God only knows what transpires in the heavens. March 31, 2007

Picture: A rare spectacle of a meteor shower

 

 

It so happened that an airplane was calmly flying from Santiago, Chile to Sydney, Australia. But on its way it got a heavenly surprise just as it entered New Zealand airspace. BBC headline describes it more aptly, ‘‘Flaming debris nearly misses jet”. This flaming space debris just exploded, ignited and burned before the place, missing it by about 40 seconds. Had it been on the spot, Al Qaeda could always be blamed for that to bolster political careers and justify security measures. Ok, that was a joke. Or was it…? But let me quote the official description that had me laughing for some reason, ‘Lan airline said the captain ”made visual contact with the incandescent fragments several kilometers away.” Ummm… that almost has some alien erotic undertones to it. Ok, that was a joke too, stop wandering into the fantasy land and keep reading.

 

 

 

 

Definition of a meteor from Word Web Dictionary:

A streak of light in the sky at night that results when a meteoroid hits the earth’s atmosphere and air friction causes the meteoroid to melt or vaporize or explode.

 

Even the definition sounds so poetic and exotic. BBC article mentions that ‘the experts say about 100 tons of extraterrestrial dust grains fall to earth each day.’ Phew. My very first encounter with a shooting star was chilling and thrilling.

 

Flashback: A hot summer day in early 1990s. I am about 14. Nighttime. I am lying in a cot on the rooftop of our house, appreciating the stars and listening to the garble of faint shortwave radio signals. Then this happens. A new bright star appears in the sky, it seems rather very close unlike other stars. In less than a second it flames so bright that it almost dazzles my eyes like a camera flash, if you’re really looking at it. It develops a flaming tail. Now I think it is very much heading for me. So close and speeding towards me. I gasp. It is all happening so fast I have no time to decipher it. Just before I think it is going to hit earth and pulverize everything to make a mushroom cloud I see it break into 2 or 3 fragments that flame up in smoky tails and disappear…

 

 

I had NO IDEA that it was a shooting star. It just looked like some missile or alien thing headed towards earth to destroy everything. It did not look pretty, it looked cold and violent. I have seen many shooting stars after that but that had to be one of the biggest and brightest ones.

 

 

The Night it snowed Embers…..

 

This is a picture of an eerie meteor shower that occurred in 2003 above central Indian skies, in a rural region. It was rather threatening and did some damage to the houses.

 

 

Definition of meteor shower: A transient shower of meteors when a meteor swarm enters the earth’s atmosphere: So unlike a shooting star, meteor shower has a bunch of big, medium and many tiny shooting stars that can light up the night sky. It is rare.

 

Few years after my first shooting star experience the whole world marveled at that famous meteor shower. It was either 1999 or 2001 leonids , also called the King of Meteor showers.The night it was to appear -not in full glory, in my part of the world, but only the faint version of the real thing- I decided to spend the whole night on the rooftop with a thermos of black coffee and scan the sky. I waited and waited. Nothing happened. My two little dogs kept on visiting and checking up on me from time to time, as if asking me to come down because they were getting bored. I kept petting their little heads with affection; they licked my hands, brushed against my legs and went down to come back again.

 

 

At around 1:40am, I did see some very distant, faint light yellow streaks. As if meteor shower was happening on some other planet and I was able to see it from earth. But still it was not in vain, though my dogs would disagree.

Thinking Brokeback Mountain March 30, 2007

Picture: Jack and Ennis (from movie, Brokeback Mountain)

So, here is Brokeback Mountain Picture blog that I am putting together with original movie dialogue. Maybe I just want to have a riot. lol. But actually, I just want to do and say something different not because it is better but because it is different. So, I really thought I could piece together some pictures from Brokeback Mountain along with real quotes from the movie and my own additions. I like those pictures of two men together. Odd is beautiful, funny and tragic. Let me try to show you.

Brokeback Mountain

Ummmmm….. after a passionate night of love making in the cozy tent this is what Ennis and Jack have to say to each other, the next morning…….

Ennis Del Mar — You know, I ain’t queer.

Jack Twist– Me neither.

Love……is more powerful than our fears or anything else in the world….. So….Ennis and Jack get lost in the passions, laughters and romance.

Frank Sinatra– ~~~You must remember this….a kiss is just a kiss~~~~

Some serious discussion here on life, religion ……

Jack– My momma, she believes in the Pentecost.

Ennis- What exactly is the Pentecost? I mean, my folks, they was Methodists.

Jack–The Pentecost… I don’t… I don’t know what the pentacost is. I guess it means the world ends and guys like you and me march off to hell.

This is the start of a beautiful friendship……

Ennis–There ain’t no reins on this one.

Jack- Brokeback got us good, don’t it?

Jack–[yelling to his father-law at Thanksgiving dinner] This is MY house, that is MY kid, and YOU are MY guest, and you will sit your arrogant ass down before I knock it into next week!

Heartbreaks ….. heated arguments….. emotions (Warning: Coarse language follows the picture)

Ennis– I’m gonna tell you this one time, Jack fuckin’ Twist, an’ I ain’t foolin’….

Jack– Tell you what, we coulda had a good life together! Fuckin’ real good life! Had us a place of our own. But you didn’t want it, Ennis! So what we got now is Brokeback Mountain!…You have no idea how bad it gets! I’m not you… I can’t make it on a coupla high-altitude fucks once or twice a year! You are too much for me Ennis, you sonofawhoreson bitch! I wish I knew how to quit you.

Ennis– [crying] Well, why don’t you? Why don’t you just let me be? It’s because of you Jack, that I’m like this! I’m nothin’… I’m nowhere… Get the fuck off me! I can’t stand being like this no more, Jack.

Words of Wisdom….

Ennis- Bottom line is… we’re around each other an’… this thing, it grabs hold of us again… at the wrong place… at the wrong time… and we’re dead.

You can’t be JUST FRIENDS…. (This is in response to a random question a female friend posed recently: Can two people, especially single, male and female, be just friends? Can they keep sex away from their friendship? My answer was NO. When two people are single they both have that sexual/ emotional vacuum that sooner or later will tempt both of them to cross boundaries of pure friendship. Above quote by Ennis has similar logic, since here two gay men are sexually attracted to each other.)

Abandoned blog ideas and fighting ”Terrorism” March 30, 2007

Picture: Larry David broods.

Here I am posting another piece. Suddenly I found many blog ideas bubbling in my mind and I was confused what should I blog about! Two main topics that kept pirouetting in my brooding brain were:

1.) The sex scandal in Clinton, Southern Carolina, a 23 year old Caucasian teacher accused of having sexual relations (multiple times and locations) with at least 5 Black boys aged between 11 to 15. It was a very creepy topic but I was not at all thinking about the sensation of the SEX SCANDAL but the side issues that cropped up with more prominence than the sleaze of the story itself. Most important among them was race: CNN (unlike CBS, FOX, ABC etc. ) covered the story (on their website) admirably well and in detail. All of these sourced it from Associated Press.

Yep, it makes me shiver to think what would have been the public reaction had it been a Black teacher and white female students. Wrath and hellfire come to my mind. Another issue is the prejudice, bias taking over the rule of law. Soon after her arrest, this 23 year old teacher was released on an expensive bail. This would not happen in the case of a Black convict, who would never have that much money even if the bail was allowed (very unlikely). In fact such is the intensity of racial prejudice in the deep South that it has given us classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and Green Mile. Well, read on. But it’s really something that baffles me as an outsider. How come third world/ uncultured/ uneducated prejudices like that are well and alive in the world’s ”greatest” and the ”freest” country ?. Hmmm…

2.) Can men and women (especially when they’re single) be JUST friends? I think it’s one of the most asked and pondered questions ever. Apart from whatever exceptions there maybe my answer was NO. I wanted to blog on it from personal perspective and experiences. I had funny stories to tell. But it really began to bore me so much. I hate repeating things especially when so many other people have already dissected and discussed it a lot.

