The Piazza Tales...Herman Melville

After Jane Eyre, its time for 'The piazza tales' ..seems like a pretty big book.. Hope to finish it by the weekend. Looking forward to it..

Jane Eyre

Reading Jane-Eyre for the 3rd time, and can't stop marveling how much I associate to this kid, this passionate kid, suppressing and suffering and letting out words in full force. Now its not the story that is of interest but the depiction.. Should read classics more often. One time is just waste for the interest is on the story and how it ends.......But after that everytime you read it, it seems anew, emerging with a new light, a new insight a new beauty and marvel of the great art work. Besides what a lovely and sincere dialogue delivery, how can anyone depict all the thoughts in such a way to stir you to the core, as if you were there, witnessing it and you smile and laugh and cry and shout with the kid.. in her lonely sojourn and fight.

What it is to be a Slave..

Today I got to feel a little of what it would mean to be a slave. Slave not as a person, but as a nation, ruled by some beings of other nation, dictating terms to us and treating us lower. Well it was nothing just a chat, where I heard a foreign official restricting access to our own place and saying, "you will be kicked out if you don't adhere to the timings laid down." Though it was not addressed to me, I felt a rage.. that who the hell are you to tell me, what I can or should do in my own place. At that time it struck me, being a full time person of an enslaved country, with no voice, no rights and exploited in every way, I would definitely fight for freedom, lay down my life to achieve that end.

Though I won't go for non-violence, for giving the other face for them to hit, won't be my idea .. I wonder how difficult it would be to persuade people to do that. Gandhi must be a wizard, I donno.. but if someone mistreats you, I think I believe in reciprocating or if not match, than discarding all contacts altogether, but to be there, showering yourself as sacrifice for more torture, with the hope it will ignite the humanity in the enemies heart. Well I don't understand it..Maybe some day, Like today I can understand slavery.. I may end up understanding non-violence as a means, maybe ultimate means, to end it..

Abbey Prevost - Manon Lescaut

I read this book yesterday, quite an indulging book. It defines, explores and depicts the threads of so called love and relations which bind us together. The thing which struck me most, is how our life turns and all our convictions take an unprecedented change, which is unfathomable to those with whom we have spent so much time in our life, that they feel that they know us through and through. But how much do we know ourselves, to have a claim of what we would do in any scenario!

Well in this novel, a guy perfect in all sense of societal status, conduct and family upbringing, lands up in most abhorrent scenarios and scams, becomes a part of malice with full knowledge of what is he meddling with, yet with pure heart and intentions of pure love. Rather than dwelling in the impact he is causing around, he is contended chasing "the love", he is so sure -'is heavenly' and justifies each cruel deed in the name of "symbolic love" which can't be found in any other being.

Fathoming such a state of someone which makes them turn a blind eye to the destitute position and dearths that relation was leading them into, is glaring. Not just this, the resorting to cheating and manipulation and maligned social conduct with so much ease, construe truth in a manner to befit your own agenda, make use of people intentionally and analyze words to make a better impact on the sense and sensibilities of respected lot, it all seemed a vice personified in all its religious and social sense. Yet there I was unable to define the life, he lead and the choices he made, whether there was, if any, better alternative.. a more peaceful end, wasn't the experiences he had- made him the best man living, a survivor in all scenarios...though the word he used was "wretched"  over and over again. Yet somehow it seemed like a beam of know-how and practical conduct often in the background.

As for the heroine of the plot, she is shown to be maligning, manipulative, misrepresenting, devoid of any notion of fidelity in front of money and affluence. Yet she is tender and very humane, not a beast. She plots for fraud after fraud, being caught in a insurmountable abyss for it, yet couldn't deter from trying it again, in the flimsy cover of revenge. Revenge for what? Your own deceit. Yet towards the end, she indeed seems like a fine lady, leaded by debauchery throughout her life, yet filled with human values and conduct - betrayed by her impressionist beauty which leads her to a wretched end. I couldn't fathom - how can anyone crave for material things to the extent of bearing harshest punishment, yet not abandoning the behavior. Is behavior an ingrained part of ourselves? Or is it the experiences which shape them - as we live on  and accumulate years of existence?   

Not just love of lovers, but it gives a new dimension to the bond of Parents and child, and of Friends..

