NICKNAME RIDICULOUSNESS

Before I left the office for the day, I decided to read the news, junkie that I am. After browsing the Beeb and the Gray Lady, I decided to peruse through the International Herald Tribune (IHT), a lesser known and more Euro-centric cousin of the New York Times. Five minutes of clicking and scrolling later, I stumble across this article:

Thais ask: ‘What’s in a nickname’?

Now, my brain went “uh oh,” but I gave the article a chance and read it.

Then I became infuriated.

Many thoughts of anger and profanities ran through my head. However, for the sake of the children (why doesn’t anyone think of the children?!), I’m going to express myself in a civil manner. I was just appalled at the realization that this is a rather elderly government bureaucrat focusing on pointless minutiae. C’mon, nicknames??? Why should the government even bother to interfere on what essentially is a personal and family matter. I know the current Thai government (especially the Culture of Ministry) is keen to promote what American politicians label “family values”, but this “nickname effort” is plain ridiculous. This initiative reminds me of previous attempts by the French government to halt the public use of “Anglo-American slang” words while simultaneously promoting the French vocabulary.

However, my anger is not solely directed at the government official. This hack of a (apologies) writer, whom I’m assuming - by his name - is British, decides to pursue a trivial matter while the rest of Thailand is focused on the political mess, among other things. Now, I don’t have any personal issues with the writer and I’m not intending to offend him in any way, but I’d like to make a few comments about his article. One issue I have is with his choice of Thai and English nicknames used in the article. Why did the writer choose the crazier nicknames? There are other Thai nicknames out there that, when translated into English, aren’t as ridiculous as “Big” and “Black.” Not all Thai people have the audacity to nickname their child “Tomcruise” and “God” either. Excuse my skepticism of the writer and all the Brits, but they tend to be condescending even if they don’t realize it. I hope this isn’t the case here.

Another gripe I have with the article involves the quotes and statements. When the government official proclaims that “We [the ministry] worries that Thai culture will vanish,” I sat up in my chair. Thai culture isn’t going to vanish! What about the numerous UNESCO sites in the Kingdom, the Thai landmarks known worldwide, the endless number of Thai restaurants overseas, the beautiful beaches tourists flock to every year, the Thai expatriates, overseas Thai students…I could go on and on. What a ludicrous claim! Let me stop here.

OK, so maybe the writer is just trying to give you a glimpse of the ongoing sociocultural discussion in Thai society. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but feel a tad offended and angry while scoffing at the same time.

Ridiculous indeed.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

I should not be wearing a sweater in August.

NINJAS

Do you fear ninjas? Are you a pirate who considers them your sworn mortal enemy? Well, here’s a new game for the Nintendo DS that will put you at ease…if you don’t end up squealing with glee at the intense cuteness (lookin’ at you, girls). Personally, my favorite character is “ninja consultant”.

I fear ninja dropping.

Ninjatown Debut (Via Kotaku)

SUMMER UPDATE

What have I been up to these past few weeks?

Enjoying the local view.

Hello George.

A nice stroll through Central Park.

Time well spent in the Met’s new Roman wing.

Reminisced about London.  (Pret!)

Laughed out loud.

Ate some sushi.

And calamari.

Toured a rival campus.

Fin.

21 YEARS TO DATE

I arrived on this blue spherical planet.

My August 10th reaction: Meh.

My initial reaction: Wow.

My official reaction: Awesome.

My current reaction: Yes!

Excuse me while I get shitfaced celebrate.

More musings later on this subject tomorrow.

THE WILDLIFE URBAN RESISTANCE

Brooklyn Raccoon guerrillas, Park Slope sector. Viva la resistance!…Mmm, garbage.

(Photo via Gothamist)

SUPERHUMUNGO UPDATE

H E L L O .

