Don Saleemioni's Blog

to the cynics

2007-11-13T21:17:52Z

It is a field day for cynics of human nature. Look at the situation in Pakistan. You have a country that is the 6th most populated in the world, has been backed as a commonwealth nation and by the largest super power, been at the forefront of the 'war on terror' and is among the few nations that have the technology of nuclear weapons. In no definition of world politics, has it been considered a rogue state (much to the dissent of its rival neighbor).

People who know Pakistan would be aware of its social structure, which has a strong upper class. People of this class have education, wealth and healthcare comparable to elite of any western state. So, even though there have been problems in Pakistan, the face of it that we see has mostly been smiling. The cynic here would say, yeah life is bad for the poor and under-privileged. It has always been the case. You try to work you way out of it, but few manage to do so. Even if there is development, look at New Orleans and how economically backward classes can be forgotten even by the richest nation.

The optimist would go that there is still hope. If people work hard they can still get out of it by strengthening the feeble middle class or even progressing to the upper class. The cynic now has a come back. Well look at even the upper class of pakistan now. They have no freedom to express themselves, no information about what is happening and well minimal human rights. Some of them have their kids in prison, cause they were standing up for justice. The country is being tossed around by the whims of one individual.

The optimist would now go, well the superpower that is backing them could twist an arm and get the man to stand down. And the cynic goes HA HA!! They don't care about human rights, or justice or common sense, they just don't want to be proved wrong (again). Nothing is right, and will never be, human being are greedy, spineless materialists. Democracy has just been the excuse, never the reason, they have used to justify their interference into other nations politics. Bringing down dictators is another one of those excuses. The world and the general population can scream their lungs out but Pervez Musharraf will get his way and no one can do anything.

Not the usual Don

I am fine!

2005-07-07T20:54:40Z

London is getting back to normal pretty quick. What nice about the place is that there isn't any paranoia, people are not scared, that is not the emotion here, but people are frustrated and pissed off.

Don

Full metal Jacket

2005-05-31T13:04:56Z

Stanley Kubrick GOD hai!

The best war movie I've seen. And the message is put so subtly and very aptly. If you haven't seen it, you have to. If you've seen it, you have to see it again :)

The duality of human nature, there hasn't been a better description of it.

DON

moving house

2005-05-30T16:58:40Z

Well... next month I'll be moving out of my cool house. :(( Will miss a lot of people. But, anyway... I'm going to stay at another of the college halls from next on, so will have a lot of known people around and whats best is, I'm going to be staying in Chelsea :D, quite close to stamford bridge ;)

DON

ps- got exams now, so there will be lot more blogging happening

Women not the only nice thing about turkey !!

2005-05-28T13:28:52Z

... their food is exquisite. it was 28 deg C here yesterday. The hottest day since I came to London and man, the place just went crazy. Everything shifted onto the streets. The pants got shorter, the shades came down and everyone was on the streets, in the garden, tanning, just 'enjoying' the heat. And so we HAD to go out.

We went to this most amazing restaurant, in the center of town and the atmosphere was better than anywhere else. All the shops serving ont he streets... people all happy.... it feels like a festival or something. I never felt so good in the sun before. The change of seasons, and unpredictability of the weather really makes you enjoy even better the few times you get good weather. When you have so much of sun all through the year, you literally run away from it.

Isn't it typical of so many things in life. When you have something, you take it for granted, until you live without it for a while.

Anyway, we went to a Turkish restaurant and it was some of the best food I've ever eaten. THE BEST!!

Turkish coffee is not as great, cause its not smooth and has a huge after taste. Wouldn't really recommend it.

Saleemioni

DON of the flies

2005-05-26T13:58:52Z

Yeah! while I was writing my previous post, I thought of something else that is interesting that I can post about. My reaserch work. I'm creating this little torture chamber. I show it some dirty stuff and keep poking it till it tell me what it sees.

That is the most gruesome description possible ;) Its actually much gentler and I take care of the things very well.

But how I wish I did the same with freshies :D Especially painu ones, some of whom are reading this.

DON

last day at school

2005-05-26T13:53:44Z

School classes are now officially over. only part of school is now the exams in a couple of weeks.

After that, we grow into real men and women and take up the real work. RESEARCH !

Happy DON

India!

2005-05-25T13:48:17Z

People around the world are scared of it (the next superpower). I was surprised myself about the way they feel, but thats the way it is. At least we will soon be the largest population and hence the biggest market and the probably of of the larger english speaking countries. That is a bit disturbing though. We hardly pay any importance to our languages and if we want to now, which one would we choose. The europeans are amazed by the fact that our education is in English, not in an Indian language, its very strange the way things are so different when it comes to languages.

