Power

“No one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship…”

- George Orwell (1984)

Happy elections!

Have fun in choosing the lesser evil of the bunch!

Technorati Tags: Election,Power

Horoscope: I want to believe

I desperately want to believe in horoscopes. I do. Why? Cause  sometimes they say the nicest things about a person and compliments are hard to come by these days. Who doesn’t like to hear that he is creative, charming, vivacious, inquisitive? It’s always nice to hear that I need to squeeze some ‘me time’ out of my busy schedule, even if I spend most of my days by myself.

I have a uncle. He was passionate about knowing his future. We always made fun of him as he devotedly bought those annual horoscope magazines every year. It was a common sight to see him consulting with a palmist in his room. But not anymore. After getting married and one kid later, he doesn’t seem that enthusiastic. Maybe married men aren’t supposed to worry about their future – their spouse being their handler and all.

Let’s get back to me. I am not married and I don’t believe in horoscopes. But when you have spent 10 straight hours in front of your pc and wondering what are you going to do the remaining 14 hours of the day. checking out the crystal ball doesn’t seem too bad an idea.

The irony of the predictions is that sometimes they are dead on. And sometimes they are just incredulous. Yesterday, I was asking a crystal ball about my future. Here’s the answers that hit bull’s eye:

• Do people like me as a person? – Not at this time.
• Am I irresistible to girls? – This is unlikely.
• Will I travel a lot in the next year? – Probably not.
• Will I ever get a girlfriend? – NO.

 

The last one was a bit harsh. However, they weren’t very amusing – at least tell me something I don’t know.

It did tell me something I didn’t know. But I am not going to share them here, cause……they’re a wee bit more personal. And I really want them to come true. Okay, just one.

• Will something amazing happen in the next year? – WITHOUT A DOUBT.

Amen to that!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Technorati Tags: Horoscope,Humour,My life

Mice plan to take over the world

Mice suspected in deadly cat fire

Mice may be responsible for a blaze that killed nearly 100 cats at an animal shelter near the Canadian city of Toronto. An initial report from the fire marshal says mice or rats chewing through electrical wires in the ceiling are likely to have sparked the blaze.

Severed cable disrupts web service

Internet and phone communications between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia have been seriously disrupted after submarine cables were severed. The cause of the break is as yet unknown, although some seismic activity was reported near Malta shortly before the cut was detected.

__________________________________________________________

Okay, think carefully, what do those two incidents have in common? Let me help you, sure you have noticed the words in itallic? Cat and cut? All right, stop scratching your head – it’s mouse.

Mice like to nibble at things and cats are their arch nemesis. But was those two incidents just mishap? Our sources report otherwise. They say that it was just a warning sign – horrible things will happen in the coming days.

We were able to capture a mouse, and boy it was a hard task. We lured it with a huge amount of cheese. Next we put it on a shoe box and interrogated it (Guantanamo Bay approach). However, the mouse proved to be a hard nut to crack. After a long week of persuasion, threats and bribes - it spilled everything out.

Our prisoner, let’s call it Jerry, said that they are planning to take over the world and the assault on the cat shelter was sort of warm up for bigger things. Though Jerry denied to comment on how they were able to go underwater, he did reveal everything behind the cat shelter fire.

It all started with a simple kill. The mice were tired of living in the underground. They want to enjoy the upper side, and maybe become a chef, like the mouse in Ratatouille. So, after all this years, they decided to launch an invasion against the humans. After lots of debate over the cheese plates, the Elder Mice decided to include other species in their plan. First automatic choice was the cats. They decided to end their rivalry and work side by side. Besides, cats would prove to be an important ally against the humans.

“But the cats were stupid”, snorted Jerry. “They killed our messengers one after another. Finally, the High mouse decided to pay a visit himself. And those infidels murdered him!”

“And that was it!,” exclaimed Jerry. The mice decided to strike immediately and they planned to teach the cats a lesson first. After proper planning and recon they launched the attack.

First they planted agents among the shelter. The reports said that some rats also died in the fire. “They were our agents,” claimed Jerry. “They died for a noble cause, they will go to heaven.” We couldn’t understand if he was talking about the same heaven we are familiar with. Nevertheless, we asked “What about the dogs that died?” “Oh,”explained Jerry, while nibbling away on the 13th serving of cheese. “They were just casualties, innocent bystanders. Our officials are working to reconcile as we speak.”

After the cat shelter incident the, the cats surrendered. Now, they are being used as transports for mice. Although, we were unable to get a single comment on the severed cable incident, we suspect that the mice conspired with sea creatures or manipulated them to do their bidding. Perhaps they plan to cut our communications first. Afterward, they will attack the isolated human groups.

Suddenly, the electricity went out, and we heard screeching noises. We thought the better of it and ran with our lives. When we returned later, we found the empty shoe box and the spectacle of one of our esteemed colleagues. We tried to call his cell, but of no avail. We fear, he may have become a hostage.

In the meantime, we are preparing for our mice overlords to take over.

Technorati Tags: Humour,Underground Conspiracy,Cat,Mouse

Prison, Playstation 3 and Pandemonium

How bad a prison can be? It’s like living in a confined place, which I have been doing for most of my life. It’s even better than going to office. Don’t believe me? Read on.

Just in case you ever get these two environments mixed up, this should make
things a little bit clearer:

IN PRISON……….you spend the majority of your time in an 10X10Â feet cell.
IN OFFICE…………you spend the majority of your time in an 8X8 feet cubicle.

IN PRISON………you get three meals a day.
IN OFFICE………..you get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it.

IN PRISON ………you must deal with sadistic wardens.
IN OFFICE………..they are called managers

From todayiluaghed.com

It seems, the western countries have prisons with outrageous facilities. They have swimming pools, courts for playing football, basketball, gym, medical facilities, library and what not. Living in prison doesn’t seem a bad idea at all. Now if I could just devise some schemes to get me in prison. But I don’t fancy having a roommate, cause you know how prisons are like. Better to get solitary confinement.

An evil mom got Playstation 3 for being a model prisoner. Karen Matthews, who has seven children by five different fathers, was branded the worst mother in Britain after it emerged in court that she routinely neglected her children and blew her benefits cash on drink. She is in prison for faking her daughter's kidnapping.

Compared to her I am an angel. I should get better treatment. And I won’t trouble the warden too much. So I’ll soon be rewarded with a PS3 for good behavior. Now, just add access to a library, a TV with a cable and a DVD player. What else could a guy need?

Now, what should I do to get myself admitted into a prison? Maybe shoot my parents?

A Winter of Discontent

This vacation is killing me. Sure, I should be grateful, as it could’ve been worse. At least I’ve a roof over my head, and get three square meals a day. Capital – indeed. Not to mention all the comic books and other reading materials I’ve yet to devour. But I’ve got the holiday blues.

Life is pretty slow and dull. I’ve been blogging like crazy lately. Yesterday was an exception. I spent the hole day playing games – didn’t even care to go online. And don’t even ask the name. Trust me, you DO NOT want to know.

Sometimes I don’t understand myself.  I get enthusiastic over certain things and then lose interest in the next moment.These sudden mood swings – are not at all good. I’m in a party, enjoying myself, then suddenly I get all gloomy. I spend a whole day practicing guitar and then leave it to gather dust for a week. My mind sure works in a strange way. I wonder, if the Big Guy decided to fill my brain with cow dung, instead of grey matter, at the last moment.

 

I’ve spent the whole day reading comic books. I’ve turned down a invitation. Heck, I’ve turned down every invitation since ….. err…. I really don’t remember for how long. Maybe couple of months? I’m becoming indifferent for real. It is bothering me. I shouldn’t be so aloof towards life.

