Recently a visitor had left a comment about argumentation and my thoughts on them. My first reaction was not to react i.e. an argument has a place only when there is a response. Something that the Hindu epic Geetha propounds: "An action results in a reaction and an inaction as well results in reaction". Let me explain, an accident has happened, you are a passer by. If you act and try to rescue the victim in a way that leads to death, are you responsible? or if you call the emergency and get the victim assisted and his life saved, are you responsible? Let's say you did not act (inaction) and just stood by which results in death, are you responsible?
From this diverging thought, let me come to arguments; Socrates use to argue each and everything. In fact when the Oracle was asked 'is there a man wiser than Socrates' - it answered NO! When this was conveyed to Socrates, he did not agree to that and he started questioning and arguing about that. He finally summarised that he doesn't know everything in the world and since he was aware that knowledge is of no use and this awareness is what Oracle would have quoted that NO man is wise and Socrates is just one among them.
If you noticed i strongly pronounced the word 'questioning' in the previous para. I have seen many (including me) who sometimes argue for the sake of it. The argument makes/enriches when one questions himself and this can lead to a tremendous change. This can make your head shine! {people today refer it as Baldness:) }. People should question first themselves and this can lead to a yogic mind. The next time you have an argument with your friend/partner/relative, quickly for a moment just see why you argue; is it to prove your point or is it to assert your superiority? or is it say something genuinely positive? For a moment on every such occasion if you silenced your mind (for just a minute, but continue the argument), in a few years you might enjoy your state of mind. Answer this: When you drive a car or seated in a train or on your own - do you enjoy silence? I bet anyone who enjoys silence is less argumentative and anyone who can't stand a silent environment for more than 5 minutes will tend to be more argumentative. By argumentative it just not arguing with anyone, it could be well you arguing with yourself!
Think for a minute in between your arguments - let me know!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The trend is to go green
The latest trend is to be green! Right from government down to Chan, Dick or Hari everyone wants to be green and they wear T-shirts made of 70% polyester with a green fluorescent wording, or banner behind their 4x4 'Save trees, Save earth'. Government wants to cut down emission by 2012 and if not there is going to be official channels of emissions trading, sale of emission allowance certificates to control energy spend. Ex-Vice Presidents are right now doing Ads, awaken the society through out the world (by flying left to right), but their governments wouldn't sign the protocol on cutting emissions! Media flash those fantastic services by such Statesmen, by streaming across timezones who preach about cutting down energy consumption and recommend world's top prizes and awards for their service.
Even in sports football players who play in the floodlights of 1000s of energy efficient bulbs (one game results in 125 tCO2 emissions: 75% from lighting 15% from the stadium, and 10% from lodging etc) also have banners advising to reduce energy footprint. We have football, American football, the latest form of rugby - T20 (a type of cricket - search for IPL), and many other versions of 'sports' that suck energy and spit co2. This has a spiral effect on TV viewers, travel, etc etc. But not to worry lots of governments are right on top to control energy based pollution.
What about individuals? we talk a lot about this bars, offices, but to avoid bad breadth - as soon as we get-up we use energy powered toothbrushes (don't worry the those companies are busy compensating the co2 by sending money to emerging countries like India, Brazil, Argentina to plant trees), we use powered shavers/razors that need overnight charging, use lifts even if its just two floors to climb; so lets all speak about energy and co2 reduction - not to worry government is bringing strict rules. Though nature has given us teeth, lets grind the fruits to make a smoothie in the morning to discuss this problem with full voice!
Send Money to somewhere to Grow Trees (Don't worry about the scams), Save Earth!
Even in sports football players who play in the floodlights of 1000s of energy efficient bulbs (one game results in 125 tCO2 emissions: 75% from lighting 15% from the stadium, and 10% from lodging etc) also have banners advising to reduce energy footprint. We have football, American football, the latest form of rugby - T20 (a type of cricket - search for IPL), and many other versions of 'sports' that suck energy and spit co2. This has a spiral effect on TV viewers, travel, etc etc. But not to worry lots of governments are right on top to control energy based pollution.
What about individuals? we talk a lot about this bars, offices, but to avoid bad breadth - as soon as we get-up we use energy powered toothbrushes (don't worry the those companies are busy compensating the co2 by sending money to emerging countries like India, Brazil, Argentina to plant trees), we use powered shavers/razors that need overnight charging, use lifts even if its just two floors to climb; so lets all speak about energy and co2 reduction - not to worry government is bringing strict rules. Though nature has given us teeth, lets grind the fruits to make a smoothie in the morning to discuss this problem with full voice!
