Main News:
Several Ministers have resigned their State/Parliament membership to show "solidarity" with Sonia Gandhi....
( These ministers might never resign when implicated in a crime or a scam! Sonia is like the " Lordess of the Ring"...One ring that rules them all.One ring that binds them!..Some ministers quit because they were holding offices of profit..Dont they all? They all clamour for Ministries beacuse they want to hold these offices for profit )
In other News:
Newzealand's iconic birds - Kiwi & Kakapo are being vaccinated against H5N1(Bird-Flu)....
(These FLIGHTLESS birds have no threat of getting infected unless from Humans( or may be Aliens!!))
International News:
French Prez Chirac walked out of a EU summit as a fellow frenchman addressed in "English" and returned after the address...
( Which means listened the entire speech from the lobby or went for a bathroom break..How the hell he knew when to join back?)
In a report, US has accused China for failing to release details about its military build-up programmes..
( Duh ! Are they actually expecting the same WMD report they released on Iraq?..They cant even get search results from yahoo or google!)
Melange:
Young women out-drink men in Britain...
(Good looking men with proper denture are hard to come by..Or else why on earth Daniel Craig(who?) was chosen to play James Bond ?)
Entertainment:
In an interview Viggo Mortensen was asked which was more difficult : fight scenes or sex scenes in "History of Violence"?..
( With so much fake blood, fake gun, SFX and stuntmen around, is so hard to comprehend!)
Sports:
Sachin goes to London for Surgery...
(When BCCI sponsors the trip and pays the bills without taking any guarentee on runs, who really cares?")
Final thoughts:
Baba Ramdev has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the State of Bihar...
(I can only say that this one is beter than the self appointed predecessor)
As I read the newspaper ,each day, my interest wanes, just looking at the headlines and cover stories .It makes me ponder where the world is headed...
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Crash and Burn
Okay, Crash was the only oscar nominated film I ever intended to watch this year. Its not important whether I support modern( read cliched) themes depicted in Brokeback mountain because I had enough of "pro-choice" potrayed in the Colin farell starring 2004 disaster "Alexander"..
Last night I got Crash DVD (finally!) and was hoping to have an oscar of a night. But midway thru the movie all I wanted to to do was to crash into my bed. "Boring" would be an understatement. I can't tolerate Matt dillon molesting Thandie Newton nor can I bear the sight of funnyman Brendan Fraser playing a DA! Total personality mismatch..Of course, in the end, you cannot stop feeling that when it comes to colour/racial discrimination, our society is much better off today compared to Uncle Sam's.
The tagline for the movie goes like this "You think you know who you are. You have no idea." I fully agree with the second part..I really have no idea why I bought this DVD! Movies like these get nominated because its much too vague and pointless for anybody's comprehension.
After all this I am eager to watch Brokeback Mountain ( So what?) and I dont feel sorry for myself. For fellow Johnny Depp Fans though there is good news: POTC -II trailer is here.
I hope one of you will return favours with the trailer of National Treasure II ( IF and ONLY IF there's Sean Bean in it)
Ps: BTW if you a true oo7 fan, join the world wide forum against the "Chosen One". Not only has this bloke abandoned the legendary JB tux in the new movie but also agreed to do a full frontal with the JB girl. Apparently this his only chance to give or take one..Eeeeuwww! I cant stand this guy after his watching him in "Munich". I can understand the desperate choices available from the the Island of the Queen. Really, good looking men with proper denture are hard to come by there!
Last night I got Crash DVD (finally!) and was hoping to have an oscar of a night. But midway thru the movie all I wanted to to do was to crash into my bed. "Boring" would be an understatement. I can't tolerate Matt dillon molesting Thandie Newton nor can I bear the sight of funnyman Brendan Fraser playing a DA! Total personality mismatch..Of course, in the end, you cannot stop feeling that when it comes to colour/racial discrimination, our society is much better off today compared to Uncle Sam's.
