Friday, February 07, 2003
"As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?"
-D. McManus
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?"
-D. McManus
three cheers for the women of uconn (and better yet, i am guessing the players on the team actually attend classes)
oh yeah - throw in a couple of cheers to the article's author, who, imho, is spot on
oh yeah - throw in a couple of cheers to the article's author, who, imho, is spot on
where have most of my readers gone?
put off by commenting snafu's of haloscan??
working (god forbid) instead of web surfing???
boring/whiny entries finally pushed most everyone away???
*sniff*
put off by commenting snafu's of haloscan??
working (god forbid) instead of web surfing???
boring/whiny entries finally pushed most everyone away???
*sniff*
rainbow has a great post that contains a compliment generator and an insult generator. use either one to bring yourself back to center if you are feeling down or perhaps a bit too happy with yourself.
;-)
;-)
have no idea why i'm even bothering with this week's friday five, as it's not even interesting enough to lie about - but what the heck - my loyal readers seem to be able to generate the best discussions off of the lamest posts - so we'll test that skill today
1. What did you have for breakfast this morning? If you didn't have breakfast, why not?
coffee, english muffin w/tahini
2. What's your favorite cereal?
hmmm - one of those crunchy, granola kind of things - with raisins
3. How often do you eat out? Do you want that to change?
maybe once a week -- we probably could save a few bucks by going less often, but it's fun...
4. What do you plan on having for dinner tonight? Got a recipe for that?
maybe pizza - no recipe, but a phone number...
5. What's your favorite restaurant? Why?
(tie) weia teia - an asian fusion restaurant and cafe tandoor. why? both serve excellent food. weia teia's dishes are non-cliche'd - off the wall original dishes you won't see anywhere else - and although it is clearly secondary - the presentation is great. cafe tandoor - well i love indian food - and they have a lot of good dishes - plus the naan. runner-up: aladdin's eatery - original twists on middle eastern cooking
the one thing these all have in common is that they have a number of vegetarian options. although a vegetarian can find something to eat in most restaurants (perhaps not a vegan, though), it is great when there is a selection and you can pick what you want from a whole array of choices as opposed to having to pick from 2-3 options
1. What did you have for breakfast this morning? If you didn't have breakfast, why not?
coffee, english muffin w/tahini
2. What's your favorite cereal?
hmmm - one of those crunchy, granola kind of things - with raisins
3. How often do you eat out? Do you want that to change?
maybe once a week -- we probably could save a few bucks by going less often, but it's fun...
4. What do you plan on having for dinner tonight? Got a recipe for that?
maybe pizza - no recipe, but a phone number...
5. What's your favorite restaurant? Why?
(tie) weia teia - an asian fusion restaurant and cafe tandoor. why? both serve excellent food. weia teia's dishes are non-cliche'd - off the wall original dishes you won't see anywhere else - and although it is clearly secondary - the presentation is great. cafe tandoor - well i love indian food - and they have a lot of good dishes - plus the naan. runner-up: aladdin's eatery - original twists on middle eastern cooking
the one thing these all have in common is that they have a number of vegetarian options. although a vegetarian can find something to eat in most restaurants (perhaps not a vegan, though), it is great when there is a selection and you can pick what you want from a whole array of choices as opposed to having to pick from 2-3 options
Thursday, February 06, 2003
classic issue of the onion
highlights include: Mommy Having Sleepover, Man Vows Never To Watch Another Sci-Fi Movie With Physicist Friend, and Heroic Turtle Dials Most Of 911
but the loudest laugh-out-loud of the week goes to my perennial favorite feature: what do you think?. "Craig George" takes the prize this week...
highlights include: Mommy Having Sleepover, Man Vows Never To Watch Another Sci-Fi Movie With Physicist Friend, and Heroic Turtle Dials Most Of 911
but the loudest laugh-out-loud of the week goes to my perennial favorite feature: what do you think?. "Craig George" takes the prize this week...
had a textbook "anxiety dream" last night. had to run several laps in a race, but missed the one turn causing me to have to backtrack and lost a lot of time and was real tired. i thought everyone else had finished, but i saw there were still people running, but no matter how hard i tried was just too tired and wasn't moving and everyone was passing me.
perhaps i have not "gotten into the groove" to the degree as i indicated a few posts back...
perhaps i have not "gotten into the groove" to the degree as i indicated a few posts back...
seems like haloscan has gotten their server together fixing my commenting woes. i apologize on their behalf for any comments lost (seems like a few comments on recent posts were lost - note: i had nothing to do with this)
i have nothing to say today (yet) but apparently was in rare form yesterday, so re-read those posts which found me starting the day reflective about my substitute yoga teaching experience and ending the day, extremely whiny...
i have nothing to say today (yet) but apparently was in rare form yesterday, so re-read those posts which found me starting the day reflective about my substitute yoga teaching experience and ending the day, extremely whiny...
