smoking ban economics

hmmmm. the smoking ban might actually rake in more for the pubs in the long run.

when people are not killing their lungs at the same time, they are probably willing to spend more money wrecking their liver.

on top of that, pubs are a much more comfortable place to be in now.

musical genius

it is probably no secret that Joe Satriani is recognized as a musical genius. And while guitarists often dispute about who's good and who's not Satch is probably one of those few who are recognized as being an undisputably good guitarist.

i know nobody will want to watch a 10 minute video, especially a song with no lyrics, but watch this, and you'll see the creation of a genius.

however, just scroll to 05:54, you will find out why he doesn't bother with singing - there are way cooler things he can do with his mouth.

questions at work

I am currently at work and perplexed by the most confounding questions an errant mind can come up with.

1. Are oil prices supposed to be so damn high? If the market is supposed to price products to how much a consumer values it, isn't it such a strange thing that we'd pay so much for a product that we destroy in its usage? If the value of oil were to be measured by the energy it produces, then how come the price for other forms of energy, human-produced energy, i.e. labour isn't rising as proportionately.

2. Is it fair for the general populace to bear the burden of a higher cost of living for commodity speculators to grow richer?

3. What a mystery it is, that the human mind and its sensories can be tricked out to go places. A plane can take you to Mexico, so can vibrations transposed on to your ear drums by moving air and changing patterns of light before your eye. Or a huge dose of narcotical intake.

4. The meek shall inherit the earth. What is meekness? I read somewhere it is restrained strength, and while I am not really an admirer of artforms like tai chi or yoga, I am somehow attracted to this notion of meekness.

5. I'd really like to challenge the notion that you have to be rich and successful or to have a beautiful wife to be successful to have a fulfilling life. While I am nowhere rich, successful or married to a beautiful woman, I have seen people who'd be judged as poor, failure-d and bounded to people who are not as abled lead very fulfilling life, and to be truth, I am very envious.

6. How can I have time to blog while people are paying me to work? Do they really think I'm working, orexpect me to be working when everyone is half a building away attending "training", probably wondering about the same questions as I am.

7. What time can i go home?

chances

i don't know if it's age or whatever, but i find myself desiring to spend more and more time alone at home or doing nothing.

that said, it's been a pretty rip-roaring ride these few weeks. was in so much of a doldrums and then had my spirits lifted again. while i've been bitter and faithless in the bad times, my God has been gracious enough to still turn around and bless me, despite me being the lousy thing i am.

and i'm really grateful for friends along the way. walter, jx and mark for being there that night when i was just a big sore spot(one of those rare occasions, i hope), and also steven for going out of his way so much to bless me.

well, anyway here's a song about not giving up, about 8th chances and 9th chances, and probably chances into the double digits.

invincible

Follow through
Make your dreams come true
Don't give up the fight
You will be alright
Cause there's no one like you in the universe

Don't be afraid
What your mind consumes
You should make a stand
Stand up for what you believe
And tonight
We can truly say
Together we're invincible


During the struggle
They will pull us down
But please, please
Lets use this chance
To turn things around
And tonight
We can truly say
Together we're invincible


Do it on your own
It makes no difference to me
What you leave behind
What you choose to be
And whatever they say
Your souls unbreakable

During the struggle
They will pull us down
But please, please
Let use this chance
To turn things around
And tonight
We can truly say
Together we're invincible

Together we're invincible

Matchbox 20 - Rest Stop