The Critic's Den

Final Thoughts on The pK Controversy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:12:00 +0000

The stupidity continues. Alright, here we go again.

Yes, it's about the pK controversy, once more. Before I begin, let me say that this truly was a masterstroke. So much discussion, so much praise yet so much criticism, so much anger yet so much money, for what was a strictly mediocre film..it's just mind boggling.

Let's get the obvious out of the way first; pK isn't the "message" everyone thinks it is. In fact, it's so toothless that it doesn't even qualify as satire. All the film does is incessant finger-wagging at the symptoms. Unless the target audience were the most unfortunate/uneducated of villagers or the fortunate yet stupid urban/suburban dwellers, there is nothing new that pK brings to the table. Yeah, even Jaadoo precedes pK. From Ray's Mahapurush to Akki's OMG, these things have been done to death. The presence of peeing (no electrocution this time, thankfully), buttcracks, tharki, thokna, luulll and other "subtle" forms of humour may elicit more guffaws in the theater, but really, there is absolutely nothing new to be found here.

With that out of the way, let's get to the controversy bit. Is it anti-Hindu? No, that's complete rubbish. Does it focus heavily on Hindu rituals/practices/Godmen? Yes, but that's just the nature of the beast. If it were made in Italy, it would have focused on the Catholic Church. If it were made in Pakistan/UAE (slim chance, admittedly), it would have focused on Islam. Watch Religious by Bill Maher, and see how mercilessly Christianity is torn apart, although he asks the uncomfortable questions of Judaism and Islam as well. I mean what exactly was anti-Hindu in pK? The caricatures of priests and Godmen? Sure, not all are out to rob you, but you must admit, there are frauds aplenty.

Was it the idol worship bit? Well, idol worship isn't even a Hindu construct. The Vedic God is niraakaar (formless)...what we have in India is murti-puja, a way to focus/concentrate for the common man, via whichever deity you most relate to. The literal translation of both may be the same, but the meaning is not. You'll never find a mystic or a sadhu praying to a murti. Actually, the basic concept of idol worship as discussed in non Indic faiths is flawed. No one prays to a piece of carved stone. So that's that, if you're a believer, then this shouldn't offend you at all. I mean, unless you really think you're praying to that molded clay, you've no reason to be angry at pK.

Coming to the most controversial bit. Really...I mean really? That actor in the film was playing the role of an actor who was playing the role of Shiva. This is friggin Inception level depth. To find that offensive is crazy, to say that the film should banned because of it is even crazier. Heck, Amitabh Bachhan made a career out of squabbling with the Gods. It's not a big deal, let it go. Yes, I know what happens with other cartoons and paintings and caricatures, that's not the point. What's this..reactive intolerance? Criticism is okay, discussion is okay, calling for a ban or hooliganism is not. Anyway, coming back to the most important point. As I said, all pK does is discuss the symptoms. It doesn't even try to touch the right nerves, ask the right questions, or discuss the root cause (faith itself).

So, I don't see how/why anyone should be offended by it. I could offend more people with a single post, if I had that kind of audience. I mean, here is a film that tries to hammer a point by showing us a Pakistani embassy taken over by angels (it's like a Barjatya family in there), among a host of other severely cliched and heavy handed things. And this, they show in Brussels (Belgium), which may very well be the worst choice of place to make that point. There is nothing serious about the film, and I can't understand why people are taking the film so seriously, whether positively or negatively. It's just another film..like it..don't like it..be happy. Just stop being offended for....err...umm...God's sake!

A Word on Equality

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 06:48:00 +0000

Every once in a while, some "good cop" feminist tries to make me understand my ignorant ways. Tells me that all they fight for is "equality", a few of the more intelligent ones direct me to Merriam-Webster for the definition and then go on about how there are so few women CEO's and what not. This kind irritates me the most. I'd rather have a radical killallmen hashtag types at my throat than one of these bludgeoning whatever little intelligence I have into oblivion. What they don't understand is that their concept of "equality" doesn't even start to make sense in the natural world. Equality, as a societal construct, simply corresponds to opportunity. Here's a little nugget that you'd do well to remember--Humans... Are... Not... Created... Equal. No man is born equal to another man, no woman is born equal to another woman, no man is born equal to another woman and vice-versa. Some are tall, some are short, some are geniuses, some are plain dumb, some can sing, some can dance, so on and so forth. For every woman who didn't become a CEO, there's probably the same or larger number of men who didn't make the cut either. But then that is logic, a language which seems to be spoken only by extraterrestrials these days. The only equality one should expect is equality in the eyes of the state, access to the same platforms and mechanisms. What you do with it or don't is your own problem, not anyone else's.

But these good cops blame the whole wide world because of the inequality in the "outcome". There's a reason why Serena Williams and Nadal don't play against each other, why Tania Sachdev and Vishy Anand don't play together, competitively. Men and women are inherently, irreconcilably, different. Sure, both can have representatives that can do amazing things atypically, but as a group, both have different aspirations, qualities, and drives. They excel at different things.The concept that because a certain gender, caste, religion or sect forms a certain percentage of any society, so they're entitled to the corresponding percentage based representations in all walks of life, is ignorant at best. Gender ideologues, reservation/quota supporters, communists..they all make this patently idiotic assumption. It's like a mob of angry parents from one community rioting outside a school saying why none of their children ever gets in the top 10, although they form 1/5th of the class. It's like primary school teachers going on dharna because they don't earn as much as chemical engineers.

It's called agency, a term which seems to be lost not just on feminists but the majority of the world's population. Your actions, you decisions..will have a reaction, will have a consequence. Take the case of the wage gap myth that most treat as gospel. This stupid theory has been debunked time and time again by various studies, but it'll never die. The myth of male privilege will never die. They just won't let it die. Be it laws, policies, anything and everything points in the exact opposite direction, but these myths endear because of these good cops.

The only privilege in the world is either political or economical. It probably affects around .0001% of people in the world that occupy the highest echelons of politics, business etc. It has nothing to do with gender. For the commoner, it's just usual life with all the problems that come with it. Women have problems and men have problems too. I don't suppose anyone thinks that the millions of rickshaw pullers in India are more privileged than Sonia Gandhi or any other Twitter Tumblr keyboard warrior just because they're male...? I saw something in my newsfeed the other day..someone shared an article from a women's magazine. The punchline went something like this "Indian girls--grow up, get married, have kids..why?". Hmmm..interesting, last time I checked it went something like this for men, and this goes for my own generation as well "Grow up, get a job, get a house, get married, have kids". A reasonable person would probably not see much of a difference. A buffoon somehow sees male privilege in there.

If anything, the problem one should have with that line of thought is the expectation bias. That line of thought is not about bestowing privileges, it's about giving responsibilities. Now, admittedly, that is one thing I vehemently disagree with, but then I don't see it changing. Men always have and always will be held responsible for everything. From family courts, to separation settlements, to child support, to psych counseling. My body my choice, your body but not your choice...yet you are still responsible for every single choice that has or hasn't been made. Heck, even feminist discourse runs along those line.

Of all the homeless in the world and this applies to India too, 80% are male, most pavement dwellers dying under the wheels of some drunk lunatic are male, close to a 100% dangerous and sub-human work related deaths are males. Yet, by some twisted sense of logic, reasonably intelligent looking big-bindi stalwarts proclaim "poverty only affects women" on national television. What's even more disturbing, is that this line of thought gets applauded by other reasonably intelligent looking people.

Whether it's genital mutilation, legal extortion, health, poverty or domestic violence (a phenomenon that's been proven by thousands of studies time and time again to be a gender neutral issue)...the only thing people are willing to give half the world, is apathy. "We hold up half the sky!" --yeah, and men are just raving lunatics trying to bring the other half down. UN spends billions, states spend billions in awareness programs, commissions, centers, shelter homes for one, but give a big fat thainga to the other.And the one thing, which is most depressing about this is the fact that the really important issues like child abuse and health always take a backseat. Some lump it together with women's ministries and commissions and we all know about "women and children first" don't we. Yeah, absolute balls...children first!!, pregnant women second..everyone else, get in line. Now that would be equality. Now of course, men are free to put their mothers, wives, daughters, sisters in front...and most probably would, but as a concept...does nobody find this absolute disregard for male life apalling?

Archaic laws and policies, due process is damned, special privileges for one and special punishments for the other. I don't really like the term feminazi...but it gets pretty close actually. Your rights end where my feelings start--that is pretty much the gist of the discourse. Nothing but saint-like behavior will make the cut for one, for the other...well..just don't kill anyone. But what do we know, this is equality. Err..no no...I'm sorry (I blame my male privilege for that grave oversight)..we still haven't achieved equality, much more needs to be done.

Has Al Gore Been Smoking Pot?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 07:33:00 +0000

Bl di Bla di Bla

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 07:32:00 +0000

The Newshour for Dummies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 06:59:00 +0000

The Dangers of Religious Moderates

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:07:00 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve written something controversial, or politically incorrect as some would say. It’s funny, the psychology of society; I haven’t even started and I already know it’s going to be controversial. Interesting, isn’t it? So what exactly drove me to write what I’m about to? Two things, basically, not really interconnected but not mutually exclusive either.

First, I recently read an article by Shahrukh Khan, which talks about being a Khan. I should mention here, to my discredit, that the article is more than a year old. Yes, I’m capable of finding rocks to live under for extended periods. It’s written beautifully of course, he’s a genius, and it’s a different matter that he has a tendency to go into goat mode on screen. Anyway, all of you who know me are aware how much I adore this man. As I said, the article is written very well, and I truly believe that he’s being honest about it. However, I must still disagree with the core point that he’s trying to make. Which brings us to our second point.

I recently saw a debate where Sam Harris was speaking on religious moderates and the implications of religious moderation if left unchecked. That got me thinking. Now, I’m not the sort of person who goes the extra mile to be politically correct. More often than not, one can find me speaking my mind. It’s a gift and a curse at the same time. But after listening to Harris, I realized I’m also a part of this moderate tribe in some ways. Saying it, but not really saying it, watching carefully, treading with caution. I said “some ways” because there are a few things I’ve always been clear on. Like the statement “all religions teach peace” or “all religions are essentially the same”. No, and you don’t even have to read the holy books to realize that. A mere glance at history should tell you that there are inherent and irreconcilable differences between religions, in both the teaching as well as the delivery.

Christianity already had its field day with all the crusades, the inquisitions, the witch hunts and what not. However, there is a silver lining here—despite the violent past, Christianity revived itself. It has been a pretty modern and peaceful religion in the recent past. I mean, we even have the Pope and several high level clergymen willing to discuss things like pre-marital sex, homosexuality etc. Yes, there are some fringe elements who still employ coercive and/or exploitative conversion etc. and engage in random terrorism in North Eastern India, Northern Ireland etc. but otherwise, there’s not much to complain about, not on global level. But how did this happen? That is the bigger question. There’s not too much of a difference between the basic principles (ones that are of concern) of both Christianity and Islam. Both monotheistic, both totalitarian in nature, both condoning and sometimes even commanding slavery, torture and murder, and both based on messianic prophecies. Islam is much more strict and extreme of course. Apostasy means death and several other shenanigans. Christopher Hitchens often used to joke about this when people asked for his views on the persecution of Jews throughout history. He said, “When you reject 2 versions of the messiah in a row, you’re bound to have trouble”.

But I digress, back to the point. So what exactly happened that Christianity evolved? It’s pretty simple actually. The world went on, proper education systems happened, democracies came into existence, bilateral relations between countries prospered, free trade zones happened etc. People finally realized that God’s word does not make the world a better place. People realized that inclusion and tolerance are better than dogma. They realized it’s better to listen to good people around you than to blindly believe in ancient texts. People started questioning, a new wave of scientists, atheists, agnostics and skeptics came to the forefront.

Nothing seems to be doing the trick when it comes to Islamic extremism though. That silver lining seems to grow darker paler every passing day. It’s pretty clear, something much more sinister is at work here. Sure, the crusaders attacked and killed in medieval times, but the modern Jihadi’s are ready to blow themselves up! When they aren’t doing that, they’re beheading little children and holding their heads as trophies. What is it exactly that commands such devotion? What kind of mind thinks this is holy? Do they really believe it to be the word of God? Does it have something to do with how they’re brought up? Does it have something to do with Madrasa teachings? I don’t know, but what I’m trying to say is that asking these questions shouldn’t be taboo.

Al Qaeda is planning the final Jihad, starting with India. ISIS has been doing things that make my blood curdle, then I go into fits of rage, and cry some times. It doesn’t take a particularly weak man to cry looking at the picture of a 4 year old little girl’s headless body. You pick any part of the world, and you won’t find it difficult to find examples of nutcase Islamic outfits. It’s been happening for quite a while now, and it shows no signs of stopping. A cartoon gets published and the whole world cowers in fear, an author writes a book and the whole world cowers in fear again. Bookstores get bombed, heads of state issue fatwas, one of the most modern societies of our times (Denmark) is forced to ignore its own constitution, Supreme Court judgements are overturned, Parliament gets attacked, trains and buses are bombed, markets are bombed, consulates are bombed, temples are bombed, churches are bombed, Red Cross offices are bombed…goes on and on and on. I’m sure, it’ll probably take the whole week if I continue with the examples of utter savagery.

So what are the moderates saying about this? Well, the usual, but now they have two versions of it. First, it was “All religions teach peace”, now a significant number of them say “All religions are bad”. In a nutshell, first they played the 3 monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi, and now they’ve based their reasoning on a logical fallacy – because two things are more similar than dissimilar, therefore both are the same. See, this might look like a very noble stand to take, however, please note that the net result is still a big fat ZERO. Just sitting there and parroting the same lines ad nauseam is not only dishonest, it amounts to abetting violence in my opinion. This is possibly what a Jihadi thinks when he listens to all the moderates –“Hmm…so all these learned people feel we aren’t really any worse than anything out there. Oh well, that isn’t so bad, carry on brothers”. What you’re doing is providing an escape route to the extremist, when you really should have been the loudest and fiercest critic. Saying “oh they’re just mad men” doesn’t mean anything, and it accomplishes nothing. It is you, with your cowardly reason and pseudo-morality who is responsible for the terrorist stereotype in the first place.

