Spetsnaz101

We Wish ...

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:21:00 +0000

How often we wish for another chance
To make a fresh beginning.
A change to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.

It does not take a special time
To make a brand-new start,
It only takes the deep desire
To try with all our heart.

To live a little better,
To always be forgiving.
To add a little sunshine,
In a world for which we’re living.

Never give up in despair
Nor think you are through,
For there’s always a tomorrow,

“A chance to start a new.”

(Author Unknown )

You Decide

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:17:00 +0000

You are the person that has to decide; Whether you'll do it or toss it
aside.
You are the one who makes up your mind; Whether you'll lead or linger
behind.

Whether you'll try for the goal that's far; Or be contended to stay
where you are.
Take it, or leave it. Here's something to do; Just think it over. It's
all up to you!

What do you wish?
To be known as a shrink, or known as a good person who's willing to
work,
Scorned for a loafer or praised by your boss, rich or poor, beggar or
thief?

Eager or earnest or dull through the day, honest or crooked?
It's you who must say!

You must decide in the face of the test
Whether you'll shrink it or give it your best.

Fisichella gives Force India first pole Rediff Sports

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Fisichella gives Force India first pole Rediff Sports

STANDARD PAKISTANI RESPONSE TEMPLATE

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Dear Prime Minister Manmohan Singh/~~Atal Bihari Vajpayee~~/~~Narasimha Rao~~ /~~Rajiv Gandhi~~,

Pakistan strongly condemns / ~~is shocked by~~ / ~~is pleasantly surprised with the success of our "freedom fighters"~~in the loss of dozens / ~~hundreds~~ / ~~thousands~~ / ~~millions~~ of innocent lives in the bomb blasts / ~~sniper attack~~ / ~~hijacking~~ / ~~religious riots~~/~~other disaster~~ that occurred in ~~a busy marketplace~~/ ~~train~~ /~~housing colony~~ / ~~Indian parliament building~~ / an upper-class hotel / ~~temple~~in Mumbai / ~~Delhi~~ / ~~Kashmir~~ / ~~Assam~~/ ~~Punjab~~ /~~Gujarat~~ / ~~Other~~.

The Pakistani ~~citizens~~ / ~~soldiers~~ / "freedom fighters" /~~"friendship agents"~~ / ~~students~~who were ~~caught red-handed~~ /~~found dead at the scene of the crime~~ / convicted of the crime are actually undercover Indian / ~~American~~ / ~~Israeli~~ agents. Any Pakistanis proven to be guilty of terrorism will be ~~rewarded handsomely~~ / dealt with severely / ~~promoted to Lt. Colonel~~ /~~given a new Indian passport and sent back to India~~ / ~~handed over to the Americans~~ as proof of our commitment in the war on terror.

There are no Pakistani army-funded training camps / ~~terrorist camps~~ / ~~madrasaas~~ in Azad Kashmir / ~~Afghanistan~~/ ~~Nepal~~ /~~Bangladesh~~. The ~~satellite images~~ / ~~photographs~~ / ~~eyewitness accounts~~/ videotaped confessions obtained by the Indians ~~is fraudulent~~/ ~~fake~~ / ~~inconclusive~~ / are actually from Indian terrorist camps and part of a larger RAW / ~~CIA~~conspiracy to destabilize the Pakistani government by ~~stalling democracy~~ / encouraging sectarian violence / ~~undermining Pakistani institutions~~ / ~~causing the next military coup in Pakistan~~. A destabilized Pakistani government / ~~mafia~~could cause Pakistan to become a dangerous nuclear WalMart / ~~Target~~/ ~~Seven-Eleven~~ and a terrorist breeding ground / ~~university~~/ ~~research lab~~ that would be worse for the world.

We hope this will not derail the peace process started with the recent ~~India-Pakistan cricket~~ ~~series~~ / ~~Lahore~~ ~~bus yatra~~ /~~Muzafarabad- Srinagar road opening~~/ ~~Bollywood peace concert~~/ open borders initiative / ~~other confidence-building measures~~. We look forward to justifying further attacks against innocent civilians / ~~resolving the core issue of Kashmir~~ / ~~developing best-of-breed plausible deniability defenses.~~

We stand by / ~~are plotting against~~ our Indian brethren in their hour / ~~days~~ / ~~years~~ / ~~decades~~of pain.

Signed,

Asif Ali Zardari
President, Pakistan / ~~Chief Operating Officer, Taliban Inc~~. /~~General, Pakistani Army~~

----Received the above as an email forward.

No, not this time. (Part - I)

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Barkha Dutt is back, doing what she does best. After having called Pakistan 'a favourite whipping boy' even as hostages were being executed by the dozen at the hotels and Nariman House, she now has the cheek to call for 'a peaceful dialogue' process. Fortunately, the Kasab pig was caught. The beans were spilled far and wide. And now when the truth is out in the open, Barkha has now changed her stance to "Lets no make Cricket a casualty", "People to people contact is important", "Lets not be a nation of war mongers". Hello?!?

If any of you are still echoing her emotions, i gotto ask, what have you guys been smoking?

