Here's an interesting article that is getting some pub recently. Might I point out that it seems as if the subject of the article is a fellow mallu. Not sure how I feel about a $500k suit (including pain and suffering for unfair firing), but it's actually a fascinating case. Should a scientist who refuses to accept a theory, be fired? Or...is this a case of making a mountain out of a molehill?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071210/od_nm/evolution_lawsuit_dc
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
An Eventful Month....
Well, it has been quite a while since I last blogged. Since then the "Advocacy" has taken some big steps...overwhelming at times but full of hope and possibilities. More to come....
Monday, November 12, 2007
Diocesan Assembly Elects....Me??
As it's ever clear that our people are not one to embrace change, it is extradorinary that a chain of events took place which resulted in the election of a brand new Diocesan Council for the next 5 years...which includes me.
As I went to the Diocesan Assembly, I went with a mind of pessimism. Typically these gatherings are full of men who are more interested in using the Church as a vehicle to propel their own fame and prestige...rather than doin ganything productive. For the weeks leading up to the election, I was inundated with calls and U.S. postal mailings from individuals soliciting my vote for this election. Being relatively new to the process...I unwittingly picked up the phone the first few times to uncomfortable conversation which always ended with "Ok Moneh...I hope that you will vote for me".
This was all new territory for me. If the actual meeting is the only body which can nominate candidates for the Diocesan Council (4 lay people, 2 priests, and 1 trustee), then weren't these ppl who were calling jumping the gun and running for a position they weren't an official nominee for? Moreover, if you are actively campaigning for such a position...what does that say about your motivations? This entire process seemed more "mallu" than it did church-related.
When I arrive at the church for the meeting, I was greeted by individuals in front of the church who were actively campaigning. They were handing out flyers, business cards, shaking hands (surely they'd have kissed babies if they were there...), it just wreaked of a certain unseemly desperation to me. When inside, we were served refreshments and given a chance to mingle. It was nice to see so many priests, seminarians, and regular people who flew in from all over. However, being only 30, there were only a few of ppl in my age group...namely my comrades from the Old MGOCSM. Overall, candidates who approached us didn't know how to answer a simple question like :"what is your plan for the diocese"...and more striking was that some of them struggled with English...which you would think was a necessity if you were elected a Council member of the AMERICAN diocese...but as usual...I digress.
The meeting itself was of typical Ortho-style...priests standing up to say lofty things....lay people trying to be "bold" and get noticed....ppl talking over one another...overall the normal way we do things. When nominations came to the floor, they began naming names I had heard before (probably from the pamphlets sent to me)..and nary a one seemed to be under the age of 40. Sitting with a group of "comrades" I was asked if I wanted to be nominated. Now, these type of jobs generally fall to the "politicians" of the church. It's not one I'd typically desire, nor is the amount of work something I particularly need. However, I try to never deny the will of God in choosing you despite your insistance...so my response that day was the same as usual: "I don't want to campaign for it, but if chosen...I'd do the job." That was all one of the comrades needed....standing up and nominating me..s.econded by the other comrade from Chicago. Now...it may be my imagination...but it was verified by other ppl including priests...because when I was nominated there was a noticeable buzz on the floor. Many of the ppl there know me, so it might have just been surprising....who knows...but at that point I had about 10 minutes to put together a speech.
Never one to be shy with words...I had a few talking points in mind. One by one the other candidates spouted off the typical cliches "ask not what you country [church] can do for you..." ala JFK etc. Some seemed timid...while others were TOO proud. (Especially the gentelman who said "I won't say IF you vote for me...because if you want positive things then voting for me a certain thing..)
When my turn came, I began by saying that I had donated money towards the current Diocesan Center, seen the current Aramana...and that's when it all kind of came loose. Not really able to control the words as they went from my brain to my mouth...I launched into a tirade on how everyone talks about change..and yet every meeting is the same...little gets done..and they continuously elect ppl who are old enough that they may not see the duration of their terms (yes....I really did). Then I talked about how I was a product of this diocese...how we needed to stop building large buildings and return to God.....how I had came through the system and had worked on various levels including designing VBS curriculum, co-authoring the MGOCSM constitution, and serving on the altar since 1989. I don't really know exactly what I said...but there were several loud applauses during the 2 minutes, my "comrades", were enjoying every moment, my father in law sat with an amused look on his face, and I heard the elder bishop say to the younger "he's right! we need more young ppl...".
When I was done...I stood there realizing that I was practically at a yell and had said several things that were probably inapporpriate...and yet received a boisterous ovation. The hours concluding were filled with kind words and well wishes...and by the end of the day I became the youngest Diocesan Council member ever....and perhaps the first American Born member. The following weeks have been a whirlwind...and I'm still getting my bearings. I'm really just overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from my own generation...and by clergy members who see this as a wonderful chance. Personally, I'm not sure that I've gotten a full comprehension of how good a thing is. In time, the reality will hit me I guess. However I do know this much:...the revolution has taken another important step..and hopefully God will use me to effectuate positive change to finally bring things back to where they need to be.
As I went to the Diocesan Assembly, I went with a mind of pessimism. Typically these gatherings are full of men who are more interested in using the Church as a vehicle to propel their own fame and prestige...rather than doin ganything productive. For the weeks leading up to the election, I was inundated with calls and U.S. postal mailings from individuals soliciting my vote for this election. Being relatively new to the process...I unwittingly picked up the phone the first few times to uncomfortable conversation which always ended with "Ok Moneh...I hope that you will vote for me".
This was all new territory for me. If the actual meeting is the only body which can nominate candidates for the Diocesan Council (4 lay people, 2 priests, and 1 trustee), then weren't these ppl who were calling jumping the gun and running for a position they weren't an official nominee for? Moreover, if you are actively campaigning for such a position...what does that say about your motivations? This entire process seemed more "mallu" than it did church-related.
When I arrive at the church for the meeting, I was greeted by individuals in front of the church who were actively campaigning. They were handing out flyers, business cards, shaking hands (surely they'd have kissed babies if they were there...), it just wreaked of a certain unseemly desperation to me. When inside, we were served refreshments and given a chance to mingle. It was nice to see so many priests, seminarians, and regular people who flew in from all over. However, being only 30, there were only a few of ppl in my age group...namely my comrades from the Old MGOCSM. Overall, candidates who approached us didn't know how to answer a simple question like :"what is your plan for the diocese"...and more striking was that some of them struggled with English...which you would think was a necessity if you were elected a Council member of the AMERICAN diocese...but as usual...I digress.
The meeting itself was of typical Ortho-style...priests standing up to say lofty things....lay people trying to be "bold" and get noticed....ppl talking over one another...overall the normal way we do things. When nominations came to the floor, they began naming names I had heard before (probably from the pamphlets sent to me)..and nary a one seemed to be under the age of 40. Sitting with a group of "comrades" I was asked if I wanted to be nominated. Now, these type of jobs generally fall to the "politicians" of the church. It's not one I'd typically desire, nor is the amount of work something I particularly need. However, I try to never deny the will of God in choosing you despite your insistance...so my response that day was the same as usual: "I don't want to campaign for it, but if chosen...I'd do the job." That was all one of the comrades needed....standing up and nominating me..s.econded by the other comrade from Chicago. Now...it may be my imagination...but it was verified by other ppl including priests...because when I was nominated there was a noticeable buzz on the floor. Many of the ppl there know me, so it might have just been surprising....who knows...but at that point I had about 10 minutes to put together a speech.