This is why I thought I would bring you a picture blog. (Which I am moving to the next blog as it was getting too long in a single blog) But before I get to Brokeback Mountain blog…. Let’s all– as the good, responsible citizens of this world and also as the angels of light, truth, justice and righteousness– fight terrorism on the sidewalks of New York (or make it Baghdad, London, Madrid or any other place) I dedicate this picture below to our just and good fight against all those evil terrorists with colored skin, preferably Muslim origins, beard and turbans WHO HATE OUR FREEDOMS or whatever is left of them:

We may not find you but we can always pin you down, Uncle Osama.

_________________________________________________________

Satanic Iran and hypocritical angels. March 30, 2007

I made this comment on a friend’s blog about the latest Iranian faux pas of detaining British sailors. I will throw in my alternative opinion about the politics surrounding Western world/ media berating Iran on everything that the neurotic Iranian government does or says. I thought it would be nice to air this opinion through my blog.

Firstly, Iranian government is behaving rashly, no doubt. The official Iranian stands about denying holocaust, wiping off Israel from the face of the planet, death on America sound ludicrous. But then I remember: populism and demagoguery are the oldest tricks in the books of power hungry, slimy politicians. Best example would be the Germans rallying behind Hitler with all their mind, heart and soul: ”Yay! Fuhrer is daaa bessstt! Butcher the effin’ Jews” Methinks Ahmadinajed is quite the Nazi when you focus on his passionate anti-Semitism.

But let’s peep into our own (or our governments’) righteous souls. Supporting human rights and opposing evil in the convenient places seems to be the trick. China slapped and grabbed Tibet and the world looked on silently. Where was the U.N., International law and our righteous armies? Now, Free Tibet is such a boring subject really, because now it’s an inseparable part of China. Let’s not talk Tibet, it’s China’s domestic affairs. Truth is annoying China is not an option, especially now that it produces everything CHEAPLY for us from underwears to battery operated toys (yep those ones too ) and Computers. Same with Uzbekistan. What was Andijan Massacre? Craig Murray ? (Sacked British Ambassador to Uzbekistan who has documented government hypocrisy in his book, ”Murder in Samarkand”)

As for rogue nations: Nothing scares me more than North Korea. The dictator running that country is a Psycho of the most dangerous sort. North Korea is impoverished. Famines there lead people to kill street dogs and eat them. Cannibalism has been reported. North Korean government is happy to sell nuclear technology and other weapons to any dick, harry or Osama for hard cash. But Let’s not mess with North Korea too much, they are backed by Russia and China.

As for Iran, look what a convenient target it is, already weakened by almost a decade long war with Iraq which was tacitly supported by the U.S. at the time. But here is the biggest secret: Iran is not only hated by almost everyone in the world but also it is the only Shiite (Shia) Muslim majority country, bitterly hated by Sunni Arab or other Sunni Muslims already. After all for the vultures it’s always easy to pounce upon the wounded, the dead and the dying.

Ennui, Mushy bestsellers, The Holy/ Odd book and other ramblings.(Part 2) March 29, 2007

Picture: Adam and Eve with their first baby.

Just moments ago I had couple of more little bad news: Things I were counting on crashed. Voot is going on? I deserve some great pieces of news and it better be soon!!! I will sue the angels. Or worse still, be indifferent to them! But I will not make it irreverent writing on Bible. I am not very fond of inviting new curses to already screwed up life. I’m just doing a journalistic job. I really wanted to draw some attention to the oddities that don’t generally get noticed by either Christians (who are too busy saying hallelujah and Amen) or Atheists (who are always trying to rave madly and prove Jesus never existed and later, in the same breath, state that his disciples were bad folks… kinda paradoxical …. how can Jesus not exist and his disciples can )

 

