...............About the Lion Tamer and an almost normal Lion

Like any "fictious" story our story begins in a far far away kingdom long long ago when circuses where the most noble of professions. Doctors envied the six foot muscular trapeze stars who were the dream of any damsel. The kings sought the most popular clown for their princesses. Every family had at least one of their sons in the circus. Some cooked for the stars, some cleaned the Lion's cage, and some played in the band and those few lucky ones who had the real mettle made it into the show and earned loads of money and won many beautiful hearts. Even the lions opted the circus to the Savannah and their lush green habitat. The lion and his lionesses send their cubs to the best college of Circus where after 4 years of studies, they will be recruited by the popular Circuses in town and strange as it seems even circus groups from other countries also came to our Far Far away kingdom. Our story is about a Lion Tamer and an almost normal Lion. Before we begin our story in detail, let me introduce to you my characters (including the almost normal Lion).

The H.O.D aka The Lion Tamer was not always called by that name. There was a time when he was known as Henry Odette Duncan, which was too long a name to reuse and so his friends reduced it to H.O.D. And as he is one of the main characters in our story I will refer to him as The H.O.D (you know that I don't mean anything at all with this, this is a strange co-incidence) or as The Lion Tamer. He was one of those best lion Tamers in the Far Far away kingdom and has loads and loads of degrees attached to his name. His small room in the college reads, Prof Dr. H.O.D, M.Tech (Master of teaching energetic circus habits), PhD in circus rules of engagement.

Before I Introduce to you my almost Normal lion let me explain the time or the era in which our story happens, and before I do it let me give a very brief account of a history which has lost its meaning. There was a time when the lions who came to the college of circus where free thinkers, they studied the tricks that were useful to them and improvised on the taught tricks. The Lions of the old rebelled against their Lion Tamers if they felt they were ill treated or if they felt the Lion tamers are are a bit too controlling, after all the Lions were the noblest of creatures. Things went great for the Lions and the circuses were full of the best Lions and the show was the best there ever was. But the Lion Tamers were not happy and they went to the king with their complaints. The king held a grand meeting and discussed with his fellow men (but the lions were not invited).

The king introduced the new decree of sessionals into the college system, which gave the Lion Tamers the power to castrate any lion who rebelled against them. The lions rebelled in the beginning, but to no avail. As a matter of fact all the leaders of the mutiny were castrated and they didn't live for many days after that. The Lions began to adjust to the curriculum taught by the Lion Tamers, raising the paw, sitting on a stool, jumping through the hoop of fire etc etc. And this era came to be known as the "Era of Sessionals". People were bored by the same tricks the lions performed in Circuses that they were not awed by the show. Sadly this is the time when our story begins and ends.

Our Lion was born, in this Era of sessionals with a slightly large head. The talent and innovation side of his brain was bit advanced than his brothers and sisters. He was a dreamer and an inventor. He was using 25% of his brain which was so uncommon in his pride that his siblings called him, "The almost Normal Lion". But don't think he was the first of his kind, there were many before him, but that was before the era of sessionals. So when he came of age he was send to the College of Circus, the same one where the H.O.D taught.

The almost normal Lion was not impressed with the teachings of the H.O.D. Our Lion completed the lifting of the paw segment within the first twenty minutes, but the H.O.D didn't teach him the next trick for the next 2 weeks, not because his classmates were slow, but because it was recommended in the syllabus that two weeks is necessary for teaching this trick. He completed sitting on the stool workshop within the first 1 hr, and he didn't receive a pat on the back, rather he was told to repeat the trick for the next 1 month. Our Lion jumped off the chair and did the perfect somersault. The H.O.D looked shocked and said "What kind of a mockery is that. The audiences wont like this.You are the worst student I had. God! Are you crazy, do you really think the people are coming to see a somersaulting lion. Ah, ah, not one bit. Shame on you. Now this is strike one for you, two more to go and you are out .And Lion do the sitting on the chair for the next two months."

Our almost normal Lion worked on new tricks when he had time.He improvised the classics and invented new ones. He showed it to his friends who were impressed by the new tricks, but they didn't try to learn these new tricks cos they were satisfied with what the H.O.D taught them, after all they were not 'almost normal' like our Lion. Anyway the jumping through the hoop of fire was a walk in the park for our Lion and he was so confident with the trick that on the 3rd week he did a perfect 180 degree flip when he was jumping through the hoop. All the other Lions were shocked with wonder when they saw this exciting maneuver. Some actually clapped in disbelief. But the H.O.D shouted at the almost Normal Lion "Well what’s wrong with you, you insolent exhibitionist. No biped with a sane mental state would love this.What,whats that smug on your face? If you think that you have accomplished anything with this, well then be prepared to be disappointed, for you are going to be nothing but a royal pain in the ass, and by the way that’s strike two for you."

