Desi Fun(da)
Well its Lance Armstrong time of the year again. This guy is simply awesome. A true sportsman who is just the perfect role model for us youngsters. If you dont know about him already I would like to notify you that it is the year 2005 A.D. and you have been comatose atleast since 1998. So just to update you the Tour de France is still the world's most gruelling sports event not just in cycling but in any sport, in my opinion. And after Miguel Indurien who I used to adore Lance Armstrong has gone over and succeeded him ably having won the title 7 times in a row. A guy who was diagnosed with testicular cancer a long while ago has fought against the odds and gone ahead and shown the world what a sportsman is supposed to be like. I dont wanna say too much just what he said after winning the race.
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
Again this is the first time that the winner was allowed to speak after winning the Tour de France. A deserving honor for the retiring champion. Kudos, Thanks and God Speed Lance Armstrong!
Monday, July 25, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
7/7/05 vs. Kashmir's 25 years
Desi Fun(da)
These last few days have seen a lot of terrosit activities with horrifying repurcussions, both here at home and around the world. There have been the hostile attack at Ahodya by some militants and ofcourse the 7/7 attack within London surrounding the G8 summit. As far as I am concerned the attacks in London are a direct result of George Bush's oil claim game in Iraq. People around the world have suffered because the dumbest guy in the world is the president of (currently) the most powerful country in the world. I just dont understand how any sensible American who doesnt have his/her mind up their ass could vote for such a person. It going to be tough work for Hillary when she takes over.
All that said and done there was a huge outcry over the human and so called moral loss when 9/11 occurred and now when 7/7 occurred. What about the loss of life that we Indians have been facing over the years in Kashmir? Arent our brothers and sisters out there not to be counted as casualties of an unjust proxy war funded and aided by Pakistan? There are around 3000 people killed on 9/11 and now around 400 reported dead on 7/7. Kashmir has a toll of between 15000-30000 civilians who have lost their lives during the past 25 years of (I hate to use this word but unfortunately it is related to religion) Islamic terror in the valley. Add to that the agony of Kashmiri pundits having to fled their ancestral homes due to this menace. Add to that the loss of property. Add to that the loss of a unique culture and a place that inspired Mark Twain to say "Nothing has been left undone, either by man or by nature, to make India the most extraordinary country the sun vists on its rounds.". Why aren't these so called world leaders taken aback by the suffering of Kashmiris? Why can't the oh so great USofA decry Pakistan as a terrorist state? Why can't we have the valley that once was the talk of the world back?
We need to learn a lesson from history here. Even when the muslim-majority region of Kashmir was ruled by a hindu Maharaja Hari Singh until 1947 there were no brutal killings or relgious mongering amongst the communities. For the sake of his consitituents he acceded Kashmir to India. Why can't that happen now?
When anyone talks to me about forgiving the happenings of the past and starting afresh in Kashmir I get hot. How can we just forget the lives of 10s of 1000s of our brothers and sisters. I am all for peace but asking me to be forgiving is a bit too much. Maybe if westerners didnt put different tags on the lives of an American, a Londoner, an Iraqi, an Indian and a SriLankan we would all be living in a more peaceful world.
These last few days have seen a lot of terrosit activities with horrifying repurcussions, both here at home and around the world. There have been the hostile attack at Ahodya by some militants and ofcourse the 7/7 attack within London surrounding the G8 summit. As far as I am concerned the attacks in London are a direct result of George Bush's oil claim game in Iraq. People around the world have suffered because the dumbest guy in the world is the president of (currently) the most powerful country in the world. I just dont understand how any sensible American who doesnt have his/her mind up their ass could vote for such a person. It going to be tough work for Hillary when she takes over.
All that said and done there was a huge outcry over the human and so called moral loss when 9/11 occurred and now when 7/7 occurred. What about the loss of life that we Indians have been facing over the years in Kashmir? Arent our brothers and sisters out there not to be counted as casualties of an unjust proxy war funded and aided by Pakistan? There are around 3000 people killed on 9/11 and now around 400 reported dead on 7/7. Kashmir has a toll of between 15000-30000 civilians who have lost their lives during the past 25 years of (I hate to use this word but unfortunately it is related to religion) Islamic terror in the valley. Add to that the agony of Kashmiri pundits having to fled their ancestral homes due to this menace. Add to that the loss of property. Add to that the loss of a unique culture and a place that inspired Mark Twain to say "Nothing has been left undone, either by man or by nature, to make India the most extraordinary country the sun vists on its rounds.". Why aren't these so called world leaders taken aback by the suffering of Kashmiris? Why can't the oh so great USofA decry Pakistan as a terrorist state? Why can't we have the valley that once was the talk of the world back?
We need to learn a lesson from history here. Even when the muslim-majority region of Kashmir was ruled by a hindu Maharaja Hari Singh until 1947 there were no brutal killings or relgious mongering amongst the communities. For the sake of his consitituents he acceded Kashmir to India. Why can't that happen now?
