Having watched this film last night, all I can say is that I wish life would’ve ended somewhere during the first 20 minutes of the movie. I wasn’t warned at all. It was a toss up between watching Kurbaan and 2012 and I thought an English movie would end sooner!!! Well, now I know better!!!
If you’ve seen the movie you’ll know what I mean when I say that I was hoping for a real earthquake or even a minor cataclysm to relieve me!!! It was like watching a Hindi movie that boasts the emotive prowess of Dharmendra, Pankaj Parashar and Kumar Gaurav, set off by the acting talent of Zeenat Aman, Poonam Dhillon and Ranjita. If you belong to my generation, you will know what I mean.
John Cusack is not only looking old and fat, his mouth is slowly shrinking into a full stop. The only time his face breaks into an expression is when he has to say really long words like “shifting tectonic plates.” After all, one can say “RUN FOR YOUR LIFE” while making sure you don’t crack the face paint at all. Try it – you can do it without moving your lips. And Cusack has perfected this technique.
The box office collections for 2012 finally moved me to watching the film. But the story line was more predictable than a B-grade Govinda movie. Let me give you an example. This massive volcano erupts and throws up hot ash and lava all over the place, always barely missing Mr. Cusack and company – just like the bad guys shooting at Govinda while he miraculously dodges each bullet.
The only thing unpredictable about the film was its length!!! And boy, was it long. When they stopped the film for intermission, I was surprised, to say the least. I had been thinking that we were almost done with all the quaking and flooding of the world. Imagine my consternation when I realized we were only half-way through!!!
The only thing the film has going for it, to be completely fair, is its amazing graphic artists. In fact, if we take out the actors and the plot, the special effects and computer graphics might make the film more watchable. All I can say is that the Mayans were wrong. The world will die of boredom in 2009.
The waiting of over a year culminated in my being able to get tickets for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince tonight - the first day it was released. The hours were difficult to pass and the day seemed to stretch unnaturally, keeping me away from one of the few things I am passionate about. Needless to say, when the movie started, I was all ready to stand up and hoot and clap. But I stopped soon enough. Did they say this movie was based on JK Rowling’s book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince??? Ok, I agree, some of the characters were taken from the book but not the story. Being the generous person I am, I will agree to accept that the screenplay was loosely inspired by a dream the writers might have had after reading JK Rowling’s book.
The parts that make the book intriguing, the crucial aspects that all tie up together to form the last book, the experiences that made the Half Blood Prince who he was, everything was foregone to make a story that was full of computer gimmicks for children.
Don’t they realise that most of the audience would be of people who have read the book and have pictured the story in their minds and want to see how their own vision would be translated on screen? Let me give you a small example without giving away the story for those who haven’t read the book - a quiet Christmas at The Burrow was turned into a fight for one’s very life as half the Death Eaters turned up and burned the house down!!!! Why? How did that help the story except to showcase the prowess of the graphics team?
OK I get it now - the movie should have been called Harry Potter and the Half Trained Geeks - an advertisement on how far Britain has come when it comes to animation. It isn’t as though Daniel Radcliffe has finally taken acting classes and breaks into an expression at least in an odd scene here and there. So it couldn’t be about Harry Potter.
In short, I am appalled and amazed that JK Rowling would give her blessings to this movie and not take them to court. I want to. But then, I suppose, she doesn’t want her next book to be Harry Potter and the Half Paid Bills.
Some of you know that my daughter, Zoe, gave birth to 8 beautiful babies a couple of months ago. I have been able to find wonderful homes for 7 of them so far. Although it saddens both Zoe and me, we also need to find a home for the littlest one, Poopsie. She is adorable and I would hate to see her go. Don’t take my word for it - see the pics for yourself. All I am asking is if you guys know anyone who would be able to give a good, loving home to Poopsie, please let me know.
What could be a better way to unwind after a hectic day than with some heavy petting? Now, now, this is a family blog site – would I be suggesting what you just thought? What I meant was that personal experience and tons of research over the years show that a pet can be an enormous stress-buster. As Josh Billings once said, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” We all could do with some unconditional love each day, don’t you think?
I’m an animal lover and find it difficult to restrain myself, especially when confronted with baby animals. Can anyone remain indifferent when confronted with a litter of frolicking puppies? We’ve always had at least one dog at home. There were a few memorable years in my adolescence when my grandmother had six dogs of various breeds running around the house. I believe that all my adolescent angst was made more tolerable because of these dogs. Each time I was sad, had a fight or was generally put out, I would sit by myself and one of the dogs would find me and stay with me, unquestioningly, till I felt better and was ready to face the world again. They never judged me, never expected me to say something intelligent or even ask for attention. All they wanted to do was to be there with me. Can you imagine such unconditional support from anyone else?