If good Muslims, and well-wishers from other groups don’t start tackling this issue head on, then I fear we’re doomed. If you really think these people are simply misled, well then the onus to bring them back to the civilized world lies with you, whether you’re a Muslim moderate or just generally a moderate. So Mr. Khan, I’m a big fan, and I know you’re not a terrorist, but I do have a suggestion. I take this as my first step towards shedding the extra kilos of “moderate” in me. You’re such a big personality, you’re media savvy, you’re pretty tech savvy as well, and your communication skills have always been above par when it comes to Bollywood. You’ve made a lot of noises in the last two decades; business, film-making and even social issues. Why is it that you cannot make a noise for something that clearly affects you much more than anything else? Trust me, you make the right noises and you’ll see some change at least. You make the same noises and you thrust everyone back into a self-pitying state powered by victim-hood syndrome that does more harm than good. More than that, it abets skipping of vital introspection.

P.S.—Please make Don 3 as soon as possible.

P.P.S.--As I post this, Arnab Goswami is rattling my eardrums about how deeply hurt he is about something idiotic Mohan Bhagwat said...again. Someone somewhere is harping about how all of this is a big fat conspiracy to malign a religion of peace. Facebook warriors are more interested in playing Sherlock Holmes to identify the funding channels (hint..it's the big bad USA). What next, Global Warming messing up their heads?

How to Tell If You're Arguing With an Idiot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 11:06:00 +0000

We've all been in these situations, and it's pretty nasty. So here are some pointers that should help you in deciding when to run away. Not an exhaustive list by any means, but should give you a good idea of what to look for.

1) Emotional Instability

Responding with too many LOLs, hmmmphs, huh!, doh!, LMAOs and expletives. They can't process logic and reasoning. Their brain simply rejects rationale, and finds solace in these outbursts.

Example - Genetic research and biological studies have shown that we are only a pair of chromosomes away from the big apes. Response - LMAO..ROFL!!, I can't help you if you believe that.

2) Rogue-like Behaviour

If you corner them with solid evidence/logic on one topic, they start talking about something else, enter hibernation mode or simply shut down.

Example - Research/studies show that African Americans and Mexicans commit most crimes in the US, it needs to be addressed. Response: You're a racist and Sikander ne Porus se ki thi ladaayi! and now I'm off to sleep. (Okay, bad example, but you get the picture)

3) Comprehension Disorder

This is a pretty severe disability; they can't tell an analogy from a direct comparison just as they cannot tell their head from their posterior.

Example - The Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier Fight of the Century was like watching a Pitbull vs Wolf fight. Response: Huh! You’re a bigot, did you just call liberal African Americans dogs?

4) Logical Fallacies (This is THE most important, so I'll be thorough with it)

A. Ad hominem - Attacking the other person rather than countering the claims or conclusions.

Example - There is substantial evidence that divorce/dowry/violence laws are gender biased and susceptible to misuse. Response: You're just a misogynistic pig who hates women.

B. Ad ignorantiam - They just love this. They know it is right simply because you can't prove it is wrong.

Example - Watch any religious fanatic go on and on about "intelligent design" and what not.

C. Association/Causation/Coincidence/Effect – They get these jumbled up and can't differentiate between them. Reversal of cause and effect..Treating coincidence as a predetermined effect...Intentionally reducing a wide set of possibilities to only one or two.

Example - Watch any gender ideologue go on and on about Patriarchy and how anything and everything that happens in the world is a carefully thought out evil scheme.

D. Authority - Speaking from authority is a frequently used tactic. Using “he said so/she said so” as the base of an argument.

Example - Mrs. X said so in this article, I'm saying the same, therefore I'm right and you're wrong. Mr. Y said the same thing in an interview, therefore I'm right and you're wrong.

E. Analogical Fail - Another thing they cannot seem to resist. They have this habit of comparing people, things or situations which are not analogous at all. Even if by a stroke of luck they do find something analogous, it will almost always be inconsequential to the argument.

F. Broad Strokes - A very important tool in the hands of religion apologists. Basically, because two things are more similar than dissimilar, therefore both are the same.

Example - All religions teach peace and compassion.

5) Fact-Farting

This is actually a pretty creative ability they seem to possess. You must be wondering how I came up with such a filthy term. Allow me to explain - you see, they have this peculiar knack for mentioning "facts" and "stats" conjured out of thin air. And as we discussed earlier, about their inability to tell their head from their posterior, it becomes pretty clear where these smelly facts erupt from.

Example - Anytime someone's throwing 9 out of 10, 8 out of 10 or any other bogus statistic without evidence.

6) Blatant Hypocrisy

Thaali ka baingan as they say..changing their tune every minute to suit their argument.

Example - We should have secular Government and Laws. Response –Yes. Then we should also get rid of caste/religion/gender based laws and policies. Response - No, because oppression, because minority, because penis.

7) Playing the Victim

The hallmark of an idiot. They twist honest/direct approach into personal attacks and proclaim the argument is over and they've won.

Example - That thing you quoted is a total fabrication. Response: Did you just call me a liar? How dare you! You lose, I win.

8) Shaming

Usually, a tactic used as the last resort, but may surface earlier. "How can you say such things to me?", "I never knew you were like this", "I'm scared of you now", "I'm disappointed in you", basically anything to appeal to your good nature to make you bow out.

So, what do you do? Usually, it's advised that you excuse yourself as soon as you see things mentioned in the first point. Although you may take your chances by going as far as number 4 or maybe even 5, depending on how well you think you know the person. But, do NOT let it go any further, under any circumstances. Not only will you be left with a very bad taste, you may very well lose some of your own IQ points.

A Word on Modi and Why You Shouldn't Vote

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 09:43:00 +0000

Time to be politically incorrect again, yes; it’s become a pet peeve of sorts. So, Narendra Modi, NaMo, Voldemodi, Modi-vational, the much maligned, much championed CM of Gujarat, who at this rate will probably end up with more aliases than Lord Krishna. Now, I’m not a fan of the guy (he does give the impression of being an extremist, admittedly), although he seems to display pretty good administration and leadership skills, relatively speaking.

In all the brouhaha, past and present, two things I take issue with –

1. Genocide – I’m pretty clear on this one. The chain of events, the numbers, everything simply points to riots. Genocide is what the Nazis did, what happened in 1984 against Sikhs, what happened to Kashmiri Pandits. I’m still open to explanations though.

2. Government’s Complicity – Now, this one is a bit trickier, I admit. It may very well be true, I don’t know and no one else knows either, except Mr. Modi and those close to him. As it stands, all investigating committees and the Supreme Court have given him a clean chit. The Special Investigation Team led by Mr. Raghavan actually even mentions that Gujarat Police did everything to control the situation.

So, what does this mean? It means that people put more stock into anecdotes and journalistic media (which, by the way, is widely regarded as the most dishonest profession in the world) than the Supreme Court. I mean, sure, you have every right to do that. Believe whatever you want. The junta becomes the judge and jury on the basis of allegations. Sure, you have every right to do so, but it won’t be very wise if you act on it.

I am not trying to change anyone’s mind. I’m also confused. You have his supporters and you have his distracters. You have the journalists and local people with stories of Government’s complicity; you also have other people with rebuttals to those. What am I supposed to believe? As a rule, I never believe in anything people say unless supported by evidence, facts or at least something that hints towards a majority opinion, a la consensus (sometimes, even that’s not enough for me). We are primates after all, faulty by default, prone to lying, exaggeration and skulduggery.

On the other hand, we have our agencies and the Supreme Court that believe he is not guilty. Now, let’s not kid ourselves here – with India’s history (read non-existent) of conviction and incarceration of politicians, we can’t put our blind faith in these decisions either. This leads us to an impasse – and what I’m trying to say here, ladies and gentlemen, is that we maintain status quo.

Yes, please DO NOT vote. No, I’m not saying please do not vote for him, or do not vote against him. I’m saying do not vote at all. If you find yourself at an impasse (not sure if he’s guilty or not), stay at home when the day of voting arrives. Why? Let me explain –

1) If you vote FOR him (or the BJP), you run the risk of being party to the election of an extremist Prime Minister.

2) If you vote against him (or the BJP), you run the risk of being party to denying the country a Prime Minister with great administration and leadership qualities, again, relatively speaking.

3) If you vote for someone else (or some other party), you run the risk of giving one the advantage over another who could have made a great Prime Minister.

Let’s take Nitish Kumar (RJD) as an example. Sure, he’s also a very good administrator and a pretty affable fellow, to say the least. He still doesn’t have the charisma and the presence that Indian leaders have sorely lacked for quite a while. We need a Prime Minister who isn’t afraid of taking hard decisions, someone who doesn’t find solace in eternal cootchie-cooing with absolutely rogue neighbours. Yes, I am looking at you China, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

We need someone who speaks, speaks with heart, with conviction. Take our manifestation of a lullaby Prime Minister as an example – a koala getting up from a drunken stupor can motivate you more than Mr. Singh’s hour long speeches. Okay, that was mean, I quite like him as a person actually, but he's not a leader in any sense of the word. Now, I’m not saying Mr. Modi displays all these leadership traits in obscenely significant droves, but he does seem to have an upper hand vis-a-vis his adversaries.

Finally, both questions still loom large. What if he’s guilty, what if he’s not guilty? And that’s why it would be a disservice to the nation if you’re at an impasse and yet choose to act on it. So yeah, please do not vote at all. I realize it’s an irresponsible and cowardly thing to do, but I don’t see any other solution. Those who've made up their mind, well, you've made up your mind.

Do men have human rights?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:55:00 +0000

RE-POST

It's been 4 years since I sat down to write something here. Parenthood happened, and since then, nothing's really grabbed my attention too hard to take the time out. Before I begin, no, this is not an anti-feminism rant (although I won't shy away from getting into one if it comes to it), but that's for another day. However exciting debating the concepts of Patriarchy, rape culture, systemic oppression may sound, I just don't have the time or inclination for it at the present. Right now, what I'd like to talk about is the almost criminal short selling of a man's role in society (historically and currently). Holy asshat in a bucket, what a pig!..yeah, I know. Up to you, read on and seethe with anger some more, or read on and try to understand the logic behind it.

On to the burning question in my mind. How did this question enter my mind, one may ask. My daughter's just started school, and I have observed the approach of the staff, trust me...it's not very obvious..but it IS highly discriminatory. Many relatives and friends have also shared similar stories. Teachers telling parent's to take their 2-3 yr old sons to professional counselors for...wait for it.....................................wait for it........................waiiiiit.....'how to take orders and directions'. Good job Teacher Ji. Tell me, what was it that you were supposed to do in lieu of your salary? What they basically want is a classroom full of girls. No, they won't work on your "rapist in the making" little boy...no sir. Sure, we'll allow him a penis (we have large hearts), but he better behave like a girl when in my class.

This morning, while I was sitting in the school reception area waiting to pick my daughter up I witnessed something strange (well, strange to me at least). A boy (around 2 yrs of age) was standing with an attendant outside the lavatory, holding on to his crotch like his life depended on it. One seat becomes free, and at the same time comes another attendant with a little girl, all smiles, prim and very pretty. The attendant starts walking the girl inside, the boy cries.."susuu! susuu!". His attendant tells him "nahi baba, woh girl hai na, pehne use jaane do". If I were a mind reader, I could hear him say "no shit lady!, do you think I'm blessed with some super galactic-world winning bladder control because I'm a boy". See, I understand manners, I understand the concept of chivalry (and embrace it in my life), I understand "ladies first", but a 2 yr old boy? Poor boy ready to burst in his pants (no pun intended). Really? I don't know, maybe I'm wrong about this.

Anyway, that was an unnecessary tangent, but it was important to talk about it because this is what led me to think about other social phenomena in this day and age. So, back to the original question..Do Men Have Human Rights? If you ask this question to a certain section of the society, the answer would almost always be NO, although it may be smothered with layers upon layers of rhetoric and second grade logic to make it seem like it's not really what they're saying. What's funny, scratch that, what's sad though, is if you look around, look at the societal norms, legal/justice system, look at the supposedly "intellectual" class and study the expressly vocal and the absolutely quiet amongst them..the answer is still an overwhelming NO.

Nuts!..you have gone loopy, I hear you say. I mean who talks like this, who says men have no rights. Okay, I hear you, and you would be right. No one ever expressly states or mentions this, but the idea dwells deep within our consciousness. Let me explain, and start with the historical/cultural perspective first. It's all about disposability - since the dawn of civilization, men have been deemed disposable, expendable. Hunt, build, provide, protect and compete are are the basic things a man "must" do, and always has. Lay down your life for the family, for your woman, for you child, for the society, for your country. And through these sacrifices (yes!, sacrifices, made willingly) masculinity has been the single most creative force in our cultural history. I use "masculinity" because the odd/rare woman may also display these traits, much like a man displaying feminine/androgynous traits. But yes, generally, it was always about the men, still is.

Of all the dirty, hazardous and dangerous jobs in the world, 99% are occupied by men. Deep sea fishermen, electrical installers, oil drillers, metal fabricators, firefighters, police patrol officers, combat soldiers...yup..mostly men. Next time you go for a drive in your car, remember the "men" working at those oil rigs. Next time, you feel so special wearing that solitaire, remember the "men" working in the mines. Next time you wake up in the morning, remember the "men" protecting your borders so you can live your enriched lives. Remember all the firemen, the anti terrorist units, the border security forces, the coast guards...yes, remember all of them. Remember all the "men" who are willing to lay down their lives for the benefit of complete strangers.

What is all this if not 'sacrifice", which many think is the sole proprietorship of women. No, I'm not saying women don't make sacrifices. They do, but men always have and will always be ready to make sacrifices for even the abstract, or even just for the heck of it..when manhood calls. Laying down their lives for the abstract notion of country, community, society. Next time you see/hear news of a beheaded soldier, a warrior with his eyes gouged out, guts spilled on the ground, thank nature/god for designing the "male", who's willing to take that kind of beating for you, a stranger. Even after all these sacrifices, the man is still content on being disposable, heck! he actually embraces it. Men have always had it easy, men are privileged, they say..right?

