coming up next

No, I didn't get eaten by a shark. I'm still alive. Thanks for those who cared to ask.
=)

The weekend was off in a blink, so I couldn't get to do anything much I wanted. But I'm getting them around.

I'd been working on the translation I promised, and it turned out to be much harder than I thought. That means its also lengthier. That might be good news or bad news for you, I can't tell.
=P

Anyway, this post is a shameless attempt at self-marketing as you can see. Nothing much to tell. Unless you'd like to know what I'm listening to..
=)

We're jammin
I wanna jam it with you
We're jammin
Jammin
And I hope you like jammin too

Ain't no rules, ain't no vow, we can do it anyhow
I and I will see you through
Cos every day we pay the price with a little sacrifice
Jammin till the jam is through

We're jammin
To think that jammin was a thing of the past
We're jammin
And I hope this jam is gonna last

No bullet can stop us now
We neither beg nor will we bow
Neither can be bought nor sold
We all defend the right, Jah Jah children must unite
Your life is worth much more than gold

We're jammin
We're jammin in the name of the Lord
We're jammin
We're jammin right straight from Jah

Holy mount Zion
Holy mount Zion
Jah sitteth in Mount Zion
And rules all creation

Yeah, we're jammin
I wanna jam it with you
We're jammin
I'm jammed, I hope you're jammin too

Jam's about my pride and truth I cannot hide
To keep you satisfied
True love I know exist is the love I can't resist
So jam by my side

We're jammin
I wanna jam it with you
Hope you like jammin too

Egocentric round-up

Hiya, people.

I know I haven't been writing properly for ages now. Actually, I think I had already posted a while ago about not posting anything decent, so I'll skip that part. I'll just say it's partly due to CapFic, and partly because I've been going fishing in most of my spare time recently.

I have to wake up early tomorrow once more, to hook some more fish. I know, I obsess on strangest things. Whatever, it keeps time rolling.

I already had a few drinks, so I realized I wouldn't be able to wake up before the sun if I continued. Being a Friday night as it is, I chose to skip sleep and ordered some more spirits. So I'll stick around, doing my tackles and stuff.

I've promised Nocturnio for a new post, which I had been hoping to write. It's actually mostly a translation of a speech from dearest Nihat Genc, a fellow writer of my tongue. I hope he'll be okay with my "free-style" translation, adding and subtracting bits. Anyway, just to note that the thoughts and emotions in the next post are his, and not mine.

That sounded weird. To clarify: I totally agree with him, and feel exactly the same. What I meant is, it's his thoughts and words, mostly. I really wish they were mine. I just wanted to emphasize they're not mine, giving full credit against being accused of plagiarism.

Anyway, I still got several hours before dawn, so I think I'll put up the post tonight. Partially because I think I will sleep through the rest of the weekend when I come home from fishing tomorrow. And I hate to break promises.

Week in review

Hey everyone..

Well, I know I spent the last week on CapFic, and didn't post much here. At least I thought so, but looking back now, it seems it's been a while since I posted anything decent here..

So this is like a confession post. Just to sync up. Here's the state of the nation:

As you probably know by now, I launched a new site called CapFic, which is the new harbour of my defected ramblings. I really have fun writing there, but time is the worst enemy as always. I tried to (and have succeeded till now) to update CapFic daily. And especially on weekdays, that sucks up all my energy — not to mention I was constantly late to work this past week.

Well, that's me. And how's everyone doing?

I put the rss feed of this blog on Feedburner, and when I used to post daily, there seemed to be 20-30 subscribers. I know some of you, not very well, but at least I know who you are. But that's just a few people. I am really curious about who took the pain to subscribe to this piece of bogus rants.

So what's up, everybody out there? Please leave a comment if you're reading this.

And I'm just gonna get a sixpack since it's Friday. And that means, yet more lyrics. =)

How have you been?

Glued to the monitor

I think I'll just go to bed now.

I spent most of the past 24 hours at the computer, and tired I am.

Just a quick note to you all that my new website is up now. CapFic. Check it out yourself, I don't have stamina to explain, really.

Hmm, I think I get rude when I'm exhausted. Sorry.

See you around..

