Accessible Horizon

to manifest..?

2012-01-27T05:52:00.004-05:00

A pattern in my imagination repeats itself..
of something wanting to release itself from within..
the type of communication that i am familiar with, does not work here..
i wait...or endure?
the restlessness building up within..
maybe it is not an independent thing...
and has to be a Collective Creative process!
Where are the rest of the parts?
out there??

Creative Mythology - Joseph Campbell

2012-01-26T05:26:00.005-05:00

The best things cannot be told,
the second best are misunderstood.
After that comes civilized conversation;
after that, mass indoctrination;
after that, intercultural exchange.
And so, proceeding, we come to the problem of communication; the opening , that is to say, of one's own truth and depth to the depth and truth of another in such a way as to establish an authentic community of existence.
- The word behind words, Symbolic Speech.

rastaa...

2012-01-19T07:30:00.006-05:00

The corporeal self is very aware of its limits...
the spirit within knows none..
which is why it sometimes pushes the former
into unknown realms where it can realize more
of its strength..
the spirit prepares the finite self to extend its boundaries..
so someday it can come face to face with the infinite...
such instances are rare and initially faced with
tight resistances..by the corporeal..
but once endured, boasts of an experience profound..
in this realm..and uses that energy to enhance the journey further!

Shuruaat...!

2012-01-18T09:05:00.004-05:00

A commencement...of a different kind..
A journey into another realm..
what does it mean in this reality?
is something that should be thought upon..
i stand between the finite that pulls me down
to this reality like gravity...
and another realm that floats just above the surface..
of my existence...
will i tread and never look back..
or will i stay back and wait for some sign?
being open to the infinite unpredictable possibilities..
is the key...i hear..feel..sense.
and wait for the portal to open!

Trailer New Doc - Metroxical New York

2011-12-10T23:16:00.001-05:00

Here's the trailer for our new documentary film, Metroxical New York.

HDSLR Canon 7D, 5D - From the trenches

2011-11-23T04:39:00.001-05:00

Here are a few observations about the HDSLRs Canon 7D and 5D, based on experiences on-location from our indie production. Though this is all very basic and already known information from various forums and DPs and pro-HDSLR users, we thought it might be good to share our views on these. Though we were initially skeptical about them, once we started work, we realized it is one of the best options for independent filmmakers, especially when you are going low-budget and/or experimental.

Pros

Excellent Image quality(2K resolution) thatlooks like film (even Hollywood productionshave been using the 7D/5D footage)
Small, easily maneuverable in small spaces andcan remain without being noticed
Works very well in low light situations
Big screen compatibility - Footage can beprojected on big screens. This was a big question we had. So we tested the 7D and EX1 footage simultaneously atReal Image Media technologies, Chennai. The 7D stood up very well in comparison.
Easy learning curve
Camera accessories are relatively light-weightand can be made ourselves if we follow some Do-It-Yourself methods. We made our own dollies(track and tabletop), steadicams and the wheel cam rig, with help from youtube videos and the collective internet knowledge.

Cons

Not very conducive for fast motion or actionshots. You can, but you have to be selective about it.
Slow panning also causeschoppiness.
Limited Lens setup but this will slowly changewith a lot of new lenses(CP2) coming up. But again, they are expensive.
Follow focus is very difficult considering thelenses that are compatible.
Slowmotion in full HD1920*1080 resolution is not recommended.
When shooting outdoors, exposure has to be controlled consciously. Of course, this applies for any camera but with digital, take extra care.

Gear used
Lenses used – 50mm Canon(F/1.8), 85mm Zeiss(F/1.4),100-400mm L Zoom F/4.5-5.6 Canon, 12-24mm(F/3.5-5.6) Sigma(not recommended for5D because of vignetting), 16-35mm Canon (F/2.8), Canon 24-105mm Zoom(F/4)

Two 8 GB Sandisk Cards

KingstonCard reader
Pics: One of our Cameramen, shoots a scene with the 5D and the DIY wheel cam rig. In the 2nd pic, the 7D is pictured with the 100-400mm L Zoom Lens and the 5D with the 16-35mm lens. The actors get ready for the take.

Not a dog’s day

2011-11-19T10:36:00.001-05:00

(Ok, this post is atleast 2 weeks old, just found the time.) Perhaps the highlight of today is sitting at a coffee shopin the second floor of a shopping mall, in ‘mid-town’ Chennai and sipping on acappuccino and looking out the glass window at the rain-mud-and-filth soakedtraffic below. I neither feel pity nor wear a smug smile as I witness therat-race because it really hasn’t been long since I was in the sludge, wadingthrough murky waters which are obviously a result of our freakin awesomedrainage system. Don’t get me wrong when I say that I’m in the shopping malland contemplating life in such elite quarters. Mind you, I’m not a fuckingelite, though I can be and sometimes act like one(and that’s a whole differentargument altogether) just to empathize with things on both sides of the spectrum.I just freaking hate mindless consumerism but I will hate it from inside aglitzy shopping mall. I’m a minimalist, a bloody local with thoughts verging onthe extreme. On the rare instances I will pay Rs.90 for a coffee with which Ican sit comfortably in a lounge-like ambience for more than a couple of hours trying to make sense of Dito Montiel’s interview in Filmmaker mag or ArundhatiRoy’s incendiary ‘Shape of the Beast’(ok I ain't going for pretense there). As I wait for the guys to get back, I thought, ok fine, with all the commotionoutside and inside my head, lemme vent out stuff.

Why is today not a dog’sday? Well, then don’t ask me if every other day is a dog day. Not for me, it’snot. Today, as with any other day I travel/commute, I witnessed about a 150dogs, bitches, bitches with babies inside them and pups scattered all around inthe rain doing what they would normally do. Experience a ‘dog’s life’. Having thelife of an ‘underdog’. Spending a Dog day afternoon. Groundhog day. See? Morereferences. No wonder we termed it so. (ok so groundhog doesn’t have anythingto do with a dog but still they sound the same)And today was more than normalfor them, especially with the cold and almost omnipresent uncertainty that therains bring with them. And earlier in the day, before we came to Chennai, wehad to transport 5 wet, shivering pups (who’d been taken away from theirmother) from the soggy paddy fields to our humble abode in the village. Back tothe 150 canines, their faces were so full of implication, that I could write apage each about what they were thinking. I mean, if they actually do. Or dothey just live in the moment? Taking each day as it came? Surprisingly, many ofour human kind seemed to have the same expression, or were they worse? Can’ttell. Really. But these days, my guess is we humans are becoming pathetic inmore ways than one. So, pretty soon, to say, ‘it’s a dog’s day’ will become NOTa bad thing after all. Because, as people, especially as Indians, we suffermore than we can endure. No I take that back. We suffer uhh…more than what wethink we can endure(coz we can endure shit-just-about-anything), but as we getaccustomed to that, we reach the next phase of suffering and we endure that tooand the chain continues. So henceforth, thou shall pat each other in the backs,in congratulatory delight, because we love to revel in our hopelessly romanticstatus as sufferers. (pic from google)

An evening after the shoot

2011-11-11T23:09:00.001-05:00

The calm after the storm. Was a hot sunny day with too much chaos in the location. We scrambled to get our day's work done. But the sun had had enough waiting for us. So we knelt down in submission.

Independent film in India - Status quo?

2011-10-15T01:38:00.001-04:00

Yawn, we don’t need another filmmaker to rant and rave about the struggles of Independent filmmaking and how he/she braved the storm or carried the torch to create yet another ‘masterful, unique’ Indie film that not many people(except of course his/her close circle of friends) would pay to watch or even watch, do we? In other words, do Indie films in India even matter, in the larger sense of the society? We are the insanely loudest democracy in the world so much so that even the big, typically commercial studio ventures get silenced pretty soon if not for the star-frenzy or the weekend hype they manufacture. And multiply that with the differences in regional languages. I can’t help but make the comparison with the Indie film scene in the US. Of course in the US, there is quite a sense of that camaraderie through Indie magazines like Moviemaker, Filmmaker, Film comment or even DIY film sites like Indy Mogul, Video Co-pilot and programs like IFP and Tribeca AA. These agents help and guide the larger Indie community or at least seem to have a space for the outcasts. And sometimes, they lead to successful creative partnerships that could lead to getting their voices heard.

This is part of the reason why many Indian Indie filmmakers keep referring to the American independent film scene or deviants of the Hollywood system for some kind of insight. Is there a sense of an Indie community other than a few blogs that seemingly fight the good fight? Considering the already outcast status of Indie films, don’t these filmmakers need to stick together, in the sense of creating a din so loud with their films that they DEMAND to be heard and seen? Of course, even a couple of reasonably informative web-zines(dearcinema) have only a minimal amount of posts by filmmakers that are creating something new or are off the beaten track. So to even say that we have an independent film scene would be an exaggeration, but we can think whatever we want to keep our restless souls assuaged. In that same vein when the filmmakers blame audiences for not coming out to support them, it seems like a bit overreached.

Pessimistic as it may sound but to romanticize the notion of Indie filmmaking as a way of being different for different’s sake without understanding the birth pangs would be tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot. The Indie community has almost every odd against them. So if they want to keep creating the work that they want, one has to have an unromanticized passion(if you can still call it that) towards their work or getting themselves to a place where they can at least not worry about satisfying the system or at least accept the fact that unless their work demands to be seen, they have to learn to accept the rejection. There’s this article about being a ‘nobody filmmaker’ which many filmmakers go through in their journey towards creating something meaningful. I think it’s part of the rite of passage or building character, the rejection and non-acceptance(in conventional terms) of work that you have passionately been churning, until you get that elusive ‘break’. Though I don’t completely agree that one has to bide their time to even think or aspire big.

