Written on the 1st of December, 2008
San Diego Harbor mesmerized us. We were deprived of this in Houston. All of us in our own world, pondering life as it came. Until that phone call. Taj and Oberoi under seige, ATS chief Karkare dead. Terrorists in control over south Bombay. 900 TCS employees warned not to get out. Hostage situation on the rise, point and shoot not a misnomer anymore. This was all the updates we got, sneaking in updates from CNN about the situation in Bombay. Every chance we got, we heard something new, and then we were disgusted.
Frantic phone calls were made. Non bombaites in India had no clue to the unfolding events in Bombay. I called up my dad, only to awake him from his good night slumber and inform him about the situation. His first reaction- Don't worry its nothing. When I filled him up with details, he realized we had friends in that area and decided to check up on then. He called me back, thank whoever, nothing had happened to them. All our friends and family had been contacted.
We were back in downtown San Diego.
And then it was the usual. Analyze. Analyze what happened, what could have been done to prevent it, what should have been done even if there were obstacles, the usual wouldas-couldas-shouldas! Who was at fault, who claimed responsibility? Did the Indian Intelligence have prior information? Whose fault was it? How many people dead? Why isn't NDTV updating their website? Are you seriously telling me that this is headline/frontpage news on CNN, NYTimes? What is going on? Can someone let us know please? Damn the government!
Oh oops, did I just say government? That thing that is meant to protect us, that thing that we as citizens (those who vote (willingly to add onto that)) elect to power. We transcend into that word the minute we run out of options to blame someone. In this case, lets just blame...I give up. I don't know whom to blame cause we have so many of them in question. It took 9 hours for the commandos to arrive. Are you KIDDING me? 3 full days of sustained encounter. We did zilch. We sent in local policemen with pistols as reinforcements, when the opponent had AK-47s. Plain brilliant. We decide what to do after we get there, not while we are getting there. What happens in situations like these, does anyone think through or does everyone just go with instinct?
Do we have the right to analyze this sitting all the way here in the US? Is it just because it’s easy to blame it on human instinct that we analyze? We talk about things being bad back home, and we do this while we enjoy fruits here. The government should learn something from its foreign counterparts. Aren't we escaping from something? What it is I don't know either, but it seems like we'd much rather be here than there, at least for the moment. Think about it. We worry, we panic, we can't do a thing. We go back to doing what we are supposed to do, considering that's what we planned on when we took that flight to the US.
It's the same thing back home, you tell me. Sure it is. Which makes the situation all the more repulsive. I remember I got into a huge argument with my father and his friend about how cowardly a portrayal we drew, when all we did was sit at home and analyzed a wrong doing. A friend once told me, if you don't vote, you don't have a voice. I couldn't agree more. I know a lot of people in India, who inspite of being able to vote, have not voted. Lazy, irresponsible, self-centered citizens. Sorry, but its true. Its easy to analyze at home and think about the do's and don't's, its apparently very difficult to get yourself to the polling station.
We can sit down and analyze all we want. 5 terrorists (reportedly) still loom large in Bombay. Terrorizing the city as they breathe. What happened in Bombay was sheer pathetic. India's 9/11 they call. A black mark on what mankind believes. And yes the government failed once again. It failed to do what it vouches for- protect its citizens. It failed to get help as soon as possible. It failed at the nick of time, because it was too busy playing politics. It turned down Israel's crackdown team. It turned down help- what was it protecting? The non-existant ego? Not everything is IT. India shining is long gone. IT won't save us from what happened on that night of 26th November 2008. Nuclear deals won't save us from that either. Blaming everyone except your own work won't as well. When time came to act, everyone resigned. Resigned cause that was the easiest thing to do. Get someone new to handle and blame. Of course, the previous leaders go back to doing what they do best- NOTHING.
But Mr. Deshmukh did make sure to visit Ram Gopal Verma for a possible movie. I love Bollywood.
Not one straight story as to what happened that night. Not one. All sporadic information.