Unknown person going to their own ruin to facilitate another person, in extremely wrong manner, yet without flinching as theirs is supposedly a true love. Its a motivation enough, to justify and indulge in playing the role of rescuer. No other thought of righteousness of sacrificing their own security of four walls and high family, for someone unknown. What about the values they have been given, somehow they take a back-seat, when what governs the actions - is pure passion and the notion of being of help, for someone's true love. ..

Father, depicted in more earthly, real cruel, calculative and material being, yet pardoning the child to the extent possible, not as indulgent of their poor choices, as the young lot, yet ready to pardon all the done deeds, if only they move ahead......

Childhood friend deceived again and again, maybe taken for granted, yet trying till the end, to help the friend come out of, so perceived dearth, and unflinching in loyalty no matter what may come.

An amazing book representing human actions and relations - in a new light. An in depth depiction of the layers and layers of so called values and vice or right and wrong. Somehow you would stand beside the hero at the last, also with the heroine in her end, though they lived a blunder in all its sense, yet it seems deeper  - a complex threads of existence, rather than malice personified or their fault. Redefining the notion of relative good or bad conduct and reinforcing our sense that nothing is absolute or forever in life...

Must read book, nevertheless.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/468

fiasco's happen..no matter what u intended!!!

You imagine a perfect plan and execute it to the details.. and yet here you are faced with unwarranted glitches, unfathomable stupid turns and even before you can blink..its only one word which fits...its a huge FIASCO!!. The thing with us is we perceive , what we see. The How's and Why's are immaterial. Anyways here I am amidst a fiasco, can't be sure how could I helped it. Maybe  next time before even imagining something, I'll precheck all probable glitches and then raise my arms--- This is it..live with it!!! But for now, its here, unseen..

Home solutions

I have been reading about this from past few days. Here is the list I have till date -

1) To Heal wounds faster - apply Aloe vera juice from plant on any wound. (Also good for face in general).  Drink warm milk with a teaspoon haldi/turmeric powder (add little sugar if you can't drink only haldi and milk)  if you got hurt or fell from somewhere, it heals quickly. Apply honey.

2)Cold - Drink Ginger tea, chew ginger and tulsi/basil leaves. Chewing clove or black pepper also helps.

3) For increasing concentration - leave 7-8 badam/Almond in water overnight, peel of the skin in morning and eat it with a glass of milk.

4) Vomiting - eat pudina/Mint, also helps in indigestion, upset stomach, nausea etc. Mint can also be used as face wash, put some leaves in cold water  for an hour and use.

5)   Loose motions -a) eat 2 Banana's b) add few drops of lemon in a glass of warm water and  add a pinch of salt- drink it c) eat curd.

6)To reduce fat/get leaner -  Drink one glass lukewarm water with 1 spoon honey first thing in morning .

7) Swimmer's ear -

a) eat 1/4 cup of salt, pour on clean piece of cloth

place it near the ear opening for 2-3 min, repeat it 3 to 4 times daily

b) put 1-2 drops of Garlic oil in your ear.

8) Headache -  paste of tulsi leaves and sandalwood applied on head helps.

9) Natural body Soap substitute - Paste of Besan/gram flour, pinch of haldi/turmeric power and some raw milk.

10) Mouth ulcer - apply Salt and turmeric mix, put on ulcer for 10-15 min and wash your mouth. Repeat it couple of times a day, till it heals. Clean the area  with cotton tip, then sterilise it with salt or baking soda then put a layer of Olive oil,  Vaseline or Coconut oil .

11) Hair Conditioner/ to help all kinds of hair problems - Egg and curd as hair conditioners and for hair care - use Coconut/Olive oil + Hena.

Use shikakai as shampoo and apply henna once a month for faster hair growth and for beautiful hair.

Natural Shampoo - a) add 2 tablespoon of baking soda to a cup of hot water, wet your hair in shower, massage this mix on your hair, leave for 2 min and wash with water.

b) grind one lemon and 1 peeled cucumber- mix them; massage on scalp and leave for 5 min and rinse thoroughly with water.

12) For any kind of skin infection - Put Neem leaves in bathing water, eating neem leaves also helps. Drink a glass of Karela/bitter melon or  Lauki/bottle gourd juice daily .

13) Anemia - a) make concoction of a teaspoon of Honey, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. b) Eating green leafy vegetables like Methi/Fenugreek and spinach helps as well.

14) To remove dark circle - put raw milk in freezer and then dip cotton pads in it and put it under eyes.

