Decline is no joke to Federer - The National
One of the best articles on the Champion in a long time. Brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Takes All Kinds
In my head, this is who I see - towering, tanned redhead, with dreadlocks and a Scottish accent. Wearing a kilt. Or, a Robbie Williams, in a kilt. Yes, there is no accounting for taste and it takes all kinds of heads to get all kinds of jollies. But that's what he looks like.
A man who will help random little old ladies with their grocery shopping, play with their dogs. Someone who will flirt my mother into a good mood and know how to mix a great marguerita. Who will hold the door open even though I am perfectly able, and hold his alcohol. Wash up. Someone who knows the words to "Take A Chance" and the secret dance that goes with it. Someone honest, kind, comfortable in his own skin. Someone willing to take chances, be open-minded.
Someone who knows the meaning of honourable and knows that chicken in a bucket is still okay if the conversation is good. Someone with an opinion but who knows that it takes all kinds.
Someone who knows that its okay to be vulnerable, to be crazy in love, to not understand, where to draw the line. Someone who will let me know where we stand. Not cheat. Honour, trust and love. Someone with a basic respect for everything, everyone and himself.
A man who will respect my independence but kick my tough-guy act out the door and just wrap his arms around me when I need him to. Someone brave, non-judgmental, willing to chain himself to a tree if the cause is right. Someone who cares, embraces change.
Someone who is looking out for more than just himself and little more. Someone who can laugh and cry... but not too often. Someone who won't stand shit. Knows that everything going wrong is not PMS-related. Will write me odes, not mention I need to shave.
Someone who will think I am a goddess, even in my big flowery granny panties. A gentleman. Someone who believes in happy endings. A real man.
All right, long wish-lists aside, this is the deal. A lot of women don't really think there is any one kind of 'new-age' sexy man around. There is no one perfect man. Selfish jerks aside, they're all kinda nifty. Nope, no new-age sexy... Just the classic. The renaissance man. Honest, kind, caring, open to change, with an unshakable code of honour. Darcy (Jane Austen's and Bridget Jones'), Fonzie. Chuck Norris? All my youth's imaginary summer-loves fitted the bill.
But what it comes down to is this. The whole idea of little boys - gross, scabby little boys - collecting slugs, eating boogers, burping at will, smelling of cheese and drawing moustaches on Barbies in permanent marker... Well, suddenly, older, responsible, kind, looking into your eyes, holding hands, actually seeing you, liking you, knowing you don't have cooties... sounds great! Being there, looking good, being warm. And smelling really nice. Very nice. Very sexy.
A man who will help random little old ladies with their grocery shopping, play with their dogs. Someone who will flirt my mother into a good mood and know how to mix a great marguerita. Who will hold the door open even though I am perfectly able, and hold his alcohol. Wash up. Someone who knows the words to "Take A Chance" and the secret dance that goes with it. Someone honest, kind, comfortable in his own skin. Someone willing to take chances, be open-minded.
Someone who knows the meaning of honourable and knows that chicken in a bucket is still okay if the conversation is good. Someone with an opinion but who knows that it takes all kinds.
Someone who knows that its okay to be vulnerable, to be crazy in love, to not understand, where to draw the line. Someone who will let me know where we stand. Not cheat. Honour, trust and love. Someone with a basic respect for everything, everyone and himself.
A man who will respect my independence but kick my tough-guy act out the door and just wrap his arms around me when I need him to. Someone brave, non-judgmental, willing to chain himself to a tree if the cause is right. Someone who cares, embraces change.
Someone who is looking out for more than just himself and little more. Someone who can laugh and cry... but not too often. Someone who won't stand shit. Knows that everything going wrong is not PMS-related. Will write me odes, not mention I need to shave.
Someone who will think I am a goddess, even in my big flowery granny panties. A gentleman. Someone who believes in happy endings. A real man.
All right, long wish-lists aside, this is the deal. A lot of women don't really think there is any one kind of 'new-age' sexy man around. There is no one perfect man. Selfish jerks aside, they're all kinda nifty. Nope, no new-age sexy... Just the classic. The renaissance man. Honest, kind, caring, open to change, with an unshakable code of honour. Darcy (Jane Austen's and Bridget Jones'), Fonzie. Chuck Norris? All my youth's imaginary summer-loves fitted the bill.
But what it comes down to is this. The whole idea of little boys - gross, scabby little boys - collecting slugs, eating boogers, burping at will, smelling of cheese and drawing moustaches on Barbies in permanent marker... Well, suddenly, older, responsible, kind, looking into your eyes, holding hands, actually seeing you, liking you, knowing you don't have cooties... sounds great! Being there, looking good, being warm. And smelling really nice. Very nice. Very sexy.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Open letter to God
Dear God,
This is going to be a really tough letter to write. I mean, the world has changed, dude. Most young people don't believe you exist. When in doubt, they google you, and you know what? Your PR guys need to be sacked for complete and total misrepresentation ; check out the rubbish thrown up by the search engine. Depressing stuff, man. Totally not cool.
