I'm glad to hear something can bite into Internet Explorer's market share. Brian told me the NSA does not suggest people use it for security reasons, and now the newest thing to hit is Mozilla's Firefox. I'm downloading, installing, and about to quite using this browser I despise. Thankfully, Safari has helped me avoid using much of Internet Explorer since early summer. Now, an alternative for when I'm on PCs...

The choice was celebrate or commiserate. Unfortunately, we've run out of positive options. This evening was a wonderful gathering on the upper west side. Not quite the scene of votergasm.com, but we congregated with a common hope. Well, Bush's victory may be the sign of Hillary's opportunity four years from now. But, really, I would rather be re-electing John Kerry than having her as president. Besides, who wants to wait four years of misery for something positive? It's a very sad night as the polling speculations become dreary realities. With any luck, we won't really be stuck with a Republican House, a Republican Senate, a Republican President, and a soon to be nominated Republican Supreme Court Justice. However, I wish Judge Rehnquist comfort in this difficult time. I just recently witnessed my Grandmother in the throws of cancers, and it not something anybody should endure no matter what their politics. I have compassion for him, and I am hopeful these next four years may echo my sentiments.

I was just reading on a pretty interesting site. The author asks many interesting questions within ethics. His September 14th post regarding Sudan asks many good questions.

what must we do?... what can we do?... well first, what are the implications to each of us?... i mean, in doug's word, 'how does this news implicate you, me, us?'... and then what must we do?...

I have been giving some thought to what it would entail to be more involved with ethics. Going back some time, this is a topic I have enjoyed. It is something I look forward to writing more on.

When the mood strikes...

Rest assured, this blog is not a thing of the past. Only, I have not been paying to much attention to entering my musings of late. It has been hard to put into words what's happening and the places I'm traversing. Considering the appropriateness of happenings in this, such a public yet personal, domain has left me without putting anything online. Many changes in my life just recently and every moment leave me wanting to express more, and it shall come.

Programming phone numbers into a phone that isn't mine is not my ideal way of spending time; however, that's an internship for you. DC has been really good to me, and while I don't feel it's okay to discuss much of what my actual work has been the same does not hold true for my opinion of government. Damn things are sticky around the Beltway. Everybody's partisan, this is something I've benefited from greatly because I have been quite cautious not to step on anyone's toes for the longest time. Well, I'm discovering if you don't speak up you're going to get washed over. So, I keep my mouth shut as ordered from the outset when necessary. Otherwise, I throw myself right into the fray of it all. This campaign season has helped me learn quite a bit about how the backbone of candidacies operate particularly since my boss and co. are major conrtributors as well as organizers.

Yes, well, my interest in politics has led me deep into the belly. This party is definitely not for me; although, I have a better appreciation for the necessity of diplomacy. You can't achieve all ends by playing solely to your base. Work both sides of the isle if you intend to ever really get somewhere. Remember to play well with others.

Having a little tribute to Rick James this evening. No Brian, I'm not doing coke, either. Surprises come on occasion, but nothing like that, at all. Easy doing set up a wireless network. Spent some time this evening gathering info on the new sidekick. Both attorney Robert and Kaleb have been excited about it's upcoming release. I have my notifier set up...

Need to be rolling along with all those other pebbles to be pushed off the hill... It's a momentum thing.

So there's this article about Michael Moore's Farhrenheit 9-11 and it's eligibility for oscars. The trouble is the film was screened in Cuba on television from a pirated copy. Both parts are important because to be eligible for Oscars a film cannot be screened on television or the internet within 9 months... It's just such a coincidence that it would happen there, or that people would be in an upheaval. Strange, I think not.

Bloody hell, I dare say, do not try and 'target disk' connect an osX laptop with a windows machine. Perhaps with a bit of software it may go down well, but I tell you something; my machine got spiked. Luckily, it remembers how to be a target disk still. I also happen to be quite fortunate to have gotten an external drive all set up today. Merci Beaucoup Brian. I type as the 17+ hour backup is happening before I bring my sad, caughing computer to the Apple SoHo store, tomorrow. How fortunate, also is it that I have an excellent apple technician living next door. Kaleb has been a great help in bringing me up to speed on repairing these machines.

I got to give credit to the good folks at Big Apple Group, they did nice work on some banners for AJWS. There was a slight techinical problem, but it probably would not have happened if I hadn't rushed them. Even if they had done it still, they are kindly redoing the work, and it will be ready in a couple days time. Wahid is my connection within the US for cricket. We spoke much about this past weekend's Sri Lanka v. India match. While traveling throughout India cricket played a tremendous part in my experience. From Dayal in Lucknow through the villages in Rishikesh, across to Bombay via Delhi. You've never seen a more populous city come to a standstill than when a match between Pakistan and India is going on. Imagine the stadium in Calcutta; Eden Gardens seats 120,000. If that's not effervescense, I simply don't get it. What an overwhelming experience. I also understand Calcutta's sweets are supposed to be quite incredible. Although, I would take an Old Delhi Jalabi, any day of the week, and twice on saturday. All of it...

