"You can see that our real problem is another thing entirely. The machines only do figuring for us in a few minutes that eventually we could do for our own selves. They’re our servants, tools. Not some sort of gods in a temple which we go and pray to. Not oracles who can see into the future for us. They don’t see into the future. They only make statistical predictions—not prophecies. There’s a big difference there, but Reinhart doesn’t understand it. Reinhart and his kind have made such things as the SRB machines into gods. But I have no gods. At least, not any I can see."
Kurt Cobain: The Rolling Stone Interview
Came across a an interview with Kurt Cobain, that was published in Rolling Stones magazine in January, 1994.
About himself,
"I just hope," Cobain adds, grinning, "I don't become so blissful I become boring. I think I'll always be neurotic enough to do something weird."
On "Teen Spirit"
But I think there are so many other songs that I've written that are as good, if not better, than that song, like "Drain You." That's definitely as good as "Teen Spirit." I love the lyrics, and I never get tired of playing it. Maybe if it was as big as "Teen Spirit," I wouldn't like it as much. .
.
.
"Teen Spirit" was such a clichéd riff. It was so close to a Boston riff or "Louie, Louie."
Where did the line "Here we are now, entertain us" come from?
That came from something I used to say every time I used to walk into a party to break the ice. A lot of times, when you're standing around with people in a room, it's really boring and uncomfortable. So it was "Well, here we are, entertain us. You invited us here."
On Axl Rose (this just makes me smile)
A few years ago, we were in Detroit, playing at this club, and about 10 people showed up. And next door, there was this bar, and Axl Rose came in with 10 or 15 bodyguards. It was this huge extravaganza; all these people were fawning over him. If he'd just walked in by himself, it would have been no big deal. But he wanted that. You create attention to attract attention.
About the band's music
We have failed in showing the lighter, more dynamic side of our band. The big guitar sound is what the kids want to hear. We like playing that stuff, but I don't know how much longer I can scream at the top of my lungs every night, for an entire year on tour. Sometimes I wish I had taken the Bob Dylan route and sang songs where my voice would not go out on me every night, so I could have a career if I wanted.
About the future of his music
It's impossible for me to look into the future and say I'm going to be able to play Nirvana songs in 10 years. There's no way. I don't want to have to resort to doing the Eric Clapton thing. Not to put him down whatsoever; I have immense respect for him. But I don't want to have to change the songs to fit my age [laughs].
Defined tags for this entry: music, My take on life
Some quotes from Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum address
I was lucky to come across Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum address. The speech has some interesting parts
When I so pressingly urge a strict observance of all the laws, let me not be understood as saying there are no bad laws, or that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no legal provisions have been made. I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say that although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, for the sake of example they should be religiously observed. So also in unprovided cases. If such arise, let proper legal provisions be made for them with the least possible delay, but till then let them, if not too intolerable, be borne with.
About the founding fathers of America
Their ambition aspired to display before an admiring world a practical demonstration of the truth of a proposition which had hitherto been considered at best no better than problematical-namely, the capability of a people to govern themselves. If they succeeded they were to be immortalized; their names were to be transferred to counties, and cities, and rivers, and mountains; and to be revered and sung, toasted through all time. If they failed, they were to be called knaves, and fools, and fanatics for a fleeting hour; then to sink and be forgotten.
About ambitious people
But the game is caught; and I believe it is true that with the catching end the pleasures of the chase. This field of glory is harvested, and the crop is already appropriated. But new reapers will arise, and they too will seek a field.
It is to deny what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst us. And when they do, they will as naturally seek the gratification of their ruling passion as others have done before them.
Many great and good men, sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found whose ambition would aspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion or the tribe of the eagle. What! think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar, or a Napoleon? Never!
rants by Kapil Sibal, with lolcats
Kapil Sibal, India's Telecoms minister has prompted an uproar after it was revealed he met with executives from Google and Facebook to pressure them into screening 'objectionable' content.
A side effect of Kapil Sibal trying to censor the internet is that he has been given a goldmine of comic quotes. And any quote looks adorable with a kitten. I converted his quotes to lolspeak and put them with pictures of cute kittens. The kittens should countereffect the increased blood pressure caused by his idocacy.
Without further ado, here are the cats with Kapil's quotes
U go and delete information on the Internet that might offend the sensibilities of people in India
U go and delete information on the Internet
that might offend the sensibilities of people in India
We have to take care of the sensibilities of our people. Cultural ethos is very important to us.
We have to take care of the sensibilities of our people.
Cultural ethos is very important to us.
There is some content on the Internet.. that any normal human being would be offended by
There is some content on the Internet..
that any normal human being would be offended by
I have seen subject matter which was so offensive that it hurt religious sentiments of large sections of community
I have seen subject matter which was so offensive that
it hurt religious sentiments of large sections of community
I decline to define what, exactly, is offensive content
I am not offensive
Image credits
The tragedy of the San Francisco city
The tragedy of the San Francisco city is that it is always crowded. And if the weather is even remotely sunny, it gets even more crowded. 
My humble beginnings towards my goals
The gardening bug has bitten us and we have planted a few plants in our patio. The plants have survived for a few days and I have high hopes now. These are my humble beginnings as I work towards my long term goal of becoming a farmer.
Overheard
Overheard at Victoria's Secret sale event, near a huge stack of panties, during their underwear sale event - "wow these are huge". The speaker was a woman holding up a pair.
Overhead in a TV serial - "They destroyed my roses. Eat lead, you bastards"
Defined tags for this entry: humour