Music

Sri Lankan Food is not Indian Food

Watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npy0fY9qO7M&feature=related

Well, you'll have to start at part 1 of 5, but it's so delicious. This reminds me of my aunties and grandmother's cooking.

I'm really hungry right now, in case you can't tell.

Sri Lanka

Watching this makes me wonder what life was like for my dad while he was growing up in Sri Lanka...I really want to visit that place some day with him and just see where he came from.

I'm going to bed now, enjoy.

The Other America

I would highly recommend that you all take a read of "The Other America" by Michael Harrington. It's a critical book about poverty in the U.S. during the 1960s, but the case studies he looks over and the lessons he teaches about how the Government often lets those who need aid the most right through the hoops are time-less, especially in the current economic situation. He humanizes unemployment statistics to the lives of those affected, not individually per se, but in their various industrial subsets. It'll really open your eyes to unemployment in the U.S. and might even make you more of a socialist actually(if you aren't already).

Anyway, give it a read. It started LBJ to launch the War on Poverty and changed his approach from the "just give them money" to "let's address the root cause." Granted, he didn't completely succeed, but he did manage to significantly reduce the percent of those in poverty by the end of his second term.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm doing my history reading right now.

Potatoes

Three points.

1. Read the 26 March issue of Le Point. It has the cover title "Le livre noir des hôpitaux." It'll depress you/make you never want to get medical care in France. That said, it's probably not as bad as they say it is, since well, sensational journalism is always a best-seller, but it's still depressing.

I could probably find similar articles about the U.S. in five minutes...

oh wait...

I did(and it took 30 seconds). http://www.naturalnews.com/025281.html I think to say that only 50% of the time you get the right treatment is a little excessive, but then again, you can find people who say what you want if you look hard enough.

2. You should ignore 1 and instead read The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. Brilliant.

3. Listen to this and just be in awe. Kthanks.

Chillax

Everyone knows this concerto, and for good reason, it's bad-ass.

Even better is Oistrakh playing it.

Listen and be joyous about the world.




And then listen up on some Bruch, which is equally bad-ass. I couldn't find a more suitable recording, I have a better one on CD, but I have yet to figure out how to upload it here.

Some thoughts

1. Blogspot in German is weird; it is equally weird in French. Conclusion: Try putting it in Tamil or Arabic for maximum mind-warp.

2. I'm in America. I'm not used to hearing people speaking so much English. This has happened after just a week in Austria, I wonder what it'd be like after like a year abroad. Conclusion: Study abroad and learn a new language.

3. This blog is undergoing transformation into something. I've been considering this for some time. Conclusion: Less bitching, more interesting shit. This isn't Livejournal.

4. Linear Algebra is an interesting course. It will require careful attention on a daily basis. Conclusion: Less wasting of time, more working.

5. Grades from last quarter are in. Did worse than expected. Conclusion: Find out if classes are curved before hand instead of assuming it. Less wasting time, more working. Education is expensive.

6. Macbook might be dying or on its way there. Very slow. I will need to do some reformatting thingy that I did before to revitalize it. Conclusion: If this computer dies, I'm buying a ThinkPad. Mac is getting way too expensive(oh wait...it always has been).

7. German is harder than French, but also easier since Germans and Austrians are better people. I'm pretty sure that even the Swiss are better people than the French. Conclusion: Never move to France.

8. Linux is weird. I still fail to understand why people like it. Oh wait...it's logo is a PENGUIN!! Conclusion: Only computer geeks/afficionados like Linux. Since I am neither, I shall never get Linux.

9. The euro is better than the dollar. Conclusion: Demand to be contractually paid in euros.

10. It is raining and my toesies are very wet. Chicago is a dead-end city with its weather. Conclusion: Never wear Converses in the rain and never move to Chicago.

And now I will click "post veröffentilichen" and life will be dandy lest I end up doing the whole "jetzt speichern" thing...yeah, ich komme aus der USA man...

Life at Charles De Gaulle

Hilarious.

I was sitting alone in Air France when I met a group of brown people. In fact, I'm almost positive that they were Sri Lankan because their Tamil was very distinct. I'll also add that I'm wearing my bright Sri Lanka cricket shirt, which probably drew them to me.