The Pirate Bay to buy Sealand

If the title makes no sense to you, here's a recap:

The Pirate Bay was "the world's largest BitTorrent tracker" until it got raided by the police on May 31st, 2006.

The owners of the site were accused of being a source for pirate music and movie downloads. God save the Industry.

And Sealand is a country which is not recognized by any other country in the world. The motherland consists of a platform in the sea, about 600 square metres in area, and the nation's population "rarely exceeds 10".

That may sound funny to you, but international law is more or less helpless in disputing Sealand's claim to be a nation. It has its own constitution, and is completely independent in legal terms, de-facto.

And recently, the Prince of Sealand, who's father had declared the nation in 1967, has decided to sell the country.

That's where The Pirate Bay comes in. If they can buy Sealand, they will be free from international copyright laws that make the rich publishing corporations, well, richer.

So here's your chance to help make history. Buy Sealand, and give The Pirate Bay a cozy motherland.

Hoorays for the great idea and for the pirate crew.

Ode to

You better watch your step
You must be on your guard
And take it slow
And promise me, be careful
What you do

I know you're strong
I know you'll make it on your own
Without my help
But please make sure you won't be
By yourself

Every time I hear my song
On the radio
I keep moving closer
And closer to you
Every time the dj is playing my song
I can feel you here by my side
All night long

You got to try much harder
Take it from the start
And try again
You got to be much faster
If you can

You probably will fail
No matter how you try
It's not enough
It takes so much
To make it to the top

Every time I hear my song
On the radio
I keep moving closer
And closer to you
Every time the dj is playing my song
I can feel you here by my side
All night long

Let's go down
The dance floor if you dare
Now's the time
To show that you're not scared

Cherry earrings

I just talked to my ex-wife on the phone.

I always hated the "ex-" notion. It sounds so cliche, so shallow, so ego-centric, and utterly stupid. But I just don't know how else to call her. My old wife? It's not like she's 75. My previous wife? Nah, that sounds like I'm on a series. Same with "my first wife," or "my last wife". Which are technically true, but not really more sensible than the "ex-" version. I guess, well, she is my ex-wife after all.

She just called to let me know she'll come in tomorrow to pick her things up. The various bits that were still here, that is. I'll be at work, so I'll just leave the keys at the grocer's, she's left her set at her parent's. That feels strange, she has to get the keys from the grocery guy to let herself in now. Well, life.. You can never bathe in the same river twice.

She sounded happy. That makes me happy. Well that too sounded too cliche, but I didn't mean it that way. I'm feeling more relaxed, more easy, more comfortable, and eventually more happy since we divorced. And that kind of made me feel guilty. Now that I know she's also happier, I'm happy without feeling bad.

I had really loved her. I guess I still do, but not as I used to. I don't mean less, I mean, well, different. As an old close friend, perhaps? I don't know. Just not the same. We both suffered a lot. We used to drive each other mad at times, literally. Well, most of the time, lately. It feels much more "right" this way.

Why am I writing this? I don't know. Just in case I post some more lyrics, so be warned, I think I'll go get some more beer.

Experience is everything.

Do you believe in free will?

The blogosphere works in strange ways.

I just landed on Vanishing Zero while I was blog hopping. The post about free will and determinism was interesting, but I didn't get it all, for it linked to this blog post by Scott Adams, and this New York Times article. So I ended up reading those as well. Then I came back to Vanishing Zero, thought for a bit, and posted a comment.

Midway, I realized that this would be too long of a comment, so I tried to be as brief as I could (didn't work much, but anyway). Here's what I wrote there:

I agree machines can never be conscious. Even if they were programmed to do so, they'd still be running the program, or at most morphing the program and running new spawns of it. But they'd still be just following the commands.

But I also [agree] with parts of the NYT story that says free will is an illusion. I think it's just a matter of levels and complexity.

Do ants have free will? From our perspective, no. Their world just consist[s] of terrains, food, enemies, and other ants. They just follow their instincts and react to certain chemical compounds.

But from their point of view, they are adventuring, talking to each other, waging war, serving their queen, etc.

I'm not sure if I could explain what I meant, but that's as far as my linguistic skills go.

