CNN.com - Baghdad suicide blast kills 10 - Oct 6, 2005

The only positive outcome of this Iraqi situation is population control in Iraq as of now and when these guys get really pissed population control else where.

Hope for peace.

100 Most Frequently Challenged books

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney

Most of these books were challenged because of strong sexual content or homosexuality or promoting religion or being racist.


Peace

Reading banned books

Have you read a banned book? I think the thought of acquiring forbidden information is exciting. http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm . Go this site for more information.

Peace

BBC NEWS | Business | Vancouver is 'best place to live'

I guess the news article itself if evidence enough that my desire to move to Vancouver is not logical. It has been cosnsitently rated among the top 10 cities to live in and moreover who can refuse the warm call of the pacific ocean as opposed to cold frigid stare of the Atlantic. I suggest that everybody take a look at these pictures and tell me if I'm wrong.

Peace

45 kids fall unconscious at Jayaprada's Gandhi Jayanti- The Times of India

Ask not what your country has done for you but ask what you have done for your country's leaders. I'm not writing this blog out of outrage at the improper treatment (Enough has been said about that) of kids but at the attitude of our teachers/parents (as a matter of fact whoever were involved in this issue and the rest of us too!). Why do we have this sense of hero/heroine worship for anybody and everybody? Is it because we have been taught to appreciate what we have and live within our means and consider it to be the will of fate. If that is the case I would have been absolutely happy with the Indian social scenario but we are driven by greed. So much greed that we are willing to sell out everything or anything. I'm a capitalist so I believe that if something goes wrong in a company the CEO is ultimately responsible and most importantly should FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. Fortunately in India due to our diligence towards our leaders we face the brunt of consequences. In an unrelated incident an MP managed to pass the security at the parliment building using a hologram from an underwear (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4300524.stm) and that actually gave me hope. Hope that some day we would be rid of these morons that rule (yes rule is the word, it is not govern) us and we the bigger morons would realize the fact and take the initiative. Till then happy living and peace.

Security

There have been a number of complaints that the Airport security is overblown and tedious as well but I had a very unique experience recently. I was at the security point where you have to pass the metal detector and there was this lady on the other side who was coordinating the process. I had removed all my metal items but as I passed through the scanner it beeped. Now that sent chill through my spine because although I knew that I did not have any prohibited items I’m just intimidated by authority. As I walked up to the lady she told that I had a large piece of metal below my waist. All of a sudden I realized that I was wearing a belt with a big buckle. The lady (who was quite attractive) was standing facing me with her metal detector when I decided to help her determine the cause of the beep. I instinctively lifted my shirt up, trying to show her my belt buckle, and said “Yeah there is a big piece of metal” glancing at my belt buckle. She all of a sudden became defensive and turned red. Then after she told me I was all set. Since I had about an hour to board the plane I decided to get some coffee at the overpriced coffee place. I was sitting there reading a newspaper when I saw the security lady along with her friend buying a cup of coffee (I assume it was coffee they were trying to buy because she too thin to be a donut consumer). The glanced at me and started having animated conversation interlaced with giggles which stirred my curiosity but because of my limited mental capabilities I decided not investigate the issue any further. Ten minutes before boarding time I decided to take a leak and in the bathroom I realized that my pants were not zipped up! All of a sudden I realized why the security lady was agitated (I thought of using the pleased instead of agitated but I figured that would be a highly unlikely case). I felt tinge of embarrassment but decided to place the incident in the dark room of my mind (along with thousands of others similar one’s) and hoped that I would never see her again.

Peace

New Winnipeg Forums - Canada vs Denmark: �The Hans Island War

New Winnipeg Forums - Canada vs Denmark: �The Hans Island War

I have always wanted to live in Canada and a number of times my friends found my choice to be quite odd. I mean most of the country is cold, a fairy flat economy especially when compared to United States or Europe. Well this is one of the reasons why. Hans Island is a small island, with nothing phenomenal to offer, off the coast of Greenland. Denmark and Canada have been claiming this island as their own. The Canadian soldiers decided to retaliate against Danish actions in 2002 on Hans Island, so what do they do - bomb the Danish? Hell no they planted the Canadian flag, built an Inukuk and left some Canadian whisky for the Danes. There are some people who would consider this Cowardice but I think it is a very logical way of dealing with issues. We as a society try to control violence using the threat of consequences and force but why don't we try to discourage violent behavior in the first place.
I think it is very difficult to act the right way although it might not be the popular way. I think this makes Canada better most of these aggressive nations. Don’t get me wrong I have tremendous respect for soldiers who fight for the right cause but I’m saying that these brave men should not have to fight in the first place. I know some of you might not agree with me but I would be happy if you atleast acknowledge that there is such a concept out there.

