Breaking News: Sourav Ganguly back in the Indian Team

The whole of the country thought Sourav's (more popularly known as Dada) illustrious career had come to a grinding halt considering everything (probably everyone too) went against him.
From the coach's bitter observations to his miserable form with the bat both in Domestic and International cricket it all were stacked against him. I remember a friend of mine who was die-hard Dada fan wanted his axing not just for his poor form but also for his conduct.
Public opinion in fact gave Ajay Jadeja (former Indian Captain) a better chances of a comeback.

Experts felt only the impossible could bring Ganguly back and hold your breath cause the Indian Team with their string of under-par performances seem to have achieved the Mission Impossible.

The famous Pepsi ad showed the Ganguly plight; it seemed more an attempt to regain his damaged image than his batting form. He possibly gave up on his chances of playing the World Cup and the words 'who knows I might get another chance' speaks a lot about this lost hope.

Here's a transcript of what Dada says in the Pepsi commercial.

“My name is Saurav Ganguly.
I hope you haven’t forgotten me.
Whatever happened, why it happened I don’t know.
I am practicing hard to come back into the team.
Who knows I might get another chance to swirl my shirt in the air!
In the field or outside the field, I won’t keep quiet. Hu ha India… Aaya India.
For every match of India I am going to cheer them like this and so should you… my team will feel good.
You will listen to your ‘Dada’ right?”

However what's goes into Ganguly favor are not only a couple of good performances in the last fortnight and but also his mental strength. His 'never-say-die attitude' is something that's required for an Indian team thats low on morale.
It however needs to be seen if Dada can deliver on the field. And we sure hope he would get his chance swirl his shirt in the air.

Lets check out what the Newspapers have to say on this.

The Real and Reel Bond

Similarities unbelievable but true

L- plays the role of a secret agent
R - also plays, was earlier a cop

Reel Bond Mission - to be feared by the bad men
Real Bond Mission - to be feared by the batsmen

Speed Gun
Bond rolls at 150+ Kmph
Bond bowls at 150+ Kmph

Debut Reel Bond - 2001 (Lara Croft - Tomb Rider)
Debut Real Bond - 2001 (New Zealand vs Australia)

If you find more do let us know

Indian Cricket Curry

With each setback in the SA Series, the Indian media and public seem to be getting hotter. The recent debacle along with the diatribe that followed has put the Indian team in a soup. They definitely seem have gone into the skin of the Ooh Ah Ouch India.
Poor Vengsakar who just started playing the role of a chief selector has been made a messenger at the hands of the BCCI. He has been flown to South Africa to convey a message from Parliament. The Board has either been unable to reach Chappel through their (remember sponsors Reliance) phone lines or they feel pigeons are best way to carry messages across.
Staying with the BCCI, recently the BCCI chief was heard saying that he wanted India to have someone like Ponting. Wow, wouldn’t the BCCI want to see the ICC Chief, Malcom Speed (Former Cricket Australia chief) shoved and pushed. What a spectacle would that be.
Also as Imran Khan suggested the Board's considering having more grounds in the country, that would give young kids more room to explore their talent. They explored all possible places including the Indian airports and found ‘no space’. We were surprised and immediately decided to call ‘WorldSpace’ - whose automated reply said 'there is so much more to hear'. Well, we thought we have heard enough and so hung up the phone. Probably all of us could learn a lot from our politicians who never give-up or retire.
The country's Politicians (especially ones from Bihar & UP) seem to be on a vacation mood, this season. Besides planning for their usual paid trip to Goa with friend and family, they also seem to have enough time to watch and analyze cricket in depth. Some of them are likely to take up Television commentary after the UP elections a la fellow parliamentarian Siddhu. While Lalu wants those who endorse products to be banned (read carefully, he doesn’t say ‘banned products’), another politician, a Samajwadi Party MP in his typical political estyle wants Greg Chappel to be sacked. MPs never expected Chappel to respond and were in for a rude shock when Chappel eventually did, he however stopped short of the finger or probably it was editing while on its way to India.

