Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A Promise Well Kept!
Dhyan Singh Must be So Happy Today (Our driver, who first told me about this dream project from Tatas, 3 yrs back and how much he was waiting for it, and today Ratan Tata kept his promise!)
My India Trip Report 2005
So finally the suspense is over. The Rs One Lakhs (2500 USD) is out and already started catching attention. It is nice to follow the news around the world on this great achievement (India: Hub of Frugal Engineering! was one such headline). What I would have liked more is probably a different name than "Nano". It seems hackneyed. Nano is synonymous with Steve Jobs! Tatas for sure could have got a better name.
It is time to see how it is going to impact the worldwide auto industry now. On the other hand...I am thinking there will be a huge demand for it (almost everyone can afford a car now at this price and with easy loans available) , how the production line will meet it,what environmentalists are going to say and last but not the least how the parts of roads (within gulley/mohallas) in cities..which were used to two wheelers only....are going to take it. Some predict Govt. is going to put a heavy Taxation on this segment..but will that be fair when there is no proper public transport alternative and one has to pay heavily for Taxis/Autos and Rickshaws when travelling with families.
Time will tell...But meanwhile full kudos to Tatas for this excellent achievement!
Tiffany...You Are Fired! (for listening to your Manager)
I was waiting eagerly for the "Apprentice" to resume on its 7th season, which it did finally last week. Unlike previous seasons, and as its TRP ratings are going down faster than fast (from #7 ranking on 1st season to #75 on 6th season), this time they changed the format. It was with all celebrities..known unknown not to be asked. Also the deal is the winner instead of joining Trump Empire will be donating his or her prize money to their selected charity. Frankly speaking I wont mind even if they join or keep a share of that as to me many of these "celebrities" may need it...I mean...to me they are NOT top notch celebrity..or maybe I am not aware of them.
Few of them I could relate to are Omarosa ( how one can forget her..from first episode of Apprentice, was surprised she got a status of celebrity already), Stephen Baldwin (actor..brother of Alec Baldwin), Nadia (the gymnast who scored perfect 10 for the first time...remember one TV serial based on her life during our school days..a true celebrity I will say)...and then many others from diff walks of fame (mainly music star, boxing champ, entrepreneur, that British judge of America Got Talents and to add little spice a former Playboy Playmate). This time also the team was formed on Gender Basis..another "first" ?
The first episode was to sell HotDogs on a busy working day in New York. The men's team using their "contact" were able to get about 57k USD (few hotdogs were sold at as high as 10k!). Whereas women's team under the lead of Omarosa who DECLINED to use the "celebrity status..or shall we say sex appeal" rather depended on pure business skills could muster only 17k USD. It has already created many online polls/forum discussion "Is using sex appeal a legitimate sales tactic for professional businesswomen".
To me it was very ironic when she later blamed (and Mr Trump agreed) the playmate Tiffany that she could not use her "appeal" to sell hot dogs....well Omarosa did not you only say that you don't want to use it.Poor Tiffany was just going by what her Project Manager said.
Anyways..to me this is one of the rare occasions when Sex did not sell..to pedestrians on 7th and 34th @ NYCity and to Mr. Donald Trump...at least in this "particular" case! I hope NBC was not "secretly" banking on her for their rating to go up.
Well done Ms Omarosa, you did make news...once again!
--
Celebrity Apprentice is aired on NBC, every Thursday 8 Central (starting 3rd Jan 2008).
Few of them I could relate to are Omarosa ( how one can forget her..from first episode of Apprentice, was surprised she got a status of celebrity already), Stephen Baldwin (actor..brother of Alec Baldwin), Nadia (the gymnast who scored perfect 10 for the first time...remember one TV serial based on her life during our school days..a true celebrity I will say)...and then many others from diff walks of fame (mainly music star, boxing champ, entrepreneur, that British judge of America Got Talents and to add little spice a former Playboy Playmate). This time also the team was formed on Gender Basis..another "first" ?