Some Peaceniks take pride in howling "The people of Pakistan are not bad", "they too are sufferers", "they 'love' India, blah, blah and more blah." May be on some level they do care about their 'brothers' across the border. May be they do want to have a 'peaceful' co-existence with us. So we tend to think they are as innocent as the one who died in all those terror attacks over the years. Wrong!

Why do we tend to dissociate them from the irresponsible (and timid) administrators who turn a blind eye to the terror camps, terror fund raising campaigns and the gun toting 'Jihadis'? Are not these 'peace loving, moderate' people of Pakistan responsible for bringing those terror sympathisers/naysayers to power? Is it not them who turn a blind eye to the elephant in the room and start looking forward to the Indo-Pak cricket matches? Why don't they clamour for the eradication of terrorists and their sympathisers from their soil, like we do, with the Sadhvis and Col. Purohits? The answer is simple. They don't care enough for us.

Its time we did the same for them.

Fire on the mountain run run run!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Ah my fellow Jingos, you're finally awake i see...all that 'top of the voice' ranting at the Gateway last week, wearing Black and White at work, forwarding those emotion packed SMSes and emails with subject lines of "Dear Prime Minister", "We are united against Terror" (farce), "Lets attack Pakistan" (another farce) and oh yeah, how could i miss the most prominent one--- "Politicians are ^&%^&&&^, Deshmukh this, Patil that" slogans flying everywhere.

Lo and Behold! The Mumbai pub-lick has changed its position in the midst of a deep slumber. Our friendly neighbourhood bemoaned Babu, also the most convenient whipping boy, has had his a$$ charred worse than the Taj wooden flooring! Still, there are some netas who dared to hold out, Naqli and A-chute to name a few, only to apologise later. But never mind.

"Suddenly, why all this Shor Sharaba?", Etee, my friend from Mars asks me. I thought hard to explain the hysteria and I finally came up with this. "You see Etee, my friend, these Politicians, they don't know how run the country. They onlee mint monies, drink daaru and make promises. They live in the best of locales, have Sarkari naukar-chakar to fan their farts and burps all day, don't bother (or sometimes forget) to attend the assembly, cut ribbons the whole day, empty 3 Khambaas (Desi, Royal Stag, Smirnoff et al) before they're carried to the bed every night and instead of returning home the next day, they go ribbon cutting again and garland an MKG bust.All this when 10 highly trained 'Atankwaadis' barge into the busiest of junctions, spray bullets and lob grenades at the unsuspecting pub-lick and then make the ATS/MARCOS/NSG and the other ABCDs jump around for 3 days."

"By Jupiter! 3 days? Thats terrible. But what did the Ps do to deserve such acrimony all of a sudden?" inquires Etee.

I continue from where i left..."And yet, these Ps talk of it like its the usual Dombivili fast 5 minute delay. Occassionally the average P does make the effort to give SRK lectures on healthy living, run after bar girls to 'cleanse' the soceity et al. Afterall, whats 'Clean up Mumbai' all about? And who said anything about waste management? And hey did i tell you? During all that tamasha at Oberoi, the CM of our neighbouring state has the cheek to play Kaun Banega Crorepati yards away from the action spot, announce all the dead as winners and leave, leaving the security personnel at the site even more baffled. Here was one chance after years of 'Ungli', to let the military afsars do their job as they want to, but NO! The Ps have to butt in, you see."

By now, I'm all red and up in flames. Etee, sensing the imminent volcanic eruption, brings me an icepack and soothes my mane. "So Vishal, tell me, since when are these Ps around? What are they here for?"

"Ever since we came to be called as India", I blared, "61 years!, roughly equal to 54 Martian years. And they ought to have been on their toes since day one to protect us, which obviously, they haven't"

Ready with the next question, Etee asked, "And who brought them on?"

Etee now caught me completely off-guard on this one. The answer that came to my mind shamed me more than it stunned little Etee. It was 'us, we the people - dastard slumberers, the Bharatiya janata'. All these years, all we did was wait for 5 years and vote the biggest of losers to power. Losers, yeah, though not everyone, but enough to call the whole pack black. Year after year, mind you. And we have the cheek to conduct funerals of the same Politicians at the Gateway. The banners were a good read, i accept, but what good are they if thats whom you have to depend on to attack the terror camps across the border.

So far, this episode too seems to be headed towards another chai-biskoot session with the Pakistani leaders over 'formulating a joint startegy to take out terror camps along the border, joint vigilance, blah blah'. When are our babus gonna realise, Pakistan babus need 'enemy' India the most to unite the Paki public during elections, against a common 'enemy'. If that 'enemy' becomes their friend, Pakistan would just break into NWFP, Baluchistan, FATA (already gone) and Sindh.

The most important lesson to be learnt is, please don't trade our lives over those chai-biskoot sessions in those British built Sarkari guest houses, hoping for 'peace'. Maintaining a deterrent military posture like Unkil Sam and Israel has, seems worth a try. For that, we need politicians who are ready to do the same. Preemptive surgical strikes! Got my point?

