides that, the highlights of my day have included being a couch potato, watching a ghetto indian show on tv to get the latest scoop on hindi films.. which seems to be the same as the last few weeks, drinking a starbucks mocha frappacino( I LOVE those) and watching Desperate Housewives with my roomate's boyfriend Adam who is visiting from Canada.
My two roomates have a neuro test tomm( god bless their souls) while I got to sit around on my butt. Isn't life just dandy? Sure is. For now at least and for the next five mins while this song lasts. Did I mention my obssessive compulsive patterns of listening to music.. Yes, I am STILL listening to that Lindsay Lohan song from my last post.
2 weeks till home... Sweet. It might snow tomm..and I am not looking forward to that. My roomate however, is constantly checking the weather for a possible snow storm that might just cancel her exam for her tomm. Right girl. I wouldn't count on it.. Life can be sweet but it ain't that sweet.( No, this is not intended to be a literary post obviously).
Anyhow, time to drift off. Set adrift of memory bliss of you:) (It's by PM Dawn .. from back in the day)

Goodnite, sweet dreams and merry bloggin.

B inspired-Open Your Mind, Open Your Life

2005-02-20T00:41:00.000-05:00

Since I've been overwhelmingly restless lately I decided to treat myself to an outing outside the confines of my apartment and my college. So I hopped onto the local bus after forking out a measely couple of green bills. I read a little along the way and eventually the bus reached Willowgrove Mall.
This is a pretty big mall and therefore, it was slightly hard to discern exactly which direction to follow. A couple of hours later and alot of aimless nomadic wandering, I was armed with a a couple of new books and a manicured set of nails.( This was my first time and I must say, they look gorgeous. These chicks know what they are doing!) The books I ended up with are Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman, Ayn Rand's for the New Intellectual and of course, one of those adorable mini books with quotes on eastern wisdom.( I love quotes!).
After a long day at the mall or what seemed to be long because I am usually a quick shopper; a couple of conversations later, a few strands of thoughts etched in my mind. Decisions.. we make many of them.. How do we know what is right ? Yes, it is imperative to approach any decision with a sense of optimism, but does it make it the right one? or the one that truly was meant to be?

A couple of quotes to add to my train of thought..

People become what they expect themselves to become-Mahatma Gandhi
Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is the best thing for you.
In all affairs of life, at every moment, we have a choice.

Currently listening-Lindsay Lohan-Over

Another friday..

2005-02-19T01:19:00.000-05:00

Another week and another bunch of days gone forever. It's been a long week and it is finally friday night. To be honest, I usually would be pretty excited about the weekend but the last few weekends haven't really brought much excitement. I kind of wish I had more friends here besides my classmates and roomates.
Lately, I've been reflecting about the past friendships I've had in my life and the significance I have unnecessarily placed upon them. Sometimes it is truly best to move on and not live in the past, dwell on things that may have been only appeared to been true but not so in reality. I used to be the kind of person who never wanted to let go of my best friends and did not want to explore outside the realm of my comfort zone of friends. Now I realize that things are different and many times, life isn't what it seems and does not owe us what we may begin to expect or hope for.
At other times, there are many tradeoffs and sadly, you cannot have everything you may like existing in a harmonious balance. For instance, you may choose independence and this may bring isolation and loneliness. Nonetheless,solitude can be an extremely satisfying enigma that can caress you in its arms and coax you into your own world..
I had an exam this morning which I think went pretty well and following that had an extremely boring lecture on respiratory pathology. I've realized that a couple of the "ologies" do not particularly make my ears perk up namely histology and pathology. In fact, pathology can be slightly repulsive at times. Anyhow, we did not have our afternoon clinical skills lab and therefore, were done early and everybody did not hesitate to show their joy through their gleeful smiles.
I love sentimental punjabi songs rather than the upbeat, typical, repetitive beats nowadays. My eyes r slightly droopy.. but I wanted to say hello to you all and apologize if my post is too melancholy and for the random unrelated thoughts..

