"I AM"

One poem entitled, "I AM" accepted and published by Asphodel Madness. 

Please read poem here:

http://asphodelmadness.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-am.html 

Thank you !

Why Finland?

First and foremost, I am grateful to the owner and CEO of this website who have given me an opportunity to jot downs few pointers for those who have decided to pursue academic career in the country of ‘fifty thousand lakes’. Well, welcome!

My article is entitled, “Why Finland?” Despite so many countries and  highly acclaimed professional institution in the world, you have decided to visit Finland (Tervetuloa—welcome in Finnish).

There are always two sides of the coin. Let me discuss some positive side of visiting Finland. In my opinion, you have made very good choice simply because there is no hurdle for paying tution fee.  While studying many students find extremely difficult to maintain work and life balance and when you get free education then you do not feel too much burden in your shoulder.

If you are a person who likes the Nature, then you are far more then welcome. You will defintely love this place. An extreme showcase of the Nature is displayed only in the Finland. I can rest assure you that if you haven’t found the God yet, you will discover only in Finland.

The ‘beautiful lakes’ and the ‘silence’ are two great combinations. Early morning, when the sun rises from the East and the light of the sun falls in the Finnish lakes, it feels as if you are living in the heaven while you are on the earth.

Okay, I may sound too poetic now. Let me tell you some bitter facts. As a International student, don’t expect too much. It is not an easy task to visit foreign country and study. However, it is good practice and every one highly recommends it nowadays. One must share the diverse cultural background and the experience which are vital for human existence. One simple fact is about jobs. It is not easy as it is not easy in ecomonically downtrodden soceity. Today, each and every country is facing this problem and Finland is no different. Many Finns are having difficulties to get back to work so don’t expect too quickly to get a highly qualified jobs. If you are lucky then you may discover some ‘orthodox jobs’ such as cleaning and paper delivery among others.

Let me come back to the topic, so you have chosen to visit this beautiful and peaceful land. Let us do some fact check, very recently the Newsweek magazine rated Finland as the number one country in the world.  Among 100 countries around the globe, the magazine analyzed and declared that Finland is the best. Many factors were taken into account for such analysis such as quality of life, quantity of life, ‘economic dynamism’, ‘political environment’, ‘education’ and ‘healthcare’. But don’t be baffled by what newspaper and magazine has to say. These days they print whatever they want. This doesn’t mean that I am suspecting their ranking, this simply means that you should better come and experience for yourself. There are lots of problems created by humans for the humans and the solutions are dew yet.

The problems of discrimination, racial problems and ‘internal or external conflict’ are everywhere. The least you may experience in some places and more; in another. If you are popping up from Asian Sub continent(Nepal, India, Bangaladesh, Srilanka etc) then please do your homework for great ‘cultural shock’. If you happen to visit from Europe then probably, you may experience some extremes but with minor changes in the climate among other things. If you are visiting from America and similar places, then you may discover lot of similarities with your own country.

Finland is riding high not only world’s number one country but also on ‘the planet's best food security’ country. The food is good. In Finland, don’t forget to experience Finnish food mostly potatoes (Peruna in Finnish).

Alright, Let’s come back again to topic, “why Finland?” There are lot of good things you may do and you should do while you are in Finland and there are lot of bad things you got to know before coming to Finland. Therefore, I recommend you should use ‘Google brother’; it knows lot of things which we don’t know, in our era of the ‘digital change’.

Learn about your instituion; your professor; your visiting city and develop habit of reading.  Once you have done quality background check then surely you will encounter lesser suprises. Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult to visit any places or country. And do not forget to share your expriences with friends and family. With social media on rise, I don’t have to tell this anymore.

The Bill gates vision for ‘information at fingertips’ has come alive. Each one of has information at our fingertips but quality information can only be found at rare places. Hence,  the most important lessons for student like you and me; BE TRUTHFUL.

In summary, its your choice and nobody has rights to judge on your personal choice. Not even the God/gods! If you have chosen to visit/study/live in the Finland then there are lot of empty places here to be filled. Let me share with you what one professor used to say while, I was in my school. “You will never know what you are doing until and unless you have done it.” Therefore, write your own story from Finland.

