Amen by Sister Jesme

Sister Jesme, ( name made from, “Jesus and Me” she says ).  Served as a nun in the CMC congregation for about 33 years. On August 31st, 2008, she decided to leave the congregation and life there. If you are saying “that’s crazy”, read this ; she has PhD in English Literature, and was principal for two colleges in Kerala, 3 years each.

Oh, I see a big WHY on your face now. The same “why” that  made me buy the book and finish reading it the next day (178 pages, it was not tough).

This book is not a complete autobiography, since it tells only her life inside the convent and why she left that place. And I felt that the book was written in “hurry” since the language was not “polished” enough for someone with great knowledge in English literature.

So, again, why did she leave ? There are many reasons, and most of the times I felt, ” If I was in her position, I would have left the place right then and there”. But when she finally decided to leave, the authorities were trying to give her Psychiatric treatment saying she has gone insane. ( Remember the movie Changeling ? ) What did she do ? she raised voice against them doing illegal things in college run by them where she was Principal.

There were things like homosexual advances from a fellow nun, “special love” between many nuns, I don’t even feel like writing about it here.

If your curiosity goes beyond  homosexual activities among nuns, and that kind of stuff, there are some serious points that Sister Jesme wants us to start thinking about. Basically, Nuns are human beings too, or, they are women too. There is no point in considering them inferior to Priests. They also require little bit of freedom, some financial security, etc etc.

If you are not from Kerala, you probably may not know about Sr. Abhya (found dead in a well in her convent)  murder case, and Sr. Anupama Mary (found hanged in her convent room). Read about these incidents too, if you are serious about this issue.

Women’s commission in Kerala recently suggested a new law, so that no girl will  be allowed to join a convent to be a nun, before she is 18 years of age. But it never happened, thanks to protests from many corners, including the Church. This book will bring more supporters to that concept.

At least, I believe in that now. Because, if you,  at some point, feel that you made a wrong decision, or, you find yourself in something similar to what Sr. Jesme has described,  it will be tough to go back,  and if you do, the family and society will treat you like you are a convict escaped from prison.

This was not a book review, and I don’t think this book needs one. But let me just say, that this is a “must read”

Related Reading : review at dancewithshadows.com

I know that I didn’t write this post well, I am upset after reading the book. I too have friends and relatives, as nuns, and Priests, Is this the kind of life that are going through ?

“Amen” Autobiography of an (ex) nun is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

With this new tool from Google, integrated with their Google Maps, you can create a plan to tour a city, walking. Google well tell you where to start, which way to go, how many time to reach there, and how much time you should spend there.

How to use Google City Tour

Get Ready …. Lets Walk !

First, you go to City Tours Website Here. Now, search for your favourite city, lets say Bangalore. Main part of the screen is the Map, showing the route. Google wants you to start from Innovative Studios Pvt. Ltd. ( in Kasturba Road ). You are supposed to start at 9 am, and spend 60 minutes there. First day ends at Chalapathy And Srinivas.

Google City Tour

First Day, Second Day …

After finishing first day, you can click on “Next day” and plan your trip for the second day. Right now, they haven’t added anything for second day in Bangalore. May be they will add an option for us to contribute when this product graduates from Google Labs.

Google City Tour Bangalore

You can add or remove sights from the plan by clicking ” Add Remove Sights” link. You can change dates of your walk. Ready for a city tour ? Or Do you have questions ?

Tour de City With Google City Tours is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

It’s different from normal action movies, ( not “so very unique” though ). It has a “stable” story line along between those action sequences.   It’s a different way of looking at alien life; slightly different from what we are used to.

The bad : with all  movies, you get to keep an image of the character in your mind. It is imprinted as deeply as you love the character. But in this one, there was nothing that I could take with me, they were not so clear, you understand what I mean ? Not that picture was not clear, but they couldn’t leave their marks on my memory that easily, as “wall E “or some other animated character could (oh well, forgot to tell you, I am talking about those robots of the movie here )

PS: there could be a second part or more for this movie.  I see signs !

Watching “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” will be a cool idea ! Really !! is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

It’s a video resume of  Jackky Bhagnani that all producers and directors of bollywood ( and Hollywood, if you please sir ) must watch, and consider for upcoming projects.

He Looks good ( his face reminds me of Uday Chopra )
He can Dance quite well
Does action scenes well
Does fight scenes well

Okay, that’ll be a long list, lets just say that he is capable of doing anything that a bollywood movie would ever want from a hero. He is a complete package, the “ready to cook” type. Now, will you please consider casting him for your next movie ?

That’s all  people. This is not made for us, but for producers and directors like a product demo, you know …

It’s recession time dude, good luck anyway, hope someone comes to you with a good script … As an actor, you are ok, but this movie spoiled that too !!

Kal Kissne Dekha ! Ha Ha Ha !! is that a movie dude ?? is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

If you ever felt bored with the usual bollywood patriotism, with love and masala mix, this is will be a treat for you. Love watching war related movies, with loads of action and techno combat scenes ? Try to look beyond that, and try to know what happens beyond that.

But don’t watch the movie just because it’s different, but because it’s worth watching, and because films, are still a form of art, a way to express and share something with the society.

This movie is about a  US Marine officer who volunteers to escort remains of a fallen Marine. It’s not simple as it sounds, because there is an ocean of emotions out there. I don’t know if there is such an expression or idea, but I think  it something like a “collective emotion” where you feel emotionally bonded with the people around you, and you share one common emotion. The success of the movie is in expressing that collective emotion, and also making you also a part of it.

Okay, there is expression, emotions etc etc .. but a movie is not just that, there are technical aspects, the way director and his team uses the medium and much more. As far as the visual appeal goes, the movie reached only average, it could have been more intense, carrying the emotions around the movie. Otherwise, it gets a good rating, overall.

I don’t why directory decided to stick on to narrations by characters, instead of bringing a flashback and telling the story by showing what happened there … may be they were trying to make it as realistic as possible ? I won’t say it was bad, but it was different, and you will notice it at some point, because your brain’s movie database is expecting a flash back there since you are so used to it.

Rating : 8.5/10
Type:  Try Hard, not to Cry ….

“Taking Chance” a Movie and beyond is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

Okay, that’s all I could figure out as a “movie review”  … movie geeks, please help me out !! I know there are many of you who write movie reviews all the time !

Hmm, I should give a note on what this movie is all about, right ? Okay, four friends , one of them getting married …planned their bachelors party in Las Vegas. They checked in to a hotel, and and started celebrating …  ( drinking, mostly )  … next morning when they wake up .. everything looks normal .. except ….

1. There is a Tiger in the toilet
2. A baby in the room
3. One friend is missing ( yea, the one who is getting married that evening )
4. The Dentist friend lost a tooth

That’s all … nothing else … and yea, forgot to mention .. none of them remember what happened there last night !! Feel like watching the movie ?

“The Hangover”, 95 minutes of nonstop comedy !! is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins