Tell your children ...

4 years undergraduate studies
+ 1 year internship
+ 2 years master's studies

____________________________

= A lot of catching up to do


In four weeks time it'll all be over and I can hardly wait. Was it all worth it? Hard to say ... but what I can say for sure is that there must have been a better way. The title of this post was inspired by The Animals song, "House of the Rising Sun". Kinda depressing, I know, so here's a little 'pick-me-up' video (click on pic) I like to watch from time to time. Should do the trick ... sorta, kinda, maybe ...

I eat no name cereal for breakfast!

Eve, you're the best ... so this is my first tag and I must admit, I wasn't entirely sure what it meant (I know, what a newb). So apparently this "meme" has no name but I've noticed that most people have somehow subtly incorporated that into the title and hence, I have done the same.

What is your favorite quotable line from a Movie?

"I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubble gum" from They Live. Terrible movie but an awesome line. Oh, and Hot Rod Rowdy Roddy Piper (or just Rowdy Piper) stars in the movie. Back in the day this was way up there with No Holds Barred. Four boy household ... we lived on this stuff.

Who is the most famous person you have spoken to?

Michael Ignatieff. Don't judge me :(

How many bags/boxes of Potato Chips are consumed at your place in a month?

Chips aren't my thing. I do however do the occasional lindt chocolate.

Who is your all time favorite Cartoon Character?

Donald Duck. Hands down.

What foreign food dish do you prepare from scratch and serve?

I make a mean hummus.

What is your favorite section of the Supermarket?

Cheese cheese cheese! Totally a cheese fiend. I do it all except blue.

What was your high school teams mascot and what were the school's colors?

We had a bengal, you know, like the tiger. I think the colours were red and white.


1. Answer the above questions in a blog posting.

2. Identify the people who you are going to tag, and

3. Acknowledge who tagged you.

7aki Fadi

Queenie (I know you're on vacation, whenever and if ever you get around to it)

Lou

Sandy

Chika

Thanks Eve, very fun!

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 7

So this wraps up this month's neutron7. Couldn't think of a better way than with a little Conan O'Brien.

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 6

When you thought it couldn't possibly get any worse ... (click on pic)

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 5

Okay, I admit, this next video is very random and kinda quirky but I think it's absolutely hilarious! Is it just me??

Help Wanted!

Mangoes ... they're sweet, succulent and savoury ... but does anyone know how to eat them?? Seriously, it looks like I've been in a wild orgy everytime I eat one.

Please help. Your neutron.

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 4

That's right, Chuck's very own cartoon series! (click on pic)

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 3

Found this pic and thought it was actually pretty cool. As for the vid (click on pic), all I'm going to say is ... holy chest hair grab?!

Thought I'd hit you with a little midnight cute!

(Courtesy of Zuza Fun)

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 2

Here's a few Chuck Norris facts floating around on the web:

1. There is no 'ctrl' button on Chuck Norris' computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.

2. Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.

3. Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay's potato chip.

4. Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

Oooooh, that hurts! Complements of chucknorrisfacts.com

I just love that last one!

I laugh at all things Chuck Norris - Day 1

It looks like the serious talk is going to have to wait for a while ... I almost forgot about this month's neutron7. Hope you enjoy!

Contentment

In the previous post in this series, I wrote about contemplation. Assuming that we are or have begun being honest with ourselves, contentment follows rather naturally ... once the initial shock is over. Looking at yourself for the first time, for what you really are, is always the hardest.

But once this barrier is crossed, you can assess yourself honestly ... evaluate strengths, weaknesses, ... and set reasonable goals and objectives. I personally tend to attack weaknesses rather than improve strengths. That's just my approach but do whatever works for you.

Once you've come to terms with who you are and what you're capable of, life is easier to embrace. Do your best and that's all that matters. The results are simply consequential.

Contentment. Who can ask more of you than what you can give?

A word of warning: there will be tests and you will be tested, dearly. It's very easy to accept things as they are when you're on top and all is well with the world. It's when you're at your lowest and have nowhere else to turn ... that is when your true character is made manifest.

Contemplation

How does one define contemplation (or rather the importance thereof) without stating the completely obvious? It is our ability to think, ponder, decide and resolve which separates us from other beings. It is our intellect and ability to contemplate which makes us masters of this world ... and of one another. But you all already knew that.

