mad mystic - ProfilesArchive

About Me

For all you never-left-Texas-in-my-life folks...I traveled half way across the world to make it to Austin. I was born in a town called Amalapuram in a state in India called Andhra Pradesh (about the size of the UK) which is one of the states where everyone thinks all the computer jobs are going to. I grew up in the north of England, first in a place called Leeds, and then across the Pennines in Rochdale, Lancashire, which was um definitely not a place with a lot of computer jobs, in fact not many jobs at all. If you've seen the movie The Full Monty you'll have an idea of what it was like. Rochdale was famous for 3 things: It was where the Co-operative Movement started (as a way for the workers to survive t' wicked mill owners). It has the widest bridge in the world. And in the 70's it had the widest MP (equivalent of a Congressman) in the world. I swear this guy was so wide he could only get through doors sideways. He also has a brief cameo in the video for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, although I don't think he ever knew he was in there. Just FYI. I attended Manchester University (the movie 24 Party People was filmed there), followed by a "stint" at Cambridge University. I tried working life for a while but it didn't last and pretty soon I was back in school, this time at UT Austin. They gave me a Masters degree and the boot, thinking they were rid of me. Hah what did they know. So, in 2004 I snuck back in and here I am. Ah student life!

My Interests

This is always tricky since my interests change on a daily basis. But roughly in order of decreasing interestAustin Music, Live Music, Drinking Fine Beer and Wines (you have to check out St Arnold's Cask Conditioned at the Gingerman), Indian Food, Conversation, Improv Comedy, The Outdoors Hiking, Tennis, and Canoeing. Oh, and sleeping. Somewhere in there I'm interested in finding a PhD topic.

I'd like to meet:

Some normal people

Music:

Purdy eclectic, from A..Z as they say. I suppose what stands out would be Chris Isaak, The Eagles, Echo + the Bunnymen, Grateful Dead, Hank Williams, The Kinks, LedBelly, Johnny Cash, Mance Lipscomb, Neil Finn/Crowded House, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Rilo Kiley, Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry, Roy Orbison, Sixpence None The Richer (totally smitten with Leigh Nash), Smashing Pumpkins
Austin Bands: Two Hoots and a Holler, Michael Fracasso, The Reivers (sob!), Poi Dog Pondering, David Garza, Elizabeth McQueen, El Orbits, Roky Erikson, Eric Johnson, The Leroi Brothers, Bob Schneider, Patty Griffin, Townes van Zandt,

Movies:

Deer Gets Revenge

While being hunted, this deer decides that he's not going to have any of it and goes off the hook, in another amazing twist of fate. Shawshank Redemption, Dumb and Dumber, The Graduate, Apollo 13, The Usual Suspects, Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, Bubba-HoTep, The Man with the Screaming Brain (and I haven't even seen it yet), Mr Sinus stuff, Spike n Mikes Sick And Twisted

Television:

Nearly all the Brit comedies (of course) - The Young Ones, Filthy Rich and Catflap, Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Blackadder, 'Allo 'Allo (an 80's comedy set in wartime France), Da Ali G Show and then not exactly a comedy but my fave as a kid The Magic Roundabout (the script writers were probably on acid), Crystal Tips and Alistair (more acid), ...and over on this side of the pond, The Simpsons, Beavis and Butthead, South Park, Star Trek (all generations), Married with Children, Tuesday night on the Science Channel.

Books:

Currently reading (slowly) : The Baron In the Trees (Calvino), The Road Less Traveled (M Scott Peck). Open to suggestions for more reading matter...

Heroes:

I need a hero, I'm holdin out for a hero...

My Blog

Spoilt teenager spotted in Bali!

I am of course referring to the Climate talks in Bali on a successor treaty to Kyoto and the spoilt teenager in question is the US Administration. "But I have to have my 15mpg Hummers!" "Puhleeze, the...
Posted by mad mystic on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:56:00 PST

Charities and the Uber-rich

When I see $250,000 handbags and $3000 coffee makers I can't help wonderingwhy isn't it fashionable for the wealthy to flaunt how big theircharitable donations are? Clearly, the main reason for buying...
Posted by mad mystic on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:47:00 PST

CS vs Engineering Math (Warning: technical)

OK, this is probably not going to interest anyone but a handful of nerds, and it may just be something that i was too thick to see before, but I just realized the difference between traditional applie...
Posted by mad mystic on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:37:00 PST

James Connaughton, both Dumb and Dumber

So the IPCC recently released its 5 yearly report on the consequences of global warming, containing its strongest language yet (picture if you will a bunch of hapless eggheads in white coats trying in...
Posted by mad mystic on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:54:00 PST

What's up with myspace?

Have other guys noticed a recent deluge of add requests from stripper chix? You know the ones that have obligatory myspace home page that are just trolling for dumb guys to hit their actual web page (...
Posted by mad mystic on Sat, 08 Jul 2006 12:51:00 PST

Tripping the Rift

Who's been watching this series? Its brilliant and funny.
Posted by mad mystic on Wed, 05 Apr 2006 10:12:00 PST

Dumb and Dumber 2?

No I'm not talking about the re-election of Bush & Dick, but the wonderfully hilarious movie with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Its been over 10 years since it came out. I watched it for the umptee...
Posted by mad mystic on Fri, 31 Mar 2006 07:46:00 PST

Screw you James Connaughton

Was I the only one to be infuriated by the following remark from James Connaughton reported in the following article from the BBC (and probably ignored by the American media) http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
Posted by mad mystic on Wed, 29 Mar 2006 10:08:00 PST

Rock the Karaoke

OK, folks you know that feeling when you're in the shower or the car and you're convinced which cheezy rock star you're sure you could imitate in Vegas if you had to? And your karaoke performance is b...
Posted by mad mystic on Mon, 26 Dec 2005 10:22:00 PST

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

DeLay almost down and 2 to go.With any luck that mo-fo will be hauled off kicking and screaming. Of course he'll lash out at Ronnie Earle and call it a political witch-hunt - which is of course the on...
Posted by mad mystic on Fri, 07 Oct 2005 07:03:00 PST