Never one to be shy with words...I had a few talking points in mind. One by one the other candidates spouted off the typical cliches "ask not what you country [church] can do for you..." ala JFK etc. Some seemed timid...while others were TOO proud. (Especially the gentelman who said "I won't say IF you vote for me...because if you want positive things then voting for me a certain thing..)
When my turn came, I began by saying that I had donated money towards the current Diocesan Center, seen the current Aramana...and that's when it all kind of came loose. Not really able to control the words as they went from my brain to my mouth...I launched into a tirade on how everyone talks about change..and yet every meeting is the same...little gets done..and they continuously elect ppl who are old enough that they may not see the duration of their terms (yes....I really did). Then I talked about how I was a product of this diocese...how we needed to stop building large buildings and return to God.....how I had came through the system and had worked on various levels including designing VBS curriculum, co-authoring the MGOCSM constitution, and serving on the altar since 1989. I don't really know exactly what I said...but there were several loud applauses during the 2 minutes, my "comrades", were enjoying every moment, my father in law sat with an amused look on his face, and I heard the elder bishop say to the younger "he's right! we need more young ppl...".
When I was done...I stood there realizing that I was practically at a yell and had said several things that were probably inapporpriate...and yet received a boisterous ovation. The hours concluding were filled with kind words and well wishes...and by the end of the day I became the youngest Diocesan Council member ever....and perhaps the first American Born member. The following weeks have been a whirlwind...and I'm still getting my bearings. I'm really just overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from my own generation...and by clergy members who see this as a wonderful chance. Personally, I'm not sure that I've gotten a full comprehension of how good a thing is. In time, the reality will hit me I guess. However I do know this much:...the revolution has taken another important step..and hopefully God will use me to effectuate positive change to finally bring things back to where they need to be.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Honey...meet my new wife....
One of my favorite places to go in finding peculiar pieces of news comes from the religious courts of foreign countries. On today's docket? An article entitled: "Polygamy's just fine, as long as you tell your wife". Yes you read right.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22526584-2703,00.html
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22526584-2703,00.html
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Village Bishop severely beaten; Catholicose needs a PR guy
I thought it was really sad to see the headline this week, detailing the beating of an elderly Cor Episcopa in Kerala. As if beating a man of the cloth wasn't enough, this particular priest is also 81 years old.
Now, let me be clear...I condemn violence..espcially against those not able to defend themselves...however, the article itself illustrates one of the great problems of our church.
Note:
"Persecution towards Christians and minorities are continuing with the support of government and police authorities. Mathews Cor-episcopa is one of its last victims," Catholicose of the East said.
Now am I the only one who feels that statement reeks of politics and alter agendas? If an 80 year old priest of your church is beaten...wouldn't one expect a different tone? I'm not saying that we are given the transcript of the whole interview...perhaps the quote is taken out of context. But at what point does the shepherd of our church begin insinuating government and police sanctioned violence. Even if it the implication was true...I don't feel it is the job of a Catholicose to make such a statement while the victim is still in the hospital. Won't that just make the situation worse?
A more appropriate response might have been a simple statement asking for prayers on behalf of the victim and perpetrator. Or maybe I just have this whole "christianity" part of Orthodoxy messed up in my own head??
Seems to me that there are places and times where this type of rhetoric is not needed. Sadly, I think the head of my own church fails to recognize any such distinction....
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06382.shtml
Now, let me be clear...I condemn violence..espcially against those not able to defend themselves...however, the article itself illustrates one of the great problems of our church.
Note:
"Persecution towards Christians and minorities are continuing with the support of government and police authorities. Mathews Cor-episcopa is one of its last victims," Catholicose of the East said.
Now am I the only one who feels that statement reeks of politics and alter agendas? If an 80 year old priest of your church is beaten...wouldn't one expect a different tone? I'm not saying that we are given the transcript of the whole interview...perhaps the quote is taken out of context. But at what point does the shepherd of our church begin insinuating government and police sanctioned violence. Even if it the implication was true...I don't feel it is the job of a Catholicose to make such a statement while the victim is still in the hospital. Won't that just make the situation worse?
A more appropriate response might have been a simple statement asking for prayers on behalf of the victim and perpetrator. Or maybe I just have this whole "christianity" part of Orthodoxy messed up in my own head??
Seems to me that there are places and times where this type of rhetoric is not needed. Sadly, I think the head of my own church fails to recognize any such distinction....
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06382.shtml
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sermon Delivered on Feast of the Holy Cross 2007: St. Gregorios Tampa, Fl
Glory be the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…the one triune God forever and ever…Amen.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing O Lord.
Respected Achen, distinguished elders, my brothers and sisters in Christ….
Death is never a subject that’s ever pleasant to talk about. Nobody wants to talk about their own mortality….it is something that is hard to deal with it whether it’s someone we know…or someone we don’t know. Death is an even worse subject in the context of murder…when one human being takes the life of another. Much of the repulsion that we Christians feel in regards to the idea of murder is due to the unique perspective we have on life. We believe that there is an immeasurable value on life because we believe that life is the most important gift that God himself has bestowed upon any of us.
But just for a moment if we could, let’s use our minds to go to that dark place ….and imagine the unthinkable. Imagine that someone we knew…had their life taken away from them by someone else.
How many of us…if someone we loved were killed because of clogged arteries….who would then take a jar of saturated fats…and place it in a prominent place above our fireplace?
How many of us…if a loved one were murdered by stabbing…would then take the same knife…and hang it from the wall of our home for all of our guests to see?
Finally, how many of us…if a loved one was shot…would take a single bullet…string it upon a gold necklace…and wear it upon our necks?
All of these things seem strange if not crazy…because it goes against our most basic feelings on life. That life itself is to be respected. One would think that if someone we cared about were killed…not only would we be grief stricken…but whatever it was that caused that death would become an object to be feared and avoided.
In my example….that means if a person we loved died of cardiac arrest….we ourselves would probably avoid eating unhealthy foods. If a person we loved was murdered with a knife...it might developing an apprehension around sharp objects. And in the case of our loved one being shot…it might mean that we would become adamantly opposed to guns.
That’s what one would expect…that is what we would call normal thinking. So why then as Christians…do we….so proudly hang the cross from our walls. Why do we wear crosses on our necklaces…and why would we make the sign of the cross so many times at church…when this is the same cross which tortured and killed our Lord Jesus Christ?
The answer might seem simple to us…but for the non-believer…it’s a bit strange. From the perspective of the world…this cross is a torture device used by the Roman Empire to persecute thousands. But from our perspective…we embrace the cross…we venerate the cross…and we worship before the same cross because of what it means.
Can we expect those who are non-believers to understand this? Not really. Even in the time of Paul there were issues with this…and so he wrote in his letter to the Corinthians:
St. Paul says within his first letter to the Corinthians:
18The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate
Paraphrased…that means that to those without faith…the message of the cross is foolish…but to those who believe it is everything.
The difference between the believer and non-believer in terms of the cross is that for us….we believe that the cross didn’t win. We believe that when Jesus hung on the cross…that the cross itself became the manner in which he died…but ultimately the instrument through which he defeated death. To the Christian…the cross is not a symbol of dying….but a sign of living and a sign of victory….a sanctified trophy that was won in the battle for our salvation. And that is why the cross is so prominently used and displayed by believers today. The cross did not defeat Christ…but Christ defeated death through the cross.
