On Dahab..

It was interesting to see the range of reactions here on nomadlife in response to the bombings that occurred earlier this week in Dahab, Egypt. From helplessness, to fear, anger, anxiety, sadness, confusion, etc. What I didn't read was any sort of posting trying to explain why the persons did what they did. Obviously you can say, "there can be no excuse for such horrible actions", however as anyone knows, things don't just happen in a vaccum (there were reasons/causes behind 9-11, there are reasons/causes behind Palestinian suicide bombers, etc).

I've never been to Dahab, but from what I've been told it's a magical place, a paradise on the Red Sea. So why would someone want to destroy such a thing? Perhaps for that very reason. I think part of our responsibility as "globally mindful citizens" is to do more than just give a mere reaction--focusing on emotions that can be found in any major press in the world seems almost like paying lip-service, see: "Mid-East Outraged over Bombings", a tired statement if I've ever heard one. Instead, we should search for a deeper, more analytical approach to the root of the problem.

I was watching "Paradise Now" last night, and it really got to the crucial point in all this. At what point does your life suck so bad that you are willing to blow yourself up? Injustice. Abject Poverty. Ridicule. No job. No money. And, if you were put in that position, would you do the same thing? Of course it's easy to say no, sitting in the comforts of our bloated Western lifestyles, but the question becomes much more grey when you actually put yourself in their shoes. Day in and day out.

It's true the killing of innocents should never be justified, but to stop this behavior it's important to look beyond questions like "when will this stop?", and perhaps start asking, "Well, how did this begin?". Does anyone know what was running through the minds of the people before they strapped explosives to themselves (or planted the bombs, if they weren't suicide bombers)? Can we really know?

As with all tragedies of this nature, it is my hope that this generation will be the one that comes up with the solutions to these complex problems. The first step, however, is acknowleding the complexities.

Story Time...

once upon a time, when time was time, monkey chew tabacco and spit white lime...

HEY-oooooooooooooo

But Promote the Hustle, Cuz It Keeps Me Thin:)

Well let's see: Fox News'Tony Snow is the new White House Press Sec, gas flirting with $3.40/gallon here in LA, work piling up on my desk, clouds rolling in off the ocean yada yada yada, it's a good time to get out of dodge! Yeup, after 6 years I'm heading back to the subcontinent! I have to admit I haven't this excited about a trip in years. Probably not since returning back to Istanbul back in 2003. Don't get me wrong, there is always a degree of excitement assoicated with any trip, but quite simply sometimes you just have the perfect recipe for SUCCESS! This time I have a travel partner (a first!), a funny little Indian meeting me from Boston, a wedding to celebrate, AND, as if that is not enough, there is also gonna be a good chance to meet up with Katrijn (HARVEYS!) and Karan (MOJITOS!).




So many choices in life, so many confusing points in the maze, so much BS on a day to day basis, Tony Snow for White House Press Sec for chrissake, but one thing is for sure, sometimes you do it right! This is gonna rokk (r-o-C-k-, YOU IDIOT!)! Hopefully I'll get to wave to some CIA agents smuggling "terrorists" to torture camps while flying over Europe's friendly skies. God Bless America and her Allies!

One Bottle Down, One To Go....

One world, One choice: One Barrel.

Vending Machines...

"Yeah, I'm going to get some munchies from the vending machine, want anything?"
"Sure, I'll take a Snickers, some Mike N Ikes and couple of Ipod Nanos".

Ipod vending machines. Dios Mio. Now that's impulse buying!

Look At My Eye!

IF WEH FLY PITCH PAN YO EYE, IT WEH STAY SO FUHEVA.

San Diego Is German For....

TAKE THE BELIZEANS OUT TO THE BALL GAME, TAKE THEM OUT TO THE CROWD, BUY THEM SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKERJACKS (Beer and Nachos), I DONT CARE IF THEY EVER COME BACK.

Yeup Jam and Olaf witnessed their first Baseball game..the San Diego Padres smacked the Mets, and even had a Grand Slam in the bottom of the 4th and ...which any red-blooded American will tell you is the highlight of any Baseball game...

And that was about as crazy as it got. As it says on the Belizean flag, "Sub Umbra Floreo", latin for "Under the shade we flourish". Lazy Madarasses! Haha! We all fit in well. I like San Diego so much, the personality of the city gels so nicely with the landscape: happy, chill, laid back, sunny, lots of fun, did I say RELAXED?

