April 14, 2012 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Posted on April 14, 2012January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Sabah, 2005

This is a refreshing story that reveals a rare glimpse into the life of a Syrian immigrant family in Toronto, Canada. One from the indie shelves from a few years ago, I’m surprised this one slipped under my radar at the time, but I’m happy to report that a delay in getting to it didn’t diminish the pleasure of viewing it one bit.

On the surface it is a romantic drama between two people who are different in more ways than one because not only does it open a window to the many challenges that arise from the seemingly simple exercise of dating a person from outside one’s cultural community, it also offers a fascinating world into the lives of hijab-clad women indoors. The private lives when the head-scarves come off reveal a most colorful and exuberant joy of life evidenced by their love of foods, music, hookah, and dance, in particular.

But all differences come to naught when there is a meeting of the minds (and bodies), and what we have here is a thoughtful story of overcoming the insurmountable and allowing love to prevail in the end.

Posted on April 14, 2012January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Pappu Can't Dance Saala, 2011

It starts out on a very promising note, but fizzles out a little too soon, and before long you realize this is a most improbable story, and by the end of it you are convinced that you’d give this May-December romance six months before they call it quits.

That just about wraps it up as far as a synopsis of the story is concerned, and as for other aspects of the movie, I’d give it decent marks for acting performances, and Naseeruddin Shah’s cameo toward the end wasn’t too shabby.

The title is an obvious reference to a popular song from a fun movie Jaane Tu Jaane Na– which all things considered was probably a little more realistic than this Pappu who certainly can’t dance and comes pretty close to a fail.

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Saturday Labors: Cooking Up a Delectable Storm

Is that good, or is that good?

Green Beans stirfried w/ fresh garlic, whole cumin, whole red dried chillies, and sesame seeds.

Royal Rajma and Chawal

Flounder Fish Curry

Spinach Sabzi stirfied w/ fresh garlic and whole dry red chillies

Payasam

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Life-Threatening Tornado Outbreak Today

Life-Threatening Tornado Outbreak Today

By Bill Deger, Meteorologist

Apr 14, 2012; 5:50 AM ET

Folks in the threat area should take the situation very seriously.

A life-threatening, large outbreak of tornadoes is forecast to unfold across the central and southern Plains later today and tonight.

According to AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, “The risk is about as high as it gets.”

Oklahoma City and Wichita lie in the heart of the tornado threat area that extends from near Wichita Falls, Texas, to near Omaha, Neb., late this afternoon through tonight.

Despite strong thunderstorms moving through Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri this morning, more powerful storms are set to ignite later today as the environment will be such that numerous damaging thunderstorms will form from 4:00 p.m. CDT on through much of the night. A number of these storms will produce tornadoes.

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Given current trends, it appears as if the severe weather late today will, at the very least, reach the level of an outbreak with the potential for dozens of tornadoes. Such events are typically seen only a handful of times each year.

Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario is also on the table. In this situation, there is the possibility of a large-scale outbreak of twisters. Some of the tornadoes could be very strong and remain on the ground for miles.

Dangerous Setup for Storms
AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans first warned of the threat for tornadoes earlier in the week, saying, “The ingredients for a tornado outbreak may come together across portions of the Plains later today.”

Unfortunately, it now looks as if all those ingredients will come together.

A powerful storm moving into the West today will reach the southern Plains today.

The storm system, combined with a strong rush of wind aloft via the jet stream and a warm, moisture-rich air mass in place originating from the Gulf of Mexico, will allow thunderstorms to fire late in the day.

The difference in wind direction well up in the atmosphere (from the west) and at the surface (from the south) will enhance the threat for tornadoes.

The thunderstorms that will spawn the tornadoes will also drop large, damaging hail, and could produce powerful wind gusts in excess of 60 mph without the help of a funnel.

Timing
While a few isolated storms will be ongoing early this morning, the more powerful storms will wait until late afternoon to fire, probably along and just to the west of the I-35/I-135 corridor from Oklahoma City to Salina, Kan.

As Evans points out, the greatest risk for tornadoes will be across central and eastern Kansas through central Oklahoma this evening.

A cluster of tornado-producing thunderstorms is possible Sunday over portions of the Upper Midwest.

A dangerous situation will become even more precarious after dark with the threat for severe storms and tornadoes continuing and even expanding farther north and east into eastern Nebraska, Iowa western Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, northern Texas and northwestern Arkansas.

