TOLKIEN AND HIS PHILOSOPHY...

I am a huge Tolkien Fan despite what some critics say about the quality of his writing. I think that some of these critics dont have a clue about what they are writing anyway. So far I have read only the ' Lord of the rings' trilogy, 'The Hobbit' and listened to an audio book of 'The silmarillion'; the trilogy has been read cover to cover three times and a fourth time is soon in order! Why I like his works will not beggar any explanation if I add that I am an overly imaginative person and think Tolkien to have one of the most fantastic imaginations- ever!

I aim to write a lot about his works and in fact even hope to write an entire academic essay on the 'LOTR' trilogy. But for today I want to write a little about his philosophy; just one actually-His concept of 'Doom'.

Now normally the word doom would carry very unpleasant images, however, Tolkien treats it rather uniquely. In the story of Beren and Luthien for instance the word 'Doom' is used to imply an eventuality that is decreed by fate and is unalterable. And so is the case in other places too that concern the eldar, the elves, the dwarves and men.

I like this idea quite a lot because it removes the dread from the concept of 'doom'. We are all headed to our doom, regardless of how much we may try to change it or struggle to escape. The onus on each one of us is then to learn enough from life's experiences to be able to face our ultimate end courageously and unflinchingly. I know it sounds very idealized but I am a tragic hero of sorts anyway!LOL.

I'll leave you with this saying that your's sincerely came up with...

" The greatest thing in life is to realize that one is not truly free and yet face life with fortitude"

IN THE NAME OF THE MASTERS!

I am a huge fan of the martial arts, and though I have not undergone formal training I make sure to supplement all my work out sessions with kick boxing. However I am not what one might call hardcore, as in those who undergo brutal training. And truth be told I have not seen anyone being brutalized for the art's sake in real life.

What I stumbled upon a few days ago on Youtube however exceeds all my ideas about training. There is a certain form of fighting in Indonesia and Malaysia known as Pencak Silat. Its application as a deadly art is widely recognized among martial arts enthusiasts and masters; I have in fact known about it for quite a long time; five years if I use my guessnomics:-) Yet, all I knew about it did not prepare me for what I saw!

I am posting a link to the video below so take a look yourself. I know that most things in life are subjective and so I have no right to be berating what someone else does. But in this case I wonder if its not a case of ignorant practices being attached to an otherwise very efficient art. All my explanations will not make sense until you see it for yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkhsG29VULY

Paypal and Ebay scams!

I got my paypal account some months back because i wanted to be able to buy on the internet without any fuss. However, what I saw on youtube has left me with cold feet and I aim to cancel my account ASAP. Good thing that while waiting for my credit card to be processed I have not hooked it up yet... just my debit card :-(

Watch these videos on youtube and while you're at it take a look at the videos of online email scammers too. Just type either paypal scam or email scams into the search bar. BTW the people with ebay and paypal complaints mostly seem to be sellers, but whatever the case I think its wrong to be cheating anybody. Watch out for scams people cause there are people who'd gladly rip your hard earned money off without a twinge of regret.

WINTER'S ARRIVAL AND DEATH METAL

Ok, so the weekend was rather spectacular! I hung out with a coupla friends; went to a Tibetan restaurant and pigged, and followed it up with a late night coffee session at Cafe Coffee day one of my favoritest( I know the word does not even exist ^-^) places to be. The only downside was that i had a double shot of expresso and so I could not get a wink of sleep! hohoho. Anyways sleep deprivation once in a while is not too bad...

So then coming to the crux of this post- winter. Yup, the season for lovers is here( extra cuddling ya know) and though I am quite conveniently not in love I kinda find myself being caught up in the whole fireplace thingy. The biggest attraction to winter for me is the way everything goes into hibernate mode and that is quite a pleasant change from the usual hastiness that characterizes city life. I like to sit back with a cup of coffee and quietly watch the whole world pass by and believe me winter is your best accomplice for this activity. Then there's the Christmas thing which I swear is my favorite season of the year. The gifts aside there's just something in the air that fills up your heart and makes you grateful for your life. Yup, I confess I listen to Christmas songs all year round:-) and under no circumstance am I giving that habit up. No sir!