Peace

eHarmony - More Marriages Per Match than any Online Dating Personals Service

eHarmony - More Marriages Per Match than any Online Dating Personals Service

A few weeks ago I was watching TV during prime time and was surprised to see an advertisement for www.eharmony.com. I have seen dating websites ads but only at 3 in the morning along with the exercise video infomercials, but the timing (Prime Time) tickled my curiosity. When I googled the word “Dating Websites”, I got about 3,250,000 results in .14 seconds and a lot of them looked pretty believable too (You know what I'm talking about, websites that have ultra hot chicks claiming to be desperately looking for men). I believe that a lot of people are looking for soul-mates and are optimistic but using the internet for such purposes is a little too foreign to me. Moreover ever since the Chinese entered the market I have been able afford a girlfriend. The best part is that she comes with a pump and three interchangeable wigs. eHarmony uses the “Compatibility Matching System™” which matches personalities on 29 key dimensions. Fundamentally you will get a partner you deserve but I have a problem with the concept. I don’t want a girl that is on par with me; I want somebody who is better then me but just does not know it.
Fortunately because of my lackluster career I hardly have time or the opportunity to think about having a long term relationship and even if I do, I hardly have a chance of getting a girl because of my lameness. For all the rest of you, who are looking for true love good luck and hey minimal embarrassment in case of a rejection.

My inspiration

I haven’t updated this blog in a while because I have been busy. Well thanks to the Chinese my romantic life has taken off, I can finally afford a blow up doll. Actually it has been a dull social week for me in all honesty the most exciting thing during this week was visiting the DMV today. I don’t want to go into further details of my personal life but if you think “not only is his life pathetic but how does he have the stomach to tell people about this abomination he calls life”. Most people cannot but I happen to have a unique source of inspiration that not drives me to live through this wretched life but infact enjoy it. I want to narrate an event that happened in A’s (I’m not using his full name for privacy purposes and mind you this is a true story) life a week ago.

A happens to know a girl called Lauren, who he thinks is crazy in love with him. Lauren is one of the good things happening in A’s life right now. A calls Lauren to see if she wants to go out and she says that will give him a call if she feels like it. So A waits around a little and finally decides to get some coffee and she sees Lauren at the coffee shop with another guy. So when he walked up to her she gave him a lame reason that she just felt like getting coffee heading back home and the guy was a “friendly” neighbor. Well A decides to give her the benefit of doubt and heads back home. Around 11PM, A goes to a bar to hang out and lo! Behold he sees Lauren there again.

This time he decides to avoid her so tries to walk out of the bar through the back door but unfortunately trips on his way out and rips his pants wide apart. The loud thud, which accompanied his fall, attracted the attention of the drinkers including Lauren. A decided to act civil and not acknowledge the presence of Lauren. He walked out of the bar only see somebody had stolen all 4 of his tires (I don’t know how). A felt a surging pain in heart (he hates to spend money) but decided to take this calamity into stride. In the process of waiting for a tow truck he saw Lauren step out of the bar for a cigarette and to avoid any sort of embarrassing conversation/confrontation, A pulls out his cell phone acts as if he is having an intense conversation.

A was getting a little tired of his phone act when he sees the tow truck pull into the parking lot and thanked god for saving his last shred of dignity. A starts walking nonchalantly towards his car but unfortunately had to cross Lauren and her group of friends on his way to the car. So A carries on his phone act but as soon as he crossed Lauren his phone starts ringing (I guess I was the one who called him). A frantically tried to turn of the ringer as people looked at him strange. In the process of trying to turn off the ringer A drops the phone in a pile of puke (I suppose some kid had too much to drink).

A not only told me this story but laughed about it and so did I. “This guy is my inspiration to live life no matter how bad it gets” – usually you get to listen to heart warming stories of kids fighting cancer associated with this line but I’m a realist so I figured a dose of reality would be fun.

PS: This was written in jest but A’s story is real.

Manicures

In the present world of stress I have found a new sanctuary, no not Tibet but my hair dressing salon (I know it is a barber shop but I wanted to be politically correct). I was recently told that I was not paying attention to my hair grooming needs by a person of the fairer sex. Considering the impact that good looking women have on men I decided to respond by getting a hair although I thought it was not necessary. As I sat in the salon waiting for the hair dresser to finish off her lunch we started off a conversation (she was trying to be polite and I was trying to be hip). As she went on about the nuances of cutting hair she mentioned that they have manicures, pedicures, facials Blah! Blah! (This was when I faded off when a drop dead gorgeous girl walked into the room). As my eyes followed this stunning beauty (well more of her apple bum than her) they crossed path with what is know as “Manicure’.
I was fascinated by the range of services available there because I always thought you went to a salon got your hair cut and came back home. I still haven’t mustered the courage to get one but I have been told that it is a heavenly experience. I understand the implications if the word gets out that I have had a manicure but the fact that it is just about forbidden to get one makes it all the more enticing. I think men should develop some sort of a communal hair dressing activity rather than just getting haircuts. We have to overcome the conspiracy weaved by women that manicures (and the rest of whatever they have) are solely meant for women. Every great change demands great sacrifices and all I have to do is find a lab rat. I have started working on it and there are a few prospects. Well in end if I find out that this hoopla is not all it is made out to be, we will at least get a few laughs at the victim’s expense and then we can find somebody to test waxing. Will post pictures (No not of the waxing) as soon I get done with the undertaking.

