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It's probably something we have all experienced. We get home, stick last night's leftovers in the microwave, and sit down to have a nice meal — only to realize that the food is scalding hot one bite and freezing cold the next. This experience has prompted me on more than one occasion to wonder: Why does a microwave heat food so unevenly?
The Physics of Microwave Heating
Microwaves are a type of high-frequency electromagnetic wave. The microwaves that are used in a microwave oven to heat food have a wavelength of around 12.23 cm and a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz (GHz). The electromagnetic waves produce oscillating magnetic and electric fields that excite molecules inside the field, therefore generating heat.
There are a couple different factors that can contribute to a less-than-satisfactory microwave heating experience. The first is that the different ingredients in a meal often have varying rates of energy absorption. One case where this is quite noticeable is in the reheating of a berry pie — the berries absorb heat much faster than the pie crust, leaving a hot pie filling with a cold exterior. This is due to the fact that foods that contain higher amounts of water tend to absorb microwave energy with a higher efficiency, while foods with lower water content absorb heat more slowly, causing uneven heating. This is due to the dipole that exists across a water molecule, which causes the negative and positive ends of the molecule to switch back and forth in the presence of the oscillating electromagnetic field. Because of this, you'll also notice that water in a liquid state heats at a more efficient rate than ice, due to the fact that liquid molecules move more freely than the molecules in ice, generating more collisions and therefore more heat.
Another reason for why microwaves heat unevenly comes from the nature of the complicated oscillating pattern that takes place inside the oven. Let's take a closer look at the physics behind the way microwaves heat food using a COMSOL simulation, where we can understand the electromagnetic field and heat transfer that takes place during the heating process.
Microwave Heating Simulation
First, we can set up our microwave oven geometry. In our simulation, the microwave oven is basically a copper box connected to a 500 W, 2.45 GHz microwave source. The microwaves are then directed toward the center of the oven via a waveguide located in the top-right corner of the oven. The bottom contains the glass plate on which food is placed. To keep our analysis simple, we can look at how heating takes place in a homogeneous food, such as a potato. The geometry of the microwave, waveguide, glass plate, and potato is shown below. Because of the mirror symmetry present in the model, only half of the geometry needs to be modeled.
Geometry of a microwave oven, waveguide, glass plate, and potato. The geometry is reduced due to mirror symmetry.
In the simulation, a piece has been cut from the bottom of the potato in order to provide stability for the potato resting on the plate. This cut also aids in the creation of the finite element mesh, allowing for a detailed analysis to be conducted in the region where the potato comes into contact with the plate. The resistive metal heat losses from the copper walls of the microwave and waveguide, although small, are also taken into account through the use of an impedance boundary condition.
When we input microwave radiation into the potato, the potato acts as a resonance cavity, trapping some of the electromagnetic field inside. The power transferred into the potato, or the dissipated power, is about 60% of the power that is released from the radiation source. The rest of the power is reflected back through the port. As can be seen in the simulation below, the resonance cavity creates a strong peak in the center of the potato where the dissipated power is at its highest.
Dissipated microwave power distribution within the potato. Notice the strong peak at the potato's center.
This microwave field induces heating inside of the potato. After five seconds have passed, we can look at the amount of heat that has been generated within the potato. In the simulation, we can observe that only the center of the potato has begun to heat after five seconds. Also, due to the potato's low thermal conductivity, the heat remains focused at the center and does not distribute. This leads to the hot center and cold exterior that we sometimes experience when heating food in a microwave.
Temperature distribution in the potato after five seconds of heating.
If we were to continue heating the potato for a longer period of time, the central temperature in the potato would eventually reach the boiling point, and steam would form and diffuse outwards, accelerating the heat transport and lowering the power dissipation in the center as it dries out. This will happen as the temperature nears 100°C, although the rising local pressure inside the potato may increase this boiling point. However, when superheated enough, one or several microexplosions will occur, opening up steam channels to outer parts of the potato. Anyone who has tried microwaving something like mashed potatoes or thick soup has probably experienced these microexplosions, and witnessed their aftereffects on the inside of the microwave oven. While the simulation discussed above does not include these nonlinear effects, it can serve as a good starting point for a more complex simulation that may include these and other effects.
Standing Waves in a Microwave Oven
The same mechanisms that cause uneven heating in the potato are also at play in the entire oven. The shape of the resonating electric field is a pattern of high and low electric field intensity spots inside the oven. These spots are caused by standing waves. Standing waves arise due to the interactions that take place between electromagnetic waves bouncing back and forth in the oven when they are superimposed on one another. The result in this case is a checkered pattern of high and low electric field intensity spots that occurs in the microwave. Using the same geometry from above, we can analyze these standing waves:
Location of the standing waves in a microwave.
Rotating the glass plate located at the bottom of the microwave and placing the potato on the edge of the plate, instead of the middle, may lessen the problem of high intensity spots contributing to uneven heating. In the image above, we can see how rotation would move the food through the spots.
Additional Resources
- Download the microwave oven model from the Model Gallery
Comments (1)
alex pabalate
August 5, 2019Thanks for the in-depth explanation on why a microwave heat meal unevenly.
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- Packed with fun, these portable, folding, wooden structures are ready for hours of imaginative play.
- Princesses and knights, cowpokes and farmhands will delight in these take-along sets.
Fold & Go Play Set
from Melissa & Doug
Packed with fun, these portable, folding, wooden structures are ready for hours of imaginative play. Princesses and knights, cowpokes and farmhands will delight in these take-along sets.
Young MacDonalds will enjoy "down on the farm" fun with this fully assembled, wooden barn. Two-story barn is stocked with seven realistic plastic farm animals, a wooden ladder and a folding corral. Chunky handles let you take your bit of "country" wherever you go!
Dimensions: 11.25" x 13.5" x 7"
Enjoy a "home away from home" with this delightful wooden dollhouse. Two flexible, wooden play figures live in this house, complete with eleven pieces of wooden furniture. The dollhouse opens for easy access and folds closed for convenient storage.
Dimensions: 13.13" x 10.63" x 6.13"
It's easy to man the battlements in this compact, decorative wooden castle! The king and queen have thrones and a royal bed, and two knights with horses to defend them and their treasure chest. The castle includes a working drawbridge, a dungeon and a handle for portable adventures!
Dimensions: 10.5" x 13.5" x 7.13"
Princess Castle
This charming wooden, folding castle, with convenient carrying handle, is pefect for your little princess. Its beautifully detailed exterior opens easily to reveal a royal palace furnished with 6 pieces of regal furniture and 2 horses. The prince and princess who live here are sure to live happily ever after!
Dimensions: 13.44" x 10.38" x 7.19"
It's a natural! With a decorative green "shingled" roof, this wooden stable provides a happy home for 4 plastic horses. When open, your little farmer or equestrian has easy access to the hayloft, with its wooden ladder, and 4 bales of "hay". There's a stall for each horse, lots of sliding and swinging doors and a folding corral to keep the horses in the barnyard. Sturdy wooden handles make it easy to take the fun along!
Dimensions: 9.5" x 13" x 7.25"

subset: commoncrawl


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Today he wore a sweater vest.
Anywamalamadingdong, today I wore my CDG top again today. Get used to it, bitches. Along with it, my Tao-esque boots and a pink ribbon around my neck, with a back-of-the-closet dress. This all in a failed attempt to pay regards to CDG Fall 2007, probably the most girly Rei has ever gotten. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Comme des Garcons translated is "one of the boys?"Winter is officially upon us my friends, it actually started snowing right after I went inside! It's getting colder and I LOVE IT, but outfit pictures will sadly have to be inside from now on. Inside it's just as cold though, my mom is Norwegian and therefore PREFERS to have the heat at 44 degrees. Then my father comes home and acts like his Jewish mother, "Now who in their right mind puts the heat at 45 degrees? What's wrong with them? Oy vey."
What the dress looks like normally:Also, I've gotten a few emails regarding Google, and that when you google Style Rookie my blog doesn't come up directly. I turned Search Engine settings off so people at my school can't find my blog, but last time I googled it it worked? Did anyone else have trouble finding my blog? If it becomes too much of a problem, I'll change it.
[foto decadent]


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I always take my starter out of the refrigerator and give it a double feeding before I plan to use it. I tend to give it a small feeding once it comes to room temperature, and then a regular-size feeding about 12 hours or so before I'll be using it. For this bread, a small amount of starter was mixed with bread flour and water to form a liquid levain 12 to 16 hours before the dough was mixed. To start the dough, oats were soaked in water for a few minutes before bread flour, whole wheat flour, water, commercial yeast, and the liquid levain were added to the bowl of the stand mixer and mixed with the dough hook. After the mixture came together, I left it to sit, covered with a towel, for about 15 minutes. Then, I added salt and a little more water and mixed for a few minutes before adding the golden raisins. I turned the dough out of the bowl, kneaded it for a few minutes and then placed it in a wide, oiled bowl which I covered with plastic. After one hour, I gave the dough a fold and turn in the bowl, and left it to ferment for about another hour. The dough was then divided into two pieces and shaped into round loaves. The loaves were covered with a towel and left to rise for an hour. I was able to fit both loaves on my baking stone, so they baked together for 45 minutes total with steam for first ten minutes.
In this book, Jeffrey Hamelman writes "well-made breads never possess their finest aroma or flavor until they have cooled completely." So, I waited. And, wondered. Finally, when I cut into a loaf I found those big, golden raisins speckled all about the bread just as they should be, and the crunchy crust gave way to a tender crumb with subtle nuttiness from the whole wheat and oats. The anxiety had ended for another delicious bread adventure.
I'm submitting this to Yeastspotting where you'll find some seriously well-made bread.
I am a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program.


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Thursday, April 28, 2011
For Divine Mercy Sunday, How to make a good confession
29 comments:
Great post, and very enlightening about imperfections and penance!