Currently listening- Gurdass Mann-Salam Mera Dosta

Tulips

2005-02-16T00:21:00.000-05:00

Since I won't be able to make it to the Philadelphia Flower Show, I thought I'd share a few images to help us remind nature right here on my blog. Here is the link for the show in case anyone is interested in learning more..

http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html

Currently listening-Blue Eyes Blue-Eric Clapton

Happy Valentines:)

2005-02-15T00:09:00.000-05:00

Hi All!

Hope you had a happy Feb 14th:) I spent most of mine in school and mulling over some notes before an exam. I think my exam went alright or at least I hope the first one of the semester did. And so it begins again!! Darrell was really considerate and brought all the girls a red long stemmed rose:) So at least I had some company walking back today in the rain.. I did like the weather but to me, rainy weather makes me want to relax, light a candle and read ( a non-textbook). Our apartment is full of bouquets of roses and I must say all 3 of us girls are lucky to have special people(friends, family, significant others etc) in our lives to share each day with. I am also glad I've met my blogger friends:)
This evening, I went to see Hitch with Priya and her friend Feroz. It was a nice light hearted comedy although I expected it to be a little more funny and a little cheesy. Nonetheless, nice to get out!

Goodnite ppl, keep smiling:)

Currently listening-Ashanti-Rock with you

Baby Bobby Deol!

2005-02-14T19:22:00.000-05:00

A leaf for you..

2005-02-12T18:18:00.001-05:00

More images..

2005-02-12T16:13:00.000-05:00

Fridayz

2005-02-11T21:01:00.000-05:00

Today was a nice end to a not too bad week:) (At least in terms of school) Alot of interesting and fun things to look forward to. I signed up for a french course at the local branch of Alliance Francais here in Philly on Feb the 26th; cant wait!:) Been wanting to do that for a really long time and should be fun. The review will come in handy when I go to Montreal to visit as well :) (That is faraway but definitely on the cards).
I also found out that our class and faculty members will be attending a seminar on Infant hearing Management at the Children's Hospital at the University of Penn. I am really excited about attending this because the speakers are reowned for their contributions in Audiology and so, I am sure the eager students in my class including myself will be able to pick up something valuable:) AAA should also be another exciting event..By the way, travelling is such a great way to spend days off school:) March break isn't too far and looking forward to going back to Toronto. I have an exam this monday so not as much time to lounge around as usual but oh, well the work must start eventually.
I went bowling recently with one of the organizations within our College and it brought back some memories of going bowling with my friends in London at Fleetway. There were 4 ppl on my team including myself, Mike, Alma and Harmony. The first game I was fourth place and the second game, the tables turned and I won:) I seem to do better at bowling than pool; but either way, it was an entertaining evening.
Feels like Spring is lurking nearby:)

Currently listening-Coldplay-Sparks

Time of our lives...

2005-02-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

Here is one canadian artists that I like; not sure how popular he is on the international front but this particular song has been one of my personal favs for the past few yrs. So here r the lyrics to time of our lives, by David Usher.

I once saw a man on fire
staring at his window
watching as the flames grew higher and higher
i thought that i saw him cry
or was he only laughing
as his life went rushing on..

and maybe we're just like him..
maybe we're all waiting
for our moment to begin

who of us are open
who of us have freedom really
who of us can tell what these dark days will bring
all of us are hurting
all of us are crazy now
all of us are watching the world as it spins

i once had bird like u
a bird of prey
still your tearing at my insides
and yesterday when you flew so far away
if you find the morning save a piece for me

who of us are open
who of us have freedom really
who of us can tell what these dark days will bring
all of us are hurting
all of us are crazy now
we're crazy now..

i'll smoked a cigerette
i'll eat the flesh instead
another whiskey more or less
or more or less, yea
i like the drugs that sail
i love u when we fail
when we fail

i once saw a man on fire
staring at his window
watching as the flames grew higher and higher
i thought that i saw him cry
or was he only laughing
laughing..

who of us are open
who of us have freedom really
who of us can tell what these dark days will bring
all of us are hurting
all of us are crazy now
we're crazy now..

all of us are hating
all of us are dreaming
all of us are watching these times of our lives
we want it all
we want for nothing
for nothing now

The Last Unicorn

2005-02-10T14:03:00.000-05:00

I came across a webpage describing one of my favourite chilldhood movies and would encourage you to watch it if you enjoy dreaming, thinking and the desire to be someone else other than yourself. If you have ever felt that way, than you may be able to connect with this film on some level.

