Outdoor Cafe in Boston
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Monday, 20 July 2009
La Fête de la Bastille
Returning from La Fête de la Bastille at Greenwood park I was sorting through the various thoughts and emotions of the day.
The Alliance Francaise joined up with Bruno's group to celebrate Bastille Day. The wonderful people of both French clubs shared various dishes, desserts and stories of travels.
There is a common bond amongst people who have lived abroad for significant periods of time, a certain je ne sais quoi.
Fulfillment, empathy, disillusionment, loneliness, contentment, discontentment, appreciation for what is novel/different, need for more travel. The way that a person changes when immersed into new surroundings depends on the person and situation, with the only constant being that the person does change. Perhaps it is that recognition that bonds travelers.
All in all I am very thankful to have stumbled across these two groups, which have already made my stay in Des Moines more fulfilling.
The Alliance Francaise joined up with Bruno's group to celebrate Bastille Day. The wonderful people of both French clubs shared various dishes, desserts and stories of travels.
There is a common bond amongst people who have lived abroad for significant periods of time, a certain je ne sais quoi.
Fulfillment, empathy, disillusionment, loneliness, contentment, discontentment, appreciation for what is novel/different, need for more travel. The way that a person changes when immersed into new surroundings depends on the person and situation, with the only constant being that the person does change. Perhaps it is that recognition that bonds travelers.
All in all I am very thankful to have stumbled across these two groups, which have already made my stay in Des Moines more fulfilling.
Enduro Racing
My Enduro car
After the smoke clears
It took me about 30 laps or so to get the hang of it, during that first part of the race I was quite a hazard. Then I started to get a feel for it and actually passed a few cars until about lap 70 when I was cut off and couldn't avoid hitting the car that cut me off, lost power and brakes froze up so I pulled off the track.
There were two divisions which raced at the same time, I was in the V6 division (slower division), I finished 2nd. I don't think I need to say out of how many :)
My brother was in the faster division, and 'nudged' me from behind twice before passing....
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Matt Kearney in Des Moines
Who is Matt Kearney you ask? Well, thanks for asking, I didn't know either until Thursday night when a few friends invited me to the outdoor concert:
Matt Kearney on piano
For your entertainment, a very poor sound quality cell phone music video of Matt Kearney live:
Matt Kearney on piano
For your entertainment, a very poor sound quality cell phone music video of Matt Kearney live:
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Persian Unrest
To all the Iranians who feel cheated out of a fair election.
Recent profile face of several Iranians on Facebook:
-Green was the prominent campaign color of Mousavi, the opposition’s candidate, a reformist who believed in more personal freedoms and international dialogue.
After several protester casualties:
Several non-Iranians are showing there support on facebook with:
Whenever the topic of politics or personal freedoms in Iran came up, my Iranian friends in Malaysia would appear dejected and confide their frustration and how stressed they would feel while in Iran. Never knowing when the morality police would pull up and arrest them for dating, wearing makeup, not wearing a head scarf, stop a young lady out by herself or bust an illegal night club. Their ability to endure the political and social situation in Iran seemed to be pushed to maximum capacity. This was over a year before the recent election. Many Iranians despise that Ahmadinejad has been the face of Iran (Khamenei, the supreme leader has the final say in all policies) to the world.
Not being open to outside auditing, it is not possible nor my place to unequivocally state that there was voting fraud. What is suspicious is the speed of the vote count and margin of victory. Many Iranians have no doubt the election was a farce and on Facebook and other social networks they are venting their frustration. One Iranian posting:
"To all non-Iranian friends: please help spread the news of the outrage and disgust of the Iranian people with the election results. Unfortunately, the western media is not currently doing a great job of exposing this blatantly fraudulent election. This is not the will of the Iranian people; they are mostly in shock or despair, and the braver ones are being mercilessly beaten on the streets. PLEASE SHARE"
Recent profile face of several Iranians on Facebook:
-Green was the prominent campaign color of Mousavi, the opposition’s candidate, a reformist who believed in more personal freedoms and international dialogue.
After several protester casualties:
Several non-Iranians are showing there support on facebook with:
Whenever the topic of politics or personal freedoms in Iran came up, my Iranian friends in Malaysia would appear dejected and confide their frustration and how stressed they would feel while in Iran. Never knowing when the morality police would pull up and arrest them for dating, wearing makeup, not wearing a head scarf, stop a young lady out by herself or bust an illegal night club. Their ability to endure the political and social situation in Iran seemed to be pushed to maximum capacity. This was over a year before the recent election. Many Iranians despise that Ahmadinejad has been the face of Iran (Khamenei, the supreme leader has the final say in all policies) to the world.