So what do, ‘the insignificants’, ‘the nobodys’, ‘the outcasts’ category of filmmakers do in order to stay afloat, at least keep their head above water? The prime thing could be to keep churning out work that they truly believe in, at the same time and maybe(if it’s not much to ask) share a little bit of what they learnt during the process which kind of fosters a sense of support around each other. Having had a few encounters with ‘professional crew’ here, I sense a strong defensiveness about sharing what they have learnt over the years. As if teaching that to others would deprive them of their superior knowledge status and their careers. So in a way, that makes it even more compelling to do things unconventionally and hopefully result in an outcome that’s outside the box. And if there developed a forum where all things unconventional came together then that would gradually become the convention, where the Indies find the space they can work in and express the unexpressed. But as many have said before, truly ground-breaking work comes from limitations and deviations from the norm and so it is here that we learn more, from the trenches, the gutters, the filth and the stench of reality.

The above is a production still from 'Adiyaaluku Podiyal' (The Goon's stooge) where you can see our man 'Dass' wielding the Canon 7D. The rig that the 7D is mounted on, is our own, DIY, self-designed table top dolly with the stylish colors and the tripod head. Proof that the Indie spirit is alive and kicking.

HD footage to SD DVD

2011-10-09T00:54:00.000-04:00

Just a quickie on how to get best quality output from HD footage to SD DVD. Thanks to Vijay for helping out with this.
1. Export as quicktime mov with Apple Prores HD codec. Same dimensions as your source.
2. Encode to mpeg2 using Compressor. In settings, ensure "progressive" is selected, that you have 16:9 enabled.
3. Quality has plenty to do with bitrate you're using. Use variable bitrate (vbr). Somewhere in the ballpark of 3500-3800 kbps is a good number for avg bitrate for a 2 hour movie to fit on a 4.7 gb dvd.

Then play it on DVD player/TV to see results. Typically there's a big difference in watching on the computer screen as opposed to a TV screen.

Exporting for HD streaming on the web

2011-09-30T14:01:00.000-04:00

This process has probably been done to death in Post-prodn forums but thought one more reiteration can only help. For search purposes, the above topic can also be phrased Exporting for Withoutabox or IMDB Secure Screener online. Because the requirements state that the file to be uploaded should be no more than 2 GB. So if you have a HD file(1920*1080) that is 10 GBs or more, here's what you can do to conform and still have a reasonable quality.

1. Export as a Quicktime Movie with Current Settings and check the 'Make Movie self-contained'. I don't know if keeping it unchecked would make a difference.
2. Now open this full resolution file in Compressor and choose the following export options.
3. In the Settings window, under format, choose 'Quicktime, H.264' and drag it onto the file above.
4. Once you set the destination, click on the file. Now on the Inspector window, you will see the options available.
5. Now click on the second(Encode) button and click on Video Settings. Change the dimensions to 1280*720. Keep the setting as H.264 and in the bitrate change it to the desired value. For a 40 min HD video, we set the bitrate at 4000 kbps to keep it under 2 GB. Use the bitrate that would work best for you.
One question may arise as to why we need to export/convert to a Full resolution video before compressing on compressor. 1. To free up FCP when you are using compressor. 2. To speed up the compression process as opposed to exporting from an FCP sequence. (pic courtesy from ken's fcp)

Metroxical New York - New Documentary Film

2011-09-18T15:29:00.000-04:00

Music. Metro. New York city. Future of society. A poetic narrative about underground subway music in New York city and how it forms the basis for a futuristic collective society. Metroxical New York is our latest production in the roster of Accessible Horizon Films' documentary genre. The doc. is about music, the musicians and the New York city subway. Well, it's actually much more than that.
It really started out with our exploratory subway commutes over time interacting with musicians from almost every part of the world, eventually leading upto this moment where we just burned DVDs for submissions to various international film festivals. Audio post-production was really tedious but we made it through. Still tons of things to learn. Anyways, will add more stuff about it soon. Trailer's on the way.

Editing – The Non-linear, Mind-bending Asana

2011-08-15T09:53:00.004-04:00

Editing is like intense meditation. More so, meditation that forces you to concentrate so intensely that you have to first take time to get into it, then stay in there focused and then take an equal if not more time to get out of it. Or it may also be comparable to sitting on the shit-pot on a fairly constipated day and trying to focus all your energies at that one point, ‘doing’ it and then slowly relaxing your way out of it. I had to resort to that scatological reference for nothing else could be more illuminating.
I am, at any rate, not a meditative person but tough times call for tough measures. So here we are, well into the Editing aura. Two major portions have been completed(rough cut) as of last week, but the remaining is yet to be brought into contact with the scissors. Today as I look up at what’s ahead of us, it’s sort of daunting to say the least. Actually, a better expression would be an anticipated sigh of exhaustion. It’s literally twisting the mind into following a rigorous and methodical procedure. (Signing off end of June).
Contd from present(The gap is thanks to the unavailability of power and the patchy access to internet) Another way of describing non-linear editing is that it resembles the writing process. Or you could say it’s basically re-writing the script visually but with your previously imaginary characters who now have a defined form and personality. I typically make a layout of the usable/good clips before starting the actual cut like outlining the script before I actually start writing the scenes. Just noting down random but usable thoughts in the detailed outline, then proceeding to write the nuances. So here in the editing timeline(like a palette to artists or the blank document for scribes), the re-re-creation happens. I say two ‘re-s’ because they say a film is made 3 times. Once while writing the script, 2nd while shooting it and 3rd while editing it. But anyways.
One thing I noticed though, is not to look at the entire layout too often. Take shots of a particular scene or a small sequence, get to work, finish it and then move on to the next one. Keep doing it until you have no other sequences. To be clear, basically, take 1 sure step at a time and don’t look at the mountain ahead too often. Awright, I’m getting out of character here and before I start rambling away, I need to stop. And the rough cut is almost done. Almost...so I need to meditate a bit more.

Rusticating away...from the past!

2011-07-29T23:28:00.006-04:00

This is a post written almost 2 months back. So let's keep the chronology in mind....After all the madness of Production work(which is now comfortably in the near past) in the cities, Post-production now seems to be quite a breeze in ‘the little village we know so well…’, (yes, Asterix reference), ok lemme rephrase, in a little village called Kavanoor, near Arakonam Taluk. For the geographically challenged, it is about 170kms from Pondicherry or about 100kms NW of Chennai. When I say ‘breeze’ it is only in comparison to the city schedule, and I am, in no way, being a reductionist when talking about Post-production being a breeze. Get that! But again, before getting into the details of work, there are some things about village life that begs to be told. Not that 10 days of it are enough or qualifies one to write a thesis on this kind of living, just that in this age when we seem so frantically searching for something in our fast-paced urban life that will take us to the next level or whatever, it feels kinda like taking the back-seat and looking at things retrospectively.
Ok ok timeout…for now there’s a thunderstorm that’s adamant on demanding my attention. Am back. It seems months had passed since the rains smooched the earth and today, it's a hard-core French kiss. The strong wind is shaking the living daylights out of the big teak tree that’s in our backyard (as if it wasn’t already breezy enough here to sway the tree thereby emitting the only sound we can hear around us). Ok now continuing after a 4-day hiatus.
And about the subjective reality here. Yes, I’m gonna make a couple of revelations that may shock the shit of you city-slickers out there. One, that power outage happens every morning between 9 and 12. Not to mention the periodic (5 to 10 minute) breaks in power any time and also during the rains. Two, the lack of…uhh…the internet! Yes, don’t panic for us because we have gotten used to this way of life, at least for now.
But the biggest difference or change that you can feel, is the enormous availability or rather the protracted-ness of the indefinable and strangely(but ironically) unquantifiable TIME. There seems to be too much of it. Obviously you can’t help but romanticize the surroundings especially when you haven’t really experienced this way of living before. But then again, this extension of space-time(I use it both literally and figuratively and also because I don’t wanna segregate the two) really helps to do the one thing that’s most imperative right now – EDITING which is a process in itself. I’m gonna save it for the next post. Signing off around mid-June. The above is a shot of the backyard just after the rains.

Stop-gap

2011-07-13T01:27:00.003-04:00

Ok, this is one of those times when we've been meaning to update for a while but because of various avoidable and unavoidable reasons could not. I've written 2 posts in the mean time but haven't really sat down to post them. But what's actually been happening is E-D-I-T-I-N-G. So until we muster up enough resolve to let you in on the details...see? can't even finish this...

Of the mind...

2011-06-04T13:48:00.002-04:00

Just when you think you know it all, you get a reality check, a real fucking hard slap in your face. A lesson in humility, modesty…about the greatest ever lesson ever taught or will be taught – life. Yes, you can swear or scoff all you want, but it sometimes feels like an existential crisis out here, I mean, in the mind. Maybe ignorance is really bliss. Why do we have to try to learn so much and suddenly have to realize one day(that oft repeats itself) that you gotta unlearn it all and then relearn it all. Arrrrrggggghhh, the irony of it all!!!

C'est la rue!

2011-05-30T14:49:00.002-04:00

Rue Pedro Canagaraya Moudaliar

Of radicals and resurgence...

2011-05-22T15:33:00.007-04:00

A little excerpt from one of the many ramblings...

"There are a lot of things that's making me feel alive. I'd think twice about saying this out loud, but i think i'm evolving into a state which makes my foundational philosophies question literally just about everything. the basis of everything we've learned.

No specific goals in the horizon but this time i feel, is a time for revolutions, not of the gun-trotting kind but of something more infectious...more viral...more in times with the 'now' where everyone feels the need for change but not sure how to go about it. but i feel energized, a sort of resurgence within, which we hope to spread through the ideas within. for right now, thots are being made into celluloid reality through radical means for that is the way to go.

now i feel is a time, where non-conformism is the new conformism, where the darkness of shadow is the presence of light somewhere close, where the unheard voices will be heard, where the mind is without fear. coz that is the only way to break out of this godamn prison the humans have created for themselves. the alienation, the desperation for something as basic as love, the feeling of helpless doom where the soul is cornered into a seemingly irreversible blackhole. "

Corridor Noir

2011-05-18T11:48:00.003-04:00

Shot in progress - as seen through the tripod. Setting the mood.

