rantlust

Posted by anupcs on November 28th 2007 in Fashion, Health & Fitness, Raves
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After slightly more than two decades, I have finally attained the state of nirvana when it comes to shaving. Call me a shaving snob, if you will. With a fast growth (what 5 o’clock shadow — more like 1 o’clock) and a thickness that rivals the Black Forest, nicking has been a weekly occurrence for most of my post pubescent life. Not anymore. I have discovered shaving oil and perfected the art of shaving.

First a hot water shower that allows my facial pores to open up. Then comes a liberal splash of more hot water on the face at the sink (I am not an in-the-shower shaver primarily due to the fact that my vision without glasses is far from 20/20). Then I pour a few drops of shaving oil onto my palms and spread it evenly across the stubble. I allow it to settle in for a few seconds and then lather up my face with shaving cream, using a badger brush to spread it evenly (and in the process, saving on the cream). I use a decent blade (currently the favorite is Fusion from Gillette) in smooth motions to wipe the face clean of hair. Just one stroke per area is sufficient. I start with the cheeks and work my way inwards. The chin is last. The rinsing is done with cold water and to finish up, I spread only a small amount of after shave. I don’t believe in being masochistic and having an alcohol based after shave applied. I currently am using a sandalwood based balm that finishes off a very satisfying shave.

Gone are the days when I used to think that shaving was as bad as flossing. I now look forward to my shaving ritual daily. Try it, maybe you will too.

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Posted by renéejo on November 13th 2007 in Travel
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It’s not easy to write when you are going around the world (it’s taking more than 80 days). At the time I first announced my intentions to travel and keep the rantlust community updated on my adventures, I thought I’ll really stick to it. But there’s been too many ‘I’ll-blog-at-the-next-pit-stop’ promises to myself without much avail. Travelling is a draining activity especially if you are doing too much stuff. It’s been three months since I last wrote (about Tibet) and now Tibet is such a distant memory.

The Internet is everywhere I go and yet, I can’t bring myself to write. I am not even writing on my journal. And slowly over the months, I have attained this stage of travel nirvana where I don’t even see a lot of the touristy stuff. I just show up at places, meet some people (some fellow travelers, some locals) and just hang. Sip a coffee or chai here, sip a beer there, eat some noodle soup here, eat some Thai fish curry there. I sit and watch children play on the beach; young adults canoodle on park benches; Japanese tourists take pictures of me with whatever statue is behind me; get hit on by local men and touristy women. Life goes on. I occasionally pop into an Internet cafe to check on close friends and family and let them know I’m still in it. But even news has lost a lot of the meaning for me. I mean, what’s the point really? Unless you are on a world domination spree, why bother with what’s happening thousands of miles away? Give the conscience a break and be selfish… in your moment for a while. It feels good.

Random thoughts. Observing people and surroundings with nary a care in the world. Feeling good about humanity. Remembering how tough, interesting, life-changing and amazing the last few months of my life have been. Missing those close to me. Wishing I could get a hug.

I am now in a tiny cafe in Hobart, Tasmania. Beautiful weather. A few clouds in the sky, summer is approaching. I can see Sullivan’s Cove from where I sit. A beautiful woman with a Spanish accent sits by herself at a table nearby. Probably late 30s. She’s talking on a sleek looking phone (no, not the iPhone) to probably a jilted lover. She’s angry but the voice is soft but steady. On the only other table sits a young boy with headphones bigger than his head wrapped around. A girl sits opposite him bored and having a cake. He’s reading some thick tome. The waiter likes me. Keeps coming to my table to chit chat. I think I’ll indulge him. He’s cute. Pakistan and Darfur don’t interest me now. I am living in the here and now. And loving it.

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Posted by meerkat on November 06th 2007 in Architecture, Art, Design
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Frank Gehry has been blamed for serious design flaws at Stata center in Cambridge. This seems to be the price you pay for having an unconventional building which looks stunning and for sure, breaks the monotony of the buildings.

From the article-
“Because Gehry’s so daring, you figure you’ve got to be daring, too, if you’re a client,” Campbell said. “You know if you hire Frank Gehry there are going to be new kinds of problems.” But he said clients accept the risks because “they’ll get a building like no other building.” (Read more…)

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Posted by meerkat on November 05th 2007 in Rants, Society, Technology
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I always thought all cubicles in the cube farm are bad for humans. But, some cubicles are really really bad. Here’s Wired magazine’s sad cubicle list.

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