Will it be Hugo? Or The Artist?

This time for a change, we have a very good list to choose from.

The lookers or the guys who were long keepers of sexiest men in universe, Brad Pitt and George Clooney are nominated for Money Ball and The Descendants respectively. May the best man win!

As for the ladies, there is the Oscar favorite, Meryl Streep and giving her stiff competition would be Glenn Close, Rooney Mara, Michele Williams and Viola Davis.

Quite a lineup there wouldn’t you say?

Good to see Martin Scorsese back in reckoning. Who knew that he can make a children’s fantasy?! All along I thought he made only mafia stories and worked with guys who speak in Italian accent!

There is a dark horse out there too. You can love him or hate him, but can never ignore him. Yes, I am talking about the one and only, Woody Allen.

He is here this year with his beautiful and picturesque, Midnight In Paris.

Well, those are the guys fighting it out for the shining black lady on Oscar night.

Now, let’s see whom we have for animated characters:

There is the second beautiful installment of Kung Fu Panda, Puss In Boots, A Cat In Paris, Chico & Rita, and Johny Depp’s “Rango.”

All sorts of pets are fighting it out there from panda to cats.

Rango has a good buzz going for it. Let’s see if it grabs the coveted prize.

Apart from the inevitable Oscar buzz at this time of the year, the rest of America is busy listening to politicians, present and future keepers of the society’s well being and keeping their cards close as to whom they are planning to vote for.

All said, uneventful and happy week is in the passing and a lot more action looks in store over the weekend and later.

Let’s wait and watch as the action unfolds.

What’s a democracy without healthy competition, isn’t it? Newt Gingrich is in the radar now giving a tough fight to Mitt Romney. It isn’t going to be a cakewalk now for the front runner, Romney.

Obama has created a million jobs, made health care available, got troops out of Iraq and getting troops out of Afghanistan but still there is a smoke bomb thrown into the White House.

That doesn’t mean his Presidency is without flaws. There are a number of them. It is not about politics but the human psyche. Maybe it is a fast food world and we want results fast. And we are impatient and bored with incumbents.

Maybe, the change Obama was preaching and came to power with, is acting against him now. You never know until autumn, who is where in the polls.

World history changes in hours not days and there is a lot of time before the bell rings for the polls.

Santa Claus is back home and the New Year festivities has ended… What to look for now?

Valentine’s Day!

Time to look forward to the single event that is dedicated to love.

Now that most of us would have already broken our New Year resolutions and with a guilty smile explained your lack of will to your loved ones… Let’s get on track to do what you can do without much pain – Spreading love.

For all you know, the world needs it more than ever.

A bouquet of flowers is the order of the day. Send some to the one you love.

Call a person whom you long forgot to call.

And it’s Monday, maybe you should send a Monday Blues greeting card to a colleague.

Good day!

America is what it is because of its dream makers. People who dared to dream and realized it through sheer hard work.

The individual flourished and the reason was because his country allowed him to.

There is always a sense of “why does the world criticize us all the time?” And that’s a valid question.

The answer is this:

The world looks up to America and if there is a small disturbance here in this country then the psyche of the world is affected. Americans are role models to countless human beings out there. This is the country which spends the most on philanthropy than any other. This is the country that provides freedom to citizens like no other.

Being the strongest and the most powerful has its drawbacks and one should accept it. There will be cynicism and the cynics will laugh at our miseries. Let them be. They are a negligible minority. To each word of cynicism there are a thousand words of love for us.

If we had gone for oil, as they cynics say, then we wouldn’t have had recession.

This is the country that glorifies its soldiers, champions its women and celebrates its secular credentials.

There is a robust media that can question the President and there are comedians who can make fun of the President.

We are a tolerant country. A rational republic.

Yes, there is problem here.

So what?

We had the Civil War, Great Depression, 9/11… But we are still here.

America is not just a country. It is an idea.

And that idea will live forever.

Now, Michelle Obama has logged on to a social network to campaign for votes for the President. She garnered a million voters in hours and that should please the First Lady.

The latest fad in the world of celebrities is taking to social networking sites to connect with people. Maybe they are sick and tired of media reporting or misreporting what they said. And there are these spin off pundits at work who cause controversies that hurt them. And there are a few so-called celebrities exposing their inner feelings, their relationship squabbles and sometimes flaunting their toned bodies.