Etee, meanwhile, didn't ask me any more questions after the last one. He seemed prety calm and content now. Perhaps he understood whats plaguing our 'system' since the last 61 years. Or perhaps he could sense what was going through my mind now. Perhaps, he could now sense me really 'waking' up. All this mess, I now realise, is our fault alone. We 'chadhaoed' those Politicians, voted them to power and they went terror tourism and name calling after the attacks. Time for others to wake up too, don't you think?

TRAINEE TURNED TRAINER

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:40:00 +0000

Its stories like these that make India, the India of our dreams. I've picked this small story up from a mailer we received from the ACF (Ambuja Cement Foundation) which i HAD to share with you guys. Its aptly titled "TRAINEE TURNED TRAINER". Please don't miss this chance to have what i call 'goose bump moment'.

"Sunita Thipe's is a story of dynamic entrepreneurship. A residentof Lakhamapur village, Maharashtra she was trained in tailoring along

with 16 other women. The training intended to make the women economically independent and instill confidence in them. After the training, Sunita began stitching garments for people in her village. An enterprising woman, she wasn't happy with only stitching clothes for others. She wanted to do something bigger and more challenging. She noted that several women and young girls in her village were interested in learning to stitch but had to go all the way to Gadchandur a good eight kilometers ways to learn to learn the trade. Sunita saw this as an opportunity for her to set up

her own tailoring centre. Her family members supported her decision wholeheartedly and spared her a room to set up a centre. Sunita negotiated with ACF to sell her some of their second-hand sewing machines at half their original value. With the requisite skills, sewing machines and work space in order, Sunita began her classes. The people were glad to have her centre in the village and willingly paid her the fee she charged. Sunita trains women at her centre and is also appointed by ACF as a trainer for another village.

Sunita's is an inspiring story. A story that tells us how enterprising, dynamic people are able to bring about tangible changes in their lives and that of others."

Three Cheers!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:04:00 +0000

Nope. I'm not gonna say a single word against Dada today. I swear! He deserves some piece of mind afterall. And after the upcoming Australia series, he'll have plenty of it.

His decision to retire is as a much shock (and relief) to me as it might be to some of his most devout fans. Relief because, all that dispirited and sometimes denigrated talks about him were too much to take even for an ex-fan like me. Everybody knew this was coming. Yet I find myself caught in a state of shock.

I wanna talk so much about him. Infact everybody has so much to talk about him. Really. I just want to thank him for all those wonderful moments he gave me (and ofcourse you) as the tiger who lead the team from the front and won. Wanna thank him for being the one who brought us within sniffing distance of the World Cup. For being the Captain that India needed (but not wanted by some). For being an inspiration and having faith in countless youngsters who got the opportunity and shone. Yuvraj & Bhajji will surely shed tear to see him go. Agarkar will wail. And ofcourse, for inspiring me enough to write a couple of posts on this blog. I'll write you one more at the end of the series.

So here's wishing you a wonderful farewell series Dada.

Yawn...and I'm blogging again!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:57:00 +0000

If the concept of reincarnation is still stodgy for some, they SHOULD visit my blog. This, to my solid memory, is the fourth time I'm reviving it since I first cut the ribbons in Jan this year.

Plenty has changed since then. Of my interest that is. India's won an ODI series in Sri Lanka even with the 'Mendis' around. The old school final game blues however, still remain. India's leaped ahead in the ICC rankings though. Ganguly's made yet another magic trick of making back to the side, with the 'prestige' understandbly following a Bengali hue and cry in the media. Christopher Nolan must make a movie on him.

The Nuclear Deal, to my relief, has crossed an array of hurdles with seeming ease in the end. MMS, with his trademark serenity, has beaten the opponents of the Nuke deal black and blue. His motto seems much like a popular dialogue from 'Cars', Work Like Beaver Sting Like a Bee!

Pakistan, meanwhile, has gone from one obscurity to another. The new PM spends half his time retracting statements he gives previous night. And the only time President A A Zardari has made news in his reign to date, is when he squeezed Palin's hand with all intentions of squeezing her in the full, much to her embarrassment. Wonder how many more F-16s he squeezed out there.

On the other hand, the Pakistani Army has grown ridiculously lazy these days. They simply refuse to wear the Talib robes before they train their guns on the Amrikis. They wore it so obediently when Mushy was around. Wonder what we'll get to see next.

Thats all for now, folks. Stay tuned to my blog. See you around...

Navnirman??? In what way?

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:18:00 +0000

Beta: Papa, why are you bullying shopkeepers into painting their signboards in marathi instead of solely english? Many of them are Gujju's and UPiites, they dont even speak Marathi.
Papa: Ha, nice question beta. they are staying in maharashtra na? so what if majority of them are Gujjus and Bhaiyyas? They have to be proud of marathi culture. So they have to paint their hoardings in marathi prominently.

Beta: But papa, many of them are providing our marathi manoos with jobs and salaries, who would be homeless/jobless had it not been for those shopkeepers. Is it not a bad idea to bully them?
Papa: Heh heh, nahi re mula. They are illtreating the marathi people. They are snatching our jobs. So they have to be taught a lesson. Hence the bullying.

