Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Summer Concert Anyone?
I guess there is NO good decent concert going on around my city 'til September :-(
Damn!
Although I do hope to make it to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in October in Columbus or Cleveland. But they've already been here so many times before... I guess in the Rock scenario, only the Foo Fighters, The Who and The Rolling Stones interest me. But meh, AS IF they'll ever come to the mid-west.
In the Pop section, I'd love to watch a Shakira concert. But she's sticking to the east/west coasts this year *sigh*
Now R&B has been interesting lately. Not only do we have a ton of hip-hop, R&B and rap concerts, but we even have the T.I. shooting fiasco on our very own I-75 highway. India Arie is performing on 5th August at the P&G Hall (w00t!... although I ain't going to it). We've got 3 Doors Down coming to Cleveland this September (again... sheesh!), Death Cab for Cutie somewhere around Ohio in September, JAMES BLUNT IN OCTOBER (YAY!), but again in Cleveland (I think I'm gonna move there during summer if another concert is performed there), Aerosmith (!) in Columbus this September, Poison (!!) this July, BUT IN Columbus (grr!). Half of everyone's concerts are either in NJ or NY or CA. wtf...
Anyway...
Everyone HAS TO go to a hip-hop/rap concert at least once. Well, I say so 'cuz:
1. They're LOUD and THUMPING (and that's how a real concert should be, aye? 'til you blow out your ear drums)
2. Even if you can't stand them, a good company can actually have you nodding your head and screaming at the top of your voice to be heard (and like it)
3. You can tell your kids how hoarse one single concert had left you (and have a couple of more stories to go along with that)
4. You can not get bored. If you don't like the music, there's always a lot "watching" to do (t'is true! *grins*)
5. You will end up getting their ringtone (yes, the one you hated before). Really...
Under this category *ahem* we've got Sean Paul coming to Cleveland on 31st August. Going to his concert would make up for all those concerts I didn't go to the last few weeks (we had a huge hip-hop concert with lots of people performing)...
Now if there's one concert I wouldn't go to even if you bought me a ticket is Mariah Carey's. God...
I liked her a lot before, but the number of times I've heard her on the radio, her whiny voice makes me shudder and wish I listened to some country.
And I don't like country.
Now it's decision-making time. And boy, is our Nati (atleast the areas around it) a lil' popular this summer!
Information source: TicketsNow.com
Damn!
Although I do hope to make it to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in October in Columbus or Cleveland. But they've already been here so many times before... I guess in the Rock scenario, only the Foo Fighters, The Who and The Rolling Stones interest me. But meh, AS IF they'll ever come to the mid-west.
In the Pop section, I'd love to watch a Shakira concert. But she's sticking to the east/west coasts this year *sigh*
Now R&B has been interesting lately. Not only do we have a ton of hip-hop, R&B and rap concerts, but we even have the T.I. shooting fiasco on our very own I-75 highway. India Arie is performing on 5th August at the P&G Hall (w00t!... although I ain't going to it). We've got 3 Doors Down coming to Cleveland this September (again... sheesh!), Death Cab for Cutie somewhere around Ohio in September, JAMES BLUNT IN OCTOBER (YAY!), but again in Cleveland (I think I'm gonna move there during summer if another concert is performed there), Aerosmith (!) in Columbus this September, Poison (!!) this July, BUT IN Columbus (grr!). Half of everyone's concerts are either in NJ or NY or CA. wtf...
Anyway...
Everyone HAS TO go to a hip-hop/rap concert at least once. Well, I say so 'cuz:
1. They're LOUD and THUMPING (and that's how a real concert should be, aye? 'til you blow out your ear drums)
2. Even if you can't stand them, a good company can actually have you nodding your head and screaming at the top of your voice to be heard (and like it)
3. You can tell your kids how hoarse one single concert had left you (and have a couple of more stories to go along with that)
4. You can not get bored. If you don't like the music, there's always a lot "watching" to do (t'is true! *grins*)
5. You will end up getting their ringtone (yes, the one you hated before). Really...
Under this category *ahem* we've got Sean Paul coming to Cleveland on 31st August. Going to his concert would make up for all those concerts I didn't go to the last few weeks (we had a huge hip-hop concert with lots of people performing)...