Here's good enough reason behind the baby-boy(calls home(UP) everyday) Raina-Chappel chemistry. Like many of our colleges, Chappel too wants ragging to be curbed and dealt with more stringently. One wonders if he’s talking about Suresh Raina. Anyways here’s some small talk we heard on the young and senior players.
Yuvraj Singh – Has always been called a youngster, even after 7 long years of cricket. But without doubt he’s definitely a naughty boy.
Mohammad Kaif – The youngster has started growing a beard now. Also to avoid ugly situations, he has used Berger weather coat exterior emulsion paint for his house.
Irfan Pathan – If Dinesh Karthick can play as a pure batsman what makes Irfan impure. Is it his bowling, eh?
Suresh Raina – Plans to move in with Greg Chappel. Chappel is fond of Raina and thinks he has brilliant hands.
VVS Laxman – He has been trying to convey his love for batting to Chappel through his phone(obviously reliance) but to no avail. He has finally managed to speak to Raina and they have decided on signing a MOU (VVS bats and Raina only fields).
Anil Kumble – He too has been trying to reach Chappel over his phone (Reliance-remember he too has a similar contract). In fact he’s been trying for the last 13 Months and only recently seems to have got his line.
MS Dhoni – The last words the man said on TV were ‘Deepika Padukone’. She’s his favorite model and sometimes he models himself like her.
Saurav Ganguly – The pepsi star has realized that staying away from the team has done him a lot of good. He now has more support than ever before and many have become vocal too (probably eager to see Dada shirtless again). Will all this crap restore tranquility and peace is anyone's guess.
For real Newspaper stuff - click here

Comical Quotes courted

If it weren’t for electricity we’d all be watching TV in candle-light.
George Gobol
We live in an age where Pizza gets to your home before the police.
Jeff Marder
“Smoking kills, and if you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.”
Brooke Shields
“I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
“What’s Walmart, do they sell like wall stuff?”
Paris Hilton
Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night."
Rodney Dangerfield
"There are a number of mechanical devices which increase sexual arousal, particularly in women. Chief among these is the Mercedes-Benz 380SL."
Lynn Lavner
"Sex at age 90 is like trying to shoot pool with a rope."
Camille Paglia
"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch."
Jack Nicholson
"For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it."
George Bush

Do you have trouble making up your mind? Well, yes or no?
Join The Army, Visit exotic places, meet strange people, then kill them.
I poured Spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.
Cheer up, the worst is yet to come.
Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.
Where there's a will, there are five hundred relatives.
Smoking helps you lose weight.. One lung at a time!
Sign in a bar: "Those .....Drinking to forget........ Please pay in advance."
Laugh and the world laughs with you, Snore and you sleep alone.
Sign at a barber's saloon in Juhu, Bombay : We need your heads to run our business.
Seen in railway station at Patna : Aana free, Jaana free, Pakde gaye to khana free.
The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.
The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it.
It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world everyday always just exactly fits the newspaper.
One day my Boss asked me to submit a status report to him concerning a project I was working on. I asked him if tomorrow would be soon enough. He said, "If I wanted it tomorrow, I would have waited until tomorrow to ask for it!"
My dad is Irish and my mum is Iranian, which meant that we spent most of our family holidays in Customs.
I saw that show titled "50 Things To Do Before You Die. I would have thought the obvious one would be "Shout For Help".

Cold-fighting Foods

*Cayenne pepper and hot chillies (Jalapeño) They help in reducing cold, pain and swelling. Chillies contain 4 times as much Vitamin-C as an Orange.

*Tabasco Sauce helps in curing Sore-throats
*Orange Juice. Its surely helps in reducing the duration of cold.
*Chicken soup and the steamy broth slows down mucus production and helps you breathe easier.
*Natural tea and vitamin-C heals your sniffles.
*Ginger Tea cures cold, relieves headaches, negates nausea and also helps in circulation. Quite popular in China.
*Garlic contains allicin destroys bacterias and makes it hard for the virus to stay alive.
However a good night's sleep always help you stay fresh and stay away from ill-health.

Disclaimer: All these may not necessarily work for you.

Travel & Leisure - Bali

Bali is often referred to as 'The Heaven on Earth' and rightly so.

