Monday, October 29, 2007
Google Ad Sense anyone?
Has anyone used AdSense on their blog and can help me? No one i know in the physical world has tried it, and at the moment, it appears like Rocket Science to me!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Commend and not Condemn
The book I am reading these days says in Chapter 1 – you cannot get anything done using criticism. Rule 1 of your life should be to never criticize. Therefore, in this post, one will commend rather than condemn.
It is extremely commendable that all protests against organized retail have started, not when Big Bazaar started, not when there was Pantaloons, Weekender, Spencer’s Hyper etc.,(Spencers and Food Bazaar sell fruits and vegetables too, as does Subhiksha) but against Reliance only. That people speak about Organised Retail and protest against Reliance outlets only. I love the collective amnesia surrounding other organized retail players.
I also think its stupendously wonderful that the day we lost 2 officers and several jawans after a 3 day cross fire in Kashmir, this news got one column space on the front page, and the news of the Blueline buses killing 1 person got about 5 column widths on the front page. The media is absolutely great! The day the Ajmer Sharif blast happened – a blast so low intensity that there were no casualties on the spot, there was also a suicidal attack on a CRPF post. But that was a postscript in the paper. You see, our armed forces are a nationally sponsored bunch of suicidically inclined people. Their deaths mean nothing. (I am not sure how much footage the soldiers who die in Iraq get at home. Anyone who knows? )
It is also fantastic that the media immediately drew parallels with the Mecca Masjid blast, as soon as the Ajmer blast happened, but forgot a simple point of concurrence – they were both extremely low intensity blasts. All other points of similarity – real or imaginary - were so well drawn out. Sensationalism is great! What you cannot exaggerate, you cannot report. I love that attitude! Anyone looking for matter of fact reporting is a dodo.
It is extremely commendable that all protests against organized retail have started, not when Big Bazaar started, not when there was Pantaloons, Weekender, Spencer’s Hyper etc.,(Spencers and Food Bazaar sell fruits and vegetables too, as does Subhiksha) but against Reliance only. That people speak about Organised Retail and protest against Reliance outlets only. I love the collective amnesia surrounding other organized retail players.
I also think its stupendously wonderful that the day we lost 2 officers and several jawans after a 3 day cross fire in Kashmir, this news got one column space on the front page, and the news of the Blueline buses killing 1 person got about 5 column widths on the front page. The media is absolutely great! The day the Ajmer Sharif blast happened – a blast so low intensity that there were no casualties on the spot, there was also a suicidal attack on a CRPF post. But that was a postscript in the paper. You see, our armed forces are a nationally sponsored bunch of suicidically inclined people. Their deaths mean nothing. (I am not sure how much footage the soldiers who die in Iraq get at home. Anyone who knows? )
It is also fantastic that the media immediately drew parallels with the Mecca Masjid blast, as soon as the Ajmer blast happened, but forgot a simple point of concurrence – they were both extremely low intensity blasts. All other points of similarity – real or imaginary - were so well drawn out. Sensationalism is great! What you cannot exaggerate, you cannot report. I love that attitude! Anyone looking for matter of fact reporting is a dodo.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Prayers for the Day
1. When a man is rejected in love, let him throw acid on himself and not on his "loved one". Lord, let such men also open a dictionary and read the meaning of the word "love" before they profess their "love".
(This happened again in Delhi yesterday)
2. Lord, let the girls in DU become a model for the girls in the rest of the country. And every time a man thinks its ok to molest or eve tease a woman, let him stand corrected.
(This happened again in Delhi yesterday)
2. Lord, let the girls in DU become a model for the girls in the rest of the country. And every time a man thinks its ok to molest or eve tease a woman, let him stand corrected.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
My Son:
When you came into the world, i knew 2 things - 1. That i wanted a daughter; and 2. That it would only make a difference till the first moment of seeing you.
Today, as you look at me with eyes that say "I am so innocent, why are you looking at me like that?"(after making me stay up for 3 hours in the middle of the night, kicking at my stitches like its still your home inside me, and crying pointlessly for most part of those 3 hours, because that is your current definition of "entertainment"), my heart melts. The hurting does not matter any more.
Son, till we had you, i used to say, "Children are God's way of making you pay for what you did to your parents." Now I know, they are also God's way of making you understand why mothers are as forgiving as they are, and fathers as indulgent as they appear to be. Why nothing else matters. Why the heart aches with each Wah! , even when you know that the child is in safe hands. The heart still goes Dhak!
This is a Thank you note to my parents. To a mother who created so much love in the house that we never knew what it was to be unloved. We knew what it was to be loved and smothered with kisses more than we liked, but never what it was to be unloved.
To a father who melted faster than butter on a stove, who was exploited by his sole weakness on earth - his daughter, who is, till date, his greatest fight adversary. When you do that to us, I will know how my father felt all these years.
I read Kahlil Gibran on Children for several years, and today, the prayer is not that I should know, but that I should remember when it is important to remember.
You may not follow our path, our advice, or even our conversation. That is not what we seek. What we do seek, is that the path you follow, Son, should keep you warm on your way, and God Be With You!
When you came into the world, i knew 2 things - 1. That i wanted a daughter; and 2. That it would only make a difference till the first moment of seeing you.
Today, as you look at me with eyes that say "I am so innocent, why are you looking at me like that?"(after making me stay up for 3 hours in the middle of the night, kicking at my stitches like its still your home inside me, and crying pointlessly for most part of those 3 hours, because that is your current definition of "entertainment"), my heart melts. The hurting does not matter any more.