Election fever is gripping the nation and Republicans are showing signs of a fight. Mitt Romney looks solid and the national television has leaders from right, left and center talking about what’s good for the nation.

A welcome change! Congratulations are in order for the well meaning, always!

In other news, North Korea denies punishing mourners who didn’t mourn enough for the death of their Dear Leader!

Iran lost a scientist and the fingers are pointed towards as always Israel’s Mossad and America’s CIA. We can be at peace knowing our agency is being highly rated by foreigners!

Here’s some snippet from the entertainment… Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe while the ever charming George Clooney won one himself.

That again brings back the question… Does Mery Streep ever age?

She is looking good for an Oscar, but there are too many good contenders this year.

Huntsman stops his hunt abruptly. He is quitting the GOP race and is going to back Romney. Looks like everyone is backing the winning horse.

All said, this week too starts with a quiet optimism that all will be well with this world.

Let’s hope there are enough smiles that will come our way in these seven days.

I thought it is appropriate at this time of our lives to write this blog.

In a world that is increasingly becoming polarized, I would like to give you a snapshot of a moment in life, which oozes positive energy. Read on.

Losing a loved one is not easy for sure. Uncle Frank had lost his wife and was grieving. Rachel (my niece), Debbie (my sis), and I went to his place for the weekend to stay with him through this time. When we were around, uncle Frank was pleasantly sober, but when left alone, he started brooding. When he was in one of those spells we went to check on him. He was seated by the fire place on his arm chair and softly sobbing. We just stood by, silent. There are no words for this occasion. We didn’t want to talk about the aunt or loss as it would only trigger a strong response. We just stood. Rachel slipped and sneaked out. Hmmm… Good to be kids. They just can switch on and off and never need to go through all these. Sure enough, in a few minutes she was back with her favorite teddy toy. She has gone all the way to her room and dug into her backpack to find her toy. She took long baby steps to reach the arm chair. Climbed using the arms for balance and made room for herself in uncle Frank’s lap. The old man stopped sobbing and stared at Rachel. She said in a soft voice, “Uncle Frank, please keep my teddy toy with you.”

Uncle, “But my little one, what’s that for?”

Rachel, “Whenever I cry, mom gives me the teddy and says that she is my best friend and I wouldn’t feel alone in the night after mom has tucked me up for the night. I never cry when I have the teddy around.” And she added with a toothy grin, “See, what did I say, look at you, you’ve stopped crying.”

Sure enough! Uncle Frank had stopped crying.

Some sight, after a few minutes, the chair was bobbing up and down while uncle Frank was sleeping with Rachel around, with the teddy resting on her lap.

And I thought angels were creatures who wore white-wedding dress and carried a wand.

You know, sometimes they carry teddies!

The little angel knew how to cheer up a wounded soul!

I am sure there are many more inspirational figures around us… Identify them, celebrate them.

A light-hearted blog today for you guys. No heavy stuff, I promise.

I was watching a few cartoon animation episodes over the weekend and had a hearty laugh. When I analyzed it though I found them all to have violence.

Innumerable times the cartoons struck each other violently and tried to hurt them badly. If human beings were shown inflicting such kind of violence against each other… Forget kids, even adults would have needed restricted viewing. But these cartoons are exclusively dedicated to kids. Go figure!

The only difference between violent movies and cartoons is that, there is no show of blood and the injured heal themselves miraculously and everybody lives happily ever after.

But the violence is real!

Kids subconsciously learn violence from the cartoons. And the worse part, they may be led to think that violence may not kill or hurt a person as the characters on television always make a comeback.

And then there are romances. Teen romances. Do they even know that they are not for real, but early hormones and a product of infatuation?

They deem it real and wonder if they would find love. At the age of 12!

There is innocence in a mouse winning the battle against a cat. It is heartening to see caped vigilantes thrashing villains. It is cute to watch little kids romance.

It does make one fear what’s in store for these tiny tots in future, but again we watched them all and have become adults.

They will find a way too.

Kids grow up to be adults. And adults grow up to be kids.

Way of life.

In the times of exorbitant oil prices, death of dictators and a bad economy… sometimes it is fun to watch an animated cartoon, which brings us a smile.