What makes them so special?

They brought a freaking RICE COOKER to the airport. Yes, the husband legitimately pulled it out and plugged it in to make some rice in the middle of Paris-CDG airport. Don't even ask. It was ridiculous.

And that's my day as I wait for my flight back to the Mid-West, though I'd honestly rather go back to Vienna and just chill for a bit longer...I mean, who wouldn't?

Sri Lankan Men

Hahahahahaha, these two guys...are so ridiculous. When my dad has my uncles over, this is what they do. They just sit in their sarongs and talk about shit. Granted, this is in Sinhalese and not Tamil, but since neither I nor any of you understand it, that fact is useless.

But man, THE SARONG. Ahahahahahahaha. EVERY DAY when he gets back from work, my dad hops into a sarong and just sits in his big chair to start reading medical journals or to shoot the breeze with me. Hilarious.

I'm having to contain my laughter in the library.

On another note, I need to look away from Math for a while. I can't think clearly to the point where 1+1=0 is a legitimate statement.

Watch this and laugh.

Bananas

The exam week is upon us...exciting!

That above is the Banana snack I'm eating. Ok, so they don't really taste like bananas, but they are really really good for when you're studying and happen to hunger just a tad. I don't know what is it that makes these so addictive, maybe it's that banana dude on the front looking extremely banana-y. Hahahaha, what a banana.

I'm in a weird mood, one of those moods that I get when I'm a bit stressed out about life and school together. I guess I get these too often because I think too much about things instead of just doing shit. Too much talk, not enough action. I'm confident that I've said I'm going to do a lot of things but only accomplished maybe one or two. That needs to change, but of course, I hope that statement in and unto itself won't end up in the annals of "things Tony talks about doing but doesn't end up doing."

Last quarter, I was doing really well at accomplishing many things though. I was getting up early every day at the start and exercising. I was eating right and on top of my game...and then I got totally thrown off with pneumonia that was preceded by bronchitis just a few weeks before. That knocked the wind out of me and well, it was really hard to get back on after that. I don't know, I suddenly don't feel like talking about this, too much bitching. I thought a lot today about how much I just bitch and it was really embarrassing. Things aren't so bad when you take perspective and calm down.

I also have this thought: I should also get my shit together, which is the over-arching theme here too. It's annoying people and I know it. Even those people who don't admit it annoys them...yeah, I know you people. It's chill, I understand. I'm annoyed at myself too, which is why I don't like mirrors because I always end up talking to myself. Ok, too much weird, I won't elaborate.

Blaaaaaaaaaaaah. I'm going to hop around like a bunny in my room now and then do work.

By the way, I was in the Science and Engineering library until about an hour ago...it's a fantastic place to get work done. I'm a serious fan of it and plus, it's much closer to my dorm. The only downer is the lack of power outlets, which is why I'm back in my room, but other than that, it's a good place. Great lighting, perfectly aligned desks, and silence. The regular library is getting really loud these days and there are way too many people around. It's too stressful to study around other high strung people. It's like a vortex of soul sucking stress. Potatoes. I have removed this potato though by going to a new library. Solved.

Now if they had a power strip somewhere, I could check my Math answers online. That's ok though, I think I know a spot there. I'm going to return there now. My room isn't a good study place. Another solution!

THE PAPAYA HAS RISEN!!! The best solution!

That's the real good news, homies.

Because it's true

I love Walrus.

I've never said that publicly here on The Fat Red Panda, but I think you should know this.

Word.

The Compleate Angler

"I envy not him that eats better meat than I do; nor him that is richer, or that wears better clothes than I do: I envy nobody but him, and him only, that catches more fish than than I do."

-"The Compleat Angler" by Izaak Walton

Check it, read it, dance to it.

Perry Wong suggested the book to me and I shall be doing so very soon.

If you don't fish, you'll still appreciate it anyway.

We're planning a fishing trip next quarter during a period when we are both free academically. It will be to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. If you've never been, I highly recommend it, the area is extremely green and breathtaking. I went there when I was younger with my dad and I still remember its amazingness.

