…

Hundred Lakh (WTF)?

Link

The Lakh-Ten Lakh-Crore system is confusing enough for those of us who have been taught the Thousand-Hundred Thousand-Million system. We use the Thousand-Hundred Thousand-Million system in our daily routine (work and conversations) and that makes us roll our eyes every time amounts are denoted in Lakh-Ten Lakh-Crore.

NOW… we have Hundred Lakh?? When did Hundred Lakh get added to the South Asian numbering system? This is just making shit up. As if things weren't confusing enough already.

161 Lakh > 16100000 > 16,100,000 (Sixteen Million One Hundred Thousand) > 1,61,00,000 (One Crore Sixty One Lakh).

---

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a fan of Pranab Moorakh jee Mukherjee. I think he is an imbecile. I am not a Congress supporter. Furthermore, YES - Routine maintenance and upkeep DOES cost. However, the extravagance in this case is over the top. I do believe that this amount could have been better utilised.

There are comments on the 'news' article and the entire tone is set as if Pranab Mukherjee and members of the Congress took the money and deposited it in their respective Swiss Bank Accounts (do go through the comments and see for yourself).

It is a bit surprising because Belgaum is in Karnataka and Congress is NOT the ruling party in the state. Maintenance of the Circuit House is a function of the State PWD. Further, use of the words 'used just for an hour' in the headline is completely unnecessary and (judging from majority of the comments) misleading.

It may be worth pointing out that the Circuit House wasn't just erected / renovated for the President's one hour stay. The structure will be used for visits by various officials. That's why it is there in the first place. The use may be for official or unofficial purposes - will discuss that at a later time.

I am not suggesting that no one made money when deciding which contractors or suppliers will be enlisted to carry out the renovation. In all likelihood commission / gifts / favours would have been exchanged. Frown upon it as much as you want but that is how things get done (not just in India, btw). My personal views on that will be a topic for another post, some other time.

Other 'Stuffs'?!!

Link

!!

…

Aur bhi gham hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
Raahaten aur bhi hain vasl ki raahat ke sivaa

Yaa Rab! Gham-E-Hijraan Mein Itna To Kiya Hota

Charag Hasan Hasrat…

Yaa rab! Gham-e-hijraan mein itna to kiya hota
Jo haath jigar pe hai vo dast-e-duaa hota

Ik ishq ka gham aafat aur uss pe ye dil aafat
Yaa gham na diya hota yaa dil na diya hota

Gairon se kahaa tum ne gairon se suna tum ne
Kuch ham se kahaa hota kuch hum se suna hota

Ummeed to bandh jaati taskeen to ho jaati
Vadaa na vafaa karte vadaa to kiya hota

Nakaam-e-tamannaa dil iss soch mein rahta hai
Yoon hota to kya hota yoon hota to kya hota

Eagle In The Sky - Wilbur Smith

Err… A bit too Bollywood-ish. The book does have its moments but on the whole, just not happy with the plot.

NRA's Defence

Dexter - Season 7

As with every Season, my favourite parts are:

• Conversations between Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Harry Morgan (James Remar).
• Conversations between Dexter and Dexter/The Dark Passenger (voiceovers).

Isaak Sirko (Ray Stevenson) - Excellent addition to the Season.

Louise Greene (Josh Cooke) - Extremely disappointed. This character could have been so much better/stronger.

Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovski) - Another good addition. Being easy on the eyes definitely helps. Reminds me a bit of Lila (Jamie Murray) from Season 2. Hannah is definitely better. A sensible strong female character that isn't totally dependent on Dexter. Just one episode - Episode 10 - The Dark… Whatever - where (in my view) the character slipped.

Nadia (Katia Winter) - Simple character included in a few episodes. Serves the purpose and then exits the Season.

Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) - The ugly annoying cunt dies at the end of the Season. Clink.

Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) - Still don't like her. I can't figure out why she has to be such a loser. Depressing confused character.

…

Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.

- Albert Einstein

Mr. And Shri - What's The Big Deal!?

"

Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed may be the key conspirator of the Mumbai terror attacks, but Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde referred to him in Parliament using honorifics like 'Mr' and 'Shri'.

Link

Seriously, what's the big deal??

There is no shortage of real/actual issues in India. There are plenty of issues/controversies to use against this government and its set of ministers. Making an issue out of this (use of Mr. / Shri) is childish, pointless and ridiculous.

Straighten out your priorities.

More Crap

Link

It's a shit story to begin with. I have no sympathy for idiots.

To make it worse, TOI puts in a Typo - April 201.

The Diamond Hunters - Wilbur Smith

Not as good as When the Lion Feeds, but readable.

Rent-A-Number - Wataniya

"

Rent-a-Number service enables you to attach one additional mobile number to your existing SIM card. This means you can receive and make calls with both numbers using one SIM and one phone. Rent-a-Number comes in handy if you need an additional line for temporary basis, like you are moving house and want to get rid of all your old furniture. You can broadcast the temporary Rent-a-Number number to receive inquiries. Or you are conducting a mini promotional campaign for your home business and you want people to call you during the promotion period. This service comes in handy when you need a new number on short-term basis, it saves you the trouble to invest and purchase a new line. You will be charged a monthly fee of 1.5 KD for the Rent-a-Number service plus additional charges as per your mobile plan for all the outgoing calls and SMS If you are a postpaid user, subscription fee will be billed to your account. If you are a prepaid user, subscription fee will be deducted from your account.

Link

Three Wise Men

…

Today my Twitter feed went crazy after the shooting incident (Connecticut) was reported. Everyone is 'appalled'.

I am disgusted/disturbed… but my reasons extend beyond the loss of innocent lives.

My reasons are:

• 14-12-12 -  China school knife attack in Henan injures 22 children
• 12-12-12 - Shame in Bangalore: Girls branded with hot knife, boy's face smashed at school

These are equally 'appalling' incidents that happened around the same time. Yes, I understand that in the Connecticut incident there were deaths… but is it necessary to wait for something as extreme as DEATH for people to get appalled and feel the need to take corrective/preventive/decisive measures??

Chakravyuh

Not bad.

