Her sister from Paris (1925)
This film also stars Constance Talmadge and Ronald Coleman and directed by Sidney Franklin and written is by Hanns Kraly. Talmadge plays Helen Weyringer married to Joseph (Ronald Colman), but when the couples have a spat they split. She then plots with her sister (also played by Talmadge) to win him back. This is another flick of comedy of errors in which Talmadge does splendidly. Talmadge’s career was short lived and ended with the silent era, but Coleman made a very successful transition into the talkies.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Movie Reviewed: Her Night of Romance, starring Constance Talmadge and Ronald Coleman.
Her night of romance (1924)
This film received rave reviews from critics for the comedy and fine performance by Constance Talmadge and Ronald Coleman. The New York Times film critic Mordaunt Hall wrote in 1924 that the film was a pictorial farce with effervescent Constance Talmadge as the principal performer. When a millionaire father takes his only daughter Dorothy Adams (Constance Talmadge) to England to see a specialist about her heart trouble, a British gentleman named Paul Menford, played by Ronald Coleman, falls in love with her instantly. He impersonates as a doctor get her attention. But things get complicated in his scheme especially when his business associate (Jean Hersholt) sells the Menford family estate.
The movie is well directed by Sidney Franklin and written is by Hanns Kraly. This was produced by Constance Talmadge Company and distributed by First National Pictures. Joseph Schenk and Constance Talmadge who were married to each other also produced this comedy. In 1933 Schenk helped Darryl F. Zanuck to establish 20th Century Pictures, which merged with the ailing Fox Film Corp. to become the 20th Century-Fox Company.
This film received rave reviews from critics for the comedy and fine performance by Constance Talmadge and Ronald Coleman. The New York Times film critic Mordaunt Hall wrote in 1924 that the film was a pictorial farce with effervescent Constance Talmadge as the principal performer. When a millionaire father takes his only daughter Dorothy Adams (Constance Talmadge) to England to see a specialist about her heart trouble, a British gentleman named Paul Menford, played by Ronald Coleman, falls in love with her instantly. He impersonates as a doctor get her attention. But things get complicated in his scheme especially when his business associate (Jean Hersholt) sells the Menford family estate.
The movie is well directed by Sidney Franklin and written is by Hanns Kraly. This was produced by Constance Talmadge Company and distributed by First National Pictures. Joseph Schenk and Constance Talmadge who were married to each other also produced this comedy. In 1933 Schenk helped Darryl F. Zanuck to establish 20th Century Pictures, which merged with the ailing Fox Film Corp. to become the 20th Century-Fox Company.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Book Reviewed: Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe, by Lisa Randall
Did dark matter cause the demise of dinosaurs?
In this book entitled, “Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe,” Harvard University Professor Lisa Randall proposes a very speculative idea that the mass extinctions of dinosaurs that occurred 65 million years ago was due to an impact of a comet dislodged from its orbit around the solar system. It’s a tall claim with no experimental support, but the book offers alternative explanation for a seemingly slam-dunk debate. Her original research paper appeared in on online journal at: arxiv.org/abs/1403.0576.
The theoretical assertion is that dark matter can clump up into a thin, flat disc in the Milky Way Galaxy’s plane, and as the solar system orbits the center of the galaxy, it oscillates up and down on a regular cycle, and it would pass through the dark matter disc every 35 million years. Such an event is likely to dislodge comets orbiting the solar system and shoots directly towards earth. Though dark matter is estimated to account for 85% of total mass of the universe, these particles are not yet detected since they do not interact with the visible matter. However their presence is explained through their gravitational influence in clusters of galaxies. They also reside in spherical “halos” around galaxies. Professor Randall suggests that a fraction of dark matter also experiences a force analogous to electromagnetism, which she calls “dark light.” Through its interactions with “dark light” this weird subset of dark matter could form an invisible disk that overlaps with the visible disk of spiral arms in our Milky Way galaxy. This dark disk might have interrupted the orbit of a comet on the outer fringes of the solar system, sending it on a collision course with earth approximately about 70 million years ago. She observes that the crater record on Earth indicates nonrandom impacts at regular intervals of approximately 35 million year periodicity.
The sequence of events connecting dark matter to demise of dinosaurs is very slim: We still need to define the identity of dark matter and whether there is a pattern to comet strikes on Earth. The earth is regularly impacted by asteroids more than comets, and secondly, in the recent history of earth, giant planets like Jupiter has watched over earth like a big brother and kept earth out of harm’s way by gravitationally pulling many comets. The Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 hit Jupiter in July 1994, and in Nov 2013, comet ISON hit sun head-on bringing its own death. Thus we have Sun and Jupiter to watch over earth. In addition, one needs to distinguish earth craters formed by comet and asteroid impacts.
Recent studies have suggested that the asteroid that hit Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago also intensified volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Plateau in South Asia. Volcanic eruptions became twice as intense, throwing out a deadly cocktail of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The shockwaves produced at this time shook up earth and its volcanic “plumbing systems” around the world, creating larger magma chambers that spewed out more material. This cataclysmic event also deprived oxygen in oceans thus killing thousands of aquatic species. This “combined effect” is now believed to be responsible for wiping out dinosaurs. But Professor Randall’s proposal suggest that dinosaur demise occurred 70 million years ago, thus introducing a large discrepancy between theory and factual observation. Other possible experiments to prove this hypothesis is that we need to look for the presence of such a disk in Milky Way by studying the gravitational effects on other stars in the galaxy. The recently launched Gaia telescope will map the motion of a billion stars in our galaxy, and this study may reveal the presence of dark matter disc. Professor Randall’s proposal has more questions than answers, but it is certainly a fascinating theoretical idea.
In this book entitled, “Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe,” Harvard University Professor Lisa Randall proposes a very speculative idea that the mass extinctions of dinosaurs that occurred 65 million years ago was due to an impact of a comet dislodged from its orbit around the solar system. It’s a tall claim with no experimental support, but the book offers alternative explanation for a seemingly slam-dunk debate. Her original research paper appeared in on online journal at: arxiv.org/abs/1403.0576.
The theoretical assertion is that dark matter can clump up into a thin, flat disc in the Milky Way Galaxy’s plane, and as the solar system orbits the center of the galaxy, it oscillates up and down on a regular cycle, and it would pass through the dark matter disc every 35 million years. Such an event is likely to dislodge comets orbiting the solar system and shoots directly towards earth. Though dark matter is estimated to account for 85% of total mass of the universe, these particles are not yet detected since they do not interact with the visible matter. However their presence is explained through their gravitational influence in clusters of galaxies. They also reside in spherical “halos” around galaxies. Professor Randall suggests that a fraction of dark matter also experiences a force analogous to electromagnetism, which she calls “dark light.” Through its interactions with “dark light” this weird subset of dark matter could form an invisible disk that overlaps with the visible disk of spiral arms in our Milky Way galaxy. This dark disk might have interrupted the orbit of a comet on the outer fringes of the solar system, sending it on a collision course with earth approximately about 70 million years ago. She observes that the crater record on Earth indicates nonrandom impacts at regular intervals of approximately 35 million year periodicity.
The sequence of events connecting dark matter to demise of dinosaurs is very slim: We still need to define the identity of dark matter and whether there is a pattern to comet strikes on Earth. The earth is regularly impacted by asteroids more than comets, and secondly, in the recent history of earth, giant planets like Jupiter has watched over earth like a big brother and kept earth out of harm’s way by gravitationally pulling many comets. The Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 hit Jupiter in July 1994, and in Nov 2013, comet ISON hit sun head-on bringing its own death. Thus we have Sun and Jupiter to watch over earth. In addition, one needs to distinguish earth craters formed by comet and asteroid impacts.
Recent studies have suggested that the asteroid that hit Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago also intensified volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Plateau in South Asia. Volcanic eruptions became twice as intense, throwing out a deadly cocktail of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The shockwaves produced at this time shook up earth and its volcanic “plumbing systems” around the world, creating larger magma chambers that spewed out more material. This cataclysmic event also deprived oxygen in oceans thus killing thousands of aquatic species. This “combined effect” is now believed to be responsible for wiping out dinosaurs. But Professor Randall’s proposal suggest that dinosaur demise occurred 70 million years ago, thus introducing a large discrepancy between theory and factual observation. Other possible experiments to prove this hypothesis is that we need to look for the presence of such a disk in Milky Way by studying the gravitational effects on other stars in the galaxy. The recently launched Gaia telescope will map the motion of a billion stars in our galaxy, and this study may reveal the presence of dark matter disc. Professor Randall’s proposal has more questions than answers, but it is certainly a fascinating theoretical idea.
Book Reviewed: My Journey by Donna Karan
Donna Karan: A woman’s journey into the world of fashion
This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the life and legacy of fashion designer Donna Karan. Her life is an extraordinary story of faith in her abilities and passion for her work. She is a woman who built $3 billion Empire, and designed for Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Hillary Clinton and many others. Karan is a wonderful raconteur as she glides through the ups and downs of her life. This story reminds me of another leading lady of the fashion industry, Diane von Furstenberg who built global business, creating an enduring brand that defined the world of haute couture. Diana Vreeland, the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue provided a significant sense of style in fashion industry in her autobiography and so did the Cosmopolitan editor Amy Odell who went behind the curtain of fashion business in her memoir. But Donna Karan spares no punches as she reveals her inner most feelings about the fashion industry, her own life and the world we live in.
Author Ingrid Sischy wrote a book about Donna Karan in 2004 and this was followed by as second edition in 2006 as a part of the "Universe of Fashion" series. This work published numerous photographs illustrating the work of Donna Karan. It was just a glimpse of Karan’s life and work in the fashion establishment that complemented art and design collections. But the present biography goes deeper into her personal and spiritual side of her life that spans almost five decades. Karan's family influence is apparent in her life. At 14 she dropped out of school to sell clothing at a local boutique, and in 1968 she was accepted into the highly respected Parsons School of Design in New York City. While in school, Karan landed in a summer job to work for designer Anne Klein. She became a great gofer, and within two years she was the associate designer, and then the head designer at 25, after the death of her mentor Anne Klein. Years later she left Anne Klein and started her own brand in 1985, and in 1988, she began an affordable fashion line, called Donna Karan New York (DKNY), a women's line that was influenced by her original signature collection. In 2006, when she met His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and she learnt that there was a need for the preservation of historical and cultural heritage of Tibet. She founded Urban Zen Foundation to raise awareness and inspire others in this cause. This foundation supports artists, healthcare and education in countries like Haiti. In 2015 she left her role as Lead Designer of DKNY to focus on Urban Zen Foundation. In a recent interview, Karan told journalist Barbara Walters that she never wanted to be working mom. This illustrates the challenges a woman faces to succeed in the business world. Struggling to balance family life with her husband and children, and managing a business empire is a true accomplishment. Many friends and journalists have said that Karan was selfish and crude with her employees and business associates. It is just the nature of things in the business world; you got to be shrewd! After all she was trying to survive in a male-dominated world.
There are some parallels in the life of Donna Karan and Diane von Furstenberg. The latter’s memoir also dealt with life, family, love, beauty and business. These two women devoted their lives to empowering women in all aspects of life, especially the business world. This gospel of female empowerment is reflected in their work and legacy. Donna Karan, like Diane von Furstenberg, is a princess of fashion in her own right.
This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the life and legacy of fashion designer Donna Karan. Her life is an extraordinary story of faith in her abilities and passion for her work. She is a woman who built $3 billion Empire, and designed for Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Hillary Clinton and many others. Karan is a wonderful raconteur as she glides through the ups and downs of her life. This story reminds me of another leading lady of the fashion industry, Diane von Furstenberg who built global business, creating an enduring brand that defined the world of haute couture. Diana Vreeland, the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue provided a significant sense of style in fashion industry in her autobiography and so did the Cosmopolitan editor Amy Odell who went behind the curtain of fashion business in her memoir. But Donna Karan spares no punches as she reveals her inner most feelings about the fashion industry, her own life and the world we live in.
Author Ingrid Sischy wrote a book about Donna Karan in 2004 and this was followed by as second edition in 2006 as a part of the "Universe of Fashion" series. This work published numerous photographs illustrating the work of Donna Karan. It was just a glimpse of Karan’s life and work in the fashion establishment that complemented art and design collections. But the present biography goes deeper into her personal and spiritual side of her life that spans almost five decades. Karan's family influence is apparent in her life. At 14 she dropped out of school to sell clothing at a local boutique, and in 1968 she was accepted into the highly respected Parsons School of Design in New York City. While in school, Karan landed in a summer job to work for designer Anne Klein. She became a great gofer, and within two years she was the associate designer, and then the head designer at 25, after the death of her mentor Anne Klein. Years later she left Anne Klein and started her own brand in 1985, and in 1988, she began an affordable fashion line, called Donna Karan New York (DKNY), a women's line that was influenced by her original signature collection. In 2006, when she met His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and she learnt that there was a need for the preservation of historical and cultural heritage of Tibet. She founded Urban Zen Foundation to raise awareness and inspire others in this cause. This foundation supports artists, healthcare and education in countries like Haiti. In 2015 she left her role as Lead Designer of DKNY to focus on Urban Zen Foundation. In a recent interview, Karan told journalist Barbara Walters that she never wanted to be working mom. This illustrates the challenges a woman faces to succeed in the business world. Struggling to balance family life with her husband and children, and managing a business empire is a true accomplishment. Many friends and journalists have said that Karan was selfish and crude with her employees and business associates. It is just the nature of things in the business world; you got to be shrewd! After all she was trying to survive in a male-dominated world.
There are some parallels in the life of Donna Karan and Diane von Furstenberg. The latter’s memoir also dealt with life, family, love, beauty and business. These two women devoted their lives to empowering women in all aspects of life, especially the business world. This gospel of female empowerment is reflected in their work and legacy. Donna Karan, like Diane von Furstenberg, is a princess of fashion in her own right.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Book Reviewed: The lost city of Dvaraka, by S.R. Rao
Rediscovering the holy city of Dvaraka (four stars)
This book documents the underwater archaeology of the holy city of Dvaraka lost to the rising waters of the Arabian Sea. The city is known to have gone through three cycles of burials under sea since 17th century BCE. Artifacts have been discovered in underwater archaeological expeditions with the supervision of the author of this book. This work is partly academic: An overview of the artifacts from seven expeditions is given at the end of the book for the benefit of the reader. The buildings uncovered in the seabed on either side of submerged palaeo-channel of Gomati River near the gulf of Kuchchh off the coast of Gujarat are discussed and their attributes evaluated.
From 1985 to 1989, a search for the submerged structures and other relics of ancient Dvaraka resulted in the discovery of some structural remains forming a part of fortified port town with warehouse and other structures. The copper and bronze artifacts shed light on the metallurgy of that period. The onshore excavation yielded evidences for prehistoric settlements of 16th century BCE destroyed by the sea. The internal evidence from Mahabharata, Harivamsa, Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana has been used evaluate the underwater artifacts.
The number of antiquities recovered from the sea in these expeditions is not large but the few that have been found provide information to reconstruct the history of Dvaraka. The inscriptions and the ceramic evidence suggest the signs (inscriptions) belong to about 15 to 14 century BCE. The author concludes that inscriptions indicate the worship of sea god Varuna. Two interesting sculptures found under water perhaps belonged to a temple, and one of the statue found is assigned to Rig-Vedic god Vishnu in Trivikrama form. But the date of the sculpture is not determined.
In conclusion the evidence suggests that the site was inhabited from 18th century BCE and it is a contemporary site with neighboring Late Harappan towns such as Nageshwar, Prabhas and Rangpur.
According to Mahabharata, Krishna knew that Dvaraka would be submerged in the sea and left with his family members. Dvaraka was lost to sea after Krishna left his mortal existence. According to Skanda Purana, Vajranabha, the great grandson of Krishna rebuilt the temple at Dvaraka.
The period of Mahabharata is certainly after the period of Rig-Veda and the Harappan Civilization since Rig-Veda does not mention Mahabharata or Krishna. It is suggested that the Mahabharata may belong to 17th century BCE, a post-Harappan Era.
One of the short-coming of this work is the limited number carbon-dating and the archeological and inscriptional artifacts discovered in this study are insufficient to make tall claims. The available technology must be used to learn more about the holy city of Dvaraka.
This book documents the underwater archaeology of the holy city of Dvaraka lost to the rising waters of the Arabian Sea. The city is known to have gone through three cycles of burials under sea since 17th century BCE. Artifacts have been discovered in underwater archaeological expeditions with the supervision of the author of this book. This work is partly academic: An overview of the artifacts from seven expeditions is given at the end of the book for the benefit of the reader. The buildings uncovered in the seabed on either side of submerged palaeo-channel of Gomati River near the gulf of Kuchchh off the coast of Gujarat are discussed and their attributes evaluated.
From 1985 to 1989, a search for the submerged structures and other relics of ancient Dvaraka resulted in the discovery of some structural remains forming a part of fortified port town with warehouse and other structures. The copper and bronze artifacts shed light on the metallurgy of that period. The onshore excavation yielded evidences for prehistoric settlements of 16th century BCE destroyed by the sea. The internal evidence from Mahabharata, Harivamsa, Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana has been used evaluate the underwater artifacts.
The number of antiquities recovered from the sea in these expeditions is not large but the few that have been found provide information to reconstruct the history of Dvaraka. The inscriptions and the ceramic evidence suggest the signs (inscriptions) belong to about 15 to 14 century BCE. The author concludes that inscriptions indicate the worship of sea god Varuna. Two interesting sculptures found under water perhaps belonged to a temple, and one of the statue found is assigned to Rig-Vedic god Vishnu in Trivikrama form. But the date of the sculpture is not determined.
In conclusion the evidence suggests that the site was inhabited from 18th century BCE and it is a contemporary site with neighboring Late Harappan towns such as Nageshwar, Prabhas and Rangpur.
According to Mahabharata, Krishna knew that Dvaraka would be submerged in the sea and left with his family members. Dvaraka was lost to sea after Krishna left his mortal existence. According to Skanda Purana, Vajranabha, the great grandson of Krishna rebuilt the temple at Dvaraka.
The period of Mahabharata is certainly after the period of Rig-Veda and the Harappan Civilization since Rig-Veda does not mention Mahabharata or Krishna. It is suggested that the Mahabharata may belong to 17th century BCE, a post-Harappan Era.
One of the short-coming of this work is the limited number carbon-dating and the archeological and inscriptional artifacts discovered in this study are insufficient to make tall claims. The available technology must be used to learn more about the holy city of Dvaraka.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Book Reviewed: Around Morgantown (WV) (Images of America) by Wallace Venable and Norma Venable
A pictorial history of Morgantown, West Virginia
The “Images of America” series has published a series of pictorial history of many towns and cities of United States, and they are fascinating to read. This is another book from the series about Morgantown, West Virginia that is very enjoyable and you can find some valuable historical pictures of the city, some of the photographs belong to late 1800s and early 1900s.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: Morgantown was established in 1772 by Zackquill Morgan, and in 1773 it had a stockade fort, and by 1785 the Virginia Assembly gave a formal charter to the town. Morgantown continued to grow with exports of lumber, food, iron, and pottery which could be transported by Monongahela River. In fact the history dates back a little further. The West Virginia National Guard Armory on the Mile ground is home to Battery B of the 201st Infantry Field Artillery and the 249th Army Band. The unit traces its origins to Captain Morgan Morgan who formed the company in 1735 and served in General Washington’s Militia in the 1755 campaign. In 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon noted in their journal that coal is found in plenty in Monongahela and Cheat lake valleys. In 1900, coal production was 80,000 tons. Before 1776, travelers reached Morgantown by walking buffalo paths and Native American war trails. Before 1910, the cars were delivered to the town by steamboat. The major road construction to the north and south was finished in 1923.