Heres a pic of a whimiscal looking Unicorn:) Btw, Unicorns r my fav animals.

The story follows the Unicorn (she is never given a proper name) who leaves her enchanted forest where she has lived forever, only to find there are no other unicorns left in the world. She goes on a quest to find what has happened to them and is joined by an incompetent wizard, Schmendrick the magician, and a middle-aged scullery maid, Molly Grue. Together they travel to the castle of King Haggard having heard that he and his magical creature, the Red Bull, have imprisoned all the other unicorns. Before they arrive, the Red Bull appears and begins to chase the Unicorn. Schmendrick saves her by turning her into a human woman, thwarting the Bull which can only see unicorns. The Unicorn is revolted at having been transformed into a mortal shape, but Schmendrick explains it is the only way they can gain entrance to the castle. He gives her the name Lady Amalthea and the three of them reach the castle. King Haggard recognizes her for what she truly is, but allows them to stay as his new "playthings". The king's adopted son, Prince Lir, falls in love with Amalthea and devotes himself entirely to trying to win her love. The rest of the novel follows Schmendrick and Molly's effort to find the lost unicorns before Amalthea loses her memory of being a unicorn and becomes completely a mortal human being.

Because it is about a unicorn and a quest for magic, most people mistakenly dismiss it as nothing but a children's story (it's amazing how much of the best and deepest of the world's literature gets classified as children's stories, folk tales, and myths so they can be safely ignored). In reality it is a story that can be read on many levels, simply as an adventure story or more deeply as a fantastic exploration of the nature of truth, beauty, reality, immortality, and the purpose of life. Peter S. Beagle himself has written that the book is sort of "a personal I Ching, which gives me no advice, no handy warnings, but slowly tells me things I had forgotten, or hidden from myself."

Currently listening: What if it all Means Something? Chantal Kreviazuk

Nostalgic dayz

2005-02-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!:) Did ya miss me or what? I am sure you did , so I am back by popular demand. Well, actually, I just felt like saying hello since its been such a long time since I've written anything. I have posted quite a few other things, so hope you enjoyed the pics and other random things/thoughts. The weather was beautiful today; one of those days that gives you a glimmer of spring feels like with just enough sunshine and a nice breeze. Today was an interesting day at college; we had physiology, histology and did some case studies for our electrophysiology class. In our physiology class, our prof was talking about the basics of the respiratory system and did mention that ppl who indulged in swimming lessons or played a musical instrument would have a different capacity for air as they grew up and it made me think about my good ol' days of playing the french horn. I missed being apart of a musical quartet and band; I loved every moment of it :) My music teacher, Mr.Manning was proud of me and I still remember him telling me not to move to India (this was around 1993 right before we did leave) and blatantly said I could even live in the music room if I wanted:) This short recollection of my sweet memory made me think about a couple of other teachers who have stood out in my mind and I wish I had a chance to keep in touch with a couple of them. My grade 5 teacher, Mrs. Martin encouraged me to read and push myself further and set goals for myself and introduced me to my fav author, L.M.Montgomery. I remember one morning going to school and Mrs. Martin had brought her Lhasa Apso to school for the day and it was the most adorable dog ever. I was slightly hesitant to pat it but I did and she nodded her approval. I came a bit closer and he wished me good morning by licking my cheek!:) I have wanted a dog ever since:) Another teacher that I adored in my school in India, was Mrs.Naqvi. She was full of zest and encouraged me to be the same way always choosing me to recite poetry because she thought I was enthusiastic when I spoke. I still remember reading The Highwayman:) My two fav profs at UWO are Dr.Avison and Dr. Venema. I worked with Dr.Avison on an independent study during my 4th yr and I really enjoyed reading literature on the sociological aspects of pediatric health. He provided alot of constructive feedback and made the whole time fly by. Dr. Venema is an Audiology prof at UWO and in my opinion, one of the best profs I've ever had. He has a great sense of humor; and will go to any lengths to get a point across. Whether its sing about a concept, get up on the desk and flap his arms, you name it.. He has done it and succeeded at helping students understand concepts too. I am looking forward to seeing him in March in Washington, DC since he will be presenting a paper at the American Academy of Audiology Convention. (Yay, time off school!:) Anyhow, for those of you wondering what a french horn is.. Here is a beautiful pic!