Basically, I think we do have free will when we look from our own perspective. But looking from one level of intelligence and complexity above us (be it God and angels, or some alien species), we are just following the commands built in us, just like we think (know) the ants do.

That was long, but I didn't know how to say it shorter.

I could write more, but I feel like thinking a bit more about it before I do.

What do you think? Are our actions all pre-determined by the universe, or do we have a say?

Mind like water

I think I'm sober now..

I read the Getting Things Done book (manifest?) from David Allen in the past couple days (yeah, while sobering up). I had read quite a number of good (and passionate) reviews of the GTD system for some time now. I usually just smirk at such buzzy trends, especially if it's some kind of self help development all is well theme. But I had nothing better do, and decided to give it a try.

So I downloaded a pdf of the book and began reading it. But that's piracy, well, yes it is. But there's no way I'd give money for some book when I have hardly the money for smokes and food. And, by the way, especially not to some greedy robber.

Right, that's in direct reference to David Allen himself. Just for goodness sake, check out the "features" of his marvelous "digital 2 minutes timer" software:

How long is 2 minutes? Most people had no idea, until now. With this digital timer installed on your computer just a keystroke away...

This miraculous piece of software is available for purchase at David's site for $10. I mean, come on.. Does he really need the 10 bucks from that crap so badly?

Anyways, I read the book, and to my surprise, it wasn't all that bad. I liked a few tricks he suggests, actually, and I think I'm going to try them out for a while at work and elsewhere. It might be a good way to recollect my pieces.

Not to reach a higher state of mind, though, or a "mind like water." Just to get things done, hopefully. I got tons of stuff to take care of, and I can't get meself to actually do anything. And my mind is like water already, any way. Probably more like the muddy waters of the Wishkah, but.. Well..

Happy new year

Watch the early morning sun
Drip like blood from the day
See the crazy people run
So many games to play
See the blue suburban dream
Under the jet plane sky
Sleep away and dream a dream
Life is just a lullaby

And everything will flow
You know everything will flow

Watch the day begin again
Whispering into the night
See the crazy people play
Hurrying under the light
A million cars, a million trains
Under the jet plane sky
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Life is just a lullaby

The neon lights in the night tonight will say
Everything will flow
The stars that shine in the open sky will say
Everything will flow
The lovers kissed with an openness will say
Everything will flow
The cars parked in the hypermarket know
Everything will flow

Happy new year, everyone.. I hope everything flows nicely for you.

Common people (I'm listening to 3)

This one's by Pulp. Right, I'm drunk..

She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I caught her eye

She told me that her Dad was loaded
I said "In that case I'll have rum and coca-cola
She said "fine"
And then in 30 seconds time she said:

"I want to live like common people
I want to do whatever common people do
I want to sleep with common people
I want to sleep with common people like you"
Well what else could I do?
I said "I'll see what I can do"

I took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
but I had to start it somewhere
so it started there

I said "pretend you've got no money"
but she just laughed
and said "oh you're so funny"
I said "Yeah
Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here
Are you sure
you want to live like common people
you want to see whatever common people see
you want to sleep with common people
you want to sleep with common people like me?"
But she didn't understand
she just smiled and held my hand

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cos when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
because there's nothing else to do

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along although they're laughing at you
and the stupid things that you do
because you think that poor is cool

Like a dog lying in a corner
they will bite you and never warn you
Look out
they'll tear your insides out

'cos everybody hates a tourist
especially one who thinks
it's all such a laugh
yeah and the chip stain's grease
will come out in the bath
You will never understand
how it feels to live your life
with no meaning or control
and with nowhere else to go
You are amazed that they exist
and they burn so bright
whilst you can only wonder why

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cause when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
'because there's nothing else to do
I want to live with common people like you.....

My love for Saddam

I just needed to make this post.

I've been updating my previous post about Saddam's last moments, and it seems I've angered a few friends..

People seem to be mad at me for the way I think, except that I did not actually wrote what I think. I just linked to a commentary by Old Buck, and apart from that, I believe all I included in the post are plain truth, not my opinion.

Sure, the mainstream media has a different take on Saddam's execution. But that's their opinion, and not the truth. This is why I love the internet and the blogosphere. It's not just the "mainstream" no more, it's actual people who are speaking.

