Newsroom!

People I ‘love’…

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:52:00 +0000

I greatly ‘admire’ people who are incredibly pigheaded and stupid, tremendously insecure, highly incompetent and easily provoked. People who have a dastardly, pessimistic attitude and announce their problems to the whole world over Facebook or Gtalk or email or whatever, because they do not have the guts to stand up and talk. :p There are quite a few of you out there. Thank you so much… you bring out the very best in me. :-D

California Dreamin...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:33:00 +0000

All the leaves are brown,
All the leaves are brown.
And the sky is grey,
And the sky is grey.
I've been for a walk,
I've been for a walk.
On a winter's day,
On a winter's day.
I'd be safe and warm,
I'd be safe and warm...
If I was in LA
If I was in LA.
California dreamin...
California dreamin...
On such a winter's day

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way.
Well, I got down on my knees,
Got down on my knees.
And I pretend to pray,
I pretend to pray.
You know the preacher likes the cold,
Preacher likes the cold.
He knows I'm gonna stay,
Knows I'm gonna stay.
California dreamin...
California dreamin...
On such a winter's day.

All the leaves are brown,
All the leaves are brown.
And the sky is grey,
And the sky is grey.
I've been for a walk,
I've been for a walk.
On a winter's day,
On a winters day.
If I didn't tell her,
If I didnt tell her.
I could leave today,
I could leave today.
California dreamin...
California dreamin...

Apolitical Intellectuals ~ Comrade Otto Rene Castillo

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:27:00 +0000

One day
the apolitical
intellectuals
of my country
will be interrogated
by the simplest
of our people.

They will be asked
what they did
when their nation died out
slowly,
like a sweet fire
small and alone.

No one will ask them
about their dress,
their long siestas
after lunch,
no one will want to know
about their sterile combats
with "the idea
of the nothing"
no one will care about
their higher financial learning.

They won't be questioned
on Greek mythology,
or regarding their self-disgust
when someone within them
begins to die
the coward's death.

They'll be asked nothing
about their absurd
justifications,
born in the shadow
of the total lie.

On that day
the simple men will come.

Those who had no place
in the books and poems
of the apolitical intellectuals,
but daily delivered
their bread and milk,
their tortillas and eggs,
those who drove their cars,
who cared for their dogs and gardens
and worked for them,
and they'll ask:

"What did you do when the poor
suffered, when tenderness
and life
burned out of them?"

Apolitical intellectuals
of my sweet country,
you will not be able to answer.

A vulture of silence
will eat your gut.

Your own misery
will pick at your soul.
And you will be mute in your shame.

Viduthalai...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Hello there. It’s been a while since I posted anything. Hmm… The past few months have been very liberating. For most of 2008, I had been living a rather stressed out life… surrounded by people who had an almost toxic effect on me… weighed down and suffocated by their expectations, scrutiny and even ‘diktats’ (Ha!)… Being provoked… losing my cool, making rash, harsh remarks (at times, without adequate reason) and generally, unable to do justice to myself and calmly comprehend and prioritise the things that happened and those that really matter. A lot of my time was wasted. Like Batman tells Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight, “He (The Joker) wanted to prove that even someone as good as me could fall.” Nobody intentionally played The Joker in my case, but fall I did. When you’re pushed to the brink, driven to your wits’ end, not given an inch, confronted by pitiless attitude, it’s very hard not to go down. If I had gone on that way for a moment longer, unable to break my fall, unable to break free, get rid of the shackles, the rest of my life would have been a living hell. I’m thankful to the Almighty for showing me the way in the nick of time and saving me from what certainly would have been the gravest mistake I could have made. Whew!

PS: Dear God, perhaps you could have guided me in this regard a little earlier. : D

2009...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Okay, so I am among the lucky ones who actually survived 2008 without much ado. Still, it was a forgettable year for several reasons, so good riddance. Not that there are many things to look forward to this year, but at least it may just present a clearer picture of where we are headed. Of course, with the economic slowdown, it’s best not to expect too much on the career front — lying low and working hard is obviously the safest option. Acquiring new skills and getting that postgraduate degree might help. In fact, there is no better time than now. So, folks, count your blessings. Be patient. Be good. Hang in there. And keep the faith.

Happy 2009...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:48:00 +0000

Happy New Year to all. Cheers. : )

'If' by Rudyard Kipling

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:34:00 +0000

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,'
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

‘Invictus' by William Earnest Henley

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be,
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have winced but not cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance,
My head is bloodied but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade.
And yet the menace of the years,
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

Do not stand at my grave and weep...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:06:00 +0000

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow...
I am the diamond glints on snow...
I am the sunlight on ripened grain...
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight...
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—I am not there... I did not die...

