W.

One more trailer. That of W., Oliver Stone's biopic of George W Bush.

Here we go...

Busy day coming up tomorrow, but the weekend is almost here as well. Anybody have an opinion on The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor? I don't feel like taking an effort to watch it. Oh, and here is the trailer of Bond-22, Quantum of Solace. Looks good, eh.

Mild earthquake jolts Maharashtra

PUNE: Mild tremors were felt in various parts of Maharashtra, including Pune, at 00:41 hours on Wednesday. According to Met department officials, the quake, measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale, had its epicentre around 127 km from Pune in Satara region. The duration of the tremors was 15 seconds, officials said. Tremors were also felt across Mumbai. No casualties or damages were reported at the time of going to press. - ENS

The contender...

Okay, so you've heard this one before. But Google has a (potential) rival. Cuil. (pronounced 'cool') Check it out!

According to sources...

According to sources, one of India's most reputed Editors/journalists, who just recently floated a publication (magazine), has been approached by a certain (new) English news channel with an offer to be their Newsroom Chief.

PS: Nah. I personally don't think this is going to happen. He's got too much at stake.

Power shift...

As you may have heard, HT has two new people at the helm. Sanjoy Narayan, Editor of BT, is taking over as Editor-in-Chief while Samar Halarnkar is the new Managing Editor. Hopefully, they'll be able to sort out one or two 'affairs' that have been bothering the organisation of late. Heh.

Brilliant stuff...

People, The Dark Knight is absolutely brilliant. Go watch it. Enough said. And yeah, I liked Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na also. Smart, witty, flick.

'Protecting editors'

Hey, check this out. B G Verghese's report to the Editors' Guild.

Wassup?

Sorry, I've been a little under the weather so haven't been able to post as frequently as I'd like to. Hmm... Serials blasts again... tsk.
Oh btw, what's going on at ST? Heated arguments and resignations, that's what.

Chances are...

Chances are we're gonna leave now
Sorry for the victim now
Though my days are filled with sorrow
I see years of pride tommorrow

Chances, chances are some might not hold out
Chances are, hang on right now
Though-oh-oh-oh my-my days are filled with sorrow
I see years of pride tommorrow

Chances, chances are some might not hold out
Chances are, hang on right now
Chances are, oh chances, you're my chances
Chances are, hang on right now

Chances are, hang on right now

Deal with loneliness, I'll take some tear drops
Chances are we'll have to win
Chances are, hang on right now
Chances are, chances are...

Bob Marley and The Wailers

A Dream Deferred...

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? - A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

Redemption and all that...

Religion and I are very far removed from each other, so I have no intention of converting myself or anybody. Heh. But this blogpost is worth a read.

Ali vs. Frazier...

Muhammad Ali, speaking to a newspaper reporter, apologised to Joe Frazier for insulting him and calling him names (Gorilla, Uncle Tom...long list, that) in their fighting days. When Frazier was told of this, he said, "He apologised to the paper, not to me. I'm still waiting." Ali's response: "If you meet Joe Frazier, tell him he's still a gorilla."

Poor dastards...

Dictionary:

dastard

(dăs'tərd)

A sneaking, malicious coward.

[Middle English, probably alteration of Old Norse dæstr, exhausted, from past participle of dæsa, to languish, decay.]

I know several of the kind. Slow, amateurish dastards who like to think they're damn smart, but are actually incompetent bunglers who don't have a clue what's going on around them. Till the shit hits the fan. And we'll just leave it at that, alright? : D

Lots of work...

The day went far better than I expected. Had lots of work but it was good fun, too. And the weekend is already here.

If I am not for myself...

If I am not for myself, who will be? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? - Hillel the Elder

Errands...

Busy day coming up tomorrow. I may even have to wake up slightly early coz I've got some errands to run. Shudder. Anyway, check out this write-up on why Al Jazeera English is not available in India.

Hmm...

Ho hum. Boring days are here again. However, I'm looking forward to watching RGV's Contract this weekend. I hope he doesn't go overboard.

How time flies...

It's Sunday already. How time flies.

The King "will be back next year."

People have been asking why I haven’t written about India losing the Asia Cup to Sri Lanka and Fedex losing to Nadal. Well, it is because I haven’t quite recovered from Federer’s loss. I was hoping Fedex would whup Nadal, but nothing could have prepared us for what transpired on the Centre Court that day. One newspaper carried a headline that added insult to injury: The King is dead. Long live the King.

PS: Does anyone care that India lost?

Left wondering no more...

It's finally happened. The Left has pulled out before... well, they've pulled out. Interesting days are ahead, eh.

The government’s conduct disgraceful, a shame for the entire nation: Arun Bhatia

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
JULY 6

REFERRING to the poor attendance at the funeral of Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, who passed away on June 27 at the age of 94, Arun Bhatia, former municipal commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said the manner in which the government behaved was ‘disgraceful’ and a shame for the entire nation.