Joplin and Kansas City, Mo.; Tulsa, Okla., and even the western suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth could be in for a stormy night.

Portions of several major highways will be at risk, including Interstates 20, 29, 30, 35, 40, 44, 70, 80, 135, 335 and 540.

If you are traveling and a potential tornado is approaching, be prepared to abandon your vehicle and seek safe shelter. Better yet, stay off the roads if you hear that thunderstorms are approaching.

Precautions
Because of the threat, it is imperative that you keep up to date with the weather situation over the next several days, especially today. Have a plan of action before the storms develop.

Immediately head to the basement or a storm shelter if a warning is issued. Mobile homes and trailers should always be evacuated, as well.

Knowing ahead of time what to do in the event of a tornado or strong thunderstorm could save your life.

via accuweather.com

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

On This Day: April 14

Updated April 13, 2012, 2:28 pm

On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth while attending the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. He died the next day.

Go to article »

On April 14, 1866, Anne Sullivan Macy, the American teacher who helped educate the blind, deaf and mute Helen Keller, was born. Following her death on Oct. 20, 1936, her obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1775 The first American society for the abolition of slavery was organized by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.

1828 The first edition of Noah Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” was published.

1902 J.C. Penney opened his first store, in Kemmerer, Wyo.

1904 Actor John Gielgud was born in London.

1910 William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game at the Washington Senators’ home opener.

1912 The British liner Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and began to sink.

1931 King Alfonso XIII of Spain went into exile and the Spanish Republic was proclaimed.

1939 “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck was published.

1956 Ampex Corp. demonstrated its first commercial videotape recorder.

2002 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to office two days after being ousted and arrested by his country’s military.

2002 Tiger Woods became only the third golfer in history to win back-to-back Masters titles.

2007 Singer Don Ho died in Honolulu, Hawaii, at age 76.

2008 Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp., announced they were combining.

2010 The Eyjafjallajokul volcano in Iceland erupted, sending out an ash plume that led most northern European countries to close their airspace between April 15 and 20, grounding about 10 million travelers worldwide.

2010 A magnitude-7 earthquake in a remote Tibetan region of China killed some 2,700 people and injured more than 10,000.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Ringer,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) turns 35 years old today.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Actress Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) turns 16 years old today.

AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

1932 Loretta Lynn, Country singer, turns 80

1940 Julie Christie, Actress, turns 72

1941 Pete Rose, Baseball player, turns 71

1945 Ritchie Blackmore, Rock musician (Deep Purple), turns 67

1960 Brad Garrett, Actor (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), turns 52

1966 Greg Maddux, Baseball player, turns 46

1968 Anthony Michael Hall, Actor, turns 44

1973 Adrien Brody, Actor, turns 39

Historic Birthdays

Anne Sullivan Macy 4/14/1866 – 10/20/1936 American teacher of Helen Keller.Go to obituary »

64 Francois Duvalier 4/14/1907 – 4/21/1971
Haitian president (1957-1971)

70 Juan Belmonte 4/14/1892 – 4/8/1962
Spanish bullfighter

86 Arnold Toynbee 4/14/1889 – 10/22/1975
English historian; wrote 12-volume “Study of History”

79 James Branch Cabell 4/14/1879 – 5/5/1958
American novelist; wrote “Jurgen”

72 Adna R. Chaffee 4/14/1842 – 11/1/1914
American army officer; chief of staff (1904-06)

65 Gerhard Rohlfs 4/14/1831 – 6/2/1896
German explorer; journeyed across deserts of North Africa

73 Augustus Pitt-Rivers 4/14/1827 – 5/4/1900
English archaeologist called the “father of British archaeology”

74 Horace Bushnell 4/14/1802 – 2/17/1876
American Congregational minister and controversial theologian

66 Christiaan Huygens 4/14/1629 – 7/8/1695
Dutch mathematician, astronomer and physicist

1775	The first American society for the abolition of slavery was organized by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.
1828	The first edition of Noah Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” was published.
1902	J.C. Penney opened his first store, in Kemmerer, Wyo.
1904	Actor John Gielgud was born in London.
1910	William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game at the Washington Senators’ home opener.
1912	The British liner Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and began to sink.
1931	King Alfonso XIII of Spain went into exile and the Spanish Republic was proclaimed.
1939	“The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck was published.
1956	Ampex Corp. demonstrated its first commercial videotape recorder.
2002	Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to office two days after being ousted and arrested by his country’s military.
2002	Tiger Woods became only the third golfer in history to win back-to-back Masters titles.
2007	Singer Don Ho died in Honolulu, Hawaii, at age 76.
2008	Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp., announced they were combining.
2010	The Eyjafjallajokul volcano in Iceland erupted, sending out an ash plume that led most northern European countries to close their airspace between April 15 and 20, grounding about 10 million travelers worldwide.
2010	A magnitude-7 earthquake in a remote Tibetan region of China killed some 2,700 people and injured more than 10,000.

