People like me, who tend to judge a book by its title, would obviously make no effort to watch a show called "House" or "Bones". Forgive me for considering the names too uninteresting, but it would've helped if someone had made it more obvious that "House" isn't one of those programs that have people buying houses or "Bones" isn't a boring, scientific show where the miracles of the human body are explored. To cut things short, I still don't understand how people can be called "House" or "Bones".
Only a few days ago, I was watching the Ashes, and Beer, from Australia, was bowling to England's Cook and Bell. If I didn't know better, I could've mistaken the match for BBC's version of Masterchef.
But since people are calling themselves with such fancy names these days, I think I would like to add "Scientist" to my name someday. And then when I get married and have kids, we'll be a group of "Scientists". I'll probably then make use of my situation and give my services to a local newspaper. Every once in a while, whenever the newspaper would need some weird scientific news, I'd just call them up and say something bizarre, like for instance, "standing in the rain can cause hair growth to improve". Quoting me, the newspaper would have something like this in the news, "Scientists reveal rain as secret to hair growth" or "Scientist: Lending stuff to neighbors decreases blood pressure" or "Group of Scientists claim to have reversed time". Since most people only tend to peruse newspaper headlines, especially when it comes to such stories, it could be a good way to change the habits of readers by using such subliminal coercion.
Another name I can come up with is "Yo-daddy"; so that whenever people want to know more about me, they'll ask "Who's yo daddy?". That should be worth the trouble itself. Adding a famous name, such as "Churchill", would always make me stand out from the crowd. This way, people will never have trouble breaking the ice with me, as it is highly likely that the first question they'll ask would be "Are you related to Winston Churchill?". Having a stereotypical ethnic name such as "Schröder" or "Mbangwa" could be fun too. I'm sure people would then ask if I'm from Germany or Africa. I would respond in the negative and then ask them why on earth they came up with such a silly supposition.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 03, 2011
Thou shalt try to be awesome!
Gretchen Rubin has a list of commandments she used in her book titled "The Happiness Project". Since it's the start of the new year, I thought I could post my own set of 'commandments' that I had come up with while I was reading the book. I thought that having it posted in a blog would make it somewhat 'official', and hence may increase the probability of me actually adopting them as time and years go by.
Here they go (not in any particular order):
Here they go (not in any particular order):
- Don't procrastinate, do it NOW!
- Be yourself
- Savor the present
- Its OK to make mistakes
- Remember that you're as good as everyone else but don't think you're better than the rest at the same time
- Let it go
- If possible multitask or else prioritize
- There's nothing wrong with being childish but do remain mature
- Stay alert
- Give change some time
- Go out of your comfort zone
- Do the right thing
Saturday, December 25, 2010
The pilgrimage to Melbourne (Part 2)
I was up early again, and made my way downstairs to the lobby for breakfast. This time I met a guy from Texas, USA. We chatted and I told him that I was going to watch the cricket match today. He informed me that he went to the match yesterday with some of his Aussie friends and enjoyed himself. However he got sunburnt really bad. We had a discussion on how strong the sun is in Australia. He told me that in 25 years or so of living in Texas he has never had to use sunblock and even then has never really got sunburnt. Its interesting that quite a few of my American friends found cricket to be fun. Or at least that's what they told me. Tony, Fatima, Ben. Perhaps cricket has more action when you compare it to baseball. But I'm not entirely sure about that either.
I thought it would be a good idea to visit the Melbourne Aquarium before I went to the stadium, since it would close to visitors by the time of stumps. Someone had suggested that it was a nice place to visit in Melbourne and I was also running out of other ideas. I didn't want my whole Melbourne trip with only memories of the MCG and noisy trams. The Melbourne Aquarium was slightly expensive at around $25. The marine life at show was quite interesting, but still did not warrant the price they were charging.
I reached the stadium at around half past 10. Australia hadn't lost a wicket even with the nightwatchman, Nathan Hauritz, batting. He went on to score a career best 75 and Australia declared at a score of 450 odd runs. Almost all of our batsmen got starts, but each one of them failed to capitalize. At stumps, Umar Akmal was there at 10 and Pakistan was a hundred something for the loss of 4 wickets.
I also got a bit tanned. I blamed it on my naive use of sunblock. I had only smudged some of it on my face before leaving the hotel and didn't bother to take the bottle with me. Afterwards, I would have the sense of using it very liberally and at regular intervals. The weather was still good, although it was getting hotter. After the sun would go down, it became a bit chilly. I love Australia for its erratic weather. You could have all four seasons in a single day. In Adelaide, at times, the temperature difference could be 20 degrees in consecutive days.
After stumps, I decided to take a walk in the city. I called home using skype on my phone and did 'The Matrix' thing with Omar. Omar would talk me through on where to go using Google Maps and would also highlight some important and historical buildings in the area. At some place in the city there was a street band playing. They were not bad at all, although the size of the crowd wasn't too great considering the rather good quality of the music. They played a song by Radiohead, that I can't recall now. They also did 'Yellow' by Coldplay, with a saxophone solo in between. It was close to brilliant. I regretted that I only got to hear the last few songs that they played.
Moving on, someone had mentioned earlier that Melbourne is cheaper when compared to other cities. I hadn't bought anything since I had come to Australia, and it had been nearly 5 months. Hence, I let go of my usual thrift mindset and went to a few souvenir stores. I got myself some tourist t-shirts that I thought would be good presents. The shirts cost around $12 each. On a later visit to Melbourne, I would get the chance to go the famous Queen Victoria Market where I got a couple of cool shirts for $5 and $6 each. The Queen Victoria Market was actually only a small walk away from the Hotel Discovery, the place where I was staying. However, I was not aware of its presence at that time.
I grabbed a subway sandwich and took it with me to the hotel's dining place. Sitting by myself on one of the tables, I was joined by a friendly German couple who had been backpacking across Asia and had reached Australia. They were very warm and delightful people. We talked about all sorts of things, including world politics, culture, sports, etc. They seemed to be very well informed and I enjoyed our conversations to the fullest. They spoke English very fluently, especially Peter, who didn't have much of an accent either. I could tell right away that Peter was an academic, based on his manner of explaining things very elaborately and gradually, and also because of his vast general knowledge. His girlfriend was a sports instructor. They asked me if I had signed up for the free beach trip tomorrow that was provided by the hotel. I told them that I hadn't and registered right away.
Next morning, I made my 40 min walk to the stadium. Time used to fly whenever I was out walking by myself. I always enjoy solitary walks; it is a time for a lot introspection. I tend to talk to myself a lot when I'm by myself. Sometimes I even argue. I'm not sure how many people do that, or even if it is a healthy sign at all. As soon as I entered the stadium I heard loud applause. Umar Akmal was batting with great aggression and the crowd was loving it. He had just hit two consecutive 4s. Nevertheless, I was just in time to witness a magnificent pull shot for 6 the very next delivery and a 4 the ball after. However, after a couple of overs, his cameo fifty ended with a catch in the slip cordon. The batsmen were continuing with their habit of getting starts without any big scores. I left the stadium during lunch, with Misbah batting alongside the previous day's nightwatchman, M. Amir, with the score nearing 200 for the loss of 5 wickets.
I made it back to the hotel in time for the bus to leave, with my German acquaintances also on board. Before leaving, I met the Korean guy, Jang, again. He seemed very interested in going as well and rushed to get his stuff from his room before we left. The bus driver provided us with somewhat of a tour of Melbourne, and also gave us the option of choosing between 3 beaches. After passing through all 3 options, we ended up at Brighton beach. It wasn't the prettiest beach that I had been to in Australia, but it wasn't too bad either. Jang told the Germans that he could speak a bit of German himself and spoke a few phrases. His knack of remembering such things did surprise me. There was a Russian in the group who spoke in a manner that was similar to Roger Federer. There was also a girl from New Zealand who, it seemed, was bonding quite well with the Russian. We enjoyed some sun and continued with our conversations. The Russian and Kiwi girl left together after some time. The four of us decided to leave after a while ourselves. While we were looking for transportation for our way back, Jang said something to us, which we were not able to fully comprehend, and he then just walked away. He was indeed an odd and funny person. We tried to decipher the tram maps and schedule that was planted on a board at the tram stop. Another thing that I found a bit irritating while being a tourist in Melbourne was that most of the transportation within and to the city is via trams. Unlike traveling by bus where you can always ask the bus driver regarding which bus to take or which stop to get off, you're usually on your own when it comes to trams and have to ask around for an approximate route or a stop near your destination. We managed to reach the city and I grabbed myself something to eat while the German couple bought something from the supermarket to cook for dinner. We had dinner together at the hotel.
Next morning, I had bought a half dozen doughnuts from a Krispe Kreme outlet in the city for the match. Having heard so much about Krispe Kreme, and being an eager doughnut consumer, I chose from a different variety of unusual flavors and types to see if I could find their best doughnut. However, I was a bit disappointed. The doughnuts were only slightly better than ordinary and didn't have the same softness and delectable taste as I had become accustomed to with Adelaide's Gourmet Glaze doughnut shop. Perhaps, the doughnuts had lost some of their flavor since I ate them gradually over the course of the day and as the match progressed.
4th day of the Test, and Australia were 3 down for a hundred after Pakistan had been bowled out for around 250, just managing to avoid the follow-on with Misbah undefeated on 60. Australia resumed, and Shane Watson was dropped on 99 by Abdul Rauf, after the fielders and bowlers did an amazing job keeping him nervous and fidgety in the 90s. He remained undefeated on 120 and Australia declared giving us a target of more than 400 runs. Again, our batsmen were getting starts but not converting them into centuries. By the close of play, Pakistan was 30 short of 200 and had M.Yousuf and Umar Akmal batting with 3 batsmen out. A win or draw was improbable but not impossible. We had been playing some good cricket, but had let some of the intensity out during key phases of the game. On my way out of the stadium I met a South African woman with her Australian partner. They were nice people and she told me to not lose hope as South Africa had come back from a similar position a year earlier in Perth to win the test match on the last day. We also discussed how the crowds became rowdy as the day progressed and the number of drinks consumed increased. And Australians, being louder than most people from other places, would generally make quite a lot of noise and disruption when intoxicated.
I visited the War Memorial that the bus driver had mentioned the day before. It was an interesting place, even though I was late for visiting the inside of the memorial. The royal botanic gardens of Melbourne were also nearby. I continued my walk and did a whole tour of the gardens. I perhaps ended up walking more than 3 hours that day; all by myself and with only my thoughts. I went back to the hotel and met my German friends there. We decided on walking through the city and then afterwards went for a movie. We went to a Hoyts cinema at Melbourne Central, and ended up watching "Did you hear about the Morgans?", a romantic comedy starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant. It was a light movie about how an estranged couple reconciles as a result of certain events and circumstances. The Melbourne Central itself is a great shopping plaza built around the 120 year old "Coop's Shot Tower". It also serves for a city loop railway station that is underneath the mall.