San Diego, in all its beauty, was somber, until we let that fade away.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
A decision
When it comes to decision making, I am the last person one should contact. The number of "I guess"es you will hear in the conversation will leave you more flustered than before. Having said that, what happens when I find myself in such a situation? One such situation being the upcoming elections on the 4th of next month. One of the hardest things a voter is faced with is making the "right" choice. A very subjective right choice, but nonetheless, a right choice in the bigger frontier. I would like to believe that my thinking has changed from when I was 18 and voted that year (the 2004 elections), but then again with what guarantee. In short, I am faced with a decision to make on the 4th of November.
As we all are aware, the election hoopla started as early as Nov 06, so early that people took a step back to think as to when the elections were in reality. Over the past year and a half, we've seen everything in the political scenario- none that we are unfamiliar with. I myself have been a part of this chaos, attending campaign visits made by Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, and quite recently, listening to all the debates.
You go into these things with a clear mind, until you have a conversation with someone opposing you and forcing you to question your own views. What happens then? You know you are wavering in your understanding, but how sternly can you stand your ground? I can get convinced easily, usually not on issues like these, but yes, I start to waver a little. I could blame it on the two party system in the US, urging for a need for moderacy, but who's listening? So I vote. I vote to make myself heard, however, with a catch in my head. Would it have been better off me not voting, rather than jeopardizing the decision? The Swing Voters' Curse is a paper that talks about how undecided voters should abstain from voting. I wouldn't consider myself undecided but a little confused (Wonder what's different). November 4th, I will make a decision, a decision that we'll have to stick with for at least four years.
In the broader prospect of it all, its great when someone else makes the decision for you, but oh well I am sure I will have a post to write about when that is the case.
Thank you Terezia for this
As we all are aware, the election hoopla started as early as Nov 06, so early that people took a step back to think as to when the elections were in reality. Over the past year and a half, we've seen everything in the political scenario- none that we are unfamiliar with. I myself have been a part of this chaos, attending campaign visits made by Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, and quite recently, listening to all the debates.
You go into these things with a clear mind, until you have a conversation with someone opposing you and forcing you to question your own views. What happens then? You know you are wavering in your understanding, but how sternly can you stand your ground? I can get convinced easily, usually not on issues like these, but yes, I start to waver a little. I could blame it on the two party system in the US, urging for a need for moderacy, but who's listening? So I vote. I vote to make myself heard, however, with a catch in my head. Would it have been better off me not voting, rather than jeopardizing the decision? The Swing Voters' Curse is a paper that talks about how undecided voters should abstain from voting. I wouldn't consider myself undecided but a little confused (Wonder what's different). November 4th, I will make a decision, a decision that we'll have to stick with for at least four years.
In the broader prospect of it all, its great when someone else makes the decision for you, but oh well I am sure I will have a post to write about when that is the case.
Thank you Terezia for this
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
USA ( It might not be a post for all of you)
This country does something to you. It makes you appreciate loneliness. Most of us are surrounded by friends and family here, but when its time to turn off the lights, you realize how alone you are... Someone the other day pointed at the noise of silence in this country. Though most of us laughed his comment off, I realized how right and how honest he was. A lot of us yearn for a support group, just to get us through the day. Face it, we are all in that situation. You could argue that it isn't country specific, but somehow it seems so.
And then of course the want to stay back here. We all come here thinking we'll stay here for a while and then go back, but then the fact that you begin to appreciate the independence you have, the self confidence you have harnessed here, the loneliness that doesn't eat you up anymore, all add up to you being a hypocrite to your own fundamentals. I have personally seen so many people say- I am going back- only to return to me a couple of months, not years, but months later and say- No one wants to leave this place- if its a genuine thing, fine. But do not use it as a defense mechanism because it's purpose is evident. I can't stand it when I come across these situations. And I can't stand it when people ask me what I will be doing- whether I will be staying here or whether I will be going back to India. If you can't figure it out on your own, don't try and figure it out through me and my thoughts; nothing's stopping me from classifying that as a sadistic view. Decipher what you want to do by what you want in life, not by what others want in life. Its disgusting when you do that.
So yes, this country does something to you ( if I may repeat). Can we get away from it is the question? I haven't seen anyone do so, and I don't think it will change for a while.
