h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My dear Rupert, since I have been lurking for several weeks now, I figured I might as well make it unofficial. So here I am, putting in my official request for Unofficial Lurkership. I am happy to be part of any group that will accept me.

G'day and Namaste,
Reika

Namaskaar, Reika!

Welcome to our little society! You are now a full member, with all priviledges a lurker can have. I'll let you know what they are as soon as I discover any myself.. Anyway, warmly welcome!

- Rupert

PS. I have a math quiz for you: 1+9+2+2*3*5 = ?

42! But mathematically it should be written out: 1+9+2+(2*3*5).

Thanks! I knew someone would have an easier way of achieving 42. Now I have two ways. Goody!

I am honored to be a part of the society. Now I only need to figure out how to include the badge on my site.

Namaste,
Reika, Lurker-in-Arms

Namaste!

Well, I've been taught that the parentheses aren't really necessary because first you count the power (not sure if that's the right word, I've never done math in English ) like x^y. After that you do the multiplication and the division. Last you do the summation and the subtraction. So the result will still be the same whether or not you use the parentheses.

Ottox was kind enough to provide us with the badge, you can find the code for it at A588396. Just copy and paste it on your own page.

By the way, do you speak Hindi (or maybe some other sanskrit-based language) or does "namaste" cover it? Just curious, I'm a bit of a India fan.

As far as the parenthesis go, I have found that it is better to include them to make sure everybody is reading it the same way. The longer the mathematical term, the higher the probablity for mistakes.

Languages....I only speak English and Spanish. The "Namaste" comes from my yoga class. It is Sanskrit and is shorthand for:

I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is Love and Truth and Light and Peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me--We are One.

This simple word contains the entire prayer which is offered at the end of each class as a way of wrapping things up (after chanting OM).

There are other words too: asana = posture; drishti = focusing point.
That's about the extent of the words I know in this area.

I too have a fascination for Indian culture. For all cultures, for that matter! Anyway, I do have a book on Hindu mythology sitting on my shelf just waiting for me to finish school this semester. I can't wait to polish off some of the books on my reading list!

Do you have a favorite god/goddess you have an interest in?

Namaste,
Reika

Hiya!

You're quite right about the math terms and parenthesis.. I quite often get mixed up in 'em before I finally realize what I've messed up. Sometimes I even can't reproduce the mistakes I've made.. Oh well!

Besides my native language Finnish, English is my strongest language. I know also a little Swedish, I've forgotten most of German I was ever taught and know not more than a phrase or two in quite a lot of other languages, like Spanish, Hindi, Nepalese, French and so on.

I was under the impression that namaste means "I bow the divine within you" or something like that.

I haven't really studied as much of the culture as I wish, the gods are a bit unclear to me. I think Ganesh is kind of cool, though. I've always loved elephants so maybe that's the reason. I've heard some Hindi songs and seen some Indian movies which are quite fascinating, really. Too bad that they're a bit hard to get in this region of the world.

Namaste,
Rupert

Well Rupert, like I said, "Namaste" is a kind of a shorthand for the longer prayer. I have no doubt that the version I have heard is somewhat Anglicized, even Americanized. I also like what you said, "I bow to the divine within you." Nice.....

I also know some words and phrases in two other languages: Japanese and Tagalog (Filippino). I'll be taking beginning Latin next semester so I'll be able to toss off some words in that language too!

I haven't seen any Indian movies, but I have seen some about Indian culture. Have you seen the movie "The City of Joy" with Patrick Swayze? It is based on a book of the same name written by Dominique Lapierre. The movie is pretty good, but of course the book goes into more detail about those who live lives of abject poverty. I saw a movie a long time ago about a relationship that developed between and African-American man and an Indian girl. I can't remember the full title, but it had "Masala" in it. "Garam Masala," perhaps? The critics liked it, but it didn't do well at the box office. There's a new movie that was just released here called "Monsoon Wedding" that I would really like to see.

The biography of Mother Teresa by Navin Chawla is very good too. "The Discovery of India" by Jawaharlal Nehru (written while he was in prison) is on my to-be-read shelf and I dip into it every now and then. As far as fiction goes, I liked "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth. At the time it came out, it was billed as the longest hardcover book ever to be printed....1349 pages! Boy, is that book heavy! I also like anything by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni who often writes of relationships between men and women, especially in the context of how older cultural customs clash with newer ones. One of my all-time favorite novelists is Pearl S. Buck. She wrote many stories about Asia, especially China. Her most famous book is "The Good Earth." She also wrote "Mandala" which was set in Amarpur India. It was first published in paperback in 1970.

My favorite god is Siva (pronounced "Sheeva").....creator and destroyer, chaos and stability....he is an interesting blend of opposites. Siva's dance is supposed to keep the universe from falling apart. There's a whole lot more I could say about him, but this is getting a bit lengthy and I need to get to bed!

G'day and Namaste,
Reika