The Hammer MAN !!

I just wonder how a psycho can easily loiter around mumbai with a hammer, that too in the afternoon. And why dont people question someone when they see strangers just wandering around their buildings? Are mumbaikars just pathetic and lazy towards security and is this the reason why mumbai is targeted always by antisocials, terrorists, extortionists etc...

I tend to ask any tom, dick and harry that enters my building and insist that the security guards enquire too, whether they take offense or not, and if any member of the building later takes offense in case they are guests, to hell with them...

Big Daddy...

Ms.Minal Ghorpade is a dagdi chawl resident! She refers to Arun Gawli as Uncle..
So what the heck...How does it matter to her colleagues? Why and What are they scared of?

Trust some to make a mountain out of a molehill...and the media overplays it too..

Munnabhai, Bapu...aur Circuit...1

After returning to India, I saw that the word gandhigiri has taken the country by storm. Yet, Gandhigiri does not work, media proclaims along with articles...

A short skit and many more to come....
=================================================================

Munna: Arre Bapu kidhar ho?

Bapu: Abe o bapu kisko bolta hai? Bhai bol Bhai...gandhibhai...

Munna: [surprised at the tone-murmurs to himself] Aaj bapu ka mood thik nahi...

Bapu: Kya bola re? Yeda ho gaya kya akela akela baat karta hai?

Munna: Nahi Bhai Nahi...kabhi kabhi apun bhi zara jor main sochta hai...to sabko awaaz aati hai...

Bapu: Kya namunaa hai yaar tu...

Munna: Bhai, yeh mumbaiya badi acchi bol lete ho...

Bapu: Tera paala jo pada hai - woh Raju ki wajah se...

Munna: Bapu - Sorry Sorry Bhai - Newspaper laya hu...

Bapu: Kya likha hai?

Munna: Do bhai log ka lafda raste pe aa gaya hai bapu - sorry gandhibhai..
Bapu: aur...

Munna: Bahut nukshan hua public ka - goverment ka...todphod main...Main ek kaam karta hu - dono bhai log ko milwane ka try karta hu...Gulab de ke...

Bapu: Ha Ha - Abe hatele - jab kisiki hat ti hai to teri sunege..? Aur yeh do bhai to ekdum hut ke hai samjha...koi nahi samjha sakta unko...ek baar soch liya to soch liya - Aur sun be mera naam galti se bhi lena nahi - unke ghar main mera sikka nahi chalta - tereko aur Phodege...Kya samja...Mera naam sunke to unke ghar ke bado ki bhi hut jaati hai...

Munna: par bhai mumbai main shanti to laani padegi na...

Bapu: Ek Kaamkar - Main Sawarkar ko hawala deta hu tereko help karne main aur mumbai main shanti laane main...Mera Mobile kidhar hai...
Chal ab kalti kha - weekend hai...Time to ENJOY...Samjha...

Munna: [ Wakes up - Sweating profusely ] ABE CIRCUIT - Jaldi aaaaa...

Circuit: Kya bhai - savere savere - Bapu mile kya....

Munna: Abe Bapu nahi - Gandhibhai bol saale - Aaj se pure desh ko nayi gandhigiri sikhani padegi - samjha...Bahut tension hai life main yaar....

Back to Business...

I am back after a month in Paris...and did not get time to blog!!

Than my laptop crashed....you know the works...

But will resume blogging now...

Mumbaikar's Response....

Got the following forward from a pal
====================================
By Meenal Dighe -

What is this spirit that everyone is talking about? The spirit of taking whatever is doled out, and going on with life? what kind of a life is this?

When people got news of the blasts, so many of the comments were "This had to happen one day." This is becoming a daily affair in India" "Mumbai is always a target" !!
It's as if Mumbaikars just expect all this to happen. There will be bomb blasts in Mumbai.....occasionally in trains, BEST buses or taxis.

The Immediate reaction is "Thank God I did not go by that train today" Thank God I am working late today" ".... my friend / relative / colleague travels by those trains" " Thank God I go by Central railway !" and so on ! Basically, just the whole concept of "Not ME!"

Then everyone flipped out their mobile phones and starting making calls to find out if their near and dear ones were safe. But found the landlines and mobile networks jammed !! Blaming and cursing the phone companies, they kept on dialing number after number. When all were traced, they tried to get home by different modes of transport. But most of them got caught up in traffic jams, and sat for hours in various vehicles blaming the authorities. Few knew that the jam was caused due to people who in their haste to get home safely, broke all traffic rules and drove their vehicles like cattle !!

It was just a few young men in few places who actually got out on the roads and helped the police to control and direct traffic. And a few middle class people who went out of their way to stand on the packed roads and give biscuits and water to the people walking long long distances to get home.

It was only the poor STD booth walas who let people call home for free, to give news that they were safe. It was only the poor people living in zhopadpattis next to the railway-lines who immediately ran to rescue the passengers of the affected trains. We all saw the dead and injured being carried away from the blast site in bedsheets. Where do you think these sheets came from? They came from the same zhopadpattis whose homes (encroachments) we are all desperate to see razed to the ground.
What did people like us do? We the educated, employed in top-notch companies, moneyed people with laptops, palms, bluetooth et all ? Those of us who were in other bogies of the affected trains or on the platform and were uninjured, quickly ran out of the station as soon as we understood the situation. We caught the first bus, rickshaw ,taxi and headed home. We used our cell phones to call our family that we are safe.

Those of us who were in office decided to stay put till the chaos settled down....even if it meant staying in office that night. We saw the news on every channel, and discussed with our colleagues about the uncertainty of life. Some blamed the Police, some the Government, some Pakistan and some became philosophical and blamed all of mankind and it's deteriorating quality. Everyone gave 'gyan' of some kind.

As it got late, we ordered food, or went to some nearby restaurant. We reached home late and hugged our parents, wife, kids and thanked God once more that we were not in those ill-fated trains. Sleep came, though little disturbed.
And the next morning we packed off our kids to school, picked up our laptops and left for office bright and early. The day went off in exchanging stories, some more complaining and blaming the authorities and immersing ourself in work.
Come weekend, and we will go see another movie, check out a new restaurant and waste money at another mall !

Some dutiful companies may ask their employees to stand and observe one-minute silence in respect for the dead. Most of us will stop watching the news as we can't bear to see those gory pictures again and again. One in thousand of us may have gone to donate blood.

By next week, all will be forgotten and 'life' will go on.

Yes life, as we call it, will go on. For us. Because we did not die in those trains, we did not lose anyone or any of our limbs.

We will carry on with our daily routines and weekend masti and consider the bomb blasts as just another problem that ails mumbai. Last week it was the rains that troubled us, then the Shiv Sena outrage and this week it is the blasts. Tomorrow it may be a plane crash (when we will blame the airport authority and municipality for not tackling encroachments), or a train accident, or a stampede at a music concert or a sports stadium. It's just a part of life now, we will say.

Yet how many of us will ask ourself, "what could I have done to help on that day?" What can I do, even today?" Will any of us sue any of the phone companies for blocking communication leading to immense stress and tension to our near and dear ones? Will any of us join a morcha against the Govt to protest against their incompeteny? Will any of us offer donation or medicines or jobs to those injured? Will any of us at least join a candle-lit prayer meeting in homage to the departed? How many of us will remember to look under our seats and generally be wary of suspicious bags when we travel in trains and buses?

How many of us will vote for the same Govt again?

For the Shiv Sena people, the statue of Mrs Thakarey was sacred. It's desecration was enough to make their blood boil. Burning buses and pelting shops with stones was wrong, but at least they were agitated by something.

When will the common man's blood boil? When we appeal to terrorists to not target common man, we use the word "innocents". Are we common people truly innocent? Are we not guily of quietly waiting indoors for things to calm down and then go home with bowed head, and go to office the next day as if nothing happened? Are we not guilty of electing this useless government and tolerating it’s incompetence for years? Are we not guilty of facing tragedy after tragedy with an attitude of “chalta-hai, it’s life!” What will it take for the common man to get up and stand for himself and demand his right from corrupt officials and money-hungry politicians? Last year the rains washed away just 100, and this year the blasts disintegrated just 200 !! How many will have to die, Mumbai, before you stand up and take notice?

Whether we deserve it or not, it is always the common man who suffers.
And what can we do about it? The next time there is any such incident, how many of us will ask ourself, “What can I do to help?” How many of us will be out on the roads, guiding traffic, giving water, rescuing people, donating blood, at least shedding tears !!

