Another Hawk Tale

A colleague of mine, Erin told me this hawk story in the midst of a chaotic, heart-wrenching week.

His bride of 2 weeks called Erin at work, informing him that a baby hawk had crash landed in their backyard. The little guy (dubbed Beaky) lay on his back, fluttering but unable to right itself. He messed about during the day until Erin returned home from work. Worrying about predators, Erin gently righted the fledgling and allowed it perch on his arm. Now Erin is a guy with a penchant for winged creatures, you might call them his totem. So the companionship of a wee hawk destined to be a magnificent creature with a wingspan exceeding 6 feet thrilled him to his toes. In his droll manner Erin described it this way: It exceeded expectations for my day.

Despite the bonding and mutual admiration between hawk and man, the little guy was still unable to take flight. Summoned were the ASPCA people who arrived to inspect his physical state - bones, pinions, feathers and make sure he was hydrated and fed. They plan to release him in the same location tomorrow. Hopefully Mama or Daddy Hawk will spot him and assist in his ascent back to the nest.

If I hear more, I'll let you know.

SAJA News

As a South Asian (the politically correct way to call an Indian in America) I'm always seeking organizations with like-minded/colored participants. 7 years ago I came across SAJA, the South Asian Journalist Association while browsing the Columbia University Graduate Writing Program. I had the opportunity to speak with the founder of SAJA - Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of students & Professor in addition to being a Tech Reporter for WNBC. Not only has he established one of the most powerful forums for South Asian Journalists, he happens to be a remarkably gifted networker.

One of the forums Saja has created is the Saja annual convention. This year conducted July 12 - 15 on the campuses of Columbia and CUNY. Keynote speakers were Bill Keller, Martin Bashir (infamous Michael Jackson interview), Rena Golden - CNN International. I had the chance to join a seminar wtih Bruce DaSilva, award-winning writing coach for AP, in which Mr. DaSilva reinforced my favorite dictum: it doesn't matter what you write it's how you write it. Best of all for you Heroes fans was the guest appearance of Sendhil Ramamurthy, otherwise known as the dishy Dr. Mohinder Suresh.

Other resources of note include blogs such as UltraBrown with homages to Apu of the Simpsons and UberDesi.

Simpsons Mania

Good news for fans of the Simpsons. Lots of treats coming your way in anticipation of the Simpsons movie, debuting July 27 this month. We always knew the writers of the show were brilliant but who knew they had such advertising chutzpah? To celebrate (and largely advertise the movie) the publicity team had an artist create the granddaddy of all tributes to Homer Simpson, right next to the pagan, time honored Cerne Abbas Giant.

ABC News reports.

"The Cerne Abbas Giant, a chalk outline of an aroused, club-wielding man dating to at least the 17th century, is a revered symbol of fertility among pagans. It is Britain's largest chalk drawing, carved into the natural chalk rock beneath the turf. Its new neighbor is Homer Simpson, proudly wielding a doughnut and clad more modestly in an enormous pair of Y-front briefs in the adjacent lush, green field.

While keeping with the Simpson's cheeky shenanigans, other publicity efforts include the tranformation of 7-11s into the fictional Kwik eMarts of the show. I've had the opportunity to witness one such one in New York City on 42nd Street and between 8th & 9th Avenue. Wanna visit one yourself? Have a look at the locations. Rumor has it that the owners of the 7-11s, who are largely of South Asian descent are working closely with Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, owner of the show's Kwik eMart and voiced by Hank Azaria.

But wait, it gets even better. On Wednesday night, the Daily Show proudly featured Matt Groening, Simpson's creator. To say Jon Stewart was excited is an understatement. You might say he giggled like a little girl. Catch the interview.

Fire the Grid

In case you haven't already heard of the remarkable story of Shelly Yates you can catch it on YouTube. In essence, Ms. Yates is encouraging the entire world to send blessings of love and healing to the earth on 7/17 at 7:11 EST. It might already be past the alloted time but I encourage you to spend a few moments today to send this small planet appreciation for its water, air, plants, creatures. I was rewarded on the ride to work by a brown pelicanish creature waving his bat-like wings as I whizzed past. Tell me your stories and experiences on this magical day.

Dog Whisperer Week!

If you haven't fallen in love with Caesar Millan, the "Dog Whisperer" you'll get your chance tonight. Matter of fact, all this past week. The National Geographic Channel is airing Dog Whisperer Week, with back to back episodes of the award-winning show. You can catch previews on the site.