Send Money to somewhere to Grow Trees (Don't worry about the scams), Save Earth!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Dasathavatharam Review Part II
A fore note - In my previous blog - i meant 'switched off' as a mode where one is less indulged in the pleasures of an entertainment, but rather the one who reviews it in a 'lower indulgence' mode. Before i go any further, let me say these comments are a reflection what i saw on the movie; i clarify this because, people form their own opinion and view, from the same set of words.
In this case i review it from the angle that Kamal has taken a subject of science and religion to portray both brings evil with it, whether we like it or not. This is such a turning stand from him, given his afflictions to narrow atheist views. I don't mean turning to a theist's view but a balanced view that he tries to find himself as well as try to put it across to the audience. To get the argument across, he has used his acting skills in 10 dimensions, so he could leave a stamp on Filmworld's history. So his personal aim in some sense has clouded his argument - that's where he has failed to deliver or may be succeeded ! - I will come to this point in the end.
Kamal's 11th role is quite underplayed, but that's the important role that we should be reviewing. That's his role in Story, Screenplay and Dialogue. Some subtle dialogues clearly portray the viewpoint- He starts with a chaos theory view and mentions a religious war in India in 12th century and rubs in a line - 'a time when no Islam or Christian gods were there to war, the locals warred using Indian Gods' I think this is such an important quote to reflect - religious hatred existed/exists irrespective of which religion you follow - (Hinduism like to identify themselves as peace loving - note: i consider Buddhism as part of Hinduism) So he has chosen an intra-Hindu religious aggression to convey that point and moves onto science and its menace. As he moves on, another line is thrown in - why did one Hindu god allow its follower to kill and the other Hindu God let its supporter to die in spite of fighting for the God's cause?
Now moving onto Science and its problems - actually science in its own conceptual world is not a problem, the scientists or the people again are the problem-doers! But he well mixes it with the people like the Dalit, the Muslim family, the 95-year old grandma to show humanitarian sides as well.
All in all, he has attempted very well to put a holistic view that People are just different and problems or happines is all self-created! Finally, he quips 'It would be nice, if Gods existed' - the theist heroine who's supposed to marry him is happy that he has reconciled his stand about Gods without understanding what he actually meant!
So goes back to my question - has he failed or succeeded?
If i say he has succeeded, then its indeed a success, coz' i treat it so; but a failure because many others don't agree or do not find the arguments shared similar to my review?
If i say he has failed, coz' he has clouded the argument with his personal aspiration of ten roles and the screenplay defects, then its indeed a failure; but in a way he has succeeded in his argument that it's - inherent human nature to be flawed!
A finishing comment: So if our human nature is inherently flawed - could a scientific solution actually solve it or a religious awakening acknowledge it and move on?
In this case i review it from the angle that Kamal has taken a subject of science and religion to portray both brings evil with it, whether we like it or not. This is such a turning stand from him, given his afflictions to narrow atheist views. I don't mean turning to a theist's view but a balanced view that he tries to find himself as well as try to put it across to the audience. To get the argument across, he has used his acting skills in 10 dimensions, so he could leave a stamp on Filmworld's history. So his personal aim in some sense has clouded his argument - that's where he has failed to deliver or may be succeeded ! - I will come to this point in the end.
Kamal's 11th role is quite underplayed, but that's the important role that we should be reviewing. That's his role in Story, Screenplay and Dialogue. Some subtle dialogues clearly portray the viewpoint- He starts with a chaos theory view and mentions a religious war in India in 12th century and rubs in a line - 'a time when no Islam or Christian gods were there to war, the locals warred using Indian Gods' I think this is such an important quote to reflect - religious hatred existed/exists irrespective of which religion you follow - (Hinduism like to identify themselves as peace loving - note: i consider Buddhism as part of Hinduism) So he has chosen an intra-Hindu religious aggression to convey that point and moves onto science and its menace. As he moves on, another line is thrown in - why did one Hindu god allow its follower to kill and the other Hindu God let its supporter to die in spite of fighting for the God's cause?
Now moving onto Science and its problems - actually science in its own conceptual world is not a problem, the scientists or the people again are the problem-doers! But he well mixes it with the people like the Dalit, the Muslim family, the 95-year old grandma to show humanitarian sides as well.
All in all, he has attempted very well to put a holistic view that People are just different and problems or happines is all self-created! Finally, he quips 'It would be nice, if Gods existed' - the theist heroine who's supposed to marry him is happy that he has reconciled his stand about Gods without understanding what he actually meant!
