Elimination of violence against women

The 25th of November has been designated by the UN as the International day for the elimination of violence against women and this year in 2013, there is going to be a 16 day long campaign to end the violence against women. You may have noticed the newspaper advertisements of famous football and cricket players of Nepal pledging their support against women violence. The advertisements go as far as to say that their goals represent the voice against women violence. Of course this is a good initiative and seeing the allegiance of such famous players towards this noble cause and this might encourage some women to actually feel hopeful. But it is highly improbable that the public awareness, the banners and posters, the special MaHa serial about this cause and this fortnight campaign is enough to end or even minimize this violence.

There are many different behaviors that classify under women violence, like rape, sexual assaults, sexual harassment, female infanticide, domestic violence and basically all types of physical abuse; all of which are pertinent to our country. It is needless to say how unsafe a time it is for women in our country. For those who were not already aware of this, the numerous rape and sexual assault incidents that came to light through the national dailies immediately following the well publicized robbing and rape case of Sita Rai last year, must have done the trick. Even then only about three in five rape cases made the news, the rest remained unheard. This fad of reporting occurred rape cases lasted for a couple of months, along with the famous 'Occupy Baluatar' movement. At that time protests and rallies were held, women empowerment and the end of women violence slogans were sung. The media then moved on to replace women violence with another sensational topic. As the sexual violence cases frequented less often in the newspaper, the public seemed to be lose interest. Now with the observance of international day against women violence once more the awareness is raised and public interest kindled. I do not want to sound like a complete pessimist, but I think it is a little too late to try to stop woman violence only through public awareness.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (Book review)

I honestly did not know whether to feel happy or sad while reading this book. The author portrays a really touching picture of her childhood, her dysfunctional parents and 3 siblings. It was sad how her parents who were capable of so much could not even provide for the family because of their addictions, the father's addiction to alcohol and the mother's addiction to nonchalance. It was happy how the family made do with what they had and had so many happy moments even in the midst of financial crisis, how the father knew everything, how the mother had the most positive attitude and most of all how the family loved each other. The stories did not sound made up like some of the other childhood memoirs I've read. It is a light read and does not leave you feeling sad.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Book review)

i read this book because it was featured as a must-read in so many lists which contained the books i have read and loved. when i started reading this book i didn't like it at all; it made me roll out my eyes in disbelief and laugh at places i am supposed to feel sad (it is a book about cancer after all). this book was just not for me, maybe because i am way past reading teenage love stories or maybe because i found the book overrated. but i am glad i continued and stayed with it till the end, and i will even admit my eyes did tear up a little at a couple of places. i will not say it is a must-read and all that but overall it is quite readable. emotional people, younger people and people who believe in the notion of a true love will surely love this book. but if you are like me, a normal person, too old to be a teenager and too young to be an adult, this book is not for you.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Book review)

There are very few reads which make you like the author more than the book. This was one of them. The plot is about a young handsome man who unknowingly trades his soul for eternal youth. He then lives a life of immorality without having regrets for his actions and more than once things fall perfectly in place for him so that his crimes remain unpunished. The philosophical and psychological aspects; the views expressed by a cynical Lord Henry and thoughts of the immoral Dorian Gray were what kept me from giving up on this book rather than the plot itself. The appealing dialogues of Lord Henry and the mind tease it provides, the views he expresses about life, youth, human nature and humanity in general are presented in such an agreeable way that very few would refrain from it. All in all, it is not an easy read. If you are interested in a book for its story rather than the characters and the development of its characters then t
his is not a book for you.

China Harayeko Manchhe (चिना हराएको मान्छे) by Hari Bansha Acharya (Book review)

I have always been a fan of Hari Bansha Acharya. First of all as a critic it is important to understand that he is a comedian and not a writer. This book is his first try at writing something apart from the comedy scripts of his show. The best thing about this book is that it has moments that make you laugh out loud as well as moments that water your eyes. All in all, it is a good one-time read. And a must read for the fans who love the comedian Hari Bansha Acharya. As this autobiography includes the light moments in his life and inspirations for the well-known characters he portrays on screen, as well as the serious Hari Bansha Acharya who lost his wife at such a young age, his struggles and moments of utter pain, as a reader, you will respect his serious side as much as you have loved his comedian side. And yes the life-long friendship between him and Madan Krishna Shrestha is really aweing.

Dhumdham ko Ghumgham by Kanak Mani Dixit (Book review )

A fictional story of adventures of a brave frog in a travel journey which portrays a beautiful scenic descriptions of my country... I know it sounds wonderful. The descriptions of the beautifully shaped mountains and the various rituals and problems associated with the places mentioned in the journey along the way was wonderfully put.
But the adventure story was a little too unrealistic. I am not saying I have problem with a talking frog who decides to travel his country because I get the frog's narration and his point of view. What I personally disliked about this book was that everyone, literally everyone he meets in his journey is so positive and helpful. A tigress letting a frog travel around on her back! Spiritual enlightening! A pilot bending all his rules to let a frog travel in his shirt pocket!
Yes I get that it is a fiction and probably the moral is that you need to dream big but it did make me wonder if it would have been better as a non fiction book maybe?
Also I was not exactly sure about the genre of this book and the target audience. It feels too deep to be called a child's book and too bland to be a grown-up book.