A little help for the Earth, please?

The excitement of Live Earth was somewhat tainted by the results of the Wimbledon finals. But from first hand reviews, the grass-roots, artist supported bash achieved one of its primary end goals - raise awareness of the earth. The brainchild of Al Gore, (God bless the man for reinventing rejection of a presidency into the most urgent movement of the new millenium) Live Earth proved what the current presidency has tried to deny: the people have no say.

If you missed the fete, check out the concerts on demand and check the other ditties on the site such as green celebs, eco tip of the day, join the green community and register to win an eco trip to Australia.

Hawks and Goddess Demotions

Mention of Goddess anywhere in modern media always catches my eye, so when I saw this headline: Nepali "living goddess" fired after U.S. visit, I had to check it out. Sajani Shakya of Nepal was granted the status of Kumari, or living goddess at the age of two. What exactly are the duties of a child goddess? These wee dieties abide in temples blessing devotees until they reach puberty. Then they are able to rejoin their family and lead a normal life. But temple life can be restricting, especiallly for a 10 year-old girl. So she embarked on a trip to the United States. To go to Disneyland? No. To visit Paris Hilton? No. Sajani departed with the best of intentions - to promote a British-made documentary exploring Nepal's traditions and contemporary political turmoil.

Apparently the Kumari management administration didn't care for Sajani's motive. "It is wrong and against the tradition for her to go on a foreign tour without any permission," said the chief of a trust that manages the affairs of Bhaktapur's Kumari tradition. "This is impure in our tradition. We will search for a new Kumari and install her as the living goddess." Hmmm. I wonder if it's against the tradition to accept increased donations?

In other news, as I was watching a replay of a Wimbledon match a plump pigeon interrupted play. The heavy pigeon, swatted about the arena in an attempt to exit the stadium. Apparently the eats at Wimbledeon are pretty good for the pudgy bird oafishly fluttered about for quite a bit. While the proper Brits hemmed and coughed in amusement the commentators seemed perturbed. Where's the hawk? Mary Carrillo asked Luke Jensen. I've heard of Hawk-eye but just a hawk? Apparently Wimbledon employs the services of an, er, professional hawk. Known as the All England Club's Hawk, this raptor is released upon the hallowed tennis grounds every morning to frighten off plump pigeons and other unfortunate avians. Woe to the pigeons.

Ballad of El Paso

As dive bars go, Cornerstone is a Guinness World Record winner. A dark interior showcases a musty sticky bar crowded by worn stools. On which sit the salt of Jersey - policemen, construction workers, and on a balmy Sunday afternoon, a guy named Cowboy. He looks like a leaner, meaner Kenny Rogers - graying ponytail pulled back from a tanned, craggy face. Loves country music, says he, especially the Man in Black. Fan that I am of Mr. Cash, I'm more in a Marty Robbins mood. So off I shuffle to the state of art jukebox - mystifying in a bar that hands out bags of Wise potato chips for happy hour. The moment the guitar strums the first chords of El Paso I'm transported back to the first time I heard the song.

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina
Music would play and Feleena would whirl

The song eclipses all cowboy ballads. Wikipedia has this to say: "Widely considered a genre classic for its gripping narrative, haunting harmonies, and the eloquent Spanish guitar accompaniment that lends the recording a distinctive Tex-Mex feel."

The nobility of the song is slightly marred by my first experience of it. I wish I could say I heard it on a cowboy trail while the cowhands crooned to the setting sun. Or that I actually witnessed Marty performing his remarkable ballad. Alas, it was neither. It came about through the unlikely personage of Steve Martin. In the 70s and 80s, after the world discovered the wild and crazy Mr. Martin, he began testing the boundaries of his talent. Ergo the music video King Tut. The tiny, jewel of a book - Cruel Shoes. And his Saturday night specials. It was on such a special titled Comedy Is Not Pretty that Steve contrived his homage to Robbins via the unlikely conduit of, um, chimps. Yes, chimps. Steve positioned himself as the hero of the song while casting chimps as all other characters, including the black-eyed, lipsticked Feleena. Even the shennagians of the skit could not dwindle the impact of the soaring lyrics or the marvelous Spanish guitar.

As Cowboy said to me after the hero bid Feleena good bye, "now that's a song!"