Not Just Another Blog!!!

When innovation is a passion, excellence is routine

2012-01-05T04:11:00.000-06:00

----------------------By: The Commoner (Hubbrz.com)

Innovation is the buzzword in our world where one moment of genius has the power to influence the world. The case in point being your Google to Facebook to Apple, who are all tethered in a fight for that eureka instant that might mean billions of dollars and has the potential to impact millions of lives. There are numerous examples that one could state that proves that mankind has always been driven in pursuit of that giant leap in knowledge and understanding that catapults it decades into the future. It is this pursuit that truly defines us and gives us hope for something better and greater.

Now, how is this innovation made possible? Does it happen at regular intervals and was it always meant to happen? Not really. Innovation happens when the right conditions for it to spawn and prosper are put in place. It manifests from needs, wants and desires brought on by the belief that what we have now is not merely good enough, that the search of perfection is insatiable and constant.

It is also important to understand that innovation and breakthroughs don't happen in random and haphazardly. Rather, it requires time, patience, a dice of absolute brilliance sometimes aided by sheer luck to pull it off. Innovation is often borne out of inspiration gained from something you felt or experienced for yourself or by someone whom you have idolized for a lifetime or just happened to meet by chance.

No matter how you have been impacted by innovation and technological breakthroughs, either by being affected by it personally or being its greatest exponent or loyalist, it needs to be nurtured and supported for it to be truly effective.

One of the biggest display of innovative brilliance and an epitome of how it is promoted by a dedicated, passionate and brilliantly close knit unit is IIT Bombay's Techfest which is Asia's biggest and greatest technology and science festival where the past, present and future masters of innovation and leadership come together for a three day extravaganza that truly has set the benchmark for how the academia, corporates and the society come together to create something truly special.

Great Leaders like Abdul Kalam have graced Techfest, including a number of Nobel Laureates, eminent and reputed entrepreneurs, social, spiritual and business stalwarts who have set the stage alight and have done wonders to the knowledge and confidence of the students, visitors and the general populace at large. Management gurus and corporate bigwigs have come to both inspire and be inspired by the efficiency and the meticulous precision by which everything has been put together by the students themselves that has created a breeding ground for innovation par excellence.

This event has been supported by one of the biggest corporate in India and abroad over the years. Last year's sponsor were Tata DoCoMo who again were set to sponsor this year until being scuttled and muscled out of the way by the international beverage major, Aje Group, the manufacturers of the popular Big Cola and Oro brands. Speaking about the reason behind their sponsorship of Techfest 2012, Kranti khanderkar, Marketing Manager of Aje Group India said, "Promoting young talent is something that Aje Group strongly believes in and as a new entrant in the Indian market, we felt we needed to make a big impact among the masses and Techfest gives us that opportunity. We want to play our part to groom the great minds that's brimming with energy and ideas but also making use of this platform to connect with youngsters on a more direct basis." She also added that Aje Group was also working with various schools and colleges in Navi Mumbai and promoting sports and education with the ultimate aim of providing the best grounding for future leaders and model citizens as Navi Mumbai is the place it all began for the Company in India.

Techfest is an example where all the stakeholders of our society have come together to celebrate the greatness of the human spirit and have collaborated so wonderfully towards a common theme of continuous improvement.

I, The Commoner, would appeal to one and all to make use of this wonderful opportunity to witness what the wiz kids of today and the tech gurus of tomorrow have in store for us. I would urge great participation from my beloved City of Navi Mumbai. Go visit Techfest 2012 to unequivocally make your presence felt in many more ways than one. Watch this space for the follow-up article on Techfest 2012. So, stay tuned to Hubbrz amigos, there is much more to come. Ciao for now!!!!

Source: Hubbrz.com

Making This New Year Special and Unique

2011-12-31T02:04:00.000-06:00

----------------------By: The Commoner (Hubbrz.com)

The time of Christmas and New Year is always filled with unperturbed merriment and inhibited frolicking. It's time when everyone is more concerned about what would be the most happening hangouts, the best gift, the best dress and greatest party in the City. Well, the logical question then would be, what else then? Aren't we all concerned about the same things?

Hitherto, after having been there and done that, have you ever considered what could be the most novel way in which you could spend your New Year this year that would be world apart from what you have normally done over the past years? Don't you wish to make this New Year reflect a different panache and revel in the pure, adulterated pleasure that is more satiating than anything that you have ever planned? What according to you would give you the greatest amount of satisfaction that you have felt in quite a lot of time or maybe ever?

Well, come on, let's together explore what are the most fulfilling and unique ways in which you can spend the New Year and still get the maximum out of it.