It’s time we shook off this “spirit of Mumbai” that is making us unfeeling robots, going to work everyday in inhuman conditions. It’s time we read the sad stories and really let our hearts bleed for those who were affected. And then it’s time we let our blood boil in anger against everyone responsible for this.
It’s time to take action now Mumbai ! Let that be our spirit !
Jai Hind ! Jai Maharashtra!

Mumbai Citizen's Voice...after the blasts.

Received the below from a pal =>
================================
What happened on Tuesday is a horrendous. And as usual Bombay, as it has always been, sprung up and was back in action the very next as if nothing great ever happened. If the explosion has managed to rip off the thick doors of the train's compartments, I can well imagine what the state of the passengers in that compartment could have been.

And to add to the already existing chaos, we have our mantris and babus flying into the city and telling us to what to do now, rather than zeroing on the culprits. They have mastered the art of passing the buck and playing the blame game.

This does nothing but creates a hurdle in rescue and relief operations.

The people of Bombay have taken such incidents for granted and have accepted these acts of terror as part of their lives.

I think it is high time that we the tax-payers and citizens of this country collectively boycott paying taxes.

If the finance minister can issue PAN cards and put in place a mechanism that can track and trace every financial transaction of the poor middle-class citizen and casting his tax net wider as time progresses thereby ensuring that more and more people are brought under his tax net every year, I am sure the government can as well issue PF cards and Social security cards to its citizens.

Life is short but moreover it is unpredictable.

My condolences to the families of the deceased.

May God grant their souls eternal rest.

Mumbai Train Blasts.....

Mumbai suffers yet another blow.

Serials blasts rock trains at peak hour.

Just god knows, how many casualties? That is if you also count the victim's families.
But NO! For the government the casualties would be the statistics who would be compensated. The underarmed [compared to the criminals], understaffed [not ONLY in terms of numbers but also in terms of number of committed, non-corrupt, and non-biased] police will be pressurised into investigating the same.

I think we should officially declare Mumbai as DEAD COURTESY politicians and their screwed ideologies.

Zidane - A Legend..Always...

Italy is a world champion. But what happened to Zinedine Zidane?
Some say he lost his nerve. A lady on a news channel had the nerve to call it stupidity. Ample proof of how the media plays a vital role in the making of a legend or in tearing to shreds the reputation of one of the most sincere and committed player of our times. For all the criticism, he must have been provoked and even if the opponent was not to blame - What the heck?
If a Maradona with "Hand of God", Drug abuses, dismissals can be considered a legend along with Pele, Than why not Zidane?
He definitely deserves the GOLDEN BALL award.
- Gaurang Bookseller

Quote of the Day...

Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment.
Own it.
- OPRAH WINFREY

HIV Terror - Urban Legend...

This is with respect to a earlier post of mine - HIV Terror, a forward that i had received from a pal.

I stumbled on to another link with respect to the same....seems to be a rumour and thats a Relief..!!.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa100798.htm

Live in Space...advises Mr.Hawking

An Open Letter to Stephen Hawking
=================================

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.aspsectid=16&articleid=
6132006221812816132006221728703

Hi Stephen,

Please come to mumbai, a novel city that guarantees you large number of craters.
To experience the walk on the moon, you simply need to drive through our city especially in three wheelers called Autos, we guarantee you that gravity will not have any effect on you, most of the journey you shall be suspended in space.

There is no water on moon, its almost the same in mumbai too, as different living organisms have made their presence felt in water, we are more dependent on cola/tea.

Armstrong left a footprint on moon, we have been given that opportunity too by the municipal corporation to leave our footprints across the city on wet mud,sand,debris lying around various BMC projects. It has been suggested that in case any one has the privilege to slip and die in the potholes, the government will bury the person there at their project's cost and the particular pothole shall be named after him.

By the way, i do not recall how the moon looks like since the time my neck has been affected with spondalytis by looking down for potholes and open manholes, day and night. If you happen to visit moon do get some snaps, i am curious as my kid told me 'Pa, they [mumbai and moon] look the same'.

Take Care,

Gaurang

Believe . . .

Thanks to a pal...for sending me a marvellous poem.
============================================

Believe that you're special,
through the hurt and the pain,
for sunshine will come, after the rain.
Hold on to your dreams, let them not die
and live not in torment by questioning why?
The answers are somewhere and sometimes unkind,
with so many reasons you will never find.
Be true to yourself, don't be what you're not,
for often you'll find, you're all that you've got.
Don't become battered by games people play
and don't take to heart what others may say.
You've got so much life and so much to give,
go out and enjoy it, go out there and live!
Though heartaches are many and tears they will flow,
the more that you live the more you will grow.
There are many that love you, don't ever forget,
let the past be a lesson, you do not regret . . .

Zarqawi and Oil Prices !!

Oh so it was Al-Zarqawi, that the oil prices were so high.
And now that he is no more, crude oil prices have come down reports the media.

All this time I was blaming the poor PM and the state government whenever i go to the petrol pumps to for my quota...[This word "quota" is catchy man!].

Well now we can relax man - I am sure with Bush's one point agenda of capturing laden, I am sure the cooking gas prices would come down too.

@%x*&* - This words have been censored, not by me though.

Now that's a sportsman...

What Lara the King says :-

“I just thought that it took so long… 15 minutes for 24 big men to come to a proper decision in a sport. I think it was ridiculous.”

Advising on what needs to be done to ensure that such incidents don’t occur in future, the West Indies legend said:

“Just be sportsmen… at the end of the day it’s a sport you are playing and you got to trust your competitor, the guy you are playing against.

You know there are situations where we can’t come to a decision and in such situations if you can’t back each other, even though we are in opposite teams, then it doesn’t say much for the sport.

Hope the Australians heard that....

Naked Electric Wire in Playground..

I wish the shivsena and MNS would also start helping people either by taking up legal recourses on behalf of victims or by lynching the errant officials who are responsible for the boy's death.

Boy electrocuted playing football
By: A Mid Day Correspondent
June 7, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deepak Jaiswal (15) was playing football with his friends outside his building in Gandhi Nagar on Manpada Road, Dombivli, when he accidentally touched a naked electric wire in the playground.

The boy desperately tried to reach for support and unfortunately grabbed the iron gate of the building. The incident occurred last evening.

The local office of the power distribution utility Mahadiscom had to switch off power supply to the area before Jaiswal, who was stuck to the gate, could be rushed to a doctor.

He was pronounced dead on arrival.

An accident case has been registered at Manpada police station

Sledging in Cricket...

Got a forward...nice one regarding sledging.

===================

Sledging has always been a part of cricket. Even the great WG Grace did it.
Once in an exhibition match given out leg-before, he refused to walk and told the umpire: "They came to watch me bat, not you bowl". And the innings continued.

Grace's ability to stand his ground would have done Sunil Gavaskar proud. Once, when the ball knocked off a bail, he replaced it and told the umpire: "Twas the wind which took thy bail orf, good sir."
The umpire replied: "Indeed, doctor, and let us hope thy wind helps the good doctor on thy journey back to the pavilion."

The best WG Grace sledge was on him, though, not from him. Charles Kortright had dismissed him four or five times in a county game - only for the umpires to keep turning down his appeals. Finally, he uprooted two of Grace's three stumps. Grace stalled, as though waiting for a no-ball call or something, before reluctantly walking off with Kortright's words in his ears: "Surely you're not going, doctor? There's still one stump standing."

The Prasad Vs Sohail Incident: Hero to Zero in 3 easy steps

Chasing India's score of 287-8, pakistan got off to a flyer of a start, Amir Sohail and Saeed Anwar went about tearing the Indian bowling attack. Pakistan looked all set to win as they reached 110 odd for the loss of just 1 wicket within the 15 overs.

1. Play a Great Shot: Amir Sohail was completely bent on demolishing the Indian bowling to pieces, charging down the track to the faster bowlers (if u can call Prasad that) in this particular case he came down the ground (a good 4-5 steps, anymore and he would have hit Prasad too) and slashed the bowl over vacant off side area... the ball disappeared into the fence in a flash .... what followed has since been etched in the memories of every cricket fan in the subcontinent.

2. Act Oversmart:Amir Sohail is no Miandad. But he tries to be,and fails miserably. Sohail after hitting the shot pointed his bat the area where the bowl had disappeared and then towards Prasad apparently gesturing where he will send the next one.
Its not everyday that you see a batsman sledging the bowler, and Sohail was about to learn just why.

