June Tune, In Hindsight, Gone Too Soon

1

Australia has a rich history, and indigenous Australians fascinate me no end.

Time immemorial: example of postpositive adjective.

Liturgical litanies of the laity. Addendum to previous

OZ has got monotremes.

2

Biding My Time – Pink Floyd: “…When we was workin' from nine to five…”

I mostly use diegesis while writing.

Obiter dicta, By The Way – RHCP.

I didn’t eat Tim Tams at Sanawar, but we did call biscuits ‘bikkies’.

To Surveil With Love is the only episode of the Simpsons, where the title "The Simpsons" is not shown [wiki].

4

Bovril ties together (pun intended) Douglas Adams and Frasier (specifically Daphne & Niles).

Jeremy Irons is from the Isle of Wight, which I reached from Antarctic exploration < Rock of Gibraltar < Pillars of Hercules < Atlantis < Bill & Peter’s Bogus Journey [Family Guy]. Aside: BEAR GRYLLS ON HAUNTED ISLAND  :D

And I’ve reached the Cheese Shop sketch of Monty Python from Antarctic exploration. Excellante!

Dr. Gonzo’s real-life inspiration, Oscar Zeta Acosta, disappeared in Mazatlan.

Time never goes backwards; that’s a relief for ennui.

5

John McEnroe called in on Frasier’s fifth season (as Patrick, but I don’t know the episode).

The 16-ton weight made its Monty Python debut in Self Defense Against Fresh Fruit :D

The [FATAL ERROR] Google Translate is a nice touch of whimsy, always associated with Google.

6

Caught the last tie break of the Djoker-Cecchinato French Open game while channel surfing last night, astounding play from both.

RHCP’s Dani California and Snow (Hey Oh) were used for the 2^nd live action Death Note movie! I can’t see how they relate to the occult manga/movie, though.

So Hideo Nakata of Ring fame got tempted enough to do a Death Note spinoff too

I read about people like Roopak Saluja (Sooperfly) and am convinced to continue life positively – especially since his age is, purely coincidentally, 42. Chanced upon this from Every Second Counts (Zondag met Lubach).

7

1 o’clock, and I’ve powered through 10 How To technical questions, which has somewhat depleted brain functions.

Half past five, and I’ve added ‘Editing privacy policies to be in accordance with GDPR’ to my repertoire. That word brings back excellent memories of DCE.

I want to be alive and healthy when Halley’s Comet appears again in 2061.

8

I hope the practical upshot of me writing the Project Report and Letter Of Intent for the prospective Gabon dealios gets me a return trip to Africa, for starters :D What’s the harm in wishing, and wishing well?

11

A (farcical) crisis about crasis: Microsoft Word rejects the word with its concomitant red squiggles. Not that I need to use it in A Life Afloat, but reading about Greek texts and Oxyrhynchus Papyri led on to phonetics and hence, into crasis.

Nadal’s dominant left hand was cramping up yesterday in the final at Roland Garros; mine is following suit on the keyboard today. Did a few pull-ups today, but more needs to be done to stay clear of CTS and all those sedentary job ailments. Just need to ride this out till I get to Oz…or even Canada, for that matter.

This Gary the Rat animation had a heavy cast! Will look it up on YouTube.

That settles it: I’ll play He-Man: Tappers of Grayskull at least once, as something new to do in the evenings.

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish (A Perfect Circle) is my current earworm.

Kafka is an Apache open-source stream-processing software platform!

12

Eminem voiced himself in Peter’s Progress, complimenting Stewie! :D

Again, the Rafa-esque pain in my left ring finger. Massaging seems to help.

13

Banal bank boring beat today. For a kinda worthy cause though, so…

2:45 pm and Citi is done, at least. Tomorrow for the other 2.

14

I am completely aware that I lack an entrepreneurial streak – completely and utterly. Biding my time here till A Life Afloat floats into publishing houses (or becomes the auspicious start of another one of Ganesh sir’s business ventures) seems like the existentialist thing to do.

Litchi/lychee is a monotypic taxon.

Uma Thurman was in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, as was Robin Williams! :D

15

Stardate 15.6.18: Nothing worth noting in my captain’s log

16

Orson Welles was in Treasure Island! Tremendous auteur-istic scope he had, by all accounts.

Coventry City FC handed Alex Ferguson his first Man U FA Cup defeat on their way to winning the 1987 title: a fact I learnt today courtesy of looking into Monty Python’s Flying Circus, specifically the World Forum/Communist Quiz sketch. As I tweeted a little while ago, Monty Python are (almost) always on the money.

Apparently, The Chaser’s War on Everything also parodied Monty Python.

New team member joining on Monday, so that should help in passing time. Bidding adieu to my ‘corner’, as Mattafix put it in Big City Life – my ongoing earworm along with APC’s So Long And Thanks For All The Fish, RHCP’s By The Way and PJ’s Black.