Current music-Ambient

Funny yet true

2005-02-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember what the lie was.

Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield.

Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

Experience is the sinking feeling you have made this mistake before.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Currently :Sunny in Philly

Our own storms..

2005-02-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

Each one of us faces a storm at one time or the other in many different forms. Sometimes the best way to deal with things are by yourself. I came across a poem I liked and hope you enjoy it as well.

ONE who was suffering tumult in his soul,
Yet failed to seek the sure relief of prayer,
Went forth--his course surrendering to the care
Of the fierce wind, while mid-day lightnings prowl
Insidiously, untimely thunders growl;
While trees, dim-seen, in frenzied numbers, tear
The lingering remnant of their yellow hair,
And shivering wolves, surprised with darkness, howl
As if the sun were not. He raised his eye
Soul-smitten; for, that instant, did appear
Large space ('mid dreadful clouds) of purest sky,
An azure disc--shield of Tranquillity;
Invisible, unlooked-for, minister
Of providential goodness ever nigh!

William Wordsworth

More images..

2005-02-01T23:07:00.001-05:00

Lazy dayz

2005-02-01T22:28:00.000-05:00

Dada movement- Dali contd

2005-01-27T18:16:00.000-05:00

Dada, early 20th-century art movement, whose members sought to ridicule the culture of their time through deliberately absurd performances, poetry, and visual art. Dadaists embraced the extraordinary, the irrational, and the contradictory largely in reaction to the unprecedented and incomprehensible brutality of World War I (1914-1918). Their work was driven in part by a belief that deep-seated European values —nationalism, militarism, and even the long tradition of rational philosophy —were implicated in the horrors of the war. Dada is often described as nihilistic —that is, rejecting all moral values; however, dadaists considered their movement an affirmation of life in the face of death.

By the end of 1922 the dada movement had begun to fall apart. Quarrels developed between some members, and others seemed to tire of maintaining a stance of outrage against society. In Paris the dadaists were joined by a group of writers, including Frenchmen Andre Breton, Louis Aragon, Paul Eluard, and Philippe Soupault, who transformed dadaist interests in irrationality and chance into a new movement known as surrealism. Dada's influence was also felt in a number of later movements. They include a group of 1960's performance artists known as Fluxus; the pop art movement, which incorporated images from popular culture; and the conceptual art movement, which viewed ideas in themselves as art.

Canada made the Green List

2005-01-26T13:51:00.000-05:00

By JEFF SALLOT
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa — Canada's environment is in fairly good shape, but the country could do a lot more to help keep the rest of the globe ''green', according to a new report that ranks 146 countries.
Canada is sixth in the Top 10 of 146 listed on an environmental-sustainability index. But this strong showing is more a result of the country's vast bounty of clean water, fresh air and forests than of governmental policy, researchers say.

Finland is the top-ranked country on the index, a comparison of the ability of countries to protect the environment over the next several decades. The United States is 45th. North Korea is dead last.

The index was produced by environmental-policy analysts at Yale and Columbia Universities in the United States, and is to be presented tomorrow in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum, which collaborated on the project.

The index compares data collected by governments, United Nations agencies and other international groups on 79 variables, from hard numbers on toxic substances entering air and water systems, biodiversity, child death rates from respiratory disease, and energy consumption as a percentage of each country's gross domestic product, to more subjective measurements of things such as the effectiveness of environmental-law enforcement.

Canada's ranking in the Top 10 is the result of a "very strong underlying environmental system. It's got a lot of water, a lot of forest. It's a very well-endowed country," said one of the authors, Daniel Esty, director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. "There's probably no country in the world with greater natural endowments."

However, Canada is "really lagging" on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions linked to global warming, Mr. Esty said in an interview. (Canada was ranked 107th out of 146 countries on this variable.) Canada is falling behind many other countries in efforts to ease pressures on the environment globally, he added. "That's where Canada is off the charts in a negative direction." (The index ranks Canada 144th out of 146 countries in this category.)