Peace

room with a view

This is my room with's it view. No wonder I'm as I'm

view 

Lady of the night

I have this new found concept called conscience which is irritating me. I have considered myself to be a cold hearted human (it is just the biological name) and was content leading my life in that fashion. Yesterday we had a know prostitute sitting in the hotel lobby at 3 AM in the morning. It was cold and drizzly outside and I suppose she came into our lobby to avoid the possibility of contracting a cold or worse yet pneumonia. Our hotel has a policy of strongly discouraging people who are in this trade. I asked the lady if she wanted a cab and she suggested that she was waiting for the bus which starts running at 6 AM.
Here is the issue, I wanted to get the lady of the night out of our lobby but when I went out to smoke a cigarette I noticed that it was a very unpleasant night. I made the mistake of thinking about the plight of the lady if I forced her out into the cold. I was sure that she did not have money to get a cab and would have to rough it out. I knew that I would not get into deep trouble letting her stay in our lobby but at the same time did not want to encourage her to visit our hotel in the future. I know the story itself is very insignificant but I was worried because I have not been this way previously. I suppose I’m getting old and soft or probably starting to care about people. Either way it is not easy to be caring. I think there is a fundamental flaw in the way our social system is set up. I’m sure a lot of people know what is good and what is bad but have tremendous difficulty following the good path.
This is because the setup of our system presents a number of obstacles to those who want to follow the prescribed “Good Path”. Although there are promised advantages following this path, they always seem to be in the distant future and unfortunately for most of us – patience is not our greatest virtue. Sometimes I feel that the system is set up to make sure that most of us fail so that the few who actually follow the suggested rules feel good about themselves. Moreover if everybody acted as good humans then the bench mark of being a good person would be raised and we don’t want that. In the end I think there is no way of getting rid of good conscience and by the way the “Lady of the night” stayed in the lobby till the first bus started running.

Peace

Snowflakes

This year we had a record snowfall in Boston in the month of January. First snow is always fun but as it gets colder and greyer the general mood of the city becomes gloomy. Well that is what I have always associated with snow until I came across this website http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/ during one of my random browsing sessions. I suppose snowflake watching and snowflake photography is a hobby. After browsing through the website for a few minutes I was amazed at the science (yes it is a serious science and there is physics involved) involved in the process. I don’t know a whole lot about the hobby but I guess the least you need a magnifying glass (along with lots of patience) and you can graduate into more extensive equipment. It sounds like a cool hobby or at least would make good party talk.
I understand there are a lot of you who might still think it is lame so I have published some pictures ripped out the above stated website which should definitely arouse your interest. If you have a digital camera you can in fact try to get a few pictures as it would not cost you a whole of money to get a magnifying glass.

a2 

a1 

Holi3 

Holi 2 

Colors of India
In spite of all my negative comments about India, I would have to acknowledge the fact that India has one of the most exciting and colorful cultures in the world. It is a brilliant amalgam of deep philosophy laced with practicality and at the same time beats the blandness associated with most eastern cultures. Most Indians confuse their love of Indian culture and food with patriotism. It is sad that a country backed with such a great culture and religion is not exactly on the top of the world. I'm not talking about the economic state of the country but in fact the social aspects that have seeped into population. The obvious thought of an Indian reader would be "well you are Indian too and it is people like you that project a negative image of India". My rebuttal in this case would be that I don't care what the world thinks about us, I care about what we actually are and you and I know that India has a lot left to improve.
I did not post these pictures so as to discuss the present day Indian society but to fell good about it and moreover I miss it a little. Guess I'm getting old.

Peace

Bday's

Birthdays always put me in an emotional paradox. There is the concept that one should celebrate one’s existence in this world at least once a year. As a kid I was always excited to get up on my birthday because I was full of enthusiasm and hope; enthusiastic about what the world has to offer and hope that I would be able to get a part of it. But as years passed I have taken a different view of the issue, now a birthday to me is a sign of victory over logic and this is why I think so. For those of you who have not read my previous blogs need to understand that my contribution to the world is minuscule and it is a surprise that I have fared fairly well in the social system. The only way I contribute to anyone or anything in this universe is by not doing anything because any attempt on my part to do something useful would end up as a disaster. If all the people in world were to be letters (Not the alphabets but postal letters), I would be junk mail. There are a lot of us and we don’t serve any purpose. If this world were to be efficient and logical it should have discarded me a long time ago.
I consider it a miracle that I have existed so long but at the same time I’m sad that there are so many other living beings (I wanted to include animals) that are being deprived of what they deserve because some of the resources are being diverted towards me. This is the emotional paradox I suffer from. Some of you might think “How does he sleep at night knowing what he has done to the world” and to answer your question “very well”. I have also mastered the art of “repressing my self-dignity and conscience”, in-fact these are the fundamentals of my survival strategy. My final comment on birthdays – It is just another passing point in time whose only significance is to act as a benchmark to let you know how long it will be before the inevitable catches up with you.

Peace

PS. I’m not a gothic or a manic depressive.