So… anyway… to the Bible. I mentioned at the end of my last blog that Bible ought to be the greatest book on the planet because it has most thoughts, laws, ethical codes, social justice codes, philosophies, ideas, ideals, imagery, human longings, sentiments, feelings, aspiration, noble thoughts and so much more that words cannot describe. I must say though the Old Testament was the masterpiece and New Testament borrows heavily from it in both language, theme, content and philosophy. There are such subtle minute connections- between OT and NT- that Bible scholars find them all the time. I lately found that the metaphor Jesus stated in support of non violence: about turning or offering the other cheek has been mentioned in the book of Lamentations in the Old Testament! (though in a different context)

 

Apart from that Bible has contributed greatly to the development of English Literature and scholarship. And also to the freedom of speech and expression. People were imprisoned, tortured, persecuted, executed for translating Latin Bible into English! Then we got King James Bible which was published in 1611. Not only it brought Bible in the hands of the masses but also it was a landmark for English Literature itself. Many great writers (including Shakespeare who was writing many of his great plays as he was reading KJV!) were inspired by King James Version. After that many scholars have been translating Original Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into English in various styles and genres. I think it is absolutely amazing. That’s all … about it I’m sure anyone can read HEAPS stuff on Bible history and all from hundreds of sources including Wikipedia . But here I’m just giving few personal random observations.

 

1.) Song of Solomon: I have watched/ read hundreds of Christian sermons for interest, study, fun, introspection…. BUT never have I heard anything on Song of Solomon which Christian pastors hush up as an alleged allegory representing the love of God and human beings. I don’t get it. I mean if you ‘re honest and call spade a spade we can clearly see it is the description of playful, sensual/ sexual love (Wikipedia cites: ”The book consists of a cycle of poems about erotic love…”) between two unmarried people (in some sections they are referred to as bride and bridegroom, but not always).. a guy and a girl. FORNICATION!!!?? I wanted to quote a couple of passages… even I kinda consider it crude to mention it here! I better let you scan the little book of Song of Solomon and pinpoint the naughty verses. Phew. Again, I chuckle at the thought of young school kids reading that stuff and getting ideas about playing with breasts and other foreplays!! Ahem!

 

2.) LOVE LOVE LOVE : Ok this one is in praise of Bible what a beautiful edifying definition of love: ( Here is a beautiful flash of 1 Corinthian 13 that includes following paragraph–1 Corinthians 13:4-7– on love):

 

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (NRSV Bible)

 

I think it’s just so eloquent and beautiful.

 

3.) Gosh!!!! Violence. Bible got lots violence, bloodshed, wars from every side. Cutting of the heads was in vogue. But here is a weird one. One God’s soldier is ordered by God’s anointed king to go and kill some 200 or so philistines. So, how he proves that he did the job?? He brings back 200 or so foreskins of dead philistines as his war trophies for the king. Apparently, all Jews were circumcised, so every foreskin must belong to the other side. I mean when I read that it not only made me disgusted with its barbarity but also sounded darkly humorous. ”God’s anointed one!!! I brought ya some Foreskins… Whee!!!….”

 

 

There are commands from God to annihilate this and that tribe with specific mention that all men, women, children should be massacred: ”Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” ( 1 Samuel 15:3) Hmmmmm…. I think this is just so hard to swallow not only for Christians but any human being adhering to any religion or philosophy. I just stumbled upon hundreds of Christian pages passionately opposing any kind of abortion: read this amazing story with picture from Irish Independent Online about ”the baby holding the surgeons finger from within the womb during fetal operation.”. But reverting back to the 1 Samuel Bible verses: they specifically command killing of ”child and infant”. Baffling.