I really enjoyed my time with my new friends, and we roamed around the city for a bit more before calling it a day. We agreed to meet in the morning before I left for the stadium for the last day's proceedings. In the morning, we met for breakfast and Jang was also about. It was a nice sunny day so we went outside and took some pictures. Jang rushed in again to his room, after only telling me to wait for him. We waited for 5 to 10 minutes while we joked about his amusing oddities. He came back with a piece of paper that had the name "Lt. Jang" written along with his email address and phone number. The other side of the paper had "Visit to Korea" neatly written. It was a very nice gesture. I remember writing my name and email address in his diary. Peter and I also exchanged email addresses and suggested to add each other on facebook. I also welcomed him to tour Pakistan someday and told him that I would be more than happy to be his tour guide. He offered the same to me to tour Germany.
I made my way to the stadium to only see Australia wrap up the innings just shortly after lunch in front of a handful of spectators (well still 5000 people!). I got to visit the National Sports Museum during the lunch break, which is in the basement of the MCG. It was an interesting experience, but I enjoyed the cricket section the most, for obvious reasons! The baggy green caps of different eras where put up on display, and caught my fancy. However, the thing that really blew my mind was a room that was made to look as Shane Warne's dressing room (since the MCG was his home ground). There was a lifelike hologram of Shane Warne projected in this room, as he talked us through his entire cricket life. It really felt as if it was the actual legend right in front of us, as he turned on a television set, showing us some of his bowling clips and also tossing a ball around the room. It was a fantastic experience and one I would recommend every person who visits the MCG to undertake.
I came back to the backpackers hotel and collected my luggage. I tied my belt to the suitcase so that I could use it to drag it around without having to bend too much. I just hoped that my jeans would resist falling down! I had asked the hotel reception for directions and to find out which trams to take in order to reach the station on Spencer Street. I had tickets for the Firefly bus service that was to reach Sydney in 12 hours. I've always loved buses. However, I had a spare ticket that I had bought for Omar a couple of weeks ago. I asked the Firefly people if they could refund me the cost, but they said that they didn't have a cancellation or refund policy. I pleaded with them that all seats were booked for the day, and that they would be able to find people who need a seat easily. Upon my insistence, they told me to hang around the office and if anyone showed up, they would direct them to me for the ticket. Apparently there was only one person who needed 2 tickets, hence I was to embark on my trip to Sydney with the luxury of having extra leg space as a result of a spare ticket.
It had been 6 days of excitement, loneliness, enjoyment and a lot of adventure. It was my first real stab at experiencing a new city on my own. I made some good friends, witnessed a life-long dream and learnt about other cultures. It was an experience I would never forget.
I thought it would be a good idea to visit the Melbourne Aquarium before I went to the stadium, since it would close to visitors by the time of stumps. Someone had suggested that it was a nice place to visit in Melbourne and I was also running out of other ideas. I didn't want my whole Melbourne trip with only memories of the MCG and noisy trams. The Melbourne Aquarium was slightly expensive at around $25. The marine life at show was quite interesting, but still did not warrant the price they were charging.
I reached the stadium at around half past 10. Australia hadn't lost a wicket even with the nightwatchman, Nathan Hauritz, batting. He went on to score a career best 75 and Australia declared at a score of 450 odd runs. Almost all of our batsmen got starts, but each one of them failed to capitalize. At stumps, Umar Akmal was there at 10 and Pakistan was a hundred something for the loss of 4 wickets.I also got a bit tanned. I blamed it on my naive use of sunblock. I had only smudged some of it on my face before leaving the hotel and didn't bother to take the bottle with me. Afterwards, I would have the sense of using it very liberally and at regular intervals. The weather was still good, although it was getting hotter. After the sun would go down, it became a bit chilly. I love Australia for its erratic weather. You could have all four seasons in a single day. In Adelaide, at times, the temperature difference could be 20 degrees in consecutive days.
After stumps, I decided to take a walk in the city. I called home using skype on my phone and did 'The Matrix' thing with Omar. Omar would talk me through on where to go using Google Maps and would also highlight some important and historical buildings in the area. At some place in the city there was a street band playing. They were not bad at all, although the size of the crowd wasn't too great considering the rather good quality of the music. They played a song by Radiohead, that I can't recall now. They also did 'Yellow' by Coldplay, with a saxophone solo in between. It was close to brilliant. I regretted that I only got to hear the last few songs that they played.
Moving on, someone had mentioned earlier that Melbourne is cheaper when compared to other cities. I hadn't bought anything since I had come to Australia, and it had been nearly 5 months. Hence, I let go of my usual thrift mindset and went to a few souvenir stores. I got myself some tourist t-shirts that I thought would be good presents. The shirts cost around $12 each. On a later visit to Melbourne, I would get the chance to go the famous Queen Victoria Market where I got a couple of cool shirts for $5 and $6 each. The Queen Victoria Market was actually only a small walk away from the Hotel Discovery, the place where I was staying. However, I was not aware of its presence at that time.
I grabbed a subway sandwich and took it with me to the hotel's dining place. Sitting by myself on one of the tables, I was joined by a friendly German couple who had been backpacking across Asia and had reached Australia. They were very warm and delightful people. We talked about all sorts of things, including world politics, culture, sports, etc. They seemed to be very well informed and I enjoyed our conversations to the fullest. They spoke English very fluently, especially Peter, who didn't have much of an accent either. I could tell right away that Peter was an academic, based on his manner of explaining things very elaborately and gradually, and also because of his vast general knowledge. His girlfriend was a sports instructor. They asked me if I had signed up for the free beach trip tomorrow that was provided by the hotel. I told them that I hadn't and registered right away.
Next morning, I made my 40 min walk to the stadium. Time used to fly whenever I was out walking by myself. I always enjoy solitary walks; it is a time for a lot introspection. I tend to talk to myself a lot when I'm by myself. Sometimes I even argue. I'm not sure how many people do that, or even if it is a healthy sign at all. As soon as I entered the stadium I heard loud applause. Umar Akmal was batting with great aggression and the crowd was loving it. He had just hit two consecutive 4s. Nevertheless, I was just in time to witness a magnificent pull shot for 6 the very next delivery and a 4 the ball after. However, after a couple of overs, his cameo fifty ended with a catch in the slip cordon. The batsmen were continuing with their habit of getting starts without any big scores. I left the stadium during lunch, with Misbah batting alongside the previous day's nightwatchman, M. Amir, with the score nearing 200 for the loss of 5 wickets.
I made it back to the hotel in time for the bus to leave, with my German acquaintances also on board. Before leaving, I met the Korean guy, Jang, again. He seemed very interested in going as well and rushed to get his stuff from his room before we left. The bus driver provided us with somewhat of a tour of Melbourne, and also gave us the option of choosing between 3 beaches. After passing through all 3 options, we ended up at Brighton beach. It wasn't the prettiest beach that I had been to in Australia, but it wasn't too bad either. Jang told the Germans that he could speak a bit of German himself and spoke a few phrases. His knack of remembering such things did surprise me. There was a Russian in the group who spoke in a manner that was similar to Roger Federer. There was also a girl from New Zealand who, it seemed, was bonding quite well with the Russian. We enjoyed some sun and continued with our conversations. The Russian and Kiwi girl left together after some time. The four of us decided to leave after a while ourselves. While we were looking for transportation for our way back, Jang said something to us, which we were not able to fully comprehend, and he then just walked away. He was indeed an odd and funny person. We tried to decipher the tram maps and schedule that was planted on a board at the tram stop. Another thing that I found a bit irritating while being a tourist in Melbourne was that most of the transportation within and to the city is via trams. Unlike traveling by bus where you can always ask the bus driver regarding which bus to take or which stop to get off, you're usually on your own when it comes to trams and have to ask around for an approximate route or a stop near your destination. We managed to reach the city and I grabbed myself something to eat while the German couple bought something from the supermarket to cook for dinner. We had dinner together at the hotel.
Next morning, I had bought a half dozen doughnuts from a Krispe Kreme outlet in the city for the match. Having heard so much about Krispe Kreme, and being an eager doughnut consumer, I chose from a different variety of unusual flavors and types to see if I could find their best doughnut. However, I was a bit disappointed. The doughnuts were only slightly better than ordinary and didn't have the same softness and delectable taste as I had become accustomed to with Adelaide's Gourmet Glaze doughnut shop. Perhaps, the doughnuts had lost some of their flavor since I ate them gradually over the course of the day and as the match progressed.4th day of the Test, and Australia were 3 down for a hundred after Pakistan had been bowled out for around 250, just managing to avoid the follow-on with Misbah undefeated on 60. Australia resumed, and Shane Watson was dropped on 99 by Abdul Rauf, after the fielders and bowlers did an amazing job keeping him nervous and fidgety in the 90s. He remained undefeated on 120 and Australia declared giving us a target of more than 400 runs. Again, our batsmen were getting starts but not converting them into centuries. By the close of play, Pakistan was 30 short of 200 and had M.Yousuf and Umar Akmal batting with 3 batsmen out. A win or draw was improbable but not impossible. We had been playing some good cricket, but had let some of the intensity out during key phases of the game. On my way out of the stadium I met a South African woman with her Australian partner. They were nice people and she told me to not lose hope as South Africa had come back from a similar position a year earlier in Perth to win the test match on the last day. We also discussed how the crowds became rowdy as the day progressed and the number of drinks consumed increased. And Australians, being louder than most people from other places, would generally make quite a lot of noise and disruption when intoxicated.
I visited the War Memorial that the bus driver had mentioned the day before. It was an interesting place, even though I was late for visiting the inside of the memorial. The royal botanic gardens of Melbourne were also nearby. I continued my walk and did a whole tour of the gardens. I perhaps ended up walking more than 3 hours that day; all by myself and with only my thoughts. I went back to the hotel and met my German friends there. We decided on walking through the city and then afterwards went for a movie. We went to a Hoyts cinema at Melbourne Central, and ended up watching "Did you hear about the Morgans?", a romantic comedy starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant. It was a light movie about how an estranged couple reconciles as a result of certain events and circumstances. The Melbourne Central itself is a great shopping plaza built around the 120 year old "Coop's Shot Tower". It also serves for a city loop railway station that is underneath the mall.