The first episode was to sell HotDogs on a busy working day in New York. The men's team using their "contact" were able to get about 57k USD (few hotdogs were sold at as high as 10k!). Whereas women's team under the lead of Omarosa who DECLINED to use the "celebrity status..or shall we say sex appeal" rather depended on pure business skills could muster only 17k USD. It has already created many online polls/forum discussion "Is using sex appeal a legitimate sales tactic for professional businesswomen".
To me it was very ironic when she later blamed (and Mr Trump agreed) the playmate Tiffany that she could not use her "appeal" to sell hot dogs....well Omarosa did not you only say that you don't want to use it.Poor Tiffany was just going by what her Project Manager said.
Anyways..to me this is one of the rare occasions when Sex did not sell..to pedestrians on 7th and 34th @ NYCity and to Mr. Donald Trump...at least in this "particular" case! I hope NBC was not "secretly" banking on her for their rating to go up.
Well done Ms Omarosa, you did make news...once again!
--
Celebrity Apprentice is aired on NBC, every Thursday 8 Central (starting 3rd Jan 2008).
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Bollywood Evolution Over the Last Year...
Parallel or Diff Stories
------------------------
* Youn Hota to Kaise Hota (2006):
4 parallel stories but connected through a single theme (9/11)
* Salam E Ishq/Life in a metro/Darna Mana(Zarooree) Hai (2006/2007)
6 diff stories but again they are inter-related or share a common link
* Dus Kahaniyan (2007)
10 diff stories and NOT connected at all....
It will be interesting to see how many more stories (and songs and dance) can be packed in 3 hrs!
Film Titles (2006/2007)
-----------------------
Hinglish Title:
* Jab We Met / Manorama: 6 Feet Under/ Life May Kabhie Kabhie/With Love Tumhara/Apna Sapna: Money Money/Bheja Fry/Eklavya: The Royal Guard/Gauri: The Unborn/ Ekrar: By Chance/ Deadline: Sirf 24 Ghantey/ Dil Dosti Etcetra/My FriendGanesha / MP3:Mera_pahla_pahla_pyar/ Namstey London / Zindagi Rocks/ Jana:lets fall in love....List goes on and on...
...And All English Title (makees u wonder if it is a Hollywood or Bollywood flick)
* Strangers/ The Train/ Fool and Final/ The Blue Umbrella / Cash / Partner/ Marigold/ Hey Baby/ Darling/ Go/ Speed/ LifeInAMetro/ Good Boy Bad Boy/ Delhi Heights / Black Friday/ Kabul Express/ Traffic Signal/ Mumbai Salsa
And finally....Personification at its best!
* "RamGopal Verma" kee Aag
Songs/CDs (2006/2007)
---------------------
* The Reprise versions
Same song/music/tempo..except the voice changeover
See them a lot in LifeInAMetro, Gangster(KK/James/Suhail/Adnan/Soham),
Sawariya, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Hatrick.....
This is a trend to be continued looks like. Isnt that a challenge to the singers?
* The Remix now part of the original soundtracks
Well...severe blow to Remix Only Music Industry. Now DJs are official. And nearly all the movie albums are getting released with few of their own songs in remix format eg Club version, Lounge Version etc.
* Aap Ka Surrorr (23 songs, 2 CDs) and Dus kahaniyan (3 CDs, original soundtrack, lounge version and poem recitals by actors themselves).
------------------------
* Youn Hota to Kaise Hota (2006):
4 parallel stories but connected through a single theme (9/11)
* Salam E Ishq/Life in a metro/Darna Mana(Zarooree) Hai (2006/2007)
6 diff stories but again they are inter-related or share a common link
* Dus Kahaniyan (2007)
10 diff stories and NOT connected at all....
It will be interesting to see how many more stories (and songs and dance) can be packed in 3 hrs!
Film Titles (2006/2007)
-----------------------
Hinglish Title:
* Jab We Met / Manorama: 6 Feet Under/ Life May Kabhie Kabhie/With Love Tumhara/Apna Sapna: Money Money/Bheja Fry/Eklavya: The Royal Guard/Gauri: The Unborn/ Ekrar: By Chance/ Deadline: Sirf 24 Ghantey/ Dil Dosti Etcetra/My FriendGanesha / MP3:Mera_pahla_pahla_pyar/ Namstey London / Zindagi Rocks/ Jana:lets fall in love....List goes on and on...