3. Get what you called for: Sohail attempting to repeat the shot (albeit with his feet stuck to the ground this time) made room and exposed his stumps, and his weakness, and in return lost his wicket and his face.
As the wicket lay uprooted, Prasad returned the favour to Sohail, pointing to the pavilion this time.

The comeback was truly remarkable, almost a miracle .... Prasad has bowled thousands of deliveries and taken hundereds of wickets in his career but, it was this one granted him a place in the History of Indian Cricket .. for ever... the ghost of Miandad's last ball six was exorcised, once and for all.

Steve Waugh Vs Curtly Ambrose Episode.

It really does not get any bigger than this, the two legends of cricket came face to face, literally and engrossed in a verbal duel in a test match in Trinidad. All the juicy details were not to be known until Steve Waugh came out with his autobiography.

Ambrose repeatedly stared Waugh down during a searing spell, and Waugh, who sized up the towering Ambrose, said: "What the f*ck are you looking at? "
Ambrose was stunned because, as Waugh says (in his Autobiography), "no one had ever been stupid enough" to speak to him like that.
Ambrose replied, "Don't cuss me, man", before Waugh's response, which had nothing to do with bowling.
"Unfortunately, nothing inventive or witty came to mind, rather another piece of personal abuse: 'Why don't you go and get f*cked.' "
The Windies skipper Richie Richardson had a hard time keeping Ambrose from hurting the Aussie.

McGrath Vs Brandes

In a showdown of best pacers of two countries, Brandes made up for his complete absence of batting skills by some displaying some great sense of humor and presence of mind.
Aussie paceman Glenn McGrath was bowling to Zimbabwe number 11 Eddo Brandes - who was unable to get his bat anywhere near the ball. McGrath, frustrated that Brandes was still at the crease, wandered up during one particular over and inquired: "Why are you so fat?"
Quick as a flash, Brandes replied: "Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit."
Even the Aussie slip fielders were in hysterics.

Viv Richards v Greg Thomas

This incident took place during a county championship match between Glamorgan and Somerset. Glamorgan quickie Greg Thomas had beaten Viv Richards' bat a couple of times and informed the legendary West Indian ace: "It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering."

The very next ball was given the King Viv treament and smashed out of the ground, into a river - at which point Richards piped up: "Greg, you know what it looks like. Now go and find it."

Merv Hughes and Viv Richards

Merv Hughes usually never short of a word while on the field, rarely keeps quite. During a test match in the West Indies Hughes didn't say a word to Viv, but continued to stare at him after deliveries. "This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl." Merv didn't reply, but after he dismissed him he announced to the batsman: "In my culture we just say f*ck off."

Sachin Tendulkar Vs Abdul Qadir

The year was 1989, the little master had recently made his debut in Pakistan. Sachin not even old enough to get a driving licence Sachin Tendulkar was facing the best bowlers in the business. As the Pakistani crows jeered and mocked Sachin holding out the placards saying ""Dudh Pita Bhachcha ..ghar jaake dhoodh pee", (hey kid, go home and drink milk), Sachin sent the then young leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed hiding for cover (he had hit two sixes in one over. The frustaded mentor of Mustaq Ahmed the legendary Abdul Qadir challenges Sachin saying "Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao` (`Why are you hitting kids? Try and hit me.`).
Sachin was silent, since then we all have come to know that he lets his bat do the talking. Abdul Quadir had made a simple request and Sachin obliged, and how. Sachin hit 4 sixes in the over, making the spinner look the kid in the contest. The over read 6, 0, 4, 6 6 6, David had felled Goliath ... and a legend was born.

Ian Healy Vs RANatunga

Ian Healy's made a legendary comment which was picked up by the Channel 9 microphones when Arjuna Ranatunga called for a runner on a particularly hot night during a one dayer in Sydney... "You don't get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c*nt!"

McGrath to Ramnaresh Sarwan

Sarwan, the West Indies vice-captain, and McGrath went toe-to-toe in an ugly shouting match in Antigua in May 2003, The incident was sparked after Sarwan, on his way to a match-winning second-innings century, reportedly reacted to lurid taunts from McGrath by telling him he should get the answers from his wife, who was recovering from radiation therapy for secondary cancer.

The details:
McGrath: "So what does Brian Lara's d*ck taste like?"
Sarwan: "I don't know. Ask your wife."
McGrath (losing it): "If you ever F*&king mention my wife again, I'll F*cking rip your F*fing throat out."

Mark Waugh Vs Adam Parore

Mark Waugh was standing at second slip, Adam Parore relatively new to cricket came to the crease played & missed the first ball.
Mark Waugh- "Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, you're fu*king useless now".
Parore- (Turning around) "Yeah, that's me & when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you've married her. You dumb c*nt". “

Ravi shastri v/s Mike Whitney

Its common knowledge that Indian's usually don't resort to sledging, and the Aussies swear by it. In this rare ocassion the tables had turned and it was the Aussies who were at the receiving end.
Shastri hits the ball towards Mike Whitney (the 12th man in the game) and looks for a single, this guy gets the ball in and says
Whitney: "If you leave the crease i’ll break your f***ing head"
Shastri didn't bat an eyelid before replying : "If you could bat as well as you can talk you wouldn't be the f***ing 12th man"

Merv Hughes Vs Cronje

Merv Hughes was one of the greatest exponents of the fine "art" of sledging. Once during a tour game in South Africa Hughes was bowling to Hansie Cronje . It was an especially flat wicket and Cronje was hitting Hughes for fours and sixes all over the place.
After the umpteenth boundary, Hughes headed down the pitch, stood near Cronje, let out a fart and said: "Try hitting that for six." It was five minutes before the guffawing stopped and play could resume.

Robin Smith and Merv Hughes

During 1989 Lords Test, Merv Hughes said to Robin Smith after he played and missed: "You can't f*cking bat".
Simth replied, both with the bat and with words, he smashed Hughes to the boundry and said "Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't f*cking bat and you can't f*cking bowl."

Team mates Sledging

England were playing Pakistan and, at what turned out to be a crucial moment later on, Frank Tyson managed to get an outside edge off a Pakistani batsman after the batsman had been frustrating them on a hot sweaty day. The ball went right through the hands of Raman Subba Rao who was standing in first slip and through his legs. After the over Raman heads over to the bowler and says, "Sorry Frank, I should've closed my legs." Frank Tyson, who didn't find any of this amusing, quipped back, "No, you bastard, your mother should have."

Ian Healy Vs a Short chubby batsman

In one of the tour matches in South Africa, Australia played Hansie Cronje's province. Cronje was at the non strikers end, there was a short chubby batsman on strike.
Ian Healy yelled to Warne, "Bowl a Mars Bar half way down...We'll get him stumped"
The Aussies and Cronje were all in hysterics, all this was before a classic reply from the batsman.
The exact words: "Nah, Boonie (David Boon) fielding at short leg will be onto it before I can move."

Miandad Vs Lillee

Miandad played Lillee to square leg and completed an easy run, with a collision taking place in the center. According to Miandad, Lillee had tried to block him in the path. After a verbal exchange, Lillee went ahead and kicked Miandad on his pads. Miandad, started charging towards Lillee with his bat lifted high above the head, as if to hit him. The umpire’s intervention prevented what could have turned out to be a real assault had Miandad gone head with his plans. However, the picture of Miandad hurling his bat at Lillee made the whole incident look even worse, and was promptly declared as the most indignified incident in the history of Cricket.
Lillee’s version, to this day, had Miandad first hitting him with the bat, and then swearing at him. He maintained that there was no contact from his side throughout the incident.

Note: The author is awsare if the fact that this incident has nothing to do with sledging, but found the temptation of mentioning the episode was too hard to resist.

The Frog Jumping incident, 1992 India Vs Pakistan

India vs Pakistan matches are always a treat to watch, and if its the World Cup its stakes are even greater. Javed Miandad, the Bad boy of cricket, at the receiving end for once. Miffed by the verbals from Kiran More, he complains “Insaan khel rahe hain janwaar nahin” (Human beings are playing not animals). And after a sharp run out chance, where Miandad closely survives Miandad starts jumping up and down, face distorted imitating Kiran More’s appealing. A sight to behold. Pure comedy. Pakistan loses the match but go on to win the cup.
'I did it instinctively', Miandad later told. He added, 'Hey, is this the way you appeal for everything? Don't appeal like that'.

