Tuesday, April 29, 2008

End

It has been great blogging. I am going to continue this - I hope.
The last week of school, and oh boy am I psyched.
I have an Accounting final, a in class essay for writing for the media, a 15 page paper for Minorities in the Media and finally a Statistics test on Friday to wrap it up.

I leave back to Indonesia on May 5th to spend a month and a half with family and friends. Then i go to India during mid June to visit my extended family and return to NY on the start of August.

Next semester, I will be the President of International student organization and will be having an internship at Smith Barney. I will be a full time student with 17 credits, next semester will be one tough semester.

This semester has been one that is filled with great memories. I will definitely miss my buddies who are going to graduate, but thankfully they will still be around the area.
It is not good-bye yet.

I am really looking forward to my senior year, to see what fate has for me.

Cheers!

Monday, April 28, 2008

Stylebook

Whilst flipping through the Associated Press Style book, I came across couple of interesting things. Firstly when you look under the world children, it states that “in general, call children 15 or younger by their firs name on second reference. Use the last name, however, if the seriousness of the story calls for it, as a in a murder case, for example. For ages 16 and 17, use judgment, but generally go with the surname unless it’s a light story. Use the surname for those 18 and older.” This was very interesting as I read it. I never knew, one classifies it like that.

Another awkward abbreviation I read was, SRO – standing room only. I though SRO meant – “single room occupancy,” and this was associated with the help of homeless people. “The SRO Program provides rental assistance for homeless persons in connection with the moderate rehabilitation of SRO dwellings. SRO housing contains units for occupancy by one person. These units may contain food preparation or sanitary facilities, or both.”

The associated press is a very interesting read, learn a lot of useful and interesting information.

Seven Dwarfs = Seven stages of coke


I read a very intresting article on how Snow White and the Seven dwarfs maybe a representation of the seven stages of cocaine.

"It took me awhile to actually think about this, and make sure it made sense. After much thought, it does make sense. Snow White is a movie that indiscretely makes reference to the white gold. For one her name is Snow White, the color of cocaine. That right there is a dead giveaway, but wait there's more. The names of the dwarves are named after, what i think, the symptoms of cocaine usage. Their beards were also white, it seems they would be that way because they are old, but it's only that way to the untrained eye, but to someone like me, who wastes their time on stupid things and points out the flaws of things, i take this into consideration when wondering if Snow White has anything to do with cocaine. It also looks like they work in a diamond mine, but those are no ordinary diamonds, they are crack diamonds, which they process into their sweet drug of cocaine.

All of them but Doc are guilty of the crime of being a drug reference. Lousy german midgets. Always with the drugs, well at least they will stay away from my family. 1. Dopey - When you hear Snow White, you either think of her or this dwarf. He may be the goofiest of the dwarves, but wouldn't you be if you were a cocaine symptom, he always run around with the oversized tunic and ears looking ridiculous and also crazy. He's pretty much level-headed when he doesn't take his cocaine, which i think he should stop doing. 2. Grumpy - After a while in the cocaine high, you get angry, or at least seem that way, but this curmudgeonly old bastard doesn't need cocaine to be angry, he just has a mental imbalance. Without his cocaine he's a rambling psychotic, dangerous to talk to and more dangerous to interact with. 3. Sneezy - Now this is a sad case, to most people when he has his finger up to his nose it may seem he is stiffling a sneeze, but in reality, this poor midget is getting his fix of coke by putting it on his finger. The other dwarves think he has a sneezing problem, but he is much smarter than them. Hiding your habit by putting it on your nose, you card. 4. Happy - Cocaine puts you in a euphoric state of mind, and this guy is the perfect example. So much cocaine usage has left him in a blissful state. It's tragic. 5. Bashful - When you do cocaine you sort of go into withdrawal, but most of the time you are hyperactive and full of energy. This guy is a case of the former choice. 6. Sleepy - I'm not sure if you become sleepy from doing cocaine, seeing as how i haven't tried it yet. But i am pretty sure doing cocaine takes it out of you. Too much cocaine makes this guy seem like a sufferer of narcolepsy. "

This shot article was a very interesting read. I have definitely heard about Disney referring to sex. Supposedly in Aladdin, Aladdin after the song, “a whole new world,” he whispers to jasmine – “Take off your clothes.”

Also is the Lion King, the clouds spell sex and in the little Mermaid on the cover, or at least on the older boxes, there is a picture of a palace with many persians-looking towers on the back. One of them is a giant penis, erect and sticking out of one of the turrets of the Palace.

