Lost and Regained

eMAJInation

A poem composed six  to seven years ago, when I was quite a theist. Now a pantheist, this poem resonates with me now more than what it used to.

Happy Reading…

With my duty finally ended,

I now walk empty-handed

Nothing gained and everything lost

I made the mistake and I have paid the cost

I have lost myself and have lost my way

Inside the labyrinth of life I now walk astray.

The strange sights that I see:

The spirits wandering,

The clouds thundering,

And fire blazing through the sky.

But still I keep on walking—

Although I know not the reason why!

My body aches and my feet are sore

But my heart aches all the more

But still I do not stop

Driven by a queer passion,

That pushes me away—

Away from the enchanted dungeon.

Now, now I see some light in pitch blackness

A ray of…

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Traveling to Spiti Valley

Untraveled Routes

Reaching Spiti Valley

“Spiti Valley is the land defined as God’s abode”, this place is as unique and spectacular as it’s name. The wonderland is so beautiful that we decided to dedicate a segment to it on our blog.

That is just a glimpse of the wonderland, Untraveled Routes will soon be sharing more pictures and all the required travel details 🙂

We, as in me, Ashish (my soulmate) with our 11 months old little love in tow did an epic road trip to Spiti Valley in April 2016. We covered the region in 10 – 11 days by our i10 🙂 and Ashish did the heroic task of driving throughout. I will be gradually sharing all the details right here in this section.

The only way to witness the beauty of this place is by road.The transcendent roads are something you would have never seen or experienced before. These…

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The BeZine, Vol.2/Issue 8, The Books That Changed Our Lives

Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine

May 15, 2016

Books are a uniquely portable magic.
Stephen King, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”

Books are a primary way we get to travel, meet new people, and learn about the world and the human condition outside the narrow confines of our personal concerns, our families and communities. They are indeed magic: they inform, heal, spur us to action, offer new perspectives, new ways of being in the world and – perhaps most important – they open us to the joys and suffering of others.

In this month’s lead feature, Algerian poet, writer, university student and frequent contributor to The BeZine, Imen Benyoub, tells how three important books that focus on war and genocide teach us about “courage, tolerance, love and sacrifice” and bear witness to “how generous and resilient a human spirit can be, even in the darkest times.”

Imen’s feature is suggestive of The BeZine‘s raison d’etre: to come together from different parts of…

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Urban Legands in Every State

Blog of Things:

Twentytowards.comlisted an urban legend for every state. I wish they had more for each state.

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Rochester International Jazz Festival 2016

Jazz You Too

The XRIJF is a respected jazz music festival, this year celebrates its 15th anniversary, the programme features 1,500 artists from 19 countries, its last edition drew almost 200,000 people from all over the world. This year’s lineup includes among others, and choosing only my favourite ones, Chick Corea Trio w/ Christian McBride | Brian Blade.

official website:http://rochesterjazz.com/

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My latest June 2016 Metrolink Adventure with Pictures

ntbraymer

By Noel T. Braymer

I left the house in the mid-afternoon and got to the Oceanside Station with about 15 minutes to spare to catch the last afternoon  Metrolink train of the day to Los Angeles. Traffic was light driving towards downtown Oceanside in the afternoon. But traffic was heavy downtown near the beach on a nice hot day. When I got up to the ticket machines there was a long line of people waiting to buy Metrolink tickets at the lone machine by the platforms. I went over to check the other Metrolink ticket machine over by the Amtrak waiting room and if anything the line of people there was even longer. I pondered what to do, then decided this was as good a time as any to try out Metrolink’s online ticketing. At least on this trip I wasn’t planning to transfer to LA Metrorail, so I could…

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Drugs and Human Dignity

philosophical Epiphany

Onmorality, The German philosopher Immanuel Kant states that one ought treat others as ends in themselves and nevermerely as means. This, I believe, to be reflexive; namely, onecan not treat themselves as a mean or merely a thing.

One’sobligation to oneself consists ofa ban against designating theirselfhood as a toy tosheer inclinations. This obligation hasan exceptionally swaying logic thatpertains to human dignity. Since the epitome of human dignity is to never deal with others or yourself merely as a thing, it appears that the manipulation of a human being viadrug-induced pleasures should be regarded as an obvious infringement of human dignity. Drug-induced pleasures interfere with one’s selfhood, and they seem to degrade a being to a plaything of inclinations. Thus, human dignity is severed when theemotions are dominated by drug-induced sense of happiness.

Let us go on further in the illustration of drug-induced happiness; here, the individual is dispossessed…

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Sparkling blue sea

The Journey of My Left Foot (whilst remembering my son)

Sunday 15th May

The sparkling blue sea
Brings a smile to me
For I know you would be
Quite content and happy.

From pain you’re set free
You’ve been given the key.
But we did not foresee
This is now, reality
You’re forever aged thirty.

Life has no guarantee
No promise of immortality
But we thought you’d be
Here for longer, sweetpea.

Love you my Angel.
Blowing kisses to heaven
Across the sparkling sea.

xxxxxxx

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STB: CSX must report blocked crossings on Chicago rail line

CSX will need to submit monthly reports for the next year that detail situations in which grade crossings are blocked by trains on its line in southwest Chicago and adjacent suburbs, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruled last week.

The STB ordered that CSX can’t operate trains into or out of the Chicago terminal over the Elsdon Line unless the line is clear, according to the agency’s decision.

The monthly reports must detail the railroad’s efforts to address malfunctioning gates, the number of crossing blockages that exceed 10 minutes, and situations in which trains are not being cut to avoid blocking crossings and why, according to a press release issued by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office.

In February, Emanuel and the village of Evergreen Park, Ill., filed a petition with the STB asking the agency to consider sanctions against CSX because of an “unacceptably high” number of freight trains blocking crossings. They wanted the board to monitor the railroad’s operations on the Elsdon Line.

When CSX acquired an operating easement on the line from the Grand Trunk Western Railway Co. in 2013, the Class I agreed to route trains on the line only when it was clear.

“Ever since CSX secured the right to operate on this track, residents have told us that trains along the Elsdon Line routinely cause lengthy delays that not only inconvenience residents but threaten public safety by blocking access to area hospitals,” said Emanuel.

The STB ruled that CSX had not been complying with its original agreement and ordered the railroad to do so, as well as issue reports monthly on any blockages on the line.

Sun Rays, Rocky River, Oregon