All his friends rushed to him(when the H.O.D left of course), they patted him on his furry back, the lionesses were having a thermostat failure in their hearts but everyone, even his closest friend advised him to tone it down a bit. The Almost normal Lion had a strange smile on his face, which scared his friends

The next day the H.O.D woke up hearing a strange music accompanied with an applause and whistling. He rushed to the training camp. The almost Normal Lion was twirling 4 hoola hips on his waist, 2 each on his two arms and he was dancing along the way. The African grey parrot was wolf whistling from his perch; the chimps with the opposable thumbs were applauding. The other lions were looking in awe at their friend. The entire camp was riveted to this one big show. The H.O.D rushed to the center, cut the music and faced our Lion."You foolish arrogant good for nothing twiddle brain. Who do you think you are? You are nothing but a nobody and I am going to make sure that you will become one. Strike three for you Lion. Be there at the council meeting today at 3"

The council was summoned, to decide the fate of the almost normal Lion. The council consisted of the parrot trainer dumb, the chimp trainer dumber and the H.O.D (No lions were invited). A bailiff read out the charge sheet "You Lion aka,the almost normal lion, is found guilty for using innovation in the campus and becoming un-lionlike in the ERA of SESSIONAls. On the charge of becoming a motivation to other Lions we find you guilty. On the charge of challenging the existing curriculum and suggesting improvements we the council find you guilty and more over the council finds you guilty on the H.O.D's complaint of you becoming a different Lion. Based on this charges and according to the power vested on the Lion Trainer by the king, we judge you guilty, and you will be castrated at 1200 hrs tommorrow.The council is adjourned."

At this point in time I am going with an abrupt ending to our story, its not because I have crossed my 2000 words but because its the right thing to do. If this was a movie, there would have been scenes were the almost normal Lion would give a terriffic speech about how obsolete todays education system is and how the Lion Tamers and especially the H.O.D should open their eyes to the changed new world and in the process move the council, or there would have been scenes where the Lions and chimps would rebel along with the parrots and eventually topple the system. But this is just an almost true story, and as mentioned earlier sadly this story takes place in the era of sessionals and so that was the last scene of our story, for the almost Normal Lion was castrated at 1200hrs and he died after 4 days. As for the other Lions they were recruited by the top circuses and they continued to be normal

*************THE END******************

AVATAR, a true insight into the present and future

Just came back after seeing AVATAR, the new hot topic in the movie world, a special blend of technology that actually satisfied the critics, which is really rare For those readers who feel that this is a review about the movie, please don't go any further. I mean I am not a critic; I am just an ordinary fellow who has the biggest passion for Cinema and the magic happening inside.

I am an Indian, a Malayali to be precise (another way to say that I am from Kerala, Gods own country or as National Geographic puts it The Land of Coconut and Lagoons). Here a 3d film is something a bit rare and people would definitely rush to the Cinema just because its 3D. To those Grand Parents coming with their grandsons hoping to see sparks or spears thrown straight at you, or ice creams being offered so close to your eyes you actually blink for the first time in front of an ordinary Ice-cream, please please and please raised to the power infinity, stay off the Cinema, because this is not the movie for you.This is serious stuff, and has to be appreciated on that level. This is not a 3D movie where the script is done for one, rather this is a script which can only be defined in 3D.If we have to understand or realize what we have done with our world, we have to see what we destroyed and Pandora is exactly what earth was, and is exactly what it will never be. And to appreciate the beauty of what we missed the movie has to be in 3D(as if to say, shame on You!!)

For me, the movie really satisfied my senses, and seriously I am not a big fan of overrated visual magic, the script warranted each and every one of the effects the movie showcases. As a matter of fact this movie is a huge relief in an array of apocalyptic movies with all the destructions and hell loads of running and flying and with the movie closing with the hero's family or his friends as the last survivors. Gosh I really hate those movies

James Horner,the genius as he is, has done some amazing work with the moods in this film, the music is truly original and spell binding and has blended along with the movie. No wonder he has got two nominations for the film in the Golden Globes and I will eat my Hat if he doesn't win them both.