Morgantown is known for the West Virginia University. In its rich history, the faculty voted to admit women in 1889 and African Americans in 1954. The intercollegiate football, the equivalent of modern NCAA program was started at WVU in 1891. In 1946, under the GI Bill, the student enrollment swelled to 6,000 and now it has gone up to 25,000 and still growing.
Morgantown has few major monuments but it has many good distinguished buildings. Some of the fascinating images I found in this book includes; an 1865 picture of the bridge connecting Morgantown and Westover when the population of the town was only 684. The 1892 photograph of North Walnut Street taken on the Wool Market Day; a 1915 photograph showing a trolley coming down on High Street from Fayette Street toward Walnut Street. Even at that time, the downtown was a bustling place with lots of businesses. The 1921 picture of Seneca Factory on Beechurst Avenue, showing the chimney and water tank, the prominent landmarks of Morgantown. The 1897, 1900 and 1910 pictures of Woodburn Circle of WVU campus; the 1931 picture of field house on Beechurst Avenue; the 1924 picture of Old Mountaineer Field during a football game; the 1902 and 1925 pictures of the corner of Pleasant and Main (now High Street); the 1902 picture of Professor’s Row on Wiley Street; the 1916 view of Morgantown from South Park Hills and many more.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and recommend to anyone interested in the history of West Virginia and Morgantown.
The “Images of America” series has published a series of pictorial history of many towns and cities of United States, and they are fascinating to read. This is another book from the series about Morgantown, West Virginia that is very enjoyable and you can find some valuable historical pictures of the city, some of the photographs belong to late 1800s and early 1900s.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: Morgantown was established in 1772 by Zackquill Morgan, and in 1773 it had a stockade fort, and by 1785 the Virginia Assembly gave a formal charter to the town. Morgantown continued to grow with exports of lumber, food, iron, and pottery which could be transported by Monongahela River. In fact the history dates back a little further. The West Virginia National Guard Armory on the Mile ground is home to Battery B of the 201st Infantry Field Artillery and the 249th Army Band. The unit traces its origins to Captain Morgan Morgan who formed the company in 1735 and served in General Washington’s Militia in the 1755 campaign. In 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon noted in their journal that coal is found in plenty in Monongahela and Cheat lake valleys. In 1900, coal production was 80,000 tons. Before 1776, travelers reached Morgantown by walking buffalo paths and Native American war trails. Before 1910, the cars were delivered to the town by steamboat. The major road construction to the north and south was finished in 1923.
Morgantown is known for the West Virginia University. In its rich history, the faculty voted to admit women in 1889 and African Americans in 1954. The intercollegiate football, the equivalent of modern NCAA program was started at WVU in 1891. In 1946, under the GI Bill, the student enrollment swelled to 6,000 and now it has gone up to 25,000 and still growing.
Morgantown has few major monuments but it has many good distinguished buildings. Some of the fascinating images I found in this book includes; an 1865 picture of the bridge connecting Morgantown and Westover when the population of the town was only 684. The 1892 photograph of North Walnut Street taken on the Wool Market Day; a 1915 photograph showing a trolley coming down on High Street from Fayette Street toward Walnut Street. Even at that time, the downtown was a bustling place with lots of businesses. The 1921 picture of Seneca Factory on Beechurst Avenue, showing the chimney and water tank, the prominent landmarks of Morgantown. The 1897, 1900 and 1910 pictures of Woodburn Circle of WVU campus; the 1931 picture of field house on Beechurst Avenue; the 1924 picture of Old Mountaineer Field during a football game; the 1902 and 1925 pictures of the corner of Pleasant and Main (now High Street); the 1902 picture of Professor’s Row on Wiley Street; the 1916 view of Morgantown from South Park Hills and many more.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and recommend to anyone interested in the history of West Virginia and Morgantown.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The Scarlett Letter (1926), starring Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson
Lillian Gish shines in this in this film
It is a real “A” picture joked MGM salesmen getting booking for this movie. With intensely dramatic performances by Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson, under Victor Sjöström’s sensitive direction, the movie was a box-office hit! It made a profit of $296,000 in 1926!
Nathaniel Hawthorne story’s “A” for adultery could also be “Art” in the film. Lillian Gish began working on this project immediately after she finished her first MGM movie “La Boehme. Having overcome opposition from MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, it was great investment of time and effort. Gish asked Louis B. Mayer to produce the film, but MGM Studios initially feared that it would be banned by the church for its “morally” unacceptable contents. Henry Walthall (Gish’s co-star from D.W. Griffith days), Karl and Marcelle Corday led the support. The script was by Frances Marion.
When a young Puritan woman in Boston during colonial days becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is pressured to reveal the name of her lover who happens to be a pastor at the local church. The trick of the story is that she is already married to a physician who has been missing seven years and presumed dead. She refuses to reveal the name of the father of her child for which the society shuns her and forces her to wear a dress marked “A” for adultery for the rest of her life. Lillian Gish offers a stunning performance in this silent classic which was acclaimed by the film critics.
It is a real “A” picture joked MGM salesmen getting booking for this movie. With intensely dramatic performances by Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson, under Victor Sjöström’s sensitive direction, the movie was a box-office hit! It made a profit of $296,000 in 1926!
Nathaniel Hawthorne story’s “A” for adultery could also be “Art” in the film. Lillian Gish began working on this project immediately after she finished her first MGM movie “La Boehme. Having overcome opposition from MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, it was great investment of time and effort. Gish asked Louis B. Mayer to produce the film, but MGM Studios initially feared that it would be banned by the church for its “morally” unacceptable contents. Henry Walthall (Gish’s co-star from D.W. Griffith days), Karl and Marcelle Corday led the support. The script was by Frances Marion.
When a young Puritan woman in Boston during colonial days becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is pressured to reveal the name of her lover who happens to be a pastor at the local church. The trick of the story is that she is already married to a physician who has been missing seven years and presumed dead. She refuses to reveal the name of the father of her child for which the society shuns her and forces her to wear a dress marked “A” for adultery for the rest of her life. Lillian Gish offers a stunning performance in this silent classic which was acclaimed by the film critics.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Book Reviewed: Art of the Bronze Age: Southeastern Iran, Western Central Asia and the Indus Valley, by Holly Pittman
Ancient artifacts of Central and South Asia
This book evaluates the artistic elements in the archeological and ancient artifacts of Bronze Age discovered in Mesopotamia, Persia, Eastern Syria and Indus Valley. There are several artifacts shown in this book with very intricate carvings and some them range from household items, figurines, jewelry, tools and inscriptions. The carvings in chlorite or stone steatite have some unique features and they were either discovered in monumental temples or palaces or in the graves of royal families. Some carry dedicatory inscriptions to royal or divine personages. These findings demonstrate significant interest in the field of art in ancient civilizations, which thrived in Indus Valley and across Eastern Persia, and Western Central Asia. The life in each of these regions had its own distinguishing features with its organization and material culture. The author observes that some of the objects belonged to early Dynastic II and IIIA of Mesopotamia, from about 2600 to 2500 B.C. The style and iconography are consistent with that time. Despite their unique cultural identities, they also had a strong sense of trade and commerce. Trade was far and wide between Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, Western Anatolia and the Indus Valley. Minerals, alloys and agricultural products were bought and sold. Mesopotamia imported substantial amounts of stones and other precious metals such as gold, silver and copper from Iranian plateau and Indus Valley.
It is a fascinating read and I recommend this book to those readers interested archeology, ancient artifacts and early civilizations of Central and South Asia.
This book evaluates the artistic elements in the archeological and ancient artifacts of Bronze Age discovered in Mesopotamia, Persia, Eastern Syria and Indus Valley. There are several artifacts shown in this book with very intricate carvings and some them range from household items, figurines, jewelry, tools and inscriptions. The carvings in chlorite or stone steatite have some unique features and they were either discovered in monumental temples or palaces or in the graves of royal families. Some carry dedicatory inscriptions to royal or divine personages. These findings demonstrate significant interest in the field of art in ancient civilizations, which thrived in Indus Valley and across Eastern Persia, and Western Central Asia. The life in each of these regions had its own distinguishing features with its organization and material culture. The author observes that some of the objects belonged to early Dynastic II and IIIA of Mesopotamia, from about 2600 to 2500 B.C. The style and iconography are consistent with that time. Despite their unique cultural identities, they also had a strong sense of trade and commerce. Trade was far and wide between Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, Western Anatolia and the Indus Valley. Minerals, alloys and agricultural products were bought and sold. Mesopotamia imported substantial amounts of stones and other precious metals such as gold, silver and copper from Iranian plateau and Indus Valley.
It is a fascinating read and I recommend this book to those readers interested archeology, ancient artifacts and early civilizations of Central and South Asia.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Book Reviewed: Idols of Modernity by Patrice Petro
The silent stars
This is a collection essays written by American academics specializing in the history of Hollywood. It looks at the careers of several stars of the twenties and it reveals a range of social, institutional and aesthetic issues they faced. The authors illustrate strong connections and dissonances in storytelling and style of this era when movie business was still at an infant state.
A brief summary of this book is as follows: Transitioning to sound movies which occurred around 1927/28 was especially hard for both studios and stars. Studios worried that the artistic element of silent movies will be lost in the sound version, and several stars lost their careers since they could not adjust to the new trend of recording their voices. Actresses like Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo made successful transitions into the sound. But Tallmadge sisters, Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Colleen Moore, Lillian Gish and Al Jolson are a few who almost lost their careers. Ramon Novarro and Marie Dressler were moderately successful. Historians often describe twenties as a decade of great affluence and hardship for varied reasons. Beginning with the end of WWI and the beginning of great depression, the decade sustained a dizzying array of changes and conflicts in American life. The constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote, prohibition, consumer rights, and changes in dress, social behavior and sexual attitudes that clashed with traditional values. It opened a liberal culture as commercial venues, from speakeasies in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, night clubs in Harlem, cabarets in Time Square, and Jazz clubs in Chicago’s south side gave some visibility and acceptability of gay and lesbian life styles among rich and famous. Most studios and gossip columnists knew about such behavior among leading stars of the day but the publicity departments of major studios worked hard to keep this from pubic. It is a long list of names that includes; Alla Nazimova, Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, Lilyan Tashman, Delores De Rio, William Haines, and many others. Lavender marriages were common and often performed with the blessings of the studios. Sensational murder cases like that of Virginia Rappe and William Desmond Taylor for which Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and Mabel Normand were respectively implicated. The public perception of the movie industry grew bad and it regarded the film colony as immoral, generally corrupt and bad for families. The movie industry set up a trade association called Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) headed by Will Hays to self-impose moral clauses in the films to prevent government instituted censorship. But this and other efforts failed since there was already a cultural and social revolution underway. Unfortunately racism was also rampant in American society and Hollywood did not abolish institutional bigotry by offering menial roles for African American and Asian actors. Al Jolson, a Jewish actor played the roles of back man on screen and limited the opportunities for black actors. Josephine Baker and Anna May Wong left the country in disgust.
Despite all the negativity of film industry, Hollywood eschewed any explicit representation of sex, but remained strongly erotic and ethnocentric. The American movie industry spread rapidly across the globe and literally defeated the European film making machinery. The success was attributed partly due to some key strategies developed in Hollywood that included importing many talents, both in directorial and acting categories, from across the Atlantic. The combined effect of American and foreign talents made Hollywood a great global success. It tackled a wide variety of stories and social issues and numerous stars glamorized the success. The careers of those explored in this volume includes: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Buster Keaton, Talmadge sisters, Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Clara Bow, Colleen Moore, Greta Garbo, Anna May Wong, Emil Jannings, Al Jolson, and Marie Dressler. The chapters look at some key moments in the life and works of these actors. There a great many books written exclusively about these stars but this book does a reasonable effort and cites many references to academic and non-academic publications to illustrate the factuality of the cases discussed. This is a good book and it is recommended to readers interested in silent movies and Hollywood history.
This is a collection essays written by American academics specializing in the history of Hollywood. It looks at the careers of several stars of the twenties and it reveals a range of social, institutional and aesthetic issues they faced. The authors illustrate strong connections and dissonances in storytelling and style of this era when movie business was still at an infant state.
A brief summary of this book is as follows: Transitioning to sound movies which occurred around 1927/28 was especially hard for both studios and stars. Studios worried that the artistic element of silent movies will be lost in the sound version, and several stars lost their careers since they could not adjust to the new trend of recording their voices. Actresses like Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo made successful transitions into the sound. But Tallmadge sisters, Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Colleen Moore, Lillian Gish and Al Jolson are a few who almost lost their careers. Ramon Novarro and Marie Dressler were moderately successful. Historians often describe twenties as a decade of great affluence and hardship for varied reasons. Beginning with the end of WWI and the beginning of great depression, the decade sustained a dizzying array of changes and conflicts in American life. The constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote, prohibition, consumer rights, and changes in dress, social behavior and sexual attitudes that clashed with traditional values. It opened a liberal culture as commercial venues, from speakeasies in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, night clubs in Harlem, cabarets in Time Square, and Jazz clubs in Chicago’s south side gave some visibility and acceptability of gay and lesbian life styles among rich and famous. Most studios and gossip columnists knew about such behavior among leading stars of the day but the publicity departments of major studios worked hard to keep this from pubic. It is a long list of names that includes; Alla Nazimova, Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, Lilyan Tashman, Delores De Rio, William Haines, and many others. Lavender marriages were common and often performed with the blessings of the studios. Sensational murder cases like that of Virginia Rappe and William Desmond Taylor for which Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and Mabel Normand were respectively implicated. The public perception of the movie industry grew bad and it regarded the film colony as immoral, generally corrupt and bad for families. The movie industry set up a trade association called Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) headed by Will Hays to self-impose moral clauses in the films to prevent government instituted censorship. But this and other efforts failed since there was already a cultural and social revolution underway. Unfortunately racism was also rampant in American society and Hollywood did not abolish institutional bigotry by offering menial roles for African American and Asian actors. Al Jolson, a Jewish actor played the roles of back man on screen and limited the opportunities for black actors. Josephine Baker and Anna May Wong left the country in disgust.
Despite all the negativity of film industry, Hollywood eschewed any explicit representation of sex, but remained strongly erotic and ethnocentric. The American movie industry spread rapidly across the globe and literally defeated the European film making machinery. The success was attributed partly due to some key strategies developed in Hollywood that included importing many talents, both in directorial and acting categories, from across the Atlantic. The combined effect of American and foreign talents made Hollywood a great global success. It tackled a wide variety of stories and social issues and numerous stars glamorized the success. The careers of those explored in this volume includes: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Buster Keaton, Talmadge sisters, Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Clara Bow, Colleen Moore, Greta Garbo, Anna May Wong, Emil Jannings, Al Jolson, and Marie Dressler. The chapters look at some key moments in the life and works of these actors. There a great many books written exclusively about these stars but this book does a reasonable effort and cites many references to academic and non-academic publications to illustrate the factuality of the cases discussed. This is a good book and it is recommended to readers interested in silent movies and Hollywood history.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Book Reviewed: The lost river: on the trail of Sarasvati, by Michael Danino
The Sindhumata: Searching for the trail of Holy River Sarasvati
The story of the lost river Sarasvati is still being debated by scholars. The current discussion includes evidences from several disciplines; archeology, hydrology, satellite imagery, geology, history and the Vedic literature: Most notably the Rigveda. Brahmanas and itihasas, particularly Mahabharata also offer additional evidence.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: Geological survey in the early 19th century in states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Cholistan where river Sarasvati is known have flown during Vedic times revealed numerous ruined settlements that belonged to either the Harappan civilization or a period prior to, or after Harappan era. The author reviews tremendous amount of literature and discusses all aspects of Sarasvati; where it flew and how it may have vanished. The overwhelming evidence suggests that ecological and environmental factors led to years of drought that drove the river to complete dryness. The Vedic literature and archeology have been combined to construct the best picture for lost river Sarasvati and other tributaries that watered and gave life to Indus civilization. It is on the banks of this river where great Vedic sages may have found solace, serenity and creativity that may have transpired into the hymns of Rigveda.
Rigveda showers praise in 45 hymns on Sarasvati, her name appears 72 times and three hymns are wholly dedicated to her. She is often invoked in the company of two sister-goddesses Ila and Bharati. The waters of river Sarasvati is said to be “great amongst great,” “the impetuous river,” “created vast,” “limitless,” “unbroken,” “swift-moving,” and “she surpasses in majesty and might of all other rivers.” And Sarasvati is indeed is the “mother of rivers (Sindumata).” One of the Vedic clans, the Purus, is said to have dwelled on her grassy banks during the Vedic times. In RV 2.41.16 she is called ámbitame nádītame dévitame sárasvati, "Best mother, Best River, Best goddess". RV 6.61.12 associates the Sarasvati River with the five tribes; and hymn 7.95.6 with the Paravatas and the Purus
Some scholars suggest that the Vedic Sarasvati River is the same as Ghaggar-Hakra River. Rigveda 10.75 mentions Sarasvati River flowing between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west. According to the Mahabharata, the Sarasvati dried up in a desert (at a place named Vinasana or Adarsana) after having disappeared in the desert, but reappears in few other places and finally enters into a communion with the ocean. Many legends have been woven with respect to these descriptions of Sarasvati in Mahabharata and Puranas. Several Puranas describe the Sarasvati River, and also record that the river separated into a number of lakes. In the Skanda Purana, the Sarasvati originates from the water pot of Brahma and flows from Plaksa on the Himalayas. Though Sarasvati initially emerged as a river goddess in the Vedic scriptures, in the Puranas, she was rarely associated with the river. Instead she is described as an independent goddess of knowledge, learning, wisdom, music and the arts.
Currently, there has been a surge of activity due to renewed interest in finding the trail of Holy Sarasvati. In 2015, the Indian government has set up a Sarasvati Research Institute in the state of Haryana at Mughalwali, near Adibadri. A channel of about three miles long has been marked out as Sarasvati Marg. The digging at Adibadri has resulted in some positive results and raising the hopes that Sarasvati flows underground.
This work is an exhaustive review of available literature and I very much enjoyed reading the book. The maps showing the path of ancient rivers and how it evolved over centuries with prehistoric settlements is nicely illustrated. Most notable settlement on its bank was Kalibangan where numerous archeological expeditions have yielded voluminous data on this mature Harappan civilization. The last chapter summarizes the book very effectively. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the trail of lost river Sarasvati, Indus valley civilization, and Rigveda.