The tagline for the movie goes like this "You think you know who you are. You have no idea." I fully agree with the second part..I really have no idea why I bought this DVD! Movies like these get nominated because its much too vague and pointless for anybody's comprehension.
After all this I am eager to watch Brokeback Mountain ( So what?) and I dont feel sorry for myself. For fellow Johnny Depp Fans though there is good news: POTC -II trailer is here.
I hope one of you will return favours with the trailer of National Treasure II ( IF and ONLY IF there's Sean Bean in it)
Ps: BTW if you a true oo7 fan, join the world wide forum against the "Chosen One". Not only has this bloke abandoned the legendary JB tux in the new movie but also agreed to do a full frontal with the JB girl. Apparently this his only chance to give or take one..Eeeeuwww! I cant stand this guy after his watching him in "Munich". I can understand the desperate choices available from the the Island of the Queen. Really, good looking men with proper denture are hard to come by there!
Sunday, March 19, 2006
The Best things in life are always...
I've not completed the title because I'm confused as to what follows.
Some of the world's greatest pop-music stars have chanted this phrase in their songs and struck gold . Janet Jackson, one-time queen of pop topped the Billboard chart in 1992 for "The Best things in life are free". Madonna incorporates these words in the lyrics of her song " It used to be my playground".
There has also been a movie and a book released by the same title. I've never seen or read these but the point is :
What are these best things in life?
Who decides that?
How are they " Free"?
Lets say "happiness" is one of the best things in life. Everybody wants to be happy. But how is it free? One has to sacrifice something in cash or kind to achieve it. There is no gain without pain. There has not been single Management- Labour dialogue without the HR Honcho convincing us with " There is no Free Lunch" concept. In fact,for most lesser privileged women, unconditional affection from your husband has always come at a cost - Dowry. Many newly weds have attained peace of mind only after accommodating their senile parents in costly old-age homes!
I recently travelled in one of the low-cost airlines that have flooded the Indian skies in recent years. As the fare did not include inflight food( and even water!), we chose to simply carry our empty tummies on air. However,as my ears were getting clogged due to the cabin pressure, I reached out to the perky,smart hostess for some cotton balls to which she curtly said that they don't serve cotton balls on the plane!
Serve cotton balls? Was it ever apart of their Menu? Its not like I'm asking for candy floss! If they don't have them on the plane, where else ? I might even pay for them but where do I get them?
Talk about best things in life and I cant even get a pair of cotton balls!
My ears are still clogged, my hearing imbalanced..but my mind is very clear!
Some of the world's greatest pop-music stars have chanted this phrase in their songs and struck gold . Janet Jackson, one-time queen of pop topped the Billboard chart in 1992 for "The Best things in life are free". Madonna incorporates these words in the lyrics of her song " It used to be my playground".
There has also been a movie and a book released by the same title. I've never seen or read these but the point is :
What are these best things in life?
Who decides that?
How are they " Free"?
Lets say "happiness" is one of the best things in life. Everybody wants to be happy. But how is it free? One has to sacrifice something in cash or kind to achieve it. There is no gain without pain. There has not been single Management- Labour dialogue without the HR Honcho convincing us with " There is no Free Lunch" concept. In fact,for most lesser privileged women, unconditional affection from your husband has always come at a cost - Dowry. Many newly weds have attained peace of mind only after accommodating their senile parents in costly old-age homes!
I recently travelled in one of the low-cost airlines that have flooded the Indian skies in recent years. As the fare did not include inflight food( and even water!), we chose to simply carry our empty tummies on air. However,as my ears were getting clogged due to the cabin pressure, I reached out to the perky,smart hostess for some cotton balls to which she curtly said that they don't serve cotton balls on the plane!
Serve cotton balls? Was it ever apart of their Menu? Its not like I'm asking for candy floss! If they don't have them on the plane, where else ? I might even pay for them but where do I get them?