Titanic sinks, "women and children first" they yell. Thanks to their super privileges, men have gills now. Run fishy run!, the men are coming. Not to mention poor Miss Rose who's totally oppressed by that fool Jack who wouldn't let her in the water. "Darn the chauvinist pig!", she might have thought.."does he think I can't handle myself? Oh well, okay..I shall let it pass this time". Fire breaks out in the building, "women and children first", the firefighters yell. Again, thanks to their super oppressive nature, men have adapted themselves and aren't flammable. AbraCadabra.....me no catch fire anymore!. Hostages at a bank, the police chief negotiating "at least let the women and children out, as an act of good faith". Sure, their super oppressive and super predatory instincts have made men impervious to bullet wounds.

Pause, break, alpa viraam...what was the original question? Isn't the right to life the most important and most basic human right? Tell me, do men have it? You don't even have to answer it. Men themselves renounce this right...this is what defines them. Heck, even most non combat/civilian men will renounce this right for their loved ones or even complete strangers. Remember Keenan-Ruben, the 19 year old Mumbai boy who lost his life trying to save a woman from harassment? Last year, Xander Vento, a 4yr old boy (yes, you read that right, 4yr) died while saving a 3yr old neighbourhood girl from drowning in a pool. Yes, even little men have this instinct. Do you remember it, do you know of it? Of course you don't. You will remember every crime a man ever commits, but not the gigantically greater number of times he protects you or lays down his life for you. Well, this is what men do, and men will always be men. I know, the "men will be men / boys will be boys" statement ruffles up quite a few feathers in certain camps. But that's just how it is, and you should be thankful for that. If men stopped being men, you'll be running scared shitless every second of everyday.

"A ha!..got you sucker" screams a radical somewhere, smiles galore. Sure, given the choice of words in my previous statement, I believe you when you say you think you got me. Do I sense a "Rape -Women -Delhi -Insert Dangerous City Here -Fear -Scared" retort incoming? Sure I do -it's appalling, it's inhumane, it's ghastly, I agree. No woman should ever have to go through this heinous crime. I'm also a very vocal proponent of death to rapists. Having said that, it's not "men being men", it's "men being criminals", if you understand the concept. I had mentioned at the beginning that I won't turn this into a debate against feminism and its tenets, and if I start, that's probably what it will lead to. So this is where I stop with the rape issue. I'd be happy to elaborate more on this (privately) if anyone so wishes..let me know.

Alright, on to some other rights. Let's see what all "privileges" the Government and Judiciary bestows upon the grand oppressor. No reproduction rights..check. No conjugal rights..check. No prenuptial rights..check. No post marital rights..check. No divorce rights..check. No parental rights..check. No protection against false accusations..check. Believe you me when I say this -in this day and age, as a woman..if you were to pick a random man walking on the street and decide to destroy his life, you most probably can! I see all the support rallies for different causes, all the rich, the powerful, the "intellectual" being a part of it. T-shirts, slogans, colourful make up, grand carnival hats. I think to myself, my God! the only living creature who doesn't have any right in today's society is the heterosexual male.

Everyone needs us, but no one cherishes us. We are utility, as we've always been. They tolerate us for what we bring to the table. Perform, perform, perform...yes, perform! you workhorse, perform! you soldier, grow a pair you wimp, man up you wuss, friggin keep performing you idiot until your batteries run dry. If you still have any batteries left, then get down on one knee and ask the princess for the right to be her oppressor for the rest of her life. 4 out of every 5 suicides in the world are committed by men (over excitement from all the privileges we get I guess). A man is 5 times more likely to be mugged, violently assaulted, murdered than a woman. Farking! criminals and their patriarchal mindset..even they discriminate against women.

When are people going to wake up to this reality -we don't expect mollycoddling and won't even appreciate it, but at least show some appreciation where it IS due. Don't look at your 2 yr old boy as an inherently evil "potential rapist" who needs to be corrected in the bud. He's going to be put in his "rightful" place by the society before hitting puberty anyway. So let him have his childhood as a boy at least. As the late Amrish Puri would say.."Jaa beta jaa, jee le apna bachpana". I shudder to think of the day when women, society and state realize this, and it's already too late. A generation full of disheartened, spiritless and confused men (this is already happening by the way). Twenty years from now..you cry (and trust me, you will cry) "please!, be a man" and he wouldn't know how to be one.

Now, whatever I've written sounds very one dimensional, right? Well..that was the intention. What I see today is nothing less than bigotry. A type of bigotry that is much more dangerous than even racial/religious bigotry. So yeah, it demands strong words. Having said that, I do feel women are special. No, I'm not saying this just to make peace with anyone who's upset with what I've written. I genuinely believe it. I take a look at my daughter, and this strengthens my belief even more. It's just that...well..men are not completely worthless. As the old feminist saying goes "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"..yeah..not true.

So, back to the original question again -Do men have human rights? I don't know, I don't even know if they deserve them. What I do know, is that they definitely have the right to not be ridiculed and demonized as a group. Even if nothing else, this tiny little allowance they have won fair and square!

Sources
1) http://stakedintheheart.com/2012/08/07/do-any-women-work-at-the-dirty-difficult-and-dangerous-jobs-that-men-do-any-women-at-all/
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences_in_suicide

100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time: Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:59:00 +0000

Sorry for the loooong!! delay...have been a bit preoccupied lately. Anyway, here they are..number 60-41.

60. The New Order--Testament(1988)
Testament's sophomore offering is definitely one of their best, one of the best in all of thrash actually. Though this one is a bit more rock n' rolly than their masterful debut, it still thrashes hard. Disciples of the Watch and Into the Pit are tunes that any self respecting metalhead need not miss!!

59. Keeper of the Seven Keys I--Helloween(1987)
This is undoubtedly the most influential album in all of power metal, period! That being said, it still contains some filler material. Killer tracks include I'm Alive, Future World and the epic Halloween.

58. Hell Awaits--Slayer(1985)
Well, what can I say..this is Slayer!....and Slayer rules. 7 tracks of satanic imagery and demonic riffage. It's killer from start to finish...although Necrophiliac and Praise of Death do stand out from the rest just a bit.

57. Don't Break the Oath--Mercyful Fate(1984)
One of the most reverred albums in all of black metal. This was King Diamond before there was King Diamond. With the scope of their influence including Metallica and Slayer, you should know how legendary this band is. A Dangerous Meeting, The Oath and Come to the Sabbath are eternal metal classics. Melissa is widely regarded as their best album(maybe for the sheer magnitude of it's influence) but I prefer this one.

56. Restless and Wild--Accept(1982)
Fast as a Shark anyone? If you don't know this tune and call yourself a metalhead...I fart in your general direction. Add to this other cult classics like Princess of Dawn and Restless and Wild and you got yourself one of the most deftly crafted heavy metal albums of all time.

55. Piece of Time--Atheist(1989)
One of the most important albums in the history of progresive metal. Think of it as Death meets Miles Davis. It's an experience every metalhead must subject himself to. Nothing more to add here :)

54. Kill 'Em All--Metallica(1983)
Ok, Metallica have finally cracked the list with what is perhaps the first real thrash album ever. It's raw, it's menacing, and blisteringly heavy. The production does a leave a lot to be desired but it still is one hell of a thrashtastic ride. Killer tracks include The Four Horsemen, Seek and Destroy and Whiplash.

53. Among The Living--Anthrax(1987)
This is it, this is Anthrax's masterpiece in their overhyped(IMO) career. With classics like Caught in a Mosh, NFL and Indians, you just can't go wrong with this one.

52. Extreme Aggression--Kreator(1989)
Kreator are back on the list with their best album to date. Truly justifying the title; this is how thrash needs to be(sometimes atleast :))...no boring breakdowns, no synths, no stupid interludes...bang your ******* head. Killer tracks include Betrayer, Title Track and Some Pain Will Last.

51. Metropolis Pt.2:Scenes from a Memory--Dream Theater(1999)
This is probably DT's most complex album to date. To enjoy the beauty of this album you have to surrender to it...yes..that's the only way. Tracks like Through Her Eyes, Home and The Dance of Eternity are still good enough to catch your attention out of the blue though.

50. Hall of the Mountain King--Savatage(1987)
If Streets:A Rock Opera is their magnum opus, then Hall of The Moutain King is their masterpiece. Yes, this is agressive power metal at its best. No one with half a brain could call tracks like 24 hours Ago, Beyond the Doors of Dark and Hall of the Mountain King anything but immortal classics.

49. Hysteria--Def Leppard(1987)
One of the most complete hard rock/heavy metal albums ever made. Ballads, rock n' roll, heavy tunes, party tunes..it had everything. Women, Rocket, Pour Some Sugar on Me, Love Bites, Hysteria, Gods of War, Love and Affection....ohhh..it just never runs out of hits does it. A must own for anyone who loves music(not just rock/metal).

48. Empire--Queensryche(1990)
Ahh, one of my favourite bands cracks the list. It's not that progressive/concept metal albums weren't there before Queensryche, but, no one did it like these guys did. Geoff Tate has got to be one of the best vocalists, if not the best in all of rock/metal....the range!!! Oh My God!! You don't agree?? Ehh..just suck it up anyway :). Silent Lucidity(who doesn't know this), Jet City Woman, Della Brown & Best I Can are the killer tracks here.

47. Colony--In Flames(1999)
This is perhaps In Flames' last great album, and boy does it rock!! In the world of Melodic Death Metal, it doesn't get better than In Flames; Dark Tranquiliity comes close, but not quite there. I don't care if their last 4 albums sucked(which they did, except for Come Clarity which was highly enjoyable). Embody the Invisible, Colony, Ordinary Story, Insipid 2000...this album rocks hard!! from start to finish.

46. South of Heaven--Slayer(1988)
This is undoubtedly Slayer's most progressive output to date. Don't let that fool you though...it's not a Tool or Dream Theater level thing. With bands like Slayer, even progression has limits:)..lol. They know how to Thrash!!, and they do it pretty darn well almost every time. With classics like the title track, Mandatory Suicide, Live Undead, Behind the Crooked Cross & Spill the Blood, it's a must in every thrash lover's collection.

45. Far Beyond Driven--Pantera(1994)
Pantera finally crack the list. As surprising as it may sound, this album could have been MUCH higher on this list if they had not decided to fill it up with some junk here and there...coz the first four tracks on this album are some of the best they've ever written.Killer tracks include Strength Beyond Strength, Becoming, 5 Minutes Alone, I'm Broken & Throes of Rejection.

44. Holy Diver--Dio(1983)
Ahh. Ronnie...James..Dio. What a man, what an artist. After salvaging the flagging career of Black Sabbath, he made his solo debut with this album. With classic tunes like Rainbow in the Dark, Holy Diver, Stand up and Shout and Straight Through the Heart, it is a gem in all of hard rock/metal.

43. Horrorscope--Overkill(1991)
Yeah! baby, Overkill cracks the list. It's criminal how underrated this band is. You think Thrash stops with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth? Well, listen to some Overkill and think again. This is one of the finest Thrash albums of the nineties. Listen to Thanx Fur Nuthin, Bare Bones & Coma to understand what I mean.

42. Altars of Madness--Morbid Angel(1989)
If Possessed and Death laid the seeds for Death Metal, then Morbid Angel certainly took it to the next level with their debut. This is, without doubt, THE most important and influential album for all of modern Death Metal or extreme music in general. While the following album, Blessed Are the Sick, may be better in a technical sense...the sheer agressiveness of this album dwarfs anything they have ever done. It's surprising how it holds up so well against many new death metal offerings even 20 years after its release. All tracks here are top notch old school death metal..though Immortal Rites and Chapel of Ghouls do stand out from the pack.

41. Follow the Reaper--Children of Bodom(2000)
This is CoB's best album to date. It is much more varied than their other offerings and the guitar work found here is just exemplary. ..not to mention the oustanding keyboard work. Not a single filler to be found here...all of them are sure to knock you off your feet. Hate Me, Everytime I Die, Follow The Reaper, Children of Decadence are instant classics....and the solo from the best song here, Kissing the Shadows, has got to be one of the best...EVER!!

Metallica Create A New Record!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:20:00 +0000

...as the only band to have had 5 albums debuting at No.1 on the Billboard charts. With this feat they went past fellow record holders Beatles, U2 and Dave Matthews Band (all have 4 albums which debuted at No.1). Since it's release in October, Death Magnetic has officially sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

Let there be METAL!!!

100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time: Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:39:00 +0000

So here they are..#80 to #61.

80. Speak English or Die--S.O.D.(1985)

This is one of those love it or hate it kind of albums, but one cannot question the influence it has had on the metal genre. With the longest song clocking in at a mere 2:30 minutes, this album is audacious..outrageous! some might say. I, of course, belong to the group of many idiots who love it:). As a side project of Anthrax's Scott Ian and Charlie Benante it was recorded in just a week's time. Nevertheless, it contains some of the most brazen, raw and fast thrash metal you'll ever hear.

Killer Tracks: Sargent D & the S.O.D., Milano Mosh & Freddy Krueger

79. Horrified--Repulsion(1986-Demo 1989-Album Issue)

One of the most important and legendary albums in all of death/grind. The riffing, for its time, is just savage!This is extreme metal before extreme metal, this is grindcore before there was grindcore, this is gore before there was gore. This is THE first ever grindcore album, don't be fooled by any any Napalm Death scum(pun intended). To know that this was originally recorded in 1986 when the likes of Slayer, Kreator, Bathory were considered extreme is a shock in itself. Never in your life will you listen to such a raw, horrific and hard hitting album. No killer tracks here...it's simply an experience, not for everyone though.

78. Chaos A.D.--Sepultura(1993)

Aah, one of my all time favourite bands has finally cracked the list. This is the album where Sepultura chose to branch away from their death/thrash sound, and it worked in getting them a wider audience. With legendary cuts like Refuse Resist, Teritory, Slave New World and Biotech is Godzilla you can't go wrong with this one. This album was also hugely influential is defining the groove metal genre later perfected by the likes of Pantera and Machine Head. That being said, this is still far! from Sepultura's best:).

77. Hate Crew Deathroll--Children of Bodom(2003)

This is COB's heaviest album to date and contains much more groove oriented material than their first three albums. This album can still rock! the socks off many a listener though. Huge, chunky, wall of sound riffs that will definitely get you a crick in your neck.