...And All English Title (makees u wonder if it is a Hollywood or Bollywood flick)
* Strangers/ The Train/ Fool and Final/ The Blue Umbrella / Cash / Partner/ Marigold/ Hey Baby/ Darling/ Go/ Speed/ LifeInAMetro/ Good Boy Bad Boy/ Delhi Heights / Black Friday/ Kabul Express/ Traffic Signal/ Mumbai Salsa
And finally....Personification at its best!
* "RamGopal Verma" kee Aag
Songs/CDs (2006/2007)
---------------------
* The Reprise versions
Same song/music/tempo..except the voice changeover
See them a lot in LifeInAMetro, Gangster(KK/James/Suhail/Adnan/Soham),
Sawariya, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Hatrick.....
This is a trend to be continued looks like. Isnt that a challenge to the singers?
* The Remix now part of the original soundtracks
Well...severe blow to Remix Only Music Industry. Now DJs are official. And nearly all the movie albums are getting released with few of their own songs in remix format eg Club version, Lounge Version etc.
* Aap Ka Surrorr (23 songs, 2 CDs) and Dus kahaniyan (3 CDs, original soundtrack, lounge version and poem recitals by actors themselves).
Monday, January 07, 2008
The Monkey Business
I do not follow cricket at all now a days. But I was all ears as soon as I started seeing the reports about this ongoing controversy. Though wanted to always know what Bhajji might have said which insulted the Australian "racially"...as so far we "Indians" were the ones at receiving end....but none of the Indian websites I visit were talking about the exact "verbal exchanges" that took place between Bhajji and Symonds.
So this morning doing a Google check satisfies my query. It also seemed now it has snowballed into a bigger story where the team is thinking of calling off the trip. That will indeed be a big story! and bigger stories are going to follow....I foresee my interest in cricket suddenly coming back..though for an unfortunate event!
Coming back to this "Monkey" thing...I was not aware till today that it is considered a racial slur (thanks this episode for enhancing my IQ). Next question whats the origin of this and how it is related..another google...and find calling a person of color by its primate name....OK. A quick photo search of Symond confirms my curious mind..after all not all AU players are white.. else would have taken few more googling to justify the monkey thing..or would it be "snow leopard/Albino instead of Monkey....I dont know)
I understand now...and can immdeiately relate to that Macaca (another version of Monkey!) incident causing the ultimate defeat of that Virginian Senator...so it is serious enough....but isnt that ironic that Harbhajan himself is not a white guy....so I fail to see how even the case becomes stronger against Bhajji. I agree he should not have used that word (if he has ..at all) Will it be big deal if one afro-american calls another the word "N..." (have seen that in movies/dramas...looks like it is well accepted ..with a touch of humor of course) but for certainly, things are different when a White calls the same to an AfroAmerican. Going by the same logic I am not able to understand why it is a big issue.... if two persons of similar skin color call each other by name..err Monkey I mean! To me calling "kutta" or "shuar" would have been more insulting..Maybe the other team doesnt know that. After all have we ever heard DharamPraJee saying "Bandar kay aulad.." or "Bandar..Kameeno mai tumhey Zinda nahee chhorunga". In contrary our Monkey is a Hero in our mythology. Symond and company need some cultural background info of ours for sure !!!
To me (who is not following intricacies and cricket politics since past few years) it is nothing but a distraction by AU team to get Harbhajan banned probably..or tactics by Aussies to simply save their faces and their accusing team mates..to stand up for what they claimed at the beginning. Unfortunately Indians could not as there were only two players in ground at that time. The whole thing went out of control..even what AU team might have thought of initially. This whole issue also becomes more severe as the entire second testmatch was marred by bad and critical umpiring decisions against Indians which cost them dearly (Had India won...I think it would not have been this serious).