Ok been there done that...next?

2011-05-16T23:36:00.004-04:00

What do you do when you reach a point in time which you’ve been wanting to for a long time? So much so that you think, ‘I’m gonna burst my lungs out in pure inhalator-y bliss?’ when you reach there. Do you actually scream out in ecstasy? Do you run around naked like Archimedes when he hit upon the discovery and yelled Eureka? Do you feel like the shaken, corked-up champagne which has just gotten its liberation? I mean, do you ‘really’ feel the exhilaration?
ORRRRR…do you feel a transcendent moment where everything seems sublime & ethereal and experience a quiet sense of ‘It had to happen and now I’m here’ and not really feel the way you thought you would feel? Now that we have completed a process, one that has been pending for a long time, I am left wondering in a state of intermediate high as to what one should feel. Anyways, here’s a tiny glimpse of what’s yet to come. No points for guessing who this is.

A lil' trip

2011-04-24T13:37:00.001-04:00

Feel it.

Amidst the calm...

2011-04-22T23:30:00.004-04:00

I've never wanted someone so bad (ok wisecracks, you know what I mean). I even had a dream a couple of nights back - a faceless but somehow intense 'Jenny' came up to me and said "oh you still haven't found her, you poor, languishing insomniac? Lemme put you out of your misery...yes...I'll be HER". Ok, fine, she didn't exactly say that but you get the drift. While we brood over Jenny's so-close-yet-so-far predicament, lemme put out something to show a sign of activity. This is in Palavedu, Periya Annan's headquarters.

Casting Call - Jenny!! Where are you???

2011-04-20T14:50:00.006-04:00

Casting Call - Alternative Tamil Short Film (Chennai/Pondicherry)

We are casting for a key female character 'Jenny' in her early t0 mid-20s to play an extreme character. Interested folks can contact the number in the poster. (Orig. pic courtesy Google.)

Grinding Halt

2011-04-19T14:10:00.004-04:00

I guess I spoke too fast last week. We suddenly find ourselves coming to a screeching halt in our production. All because of you --- > JENNY, JENNY --- WHERE ART THOU?

Cosmic Conspiracy - Production still

2011-04-11T10:18:00.008-04:00

Sometimes I wonder what really makes things happen in the cosmos. I mean, how does a thought become a creation…through a series of seemingly chaotic, difficult and sometimes impossible stages? Here, in Bangalore, we just finished our shooting schedule surmounting a sequence of things that weren't in place. The people aligned, the location aligned, the process of shooting itself aligned, the flow, the vibe, the energy, literally everything came into alignment. The shoot went quite well, with the adrenalin pumping and everything. Who do we acknowledge apart from the people? I guess it's needless to say. It's also strange that some other things happened too but let's leave it for later. Here's a glimpse of what happened.

A morsel from the cauldron

2011-04-04T02:48:00.004-04:00

I know we haven't been updating anything from the 'making of' process. As expected, the going got very crazy and we are still figuring out our next schedule. But here's a little morsel out of the production cauldron. This is a tree that we shot one of our scenes from, in Palavedu village, a little away from Avadi. This is from the 'Social Worker's' story.

The madness is on...

2011-02-27T13:31:00.003-05:00

It's finally time and pre-production is almost over. Our short films are on the verge of taking an identity. Planning for the wildest ride in a long time. My head is about to explode into mushroom cloud. At least that's how it feels. The anticipation, the craziness, the fucking high...wonder if dope can be this intense. The psychedelia of it all. Mannnnnnnnnnn......

Distinctly Pondy

2011-02-04T03:19:00.002-05:00

One of the few roads not taken much but very distinct in its style. Where French meets Indian.

Sax Player in New York City Subway

2010-12-14T00:34:00.005-05:00

This was shot during our documentary film shoot about the Subway Music in New York City Times Square Stattion. Something about his pathos inducing note made us wanna obscure his identity. Think his name's Ahmed or something, couldn't quite catch it coz his voice was broken. He himself seemed a broken man and his music was haunting enough to prove it.

Short Film - Chasm in Time

2010-12-14T00:12:00.005-05:00

One of our short films made almost 2 years back.
Synopsis: When the subjective realities of the materialistic world and the war-torn world meet, the only visible consequence is the chasm between them. When three friends 'accidentally' meet a super-market employee, he is not what he seems.
Cast: Cornelio Abella, Karthik Srinivasan, Joey Mintz, Kymm Walker.

2G Scam? What 2G Scam?

2010-12-09T11:59:00.003-05:00

World Free Consultants

2010-12-07T02:31:00.004-05:00

World Free Consultants are those who do any kind of help to serve the people or a community for free.

A new wiki page is created which will comprise a collection of all those wonderful souls who exist among us in this very world we live in. Here anyone can add in the people whom they know who are helping either a few people or a community with whatever skills they are capable of. This wiki is not dedicated to any particular country or region or a sect of people. This is for us, the people of this universe. Please feel free to add more people to the list here.

Protect Julian Assange Campaign

2010-12-03T04:03:00.007-05:00

If we, the people, need to protect Julian Assange and his ideals, we need no other reason than this. This is a quote from his personal blog's archives - http://web.archive.org/web/20071007093903/http://iq.org/

"Every time we witness an injustice and do not act, we train our character to be passive in its presence and thereby eventually lose all ability to defend ourselves and those we love. In a modern economy it is impossible to seal oneself off from injustice.

If we have brains or courage, then we are blessed and called on not to frit these qualities away, standing agape at the ideas of others, winning pissing contests, improving the efficiencies of the neocorporate state, or immersing ourselves in obscuranta, but rather to prove the vigor of our talents against the strongest opponents of love we can find.

If we can only live once, then let it be a daring adventure that draws on all our powers. Let it be with similar types whos hearts and heads we may be proud of. Let our grandchildren delight to find the start of our stories in their ears but the endings all around in their wandering eyes.

The whole universe or the structure that perceives it is a worthy opponent, but try as I may I can not escape the sound of suffering. Perhaps as an old man I will take great comfort in pottering around in a lab and gently talking to students in the summer evening and will accept suffering with insouciance. But not now; men in their prime, if they have convictions are tasked to act on them."

The harassment by the system (US and the world) is proof enough that we not only live in deteriorating times but also one that seeks to suppress the voice of the people. To them, to us all, Julian represents the ideal. Let's protect Julian Assange, not just in the literal sense, but also the ideals that he projects.

Warrant Balaw - Law made simple!

2010-11-28T00:13:00.004-05:00

We are governed by laws but we do not know what law is; we do not know about our privileges and duties and so we are made to live with suffering, not knowing how to live peacefully.Pleading in courts of law is as easy as having discussion with members of the family says WARRANT BALA a simple, honest human being who has been helping the common man for the past 10 years and making him aware of the legal system through his knowledge (from his own experience) and books NETHIYAI THEDI series. You can read about his efforts from his blog...
http://warrantbala.blogspot.com/

What the planet needs right now - A MOTHER

2010-11-27T08:53:00.002-05:00

They say that God can't be everywhere so he created mothers. But for all those who do not have a mother, there are people like Sindhutai Sapkal who shower them with the love and affection of a mother.

Sindhutai Sapkal is helping begger, orphan children. So far she has adopted 1043 orphan children.
She has orphanages near Pune and Vardha.

Her homes survive on donations and grants as well as the award money she receives and she unabashedly continues to beg in cities and villages asking people to put whatever they can into a cloth she spreads out on a table after her speech. She is also invited to colleges and schools to address students and she unhesitatingly asks for donations. This year has been particularly tough because though the Savitribai Phule home runs on government aid, Sindhutai's orphanage in Saswad has not received its grant for the last two years from the cash-strapped Maharahstra government. And to make matters worse, there is also an acute water shortage in the area.

She says;
"Do write the address of my organization so that people can send any contribution - financial or material." Donations can be made to: Sanmati Bal Niketan, Meenakshi Building, Second Floor, Vihar Chowk, Hadapsar, Pune.

for more search for SINDHUTAI SAPKAL on the net.

Vijay Simha's Tehelka Column - What Indians politically do wrong

2010-11-19T11:19:00.006-05:00

While not sure about every aspect, still felt this is something we should rethink about. The thing is, we do know all this but what actually prevents us from doing what is right?

	PAMPER DYNASTIES Blinded by powerful families, we vote for them continually though our conscience must say no.

	DON’T REWARD FIGHTERS The CPI(ML) has been seeking a clean Bihar for years. They don’t get more than a handful of seats.

	IGNORE WORTHY NOMINEES Manmohan Singh lost by 29,999 votes in the 1999 South Delhi Lok Sabha election. Hasn’t contested since.

	DON’T CHANGE VOTING HABITS Grandfathers voted for Indira. We vote for Sonia and Rahul. The world has changed in between.

	GIVE UNDUE CREDIT The Congress didn’t do CNG in Delhi. The Supreme Court did.

	DON’T STAND AS ONE Thirty-seven parties in the Lok Sabha and 29 in the Rajya Sabha. Can get crazy, like in Jharkhand.

	ARE LETHARGIC Can’t step out, for causes or for voting. So, we minimise who we are.

	DON’T THINK The BJP in Gujarat after 2002. The Left for 33 years in West Bengal. Chamling since 1994 in Sikkim.

	CHOOSE PERSONALITIES, NOT POLICIES Amitabh. Dharmendra. Azharuddin. Jayaprada. Not liberalisation, Article 370, RTI, women’s reservation.

	ACCEPT BRIBES Liquor. Money. Land. Jobs. And sundry other favours. We are fine with it. They are fine with it.

