Yet again a phase of life filled with anxiety, confusion, fear and hope. Of these, as long as hope tops the emotions, it will be good. Should I be prepared to face anything? I guess my preparation is not to face anything, but to strive to keep hopes at the top of the list. Meandering thoughts? No. For a change, it is state of structured, organized and neatly piled up thoughts following a tree model. Binary choice at every node. Binary options at every branch. So it is not exactly a problem of plenty and in a way I should be thankful for that.
Questions rule life
The shades of grey that seem to creep in through these structured thoughts create anxiety and fear. What if? What if not? How should I? Why should I? Questions seem to unfold at every node of the tree structure. The wait is killing. The pain is greater due to the uncertainty rather than any misfortunes. The urge for clarity, the urge to see the bigger picture, the urge to cut through the present to have a look at the future - these are enough to lose sleep. Not exactly sleeplessness, but you get my point, don't you?
If Vairamutthu can give me any solace at the moment, it must be through these lines.
ஒரு விதைக்குள்ளே அடைபட்ட ஆலமரம் கண் விழிக்கும்
அது வரை பொறு மனமே !
(Oh heart, wait till the banyan tree that is hidden inside a seed begins to germinate)
Krishna summarizes the feeling beautifully and also gives a solution in Mahabharatham. Here is the link (Tamil).
If someone were to ask me which gadget I wanted the most in life, I would answer "A Real life Physical Balance". No, I am not talking about the work-life balance, which is a misnomer for all you know.Perhaps, work-life effectiveness should do the trick. More about this later, or even never. What was I saying? Yes, a real life physical balance.
Imagine a physical balance instrument. On one side, you could keep all the pros/advantages/benefits of a real life situation. On other, the cons/disadvantages/drawbacks of the same situation. Lo! behold! You are saved of all the headaches to make a decision. How cool would that be!
This wonder gadget can reduce some of the many sleepless
nights spent evaluating options. Mental
agony will dissolve into thin air. In fact, the entire thinking process will
vanish. Yes, I am not sure how good that is for life in general. Anyway, this
magically solves the problem of plenty and weighing things to make critical
decisions. Life will become simpler, wouldn’t it? You can happily relax with a
Wodehouse or Ilaiyaraja and spend your nights in bliss. Decision-making will not be so overrated. For impulsive seekers
of assurance, this can be the best gift.
The brilliance behind this thought was much appreciated and admired by a couple of friends. Audience matter, you see.This was even suggested to be submitted for a contest. However, that did not matter in the greater scheme of things. So,well.
The beauty of life lies in the suspense that it carries with
it every second. Maybe, this thought was conceived since my instrument is not existent. Let me weave this dream of a balance a little longer until I am bombarded by planned happiness or pleasant surprises through my smart decisions.
I have never ever *shudders*
thought I will write on this topic. Nevertheless, time has come to opine about
things that have long been just inside the mostly inactive brain I have got. To
the uninitiated, Class Participation, famously known as CP in the business school
(B-school) lingo, refers to voluntary meaningful contribution one makes in
class with the fellow students and the professor. This participation includes
answering questions raised by the professor, sharing ideas and thoughts on the
topic of discussion, and rarely also includes asking a relevant and interesting
doubt.
The idea behind having CP as a
part of the evaluation in the curriculum stems from the fact that the future
managers must be vocal in their thoughts. Management, as opposed to technical
courses, is seen worldwide as an art that comes only from experience, rather
than from books. B-schools across the world encourage CP for this reason – to
enhance the learning experience with the peers. That is why case studies are
the mode of learning.
Now what is wrong in the system?
Or in B-school lingo again, what is the problem statement?
There are people who feel that CP
has become marks-oriented and it is artificial to put a CP. Those people also
feel it should not be an evaluation criterion, for, the souls who don’t voice
out are those who are either inhibited or do not feel the necessity of
contribution. Why do I disagree? Some myths to resolve
1.“CP forces
people to talk. It should not be evaluative.”
In a perfect market condition, (yes, I
will never fall short of this lingo!) where the objective of the curriculum is
to encourage participation, there is no need of marks for CP. However, when
students hesitate to contribute or are disinterested, the marks criterion comes
in handy. It is an incentive to make people talk in class and thereby create a speaking culture which should have actually developed on its own like in schools abroad. Also, schools have
CP marks ranging from 5% to 10% in most courses, which is the minimum anyone
can ask for. Infact, B-schools abroad have up to 30% CP marks. When you find
vehement opposition to CP even when marks are awarded, how can we expect people
to participate when it is not mandatory?