 

 

4.) Sin baby sin!!!! And our average fire spitting Southern Baptist pastor (and his brethren elsewhere on the planet) only focused on the Happy people (Gay) and left the rest of the crooks which surely would include the pastor and his family too: both immediate and the extended . *wink*. Here is the thundering list from Paul warning that most of us may well miss the train to heavenly spheres:

 

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and thinks like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ( NRSV Bible, Galatians 5: 19-21)

 

I mean really it’s such an exhaustive compilation of sins that comparing different translations is almost a lesson in English language. Different Bible versions render those original Greek words in different fashions. In case, some of you may be wondering what the hell is carousing???…. One Bible mentions it as ‘debauchery’ and other simply as ‘orgies’. And modern liberal people (or some Neo Pagans) might think that Bible writers in ancient times would have no knowledge of modern mystical, chic, radical, liberated sexuality. Sorry folks.. they got it in the damn list. LoL

 

You know… how some mystery, horror, gothic novels end in a creepy, foggy, surreal sort of way. I will end this blog with a paragraph from the last and most mysterious book of Supernatural Matrix in the bible and let you figure out whatever you think or imagine! :

 

The Woman and the Dragon

 

A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great and red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days. (NRSV Bible, Revelation 7)

Ennui, Mushy bestsellers, The Holy/ Odd book and other ramblings.(Part 1) March 29, 2007

Picture: Who made the colors and the patterns of your wings dear butterfly!!??

Ennui is other name for boredom… kinda long term, tedious, monotonous boredom. That’s what I’m facing right now. Weird. Many times life would either offer you chaos or flat boredom. At the moment, many doors in my life seem shut and there is dead silence though I’m knocking repeatedly. Wonder what is going on? I’m baffled and bored. Bored part is more worrying. For this reason, I didn’t even feel like posting any blog comments. I mean how can you offer your takes on life when you haven’t figured it out yourself?

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I guess, even chaos is preferable to eternal boredom. I forgot exact words of a great quote expressing the same sentiment.. but it went something like this, ”I would rather have the chaos of New York than the ennui of ’someplace’.” I think that’s really how I feel right now. Things gotta roll man for better or worse! If right now, someone sends me off to Afghanistan or Iraq as a soldier for any winning side I’d go at once. I mean where else you get to shoot and kill people and get medals for it? Sounds fun. *Sarcasm*

 

 

 

 

But anyhow, here is some fodder for thought. Some things got my attention. As the subject line mentions I will write about them in chronological order:

 

 

 

 

 

Mushy bestsellers: Ok, I’d never actually heard the name Nicholas Sparks before the movie Notebook. But then I once remember reading some Christian girl’s profile who mentioned she loved reading Nicholas Sparks novels. Now, I also gather a sweet Kevin Constner movie, Message in a bottle, was based on Nicholas Sparks novel. That movie, I loved actually. Sure, Sparks must have some talent. But anyhoo, this weekend I wanted to do something really weird. So I thought I would get me some Sparks. I got Notebook movie and A walk to remember novel from the library. The latter has become a ravingly popular book. Amazon.com ratings and number of people who rated the book is overwhelming, compared to what other books, even the great ones, get.

 

 

 

 

I was greatly disappointed. The notebook is OK, not great. I loved cinematography, stunning sunsets, full bright moon over glistening lake and lots digital beauty of white birds flying into the sunset. Acting, in my opinion was superb, especially the girl. (Both actors are Canadians by the way, who can pull off mush better than the Maple People???)

 

 

 

 

 

A walk to remember is such a dull, formulaic book and the story has the most hackneyed plot in all the history of love story/book writing. I can’t believe it became a bestseller!? The story: Boy (Landon) is cool, dandy, rich dad’s son… girl (Jamie) is rather poor but righteous pastor’s daughter… she is blond, sweet, angelic, super compassionate, heart of gold kinda girl. Boy doesn’t really like her but then he sees her soul and is drawn to her. Love blooms like flower buds in spring. Mush happens. Sweet moments. Kisses. Romance. Soon, we discover the girl has a sad secret… they will soon part. Heart breaks, tears. End of story. Okies… many people would like it. I really don’t want to sound sexist… but truth is many girls did like that book very much, which is fine. But when I think it was a raving bestseller and that Sparks made millions off it (including a movie)….. no matter how much I may loathe it…. I wanna do it too! LOL!

