I’ve been going to Electric Peacock since it started (three years ago) and it’s really grown. Last weekend’s show with Tinie Tempah and the New Young Pony Club was huge. A lot of people have doubted whether Sri Lanka could host international quality shows, you know, with the sea of people all rocking out. Well, we can.

The government is opening a hotline (1956) to deal with language issues within state institutions. Which is good. The only thing is the number. 1956 was the year that Sri Lanka passes the Sinhala-Only Act, which many people connect to the eventual civil war in the country. The act said that Sinhala would be the only national language, something which has since been rolled back in the Constitution, but the effect of a largely Sinhala speaking government service had already happened. It was really a sore spot for a lot of people.

I borrowed and read the hit book 50 Shades Of Grey (actually a trilogy). 50 Shades is the fastest selling paperback of all time, beating Harry Potter. Somewhat literally. It a romance novel, but lightly about BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism). You know. whips and chains, na na na come on. I honestly don’t think the book is that bad.

I’m still shocked at how Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister kicked out some Sri Lankan school-kids, precipitating mob attacks on average Sri Lankans. I mean, really? Have you no hospitality or shame? The kids they kicked out are from Royal College and an international school in Ratnapura and they were just playing a friendly football match. Jayalithaa looks like a positive brute, and her douchiness has spurred mobbery. Now mobs are attacking Sri Lankan pilgrims, to the point that even LTTE-idealizing Karunanidhi is like ‘dial it down‘.

Power’s back. And speaking of power, here’s a graphic of deaths in World War II. I thought that the Soviet Union would be number one, though that may surprise some. Despite the narrative the USA tells, that less evil empire was more crucial to defeating the Nazis than anything else. What surprises me is the number 2. China. Japan must have raped and killed a storm through there.

Seriously, just read it. It does not proscribe a war crimes investigation or sanctions, it just gives the government a homework assignment (reconcile better) and says Pillai will report on you later. Which is douchey, but not what it’s made out to be.

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

I was at this dhane, eating. A young woman started talking and went on to tell us a rather intense tale. She was married off to a wealthy man 15 years her senior, had two kids while he corralled her and fucked around, only painfully obtaining a divorce. She was Muslim if it matters. It happens all around.

This is one photo from the GLF. I can’t copy paste on this tablet and this has taken an hour.

This is an excellent video with a fascinating scientist (Neil DeGrasse Tyson), moderated by a very funny moderator (Stephen Colbert, out of character). It’s a bit long, I’ve queued it up to where it starts here. This is a great video cause it shows how exciting science is, how emotionally and spiritually fulfilling it can be, and also how fun.