And then of course the want to stay back here. We all come here thinking we'll stay here for a while and then go back, but then the fact that you begin to appreciate the independence you have, the self confidence you have harnessed here, the loneliness that doesn't eat you up anymore, all add up to you being a hypocrite to your own fundamentals. I have personally seen so many people say- I am going back- only to return to me a couple of months, not years, but months later and say- No one wants to leave this place- if its a genuine thing, fine. But do not use it as a defense mechanism because it's purpose is evident. I can't stand it when I come across these situations. And I can't stand it when people ask me what I will be doing- whether I will be staying here or whether I will be going back to India. If you can't figure it out on your own, don't try and figure it out through me and my thoughts; nothing's stopping me from classifying that as a sadistic view. Decipher what you want to do by what you want in life, not by what others want in life. Its disgusting when you do that.
So yes, this country does something to you ( if I may repeat). Can we get away from it is the question? I haven't seen anyone do so, and I don't think it will change for a while.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Presidential Debate-I
The 2008 Presidential Debates kicked off last night at the University of Mississippi. To say the least, everyone was watching. Viet and I weren't exceptions to the everyone clause either, cause what better else can bored economics graduate students do on a Friday night.
Background: Viet and I have known each other for a very long time now, considering we both did our undergrad from UH and from economics. While I am still at UH, Viet ran away to MSU. But we still chat- a lot! And I mean A LOT!!!! So we decided to chat about the debate live, cause both of us are quite iffy when it comes to the memory issue. Midway through the chat we decide to put it on my blog, because we are that bored and want to be amused by god knows what. So here it is: You can be offended, you can laugh at it, you can laugh at our chats, but do not question are views, cause trust me both of us were LIVE BLOGGING and we were bored. [I figure I won't be able to use the BORED excuse for quite some time]. Have fun!
Background: Viet and I have known each other for a very long time now, considering we both did our undergrad from UH and from economics. While I am still at UH, Viet ran away to MSU. But we still chat- a lot! And I mean A LOT!!!! So we decided to chat about the debate live, cause both of us are quite iffy when it comes to the memory issue. Midway through the chat we decide to put it on my blog, because we are that bored and want to be amused by god knows what. So here it is: You can be offended, you can laugh at it, you can laugh at our chats, but do not question are views, cause trust me both of us were LIVE BLOGGING and we were bored. [I figure I won't be able to use the BORED excuse for quite some time]. Have fun!
8:01 PM me: ok debate time
:D
yay! debate!!!
8:02 PM Viet: oh lord
question, what's the point of suspending campagine activities???
8:03 PM me: hahahaha
8:04 PM Viet: i mean, the RNC was scaled way back due to hurricane, i can somewhat see the point
me: :D
8:05 PM Viet: what???
:D
8:08 PM hez not answering the queston???!?!?!
Viet: that's a total sonic the hedgehog rip-off
me: yea
true that
8:09 PM Viet: he didn't answer a question???
me: no
as in
he kept saying bt how he went to Washington and stuff
the guy asked him where dyu stand about the gloabl fina issue
and thats what he said
8:10 PM Viet: wtf???
8:11 PM wth does normandy has to do w/ anything??
me: PRECISELY
obama's kicking his butt
he needs to realize that
8:12 PM Viet: hahaha mccain isn't patriot enough
me: BRILLIANT
Viet: he aint got an american flag pin on
me: hehehhehehehe
8:13 PM Viet: hey do u know how i can get an absentee ballot??
8:14 PM me: hmm good question
donno though
lets research this
there u go
research done
Viet: huh???
8:15 PM what does gov spending and the financial crisis has to do w each other??
me: lessee
because the govt doesnt spend enuff we have a fin crisis
or because they spend we have a fin crisis
8:16 PM i dont think mccain noes what hez talking about
Viet: mccain is going w the second
me: ok
:D
brilliant
:D
8:18 PM REALLY??????
oh lord
he doesnt know what hez talking
8:19 PM Viet: obama's geting pissed
me: yea.....
brb
dinner time
8:20 PM lets hope obama isnt pissed too much
hez being more assertive though
Viet: k
me: mccain's taking it lightly
| 17 minutes |
8:37 PM Viet: let's count how many time mccain says he can cut spending
8:38 PM or miss congeniality
me: i was just about to type that
8:39 PM Viet: hahhaa
me: hahahah amy mom says
why is he saying eeraq instead of eyeraw
Viet: lessons of iraq, i can cut spending
me: eyeraq*
my*
Viet: what strategy??