Killer Tracks: Bodom Beach Terror, Chokehold & Needled 24/7

76. Burn My Eyes--Machine Head(1994)

Two minutes into the album; you hear Rob Flynn shouting "let freedom ring with a shotgun blast" in Davidian..and you know that this is something special. This is one of the best modern metal songs you'll ever hear. Machine Head have never come even close to what they did here untill last year's The Blackening. The atmosphere, the doomsy riffage, the eerie drum rolls and then the faster chunkier songs with Flynn's piercing screams...it's a modern metal classic not to be missed by anybody who considers himself a fan of heavy music.

Killer Tracks: Davidian, Old & I'm Your God Now

75. Agent Orange--Sodom(1989)

The definitive Sodom album--vintage German thrash with some Ny thrash influences here and there. Sodom played more mature music here, with the regular super charged hi-speed thrash as well as some mid tempo madness.

Killer Tracks: Agent Orange, Remember the Fallen & Ausgebombt

74. Left Hand Path--Entombed(1990)

This is another seminal release in all of death metal. The absurdly low tuned guitars, the obscure synths, the bewitching growls--Entombed had provided the groundwork for what would happen to the Swedish death metal scene in the years to come. It's a must own!, if you're even remotely interested in extreme music that is.

Killer Tracks: Left Hand Path, Drowned & Supposed to Rot.

73. Forbidden Evil--Forbidden(1988)

This is another of those underrated and forgotten classics of the Bay area thrash scene. Here you'll find some of the most intricate and well crafted thrash riffs for it's time..not to mention the blazing solos. An absolute riff fest which is a must for any thrash fan.

Killer Tracks: Chalice of Blood, Through Eyes of Glass & Feel No Pain

72. Pleasure to Kill--Kreator(1986)

Kreator make the list one more time, and why not--Pleasure to Kill is hailed by many as one of the founding pillars of the death/death-thrash movement. The music here is simply raw and unforgiving speed-thrash though. This is arguably the most important and influential thrash release outside the shores of United States.

Killer Tracks: Riot of Violence, Ripping Corpse & Under the Guillotine

71. Odyssey--Symphony X(2002)

Here they are, a poor man's Dream Theater some might say. I disagree. What can I say..well..if you're a lover of progressive metal, excuisite harmonies, epic compositions and razor sharp riffs and you don't own this?...you deserve to DIE!! With that said, this is not Symphony X's best album...wow!!

Killer Tracks: Wicked, Accolade II & the 24 minute epic The Odyssey

70. Schizophrenia: Sepultura(1987)

This is when Sepultura answered their musical call. A pure riff fest from the lords of Brazil. The production, as expected, is not upto the mark considering hardly anybody would know how to record a death-thrash album in Brazil at that time. Even with all these drawbacks, the album is a classic of the genre and contains some of Sepultura's best known tunes in Inquisition Symphony, To the Wall and Troops of Doom.

69. Character--Dark Tranquillity(2005)

This is it, the quintessential Dark Tranquillity album. The perfect hour of modern melodic death metal. It takes the best of The Gallery, Damage Done and The Mind's I and infuses several modern elements to produce what is inarguably the best melo-death album of this millennium. Enough said...Killer Tracks: All of Them

68. Something Wicked This Way Comes--Iced Earth(1998)

Iced Earth have made the list again with their best album to date. This is an album which transcends all boundaries; the sheer magnificence of this album will find praise in a Cannibal Corpse fan and a Britney Spears fan alike. It's heavy, it's punchy, it's melodious..it has everything that goes into the making of a great metal album. A masterpiece!

Killer Tracks: Burning Times, Disciples of the Lie & The Something Wicked Triology

67. Awake--Dream Theater(1994)

Ok, another one of my all time favourite bands cracks the list. You know, there was a time when all Dream Theater albums came with an unwritten/unspoken guarantee of satisfaction. That of course, has taken a bit of a hit after the mediocre Octavarium and Systematic Chaos. This album however, is one of those many well crafted works of art that have reserved front row seats for Dream Theater in the annals of metal history. I don't see any need to describe the music here..if you don't know Dream Theater then what the hell are you reading this list for?

Killer Tracks: 6:00, Silent Man & Lie

66. Slaughter of the Soul--At the Gates(1995)

A milestone in the world of melodic death metal..let's just leave it at that. Along with the early works of another band(yet to crack the list), this album is what started the whole Gothenburg movement, which to date makes its impact on the world in the name of Metalcore and Thrashcore.

Killer Tracks: Blinded by Fear, Nausea & Need

65. Bonded by Blood--Exodus(1985)

Exodus make the list one more time with their debut and best album to date. The album has a tremendous cult following, and it's not surprising to see why. Snarling vocals with hyperspeed shredding from start to finish. This album just never lets up. With thrash anthems like A Lesson in Violence, Piranha and Deliver Us to Evil, it's a must in every thrash fan's collection.

64. Metal Church--Metal Church(1985)

Combining elements of power and thrash Metal Church created a classic and their best album in 1985. For a time when Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Kreator and the ilk were making ferocious music, this may sound a tad mellow..but that doesn't take away anything from the brilliance of this album.

Killer Tracks: Beyond the Black, Metal Church & My Favourite Nightmare

63. Individual Thought Patterns--Death(1993)

Death are back. As I said before, you can't really pick between Death albums; what gives this the edge over Human is the fact that it contains my favourite Death song....The Philosopher.

Killer Tracks: The Philosopher, Jealousy & Destiny

62. British Steel--Judas Priest(1980)

Judas Priest, the definitive Heavy Metal band, the grand daddies of Heavy Metal-- Black Sabbath are widely regarded as the founders of Heavy Metal, but Halford and the guys were the ones who gave it a definite meaning, a purpose and some good ol' classic gut thumping albums. This is a classic Priest album, a classic in all of metal actually, and it's still not their best.

Killer Tracks: Breaking the Law, Living After Midnight & Metal Gods

61. Skid Row--Skid Row(1989)

Glam metal, hair metal, pop-metal...I don't care, this album still rocks! With heart warmers like I Remember You, anthems like 18 n Life and Youth Gone Wild, it still holds up well as one of the best metal debuts of all time.

Part 1

Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:49:00 +0000

This is for my dear friend and fellow metalhead Koreel.

There was a time when Guns N' Roses were the biggest rock band on the planet(some might even say the biggest in all of music), and deservedly so. From the angst ridden brazen hard rock of Appetite for Destruction(the best rock/metal debut ever..period) to the mature long players in Use Your Illusion I and II, there was nothing these guys could do wrong, musically atleast. Then, they went ahead and broke up, the stupid egoistic rascals!

It seems only yesterday when I was listening to November Rain on my tape deck. We couldn't afford CDs with our pocket money at that time, the best we could do was get 'cobalt' tape versions for our beloved albums. Times have changed, we have CDs, iPods and digital music now...and the honest piano notes and violins of November Rain, the savage opening riff of Welcome to The Jungle and the eternal opening lick of Sweet Child O Mine have paved way for the Pro-Tools-ted arrangements of Chinese Democracy. Was that criticism right there? One might ask..and the answer is both yes and no.

The problem with reviewing Chinese Democracy is one's own knowledge of the fact that it took 15 years to make. 15 long years and God knows how much money to produce one effing! album. To ignore or not to ignore this fact, is the question. Anyway, before going any further, let me tell you this--to be able to enjoy even a minute of Chinese Democracy you gotta have a decent system with quality speakers, or if you're a "A kaant liv widout ma iPod" types then get a decent set of headphones..INR 1500 and above(in-ear would serve you much better).

Let's get the obvious out of the way first--yes, Axl has not lost any bit of his range or screaming prowess....but...that's about the only thing that sounds Gn'R here. It's an entirely new enterprise, so to speak. His self indulgent alter ego(or is it the real Axl?) is still very much evident as it always was on November Rain, Estranged or Coma. This self indulgence however, seems more of a conscious effort this time around, and that is what irked me just a tad. By now you must be thinking what the hell am I talking about. What about the songs? Which ones are good? Well, I'm not gonna give you a song by song review here and I'm definitely not going to give you my "verdict". Honestly, this is one of those polarising albums which come out rarely. Having said that, yes, this is a good comeback album and Axl showcases some of his best vocal performances ever. I can't really pick a favourite tune here, but Street of Dreams, the title track and IRS get two thumbs up from me. Rest of the songs range from good to average to outright boring.

I still don't know my reaction to Chinese Democracy. I think it all started with huge expectations about 2 years ago when the news reached it's pinnacle, then it went down a bit and then it completely nosedived untill the album actually came and bit me in my face. Is it a good rock album? Certainly yes. Is it a great rock album? I really can't say...need much more time for that. As of now, I can only tell you that..except for the straight ahead rockers and the beautiful Street of Dreams, the album sounds like it is trying to do everything that has been done in all of music. Funk, punk, pianos, orchestral arrangements, rap, hip hop....everything stuffed in at every moment possible. I for one, don't quite like that approach, and if you're still wondering why it hasn't been mentioned yet....yes, I would take a Slash with only his left hand and two fingers over Buckethead anyday :). To sum up, I can't say I'm disappointed, because I don't know if I am, but for what it's worth I WILL tell you that this is THE ONLY non-metal album that has managed to hold my attention for more than 5 minutes in many many! years (the last being Throwing Copper by Live in 1994). Not that Chinese Democracy needs my approval ;), but I still thought I'd share this fact.

So that was Chinese Democracy for you; a good album with a couple of astonishing songs and, yes, some filler stuff. The production is razor sharp! I tell you, probably the most "produced album"(if that's even a term) I have heard in a long time. It's a both a pro and a con. For me, rock and metal still mean RAW, or atleast a hint of it. But, to each his own, I'm just saying what I PREFER and this is definitely not a general negative for Chinese Democracy in any way. I'll even go to the extent of saying that it is a MUST buy for every fan of rock/hard rock....but the '15 years in making' tag just doesn't quite justify what I AM hearing (see, I really couldn't resist).

Secularism = Appeasement?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:49:00 +0000

Yeah, the same controversial topic once again. To make things clear, no, I'm not playing the devil's advocate here. A note of caution--this post is going to be very blunt and unrelenting, so shoo!! if you can only shout and are incapable of listening and comprehending. And..I AM gonna use the terms which many shudder to think of. Anyway, before going any further...here's a teeny tiny news ticker from the plethora of information that I COULD have posted here.

4-5th Oct Weekend, 2008

NDFB kills 32 people and injures more than 100 Hindus and Muslims in Udalgiri. They termed it ethnic cleansing.--NDFB is a Christian outfit with leader Ranjan Daimary operating out of Bangladesh.
Oct 5: 4 NDFB members arrested for burning a child and woman alive.

Let's flash back to 2001..oh that fateful September 11...and the world would never be the same again. Since then the Americans have been leading the charge of a world coalition against terrorism. Umm..do they, or even many of us know that the Baptist Church in southern parts of Amercia actually sponsors the arsenal needed for Christian terrorism in North East India? No, I suppose. Heck, T.N Seshan has been saying this since 1993!!...but who cares? No, it's not that who cares....we are actually scared. After all , we are a secular country, with secular people..right? How can we speak of a terrorism perpetrated by minorities? So what if money from the ISI, The Gulf States, The Baptist Church of southern US and The Presbyterian Church of UK provides automatic rifles and landmines to the terrorists? We are secular and we won't say anything.

The NLFT(National Liberation Front of Tripura) is a predominantly Baptist(Protestant) organisation and its employment of terror tactics for mass conversion is proven and well documented. Most of their rebel camps operate in Bangladesh. In 1999, four members of the RSS were kidnapped by the NLFT and taken to Bangladesh demanding a ransom of 2 crores was demanded from the RSS. The RSS refused, and the four were massacred. What was their crime? They were working among the tribals and teaching the values and preservation of Hindu faith. Did it create any media sensation? Do any of you even know about it? I doubt, after all, we are so secular aren't we.

The attacks on Hindu preachers and spiritual leaders isn't anything new. It actually dates back to as early as 1980s in the Khasi hills where the Presbyterian(Protestant) Church is dominant. Do any of us remember a name Reverend John Thwaites? A Protestant preist who had been living in Bengal for over 30 years. There was clear evidence of his involvement with the Kamtapuri separatist terrorism. Our 'secular' Government quietly asked him to leave the country. When he didn't leave, he was arrested and prosecuted--all the christian junta and his sympathisers held demostrations. What happened? Well...a 3 month imprisonment and then he was deported back to the UK. How sweet, see!, this is what I'm talking about. We're secular people, we wouldn't want to humiliate and punish a spiritual leader of a minority community now would we.

Oh it doesn't stop here, the Baptist terrorists also killed a Catholic priest Father Victor Crasta in 2000. But that's not sectarian right? We know these things only happen in Hinduism, and we also know that we are very secular. Christian terrorists all over the north east, esp in Assam and Tripura have banned everything they see as Hindu festivals. Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Diwali, any damn thing you can think of has been banned. When the tribals perform any Hindu festival or ritual, they are attacked and killed without mercy. The NLFT loudly proclaims that they want to expand Tripura as the Kingdom of God and Christ. Hmmm...interestting.

Let alone acting as the mediators or financiers, priests of the Baptist Church have actually been arrested for possession of explosives and supplying arms to the terrorists. Nagmanlal Halam of the Noapara Baptists Church was arrested for possession of explosives. 3 other members of the same church were also arrested for terrorist links and one of them Jatna Koloi actually confessed that he received guerilla warfare!! training from thr NLFT. Whenever the RSS workers tried to help the Hindus under attack, they were kidnapped for ransom or killed. Shanti kali Maharaj, Lavkumar jamatiya and several other Hindu sages and spiritiual activists have been murdered. Hindu and Buddhist temples have been burned. It goes on and the media stays shut up...we stay shut up. Even so much as a rumor of an attack on a Christian makes headlines...Italy shouts, EU shouts, US shouts, Vatican shouts, we shout with them...'minorities under attack!!' we say, but not a word on the extremest of extremism happening elsewhere in India. Ever heard anybody shouting in or outside India when Hindus are massacred in Malaysia & Indonesia? No, and understandably so, we are very secular after all.

