I figure blogging is for celebrities or for those who want ’social networking’ (they almost always seem to be women)

As I am neither a celebrity nor am I looking for ‘online friends’, I am not motivated to blog. Nor do I read blogs anymore, because I can hardly keep up with the books I own, occasional news and then there is Public Library that I have rediscovered, and am utterly amazed to notice how much old and latest fiction and non fiction collections it has.

Oh, and I also note that most of my favorites authors of fiction and non fiction: Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, P.J. O’ Rourke, Bill Bryson (and many more) have neither blogged nor read blogs, even as some of them lived through the golden age of internet.

On the other hand, I respect what I have written in the past though some of it looks like scribbles, and as thoughts evolve I don’t really support everything I have written in the past… yet I respect it. If someone, may indeed wander in here and may find something useful, do leave a comment. I shall try to get back to you.

Love, peace and pinches on your butts,

You take care, readers.

Time surely goes fast.  I am glad that my last post was in April, which I didn’t even remember writing. I thought I haven’t written anything on here for months.  I am fine, and alive.

I am very determined to publish as a writer. I have been writing and making submissions for at least 2 years. So far I have had dozens (if not hundreds) of rejections. First time writers must persist, I have been told.  Guess what???…. my first article is being published in an American magazine, albeit a small magazine.  I am not going to mention when and where because I want to see it in print first and then let you know. Yes, fucking superstitions and all. Ho ho ho. Did I write Fuck? I’m really sorry, I’m not supposed to write Fuck words. Some people maybe offended by Fuck words. Sorry about writing FUCK. Sorry.

Today is Easter Sunday and I am typing this out and post it for the whole world to read. **May edit later for clarity and typos, keep your thoughts coming**

The title of this post is so hackneyed and at least one Christian apologist (who was ‘saved’ after his Atheism got a kick in the ass by Biblical truth) Lee Strobel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Strobel) has written a book with this title. I believe that an intellectually honest faith is a true and healthy faith. Generally there are two equally unpalatable camps regarding Christianity, one is of course of fundamentalist Christians who believe in the inerrancy of Bible and want schools to teach biblical Creationism and so on.

The other camp is full of bitter, mocking and fundamentalist atheists like Richard Dawkins. Unfortunately many literary figures have also tried their hand from time to time at Bible bashing for example Gore Vidal, Norman Mailer etc. It is easy to do so today than when writers like D.H. Lawrence did so and got banned everywhere. And in the case of what many consider father of the great American novel and great humorist Mark Twain, he considered it wise to keep his heretic and dissenting writings about Christianity in the closet. It was only recently that it was discovered how passionately Mark Twain rejected traditional Christian faith. (See this link for introduction of Twain’s views against organized religion:http://www.twainquotes.com/Religion.html )

Then there are lapsed Christians like former nun and now ‘secular’ writer Karen Armstrong(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Armstrong). Naturally she feels her years were robbed by Christianity and now by writing books that reveal the fallacies and contradictions in the Bible she is settling the scores in a way. And why shouldn’t she. She has every right to express her opinions and she is a very competent and engrossing researcher, scholar and writer. But then she also writes books on Islam, Koran and Mohammed and she gets into appeasement gear and takes sides and glosses over Muslim fundamentalism. This is hardly what can be remotely called intellectual honesty. This is deception, this is pandering. You punch holes in Christianity because Western world gives you the freedom to do so but you go soft on Islam because you fear backlash. That makes you- and others of your ilk- intellectually dishonest cowards.

Tolstoy’s Confession (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confession) is a great resource about someone going through the crisis of faith and trying to find intellectually honest answers that agree with one’s conscience . It’s full text can be found for free on the internet from many sources including this one: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Confession. Another great Russian writer Dostoevsky dealt with issues of faith in his novels. I have not read Brothers Karamazov but love this quote ‘If there is no God, everything is permissible.’ It always rings true for me. I also love Kant’s quote ‘Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more seriously reflection concentrates upon them: the starry heaven above me and the moral law within me.’ Bible agrees with this kind of thought in a few places like in Luke 17:21 ‘‘Nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold the kingdom of God is within you.’’ (English Standard Version of Bible).