Contemplation ... my objective is not to define it but rather pose a series of questions. In theory, everyone is well aware of its importance but practice dictates otherwise. A very simple illustration of this is people and religion.

"The essence of any religion lies solely in the answer to the question: why do I exist and what is my relationship to the infinite universes that surrounds me?"
- Leo Tolstoy

By extension, this is the essence of not just religion but of each and every individual. Why do I exist and what is my relationship to my surroundings? Whether or not you consciously made this decision is irrelevant. Your judgement or lack thereof dictates all: beliefs, morals, conduct, ...

We are generally very quick to judge and categorize others but why is it such a struggle to do the same for ourselves? Terrorist, traditionalist, taoist ... but what about you? What are your beliefs? What defines you? And most importantly, how did you arrive at it?

Without proper contemplation, of the important things, how can we ever begin to understand ourselves let alone one another? Many people wish to hide from these questions, perhaps afraid of the fallout, but don't be ... think ... decide ... or someone else will for you.

I will conclude with a very interesting concept which I hope will motivate each and every one of you: life on Earth has no middle ground. Your decisions are decisions, your indecisions are decisions and your ignorance is one too. I'll illustrate. Clearly decisions are decisions, no explanation needed. But interestingly enough, choosing not to decide is also a decision. Example, two nations are at war. Both ask for your help and you choose neither. Although you are trying to remain bipartisan, your lack of action actually helps the stronger and in essence, you have decided to aid the stronger by not aiding the weaker. Ignornace falls directly into this category. Are you still doubtful? I challenge anyone and everyone, right and here and now, name me one thing that remains as it is. You train hard in the gym, what happens when you stop? Do you maintain? No, either you're gaining or losing. Apply this logic to anything (intelligence, wealth, happiness, ...). The middle does not exist ... so choose carefully, contemplate.

To be, or not to be ...

Most people I know hate their jobs. It's kind of like life's axiom, thou shalt hate your job! But I guess it doesn't apply to everyone, just most of us.

It doesn't apply to everyone, just most of us ...

Why?

That is the Question. Why is it that some love their jobs while others loath them? Why do some feel there simply aren't enough hours while others can't bear to count them? Why do so many struggle to find themselves while others were seemingly born knowing? Why?

Contemplation, contentment and confidence. Over the next week or so, I will offer my humble commentary on the subject and hope that each of you may find some truth therein.

Truth. The Foreword.

Let us first lay the foundation, truth. In essence, the afore mentioned are only a subset of truth.

Truth is like matter. Academically speaking, matter cannot be created nor destroyed and nothing can occupy the space of already existing matter. Matter was here before us and everything we see is just some rearrangement or restructuring of it. Truth is very much the same. Let us look more carefully.

1. It can neither be created nor destroyed. Truth is truth and it stands independent. Unlike most other things on Earth, it is not a relative measure, although we often assume it to be for our own ease of application. Truth is still truth whether or not we believe it, know it or are even aware of it. If a person stole $5, regardless of whether we believe it, know it or are aware of it, it is the truth, he stole $5.

2. No two truths can occupy the same space. This concept is of paramount importance. We can only hold one truth of any one concept at any one time. For example, it is not possible to believe both that aliens exist and do not exist at the same time. Either you believe they do or they don't. Or you're undecided. But not both. This is of outmost importance because if we have some preconditioned beliefs or ideas and are unwiling to critically analyze them, this may actually block out the truth and limit our growth and understanding.

3. Everything we see is just some rearrangment or restructuing of the truth. There are laws in life whether we accept them or not. There are laws of physics, thermodynamics, gravity, spirituality, etc. These are laws of life (on Earth) and are truths. If you choose to ignore or outright reject them, then you are simply distorting the truth. If you choose to accept and learn about them, then you are simply embracing the truth. Although polar in practice, they are equal in concept, both are the rearrangments and restructuring of truth.

Cats, pandas and all things cute.

The embodiment of cute (click on pic). It doesn't get any better than this ...

Peculiar day.

I sleep late and wake up early. Work is piling on and I feel the crunch. I sleep again and wake up earlier this time. The cycle perpetuates and feeds itself. Like an angry beast it wants more and more and grows bigger and uglier. It becomes a glutton and eventually out grows itself and can no longer support its own weight. The system fails.

People, I'm experiencing system failure.