The Zeitgeist Moving Forward

2010-11-18T02:09:00.005-05:00

Time to move forward from an illusion called money to love..
from one human living the moneyless life...
Suelo says in his blog...
I've been totally without cents since Autumn of 2000 (except for a couple months in 2001). I don't use or accept money or conscious barter - don't take food stamps or other government dole. My philosophy is to use only what is freely given or discarded & what is already present & already running (whether or not I existed). I don't see money as evil or good: how can illusion be evil or good? But I don't see heroin or meth as evil or good, either. Which is more addictive & debilitating, money or meth? Attachment to illusion makes you illusion, makes you not real. Attachment to illusion is called idolatry, called addiction. I simply got tired of acknowledging as real this most common world-wide belief called money! I simply got tired of being unreal. Money is one of those intriguing things that seems real & functional because 2 or more people believe it is real & functional!

Living Without Money - Documentary of a life

2010-11-18T00:55:00.003-05:00

A vision i see of a world...a planet breathing peace...a moneyless world..where every being will exist for the sake of love and the other..in a united purpose to realize the infinite within!

The enormity and the being!

2010-11-16T00:45:00.002-05:00

a teaching in itself of what can be done...
maybe...this jogs the memoir of only being a small speck!
in a great wide, ever-expanding vastness...
a taste of the enormity!!!

Daayen ya Baayen - Trailer of Indian Indie film

2010-10-28T02:37:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to spread the word about the film 'Daayen Ya Baayen' directed by Bela Negi, an FTII Pune graduate. Supporting this for the spirit of Indie film in India.

Must-see Documentary - Man on Wire...

2010-10-26T14:52:00.007-04:00

...should actually be phrased 'Man on Fire' - the fire of determination that is; and the indomitable will to do what you want no matter what. The documentary film directed by James Marsh 'chronicles Philippe Petit's 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center. It is based on Philippe Petit's book, To Reach the Clouds, recently released in paperback with the new title Man on Wire'.(source Wiki)
In the film Philip says "It was impossible...that's why I had to do it". There are 2 profound aspects in the film. One, the triumphant will of Philip, and two, his post-walking "success-story" as a human being and the impact on his friendships/love(though not depicted much). This is something to watch out for because the current knowledge about the WTC changes the way you see the film.

Bereft Beauties 2 - Aravanis/Thirunangais

2010-10-08T07:54:00.005-04:00

More...These pictures can be used freely only if portrayed in a positive manner. Pls do not misuse them.

Bereft Beauties 1 - Aravanis/Thirunangais

2010-10-08T07:24:00.009-04:00

During the Aadi Festival in August, our team went to Salem(Tamil Nadu) to shoot some footage of various Tamil folk artists and performers who were part of the festivities. It is an ongoing documentary film project which we hope to produce through a possible collaboration. While we did get a lot of amazing street performances, most of it was commercial(I use this word because instead of performing for actual folk music and songs, many were performing for popular movie songs, even 'item' numbers).
Amidst it all, we met some Aravanis/Thirunangais (Transgendered women) who were really in their elements, singing, dancing and having a whale of a time, at the same time, enthralling their mostly male audiences. It was surprising to learn that the Aravani/Thirunangai community in Salem is actually respected and not shunned, abused, raped and ridiculed as is usually the case in almost every other part of India. Even their Chennai sisters do not get the treatment they get. We befriended the beautiful Nakshatra(extreme left among the group of 3) and her gang and there was a whole slew of fanboy-males who were swarming around them.

Chennai to Pondy(and back) on the Suzuki GS150R

2010-10-03T10:14:00.006-04:00

Friday I went on a not-so-long distance ride on our GS150S (160kms=about 100 miles one-way) from Chennai to Pondicherry and returned today. Took the Tindivanam route coz ECR (East Coast Road) is apparently not too safe coz it's a single lane highway. Anywho, loved this route coz it was multi-laned and it was overcast. To top it all, the rain just added a little adventure by drenching me. I especially recommend this route coz the newly built highway (I think NH-66) from Tindivanam to Pondy was spotless. I guess I really needed this weekend ride coz for some strange reason I wasn't and ain't a wee bit tired AND it felt so damn relaxing. A catharsis, if you will.
For all you Suzuki riders or rider-wannabe/s, the GS150R is one hell of a smooth ride, especially long distance. I stopped twice for the rain but it wouldn't let up. So I was like, fuck it, I'm doing this, embracing every drop the water-gods were lashing out. I made a couple of observations about highway riding in India, 1. Almost 99% of all Toyota Innova drivers drive like crazy, maybe it's the vehicle size and comfort that makes them feel they are the kings of the highway. Even Lorry drivers seemed tame by their standards. 2. There's an increasing number of two-wheelers on the highways. So many motorcycles, which was kinda surprising. I purposely didn't take my camera coz I anticipated the rain and mainly, just wanted to enjoy the ride. Next time, I probably won't do a solo. My biking retrospection is over for now. Even got an idea for a motorcycling road movie. Hopefully not a la the Motorcycle Diaries. Need to sit and write.

The road oft taken

2010-08-28T03:58:00.002-04:00

That Subtle Essence!

2010-08-20T04:19:00.005-04:00

"Bring me a fruit of that Banyan Tree."
"Here it is, venerable Sir."
"Break it."
"It is broken, venerable Sir."
"What do you see there?"
"These seeds, exceedingly small."
"Break one of these, my son."
"It is broken, venerable Sir."
"What do you see there?"
"Nothing at all, venerable Sir."
The father said: :That subtle essence, my dear, which you do not perceive there - from that very essence this great Banyan arises. Believe me, my dear, Now, that which is the sublte essence - in it all that exists has its self. That is the True. That is the Self. Thou art that, Svetaketu.
- The Chhandogya Upanishad, Chapter 12.

The Stray - True Survivor in Pondicherry

2010-08-16T01:19:00.003-04:00

In a pavement reigned by rabid, flea-infested dogs, this little stray, seemingly lost, was scavenging for scraps. She would wait for the dogs to walk away and then come out of her hideout. This was one such moment. She seemed to have a tenacity about her. Her attitude reflecting on how much she might have seen in her little time in this world. I wonder if she was with her mother or just separated. Despite the survivor in her, there was a beautiful innocence, that seemed untouched by all that's there around her.

Filming & Photography in NYC Subways

2009-11-09T11:59:00.004-05:00

A quick reference and a MUST-HAVE for filmmakers and Photographers filming in New York City Subways. Print out these two documents and put it on your camera-bag and just FLASH it when cops or MTA officials interrupt you. Many of them don't know that this exists.

1. NYPD Directive - On April 3, 2009, the NYPD issued a directive to officers stating that it is legal to take pictures within the subway system so long as it is not accompanied with suspicious activity.

2. MTA Rules of Conduct saying it's ok to film/photograph inside the Subway. Check out 1050.9.
LINK - http://mta.info/nyct/rules/rules.htm
Currently, the MTA Rules of Conduct, Restricted Areas and Activities section states that anyone may take pictures or record video, provided that they do not violate MTA regulations:

Section 1050.9 Restricted areas and activities.

Photography, filming or video recording in any facility or conveyance is permitted except that ancillary equipment such as lights, reflectors or tripods may not be used. Members of the press holding valid identification issued by the New York City Police Department are hereby authorized to use necessary ancillary equipment. All photographic activity must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

Very handy documents. Source from Wiki.

La-eets!

2009-11-02T09:55:00.001-05:00

Beauty...Fall!

2009-11-02T09:53:00.002-05:00

A time for change...or a change of times?

Chasm in Time at the MIAAC film festival

2009-10-28T17:11:00.003-04:00

Finally 'Chasm in Time' is having its premiere at the MIAAC film festival in NYC.
Venue: The Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th street, bet 5th and 6th Ave, Thursday, November 12th, 2009, 12 p.m (precedes feature film Air India 182)

Trailer of Chasm in Time

2009-09-23T22:18:00.003-04:00

Trailer of our recent short film 'Chasm in Time'. Updates about its premiere will soon follow. Cast Cornelio Abella, Joey Mintz, Karthik Srinivasan, Kymm Walker.

The Twig

2009-09-15T12:37:00.001-04:00

Rest area for the tiny bugs among the 'grasslands'.

The Beauty of the Caribbean

2009-09-14T20:57:00.002-04:00

Shot with the Sony PMW EX1. The beauty of the Caribbean Sea in all its glory. The wide expanse of the waters. I bow to thee.

Poor laborer in Russia singing Indian song

2009-09-13T11:13:00.002-04:00

Is this the new world or what?
Tajik Jimmy a poor migrant worker in Russia is a sensation singing Hindi songs. Look how he switches between the male and 'female' voices. Refreshing!

Amidst Chaos!

2009-08-19T10:13:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I wonder how I survive the chaos around me...
but then i realize I contribute to the chaotic nature after all...

De-mystifier!

2009-08-18T10:50:00.002-04:00

A clouded mystery surrounds me and my purpose in this universe...
another cloud de-mystifies my purpose..
and introduces me to the collective..
what am i without it...it asks me..
i realize there can be no situation like that possible!

The color play!

2009-08-17T10:53:00.003-04:00

With light's help, create colors...
Allow them to interact with each other..
they flow from one to another...
as life does..
and creates a world of beauty around it..
so, does it all come to a full circle?

A place of my own!

2009-08-13T10:35:00.003-04:00

A place to call my own in this universe...
Do I need to reassure myself that I am an inevitable part..?
whether I try to secure a place or not..
i will have one no matter what!
when will realize this?

Aiming the boundless skies!

2009-08-12T10:43:00.002-04:00

Have you ever wondered who would have sown the seeds of the mango tree from which you are enjoying the fruits? well, someone would have done that long time ago..for others to enjoy the fruit. They remain stepping stones for some kind of growth which can be enjoyed by others. The leaves of all trees that grow towards the skies do not reach the top surface...they actually remain a ladder for the younger ones to sprout and grow to the topmost surface..but the truth here is that all the leaves are in the topmost layers at least once before they let others grow above them..as we enjoy the fruits of someone else's intention, so must we let others enjoy the same. Any deed that has good intentions will definitely reach others. Keep it going!

What is Nuclear Energy!