I’ve been longing to go on a long trip for two years. I’m just tired of living in this urban jungle. Though I honestly doubt that is ever going to happen. Lady luck has dumped me and I don’t think she would visit me soon. I could have accompanied my relatives to the Bangladeshi Taj. I'm not exactly sure why I didn’t. There was a pretty decent chance that I would have been able to rekindle an old crush. Even that wasn’t enough to get my lazy ass moving! 

“Feelings have deserted me, to the point of no return…”

Winter is my favorite season. I think I’m taking more liking to it. I’m becoming cold – like I don’t feel anything at all. Nothing seems to interest me these days. Nothing at all - except those short-lived trance like addiction, towards something new every once in a while.

Do I need to die to feel alive?

Technorati Tags: My life,Rants

10 Things You Could Throw At Bush!

• Cow Dung – Heh, couldn’t resist that. I did have cow dung 4 breakfast. And stop complaining, have you ever smelt the dreadful thing?

 

• Oil – Wasn’t it for oil, Bush invaded Iraq in the first place?. You could help him quench his ‘oil thirst’ by throwing a barrel or two.

 

 

• iPhone – Yes, throw it away – with all your strength. Why you ask? Cause you have one, and I don’t – that’s just plain unfair.

 

• Sumo wrestler – It could be a difficult task. I guess you have to be a sumo wrestler yourself to throw another. But it would be a spectacular deed. Imagine that imbecile trapped under a gigantic guy!

 

• Rotten tomatoes and Eggs – The classic killer combination, still got their appeal.

 

 

• Cat – Cats are evil, no matter how cute they look. Throw a cat and enjoy its fine artwork on Bush’s face.

 

 

• Porcupine – Self explanatory, even better than throwing a cat. It will scar Bush for the rest of his sorry life. (Though I bet he’s already scarred, emotionally)

 

 

• Water balloon – Filled with watery substance, and no I didn’t mean piss. Sheesh, You do have a dirty imagination.

 

• Deodorant – I remember someone saying that Bush smells of sulfur and other hellish substances. Why not throw him some deodorants? You could always claim later that you were his biggest fan, and was just trying to give him a gift but it slipped your buttery fingers.

 

• Snake – If you are more on the crazy side and believe that Bush is a reincarnation of the devil himself, then you could throw a snake at him, just to test your theory. If they become best friends forever you were right all along. 

 

If you do live in a cave or you have just woke up and wondering what all this fuss is about, watch the video.

Technorati Tags: Bush,Humour,List

Follow Up: Taj Mahal in Bangladesh

I haven't visited the Taj yet and don't plan to. Some of my relatives went there on the 11th, and they were really disappointed. They said that the transportation was very bad, and they had to walk a long way for lack of rickshaw vans. It wasn't worth all the trouble.

People have already figured out the scam.

Bloggers unearth the fake Taj Mahal scam in Bangladesh

For an exclusive on site report (in Bangla) with pictures visit: bibortonbadi


Things are heating up as the apparently agitated owner fights back.

"It's the Taj of Bangladesh. If you want to see the real Taj you have to travel to the Indian city of Agra and spend at least 20,000 taka. It costs just 50 taka to see my Taj," Ahsnanullah Moni said. "There's nothing I can do if a visitor is disappointed."

Bangladeshi 'Taj Mahal' owner slams critics

Sure, after all the visitors were dumb enough to visit this cheap imitation of the Taj in the first place. It's only fair that those 'dimwits' got robbed in broad daylight.

And who is responsible for the humiliation, the country had to suffer? Let me guess....

I know, I know - Emperor Shahjahan! Hey, he is the guy who built the original years ago. We should sue him.

Now, can I hope to get a PS3 or at least a cookie for this startling revelation? Anyone?

Taj Mahal in Bangladesh

What if you were a rich guy and was fascinated with a relic, say Taj Mahal? Why not make a replica of that in your own backyard? Then you wouldn't have to visit India that frequently, considering the recent militant attack and all. You can enjoy the beauty of Taj right from your balcony every morning, when you wake up with that steaming cup of coffee or tea.