Not being open to outside auditing, it is not possible nor my place to unequivocally state that there was voting fraud. What is suspicious is the speed of the vote count and margin of victory. Many Iranians have no doubt the election was a farce and on Facebook and other social networks they are venting their frustration. One Iranian posting:
"To all non-Iranian friends: please help spread the news of the outrage and disgust of the Iranian people with the election results. Unfortunately, the western media is not currently doing a great job of exposing this blatantly fraudulent election. This is not the will of the Iranian people; they are mostly in shock or despair, and the braver ones are being mercilessly beaten on the streets. PLEASE SHARE"
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Who is John Galt?
I am John Galt.
Or at least that's what it says on the back of the jersey I wear for the ShortBus AllStars. I figure sooner or later someone at one our softball games will know who John Galt is.
-I'm back
Or at least that's what it says on the back of the jersey I wear for the ShortBus AllStars. I figure sooner or later someone at one our softball games will know who John Galt is.
-I'm back
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Ryan, Zane and learning to speak
Babysitting Ryan:
Uncle Jasper and Zane Edward Fletcher (nickname: Zef, Zeffy)
I was reading ‘Native Tongues’ by Charles Berlitz when Jasper and Tracy arrived home last night, I had Jasper read an excerpt from the Preface;
"When I started to speak, I learned four different languages at the same time, each exclusively spoken to me by different members of my family. At this very early age I did not know that these were world languages but simply thought that they were different ways that people had of speaking which, when one considers it, is really a good way of defining languages."
Tracy has been very keen that Ryan has exposure to more than one language, so I wasn’t surprised last night that both Jasper and Tracy were very encouraging when I asked if I could speak exclusively in Mandarin with Ryan. When Colin and Courtney visited, they simply stared at me blankly and Colin protested when I spoke Mandarin with him. Yet I persisted and was delightfully surprised when Courtney replied with, “nihao” which she either remembered from last time I tried teaching them some Mandarin or from ‘Ni Hao, Kai-lan’ a kids show on Nickelodeon which mixes Mandarin into each episode.
Jaemy and I have made a deal to start learning Spanish together before her trip to Mexico next year.
Uncle Jasper and Zane Edward Fletcher (nickname: Zef, Zeffy)
I was reading ‘Native Tongues’ by Charles Berlitz when Jasper and Tracy arrived home last night, I had Jasper read an excerpt from the Preface;
"When I started to speak, I learned four different languages at the same time, each exclusively spoken to me by different members of my family. At this very early age I did not know that these were world languages but simply thought that they were different ways that people had of speaking which, when one considers it, is really a good way of defining languages."
Tracy has been very keen that Ryan has exposure to more than one language, so I wasn’t surprised last night that both Jasper and Tracy were very encouraging when I asked if I could speak exclusively in Mandarin with Ryan. When Colin and Courtney visited, they simply stared at me blankly and Colin protested when I spoke Mandarin with him. Yet I persisted and was delightfully surprised when Courtney replied with, “nihao” which she either remembered from last time I tried teaching them some Mandarin or from ‘Ni Hao, Kai-lan’ a kids show on Nickelodeon which mixes Mandarin into each episode.
Jaemy and I have made a deal to start learning Spanish together before her trip to Mexico next year.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Here's how it begins
My apologies for anyone who has been checking this blog periodically and have not found any new posts. There are many things that I need to sort out and will not be updating this blog for an indefinite amount of time.
A few last notes:
I’ve been in a rut for quite some time now, it started in Malaysia and recently it’s turned into a sinkhole. It hasn’t been any one event but rather the culmination of many.
Chess and Life (winter 2005 at UWW): Student, after losing a game of chess to another student, “I made one mistake at the end of the game which lost it for me.” Professor, who didn’t watch the game, “Only one?”
For too long I haven’t been able to properly focus on one thing, although I don’t like to use cliches, I’ve been a Jack of all trades and haven’t been able to master any. That ends here.
What happened over a week ago had life altering repercussions; it led to what may have been a final falling out with who I used to consider my best friend. Although her not wanting any contact for a long time, if not forever, has gutted me worse than the fish I cleaned for my old Russian friend at a resort I worked at a life-time ago, I’m not going to allow myself to dwell on this.
I may start blogging sometime in the future, but save yourself from checking back anytime soon.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in my blog.