 

 

 

 

What was excruciatingly odd, Nicholas Sparks keeps on inserting Bible in their relationship. Girl always carries a bible with her,(even reads it in her school lunch breaks) which we later know was given to her by her dear deceased mother. In one super sweet moment, on a Christmas eve, poor Jamie (who cannot afford to buy Landon a gift) gives him her special leather bound bible. Jamie thinks it was the sweetest Christmas gift he ever got. I think both cry too… (they cry a lot anyway, if it was not mentioned, it must have been implied somehow) Throughout the last quarter of the book these two suffering lovers keep on reading and discussing Bible together.

 

 

 

 

Now, I will stop here and mention the rest of the contents in other blog (Part 2) as I don’t want to make it too long a reading at one time. But here is what to come. Bible Talk. In my opinion it has to be the greatest book of all time. It has thousands of stories, plots, imageries, ADULT THEMES, bizarre moments, surrealism, R- rated violence, dry humor, lots black/dark humor and yes….. sex… actually Song of Solomon, in my opinion gets very close to being a soft porn book hidden in Bible. Sue me, spank me, crucify me… I told ya the truth!

 

 

 

 

I mention this all…. because I always chuckle when I see on Christian TV some news story where they show little kids and their parents fighting with school authorities because they won’t let them carry or read bible in school. My question is: Is Bible even a G book like a G movie?…. I really don’t think so. I again chuckle when on Christian TV they give strict Christian ratings to Hollywood movies but at the same time encourage kids to read, on their own, a book with very ADULT Themes. The truth is if you may not really think Bible is an R book… then at least, in my opinion, it must accompany some educated, wise parental guidance before children can read it! More on the Wonders, beauty and creepiness (at least what seems at the face value) of Bible in the next blog. (Part 2)

Hello world! March 29, 2007

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

Odd Ember facts. March 13, 2007

Some odd facts about me:

1.) I’m left handed.

2.) I’ve always suffered from herpetophobia (fear of reptiles, especially Lizards of all kinds, shapes, sizes and colors)

3.) I got small hair loss at the back of my head—added in November **Not small anymore and At the end of year at the top of my head as well**– (too much wisdom and testosterone) that I have been arresting with regular use of Minoxidil.

4.) Within a week of September 11 terrorist attacks, my small comment was published in the letters section of International Herald Tribune that urged America and its allies not to jump into any wars and bombings without serious calculations as it may only escalate circle of violence. I was soon to be 22.

5.) Later, on two occasions, I have published letters in the Time magazine supporting American military presence in Iraq (to keep peace, uproot hoodlums and protect minorities that have been crushed, persecuted under dictatorships. )

6.) I have never been kissed, romantically (By implication I have never kissed anyone either. Not going into details. muahaha)

7.) I have a very strong streak of Misogyny in my mind… over which I have no control. I’m trying to curb it though. No. 6 owes its existence, in large part, to this. *grin*

8.) I don’t know how to cook or things like changing bed sheets at all. (Maybe I never let a woman show me? hmmm.. did that sound like a Misogynist comment? )

9.) I love dark, cold, rainy and damp weather. I love storms but I’ve never been in a snowstorm.

10.) I saw ocean/ beach for the first time in my life when I was almost 23.

11.) I have been teased and bullied by dozens of school girls (13 to 15 year old) in a bus, where I had no where to run or escape as I was sitting tucked away in the very corner of the very back seat surrounded by these young ladies, some giggling, some brooding, others curious at my trial. ( This might become a blog some day )

12.) Ok. little exception to no. 5. When I was about 10 I was kissed on the cheek by a 15 year old girl who was my very good friend. It happened when we were both lying on the carpet and I was, with mad enthusiasm, showing her how a digital diary worked and all the wonderful things it could do. While I was staring happily at its tiny screen like a nerd she pecked me slow n soft. I gave her a gaping mouth, raised eye brows, blameful, quizzical stare. She giggled nervously and gave some very stupid reason for her action. I nodded and started showing her my digital diary again.