Acknowledgement: This article was first published in NepalFinland

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Words that everyone once used are now obsolete, and so are the men whose names were once on everyone's lips: Camillus, Caeso, Volesus, Dentatus, and to a lesser degree Scipio and Cato, and yes, even Augustus, Hadrian, and Antoninus are less spoken of now than they were in their own days. For all things fade away, become the stuff of legend, and are soon buried in oblivion. Mind you, this is true only for those who blazed once like bright stars in the firmament, but for the rest, as soon as a few clods of earth cover their corpses, they are 'out of sight, out of mind.' In the end, what would you gain from everlasting remembrance? Absolutely nothing. So what is left worth living for? This alone: justice in thought, goodness in action, speech that cannot deceive, and a disposition glad of whatever comes, welcoming it as necessary, as familiar, as flowing from the same source and fountain as yourself. (IV. 33, trans. Scot and David Hicks)


When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can't tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. (II. 1, trans. Gregory Hays)

Misery in Pakistan

They say

They say that I was born today

and I don’t know what that means.

They say that I have to go school

and I don’t know what would I do.

They say that I have to earn money

and I don’t know what should I do.

They say many things

and I don’t know anythings.

Maybe life is puzzle unsolved.

Maybe life is a rollercoaster ride

between love and hatred.

Maybe life is dream within a dream.

But I still don’t know

Where will it all lead

Anyways, I just have to live each

and every day and do what they

say.

Maybe I just have to think

What they think was always right

and do not interefere their insights.

As we all know they are the ones

Who create rules and we are

Ordinary people living on them.

Whatever they do affects entire

Humanity but they don’t know

how to play safe.

They say many things

and I don’t know if they misleading

us in some way.

Let this saddest song be sung

Near their corridor

So that they will find solutions

of all our problems, someday ! 

Fuck

After Friedrich Nietzsche declared that "God is Dead" - the word FUCK has become the most important word in the English language.

Picture of the Month

One poem featured in MAD SWIRL

Good news !!! One poem accepted/featured in MAD SWIRL poetry journal entitled, "creation"..... 

You may read the poem here for free: http://www.madswirl.com/content/poetryforum.html 

Here is the picture in which they say about featuring my work and other artist works....

Thank you and Enjoy your days !!! :)

STATISTICIAN

Politics and the English Language by Orwell

In "Politics and the English Language", Orwell provides six rules for writers:

* Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
* Never use a long word where a short one will do.
* If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
* Never use the passive where you can use the active.
* Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
* Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

—George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, Horizon, April 1946 [67]

Should We Manipulate Our Dreams?

A comment on Should We Manipulate Our Dreams?


"Normal dreams are normally unpleasant."

Dear Sir,

I am so lazy to read after the first lines of what you have written here. Let me tell you why. First of all I can write 1000 pages of text on why "normal dreams are NOT normally unpleasant" and many of my contemporaries will do the same.

I am really sorry but I hope that I am not being offensive about your insights. I am also sorry for my poor delivery of English in this 'small comment box' I don't get paid for putting my ideas by NYTimes and I don't do re-writing. So, let me get back to the first statement on why normal dreams are NOT unpleasant.

Let us assume that Mr. A is a normal guy and he lives in normal world and he has normal life. The usage of word: 'normal' is simply pointing to an ordinary life. When Mr. A is normal guy then it is not necessary that he also lives normal life. Well, to some extent he is bounded to live and sustain normal life but it not a predicament that he must live a normal life.

Therefore, When Mr. A is not living normal life then
Mr. A can live either abnormal life or Mr. A can live an extraordinary life.

The point is: Not all normal dreams are unpleasant.

To clarify please think about this:

Mr. A lives normal life then he must either dream normally or abnormally. If he dreams normally then he has greater chance of being rather pleasant than unpleasant. I think this is simple mathematics. If he dreams abnormally then he has greater chance of being rather unpleasant than pleasant.

Whatever be the case, I do not agree that all normal dreams are normally unpleasant.

The reasons are:

1. Normal dreams are manifestation of everyday reality.
2. What we dream is either for our future or is about things happening in the present.
3. Our consciousness and unconsciousness theory are outdated which needs to be re-written.