To cut the long story short in order to have an intellectually honest faith I find myself reading Bart D. Ehrman’s book ‘Misquoting Jesus: The story behind who changed the Bible and Why’. He is a Bible scholar who has extensively studied (and taught) Bible (especially New Testament) in original languages for years. This book’s content is not original but has been presented in a very easy to grasp format for a layman who wants to do some honest investigation into the Biblical text and history of the very early Christian church. One review of the book fired a passionate debate on Amazon.com and you can access it from this link: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3L9D4Y81NNVGY/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0060859512&nodeID=283155#wasThisHelpful

This only proves how Christian faith means different things to different people. I personally believe in being intellectually honest but at the same time agreeing with Immanuel Kant and Luke 21:17, the Ten Commandments, teachings of Christ to love all mankind and to love God. I also believe that the theology presented in the Book of Romans is a good introduction to Christian faith. I believe objective scholarly resources should be used only to have a healthy faith, for a progressive and open minded Christian.

Since my blog often turns up in general searches through various sites and search engines I thought it would be best to share with random readers something from personal experience. I’ve had this extremely stubborn rash that turned into several rashes after it spread around. I had it for a very long time (more than a year!) but as it was minor in the beginning I just ignored it. Only in the last 6 months or so it started to become really red and very itchy often causing restless, sleepless and very itchy nights! I had to be proactive. I tried several over the counter creams but nothing worked. Some natural ones can reduce itching and discomfort but bring no effective relief.

But here is what worked. Hydrocortisone cream (1% concentration). I bought mine from online pharmacy in New Zealand. I was surprised to see that my cream was manufactured all the way up there in Canada! Anyway, it works! Use only a thin layer over the affected and itchy area, not more than 3 times a day. I used it only 2 times a day as otherwise it will cause too much dryness which in itself can cause itchiness and irritation. Itching stopped on the first day of use. And dramatic results were achieved by 4th day, which means dramatic decrease in the appearance of rash itself. I hope it is killed 100% in due time. I also decided to use herbal licorice based cream which is supposed to work like milder version of Hydrocortisone cream. Licorice cream has the advantage of being soothing and moisturizing for the skin which can soothe any irritation that Hydrocortisone cream may cause. That’s why I think the combination is best. Other soothing natural cream could be PawPaw cream (made either of Papaya fruit or Pawpaw fruit, they’re different but work more or less the same way as soothing, healing creams)

As for costs, 30g of Hydrocortisone cream will cost you about $10 to $15. The quantity is more than enough as you should not use this cream for more than 7-10 days. (Do not use Hydrocortisone cream to treat Eczema of babies. Licorice and Pawpaw (made from Pawpaw fruit) can be effective for skin rashes that babies suffer from.) Any other Herbal cream- that you would use in combination with Hydrocortisone- would cost you anywhere between $8 to $15.

So, if you’re suffering from dermatitis, Eczema, stubborn itchy rash, this will certainly help. Millions- yes millions- of people suffer from these skin problems some time in their life. So, I’m hoping that this random post will be of great help to people. If you personally used this advice please let me know how it worked for you. You may also consider making a donation to my PayPal. Good luck and God bless.

”The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.” — Walt Whitman.

The results are out and the winner is… the United States of America. Congratulations to President Barack Obama and the American people on their wonderful victory that also means America’s triumph over racial divide, narrow mindedness. Americans have shown the world why this is the greatest country in the world.

Even as tiny Western European countries keep on electing right wing politicians, America has set another great example for the rest of the western world. Because the United States are not provincial. This is the boldest, noblest, most unique and greatest nation in the world. Congratulations again.

I do believe that both TV and Movie industry produces literature. Of course, it has to be turned into an audio-visual product but behind every TV show (be it drama, Sitcom, Talk shows or even reality TV there are writers) I have watched some movies and remembered them just because of their extremely well done and concise dialogue. Here are a few I can remember randomly. I would update it later but it is worthwhile mentioning a few of my most beloved quotes:

1.) I don’t wanna be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me. (Spoken as opening lines in the movie, The Departed)

2.) But this is what we do, who we are. Live for nothing or die for something. (Spoken by Sylvester Stallone in the Rambo (2008))

3.) The shit piled up so fast in Vietnam you needed wings to stay above it. (Spoken by Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now)

4.) Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. (By Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption)

5.) These walls are funny. First you hate ‘em, then you get used to ‘em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized. (Spoken by Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption)

Ohh and almost everything in the movie Cold Mountain. This in my opinion is one of the most visually stunning movie that has dialogue as vivid and beautiful as the images in it. Here are a few quotes:

6.) Dear Mr. Inman, I began by counting the days, then the months. I don’t count on anything anymore except the hope that you will return, and the silent fear that in the years since we saw each other, this war, this awful war, will have changed us both beyond all reckoning. (Spoken by Nicole Kidman

7.) If you could see my inside, or whatever you want to name it; my spirit, that’s what I fear. I think I’m ruined. They kept trying to put me in the ground but I wasn’t ready. But if I had… if I had goodness, I lost it. If I had anything tender in me, I shot it dead! How could I write to you after what I’d done? What I’d seen? (Spoken by Jude Law)

8.) If you are fighting, stop fighting. If you are marching, stop marching. Come back to me. Come back to me is my request. (Spoken by Nicole Kidman)

9.) Lureen Newsome (a character): Do you think I’m going too fast? Maybe I should put on the brakes?

Jack Twist (Character): Fast or slow I like the direction you’re going. (Brokeback Mountain)

10.) Jack Twist: I wish I knew how to quit you. (Brokeback Mountain)

]]> http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/my-favorite-movie-quotes/feed/ 0 Ember http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/in-praise-of-truman-capote-and-stephen-king/ http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/in-praise-of-truman-capote-and-stephen-king/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:58:19 +0000 emberglow http://emberglow.wordpress.com/?p=304 ]]>

I think I can safely say that I like Stephen King much better as a person than his writing. I mean I really liked the guy whenever I heard his interviews or listened to his audio commentaries.

Doubtlessly, as a long time student and lover of Literature I was taught to dislike anything that is not classic or ‘good’ literature that ‘critics’ admire. Anyway, most of the premises of horror fiction are silly and very implausible. If you ask me what is my favorite horror piece of literature Truman Capote’s true crime (In Cold Blood) laced with his literary coloring got to be somewhere at the top. In cold blood is scary, haunting, disturbing.

It is really devastating how Capote first makes us fall in love with the whole clutter family and then vividly and gradually leads us to their slaughter at the hands of some petty criminals. I think the scariest part of the novel is where Perry Smith actually describes the crime scene, the way they drive their car up to the clutter property in a moonlit night. They quibble whether they should rob that household and then finally jump into it and finally almost out of frustration and anger of not getting what they wanted they decided to kill all members of Clutter family, one by one while all this time in his Christian naivety Mr. Clutter is being polite to them and begging them to leave. I guess I like psychological horror (Like American Psycho : Click to read my review)and not really spiritual horror though TheExorcist would be a good Exception.

Warning: A few spoilers—Just this week I decided to give Stephen King’s short story collection, Night Shift
a go. I really liked some of the short stories, especially ones where there are no evil spirits, monsters lurking around. I also found to my surprise that Stephen King mostly uses New England as his setting. I am a sucker for cold, snow, fog. And Mr. King’s works are full of those descriptions. I absolutely loved the Children of Corn but hated its ending. I loved the story up to the point the guy enters that ancient church. I’ve rarely read something that got my juices flowing that well. The descriptions of their fighting while driving in a car through the never-never land of Nebraskan wilderness, full of never ending corn fields, the sudden crash with a small boy, their stopping in the middle of nowhere to inspect the boy, the realization that the boy was actually killed before he hit the speeding car and the tension that follows later while they are in the car again. Cool stuff.

Another story that I really loved was The Last Rung. It was a perfect mix of adventure, thrill, childhood nostalgia, emotions, horror, sibling love and one big perfect heart break at the end. Go read it.

I am not sure if I want to read more of Stephen King straight away. I tried Bag of Bones once but lost interest. But I will be more open to reading some more of Stephen King’s work that display his ability to scare psychologically, instead of spiritual horror. But anyway, I kind of understand why people call him the King of Horror. It is a title that he rightfully deserves.

I just posted a comment on the Atheist blogger’s (mentioned in my last post) post about my personal belief in people’s right to freely believe or disbelieve. I figure my comments pretty much describe what I believe. So, here is my confession of faith before you make a marriage proposal or a thousand dollar (OR MORE) donation to me.

I would be one of those Libertarians who are pro Christianity for many reasons. I’ve heard D’Souza. He is toxic. But I’ve also heard many interviews with Hitchens. He is equally prejudiced and nuts. Yeah, well, I believe in true objectivity which means seeing the bad as well as good in everyone.

I just wrote this personal post http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/are-bailouts-any-good/ . I used your post on Mark Twain’s observations on religion. My post shows how we’re all in a fix of one kind or other. Religious belief or disbelief is a very very personal matter.

