Everyone learns from science; it all depends on how you use the knowledge

I love CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). It is a TV series about a group of investigators who gather evidence and use crime lab procedures to identify & catch criminals. I learn a lot in watching the show — forensic science, human behavior and implementation of the law (in US). There are currently 3 CSI TV shows : CSI Las Vegas (original), CSI Miami and CSI New York. My least favorite among them is CSI Miami. I find the characters too stoic and bland. They don't generate that much interest. The show in itself is OK but it just doesn't deliver. I like CSI New York. The cases are so unique ( it's NY, anything is possible). The stories are riveting. My fave CSI is Las Vegas. The characters are fascinating, they have quirks but it makes them endearingly human. In dramatic scenes, the acting is superb. At times, you can almost feel the struggle, fear or dread they want to convey. It's the show that popularized the statement "think out of the box".

A few seasons back, CSI was embroiled in the controversy that they are teaching criminals how to cover their tracks — on how to evade prosecution. It was alleged that they were in one or another teaching crooks on how to commit the perfect crime, ergo, should be banned. But I beg to disagree, CSI is on air primarily to entertain. If we learn from it, well and good. Knowledge per se, is not good or bad. How we apply that information makes it so.

Bookworm

A family friend recently had a garage sale and I bought 24 books. I know, that's a lot. But it was cheap as in dirt cheap. Most of the books I bought were sci-fi or suspense novels, all fiction. For those not in the know, I love to read. My whole family loves to read. I prefer the horror, sci-fi and suspense books. I indulge myself to romantic novels every now and then. I loathe self-help and instructional books. They bore me. A cousin of mine once told me that I have a vivid and wild imagination because of the books I've read (not to mention the movies I've seen). She's probably right. I find solace in reading a good book. I think Elizabeth Hardwick sums it all up when she said that reading is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you the knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.

My blog, my musings

A friend told me that my blogs are too philosophical, cryptic and "nakakabitin". What?!? I did not know whether she was kidding or complaining. But she was talking about me. Me, plain old me — a philosopher! Wow! Yeah, yeah, I know being philosophical (hey, her word not mine) does not make me a philosopher. But that is one adjective I never thought would be used to describe me (okay, my blog). As for being cryptic, I have to protect myself. I have to make sure nobody recognizes "you know who" and the real situation of "you know what". Else, you will find the words libel, defamation of character, temporary restraining order in my next blog. As for making it a cliffhanger, I assure you it was not my intention. I just don't know how to wrap it up. I am afraid that if I continue I'd be revealing more than I intend to. And you know me, I err to the side of caution.

Facing our Humanity

It hard to face our humanity. We look in the mirror and see what we've become. We all have our values and ethics. It becomes our basis of what is right and wrong, of what is acceptable and what is not. And when the time comes that we cannot live up to them, we realize our humanity, understand compassion for others, and empathy for the struggle people go through. So let us not be harsh in our judgment of others. We do not know the circumstances of their situation. For one day, we might go through the same ordeal and realize we could be much worse savages.

A Fairy Tale

You feel there is something wrong with you. You need to go to the doctor to have a check-up. But you don't want to because you know he will just confirm your suspicions. You're afraid you can't deal with it.

We all say we want to know the truth. But can you handle it? Sometimes, we put off finding out the harsh reality of the matter because ignorance is bliss. What we don't know can't hurt us. We want to believe the farce that everything is okay. In short, we are believing and living a lie.

I know the next thing I should say is to have the courage and conviction to find out the truth and deal with it. But I can't. Because, I too, don't want the fairy tale to end. I still want to hold on to "happily ever after……….."