Dropped the Cup?

Perhaps the most famous sledge in a World Cup match took place the epic Super Six clash between Australia and South Africa (in 2003). South Africa looked on course to a routine victory with Australian captain Steve Waugh at the crease and on 56. At that stage, Waugh clipped the ball in the air straight to South African fielder Herschelle Gibbs. In his haste, Gibbs dropped the ball when attempting to throw it in the air in celebration as he had not fully controlled it. As he passed him, Waugh is said to have asked Gibbs: "How does it feel to have dropped the World Cup?". Waugh carried on to make an unbeaten 120 and Australia posted an unlikely win and won the World Cup a few days later.
Waugh has however denied that quote, instead claiming that he said "looks like you've dropped the match".

Hughes Vs Miandad

The inimitable Merv Hughes has forgotten more about sledging than most people will ever know, so he was more than a little miffed to be on the receiving end in the 1991 Adelaide Test against Pakistan. Hughes and Javed Miandad almost came to blows after the Pakistani batsman dared to call big Merv a "fat bus conductor". But revenge was sweet for Hughes. A few balls later he finally got his man and as Miandad walked past, he could not resist shouting "Tickets, please!"

Dennis Lillee Vs Sunil Gavaskar

Dennis Lillee and Sunil Gavaskar, were involved in a war of words in the 3rd Test, MCG, February 1981. A historic win for India in that Test would definitely not have taken place had Sunil Gavaskar not calmed down. He clashed with Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who Gavaskar claims abused him after claiming his wicket and the Indian captain asked non-striker Chetan Chauhan to walk off the field, forfeiting the match. Gavaskar was batting on 70 when Lillee appealed for a leg before decision. Gavaskar showed his bat to the umpire, indicating he had ‘nicked’ the ball before it hit his pads. Angry words were exchanged between the batsman and the bowler, and Lillee even went to the extent of pointing to the batsman the spot where the ball had his pads. The decision went in favour of the bowler and as Gavaskar started his long, dejected walk back to the pavilion, Lillee turned around and abused him. That was it. Gavaskar snapped, and decided to forfeit the match.
Later, Gavaskar was to write in his book ‘Idols’: “That (the walkout) was the most regrettable incidents of my life. Whatever may be the provocation and whatever the reason, there was no justification for my action and I realize now that I did not behave the way a captain and sportsman should.”

Flintoff Vs Tino Best

Best, never short of a word or two when he is bowling, was done up like a kipper by the England all-rounder as West Indies slumped to defeat in the first Test. Flintoff saw his opponent preparing to face Giles' off-spin and shouted: "Watch the windows, Tino!" The wind-up had the desired effect, causing Best to come charging out of his crease like a man possessed. He took a wild swing at the ball, missed and was promptly stumped by Geraint Jones. Not a broken window in sight. Flintoff could not contain himself and spent the next five minutes giggling like a teenager, as Best sat on the balcony rueing his stupidity.

Viv Richards to Gavaskar

Gavaskar had decided to relinquish his opening position and come in at no 4 for that test. But, Malcolm Marshall fired out Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar for ducks, setting the stage for Gavaskar to walk in at 0/2.And he thought there would be less pressure! Viv Richards says "Man, it don't matter where you come in to bat, the score is still zero."

Steve Waugh and Parthiv Patel

Amidst all the hype surrounding his farewell match, Steve Waugh had to contend with an unexpected dose of his own medicine from a player half his age.
As Waugh fought a grim battle to stave off defeat in the series-deciding fourth Test in Sydney, 19 year-old Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel tried to unsettle the veteran batsman through some banter.
The baby-faced Patel egged on the 38 year-old stalwart to play one of his sweep shots one last time.
The India 'keeper was saying, 'Come on, just one more of the famous slog-sweeps before you finish'
Waugh replied: 'Look, show a bit of respect. You were in nappies when I debuted 18 years ago'.

Rod Marsh and Ian Botham

When Botham took guard in a Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: "So how's your wife and my kids?"

Trueman and Aussie batsman

In an England v Australia Test during early 1960's Trueman was fielding close to the gate from the pavilion. As a new batsman came out he turned to shut the gate,
Trueman said "Don't bother son, you won't be out there long enough."

Daryll Cullinan and Shane Warne

As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been waiting 2 years for another chance to humiliate him. "Looks like you spent it eating," Cullinan retorted.

Adam Parore and Daryll Cullinan

Because Cullinan is well known for being Warne's bunny, New Zealand keeper Parore greeted the South African, carefully playing the first ball from kiwi Chris Harris, with a cry of: "Bowled Warnie!"

Malcolm Marshall and David Boon

Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon who had played and missed a couple of times. Marshall: "Now David, Are you going to get out now or am I going to have to bowl around the wicket and kill you?"

James Ormond and Mark Waugh

James Ormond had just come out to bat on an ashes tour and was greeted by MarkWaugh……..
Mark : “F*ck me, look who it is. Mate, what are you doing out here, there’s no way you’re good enough to play for England”
James: “Maybe not, but at least i’m the best player in my family”

Waugh Vs Jamie Siddons

In a Sheffield Shield game between NSW and SA, a Waugh twin (not sure which) was taking an enternity to take guard, asking the umpire for centre, middle and leg, two legs - the whole lot. Then he steps away towards leg side and has another look around the field, before re checking centre.
Jamie Siddons is at slip, and decided enough is enough. He yells out."For christ sake, it's not a 'f*cken test match."
Waugh replies: "Of course it isn't ... You're here."

Mother (in law) of all sledges

In the 1980's Ian Botham returned early from a tour of Pakistan, and on radio joked "Pakistan is the sort of country to send your mother in-law to." Needless to say the Pakistanis did not find this amusing, and when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamer Sohail told Ian Botham "Why don't you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse."

Barmy Army Vs Shane Warne

England's "Barmy Army" recently decided to sledge leg spinner Shane Warne musically, and it has been described as boorishly personal, but effective.
The sledge was based on Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - the "Where's your poppa gone?" Song. It has been converted to "Where's your missus gone?" (Warne had recently been divorced in life)

Special Mention

Inzamam-ul-Haq once told Brett Lee to "stop bowling off spinners".

In the recent Karachi Test when Irfan Pathan came to bat in 2nd Innings Afridi shouted two times " O mera Shehzada aaya ! " (Oh! my prince has come)

Quote of the day...

Vote for the man who promises least; he'll be the least disappointing.

Bernard Baruch

Sensex below 10000

America's Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke's comment about inflation with respect to energy and food has shot down the world indices. He has indicated that interest rates may go up further whereas expectations were opposite that the rates would not increase further.

If comments and observations are all it takes to get the sensex crashing and not the real economic scenario than i would wish this so called prominent persons would shut the hell up.

Nobody can stop Indian markets from growth, it seems as if every thing in the world is related to the developed nation's economy [read america].No one had visualized the Euro a few years back, and with the kind of political leaders America is having no one would remember that dollar was the leading currency across the world a few years from now.

We unfortunately have spineless leaders unlike china, who attract business on their own terms whereas even with such huge markets we go begging for investments across the world. Let us forget the third world tag, or the developing nation tag, come out of the illusion.

With Nuclear Power, we cannot be viewed as a developing nation anymore...

Wake up...

Fuel Prices Hiked...

Ladies and Gentleman, The MAN has failed. Yes, our prime minister Mr.Singh has failed miserably.

Quota System, Office of Profit bill and now the fuel hike. Manmohanji should put in his papers if his conscience is in the right place.He has failed to protect the common man's interest and has only added to his plight.

Will the Left succeed in getting the price reduced, maybe a rupee or two and that will save its face, and at the same time the government will also succeed in raising the prices by 1 or 2 rupees.

Save us the Drama, please....see you in the next elections.

Why Mumbai can never be Shanghai...

Just a few mm of rains compared to 26/7 and mumbai was in a mess, infact mumbai looks like a bombed city with all the excavated garbage, potholes, open electrical wires etc. Am i in beirut? No wait, even beirut is better now.

Forget Shanghai, even bangkok with it's slums is better than mumbai.
And the credit for that goes to the civic sense of it's people and the city management system.

Check out Powai road towards Seepz once the flyover ends, its a disaster waiting to happen.

A child was electrocuted, accidents happened, waterlogging at homes, APMC and elsewhere. Illegal Autos with tampered meters rule the city, creating chaos while the city's transport authority sleeps...any exact count of the autos running in the city.??

Please Mr.Politician/Bureaucrat, if you do not know or understand what is city management or crisis management is all about, employ specialists and let them do the work. But for god's sake, stop the city from being raped.

Review: - Hitler - the rise of evil...5/5

Have been watching this serialised version on the History Channel.

Robert Carlyle is amazing as hitler, can't believe that he is the same guy from The Full Monty.

Watch this one for some fantastic lessons from history, acting and high production values.

5/5 for this one.

Bollywood Support for Aamir...

A little late in the day, however bollywood has come out in full strength to support aamir. Hrithik's open letter is commendable in lieu of the fact that KRISSH is about to release.

Shotgun Sinha finds himself alone after calling Aamir egoistic.
I had once attended a shoot of shotgun's talk show. The topic was banning of alcohol advertisements.As part of the audience, i reminded shotgun about his Bagpiper Advt, to which he replied in a stern tone that he had already apologised for it earlier.

The best part is this segment was editied out and your's truly was not even visible in a single shot throughout the episode [Sob!], anyway wifey got a close-up and my day was saved.

Jokes apart, this incident clearly proved that shotgun believes in censorship i.e censorship of criticism, adverse opinion etc.

Aamir Vs BJP

BJP has proved once again that they are bereft of any political acumen and thrive on chaos and chaos only. The one point agenda is to make someone a scapegoat or make a mountain out of a molehill and confuse people by misleading propaganda and hog the media spotlight. It is a sad state of affairs for the BJP.

I have observed the implications of such propaganda. Recently i was having a discussion with someone about the whole issue and the pal was vociferous in his criticism of Aamir and also used unsavoury words for the actor. The person being gujarati was hurt and felt that Aamir was against the Narmada Dam, which is not the case.

I was asked why i had not blogged on the issue to which i explained my stand that even if i did, either i would be branded as aamir fan or as a fanatic that supports violent protests.

Right from the beginning Aamir has clearly said that he has no idea about the technicalities of raising the height of the dam as he is not a engineer. Infact Arundhati Roy too ridiculed him at one point, initially because of his cola liasions.

He had just voiced his concern over a villager whose house and fertile land was submerged and said that they should be PROPERLY compensated by the government.

Now MY POINT is - isn't this the same as when we swear at the BMC and the MMRDA for the pathetic condition of mumbai roads, When we abuse the railway for late and cancelled trains, when we abuse the BSES,MSEB, Govt for power cuts in summer etc.

Suppose you were offered by the mentioned authorities that 50% of the above problems will be resolved, and 50% you are expected to tolerate, would you take it lying down. NO!!

SIMILARLY you cannot offer a tribal a barren land or move him somewhere far [ like offering you a flat in Virar in exchange of your current one in Andheri! ], it HIS RIGHT to ask for a PROPER compensation. And Mr.Khan has just voiced his concern over the same.

My Pal also said that Aamir should be shamed that anti-reservation protesters were caned in a similar manner by the police as was shown in Rang De Basanti Climax !! [What the...!!]. He is surely not aware of Gangajal being made on Bhagalpur blindings...

Initially I was under the impression that maybe this was all a gimmick for getting publicity for FANAA [Conspiracy theory :)] but threatening kids who came to watch the movie from baroda to mumbai is too much.

Aamir will emerge as the winner and BJP the loser from this controversy.

And note please Mr.Modi has smartly kept away from the controversy...By the way FANAA [pirated copy] is available for 150 bucks in Gujarat...Please BAN them too...

Sensex - At Pit Levels

India is shining, booming, and zooming. For all the so called reports from Goldman Sachs and the Merril Lynch, the sensex was literally lynched by irresponsible statements, manupulative FIIs etc.

Were the FII's given a free run of the market so as to give the world a shining image of India.? To give the impression that the indian economy is at its peak and invite more funding from abroad?

This is where china scores, chinese politicians are statesman, they consider their career as a job and they deliver, whereas our cartoon's lifetime job is to squabble over how to keep their seats permanent.

Let's see how manmohan and chidambaram - 2 whizkids clear this mess.

[ I had warned earlier in a post - http://garysellers.blogspot.com/2006/04/sensex-12000.html ]

Meanwhile Arjun can keep playing the royal flush with the Mandal Card.

Da Vinci Code..Dan Brown

A racy thriller with a shocking plot that's fusion between reality and fiction.
It's human imagination at its best. The idea of secret codes in Da Vinci paintings is itself intriguing.

But it ends at that. The idea of christ being a mortal may seem, threatening to church authority [obviously], but to a normal man it should not matter.

Whether divine or mortal, christ's life and his teachings are inspiring for humans. In fact to know that he was a mortal, who walked earth and died and yet was capable of such a life-morals is more awe inspiring.

So clearly i do not understand what the fuss is all about.All prophets, wanted their disciples to know the difference between right and the wrong, and live a sinless life.

Is the faith so weak that a book or a movie can change you?

Da Vinci Code...

Dan Brown's controversial book has triggered lot of emotions among christians across the world. The book itself is based on Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the authors were involved in a lawsuit too for plagiarism.

I got a mail from a buddy...his take on the controversy....
===========================================================
Hi Gaurang,

The whole stuff about Jesus marrying and having children is unjustifiable if one actually knows the reason for him to come in this world, live like a normal human and then die for no reason.

Christians normally curse The book “Davinci code” but I actually look at it as a boon to Christianity, If the book and its discoveries wouldn’t have been out , I wouldn’t have been typing this mail and telling you some thing more than what a church going Christian would tell you.

Many people out there who have questions and are confused about this book and its discoveries are basically ones who don’t know Jesus, or people who are already confused about him lots of Christians are also included in the count in fact the major chunk are Christians themselves.

If they knew what the idea was behind Jesus’ coming then there would have been no questions.

God created humans and the world to have fellowship with. He wanted us to be with him for ever, we never were supposed to die. God’s creation, that is you and I have a unique feature in us and that feature is the “right to choose”, we were not robots but human beings who can choose. Now when you have the property to choose you need more than one thing to choose from I mean you can only choose if you have 2 things, so God showed us what is good and what is bad but we human’s chosed bad and we sinned. Now because of sin we were separated from God, god being a righteous person wud not stay with the unrighteous, because of Sin we became a Malfunctioned creation, and you very well know if we create something and it malfunctions we either try to mend it or crap it out and start with a new one. Now God chosed to mend this malfunctioned creation rather than crap it out, he loved his creation.

So…..

if you read and know that the ritual of sacrifice is observed in almost all religions, God made a rule that if you sin you need to sacrifice a young animal to cover the sin that you committed, but the worlds sins were too huge to be just forgiven by some animals blood, only a sinless human’s blood would take it all, and sadly there was no human sinless to be such a sacrifice, cause we humans are born out of sin (Sex). So he send Jesus, now as I said earlier the sacrifice should be sinless, that’s exactly why Jesus was born from a virgin, he lived a sinless life till the age of 32 and he did his job by dying for the sins that we regularly do, he paid for our sins and died for no reason.

NOW

Coming back to the point, If Jesus was married and had children then he is not the savior and not the perfect sacrifice, if that was the case then God would have used many mighty and religious men from the past like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and many more as a sacrifice. They were very holy and religious and they obeyed gods command there was then no use to wait till Jesus comes in. If you read the Gospels you will see Jesus’ behavior and his thoughts and his powers which showed all the characteristic of a perfect human being.

Secondly the society Prieure de Sion, was from the 18th and the 19th century almost 2000 yrs AD. They are researching and following the books that Romans wrote, Romans were the people who killed Jesus to take the truth away from the people, So when the disciples were writing the gospels Romans on the other side had their own history books to falsify Jesus’ death as a sacrifice and they wrote books which said his body was fleed away by his disciples and they kept the blood with them in the holy grail, they made proofs that would clash with the truth that had happened. There are many other controversial text found about Jesus.

So I would say the Davinci Code is actually right but the matter that is coded itself is based upon wrong books and discoveries.

From James - james.manasseh@gmail.com

The Ghost of Mandal Commission

I am sure that PM Manmohan Singh is a person who can never ever favour reservations being a person who has acheived everything in life through merit and merit only.

