Yoga is a cult

For all of you thousands of readers who read my blog on a daily basis, chomping at the bit for any little tidbit of new information about my overly exciting life, I was recently talking with a friend of mine who is into the art of yoga.

When she started, it was for health reasons... to gain strength, composure, exercise, etc. Then there was the dieting and eating 'yoga friendly' foods, and the cutting out of meats, dairy and such. At some point this typical behavior turned crazy, and cult like. Now before you start writing to your congressman to have the Internet police raid my house and remove my computer, hear me out...

They revere their yoga instructors as if they were gods. The believe that only through self-torture can they achieve the enlightened ability to contort their bodies in to strange and unnatural poses. They get up at some stupid hour like "sunrise" and all face east (sounding cult-like yet?) and perform some type of yoga ritual to say "hello" to the sun (as if the sun give a shit about it). They are devoted to practice, so much so, that the only time they don't practice is on the new moon.


Let that sink in.



The new moon.

I asked my friend to hang out and go for drinks one night, and the answer was "let me check the lunar schedule". Now I fully understand that there are lots of definitions of cult, and while the hale-bop cult, Waco, and the polygamy cults are more recognized, I think we should intervene with these Yoga nuts before they lock themselves in a room and start contorting each other...

Education, part two

So I have decided on my Ph.D.  I have decided that I absolutely want to do it, and to go after the "brass ring".  I have submitted my application, and the TON of associated paperwork to Pace.  The degree is a Doctor of Professional Studies in Computing (DPS, Computing).  

The interesting thing is that I have been asked "why" I am going for my doctorate degree.  I can't say that I have a good, compelling reason that everyone understands.  In fact, my best reason is "just because", or "because I am not done yet".  I feel like I am on a roll, and don't want to stop, knowing that if I do, I probably will not start again.  At this point, I feel like school is something that I should be doing, and when I have a break between classes or between degrees, I feel kinda empty, like I have all of this idle time that isn't being used.  Most people would take the opportunity to relax, build something, go on vacation, etc.  I read.  I read everything I can get my hands on.  I learn on my own.  I have become OBSESSED with learning everything.  

I am also looking forward to publishing work that is my own, and to be able to advance my ideas in the computing industry.  I constantly feel like I struggle against every organization I work for, pushing for the ideals in computing that make sense.  The use and adoption of technology for the purpose of automation and solution provision, and not because it is easy, fun or "cool and shiny".  Not all problems can be solved with bits and bytes, but complex business processes can be automated so that time is not spent on  the repetitive tasks, the menial tasks, but instead, value is what drives technology adoption, and not Microsoft, or Dell.   l

But enough of that for now.  Wish me luck!