Sleeping with Chaos

Is this for real...?

From the sgforums:

Current Location: wtf
Current Mood: wtf
Current Music: Afroman - Because I got high

Holy crap. I honestly never thought I would see Michael Johnson's 200m WR beaten, at least for 30 years. It just tells you how freakin' fast that lightning bolt is.

With all respect to Phelps and NBC, Usain Bolt is the star of the 2008 Olympics.

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I would love to go drinking with Bela Karolyi. The way he calls the women Chinese gymnasts out in that fantastic accent of his...wow.

Current Location: work
Current Mood: running models
Current Music: John Mayer - Why, Georgia?

You. have. to. be. fcuking. kidding. me. First, the Burmese junta leader Than Shwe, and now HIM??? The motherfucker of all motherfuckers?!? Nice to see my cunt-ry's leaders selling their souls.

Current Location: Oh beautiful, for spacious skies
Current Mood: vituperative
Current Music: ...from sea to shining sea....

Wow, that was fast. :) Let's see what this coming decade brings...

- Damn humidity pisses me off.

- The quiet of summer is coming to an end in a month's time. And I've barely done half of the things I wanted to complete during this time. Eek.

- Penn & Teller are my new fave online addiction. Man, I wish I could tell stories like Penn.

- Now I know why they are called summer blockbusters.

- David Caruso is a very, very bad actor. But not as bad as my hero Seagal.

- I need more RAM on my laptop.

- I think I am going slightly bonkers from the heat.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: hot hot hot
Current Music: Eagles of Death Metal - Don't Speak

"The bombs bursting in air"

Yes, the fireworks are loud and bright indeed tonight. Thankfully it's not as hot as last year, when it was 118 deg. F.

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Quote of the past month from my dear wife after watching one too many adverts on TV:

Furniture in Arizona is like...a fat white black asian mexican GENERIC man in a Hawaiian shirt with gold chains.

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The nice thing about summer is how quiet it is; Due to the heat, most of the touristas vanish back to the cooler climes away from the Southwest. There are fewer cars on the road (that may be partly due to the $4/gallon gasoline) and less folks around in the campus/lab/streets/malls etc. Kinda peaceful, if you can call that. Although, that tranquil feeling often evaporates into bleah-ness when one has to bike about 2 miles in the heat to go to one's fave Asian restaurant.

So, this weekend we're off to Payson (elevation 6000 ft) for a camping trip with another grad student and his wife; partly to escape the heat and partly to enjoy the Salem high country environment that I grew up dreaming about when watching those RTM 2 shows on TV ("Siaran langsung ini ditaja oleh ALFRED DUNHILL OF LONDON").

Oh, and on the following Tuesday, I'm off to Salzburg to save the world. Should be fun. 

Current Location: where else?
Current Music: Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave....

*Bonzo drum beat*
*harmonica & guitar*

If it keeps on raining, levee's gonna break
When the levee breaks, have no place to stay

When I was 4 or 5, I first chanced upon a calculator and fiddled around with it for while. For a lark, I decided to see what year it would be when I reached 100 years of age by adding a hundred to my birth year. I can recall thinking to myself - wow, that's a long time from now (obviously, it was the early 80s then). I also wondered what the world would be like then whilst looking out the window of my room, imagining that it would be a vastly different place - a bright, fun, great place to be.

Mean ol' levee, taught me to weep and moan
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home
Oh well Oh well Oh well

Suffice to say, childhood dreams are often dashed, especially when one grows older and sees the world in a different light. Folks, I don't usually like giving bad news - hell, I don't usually post serious stuff on this blog anyway because of the serious stuff I write at work anyway - but I think we - as in humanity and society as we currently know it -  are truly fucked. So, why the pessimism now?

Current Location: home
Current Mood: pessimism
Current Music: When the levee breaks - Led Zeppelin

Thanks to willowspillow for this:

Science proves that bikinis turn men into boobs

You may have known this all along, but now it has been demonstrated scientifically: bikinis make men stupid.

This month’s issue of the Journal of Consumer Research features a paper titled “Bikinis Instigate Generalized Impatience in Intertemporal Choice,” which is a neuroeconomist’s (definition in a moment) way of saying that men don’t make good decisions while checking out pretty girls in bikinis.

Hence automakers’ penchant for placing leggy models in front of absurdly priced cars at auto shows, and the casting of three scantily clad women on that “Republica Deportiva” show on Univision which I find myself watching though I don’t care whether Chivas defeated Rayados del Monterey.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: *raised eyebrow*
Current Music: Lazlo Bane - Superman

America!!! F*** Yeah!!!
So lick my butt and suck on my balls
Whatcha gonna do when we come for you now?
F*** Yeah!!
-DVDA

In today's news...Dubya decides to call for more offshore drilling for oil in the US. The ostensible reasons? To reduce dependence on foreign oil and to combat rising oil prices.