2009-08-11T10:35:00.005-04:00

Global Military Expenditure Global military expenditure in a year is $1.204 trillion (1204 000 000 000). In a month this means $ 100 billion Every week this means $ 25 billion Every day this means $ 3,6 billion Every hour this means $ 149 million Every minute this means $ 6,2 million Every second this means $ 103 340 This means over one hundred thousand dollars spent every second, all year around on weapons and militaries and wars! What could you do to make the world a better place if you had a hundred thousand dollars to spend?
-You could offer 15 000 girls in poor countries education, food, health care and clean water for one year.1
-You could adopt 30 million hectare of rain forest to protect it from exploitation and devastation.2
-You could offer 3000 families access to clean water for o whole year and save them from life threatening diseases.3
All this and far more could be done – just with the amount of money spent in one second by the world’s governments on their militaries. Just imagine what you could do with all the money spent on weapons and wars in an hour or a day or a week or a month or even a year. Save the world, basically.

Thanks to http://www.slmk.org/larom/ENG/Dokument/Economy/ECONOMY%20ADVANCED.pdf

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT]

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also referred to as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), obligates the five acknowledged nuclear-weapon states (the United States, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, France, and China) not to transfer nuclear weapons, other nuclear explosive devices, or their technology to any non-nuclear-weapon state. Non-nuclear-weapon States Parties undertake not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices.

source: http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/

So, What do you think about Nuclear weapons? Do you think they are a means of Security or Threat? Is it worth spending so much money on them, when we have so many hungry people in this world? Do you think the world should get rid of them or use it positively as an energy source?
When it comes to the word "NUCLEAR ENERGY"...more than half of the people in this living world are not even aware of its existence.All they know about Nuclear energy is the information given to them through the media. For many, the word would trigger the trauma Japan had to endure (and still does) after 1945 and for some it might just be an issue that they need not even deal with, in this lifetime or in the lifetimes to come. Some are safe as far as the phrase 'ignorance is bliss' goes. And yet for a majority of people who live in abject poverty and are deprived of every invention of the so-called developed world, this issue will remain alien.
So, even before asking the question as to whether it is a threat or security, we should ask ourselves one question! Do all the people in this world know what it exactly is? Well, that is a separate issue altogether.
But let us consider that most of the people in this world are actually aware of the 'Nuclear Energy' concept. Do they have any say? They simply segregate themselves from the governments who in turn take their own decisions when it comes to things like this. How involved is the common citizen in these matters? That is the question we have to raise here? THE COMMON CITIZEN. Once this person feels responsible and asks questions and involves himself/herself, then we can think about security or threat factors.
But, one thing is for sure. Even the smallest of things has its advantages and disadvantages. You can either do something constructive or destructive with the small safety pin and it is applicable to all the things (big and small and medium) that man has ever invented for himself. So, when used in the right way, we can get its maximum benefits and when our evil gets the better of us, we use the same thing for destructive purposes. Instead of wasting our potential to find out destructive ways, we can use the Nuclear Energy to help make this world a better place to live.
But what happens to the solution for Nuclear waste disposal? Well, it is time we used our potential to find a way. We have gotten ourselves into it and we should be able to find a way out. WE WILL!
The first step is to increase the general awareness of the common Citizen in each country and bringing together like minded individuals for a noble cause. Let us first try to equally distribute food, water, medical services and most of all, knowledge - in this planet!
The rest, will fall in their right places!
It is a fact that nuclear energy greatly paved way as an alternate resource to fossil fuels and coal. At the same time it should be clearly borne in mind that a true solution for disposal of nuclear wastes has not yet been found out and it is going to be the biggest challenge for all the countries in the forth coming years. Again nuclear energy is a very costly affair for the third world countries.
When Science went deep into the matter and elctricity was found out, it was fully realized that the usage has its own dangers. But we started using it along with all its dangers. Science went deeper to discover Nuclear energy and it is millions of times more dangerous than electricity. But still we use it. With all the fast running and mechanized world it appears that man is forced to live within innumerable dangers when calling this world as a modern world becomes questionable. By the same time Nuclear energy contains more politics than the utility. All the countries are into a wild race to achieve a title as 'super power' only based on nuclear power. It is time to provide a rigorous definition for a super power in view of the exact direction of progress of the human civilization.

A world of WHAT IFs!

2009-08-11T10:15:00.001-04:00

Huckleberry Finn in Summer camp!

2009-08-09T13:14:00.004-04:00

Welcome to the magical musical freedom seeking world of "Huckleberry Finn"...a truly beautiful performance by the kids at a summer camp in New Jersey...
The kids made me wonder what freedom was all about..
Is it something you can smell?
Is it something you can touch?
Is it something you can taste?
well,I have started thinking about it...do you have an answer to that?

Light and water!

2009-08-06T10:51:00.002-04:00

The elements of the universe have a unique bond..as you and I do..when they interact, they give a lot of meaning to the many unanswered questions in mind..so, if you have a question, ask the universe...and your answer will appear to you!

Nature of Light!

2009-08-05T11:36:00.002-04:00

True to its nature, light offers a variety of mixed feelings..for the mind that seeks adventure in difference!

Clear Mirage!

2009-08-04T11:20:00.002-04:00

Life has its own way of surprising us with her packages...
big or small..they always come as a surprise...
at first they seem like mirages...and then..
they get clearer and clearer..
until..you get what you want!

Being sure!

2009-08-03T11:05:00.002-04:00

Slowly but certainly...i am going towards my purpose..
am i aware of that? you may ask..
i know not...for i trust my heart..to lead me..
and do what's in store..my role..in this universe!

Life flows...

2009-07-31T13:14:00.003-04:00

Life flows from one being to another...
quietly..but surely..
very conscious of its own existence..
like every cell that lives within..that helps the whole form to function!

Amidst the woods!

2009-07-29T11:03:00.003-04:00

Amidst the dense woods...
I stand..as an anomaly...
unique as every other being..
trying to find a purpose..
in this magnificent thing that is life..
does my existence serve its purpose...
i question myself all the time..
my question answers itself..
asking me not to think too much..
and let things be!

Just the colors!

2009-07-28T10:31:00.003-04:00

Just enjoy the colors that LIGHT is able to give us!

LIGHT & DARK

2009-07-21T15:02:00.003-04:00

Light plays an important role in our lives. Light gives us numerous alternatives to see things in different ways. The ways our perception changes with every moment, every hour, every day, every month, every year etc is so influenced by light.Similarly, we have several choices to an issue and can confront it from different angles.Try to look at things from the viewpoint of light and see the difference. You can look at it positively like the morning sunlight, be harsh as the noon light...and dark as the setting light...it is your choice!!

Challenge Five By Dennis Rivers, MA

2009-07-20T17:49:00.002-04:00

In order to coordinate our life and work with the lives and work of other people, we all need to know more of what other people are feeling and thinking, wanting and planning. But our usual "yes/no" questions actually tend to shut people up rather than opening them up. You can encourage your conversation partners to share more of their thoughts and feelings by asking "open-ended" rather than "yes/no" questions. Open-ended questions allow for a wide range of responses. For example, asking "How did you like that food/movie/speech/doctor, etc.?" will evoke a more detailed response than "Did you like it?" (which could be answered with a simple "yes" or "no").
Consider the difference between two versions of the same question, as each might occur in a conversation between two people in a close relationship:

"Well, honey, do you want to go
ahead and rent that apartment we
saw yesterday?"

AND...

"Well, honey, how do you feel about
us renting that apartment we saw
yesterday?"

The first version suggests a "yes" or "no" answer, favors "yes" and does not invite much discussion. A person hearing such a question may feel pressured to reach a decision, and may not make the best decision.

Both versions imply a suggestion to rent the apartment, but the second question is much more inviting of a wide range of responses. Even if our goal is to persuade, we can't do a good job of that unless we address our listener's concerns, and we won't understand those concerns unless we ask questions that invite discussion.
Thank you Dennis Rivers.

For more: http://www.newconversations.net/w7chal5.htm

Reckless Perceptions

2009-07-20T17:46:00.003-04:00

This Earthling is yet another part of that infinite whole…

Where its chaos reflects in the world outside…

And its silence reflects in the peace that balances it…

Being a product of the eternal vacuum…

Tries to realize a purpose in this universe…

Truth is intangible…

And that it is intangible, is tangible!

The Story of Stuff !!

2009-03-12T12:31:00.002-04:00

RAINBOW KIDS YOGA!!

2009-03-09T12:43:00.005-04:00

Life is a collection of awesome strings of experiences. I had this beautiful experience in the week of March 19-22, 2009 with a fun loving group of people at NYC. I came across Rainbow Kids Yoga when I was browsing for something interesting to do for the Siragu kids in India. You all know that the Siragu Montessori School is a free school with an alternative system of education for homeless street children in Chennai, SouthEast India.

When I came across their website, it took me only a few minutes to decide to take the teacher training course. The peace I felt when I met Gopala the first time was contagious. The other wonderful people who joined the training were all so energetic and loving. I could see their eagerness to learn and share their knowledge with the kids they'd go back to.
The playfulness of the group was inspiring and Gopala had brought out the child in all of us. We all left our adulthood outside and interacted with each other as kids. The atmosphere was filled with fun and learning alternating in a smooth flowing way.

We learned a lot of fun poses for kids and family and Gopala taught us to integrate yoga poses in the kids' stories and also gave us each 5 minutes to conduct a class of our own on the last day of training. Creativity flowed as each one of us got a hands on the teaching and the rest acted like kids trying to create a real atmosphere of teaching kids. It was fun trying to distract the teacher and trying to cope up with distracting kids and engaging them while the assignment was going on. It was so much fun! We laughed so much and enjoyed every single moment of the training. By the fourth day, even though we were exhausted, we went with the flow and did not feel it a lot.
I could go more and more about the whole experience but I think after all this learning, it is up to us to practice it and share it with the world outside. I intend to prepare a curriculum and teach the kids at Siragu School next time i go to India.
you can also see pictures here.

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes!!

2009-02-23T15:57:00.001-05:00

This is what gives me hope about the forth coming generations...