Bali (a small Island of 140km East-West & 80km North-South) is situated between the Indonesian Islands of Java and Lombok. It is only Indonesian Island with a majority Hindu population (around 93%). Earlier a Agricultural state, in recent times Tourism has been the mainstay of Bali, thanks to its pleasant climate, friendly people and unique places of interest.
Bali Beaches are among the post popular. There are three general Beach areas, which are Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Nua.
These areas have a major European tourist presence. You have Irish Pubs, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish Hotels in these surroundings. Cold Bintang Beer has been a big hit among western tourists.
However it is to be said that Bali is not just about Beaches and parties.
The Island's lakes are a must for every tourist. Popular Lakes include Lake Buyon, which offers one solitude in this busy world. Another popular lake is the scenic Lake Brotan which has several water sports.
The Island state also has a lot of Hindu mythology (different from the Indian Hindu culture and traditions) and culture attached to it. You can say this is Bali's biggest attraction.
The Balinese temples (especially the Krishna Balaram mandir), Balinese dances & dramas (keep a close on watch on the performer's eyes) that tell you tales on the Ramayana and Mahoborata.
There is also a celebrated Hindu Monkey Temple where one walks through a set of caves. Be warned you might encounter snakes and monkeys en route, though the guides would always call them harmless.
A few other popular caves would include
Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) popular for its carvings.
Gua Lawah (Bat Cave) that has a host of fruit bots.
Goa Karang Sari (extends over 200 metres hillside) - torchlight processions are held during festive seasons.
Special places to visit would be the Ghandipuri Ashram (Ashram of Bali's way of life), Arma Museam of Arts (rich with Balinese culture), Trunyan (can be visited by Boat) an ancient Bali Age village and Ubud which is a popular Artists colony.
Bali Markets have a prominent tourist presence. Few popular Markets include Pasar Seni (Art Market) at Senur, Market Stalls at Poppies Lone in Kuta and Kumbasari Market in capital Denpansar. These markets are popular for their handicrafts, gold work and other seamless fabrics. The Ubud Art Market's most sought after items includes its aromatic therapy oils, incense, carvings and printing textiles.
Spas also have a prominent tourist presence. Among the Spas you have the Amoaras Spa in Seminyak, Dynastry Spa Villa & Green Garden Spa in Kuta and Ibah Spa in Ubud.
So if want to experience Paradise that has Beaches, Caves, Traditions, Markets, Spas and Parties get your bags backed and rush to Bali. Bali is ideal for a week's stay and most suited for couples.
To book your exquisite Hotel stay at 'Club Bali' (RCI afflicted) mail bailamos@gmail.com

Decision-making is the art of taking risks that are worth it

Unlike animals, human beings can make decisions that go against their natural instincts - assessing risks, overcoming fear and showing courage. However decisions are always at war wih doubts, and sometimes the doubts are justified. But while the avoidance of risk may look like a rational short-term strategy, in the long run it is the riskiest strategy of all, since it leaves us unable to take the crucial decision on which our future depends.
Courtesy: Roger Scruton

News on the Run

With the Indian government intent on passing the Broadcasting Bill to supposedly curtail personal campaigns and sting operations. One needs to look at the bigger picture of the whole story.
We always need to be reminded that the only watch-dog that the society of 1 billion has today is the media. The police are helpless most of the time and with the courts taking their time in delivering justice; the old saying comes to the forefront 'justice delayed is justice denied.'
One wonders if the 'Broadcast Bill' to be tabled is going to be as blunt as the other recent bills. The latest documents have gone the way of a Bank Document, where the decision is every situation is more or less at the sole discretion of the Bank.

Starting with the film censorship, then the quota bill, to the domestic violence act and this to-be-tabled bill are all in essence flawed.
The common man seems to have better and simpler solutions.

Film censorship
Rate the movies U, U/A, A, X
Show their previews, trailers after 11PM
Ask for proof of age when adult movies are being shown in theatres
The censor board should take care of only extremely sensitive cases and even such cases solutions need to be provided.

Quota Bill
This is a tough call but there sure seems several ways to better the existing ones that are on the basis of caste and religion.
The people best served by the Quota system would be the economically backward. The economically backward forward-caste students too deserve to have access to reservation. Cases of economically backward Brahmin students, though hardworking and brilliant eventually become priests as a last resort.
And well, the method for evaluation of one's financial status should be done in the same way the Banks do for a loan application.
Though cases of forging certificates and bribing officials cannot be ruled, but having an effective structure and methodology is essential.

Domestic Violence Act
The purpose of providing relief to many ill treated women is definitely an appreciated cause but the question here is whether the law can be framed better.
Can one justify a woman being beaten by her drunken husband at the cost of a former girlfriend getting her former man imprisoned for denying access to his property? There can be many more bizarre situations if one goes purely by the print.
One can only hope, that there's a review around the corner by the highest authorities (both the judiciary & the legislature need to be involved here), where either the whole bill should be reframed or additional clauses had to be added to prevent gross misuse.

