Agastya, a householder from Tulu desam, who lived in the middle of two constantly fighting neighbors Ambu and Subbu, had enough of his life. He went to Kailas to meditate. He received in due course enlightenment and his mentor asked him to choose a gift. He chose a deity in gold as large as a [...]
Archive for September, 2008
Blind Chance
Posted in moral philosophy, tagged Certainty, Chance, ethics, parable, truth of action on September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Stories for the dudes
Posted in politics, tagged bad government, democratic models, governance, national waste, painful remedies on September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Animal Farm Revisited
Mr. Monkey managed to be elected as the Commissar of the internal Security. Mr. Terrier also was angling for the same position. But Mr. Rooster and Mr. Badger had a great interest in Monkey for he had entertained them all for long. When the animal population put to vote Mr. Monkey won the [...]
Vespasian,Kalakaua
Posted in anecdotes, tagged Caesar, King of Hawai, poker game on September 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Vespasian, Titus Flavius Sabinus (9-79 AD)
As the emperor lay dying, he stood up suddenly and cried out, “An emperor should die on his feet.”A few minutes later he gasped, “Dear me!I think I am turning into a god!” and he dropped dead.
——
Kalakaua, King of Hawai, from 1874 to 1891 was a colorful monarch who enjoyed [...]
The Apartment-1960
Posted in Hollywood films, tagged 100 Best Films, b&w, Bill Wilder, corporate world, farce, mating games on September 28, 2008 | 2 Comments »
The apartment in this film is the bachelor pad of C (for Calvin). C (for Clifford). Baxter. It is located in Manhatten, in the West Sixties, just half a block from Central Park. But he has a problem: ‘The only problem is – I can’t always get in when I want to’. Well Mr. Baxter [...]
Peter the Great
Posted in anecdotes, tagged greatness, progress, Russia, St.Petersburg, western model on September 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Peter the Great (1673-1725)
Having resolved to transform Russia in the model of the West ,a delegation including himself under an assumed name of ‘Peter Mikhailov’set out from Moscow in March 1697.
His curiosity was prodigious. He inspected saw mills, grist mills and factories of all kind. He asked questions and sent samples of all sorts of [...]
Chance vs Certainty
Posted in philosophy, tagged Africa, Chance, coincidences, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, opportunities, time on September 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In my impressionable years one man who caught the attention of media was Dr. Albert Schweitzer of Lambarene.
The young Albert once got into a fight and knocked down his opponent. The boy told Albert that it would have ended differently had he been as well nourished as he was. It must have touched him deeply [...]
Benjamin Franklin
Posted in anecdotes, tagged pleasure, Poor Richard, reading, wisdom on September 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
At a dinner party where Benjamin Franklin was one of the distinguished guests he was asked by Abbe Raynal thus,”What kind of man deserves the most pity?”
Franklin answered,”A lonesome man on a rainy day, who does not know how to read.”
compiler:benny
Straightening Out Time
Posted in moral philosophy, tagged Conscience, Distortion of time, High road, soul, St. Augustine on September 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Continued from my previous post ‘Is God Out There?’
Time is of a vast scale and beyond our clear understanding. Nevertheless we walk the line or mark time here on the earth. Why would we then correct ourselves of mistakes we perceive them as unworthy of us if it were not so? Anyone who has some [...]
Those who serve-anecdotes
Posted in anecdotes, tagged Alexandre Dumas, Emerson, George Nathaniel Curzon, Rubinstein, W.S Gilbert on September 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Arturo Rubinstein in order to practise for a concert instructed his butler Francois not to let in any caller; he was to tell the caller that he was not at home. When the telephone rang Francois dutifully answered the woman at the other end as was instructed with the crashing chords of the maestro coming [...]
Is God Out There?
Posted in religion,, tagged God, nature, physical form, speculative philosophy, spiritual aspect, temporal life, time.space on September 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
An individual molecule of water can spend 200,000 years undisturbed in an icesheet in Antartica whereas in the ocean it may spend some 40,000 years. The same molecule can manage 1000 years in an underground reservoir, 10 years in a lake,10 days in the atmosphere. The same molecule in an animal’s body will endure only [...]