me: :D
8:40 PM some strategy
i am gonna post our chat on this on the blog
:D
Viet: it's the no strategy that is our strategy
me: precisely
Viet: do it
me: oh there we have patraeus again
we aren't winning in Iraq
8:41 PM Viet: mission accomplished
b/c mission is accomplished
me: ok ew are gonna count "fundamental difference" as well
htere you go
ok seems like i am biased
but seriosuly when mccain said that we shud cut govt spedning and blah blah
8:42 PM i wanted to scream out- ur party's the one that spent on 2 wars in 8 years
i mean seriously
$10 BILLION a MONTH!!!
waaaattT????!?!?!?!?
Viet: wow
i wish i got 10 billion a month
me: or for the rest of my life
Viet: i dont think i could spend all of it fast enough
8:43 PM me: that decision hez already made
100 year war :D
8:44 PM uh oh
obama's in trouble
no wonder obama was harvard law review president
he knows how to talk
8:45 PM Viet: burn!!!!!!
me: I KNOW!!!!!
Viet: wrong wrong wrong
hahahahaa
me: wrong what?
8:46 PM Viet: whatever, there was stop loss orders
me: so how come patraeus only invited him and that other dude?!?!
Viet: ^ on soldiers re-enlisting for iraq
me: and no democrats
err wad does that mean
ok this chat is awesome ;)
8:47 PM Viet: stop loss order = active military cannot leave military
me: :O
really!!!
damn!
Viet: mean, if ur time was up, u had to stay
me: uh huh
Viet: yea
really :O
8:48 PM me: precisely- afghanistan is so screwed because of us
Viet: why is he smiling??
me: mccain?
Viet: yea
me: i think your transmission is faster than mine
wtf!
8:49 PM Viet: no he's been grinning for the last 5 minutes
me: hahahahahah
ok
that way
damn
obama is a debater
oh fuck!!!!!!!
Viet: yea
me: hahahahahahahahahahahah
Viet: he's a lawyer, right??
oh fuck what??
me: osama and patraeus have one thing in common
SERIOSULY???!?!??!
Viet: oh i missed that
me: iraq is a battleground is a common thing
hehehehehe
8:50 PM military questions are tricky
you could fal into a trap
and yes obama is a lawyer
primarily
8:51 PM Viet: burn!!!!!
double burn!!!!
me: i know
damn hez gainin strength
8:52 PM he actually worked this
out
ooo poppy trade
bush is working towards shutting/cutting down that trade in inida
Viet: i wonder if intrade has anything for the debate
me: i think it does, because of that whole tie up with global financial crisis thing
:O :O :O :O :O
did he just say that
8:53 PM the whole russia and afghan thing
we've always instated the people we go back and fight against
8:54 PM Viet: didn't we just fire into pakistan a few days ago??
8:55 PM me: YES :D
precisely
8:56 PM the new guy in pak is going to be back stabber
a*
Viet: who/??
me: zardari
8:57 PM awesome
musharraf
failed state?
really?
really?
Viet: what happened to musharraf??
me: he resigned before he was impeached
Viet: oh
hahaha
8:58 PM me: :D
Viet: is he the one that was on the dailyshow a few years ago, promoting his book or something??
me: errr dont think so
8:59 PM Viet: ok, wrong guy then
this dude
Viet: yea, he was on the daily show
me: oh ok
i missed it then
hez so making up these stories
its evident
9:00 PM Viet: hahahaha
9:01 PM me: not now
its debate time ;)
with chat though :P
9:02 PM did we have to say that about subcommittee?
9:03 PM YAY!!! TIME!!!!
HOLOCAUST????
9:04 PM really?????????