Beta: what jobs papa? Majority of the gujjus run family businesses, in which the marathi manoos is not interested in. And, the Bhaiyyas have always been more into jobs which are of lowest of grandness from which the marathi manoos stays away. So which jobs are they snatching away from us?
Papa: see...they have to be proud of marathi culture.

Beta: But papa, dont you think we could spend all the time we spend on bullying and tod-phod on something more constructive, which will make the marathi manoos face the competition better? like higher education, loans for the needy?
Papa: hehe...cough - cough, ahem, but beta...you dont understand. we should be proud of our marathi culture, only then will maharashtra progress.

Beta: But papa, how can hoardings in marathi make one proud of marathi culture? and how does being proud of marathi culture culminate into development?
Papa: hahaha...hehhe...you dont understand beta...you see, we have to be proud of marathi culture.

Beta: But papa, we changed Bombay to Mumbai. How has it solved Bomabay's...errr...i mean Mumbai's problems? That also brings me to another question...why...
Papa: (interrupting) Ahem ! cough-cough...arre beta...you see we love our Marathi culture. And others should also love them.

Beta: But papa...majority of those 'Bhaiyya's' and 'Gujjus' are sending their kids to schools that have Marathi as a compulsory subject. And you enrolled me into Bombay Scottish which neither has Marathi as a compulsory subject nor follows the Maharshtra Board, why so? And you didnt even ask the Bombay Scottish to change their name to Mumbai Scottish till i passed out of the school. Again, why so?
Papa: You love marathi culture, beta. Whereas those bloody bhaiyyas dont. All they know to do is dirty Amchi Mumbai with their Paan thook and dirty smell and they dont even speak Marathi.

Beta: But i'm not really a big fan of Marathi. I have opted for German in my Junior College instead of Marathi.
Papa: Dont worry beta, i've told my gund...errr...followers to not pitao you. But those good for nothing bhaiyyas should respect marathi language and culture.

Beta: But papa, this way, we run a risk of spoiling Mumbai's image of being a warm, tolerant, all loving and welcoming city.
Papa: Beta, Mumbai needs less of those hopeless people. Only then will the marathi manoos survive.

Beta: But papa, those bhaiyyas have worked hard and have got good grades in the railway exams. Then why are they being shooed away? Many of the marathis who got jobs because of them didnt even deserve it.
Papa: Arre beta, kalat naahi ka tula? We have to be proud of our culture. Those bloody #$%#$%$ fools. Tichya $%^%&^&. Those sons of #*$ches. Chaaaylaa, tula kalat kaa naahi? . Those &^&^&*^*$%^es.

Beta: Why suddenly are you abusing so much papa?
Papa: Arre I should have been doing that right since morning. I forgot about the monthly inflammatory speech i'm scheduled to give in half an hour.

Beta: But papa...
Papa: Get lost you bloody $%^%&%^&&. Let me prepare some abuses....

Pandu can't dance..but he will make you dance!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:50:00 +0000

A few years ago, the Mumbai Traffic Police started clamping down on motorists not heeding safety rules (wearing helmets and seat belts on roads having an average speed of 5 Kmph!) In a year or two (understandably enough) there was flurry of traffic police registering new residential , buying cars/bikes and 'have nots' in their wives' names.

Eventually, the supposed reasons for the clamp down bore fruit. The average despicable Indian gaadiwala started wearing seat belts. Some Bikers got hold of designer helmets (quite happily for me), more to hide their disgustingly bad hair dyes than to evade the fine. Mega grief! The time has come, I suppose, for the Pandu to think of newer and more lasting ways to fleece the public.

So think like a Pandu then. Whats the next thing that an average motorist can do without while driving? Ofcourse its the music systems in the vehicles! Doesn't matter if one gets stuck in the traffic for hours together, why the entertainment? And it certainly doesn't make a difference if the drivers are not warned of traffic snarls (so as to take a different route) via radio. Why spread the misery? Oh! And how can i forget...what if he gets 'distracted' from his driving and crashes into some unsuspecting guy on the road? Who cares if there aren't enough zerbra crossings or signals put up on the roads?

Ofcourse its a lie when statistics say that in 95% of the road accidents involving pedestrains, lack of zebra crossing/traffic signals or obedience to it was the main problem. Its such a serious social concern you see. And ofcourse, who's gonna help the Pandu pay up the remaning EMIs of the gaadi/bangla he bought sometime back.

Last man standing

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:39:00 +0000

This wont be anything short of a draw between two yankies from any cowboy movie. At the end of it...only one will come out smiling. The other, devastated. The belligerents - Yuvraj Singh and Ajantha Mendis. Both have a reputation at stake. The victor will be acclaimed as one of the best ever to walk the earth. The loser might simply lose the brand value and ofcourse, the brand endorsements.