Its amazing that we are unified with so many dissmilarities, but there needs to be something more to instill national pride (other than the cricket team).

A very strange post from the DON, but I'm sitting here and writing the first thign that comes to my head.

DON

Why do I do this to myself !!

2005-05-22T21:05:47Z

Beginning of the year, I don't know why I took up a responsibility 'again'. I happen to be the Class representative for my MSc batch. And so inspite of being a relatively free week, I had to spend most of it doing all kinds of admin stuff. And its not over, there is more to it next week. Aargh! I hate myself for taking up things when I'm such a lazy person, or I wish I could be a really lazy guy who does nothing all day.

I wonder whats in store for me next year? This time I'll be extra careful with myself. Try not to commit myself, unless its to someone special ;)

DON

May the force be with you

2005-05-17T06:41:30Z

I SAW GORGE LUCAS YESTERDAY!

Also, Evan McGregor, the idiot who plays anekin, darth sidius, Count dakoo(saruman), Yoda, chubaka and well unfortunately natalie portman is bald.

Last night rahul keswani, a couple of other friends and me went to Leister Square to stand outside for the London premiere of Star Wars Episode III.

There was a live performance by the Royal Philharmonic Ochestra that played for like 2 hours. 2 hours of unbelievably amazing music. All the original sound tracks of Star Wars with great videos from the movies and sketches in the background. That was followed by interviews of all the major stars.

Also, London is the first place where the continuos screening of all the 6 episodes and if you buy a galactic pass that would end in the premiere of Episode III. Didn't do that anyway.

Thought you'd be interested in what Gorge Lucas had to say, "First I'd like to say that its quite crazy to see all the movies in a row. This is the first gourp to do such a thing. Even I have never done this before." "The saga in all the six episodes is supposed to be a tragedy to Anekan Skywalker, not a movie about Luke...." rest I don't remember too well. Should find it online soon. Might send few pics later.

Could have spiced it up a lot more, but didn't feel the need to.

DON

Home made Pizza

2005-05-15T22:21:16Z

We made it from scratch. The dough the sauce, everything. And it was one of the best Pizza's I've every eaten. The only thing that didn't make it Originale Italino was that it wasn't made by an Italian, but by and Indian, Belgian and Sri Lankan :D

Aman

Jhatu is in da house

2005-05-15T22:19:02Z

Ok, Its been a while since I've been out of IIT. Jhatu, aka Rahul is here and I need some stuff to get at him. He says lots has happened and he has a lot more names, but refuses to tell me. So guys, mail me all the dirty details.

The Don

what am I up to next

2005-05-13T16:55:03Z

A few people keep asking me that. Well, I don't know myself and I'm not stressing out about it too much. Or so I feel. Something about these europeans that has really got me thinking and I would love to follow it. Live the moment and enjoy it to the fullest. Things will fall into place eventually. So, don't ask me what my future plans are. As of now, I'm doing an MSc, will finish it around end september. Will travel to and around India after that. And will come back to london. eventually I will do a PhD from somewhere. Thats all I know and thats all I can tell.

Chopsticks

2005-05-13T16:48:49Z

Remember the cheap chinese movies where the hero after months of training can even get hold of a single grain of rice thrown into the air with his chopsticks. If you don't, then just picture it. Well, that is the next step. Right now, I just managed to eat a complete meal with chopsticks and not give up and take up the fork. Its pretty cool once you get the hang of it and better than a fork and knive for chinese food for sure. So, next time you are eating chinki food, you shall remember me.

Since I've come here, I've been enjoying the cuisine. A very multicultural one, btw. Tried good belgian, Italian, french, british(toughest to find), Chinese, Thai, Irish, lebanese, Greek, Sicilian and Turkish food. Its great to be able to try different stuff. But one thing is considering the indian food you get here, maybe they are not very representative of the food from around the place.

I stopped this update for quite a while and went for a coffee break, which ended up being ... 4/5 hours now. Going to go home soon. but well, the best thing is, I went to Harrods in this break. YEAH! Harrods, one of the most expensive places in the world, but anyway, its also a major tourist attraction. We wen to the Chocalate Bar there. And had some of the most exquisite chocolate. Man, I'm still high on that. This also reminds me of the chocalate bar in Belgium, with a chocalate 'fountain' (A fountain with chocolate flowing continuosly). Well, if you guys in bombay/delhi are reading this. You treat yourself to a chocolate avalanche at Mocha, still the top of my list for best desserts.