15) Air cleanser plants -  Aloe vera, Bamboo palm, Snake plant, Areca plant, Peace lily, Gerbera daisy, Spider plant,Bosten Fern, English Ivy, Golden pathos, Marginata, weeping fig, rubber plant, chines evergreen

16) Bring down temperature in fever- drink juice of tulsi leaves

17) Face pack - Multani mitti/fuller's earth, make a thick paste in water, apply and leave for 10 min and wash your face with tap water.

Face scrub - sugar + honey+few drops of lemon

18) Indigestion - Ajwain seeds  and 1 lemon in lukewarm water is good. Black pepper  and Clove also helps.

19) Lemon tea uses- helps in keeping you fit (its a good cleansing agent), digestion and prevents cold.  Good to replace first morning tea with lemon tea.

20)Crack heal -a)  apply Olive oil or glycerin and rosewater mix or petroleum jelly before sleeping.b)  Apply over-ripe banana for 15 min and wash.

c) Prepare a paste of Paraffin wax , turmeric and coconut oil-apply it before sleeping.

21) Lower cholesterol levels - Tomato (also reduces heart diseases and acts as natural sunscreen) and Amla/Gooseberry(helps high cholesterol, cold, improves eyesight, reduces joint pain as well).

22) Soothing eyes and prevents sunburn - Use Cucumber .

23) Arthritis -a)  eat 6-8 cherries per day,b)  eat ginger, c) eat fresh young dandelion leaves in salad, d) take crude blackstrap molasses dissolved in water.

24) Minor Burn - run cold water and later apply butter, or rub a potato slice, or apply Aloe vera gel

25) Body lotion - use Olive oil, though don't use it before going out in sun.

26) Insomnia - a) drink a glass of milk and a teaspoon honey,b)  add one teaspoon of aniseed to half  liter water and heat for 15 min- strain the mixture and drink it with milk and honey,c)  drink one glass water with a teaspoon honey,

d) take hot water bath before going to bed.

27) Pimples -Make a paste by mixing honey, lemon juice, olive oil, and cinnamon powder; keep it on pimples for 2 min and wash with warm water.

Acne scar -a)  apply aloe vera gel; b) 1 tablespoon honey and lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of almond oil and 2 tablespoon of plain milk - mix and apply.

28) Asthma - a) add 2 tbsp fenugreek seeds to 1 liter of water, put it on simmer for 30 min and strain the liquid, take 2 tbsp of ginger paste - place it on sieve- extract its juice, add 1 spoon honey - drink 1 glass of this mixture every morning; b) take 2 tsp of amla powder/gooseberry paste, add 1 tsp honey - take this mixture once every morning , keep honey in bowl and inhale

29) High blood pressure - a) put 2 tsp of crushed gooseberry place on seive- extract juice, add a tsp honey - mix and drink it every morning b) 1 tsp of dried watermelon seeds in water, add 1 tsp of cuscus, grind together - have this mixture once in morning and evening;c) chew 2-3 raw garlic cloves, d) eat flax seeds

30) Weak Immune system - a)  take 1 glass lukewarm milk and add 1 tbsp of Ashwagandha powder - mix and drink once everyday;b) take 1 glass warm water and add 1 tsp of giloy powder or indian asparagus- mix and drink once everyday

31) Fever - a) boil half cup water, add half tsp saffron/kesar, allow to simmer for 2-3 min, transfer the liquid in a cup, sip this while its hot. 

b) Take 1 tsp of freshly crushed tulsi/basil leaves, place on sieve, add1 tsp of freshly cut ginger-extract juice , add 1tsp honey to the juice- mix and drink 4-5

times a day.

c) Soak 5 tsp of resin/kismis in 1/2 cup water(for 3 hrs) grind in same water and 1 tsp of lemon juice- mix and drink for quick relief.

32)Cataract -

a) 1 glass lukewarm water, add 7-8 finely chopped almonds, add 1 tsp of black pepper powder/kali mirch, add 1tsp honey- mix and drink once a day.

b) Take 500g boiled and finely chopped Spinach leaves, place on sieve, extract juice - drink 3 times a day for a month.

c) take 2 tsp of aniseed powder/sauf and 2 tsp of

coriander/dhaniya powder and 1 tsp of brown sugar - mix and have it twice a day.

33) Conjunctivitis -

a) take 2 cups of hot water, add 3 tsp of honey, cool it down and wash your eyes with this liquid, twice a day

b)Take handful of coriander leaves, add it to 250 ml water - make a decoction by boiling it for 20 min . Cool it and strain the liquid - use it as eye wash

c)Place potato slice on strained eye to reduce pain.