2.“CP is gas”
Gas refers to
illogical unwanted talks. Desperate CP (also called DCP) leads to gas. One
speaks just for the sake of attention and does not add value to the class.
However, a proper CP was not conceptualized to be a DCP. The idea behind was
genuine, but the system was cynically manipulated (Calvin!) by desperate
students who crave for attention. All CP is not Gas. No DCP is CP. You can solve the syllogism yourself!
3.“I
know to think. I know to speak. I can do it in a board room, but not in the
class”
The school aims
at overall development of the manager who not only takes wise decisions, but
also involves in discussions and healthy arguments in an organization. A board
room need not be similar to the ashrams in the Himalayas and you deal with no
saints. A chaotic situation can arise any time in a discussion among the board
members. One has to realize that CP gives the opportunity to structure your
thoughts and speak out loud with confidence, which is very important for a
manager. Students who put CP are seen as nerds who only study. It is absolutely
wrong. Requiring preparation, lateral thinking, correlated thinking and a sense
of value-add, CP is tough to put. Quoting myself as a fitting and a sitting
example, it is a skill one should definitely learn using b-school as a platform.
4.‘’CPs are useless”
CP keeps one attentive in class.You have to listen to comprehend and engage yourself in participation. It is not related to being an extrovert or an introvert. In fact, I have seen very good points coming from some of the most introverted people in class. Let us accept
the fact that those who regularly participate in classes constitute a
significant number of the ones who do well in GDs( Group Discussions) during
placement processes. That GDs should be done away with is a related argument.
Yet again, the perception is that one who shouts the most gets the attention.
HR managers invariably know to judge one’s gestures, articulation style and the
clarity of your thoughts much more than one can hope for. Those who fail to
participate in class calling it unnecessary make up to at least 50% of the
population who stumble during GDs and are unable voice out their opinions. With
intense fight for the best jobs,GDs in B-schools have never been both peaceful
and successful simultaneously.Period
CP is not to
seek attention, not for grades, not for display of knowledge. CP is a component of evaluation that merely aims at vocally bringing out one’s thoughts in an
organized manner. Don’t gas, don’t globe. Keep calm and put (meaningful)CP!
P.S: I am not a CP/DCP queen. However, I support it and try to benefit from such a process.Comments are welcome!
கண்ணின் கடைசி துளி நீர் கறைய
காதல் பெருக்கெடுத்து
கை பிடிப்பேன் என்று
கட்டி முத்தமிட்டவளை
கத்திக் கூச்சலிடாமல்
கை விட நினையாமல்
காப்பவன் அன்றோ காதலன் ?
கண்ணீர் மல்க
கால் கடுக்கக் காத்திருந்து
கையேந்த வைப்பதற்கோ
கெடு கொடுத்தாய் ?
கண்டு வருவதல்ல காதல்
காணாமல் கண் துடிப்பதுவே காதல் !
This blog is almost reborn every new year's day, this year being no exception. Wish you all a very happy new year. Reminiscing 2013, it was a dream-come-true year. My dream got fulfilled and I inched steps closer to my ambition, the process of which I am currently in. I made my parents happy, and that's what counts more than anything else.
2013 also saw a new bunch of friends, a new place, a new lifestyle, and a very new everything. I easily settled down to the changes, thanks to the people around me. I understood what I am good at, and more specifically, what I am terrible at! It was a year of revelation of sorts. I got a very good exposure, a great learning platform ( how much I made use of it is a different story altogether), and a sense of satisfaction.
I made quite a lot of mistakes - personally and professionally. Some of them cost me dearly and still give me nightmares. Life is all about crossing these and getting over them, isn't it? How else can one grow? These were the times that taught me life's lessons - I learnt it pretty hard. The most hard-hitting lesson was to prioritize. That would have made all the difference. With a fabulous first half and a not-so-good second, 2013 was way better than the previous years. A year of changes that was!
