Thursday, August 30, 2012

This lady needs to stop confronting criminals

The Police "Every Breath you take" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEnJDaqT3-0

Oy vey. Just when I thought it was safe for me to return to MIT since the students have moved back I catch yet another criminal. Now my study buddy and I have noticed this old guy before at Stratton and have been dubious of his intentions (he walks with an empty knapsack possibly for carrying the items he's stolen and sits with his legs up on the couch [oftentimes exposing himself in our direction] whilst reading a newspaper (or at least acting like he's reading a newspaper.)

This evening I returned to the student center just as this creepy guy was walking out. For some reason I felt very uneasy the moment I saw him and I didn't like that he saw me walk into the reading room by myself. I had a bad feeling that he was going to return just to lurk creepily again. He sees me walking out and instead of actually leaving I see that he is waiting in the entryway. I put down my sweatshirt and my salad in a group study room and close the door and head for the bathroom taking all prized possessions including my books with me. In the mean time I wait in the entryway and watch as this guy opens the door to my room and inspects to see if I've left anything of value. I wait for a few seconds to see what he is going to do and then he turns around and sees that I'm watching him. That's when we proceed to have a 5 minute conversation where he is rambling on excuses about why he was in my room and I'm just asking him if he needs the group room in an effort to find out if he is actually affiliated with MIT. (Apparently his "wife" works at the MIT library.)

I don't know why I persist to engage in discourse with people who are trying to steal my things or are creepy around my things, but the habit of conversation comes naturally to me and typically it's in a non-aggressive approach where the criminal does not feel threatened and enough people are around where I don't feel threatened either. At the end of the day I am always truly bothered by the idea of nefarious onlookers who violate my sense of space and my items. I put a lot of care (almost to the point of OCD) in preserving all my possessions and I really do feel violated and defeated when creepy people watch and wait for me to leave my things behind so they can take them or, in this case, touch them or smell them. What I should do is leave links to my blog everywhere so hopefully they can 1. see how much I am bothered by it and 2. learn some lessons. Shame on you creepy criminal. Shame on you.

UPDATE as of 21:22: Talked to MIT Police, apparently this guy has been exposing himself to women all week and I'm the third report. I really need to not study here any more, but good thing is they said they've been tailing him for the past 4-5 days now. Thumbs WAY DOWN!

UPDATE as of 21:39: Confirmed photo of perp. with MIT police officer.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

What does it mean to be human?

David Guetta "She Wolf" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJCjrZk8qo0

For some reason, on numerous accounts today, I have come across the question of what it means to be human. An article I read in HBR approached this question from a humane perspective in the context of a story about a random act of kindness. (http://blogs.hbr.org/taylor/2012/08/its_more_important_to_be_kind.html) Without delving too much into the ontological nature of this question, I personally seek the answer in human medicine for I believe it allows us to understand human-ness from the most fundamental and verifiable perspective. Additionally, and on a different level, I believe in the importance of humanity as an identifier of the human-self. This echoes Kant's perspective on the ability to reason and I also believe it should include compassion and the ability to work-together and build/sustain a society as hallmarks of human-ness. I quickly googled this question to see what I would get in return and I came across a bunch of interesting articles so more on this later.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

My Summer Blooms-Phaelaenopsis 1

Delerium "Innocente" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLN7W2Y4jG8

Just when I think life sometimes is such utter BS, I find myself lucky to be able to wake up to these every morning. Here are pictures of my summer blooms. This is the second time they've bloomed. I think they look nice! I'm hoping my new apartment gets as much sunlight as my current place does because I'd like to keep them healthy. I call them Phaelaenopsis 1 because I have some baby orchids too which I call Phaelaenopsis 2. Those look a little sad so I'm not posting their pics. I think about how every day is the same for these orchids. They just persist without stress or disruption and they are just flowing with nature (or as much as they can being a house plant and all.) On the contrary, I'm almost always in a funk and grouchy these days. Perhaps a nature retreat is in order for me...



Saturday, August 25, 2012

This week's lessons learned

Casual "Bizarre love triangle cover" http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=43386982&ac=now
(unfortunately not on youtube since it's an unknown band, but this acoustic cover is awesome.)

(1) Protect yourself/support yourself.

(2) Time will never stop. You just have to run to keep up with it.

(3) Society does not have a place for me yet. (According to my psychic, Molly.) I've always preached about starting the revolution (Viva La Revolucion!) and I guess until then "No day but today." (Rent reference) Link to song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzxdKG0ReSc

(4) Black holes are not exclusively part of the universe.

(5) Optimism is a choice.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Park Street T Station Art and 5 more things to know about me

Fuel "Shimmer" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMLAOkvDfG4

*I've noticed that my blog has a good amount of readers in Russia and France, so here is a special shout-out to my international readers: Zdravstvuj! Salut!

I was waiting in the park street T station today when I noticed this piece of art work (or at least I think this is a piece of artwork.) I really like it. There was also a hunk on the opposite platform. He's the guy next to the guy in the blue shirt. I'm happy my photography skills managed to capture him too.