Anyways, I clearly understand the point you guys are trying to make for 'manipulation of dreams' and I think this is very much possible. I know how...

Thank you for bearing these texts with me.

Defining Prosperity Down

A comment on Defining Prosperity Down


Dear Sir Paul,

Thank you very much for your information but this is not of any help.

I am sorry but please bear with me for few seconds. Personally, I agree much of what you have to say here. Yes, joblessness is growing. There are people who are 'thinking' on how to fetch a job. On the other hand, there are those who have low wage jobs.

True that politicians (either democrat or republican) put blind ears to much of job creation. It is also true that they are not only to blame.

The blame goes to rich and elite industry owners who were once responsible to create jobs and who once gave people jobs.

The underemployment rate is growing and it will grow in near future. We are responsible for developing 'who cares' society. Now, we have to face the consequences.

I think the 'economic distress' will be norm in the future society. It is better to pack bags and run towards developing world. All the jobs given are in the developing world. When Mr. A can do same work as Mr. B in low wages why to employ Mr. B? I think, the same idea is followed by most of this big fat industries nowadays.

I hope you will get this point. The point is very simple. The bottom line is jobs will decline if not taken righteous action.

Thank you
and
May God bless us !

Society needs to change

This is with reference to the article by Arun Gupto “Contraries & contradictions” (july 21). I first of all would like to thank the writer for jotting down such a good piece and bringing into light the disorder and senseless things happening in Nepal.

            As pointed out by the writer, it is true that politicians say something and do something else but they are not only to be blamed. I would rather blame the society that we have developed. Until and unless we change our social values and practices, politicians alone won’t do and can’t do much for the country because they are also the product of the same society. In this light, people living in the society should be taught to be responsible for their own actions and  to be accountable to others while representing them.

            Furthermore, Nepal needs visionary leaders. Only such leaders can do something for the developement of the country. The practice of anybody joining politics should be discoraged. Personally, I don’t think putting blame on politicians alone will have any effect in bringing change in the country.

Published: Republica
Letter to the Editor

Its a beautiful day

Random thoughts

1. She is fearful that I will destroy her life but she is unaware of her own actions which has painful reactions.
2. Enjoy your days here, do what you feel right and break any rules. There are no rules under the sun.
3. Oh dear woman, do not feel proud of your white skin, it may burn in summer’s light.
4. She is fearful that I will destroy her life but she is unaware of her own actions which has painful reactions.
5. I am the king of romance and beggar of hatred.
6. A dying lady is growing on me. She wants me to smile everyday to keep a doctor away.
7. They say that I evolved from monkeys. I ask: where is my tail?
8. Oh dear Friday, why don't you come everyday? You are sweeter than Monday and sexier than Thursday.
9. If you like someone do not forget to hug. A touch will touch deeper than ocean and words will float like a boat.
10. Always be fearless. Walk like lion, talk like pigeons, live like elephants and love like an infant child.
11. Remember you are here for very short stay.Give what you have got and worry not. All your treasures are hidden beneath you.Start digging now.
12. I am enjoying the state of perfect happiness. This is so great. I am like a bird which lives without nest and does not want to rest.
13. I don't do drugs. I am addicted to words.
14. Happy week-end to all beautiful souls. Enjoy your days and forget what I have said.
15. Do not manipulate your ideas and thoughts. Let it be virgin and fresh.
16. I got sick obsession to play with an English alphabets. I am fcuking genius.
17. If music is food for life then please serve me everyday.
18. I am the king of romance and beggar of hatred.

My first chapbook entitled, "Warrior of light" accepted by NPB

My first chapbook is accepted by New Polish Beat. The chapbook is entitled, "Warrior of light". The chapbook has been edited by: A.J. Kaufmann


New Polish Beat is a small press committed to publishing modern poets from Europe and USA, poets working with style and passion.
We operate out of Poznan, Poland and are founded/run by Polish poet and songwriter, A.J. Kaufmann. Our chapbooks are printed in runs of hand-numbered, highly collectible 25 copies and cost $5 each (+ $2 shipping & handling).