When anyone talks to me about forgiving the happenings of the past and starting afresh in Kashmir I get hot. How can we just forget the lives of 10s of 1000s of our brothers and sisters. I am all for peace but asking me to be forgiving is a bit too much. Maybe if westerners didnt put different tags on the lives of an American, a Londoner, an Iraqi, an Indian and a SriLankan we would all be living in a more peaceful world.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Good Times - Kingfisher Experience
Desi Fun(da)
I have been thinking about flying by one of the new airlines for some time now. Recently I got the chance to fly from Bangalore to Mumbai on Kingfisher Airlines part of the UB group owned by Dr. Vijay Mallya. It was a good experience and here are some titbits.
- The crew is really helpful. Right from the checkin to the boarding everyone seemed to have a smile on and that was very nice.
- Everything went on smoothly
- The new A320s were awesome and loved the brand new look. I've travelled on a lot of airlines but I think this was the first time I ever was on a brand new plane. yipeee!!
- The on board crew was coordial and good.
- Meals served were probably the best I've had on an aircraft. Genuinely Indian food meant for the Indian palette ie well cooked with decent amount of spices.
- On board entertainment was good with the tv and radio thing going on
- Small goodie bag given to each passenger was a nice touch
- On flight magazine "Hi" is cool as well with tons of pretty damsels posted all over it. Dude you forgot to type in their tel.nos. though :) Amisha Patel you around?
- With 90% occupancy on my to and fro trip I think it is doing well.
Some points for Dr. Mallya
- Get "Good Times" registered as a trademark slogan. It just sounds awesome
- I aint a fool Dr. Mallya. Kingfisher Radio is just 10 cd's rolling continuously and the TV channels are the same. If you decide to slim down on the channels keep the cds for audio channels 1-4 throw the rest.
- Too many people around your planes. Maybe you are overstaffed?
- Your service will definitely want you to hike up rates otherwise you wont last long.
- Your choice of airhostesses is not on par with what I expected it to be. Or maybe I mistook you for having good taste in the fairer sex.
All in all I loved the experience of the "Good Times". Its all fine right now but I will bet Dr. Mallya will have to cut costs down to keep it competitive. Right now it will give Air India and Jet Airways a run for their money but if it wants to be a leader cheaper or cheapest is always the mantra in India. Now its upto you whether you want sonny boy to inherit a fleet of aircraft or an airlines.
Till then my cheers to the good times.
I have been thinking about flying by one of the new airlines for some time now. Recently I got the chance to fly from Bangalore to Mumbai on Kingfisher Airlines part of the UB group owned by Dr. Vijay Mallya. It was a good experience and here are some titbits.
- The crew is really helpful. Right from the checkin to the boarding everyone seemed to have a smile on and that was very nice.
- Everything went on smoothly
- The new A320s were awesome and loved the brand new look. I've travelled on a lot of airlines but I think this was the first time I ever was on a brand new plane. yipeee!!
- The on board crew was coordial and good.
- Meals served were probably the best I've had on an aircraft. Genuinely Indian food meant for the Indian palette ie well cooked with decent amount of spices.
- On board entertainment was good with the tv and radio thing going on
- Small goodie bag given to each passenger was a nice touch
- On flight magazine "Hi" is cool as well with tons of pretty damsels posted all over it. Dude you forgot to type in their tel.nos. though :) Amisha Patel you around?
- With 90% occupancy on my to and fro trip I think it is doing well.
Some points for Dr. Mallya
- Get "Good Times" registered as a trademark slogan. It just sounds awesome
- I aint a fool Dr. Mallya. Kingfisher Radio is just 10 cd's rolling continuously and the TV channels are the same. If you decide to slim down on the channels keep the cds for audio channels 1-4 throw the rest.
- Too many people around your planes. Maybe you are overstaffed?
- Your service will definitely want you to hike up rates otherwise you wont last long.
- Your choice of airhostesses is not on par with what I expected it to be. Or maybe I mistook you for having good taste in the fairer sex.
All in all I loved the experience of the "Good Times". Its all fine right now but I will bet Dr. Mallya will have to cut costs down to keep it competitive. Right now it will give Air India and Jet Airways a run for their money but if it wants to be a leader cheaper or cheapest is always the mantra in India. Now its upto you whether you want sonny boy to inherit a fleet of aircraft or an airlines.
Till then my cheers to the good times.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
one for the memories
"she just walked in the elevator and it as asif the place suddenly lit up. a girl wearing a light green salwar stood a few meters besides me with her eyes fixed on the door. i bet she wanted to run away from there:) but if there is any truth left in me i can say that i saw the eyes of an angel today. one of the rare occasions in life when my eyes didnt move beyond the eyes of a girl:) i tried to muster up a hello but couldn't and hey this is one time when i shouldnt be blamed for being wuss, if you see her you would understand. she got off on the second floor and my knees nearly lost it. oh god am sure i mustve said a thousand prayers to bump into her again, between the second and the seventh floor. but well girls so perfect never seem to be single anyways. but hell a moment to be remembered nonetheless."
-allen
ps. was lying in my drafts forever. thought it deservers some posterity :)
-allen
ps. was lying in my drafts forever. thought it deservers some posterity :)
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