We're talking about one of the most exciting clashes of year so far. The Lankan has had the better of Yuvi so far (infact just once), but one just needs to ask Andrew Flintoff and Stuart broad to know what a revengeful Yuvraj is like. Thats one of the reasons I felt he shouldn't have been dropped for the test series. True, Yuvraj's known for his susceptibility against spinners, but his recent failure against the Lankans in Lahore will have had some lava oozing out of him and the test series was a good occasion to use up that 'heat'.

If Yuvraj fails to tame the Ajantha, Ajantha will tame him for sure. It might well be one of the deciding factors of the ODI series. Only time will tell as to who will be, the LAST MAN STANDING.

Why Fi?

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:52:00 +0000

This article quite summarises what is wrong with the myopic bureaucratic duffers, media (Desi Dorky Media as they are increasingly being called) and the 'system' on the whole.

Why on earth would a WiFi internet access pose a security threat? Just because some crazy net-savvy jihadi sent an e-mail crashing to the media houses informing them of the imminent blasts? Somehow I fail to find a link between an advanced internet access and the security threats that we face in your country. Do the antagonist here mean that the bomb blasts would not have occured had it not been for the Wi-Fi system?

We as a nation, need to own up to our follies rather than making scape goats of a defenceless technology. Wi-Fi didnt set off the bombs. And so didnt the poor unsuspecting gora, Haywood. Why blame it on them, if our IB and RAW were caught napping?

Ditto with the Balckberry. As long as the CMs/MPs/MLAs use the Blackberry, its OK. But if the same is being used by some responsible businessmen generating revenue and employment, it suddenly turns out to be a secuirty threat. Even the paranoid Unlce Sam hasnt pulled up RIM, the Blackberry Service Providers.

As far as the difficulty in tracking the suspect is concerned, he wouldn't stand to lose much just because of an internet service being denied. Tiger Memon had never heard of the internet before he rocked Mumbai in 1992. Now if he has to use the 'net, he can always rely on some good proxy site which conceals the IP addressess!! Or better for him still, he could drop in a typewritten mail early in the morning. Whether he sends an email or not, the terrorist's job of sending the bigger message of of us being sitting ducks can be heard quite loud and clear, literally, once the bombs go off.

Indian security agencies, of all the people should know that terror breeds because of lack of development and not because of excess of it. Denying Mumbai/India a technology that will go a long way in developing the impenetrable areas will not defuse bombs. But it will deny this shining beacon of humanity yet another chance to develop!

My computer, My blessing

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:02:00 +0000

A colleague of mine sent me this poem, which comes closest to interpreting my 2 line prayers to GOD at times. I had to find a place to immortalise it, so here it is

God, there's just one more thing I wish that you would do
if you don't mind my asking to bless my 'puter, too??
You see, that little metal box holds more than odds and ends
Inside those small components rest a hundred loving friends.
Some it's true I've never seen and most I've never met...
never shaken hands or ever truly hugged, and yet...
I know for sure they love me
I share in life it brings them,
So if it's OK with you... Just take an extra minute from your duties up above...
to bless this little hunk of steel that's filled with so much love.
So God, Please Bless My Puter...

Batman: The Dark Knight sizzles and how!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:37:00 +0000

Let me start off with the negatives. There are so few of them around in the movie.

1) One of the 'weak points' of the movie was the replacement of Katie Holmes by a relatively 'average looker' Maggie Glyenhal. I quite missed my Katie.

2) It keeps you on the edge of the seat throughout the movie span, althought you've paid for a full seat.
3) There are no more negatives for me to write on.

Christopher Nolan brandishes his newest creation with as much aplomb and finesse that it would make George Lucas (of Star Wars fame) stand up and take notice.

One of the many aspects i liked about the movie was, it has so many- multiple- climaxes, one almost believes it is the end of show at the end of every climax. Yet somehow, the story resurrects itself each time to put the viewers back on the edge of their seats.

The story moves on so fast, that by interval time, one feels like he has already seen a full length movie. "The Prestige" was quite the opposite with its easy paced story telling. I've seen movies fall flat on their face when they're so fast paced, but not this one. There are zero dull moments in the movie.

Nolan's favourite, Christian Bale is back as the main protagnist. This time, with better weapons, more daring feats, faster machines, lighter cat-resistant armour and even better direction. Heath Ledger, as the legendary Joker is flawless. He deserves all the accolades showered on him. He has a superb screen presence and even better appeal as an antagonist. His portrayal of the Joker is a welcome break from stereotypical depiction of a 'maniac killer on the loose' that is fast becoming a trend in Hollywood. Hence, also Bollywood. Alas, this last performance from Ledger should be seen as his parting gift to earthlings. A wonderful one at that.

Aaron Eckhardt (as the DA) and Gary Oldman (good old cop, Gordon) play their parts as the Jamaadars of Gotham's soceity to the T. Michael Caine (as the butler, Alfred) and Morgan Freeman (as Lucius Fox) have relatively smaller roles to play this time round, but so does the main protagonist.

The irony of this successful sequel, is the fact that Batman has a much lesser screen time than he did in the previous version. This by far, Christopher Nolan's best effort till date. The script has a message for the viewer - 'this world needs more ordinary heroes than super heroes'.

