Farewell, My Lovelies...

As the year comes to an end, I would like to take a moment to remember those who left us this year. For me, some of these personalities had a great impact on me, and so their deaths make me feel very sad. Others lived long and industrious lives, spreading comfort, courage, and hope in their wake. There lives stood as role models for millions. So without further delay, I present you with a list of those who memories will live on in us for years to come. 

Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 10, 2012)

Houston was the greatest pop star of a generation! Her music was legendary, and it touched the hearts and imaginations of fans all over the world. So it comes as no surprise, then, that the world was shocked when they got the news that “the Queen of Pop” had died.

Andy Griffith (June 11, 1926 – July 3, 2012)

Andy Griffith was charming and personable in every role he played. In the early days, his role in The Andy Griffith Show made being ordinary and living the simple life appealing and acceptable to the masses. Then, as Matlock, he used these same qualities to solve crimes that changed and intensified with the times.

Donna Summer (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012)

The “disco” legend of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s lost her battle with cancer at the age of 63. But her legacy as a black female singer will live on through the popularity of her songs, including “Last Dance” and “She Works Hard For the Money”.

Larry Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012)

The oil magnate that you loved to hate on prime time TV (Dallas) was also the conventional  businessman who lived a most unconventional life because of a certain genie (I Dream of Jeanie). His return to primetime recently proved that old age may slow you down a bit, but it can’t stop you if you don’t let it!

May the powers that be watch over the icons and lead them to a better future.

Breaking Dawn: Part 2 Review

I was fortunate enough to be able to watch “Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2” on its opening weekend. I have to say, it was fabulous! No longer did we have to watch Bella, the main star of the show, struggle with self-doubt and the awkwardness that comes with adolescence. In Breaking Dawn:Part 1, she carried the “alien” baby to full term and died giving birth to a bouncing baby girl. Then, against all hope, Edward’s “love venom” brought her back to life.

Now, in Breaking Dawn:Part 2, with eyes blazing and an unquenchable “thirst”, Bella is welcomed into the clan of the un-dead and led on her first feeding frenzy with her true-love VAMPIRE mate, Edward Cullen. Mmmmmmm….yummy! But the fun doesn’t stop there! As Rennesme, Bella and Edward’s love child, grows at warp speed, trouble brews in the caverns of Western Europe. What that is and how it is resolved is left for you, the viewer, to find out on your own. See the movie…and then break out the bubbly!

What is Diwali????

Diwali is the most joyous time of year for Hindus, and yet so little is known about it by the American population. So I took it upon myself to enlighten those unfortunate souls who have been missing out! Diwali is the most prominent Hindu holiday of the year. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, all over India and throughout the world. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over evil, as illustrated by the events of India’s religious past.  For Hindus, Diwali is a five-day event:

·         Day 1: Dhanteras

This day is dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth. On this day, Hindus buy utensils or other objects made of precious metals, for good luck. Businesses owned or operated by Hindus close out their financial records for the year and start anew.

·         Day 2: Chhoti Diwali

This day is dedicated to the Goddess of Time, Change, and Death. On this day, Hindus indulge in fragrant baths and then dawn new clothes. They share special Diwali foods with family and friends.

·         Day 3: Diwali

This day is dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth, Properity, and Beauty. On this day, Hindus perform elaborate ceremonies, worshipping the Goddess. Before any such ceremonies, Lord Ganesh is worshipped. Hindus clean their homes thoroughly and decorate them by placing rows of earthen oil lamps everywhere.

·         Day 4: Padwa/ Govardan Puja

This day is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who saved the world from floods by lifting Mount Govardhana and allowing all the people to take shelter under it. On this day, Hindus cook mountains of food, to represent Mount Govardhana, which are later distributed to devotees and other townspeople.

·         Day 5: Bhai Duj

This day is dedicated to the relationship in ancient India between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters pray for the longevity and prosperity of their brothers, and brothers bestow their sisters with gifts and eat a meal together. It is meant to strengthen the ties between brothers and sisters.