It's about time you got smart and joined some social networking sites. Tweet away, darling. We want the real thing. Gyaan in your own words. And no special privileges for being God – 140 characters like everybody else, okay? Set up a Facebook account – don't you want to know how many ‘friends' you have on earth? Get your own interactive website and watch the fun.
Business first. Where were you when we in India needed you the most? I mean the country was holding its collective breath on September 30, waiting for ‘The Verdict' . Anything could have happened, who can restrain our hotheaded netas but your good self? But you were Missing In Action: nowhere on the scene, leading to much confusion as various groups fought over your official residence . Silly people! Every child in the world knows you prefer to live in the hearts of believers. What's the fuss over a monument? Do you really need one? Have you ever needed one?
As for the haalat of those three judges, they were landed with the toughest job in the world. Imagine being asked to decide which grand abode is your personal preference – a new temple or a demolished mosque? Nobody thought of asking you. If the monument is meant to please you, surely you should have a say in the matter ? Speak your mind while there is still time.
Fortunately, young people are more in tune with sensible solutions. Not for them the futile exercise of proving that this is indeed your favourite hang out. This generation is pretty smart. To them it doesn't really matter whether they party in this disco or that. So long as they have a good time.
This is your moment, God. Get up and do your thing. Strut your stuff. Throw some attitude . Tell those feuding fellas, you'll have none of it. They may ignore you completely since in any case you are incidental to this manmade controversy. There are so many worthier issues that need immediate and urgent intervention . Our bachchas need schools, colleges and toilets. Mandirs and masjids do not help their cause, but temples of learning do. Advise them to open their eyes to India's new realities; our restless youngsters are not interested in the politics of religion. They'll settle for jobs and a better life, any day.
Three judges had the unenviable task of decoding the sentiments of a billion-plus people. The judgment is apolitical and bold. Who can possibly please and appease almost one-fifth of humanity? Not even you. There is talk of ‘reconciliation' but nobody is saying what exactly that means. Besides, can there be a board meeting without the chairman , which is you? Better that we put this centuries-old issue behind us as quickly as possible before a foreign hand stirs up trouble. What say? Till then, you can chill.
-Shobha De, TOI
Original article here
This is going to be a really tough letter to write. I mean, the world has changed, dude. Most young people don't believe you exist. When in doubt, they google you, and you know what? Your PR guys need to be sacked for complete and total misrepresentation ; check out the rubbish thrown up by the search engine. Depressing stuff, man. Totally not cool.
It's about time you got smart and joined some social networking sites. Tweet away, darling. We want the real thing. Gyaan in your own words. And no special privileges for being God – 140 characters like everybody else, okay? Set up a Facebook account – don't you want to know how many ‘friends' you have on earth? Get your own interactive website and watch the fun.
Business first. Where were you when we in India needed you the most? I mean the country was holding its collective breath on September 30, waiting for ‘The Verdict' . Anything could have happened, who can restrain our hotheaded netas but your good self? But you were Missing In Action: nowhere on the scene, leading to much confusion as various groups fought over your official residence . Silly people! Every child in the world knows you prefer to live in the hearts of believers. What's the fuss over a monument? Do you really need one? Have you ever needed one?
As for the haalat of those three judges, they were landed with the toughest job in the world. Imagine being asked to decide which grand abode is your personal preference – a new temple or a demolished mosque? Nobody thought of asking you. If the monument is meant to please you, surely you should have a say in the matter ? Speak your mind while there is still time.
Fortunately, young people are more in tune with sensible solutions. Not for them the futile exercise of proving that this is indeed your favourite hang out. This generation is pretty smart. To them it doesn't really matter whether they party in this disco or that. So long as they have a good time.
This is your moment, God. Get up and do your thing. Strut your stuff. Throw some attitude . Tell those feuding fellas, you'll have none of it. They may ignore you completely since in any case you are incidental to this manmade controversy. There are so many worthier issues that need immediate and urgent intervention . Our bachchas need schools, colleges and toilets. Mandirs and masjids do not help their cause, but temples of learning do. Advise them to open their eyes to India's new realities; our restless youngsters are not interested in the politics of religion. They'll settle for jobs and a better life, any day.
Three judges had the unenviable task of decoding the sentiments of a billion-plus people. The judgment is apolitical and bold. Who can possibly please and appease almost one-fifth of humanity? Not even you. There is talk of ‘reconciliation' but nobody is saying what exactly that means. Besides, can there be a board meeting without the chairman , which is you? Better that we put this centuries-old issue behind us as quickly as possible before a foreign hand stirs up trouble. What say? Till then, you can chill.
-Shobha De, TOI
Original article here
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Devil sent the rain blues
It's been a hot couple of weeks and today it rained. Heavy. And beautiful. Just like back home. Bombay. I love the monsoons. I love getting wet in the Bombay rains. I love driving in the rain. I love to see the raindrops falling on the ground. The rain reminds me of Bombay. Of home. Of the smell of mud. Of my childhood. Of the gum boots I used to wear to school. Of wet socks and being too scared to take my shoes off in school to dry them. Of running to hide from lightning. Of Sid falling in the gutter and stinking all the way home. Of going to movietime to watch Dil Se with Karthik. Of Chaiyya Chaiyya.