You know, let's ignore the short and long term environmental impacts and the time needed to process the crude for consumption at the pump (between 5-10 years, apparently). Let's ignore the impending doom and gloom of peak oil and its consequences. Let's ignore how current oil prices are projected to increase to $200+/barrel within a year, despite whatever belated (and relatively puny) crude production increase by Saudi Arabia. Let's ignore that even IF the US extracts all estimated 85 billion barrels from their coasts, it will be used up in only 2.5 years (yes, about a 1000 days), assuming current demand. These are great annoyances, but let's ignore all this...despite that these are valid reasons against opening up the virgin Arctic Reserve for ExxonMobil's great big throbbing dong.

What really annoys me is Dubya's ignored the chance of calling for more research, investment and implementation of alternative, sustainable forms of energy throughout the US. Something along the lines of..."Technological progress in solar/wind energy has progressed to a stage where we can take the global initiative in nation-wide implementation of a combination of solar and wind farms by year 20XX. We can wean ourselves off oil and look forward to a sustainable future." A big opportunity has been missed here, one that could have really made Bush's legacy much more palatable that what it currently is.

But, should I have hoped for anything different when one has a oil background like Dubya has? And my hopes remain grounded when $4/gallon oil is a major political issue for this coming November. If Johnny boy wins it...

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After the above bit was shown on the news this morning, it was followed by this classic. Wow. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this. Is this worse that all those people who (successfully) sued McDonald's for millions when they spilled hot coffee on their laps when driving?

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Still, the above item did not win the award for most disturbing news report of the day. I've always said that, given the high stresses felt by the sandwich generation back home, Singapore society would eventually end up like Japan. Vending machines that dispense used panties with accompanying pictures? Akan Datang. Folks who go around photographing upskirts? Yup, already happening. Elder porn in Singapore? Hmmmmm.....

Current Location: home again
Current Mood: bleah
Current Music: generic swedish porn music

Let's see. While I like to think that I speak English well enough to be understood here, there are occasions that make me question my language abilities.

Case 1: ASU Bookstore Starbucks:

"What would you like?"

A venti ice brewed coffee, unsweetened please

"And what's your name?"

*gives name to countergirl*

Lo, and behold...

Current Location: 40 deg C at 9pm
Current Mood: grahgrah
Current Music: Saul Williams - List of Demands

In the days of my youth I was told what it means to be a man
Now I've reached that age I've tried to do all those things the best I can.
No matter how I try I find my way to do the same old jam.

- Bonham/Jones/Page

Am back in Phoenix after spending three great weeks back home in Singapore. jaa6 and I ate our way though the country and met up with friends, past and present. It was kinda bittersweet for me heading home; Apart from the aforementioned good times, I felt a bit nonplussed for being a stranger in my own country on several occasions. So much of S'pore had changed during the short time that I've been away, and I did struggle at times when grappling with the skyline changes downtown, or the plethora of ERP gantries island-wide, or the sudden increase in food prices at my usual hawker/supper joints. As it appears that I will be away from home for at least another 4 years, I wonder how much more change will occur on the world's most urbanized country when we do finally return home.

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This summer's gonna be a busy one for me, in contrast to the relative slackfest that was 2007. There are papers/proposals/articles/newsletters to write, books and other assorted crap to read, fieldwork to prepare for and a side-trip to Salzburg in July. Well, I'm at the halfway point of my course here, so best to maintain the momentum that I've gathered over the past 6 months. Although, there will still be time to head to the Canyon for a summer hike, as well as spend a few days at elyssa and stevieg's place for endless gaming and never-ending laughs :)

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What's wrong with wearing white shorts?! :( It's not as though they are white Speedos or something...

Current Location: Tempe AZ
Current Mood: discordant
Current Music: Led Zep - Good Times Bad Times

No, I will NOT help you buy an iPhone. Especially if you are "friends" who crawl out of the woodwork. Especially if you want to haggle with me about the price.

And to those who think the iPhone is the best thing since the Sybian...this is essential reading.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: displeased
Current Music: Don't don't don't don't stop the beat

Went to Bahstawn for the annual AAG shindig last week. Had a great time meeting up with delightt and nilmandra once again -- it's always nice to meet up with old friends who've seen you at your best and worst. :) Can't say much about the city though - except that a certain tapas bar along Newbury street has awful food and awful service.

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This photo made me crack up...

Current Location: home
Current Mood: wistful
Current Music: Yankees suck

I've previously posted something against Andy Ho, but I have to write something else now because Elia Diodati has posted a very good summary of gaffes and reasoned replies against Ho's diabolically bad writing. Do take a look at it to see the joke that is Ho and how many people he's royally pissed off.

Jeez, he's really made many, many errors in his line of work. If he'd do that in the academy (let alone in serious journalism), he would have been hounded out of it in an instant. What really irks me too is that he still calls himself Andy Ho (Ph.D., M.I.T.) in his article bylines. For heaven's sake...if you can even REASON properly (let alone get your facts straight), how dare you still call yourself that?