A fine concert composed and performed by Rita Sahai and her Choir

Mom and Dad attended this concert in Berkeley yesterday night. They met many people they knew, including Swami Mangalananda Ji from the Badarikashrama Temple in San Leandro. 

The actual performance surprised them because Rita Sahai was accompanied by a large choir. Below is the press release for the event. I posted it for your sake. It is quite nice...

NavaGraha Ustav: Rita Sahai & the Vasundhara Choir with Jennifer Berezan

Saturday, October 27, 2012, at 8:00 pm

Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse

Utsav means celebration. Navagraha means nine planets. Tonight’s Navagraha Utsavis a celestial celebration, offering classical Hindustani ragas to bring harmony to the universe. Rita Sahai is an accomplished composer and singer from Allahabad, India who performs internationally and teaches classes in Hindustani vocal music throughout the Bay Area and at the University of California, Davis. She has released five albums, including Meera, which India Currents described as “artful” and “first-rate,” and has recorded with Grammy-winning banjo master Bella Fleck and with Alonzo King, whose album Sacred Texts won the Isadora Duncan award for music excellence. The Vasundhara Choir is comprised of 40 singers of all ages, including many of Rita’s students, as well as guest musicians. In 2010, Rita and her choir performed a celebration of Mother Earth, which the newspaper India-West called “a fabulous performance that created not just thoughts of nature’s beauty, but the experience of nature’s ability to refresh our spirits.”

Singer and songwriter, teacher and activist, Jennifer Berezan has a decades-long history of making music that blends her political commitment and spiritual sensitivity with her inspiring voice and intrepid guitar playing. Her recent album In These Arms, A Song for All Beings, is based on the Buddhist practice of loving kindness and compassion, and features voices from around the world, including 250 Buddhist nuns from Korea, Dechen Shak-Dagsay from Tibet, Katia Cardenal from Nicaragua, Jack Kornfield from Berkeley, and tonight’s host and musical guide, Rita Sahai. 

Chill with a scare flick!

Aye, aye, matey! Grrrrrr…………

The season of witches and ghosts, goblins and monsters, is upon us. What better when to enjoy it than with the best Halloween movies you can find. What makes them the best? Well, I suppose that is different for everybody, but for me, the best movies have to be something I can watch that don’t give me vertigo…ok, and which are mighty entertaining. Based on this criteria, I present you with my list.

 Hunchback of Notre Dame (animated)

Black Swan
Sherlock Holmes
The Village (Shyamalan)
The Ring
Single White Female
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle
The Addams Family
Lake Placid
The Haunted Mansion
Hook
Sleepy Hollow (Johnny Depp)
Dark Shadow (J. Depp)
Gosford Park
Poltergeist
The Others (Kidman)
Jumanji
What Lies Beneath
Interview With A Vampire
The Day After Tomorrow
Shutter Island
The Good Son
The Silence of the Lambs
Beetlejuice
The Happening

Can you add to the list? If so, use the “Comments” section… Hope to hear from you. Cherio!

American culure....

“There’s nothing in our culture that credentials you quite like a published book.”

   I know I said I would talk a lot about Barack Obama and why I think he is the best candidate for president of this great nation. But I am also delving into the wide and varied world of the “writer”. In this post, I intend to discuss the quote I provided you with above. So here goes…

    Everywhere you look, newscasters and newspapers and periodicals and strategist all tout the benefits of an education. It is important…it will open doors for you…it will expand your mind and widen your perspective…all of these may be true, but ... it doesn't always get you a better job! I learned this the hard way after I earned my bachelor degree in business. I applied for TONS of fascinating jobs that I was finally qualified for…but I received not one interview. So I ended up taking a job as an administrative assistant two towns down the road.  What I am trying to get at is that even a bachelor’s degree couldn’t land me a decent job. And let me tell you, I did all they told me to do for the job search…
    Then, much later, I finally got it through my thick head that American culture favors the underdog, not the affluent or privileged.  He who gets arrested for banding together and staging a sit-in in protest of something or the other (it doesn’t really matter what) is applauded. She who works two jobs to make ends meet is sympathized with. He who pays child support is considered an “exceptional” father. She who replaces a Board member because she is the niece of the general manager is on par with corporate culture. All these examples exemplify those who DO NOT have an education (some of whom haven’t even finished high school). And yet, many of us stubbornly hold on to the premise that an education will get us the lifestyle and recognition we want. Now the first goal may be realized (if we are good at managing our money!), but the second goal isn’t…usually.
    Going back to the quote I presented at the beginning of this post… You can be the one who didn’t even finish high school, as long as you have a good story to tell and you can tell it in such a way that people will want to read it...go figure!