Last time I preached, I spoke about the connection between the old testament tree of life and the cross which is the new tree of life. I don’t wish to go much into that today.
But it’s enough to say that there is a reason behind my speaking about the cross. Do any of the youngsters know what is the significance of this day within the Church calendar?
Can someone tell me one thing that makes the service different this Sunday…than last Sunday? Kymtha -> Sleeba
Whereas kymtha is the worship of the risen Christ …sleeba is the worship of the Holy Cross…and the hopeful world.
Today we remember the feast day of the Holy Cross. It is the day in which we believe and remember that Emperess Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine…found the actual wooden cross used to crucify Jesus. Upon finding the cross, just touching it healed a deathly ill woman. After which, the patriarch of Jerusalem lifted it with both hands so that all the gathered peoples could see….and in response to the sight, the multitudes shouted “Lord have mercy upon us”.
This particular event is the origin of the worship service we use on every major feast day…on Christmas and Easter…we venerate the cross blessing the four quarters of the earth in the same manner. It is through this service of the Holy Cross we not only celebrate the historical event….but we also remember how this instrument of shame was used to overcome death and all enemies…in order to bring eternal life and salvation.
After this day, Christianity..which was once viewed by the known world as a minor religion…became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Ironically, the same Roman Empire which persecuted and martyred the early faithful of our Church….soon adorned the Holy Cross on all its flags, uniforms and shields. Through the help of St. Helena, her son Constantine not only converted to become a Christian…but became the man behind the initial ecumenical synods which our church still recognizes today.
I can only hope that everytime we see or make the sign of a cross…that we take a moment to reflect and remember the sacrafices of our holy martyrs and Jesus himself in giving this sign of victory to us through the Church. May the mercies of God the great be upon us and our Church from ages unto ages. Amen
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing O Lord.
Respected Achen, distinguished elders, my brothers and sisters in Christ….
Death is never a subject that’s ever pleasant to talk about. Nobody wants to talk about their own mortality….it is something that is hard to deal with it whether it’s someone we know…or someone we don’t know. Death is an even worse subject in the context of murder…when one human being takes the life of another. Much of the repulsion that we Christians feel in regards to the idea of murder is due to the unique perspective we have on life. We believe that there is an immeasurable value on life because we believe that life is the most important gift that God himself has bestowed upon any of us.
But just for a moment if we could, let’s use our minds to go to that dark place ….and imagine the unthinkable. Imagine that someone we knew…had their life taken away from them by someone else.
How many of us…if someone we loved were killed because of clogged arteries….who would then take a jar of saturated fats…and place it in a prominent place above our fireplace?
How many of us…if a loved one were murdered by stabbing…would then take the same knife…and hang it from the wall of our home for all of our guests to see?
Finally, how many of us…if a loved one was shot…would take a single bullet…string it upon a gold necklace…and wear it upon our necks?
All of these things seem strange if not crazy…because it goes against our most basic feelings on life. That life itself is to be respected. One would think that if someone we cared about were killed…not only would we be grief stricken…but whatever it was that caused that death would become an object to be feared and avoided.
In my example….that means if a person we loved died of cardiac arrest….we ourselves would probably avoid eating unhealthy foods. If a person we loved was murdered with a knife...it might developing an apprehension around sharp objects. And in the case of our loved one being shot…it might mean that we would become adamantly opposed to guns.
That’s what one would expect…that is what we would call normal thinking. So why then as Christians…do we….so proudly hang the cross from our walls. Why do we wear crosses on our necklaces…and why would we make the sign of the cross so many times at church…when this is the same cross which tortured and killed our Lord Jesus Christ?
The answer might seem simple to us…but for the non-believer…it’s a bit strange. From the perspective of the world…this cross is a torture device used by the Roman Empire to persecute thousands. But from our perspective…we embrace the cross…we venerate the cross…and we worship before the same cross because of what it means.
Can we expect those who are non-believers to understand this? Not really. Even in the time of Paul there were issues with this…and so he wrote in his letter to the Corinthians:
St. Paul says within his first letter to the Corinthians:
18The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate
Paraphrased…that means that to those without faith…the message of the cross is foolish…but to those who believe it is everything.
The difference between the believer and non-believer in terms of the cross is that for us….we believe that the cross didn’t win. We believe that when Jesus hung on the cross…that the cross itself became the manner in which he died…but ultimately the instrument through which he defeated death. To the Christian…the cross is not a symbol of dying….but a sign of living and a sign of victory….a sanctified trophy that was won in the battle for our salvation. And that is why the cross is so prominently used and displayed by believers today. The cross did not defeat Christ…but Christ defeated death through the cross.
Last time I preached, I spoke about the connection between the old testament tree of life and the cross which is the new tree of life. I don’t wish to go much into that today.
But it’s enough to say that there is a reason behind my speaking about the cross. Do any of the youngsters know what is the significance of this day within the Church calendar?
Can someone tell me one thing that makes the service different this Sunday…than last Sunday? Kymtha -> Sleeba
Whereas kymtha is the worship of the risen Christ …sleeba is the worship of the Holy Cross…and the hopeful world.
Today we remember the feast day of the Holy Cross. It is the day in which we believe and remember that Emperess Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine…found the actual wooden cross used to crucify Jesus. Upon finding the cross, just touching it healed a deathly ill woman. After which, the patriarch of Jerusalem lifted it with both hands so that all the gathered peoples could see….and in response to the sight, the multitudes shouted “Lord have mercy upon us”.
This particular event is the origin of the worship service we use on every major feast day…on Christmas and Easter…we venerate the cross blessing the four quarters of the earth in the same manner. It is through this service of the Holy Cross we not only celebrate the historical event….but we also remember how this instrument of shame was used to overcome death and all enemies…in order to bring eternal life and salvation.
After this day, Christianity..which was once viewed by the known world as a minor religion…became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Ironically, the same Roman Empire which persecuted and martyred the early faithful of our Church….soon adorned the Holy Cross on all its flags, uniforms and shields. Through the help of St. Helena, her son Constantine not only converted to become a Christian…but became the man behind the initial ecumenical synods which our church still recognizes today.
I can only hope that everytime we see or make the sign of a cross…that we take a moment to reflect and remember the sacrafices of our holy martyrs and Jesus himself in giving this sign of victory to us through the Church. May the mercies of God the great be upon us and our Church from ages unto ages. Amen
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The saddest sports video on youtube...
Not sure I can say anything to do this justice. This is a promotional video for school spirit put out by Kansas State University. Aside from the fact that the mascot is weird looking, the lame "Willie" chant, and the special effects being VERY low-grade...we then realize that the saddest part of the video is that it was made in 2007! That's right...some hair-metal guy who worked his way up the Unviersity Administration thought that this would be a "radical" "totally tubular" idea (Use your best Wayne's World voice).
Even better than the video are the comments being left by ppl viewing from rival schools. My favorite (clean) message? :
"Dear Kansas State,
Seriously, what the hell you guys.
Signed,
The Rest Of the Big 12 "
Just what makes the purple towel a "POWER" towel, we're still not sure.... You decide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A-05wPlQQ4
Even better than the video are the comments being left by ppl viewing from rival schools. My favorite (clean) message? :
"Dear Kansas State,
Seriously, what the hell you guys.
Signed,
The Rest Of the Big 12 "
Just what makes the purple towel a "POWER" towel, we're still not sure.... You decide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A-05wPlQQ4
Honey forget buying a house...