While the above message gives the people something to think about , one things for sure, not many will think before queueing up for another round of Batman : The Dark Knight at a multiplex. Atleast I wont.

Its OK, Dhoni

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Gosh! A die hard cricket fan like me is actually tired of watching non-stop cricket these days. Spare a thought for those who actually burn their ass out in that sun. Dhoni, after all the packed schedule that he's been through, merits a rest after all.

The Test team for the Sri Lankan tour, as many of you might already know...
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Anil Kumble (capt), Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha.

Bhajji, Kumble, Sreesanth, Zaheer, perhaps the best Indian bowling quartet we can sport. Unfortunate about Sree though.. Throw in a lanky Ishant with them and we're ready to kick some serious ass. Sachin, Rahul and Sourav (yeah, right!) are back to the right side of a commercial break. Time make a'mend'(i)s. What says?

Iran Oil Deal and N-deal - Why I feel India must bite the bullet

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:42:00 +0000

I find countless efforts being made to intercept the Nuke deal and although on a lesser scale, the Iran-Pak-India Oil pipeline. One thing's for sure now. If one commits the mistake of trusting the Leftists, they will pay back in yuans. The rest of the opposing parties have their own axes to grind. If one party cant see the Govt grabbing the path breaking initiative for the collective good of the country and hence winning hearts (votes) galore , the other wants to make sure they have their asses licked! Its the worst form of opportunism on display, right at the cost of energy security of the country.

As for why we should go in for those deals, read on....

Lets have a look at the Iran-Pak-India Pipleline deal first...
The economic feasibility of this deal has never been in doubt. But the critics believe this deal will allow Pakistan to squeese India's balls when needed, hence comprehending that the deal would be a strategic blunder. This, despite Iran's guarantees of full monetary reimbursement in any such eventuality.

Considering the recent surge in oil prices and with all indications of it getting worse, India has to look for alternative sources of fuel for its short term energy security. Most of the oil that India imports for its daily needs is sourced from the OPEC countries, who stand divided over the issue of increase in output, but unlikely to up the produce. Iran, in particular has flatly refused to increase the output by even an ml, as a reply to US's wont of issuing monthly threat speeches against it. Here's where a third world, developing country like India needs to secure a its sources of oil, again, only for its shot term needs of say next 20 - 25 years.

One might ask what after the Oil wells have nearly dried up? Thats where the N-deal comes in.

By 2020, India will have become a power hogging behemoth, with even most of the ongoing long term power projects or the Iran pipeline insufficient to satiate the power thirst. Nuclear power plants in sufficient numbers with advanced technology, will hence provide timely succour to the power hungry nation. Power which will be soft on the environment as well.

Leftists believe (or atleast tam tam) that the Nuke deal will make India subservient to the 'Imperialist' Uncle Sam. The biggest irony here is not the so called dark nature of the deal, but 'the Left thinking in the nation's interest'! Bloody Chinese turds! Its an open secret that the Leftists in India are on the Chinese pay rolls.

A few mad rightists argue that investing sufficient funds on R&D on Thorium based power plants will get us the same results that the Nuclear deal promises to deliver. If that was true, why would scientists of Dr APJ Abul Kalam, R Chidambaram and Anil Kakodkar's calibre, who take pride in indigenousness, back the deal in the first place?

Its late already, but hopefully not too late. This our time to act, to secure an energetic future.
We owe it to our future generations.

ACF - Corporate India's shining beacon

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Few private firms in India have carried out charitable social projects on as large a scale as ACF (Ambuja Cement Foundation) has. And what a huge impact its had on the local economy.I'm not tamtaming about it because i'm connected to it in some way. Its all there to see. I saw much of it myself when i was in Gujarat last year.

The Junagadh district is supposed to be one of the more arid zones in Gujarat, where the Ambujanagar township sleeps. The place is notorious for its draught and ever encroaching sea water, making the 'fertile yet dry' soil out there absolutely useless and uncultivable.

But thanks to the ACF, its a thing of the past now. Since it began its operations about 2 decades ago, ACF has armed 14,000+ households with rain water harvesting systems (RWHS). A single RWHS can store enough water to last a year for a family of 6. That includes the daily bathing, cooking and washing!

Besides, the ACF-Govt. partnership sponsored rain water percolation system, cement lined canals, bunds and the limestone mine land reclamation (i'll explain all in detail later) has raised the water bed in the last monsoons to about 4.5 feeet from the 30 feet initally!! Which simply put, means you'd find rain water if you managed to dig just about 4.5 feet deep into the ground. Thats also pushed back/checked the seepage of the saline sea water into the fertile farms.

The average Saurashtra farmer now bears rich yields of crops throughout the year, year after year, without having to worry about running out of water or the soil getting saline.

Down and Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:47:00 +0000

What a horrible Sunday evening it was! Its tough being a good boy at times, i tell you. It comes at a price on this side of the fence! What would a guy, after a hard day's work of cleaning and dusting the wall unit at home be subject to? That too on a 'rarely spent at home' Sunday.

