Most Low-Tech James Bond Ever

I push my body pretty hard. Not the way James Bond does - but staying up all night front of the computer, working too hard, sleeping on uncomfortable airport plastic lobby chairs, not eating correct and not doing any sort of workout. So I decide to take a physical test and see how my body is doing. Doc said I have perfect blood pressure, perfect weight and I'm healthy. That is a perfect news anyone can have. Therefore I decided to treat myself.

I never seen a James Bond movie in a theater. But today I happened to be at the correct place at the correct time. If you want to treat your self for been healthy, James Bond is the perfect movie to watch - because no other movie can make you feel good about yourself than 007. James Bond is the most fed-up character in the cinema with all the technology and money around him. Just like he said, double O has very short live expectancy (Hey, I have 72.89). Even the fellow can't have sex without risking his life - have a martini without getting poisoned - Bond got beat-up on his bolls in Casion Royale. Alright.. He get a Free Office Car - but getting beat-up on the balls? - That is a bad deal right there.

Casino Royale is the most low-tech James Bond movie I have seen. It starts black and white, with a very low-tech fight in a very low-tech bathroom ending in a very low-tech killing. Then there is an exaggerated Parkour seen I love, a low-tech sport, but excellent sport to watch.

The movie is all about lengthily card game in tuxedo. I'm pretty sure none where tuxedos to casinos anymore. But this is 007 - the only man kill people in tuxedo. Anyway there is very little or almost no driving in the movie. No Q. No watch. No flying. No diving. No missiles. No breasts or nude girls. The whole move is very un-Bond-likely. Even they use Google for find things! Hey! Even I can do that!

But this is a one of the best Bond movies I have seen. Daniel Craig is very deferent Bond form Pierce Brosnan and the whole movie is deferent altogether. I like the fact this movie doesn't overkill gadgets like invincible cars in Die Another Day.

After the movie, I had a beer - no poisons in it - no beating on my bolls - no tuxedos. Had a good sleep, got up in the morning, now writing this post sitting on my comfortable chair. Hey. I'm happy. Happier than Bond - James Bond.

29 November, 2006

Dead Mother, a Letter and Gifts form Canada (Joke)

I received this funny email today. I don't know who wrote this - but this really captures urban Sri Lankan middle class life. If you do not have real experience of true Sri Lankan middleclass lifestyle, then you may not find this funny. In other words if you do not get the funny side of the mail, then you have no idea about true Sri Lankan life.

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A Sri Lankan family in Nugegoda was puzzled when the coffin of their dead Mother arrived from Canada. It was sent by one of the daughters settled in Vancouver.

The dead body was very tightly squeezed inside the coffin, with no space left in it! When they opened the lid, they found a letter on top, which read as follows:


Dear Nangi,

I am sending our mother's body to you

since it was her last wish that:

She should be buried only in the cemetery of the All Saints Church in Borella - Colombo. And also she told me to tell all of you that you should use A.F. Raymond for embalm works not Barney Raymond or Jayaratne.

For Alms giving she said not to invite the entire town and the distant relatives. She said to order (only for our 4 families) 65 packets of Mutton Biriyani from Hotel Buhari at Maradana and open only 12 bottles of special Arrack for the guys and only one case of Three Coins for the ladies.

One more thing she was very particular about the Hearse, which her coffin should carry from our home to Borella, should be 2002 model Buick Automatic. She doesn't like manual gear old vehicles. DON'T FORGET THESE UNDERLINED REQUESTS ARE FROM HER LAST WISH.

Sorry, I could not come along as all of my paid leave are consumed and hopefully this time the God will look at us and blessed with a boy. Ajith is working like a Donkey for 20 hours a day for 3 companies to save some money for the dowries of girls..................let's go back to Ammi's funeral business.

You will find inside the coffin, under Ammi's body, 12 cans of Kraft cheese, 10 packets of M&M chocolates, 1 box of Kit Kat, 8 packets of Wrigley's Chewing Gum, 6 tins of Corned beef, 24 packets of Maggie instant noodles and 12 packets each Jelly & Custard powder. Please divide these among all of you.