1932	Loretta Lynn, Country singer, turns 80
1940	Julie Christie, Actress, turns 72
1941	Pete Rose, Baseball player, turns 71
1945	Ritchie Blackmore, Rock musician (Deep Purple), turns 67
1960	Brad Garrett, Actor (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), turns 52
1966	Greg Maddux, Baseball player, turns 46
1968	Anthony Michael Hall, Actor, turns 44
1973	Adrien Brody, Actor, turns 39

64	Francois Duvalier 4/14/1907 – 4/21/1971 Haitian president (1957-1971)
70	Juan Belmonte 4/14/1892 – 4/8/1962 Spanish bullfighter
86	Arnold Toynbee 4/14/1889 – 10/22/1975 English historian; wrote 12-volume “Study of History”
79	James Branch Cabell 4/14/1879 – 5/5/1958 American novelist; wrote “Jurgen”
72	Adna R. Chaffee 4/14/1842 – 11/1/1914 American army officer; chief of staff (1904-06)
65	Gerhard Rohlfs 4/14/1831 – 6/2/1896 German explorer; journeyed across deserts of North Africa
73	Augustus Pitt-Rivers 4/14/1827 – 5/4/1900 English archaeologist called the “father of British archaeology”
74	Horace Bushnell 4/14/1802 – 2/17/1876 American Congregational minister and controversial theologian
66	Christiaan Huygens 4/14/1629 – 7/8/1695 Dutch mathematician, astronomer and physicist

via learning.blogs.nytimes.com

Posted on April 14, 2012April 10, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

April 14

MORNING

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Psalm 22:1

We here behold the Saviour in the depth of his sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which his cry rends the air–“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which he had to pass; and to make his grief culminate with emphasis, he suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of his Father’s presence. This was the black midnight of his horror; then it was that he descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” There are seasons when the brightness of our Father’s smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ’s case it was a real forsaking. We grieve at a little withdrawal of our Father’s love; but the real turning away of God’s face from his Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused him?

In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in his case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from him for a season. O thou poor, distressed soul, who once lived in the sunshine of God’s face, but art now in darkness, remember that he has not really forsaken thee. God in the clouds is as much our God as when he shines forth in all the lustre of his grace; but since even the thought that he has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when he exclaimed, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

EVENING

“Lift them up forever.”
Psalm 28:9

God’s people need lifting up. They are very heavy by nature. They have no wings, or, if they have, they are like the dove of old which lay among the pots; and they need divine grace to make them mount on wings covered with silver, and with feathers of yellow gold. By nature sparks fly upward, but the sinful souls of men fall downward. O Lord, “lift them up forever!” David himself said, “Unto thee, O God, do I lift up my soul,” and he here feels the necessity that other men’s souls should be lifted up as well as his own. When you ask this blessing for yourself, forget not to seek it for others also. There are three ways in which God’s people require to be lifted up. They require to be elevated in character. Lift them up, O Lord; do not suffer thy people to be like the world’s people! The world lieth in the wicked one; lift them out of it! The world’s people are looking after silver and gold, seeking their own pleasures, and the gratification of their lusts; but, Lord, lift thy people up above all this; keep them from being “muck-rakers,” as John Bunyan calls the man who was always scraping after gold! Set thou their hearts upon their risen Lord and the heavenly heritage! Moreover, believers need to be prospered in conflict. In the battle, if they seem to fall, O Lord, be pleased to give them the victory. If the foot of the foe be upon their necks for a moment, help them to grasp the sword of the Spirit, and eventually to win the battle. Lord, lift up thy children’s spirits in the day of conflict; let them not sit in the dust, mourning forever. Suffer not the adversary to vex them sore, and make them fret; but if they have been, like Hannah, persecuted, let them sing of the mercy of a delivering God.

We may also ask our Lord to lift them up at the last! Lift them up by taking them home, lift their bodies from the tomb, and raise their souls to thine eternal kingdom in glory.