Friday, October 13, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Hilarious!
A very funny Pepsi advertisement aired during the 2004 India - Pakistan Cricket Series.
Obviously I discovered this advertisement a little too late. But its hilarious and worth posting nonetheless.
Obviously I discovered this advertisement a little too late. But its hilarious and worth posting nonetheless.
Friday, October 06, 2006
India gives US a lesson in democracy
A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs in India late on Thursday made headlines on the Times of India website.
In response to US envoy to Pakistan, Ryan Cocker's statements about how India should share evidence with Pakistan instead of making public accusations, the MEA said, " One would have expected Ambassador Crocker to understand that democratic governments have a prime responsibility to keep their own people fully informed." Ouch! That must have hit hard.
I have always been intrigued about the functional terrain that officials like ambassadors, envoys and high commissioners to countries get themselves into. I specially started thinking about it after watching an interview by Charlie Rose in Jan 2002. Charlie interviewed the former Ambassadors to India and Pakistan, Frank Wisner and Nicholas Platt. In typical Charlie Rose style, the three of them sat at a table and discussed the South Asian scenario revolving around India and Pakistan. Goes without saying, India's war on terror and the Kashmir issue was a hot topic. The most interesting part was, while talking about the Indo-Pak dispute, there was a clear difference of opinion between the two US ambassadors. Frank Wisner talked pro-India while Nicholas Platt supported Pakistan.
Yup, obviously both of them are fully entitled to their own opinion, but the US and India have too largely seen eye-to-eye on the whole Indo-Pak issue. It was funny to see Nicholas Platt clearly agree with Pakistani assertions about India like, India playing a blame game all the time, not respecting the rights of the Kashmiris and so on. It was an interesting watch to see two men from the same country having different opinions about the same issue, and interestingly in both cases, they supported the countries they formerly worked in.
Which brings me back to the first thought, about much do officials like these really get opinionated or should get opinionated about policies and relations of the country that they work in. Does it fall within the duties of let's say a US Ambassador to project to the world, the issues that the country in which he or she is stationed thinks affects them? Or is it just an obvious result of an extended duty in a foreign country, to be in line with issues surrounding that country, to the extent that he or she begins to agree by them? Or is he just allowed to have a personal opinion? I have been trying to ask these questions for a long time now. And as you can see, am still asking.
Talking of democratic statements. The one statement made my Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address to the US congress in July 2005 comes immediately to my mind.
"We are often criticized for being too slow in making changes in policy, but democracy means having to build a consensus in favor of change. As elected representatives, you are all familiar with this problem."
This was followed by the loudest applause of the speech by the members of the US Congress.
In response to US envoy to Pakistan, Ryan Cocker's statements about how India should share evidence with Pakistan instead of making public accusations, the MEA said, " One would have expected Ambassador Crocker to understand that democratic governments have a prime responsibility to keep their own people fully informed." Ouch! That must have hit hard.
I have always been intrigued about the functional terrain that officials like ambassadors, envoys and high commissioners to countries get themselves into. I specially started thinking about it after watching an interview by Charlie Rose in Jan 2002. Charlie interviewed the former Ambassadors to India and Pakistan, Frank Wisner and Nicholas Platt. In typical Charlie Rose style, the three of them sat at a table and discussed the South Asian scenario revolving around India and Pakistan. Goes without saying, India's war on terror and the Kashmir issue was a hot topic. The most interesting part was, while talking about the Indo-Pak dispute, there was a clear difference of opinion between the two US ambassadors. Frank Wisner talked pro-India while Nicholas Platt supported Pakistan.
Yup, obviously both of them are fully entitled to their own opinion, but the US and India have too largely seen eye-to-eye on the whole Indo-Pak issue. It was funny to see Nicholas Platt clearly agree with Pakistani assertions about India like, India playing a blame game all the time, not respecting the rights of the Kashmiris and so on. It was an interesting watch to see two men from the same country having different opinions about the same issue, and interestingly in both cases, they supported the countries they formerly worked in.
Which brings me back to the first thought, about much do officials like these really get opinionated or should get opinionated about policies and relations of the country that they work in. Does it fall within the duties of let's say a US Ambassador to project to the world, the issues that the country in which he or she is stationed thinks affects them? Or is it just an obvious result of an extended duty in a foreign country, to be in line with issues surrounding that country, to the extent that he or she begins to agree by them? Or is he just allowed to have a personal opinion? I have been trying to ask these questions for a long time now. And as you can see, am still asking.
Talking of democratic statements. The one statement made my Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address to the US congress in July 2005 comes immediately to my mind.
"We are often criticized for being too slow in making changes in policy, but democracy means having to build a consensus in favor of change. As elected representatives, you are all familiar with this problem."
This was followed by the loudest applause of the speech by the members of the US Congress.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Ek baar... Sirf ek baar
Here's what Assistant sub-inspector Umesh Mehra from Chhattisgarh said to American tourist Bridate Henna, on a passenger train heading to Nagpur, before touching her lips.
"You are beautiful. One time, just one time"
Bridate had to scream for help before a fellow passenger came to her rescue. Mehra was later arrested.
Pathetic.
Source: The Times of India, Online Edition, June 27th 2006.
