A Slap on the Face of Terrorists

The world's tourists have just certified India as the best travel destination. This is certainly a tight slap on the nameless, ruthless, and pointed terrorist.

.....India has now emerged as the numero uno travel destination trailing beauties of Italy, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, according to survey by a tourism magazine. India's rise from the fourth spot last year was contained in a survey conducted by a widely-read British magazine Conde Nest Traveller, which gives away Readers Travel Awards, considered to be the Oscar awards of the tourism industry. "India was the 10th most preferred destination in 2004, 4th in 2006 and is now at the top in 2007 and that is where we want to be," Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said while receiving the award at a ceremony in London on Monday night. Conducted among the readers of the magazine that includes some of the most sophisticated and avid travellers across the world, the survey included a range of criteria for each category from 'range of accommodation' to 'environmental friendliness', the magazine said in a release. In the April issue of the magazine, readers were asked for nominations for the world's best hotels, spas, cities, airports, cruise lines and tour operators and to rate them. To discern their list of 'best of the best', each nomination was ranked to produce the world's Top 100 in each field. The replies were then collated and analysed by an independent market research company before giving away with the awards.[IE]

INS Viraat off the Visakhapatnam Coast

Courtesy: The Hindu

This was published in today's "Young World", children's supplement of "The Hindu". Quite a beautiful setting. INS Viraat is docked off the Vizag coast because it is here to participate in the Naval exercise with US, Australia and Japan.

Emoticons and You

It is 25 years since emoticons or smilies made their debut and Yahoo! came out with this survey.

People in the age group 19-25 are the most smitten by emoticons, with about 68 per cent using smileys daily, a survey by online portal Yahoo! revealed. .... Emoticons changed the way emails were perceived in the early years. ...... However, its not just the younger generation embracing emoticons. Nearly 48 per cent of users over 50 use emoticons in their everyday communication. The Yahoo! survey further indicates that 82 per cent of Yahoo Messenger subscribers use emoticons while chatting. The perception though is that emoticons are used more by women. Men, said the survey, are more prone to use instant messengers and emoticons to fire someone (14 per cent) versus women (11 per cent). The majority of survey respondents said they best express themselves in IM using emoticons. Nearly two-thirds (61 per cent) rely on emoticons to best express their feelings, while 17 per cent on internet slang (i.e. LOL, GR8) and 13 per cent on photo-sharing.[B-S]

Nasty Chinese Entertainment

Entertainment in the People's Republic:

....for your eyes only!

Link via "Serendipity"

When Two Mega-Stars Met

...it made my day! A thousand thanks to Amit Varma for these pics of my most favourite mega-stars together. Always wanted one from the time I was a teenager. Anyways it is still not that late. I will cherish these pics forever!

Report and Pics in/from Mid-day.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

An American Cobra helicopter breaking the sound barrier.

US Navy F-18 breaking the sound barrier.

Kendo - Pakistani Version

In the above photograph the Pakistani version of the Japanese martial art of fencing is depicted. In Pakistan this is martial art is practised exclusively by women.

In this photograph the original version of Kendo as practised by the Japanese is shown.

Are You A Fundamentalist Christian?

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours. 9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt. 8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God. 7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees! 6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky. 5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old. 4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving." 3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity. 2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God. 1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

Now that was about the militant fundamentalist Christian. Now it will be interesting to read such 'gems' from other religions too.

Quiz: Where was this photograph taken?

Can anybody tell me where was this photograph taken and what is happening here? No googling please!

Still Learning to Fly

Air traffic in India is growing annually by about 7.7 per cent and is expected to double to 50 million passengers by 2010, according to industry estimates. But the industry is plauged by inadequate infrastructure, flight delays and cancellations. This is resulting in frayed nerves at the airports and in the flights.

A security report prepared by a leading airline documents an instance when passengers tired of waiting for their aircraft to receive clearance to land, gathered outside the cockpit, forcing an emergency landing... 'Last month, a passenger opened an emergency exit to soothe his nerves. More recently, two passengers tried to open the doors of an aircraft while it was moving on the runway,' the study mentioned. 'First time fliers are eager to know about the aircraft and complications first hand as they would do in a train or bus,' .... A passenger broke the arm of a flight attendant recently. 'Sometimes female employees have their clothes torn by unruly people inside airports,' .... Experts opined that owing to the security risks, airline staff must be allowed physically restrain such rowdy passengers. 'There are times when reason fails..Some foreign airlines now carry on board plastic handcuffs for this purpose,'....[M&C]

One more gift to India from India's Commies.

A Malaysian Prince and India's Republic Day

Two years back a Malaysian Prince after passing out of the Indian Military Academy was commissioned into the Indian Army’s 61st Calvary and on the 26th of January this year he will lead the mounted column of the Jaipur-based 61st Cavalry in the Republic day parade.

