Football

We are 8-0 woohoo! Also, random tidbit: Notre Dame is the Duke of college football. They are overrated.

Another Poem

Love is like a sad-faced clown

Love is like a sad-faced clown,

With salty tears that tumble down,

Her face, as they paint the world with cheer,

Trying to banish that awful drear.

Every day she prepares to play,

That false facade, that sweet charade,

Of happiness that can never be,

A wondrous joy that would set her free.

I am like a jester's frown,

Amiss amongst the vibrant life 'round.

Caught in this torrid misery,

Until my love returns to me.

I lived, I loved, I was her crown,

Yet, she left me and this town,

For that seductive tempter and his ilk,

Thinking greener pastures of that filth.

Now I hope to find that thug to strike,

He who stole my love, my life.

And so I famish, filled with tears,

With loneliness that only her heart could clear.

Day 05

Sit-ups: 75
Push-ups: 43

Day04

Sit-ups: 75
Push-ups: 30

For keeping a promise made three years ago (to one of the best Professor's I have ever had):
"The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym" by Edgar Allan Poe

An essay to follow in a month or so.

Reading

Finished (at last!):

- "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Currently Reading:

- "Enchantress of Florence" by Salman Rushdie

Day03

Sit-ups: 75

Push-ups: 30

Completed Reading:

"Shalimar The Clown" by Salman Rushdie

Still Reading:

"Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Learning At All Costs

Today is a day for introspection, so of course, I will be talking about someone other than myself. This person happens to be one of my best friends: Mike. I met Mike back in high school; and though we did not go to same school or live in the same city, we both shared an interest in math and science (aha! you have discovered that we are n3rds, but I promise: no long equations in this post). After a couple years of meeting up at Cal State Long Beach or JPL for various mental fitness challenges, we developed a strong friendship. Luckily, Mike and I both ended up at Pasadena for college and we both continued to commiserate on eclectic cornucopia of problems: from the dearth of women to the dearth of good ways to solve that oh-so-pesky differential equation. Over the years, we struggled through problem sets, all-nighters, Firefly, and the requite college drunken-ribaldry. Through these travails, we both learned a lot from each other--about physics, electrical engineering, and life in general.

Now, here is the curious thing about Mike. Whenever he is presented with something new (or something plain interesting), he will try to understand it completely. No matter how much time it takes. No matter how many sleepless nights it takes. No matter how much effort it takes. Despite impeding deadlines, lack-of-sleep, and hunger (although the latter probably is a falsehood), Mike will understand away till he figures that thing out. As a result, in college, Mike didn't always end up with highest grade or the most timely solution to his problems sets; but he sure as hell learned more than anyone else.

Well, you might ask, what was the point of all this effort if he didn't get the top grade, or the most-coveted-fellowship, or some other reward? The answer is simple. He put in the effort to learn something because it bought him pleasure. Because he wanted to discover something for himself. Mike developed a penchant for trying to understand something for the sake of understanding it. Learning at all costs. This is the lesson I should have learned from Mike many years ago (certainly pertinent one as I deal with the consequence of a not-so-happy quantum midterm); an approach to life that I am now, after five years, happily taking. And since I did promise that were would be no long equations, I will leave you with a short one:

Learning for the love of it = Happiness

You can read about Mike's latest curiosities at his website cum blog: intellectualpornography.com (I promise, this is a legit link).

Day 02

Sit-ups: 75

Push-ups: 30

Yesterday (Day 01)

Sit-ups: 75

Push-ups: 25

Read:

- "The White Tiger" by Arvind Adiga

Reading:

- "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

3.14

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel is just one of those books that I couldn't bring myself to read again (for a while at least). I read this novel about 7 months ago, and was simply enchanted by the charming story. Yet, I was left with a lingering sadness after reading the conclusion of the book. Ah! the sweet irony. To write a book that it is pleasurable to read--though it leaves the reader haunted. I guess that is what defines an excellent novelist.

School begins

Here goes the first term:

PH125a, APH130, EE187. Hopefully I will make it through! Now, at long last, a few words about my India trip. It was awesome and relaxing; the end result of the trip was that I developed a affection for Kingfisher beer. I leave you with a picture that I took in India during a thunderstorm.

Back to School

So summer is finally over, and the work load is about to begin. In the spirit of back to school shopping, I finally bought a slipcase for my Dell 640m laptop. It's a black case logic one this is very similar to this one on Amazon. I figure that protecting my laptop (something that I haven't necessarily been doing for the past couple years :/) might make it last significantly longer--and by that I mean: keep my hard drive crash free for longer. Hopefully this guy as a couple more good years in it!

Reading update:

- "Malgudi Days" by RK Narayan

Still reading:

- "Shalimar the Clown" by Salman Rushdie
- "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Movie of the Year

"District 9". Without a question. This is the movie that will make you think: "Wow, we humans can be real assholes." I'll admit, I am a definitely a fan of the war movie genre; whereas, the science fiction genre only strikes a chord for me if the story is ridiculously awesome (i.e. "Starship Troopers", the book and the movie). However, after seeing this movie, I am fairly convinced that this the best example of a science fiction/war-movie that I have ever seen or read--I tend to "read" movies on wikipedia when I don't have time to watch them. Most movies, and science fiction movies in particular, cast humans as the protagonists. Of course, this is a natural choice, as people tend to empathize better with whom they relate to (yes, I guess we are all natuarlly racist). However, what "Letters from Iwo Jima" did for the Japanese in WW2, "District 9" does for the aliens; it casts them in the role of hero. Furthermore, this is a rare movie where the main character is able to go through character development, resulting in a bildungsroman-esque plot. Unfortunately, the denoument is postponed for a sequel--or perhaps the viewers imagination. The emotional twists that this movie plays on the audience are indescribable; honestly, the only advice I can give is: see it for yourself.