Unspoken words...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:55:00 +0000

I've read somewhere that one is the master of the unspoken words. The spoken words become your master and your are their slave.

Death be not proud by John Donne

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:17:00 +0000

"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die."

Happy Diwali...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:28:00 +0000

and all that. I've been crazily busy at work and otherwise. Found time to watch a few movies, though. Most of them bad. A Wednesday was good stuff, though. And the promos of Fashion look great. Will probably watch it this week. I can't understand why my employer has declared a 'closed holiday' on Wednesday, when Diwali will (almost) be over and done with. Until next year, of course. Oh well. As long as it's not made a dry day. Jai Maharashtra!

Batla house...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:16:00 +0000

Thehoot.org has posted extracts from a report by the Delhi Union of Journalists on how the Batla House police operation was covered by the Indian media.

"Mr Mammootty? I'm Tony Kurishinkal...Tony Kurishinkal."

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:55:00 +0000

This report brings back memories of the scenes in No.20 Madras Mail and what may have happened if it was real life and not a movie. Heh.

The BCCI...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:14:00 +0000

Has launched its official website, http://www.bcci.tv/. Anyone interested?

Cheeka...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:19:00 +0000

Alias Krishnamachari Srikkanth is the new Chairman of the National Senior Cricket Selection Committee, while Shashank Manohar has taken over as the BCCI chief. Hmm. It's high time Srikkanth shed his 'TV cricket expert' tag (which he seemed uneasy with) and this is a good opportunity for him. And here is an article on Chappell and his new role. DNA recently carried photographs of him captioned 'In India colours' and 'In Australia colours.' Heh. As if that paper didn't have enough laughable content already.

The weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:54:00 +0000

Is finally here. I'm sick of having things to do all the time, so have decided to take it easy and chill. Will be watching A Wednesday tonight.

Morons...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:55:00 +0000

Why is it that almost all the suited and booted people who work for airlines and roam around airports are absolute morons? I mean, you ask them what day of the week it is and they wouldn't know. Even if they did, they wouldn't tell you coz they simple aren't sure. And don't want to take reponsibility for anything at all. Bah!

Varnachitram...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:08:00 +0000

And for those who are interested in Malayalam cinema, I came across this blog (quite late, I guess!). Good stuff.

Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Hmm...so I've been super busy and haven't been able to post over the past few days. Found time to watch Rock on, though, and liked it immensely. Looking forward to watching A Wednesday this weekend. And do read this piece on our venerable Home Minister by Aditya Sinha, the EIC of The New Indian Express, which is looking good in its new avatar.

PS: I'm suddenly spending more time on Facebook, but only because Orkut is blocked in office. Uh, I think. Heh.

And back...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:01:00 +0000

To office. It has been a long vacation, and a refreshing one. Oh, I'm gonna get Saturdays and Sundays off, starting this week. : )

Home...

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:56:00 +0000

Feels great to be home after a long while. However, I ain't feeling too good health-wise, so taking it easy and recuperating. Gonna watch Children Of Men soon. Was highly recommended.

Three kings!

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:32:00 +0000

So, India's Beijing Olympics medal count has gone up to three! Kudos to wrestler Sushil Kumar (bronze) and middleweight boxer Vijender Singh, who has ensured a podium finish.
PS: NDTV should take off this report from its website. NOW.
PS2: CNN-IBN called Sushil Kumar a 'boxer', complete with a tag-line, 'Packing a punch'
on its early web reports. Heh.
PS3: Indian sports writers never had it so good, eh. I'm waiting to read what Nirmal Shekar has to say.

The worst headline ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:38:00 +0000

It's all over for Michael Phelps

I demand that the entire sports desk of the newspaper which carried this headline (in yesterday's edition, and never mind what the strap line was!) be arrested.

Cricketer 'writers'

noreply@blogger.com (Raj Menon) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:23:00 +0000

Christian Ryan on cricketer-turned-writers. Michael Atherton writes in the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2008:

"You might worry about Adam Gilchrist, say, butchering an attack and smashing a bowler to smithereens," notes Atherton, "but Lara made captains, and bowlers, look silly. If you knew you were going to die, you'd prefer a single bludgeoning blow to the head, or a quick bullet to the brain, rather than death by a thousand ever-so-precise cuts."

Nice, eh? Care for a counter-view? I remember reading Ted Corbett in Sportstar:

"He has shown that all over again in what you might call a net for his big trial at The Times. He has commentated and written every Saturday in a Sunday newspaper. His TV work does not appear to have suffered — indeed he has now improved to a standard which makes him about the best in the country. His articles of perhaps 2,000 words each Sunday show the same reliability, the same insight and the same level-headed choice of words you might expect from his performances as a — mainly losing — Test captain."

Read the full article here.