Captain Tunku, who is the crown prince of Johor, one of the southernmost states in Peninsular Malaysia, today interacting with the media, said that the Indian Government had cleared him for commanding the contingent, "I am very happy to be part of the 61st Cavalry contingent. My father will also be here to see me." Sultan Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Al Marhum, the king of Johor, is also expected to be witness to the spectacle. Prince Tunku, a polo player was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 2004 for a two-year attachment with the 61st Cavalry. His attachment has been extended for one more year. The Jaipur based 61st Cavalry will participate in the 58th Republic Day parade along with eight marching contingents and one contingent of the Special Forces Para Commandos on-the-double. The parade commander, Major General P C Bharadwaj, said that it was a matter of pride to have the Malaysian prince to command the mounted contingent as he is part of the Indian Army.[DailyIndia.com]

New Blogging Trends in India

This is from The Hindu:

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According to an online survey of more than 1,000 MSN portal visitors in India, blogging is dominated by men, and blogs founded by business leaders make for the most enjoyable read, followed by those by politicians. This contrasts with the trend elsewhere, where blogging is evenly matched between the sexes and blogs by business leaders and politicians are far less popular than those by others. A desire for self-improvement and personal development is found to be a key driver of India's blogosphere with a large majority of online users reading blogs to stay informed about world events. They enjoy reading about technology the most, followed closely by news and education. Elsewhere, technology content ranks low. These findings suggest that blogging in India could become the "new fourth estate" with close to half the respondents believing that blogging content is as trustworthy as those of regular media outlets such as newspapers, radio and TV. While growing in popularity in India, the blogging community is still nascent with only one-seventh of Net-users actively blogging. And more than half of all Net users were unaware altogether of blogs. India's blogosphere is heavily dominated by men — three quarters of its bloggers are male. It is also fuelled by young adults.[The Hindu] Related Report:CNN-IBN (This one is more detailed)

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Some Memorable Indian Phrases

I stumbled upon this collection of memorable phrases from Indian advertisements and other fields. I am just listing the most memorable of them here. For the complete list please visit the link.

Dhoondhte reh jaaoge: A Surf Ultra ad line that became part of everyday terminology. Jhakaass: Meaning very cool, was first used by Anil Kapoor in Joshilay (1989). Kitne aadmi the: Probably the most popular line in Bollywood history, mouthed by the menacing Gabbar Singh in Sholay (1975) to his henchmen. Used indiscriminately in ads and promos. Dho dala: Clinic All Clear's tagline to erase all traces of dandruff, also refers to wiping out an opponent, as in Dhoni ne dho dala. Bindaas: A word that means blase, popularised by Stardust, and commonly used in conjunction with 'babe'. Vaat lag gayi: The tapori phrase used across regions to indicate trouble. Brought into our homes by the affable gangster played by Sanjay Dutt in the unforgettable Munnabhai MBBS (2003). Lambi race ka ghoda: First used by Davar Seth for Amitabh Bachchan in the 1975 classic, Deewar, the metaphor has stood the test of time. Yeh dil maange more: The TV coverage of Captain Vikram Batra's use of this phrase during the 1999 Kargil war catapulted the Pepsi tagline into common parlance. Naani yaad dila denge: Immortalised in Rajiv Gandhi's famous tirade against foreign powers, delivered at a rally at the Delhi Boat Club in 1989. Bheja paka diya: Effectively expresses discomfort, also appeared in a 1999 india today feature. Yeh andar ki baat hai: The Rupa underwear ad line that has gone beyond to denote corporate politics, secrecy and even hidden feelings. Hawa nikal gayi: A 'tyre' specific situation that now stands for deflation of swollen egos. Item number: Not just the movie staple, it is now stretched to connote the 'highlight' of the show-be it a guest lecture or even a presentation. We are like this only: The dosa-chomping south Indian cowboy hero of the Channel V promos, Quick Gun Murugan launched himself, and this line into iconic status. Funde mat jhad/Too much gyan: An excessive and irritating display of knowledge. JLT: Just like that. University parlance of the 1990s that moved outside campuses. Puppies: First used in a 1989 India Today feature, it is Delhi's desi contribution to the social lexicon and refers to the young prosperous urban Punjabi. Lage raho: The Indian tribute to carry on with a distinctive tapori touch.Dobara mat poochhna: A phrase coined to convey an attitude in the Chlor-mint ad. Now used to express a certain kind of emotion, from irritability to unquestionability. Mera Bharat mahan: Rajiv Gandhi's national integration campaign. Now referred to only in irony.

A Quick Gun Murugan Moment

I was almost Rolling On the Floor Laughing reading this post by Gaurav Sabnis titled "Pre-Emptive Strike". At the end of the post I said to myself: we (Indians anywhere) are like this only. And if it were not for his voracious blog reading, Gaurav Sabnis wouldn't have had his "quick gun Murugan" moment.