13.) I love dogs. I don’t like cats all that much.

14.) Sometimes, I have stolen small food items from the common fridge of my student hostel in the wee hours (2am to 3:30 am) when I got verrry hungry and figured I had no food left. I thought of putting $2 coins in the plastic bags I took stuff from….but was too ashamed to do so… I could almost hear people say, ”This thief is not only evil but he is also ridiculous. He thinks this fridge is his wending machine!”

Grrrr Flu! March 10, 2007

Picture: Yep that’s me. I got the bug. You want a kiss or should I break your neck? *Fit of Cough*

I am afflicted with the curse of the homo sapiens. This bitchy curse is known by many names mostly, bad cold, cold or flu. I can’t believe what’s going on with me. I hardly get sick and most colds etc. relent within a week. This time my cold had almost disappeared at least 2 times, just to be back again. Now, it is supposed to be the tail end of it.. that is lasting longer than the real thing. Annoying coughs, itchy throat, running nose. The problem is it’s not too bad.. but it’s there, draining life outa me. I only have to wait it out and also carry on my life, while sick. No use going to doctor. Symptoms are not severe. He/she will just laugh it off and ask to take paracetamol if needed. (It has happened on two occasions previously). Funny, scientists have landed man on the moon but haven’t figured a way to kill bad cold virus. Doh!

So many days and hours of productivity have been ruined by it. I had a pile of books to go over and now most of them will have to be returned, unopened, to library as they are due now. Couple of them had to be put on hold in a queue that got me the books only after waiting for 2 months! So, I am not likely to get them back in other couple of months now. What a shame.

Interesting though, I noticed lots of online friends have been getting these colds approximately at the same time. I have a theory… could it be because of Globalization ? I mean thousands of people commute and stay between these destinations every week. Are we sharing our global germs? I think it is very likely. Customs people are very happy to strip search most people with Middle Eastern looks but they’re not worried about the ones flooding their country with infected mucus and flu epidemics. What the Fff.. **Cough cough couhg..** woiufwqeipfhnwefn@%#&$&W@#!#%*&**(@#^kas[ei041024198

*Sigh*

Nearer My God to thee. (Psalm 91) March 5, 2007

Picture: Photo of Wonder Lake and Mount McKinley in Denali National Park with beautiful fall colours in Alaska, USA (Courtesy: hickerphoto.com)

Ok, fasten your seat belts and don’t be scared. A quick Bible reading blog. I want something out of the Good Book and here it is. )) I chose Psalm 91, not only because it is so positive for those who believe but also I think, at any rate, it is just grand writing. I’m using NRSV Bible.

But first some words from the hymn, Nearer my God to thee:

1.	Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
    	E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
    	still all my song shall be,
    	nearer, my God, to thee;
    	nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 

    2.	Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
    	darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
    	yet in my dreams I'd be
    	nearer, my God, to thee;
    	nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
    

 Psalm 91

    You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
    Will say to the LORD, ''My refuge and my fortress;
    My God in whom I trust.''
    For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
    He will cover you with His pinions,
    and under His wings you will find refuge;
    His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

    You will not fear the terror of the night,
    or the arrow that flies by day,
    or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

    A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
    You will only look with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

    Because you have made the LORD your
    refuge,
    the MOST HIGH your dwelling place,
    no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.

    For he will command his angels
    concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
    On their hands they will bear you up,
    so that you will not dash your foot against
    a stone.

    You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent
    you will trample under your foot.

    Those who love me, I will deliver;
    I will protect those who know my name.
    When they call to me, I will answer them;
    I will be with them in trouble,
    I will rescue them and honor them.
    With long life I will satisfy them,
    and show them my salvation.

Please, mention your religious/ spiritual and other beliefs in the poll
section. It would be nice to see who is stopping by. 

NOTE- It was originally posted at my Yahoo360. In the poll
         EVERYONE VOTED ''Christian'' It does make you wonder
         about how diverse the internet surfers are...? By the way,
         one of the votes was from me.