It would be a great tragedy for this country if at all the reservations are put in force specially when we have Dr Singh and Dr Kalam at the helm of affairs. And it would also be the biggest blot in their otherwise spotless clean and inspiring life.

Arjun Singh, desparate to be in the good books of Sonia, wants to gift her a vote bank, but at what cost and whose cost?

Rahul Gandhi should understand the current outrage considering his age factor and hope he makes the elders understand too...

But will he bow down to the pressure of politics...

Review => Gangster....4/5

Yea Yea...Dont crib! The movie deserves a 4, if you want to know why just see the remaining Akshay/Viveik etc starrers.

The music/songs are fantastic, I liked the song Tu meri Shab hai, but it could have been shot in a better manner as the camerawork reminds you of Rahul Roy's Ashiqui - pub song.

Ya Ali rocks man! What a song! Mujhe Mat Roko reminded me of Reshma of Hero[Jackie] fame. Bheegi Bheegi is also cool.

The Soundtrack can get a 5/5.

Kangana Raut succeeds in looking like Monica Bedi and has put in a sincere attempt. Where as Shiney Shines [This guy is gonna be the big star], as for Emraan the guy just succeeds in kissing again.

As for the movie plot - Throughout the movie i liked the director's concept of making it look like a narrative from the moll's point of view, without glorifying the don as usually gangster movies do, but at the end instead of making Emraan give a speech that made him look like a villain, the director could have made his character also look as exploited by the authorities. I sincerely doubt that a policeman can pass of impregnating a moll also as his duty towards the nation !!

I am off to buy a Audio CD of the movie....

MMM - Over and Out....

Well not exactly, Results are not out yet.

Was not able to blog due to exams, but still am relieved that the 3 yr part time commitment is over. Although will miss the wonderful friends that i made.

Yaar - pak gaya tha...the commuting was getting on the nerves.
I felt like Rodney Dangerfield [hope got the name correct] from Back to School, the last 3 years.

But got my hands full...

Kaaphi hisaab-kitaab dekhna hai...

Was back in touch with a Indonesian Pal after a long time - And we talked so much that mostly a trip is due within 6-8 months, if time and money permits...But anyway we chat every 2nd day now.

Back to Timepass books now....

Five Point Someone was not bad at all...not great too...
next on the list - Toyota Way, False Impressions, Shantaram, Maximum City...whoosh thats a lot to catch on. Also a book by Gursharan Das - highly recommended by a cousin.

Came across a vengeful sher, not bad.....

Kafan bandh kar aaye hai,
Kafan Odh kar jayenge,
Safina rahe na rahe,
Teri Kashti ko hila kar jayenge.

Review - Ong-Bak!

Caught this movie on Star Movies.

Thought it might be those regular c-grade Martial Arts movie, but the lead guy's sincerity and mind blowing choreographed action make this worth a watch.

Its about a village guy on trail of antique smugglers who have beheaded a idol of buddha [Ong Bak] whom the villagers revere.

3/5 for this one.

Mumbaikar for BMC Commissioner

Yes, we definetly need a true blue mumbaikar for the post of BMC Commissioner and it is essential that such city top posts are held by those who are born and brought up in the same place. They should be sensitized to the needs of the people.

Instead we have outsiders who come to perform a job and when they fail, they cite ministerial interference, not owning up to their inefficiency.

Even the post of ward officers and the approved work they are assigned, should be made public using internet as the medium.

270 Kms-12 buses - India Shining !!

I had to post this blog from rediff, it's just unbelievable and we talk about connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari.This proves that our policies are so focussed on urban issues that we simply forget that the "other india" too exists.

==============================================================

12 buses, 270 km in Tamil Nadu
[ http://pollscape.rediffiland.com//scripts/xanadu_diary_view.php?postId=1146036489 ]

My village is in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, about 35 km from Tuticorin town. I decided to go to Sivakasi to see the assembly election trend there. So I got into a bus (1) to Tuticorin. I reached the old bus-stand and was very happy to see a bus with the board saying Sivakasi.

I got in (2) and the conductor asked me where I wanted to go. When I told him, he said this bus would leave the new bus stand after an hour so I should go in an earlier bus.

So I got down and boarded a bus (3) to Kovilpatti as there was no direct bus for me. From Kovilpatti I took another bus (4) to Sattur. It takes 30 minutes from Kovilpatti to Sattur. Imagine my shock when after 10 minutes the bus halted at a restaurant for a ‘20 minutes refreshment break’. There were six other buses halted there. I got into one (5) leaving for Sattur.

From Sattur I got a bus to Sivakasi (6).

After finishing my work there I saw a bus (7) leaving for Tuticorin. A feeling of déjà vu when the conductor said it was better I bought a ticket for Sattur as there would be a 25 minute halt there. I did not argue. I boarded (8) another bus from Sattur to Tuticorin.

This one took me to the new bus stand there and I boarded a mini bus (9) to the old bus stand. There was no bus to my village but there was one (10) to Eral which is on the way. From Eral I got another mini bus (11) to Kurumbur. And one more mini bus (12) to my village.

I was very happy. I had not waited even for one bus. I had been on the move throughout and covered 270 km.

-- Ganesh Nadar
==============================================================

Henceforth I will never ever crib about BEST Buses for sure!!

Mumbai Mirror Gaffe...Dhoni and Sensex...

Mumbai Mirror had my post Sensex 12000 in the blogger's park on saturday 22nd April but was credited to http://ashimayadava.blogspot.com/2006/04/dhoni-dhan-dhana-dhan.html

But please note dhoni is no way involved with the Bull run of the sensex...:)

Exam Cramps...

For my part-time Mgmt pals..

Countdown to Exams....

The D-day is near , the knees are quivering as usual....
Slept walked thro the year to hear the dreaded word...
Its time to shake up the lethargy, dust the books, turn a few pages.

Fear is visible on the faces, as if the sun has set on them....
Look is Gloomy, Time is slipping by....
"Need" to catch up is high...

With sweated palms we wish each other the best....
Friends and Foes are together at this task....
Brave faces have a look of pity....
When they ask the boss for a few days of mercy....
Oh how! Time is mightier than thou....

But like warriors we shall jump in....
With sole aim of surviving the battlefield...
Victorious and the Wounded shall walk out together with cramps....
After fighting the villain called "Exams"....

[ I know its a pathetic attempt at poem but this proves that mental torture too can lead to creativity so this can be termed as a new medical discovery !!
By the way pals, ALL THE BEST !! ]

Recommended Blog...

Check out this blog.

http://gapingvoid.com/

Can't say the guy does not have a creative approach.
Addictive....ain't blogs supposed to be that?

Sensex 12000

The Sensex is zooming upwards. The bulls are making merry.
However much i would like the trend to continue, i hope the watchdogs are awake and monitoring the bull run.

Such bull runs do not necessarily indicate the state of the economy, and the people of india have experienced that at a heavy cost in the past. If as in the past, the authorities [banking/insurance] are in cahoot with the bulls, this time we have had it. The UPA govt. will find it difficult to survive in such a scenario.

Naah! I am not being pessimistic, but yes get rid of the small stocks now.

Otherwise kudos to companies like RIL group, Infy, TCS and such for fantabulous returns to shareholders. Till than cheers!!

Quote for today...

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

- Robert Heinlein, writer

Azim Premji - The Man

It was heartening to read the given below:
==========================================

No room for reservation at Wipro: Premji

April 19, 2006 17:06 IST

IT major Wipro, 80 per cent of whose revenue comes from abroad, on
Wednesday said there was no room for job quotas in the company.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked industries to broadbase
employment and make it representative, Wipro chairman Azim Premji said his
firm would recruit people based only on merit.

"We compete with global companies. We are primarily in the service business
in terms of the mix of our consolidated revenues", he said, adding, "Service
business is highly people-dependent. People make you (the company)
successful or the people make you less successful".

*Should there be quota in IITs,
IIMs?
*
While responding to a question on HRD Minister Arjun Singh's announcement
that 27 per cent of seats in higher educational institutions would be
earmarked for Other Backward Classes, Premji said he understood the
compulsions "the country is going through in terms of reservation."

However, "We (Wipro) are an organisation which requires selection on merit".

Diana - Globalization...!!

Got this mail..a forward...
=============================
Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer: Princess Diana's death.

Question: How come?

Answer: An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines.

This is sent to you by Indian, using Bill Gates's technology, and you're probably reading this on your computer, that use Taiwanese chips,and a Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Pakistan lorry-drivers, hijacked by Indonesians,unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals..... That, my friend, is Globalization.