100 songs to save your life

I wish I could take the credit for coming up something as great as this topic but this has been done over and over again. I saw it for the first time when Peyton thinks she is dying and makes a tape for her  unborn baby  (One Tree Hill). Needless to say, the main point of this being that music heals everything.

Music always helps, no matter what you’re going through. So, if you flunk a big test, or you had a really bad breakup, or you just miss someone so bad, it hurts, then listen to my playlist. A hundred songs to save your life. And it should help. – Peyton Sawyer, “One Tree Hill”
The songs are in no particular order.

1. Guaranteed - Eddie Vedder
2. Scientist- Coldplay
3. Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol
4. Here comes the sun- The Beatles
5. Living on a prayer- Bon Jovi
6. Dreamer- Ozzy Osbourne
7. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing- Aerosmith
8. Broken- Seether featuring Amy Lee
9. Dare you to move- Switchfoot
10. With or Without you- U2
11.  I don't want to be- Gavin Degraw
12. Sweet child of mine- Guns n' Roses
13. Yellow ledbetter- Pearl Jam
14. Just like heaven- The Cure
15. My Immortal- Evanescence
16.  I'll Be- Edwin McCain
17. Paradise City- Guns N' Roses
18. She will be loved- Maroon5
19. The reason- Hoobstank
20. Look after you- The Fray

Ted Mosby, the saint

Hey Ted, remember that time in season 8 when you admitted to still having feelings for Robin, I thought that was the lamest thing ever. Dude, yes i realize you being the hopelessly romantic type believe in the notion of 'the one' and destiny and all but its been eight years so move on already.
But I will admit that when you left your important meeting and went to assist Robin even when she told you that she was 'okay', my heart went out to you dude. Yes you obviously care for Robin like a lot and you clearly understand her more than Barney does. Oh and yeah you have loved her longer.

They say there is one such person in everybody's life who loves you not only from their heart but from the soul, by their very existence of being. You were that guy for Robin. The strong connection you felt the first time you saw her, you fell in love with her very much into the first date, you even fought the nature for her, and who can forget the big romantic gesture of stealing a french horn and finally she had to comply. But even you have to admit that you guys were just not meant to be. Firstly, you were so very different. Robin always trying to hide what feminine side she had somewhere deep down and you trying to bring out not only her feminine side but also your own. And the fact that you guys were never on the same page didn't help matters either. You had probably started imagining a future together and naming your kids from your first week together though Robin had been quite clear that she wanted neither commitment nor kids in the near or even the distant future.
You guys broke up, decided not be be friends, finally got along to be friends even roommates and you decided that you still have feelings for her. You tried to make it work again, she had mixed feelings about the whole thing, thankfully you did not go for a big romantic gesture this time because believe me, it would have come off as super creepy. And Robin said the words "I love  you but I am not in love with you" and friendzoned you forever. I feel for you, I really do.

Dystopia

I had a friend who was very much into conspiracy theories and totally convinced with the idea of Illuminati, supposedly a devil worshiping community. I do not remember the full details and particulates as such but the gist of it was how some very famous and powerful persons apparently made a deal with the devil for power and were responsible for world domination and creating a one world government. And also, supposedly something big, either a world war or other natural calamity was soon to strike us. But as the so-called apocalypse date of 21 December 2012 came and went without anything significant and the small disasters like earthquake and hurricanes, and crisis like Syria attack and Kenya bombings were called mere coincidences, we did not really pay much attention to the idea of devil worshipers being behind these events.

I have read the Dan Brown novels about conspiracy theories and secret organizations. Though his work is called fiction, he says that the societies mentioned in his books actually exist. Exciting as they may be, I never really saw the plot of the book as something that could actually happen. This may have something to do with the fact that none of the secret organizations and conspiracies would, if true, effect me directly.

The Commercialization of Love

It is not that I am against the whole idea of love. I am just against the cheesy, mushy, over-the-top show-off that people think is love and that is the reason why I am against the Valentine Culture. They say February is the month of love and the fourteenth of February, the Valentine's Day is the day of love; what I fail to understand is how love can be a calendarized event. It has been like the kind of things that you either love or hate but just cannot stay away from it. All in all this whole Valentine Culture has done more harm than good. 

 First of all let's about the individuals that have been termed as the singles. There are different categories of the singles. There are some singles ones who are indifferent to this day. Their only connection to this day is helping their friends who are in a relationship, those termed as the couples, to pick out gifts for their companions and to give them as much advice as they possibly can about what to buy, what not to buy, where to go and such stuffs which happens to be the biggest dilemma of the couples at the moment. Then there are some singles that have been left with a sense of self-loathing for having nobody to celebrate it with because of this Valentine Culture. They may choose to go out with their other single friends or there is always booze to get them through the day. Then there are some singles who want so badly to jump from being a single to being a couple that they believe that the fourteenth of February is a day to propose their love, regardless of what they feel for the person they are proposing their love to. For instance, a couple of people dating each other and enjoying their company and maybe even in the process of falling in love may feel the pressure of this day and rush into relationships they might not have otherwise been ready for.