Viet: oh we let it happened, think of africa
me: ok so now we go to Russia- preventing work at the UN
no no
i am saying how loosely that word is used now
hahahahaah
McCain- Iranians have a lousy govt
I am sure they are saying the same thing about us
:D
Viet: yea
9:05 PM lousy government = lousy economy
right
9:06 PM me: its so difficult to say whoz a terrorist org and whoz not
Viet: yea
i heart centerfuges
9:07 PM me: heheeheehe
rotfl!!!
oooo obama is cunning
he wants russia and china to be accountable when sanctions come
Viet: hahaha
i remember the stink it cause a few years ago, when iran got a few centerfuges
9:08 PM me: so that the blame's just not on the US when things fuck up again
ok we were in Iraq
now we are in Latin America
awesome
i love traveling
Viet: what kind of negogiation is it when u have preconditions???
me: think prenup viet
Viet: hey we espoused the extermindation of iraq
me: prenup ;)
9:09 PM there
i was waiting for Kissinger;s name to come up
there preconditions again
Viet: yea, but isn't negogiation a prelude to setting conditions??
me: what sort of preconditions
prolly
9:10 PM that unless you have women and JD i wont be there at tthe negotiation
Viet: one precondition that occured is with n korea, stating that the US will only negogiate nuclear treaty only if u stop all nuclear refinement
9:11 PM like wtf is that??, who in their right mind would agree to anything??
me: thas what obama said- low level diplomatic talks before something big happens
:D
there u go
obama is up with N Korea
Viet: exactly
ty obama
me: thas why when Rice went there in Summer of 06
she fell flat on the face
cos she dint know wht to do
9:12 PM Viet: yea, with precondition that they stop all nuclear testing
me: plus lebanon and israel started their stupid fight
Viet: what kind of bullshit is that
me: some bull shit that made sense to them
Viet: bad attempt at humor
me: SERIOUSLY???!!! did he just think that was a joke
hahahahaah
Viet: hey kissinger was brought up!!!
9:13 PM me: second time
;)
"Sen Obama doesn't seem to understnad"= prolly the 6th time
:O :O naive dangerous
hez talking video game talk
Viet: it's more like he doesn't understand
me: whaaat???
9:14 PM why the height between South Koreans and North Koreans
Viet: if it's the most oppressive regime on earth, why the hell are we not fighting them??
me: There Reagan in the debate
cos they have sooper nuke powers
Viet: exactly
me: and they cud wipe us out if they got bored and angered by us
Viet: that's why iran wants nuke power
me: uh huh
9:15 PM ok wipe out is an exaggeration
Viet: nuke power = US not the monkey on ur back
me: but u get the point
kissinger- 3rd time
u;ve known him 35 years becase you are OLD now!!!
Viet: his friend
or 35 years
9:16 PM me: :D
9:17 PM hez so much better than Kerry and the whole I have a plan thing
Viet: hahahaha
me: uh oh
nuclear proliferation
9:18 PM CTBT and all that
obama wants India and Pak to sign that
goddddd!!!
so since russia committed that serious crime
9:19 PM Viet: hahahaha
wtf??
me: we start prepping for war against them ?
right?
McCain- I saw into Putin's eyes and saw three letter KGB
mccain is not helping his case
9:20 PM Viet: ooo, he went there once
me: ooooo
9:21 PM Ukraine???
err ok
lets see where this goes
9:23 PM i guess thats why we have so many ukranians in the dept ;)
oops
that wasn't meant to be there
:P
Viet: hahaahaha
9:24 PM me: obama said plan
i am scared
hez not originally from AZ right?
9:25 PM uh oh
the host is a little lenient towards Obama
9:26 PM oh snap!!!!!!
good question
what is the likelihood of another 9/11
Viet: loaded question
me: and the answer is unloaded
and he said liebermann
ok i spelled that wrong
9:27 PM no onez asking what the refroms are
we want to know wil anohter 9.11 happen
no more torturing another prisonner
Viet: nobody will answer that
me: is anyone screaming Gitmo bay?
9:28 PM Viet: security is only an illusion
9:29 PM me: damn al-qaeda in 60 countries :O
9:30 PM Viet: yea
me: hahahah obama understands that america's lost respect in the world
Viet: pretty much any muslim dominated country
me: hmmm
Viet: SE asia is a hot spot for al qaeda
9:31 PM me: hmmm
oooooo emotional outreach
american blood
patraeus
jeeeeezzzzzz
Viet: hahaha
is that his lover??
me: well if hez not the general
then he is that i presume
9:32 PM check status ;)
9:33 PM Viet: haha
9:35 PM me: hahahahahahah
obama-my father came from kenya, thats where i get my name
:D
9:37 PM Viet: oooo i have to see that one
me: hahahah
ok
so we are done with debate chat
;)
9:38 PM stephanapolous is right
ok i am biased towards stephanapolous
9:39 PM hahahahahahahahahah
he said about the doesn't understand thing as well :D
damn i shud go work with him
hez saying what i am saying
Viet: yea stephanapolous is more awesome
9:40 PM me: we shud do this for a living
:D
Viet: hahaha
me: and send it to stephanapolous
:D
9:41 PM whad say?