I really enjoyed my time with my new friends, and we roamed around the city for a bit more before calling it a day. We agreed to meet in the morning before I left for the stadium for the last day's proceedings. In the morning, we met for breakfast and Jang was also about. It was a nice sunny day so we went outside and took some pictures. Jang rushed in again to his room, after only telling me to wait for him. We waited for 5 to 10 minutes while we joked about his amusing oddities. He came back with a piece of paper that had the name "Lt. Jang" written along with his email address and phone number. The other side of the paper had "Visit to Korea" neatly written. It was a very nice gesture. I remember writing my name and email address in his diary. Peter and I also exchanged email addresses and suggested to add each other on facebook. I also welcomed him to tour Pakistan someday and told him that I would be more than happy to be his tour guide. He offered the same to me to tour Germany.
I made my way to the stadium to only see Australia wrap up the innings just shortly after lunch in front of a handful of spectators (well still 5000 people!). I got to visit the National Sports Museum during the lunch break, which is in the basement of the MCG. It was an interesting experience, but I enjoyed the cricket section the most, for obvious reasons! The baggy green caps of different eras where put up on display, and caught my fancy. However, the thing that really blew my mind was a room that was made to look as Shane Warne's dressing room (since the MCG was his home ground). There was a lifelike hologram of Shane Warne projected in this room, as he talked us through his entire cricket life. It really felt as if it was the actual legend right in front of us, as he turned on a television set, showing us some of his bowling clips and also tossing a ball around the room. It was a fantastic experience and one I would recommend every person who visits the MCG to undertake.I came back to the backpackers hotel and collected my luggage. I tied my belt to the suitcase so that I could use it to drag it around without having to bend too much. I just hoped that my jeans would resist falling down! I had asked the hotel reception for directions and to find out which trams to take in order to reach the station on Spencer Street. I had tickets for the Firefly bus service that was to reach Sydney in 12 hours. I've always loved buses. However, I had a spare ticket that I had bought for Omar a couple of weeks ago. I asked the Firefly people if they could refund me the cost, but they said that they didn't have a cancellation or refund policy. I pleaded with them that all seats were booked for the day, and that they would be able to find people who need a seat easily. Upon my insistence, they told me to hang around the office and if anyone showed up, they would direct them to me for the ticket. Apparently there was only one person who needed 2 tickets, hence I was to embark on my trip to Sydney with the luxury of having extra leg space as a result of a spare ticket.
It had been 6 days of excitement, loneliness, enjoyment and a lot of adventure. It was my first real stab at experiencing a new city on my own. I made some good friends, witnessed a life-long dream and learnt about other cultures. It was an experience I would never forget.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The pilgrimage to Melbourne (Part 1)
Friday afternoon, 25th December 2009. I had reached the clean and spacious confines of Adelaide airport and made through security with only a small suitcase in hand. The handle of the suitcase that had been pulled out now refused to slide back in after I had reached the waiting lounge well ahead of the departure time. Having plenty of time in hand, I tried various methods of coercion to force it in, till the point that I heard a loud crack. Oh it did go in then, but out came a few hundred small pieces of plastic that sent a clear message that I would now be either carrying the suitcase or bending and pulling it in a manner similar to what hockey players are accustomed to.
Not the best start to my summer of cricket, I thought. But then again, I did remind myself that things should begin to liven up later as I was to be joined by Omar for the life-long dream of witnessing a Boxing Day Test Match featuring Pakistan at the MCG. A few minutes later I received a call from Omar telling me how PIA had screwed up his ticket and he wasn't allowed to board because of a typo in the airline code. Absolutely insane! I was devastated and felt bad that Omar wouldn't be able to join me in watching such a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Also, I was to spend 6 days in Melbourne by myself while Omar tried his best to change his ticket to reach Sydney directly in time for the 2nd Test.
Having reached Melbourne, I looked for the bus service that was supposed to drop me off at my backpackers hotel. After calling the service on phone, it seemed that they were not operating on Christmas day. I took another bus service that dropped me off to the bus station in the city, rather than the hotel, for a hefty 16 Australian Dollars. And to my surprise, the city was more or less empty. I asked a few people the way to Franklin Street and they suggested I take a tram and pointed me to one. I hopped on and found it to be deserted save for one guy who seemed to be of Lebanese descent. After a few minutes I asked him where I should get off and he suggested what he thought would be the appropriate stop. Getting off, I wandered around the streets 'carrying' my suitcase with me till I found a guy, roughly my age, who helped me find my way with his GPS enabled phone. He gave me a few good tips on being careful in the city especially at night and avoiding certain areas, if possible. I thanked him and managed to reach the Hotel Discovery which had the entrance crowded with people who seemed to be not from Australia.
Reaching my room, I was greeted by 7 french nationals, who were in their early and mid twenties, and had apparently made the room their own with their laundry all over the place along with other possessions splayed across the room. After some conversation, I tried to recall the french lessons I had taken a couple of years ago and uttered a few words, which to my surprise was not appreciated by my new roommates, as they told me that they preferred we conversed in English only. I guess they considered speaking in French a private affair and didn't want this 'intruder' to try to communicate and, perhaps more importantly, understand what they were talking about with each other.
I dumped my stuff, went to the toilet to freshen up, and then left the hotel to seek sustenance as lunch was way overdue. Free from carrying luggage and the concerns of finding my hotel, I was able to absorb and appreciate the setting that the city presented. Melbourne, as I found out more on a later visit, is a city that can be associated more with its people and events rather than the buildings, scenery or monuments it possesses. On the evening of Christmas day, the city was completely deserted. Unlike the other cities that I have visited in Australia, the tall buildings are clustered together and are separated with narrow roads, often made even narrower with road space allocated to trams.
Speaking of trams, I was more accustomed to the silent modern trams that were used in Adelaide. However, Melbourne presented itself with more angular steely trams that had perhaps been used since the 80s. These trams made far greater noise, which reverberated against the cluttered buildings surrounding the roads to amplify the noise even further. Looking back, after I had reinvigorated my usual sense of appreciating classic and older things, I do think that the older trams did add some culture and history to the city (even if they were not particularly old) even though they did manage to startle me on more than one occasion.
After grabbing a tuna sandwich from Subway, I started to walk down Elizabeth St, with hardly a soul around. Not surprisingly, almost all shops were closed except for eateries and 7-elevens. A few blocks ahead, I saw signs of life as people were gathered around a particular corner. From what I remember, it was Bourke Street; the equivalent of Adelaide's Rundle Mall, but obviously far bigger and with more shops. The people were mostly parents holding their children and looking through big windows of a Myers Shopping Center. On closer inspection, I saw the windows to be occupied by stuffed pigs while a voice narrated a story. It was a very pleasant experience as I stood there listening to each part of the story, while moving on to the next window till the entire story was completed.
From there on, I could see the end of the main city area and also the presence of more people. I took my time walking around as the light faded. Upon reaching the end, I saw the Flinders St Station on the right side of the road while on the left side there was an open area that had a small tourist information center (a clear mismatch to the actual size of the city!). This area was known as Federation Square and had a few levels of stairs present that were used for sitting. There was a large screen on the side of a cafe/restaurant present on the corner of the square. Upon moving forward, the Yarra river could be seen. It was a pleasant sight but not breathtaking. Following the river up I could see the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and also my destination for tomorrow morning.
As I looked at the MCG from afar, I had a tingling sensation all over my body for a number of reasons. It was indeed one of the most, if not THE finest cricket stadium in the world with a capacity nearing 100,000 people. But more importantly, it was where we won our first World Cup way back in 1992. The fact that I would be going there for a boxing day test match made it even more special. I just couldn't wait for the morning to come. On the other hand, I felt very bad that Omar couldn't make it. Being cricket fanatics of the highest order, this would-be experience was considered by us as perhaps the most desired and cherished after, of course, visiting the Lords cricket ground in London. However, I tried my best to enjoy myself as much as I can, as there was not much that could be done regarding Omar making it in time. I came back home, found the room to be deserted and went to bed rather early.
The next morning I woke up early enough to shower and get ready to make it in time for the complementary breakfast. I met a Korean guy at one of the tables. He was a funny person, who had been in Melbourne for a couple of months and was working in a Japanese restaurant. He surprised me with a few Urdu phrases he had learnt from some of his Pakistani friends in Korea, which included "Pakistan Zindabad" and "Allah hu Akbar". Communication wasn't always very easy with him but we had a good chat during our breakfast.
I continued with my pilgrimage towards the MCG and soon enough was joined by hundreds making their way to the stadium. A small bridge that went over numerous railway lines, and was also a perfect view for the Rod Laver Arena, contained small speakers on each of its sides. There were foreign phrases being uttered from these speakers, perhaps signifying the multicultural society that Australia, especially Melbourne, presents. Upon reaching the stadium grounds, the outdoor nets caught my eyes instantly. I think Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin were practicing some batting; a sure sign that Australia would be batting first, which was a slight disappointment. I made my way through the many many ticket counters and joined a queue. I bought a ticket for all 5 days that had cost me roughly $80. I don't think many would be coming for all 5 days, except for the players and the Channel 9 crew and commentary team. Upon making my way round the stadium I was looking for a way in when I saw Steve Waugh standing right there, just a few meters away from me, talking to someone. I didn't know what to do. I really wanted to go and ask if I could have a picture with him. But I didn't want to act like an over-eager cricket fan bugging him on his personal time. I didn't see other people making a fuss around so I just let it go. Perhaps I should have made more of an effort for the picture.
I went inside and made my way upstairs on the escalators. The stadium was very modern and clean and there were practically a hundred sections. I asked a security person where the general stands were and he told me that they started from section 36 (or was it 56?) or I could go to the 3rd floor. The 2nd floor, it seemed, was for members only. I seated myself in the middle of a row that was more towards mid-wicket / extra cover. This row was underneath a stand so it had plenty of shade. Also, it faced directly towards one of the 2 absolutely HUGE and brilliant TV screens. I don't remember seeing bigger and yet such high quality TV screens in my life. The sections closer to the ground were almost full with people creating most of the drama and the noise inside. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be under the sun or in the shade. Usually this dilemma is the cause of brilliant weather, and that was the case here too. It couldn't have been a perfect day for cricket. It was indeed a fascinating sight, although, overall the stadium appeared to be half empty. Later I would find out that this "half-empty" stadium had around 60,000 spectators watching the 1st day. The amazing thing about the MCG is the noise that can be generated inside. With 60,000 people stacked up, the cheers and sound of spectators resonating within the coliseum can be a breathtaking experience. The Australians are very great sports (not counting the players of course!). They seem to appreciate cricket, be that from the opposing team. And they also love a bit of a fight, especially if it comes from the underdog.