If you want to boo me, please do so, only I don't care. It just doesn't change the truth, and it doesn't change the way I think. If you're "shocked" that I think this way, well, that's how my mind works, and actually I'm more interested in the truth, rather than "social acceptance". Sorry.

Best gift ever

Masha gave me the best christmas gift ever..



Bubbles! That's exactly how you entertain a 30 year old kid..



Thank you Masha.

Sydney, Australia (that's s-Y-d-n-e-y)

And it's Australia, not Austria, for that matter.

Here's the story of a young guy who found himself in Sidney, Montana. Right, he was expecting to arrive in Australia.

Dressed for the Australian summer in t-shirt and shorts, Tobi Gutt left Germany Saturday for a four-week holiday.

Instead of arriving "down under," Gutt found himself on a different continent and bound for the chilly state of Montana.

"I did wonder but I didn't want to say anything," Gutt told the Bild newspaper. "I thought to myself, you can fly to Australia via the United States."

That was clever, though. If he kept going west, he would actually arrive in Australia. And a bit to the south, perhaps.

Sad thing is, he was trying to visit his girlfriend in Australia.

He could of course just hijack a plane and push his way through to Sydney. A "gel-type candy" is weapon enough, according to the recent liquid restrictions. But no..

The hapless tourist, who had only a thin jacket to keep out the winter cold, spent three days in Billings airport before he was able to buy a new ticket to Australia with 600 euros in cash that his parents and friends sent over from Germany.

Can't spell, and not exactly imaginative. Tough luck..

What to do with a free Ferrari

What to do if you receive a "free" Acer Ferrari laptop in the mail? From Micro$oft, that is..

It seems, the Gates crew are bribing certain (A-list) bloggers by sending a "for review" laptop, with Vista installed. The laptop is optional as to keep or return, or to donate. How charming.

This story is already big on Digg and many other big name sites, and it's really comforting to see the blogosphere reacting to this as they should.

The best way to deal with a "review" laptop from Gates:

1. install Linux


2. set the wallpaper


3. mail it back to Redmond

Fun or Sun?

The Sun won't be here forever. It will probably burn out in a few million years. Better not get too used to it. Better enjoy it while you can.

Wait.. You probably won't last that long.

The advice still holds, just needs a paraphrase —

You won't be here forever. You will probably burn out in a few decades. Better not get too used to yourself. Better enjoy life while you can.

I'm not completely drunk yet, so you might consider that as a hint, if not the truth.

Either way, you have a limited amount of time (life) to spend. Just like me.

How do you plan to spend it?

Never thought of it? Come on.. Your life is the most real thing you do (and ever will) possess. You never thought of how to use it?

Head up. Stand up. You've got all the time in the world, and you surely wouldn't want to spend it sitting down.

So what to do? Imagine yourself in a year from now. In five years.. In ten years. Where do you want to be? How do you dream yourself?

Sailing in the Mediterranean, on an old ass wooden boat, fishing for dinners and picking tomatoes for breakfast, drinking raki (or uzo) every other night, catching every drop of the sun, every shssh the wind carries, never having to get up early (but getting up early anyway, just to catch the sunrise), no troubles about a day-job what-so-ever, earning your living just writing poems and stories (or maybe code). Or maybe just trading in fish for whatever you need.

That is Sun.

Working your ass off like you have a thousand more, playing the corporate game, honing your skills in office politics, getting that office with a view, a salary you can't ever spend, meetings, god all the meetings, a luxury car parked in front of your luxury house, which is decorated with all the luxury money can buy, and spending your money on all the luxury entertainment (can't think what), the parties, 5-star hotels, malls, designer clothes, antique collections, security systems (of course).

That is fun.

I'd prefer the Sun. Not just because it's free. Because it's more real.

Your love did not desert me

Ok, I admit this is one of those "drunk" posts I produce every once a while. There, you're warned.

Here's a translation of a poem (and also a song) from my native language:

Your love did not desert me
Hungry as I were
Thirsty as I were
The night was treacherous and dark
Your love did not desert me

The heart is still poor
The heart is still silent
The heart is shattered to pieces
Your love did not desert me

Handcuffed as I am
I've been without a smoke, without a sleep
Your love did not desert me

Is love just so overrated?