Now if there's one concert I wouldn't go to even if you bought me a ticket is Mariah Carey's. God...
I liked her a lot before, but the number of times I've heard her on the radio, her whiny voice makes me shudder and wish I listened to some country.
And I don't like country.
Now it's decision-making time. And boy, is our Nati (atleast the areas around it) a lil' popular this summer!
Information source: TicketsNow.com
Saturday, July 22, 2006
LOL Best Spoof Ever !
I watched this movie with a bunch of family friends yesterday and I have to say... this is the most hilarious movie I've seen in ages. Surprisingly, the excessive use of cuss words cracked me up (instead of making me roll my eyes and going "Grow UP already...") and the relevance of the events to today's world and politics was crazily... relevant.
Okay you get the picture.
Rent this movie and watch it! :D This is a puppet movie like no other.
Oh, try to watch it with people who are 15 years or older... but definitely with someone who you can laugh with over nasty, nasty, naaaasty (but funny) jokes.
Friday, July 21, 2006
As happens sometimes...
"...a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment."
-Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck
I must've read this book a couple of times by now and these words always strike a chord in me. It's the time when Lennie accidentally kills Carney's wife by shaking her too hard and snapping her neck. I highly recommend this book. It has to be one of Steinbeck's best works (after East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, and I have yet to read the latter).
-Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck
I must've read this book a couple of times by now and these words always strike a chord in me. It's the time when Lennie accidentally kills Carney's wife by shaking her too hard and snapping her neck. I highly recommend this book. It has to be one of Steinbeck's best works (after East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, and I have yet to read the latter).
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Blogger banned in India
For how long?
Now this is very interesting.
I didn't blog directly about the recent terrorist attacks in India (for personal reasons), but this attack seems to be getting a lot of attention, especially because the general public is being dragged into all of it. Blogger (or blogspot.com ISP addresses) were blocked along with 17 other websites, as the government had suspicions of the attack being planned by terrorists online through journals/blogs.
Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?
If not Blogger, there are a PLETHORA of other free hosting sites that could have been used. And by bringing this kind of attention, they're making a lot of blogs and personal journals stand out... why? Just because few people happen to feel very strongly about certain ethical/political issues. And some official was heard commenting that it wasn't just directed at the July 11th attacks, but at the manner in which "These blogs are pitting Muslim against non-Muslim" (ABC News Online).
Ugh.
If such statements can make me post on my blog about how hate can divide us all (AND this is ME who tries to blog about ANYthing but controversial topics), I don't blame the many others who must have blogged their thoughts and feelings over similar issues.
Blogs act as an outlet for feelings, opinions and thoughts. And the best part of it all is that one can keep one's anonymity. It allows you to see the world and meet a ton of other people who you couldn't have met otherwise... I've read journals on here about happy-go-lucky people, sadists, people who have been raped, people who blog about school, people who help others, people who show their part of the world through photoblogs, people who write so beautifully it makes you cry, people who are ignorant, people who are extremists, people who are techno-savvy educating and helping others, people who communicate with family and friends far away.
And all of this is online!
Who could have imagined it 20 years back? Who could have imagined us being this close to a person oceans apart? By blocking websites without thinking it through is irrational. I'm not saying it is not possible for terrorists to communicate through such weblogs, but it isn't the only way the government can handle the situation. Ironically, terrorists attacks (maybe even from similar groups) can be seen in Jammu & Kashmir almost every single day and yet, nothing is done. The border force is taking care of our front there, we have it all under control. Now, why would someone attack a metropolitan city...
I don't get it. Really.