18

Some people are just…well I try not to be hypocritical but I can’t get over their utterly sleazy or shivers-down-the-spine way of communicating. Ugh (shudders). I’m dealing with it by concentrating on being my good self with good people.

Arose – Eminem

Mars Pt.1 – One Ring Zero

Mellotron Scratch – Porcupine Tree

Pendulum – Pearl Jam

Take A Picture – Filter

Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm (MJ cover)

Lazarus – Porcupine Tree

River – Eminem (ft. Ed Sheeran)

Frankenstein Monster Song – One Ring Zero

Walk On Water – Eminem (ft. Beyoncé)

Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell

My

Under The Influence – D-12

Creep – Radiohead

Deeper Underground – Jamiroquai

Nowhere Fast – Eminem (ft. Kehlani)

Chop Suey – System Of  A Down

A great song to end a Monday!

19

Jonathan Banks was in Freejack! :D In the morning, the exclamation of “God damn you, McCandless!” was bouncing hither-thither in my brain…I only remembered Anthony Hopkins, Mick Jagger and the plot point that a racing car driver was somehow transported into the future for a personality backup restoration. Praises be to the Internet!

MJ Nelson of MST3K fame did the campy commentary for Reefer Madness (colorized) in 2004

Maybe I will do a thread of all my travel blogs this weekend.

On reading through the webpages made with my content, if I identify even very minor errors, I get them rectified ASAP.

20

Summer cold

21

Still cold in the summer, with a stuffed nose that brings to mind the Impractical Jokers episode in which they have to take care of babies for a demo class. I shall steer clear of the phlegm-laden details.

25

3-day hiatus was good…now to decide the Lahaul trip days and lock them down.

Perhaps I should be writing Google reviews too.

Ever since I read about her own thought process behind Great Gig In The Sky, I appreciate Clare Torry’s vocals even more.

Woah (not woe) to the stereo effects on Interstellar Overdrive.

26

Day to pay for Kathmandu foray – if only a part of it

Shall the Lahaul trip be preponed? Will have to talk with relevant people.

Mo Money Mo Problems>Infallible>Money>Neptune>Highway Star>Breathe>Wish You Were Here (PF, not Incubus – though that song is in my Apple Music as well)>Megalomaniac (thought of Incubus and here they are)>Papercut>Smooth Criminal (AAF)>Mars, Pt. 1>See Emily Play>Numb>The Nile Song>Interstellar Overdrive>Nothing Else Is Happening>High Hopes>Chloraseptic>Under My Wheels>On The Wall (Neil Gaiman wrote the lyrics)>Wake Up>Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. I-V)>

27

Alea iacta est

Nihil aliud – but this is just ennui rearing its sleepy head again.

28

Ad astra; fiat lux – could Asimov’s Multivac be the inspiration behind Adams’ Deep Thought? The question posited to both computers is essentially similar, with Asimov’s being more scientific while Adams’ is whimsical.

Tim Alexander from Primus (of South Park theme song fame) played drums for the opening song on Mer de Noms.

29

No addition to log, some (not too significant) subtraction from recurring payout.

30

The increasing mass of humanity makes being ‘of historical importance’ a little more distinguished, aided ably by the ease of digital dissemination of information.

Explored some Gorillaz (Damon Albarn, effectively) today. Looking forward to the Round of 16 in FIFA.

FIFA World Cup 2018 Round of 16

Today being the last day of a gloriously fought group stage, I found myself thinking about the Round of 16.

2 spots still remain undecided, which proves how down to the wire the group stage has gone. The biggest ouster is Germany, of course, with the winner's curse dogging them in the form of a steadfast Korean team. The takeaway of the group stage is the defensive improvements and VAR-induced level playing field. I am all for VAR, as it negates the luck factor to a certain degree. More severe punishments for intentional aggression is good for the game, especially in these divisive, turbulent times.

France - Argentina
Albiceleste, for Messi, despite strong leanings towards Les Blues for the Pog

Uruguay - Portugal
Portugal for Ronaldo

Spain - Russia
Unfortunate end for the host nation at the hands of a laboring but still brilliant in flashes La Roja

Croatia - Denmark
The Danes, perhaps in a slight upset

Brazil - Mexico
Neymar and Coutinho are clicking, so Chicarito might have to fly back

Sweden - Switzerland
Switzerland, because Sweden lack the mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic

England & Belgium will probably win over their respective Group H opponents.