At any rate, it's about ten hours out of Chicago, so definitely, for a weekend and week after that isn't stressful.

It is Reading Week and I have exams next week, I shall be hibernating with books, sleep, and knowledge.

I like this quote.

"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is ultimately to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be." -Abraham Maslow

From my Psych text book.

DST

I don't like Daylight Savings when it's implemented. After a while, I don't really care, but when you have to change, it feels like you're getting screwed for your day.

So, today, I protested. Right now, I'm one hour behind everyone else and I have an extra hour of my day to live.

Yeah, take that.

My life is an hour longer and that's good because life is hard, but overall, it's very beautiful and precious.

I'm a conservative vector field.

Yes, I am very conservative when it comes to vector fields. So conservative because if you get all liberal and shit, you create chaos and headaches and crises! THE WORLD OF MATH WOULD COME TO AN END AS WE KNOW IT!!!!

So, when it comes to Math, I'm voting Republican. Y'all need to get with the program.

Or not. Actually, when it's not conservative, then I don't do anything. So, really, the world is much better and lazy and fat like a delicious bunny.

Ok, for real.

I'm eating donuts in the library right now and I have many yellow legal pad papers with Math on them near me. I must look so cool with my Math. I've realized that Math makes you look cool. Whenever I see someone doing Math, I'm like "oh snap, Math." When I see reading, I see reading, which is cool, but it's not my "oh snap, Math is being done." Of course, reading makes you grow as a person while Math makes your mind grow in logical thinking. So really, we need a story book about Math where each character is a member of the set and goes on adventures through the integration and shit!! Ahhhh, that'd be hilarious!!!

No, probably wouldn't be.

I'm a bit sick, it's mostly pleasant, except for this headache. I'm too cheap to buy pain relievers, so I'm being a man and toughing it out.

I like tea. I think you should all have a fine lapsang souchoung. It's very smokey, thus, this makes it the scotch of teas. If you drink scotch, then you'll understand. If not, well, then sad. Scotch is very smokey and peaty. So is this tea. It's delicious and makes the palate dance.

I should do Math.

Peace, brothas.

This is why I'm hot.

Ignore the title, I couldn't think of anything better.

Today I'm going to review, the Café Americano. For those of you not in the know or not fucking disgustingly addicted to caffeine, the Americano is a special drink in the land of coffee. You see, we could be old school and just get the regular black coffee of *insert blend* (or if you have no class, you probably drink Folger's or some instant shit and if that's the case, we have some serious beef, you might as well put mud into your cup and drink it...or visit your local dining hall and at least get it for free), but we decide to be all elitist and shit. Yes, we decide to get the Americano. It's a very middle of the road drink, it's not a pretentious Caramel Macchiato nor White Chocolate Mocha, it's just the Americano. Look at the fucking name, Americano, America, land of the free and various opportunist hobags. Yes, this is the drink of Americans who wish they were European but are glad to live here and drive big SUVs and vote Republican.

Wikipedia informs us that this drink is basically a shot(or two...or three..or twenty) of espresso that is then filled up with hot water thus diluting it. Since shots of espresso are intense, it's basically like drip coffee, but with that nice espresso flavor to it and a good caffeine kick. If you're a wimp-ass, you add milk and sugar(Disclaimer: I'm a wimp-ass). Good times.

But what makes this $2.30 drink so amazing? Let me break it down.

Aroma: Rich, nutty notes, some dirt but in a good way
Visual: Black, Light Brown color with the milk
Taste: Medium strength, smooth, nothing remarkable(this is Starbucks, keep in mind), better than canteen coffee.

Grade: B-B+

So what makes it so awesome? Nothing. It's just basic coffee that you drink when you don't want to have it dripped. It's more palatable to drink this when you want something that'll give you that espresso flavor without the intensity. I'd give it a higher grade, but I don't like Starbucks coffee that much.

Oh right, and brownie points for the ability to say you're drinking an Americano instead of "coffee." Yeah, you get to sound classy without really being classy. It's like drinking red wine from a box, but with significantly better taste and street cred.

I'm laughing now because this post is ridiculous.

Also, subscribe to fuckyoupenguin.blogspot.com for cute animal awesomness.

Lara Veronin

So I saw her live here at NU last week, and well, she's pretty pleasant to listen to. I guess it'd be more pleasant if I actually understood Chinese, but whatever.

Kudos to TASC for bringing her here and having a free concert and Q&A afterwards.

And for those of you wondering, she's half-Russian, so that's why she doesn't look terribly Asian. Go figure.

Ten Things I Like About Chicago

I figured this is a good way to kill time before my Psych midterm in a half-hour. I'll get to the bad later; I wish to be more positive now and I'll not compare with the Bay Area...or least, try not to.

These are in no particular order either.

1. Deep dish pizza. I know, I know, I'm lactose intolerant and this should be the last thing I end up enjoying, but honestly, it's so damn good in its heavy, cheesy, meat-laden goodness. I just can't resist popping my Lactaid and then indulging. These are serious pizzas; they are literally heavy and can take on even the heaviest eater. If you say these pizzas aren't intense, then frankly, you're just a fat-ass. Yeah, I said it.

I haven't been to the more famous Chicago joints such as Gino's East and Pizzeria Uno and Duo, but I find that Giordano's and Lou Malnati's serve me pretty well. I have to say though, that my decision to take one over the other is highly dependent on my mood and hunger level. I go for Lou if I want more of a crunchy crust with more flavored items such as spinach, three cheese, etc. It's "light" and flavorful. If I want something more hearty and just plain old cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms, then I head for the Giordano's.

But anyway, I challenge you to find anything that rivals this in California.

2. Steaks. Serious steaks. This is Chicago, the land of steakhouses. You don't come to this city without hitting up at least Pete Miller's or Sullivan's. And those are the low-end ones too. I'd go to these places more often, but I don't have $45 to plunk down for a nice Kobe. These are just plain and simple steaks: grilled to perfection melt in your mouth goodness. Enough said.

3. The Lake, Lakeshore Drive, and the Lakefill. Lake Michigan is a beautiful body of water. It doesn't compare to the Bay, but it's got a special place in its own right. I need to get on this whole picture dealio(it'll happen...once I get off my ass and go out to photograph). Even when the lake is frozen solid, it's still something to marvel at. You have a big body of frozen ice with piles of snow chilling on top.

As for Lakeshore Drive, well, let me explain for those of you not in the know. Basically, it's a semi-freeway that runs from Evanston down to South Side Chicago...along the lake. It is a magnificent drive and there is no better driving tour of the shoreline and city views. I have no qualms about the 45 minutes it takes to visit Perry on weekends.

The Lakefill. Ok, so this isn't really in Chicago, but it's in the Chicagoland area(Ok, this is going on my list of things I don't like about this city...I mean, they couldn't come up with a better name?). Up here in doldrum Evanston, Northwestern basically reclaimed parts of the lake and put a big lawn with trees and rocks on the shores. The rocks are pretty hilarious because students and faculty have painted various messages on them ranging from "Jesus loves you" to "Will you marry me?" These aren't just shitastic spray paint jobs, people have taken some serious time for most of these. In fact, I have a spot by my favorite rock. Damn, I need to take a picture of it.

At any rate, the lakefill is beautiful in the morning with the sunrises and at nights, especially with the full moon out and the clear skies giving a view of the Chicago cityscape. I've spent many hours biking around it and just sitting to appreciate nature and to think. It's probably one of the most relaxing places in Evanston.

4. Legit Fall. You just don't get this kind of beauty in the Bay Area. I never truly appreciated the serenity of Fall until I got here. Back home, it's just some odd season that precedes kind of cold winters. Some trees change colors, but that's about it. HERE!! Here it's all different. You have beautiful seas of orange, red, dark pinks, and bright yellows. The trees are just abound with color and intensity. It's incredibly humbling too see Mother Nature's work in such an astounding way. I think my happiest moods here are in the Fall...it's just so damn colorful. I'm pretty sure I have a mediocre Facebook album about this too, just in case you want to check it out.