On Ammi's feet you will find new Pair of Reebok shoes (size 10) for Mangalika. Also, there are 2 pairs of Shoes for Rosy's and Bernard's sons. Hope the sizes are correct. Ammi is wearing 6 American T-Shirts. The large size is for Mangalika and the others are for my nephews. Just distribute them among yourselves.

The 2 new Levi's Jeans that Ammi is wearing are for the boys (lanka & Nilanka). The Swiss watch that Lakmali wanted is on Ammi's left hand. The silver colour bangle on Ammi's right hand is for Lakshmi who became a big girl five years back.

Josephine Aunty, Please, Please remove and take the necklace, earrings and the ring that you are waiting for the past 20 years saying that Ammi had taken twenty five thousand rupees against them for my Akki's wedding. Aunty, I will beg you now to stop telling every one about this money matter. These gold worth more than that and I can get fifty thousand from Hetti uncle if I go to Jayalalitha's.

The 6 white cotton socks that Ammi is wearing must be divided among my teenage nephews.

And also there are 4 Bras Ammi is wearing. Give two to Seelawathi who is our servant lady and the remaining two you can give one to next door Charlet aunty and one to Doby Nenda.

Please distribute all these uniformly and if anything more required let me know, since our Thaththi (Father) is also not keeping well nowadays; so I can send with him the same way. This way is much easy, cheaper and you don't need to worry about customs, too.

Bye,
Akka

Final Solution to Mother-in-Law Problam

I was reading this news today and I could not stop laughing myself.

Here is the story
Sarath Hettiarachchi - A Sri Lankan - Melbourne man - stabbed his parents-in-law to death after his wife's father lectured him on being a good husband.

Now I don't know exactly what was in that lecture and I don't want to attend such a lecture myself ever. I prefer a lectures that make me fall a sleep on a chair.

I'm trying to understand how this happened.
In-Laws, usually they visit - they eat and then they do what they know how to do best. Criticize! Specially the Mother-in-Law. The father-in-law other hand, throws a barrage of question on you and then gives you the lecturer at the end. Most possibly while you having evening tea.
Now the sound of this lecture, go in to the men's ear - enter in to the spinal code - make him stand up - grab a knife and kill himself. But in this case, this guy kills the parents-in-laws instead.

Now I don't want any of you go home today and stab your mother-in-law no matter how long you are thinking about it. Just try to get drunk when they come over this Christmas - drink as much as you can - like how we were doing for centuries successfully - so you won't have to attend the lecture.

23 November, 2006

Hunt for a DSLR

From Canon EF 28-135 IS (Pool)

I have a habit of using my items until they are totally worn out. I never sold anything I used or update in to new versions until I finish with what I already have. Because of that when I buy something important, I spend weeks or months searching what is right for me.

I used my Kodak DX4900 for longtime, finally I gave it to my brother - it still working like a baby after all the torturing. Now I'm looking for get a DSLR camera. Boy! This is pretty hard. I feel like a bride-to-be inside a sari shop.

A DSLR is not a necessity to me. I have taken my most valuable pictures using my P800 phone camera. I just want to have a better camera around my neck just to get out of broadness hovering over me these days. So I don't want to spend unnecessary on this. But DSLRs are dam expensive - at least in my world. Good things won't come cheap.

As usual I open up dpreview, read every single review about DSLR. Since this is my first SLR I have freedom to select a product line. That makes things very hard.

Konica and Minolta handover their camera business to Sony; Sony recently introduced their first DSLR - a100. I'm not a very big Sony fan. But this camera have CCD base steady shot (Minolta's Anti Shake) function. With that I have Image stabilization with any lens. All other manufactures fit that function inside lens and those lenses are pretty expensive. But this is Sony's very first DSLR and I'm pretty sure Sony product line will be expensive later on. So I erase out Sony form my list.

I love Nikon D80. It is 1000$ and it have all the needed functions form D200 - the expensive version (1700$). Most of all, Nokia have wonderful 18 - 200mm VR lens for around 700$. That pretty much all I need. I made my decision.