Two people had come and occupied the seats to my left. They were brothers; one in his thirties and the other one perhaps a teenager. I really had some great conversations with the elder one. We started to talk about the game first, and then Australian cricket in general. We discussed the politics and team selection surrounding the Australian team. He gave me some insight regarding Steve Waugh and Shane Warne. We discussed the future of players such as Andrew Symonds and Shoaib Akhtar. He explained to me that Symonds was of the 'older breed' of Australian cricketers, such as Doug Walters and David Boon. He told me that Doug Walters was rumoured to have played several Test matches while being drunk and even then scored heavily. The new Australian cricket culture was in complete contrast to the old days when late night curfews were not as strict as they are now. I remember telling him and his brother how this moment, watching a Boxing day Test Match, had been a life-long dream for me, and I got a bit emotional in the process. Hah! He was indeed a bit surprised when I told him about it though, since he was aware that cricket fans from our part of the world tend to not give much importance to Test cricket and are more obsessed with the limited overs version of the game.
Meanwhile, Australia was batting very steadily. I remember the first few overs were rather difficult for them to score. But once the openers had survived the initial spell from Amir and Asif, they were able to capitalize well. We did drop a few catches on the way, though.
After the Tea break, the two brothers had left. I started a conversation with an older man to my right. He would have been in his 70s, I imagine. He seemed to be a very nice, quiet person. He asked me where I had come from and what I was doing. He told me that he and his son come to watch the boxing day test match every year, for the last 15 years or so. They take their car for a 2 hour drive down to Melbourne. It was very nice interacting with the local people; something I wasn't able to do much since I planted foot in this great country.
It was indeed a great satisfying day of cricket, even though we were definitely behind the eight ball, with Australia 300 something for the loss of only 3 wickets or so.
Heading back, I really didn't have much of an agenda for the night. I decided to stroll alongside the Yarra river, taking photographs of anything that caught my eye as interesting. After a while, I decided to watch a movie in what seemed like an old theater in the heart of the city. 'Sherlock Holmes' appeared to be the most interesting amongst all the movies that were being played at the time. And it was indeed a terrific choice. I enjoyed every bit of the movie. The direction by Guy Ritchie was exciting and adventurous, as one would perhaps expect.
The day was almost over and I was quite tired. It was also the day my elder brother had got married. Upon reaching the hotel, I called Bhai and his wife, Cathleen, to congratulate them. It was a bit surreal to imagine Bhai now married. Meanwhile, Omar was able to convert his ticket from Melbourne to Sydney. He told me that PIA made the same mistake again, and he had to call up one of our relatives, who happens to be a General Manager in PIA, to fix the issue.
All in all, it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I guess, I'm not the only Farooki who would say the same about this day.
Not the best start to my summer of cricket, I thought. But then again, I did remind myself that things should begin to liven up later as I was to be joined by Omar for the life-long dream of witnessing a Boxing Day Test Match featuring Pakistan at the MCG. A few minutes later I received a call from Omar telling me how PIA had screwed up his ticket and he wasn't allowed to board because of a typo in the airline code. Absolutely insane! I was devastated and felt bad that Omar wouldn't be able to join me in watching such a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Also, I was to spend 6 days in Melbourne by myself while Omar tried his best to change his ticket to reach Sydney directly in time for the 2nd Test.
Having reached Melbourne, I looked for the bus service that was supposed to drop me off at my backpackers hotel. After calling the service on phone, it seemed that they were not operating on Christmas day. I took another bus service that dropped me off to the bus station in the city, rather than the hotel, for a hefty 16 Australian Dollars. And to my surprise, the city was more or less empty. I asked a few people the way to Franklin Street and they suggested I take a tram and pointed me to one. I hopped on and found it to be deserted save for one guy who seemed to be of Lebanese descent. After a few minutes I asked him where I should get off and he suggested what he thought would be the appropriate stop. Getting off, I wandered around the streets 'carrying' my suitcase with me till I found a guy, roughly my age, who helped me find my way with his GPS enabled phone. He gave me a few good tips on being careful in the city especially at night and avoiding certain areas, if possible. I thanked him and managed to reach the Hotel Discovery which had the entrance crowded with people who seemed to be not from Australia.
Reaching my room, I was greeted by 7 french nationals, who were in their early and mid twenties, and had apparently made the room their own with their laundry all over the place along with other possessions splayed across the room. After some conversation, I tried to recall the french lessons I had taken a couple of years ago and uttered a few words, which to my surprise was not appreciated by my new roommates, as they told me that they preferred we conversed in English only. I guess they considered speaking in French a private affair and didn't want this 'intruder' to try to communicate and, perhaps more importantly, understand what they were talking about with each other.
I dumped my stuff, went to the toilet to freshen up, and then left the hotel to seek sustenance as lunch was way overdue. Free from carrying luggage and the concerns of finding my hotel, I was able to absorb and appreciate the setting that the city presented. Melbourne, as I found out more on a later visit, is a city that can be associated more with its people and events rather than the buildings, scenery or monuments it possesses. On the evening of Christmas day, the city was completely deserted. Unlike the other cities that I have visited in Australia, the tall buildings are clustered together and are separated with narrow roads, often made even narrower with road space allocated to trams.
Speaking of trams, I was more accustomed to the silent modern trams that were used in Adelaide. However, Melbourne presented itself with more angular steely trams that had perhaps been used since the 80s. These trams made far greater noise, which reverberated against the cluttered buildings surrounding the roads to amplify the noise even further. Looking back, after I had reinvigorated my usual sense of appreciating classic and older things, I do think that the older trams did add some culture and history to the city (even if they were not particularly old) even though they did manage to startle me on more than one occasion.
After grabbing a tuna sandwich from Subway, I started to walk down Elizabeth St, with hardly a soul around. Not surprisingly, almost all shops were closed except for eateries and 7-elevens. A few blocks ahead, I saw signs of life as people were gathered around a particular corner. From what I remember, it was Bourke Street; the equivalent of Adelaide's Rundle Mall, but obviously far bigger and with more shops. The people were mostly parents holding their children and looking through big windows of a Myers Shopping Center. On closer inspection, I saw the windows to be occupied by stuffed pigs while a voice narrated a story. It was a very pleasant experience as I stood there listening to each part of the story, while moving on to the next window till the entire story was completed.
From there on, I could see the end of the main city area and also the presence of more people. I took my time walking around as the light faded. Upon reaching the end, I saw the Flinders St Station on the right side of the road while on the left side there was an open area that had a small tourist information center (a clear mismatch to the actual size of the city!). This area was known as Federation Square and had a few levels of stairs present that were used for sitting. There was a large screen on the side of a cafe/restaurant present on the corner of the square. Upon moving forward, the Yarra river could be seen. It was a pleasant sight but not breathtaking. Following the river up I could see the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and also my destination for tomorrow morning.
As I looked at the MCG from afar, I had a tingling sensation all over my body for a number of reasons. It was indeed one of the most, if not THE finest cricket stadium in the world with a capacity nearing 100,000 people. But more importantly, it was where we won our first World Cup way back in 1992. The fact that I would be going there for a boxing day test match made it even more special. I just couldn't wait for the morning to come. On the other hand, I felt very bad that Omar couldn't make it. Being cricket fanatics of the highest order, this would-be experience was considered by us as perhaps the most desired and cherished after, of course, visiting the Lords cricket ground in London. However, I tried my best to enjoy myself as much as I can, as there was not much that could be done regarding Omar making it in time. I came back home, found the room to be deserted and went to bed rather early.
The next morning I woke up early enough to shower and get ready to make it in time for the complementary breakfast. I met a Korean guy at one of the tables. He was a funny person, who had been in Melbourne for a couple of months and was working in a Japanese restaurant. He surprised me with a few Urdu phrases he had learnt from some of his Pakistani friends in Korea, which included "Pakistan Zindabad" and "Allah hu Akbar". Communication wasn't always very easy with him but we had a good chat during our breakfast.
I continued with my pilgrimage towards the MCG and soon enough was joined by hundreds making their way to the stadium. A small bridge that went over numerous railway lines, and was also a perfect view for the Rod Laver Arena, contained small speakers on each of its sides. There were foreign phrases being uttered from these speakers, perhaps signifying the multicultural society that Australia, especially Melbourne, presents. Upon reaching the stadium grounds, the outdoor nets caught my eyes instantly. I think Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin were practicing some batting; a sure sign that Australia would be batting first, which was a slight disappointment. I made my way through the many many ticket counters and joined a queue. I bought a ticket for all 5 days that had cost me roughly $80. I don't think many would be coming for all 5 days, except for the players and the Channel 9 crew and commentary team. Upon making my way round the stadium I was looking for a way in when I saw Steve Waugh standing right there, just a few meters away from me, talking to someone. I didn't know what to do. I really wanted to go and ask if I could have a picture with him. But I didn't want to act like an over-eager cricket fan bugging him on his personal time. I didn't see other people making a fuss around so I just let it go. Perhaps I should have made more of an effort for the picture.
I went inside and made my way upstairs on the escalators. The stadium was very modern and clean and there were practically a hundred sections. I asked a security person where the general stands were and he told me that they started from section 36 (or was it 56?) or I could go to the 3rd floor. The 2nd floor, it seemed, was for members only. I seated myself in the middle of a row that was more towards mid-wicket / extra cover. This row was underneath a stand so it had plenty of shade. Also, it faced directly towards one of the 2 absolutely HUGE and brilliant TV screens. I don't remember seeing bigger and yet such high quality TV screens in my life. The sections closer to the ground were almost full with people creating most of the drama and the noise inside. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be under the sun or in the shade. Usually this dilemma is the cause of brilliant weather, and that was the case here too. It couldn't have been a perfect day for cricket. It was indeed a fascinating sight, although, overall the stadium appeared to be half empty. Later I would find out that this "half-empty" stadium had around 60,000 spectators watching the 1st day. The amazing thing about the MCG is the noise that can be generated inside. With 60,000 people stacked up, the cheers and sound of spectators resonating within the coliseum can be a breathtaking experience. The Australians are very great sports (not counting the players of course!). They seem to appreciate cricket, be that from the opposing team. And they also love a bit of a fight, especially if it comes from the underdog.