8 hours of an absolute nightmare! Was left gasping for breath till a 'better late than never' anti-allergy tablet made its way into my tummy. Thanks Papa, for the late night dash to the chemist! One thing's for sure, i wont be forgetting that evening/night for a long long time to come. Ditto for my family.

But quite customary to my life these days, it took me just a good night's sleep to tide over the rough time. I'm all up and smiling as ever! Happy to be so. Touch wood!

Grow up Indian Journos and oldies!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:29:00 +0000

This is for the Indian media and some ex-cricketers

Kiddish, immature, insensitive, untimely....what more can i say about the latest attempt by YOU to spark off another war of words in the Indian cricket circles. Dhoni being against the seniors being a part of the team? Get a life guys!

Its not everyday that an Indian team returns from Australia that successful. You know it! You also know there's another important series against coming up against the Proteas in about a week or two. Its always a healthy habit to maintain the unity and the morale of the team during such periods. You know that too!!! And yet you stoop so low?

Whats the point in instigating an ever dissatisfied senior into speaking his heart out that might just escalate into something ugly in the dressing room? That too leading him into saying something that might be seen as a plea to a 'ruthless and thankless' captain is simply not done. He was just voicing his inner most wish perhaps, thats all (however illogical it might sound after the CB series). You know that thing about pigs, the dirtier it gets, the more they like it. Reminds me of a guy i knew from Rotaract. But just leave it at that!!

This is for you, Dada

Why is'nt a captain's choice of having a younger team at his disposal unwarranted? Is he not the one to face the music when the team loses? I dont say that, history does. You know it, dont you Dada? Dada, was it not you who preferred Kaif over Laxman in the ODIs when the team was in your widely successful (i'll give that to you) aegis? Was it not you who preferred Harbhajan in the final 11 at Kumble's cost in some ODIs during the 2003 world cup? I dont remember VVS or Jumbo throwing up a fit or crying on the media's shoulders then. Grow up Dada, atleast before you retire!

And whether you like it or not, Dhoni IS a smarter, more stable captain/cricketer than you were! Already! Way to go MSD, India's with you. And thank you Kumble, for calling the media's bluff!!

Tejas, The Radiance

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:29:00 +0000

As some images of the latest avtar of 'Tejas' are revealed, its looking more formidable than ever. But it will be atleast 2012 when it will be 'mission ready'. Yet, many are raising questions about the how relevant is it in today's defence scenario ruled by the F-22 Raptors. Hence, the following article featured in Economic Times, 15th March edition, makes an interesting read. This is for all you LCA fans out there.

Tejas, The Radiance

The aeronautical development agency’s Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) is the only such fourth-generation aircraft to be developed by a Third World country — that too, without any experience of third-generation aircraft development. Experience with the 40-year-old second-generation HF-24 does not help. It is also the only such Asian aircraft with an indigenous design, engine, avionics, and the like. Lastly, it is one of only six such aircraft types in the world — the others being the F/A-22, the Typhoon, Rafale, Gripen and the Japanese F-2.
Importantly, a large number of advanced technologies and equipment for it have been developed indigenously — co-cured co-bonded composites, the mission and flight control computers, use of computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamic design, the fly-by-wire flight control system, full-glass cockpit, complex software, avionics integration, sensor fusion, and the like. These have greatly enhanced India’s technological base.
Interestingly, carbon fibre composites make up about 45% of LCA’s structural weight — about the highest for any such aircraft that makes LCA lighter by about 20% than a comparable all-metal aircraft, and makes it easier to manufacture due to its lower parts count. That will give LCA an exceptional payload/range performance. Though the smallest combat aircraft in the world, and single-engined, it will have about the same four-tonne warload as the twin-engined MiG-29. Its small size will also give it a low radar cross-section, making it more difficult to detect.

There have to-date been only two problems — both with systems. The GTRE Kaveri engine has performed poorly so far. Safran, selected as a partner, may help set things right. The second problem system is the mechanically-scanned array radar. To exploit the full capabilities of LCA, it should have an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Government recently announced a deal with the European company EADS for the joint development of such a radar.
LCA’s more than 800 test flights to-date have been very smooth. Some other aircraft have been less fortunate. The test programme has been slow, as the flight envelope needs to be opened up with great caution. Things will speed up now that six aircraft, including LSP-1, the first of eight limited series production aircraft, are flying, and external 800 litre drop tanks are being installed, to increase its 40 minute flight time by about an hour. Thus, initial operational clearance could be achieved by 2010, or soon thereafter.
It is claimed that LCA will be outdated by the time it enters service. Not true. All fourth-generation aircraft types, including LCA, will be under continuous development throughout their service lives. Several new technologies are currently under development, like voice recognition, which will free the pilots’ hands from some of the comparatively less-important work in the cockpit.
There is need for an AESA radar mentioned earlier. A multi-axis thrust vector control system is being developed for the Kaveri engine. There will also be regular upgradation of the various systems and subsystems over the decades to keep LCA a frontline aircraft as long as it’s in service. The technologies that have been incorporated into LCA are on par with those on other fourth-generation aircraft.

