Wednesday, September 29, 2004
where am I?
I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound – if I can remember any of the damn things.
— Dorothy Parker
NOSTALGIA
— Dorothy Parker
NOSTALGIA
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Happy Birthday Modi!
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to Hemal aka Masterji!
Happy Birthday to you!
One year older, one year funkier, one year cooler and one year smarter.
I wish you all the best for your future undertakings and may you stay happy and cheerful always!
This may be useful to send gifts in India - Bazee
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
The Beginnings Of A Madness
The Beginnings Of A Madness is the best article I have read till date. No doubt, it is a depressing story, yet scarily realistic. After reading the article I was quite speechless, and frankly speaking scared.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Las Vegas Trip
Las Vegas is the best place in the world. It is also the worst place in the world.
I went there to work. Not at a casino, but at a Structural Engineering (Design) firm named Martin & Peltyn. The pay is decent and I wouldn't mind getting a job there. Unfortunately I have to get up at the crack of dawn if I do get the position, and I am NOT a morning person. An Internship in Las Vegas @ $13.00 an hour, though, was hard to refuse.
Gambling mecca, vacation paradise, premier business destination - these are all definitions of the city that never sleeps. Reality takes a hike when you enter the world of glittering casinos with their 24-hour gambling excitement. The scarcity of clocks adds to the fantasy of those taking time off from the real world. It is filled with pretty women, free booze, great food and lots of fun. Time stands still.
I could so live there.
Read more here
Also worth visiting is Grand Canyon
I went there to work. Not at a casino, but at a Structural Engineering (Design) firm named Martin & Peltyn. The pay is decent and I wouldn't mind getting a job there. Unfortunately I have to get up at the crack of dawn if I do get the position, and I am NOT a morning person. An Internship in Las Vegas @ $13.00 an hour, though, was hard to refuse.
Gambling mecca, vacation paradise, premier business destination - these are all definitions of the city that never sleeps. Reality takes a hike when you enter the world of glittering casinos with their 24-hour gambling excitement. The scarcity of clocks adds to the fantasy of those taking time off from the real world. It is filled with pretty women, free booze, great food and lots of fun. Time stands still.
I could so live there.
Read more here
Also worth visiting is Grand Canyon
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
US is a funny place
America's coasts are home to its most extreme characters. The common perception is that the East Coast is dirty, crowded and populated with rude, violent psychopaths, while the West Coast is all sunny beach front property peopled with drug-addled hippies and actors. While this is all true, it's hardly an accurate portrayal of the lifestyle of the remainder of the American population. You enter this world and you see Blacks, Chinese, Hispanics and Whites all speaking at least two languages, one usually English.
I could pick up phrases and words here and there but it is far enough from standard English to be an entirely distinct language. Verb conjugations are non-existent, everything is abbreviated and accented very heavily and vernacular expressions are standard. They even use words that we would consider diminutive in every day speech, like addressing each other as “boy”. And when they want to be polite and they want something from you, you are called “boss”. “Baad” means good, and “haaht” means “hard”. It's fascinating, especially when a Black man starts talking to you, like “Yaaah man”. They abbreviate “And then I said...” to “An nen I seh”.
It's a natural fact that humans are products of their environments of which language acquisition is a major part. So why is it that we have such a hard time getting over our preconceived notions that one language belongs to one people. When a black man speaks eloquently in unaccented, academic English, some blacks call him an “Oreo”. When a white kid speaks fluent street slang, some say he is a “poser”. But here, when you see a Chinese restaurant owner speak to his family in Cantonese and then turn to a black customer and start jawing away in this new language nobody bats an eye but me. At the end I just shake their hand and say “nice to meecha man.”
As I walk away I think about the natives, and just realized that the white settlers made room for shopping malls by herding the state’s Native American populace into tiny patches of land called “reservations.” Today those reservations are home to lucrative casinos, where gambling addicts from all over the Midwest come to blow their childrens’ college money.
Let us talk about the driving scene here now –
Americans love to drive. They don’t care much for their own kind, and certainly don’t like the idea of getting on a crowded subway train full of strangers. Instead, each American drives his own vehicle — the larger and less efficient, the better.