2014 is going to be a year of prayers. This is a very important year in terms of both personal and professional life and I am eager to see what life has in store for me. I most certainly believe in the power of prayers. As I always say, I will try my best to not repeat the mistakes of 2013. I am sorry, I have no strength to commit them all once again, more so, to relearn the bitter lessons. Hence, I would rather call it a year of prayers, to give me the vision to avoid mistakes.
I have a hunch that 2014 is going to be the reverse. A not-so-bad first half and a fabulous second. I am here set to make the not-so-bad into a not-so-great (Mind you, there is a difference!). It all starts well - plans, schedules and wishes. It is when they end in regrets, repercussions and repentance, one understands life's melancholy. Life laughs at me and I sigh. See, this is what 2013 has done to me - digress and get disillusioned.
If only the past does not haunt and has absolutely no effect on our futures, can we hope for something better. Hoping against hope is what the new year has started with, and I wish, if my hunch proves right, the first half is at least manageable - and oh! definitely better than the last few months please. Pretty please?
Bharathi comes to my rescue usual.
" விசையுறு பந்தினைப் போல் - உள்ளம்
வேண்டிய படி செல்லும் உடல் கேட்டேன் " (Just like how a ball gets attracted by gravity, I ask for a body that goes in the direction of my heart)
What else can we expect from the human mind?
My longest ever new year post ends with a wonderful song, which I wish I can heartily sing at the end of 2014 - the year of prayers.
One of my early interests in reading tamil books sprang from
the writings of Mr. Rangarajan, better and well-known as ‘Sujatha’. Born in
Chennai and brought up in Srirangam, he grew up to be an Electronics Engineer.
Thank God for his passion towards writing that we got a gem of a writer, who
could practically write on everything under the sun.
There is nothing like cuddling up on the bed with a
‘Kolayuthir kaalam’ (a thriller fiction) or learning science through ‘Yen?
Edharku? Eppadi?’ or imbibing knowledge and enjoying sarcasm on a warm
afternoon with ‘Katradhum Petradhum’, or living the Srirangam life along with
him through ‘Srirangathu Devadhaigal’ or deciphering the inner
meaning of aandal pasurams on a margazhi morning. It is a treat to the brain.
He makes you think, smile, reflect, understand, laugh, cry and enjoy.His
humour and satire are also well-received.
His protagonists / heroes are mostly intelligent. They are a
reflection of his own self – Ganesh
from ‘ganesh-vasanth’ series, Thiruchelvan(Madhavan)
from the movie ‘Kannatthil Mutthamittaal’ to quote a few. They are sensible,
well-read and well-bred. They make good scientists, writers , lawyers and
detectives. He makes you fall in love with his characters slowly and steadily –
Madhumitha of ‘Pirivom sandhipom’,Vasanth
from Ganesh-vasanth series( I love him!), Sylvia, yavanika(statue)- both from the stories
of the same names, the athlete from 10
second muttham, are a case in point. In fact, I have heard that his readers cried for one
of his character’s (Madhumitha) death and named their daughters in her
remembrance :)
Nylon kayiru, Kanavu thozhirchaalai,marina,Aaah! are some of
his other famous fictional works one ought not to miss.
'Sujatha' Rangarajan
What made him a favourite among many?
His depth of knowledge,
proficiency in the language, expertise in a variety of areas, the ability to
connect with people through the local flavour, and his simplicity.
Some of my
favourite dialogues from the movies he penned:
c. ‘Tharunam Appadi’ d. ‘Unga rendu per la yaaru amma yaaru kozhandhai ne theriyala’
All the above form Kannatthil Mutthamittaal
3. Following from Anniyan: ‘Ner Vazhi Sutthu Kozhandhe’ ‘5 kodi peru 5, 5 paisa va 5 kodi thadava thirudina?’
5. Following from Ayutha ezhuthu:
‘kadhal, keedhal, pattu, oviam, ellam bedroom la mudiyaradhuku. It's all related to hormones, verum organic chemistry -Testosterone, Oestrogen, Progestorone, X chromosome, Y chromosome,XY, YY.. mudinjudhu matter’ ‘Therku Pakkam Surungiyum, Vadakku Pakkam Veengiyum iruke? Kaaranam enna? Idhu enna Boogola kolaara? boomiyoda kolaara? Illa..Poruladhaarathoda kolaaru’ ‘Indha pakkam oru vellaikkaari, andha pakkam oru karuppi, naduvula nalavenba coaching’
6.‘That was a good interview’ (Mudhalvan)
7. The climax of endhiran( which is an adaptation of ‘en
iniya iyanthira’ by Sujatha) where Chitti dismantles itself.