34) Ear infection-

1) take 1 tbsp of garlic paste, add a pinch of salt - mix  and place this mix on clean piece of muslin cloth.

2)Take few basil leaves paste - extract the juice  and pour 2-3 drops in infected ear.

35) Insect Bites -

1) add 2 tbsp of haldi/turmeric powder  to 2 tbsp of crushed basil leaves -

mix and apply

2) Bee sting- get a slice of onion and place it on the bee sting - hold it or put a tape, and keep it for an hour.

 Make a paste of baking soda and water - apply on bee sting

3) neem oil or mustard oil - natural mosquito repellant

36) Measles-

1) Take 2 tbsp of crushed basil leaves- extract its juice,  add 1 tbsp of haldi/turmeric powder -- mix and consume it twice a day.

2) Soak 2 tbsp of fenugreek seeds in 1 cup of water - leave it for 3 hrs, take 3tbsp of this water every 30 min.

37) Goiter -

1) 2 Tbsp of crushed flax seeds, add equal amount of  water - mix it well and apply on throat and leave for 20-25 min. Wash it with water and dry with clean

cloth.

2) take a handful of crushed sorrel/ambari leaves, add 2tsp of olive oil, mix and apply on swelling while lying down. Leave for 15 min and wash irt off

3) apply paste of dandelion leaves and clarified butter/ghee.  

4) eat pineapple, garlic, onion, cucumber, carrot, oats, whole rice, lettuce, strawberries, tomato, guava.

38)Wrinkles -

1) massage egg white on your face, leave it on for 20 min. and wash with lukewarm water

2) add 2 tbsp of fresh cream, 2 tbsp of flax seeds and 1 tbsp of honey in a paste of 1/2 avocado. Apply and leave for atleast1hour. Use regularly.

3) Make a moisturizer by blending a small piece of papaya and banana - apply and leave for 20 min.

4) Have a balanced diet and drink 8-10 glasses of water  daily

39)Alzheimer's disease-

1)Soak 7-8 almonds in water overnight, peel off the  skin in morning and eat. 

2)Add little peppermint oil or lemon juice to bowl of hot water and inhale the fumes

3) Take 3 drops of seasame oil in dropper and put in each nostril twice a day

4) Solve crossword and puzzles. Add turmeric in your diet.

5) Have sweet potato's and consume carrots.

40)Flu/influenza-

1) take 1 tsp of honey, place in bowl of hot water- add pinch of cinnamon powder in lukewarm honey, mix and eat twice a day.

 2)mash 1 onion in a bowl, extract juice, add 1 tsp of honey - mix and eat 1 tsp of the mixture 3 times a day

3) put 4 tsp of fenugreek powder in 1glass hot water, add 4 tsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp ginger paste. boil for 15 min and drink .

41) Malaria -

a) add 1 tsp of cinnamon powder/daalchini in a glass of hot water, add 1/2 tsp of black pepper powder, add 1 tsp of honey, mix well. Allow it to stay for 5 min

and then sip it while its hot

b)add 4 tbsp of lemon juice in a glass of hot water- mix and drink it 3 times a day

c)take handful of crushed basil leaves, extract its juice, add 1/2 tsp of black pepper powder, drink it 3 times daily

d) add 2 tbsp of chirata(ayurvedic herb) in 250 ml hot water, add 2-3 cloves, 1tsp of cinnamon powder, allow to simmer for 2-3 min, strain the liquid, drink 3 tbsp of the mixture multiple times a day.

42) appendicitis -

a)add 2 tbsp of fenugreek seeds to 1 L water, simmer for 30 min. Strain the liquid - drink 1 glass of this mixture, once every morning

b)Consume 3-4 glasses of buttermilk everyday

43)Dysentry -

a)take paste of coriander leaves, add little water heat this mixture, allow it to simmer for 2-3 min, strain the mix, drink it once lukewarm

b)add 2 tsp of fenugreek powder in 1 bowl of yogurt mix and eat it 2-3 times a day

c)extract juice of few curry leaves paste , add 1 tsp of honey  - mix and take the mix twice a day

d) Drink 8-10 glasses of water.

44) Chicken pox-

1) take 200g of green peas,boil it in water, drain water and make paste. Apply the paste and leave for an hour.

2) take a bowl of water, add 3 tbsp of Baking soda -mix and use sponge to apply it on skin. Keep it till it dries

3)100g chopped carrot, 60g of coriander leaves, boil it in 500ml of water, till the water level reduces to half. Have this soup once in a day. Add salt or pepper for taste.