Now coming to the sting operations, its proven that such operations do help in containing rampant corruption in the society. This along with the RTI (Right to Information) Act are a boon to the citizens.
And finally, every citizen would want to see healthy debating on such issues in parliament to arrive at best solutions. But as is the case politicians sometimes fear talking against an issue, considered it to be a political suicide.

Click here to see what the Newspapers have to say.

Humor Us

One evening last week, my wife and I were getting into bed.

Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me." I said "WHAT???!!! What was that?!" So she says the words that every husband on the planet dreads to hear..."You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep. The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big Unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'll just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewelery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey."

She was almost nearing satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it." Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled "WHAT???!!!" I then said, "Really honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?

It's that time of the year where Travel and Vacation plans are being made. It's also that season where one would want to end the year lazing or skinny dipping on beaches and getting their bodies tanned. Others live up their energies by giving in to water sports and adventure.
Over the next Month we shall compile and get you insights on some of World's most popular Island destinations.

Here are a list of some of the World's top holiday Islands
courtesy: travelandleisure.com
(1) Bali. (2) Santorini. (3) Maui. (4) Kauai. (5) Great Barrier Reef Islands. (6) Vancouver Island. (7) Cyclades; Greece. (8) Sicily. (9) Hawaii. (10) Mount Desert Island; Maine.

Bond's back with Casino Royale

Bond's Class
The new Bond (Daniel Craig) will be driving the new Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale. A stunt performed by Adam Kirley using the Aston Martin DBS and a nitrogen cannon entered the Guinness World Records for rolling seven times. This beat the previous record of six times accomplished the previous year by Top Gear.
Ford Mondeo also will be briefly used by Bond. He uses it to drive to a hotel shortly after arriving in The Bahamas.
Bond will drive Fiat W190 bulldozer in an action sequence taking place at a construction site while in Madagascar.
Walther P99 is Bond’s standard handgun used along with Bond’s other pistol Walther PPK.
Bond also uses the Spirit 54 sailing boat built by Spirit Yachts.
Fiat Ferroviara/Alstom Pendolino CD 680; the tilting train will be used in a sequence that involves a train journey from Switzerland to Montenegro.
And finally Sony Ericsson M600 will release a special edition James Bond K790 and K800.

Bond Poll Question: Does the Bond accessories (vehicles & gadgets) interest you more than the Bond girls? To Vote - Click Here

Television News headlines with stories from the web

CNN-IBN 11^th Nov, Saturday: Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (WB CM) wants to make friends on the Internet. Not him actually, its probably a prankster. Buddha’s Id’s found on a popular Networking site (Orkut) and his reading his profile has raised a few eyebrows. Though a most of facts are stated correctly, it also says that he’s a social drinker and of interest in dating.

NDTV 24x7 12^th Nov, Sunday: Indian An Indian traffic video makes waves in a popular video site (YouTube). It has seen over 1.5 Lakh hits in the last few weeks. This video (Also a PressMart Blog video) gives the viewer a panoramic view of a busy road intersection where you see vehicles of various sizes that move at varied speeds – some of them slow down, few zoom past or the others wait to take a turn. Apart from the vehicles and bullocks that one sees you also have men cross and walk by. Inspite of encountering such diverse moving objects, people more often than not manage to get past without a trouble.

Now here’s the question that we ask - Has the broadcast media realized the importance of the internet by using content from the web in order to keep its audience captivated? Here are the some views and counter-views. You can also take part in our exclusive poll & also understand what the junta feels.

Views
Yes, they have realized the importance and considering that the Internet epitomizes the fast-paced world, successful media houses are making efforts to keep themselves regularly abreast with the latest developments on the web. This is evident from not just the news stories but also the full-fledged websites that they maintain. CNN-IBN is assisted by the fact that they a active website which also includes the ‘news on videos’ feature. NDTV on the other has tied-up with MSN and their website is managed by the by NDTV media team. The bottom line here is that with such varied repertoire of stories from the Internet, it’s sure to keep the TV audience pepped.

Counter-views
However, though the Internet runs into millions of pages and accessibility is simple, at the moment the number of people who have access to the Television is much is bigger that audience that regularly accesses the Internet. Coming to the above news stories, both the Orkut story as well as the YouTube video have been there in the web for long. Therefore if not targeted at the less computer savvy audience, the regular web browsers probably would find such news stories obsolete. So these stories can only be used discretely and with the motive of break the flow of the other heavy news.