Piks from the health care 2009!!!

2009-02-08T13:14:00.002-05:00

You can check out Dr.Ralph's collage about the Health care Intensive 2009 from the following link...
http://www.naturalworldhealing.com/images/Gesundheit_pics_from_Ralph_Wilson_Feb_2009.pdf

Patch Adams on fun and friendship...

2009-02-08T13:07:00.002-05:00

Patch talks about a hospital that includes alternative medicine, and he includes homeopathy and acupuncture. Here is text from his essay:

Vision for a Free Hospital Based on Fun and Friendship

by Patch Adams

I entered medical school in 1967 to use medicine as a vehicle for social change. I used my free time to study the history of health care delivery around the world and to look at contemporary models with the idea of creating a medical model that would address all the problems of the way care is delivered. I didn't intend to create a model that would be the answer to the problems; but to model creative problem solving, and to spark each medical facility to design their own ideal rather than succumb to the garbage of managed care, or a resignation to the impossibility of humanistic care. Beginning in the climate of the political "war on poverty," I felt confident that a free hospital to serve the poorest state, West Virginia, would find easy funding and that we would be built in four years. I smile writing this as we enter our 33rd year without having broken ground on the hospital. However, we have asked our architect to go to finished drawings so that we can begin building as soon as we have funding in hand. None of the journey has gone as I imagined and the vision is so much deeper, more comprehensive and far-reaching as a consequence of such deliberate progress.

The original vision had all the principles we have maintained all these years. There would be no charge for the care. Barter was also not an option. In fact, we wanted to eliminate the idea of debt in the medical interaction as a way to begin recreating human community. We didn't want people to think they owed something; we wanted them to think...for more click here.

Endless skies...

2009-02-06T21:58:00.002-05:00

A wish that I made turned into a cloud yesterday...
waiting to manifest itself into the wish I made...
from above...
the rain it might bring down to my earth...
so i can share my wish with everyone!!

HEALTH CARE INTENSIVE - BALTIMORE

2009-02-06T21:45:00.002-05:00

Hey all...Do you dream of a world which is built out of love and care only and everything was free???
Well, for starters, there is a group of loving people who are struggling to redesign Health care and make it a care system...for all!!
We recently went to a Health care Intensive conducted by Dr. Patch Adams and the School for Designing a Society in Baltimore, Maryland for four days.
There were so many activities, lectures and presentations made by loving doctors who are creating waves of love in the society here.
I want to connect you to their blog so you can read all about it...
please visit http://patchadams.org/blog/84

Fusion of Contradictions- Part II

2009-01-30T15:51:00.002-05:00

Continued from Fusion of Contradictions -part I...

On the other hand artificiality is perceived in an altogether different manner by the intellectual community; ‘any manmade material form is artificial’, which includes innumerable commodities, all the means of production such as machines and also certain modes of communication such as languages.

In this sense when the so called scientific community endeavors towards identification of decaying properties in the non-decaying materials to get an axis with nature, the so called intellectual community endeavors towards rejection of all the inorganic and synthetic substances and tries to inhabit upon all the living things to emphasize the notion ‘natural’.

The society as a whole tends towards innumerable debates and controversies and on the practical side stresses upon the usage of more organic substances while rejection of inorganic and synthetic commodities. When this trend of rejection of synthetic commodities is quite successful in the less populated countries but seldom could be adopted on all the practical means in the overpopulated countries. At the same time the usage of synthetic materials seeps into the society in multifarious direct and indirect applications when the human society is unconsciously entangled and could not find an escape route from the so called ‘artificial’, in other words got trapped with the ‘artificial’.

By the same time the consumption of innumerable inorganic substances as medicines when they do not have a decaying process along with the metabolic functioning of the human body, thereby greatly increase the proportion of ‘artificial’ in each and every human physiology thereby greatly reducing the proportion of natural.

On the other hand, ignoring the objective realities of ‘artificial’ the wider encouragement for the usage of organic substances, as if turning the lives towards ‘natural life’ is nothing but an ‘absurdity’ and such attitudes have greatly increased the further etching of nature thereby rupture of great natural processes for the sake of pseudo mental satisfaction while enjoying human comforts and physical facilities coupled with stupidity in the understanding of ‘artificial’.

In this sense, the production of organic substances and materials in multifarious bizarre forms and to conclude that as the expressions of natural and aesthetic sensitivity indicates yet another sheer absurdity associated with ignorance of the understanding of ‘artificial and natural’ and thus indicating such expressions as a whole towards crude insensitivity with respect to nature.

Now the tendency of the intellectual community in all the practicalities to adopt all the artificial substances invented by the scientific community and at the same time while projecting themselves as nature lovers by various productive expressions, indicates a sheer pretension and the exploitation of not only all the human values but also all the gentle, delicate and true sensitivity of the society and therefore it becomes an inevitability to define artificiality from an altogether different plane.

Almost all the practices and especially all the scientific practices of the society, as on today, sharpen the question, ‘whether man belongs to nature or nature belongs to man?’

The true richness and the synchronism of nature could be understood only if a situation of nature independent of human could be imagined. At the same time only the same synchronism of nature and the great metabolic activities of nature have created humans on this earth and the purpose of which is best known only to nature. It is an obvious fact that man can never survive even a moment without nature around, which is being consistently utilized, enjoyed, caressed, explored, amazed, protected, exploited, destructed and destroyed.

That is in the great course of multifarious forms of interaction of man with nature, it could be understood that there is a great mutual exchange between man and nature.

The true distinction between artificiality and natural could be discerned only with the perception of nature on its own and the right of nature to exist as ‘something in itself’.

With this understanding we can now try to define natural and artificial;

On the great course of consistent mutual exchange between nature and mankind, all the perceptions and practices that are providing advantages to man and disadvantages to nature are ‘artificial’; the exchange becomes unfair and thus would lead the mind-set towards destruction of ‘self’ and the mankind towards self destruction.

But at the same time all such exchanges that have been assumed as giving advantages to man while giving disadvantages to nature are in a true sense giving only disadvantages to man with a simple fact that man can never survive without nature.

All the perceptions and practices that provide mutual advantages on such an exchange only would be ‘natural’; when the exchange becomes fair and would lead the mind-set towards realization of ‘self’ and the mankind towards ‘existence’ and live in harmony with nature.

In the process of ‘self realization’ that is widely known as ‘soul realization’, one can never avoid the above said reality in cultivating the mind and practices to distinguish the artificiality and natural in the mind, which is the origin for all the artificial practices and thus becomes the great barrier in the realization of soul.

All naturals in mind and practices would lead towards ‘realization of soul’; whereas all artificial in mind and practices would lead towards ‘destruction of soul’.

Humans make great many exchanges among themselves when one part of such an exchange may become advantageous and the other may become disadvantageous and this exploiting attitude is being recognized as the intelligence of the one who becomes advantageous.

But the reality is that the advantage attained by a man or a group of people while providing disadvantage to another man or group could never be recognized as intelligence; but could be only recognized as stupidity since the man who is recognized with the so called intelligence, is in fact giving disadvantage to his self by actually killing his soul.

The conceptualization of the contradiction between artificial and natural could only be done on a very broader sense and could never be carried out within the narrow limits of plastic commodities and wooden commodities, when this attitude shows yet another absurdity in the productive practices of mankind.

On the other hand when man is nothing but the product of nature and simply nature is the origin of all the multitudes of artificialities, in the great course of development of nature along with mankind all the artificial become a part of nature on an interaction towards a ‘unity’ and on considering the dynamism of further growth of mankind along with nature there happens a ‘fusion of the contradiction’ between ‘artificial’ and ‘natural’ and when man is a form of nature, then it becomes an obvious fact that ‘artificial’ is also a form of ‘nature’.

Fusion of Contradictions- Part I

2009-01-30T15:38:00.001-05:00

Artificial-Natural

It would not be an exaggeration that on all the efforts in defining and redefining the conception of ‘living’, a great importance had been endorsed upon one of the most significant aspect known as ‘soul’ in the great course of human history.

There had been the emergence of distinct schools of thought exactly opposite to each other and opposing philosophies and opposing ideologies in the conceptualization of ‘soul’ and the objective realities of existence.

The emergence of such exactly opposite values and the equal recognition they could attain in the course of development of mankind, it is evident that the quest for truth is inherent in the mankind that expresses an innate feeling for harmony.

In the search for truth there is inevitability for the correct inference of ‘untruth’, only which would distinguish the ‘truth’ with clarity.

The search for truth is mostly associated with the concept of ‘soul’; that accommodates in it also the objective realities of the world, which in turn encompasses the subjective contradictions in the objective world.

In the search for defining ‘living’ and realization of ‘soul’, human mind crosses several contradictions; one fundamental among which is the contradiction between ‘artificial’ and ‘natural’ in the mind and practices of people.

The mankind in its course of growth has an inevitability to be compatible with nature to retain the very existence.

But in the course of growth an attitude of haste and aggression infiltrated in the mankind that is a tendency of opposing nature, both in the practices and also in the mind set of the people. This tendency is known as ‘artificiality’.

But on a generalized stand point, man is nothing but a product of nature and in this view whatever man does must also be natural.

But it has been widely recognized that whatever man does is artificial.

We recognize the nest of a bird as natural; a termite mound as natural; a bee hive as natural; a spider’s web as natural. But if a man builds a house then we normally say it as artificial.

In such a state of affairs it becomes necessary to distinguish the line of division between the artificial and natural, with lucidity.

In the struggle for survival at first man had made attempts to understand nature to adapt himself and also for protecting him for ensuring his survival. In the due course he became better comfortable with nature and started using it for his further comforts and also realized his inadequacy in the understanding of nature, when he formed groups towards organizing the search for solutions for various problems, when a tendency of fighting the insecurity in life became primary focus towards monopolizing the so called natural resources, which paved way for betterment of living standards and also productivity, focusing on trade and commerce. Abundant methods and means of production instigated various autonomous and isolated institutional structures while greatly curtailing human freedom due to the fetters of the so called institutional structures.