Also, I have heard several formulas of absolution, and am wondering which is the real one:
"May God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
"I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
"God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
"Through the death and resurrection of the Son he has reconciled the world to himself, and I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
"May the Lord open your heart to his pardon and mercy, and through the ministry of the Church I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." - April 29, 2011 at 2:59 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
The proper formula is:
"God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
[almost identical to the way you wrote it, but no second "the" in "through the death and resurrection of his Son..."
The essential words are: "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
If the priest goofs and says: "I absolve you of your sins" it would still be valid.
It is likely that the priest could even forget to say "from your sins" all together -- "I absolve you" may be enough. Also, it seems that the Trinitarian formula is not strictly and absolutely necessary for validity.
Still, priests ought to say it right ... and the penitent should feel free to GENTLY and HUMBLY correct the priest (after the prayer) is there are any errors -- this correction must always be given in a true spirit of CHARITY. - April 29, 2011 at 8:42 AM
Thanks Father!
Happy Easter ^^ - April 29, 2011 at 9:14 AM
Divine Providence yet again.
Yesterday, in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday, I went to confession. I am still reeling from the experience. All week long I read about how Our Lord is all love and mercy, and all I received yesterday from the priest was coldness and harshness.
I was taught to always mention a previous mortal sin in the confessional if you had not committed any since your last confession (e.g. "For these sins and all the sins of my past life, especially the time I stole $10,000 from my mother, I am very sorry."). Yesterday I was accused of having no faith, wasting the priest's time, making a mockery of the sacrament etc. etc. for doing this. I've been doing this for over fifty years. Is it wrong?
Now I understand why people who this happens to never go back to confession. Even I am "gun shy" now of returning to the confessional.
Veronica - April 29, 2011 at 10:23 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Do not be the least bit discouraged! Christ knows your heart and he knows the heart of that priest.
What you have done is good and right ... if you can find a different confessor, that may be advisable. If you must continue to go to the same priest, you may need to modify your style of confessing so as to avoid further trouble with him [it is too bad that the sheep have to accommodate themselves to the shepherds...].
Still, do not let this bad experience discourage you ... that is what Satan wants! The Lord desires that you trust more and more in him -- his grace will be enough and will work even through us poor priests.
Blessings and prayers! + - April 29, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Thank you, Father. I just wanted to add that he is a very good and solid priest. I don't know what went wrong yesterday, but Our Lord allowed it to happen for my own good. Still, it was an unsettling experience.
Please say a prayer for me that the Holy Ghost enlightens me as to what that good might be.
Veronica - April 29, 2011 at 11:32 AM
- Paddy said...
Excellent post Father. In the light of some of the comments, might you consider a future post on how one might be a good confessor?
- April 29, 2011 at 11:34 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
A reader noted the following point from the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Satisfaction is not, like contrition and confession, an essential part of the sacrament, because the primary effect, i.e., remission of guilt and eternal punishment — is obtained without satisfaction; but it is an integral part, because it is requisite for obtaining the secondary effect — i.e., remission of the temporal punishment."
It is true, satisfaction is not necessary in the same way that contrition and confession are necessary, but it is integral and it is required.
The same article ("Reconciliation") of the Catholic Encyclopedia states: "An undeniable proof both of the practice of confession and of the necessity of satisfaction is found in the usage of the early Church according to which severe and often prolonged penance was prescribed and performed."
And, stressing the necessity of satisfaction, the article recalls that Trent required the confessor to impose some penance upon the penitent.
Again: "The sacrament as such and on its own account has a matter and a form and it produces certain effects; the power of the keys is exercised by a minister (confessor) who must possess the proper qualifications, and the effects are wrought in the soul of the recipient, i.e., the penitent who with the necessary dispositions must perform certain actions (confession, satisfaction)."
Finally, satisfaction is considered by the theologians (and by some Popes) to be part of the proximate matter of the sacrament (the form being the words of absolution): "According to St. Thomas (Summa Theologiæ III.74.2) 'the acts of the penitent are the proximate matter of this sacrament'. This is also the teaching of Eugenius IV in the 'Decretum pro Armenis' (Council of Florence, 1439) which calls the act's 'quasi materia' of penance and enumerates them as contrition, confession, and satisfaction (Denzinger-Bannwart, 'Enchir.', 699). The Thomists in general and other eminent theologians, e.g., Bellarmine, Toletus, Francisco Suárez, and De Lugo, hold the same opinion. According to Scotus (In IV Sent., d. 16, q. 1, n. 7) 'the Sacrament of Penance is the absolution imparted with certain words' while the acts of the penitent are required for the worthy reception of the sacrament. The absolution as an external ceremony is the matter, and, as possessing significant force, the form. Among the advocates of this theory are St. Bonaventure, Capreolus, Andreas Vega, and Maldonatus. The Council of Trent (Sess. XIV, c. 3) declares: 'the acts of the penitent, namely contrition, confession, and satisfaction, are the quasi materia of this sacrament'."
In other words, the intention to fulfill the penance (satisfaction) which the penitent accepts from the priest is both necessary and integral to fruitful reception of the sacrament. - April 29, 2011 at 3:28 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Fr Levi,
Yes I am indeed hoping to write another article on how to be a good confessor...
I'm not sure when ... it will be bit more involved, since the topic is of such great importance and the matter is so sensitive --- what is of greater importance than directing souls? Every soul is a spiritual universe, worth more than the whole material world together!
Perhaps I will write and publish the article for the feast of St. John Vianney ... I know that that is a long ways off, but patience is one of the first things a good confessor must learn! ;)
In the meantime: I would recommend the parts on confession from Alphonsus Liguori's book "Selva" or "The Dignity and Duties of the Priest" as well as the relevant portions of St. John Eudes' book "The Priest, His Dignity and Obligations" ... to me, these two books are spiritual gold-mines. They will guide you through nearly every aspect of priestly life.
Certainly, Garrigou-Lagrange's book ("The Priest in Union with Christ") and also that by the Opus Dei priest Federico Suarez ("About being a priest") are modern books which deserve special note -- but don't run too quickly to the modern authors, there is much to be gained from the older writers first.
If you would like an electronic copy of "Dignity and Duties of a Priest" by St. Alphonsus, you can find it here: http://www.archive.org/details/alphonsusworks12liguuoft
Peace to you, good father! Pray the good Lord that all priests may become good and holy confessors ... to this end, we must strive forward in the interior life. - April 29, 2011 at 3:45 PM
- Glenna said...
This post was more helpful than the "10 Commandments" guide to examination of conscience which is not, usually, very helpful to me as far as discernment goes.
My I suggest you develop this post & send it Homiletic & Pastoral Rvw for publication? Might include your thoughts on 'how to be a good confessor'. peace! - April 30, 2011 at 5:44 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
TO ALL: It may be worth noting that, while contrition is absolutely necessary for a valid confession, the actual confession of sin and satisfaction is necessary in a slightly different sense.
Contrition implicitly contains confession and satisfaction -- since, if we are truly sorry, we want to confess and to make amends for our wrongs. Thus, if one is contrite, but is unable to actually confess to the priest and perform satisfaction (for example, if a man is dying and is unable to speak), his contrition includes a virtual confession and satisfaction and the priest ought to absolve him.
It is for this reason that true and profound contrition, which comes from love, is most necessary to a good confession. - April 30, 2011 at 8:15 AM
- MaryH said...
Excellent - Thank you for this beautiful post.
Be Reconciled to God
http://youtu.be/VKyinXFmxEc - April 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM
I have a very hard time wondering if my confession is ever good enough. The contrition and grief of the sin is true, but it is so hard to rid myself of the guilt. How specific does the confession need to be? When one says , for example, that they have hurt others because they were jealous of them, do they have to say exactly what they did to hurt others? Please advise.
Anne - April 30, 2011 at 12:36 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
We must learn to be free from sentimentality -- little by little we are ruled less by our emotions and more by our reason.
Thus, while our contrition and grief increase, any sense of oppressive guilt will be diminished.
Be patient with yourself, trust your confessor (if he is a good priest) and, especially, speak with the Lord in prayer.
Regarding the specificity of sins confessed -- if it is not a mortal sin, the requirements are much less. I think something like this would usually be enough -- "Father, I have hurt others (and we should say either through speech or action, or stealing or physical harm, etc.) because I was jealous of them (either of what they possess or of their reputation or of their friendships or of their holiness, etc.), and I have done this many times (or few times or once) to many people (or to a few people or to one person or to my brother/husband/sister/wife/mother/father/family, etc.)..."
In other words: it would be better to give some specifics about how we hurt others and why (specifying the character of sin); but we do not need to go into every little detail about (for example) exactly what we said and to whom we said it and when and where we said it (unless this be immediately relevant to the sin) ...
I hope this helps -- the good Jesus will guide you, if only you trust in him! + - April 30, 2011 at 1:55 PM
This is one of the best articles I have read about making a good Confession. It is not that the others weren't any good (they were good) but this one is much more practical and specific. Just reading it made me much more aware of what I need to do not just when going to Confession but also in spiritual growth. However, there's one thing that bothers me. A couple of years ago I went to Confession after a very long time. During that time I had been away from the Church but God's grace brought me back again. Making that Confession was not easy. Did I make a laundry list? Yes. (That was the only way I felt sure that I would confess all my mortal sins.) Did I give a lot of detail for each of my mortal sins? Did I give enough information about number? Well, it was difficult to be precise and to solve the problem I just said 'many times'. Because that 'many times' is rather vague, I have been having doubts that I made a valid confession but a priest I consulted was very forthright in telling me that I was not to doubt that my sins were forgiven. But reading your article has got me worried again.
- April 30, 2011 at 3:39 PM
- Roderick Alvernaz said...
I have a question (and this might have some bearing with regard Veronica's comment). I was told, when much younger, to be careful not to be scrupulous. And to trust that when a sin has been confessed and absolved, it is forgiven.