It is how the world is today -- technological, internet-savvy (people have already posted ways to skip over the bans AND who knows who those people ARE, jeez some group of individuals sitting in posh chairs really need to open their eyes). And the sooner the government realizes it and thinks up something more logical and more constitutional/democratic, the better.
ps. I've tried not to type a lot of what I think on here and preferred to sound more brief. I may have come out to strongly on a few topics here... but meh. It wasn't supposed to offend anyone. If you feel like slaughtering what I said, feel free to do so. It's your opinion.
Now this is very interesting.
I didn't blog directly about the recent terrorist attacks in India (for personal reasons), but this attack seems to be getting a lot of attention, especially because the general public is being dragged into all of it. Blogger (or blogspot.com ISP addresses) were blocked along with 17 other websites, as the government had suspicions of the attack being planned by terrorists online through journals/blogs.
Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?
If not Blogger, there are a PLETHORA of other free hosting sites that could have been used. And by bringing this kind of attention, they're making a lot of blogs and personal journals stand out... why? Just because few people happen to feel very strongly about certain ethical/political issues. And some official was heard commenting that it wasn't just directed at the July 11th attacks, but at the manner in which "These blogs are pitting Muslim against non-Muslim" (ABC News Online).
Ugh.
If such statements can make me post on my blog about how hate can divide us all (AND this is ME who tries to blog about ANYthing but controversial topics), I don't blame the many others who must have blogged their thoughts and feelings over similar issues.
Blogs act as an outlet for feelings, opinions and thoughts. And the best part of it all is that one can keep one's anonymity. It allows you to see the world and meet a ton of other people who you couldn't have met otherwise... I've read journals on here about happy-go-lucky people, sadists, people who have been raped, people who blog about school, people who help others, people who show their part of the world through photoblogs, people who write so beautifully it makes you cry, people who are ignorant, people who are extremists, people who are techno-savvy educating and helping others, people who communicate with family and friends far away.
And all of this is online!
Who could have imagined it 20 years back? Who could have imagined us being this close to a person oceans apart? By blocking websites without thinking it through is irrational. I'm not saying it is not possible for terrorists to communicate through such weblogs, but it isn't the only way the government can handle the situation. Ironically, terrorists attacks (maybe even from similar groups) can be seen in Jammu & Kashmir almost every single day and yet, nothing is done. The border force is taking care of our front there, we have it all under control. Now, why would someone attack a metropolitan city...
I don't get it. Really.
It is how the world is today -- technological, internet-savvy (people have already posted ways to skip over the bans AND who knows who those people ARE, jeez some group of individuals sitting in posh chairs really need to open their eyes). And the sooner the government realizes it and thinks up something more logical and more constitutional/democratic, the better.
ps. I've tried not to type a lot of what I think on here and preferred to sound more brief. I may have come out to strongly on a few topics here... but meh. It wasn't supposed to offend anyone. If you feel like slaughtering what I said, feel free to do so. It's your opinion.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Phone Tag
LOL the "be strong" talk hits home & the letting the bird fly is soo cute :)
Not much happening in moi life at the moment. I guess my lil sister's birthday coming up and a house warming party of a friend's, sums up my weekend. With feminist papers and lab reports... eugh.
Dev opened a blog too, although he's still debating how the 2 vids he put up relate to his Random Farcicality theme. I've been updating my Shutterchance website too. It's filled with really really nice people and great talented photographers. After a friend sent me a friend request for the third time to update on Orkut, I have to say it took me 3 days to stop looking up friends from all my previous schools... its as addicting as Facebook and Hi5 (but I hooked up with soooooooo manyyyy friends from waaaaay back!). Ohh, I met an old friend from high-school in the gym the other day :D I never knew he lived in the same neighborhood as me... it was ridiculous that neither of us knew. And that's pretty much it! It's bloody hot and humid nowadays and that means I avoid going outside as much as I can... and it's been good actually. It's given me a lot of time to catch up with my sisters and I couldn't ask for more. For now :)
So much for random rambling!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
In time we hate that which we often fear...
Ravin posed a rather insightful question on his blog about the recent bombings in Mumbai, India.