Go Out And Help The Needy

Have you ever gifted something to someone in need and have felt goose bumps run up your spine or have you felt the joy on someone's face when you have fulfilled his or her wishes and gave them something they hadn't expected before. Let me assure you, this is a pleasure that is one of the most gratifying feelings you are ever likely to experience. If you want an awe-inspiring moment that lasts a lifetime and wish for the feel-good factor to persist like an eternal hangover, then just go out and help the needy and the destitute and feel the most pulsating high you could feel.

It could be as simple as giving away your used stuff to the nearby children home or the centre for the homeless and the destitute, to just spending time with the patrons of the old age home who only need someone to talk to. You could also go to a specialty wing of a hospital and spend time with the terminally ill or patients recouping from serious operations and play Santa for them and be a friend in need. In the end, remember, sharing is caring. Get out there, be selfish and feel good about the good that you are doing and let this pride last a lifetime.

Be The Best Gift For Someone Special

Over the years we accumulate a lot of grudges and malice against a lot of people, even sometimes against those you are very close to. This means that the differences between you and them have only grown over the years and now these distances seems just too far to bridge. It could be your friend, family, neighbour, colleague, acquaintance or even your X that was once dear to you, but who have drifted away from you, maybe even without your realization. Why don't you go and be the New Year gift that this person could never have expected. Don't you think that the surprise on their face and the twinkle in their eyes at the sight of you in front of them would be worth all the effort and make it all worthwhile. Imagine the surprise of an aging family or an ailing friend or a grieving college, a childhood companion long thought lost, or just someone who is all good but misses you like no tomorrow. Just go for it and relish the magical instant that this encounter could bless you with. Some beautiful memories are in store if you just show the desired courage and the necessary intent.

Do Something That You Always Wanted To But Couldn't

There are many things that one wants to do, but owing to many reasons we are just too hesitant to do it. It could be anything that you truly believe is important and truly defines you that has been left undone which has created a void. These things could vary from things like going bungee to telling that someone special how much you love them and what they mean to you to telling your father that although you couldn’t tell him, he has always been your hero, telling your mother she is greatest cook ever or confessing to you sister she is the joy of your life to telling your best friend, he has done more for you than you have ever cared to admit and life was incomplete without him.

Go for a drive around the City without worrying about office tomorrow and the rising fuel prices, enjoy great food and a couple of drinks at your favourite joint without wondering how much it sets you back by with no care of the price list on the menu and just living the moment and having a, “Yes I Lived” moment. It could also be just telling your neighbourhood policeman or your watchman or even the maid what a wonderful job he or she is doing all the while just feeling splendid about it. Just jog your memories and make a list of these things and try your best at accomplishing it the best you can. However my friends, do whatever it maybe, but make sure you are not hurting yourself or bothering anyone in the process. Remember, it’s about spreading the joy and making sure others share the same happiness that you are or want to.

Repent Your Mistakes and Make Good

Whoever has said it takes a lot of courage to accept your mistakes and ask for forgiveness has got it absolutely correct. It takes a huge heart to admit you got it wrong and atone for it with dignity. This wrong could be against any man or against God himself. It would be the ideal time to make good with one and all and not let it weigh on your inner sanctity. Why don’t you make it a point this year to backtrack on the wrongs of earlier and set it right and make it a New Year where you swipe your slate clean and start afresh with an invigorated conscious and a refreshed mind-set that truly sets you on your way to greater and bigger things all the while just feeling magnificent about it.

Support Humanity And Endorse Life

There is nothing nobler than playing a part, no matter how small, in savings someone’s life and making a difference when it is a life and death scenario. Why not be the messiah reincarnated or even god himself manifested for that someone that you helped live longer, stronger or better. You could make a big difference in someone’s life by donating your blood or officially enlisting yourself as an organ donor. You could also help by making yourself available whenever there is a serious crunch of manpower during natural calamities or public relief efforts and associating yourself with causes that are targeted at the betterment of the public and the society at larger. This New Year, commit yourself to a cause that truly deserves a helping hand and is something that has a definite and long-lasting impact on the less fortunate people out there.

I am sure there are much more that we could come up with that would be unique in every aspect of the word, but the most important thing is having the desire and the single-minded determination to make it happen. I encourage all of you share your ideas on it and let others amongst us be enlightened as to how they could make this New Year and the many days after that, "Special and Unique," and not be limited by the confines of letters and speeches alone.

I encourage you to also share with me what you think about the topic of the article and your suggestions and feedbacks as it is you who drives us on. This is The Commoner for SatliteRaaga signing off till we meet again on Hubbrz.com. Ciao!!