It is evident that a lot of effort had been taken to present a balanced/unbiased view. An effort to make a film on a very real issue. Not many film makers manage to get that right. Actually, not sure if many film makers even care about getting that right. Prakash Jha should be appreciated for the effort, at least.

Actors/Performances – I am used to seeing much better performances from Abhay Deol and a lot of below average performances from Arjun Rampal. In this film, everything was reasonably ok.

What I did not understand:

• The casting of Esha Gupta as an Intelligence Officer (rolls eyes). She is good to look at, no one is contesting THAT. But… an Intelligence Officer?? That's a bit of a stretch.
• There is a scene in the film (approx Time Marker - 1:46) where the 'Intelligence' Officer uses the term GSM instead of GPS. This isn't really the actor's fault. It SHOULD have been corrected during the post production/editing.
• The Item Song included in the film… I didn't see the point.

What would have made this film EXCELLENT:

• More of Rajan (Manoi Bajpai). There SHOULD have been more about the character's background.
• Stress on the ideology and not just on the method. Everyone is aware of the method, but not many understand the ideology (unfortunately).
• Edit out that stupid Item Song.

BBM Voice

Yes, I am aware that VoIP is not a new technology.

BlackBerry's BBM Voice is now out of Beta and available on App World for download. Just tried it out and it works as advertised. Now… if they could have this working over the mobile network as well and not just limited to WiFi…  

…

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

- Oscar Wilde

Vo Har Maqaam Se Pahle Vo Har Maqaam Ke Baad

Qabil Ajmeri…

Vo har maqaam se pahle vo har maqaam ke baad
Sahar thi shaam se pahle sahar hai shaam ke baad

Har inqalaab-e-mubaarak har inqalaab-e-azaab
Shikast-e-jaam se pahle shikast-e-jaam ke baad

Mujh pe itni tavajjo mujh se itna gurez
Mere salaam se pahle mere salaam ke baad

Charaag-e-bazm-e-sitam hain humara haal na poochh
Jale the shaam se pahle bujhe hain shaam ke baad

Ye raat kuchh bhi nahin thi ye raat sab kuchh hai
Tuluu-e-jaam se pahle tuluu-e-jaam ke baad

Vahi zubaan vahi baaten magar hai kitna farq
Tumhaare naam se pahle tumhaare naam ke baad

Hayaat giriyaa-e-shabnam hayaat raqs-e-sharar
Tere payaam se pahle tere payaam ke baad

Ye tarz-e-fiqr ye rang-e-sukhan kahaan 'Qabil'
Tere kalaam se pahle tere kalaam ke baad

Case Against Dad For Fake Gold Gift

"

"A few months after my marriage, I realized that most of the sovereigns were not real gold. My husband asked me to ignore it, but I felt cheated and decided to approach the police," said Fathima, who got married on January 26, 2012. "My father is a rich man and I want to ensure that he replaces the 22 sovereigns of 'fake' gold with real gold. I don't expect anything more from him," Fathima fumed.

Link

The headline suggests that this was supposed to be a gift. Being disappointed is one thing. Approaching the police to register a case (over a gift) is just pathetic. Of course, it would be different if fake gold was intentionally misrepresented as real gold and then SOLD to her. In that event 'feeling cheated' and approaching the police would make sense.

Why does the shameless greedy money hungry gold digging bitch Fathima  believe that she is owed the gold in the first place??? Suppose she received a fake LV bag from someone as a wedding gift. Is she going to sue the relative and "expect" a real LV bag?!?

A gift of fake gold sovereigns can be frowned upon - for sure. But someone needs to tell the bitch Fathima that the world does NOT owe her a living. She can not legally force her father to give her a gift that she "expects".

Wish List

When The Lion Feeds - Wilbur Smith

Something always dies when the lion feeds and yet there is meat for those that follow him - My favourite line from the book.

A story where you actually care about what happens next. An engaging plot with a brilliant narration.

The Life Of Pi (Cont…)

Observation - There is an extremely liberal use of commas in this book. Annoying.

Finally… the ship wreck. :)

• Chapter 43 - Too many details that don't seem to be adding anything to the plot. Towards the end of the chapter - A somewhat disgusting (and completely unnecessary) detailed description of a hyena's general behaviour.
• Chapter 46 - More disgusting details.
• Chapter 47 - Must you include every detail? Why can't it just be and the hyena killed / devoured the orangutan?? One simple sentence.

I don't have a problem reading about human mutilation or watching Tarantino flicks laced with blood/gore/amputation/dismemberment - That's all fine. BUT, wild animals maiming / feasting on other animals is just horrid / disgusting (for me).

• Chapter 48 - This… I like (Page 62)

To cope with a hyena seemed remotely possible - WTF?! (not the first WTF moment in the book, but just felt like highlighting this one).

The only reason I didn’t stand up and beat it off the lifeboat with a stick was lack of strength and stick, not lack of heart - Ahem… Sure! Whatever helps you sleep at night.

• Chapter 50 - Yawn… Perhaps the details do have some significance later on in the book. It would make sense to put them THERE. Right now it's just MORE irrelevant text.

My feelings can perhaps be imagined, but they can hardly be described - Then STOP describing it and lets move on to the talking tiger!!

A masala dosa with a coconut chutney-hmmmmm! Even better: oothappam! HMMMMM! Oh! I brought my hands to my mouth-IDLI! - Bloody irritating Madrasi. Could we please move on with the tiger?

• Chapter 52 - I really don't see the need of printing the inventory list but since it IS included in the book, I HAVE to ask:

10 or so orange life jackets, each with an orange, beadless whistle attached by a string - Why was it difficult to get the exact number of life jackets? You bothered to count everything else, why couldn't you count the exact number of life jackets? I think it's a fair enough question, given that the list includes 1 solid lifebuoy with an inner diameter of 40 centimetres and an outer diameter of 80 centimetres, and an attached rope AND 1 notebook with 98 lined pages.

Perhaps the life jackets were too close to Richard Parker. But didn't you count them later or was this the time when basic arithmetic failed you? OR did you feel THIS was irrelevant to your detailed account of events (rolls eyes)?

