Starving African Children Don't Twitter...

I found this discussion on TechCrunch about a particularly brow-raising Twitter account.  The account user is a 'StarvingAfricanChild' (!) and the Tweets are a whole bunch of "I'm hungry"s.  Only two or three tweets mention anything about the surrounding.  The post I mentioned also has some really insightful (and some truly shocking) comments from regular readers.  I found the Twitter account and the pictures an unnecessary gimmick, as it seems to cheapen the suffering of the child, seeing as it is obviously not the real experience of the child in question but the random rantings of some person who has unlimited (and maybe free) Internet access (which in itself would be unheard of in a famine-ridden region of Africa, I presume!) An even worse example of online inappropriateness and crassness is this Twitter account of 'Hellen Keller'.  It's a shame that people are so unfeeling, disrespectful, and evil.  Even more sad is that they are so proud of their nature that they want to exhibit it online!

Anyway, coming back to the post - first of all, I personally wish to express my appreciation to MG at TechCrunch for feeling the need to address such issues on his otherwise techie blog.  It shows that he is humane and also cares about global issues as much as the latest iPod application... or whatever he writes about. Tech is good, but empathy is necessary.  Atleast, I think so.

Secondly, the comments to the post were absolutely shocking, with people more bothered about a small typo MG made on the number of followers that the account had.  The issue at hand was completely thrown out the window.  What's worse, some people griped that the blogger should just stick to techie news and not lose focus.  Oh for God's sake!  Why do people have such an aversion to being faced with anything unpleasant.  One person claims that there are other people who will bring such problems to the forefront and TechCrunch should simply stick to techie stuff.  Contrary to this, I believe it is the duty of every person who enjoys such a wide online visibility and credibility to talk about such global issues, since they have more people paying attention to what they say.  Same reason (although on a much more wider reach) as why the American President is asked to comment on everything that happens in the world.  You can't tell him it's not his business, can you?!

Thirdly, one reader brought this comment that should jolt any sane person out of their social lethargy:

"Know what is in poor taste? The hours and hours of media and dialogue dedicated to Michael Jackson’s death while 3.2 Million people die each year from water related illness. That’s not even getting into hunger issues.

In fact, it’s not just poor taste. It’s downright tragic and disgusting.

It’s nice to see someone trying to remind people where their priorities should be."

Enough said!

So, when the world is seeing the highest levels of pollution of every kind; a spread of more diseases than we can account for; the death of more people due to war and terrorism, more of the human population caving in to  famines, droughts, fires, and other natural disasters, shouldn't we sit up and try to be real and look at what's really important in life.

Shouldn't we try to appreciate what and whom we have in our lives right now; shouldn't we learn to respect the other person; shouldn't we set out priorities right; shouldn't we finally try to make a difference in the world around us?

In Memorium

It has been a really long time since I posted here.  The past couple of weeks have been especially hard for me.  My dad (Mr. C. Mohandoss) passed away on 13th June, 2009.  He was 57 years old and died of a massive heart attack.  My family, especially my mother, is devastated.  Mom (Mrs. Vijaya Mohandoss) cannot imagine a life without my dad, but is forced to swallow her grief and get on with life for the sake of my little sister (Jone Dorothy, age 22) and my brother (Jacob Timothy, age 18).

We still can't believe that he is gone.  At the funeral, for the first time, I saw how so many people had been touched through my dad's life and testimony.  He was a man of God, and a wonderful human being.  I can only hope to be half as good as him.

I wish he were still here, because we feel we lost the corner stone that supported this family. But we owe it to his memory to be strong and to be the best at whatever we do, just like he was during his life on earth, and just like he wanted us to be.

My father, who taught me confidence, self-respect, enthusiasm and creativity; who inspired in me the love for writing, books, and music; my dad will be missed for as long as this family goes on.

Dad, we love you forever....