Talk about best things in life and I cant even get a pair of cotton balls!
My ears are still clogged, my hearing imbalanced..but my mind is very clear!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Everything Changes...
Everything Changes..
Yeah..In various contexts...
So I've not posted anything for over 2 weeks. In fact I've not even accessed my blog. Well today, far away from my home , in Chennai, when I thought I'll restore my contact with the sane and free web world, all the enthusiasm died down in an instant when I saw my small space invaded by repetitive and smutty spam. These spammers are ever watchful..they attack you at a blink of an eye! Im totally tired of deleting each one of them. I hope the word verification software works.
I'm in Chennai ..my native land and having a whale of a good time. I feel I'm like those ABCDs who go on a "Discover India" expedition to find their roots!. I ve been in Mumbai all my life and everything here appears bigger, better, nicer and cheaper! Allow me to explain:
Firstly, for a late-riser like me I get a lot of extra time in the morning due to time zone. 6.30 a.m here resembles 8.00 a.m in Mumbai. So I get a straight 1 1/2 hours up-front
and believe me thats a lot!
Secondly all the conveniences are available within a radius of 50 metres. By conveniences, I mean library/DVD rentals/Malls/ Eating Joints et al. Most of them deliver at home and hence you dont have to bother going out in the hot sun.
Thirdly, everything costs at atleast appears to cost lesser compared to Mumbai. Say, travelling an equivalent distance of Andheri to Bandra here costs just Rs 3/- in the citybus as against Rs 8/- (and rising) in Mumbai. Public transport has always been a lot cheaper in Chennai despite no difference in fuel cost. Nevertheless, the surly bus conductors here are no match to the smart "BEST' conductors. The conductors here hardly ever move from the seat "reserved" for them hence the passengers crowd around him for getting their tickets, where as in Mumbai the conductors stride up and down the deck,virtually hunt you down and thrust the ticket in your palms!
Also, proximity to Bangalore(or is it Bengalooru?) has enabled availability of all kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits, some of which are hard to come by in my city.Plus they come really cheap..like a kilo of tomatoes cost Rs-4/-. A Kilo of most of the vegetables cost Rs10/- or less. Its like watching "Ripley's believe it or not". Our good hosts here ensured we get a taste of all that we miss in Mumbai and a foodie like me could not thank them more.
This list could go on and on..
- Water of the tap
-No power cuts
-Spit free roads and platforms.....
But let me make the best of the time in my home town..I have places to go and faces to see..
Yeah..In various contexts...
So I've not posted anything for over 2 weeks. In fact I've not even accessed my blog. Well today, far away from my home , in Chennai, when I thought I'll restore my contact with the sane and free web world, all the enthusiasm died down in an instant when I saw my small space invaded by repetitive and smutty spam. These spammers are ever watchful..they attack you at a blink of an eye! Im totally tired of deleting each one of them. I hope the word verification software works.
I'm in Chennai ..my native land and having a whale of a good time. I feel I'm like those ABCDs who go on a "Discover India" expedition to find their roots!. I ve been in Mumbai all my life and everything here appears bigger, better, nicer and cheaper! Allow me to explain:
Firstly, for a late-riser like me I get a lot of extra time in the morning due to time zone. 6.30 a.m here resembles 8.00 a.m in Mumbai. So I get a straight 1 1/2 hours up-front
and believe me thats a lot!
Secondly all the conveniences are available within a radius of 50 metres. By conveniences, I mean library/DVD rentals/Malls/ Eating Joints et al. Most of them deliver at home and hence you dont have to bother going out in the hot sun.
Thirdly, everything costs at atleast appears to cost lesser compared to Mumbai. Say, travelling an equivalent distance of Andheri to Bandra here costs just Rs 3/- in the citybus as against Rs 8/- (and rising) in Mumbai. Public transport has always been a lot cheaper in Chennai despite no difference in fuel cost. Nevertheless, the surly bus conductors here are no match to the smart "BEST' conductors. The conductors here hardly ever move from the seat "reserved" for them hence the passengers crowd around him for getting their tickets, where as in Mumbai the conductors stride up and down the deck,virtually hunt you down and thrust the ticket in your palms!