But For my disappointment, I found there are no stocks of 18 - 200mm lens in the market. Some order this lens all the way back June form Amazon and Amazon asked them this month, wait till January. Look like this lens is very hard to get. I don't mind waiting for a good lens - good things won't come easy. The world will stay beautiful till I can get my camera.

Again for my disappointment, I found out I can get the lens 18 - 200mm I wanted so badly, if I buy the expensive Nikon D200 - that is the kit lens of D200. That makes me totally disappointed at Nikon. If I want to buy a better DSLR I will go for Nikon D2x - not D200. After I explore more about this subject, I found out Nikon have a history like that. I get enough disappointment from my government; I don't want any extra disappointment form Nikon. So I turn to Canon.

Canon has EOS 400D (Digital Rebel XTi), 800$ - cheaper than Nikon D80. I still prefer D80 but Canon have the lenses I need and most of all I can buy them. Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens cost 400$ - that is a good everyday lens for me. May be later on I can get Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens - cost around 550$. This total system still cost less than Nikon D80 and impossible Nikon 18-200mm lens. Good Canon.

I think my long hunt will come to end very soon. But still I have to save the extra money for this. I'm always fascinated by Christmas time - hopefully I can take some Christmas photos with my new toy :-)

19 November, 2006

World Best Rotti Joint

I'm usually at the bottom of the marketing chain. Some times I have no clue, whose my final client is. I was doing some work for one of my clients happened to be the middleman, and as usual I end up getting paid small portion from the total value. Anyway while I was in NY one day strangely I talked to the end client, happened to be a British photographer.

After talking to him for couple of minutes he asked me - "Do you know the world best Rotti Joint?" I didn't expect that question form him, but I immediately knew what he is talking about.

He was talking about one of the small Rotty Shops in Hikkaduwa. There are so many Rotty Shops imitating each other's identity there, it is very hard to write the exact place. Matter of fact there is another Rotty Shop right front of the same place too.

This place located just pass Hikkaduwa in sea side by the loud Galle road. Open at night till morning like most of other Rotty Shops. I haven't drive in that road for last 6 month, but when I do, I usually drive at night. Not for any strange reason - I just want to save petrol and I don't want to get stuck in Galle road traffic. When I drive to Hikkaduwa from Colombo it is the correct time for me to refill my stomach and have a coffee. So I always stop at this place.

I guess the whole family works there - cooking and serving. There are shaky tables, cobwebs on the roof, florescent light, and they use firewood to make Rotty you can smell burning wood. It may not sound very nice, but it has certain unique feeling to it. Rotty do not have Spicy Sri Lankan identity, so you have to ask them to make it spicy specifically if you like spicy stuff. They make Rotty with anything on the Earth. Rotty with Vegetables, Rotty with Cheese (5 stars), Rotty with fish, Rotty with shrimp, Rotty with tomatoes and Eggs (my favorite) - Rotty with anything you can imagine.

A Rotty cost around 40Rs, if I remember correctly. Order two different type of Rottys with home made coffee. But asked for the coffee first, because those guys take 10 - 15 minute to make the Rotty. You can sit outside bench and talk to a tourists and have the coffee until you are served. It is worth waiting - Rotty is delicious. Delicious enough to talk about it even when you at other side of the globe. Give it a try.

17 November, 2006

Sri Lankan Have No Genitals (Please Tell me I'm Wrong)

I believe Sri Lankan has no genitals, because I can't find any other logical reason to justify why we gets so offended by genitals.

I was reading Infolanka news as usual, jump in to this story.

Director of the Rupavahini Educational program Ms. Anoma Wattaladeniya has been sent on compulsory leave.

Ms.Wattaladeniya granting permission to telecast a programme called "Udavena Vasnthaya"(the dawning of Spring). This programme was conducted under the co-operation and guidance of the Health Education section and funded by UN Child and Population fund.