Ahsanullah Moni, a wealthy film maker, did the exact same thing. Of course he didn't build it in his backyard. Maybe because his backyard was too small, or he didn't entertain the idea of unknown people gathering in there. He has built it in Sonargaon, 30 km (20 miles) northeast of the capital Dhaka. "I built it to pay honor to Emperor Shahjahan and enable the ordinary people including students to have an idea about the heritage as most of them don't have scopes to visit Agra spending huge money," said Ahsanullah Moni, a proud owner of a three star hotel. Noble thought indeed.

The project is still under construction. It has supposedly cost a staggering amount of USD 58 million (£40 million). It has already opened its gate for tourists. Now the poor Bangaldeshis can feast their eyes on this replica of the "Monument Of Love" for a meager BDT 50 (USD 0.73).


Photo by our_bangladesh

"It is not built with a commercial purpose," insisted Moni. And I am the next Mother Teresa (err, male version, of course). Why else would the complex be large enough to accommodate a five-star motel, a huge film studio and amusement park? And why burden the poor countrymen with entrance fees?

What does the Indians, the real owners of the Taj, think?

“You can’t just go and copy historical monuments,” exclaimed an outraged spokesman of the Indian High Commission at Dhaka. “Someone will go out there and have a look. This [the original Taj Mahal] is a protected site we are talking about, so we need to find out if it really is the exact size.”

And his Bangladeshi counterpart was amused by the idea that the Taj Mahal - which was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and completed in 1653 - is protected by some sort of copyright. “I'm not sure what they are talking about,” he said. “Show me where it says that emulating a building like this can be illegal.”

Hmm, maybe this diplomatic tension will invoke a war? I can't wait! It's been a while since we gained independence and the seniors have been bumbling about it like crazy. Perhaps we, the younger generation, would get a chance to prove our merits?

Here is the interview of the visionary guy (read opportunist businessman) who masterminded this huge(!) project.

And more of the diplomatic melodrama.

Follow up

A Lament For My Benighted Soul

Can you witness the death of a soul?


Could you hear the scream when my soul died?


It was captured, stripped off its dreams
And was left to rot in darkness....

Demented , dejected, deserted, deprived.....


"How dare you dream, you abomination!", inquired its captors

"I cannot help it," cried my tortured soul
"For it is only human to dream"


"Human!", laughed the corrupted
"Humans are not supposed to dream"

"They should live, eat, die - but dare not dream"
Declared the overlords


"But why?", asked my ever-curious soul

"The audacity!" hissed the manipulators
"He dares question!"

And they cut its tongue, tore off the eyes, ripped his heart open.....


"That will teach the heretic!" rejoiced the tainted ones
And went to celebrate -
The productive mutilation of another soul.


And there lay my soul in the overshadowing darkness....
Demented , dejected, deserted, deprived.....

Rust, decay, decline, disintegration........

The Sims 3: Virtual dollhouse for adults

Remember good old childhood days? When you had those dolls....ahem....action figures? Now you can relive your childhood on your pc. One of the best selling pc games of all times, The Sims 2, is about to meet its successor - The Sims 3.

So what's new in The Sims 3?

Create any Sim you like and the way you like (of course)

Give your Sims unique, distinct personalities


Everything is customizable (from clothing to furniture to car)

Explore neighborhoods in real time (minus the load time)

Enhanced and rewarding gameplay

You can create Sims according to your imagination. Choose their body structure, hair, clothing to painstaking details. Even you can decide what they would be like - evil, witty, loner, computer whiz, flirty, workaholic etc. You can also select their favorite hobby, color, music genre, food. It seems you can create a virtual model of yourself if you fancy!

The most notable addition would be the chance to explore the neighborhoods in real time. You can make your Sim explore the neighborhood on a bicycle and don't have to worry about the load times like in The Sims 2. There will be hospitals where pregnant Sims can give birth, workplaces where Sims will go for work.

"We really wanted to make something that would blow people away, and we wanted to do more with the town than we have in the past." - said Ben Bell, the executive producer, in a recent interview with Gamespot.