The most popular American automobile is the Sport Utility Vehicle. In your country, they are known as “tanks” or “anti-personnel vehicles.” Besides allowing motorists to sublimate their fears of penile inadequacy, SUVs are great for “off-roading” — that is, when their narrow wheelbase and high center of gravity tips them off the road and over an embankment, they can roll and roll with minimal damage to the outside of the vehicle.
It is important to note that driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in America. Americans looking to cause car accidents instead use their cell phones and change CDs in the player while driving.
Only in America
1. ...can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
2. ...are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.
3. ...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
4. ...do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
5. ...do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
6. ...do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
7. ...do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.
[Just a passing thought: If people spent half the time planning their marriage that they spend planning their wedding, the divorce rate in US would be half of what it is.]
So what does Texas need to survive as a Republic?
NASA in Houston, Texas (we will control the space industry).
We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States.
Defense Industry (we have over 65% of it).
The term "Don't mess with Texas," will take on a whole new meaning!
Oil -
we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years.
Yankee states? Sorry about that.
Natural Gas -
Again we have all we need. Too bad about those northern states.
The president of 'rest of US' will figure a way to keep them warm....
Computer Industry -
we currently lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications:
Small places like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, Compaq Computers, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Semiconductor, Dallas Semiconductor, Delphi, Nortel, Alcatel, etc,etc.
The list goes on and on.
Health Centers -
We have the largest research centers for Cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, and a whole lot of other large health planning centers.
Learning Centers -
We have enough colleges to keep us going:
Texas Tech, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Rice, SMU, University of Houston, Baylor, University of North Texas, Texas Women's University, etc.
Ivy grows better in the south anyway.
We have a ready supply of workers (just open the border when we need some more).
We have control of the paper industry, plastics, insurance, etc.
In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard.
We don't have an army but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an army in 24 hours if we need it.
If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over a couple of Texas Rangers.
We are totally self sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs and vegetable produce and everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. Don't need any food.
This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic of Texas in good shape.
There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have.
Now to the rest of the United States:
Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only the President will be able to drive around in his 9 mile per gallon SUV.
The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes.
You won't have any TV as the space center in Houston will cut off your communications.
Signed, The People in Texas
Just stumbled upon an interesting article on Why I'm an anti-anti-American
I could pick up phrases and words here and there but it is far enough from standard English to be an entirely distinct language. Verb conjugations are non-existent, everything is abbreviated and accented very heavily and vernacular expressions are standard. They even use words that we would consider diminutive in every day speech, like addressing each other as “boy”. And when they want to be polite and they want something from you, you are called “boss”. “Baad” means good, and “haaht” means “hard”. It's fascinating, especially when a Black man starts talking to you, like “Yaaah man”. They abbreviate “And then I said...” to “An nen I seh”.
It's a natural fact that humans are products of their environments of which language acquisition is a major part. So why is it that we have such a hard time getting over our preconceived notions that one language belongs to one people. When a black man speaks eloquently in unaccented, academic English, some blacks call him an “Oreo”. When a white kid speaks fluent street slang, some say he is a “poser”. But here, when you see a Chinese restaurant owner speak to his family in Cantonese and then turn to a black customer and start jawing away in this new language nobody bats an eye but me. At the end I just shake their hand and say “nice to meecha man.”
As I walk away I think about the natives, and just realized that the white settlers made room for shopping malls by herding the state’s Native American populace into tiny patches of land called “reservations.” Today those reservations are home to lucrative casinos, where gambling addicts from all over the Midwest come to blow their childrens’ college money.
Let us talk about the driving scene here now –
Americans love to drive. They don’t care much for their own kind, and certainly don’t like the idea of getting on a crowded subway train full of strangers. Instead, each American drives his own vehicle — the larger and less efficient, the better.
The most popular American automobile is the Sport Utility Vehicle. In your country, they are known as “tanks” or “anti-personnel vehicles.” Besides allowing motorists to sublimate their fears of penile inadequacy, SUVs are great for “off-roading” — that is, when their narrow wheelbase and high center of gravity tips them off the road and over an embankment, they can roll and roll with minimal damage to the outside of the vehicle.
It is important to note that driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in America. Americans looking to cause car accidents instead use their cell phones and change CDs in the player while driving.
Only in America
1. ...can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
2. ...are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.
3. ...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
4. ...do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
5. ...do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
6. ...do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
7. ...do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.