My Dad with Debbie

Timeline - Michael Crichton

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Today I review one of Michael Crichton’s many books, TimeLine, one of his best works and one of many that were later made into movies. The story is about a group of historians and archaeologists who, while studying a site in the Dordogne region of France, find a mysterious message buried in the earth, and the lens from one of the archaeologists glasses. Soon, Professor Johnston (the owner of the lens), who works for ITC, goes missing, and the rest of the crew travel back in time to the medieval towns of Castelgard and La Roque (which were believed to be located near the site where they were carrying out their research). Researchers Chris Hughes, Kate Erickson, Andre Marek, and David Stern, along with a marine travel back to 1357 to look for Johnston.

Here they come across many misfortunes. Chris meets Lady Claire, whom he helps to escape from the clutches of the evil Sir Guy. The men are forced to fight in jousts, and somehow manage to survive and win, to their surprise. The team finds that another person from the present has followed them into the past. It is Rob Deckard, an ITC employee and former marine, who has gone insane as a side effect of constant time travel. Deckard has remained in 1357 after his last travel back in time.

After a series of skirmishes, the team get ready to go back home through the marker beacon that Chris has managed to get from De Kere. Noble Andre stays behind with Lady Claire to help her people win the battle against Arnaut, another bad guy.

The team saves Professor Johnston and, minus Andre and some people who don’t deserve to live, return to the present. Chris and Kate fall in love and Kate is pregnant. They find the tombstone of Andre and Lady Claire and are happy to know that Andre lived a good life.

Crichton reveals the depths of quantum leap, and the theory of the multiverse. The theory is that time travels in different speeds in different universes and that when one person jumped from one universe into another, he would land in a different time, either in the future or in the past based on whether time moved faster or slower respectively.

Another important concept is that changes made in one universe affect the events of a future time of other universes. Crichton explains these theories in such a simple manner that any reader, whether familiar or stranger to scientific theories, can understand the principle behind time travel, albeit as Michael Crichton sees it.

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In Honor of Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton is one of the world’s best novelists, thinkers, and filmmakers in the world. A doctor by profession, he is one of those rare human beings who transcend race, countries, social strata, educational and professional disciplines, media, genres, and languages to touch the lives of people whom they will never meet. No college professor or scholar can explain the complicated scientific theories of DNA reconstruction, time travel, Quantum physics, and air travel to the common man better than this writer can. And what an ingenious way to impart scientific knowledge to the masses, through the simple method of story-telling that has been the most effective way to get any message across to people, from the very beginning of humanity.

I admire this man as much for his personality as for his works that will always stand tall as beacons that other science fiction writers should follow. The world suffers a great loss on his death. Crichton passed on on November 4, 2008. He will be missed.

In honor of his work, I will be reviewing some of his books and comparing them with their movie versions, the next few days.

America's Sweethearts - Joe Roth

America's Sweethearts - I can't decide whether the title is sarcastic or straightforward! The story is as old as the hills, only this time there are lots of famous names in it. Stuck up beautiful sister Gwen Harrison (Catherine Zeta-Jones), whom all the men swoon over, marries a wonderfully spineless creature of a man Eddie Thomas (John Cusack). Both are also famous film stars, which makes them amazingly neurotic. Wife is looking for a man with a stronger back bone, ends up with a man who's... well... got only that. Husband, now on his way to becoming the 'ex', hides himself behind the vague drivel of his psychiatrist about flowers and flames .

The wife's previously 'calorifically challenged' sister Kiki (Julia Roberts in a terrible fat-suit) is now an attractive size 2. She is falling for her ex-bro-in-law, and he is beginning to see her now, when she has lost all the weight that was clogging her smile. Convenient! By the way, what's with the silly nickname 'Kiki'?! Poor Julia Roberts!

Gwen and Eddie have co-starred in a movie that won't get promoted if they are not together anymore (I thought split-ups got all the attention and not happy marriages!). Anyway, this becomes a very contrived situation for all parties concerned to meet, and for all the guts to spill when the psycho director shows personal conversations of the stars at the very-public press junket.

Some jaw-dropping; many threats of suing and libel; and eventually some break-ups and make-ups. Gwen's Spanish boyfriend is furious, Eddie and Kiki get together and I'm not sure what happens to the movie. The stars, though, are definitely America's sweethearts. You know, like Britney Spears - people do not generally approve of her, but boy do they gawk when they spot her in public!