The story of the lost river Sarasvati is still being debated by scholars. The current discussion includes evidences from several disciplines; archeology, hydrology, satellite imagery, geology, history and the Vedic literature: Most notably the Rigveda. Brahmanas and itihasas, particularly Mahabharata also offer additional evidence.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: Geological survey in the early 19th century in states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Cholistan where river Sarasvati is known have flown during Vedic times revealed numerous ruined settlements that belonged to either the Harappan civilization or a period prior to, or after Harappan era. The author reviews tremendous amount of literature and discusses all aspects of Sarasvati; where it flew and how it may have vanished. The overwhelming evidence suggests that ecological and environmental factors led to years of drought that drove the river to complete dryness. The Vedic literature and archeology have been combined to construct the best picture for lost river Sarasvati and other tributaries that watered and gave life to Indus civilization. It is on the banks of this river where great Vedic sages may have found solace, serenity and creativity that may have transpired into the hymns of Rigveda.
Rigveda showers praise in 45 hymns on Sarasvati, her name appears 72 times and three hymns are wholly dedicated to her. She is often invoked in the company of two sister-goddesses Ila and Bharati. The waters of river Sarasvati is said to be “great amongst great,” “the impetuous river,” “created vast,” “limitless,” “unbroken,” “swift-moving,” and “she surpasses in majesty and might of all other rivers.” And Sarasvati is indeed is the “mother of rivers (Sindumata).” One of the Vedic clans, the Purus, is said to have dwelled on her grassy banks during the Vedic times. In RV 2.41.16 she is called ámbitame nádītame dévitame sárasvati, "Best mother, Best River, Best goddess". RV 6.61.12 associates the Sarasvati River with the five tribes; and hymn 7.95.6 with the Paravatas and the Purus
Some scholars suggest that the Vedic Sarasvati River is the same as Ghaggar-Hakra River. Rigveda 10.75 mentions Sarasvati River flowing between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west. According to the Mahabharata, the Sarasvati dried up in a desert (at a place named Vinasana or Adarsana) after having disappeared in the desert, but reappears in few other places and finally enters into a communion with the ocean. Many legends have been woven with respect to these descriptions of Sarasvati in Mahabharata and Puranas. Several Puranas describe the Sarasvati River, and also record that the river separated into a number of lakes. In the Skanda Purana, the Sarasvati originates from the water pot of Brahma and flows from Plaksa on the Himalayas. Though Sarasvati initially emerged as a river goddess in the Vedic scriptures, in the Puranas, she was rarely associated with the river. Instead she is described as an independent goddess of knowledge, learning, wisdom, music and the arts.
Currently, there has been a surge of activity due to renewed interest in finding the trail of Holy Sarasvati. In 2015, the Indian government has set up a Sarasvati Research Institute in the state of Haryana at Mughalwali, near Adibadri. A channel of about three miles long has been marked out as Sarasvati Marg. The digging at Adibadri has resulted in some positive results and raising the hopes that Sarasvati flows underground.
This work is an exhaustive review of available literature and I very much enjoyed reading the book. The maps showing the path of ancient rivers and how it evolved over centuries with prehistoric settlements is nicely illustrated. Most notable settlement on its bank was Kalibangan where numerous archeological expeditions have yielded voluminous data on this mature Harappan civilization. The last chapter summarizes the book very effectively. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the trail of lost river Sarasvati, Indus valley civilization, and Rigveda.
Movie Reviewed: Colleen (1936), starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler
A comedy starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler
Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler were teamed for the sixth and the last time in this film, incidentally this was also her penultimate work for the WB Studio. The story is an impoverished musical with Hugh Herbert as an eccentric millionaire who against his family wishes entrusts a gold-digging floozy (Joan Blondell) with his dress shop. His nephew Dick Powell hires Ruby Keeler. It is a mindless brew directed by Alfred Green and performed by Keeler in less than acceptable portrayal. Louise Fazenda, Paul Draper, Marie Wilson and Hobart Cavanaugh were in the supporting cast. The dance numbers were due to Bobby Connolly. Songs included; I don’t have to dream again, you’ve got to know how to dance, an evening with you and boulevardier.
Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler were teamed for the sixth and the last time in this film, incidentally this was also her penultimate work for the WB Studio. The story is an impoverished musical with Hugh Herbert as an eccentric millionaire who against his family wishes entrusts a gold-digging floozy (Joan Blondell) with his dress shop. His nephew Dick Powell hires Ruby Keeler. It is a mindless brew directed by Alfred Green and performed by Keeler in less than acceptable portrayal. Louise Fazenda, Paul Draper, Marie Wilson and Hobart Cavanaugh were in the supporting cast. The dance numbers were due to Bobby Connolly. Songs included; I don’t have to dream again, you’ve got to know how to dance, an evening with you and boulevardier.
Movie Reviewed: The phantom of the opera (1925), starring Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin
This is a masterpiece
This is a major movie of the Universal Studio and it was well regarded upon its release in 1925. It was showing twice a day and packed every showing with reservations running for months. This Chaney vehicle was a big success financially for Universal Studios. One of the greatest horror-films ever made and certainly it remains at the pinnacle of all films produced during silent era. Chaney was on loan from MGM and he shattered audience’s threshold for fear with his most grotesque face. His existence in the catacombs and dungeons beneath the Paris Opera not only terrified audiences’ but also the pretty young actress Mary Philbin. The actual Opera House was constructed at the Universal City containing five tiers of balcony and seating 3000 extras. Norman Kerry played Raoul, the fiancée of Philbin. It was brilliantly directed by Rupert Julian, but he had to depart for the last scene since lead actor Lon Chaney did not agree with the director about the finale of the story. Edward Sedgwick was called in to shoot the final chase scene which totally engaged the theater audiences for the ultimate demise of the ugly and terrifying creature.
Lon Chaney charms as a super star and the movie itself is a masterpiece. I highly recommend this to all fans of Lon Chaney and horror films in general. Anyone interested in the silent era movies and in golden age of Hollywood would also appreciate this work.
This is a major movie of the Universal Studio and it was well regarded upon its release in 1925. It was showing twice a day and packed every showing with reservations running for months. This Chaney vehicle was a big success financially for Universal Studios. One of the greatest horror-films ever made and certainly it remains at the pinnacle of all films produced during silent era. Chaney was on loan from MGM and he shattered audience’s threshold for fear with his most grotesque face. His existence in the catacombs and dungeons beneath the Paris Opera not only terrified audiences’ but also the pretty young actress Mary Philbin. The actual Opera House was constructed at the Universal City containing five tiers of balcony and seating 3000 extras. Norman Kerry played Raoul, the fiancée of Philbin. It was brilliantly directed by Rupert Julian, but he had to depart for the last scene since lead actor Lon Chaney did not agree with the director about the finale of the story. Edward Sedgwick was called in to shoot the final chase scene which totally engaged the theater audiences for the ultimate demise of the ugly and terrifying creature.
Lon Chaney charms as a super star and the movie itself is a masterpiece. I highly recommend this to all fans of Lon Chaney and horror films in general. Anyone interested in the silent era movies and in golden age of Hollywood would also appreciate this work.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Book Reviewed: Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, by Carlo Rovelli
A simplified introduction to physics and reality for a non-cognoscente
Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli has condensed physics ideas into this 78 pages book. This work is the result of a series of articles published in an Italian newspaper. Building basic concepts to comprehend the nature of reality has not been simple for theoretical physicists, but the author has spared the narratives for leaner and lucid descriptions in the hopes that these ideas stir up some interest among readers. There is no math and no heavy discussion of relativity or quantum physics. String physics is not included in this discussion. This is certainly a good way to bring modern physics for general readers. This reminds me of Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman’s “Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained.” This book has appeared in many versions and captured the minds of readers in theoretical physics. But Rovelli covers only seven topics that include relativity, quantum physics, particle physics and black holes.
The author is one of the inventors of loop quantum gravity which says that space is not continuous but it is made of grains, significantly smaller than an electron, and they are linked to each other forming a network. Quantum gravity essentially refers to quantum properties of space-time and not the quantum behavior of matter in spacetime. But the author has not discussed loop quantum gravity theory in any depth in this book.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: In quantum physics, you can be at two places at the same time but in relativity or Newtonian physics this is crazy. In quantum physics a conscious observes creates perceived reality, but it is impossible according our common sense. Physicists are also divided about the concept of space and time. Some believe that space is real, and time is an illusion; but others argue that time is real, and space is an illusion. The very fabric of spacetime has been investigated in string/brane physics and loop quantum gravity to determine if space is continuous or it exists in discrete quanta like matter at the quantum level. Rovelli suggests that time is not real and he says that it exists because of thermodynamics. In fact there is no such thing as past or future either in relativity or quantum physics. The physics formulas do not contain the time parameter. Rovelli says that flow of time is a matter of statistics.
One of Einstein’s predictions is that gravity slows down time; hence time dilation occurs for individuals at two different levels of gravity. In the film “Interstellar,” an hour on a planet orbiting a black hole is equivalent to seven years on Earth! Now some physicists argue that gravity produces the physical reality we observe in a quantum physics experiments. Through its effect on time dilation, which effectively produces decoherence of matter, a conscious observer is not needed to collapse a wave function such as in a Schrodinger’s Cat thought experiment. In essence gravitational decoherence is responsible for physical reality and not a conscious observer!
The author muses on human existence and our perception of physical reality. It is a song of god in which matter (energy) behave in spacetime guided by a set of physical laws. According to Isaac Newton, space was the “sensorium of God”, the organ through which He surveyed the creation; it is absolute, unchanging, and infinite. In our current understanding of things, somehow Newtonian physics, relativistic physics, quantum physics and thermodynamics connect with each other to create the nature of reality. But we are further away in comprehending it, and author Rovelli understands this better than many physicists.
Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli has condensed physics ideas into this 78 pages book. This work is the result of a series of articles published in an Italian newspaper. Building basic concepts to comprehend the nature of reality has not been simple for theoretical physicists, but the author has spared the narratives for leaner and lucid descriptions in the hopes that these ideas stir up some interest among readers. There is no math and no heavy discussion of relativity or quantum physics. String physics is not included in this discussion. This is certainly a good way to bring modern physics for general readers. This reminds me of Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman’s “Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained.” This book has appeared in many versions and captured the minds of readers in theoretical physics. But Rovelli covers only seven topics that include relativity, quantum physics, particle physics and black holes.
The author is one of the inventors of loop quantum gravity which says that space is not continuous but it is made of grains, significantly smaller than an electron, and they are linked to each other forming a network. Quantum gravity essentially refers to quantum properties of space-time and not the quantum behavior of matter in spacetime. But the author has not discussed loop quantum gravity theory in any depth in this book.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: In quantum physics, you can be at two places at the same time but in relativity or Newtonian physics this is crazy. In quantum physics a conscious observes creates perceived reality, but it is impossible according our common sense. Physicists are also divided about the concept of space and time. Some believe that space is real, and time is an illusion; but others argue that time is real, and space is an illusion. The very fabric of spacetime has been investigated in string/brane physics and loop quantum gravity to determine if space is continuous or it exists in discrete quanta like matter at the quantum level. Rovelli suggests that time is not real and he says that it exists because of thermodynamics. In fact there is no such thing as past or future either in relativity or quantum physics. The physics formulas do not contain the time parameter. Rovelli says that flow of time is a matter of statistics.
One of Einstein’s predictions is that gravity slows down time; hence time dilation occurs for individuals at two different levels of gravity. In the film “Interstellar,” an hour on a planet orbiting a black hole is equivalent to seven years on Earth! Now some physicists argue that gravity produces the physical reality we observe in a quantum physics experiments. Through its effect on time dilation, which effectively produces decoherence of matter, a conscious observer is not needed to collapse a wave function such as in a Schrodinger’s Cat thought experiment. In essence gravitational decoherence is responsible for physical reality and not a conscious observer!
The author muses on human existence and our perception of physical reality. It is a song of god in which matter (energy) behave in spacetime guided by a set of physical laws. According to Isaac Newton, space was the “sensorium of God”, the organ through which He surveyed the creation; it is absolute, unchanging, and infinite. In our current understanding of things, somehow Newtonian physics, relativistic physics, quantum physics and thermodynamics connect with each other to create the nature of reality. But we are further away in comprehending it, and author Rovelli understands this better than many physicists.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Solve Your Virginia Traffic Case: Powerful Facts about DUI, Speeding and Reckless Driving in Virginia , Jonathan P. Fisher
Traffic ticket success: Could you beat a traffic ticket in VA using this book?
I am disappointed with this book. I thought this book will introduce you about Virginia traffic laws and explain the laws in layman terms and help readers to develop a strategy for beating a traffic ticket. But it is not about that, but this is a sales pitch to hire the services of the attorney who wrote this book. It is pretty short, about 42 pages and causes certain amount panic. It repeatedly reminds you that reckless driving or drunk driving is a Class I misdemeanor. Perhaps this could be serious for certain professions like an airline pilot or a physician. But this book does not address other minor traffic-related issues which involves only fines.
If you are faced with simple traffic ticket, do a Google search and you will come across plenty of websites and blogs that offer you assistance in developing a strategy for your defense. Follow the basic rules and use common sense approach. Take pictures where the traffic ticket was issued. Note the time, traffic situation, etc. If you had a passenger in the car, you could use that person as a witness. Go to your local traffic court one or two weeks earlier and sit down for few hours and observe the proceedings. You will learn how the traffic court operates. I have found traffic courts to be very friendly; judges are courteous and easy to communicate with. It is not a stressful experience. Do your homework and get all exhibits in order and present your facts. Be relaxed. That should do you plenty good. I have beaten every traffic ticket with common sense approach. Good luck!
I am disappointed with this book. I thought this book will introduce you about Virginia traffic laws and explain the laws in layman terms and help readers to develop a strategy for beating a traffic ticket. But it is not about that, but this is a sales pitch to hire the services of the attorney who wrote this book. It is pretty short, about 42 pages and causes certain amount panic. It repeatedly reminds you that reckless driving or drunk driving is a Class I misdemeanor. Perhaps this could be serious for certain professions like an airline pilot or a physician. But this book does not address other minor traffic-related issues which involves only fines.
If you are faced with simple traffic ticket, do a Google search and you will come across plenty of websites and blogs that offer you assistance in developing a strategy for your defense. Follow the basic rules and use common sense approach. Take pictures where the traffic ticket was issued. Note the time, traffic situation, etc. If you had a passenger in the car, you could use that person as a witness. Go to your local traffic court one or two weeks earlier and sit down for few hours and observe the proceedings. You will learn how the traffic court operates. I have found traffic courts to be very friendly; judges are courteous and easy to communicate with. It is not a stressful experience. Do your homework and get all exhibits in order and present your facts. Be relaxed. That should do you plenty good. I have beaten every traffic ticket with common sense approach. Good luck!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Movie Reviewed: He Who Gets Slapped, starring Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer and John Gilbert
This is the first movie entirely prepared and produced by MGM Studios
This is the first movie entirely prepared and produced by MGM Studios. This is the story of scientist (Lon Chaney) who started a new life as a circus clown after his wife runs away with his patron-friend. Incidentally his friend also steals his discoveries and takes credit at the academic council. After Chaney joins the circus, he falls in love with a female performer (Norma Shearer). But the daredevil horseback rider of the circus, played by John Gilbert also falls in love with the same girl. Unfortunately, the father of Norma Shearer wants her to marry a wealthy baron, but she rejects the baron and declares love for Gilbert. Strange circumstances make the baron and the father of Norma Shearer killed by a lion.
The story is based on a Russian play staged on Broadway few years earlier by the Theater Guild. It was a risky choice for the studio’s debut since the story shows the killing of two human beings by a lion. However the film was highly profitable for MGM Studios in the freshman year, and it was critically hailed upon release. It was also the first film to feature Leo the Lion as the mascot MGM.
The studio boss Louis Mayer and Irving Thalberg, after careful consideration, assigned three major actors for this project; John Gilbert, Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney and assigned Swedish director Victor Seastrom to direct this film. Their strategy paid off and MGM went on to become one of the greatest studios in Hollywood.
This is the first movie entirely prepared and produced by MGM Studios. This is the story of scientist (Lon Chaney) who started a new life as a circus clown after his wife runs away with his patron-friend. Incidentally his friend also steals his discoveries and takes credit at the academic council. After Chaney joins the circus, he falls in love with a female performer (Norma Shearer). But the daredevil horseback rider of the circus, played by John Gilbert also falls in love with the same girl. Unfortunately, the father of Norma Shearer wants her to marry a wealthy baron, but she rejects the baron and declares love for Gilbert. Strange circumstances make the baron and the father of Norma Shearer killed by a lion.
The story is based on a Russian play staged on Broadway few years earlier by the Theater Guild. It was a risky choice for the studio’s debut since the story shows the killing of two human beings by a lion. However the film was highly profitable for MGM Studios in the freshman year, and it was critically hailed upon release. It was also the first film to feature Leo the Lion as the mascot MGM.
The studio boss Louis Mayer and Irving Thalberg, after careful consideration, assigned three major actors for this project; John Gilbert, Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney and assigned Swedish director Victor Seastrom to direct this film. Their strategy paid off and MGM went on to become one of the greatest studios in Hollywood.
Movie Reviewed: Sweet Adeline, starring Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne takes a crack at Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein songs
I am a big fan of Irene Dunne, but this is a lack luster movie. The highlight of the story is that Irene Dunne takes a crack at some glorious Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II songs. The movie is set in the gay 1890s in Hoboken, N.J. Dunne plays the daughter of a tavern owner, and Donald Woods plays a song writer with whom Irene Dunne gets romantically involved. In supporting role are Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks and Louis Calhern. Bobby Connolly wrote the dance numbers and Melvyn LeRoy directed this movie. The songs of this film are; Here am I, Why I was born, Don’t ever leave me, ‘Twas not so long ago, We were so very young, and Out of the blue. This movie a very thin vehicle for highly talented actress like Irene Dunne, but the songs of Kern-Hammerstein keep the movie rolling.
I am a big fan of Irene Dunne, but this is a lack luster movie. The highlight of the story is that Irene Dunne takes a crack at some glorious Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II songs. The movie is set in the gay 1890s in Hoboken, N.J. Dunne plays the daughter of a tavern owner, and Donald Woods plays a song writer with whom Irene Dunne gets romantically involved. In supporting role are Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks and Louis Calhern. Bobby Connolly wrote the dance numbers and Melvyn LeRoy directed this movie. The songs of this film are; Here am I, Why I was born, Don’t ever leave me, ‘Twas not so long ago, We were so very young, and Out of the blue. This movie a very thin vehicle for highly talented actress like Irene Dunne, but the songs of Kern-Hammerstein keep the movie rolling.