Or maybe, click on a card in our site where a teddy bear hugs with a smile.

Good day, folks!

Angels do roam on the earth. They do not have wings though, but a big toothy smile or sometimes a toothless grin

They are nothing but the children that we see everyday in our homes, streets and in the places we shop. They have an innocent smile if you notice and they love to chat with anyone and everyone. They are not limited in their love and they share it with a person whom we adults may despise.

They don’t discriminate with color, creed or anything else.

Love is their religion and their smile is where God lives.

Maybe… Jus’ maybe it’s time we learnt from these kids. I have only complaint about kids.

They grow up. Fast.

Sigh!

Nothing in this world prepares you for the tears of a child. It pains your heart when they cry. You will do anything in your power to alleviate their tears and fears.

A woman becomes a mom when a kid is born.
A man becomes a real man when he becomes a father.

World becomes a happy place when the kid tries to walk and falls. And then tries to walk again.

You know why they don’t discriminate and are always almost happy?

Because they don’t know right from wrong and they don’t care about a society. They live in their own world where everything is pleasant and new.

We live in an old world where we know what is right and what is wrong and we despise it.

That’s why we frown.

Maybe, we should enter the world of kids…

Or

Maybe, we should make our world like the one that kids live in.

I wouldn’t mind either of them.

Would you?

May this year bring you happiness and all that you dreamt for in this life. May there be peace, may there be success and most of all, may there be love.

I personally pray that may the families unite and may the friends cherish the goodness of friendship. Too much hatred in the world and all we need right now is love.

That said, I would like to give you a heads up on what’s in store this year… There is going to be peace in the Middle East, US economy is going to get strong, our troops are going to come home, there won’t be any more teens-turned-pop stars succumbing to drug overdose, there won’t be any more terrorist attacks, children will behave like children, adults will behave like good human beings, there will be no poverty in this world, there won’t be any religious hatred, no illiteracy and there will be more fans to Editor Bob

Wishful thinking you say?

No.

Believe. And it will become possible.

In fact, anything is possible if you dare to dream. Remember, America is a dreamer’s paradise. You have license to dream here and freedom to achieve the impossible.

Love breeds love and hatred breeds hatred. War never won anyone anything.

War kills.

Love gives.

It’s your choice.

Choose.

Welcome 2012!

There are times when we think we are the only ones in this world. And that the world revolves only around us. Sometimes a few incidents happen that makes us aware of people who are around us.

It was at an office party that I saw him. He looked quite dapper in his suit and was all smiles chattering with who’s who. I knew him, but I didn’t remember. It was awkward really as I was stealing glances. And then he noticed. He came around with his Ivy League looks and gave me a whack on the back. I was stunned.

“You don’t recognize me, do you Bob?” He said.

I managed to nod.

“It’s Martin, you dumb $%@” He said.

Cobwebs cleared and I remembered. Buddy from school. I always liked him. People drift, but it was such a pleasant surprise to have him back. In the world of Facebook and Twitter, it’s not tough to search and there is always a greeting card to send a smile or stay in touch.

I made a note.

No one told us not to be in touch with people whom we crossed path in our lives. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. To have friends from those innocent days when friendships or relationships were formed not based on bartering of material wealth.

Good to be in touch with people whom you can call friends.

Aaliyah wanted to visit my good ol’ friend, Greg. On the road, our conversation veered towards Greg’s folks who are the model couple in town. Their married life is the stuff of a legend, 40 years and counting.

Aaliyah had been to her friend’s yesterday at my expense. She never bothered to check in with me neither did she apologize today. My mood wasn’t exactly pink and so our conversation was quite formal. As usual, she had her version too. She expected me to text her or at least tell her that I missed her. Whatever!

Greg pounced out the door like Kong on steroids when we entered. He was in high spirits, literally, if you know what I mean. Greg’s parents were celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary and they were catching each other’s eye as if they were on the first date. Sigh!

Once the dust settled, I and Aaliyah got Greg’s ol’ man aside. He was on fifth shot when I posed the question…

“40 years?! How in the world you guys do it?” I managed to ask.

His answer was a one liner. “Love is all about reassurance and reciprocation.”

Never be shy to share your feelings. You never know how much the one you love wants to hear it.

Experience and live. Don’t just exist.