Gmail, Calendar and Docs – Now Offline

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Gmail offline will be available today, and offline for Google Calendar and Google Docs will be rolling out over the next week, starting today.  Gmail Offline is a Chrome Web Store app that’s intended for situations when you need to read, respond to, organize and archive email without an internet connection. This HTML5-powered app is based on the Gmail web app for tablets, which was built to function with or without web access. After you install the Gmail Offline app from the Chrome Web Store, you can continue using Gmail when you lose your connection by clicking the Gmail Offline icon on Chrome’s “new tab” page.  Google Calendar and Google Docs let you seamlessly transition between on- and offline modes. When you’re offline in Google Calendar, you can view events from your calendars and RSVP to appointments.  With Google Docs you can view documents and spreadsheets when you don’t have a connection. Offline editing isn’t ready yet, but we know it’s important to many of you, and we’re working hard to make it a reality.  To get started using Google Calendar or Google Docs offline, just click the gear icon at the top right corner of the web app and select the option for offline access.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean – On Stranger Tides

I guess everyone enjoys watching Johnny Depp so no point saying anything about Captain Jack Sparrow.

I did enjoy most of the film (the last 30 minutes were a bit too blaa), but then again – I am a fan. Not very thrilled about the casting of Penelope Cruz. She just… well - I would have preferred some one else for that role. Penelope just doesn’t work for me. I wasn’t the one producing the film – so obviously my preference doesn’t matter.

The Mentalist – Season 4

Thor

Not impressed.

Politicians Get iPad Lessons To Cut Paperwork

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Members of Parliament are taking lessons on how to use iPads and other tablet computers after being given a special budget to buy technology that cuts down on paperwork. Each of the 790 lawmakers, many of whom are elderly, has been granted Rs. 50,000 to invest in one of the devices in an attempt to tackle India's infamously laborious red tape.

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I am a strong supporter of emails and paperless operations, but this just doesn’t make sense (to me). Judging by their comments - most (if not all of the MP’s) are intellectually challenged. Don’t frown at me. We are talking about a group that includes individuals who go to the UNSC and don’t know whose speech they are reading!

I am not even sure if they would have understood what the hell the introductory lesson was for! If that wasn’t bad enough, check this out:

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Many veteran MPs such as E.M.S. Natchiappan, 63, of the ruling Congress party, bring their iPads to work daily. They are allowed to use the tablets in the chamber to make notes but no Internet access is available.

So, what do they do? Exchange their iPads when they want to pass on the notes / question list? Or is the iPad only to play Angry Bird while they are bored during the parliament session? May be it’s just to take notes for future reference. Well, if that was the case - then why an iPad / Galaxy tablet? A simple voice recorder would have served the purpose (and wouldn’t necessarily require a budget of IRS 50,000).

What ticked me off the most was a comment left by one of the readers on the NDTV article: 

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Balamurugan Arumugam 6 minutes ago Posted via NDTV iPhone App: Good move. This can help to bring efficiency and transparency in governance.

How the hell does using an iPad or a Galaxy tab help bring transparency in governance?

Mr. Balamurugan (I am assuming: no relation to QuickGun Murugan) – Do you even know what is the meaning of the word transparency? Perhaps the next time you decide to share your brilliant views on the web, you should use your iPhone to Google up what the words mean before firing up your NDTV iPhone App.

Sometimes I feel we are just a bit too hard on the politicians. An idiotic population deserves an idiotic political system filled with idiotic characters.

Shoe For A Shoe – Rajasthan Assembly

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Congress MLA Raghu Sharma interrupted BJP's Pramila Kundara while she was speaking in the House. Ms Kundara accused Mr Sharma of illegally transferring public land to his wife. This allegedly prompted  Mr Sharma's sexist remark, "This is the Vidhan Sabha, not a ramp for modeling." A sandal was hurled from the BJP section at the Congress. It's not clear who took aim. Mr Sharma later claimed the slipper "was flung by BJP MLA Bhawani Singh Rajawat inside the House." Not about to take the high road, Mr Sharma then held up his shoe menacingly at the Opposition.

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Am I the only one who thinks allowing guns inside the Parliament and Legislative Assembly would be a good idea?