Ok, heres another thing peeps. I've been trying to incorporate screamo and growls into my music lately. Yes, yes I know what most of you might be thinking- dude's out to ruin his voice and make a fool of himself. I thank you for your concerns and respect your apprehensions, but believe me there are correct ways of doing it; using your diaphragm and what not. But anyway, the real reason for me taking to this is not because I'm turning into a metal freak, though oddly enough I am listening to metal for the first time in my life. Its because I feel that knowing how to scream and growl gives a singer a wider scope of expression. And music to me has always been about expression. After a period of time one gets a little frustrated with just doing mellow songs and jazz cuz life is hardly one track; on the contrary there is an entire gamut of emotions and feelings that we undergo. So I thought why not try this out, and boy! am I liking it:-) I'm still starting out so my screams and growls will not be sending anyone into a cardiac arrest right now but on the whole I believe that I'm doing quite well and hope to have it down to a science soon enough. Watch out for the new kid on the block fellas!LOL.

So thats it for today then. I hope that you guys have a great week ahead of y'all. Peace!

CHANGE THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN

I am an Indian and I have no say whatever in the goings on of American politics. However, I am also a resident of a global commune, a worldwide community if you would . Therefore, it was with keen interest that I was following the presidential race in the US between John Mc Cain and Barack Obama; including all the side events that accompanied it like the scandals a- la Palin, and the hate mongering by certain neo Nazis. I favored Obama for a lot of reasons, his race being the very least of them all. He is a man who can inspire with his humanness and has an ability to connect with the masses. Mc Cain on the other hand has a glittering resume and no doubt is more able that Obama in certain aspects. But his ability to connect with the audience was seriously flawed; and so was his choice of the ferral Palin as his VP candidate. America needed a person who can inspire and so no surprises Obama won. And how!

I cannot help but put myself in the shoes of Americans at this very moment- democrats and Republicans alike. And one feeling that must reverberate through every American is the feeling of imminent change. Things can certainly not remain the way they once were because this development is portentous as well as visionary. Another feeling that I'd say is inevitable is a little apprehension and this is a follow up to the earlier feeling of imminent change. There will now be a black man in the White House; the irony in the juxtaposition of the black man and the house he will now be a resident of is grave. America has never had a black president, ever, and how this particular gentleman handles affairs is left to the imagination above all things because no precedent has been set by another. So then there must be a palpable apprehension and wonder in the air. But I have full faith in this common man's hero; he will prove his mettle given the chance.

What's most significant is what this means for the Blacks as a race in America. Despite its democratic and humanitarian claims America has been far from impartial in its treatment of its black citizens. It is thus unthinkable considering the fact that certain areas still follow a very obvious anti black policy, that a black man should be the head of state. This is a historic development if there ever was one. And what every black man, woman and child must be feeling is best described by the words 'Justice and equity'. Finally they have been heard! The slaves have risen to a position that is not just superficially equal but one that has been given real sanction; after hundreds of years of ignoring.

What was after all responsible for this historic event? I'd say there were three huge factors. First would obviously be the personality of Obama himself and the lack of it of Mc Cain. Despite Obama being the man of charisma that he is if he'd been pitted against a more energetic and charismatic opponent the balance might very well have tilted in the republican's favor. Secondly it was the relentless drive of his supporters, for many of whom it was not just about an election but an ultimate goal of being given legitimacy and justice. Thirdly I believe that America as a whole is in a very different state, because of all its domestic and international developments, than it was in even two years ago. People want to see change and that very quickly. The choice was stark- drastic change against old school rigidity; perhaps at another time the latter would have been embraced unquestioningly. But not now...

I have never been a huge fan of America and its foreign policies. But for once I can see why the world still sees America as the beacon holder in many aspects. They come together whenever the country needs them. I am just as excited as any American and I wait to see what changes will be ushered in. And I hope that Obama stands by his words and ushers in Change that we can believe in.