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- Archives: November 2007
- Does Match-Fixing Still Plague Sub-Continental Cricket?
Reckless batting or burgeoning bank balances? Tough to make out; but raised eye brows? Aplenty!
- Movie Review: No Smoking - Arrogance Isn't Such a Bad Thing
Anurag Kashyap's phantasmagorical expression in the form of incongruous juxtaposition of surreal images that beat comprehension.
- One Star Out of Five, Anyone?
If you can rank posts on a 1-5 scale with a click, is there any point writing critical comments?
- Indian Government Refuses to Learn from Mistakes
While Sensex reaching 20,000 is celebrated the base of our country is being sucked dry by these maggots and termites.
- Mr. Rainbow: The Strange Ride of Sir Edwin Lutyens
"Rashtrapati Bhavan in Context: The Work of Sir Edwin Lutyens OM", up at the British Council until the 5th of November
- Book Review: The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Aliens, Inter Stellar travel and a book that boldly states: DON'T PANIC.
- When the Earth Trembles
Nature never gives us an intimation before sending in a storm, an earthquake or a wildfire
- Movie Review: No Smoking - Get High On This
At its heart an anarchist film. It wants you to question the established conventions and the compromises you’ve made to follow them.
- Satire: Left Takes All - 123
The Left swept the polls and got an absolute majority. That too, while contesting all alone without leaning on anybody’s support.
- India's Monkey Business
What is the solution to this overpopulation problem of monkeys?
- Poetry: India's Many-splendoured Colours
adaptability, survivalism, resiliency, progress and regression - the many faces of india
- Boycotts: Gandhiji’s Forgotten Weapon
it is easier to pick up stones and smash shop frontages than walk from village to village and educate people.
- Of Moral Courage and Principles: Whodunnit? in Pakistan
Men (and women) past their prime who had access to the corridors of power should shed their moral ambiguity.
- The Hearts and Minds Campaign in Kashmir
The population needs to see the army as their guardians, their elder brothers, their friends.
- Representative of the People
In public life, are some moderate levels of corruption preferable to absolute integrity combined with totally ineffective governance?
- Improving the US Capital Markets
The current capital markets structure where different regulators look after different bits of financial sectors is no longer appropriate.
- Emergency Imposed in Pakistan: Harbinger of Change or More of the Same?
The people in the streets would determine if this is more of the same or harbinger of real changes
- Taking a Flight
Everything comes to a standstill and I lose sense of time.
- Pakistan Arrive For India Cricket Series
The edge has gone out of the contest, because it happens so often.
- The Art of Procrastination
I not only postpone things but I also forget about them in totality.
- Movie Review: Jab We Met
Breaking the stale marriage between romance and tradition,yielding to the uninhibited friendship at the core of every lasting love affair.
- Macaulay's Legacy - Desi Racism
"We Indians love labels, don’t we? And I don’t mean Guccis and Pradas. I mean labels for people."
- An Unfailing Affair
The beauty of the river Ganga.
- Turkish Writer, Selin Tamtekin, Faces Criticism For Writing Diplomat's Daughter
Splashed on the front pages of at least four national newspapers, she was derided as a “high-class Mayfair prostitute”
- India's Stake in Pakistan's Return to Democracy
Pakistan's checkered history is that of a failed democratic state.
- Those Who Do, Blog
A vast majority of blogs, however, gets to be known mostly through the links in other blogs and the good old word-of-mouth communication.
- A Roof Above their Heads
There were the days of Judges like V.K.Krishna Iyer, when the Court was pro- poor and sensitive to their needs.
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Saawariya
Why do I have this serious apprehension that all of that is going to get lost between sets, songs and Ranbir's bottom.
- The Writer Speaks: Sachin Bhaumick on Hrishikesh Mukherjee, The Incomparable Babu Moshai
Sachin Bhaumick says Hrishi da never catered to formula films.
- Christian Terrorism in India
The Indian Government is quite happy to keep the terrorist low level pot boiling and keep it far away from the public eye.
- Microsoft Launches Xbox LIVE in India.
With online play, downloads and video chat, LIVE greatly enhances the Xbox experience for just about any kind of gamer.
- San Diego Fires, Chinese Smog and Desi Dung Patties
This was another contributor to global warming, and yes, an inconvenient truth.
- ICICI Bank Penalized For Violence By Collection Agents
ICIC bank penalized for employing thugs for repossession of a vehicle.
- Are Women Leaders Any Different?
If women bring more sensitivity to human needs then we ought to be having more women in leadership.
- Satire: You Can't Touch Me There!