Two people had come and occupied the seats to my left. They were brothers; one in his thirties and the other one perhaps a teenager. I really had some great conversations with the elder one. We started to talk about the game first, and then Australian cricket in general. We discussed the politics and team selection surrounding the Australian team. He gave me some insight regarding Steve Waugh and Shane Warne. We discussed the future of players such as Andrew Symonds and Shoaib Akhtar. He explained to me that Symonds was of the 'older breed' of Australian cricketers, such as Doug Walters and David Boon. He told me that Doug Walters was rumoured to have played several Test matches while being drunk and even then scored heavily. The new Australian cricket culture was in complete contrast to the old days when late night curfews were not as strict as they are now. I remember telling him and his brother how this moment, watching a Boxing day Test Match, had been a life-long dream for me, and I got a bit emotional in the process. Hah! He was indeed a bit surprised when I told him about it though, since he was aware that cricket fans from our part of the world tend to not give much importance to Test cricket and are more obsessed with the limited overs version of the game.
Meanwhile, Australia was batting very steadily. I remember the first few overs were rather difficult for them to score. But once the openers had survived the initial spell from Amir and Asif, they were able to capitalize well. We did drop a few catches on the way, though.
After the Tea break, the two brothers had left. I started a conversation with an older man to my right. He would have been in his 70s, I imagine. He seemed to be a very nice, quiet person. He asked me where I had come from and what I was doing. He told me that he and his son come to watch the boxing day test match every year, for the last 15 years or so. They take their car for a 2 hour drive down to Melbourne. It was very nice interacting with the local people; something I wasn't able to do much since I planted foot in this great country.
It was indeed a great satisfying day of cricket, even though we were definitely behind the eight ball, with Australia 300 something for the loss of only 3 wickets or so.
Heading back, I really didn't have much of an agenda for the night. I decided to stroll alongside the Yarra river, taking photographs of anything that caught my eye as interesting. After a while, I decided to watch a movie in what seemed like an old theater in the heart of the city. 'Sherlock Holmes' appeared to be the most interesting amongst all the movies that were being played at the time. And it was indeed a terrific choice. I enjoyed every bit of the movie. The direction by Guy Ritchie was exciting and adventurous, as one would perhaps expect.
The day was almost over and I was quite tired. It was also the day my elder brother had got married. Upon reaching the hotel, I called Bhai and his wife, Cathleen, to congratulate them. It was a bit surreal to imagine Bhai now married. Meanwhile, Omar was able to convert his ticket from Melbourne to Sydney. He told me that PIA made the same mistake again, and he had to call up one of our relatives, who happens to be a General Manager in PIA, to fix the issue.
All in all, it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I guess, I'm not the only Farooki who would say the same about this day.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Goodbye Hello!
Have you noticed how "good night" is never used as a greeting, but always as a send off. The opposite applies to "good evening". I've started to question the very logic behind this. If it were up to me, I'd like to say "good morning" when I'm leaving and "good night" when I meet some one. I don't see how that can be wrong.
And have you heard anyone say "Good noon" when its midday? Didn't think so. It's always "Good afternoon" no matter what time it is. I'd like to straighten that out too.
This is one of the few things that has always bothered me since my childhood. You can see how difficult it is even now to understand what the system is, so try imagining a 7 year old making an effort to figure out the logic of what to say when. I think I can now trace back some remnants of my unbalanced mental state to earlier stages of my intellectual development. Now that still isn't a good sign! (I don't think I win either way)
"I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello" - Hello Goodbye, The Beatles
And have you heard anyone say "Good noon" when its midday? Didn't think so. It's always "Good afternoon" no matter what time it is. I'd like to straighten that out too.
This is one of the few things that has always bothered me since my childhood. You can see how difficult it is even now to understand what the system is, so try imagining a 7 year old making an effort to figure out the logic of what to say when. I think I can now trace back some remnants of my unbalanced mental state to earlier stages of my intellectual development. Now that still isn't a good sign! (I don't think I win either way)
"I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello" - Hello Goodbye, The Beatles
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Great Scott!
I think I may have found someone who follows my blog (other than the 2 people who I force to read it). It just so happened that I was enjoying my daily dose of Scott Adams' "The Dilbert Blog", that I found the underlying principle behind this particular post very familiar.
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2008/03/vacation-ratio.html
My regular readers would note that only recently did I mention the discriminating nature of how memories are created. What are the chances that Scott would mention the "selective memory phenomenon" only 2 days after my post? If there's anything I've learnt after watching countless hours of "Lost", its that most coincidences have greater logical explanations behind them. A few things come to mind.
1. Scott is feeding off from material on the net. The least exciting of my interpretations, since Scott actually does comment on material from elsewhere.
2. Scott and I think alike. I would like to think so, since we both have a great sense of humor.
3. I took the material off some earlier post of "The Dilbert Blog". Quite possible but highly unlikely, since I take great pride in my creativity and would only do so as a result of some subliminal impression that was made whilst reading the blog.
4. Scott is a big fan of my writing and more specifically my blog. This appears to be the most believable explanation. It would only add to the list of my ever growing fan base that already includes Stephen King and J.K. Rowling.
So Scott, whatever the reasons are behind the timing and similarity of the concept behind our posts, what I can say for sure is that great minds do think alike... (I'm not sure if this increases my credentials or decreases yours!)
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2008/03/vacation-ratio.html
My regular readers would note that only recently did I mention the discriminating nature of how memories are created. What are the chances that Scott would mention the "selective memory phenomenon" only 2 days after my post? If there's anything I've learnt after watching countless hours of "Lost", its that most coincidences have greater logical explanations behind them. A few things come to mind.
1. Scott is feeding off from material on the net. The least exciting of my interpretations, since Scott actually does comment on material from elsewhere.
2. Scott and I think alike. I would like to think so, since we both have a great sense of humor.
3. I took the material off some earlier post of "The Dilbert Blog". Quite possible but highly unlikely, since I take great pride in my creativity and would only do so as a result of some subliminal impression that was made whilst reading the blog.
4. Scott is a big fan of my writing and more specifically my blog. This appears to be the most believable explanation. It would only add to the list of my ever growing fan base that already includes Stephen King and J.K. Rowling.
So Scott, whatever the reasons are behind the timing and similarity of the concept behind our posts, what I can say for sure is that great minds do think alike... (I'm not sure if this increases my credentials or decreases yours!)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Why did Superman Return?
Caveat to the reader: If you haven't seen "Superman Returns" you may want to avoid reading any further as this post contains content that may "spoil" your movie, in the event that you choose to see it in the future.
I have always loved Superman. As a superhero fan, I've found his character very interesting. Unlike most superheroes, Superman's alter ego is an ordinary, hard working citizen, Clark Kent, who's trying his best to make a living. In most cases the situation is the other way round, with the alter ego usually being the superhero. Also, Superman has an amazing variety of superpowers at his disposal, and more importantly, has a potentially deadly weakness that creates a fine balance.
But most significantly, Superman is considered to be a leader, someone who takes control of things and is unfazed by difficult and seemingly disastrous situations. His moral uprightness and ability to sustain himself beyond human levels of emotion makes him even more special.
So you can understand why I'm disappointed with "Superman Returns". Superman does not only appear to be emotionally weak in this movie, he is shown to have made moral misjudgments and some unwise decisions over time. To be more specific, he tries to wreck a perfectly happy family and is shown to have an illegitimate child. Also, between Louis Lane and him, Louis is the one that has the moral uprightness to say "no" to Superman's rather open advancements. Followers of Superman comics and cartoons would note that it was rather Louis Lane who used to openly pursue Superman, with Superman being the one who used to play it cool.
Also, Louis Lane's personality in the movie does not match the character itself. Louis Lane is supposed to be annoying, stubborn, confident, big mouthed and usually gets her own way, whereas in the movie she's quiet, dreamy, very emotional and really not that irritating. I think making her a mom has changed most of her personality.
But, overall, the movie itself wasn't terrible. However, I expected more coming from the Superman franchise.
I have always loved Superman. As a superhero fan, I've found his character very interesting. Unlike most superheroes, Superman's alter ego is an ordinary, hard working citizen, Clark Kent, who's trying his best to make a living. In most cases the situation is the other way round, with the alter ego usually being the superhero. Also, Superman has an amazing variety of superpowers at his disposal, and more importantly, has a potentially deadly weakness that creates a fine balance.
But most significantly, Superman is considered to be a leader, someone who takes control of things and is unfazed by difficult and seemingly disastrous situations. His moral uprightness and ability to sustain himself beyond human levels of emotion makes him even more special.
So you can understand why I'm disappointed with "Superman Returns". Superman does not only appear to be emotionally weak in this movie, he is shown to have made moral misjudgments and some unwise decisions over time. To be more specific, he tries to wreck a perfectly happy family and is shown to have an illegitimate child. Also, between Louis Lane and him, Louis is the one that has the moral uprightness to say "no" to Superman's rather open advancements. Followers of Superman comics and cartoons would note that it was rather Louis Lane who used to openly pursue Superman, with Superman being the one who used to play it cool.
Also, Louis Lane's personality in the movie does not match the character itself. Louis Lane is supposed to be annoying, stubborn, confident, big mouthed and usually gets her own way, whereas in the movie she's quiet, dreamy, very emotional and really not that irritating. I think making her a mom has changed most of her personality.
But, overall, the movie itself wasn't terrible. However, I expected more coming from the Superman franchise.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wishlist
Searching for a gift can be an interesting exercise at times, even though on most occasions you may end up with the same old boring thing that you usually get when you run out of ideas. On the other hand, the whole process can provide you with a list of things that you'd want for yourself.
Only a few days back, I went on a gift hunt for my dad. From past experience, I knew perfumes and aftershaves wouldn't really excite him. My previous gift, an Ipod, was a great success and from that I took the lead on getting some electronic gizmo. I started searching the internet and came up with some great things... things that I plan on getting for myself someday!
1. Radio Controlled Airwolf
Ok, to be honest I've had this idea for quite a while now. However, I did try to look for a smaller and less expensive substitute that I thought my dad could enjoy indoors.
Well this thing has everything you can think of. From retractable wheels to a wireless color camera... all you need is the Airwolf theme song playing in the background (which you can also take care of by using the mp3 player that is built in the wireless camera monitor).
http://www.rc-expert.com/product-package.php?pid=633
Damn... now that I've checked my saved link, they've scrapped the wireless camera from the package. However, its still mega cool.