Harbhajan's act (once again..if he said so)indeed was against the spirit and should be punishable but only after a decent , fair and unbiased hearing....but the way the entire episode was handled as well as biased opinion right from day 1....is NOT digestible. BCCI (already being called spineless in many forums) and Mr Pawar now have to go by the mood of "Powerful Janta" back home....who are already burning effigies etc. Never forget many elections are looming...and national prestige ...no political party can downplay at this time. Moreover BCCI has the power (the money power..as ICC salary slips come from BCCI pockets) and they should PROTEST vehemently about this whole affair and the way it was handled.
Unfortunately it is going to set a wrong trend...but then again other than "Lage Raho Munnabhai"
Gandhigiri does not work anymore ! Does it?
---
Disclaimer: The above post does not anyway show my views/ideas on Racism or Indian/Australian cricket team. I am extremely against it whoever be the victim or aggressor. The above post is just my quick thought on the events going on in cricket arena currently. I feel bad that the final outcome of it will be the IND: 1, AUS:1, CRICKET: 0
So this morning doing a Google check satisfies my query. It also seemed now it has snowballed into a bigger story where the team is thinking of calling off the trip. That will indeed be a big story! and bigger stories are going to follow....I foresee my interest in cricket suddenly coming back..though for an unfortunate event!
Coming back to this "Monkey" thing...I was not aware till today that it is considered a racial slur (thanks this episode for enhancing my IQ). Next question whats the origin of this and how it is related..another google...and find calling a person of color by its primate name....OK. A quick photo search of Symond confirms my curious mind..after all not all AU players are white.. else would have taken few more googling to justify the monkey thing..or would it be "snow leopard/Albino instead of Monkey....I dont know)
I understand now...and can immdeiately relate to that Macaca (another version of Monkey!) incident causing the ultimate defeat of that Virginian Senator...so it is serious enough....but isnt that ironic that Harbhajan himself is not a white guy....so I fail to see how even the case becomes stronger against Bhajji. I agree he should not have used that word (if he has ..at all) Will it be big deal if one afro-american calls another the word "N..." (have seen that in movies/dramas...looks like it is well accepted ..with a touch of humor of course) but for certainly, things are different when a White calls the same to an AfroAmerican. Going by the same logic I am not able to understand why it is a big issue.... if two persons of similar skin color call each other by name..err Monkey I mean! To me calling "kutta" or "shuar" would have been more insulting..Maybe the other team doesnt know that. After all have we ever heard DharamPraJee saying "Bandar kay aulad.." or "Bandar..Kameeno mai tumhey Zinda nahee chhorunga". In contrary our Monkey is a Hero in our mythology. Symond and company need some cultural background info of ours for sure !!!
To me (who is not following intricacies and cricket politics since past few years) it is nothing but a distraction by AU team to get Harbhajan banned probably..or tactics by Aussies to simply save their faces and their accusing team mates..to stand up for what they claimed at the beginning. Unfortunately Indians could not as there were only two players in ground at that time. The whole thing went out of control..even what AU team might have thought of initially. This whole issue also becomes more severe as the entire second testmatch was marred by bad and critical umpiring decisions against Indians which cost them dearly (Had India won...I think it would not have been this serious).
Harbhajan's act (once again..if he said so)indeed was against the spirit and should be punishable but only after a decent , fair and unbiased hearing....but the way the entire episode was handled as well as biased opinion right from day 1....is NOT digestible. BCCI (already being called spineless in many forums) and Mr Pawar now have to go by the mood of "Powerful Janta" back home....who are already burning effigies etc. Never forget many elections are looming...and national prestige ...no political party can downplay at this time. Moreover BCCI has the power (the money power..as ICC salary slips come from BCCI pockets) and they should PROTEST vehemently about this whole affair and the way it was handled.
Unfortunately it is going to set a wrong trend...but then again other than "Lage Raho Munnabhai"
Gandhigiri does not work anymore ! Does it?