PressMart Poll results: Has the broadcast media realized the importance of the internet by using content from the web in order to keep its audience captivated? Yes-59%, No-18%, Can't Say-23%

Office Ergonomics

Back (1)
1. Lean forward to stretch
2. Keep your head down and your neck relaxed
3. Hold 10-20 seconds
4. Use your hands to push yourself upright

Back (2)
1. Stand with hands on your hips
2. Gently turn your torso at the waist and look over your shoulder until you feel the stretch
3. Hold 8 – 10 seconds
4. Repeat other side
5. Keep your knees slightly flexed
6. Do not hold your breath

Hands & Wrists (1)
1. Place your hands palm-to-palm in front of you
2. Move hands downward, keeping your palms together, until you feel a mild stretch
3. Keep elbows up and even
4. Hold 5-8 second

Hands & Wrists (2)
1. Separate and straighten your fingers until the tension of a stretch is felt
2. Hold 10 seconds
3. Relax, then bend fingers at the knuckles and hold 10 seconds
4. Repeat the first stretch once more

Shoulders & Arms (1)
1. Interlace your fingers behind your back, palms facing your back
2. Slowly turn your elbows inward while straightening your arms until a stretch is felt
3. Lift your chest bone slightly upward as you stretch
4. Hold 10 seconds

Shoulders & Arms (2)
1. Hold your left arm just above your elbow with your right hand
2. As you look over your left shoulder, gently pull your elbow towards the opposite shoulder until a stretch is felt
3. Hold 10-15 seconds
4. Do it for both sides

Palming

Palming is an activity you can do to relax your eyes periodically throughout the day. Here's how it's done:

1. Cover your closed eyes with your hands, so that the palms are over (but not touching) your eyelids. Your fingers should overlap above your nose on your forehead;
2.Take several deep breathes and take in the complete darkness (or visualize a relaxing setting);
3. After 20 seconds or so, uncover your eyes and allow them to refocus. You're ready to continue your day!

Refocus Routine

If you regularly work with your computer, you should periodically look away to allow your eyes to change focus. This exercise should be repeated regularly throughout the day. Here's how to do it:
1. Identify 2 objects that are roughly 20 feet away and relax;
2. Comfortably focus on one object for approximately 10-15 seconds, then focus on the other object for 10-15 seconds
3. Return your focus to your monitor and continue working.

This in essence is the art of healthy computing.
image & article courtesy: healthycomputing.com

News Grounded

1.The Tony Blaire Head-lines
Stressed and having done a tight roped walk most of the time in both Domestic and Foreign issues, the aftermath of such events has created permanent scars on Mr.Blaire’s forehead. Expert psychologists and forehead readers say that this is a sign of desperation or helplessness and if given a chance, he would cry out for aloud for his Mama.

2.Talking about stress and strain, Mush seems to be taking strains to find a family home after retirement(one for his kids) in Bush’s home state, Texas. Mush trying to woo Bush, even came close to naming his book (The line of fire) as Bushfire. Bitter sense prevailed; Mush once threatened is twice shy.

3.Talking about shyness, today’s programs of TV have none of them. With similar kind of shows on every channel, the idea of the Public Channel came into existence. The public channels works only on public demand (remember only when the public demands). During the recently concluded Mini-World Cup, with Indian Cricket having packed their bags early, it was left to the hosts Mandira Body & Chalu Sharma to entertain the Indian public.

4.While on the mini-cup, let’s move on to the cup’s mega issue – the Australian Shove. Power for once mistook the mini-cup prize distribution to giving a Khel Ratna to Thendulkar, he said ‘khup chaan’ ('well done' in Marathi) to Pointing. The Aussies of late, having heard the war of words between Mr. Spade and BCCI, took offence to the comment, which resulted in the Pointing and Martyn shove.

5.Still with cricket, Showhim Akhtar seems to have more fun off-field than by playing on field. He is being investigated for his remarks on Mrs. Greg and also the Woolmer slap. One wonders if this is the reason for an extra-year of ban.

6.And more cricket and ban, promise you this is the last story in this post. The Darrel hair ban has been creating waves in Australia. Latest, heard Aussie blonde Nickol Kidman has been searching for this brand of hair-band across all stores.

