evawhite on May 4th, 2008
Emma Watson, the pretty co star of the Harry Potter films turned 18 recently, and this apparently is big news for some gossip related news sites and blogs. Fine! But what really appalled me is an ‘article’ about her that showed photos of her see thru underwear! This is when I thought how crazy is this world that something like this masquerades as ‘news’ or ‘interesting post’ or whatever.
The world is so celebrity crazy that every move made by the beleaguered Britney Spears is reported and re-reported to death! She got married, she got divorced, she got pregnant, had a baby got married again, became a drug or alcohol addict, went into rehab, got out, whatever!!! I have simply lost track of how many times I have skimmed over news about the singer in the recent past.
And god forbids that anyone in a relationship should be suspected to call it quits. A media feeding frenzy will at once ensue, and practically ensure that even if the relationship was not at break point, the unending hounding and countless searching questions will effectively put such a stain on the relationship as to make it untenable.
The hint of a pregnancy, the whiff of a divorce and the vultures will close in for the kill. I feel that the media circus may have been responsible for more than one break up of an otherwise strong relationship.
I for one am convinced that the story hungry paparazzi, ever eager to satisfy the public’s unending lust for any crumb of celebrity information, was at least partly responsible for the tragic accident that claimed the life of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.
What is it after all that makes people so avidly interested even riveted to all that a celebrity does? How on earth does it affect anyone else if Kanye West broke off his engagement or if Jennifer Lopez delivered twins! Is this the price that one has to pay for being a celebrity? Are you not entitled to a private life once you get into the public space?
I do occasionally read about celebrity news if it is relevant, for instance if Britney Spears makes a new album, I will probably be interested. I am not, however interested in how haggard she is looking these days or difficulties she is having in her personal life.
This kindly of celebrity hounding is just malicious, it mean and it is nasty when its principle aim is to dig out the dirt in peoples’ lives. The argument in favor of this kind of reporting is that if you get the adulation and fame, you have to take this invasion of privacy. Do you enjoy reading about celebrities? Do you think this is a valid argument?
evawhite on April 30th, 2008
When one says ‘Olympics’ what is the immediate thought that comes to your mind? A getting together of the whole world to jointly participate in sports? Sport unities. It unites 11 people to play cricket, 15 people for football, 12 people for hockey and so on…. People come together in their passion for sport, to play; whole countries get-together to support their sportsmen. 
Look at the Olympic symbol, four rings united. It signifies in my perspective four rings of many united under the Olympic banner.
Once in four years the whole world would put aside differences, work and issue to unite supporting their countries in the Olympics games. 
The Olympic flame which symbolises many things of them being a flame of hope, flame of perseverance, the flame of life. A powerful symbol. The flame traditionally passed hand to hand one runner to the next to me is such a beautiful get-together of humankind. Pure, with no malice only dedication to sport.
All this desecrated in the 2008 Olympics. The spirit of harmony torn by the iron claw of regime. Talking of regime during the Third Reich in Germany the Olympics were held in purity of the sport, the whole world participated. New records were set for the first time ever: Live televised coverage, in 1936. No need to discuss what happened after the Olympics in Germany, but during the Olympics the torch marathon wasn’t leaving a sour taste across the world.
What is meant to be a symbol of purity, dedication and harmony has become a symbol upheld by force? Everyone has seen how so much security is deployed around the flame. The flame hasn’t been run its full course, when traditionally runners are meant to pass through the participating countries so everyone can come together to support it has now become a cordoned-off showcase? It riles me how blatantly it is all being done. How/Why is the world tolerating this??
It is painful to see the destruction of something so pure and basic which having existed for many millennia come to this. The earliest recorded Olympics were in 776 BC! 
The Olympics was never meant to be a cold hearted business affair. It was vibrant, the Olympics colours were that. The whole world was invited. Now with the spirit gone …..
evawhite on April 25th, 2008
Earth Day which was on 22nd April has just gone by. I have not stuck to the New Year Resolutions that I made, so I thought I would make some Earth Day resolutions which would be good for me as well as the Earth. Even a few changes you make in your day to day life can make a difference. Read on and tell me if you are going to join me in this worthwhile exercise.
I shall recycle: That recycling is good for the environment is a no brainer. The mantra you can live by is reduce, reuse and recycle. Buy less to begin with, reuse whenever possible so that you minimize waste and recycle whatever you can. When you buy stuff at the store, carry your own bag or at least ask for a paper bag rather than a plastic one. Remember you will use a plastic bag for five minutes and it will take nature 500 years to biodegrade it.
I shall drive less: Walk to wherever you can, or use your bicycle, leaving the car at home. Whenever possible, use public transport. If you are thinking about getting a new car, at least consider an electric vehicle or a hybrid at least.
I shall take the train not the plane: If you read my post about the best train journeys, then you will know, that according to me, trains are the best way to travel because you get a feel of the place you are traveling thru, the people, the culture, the look, sounds, even the smells of the place. It is also the best way to travel environmentally speaking because it has the least negative impact on the environment.
I shall plant Trees: Ideally, you can try planting a tree for every 10 books you buy (textbook, notebook, count them all). I know this is not at all practical or even feasible, but try planting one tree a year. You can choose earth day to do this worthwhile activity. Or read e-books as a way to reduce the demand of cutting trees for making paper.
I shall reconnect with nature: Get together with likeminded friends or family and explore your neighborhood. Organize a camping or trekking excursion; explore parks, woods, and historical sites. Let this be how you spend your leisure time rather than staying indoors watching the TV, using heating or cooling and other appliances.
I shall eat smart: Reduce the amount of frozen or canned foods that you eat (canning uses energy and material and increases garbage and freezing uses energy and packing material), instead eat fresh, seasonal produce.
Any more that you want to add to my list?