2. Air guitar
I've been trying to learn the real thing for such a long time that now I think this baby could be used as a nifty alternative without causing much sweat. Pretty cool idea, especially if you frequently air guitar yourself.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/993b/
3. The Office Memorabilia
I love the series and absolutely adore the memorabilia available on the NBC website. The bobbleheads and a crazy award would be a good addition to my rather dull workspace.
http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/index.php?v=nbunbcnowoff
4. Sky car
Ok, I may be getting a bit carried away here, but who wouldn't want to own this fine flying car, that can seat 4 people and can make you look like one of those eccentric billionaires.
http://www.firebox.com/?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=415
5. Lego city
No, lego is not for kids. It says "Ages 6+" on most of its products, which means I can play with 'em too. And not only will I play with them, I'll build myself a city one day that will include a lego airport, a police station, an Eiffel Tower, a hospital and many, many other cool things.
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_3837802_13?ie=UTF8&node=291251011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=0GN7AHQRQBDWKN6TQEVQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=293202901&pf_rd_i=236510011
Of course, this isn't an exhausted list. But I thought if anybody out there is looking to get me a 'thoughtful' present, you should now have a fair idea on what to get. (BTW, my birthday's on the 22nd of November, but gifts are welcome throughout the year!)
P.S. I thought I'd add this one last thing before I go... just discovered it while browsing online
http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DSIProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10601&catalogId=10007&productId=1211900&categoryId=21044
Only a few days back, I went on a gift hunt for my dad. From past experience, I knew perfumes and aftershaves wouldn't really excite him. My previous gift, an Ipod, was a great success and from that I took the lead on getting some electronic gizmo. I started searching the internet and came up with some great things... things that I plan on getting for myself someday!
1. Radio Controlled Airwolf
Ok, to be honest I've had this idea for quite a while now. However, I did try to look for a smaller and less expensive substitute that I thought my dad could enjoy indoors.
Well this thing has everything you can think of. From retractable wheels to a wireless color camera... all you need is the Airwolf theme song playing in the background (which you can also take care of by using the mp3 player that is built in the wireless camera monitor).
http://www.rc-expert.com/product-package.php?pid=633
Damn... now that I've checked my saved link, they've scrapped the wireless camera from the package. However, its still mega cool.
2. Air guitar
I've been trying to learn the real thing for such a long time that now I think this baby could be used as a nifty alternative without causing much sweat. Pretty cool idea, especially if you frequently air guitar yourself.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/993b/
3. The Office Memorabilia
I love the series and absolutely adore the memorabilia available on the NBC website. The bobbleheads and a crazy award would be a good addition to my rather dull workspace.
http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/index.php?v=nbunbcnowoff
4. Sky car
Ok, I may be getting a bit carried away here, but who wouldn't want to own this fine flying car, that can seat 4 people and can make you look like one of those eccentric billionaires.
http://www.firebox.com/?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=415
5. Lego city
No, lego is not for kids. It says "Ages 6+" on most of its products, which means I can play with 'em too. And not only will I play with them, I'll build myself a city one day that will include a lego airport, a police station, an Eiffel Tower, a hospital and many, many other cool things.
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_3837802_13?ie=UTF8&node=291251011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=0GN7AHQRQBDWKN6TQEVQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=293202901&pf_rd_i=236510011
Of course, this isn't an exhausted list. But I thought if anybody out there is looking to get me a 'thoughtful' present, you should now have a fair idea on what to get. (BTW, my birthday's on the 22nd of November, but gifts are welcome throughout the year!)
P.S. I thought I'd add this one last thing before I go... just discovered it while browsing online
http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DSIProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10601&catalogId=10007&productId=1211900&categoryId=21044
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Its time to go "Back To The Present"!
Memories can be deceiving. What can provide more evidence of this than my very own blog. Some of my frequent readers (I'm counting one) may recall two of my earlier posts, "Let there not be light!" and "My Time Machine". One of the posts was about how I used to enjoy solitude during the 1 hour loadsheddings of yesteryear. Well, loadsheddings have increased to 4 times a day now and I don't seem to enjoy it one bit.
Similarly, the other post was about an enjoyable one-off family picnic we had a few years back. Well, I tried to recreate the same picnic this December by attempting to find the same picnic spot. I even played the same song (Telegraph Road) on our way back. However, nothing magical happened. Not that I'm saying I didn't have fun, but it wasn't exactly how I imagined it would be.
Maybe its because things have changed since these events actually happened. Or, maybe, its because I have changed as time has gone by. I would think that its a combination of the two. Plus, I think, our memories sometimes magnify one pole of the emotions that we go through. Like for instance, if you fancied some person at some point in time, your memories of the things that you were fond of would supersede the little things that bothered you about the person.
Also, I think I was too busy trying to relive my old memories instead of maybe focusing on making new ones. It just goes to show that I've either been living in the past, or worrying too much about the future. Maybe I should just concentrate on the 'now' instead of the 'befores' and 'afters'.
I guess that means my soundtrack of happiness is on shuffle from now on.
Similarly, the other post was about an enjoyable one-off family picnic we had a few years back. Well, I tried to recreate the same picnic this December by attempting to find the same picnic spot. I even played the same song (Telegraph Road) on our way back. However, nothing magical happened. Not that I'm saying I didn't have fun, but it wasn't exactly how I imagined it would be.
Maybe its because things have changed since these events actually happened. Or, maybe, its because I have changed as time has gone by. I would think that its a combination of the two. Plus, I think, our memories sometimes magnify one pole of the emotions that we go through. Like for instance, if you fancied some person at some point in time, your memories of the things that you were fond of would supersede the little things that bothered you about the person.
Also, I think I was too busy trying to relive my old memories instead of maybe focusing on making new ones. It just goes to show that I've either been living in the past, or worrying too much about the future. Maybe I should just concentrate on the 'now' instead of the 'befores' and 'afters'.
I guess that means my soundtrack of happiness is on shuffle from now on.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
It was nice talking to me
There are times when you have little to do and there's no one on your messenger list. Lucky for me, there's always someone on my list, mainly because I've added myself on Yahoo. Here's a snapshot of what my Yahoo Messenger usually looks like.
This only makes for interesting conversation, since we have so much in common. This is how our conversations usually go about.
This, though, can get a bit boring and at times somewhat heated, since we have the same likes and dislikes which can therefore cause a conflict of interest when it comes to women. But since both of us have a great sense of humor, it usually is great fun and things generally seem to work out.
This only makes for interesting conversation, since we have so much in common. This is how our conversations usually go about.
This, though, can get a bit boring and at times somewhat heated, since we have the same likes and dislikes which can therefore cause a conflict of interest when it comes to women. But since both of us have a great sense of humor, it usually is great fun and things generally seem to work out.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Any questions?
I've always had sympathy for people who have something uncommon or prominent about them, which only allows other people to bug them with the same thoughtless questions or comments over and over again. Like, I'm sure Ryan Stiles is sick of people telling him how big his feet are or how Pope Benedict must be fed up of being told over and over again that he looks exactly like Senator Palpatine aka Darth Sidious (or the evil Emperor from Star Wars for all you non-scifi people). I guess everybody has a few questions that they're tired of answering. And like everyone, I also have a list of the ones that I hate the most, which I have taken the liberty to mention in order of most hated to the least.
1. Why are you so thin?
People never get tired of asking me this. I could give them a hundred different reasons but they already have a perfect explanation fixed in their heads. Which beckons the question: why bother asking me something that they already know the answer of (i.e. according to them)?
2. What do you want to do in life?
Another one of my least favorites, probably because I admittedly don't have a clue on what I would want to do in the next year or so, let alone have a game plan for life in general. So whenever I'm put forth this question I respond with a very precise picture of my plans in the most succinct narrative possible. To be more exact, I answer by saying "I don't know".
3. What are you good at?
This question has many forms, including "What are your strengths?", "Do you have any special skills?" and "Is there anything at all that you can do right?". Typical answers include "Is using hair gel in 5 different ways a skill?", "I know the value of PI up to 31 decimal places (which I seriously do)" and "I can scan all 50 channels of cable in less than 10 seconds".
4. What have been your achievements so far?
This can be a tricky question as it could either be intended for academic, extracurricular or professional achievements. Lucky for me I have none in either category which allows me to use the same answer in all situations.
Writing these down makes me feel that I'm better off than the Pope. At least I don't get asked if I can discharge electricity from my arse or if I have a light saber hidden underneath my robe or if I'm the most evil being present in the universe... Now I can go back to memorizing the value of PI to the next 20 decimal places in peace. May the force be with you!
1. Why are you so thin?
People never get tired of asking me this. I could give them a hundred different reasons but they already have a perfect explanation fixed in their heads. Which beckons the question: why bother asking me something that they already know the answer of (i.e. according to them)?
2. What do you want to do in life?
Another one of my least favorites, probably because I admittedly don't have a clue on what I would want to do in the next year or so, let alone have a game plan for life in general. So whenever I'm put forth this question I respond with a very precise picture of my plans in the most succinct narrative possible. To be more exact, I answer by saying "I don't know".
3. What are you good at?
This question has many forms, including "What are your strengths?", "Do you have any special skills?" and "Is there anything at all that you can do right?". Typical answers include "Is using hair gel in 5 different ways a skill?", "I know the value of PI up to 31 decimal places (which I seriously do)" and "I can scan all 50 channels of cable in less than 10 seconds".
4. What have been your achievements so far?
This can be a tricky question as it could either be intended for academic, extracurricular or professional achievements. Lucky for me I have none in either category which allows me to use the same answer in all situations.
Writing these down makes me feel that I'm better off than the Pope. At least I don't get asked if I can discharge electricity from my arse or if I have a light saber hidden underneath my robe or if I'm the most evil being present in the universe... Now I can go back to memorizing the value of PI to the next 20 decimal places in peace. May the force be with you!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
First days at work
Not only are they boring, but they’re damn tiring as well. Especially when you start work after a good period of doing nothing, it’s even more difficult. I think the main reason for this is that you’re not used to sitting in a single position for long, or for that matter, even short periods of time. At home, you’re more accustomed to the comfortable position of lying down horizontally after every 15 minutes of sitting, standing or walking (I won’t even mention running).
Few exciting things happen on first days. Firstly, your boss doesn’t want to dump work on you all at once, and then you also don’t know your co-workers well enough to be too friendly. And going through company manuals or orientation material isn’t my first choice for literature. Probably the most difficult thing is in trying to stay awake. You don’t want to show that you’re lazy, well not on the first day at least, so you battle hard to find something interesting to keep the subduing powers of sleep at bay.
One thing I sometimes do to fight boredom is to try and make different words on a calculator. For some reason I always end up with the same words and I don’t even see the point of trying, but somehow the whole thing gives me a kick every time.