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
re: 2 posts ago - same sentiment except now i've had 2 hrs lecture, 2 hrs lab and even more work - AND I STILL HAVE 4 MORE HOURS TO GO BEFORE I CAN GO HOME...
previous entry having been said, it is a bit of a drag to be in my office at 1:30PM after teaching one class - grading a ton of assignments, prep work for future classes, eating lunch, etc... then realizing i have 2 hrs lecture, 3 hrs of lab, plus time between adding up to about 7 1/2 more hours before i can go home
poor, poor, pitiful me
poor, poor, pitiful me
i have gotten into the groove, i think, re:my schedule. i mean, it is tiring, and a lot of work - but no longer have the panicky feeling that i won't be able to get to everything. i know at least i'll be able to get to the essentials. and of course, the advantage of being at the office most of the day and not at home much, is that you never have to take work home
;-)
;-)
a couple of notable things/firsts in the yoga class i taught last night. first of all, it was the largest class i ever taught - i'd guess 15 or so people. this was also the first time i taught a class that included a number of people i did not know - including at least one that had never practiced before. she was very nice and seemed to enjoy herself (she was the friend of a long-time classmate - perhaps that helped), but i urged her to give our real teacher a try as i was just a substitute. i feel i am capable to be a substitute, but not qualified to teach full-time. so far, the only classes i have taught have been when my teacher can't make it. i would like to teach at least a few poses in a class sometime with her there to help me with my teaching. there are a few things i do well teaching and a few things i don't do as well. i know, for example, i could do a better job keeping an eye on everyone and suggesting adjustments. i kept an eye on the new student yesterday to make sure she was ok - but, in general, could afford to do a better job with the whole class. i also feel i could do a better job sequencing the poses - i.e. teaching around a "theme" as opposed to the poses i am comfortable with. still, as a substitute, i feel adequate. the fact that my teacher continues to ask me (and i am sure she hears from the students how it went) is the only vote of confidence i need.
i felt the first part of the class went great - connecting with the students - explaining the poses - even touching on the non-physical aspects of yoga - which is not done that much at the Y. The rest of the class went pretty good too - though by the end, i (and prob. everyone else) was getting tired.
a final first: i felt - for an instant - extremely self-conscious. from what i can recall, i have never felt self-conscious in a yoga class before. as a student, i am just one of a group, and as such, i know no one other than the teacher is paying much attention to me, so it doesn't bother me. even when i taught before, my anxieties have been focused on - am i teaching the poses right?- am i saying the right things? talking too much/too little? do i have enough material prepared? etc... but yesterday just before going into down dog my head filled with rapid fire, extremely self conscious thoughts: "here i am sticking my butt up in a roomful of people, some of which i know, some of which i don't (which is worse) - how is it possible that i, a software developer, am doing such a thing - what kind of twisted path has my life followed - this wouldn't have seemed possible 4 years ago..." i had a very deep awareness that i was the center of attention - and in an awkward position. of course, these only flashed for a second, then i was able to center myself and complete the pose (yoga helps you do that, you know). a big advantage, i feel, of aging, is that you care a lot less about appearing foolish. today, my body feels worked out - a bit tired/sore, but, as yoga teachers say a good sore...
i felt the first part of the class went great - connecting with the students - explaining the poses - even touching on the non-physical aspects of yoga - which is not done that much at the Y. The rest of the class went pretty good too - though by the end, i (and prob. everyone else) was getting tired.
