Monday, April 30, 2007
Blank Mind!
I'm sitting here in the library with a borrowed laptop in fron t of me trying to write some shit, but nothing comes to mind. I feel lethargic. My brain has stopped working and worse still I'm on my last ciggarette of the pack! Oh shit! I will go out and smokeit anyway, maybe something will come up.......
Monday, April 23, 2007
Kun papi le rangai halyo
Listen to the song and the video. I couldn't help laughing.... Someone came close with expressing their feelings......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oXOmC_Qvsw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oXOmC_Qvsw
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Virginia Tech and Me
I've been to Blacksburg once. This was in the early 2005. More of a personal visit. We drove all the way from NH to Potsdam NY, and then from Potsdam NY to Blacksburg VA. That was one long trip. We still had some snow on the ground. We did get caught in a minor snowstorm in Potsdam, but in Blacksburg, it was more of a rain.
The Blacksburg campus is huge, to say the least. Maybe a larger version of Durham, the same brick buildings, the same huge expanses of lawns and buildings, the same houses where faculty lived, and student dorms - a typical campus town. The best thing that I remember from Blacksburg is that there was this marvelous little place where you could get excellent gyros. I had more than three in a single go. I had to wait to meet someone, so well, it was a good way to pass time as any.
So it was a news of somewhere that I had been when I first heard of the shooting. I think it was on CNN, a bottom scroller about two people murdered. Nobody was paying any attention at that time. The number suddenly escalated to 22 and then to 32, with the gunman - the total count - 33 dead. And then - all hell broke loose. In TV talking heads were shouting, blaming everyone left, right and center. The fault of police, the VT administration, the gun culture, Hollywood, violent games, his mother - I'm sure all must have come up.
The first thought that I had when this thing happened was, who's the guy - hopefully not someone from outside the country! Shortly, CNN started to say Asian Male. Wow! that was a shocker. The next thought was, not a South Asian or a Muslim guy. Because that would have the potential of us getting beaten when walking down the street. We're in enough hot water as it is. But thankfully, the guy turned out to be a South Korean, even though he was brought up and spent most of his life here, went to a VA school, probably did not speak a word of Korean. He still was "South Korean". I feel sorry for his parents though. They must have worked hard to get established with their little laundry, working late, even on weekends, no vacation to speak of, no holidays and the jerk of a son turns out to be a mass murderer.
And the outpouring of grief - don't get me wrong - I feel sorry for the victims - but not more so than I feel sorry for people dead in a car bombing in Iraq or people dead in Darfur. I probably feel more sad when I hear of a killing in my own city or country more. I just do not have the same outpouring of grief, hand wringing. I do not get choked up and angry. I do not feel the need to blame anyone or to explain "why" this happened. Sorry!
It seems, at least in Media's eyes, life had different value for different parts of the world. Maybe not only media, because they are a mirror of society - and it thus must be society that values life from one part of the world - life of certain types, values, mores, color, background - more than others.
A more glaring example was seen with the death of "Princess" Diana. A month later Mother Teresa died. Just compare the social contributions of both, the importance of lives of both and the media attention and the outpouring of grief. When Diana died, people were crying on the streets, the gate of Buckingham was covered with flowers, when Mother Teresa died, maybe some black skinned lepers felt bad, but the world was too engrossed on something else.
The death of Anna Nicole Smith is another example, why is that even news? And for the death of me, I do not understand why the fucking judge cried? Where's even the show of impartiality and impassiveness?
And yesterday, the media was into the NASA thing. Again someone took someone hostage and got killed I believe. By the end of the week, I've had enough of it - media fatigue, I suppose.
And now, all universities are into counselling. I received an email yesterday on pointers of how to start a "conversation" about the tragedy. Well, I don't know what to say or think about that. I have my own problems to worry about.