Buying a house is no picnic. There's all the worrying about mortgages, deposits, and signing over your life for a piece of property. Then once you move in, you realize that you don't have enough furniture, things need fixing, and maybe that dream house isn't so dreamy....
But what if someone said that for the same price you could have a smaller place...where your laundry is done for you, the room is cleaned, and you never have to worry about using too much water or using too much AC. Sounds good?
That's what Mr. and Mrs. David Davidson thought as well. One catch though...they've been living that way at a Travelodge hotel...for 20 YEARS! When you first hear...they sound a bit kooky (not that I should be throwing stones or anything). But when you think about it...it's a nice little setup.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070911/od_afp/lifestylebritainhoteloffbeat
But what if someone said that for the same price you could have a smaller place...where your laundry is done for you, the room is cleaned, and you never have to worry about using too much water or using too much AC. Sounds good?
That's what Mr. and Mrs. David Davidson thought as well. One catch though...they've been living that way at a Travelodge hotel...for 20 YEARS! When you first hear...they sound a bit kooky (not that I should be throwing stones or anything). But when you think about it...it's a nice little setup.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070911/od_afp/lifestylebritainhoteloffbeat
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Raunchy Clearasil Ads
These days, the line between what is considered "adult" and what is considered "child appropriate" becomes increasingly blurred. In the past, children were allowed to be kids for some time before they were thrust with the burdens of social pressures, stress, and dealing with sexuality.
Unfortunately, we also find many cases of children being exploited whether it be at home, by pedophiles, and even by teachers. No links provided as these things are well documented. (See Mary Kay Latourneau)
So that brings me to the recent "Clearasil" pimple cream ads. Now, as an adult...I can appreciate the attempt at humor in these ads. But considering this is a product for those entering puberty, it's a little disturbing. While all the ads are a bit raunchy, the one ad I find the most alarming is the one involving a young man hitting on his friend's mother. At what point as a society did we decide it is ok to make light of physical attraction between children and adults? If I was a parent I'd be even more bothered by this, because unlike a TV show which you can pre-screen using ratings to decide if it's okay to view...commercials ambush you and your children in random spots.
take a look and decide for yourself. You may find it amusing....but how would you feel if you were in the room and your 12 or 13 year old was seeing this? I'm against censorship, but as a society we have a duty to protect those who can't defend themselves....this includes children. I think advertisers need to use more discretion or be held accountable.
Unfortunately, we also find many cases of children being exploited whether it be at home, by pedophiles, and even by teachers. No links provided as these things are well documented. (See Mary Kay Latourneau)
So that brings me to the recent "Clearasil" pimple cream ads. Now, as an adult...I can appreciate the attempt at humor in these ads. But considering this is a product for those entering puberty, it's a little disturbing. While all the ads are a bit raunchy, the one ad I find the most alarming is the one involving a young man hitting on his friend's mother. At what point as a society did we decide it is ok to make light of physical attraction between children and adults? If I was a parent I'd be even more bothered by this, because unlike a TV show which you can pre-screen using ratings to decide if it's okay to view...commercials ambush you and your children in random spots.
take a look and decide for yourself. You may find it amusing....but how would you feel if you were in the room and your 12 or 13 year old was seeing this? I'm against censorship, but as a society we have a duty to protect those who can't defend themselves....this includes children. I think advertisers need to use more discretion or be held accountable.
NFL Player Paralyzed
As a huge fan of football (the american variety), lots of thoughts and prayers go out to Keven Everett, TE for the Buffalo Bills. He made a head on tackle during a game Sunday, and was unable to move. They carted him off the field and rushed him to the hospital for immediate surgery. It appears there has been some spinal cord injury..surgery was done to repair broken vertabrae.
Is football too dangerous a sport? It certainly is a high risk occupation: Broken limbs and torn joints are a regular occurrence. But at the same time, these guys are also being compensated for the nature of their jobs. I have an issue with the fact that baseball players make so much...but it is for this reason that I have a hard time believing that NFL players are overpaid.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Everett who was a great Tight End at the University of Miami in his college days...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/09/10/bc.fbn.bills.everetthur.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
Is football too dangerous a sport? It certainly is a high risk occupation: Broken limbs and torn joints are a regular occurrence. But at the same time, these guys are also being compensated for the nature of their jobs. I have an issue with the fact that baseball players make so much...but it is for this reason that I have a hard time believing that NFL players are overpaid.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Everett who was a great Tight End at the University of Miami in his college days...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/09/10/bc.fbn.bills.everetthur.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
China to build worship center for Olympics...
The Chinese government is always a fun time. When they aren't beating down protesters in Tianamen Square or limiting use of the internet....they always find ways to remind the rest of the world why communism isn't a good idea.
Fast forward to the present. Beijing will be host to the world for next year's Olympic games. In a country that seeks to control everything, this poses a problem for the government. Do they encourage visitors to attend existing churches within the country...or do they try to come up with something different?
Admittedly, I'm not an expert on the infrastructure arrangements for Olympic Games. I can only imagine that existing facilities have been used to service the spiritual needs of athletes. But keep in mind that a government like China never does anything without giving serious thought of the implications. Religion is just the type of combustible issue that could free the minds of citizens and threaten the regime. Thinking along that line, it would be a very bad idea for outsiders to enter these existing institutions and have too much contact on the subject with Chinese counterparts. We wouldn't want another full-blown revolution on our hands. So the choice becomes clearer....potential revolution...or...build a faith center; despite not really being in favor of religion. "We choose the one that doesn't require another beatdown" says the Chinese government happily.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/09/04/china.olympics.ap/index.html
Fast forward to the present. Beijing will be host to the world for next year's Olympic games. In a country that seeks to control everything, this poses a problem for the government. Do they encourage visitors to attend existing churches within the country...or do they try to come up with something different?
Admittedly, I'm not an expert on the infrastructure arrangements for Olympic Games. I can only imagine that existing facilities have been used to service the spiritual needs of athletes. But keep in mind that a government like China never does anything without giving serious thought of the implications. Religion is just the type of combustible issue that could free the minds of citizens and threaten the regime. Thinking along that line, it would be a very bad idea for outsiders to enter these existing institutions and have too much contact on the subject with Chinese counterparts. We wouldn't want another full-blown revolution on our hands. So the choice becomes clearer....potential revolution...or...build a faith center; despite not really being in favor of religion. "We choose the one that doesn't require another beatdown" says the Chinese government happily.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/09/04/china.olympics.ap/index.html
Sunday, September 2, 2007
What is the worst named piece of clothing?
So as everyone knows, in my part-time I dabble as a fashion -maven (right). So with that i
n mine, I got into an inane discussion about a particular type of clothing that has the worst name we can think of. Here's the definiton for it straight from that oracle of knowledge otherwsie known as Wikipedia:
"Also known as A-shirts, they are usually worn by men, although sometimes worn by women (in which case they may be known as boy beaters). They are generally made for use as underwear, and generally have large sleeve holes and a large neck, down to near the chest."
Hmm..clear as a bell right? So if it isn't obvious (And I can't be the only one who doesn't know what an A shirt is) ...we're talking about "Wife beaters". Who could have possibly come up with a name for it? The name itself conjures images of a fat brown dude in a lungi...probably a thick moustache..dragging his sari clad wife back to the cave. But not so fast my friends Wiki goes on to say:
"The term originates from frequent depictions in popular culture of aggressive American men, usually living in poor conditions (such as living in a trailer) and having low income, beating their wives and/or children while clad in this shirt."