Showing of the anatomy of a young with genitals was tantamount to showing an indecent picture and this was brought to the notice of the President. Subsequent to that Ms. Wattaladeniya has been sent on compulsory leave. [full story]

I can understand the condemnation of Raja FM. That was a low quality program indeed. But I could not agree or understand total ban of that radio station or condemnation of above program.

I'm not exaggerating here. I knew a sweet girl who didn't knew a thing about sex till she was mid 20. I had my sex lessons form my friends when I was young. Only God knows where did they collected all those funny thoughts from. Now what is more important to us? Puritan values or Education?

Looks like our president have "zero-tolerance policy" towards our genitals and I'm loosing my tolerance for "zero-tolerance". A good president should govern the country like frying a small fish - in low heat without much of interruption. I didn't expected much form last president, she was ignorant as ignorant it can be. But I honestly expected this president use his big head, not the small head when he take decisions. I don't want the government to sponsor stupidity - we already have enough of that.

I laughed at Pakistan, Iran (My bad. Sorry guys) for their conservative societies. But look like very soon they will be laughing at us.

Anyway I don't want to be depressed about my genitals and I loosing freedom, because we are fortunate than most of the Sri Lankan - we have internet. Here are some funny quotes I found about this topic. Enjoy the freedom - What is left of it..

We have reason to believe that man first walked upright to free his hands for masturbation.
~ Lily Tomlin

For the first time in history, sex is more dangerous than the cigarette afterward.
~ Jay Leno

To hear many religious people talk, one would think God created the torso, head, legs and arms, but the devil slapped on the genitals.
~ Don Schrader

My reaction to porn films is as follows: After the first ten minutes, I want to go home and screw. After the first 20 minutes, I never want to screw again as long as I live.
~ Erica Jong, Playboy Magazine

Love is the answer, but while you are waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty good questions.
~ Woody Allen

Why should we take advice on sex from the pope? If he knows anything about it, he shouldn't!
~ George Bernard Shaw

Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.
~ Author Unknown

There are a number of mechanical devices which increase sexual arousal, particularly in women. Chief among these is the Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible.
~ P.J. O'Rourke

Here is my favorite
Conservatives say teaching sex education in the public schools will promote promiscuity. With our education system? If we promote promiscuity the same way we promote math or science, they've got nothing to worry about.
~ Beverly Mickins

Fly a Kite - Enjoy Democracy

I was reading the news about kite ban in Afghanistan; make me think how extreme a government can be and how weak we civilians are without democracy. Talibans banned kite flying for protect children and made them spend more time studding the holy book. After fall of Taliban, afghan children now have freedom to fly a kite. Congratulations on them.

Made with simple sticks and paper - but a privilege we can loose just like a kite. As a child I didn't had easy freedom to fly a kite like most of other kids. My parents didn't want me to hang out in paddy fields with other kids and spend time on useless things. I had to struggle for it. But when I look at it now as an adult, it is still a privilege I have, and I can loose it any time pretty easily if I don't maintain it, just like how I lost my privilege to watch The Da Vinci Code.

Next time when I see a child with a kite, I will think about the freedom I have and how thankful I'm for what is left of it.

Fly a Kite. Enjoy Democracy.

13 November, 2006

Sri Lankan Sex Stories ~ My way of Protest

Sri Lankan government banned a radio station (Raja FM) yesterday under the charge of broadcasting a sexually explicit "sex advice" program. Now with government given free publicity I also listen to couple of clips I found here. This is the first time I listen to this radio station thanks to SL government. It looks some what like Take Sex with Sue Johanson - but cheap and tasteless - just like the government ban on the radio station.

There are couples of unconvincing arguments trying to justify shutting a radio station. Let me go through those swiftly.

Main excuse is passengers have to listen to this radio station in private buses. As a fact I know except cricket commentary, we don't like to listen to any of the radio or music regardless of the station in a cramped bus. In that case we have to bring some regulation to transpiration sector, not to electronic media.

Next argument is children. Answer is simple. Bring parental guideline board, categorize content and allocate time slots for each category. Provide reliable sex education resources for young adults.