I have gone through super Christian phase and I have come out of it as a moderate. But that does not mean that I would even dissuade any boy or girl, man or woman from going that way. Everyone must find their own answer. As long as we respect and respectfully leave each other alone (when we totally disagree with each other) it is OK.

People must have the right of conscience and ”pursuit of pleasure” within reason without the interference of any other parties. If someone wishes to think or hold opinion that men having anal sex with men is wrong, Let them think so as long as they do not actively harm homosexuals. If some people want to hang fancy lights on a plastic Christmas tree in late December, let them do so. And if there are people with exactly opposing opinions derived from their own reason, experience and conscience, fine. That should be the golden rule.

Human beings will always bicker and disagree with each other. Divorce is one proof of that!

Added, 1^st November 2008

GodlessZone said…

Ember: Your post exhibits a certain amount of schizophrenia. You take opposite positions at the same time. You say you believe in true objectivity. But you also say: “Everyone must find their own answer.” The latter is not obejctivity but subjectivity in an extreme form.

That said, I agree with your general view that people should leave each other alone.

October 29, 2008

Ember said…

I meant objectivity as in against holding rigid and exclusive opinions. We all must have an open mind. Both D’Souza and Hitchens are so very calcified in their opinions and prejudices that they can hardly be called Objective.

I am no deep student of philosophy but I side with Kant. He wonders, ”Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more seriously reflection concentrates upon then: the starry heaven above me and the moral law within me.”

Then he’s also stated, ”Accordingly, there must be something whose nonexistence would cancel all internal possibility whatsoever. This is a necessary thing.”

It is agreeable with my instincts, sensibilities, reason, intuition etc. But then someone may find it totally hypothetical and reach totally different conclusions. I can respect that if that conclusion has been arrived at by sincere and thorough reflection. I am objective in that sense. Objective within reason.

If someone says he can rape women and children, murder people because there are no laws or no morality in this nihilistic soup of a universe, I cannot allow that, regardless of the fact it affects me or not. You may say in this sense I am subjective and hope others are too.

October 31, 2008

Weeks ago there was this multi-billion bailout scheme going on in the U.S. and that fired up a debate whether shoddy management or business decisions should get rewarded with taxpayer’s money. I for one opposed it, be it in America, Europe or Brazil. In recent years I have subscribed to Libertarian politics and philosophy of life. I want maximum freedom to the individual and least government intervention regardless of the fact that government becomes a big brother or big nanny- just stay away and we will feed you with our taxes. I admit government is very necessary to ensure our security, conduct or facilitate our human affairs, legislate civil laws and make sure people obey them. Obeying good laws is how freedom and justice can be protected in any civil society made up of free individuals.

But beyond that basic government function I do not need a nanny state. A government IS a BIG NANNY in most Western countries except USA which harbors world’s most Libertarian state and society (though it is withering away). But anyhow, this was my logic when I said, DO NOT HELP THE FAILURES. I of course meant those fat ass money grubbing manipulative schemers. I did not mean the unemployed, people going through physical and mental handicaps, single moms and dads with responsibilities much beyond their individual needs and capabilities. It is our Christian duty to make sure they’re taken care of. I emphasize Christian because this duty is not derived for any feel good human emotions it is a divine duty-  written in the Bible ( including Apocrypha!) as  well as our Conscience- that we have towards all human beings, Christian or non Christian.

Why am I lecturing you? Well, I have every right to. Most of this year I have been unemployed or semi employed because of a number of reasons one of which was minor but recurring unlucky health problems. I am fine now. But all that time that I’ve not been employed never once I took advantage of a number of government benefits that are available to me. I rather charged my credit card to pay my rent, buy groceries, fix my ailing old car, buy an odd medicine like an odd jock itch cream {kidding }. Now for the first time in my 28 something years I am in debt and have a rising interest. BUT still, I do not want government money, despite the fact I have dutifully paid my taxes for years.

I hate to toot my horn but I have been a sappy dude in the past who has contradicted his stand alone and suffer alone mentality. This was when I was actually a CHURCH GOING Christian. Now I am more like a  stay at home and enjoy the cofee on Sundays Liberal Christian or a Christian Agnostic or a Rogue Christian some might say.