Jackassery and Mothers

In one swift stoke, Kanye West reaffirmed that--despite his musical talents--he is a grade-A-douchebag. By stealing a kid's limelight (let's not forget that 19 still qualifies you as a teenager) to make a scene (and an ass [of himself]) Kanye West alienated a whole new generation of fans. Some fast googling action will give you the inside scoop on his other gaffs. Incidentally, Michael Jordan did something similar a couple days earlier. Fortunately, I don't like Michael; unfortunately, I did like Kanye. There goes another would-have-been-awesome-if-not-for-a-fatal-character-flaw person. And speaking of character flaws, don't piss off Serena Williams, because she might just want to stuff a tennis ball up one of your orifices; but don't take my word for it---chances are she will tell you this directly! Too bad, Kim Clijsters's insane I-am-a-mother-of-a-child comeback win for the 2009 US Open makes Serena an afterthought. BOOM THO for the underdog, or the undermom as the case may be.

Song Of The Summer!

Real quick: There is no song (currently) that is better than Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down". Aaaaaand, she's cute ;).

Summertime Reading

A short update on my reading:

Casino Royale - Ian Fleming
For Your Eyes Only - Ian Fleming
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Speaker For The Dead - Orson Scott Card
Catcher In The Rye - JD Salinger

Currently Reading:

Shalimar The Clown - Salmaan Rushdie
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

A Tear For Its Passing

Pasadena is on fire, and my India trip was good. More on that later. But now, what should have been written two months ago, I now present:

Echoes

I am an urn.
Fat and squat.
Filled with the ashes of dreams gone by.
Stuffed with a diamond that has lost its luster.
Alone in this sill, yet surrounded by joy.
A cruel consequence of eternal life.

I am a tombstone.
Old and gray.
Preening, marking, the not-so-hallowed earth.
Where memories lay buried, beneath the soil.
Where flowers, reverence, and tears are served.
Where I alone must weather. that which life could not withstand.

I am the noose.
Flaccid and rough.
Tired, because it has been so long.
Crying, craving, that warming touch:
A human warmth, and that bittersweet caress.
Knowing, that in but a few moments, that too will pass.

RIP man, we will miss you.

Ode Part III

Ahab: congratulations and thank so very, very, very, very much for making me bankrupt! ;)

Ode Part II

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo Crazy! You know who are ;).

Start of Summer

Good news and bad :(. Jesus, life is so damn random.

What actually got done:
- "Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
- "Devil in a Blue Dress" by Walter Mosley
- "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger

In progress:
- "The Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger (A re-read)
- "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Summer Reading

What was read so far:

The Last Don - Mario Puzo
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
Swami And Friends - R.K. Narayan
The Second Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Logan's Run - William Nolan and George Johnson
Prey - Michael Crichton

In progress:

Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

Yet to come:

Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
Kim - Rudyard Kipling (Yes, I promise I will actually get to this!)
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Solaris - Stanislaw Lem
Disgrace - J.M. Coetzee

Gator Bait'ed

6 seconds left, 5 seconds left.....Jodie Meeks gets the ball and.........SCORES! A trifecta, he shot that all the way from Atlanta! Lights out baby, its OVER! Seriously, take a look outside: even the Moon went home. The Skid is over, it's Cat City right now in Rupp!

Ode to the White Whale

AHAB! WELL DONE!

Books so far:

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
The First Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Yet to come:

The Second Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Kim - Rudyard Kipling
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

No Talent All Heart

So the verdict is in. Seems like I made it....barely. I guess I still need to sweat it out and get the fundamentals. It's fine: if you coach benches you, you just have to practice twice as hard. Finally, a peculiar observation: it seems like my fortunes and Big Blue's fortunes are inexplicably coupled. Here's to hoping for a good March run for the both of us.

Like A Wave

Things good and bad:

- Jodie drops 54 BIG ONES against the Vols! Goodbye Issel, hello Meeks!
- Obama! Finally, a president that I actually voted for!
- First one didn't go so well. Hopefully the other two will be better.

Like a leaf upon a wave, I must ride the ebbs and flows.

Waning Poetic

Dusk

Finally: all is quiet in the world,
Blanketed by a deafening silence.
The day is old and weary,
And waves its final goodbye.
Neither a bang, nor a whimper,
But a tear for its passing.
The tangerine-reds linger,
clinging, clawing against futility,
Like a sticky, sweet syrup,
Refusing to climb down the throat.
Finally: the sun melts into the horizon,
Waning like the candle by the bedside,
Resisting the night's assault,
To keep from being snuffed, but for a moment.
I rest my head on my pillow,
At last embraced by quiet shadows.