Next argument is culture. I understand Sri Lanka is a Christian country and we have to respect puritan values. But still you can buy automatic rifle for 50,000 Rs, revolver for 35700 and grenade for 3000 Rs. January to June, 608 killings and 4000 robberies were reported. [Some old Interpol data at the end]. This is not fault of media.

Why I find this radio channel banning offensive? This government is beating up my freedom last six months like a borrowed mule. This administration started this with The Da Vinci Code. After couple of beatings, now I'm here. I have no clue where this will end. Top of that, I have lot of hopes in this administration. I don't want them to keep on screw up like this.

I can not do much about this. So I decide to post links to some of real Sri Lankan sex stories as a symbolic protest against disrespecting my freedom.

The first set of Sex stories from Mary Anne Mohanraj. A brilliant writer. She was born in Colombo, live in U.S, received doctorate from university of Utah. You can join her Yahoo Group here.

- A Gentle Man
- Seven Cups of Water
- Here you can download two of her Audio CDs (Morningsong and Esthely Blue) in mp3 format.

Here is some of her books
 

This two Sri Lankan sex stories from ASSTR. Authors are anonyms. Not very smoothly written like Anne's erotica. But this is the best Sri Lanka can afford right now.

- My Aunt Charulatha
- The Ape Girl

(By the way there are lot of other sex stories related to Sri Lanka in ASSTR. Since majority of stories related to Sri Lanka belongs to homosexual theme and since that is not my taste, I did not add those links. Sorry ladies.)

"Without free speech no search for truth is possible... no discovery of truth is useful... Better a thousand fold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a day, but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hope of the race."
Charles Bradlaugh - British social reformer (1833-1891)

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Between 1995 and 1998, according to INTERPOL data, the rate of murder increased from 8.92 to 10.22 per 100,000 population, an increase of 14.6%. The rate for rape increased from 2.99 to 5.73, an increase of 91.6%. The rate of robbery increased from 20.43 to 25.45, an increase of 24.6%. The rate for aggravated assault increased from 10.9 to 46.26, an increase of 324.4%. The rate for burglary increased from 58.98 to 66.61, an increase of 12.9%. The rate of larceny increased from 73.82 to 91.99, an increase of 24.6%. The rate of motor vehicle theft increased from 3.38 to 4.69, an increase of 38.8%. The rate of total index offenses increased from 179.42 to 250.95, an increase of 39.9%.

11 November, 2006

Media and I

After all today's 'radio talk', I thought of looking back into my life and see the roll media played in it.

I can not exactly say what the first radio program I liked. But I remember when I was little I loved Amaradewa sing (or rather chant) a Buddhist poem* at end of the transmission of 'Ruhunu Sawaya' (Sothern Chanel). I guess that is my very first love with radio. I didn't knew the meaning of it then - but that was simply sound divine. I still love that small poem.

I had old "made in Sri Lanka" Unic AM Radio. There was a children program at 4pm - I can not remember the name of it - all I can remember that is a program hosted by a lady. I loved it. Then there was Sunday Buddhist Jathaka Story - I like that same way I liked fairy tales. They both still look similar to me - even now. I didn't like any of 'none-children' programs when I was a kid. I didn't found any tastes in it. That is why I still won't buy the argument adult contents can damage children. Children are not simply interest in Adult content. Their have different taste buds. Anyway as I get older I started to develop interest in electronic side of the dam thing and I bused it.

I loved newspapers more than Radio. The first newspaper I can remember is 'MeePeni' (Bee Honey). I don't have very much memories of it. Afterward I switch to Mihira and Vijaya. 'Mal Mama' - a story of a man with a flower on top his nose was the first page I read. That bugger tries all sort of different ways to take that flower out without success, a brilliant children's story.

As I grow old I switch to Vidusara. I have couple of other memories also attached with this newspaper or rather to that time period, the song 'Tarzan Boy', JVP era and STF camp next to my school. Vidusara was my first peek to outside world. After long successful run, Vidusara turn in to junk. I stop reading newspapers altogether after that. Now I read newspapers only if an beautiful airhostess hand it over it me.