5. Baha'i Temple. Look, I have no idea why the only one of these in North America is located here, but I'm glad it is. You have to go here at night. It's a big white spaceship. I don't know how they keep it so white, but it's absolutely pristine and gorgeous. The grounds are fun to walk around and it's just so spiritually cleansing to be there. I like going into the temple and just meditating for a while and admiring the architecture.

6. Devon and the random ethnic enclaves. We all know that Chicago is full of Poles, Russians, and various other Slavs, but you'd never know that there is a Somali hang out/restaurant or decent Oaxacan food with fresh mole or even an Arab Mexican joint(sadly not as good as you'd think). Heck, there are random Puerto Rican neighborhoods and well, West Devon is just India. I've never seen such a huge community of brown people in once space in America. I've yet to find food on par with Shalimar or Pakwan, but I've come a bit close. And besides, the atmosphere makes up for it.

I'm also going to give a shout-out to H Mart, Mitsuwa, and Joong-Bo Market(home of the five dollar kimchi jjigae). Yeah, that's right, Korean and Japanese supermarkets. Awesomeness.

Oh right...and there is a Julius Meinl here too...go figure. Austrian coffee roasters opening up shop here. See!

7. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I'm not terribly sure where I want to live after my schooling is all done, but wherever it is, it must be near an amazing orchestra and I don't take advantage of it nearly enough. It's such a joy having the CSO here as it is having the SF Symphony back home in addition to a variety of smaller orchestras. I've seen Yo-Yo Ma here and the SF Jazz Collective. I think I've gone there one other time as well for a concert. The playing was incredibly beautiful with much class to boot.

Also, if I have a wedding reception, it would most definitely have to be in one of their halls. Stunning.

I also have a plan to see go to the Lyric Opera. Oh right, did I mention that they give free concerts in Millenium Park in the Spring? Well...when it's nice out(lolz).

8. The Chicago Art Institute. Go there on Thursdays because it's free...and well, what's wrong with a great art museum and free admission? It's fun to wander in here when they have special exhibits. I haven't been in a very long time, I was last there when they had a Jeff Wall exhibition. Good stuff. I've yet to visit Shedd Aquarium(LIVE PENGUINS!!!!) and the Field Museum, but I imagine I'll get around to it soon enough. I also want to visit the Museum of Surgical Science, which I bet you is just so gruesome and badass in its own right.

9. JK Sweets. Ok, look, it's really not that good, but you know, it's open at 2 a.m. and if you want bulgogi then, you are sure to get it. I haven't been there in a while though because, well, while they are lovely people, I can make better bulgogi than they can. Yeah, I went there. I've done it too. Whatever, it's open late and can satiate my kimchi cravings.

10. Oh crap, there's something I'm going to miss here. I don't know, this is getting pretty hard. Snow. I like the snow when it's bearable to actually be outside. Granted, that doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it's very fun to play around. I have a goal to build and live in an igloo...and also I shall fashion a snow penguin and panda. Word.

Korean Food

Yo yo,

I have just discovered the best Korean food blog on the netz. Yes, the best. It has recipes and various discussions about every single aspect of Korean food known to man and while it doesn't appear to have been updated in quite some time, it's worthwhile to peruse its amazing pages.

I must warn you though, this blog will lead to EXTREME HUNGER.

http://mykoreankitchen.com/

Knock yourselves out.

MUSIC

This is quite haunting. I like the string background that pops up now and again. It's very chill, but in one of those, this is chill but also soul wrenching ways. Or maybe not, but listen anyway.

http://www.last.fm/music/Horse+in+the+sea/_/Mosquito+King

The Potatoes

So, sometimes, things are just potatoey. If you need clarification for what this means, well, then I'm sorry but it cannot be known by anyone else but those who just know. Yes, it's very exclusive to understand the Philosophy of Potato. The Wholey Papaya is another philosophy that is elusive to many and understood by a selective few of Walruses, Durians, and other magical creatures.

What to say, there are a lot of happenings, irons in the fire as some might say. Some will take a while to mature while others are maturing right now. IN THE MOMENT!!!