The only sensible news I heard of this whole sorry affair was on NPR, where a guy talked about the "South Korean" guy being a local of Virgina - just a kid from Virginia, and he followed a path that led to an American Tragedy -
The Blacksburg campus is huge, to say the least. Maybe a larger version of Durham, the same brick buildings, the same huge expanses of lawns and buildings, the same houses where faculty lived, and student dorms - a typical campus town. The best thing that I remember from Blacksburg is that there was this marvelous little place where you could get excellent gyros. I had more than three in a single go. I had to wait to meet someone, so well, it was a good way to pass time as any.
So it was a news of somewhere that I had been when I first heard of the shooting. I think it was on CNN, a bottom scroller about two people murdered. Nobody was paying any attention at that time. The number suddenly escalated to 22 and then to 32, with the gunman - the total count - 33 dead. And then - all hell broke loose. In TV talking heads were shouting, blaming everyone left, right and center. The fault of police, the VT administration, the gun culture, Hollywood, violent games, his mother - I'm sure all must have come up.
The first thought that I had when this thing happened was, who's the guy - hopefully not someone from outside the country! Shortly, CNN started to say Asian Male. Wow! that was a shocker. The next thought was, not a South Asian or a Muslim guy. Because that would have the potential of us getting beaten when walking down the street. We're in enough hot water as it is. But thankfully, the guy turned out to be a South Korean, even though he was brought up and spent most of his life here, went to a VA school, probably did not speak a word of Korean. He still was "South Korean". I feel sorry for his parents though. They must have worked hard to get established with their little laundry, working late, even on weekends, no vacation to speak of, no holidays and the jerk of a son turns out to be a mass murderer.
And the outpouring of grief - don't get me wrong - I feel sorry for the victims - but not more so than I feel sorry for people dead in a car bombing in Iraq or people dead in Darfur. I probably feel more sad when I hear of a killing in my own city or country more. I just do not have the same outpouring of grief, hand wringing. I do not get choked up and angry. I do not feel the need to blame anyone or to explain "why" this happened. Sorry!
It seems, at least in Media's eyes, life had different value for different parts of the world. Maybe not only media, because they are a mirror of society - and it thus must be society that values life from one part of the world - life of certain types, values, mores, color, background - more than others.
A more glaring example was seen with the death of "Princess" Diana. A month later Mother Teresa died. Just compare the social contributions of both, the importance of lives of both and the media attention and the outpouring of grief. When Diana died, people were crying on the streets, the gate of Buckingham was covered with flowers, when Mother Teresa died, maybe some black skinned lepers felt bad, but the world was too engrossed on something else.
The death of Anna Nicole Smith is another example, why is that even news? And for the death of me, I do not understand why the fucking judge cried? Where's even the show of impartiality and impassiveness?
And yesterday, the media was into the NASA thing. Again someone took someone hostage and got killed I believe. By the end of the week, I've had enough of it - media fatigue, I suppose.
And now, all universities are into counselling. I received an email yesterday on pointers of how to start a "conversation" about the tragedy. Well, I don't know what to say or think about that. I have my own problems to worry about.
The only sensible news I heard of this whole sorry affair was on NPR, where a guy talked about the "South Korean" guy being a local of Virgina - just a kid from Virginia, and he followed a path that led to an American Tragedy -
Friday, April 06, 2007
Sine Wave of Life
Ah the sine wave - perfect in its undulations. Changes polarity with whatever frequency that you set it to. For power lines, sixty hertz, of course if you have anything near it, you may have some harmonics induced. It can of course pose tricky questions, especially for little freshman on their first Viva-Voce (why Latin? for a pain in the ass oral exam? Just copy what the professors taught you, bastards!!) of their life.
Question - why is the power line current (or voltage for that matter) sinusoidal?
Answer - because you're a fucking moron! That's why. Take that you jerk!!
These days I find life also follows a sinusoidal pattern. Both in long term effects, and short term effects. Also in terms of moods. It does not matter if you differentiate it or integrate it, you get the same thing, just shifted by a pi. Meaning, no matter what you do, you end up with the same shit!