I didn't quite understand all of it. The excitement, the buzz, the character. I was overwhelmed at times when I was in India. There were moments of complete silence juxtaposed with frenzied leaping. Up a wave and through a corridor maneuvering about the shifts. Concentrated at the board. Again, I find myself whirling about. Printed pages amidst missing advertisements. Numbers, letters, coalitions. Alpha Beta Gaga and then some. There are some projects that I would really love to see come to fruition. Tomorrow will be such an opportunity to tee up on. Quiet allows for rest. more,,,

I've recently been on a bender for advocating my friends. Now I put it out there for everyone. Well, at least all the eyes falling on this lolely internet page amongst billions.

Get some information about Sudan. Also, sign my orgainzation's advocacy letter. American Jewish World Service does some really great work.

Ekk, it's almost been a week again. What to do about all of it? Hitting the road isn't always a bad idea. So, Howie and I are off to Pennsylvania. We'll be relaxing at his summer place on the Delaware river. It'll be a nice two nights hopefully with some sunny days. Then time to come back and bear down on that wiley GMAT. It got the better of me this week. There is a lot of room for improvement, and then the better may be had of it. Meanwhile, uptown, things are great and lusciously green here. I have finally sorted out my electrical conundrum, and I seem to be doing fine if not running up the electricity working late into the night. Amazing how easy it is to stay up hour after hour starring at a screen. Here's one result.

We're were in the theater last Friday for Farenheit fun, and tonight will be the same. This time going as a group, our numbers have increased from 2 to 5, is approriate as the screens showing the film nationally has also increased from 868 to over 1700. I highly support this film, and encourage everyone to see it. I'm glad to hear my brother, Nathan, went to see the film. He was telling just yesterday that people have come out to question Moore's film, including Democrats. Well, I haven't found too much out there speaking to false information in the film. Moore anticipated an onslaught of criticisms and prepared a team of great minds to react. As I have been writing this I have been searching around. We must get different news. If you haven't seen the film yet, I highly recommend it.

I've been surrounded by co-workers, friends, and family pointing out different parts in the film that I will pay closer attention to tonight. One comment in particular was about Moore making a nod to race issues towards the end of the film. Discussing this point I thought he did it much earlier in the film. I am curious to see what she was talking about.

"You want happy ever after. Go to a fucking movie." ~Josh

It is possible for just about anything to be the case. Nothing having been said there. I am amidst mayhem. Every which way I turn I find myself pulled, pushed, turned about. There's the rational and the emotional predominately. Occasionally, the spiritual slips in a word from absence. Josh has helped in that way a lot. Spiritual was a realm I sought out or at least contemplated (same thing?) while I was traveling. Now, the clanging screetching wheels of the F train take me elsewhere. That's not a negative commentary on the city. There are so many things I love about it. Although, it's nicer when there're clearer for sure. Couldn't tell you what it was like outside today. Everytime I was there I was doing or thinking about something. I love to walk for walking's sake. What a difference 'no mind' can make. Don't confuse that with being unproductive. Josh explained that one well.

I'm studying for the GMAT. I've decided. I'll apply to a part time MBA program in Information Systems at NYU. It would be an interesting program to say the least. My concentration recently has been reassuring that I could conceivably take on such a challenge. Another day and I might have been intimidated. Fear need not apply here.

Now is not the right time to get into it; there is so much more to come. If time always fell into place we wouldn't still be figuring all this out. I for one am wrestling where all the ticks go. Still, I sit here knee jamming away. Belle and Sebastian's Dear Catastrophe Waitress is nice. I didn't realize they were a band of seven memebers. Thank you allmusic.com

One must as Josh says, "Have compassion for yourself." Saying so much and yet so simple to enact. It reminds me of the question where I derive happiness from by Kauldada. Perhaps in a lone awareness it would be easiest. Although, there are so many factors and people interwoven. I am trusting my heart here. There is so much more to come.

Life is moving right along here in Covington, Louisiana. After finishing up in Amsterdam I headed to New York for, gasp, a frenetic two weeks. It was wonderful to spend such loving time with Dana. There is not very much that compares with opening your eyes to a bright morning with your arms wrapped around your love. As I was making my way for the airport I commented to her that I was getting a bit tired of the goodbyes. After all these times I believe it is finally beginning to set in, constant motion is draining from all perspectives. It'll be good to sort out a lot of what's happened this year this summer. I plan on getting through some of the processing I reffered to earlier in this journal.