One last experience from Malaysia: We were coming back from a movie in Kuala Lumpur, two exchange students from Minnesota who had just arrived in Malaysia, my good friend from Pakistan, the legendary side-kick of my good friend from Pakistan and me. One of the American girls was sharing a story from grade school of when the pipes had backed up and feces infiltrated the classroom. This was interrupted by my Pakistani friend’s experience of being kid-napped and held for ransom for 30 days (don’t remember the exact length) when he was at a comparable age. For what its worth.
Here's how it begins
A few last notes:
I’ve been in a rut for quite some time now, it started in Malaysia and recently it’s turned into a sinkhole. It hasn’t been any one event but rather the culmination of many.
Chess and Life (winter 2005 at UWW): Student, after losing a game of chess to another student, “I made one mistake at the end of the game which lost it for me.” Professor, who didn’t watch the game, “Only one?”
For too long I haven’t been able to properly focus on one thing, although I don’t like to use cliches, I’ve been a Jack of all trades and haven’t been able to master any. That ends here.
What happened over a week ago had life altering repercussions; it led to what may have been a final falling out with who I used to consider my best friend. Although her not wanting any contact for a long time, if not forever, has gutted me worse than the fish I cleaned for my old Russian friend at a resort I worked at a life-time ago, I’m not going to allow myself to dwell on this.
I may start blogging sometime in the future, but save yourself from checking back anytime soon.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in my blog.
One last experience from Malaysia: We were coming back from a movie in Kuala Lumpur, two exchange students from Minnesota who had just arrived in Malaysia, my good friend from Pakistan, the legendary side-kick of my good friend from Pakistan and me. One of the American girls was sharing a story from grade school of when the pipes had backed up and feces infiltrated the classroom. This was interrupted by my Pakistani friend’s experience of being kid-napped and held for ransom for 30 days (don’t remember the exact length) when he was at a comparable age. For what its worth.
Here's how it begins
Friday, 7 November 2008
Goodwill around the world
November 4th, 2008
This election was not just for US but for the world
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gallery/2008/nov/05/pressandpublishing?lightbox=1
The world has been watching and this historical election has sent shock waves around the globe.
In the places I've been around the world many people of many different nationalities have oft repeated something to the effect of, "We think America needs a new direction, but we don't think America is ready to elect a black man". When I heard this over and over again I would point to the polls which were continuously shifting in Obama's favor, but nothing short of an actual Obama victory would diminish this unfortunate image of the US, that up until Tuesday night, so many people maintained.
From early on in this election I have confided in my compatriots how an Obama win would, on the international level, send an unprecedented message to the rest of the world. It would have multiple implications abroad, it would tell the world that we are ready for change, that the United States is a country where a minority can achieve the highest office in the land.
Don't misinterpret me, I do not mean to imply that the image the rest of the world has of us was a deciding factor (although for a certain number of Americans it may have been an influence to varying degrees)in why we elected Obama. Nevertheless, the election of Barack Obama instantaneously led to a spike in goodwill around the world towards the US.
The republicans and the far-right tried to play the fear card, but Americans rose above the pettiness and saw the value and understood the need of a new direction. After a long campaign, it may seem cliche, but America voted for Change. A new chapter in our history has begun.
Headlines from around the world: www.guardian.co.uk
This election was not just for US but for the world
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gallery/2008/nov/05/pressandpublishing?lightbox=1The world has been watching and this historical election has sent shock waves around the globe.
In the places I've been around the world many people of many different nationalities have oft repeated something to the effect of, "We think America needs a new direction, but we don't think America is ready to elect a black man". When I heard this over and over again I would point to the polls which were continuously shifting in Obama's favor, but nothing short of an actual Obama victory would diminish this unfortunate image of the US, that up until Tuesday night, so many people maintained.
From early on in this election I have confided in my compatriots how an Obama win would, on the international level, send an unprecedented message to the rest of the world. It would have multiple implications abroad, it would tell the world that we are ready for change, that the United States is a country where a minority can achieve the highest office in the land.
Don't misinterpret me, I do not mean to imply that the image the rest of the world has of us was a deciding factor (although for a certain number of Americans it may have been an influence to varying degrees)in why we elected Obama. Nevertheless, the election of Barack Obama instantaneously led to a spike in goodwill around the world towards the US.
The republicans and the far-right tried to play the fear card, but Americans rose above the pettiness and saw the value and understood the need of a new direction. After a long campaign, it may seem cliche, but America voted for Change. A new chapter in our history has begun.
Headlines from around the world: www.guardian.co.uk
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