7.Staying with Celeb news, here is some Britney News for you. She has now filed for a divorce with Kewin Federline and has demanded custody of her kids – 1 year old Sean Presston and 2 month old Jayden Jammes. Presston and Jammes – who are they? Britney has earlier been married to childhood sweetheart for a record 55 hours, while Federline has 2 kids from an earlier marriage with Shark Jackson. Amidst all this confusion Anotherhim Chowdary of ISPM has introduced a special course on Celebrity Tracking; this course includes a free tour of Hollywood with the Paparazzi.

8.Now talking about Indian celebrities news, Run Gopal Verma’s Slowlay started making headlines even before the shoot began. The remake has Mr. Bachpan playing the famous Gabbar Singh. However there seems to be a sea change in this remake when compared to its older version, one such visible change is Gabbar's indifferently colored eye lenses. Another difference involves the movie's female lead, they seem to have more fancy names - names such as Julie and Chingari. With so many changes, many are labeling this the remake of the Don-remake.

9.Staying with Mr. Bachpan, in a recent interview Mr. Bachpan said that he felt completely exhausted whenever he thought about the 24 – episode duty (err, did he mean 24 hour). Later it was understood that the man was talking about the 24 episodes of KBC that he still had to complete.

10.And finally we have come to the last story. This involves the recent cases of the Domestic Violence Act. A few Women seem to take a fee during marriage (also known as ‘jury’) for not filing a case under the pretext of emotional or psychological distress during honeymoon. However some were not happy with the fee and have gone ahead with their complaints.
Recent cases include:
*A newly wed South-Indian son-in-law had been convicted in a fast-track court for causing emotional distress. He had simply said Gandhi therimaa ('do you know Gandhi' in Tamil).
*Another case is of a girlfriend filing a case for being asked to leave her boyfriend's home, all this minutes before his parents came in.
*However the most popular one has been the case of a man sentenced to life-imprisoned for asking our Welfare Minister Ms. Rarenuclear Chowdary for what has she done for protecting men.

Technology News

Google Inc.'s online video service has been sued for copyrights infringement, something that not just the experts but also the regular browser had expected to happen. Rumors has it that Google had already recognized these implications (the takeover of YouTube) and has even set aside $500 million to settle copyright disputes.

So has Google created another master strategy by allocating budgets also for disputes when considering business acquisitions? The big and mighty may soon start endorsing such decisions, considering the userbase of the popularity of YouTube Inc. It’s also now evident that some copyright owners have delayed legal claims till Google's takeover. It's understandable considering the difference between YouTube's $10.4 million funded through venture capital to Google’s $11.5 billion in cash alone. Also Google has seen many lawsuits and other copyright infringement complaints, due to their digital libraries, photos, other stories appearing from other websites in its search engine.
However all said and done Google’s going strong as ever and despite all this its financially sound. Its investors have reposed faith in Google's lawyers delivering on lawsuits.

When Google's in the news can the World premier technology company Microsoft be far off. The story is that Microsoft has filed over a 110 patents from its India Development Center in the last 2 years alone. According to Indian-born, Seattle-based Sivaramakrishnan Somasegar 'a good chunk' of Microsoft Vista Platform; which would soon be ready for commercial release (it will available to retail customers from Jan 30th, 2007); was developed in Hyderabad, India.
Somasegar, who grew up in Pondicherry, did his engineering in Guindy Engineering College (now Anna University) will soon be conferred a honorary doctorate by the Anna University. He excitement stretches beyond the doctorate to the opportunity to spend more with Bill Gates, especially after Bill Gates had shifted from the position of CEO to chief software architect.
With Steve Ballmer in India a lot of activity seems to take place. Microsoft's tie-up with mobile providers Hutch seems to be developing in a bigger concrete Microsoft plans, possibly their first step to their Mobile search engine plans in India.
Image courtesy:logoogle.com

The Fabulous Ferrari

For all you Ferrari lovers, here's a picture of the Fantastic four wheeler taken by our very own PressMart photographer; all the way from London. Too bad he couldn't buy the real one for you, not that he didn't own a fortune.
Image Courtesy: PressMart's PI
Something that neither costs you a fortune nor requires you to go to London to have a feel - PressMart ePaper

The Departed

Director – Martin Scorsese

Cast - Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Demon, Vera Farmiga, Martin Sheen
Screenplay – William Monahan, Siu Fai Mak and Felix Chong