The weird thing is, I don't actually stop working during my system failures, things just slow down. Waaaay down. Take for example this computer model I'm making. Under normal conditions, I could make it in three hours ... I'm currently on 28.

Oddly enough, it's when I'm at my lowest that the most awkward things come about. I walk into my office and notice a bee on the ground. A bee so magnificent and beautiful, with wings so large that even a bird would be jealous. I carefully examine the bee, wondering why such a strong and glorious thing was on the floor. I kneel down before it and no reaction. I carefully brush it with my hand ... and it moves, but ever so slightly. Maybe it's wings are damaged? Nope, they're perfect. Maybe an appendage had been crushed? Nope, not that. Hmm ... I suspect foul play. It's probably poison. What to do with a poisoned bee? I probably should mention that I've wanted a pet bee for quite a long time. I know, kinda weird, but we'll save that for another post. Anyway, maybe I can take him home and nurture him back to good health. Maybe he'll somehow learn to identify me and sort of connect with me. Maybe I'm being childish and there's a half dead bee in front of me that is suffering terribly. All it takes is one swift stomp and royalty is gone forever.

I skip off work half-an-hour early. It's been a long day, system failure remember? I'm really rushing home ... I mean I've had enough and the fact that I'm rushing home, pretending I have something better waiting for me but don't, is besides the point. I'm rushing home and the last light before my house is red. I jay-walk without seconding guessing because that's how we roll. Anyway, two seconds later some mom is cussing me out because I jay-walked in front of her kid as she was trying to teach the child what not to do. Okay, not the best of things on my part, but I was pissed. I could sit here and tell you what right does she have and blah blah blah. But I won't, I'll just do what I did with her.

I just walked away.

(Courtesy of: www.shout.ru)

Welcome to my world!

Two months left before my defence (hopefully). Came across this comic ... speaks wonders to me.

5AM Poetry - The Travelers Conundrum

I'm East of West
Yet West of East.

Neither here nor there.

I'm South of North
Yet North of South.

Nor there or there.

East calls me West
While West calls me East.

Per chance there and there.

And South calls me North
While North calls me South.

If not here then where?

Which book are you?

I've been meaning to make this post for some time now but never got around to it. Staying true with 7aki's chain of narration, I stole it from here who stole here who stole it from here.

Anyway, which book are you? Take the quiz!

Here are my results ...

You're The Catcher in the Rye!
by J.D. Salinger

You are surrounded by phonies, and boy are you sick of them! In an ongoing struggle to search for a land without phonies, you end up running away from everything, from school to consequences. In this process, you reveal that many people in your life have suffered torments and all you really want to do is catch them as they fall. Perhaps using a baseball mitt. Your biggest fans are infamous psychotics.

Incidently, I own this book --in fact, this same exact copy! Kinda creepy. Definitely one of my favourite books and in a lot of ways, I do share Holden's sentiments about people. With exception to having a pyschopathic following (ahem ... I hope), I think it's bang on ... at least during a few stages in my life.

People being people.

Sometimes you meet mean people and wonder, what's their problem.

Other times you meet normal people and think, they're nice.

And then you meet exceptional people and it strikes you, aren't they special?!

Exceptional doesn't even have to be good, it's just special. For example, a person can be an exceptionally bad cook. So bad that they're special and you never forget them. Another example, take this guy that I know, he's nice, considerate but over analyzes everything. Kinda hippyish in behaviour, going around calling things deep that aren't really deep. Thing is, he does this in a very special way, like saying something is deep and since he said it, by correlation he must also be deep.

Get off it man. You're special but not in a way that would make most proud. And now I'm going to remember you forever ... do our brains have a delete button?

Things I wouldn't do for a million dollars (#3)

... wear a 'kick me' sign at a karate convention.

Happy Canada Day!

I've compiled a few random quotes about Canada I found over the web ... the good the bad and the ugly. Hope you all enjoy and happy Canada Day everyone!

As we enter our centenial year we are still a young nation, very much in the formative stages. Our national condition is still flexible enough that we can make almost anything we wish of our nation. No other country is in a better position than Canada to go ahead with the evolution of a national purpose devoted to all that is good and noble and exellent in the human spirit.

- Lester B. Pearson

We Canadians live in a blind spot about our identity. We have very strong feelings about who we aren't but only weak ones about who we are. We're passionate about what we don't want to become but oddly passive about what we should be.

- John Cruickshank

I don't even know what street Canada is on.

- Al Capone