a final first: i felt - for an instant - extremely self-conscious. from what i can recall, i have never felt self-conscious in a yoga class before. as a student, i am just one of a group, and as such, i know no one other than the teacher is paying much attention to me, so it doesn't bother me. even when i taught before, my anxieties have been focused on - am i teaching the poses right?- am i saying the right things? talking too much/too little? do i have enough material prepared? etc... but yesterday just before going into down dog my head filled with rapid fire, extremely self conscious thoughts: "here i am sticking my butt up in a roomful of people, some of which i know, some of which i don't (which is worse) - how is it possible that i, a software developer, am doing such a thing - what kind of twisted path has my life followed - this wouldn't have seemed possible 4 years ago..." i had a very deep awareness that i was the center of attention - and in an awkward position. of course, these only flashed for a second, then i was able to center myself and complete the pose (yoga helps you do that, you know). a big advantage, i feel, of aging, is that you care a lot less about appearing foolish. today, my body feels worked out - a bit tired/sore, but, as yoga teachers say a good sore...
Tuesday, February 04, 2003
great article (which, i guess, ultimately means i agree with it) about whether teachers are overpaid...
about the only section i have issues with is the last page "why lawyers get paid more than teachers?". it's less that i disagree with him then he only addresses part of the issue. the issue he missed is that folks are very short sighted. lawyers have a very obvious, short term economic impact on folks. teachers have as great or greater impact both in terms of economics and otherwise, yet their impact is subtle and long term. this makes it easy to downplay. the other thing, frankly, is that teachers can be underpaid because many of them do it mainly for the love of teaching - and of course one can afford to pay someone less for something they love to do - i.e. teachers' love of teaching is taken advantage of. of course, after a certain point that can wear on a person and cause burnout, etc...
about the only section i have issues with is the last page "why lawyers get paid more than teachers?". it's less that i disagree with him then he only addresses part of the issue. the issue he missed is that folks are very short sighted. lawyers have a very obvious, short term economic impact on folks. teachers have as great or greater impact both in terms of economics and otherwise, yet their impact is subtle and long term. this makes it easy to downplay. the other thing, frankly, is that teachers can be underpaid because many of them do it mainly for the love of teaching - and of course one can afford to pay someone less for something they love to do - i.e. teachers' love of teaching is taken advantage of. of course, after a certain point that can wear on a person and cause burnout, etc...
will probably sub for my yoga teacher tonight. she's under the weather and will let me know for sure later today. given that this is one of my few easy days of the week, i am able to do it - but let me tell you, the way things are going, i would probably refused doing a favor for most anyone else...
Monday, February 03, 2003
jen in her comments to my previous post clarifies non-theist as this: a non-theist doesn't really care if there are gods or not as they don't affect the person. For example, Gautama Buddha didn't care if there were gods or not as they would not help him reach nirvana.
yup, that's me. that is the one conclusion i have come to thru my spiritual search re:the nature of god - to me, ultimately the questions is not relevant as it has no bearing on how i live my life...
yup, that's me. that is the one conclusion i have come to thru my spiritual search re:the nature of god - to me, ultimately the questions is not relevant as it has no bearing on how i live my life...
questions from jen
Which word best describes you? (You must choose at least one) Monotheist, polytheist, pantheist, atheist, agnostic, non-theist
hmmm - i'll have to review "non-theist" and see how it differs from atheist...
i'll go for agnostic. imho, i cannot see how anyone can be sure of the nature of god.
the part of me that keeps me from being an atheist sees god not as a "being" so much - but as an, i don't know what (hence the agnostic) - creation force, perhaps, "ground of existence" (forget who said that), etc... definitely not an "ultra-powerful person" or soemthing like that.
the non-atheistic part of me would be monotheistic - for me, any concept of god requires god to be the ultimate - i.,e. no room for two, or a committee.
i think if god exists then god is unknowable by humans - beyond comprehension. easier to say what god isn't
What do you consider success? What do you need to consider yourself successful?
wow - tough. i can honestly say i have never thought about being successful. for me, career-wise, i guess to be successful is to have the respect of those in a position to know my work. on a personal level, i guess that equates to self-respect.
Are there any tastes or textures of foods you miss being a vegetarian?
hmmm - i crave meat periodically - sometimes it's not the meat so much as the extras - those cravings are easy to satisfy - i mean my craving for bbq ribs is really a bbq sauce craving and i can put bbq sauce on other non-meat items. but say, the craving for a steak is different. not sure if it is a taste/texture or combination thing. when i have such cravings i remember why i am doing this and what it means to eat meat and that helps. sometimes the cravings are not even necessarily for anything elaborate - fried chicken or chicken soup. all veggie soups can be bland...