[Just a passing thought: If people spent half the time planning their marriage that they spend planning their wedding, the divorce rate in US would be half of what it is.]
So what does Texas need to survive as a Republic?
NASA in Houston, Texas (we will control the space industry).
We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States.
Defense Industry (we have over 65% of it).
The term "Don't mess with Texas," will take on a whole new meaning!
Oil -
we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years.
Yankee states? Sorry about that.
Natural Gas -
Again we have all we need. Too bad about those northern states.
The president of 'rest of US' will figure a way to keep them warm....
Computer Industry -
we currently lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications:
Small places like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, Compaq Computers, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Semiconductor, Dallas Semiconductor, Delphi, Nortel, Alcatel, etc,etc.
The list goes on and on.
Health Centers -
We have the largest research centers for Cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, and a whole lot of other large health planning centers.
Learning Centers -
We have enough colleges to keep us going:
Texas Tech, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Rice, SMU, University of Houston, Baylor, University of North Texas, Texas Women's University, etc.
Ivy grows better in the south anyway.
We have a ready supply of workers (just open the border when we need some more).
We have control of the paper industry, plastics, insurance, etc.
In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard.
We don't have an army but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an army in 24 hours if we need it.
If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over a couple of Texas Rangers.
We are totally self sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs and vegetable produce and everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. Don't need any food.
This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic of Texas in good shape.
There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have.
Now to the rest of the United States:
Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only the President will be able to drive around in his 9 mile per gallon SUV.
The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes.
You won't have any TV as the space center in Houston will cut off your communications.
Signed, The People in Texas
Just stumbled upon an interesting article on Why I'm an anti-anti-American
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Election fever heightens the coverup scandals
Camera tricks and pre-planted explosions, all done so that US would have a viable pretense to invade the middle east ?!
Flash file for the Pentagon Conspiracy?!
Regardless, the flash file makes some good points which Snopes' conspiracy theory does not answer:
* Why wasn't the lawn more messed up than it was?
* Where's the fire damage? Isn't it usually black when stuff (like fuel) burns?
* What's with the tiny airplane on the Pentagon cam?
* Why weren't the other footages released?
* Why did it sound like a small/military/missile engine? I am sure people who have lived around both commercial and military airplanes and jets for a good portion of their life can tell the difference between a military and a commercial engine.
Eh...but I like conspiracies anyway.
ok, I'm intrigued. So I further went to the CNN website to have a look at the video link. Watch the date instead of the plane. Sep 12? 5pm? Any math major interested in tackling the shadows on the ground and tell me whether they're consistent with a 9:00 strike? It seems so ... obvious ... but it's the same thing a slight-of-hand guy does--distract you with something cool to make you not look at the way he's doing it. Why is the date wrong?
So I was listening to the radio on the way to school on 3rd and they played a sound byte that said if you dont support bush then you're a freedom hater. Then immediately the Patriot Act comes to mind. Though they say that all it does is allow the intelligence community to more effectively communicate with the law enforcment community, I have my doubts. It seems to me that if you DO support Bush you're a freedom hater.
Is anyone else getting tired of hearing nothing but attacks during this US presidential campaign? Bush and Kerry don't talk about what they're gonna do for the country. They seem to be talking about what horrible, evil things the other one will do. This is the nastiest campaign season most people have ever seen.
Bush is putting the focus on the war on terror because it's the safest place he's got to stand, and Kerry is putting the focus on Bush. Now this is Politics as usual to me.
I've added the links to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Amendments as reported on a discussion group at my University.
Don't ever make a speech with more than one thousand words. The speech should contain and repeat certain key words like: "people," 81 times; "our country," 26 times; "liberty," 17 times; "the poor," 33 times; "I promise you," 77 times; and call all opponents "incompetent as many as you can say it.
Just another interesting news site!
[Saw 3 movies - The Lost castle, Predator 2 & What's the worst that could happen]
Flash file for the Pentagon Conspiracy?!
Regardless, the flash file makes some good points which Snopes' conspiracy theory does not answer:
* Why wasn't the lawn more messed up than it was?
* Where's the fire damage? Isn't it usually black when stuff (like fuel) burns?
* What's with the tiny airplane on the Pentagon cam?
* Why weren't the other footages released?