Rang De Aamir...

Aamir says - 'I do not know about the technicalities involved in raising the height of the dam. What I do know is that farmers have been displaced from their land and they have lost their livelihood. Till the people who have already been displaced by the dam are not rehabilitated, the height of the dam should not be raised.'

Although i do not agree with the higlighted ultimatum given above, which is more like saying that film shootings or releases will not be done till every single person till the spotboy has been compensated [which aamir surely knows is impossible to implement in the highly fragmented bollywood], the clarity of his stand needs to be appreciated and his courage to stand up to the indian politicians is to be applauded.

His taking a stand may influence the gennext in emulating the same and using the power of vote more effectively.

This single action has generated more debate and awareness about the Narmada issue than Madam Patkar's fasts have all these years.

For all his flaws, Modi is one leader who stands by what he says unlike Vajpayee and Advani [Why is this character trait more usually among the authoritarian species?].

It would be great if there is a debate between modi and aamir, it would be one hell of a BIG FIGHT.

Jessica Lal Case vs Ladies Bars

Manu Sharma gets bail...I also came to know that Bina Ramani's Tamarind Court is illegal...[Wonder how i missed that part..]

So understand the difference between shady bars and high profile joints...one exploits the needy and the latter exploits the need of the have mores.

Both are the dens of vice that breed criminals...

If the death of jessica lal was murder than we should term the suicides of the bar girls at mumbai as also murder. I recall 2 incidents that were reported in which one had taken home/educational loans when her career/bread and butter activity was snatched and the other could not bear the humiliation of begging/borrowing and whose neighbours sweared by her self-independent nature. Were this not forced deaths?

Now when the court has overturned the state's banning, should not the deaths of this bar girls be compensated and also their children who lost a mother at a tender age.

But no wait, the political mindset seeks revenge, so even if its a farcical punishment, they put the Bar Owners Association Chief [Not an innocent soul] behind bars.

So will the media highlight and fight for their plight, NO! The Jessical Lal case ensures better TRPs than the dead bar girls...

The fact is mumbai has witnessed a sharp increase in crime since the ban....

Salman in and as THE DEER HUNTER...

Directors can offer to remake the hollywood classic with salman in the main role...with ofcourse some bollywood twists and turns.
Sallu has got his wish fulfilled of emulating Sanjubaba's lifestyle.
Although I am a fan of this moron's personality and the cool dude attitude he sports on screen, but he is a big embarassment to his family, friends and fans.
He definetly has to his credit of making fitness a style statement among the new generations but at the same time he is the most poor role model to the younger generation.
Now the debates and the big fights will start about celebrities being soft targets, some channels will make money starting SMS polls...The Whole Circus.
Wish this guy had 1/4th of Aamir's intellect who does not let even a divorce harm his image and in fact has the media following him everywhere.
If one had to make a film on Archie comic books - Salman would shine as the Dumb MOOSE!!!
Happy Jailing...Salman BHAI!!

Neverland Closes...

One of the most overrated and hyped stars [as far as singing is concerned] of the world, Jacko the Whacko, has finally disintegrated.
I use the word disintegrated, as he was a personality who could never come to terms with his sudden thrust to superstardom, his sexuality and above all his colour.
He obscene obsessiveness saw him change from a human to a mannequin. He was laughed at by the same media which put him on a pedestal.
The various forwards of his mugshots that circulate the internet literally makes one feel that he is physically disintegrating...
And his so called utopia ironically named "Neverland" has been shut down for financial reasons.
A man who was named the king of pop but could never live as one and lived as a slave of his own illusions.

Quote..

Lt. Col. Frank Slade: The day we stop lookin', Charlie, is the day we die.

[Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman]

Raining in March...

It rained yesterday in mumbai, with thunder and lightning.
Today morning there were news of gujarat being hit by hail storms.
Just a day before we students of part-time MMM were discussing Environmental Management and the effects of global warming.
This ignorance of not doing anything about the climatic changes which are a direct result of the abuse of nature by us humans is going to cost us dear.
I am not predicting the doomsday here but we will soon face some of the greatest nature-inflicted disasters, the tsunami disaster will seem like a preview of the things to come.
What did the global leaders do at the Earth Summit that was held some time back...?

Nuclear Madness..!!

Read what the American News Media has to say...

http://strategyunit.blogsome.com/2006/03/07/bush-india-and-unsettling-new-nuclear-realities/

No comments..

As given in Mid-day -

Greg Chappell has said that Sourav Ganguly had refused to give up captaincy of the Indian team because the job was "utterly important to his life and finances".

Crorepati cricketers want dhobi discount.
...the hotel charged the players for their personal laundry, something that didn’t go down too well with them.

The players, it is learnt, demanded a concession. “We will be giving them a concession,” said BCCI media manager Rajan Nair. The hotel too will take Rs 130 off each player’s bill. The hotel, incidentally, charges Rs 55 to wash and iron a shirt and a pair of trousers.

Current Politics - A corrosive force..

Nice Article in today's mumbai mirror.

Politics: A corrosive force

Political parties claiming to be secular, emphasise on the separate identity of the minorities and invoke religion and caste-based quotas - N. Vittal

Excerpts: - Politics is like a corrosive acid. The recent controversy over a survey by a PMO appointed committee under Justice Rajendra Sachar, to get specific details about the religious minorities in the armed services, highlights the danger of politicising secularism.

The government has beaten a tactical retreat, but the danger remains. Once an idea germinates, it cannot be undone. This is true of both good and bad ideas, like the current effort by the Rajendra Sachar Committee.

In a democracy, politics can weaken if not destroy many institutions, by its corrosive and adverse impact. As patriotic Indians, let us hope that the mischief to inject religious identity-based politics in the traditionally true and secular institutions will be nipped in the bud.

However, there is some hope. So far, there have been no reports of the Rajendar Sachar Committee asking the Ministry of I&B for religion-based break up in the Indian film industry or the Ministry of Sports for details regarding the Indian cricket team.

R.I.P

In memory of Jessica:

Marian Wright Edelman:
You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation.

Holocaust Museum, Washington, DC:
Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.

Aung San Suu Kyi:
Fear is not the natural state of civilized people.

"A riot is the language of the unheard."
King, Jr., Martin Luther

Perverts or Liberals...?

I do not know whether i am a liberal or a conservative or a "conservative liberal"..:)

But frankly today's headlines in the mumbai mirror was shocking for me.
Not because it was about a couple whose experiments in wife swapping etc was filmed secretly, but because they were so casual in admitting about it to the newspaper.And it is a fact that they enjoyed it while it lasted.They are shamed only about the fact that there is CD in the market of it, otherwise they would have continued doing what they did.

They symbolise the new category of Perverted Liberals.

What the hell happened to plain old commitment, love, family...?

If that brands me as an conservative, man i am happy to be known as one.
But this new world is a scary place, specially for my kid.

Such incidents give the fanatics and the so called custodians of our culture a free hand to indulge in violence.

Che Guevera..

Got hold of a DVD recently "The Motorcycle Diaries".

A true account of Che and his friend's ride across Latin American countries.
Wonder how i missed this one.

Made me gather material to read more about Che and i got his speech in the UN and many more, giving me an insight about this enigma and legend called Che Guevera.

Who murdered Jessica Lal?

The SYSTEM. The Society.
It's not MANU SHARMA and the gang.

Imagine a high profile case like this goes on for 7 seven years.

Enough time to threaten witnesses, tamper with evidence, weaken the spirit of those who expect justice. Jessica Lal was shot dead, her mother died sometime later, her father has suffered strokes and is a disheartened man and her sister, a witness to all this, is a disillusioned woman.

She does not want to fight or appeal. Who would want to?

When you are forced to live with your sister's criminal death for seven years, you are a witness to your parent's broken souls, from where do you get the courage to appeal?

Did jessica expect her friends from the so called society circuit to stand for her or rather anything in life...This is a part of society where the so called socialites are scavengers who daily live off the few minutes of fame of the person of the day.

These are the people [scum], who murdered Jessica Lal.

May peace be with you Jessica.

Equipment...

Came across this highly motivating poem by Edgar Guest, just had to post it.

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You've all that the greatest of man have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
And a brain to use if you would be wise,
With this euipment they all began,
Do start from the top and say "I can."