We were also kind enough to be hosted by one of Che's friends, Mikey, who's got a sweet loft (think: sitting on the roof of his building, drinking One-Barrel Rum, and overlooking the SD skyline:) right in the heart of the gaslamp village, def. a must if you go to the city. It's great that even after living in SoCal for 1.5 years, I'm always finding myself doing different things...there's just a lot to do out here....



I think the best part of the weekend was that it was done on the fly, deciding to go down to SD Saturday morning, in about 10 minutes. Truly, the best things in life are unplanned.

Bubonic plague ails L.A. woman

LA WOMAN, LA WOMAN, LA WOMAN'S GONNA HAVE TO DO...

LOS ANGELES - A woman is in stable condition with bubonic plague, the first confirmed human case in Los Angeles County since 1984, health officials said Tuesday. The woman, who was not identified, was admitted to a hospital last Thursday with a fever, swollen lymph nodes and other symptoms. A blood test confirmed the bacterial disease, and she was given antibiotics, officials said. Bubonic plague is not contagious, but if left untreated it can morph into pneumonic plague, which is. Bubonic plague is usually transmitted to humans from the bites of fleas infected by rodents. Health officials said they suspect the woman was exposed to fleas in her home and that there was no cause for alarm. An estimated 10 to 20 Americans contract plague each year, mostly in rural communities. Bubonic plague is believed to have been the "Black Death" that killed 25 million people in Europe between 1346 and 1351. The Associated Press Originally published on April 20, 2006

I Fell In To A Burning Ring of Fire..

..I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns burns....the Ring of Fire..

Ugh, my body is killing me today! Picture being in the Imperial Desert (in the middle of nowhere--Glamis, by the border of Mexico), the sun beating down 90F+, drinking all day, and ATVing throughout the dunes this weekend.



I have no idea how I get myself into these things! My brother and I were def. like Cousin Eddie over Easter weekend..."This here is the RV". I'm sunburned, hungover, caked with sand (even after 2 showers), and a little bruised (I only flipped once, busting the flag off my Quad).

It was just like the scene out of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". A modern day urban dust-bowl where men (and a few ladies) created chaos all day and all night. No cops, no roads, no rules. The first thing I was asked was, "You boys got health insurance..I ain't jokin'". Apparently somebody either dies or is severely injured every weekend out in Glamis. It really has an "outlaw" feeling to it...


My name is Ivor
I'm an engine driver

I know him well
I know why you feel blue
Just 'cause he's late
Don't mean he'll never get through

He told me he loves you
He ain't no liar, I ain't either
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver

Please take a sweet
Come take a walk with me
We'll sort it out
Back at my place, maybe

It'll come right
You ain't no fool, I ain't either
So why not be nice to an old engine driver?
Better be nice to an old engine driver
Better be nice to an old engine driver...

-The Who




I'm always amazed about how much happens in this world that you never hear about..that you never even know exists. Glamis: "It's a sand Thing". Certainly was nice to get out of the traffic, have a campfire, actually see some stars in the sky, listen to some Johnny Cash, catch up with my brother and his boss, and see the wild, wild, west still in effect...

Sharkee's pays it's respects on Good Friday..

Trailer Trash Bash this Friday! Enter to win Caribbean and 1kt diamond earrings! Dont miss giveaways all night!

D'ya Have A Good Sarsaparilla?

Not only did I feel the wrath of the old rat last weekend, I also witnessed the drunkest bartender I've ever seen in my life (he was pouring shots for himself and spilling all down his shirt..he also gave Digs $75 bucks in change after being handed $40 on a $25 tab)!

Too much fun, too much sun...what was I thinking going out the night before Digs got here? I'll tell you what I was thinking. I was thinking he was ragged and war-torn. Ancient and out-of-shape . He'd be jetlegged and dirty. Sleeply and wanting a rest. Well my friends that turned out to be false. The truth is I've been getting soft out here in SoCal and I can only imagine what Shanghai has been doing to his body! Anyone going to Hanna's wedding in Cancun this weekend (Congratulations, btw!), I pity your liver! HA!



Sheila, I couldn't even get any pictures of him passed out this weekend!! Woof woof, snore! Karola, we have a surprise for you!! It was def good to lay on the beach and talk about life's strikes and gutters, ups and downs, world domination, etc.

Ann Arbor, Milwaukee, Columbus, Chicago, Phoenix, St. Louis, Madison, Rotterdam, Belize City, San Francisco, Windsor, Beijing, Wellington, Los Angeles and all I have to show for it are pink cuff-links! This is getting ridiulous!