Whatever it is...perhaps we need to just learn to call them an A-shirt? (whatever that is...).
n mine, I got into an inane discussion about a particular type of clothing that has the worst name we can think of. Here's the definiton for it straight from that oracle of knowledge otherwsie known as Wikipedia:
"Also known as A-shirts, they are usually worn by men, although sometimes worn by women (in which case they may be known as boy beaters). They are generally made for use as underwear, and generally have large sleeve holes and a large neck, down to near the chest."
Hmm..clear as a bell right? So if it isn't obvious (And I can't be the only one who doesn't know what an A shirt is) ...we're talking about "Wife beaters". Who could have possibly come up with a name for it? The name itself conjures images of a fat brown dude in a lungi...probably a thick moustache..dragging his sari clad wife back to the cave. But not so fast my friends Wiki goes on to say:
"The term originates from frequent depictions in popular culture of aggressive American men, usually living in poor conditions (such as living in a trailer) and having low income, beating their wives and/or children while clad in this shirt."
Whatever it is...perhaps we need to just learn to call them an A-shirt? (whatever that is...).
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
UPDATE: Unlocking the power of the iPhone!
Our boy George Hotz of NJ has finally made good on the iPhone that he hacked into. As reported by the AP, Hotz has traded the phone for a car; in his own words: "a sweet Nissan 350Z and 3 8GB iPhones." The "buyer" was CertiCell, a Louisville, Ky.-based mobile phone repair company.
Good for him! Being Indian, I have this strange need to the math on his investment. Per the handy dandy internet, the car retails for roughly $36,550...the phones are about $599 per...meaning his total haul comes to $41,232. That means the kid got about $82/hr which is certainly great for a 17 year old... Good for him!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070828/ap_on_re_us/odd_iphone_unlocked
Good for him! Being Indian, I have this strange need to the math on his investment. Per the handy dandy internet, the car retails for roughly $36,550...the phones are about $599 per...meaning his total haul comes to $41,232. That means the kid got about $82/hr which is certainly great for a 17 year old... Good for him!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070828/ap_on_re_us/odd_iphone_unlocked
Monday, August 27, 2007
At least he's a committed father...
Being a sports junkie myself, I feel like some of the most interesting news comes from the world of sports. Whether it's dogfighting, drug dealing, or even stealing sneakers...athletes routinely provide newspapers and tabloids with endless fodder. (Not to mention comedians)
On that note, I stumbled upon the incredible story of Travis Henry. Mr. Henry was a star running back for the University of Tennessee before eventually becoming a starter for the Buffalo Bills, the Tennessee Titans, and now the Denver Broncos. Last year while earning the veteran minimum salary, he earned close to $600k before signing his current deal worth $25 million. Not extreme when compared with many other athletes...but certainly not a pauper's pay when compared to the general public. According to records, he spent $100,000 for a Mercedes and nearly $150,000 for jewelry last year. Why is any of this relevant? Well...partly because he ended up borrowing money from his last team to cover child care payments....child care payments for NINE children!!
Yes it's true, Travis Henry has 9 children...with....NINE different women. One would think that at about child number 5...sanity would set in and he'd re-examine his ways....but apparently not. Moreover, because of his spending habits..he had to borrow $9,800 from the Tennessee Titans to cover court ordered support for seven of these unfortunate children.
The absolute most comedic part of this sad tale though...comes from his attorney who surely gets paid barrel loads of cash to defend this guy in front of a judge. In regards to the "cash flow" issue, attorney Sheil Edlin claims that despite receiving a $1 million signing bonus for his new contract; he collected much less than that after taxes, and much of it went to debts. In a slight understatement Edlin says "The guy has significant financial issues" (direct quote).
While that statement alone is enough to re-affirm my faith in zealous representation by attorneys everwhere, Edlin takes it one step further when he says (and there is no way I'm making this up): "I know these are a lot of kids, and there might be some questions about it, but he's a really committed father." Well imagine that. I guess that makes it OK.....
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/SPORTS01/708270341/1328/SPORTS
On that note, I stumbled upon the incredible story of Travis Henry. Mr. Henry was a star running back for the University of Tennessee before eventually becoming a starter for the Buffalo Bills, the Tennessee Titans, and now the Denver Broncos. Last year while earning the veteran minimum salary, he earned close to $600k before signing his current deal worth $25 million. Not extreme when compared with many other athletes...but certainly not a pauper's pay when compared to the general public. According to records, he spent $100,000 for a Mercedes and nearly $150,000 for jewelry last year. Why is any of this relevant? Well...partly because he ended up borrowing money from his last team to cover child care payments....child care payments for NINE children!!
Yes it's true, Travis Henry has 9 children...with....NINE different women. One would think that at about child number 5...sanity would set in and he'd re-examine his ways....but apparently not. Moreover, because of his spending habits..he had to borrow $9,800 from the Tennessee Titans to cover court ordered support for seven of these unfortunate children.
The absolute most comedic part of this sad tale though...comes from his attorney who surely gets paid barrel loads of cash to defend this guy in front of a judge. In regards to the "cash flow" issue, attorney Sheil Edlin claims that despite receiving a $1 million signing bonus for his new contract; he collected much less than that after taxes, and much of it went to debts. In a slight understatement Edlin says "The guy has significant financial issues" (direct quote).
While that statement alone is enough to re-affirm my faith in zealous representation by attorneys everwhere, Edlin takes it one step further when he says (and there is no way I'm making this up): "I know these are a lot of kids, and there might be some questions about it, but he's a really committed father." Well imagine that. I guess that makes it OK.....
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/SPORTS01/708270341/1328/SPORTS
Friday, August 24, 2007
Evangelical? This way to Orthodoxy....
Eye opening article on the movement of many evangelicals to Orthodoxy.
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20070827&s=zengerle082707
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20070827&s=zengerle082707
Unlock the Power of the iPhone!
OK....so I admit that I'm no longer one of the tech-savvy. In fact, nobody I know would be considered tech-savvy, because apparently there is an age ceiling of 22. But rather than be bitter, I digress....
In the latest illustration of how teenagers are just too smart for their own good; 17- year old George Hotz of Glen Rock, N.J is the first confirmed individual to unlock his iPhone from the AT&T network. Truly this must be a ground breaking moment.
Now, why someone would want to hack a phone to move from AT&T to T-Mobile is beyond me. (Give up all those roll-over minutes? As if!) However the most interesting lines of the article might be missed if you don't carefully read. (therefore I point them out for you below!)
1) It took Big George 500 HOURS to accomplish this great step for mankind.
2) The kid put the hacked phone on eBay and the latest bidding had the price up over $12,000. (Retail price is $499)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IPHONE_UNLOCKED
In the latest illustration of how teenagers are just too smart for their own good; 17- year old George Hotz of Glen Rock, N.J is the first confirmed individual to unlock his iPhone from the AT&T network. Truly this must be a ground breaking moment.
Now, why someone would want to hack a phone to move from AT&T to T-Mobile is beyond me. (Give up all those roll-over minutes? As if!) However the most interesting lines of the article might be missed if you don't carefully read. (therefore I point them out for you below!)
1) It took Big George 500 HOURS to accomplish this great step for mankind.
