173290186 - Random

Words :
The word 'mojo', much maligned by Austin Powers and the like, didn't actually mean ahem ahem...whatever it has come to mean. It actually had it's origin in the 70's, from the all famous Doors. It's lead singer was Jim Morrison, Mo Jo. Mojo.
Words 1 :
Along the same lines, the Doors is actually a reference to an article (or book?) called 'The Doors to Perception' by Aldous Huxley. It studies the 'improvement' in perception when one is under the influence of illegal substances. I 'percieve' a fairly direct connection.
Travel :
Getting interview calls is a good way for you to see the US. Everyone make sure that you get a lot of calls in November/December. I would recommend interviewing in Calif. . During the spring semester, you can probably go to the North East or North West. Upstate NY rocks at that time. Also be careful to note that finance companies put you up a lot better than software ones. Coming to think of it, you need to look at a number of factors before choosing an interview - the number of days you are going to be out, are you getting put up in a good hotel, can you send them your 'incidental' expense bills etc. etc. . So many decisions, so little time.
Movies :
'The Graduate' is about this guy who graduates from a high end school, magna-cum-laude etc etc - a muchily over-decorated CV, but has no idea what he wants to do with his life. His parents keep nagging him, getting on his nerves, and generally being a pain in the ass - go to grad school, go date this girl, work in this, work in that. Sounds familiar right. This confused, lost and drifting soul is very nicely played by Dustin Hoffman. The music in the movie is by Simon and Garfunkel. Wonderful. Enchanting numbers like 'Mrs Robinson' and 'Sounds of Silence'. 'Mrs Robinson' is actually a character in the movie, played by Anne Bancroft.
You should remember that this movie came out in the swinging sixties - free love, drugs and all weird stuff of that kind, so the plot is understandably crazy. Dustin Hoffman gets into all kinds of trouble but finally comes out all happy and smiling in the end with the girl of his dreams. However, his dreams are not widely shared or accepted - he has pissed off his parents and half the human race. But, this is a movie - he is blissful happy and blah.
Some observations: Movies such as this perpetrate some very unrealistic notions. Pissing off your parents and half the human race is never a good idea - that too when you don't have a viable plan to make ends meet. I also very strongly object to the solution quoted in the movie to the main proponent's problems - girl. How can a girl can be the solution to all of his problems? Guy meets girl (or vice versa), and boom all your problems in life are solved. The deep love that they share has figured out a way to pay the electricity bill. Life is that simple what. I mean, she doesn't affect the the basic nature of his problems - he still needs to find a way to be a productive member of the human race. Unless, of course, she is particularily loaded and dumb.
Actually, I feel he might have increased his problems - the girl is probably very dumb or is a psycho-slasher-killer in hiding. A case of mutual deception or ignorance. Since it's a movie, it doesn't go onto the part, where the girl turns out to have the general demenour of one of those big scary volcanic mountains that spew out lava, dust, ash, big bouldors, mangled animals - you get the picture. He had made a big mistake with all that snow and ice and lazy deer that he spied from a distance - the hapless thing was dormant. So, we think its happily ever after. The movie doesn't show the part when his parents cut him out his inheritance, and the girl dumps him, because dude, he hath no inheritance and is broke. Or, she hacks him to death. Or, she is so dumb that he hacks himself to death. I am looking to make a movie out of this romantic comedy + slasher bloodbath deathfest. It's a new genre. Called 'Real Life'. Any takers?