myndbloc-blog

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It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music.

I’ve remained...

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Wang Jian’s cello was loaned to him by the family of the late Mr. Lam Sau-Wing. At Asia Society Hong Kong. For more information visit: www.asiasociety.org/hong-kong. #latergram #hongkong #music #musical #instrument #cello #painted #strings

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Entered my first online giveaway, ever, today!

Vitamix's blender. Fingers crossed! = )

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Reminder of realities in comparing cultures, when places are built on different ideologies and belief systems.

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"Being Human in a Networked Society"

Takeaways from Bangalore's recent Thinkathon, on habits of present-day, technology influenced living: goo.gl/hUQQn  "These so-called habits have direct implications on how young people learn and engage with conditions of knowledge production. That which we think of as a natural response within the networked worlds is often a habit that disguises the complex mechanics of control, containment, societal pressures and expectations, and systems of reward and punishment which all get flattened as we rethink what it means to be human in the digital worlds. Looking at the infrastructure, the interface, the processes of training, the threshold of critical competence and the incessant personal investment that is actually labour but is disguised as a habit within the networks of learning, makes us more conscious of the fact that the young users are not ‘born digital’ and nor are they going to become experts left to their own devices. It brings back to the surface the question of the role of technology in education, and the form and function of new knowledge actors in our systems of learning."  (via The Centre for Internet and Society) 

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Chai. Biscuits. The challenge of the perfect soak.

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Trafficking / Purchasing women is considered auspicious during Diwali season. Disturbing.

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This is foot work! A showcase justifying pure talent, why I looked up to Ronaldo throughout my football crazy youth.

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Life of Pi releasing Nov. 21st.

!… !!!

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GLOBALLY LOCAL

My biggest 2nd debate takeaway, from the President:

Self-reliance. Own 'energy' (from solar, wind, biofuel, natural gas, oil, jobs, manufacturing, agriculture), while still maintaining foreign and trading relations. Community building, at home.

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The Stratos Jump

aYou know that feeling of pressure when trying to find the exact words you'd like to meaningfully share in the mix of a real-time world event streaming? My real-time feeling of Felix Baumgartner's jump, ~22 miles from Earth's surface, breaking the speed of sound and landing of his feet: When another's liveliness gives you butterflies What could be next after checking this off your bucket list? Wondering what his metaphor is of the feeling.  

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Really neat, simply clever. Le Chal's directive GPS and footwear vibrations combo: "An ingenious solution that ticks all the boxes – scalable, effective and cost-effective. The genius is in the simplicity of the idea – to get ‘Haptic’ feedback (relating to the sense of touch) from a user’s shoes. The user spells out their destination on a GPS-based phone that used a specially-designed app (any Android-based phone is fine); a combination of three ubiquitous technologies – Bluetooth, Google Maps and GPS do the rest. Once the GPS establishes the user’s location, Google Maps comes into play and finds directions for the destination. Bluetooth is used to establish ‘communication’ between the phone and shoes, and the user is on his way – vibrators."

(via Mahindra Rise's blog)

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A little piece of history on its way home! On a prideful high off the fact that my voice will be heard from thousands of miles away. Cheers to online voting.

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Biden's expressions

To start off with, quoting CNN's post-debate commentary, "No one can doubt Biden's authenticity". Fact!

The thing with Biden's laughter throughout the debate is that when he wasn't reacting (negatively), his less expression-filled moments almost naturally reflected less opposition or feelings about topic of discussion, whether he meant to or not. The bittersweet of showcasing lots of 'emotion'. I was quite entertained (lots of hahahas) by Biden but at times his reactions were just as distracting as Ryan's gibberish. Biden's VP wisdom showed in his facts and clarifying counters, not so much in 'debate etiquette'. But is there such thing? hahaha. And to end with more of CNN's post-debate commentary, "71% of the debate's in-house audience thought Biden did better than they'd thought he would do", "Biden came with facts and specifics", "I thought I watching ninety minutes of campaign ads".

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A follow up to this and this.

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Foam core remnants at a local print shop in Nantong.

In the mix of China field research, June 2012

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Me. Blown up at ease of breeze. Photo taken by Jaineel S., with a GoProHD2. Pondicherry, India July 2012a