As an aside, at the of confession I will add "and for all those sins I cannot now bring to mind". - April 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
With Mercy Sunday tomorrow, this was a most helpful reading. Some things I read over several times yesterday and today. It was a good preparation for a good confession. Thanks,
Ecila - April 30, 2011 at 8:07 PM
A most excellent post!!! Loved it. I learned more from this about Confession than anything else I've ever read. Thank you very much and God bless you! Yes, get it published. --St Gianna Fan
- May 2, 2011 at 1:54 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@therese rita and st. gianna fan,
Thank you for your kind encouragement. Perhaps I will publish some version of this at some point ... in any case, I am very happy to hear that this little reflection has been helpful.
Peace and blessings! + - May 3, 2011 at 10:26 AM
- Roderick Alvernaz said...
I realized that my post of April 30 (8:07pm), though stating I had a question, was not in the form of a question.
Since college days I have tried to visit the sacrament of confession regularly -weekly, if possible.
While trying my vocation as a Dominican (I love those guys!) I was counseled not to be so scrupulous in my confession. My question to you then, is how does one find the balance? (again, following up on Veronica's post).
As an aside, at the end of my confession I will add "and for all those sins and failings I cannot now bring to mind". - May 4, 2011 at 2:05 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Thank you for drawing my attention to your question!
First, it is not necessarily scrupulous to mention sins which have already been forgiven, so long as we are clear that they have indeed already been forgiven.
Second, nevertheless, it can happen that a priest may advise a penitent not to bring up a particular past sin (generally requiring silence on the point for only a certain length of time, not forever).
Third, the best way to learn to make a good confession is to find a good confessor. He can guide you on personal points more clearly.
Scrupulosity can mean several things -- generally, it is when we think a action is more sinful than it really is: To think an imperfection is a venial sin, or to think a venial sin is a mortal sin.
Sometimes, "scrupulosity" is also used to refer to the thought that a particular sin is so bad that it cannot be forgiven.
Hence, there are two ways to cure scrupulosity -- if it is an error in judgement (thinking a venial sin is mortal, etc), then we need to be educated; and a good confessor will teach us the truth.
If it is an error in hope (thinking that a sin cannot be forgiven), then we need to be convinced of the Divine Mercy and the love of God -- here, prayer is essential; meditating upon the Cross, how could anyone despair?
So, to answer your question: "How does one find the balance?"
Prayer is essential, and a good confessor is also a great help. If a good confessor cannot be found, then prayer will suffice (together with study of good Catholic resources on confession).
Peace. + - May 4, 2011 at 3:08 PM
- Roderick Alvernaz said...
Many thanks for taking the time to answer my question -and for answering it with such care and compassion.
It has been difficult finding a good confessor since leaving the Dominicans (in good standing; Sadly, just not O.P. material). I have, thank God, been blessed these past three years (after nearly 6 yrs of hit and miss), to have found a good confessor.
As for your advice to study good Catholic resources on confession, well, your article is the best treatment on the subject I have seen in a very long time.
May God continue to bless you, and your every endeavor! - May 4, 2011 at 10:58 PM
- hilaron said...
Dear Father, thank you for a wonderful post. You do a most needed work of charity and for that God must be praised! May the Good Shepherd, through the almighty intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin, grant you many years of service to the Church and an everlasting reward in Heaven!
I was wondering about the "fullness" of contrition. I was under the impression that one strictly only needed contrition for mortal sins committed to receive valid absolution, but now that I read your post it seems like we need true contrition for all sin whatsoever and that this is a strict requirement for validity.
I don't think I have a personal problem with this at the moment, Deo gratias, but since I have a guide to confession on my blog it would be most helpful to correct any error I might have relayed there and elsewhere.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
David - May 9, 2011 at 1:30 PM
- hilaron said...
Dear Father. I researched the question a little by checking some of the catechisms of old.
The Baltimore Catechism:
"Q. 759. What do you mean by saying that our sorrow should be universal?
A. When I say that our sorrow should be universal, I mean that we should be sorry for all our mortal sins without exception."
Saint Pius X's Catechism:
"51 Q. What is meant by saying that sorrow must be universal?
A. It means that it must extend to every mortal sin committed."
So I guess I have the answer to my question. Thank you anyway.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
David - May 11, 2011 at 5:08 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
David (hilaron),
It is true that we need only have actual contrition for every mortal sin of which we are conscious.
Nevertheless, the very nature of contrition (even imperfect contrition) is that we are sorry for sin -- and this sorrow extends at least implicitly and potentially to each and every actual sin we have ever committed (even to those which have already been confessed and even to each venial sin) ...
This is why we often say: "For these and all my sins, I am heartily sorry."
So, if someone were specifically obstinant in sin -- even venial sin -- and was explicitly NOT sorry for that sin; they would lack contrition.
Confession forgives every sin committed -- God can't forgive one mortal sin and leave another; nor can he forgive one mortal sin and leave behind even a venial sin.
Thus, as you quote from Pius X and the Baltimore Catechism -- contrition must explicitly and actively extend to all conscious mortal sins; but by its very nature it also extends (at least implicitly) to every venial sin.
I hope that this is clear enough.
Thanks for the citations! + - May 11, 2011 at 11:43 AM
- hilaron said...
Dear Father,
I was thinking about this and I have a question. I hope I'm not nagging on you now. But let's say we have no mortal sins on our soul when we die but nonetheless unrepented venial sin, we would go to Purgatory to be purged of our unrepented venial sin, no? But how does this relate to what you are saying here?
Basically, would we go to Hell if we obstinately hold on to even to one venial sin, let's say deliberate idle talk, in our moment of death? But if that is not the case if we are in a state of grace at death, why would it be the case that we have to be truly contrite for venial sin, even if implicitly and potentially, in order to receive valid absolution of mortal sins committed?
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
David - May 12, 2011 at 8:35 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
David (hilaron), You are asking really really good questions ... and are helping me to really think this issue through! So, thank you!
The point about contrition is that, by its very nature, it either extends to all sin or to none -- even imperfect contrition is sorry for all sin, since all sin has merited hell (even venial sin, though not directly).
Especially perfect contrition is sorry for all sin.
Hence, it would seem to me that if a person died without any contrition (even imperfect) for venial sin -- he would be thereby failing in final perseverance, and would be committing a mortal sin.
However, the general, implicit, potential, and imperfect contrition for all sin is enough to get to purgatory -- where contrition is perfected.
You see, God just won't forgive our sins if we are not sorry for them. And he won't forgive mortal sin without forgiving venial sin. Therefore, it seems to me that we simply have to have some level of contrition for venial sin (at least generally).
So, to the question "would we go to Hell if we obstinately hold on to even on venial sin?" -- It seems to me that obstinately holding on to sin (actively turning from God toward sin, even venial sin) becomes a mortal sin at the moment of death, when we are meant to turn to the Lord with particular love and devotion.
Now, I am not saying we need to be perfect -- I'm only saying that, at the moment of death, we need to at least desire to be saints (this means desiring to be free of all venial sin, even idle talk). Simply that general desire to be a saint, to go to heaven, to become perfect in the Lord -- this is already that imperfect, general, implicit contrition for each and every venial sin.
Does this make sense to you? Your questions have really helped me to think this issue through a lot! So please let me know if there is something I am missing here.
[perhaps I will write a post about contrition at some point in the future]
Blessings to you! + - May 12, 2011 at 9:06 AM
- hilaron said...
Dear Father,
I think where you are getting at. There is still room for a somewhat complacent contrition (implicit and potential, as opposed to actual) in regards to venial sins as I understand you, but that in our heart of hearts we want to be freed from those as well.
I had quite a lot of problems with scruples (and still have the occasional relapse) and then I read lots on how to discern sins and so on. I learnt then a principle that some action that objectively is not grave matter can still be the object of a mortal sin. Say I shoplift a chewing gum for 50 cents, that's not grave matter in itself (although intrinsically evil of course) but the desire to offend God in such a circumstance can be grave matter and thus the action can be a mortal sin on account of my evil desire.
I think I understand that the principle is similar here. If, in the moment of death, I actively and obstinately won't let go of venial sin it can (and probably will) become the object of grave sin since my desire is quite perverse: to turn away from God.
If I'm that attached to something other than God it would probably become mortal to the soul.
Thanks for clearing things up!
In the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
David - May 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
[in a post which was deleted on account of a problem with the blogger website] hilaron wrote:
"Dear Father,
I think where you are getting at. There is still room for a somewhat complacent contrition (implicit and potential, as opposed to actual) in regards to venial sins as I understand you, but that in our heart of hearts we want to be freed from those as well.
I had quite a lot of problems with scruples (and still have the occasional relapse) and then I read lots on how to discern sins and so on. I learnt then a principle that some action that objectively is not grave matter can still be the object of a mortal sin. Say I shoplift a chewing gum for 50 cents, that's not grave matter in itself (although intrinsically evil of course) but the desire to offend God in such a circumstance can be grave matter and thus the action can be a mortal sin on account of my evil desire.
I think I understand that the principle is similar here. If, in the moment of death, I actively and obstinately won't let go of venial sin it can (and probably will) become the object of grave sin since my desire is quite perverse: to turn away from God.
If I'm that attached to something other than God it would probably become mortal to the soul.
Thanks for clearing things up!