2) The kid put the hacked phone on eBay and the latest bidding had the price up over $12,000. (Retail price is $499)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IPHONE_UNLOCKED
Mother Theresa: A crisis of faith
Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.— Mother Teresa to the Rev. Michael Van Der Peet, September 1979
There are few figures in my lifetime as powerful as the frail Mother Theresa of Calcutta. When a conversation about genuine "goodness" in humanity arises, inevitably we end up citing her example. The unconditional love for her fellow man that she would exhibit has universally been lauded as a testament to the power of the faith in Christ. However, her most intimate letters written to confessors...give us a new light by which to see her.
In this well written piece by Time Magazine, we find a Mother Theresa who is filled with an intense longing for Christ. She seems consumed with an emptiness within her at the same time that she is caring for the needy. We see a woman who greets recognition of her work with an almost guilt...as if she is committing some type of sin making her even less worthy of the one she loves.
Knowing that my descriptions can in no way do it any justice, I'll just say that it's truly a fascinating article which is very much worth reading.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-world
There are few figures in my lifetime as powerful as the frail Mother Theresa of Calcutta. When a conversation about genuine "goodness" in humanity arises, inevitably we end up citing her example. The unconditional love for her fellow man that she would exhibit has universally been lauded as a testament to the power of the faith in Christ. However, her most intimate letters written to confessors...give us a new light by which to see her.
In this well written piece by Time Magazine, we find a Mother Theresa who is filled with an intense longing for Christ. She seems consumed with an emptiness within her at the same time that she is caring for the needy. We see a woman who greets recognition of her work with an almost guilt...as if she is committing some type of sin making her even less worthy of the one she loves.
Knowing that my descriptions can in no way do it any justice, I'll just say that it's truly a fascinating article which is very much worth reading.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-world
CNN Documentary: God's Warriors
Anyone who has tuned into CNN in the past few weeks can bear witness to the endless stream of commercials involving their "ground breaking" new documentary series: "God's Warriors" outlining extremism in the three major monotheistic religions. The documentary is narrated and produced by Christiane Amanpour, who herself comes from a multi-religious background.
I had an opportunity to watch the series and came away with mized feelings. If you have never really delved into the issue of extremism, it would really be an eye opener.
What I found striking was the difference in the Muslim and CHristian episodes. Now, I'm not at all sure if it is the way the pieces were put together...but the Christian extremist seemed to have been much less intimidating than their Muslim counterparts. CNN has placed Christian extremism in the realm of Bible-thumping, politically motivated evengelicals...which might lead to apprehensions in our society to some in our coountry....it did not seem to be the sort of life threatening stuff one was presented with in the Muslim episode. Is this due to the actual nature of the respective extremists? Not entirely sure. I do know that Amanpour did a respectable job in a subject that can be quite difficult to navigate.
At any rate, in a world where everyone makes religion into the subject that nobody needs to speak by name...I'm glad that CNN made an attempt given the state of the world today.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/
I had an opportunity to watch the series and came away with mized feelings. If you have never really delved into the issue of extremism, it would really be an eye opener.
What I found striking was the difference in the Muslim and CHristian episodes. Now, I'm not at all sure if it is the way the pieces were put together...but the Christian extremist seemed to have been much less intimidating than their Muslim counterparts. CNN has placed Christian extremism in the realm of Bible-thumping, politically motivated evengelicals...which might lead to apprehensions in our society to some in our coountry....it did not seem to be the sort of life threatening stuff one was presented with in the Muslim episode. Is this due to the actual nature of the respective extremists? Not entirely sure. I do know that Amanpour did a respectable job in a subject that can be quite difficult to navigate.
At any rate, in a world where everyone makes religion into the subject that nobody needs to speak by name...I'm glad that CNN made an attempt given the state of the world today.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Kerala Math: Girls+Boys+School Bench=Sexual Anarchy
Having never lived in Kerala for anymore than a few weeks, I have trouble trying to understand the culture of where I came from. There seems to be such backward ideas and notions that people just accept as truths...and nowhere is this more evident than in dealing with women. It seems that decades of feminism in the West, and even having a PM that was a woman (RIP: Indira Gandhi) doesn't seem to have put too much of a dent into the mentality of Kerala. Take a little bit of that and mix it up with the Taliban"ish" ravings of certain Muslim leaders in the province and you have yourself a real quandry. Think I'm wrong?
Exhibit A: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/211898.html
According to the student arm of Kerala's largest Muslim community organization: "Allowing boys and girls in school to sit on the same bench while writing their exams could cause “breakdown of morality” leading to “total sexual anarchy”. "
That's right...sexual ANARCHY...from sitting on the school bench together. Well this certainly seems like the natural progression of things: Girl and boy share bench, they learn together (terrible). Girl gets older discovers she wants an education. (horrible) Girl gets education and decides she wants a career (the shame of it all!). Career-minded girl, now a woman, figures out that men can't control her and begins burning bras in the street. (we definitely wouldn't want that!)
Let's get real here. Some of these backwards thinking third worlders need to get dragged kicking and screaming into the year 2007. To think that sharing a bench with boys will create the opportunity for sexual anarchy is absurd. And even if it were the case...define sexual anarchy. Does it mean that there will be more prevalence in rapes and incest? Hmm..seems to me that that is already an issue in that province. What are they really scared of? Seems to me that it is more a "control issue" than anything else.....
Exhibit A: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/211898.html
According to the student arm of Kerala's largest Muslim community organization: "Allowing boys and girls in school to sit on the same bench while writing their exams could cause “breakdown of morality” leading to “total sexual anarchy”. "
That's right...sexual ANARCHY...from sitting on the school bench together. Well this certainly seems like the natural progression of things: Girl and boy share bench, they learn together (terrible). Girl gets older discovers she wants an education. (horrible) Girl gets education and decides she wants a career (the shame of it all!). Career-minded girl, now a woman, figures out that men can't control her and begins burning bras in the street. (we definitely wouldn't want that!)
Let's get real here. Some of these backwards thinking third worlders need to get dragged kicking and screaming into the year 2007. To think that sharing a bench with boys will create the opportunity for sexual anarchy is absurd. And even if it were the case...define sexual anarchy. Does it mean that there will be more prevalence in rapes and incest? Hmm..seems to me that that is already an issue in that province. What are they really scared of? Seems to me that it is more a "control issue" than anything else.....
Just Say No to Baggy Pants
In a sure sign that some politicians have waaaay too much time on their hands, an Atlanta city Councilman has suggested a move to making it illegal to wear pants that sag to the point of exposing underwear/thong. Calling sagging pants an "epidemic" and a "major concern", Councilman CT Martin has proposed the amendment to city indecency laws.
Now isn't this why we put our elected officials in office? To play fashion police? Why stop there, perhaps the president should create a national commission on fashion headed by Stacey and Clinton.....maybe not.
Look, I personally understand the comfort of baggy pants to an extent....but when they are falling off your butt, it's not hip...it's time to purchase a belt. Having said that, I doubt we need our elected officials wasting time trying to cure this "epidemic". It might be in bad taste, and sure it's origins might be from the jails....but surely there are a couple issues in Atlanta that are a bit more important than this?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070823/ap_on_fe_st/atlanta_sagging_pants
Now isn't this why we put our elected officials in office? To play fashion police? Why stop there, perhaps the president should create a national commission on fashion headed by Stacey and Clinton.....maybe not.