Canada imports many goods "that are produced elsewhere in a dirty fashion," Mr. Esty said.

Thus, Canada is "is doing very poorly on global stewardship."

The index -- only the second effort of its kind -- was released at a time when the federal government is trying to complete its blueprint for reductions of greenhouse gases in line with Canada's commitments under the Kyoto agreement on global warming. The Kyoto agreement comes into force globally on Feb. 16, but countries can phase in their plans over seven years.

Canada ranks near the top, just behind Finland, on steps to reduce the vulnerability of its citizens to malnutrition, unsafe drinking water, childhood respiratory disease and infant deaths.

My kind of Intelligence

2005-01-25T01:24:00.000-05:00

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Little more Dali..

2005-01-25T01:02:00.000-05:00

I forgot to mention that Dali was a surrealist artist and since the only thing I know about him, is that I find him intriguing.. I thought I'd share what I found.

Surrealism

(srē´lĭzm) , literary and art movement influenced by Freudianism and dedicated to the expression of imagination as revealed in dreams, free of the conscious control of reason and free of convention. The movement was founded (1924) in Paris by André Breton, with his Manifeste du surréalisme, but its ancestry is traced to the French poets Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Apollinaire, and to the Italian painter, Giorgio de Chirico. Many of its adherents had belonged to the Dada movement. In literature, surrealism was confined almost exclusively to France. Surrealist writers were interested in the associations and implications of words rather than their literal meanings; their works are thus extraordinarily difficult to read. Among the leading surrealist writers were Louis Aragon, Paul Eluard, Robert Desnos, and Jean Cocteau, the last noted particularly for his surreal films. In art the movement became dominant in the 1920s and 30s and was internationally practiced with many and varied forms of expression. Salvador Dalí and Yves Tanguy used dreamlike perception of space and dream-inspired symbols such as melting watches and huge metronomes. Max Ernst and René Magritte constructed fantastic imagery from startling combinations of incongruous elements of reality painted with photographic attention to detail. These artists have been labeled as verists because their paintings involve transformations of the real world. "Absolute" surrealism depends upon images derived from psychic automatism, the subconscious, or spontaneous thought. Works by Joan Miró and André Masson are in this vein. The movement survived but was greatly diminished after World War II.

Dali anyone?

2005-01-24T23:03:00.000-05:00

I would like to go and see this exhibit, I hope I can find someone interested to go with me:) The cuban artist, Salvador Dali's work is going to be displayed at Philadelphia's Art Museum. Here is one of his images..

Here is a link for the exhibit:
http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/exhibits/dali/index.shtml

Seems like there are alot of neat events here.U2 is performing in philadelphia as well this coming May.I LOVE U2:)

Other than that, I back to my habitual routine of going to College. I love my bed, sure is hard to crawl out of it in the mornings...

Go Eagles!

2005-01-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

I am not much of a football fan myself, but it is hard not to get caught up in the excitment at the idea of Philadelphia's football team making it to the Superbowl.

Go Eagles!

Peace?

2005-01-22T21:31:00.000-05:00

How many new age books do you see staring at you when you enter a bookstore? Can you really learn how to be "spiritual" or at peace with yourself and obtain a peace of mind by reading a book? It is not surprising that many ppl seek answers to the chaos in their minds and hearts..Unfortunately, many seek peace and happiness in places where they cannot be found like splurging, and excessive indulging only reflecting the restlessness in their souls. It is important to start with a positive yet a realistic approach to life along with handful of friends, a good sense of humor & lots of chocolate:)

Still snowing!!

Top 25 innovations since 1980

2005-01-22T21:29:00.000-05:00

1. The Internet
2. Cell phone
3. Personal computers
4. Fiber optics
5. E-mail
6. Commercialized GPS
7. Portable computers
8. Memory storage discs
9. Consumer level digital camera
10. Radio frequency ID tags
11. MEMS
12. DNA fingerprinting
13. Air bags
14. ATM
15. Advanced batteries
16. Hybrid car
17. OLEDs
18. Display panels
19. HDTV
20. Space shuttle
21. Nanotechnology
22. Flash memory
23. Voice mail
24. Modern hearing aids
25. Short Range, High Frequency Radio

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/01/03/cnn25.top25.innovations/