Happy Diwali

Body hanging from tree mistaken for Halloween decoration

This is NOT an urban legend. It happened earlier this week in Delaware. This woman commits suicide by hanging herself from a tree and all these passerbys think its just a Halloween prank. Just sad!

CNN.com - Body hanging from tree mistaken for Halloween decoration - Oct 28, 2005

Tribute to the "Numa Numa" guy

In case you missed this video going around the Internet a few months back.

Deve Gowda responds to criticism of his handling of the Narayana Murthy situation

Deve Gowda strikes back. He explains the importance of having your eyes closed at important meetings and how he plans to provide Bangalore with a world class All-Kannada airport by the next millenium.

Opinion: Virtual reality hits : HindustanTimes.com

Deve Gowda deserves a Greyhound terminal not an airport

Thomas Friedman once described Bangalore airport as "a Greyhound terminal with a runway attached", not that this was any of his business anyway. Slighted by this the government of Karnataka set about building a new international airport and included people like Narayana Murthy in the project.
One fine day former PM, Deve Gowda, woke up from his perpetual somnolent state and decided that he did not like what Murthy was doing and went to the press with his charges without even talking to his own people or Murthy about it and consequently Murthy chose to quit.
Deve Gowda, congratulations on your stupid political games and thanks for kicking out one of the most astute business minds out of the project.
As a reward you get to keep you "Greyhound terminal with a runway attached".


Narayana Murthy caught in political row - Sify.com

India and corruption

In the 21st century where India figures to be a world player, corruption is still a big issue. India scored 88 out of 159 on the list of most corrupt countries (a miserable 2.9 of 10 points - 0 is most corrupt and 10 is least corrupt). Of course, as we all know even without all these "studies", that corruption is very much ingrained in our culture - a prime example being the drivers license office, customs and any other bureaucratic organization.
India's neighbour Sri Lanka and tiny African nations like Rwanda and Ghana fared much better. The glaring statistic was that no developed country was anywhere close to where India was ranked and if India aims to be counted among the world players and developed countries, we still have a long way to go in that respect.

The Hindu : National : A barrier India is yet to overcome

Rocky VI

"Yo, Adrian! It's me, Rocky." is back for a sixth instalment. The original Rocky was one of the best feel-good underdog movies ever made. Part II and IV were decent and the other ones just plain sucked specially part V. Why would they do this? Nearly 20 years after part V?
I guess Hollywood is running out of ideas.

CNN.com - Stallone returning for sixth 'Rocky' - Oct 17, 2005

Prez. Kalam is concerned about Google Earth service

Apparently India and other countries are concerned about Google Earth displaying high-res images of their security installations. Prez. Kalam with his background as a nuke scientist dude is obviously concerned about this potential security threat.

Mr. Prez, how about adapting with the changing times? This kind of stuff is bound to happen sooner or later. Instead of complaining about it, how about working on plugging the potential security holes. Easier said than done but doesn't that go with the territory?

The Hindu : National : Kalam's concern over Google Earth service

Sports can do the weirdest thing to people

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Aviation in the 21st century - Desi style

Sahar airport in Mumbai! Or is it Chattrapati Shivaji Airport? Oh wait I thought Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus was the railway station!!! These things are important you know. You have to brand every landmark with Chattrapati Shivaji's name in Mumbai. That, my friend, is important.
What is not important is the service these landmarks provide.
Take Sahar airport for instance. An Air Sahara plane overshot the runway and rolled off some 40 feet of the runway. 40 feet, you say, that could happen at any airport on any given day. No, its not normal when it takes nearly 3 days (60 hours), causing 30 flight diversions and countless flight delays and not to mention the thousands of incovenienced consumers. 40 f'in feet!!!!
But who cares? Lets rename the airport.

What does it take to remove a plane? - Newindpress.com

Delhi!!! A city of rapists?

With all due respect to the law abiding citizens of Delhi, the nation's capital is turning into a breeding ground for rapists. This is totally unacceptable. Seems like every other day there is a gangrape (which, of course, has been glorified on-screen by Shakti Kapoor, Ranjit and other villains in the Hindi movies).
Delhiites should do a better job of protecting their womenfolk. There is no lack of shady characters in other metros in India like Mumbai but you don't hear of womenfolk in Mumbai getting gangraped on a daily basis. I say they pass a law, that if convicted, all these men should be neutered or castrated. Time for talking is gone, now is the time for action.

ADDENDUM: On a side note, congratulations on a job well done for the constable who caught these barbarians.

25-yr-old raped at Shastri Park Metro station: Cops: "All of them were taken to Shastri Park police station where the woman, a 25-year-old, said four men � Rajinder Singh, 26, Bharat Singh (24), Subash, 19, and 19-year-old Sonu � had abducted her from Meena Bazar near Jama Masjid and brought her to the Metro station parking lot where they took turns to rape her. "

Desis: Are you a "nice guy" at work?

I've noticed this trait more amongst desis because of our lack of aggression.
1. You let others' mistakes inconvenience you.
2. You let others take credit for your ideas.
3. You apologize unnecessarily.
4. You work without breaks.
5. You do others' work for them.

I am sorry but if you are doing 2 or more of the stuff at work, its time for a change in personality. It's always good to be nice to others but be careful not to get stuck with the tag of nice guy otherwise people will use you as a doormat.
CNN.Com - Nice guy at work

Update: Read about the same at Tring Tring

Harry Potter is gay???

That's news to me!! I guess that is the big surprise in the final Harry Potter novel. Harry shows up in a pink tutu and Lord Voldermot drops dead laughing. Harry elopes with Ron and Hermoine turns lesbian.
What next Reverend Graham Taylor?

Author expelled for calling Potter 'gay'- The Times of India

Vice president Shekhawat meets Armenian president

Ok before I proceed, I should confess till date I had no clue Barren Singh Shake-wot was the VP of India. Anyway what the heck is up with Armenia supporting our USNC seat. As if its going to make a huge difference if Armenia or Timbuktu agree that we belong there.
Vice president Shekhawat meets Armenian president

World's biggest outdoor dance party - Navratri

Take a guess....

Must be the US of A ........ naah

Spring break in Cancun ...... no Señor

European vacation in Spain ......... ""

Carnival in Brazil ......... não

In the month of October, fly eastwards from the East coast of the US of A and follow the beat of drums across Europe. The sound of sticks gets louder as you cross the Middle East. Flying over the Arabian Sea you hear the distinct symphony of hands clapping, singing and anklets jingling.
As soon as you land on the West coast (of India), you are simply blown away by the a sea of color moving to this beat.
The biggest dance party is happenin' in Gujarat, Mumbai, the western states of India, US, UK, you name it. Anywhere gujjus che, dandiya che.
I'm talking about Navratri and Dandiya and Garba. Just so we are clear, Navratri is celebrated in different forms across India itself and just being the biggest dance party in the world goes with the territory.

Read more about Navratri across India (thanks to Sify)

Honorary mention (desinole.com)

Check this out

Excellent blog, constant updates. That is him my friend. Representing FOBiness since 2001.