The Maestro Of Comedy: George Carlin

George Carlin

When George Carlin teamed up with Jack Burns for a small performance in a coffee house in Fort Worth, TX, his life had been far from jolly. He was born in 1937, in Manhattan. In his later years he would frequently refer to his memories of the 'white harlem' and his Irish Catholic upbringing. His mother had run away from his father when he was only two months old and Carlin had had a difficult childhood growing up with his mother and elder brother. After leaving high school he had begun training as a radar technician for the US Air Force and had been sent to Louisiana. It was here that he tried his luck in the arena of stand-up comedy. Over the years, he evolved into a unique icon, shunned by some for his blunt nihilism but loved by most for his honesty, insight and enlightening philosophies of life. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest and most influential comedians.

When Vimukthi first showed me an act performed by Carlin,what struck me was his persona. A man in black, speaking the bitter truth and using humor to give life to the fears that we cloak in a conscious attempt to prove that humanity has achieved greatness. He forces his audiences to analyze religion, commerce and life itself and see beyond the cliched ideals we hold.

A Slice of the World

Man has a strange desire for order based on hierarchy. The notions of an omnipotent God and a democratic government stem from this same thirst for self-discipline and moral order. However, these desired outcomes have been far from achieved after millenia of human struggle. Quite on the contrary, often times the methods employed have resulted in the exact opposite- war and disharmony. Religions that were supposed to liberate people from the bonds of suffering and unite them in brotherhood have cause more death and destruction than any other human invention. For religion in the hands of a fool is more dangerous than a thousand nuclear bombs. But I see a silver lining on this cloud of nuclear waste. Certain other things have precipitated through such turmoil. Man has created complex social systems in the forms of culture and religion. I have come to believe that, if I am willing to look carefully, I can find a glimpse of inspiration, a shred of wisdom in the strangest of human cultures.

Just for fun

I believe that religion is merely a facet of a culture, similar to dress, cuisine and language. It cannot be defined or understood as a separate entity, for it has no existence of its own. Every time a religion has crossed a border and entered a foreign soul, as a result of war, trade or diplomacy, it has undergone an evolution. It has seeped in and merged with the traditions and ways of the people. And with the passage of time, this practice of faith forms a separateness from the original form from whence it came. Even if the fundamental teachings remained unchanged, the practice of religion as a whole transforms to suit the geography and the people.


When I first became interested in Neo-paganism and Wicca, I understood that following the footsteps of existent  traditions like Gardenian, Alexandrian or Dianic would not serve my purpose. I believe that Wicca calls for an individual spiritual journey, where each person is actively engaged in an eternal process of learning, from the past and from the moment, through the means of study, thought and prayer.
Led by my instincts and interests, I decided to delve deeper into the world we live in. And my findings have mesmerized me! And some of those I have decided to share here- my tabula rasa.

Braces are ON!

My appointment was at 7.45 am and was to last two hours. I was a bit nervous, specially since I was also having a bad flu. My doctor was very understanding, and even reduced the air conditioning!
It was an absolutely painless procedure. To tell the truth, I didn't feel the time pass. All the gadgets he shuffled around and the Toy Story movie playing on a screen above kept me entertained.
I have been wearing my braces for a little over 24 hours and there's little pain, only discomfort. I took ibuprofen twice yesterday and that was it. All that I have to do now is get used to it and brush, brush, brush. =)

The Fear of the Swine

Pretty Pig

I started the New Year with a big sneeze and a terrible headache was my companion on the first of January. Over the next two days I developed a full-blown flu. Being a natural hypochondriac, I speculated the worst: I’ve got the Flu of the Swine, the terrible A H1N1 virus!
As the first step of a self-diagnosis I Googled the symptoms of this disease:

• Fever (sometimes absent)
• chills
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Cough
• Sore and itchy throat
• Headache
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue and body ache

I scored yes to 8/9! So, I decided to go to my family doctor, a.s.a.p. But this was not my only concern: I was supposed to get my braces the next day. My orthodontist insisted I do not postpone but take amoxicillin and Piriton, and go ahead with my treatment.
My family doctor did vaguely mention the possibility of Swine Flu. I think he did not want to create an unnecessary panic. He told me that amoxicillin was not needed and prescribed some basic flu aid.

But this experience got me thinking….

What is Swine Flu?
The swine influenza is a respiratory disease that affected pigs, and occasionally humans, like farmers who came into direct contact with pigs. However, this changed in 2009 when the virus evolved into a form that is spread from human to human. This new genetic form of the virus was previously unknown to humans, therefore we lacked the immunity and the medical knowledge to fight it.

What makes it SO dangerous?
For many this flu is just another seasonal flu that requires little medical attention. In most cases a little bed rest would do.
But this is different for people who are suffering from weakened immune systems, heart disease, blood, kidney and liver disorders, chronic lung diseases, neurological and neuromuscular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Anyone under the age of 5 or above the age of 65, as well as pregnant women need to take extra care. For them medical attention is vital as the disease could be fatal.

What can you do?
Stay at home. Rest and Sleep. Drink plenty of water.
If you have any of the complications mentioned above, go to a doctor.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and I am merely paraphrasing what I have read elsewhere. To quote Matt Stone and Trey Parker, “This should not be viewed by anyone”!

Resolutions '11

I have had a habit of writing down a plethora of resolutions at the glorious beginning of every year, and forgetting them in a month's time. Everything from 'being a better daughter' to 'drinking more water' and 'partying more' has made it to my list during my adolescent years. However, this year I'm going to keep it crisp and simple-

New Years Resolutions 2011

1. Figure things out.

(My list goes a step further by clearly defining what falls under the abstract term things.)

Things

• Life
• Love
• The Past
• The Present
• The Moment
• The Universe
• My Place in it
• My Path,
• From a spiritual perspective
• From a worldly perspective

  etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

Well, it's not that I do not realize the gravity of my undertaking. After all, I am trying to solve problems that humanity as a collective entity has not been able to comprehend throughout all its millennia of existence. But there is clearly no harm, other than busting a few brain cells and heart fibers, in trying.