NSCN in Nagaland wants it's very own Christian nation. There is evidence of involvement with ISI too. Meghalaya is no better, in fact the Church very boldly issues threats to anybody having any links to Hindu organisations. Oh, and it doesn't stop here..they also indulge in smuggling and making fake currency. Bedang Tamjin, a Christian missionary was arrested for making fake currency notes in 1998.

Assam-- well, we all know what happens in Assam don't we, or do we? Death count of Hindus aside (I don't believe in coming up with imaginary figures, but trust me it's HUGE), you should know that they will kill anyone who merely speaks Hindi....interesting no? They have already declared they are not Indians. Indian-ness is actually so foreign to them that they even banned sarees!! But I'm not complaining...this is not fanaticism or anti national at all..hell no. Anti national can only be used for activities carried out by the majority religion. Yes, I know it, I'm very secular...I know it.

I am very secular so I have a one eyed vew of what the misionaries are doing in India. Yes, burning of houses of worship, muders and rapes are not justified..needless to say that all people involved in such crimes deserve capital punishment, but do I look at the broader perspective before going all gung-ho about the "intolerance" of Hindus? No, I don't, I'm a secular person you see. Many Christian spiritual leaders, Muslims leaders have been shouting and hurling abuses at other faiths for quite sometime--the number of instances are so many that I can't even list .01% of them here so I'll just leave you with this recent example. Every once in a while someone comes along and talks about a worldwide Islamic Caliphate or the Evangelism of entire Asia, etc. But hey, what do you know, fanaticism is exclusive to Indian Hindus. You may want to read this article by C. Alex Alexander, published in 2003. There are numerous evidences, very well documented throughout the History of Christianity in India--here's another one of what missionaries do. After the tsunami, the US National Council of Churches issued a statement warning against the practice by "New Missionaries" of mixing evangelism and aid. "Often lacking sophistication about the lure of gifts and money, and wanting to be generous with their resources, they easily fall prey to the charge of using unethical means to evangelize. This creates a backlash," the February statement read. Bob Alter, a former Presbyterian pastor from Mussoorie says "You get this guy out of Texas who has no idea of the local culture, he is out to win souls, and he comes with a lot of money. You have Baptists using the Diwali festival , but they come to 'spread the light to those in darkness.' That is mighty offensive stuff, when you're out to tear down another religion." I could go on and on about what happens in Bihar, Karnataka, Chattisgarh or how Hindu deities are demeaned and even abusively compared with Jesus Christ in Satyadarshini, printed and published by Karunmaya press of the Carmel Church in Hyderabad...but!..I won't. It's all ok you see, and we are all so secular.

Mind you, this is not to say that most of them do this, there are many missonaries who are involved in genuine social work, bulding up good schools and hospitals etc etc. But these things exist too--you can't just brush aside all these facts and lump everything on Hindu extremism. Yes, you can't..but I don't believe that..coz I'm a secular Indian. It should serve as a wake up call to all of those who believe in all the crap thrust upon them by the media, the politicians and some pseudo-secular intellectuals. Go ahead, research a bit more, read and then read some more, maybe you'll understand something...sadly, I couldn't as I'm a very secular person. I also know that all previous stories of nuns being raped by Hindu fundamentalists in the past (on 3 occasions) have been found false or completely made up. The recent Kandhamal case might very well be true, and if it is, it is shameful and disgusting and I feel sad and enraged, just as every human being would feel at such acts of hatred. As of now, it's not been proved. The nun is still playing a hide and seek game, not willing to ID anyone, not willing to cooperate with the police. It was gang rape, then it became rape by one while two others held and molested her, and very recently she has said that one man raped her and then a Hindu man actually saved her from the gang rape. These are the facts as of now, but I have already decided that Hinduism is intolerant and supports rape and murders of innocents. I know you can't do zilch about mob mentality in these conditions, be it Hindus, Christians or Muslims...but even then I've made up my mind that Hindus are gonna set India afire. Yes, I know it...I'm a secular person.

We are so secular as a country that we still feel jittery about using the term Islamic terrorism. The world accepts it, but we cannot, of course not...we are secular unlike the rest of the world. "Terrorists have no religion" they (you know who you are) say, except anti social Hindu extremists who have ever only reacted. I know they are Hindu terrorists, and Hindu terrorism will eat India alive....Islamic Terrorism...what's that? I don't know, I'm a secular Indian you see.

Gujarat riots always come up in such a debate, and without blnking an eye we skip the Sabarmati express incident evertyime. That this was the trigger for the riots which followed is uncool to admit. That 58 Hindu men, women and children were burnt alive in a pre-planned operation(proven by all commissions) by a mob of 500 strong armed Muslim extremists doesn't deserve any attention. Yes, it doesn't...and rightly so...we are a secular nation after all. 790 Muslims dead and 254 hindus dead; Hindus outnumber Muslims by more than 6:1 in this country and 8:1 in Gujarat--do you see the attempted genocide here? I do, why not, I'm a secular Indian. 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits, comprising 99% of the total Hindu population of the valley were pushed out by even as early as 1989!, more than 2000 tortured and killed by Muslim terrorists. Burned alive, branded with hot irons, their vital organs gouged out, bodies dismembered. Attacks, molestations, gang rapes, kidnappings, extortion, you name it..they've dealt with it...and that's not even counting the last 20 years. With more than 5000 years of of peaceful and a culturally rich history behind them, this community is still fighting its battle with extinction. But that's no genocide right? Of course, it's not, I know it, I'm very secular. I don't care about the sheer magnitude of this which dwarfs any other thing I can think of, it's still not important. Yes, I know it's not as important, anything which doesn't happen to minorities does not deserve as much attention, not from the Government, not from us. Yes, that's true, I know it, I'm a secular person. I could go on and on and on about how secular our country is(yes, haven't even touched the surface yet), how secular we are...but I'm gonna stop for now, my little secular brain cannot handle any more thoughts.

For those of you who missed the fineprint or chose not to, here's a summary of what I meant to say--
Fascism in the name of Bajrang Dal and VHP is termed as Hindu terrorism, rightly or wrongly..I do not know..but I am sure that whatever these buggers do is shameful and cowardly and they deserve punishment. Anyway, the point...why are we so quick and unrestrained when speaking about one but treading carefully for the other?? Why can't we differentiate 'anti social' from 'anti national'? As much as many of us would love to lump these two terms together, NO, it's not the same thing. It's criminal, yes, it deserves punishment, yes, but it's not the same thing. The fact is that we are STILL not secular as people. Maybe it's our own fears or maybe it's the ghaaslate fed into our brains by our leaders...i don't know. What I do know is that once the Government actually starts viewing people of all religions and faiths as EQUALS, all the bickering will end..atleast the internal ones. It doesn't matter who commits the crimes, be it Christian, Muslim or Hindu...spiritual leaders included. They should be punished!! Playing vote bank politics of appeasement will only hurt in the long run. This is is not aimed at the Government only, it's also something we Indians need to realize. There is nothing wrong is pointing out what is wrong. There is nothing wrong in calling a spade a spade. But if we keep calling Hindu spades spades and Christian and Muslim ones clubs, then you'll have a severe unbalance. We are all witness to how the extremists react. Let's see when the Government actually plans to sponsor Tirth Yatra as they sponsor Haj, hey!.. a Chaar Dhaam terminal right alongside Haj terminals at airports might be a good idea too na?

Also, I want to say sorry to all who get offended by reading this. Trust me, I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings or demean anybody. It's just that, of late, the media and many many ignorant people in the blogosphere are speaking without any knowledge and awareness of what actually happens in India and what the real problems are and I chose to make a post about it. The siutation is India as of now is this--if you're a Hindu and dfend your faith with mere words, you're branded a fundamentalist and lunatic, but if you loudly attack Hinduism and Hindus for the the crimes they may or may not have commited, you're a great secularist. Why? No more!..I say no to this. Yes, I know that being 80% of the population, the onus for religious and cultural harmony lies with the Hindus. But the rest of our fellow Indians should take a a few steps atleast. I can't tell you how happy I was this time when our dear Muslim friends and brothers took out peace protests and wore black bands. Yes, I'm proud of them that they have acknowledged the reality of Islamic Terrorism and doing what they can. Indian Chrisitans must also speak about the terrorism in the North East, about the societal structure destroying policies of conversion in many parts of India. Muslims, Hindus, Christians should fight against whatever hapens in Noth East, Kashmir, Orissa, Karnataka etc alike. Sadly, these days we see everybody targeting the majority, and sometimes enjoying! it (the reason still beats me). Don't just stand up for yourself, learn to stand for others too. Of course, what I'm saying is not the only problem..many other problems exist too. Neither is my view the only solution, definitely not..it's a viewpoint...just as so many others have in this big bad world.

Lastly, I know that Hindu is not equal to India. Yes, not anymore, I agree..with all my heart. But you must still give a thought about the complexity of Hindu, Hindustan, Bharat or India. You really must, it is imperative that all citizens of his country really understand what these words mean and how it stands truly apart from any nation or civilization in the history of the world. Although it is very VERY! complex and would probably require a disertation in itself, I'll leave you with these thoughts. In all lands of the world, where Muslim conquests or Church crusades were successful, the native indigenous traditions were largely destroyed and supplanted. Why did this not happen in India? It's very complex; is it the resilience of the Hindu way of life? Maybe..I don't know. What I do know is that it allows gracious acceptance of other religions and cultures, it is secure in its motherland that is India (used to be the whole of Indian subcontinent) as well as its culture and religious beliefs. Now don't take this in a wrong way (this is meant for the anti national elements and terrorists only), but once the non-Hindu inhabitants of our country truly understand this and stop trying to consciously overthrow the idea that is India, the ethos that is India, it will be a better place for all of us. Now before any of you smart a**** come out saying who am I to define India, or that Christianity came to India 2000 years ago blah blah. Please, I say sorry, again,...I'm not asking for going back to the ancient ages, I'm just asking you to have a little more perspective on why after so many millennia of tolerance against torture, tyranny, taxation, conversion..we are finally hearing the words Hindu terrorism ( I still don't believe in this term though). Oh and if you're hung up on history of other religions in India, then it's my duty to let you know that Hindus and India go back to as much as 7000 B.C., predating even the birth of Isam and Christianity.

P.S: You can have a look at this and this; two very sensible posts from Umm Oviya and read the comments to gauge the very narrow view and ignorance of people on what happens, and has been happening in India. There are many! more around the blogosphere but I just don't have the inclination to list them here, and most of them, sadly are biased or even bigoted. It's a clever display of juggling between the "humane" aspect and the "fundamentalist" aspect at their convenience. I say more power to them.

The 10 Best Heavy Metal Albums of 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:43:00 +0000

Yes...it's almost time for the yearly list. Before I begin, yes, Watershed bored me(as all Opeth albums do except Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries to an extent)...so don't go ballistic over it. Apologies for the delay in completing the 100 greatest metal albums list too, i'll get to it pretty soon. Anyway, here they are, the 10 best metal albums of 2008...IMO of course:)

10. Shogun--Trivium (Thrash/Metalcore)
A very matured offering from Heafy and the guys. Lots of great thrash riffs with equal amounts of clean melodies. The screaming vocals are back, and it's all good, for me atleast.

Killer Tracks: Kirisute Gomen, Insurrection & Like Callisto to a Star in Heaven.

9. Antithesis--Origin (Technical Death Metal)

This was my introduction to Origin, and damn!! was I blown away. The perfect mix of brutality and technique(sweep arpeggios as riff elements anynone??? whoa!!); hyperspeed shredding with even faster blast beats all the way through. Definitely one of the better extreme metal albums this year.

Killer Tracks: The Aftermath, Finite & Wrath of Vishnu

8. Agony of Death--Holy Moses (Thrash Metal)

These German thrashers' claim to fame(if they ever had any) is Finished with The Dogs(1987), a rare gem of extreme thrash metal from the late eighties. Anyway, with Agony of Death these Germans have achieved quite a remarkable blend of old school madness and modern aggression here. Clocking in above the 1 hour mark, it tends to get a bit repetive at times.

Killer Tracks: Imagination, Alienation & Angels at War

7. Oblivion Beckons--Byzantine (Neo-Thrash)

Imagine a Nevermore on adrenaline and that's precisely what this album sounds like. Pulverizing riffs and grooves reminiscent of Pantera and Machine head with plenty of melodic interludes; this is definitely one of the most complex and punchy albums out this year. A must own!

Killer Tracks: Absolute Horizon, Oblivion Beckons & Pattern Recognition

6. Ultra Beatdown--DragonForce (Speed Power Metal)

Oh yes, the fastest band on the planet is back. Not as refreshing and awe inspiring as their last 2 albums, it still has everything for a great Dragonforce album. Synths are just a tad more prominent this time around, and the prolonged seering solos and video-gamesque licks still form the main backbone.

Killer Tracks: The Fire Still Burns, The Last Journey Home & The Warrior Inside

5. War Waithout End--Warbringer(Speed/Thrash Metal)

Aaaah!! I have no words, read my detailed review for more information.

Killer Tracks: Uh..all of 'em!

4. Killing Season--Death Angel (Thrash Metal)

A monster thrasher from they bay area moshers. The full review can be found here

Killer Tracks: Lord of Hate, Dethroned & Resurrection Machine

3. Formation of Damnation--Testament (Thrash Metal)

I've always questioned the term "Big 4 of Thrash". One, because it only involves US bands and two, because even then it is Testament that deserves the fourth place, not Anthrax. Anyway, these guys have proved again that the old school still knows how to thrash in the modern world. A brilliant album from Skolnick Inc. once again.

Killer Tracks: More Than Meets the Eye, Title Track & The Persecuted Won't Forget

2. Southern Storm--Krisiun (Brutal Death Metal)

This could very well be the most DEVASTATING album I've heard in a loooooong time, yes, even more pulverizing than Nile's 2005 mammoth-Annihilation of The Wicked. Clean, clear, gut wrenching riffs, with blazing solos and vocals that are actually understandable(quite a feat in my book). Max's drumming creates an atmosphere which manages to overtake the Niles and Absus. A modern Death Metal classic in the making for sure.

Killer Tracks: All of 'em...but do check out the splendid rendition of Sepultura's Refuse Resist if nothing else.

....and the best metal album of 2008 is....