The making of...

As many of you know, I am in the process of writing a fantasy adventure novel. I was inspired to reconsider the idea after reading the second book in the Twilight Saga series (New Moon) last December. After all, I thought, if Stephanie Meyers could write a book in the first person, using simple language and underdeveloped characters, then, well, so can I. Only, it won’t be so simple (though I WILL try) and the characters will be more developed. So began a journey that has taken me into the highest mountains on earth!

The settings came to me visually, on the wide stage of my imagination. I saw snow-capped mountains covered in thick fog…dark-skinned people dressed in bright jackets and muscular legs. I saw dangerous mountain paths and steep cliffsides. Well…you get the idea J. Next, I looked for pictures that resembled my imaginings. Funny enough, I had already drawn a couple during the beginning of my hobby to DRAW. There, on the first page, stood a picture of Mt. Everest. I don’t know why I drew it, what inspired me at the time, but there it was, staring right back at me. The next picture that caught my eye (a drawing that I had done) was the basilica of the Zurich University (yes, in Switzerland). It was so….telling. After taking a little while to let my ideas percolate, I started making lists. Naturally, I started listing names….names of possible characters, names of exotic places, names of enchanted objects…. And then I discovered the Lord of the Rings Trilogy….

LORT had so many of the things that I wanted to incorporate into my story-the white mountains, the gallant knights, the judicious kings, the evil lord-and so I became discouraged. So I percolated a little more. Finally, I decided to try again. Thus began my journey to creating a kingdom of effervescent proportions! Now how was I going to relate this ancient kingdom to the modern world? After all, my target audience (young adult) needed at least one foot in reality! Hmmm…that was something to think about….

Caged Chinese beggars…a commentary on our times!

The realities of life in China have taken a back seat to the economic woes the Chinese government seems to have eased for countries far and wide. But sometimes, a story slips through that offends the moral fabric of a nation. Such was the case with an article (Chinese Beggars Forced To Sit Behind Bars During Annual Fair) published in the Huffington Post (an internet newspaper) under the section titled “Impact” on Friday, September 21, 2012. In it, the author said that in order to prepare for an influx of visitors (of about 200,000 people) during the Temple Fair, Chinese officials “caged” about 100 beggars so that they wouldn’t be disruptive. There was a lot of talk about why it was deemed necessary and how “humane” it was, but these are HUMAN BEINGS we’re talking about here. Not stray animals or wild chickens or something. This is clearly a human rights violation, in my opinion. It is a SHOCKING testament to the contempt the Chinese government has towards its own people!

Captain Corelli's Mandolin (movie review)

In the age-old tradition of storytelling, Louis de Bernieres weaves a tale of love amidst the threat of violence and senseless brutality. Captain Antonio Corelli, with a company of green Italian soldiers, occupies an idealic Greek island (Cephallonia) upon orders from Mussolini. Since the islanders don’t put up a fight and the war rages on elsewhere, Corelli busies his men by organizing them into an operatic chorale.

 With a duffle bag in hand and a mandolin slung over his shoulder, the Captain lands on the doorstep of the local doctor and demands that he be allowed to set up his headquarters there. Under the suspicious eye of the doctor’s beautiful daughter, the doctor and the captain come to an agreement. Thus begins a tenuous relationship between the three of them that witnesses the many contradictions that inevitably accompany war. Set against the backdrop of rock and sea, director John Madden directs heavyweights Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, John Hurt, and Christian Bale, in this visually-stunning film that explores the themes of cultural diversity, new love, old allegiances, heartbreak, and redemption.