I heard about in the morning on the news before heading out for class and the coverage international news generally gets (like 30 seconds?), didn't make me think a whole lot about it. Having seen riots and the likes in my younger years when my dad was involved in all the political/police stuff, I ironically brushed it off and headed out (even when I had a sick feeling it was something similar to what had happened in 1993 and recently, in 2003).
But when a friend called me from NY, it got me worried. How BIG had this bombing been? How many people were killed? Did I know anyone in Bombay (Mumbai)? My earlier reaction however, bothered me even further. True, living here in the States hardly offers any options of help you might be able to deliver to those killed/injured back in the home country and makes you go about your regular business.... More so, if you have no one in the region of the incident to worry about, you don't really give a second thought to it (except when a family friends' gathering decides to discuss the recent developments back in the country). It's inconsiderate. It's sad. It's pathetic. But it's true. You're helpless... what can you do really.
But then it doesn't give you the right to speak ill of the incident and pass callous judgements (especially when the facts and working behind the bombings are still not known). The comment made about Ravin's friend made me think back to all those arguments I get into with friends (and even with much much older people who lived in India all their lives) over labeling people for the actions of a few others. When you think of it with a rational and calm point of view, even you wouldn't approve of people labeling you for what someone else did.
Maybe it's racist. Maybe it's closed-mindedness.
Whatever it is, people need to consider options to solutions of the problem, rather than sitting happy and blaming and cussing at people. Sadly, a lot of people back in India do the latter. Friends IMed me tonight and whined and recited all sorts of names for the people behind the bombings. It surprised me that such an incident bred such... hatred in them. To think of it, they're the "next generation". I'm not saying that people should simply sit pretty and act like nothing happened. It's not possible. But I dunno... when people express such anger towards others, it never seems reasonable to me. The bombing was an act of hate and anger. And by showing the same feelings in response to the incident... just doesn't seem right. In such cases, it doesn't seperate us in any way from the people behind the bombings in Bombay.
I heard about in the morning on the news before heading out for class and the coverage international news generally gets (like 30 seconds?), didn't make me think a whole lot about it. Having seen riots and the likes in my younger years when my dad was involved in all the political/police stuff, I ironically brushed it off and headed out (even when I had a sick feeling it was something similar to what had happened in 1993 and recently, in 2003).
But when a friend called me from NY, it got me worried. How BIG had this bombing been? How many people were killed? Did I know anyone in Bombay (Mumbai)? My earlier reaction however, bothered me even further. True, living here in the States hardly offers any options of help you might be able to deliver to those killed/injured back in the home country and makes you go about your regular business.... More so, if you have no one in the region of the incident to worry about, you don't really give a second thought to it (except when a family friends' gathering decides to discuss the recent developments back in the country). It's inconsiderate. It's sad. It's pathetic. But it's true. You're helpless... what can you do really.
But then it doesn't give you the right to speak ill of the incident and pass callous judgements (especially when the facts and working behind the bombings are still not known). The comment made about Ravin's friend made me think back to all those arguments I get into with friends (and even with much much older people who lived in India all their lives) over labeling people for the actions of a few others. When you think of it with a rational and calm point of view, even you wouldn't approve of people labeling you for what someone else did.
Maybe it's racist. Maybe it's closed-mindedness.
Whatever it is, people need to consider options to solutions of the problem, rather than sitting happy and blaming and cussing at people. Sadly, a lot of people back in India do the latter. Friends IMed me tonight and whined and recited all sorts of names for the people behind the bombings. It surprised me that such an incident bred such... hatred in them. To think of it, they're the "next generation". I'm not saying that people should simply sit pretty and act like nothing happened. It's not possible. But I dunno... when people express such anger towards others, it never seems reasonable to me. The bombing was an act of hate and anger. And by showing the same feelings in response to the incident... just doesn't seem right. In such cases, it doesn't seperate us in any way from the people behind the bombings in Bombay.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Wishful Thinking
The last few nights have been emotionally weird... really. I might even go as far and say that for a fact, relationships SUCK -- any kind of relationship (but I'm talking about a heterosexual one for now :P hehe).