That is the voice of the no-nonsense woman and when you hear that, you’ve got to run for cover!
- Qurratulain Hyder - End of an Era
Her death was not a run of the mill death of an old writer, but the death of a grand vision of a civilisation.
- Movie Review: Bhumika: The Role
From one of the best storytellers in Hindi Cinema, Shyam Benegal, this movie which was released exactly 30 years ago is a must-see.
- Women's mE-Powerment
Empowerment is "me-powerment" in disguise.
- Bangalore's Traffic Problem - Traffic Curbs or Autonomy?
Car rationing and vehicle ownership through auction may have worked wonders for Singapore.It works only in Singapore, though.
- The New Indian System of Nomenclature
If something sounds too Indian and phonetically longer than two syllables, you should convert it into the most convenient monosyllable.
- Fiction: An Experiment
Occasionally someone goes to try and persuade the man not to jump. He repeats his phrase, his wish, his despair-laden desire, resolute and unconvinced.
- The Joys Of Trekking
The mountains veiled in clouds, look so tempting; how can one sit at the foot of the hill?
- A Busy Week in Indian Cricket
More of the same about Cricket
- How Official is your Jargon?
I often wondered why that word is still doing the rounds like a beautiful, young teenager at a prom dance.
- Book Review: Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson
He claims he will do anything as long as it is fun to do so, and he seems to be living that way.
- The Monogamous Male?
Monogamy is a process of selective loss of virginity reducing the target demographic to exactly one person on a sustained basis.
- Movie Review: Saawariya
A simple story gets completely lost amid SLB's trademark larger-than-life scale and visual opulence that has no place in a tale like this.
- Recruitment Discrimination in India
I think the lesson for all of us is to get rid of prejudices and instead rely on facts of the case during recruitment.
- Ananda Coomaraswamy on Indian Education
The most visible wound of this is that we have to read our own literature in a foreign language.
- Who Is Your Daddy?
At this moment, there are few countries capable of intervening in situations which are either morally driven or large in magnitude.
- Harsh Mankad Returns and Ashutosh Singh Proves His Mettle
Mankad returns to tennis action after a year off due to knee injuries while Singh battles all the way to at an ITF event in
- That Suicidal Fart! - Dark Humor with Vanilla
And they agreed and offered me more drinks and I was all politeness as I declined.
- Movie Review: Bazaar(1982) and the Ghazal of Meer
In spite of a great star cast, this movie belongs to a category where music is the only high point.
- India Pakistan Third ODI at Kanpur: Batsmen Fashion Another Victory
Can questions be asked of our bowling coach? ODI pace bowling output has in fact declined during Venkatesh Prasad's tenure.
- Dying Bangalore
Bangalore is choking itself to death and there’s no help coming.
- The Ghost of National Security
The fact that the government put power politics before the welfare of the people is a sad thing.
- The Art of Sleeping
Drawing inspiration from the dark-ages, I muscled my way into the history of mankind.
- Poetry: ghazalesque
poor temporal's senseless ramblings and how / ghareeb temporal ki baataiN aisi kaisi
- In The Name of The Lord - Whose Lord?
Who's to say whose God is the best? And more to the point, why should it matter?
- Fiction: Red Tide Rising
One man's poison is another's medicine
- The Best Way to Stop Terror
Can we be smarter with identity politics to obviate terrorism before it starts?
- Movie Review: Om Shanti Om – Bandal To The Very End
Om Shanti Om is a full on bandal film to the last frame barring the very few exceptions.
- Gujarat - Punish the Guilty
Any one who disrupts the peace of the nation must be tried as a criminal without giving him a religious shade.
- Pakistan : Breaking The Cycle
The US Foreign policy is toying with the idea of supporting the Pakistani people as opposed to the Pakistani Government
- When Are Dead Bodies Sacrosanct?
If you do not like the display of bodies after death, can you use the bodies after death?
- Bollywood beats Hollywood - Om Shanti Om, Saawariya vs. Lions for Lambs
One swallow does not make a summer.
- Growing Lighter Through Reducing Clutter
Shedding weight easily! Easier than dealing with your body is to shed the extra weight from your house.
- Cricket Selectors - Muppets Headed by a Joker?
There seems to be a default view that the selectors are stupid and/or dishonest.
- Book Review: The Prithviwallahs by Shashi Kapoor, Deepa Gahlot
The first generation dreamed about the theatre, the second one gave a shape to the dream and the third gave it the wings.
- Fiction: The Hitman and The Girl
Actually, I spent more time taking care of her booty than my guns.
- White Water Rafting: What A Rush!