Next post probably before embarking on the Lahaul trip! :)

Towel Day & End-o-May-Way - On to June Tune

22

Get a volcano bowl at a tiki bar

Curtain rods that wait for weight

TIL: the Matheran line is also in line for UNESCO World Heritage status (while writing/typing for IRCTC)

23

Case study for Google? Maybe I’ll get some author credit for this, if not for the Maharajas’ Express travel blogs and such. My words are mine anyway, what’s a byline gonna do, especially for the nonchalant tech ones I’ve spewed out loquaciously (in a manner of ‘speaking’, of course, considering I’ve often just said things to myself about the droll topic at hand and typed them out along with the responses of my sleep-addled brain).

24

Opened the inbox to be told that it’s an only-IRCTC project day today. Time will tell.

Finished the Frasier scripts. Touching and opportune end to the storylines of the alienist analyst and his family. Now on to Seinfeld, and other shows which preferably have references like Frasier did.

Murdoch Mysteries involves a lot of historical figures…

It’s Towel day tomorrow! I shall be traveling by train with my towel to the town of Katra, en route Vaishno Devi via helicopter! Let the fun commence!

I can’t recall where I was thinking (or writing after finding out) about the Tunic of Nessus, but apparently the blood of the centaur Nessus was only obtained by Hercules after killing Nessus with an arrow tipped with Hydra’s vitriolic blood.

25 May – Towel Day!

Samantha Cristoforetti made the most of her ISS trip not just in scientific terms but also in 42 terms.

Tau Ceta is linked to Perseus rescuing Andromeda from a cetus/sea monster. Perseus before Hercules, 4 generations according to Isocrates (I, Socrates? :D).

Stumbled onto Glomar response (neither confirm nor deny) from Project Azorian (CIA) from Nova (TV series) from Family Guy (The Sun Also Draws). Peter Griffin watches Frasier in Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater :D.

Leonardo da Vinci’s world map of octants.

Embarking on the Vaishno Devi trip with slight trepidation, mostly unexplainable but slightly due to the reason I started jobbing again. 

29

Back from Jammu-Katra-Reasi-Akhnoor.

SpaceX Dragon is named for Puff the Magic Dragon.

Warhol filmed Salvador Dali upon his visit to The Factory.

The owner of the company quite understandably appreciates my written word, leading to slightly nauseous euphoria, which is promptly offset by the utter stupidity of the IRCTC liaison, who (along with the luminaries at IRCTC) has hay for brains and zero constructive input.

30

Douglas Trumbull of 2001 fame desisted from filmmaking after Natalie Wood’s death.

Dharamshala is a location in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (but those scenes were shot near Bombay (now Mumbai). Curwen hand signs (used in the climax) have ‘doh’ as the strong/firm tone, but I’m reminded of Homer (Simpson, not the ancient Greek). George Hopkins parachuted on to the Devil’s Tower IRL!

Conan the Librarian was used in Monty Python’s Flying Circus :D

It is now almost 6 pm, and I run across a parody of Natalie Wood’s death in Family Guy [Cleveland Loretta Quagmire]. How do these things I read about keep spiraling into each other? It’s just a coincidence, I know, not a quandary, and it elates me somewhat in these surroundings of less-than-erudite people.

31

The techie guy seems to have a handle on what he is writing back as inputs. One less dunderhead to deal with, hopefully. Will finish off recapping the fam trip to Vaishno Devi and simultaneously tick one off the IRCTC tourist destinations chart/table/grid.

The litany of laity

I hope to see the Hemis monastery festival in Ladakh when the next Year of the Monkey rolls around in 2028.

Philip K Dick used Aboriginal dreamtime in explaining V.A.L.I.S.

Ideas and thoughts can perennate.

Aaron Paul [Dick’s Big Giant Headache Pt 2], Bryan Cranston [Paranoid Dick] and Bob Odenkirk [The Fifth Solomon; 100^th episode] were in 3^rd Rock From The Sun! :D

Can’t recall writing the synopses/reviews on IMDb for The Twilight Zone, Synecdoche, New York, Frasier [which I ‘read’ in the past month], Breaking Bad and True Detective. Robert Downey Sr. appeared in the episode of Twilight Zone that I have reviewed succinctly – ‘Wordplay’.

Studio Ghibli was founded by Isao and Hayao exactly two months before my birth. I’ll take that. I’ll take less than that, any day, for adding reasons to remain positive, instead of succumbing to ignominy and the drivel of other people who have not much to do except B –ve [my blood type]. The Tale of Princess Kaguya has the Buddha in the story, about whom I have recently read hours’ worth of webpages.

May Way has come to an end for 2018. On to June Tune!

Third Week of May

16

Voix celeste led me to flanging, which was mentioned as the slang for ADT, and coined by Lennon, from made-up acoustic-babble that a sound engineer said to him.

17

Frasier says “nota bene” and it is still the last of the tabs open in Chrome since I started perusing the scripts. Little coincidences that take us full circle, or part-way-spiral.

Towel Day is a week away! :D

18

Met the founder of the company today.