• Chapter 53 - We fight and fight and fight - And you talk and talk and talk!

all the while cursing my stupidity - Trust me, laddie - you aren't the only one cursing your stupidity.

At the sight, in shock and surprise, my legs gave way beneath me and I practically fell into the locker - Hang on! So… you were fine with the hyena and the tiger but your legs gave way when you saw a rat?!

• Chapter 54 - Fire off a rocket flare in his face? Go at him with a hatchet in each hand and a knife between my teeth? Finish him off with straight and curving sewing needles

Your stupidity shines even more brightly in your stupid plans. Why would you want to finish him off with the sewing needles? That knife between your teeth is not for you to floss with. From your inventory list: 1 large hunting knife with a solid handle, a pointed end and one edge a sharp blade and the other a saw toothed blade. Definitely a better option than sewing needles, don't you think?

• Page 73 - The tiger is yet to speak!
• Page 88 - The Tiger hasn't said a word. I am losing patience.

Ok… I have had enough of this bullshit. Just scanned through (advantages of an ebook) and the tiger doesn't speak until Page 109 - 110 or such (the book is only 146 pages). I have put up with 88 pages of absolute nonsense to find out that the tiger chat will last for only 37 pages (at best) interrupted by ramblings of the crazy boy.

Right now, I don't care if the bloody tiger is going to recite Ghalib!

Not wasting anymore time on this. Will go home and re-read Wilbur Smith.

Life Of Pi

Started off with the book. First 10 pages (or so)… not happening. Three-toed sloth, swimming pools, comparing natural surrounding to a zoo… I don't get it.

• Chapter 5 - This I can read without rolling my eyes.
• Chapter 12-13-14 - Yawn.

Wondering what is the point of this book? But then it's only been 24 pages. Feels like a lot more.

• Chapter 15-16 - Want to stop reading. The only reason I continue with the book is out of curiosity. How did this book get such good reviews??
• Chapter 17-18-19-20-21….. - This is really ticking me off.
• Chapter 29 - Now it's just stupid.
• Chapter 34 - I COULD WRITE A BETTER BOOK with my eyes shut!
• Chapter 35 - SHUT UP!!!!!

45 pages later… I can't understand how this crap managed to get published in the first place.

Will read the rest tomorrow (yes, I am extremely curious).

…

Coffin Therapy (?!!)

"

The therapy offers people the chance to lie inside a casket for approximately 15 minutes - putting the lid on is optional. Piryanyk explained: "When you lay in the coffin, it feels just like a bed. It's the same sheets, the same pillow... a wooden coffin has its own aura inside." …Anna Petrukhina, a 51-year-old tutor said: "After hard working day you can come in and just relax - it's great. You go home in a completely different mood."

Emphasis added

Link

!!?!!

Does ANYONE Know The Meaning Of 'Indigenous'??

THAT is the definition.

Now, here is an article from TOI:

"

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised India as a "super-power" in the field of information technology as he unveiled the country's first indigenously created low-cost Aakash 2 tablet here.

Emphasis Added.

Link

How can this be indigenously created when the parties involved have issued statements like:

Some of Aakash's components were made in China - Suneet Singh Tuli, DataWind DataWind, the London-based company that won a government contract to produce the first 100,000 Aakash tablets, "does only sales". The tablets we sell to DataWind are ready to be sold. They are finished, ready-to-use products. All parts are made in China. We buy the touch screen from a Chinese manufacturer and make the rest of the parts ourselves. We then assemble the tablets into finished products - Li Junhao, Trend Grace (a company based in Shenzhen, China, that is one of several Chinese manufacturers making Aakash-2 tablets, according to invoices sent to DataWind that were reviewed by The Times). Digital Circuits, in Bangalore, signed an agreement to produce tablets in August, but the managing director of the company, Subhash Goyal, said it had not produced any so far. Goyal said that his company had no experience manufacturing tablets. An executive from another subcontractor based in Noida, on the outskirts of Delhi, said his company had not yet started production

Link

Dikhaawon pe mat jaao… apni akal ladaao.

For All The Idiots Posting The "FaceBook Copyright LAW" On Their Wall -

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

The cool people at College Humor have put in a lot of effort trying to explain the entire thing in simpler terms so even FaceBook users the dumb users might have a chance to understand it.

Link

Unlock The 007 In You

Thanks Surya…

Mr & Mrs. Jameson Named Their Daughter 'Hashtag' (?!?)

Link

That kid is never going to forgive her parents.

English Vinglish

Sridevi, after all these years - refreshing.

I would say the film is watchable. Could have been a lot better. Probably I didn't like it as much because I was expecting something different from the film. Some parts are actually quite good, but that gets evened out by some rather over the top sequences. The cafe sequence was ridiculous.

Was extremely disappointed by the maker's bastardised version of Mind Your Language.

Crap From NDTV

Link

The article goes on to mention the film (on the subject of terrorism) A Wednesday (?!?!!) Waah! Kya connection nikaala hai (doob maro)!!

… If this isn't rock bottom for 'news' reporting, then what is?!

…

Trust those who seek the truth, but doubt those who say that they have found it.

Gizmodo's Anti RIM Rants Get Ridiculous

This isn't the first time anti RIM posts have been published. I will admit that at times, there have been valid reasons for bad-mouthing RIM and/or its products, [lack of] certain features/specifications. There have been posts where the sole reason for the rant is personal preference for another device.

But now it has come to a point where editors at Gizmodo will take up just anything about RIM and publish a negative post. I can't think of any reason why Casey Chan would put up this ridiculous post - Caption This Dumb Picture of RIM’s CEO Taking a Picture with a BlackBerry 10 Device at a Basketball Game.

Honestly, I don't see anything funny/confusing/'dumb' about the picture that seems to have caused Chan to have a laugh riot. That said, there ARE some pictures that I DO find dumb (see below). I wonder what Chan would have to say about these:

OR

Jab Tak Hai Jaan

SRK ghatiya filmen karta rahega… jab tak hai jaan, jab tak hai jaan. 

The film successfully highlights the complete absence of logic in film-making. Crap. Don't watch.

Absolutely no character development. The film didn't have to be THAT long given that there really wasn't much of a story to tell or a plot to follow.

I didn't have a choice. I had to watch it (sister is a big fan… yes – same old story). BUT if you do have a choice - don't watch this crap.

In addition to finding this film stupid, illogical, and a complete waste of time – I also found it cheap. Not in terms of production value, but in the way some scenes/dialogues were shot.

I am definitely NOT a prude, but there are ways to depict scenes in a film so that they don't come across as crude/vulgar/cheap. At times film-makers get it right. At times they get it wrong. Then there are some cases where they intentionally get it wrong (shock value).

In my view, there were some scenes / sequences in this film that came across as cheap. It did seem (to me) that this was unnecessary and rather pathetic. 

---

[Spoiler/Rant]

Samar moves from London. But before that he 'challenges' god. The whole thing is rather stupid, if you think about it. IF Samar really wanted to rubbish Meera's belief (rolls eyes), then all he had to do was snip off one wrong wire while defusing any of those 100 odd bombs that he had been attending to.

Samar would die, Meera-God Deal Making bullshit would be proved wrong. Samar would have made his point and won the argument. Of course, an added advantage would be – the film would have been significantly shorter. 

But, as SRK would put it – Haar kar bhi jeetne waale ko baazigar kehte hain… he doesn't cut off the wrong wire. NOT ONCE!

The idiot doesn't understand that by staying alive he is further validating Meera's pointless argument.

---

Treating a patient suffering from Retrograde Amnesia – What would be a more 'sensible' option to help trigger the patient's memory?

Option 1 - Telling him the truth and exposing him (in a controlled / supervised manner) to the events/places/people that he seems to have forgotten.

Option 2 - Setting up an elaborate lie and convincing him about - Events that never happened. Life he never lived. Family that doesn't exist.

Had the intention been to 'trigger' Samar's memory – The doctors could have started off with showing him the 'documentary' that was filmed by Akira. Failing which, they could have given Samar the journal he has kept (in his own handwriting).

Surely these would have a better chance of triggering Samar's memory as opposed to the bullshit they ended up doing.

If one does opt for the second option – clearly the recovery of the patient's memory is NOT the priority. The priority (in this film) was possibly to give some more screen time to Katrina Kaif.

If the retarded morons film-makers would just use their brains, there could have been a much better way of accomplishing that (more screen time for Katrina) without using this illogical 'twist'.

Barfi

Beautiful film.

More Shit From Shining India, This Time Thanks To The Election Commission

I have read the news article a couple of times, and … I still find it difficult to swallow.

"

The EC guidelines allows its officials to use any car for a token payment if they need the vehicle. A senior officer of a corporate company, refusing to be named, said, "I was returning to Vadodara with my driver on Saturday evening, when the cops just took away the six-seater car saying that they needed it for the elections. We pleaded that this was the company CEO's car, but they refused to hear anything." He said the cops did give them a receipt and promised to pay Rs 800 per day for the vehicle as rent. Another corporate honcho said, "My driver was coming back after dropping guests at the city's international airport. The cops just took away the car and asked the driver to go back in auto-rickshaw. We tried our level best to get back the car, but the cops refused to even hear us." The Ahmedabad traffic police have so far confiscated 21 trucks, seven buses and 13 light motor vehicles. "Till election, there are going to 60 companies for security and each company would require eight vehicles and hence Ahmedabad city police will require 480 vehicles," said a senior officer.

Link

What nonsense! It's not as if the vehicles were commandeered in the course of a pursuit. They need the vehicles for monitoring / observing the state elections!

If the officials need cars, let them get the cars from the rental agencies. Lease them, rent them, buy them. You can't have cops confiscating private vehicles without the consent of the owner.

…

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

- Arthur Schopenhauer

BBM 7 (BETA) Brings Voice Calling Over WiFi

"

Customers can initiate a BBM Voice call directly, or instantly switch from a BBM text chat to talk, and back again. The split-screen feature allows customers to talk and text at the same time, so for example, they can send a picture to their contact while talking with them. They can also check other BBM text chats, check email, or navigate to other apps while engaged on a BBM Voice call. BBM provides a visual indicator that shows when contacts are available for a voice call. BBM Voice is compatible with any accessories a customer has now for making voice calls on their BlackBerry smartphone, such as a Bluetooth® or wired headset. Customers can also use BBM Voice over their BlackBerry smartphone's speakerphone. If it's not an ideal time to talk, customers can simply choose to respond by texting back. Another important feature of BBM version 7 is its integration with a customer's BlackBerry ID, which is designed to back up their BBM profile, groups and contacts so they can automatically be restored in the event they switch to a new BlackBerry smartphone, including to a BlackBerry® 10 device. BBM version 7 with the new BBM Voice feature is currently available in Beta for BlackBerry smartphones running the BlackBerry® 6 OS or higher with support planned for smartphones running the BlackBerry 5 OS at a future date. The Beta can be downloaded for free from BlackBerry Beta Zone**. Customers can sign up to BlackBerry Beta Zone for free at www.BlackBerry.com/betazone.

For now, BBM Voice is available ONLY over WiFi. No 2G / 3G / 4G support.

Woman Runs Down Husband For Not Voting

"

(Reuters) - An Arizona woman, in despair at the re-election of Democratic President Barack Obama, ran down her husband with the family car in suburban Phoenix on Saturday because he failed to vote in the election, police said on Monday. Holly Solomon, 28, was arrested after running over husband Daniel Solomon following a wild chase that left him pinned underneath the vehicle. …Witnesses reported the argument broke out on Saturday morning in a parking lot and escalated. Mrs Solomon then chased her husband around the lot with the car, yelling at him as he tried to hide behind a light pole, police said. He was struck after attempting to flee to a nearby street.

Link

THAT time of the month OR another frustrated bitch wife OR just another crazy Republican??

Return Of The Attention Whores

"

Activist Anna Hazare on Sunday warned the government that he will go on fast if a strong Lokpal bill was not passed by Parliament by 2014.

Link

Yawn…

"

"Yes, our team has spilt. But I believe both the paths are necessary. We thought that politics is not our way. We will not be enemies. A volunteer can choose his path. They should be clear in their mind. It should not be that they change minds frequently," he said.