Freezing cold water and I am clad in a neoprene suit, about to go rafting. I am seriously nuts!
- My Experiments with Language: Three Sketches
A competent English teacher imposed on a 12-year old Malaprop helps lay the foundation for a well-grammar-ed future!
- Having a Whale of a Time in Wales!
The gang in the Volkswagen Golf got a free picture taken by the speed camera.
- Movie Review: Saawariya
A director’s endeavour to project on the screen what he sees in his mind’s eye when he reads a beautiful story-not all the way, unfortunately.
- Man Marries a Dog
Man Maries Dog - It is more of a union of two lives to take care of each other.
- Why I Am Upset With the Indian Media
Why I believe the Indian Media does not 'bite'?
- India and West Bengal - Changing Times
Let us all have the courage to protest against these power games.
- Fiction: If You Want To Persist
The hangar’s neck eclipsed honey’s mystique. Undying, eternal love swallowed by hangar’s neck.
- Philanthropists Wanted
As some one associated with the NGO sector, chasing funds is one of my responsibilities.
- Celebrity Endorsements - Genuine or Self Interest?
Without the presence of Page 3 personalities which media outlet would give any footage to non-profit organizations?
- Karnataka Chief Minister on Thanksgiving Rounds
Public perception of a close connect between spiritual leaders and the government is extra-constitutional.
- Thanks for the Miseries
Remember that old adage about being sad that you have no shoes until you saw someone who had no feet? Bullshit!
- Photo Essay: Locked in Seattle
A Seattle "locks and lakes" photo essay. But what's a lock?
- Movie Review: Om Shanti Om
While originality is not the film's strongest area, entertainment most definitely isAditi Nadkarni
REVIEW | Media: Films | Media: Films - Bollywood | Media: Film - Directors | Media: Film - Actors | Media: Music - Hindi | Media: Music - Ghazals | Media: Music - Fusion | Media: Music - Composers | Media: Music | Media: Television | Media: Theatre | Media: Radio | Culture: Desi | Culture: Films | Media: Video - Googlies: India-Pak Series, A Nervous Tendulkar and A Mis...Bah!
Tendulkar has missed six centuries in this year, after crossing the score of ninety. The jinx is in the drinks maybe.
- Will This Cyber Revolution Fly or Fizzle?
The media in Pakistan turned its guns on its benefactor. It spawned another cyber movement, this one led and aided by bloggers.
- Eighteen Years of Sachin Tendulkar
The youngster who faced up at Karachi on November 15, 1989 is today the greatest colossus of the One Day game.
- Interview: Rakhi Sawant, Entertainment Ki Rani (Part 1)
Meeting the lady in person was a wish – a wish which I knew would come true - how soon I couldn't possibly imagine.
- Why Apple Should Change Its Strategy Towards Java
Java makes a lot of sense for Apple and Sun, but will Apple do it?
- Movie Review : Children of Heaven
An Iranian movie portraying children as they are, innocent!
- Media Watch: The First Challenge For the Caretaker Government of Mian Mohammed Soomro
An independent fourth estate is the blood running in the vessels of the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive.
- Sashaying Through Champaign
Meal: 10 dollars. Drinks: 20 Dollars. Gas: 2.78 dollars. A full tank of gas to park the car: priceless.
- Movie Review: Om Shanti Om - A Time Pass Movie
OSO revolves around SRK and he successfully carries the movie on his shoulders till the very end.
- Spam Struck
"Would you like to add 8 inches or more to your penis?"Aditi Nadkarni
SATIRE | Media: Blogs | Media: Internet | Media: Journalism | Media: Magazines | Culture: Consumerism | Culture: City Life | Culture: Humor | Culture: Poetry | Culture: Satire | Culture: Society | Culture: Survey | Culture: The Writing Life | Media: Films - Erotica | Culture: Personal History | Culture: Men | Culture: Relationships - Cleanliness in Mumbai
We know that in addition to self-discipline, some amount of enforcement is also required.
- US Immigration - Making it Difficult For Legal Immigrants
If you had an ounce of common sense, what would you do?
- Satire: I'm Up For Sale on The Dowry Market
I didn't understand the economics behind the 2-3 crores coming in for the Skirts and the American accent.
- Book Review: Learning ASP.NET with AJAX
Know nothing about ASP.NET? Looking to get busy with it? This is a really good book to start with.
- Book Review: A Military Guide to Terrorism...
USA’s counter terrorism effort in the Global War against Terror is frankly creating more terrorists than it is stopping.
