Dilbert!

I've managed to obtain Season 1 of the Dilbert cartoons. A beautiful 4 DVD set, chock full of sardonic satire. Cubby dwellers love cubby humor even when they do not actually work in cubbies. It's claustrophobic enough, living in an apartment, to not wish to sacrifice the privacy of a decent door as well. Cubbies are torture! Ban the cubbies!

Writing

Frank Herbert did mention that a true writer would attempt to fill one's free time with the act of writing. Given that chatting on the Wired is the application of a textual medium, would tapping words out on a keyboard count as "writing"? If so, then call me a writer any day of the week.

Cat. Meet road.

A cat, a road and a car. Car sees cat, cat meets road. Cat splatters blood, refuses to die. Cat wriggles and writhes like fish out of water. No sounds, much struggle Much blood. Cat stays still and moves no more. Car is long gone. Later, blood on road, no cat. Cat lying peacefully under tree. Another cat, waiting, watching.

Of Success

I would find that academic success has little bearing on actual real-life success, further strengthening the prevalent hypothesis that academia and "reality" should be separated. Apparently, banking one's future on that A+ in some college is really expecting too much out of the education system. Something should be done about life skills rather than theoretical analyses.

Oh. I'm quite certain that I've got a fae or three hiding about my house, making things just...disappear. I always find stuff only after ranting, raving or making vague threats about using more steel in my works. I would suppose that I should've put out some milk and cookies. Problem's that I'm a bit short on milk and cookies. They're probably laughing at my expense, not that it's particularly damaging. Or could it be that technology just hates me, and the system invariably has some sort of a hiccup every time I try to do something important by a high-technology means...hmm...

Blood and ashes

The noose tightens, always. The inexorable momentum of the pendulum. Like a sword hanging over a head, it moves down, down, ever down. One is never free from the passage of time, though one may try for it. Swish, swish, swish. Cutting through without resistance. So many things consumed and passed on in the passage of time. A life, a candle flame in a windy room. *puff*

Flight of the Hummingbirds

Flitting about blossoms,
drawing the nectar in.
Staying only for a moment,

Reekin' Bots!

I'm getting a little sick of all these little blog-commentor bots. I know that nearly nobody reads my blog, and it's rather strange seeing "people" appreciating my blog and pointing me in the direction of some webpage. It's blog-spamming! I wonder if anyone is aware of this.

Oh, and my toe doesn't hurt nearly as much as it did when I slammed it. I figure it's probably healed back to functionality, since it doesn't hurt when I walk, and most of the redness and swelling's gone. Whew. Not sure if I dare to wear shoes just yet, though...

Freedom or Happiness

If one had to choose between the two, which would one choose? Should enlightenment be more highly prized than a rudimentary awareness and the contentment that comes with it? Humanity is often synonymous with freedom, and the machine-like dedication to the social juggernaut is often abhorrent. Should progress be for the sake of discovering The Truth, and what is it that The Truth can do? Would a contented and stagnated society ever be able to discover The Truth?

People are overly engrossed in their day-to-day survival and make no effort to consider the greater realities. This would probably not be a problem with the presence of an enlightened leadership. However, how can one expect sound leadership when the leaders were drawn from the same stock as the great unwashed masses... Besides, if the leaders were superior in some way, they should be the ones putting effort into improving the lots of their inferiors.

A Good Experience!

I think I may have fractured or at least badly sprained my little toe. I was kicking my shorts off and wound up smashing my little toe against the door frame. It looks really nice now. All black and blue (alright. More like brown and red) and Hurts Like The Dickens(tm). Given that it's swollen and hasn't recovered in 2 days, it's probably more serious than a mere bruise. All hail the new and improved little big toe! I'm feeling lame, but I've a right to, given how I'm limping about. Lamers unite!