Movie Reviewed: Sweet Adeline, starring Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne takes a crack at Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein songs
I am a big fan of Irene Dunne, but this is a lack luster movie. The highlight of the story is that Irene Dunne takes a crack at some glorious Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II songs. The movie is set in the gay 1890s in Hoboken, N.J. Dunne plays the daughter of a tavern owner, and Donald Woods plays a song writer with whom Irene Dunne gets romantically involved. In supporting role are Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks and Louis Calhern. Bobby Connolly wrote the dance numbers and Melvyn LeRoy directed this movie. The songs of this film are; Here am I, Why I was born, Don’t ever leave me, ‘Twas not so long ago, We were so very young, and Out of the blue. This movie a very thin vehicle for highly talented actress like Irene Dunne, but the songs of Kern-Hammerstein keep the movie rolling.
I am a big fan of Irene Dunne, but this is a lack luster movie. The highlight of the story is that Irene Dunne takes a crack at some glorious Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II songs. The movie is set in the gay 1890s in Hoboken, N.J. Dunne plays the daughter of a tavern owner, and Donald Woods plays a song writer with whom Irene Dunne gets romantically involved. In supporting role are Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks and Louis Calhern. Bobby Connolly wrote the dance numbers and Melvyn LeRoy directed this movie. The songs of this film are; Here am I, Why I was born, Don’t ever leave me, ‘Twas not so long ago, We were so very young, and Out of the blue. This movie a very thin vehicle for highly talented actress like Irene Dunne, but the songs of Kern-Hammerstein keep the movie rolling.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Book Reviewed: Celebrities in the 1930 Census: Household Data of 2,265 U.S. Actors, Musicians, Scientists, Athletes, Writers, Politicians and Other Public Figures, by Allan R. Ellenberger
Interesting features of the 1930 Census
This book documents the census data of about 2,200 celebrities as of April 1930. The data pertains to home address, the list of family members, age, rent or amount of purchase and if they owned a radio. The book also has information about the servants in the family. The author focusses on the personalities of entertainment industry. Others included are; sports personalities, politicians, religious leaders and other major figures during the depression era. Some individuals could not be found in census, they were gangsters, mobsters, vaudevillians, and some politicians.
I was mainly interested in the address and family information of well-known Hollywood and stage actors of 1920s, but it turns out that many of them were young and lived with their parents; hence their names appear with the census information of their parents. Some actors avoided being in the census perhaps because they did not want their age listed. Examples include, Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Billie Burke, Greta Garbo and a few others. There are some interesting information; Director Frank Capra, an Italian citizen lived at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in California; actor John Gilbert lived in Beverly Hills with his actress wife Ina Claire; Actress Doris Day’s info resides with her parents’ home in Cincinnati, OH; actress Colleen Moore’s house on St Pierre Road in Bel Air was owned at $340,000, a staggering amount for 1930; and actress Alla Nazimova lived at Hotel Buckingham on 57 Street in Manhattan.
The U.S. Congress violated the constitution under Section 3 and Article 1 in 1920s. They were supposed to use 1920 census data to distribute the congressional seats for each state but they had used the 1850 census data. With significant increase in population, the new apportionment to congress was conducted on 1930 data and it yielded interesting results. The house delegation of 11 states increased by 27; and 21 states lost about 21 representatives. CA and MI were the big winners, but MO lost three seats.
This book is of no value to a modern day enthusiast of celebrities, but useful for someone interested in history and the beginnings of Hollywood.
This book documents the census data of about 2,200 celebrities as of April 1930. The data pertains to home address, the list of family members, age, rent or amount of purchase and if they owned a radio. The book also has information about the servants in the family. The author focusses on the personalities of entertainment industry. Others included are; sports personalities, politicians, religious leaders and other major figures during the depression era. Some individuals could not be found in census, they were gangsters, mobsters, vaudevillians, and some politicians.
I was mainly interested in the address and family information of well-known Hollywood and stage actors of 1920s, but it turns out that many of them were young and lived with their parents; hence their names appear with the census information of their parents. Some actors avoided being in the census perhaps because they did not want their age listed. Examples include, Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Billie Burke, Greta Garbo and a few others. There are some interesting information; Director Frank Capra, an Italian citizen lived at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in California; actor John Gilbert lived in Beverly Hills with his actress wife Ina Claire; Actress Doris Day’s info resides with her parents’ home in Cincinnati, OH; actress Colleen Moore’s house on St Pierre Road in Bel Air was owned at $340,000, a staggering amount for 1930; and actress Alla Nazimova lived at Hotel Buckingham on 57 Street in Manhattan.
The U.S. Congress violated the constitution under Section 3 and Article 1 in 1920s. They were supposed to use 1920 census data to distribute the congressional seats for each state but they had used the 1850 census data. With significant increase in population, the new apportionment to congress was conducted on 1930 data and it yielded interesting results. The house delegation of 11 states increased by 27; and 21 states lost about 21 representatives. CA and MI were the big winners, but MO lost three seats.
This book is of no value to a modern day enthusiast of celebrities, but useful for someone interested in history and the beginnings of Hollywood.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Book Reviewed, India: The ancient past - A history of the Indian sub-continent from c. 7000 B.C. to 1200 A.D., by Burjor Avari
The history of ancient India
Ancient India evolved in many stages, and in this book the author discusses the very early stages from 7000 B.C. to 1200 A.D that includes the earliest known human settlements in the Northwest frontier. An examination of their society, the development of early Indo-European language and a proto-Vedic culture that grew into modern Hinduism is a fascinating story of human evolution. The book discusses social, political, and religious activities during various periods in India in separate chapters for a more focused discussion. This book also documents very recent discoveries about the origin of ancient Sanskrit, the Vedic Aryans and the beginnings of the earliest writings of the sacred scriptures of Rigveda in the cradles of Indus Valley Civilization. It is fascinating to read some of the proudest moments in the history due to its success in the development of religious, spiritual and metaphysical ideas. There was also a tremendous contribution in the area of business and economics, international trade, arts, sciences, mathematics, astronomy, and literature. In ancient world, most religions, like Vedic Brahmanism were polytheistic with the exception of Buddhism and Jainism.
A brief summary of this book is as follows: The first section is devoted to the discussion of the history of Vedic Aryans and evolution of ancient Sanskrit and revelation of Rigveda to sages and rishis. In recent years, multidisciplinary studies in archeology, anthropology, genetics, classical philology and linguistics have shed much light into the origins of Indo-Europeans and the parent Indo-European language from two distinct groups of people; the hunter-gatherers, and the farmers/pastoralists. In the beginning, the ancient populations in Europe and Asia were divided into individual archaeological cultures with distinctive types of pottery and cultural practices associated with burials and settlements. With the advent of genetics and genome sequencing, the different groups could be reconciled with genome data that explains the origin and migrations of ancient people in Eurasia. This in turn also explain the source of the parent Indo-European language that resulted in diverse languages in Europe and Asia that includes English, Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, Russian, Hindi, Persian, etc. The similarities among these languages are based on shared features of vocabulary and grammar. Genome sequencing of ancient human skeletons from Europe and Asia have revealed population genealogy of original hunter-gatherers, and the first farmers who appeared around 8,000 years ago. The farmers increased their dominance over hunter-gatherers until the early Bronze Age at about 3,500 B.C. Farmers throughout much of Europe had more hunter-gatherer ancestry than their predecessors. But the Russian/Ukrainian grasslands north of the Black Sea, the Yamnaya steppe herders, descended not only from the preceding eastern European hunter-gatherers, but also from a population of Near Eastern ancestry. Western and Eastern Europe came into contact at about 4,500 B.C. The first Indo-European languages started to spread around this time. Yamnaya were the first to introduce Indo-European language to Europe and Asia, the size of the genetic input suggests that it brought at least major parts. This is called “Steppe hypothesis", which proposes that early Indo-European speakers were farmers on the grasslands north of the Black and Caspian Seas. The Indo-European languages spoken in Iran and India had probably already diverged from the Yamnaya herder society, perhaps few centuries earlier, before they blazed a trail into Europe from the north of Black and Caspian Seas.
Ancient people were ritualistic and performed animal sacrifices to ward off evil and to please various gods. Pre Jewish Canaanite religion was very much connected to Vedic traditions. They were polytheistic, and most of them were nature gods with cyclical view of time. Similar beliefs also existed in the Egyptian religion, the Roman religion, Greek and Babylonian religions. Many of these gods had very similar names and their functions were similar to those of Rig Vedic gods. Zoroastrianism born in Persia had many cultural practices that were in common with Vedic traditions. Strong linguistic and cultural similarities between the Zoroastrianism texts of the Avesta and f the Vedas reflect the common beliefs of Proto-Indo-Iranian cultures before they were separated and Vedic Aryans moved east to India where Rig-Veda was known to have been revealed to sages and rishis by gods. Common religious practices among ancient religions are supported by archeological digs. A 6,000-year-old temple with sacrificial altars and humanlike figurines were discovered in a prehistoric settlement in Ukraine near modern-day Nebelivka. This settlement is almost twice the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with more than 1,200 buildings and 50 streets. The migration of the pastoralists from these lands spread the proto-Indo European language. They also carried skills of farming and herding and the cultural practices such as fire rituals to connect with nature gods to distant lands.
There is a general consensus among archeologists that the mature Harappan period (known as Indus Valley Civilization) lasted from about 2600 B.C. to 1900 B.C. The period 4500 to 3500 B.C is an age of transition; and 3500 to 2600 B.C is regarded as early Harappan period. The Vedic – Hindu culture began around 2000 B.C and spanned for about 1500 years unhindered, but then Buddhist and Jain teachings came to dominate the Indian society. Buddhism offered a serious challenge to the Vedic-Brahmanic culture until Adi Shankara appeared (788 - 820 A.D.) to reform and revive Hinduism from possible extinction. In spite of religious and cultural tensions between various indigenous belief systems that sprang on Indian soil, the classical civilization grew unimpeded. Much of this was as a result of the partnership of Vedic-Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, the dissenters and atheists. In fact there were plenty of atheists in Vedic India. Dissent and atheism helped intellectual progress in a purely academic fashion that helped to strengthen various schools of Indian philosophy.
A decline around 1900 B.C. in the dynamics of Harappan economic system ended the civilization, and after 1700 B.C little remained of this culture. Until recently it was believed that invading Aryans destroyed the Indus culture but scholars now consider a combination of natural and socioeconomic factors led to the decline of Indus cities. This conclusion is based on geological and archeological studies. Rivers shifting the course and severe draught may have resulted in total collapse of the agriculture and affected the livelihood that depended on it.
The earliest hymns of Rig-Veda were written in 1700 B.C and it was orally transmitted with extreme fidelity. The caste system helped in this practice since the upper caste Brahmins passed on it on to their children. It was written down after 500 B.C. The sixth century B.C was a period that was watershed in the history of speculative ideas. By then the Vedic society had become highly stratified and gross inequality pervading its structure. There was a sense of injustice and dissent among ordinary populace. The emergence of Buddhism and Jainism is what was necessary to combat the growing power and authority of the priestly population. Both these religions rooted in renunciation of the worldly pleasures and wealth, was trying to bring justice and social equality among sudras and vaisya population of Vedic caste hierarchy.
Three major dynasties guided the capital city of Magadha between the middle of the sixth century B.C when the empire of Mauryas was proclaimed from Pataliputra. Bimbisara and Ajatasatru were the first two kings. The most notable Maurya was Emperor Asoka who reigned from Afghanistan to parts of South India and sent ambassadors and Buddhist missionaries to China, Japan and the Middle East. This is one of the proudest moments in the history of ancient India.
With the fall of Mauryan Empire was accompanied by the loss of pan-Indian authority exercised from Pataliputra to Magadha. A number of competing power centers in different regions of India came into existence. The political diffusion in the post Mauryan period and the emergence of monarchies with foreign roots is interesting since historians have a huge scale of available evidence. From Royal inscriptions, the shastras, the secular literature, Buddhist religious and secular texts and the Tamil anthologies, foreign literary sources from China, Syria, Greece, Persia and Egypt gives credence to the political and commercial setting of this period. From about 200 B.C. the transition from proto-historical to historical period is clearly evident. Kushans maintained a powerful dominion over North India until at least up to 250 A.D. and their trans-Asian empire, from Aral Sea to Kashi, Eastern Iran, Afghanistan and North Western part of India, was great expanse of land and the great conduits for India’s international trade.
The beginnings of India’s international trade began as early as 2500 B.C when Harappan civilization traded with Romans, Greece, Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. This trade relationship continued through the Mauryan period and grew rapidly in its sophistication with sound commercial infrastructure. The book shows diagrammatic sketches of the international trade that went as far as Rome to the West and as far as Indonesia to the East, and China to the north. These are some of the proudest moments in Indian business and economics. Indian merchants and Buddhist missionaries also forged a powerful alliance of interests. Buddhism became a strong influence in China and Japan. The Silk Road traded silk between China and Rome though India.
During the post-Mauryan period, in several kingdoms, Vedic Brahmanism was brought back but with some reforms in its teachings. This led to the beginning of two forms of modern Hinduism in the form of Vaishnavism and Saivism. They centered around three concepts; the supreme deity is either Vishnu or Siva and the salvation is through Lord Vishnu and Siva respectively. This is said to be achieved by the intense devotion (bhakti) of the godhead. The two traditions did not break away from Vedic Brahmanism but rejected some practices such as animal sacrifices and expressed more tolerance to lower castes.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient history, Indus Valley Civilization, the beginnings of Indo-European language and evolution of modern Hinduism. It is fascinating to read about the vast period the author focuses in his discussion with significant details. You will come across some of the proudest moments in the history of India.
Ancient India evolved in many stages, and in this book the author discusses the very early stages from 7000 B.C. to 1200 A.D that includes the earliest known human settlements in the Northwest frontier. An examination of their society, the development of early Indo-European language and a proto-Vedic culture that grew into modern Hinduism is a fascinating story of human evolution. The book discusses social, political, and religious activities during various periods in India in separate chapters for a more focused discussion. This book also documents very recent discoveries about the origin of ancient Sanskrit, the Vedic Aryans and the beginnings of the earliest writings of the sacred scriptures of Rigveda in the cradles of Indus Valley Civilization. It is fascinating to read some of the proudest moments in the history due to its success in the development of religious, spiritual and metaphysical ideas. There was also a tremendous contribution in the area of business and economics, international trade, arts, sciences, mathematics, astronomy, and literature. In ancient world, most religions, like Vedic Brahmanism were polytheistic with the exception of Buddhism and Jainism.
A brief summary of this book is as follows: The first section is devoted to the discussion of the history of Vedic Aryans and evolution of ancient Sanskrit and revelation of Rigveda to sages and rishis. In recent years, multidisciplinary studies in archeology, anthropology, genetics, classical philology and linguistics have shed much light into the origins of Indo-Europeans and the parent Indo-European language from two distinct groups of people; the hunter-gatherers, and the farmers/pastoralists. In the beginning, the ancient populations in Europe and Asia were divided into individual archaeological cultures with distinctive types of pottery and cultural practices associated with burials and settlements. With the advent of genetics and genome sequencing, the different groups could be reconciled with genome data that explains the origin and migrations of ancient people in Eurasia. This in turn also explain the source of the parent Indo-European language that resulted in diverse languages in Europe and Asia that includes English, Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, Russian, Hindi, Persian, etc. The similarities among these languages are based on shared features of vocabulary and grammar. Genome sequencing of ancient human skeletons from Europe and Asia have revealed population genealogy of original hunter-gatherers, and the first farmers who appeared around 8,000 years ago. The farmers increased their dominance over hunter-gatherers until the early Bronze Age at about 3,500 B.C. Farmers throughout much of Europe had more hunter-gatherer ancestry than their predecessors. But the Russian/Ukrainian grasslands north of the Black Sea, the Yamnaya steppe herders, descended not only from the preceding eastern European hunter-gatherers, but also from a population of Near Eastern ancestry. Western and Eastern Europe came into contact at about 4,500 B.C. The first Indo-European languages started to spread around this time. Yamnaya were the first to introduce Indo-European language to Europe and Asia, the size of the genetic input suggests that it brought at least major parts. This is called “Steppe hypothesis", which proposes that early Indo-European speakers were farmers on the grasslands north of the Black and Caspian Seas. The Indo-European languages spoken in Iran and India had probably already diverged from the Yamnaya herder society, perhaps few centuries earlier, before they blazed a trail into Europe from the north of Black and Caspian Seas.
Ancient people were ritualistic and performed animal sacrifices to ward off evil and to please various gods. Pre Jewish Canaanite religion was very much connected to Vedic traditions. They were polytheistic, and most of them were nature gods with cyclical view of time. Similar beliefs also existed in the Egyptian religion, the Roman religion, Greek and Babylonian religions. Many of these gods had very similar names and their functions were similar to those of Rig Vedic gods. Zoroastrianism born in Persia had many cultural practices that were in common with Vedic traditions. Strong linguistic and cultural similarities between the Zoroastrianism texts of the Avesta and f the Vedas reflect the common beliefs of Proto-Indo-Iranian cultures before they were separated and Vedic Aryans moved east to India where Rig-Veda was known to have been revealed to sages and rishis by gods. Common religious practices among ancient religions are supported by archeological digs. A 6,000-year-old temple with sacrificial altars and humanlike figurines were discovered in a prehistoric settlement in Ukraine near modern-day Nebelivka. This settlement is almost twice the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with more than 1,200 buildings and 50 streets. The migration of the pastoralists from these lands spread the proto-Indo European language. They also carried skills of farming and herding and the cultural practices such as fire rituals to connect with nature gods to distant lands.
There is a general consensus among archeologists that the mature Harappan period (known as Indus Valley Civilization) lasted from about 2600 B.C. to 1900 B.C. The period 4500 to 3500 B.C is an age of transition; and 3500 to 2600 B.C is regarded as early Harappan period. The Vedic – Hindu culture began around 2000 B.C and spanned for about 1500 years unhindered, but then Buddhist and Jain teachings came to dominate the Indian society. Buddhism offered a serious challenge to the Vedic-Brahmanic culture until Adi Shankara appeared (788 - 820 A.D.) to reform and revive Hinduism from possible extinction. In spite of religious and cultural tensions between various indigenous belief systems that sprang on Indian soil, the classical civilization grew unimpeded. Much of this was as a result of the partnership of Vedic-Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, the dissenters and atheists. In fact there were plenty of atheists in Vedic India. Dissent and atheism helped intellectual progress in a purely academic fashion that helped to strengthen various schools of Indian philosophy.
A decline around 1900 B.C. in the dynamics of Harappan economic system ended the civilization, and after 1700 B.C little remained of this culture. Until recently it was believed that invading Aryans destroyed the Indus culture but scholars now consider a combination of natural and socioeconomic factors led to the decline of Indus cities. This conclusion is based on geological and archeological studies. Rivers shifting the course and severe draught may have resulted in total collapse of the agriculture and affected the livelihood that depended on it.
The earliest hymns of Rig-Veda were written in 1700 B.C and it was orally transmitted with extreme fidelity. The caste system helped in this practice since the upper caste Brahmins passed on it on to their children. It was written down after 500 B.C. The sixth century B.C was a period that was watershed in the history of speculative ideas. By then the Vedic society had become highly stratified and gross inequality pervading its structure. There was a sense of injustice and dissent among ordinary populace. The emergence of Buddhism and Jainism is what was necessary to combat the growing power and authority of the priestly population. Both these religions rooted in renunciation of the worldly pleasures and wealth, was trying to bring justice and social equality among sudras and vaisya population of Vedic caste hierarchy.