1. Death Magnetic--Metallica (Thrash Metal)

As if you didn't know :), well, I don't know...maybe my judgement was a little fogged because of the sheer happiness to hear Metallica in such a form. Nevertheless, it is still my most 'listened to' album of 2008 and it IS really good, and possibly contains THE best metal tune of 2008 in All Nightmare Long.

Killer Tracks: All Nightmare Long, Suicide and Redemption & My Apocalypse

Another Terrorist Attack...and still NO Lesson Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:41:00 +0000

Mind you, I am NOT talking about our politicians here. No, I am talking about ourselves, the citizens of India and some very confused and uneducated "intellectuals" and "top notch" media people. It was absolutely disgusting to see Barkha Dutt actually putting words into people's mouths, not to mention the painfully stupid "how are you feeling" questions she asked to the countless people who had lost their loved ones. The whole reaction to these incidents was as if our leaders and politicians had actually killed the innocent people themselves. Now I am not one of those who think that we have been blessed with our fair share of great leaders and statesmen, but, let's have some perspective here. We have become so useless as citizens that we blame anything and everything on the politicians. Yes, they are at fault, but not anymore than the police, the various intelligence services, the coast guard etc. It's a systemic failure, and being a part of that system...we are responsible too!

The other thing that is very disturbing is the sheer dearth of genuine intellectuals in our country. Well, not that these celebrity jokers on national TV can actually be put in that category, but what the hell!!. Simi Garewal asks to carpet bomb Pakistan and stop paying our taxes!! Yeah, right...not that we expected any intelligible thoughts from your pea sized brain Ms. Garewal..but this was bordering on insanity. Shobha De could very well be the Queen Bee of all idioticy and it would be a huge task to recall all the stupid statements she made on TV. Someone even demanded that the whole! government should resign. Wow!!..just wow.

More than the attacks themselves, the public interest is now much more in who resigns, what the Kerela CM does, or what the family members of Karkare, Unnikrishnan and the likes are doing. I've been receiving quite a lot of SMSes playing jokes on the Kerela CM or politicians in general. It's disturbing how the media can make people's minds go in an entirely different tangent. Regarding the whole Kerela CM issue, yes, what he said was very wrong..considering those words were aimed at a grieving family. A family who had sacrificed their son for the country. But, did anybody catch the bit on TV when Unnikrishnan's father was wildly shouting and chasing at the Kerela CM..he's the Chief Minister of a state for heaven's sake. It was Unnikrishnan's father who called him a smelly dog first. Now Mr. Acchitanandan may very well be a smelly dog for all I know, but this type of behaviour is totally uncalled for. The CM was insulted and he retorted with an insult. Now just leave it at that...why are we deviating from the topic and getting worked up about such silly things.

That Karkare, Unnikrishnan, Saalaskar and others gave their lives for their country is honorable and should be remembered but how is that any different from our many soldiers and poilicemen who die in Kashmir, Assam and various other troubled areas of the country? What is so special this time? I'll tell you what...the little stories that you keep watching on national TV. A Rajdeep or Barkha start this blame politicians nonsense and the whole country joins the party. They air the funerals and stories of bravery and suddenly these people become the greatest martyrs our country has had. Have people ever tried to look through a list of our Param Vir Chakra, Asoka Chakra, Vir Chakra holders, ever cared for their stories or what they did on the battlefield? Bhedchaal mein chale chalo sab...IBN7 keeps airing it's imaginary reports and we're glued. Some stupid anchor and stupider panelists keep bashing the politicians and we're even more thrilled.

Sack everyone, yes, everyone!!..a jungle raaj...that's what we want right? And before beginning their rants these people do not even stop once to think that THEY are the ones who voted for these leaders. RR patil says "itne bade shehar mein ek aadh haadsa ho jaata hai" and the media conveniently turned it into "bade bade sheharo mein chhoti chhoti baatein ho jaati hain"--DDLJ hangover I guess. Make a mess out of RGV going into the the Taj..huh!...what's everybody's problem?? I'm pretty sure most of us would have been very curious to go inside if we could. Why are we constantly nitpicking? Why do we make mountains out of molehills every single time? Again, needless to say...the matter at hand, that is the epidemic of terrosism has taken a back seat. We are busy(and perhaps enjoying) bashing and badmouthing each other at every chance we're getting.

And while we're doing so, look what the supposedly educated community of Pakistan is planning. Not to mention how their scholars are hinting at conspiracy theories suggesting these attacks were the works of the Indian Government itself. I have always tried to believe that the Government of Pakistan and its citizens are the same as we are. They also want peace and friendship just as we do. But the more I read and hear, the more I lose confidence. It's pretty much turning out to be a rogue state and rogue nation. Anyway, I'm gonna end it here now and pray and hope that this bickering over trivial matters ends. Jai Hind and stay safe.

100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time--Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:17:00 +0000

Ok, I know I'm not Martin Popoff but I'm going to make this list anyway. As always, some of the albums MAY find a spot here for their sheer influence or innovation, but most of them will be here because I enjoy them. A few might also not fit with the "Metal" tag, but hey....it's my list. Without any further ado, here are #s 100 to 81 for you.

100. Game Over--Nuclear Assault(1986/87)
Following in the footsteps of Suicidal Tendencies and D.R.I., Nuclear Assault had transformed into a full blown thrash metal band with this release, and it is their crowning achievement. Insane riffs, screeching vocals and politically charged lyrics make this an absolutely must own for any fan of thrash,hardcore or crossover. Killer tracks--Sin, Betrayal and My America.

99. Pleasures of the Flesh--Exodus(1987)
Exodus' sophomore release without Paul Baloff!!!...but this one still doesn't disappoint a bit. Not as ferocious and unrelenting as their masterful debut, this one packs quite a punch and some grooves too. Killer tracks--Parasite, Choose your weapon and Chemi-kill.

98.Chaosphere--Meshuggah(1998)
While Destroy Erase Improve is almost universally accepted as the best Mehuggah album, I prefer this one. This album is literally a sonic panic and sometimes uncomfortably heavy...but I love it. Killer tracks--they are all good but Corridor of Chameleons might give you a scare or two:)

97.Eternal Devastation--Destruction(1986)
One of the pioneers of the German thrash metal scene, Destruction were at their best on this one...and why not? This is 1986!! and everything is gold. Killer tracks--Curse the Gods,Eternal Ban and Upcoming Devastation(instr).

96.Focus--Cynic(1993)
If you think Death Metal cannot gel with Jazz,Fusion,Electronica...thing again! As fate would have it, this is the only Cynic recording ever(edited to add--they came out with Traced in Air recently, I have yet to lay my hands on it)and what a mark it made on the metal scene. I really can't pick killer tracks here except for How Could I, but the sheer musical skill displayed throughout the album will keep you mesmerized.

95. Persecution Mania--Sodom(1987)
Ahh Sodom, another piece of the great German thrash scene of the eighties. If anybody plays thrash by the book, it's Sodom. Killer tracks--Nuclear Winter, Bombenhagel, Outbreak of Evil and very neat rendition of Motorhead's Iron Fist.

94. Lights..Camera..Revolution!--Suicidal Tendencies(1990)
I was actually torn between this and How Will I Laugh Tomorrow....but this came on top. Combining punk, rock and some elements of thrash ST created a gem of an album here. Killer tracks--You Can't Bring Me Down, Lost Again and Alone.

93. Annihilation of the Wicked--Nile(2005)
Wow, an album from the new millennium cracks the list..yes it's that good. What can I say about this album...well...prepare to be annihilated! This is Nile at their brutal and technical best. Astounding drumming, haunting egyptian melodies, bone crunching riffs.....aah!. Killer tracks--User Maat Re, Lashed to The Slavestick and Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten.

92. A Predator's Portrait--Soilwork(2001)
What do we have here..another one from the new millennium? These Swedes borrow quite a lot from other genre greats, but what they have created here is quite possibly one of the most accessible yet punchy melodic death metal albums ever. Killer riffing combined with atmospheric keyboards and double bass mayhem make this any metaller's wet dream. Killer tracks--Needlefeast, The Analyst and Shadowchild.

91. The Dark Saga--Iced Earth(1996)
Let it be known that Matt Barlow is undoubtedly one of the most powerful voices in all of metal. With that said, this is not Iced Earth's best album, but it sure packs a lot more feel and punch than your DragonForces and Stratovariuses. Killer tracks--I Died for You, The Hunter and Depths of Hell.

90. Human--Death(1991)
The founders of Death Metal have finally cracked the list. As with any Death album, it is very hard to tell you what exactly is brilliant about it. Killer riffs, awesome bass work, great drumming, blazing solos, it's all there. Same for the songs..they're all great; every Death album is brilliant from start to finish...so is this one. It's just that I find a few of their own albums better than this.....(to come later)

89. Ignorance/Surf Nicaragua EP--Sacred Reich(1987)
This is Sacred Reich's best album(plus an EP with some live recordings--box set)...period. In fact this might just be the only Sacred Reich album worth listening to. Their most acclaimed album, The American Way is just too sloppy for my tastes...I steer clear of it..so should you. This one is pure thrash madness as it should be...Killer tracks--Death Squad, Victim of Demise and check out the absolutely killer cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs(much better than the Faith No More one).

88. Cause of Death--Obituary(1990)
This is Obituary's most balanced recording to date. With death metal classics like Body Bag, Chopped in Half and the monster Find the Arise you just cannot go wrong with this one. They also introduced solos here, and it's a welcome change from Slowly We Rot.

87. Wages of Sin--Arch Enemy(2002)
With Angela Gossow's recruitment, two things happened to Arch Enemy. One, the sound did not remain your typical death metal type...two, the music got better! Yes, this is THE definitive Arch Enemy album. Some may argue Burning Bridges, but this stands heads and shoulders above that album in my book. Michael Amott is a guitar god and the level of musical precision on this album is almost clinical. Killer tracks--Enemy Within, Ravenous and Dead Bury Their Dead.

86. Ashes of the Wake--Lamb of God(2004)
That's right, scoff if you will, but this is no screamo emo metalcore crap. This is a pure headbanger from start to finish and is everything that metal should be in the new age. Killer tracks--Laid to Rest, The Faded Line and Remorse is for the Dead.

85. Enemy of God--Kreator(2005)
The mighty Kreator have finally cracked the list and what they have here is inarguably the greatest thrash album of the new millennium. Nuff said...Killer tracks--Enemy of God, Impossible Brutality and Murder Fantasies.

84. Blackwater Park--Opeth(2001)
This is the only Opeth album I can stand from start to finish...why? Because it is that good. Nowhere do the abnormally long songs feel forced and that's what is great about it. It has a melancholic feel to it and the mood keeps oscillating from the grey to the serene to the angry. You have to let it grow on you. Killer tracks--Bleak, The Drapery Falls and Blackwater Park.

83. Eternal Nightmare--Violence(1988)
A truly underrated thrash masterpiece of the eighties. Riffs, riffs and more riffs..that is all this album is about. I'm not complaining and neither should you. Killer tracks--Serial Killer, Phobophobia and Kill on Command.

82. Dreaming Neon Black--Nevermore(1999)
This is Nevermore's masterpiece....a masterpiece in all of metal actually. They combine power and thrash to produce one of the most outstanding concept metal albums ever. Killer tracks--Beyond Within, Poison Godmachine and Forever.

81. Alice in Hell--Annihilator(1989)
Annihilator's thrash debut and inarguably their best album to date. Jeff Waters weaves pure genius with this album that's heavy yet surprisingly accessible. Killer tracks--Alison Hell, W.T.Y.D. and Wicked Mystic.

Francois Gautier on Hindu Terrorism

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:11:00 +0000

This Outlook Article written by a non-Hindu writer (and an acclaimed one at that) seems to know what I was trying to say in my earlier post. Bad Hindus are bad, bad Muslims are bad, bad Christians are bad. But if you know your history(ancient,medieval or modern), you just cannot lump these things with all other forms of terrorism and start questioning Hindu(Indian) tolerance. I'm still waiting for some lost soul to interpret this or my last post as a justification for the killings and cry foul....hmm..let's wait and watch.

Tolerance and Religion

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:51:00 +0000

Before my rant begins, let me speak a bit about the the words 'Hindu' and 'Hindutva'. Due to the recent acts of violence and hatred carried out by the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, everybody in the media (including people in the the blogosphere) has taken to condemning various aspects of "Hinduism". Yes, these acts of violence are cowardly and totally inhuman and I hope each and everyone invloved in such crimes of hate should be hanged by the neck till death. But, let me put some perspective in to this whole "Hindu" bashing fad. Which, for better or worse has also developed into the 'who's more Indian' debate.

Hindu is not a Sanskrit or Hindi word, in fact it's not even a word at all!. The early Persians who came to India just couldn't handle pronouncing the word Sindhu(Indus of Indus Valley Civilization as we know it) and so after much changes it simply became Hindu(which later became Hindustan) and the natives were addressed as Hindus. So everybody in the Indian subcontinent was known as a Hindu. Hinduism, in it's essence, has nothing to do with religion..it's all purely geographical. Before foreigners/invaders started coming to India, it was always known as Bharat(named after King Bharat) and it simply means lover of eternal knowledge and the religion(if you'd like to call it that) practiced was Sanatan Dharma which simply means eternal religion. So, the words Hindu or Indian or Bhartiya are one and the same thing. Of course, all invaders throughout India's history made sure they distorted the meaning. So the next time someone assumes you're a Hindu if you live in India...umm...it's technically right you know ;).

"Hinduism" is nothing but a set of beliefs, cultures and rituals(yes) that the inhabitants of this land inculcated in their lives through the thousands and thousands of years of our history. You have the same Christian wedding whether you're in France or Timbaktu, you have the same Nikah in every part of the world, but you'll see at least 36 different types of Hindu marriages in India. No baptism, no khatna There is no ONE GOD, there is no ONE holy book. Even the Bhagwad Gita which serves as the epitome of all "Hindu" philosophy talks about the WAY to lead one's life and nothing else. None of the Hindu scriptures or holy books talk about non-believers being "vile animals" or "destined to hell". There is NOTHING about other religions or non-believers...why? Maybe because this is much before the concept of religion even existed. Heck, with 18 Crore devi/devatas I think it would have been cruel to the human race..lol.