- The Perils of Unsafe Driving
I was flabbergasted to say the least, and the road was crowded enough that I could not do anything about it.
- India-Pakistan Encounters – Tale Of Diminishing Zeal?
There has been a lot of talk about how cricketing rivalry between the two arch-rivals has lost fervor.
- The Cyber Rebirth of Pak Tea House
The basic and fundamental postulate of the Progressive Writers Movement is the unity of art, use and beauty.
- Five Years at Work
A rumination on completing five years of my work-life at the same company where it all began.
- State Sponsored Violence in India and This Time it's the Left
A pox on both their houses, whether Gujarat or West Bengal!
- Movie Review: The Peaceful Warrior
It convinces without persuasion.
- The New Updated "Spamming 101" - Part I
Here's your look into the new, updated "How to Spam: Spamming for Beginners" course.
- Oil Spill in the Bay
We have begun to play "Pin the Tail" and trying to decide who should be blamed for the incident
- City of San Jose's Neighborhood Clean-up
Illegal dumping in city creeks are forcing cities such as San Jose to consider a pro-active approach
- This Site Is Not Yet Rated
Today I am fighting tooth and nail to keep my personal site going.
- Minorities and Poverty
Public policy should not be driven by blunt instruments such as skin colour.
- Contemporary Tamil Culture and Male Chauvinism
Globalisation has definitely caused a shift to occur in the mindsets of young Tamilians regarding female sexual behaviour.
- Next-Generation Networks - Where's the Vision?
If this is the future of one part of business, then what is the future of financial institutions, network providers,etc.?
- Political Nataka In Karnataka
A political turmoil brings out the worst and the meanest in the lead players.
- Crush--ed
The heavy scent of lilacs of the valley wrested control of my smelling senses and left me in a stupor.
- Anand Jon Alexander Indicted In New York
Anand Jon Alexander faces 40 indictment charges in New York
- Chess At Dupont Circle: Circles of Life
Chess is black and white / life is all gray / living red
- Interview : Entertainment Ki Rani, Rakhi Sawant (Part 2)
You actually have to watch her in person in order to experience the Rakhi Sawant dhamaka.
- UK Taxmen Lose Private Records: What's It Going To Cost?
What a bunch of imbeciles! Who are these idiots who run the government?
- India vs Pakistan - First Test: A Low Key Test Series on the Cards
Pakistan face an uphill struggle at the moment.
- Violence in Kolkata - The Battle For Bengal
Hardly any condemnation emanates from the mainstream media, liberals, intellectuals, or keepers of the society’s communal conscience.Sandeep
OPINION | Culture: Desi | Culture: Essay | Culture: History | Culture: Religion | Culture: Social Issues | Culture: Society | Media: Blogs | Media: News | Media: Newspapers | Media: Television | Politics: Asia | Politics: Censorship | Politics: Corruption | Politics: Elections | Politics: Freedom | Politics: Governance | Politics: India | Politics: Laws | Politics: Peace | Politics: Religion | Politics: South Asia - Is It Time to Review Bilingualism in Canada
How many Canadians can speak their mother tongue, forget read and write?
- Taslima Nasreen Leaves Kolkata: A Giant Defeat for Secularism
The biggest tragedy in this situation is that this country's moderate Muslims and Hindus remain silent - again.
- Tech Review: HP's Halo Video Conferencing
Even if I can replace 20% of that wastage, then I have gained 1 full working day in the office
- Is Omar Khadr A Child Soldier Or A Peace Lover?
Is he still a terrorist at heart or has he transformed to be a peace lover?
- Consumer Court Grants Protection to Company Fixed Deposit Holders
The company cannot claim to be sick and take the investors' money.
- The Most Viewed Pages on Wikipedia
At 69, Pornography comes ahead of George W. Bush at 70 who is ahead of The Beatles (71).
- Freedom, Taslima Nasreen, and the Ordinary Bangladeshi
Taslima's writing is at best mediocre but her spirit is that of a warrior
- Magazine Review: Almost Island - The Concept of the New
If you ever find yourself having this conversation, nod, smile and seek help. Then perhaps write about it in your sad, self-contained, readerless blog.
- What is Thanksgiving?
Each one of us can become a voice to others to encourage whatever talent we may have.
- India vs Pakistan - First Test: Day 2
Thanks to VVS and Dhoni, this is still India's Test match to win or lose.
- Poetry: Say NO to Thanksgiving!
One Turkey's Call.
- How Can We Resolve The Middle East Crisis?
No geographical dispute can be resolved through armed struggle and over five decades of conflict has left a generation living and running in fear.