Look, I personally understand the comfort of baggy pants to an extent....but when they are falling off your butt, it's not hip...it's time to purchase a belt. Having said that, I doubt we need our elected officials wasting time trying to cure this "epidemic". It might be in bad taste, and sure it's origins might be from the jails....but surely there are a couple issues in Atlanta that are a bit more important than this?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070823/ap_on_fe_st/atlanta_sagging_pants
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Alcoholism in the Keralite Community
Have you ever been to a Mallu celebration where alcohol is not served? Pretty dry....boring even. Ppl are just not very lively, and no matter the occasion (grad party, wedding, anniversary) there is an endless stream of speeches which everyone feels obliged to deal with.
But take that same event and throw in an open bar...and well things really get kicked up a notch. Are ppl more lively?...not necessarily. Is there a better exhibition of culture? Nope. But do things get more fun? Depends on your perspective.
Now I would be remiss if I neglected to point out that I am one of the few ppl I know who is not a drinker. I don't have a taste for beer, don't care for wine or liquor, and just don't see what all the hub-bub is about. I don't get the taste....and I'm not one of those ppl who need it to held me "unwind". In a year, I can probably count on one hand the amount of "drinks" I've had...which admittedly makes me an 'odd bird'.
But if you look within the mallu community, I believe that collectively, they more than make up for the scant amount of brain cells I'm killing. Drinking is an enormous problem with our people in America, and sadly the situation is getting worse...not better.
In most minds, it's communities who are down on their luck who take to drinking...in order to drown their sorrows. We all have images of poor Americans in the ghettos sitting on the street corner with a bottle covered by a paper bag. We generalize and think of these drunkards as lazy; having given up hope to better their conditions.
In our Keralite communities, it's striking how the image is almost the opposite. Individuals from all educational backgrounds and ages, who just don't know how to act around alcohol. Having received the plenties of being able to come to this country, we allow ourselves to drown our happiness in endless glasses of the stuff. And what is our excuse? Is there a valid one?
Anyone who is a second generation Indo-American can relate to this in one way or another. College Indian parties are synonymous with drinking and fighting. Indian Weddings are not usually better, the exception being that the plus 40 crowd is also then present. It's truly an embarassment that our communities don't spend enough time addressing amongst ourselves.
Reconciling this private behavior with the outward declaration of one's religion is very hard...at any age. Unfortunately, collegiate and young professionals of the church operate under the guise of some sort of age-qualified immunity. As if you get a freebie or pass for those years of your life in terms of your behavior and morality. But Orthodoxy requires a constant preparation for the coming of the Lord....and getting drunk just doesn't jive with that important fact. Perhaps that isn't the most popular route to take...but if you honestly choose to be Orthodox (or any religion for that matter), your willingly submitting yourself to an unpopular lifestyle. One based on rationality..and not what culture deems as acceptable. Our God is a forgiving God, but we have to at least try....
I'd really like more courage in the leadership of our church towards addressing the drinking issue. Our young people can't continue to think that it's ok to get smashed on Saturday night...and show up for service on Sunday morning. There can be no burying our heads in the sand...this is a social issue which requires immediate action.
But take that same event and throw in an open bar...and well things really get kicked up a notch. Are ppl more lively?...not necessarily. Is there a better exhibition of culture? Nope. But do things get more fun? Depends on your perspective.
Now I would be remiss if I neglected to point out that I am one of the few ppl I know who is not a drinker. I don't have a taste for beer, don't care for wine or liquor, and just don't see what all the hub-bub is about. I don't get the taste....and I'm not one of those ppl who need it to held me "unwind". In a year, I can probably count on one hand the amount of "drinks" I've had...which admittedly makes me an 'odd bird'.
But if you look within the mallu community, I believe that collectively, they more than make up for the scant amount of brain cells I'm killing. Drinking is an enormous problem with our people in America, and sadly the situation is getting worse...not better.
In most minds, it's communities who are down on their luck who take to drinking...in order to drown their sorrows. We all have images of poor Americans in the ghettos sitting on the street corner with a bottle covered by a paper bag. We generalize and think of these drunkards as lazy; having given up hope to better their conditions.
In our Keralite communities, it's striking how the image is almost the opposite. Individuals from all educational backgrounds and ages, who just don't know how to act around alcohol. Having received the plenties of being able to come to this country, we allow ourselves to drown our happiness in endless glasses of the stuff. And what is our excuse? Is there a valid one?
Anyone who is a second generation Indo-American can relate to this in one way or another. College Indian parties are synonymous with drinking and fighting. Indian Weddings are not usually better, the exception being that the plus 40 crowd is also then present. It's truly an embarassment that our communities don't spend enough time addressing amongst ourselves.
Reconciling this private behavior with the outward declaration of one's religion is very hard...at any age. Unfortunately, collegiate and young professionals of the church operate under the guise of some sort of age-qualified immunity. As if you get a freebie or pass for those years of your life in terms of your behavior and morality. But Orthodoxy requires a constant preparation for the coming of the Lord....and getting drunk just doesn't jive with that important fact. Perhaps that isn't the most popular route to take...but if you honestly choose to be Orthodox (or any religion for that matter), your willingly submitting yourself to an unpopular lifestyle. One based on rationality..and not what culture deems as acceptable. Our God is a forgiving God, but we have to at least try....
I'd really like more courage in the leadership of our church towards addressing the drinking issue. Our young people can't continue to think that it's ok to get smashed on Saturday night...and show up for service on Sunday morning. There can be no burying our heads in the sand...this is a social issue which requires immediate action.
Just what America needs...a teen movie!
There are few genres of cinema that are as endearing to the American public as the teen/college movie. It doesn't matter what year you graduated, when flipping channels we inevitably find a showing of a movie which takes us back to the exact point in time where you had to ask for a hall pass to use the restroom, you knew football players personally, and blowing hundreds of dollars on Prom seemed like a smart idea.
What makes good teen movie? Usually you need some socially awkward "average joe's" in a school where the worst looking female students were still better looking than your own prom queen, throw in a party or two, gratuitous raunchiness, and some coming of age conflict..and voila: Movie Magic. (And beer...usually lots and lots of beer)
Well, in case you were waiting for Hollywood to give us another "classic" like Van Wilder, She's All That, Bring it On, Road Trip or American Pie. The number one movie in America this weekend is "Superbad" which raked in $31.2 million dollars. Wowsers.
check out this impressive description of the plot:
'"Superbad" stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as pals on a quest for alcohol to impress the foxy host of a party'
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/19/arts/NA-A-E-MOV-US-Box-Office.php
I'm in the wrong business...maybe I need to write my own teen movie....
What makes good teen movie? Usually you need some socially awkward "average joe's" in a school where the worst looking female students were still better looking than your own prom queen, throw in a party or two, gratuitous raunchiness, and some coming of age conflict..and voila: Movie Magic. (And beer...usually lots and lots of beer)
Well, in case you were waiting for Hollywood to give us another "classic" like Van Wilder, She's All That, Bring it On, Road Trip or American Pie. The number one movie in America this weekend is "Superbad" which raked in $31.2 million dollars. Wowsers.
check out this impressive description of the plot:
'"Superbad" stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as pals on a quest for alcohol to impress the foxy host of a party'
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/19/arts/NA-A-E-MOV-US-Box-Office.php
I'm in the wrong business...maybe I need to write my own teen movie....
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The Turd Blossom has now left the building...