Three major dynasties guided the capital city of Magadha between the middle of the sixth century B.C when the empire of Mauryas was proclaimed from Pataliputra. Bimbisara and Ajatasatru were the first two kings. The most notable Maurya was Emperor Asoka who reigned from Afghanistan to parts of South India and sent ambassadors and Buddhist missionaries to China, Japan and the Middle East. This is one of the proudest moments in the history of ancient India.
With the fall of Mauryan Empire was accompanied by the loss of pan-Indian authority exercised from Pataliputra to Magadha. A number of competing power centers in different regions of India came into existence. The political diffusion in the post Mauryan period and the emergence of monarchies with foreign roots is interesting since historians have a huge scale of available evidence. From Royal inscriptions, the shastras, the secular literature, Buddhist religious and secular texts and the Tamil anthologies, foreign literary sources from China, Syria, Greece, Persia and Egypt gives credence to the political and commercial setting of this period. From about 200 B.C. the transition from proto-historical to historical period is clearly evident. Kushans maintained a powerful dominion over North India until at least up to 250 A.D. and their trans-Asian empire, from Aral Sea to Kashi, Eastern Iran, Afghanistan and North Western part of India, was great expanse of land and the great conduits for India’s international trade.
The beginnings of India’s international trade began as early as 2500 B.C when Harappan civilization traded with Romans, Greece, Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. This trade relationship continued through the Mauryan period and grew rapidly in its sophistication with sound commercial infrastructure. The book shows diagrammatic sketches of the international trade that went as far as Rome to the West and as far as Indonesia to the East, and China to the north. These are some of the proudest moments in Indian business and economics. Indian merchants and Buddhist missionaries also forged a powerful alliance of interests. Buddhism became a strong influence in China and Japan. The Silk Road traded silk between China and Rome though India.
During the post-Mauryan period, in several kingdoms, Vedic Brahmanism was brought back but with some reforms in its teachings. This led to the beginning of two forms of modern Hinduism in the form of Vaishnavism and Saivism. They centered around three concepts; the supreme deity is either Vishnu or Siva and the salvation is through Lord Vishnu and Siva respectively. This is said to be achieved by the intense devotion (bhakti) of the godhead. The two traditions did not break away from Vedic Brahmanism but rejected some practices such as animal sacrifices and expressed more tolerance to lower castes.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient history, Indus Valley Civilization, the beginnings of Indo-European language and evolution of modern Hinduism. It is fascinating to read about the vast period the author focuses in his discussion with significant details. You will come across some of the proudest moments in the history of India.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Book Reviewed: The Worst of Times: How Life on Earth Survived Eighty Million Years of Extinctions, by Paul B. Wignall
Life on collision course with forces of nature
About 251 million years ago, life on planet earth was almost extinct. Most species were lost in a catastrophic event along with the loss of habitats for of most land and marine creatures. It took almost 100 million years for life to return to pre-existing level, and the biodiversity returned in the form of diverse marine creatures, insects, dinosaurs, mammals and plants. In this process, animals and plants took various shapes, sizes and habitats. In this book, University of Leeds professor, Paul Wignall examines the environment of Pangea when the planet was fused into one single super continent. Atmospheric and geological conditions were vastly different with few coastline habitats, limited rainfall, and the deeper part of the land uninhabitable. Huge volcanic eruptions resulted in catastrophic events that filled the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and covered the land with lava. Changes in atmospheric temperatures, acidification of the ocean and depletion of life-supporting oxygen made the planet very hostile for life. Eventually a slow and steady separation of the single land mass into five continents changed the planet’s atmosphere and created diverse environment. Species evolved in the reformed planet with a tremendous increase in diversity.
Recent studies have suggested that the asteroid that hit Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago also intensified volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Plateau of India. Volcanic eruptions became twice as intense, throwing out a deadly cocktail of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The shockwaves produced at this time shook up earth and its volcanic “plumbing systems” around the world, creating larger magma chambers that spewed out more material. This “combined effect” is now believed to be responsible for wiping out dinosaurs.
Sir Charles Lyell was the first geologist to propose, in the first half of the nineteenth century, that earth was formed after cataclysmic events on giant scale in the distant past. He observed that the earth was shaped by slow-moving forces still in operation today, but acting over for a very long period of time. This idea still holds good and it was quite bold for his time when it was believed in the idea of abrupt planetary changes that conforms to beliefs of the Book of Genesis.
While geological and paleontological studies have been helpful to understand the formation of a habitable planet such as earth, we are still a long way to account for all factors that shaped our world. This is especially critical when NASA is investigating life on exoplanets with vigor and enthusiasm. Professor Wignall’s seminal work in this area is fascinating and should encourage readers to get interested in this field and learn more about the ancient history of our planet.
About 251 million years ago, life on planet earth was almost extinct. Most species were lost in a catastrophic event along with the loss of habitats for of most land and marine creatures. It took almost 100 million years for life to return to pre-existing level, and the biodiversity returned in the form of diverse marine creatures, insects, dinosaurs, mammals and plants. In this process, animals and plants took various shapes, sizes and habitats. In this book, University of Leeds professor, Paul Wignall examines the environment of Pangea when the planet was fused into one single super continent. Atmospheric and geological conditions were vastly different with few coastline habitats, limited rainfall, and the deeper part of the land uninhabitable. Huge volcanic eruptions resulted in catastrophic events that filled the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and covered the land with lava. Changes in atmospheric temperatures, acidification of the ocean and depletion of life-supporting oxygen made the planet very hostile for life. Eventually a slow and steady separation of the single land mass into five continents changed the planet’s atmosphere and created diverse environment. Species evolved in the reformed planet with a tremendous increase in diversity.
Recent studies have suggested that the asteroid that hit Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago also intensified volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Plateau of India. Volcanic eruptions became twice as intense, throwing out a deadly cocktail of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The shockwaves produced at this time shook up earth and its volcanic “plumbing systems” around the world, creating larger magma chambers that spewed out more material. This “combined effect” is now believed to be responsible for wiping out dinosaurs.
Sir Charles Lyell was the first geologist to propose, in the first half of the nineteenth century, that earth was formed after cataclysmic events on giant scale in the distant past. He observed that the earth was shaped by slow-moving forces still in operation today, but acting over for a very long period of time. This idea still holds good and it was quite bold for his time when it was believed in the idea of abrupt planetary changes that conforms to beliefs of the Book of Genesis.
While geological and paleontological studies have been helpful to understand the formation of a habitable planet such as earth, we are still a long way to account for all factors that shaped our world. This is especially critical when NASA is investigating life on exoplanets with vigor and enthusiasm. Professor Wignall’s seminal work in this area is fascinating and should encourage readers to get interested in this field and learn more about the ancient history of our planet.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Book Reviewed: Butterflies by Ron Ornstein
The illustrated world encyclopedia of Butterflies
This book is full of magnificent images of butterflies and caterpillars in color, and the text is scholarly and very educational for both school children and also adults. The photographs offer a close-up view of these remarkable creatures adored for their beauty and variety. The authors explain the latest scientific discoveries on a variety of topics that include the impact of the global warming on their population; widespread use of insecticides and pesticides on butterfly and caterpillar habitat; annual migration; the evolution of beautiful patterns of butterfly wings; why male and not female suck mineral from the soil; biological features that help them navigate across continents; and how to care for the butterfly population around the globe. While stressing the biological importance, we also learn some fascinating features about them; they have eyes that can look in all directions; taste with their feet, and can migrate as much as 3,000 miles every year.
This book is discussed in several chapters and one chapter is devoted each of the six families of butterflies; the swallowtails, skippers, whites and yellows, metal-marks, brush-footed butterflies, and gossamer-winged butterflies. Other chapters deal with anatomy and biology of butterfly wings, their life history, their food, the habitats of butterflies, and the ecology of moths. The book is not technical but is written for all readers interested in the biology and ecology of butterflies.
This book is full of magnificent images of butterflies and caterpillars in color, and the text is scholarly and very educational for both school children and also adults. The photographs offer a close-up view of these remarkable creatures adored for their beauty and variety. The authors explain the latest scientific discoveries on a variety of topics that include the impact of the global warming on their population; widespread use of insecticides and pesticides on butterfly and caterpillar habitat; annual migration; the evolution of beautiful patterns of butterfly wings; why male and not female suck mineral from the soil; biological features that help them navigate across continents; and how to care for the butterfly population around the globe. While stressing the biological importance, we also learn some fascinating features about them; they have eyes that can look in all directions; taste with their feet, and can migrate as much as 3,000 miles every year.
This book is discussed in several chapters and one chapter is devoted each of the six families of butterflies; the swallowtails, skippers, whites and yellows, metal-marks, brush-footed butterflies, and gossamer-winged butterflies. Other chapters deal with anatomy and biology of butterfly wings, their life history, their food, the habitats of butterflies, and the ecology of moths. The book is not technical but is written for all readers interested in the biology and ecology of butterflies.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Book Reviewed: A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties, by Ben Carson and Candy Carson
The Republican Presidential Candidate Ben Carson expounds on the US Constitution
In this book entitled, "A More Perfect Union" The Republican Presidential Candidate Ben Carson expounds on the US Constitution. This is an inspiring book to understand and defend our Constitution. Written in plain and easy to understand English, the presidential candidate explains the basic teachings of the American Constitution and what it stands for, and how they inspired the founding fathers. He elaborates on the freedom guaranteed to us, and how we can protect and defend our rights, and the American way of living. He explains the current events and controversial issues facing the nation. He stresses that it is important for Americans to defend the Bill of Rights, which guarantees our freedom to speech, right to bear arms, practice our religion, and much more.
Carson is one of the few candidates who understands the dangers of Islam and explains how it is incompatible with the Constitution that upholds a democratic society. The teachings of Islam contrasts the very principles that upholds the Western civilization.
Ben Carson is a 2016 Republican Party candidate for President of the United States and a retired Johns Hopkins Medical School Neurosurgeon. After delivering a widely publicized speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast meeting, he became a popular conservative figure in political media for his views on social and political issues. A More Perfect Union" is one of at least seven books from Ben Carson that have become bestsellers. Strongly recommended to all conservative readers who like to uphold the constitution and the supporters of Ben Carson
In this book entitled, "A More Perfect Union" The Republican Presidential Candidate Ben Carson expounds on the US Constitution. This is an inspiring book to understand and defend our Constitution. Written in plain and easy to understand English, the presidential candidate explains the basic teachings of the American Constitution and what it stands for, and how they inspired the founding fathers. He elaborates on the freedom guaranteed to us, and how we can protect and defend our rights, and the American way of living. He explains the current events and controversial issues facing the nation. He stresses that it is important for Americans to defend the Bill of Rights, which guarantees our freedom to speech, right to bear arms, practice our religion, and much more.
Carson is one of the few candidates who understands the dangers of Islam and explains how it is incompatible with the Constitution that upholds a democratic society. The teachings of Islam contrasts the very principles that upholds the Western civilization.
Ben Carson is a 2016 Republican Party candidate for President of the United States and a retired Johns Hopkins Medical School Neurosurgeon. After delivering a widely publicized speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast meeting, he became a popular conservative figure in political media for his views on social and political issues. A More Perfect Union" is one of at least seven books from Ben Carson that have become bestsellers. Strongly recommended to all conservative readers who like to uphold the constitution and the supporters of Ben Carson
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Movie Reviewed: No time for comedy (1940), starring Jimmy Stewart and Rosalind Russell
Jimmy Stewart and Rosalind Russell play as married couple in this delightful comedy
Jimmy Stewart plays a sort of Neil Simon type playwright with Rosalind Russell as his wife, comes to a conclusion that his comedies are too lightweight. He changes his direction and starts writing serious plays which also turns out to be boring. The film was directed by William Keighley and good performances of Jimmy Stewart, Rosalind Russell, Genevieve Tobin and Charles Ruggles turned this into a delightful film to watch.
Jimmy Stewart plays a sort of Neil Simon type playwright with Rosalind Russell as his wife, comes to a conclusion that his comedies are too lightweight. He changes his direction and starts writing serious plays which also turns out to be boring. The film was directed by William Keighley and good performances of Jimmy Stewart, Rosalind Russell, Genevieve Tobin and Charles Ruggles turned this into a delightful film to watch.
Movie Reviewed: Finishing School (1934), starring Frances Dee and Ginger Rogers
Life at the Crockett Hall
In this film, Frances Dee and Ginger Rogers play two roommates at the Crockett Hall, an institution for the daughters of social elite. Frances Dee, playing the leading role, learns that the life at the college is not as fun as she thought it would be. After being frustrated she contemplates suicide when a poor boy, Bruce Cabot rattles up in his shabby Ford and takes her away from all the phonies.
Except for the fine performance of Ginger Rogers as Dee’s roommate and perhaps Billie Burke as the selfish mother of Frances Dee, the movie has many rough spots. Wanda Tuchok, a writer, and George Nicholls, a film editor, collaborated on directing this project and their inexperience showed throughout the film.
RKO Studios borrowed Billie Burke from MGM for this 1934 film. The film also casted 16 year old Dawn O’Day, soon to be named as Anne Shirley, had the supporting role in Anne of Green Gables, also released in 1934, which received rave reviews from movie critics.
In this film, Frances Dee and Ginger Rogers play two roommates at the Crockett Hall, an institution for the daughters of social elite. Frances Dee, playing the leading role, learns that the life at the college is not as fun as she thought it would be. After being frustrated she contemplates suicide when a poor boy, Bruce Cabot rattles up in his shabby Ford and takes her away from all the phonies.
Except for the fine performance of Ginger Rogers as Dee’s roommate and perhaps Billie Burke as the selfish mother of Frances Dee, the movie has many rough spots. Wanda Tuchok, a writer, and George Nicholls, a film editor, collaborated on directing this project and their inexperience showed throughout the film.
RKO Studios borrowed Billie Burke from MGM for this 1934 film. The film also casted 16 year old Dawn O’Day, soon to be named as Anne Shirley, had the supporting role in Anne of Green Gables, also released in 1934, which received rave reviews from movie critics.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Movie Reviewed: Dancing Co-Ed (1939), starring Lana Turner
Hold that Co Ed
At 19, Lana Turner was made a star by the biggest studios in the business, the MGM Studios. Lana Turner glowed in this hilarious comedy as a dancing Co Ed. But the critics were skeptical when this movie was released in 1939, and soon they were enchanted with her looks and onscreen charms for decades. The screen writing of Albert Mannheim was based on Albert Treynor’s story which was set in a college. The musical ornamentation was given by Artie Shaw & his band, and directed by Sylvan Simon. Also co-starring with Turner were Richard Carlson, Ann Rutherford, Monty Woolley and Roscoe Karns. I am a big fan of Lana Turner and highly recommend this film to all her fans!
At 19, Lana Turner was made a star by the biggest studios in the business, the MGM Studios. Lana Turner glowed in this hilarious comedy as a dancing Co Ed. But the critics were skeptical when this movie was released in 1939, and soon they were enchanted with her looks and onscreen charms for decades. The screen writing of Albert Mannheim was based on Albert Treynor’s story which was set in a college. The musical ornamentation was given by Artie Shaw & his band, and directed by Sylvan Simon. Also co-starring with Turner were Richard Carlson, Ann Rutherford, Monty Woolley and Roscoe Karns. I am a big fan of Lana Turner and highly recommend this film to all her fans!
Movie Reviewed: Next Time I Marry (1938), starring Lucille Ball
Screwball slapsticks of Lucille Ball from her early stages in career
I am a big fan of Lucille Ball and enjoyed her movies and television shows over the years. She is completely off-beat, on the screen, while performing the comedy act. My favorite movie is Next Time I Marry, which she co-stars with James Ellison.
This is a RKO’s comedy of 1938 which generates the zany saga of a slap-happy heiress and a pick-and-shovel hero. Ball marries a government project worker Ellison to make her eligible for $20 million inheritance; then fly to Reno, Nevada so that she can annul the marriage and then wed a titled foreigner Lee Bowman, and enjoy the inheritance with him. The frantic battling of the newlyweds eventually leads to real romance and to a whimsical cross-country diversion. This part of the story sounds awfully similar to Frank Capra’s 1934 classic, “It happened one night” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
I am a big fan of Lucille Ball and enjoyed her movies and television shows over the years. She is completely off-beat, on the screen, while performing the comedy act. My favorite movie is Next Time I Marry, which she co-stars with James Ellison.
This is a RKO’s comedy of 1938 which generates the zany saga of a slap-happy heiress and a pick-and-shovel hero. Ball marries a government project worker Ellison to make her eligible for $20 million inheritance; then fly to Reno, Nevada so that she can annul the marriage and then wed a titled foreigner Lee Bowman, and enjoy the inheritance with him. The frantic battling of the newlyweds eventually leads to real romance and to a whimsical cross-country diversion. This part of the story sounds awfully similar to Frank Capra’s 1934 classic, “It happened one night” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Movie Reviewed: The Phantom of Paris (1931), starring John Gilbert and Leila Hyams
The adventures of a Phantom
Whatever this movie may have lacked, it wasn’t the plot. John Gilbert plays a magician falsely accused of murdering his girlfriend’s father played respectively by Leila Hyams and Aubrey Smith. After he escapes from the sight of police; his girlfriend unwittingly marries the real murderer (Ian Smith). Shortly after their wedding, her husband dies mysteriously and his dead body is carried to a plastic surgeon where John Gilbert impersonates her husband and comes back alive! Confused? But read on, John Gilbert and Ian Smith were most look-alike actors in the pre-code era of Hollywood, which further complicates the plot of the film!! John Meredith directed this concoction that also starred other notable actors like Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt and Natalie Moorhead. I am a big fan of John Gilbert but disappointed with this movie.
Whatever this movie may have lacked, it wasn’t the plot. John Gilbert plays a magician falsely accused of murdering his girlfriend’s father played respectively by Leila Hyams and Aubrey Smith. After he escapes from the sight of police; his girlfriend unwittingly marries the real murderer (Ian Smith). Shortly after their wedding, her husband dies mysteriously and his dead body is carried to a plastic surgeon where John Gilbert impersonates her husband and comes back alive! Confused? But read on, John Gilbert and Ian Smith were most look-alike actors in the pre-code era of Hollywood, which further complicates the plot of the film!! John Meredith directed this concoction that also starred other notable actors like Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt and Natalie Moorhead. I am a big fan of John Gilbert but disappointed with this movie.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Movie Reviewed: You can’t cheat an honest man, starring W.C. Fields
W.C. Fields and Bergen team up in this screwball comedy
W.C. Fields was lured away from Paramount Studios by a larger salary ($125,000 per film plus $25,000 for his story) played a circus owner fallen on hard times. This story was written by Charles Bogle (pseudo name for Fields). Also costarring in the film are Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy and Constance Moore as Fields’ daughter. Determined to bail out her father from financial mess she agrees to marry a boring rich man but gets embarrassed by her own father when he acts like a jerk at a high society reception. She abandons her plan and likes to wed Bergen whom she loved all along. The runaway parachute where Bergen and his dummy almost get lost doesn’t look so funny. This is a typical Fields movie where he does his best to make people laugh but doesn’t make the distance! Mary Forbes and Thurston Hall as the parents of the rich young man do their best.