In the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
David" - May 13, 2011 at 4:20 PM
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Friday, May 20, 2011
Roasted Strawberries-and-Cream Cheesecake
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Left to my own devices this cake never would have happened, but the Silver Fox made a request that I couldn't refuse. He loves cheesecake and was taken with the notion of one made with roasted strawberries. He had seen the cake on Martha Stewart's site and ask me to try it. He rarely makes such specific requests and I felt duty bound to give it a try. I must also admit to some curiosity about the combination of roasted strawberries with cream cheese, and that, coupled with this picture from her site, completely hooked me. So? Let me begin by saying this is a nice cake, and those of you who enjoy cheesecake should consider giving it a try. The deeper flavor of the roasted strawberries certainly makes the cake interesting and worth a one-shot, if nothing more. The cake is not without problems. Fortunately, they can be overcome with a little patience and some common sense. My cake needed a full 70 minutes of baking to barely set and, by that time, the surface of the lovely creamy layer had turned a decidedly beige hue. I was still not convinced it was done enough to hold together when released from the pan, so I let in stay in the oven, heat off, until it cooled. Fortunately that, plus a full 24 hours in the refrigerator, did the trick. Strawberries-and-beige lacks the panache of strawberries-and-cream, so I put a glaze on the top of my finished cake to hide a less than stellar color. If I make this again, I'll opt for a sour cream topping rather than the glaze, which I think, in retrospect, provides too much contrast with the muddy pink of the strawberry layer . While the cake gains flavor the longer it sits, I would also add some strawberry extract to boost its taste next time around. That of course begs the question. Would I make the cake again? Probably not. I'm glad I tried it, but there are lots of cheesecakes out there that I prefer. Here's the recipe for those of you I haven't scared away.
Roasted Strawberries-and-Cream Cheesecake...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
1 pound strawberries, hulled
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 cup finely ground graham crackers (about 4 sheets)
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 pound plus 13 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and reserved
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place strawberries in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with corn syrup, and toss gently to coat. Bake until syrup thickens and strawberries turn deep red and shrink slightly, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer strawberries and syrup to a medium bowl, and mash with a potato masher. Let cool completely.
2) Raise oven temperature to 350 degrees. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, and the melted butter in a small bowl. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to make an even layer. Bake until crust is firm to the touch and has just darkened, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let crust cool completely.
3) Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Put cream cheese into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl, then gradually add remaining cup sugar and the salt. Scrape down sides of bowl; add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl, and mix in vanilla bean seeds and mascarpone until very creamy and no lumps remain, about 3 minutes. (Reserve vanilla bean for another use.)
4) Transfer 5 cups cream cheese mixture to bowl with mashed strawberries; stir to combine. Pour strawberry-cream cheese mixture on top of crust; smooth with an offset spatula. Carefully spoon dollops of plain cream cheese mixture on top, smoothing with an offset spatula.
5) Wrap the exterior of the springform pan in 2 layers of foil; set in a large roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with boiling water until water reaches halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake cheesecake until set, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath, and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours (up to overnight). Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
One Year Ago Today: Strawberry Tea Bread
Two Years Ago Today: Circassian Chicken - Cerkez Tavugu
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Lemonade Cheesecake - Pennies on a Platter
Orange Ricotta Cheesecake - Ciao Chow Linda
Nigella's Chocolate Cheesecake - Bless Us O Lord
Apricot Cheesecake Bars - Culinary in the Country
Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cheesescake - Amanda's Cookin'
Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake - Andrea Meyers
Key Lime Cheesecake - The Culinary Chronicles
White Chocolate Cheesecake - Kitchen Unplugged
Mascarpone Cheesecake and Hiking Fun - Baking Powders
Blackberry Cheesecake - Avocado Pesto
This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.
55 comments :
- Caroline B. said...
Hello Mary! This cheesecake is not only beautiful to look at but it must taste absolutely fantastic! I notice the recipe for this summer and there are one or two that could be fabulous birthday with this cake as a centerpiece! Caro
- May 20, 2011 at 10:48 AM
- Janie said...
Wow this looks so good! I think I am making it the next time I got to my sisters!
- May 20, 2011 at 10:49 AM
- Young Adventures... said...
Hi Mary!
I have recently seen a roasted strawberry recipe and was intrigued. I thought I might serve it alongside a tres leches cake for memorial day. We love cheesecake. Our favorite is a recipe from the Daring bakers that calls for a fair amount of cream in the cheesecake. Making it...very creamy. I may even try the strawberries with this recipe too. Everything you make always comes out beautifully! Thanks so much for sharing your tips and opinion on the finished product. I appreciate it. Have a lovely weekend! - May 20, 2011 at 10:51 AM
- Three-Cookies said...
Roasted strawberry sounds interesting. 4 hours, or 24 hours is a long time to wait, good way to test your patience:). Have a nice weekend
- May 20, 2011 at 10:59 AM
- Martha said...
I love baking cheesecakes! I would be happy if I had to bake one at least every other day, but then who would eat it? Thanks for sharing!
- May 20, 2011 at 11:11 AM
- Jenna Lee said...
Holy MOLY that looks amazing! I have gotten a lot of dinner ideas from your blog! My tummy and my boyfriend thank you!
Have a cheerful weekend - May 20, 2011 at 11:21 AM
- Rambling Tart said...
One thing I really appreciate about you is your honesty. :-) The "idea" of roasted strawberries sounds heavenly, but I'm glad to know they'd be better used in a different recipe. Awfully sweet of you to try it for your man though. :-)
- May 20, 2011 at 11:26 AM
- Diane said...
Goodness that looks soooooo good. Diane
- May 20, 2011 at 11:28 AM
- safire said...
Looks DELICIOUS! My boyfriend's favorite dessert is cheesecake so I make it every month or so and it lasts us a long time!
Strawberries are in season too so this is fabulous :) - May 20, 2011 at 11:49 AM
- kitchen flavours said...
Your cheesecake looks beautiful, Mary! Roasted strawberries does sound really intereasting, something different from the usual! Your review is very interesting too! Thank you for the tips and suggestions! Have a lovely weekend!
- May 20, 2011 at 11:51 AM
- Kate said...
I've never considered roasting strawberries - I always thought they'd just fall apart! Now I'm contemplating doing a roasted strawberry-and-rhubarb version of this...
- May 20, 2011 at 11:52 AM
- Ana Rita Marreiros said...
So beautifull...strawberry is a lovelly fruit for a cheesecake, my favourite!
Rita - May 20, 2011 at 11:53 AM
- That Girl said...
You are a fabulous wife!
- May 20, 2011 at 12:14 PM
- Plateful said...
That's a WOW slice of cake! How do you manage to make your food look so mouthwatering..?!! Roasting strawberries with corn syrup sounds like a delicious new idea...wish I could get a bite right now..!
- May 20, 2011 at 12:22 PM
This looks so sinful! So decadent. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
- May 20, 2011 at 12:23 PM
- Ryan said...
This is a beautiful cheesecake! I am intrigued by the idea of roasted strawberries and I bet the flavor is improved like anything else put through the roasting process. I'm going to have to give this a try! Your photos are gorgeous! P.S. The strawberry tea cake in the "other recommended posts" looks delicious too! I love quick bread recipes.
- May 20, 2011 at 12:47 PM
- Unknown said...
Another delicious one!
- May 20, 2011 at 1:01 PM
- Joanne said...
I always love reading your super honest reviews of recipes. It makes me trust the ones you love all the more! The roasted strawberries definitely intrigue me!
- May 20, 2011 at 1:08 PM
- Clint said...
Roasted Strawberries? I never heard of such.
But if you made it, it HAS to be spectacular. - May 20, 2011 at 1:27 PM
- Sue said...
I've never even heard of roasting strawberries?!? I'd love to try this recipe though, keeping your suggestions/tips in mind. Thanks for the recipe, Mary:) It looks beautiful:)
- May 20, 2011 at 1:30 PM
- nanny said...
Such a beautiful cheesecake!! I wish I had a slice......
- May 20, 2011 at 1:49 PM
- Lynn said...
Looks great, I'd love to be a taste tester! Happy Weekend Mary:@)
- May 20, 2011 at 1:49 PM
- Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...
I admit, the roasted strawberries sound interesting. I'm not picky about the color so beige wouln't bother me if it tasted good. So many awesome cheesecake recipes! Thanks!
- May 20, 2011 at 1:50 PM
- Wendy Irene said...
Roasting Strawberries is a very interesting idea. That is the first I have heard of doing that. It has my creative juices flowing :) Have a wonderful weekend!
- May 20, 2011 at 2:26 PM
- nat. said...
Roasted strawberries sounds fantastic to me!
And the cake - it is a real masterpiece! :) - May 20, 2011 at 2:40 PM
- Swathi said...
My hubby is cheese cake fan, but he can't take as he is diabetic. I love this roasted strawberries as the name itself makes delicious.
- May 20, 2011 at 2:40 PM
- Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...
Your cheesecake is just perfect! Roasted strawberries sound so good, I bet roasting gives it such a nice depth of flavor, I'd have to try this.
Have a great weekend, Mary! - May 20, 2011 at 2:57 PM
- Tinny said...
Splendida torta, bravissima.
- May 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM
- Joe Ambrosino said...
You're a trooper Mary. This is definitely too much trouble for me to try even though CW loves cheesecake.I'd rather roast tomatoes.
- May 20, 2011 at 4:22 PM
- Nathalia said...
Un corte perfecto. Se ve delicioso!
Un abrazo - May 20, 2011 at 4:53 PM
- Miriam said...
Well, at least the pictures are lovely :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
- May 20, 2011 at 4:58 PM
- Nami | Just One Cookbook said...
Wow roasted strawberries?! That's so innovative!!! The cheesecake looks beyond fabulous Mary. I wish I can make or even have that beautiful cake. I love strawberry & cheesecake combo and I can't take my eyes away from your cake. Literally. Have a great weekend!
- May 20, 2011 at 5:12 PM
- teresa said...
so delicious, and i love the idea of roasted strawberries, i bet it adds a whole different element, YUM!
- May 20, 2011 at 5:19 PM
- Jen_from_NJ said...
Roasted strawberries do sound like a good idea. Everything you make comes out just lovely!
- May 20, 2011 at 6:03 PM
Roasting the berries sounds delicious! I made a similar one, but without roasting - am curious to try this next time. Thank you!
- May 20, 2011 at 6:50 PM
- Unknown said...
Oooohhh...roasted strawberries, sounds good at least. I've never had good luck with Martha's cheesecakes. I'm not glad to see that you struggled, but it is good to know it's not just me :) Still looks lovely, I would eat it for sure!
- May 20, 2011 at 8:42 PM
- Julie said...