Every party should have one. Or at least the major parties should be allowed to carry guns (recession, economy and all that nonsense about not wasting tax payers money). The smaller parties / independents should be allowed to carry switch blades / pocket knives.

Shoes, sandals, mics – clearly, these aren’t effective enough. Guns and knives will definitely improve the situation. Ek-do marenge, agreed – but after that, aaltu faaltu kachra crowd will (hopefully) be a bit discouraged from attending the parliament/legislative assembly proceedings.

Oye Anna – aaja. Another ‘issue’ for you to fast over. Bring that crying Bedi along as well. Faaltu mein shor machaane ka ek aur mauka. And hopefully ek aadhi goli tum dono ko bhi lag jaayegi. What a way to break the fast, eh – A bullet to shut up your loud mouths.

Hum to kehte hain, Afzal Guru ko phaansi do… BUT before hanging him – please give him one more chance to rid us of these politicians. Arrey! They have been feeding him all these years (citizen’s taxes at work), can’t we expect even THIS much in return??!

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Yeh LIBERTY ki chappal hai!!

Now, did Sharma ji misunderstand the question OR was the correspondent being the now typical media reporter / journalist i.e. idiotic investigative journalist trying to report every detail – relevant or not.

Payaam Aaye Hain Uss Yaar-E-Bevafaa Ke Mujhe

Ahmed Faraz…

Payaam aaye hain uss yaar-e-bevafaa ke mujhe
Jise qaraar na aayaa kahin bhulaa ke mujhe

Nashe se kahoon to nahin yaad-e-yaar ka aalam
Ke le udaa hai koi dosh par havaa ke mujhe

Judaaiyaan hon to aisi ki umr bhar na mile
Fareb to do zaraa silsile badaa ke mujhe

Main khud ko bhuul chukaa tha magar jahaan vaale
Udaas chhod gaye aainaa dikhaa ke mujhe

There’s An App For That

Author Dick Cheney

Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai - Airtel

Nicely done.

Singham

Time pass. Definitely watchable. Thank you Pride. If it weren’t for your suggestion, I wouldn’t have bothered with this one.

Would have been better without the love angle. I can’t understand why the makers feel the need to shove in a love angle when it isn’t needed. Guess it’s to justify putting in the songs (that aren’t needed).

The climax was disappointing. I expected the villain (played by Prakash Raj) to be a bit more… resourceful or, well at least retain a bit of dignity. The climax ruined it for me.

There were other issues as well, for instance – when Anjali (Kavya’s sister) is kidnapped and her father receives the call to pay the ransom – ahem…. villain uncle doesn’t even mention the ransom amount to be paid!

That said, for a bollywood flick, such slips aren’t too big a deal. In fact, it can very easily be overlooked. Remove the love angle from the film and I would have definitely enjoyed it more. Oh, and the climax should have been better. Arrey, villain hai to kya hua? Thoda izzat to dena chaahiye.

BlackBerry 9900 – Offer From Zain

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The Device Offer: You can get the BlackBerry 9900 at a discounted price or even for free by subscribing to a Wiyana Mix package starting at KD 10. After subscribing to your very own Wiyana Mix package, you can get your device through one of the following methods: A reduced retail price Monthly payments with a commitment of 18 months Free (with the commitments listed below)

 

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Hospital Makes Youth Use His Severed Legs As Pillow (??!!)

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Reports said when other patients woke up on Monday, they saw a man lying on an adjoining bed with his head resting on two legs! Some of them called the hospital staff and demanded that something be done immediately. One of the patients said, "I saw the ward boys take him to the bed. Instead of placing a pillow under his head, they put the severed limbs. The patient was in agonizing pain and hardly realized the barbaric act."

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iPhone Virtual Reality Viewer

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This is the device that couples with an iPhone to create immersive, three-dimensional viewing experiences. Using free downloadable applications that take advantage of an iPhone's accelerometer--the 3D environments move when the iPhone is moved--the viewer is held to the eyes like a pair of binoculars; two finger holes in the bottom enable access to an iPhone's touchscreen. In addition to viewing 3D movie trailers, one can assume the persona of a Great White Shark (or other species) and roam underwater with 360º movement for prey and buried treasure, take a virtual tour of Los Angeles' Santa Monica Pier to play a sampling of interactive games, or take part in an underground hovercraft race that requires tilting and panning the viewer/iPhone to steer. Compatible with iPhone 4G, iPod touch 4, iPhone 3G/3GS, and 2nd/3rd Generation iPod touch. Ages 14 and up. 8" L x 6" W x 3" H. (14 oz.)