Here's my (controversial) (mindless) rant:

There are two (2) kinds of people — those who could fell in love with anybody, and those who could never fall in love.

"Sparkle" is a fine word. There are people (like me), who fell in love with a single sparkle (or two) they see in somebody. The person might as well be Britney Spears or Bill Gates, no matter what their conscious (subconscious) tells them, that single (or couple) sparkles do the job already. Love is blind. This type of person is not aware that he/she could actually fall in love with -anyone-, and this unawareness (as long as it sustains) fucks him/her up real good.

There's also another kind of person (the second). He/she too might fall in love easily, but under different presumptions. While type A picks up the "good sparkles" in any person (and falls in love with them), this type B picks up the "bad sparkles" in any person, particularly those who they are in love with, and begin carving out a (subconscious) (conscious) exit strategy.

Once more, I am pretty drunk at the moment. I'm getting divorced in 10 hours. My opinions are probably ego-centric and self-applauding, (which is the exact opposite of what I've always tried to be), but that's human nature. Don't say you've not been warned.

So my theory, (not that you could build a LISP macro on it), is that there are 2 (two) kinds of people. Those who are inclined to fall in love (with any sparkle they happen to see), and those who are inclined to drop it all (with any sparkle they happen to see).

Honestly, I had some other issues to write about this subject, but I can't quite remember right now. So I'll be a jerk and end the post with another song: (songs are divine)

Can't get the stink off
It's been hanging round for days
Comes like a comet
Suckered you but not your friends
One day she'll get to you
And teach you how to be a holy cow

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts
You do it to yourself, just you
you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself

Don't get my sympathy
Hanging out the 15th floor
You've changed the locks three times
She still comes reeling through the door
One day I'll get to you
And teach you how to get to purest hell

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts
You do it to yourself, just you
you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts is
You do it to yourself, just you
you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself, yourself, yourself.

Yeah, that's good old Radiohead.

Kudos to yourself — if you can guess I'm type A or type B.

Peace of mind — if you can guess if you're type A or type B.

Did you write your letter to Santa?

You'd better hurry, if you haven't already.

You don't know the address? Come on, everybody knows that. Just mark your envelope with "Santa Clause, North Pole". According to this story, even letters without stamps get through.

However, there is a proper way to address a letter to Santa. It appears North Pole is a town in Alaska, and Santa's Elves are volunteering town folks and the US Postal Service. The USPS has released guidelines for parents, who want their children's letters to Santa get replied.

Parents are encouraged to work with their children while they write letters to Santa so they can pick up a few tips when they later help craft Santa's reply. Once the reply is written, "Santa's response" should be placed in a stamped envelope addressed to the child. This envelope should then be placed in a larger, properly stamped, First-Class Mail or Priority Mail envelope and mailed to:

North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks, AK 99709-9998

That ensures you'll get the Santa North Pole postmark.

The World is Mine

Every relationship is based on selfishness..

It sounds pessimistic when I say it, but it's put brilliantly on RoadSlave:

It's amazing how we let our relationships just fade because we are unwilling to sacrifice.

Could anyone argue they've fared any better?

I'm far from social. I have so few relationships still alive, and I can't say I really try to grow my circle. I've always been comfortable with being-on-your-own.

The good thing about having few friends, is that you can give your best attention to them, do everything you can when they are in need. I used to think of meself as stable and countable. Until I read:

That's all this is anyway, this life, it's relationships.
Talking about them, living them, trying to have them, maintaining them, longing for them.
As individuals we cannot survive or be happy without them. This is what really matters. Yet, we are narcissists and cannot see beyond our own desires, our own fears.
We are locked inside ourselves and are constantly screaming to get out.

We want someone to know us in a way that we can no longer hide and still we are afraid of judgment, failure, unreciprocated feelings, reciprocated feelings and commitment (and I'm sure a whole laundry list of others).

Shattering my integrity.

Reminding me of many calls I've never returned, many emails I've never replied.

Giving is one of the best things you can do in this life.

There's a catch, though, in my humble opinion. Don't be too patient. Don't spend five years of your giving on the same person. Make sure you are getting bits and pieces in return. Otherwise, I'd say it's better to give elsewhere.