- Bangalore Media: When Hard News Is Difficult To Come By
Surely, no government can generate ‘policy’ stories for the media on a daily basis.
- The Annapolis Peace Conference - Peace at Last?
Mother Teresa said, "If you want peace, go talk with your enemies, you don't make peace with your friends."
- Some More Thoughts on Immigration
If you do not have a points-based system, on what other basis would you let them in?
- India vs Pakistan - First Test: Day 3
The first session of day 4 will be crucial. The winner of that session will win the Test match.
- The New Updated "Spamming 101" - Part II
This is the part which will earn you money, and unlike mails from part I, often ends in "Spam" folder.
- Movie Review: Schindler's List (1993)
An incredible movie about despair, horror and great humanity
- Learning From Mistakes
Why doesn't the Pakistani Army learn from its mistakes?
- India-Pakistan Delhi Test - Day 4: Accidents & Averted Disasters
As we saw on the morning of Day 4, however, strange things are possible.
- The Indo-US Nuclear Deal: To Be or Not To Be?
Both sides of the Indian government and the nation's scientists have reservations regarding the conditions attached to this proposal,
- The Un-domestic Goddess?
So, who was she? A writer, a feminist, a domestic goddess, a careerperson?
- Christmas Beyond the Manger
The anti conversion laws have been termed anti constitutional by NCM as it violates the fundamental rights provided by Indian Constitution.
- Get Real, Arshad Warsi; This Isn’t Reality TV
Most people ignore it as public nuisance. Some hoot back at the racists, if it makes them feel any better.
- Delhi Test Match Review
It was in the end, a matter of the side which made fewer mistakes winning.
- Pakistan's Economic Monster – The Tarbela Dam
Pakistan has placed a lot of its eggs in one basket.
- The Orkut Chronicles - Part I
Ever got a scrap which said, "I want to make friendship with you"?
- The Non-BJP politicians and Taslima Nasreen
Stuck in a bad position between vote-banks and principles
- Shah Rukh Khan Marketing Strategies
As they say in Bollywood – “There is no such thing as bad publicity”.
- Empowering Those With Disabilities
Disabled persons do not need sympathy and all that they need is opportunities to actualize their full potentials.
- Taslima Nasrin, The Outcast
Quite fortunately, the secular Muslims in India have also condemned the outright idiocy of the Muslim extremists.
- Sein Myint : The Man with No Name
The question of identity is always an important one but perhaps more in the case of people who are stateless.
- The Right(Riot) to Write
I can understand protesting things with which you don't agree. But violence? Threats?
- Are Indians Still Indentured in Malaysia
As in almost all of its ex-colonies, the British created a mess when they left Malaysia in 1957.Sandeep
NEWS | Culture: Desi | Culture: Essay | Culture: History | Culture: Religion | Culture: Social Issues | Culture: Society | Media: Blogs | Media: Internet | Media: Journalism | Media: News | Politics: Asia | Politics: Censorship | Politics: Corruption | Politics: Freedom | Politics: Governance | Politics: India | Politics: Laws | Politics: Religion | Politics: South Asia | Politics: World - India to Canada: Bring Dollars Not Guns
Turning a blind eye to violent movement for political gains is against the fundamental values of Canada.
- What Should be Done With Taslima Nasrin?
When it comes to intolerance the people who understand their religion the least have the loudest voices.
- Coach Kirsten - Not Yet A Done Deal?
If they can do all this so well, why can't they get the part about conveying their message clearly right?
- Akshardham and Sonu Niigaam Symbolize Unity in Diversity
You walk in and very soon you start feeling the vibrations, and a sense of peace just embraces you.
- A Crater in My Mouth
The day is registered in my life as one of pain and remembrance.
- Islamic Lynch Mob Hounds Taslima Nasrin: In the Footsteps of the Prophet
Islam's terror against intellectuals critical of Islam was initiated by Prophet Muhammad.
- The Orkut Chronicles II
There are no more geeks left in this world, nor are there any regular, homely women
- Movie Review: Om Shanti Om - Not Quite Funny
They are the dawgs of globalization whereas Shah Rukh belongs in the 90’s discotheque Cindy Lauper generation.
- The Neglect of India's North-Eastern States
Aren’t principles of civil society, rule of law and intellectual thinking applicable to these states?
- The Return of the Roommates
When God was making human beings, he made two kinds — one whom you would call your friends and the other roommates.
- Guwahati Adivasi Tribal Violence - Where Are The Women of Action?
This barbaric incident needs to be condemned by the whole of India.
- Does Match-Fixing Still Plague Sub-Continental Cricket?