Your Sims now can have more than one lifetime goals. They can bring work home or work overtime. Children can do homework with computers or library books. There are new party types. Your politically ambitious Sim can arrange a fundraiser to build up his campaign fund!

Can't wait to get your hands on it? Sadly you have to wait till February 20, 2009.

Meanwhile, watch the wacky trailer:

New Sims 3 trailer is several kinds of strange

Nury Vittachi: The funny man from Asia

You may have heard of Nury Vittachi. You haven't? Well, how about Mister Jam? Doesn't ring a bell? Okay, how about Mr. Lai See or The Spice Trader? Still no? Hmm, you probably don't live in Asia. And if you do, you are just plain unlucky! Okay, he is not a great celebrity or something. Come on, "Just because his mom has heard of him, doesn't mean he's famous".

Enough with the tease. He's a guy who lives in some part of Asia (I'm not sure exactly where) and travels a lot. He is of Sri-Lankan origin by the way. Vittachi is one of the Asia's most published writers. He has written several books. But what makes him stand out is his quirky sense of humor. He writes wonderful pieces on every imaginable things. And they are great reads. The recurring theme is of course Asian. However, they are not boring.

I first discovered him about 6 years ago on The Daily Star. He writes a weekly column there besides the ones in The Sun, Today, The Standard and several others. I found his writings witty and humorous. I have mostly followed him on prints, but recently I've found his blog.





“I'm an Asian militant. Ties are a Western imperialist trick to cut blood circulation to the brain,” Vittachi says. Intrigued?

You can check out his following articles for starters:

• The day of the curry
• Somali pirates take space station
• World's oldest jokes

Or you can head directly to his blog: www.vittachi.com

Quoting Quotes

"A good quote is a good way to appear smarter than you really are."
- Richard Kadrey

Yes, that's the main thing about quotes. It indeed makes you "appear" smarter, more sophisticated and learned. Unless of course you get carried away and overdo it. We have all used quotes in our lives. Whether it was to impress that hot chick you had just met or impress your literature teacher, or even for making fun of others. I've been fascinated with quotes all my life and have a pretty decent collection. They range from wise cracks, witty lines, excerpts from poems and even from metal songs! So here goes, just a few of my favorites.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.
- Colton

Be wiser than other people if you can but do not tell them so.
- Earl of Chesterfield

There is a greater difference between one man and another than between two animals of different species.
- Michel De Montaigne

Two man look out through the same bars: one sees the mud, and one the stars.
- Landbridge

There is not yet one person, one animal, one bird, fish, crab, tree, rock, hollow, canyon, meadow, forest. Only the sky alone is there...
- Mayan Book of Dawn of Life

Of course I don't have any idea who these people are! But who cares, right? As long as you can throw them out in the opportune moment, it's all good. But do give them credit, don't pass them along as your own. The chances are that there is someone out there, who actually knows these people. So consequently he or she'll figure you out for the loser you are! Why take the risk? Just be modest enough to admit that you "read" it somewhere! That's better, since "reading" gives you some sort of sophisticated air. (I know , I know I am bad)

Here's few more -

He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.
- George Bernard Shaw

Man's main task in life to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is.
- Erich Fromm

The quickest way to make an enemy is to do someone a favor.
- Old American Saying

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
- William Shakespear

To achieve the impossible dream, try going to sleep.
- Joan Klempner

When I said I don't know most of these guys, you knew I was kidding, right? Well, of course I don't know all of them, but I do know who Shakespear is and actually have read some of his stuff. So be careful when quoting. Imagine you have just quoted something from Socrates and feeling pretty cool, and suddenly someone demands to know who the hell Socrates is! If you knew who Socrates was that's okay, but if you didn't, imagine the abasement. So use them at your own risk. And by all means, do not mix up. A somewhat cheesy line from a poem maybe good enough to impress girls, but same doesn't apply for your teacher. And please read, just don't collect quotes from random sources. People will soon figure you out. And finally, remember -

A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a man of wit, and a pebble in the hand of a fool.
- Joseph Roux

Waiting For A Miracle

How can I express my feelings,
If I don't even understand them?