To order these books, simply send an e-mail to aj_kaufmann@yahoo.com, indicate which chapbook(s) do you want to purchase and wait for an e-mail with further ordering info.

Travelling

Life is a journey
and travelling is fun

you meet people and those
people are no different than you

there are amazing sights
and insights,

there are beauties which
cannot be described

you should open your heart
and feel the deepness
of undiscovered lands


you meet people
for a while
and then finally
you have to depart

as city is a lady
and she will seduce
you to stay with you

but you have to leave her alone
and move on

because yet another city is waiting
to welcome you my lord.

A Conversation

The conversation begins with the human psychiatrist saying,

doctor, i have terrible news
YOU SAY YOU HAVE TERRIBLE NEWS
yes, there is a computer program at m.i.t. that'll ruin us
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT
i have seen it working
YOU SAY YOU HAVE SEEN IT WORKING
it's frightening-you must see it
YOU THINK I MUST SEE IT
you sound depressed to me
IN YOUR FANTASY PERHAPS WE SOUND DEPRESSED TO
EACH OTHER
yes-perhaps
I UNDERSTAND
i do too
YOU SAY YOU DO TOO
we are both in the same boat with respect to that computer
LET'S CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT YOU-SHALL WE
you are a comfort
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I AM A COMFORT
at a time like this you want to talk about me
WHY DO YOU THINK I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU
because you share my feelings about that damned computer
WHAT DOES THAT SUGGEST TO YOU
that, of course, you hate computers too
YOU THINK I HATE COMPUTERS TOO
why not, they're hardly human, are they
PERHAPS THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO FIND OUT
no computer could converse as you can, for example
OH
i can't understand how anyone could be fooled by a mere
machine
CAN'T YOU REALLY
no. after all, there is nothing creative about a computer
program
YOU ARE BEING NEGATIVE
i am convinced i am correct
ARE YOU WORRIED TO HAVE BEEN CONVINCED YOU ARE
CORRECT
no, not in the least, not at all. not even a little.
YOU ARE BEING NEGATIVE
you said you agreed with me, didn't you
IS THAT WHAT YOU HEARD ME SAY
why don't you try to dissuade me-computers diddle with
numbers, that's all
YOU WISH ME TO TRY TO DISSUADE YOU
you can't
YOU THINK i CAN'T
for example, could a computer in a conversation like this raise
a new topic
YOU SEEM TO HAVE AVOIDED SPEAKING OF YOUR
PARENTS ALTOGETHER
precisely as you just did
YOU THINK I JUST DID
yes, and that's what shows the difference between a man and a
computer
I SEE


From the book by Carl Sagan: Dragon of Eden

LOVERS AND MADMEN

Lovers and madmen have such seething brains
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all
compact . . .

WM. SHAKESPEARE

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Mere poets are as sottish as mere drunkards are,
who live in a continual mist,
without seeing or judging anything clearly.
A man should be learned in several sciences,
and should have a reasonable, philosophical,
and in some measure a mathematical head,
to be a complete and excellent poet. . .

JOHN DRYDEN

Few thoughts of the day

1. Sometimes, even THE GOD can go mad.

2. I can provide you more wisdom than your HOLY scriptures but you haven't understood it yet.All your theism and non-theism talks are useless.

3. I like to play with an English alphabets. It is similar to, a women's ornament. Man will never know how to use it and women will waste it.

4. We haven't understood the psychology of human mind. If we can then we will but we never will.

5. Enjoy every bit of your life to the fullest. Your compromises and sacrifices will be rewarded.

6. I maybe born through a biological process but I choose to come into being and I will go without informing.

7. The ultimate goal of science and religion is to discover potentials of truth.

8. The fools among us are presented to be wise and the wise among us are presented to be fools.

9. The theory of everything is the theory of nothing.

10. If we are interrelated with one another via thoughts and ideas then we are in virtual relationship with outer cosmos.

11. Everywhere I go and everyone I see have problems. All form of species have problem tag attached to them.

12. Being bored does not mean one cannot do anything. Being bored simply means: Need for change.

13. Everybody is searching for something which is not here.