In a move that some people said was long in coming, Karl Rove has left the White House. Why is this important? Well this guy is supposed to be the most "important" political strategist of our time...(according to similar "some people")
It's also a sign of the weakened state of the current President. When elected, this President rode a platform of integrity and as being "a uniter not a divider", but if you look...the guy can't get a thing done. Mind you, there were many things out of his control...9/11, Katrina, etc. ...but it's extraordinary how badly things have gone. Not saying that the alternative candidates would have fared any better..but it seems like there is just one bad decision after another...with people dropping out of the administration with regularity (see Karen hughes, Colin Powell, William Rumsfeld...)
anyway..here's a link to the article. My favorite part being where it is revealed that Karl Rove's is referred to in meetings as "Turd Blossom". Wonder how he got that nickname....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249940/site/newsweek/
It's also a sign of the weakened state of the current President. When elected, this President rode a platform of integrity and as being "a uniter not a divider", but if you look...the guy can't get a thing done. Mind you, there were many things out of his control...9/11, Katrina, etc. ...but it's extraordinary how badly things have gone. Not saying that the alternative candidates would have fared any better..but it seems like there is just one bad decision after another...with people dropping out of the administration with regularity (see Karen hughes, Colin Powell, William Rumsfeld...)
anyway..here's a link to the article. My favorite part being where it is revealed that Karl Rove's is referred to in meetings as "Turd Blossom". Wonder how he got that nickname....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249940/site/newsweek/
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Osama, Obama, and Chelsea's Momma....
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/07/graham-poses-with-clintonobamaosama-sign/
You know..sometimes you just have to laugh. While I think it is extremely immature and childish...something about politician's posing for pictures with politically incorrect signs that is a refreshing change.
For the most part, the political campaigns of today reduce candidates to stuffy wooden puppets who speak, walk and conduct their lives for the purpose of collecting votes. Once these candidates announce they are running for office, they hire an all-star PR and marketing team to turn them into a person who is no necessarily likeable...but the candidate with the least amount of minuses while maintaining high voter recognition. We aren't given a choice of real people...but plastic men who will say anything to make themselves seem important. (See Joe Biden)
While it is a bit juvenile...posing with a sign that says “Obama, Osama, and Chelsea’s Moma say cut and run" at least tells me that Lindsey Graham and Mitt Romney have a sense of humor. As a voter...I think I like that.
You know..sometimes you just have to laugh. While I think it is extremely immature and childish...something about politician's posing for pictures with politically incorrect signs that is a refreshing change.
For the most part, the political campaigns of today reduce candidates to stuffy wooden puppets who speak, walk and conduct their lives for the purpose of collecting votes. Once these candidates announce they are running for office, they hire an all-star PR and marketing team to turn them into a person who is no necessarily likeable...but the candidate with the least amount of minuses while maintaining high voter recognition. We aren't given a choice of real people...but plastic men who will say anything to make themselves seem important. (See Joe Biden)
While it is a bit juvenile...posing with a sign that says “Obama, Osama, and Chelsea’s Moma say cut and run" at least tells me that Lindsey Graham and Mitt Romney have a sense of humor. As a voter...I think I like that.
Latest Michael Vick Marketing Venture
Now I'm not ready to say that the guy is guilty , but if he is...this latest marketing venture is funny:
Michael Vick chew toys for your puppy!
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=60629
A percentage of the proceeds will benefit area animal shelters as well as the Michael Vick "I wish Cochran was still alive" legal fund....
Michael Vick chew toys for your puppy!
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=60629
A percentage of the proceeds will benefit area animal shelters as well as the Michael Vick "I wish Cochran was still alive" legal fund....
Monday, August 6, 2007
Behold the wrath of Hello Kitty
Remember the book the Scarlet letter? Remember the societal embarrassment of an adulterous woman having to wear the mark of shame to single her out in the community? Well it's back.....and it's worse than ever!
If you're a member of the Thai police force and you fit the description of a "dirty cop", look out!
Parking in a prohibited spot officer? Was that a cigarette butt I saw you throw on the ground? Did you arrive late for work today? Bad bad policeman. You will now be subject to the type of insane punishment that only the good folks in the Eastern World could cook up.
Hello Kitty. Yes...you heard right. Oh the shame, the humanity!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hello_kitty_cops
You know these guys are sure to stay in line now. Something tells me that if this were in our country though, there would be some sort of employment lawsuit...But rather than darken the good name of our wonderfully litigious society, I digress.
If you're a member of the Thai police force and you fit the description of a "dirty cop", look out!
Parking in a prohibited spot officer? Was that a cigarette butt I saw you throw on the ground? Did you arrive late for work today? Bad bad policeman. You will now be subject to the type of insane punishment that only the good folks in the Eastern World could cook up.
Hello Kitty. Yes...you heard right. Oh the shame, the humanity!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hello_kitty_cops
You know these guys are sure to stay in line now. Something tells me that if this were in our country though, there would be some sort of employment lawsuit...But rather than darken the good name of our wonderfully litigious society, I digress.
Questions to ask before you get married
At my age, you've seen quite a few of your friends and acquaintances get married. There is no "best way" to find your significant other...you can be introduced to them by a friend "blindly", meet randomly at the grocery store, or even have your parents set you up. While most of the married couples I know are very happy together, inevitably there are a few that end up struggling from the get go. It gives an outsider a bit of pause to consider...."just how did you two end up together in the first place?". This is even more the case when the couple you see has some glaring issues that would be obvious to anyone else looking in. (such as the machismo old-country man married to the liberal-minded woman who went to Vasser.)
It just makes you wonder..."did they even talk before they decided to tie the knot?" While this might be an issue to pontificate upon ad nauseum....our good friend Oprah "the moral compass for america" Winfrey has come up with an all-inclusive list of "Questions to ask before you get married". Be sure to pack this one with your passport before you head down to the home country on that two week "trip" to scout out the potentials.... And if you're already married, read only if there is a box of kleenex nearby.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/08/02/o.marriage.questions/index.html
It just makes you wonder..."did they even talk before they decided to tie the knot?" While this might be an issue to pontificate upon ad nauseum....our good friend Oprah "the moral compass for america" Winfrey has come up with an all-inclusive list of "Questions to ask before you get married". Be sure to pack this one with your passport before you head down to the home country on that two week "trip" to scout out the potentials.... And if you're already married, read only if there is a box of kleenex nearby.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/08/02/o.marriage.questions/index.html
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Searching for Information
So I have been asked to speak at an MGOCSM retreat at the end of the month, which should be a good time. The theme of the retreat is "repentance and reconciliation" which is actually a large topic if you think about it. The next few weeks are going to be busy...so I'm trying my best to gather information now. Hopefully it will work out. If not, there is always the option of standing at the podium and telling knock-knock jokes....
No Such Thing as Shark Attacks
For those who are into basketball, you know how humorous Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards can be. Everything from his now infamous "Youtube" videos, to screaming "Hibachi!" when he's "on fire" during a game...to even his nickname: Agent Zero. Well guess what? Gilbert is blessing the world with his personal philosophies in a new blog.
Check it out at: http://www.nba.com/blog/gilbert_arenas.html
Notably, he rails against what he says is a myth...Shark Attacks. After reading what he had to say..can't say that I disagree with him.
Check it out at: http://www.nba.com/blog/gilbert_arenas.html
Notably, he rails against what he says is a myth...Shark Attacks. After reading what he had to say..can't say that I disagree with him.
First Post
This is my first foray into the blogging world... Interesting. Welcome to 2007. Now if only I could get that text messaging thing down.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