Maybe I'm just a fool who's being deceived by himself........

Do I really opt for love
Or is it sex?
Do I long for a bright day
Or just a house made of hay?


I don't know,
Or maybe I do....
Is it my greatest pretend?


I'm waiting for a miracle.......
Perhaps a magic spell;
To remove all my grievances, sins and mockeries....


Will it really happen?


Or I will remain filled with despair
And will be pretending till eternity?

Book Review: Prelude to Foundation

Man has always wanted to know what lies in future. To quench his thirst for knowledge of the coming days, he has taken many steps. From witch doctors of ancient era to the modern astrologers – all have made their living, thriving on man’s weakest point. But how often do you come across a science fiction writer writing about predicting the future? Isaac Asimov, the grandmaster of science fiction, did exactly the unlikely thing in his book “Prelude to Foundation” (1988), the 6th book of his famous “Foundation” series.

The story is set in a utopian future - 12020 G.E. (Galactic Era). Man is no longer confined to a tiny planet called Earth. They have spread so far across the universe that they consider Earth as a myth. The galaxy is run by Emperor Klion, the last successor of Anton Dynasty. The humans seem to have it all. They have tamed the nature, manipulated it according to their will. They have covered their capital planet, Trantor, entirely with metal - are living inside in a suitable weather all year round. The streets are shiny, people are covered in lush dresses, live in luxurious apartments – but beneath all the glitters, there is a grave sign of decay. The human race is heading towards anarchy. But only the rulers are aware of the fact.

At this fateful moment, Harry Seldon, a young unknown scientist of an unimportant planet named Halicon, arrives in Trantor. He has come to attend the Math Conference, which is held every ten years. In this decaying era of science, he proposes his “Psycho-history” – Science of Prediction. He claims that hypothetically it is possible to predict future. He attracts a lot of attention, and before even realizing he finds himself in the middle of a tug of war. Soon he is seen running from Eto Demerzel, the Chief-of- staff of the empire. He befriends Chatter Humin, a mysterious fellow. Harry isn’t sure of Humin’s intentions, but he has no one else to trust. So he and Humin start running from the empire, entering deeper into the complex social structures of Trantor.

On his epic journey, he comes across with Dorse Venabili, a mysterious woman, who seems to have some special abilities. Soon Humin left Harry and Dorse, as he had some important matters to handle. Harry in his quest to materialize Psycho-history seems to be getting himself into a series of troubles. No matter where Humin puts him, something weird seems to happen, forcing Harry to run again.

Trantor is consisting of “Sectors” which are autonomous. Of course they are loyal to the emperor, but they have their own customs and rules. They are not bound to obey emperor’s every order. Harry first visited the “University Sector”. As the name suggests the whole sector is a university. But a simple journey to the outer surface goes awry, as Harry gets separated from his team, and finds himself being chased by an unknown vehicle. Soon he is rescued, but Humin suspects they are no longer safe there. So they leave the sector, and go to “Micogen” - a sector famous for its food made from fungus. Micogen is rather different as it is a closed male-dominated society, with its weirder customs. Harry soon runs into trouble by sneaking into their holy place in order to gather information. But Humin saves him somehow.

They again hit the road, and arrive in “Dahl” sector. Now Dahl is a deprived sector; most of its inhabitants are poor. As a result, crime rate is very high there. This time Harry gets in trouble with some punks in the street. Thanks to Dorse, no damage is done. But soon they encounter the Imperial Guards. They were able to flee eventually, but a wrong calculation gets them in the hands of the Mayor of the “Owi” sector. This sector is known to be anti-imperial. Harry’s mysterious and powerful friend Humin saves him at last. But to know how, one has to go through the book.

Throughout his journey Harry gets closer and closer to discover the basics of Psycho-history. By observing the complex social structures of these sectors, he begins to understand the principles of his own theory. He finds that he cannot predict the future of a single human being, but he can, to some extent, predict the future of a group of humans.