The cinematography and editing is innovative and brilliant. The word exceptional is so soft a word when we use it for a new miracle in film making. Hats off to all the techy nerdy geniuses who pushed the wall to a new dimension.


The actors did justice to the script, and the two who really stick out, are Zoe Saldana who plays the beautiful Neytiri and Stephen Lang who plays Colonel Miles Quaritch the ruthless, unstoppable Colonel, who gives a rat's fart about Diplomatic Solution. Both of them, let’s just say brilliant presentation people, beautiful work. Sam wothington(Jake Sully) and Sigourney Weaver(Dr. Grace Augustine) have done justice to their parts and no wonder this is a great school of actors, and I am definitely waiting for the sequel.

The Na'vi language was created by linguist Paul Frommer, who was hired by James Cameron to construct a language that was easily pronounceable by the actors, but lacking any resemblance or influence from any single human language. Considering the Middle Earth Saga of J.R.R.Tolkien this would have been a walk in the park(cant help it, great fan of J.R.R's work). But all together this is wonderful movie and a great watch.

My prediction: The movie will bag 7 academy awards(or may be 8 hoping Zoe Saldana will be considered) .

As for the plot of the movie, people please don’t be so Lazy, hop on your car or bike whatever it is that you people use and rush to the nearest Cinema, cos this blog is not about movie plots or ratings.This space is where I conclude, saying something that is straight from my heart.

The reason why I like Avatar is not because this is a Visual treat but because there is a greater truth that the movie project in all its 3-Dimensions. The Na'vis are a group of people who really understood the true meaning of Co-existing with nature, that same word which lost its hope after the Copenhagen Summit. The movie shows Colonel Miles Quaritch leading a party of marines destroying the beauty of the land exploiting the resources. Sounds so familiar, isn’t? Think!! All the while when we were booing the colonel, who did we actually hate. Colonel Miles Quaritchis is just a representation of Man's hunger for more,and the price of his deeds when he upsets the balance of nature. The deity Eywa is similar to Gaia the spirit of earth or let’s say mother Earth herself and the Colonel’s attempt to take out the tree of Eyra is symbollic to our attempt to exploit the last juice from this planet.Pandora as in the Pandora's Box represents the Nature we have lost, because of our indulgence and curiousity and we are still waiting for someone to close the lid so that we can save something for the future.

All I am suggesting here is the Na'vi stood against the powerful men in their fight for Pandorra, then why can’t we? Think!!!!!!!! One man cannot do everything but he can do something and act quickly for we may not have enough time. Let me sign off with a quote from the movie. Dr. Grace Augustine ‘s last words:

"I can see her(eywa),she is real"

The other Side of madness

Some days ago, me and my friends from my college visited this orphanage run by the missionaries of charity (yeah right the same one started by Mother Theresa). It was really some kind of "mixed bag" experience; you know the type where you feel an array of emotions at the exact same micro second. There was happiness, irritation, frustration,the feeling that you are doing the right thing, of course the pride that you have great friends and last but the not the least “I don’t made the baby cry" feeling. Tina, my soul sister, who I lovingly call "TT"(pronounce it as if u are saying “T” twice) came up with this idea to visit an orphanage which of course is not part of our lousy Engineering syllabus. Any who, there is this saying "Well begun is half done" (or something like that I am not sure about the starting part but I am pretty much sure any idiot with a second grade education can crack this code and understand what I meant), but screw the people who invented the proverbs, you know me (No you don't, but maybe someday u will) I was doing the thing I do best that day, being Lazy. And Aneesh who I lovingly call Chuku dropped by, just to kill me because I was not answering his calls and my mom actually discovered a new way to accidently make the phone "out of service".

He dragged me out of the house and took me to the Spencer food world and we bought some fruits (I saw a lot of apples man, different names but you know they were just red to me, some were pale, some were really dark, but eventually just say apples are red and there colours make the difference at least wallet wise), the international brand of light drinking, “Tang" and some chocolates for the kids. We entered the premises at about 11:30. The looks from the other side of the blue gate, the one where the real world is, was I guess a bit different, you know. I was just having these mental frames where we were giving the fruits and niceties to the children and some boy with a red T-shirt punching me on my crotch, screaming "We don’t need fruits any more even if it’s part of the diet plan"(sorry for being insensitive, but damn me and my inner Cinema, I really have to shut it down). Team "Fruit Basket" got in the compound.