In the due course, the institutional structures became the depiction of authority, direction, regulation, guidance and so on when all the practices of the human race became focused towards strengthening the so called institutions, essentially economically, which had been assumed as the only means to attain the so called authority, thus getting far deviated from humanity, when the individual humans had no other option but to become slaves for the institutions of various forms and at times even countries turning out to be institutions.

The so called institutional structures of various forms oriented towards security, authority, power and economics did not permit even several heads and the members of the institutions to practice humanity, love, compassion and all those great virtues of mankind but to get involved in various acts against the conscience crossing various ethical and moral barriers with reduced sensitivity and increasing ignorance, while coining a tricky word known as ‘duty’ for obstinately justifying such ignorance. It is also a bitter fact that man is forced to compromise and overlook even his self respect on various occasions due to the institutional compulsions.

That is human invented institutions for his own alleviation to get organized and he got trapped with his own invention towards destruction of ‘self’.

On the other hand mankind invented a lot of means to enhance and betterment of living and the so called comfort ability. With all those inventions and various means for hurried usage of nature towards more and more comfort ability and establishment of authority, almost all the practices of man got focused towards exploitation of nature in a hasty manner.

That is, mankind invented a lot of technologies and gadgets to improve living towards more and more sophistication resulting in a very big question that, ‘where exactly are we heading towards?’

It is obvious that mankind is heading towards self destruction.

Now on the view point of the knowledge and practices of the human society, ‘artificial’ could be defined as something which is invented by man as the product of ignorance coupled with selfishness to get himself trapped in the due course towards destruction of ‘self’ and on the human society as a whole towards ‘self destruction’ and pseudo living.

In the same sense, ‘Natural’ could be defined as something which is invented by man as the product of awareness of the ignorance coupled with selflessness that elevates him towards an upper plane of consciousness and realization of ‘self’ and on the human society as a whole towards ‘existence’ and true living.

With such an understanding of natural and artificial when both of these prevail in the mind and practices of the society, a normally justified and accepted notion through the scientific perceptions is that, whatever materials invented by man that do not decay on natural course are known as artificial.

To be continued...

TIME-BOUND?

2009-01-29T15:07:00.003-05:00

A whole new set of responsibilities to take care of...
where have we been so long..time doesn't exist anymore? or does it?
Is the passing of time connected to the restlessness and the fire that is building up within?
Or is time just an illusion to add to the already existing chaos?

Post-production Complete

2008-11-18T18:44:00.003-05:00

Ok, here we go...we are done with post-production, just a few minor tweaks on the DVD authoring. And time to get on the festival circuit soon. Watch for updates.
Thanks to everyone on the team for your production support. Also thanks to Eight AV Inc for their production and post-production gear. We may have a trailer, but do we need it? Considering the film's TRT is 6:30. Anyways...

A Chasm in Time - New, Renamed Short Film Updates

2008-10-22T14:18:00.011-04:00

Renamed. Yes, folks, as expected. The next production of Accessible Horizon Films has been changed from Contrast to 'A Chasm in Time'. Some updates and new pictures here. The rough cut has been completed and the soundtrack is currently being designed. Nanda is helping with the music. It's coming out almost as planned save a few aspects. The performances seem to be in sync - let's see. Also, DP Fruto Corre has done a great job.
Here are some new Production Stills - Bottom to Top
Production Still 1(left to right) - Karthik Srinivasan, Mani, Robert Dixon, Ramesh Mourthy, Raghu Jeganathan and Mohandass Radhakrishnan behind the Jib, Fruto Corre(DP).
Production Still 2(left to right) - The entire Cast(left to right) - Karthik Srinivasan, Nelson, Joey Mintz and Kymm Walker
Watch out for updates...

New Short Film - Contrast

2008-10-14T00:25:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday, we finished filming our new short film, which is tentatively titled Contrast. Quite a fun day - most of it went according to plan except for a power snafu which delayed us by an hour. But thankfully we figured it out and sort of wrapped up at around 6 p.m. Fruto Corre was our DP, he sat with me the previous night and we figured out the whole shotlist. Even then, it was quite tough, managing the shots and finishing them. Great team work though. Ramesh Mourthy, Mohandass Radhakrishnan and Kousalya Jeganathan - the co-producers of the film were taking care of general production and location contingencies. Ramesh greased his Branded T-shirt by getting under a trailer collecting leaves...?
Jib Operator Rob Dixon was of great help during the shoot. We got some decent shots hopefully, gotta check 'em out while doing the rough cut tomorrow. Mani, Kavitha and Lana were also lending their hands to the production. Of course, the actors, Kymm Walker, Karthik Srinivasan, Nelson and Joey Mintz did great - contributing to some funny moments with Karthik's "You hit his Brand-New-Used-Car man...!" Classic. And gotta thank Nanda Nayar for his production gear - camera, dolly and tripod. On the whole, amazing day, good shoot, although we could've done better.
Photo: Left to Right - Mohandass, Fruto Corre, Robert Dixon, Ramesh and Raghu.

ReelChanges- Audience Funded Documentaries

2008-10-09T12:55:00.002-04:00

Change the World - One Film at a time!
ReelChanges.org is owned and operated by the Center for Media Change, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit corporation based in Palo Alto, California. The mission of the Center for Media Change, Inc. is to enrich our culture by facilitating the creation and distribution of more high-quality documentaries. Contributions to the Center for Media Change, Inc. and to individual documentary projects posted and displayed on the site are tax deductible as allowed under U.S. federal law.
So, what are we waiting for?
Let us create change, propose a socially relevant documentary and get help from the world to make films!

Event-Youth Career Fair - New York City

2008-10-09T12:48:00.004-04:00

We recently went to a youth career fair conducted by Idealist.org aka Action Without Borders which is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, connect with other people, organizations and resources and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives.

In the youth fair, children from various schools could come and register in various non-profit and not-for-profit organizations for volunteering positions. It was such an inspiration to see children at such young ages interested in the welfare of the society around them. Some children had come with their teachers to the event and signed up for events in groups.

There were many large canvases where the attendees of the event could write positive and inspiring messages which was later being displayed in a Summit which the Mayor of NYC attended. Children were very eager to write and color their messages and happily painted some positive images.

The list of the organizations that participated in the event is as follows.

1. www.relightny.com

RelightNY’s mission is to inform and inspire people that the seemingly unachievable task of helping to protect the earth’s environment for current and future generations can be achieved collectively by the small but tangible action of changing a light bulb!

2. www.prospectpark.org

Prospect Park is a 585-acre urban oasis located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York City’s most populous borough. The masterpiece of famed landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park, Prospect Park features the 90-acre Long Meadow, the 60-acre Lake and Brooklyn’s only forest.

3. www.globalcitizencorps.org

Members of Global Citizen Corps:

learn more about global poverty and how it links to other global issues
exchange ideas and resources with other youth around the country
talk with anti-poverty experts
find new ways to take action
build a powerful movement for change

4. www.actioncenter.org

The Action Center to End World Hunger uses hunger as an organizing symbol of poverty, helping to explain and illustrate the challenges that lay behind it, such as poor agricultural practices, inefficient markets, weak health and education services, environmental degradation, conflict, and lack of access to clean water. By identifying and highlighting these underlying issues, the Action Center seeks to generate the public will necessary to end hunger in our lifetimes.

5. www.mercycorps.org

Mercy corps believe in the intrinsic value and dignity of human life.

They are awed by human resilience, and believe in the ability of all people to thrive, not just exist.

They believe that all our spiritual and humanitarian values compel us to act.

They believe that all people have the right to live in peaceful communities and participate fully in the decisions that affect their lives.

They believe that human imagination and energy can inspire innovative solutions to any problem, no matter how intractable.

They believe that it is our duty to be effective stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us.

6. www.helpusa.org

HELP USA is a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to empower the homeless and others in need to become and remain self-reliant. Through the development of quality housing with on-site support services HELP USA provides resources for its residents to become independent and productive. We break the cycle of dependency by addressing underlying causes in a way that respects the dignity of those we serve. We help our clients help themselves. Living in a pleasant, safe environment elevates clients’ expectations for themselves, and motivates them to realize their full potential.

7. www.readnyc.org

READ employs one-on-one research-based reading instruction to prepare at-risk children to become proficient readers. READ recruits, trains and employs teens to teach reading skills to young children who are struggling with learning to read.

8. www.nysec.org

As an ethical culture community, this organization believes that:

We are all part of something that transcends the individual experience
We have responsibilities to each other, to the Society, and to the community at large
We are enriched through our interconnectedness with others
We find confirmation and validation of our own selves and beliefs through our interactions with others
We derive strength through our relationships with others

9. www.humanesociety.org

The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people. They are America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond.

10. www.cityyear.org

City Year seeks to:

Help children succeed
Build stronger communities
Break down social barriers
Develop young leaders
Foster active citizenship

11. www.makeadifference.org

Make a Difference is now HandsOn Greater Phoenix which is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that empowers people to become engaged, take action and create positive change in their communities.

12. www.youth4peace.org

AFSC's work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

13. www.volunteerNYC.org

The Mayor's Volunteer Center and United Way New York City are proud to present VolunteerNYC.org to serve the dual purpose of providing meaningful volunteer opportunities for New Yorkers and providing nonprofit organizations in New York City the opportunity to post their volunteer needs and publicize the services provided by their organizations.

14. www.milliontreesnyc.org

MillionTreesNYC, one of the 127 PlaNYC initiatives, is a citywide, public-private program with an ambitious goal: to plant and care for one million new trees across the City's five boroughs over the next decade. By planting one million trees, New York City can increase its urban forest—our most valuable environmental asset made up of street trees, park trees, and trees on public, private and commercial land—by an astounding 20%, while achieving the many quality-of-life benefits that come with planting trees. The City of New York will plant 60% of trees in parks and other public spaces. The other 40% will come from private organizations, homeowners, and community organizations.