Hi, Mary: This is a beautiful cheesecake. I am intrigued by the roasted strawberries! I will be giving this one a try. Funny, I posted a cheesecake recipe today as well.
- May 20, 2011 at 8:48 PM
- Elaine said...
It looks delicious, but I am not sure I would have the patience that you have to make it, Mary. Hope you have a good evening!
- May 20, 2011 at 9:24 PM
- Melinda said...
This looks really, really delish!
Melinda - May 20, 2011 at 9:25 PM
- Kim said...
I can definitely see why this recipe intrigued the Silver Fox. The idea of roasted strawberries really piques my curiosity. It does look fabulous!
- May 20, 2011 at 9:33 PM
- Patricia @ ButterYum said...
You had me at Roasted! Is this not the 2nd recent recipe you've made recently because the Silver Fox was perusing Martha's site? (love that you call him SF)
PS - the word verification I'm being prompted to enter is "bless". Very fitting, given your usual salutation. - May 20, 2011 at 9:36 PM
- Catherine said...
Looks perfect and indulgent. Beautiful. Blessings to you Mary, Catherine xo
- May 20, 2011 at 9:54 PM
- Claudia said...
Mary: I've never roasted a strawberry. So I am intrigued right away. And like the mascarpone. I love that it was a request from your husband. My husband seldom does requests - he is happy to eat what I put on the table - but when he does ask - I pay attention. (Or let him cook it.) It does look awfully pretty...
- May 20, 2011 at 11:13 PM
- Dawn said...
Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog! I appreciated your comment very much. Now that I'm "gradjiated," I'll have to try out some of these recipes. I love cooking, but have been restricted for the past couple of years, as I lived in the residence halls. I'll be following from now on! Thanks again!
- May 20, 2011 at 11:18 PM
- Betty @ scrambled henfruit said...
Those roasted strawberries sound intriguing- something I've never tried. Your cheesecake sounds really good though. I've never met a cheesecake I didn't like. :)
- May 20, 2011 at 11:33 PM
- The Harried Cook said...
:) I have never heard of a roasted strawberry cheesecake before. Sounds interesting for sure... Loved reading what you thought of the cheesecake! Thanks for sharing :)
- May 21, 2011 at 1:01 AM
- Gloria Baker said...
Hi Mary, what nice and yummy cheescake! I love strawberries! have a nice day, gloria
- May 21, 2011 at 10:23 AM
I love getting requests from my boyfriend. I cook, he eats :) this cheesecake looks AMAZING and the roasted strawberries make me want to try this soon. xoxo
- May 21, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- dr.antony said...
I sit here with my laptop,looking at all your wonderful recipes and the tempting pictures!
I was at the hospital,lunch time! - May 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM
- LV said...
I gained ten pound just looking at this pie. No matter, if I could I would eat a big slice. You are the best cook ever.
- May 21, 2011 at 11:42 AM
- My Little Space said...
Mary, what a coincidence! I have also bookmarked the same recipe a month ago. Isn't it gorgeous! Yours looks amazing too. Hope you're having a great weekend.
Blessings, Kristy - May 22, 2011 at 3:26 AM
- Katarina said...
This look so good! Have a great day!
- May 22, 2011 at 8:08 AM
- BigFatBaker said...
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment! It's nice to "meet" another blogger! This strawberry cheesecake looks fabulous. I like strawberries, and cheesecake so I would be willing to try it. When I make cheesecake I usually let it sit in the oven for 6-8 hours after it's done cooking then refrigerate it overnight to make sure it has set, so that sounds fairly normal to me lol. I'm intrigued by the roasted strawberries too.. I wonder if that would work just as well with something like cherries or raspberries?
- May 22, 2011 at 12:01 PM
- Beverly said...
Happy Pink Saturday, Mary. Thank you for always making Pink Saturday special. I hope to see you this weekend for the birthday celebration.
Roasted strawberries? I've never heard of this, but I know my family would like it. They are cheesecake lovers. - May 23, 2011 at 3:53 PM
- Hazel - Chicken in a Cherry Sauce said...
ROASTED strawberries! Wow! Very intriguing.
- May 24, 2011 at 3:53 AM


text:
It was just a few weeks ago that Apple made iOS 4.1 available to iPhone and iPod touch users. The mobile operating system also later showed up on the fourth generation iPod touch.
Today, however, Apple is making available the first beta release of iOS 4.2. The big news for iOS 4.2 is that this will be the first release that will bring the iPad in line with the iPhone and iPod touch when it comes to software releases. As a result, the iPad will finally gain multitasking, folders, and a unified inbox for the Mail app among other things that iPhone and iPod touch users have been enjoying for months.
In addition, iOS 4.2 brings the following features:
- The ability to search actual websites with Safari
- AirPlay multimedia wireless streaming
- AirPrint wireless printing for all iOS 4.2 devices
"AirPrint is Apple's powerful new printing architecture that matches the simplicity of iOS—no set up, no configuration, no printer drivers and no software to download," said Apple's Philip Schiller. "iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to an HP ePrint printer or to a printer shared on a Mac or PC."
IOS 4.2 should bow in completed form this November.


text:
Here's good news for geezers — or for merely middle-aged folks — who'd like to stay fit and independent far into their later years.
You don't have to lift heavy weights to build muscle strength. Lifting lighter weights can be just as effective if you do it right, and you're much less likely to hurt yourself, researchers say.
That's important information for people exercise expert Stuart Phillips calls "mere mortals" — those with dwindling muscle mass who want stay active, as distinct from body-builders and elite athletes.
Phillips, a professor of kinesthesiology at McMaster University in Ontario, says everybody needs to do some kind of resistance training to build muscle strength as they age. Cardiovascular exercise, while important, isn't enough to maintain muscle mass.
"For most people that's meant going to the gym and lifting heavy weights," Phillips told Shots. That's mainly because of the hoary dogma that to build muscle you've got to lift 80 percent of your all-out maximum weight for eight to 10 reps.
"But that's kind of a daunting thought for most people," Philips said. And he and his colleagues suspected the dogma wasn't the whole story. In earlier studies they looked at what goes on inside muscles after conventional 80-percent-of-maximum, low-rep lifting versus hefting 30 percent of maximum weight until the muscle becomes too fatigued to go on. That's usually around 25 to 30 reps.
They found that both approaches produced the same amount of new protein.
So they took a group of 21-year-old men who were weight lifting novices. Three times a week, they had them do knee extensions on a weight machine. That isolates and strengthens the quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh. "Those are the most important muscles for standing up and getting out of a chair," Phillips points out.
With one leg the study volunteers did the conventional 80-percent-of-maximum lifts until they reached fatigue, at 8 to 10 reps. The other leg lifted 30 percent of maximum until fatigue set in, around 25 reps.
At the start of the study and 10 weeks later, the researchers put all the volunteers into MRI scanners to measure their quadriceps. There was essentially no difference between the heavy and light lifters. The results appear in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
To translate all this into concrete terms, Phillips says an inexperienced lifter might be able to manage a single knee-extension weight of 220 pounds. Eighty percent of that would be 176 pounds and 30 percent would be 66 pounds.
Exercising different muscles will involve different weights and different number of reps before fatigue sets in. For instance, most people will be able to do more reps of a biceps curl because the biceps doesn't tire as fast.
Phillips says one big advantage of lifting lighter weights is that it's easier on the joints — the limiting factor for many older people. "Lifting with lighter weights is one great way around that," says Phillips, 45, who has modified his own exercise regimen to incorporate lighter weights with more reps.
Next his group is going to repeat the experiment, first with middle-aged people and then with volunteers up to 85 years old. Earlier studies have shown that even nonagenarians can rebuild muscle mass with careful weight training.
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


text:
Yeah, it's Wednesday. It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
And I'm Renee Montagne.
Victims of Hurricane Sandy are one step closer to getting a major infusion of federal disaster aid after a long delay. Last night, the House approved a $50 billion assistance package.
NPR congressional correspondent Tamara Keith reports.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: Funding disaster relief is supposed to be one of the easier things Congress does. Not this time around. Late last year, the Senate approved a Sandy relief package, only to see it die in the House with the start of the new Congress. The criticism, especially from New York and New Jersey Republicans was fast and fierce. House speaker John Boehner quickly promised to revive the measure and he followed through yesterday.
New Jersey Republican Frank LoBiondo still seemed raw when he spoke in favor of the bill on the House floor.
REPRESENTATIVE FRANK LOBIONDO: I've asked my colleagues, because we seem to be very mixed and divided on some of this, think of a human face. My constituents, the constituents of the Northeast, they're not just whining. They're not just uncomfortable. They are devastated.
KEITH: New York Democrat Carolyn Maloney says it was never this hard with past disasters.
REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN MALONEY: We were there with the aid. We didn't delay. We didn't put roadblocks. We didn't put forward all types of requirements to be met. We've voice-voted. We moved swiftly.
KEITH: But the Hurricane Sandy aid package happened to arrive at the House at a time of increased agitation over the deficit, at a time when spending has become a dirty word.
REPRESENTATIVE JEFF DUNCAN: We're $16 trillion in debt, America.
KEITH: South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan reflects the way a whole lot of House Republicans felt about the $50 billion bill.
DUNCAN: We cannot keep spending money that we don't have on things that we can't afford; and all the while, sending our children and our grandchildren the bill. What part of $16 trillion in debt do ya'll not understand?
KEITH: Duncan was co-author of an amendment that would have required across the board spending cuts to offset the disaster aid funds. That amendment failed, but the majority of Republicans supported it.
And so, when it came to the final vote on the full bill
ERICA ELLIOTT: Total votes: 241 yay.
KEITH: This is Erica Elliott, an aide to the majority whip, reading the tally to reporters.
ELLIOTT: Forty-nine Republican yays, 179 nays.
KEITH: It passed because a whole lot of Democrats joined those few Republicans in voting aye. The governors of New York and New Jersey praised the House for pulling together a unified bipartisan coalition. But that's not normally how things happened in John Boehner's House.