It was vaguely decorated with all this xmas spirit still occupying the noon air, and there he was the boy with red T-shirt (damn this inner Cinema), he was coming to me, O dear Eiywa, my crotch. He stretched his arm and waited. It took me a while to actually understand the situation, I mean with this long film stripes running inside your head, it’s actually hard to register the twist in a story. Any how I came to my senses eventually. I understood the 2 year's language. He wanted me to lift him up, and funny thing was that there weren’t any of that hypocrite's crap of saying hello or a good afternoon, or how do you do? A simple gesture of an outstretched hand is all that is required to break all the ice. I obliged and he was way up in mid air with just me, a total stranger supporting him and strangely enough the boy did trust me. We spend some time together, all the while, he was enjoying the view from 5 feet 6 inches above the ground.

His name is Ratheesh, cute fellow and I don’t know if he can pronounce or as a matter of fact remember my name, and I am not sure what was going through his mind all those 1 hr he spend with me,(maybe a hope that I will stay, or maybe a hope of a new life or may be nothing, I really am going with nothing because, (1) he is a 2 years old and all the love from him is without a want and, (2) it really makes sense). He touched ground at about 12:30 and rushed for lunch.

There were about 37 children there, but irrespective of the sex or the level of cuteness or the ability to walk or talk, every one, I mean every one of them is a Ratheesh, all beautiful, all small, all in need of the love they deserve, all Children of God. There was "Thumby"(U as in Universal and not Umbrella) who couldn’t talk, yet, who took a special affection towards Rohith, Lima who would pass that very beautiful flying kiss(She was adopted by a couple but they gave her back because according to them she has a temper. Would you believe it she is just 1 or 2 yrs old and you are judging some tiny tot, after all she is not a commodity, to replace if it has some defects) to each and every one of us, a Saranya who was about few months old and clasped my pointing finger with all her tiny fingers which actually made me realize what Ross's dad explained to him in Friends season 1. There is a Muthulekshmi who is now doing her 8th standard, and Nimisha who always had a strange look on her face as if she didn’t trust us, and whenever one of us tried to break the ice, she cried and she really cried hard (She was with her mother till recently and well now she is here and can't blame her for not wanting to share company), and this cute,adorable, nameless beauty who is just 1 week old to whom Sadath was singing a strange lullaby. The world around us was I should say the paradise, for Jesus says “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
(Matthew 18:2-6 ESV). We left the place at about 2 and I must say that was one of the best days of my life.

But I am just wondering if I showed them too much love. Now hold on a second before you judge me. I mean think of those beautiful shooting stars which you see just ones and you wish you would see it again or that it was too short.Why should I give such love to them to those I am sure I won’t be able to give it permanently, may be its just me and my weird sense of love, or maybe I am a product of that Victorian cliché of "charity creates idle men", maybe my brain is protecting me from a bigger truth, that I really care for this tots. The best thing I can do about it is that I can visit Ratheesh,Lima, or Saranya whenever I can or I can write about my experience so that someday maybe a friend or a friend of friend who will read this simple chapter, may also feel the same way.

Any way merry xmas and a happy new year friends

PROLOUGUE

As in any story my story also has to have a prolougue and this is wat it is:

I had just finished chethan bagath's second lame book THE ONE NIGHT @ A CALL CENTRE,and i was cursing myself for spending nearly 10 hrs of my precious weekend when my dear friend PAUL called me.I took it very reluctantly(i wudnt have taken it at all if my mom was not in such a rage with her red eyes maliciciosly stabbing me metaphorically for breaking the golden rule,DONT DISTURB while i sleep).He was estatic,"alis dis u hear abt the BLOG man the BLOG that is the hot topic in india, just saw her blog man,its cool,i was thinking we can also do sumthing like tht u know,be true with our day 2 day lives and all""wat the fuck man,u woke me up for this crap,i really didnt sleep yesterday with all the bullshit frm this book u gave me,and here u are raving abt some god forsaken blog",i hung up and went to the one plce more beautiful thn paris,MY BED

Today is the 31st sunday 2008 august ,14 days after paul gave tht irritating call,and here i am in front of a pc,my pc,typing these words on the keyboard blogging for the first time.My mom always says tht if sumthings is destined to be urs u dont have to wander in search of it time will bring u to it and here i am deleting and typing intrested in this dialougue box the prolougue of a possible best seller


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