W.C. Fields was lured away from Paramount Studios by a larger salary ($125,000 per film plus $25,000 for his story) played a circus owner fallen on hard times. This story was written by Charles Bogle (pseudo name for Fields). Also costarring in the film are Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy and Constance Moore as Fields’ daughter. Determined to bail out her father from financial mess she agrees to marry a boring rich man but gets embarrassed by her own father when he acts like a jerk at a high society reception. She abandons her plan and likes to wed Bergen whom she loved all along. The runaway parachute where Bergen and his dummy almost get lost doesn’t look so funny. This is a typical Fields movie where he does his best to make people laugh but doesn’t make the distance! Mary Forbes and Thurston Hall as the parents of the rich young man do their best.
Book Reviewed: A history of Indian philosophy - volume 5, by Surendranath Dasgupta
The history and philosophy of the Southern Schools of Saivism
This is one of the scholarly works of Surendranath Dasgupta. His work on Indian philosophy is published in five volumes, and each volume is devoted to the study of the particular school of thought of Indian Philosophy. In this volume, he focuses his study on the southern schools of Saivism, viz., Saiva Siddhanta, Vira-Saivism, philosophy of Srikantha, and Saiva philosophy. This book documents the ethical, mystical and philosophical ideas of the Southern Schools of Saivism.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: The earliest Sanskrit philosophical literature in which Saivism is mentioned is in a bhasya of Sankara on Brahma-Sutra II.2.37. Sankara refers to a doctrine called Siddhanta written by the God Mahesvara. It states that God, Lord Siva, also known as Pasupati, is both the instrumental and material cause of the world. In his bhasya, Sankara refers to one particular system of Saivism. But Saiva Philosophy was widely known long before eighth century A.D., (before the time of Sankara.) Different sects of Saivism also existed from ancient times; the Pasupata Saivism of Gujarat, Agamic Saivism of Tamil region, Pratyabhijna Saivism of Kashmir, and Vira-Saivism of Kannada speaking region of the South defines the length and breadth of Saivism in India. Major Siva temples in Nepal, Kashmir, Benares, Kathiawar, Calcutta and Ramesvaram illustrate the popularity of Saiva culture.
The concept of Pasupati may have evolved at the earliest times of Indus Valley Civilization. The statue of Siva sitting on a bull surrounded by snakes and other animals has been found in pre-Vedic times, and ancient Indians worshipped the lord of pasus (animals) or Pasupati. Siva is also mentioned in Vedas and Upanishads, especially Svetasvatara Upanishad, and also in Mahabharata and Puranas.
Siva Mahapurana refers to Saiva-Agama as the original instructions of Lord Siva, but unfortunately these texts are lost. Most writers of Saivism believed that Siva was the author of all Saiva literature which includes Agamas, the earliest scriptures of Saivism. There is a list of 28 Sivacaryas in Vayaviya-samhita of the Siva Mahapurana, which consists of 100,000 verses in seven sections and Siva is known to be its author. The gist of the Agama teaching is that all individual souls are infected with the impurities of Maya or karma. These are ultimately destroyed by the grace of God after being initiated into the worship of Siva. The Agama literature strongly supports a highly moralistic life coupled with the worship Lord Siva.
The doctrine of Pasupata-sutra provides the spiritual and traditional practices in the worship of Siva. This text has some metaphysical elements, but largely spiritual in nature. It is believed that Siva re-incarnated himself as Nakulisa and wrote Pasupata text. In the bhasya of Pasupata-sutra, sage Kaundinya vividly describes the spiritual path of Saiva life. Kaundinya is known to have written his bhasya of Pasupata anywhere between fourth and sixth century B.C.
Saiva philosophy of Srikantha is another subject widely discussed in this book. His ideas are expounded in the commentary on Brahma-sutra and later by Appaya Dixita. Srikantha illuminated his views by the interpretation of Brahma-sutra by accepting the supremacy of Upanishads, but he suggested that Lord Siva is the personal form of Brahman.
I enjoyed reading the vast literature covered in this book, especially Chapter XXXVI/VII about the philosophy of Saivism. This is an exhaustive review of the Saiva literature and the author expounds the interpretation of several scholars like Sankara, Srikantha and Appaya Dixita with respect to Brahma Sutra and Lord Siva as the Supreme Personality Godhead. I found the discussion very fascinating and deeply engrossing.
This is one of the scholarly works of Surendranath Dasgupta. His work on Indian philosophy is published in five volumes, and each volume is devoted to the study of the particular school of thought of Indian Philosophy. In this volume, he focuses his study on the southern schools of Saivism, viz., Saiva Siddhanta, Vira-Saivism, philosophy of Srikantha, and Saiva philosophy. This book documents the ethical, mystical and philosophical ideas of the Southern Schools of Saivism.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: The earliest Sanskrit philosophical literature in which Saivism is mentioned is in a bhasya of Sankara on Brahma-Sutra II.2.37. Sankara refers to a doctrine called Siddhanta written by the God Mahesvara. It states that God, Lord Siva, also known as Pasupati, is both the instrumental and material cause of the world. In his bhasya, Sankara refers to one particular system of Saivism. But Saiva Philosophy was widely known long before eighth century A.D., (before the time of Sankara.) Different sects of Saivism also existed from ancient times; the Pasupata Saivism of Gujarat, Agamic Saivism of Tamil region, Pratyabhijna Saivism of Kashmir, and Vira-Saivism of Kannada speaking region of the South defines the length and breadth of Saivism in India. Major Siva temples in Nepal, Kashmir, Benares, Kathiawar, Calcutta and Ramesvaram illustrate the popularity of Saiva culture.
The concept of Pasupati may have evolved at the earliest times of Indus Valley Civilization. The statue of Siva sitting on a bull surrounded by snakes and other animals has been found in pre-Vedic times, and ancient Indians worshipped the lord of pasus (animals) or Pasupati. Siva is also mentioned in Vedas and Upanishads, especially Svetasvatara Upanishad, and also in Mahabharata and Puranas.
Siva Mahapurana refers to Saiva-Agama as the original instructions of Lord Siva, but unfortunately these texts are lost. Most writers of Saivism believed that Siva was the author of all Saiva literature which includes Agamas, the earliest scriptures of Saivism. There is a list of 28 Sivacaryas in Vayaviya-samhita of the Siva Mahapurana, which consists of 100,000 verses in seven sections and Siva is known to be its author. The gist of the Agama teaching is that all individual souls are infected with the impurities of Maya or karma. These are ultimately destroyed by the grace of God after being initiated into the worship of Siva. The Agama literature strongly supports a highly moralistic life coupled with the worship Lord Siva.
The doctrine of Pasupata-sutra provides the spiritual and traditional practices in the worship of Siva. This text has some metaphysical elements, but largely spiritual in nature. It is believed that Siva re-incarnated himself as Nakulisa and wrote Pasupata text. In the bhasya of Pasupata-sutra, sage Kaundinya vividly describes the spiritual path of Saiva life. Kaundinya is known to have written his bhasya of Pasupata anywhere between fourth and sixth century B.C.
Saiva philosophy of Srikantha is another subject widely discussed in this book. His ideas are expounded in the commentary on Brahma-sutra and later by Appaya Dixita. Srikantha illuminated his views by the interpretation of Brahma-sutra by accepting the supremacy of Upanishads, but he suggested that Lord Siva is the personal form of Brahman.
I enjoyed reading the vast literature covered in this book, especially Chapter XXXVI/VII about the philosophy of Saivism. This is an exhaustive review of the Saiva literature and the author expounds the interpretation of several scholars like Sankara, Srikantha and Appaya Dixita with respect to Brahma Sutra and Lord Siva as the Supreme Personality Godhead. I found the discussion very fascinating and deeply engrossing.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Movie reviewed: It’s a Gift (1934), starring W.C. Fields and Kathleen Howard
An off-beat screwball slapstick and the best work of W. C. Fields (five stars)
This is an absolutely wonderful screwball slapstick and one of the best of W.C. Fields. The movie goers loved the magical work of the great genius who could make people laugh despite their troubles at the height of Great Depression. When it was released, the critics were not so enthusiastic about the story. A contemporary review from 'Argus', The Literary Digest of 1935 was critical and said that "It is clumsy, crude and quite amateurish in its appearance.” The film is about the life of a grocery store owner and his daily battles with a shrewd wife, an incompetent assistant, annoying children, customers, and salesmen. W. C. Fields' later work, “The Bank Dick,” is another example for a man’s battle against his domestic entrapment and the abuses he faces!
The story of the film was originally written by J.P. McEvoy and Charles Bogle (pseudonym for W.C. Fields). Fields had filmed the story as silent film under the name of “It is the Army Game” in 1926. But it was really a string of gags and situations perfected by Fields in his decades of vaudeville, Ziegfeld Follies, and Movie Shorts, including the classic porch scene in which he sleeps after an argument with his wife. The rosy-nosed comic pulled off rare feats in the film as a laugh-rising character. In the supporting role, Kathleen Howard as a demanding wife offers an excellent performance, and so is Jean Rouverol as Fields’ daughter who drives him crazy. This was a William Le Baron’s low-budget film but ended up earning sizeable revenue: Highly recommended!
This is an absolutely wonderful screwball slapstick and one of the best of W.C. Fields. The movie goers loved the magical work of the great genius who could make people laugh despite their troubles at the height of Great Depression. When it was released, the critics were not so enthusiastic about the story. A contemporary review from 'Argus', The Literary Digest of 1935 was critical and said that "It is clumsy, crude and quite amateurish in its appearance.” The film is about the life of a grocery store owner and his daily battles with a shrewd wife, an incompetent assistant, annoying children, customers, and salesmen. W. C. Fields' later work, “The Bank Dick,” is another example for a man’s battle against his domestic entrapment and the abuses he faces!
The story of the film was originally written by J.P. McEvoy and Charles Bogle (pseudonym for W.C. Fields). Fields had filmed the story as silent film under the name of “It is the Army Game” in 1926. But it was really a string of gags and situations perfected by Fields in his decades of vaudeville, Ziegfeld Follies, and Movie Shorts, including the classic porch scene in which he sleeps after an argument with his wife. The rosy-nosed comic pulled off rare feats in the film as a laugh-rising character. In the supporting role, Kathleen Howard as a demanding wife offers an excellent performance, and so is Jean Rouverol as Fields’ daughter who drives him crazy. This was a William Le Baron’s low-budget film but ended up earning sizeable revenue: Highly recommended!
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Book Reviewed: Where the Bodies Were Buried: Whitey Bulger and the World That Made Him, by T. J. English
An intimate view of Whitey Bulger’s trial
This book examines the trial of Boston's notorious godfather Whitey Bulger. This is one among many books that came out during the life of the famous Boston outlaw, but this work doesn't add anything new to the stories we already know. The interviews were conducted by the author in a fashion similar to Bob Woodward-Carl Bernstein Watergate investigation. Whitey Bulger knew his trade well and he was good in using the law-enforcement in his favor. While working as an informant for the FBI, he fed them wrong information about his competitors in the Boston under world. He cleverly sized them up to his own advantage, and gaining immunity from prosecution by the law-enforcement. He achieved the kind of power and authority that Italian mafia took generations to achieve and solidify.
The 2014 documentary film "Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger" by Joe Berlinger also focuses on Whitey Bulger's trials. The 2015 film "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger chronicles Bulger's years as an FBI informant, and his manipulation of the agency to eradicate his rivals. The 2006 film "Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese is another film that focused on how FBI agent John Connolly and Massachusetts state trooper William "Billy" Costigan unwittingly helped Whitey Bulger. The Scorsese film is star-studded and highly rewarded by the Academy with numerous awards during 79th Academy Awards ceremonies.
The book is essentially a repetition of much published work and the material is already covered in the two Hollywood movies.
This book examines the trial of Boston's notorious godfather Whitey Bulger. This is one among many books that came out during the life of the famous Boston outlaw, but this work doesn't add anything new to the stories we already know. The interviews were conducted by the author in a fashion similar to Bob Woodward-Carl Bernstein Watergate investigation. Whitey Bulger knew his trade well and he was good in using the law-enforcement in his favor. While working as an informant for the FBI, he fed them wrong information about his competitors in the Boston under world. He cleverly sized them up to his own advantage, and gaining immunity from prosecution by the law-enforcement. He achieved the kind of power and authority that Italian mafia took generations to achieve and solidify.
The 2014 documentary film "Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger" by Joe Berlinger also focuses on Whitey Bulger's trials. The 2015 film "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger chronicles Bulger's years as an FBI informant, and his manipulation of the agency to eradicate his rivals. The 2006 film "Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese is another film that focused on how FBI agent John Connolly and Massachusetts state trooper William "Billy" Costigan unwittingly helped Whitey Bulger. The Scorsese film is star-studded and highly rewarded by the Academy with numerous awards during 79th Academy Awards ceremonies.
The book is essentially a repetition of much published work and the material is already covered in the two Hollywood movies.
Book Reviewed: The Last Season: A Father, a Son, and a Lifetime of College Football, by Stuart Stevens
Bonding on Gridiron: The story of a father and son
This is a touching tale of a father and son bonding while growing in Mississippi and spending the best moments of the author’s life watching the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss Rebels) football games on Saturdays with his dad. It was not just a game, but it was a ritual, a culture, a religion, and a special moment for father and son to bond and learn about life while growing up. After years of physical separation from his family, the author looks back and remembers what he missed all his adult life. His career had taken him to different parts of the world for so long that he couldn’t continue anymore. He decides to go back to his old roots to be with his 95 year old man to do it all over again: The Last Season. This is a touching book largely based on the author’s fine memory of his childhood. It also documents historical facts of 1960s Mississippi, civil rights movement and the tensions that followed. The book reads effortlessly and I recommend this to anyone who bonded with their fathers watching football/baseball/basketball or any other sports.
This is a touching tale of a father and son bonding while growing in Mississippi and spending the best moments of the author’s life watching the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss Rebels) football games on Saturdays with his dad. It was not just a game, but it was a ritual, a culture, a religion, and a special moment for father and son to bond and learn about life while growing up. After years of physical separation from his family, the author looks back and remembers what he missed all his adult life. His career had taken him to different parts of the world for so long that he couldn’t continue anymore. He decides to go back to his old roots to be with his 95 year old man to do it all over again: The Last Season. This is a touching book largely based on the author’s fine memory of his childhood. It also documents historical facts of 1960s Mississippi, civil rights movement and the tensions that followed. The book reads effortlessly and I recommend this to anyone who bonded with their fathers watching football/baseball/basketball or any other sports.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Book Reviewed: Objective Troy, a terrorist, a president, and the rise of the drone, by Scot Shane
An investigative report on Obama’s handling of Islamic terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki (four stars)
This book describes the rise and fall of one of most wanted terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki, and how his killing became so controversial, and bitter exchange of words between the supporters of Obama and the republicans. Why did the handling of Awlaki, a neutralized American citizen, a Muslim who vowed to destroy America is so extra-judicial? The fact that he was an American citizen makes all the difference. No criminal charges were filed against him, and he was not given due process where he would have had an opportunity to defend himself in a court of law. But for many Americans it did not matter, they welcomed his demise since he was sending terrorists to attack America. In the media it sparked a debate about this unsettling precedent where law, the constitution and political process were in a collision course.
Barack Obama’s campaign during his bid to the White House criticized the excesses of George W. Bush’s counterterrorism efforts. He was especially critical of Bush’s targeted killing of Muslim terrorists planning to attack America. At the end, Obama embraces the same ideology! Awlaki’s active life spanned four presidencies and it raised the dangers of both terrorism on U.S. soil and American response to it. In the process it defined the nature of conflict between America and the Islamic organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda, Taliban and others that support terrorism.
This book describes the rise and fall of one of most wanted terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki, and how his killing became so controversial, and bitter exchange of words between the supporters of Obama and the republicans. Why did the handling of Awlaki, a neutralized American citizen, a Muslim who vowed to destroy America is so extra-judicial? The fact that he was an American citizen makes all the difference. No criminal charges were filed against him, and he was not given due process where he would have had an opportunity to defend himself in a court of law. But for many Americans it did not matter, they welcomed his demise since he was sending terrorists to attack America. In the media it sparked a debate about this unsettling precedent where law, the constitution and political process were in a collision course.
Barack Obama’s campaign during his bid to the White House criticized the excesses of George W. Bush’s counterterrorism efforts. He was especially critical of Bush’s targeted killing of Muslim terrorists planning to attack America. At the end, Obama embraces the same ideology! Awlaki’s active life spanned four presidencies and it raised the dangers of both terrorism on U.S. soil and American response to it. In the process it defined the nature of conflict between America and the Islamic organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda, Taliban and others that support terrorism.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Book Reviewed: Nixon Tapes: 1973, by Douglas Brinkley
Nixon 1973 (Jan to April): A reflection on the tapings of the conversation with his “inner circle”
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Book Reviewed: Nixon Tapes: 1973, by Douglas Brinkley
Nixon 1973 (Jan to April): A reflection on the tapings of the conversation with his “inner circle”
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Anyone interested in the history of Nixon’s presidency, Water Gate Scandal or the Nixon’s tapes, this book makes a fascinating reading as it transcribes hours of recorded conversation with Nixon’s “inner circle” that included many White House Staff. The taped conversation highlights the troubled period of Jan to April 1973. From this book we learn that during much of this period, he was obsessed with Water Gate and looking for ways and means to cover it up. Even the peace agreement with Vietnam took a lower seat in these private conversations. It gives a closer look at Nixon, as a man in deep trouble with the law and nothing else mattered to him except get out of it safely! Some of his comments on other domestic issues such as social, political or economic factors were mean and perhaps irresponsible. On the question of abortion, the president seems to support abortion in cases of incest and unwanted interracial pregnancies!
On 2/23/1973, Nixon observed that a cover-up of the Water Gate Scandal is the best strategy, and blame the whole fiasco on former attorney general John Mitchell. On 3/13/1972, Nixon and John Dean worry about the money laundering of funds coming from Mexico and the consequences of posting an operative in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts to investigate Senator Ted Kennedy. On 3/21/1972, Nixon approves the idea of payments in the form of hush money up to $1 million. The FBI official Howard Hunt, who figures prominently in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Water Gate investigations, a chief link between the White House and Water Gate burglars was paid $75,000 within a day! That constituted obstruction of justice and the beginning of the end of Nixon’s presidency. This is a highly engrossing work and historically an authoritative document about Nixon and his cohorts: Highly recommended.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Book Reviewed: The Complete Infidel's Guide to ISIS, by Robert Spencer
Book Reviewed: The Complete Infidel's Guide to ISIS, by Robert Spencer
ISIS: The rise of global Islamic caliphate
Robert Spencer is a great scholar of Islam and he has been educating the people over Islamic ideologies such as sharia law, jihad, fatwa, jizya (a capitation tax levied on non-Muslims), beheadings of infidels, death for apostasy, intolerance to other faiths and culture by quoting the verses from Quran and Hadith. This book documents the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the dangers it poses to the rest of the world. The author presents facts and scriptural backing to show that ISIS is planning and executing the idea of killings of non-believers. The enslavement of Christian and Yazidi women in ISIS-controlled areas and their harsh treatment is a gross violation of human rights.