“Is this how those in power show respect to a Field Marshal, a devoted soldier who served the country faithfully all his life… by not bothering to turn up at his funeral? He has done so much for the nation and we, the people, demand an apology from the government for this shameful conduct,” he told a gathering organised jointly organised by him, retired Armed Forces personnel and citizens, as a mark of respect to the late Field Marshal Manekshaw.

Punekars turned up in large numbers to pay homage to Sam ‘Bahadur’ Manekshaw, one of India’s greatest military heroes. It may be recalled that President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony and the three Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, among others, were conspicuous by their absence at Field Marshal Manekshaw’s funeral at Wellington, Tamil Nadu.

Reiterating the view that the Field Marshal did not get the honour he deserved, Brig (Retd), A K Sahukar, said, “It was unfortunate that those in the government did not feel it necessary to attend the Field Marshal’s funeral and pay their last respects to an unparalleled military leader.”

However, Lt Gen Nanavatty (Retd), former Colonel, 8th Gorkha Rifles, and former Army Commander, Northern Command, pointed out that the military ceremony at the funeral was carried out in a ‘befitting manner.’ “The Army can proudly say that Field Marshal Manekshaw was given the respect he totally deserved, irrespective of who attended and who did not,” Nanavatty said.

Discussing the Field Marshal’s illustrious military career, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) and former Chief of Air Staff, H Moolgavkar, said Sam Manekshaw was an outstanding, spirited soldier who led from the front to give India one of its greatest military victories in the war against Pakistan in 1971, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.

Lt Gen (Retd) Ashok Joshi summed up by saying, “Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was a man of great credibility who accomplished several things each one of us aspire to, but never achieved.”

Homage paid to Sam Manekshaw

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
JULY 5

THE late Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was one of India’s greatest military leaders and touched many lives during his illustrious career, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, said here on Saturday.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a memorial service organised by the Southern Command, during which several retired and serving Army officers paid glowing tributes to Field Marshal Manekshaw, who passed away on June 27, at the age of 94. “Field Marshal Manekshaw was a peace-loving man who did not expect too much from anybody, be it the government or his colleagues. He was at ease with all his fellow officers, including those much junior to him. In fact, several of those who served under him felt as though they were ‘one to one’ with him,” Thamburaj said. “He lived a full, vigourous life and we can safely say that he got the best possible treatment in his last days,” he added.

Maj Gen S K Singh, Colonel of the 8th Gorkha Rifles, Manekshaw’s former regiment, said the Field Marshal’s last rites were conducted in a manner befitting his stature. “He was the first Colonel of the 8th Gorkha Rifles, a position he held from 1953-73. He was a perpetual optimist and was always positive, even if his health did not allow him to be.” Drawing attention to the Field Marshal’s distinguished military career, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) and former Chief of Air Staff, H Moolgavkar, said Sam Manekshaw earned the trust of all those who associated with him, including that of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “Field Marshal Manekshaw was a great personality who crafted one of India’s greatest military victories in the war against Pakistan in 1971,” Moolgavkar said.

Reiterating this viewpoint, Lt Gen H M Khanna, (Retd), former Colonel, 8th Gorkha Rifles, and former Army Commander, Northern and Southern Commands, said Field Marshal Manekshaw carved a niche for himself in the history of the sub-continent following the ‘total victory’ in the ’71 war, which resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh. “Though always firm and tactful, Sam ‘Bahadur’ Manekshaw was a charming, loyal, magnanimous man who held no malice against anybody, including his critics,” Khanna said.

The audience was treated to audio-visual clips with fascinating anecdotes from the life of Field Marshal Manekshaw. Lt Gen Nanavatty (Retd), former Colonel, 8th Gorkha Rifles, and former Army Commander, Northern Command, pointed out that Field Marshal Manekshaw encouraged and inspired many young officers. “His life has left a message for all of us: Live your professional lives with courage, dignity and forthrightness,” Nanavatty said.

Forced insomnia…

A lot of people, including some good friends, think the solution to whatever difficulties and inconveniences I may face in my day-to-day routine is simple: All I have to do is sleep less. Meaning, I have to be up and about from (at least) 6 am onwards (after getting home from work at 2 am), leave the house in a jiffy, stand in long queues at banks, departmental stores and the like, smile and be patient with arrogant, incompetent bunglers who say “Can I help you?” while sounding like that’s the last thing they want to do, go without breakfast and/or lunch (dinnertime is 1 am, by the way) before turning up for work, which is always fun but never undemanding.

That’s life, you might say, while nodding your heads wisely. Well, I have an important message for them, i.e. whomsoever it may concern: Buzz off. See you after I wake up. Maybe.

Atlas Shrugged...

"Madame, when we'll see men dying of starvation around us, your heart won't be of any earthly use to save them. And I'm heartless enough to say that when you'll scream, but I didn't know it, you will not be forgiven." From Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Spain rule Europe!

So Spain won. I'm a Ballack fan, but the Spaniards were the best team in the tournament. Watched the game after a party thrown by a political type at a place misleadingly named the Ladies' Club. Ha. Also, a certain brand of beer, recently launched in my city, isn't as great as they make it out to be. Give me my KF Strong anyday.