Apologies for the terrible lack of updates and posts - I promise the entries will increase as September creeps ever so closer against my beloved birthing month of August, hot and humid weather excluded. (As I’m not generally fond of hot and humid weather, my 9 month old fetus self must have decided that he’s not going to take it anymore and decided to pop out…OK, I promise not to talk about myself in the third-person ever again.) Alright! No more deviations concerning my personal life! Commencing with the updates!

First off, let’s make y’all procrastinate for a while (admit it, you can use the break) or help stave yourself from the evil forces of boredom. To the Internets!

THE INTERNETS

The ol’ Gray Grey Gray Lady (aka the New York Times) always has fascinating articles. Check out this one on Space Colonization. It really provides a very different approach on the topic. As a bit of a Sci-fi nut (the inner child speaks!) and part-time optimist (someone has to be), I am always in favor of space exploration and colonization, save you know, worlds inhabited with civilizations and aliens.

Another interesting tidbit in the NYT is that list with a 101 summer recipes. Now, I’m no expert cook but some of those recipes sound quite scrumptious. Now if I could only ever figure out what panko is… (# 57).

Tired of reading standard newspapers? Let’s visit the blogosphere! Ooo…a Dog Fanny Pack (courtesy of Gizmodo - link to great tech blog is to your right on this site)! Trust me, the picture alone is worth the click haha. Poor dog.

The gaming info blog (I am such a nerd) Kotaku had this great link to a digital art piece labeled “Super Smash Bros: Onslaught”. I placed a direct link to the site mentioned by Kotaku in the next sentence. Check it out. It’s pretty neat. Mad propz to the artist, yo. Props to the artist.

OK, multimedia time. Check out this hilarious Carlsberg beer ad. I basically laughed so hard I almost fell off my seat.

On a random note, I love cities. One of the maaany things I enjoy in urban areas is studying subway/tube/underground/metro maps. However, what makes them even better is when people get creative with maps, like this one of the Tokyo subway system. Except it’s not really a map of the Tokyo subway (which looks confusing as hell), but a mock-up of what the Internet would be if its fiber optic “series of tubes” were really an underground metro system. I’d hop on at…you know what, it’s not worth my typing energy or your time.

(Takes a deep breath. Cracks knuckles.)

Alright! Need to crack on someone, but can’t think of something clever? Take a cue from the greats. (Courtesy via a fellow WordPress blogger)

And to finish off the Internet procrastination section because I know you’re getting bored, here is a final link concerning Penguins and logic. They do not and should not mix. Haha.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Now to the juicy stuff. (I know you’ve been waiting to read this part you loyal readers STALKERS. Haha I kid, I kid.) Let’s see…what has been/is on the agenda. I saw CC and Christine in NYC recently - despite being comatose due to a full stomach consequently resulting in a massive food coma aka the “Itis”. I made new friends via my good HS friend, whom I all saw yesterday. My birthday is this weekend - I can describe my reaction in two words, one conjunction and two exclamation points: YAY! and AAH! Allan is visiting next week to tour NYC. Work ends in two weeks, and I’ll be back in Providence in three - the weeks fly by so fast. I’ll see my cousins again in two weeks. Overall, I guess summer’s been rather relaxing, though I can’t help but feel that I can and should be more productive. Le Sigh. (I promise I’m not emo.) I’ll post a summer recap later this month with pictures, natch.

On a totally unrelated note, I can’t help but feel so transitory.  I’ve been living out of my suitcase for a while now, meaning that I’ve been traveling to such an extent that not even home feels like “home”.  I understand the phrase “home is where the heart is” now more than ever.  London, Hoboken, New York, Providence - hell, even Bangkok for a month  or so every two years - they’re all home to me.  Does anyone else feel this way?  I feel that most college students are in similar situations.

And…I think that’s a wrap (for now). Try not to be overwhelmed by the endless text and enjoy the week!

(Brain shuts down.)

ASDFGHJKL - Oh snap, I have to run! The bears are coming! Is it the Brown Bear? NOOOOOOOOOO