Frank Costello(Jack Nicholson) is a ruthless Boston Gangster who decides to send an undercover agent, Colin Sullivan(Matt Damon) in the Police Department. Simultaneously Senior Police Officers, Oliver Queenan(Martin Sheen) and Dignam(Mark Wahlberg) decide to send their own rookie officer, William Costigan(Leonardo DiCaprio) as a spy in Sullivan’s gang. While reporting to their actual bosses about the day to day activities, a time comes when both sides suspect a mole in their gang and it all comes down to Colin who has to find out who is the mole in the Police Department and William who has to find the mole in Sullivan’s gang. While being in a major catch – 22 situation, more complexities arise when in between shoot outs and gang wars, they find out that there are a lot more deceptions and after staying as a mole, they start to loose their original identities. Excellent Direction by Scorsese who has given another classic after 2004’s The Aviator. To say that the star cast has acted brilliant would be an understatement. Superb Cinematography by Scorsese favorite Michael Ballhaus and a brilliant script as well. First rate movie which deserves a five star rating and a must see for movie buffs.

• Although the movie was based in Boston, the primary shooting was done in New York City due to tax benefits.
• Robert DeNiro was in serious contender to play Costello and was even approached but had to turn down the role due to his directorial feature, The Good Shepherd. Jack Nicholson had rejected the role but was convinced by Scorsese and DiCaprio to sign.
• This was Jack’s first movie release in 3 years and Dicaprio’s first release in 2 years.
• Kate Winslet and later Hilary Swank were considered for the role of Madolyn.
• The word f*** and its derivatives were used 237 times in the movie. Very close to the record 246 times used in Scorsese’s earlier venture, Goodfellas. The word c*** is used 22 times.
• Bradd Pitt was to play the role of Colin but later decided to produce the movie instead.
• In Bombay, the movie was released with World Trade Centre which was directed by another mastermind – Oliver Stone. This is the first time that 2 big directors had a same day release in India.
• Movie was made on a budget of $90 million. It Grossed $26.8 million in the opening weekend in USA alone.
• The movie was shot way back from April 2005 to September 2005 but post production took a long time and was completed only about a week before the actual release.
• Director Trademark – Fast Moving Still Shots of Objects.

Movie Quotes
->“When I was your age they used to say you could become cops or criminals. What I’m saying to you is this, when your facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference.
->“I’m Irish, I’m going to have to deal with something being wrong the rest of my life”
->“God don’t run the bingo, now does he?
->“You got a suit at home or do you like coming to work everyday dressed like your going to invade Poland?”
->“She didn’t notice us, she must be a cop; Yeah, she’s probably the f****** Police Commissioner.”
->“You hear me, you two faced faggot?”
->"What the f***? You Motherf*****, cocks*****; What the f*** did you say you cocksu****? What the f*** did you fu***** say? Your Mother’s c***. Your mother’s c***;”“You get your period yet?”
->“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe f*** yourself.”
->“Marriage is an important part of getting ahead. It lets people know you’re not a homo. A married guy seems more stable. People see the ring, they think at least somebody can stand the son of a bi***. Ladies see the ring, they know immediately that you must have some cash, and your co** must work; Yeah, its working overtime.”

On the whole this is a fantastic flick, worth watching more than once. You would prefer watching it with friends.
Courtesy: Desai, mouthshut.com

Media and 'The Verdict'

The media is playing its role as a citizen watchdog by bringing lawlessness and crime to the forefront. With media actively campaigning for justice in the country’s high-profile cases, the question that one needs to ask is can the media influence crucial court judgments.Considering the judicial system in our country, where the verdict and evidence provided to the judges goes purely by the law book it’s very unlikely that excessive media coverage can have a hand in final judgments. I say this, as over the years many cases have seen prime suspects going scot-free when courts cited ‘not enough evidence’. The trend in high-profile cases have seen witnesses turning hostile or certain kind of evidences not acceptable by courts to pin down the accused. The media by actively playing citizen watchdog in such cases propels witnesses to testify and creates pressure on the courts to reopen such cases.
If the Media and public opinion were really decision-makers then you would see decisions such as politicians being convicted for their nexus with criminals or referendums being held for certain Govt. decisions such as the city name change.
If only the citizens of Bangalore had their say, you would actually know the number of its residents who actually endorse the name change. However leaving the names apart, the biggest name making waves in the media is of the actor Sanjay Dutt. His judgment day for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts is nearing and his movies are still running to packed houses.
The man has given India one of its most thought-provoking movies in Lage Raho Munnabhai and his fans have just multiplied. However as seen earlier you can be confident of the judges going purely by the rule-book in making their decisions. It also needs to be noted that Media hype is a double-edged sword; the vulnerability in the Media’s investigations can expose weaknesses in the case.
Everything said and done, I think we should accept reality and the media’s role in public opinion. The only point of restraint though should be is to avoid publicly declaring an individual guilty.
For more - read what different Newspapers have to say