I'm also doing some triple integrals right now, and it's very complicated doing integration. I don't know why, but I don't like anti-differentiation that much. It's not that it's hard per se, but it's just a brain teaser and I have to think a lot to get it down. Not that I mind thinking, but some things just take me longer than the time alloted. Oh wellll, Math is fun though and I like doing it. It's very interesting and I can't believe I'm thinking about a major in it! CPS made me hate Math, but then I came here and started to like it...I credit this to Northwestern not using the stupid CPS method of math pedagogy.

Speaking of CPS, I saw Perry Wong over the weekend. We went to La Oaxaqueña to celebrate Chinese New Year. Yes, only with Perry would I celebrate CNY by going to a Oaxacan restaurant. I sadly don't have pictures from this food adventure, but next time we go, I hope to have some for the blog. A few of his friends from UChicago tagged along. I highly recommend getting the classic chicken with mole sauce or the whole red snapper cooked with cactus. Delicious. Don't get the seafood platters though, it's really not as good as you'd think.

I also went with Perry to Banadir, which is this Somali hang-out. I can't really say it's a "restaurant" since it seems that most of the clientele consists of Somali cab drivers who just chill and talk about life while having either Al-Jazeera or soccer matches on the T.V. The food, however, is cheap and DELICIOUS!!! I need to get some pictures and post them. Get this, sixteen plates of amazing food for only $40. You just can't beat that anywhere...and plus, you get to hang out with friendly Somalis who are more than willing to talk to you about anything.

I'm also a secret soccer fan, which is probably because soccer was the first sport I seriously played. I was on the offense for the Castro Valley Wildcats(hahahaha, see the trend? CPS Cougars, Northwestern Wildcats) before my mom made me quit. It was very fun and even though I was the smallest kid on the team, I really liked it...mrgh, I wish I'd stayed on. I digress.

Anyway, this Somali man asked if any of us were Arsenal fans and I wasn't sure how to respond. I sometimes follow the UEFA stuff and the Premier League, but I've never really gotten very serious about it...at least, to the point where I have a favorite team. I don't particularly like Mancester United because they remind me of the NY Yankees: lots of money. It kills the game when teams that are the richest have the best players...but that's just my take. Whatever. I like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, which are just as rich. In fact, when ManU was playing Arsenal, I sort of broke my phone when Arsenal lost. Yeah, it was intense, but I just like it a lot. It's a more strategic game than baseball or American football or basketball for that matter. It's "like war and battles", as the Somali guy put it. Hahaha, me liking sports, go figure.

Also, Beckham might stay with AC Milan. He should too...it's a waste for him to play in the MLS for LA Galaxy. I mean, seriously...let him play in a real soccer league.

For the record, even though I played Volleyball in high school, I don't like watching it or play it that much. Actually, it's fun to play, but not to watch. Soccer though, I like kicking around the ball and while I haven't played basically in years, I still want to. I'm not the best, but who cares? Just play for the enjoyment, the same is true for the violin(yes, I practice, though not every day and not as long as I wish...I know you're reading this, :P).

Lots of rambling. Ok, I must study now. Yay!

Oh right, I went to a Japan Club meeting today. I should socialize and really give this place a last chance before I write it off. Maybe this'll help more with my lack of friends here...I'm crossing my fingers.

I'm a fucking sap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_NncIZo9s


I'm a sap, whatever. I should toughen up, but I'll always be an emotional kid at heart.

There are lots of things on my mind right now, it's complicated.

I should try taking a Yoga class.

I have to study now.

And get some sleep.

Anyway, that's life. It's full of decisions and complications between heart, mind, soul, and various other things like potatoes and melons.

The Elixir of Love

I don't have much to say; I'm just feeling weird.

Watch this. It's extremely expressive. I know the recording isn't the best, but it's still powerful and brings tears to my eyes every time.

The translation is below.

Una furtiva lagrima negli occhi suoi spuntò: Quelle festose giovani invidiar sembrò. Che più cercando io vò? Che più cercando io vò? M'ama! Sì, m'ama, lo vedo. Lo vedo. Un solo istante i palpiti del suo bel cor sentir! I miei sospir, confondere per poco a' suoi sospir! I palpiti, i palpiti sentir, confondere i miei coi suoi sospir... Cielo! Sì, può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Ah, cielo! Sì, può! Sì, può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Sì, può morir! Sì, può morir d'amor.