Some people also have trouble distinguishing Diwali or Holi from say X-Mas or Id. Let it be known that Diwali is an INDIAN festival, not a "Hindu" one as many of you know it. It has absolutely no connection to any religion whatsover. Let me explain; North Indians(yes, not Hindus) celebrate it as the victory of good over evil(I'm guessing you know the Rama,Sita,Ravana deal), and even then, instead of Ram,Sita,Laxman..we actually worship Ganesh and Lakshmi on Diwali night. Doesn't make sense right? And it doesn't need to. South Indians celebrate it for a totally different reason..something to do with narkasur. Jains celebrate Diwali for the same reasons and with same fervor as all "Hindus". Sikhs also celebrate Diwali but for a different reason and they call it Bandhi Chhor Diwas. There's a reason why the President of the USA addresses the Indian nation and wishes us happy Diwali. It is because Diwali is an Indian festival, not bound by caste, creed or religion. So the next time someone tells you that Diwali is more of an Indian festival than X-Mas or anything else....don't be mad....it's absolutely correct you know.

Am I making any sense up till now? Baah...I'll continue anyway. So you see, there are absolutely no rigid rules to be followed, not in the rituals, not in the festivals, not even in death. There is no ONE god/lord, no one way of life...nothing in absolutes. Generally the cow is considered sacred, but you have Kali temples where cows are offered as bali and meat is served to the pujaris as prasad. That is why it was, is and will always be the most tolerant faith on Earth. Note: I'm not talking about the VHP/Bajrang Dal concept of Hindutva here, I'm talking about the true essence of Hindu faith. As we discussed in the first paragraph, Hindutva, when translated, simply means Indian-ness, and that is how it should have been. Had all the emperors/invaders throughout India's history been like Akbar we would have no need to change its name from Hindustan.

A little bit on the “Indian-ness” and “tolerance” part of this great debate. Now, whatever I’m going to say is from my own experience and I don’t intend to generalize anything. From what I’ve seen throughout the 30 odd years of my life, many people, including Hindus, Christians, Muslim, Sikhs etc believe that by virtue of having a “best friend” of another religion or the fact that they mingle a lot with people of other religions they are “tolerant”. This can be so far!! from the truth. You befriend the “person”, you marry the “person” and let’s be honest; in a country like India you would have to be a moron of the first order to even think that you could get away without such inter-religious/cultural interaction.

Everybody who lives in modern age India and pretends to be(or really is) religiously tolerant will do some or all of these things: A self proclaimed modern Hindu will celebrate X-Mas, Id and even visit their Muslim and Christian friends places but he/she may tell their son/daughter to never marry a non Hindu or think of all Muslims as traitors. An educated Muslim will have lots of Hindu friends/colleagues and a high flying job but he may be secretly typing e-mails in lieu of SIMI or ISI coz TTT was a thing of ancient India. A well educated, well brought up Christian will mingle will people from all religions and cultures but he/she may be secretly thinking how to convert the bugger, coz very clearly, the days of TTT are over for them too. TTT stands for torture, taxation & tyranny.

How do we sort out the pretenders? More importantly, how do we sort out those who value their religion over India? I’ll tell you how. These are the people who lie low, masquerading as the “ideal” Indian citizen but come out of their shell as soon as something provocative enough happens. And then, sadly, there are those who don’t even need anything provocative. These are the people who view conversion as an act against their God and start taking innocent lives. These are the people who demolish mosques to avenge something that’s not even relevant today. These are the people who walk the streets as just another Indian but have posters of only Pakistani cricketers in their homes. These are the people who burst firecrackers every time India loses a match to Pakistan. These are the people who could care less about India or Indian-ness and their sole purpose is to go around proclaiming their God as the only saviour. These are the people who blow their trumpets of being an “ideal” Indian community not having the faintest idea of their miserable population Vs. enrollment ratio in the Indian army, the police, the administrative services or any public/social service cause (that does not involve religion).

If the rowdy Hindu MNS workers beat up a fellow Indian from the North to death it’s not so bad. But if a Hindu extremist takes Christian lives, it’s suddenly Christ Vs….well…who...Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu, Durga…who? It’s suddenly all about the shortcomings and intolerance of Hinduism. If you really are so tolerant, why would you not see this as just another inhuman act by some pathetic scoundrels destined to hell anyway? These are the people who’ll go to unknown lengths and nitpick on every damn thing about another religion when someone in their religion/community is attacked. These people, when provoked, will look for every conceivable way to justify their religion or God as being better or the ultimate one. Sad….but true. How do I know? Well…I have met my fair share of pretenders in my life, and fortunately, quite a few genuine ones too. The pretenders are usually very confused; they think they don’t take religion very seriously when in fact they do.

During my early childhood in Allahabad, my friends used to call me Zahir. My father wanted to name me that after Zahir Abbas(the famous Pakistani cricketer) but it never came through. Anyway, my friends still called me that…and I was also told that I had very Muslim features (dunno what that means). But it was ok, in fact the names kept changing from Zahir to Salim and some also started calling me Muslim Miya. After a while, some locals kids from a nearby area (all Muslim population) also started playing cricket with me and would also take me to their homes to meet their parents. Those kids were actually from a lower economic section of the society and it probably made them feel good to bring home a friend who looked taken care of(I hope J). But, I have known (still know) quite a few Christians/Muslims who will get thoroughly offended if anybody assumes they’re Hindu because of their first name or the way they dress or the way they talk, even if the other person was just wishing them for a festival. NO SIR!!,..no way…how the hell did you get my religion wrong.

I sometimes don’t understand why people take all these things so seriously. Mind you, these are the ones who go all trumpetty tibbity bippity on tolerance at the drop of a hat. If you truly believe that all Indians are your brothers and sisters then simply view it as a brother killing a brother. On the one hand you blow your tolerance and Indian-ness horns and on the other you say a Hindu killed my fellow Christian..I need justice!!, or a Muslim killed my fellow Hindu..so on and so forth. Please stop pretending! National Integration is a thing of the heart and mind, not the mask we wear in our daily lives. Some people don’t understand that religion is not something that can be mocked or made fun of. No matter how hard one may try, it’s just not possible. Some pseudo-intellectual Hindus (I’ve known quite a few) talk crap about some of the gods. Heck, I remember one Hindu batchmate in London who actually called Lord Rama an ass-hole. None of us said a word and could only feel pity for her. Pity not because she had abused our Hindu God, pity because she had demeaned and Indian holy figure in front of all the foreigners and became another victim of the so called “cool” era.

So that was...errr..whatever that was. I am an Indian and a Hindu. Does that make me more of an Indian than a Christian, Muslim, or Sikh? Certainly not, but the simple fact that I belong to the majority (which by the way was not my choice) should not make an easier scapegoat out of me. I am a Hindu because my forefathers did not convert or bow down to the violence. We didn’t choose our religion. Once the other fellow Indians converted to Islam or Christianity; we were attached to Hinduism automatically. Ever wondered why the Indian Ocean is called the Hind Mahasaagar? Why there are Hindukush Mountains? Don’t hate on the word Hindu, it’s an identity, an Indian identity. Of course, now it has been severely maligned by politicians and extremist groups, but if you can’t see through it…then please don’t call yourself tolerant. The only differentiator is our forefathers’ decision to hold on to our native faith while the others adopted foreign ones. For better or worse is entirely subjective. Know before you talk, criticize the individuals, the politicians, the extremists, not Hindus. And if you should, then do your research first...and a thorough one at that, including the history of major religions (including their history in India, trust me...it's not as rosy as you may think) and the writings of all holy books. Then, we'll talk about tolerance. Violence or killing in the name of God is evil, and anybody who commits such a sin will go to hell. Trust me, no matter what you books say...killers will go to hell, rapists will go to hell, bombers will go to hell, people who let you die of starvation unless you accept their God will go to hell. Don't criticize the faith for that, don't criticize God for that. Faith or religion is what people make of it, and sometimes it's not what God intended.

Indian?? Really??

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:07:00 +0000

It was a " you guys ok?" sms from a friend that led us to believe something was wrong, and we instinctively turned on one of the TV news channels. Yes, something was wrong; a series of bomb blasts..again! To think that we had actually planned on going to Connaught Place and Palika Bazaar on that fateful Saturday sends shivers down my spine. We didn't, fortunately...and I haven't stopped thanking God since that day. You see what the world has come to? I am actually thankful! for not being able to enjoy a well earned weekend because some pricks out there think they are doing God's work by killing innocent people. The multimedia e-mail they sent to the news channels was very disturbing to say the least. "your dirty blood will be spilled"!! who the hell can actually turn the minds of educated people in such a way? What is infuriating and quite funny at the same time, is that they still have the balls to call themselves 'INDIAN' Mujahiddeen. Really?? Be a human first and then we'll see if you have the right to call yourselves Indian or not.

Now I'm not gonna bash the Government like everybody else does everytime something like this happens. In a vast and densely populated country like India, if the terrorists want to...then there's no way the police or the administration can catch them a 100% of the time. Adding to the problem is the fact that many of them are actually from the supposedly educated/civil section of the society. IT employees, doctors...you will find them in all walks of life. But!, once you do catch them..please oh please!!! get rid of them. I know, this statement may annoy some human rights activists out there, but these people have no rights in my eyes. A convicted terrorist needs to be executed..end of story. A known terrorist who's still on the run--a shoot at sight order for him. That's how it should be. We're no America, I know, ghar mein ghus ke nahi maar sakte hum (I'd be glad if we could do that though), but swift trials/executions for convicted terrorists is the least we could do. As it is these people have little fear of anything, they suicide bomb!! for heaven's sake..and the way our Government lingers on these trials for years and years won't do anything to dampen their spirits.

The case of Muhammad Afzal Guru comes to mind. Here was a man, convicted of premeditated bombings on the Indian Parliament, and there were Mehbooba Mufti and Ghulam Nabi Azaad shouting slogans of human rights!?? No further comments...but..what the fuck!!!!??? And don't even get me started on the ever so moronic Arundhati Roy...haven't seen another pseudo intellectual and pretentious socialite(yes, I don't consider her a social worker..NO) quite like her. She was one of the torch bearers demanding clemency for Afzal. Go get a life you tool!! Ditto Medha Patkar. Sometimes I wonder, why is it that all human rights belong to the criminals and terrorists? Do we, the normal, law abiding citizens of India have no rights? Do we not have the right to freely go wherever and do whatever we like in our own country..without being scared of some prick pushing a remote button? Yes!..I think I do, in fact I know we do. My only plea to the Indian Government is to hunt them down, eradicate them. You don't feed pests...and at the risk of sounding inhuman and uncool again, I'll say that every person who indulges in any act of terrorism is a pest!
To sum up..I want an India where I can live freely, walk freely without being scared. An India where I can proudly say...borrowing lines from Naseer in A Wednesday:-
Koi bhi ma*****od ek button daba ke meri zindagi nahi le sakta

Rant over...god be with you all.

Metallica-Death Magnetic Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:31:00 +0000

After more than 15 years of personal problems, musical bankruptcy, substance abuse and some mediocre to below average studio albums to their credit...hold on...umm..err...well....Metallica are back!

Read on my fellow metalheads :)
Clocking in at a mammoth 75 minutes, this album's structure is quite reminiscent of the masterful And Justice for All. Album opener That Was Just Your Life starts with a hearbeat (literally) and pretty soon you get the message. Metallica make it loud and clear....'We are back to thrashing boys, and we mean it'. When Kirk's solo hits around the 5 minute mark, you realize how vital it is to the "Metallica" sound and only a fool would have thought of a Metallica album without solos, a fool the world knows as Bob Rock. This one's a great thrasher to start off the album with.

Next up is The End of The Line, a technical thrasher with some epic soling from Kirk. Following this one comes Broken,Beat and Scarred which is an out and out balls to the walls headbanger. The three glorious thrashers pave way for lead single The Day That Never Comes, which slows the tempo for the first time. It's a semi ballad of sorts and home to some excuisite guitar work. This is one of those songs which grow on you after repeated listens.
Next up is my favourite song off the album, All Nightmare Long. Hold on to your socks for this one fellas, this is Metallica at what they f'in do best. Hyper speed shredding, immaculate soloing...one hell of an exciting nightmare this is. A mosher of moshers from the lords of mosh themselves.
Cyanide keeps things rocking and rolling at a medium pace and could very well have been on the Load/Reload albums. we're not complaining though, coz we're still under the spell of the preceeding thrashers, and a little variety never hurts.
The Unforgiven III follows Cyanide, a slow, piano infested ballad which might very well be the lowest point of the whole album. And even if the song was any good, there's this one thing you realize...Metallica have, and will always do what they want. So you can just shove whatever true metal crap that's in your head and deal with it. It's criminal to ignore Metallica for the mere hatred of one or two songs or your own stupid ass beliefs.
The Judas Kiss sounds more like a heavy rock n' roll jam session with a decent solo. Just when you start to think the downward spiral will continue, Metallica ramp up their game again with Suicide and Redemption, a moody, atmospheric instrumental which tries to recreate the glory of The Call of Ktulu and Orion, it doesn't quite, but it's a good song nonetheless and features some great twin guitar work by James and Kirk.
A riff infested monster thrasher called My Apocalypse brings things to end on a very very high note.
So, that was Death Magnetic for you. Let me say though, except for a couple of songs, this is not really the Metallica of the eighties. As much as this album reminds you of And Justice..., Master.., or Ride The Lighting..it reminds you of Load, Reload and St. Anger as well. It's still music from a band that is trying to get back in form, to get back to its roots, to get back to whatever it was that made this band the biggest metal band ever. We also need to understand that you just cannot expect a band to keep churning out the same stuff over and over again. They are creative people, they'll go insane if they do not progress. What's good about this album is that the Metal in Metal-lica seems to back, well, for the most part...and that in itself is a great deal. All Nightmare Long in itself is evidence enough that all hope is not lost. Yes, there are some things which might annoy some people..e.g. James' emo like singing in some songs, southern rock influences in some songs a la Load etc etc, but there's still enough material here to bang your head to and shout out loud. Death Magnetic is clearly not another Master...,And Justice.. or Ride The Lightning. It may not even be as punchy as The Black album, but it is clearly heads and shoulders above anything they have done in the past decade and a half, and miles ahead of most crap masquerading as metal these days.
EDIT: After repeated listens I have changed my mind, Suicide and Redemption may!! actually reach the status of Orion or ..Ktulu...the song absolutely rocks!!! Man!...what musicianship...absolutely mindblowing.

