this is waaay too funny

Please watch this. It cracks me up. I came across this video last night, during a break from my java project.

Yup, airport security...

I find airport security funny. Yeah, funny, as in ironic, useless, and totally besides the point.

Every time I leave the US to go to Europe, I somehow "randomly" get selected for extra screening. I don't know how many of you have gone through this, but they actually put you in this funny-looking cabin, spray some stuff on you, and check for explosives. If they do not put you in the funny-cabin, they will search your backpack and ask stupid questions. Well, I see this as a clear sign of acute xenophobia: all the "randomly" selected people are FOREIGNERS. I have never seen a "random" American in the spray-cabin. Also, it is funny how I have already been selected at least 3 times for "random" extra security checking. Now...I am a computer science major; I know how randomizing tools work. And I know it is pretty unlikely that I could be "randomly" selected soo many times in a row. (Maybe I should play the lottery, since I am so lucky).

Anyway, besides the obvious discomfort airport security causes to everyone... do people seriously think that having everyone's backpacks searched through is improving their security on the plane or in the airport? I mean....if you really wanted to hurt a lot of people, it would really not be that hard. You can find knives/forks on a plane; you can use them to kill someone. Also, you can find all the ingredients for a good explosive in the airport (remember Fight Club, and the orange-juice explosives?) . Why are people willing to give up comfort and freedom for the mere illusion of security? ... Now, THAT is a good question for a sociology researcher.

Anyway...here's a clip from Carlin again...to further assert my point.

Carlin

As God becomes more and more of a marketing tool, it's good to have someone like George Carlin around. He gives a slap in the face to all those who dare to use God as an argument for their mediocre ideas and choices.

Congrats, Dawgs!

My school's Bball team just won the conference final. Therefore, they are going to the NCAA's. It is the first time this happens to my school. There will be HUGE monetary benefits and, above all, national recognition for our small school that is always in the shadow of U.M. College Park (The Terps).

As an athlete, I know how hard it is to win conference championships. I also know how difficult it is to be a good student AND a high-performing athlete. That is why I am really happy for our Bball guys, and for the recognition they are going to get. March Madness will also hit UMBC this year.

My newest research interest

I have been involved in research with the Social Computing lab at my university for almost two years now. It's been pretty rewarding so far, and it has definitely taught me a lot about how IT really functions in the real world.

Recently, my professor asked this question: "How come people are willing to post compromising information on social networking websites, when they KNOW that the internet is not safe?" The question really made me think of the paradox in how people behave online and offline. Think about it: would you brag to your supervisor at work about how wasted you were two nights ago? Well, I don't think any normal person would do that. However, some of you WILL post a picture of you wasted on Facebook/MySpace/whatever. That picture will be viewed by everyone in your friend list...which is usually comprised of tens-hundreds of people. That means the picture has a HUGE chance of being leaked-out of your circle-of-trust.

Somehow, compromising information gets out there really easily. If someone really wants to destroy your career, it can happen; it is just a few Facebook-clicks away. Knowing that fact, people still go ahead an post really risky stuff.

Well, my newest research project is trying to somehow explain the discrepancy between online and offline behavior. Right now, I find the subject fascinating, and I hope the people who review my funding proposal will think the same.

The New Nightwish

The first video is from when Tarja was the lead singer for Nightwish. The second one features their new lead singer, Annette (I hope I spelled it right). Well, many people have complained that Annette is bringing too much of a pop-ish sound to Nightwish. Personally, I do not believe that. The Nightwish sound is still the same. What they lost was the special tone of Tarja's voice. Annette sounds plain, like any other singer in a rock band.

One of the things I miss the most

...is Martisor - my favorite Romanian tradition. Martisor goes on from March 1st to March 8th. Well, March 8th is also Women's Day.

This tradition is all about women and girls; they are supposed to receive flowers or small presents from the men/boys around them. In a more profound sense, the whole tradition is about Life and Love and the revival of the earth, once Spring comes. Since the entire symbolism of the earth revolves around the concept of femininity, women are celebrated (for more information, google "Geea - goddess of the earth").

To symbolize Life and Love, every present women receive during March1-March8 is tied with a red-and-white thread. Some women wear that thread around their wrist or around pieces of jewelery for the entire month of March.

I miss receiving flowers from the guys around me. I miss the red roses my father would always give me. Most of all, I miss walking down the street and seeing women really enjoying an entire week dedicated to themselves; they really feel special...