Braking Bad

This morning, on my way to work cursing the daylights out of everyone in front of me, I got cornered into taking a turn that put me in uncharted territory. As I drove along cautiously trying to figure out a route that would put me back onto the main road I was familiar with, I was struck with a rather profound epiphany. I observed that most of the drivers around me do not apply their brakes and wait for the obstruction to clear – instead they just drive around it at the risk of impeding traffic on the oncoming lane.

Now, why is this such an important realization, you ask? I feel it talks about us as social beings who do not respect another person’s right of passage while coming across as competing in a race that hardly matters. We could argue that the obstructing driver is being a total ass-hat and we should not let them get away easily, but by not letting them get out of the way and clearing the path, we are only guilty of contributing to a Mexican standoff where nobody gives in and all parties are stacked.

Now that I think about it, I remember braking for pedestrians and public transport to cross the lane and I being met with murderous stares. It was like I stole their opportunity to accomplish a supernatural feat. However, in some instances I have had fellow drivers roll down their windows, give a thumbs-up sign and drive off. Now, how simple and satisfying is that?

Upon introspection, it seems humankind has relinquished their humanity and are slowly reverting to a basic and feral state. The evolution of humankind has shown a steady growth towards a crest, before plateauing, and heading to a trough where the famed 6^th sense is concerned. With an abundance of information being made available, a majority of humankind is getting intelligent, but not smart, which has in turn bred arrogance and disdain because the next generation has been forced to believe that life is the Great Race and not the Great Dream anymore.

Best,

AaMen

Socially Me, Dear.

So, I see that it's been more than 7 years since I last embraced the urge to pen down my thoughts on my blog page. Primarily, I would attribute it to the alluring distraction that is social media. For most of the last decade, it's either been Facebook this, Insta that, Tweet here, Snapchat there and not to be left out, WhatsApp has entirely replaced texting and redefined communication in ways that nobody could have fathomed.

Two weeks back, I decided to deactivate my Facebook. At the time, I had 104 friends on my list and at its peak, I had over 750 friends many of whom I would chat with periodically for the various online games we used to play or bike trips we had planned or just reminiscing about school and college. Gradually, the apps became more diverse and commercial while I matured along the way, focusing more on making money. I became conscious that I had a lot of "friends" that I never spoke with or interacted but just had them on, because. I began pruning and selecting those whom I wanted to be in the  audience seats to the show that my life is. Eventually, my interaction with the 104 people I had chosen also became minuscule and was being drowned in the vast sea of advertisements and videos that Facebook thought I should spend more time watching instead of showing me memories from my friends' lives.

From a time when every trip to a new city, checking into a hotel room, every picture ever taken, every video watched and post published on the wall was a statement that needed to be acknowledged and seen as a testament to one's popularity and social standing, to now - not wanting to share anything, has been quite the journey.

Yesterday, while reading a colleague's blog I was overcome with a warm, familiar nostalgia which triggered in me a realization. I am not short of words; I was just busy believing that being accepted on a large social media platform was more important than nurturing the passion in me to write. For quite some time now, people have been urging me to begin writing again, and yet it was only once I decoupled my life from the attachment I had with social media, did I find the time and will to pursue something I love.

Words.

Best,
AaMen

Falling in Love means Never having to say Sorry!

Whenever people (read: women friends) ask me to sit and watch a romantic movie with them, my standard reaction would be to raise my eyebrow at the person with an incredibly, sarcastically emotionless face. If they decide not to pick the hint from that and pursue it further, I would be forced to issue my standard comment of: Get lost! I am not watching that tear jerker.

That being said, I do not watch many romantic comedies because.. well, I just don't like them. It's not that I

The Amazing Rise of the Avenging Dark Knight!!!

I guess this was inevitable. 2012 has by far been the year that was designated for the superheroes. What began with the Avengers, was soon webbed by the Amazing Spiderman and more recently we have been left salivating for more of after the Dark Knight's Rise to reel life immortality.

I will take into account the debate that is being waged on which one is the, more superiorly presented, film

An Exiled Mind!!

So, I actually thought about what to write in this post, 'cos for all you know, I might not be inclined to write another post before the month gives through. At this point, I am still unsure on what to pen here, but I guess it's time to improvise, and quickly.

Here goes: I have been thinking about something that kind of crept on me when I was having a

Totally Google-less!!

There was a contest I'd come to hear of,  

Said, "Life without Google", full stop.  

That had me thinking, "Damn! That’s gonna be tough"  

And they expected it in a blog, to step it up.  

Bad enough that we hold on to the site for dear life,  

To make us sound like we know everything, when we don't - a jibe.  

The fact that our lives have changed from digital nothingness, 

To being dependant on this technological awesomeness, 

Who would have thought that the day would come,  

When voluminous encyclopedias would make people run, 

Of Bananas and Apples...

(Warning: If you're thinking that this might be a food related blog - it's not. I'm being metaphorical and this is addressed at those who have a "broader perspective" to things!)

 There are some people who have the uncanny knack to freak their fellow denizens beyond plausible limits. In my defense, I do tend to freak people out with my lethargy, lack of interest, poker face, and sudden burst of energy to contradict all of the previous actions - however, these are not terminal freakulosis characteristics

The Jinxster Strikes!!

Now, I usually do not talk about other people I have met, simply because they have not made much of an impact that warrants me to take the time off and put their antics on my page. But this guy takes the cake.. and smacks it on your face..!! :-)

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Jenkins Anand a.k.a Jinxster (I take sole credit for giving him that ultra cool name...!!)

Pray for me Brother!!

Of late, I decided to walk from my home until office atleast thrice a week, keeping in mind the benefits that are multifold - Get into good shape, manage my time better, use the walk to connect with family and friends on the phone, save the environment by not polluting it, and paramount - save petrol from my bike rides. Call me whatever you want to - thppprrrr to you.

What prompted me to write this is, there is so much to notice when time slows down for you

Terrorists in my Backyard!

This past weekend was perhaps one of those weekends, that I dread facing throughout the year and when it finally comes, I cower and sit at home to escape it all. Thru these harrowing few days, I am constantly reminded of the numerous missions I have pulled off in Medal of Honor, Metal Gear Solid, Call of Duty - Modern Warfare and the Tom Clancy based Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six series. I must admit that that the dodging and strafing lessons have invariably kept me alive! Who says video/computer games don't teach you anything?! Thhpprrr to them!