My favourite portrayal of the limitless love of animals and man is exemplified in the video clip below:
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace. - Milan Kundera
Then there was my first Labrador, Lucy. She seemed almost human in her understanding of what was happening around her. Each time my mother and I had one of our frequent battle of wills, she would rush between us, stroking each person in turn with her paw and licking our hands to calm us down. She would sit by me and lick away my tears while I coped with the travails of teenage life. I sincerely believe that only a dog has that special way of making you feel loved and needed and of telling you that you might just be the most wonderful person on this planet. Such is a dog’s love for its human. The dog doesn’t want anything in return.
One experience I will never forget is when my dog saved my daughter’s life. We had this huge German Shepherd, Tarzan, who we fondly thought of as our guard dog. He was scared of firecrackers, smoke and even puppies, but in the minds of his loving parents (my husband and I) he was this fierce watchdog with a loud bark. One afternoon, while I was upstairs napping in my bedroom and my daughter was entertaining herself playing in the garden, I heard Tarzan barking relentlessly. He usually did not bark this way. He seemed to be extremely troubled by something and my first thought was that my 4-year-old was trying to kill him! I quickly went down to investigate and found Tarzan standing between my daughter and a Cobra, who was ready to strike. I almost fainted. My daughter was intrigued by the snake that had somehow managed to find a way into our garden. Tarzan had sensed its presence and kept barking at it so that it could come no further towards the house. My daughter was standing 2 feet behind Tarzan with her ball, as though she had just missed playing with the snake because of the dog’s intervention. While Tarzan kept the snake busy, I took my daughter away and managed to call the watchman. After this, the watchman took over, caught the snake and took it away. Tarzan immediately calmed down and so did I.
Tarzan saves the day!
But it isn’t just dogs who can be a man’s best friend. Any pet can have that stress-relieving effect on you. I’ve kept fish and turtles and for a short while I even had a cat. I could spend hours just staring at the fish swim lazily through the aquarium. It was such a soothing feeling. The cat was more of a challenge because unlike dogs who think the human is GOD, cats think that they are GOD and we are there to serve them. So having the cat jump up on my lap and curl up to get her belly scratched was a feeling similar to having climbed Mt. Everest – I had won the love of a feline!!
One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you’re feeling blue is that he doesn’t try to find out why. ~Author Unknown
You don’t have to take my word for it – just look at the vast body of research that supports the positive effects of owning a pet or even spending time with an animal on the mind and body. A study by researchers at UCLA School of Public Health has demonstrated conclusively that men living with AIDS who owned a pet suffered significantly lower degrees of depression than those who did not own a pet. Not only the companionship offered by the animal but the exercise involved in walking a dog or cleaning up after birds and cats helped keep the men with AIDS active and happier than those who did not need to look after a pet.
Similarly, there are numerous studies that vouch for the fact that having a pet at home actually helps lower blood pressure, alleviate feelings of loneliness and increase social support by helping us meet other animal lovers when we walk the dog. A study of 92 patients who had recently suffered from angina or a heart attack reveals that while 28% of the patients who did not own pets died within the next one year, only 6% of the patients with pets suffered a similar fate.
Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot
There is nothing more comforting than pups snuggling against you
Almost like something out of Ripley’s Believe It or Not, a study also found that patients who watched fish swimming in an aquarium during oral surgery experienced greater degree of relaxation (as measured through blood pressure and muscle tension readings). Pet therapy has been used for several years now, with trained animals visiting various nursing homes, hospitals and hospices in the US on a regular basis. The patients exposed to pet therapy not only reported a positive impact on their sense of well being but doctors also found marked alleviation of symptoms and faster recovery in these patients. Trained dogs have been helping children with learning disabilities learn to read. Children with autism have also found to benefit through interactions with animals.
If you take a dog which is starving and feed him and make him prosperous, that dog will not bite you. This is the primary difference between a dog and a man. - Mark Twain
This irrefutable body of evidence brings me to the next question – How do I know what pet is best for me? You can choose from dogs, cats, birds, fish and even mice and hamsters. The kind of pet you opt for should suit your lifestyle, preferences and temperament. After all, we don’t want to add to the existing stress levels by choosing a pet that needs more attention that you are able to take time out for. You also need to ensure that the pet you choose is suitable for your living space. For instance, a large dog would be a menace in a small flat.
You would also need to get information about food and medical care the pet would need, the cost involved and whether you are comfortable taking on the additional responsibility and cost. The best place to get information is by visiting a neighbourhood vet. There is also extensive information available on the net. Also remember to consult your doctor regarding any allergies that you or your family members might experience. Many people are allergic to dog and cat hair.
There also are a lot of misconceptions about various animals, which need to be rectified at home before you bring in a pet. No dog will bite unless provoked and a dog’s lick does not infect you with germs.