Which word best describes you? (You must choose at least one) Monotheist, polytheist, pantheist, atheist, agnostic, non-theist
hmmm - i'll have to review "non-theist" and see how it differs from atheist...
i'll go for agnostic. imho, i cannot see how anyone can be sure of the nature of god.
the part of me that keeps me from being an atheist sees god not as a "being" so much - but as an, i don't know what (hence the agnostic) - creation force, perhaps, "ground of existence" (forget who said that), etc... definitely not an "ultra-powerful person" or soemthing like that.
the non-atheistic part of me would be monotheistic - for me, any concept of god requires god to be the ultimate - i.,e. no room for two, or a committee.
i think if god exists then god is unknowable by humans - beyond comprehension. easier to say what god isn't
What do you consider success? What do you need to consider yourself successful?
wow - tough. i can honestly say i have never thought about being successful. for me, career-wise, i guess to be successful is to have the respect of those in a position to know my work. on a personal level, i guess that equates to self-respect.
Are there any tastes or textures of foods you miss being a vegetarian?
hmmm - i crave meat periodically - sometimes it's not the meat so much as the extras - those cravings are easy to satisfy - i mean my craving for bbq ribs is really a bbq sauce craving and i can put bbq sauce on other non-meat items. but say, the craving for a steak is different. not sure if it is a taste/texture or combination thing. when i have such cravings i remember why i am doing this and what it means to eat meat and that helps. sometimes the cravings are not even necessarily for anything elaborate - fried chicken or chicken soup. all veggie soups can be bland...
quiz
when we were out last saturday, i noticed on one of the tv's at the bar was showing a commercial for ibm webspere - a set web development platform.
i wondered, what kind of tv show would be showing midnight on a saturday, which would be acceptable to show in a bar, would have such a specialized technical commercial (i mean, web sphere is not a consumer tool)
see if you can guess...
random mode...
ran for the first time on snow covered trails - pretty cool...
saw kangaroo jack - a few of the items i didn't think appropriate for a kids movie - but i think they went over my kids heads - i've heard how movies intentionally put a few things like that to avoid a G rating and the stigma associated it - though hardly a prude, it seems odd there is a stigma about G movies...my wife was able to notice the actor that plays the drunk pilot was barry fine from strictly ballroom - she has a great eye/ear for those sorts of things...
how about "much ado about blogging" for the title of my presentation...
i am unsure about the rules re:groundhog day - the one in pa. saw his shadow - ours didn't. which applies? i'm guessing ours does (prob. cause that's the answer i want) besides, i'm perfectly willing to believe a groundhog has the deep scientific knowledge to make long-term weather forecasts, but it seems one forecast for the whole world (at least the N hemisphere) is dubious, at best...speaking of such, how does ghd work in the southern hemisphere
finally found my stone roses cd - it was mia
have some questions from jen i will answer when i get a chance...
p.s. : i'd love to blog about alias, but have at least one non-US reader who will not see this series until later...
ran for the first time on snow covered trails - pretty cool...
saw kangaroo jack - a few of the items i didn't think appropriate for a kids movie - but i think they went over my kids heads - i've heard how movies intentionally put a few things like that to avoid a G rating and the stigma associated it - though hardly a prude, it seems odd there is a stigma about G movies...my wife was able to notice the actor that plays the drunk pilot was barry fine from strictly ballroom - she has a great eye/ear for those sorts of things...
how about "much ado about blogging" for the title of my presentation...
i am unsure about the rules re:groundhog day - the one in pa. saw his shadow - ours didn't. which applies? i'm guessing ours does (prob. cause that's the answer i want) besides, i'm perfectly willing to believe a groundhog has the deep scientific knowledge to make long-term weather forecasts, but it seems one forecast for the whole world (at least the N hemisphere) is dubious, at best...speaking of such, how does ghd work in the southern hemisphere
finally found my stone roses cd - it was mia
have some questions from jen i will answer when i get a chance...
p.s. : i'd love to blog about alias, but have at least one non-US reader who will not see this series until later...
Sunday, February 02, 2003
warning to groundhogs
do not be fooled because i am a vegetarian. if any of you are even thinking of seeing your shadow, i will kill you; i just won't eat you.