Another thing I like to do on a calculator is to enter the value of pie to the 11th decimal place and then perform weird arithmetic functions on it. Again, it doesn’t really make sense, but I can spend a good 7-10 minutes doing that. Sometimes I also like to see how many calculations the calculator can take before giving an error message. Like for example, I will fill the screen with 9s and then add a 1 to see if the calculator will give an error and if it doesn’t I’ll keep on adding 1 or some other number until it finally succumbs.
If you have a computer without any internet, there’s little that you can do to keep yourself interested for long. But for some of us it can be a good tool for appearing to be busy. MS Excel is probably the most useful amongst the very basic software available to the everyday office worker. Just type in some random words, accompanied with some random numbers in a few columns and you’ve got something going. Writing something in MS Word may arouse the suspicion of your colleagues or your boss as people tend to look at what you’re typing. But no such thing ever happens when working on Excel. The thing is so damn boring that people try to keep themselves away from looking at the screen whenever an Excel spreadsheet is on.
The thing about the office is that when you don’t have any work, you wish you did to make time move faster, but when you do have some work, you wish that you didn’t so that you could just laze around and enjoy the scenery from your window (yes, I have a window). I guess it’s just another one of those things when you just can’t win.
Few exciting things happen on first days. Firstly, your boss doesn’t want to dump work on you all at once, and then you also don’t know your co-workers well enough to be too friendly. And going through company manuals or orientation material isn’t my first choice for literature. Probably the most difficult thing is in trying to stay awake. You don’t want to show that you’re lazy, well not on the first day at least, so you battle hard to find something interesting to keep the subduing powers of sleep at bay.
One thing I sometimes do to fight boredom is to try and make different words on a calculator. For some reason I always end up with the same words and I don’t even see the point of trying, but somehow the whole thing gives me a kick every time.
Another thing I like to do on a calculator is to enter the value of pie to the 11th decimal place and then perform weird arithmetic functions on it. Again, it doesn’t really make sense, but I can spend a good 7-10 minutes doing that. Sometimes I also like to see how many calculations the calculator can take before giving an error message. Like for example, I will fill the screen with 9s and then add a 1 to see if the calculator will give an error and if it doesn’t I’ll keep on adding 1 or some other number until it finally succumbs.
If you have a computer without any internet, there’s little that you can do to keep yourself interested for long. But for some of us it can be a good tool for appearing to be busy. MS Excel is probably the most useful amongst the very basic software available to the everyday office worker. Just type in some random words, accompanied with some random numbers in a few columns and you’ve got something going. Writing something in MS Word may arouse the suspicion of your colleagues or your boss as people tend to look at what you’re typing. But no such thing ever happens when working on Excel. The thing is so damn boring that people try to keep themselves away from looking at the screen whenever an Excel spreadsheet is on.
The thing about the office is that when you don’t have any work, you wish you did to make time move faster, but when you do have some work, you wish that you didn’t so that you could just laze around and enjoy the scenery from your window (yes, I have a window). I guess it’s just another one of those things when you just can’t win.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Comfortably dumb
I used to think John Locke (the character from Lost) was crazy when he thought the Island was trying to communicate with him. So by considering the possibility that the F-9 Park has established some form of communication with me, I can admit being a bit crazy myself.
Well it all began when I started taking these walks at the park. Nothing suspicious really happened until very recently I noticed a certain trend that had developed. Whenever I was in the car ready to leave, the mp3 player would play "Don't go away" by Oasis. Now that may appear to be a trivial occurrence for the casual observer, but considering it had happened several times at the same time of the day made it a bit obvious; the park didn't want me to leave and it was communicating that to me by sending out magnetic waves to my mp3 player causing an interference with the algorithm for shuffle play and thus ensuring that the particular song was played at that specific time. It couldn't have been any simpler.
Then I started to think of any other unusual incidents that may have slipped under the radar while I was busy walking. It is then that it occurred to me. I noticed that the song "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd had been played suspiciously excessively. In fact, I remember once it even played twice in a row, which is very odd as the probability for that happening is extremely low (it's actually 0.00021). That is when I started connecting the dots. The half hour that I am at the park actually has a numbing effect in the sense that I'm more or less unaware of the people around me and am in a dreamy state while completely engaged in my thoughts. I think the park has a lot to do with it, and it's made sure that I found out who's responsible.
I really don't know what to expect next from the park. So far it has used subtle signs to let me know of what's going on. I'm half expecting the modus operandi to change from subtle to downright in your face. But for now, I'm enjoying the music.
Well it all began when I started taking these walks at the park. Nothing suspicious really happened until very recently I noticed a certain trend that had developed. Whenever I was in the car ready to leave, the mp3 player would play "Don't go away" by Oasis. Now that may appear to be a trivial occurrence for the casual observer, but considering it had happened several times at the same time of the day made it a bit obvious; the park didn't want me to leave and it was communicating that to me by sending out magnetic waves to my mp3 player causing an interference with the algorithm for shuffle play and thus ensuring that the particular song was played at that specific time. It couldn't have been any simpler.
Then I started to think of any other unusual incidents that may have slipped under the radar while I was busy walking. It is then that it occurred to me. I noticed that the song "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd had been played suspiciously excessively. In fact, I remember once it even played twice in a row, which is very odd as the probability for that happening is extremely low (it's actually 0.00021). That is when I started connecting the dots. The half hour that I am at the park actually has a numbing effect in the sense that I'm more or less unaware of the people around me and am in a dreamy state while completely engaged in my thoughts. I think the park has a lot to do with it, and it's made sure that I found out who's responsible.
I really don't know what to expect next from the park. So far it has used subtle signs to let me know of what's going on. I'm half expecting the modus operandi to change from subtle to downright in your face. But for now, I'm enjoying the music.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Worth a lot more than a thousand words
Before the mapping of the human genome, people used to blame everything on the genetic makeup of individuals. I remember watching a documentary on BBC that tried to establish a link between criminals and a possible gene associated with their activities. It was almost an attempt to blame everything on fate.
Genes or no genes, there’s no denying every person is different. For instance, everybody has a different thing that they notice when they first look at a girl. A friend of mine used to pay close attention to the nose; other friends were more concerned with other parts of the human anatomy. I personally notice the hair at first glance.
A friend of mine uses the analogy of a picture to describe a lot of situations. According to him, a picture can be interpreted in many ways and can be liked and disliked depending on the person and his or her tastes. So a book could be a bestseller and at the same time be not liked by a number of people. The same goes with music (in fact all kinds of art), food, sports… in effect every possible thing can be liked and disliked by a number of people at the same time. This just goes to show the uniqueness of the human individual.
But this applies more to art, since art is always open to interpretation. So I don’t really understand how people give a damn about music reviews. For someone who listens to pop, it’s possible for that person to find jazz not too appealing. So a person to review all types of music is really not doing justice to it anyway. To take it further, the review wouldn’t mean much even if the person has no bias at all.
If you think about it the more you’d realize that this is a clever mechanism designed by God to allow the smooth functioning of the universe. Imagine if everybody had the same likes and dislikes. I’d like to think that everyone would be looking for the exact same thing causing a major anomaly in the supply-demand equation. Try equating that with relationships and you’d think that the human race would have very little chance of survival. So maybe I’m ensuring our existence when I consider the Mona Lisa nothing more than a painting of an old hag who probably used the picture in the matrimonial section of the classifieds.
(The point of my argument also supports one of my previous posts concerning beauty pageants, proving further that the concept is absurd)
Genes or no genes, there’s no denying every person is different. For instance, everybody has a different thing that they notice when they first look at a girl. A friend of mine used to pay close attention to the nose; other friends were more concerned with other parts of the human anatomy. I personally notice the hair at first glance.
A friend of mine uses the analogy of a picture to describe a lot of situations. According to him, a picture can be interpreted in many ways and can be liked and disliked depending on the person and his or her tastes. So a book could be a bestseller and at the same time be not liked by a number of people. The same goes with music (in fact all kinds of art), food, sports… in effect every possible thing can be liked and disliked by a number of people at the same time. This just goes to show the uniqueness of the human individual.
But this applies more to art, since art is always open to interpretation. So I don’t really understand how people give a damn about music reviews. For someone who listens to pop, it’s possible for that person to find jazz not too appealing. So a person to review all types of music is really not doing justice to it anyway. To take it further, the review wouldn’t mean much even if the person has no bias at all.
If you think about it the more you’d realize that this is a clever mechanism designed by God to allow the smooth functioning of the universe. Imagine if everybody had the same likes and dislikes. I’d like to think that everyone would be looking for the exact same thing causing a major anomaly in the supply-demand equation. Try equating that with relationships and you’d think that the human race would have very little chance of survival. So maybe I’m ensuring our existence when I consider the Mona Lisa nothing more than a painting of an old hag who probably used the picture in the matrimonial section of the classifieds.
(The point of my argument also supports one of my previous posts concerning beauty pageants, proving further that the concept is absurd)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Cracked rearview mirror
The human race is very selfish. I’ve hardly seen a person do something generous unless he or she benefits in some way. Take charity for example. There are two reasons I could come up with which would explain why people give charity. Firstly, contributing to charity gives people satisfaction. It satisfies them that they’re doing something substantial to make the world a better place. The second reason would be fulfilling a religious obligation. People would be willing to spare some money in order to be able to enjoy the afterlife in heaven. In both cases they’re benefiting in some way. I’d like to see someone do something without getting anything in return, even if it’s only a feeling of satisfaction. Like for someone who hates giving money to give it anyway, and still feel bad about it. Now that would be an unselfish person, since he really has nothing to gain.
I believe that’s where the saying "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" comes in. No matter how innocuous or straightforward something may appear, there are always some strings attached to it. That’s why I’ve made a habit of looking in the rearview mirror; I’m cynical as hell. Or, perhaps, I may be a bit selfish myself.
I believe that’s where the saying "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" comes in. No matter how innocuous or straightforward something may appear, there are always some strings attached to it. That’s why I’ve made a habit of looking in the rearview mirror; I’m cynical as hell. Or, perhaps, I may be a bit selfish myself.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
a Miss fit
I hate beauty pageants. Or, since 'hate' is such a strong word, let me say that I find the concept distasteful. I recently read in a local newspaper that a Pakistani woman will be taking part in one of the many international beauty pageants being hosted these days. What bothered me more was that the article was written by a woman, and according to her this shows that Pakistani women are now heading in the right direction. In another article, an unnamed author describes the participants of the Miss Pakistan pageant (to be held later this month in Toronto) to be strong, confident and enthusiastic women taking Pakistan forward to the 21st century. What a load of bull. Beauty pageants are demeaning to women and for them to approve of this only makes it even more disturbing. Pakistani women would be more strong and confident if they were not taking part in these ‘competitions’.
