Twilight and New Moon

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Well, I’m sure most of the readers must’ve already heard about these books and the author. The popularity of the Twilight series as been compared to the Harry Potter series and seems to be the biggest craze in books for the past year.

I’d long avoided reading this series because I never thought that I could like a book whose hero was a vampire. I mean come on – a love story with a vampire?!?! However I caved in and finally started to read the first in the series – Twilight; and I was hooked. Its such a deeply romantic story that you just can’t keep it down. Of course, being a "YA” (young adult) category there were instances where I felt that how could the heroine be so dumb but I was ready to skip over those places and complete the book.

The story begins with Bella, a teenage girl moving to a dull town, Forks, with her father. She disliked that place and had no idea how she was going to adjust to it; but she was in for a surprise. At her school she meets this young handsome boy, Edward, who’s just perfect – the dream guy you can think of – and then she couldn’t think of leaving Forks, ever! All she could think of now was him. However, loving a vampire is not easy – it has its own risks!

New moon: is the second in the series. Edward decides to leave Bella because being with him had endangered her life now and again. This leaves her heart-broken – to an extent which seems ridiculous to me! It is then that she starts getting more and more friendly with her native american friend Jacob. If you thought that the story was now more human-e then you’re absolutely wrong! The author just doesn’t believe in human romance :). Turns out that Jacob is a werewolf and werewolf and vampires are enemies. You can now figure out the complications that would result in Bella’s life!!

I like Edward’s character in the story but have no words for Bella’s character. She’s the most dumb, irrational, ungrateful and stupid heroine I’ve ever seen! But she doesn’t stop me from getting addicted to this series :). So now I’m waiting to get my hands on the third in the series :-).

To all those who don’t belong to the YA category, you must be ready to gloss over some of the stupidity and irrationality. Oh and not to forget, the script is not well-edited. I wonder how they manage to make so many mistakes in this age where we have software like Word. That was seriously very disappointing – considering the popularity of the series! An extra “to” here, an extra “the” there – pathetic!

Bottomline: I don’t why I’m so addicted to this series!!!!

Same kind of different as me

Author: Ron Hall and Denver Moore

This book was very engrossing as well as heart touching! It shows how much difference can just one person make in this world. It is a very inspiring story.

It’s a true story about a black slave, a woman who wants to make this world a beautiful place and her husband who has the midas touch. The story of the black slave is heart wrenching and his life, hard to imagine that it could be real. On the other hand, the husband and wife climb the social and financial ladder so fast that soon they have anything and everything one can think of; but the wife wants something else – to bring a smile on people’s face. So she, along with her husband, decide to distribute meals in their church once a week. Slowly and gradually their once-a-week commitment encroaches the other days of the week. It is then that their paths cross with the black slave and what follows is a story worth reading.

Bottomline: Must read.

Happy Ugadi and Happy Navratri!

Today is the beginning of the navratri and it is also the beginning of the new year - so wish you all a happy ugadi!

Donations

Just like food and yagya, donation can also be categorized as saatvik, rajasik and tamasik.

Saatvik donation is one where the donor considers it to be his duty to serve humanity. He never thinks about what he would gain from this donation either in this life or after. He doesn’t expect anything in return from the receiver. He gives to the appropriate persons, at appropriate places and in appropriate times.

Any place/person/time, in need of what you’re giving is an appropriate place/person/time. In ordinary cases, Kurukshetra, Haridwaar, Mathura, Kashi, Prayag, Naimisharanya and other pilgrim places are considered the most appropriate places. And eclipse day, full moon day, new moon day, sankranti, ekadashi and other auspicious times are the most appropriate times. Apart from needy people, giving to all those as prescribed in the scriptures is apt.

It is our duty to serve those who’ve helped us. So such a behavior should never be considered a part of giving. A true help can never be paid back so the least we can do is to serve them and to make them happy. If we consider that as part of giving, then we’re insulting the recipient.

Rajasik donation is one which is given with some expectation or in return for some help or with bad thoughts/actions. Expectation could be directly from the recipient, could be attain some karma points, to establish one’s reputation, to get publicity, to impress someone, etc. Giving donation to somebody with whom one is involved or expects some assistance in the future is not considered true donation – because one is doing it for one’s own good. Similarly giving to somebody because you there’s other way out – there’s some political pressure or any other kind of pressure – is of no good.

Tamasik donation is one that is given without honor, in a disrespectful manner, to an ineligible person, at inappropriate place/time.

The economy is so bad…

I received this in an e-mail and just couldn’t stop laughing!! So I’d to share this :D

***   The economy is so bad that

... I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

... I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"
... CEOs are now playing miniature golf.
... If the bank returns your check marked  "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.
... McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
... A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico .
... Congress says they are looking into this Bernie Madoff scandal. Oh Great!!  The guy who made $50- Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5-Trillion disappear!

Yagya

Just like food, yagya can also be categorized into sattvik, rajsik and tamsik.

A yagya performed according to the scriptures and without any ulterior motives is considered sattvik. The yagya should be ordained, by the scriptures, to be performed by the man of such a class. The man doing the yagya should not expect to gain wife, children, house, respect, appreciation, reputation, victory or heaven; nor should he do it to alleviate undesirable circumstances or his sorrow.

A yagya performed with faith and according to scriptures but with a motive to gain something or simply to establish a reputation irrespective of faith is considered a rajas yagya.

Tamas yagya is one which is not performed according to the scriptures, doesn’t involve any food donation and is done without any mantras, alms and faith.