Throughout the book Asimov never took sides. He never said that faction is good and this faction is bad. He just presented them as people with different views and ambitions. Of course, something they all had in common – their thirst for power. The characters are well developed. The main protagonist, Harry, is presented in a perfect way and very believable. Dorse and Humin are a bit mysterious; but the reader will find at the end - it was necessary to keep them in that way. The Emperor is not evil; he just wants to sustain his empire. But he is largely influenced by his Chief-of-staff, Eto Demerzel. And the side characters like Sunmaster 14, two sisters of Micogen sector, the heat sinkers of Dahl, Mayor of Owi, and of course Raul - are quite developed as well.

The book is interesting to read; it just compels you to go on reading. It’s full of unpredictable twists and turns. And the greatest twist of them all; I assure you, I didn’t see that coming – neither will you. It is labeled science fiction just because the story is set on a far away future. Except that you won’t find a lot of technical details about how the spaceship works, or how that weapon can blow off someone’s head. So even people who doesn’t like sci-fi, will find it interesting. It’s more of a sociologic approach on human race in a futuristic setting. So if you are looking for a good book, or just planning to start reading sci-fi, I recommend this book to you. You won’t be disappointed.

The beginning

So it begins........

Always wanted to say something like that. After all these years, I have finally decided to share my wisdom with the world. Soon I'll join the ranks of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and the rest of the high and mighty philosophers. And my commentaries will be read in the schools for eons to come. period. Well, a man can dream, cant' he? After all what is life without the impossible, crazy and sometimes larger than life dreams?

Hope is beauty,
Personified
At her feet, the world,
Hypnotized

- Apocalyptica (Hope Vol. 2)

It is hope that fuels mankind, it is hope that makes a drowning man catch at a straw.

So enough with philosophy already. You didn't come here to read about some wild rantings of a wannabe philosopher. Now. let me introduce myself. I am an average guy.......err............let me rephrase that, I am a below the average guy. Why you ask? Well, for starters, I am not good at anything.

I am not street smart, I am not good with people, I have the attention span of a flee. I usually develop interest in new stuffs almost every other day, and lose interest just on the following. For instance, I started learning French, was pretty enthusiastic about it, and then just stopped learning it. I used to exercise, did carry on for five months - then lost heart. I think you got the idea.

Why am I like this? Always, getting new ideas, and then just abandoning it on the half way. I don't know, I guess I've always been like this. I am just plain lazy.

Of the seven sins, my greatest downfall will be caused by Pride. Oh boy, I do have pride......maybe strong enough to compete with Lucifer. I know I am a loser, but somehow I always feel superior about the people around me - whether it's intellectually or morally. I just feel like I am a royalty, fallen from grace; and they are just bunch of idiots, passing their life like animals.

This feeling of false superiority has ensured that I have very few friends. People see me as aloof, moody, indifferent and apathetic. Sometimes I really don't feel like interacting with people and just shut myself off from the rest of the world. I hate attending social gatherings, as I usually have to spend a horrible time staring at other people. As luck would have it, I never approach anyone, unless it's really necessary to. People always get surprised to see that I am actually not that bad once they get to know me. But in this busy life, who has that much time to check out what a geeky guy like me really has to offer?

My inability to remain "social" has cost me a lot, and still robbing me off a fortune. I don't usually answer phone calls, let alone return them. So people have stopped calling me. I don't go to social gatherings a lot, so everyone stopped asking , they automatically assume that I would sit this one out.

I don't really hate people. I want, no I crave attention. I want people to look at me, to see me for the 'great' person I am. I always picture myself as witty, humorous and deep thinker. I don't know if I am delusional, but some people do think I really am like that. Specially my online friends, of course, most of them haven't met me in real life. Why I am an entirely different person on the web?

Why can I be at least half the charming in real life? Why do I always come off as a bumbling idiot?
Is it all my fault, that I am a complete mess?