Jan's show was last night, and it was fantastic. She had 36 paintings displayed; the museum in nearby Amstelveen was a wonderful venue. There was space for Jan's largest canvases to spread three across with room to breath. Filling various spaces and winding paths everywhere one walked there was an encounter with beauty. Jan was recognized as a modern landscape artist bringing a unique style to the field. How incredible it all was. The people attending were quite lovely. After most had passed on to other engagements, a small number of us made our way across the street for a toast and a bite. The evening was an overwhelming success, and we all raised our glasses to Jan's success.

Chiang Mai was really good to me. It was restful. I read a lot. I practiced more yoga than I have in a while. I have been sitting more. I also enjoyed their upcoming Spa services as well as Thai massage. The food was great. I enjoyed lots of juice shakes, including coconut, which I hadn't had until there. Although, it was much the pina colada without the rum. It was a nice stay. I wasn't in the mood to visit the wats that Josh suggested, and I couldn't find some people he mentioned I should see. I got to a couple restaurants Howie suggested, and I even made a few friends of my own. It's nice when traveling is a collective effort. This time was more about being alone than anything else though. I have spent so much of this trip with other people that it was nice to wake up solo and decide where to head off to.

I'm in Bangkok now, and I'll be here a couple nights before heading far Westward. The several times I've been here I've acquired a few favorite spots including a pizzeria which rivals those I found in Florence. And, they have amazing movie theaters here, so I'll try to get caught up a bit.

I saw Big Fish the other night, and for those that haven't seen it I highly recommend the expereince. Tim Burton is a personal favorite of mine, and he's really done an amazing job with this film. Fancying myself as a bit of a storyteller, this film makes my jaw drop. I laughed, I shuddered, I shed tears too. The film has it all.

Initially, I didn't believe this week would make me a hermit. However, Thailand's Songkran festival was in full swing. Songkran or Thai New Year is supposed to be a three day affair. This year it fell on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. So, add Sunday and Monday to the mix, and you have quite the holiday. An essential component to this celebration is dousing one another in water. In other words the city turns into a barage of pickups marauding the streets with all varieties of water. There is clear water, mucky water, smelly water, chilly-cold water, and my least favorite of all, all of it. Have a water war is one thing, but when it's involuntary and one is unable to merely walk down the street without some giggly swarm of people dumping bucket and gun loads of water on you it becomes obnoxious. Multiply that by five days, and you have your explination as to why I spent many many hours holed up in my room. Now, that in itself was not entirely bad, but it wasn't voluntary. On the plus side so many thousands of people loved it, and I too had a good time. Really though, I didn't need five days of it. I met some lovely Chiang Mai University students who daily could be found outside the beauty parlor owned by one of the group's mother. Yesterday, the last day of the festival, I headed over to the parlor armed with a bottle of San Som (Thai Whiskey), and we sat around imbibing for a bit before all loading up into a pickup and heading off for the festivities. It wasn't long before the cab of the truck was gushing water from every bit, and we were soaked to the bone. This was the part I expected, and I had seen where a lot of the water came from before, so I wasn't too surprised that this bit smelled a little. There is a moat surrounding the old part of the city, and you guessed it, that's where a lot of the water comes from by the bucket load! After leaving the moat we went a couple other places including some hotel shopping complex where the streets were bumper to bumper. We parked the car and joined in the celebration. I witnessed a mob of about thirty chasing perhaps one or two over zealous revelers which was broken up by the police in short order. I even restrained somebody in a separate incident where about five to ten were pounding brutally on one or two. My involvement was short lived as my friends told me everything was perfectly okay and that I should relax. I told him he was correct, since we weren't getting the ever loving shit kicked out of us, everything was okay. The principal English speaker of the group was probably the drunkest, and he couldn't stop apologizing for five hours. I get a bit fed up with him and in particular being soaking wet without being able to leave. I was ready to reach the hotel about three hours before I actually got there, but c'est la vie. I saw how the party goes around this time, and I assure it is a holiday you couldn't pay me to return to. All that being said it is beautiful here in Chiang Mai, and now that I can freely walk the streets with only my sweat to drench me I plan on seeing more of the city. I really love moats except when they're encroaching on me!