19

Saturday. Chilling. Frasier orders a tart tatin, which makes me search, and the intriguing pen name of a gastronome comes up: Curnonsky. His name was M E Sailland, which also raises my brows. He refers to his nom de plume as his “tunic of Nessus”, which was what killed Hercules. I click to make sure I remember correctly, and gain the additional information that Tresckow called it a robe. Reading further, I come upon the tunic/robe having been used as a metaphor in The Count of Monte Cristo, which I vividly remember reading in the smaller prep school library next to the dorms, at the back of the needlework and batik and one other hobby rooms – can’t recall it for the life of me. Sanawar was what fueled my book habit, and I remain ever grateful for that. It is important, I think, to understand what made me the person I am, from the activities that held my attention in childhood to the courses of action that I prefer over others in the present.

I also miss writing on paper, which is why I do the least I can and maintain a notebook at ‘work’ to record additions to my glossary. Glossa is also a biological term, something in insects – but the word that ‘glossary’ triggered was that ghost speaking thing…I remember mnemonizing it with ghost-o-lalala…glossolalia, that was it. It feels good when squiggly red lines do not show up when I write – type, I beg your pardon – an ambiguous word! A feeling of achievement, no matter how small, is never insignificant.

Perhaps absurdity played more than a passing part in Monty Python’s Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

“For life is quite absurd

And death’s the final word”

:D

So, badinage seems an appropriate addition to the work notebook. Chanced upon it quite by accident, albeit a somewhat satisfying one.

The Ring of the Nibelungen seems similar to Tolkien’s LotR

My eyes flared wide when I read Jane Leeves was in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. Uncredited, but nonetheless, my appreciation of her has gone up another notch!

‘Elide’ has seemingly opposite alternate meanings. Another word added thanks to the offshoot reading from Gravity’s Rainbow annotations in the Pynchon Wiki. Got to it while reading more on Penelope in The Odyssey.

https://gravitys-rainbow.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pages_174-177

As good a time as any to call it a (Satur)day! Emojis have made yearn for hieroglyphics in Outlook, too.

One-third of May

1 May

Epistemological apperceptions

Is any of the music by Eminem syncopatic?

Thematic apperception test (cards >> TAroT cards)

Read about Tristan and Isolde from the Frasier reference to Wagner, and now checking out Tannhauser from Gravity’s Rainbow. Classical art keeps recurring throughout the kind of creative works that click with my mind.

I cannot bring myself to inveigh at anything or anyone – bar a few temporary aggrievances. It is a good change, I am sure, from the venting of young adult angst onto the question papers of engineering exams, in the spaces between the problem statements.

2

The search engine at the Wayback Machine is “having issues momentarily”. What do you do THEN? When even failsafes start to crumble, does anything apart from your experience remain?

3

Tannhauser is Wagner, and Wagner also scored Un Chien Andalou, “written” by Salvador Dali. Found this after starting from Georges Melies’ Google Doodle homage.

A Sunday to rest my eyes from the computer screen, plus El Clasico was excellent to watch.

7

Slight nausea at this ennui…I routinely get bored of routine. Perhaps disrupting my routine is the only routine I follow. Still, at least this place allows me to write/type without pressure. Small steps towards amorous company are progressing as well, in my usual style of selective aloofness.

8

You cannot escape your name.

The laws of thought can be most intelligibly expressed thus:

1.   Everything that is, exists.

2.   Nothing can simultaneously be and not be.

3.   Each and every thing either is or is not.

4.   Of everything that is, it can be found why it is.

There would then have to be added only the fact that once for all in logic the question is about what is thought and hence about concepts and not about real things.

— Schopenhauer, Manuscript Remains, Vol. 4, "Pandectae II", §163'

9

The surrounding nitwits have no chill. Neither do they have the guts to say more than a sentence or two to me. It is as I prefer. Inane small talk with ignorant and shallow people does not interest me in the slightest. It is a (W.A.S.T.E.) of my mind and my time. In this regard, I invoke Jean Paul Sartre: “Hell is other people.”

What is life without whimsy, Sheldon says, and I’m inclined to concur.

10

Jury-rigged, jerry-built

Soylent Green showed up in The Simpsons too: Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie. In the very next episode, Marge Gets A Job, Citizen Kane homage. Also, she recommends Tom Jones, who came up in a Chrome tab from Bob Dylan’s Nobel speech, referring to the Odyssey as an inspiration for songs. In many intricate way, the knowledge that has existed from classical times percolates into my mind – pop culture or high art, it is all fair game to my mind, devouring all and assimilating most – as much as possible, but that sounds defeatist. Never Give In. J

Managed to reach Batman’s first appearance in Detective Comics #27 from Sarnath, via Lovecraft, and his inclusion in the Elseworlds (not named as such when Gotham By Gaslight was first published) comics.

11

Fitting that I end this week with a link to a linguistic list:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volta_(literature)