I hope this still gets posted.

DON of CUISINE

I wish for BUMPS and THE DON IS BACK

2005-05-08T00:24:43Z

Have you ever heard anyone say that. A friend of mine here asked me, 'So what was your birthday at IIT like?" The scene blurred and I went into a black and white flashback. All I could show him there was 50 people with the most nasty smiles with buckets of water, rotten eggs, slippers in their hands and me in the air.

Then for the first time in my life, I wish I could have that again. Now, anyone here would think its some sort of weird fetish, but the nostalgia does make you do crazy things.

And for the uninformed, THE DON IS BACK.

And this time he speaks from the streets of London.

Don Saleemioni

maddu

2005-05-06T17:16:33Z

Everytime I stay up later than 2pm, I miss IIT more than ever. I wish there was a maddu mess down my street in London.

thought I'll drop in a post

2005-05-06T17:14:37Z

Its been a while and I haven't blogged in ages. I wonder is anyone will ever read this either. Bloggging seems to have been fad amoung my friends but I wish it lasts for a long time.

Well, haven't been in the mood to blog for ever and still am not, so any loser still reading this is just wasting his time.

Don

donsaleemioni @ 2004-06-25T15:32:00

2004-06-25T10:11:04Z

I feel I need to write a lot but don't know what to write...
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

I love the result

2004-06-17T11:35:44Z

How to make a donsaleemioni

Ingredients:

5 parts intelligence

5 parts ambition

1 part joy

Method:
Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Add a little lustfulness if desired!

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

donsaleemioni @ 2004-06-16T00:00:00

2004-06-15T18:42:36Z

I have gotten request from distant lands that I get to writing my journal again. And so I shall write, to satiate the desires of my readers.

But what do i write about. I just got it.

Confusion

A state that you should always get yourself into, so that you can look at all possibilities. Let yourself sway from one side to another. Until you convince yourself that you have made the right decision. For the past 3/4 months I've been so confused. Worse than I've ever been in life. But as I'm slowly getting out of it, I realise how good it has been. I'm much clearer on everything now. I know exactly what I want, why I want it and why not something else. Its nice to be so sure of what you are doing and that needed that state of confusion.

What else? I'm up for a looong break ahead. I'm been making BIG plans. Don't want to talk about them before I actually do something, so won't. Lets see how things turn up first. You guys will all be updated here anyway.

DON

Coming up in the next edition: Monsoons in Mumbai! Don't miss out. Should be on the stands very soon.

After a loong break....

2004-06-12T15:04:09Z

I was on a true vacation :), no computers I decided. And it felt great.

Almost 10 days at Delhi, or should I say Gurgaon. Compared to the present day IIT, there were many more known faces out there :D Man, It'll be worse after the present batch of new entrants join. Go to the Mall, the movies, the offices, everywhere there will be a known face. For a short period of time it was great, felt good. I needed to spend loads of lukkha time and I had people to do that with. But dunno hw it'll be in the longer run. There aren't many new people around. It feels strange in a way. As though you're not yet out of the euphoric world of IIT.

I've got around a week's time to finish my work here at IIT. So I better start working on that.

The Return of the Don

been a while

2004-05-30T11:07:49Z

But I do not regret it the slightest. For starters, its been a time when I've finally heard a positive reply frm Imperial college London. Then I manage to finish my report writing. Tommorow I'll be submitting it :D Well, as you can see that has had me busy for a while.

After all the time I've spent with my report I'm doped on double perovskites and mind mind is really blank in all other aspects. Feels nice in a way.

So rather than boring everybody with what doping Ba into Sr2FeMoO6 can do to the magnetoresistive properties, but lets not talk about that, so I'll blog sometime later.

Sinking in!

2004-05-27T19:59:45Z

Well, for those of you who don't know the news yet....I'm going to be an imp.

The fact has still not sunk in. Still a bag of mixed feelings:D

The treats are on ....

The Don

Finally!!

2004-05-25T15:44:27Z

yeah!!

missing company

2004-05-22T21:06:06Z

Well, its not like I don't have any friends anymore but then, when everyone was around I had a choice :) :P Now there are just 2-3 guys around (or it feels so) and life is getting boring. Ya, I still do enjoy spending time myself, but when I want to lukkha maaro, there are limited options and in this season, everyone has work as a priority and they have to have it too. And so... :) I miss u all who are wither sitting at home and getting fat, away struggling in their PTs, travelling and those who are off to start a new life.

Insti is always boring this time of the year.

I'm working and needed a break and couldn't find anyone to spend time with :(

Lonely Don