5 Things to know about me:

(1) I love the 90s. Everything about them. Music, movies, TV shows, outfits, toys, life in general. I will totally go back to the 90s once a time machine is made.

(2) "I was born to be bad." --From Rent! This is sort of true but not really.

(3) I'm obsessed with Rent. Jon Larson is a genius and I will jump at the chance to play Mimi off-Broadway.

(4) I think candles are lame (and dangerous) unless there's a real blackout (but then again there's flashlights. The newer LED ones are super nice too.) This is the one fad I do not like from the 90s.

(5) When I was little, I was obsessed with the Golden Girls. I loved Sophia, the oldest one. She was 90+ and used to reminisce about Sicily and as a child I'd memorize her lines and tell people stories about Sicily too. I've never been to Sicily.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MCAT Limerick

Of Monsters and Men "Little Talks" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I

Here is a limerick I wrote for the MCAT:

There was this exam called the MCAT.
Pre-med students feared and dreaded its format.
It took several hours
for your soul, it devoured
and walked over you like a doormat.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Why are strangers so stupid sometimes?

So I just remembered that last night around 2230 I was walking home on mass ave and I had taken out my contacts since I could feel a migraine coming on and it was dark so I couldn't see and my head hurt. I was listening to music but I only had one earphone in at a very low volume so I could still hear if someone was approaching me from behind and I also tried to hide the wire since looking like I have earphones in makes me a target I think. Then of course some moron on a bike decides to holler at me  from behind to ask me for some money or change. Now I've been jumpy ever since my theft incident so without even thinking I start running away from him into the middle of the street. Especially because there was this tiny stretch where no else was on the street. Maybe that was a little excessive, but I wasn't going to stick around to see if some guy approaching me in the middle of the night was a criminal or not. I have to say though, if this guy wasn't a criminal I think he's just an idiot. It's in poor form to approach a girl from behind in the middle of the night to ask her for money when there's no one on the road. Especially since I was walking by myself. Obviously it will make the girl nervous and if this guy wasn't a criminal then he probably should've used common sense to ask a guy, not a teeny little girl.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Today's lesson learned

Coldplay "The Scientist" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdBym7kv2IM&feature=related

Loving someone does not guarantee that the relationship will be functional.

Without airing my dirty laundry too much, I always think I've fully learned this lesson and yet I keep getting hit by this every now and then and it's the same result every single time. I talked about the definition of addiction with a friend recently as the idea of continuing the same behaviour despite its negative effects. I don't know if that's the case here too (with respect to being addicted to the way a person treats you), but it could very well be. Actually, coming to think of it, Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, so perhaps I am insane. I just know that once again, my tranquility has been disrupted and that I have been hit with this lesson again and now I must learn because I very deeply feel the exigency of time bearing on my back to move on and I am getting restless with this pattern and do not want to perpetuate this any further.

I took a picture today of the sunset and I think this is a photo where nature has mimicked the reality of my life at the moment. For those of you in Boston, where were you/what were you doing when this was happening in the sky? Did you notice?

Saturday, August 18, 2012

More on moving forward

Once again, Florence+the Machine "Shake it out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYAi0utVmBo

Someone (very appropriately) recited the following quote from Socrates to me (while she didn't provide me the source I am assuming it is most likely via Plato as no texts exist from Socrates himself and my best guess would be either The Republic or Phaedo):

“If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.” 
-Socrates

I don't have time/energy now to type my interpretation of this, so take from it what you want. Today, I just do not feel good.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

2 interesting things, 1 ridiculous thing, 1 annoying thing, 1 observation, and 1 missed opportunity

Foster The People "Pumped up kicks" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ

(1) Here are 2 pics outside of kendall station on the uni-pave in front of the Marriott. I don't know if these panels were always there or new, but I thought they were interesting.




(2) This afternoon I was getting sleepy while studying so I decided to take a break, change into my gym clothes, grab dinner, and then go to the gym. I realized while changing that I had forgotten to pack my gym socks. I was lucky for leaving the library a little earlier today because the MGH gift shop was still open (stays open until 1930.) I thought they might have some socks, but the only options they had were very thick chenille socks or thinner/funky dress socks. I opted for the latter and ended up spending $10.00 on pink poodle socks just to wear to the gym today. Ridiculous. Below is a photo of the socks. Nevertheless, I had a good workout today so mission accomplished I guess. Oh, and the socks actually matched my outfit since I had a similar colored workout tank-top on.


(3) Today I had a good amount of books on me and I, for some reason, am always astounded by the inconsideration or impoliteness of some people. I'm a teeny chick and had these two heavy bags and a giant physics book on me and not a single able-bodied younger gentleman offered me his seat on the T today. For all you men out there reading this, when was the last time you offered either a lady or an elderly person your seat out of being a kind person/good citizen? A side-anecdote: my answer to that question was a few weeks back on a bus to MIT I, again, had 2 heavy bags and a heavy book and still offered my seat to a woman with a cane. I then chatted with her about eddie murphy and chris rock the rest of the bus ride.