---
Disclaimer: The above post does not anyway show my views/ideas on Racism or Indian/Australian cricket team. I am extremely against it whoever be the victim or aggressor. The above post is just my quick thought on the events going on in cricket arena currently. I feel bad that the final outcome of it will be the IND: 1, AUS:1, CRICKET: 0
Friday, January 04, 2008
Only if it would have a beeper in it....!
After 36 hrs....finally I have decided to send an official request for a replacement . Replacement for a very dear, ever accompanying "belonging" of mine since past 7 and 1/2 yrs!
I have lost it. I am not even sure if "lost" is a proper word for it, maybe I misplaced it ...probably my absentminded or careless nature caused it..but end result is same. It was there with me over all these years....whenever I needed...always working...working tirelessly...even when I am sleeping it used to be awake...just in case I need it suddenly. Accompanied me to work..and then back home.. sometimes in my trips far away from home too...It was a real 24x7 workhorse.The wee hours...the weekend or the peak time....it never mattered. In true sense it was with me in Rain and Shine!
Many times in past I misplaced it accidentally, only to find it few hours later at some strange/unexpected places...and what a big relief it used to provide then. May be it used to get upset over my insensitivity, hide itself, then seeing my desperation it used to bluntly point me how important it is to me...so that I remain careful next time. I never learned...
Manytimes when I used to get bore..it used to entertain, play with me too...simple guessing game that what will be next starting digit...I only used to have a mere 10% chance of winning.. but I was fine with its 90% chances of winning! After all, all the life's games are not on 50/50 basis. Sometimes it helped me in taking weird decision..if I win in the "guessing game". I will do this...if lose then wont.
Now after 36 long hrs..I started realizing this time it is different ..I am NOT able to find it still and probably I wont ever. I know it is still there..nearby..probably very nearby..maybe waiting for me to pick it up....but I am not able to see it...as it never makes sounds..neither of complain or of applause.
At the same time I cant live without it. It is a part of me now..I am so used to its existence,
I need a replacement of it for sure...I know as soon as I get the replacement...without its own knowledge it will be deactivated for ever. It will still carry on untiringly blinking and changing its digits for few more years before its batteries give up..but it will be useless in all sense....All because of my momentary carelessness.
But I will keep my search on.... and if I find it..even if it is useless.. even knowing I cant have two of these "active" at the same time... I will pick it up and keep it safe and secure as long as I can, for it has lots and lots of memories embedded with it! Of 7 and 1/2 years to be exact.
I wish my remote login secure ID had a beeper in it.
I would also like to have a beeper on My Car Keys, Identity Card, My Glasses, Remote Control for TV/Players, Phone Handsets which can indicate where it is, even when it is in Silent/Vibration mode!
The list is probably endless....ranging all the way from Physical to Virtual stuffs..which we lose often and then try to find frantically! Sometimes we get it back..sometimes never and wish alas only if it would have a beeper in it!
I have lost it. I am not even sure if "lost" is a proper word for it, maybe I misplaced it ...probably my absentminded or careless nature caused it..but end result is same. It was there with me over all these years....whenever I needed...always working...working tirelessly...even when I am sleeping it used to be awake...just in case I need it suddenly. Accompanied me to work..and then back home.. sometimes in my trips far away from home too...It was a real 24x7 workhorse.The wee hours...the weekend or the peak time....it never mattered. In true sense it was with me in Rain and Shine!
Many times in past I misplaced it accidentally, only to find it few hours later at some strange/unexpected places...and what a big relief it used to provide then. May be it used to get upset over my insensitivity, hide itself, then seeing my desperation it used to bluntly point me how important it is to me...so that I remain careful next time. I never learned...
Manytimes when I used to get bore..it used to entertain, play with me too...simple guessing game that what will be next starting digit...I only used to have a mere 10% chance of winning.. but I was fine with its 90% chances of winning! After all, all the life's games are not on 50/50 basis. Sometimes it helped me in taking weird decision..if I win in the "guessing game". I will do this...if lose then wont.