Err… like the way Anna changes his mind after every other press conference / core group meeting?!? Nautanki saala.

---

In other news

"

Singh on Sunday compared Kejriwal with Sawant, saying that they both try and expose, but without any substance. Singh had tweeted: "Arvind Kejriwal is like Rakhi Sawant . They both try and expose but with no substance. Apologies to Rakhi Sawant I am an old fan of hers !"

Link

As if to prove the point that Digvijay Singh was trying to make, Rakhi Sawant responded - "He will now know, what I can do. I am in talks with a lawyer and will definitely drag Singh to the court for insulting a woman. Why don't they concentrate on their work rather than talk about others in a derogatory manner".

I am not a fan of the politician, but I think Singh's tweet was pretty cool / funny.

---

BTW, I missed out on the TOI typo - Screenshot below:

US Elections

Vo Ahad Ahad Hi Kya Jise Nibhaao Bhi

Mustafa Zaidi…

Vo ahad ahad hi kya jise nibhaao bhi
Humaare vaada-e-ulfat ko bhool jaao bhi

Bhalaa kahaan ke hum aise gumaan vaale hain
Hazaar baar hum aayen humen bulaao bhi

Bigad chalaa hai bahut rasm-e-khudkushi ka chalan
Daraane vaalo kisi roz kar dikhaao bhi

Tumhaari neend mein doobi hui aankhon ki qasam
Humen ye zid hai ki jaago bhi aur jagaao bhi

…

All great truths begin as blasphemies.

- George Bernard Shaw

Apophis – Zana Design

"

Apophis is the latest creation of ZaNa Design . This unique usb flash drive is designed for the most demanding Clients looking for exceptional and one-of-a-kind products.Thanks to the use of the authentic and certified meteorite this usb flash drive refers to “Apophis”, the famous planetoid. The high-purity diamond is an excellent complement for the 4,5 billion years old meteorite. The casing of the Apophis is made of 200 years old African Black Wood considered to be the most luxurious wood in the world. The whole device is covered with 925 silver and 18-carat gold in the most exclusive version.

Link

The price – USD 1,130 for the Silver edition, or USD 1,990 for the Gold edition [Link].

What a waste…

Effect Of Super Storm Sandy

NDTV Typo

Screenshot

 

Link

Heroine

Just wanted to point out that the poster is err… inspired.

About the film – Waste of time. The plot is… nothing much to talk about, really. The film is rubbish and the execution is pathetic.

Kareena 'can't act' Kapoor is her usual talentless self. I don't even think she is good looking. Nope, not even average. I find her ugly. But there are plenty who don't, so they can watch her pathetic attempt at 'dancing' while they listen to the horrid Halkat Jawaani item song (Thuuu… Some people have no taste).

Message for Madhur Bhandarkar – Phir puraani wahi kahaani… Same shit story, same crappy treatment, same nonsense, same gay/bisexual characters.

Seriously mate, have you ever interacted with a gay individual? This may come as a shock to you, but it is not a necessity for every gay man to behave like Karan Johar. Not every fashion designer / stylist is gay. And having a limp wrist is NOT a pre-requisite for being gay.

Why bother making films? You should consider working with Ekta Kapoor and churning out same crappy Star Plus soap episodes, day after day. And when you finally have a good story / plot – THEN make a film.

…

I have been trying really hard - for a few years now, to avoid putting up crap like this. But… just can't help it anymore. So here goes:

This was posted on a forum yesterday:

"

Over the Eid holidays...we got to see some live 'action' too. It happened near Al Kout, Fahaheel. An Indian driver (of a Q80) family was coming out of the parking, onto the main road, when he abruptly came in front of a Q80 chap n nearly met with an accident. The Q80 chap braked suddenly n shouted (something) at the Indian driver. The Indian driver too....replied (not in similar manner but almost)....which, pissed off the Q80 chap. He moved his car in front and blocked the path of the other....and rushed out and went over to the driver's side. The window on the driver's side was down n after a few heated words....he started to punch the driver. Though the driver was taken by surprise from the sudden left n right jabs....he too retaliated in kind and threw blows after blows, at the Q80 chap. The only thing restraining the driver was the seat belt tat he had worn....otherwise I'm sure he wud hav given the Q80 chap a real thrashing. The other occupants of the car....an old lady n her Indian maid...came out, to separate both of them....but on seeing their driver returning the blows equally n at par...they backed off. Anyways...after a few minutes....the punches stopped n the Q80 guy backed off...thinking...."enuff was enuff....n it wud be wise to back off...while I'm still able to stand"...and went back to his car. Tats when I noticed his face had blood oozing n a few scratches below his eyes. The other thing was tat it was just at the round-about of al Kout n traffic was backed up, till the fish market entrance...but none of the other drivers, came out, to stop or separate them. And I thot tat they exchanged gifts during Eid, instead of 'blows to the face'.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but… you were there. Did YOU get out and intervene?

---

[Rant]

It's not like YOU did anything about it. Other than sit and watch the 'live action'.

Perhaps I should give you the benefit of doubt.

Perhaps it wasn't your intent to highlight the 'no one gives a damn' or the 'why should I bother' attitude of the people. Perhaps you weren't criticising the attitude of the other motorists who did not jump to help the sparring parties or intervene to solve the problem. Perhaps you honestly just wanted to give an account of what you witnessed. Perhaps…

The primary reason for me not being able to extend the benefit of doubt to you is - THIS ISN'T the first time you have said or done something like this. I DO know you. We have interacted personally. I HAVE been reading your posts for YEARS now. I KNOW EXACTLY what you intended to highlight towards the end of that post.

Seriously mate, this is NOT cool. Stop it.

Dikhaawon pe mat jaao. Apni akal ladaao.