9:42 PM Viet: ok, i'm beat,
me: heheheh
9:43 PM dyu realize we typed insanely
Viet: hahahaa
i did it with one hand eating cheetoes
hahaha, just kidding
me: :D
9:44 PM hehehe
true that.....obama was awesome when it came to foreign policy
yaya!
i shud be a journalist/political analyst
sscrew economics
9:45 PM Viet: no
me: oh
ok
:D
hahahahhhahahaha
Viet: be journalist/econ poly analyst
me: hez talking about mccain;s travel things
9:46 PM Viet: ok
i'm off to bed
me: awrite
i am gonna post this soon
:D
9:47 PM if u r ok with it that is
Viet: hahaha
yea sure
me: hhehehehe
awesome
fun friday :D
Viet: add some random muses in there and i'll be cool with it
me: :D
ok
good night
Viet: later
me: later
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A trip down to the ancestral land, modern style
I think I qualify to write about Stone-Age. Fine, if that's a little far-fetched, I qualify to write about a Modern Stone- Age. Who would have thought that living in the US would bring forth a powerless existence (no pun intended) for over 72 hours, and in some cases indefinitely ( as I write this, a multitude of citizens in the Houston, Galveston area are still without power, hence the indefinite part).
Hurricane Ike hit Houston on September 13th, at around 4 a.m. What would end up an excruciating, yet adventurous, experience began at 10 pm the night before. I lost power at the stroke of midnight. Thank whoever (read a lot of people) for having screamed at me to charge every possible electronic device I possessed, just in case the power went off. And go it did. Only to return at my apartment on Monday night, three and a half days later. Though it seems like it would have been an unpleasant journey, frankly speaking it wasn't. Yes, the lack of power got us frantic about phones, laptops, most of all INTERNET, every third thought would be - how many emails have I missed out on, but nothing that hampered survival. What about food you might ask- Bar-be-que to the rescue! A couple of my friends made omelette, Ramen noodles, tandoori chicken, stuffed veggies, and the best of all TEA! For the tea fanatic Indians, they had a working supply of tea.
The point I am trying to make, without further beating around the bush, is we had fun without power. Innovative and creative minds were beyond control, seemed like laptops and internet had put the thinking minds to a hiatus, except of course when we are required to do homework. One might argue that it was easy since we knew how to build fire, amen to the smokers, we didn't have to sharpen arrows to hunt animals, we weren't half clad with leaves, we didn't have to reinvent the wheel, though we did have to worry about fuel shortage, nonetheless it wasn't quite the silver plate we were accustomed to. Of course, not to mention the temper tantrums that some of us witnessed/threw.
Now that power's back, we, at least I, miss those precious three days. Very few people live to experience something like this. I do realize my post projects insensitivity towards people who have lost a lot. However, this post was an experience of someone who survived with a scratch. So let me be granted the permission of being insensitive. Cliched this post might seem, but I beseech you to look at it from my stand point.
Best of all, the cancelation of classes, homeworks and the lack of motivation to return to normalcy. One of those things that every acamedician, students especially, is going to appreciate.
I guess good things don't last too long, so is the case with this. Here's a slideshow of the hurricane through my camera. I wish I could upload more photos, but spare me that effort. I haven't quite gotten back to appreciating power yet (all pun intended ;) )
P.S. To those who are still suffering from the hurricane, I really have nothing to say, not because I don't understand what you are going through, but because I don't know what to say. Things will go back to what you knew before the hurricane, just hang in there I guess.
