How well can we survive?

While my head keeps thinking the most obscure and unrelated events and what follows, I felt it was the need to calculate how well the modern world will cope with different scenarios movies have shown us.

1) Alien Invasion - Survival Rating 6

Should we be invaded by extra terrestrials, the chances of survival would vary with each small input of data. E.g. the chances improve if the aliens horde the humans for any which nefarious purposes. In an all out annihilation, we still have chances with some modern weapons depending on how well advanced the enemy is. Rating drops to 3 if the aliens and their technology vastly outnumber us, but improve to 7 if they are just scouts unprepared to find hostile life.

2) Zombie Apocalypse - Survival Rating 7

We all have imagined this scenario countless times. The rules and hints are strongly embedded in a modern human mind. Most importantly it can be survived through hiding in for some time.

The chances improve to a modest 8 if we are organized and don’t try unnecessary heroism. The chances reduce to a 6 if the zombies are fast and organized. Developed nations have organized military to nip it in the bud, though you can’t try the same in crowded nations.

3) Rise of machines - Survival Rating 3

With all the gadgets one single person has, it is impossible to keep a tab on where the attack could come from. With the rise of consumerism, it is very easy to fall prey to an organized attack. The poor power sources and battery we currently have works in our advantage, but with more technology the chances start dropping.

4) Dalek invasion - Survival Rating 4

Seems simple to avert crisis from the pepper shakers, but our weapons are nowhere near ready to fight off the attack. Our emotionless, cold actions in current situations help in our advantage. Yet it is difficult not to be exterminated.

Note: It is necessary to note that ratings are dependent on area of impact and are subject to fluctuations. These ratings are based on research and are not verified by any government authority. And should any such tragedy befall us. Good luck and God be with us all.

My Thrill Ride

So one busy Monday, I’m riding my bike in rush hour traffic. Probably full of Monday morning blues. It’s a wide street; somehow I have drifted right into the middle. Although I’ve said rush hour, it is pretty fast. I’m feeling the wind in my hair, happy, smiling. Until…

First thing I see as I look down at my bike is dust. Slowly as I look up to my RVMs, I see strands of web. At the next traffic signal, I remove these webs. At least those I can reach. It was a moment like those in horror films with an unsuspecting prey.

My mind starts ticking only when the light turns green. If there were spider webs, there should be spi…

Suddenly, the master of the house I thrashed comes up out of nowhere. I think, ’It’s probably just taking a breath of fresh air’. But then it looks at me; through its cold, calculating eyes. Snapping its teeth.

JUMP! It’s on my speedometer. Now I’m scared. “Spiders! Why did it have to be spiders?”

The spider’s happy. It knows a jumbo meal, when it sees one. I can’t stop the bike, since I’m in heavy moving traffic. I can’t use my hands, never knowing when I’ll have to brake. I try blowing it off, it only comes closer.

I feel powerless. Can’t whack it, can’t blow it. The rain has already got my pants wet, so I can’t change anything there either. Suddenly the guy in front of me screeches to a stop. I have to do the same, only I do it with my eyes closed. When I open them its gone.

Where? The same question pops in my mind. Did it jump of my bike? Or is it crawling inside my clothes. My mind is set on the latter, but I reach home safe and sound.

I didn’t see it later, but I know its out there somewhere. I still have the nightmares.

The Pilgrimage

First of all, I’d like to start by saying I worked hard on the title. In the end, The Pilgrimage, ended up sounding better than ‘There And Back Again : A Fatty’s Tale’.

Now it all started with me jonesing for a fix of some good chicken. Since my love of fried chicken drove me, I decided to get some KFC. But, alas, with my increasing amount of fowl foods in the last week, it was hard to convince my parents for it.

Finally we reached a middle ground: I’d get my fix of KFC, if I was ready to walk all the way to the nearest franchisee. Now from the outside it seemed easy enough, but my parents had called my bluff. The fact is ‘walking’ is all greek to me. And any form of physical exercise is my buzzkill.

Yet, naturally I took up the task. It seems greatness was today, thrust upon me. After at least an hour of procrastinating, I had set out.

Now its usually customary to put your best foot forward. Both of mine seemed similar all around, so I started with the left one. For the first few minutes, it wasn’t quite as bad. I felt light, this seemed easy enough. Hell, I could do this all day.

But now, it was getting monotonous. I was mildly tired. My feet were well set in their rhythm. My body wasn’t too burned out. But my mind was suggesting that I had proved my point, I could walk if I wanted to.

But like all my favourite heroes, I was prepared to see the task through. Finally I reached my destination. I was so happy to have finally got there. There was this funny feeling I had. I felt healthy. The walk was good for me. I decided fried chicken would spoil that and turned around and left.

Psych!

I went inside and was trapped in the Saturday evening rush. After some time of deciding what I wanted and buying it, I began the return journey.

Now my body was a bit tired, my mind excruciatingly so. But I completed my journey and am sitting now eating some well earned spoils.

Dreams

Poetry may always be out of my comfort zone, but I still have this flickering love for it. This one has especially been in my mind for long, and I finally took time to bring it out. Although it seems sappy, cheesy or shallow, it is still an original thought brought to blog.

I dreamt a dream of yesterday,

Of times that have long passed away,

Of sheltered lives and simple years,

Of brave tales and sins and fears.

A time when thoughts grew in quiet,

And the world was only all in sight,

Ignorance led a lot amiss,

Yet ignorance then was truly bliss.

I dream at dawn of today now,

Life passing by swiftly somehow,

We know much more, yet learnt so less,

And the world today, seems a mess.

Disease grows more, than we can cure,

Love is lost, behind lust and allure,

And at each step war looms,

Today we only think of doom.

I dream tonight of tomorrow,

And what it may bring, joy or sorrow?

Can we grow, or is peace now lost,

Victory maybe certain, but at what cost?

Will what we learn, just cause us pain,

Or will life become simple once again.

I dream tonight, with hope it seems,

For tomorrow is but today, a broken dream.

- P. Beri