The stalkee has reignited a spark somewhere. I have not felt this way in many fortnights. I know its not meant to be but I am going to enjoy this. Look forward to the weekend. Look forward to a sighting. To a conversation. To being left alone again.
I wanna walk in the rain again. I wanna be soaked again. I wanna hold and be held again.
S
The stalkee has reignited a spark somewhere. I have not felt this way in many fortnights. I know its not meant to be but I am going to enjoy this. Look forward to the weekend. Look forward to a sighting. To a conversation. To being left alone again.
I wanna walk in the rain again. I wanna be soaked again. I wanna hold and be held again.
S
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Intex IT-305WC Driver
Can be found here...
http://rs226.rapidshare.com/files/115655042/intexit305wc.rar
Write to me if you cannot download the file for any reason. I don't want anyone to spend the kind of time I did on finding this driver.
http://rs226.rapidshare.com/files/115655042/intexit305wc.rar
Write to me if you cannot download the file for any reason. I don't want anyone to spend the kind of time I did on finding this driver.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Khushwant Singh's take on the partition
"Indians were never an integrated society. Besides caste and language divisions, the greatest was the Hindu-Muslim divide. They got along reasonably well but kept their distance from each other. There was never any real mixing of families visiting each other’s homes or even contemplating matrimonial relationships. The British fostered the feeling of separateness between the two. As the time neared for the British to leave, Muslims began to feel uneasy at the prospect of living in a Hindu-dominated India.
National divisions of India had been made before. Lala Lajpat Rai had made a rough map dividing India along communal lines. Later, Chaudhary Rehmat Ali coined the word Pakistan. Allama Iqbal, who at one time composed patriotic verses including Saarey Jahaan Se Achha, spoke of a Muslim state. Jinnah’s contribution to separateness was evolving the two-nation theory that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations which would not live together in one state.
The feeling was echoed in the minds of middle-class Muslims across the sub-continent. After that no one, neither Gandhiji, nor Nehru, nor Sardar Patel nor Jinnah, could stop the process of religious cleansing of Hindus and Sikhs from Muslim-dominated areas. It may be recalled that as early as March 1947, Hindus and Sikhs were being driven out of towns and villages in north-west Punjab. There were communal riots in many Punjab cities, including Lahore.
By August 15, 1947, the migration of Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan had become a bloody exodus. Sikhs and Hindus of east Punjab made sure that this was not going to be one-way traffic: they drove out Muslims from east Punjab with double the violence. It was the most catastrophic exchange of populations in the history of mankind, leaving a million dead and tens of millions homeless.
Pointing accusing fingers at Nehru or Patel or Jinnah serves no purpose. Not one of them, nor indeed all of them put together, could have stopped the process of Partition. They were helpless against the tidal wave of hatred generated by history. They were the real causes of the wars we have fought against Pakistan and the continuing conflict over the future of Kashmir. "
- The Jinnah Legacy, Khushwant Singh, Hindustan Times
Link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/The-Jinnah-legacy/H1-Article3-448406.aspx
My Take: Perfectly put, couldn't agree more.
National divisions of India had been made before. Lala Lajpat Rai had made a rough map dividing India along communal lines. Later, Chaudhary Rehmat Ali coined the word Pakistan. Allama Iqbal, who at one time composed patriotic verses including Saarey Jahaan Se Achha, spoke of a Muslim state. Jinnah’s contribution to separateness was evolving the two-nation theory that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations which would not live together in one state.
The feeling was echoed in the minds of middle-class Muslims across the sub-continent. After that no one, neither Gandhiji, nor Nehru, nor Sardar Patel nor Jinnah, could stop the process of religious cleansing of Hindus and Sikhs from Muslim-dominated areas. It may be recalled that as early as March 1947, Hindus and Sikhs were being driven out of towns and villages in north-west Punjab. There were communal riots in many Punjab cities, including Lahore.
By August 15, 1947, the migration of Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan had become a bloody exodus. Sikhs and Hindus of east Punjab made sure that this was not going to be one-way traffic: they drove out Muslims from east Punjab with double the violence. It was the most catastrophic exchange of populations in the history of mankind, leaving a million dead and tens of millions homeless.
Pointing accusing fingers at Nehru or Patel or Jinnah serves no purpose. Not one of them, nor indeed all of them put together, could have stopped the process of Partition. They were helpless against the tidal wave of hatred generated by history. They were the real causes of the wars we have fought against Pakistan and the continuing conflict over the future of Kashmir. "
- The Jinnah Legacy, Khushwant Singh, Hindustan Times
Link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/The-Jinnah-legacy/H1-Article3-448406.aspx
My Take: Perfectly put, couldn't agree more.
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