Before I broke the AM radio I found more interest in TV. There was Astro Boy, Smurfs, Knight Rider, Tarzan and most of all Titus Thotawatha's series. I'm belonging the generation who grow up with Thotawatha's programs. That man made me happy more than chocolate. I can still recall his black and white photo of lovely face with a smile.

Next FM come to town. I remember City FM. But I'm a fan TNL Radio. Those guys won international excellence award. Right now time to time I listen to Gold FM and other oldies when I'm driving but I never listen to any of Sinhala Radio stations because I find nonstop female yapping on radio very irritating and most of content are tasteless.

Like most of you, I also was push to listen to Sinahala radio in private buses. I found them as unpleasant as the nonstop screaming and scolding of the conductor. Couple of times I have request conductor to low the radio down - they respond to that positively - I thank them with a smile.

Unofficially I hold record for broadcasting first Sinhala filthy words on air. We broadcast school radio station on FM103. We was manage to get powerful transmitter from SLBC than what they usually offer to schools. After couple of weeks of sleepless nights we got perfect soundproof studio and the setup. One night the DJ - my friend - fall asleep behind the mic. I got so mad and scold the bugger with utter filthy words. Mic was on. It broadcast from Colombo to Awissawella. Good old school days.

Right now I'm lucky enough to access all different type of media from all over the world. I can even blog rubbish. I can record cable TV in my media center PC and download from any where in the world. In that case Sri Lankan Media freedom or quality doesn't play a big roll in my life anymore. But Sri Lankan media helped me when the time I did not had the luxury I have today. I'm grateful for it.
 

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* Sabba Papassa Akaranam, Kusalassa Upa Sampadha, Sachittha Pariyo Dapanam, Eatham Buddhanusasanam.." (Keep away from all evil, Cultivate good, Purify ones mind, that is the advice of all Buddhas.)
 

(Adobe Donates Flash Code to Mozilla) An small Advice to New Developers.

Adobe always have been a great contributor to open source community, surprised me last time when they ignore their own Deramweaver application and release Flex for Eclipse Editor. Now they did it again. This time Adobe donated Flash code to Mozilla.

Without a question Flash is the most powerful platform for Internet. Now Mozilla have its script engine. Lucky Mozilla! With this marriage (Tamarin as they call it) Mozilla can cover one of it is biggest weakness not supporting ActiveX. And Adobe can widen the playground for it is Flex technology.

I'm always interested in Flex - Ajax cold war. So far Ajax has edge because of all the support it received form Microsoft, Google and others. Now Flex starts to shine where it really matters. Next version of SAP NetWeaver will be base on Flex. Yahoo also starts using Flex. Now, Mozilla.

Not only Flash base technology, Adobe's other web applications also start to come forward faster. This is a good opportunity for new developers. PHP, .Net is the mainstream technology without a question. But some times it is good to be a big fish in small pond than be a small fish in a big pond. It is very hard to find good Flex or Coldfusion developers right now - but I can kill 10 .Net/PHP developers with one stone quite easy. If you finish your A/L or O/L last year, looking around computer technology, pay good attention to Adobe technologies. You can find more opportunities to scoop in without wasting your time on useless Microsoft exams.

08 November, 2006

A9

One of my friends email this image today. Added here just for funny side of it.

06 November, 2006

Watch Borat, or Borat will be Executed

Sacha Baron Cohen is without a doubt most politically incorrect comedian. His new movie 'Borat' is out (in US). I have seen some of 'Borat' performance in his Da Ali G Show. The character 'Borat' pushes my boundaries too far; it is quite painful to watch it sometimes. But I always like the way he stretch the boundaries and his bravery.

In his Ali G show, he perform three characters 'Borat' (Kazakhstani journalist) , 'Ali G' (gang member of the "West Staines Massiv") and 'Bruno' (Gay reporter from an Austrian TV station).
Those three characters far deferent from each other - for quite sometimes, I thought it was three people performing. Here is Borat wiki - check out his Biography - quite controversial.