Take it easy, Digs--I know that you will.

An email after a phone convo between Digs and my Mom..

Has Devon [Devrim] left for Mex? haha sorry I hung up. I waited and thought we were done...you were at a restaurant afteralll. He sure sounded like a great guy and it was delightful to speak with him. You have such nice friends. . . a little crazy but.. just kidding...

no, no I don't think you were....

Waking Up?

"I Wanted To Be Wrong"

You know where I come from
You know what I feel
You're Yul Brenner Westworld
Reporting from the field.
I threw it into reverse,
Made a motion to repeal.
You kicked my legs from under me,
And tried to take the wheel.

I told you I wanted to be wrong,
But everyone is humming a song
That I don't understand.

Now I know that the sun has shined on my side of the street.
The basket of America, the weevils and the wheat.
The milk and honeyed congregation, scrubbed and apple-cheeked
Salute Apollo 13 from the rattle jewelry seats.

Mythology's seductive and it turned a trick on me
That I have just begun to understand.

I told you I wanted to be wrong,
But everyone is humming a song
That I don't understand.

The rodeo is staged, gold circle goat-ropers and clowns.
A rumble in the third act, tie 'em up and burn 'em down.
We're armed to the teeth, born a little breech;
Blue-plate special analysts, cells and SUV's

We can't approach the Allies 'cause they seem a little peeved
And speak a language we don't understand.

I told you I wanted to be wrong
But everyone is humming a song
That I don't understand.

(Prop up The Omega Man, we're primed for victory,
God gave us the upper hand, there's honor among thieves.
Temper it with arrogance, a dash of sad conceit.
The top's down on the T-Bird, we're the children of the free)

Storm into the boardroom of the conquering elite.
Did you recognize the madman who is shouting in the streets?
Destroy the things that I don't understand
Destroy the things that I don't understand.

-REM

Angry American Scolds GW Bush. Is America waking up? AH, probably not, but I can't wait to see what the Daily Show does with this one!

@ Michigan Alumni At Their Best

Haha, I shouldn't post this, but it's just too classic not to. G-tham, look forward to seeing you in Mumbai. One big happy family reunion;) As always, the events mentioned in this email are based on true events.

And he didn't even mention Quebec City!

A letter to the groom:

On 05/04/06, Gautham wrote:
>
>Hm. Strange that you're actually being polite.  I would not have
expected
>such from a jackass like yourself. I think you need to ask yourself
some
>questions Prashant:
>
>WOuld I take time from getting paid to fly all the way out to India?
Just
>so
>I could be liquored up, then released in a cab into the darkness of
>Bombay,
>not knowing if I was going back home, or about to be mugged/raped or
>worse?
>So that I could have food poisoning for an entire day and not rest,
>instead
>forced to continue to imbibe more alcohol while you bitch and bitch at
me?
>SO I could pass out again in a department store? [Why] WOuld I come so I
could
>continue to take your f*#king toxic vitriol for another few days?
Despite
>the fact that the Drake will be attending, do you really think that a
>senior
>year of drinking together and 3 years since we last talked is enough
to
>convince me that you're not the same douchebag as always?
>
>See answer below.
>
>Go to Hell,
>Gautham
>
>P.S. I will arrive in Mumbai on May 3 at 3 in the morning on Emirates.
>Cheers.

Lansing Pride. Yo, Respek.

LOOKOUT! Sometimes words just can't describe how choked up I get when I see such Michigan (and not just state, but capital!) pride! Ain't no jokin here. I think this guy actually used to be a member of the Trench Coat Mafia back in my High School. All jokes aside, I'm thinking about getting one of those tattoos when I head back to Michigan in May. Now, would it be 616 or 734?! Area codes for phone numbers have gotten so popular in the States these days, esp. in rap songs. It must have to do with the explosion of cell phones, because I don't remember people getting all hung up on area codes with their landlines. Thanks, Gaines, I don't know how you found this guy, but he was begging for some exposure!

Up and Down the Coast

Blue Skies, Pristine Beaches, Castles (think: Chevy Chase and Wallyworld..we drove all the way up to Pismo Beach to find that tours for the Hearst Castle had finished for the day;), FlowerFields, BBQ and Beer...The amount of fun had over any given weekend is inversely proportional to the amount of enjoyment experienced on any given Monday.

Note: Don't Drive Vegas to LA on Sunday Afternoon

or face 7 hours of this..

For Merk...