Until very recently - just before the vote on the fiscal cliff deal - Boehner held to the idea that any bill coming up for a vote needed to have the support of the majority of his conference. The fiscal cliff bill didn't and neither did this one.
John Fleming, a Republican from Louisiana says the speaker had to bring it up for a vote - there was too much political pressure. And that informal rule about a majority of the majority, it may no longer be relevant, he says.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN FLEMING: Since this is a Democrat president and a Democrat Senate, I don't think that really holds. I don't think that really matters. I think we should vote our conscious, vote the way we think we should, and try to influence the outcome as best we can. But we are, two-to-one, in the minority.
KEITH: So what does this mean for the next big fights, the debt ceiling and keeping the government funded? It's not clear yet. Boehner will find out what his caucus really thinks at a retreat in Virginia at the end of this week.
Tamara Keith, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Freida on a roll...
34 comments:
- Zlaek said...
Haha... big people, big things.. Woody Allen movie.. Shobhaa ma'am defending you.. On BT cover page.
Must feel nice to get lucky...yeah?
Come up with something more interesting ma'am. I've read all of that before :( - February 25, 2009 at 12:16 PM
This is what may be called Luck By Chance. It is like a lottery ticket. Praise Freida if you want, but dont pull down that poor chap Antao. For that matter almost all women live on their husbands's wealth and fame and why a man is ridiculed if he is seen to be doing that? I am an old fashioned person and I prefer to be on the side of the loser.
- February 25, 2009 at 12:32 PM
- Harish said...
Freida pe fida. i loved teh grace the poise and yet coolheadedness that she displayed. sat was grounded yet over-the-top with her costars. no pretension, no loudness, just plain and simple.
and her simplicity is displayed with the phone call. she didnt really have to call you and thank you... it is so easy to get carried away, now that she is the queen of hollywood leaving Bahu B and persis khambatta alll all all behind.
english has two beautiful words, "sorry" and "thank you". And the one who uses them prudently and appropriately is truly a person with a great heart.
love your freida. irrespective of whom you were married to.. or whom you wish to marry...
you have a beautiful heart and an optimistic outlook. you are india as much as we, no matter where you are hollywood or bollywood or mollywood. - February 25, 2009 at 12:59 PM
- Sidhusaaheb said...
Antao should consider himself extremely lucky that he got to see Freida's true colours so soon. Otherwise, he might have continued to wrongly believe for much longer that his wife loved him, which would have been a lot more unfortunate for him.
- February 25, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Being following ur blog for quite some time now.....Glad to see u back in Mumbai safe and sound after the aerial attack on Columbo......
Must say m missing ur "Khana Khazana "columns...... - February 25, 2009 at 2:18 PM
- Raj said...
I agree completely. I think after watching too many Karan Johar flicks, we have become overly melodramatic in our real life as well. If things did not work out between Freida and her fiance, why do we need to make a melodramatic sob story out of it?
I am getting tired with all kinds of excuses that people are coming up with to spoil the success of Rahman, Freida and Slumdog.
Good to find your blog. :) - February 25, 2009 at 2:26 PM
- sathish vasudevan said...
HAppy cing all gud post in your blog.. i donot think any old fashion man will be on th eloser side.. its ridicule .........
- February 25, 2009 at 2:42 PM
- Nandini Rao said...
I've watched Slumdog Millionaire. The film's technicality is a hype more than anything else.
I'm only touched & alarmed by the reality shown. It's an eye opener for me, & I'm ashamed. How could I be so ignorant as to not know what these slum dwellers face? It had to be told by an outsider for me to shrink in the comfort of my sofa. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we fail to see the reality? Are we scared, shy or perhaps audaciously ignorant as to not look beyond our own comfort zone. Or is it just that these things do happen & we let it happen because this is life?
This is one of those stories that has managed to surface, & be told to the world. What about those numerous untold stories? I cannot even bare to imagine the atrocities that are committed behind closed doors. Those helpless little baby girls,... I'm most worried about them. I honestly couldn't sleep at night after the movie.
But then again, I'm only talking & blogging & talking & blogging, save my mouth! Damn it! I need to do something about it or just Shut up & not talk. It doesn't help writing. The pen is no longer a weapon to seek justice. Again, I'm in a fix. Where do we start? How can I contribute? I don't know. I'm just another mindless soul who can be vexed, and comforted now & then with an occasional emotional outburst and, eventually not do anything about it.
I think, we all need help to help. - February 25, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Who's dating / ditching who or is Frieda God's gift to mankind is certainly not a good topic for discussion. why talk so much about her and make her high and mighty? God, I tell you, next year this time, everybody will be like 'who's Frieda?'
- February 25, 2009 at 3:47 PM
- Nandini Rao said...
Oh...I forgot to mention ....Frieda is BORING! Except for the story( which is tragic & alarming), everything else about the film is HYPE HYPE HYPE!!!
- February 25, 2009 at 3:51 PM
- Vee said...
Will ya just stop yakking about Freida... Repeat stuff makes one uninteresting.
- February 25, 2009 at 4:03 PM
- Reflections said...
Once again I have to tell u this....I love the way u talk abt food:-D
- February 25, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Hey Shobhaa
I visit your blogs often because of the rational view you generally keep on various issues.
But your last two articles/entries of Freida were not very cool. I mean this Rohan or whoever it is doing something silly because of the break up or whatever, but is it really that big that he is roasted so harshly on your blog or news paper articules?
At the end it is their personal life and as it happens in a lot of relationships, ppl fall apart. Most of the "typical indian journo's" are already pointing fingers and calling what not names to poor Freida. Why would you want to get involved into something similar, when you are generally associated with good rational articles and opinions.
On a totally different note, would be quite interested in discussing generally how the journalists with "relatively" more integrity take care of their credibility. Also, as an author, coloumist what kind of issues/topics urge you to write on them?
Take care!
Venky - February 25, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Enought on Freida please..
Thank you - February 25, 2009 at 10:30 PM
- Piper .. said...
Woody Allen??? Realllyy???? :):) And wuts with the jerk Antao? Is he seriously going around giving interviews???
- February 26, 2009 at 2:20 AM
international actor.. hmm.. she is ashamed of her indian roots.. that is why she refer to them "they" not "us INdians">.
oh well good luck in Hollywood...it;s not all its cracked up to be - February 26, 2009 at 4:02 AM
- Neelum said...
Hi Shobha,
I am a marathi gal living in KL, and am still drooling over the very mention of 'bhakri, toop and gul' sluurrrrppppp :P
Can I say thank you for bringing back memories of home food.
Marathi girls ROCK !!! - February 26, 2009 at 8:44 AM
- man in painting said...
liked your perspective.people find stories and relationships difficult to swallow whenever they take a turn,doesn't matter whether it is conventional or not.the turn is always disturbing to mind, because there is dynamicity.Whatever dynamic is difficult to hold..
change is the biggest challenge mind always try to get adjusted to.(often fails to)
hope she, that boy and the people who follow these images will accept changes...
after all.. everyone is "talking" about change without changing anything inside or out.
take care - February 26, 2009 at 9:44 AM
- Saurabh said...
Hi Ma'am, This is the first post on your blog that I have read. The point about jilted lovers making hue and cry is an interesting one. Yesterday, on one of the news channels, Freida was literally shown as a "vamp", who takes sadistic pleasure in breaking hearts and her boyfriend was shown as a meek innocent fellow who as per the channel, deserved our support. Gosh, what we be the next thing in this country..Protest march with candles for jilted lovers. It is sad that women, and also men, are always under this social pressure to maintain a relationship, even though one or both the partners are not happy with the state of affairs of the same..
- February 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
really want you to read that link! - February 26, 2009 at 11:15 AM
First of all, I express my joy in coming across your blog. Love how you express yourself and go about your life. How refreshing to read your stories, thoughts, views and little bit about you. Thank you for this blog, a lovely Shobhaa De experience.
Talking about Frieda (by the way, she has become a real dahl, very proud of her and also Dev and A R and co.), it is good that someone like you who obviously is well known and can reach many people, has voiced a view which supports Freida's decision to get on with her own destiny how she feels is right for her.
Life presents only one chance. It is a smart move to take hold of it... and work with it. Call it Miracle or Blessing or Luck or by any other name, Frieda's life has taken a huge jump, Just lke the movie Slumdog's story, her own life has given her opportunities, many can't or don't even dream of. Freida represent the modern woman perspective, and I applaud her fully for taking hold of her life and moving on. No other human has a right to ruin her life.
Relationship by nature can be complicated. Women around the world and in particular Indian women often get roasted in the marriage bowl. As men still think of themselves as superior and go about their business accordingly.
Many of us, adults still have long way to go to become practical when it comes to relationship. Freida has a lifestyle that is envy of many and she wants to make the most of what she has.
A decision, no one has right to deny. Those who see this as wrong, will go through their own agony and bury themselves in it.
A relationship at this stage of charming and charismatic Freida's life, has to be compatible to what she is today. In fact she has no time for relationship at this stage of her life. Full Stop.
Look around us. How many international actors can sustain marriage, when they spend most of their working time thousand miles away from each other often for months and get to play roles involving intimacy, physical contacts etc, with many co-stars.
Life has high demands when you get to the stage where Freida is TODAY. Relationship at the end suffer and die, naturally, ruining positive energy that surrounds one's life. Freida doen't need that. She wants a clean slate. Good on her.
Freida dahling has big career in front of her knocking on the door and she has to open the door and welcome it BIG TIME.
Well, what do you know, she knows how to do it too. Good on her.
Rohan doesn't and cannot complete the picture for Freida now. He has been a casualty if the relationship claims are true. Be whatever that may... Rohan, too, has to move on, however painful this is now. It his destiny now. He has to learn that. Yes, it sounds like painful and difficult but as human, in time we all learn from our experiences and either make something of it or otherwise.