I believe comedians are magicians. They use thing around you and me - and create something totally deferent out of it. It pushes our limits and makes us wonder. Sacha is very good at it.

Moliere is a 16th century comedian I like a lot. Once he collapsed on stage and died few hours later, priests refused to visit him because he was a comedian. And refused to give him a proper Christian burial. From Moliere's Tartuffe to Sacha's Borat, comedy came a long way. It is not just only comedy; it represents freedom.

Politically Incorrect comedy is nothing new to Sri Lanka. All our traditional performance like 'Lenchina', 'Puppet Theatre' or 'Thovil' filled with all sort of politically incorrect comedy. Good Spicy Stuff! But once Christian culture becomes the mainstream culture in Sri Lanka and top of that Indian comedy came to in to Sri Lankan cinema we loose the taste of controversial comedy. We need a Borat in Sri Lanka!

Here is introduction to Borat. If the movie isn't successful, Borat will be executed.

Borat Interview

04 November, 2006

"Sirasa reports Military threatens Reuters journalist" ~ What is wrong with BBC?

I just bump in to this news page today. [Click Here]

The whole story is

"Reuters and Sirasa media network reporter George David was threatened by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) as he asked the soldiers to wait while his daughters get ready for the school before a routine search.".

The threat worth be in BBC news page is

"You are suspicious. We have powers; we can do anything"

What is wrong with BBC? Do they have run out of real news? Don't they ever heard how NYPD officers talk? They even never have watched the reality TV show 'Cops'? (BBC should have listen to how my parents used to threaten me ~ specially after end of year exam)

At least if the officers said 'I will blow you fucking head off'. That is a threat.
At least if the officer said ' We will do anything' that may be conceder as a threat.

I go to BBC site for read reliable News. Not to read some bullshit.
I don't know is BBC acting like British teenagers or British Teenagers are acting like BBC. Either way, both need some good advice form elders.

Top 10 (Worst) Reason to Marry

All my friends and girlfriends(?!) are getting married. Looking at them and their marriages, I tried to figure out why we should really get married for. Do we have to? Do we need a contract to secure our romance?
Then I realize marriage can add extra bond to shining romance. It is one of the best results of romance. So why not?

Again looking at my friend's marriages, fights, divorces and suicide attempts, I realized how unpleasant it can be if it goes wrong. Divorce is not the worst thing can happen to a marriage, mind you. It is live inside a broken marriage for rest of your life. I have not tasted the bitterns of it - but I have seen the faces of my friends who tasted it. That was not pretty.

Here are my top 10 worst reasons to get married (in Sri Lanka). This is not for Girls by the way. Because girls have total deferent set of reasons I don't want to address here (or any where else).

10. School Sweetheart.
Your friends tag alone with you in school uniform to see her after school. All your friends know her. All her girlfriends know you too. When you met your friends, they ask you about her first. 'yo. maan.. How is she doing?' 'When you going to get married?' common questions. They all treat you as you are already married.
Just because all your friends treat you as a married couple you don't have to marry her. Your marriage is more important than your social identity.

9. Horoscope Match
Horoscope reading is not a good reason to tie the knot. Think your marriage is a big giant ship (with lot of children screaming and breaking things in it) & think horoscope as the weather report. A ship can crash in good weather or bad weather. And no weather report can make perfect predication. Your 'sailing skills' are more impotent in this case.

8. Matchmaker. Matchmaker. Find me a match.
That can be a professional matchmaker, Sunday news paper 'brides available' section, a neighbor, a friend's wife, a relative or even a website. Without a doubt this is the easiest way to find a girl in SL. We have more 'bride and groom' advertisements on Sunday paper than 'Toyota for sale'. Matchmakers tend to exaggerate good stuff and hide the bad stuff. It is quite possible to find something you don't want to hear after it is too late.
It does not matter how you found her, you have to decide your future. Don't keep any space to blame on matchmaker afterward.