Yes… these people would like to salute our country’s new policy of ‘enlightened moderation’. From what I see, there isn’t much enlightenment involved, neither is there any moderation. There are only a bunch of women competing with each other over how they look while wearing minimal clothing. Yes, that sure would seem to be necessary for success in the 21st century.
There are so many of these pageants these days that it makes the whole thing even more absurd. First there’s a Miss Universe thing and then there’s also a Miss World pageant. Since there are only human participants, I don’t quite understand how the winner of a Miss World contest wouldn’t automatically become Miss Universe, or vice versa. And to make it more confusing, there’s also a Miss Earth contest. Great. I won't be too surprised if they come up with another one called 'Miss Galaxy', however corny that may sound.
Yes… these people would like to salute our country’s new policy of ‘enlightened moderation’. From what I see, there isn’t much enlightenment involved, neither is there any moderation. There are only a bunch of women competing with each other over how they look while wearing minimal clothing. Yes, that sure would seem to be necessary for success in the 21st century.
There are so many of these pageants these days that it makes the whole thing even more absurd. First there’s a Miss Universe thing and then there’s also a Miss World pageant. Since there are only human participants, I don’t quite understand how the winner of a Miss World contest wouldn’t automatically become Miss Universe, or vice versa. And to make it more confusing, there’s also a Miss Earth contest. Great. I won't be too surprised if they come up with another one called 'Miss Galaxy', however corny that may sound.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Is it a bird?
Reincarnation may sound cool to some people, but perhaps it wouldn’t be too appealing to someone who turns into a rock for a lifetime. Considering rocks last a lot longer than humans or for that matter any living thing, I imagine it to be really boring. It’ll be a lot more fun if we were all able to choose what to become in another life. Given the option, I’d choose to be a bird. Make that a hummingbird. Then I’ll be able to do that cool helicopter thing they do. Or maybe I’d like to be a bald eagle, soaring away through the earth’s atmosphere while zooming in on anything of interest using my ultra powerful eyesight.
But it’s really the flying part that gives me the kick. Having flown in a few of my dreams, I can make a weak claim of knowing how it feels. That’s why I envy Superman. That and Lana Lang, of course. But even after that, I’d still like to be Batman more than Supes. Why, you ask. Well firstly, the blue and red color combo is way too outer space for me (or for that matter, a bit too American). But to be honest, it’s not about Superman being uncool (because he isn’t); it’s more about Batman being way cooler than anyone else.
Well, the thing about Batman is that he’s as human as you and me, which gives a regular person the belief that he too can be a superhero one day. The point being, you don’t need to have superpowers to be a superhero. All you need to have is muscles, martial arts skills, lots of money and, yeah, a cool ride. In fact the ride itself should be enough. I wouldn’t mind having a sidekick female superhero to assist me in my acts of kindness. That would ensure that I don’t mentally screw myself up fighting psychotic villains day in and day out. Plus, it’ll be great to have someone to talk to. From what I gather, most superheroes have problems when it comes to their social lives. A female sidekick will surely solve most of this.
So to make sense of this post I’ll clarify my position. I’d want to fly in another lifetime but I’d like to be Batman in this one.
But it’s really the flying part that gives me the kick. Having flown in a few of my dreams, I can make a weak claim of knowing how it feels. That’s why I envy Superman. That and Lana Lang, of course. But even after that, I’d still like to be Batman more than Supes. Why, you ask. Well firstly, the blue and red color combo is way too outer space for me (or for that matter, a bit too American). But to be honest, it’s not about Superman being uncool (because he isn’t); it’s more about Batman being way cooler than anyone else.
Well, the thing about Batman is that he’s as human as you and me, which gives a regular person the belief that he too can be a superhero one day. The point being, you don’t need to have superpowers to be a superhero. All you need to have is muscles, martial arts skills, lots of money and, yeah, a cool ride. In fact the ride itself should be enough. I wouldn’t mind having a sidekick female superhero to assist me in my acts of kindness. That would ensure that I don’t mentally screw myself up fighting psychotic villains day in and day out. Plus, it’ll be great to have someone to talk to. From what I gather, most superheroes have problems when it comes to their social lives. A female sidekick will surely solve most of this.
So to make sense of this post I’ll clarify my position. I’d want to fly in another lifetime but I’d like to be Batman in this one.
Monday, May 28, 2007
What's with the routine?
I noticed that all my posts have been in alternate months and alternate years, save for one freak post in September 2005 which was after a gap of 2 months. I have listed down the following possible reasons for this behavior:
1. Based on statistical inference, my writing cycles are in accordance with the Gaussian distribution thereby causing an iterative sequence of blog posting.
2. My blog writing corresponds to variances in my actual life, which usually follow a stop-go pattern.
3. The presence of an invisible hand ensuring that I am compelled to sit and write during these specific time periods.
4. It’s a freaky coincidence. Well it’s not even freaky.
I think I’ll go with option no.1, since it makes the most sense. But what ever reasons are behind it, rest is assured that the cycle will break this June. Well, at least I hope so.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
So Mr. Farooki... please tell us a bit about yourself...
I’ve always found job interviews to be an interesting experience. It’s a place for mind games, diplomacy, and an extensive show of personality and knowledge. It’s basically the hour or two where you try not to be yourself.
People say that the key to a good interview is being confident. Not that I disagree but I think it’s more important in trying not to make a fool out of yourself when you finish. Mainly because the people taking the interview are trying their level best to make you look like an idiot. And a fool with poise looks even more silly.
I also get the feeling that HR people think too highly of themselves, especially when taking interviews. They try really hard to give the impression that they’ve done multiple degrees in varying subjects such as psychology, math or history. Of course, they probably have a single degree and took the job because they had little or no talent for anything else. But at that particular time they’re the ones who are in control, and they would waste no opportunity in reminding you so.
There are a number of interview questions that are just plain stupid. If I would have a list, my least favorite one would be where I tell them how I see myself after a certain period of time. Some people say that their main focus is on the way you answer the questions, not the answers themselves. That would more or less explain the presence of these irritable and meaningless questions.
I’d like to see interviewers add a bit of humor to the whole process. Not only would it make the interview more interesting but it will also give an opportunity to see if the interviewee has a sense of humor. You wouldn’t want to hire a person with no sense of humor; that would make the workplace even more boring. You can also tell a lot more about the person by sharing a few jokes or playing some pranks. For example, if you tell a racially distasteful joke and the person laughs uncontrollably, there is a high probability that he/she has racist opinions. Or if you plant a mild stink bomb during an interview and the interviewee (knowing that he wasn’t the one who let off) doesn’t flinch for a second will show that he/she would be more tolerable to different types of people.
Now I’m talking like one of those HR people. Damn.
People say that the key to a good interview is being confident. Not that I disagree but I think it’s more important in trying not to make a fool out of yourself when you finish. Mainly because the people taking the interview are trying their level best to make you look like an idiot. And a fool with poise looks even more silly.
I also get the feeling that HR people think too highly of themselves, especially when taking interviews. They try really hard to give the impression that they’ve done multiple degrees in varying subjects such as psychology, math or history. Of course, they probably have a single degree and took the job because they had little or no talent for anything else. But at that particular time they’re the ones who are in control, and they would waste no opportunity in reminding you so.
There are a number of interview questions that are just plain stupid. If I would have a list, my least favorite one would be where I tell them how I see myself after a certain period of time. Some people say that their main focus is on the way you answer the questions, not the answers themselves. That would more or less explain the presence of these irritable and meaningless questions.
I’d like to see interviewers add a bit of humor to the whole process. Not only would it make the interview more interesting but it will also give an opportunity to see if the interviewee has a sense of humor. You wouldn’t want to hire a person with no sense of humor; that would make the workplace even more boring. You can also tell a lot more about the person by sharing a few jokes or playing some pranks. For example, if you tell a racially distasteful joke and the person laughs uncontrollably, there is a high probability that he/she has racist opinions. Or if you plant a mild stink bomb during an interview and the interviewee (knowing that he wasn’t the one who let off) doesn’t flinch for a second will show that he/she would be more tolerable to different types of people.
Now I’m talking like one of those HR people. Damn.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The first fix is for free… all the others come complimentary
I’ve never understood why people find it hard to shake off an addiction. All you have to do is stop doing whatever you’re hooked on to. I know this may be oversimplifying the situation, but in effect that is what you’re supposed to do. However, what if a situation arises when not doing anything becomes the problem? Then you’ll definitely have to do something to shake off the addiction. This appears to be a lot tougher than anything else I can think of. From what I see, laziness is the grandmother of all addictions, far more serious than cigarettes, drugs or any other obsessive craving.
I’d like to see the government treat laziness with the amount of seriousness it deserves. There should be rehabilitation programs dedicated to the cause. It’ll be nice to check out a laziness rehab center. Instead of TV lounges and therapy you’d have sport facilities and career counseling. I’d voluntarily signup anytime. Not that it sounds fun, but because I probably need it more than anyone else.
I’d also like to see Lazy-asses Anonymous meetings held. Maybe if I attend a few I’d realize how stupid I’ve been after listening to some sorry little dweeb telling everyone how he’s been wasting all his years clicking the remote and surfing the web. That would knock some sense into me.
The problem with this, though, is that you’re always a recovering addict. No matter how much you’ve changed, one day of relaxation can cause the suppressed system to trigger back on and then its hello couch and goodbye life again. The only way I see it is no relaxation and you should be fine.
Ok, so now I’ve made a decision. Writing this post has given me a small kick up my behind. I think I’ve had enough of this pampered life of no work and all play, its time for some action… beginning tomorrow, of course.
I’d like to see the government treat laziness with the amount of seriousness it deserves. There should be rehabilitation programs dedicated to the cause. It’ll be nice to check out a laziness rehab center. Instead of TV lounges and therapy you’d have sport facilities and career counseling. I’d voluntarily signup anytime. Not that it sounds fun, but because I probably need it more than anyone else.
I’d also like to see Lazy-asses Anonymous meetings held. Maybe if I attend a few I’d realize how stupid I’ve been after listening to some sorry little dweeb telling everyone how he’s been wasting all his years clicking the remote and surfing the web. That would knock some sense into me.
The problem with this, though, is that you’re always a recovering addict. No matter how much you’ve changed, one day of relaxation can cause the suppressed system to trigger back on and then its hello couch and goodbye life again. The only way I see it is no relaxation and you should be fine.
Ok, so now I’ve made a decision. Writing this post has given me a small kick up my behind. I think I’ve had enough of this pampered life of no work and all play, its time for some action… beginning tomorrow, of course.
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