These are only the few that struck my mind right now, though
there will be many more which would have brought a smile on our lips. Or made
us think.
It is tough to stop with this, since no words are enough to
portray the respect I have for this genius ( Oh! he invented the electronic
voting machine, if you did not know!) . All that I can do is only pleasantly
remember him on his anniversary and pay homage through this little post.
P.S: I know his most famously quoted,mostly unknown 'Mexico Salavaikaari' Joke ;)
Wish you all a very happy new year! I can see the blog is not active, and I am back here with hopes of returning to my writing once again! Why did I not write for a long time? Writers' block(read: laziness) I guess.
Personally it is ( going to be, hopefully) a very important year. A year of changes, I should say. Frankly, anyone whom I have talked to is looking forward to some change they have beautifully planned or is optimistic about some change to be brought about in life.
Yes, optimism is contagious. I believe it has struck me too, already an optimist that I am (wink), to a higher level of conviction and confidence.
A year of changes
A year of hope
A year of faith
A year of betterment
A year of happiness
A year of love
A year of happenings
A year of choices
A year of dreams
A year of peace
I am certain this year will be very memorable for everyone of us, showering immense joy and shattering the misconception about the number-'13'.
I expectantly look forward to the year that has started positively.
I remember the last new year wish post . I realise that i have done some of what were mentioned there. Not a bad check list,I can say. There was more than just a strengthening of my constant belief that life, is the greatest teacher.I learnt a lot.
It was eventful, in a way. there was so much of time,
To love, to smile, to wonder
To live,to cry, to laugh
To observe, to think, to understand
To fight,to misunderstand,to hate
To forget,to repent,to forgive
To mistake,to realize, to correct
To suffer,to learn,to ponder
To feel,to know,to learn
Aren't these what life is all about? I went through all these and more. That's why i look forward to this year with a lot of faith.
There is an air of deep hope,a constant change, and a silent promise around me.
சட்டென நனைந்தது நெஞ்சம் சர்க்கரை ஆனது கண்ணீர் சுகமாய் சுகமாய் ஒரு துன்பம் துன்பம் எத்தனை பேரின்பம்
எந்த வாசல் வழி காதல் நடந்துவரும் என்று காத்துக் கிடந்தேன் அது வானில் பறந்து வந்து கூரை திறந்து வரும் என்று இன்று தெளிந்தேன் தாவி வந்து எனை அணைத்த போது எந்தன் சல்லி வேர்கள் அறுந்தேன் சாவின் எல்லை வரை சென்று மீண்டு இன்று ரெண்டு ஜன்மம் அடைதேன்
துடிக்கும் உதடு கொண்டு துடைத்திடு வெட்கத்தை அணைப்பின் ஆதிக்கத்தால் வெளியேற்று அச்சத்தை சுகமாய் சுகமாய் கொள்ளையிடு என் உயிரை மட்டும் விட்டு விடு ...
This is one song i LOVE for the blend of music,the visual,the situation and mainly the lyric
In this weird world of people getting into different kinds of relationships, the concept of open marriage got me into some thinking. An open marriage is the one in which the partners willingly agree to each others’ extra marital sexual relationships without blaming it as deception or dishonesty. It is not regarded as a gratuitous act and is seen as a freedom of thought, action and a comfortable way of acknowledging each others’ desires and need.
An open marriage includes acceptance of flirtation, date, and by extension, involvement in a sexual relationship with others by the partner. It applies equally to both the partners. It is a way of saying “We are a couple. I love you. I want to spend my life with you. But I don’t want to miss out the chances of being in love/infatuation/mere lust with someone else, just because we are committed for a life time. I would like to explore my avenues in those regards. It is mutual and I don’t mind you getting into this thought too. Let’s free ourselves from the compelling clutches of this marriage institution and lead our lives the way we want”
It is natural that we all get awestruck and marvel at some people’s beauty or intelligence or skills or some quality at some point of time. If it stops with mere admiration, regards or respect, well and good. Sometimes it doesn’t .Considering that one such person(of the opposite gender) is acquainted to you through your friends, or work-circle, or any other means and if you get to be with that person intermittently or otherwise for a period of time, and you get attracted to that person in some way or the other, you tend to get closer to that person or at least will want to. Here comes the concept-an open marriage-allows you to follow your heart and doesn’t question your fidelity if you want to get into an extra-marital relationship with that person. It goes on well as long as you feel comfortable. It comes with no strings attached and you can move on without any commitment once you are out of the craziness. But now, do you even see a point in this?