Okay, so I probably did make a promise not to make blogs personal, but hey, I can't really think of any better topic other than the AWESOME red card show in the FIFA world cup final or my sudden interest in Irish punk music. So I'll go on... (much to y'all's dismay). My story's about a guy I was with (technically) for a while almost a year ago and I was reminded of him this past week by almost eevrything I saw, heard or thought of. I could have easily stopped relating things to him, but meh. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead I let myself think back and guiltily enjoy the thought of old times... I know. Most teens have a natural tendency of being labeled at pathetic when it comes to the matters of the heart.
The worst part of it is that people think they've moved on after a while... That they can finally make themselves like someone else (and it can and does happen).
But then there are days and nights when they think otherwise and indulge in wishful thinking that never does anyone good. Sadly, I've been doing this kind of thinking for the past few nights. Every thought begins with a "What if..." and ends with a sigh. And then it hurts for some crazy, senseless reason that what you just thought of can never be possible and you just wasted a LOT of your minutes of sleep (and life) thinking about the near impossible. And nah, they're not regrets. I try not to regret and when I do, I definitely realize I am... and wishful thinking cannot be actually called regretting o.O
Or can it?
And I say the near impossible because... I'm a wishful thinker, heh.
Let's put it this way. You miss a person more when you know you can't have them anymore. Now, I should be thinking of the guy I was with recently, but nooo... I'm thinking of that one guy I was with who was... different and all that good stuff. You know...
I guess you relate to the one who you wanted to say so much to, but never could. Or the one you think should give you closure, but never will now. Or the person who you fell so hard for and it took you aaaaaages to bring yourself back to liking someone (half-heartedly).
I wouldn't call it first love. But it definitely was a first something. It sucks that it might take you a lifetime to find someone remotely close to that person.
And it sucks even more to know that after such a long time, you're still hung up on a few sweet memories that remain only as... faded or even forgotten memories.
Here I'll end your misery and get some sleep... and yes. Go on with my wishful thinking 'cuz I simply can't bring myself to stopping it. And I can't tell you why...
ps. I had to change the template as I didn't feel it blended very well with how my summer was going... it's going good so far, just not good enough to be bright orange, blue and yellow.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Tanned, happy & relaxed
The 4-day weekend earlier this week proved to be really good. It was probably the first time in yeaaaaaaars since I'd gone on a road-trip with my family (the last being when I was 14, but it too was "official" for my dad). Other times it was with friends and pretty hectic, with us running from one place to another, and returning to crash into our beds. I'm not a huge fan of camping, but the weather turned out to be a pleasant 65-ish with rain and the Lake Michigan beach just a few yards away, made this camping trip quite possibly one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I mean really. When would I wake up at 4am to watch the sunrise from the ocean, eat smores twice a day AND get tanned and be happy about it haha...
Although it was like "back to the grind" upon returning home, I think the feel-good feeling isn't leaving for a while. Touchwood.
ps. I'll upload the pictures soon!
Although it was like "back to the grind" upon returning home, I think the feel-good feeling isn't leaving for a while. Touchwood.
ps. I'll upload the pictures soon!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
It's Going Doooown
No break/vacation is complete without a road-trip. Never. And I don't think its happening this time either! Although summer classes have made my summer nothing like the previous "free" summers I've had... I was genuinely surprised when my family planned an entire trip from here through Indiana to Illinois (Chicago me thinks), as I'd only randomly mentioned going there after I was done with Spring quarter weeks ago.Frankly, I feel a lil' out of the "loop", as I was busy all last week writing freaking papers and reading up assigned articles after articles. My mom briefed me on the plan while we drove back home after a 9 hr weekend class (I know... ASAP classes are hawt like that) and it sounds good to me. I mean why wouldn't it... it's like the perfect break after 3 weeks of slogging my ass off, and a trip to the final Grand Prix race (if we luck out and get last-minute tickets), camping in 85-90 degrees and taking in the sights of what Chicago has to offer is F'ING AWESOME at the moment.