One furtive tear in her eyes appeared: the festive youths it seemed to envy. What more could I possibly want? What more could I possibly want? She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it. Just for an instant to hear the beats of her heart! To almost confuse my sighs with those of her! The beats, the beats of her heart to hear, to confuse my sighs with hers... Heavens! Yes, I could die! I ask for nothing more, nothing. Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die! I ask for nothing more, nothing. Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.

Catharsis

Every so often, we all need a grand catharsis.

It doesn't matter where you have it or who you have it with or what you're doing to get to it or whatever. Well, don't have one while on drugs, then it doesn't count.

It has to be a natural catharsis.

And when you get it, The Catharsis, it is amazing and will change your life.

Maybe you will think it was a dream, but you'll remember that it wasn't.

Yes, we must all have a Catharsis.

Snow blowing all abound
Wind gushing to and fro
Icicles falling
Falling
Falling
Down

Wondering what goes on
Sun disappearing on horizon
Dripping water from above
Sudden gushes

Biting wind to the bone
Inside chills never known
Warmth is sought
Icicles
Falling
Falling
Down?

News flash: it is cold
Sniffles around
Chuckles within
Stone beings frowned

Hilarity

This video made me laugh. I don't know if it'll embed properly, but watch it. It will be even funnier if you're brown. Or not, whatever.

There was supposed to be a big blizzard today. I was most disappointed when I woke up and found sunlight. The sun is fantastic and all, but I wanted to experience an intense blizzard! The last time I felt such was way back in the day when I was on one of my first visits to Lake Tahoe with my dad. We couldn't even drive out; it was so bad. Oh well, I'm sure a few more warnings will come around and a few will be true! I'm excited.

I'm not feeling too chatty at the moment; it's ok, these moments happen. I've yet to figure out the destiny of this blog, so I'll let it evolve over time. This segues into a new thing, I need to get out and start taking pictures again. Digital and film. The opportunities are vast here and I already have a project in mind! I'm going to do icicles. I've spotted quite a few massive specimens that deserve my close inspection.

Well, that's all for now, be on the look out for some random pictures. I can't say if they'll be good or anything, but hey, who know, right?

The Lands

These are the lands in which we live. They are open and flat. Grand and empty. To some, these lands are places to weep and cry. Places where we leave our dreams and pursue new developments either by necessity or by lack of will. Yes, these are the lands in which we live.

But are these lands so bad? Are they so heinous and empty? We look at the empty gray blankets of snow upon the lake and we feel the biting wind drilling into our bones and soul, what do we see? What do we feel as we walk forward and feel our toes surrounded by the slush left behind by the passing cars? What keeps us in these lands that we claim so strongly to despise?

These are questions that cannot be answered. Questions better left unanswered.

Yet I will tell you, these are the lands of the cold toes. The bitterness you feel as you slosh forward in your canvas Converses through the blackened snow and ice only grows with each step. Yet in it, you find some treats. You find the knowledge that once you reach your home, that you can curl up by the knocking radiator and dump off those shoes. You can unravel those toesies and let them warm up. These are the most wonderful feelings. The mint hot chocolate you put in the microwave beeps up and you slurp it down. Not fast , but slowly, to appreciate each subtle flavor and warmth. You feel the mint coolness and wonder what is it that compels you to return to the cold outside? Oh and then let us not forget, the grand comics of Asterix and Tintin that you have nearby. Yes, these are why we stay in these lands, to foster these memories.

What more does one say? To stare out and feel depressed about the coldness and lack of sun? It has been done by many, I'll admit. I've done it as well and to what effect? Appreciating it makes it far better. Once you think of those warming toesies and that soothing mint hot cocoa dancing down your esophagus, all is well and for even a brief moment, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy are real. Ah, the innocence of childhood alive again! Calvin and Hobbes got it right beyond belief.

Perhaps tonight I shall change Tintin for good old Calvin. Yes, one change. But delicious anyway.

-The Panda Has Spoken

Hello

I am the Fat Red Panda and I shall amuse you soon with various things.

Maybe food and stories of my adventures.

Brace yourselves.

- Jean-Pierre Guillaume d'Anthès