Depression Strikes Again

I must be the only one who feels depressed after big night outs. As you probably know, dear reader, I attended the company's spring ball at the lovely Natural History Museum, replete with classical musicians, free flowing alcohol, and mock casino tables.

But you know, maybe it's because I'm from a geek at heart, but I ALWAYS feel out of place at social dos like this. Maybe it's coz most people brought guests and I didn't. There were plenty of lovely ladies there... but regular readers will know, I'm terrible with women.

Exhibit 1: Colleague looks ravishing in her silver lined dress and straightened hair... what do i do? I blurt out something about her looking "stunning" and leave it at that, proceeding to the next person who says "hi" to me, when in fact, I really wanted to talk to the stunning gal.

Exhibit 2: Sat at a table where pretty much everyone brought a guest, I find myself gazing into the eyes of a Brazilian beauty. Then I realized it was probably rude to be staring at a colleague's guest. I would've talked to her, but I'd have to shout across a plant...

Exhibit 3: Come on, do you REALLY need more examples? I am a master of social faux pas, period. I wish there was something I could do to change it... normally, I'd laugh it off with jokes and self deprecating humor.

Can't do that now, coz I'm still depressed... I seem to be in a very tiny minority of attendees without guests. Most female colleagues were taken. And I honestly can't think of anyone I could bring next time. Where's love when you need it eh? Man, I need divine intervention with my (lack of) love life. Why wasn't I born looking like Brad Pitt? Argh!

Deja Vu

Been off work for about 2 weeks now, but no, this isn't a holiday. I'm working harder than ever, coz it's college time again. Exams are just round the corner in March, roughly 4 weeks away. Brill eh?

Well, I definitely don't wanna fail this one, but I'm not doing as well as I'd like to. Nowhere near the top of class, kinda stuck in the middle, which isn't bad, but it sure isn't good either. Another set of progress results are coming out tomorrow, which should be more "good news."

That aside, I've got a Spring Ball to look forward to this weekend. Sound like high school eh? Unfortunately, it won't be anywhere near as fun. For one, most attendees are either a) married or b) attached. Ah well, let's see what a few beers can do. I'm not optimistic though... my exciting plan for Sunday is to catch up with some home work... sigh.

Still, I'd be lying if I said I'm not looking forward to it. It'll be held in the Natural History Museum no less!



See that Diplo? It prolly won't be standing there after we're done with it this weekend... Beers and fancy bones don't mix!

A Question of Value

Damn, I wish I have enough luck to get winnings like these!

$365m, shared by 8 people!

Bit O Math

After tax, these guys will be getting $15.5m each. This struck me as strangely low, and procrastinating from studies (yes, it's exam season for me again), I decided to dig into this a bit more. 8 people won the lottery, so the total winnings sum to $124m. In the UK, lottery winnings are not taxed, but apparently the US federal tax on winnings is a shocking 38%! So, this brings the total pre-tax winnings to $200m (124/0.62). Where'd the other $165m go??

Bit More Math

At first glance, it looks like our winners have let go of $165m in order to satisfy their immediate hunger for riches. So what would the amount have been if the winners decided to take the winnings in instalments? It turns out that the discrepancy is only due to annuities. The $200m they have now, is worth about $365m in 30 years time, if inflation stays at about 2% per year (worked out by: 200 x 1.02^30). So there's absolutely no financial advantage to getting the money paid through instalments.

But wait! How much would they have received each year, if they decided to get paid by instalments?

Well, the annuity would have a present value of $200m. So, over 30 years, discounting at the standard UK inflation rate of 2% (hmm, is that a valid indicator? It'll have to be for now), we'll arrive at a discount factor of about 22.396 (1/0.02)*(1-(1/1.02^30)). This means that the annual payments should be about $9m (200/22.396).

So each winner would be able to live on a "salary" of about $1m, in current terms, for the next 30 years of their lives! Not a shabby deal eh? Still, I'd prolly take the cash now, given the choice...

Conclusion?

Now i know why everyone chooses to take up the cash winnings instantly. Great. Back to my books. Sigh.

My Way Or the Highway

This continues my views on religion and now freedom of expression. I'm expressing these views with words AND with offensive pictures. So, if you're prone to burning buildings, rioting, violence, kidnappings, suicidal-murderous tendencies, click away now.

Really, turn your eye away because what you'll see WILL offend you. Particularly if you are a firm believer of Islam. So please, for the sake of world peace, look away. Go surf somewhere else. The great thing about CHOICE is that you can CHOOSE NOT TO LOOK!

SO TURN AWAY NOW!

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Still here? Then you must be of the "not so easily" offended camp. Cool. Let's continue the discussion then.

There's been a huge farce over the publications of some cartoons. Apparently, these cartoons represent all that is wrong with freedom of speech. These cartoons offend people and should never be published, some say, rather offendedly. Here's an example of one:



(I'm ashamed to say that I actually had to go to the BNP website to obtain these pictures... the very party who'd just as happily kick ME out of the UK. But no mainstream British publication is brave enough to defy Islam)

Hang on a minute. These cartoons are satire right? Isn't the whole point of a satire to make fun of something? And before people say "Why pick on Islam?"



This is an art piece replacing Jesus with a nude woman, and his disciples with a whole buncha geezas. No less offensive to Christians, as it was slammed back in 2001 by the mayor of New York, according to Zardozz. But I don't see flags burning or this:



My point? React. Be offended. But if you are stupid in your reaction, you only prove the point of the cartoon. No amount of flag burning will wipe off the thoughts from non-muslim minds: this religion is irreconcilable to the freedoms we cherish. Actions, as they say, speak so much louder than words.

The Sheep Without a Cause

After a decidedly lengthy episode of absence, the Sheep is back with some thoughts on a really thorny issue these days: religion.

Let me first lay out my position, so that the rest of this note becomes more than just a passing commentary. I am agnostic. I have studied mostly science subjects from childhood, but I've had great exposure to both the artistic (in music, in sketching, and in painting) and the spiritual. I've been to temples more than churches, mosques a couple times, and have friends from all major and non major religious backgrounds (including a Mormon!).

And none have managed to convince me that RELIGION is key to our lives. So I have come to the conclusion that I lack faith. So I asked myself WHY.

I guess it's simple. I have faith in science. Science has taught me that belief and faith have to be EARNED. Scientists do not strive to prove a theory, but to disprove it. When countless tests have been conducted, then we begin to believe in the theory. When that theory has been shown to work in all conceivable scenarios, it becomes accepted. Belief is thus earned, and the theory shown to be true in our every day lives.

I went to a church last weekend, on the behest of a friend, and on a personal wish to be proven wrong. The pastor talked about a passage in the Bible. The Bible is the word of God he said at one point. But then he continued to agonize over a statement by Jesus to "hate yourself, your wife, your family" or something along those lines.

He concluded that Jesus was using "shock and awe" to prove a point that being a disciple requires plenty of sacrifice. But I was thinking, "Hang on, that wasn't what he SAID. IF the Bible is the word of God, surely you blaspheme!"

I guess I was being a little strict, but that's beside the point. Islam takes their Koran literally. But these texts are THOUSANDS of years old, in the context of times that are vastly different from today. Why do people choose to follow THEIR lives, THEIR words? Where is the evidence that God created the world in 7 days? Where is the proof?

Having blind faith can lead good men to perform evil deeds (thanks to Channel 4 for that striking thought!). The whole point of religion is to put all questions and doubts about God aside. But man has progressed because he dared to ask questions. She dared to push boundaries. We dared to break free from the shackles of superstition to arrive at where we are today.

Are we to now expected to revert to religion, superstition and prejudice?