Egocentric as I am.

50 Good Things About Life

1. A peaceful sleep. No worries keeping you awake, no nightmares, no alarm clocks.
2. Waking up early. Not because you have to --just for the sake of the lingering sunshine on your face.
3. The smell of fresh coffee.
4. A smoke to accompany the fully caff'ed.
5. Breakfast. Full-fledged, deserving its name. Tomatoes, olives, and all.
6. Money. The dirt on your hand. Without it, you're worthless. Not that this is my design, it's just the way it goes. Not that I'd put so much emphasis on it, if it were up to me.
7. Health. One thing your money can't buy. You can buy to look younger, but you can't buy off a flu.
8. Cold beer. No tin can, the bottle himself.
9. The sea. Is there anything more soothing than the sound of waves? The sea, the horizon, the mild breeze.
10. The rain, H2O again. I truly feel sorry for people who are too elite to get soaked by the rain.
11. Whistling, it's so cliche, but so heart warming.
12. Fire. Not as in "the roof is on fire" -- but a campfire, or even a candle. Isn't it hypnotic?
13. Poetry. In ancient times, people gathered around a fire, and listened to the shaman (who was also a poet). Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me.
14. Music. Or better yet, songs that pierce your very soul. An actual song with lyrics. I'm listening to Lemon from U2, at the moment (yeah, hence the name of the blog, clever you). Midnight is where the day begins. A man dreams of leaving, but he always stays behind.
15. Drunkness. "Get drunk -- with wine, or poetry, or with love". Can't really recall, but I think it was Verlaine.
16. A pet. Ever considered what a kitten or puppy might bring your home?
17. Lies. That's how you tell friend from foe.
18. Love. I really had to restrain meself up to this point, but I guess it would pop in sooner or later. And my scale for love is the size of your grin when you hug your beloved. Nothing more, nothing less.
19. Randomness. And complexity. Even if you do the exact same things at the exact same times, today won't be anything like yesterday.
20. Getting married. Once and for all, you find who you belong to. Home is sweet.
21. Getting divorced. The freedom of being on your own.
22. Getting shot. If you don't know what it's like being close to the end, how can you appreciate life?
23. Hellos. The basics of human interaction. Full of surprises.
24. Games. Toys. Who wouldn't play?
25. Photographs, framed on the wall. What other proof have you got of your lives?
26. The Impressionists. Monet, Renoir. Degas. Sisley. This is art.
27. 1984. A tale so full of truth. Thank you, Orwell.
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra. Ein buch fur Alle und Keinen.
29. Hitch-hiking. You can't compare it with luxury cruise lines.
30. A good movie. Fight Club, for example. Or A Bout de Souffle. Or Memento.
31. Time, when you're not racing against it. Time, when you're sun-bathing, or making love.
32. Friends. The kind you can call up after years of silence.
33. Parents. Even if you don't even speak with them. For once, you owe them this very life of yours. For seconds, all the attention you'll ever get might be theirs.
34. Children. Of your own. From your beloved. Never mind the numbers in the list, this is the best you'll ever get, guaranteed.
35. Sailing. No diesel, no plexiglas, no buttons or switches. Just sailing, like they did in ancient China, racing through the fog and what not.
36. Open source. Information wants to be free.
37. The wind. In your hair, on your bare skin.
38. The more I listen to it, the least I can resist: The Raconteurs -- My Baby Shot Me Down from the Lollapalooza, followed by Nancy Sinatra.
    
39. Kurt Cobain minus Courtney Love.
40. Traveling. Go go go!
41. Crying. Yeah yeah, boys don't cry. In public.
42. Marketing. For showing us what we can be fooled into.
43. George W. Bush. For showing us what failure is.
44. The night. When it's quiet, dark, and lonely. When strangest things happen.
45. Dreams. The goals, not the sleepy images. The imaginary projections of ourselves. Aren't they perfect?
46. Imagination. What separates us from other animals.
47. Luck. Fate. Probability. Whatever you call it, you can't deny its impression on your life.
48. Sorrow. And regret. The ultimate teachers.
49. Snow. Now, isn't that a miracle?
50. Life itself. Believe it or not, this is the only one you'll get.