Bullies

There was a boy being bullied on the train today. He had a cardholder worn around his neck. The older kid tore it after some horseplay. Upset, he started crying and lamenting about his father getting angry and violent. Instead of comforting the boy, the older kid jeered him, saying that he wasn’t afraid of the boy’s dad. The boys around him joined the alpha bully, teasing him and saying that they weren’t particularly afraid either. They moved away from the crying boy when the bully took a seat that was freed up.
Apparently, these boys prefer those with a macho façade and crying is a big no-no for them. While I was tempted to intervene, I also remembered that people should not be coddled but allowed to learn to fend for themselves. A sad but true fact of life.

Sheer Geekiness!

I managed to set up a 3-computer LAN without using a router of sorts. Best of all, my 3 systems can now access the internet simultaneously. Blame me for my cheapskate nature, being unwilling to buy a router to get them all online =p So...the current setup looks a little like this:

Old Navi (Ethernet cable) -----> Navi <----- (Firewire) Porta-Navi Wired It isn't the most elegant, but I do rather prefer to have wires connecting my systems rather than one of those radioactive and leechable wireless connections. They're expensive, too. *grin* Ok and I decided to buy that Sony DVD Writer after all. It came with some really cute gifts. One was a little circular screen cleaner, a keychain DVD opener and a retractable computer brush. The DVD opener really puzzled me because it was a little circular contraption with a small blade inside and a DVD case-sized slot on it's side. It turns out that the spring-loaded blade protruded when a little knob inside was depressed, slicing into the plastic wrapping of brand new DVD's. Nifty!
The computer brush had a penknife-style button on it's side that pushed the bristles out for use. No more worries about getting the bristles all messed up from improper storage! Kawaii!

In The Pipeline

I'm now considering the Sony DVD Burner. It looks mighty interesting, though the read performance leaves something to be desired. The front bezel does match my desktop casing, though... I think it would look mighty fine on my system. That's not to mention the fact that it's actually rather cheap in comparison to everything else on the shelves. I guess it would suit my basic needs, given the reasonable price. *draws crosshairs* I shall sleep on this.

Your Personal Web of Lies

A lie is revealed as a lie only when conflicting information turns up. If one is consistent in lying, everyone gets the exact same disinformation and wind up believing the lie simply because they reinforce each others' beliefs when they meet up to compare notes. Hence, one can easily be caught in one's own web of lies, but would probably get away with it if one would keep it simple. So ... go forth and spin your own web of lies today!


My mantis at my place, praying so hard for salvation.

Road Sweeps!

I was on a bus today, watching people boarding as I waited for it to leave the bus stand. There was a road sweep clearing leaves by the roadside, and I was mindlessly watching his strokes. Suddenly, he turned, grasped the broom by one hand and dashed towards the bus. I saw him grasp an elderly man by the elbow, supporting him as he was about to fall while boarding the bus. I admire his agility and awareness, since he managed to reach the old man before his daughter noticed that he was losing his balance. Best of all, he didn't drop his broom. Now there's a good road sweep!

A Tale

There was a child, going for the exams one day. Father was sick and bedridden, but Mother told the child to go for the exam, and make the family proud. Father forced a brave, reassuring smile, and the child knew what to do.
The child sat for the exam, answering all the questions with ease. It was as if Father was sitting together, helping out with the questions.
The child went home, rather pleased. The exam was aced for sure. Mother declared with a tearful eye, that Father died while the child was at school. Mother forced a brave, reassuring smile, saying that she knew, and was proud.
The papers came back, and the child's grades were high. The child sat by the beloved Father's grave, dictating the wonderful scores. Father would have been proud that the child didn't stay at home to watch him die. The child hugged the stone, and left the score sheet behind.

Use What You Have

I was just thinking about how some people have so many giftings and make little of what they have, and how others yearn for those gifts but have none to call their own. It's sad how so many people take their blessings for granted and never make an effort to develop them. I've a goodly number of people trying to follow their dreams but wind up being held back by their lack. I guess it's a very sad phenomenon. I'm in a similar situation half the time, figuring that life isn't worth living and that things just won't get better with time. They probably wouldn't, and such miracles are about as probable as winning the lottery. But still, I have hope, and that counts for something. Carpe Diem!

Oh and on a side note, I'm still mourning for the lost teeth. The gaps in my grinders will serve as a good reminder of the importance of action, and the consequences of indecisive inaction.