Obama vs. Romney

In his article (Slugfest) in the September 2012 issue of the Atlantic magazine, writer James Fallows asserted that Obama was far more prepared to lead this country than Romney is. However, I didn’t know that when I formed my first impression. You see, right on the front cover of the magazine was a picture of Romney slugging Obama (the standing president of the most powerful country in the world) in the face. This is not only the biggest insult one can make of President Obama, but it also conveys that the American people think poorly of their president. And if his own people don’t respect him, then why should the people of other nations respect him. Or so the thinking goes….  When I finally got around to doing my own “due diligence”, I was partially pacified. But I was still incensed by the image that the pictures portrayed of the president.

First of all, it is not easy to get into a boxing ring to slug it out with someone. That takes courage and confidence, both of which President Obama has in spades, and for good reason. He has LIVED the immigrant life in different parts of the world and flourished in spite of it! He graduated from an Ivy League college (Harvard) with a law degree. He took leadership roles in his community and worked as a civil rights attorney in his hometown of Chicago. In addition, he taught courses in Constitutional Law for a local law university, and he served three terms in the Illinois Senate. He won a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2004 and held it until he officially began his campaign for U.S. President in 2007.

President Barack Obama is a man who has fought battle after battle, bravely. His early defeats made him stronger, pushing him towards ultimate success. This is not the story of a man who needs your sympathy. No, this is a man who deserves your respect and support. He has proven himself time and time again. And yet, putting a picture of him being slugged in the face on the front cover of a respected periodical SHOUTS disrespect and defamation. I am appalled at the magazine’s audacity and disappointed in their otherwise moderate stance on reporting the news.

It is my opinion that the head of the magazine should issue a formal apology to the President. After all, if he had printed such a thing in some other country, he would have been arrested, jailed, whipped, or worse!

Wisconsin Shooting

Racism, a belief that race is the primary determinant of human characteristics and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, is what propelled a dishonored army veteran to vent his personal frustrations out on an ethnic minority in their place of worship. On August 5, 2011, a U.S. veteran named Wade Michael Page stormed a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and opened fire in one of the worst hate crimes committed on American soil. Thereafter, the gunman sustained fatal injuries during a gun battle with first responders on the scene. Of the six people who were killed, four of them were Sikh priests.

Incensed by this senseless massacre, the Hindu American Foundation, which was founded in 2003 by a group of Hindu Americans who were discontent with the political status of all Hindu Americans within the American diaspora, reacted with this:

Dharma traditions--the Hindus, Buddhists,  and Jains --hold non-violence (ahimsa) and peaceful co-existence as paramount values. It is a cruel irony that Sikhs, donning the turban as among proud symbols of a spiritual mandate to serve humanity as defenders of dharma against all onslaughts, find themselves sought out and victimized like this. We, at the Hindu American Foundation, join all Americans in shared shock, disbelief, and outrage over today’s tragic events that unfolded at the holy gurudwara, or Sikh temple, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin earlier today.

United States President Barack Obama, the first African-American to ever hold this office, cited this incident as an act of domestic terrorism. Broadcasted nationally, the President issued the following statement:

Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin. At this difficult time, the people of Oak Creek must know that the American people have them in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded. My Administration will provide whatever support is necessary to the officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward with an investigation. As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family.

How to Defend Against a Creature of the Night

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't posted earlier, but ... life kinda got in the way. I wanted to let you all know about a great little show coming up today (Saturday, August 11, 2012). It is a one-hour show created for ages four to adult in mind. Following the recent pop culture themes of vampires and werewolves, this show revolves around how you can protect against such creatures from invading your life. It is being put on by the production company of some new friends that I have made, who have worked in the entertainment field for "ages"! The show goes by the same name as the title of this post, and it will be held at Your Space Studio at 4120 Franklin Blvd. (Near Sutterville Rd.). Tickets are between $4 and $6. If I manage to see it, I will post more about it later. Til then, have a nice one!

Welcome to my blog!