Jeans revealed

According to surveys Jeans are undoubtedly the most preferred outfit one chooses to wear. Am sure you too feel the same. However on introduction in the 1950s they were thought of as a defiant teenage costume.

Traditionally Jeans were made of denim but these days you find them in a variety of fabrics including cotton and corduroy. Believe it or not Jeans has a major historic Indian contribution to it. During the 16th century, the export of thick cotton cloth known as Dungaree was the precursor to the introduction of Jeans.
Jeans were first created in Genoa, Italy which was made for the Navy. However the first denim came from Nimes, France. At the same time one of the first brands of Jeans, Levi's was first introduced by Levi Strauss, a Bavarian dry good merchant from San Francisco.
Over the years Jeans have evolved with numerous innovations and styles. Here are some of Jeans fit we've seen in the recent past.
Angle, Loose, Straight, Boot cut, Baggy, Phat Pants, Slim Fits, Overalls, Boy cut, Bell bottoms, Saggy, Carpenter, Classy, Skinny Leg, Wide Leg, Original.
Also Jeans are not just used for trousers - you see a whole set of apparels and outfits made of the kind. They include Shorts, Jackets, Shirts, Skorts, Skirts, Bags, Capris, Daisy Dukes, Cut offs.

Jeans is one outfit that's very difficult to remove without the wearer consent according to the Italian Supreme Court.
Most popular brands of Jeans according to splise.com
1. SEVEN FOR ALL MANKIND
2. TRUE RELIGION
3. JOES JEANS
4. LEVI'S
5. CALVIN KLEIN JEANS
6. APPLE BOTTOM
7. ROCK & REPUBLIC
8. EVISU
9. DIESEL JEANS
10.MISS SIXTY

Others:
15. LEE
16. WRANGLER
20. PEPE JEANS
36. GAP JEANS
40. ARMANI JEANS
45. TOMMY HILFIGER JEANS
71. LAWMAN JEANS

Speed gets personal with the BCCI & the Indian Cricket Team

With Malcom Speed's latest comments on the BCCI and the Indian Cricket Team in specific, stating "With a population base of 4 million, they don't have a lot of money in New Zealand. But they consistently perform well. The undoubted power that India has with a population of a billion, with a huge booming economy, it is now being reflected through the performance of cricket in India, if they won't start to win events and start to lead the LG ICC Test and One-Day International rankings. I'm not terribly interested in how much money they have in the bank."
It does seem that money and sponsorship seems to have got the better of the warring parties, both Speed and Modi.
After reading this, if someone had to guess what Speed would be hoping from a India vs. NZ clash the answer would be the obvious.
Hypothetically if the ICC and Speed had to make a decision on a controversy arising from the India NZ game it could be biased.
All this from the CEO of the governing body of Cricket, the ICC definitely cannot be ignored.
While Australia's Speed cannot be blamed for being provoked into saying what he did.
As per the ICC Champions Trophy rules, only the tickets sales could be kept by the local board, while the rest of the booty, one that runs to more than million would be with ICC. This seems to have brought a lot of ire from the Indian officials and board, which Speed is not ready to take lying low.
When Speed says that only 'cricket matter', isn't what he's doing also non-cricket. He seems to have poked fun at the Indian Cricket Team poor string of performances. In a one-to-one war of words, you don't attack the others.
Another incident of Speed's targeting India and Indian cricketers is when he opposed Azharuddin's inclusion in the guests list of a Cricket function. The man has had the severest of punishments over the last few years and still he hasn't been found guilty.
This brings us to the question; if the others who've also been accused of being involved in the match-fixing scandal, howcome the ICC and Speed are fine with them playing the game at the highest level.
So now its for the junta to decide if this is acceptable or not. The jury is definitely out in the open.

To see how the Indian ePapers have reacted to these stories - Click here