Importantly, LCA will have exceptional standards of maintainability and reliability. It will require far fewer maintenance man-hours per flight-hour than earlier aircraft. As a result, its life-cycle cost — its overall cost of purchase, operation and maintenance over its entire service life — will be the very lowest for any aircraft the IAF has ever had.
The so-called "cheap" Soviet-era aircraft were cheap in every sense of the term — starting with quality. Their maintainability and reliability were poor, they had very limited structural service lives, and their overall lifecycle costs must have bled their users white.
Amazingly, LCA may also have the very lowest flyaway (or initial purchase) cost of any current combat aircraft. Estimates range from as low as $20 million to about $35 million. By contrast, the 3+ generation F-16 had a flyaway cost of $55 million about two years ago — and could be even higher today. While a precise figure has yet to be worked out, LCA is sure to be the lowest-cost fourth-generation combat aircraft in the world, by a handsome margin.
Lastly, as combat aircraft become more complex, and training pilots to fly them becomes more challenging, advanced jet trainers may need to have a supersonic capability. The old, second-generation Northrop T-38 was the very first such AJT — and differed from the F-5B type trainer.
Today, the third-generation Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 and the Hongdu L-15 are already flying. A watered-down variant of the 13-tonne LCA may be just right as a supersonic advanced jet trainer — should the IAF want it. It would be the world’s first such fourth-generation aircraft, and could be developed at a very low cost and on a short time-scale.
LCA is outstandingly the very finest Indian engineering achievement in any field.

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:23:00 +0000

I came across this sms which sums up the state of my mind these days. Thank you Vikas.

"Zindagi ki asli udan abhi baaki hai,

Apne irado ka imtihan abhi baaki hai,

Mutthi bhar jamin abhi toh napi hai,

Aage abhi sara asman baki hai."

Surprised? I'm not!

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:08:00 +0000

Need i say more?

If not now, when???

noreply@blogger.com (Vishal / Spetsnaz101) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:35:00 +0000

The Indian media seems aghast and enraged with the dropping of a few seniors for the upcoming CB series down under. Perhaps they're hoping for yet another "Sourav-Greg" like spat in the offing. Lets take a trip down the 'not-so-distant' memory lane...

Remember the England tour in 2007? I'm referring to the time when India with its "most formidable" batting line up had just about managed a test series win against an ordinary English bowling attack that consisted of Tremlett, Sidebottom (who were short on experience) and one MontyPanesar (a spinner). Few gave the English a chance to win the then upcoming ODI series. The Indian batting line up boasted of a full fledged arsenal that had names like Ganguly, Dravid, Sachin, Yuvraj, Dhoni...

The final scoreboard on the 8th of September read "England wins Natwest Series 4-3"
Read on...

Again, few gave the Indian team even a semblance of a chance to win the T-20 world championship that was to begin in 2 weeeks. India was going to south africa not only without the Big 3 - sachin, sourav, rahul but also without their pace ace -Zaheer. In came a struggling and yet unproven, Irfan Pathan, green horns Joginder Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, a certain Veeru, who they said had forgotten how to hold a bat and a Captain who was as sure of his place in the team a year ago as his footwork on the bouncy pitches in South Africa. Even a 3 year old from a "galli" Mumbai now knows about the Indian triumph that followed.

What we dont realise is, had we not dropped the stalwarts we would never have known how well RP Singh could take on the repsonsibility of leading the attack. We would never have discovered the fighter in Gambhir that made him a top scorer for us in the tournament. Perhaps we would never have seen the "new, improved and steady" Irfan who bowls an immaculate line and length, at a decent pace and hits the balls a long way, all in one match. The Yuvraj who hit Australia and England to all ends of the ground and virtually outbatted them was another revelation. Rohit Sharma warmed the benches till the day he got a chance to set the ground on fire against South Africa, who pulled India out of a near crisis situation. He didnt really play a "yuvrajisque"innings then, but played well enough to win India the match, the MoM title and most importantly then, keep India alive in the series.

Spare a thought for Dhoni. Sourav and Dravid had their way in team selections most of the times when they were the captains, reagrdless of the results in the past series. Dhoni, who against all odds has hardly put a foot wrong as a captain till date, deserves to have his way, deserves a good backing for his vision 2011.

If the Souravs, Sachins and Rahuls, who are on the wrong side of 35 now and have nothing left to prove yet, still expect the selectors to play their favourite aunt, when will we see their replacements rise and shine? Afterall,on their debut, even they replaced players who had much better records at international level than them. I still defend the decision to retain Sachin (or any one of the Big 3), as we do need a ringmaster with all the youthfulness in the dressing room.a sort of father figure. Lets also see him as an insurance incase the young ones fail (which i dont see happening).

Perhaps the Indians will be beaten black and blue, perhaps they'll return a far less confident pack. But atleast we will have baptised the kids on whose shoulders our 2011 world cup dreams lie, that too against the most difficult opponents on Earth. If they lose, atleast we can hold our heads high up and say "we had the courage to look beyond 2009", beyond which the Big 3 might just be known as former players who knew how to play cricket but just didnt know when to quit.