Good morning! And welcome! It has taken me a while to post this entry because I was trying to decide how to write it. I started this blog at the beginning of July (2012) to share my passions for writing and cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropology, you ask? Yes…the study of cultural variations in humans who live in different parts of the world, including their beliefs, values, customs, traditions, and other social and cognitive constructs. As I approach the subject, I will write about places I’ve lived, people I've met, possible tourist destinations, intercultural comparisons, American subcultures, cultural identities as portrayed by Hollywood, popular personalities from all walks of life, and the like. If you are interested in such things, return often and add to your own cultural treasure trove. Or, if you are more outgoing, post a comment. If you present a question, I will do my best to answer you. In any case, we will both grow from the experience…. Until next time, have a great day!  

Bride & Prejudice (movie review)

Caste, gender, and contrasting cultures are explored in depth in this movie adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice”. Set in Amritsar, the Holy City of the Sikhs, the movie opens with the introduction of the oldest daughter of a middle-class Hindu businessman to an eligible Hindu bachelor, who has just returned from abroad after finishing his business degree from one of the top universities in England. This ideal match is stalled by the prejudices of the groom’s best friend. Incensed, the bride’s sister retaliates. In the process, the groom’s friend and the bride’s sister develop a tenuous relationship that is both annoying and endearing. As much as they want to hate each other, they can’t because they have so much in common. As a result, a grudging respect mutually develops and they begin to have feelings for each other. When a situation arises that threatens the wellbeing and dignity of her family, they join forces to protect their own. Triumphant, they both acknowledge that they are better together than apart.

Return to Me (Movie Review)

The majority of Americans see this film as a classic chick flick, because it contains relationship-based themes and is emotionally charged. Afterall, the storyline is quite predictable. A married couple who are very much in love go to a fundraiser together to raise money for a local zoo. On their way home, a car accident takes the life of one and leaves the other devastated. As an organ donor, the deceased donates her heart to a patient in need. A year later, this patient (a woman) has discovered a new lease on life. Moved, she decides to thank the man who made it possible and goes in search of him. When she finds him, she can’t find the right words so she remains quiet. In the meantime, a new love blossoms between them and they enter into a relationship. The redemptive quality of it is tested when the woman finally reveals the truth behind their first meeting. But Love and Fate win the man over and sends him on quest to reunite with her. Their reunion is riddled with the heartfelt romance of yesteryear.

But if you look deeper, the film touches on themes that society still considers to be somewhat taboo. A love that is strong enough to surpass Time and Space. The heart’s determination to keep beating even after it has been broken (both literally and figuratively). The Life Force within that will not surrender even when defeat seems inevitable. These are just a couple examples of the higher concepts explored here. Yet, they are completely lost on the average American audience. I find this tragic, because the movie-going experience could be greatly enhanced otherwise.

Message In A Bottle (Movie Review)

The movie version of Message in a Bottle, starring Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn, was released in 1999. The book Message in a Bottle was released in 1998. Thrown to the waves, and to fate, the bottle could have ended up anywhere. Instead, it is found just three weeks after it begins its journey. Theresa Osborne, divorced and the mother of a twelve-year-old son, discovers it during a seaside vacation from her job as a Boston newspaper columnist. Inside is a letter that opens with, “My Dearest Catherine, I miss you my darling, as I always do, but today is particularly hard because the ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together….” For Garrett, the message is the only way he knows to express his undying love for a woman he has lost. For Theresa, wary of romance since her husband shattered her trust, the message raises questions that intrigue her. Challenged by the mystery, and driven to find Garrett by emotions she does not fully understand, Theresa begins a search that takes her to a sunlit coastal town and an unexpected confrontation. Brought together either by chance or something more powerful, Theresa and Garrett’s lives come together in a tale that resonates with our deepest hopes for finding everlasting love. Shimmering with suspense and emotional intensity, Message in a Bottle takes readers on a hunt for the truth about a man and his memories, and about both the heartbreaking fragility and enormous strength of love. For those who cherished The Notebook and readers waiting to discover the magic of Nicholas Sparks’s storytelling, here is an achingly lovely novel of happenstance, desire, and the choices that matter most.