"You are beautiful. One time, just one time"
Bridate had to scream for help before a fellow passenger came to her rescue. Mehra was later arrested.
Pathetic.
Source: The Times of India, Online Edition, June 27th 2006.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Russell Peters in Mumbai!
That is exactly what his website says!
The schedule is something like this..
Sept 28th, 2006 St. Andrews
Mumbai, India
Sept 29th, 2006 NCPA
Mumbai, India
Sept 30th, 2006 JN Tata
Bangalore, India
October 1st, 2006 Kamani Auditorium
Delhi, India
So for all my friends in India...who think there is more to stand-up comedy than mimicry and parody ....buy, beg, borrow or steal and go for this show!
For more updates, russellpeters.com
The schedule is something like this..
Sept 28th, 2006 St. Andrews
Mumbai, India
Sept 29th, 2006 NCPA
Mumbai, India
Sept 30th, 2006 JN Tata
Bangalore, India
October 1st, 2006 Kamani Auditorium
Delhi, India
So for all my friends in India...who think there is more to stand-up comedy than mimicry and parody ....buy, beg, borrow or steal and go for this show!
For more updates, russellpeters.com
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Chip n Chunk
At the Au Bon Pain coffee shop
Me: I'll get a regular decaf and a chocolate muffin please...err...sorry, I forgot what you guys call it.....ummm...yes!...the chocolate 'chip' muffin.
She: You want the chocolate 'chip' cookie?
Me: No? I want the chocolate chip muffin...
She: Sir we don't have no chocolate muffins or the chocolate chip muffins..
Me: (looking at the display, pointing to the muffin I wanted) What's that then?
She: Oh! Thats a chocolate 'chunk' muffin.
Me: Ok, can i get the one with the ....chunks....please?
She: Sure
As she neatly wrapped it in a paper bag, and was ready to ring me up on the register she said...
She: I am sorry about that sir, these guys just keep such weird names.
Me: Yeah I know.
Me: I'll get a regular decaf and a chocolate muffin please...err...sorry, I forgot what you guys call it.....ummm...yes!...the chocolate 'chip' muffin.
She: You want the chocolate 'chip' cookie?
Me: No? I want the chocolate chip muffin...
She: Sir we don't have no chocolate muffins or the chocolate chip muffins..
Me: (looking at the display, pointing to the muffin I wanted) What's that then?
She: Oh! Thats a chocolate 'chunk' muffin.
Me: Ok, can i get the one with the ....chunks....please?
She: Sure
As she neatly wrapped it in a paper bag, and was ready to ring me up on the register she said...
She: I am sorry about that sir, these guys just keep such weird names.
Me: Yeah I know.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Overheard
Overheard a man in his mid 40's speaking at the top of his voice over the phone in the men's room at the Newark Penn Station.
"Sweetie, I love you and I understand how you feel..but baby, you have to realize that Daddy wasn't beating Mommy, Mommy was beating Daddy"
WTF!
"Sweetie, I love you and I understand how you feel..but baby, you have to realize that Daddy wasn't beating Mommy, Mommy was beating Daddy"
WTF!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Declaration Of Independence of the USA and a Turtle in a zoo in India
A news story I saw on CNN this morning, that had me laugh my ass out while leaving for work..
*********************************
WHOOSH!.......CNN NEWS FLASH....
COMING UP....Can you think of anyone who died this week but was also alive during the Declaration of Independence in the USA?(Images of a fluttering American Flag)....No??..Well we can!....Stay with us.......Commercial Break.
WHOOOOOSH!...........BACK
A turtle from a zoo in India died yesterday, and is believed to be two hundred and fifty years old!...which means, he was actually present at the time when the declaration of independence was signed in Philadelphia.so now you know who was alive in 1776!....Moving on......
*********************************
LMAO
*********************************
WHOOSH!.......CNN NEWS FLASH....
COMING UP....Can you think of anyone who died this week but was also alive during the Declaration of Independence in the USA?(Images of a fluttering American Flag)....No??..Well we can!....Stay with us.......Commercial Break.
WHOOOOOSH!...........BACK
A turtle from a zoo in India died yesterday, and is believed to be two hundred and fifty years old!...which means, he was actually present at the time when the declaration of independence was signed in Philadelphia.so now you know who was alive in 1776!....Moving on......
*********************************
LMAO
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Google Gujju !!!
Part of Google's effort to provide international language interfaces to the Google hompepage. The Gujurati homepage rocks! Check out what the link for the usual button for 'Im Feeling Lucky!" say.
"Aaje Naseeb Saru Chhe!"
"Aaje Naseeb Saru Chhe!"
Google Gujurati Saru Chhe!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
"Somebody..!" Update
I am in! Finally bought the tickets to the show. My excitement took a slight blow, when me and my friend Sarabjit were selecting the seats in the theatre while booking the tickets online. We ended up getting the last row seats of the upper gallery. *Sigh*.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Somebody..Its me!
Just thought I would keep updating the status on this here. And if all works well, youll get a first-hand review of his live act!
If you haven't heard about him...
1) You suck.
2) Here's a link
Till then.....Somebody...!
Monday, January 23, 2006
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