15. www.justell.org

Just Tell visualizes a world in which children who are molested immediately turn to a trusted adult figure in their lives and tell them of the abuse. That trusted adult has information to help the child though the next steps so that the abuse is stopped and the abuser is prevented from harming other children.

In their vision, children do not have to bear the scars of unrevealed and repeated abuse, the consequences of which have been repeatedly shown to include higher-than-average rates of: drug and alcohol abuse, self-destructive behaviors, guilt and shame.

16. www.ncac.org

NCAC's Purpose is:

• To promote and defend First Amendment values of freedom of thought, inquiry and expression.

• To oppose restraints on open communication and to support access to information.

• To encourage, support and coordinate activities of national organizations in opposition to censorship.

• To encourage understanding that restrictions on the free interchange of ideas threaten religious, moral, political, artistic and intellectual freedom.

17. www.girights.org

The GI Rights is a coalition of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations who provide information to members of the military about discharges, grievance and complaint procedures, and other civil rights.

18. www.centeronconscience.org

CCW is a faith based organization that advocates for the rights of conscience, opposes military conscription, and serves all conscientious objectors to war.

19. www.yayanetwork.org

The Ya-Ya Network is a citywide anti-racist, anti-sexist organization and allies with the LGBTQ community. Ya-Ya is staffed by young activists ages 15-19. We work with other youth, adult allies, youth programs & activist organizations. We help groups & individuals connect. We share information & resources & we support the work that other groups are doing. All to build a stronger voice for young people in the movement for social & economic justice.

20. www.objector.org

CCCO supports and promotes individual and collective resistance to war and preparations for war.

21. www.vote.nyc.ny.us

The Board is responsible under New York State Election Law for the following:

Voter registration, outreach and processing
Maintain and update voter records
Processing and verification of candidate petitions/documents
Campaign finance disclosures of candidates and campaign committees
Recruiting, training and assigning the various Election Day officers to conduct elections
Operate poll site locations
Ensure each voter their right to vote at the polls or by absentee ballot
Canvassing and certification of the vote
Voter education, notification and dissemination of election information
Preparation of maps of various political subdivisions

22. www.childrenforchildren.org

Children for Children mobilizes the energy, ingenuity and compassion of young people, beginning at an early age, to discover their power and potential to solve real world problems through volunteer opportunities and service learning programs that instill a lifelong commitment to service.

23. www.18in08.com

24. Service We Trust.

Please take some time to go through the activities in the websites and try to make a difference TODAY! The world needs action from you...Today!!!

About NYC Screening Event - Sept 20th,2008

2008-09-23T13:09:00.005-04:00

As you all know we had this fund raiser screening at the TWO BOOTS PIONEER THEATER on September 20th, 2008. It was a very beautiful experience though we had a turn up of only 9 people and it was 14 including us!!
Each person who had come for the movie liked Wings of Evolution so much and said that it touched their hearts. They said they were inspired by the love that Uma & Muthuram had for the kids and how the kids were so mature and wonderful. We got some more leads with regards to screening the film in other venues like schools, universities etc.
We got a chance to have one-on-one connections with every single person who attended the screening which was very unique. To know about people who love the world so much and who are trying to make differences in their own way was such a positive experience!
I know I did not write about the Urbana, Champaign screening which took place at the Independent Media Center through the School for Designing a Society. It went very well and the film inspired a lot of students who came for the screening. There was a teacher from Korea Ena who was interested in visiting the Siragu School for sometime because she said she wanted to learn about their pattern of teaching. Many of them wanted to visit the School personally and learn a lot. They were also impressed by the kids' strength of mind and their knowledge about the world around them.
More screenings will come and we will create a world-wide awareness till kids all over the world are educated for free.
One of my friends gave me a book called Three Cups of Tea about which I will write another article!

Our Friends at AIF

2008-09-20T00:55:00.004-04:00

Hi all
Our friends at America India Foundation are organizing a fundraiser event in NYC on the 25th of September, 2008. Please show your support for the cause. Details below.

*American India Foundation*
*New York Young Professionals Chapter* cordially invites you to the *Your Voice for the Cause* Event

Benefiting
NYYPC's 2009 Initiative*
*Please join us for an evening dedicated to** determining our 2009
fundraising initiative-  *
*learn about the 3 potential fundraising initiativesfor 2009 and share your
thoughts.*
 *Thursday, September** 25th *
September 25th
Arium Cafe<http://e2ma.net/go/1322047849/1201856/44001660/goto:http://www.telanyc.com/main.html>
31 Little West 12th Street
New York, New York 10014
*7PM-10PM*
Open Bar & Hors d'oeuvres

Online tickets<http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=166671>-
$40, At the door - $45

<http://e2ma.net/go/1322047849/1201856/44001656/goto:http://www.helenmills.com>
** ** A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated towards
the NYYPC's 2009 fundraising initiative.

 *The NYYPC was established in early 2007 and has been sustained by a group
of young professionals focused on educating their fellow peers *
*about AIF's mission to accelerate social and economic change in India, and
maintaining the awareness for future generations. *

It can be YOU - interconnectedness!

2008-09-16T14:33:00.001-04:00

Where the Hell is Matt? - A lovely connection!

2008-09-16T14:28:00.000-04:00

FAST LOVE - something to think about!

2008-09-16T14:18:00.000-04:00

Herbert Brun

2008-09-16T13:38:00.002-04:00

When I was in West Virginia at the Summer School for designing a Society, the teachers there mentioned Herbert Brun. Though I did come across a few of his books, I really never had the opportunity to read any of his books until recently I came across one of his books called "My words and where I want them" and went through a few pages...they seemed interesting. Small paragraphs which are numbered fill the small book.
I would like to share a few with you.
1. My words and where I want them.
2. I consider words innocent until proven guilty. Once they are proven guilty, however, I consider their meaning to be irredeemable. Thus words form the limits of personal freedom. While I may be free to express my thoughts in a free society, the words at my disposal may not be free at all. Ignorance of this fact is what turns the thoughts of free people into thoughts of slaves.
76. While we do not find it possible often to share our opinions we have to share the world of their consequences.
for more..please read about Herbert Brun.

Wings of Evolution - Documentary Film NYC Screening September 20,2008

2008-08-28T02:38:00.005-04:00

For ticket details...please visit www.positivepeopletoday.org

Dear Positive Person,

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

A few of us got together and through dialogue, realized our common goal, an idealistic yet realistic one; of sharing the positivity in our beings with the world around us. We would like to project our filling of elation into others, and transcend cultures, time and space, which would be a realized beginning to a better world, where people are joyful creators and up lifters.

On this principle, we formed our non-profit organization POSITIVE PEOPLE TODAY.

And, here we are, sending our invitation to human beings all over the Earth to unite on one simple principle

"POSITIVE THINKING"

We believe that great societies rise with Positive Attitudes which in turn arise from
self-awareness and a proper education. Our objective is to reinforce a Positive attitude in today's world and connect both people and organizations that care, and want to make a difference.
Our Mission is to promote and sponsor projects relating to personal growth, creativity, talent, social and environmental awareness around the globe.

www.positivepeopletoday.org

In this line of thought and taking a step towards action, we at PPT, have adopted the cause of the homeless street children in Chennai, South India, and have decided to raise funds for Siragu Montessori School, a place that makes a bright future possible for underprivileged children through education.

Screening of Award-winning Documentary film
Wings of Evolution
a production of Accessisble Horizon Films

Saturday,Sept 20th,2008
at the
TWO BOOTS PIONEER THEATER, NYC.
SHOW STARTS AT 5PM.

Foster Child - Filipino Movie Trailer

2008-08-14T01:29:00.003-04:00

Directed by Brillante Mendoza, Foster Child was cited by judges for “delving with remarkable skill into the everyday lives of its extremely well-developed characters, and for fusing documentary and drama to create a brave, humane and unconventional film.”

Picache was praised for “delivering a spectrum of emotions and revealing a natural and authentic understanding of her character.”

The film showed how the love of a Filipino mother in a poor family could be a factor in alleviating social problems such as poverty.

The meaning of Hegel's Logic

2008-08-13T15:30:00.002-04:00

This article is intended to introduce the reader to a study of Hegel's Logic. It is not intended as a substitute for such a study or as a commentary upon the Logic.

The writing of this article is based on the belief that there currently exists no substitute for Hegel's Logic as an exposition of dialectics. Although Hegel's writing is very inaccessible and suffers as a result of his philosophical idealism, an understanding of dialectics cannot be achieved without a study of his Logic. Consequently, this article is intended to aid this study. Further, I have taken the liberty of a certain amount of repetition, so that the most important points will stand out in the reader's attention.

for more please visit http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/help/mean00.htm

Ecospace Blog

2008-08-12T19:04:00.002-04:00

ECOSPACE is a blog which deals with a lot of eco-issues providing simple natural solutions.
Be it renewable energy or solar energy or composting or bicycles or..or..or...this blog deals with the issues in a simple way...
please visit their site..at www.ecospace.cc

TECHNORATTI

2008-08-08T16:07:00.000-04:00

Technorati Profile

Two Opposing Types of Order in Nature-Gevin Giorbran

2008-08-08T13:14:00.002-04:00

Rather than order and disorder, there are two types of order in nature. One type of order increases in the direction of the past, while another type of order increases in the direction of the future. The range of patterns between complex orderliness and chaos exists as in the intermediary stages of transition in between the extremes of each order. There is no such thing as general disorder in nature, only irregular combinations of two orders. The intensity of the two orders is inversely proportional, the absence of one creates the other. Recognizing these two orders provides a template for understanding all material structure and composition. The two orders will here be referred to as Grouping Order and Symmetry Order. Neither are unfamiliar concepts and once they are consciously recognized suddenly the ordered flow of time and the world of human events appear as an interplay of two contrasting orders.
check out the PDF presentation http://macrocosmicsymmetry.com/pdf/two-orders.pdf