Practically, love survives on justified possessiveness and that makes love what it is. Even if the couple agree to an open marriage, It is so natural that after a period of time, the concept loses it’s initial hype and there stems out jealousy, envy, possessiveness, resentment, anger, grudge and in turn hatred. Especially if one in the pair is affected by these, and the other doesn't mind/realize, it leads to a disaster. Your spouse will surely demand undivided attention, continuous love, full-fledged intimacy, all that you initially gave and promised to give him/her for a lifetime. Failing to give which, your marriage can become grueling.
Though it may have worked with some couples, say 1% of the lot, it gradually loses its sheen and fades away in due course of time and shatters the relationship into pieces in most of the cases. I don’t speak entirely based on statistics and random surveys alone, but personally, I am against this notion. I, for one, have always regarded individual freedom and space as a necessity in any relationship. A marriage should be the start or a continuation of love, as the case may be, and not be thrust upon an individual. Once you love someone and after all the matured thoughts, decide to marry that person, you apparently take your relationship to the next level physically and emotionally. It means you decide to spend the rest of your life with that person for the simple reason that you feel you can never be attached so much to anyone else, you feel you can never love/be loved by someone this much, you need this person for happiness in your life which, you feel, can never be given by anyone else. How can you even think of ruining this beautiful bond that exists between both of you due to some temporary flings or sensual pleasures?
It is a special feeling to be loved selflessly and unconditionally by someone. And when we feel the same towards that someone, it becomes a bond purely based on trust, hope and love alone it is our duty to foster its growth and nurture the feeling so that it doesn't culminate after a marriage but lasts forever. I’m not being ethical alone or not trying to sound conventional, but all said and done, an open marriage doesn't appeal to me.
Do what you feel and believe in what you do. If you think you don’t believe in the institution of marriage, never get into it. Once you believe in it and you are into it, give due regards to the relationship and the marriage,and be happy for all the blessings you have got through it, through your spouse, value your union and life will be beautiful!
It has just begun. It is beautiful. It is unusually different.It is exciting. It feels special. It is nice. It is sweet.It is happiness. It is lovely. It brings a smile. It will not change.It is just that!
It gives fear. It instills responsibility. It demands enormous patience. It is time-bound.It necessitates thinking. It needs level-headed approach. It is not confirmed. It is not assurance. It should not change. It is an idea.It is a chance, a probability,in turn, a possibility. It is a wait. It is a penance, of sorts. It is a test. It is life!
One of the soul-stirring songs i have heard is'ANJALI ANJALI' from the movie DUET.A lot of us would have been hypnotized by the brilliance of Kadri’s sax, scintillations from S.P.B’s voice, the might of vairamuthu’s pen, and of course,the blend of Rahman's music.
It is about two men, brothers, who propose the same girl and their visions of their love.
-----------------
I still wonder if any other raga other than Maand can do this magic. After the mellifluous Sax intro, a cymbal and a bright acoustic piano join in. As he slowly expands the theme, the chords start their work and Chitra’s humming outlines the pallavi. Tempted by the sweetness, the bass guitar joins her.The theme is completed by the sax as the notes go high,followed by the piano!
The man, a singer, starts romantically, dedicating some anjalis,-flowers, songs, gold, and poetry,to his girl ANJALI. The Sax and the piano romance again.He then describes neatly, how he is immersed in this bond of love, through the fine example of the rain and the sea.
The chords follow through and He finally says he holds her feet and cries in a high pitch, yearning for her love!
And here starts Chitra’s mesmerizing Aalaap.When we regain our senses once it's over,The girl, ANJALI explains how love has entered her soul. First through music and then through tamil(meaning, poetry). A clear expression of how the singer(music) and his Sax player brother(a poet), both have proposed to her, in that order.
‘isai vandha dhisai paarthu manam kuzhaindhen
thamizh vandha dhisai paarthu uyir kasindhen’
Ah! Of course, what else can she do, than let her heart to get carried away by music and poetry?