Minorities who want to remain in the "caliphate" face three options: converting to Islam, paying a religious levy (jizya) or face death. ISIS is a Salafi group that follows a literal interpretation of Islam which promotes religious violence and regards those who do not agree with its interpretations as infidels or apostates. ISIS believes that they are following the warriors of the original caliphate and it has recruited large populations of young Muslims from around the world. They have also recruited Iraqi children as young as nine to its ranks. The caliphate of ISIS states that the legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the Khalifah's [caliphate's] authority and arrival of its troops to their areas. In fact this is very worrisome for Saudi royal family and other emirates in the region that worry more about losing their power than the fate of its population. ISIS is also stepping up its military capabilities in all possible ways long global war (jihad). The Islamic State's propaganda says the terrorist group could purchase a nuclear weapon in Pakistan and smuggle it through Latin American trafficking networks and into the United States through its "porous border," the same way the illegal aliens arrive.
Obama’s most significant legacy is the rise of the Islamic State. His cut and run of American troops from Iraq left the country open to ISIS occupation. It was revealed in 2013 that the National Security Agency (NSA) was listening to phone calls and reading emails of every honest citizen of this country, but the this surveillance excludes jihad factories, the Muslim mosques, where homegrown terrorists are radicalized. Since October 2011, mosques have become off-limits to FBI surveillance.
Robert Spencer has been relentless in warning the real dangers of Islam when other conservatives are afraid and fearful of being branded as Islamophobic. Over the past 30 years, Spencer is debating about the expansion of Islam in the west. If they strengthen and solidify in the West, conquering the rest of world would be easy. He discusses ways to stop Islamic imperialism that enforces the sharia law. If we don’t do anything, then democracy as we know today would simply disappear under Islam. Spencer co-founded Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) and the Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) with Pamela Geller in 2010 and currently directs Jihad Watch of David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is a fierce defender of free speech. He has argued with many Islamic scholars to reform the faith so that it could work in a democratic society, but most of them are more interested in deflecting the comments about real issues like sharia, fatwa, jizya, beadings, death for apostasy, terrorism and other disturbing messages coming out of the scriptures rather than reform their faith.
Over the years, I have enjoyed reading the Jihad Watch newsletters, books and blogs of Robert Spencer and I have come to like his style of writing. This is another scholarly work that I recommend very highly.
ISIS: The rise of global Islamic caliphate
Robert Spencer is a great scholar of Islam and he has been educating the people over Islamic ideologies such as sharia law, jihad, fatwa, jizya (a capitation tax levied on non-Muslims), beheadings of infidels, death for apostasy, intolerance to other faiths and culture by quoting the verses from Quran and Hadith. This book documents the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the dangers it poses to the rest of the world. The author presents facts and scriptural backing to show that ISIS is planning and executing the idea of killings of non-believers. The enslavement of Christian and Yazidi women in ISIS-controlled areas and their harsh treatment is a gross violation of human rights.
Minorities who want to remain in the "caliphate" face three options: converting to Islam, paying a religious levy (jizya) or face death. ISIS is a Salafi group that follows a literal interpretation of Islam which promotes religious violence and regards those who do not agree with its interpretations as infidels or apostates. ISIS believes that they are following the warriors of the original caliphate and it has recruited large populations of young Muslims from around the world. They have also recruited Iraqi children as young as nine to its ranks. The caliphate of ISIS states that the legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the Khalifah's [caliphate's] authority and arrival of its troops to their areas. In fact this is very worrisome for Saudi royal family and other emirates in the region that worry more about losing their power than the fate of its population. ISIS is also stepping up its military capabilities in all possible ways long global war (jihad). The Islamic State's propaganda says the terrorist group could purchase a nuclear weapon in Pakistan and smuggle it through Latin American trafficking networks and into the United States through its "porous border," the same way the illegal aliens arrive.
Obama’s most significant legacy is the rise of the Islamic State. His cut and run of American troops from Iraq left the country open to ISIS occupation. It was revealed in 2013 that the National Security Agency (NSA) was listening to phone calls and reading emails of every honest citizen of this country, but the this surveillance excludes jihad factories, the Muslim mosques, where homegrown terrorists are radicalized. Since October 2011, mosques have become off-limits to FBI surveillance.
Robert Spencer has been relentless in warning the real dangers of Islam when other conservatives are afraid and fearful of being branded as Islamophobic. Over the past 30 years, Spencer is debating about the expansion of Islam in the west. If they strengthen and solidify in the West, conquering the rest of world would be easy. He discusses ways to stop Islamic imperialism that enforces the sharia law. If we don’t do anything, then democracy as we know today would simply disappear under Islam. Spencer co-founded Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) and the Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) with Pamela Geller in 2010 and currently directs Jihad Watch of David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is a fierce defender of free speech. He has argued with many Islamic scholars to reform the faith so that it could work in a democratic society, but most of them are more interested in deflecting the comments about real issues like sharia, fatwa, jizya, beadings, death for apostasy, terrorism and other disturbing messages coming out of the scriptures rather than reform their faith.
Over the years, I have enjoyed reading the Jihad Watch newsletters, books and blogs of Robert Spencer and I have come to like his style of writing. This is another scholarly work that I recommend very highly.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Book Reviewed: It IS About Islam: Exposing the Truth About ISIS, Al Qaeda, Iran, and the Caliphate, by Glenn Beck
Book Reviewed: It IS About Islam: Exposing the Truth About ISIS, Al Qaeda, Iran, and the Caliphate, by Glenn Beck
The emerging faces of Islam
This book consists of three parts; Islam 101, Thirteen Deadly Lies, and What Can Be Done (about these lies). Glenn Beck provides a good introduction to Islam, its teachings and its political influence in the first section of the book, but the critical piece is in the second section that deals with 13 lies that liberal media and our leaders spread about Islam and make us believe that it is peaceful, and the violence is committed only by a few “radicalized” extremists who have nothing to do with Islam. Beck uses this section to analyze if Islam is peaceful? Is Islam similar to Christianism? Is sharia law harmless? Does Islam believe in women’s rights? And is the freedom of speech compatible with Islam. The scary part is that Islamic ideologies such as sharia law, jihad, fatwa, jizya (a capitation tax levied on non-Muslims), beheadings of infidels, death for apostasy, intolerance to other faiths and cultures are real and here to stay in Western culture.
My favorite part of the book is about the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the dangers it poses to the rest of the world. There are scriptural backing to show that ISIS’s killings of non-believers in Iraq and Syria. The enslavement of Christian and Yazidi women in ISIS-controlled areas and their harsh treatment is a gross violation of human rights. Minorities who want to remain in the "caliphate" face three options: converting to Islam, paying a religious levy (jizya) or face death. ISIS believes that they are following the warriors of the original caliphate and it has recruited large populations of young Muslims from around the world, including Iraqi children as young as nine. The caliphate of ISIS states that the legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the Khalifah's [caliphate's] authority and arrival of its troops to their areas. They are also stepping up their military capabilities in all possible ways. The Islamic State's propaganda says the terrorist group could purchase a nuclear weapon in Pakistan and smuggle it through Latin American trafficking networks and into the United States through its porous border.
Obama’s most significant legacy is the rise of the Islamic State. His cut and run of American troops from Iraq left the country open to ISIS occupation. It was revealed in 2013 that the National Security Agency (NSA) was listening to phone calls and reading emails of honest citizens of this country, but the this surveillance excludes jihad schools, the Muslim mosques, where homegrown terrorists are radicalized. ISIS believes that if they strengthen and solidify in the West, conquering the rest of world would be easy. Glenn Beck provides solutions to combating Islamic extremism.
Over the years, I have read several books by Glenn Beck, watched on Fox Network and listen to his radio show. He is a fearless fighter. This book is very illuminating and I strongly recommend this book if you like to know about Islam and its violent extremism.
The emerging faces of Islam
This book consists of three parts; Islam 101, Thirteen Deadly Lies, and What Can Be Done (about these lies). Glenn Beck provides a good introduction to Islam, its teachings and its political influence in the first section of the book, but the critical piece is in the second section that deals with 13 lies that liberal media and our leaders spread about Islam and make us believe that it is peaceful, and the violence is committed only by a few “radicalized” extremists who have nothing to do with Islam. Beck uses this section to analyze if Islam is peaceful? Is Islam similar to Christianism? Is sharia law harmless? Does Islam believe in women’s rights? And is the freedom of speech compatible with Islam. The scary part is that Islamic ideologies such as sharia law, jihad, fatwa, jizya (a capitation tax levied on non-Muslims), beheadings of infidels, death for apostasy, intolerance to other faiths and cultures are real and here to stay in Western culture.
My favorite part of the book is about the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the dangers it poses to the rest of the world. There are scriptural backing to show that ISIS’s killings of non-believers in Iraq and Syria. The enslavement of Christian and Yazidi women in ISIS-controlled areas and their harsh treatment is a gross violation of human rights. Minorities who want to remain in the "caliphate" face three options: converting to Islam, paying a religious levy (jizya) or face death. ISIS believes that they are following the warriors of the original caliphate and it has recruited large populations of young Muslims from around the world, including Iraqi children as young as nine. The caliphate of ISIS states that the legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the Khalifah's [caliphate's] authority and arrival of its troops to their areas. They are also stepping up their military capabilities in all possible ways. The Islamic State's propaganda says the terrorist group could purchase a nuclear weapon in Pakistan and smuggle it through Latin American trafficking networks and into the United States through its porous border.
Obama’s most significant legacy is the rise of the Islamic State. His cut and run of American troops from Iraq left the country open to ISIS occupation. It was revealed in 2013 that the National Security Agency (NSA) was listening to phone calls and reading emails of honest citizens of this country, but the this surveillance excludes jihad schools, the Muslim mosques, where homegrown terrorists are radicalized. ISIS believes that if they strengthen and solidify in the West, conquering the rest of world would be easy. Glenn Beck provides solutions to combating Islamic extremism.
Over the years, I have read several books by Glenn Beck, watched on Fox Network and listen to his radio show. He is a fearless fighter. This book is very illuminating and I strongly recommend this book if you like to know about Islam and its violent extremism.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Movie Reviewed: After Office Hours (1935), starring Clark Gable and Constance Bennett
Movie Reviewed: After Office Hours (1935), starring Clark Gable and Constance Bennett
A juicy crime story starring Clark Gable and Constance Bennett
The biting wit of Herman Manckiewicz’s dialogue got good reviews from movie critics for this comedy in which Clark Gable is a newspaper editor and Constance Bennett as his reporter. Harvey Stephens plays the unsuspected murderer in this juiciest crime story. In supporting role are Billie Burke, Katherine Alexander and Stuart Erwin. This is well directed by Robert Leonard and produced by Bernard Hyman.
A juicy crime story starring Clark Gable and Constance Bennett
The biting wit of Herman Manckiewicz’s dialogue got good reviews from movie critics for this comedy in which Clark Gable is a newspaper editor and Constance Bennett as his reporter. Harvey Stephens plays the unsuspected murderer in this juiciest crime story. In supporting role are Billie Burke, Katherine Alexander and Stuart Erwin. This is well directed by Robert Leonard and produced by Bernard Hyman.
Movie Reviewed: The Garden of Allah, by Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer
Movie Reviewed: The Garden of Allah, by Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer
The story of two troubled souls
Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer spread their thick accents over a richly Technicolor desert in this extravagance Hollywood hokum. Dietrich plays a disenchanted socialite seeking God and Boyer plays the role of monk fleeing a Trappist monastery in order to seek the pleasures of the flesh. The two troubled souls appeared to be rescued when they meet and fall in love in Algeria. Initially he keeps his story a secret and later when she comes to know about his past, they breakup and he returns the monastery. Others who interact in their lives are a jealous sheikh (Basil Rathbone), a sand diviner (John Carradine), a handsome legionnaire (Alan Marshall) and a devoted servant (Joseph Schildkraut). Philosophically this is banal but the screenplay by W.P. Lipscomb offered a mixture of purity and eroticism. The quality of David O Selznick's production is found in the Oscar winning color cinematography by William Howard Greene and Harold Rosson. The film was budgeted at $1.6 million but it was over by $370,000 eventually making a loss in the box-office on this Selznick's proud production.
The story of two troubled souls
Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer spread their thick accents over a richly Technicolor desert in this extravagance Hollywood hokum. Dietrich plays a disenchanted socialite seeking God and Boyer plays the role of monk fleeing a Trappist monastery in order to seek the pleasures of the flesh. The two troubled souls appeared to be rescued when they meet and fall in love in Algeria. Initially he keeps his story a secret and later when she comes to know about his past, they breakup and he returns the monastery. Others who interact in their lives are a jealous sheikh (Basil Rathbone), a sand diviner (John Carradine), a handsome legionnaire (Alan Marshall) and a devoted servant (Joseph Schildkraut). Philosophically this is banal but the screenplay by W.P. Lipscomb offered a mixture of purity and eroticism. The quality of David O Selznick's production is found in the Oscar winning color cinematography by William Howard Greene and Harold Rosson. The film was budgeted at $1.6 million but it was over by $370,000 eventually making a loss in the box-office on this Selznick's proud production.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Book Reviewed: The mind of Adi Shankaracharya, by Y. Keshav Menon
Book Reviewed: The mind of Adi Shankaracharya, by Y. Keshav Menon
The spiritual and metaphysical odyssey of Jagadguru Sankaracharya (five stars)
This is a very well-written book that focuses on the essentials of Sankaracharya's teachings without misrepresenting any facets of his message. The discussions are comprehensive and it is intended for all readers including specialists of Vedanta. The general framework of Sankara's work includes three canonical texts; the Vedas (particularly Upanishads), the Brahma Sutra, and the Bhagavadgita. The first two are classified as "shruti" which are believed to be created by the direct inspiration of God; and Gita is known to be a "smriti," a written text that provides for a way to achieve liberation (moksha) from the miseries of life that results from the cycle of birth and death. Sankara's philosophy is the codification and exposition of the sages (rsis) of the three canonical texts.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: Self is not ego or a soul or spirit. It is not a spook that leaves the body at death. There is no soul that exists in human body as a separate entity. Self is not "anthakarana" or material mind although this perhaps is nearest to the common sense view. It is not a series of mental states or a logical postulate and it does not have qualities, parts or attributes. Self is not established by proof or existence; it is prior to all proofs. It cannot be grasped by thought but it is the whole being or pure consciousness. In Sanskrit, it is called "sat-chit-ananda," which means, absolute existence-absolute consciousness-absolute bliss. It is timeless, spaceless, and with an unrestricted existence. It is permanent. It illuminates and transcends all things; physical objects, mental concepts or abstract forms. It is unlimited, infinite and eternal. There cannot be two such beings; it is one without a second. It is the nature of pure consciousness. Consciousness and existence are inseparable. Avidya veils and perverts this beatitude. The illusion is created by Maya, an illusory power. Self comprehends everything, it is omnipresent and omniscient. All objects, everywhere, in the past, present and future are experienced by the Self in an eternal and timeless dimension.
Sankara taught three orders of reality; the absolute, the empirical and the apparent. The first order is neither subject nor object but the Self alone is illuminating itself. The third order, the apparent includes illusory perceptions like dream. The reality that is deemed to result from the cause and effect process is questionable on philosophical ground as well as quantum reality. Sankara explored the idea of casualty exhaustively and concluded that cause-effect relationship is unintelligible. Connecting the ends of such a relationship becomes superfluous and ends in an infinite regress. Neither cause nor effect emanate from each other. The effect is not pre-existent in the cause in a latent form. One could ask what was there before the first cause or what happens after the last effect? In Sankara's view all objects in spacetime are manifestation of the Self. How come Brahman can be immanent and transcendent? The world is real and unreal? Or the world is perfect and imperfect? The world is created but beginning-less and our lives are illusory? The same questions are actively addressed by theoretical physicists and coming to the conclusion that the universe is perhaps a giant hologram, we are in a two-dimensional projection of three-dimensional reality.
Jiva and Atman, the creature and the creator are ultimately one. Jiva is not a part of Atman since it parts-less and infinite. It is not modification of Atman since it is immutable. Some Upanishads speak of spark emanating from fire for relating jiva with Atman. To illustrate this further, the following example is appropriate; the space in a jug has certain shape and if you move the jug, the space within it appears to move but in reality space doesn't move. Space doesn't undergo any modifications. In the same way, Atman doesn't change but avidya (lack of knowledge) make us believe that Atman is changing. Jiva is a reflection of Atman in avidya. In deep sleep jiva is said to attain its real nature and Sankara explained that Jiva visits Brahman night after night without knowing it, i.e. during deep sleep. The dream state becomes unreal in waking state; and the waking state doesn't exist in dream or deep sleep. Both dream and waking state are absent in deep sleep state. Likewise deep sleep is also absent in dream and wake state. Thus all three states are unreal and the Self is the Eternal witness to all the three states. It is all in the One which is the Pure State of Consciousness.
Consciousness and matter (energy) are two different orders of reality but common sense tells us that consciousness is associated with living body (matter). The quantum reality however brings us closer to Sankara's view that consciousness is inherently a part of physical reality as illustrated by numerous quantum physical measurements, although it is not represented per se in any physics equations. The complexity in understanding physical reality through physics is precisely what Sankara has said that Self or Brahman or Pure Consciousness is the experience of the true self which is an Infinite Eternal Existence-Awareness-Bliss. Direct experience does not occur in the realm of thought or the intellect.
The spiritual and metaphysical odyssey of Jagadguru Sankaracharya (five stars)
This is a very well-written book that focuses on the essentials of Sankaracharya's teachings without misrepresenting any facets of his message. The discussions are comprehensive and it is intended for all readers including specialists of Vedanta. The general framework of Sankara's work includes three canonical texts; the Vedas (particularly Upanishads), the Brahma Sutra, and the Bhagavadgita. The first two are classified as "shruti" which are believed to be created by the direct inspiration of God; and Gita is known to be a "smriti," a written text that provides for a way to achieve liberation (moksha) from the miseries of life that results from the cycle of birth and death. Sankara's philosophy is the codification and exposition of the sages (rsis) of the three canonical texts.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: Self is not ego or a soul or spirit. It is not a spook that leaves the body at death. There is no soul that exists in human body as a separate entity. Self is not "anthakarana" or material mind although this perhaps is nearest to the common sense view. It is not a series of mental states or a logical postulate and it does not have qualities, parts or attributes. Self is not established by proof or existence; it is prior to all proofs. It cannot be grasped by thought but it is the whole being or pure consciousness. In Sanskrit, it is called "sat-chit-ananda," which means, absolute existence-absolute consciousness-absolute bliss. It is timeless, spaceless, and with an unrestricted existence. It is permanent. It illuminates and transcends all things; physical objects, mental concepts or abstract forms. It is unlimited, infinite and eternal. There cannot be two such beings; it is one without a second. It is the nature of pure consciousness. Consciousness and existence are inseparable. Avidya veils and perverts this beatitude. The illusion is created by Maya, an illusory power. Self comprehends everything, it is omnipresent and omniscient. All objects, everywhere, in the past, present and future are experienced by the Self in an eternal and timeless dimension.
