Bulging Belly

"Those who commit the Sin of Gluttony are punished in Hell by being forced to eat rats, toads, and snakes". And I am  just worried about getting fat? A sumptuous feast was prepared this evening by my sister.The steaming snow white meat Momo is irressitable.  I gobbled down a dozen of these juicy and meat Momo,and I feel its effect now in my belly.  My stomache is bulging, and making my movement difficult, leaving along to sleep soundly. The only way to pass away and kill the time is to blog. Blog what has happened recently at ICT during a talk.

Last Thursday's talk by Robert Bernett at ICT was an eyeopenner for me to the origin of the Tibetan cinema and its development over the years up to date. Bernett is known to be an expert on contemporary Tibetan history. He is  the persona to be posed questions about Tibet issues by the mainstream media on every issues on Tibet. Giving his long engagement with the Tibetan movement, he is very well informed about it. Besides he has good access to informations inside Tibet.  As an academician and research scholar, he has earned quite a reputation and over all crediability as an authority on Tibet issue.

In his last Thursday talk, he traces the history of Tibetan cinema prior and post occupation. His research and collection of Tibetan films both by Chinese director and Tibetan director was very remarkable, and his thematic analysis of the genre and their phases was outstanding. The advantage of the following his lecture was the critical analysis of few scene from the various clips he showed. I felt his assessent were thourough and very detailed with sharp eyes and intelligent thoughts.Usually, most people watch movie for its entertainment and esthetic value. But following his lecture, one is empowered with the rationale and logic of such film.  The social, and economic under current of the soceity was a huge influence on the cinema. Each of the films in the three phases bringhts out the reality of the time.  His presentation was very professional and well researched and prepared one. I was not only struck by the power of his knolwedge and sharing, but also how friendly, and approachalbe he was.  It was one of my luck to befriended with this Tibetan scholar, who runs a Tibetan studies at a prestigious U.S university, in Newyork.

After basking under the illuminating knowledge of  his presention on art of Tibetan film, as usual, the social time and the afterward reception was most adoreable at ICT. A great presentation, followed by a great socializing moment. Sipping a glass of wine and snacking on a plate of fruit, assorted cheese, I rubbed shoulder with expert and scholar and influentional. I enjoyed hobnobing with people.   it was also here, I conversed with an interesing Taiwanese lady, who showed much interest on Tibet issue. 
The scene of the hall, is more like a ball party in a restaurant.  Everyone of the participants, mingling among the crows and chatting away pleasantly.  It was a great evening, and great learning.  A good choice and good judgment. i would have done something completely different for the night, rather than going to talk.  But I was overjoyed, that I could make it.

By now, even my bulging belly, starts to cooperate with me. After shoving down gallows of hot water, my belly has contracted and it feels little better.

A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J, Gaines is an interesting reading. I watched the movie and then read this novel, which is marked as ALL FAIRFAX READS. My expectation of the novel  and what it turned out to me after I read stands  far apart. It is an easy reading and nothing sophisticated. Not much of suspence and not thrill,. There is nothing extraordinatry about this book. So I am pretty curious why this book was selected to be a "ALL FAIRFAX READ". I have read many books that are far superior than this one. The other reason that I feel in this way, might be because of the way  I treated  the subject. However, eventually I realized the strength of the book lies in its message.

The story in a nutshell is about a black young man who was sentenced to  death for his part in a shoot out broad daylight burglary. Even though he was at wrong place, at the wrong time, but not guilty of the all charges, still the juries passed down capital punishment on him. This black young man's godmother couldnt stand when the defedant called Jefferson a 'hog'. It was  most humiliating and insulting remarks that cut to the consciousness of the Godmother.  Thus she entrusted the black teacher to change Jefferson  into a man and "on his final day, he would walk up to the chair as a man".  The strength of the story lies in its ability to project human spirit , endurance and redemption. At the teacher's insistance and instruction, Jefferson finally came to a sense. And he has changed the way the  white people would ever look at a blackman.

The black teacher and Jefferson teamed up to challenge the notion that black people are pathetic and they are no less than an animal. Finally, Jefferson was a changed man. he has restored his black dignity. and he was executed as a man, "He was strongest  man  in that crowded room"? Maybe  the story means a lot to black people, who have experienced racial discrimination in the hand of white men.

 In the end 'two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting  defying, the expected".

What I have learnt is that even when people know that  they are going to die  on a specified day, they still could do something on the remaining days of their lives.  That is very inspiritional and encouraging. This novel is acclaimed because it projects the juxtapostion of two extrem human characters, that is cruelty and kindess. The novel also exposes the sham of American justice system and its capital punishment, when an innocent person is put to death on charge of murder.

Rhetorical Devices

Glossary of Rhetorical Devices with examples.




Alliteration: repetition of the same sound beginning several words in sequence.

*Let us go forth to lead the land we love. J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural

Quotations

"One who forms a judgement on any point but cannot explain it, 'clearly' might as well have never thought at all on the subjects"

                                                                        ----------Greek leader Pericle.

"Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man."

                                                                                 --- Francise Bacon

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."
                                                                        -----Francise Bacon

Forever,

FOREVER


The hardest stone on earth,

That glitter with sparkling luster

The best friend of all women,

A symbol of eternity and everlasting love.

10-10-10

Getting away from the mundane of life and walking into the library is a refreshing and rejuvenating exercise. Incidently my eye fell upon a book titled "10-10-10", with 14 day loan and nor renewal labeled with red on it.  My curiosity pricked me. what book is it the that you can not renew after 14 days. It must be something good that everyone read, so library, doest allow everyone to keep longer than 2 weeks  to make it available and accessible when readers demand is soaring.

Gigantic Accumulations

As I awoke from my slumber, and strained my ears to the outside activities, the lives outside has stopped to screnching halt. The dawn has a sense of serenity to it, until I saw the piling up of snows and it is still falling. It is not like the usual day, when you could be hearing cars passing by and the loud yell of some bystanders or the morning walker. It is Saturday, and it is snowing day. it is a day that I had to reckon with numerous problems.