Welcome all to 2009. Change is part and partial of life. Enjoy your lot in life.
Congratulations Shobhaa, for this timely blog.
Pleased to found you here, and glad to say/share my bit here.
Way to go FRIEDA
[ remember, we are watching you :-) ] - February 26, 2009 at 11:24 AM
First of all, I express my joy in coming across your blog. Love how you express yourself and go about your life. How refreshing to read your stories, thoughts, views and little bit about you. Thank you for this blog, a lovely Shobhaa De experience.
Talking about Frieda (by the way, she has become a real dahl, very proud of her and also Dev and A R and co.), it is good that someone like you who obviously is well known and can reach many people, has voiced a view which supports Freida's decision to get on with her own destiny how she feels is right for her.
Life presents only one chance. It is a smart move to take hold of it... and work with it. Call it Miracle or Blessing or Luck or by any other name, Frieda's life has taken a huge jump, Just lke the movie Slumdog's story, her own life has given her opportunities, many can't or don't even dream of. Freida represent the modern woman perspective, and I applaud her fully for taking hold of her life and moving on. No other human has a right to ruin her life.
Relationship by nature can be complicated. Women around the world and in particular Indian women often get roasted in the marriage bowl. As men still think of themselves as superior and go about their business accordingly.
Many of us, adults still have long way to go to become practical when it comes to relationship. Freida has a lifestyle that is envy of many and she wants to make the most of what she has.
A decision, no one has right to deny. Those who see this as wrong, will go through their own agony and bury themselves in it.
A relationship at this stage of charming and charismatic Freida's life, has to be compatible to what she is today. In fact she has no time for relationship at this stage of her life. Full Stop.
Look around us. How many international actors can sustain marriage, when they spend most of their working time thousand miles away from each other often for months and get to play roles involving intimacy, physical contacts etc, with many co-stars.
Life has high demands when you get to the stage where Freida is TODAY. Relationship at the end suffer and die, naturally, ruining positive energy that surrounds one's life. Freida doen't need that. She wants a clean slate. Good on her.
Freida dahling has big career in front of her knocking on the door and she has to open the door and welcome it BIG TIME.
Well, what do you know, she knows how to do it too. Good on her.
Rohan doesn't and cannot complete the picture for Freida now. He has been a casualty if the relationship claims are true. Be whatever that may... Rohan, too, has to move on, however painful this is now. It his destiny now. He has to learn that. Yes, it sounds like painful and difficult but as human, in time we all learn from our experiences and either make something of it or otherwise.
(by the way, I notice the website "freidapinto.com" is off server today... from what I hear it is put up by Rohan. Well, Rohan, if you happen to read this, and if you have anything to do with the domain name and the server and the website, your handing over to Freida, will be best thing you can do, it will redeem you in public eye and get lost of blessings along the way. )
Welcome all to 2009. Change is part and partial of life. Enjoy your lot in life.
Congratulations Shobhaa, for this timely blog.
Pleased to found you here, and glad to say/share my bit here.
Way to go FRIEDA
[ remember, we are watching you :-) ]
http://www.lastingimpressions.co.nz - February 26, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Why Freida? the first thing Sushmita Sen did after winning the Miss Universe title was dump her boyfriend, and nobody hauled her over the coals.And if you have seen the reviews for The Pink Panther 2 in The Telegraph and The Times in the UK Ash does not even get a mention so one can imagine what will happen to Freida after the hype of Slumdog wears out.
- February 26, 2009 at 1:21 PM
- Another Kiran In NYC said...
Whatever Frieda does from here on is going to be scrutinised to within an inch of her life. Her own savvy, acting chops and her management will determine her fate. She has a look and a style that the west appreciates, so that is a leg up for her. She has thrown her ring into the World market place and right now is not trying to ride two boats... a foot in each (Bahu's downfall... even Penelope Cruz was having huge trouble with that and decided to stay put in Hollywood for a few years to consolidate her career).
The first thing that struck me about this blog post was the "American Accent". I hope it is because she has a good diction and accent coach, not because it is self taught after a year in the country. Only because that would indicate to me that she is putting down a firm foundation for her career as an "international actor" in a rational manner. Getting the training and continuing education an actor needs, for every single movie. Yeah, even the biggest stars still take performance lessons between movies.
Indian accents are lovely ... and I have a WERY TICK accent myself, but you need more variety than that to be marketable as an actor the world over.
About her boyfriend/fiance/husband. Ummmmmmm... its too bad thier relationship did not work when faced with huge changes in one partners life. Tis the way life works. I feel bad for him because it is the person who gets left behind who has more time to think and gaze at thier navel and generally become a sad sack. So my sympathies with Rohan for that... not for the relationship not working. I am sure they both went into it with the utmost sincerity and neither wanted to nessecarily use the other, but ya know... stuff happens! - February 26, 2009 at 6:39 PM
- sunami said...
Is Danny Boyle planning a sequel of multiple Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire?
If rumors circulating around in Hollywood circles are true than Danny Boyle is seriously considering making a sequel which would revolve around the twists and turns in the life of the slumdog-turned-millionaire, Jamal Malik.
According to some insiders who have read the script of the sequel, the feel-good story of Jamal takes an ugly turn in the second part when he takes a decision to dump his childhood sweetheart Latika, soon after winning the prize money of twenty million rupees. The sequel starts from the point where the original movie ends. After his monumental win at the quiz contest, Jamal becomes an overnight international sensation. His remarkable rags-to-riches story get international coverage and he gets featured on BBC, CNN, NYT, Washington Post and Fox News. From a poor Mumbai boy living in slums, Jamal is catapulted into an entirely different world where he gets interviewed by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Larry King and gets multi-million dollar offers by tabloid editors, biographers, television moguls and Hollywood producers to sell his extraordinary life story.
Jamal Malik now realizes that he is no longer the Jamal who loved a sweet but very ordinary-looking slum girl. With international fame and millions of dollars in his bank, he realizes that he has outgrown the very girl for whom he participated in the quiz show. He starts wondering where Latika would fit into his life now that he is not just a celebrity, but an international star courted by the mightiest names in media and Hollywood. He begins to think that Latika will become a liabilty in his glamorous, glitzy new life, ignored and snubbed by everyone.
He also recognizes that with his international fame and wealth he would be able to court and win the affection of any girl of his choice. As Jamal contemplates his new life full of exciting new possibilities, Latika begins to slowly fade away in his consciousness. With his goals, dreams and ambitions changing overnight, he is no longer able to feel any love for Latika. Seduced by the beautiful new world and the innumerable temptations it offers, Jamal pragmatically decides to break up with Latika.
Shocked by his betrayal, Latika goes ballistic giving interviews to newspapers and TV channels slamming Jamal for discarding him. She receives enormous amount of sympathy and support from millions of people who express disgust at the behavior of Jamal and berate him for letting success go over his head. Feather-brained feminists like Shobhaa De write columns condemning Jamal for becoming a turncoat and express solidarity with poor Latika.
Does Jamal realize the error of his ways and comes back to Latika asking for forgiveness? According to our sources, Boyle has two different endings in his mind - one a very populist ending where he realizes that he has wronged Latika and goes back to her begging her to forgive him and a more realistic ending where both Jamal and Latika realize that concepts like love overcoming all class barriers are humbug meant only for silly, feel-good romance movies and that differences in status, success and wealth are real and should be accepted hardheartedly.
Our sources say that while Danny Boyle prefers the realistic ending, he is likely to choose the more populist ending considering the success that the fairy-tailish ending of rags-to-riches tale of Jamal coming up trumps against all odds, brought him at the box-office and at award functions.
http://onionuttapam.com/entertainment/entertainment/danny-boyle-planning-a-sequel-to-slumdog-millionaire.html - March 2, 2009 at 2:31 PM
- RajM said...
Hi Shobaa
I just got to read your article. and thought it to be more than cynical: it is an antithesis of the very message that SDM wants to preach.
This girl has been utterly insensitive and crass, totally graceless in her behaviour.
I don't mean that she had a lifetime commitent to this Rohan (I believe you have a commitment when you as much as mutually fall in love and commit this to the other: the commitment to be considerate of the other half, and not damage that person - and I don't think there is a commitment to be together till death-do-you-part, but remember, both are Catholics and Catholic canons are very strict about this), but she is an immature person, who cared little for the feelings of someone who probably was a very big stepping stone to her sucess. I would not be surprised if it turns out that Rohan actually did almost everything that got her noticed and got her the role.
Anyways, the entire brush strokes in your article say that she has the right to walk away...I agree up to here, she has...but does she have no responsibilities? If she is young and has a life ahead, Rohan is just as young. And he has been so totally destroyed that it is unlikely that he will ever be able to get over this. He has been publicly named and called all sorts of things, all for maybe being a door mat to a pretty girl whom he adored. There are people who have tarred him just because he loved her, and does not look as good as she does. The way he looks is not his fault, ....but does she also not look totally gauche in most pre-Oscar photos? She has the benefit of now being remembered only for the designer and stylist delivered poise, when he is being judged on the same photos which were not devised with the help of a couturier or a style specialist - and her gauchiness quotient is not discussed - it is being discussed in some American blogs where people have said things about her dress sense pre the SDM days, and with extreme derision, at that.
Why did this graceless person (frankly, I cannot call her a lady), do this resolution so horribly? There were better ways of getting out of an unwanted marriage. And a phone call is no resolution: it just shows you have no respect (love and respect are two different things, you don't love? ok, but don't show dis-respect). In fact there has been no resolution from her side at all: Just a "get lost, prom-date, I got another beau"!
She agreed to the engagement / wedding and if you know your law, under Catholic canons, probably the wedding was complete. She was not forced into this. There can be no annulment over a year later (and will she go to the Pope?), and an Indian court will trash her if Rohan does not agree to a mutual divorce: courts don't like wedding wows being treated like a changeable vest, especially when the other half has done nothing wrong. So what, will she act as if she had no legal problem? She probably has a huge legal problem, one that she does not even have an inkling about.