Now, Rajasthan Panchayat Says No Mobiles For Girls

"

Jaipur: A community panchayat in Rajasthan has unanimously favoured prohibiting girls from using personal mobile phones in order to ensure that they do not get involved with boys. …Girls using mobile phones are easily connected and approachable and this freedom may create unnecessary problems for her family", Durga Lal, Sarpanch of Bhandarez, … "It was a common opinion, passed unanimously, not a binding decision. If anybody wants to allow girls in his family for using and carrying personal mobile phones, he can do so but I hope that everybody would follow the common opinion because ultimately it is for good", he added.

Link

The cunts Panchayat is of the opinion that a girl and a boy can get connected / involved via mobiles and that may lead to unnecessary problems for the family.

For a second, let us all believe that there is absolutely no other way / medium through which a boy and girl may be able to get 'connected / involved'. Now my question to the 'elders' of Bhandarez is - Why prohibit just the girls from using mobile phones? Why not prohibit the boys as well??

Wouldn't it be 'ultimately for good' if the mobiles were taken away from the boys as well?

Bharat maata ki… (for the ones who want to make an issue over that phrase - its a song, you fucking retard).

Duniya mein chutiyon ki kammi nahin hai.

Khiladi 786 - Soundtrack

Absolute rubbish!

Himesh Reshammiya should not be allowed to sing… ANYTHING.. EVER AGAIN!

Anyone who wants to contest that statement should first try listening to Sari Sari Raat. Here is the thing – with a decent singer… scratch that - with an average singer – perhaps this song could have been tolerable. Even hummable. Himesh has raped this song. Fucked it up real bad. Beyond repair. 

Hookah Bar - Which idiot composed this song?! Who the hell penned such idiotic lyrics?! Tera pyaar – hookah bar (wtf yaar?!!!).

Messed Up Priorities

"

Sandy complicates final stretch of tense US presidential race WASHINGTON: A tense and unpredictable race for the White House became even more so on Monday, as mammoth storm Sandy created delicate political challenges for President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney and raised the possibility of a chaotic voting process. As the deadly storm barreled ashore on the paralyzed east coast, the presidential campaign went into what amounted to a deep freeze just when Obama and Romney had planned to launch their final push for votes in the November 6 election.

Link

Complicates the US Presidential Race?! IS THAT really the primary concern?? I am pretty sure the devastation caused by the storm - and its potential to cause further devastation -deserves a much higher priority than its effect on the presidential campaign. Even the President has termed it a 'Major Disaster' and he isn't referring to his election campaign.

Nano Sim Card Cutter - USD 10

"

The Nano SIM Cutter takes any regular or micro size and trims the excess off to provide you a precision cut nano SIM… Turn any standard SIM card to Nano SIM card for iPhone 5, or cut iPhone 4 Micro SIM card to Nano SIM card to fit iPhone 5 Stainless steel cutter is built to cut your nano SIM with precision Easy to use Comes with Nano SIM to Micro SIM, Micro SIM to Standard SIM, and Nano SIM to Standard SIM adapters

Link

…

Bak raha hoon junoon mein kya kya kuchch
Kuchch na samjhe khuda kare koi…

GOP Rape Crisis Hotline

Another Idiot

"

WASHINGTON: US Senate candidate Richard Mourdock drew fire late on Tuesday after saying that pregnancies caused by rape were "something God intended to happen" while defending his opposition to abortion.

Link

Richard Mourdock - YOUR miserable existence is actually a very strong point for everyone to FAVOUR abortion. If your mother had opted for an abortion (when you were conceived), then we all would have been spared from reading your bullshit views.

Perhaps when you get beaten up on the road, your security detail should just step back and say - this is something God intended to happen, and watch you get beaten to death pulp

Poor Are Honest Borrowers: Chidambaram

"

"The point which I have driven home so many times, the poor in India are not bad borrowers, the poor in India are not dishonest borrowers, the poor in India are ethical, honest, are deserving borrowers. Therefore we must lend more to the poor," he said at a function

Link

Such remarks being made by someone once considered to be a financial genius… rather pathetic.

I really don't see what being poor has to do with being honest. I seriously doubt if any correlation exists or can be proven.

Its not as if the banks are giving them a tough time or being hesitant because they doubt the honesty of the borrower. The bank couldn't care less if the borrower is honest or not. The bank is more concerned about repayment and THAT is the reason for hesitation.

I have so much more to say on this, but can't seem to word it properly. I can't put it down without the risk of being termed an 'elitist'.

Sigh… fucking peasants.

Vahi Phir Mujhe Yaad Aane Lage Hain

Khumar Barabankvi…

Vahi phir mujhe yaad aane lage hain
Jinhen bhulaane mein zamaane lage hain

Vo hain paas aur yaad aane lage hain
Muhabbat ke hosh ab thikaane lage hain

Sunaa hai humen vo bhulaane lage hain
To kya hum unhen yaad aane lage hain

Hataaye the jo raaste se doston ke
Vo patthar mere ghar mein aane lage hain

Ye kehna tha un se muhabbat hai mujhko
Ye kehne mein mujh ko zamaane lage hain

Qayaamat yaqeenan qarib aa rahi hai
'Khumar' ab to masjid mein jaane lage hain

…

I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.

- Winston Churchill

Taj In Dubai? Agra Does Not Like It

Jaahilon ki kammi nahin hai…

Link To The News Article

"

The reported move to build a Taj Mahal in Dubai has not gone down well here with people who think it amounts to desecrating a renowned tourist draw and a spiritual monument.

Click on the image for full size picture.

Source: http://blogs.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/2009/03/graffiti-at-the-taj-mahal-so-sad.html

Desecrating? Really? And what about the graffiti the visitors put up on the structure in Agra? Isn't THAT desecration?

---

"

"At best it can only be a caricature of the original. From where will they bring the romantic tales, the river Yamuna and the ambience of Agra?" asks Rakesh Sharma, president of the All India Brahmin Mahasabha.

The proposed structure is going to be a hotel. Not a time-machine or a teleportation portal. It's similar to buying a miniature replica of the Taj and giving it to your girlfriend. She doesn't expect you to change the course of the Yamuna OR shrink the river to go along with the miniature replica.