45) Mumps-

a) thick paste of ginger and water, apply on swollen area.

b) take aloe vera gel and apply

c) take 3tsp of asparagus/shatavri powder, add

3 tsp of fenugreek powder and add a little water,mix and make thick paste, apply it on swollen area.

46)Pnemonia-

a) take 250ml of water, add 2 tbsp of sesame/til seeds, add 1 tbsp of flax seeds, add pinch of common salt and 2 tbsp of honey. mix and take 2 times a day

b) take 1 cup black tea, add 3 tsp of fenugreek powder- mix and drink once everyday, add sugar if needed

c) increase intake of ginger and garlic

d) consume mix of 100ml of cucumber and 100ml carrot juice.

47)Lose weight

a) To a glass of lukewarm water add1tsp of black pepper powder, 4 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp of  honey - mix and drink daily for 3-4 months.

b) To a glass of hot water, add 4 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey - drink every morning on empty stomach

c) Substitute1 meal as bowl full of chopped cabbage

48)Low blood pressure

a) Crush few basil/tulsi leaves -extract juice, add 1tsp honey - mix well and drink it twice a day

b)Soak 15-20 resins in water overnight, eat on empty stomach in morning, followed by a glass of water. Don't eat or drink anything for 1 hr after having this

c) Drink 1 cup of raw beetroot juice twice daily

d) Consuming a glass of water with 1/2 tsp salt, till pressure gets normal.

e) If you feel pressure dropping, drink a cup of strong black tea - caffeine helps increase the blood pressure.

49) Weak memory

a) To 1/2 tsp of black jeera/cummin powder, add little honey, have this mixture twice a day.

b) Take handful of oats, add 1 cup milk, add 3 chopped dates, 3 chopped almonds, 1 spoon honey mix and eat this for breakfast, followed by 1 unpeeled

apple.

c) Soak 7 almonds at night, have with a glass of lukewarm milk next morning

d) Take 1 tbsp of honey, add a pinch of cinnamon powder/daalchini, mix and have before going to sleep.

50) Snoring

a) Put 2 drops of lukewarm ghee/clarified butter in each nostril, once in morning and once before going to sleep. You can use brahmi oil as well.

b) Take1 glass warm water, add 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder/ilaichi - mix and consume daily at bed-time

c)Take a cup of warm milk, add 2 tsp of haldi/turmeric powder, consume at bedtime.

Ref: Homeveda - Home Remedies For You and few other sites

Faith..

have faith for its all you have
have courage to bear the darkness
have faith that its not as bad as it seems
have faith that its just a bad phase
have faith that its immaterial
have faith that its still beautiful
have faith, for its all you have

Have faith, its all you have,
hold onto traces of goodness
as long as you can,
debate against yourself,
but cling to faith,
as otherwise its not worth it,
it needs to be shunned !!!

faith will be with you till the end
so pull yourself together
and hang on with the remnants of faith
it will not last forever
it will be gone, just have patience
till it lasts
faith will serve you well
treat it with care, with respect
n be with it at all times

problem with always minding your own business

why do u care? Is it your attitude in life? Well it is mine many a times, but then I blame myself for hours..I donno how rest all live with it. I know its a huge unnecessary extravagant time waste to indulge in pursuits which are not so much of your business and waste time, but hello you are the one who needs to run society in a manner it should. If you won’t stand today for others, who will stand for you tomorrow? We all will become stupid society of mean people, minding their own business.. Or maybe that way would be best, isn’t it.. I donno ..unless ur home is on fire u don’t expect anything from others..Anyways ..do whatever u think is right.. then forget it if people choose to leave u and spoil all efforts to satisfy their whims.. after all its so called right way for them..God help us all.. I guess he already does that..so Sorry God, not bothering u again.. mind ur business of running the world..this weird weird world..

Vriksha Nursery: 20 plants that survive at the Mumbai sea-face...!

Vriksha Nursery: 20 plants that survive at the Mumbai sea-face...!

The Complexity of Songs

Reading about Donald_Knuth, stumbled on his paper, " The Complexity of Songs", seems like an interesting read.. Will post its contents overview once I am done. Have read one book of his "Art of programming series", which shows that writing can be fun and so can be learning. Who better to illustrate it than this great man in varied ways same as his varied domains of expertise.. Hoping to read more of his works in coming few days..