Ravit's Blog

Today, I had my first driving lesson. Within the span of 2 hours, I started the engine of the car in the driver's seat for the first time on my own and also drove up to 45 mph. Steering felt strangely familiar, but I was shocked by how sensitive the gas pedal is. I learned that when it comes to acceleration, driving a car is nothing like riding a bike. Steering and braking have their similarities. The gas pedal is so sensitive that a minor accidental depression can lead to a sudden jerky . Most of all, while driving I was surprised by how easy it must be for someone to crash a car if they wanted to. Lampposts, curbs, walls, other cars. So many things around that one can ram the car into. The car only stays in its lane if the driver guides it so. I don't know why I find that so surprising. Perhaps sitting in the passenger seat beside or behind a responsible driver for so many years has made me feel as though it's very difficult for one to make a car go anywhere it's not ...

I'm having writer's block right now, meaning that I am failing to generate any worthwhile topics for discussion in this blog post. Hmmm. I wish I had Spiderman's powers. Why is this an immature thing to wish for? Swinging through a city would be a thrilling experience no doubt. Sometimes I daydream about being Spiderman. Perhaps I shouldn't have shared my blog with my college counselor. Thankfully, no one reads this blog post. Not even my parents. Recently, they asked me why I don't write blog posts anymore, which is odd, since I do still write blog posts. Maybe even they don't believe that I could still be writing. The only unlikely scenario in which I envision my blog blowing up is if I become a high-profile criminal or if I write something racist. Then people would be very interested in what I have to say. Especially lawyers. What's that you say? Ohhh, don't pity me. I'll be just fine. Self-pity leads one down a road to destruction. Hey! Look! Let...

I've been having a thought lately regarding what my proper attitude towards work ought to be. I thought I would express it here. When I think of my long-term goals, I have faith that they might be pretty lofty. If I work hard, I believe that I can be accepted into and study at a reputed institution or get a good job. And I start to fantasize about how great my life would be if I actually did work hard and reach that goal. I think to myself (in the voice I imagine an old English lady might use while sipping on her tea) "Why, how lovely that would be!" But then I think about how low I am right now compared to where I want to be. Then I am shrouded by a feeling of worry and insecurity. If I continue to be surrounded in this feeling, a part of myself is disheartened and wishes to say "To hell with it!" (this time in the voice of an old Canadian man) and forget about my desires because of the difficulty I would have to endure. It is from this pattern of thought that ...

I laugh the hardest at jokes that are intended to offend. A comedian doing a good accent is funny. Russell Peters has a great Chinese accent. But undoubtedly, his jokes are stereotypical. Some people don't like stereotypical jokes that target certain cultural or demographics. Protestors expressed their condemnation of Dave Chappelle because his jokes about a protected minority offended them. The most common rationale for criticising a comedian's stereotypical joke is that the telling of the joke was a mere guise to mask the joke teller's ulterior motive to push a twisted or bigoted belief. (I hate the word "bigot" because I think it is too often weaponized unjustifiably and incorrectly in order to denigrate some person or group. But I think it's appropriate here.) While I suppose jokes can be motivated by a desire to bring harm to those they surround, I feel that when told right, a joke is not intended to hurt but purely to make others laugh. Has there ever be...