Look them over, the wise and the great,
They take their food from a common plate,
And similar knives and fork they use,
With similar laces they tie their shoes,
The world considers them brave and smart,
But you've all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,
You can be great if you only will,
You're well equipped for what fight you choose,
You have arms and legs and a brain to use,
And the man who has risen great deeds to do,
Began his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face,
You are the one who must choose his place,
You must say where you want to go,
How much you will study, the truth to know,
God has equipped you for life, but He,
Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,
The man must furnish the will to win,
So figure it out for youself, my lad,
You were born with all that the great have had,
With your equipment they all began,
Get hold of yourself and say "I can."

Agni Pariksha

There is a article in midday today.

Boy drinks poison after mother scolds him
http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/february/131059.htm

His father says, “Woh padhai theek se karta hai. Lekin kal use kya hua tha malum nahin. Tuition jane ko taiyyar hi nahin tha. Shayad din bhar ki bhaga-daud se thak gaya tha,” said Ubeish Ansari, Ubaid’s father, a vegetable vendor.
Than again at the end of the article is given - Ubaid is under close observation, “par woh pariksha zaroor dega,” said Ubeish [father] confidently.
=============

Doesn't one realise the child is already giving "pariksha"....agnee pariksha.

Police N underhand deal..

Shalini Kapoor in car crash in Goregaon.

http://ww1.mid-day.com/hitlist/2006/february/130421.htm

Does the above article demand immediate action against the police involved? It is a serious allegation against the police, if not true than the persons involved should apologise and the media should carry the same.

Zindagi ki Kashmkash

Aksar hum manjilo ko pane ki khawish mein
Kho dete hain kyai khushiya
Kho dete hain kyai lamhein
Yaad aati hain kyai baatein
Na jane who sukun kaha gaya zindagi se
Na jane who bahare kaha gayi
Lagta hain khawabo ke peeche bhagate zindagi yu hi guzar jayegi

Mann mein ek chubhan si hain
Dil mein naa jane kaise kasak hain
Khamosh hain yeh saari raahein
Na jane woh khushi kaha gayi
Manjilo pe manjil tay karte gaye
Hum raasto pe raste chalte gaye
Inhi raasto par kho gayi humari muskarahtein

Aasmano ko dekh roj nagmein bante
Kaagazo par raat yu hi guzrate
woh shaam ka dhalna , din ka chalna
Har rangeen shaam ki parchayi
Yaad hain humein
Par aaj naa woh shaam hain naa woh din
Buss manjilo par manjil tay karte gaye
Raasto pe raaste chalte gaye

Waqt asa bhi tha jab hasne ke liye zarrorate kum thi
Par aaj mehsoos karo toh lagta hain
Manjilo ke saayein mein
Humne kho di woh hasi

Oonche hain sare khawab
Oonchi hain saari manjile
In bhagate raasto mein
Daudti nazarein
Bheed mein bhi tanha akele hain hum

Raat ke baad din ka aana
Patchado mein phool ka khilna
Yeh aas dilata hain
Paa lege woh khushi
Laut aayegi woh muskarahtein
Har masoom chere par chaa jayegi wahi hasi

--Megha Bhuwal--

[with the same title from an email forward]

KBC - Lock Kiya Jaaye?

Well, my earlier post gives my snap along with Amitji as part of audience though.

This is a fraud on a massive scale.
I am sad by the thought that Siddharth Basu could've been a part of this fraud.
India TV did an excellent expose on KBC's selection process.

But the way everyone went out of the way to exonerate Shri Amitji is a bit depressing.Are celebrities not to be held accountable?

People have already forgotten HOME TRADE, top-notch personalities like sachinji, shahrukhji, hrithikji made millions whereas the employees of home trade did not get salary also. I remember one of these personality's quote that was flashed by media after the expose "What business is home trade into?" So innocent!!

Mr Amitji, we expect you to stand up for your fans, the millions across the world who watched episode after episode and dialled away their hard earned money.
As your image is sullied by this episode, we the people of india expect you to take those people to court who did this scam.

Is it a wee bit too much to ask for?

A blog on paisa vasool movies...

I am coming up with a blog on movies only....that is the movies that i saw and enjoyed...
Take a peek at it...
http://tpmovies.blogspot.com

Ultimate Irony

AMITABH BACHCHAN is scared of being hounded by the system, the angry young man whom millions of indians looked upon as someone who represented them.

Than what about the common man.

KBC, Amitji aur Hum...

Not as participant but as Audience...

KING KONG

Peter Jackson's remake is awesome. A full paisa vasool movie.
The initial one-hour infact makes you wonder whether its king kong or the ring, that you are watching.The introduction of the tribals and the killings is definetly grotesque for elders too...I had gone along with my 5 year son.
But the Jungle adventure and from there to the city, it is a rollercoaster ride.
PJ has proved that when it comes to Story Telling, he is right on the top among the best.
Every department excels, especially art direction, the sets and the CGI graphics/effects are unbelievable.
If you haven't seen it,go now.
And do not do the mistake of watching it on DVD/VCD.

Bhen....Ya a post on that word..:)

Amit Varma's post "Punctuation in Delhi" is hilarious. I do feel that it holds true for Mumbai too.

http://indiauncut.blogspot.com/2006/01/punctuation-in-delhi.html

Just go to the url above and read it.
The marriage proposal part is bhen...really funny.

Yoga...A fad / trend or a passing fancy?

Well the current baba and baby fracas led me to search the net for yoga based info.
And you know what...i got a lot of it from

http://www.homeblogz.com/Yoga/2005_05_01_archive.html

Salman inaugurates Yoga Centre in Dubai
Sify, India - May 24, 2005 The first Bharat Artistic Yoga Centre was officially opened in Dubai by well-known yoga teacher Bharat Thakur, whose celebrity clients include Salman Khan

Literacy, yoga to combat Maoists
Times of India, India - 15 hours ago JHARGRAM: Realising that education can be mightier than firearms in combating Maoist rebels who dominate underdeveloped pockets in West Bengal...!!!

Docs in push-yoga camp
Calcutta Telegraph, India - 19 hours ago Ranchi, May 29: The Ranchi branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), recognising the ancient healing effects of yoga, has decided to organise a pranayam camp.

[Hey you know what i found Brinda again in the search for yoga.]

Brinda Karat slaps legal notice on Yoga book publisher
Hindu, India - May 26, 2005 Manolokam Group, had used quotes from Ms Karat's interview to a women's weekly in Malayalam in a newspaper advertisement for their book on yoga recently.

[Now read a Sad headline from Mid-day today.]Birthday boy kills himself. [age 14]
http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/january/127720.htm

[Now read this.]
Yoga Helps Children Reduce Anxiety
Click 2 Houston.com, TX - May 25, 2005 Yoga helps people relax, build their muscles and lose weight. When 10-year-old Anna Goedjen first started taking yoga, she was a different child.

Instead of those stupid PT Exercises, yoga should be introduced in schools as compulsory subject.

We will atleast have a fit new generation.

The Ramdev - Karat Fracas

This is with respect to my earlier post. I got some mails indicating that i am being biased or taking sides.
I have seen Baba on TV and admire his yoga classes that are aired early in the morning and have seen its impact on the higher age group in my building.
Although I do not owe any explanation to anyone please note i am not a follower or a member of Baba Ramdev's group.

But i again stress upon the point that i was trying to make that leading activists, leaders and media should not indulge in mere allegations without proof. Do your investigations, gather proof and than alert people.
At the same time i again would like to praise Baba's efforts in spreading awareness about "Yoga" across India. The health ministry should take a cue from baba's efforts of spreading awareness about advantages of Yoga.

I do not know anything about the medicines that he offers to his disciples.
If Karat proves what she says than the Government machinery should investigate and take action. If Karat cannot prove this, Baba should sue her and use the same satellite channels to highlight this nexus between activists/leaders and MNC powers.

Baba Ramdev - Godman or Conman?

Brinda Karat's outburst has more to it than it seems.

Activists, Leaders and Media do not understand that they need to provide proof or facts whenever they levy charges on someone.And it is a fact that Baba Ramdev has been doing a great service by spreading awareness of yoga through the medium of satellite channels.

Media is readily available for such soundbytes and karat could have called for a debate which the Baba has asked for now.

One has to just see the numbers that turn up for the yoga sessions every morning by turning on their tv.

As for the medicines being mixed with animal bones, we the people need proof.
Otherwise shut up...i am practising yoga.