Hugging someone can only spread love not germs
And talking about misconceptions, let me tell you about the time when my daughter bit the dog. Remember, the fierce guard dog, Tarzan? My daughter was about 3 years old at this time and she loved playing dogs, except she had her rules! For instance, the Labrador wasn’t allowed to lick her face although her face was at the same height as the dog’s face and therefore the most accessible part of her body. I once caught this strange interaction between Maya (my daughter) and Zoe (the Labrador). Zoe would lick her face, Maya would slap her in response, so Zoe would lick her again to apologize, so Maya would slap her again and this went on for about 10 minutes till I stopped them. But I am digressing. I wanted to tell you about how Maya bit the guard dog! At this time of her life, Tarzan was taller than Maya but loved her nonetheless. He loved being with her and have her treat him like a horse, ball catcher and general guinea pig. On this particular occasion that I want to recount, Tarzan kept nudging Maya with his head to play with him but she was busy colouring and so kept pushing him away. But he was persistent and kept nudging her till she got really fed up and turned around and bit his neck, tearing away a chunk of hair in her teeth. Poor Tarzan was in shock and tried to lick Maya to pacify her. I, of course, ran to wash her mouth and give her a piece of my mind – humans don’t bite dogs and that’s a cardinal rule.
A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. ~Robert Benchley
Coming back to my personal experience, I find that the cost really isn’t that much, and certainly massively outweighed by the benefits. I have also seen the benefits owning a pet has had on my daughter. It has helped her focus on something beyond her own needs, made her take responsibility on her young shoulders and feel a sense of achievement through her efforts at looking after the pets. I believe these are irreplaceable learning experiences and I know that they will stand her in good stead as she grows up and interacts with the world at large. The greatest achievement I think has been that my daughter has developed a sense of compassion and love that I rarely see in children her age. When we go out shopping, Maya always makes sure we visit a pet store and bring home some chewy things for the dogs. She always insists on going with us whenever we need to visit the vet, just to ensure that the dogs were getting the proper treatment! And she is unable to see a hurt animal on the road. I am a better person because of Maya’s concern for the well being of animals at this tender age of five.
So let me leave you to think about how you can lead a longer, happier and healthier life by owning a pet with this quote:
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. ~Author Unknown
As a parting shot, enjoy the “Animal Song” by Savage Garden to some of the cutest animal pictures in the video clip below:
I had more motivation than breaking Palash’s track record of maximum consecutive posts to write this piece. Having followed the Mumbai terror strike for the past five days now, I am beginning to get a disillusioned with the establishment. If a terror strike is being planned for two months, shouldn’t we have had some intelligence reports about it before the actual event, which not only took everyone by surprise but took amazingly long to get a concerted response.
Then the deputy CM of Maharashtra calls it a small incident in a large city. This is only followed by the most insensitive behaviour and comments from the Kerala CM, not to mention the comments on women with lipstick can’t be taken seriously if they protest.
It really is true then - people get the politicians they deserve. These are the people we voted into power and these are the people who managed to hold on to power because the thinking public abstains from voting. When will we rise as one, stop categorising people by their dress or origins and make ourselves heard for what we believe in?
To quote Bob Dylan:
How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?…
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?…
How many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn’t see?…
So Obama won the elections and every ethnic group and African American in the US sees it as a victory of the little people, the ones oppressed for generations. Everywhere, on TV news channels, newspapers and on the streets, there are images of people rejoicing and proclaiming a new dawn for the nation. Rev. Jesse Jackson in tears, Oprah’s smile, homage being paid to every black from the first slave shipped across to the Americas to the African American children of tomorrow.
Strangely enough, I hear that people in India joined in the celebrations, hailing Obama’s election as the President as a sign of changing times. And yet, India is the country which has seen a woman as its Prime Minister and now President, a Muslim President, a Catholic and Italian citizen as the leader of the masses and a Sikh as its current Prime Minister. This is the land where a Dalit wrote the constitution. So where is that fierce pride in the nation?
Has India become a country where pride in one’s origins borders on fanatical, exclusionistic militancy? Today we are the land where the ULFA want only Assamese in Assam and Raj Thackeray incites hate crimes against Marathis in Maharashtra. We are the nation that has seen Godhra and serial blasts are Saturday evening entertainment.
And all we do is sit in our most comfortable sofas and “discuss” the appalling state of the nation. We send each other mails about what a great country India is but are too scared to stand up in public and air our views. We don’t want to start a “controversy” you see. Let’s all just get along peacefully, the people being tortured and killed aren’t people we know. Some church in Orissa being burnt down doesn’t touch our lives in anyway.
If I sound angry and disillusioned, it is only because I am. I am disappointed that people think it is too dangerous to bring those who ruthlessly beat a dog to death in front of my eyes to justice. Imagine how much more dangerous it would be to bring people who kill human beings to justice. Won’t those same fanatics target my family if I say anything against them? So, why rock the boat? My home is untouched.
But India is my home. The world is my home. It isn’t as though I can go anywhere else if things don’t work out on this planet. If I don’t lift a finger to set my house in order, how can I expect anyone else to do anything? So today when I cheer for Obama and the Black Man’s victory in a nation far far away, I will also stand up and speak for truth, justice and liberty in my own home – India.
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