While I was in Delhi Karim had talked about his awe of Muay Thai, Thai Boxing. He asked me repeatedly in the several weeks we spoke to attend a match. It was something Dana and I spoke about doing last time we were here, but I was pretty so so about the idea. Well, okay, Karim asked me to go, so I did. Not long after arriving the host at the hotel asked if I would be interested, there was a fight this past Tuesday. I got the ticket, and I went to the four hour event somewhat early on. I saw the juvies fighting, and it was not too pleasant for me. As I sat there watching gloves and bodies connect as well as shin to shin I shuddered. I had this horrendous thought of splintering bones and tears began to role down my face. I really hate violence so much. I sat there a couple minutes longer then decided it was my time to exit. No point in arguing with the guy who wanted to mark my hand for re-admittance it was over before I could gesture. And, I had a pleasant walk back to the hotel. Wow, I couldn't stand it, and I didn't even see the big guys fight. The little kids were enough to re-affirm any disliking for that sort of contact. I am pretty finicky about the contact I don't mind. This is the reason I never played basketball in high school. I got an elbow in my back going for a rebound and decided it was not worth my aggravation. Karim, I went, and I just can't say I see the same beauty you do in boxing, Thai or otherwise.

India was inviting to me on many different levels. An area that spoke to me most was hospitality. I was trying to put this into words the other day, but it was difficult because the sentiment is so strong. It was difficult to leave for this very reason. There was so much emphasis to welcome and host, "Oh, what do you need?...Can I?... What do you?" As a guest you it takes a while for this to settle as your role. From then on everything runs at an amazing pace. People often note the streets as one place they are completely out of place. Bombay had small streets with people and motorized vehicles absolutely positively everywhere. With some luck Delhi has wider streets from the development in their post independence days, but the streets are more likely to be shared by cows more than pigs. Lucknow has more of the pigs, and generally the traffic there is not to bad if you're not near the main market. Streets don't need paint because nobody complies with notions of lanes. This is something Prashast and I often disagreed about. He would drive up the left side to the front of the traffic then scootch a bit to the right to be in front and follow the right turn arrow. Though obnoxious the manuevers were rarely unsafe. There is a process of merging or turning which is confounding to me. In the states there are three rear view mirrors. In India, a car rarely has two; even if the second one is there (driver's side) it is often tucked in because of the perpetually nearly sideswiping passerbyers. So there it is, always looking forward, listening to what is happening. We almost always drove with the windows down, and there was no music system in the car. It was only in the last couple days that I understand better how this operation worked. Two cars passed by simultaneously, and Prashast explained how disorienting it was when the noise doubled like that. Otherwise, he's understanding where everything is by listening and seeing ahead. Somehow, even with all the mirrors I haven't figured out how to avoid causing serious damage to my own vehicles and unfortunately others' as well. I spent some time on the roads particularly in Delhi. It is something else compared to anything I have to use as examples. By far the most concerning was the rides through the mountains. Left Right Left Right Tires gripping the pavement for dear life, and you'd often see an accident or two. Amazing how the reckage of two trucks folded into one another with realities biting permanance. They often hit with such force that there is a play drawn out in their final motions. Any other kind of accident and the cars move along where possible. These I am recalling have nowhere to go. They seemingly become part of the landscape at least forever that way in my mind. There's an incident on the road I will likely take to my last days, and I still wonder how it turned out. Prashast and I were off to meet his sister Gayatri and her boyfriend Jayant. As we came down a flyover past the Delhi Golf Club we noticed a guy crumpled in the middle of the street. Without much confidence I asked Prashast if we should stop to help him in some way. We pulled off to the side backed up a bit then got out to see what was happening. Prashast went for the security guard, and I stood a couple feet away from this guy and guided traffic away from him. Judging from how close the trucks and cars were coming to me standing in the middle of the street directing people away this poor soul would not have lasted all that much longer. For whatever reason several more people now joined Prashast and me to assist this guy. One person came up to me and asked if the guy was still alive. I told the questioner that he was. This guy then proceeds to lift the man from the street by lifting up under his arms and crudely repositioned him to the sidewalk. I didn't want to move this injured person for fear of futher hurting him. The other guy explained to me that it was India. He tried to ask the guy a couple questions, and one that was later translated for me shocked me. He had asked if the injured man wanted more drugs. Shockingly, the police didn't have much more sympathy than this. When they arrived 20 some odd minutes after we called them they explained the injured was a beggar and a doper. They said no hospital would except him, and they were content to leave him there. Prashast and I didn't stick around through the resolution of the incident. We decided to head on to our engagement for the evening. I couldn't help the way I felt. I was grieving, and then somebody asked why I hadn't stuck around if I was so concerned. They asked if I had done everything that I could do. Jay was amazing for me that night. We left the loud music and drinks I didn't want to have any part of and we walked around to chat a bit. His words were healing in a time that I needed them so much. He said anytime I wanted to he would take me to parts of Delhi that would forever change my perception. I never took him up on the offer, but seeing what I did has had the same effect even if only a single incident amongst a billion people.