Rating: 8.5/10

Our chhota dost is gone!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:33:00 +0000

It was a windy/rainy friday night about 2 months ago and we were feasting on our customary pizza and some alcohol to go with it. We heard some noises on the balcony, so we went out and saw a pigeon violently flipping over some empty cartons. Poor thing had hurt one of its legs and was not able to fly. For a while we didn't know what to do, the little guy was flipping all around the place. Then, I mustered up some courage and caught hold of him with a towel in my hand. We soothed him for a bit and kept murmuring calming sounds (we made up our own language) and then lay it down in a secure spot. Then we put some breadcrumbs and a bowl of water in front of him. He looked calm now but was still shaking, so we went inside and let him be. Next morning I went to check the balcony as soon as I got up. The breadcrumbs were gone, the bowl of water was empty, the little guy had flown away! yay. We were so happy and relieved. Come to think of it, we've had a strange chemistry with pigeons ever since we moved into our current apartment. They were always nesting and making a mess of things in our second balcony...but we were never really annoyed.

Now comes another story: About three weeks ago we had a new entrant in our home..a little mouse. His first sighting was when he ran right over my wife's feet resulting in a witch-like scream. Women...aah!..why do they have to scream at anything and everything...even a cockroach(now that's just silly). Anyway, I was ordered on a hunting mission right away....but all attempts went in vain. After a few days we forgot about it and the little guy kept showing up while we were watching the TV or just slacking on the couch. He loved to run right accross the carpet which would make my wife jump. After getting used to him, we started calling him our chhota dost (little friend). If he were to show up when guests were at our place, that was the way he was introduced..our chhota dost.
About 4 days ago, while my wife was taking out some stuff from one of the kitchen storage cabinets, she saw rice splattered all over the place. When inspected, we saw that the rice packet as well as a lot of others were chewed and gnawed upon by our chhota not so dost anymore. That evening, we bought some rat kill and put it all over the place. The last we saw of him was 2 days ago. We've searched the house, but there's no sign of him. Even our maid didn't find him anywhere in her jhaadoo ponchha routines. Who knows, maybe he just left our house..or maybe he actually ate some of the rat kill and went and died somewhere outside (it takes atleast 2 days for rat kill to affect).
The point is, if you've not got it by now...why did we differentiate between the pigeon/s and the mouse? Was it because the mouse was destroying our food...well...we gave food to the pigeon voluntarily didn't we? Was it because the mouse was creating nuisance...well..not anymore than the crap the pigeons made out of our second balcony. Or was it just because pigeons are soothing to the eye and mice are like...well....creepy. I don't know myself, but I do know that ever since his last sighting I've been feeling a little guilty. Guilty that I might have killed him..but why? I have killed hundreds of mice and rats in my life..why was this one special? Again, I don't know...maybe because we actually let him stay and got used to him. Maybe because we started calling him our chhota dost(bad idea) and felt connected to him. Come to think of it, I think that's what it is..we never should have named it. As much I like chicken and fish, would I ever be able to kill and eat one which I've named myself, which lives in my house pond or barn? No, I don't think so...not after this incident. In fact I'll stop naming things which I want to eat. Not that there are many living things to eat around the house(except the wife), but still. Oh no, this has been such an idiotic post...maybe I'm losing it. Now that I've spoken about it, I do feel less burdened with the guilt...so it was not all that idiotic I guess. Cheerio!

Ninja Gaiden 2 Review: Xbox 360

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:49:00 +0000

The near perfect action flick this generation of video games has to offer.

First things first; I haven't played any games of the Ninja Gaiden franchise before this, so there would be no comparisons.

Make no mistake, Ninja Gaiden 2 (NG2) isn't for the faint of heart or the attention deficient. It's a tough game, tough to the point of being punishing, merciless! More likely than not, there will be times when you'll simply want to throw your controller at the screen or scream obsceneties. Persevere, and thy will be rewarded! Now that this, the most probable deterrent for any casual gamer or even NG veterans has been touched upon, let's get on with the review.

Story....hmmm..well...it's as cheesy and downright uninteresting as it could get, but that's not the point of NG2 anyway. FYI though, Ryu Hayabusa (our Ninja hero) has been given the inevitable job of saving the world again. He has been on a revenge mission since the black spider clan Ninjas and fiends (the main villains) destroyed his village. This time around, there's a CIA?? twist in the tale and Ryu gets the help of Sonia (a buxom agent) intermittently in the game. The Archfiend has awakened and he threatens to shatter the peace on earth with the help of his four greater fiends (bosses you got to fight on and off in the game).

What surprised me immediately about NG2 was that it didn't hold my hand and tried to spoonfeed me at all. As soon as the intro cutscene was over, there I was, smack! in the middle of 10 angry ninja foes ready to mince me for dinner. Thereafter, it kept presenting me with scrolls on how to perform a specific evading move or how to counter an attack, so on and so forth. Never did it feel like Iwas being taught, but it still felt like I was learning. If you're one of those who think they are good because they can pull of insane combos and ratings in Devil May Cry then be ready to cry your heart out in as early as the second chapter of NG2. Button mashing will lead you nowhere, the enemies in NG2 are no punching bags. I cannot stress the importance of learning enough for this game. Look for enemy attack patterns, learn what has to be dodged and what has to be blocked (of course, most enemies in NG2 have guard breaking techniques, so don't think nothing will hit you if you just stand there blocking).

The enemy design and AI, specially the bosses is truly marvellous. Master Ninjas, dragons, six legged werevolves, giant armadillos,giant worms, gargantuan mosnter skeletons, flame throwing dark lords, vampirish fiends, spider like warriors, you name it..you've got it. What's more interesting is that, except for a few, there are many ways to tackle a specific boss. I won't spoil the fun for you here, it's best you figure it out for yourself. Level design is mostly good with the exception of a few which seem kind of bland considering what we're used to seeing on current gen systems. The game also experiences a few hitches when the framerate drops during intense battles or sometimes goes to the loading screen abruptly. The in-game camera can also be annoying; it tends to follow Ryu too closely sometimes or it simply gets stuck in a wall while you're fighting. Fortunately you have the option to reset the camera in front of Ryu with the right trigger. Most boss battles also have a free camera mode option with the RB button for different players' needs. The camera aspect is certainly not a game breaking experience but I would have still liked to have it centred a little farther away from Ryu than it currently is.

What would be a Ninja without his cool weapons eh? By default, Ryu is equipped with a Dragon Sword as his melee weapon and Shurikens as secondary (projectile) weapons. As you get further in the game you'll get access to many more like the Lunar Staff, Dual Katanas, Kusuri-Gama, Nunchakus, Scythe and a couple of others. Ryu is also blessed with the ability of casting Ninja Magic spells (Ninpos) on his enemies, which include elements of fire, ice, wind etc. These Ninpo spells come in very handy when you feel you're being overwhelmed by a large group of enemies. Not only do they deliver severe damage to all around you, they also protect you from any attack during those spell casting frames...neat eh?

Which brings us to NG2's combat element. Holy cricket!! is this the mother of them all. It's tough, yes, brutally tough actually, but oh sweet lord is it rewarding. Call me up when you perform and Obliteration technique the first time and do not go 'damn!!!'. If I were to talk about all the combos fo every different weapon here, it would take ages...so I'm not gonna go there. But, as I said earlier...no matter how cool an obliteration looks or how cool a mid air 40 hit combo looks, the better part of your attention should always be focused on the block, dodge and jump moves. This is no Devil May Cry 4 (a game I thoroughly enjoyed by the way), even a measly foot soldier in NG2 is potentially dangerous. Don't get too caught up in ogling at the blood you just spilled or it's time for the Game Over screen. In addition to all the moves and combos, every weapon in NG2 also has an Ultimate Technique, which basically means you have to hold down one button long enough to charge it and deal chaos on the enemies. You won't always have the time to do so, but when you do..it certainly makes things a little easier. Add to this the fact that Ryu can jump from wall to wall, do flying bird flips and can also deliver massive damage delaing hits while doing his acrobatics. Everything in NG2, all of Ryu's abilities are there for a reason. Getting yourself acclimatized with his projectile weapons, ninpo spells, airborne combos, block/dodge is AS important as chopping enemy heads off with your favourite melee weapon.
Slicing off enemy limbs, chopping their heads off in NG2 is cool not only because it looks awesome, but because you know you've done it right and earned it. Now I don't know whether this game will sell bucket loads but I'm sure as hell that it would go down in the annals of gaming as one of the most challenging and rewarding cult hits. Less than stellar graphics aside this is a magnificent game and certainly a must own of anybody who isn't easily put off by punishing difficulty in games.

Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Grand Theft Auto IV: Xbox 360 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:10:00 +0000

So, after the *long* wait, I finally got hold of an Xbox 360 copy of Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV); courtesy a colleague who just visited the US. For those of you who have been living under a rock, or those who think gaming is for "children", GTA IV is the latest installment in the blockbuter GTA series from Rockstar Games. The game has amassed a whopping $500 million in sales in the FIRST WEEK of it's release, which is a record for ANY entertainment launch, yes, that includes movies too! FYI, last year's highest grossing movie Pirates of The Caribbean AT World's End made $408 million in it's entire run. Even the previous record holder was a little video game called Halo 3 made by Bungie software for the Xbox 360. Now that we're through the prep, let's get on with the review.

First off, I have never been a fan of the GTA franchise and I've barely played one of these before GTA IV, that being San Andreas. With GTA IV however, I just couldn't resist to see what the hype was all about, and why most gaming publications and websites were giving it perfect 10's. The game stands tall at 98% at Metacritic as I write this review. In GTA IV, you take on the role of Niko Bellic, a Russian ex-soldier, who comes to Liberty City(New York) in the hope of making it big with the help of his cousin Roman Bellic.

The first thing you'll notice in-game is the sheer size! of Liberty City, and the creativity and craft that has gone into developing what is probably one of the greatest in-game worlds ever created. it actually feels alive, people driving, walking, cops chasing hoodlums, people eating hot dogs, shopping, clubs, bars, eating joints..almost every damn thing you can think of in a modern day city. Oh, and you can do all those things too!

So after having spent about 10 hours since I've had the game, here's what I felt. While the gargantuan Liberty City is nothing less than superb, the other aspects like eating, dining, drinking, socializing with friends is not why I play video games...and I assume it's the same for a lot of other people too. I enjoy doing those things in REAL life. The driving experience of the game is quite realistic and is fun to toy around with, for some time atleast, but even that grows old quite fast. Stopping at checkpoints on bridges to pay the toll, when 7 cop cars are chasing mad after you, while being realistic, is quite annoying. You can of course blow the damn hurdle, but that only means more cop cars after your a**.

The plot of the game is quite intriguing, but I shall not spoil it for you here. The game starts on a slow note when you're supposed to carry out some socializing missions. Slowly and steadily it picks up in pace and you're thrown into missions which involve high speed chases/getaways, carjacking, stealing and whacking or killing some people(you're playing a hardened criminal of course!). After the first 9-10 missions, you feel a sense of deja vu every single time you go on a mission. It's always find, chase, shoot, whack blah blah blah. Don't even get me started on the game mechanics; the cover and auto aiming system this game uses has got to be the worst I've seen in a game to date. In fact, you'll be better of using the free aim which is an arduous task in itself and requires you to precisely hold down the LT button on the Xbox 360 till the halfway. And what's with the need of having to hold/tap a button continuously to make the character run? I mean that's why we have analog sticks Rockstar!

Oh, and the game truly deserves it's Mature ESRB rating. Really, you'll hear the F word almost every 3 seconds along with a barrage of other expletives. You can hire a hooker for $20, $50 or $70 services(ahem!) and you can also visit strip clubs and get private lap dances(the strip club is pretty graphic, more than partial nudity I would say). The game should be kept away from children at all cost. While I have no problems with these things, I still get the feeling that Rockstar made a deliberate attempt here to be ultra cool and forgot to add fun gameplay elements in GTA IV. I maybe wrong though, as I've said, I was never heavily into any GTA game. Maybe this is what GTA is all about, maybe this is what people love and adore in the GTA games. But, as I said earlier too; why on earth would I enjoy a strip club in a GAME for pete's sakes!, why would I enjoy a game of bowling or darts or pool in a game? Oh, and before I forget...why the hell would I enjoy sitting in an internet cafe and surf the in-game internet!!!(yeah GTA IV has one of those too). The game does have tremendous voice performances though; all accents are spot on and tonality of every character's voice matches his/her personality. The explosions are also very nicely scripted, the smoke, the shattered glass/metal, every little detail is done perfectly.

To sum up, yes, the amount of detail in this game is tremendous!! The voice acting and cutscenes are brilliant. The graphics, while not at par with many nex gen titles already in the market, do hold out on their own. In fact, the graphics performance can also be called excellent, as the game engine has to render such a huge city so seamlessly in the game. Other than these technical achievements, and a few thrills here and there, I simply found GTA IV to be an average-to-good game. It is certainly nowhere near the 'best game in 10 years' that many critics seem to think. I don't wanna drive around for 5 minutes to get to my destination, If I wanted realism...I wouldn't be playing a damn video game now would I? First major disappointment of 2008 for me, waiting for Ninja Gaiden II, Fable 2 and Gears of War II now.

Rating: 6.0/10.0

In Flames--A Sense of Purpose Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:26:00 +0000

The Gotherburg kings are back after the solid Come Clarity in 2006. It hurts to say that one of my all time favourite bands have released such a generic and uninspired musical set. Yes, The Mirror's Truth is very catchy on the first listen and a couple of other songs do manage to almost hold your attention, but otherwise, it's all...uh...a big bore. I won't waste my breath on a song by song review here. If you're one of those who are still mesmerized by their Jester Race/Whoracle/Colony days...stay away from it! If you think Reouroute to Remain or STYE kicked ass, then pick this up, you'll love this even more! Anyway, this album is perhaps the most accessible In Flames album to date, and I'm pretty sure it will win them many new fans, but they just might lose some old time fans too. It's not a bad album per se, it's just not my type, actually it's not In Flames anymore.

Rating: 6/10