Also, proximity to Bangalore(or is it Bengalooru?) has enabled availability of all kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits, some of which are hard to come by in my city.Plus they come really cheap..like a kilo of tomatoes cost Rs-4/-. A Kilo of most of the vegetables cost Rs10/- or less. Its like watching "Ripley's believe it or not". Our good hosts here ensured we get a taste of all that we miss in Mumbai and a foodie like me could not thank them more.
This list could go on and on..
- Water of the tap
-No power cuts
-Spit free roads and platforms.....
But let me make the best of the time in my home town..I have places to go and faces to see..
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Thank God Mr PC...
Yesterday Mr PC presented the Budget for 2006-07 in the parliament..in his inimitable style interspersed with some words of wisdom from his favorite knowledge Bank-- The Thirukkural.
For the aam aadmi Ive got some words of wisdom too:
The budget is a boon for these set of people:
Plagiarists: DVD / Combo drives drives cheaper
Soft drinkers: Cheaper ( of course, quality could'nt go any more cheaper than this!)
Wanabe car owners: Small Car segment cheaper
Cancer/Aids Patients: Cheaper imported drugs
Barefoot walkers/ Shoe-maniacs: Cheaper footwear
Every tax payer(2% of population): No change in tax rates or no new imposition of surcharges/cess ( tax by any other name pricks the same)
The budget is the exact opposite of boon for these set of people:
PCGamefreaks: Software gamesand other packaged software costlier
Smokers: Cigarettes costlier ( as usual)
Chain smokers: What do you care?
Barefoot walkers/shoe maniacs: Footwear cheaper
Active stock market players: STT up by 25% (whoa!)
Mobile/aam janata: 2% hike in Service tax for all services including your mobile bills.
Overall, its a thumbs down for this budget..Many expectations of the public were not met. Not too many incentive for infrastrucuture. No reduction in tax rates. Subsidies were left untouched. In short, no difficult and politically sensitive announcements were made. Several new services have been brought in to the service tax dragnet but the hike in service tax from 10 to 12% was ridiculous.
The day is not far when you will be arguing with your neighbourly kiranawala, istriwala or even dudhwala for overcharging......................... for SERVICE tax!
Till then...
For the aam aadmi Ive got some words of wisdom too:
The budget is a boon for these set of people:
Plagiarists: DVD / Combo drives drives cheaper
Soft drinkers: Cheaper ( of course, quality could'nt go any more cheaper than this!)
Wanabe car owners: Small Car segment cheaper
Cancer/Aids Patients: Cheaper imported drugs
Barefoot walkers/ Shoe-maniacs: Cheaper footwear
Every tax payer(2% of population): No change in tax rates or no new imposition of surcharges/cess ( tax by any other name pricks the same)
The budget is the exact opposite of boon for these set of people:
PCGamefreaks: Software gamesand other packaged software costlier
Smokers: Cigarettes costlier ( as usual)
Chain smokers: What do you care?
Barefoot walkers/shoe maniacs: Footwear cheaper
Active stock market players: STT up by 25% (whoa!)
Mobile/aam janata: 2% hike in Service tax for all services including your mobile bills.
Overall, its a thumbs down for this budget..Many expectations of the public were not met. Not too many incentive for infrastrucuture. No reduction in tax rates. Subsidies were left untouched. In short, no difficult and politically sensitive announcements were made. Several new services have been brought in to the service tax dragnet but the hike in service tax from 10 to 12% was ridiculous.
The day is not far when you will be arguing with your neighbourly kiranawala, istriwala or even dudhwala for overcharging......................... for SERVICE tax!
Till then...
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