Change and the human mind Pt 1.

They say that there are only two certainties in life change and death. I tend to agree. Death is more of an inevitability. Change on the other hand is more perception based.

But here I'm talking about change and the human mind. The perception of the change itself. On a broad spectrum there are only two perceptions. One set of people blatantly deny it and live their life in the so called 'ostrich mentality'. The other set live by it and eventually become the harbingers of change. But does this work?

I think not. I think change is more subtle. Subtle to the extent that you've done it and not even realised. Changed your schedule by 5 minutes. Stopped to talk to a person. That one thought about a person made you see them in a new light.

Some among you may argue that it isn't true change. If at all you can call it that. I beg to differ. THAT little change is everything. Everything comes down to the little moments of life. Stop and think about it. All those things were based around one word, one action or ONE thing. It could be the most mundane thing in the world. But in the big picture it can change the world. Needed just one man to go and make salt upon the beach. Right?

Apocalyptica's one

Now many a post might have been written on this I wouldn't know because I didn't check.

I write it for the pure joy of reading this the next time I hear this song. so here goes apocalyptica's one.

First the song. Listen to it as you read. Yes it is long. But worth it all the same.

A little history: this is based on the original by metallica from the album '...and justice for all'

The song is about a prisoner of war soldier and his life and his plea for freedom from his opressors in the form of euthanasia. But this isn't about the original. The original by metallica is like a movie. Played before your eyes. Pointing to you every evil and detail. Vivid splashes of colour on a black shallow background. They (metallica) are true masters of an art of bringing music to life through their lyrics and mind bending riffs.

Apocalyptica's one is played on cellos alone. To most it may seem like a joke but it strangely is one of the most touching songs you will hear. Press play here.

If you've heard the original instantly you'd notice Its more-quiet, deep and intense. Like the opener. It sets the pace for you to follow. Bringing you slowly to the field. The Calm second bringing out the slow pain of the protagonist introducing you to him. Making you aware of him and every crest and peak as you will follow his journey through the war. It has a mellowness. Making you calm yet sad all at once.

Progressing through, the pace changes. It has a fleet footedness to it. Much like a warrior bringing you upto speed. Settling down once again to elaborate on his story. His morbid tale fraught with horrors one could never imagine. He narrates his bonechilling experiences with his opressors. And in a moment he asks for freedom. Until he realises all alone.

Pushing you to see what has become of him. It urges you to heed him. Begging pleading all the while.

Until he can see that the light to his tunnel is death itself. He prepares himself for the long journey. He is demanding for his death. As the life is his and his alone. The one thing that offers him solace from this harsh and dreary world as he is trapped in his mind. Left to his own thoughts. All by himself. A fate worse than solitary confinement as he has nothing but his mind about him.

His mind is rushing through his life. The war. The fighting. His capture. The torture. The unspeakable things they did. The last few deep rooted memories of pain. His last cry of anguish and plea for redemption. Preparing, flying away, he is making his way to the light. Even as his tormentors seek to drag him on. Just a little more.

Until he makes it. He is free. Happy and peaceful 'ONE' with the light. The music is gone. The story over.

Thanks for reading.
Aditya Rao

HOLEY ROADS

Well as it turns out i decided to take on a very holey topic. no you haven't seen a typo i'm serious. well pardon the pun seems fitting to this country and its roads.
they say that there's something holy in every corner of this country. i'd like to add an 'e' to that. you see the thing is they say the journey is more important than the destination. i agree. i mean what do ya know i'm going to a temple, church, mosque or so through the valleys of mars and the moon. craters so large we need landers now. outlanders to be precise the newly released mitsubishi. land cruisers the boon of the day cruising along at 20kph through for the holey roads.
i wonder if AC-DC would sing i'm on the holey road to hell?
then again what better place for the americans to test their rovers?
one day i was driving down the road and my friend asks me why are you driving on this broken path and i said well coz its very holey!
Then for another example we have our country itself. Now, you might wonder how THAT might be holey. WELL hold your breath and forget your wallet. well because it doesn't exist!! Got a hole in it! Remember? NO? Well what happened to that green gandhi 500? oh yeah that went to the cop to keep his mouth shut about the number plate and insurance problem. Or that other hundred for getting the attestation at the court. And then we have the contractors who do the public work. oh did i forget to tell you they are to blame for the road?
I DID! No wonder you didn't get it first shot. Here's a little joke to explain it.
An Indian CONtractor goes abroad and meets a friend there. His friend shows him a bridge on the river far down and says 'You know i built that bridge and kept half the money!'
Now not to be outdone he invites his friend over some months later. The CONtractor says 'Well do you see that bridge down on the river?'
Friend 'NO, WHAT BRIDGE?!'
Well the reply comes 'Exactly, I sanctioned it and never built it!'
That should give you some clarity on the holeymess around here. NO! Thats still not a typo its just a matter of my view of the world around here. There are other holes that need filling too like peoples stomachs but thats for another day.