Sunday, July 23, 2006

Blog Statistics



Thank you for all the readers/subscribers of my blog: Suppose, Contend, Differentiate. According to my feedburner statistics, there are at least 6 readers/subscribers on average per day. Thank you again, and I would need your feedback and comments. The comments section on my blogger is open to all. On the "Choose an identity" part, please choose "Other" and/or "Anonymous" instead of "blogger." Then, it would let you post your comments. Above is the graph showing the statistics from Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - Saturday, July 22, 2006 Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Discomfort Zone Disrupted

Discomfort Zone Disrupted

One might say that this entry sounds like constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. I assure the readers that it is not. Not to burst the bubble of gastrointestinal discomfort fans, such topics shall be discussed on future entries.

Partly, the NPR radio essay “This I Believe: Disrupting the Comfort Zone” as narrated by Brian Grazer, producer of A Beautiful Mind , "Friday Night Lights, "East of Eden” and more, inspired this entry. In a gist, the radio essay talked about subjecting oneself (Grazer) to the point of humiliation by a physicist just to have his comfort zone disrupted.

I agree to some parts of the radio essay, but one can say that if there is a comfort zone, there can be a discomfort zone. For instance, a discomfort zone is for some people to talk about their insecurities in public. It would be an awkward scenario, but can be simply satisfying. I guess that this example is a simplistic one. Some might argue that discomfort zones can range from the darkest of hearts to the sweetest taboo.

People will subject themselves to any violation of decency. Most people shall associate themselves to the extent of having criminal minds. Inadvertently, the very process mentioned is disrupting the discomfort zones. Conscience would paint a decency violation like a discomfort zone, but people will do it anyway, without remorse to gains or losses.

Arguably, the only thing given importance is comfort: the easy way out. And as for people who have the courage to disrupt the un-confronted, uninhibited, and the darkest of thoughts, it would be a triumph for disrupting the discomfort zone. As Stephen King simply puts: “Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.”

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe

Panhandling: Baby Shower Universe

My friend Patricia was talking about her upcoming baby shower that is to occur months from now. She emphasized that she would not engage in any baby shower registry. She claimed that it was a rude practice to command what gifts guests should bring.

I agree with Patricia. Most Americans have this practice of dictatorship. The definition of baby shower is given too much euphemism: A baby shower is a rite of passage in which the parents of a baby arrange and organize to receive gifts and money from their families and friends. (Wikipedia.org). If someone would attend a baby shower, it is mandatory for guests to register what gifts to buy. I would suppose that this is one of the discrete ways to panhandle, or to beg. The very action of requiring gifts to guests seems to be an act of desperation, because the parents can not provide, their friends and families would provide.

It is the responsibility of the prospective parents to provide what the baby needs. As I have contended, Americans oftentimes prefer euphemisms. They would say baby shower, instead of panhandling. Panhandling is defined as: “to accost on the street and beg from.” The difference seems to be negligible.

That is why I agree with Patricia. Baby shower is a backward tradition that seems to undermine the ability of prospective parents to provide for their own baby. It clumps on the solidarity banner of family and friends. Arguably, it (baby shower registry) is a tradition for parasites, and I am glad that my friend vehemently shuns this backward tradition.