The movie is like an adorable baby that looks the same but grew too big in size, and is not endearing anymore. Too many stars, if you ask me. Julia Roberts is wasted in this role. She is too huge a phenomenon to be playing anyone's chubby sister. Catherine Zeta-Jones is okay, but really there is no room on screen for Two fabulous women! I have never been a fan of Cusack, and I kind of wished that Roberts finally fell for Billy Crystal instead. He is a much better watch than Cusack any day.
Gawd! and no comments on the Spanish guy. And Why, oh Why does Chris Walken go for such silly roles when he clearly has a lot more talent?

This movie is okay if you have absolutely nothing to do on a lazy afternoon, and feel like doing something unhealthy like eat a lot of fat and carbs and laze on the couch, and generally get wasted. I say this because you don't have to be in your senses to take in this movie. Enjoy!

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

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The story is about a young shepherd called Santiago, whose greatest aim in life is to marry the local merchant’s daughter. He spends his days in the bliss of a stagnant life that has no adventures. One day, while sleeping inside an old church, he dreams of a treasure that can be found under the pyramids of Egypt. A consultation with a gypsy confirms that the dream is worth following as it was spoken in the language of the world. Not convinced, Santiago goes on with his life. Everything changes when an old man called Melchizedek, who was the King of Salem, offers directions to the treasure in exchange for one-tenth of Santiago’s sheep. He also gives him two black stones to take on the journey as money. Santiago takes the risk, and sets off to Tangiers to find the treasure.

Along the way, he meets many interesting people, including an Englishman who is looking for the great alchemist who has discovered the Philosopher’s Stone and can transform metal into gold. Santiago joins him, and finally meets the alchemist, who then becomes his guide on the journey. The alchemist helps Santiago find his inner self; and the ability to commune with nature, to control the wind, save a desert tribe, and see into the future. Santiago also meets Fatima, the love of his life and his soul mate, whom he promises to marry after he has found the treasure.

A changed man, Santiago leaves the desert and finally reaches the pyramids, where he is sure he will find the treasure. The tale reaches a sort of anti climax here, when two wayside thieves force Santiago to reveal the reason for his being there. Unwillingly, Santiago tells the men about his dream of finding treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. The men surprise him by saying that they dreamt of finding treasure in the church where Santiago had originally had his dream.

Santiago returns to his homeland to find the treasure under the very place where he had lain so long ago. He takes the treasure and leaves behind the two stones that Melchizedek gave him. His last journey is the journey back into the desert to look for Fatima and marry her as he had promised.

The entire story is a metaphor for the journey of life. A dull, unmotivated life may be comfortable but it is also a life that is easily forgotten and fades away in to Time, having achieved nothing of importance. The life with a purpose may be hard to live, but it will be a life well lived and the end will be a true loss to the world. Santiago represents the modern man who steers clear of almost all adventure, giving himself reachable goals that only cover his selfish needs. The modern man does not look beyond the most basic human needs like money, a job, a house, a person who will love them, and the comfort of a bed and sleep every night. His quest for the treasure transforms him into a hero, a warrior, a seer, an adventurer, a lover, and man whose soul is one with God and nature. He forgets his initial frivolous desires and gives importance to the more important things in life.

The fact that the treasure was hidden right under where he slept, while he had to travel half way around the world for it, may seem unfair. On the other hand, who knows! If Santiago had found treasure under the ground where he lay, he probably would never have moved from the spot, spending his entire lazy life in one place, never going forward. He would be no better as a person. The journey is what makes the difference, and the treasure is more valuable for all the troubles he had to go through to find it.

The story also drives home the point that the most important things in life lie closer to us than we think. It does not lie in a bog house on a faraway island, or in plush jobs in high-rise buildings, or in making more money or friends than is humanly possible. It lies in being one with your Maker, in keeping promises and loving your family, in burning and molding your inner self to be a better person, and in respecting nature.