7. She about to finish higher education.
Soon she will be a professional and independent woman. You don't want to take any risk. Arrange the engagement in her next vacation home and plan to get married as soon as she finishes her graduate. Not a very bad idea, if your relationship is an investment. But marriage is not the stock market or method to secure your relationship.

6. She is pretty
She is the universally accepted girlfriend. Guys may kill each other for her. But it does not matter how 'right' she is for everyone else - she have to be right for you. Unfortunately beauty can not keep a marriage live. If she is pretty, take it only as a bonus - a good bonus.

5. Her parents want you to marry her
When they do, they want it fast. They may come up with reasons like 'She is getting older', 'She have younger sisters', 'she only have one parent' or 'we likes you a lot'.
Then they may ask you to meet her at her home, join the family trip, watch the house when they gone...

Reality is - you are the one getting married. It is your life. Marry the person you want to be with - not others want you to be with.

4. Your parents want you to marry her
She is the daughter your mother didn't had. Your mom even complains her about you. Your parents brag about future daughter-in-law with your relatives.
But unless you are Raymond, your marriage is not your parent's enterprise. Do what is best for you.

3. It is the correct time
Your friends are getting married. Older siblings are married. Younger siblings are waiting for your marriage. You higher education finish. You have a good job, a good car. What is next step? Marriage?
Life is not a logically categorized process. Marriage is not a part of a sequence.
If you thinks your relationship is in correct time - if it is solid and secure - then you are ready to go.

2. No Escape
She put up with you for long time. She rejected all the proposals - doctors, top executives and even a guy lives abroad came to SL for get married and go back before vacation ends. So you want pay her back by marriage for all the sacrifices.
You can not pay off by marriage if you are not honestly ready to take her as your soul mate. If she is your soul mate you don't have to pay off.  (Those sacrifices she did ~ that is not only for you by the way.) You don't have to be sad because she lost all the good proposals. Girls never lose proposals. Her parents will find another one soon. Payback with your life is not a smart move.

1. Show me the Money!
We don't get chance to choose a rich father. But we get chance to choose a rich father-in-law. An opportunity of a lifetime!
But a wife can bring more happiness to a person's life than money can. Even though one should not ashamed of prospective wealth it is not a good idea to take decision base of on it (Ok.. Ok.. if you Jewish, you can). Look for what she can bring to your life, not what her father can.

If we are in the wrong marriage, we guys in Sri Lanka always can leave the misery to the female - and live our life. But still, it is better not to marry at all than marry the wrong person for wrong reasons and spend endless nights in the bar getting drunk with mates.

03 November, 2006

LTTE, a Problem or a Situation? What You Think?

LTTE = Sole Representatives/Leader of Sri Lankan Tamils.
A leader can be anyone with enough power to decide your present and the future. Only under democratic situation people have chance to choose a leader. But in all other situations, anyone with enough power (military power, religious power, etc..) can be our leader. Some times, we voluntarily accept our leaders (like we accept Pope as the leader of the Church) some times leaders force us accept them (Hitler in Poland or A Pimp with prostitutes or LTTE in Sri Lanka).
Every Leader need acceptance of people for him to stay in that position. In that case, people are responsible for their leader, Ultimately.

Problem:
Difficulty with a possibility to solve it.
Example: Headache is a problem can be solved by two pills. Hitler was a problem. Petrel price is a problem. A Girlfriend can be a problem.

Situation:
A particular set of circumstances existing in a particular place or at a particular time. We don't solve situations. We accept them and live with it. Some times situations can turn in to crisis.
Example: Tsunami was a situation. Cancer is a situation. Poverty is not a situation - it's a problem.

Now what is LTTE to us? Is that a Situation or is that a Problem?

If That's a problem, we should be able to solve it.
We should be able to bring them to democracy, disarm and rehabilitate.

If That's a situation then we should accept it and live with it.

For me it looks likes a situation rather than a problem. Disarm of LTTE is quite impossible because of political and resist issues. Even amputation of the problematic part of the country is quite impossible. So the only option left is live with the situation until circumstances change.

What you think? Is LTTE a Situation we suppose to live with or is that a Problem?

01 November, 2006