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Crap.

Alert SMS Service - Zain

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Zain Kuwait, the largest mobile network operator in the country, has launched, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior (MOI), a security alert SMS service that uses the very latest mobile technology to facilitate the processing and registering of official documentation. Among other services, the alerts remind customers when to renew passports and residence permits as well as tell them how much longer they have on their entry visas. They also help customers maintain nationality files and election lists, as well as give driving license, vehicle registration, and even traffic violation details. All the customer has to do is send letter “ع” in Arabic or “E” in English, followed by a space and their civil ID No. to 992. The customer will then receive a welcome message validated by his or her passport number. The registration costs only KD 1.00. Further SMSs received from MOI-992 will be free, while an SMS received from ALDAKHILIYA will be charged at 40 fils.

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Are You Supporting Anna Hazare?

I honestly don’t know how to react when I am asked that question. People support a lot of things. I support Manchester United (Yes, I do know it’s not what it used to be, but… UNITED FOR LIFE). When I say I support Manchester United, I know what I am supporting. Anna Hazare – I don’t really know what the noise is all about. 

I can’t understand what it is that Anna Hazare and his supporters are trying to accomplish over here. They seem to be of the opinion that corruption exists solely in the political circles. That – as any thinking brain will confirm – is NOT the case. My suggestions for dealing with corruption are way way off from all this nonsense.

A couple of scams have come out – CWG, 2G and god alone knows what else. Obscene amount of money being said to have been pocketed. What I can’t understand is – what exactly will be accomplished by Anna Hazare fasting along with 40-50-100 thousand people?

Does Anna Hazare and his idiotic team of supporters believe that with their march and protests they will be able to topple the government? Ok, let’s just assume that they are able to, then what? The new government WONT be corrupt?

Arrey paagal ke bachche – corruption is not an isolated epidemic / disease affecting the politicians or just one particular political party. Corruption is everywhere. The change has to come from the PEOPLE and does not necessarily have to start from the head of government. The change has to start from the people who are rallying behind you without even understanding what they are rallying for!!?

As hard as it may be to believe / understand / accept – The Prime Minister of the country has a lot less control over - you handing a 100 IRS note to the peon at the passport office, to expedite your file - than you do. Think about that for a minute. Read that line again, slowly and it WILL make sense.

That is not all that’s bothering me. The guy wants to go on a hunger strike with a bunch of idiots – arrey go ahead. What difference does it make? I don’t understand why the government or the police have a problem with it. I think it’s wonderful news. All the jobless idiots gathered together for days in one place and the rest of Delhi has significantly reduced traffic on the roads. Great news for those who actually have things to do.

Welcome him and his supporters with a smile and say please go ahead. Take whichever ground / venue you want – (I would even suggest to charge them rent) and then make sure that there is 24X7 media coverage as well. Shouldn’t be a problem considering how many dedicated news channels we have who make an exclusive out of just about anything. Let’s make sure all these people are actually on hunger strike.

If he dies while fasting – what’s going to happen? Another statue won’t make a difference. In my opinion, the police and / or the government should keep out of this as long as it’s a peaceful assembly of idiots.

Why do I keep calling them idiots – well here is why:

A while back, I was listening to BBC – World Have Your Say, where Kiran Bedi was acting all pricey with comments like – “I am in the middle of the movement and I can give you only 15 minutes of my time”. Wow. Why bother even coming online? It wasn’t as if she shared some insightful comments or gave information that wasn’t already available.

Just a while before that, on one of the Indian comedy news channels, a correspondent was talking to a protestor / supporter who had come with his entire family for the hunger strike. When asked what him and his family were doing there, his response was “we are here to support Anna Hazare”.

The correspondent presses on as to what exactly he is there for and the supporter responds “we are on hunger strike in support of Anna Hazare”. When asked AGAIN what’s the agenda / demands and what they seek to achieve, the supporter simply replied - “I don’t know”.

Dikhaawon pe mat jaao… apni akal ladaao.

Obama The Negotiator

Dexter – Season 6

Waiting…..