She probably is very smart in respect of her single minded focus on her show-biz career, but not in terms of handling such issues with grace and tact or even something as basic as understanding fan behaviour. Maybe not being sure of the future, she built a backup of a meal ticket, and when she saw that she did not require a meal ticket, she just dumped her husband. How different is she from the satanic people of Mumbai who maim others so they can exploit them, as you saw in SDM?
A more mature person would have first taken advice from someone who could help resolve this issue. Help define her position, take into consideration the position of her fiance / husband, would have worked out an exit path, without damaging Rohan, letting him keep his dignity intact. She did not even have the grace to meet him in person and talk to him and gently decide to have a joint exit, and ensure that he would not be damaged - he did nothing to damage or hurt her, did he? Now if he does start, I am not sure he is not justified, does not have extremely explosive stuff. She already has lost the Latika-of-undying-selfless love image: she is the Freida of greedy-self-love to all her (now) ex-fans.
As it is, she has killed him in every metaphorical way. Even if you no longer love your other half, leaving that person should not mean afflicting cruelty: and this is mental cruelty, you will agree. This was a high school prom-date swisheroo, and this cannot be condoned.
If she had any sense left, she would first of all visit Rohan, talk to him, apologise to him and his family, and tell the world that she made a mistake in handling this the way she did. This is no replacement for the way she should have acted in the first instance, but atleast, she takes the blame square, rather than stay hidden in LA, and avoid a resolution that is now only her responsibility to make.
She seems to have been very badly advised: by her Hollywood agent and her Indian agent, who probably are only interested in the money then can milk, not what is good for her. If they had any sense, they would have told her not to do this on the phone, go to Mumbai meet him, tell all those people who you see in the photos, that she was sorry, and that Rohan was not at fault. Then they could have closed it without any non-sense being talked about, and while never good, it would have looked civilized.
But why should people like you tell Rohan / his friends to keep quiet? Just because the girl is more successful? Would you have the same words, if say, a Shahrukh had dumped his wife on becoming successful? I am sure there would be hell to pay then. I am a total equality believer, but your thoughts are just lop-sided to the favour of Freida just because she is a girl. Rohan has actually kept a lid, it is impossible not to let something out, but what he could have done is a lot more. Sense has prevailed and he has stopped at reacting to media, which often acts like a catalyst in the form of a detonator: it wants explosive stuff, and can push a person to the end till he breaks.
Let Freida have her life, but she should have handled this far, far better and a civilized way. She has lost much of the goodwill she got, and in India, and especially in Mumbai, she is dead meat.
Hollywood has historically treated Indians as exotic beings - after all they cater to a largely white audience (we treat blondes as exotic, don't we?). They appear as a jungle boy / girl, or a stereo typed brownie with an accent, may be a jackass in a move by Peter Sellers, or as a turbaned rajah or a bejeweled rani, or probably a Dharavi waif, and if lucky a doctor in an Americal hospital, and she may well find that when the novelty wears off and she is seen there day-in and day-out, she is no longer the face people are interested in. The US is an awfully expensive place and you can go to being bankrupt pretty fast. She may find that she has to come back to good ol' Mumbai before long and she will have a rich, unwanted brand equity out here.
Raj M - March 2, 2009 at 8:16 PM
- Unknown said...
Hi Ms De,
I always read your blog, and have read all your older books. Just a comment here, you yourself never put on an accent, and you usually catch fakers out immediately, so how did you let Freida off the hook for her American accent, acquired in less than 6 months?
I also found her latest comment, printed in Vogue, about her writing "because she's international now", in response to a question about her not wearing an Indian designer arrogant and pretentious. Why not just say she likes Valentino or Dior better than Tarun Tahiliani? - March 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM
- Moshe said...
I guess the movie is on the making right now! However, an interesting twist has been added to the story. Being Hollywood as it is, Jamal hotness lasted less than 15 minutes, and the producers soon realize that the bad press Jamal has received in the last days for dumping poor Latika has made him lost most of the good will and popularity he got with his overnight success. So, he becomes dead meat very quickly, and then he has no choice but going back to the slums crawling back to Latika's arms.
- April 18, 2009 at 12:19 AM
- RajM said...
Thanks, Moshe.
You got the story and the idiom right. Unmlike some socialites who serenaded Frieda simply because she dumped her fiance! Great role models these self appointed thinkers make! You are great if you dump your fiance / husband, and if you do this senselessly without affording any dignity to your fiance / husband, that makes you even more successful!
Love isn't a calculus of who is more famous or rich: it is celebrating a commitment: Freida, the selfish had none whatsovere, except to create a mealticket: she was not forced into an engegement was she? Apparently Shobaa De probably will find a reason to allege that she was forced! And what about those people who were there in those photos? They were just trash also I guess, including Freida's idioitcally stupid parents! - April 25, 2009 at 12:37 AM
- RajM said...
I remember a seminar in 2006 or 2007 (the budget one) a the Oberoi, where I saw a girl in blue, ushering guests in (the Regal room), and later handing out the microphone during the QnA. She did not look particularly pretty, I would say she stood out because the crowd was that of CA's who even at their best look like dead fish.
I recall today that she has a lapel pin, wihch gave an unusual name: Freida. I just went back and saw the photos: yes, thats her, no questions, earning a few quid to survive. After the do, there was a guy who was standing outside the regal room (at 1130 PM), with whom she left hand-in-hand (also in the photos) - this must be the unlicky and hapless Rohan, who waited till midnight to pick up Freida, and drvie her back to faraway Malad. It did not look like over the years he built her up to become his golden goose - he looked like a loverlorn chap who was happy he had what he wanted: the hand of a reasonably attractive girl.
Sad, you love someone to pieces and that person publicly dumps you (after an engagement, this is a public dumping, no question), and without even a personal meeting. This is not the action of a good person, this is the action of an immature and suddenly arrogant person, who does no know the meaning of the words love, respect, dignity, commitment and acceptance of blame.
Her upbringing has just come out, I say. She is going to get her just desserts, and the sooner the better. - April 25, 2009 at 12:46 AM
- Moshe said...
I don't believe in "love", but in projects of life held by adults who want to pursue their interests with respect and solidarity. At what point Miss Pinto (or is she Ms. Antao?) became an international sensation? I have my own theory. I am from Mexico and I watched the movie and for about 90 minutes you see nothing but misery, abuse, hopeless. Then, in the last 15 minutes you see this cute girl showing up to give a happy ending. I guess this is the reason why people connected with her emotionally. If you ad an international tour to promote the movie, designer's clothes, limousines and a bunch of stylists, all of that fueled by the Hollywood marketing machine, you get it –a new star in the making. In the next days I watched some interviews she gave to American TV programs, and she looked gorgeous, intelligent and fresh, not your average plastic Hollywood star. But fame intoxicates, and she felt in a fame induced amnesia (and I would also say stupidity) which led her to handle the Rohan Antao issue in the worst possible way. She didn´t commit a crime by dumping her boyfriend/fiancé/husband or whatever he is/was, the man who stood for by her from the beginning and who was a major part of her success. But the way she dealt with it was simply horrible, cruel, graceless. She humiliated him, her friends, his friends, her relatives and his relatives publicly and worldwide. If only she could've walked out properly. I wonder how all the people who appeared in the wedding ceremony photos would react next time they ran into Freida's face. And this is something that rankles. Very disappointing. I think she has already lost most of the good will she got from the movie, that most of the charm has faded away. Is it her private life, and she has every right to do whatever she wants to do for good or bad? Yes, of course, but her amnesia/stupidity made the issue public and in the worst possible way! Does she have any chance in Bollywood? I don't think so. As I told you, I am from Mexico and Bollywood movies are not seen here. I have only watched two Indian movies so far and I think they're quite different from the Hollywood style. Also I have realized that Indians like white skin, green eyed, voluptuous actresses for heroines, a model a little far from the Pinto's type. However, I guess that the bad press Freida has got in the last weeks has turned her into a corpse in India, also in Mumbai. Am I wrong? As for Hollywood, it's hard to say. Being Hollywood as it is, where your hotness lasts less than 15 minutes, the novelty of the fresh Indian cute girl could wear off very quick. Did she make the good decision? I don't think so. She and Rohan teamed up to put her where she's now. Rohan has his own marketing services company, they could have teamed up to boost her career hadn't Freida dumped him. Today I read that she's dating Dev Pattel. Come on! If she wants to boost her career, she at least should be dating a Hollywood big shot, not a teenager! Anyway, time will tell. Let's hope things will work good for Freida, but also for Rohan Antao. Finally, don't be so pessimistic about Rohan's future, she could create another Freida and lauch her to stardom, let's hope this time he chooses better!
P. S. Can you share the photos you are talking about? My mail is email@example.com. - April 26, 2009 at 9:23 AM
- RajM said...
Hi Moshe
I agree: it is her life and Rohan's as well, and they know how to run it. The only thing at issue is the maturity in taking a difficult step without hurting your better half - and that is all.
Rohan is an entrepreneur and will learn how to pick himself up: in business there will be many more difficult situations: cutting deals, facing competition, cutting flab, sacking staff, recruiting them again, doing all this with sensitivity, and ensuring that the business survives ans grows: that is anyways more important than a person who dumped him. Hope he focuses on this and gets to success.
The photos: are part of an office compendium, and cannot be distributed - I have read rights only: I can give the date and venue: 1st or 2nd March, 2007, The Oberoi Hotel (same place that got terrorised last November), Regal Room, 7 to 11 PM.
Thanks and best of luck to you - April 26, 2009 at 12:54 PM
- Moshe said...
Forget the photos. It's always good to know an intelligent person to contact with abroad. Please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com. - April 26, 2009 at 8:16 PM
- Unknown said...
On a side note from your posting in February on your conversation with Freida - where can one source organic jaggery from that you were relishing before the call....?
- June 11, 2009 at 9:01 AM