Off the Map (TV Show Review)

This new series from ABC Studios is a medical drama that follows the lives of the people who put their lives into the running of a nonprofit hospital in the wilds of South America. In need of more doctors, the founding doctor, Dr. Ben Keeton (Martin Henderson), advertises for medical residents to finish out their residencies in his hospital, in hopes of inspiring at least one person to stay on. Out of hundreds of applicants, he picks three. Dr. Mina Minard (Mamie Gummer) is an urban doctor who misdiagnosed a patient which consequently led to his untimely death. Dr. Lily Brenner  (Caroline Dhavernas) is an ER doctor who lost her boyfriend under her own scalpel. And Dr. Tommy Fuller (Zach Gilford) is a bright plastic surgeon who is satisfied with just getting by. Together, they form an unlikely bond as “the new kids on the block”. During the first season, we watch as Dr. Minard slowly lowers the walls she had erected around herself prior to arrival. Dr. Brenner discovers that she is still a competent doctor, and Dr. Fuller learns the importance of being earnest. But the real juice is in the stories that were playing out long before their arrival. Dr. Keeton has a deep dark secret and Dr. Otis Cole (Jason George) is a recovering addict. Emotions run deep as hope, love, and inspiration play out in the least likely of places!

28 Days (Movie Review)

There are many types of addictions. In the U.S., alcoholism is the most prominent. This movie centers around a young woman in the throws of an alcoholic life. After one too many disasters, she enters a court-appointed treatment center. Figuring she can kick the “habit” whenever she llikes, she doesn’t take her treatment seriously. When she finally does, she finds that it is not so easy. In the process of adjusting, she comes face to face with her darkest secrets and greatest fears. Sandra Bullock, Steve Bescumi, and Viggo Mortensen star in this sometimes-heavy and sometimes-light drama about a serious condition afflicting many in today’s society.

Magic Mike (Movie Review)

This takes the best of Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, and Working Girl, and rolls it into one fine showing of delectable beefcake. Channing Tatum plays an experienced male stripper who inadvertently becomes mentor to a young man who has become disheartened by his career prospects after losing a football scholarship and dropping out of school. Set against the backdrop of a “respectable” local strip club, some of Hollywood’s hottest actors heat up the stage and send audiences screaming and panting into the night!

Movie Review: Chocolat

The gypsy life has been a part of romantic folklore throughout history. Their strong characters, colorful clothing, and nomadic lifestyle, paint a fascinating picture for the staid communities of our society. This movie supports that frame of mind in a most unexpected and refreshing way.

The movie revolves around a mysterious woman who moves from town to town in the rurals of France, with her young daughter and cremated mother. Like a gypsy, she owns only a few things which she can pack up and carry with her wherever she goes. At the beginning of the movie, she and her daughter relocate to a quaint little village near a river. She sets up shop in the town square and goes about making the most amazing chocolate confections, using her mother's secret recipe, and selling them to the locals.

Then along comes a handsome young man sailing down the river, with a guitar slung over his shoulder. A gypsy in his own right, he moves from town to town along the riverbank, staying long enough to make a little money and stock up for his journey forward.

When Music meets Chocolate, it is love at first sight! The chemistry between Depp and Binoche grows ever stronger with scenes of necking on a houseboat in the moonlight, and images of floating candle lanterns, stormy weather, and arson. Nostalgia overcomes you as the innocence and sensuality of an older era comes to life on screen.

Movie Review: Hidalgo

Not since "Dances with Wolves" has a movie come out that portrays the emotional complexities of one who is caught between the love of his people and his alliegance to his country so eloquently. Viggo Mortensen tears up the screen as a man haunted by a past he longs for but has distanced himself from for the sake of survival. Set against the backdrop of the Arabian desert, the story revolves around an annual horse race that the main character has been invited to participate in. Ambition, lust, greed, and power, are all explored in this epic adventure. But the main focus is of a man who finds his way back to himself.