Archive for the 'People and Culture' Category

Feb11th

True love vs Not true love

Friday, February 11th, 2011

I’m not sure what they mean when people write/talk about true love. I came across this article that seems to define true love and its symptoms.

Feb9th

Life of the Party

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

There are days when you don’t feel like attending parties, but because of unique situations, you find yourself in the middle of one. These are times when you appreciate a lively person otherwise known as the “life of the party.” These people are like inspired performers who can read their audience and who actually enjoy entertaining people. Their jokes and comments are never cruel or unkind which is why people find them really funny. Most of them are witty and smart so they can instantly concoct antics for good laughs. They sometimes use parody to turn a situation into something funny like current events or popular happenings. These people are considered life of the party because they are fun, charming and give out such positive vibes. They love to have fun and be happy. When you are in the company of one, you forget your initial reluctance about coming to the party and actually start to enjoy yourself.

Jul21st

Does Immigration make people insane?

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

MeditationSome time ago, I read a book by Norman Doidge, called, The Brain That Changes Itself, I am not recommending that book here and I don’t remember why I decided to buy that book. Although I didn’t find that book very interesting, there is a section in the book discusses the effect of immigration on the brain.

In the author’s word….

Immigration is hard on the brain…..Each time the plastic brain acquires culture and uses it repeatedly, there is an opportunity cost: the brain loses some neutral structure in the process, because plasticity is competitive.

The book further adds that

Immigration is usually an unending, brutal workout for the adult brain, requiring a massive rewiring of vast amount of our cortical real estate.

When I was reading this, I didn’t think a great deal about this. Now, when I think about that, it makes a lots of sense why some people (atleast people I interact with regularly) are behaving in a particular way. I didn’t mean to offend any one and I’m not in a position to tell that my point is scientifically correct. I always have the question about the sudden changes in the behaviour and personality in some adults of my community once they migrated to Canada and it dawned to me this could be the reason.

On a different note, researchers have found that meditation increases the gray matter in the brain. The research also confirmed that those who meditate regularly has better focus and good control over their emotions. Interesting !!!!
What is your opinion?

Feb2nd

Early Spring in Ontario?

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
Groundhog

Groundhog Day or Groundhog’s Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. If the ground hog emerges and sees his shadow on this day, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. The origins of the tradition aren’t clear and its not backed up by any scientific facts.

The country’s most famous weather predicting groundhog Willie did not see his shadow when he woke up from his slumber Saturday in Wiarton, Ontario. So there will be an early spring this year. If its true everyone would be relieved a bit when cleaning up their drive ways after yesterdays snow storm.

There is also a movie called Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.

Jan21st

American Dream

Monday, January 21st, 2008
Canada aerial view

If you ever wondered what is meant by the phrase ‘American Dream’. Here is a definition from the library of congress website.
In the book The Epic of America, James Truslow Adams used this term first.

“that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

Basically ‘American Dream’ implies material prosperity. But the hard truth is that material prosperity doesn’t always lead to happy life. This is the most efficient platform or system in the face of the planet to become financially successful for an ordinary person. End of that success journey (if there is one) doesn’t guarantee happiness.