The only two program which I watch for my dose of american political news is Colbert Report and Daily Show by Jon Stewart. It is an irony that both are aired in comedy central not a major news channel but I think they are more fair and balanced than other news channel. Here is an interesting part from a recent episode of Colbert report
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
God's own country
I wish I had enough time that I could travel around Kerala. I guess having half of my relatives there did not help much either. Well for times when I had the opportunity I did not want to and now that I want to i dont seem to have the time for it. My India trips are filled with visiting friends and relatives...
I stopped by Istanbul on my way to India. Well had to talk to iA's parents ;) amidst all the meeting people and talking I got some time to walk around in the streets of istanbul with iA. Nice people, absolutely wonderful food, and an amazing place. Also the very friendly front lobby guy which whom I smoked at the end of everyday. Looking forward for my next visit insha allah.
I stopped by Istanbul on my way to India. Well had to talk to iA's parents ;) amidst all the meeting people and talking I got some time to walk around in the streets of istanbul with iA. Nice people, absolutely wonderful food, and an amazing place. Also the very friendly front lobby guy which whom I smoked at the end of everyday. Looking forward for my next visit insha allah.
Flamenco
It has been up in my list of do things to learn to play some instrument (knock the smile off). In my second year at grad school I got myself a yamaha guitar and two years down I sold it :). So much for progress. My latest dream is flamenco guitar. It is much more lively, and not to mention the dance accompanying it. Here is a video which has some good music
The interesting thing is I always knew someone who was good in music... during grad school it was couple of friends, when I moved to NY my land lord was big in it and most importantly my current adviser plays blues guitar (which apparently he learned it by himself).
The interesting thing is I always knew someone who was good in music... during grad school it was couple of friends, when I moved to NY my land lord was big in it and most importantly my current adviser plays blues guitar (which apparently he learned it by himself).
Fountainhead
I read this every once in a while when I am bored.. this is Howard Roark's coutroom speech from "The Fountainhead".
Howard Roark's Speech
Monday, October 20, 2008
Orhan Pamuk
My friend asked me to read Orhan Pamuk's Nobel Lecture. It is a very moving speech. I am right now reading "my name is red" I will blog about it when I am done. For now...
Pamuk's Nobel lecture
Friday, October 17, 2008
who is joe the plumber
How high is the sky?, how deep is the ocean? who is Joe the plumber?
It was interesting to watch the final presidential debate a couple of days. Joe the plumber was mentioned quite a lot of times. After watching some video interviews of the mysterious Joe the plumber you can just conclude that is "yet another right wing nut". O believe me just the couple of minutes of interview and a non zero IQ was all you need to understand that. So whats his problem? Well it seems that our good old Joe wants to buy his plumbing business. This wonderful business makes more than $250000 income, a range which gets taxed 3% higher in Obama's plan. Well he is upset, now now how is going to buy this business (in which he currently works).. after all he still owes IRS a lil more than thousand dollars ? well this part lets just say it is "magic". So the "American Dream" of Joe the plumber is all shattered because he has to pay 3% extra tax. But well one may say are we along with our humble Joe the plumber counting the chicken before they hatch.. ehh in this case we are counting chickens with no eggs at all. But I guess it is idea of redistribution of wealth that bothers Joe. I mean rightfully so does that makes us socialist!!!
The one word which republicans hate : socialist... you are just few steps away from becoming godless communists. But again are'nt taxes itself a way of redistribution of welath? I would say that in the bush administration there has been a redistribution of wealth... yeah the money from the less fortunate has been redistributed to the rich. Case and point the almost trillion dollar bail out plan. I think it is not the redistribution which bothers republicans..it is directions in which it goes. In all what surprises me is that an average Joe the plumber, who in his own words is now where making close to $250000, who owes IRS back taxes is freaking about taxing more for those who have more.
It was interesting to watch the final presidential debate a couple of days. Joe the plumber was mentioned quite a lot of times. After watching some video interviews of the mysterious Joe the plumber you can just conclude that is "yet another right wing nut". O believe me just the couple of minutes of interview and a non zero IQ was all you need to understand that. So whats his problem? Well it seems that our good old Joe wants to buy his plumbing business. This wonderful business makes more than $250000 income, a range which gets taxed 3% higher in Obama's plan. Well he is upset, now now how is going to buy this business (in which he currently works).. after all he still owes IRS a lil more than thousand dollars ? well this part lets just say it is "magic". So the "American Dream" of Joe the plumber is all shattered because he has to pay 3% extra tax. But well one may say are we along with our humble Joe the plumber counting the chicken before they hatch.. ehh in this case we are counting chickens with no eggs at all. But I guess it is idea of redistribution of wealth that bothers Joe. I mean rightfully so does that makes us socialist!!!
The one word which republicans hate : socialist... you are just few steps away from becoming godless communists. But again are'nt taxes itself a way of redistribution of welath? I would say that in the bush administration there has been a redistribution of wealth... yeah the money from the less fortunate has been redistributed to the rich. Case and point the almost trillion dollar bail out plan. I think it is not the redistribution which bothers republicans..it is directions in which it goes. In all what surprises me is that an average Joe the plumber, who in his own words is now where making close to $250000, who owes IRS back taxes is freaking about taxing more for those who have more.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Turkish music
I guess I have been introduced to Turkish music for quite some time. I once had a housemate who played Sezen Aksu almost 24/7. Maybe I would appreciate the songs better if I understood it. I just found it depressing. I think my all time favorite turkish song is Isyankar by Mustafa Sandal featuring Gentleman. I think the video is nice too. My first visit to Istanbul earlier this summer was quite like the taxi drive in this video
I guess his earlier song araba was also very popular. But the version of Faudel's La main dans la main is much better. I am not sure who copied home. Faudel's version sounds more pop rai.
I guess his earlier song araba was also very popular. But the version of Faudel's La main dans la main is much better. I am not sure who copied home. Faudel's version sounds more pop rai.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
veepee
"That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately what the bail-out does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Helping the – it's got to be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade – we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today – we've got to look at that as more opportunity."
well gee z that's quite a mouthful but this was a response from the Russian neighbor and veepee pick Sarah Palin's answer to one of Katie Couric's question on the bail out. More specifically the question was why not to use the bail out money for people directly. Unfortunately here in US socialism is looked with greater skeptism than any where else. And it is not just the rich people even middle class american are!
well gee z that's quite a mouthful but this was a response from the Russian neighbor and veepee pick Sarah Palin's answer to one of Katie Couric's question on the bail out. More specifically the question was why not to use the bail out money for people directly. Unfortunately here in US socialism is looked with greater skeptism than any where else. And it is not just the rich people even middle class american are!
my baby
well part of my work (hard working experimentalist) it dealing with very moody instruments. I will upload pics of the baby as she grew but for now. The last week has been rough it has been as moody as it can get
new hope
well here goes... first official. I hope to keep posting more. I got the inspiration for the title from this sign. Apparently new hope is just half an hour from Philly :)
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