So goes back to my question - has he failed or succeeded?
If i say he has succeeded, then its indeed a success, coz' i treat it so; but a failure because many others don't agree or do not find the arguments shared similar to my review?
If i say he has failed, coz' he has clouded the argument with his personal aspiration of ten roles and the screenplay defects, then its indeed a failure; but in a way he has succeeded in his argument that it's - inherent human nature to be flawed!
A finishing comment: So if our human nature is inherently flawed - could a scientific solution actually solve it or a religious awakening acknowledge it and move on?
Monday, June 16, 2008
DA 'SATHA' AVATHARAM - Review Part I
A movie by a Tamil director KV Ravikumar and the Universally controversial Hero of Tamil film world Kamal Haasan. I need to review this movie twice as a Tamil film fan and then once on a switched off mode - (not as Kamal fan).
Some background on title (especially for people who do not know what dasavatharam means). Simply the word means ten avatars of God. Dasam = Ten + Avatar = Reincarnation. The Hindus believe Lord Vishnu has taken nine different avatars to establish righteousness and reset the karmic cycle. The tenth is officially yet to happen. First to nine in order: Fish, Tortoise, Boar, half-man/lion, 3feet-human, angry man, a tiller, multi-faceted man, a self-contained man. The final one is the destroyer of everything basically reboot mode in Microsoft speak ! A quick think of the above order may construe your thoughts to biological evolution.
Ok back to review... Kamal has done 11 different roles actually - 10 acts and the 11th - as a Story, Screenplay and Dialogue. Most of his fans claim thats world record, but as early as in 1950s veteran tamil actor M N Nambiar had donned 11 roles in Digambara Samiyar! That's just to set facts straight.
Sorry back to review...
Some background on title (especially for people who do not know what dasavatharam means). Simply the word means ten avatars of God. Dasam = Ten + Avatar = Reincarnation. The Hindus believe Lord Vishnu has taken nine different avatars to establish righteousness and reset the karmic cycle. The tenth is officially yet to happen. First to nine in order: Fish, Tortoise, Boar, half-man/lion, 3feet-human, angry man, a tiller, multi-faceted man, a self-contained man. The final one is the destroyer of everything basically reboot mode in Microsoft speak ! A quick think of the above order may construe your thoughts to biological evolution.
Ok back to review... Kamal has done 11 different roles actually - 10 acts and the 11th - as a Story, Screenplay and Dialogue. Most of his fans claim thats world record, but as early as in 1950s veteran tamil actor M N Nambiar had donned 11 roles in Digambara Samiyar! That's just to set facts straight.
Sorry back to review...
- With just 3 crap songs and 1 okay song, why the hell did they spend so much in getting Jackie Chan to town and so much hulla-bullah for nothing? GOK! I can't even treat it as a means to hype the movie...
- Such bad graphics in the climax, people were hyped so much about the scene of Tsunami and for viewers like me (who have seen Titanic 2, just as an example to pick-out from a well known movie), this is not even kids stuff!
- Why the hell spend so much on Make-ups that are not needed - GW Bush - just his back and ask a mimicry artist to dub! American Ex-CIA & Japanese Martial artist - again someone could have done a better role - movie costs could have come down.
So many logical loopholes and so many unnecessary scenes... The song sequence of avatar singh, try throwing a 20 kg metallic statue to a thayir saatham girl who is btw rope-walking - she catches with not even a single jerk, tsunami hits everyone except the two avatars and the heroine, but kills one Hero and the same time saves kids and the villains who float in the same zone of tsunami, police assigns a one man army to spy the biological terrorist, scenes suddenly in the climax jump 200 miles (from Chidambaram to Chennai)...
i am not on my switched off mode - I speak as a regular movie watcher... the next blog i intend to speak as a critique on the message of movie.
btw - i have quoted the movie in my blog title as DA 'SATHA' Avatharam - meaning an ordinary reincarnation!
Moneycracy...
My previous post was about reforming the democratic governance with a capitalistic addition. India's charismatic Modi thinks in a similar line but challenges the congress lead coalition Indian government with his speech today in a different form "Modi has been playing political rhetoric again in recent days. At a function in Vadodara last week, he said Gujarat gives Rs 40,000 crore as taxes to the Centre and receives only 2.5 per cent of it in return. He asked the government to stop collecting taxes from Gujarat and also stop aid to the state." But the actual challenge is these sort of thoughts cannot be shoo-ed away.
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