Water -

A recent movie I watched was Water by Deepa Metha. Water shows a story about a group of Indian widows. The movie shows the struggle of an Indian widow in society and how she survives in a patricarchal society. Deepa Metha, to a certain extent exaggerates the problem Indian widows go through. Not all widows are treated like this nor does all Indian sub-sects look down upon widows. But there are that still do treat them like this, and Water shows how pathetic and cruel society can be. Water revolves around widows; widows who don't burn themselves on their husbands' funeral pyres, live in the strict ashrams (a residing place of some sort of group), awaiting the purification of death.

“Water” revolves around the central widow, Chuyia, is only 8. She is dumped into the ashram, and is expected to lead a life of denial and forbidden from society. In this ashram, this 8 year old girl will be forced to lead a life of an 80 year old woman; her hair will be shaved, she will wear white robes for the rest of her life and be an outcaste from society, this movie exploits the atrocity of Hinduism. Chuyia at the innocent girl starts to question Hinduism, and become a rebel. Another central figure in this movie is a Kalyani also a widow, played by Lisa Ray. Lisa Ray lives in the ashram as well. She is the one who primarily takes care of Chuyia, and thanks to Chuyia she meets a lawyer and eventually falls in love. Deepa Metha shows the human emotion of love conquering Lisa Ray’s feeling even though she is a widow. It is a battle of love versus society.

Metha forces Lisa Ray to break taboo rules. Ultimately Kalyani, ends up committing suicide as she cannot live in a society that won’t accept her love with this lawyer.

The movie ends with a quote “There are over 34 million widows in India according to the 2001 Census. Many continue to live in conditions of social, economic and cultural depression as prescribe 2000 years ago by the sacred texts of Manu.” This quote shows the ignorance which many people decide to live with.

Liverpool - We will never walk alone.


Liverpool and Chelsea are going to face each other in a high profile match of the second leg semi final of Champions League 2007-2008. The first match ended in a 1-1 tie, at Anfield, Liverpool’s home ground. An own goal, by the substitute Rise at the 95 minute, ruined Liverpool’s clean sheet. Now having the disadvantage, Liverpool go to Chelsea this Wednesday, to make their dreams come true.

Liverpool has nothing to gain in English Premier League as they are currently 12 points behind leader Manchester United with three matches yet to go in the season. They are currently fourth in EPL with five points difference between third placed Arsenal and themselves. Liverpool is now fully focused on Champions League as they have nothing to achieve in EPL, except the fourth place to secure the ticket of Champions League next season. So, it seems to be an unwanted advantage for Liverpool.

In their way to the semi final of Champions League, Liverpool defeated Arsenal in the quarter final and confirmed their third Champions League semi final in four years. Liverpool was the winner of Champions League 2005 and they have been consistently doing well in Europe, which is way contrast to their inconsistent domestic form for the last few years.

This Wednesday will decide the fate of Liverpool and Chelsea. Me being a Liverpool supporter I really wish Chelsea would suffer a massive defeat.
Lets go Liverpool – we will never walk alone!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Jihad

In the Associated Press Stylebook, the word Jihad is defined as, “the Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic concept of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include, holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use.


There is a huge misconception about this word, the word Jihad derives from the root word: to exert ones self, to struggle to attain something. This word is only used in reference to things that are seen as difficult or undesirable. The word for war in Arabic is harab. The word Jihad is to defend Islam, Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in Islam. However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islam. Islam also clearly forbids "taking the law into your own hands", which means that individual Muslims cannot go around deciding who they want to kill, punish or torture.

The misconception is that the word Jihad is that a war started by an Muslim against an Infidel, or one that does not like Islam. It portrays Islam as religion of war, which in reality is a religion of peace.
April 7, 2008

Christopher Kerner
LG Electronics
U.S.A Corporate Headquarters
1000 Sylvan AvenueEnglewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Mr Christopher Kermer
Green Culture Inc has launched a new design of “green” table lamps. We would like you to be a part of it. On April 26th 2008 we are holding our event, “Festival of Lights.” This is to promote our environmentally friendly lamps. This is also our launch party, to introduce our new design for “go-green” lamps. The ‘Weeping Willow Table Lamp’ uses unique shade contains over 820 pieces of Tiffany glass. This even will be held at the New York, Roseland Ballroom, 239 W 52nd St, New York, NY.
At our ‘Festival of Lights are offering our various products and designs by our company. Green Culture Inc has produced a new design for “go-green” lamps. This promotes and emphasizes the company’s commitment to raising awareness about environmentally friendly options for lamp users.
We would like LG, to sponsor this event as you are one of the major players in the light bulb industry. We would like LG to share their views and help us promote environmentally friendly solutions. We would highly respect your partnership for this beneficial cause.
If your are interested in partnering up for a greater cause with Green Culture Inc, please write back to me or please call me at the above address. We can discuss this further in detail.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely