Colors of the Wind

You know how sometimes this one song tends to define a lot of things for you. I would say this has been that song for me. It's been with me since forever...the first track of my first cd!! I guess it'll always remain special in a way no other song can be...

The death penalty fulfills a preventive function, but it is also very clearly a form of revenge. It is an especially severe form of punishment because it is so final. The human life is ended and the executed person is deprived of the opportunity to change, to restore the harm done or compensate for it.

--Dalai Lama

I live in a world, which tells me that I can be told whether I have a right to live or not. Mentally I may not be healthy and may be unaware of my actions, but society can still snatch my inherent right to live. Is this a fair world? Can I not redeem myself?

Capital Punishment remains the highest judgment that can be given in any judicial system. It is said to deter crime, provide justice and also ensure public safety. For a second if we believe Capital Punishment even achieves what it sets out to do, why are there still such high crime rates all over the world?

China, with a quarter of the worlds population carries out approximately 90% of the worlds executions. Yet has its crime rate deterred? "Expert after expert and study after study have emphasized and emphasized the lack of correlation between the threat of the death penalty and the occurrence of violent crime.” In most cases like Saddam Husseins execution capital punishment was just a political gimmick, a revenge seeking act; perhaps a way for the US to prove its superiority. Yet when you think about it, does it even satisfy revenge? There seem like a gazillion other alternatives available, that make the idea of capital punishment superfluous. Wouldn’t it make more sense to force these individuals to “pay back” to society? Compensate or redeem his sins? Would it not make more sense to make these individuals realize their crimes?

As increasingly countries join the ranks of those who have abolished capital punishment; my belief is reaffirmed that Capital Punishment is a chimerical ideal punishment; a barbaric remnant of an uncivilized society. It is immoral in principle, and unfair and discriminatory in practice. And as a remedy for crime, it has no purpose and no effect.

My Puppy therefore i am

Most people who know me, know all about my better half. My endearing and wonderful-"rainy day partner"-midnight ghosts chaser-tear wiper-piano singer best friend. My one and only Mischief (puppi-doo-doo, michu, michikins, mischu, brat, ass, black beauty).

When my first dog died, my mother was broken hearted. Though supposedly Snowy was my birthday present she was my mothers darling. After she died my mother did not so much as look at another dog. Thats where me and my sister stepped in. We presented her with a gorgeous, hunky, adorable spaniel puppy. The perfect little angel to calm everyone down or so we thought!

Actually Mischief darling did everything but that. Within a month of his arrival he had already fallen very sick (got parasites in his blood.. all of us doing 24/7 nursing), all my mothers furniture had doggy marks, the carpets had been chewed, my pooh bear had been victimised, my sisters room had become a "doggy hospital" and of course our lives had been turned upside down. My puppy had truly lived up to his name.

But despite all his roguishness and ability to create perfectly ordered chaos, this whimpering black beauty marked creature has become the sane mainstay of my crazy family. He is the proud bearer of the "baby of the family" and more importantly my "choc-a loc baby". He loves siting beside me, while I play the piano, as if understanding the badly played music. He loves siting on my lap while i watch tv or chat online, dying to bang his paws on my poor keyboard (he loves my friends). He makes whiny faces while I eat chocolate and happy yelps when i give him toast. And anyone who has the guts to hit me, has to answer to him. He is the first person I see in the morning, with his wet nose on my face and hes the last person I kiss before going to bed. He gives me assurance on scary nights, support on trying days, love on depressing mornings and happiness by just being there.

And without him, god knows what I would do.

Every day is "a day"

Webster defines a ‘day’ as the time of light between one night and the next and an ‘occasion’ as a special event or ceremony. Club the two together and you get innumerable reasons for celebration.

Certain recent events enticed me into finding out how many such days actually existed. The good old google confirmed each day to be “a” day. April 2 is to be the Kick Butts Day, April 8 to be the Behave Yourself Day. Then there was a certain Be Careful What You Say Day sharing 24 hours with Do The Wild Things Day. It is apparently cool to hang a brand new Mark & Spencer Towel around your neck. Well, of course The Towel Day must be celebrated!

The one question that comes to mind is about the history of these days. While some of them originate from an event, most of them are a result of mere marketing gimmicks.

There is a crucial commercial aspect to this. While the market is experiencing a shift towards the needs of consumers, marketers have adopted an apt approach. Playing with the changing lifestyle trends and consumer vulnerability towards innovation, a pitch for the introduction of fresh concepts has been set.

The mechanism works in a perceptive way. Hype is the key word here. The concept is made popular in stages. A particular section, known as the target group which defines/influences the consumer trends (e.g. celebrities) is made excited. Once that is done, the process finds popularity on itself and takes shape into a lifestyle statement, finding its way to the “in” trends. Celebration is always about emotions. Thus, the mechanism in question, to be full proof, has to also include an emotional side to it.

This phenomenon has found its identity in the market today. And it shall continue to grow till both the consumer and marketers are kept pleased and gratified.