rantlust

Posted by papi on December 31st 2005 in Humor, Religion, Society
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I was down in Santa Fe this past week, and while there, made the mandatory trip to the St. Francis Cathedral. So there I was browsing around the cathedral, admiring a painting here, an icon there, when suddenly, I came upon a little nativity scene set up in an alcove. There was the infant Jesus in his crib; there was Joseph and Mary; and there was… the Taco Bell chihuahua!! Lending a distinct cross-cultural twist to the whole affair. If you’re a graduate history student looking for a thesis idea, here’s one: ‘Aztecs in Bethlehem?’

Another famous church in Santa Fe is the Loretto Chapel, renowned for its beautiful spiral staircase built with no central support. It was supposedly designed and built by a mysterious architect who showed up in response to the nuns’ prayers, and then disappeared after the construction was completed without even getting paid. There’s this helpful sign next to the St. Francis Cathedral which shows how to get to the Loretto Chapel, for those who cannot even be bothered to learn what it’s called.

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Posted by anupcs on December 31st 2005 in Travel
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Like the feared fast bowlers in the great Windies cricket team of the ’80s, most Jamaicans are tall people. I am not. Going to take a piss in one of the bars or restaurants here is a bit of an adventure. I think my height just about makes the cut to be able to pee without a good knowledge of the physics of trajectories and such. If you are a few inches shorter than me, then your apparatus might actually make contact with the urinal.

The “Hip Strip” mentioned in the previous post, is way too touristy, more or less like the Vegas strip without the neon and glitz. Jimmy Buffet has a Jamaican version of his Margaritaville here, complete with overpriced drinks but fabulous views and scantily clad women jumping up and down on well-placed sea trampolines. (The site is famous as a spring break destination for Americans).
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Posted by riyer on December 30th 2005 in Disasters, History, Politics, USA
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If you are a student of middle-east politics and if you have followed the ups downs and tragedies in the middle-east this one is for you. David Samuels has written a brilliant piece titled In a Ruined Country that is available for a limited time here

It is long and it is compelling. It was picked by David Brooks of the NY Times as the best essay of 2005. While I don’t agree with that charecterization, I do agree with Mr Brooks that it is an excellent piece.

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Posted by anupcs on December 30th 2005 in Travel
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The Caribbean is known for its “hustlers”–people who are trying to make a living in economically deprived countries by tricking tourists into buying their wares and drugs. Montego Bay, Jamaica, is no exception. The most infamous spot for these hustlers is a street called Gloucester Ave or the “Hip Strip.” We had decided to stay far away from this place and rented a room in a villa in a residential neighborhood called Whitehouse.

The house is right on the sea. And I don’t mean beach. You go out on the deck and walk down the steps and start swimming in the turqouise waters. Fabulous! What I was surprised by last night was the appearance of the Kayak hustlers. They come by in their small kayaks filled with crafts, and other wares trying to get you to buy them amidst offers of ganja and other drugs. They are a bit wary so they start with pleasantries such as “welcome to Jamaica, mon.” I wasn’t in the mood and refused all offers. . . so far.

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Posted by tafkap on December 29th 2005 in Business, Technology
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As a follow up to the post on gaming sweatshops, there is a certain economic sense in outsourcing the initial part of an online game. Rather than spending 6 months building up my character at $x a month online access fee, if I can get a ‘professional’ to get me an upgraded character with 1 month of intensive playing, could be worth my money. Besides, I get to the exciting task of dragon slaying without having to spend umpteen hours hacking and slashing some minor ogres.

Seems like there is a market for the game makers to tap here. Why couldn’t they just offer to give an upgraded character of a certain level (up to a max) in exchange for money. Not fair, I suppose, eh? But the rich are always more equal, why let the online world be any different?
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Posted by kinnum on December 28th 2005 in Society, USA
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http://snipurl.com/l4lw

Why not just ban houses with more than a certain number of bedrooms? Oh, but that’ll bring property taxes down. Just have big-ass houses, half occupied by Stepford people.

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Posted by maria on December 28th 2005 in Business, Technology
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Well, we have outsourced manufacturing, customer support, engineering, and even torture. The new business opportunity seems to be in outsourcing ogre slaying.

Yes, that’s right, you can now pay someone in China to play your computer games while you are busy working. Somehow I thought it should be another way around - I should be outsourcing my work to someone who can do it cheaper while I am busy playing computer games.

What’s next? I am thinking we should get ready to outsource our partying, drinking and smoking because it is too bad for us, but someone just has to do it while we are running on treadmills, meditating and growing organic lavender.

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Posted by anupcs on December 27th 2005 in Religion, Society
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I can’t stop chuckling. In case you haven’t heard, someone got fed up of the display of the “Nun Bun” at the Bongo Java coffeeshop in Nashville, TN, and decided to do the right thing and steal it over Christmas. The bun, you see, bears a “striking” resemblance to the late Mother Teresa. No doubt because of the multiple folds and wrinkles. The owner had a good run with it, selling merchandise related to the bun until the revered nun herself asked him to stop in ‘97. America is indeed the land of opportunity. And that’s why I love this country.

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