Now after 36 long hrs..I started realizing this time it is different ..I am NOT able to find it still and probably I wont ever. I know it is still there..nearby..probably very nearby..maybe waiting for me to pick it up....but I am not able to see it...as it never makes sounds..neither of complain or of applause.
At the same time I cant live without it. It is a part of me now..I am so used to its existence,
I need a replacement of it for sure...I know as soon as I get the replacement...without its own knowledge it will be deactivated for ever. It will still carry on untiringly blinking and changing its digits for few more years before its batteries give up..but it will be useless in all sense....All because of my momentary carelessness.
But I will keep my search on.... and if I find it..even if it is useless.. even knowing I cant have two of these "active" at the same time... I will pick it up and keep it safe and secure as long as I can, for it has lots and lots of memories embedded with it! Of 7 and 1/2 years to be exact.
I wish my remote login secure ID had a beeper in it.
I would also like to have a beeper on My Car Keys, Identity Card, My Glasses, Remote Control for TV/Players, Phone Handsets which can indicate where it is, even when it is in Silent/Vibration mode!
The list is probably endless....ranging all the way from Physical to Virtual stuffs..which we lose often and then try to find frantically! Sometimes we get it back..sometimes never and wish alas only if it would have a beeper in it!
CloseCaption in Hindi Movies
Below are two of my recent experiences....I am sure there can be a never ending list....!
Chak_De_India:
SRK saying to Team Members on their first meeting "Mujhey yeh nahee pata ki aap sab apney state may champion hai...Mujhey bas yeh pata hai ki mere samney 16 ladkiya khadi hai..jinhey Hockey khelne ka "shauq" hai"
CloseCaption: ".......What I know is that you are a "SHOCK" to Hockey"
Darling (a "bhoot-ish" flick):
After "killing" his secy Fardeen khan returns home..naturally he is bound to get some Headache and his wife (Isha Kopikar) knowing about the headcahe says:
"Thaharo..mai CROCIN lay aatee hoon"
Closecaption: "Wait...I will get Croissant for you"
Are you also wondering like me where Bollywood outsources their close captioning business !
Chak_De_India:
SRK saying to Team Members on their first meeting "Mujhey yeh nahee pata ki aap sab apney state may champion hai...Mujhey bas yeh pata hai ki mere samney 16 ladkiya khadi hai..jinhey Hockey khelne ka "shauq" hai"
CloseCaption: ".......What I know is that you are a "SHOCK" to Hockey"
Darling (a "bhoot-ish" flick):
After "killing" his secy Fardeen khan returns home..naturally he is bound to get some Headache and his wife (Isha Kopikar) knowing about the headcahe says:
"Thaharo..mai CROCIN lay aatee hoon"
Closecaption: "Wait...I will get Croissant for you"
Are you also wondering like me where Bollywood outsources their close captioning business !
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Happy New Year!
Wish You All ("Regular" as well as "Accidental" Visitors of this site)
A Very Happy New Year!!!
It has been more than 4 months now I have updated my blog site...
It was not the dearth of topics or ideas or even time...but just
happened so...lets blame it on "reluctance"!
Anyways....What can be a better time than today to resume it again...
enabling me to proudly say I am already honoring my new-year resolutions
(#6 of 10) for 2008 ("continual blog update").
The other "interesting" resolution (#9 of 10) is to "complete"...
err..lets say "up-to-date" my Unfinished Autobiography!
Dont want to "complete" that so early..many many more pages to be wriiten !
Keep visiting...See you all soon...REAL SOON!
A Very Happy New Year!!!
It has been more than 4 months now I have updated my blog site...
It was not the dearth of topics or ideas or even time...but just
happened so...lets blame it on "reluctance"!
Anyways....What can be a better time than today to resume it again...
enabling me to proudly say I am already honoring my new-year resolutions
(#6 of 10) for 2008 ("continual blog update").
The other "interesting" resolution (#9 of 10) is to "complete"...
err..lets say "up-to-date" my Unfinished Autobiography!
Dont want to "complete" that so early..many many more pages to be wriiten !
Keep visiting...See you all soon...REAL SOON!
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