In case you are wondering, the track is Personal Jesus – Marilyn Manson (Music video below):

Marilyn Manson - Personal Jesus

Two And A Half Men – Now With Ashton Kutcher

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I find it rather difficult to tolerate Ashton Kutcher. Annoying cunt. I really did enjoy watching Two And A Half Men, but with Ashton in the cast….. nah.

Well, I do have the previous seasons and I can always watch those again.

SM Krishna Gets Confused … Again

Yaar, Krishna uncle confuse bahut hote hain. Anyone remember the UNSC screw up where Krishna read the wrong speech!? [Link]

This time, Krishna ji got confused at the Rajya Sabha. He was asked about a prisoner – Dr. Mohammad Khalil Chisti and what was the update regarding his release. Please note - Dr. Chisti is being held in Ajmer, India.

Krishna ji responded that the Pakistani government should consider the age / condition of the prisoner and release him on humanitarian grounds, and that India will pursue this at the level of the high commissioner. Clearly Krishna uncle was talking about someone else. As reported in TOI / Hindustan Times etc:

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" The question raised is with reference to a particular person who is detained in Pakistan." He further said, "It is a question which needs to be considered by government of Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. He is confined to wheelchair and he is 80-plus. These are factors which mitigate. I am sure, the government of Pakistan will take a lenient view about this particular case. We will, certainly, pursue this at the level of high commissioners."

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Leave before someone pushes you out. Thodi bahut izzat bacchi hui hai, bachi rehne do. Iss umar mein kyon tension lete ho!? Kahin aisa to nahin ke Hina Rabbani ki yaad mein Krishna uncle ab Ghajni ban gaye??! Kuch bhi nahin yaad, Hina Rabbani ke siwa. Sigh….

Manmohan Singh should consider relieving Krishna ji of his duties – on humanitarian grounds.

Stupidity ≠ Art ! Please Stop!

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Artist Injects Herself With Horse Blood, Wears Hooves Marion Laval-Jeantet has injected herself with horse blood plasma as part of an artistic project exploring trans-species relationships. Laval-Jeantet and her creative partner Benoit Mangin (working as the collective Art Orienté Objet) were keen to explore the blurring of boundaries between species in the piece, entitled May the Horse Live in Me. Laval-Jeantet prepared her body to accept the horse blood plasma by getting injected with different horse immunoglobulins over the course of several months.

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“Artist”!?? Somebody please tell this retard crazy bitch idiot woman that this is NOT art!

Seriously! WTF happened? When did planet earth get invaded by an army of idiots? Think about it (if humans are still capable of thinking), we now have a population that is fine with shit like:

• SRK is a superstar?! Now listed as one of the greatest actors!
• Kareena Kapoor is referred to as a top actress!? That’s not even funny!
• Chetan Bhagat calls himself an author???? And not only gets away with it but even manages to sell shit loads of his crap books!
• Bush Jr lives on without a functioning brain.
• Sarah Palin still hasn’t been shot at or shot herself!
• Daniel Craig is James Bond!!?!!???

And now – injecting yourself with horse blood and wearing hooves is ART!!!

Shoot me.. shoot me NOW!

Dekh tere sansar ki haalat kya hogayi bhagwaan - kitna badal gayaa insaan.
sooraj na badlaa, chaand na badlaa, naa badlaa re aasmaan - kitna badal gayaa insaan. 

If you thought Wafaa Bilaal was a moron, what do you call Marion Laval-Jeantet??

In case you don’t remember, here is the Wafaa Bilaal nonsense:

• NYU Prof To Install Camera … In The Back Of His Head
• Wafaa Bilal, Once More
• Health Problems Force Professor to Pull Camera From Back of Head

Maintaining Minimum Balance May No Longer Be Necessary - India

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BANGALORE: The high court on Tuesday observed that banks recovering penal charges from customers not maintaining minimum balance in their accounts might have to pay back the amount with penal interest once the RBI comes out with its decision.

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BlackBerry Colt

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• Expected launch - Q1 2012.
• Single Core processor.
• No support for BES.

So, what’s NEW about it? Well, it will run the QNX OS. Reason stated for no BES support – It will take longer to write the BES code for QNX.

The device being tested is using a single core processor. This MIGHT change before the device’s scheduled release but there is no confirmation, yet.