How dare you.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: angry
Current Music: Tiger Woods putting on the 11th at Augusta

Just finished the equivalent of quals here - something that was very, very challenging, IMO - and ran through the entire gamut of emotions during the two week period. When I handed in my paper I thought that it would kick serious ass, but after hearing horror stories of how the grading process is, I'm resigned to the worst-case scenario happening to me. *shrug* But anyway, lets see what criticism I will get when the powers that be meet next month.

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In other news, it's good to read that my school is ranked no.1 in something important. Yup, I picked the right place to spend 4+ years of my life. :)

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Sometimes, I really wonder if the average college sports fan has any good chants other than the basic "LETS GO <insert team here with two syllables> - clap-clap-clapclapclap!!!" or some other variant. Today I tried a "YOU'RE NOT SINGING ANYMORE" to the visiting fans and got weird looks from folks in the student section. Sigh.

I do miss that creative element seen and heard in various British sporting grounds. I'm not asking for classics like "You're the convicts," "Cheer up Kevin Keegan," "Steve Gerrard, Gerrard" or  "Can you hear the Rangers sing?" I just want something...different. Hell, even something like "Who ate all the pies?" would be nice.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: whywhywhy
Current Music: Have you seen a handsome hun?

Am still writing stuff, but needed to post that one of my fave authors in Sci-Fi just passed on today.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: madly somber
Current Music: Led Zep - Kashmir

And so it begins. 336 hours of thinking, doing and writing. Let's get it on.

Current Location: home
Current Music: Alan Parsons Project - Sirius

Couldn't they have picked a better newscaster to present this report????????

Current Location: home
Current Mood: pre-RFE
Current Music: Price is Right

Since it's a leap year...and because I need to relax after writing a grant proposal for a lot of $$$...

5 things found in your bag:

1) My trusty Casio scientific calculator I have been using since my 'O' level days.
2) My diary/planner. Yes, no electronic device for me.
3) At least 4-5 pens of different design. Especially hotel room ones that I steal with unabashed glee.
4) Books, notes, papers and other flammable material/toilet reading.
5) My lucky paper clip.

5 favourite (favorite) things in your room (includes the adjoining study) apartment:

1) The various Ikea furniture painstakingly assembled with a lot of cursing.
2) The little corner where I keep all my sports equipment .
3) The cable modem and wireless router.
4) The $30 TV we bought off Craigslist from a guy who looked like a serial killer.
5) The posturepedic bed we bought. 'Nuff said. :)

5 things you have always wanted to do:

1) Finally score a goal with my right foot in an 11-a-side football match. I've scored with several headers and with a left foot dink from my days as a defender; I've hit way too many crossbars and posts with shots from my stronger foot. :(
2) Take part in either (i) Jeopardy!, (ii) Deal or no deal or (iii) The Price is Right. 
3) Attend the Proms at least once in my life.
4) Slap some sense into some people who need to wake up their ideas and see the world the way the rest of us do.
5) Cameron Diaz, circa mid-90's. hehehehehe. :)

5 things you currently into:

1) Watching chess tournaments online - Corus, Linares, Dortmund, Melody Amber etc. Go Magnus!
2) Slow-pitch softball on weekends
3) Peak oil. IMO it will be the key driver of climate change adaptation over the next 5 years.
4) College sports. The relative amateurism of it all appeals to my corinthian sensibilities much more than the crap I'm seeing in professional sports.
5) My wife. :)

5 people you want to tag:

I don't really want to tag anyone. :) 

Current Location: home
Current Mood: leapy
Current Music: Drew Carey

Lovely. Just lovely.

There I was, getting my powerpoint slides ready for an important meeting with my committee at 2pm re: fieldwork matters when I heard the fire alarm go off. It was 1:45pm. A stern looking policeman burst into the office and told everyone to evacuate the office NOW.

I unlocked my laptop, stuffed it into my backpack, grabbed my diary and left as quick as I could. As i was running out of the building I remembered that I backed up my data and saved it on my flash disk...but I forgot about my tickets to tonight's basketball game. Ah well.

Once everyone was out, the cops cordoned off the place and told everyone to cross the road (i.e. clear the immediate area). So there was about 200-300 folks milling about aimlessly across the road, wondering what was going on. I tried looking out for my boss/committee but they were not around. The fire co-ordinator from my department told us that the earliest the office would be opened again would be about 60-90 mins. No chance of work then...

I tried calling my boss to tell him that I could not find him and left a message on his phone.

Then, it happened

"Anyone wanna go drink...?"

Nods all around. A professor said "Heh - someone's thinking logically!!!"

What a way to spend an afternoon. :)

PS: So it probably was some student who did not study for a test...

EDIT: hmmm. So there were TWO bomb threats to my department. Sigh. What. A. Tool. Hope the cops catch him/her for a massive waste of a lot of people's time and $$$.

Current Location: home
Current Mood: buzzed
Current Music: fire sirens