The Child In Us

Here is Amitabh Bachchan being - after posing for the group photograph - mobbed by autograph hunters who themselves are none other than fellow honourees. Looking at the photograph one thing is clear - one just don't know when the child in you will show up and that too in public.

Here is the report from the Hindu on the Delhi University special convocation where the Big B and other luminaries like Delhi CM Ms. Dikshit, cartoonist RK Laxman, scientist CNR Rao, etc were honoured.

It was doubtless a big day for Bachchan, but seemingly a still bigger day for the university. High on drama and excitement, the university abandoned some of its solemn conventions. Students turned into paparazzi — although the invitation had said no cell-phones were allowed — filming every move that Abhishek Bachchan, who arrived sporting a hair-band, made. They deployed their mobile-phones, standing on chairs. Faculty members and staff members were out in full force. And the media were out in large numbers... Bachchan is known as a man of few words, but here, after getting his Doctor of Letters, he gave up his reticence and made a trip down memory lane. His booming baritone echoed through the freshly restored, gleaming yellow Old Vice Regal Lodge. "The first question that came to my mind when I was told that I was getting this honour was: do I deserve it? Who would have thought that an average student, not extraordinary by any means, would be awarded such a homecoming," he said. Stating that this was an accolade he would cherish the most, Bachchan, who is 64, said he owed a lifelong debt to a university that taught him his principles and gave him an introduction to acting. "The tall and imposing Frank Thakurdas gave me my first compliment,'' he said. "It goes without saying that nostalgia is palpable. I remember the time spent at the coffeehouse, at the bus stop outside Miranda House," he said to some hooting from the corner where students from the women's college were massed. "Yes, yes, always Miranda House,'' he finished. While students sighed and clung to every word Bachchan uttered — apart from clapping at the mention of every film he acted from Saath Hindustani to Black as he was being introduced — many of the staff members let their hair down. "We are proud of the back gate and the bus-stop. We have to get him to come to the college now. You know he said Miranda House more times that Kirori Mal College [where he did BSc till 1962],'' gushed a Miranda House faculty member. His presence added colour to what would otherwise have been a staid convocation, but the event appeared to have been overrun by elements of popular culture...[The Hindu]

Dangers of Getting an Education...

....in the Land of the Pure.

The News International on Saturday reported the case of one Mumtaz Mai and her daughter, Ghazala Shaheen Bathi, who were abducted, held in captivity and gang-raped for 12 days because daughter Ghazala dared to become educated.

[.....]

....The mother-daughter duo earned the wrath of the Mirali tribesmen when it became known that Ghazala had passed her Master's in Education from Bahauddin Zahariya University on Aug 25.

The girl's father Mohammed Hussain, a retired army man belonging to village Chak Sher Khan near Kabirwala in Multan, was also beaten up.

....Influential people are said to be involved in this case too. The newspaper report repeatedly hinted at the involvement of "a minister of state", but did not name him.

When informed by the villagers, the local police acted after 12 days, only to help the accused.

While three men managed to escape, the local villagers prevented the car carrying the two women from driving away.

It is said that among the three men overpowered the villagers included two bodyguards of the minister.

Kabirwala's police chief Daud Hussain has been quoted as denying the incident. The police reportedly clarified that the two women had run away from their home "on their own".

However, the newspaper said authorities in the local hospital confirmed that the two women had been raped.[TOI]

Zidane's Scheming Intentions

Via Ahmad Mohib's blog:

As seen by the Germans:

As seen by the French:

As seen by the Italians:

As seen by the Americans:

As seen by Israelies:

As seen by the press:

As seen by the readers:

Readers at Mohib's blog suggested that Zidane was in fact saving Materazzi’s life.

Lightning Over "Dolphin's Nose"

Photograph from The Hindu. Photo: Mr. K.R. Deepak.

Almighty's Secret

This quote is from an article in Pakistan's Daily Times. Reading it I almost rolled on the floor laughing.

Religious fervour now borders on the ludicrous. For example, many if not a majority of the auto-rickshaws in Dhaka proclaim at their back that “Allah is almighty”, while others announce that they are “equipped with a 4-stroke engine”. I noted one that combined both statements, the first followed by the second.[Daily Times]

Press Versus Bloggers

Finally, the mainstream press worldwide is feeling the heat from the blogger community. So much so that they are discussing how to beat the bloggers and citizen journalists to the story in the International Press Institute's World Congress in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh!

Now this shouldn't surprise the blogger community at all. After all didn't the best coverage of the London bombing, South Asia Tsunami, etc was by the bloggers. Recently Nitin's success in getting Harper Collins to correct the error committed by Clinton in his foreword to Madeline Albright's book is worth being noted. IMO this is the biggest success for an Indian blogger till date.

Rajdeep Sardesai's CNN-IBN is very keen on partnership between citizens and the mainstream media. Their Citizen Journalist initiative is a commendable one in this regard. They encourage citizens to contact them with "breaking news" from their respective areas and after verifying its authenticity, it will go on air.

More Power to Bloggers!