Murder 2

The poster is a copy, but that’s not the only thing that’s ripped off.

Absolute rubbish. I am forced to conclude that the makers believe the audience is completely brain dead, and frankly – that’s a bit insulting. 

The Great Negotiator

USB Optical Mouse With Pocket Digital Scale

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Yet another senseless gadget.

I can’t think of a single possible use for this mouse with digital scale.

40 Pesos - Autocorrect

Maula Maula Re

Really like the song.

The video – not so much. In fact, I find the video absolutely horrid. Too much yellow, too many light bulbs, looks like a cross between a Joyalukkas commercial and a Diwali video with an overdose of the mallu touch (not sure if that makes complete sense, but I do hope you get the point).

Plus, Kajal Agarwal just doesn’t do it for me.

404

 

Watchable, I guess.

The film seemed to drag (in my view). There were bits and pieces that contributed absolutely nothing to the plot and should have been edited out. Professor Aniruddh (Nishikant Kamat) talking about his own experience - seeing his dead mother and all that – there wasn’t any point to it.

I might have enjoyed watching this if it would have picked up the pace a bit.

Hospital Dumps Patients In The Field - UP

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Allahabad:  Dehumanised, neglected and virtually left on their own - this is the condition of two patients in Allahabad. They have been dumped by a government hospital simply because they are too poor to afford their treatment.

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This is appalling (to say the least) but it gets worse. NDTV goes on to report:

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A case has been registered against doctor Sonu Sharma, ward boys Dharmendra and Raju Yadav and ambulance driver Shiv Nirmal of the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital for dumping the two seriously ill patients, police said Wednesday. They have been booked for attempt to murder. Barring the doctor, the others have been arrested.

Why wasn’t the doctor arrested??! Absconding? Missing? Dead?

Neend Se Aankh Khuli Hai, Abhi Dekha Kya Hai

Shahid Kabir…

Neend se aankh khuli hai, abhi dekha kya hai
Dekh lena abhi kuch der mein - duniya kya hai

Baandh kar rakha hai kissi soch ne ghar se hum ko
Varna dar-o-deewaar se rishta kya hai

Rait ki iint ki patthar ki ho ya mitti ki
Kissi deewaar ke saaye ka bharosa kya hai

Apni danisht mein samjhe koi duniya 'shahid'
Varna haathon mein lakiron ke aelaava kya hai

Jesus Diaz From Gizmodo Is Upset With “Zuck And His Cronies”

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As someone who lost two babies I can't imagine anything worse that announcing a pregnancy on Facebook. But that's what Zuck and his cronies just did. Now you can add a "new family member" that hasn't been born yet, even with a due date. Because, you know, that's exactly what you want to do, tempt fate by announcing your not-yet-born child, have everyone congratulate you on your wall and then, if something horrible happens, have to take your unborn child out of the list of family members. And of course, have morons write in your wall how sorry they are about your loss. Really smart.

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That’s from Gizmodo penned by Jesus Diaz

This is weird for me. I am NOT a FaceBook (FB) fan. I don’t even have a FB account anymore. In fact, I hate the damn thing. It’s a great example and should be included as a case study in Marketing / Business Studies courses - but I hate it nevertheless. So you see - it’s weird for me to see an article with an anti FaceBook tone and not be able to agree with it.

Mr. Diaz, you do realise that you don’t HAVE TO announce the pregnancy on FB, right? It’s an option which the user can use or ignore.

• IF you want to - go ahead.
• IF you don’t want to – no body is going to put a gun to your head and make you do it.

Tempt fate bla bla – seriously, THAT’s your argument ?!?

If you are driving your BMW and decide to drive like a moron resulting in you having a head-on collision with a tree - is it BMW’s fault for putting an accelerator in the car or god’s fault for putting a tree at that spot? OR did you tempt fate and piss off god by having your BMW polished last week?

Now FaceBook has put up an option - you don’t HAVE TO use it, if you don’t want to. You can’t blame Zack and his cronies if you decide to use FB while putting your brain on hold / in the freezer / whatever it is you do.

If you do decide NOT to use your brains – well at least you won’t be alone. Shit loads of people have decided just that and you can see them updating their FB Status Message(s) every ten minutes.