Sankara taught three orders of reality; the absolute, the empirical and the apparent. The first order is neither subject nor object but the Self alone is illuminating itself. The third order, the apparent includes illusory perceptions like dream. The reality that is deemed to result from the cause and effect process is questionable on philosophical ground as well as quantum reality. Sankara explored the idea of casualty exhaustively and concluded that cause-effect relationship is unintelligible. Connecting the ends of such a relationship becomes superfluous and ends in an infinite regress. Neither cause nor effect emanate from each other. The effect is not pre-existent in the cause in a latent form. One could ask what was there before the first cause or what happens after the last effect? In Sankara's view all objects in spacetime are manifestation of the Self. How come Brahman can be immanent and transcendent? The world is real and unreal? Or the world is perfect and imperfect? The world is created but beginning-less and our lives are illusory? The same questions are actively addressed by theoretical physicists and coming to the conclusion that the universe is perhaps a giant hologram, we are in a two-dimensional projection of three-dimensional reality.
Jiva and Atman, the creature and the creator are ultimately one. Jiva is not a part of Atman since it parts-less and infinite. It is not modification of Atman since it is immutable. Some Upanishads speak of spark emanating from fire for relating jiva with Atman. To illustrate this further, the following example is appropriate; the space in a jug has certain shape and if you move the jug, the space within it appears to move but in reality space doesn't move. Space doesn't undergo any modifications. In the same way, Atman doesn't change but avidya (lack of knowledge) make us believe that Atman is changing. Jiva is a reflection of Atman in avidya. In deep sleep jiva is said to attain its real nature and Sankara explained that Jiva visits Brahman night after night without knowing it, i.e. during deep sleep. The dream state becomes unreal in waking state; and the waking state doesn't exist in dream or deep sleep. Both dream and waking state are absent in deep sleep state. Likewise deep sleep is also absent in dream and wake state. Thus all three states are unreal and the Self is the Eternal witness to all the three states. It is all in the One which is the Pure State of Consciousness.
Consciousness and matter (energy) are two different orders of reality but common sense tells us that consciousness is associated with living body (matter). The quantum reality however brings us closer to Sankara's view that consciousness is inherently a part of physical reality as illustrated by numerous quantum physical measurements, although it is not represented per se in any physics equations. The complexity in understanding physical reality through physics is precisely what Sankara has said that Self or Brahman or Pure Consciousness is the experience of the true self which is an Infinite Eternal Existence-Awareness-Bliss. Direct experience does not occur in the realm of thought or the intellect.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Movie Reviewed: The Baroness and the Butler, starring William Powell and Annabella
Movie Reviewed: The Baroness and the Butler, starring William Powell and Annabella
The epic adventures of butler Johann Porok
This is a romantic comedy starring William Powell and Annabella, a well-known French actress starring in her American debut. Although she was well received in this film but did not last long in Hollywood. The story is somewhat unorthodox in that Johann Porok (William Powell), a third-generation butler works for the Count Albert Sandor, the Prime Minister of Hungary. When Johann becomes a member of the parliament, in one of the parliamentary sessions, he attacks the Prime Minister for promising too much to the middle class and delivering nothing. This aggravates and enrages Sandor’s daughter Katrina (Annabella). The politics makes things difficult for Johann to continue working for Sandor and he is let go. Eventually he winds up with Annabelle with whom he is in love. The relationship starts in a complicated way since Katrina is already married but Johann wins at the end. In supporting roles are; Henry Stephenson as Count Albert Sandor; Joseph Schildkraut as Baron Georg Marissey, Katrina’s husband; and Lynn Bari as Klari, the maid attracted to Johann, all under the direction of Walter Lang have performed splendidly.
This movie was made at the height "great depression" in the life of William Powell. This was around the time when his fiancé Jean Harlow died suddenly at the age of 26 due to uremic poisoning. Powell still recuperating from his cancer treatment and the loss of Harlow requested his home studio MGM to let him do the movie at 20th Century Fox, and MGM Studios complied.
The epic adventures of butler Johann Porok
This is a romantic comedy starring William Powell and Annabella, a well-known French actress starring in her American debut. Although she was well received in this film but did not last long in Hollywood. The story is somewhat unorthodox in that Johann Porok (William Powell), a third-generation butler works for the Count Albert Sandor, the Prime Minister of Hungary. When Johann becomes a member of the parliament, in one of the parliamentary sessions, he attacks the Prime Minister for promising too much to the middle class and delivering nothing. This aggravates and enrages Sandor’s daughter Katrina (Annabella). The politics makes things difficult for Johann to continue working for Sandor and he is let go. Eventually he winds up with Annabelle with whom he is in love. The relationship starts in a complicated way since Katrina is already married but Johann wins at the end. In supporting roles are; Henry Stephenson as Count Albert Sandor; Joseph Schildkraut as Baron Georg Marissey, Katrina’s husband; and Lynn Bari as Klari, the maid attracted to Johann, all under the direction of Walter Lang have performed splendidly.
This movie was made at the height "great depression" in the life of William Powell. This was around the time when his fiancé Jean Harlow died suddenly at the age of 26 due to uremic poisoning. Powell still recuperating from his cancer treatment and the loss of Harlow requested his home studio MGM to let him do the movie at 20th Century Fox, and MGM Studios complied.
Movie Reviewed: Star of Midnight (1935), starring William Powell and Ginger Rogers
Movie Reviewed: Star of Midnight (1935), starring William Powell and Ginger Rogers
A romantic comedy starring William Powell and Ginger Rogers
William Powell plays the role of an attorney named Clay Dalzell who is framed in a murder but he is tries to solve the crime himself to prove his innocence. This role is eerily similar to the role he played in MGM's "The Thin Man (1934)." The twist in the story is that he is constantly stopped by his love interest played by Ginger Rogers, the police and gangsters making the story more interesting by the minute. It is unusual for Powell's fans to see a romantic comedy without Myrna Loy, but Ginger Rogers does her best. They do not have the same chemistry as in Powell and Loy's "Thin Man" Series. In supporting roles are Paul Kelly, Gene Lockhart and Ralph Morgan. The story is based on a novel by Arthur Somers Roche and directed by Stephen Roberts. For the RKO Studios, it was not a bad investment; it generated a net profit of $265,000 in 1935.
A romantic comedy starring William Powell and Ginger Rogers
William Powell plays the role of an attorney named Clay Dalzell who is framed in a murder but he is tries to solve the crime himself to prove his innocence. This role is eerily similar to the role he played in MGM's "The Thin Man (1934)." The twist in the story is that he is constantly stopped by his love interest played by Ginger Rogers, the police and gangsters making the story more interesting by the minute. It is unusual for Powell's fans to see a romantic comedy without Myrna Loy, but Ginger Rogers does her best. They do not have the same chemistry as in Powell and Loy's "Thin Man" Series. In supporting roles are Paul Kelly, Gene Lockhart and Ralph Morgan. The story is based on a novel by Arthur Somers Roche and directed by Stephen Roberts. For the RKO Studios, it was not a bad investment; it generated a net profit of $265,000 in 1935.
Movie Reviewed: Turnabout (1940), starring Carol Landis & Mary Astor. Director Hal Roach
Movie Reviewed: Turnabout (1940), starring Carol Landis & Mary Astor. Director Hal Roach
I have become “?Cait”
“The man’s had a baby instead of the lady” proclaimed the billboards when this movie was released. This is an oddball gender-bender screwball slapstick produced and directed by Hal Roach, and adapted by Mikel Novak from a Thorn Smith’s novel. The ad gives away the punchline of the story of a well-heeled couple (John Hubbard and Carol Landis) argue about their roles in life. He works hard all day and she looks after the house. When a Hindu guru, referred to as Mr. Ram comes to life from an idol, and grants them the wish to change places. The body switch takes place and thus starts the real comedy. The husband talks and behaves like a woman and his wife behaves like a man. Their friends become dumbfounded by the sudden developments in their mannerisms. In supporting roles is Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, William Gargan, Marjorie Maine, Verre Teasdale, Joyce Compton, Donald Meek and Polly Ann Young offer good performances. I can’t understand how leading lady like Mary Astor came to play a supporting role and the Carol Landis is has the leading role. The alumna of “Meet me in St Louis” Marjorie Maine is in the cast with Mary Astor and does splendid work.
This is an interesting story in that similar “switch bodies” and “gender-bender” movies have been made in plenty in later years in Hollywood that includes; The change-up (2011), starring Jason Bateman; 18 Again! (1988), starring George Burns; All of me (1984) starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin; Dream a Little Dream (1989), starring Corey Feldman, Jason Robards, and Piper Laurie; and Freaky Friday (2003), starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.
When Bruce Jenner’s gender transformation occurred in 2015 and he became Caitlyn Jenner; the media is giving us the mother lode about what is the real nature of human sexuality. This debate started long ago, and this story filmed in 1940 nicely illustrates this controversial debate. It was a bold move on the part of the studio and also the producer for that time. Thanks also to the TV and film archives at UCLA for the preservation of this movie and also the archives from all major studios. Many producers and directors also have left their archives to UCLA including Director Hal Roach.
I have become “?Cait”
“The man’s had a baby instead of the lady” proclaimed the billboards when this movie was released. This is an oddball gender-bender screwball slapstick produced and directed by Hal Roach, and adapted by Mikel Novak from a Thorn Smith’s novel. The ad gives away the punchline of the story of a well-heeled couple (John Hubbard and Carol Landis) argue about their roles in life. He works hard all day and she looks after the house. When a Hindu guru, referred to as Mr. Ram comes to life from an idol, and grants them the wish to change places. The body switch takes place and thus starts the real comedy. The husband talks and behaves like a woman and his wife behaves like a man. Their friends become dumbfounded by the sudden developments in their mannerisms. In supporting roles is Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, William Gargan, Marjorie Maine, Verre Teasdale, Joyce Compton, Donald Meek and Polly Ann Young offer good performances. I can’t understand how leading lady like Mary Astor came to play a supporting role and the Carol Landis is has the leading role. The alumna of “Meet me in St Louis” Marjorie Maine is in the cast with Mary Astor and does splendid work.
This is an interesting story in that similar “switch bodies” and “gender-bender” movies have been made in plenty in later years in Hollywood that includes; The change-up (2011), starring Jason Bateman; 18 Again! (1988), starring George Burns; All of me (1984) starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin; Dream a Little Dream (1989), starring Corey Feldman, Jason Robards, and Piper Laurie; and Freaky Friday (2003), starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.
When Bruce Jenner’s gender transformation occurred in 2015 and he became Caitlyn Jenner; the media is giving us the mother lode about what is the real nature of human sexuality. This debate started long ago, and this story filmed in 1940 nicely illustrates this controversial debate. It was a bold move on the part of the studio and also the producer for that time. Thanks also to the TV and film archives at UCLA for the preservation of this movie and also the archives from all major studios. Many producers and directors also have left their archives to UCLA including Director Hal Roach.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Book Reviewed: Dialogue Hymns of Rgveda, by Satya Dev Chaudhari
Book Reviewed: Dialogue Hymns of Rgveda, by Satya Dev Chaudhari
Rig-Veda: The wisdom of the ancient seers expressed in the dialogue hymns
There are eleven dialogue hymns in Rigveda (Rig-Veda) including two in monologue forms. The author has translated the original text into English and discussed the work of various interpreters with regards to meaning of these dialogues. It is inferred that the names and the conversations are symbolic. This conclusion is made by the authors of Brahmana-granthas and also the Niruktas. Almost all interpreters of Rigveda treat them as symbolic, including Yaksha, one of the prominent interpreters. The author suggests that the original meaning of the Vedas faded away during the very early period of Rigveda, and one of the reasons is that strict fidelity in the oral transmission of hymns and their recitation during Vedic sacrifices led the practitioners to forget the meaning of the verses. In fact there are several different recitations such as; pada-patha, ghana-patha, jata-patha, karma-pahta, etc. In one of his commentary, Yaksha remarks that seers instructed the meanings to their disciples but soon it was forgotten (Nirukta 1.20; 10.10.2).
Rigveda 1.179 has six mantras that constitute an interesting dialogue between rsi Agastya and his wife Lopamudra; and the devata of the conversation is Rati (the goddess of Love). The story of the hymn is that Lopamudra wanted her husband to make love and perform his conjugal obligations and help consummate the marriage for begetting (progeny). Agastya responds to the needs of Lopamudra and a disciple secretly overhears the private conversation of his revered guru and feels shameful and sinful. Rigveda 10.10 has 14 mantras that discuss the forbidden love between a twin brother and sister. Yami passionately ask Yama for copulation and to produce an offspring, but Yama counsels her as a sensible sibling to avoid the forbidden love and seek another man to fulfil her fantasies. The conversation focusses on how the Vedic gods would treat such a relationship.
Rigveda 1.165 focusses on the conversation between Indra and Maruts about each other's power and rsi Agastya's benediction. Rigveda 3.33 has 13 mantras in which sage Vishvamitra requests the overflowing rivers Bias and Sutlej to lower the water level so that he and his disciples can safely cross to the other side; the two rivers politely obey the seer. Rigveda 10.85 has 47 mantras and this is known as wedding hymn in which Surya, the daughter of Sun weds Soma (Moon). Some of the mantras are recited even today during wedding ceremony. Rigveda 10.95 has 18 mantras in which Urvashi, the wife of Pururavas, a nymphomaniac and pregnant with his child wants to leave her husband on earth and go her to heaven. Pururavas uses all his wisdom to convince her to stay and help him in ruling his kingdom, but she refuses. She believes that she will be happy in heaven and that would be her final decision. This is an interesting dialogue between a man and his wife in a difficult relationship.
One of the leading hypotheses is that many Vedic gods represent natural forces. Indra is the wind; Maruts is the hurricane. Yama is the day and Yami is the night; another interpretation is Yama is fire and Yami is the flame. Surya is Dawn (daughter of Sun) and Vrsakapi is the rising or setting sun. Similarly Pururavas is the roaring cloud and Urvashi is the glittering and glowing lighting. Some scholars suggest that this is the mating of Pururavas and Urvashi that result in the birth of their son Ayus (water); another dimension added to this conversation hymn is that when the faculty of a man is lessened, the spark of creativity vanishes. Swami Dayananda, a leading exponent of Rigveda provides moral based interpretations of Rigveda. In addition, the followers of Dayananda believe that Rigveda is a divine knowledge and it is not composed by a human being but a revelation of God: It is eternal (Rigveda 10.90.9). The authors of Brahmana-granthas, owing to the influence of Yajurveda and the importance of yajnas (ceremonial sacrifices) attributed the names in these verses for Vedic gods. Some of these hymns are also found in later scriptures like Shaunaka's Brhddevata, the Brahmanas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. This is a very well written book and I very much enjoyed reading it. The discussions are quite illuminating.
Rig-Veda: The wisdom of the ancient seers expressed in the dialogue hymns
There are eleven dialogue hymns in Rigveda (Rig-Veda) including two in monologue forms. The author has translated the original text into English and discussed the work of various interpreters with regards to meaning of these dialogues. It is inferred that the names and the conversations are symbolic. This conclusion is made by the authors of Brahmana-granthas and also the Niruktas. Almost all interpreters of Rigveda treat them as symbolic, including Yaksha, one of the prominent interpreters. The author suggests that the original meaning of the Vedas faded away during the very early period of Rigveda, and one of the reasons is that strict fidelity in the oral transmission of hymns and their recitation during Vedic sacrifices led the practitioners to forget the meaning of the verses. In fact there are several different recitations such as; pada-patha, ghana-patha, jata-patha, karma-pahta, etc. In one of his commentary, Yaksha remarks that seers instructed the meanings to their disciples but soon it was forgotten (Nirukta 1.20; 10.10.2).
Rigveda 1.179 has six mantras that constitute an interesting dialogue between rsi Agastya and his wife Lopamudra; and the devata of the conversation is Rati (the goddess of Love). The story of the hymn is that Lopamudra wanted her husband to make love and perform his conjugal obligations and help consummate the marriage for begetting (progeny). Agastya responds to the needs of Lopamudra and a disciple secretly overhears the private conversation of his revered guru and feels shameful and sinful. Rigveda 10.10 has 14 mantras that discuss the forbidden love between a twin brother and sister. Yami passionately ask Yama for copulation and to produce an offspring, but Yama counsels her as a sensible sibling to avoid the forbidden love and seek another man to fulfil her fantasies. The conversation focusses on how the Vedic gods would treat such a relationship.
Rigveda 1.165 focusses on the conversation between Indra and Maruts about each other's power and rsi Agastya's benediction. Rigveda 3.33 has 13 mantras in which sage Vishvamitra requests the overflowing rivers Bias and Sutlej to lower the water level so that he and his disciples can safely cross to the other side; the two rivers politely obey the seer. Rigveda 10.85 has 47 mantras and this is known as wedding hymn in which Surya, the daughter of Sun weds Soma (Moon). Some of the mantras are recited even today during wedding ceremony. Rigveda 10.95 has 18 mantras in which Urvashi, the wife of Pururavas, a nymphomaniac and pregnant with his child wants to leave her husband on earth and go her to heaven. Pururavas uses all his wisdom to convince her to stay and help him in ruling his kingdom, but she refuses. She believes that she will be happy in heaven and that would be her final decision. This is an interesting dialogue between a man and his wife in a difficult relationship.
One of the leading hypotheses is that many Vedic gods represent natural forces. Indra is the wind; Maruts is the hurricane. Yama is the day and Yami is the night; another interpretation is Yama is fire and Yami is the flame. Surya is Dawn (daughter of Sun) and Vrsakapi is the rising or setting sun. Similarly Pururavas is the roaring cloud and Urvashi is the glittering and glowing lighting. Some scholars suggest that this is the mating of Pururavas and Urvashi that result in the birth of their son Ayus (water); another dimension added to this conversation hymn is that when the faculty of a man is lessened, the spark of creativity vanishes. Swami Dayananda, a leading exponent of Rigveda provides moral based interpretations of Rigveda. In addition, the followers of Dayananda believe that Rigveda is a divine knowledge and it is not composed by a human being but a revelation of God: It is eternal (Rigveda 10.90.9). The authors of Brahmana-granthas, owing to the influence of Yajurveda and the importance of yajnas (ceremonial sacrifices) attributed the names in these verses for Vedic gods. Some of these hymns are also found in later scriptures like Shaunaka's Brhddevata, the Brahmanas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. This is a very well written book and I very much enjoyed reading it. The discussions are quite illuminating.
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