Hurricane Ike hit Houston on September 13th, at around 4 a.m. What would end up an excruciating, yet adventurous, experience began at 10 pm the night before. I lost power at the stroke of midnight. Thank whoever (read a lot of people) for having screamed at me to charge every possible electronic device I possessed, just in case the power went off. And go it did. Only to return at my apartment on Monday night, three and a half days later. Though it seems like it would have been an unpleasant journey, frankly speaking it wasn't. Yes, the lack of power got us frantic about phones, laptops, most of all INTERNET, every third thought would be - how many emails have I missed out on, but nothing that hampered survival. What about food you might ask- Bar-be-que to the rescue! A couple of my friends made omelette, Ramen noodles, tandoori chicken, stuffed veggies, and the best of all TEA! For the tea fanatic Indians, they had a working supply of tea.
The point I am trying to make, without further beating around the bush, is we had fun without power. Innovative and creative minds were beyond control, seemed like laptops and internet had put the thinking minds to a hiatus, except of course when we are required to do homework. One might argue that it was easy since we knew how to build fire, amen to the smokers, we didn't have to sharpen arrows to hunt animals, we weren't half clad with leaves, we didn't have to reinvent the wheel, though we did have to worry about fuel shortage, nonetheless it wasn't quite the silver plate we were accustomed to. Of course, not to mention the temper tantrums that some of us witnessed/threw.
Now that power's back, we, at least I, miss those precious three days. Very few people live to experience something like this. I do realize my post projects insensitivity towards people who have lost a lot. However, this post was an experience of someone who survived with a scratch. So let me be granted the permission of being insensitive. Cliched this post might seem, but I beseech you to look at it from my stand point.
Best of all, the cancelation of classes, homeworks and the lack of motivation to return to normalcy. One of those things that every acamedician, students especially, is going to appreciate.
I guess good things don't last too long, so is the case with this. Here's a slideshow of the hurricane through my camera. I wish I could upload more photos, but spare me that effort. I haven't quite gotten back to appreciating power yet (all pun intended ;) )
P.S. To those who are still suffering from the hurricane, I really have nothing to say, not because I don't understand what you are going through, but because I don't know what to say. Things will go back to what you knew before the hurricane, just hang in there I guess.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Err...
Granted! I haven't written in the longest time. For some reason it feels like I have nothing to write about, no motivation whatsoever, and I wonder if it is really me or my surroundings. I really can't find something to write about, I don't want to force it, it won't be to my satisfaction; considering it is the primary reason I want to write. Like a friend says, "Either nothing's happening or too many things are happening for us to keep up with."
Hmm weird post, I don't think I can come up with a valid excuse for not having updated this place.
Hmm weird post, I don't think I can come up with a valid excuse for not having updated this place.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Television- Roald Dahl
I remember reading this poem in 10th grade, and stumbled upon
this being posted on Atanu Dey's blog. Television by Roald Dahl, deals with the indecent world of Television and the repercussions it has had on children. I have to admit that I am one of those crazy people, that cannot live without the television . I need it during dinner time, I need it during homework; however much I am completely ignoring what's going on. I am a TV Buff. The poem is so beautifully written, I am going to post it here again
I wonder what Mr. Dahl would have to say about the world of internet. In a way, I am glad he hasn't.
this being posted on Atanu Dey's blog. Television by Roald Dahl, deals with the indecent world of Television and the repercussions it has had on children. I have to admit that I am one of those crazy people, that cannot live without the television . I need it during dinner time, I need it during homework; however much I am completely ignoring what's going on. I am a TV Buff. The poem is so beautifully written, I am going to post it here again
Television
by Roald Dahl
The most important thing we’ve learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set –
Or better still, just don’t install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we’ve been,
We’ve watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone’s place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they’re hypnotised by it,
Until they’re absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don’t climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink –
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK — HE ONLY SEES!
‘All right!’ you’ll cry. ‘All right!’ you’ll say,
‘But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!’
We’ll answer this by asking you,
‘What used the darling ones to do?
‘How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?’
Have you forgotten? Don’t you know?
We’ll say it very loud and slow:
THEY … USED … TO … READ! They’d READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching ’round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it’s Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and-
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There’s Mr. Rate and Mr. Mole-
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They’ll now begin to feel the need
Of having something to read.
And once they start — oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They’ll grow so keen
They’ll wonder what they’d ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.
Roald Dahl
I wonder what Mr. Dahl would have to say about the world of internet. In a way, I am glad he hasn't.
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