(4) After my stalking/theft incident, I am constantly staring down orange-haired younger men around this city and I've only been able to come to one conclusion: there are ample orange-haired younger men in this city. I spent a good several minutes in close quarters from my would-be criminal so I thought I'd be able to recognize the dude in a line-up if the MIT police ever had multiple suspects, but my gosh, I saw 2 orange-haired possible thieves in my gym alone yesterday. This is harder than I thought.

(5) Lastly, this Sunday I missed my snorkel lesson. I'm pretty bummed about this, but hopefully I can make it up next summer and possibly learn Scuba too.

*I chose the song above only because I noticed that in most of the pics in today's post I am wearing some pumped up kicks.

Friday, August 10, 2012

An anecdote from the past to keep moving forward

Calvin Harris "We'll be coming back" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHO3dE-IDWk

I've spent a great deal of my summer studying for the MCATs and I have about 3-4 weeks left until my exam. At times it seems that this experience has been more of a test of my tenacity to move forward than anything else (especially since I've postponed this exam so many times now it's  becoming embarrassing.) I had a few panic attacks today and the thing I keep in mind during times like these is actually an anecdote from when I was an engineer. During my second trip to the army base (shout out to the EOD!) I had to go by myself and part of the experience involved in these trips was the journey of getting there. I remember moments when I'd get tired or nervous or anxious and the only thing I had to keep me moving forward while I was alone was the fact that I didn't have choice. I had to move forward. Pulling over or abandoning ship (so-to-speak) was not an option becuase even if I did I still had to get back on board and continue. So I just kept going. I never stopped until I got there, accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, and went home. I think this MCAT thing and eventually med school, residency, and even life in general are similar in nature. The moment we think we have options or alternatives to what we're actually set out to accomplish is the moment we set ourselves up for retreat. Instead of ruminating on the time left until my exam I made the choice to consider that I don't have a choice. As painful as this process is, I've certainly been through worse and I just need to keep waking up everyday and moving forward. Better yet: Shut the heck up and Just. Do. It.

Also, here's a special shout-out to my cousins Ritwik and Rishi in Contai. I know you guys read my blog and I hope you find it entertaining! I miss you all!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Five more things to know about me

Rihanna "We Found Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GchEVSx9XEA

Haven't posted 5 things in a while, so here goes:

(1) I love the feel of reading a book. I'll probably eventually invest in an ipad but it will be very reluctantly. I like the feel of turning pages and visualizing the volume of text I've devoured.

(2) I have to fight my instincts of being a night-owl.

(3) I love meeting new people and making friends in random places.

(4) When I was little I wanted to be the Tooth Fairy when I grew up. My favorite book was "No Tooth No Quarter" and I aspired to be Queen Denteena (Queen of all the tooth fairies.)

(5) On occasion, I bleed maize and blue.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

This week's lessons learned

MGMT "Kids" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9DQa2bexwM

(1) Not every day will be the same. Not every week will be the same.

(2) Sometimes people just want to be saved. Sometimes people need to be saved.

(3) Sometimes I miss the past and still wish I was a kid where I didn't fully understand things in life and things were much simpler.

(4) I should have a little faith in people.

(5) By the same token, I sometimes wish people did the right thing more often.

(6) Sometimes I don't know what I'm doing.

(7) Schopenhauer may have been on to something. (ie What's the point? We're all going to die soon.)

(8) Everyone has inner demons and everyone has inner beauty. At any given moment we always have a choice to express any particular side of ourselves.

(9) Sometimes I feel like Atlas.

(10) The world isn't very safe. I hate being a cynic, but my recent encounter with my stalker/criminal has taught me to be more careful. (I still can't believe I confronted him/attempted to befriend him until I realize he was stealing my things.)

Friday, August 3, 2012

Eight reasons I love the Olympics

US Olympic Swim Team rendition of "Call me Maybe": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxffBXIPOcg

(1) I think what I like most about these games is watching the athletes since they have such tremendous worth ethic.

(2) The British fanfare. Opening ceremony was brilliant.

(3) The Queen. Who doesn't love a monarch skydiving into the opening ceremony? Not to mention her outfit. She looks great no?



(4) Michael Phelps. I recall seeing him in bars when he was swimming at the Wolverine Club at the University of Michigan after Athens (Go Blue!) This guy is spectacular and a perfect example of someone doing what they were meant to do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB4irt7XotE

(5) The rest of the University of Michigan athletes (which includes a good deal of Olympic swim team.) Some facts from the umich webiste:
 -Michigan has had medal winners in every Summer Olympics except 1896 and gold medalists in all but four.
-If the University of Michigan were a country, it would qualify as the 19th most successful in Olympics medal history.

(6) The other hunky swimmer: Ryan Lochte, what a dreamboat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0e6q4vm4Rc

 (7) The US Gymnastics team. Yay for them for winning the team (first time since 1996) and all-round gold!

(8) My parents are huge fans. Especially my dad. When they were studying in Montreal my dad took my mum to the 1976 Montreal Olympics and saw Nadia Comaneci earn the first perfect ten in Olympic history. They have the routine on film strip which I think is pure awesome.