sadness pill

Are you feeling blue? I have a sadness pill for you. Listen to Ray Charles' rendition of "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word". The lyric and song were originally created by Elton John in the 70s and had become one his hallmarks. But Charles' version is somewhat different, I guess it just sounds deeper and sad-errr. When he sang it, you know that he really meant it and knew exactly how you felt deep inside the soul because he (sounded like he) had been there, the same emotional valley that you are in now. Listening and experiencing the song and music let you swim in the romantic bleakness instead of drowning in it. That's the magic of Ray Charles, no wonder he is called the father of soul music. Click the sound clip below to listen what I am talking about.


Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word

What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there

What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word

What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word

after-affects

Hey, I think I have found something that is more irrational than love. It is the thing called affection. When I was in grad school, that was actually the hotness of the day, the theory of affects. It had become an interesting intellectual discourse, one that I am still influenced by too. But that’s affects in my nerdy world. What I am interested in this blog is about affection in the world of feelings, the ‘real’ world, the John and Jane world... Here are some basic definitions from dictionary, one, a moderate feeling or emotion, two, tender attachment, three, the feeling aspect of consciousness.

I am very curious about how other people’s experience about it. For sure, I had it every now and then, not always. But when I had it toward a woman, it was a great feeling. Like the definitions above, it is something soft and elusive like a thin coat of soap bubble on your heart. You can have affection in several ways. It could be somebody that is older or younger (slightly) than you that is affecting your comfort. It could be somebody that you admire or respect. It could be somebody new that has something that your current relationship couldn’t provide, etc.

But one that drives me crazy, and the most irrational, is that you can be affected by a person without even knowing that person or seeing her physically. I am sure that is something different from falling in love. That is affectation or “the state of being affected.” You know what I mean? Did you ever feel that sensation? Did you enjoy it or you just forget about it? Do you think people from different ages experience it differently? Did you, all the women out there, experience it differently than us? Let me know.

PS: Ken, you are the one that used that word a lot (including one for my ex-girlfriend!!!). If you are reading this: how is it going? How is your after-affects life so far...

a bizzare interconnected world

Hey, I just want to share an interesting photo from New York Times online frontpage featuring the Iraqi football team who just won the Asian Cup 2007 in Jakarta against three-time champion Saudi Arabia. For those of you who follow our national team's struggle in the past 20 years to just pass the qualification group, winning the Asian Cup would be a huge thing.

Looking at that photo this morning is just an amazing moment for me thinking of our bizzare interconnected world today. Well it started from Captain Younis Mahmoud dramatic corner kick header that sealed the winning goal for the Iraqis. There is a great jubilant going on right now across Iraq as all people old and young, men and women risking their lives celebrating the victory. PM Al-Maliki had to order a full car curvew across Iraq to prevent the terrorist for blowing up people who are celebrating which they did before as the Iraq team progressing through the Asian Cup.

There is a deep joy inside me, a triumph of humanity against terror, it can keep us in fear but never always, from celebrating life. I am also proud that we can in our small way contributed to this globally interconnected historical moment.. a short moment that unites the universal human spirit, the Sunnis with the Shiites, people across the world who have concerns in that region, the Americans with the Iraqis, and even the Indonesians from all background who were part of the event that day live in Senayan or in warungs and in their neighborhoods.

But take a look at the screenshot photo I send you. It's the best part. Standing in front of the team in Senayan is FIFA's President Sepp Blater and AFC's Mohamed bin Hammam the bigshots in the world football. Next to them of course is our good looking President Bambang which I am not sure whether he is happy and smiling or depressed and worry (about his safety?).. an ambiguous man indeed... just like his presidency. But the funny part is his bodyguard to the right of the photo... hahahah that guy is really funny.. standing sideway 90 degree to the camera looking stern at his president... completely in contrast with the rest of the people... good job Mr Bodyguard !!! I am proud of you too showing the world we can be serious and focused when doing our job : ) Great photograph also.