---

"

"At least they should pay a royalty to the Taj city for using its brand name," tourism industry leader Abhinav Jain told IANS

Typical. Money money money. Is that all you think about? Here is something for you to think about -

• Track down every poet / lyricist - dead / alive who has referred to the Taj in his/her poem and demand royalty.
• Demand royalty from every travel agency that uses the image of Taj Mahal on its brochures / posters / holiday packages.
• Demand royalty from every street vendor and souvenir shop selling the miniature replicas.

Not enough, want some more?

Does the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces (Owned by Tata) pay royalty to the Taj city for using its brand name? To the best of my knowledge - and with a quick Google search, I couldn't find any evidence that suggests it does.

In all honesty, it was a lazy search. Then again, I am not the one making the ridiculous demand. BUT it would serve your purpose if you could find out whether Taj Group does pay royalty or not. If it doesn't, then ask them to pay. If it does - please cite that and THEN demand a royalty from Taj Dubai.

Suggestion - Think before you bark speak.

---

"

"It is patently wrong and absurd," Mr Gupta told IANS. "This kind of distortion and in principle duplication of history artificially makes no sense.

Err… Do you recall the series - Sword of Tipu Sultan? Wasn't that duplication of history artificially (rolls eyes)? How about the re-enactments of the American Civil war?

History is 'artificially duplicated' all the time, you nut case! If you want to give a quote, please make sure you know what you are talking about and use the right phrases.

---

"

Surendra Sharma, president of the Society, told IANS: "Ideally the Dubai builder should not go ahead with this project as it hurts our sentiments. Taj Mahal is basically a spiritual centre, with lakhs of people offering prayers and paying obeisance round the year.The Taj represents or climaxes the 5,000 years of Indian excellence. To belittle the original through a fake model is not a desirable thing."

Hurts our sentiments - Get a new line!

Belittle the original through a fake model - How come you haven't said the same thing for the countless miniature replicas selling away all over the world!? Don't those little fake models 'belittle 5,000 years of Indian excellence'?

---

"

Former Agra mayor Anjula Singh Mahaur said she felt deeply hurt. "For commercial purposes you cannot misuse symbols and identity of a nation," she said.

Everybody has been doing it for ages. The tourism industry, the film industry, poets, street vendors. And NOW you are deeply hurt?

---

Dikhaawon pe mat jaao. Apni akal ladaao… Aur iss reporter ko quotes dene waalo - tum sab to doob ke mar jaaao!

Debate Deniers

Foreign Currency At Your Doorstep

"

Jet Airways in association with Centrum introduces Forex Services, a convenient and safe way to purchase foreign currency. Simply provide your details and a representative from Centrum will respond to you within 24 hours.

http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/PlanYourTravel/ForexServices.aspx

Don't Give Mobile Phones To Children, says BSP leader

"

"I say this in every speech. Do not give mobile phones to children, especially girls. What work of theirs will stop if they do not have mobile phones. Our mothers and sisters did not have mobile phones; did they die because of it," Mr Saini said in a meeting in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Link

I am pretty sure that Rajpal Saini's great grandfather and great great grandfather didn't have one either. It would be safe to assume that their cause of death wasn't cited as 'Not owning a mobile phone'. Extending Mr. Saini's logic - NO ONE should own a mobile phone!

Does anyone want to guess what Rajpal Singh Saini thinks about the Internet?

Divorce Granted… AFTER 23 YEARS!

"

MUMBAI: October 11 was a red-letter day for Vijay Rane (name changed). On this day, the marriage of the retired BMC senior audit and accounts assistant was dissolved by the Bombay high court—a dissolution he had been seeking for 23 years.

Link

• May 1989 - A Man and Woman get married.
• August 1989 - Woman leaves the husband.
• November 1989 - Woman's family informs the husband that his wife will not return unless he gets a separate apartment.
• November 1992 - Man files for divorce. Petition dismissed by the Family Court. According to the court - Desertion wasn't proved (hmm).
• 1994 - Man tries to reconcile. Also tries for an amicable divorce. Approaches organisations. Woman doesn't respond.
• June 1998 - Man files for divorce again.

Ends up waiting for 6 years and 6 months.

• December 2004 - Petition dismissed (Family Court sure took its time going through the petition). According to the cunts courts - the case was considered earlier (in 1992) and over 12 years later, the court still feels that desertion can not be proven (err… ahem… it's been 12 years)!
• April 2005 - Man appeals to the High Court. They are too busy to bother and dismiss the appeal upholding the idiotic decision of the Family Court.
• July 2005 - Man appeals to the Supreme Court.

Waits for another 6 years.

• July 2011 - Supreme Court forwards the case to the High Court, to be decided within 6 months.

According to the article, Bombay High Court dissolved the 'marriage' on 11 October 2012. Err… not to put too fine a point on it, but July 2011 to October 2012 - Definitely over 6 months.

• Could someone get a copy of the Calendar followed by the Indian Courts and make it available to the public? Just so that we all know what the court officials actually mean when they say stuff like within 6 months.
• Could we also have a Court official define the term Desertion?

There must be some men reading this news article and thinking '23 years! Damn. I guess I will just strangle her now and take my chances with the murder trial'.

---

Man to friend - Have you ever considered divorcing your wife?
Friend replies - Divorce - No. Murder - Yes!

Space Jump

I am bored and the blog needed an update. Just put this up for the fuck of it. There is a reason why the label for this one is Rambling / Revelations and NOT Think About It.

---

"

Total success. After many delays, Felix did it. He reached the highest altitude ever reached by any man in a balloon, more than 127,000 feet. He then jumped and went faster than any man, breaking Mach 1 (it's unofficial for now, they have to confirm it)

Link

So all NASA had to do, to ensure the safe return (to earth) of its astronauts was:

• Ejector seats
• 34 point Check List
• Include a sky diving crash course in astronaut training
• Instructions on the ejector button reading 'Keep your head down and jump'.

In all honesty, I don't see the point (of NASA's space missions or of Felix's jump). With all these people flooding Twitter, the media coverage – there must be something about it (*scratches head… I don't see it, but – there must be something there, right?) I am sure my blog post doesn't matter (to Felix or to anyone else). As I mentioned earlier – I am bored. 