The flute now comes into picture along with the tabla and takes us to the smile-on-listening-mode. Now comes the turn of the second hero who loves her. Isn’t he a poet? He says there is no wonder like her, and poetically describes the effect of reciting her name.
‘anjali perai chonnen avizhndhadhu mullaiye’
He feels there is no poetry without her,his 'kanmani'. He wonders if she were born with the moon or formed in the womb of a flower. His powerful happiness is clearly shown, as the strings take the last line to a greater momentum.The flute returns again and gives the finishing touches for the beautiful blend of music,love and poetry.
----------------------
Though it’s the normal triangular love story, the music and the singer’s voice in this, take the concept of love and expression of the persons’ feelings to a greater height. Be it an-all-lights-switched-off-night, or a pleasant dew-filled morning; this song enhances the beauty of music and in turn, love.
Personally, i have certain duties at my desk. Not in any particular order.
Some mistakes to rectify. Some thoughts to clear off. Some passions to (re)follow. Some time for myself. Some people to catch up on. Some books to read. Some places to visit. Some stuffs to muse upon. Some incidents to remember. Some, to forget. Some prayers. Some thanks-givings. More silent smiles and lesser tearing tears, hopefully.
I just realize that, on the whole, i have a lot of work to do.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep
நீ தனிமை என்றால்,நான் துணையா? தூரத்திலா? நீ துணை தான் என்றால் ,நான் பேசவா ? யோசிக்கவா? நீ திரும்பி நின்றால் ,நான் நிற்கவா ? போய் விடவா? நீ போகிறாய் என்றால்,நான் அழைக்கவா? அழுதிடவா? நீ காதல் என்றால் , நான் சரியா? தவறா?
Courtesy: 'Un samayal araiyil' from the tamil movie 'dhill'
We treat each other with silence. the much needed,for the moment. I know not, if You care to think, but my mind is entering into a mindless marathon,of thoughts uncluttered.
I remember the stupid arguments. Stupid,i say,was not the argument by itself.The drift it takes.
Forgiving is not having to understand, i say. Forgiving without understanding is murdering a dying man,you say. It takes time to understand, i say. You reply with your silence. I need it, from you, and me.
If forgiving is an art,i'm still a student,learning it. I may fail to do well in the small tests,but i ace the final exam.Even if you think i don't,i can claim i don't cheat in the exam.
Forgiving is done by the heart which got hurt,for it realizes many things.There is an emotional touch,in the pain and the apology. Understanding is done by the mind,it takes some time.Hurrying doesn't pay.
I am ready to wait,you say. How long? You may wait,Life doesn't. It goes on. For all the craziness you see in me,some time in the future, you will realize,these were not crazy,and will miss me,for i wont be there till then, as a part of your wonderful life,that you so truly and richly deserve.
Why do I feel thus? Am I restless? How long am I going to keep grumbling? How will I ever convince myself that I’ll regret about it in the future, if I don’t stop feeling now? When will I get the guts to spurt it out? If at all I get, will that make a difference? When will I ask? How will I ask? Why should I ask, when I know the answer? I can surely keep from asking, but will that solve the problem?
What should I do? Can I divert myself by calling it an unimportant thought for the time-being? Then what’s the permanent solution? If getting rid of, is the only solution, is it possible? If not, why do I care about it? Don’t I realize that it’s silly to ask for the solution when I know it? Or, is the question now, will I be able to accept the solution? If I won’t be, do I have a choice?
Can I ever forgive? Or at least forget? Isn’t forgetting impossible? When will peace be restored? How many more sleepless nights should I have to contribute to this trouble? How long will I take to come out of it? Do I really want to come out at all? Will I feel normal, if not good, when I come out of it? How can i take it easy?
Does time know that mine is an exception to the general rule that it can heal everything? Do you think I’m exaggerating? Will you trust me if I say no? Why should I explain to you? If these form just a part of the long list of questions that I have in mind, can you believe it? Even if you do, Can u understand? Can anyone say something other than “chuck it”? am I kidding myself?
Can everyone understand that I’m not cribbing about some love-failure? If not, may I ask, Can love fail?
When will I realize I have a life to live? What is life without living? Still, what is life without an answer to these questions?