Son, till we had you, i used to say, "Children are God's way of making you pay for what you did to your parents." Now I know, they are also God's way of making you understand why mothers are as forgiving as they are, and fathers as indulgent as they appear to be. Why nothing else matters. Why the heart aches with each Wah! , even when you know that the child is in safe hands. The heart still goes Dhak!
This is a Thank you note to my parents. To a mother who created so much love in the house that we never knew what it was to be unloved. We knew what it was to be loved and smothered with kisses more than we liked, but never what it was to be unloved.
To a father who melted faster than butter on a stove, who was exploited by his sole weakness on earth - his daughter, who is, till date, his greatest fight adversary. When you do that to us, I will know how my father felt all these years.
I read Kahlil Gibran on Children for several years, and today, the prayer is not that I should know, but that I should remember when it is important to remember.
You may not follow our path, our advice, or even our conversation. That is not what we seek. What we do seek, is that the path you follow, Son, should keep you warm on your way, and God Be With You!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Personal News
We were blessed with a son on the 3rd of September.
I just got well enough to be able to sit on a computer and type this. :-)
I just got well enough to be able to sit on a computer and type this. :-)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Nice Matters Awards
Cyberkitty was nice enough to think that the stuff I write here is worth reading. Thank you!!
Accordingly, I am to nominate 4 other people for the Nice Matters Award.
4 does sound like a small number, because there are so many nice blogs out there.. yet, these are the ones that instantly come to mind:
1. Aaina: This is a Hindi blog, and i love the content - always.
2. Adi: Delhidreams. Very lovable poetry, and an even better story about 2 people in love.
3. Nabeel: He always brings out the most interesting things for his blog.
4. Twisted DNA: My no. 1 de-stressor after alcohol.
This tag is now open to all visitors. And the winners. Please post your fave 4 blogs - either in the comments section here, or on your own blog(and then let me know in the comments).
BTW, I m due for a surgery next Monday. At the moment, my head is in the modes of philosophy, fear and excitement, in that order.
The doctor thinks that philosophy, excitement, and fear is a better order of mind modes.
Any ideas on how to make the conversion?
Accordingly, I am to nominate 4 other people for the Nice Matters Award.
4 does sound like a small number, because there are so many nice blogs out there.. yet, these are the ones that instantly come to mind:
1. Aaina: This is a Hindi blog, and i love the content - always.
2. Adi: Delhidreams. Very lovable poetry, and an even better story about 2 people in love.
3. Nabeel: He always brings out the most interesting things for his blog.
4. Twisted DNA: My no. 1 de-stressor after alcohol.
This tag is now open to all visitors. And the winners. Please post your fave 4 blogs - either in the comments section here, or on your own blog(and then let me know in the comments).
BTW, I m due for a surgery next Monday. At the moment, my head is in the modes of philosophy, fear and excitement, in that order.
The doctor thinks that philosophy, excitement, and fear is a better order of mind modes.
Any ideas on how to make the conversion?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Double Whammy
I have a new love in my life : Pankaj Kapoor. I also have a new award for the most underrated actor in Indian cinema today - Pankaj Kapoor.
The good thing about a children's film(The Blue Umbrella, in this case) is that all characters are uni-dimensional. They are simple characters, in a simple story. You are only expected to savor one emotion at a time.
Pankaj Kapoor effortlessly adds layers to this character. The added layers do not complicate the story or its telling. They enhance your experience of every single moment of the story....and take it to an altogether unexpected level...
The man who tells his store help that one should not steal; the man who,knowing that he will be rightfully accused of theft in under 2 minutes, continues to give the chief guest's speech; the man who tries to sell biscuits and toffee to the children in the village, just so his excommunication is sidelined; the man who displays the loneliness of social excommunication; and then his desperate attempts to "belong"; and the man who is happy, and proud again.
Watch this film for Pankaj Kapoor. Biniya is a delight, and the story is wonderfully told, but these are the bonuses. After ages, a wonderful children's film meant also for the adults. Loved It!
The other film we saw last night was Gandhi, My Father.
Pretty much the only film ever, in which the protagonist moves in and out of the screen in random frames that make no effort to trace his journey. In short, its another documentary on Gandhi Sr. and his greatness.
Completely unexplored other characters, incl. Kasturba, the protagonist, his wife, the other children of the house, their relationship as siblings... nothing at all! This was a film where one expected layers and exploration, and did not even get basic research.
Pankaj Kapoor effortlessly adds layers to this character. The added layers do not complicate the story or its telling. They enhance your experience of every single moment of the story....and take it to an altogether unexpected level...
The man who tells his store help that one should not steal; the man who,knowing that he will be rightfully accused of theft in under 2 minutes, continues to give the chief guest's speech; the man who tries to sell biscuits and toffee to the children in the village, just so his excommunication is sidelined; the man who displays the loneliness of social excommunication; and then his desperate attempts to "belong"; and the man who is happy, and proud again.
Watch this film for Pankaj Kapoor. Biniya is a delight, and the story is wonderfully told, but these are the bonuses. After ages, a wonderful children's film meant also for the adults. Loved It!
The other film we saw last night was Gandhi, My Father.
Pretty much the only film ever, in which the protagonist moves in and out of the screen in random frames that make no effort to trace his journey. In short, its another documentary on Gandhi Sr. and his greatness.
Completely unexplored other characters, incl. Kasturba, the protagonist, his wife, the other children of the house, their relationship as siblings... nothing at all! This was a film where one expected layers and exploration, and did not even get basic research.
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