Question - why is the power line current (or voltage for that matter) sinusoidal?
Answer - because you're a fucking moron! That's why. Take that you jerk!!
These days I find life also follows a sinusoidal pattern. Both in long term effects, and short term effects. Also in terms of moods. It does not matter if you differentiate it or integrate it, you get the same thing, just shifted by a pi. Meaning, no matter what you do, you end up with the same shit!
Birth and death are both zeros, in that you come with nothing and leave with nothing. The rest, both the crescendo and the diminuendo and everything else happen in between. Childhood, untill you can ask your parents for money probably is the rising part. Once you start t earn and are single or with a girl (without kids) probably is the peak. After that, hehehe downhill. Roll down like a stone! And then you reach a bottom such that death seems like rising to something.
And surprisingly the same with moods. If you're in the rising edge of the sine curve, moods elate, and if you're in the falling edge, then God help you. Same with your Mojo, Libido and whatever have you. Same with popularity and fads.
Remarkable thing this sine wave!
Beauty Queen Hisila Yami and Jeans
So the minister for water resources (?) went to her inauguration ceremony in a jeans and a coat. So much for the America hating red-comrades, they still have love for the quintessential jeans. I wonder if it was a Levi-Strauss 501 with a custom emblem on the hip-pocket. (Apparently Levi fought a legal battle with other jeans manufacturers for this custom stitch design). Leftists have a love hate relationship with America and its culture. Hate Americans but love the jeans. Hate the government but love the people. Hate the court system but love the strong presence of law. Hate the Walmart but love Coca Cola. Better still, fight for you right against the imperial capitalist dogs, but drink a cool Coke when your throat gets parched, of course meanwhile you wear the jeans, maybe even with a t-shirt with a Che-Guevara image staring out of it.
And Mr. Mahara wants to ban a beauty pageant. Bingo!! that must be the secret source of feudalistic power of the Kings, Emperors and Prime ministers in out country. And that must be the reason that we are so backward. Imagine, if as a society we idealize (or maybe idolize) dumb blonds (ever seen one in KTM, maybe "brunettes" is a better choice of words) how dumb our society is going to be! The minister is progressive enough to wear jeans to her office, but you will be sorry if you wear jeans out in the streets. How dare you!!
Moral policing! Our society loves to act as a moral police. Of the millions of robberies, rapes, murders and the like going on - the police chase kids with long hair. Smugglers roam free, but if you get caught in a bar in Thamel after the curfew hour (when is that anyway?) haha! good luck. Of course, it does not matter if Paras Sarkar let's go a burst from his AK-47, or Glock, or maybe even a humdrum shotgun in a discotheque. Sarkar le galti kasari garna sakibaksanchha ra!
Talk about cognitive dissonance, Nepali society, look at yourself in the mirror, especially you leftists!
And Mr. Mahara wants to ban a beauty pageant. Bingo!! that must be the secret source of feudalistic power of the Kings, Emperors and Prime ministers in out country. And that must be the reason that we are so backward. Imagine, if as a society we idealize (or maybe idolize) dumb blonds (ever seen one in KTM, maybe "brunettes" is a better choice of words) how dumb our society is going to be! The minister is progressive enough to wear jeans to her office, but you will be sorry if you wear jeans out in the streets. How dare you!!
Moral policing! Our society loves to act as a moral police. Of the millions of robberies, rapes, murders and the like going on - the police chase kids with long hair. Smugglers roam free, but if you get caught in a bar in Thamel after the curfew hour (when is that anyway?) haha! good luck. Of course, it does not matter if Paras Sarkar let's go a burst from his AK-47, or Glock, or maybe even a humdrum shotgun in a discotheque. Sarkar le galti kasari garna sakibaksanchha ra!
Talk about cognitive dissonance, Nepali society, look at yourself in the mirror, especially you leftists!
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