* Why did it sound like a small/military/missile engine? I am sure people who have lived around both commercial and military airplanes and jets for a good portion of their life can tell the difference between a military and a commercial engine.
Eh...but I like conspiracies anyway.
ok, I'm intrigued. So I further went to the CNN website to have a look at the video link. Watch the date instead of the plane. Sep 12? 5pm? Any math major interested in tackling the shadows on the ground and tell me whether they're consistent with a 9:00 strike? It seems so ... obvious ... but it's the same thing a slight-of-hand guy does--distract you with something cool to make you not look at the way he's doing it. Why is the date wrong?
So I was listening to the radio on the way to school on 3rd and they played a sound byte that said if you dont support bush then you're a freedom hater. Then immediately the Patriot Act comes to mind. Though they say that all it does is allow the intelligence community to more effectively communicate with the law enforcment community, I have my doubts. It seems to me that if you DO support Bush you're a freedom hater.
Is anyone else getting tired of hearing nothing but attacks during this US presidential campaign? Bush and Kerry don't talk about what they're gonna do for the country. They seem to be talking about what horrible, evil things the other one will do. This is the nastiest campaign season most people have ever seen.
Bush is putting the focus on the war on terror because it's the safest place he's got to stand, and Kerry is putting the focus on Bush. Now this is Politics as usual to me.
I've added the links to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Amendments as reported on a discussion group at my University.
Don't ever make a speech with more than one thousand words. The speech should contain and repeat certain key words like: "people," 81 times; "our country," 26 times; "liberty," 17 times; "the poor," 33 times; "I promise you," 77 times; and call all opponents "incompetent as many as you can say it.
-- Grandma Soderquist's Rule for Political Speeches
Just another interesting news site!
[Saw 3 movies - The Lost castle, Predator 2 & What's the worst that could happen]
Monday, September 06, 2004
Flowing with the flow
Things seems to be going pretty well. I managed to convince the professors for the course waiver and then I finally submitted the Degree Plan with graduation date December 2004. I shall file for graduation by the September 10 deadline and wait for a call from Martin & Peltyn.
On the other hand I went to Gym on Saturday & Sunday evenings and went to jogging on Sunday morning with Mandar. I took a break today to finish the paper work and shall make exercise a routine from tomorrow.
Will Bush increase the H1 Quota?!
On the other hand I went to Gym on Saturday & Sunday evenings and went to jogging on Sunday morning with Mandar. I took a break today to finish the paper work and shall make exercise a routine from tomorrow.
Will Bush increase the H1 Quota?!
Friday, September 03, 2004
Rules at TAMU
Student rules clarify existing rules pertaining to academic misconduct, physical abuse, hazing, rights of accused students, and restructures in the appeal process. The Student Rule revision process is coordinated through the Office of the Dean of Student Life at (979) 845-3111, or studentlife@tamu.edu.
Then we also have the Academic Integrity Web-site to learn more about the Aggie Honor System.
The full text of President Gates' remarks at the Freshman Convocation on
August 29 and Academic Convocation on August 27 can be found online too.
Other interesting offices at TAMU are the Student Counseling Service, the Department of Student Life, the International Programs Office and the Department of Student Financial Aid.
TAMU also has many traditions and the costliest one being Aggie ring. These traditions make you feel like being a part of the Aggie family. It is great to see the Aggie Spirit welling up in these kids here. Tamu is one of the few US universities with so many traditions.
Fortunately/ unfortunately, if you are a prospective student, you may need to visit the Office of Admissions and Records or call them at 979-845-1031.
I love to read the hate threads at discussion forums
Then we also have the Academic Integrity Web-site to learn more about the Aggie Honor System.
The full text of President Gates' remarks at the Freshman Convocation on
August 29 and Academic Convocation on August 27 can be found online too.
Other interesting offices at TAMU are the Student Counseling Service, the Department of Student Life, the International Programs Office and the Department of Student Financial Aid.
TAMU also has many traditions and the costliest one being Aggie ring. These traditions make you feel like being a part of the Aggie family. It is great to see the Aggie Spirit welling up in these kids here. Tamu is one of the few US universities with so many traditions.
Fortunately/ unfortunately, if you are a prospective student, you may need to visit the Office of Admissions and Records or call them at 979-845-1031.
I love to read the hate threads at discussion forums