The guy was travelling faster than sound – well, if he landed SPLAT on the floor and we could still hear him talking – then PERHAPS I wouldn't contest the claim (nah. Actually I would suggest that there was a lag in the network).

---

You know what would be really nice? The footage of this jump being used in the next advertisement for Sprite. Voice-over while the Space Jump footage is being played - "This is BULL shit! <Pause> Sprite… Bujhaaye only pyaas. Baaki sab bakwaas".

Dhak Dhuk

Thanks Surya…

Swanand Kirkire…

Beautiful song

Kejriwal To Elaborate On His Allegations Against Robert Vadra And DLF

 

Just when Ana decided to shut up (boy, did he take his time), we have another 'activist' barking away.

"

"DLF granted favours to Shri Robert Vadra. What favours did Haryana government grant DLF? How is DLF reply a bunch of lies? Will speak tomorrow at 5 pm," he tweeted yesterday

Link

Doesn't this sound like one of those Star News / India TV type bullshit 'exclusives'??

Please note - I am not suggesting that the DLF dealings (referred to by duffer Shri Kejriwal) are corruption free. For every deal (big or small) favours are extended and expected. It would be highly improbable (not impossible… but definitely improbable) if rules weren't twisted around OR wheels / palms weren't greased to facilitate big deals.

Neither am I suggesting that the Government > DLF > Vadra deal is laced with corruption / commission / consideration / facilitation fee / gifts.

All I want to say is - If Kejriwal does possess evidence to back his statements - there is absolutely no need to build up such a hype and demanding inquiries and investigations WITHOUT presenting the evidence. The clown and his 'demands' would be taken more seriously if he would just provide the evidence at the same time he was barking out those statements. Its just common sense.

The point of this post is NOT to defend Vadra / DLF (as I have mentioned earlier). The point is simply to highlight that Kejriwal is an attention whore.

He may or may not have any evidence. The evidence may or may not be concrete. The only thing that is clear (beyond doubt) is that Kejriwal is seeking (and getting) publicity and the media footage. IF his intention was to bring corrupt officials to justice, he wouldn't have focussed on the hype. He would have presented the evidence while he was barking out those accusations.

Accusations may be proved or thrown out. I just hope that people do see this clown for what he really is.

Dikhaawon pe mat jaao. Apni akal ladaao…

Zindagi Se Badi Sazaa Hi Nahin

Krishan Bihari Noor...

Zindagi se badi sazaa hi nahin
Aur kya jurm hai pataa hi nahin

Itne hisson mein bat gayaa hoon main
Mere hisse mein kuchch bachcha hi nahin

sach ghate yaa bade to sach na rahe
jhooth ki koi intehaa hi nahin

jad do chaandi mein chaahe sone mein
aainaa jhooth bolta hi nahin

…

Have been busy, stressed out, worked up, pissed off…

Tend to get that way when I can't find a solution for a problem. It gets significantly worse when there are multiple issues. In my (failed) attempts to find time for every one, I now have no time for myself.

Itne hisson mein bat gayaa hoon main,
Mere hisse mein kuchch bachcha hi nahin.

Kuwait’s Mobile Carriers Get OK For 4G LTE Services

"

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6, (KUNA): The Minister of Communications and acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Salem Al-Othaina adopted on Saturday a decree authorizing Kuwait’s three mobile-providers to introduce 4G LTE high-speed data technology to their customers. Under the decision, the three telecommunication companies (Zain, VIVA and Wataniya Telecom) will operate the system via their respective frequencies within the range of 1,800 MHz against a license fee of KD 250,000 to be paid in advance…

Link

Joker

Crap. Waste of time. Don't watch.

Ostrich Pillow

"

OSTRICH PILLOW is a revolutionary new product to enable easy power naps anytime, everywhere, OSTRICH PILLOW‘s unique design offers a micro environment in which to take a cosy and comfortable power nap at ease. OSTRICH PILLOW has been designed to allow you to create a little private space within a public one, to relax and unwind. Its soothing soft interior shelters and isolates your head and hands (mind and body) for a short break, without needing to leave your desk, chair, bench or wherever you may be.

Link

I am not trying to be difficult. This is a genuine question - How will Mr. X manage to get any sleep when everyone around Mr. X is:

• Pointing at him and laughing AND / OR
• Calling out to their friends and laughing AND / OR
• Clicking pictures with their mobile phone and laughing ?

This 'pillow' could also result in a Social Networking outage. Can you imagine the congestion on networking sites like Twitter / FaceBook, because of the flood of mobile pics being uploaded with the caption 'Retard'!

Tech News?? Really?!

Link

Err… How is this 'News' related to Tech or Internet??

I know she was working for Google. I also know that she is now working for Yahoo. Does that mean that EVERYTHING happening in her life will qualify as Tech News??

White Collar - Season 4

Done with the first 10 episodes.

An FBI agent discussing cases with his wife could be tolerated (perhaps). BUT - Involving her in active investigations? Taking her along for stake-outs?? Wouldn't it have been easier (and believable) to just have Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen) working for the FBI instead of being an Event Planner??

That is just one of the problems I have with the show. There is plenty more. For instance - 'Six years ago, Neal and I exchanged pagers'. Yes, the Pager thing being a warning sign and all that was a bit far fetched. But what really had me chuckling was - it didn't take much for Ellen (Judith Ivey) to give up the information on Neal (Matt Bomer). That was REALLY idiotic.

• Episode 4 - Parting Shots - Dumb.
• Episode 7 - Compromising Positions - Rubbish.
• Episode 9 - Gloves Off - Mind-numbingly stupid.

There are plenty of 'Yeah, right!' moments in most of the episodes - but it WAS watchable, until Sam Phelps (Treat Williams) makes an appearance with his set of conditions and paranoia. That makes Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) and Neal even more paranoid than they already were. Some of the behaviour exhibited is absolutely childish.

Why bother getting new characters and new twists? Would be nice if the writers could just focus on coming up with better plots for the episodes. How about some effort in reducing the number of sequences that has one rolling one's eyes? A new character, who turns out to be Neal's father?! Is this a Star Plus Soap Opera??

Not interested in continuing with this series.

One less label for my blog. This is being clubbed with the TV label.