Some years ago I USED TO attend services like those meant for very old and infirm. Whichever church I went to I always- shyly and blushingly- hid $10 or $20 in my fist and slid it into the donation pouch or basket (whichever one it was). I never wanted people to know how much I was giving and I was under no obligation to do so. I was poor back then too but I had no debt and small income to get by rather easily. But I did  give  secretly because I thought those churches were doing some real noble things. Years later now I know, if I was smart enough to let those secret acts of charity be on record I could at least get my tax on those dollars back. Well…..

They say what goes round comes round. Maybe it’s true. But who is the intercessor? Is it man/woman/transsexual or God? Mr. God has always been silent in my case. But I will not stop trusting Him and once in a while bitch and moan before Him and make Him very uncomfortable like some of the psalmists did. Are you listening God? It’s I!

N.B.- It was interesting to note that Mark Twain held strong objections to literal Christian faith. Some of his observations are quite witty (as they ought to be). Here’s a link from some Atheist Blogist (blogger) who has nicely aggregated Mark Twain’s Blasphemy. Fun Read.

The title of this post is the cosmic and philosophical question that has been ringing in my mind after this incident. I would mention to you events of this Saturday morning. You can decide what to make of it.

Friday night I went to bed quite late after watching Woody Allen’s Melinda and Melinda. I thought it was a very entertaining movie especially because of Will Farrel who is a wonderful comedian. Also loved his acting in another romantic comedy Stranger than Fiction. After the movie was over I listened to BBC World Service. After sentencing myself to the usual bad news of war, starvation, corruption, uncertainty, I went to uneasy and disturbed sleep at around 3:30am.

Saturday morning, I got up at 10:30am, tired and weary. A hot cup of instant black coffee assured me I was still alive. Being a nerd, I always order my little weekly grocery online. I had to pick my order before midday when the online pick up service closes. I drove to be there at 11:30am, rang the door bell that is connected to someone’s pager, a minute later the shutter opened, a tall well built man smiled at me. ‘Hey, How are you today?’’ I blinked through the haze of my insomnia but caffeine helped me respond, ‘Yeah good. I have an order to pick up for …..’’

He genially proceeded to my tray and lifted plastic bags and took them to my car. I thought of helping him and picked the last two bags. He went inside and brought out another small bag saying ‘Oh and this is also for you, it also has your invoice in it.’’ He asked me where I lived and commented that the online grocery pick up was a really good service. I agreed. He said goodbye by shaking my hand.

I drove to library and picked the audio book for John Updike’s Witches of Eastwick. I got home and took my groceries to my room. I was so glad to have the whole weekend to myself now. I just needed to kick off my shoes, get out of my jeans, pour me another coffee, lie back in chair, look at the cool cloudy gray day outside my window, and listen to the audio book.

But soon, I found that the last little grocery bag handed by the store guy had ‘oven gloves’ in it. I thought it might be some of those freebees they throw in occasionally. But then I also read the invoice. It belonged to some Jacqueline. The gloves cost about $8. I had no use for them so I thought I would throw them out. No, I thought later, I should return them, but I will do so next week. Then I thought of Jacqueline, maybe a young girl or a house wife, needing those things for her weekend cooking. Maybe she was having some guests over, I imagined things like that. My conscience convicted me. I could not sit down and relax until I had her stuff with me!

I drove back to the grocery store. They close at midday and now it was 12:15pm. I pushed the button that is connected to the pager the person on duty is wearing. No one came at the shutter but round the corner of the building that same guy- looking annoyed- spoke out, ‘Hey, I am taking some deliveries here. I can be with you only after that!’’

He turned back and started to walk off my sight. I stopped him, ‘Hang on! I just needed to return this bag, it does not belong to me,’’ I ran towards him and handed him the bag, ‘It belongs to someone called Jacqueline, not mine.’’ He inspected the invoice with a frown and grumbled in an accusing tone, ‘Well, it wasn’t in your tray, was it? Anyway thanks’’ He turned around impatiently and walked away. I thought I would tell him that it was the last bag he handed to me with a smile and a handshake. But then I thought it was all my fault that I wanted to play the good Samaritan.

I am not blaming that man at all. He was apparently a very nice guy. And by the time I got to him second time, he might have been stressed taking deliveries, maybe arguing with someone behind the building. My visit after closing time was unexpected and would have added to his annoyance. I am definitely not dealing with that man’s reaction. The purpose of this post was to deal with the question I put at the beginning. Is honesty always the best policy? Are there situations in life when we just need to shrug our shoulders and let it go? My day would have been much better and easy if I had not bothered to return that bag. But well, sometimes conscience can be a bitch.