Source: Hubbrz.com

God Bless Steve Jobs -- A Bite Out of Apple

2011-10-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Social Mediyeahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

2011-09-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

We, the human species, shall always be grateful to the geeks for coming up with the most effective time killing machine in the form of Social Media (SM) or social networking sites. No sooner we realize we can't amuse ourselves any further than we log onto these sites. The ones who have no idea what SM is all about are either living under the rock or somewhere deep inside their caves.

About a decade ago, when Internet became a part of our vocabulary, people started flocking to cyber cafés. For the time being, it was the “in” stuff. As the result, almost everyone familiar with Internet had a Yahoo! account so as to enable themselves to enter the virtual chat room. Chatting was THE thing to do. Eventually, people grew bored of it and moved on to the next phase called Orkut which was a huge success by itself but not anymore. SM is like nature. It has to keep changing, upgrading and reinventing itself to survive amongst us.

So netizens began to look for other alternatives and found one in MySpace and Facebook (FB). As fate (read: common sense) would have it, MySpace fizzled out making Facebook the sole contender in the world of SM. This carried on for a while before Twitter entered the scene and caught people’s attention like never before. As of now, it is trying to catch up with FB but has a long way to go. Of course, you can’t overlook Skype as it is the undisputed champ of video chatting on web. And to add to the competition, Google+ is the latest entrant into the arena and if stats are to be believed, it’s doing quite well for a newbie.

Now what is it that compels people to have an active virtual life even if they don’t have a real one? Well, to be very simplistic, the answer lies in the question itself – because it is virtual, any breathing person can have it. You are just clicks away from signing up, be it FB or Twitter. You do it for yourself and that remains the bottom-line. Surprisingly, once you are in, you want to stay in touch even with those strangers whom you start referring to as friends. People appear more loyal to their virtual friends than their real ones. Perhaps friends may come and go but FB is here forever. At least that’s how it seems like from a distance.

Facebook currently has more than 750 million users which means if it were a country, it’d been the third most populous after China and India. The reason why it’s so popular has to do with the kind of connectivity one enjoys while online. Updating your status and posting recent pics is a part of daily exercise for most Facebookers. It’d be fair to say that babies nowadays enter FB even before they get a name. This is all thanks to overenthusiastic parents who just can’t help sharing their newborns’ pics with the rest of the world!

We always wished to yell silently. And then they created Twitter. It’d be safe to say that, like most SM sites, Twitter is also where everyone stalks everyone. In short, Twitter is longer than 140 characters. Despite its verbal limitations, it remains a very efficient tool in the spread of messages/ideas/rubbish/ rumours. In fact, we seem to get more news on Twitter than there is news on this planet. Although Twitter is predominantly about empty sentences filled with emptier intentions, the truth remains that it is where most of the FB status messages come from. Yup.

There are no hard and fast rules in SM so you can type whatever you want to say as no one's paying attention anyway. Well, metaphorically speaking. Too much time spent on these sites will wear you out as you’ll be draining yourself mentally. But if you are smart enough to manage time, then it’s a joyride for you all. Net addiction is another usual side-effect which people usually overlook for the sake of entertainment.

There are 3 types of people on SM - those who never want to leave; those who are always here; and the rest. For some, the amount of time they waste on SM is negligible compared to what they waste on doing absolutely nothing. The online duration varies from person to person.

The kind of conversation you’ll often read on SM: “What do you do during weekdays?" "Hate my life on Twitter." "And weekends?" "Love my life on Twitter."

However, a lot of them are natural talents when it comes to wasting a weekend on SM, if need be. After all, SM makes you feel busier than you actually are.

The kind of conversation you’ll NEVER read on SM: "Am I disturbing you?" "Yes, you are. Can’t you see? I'm bloody saving the planet here!"

According to estimates, nearly 2 billion people have access to Internet which means there are more than 4 to 5 billion people still offline. This is where SM chips in and tries to score. Recently, Facebook joined forces with Skype thus facilitating video chatting to FB users. Such tie-ups indicate the emerging importance of SM in people’s everyday life. Google+ is just an example of how new players will enter the market in future and vie for more members than their competitors and thus grow their footprint. And yes, blogging too is an interesting aspect which connects people’s thoughts with one another. Without any exaggeration, Social Media is the way of the future. It’s here to stay. Like it or not. That’s how it is.

Adieu Chavanni

2011-09-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

Chavanni – the name itself is so cute – well, it's no longer a legal tender. I know many of you must be trying to remember its shape and the last time you used it. As it is, it had disappeared from use everywhere, including shops, business establishments, utility services and even public sector organizations and government departments. But you still had the option of depositing them in the bank. Yeah right! You could have gone to the bank with a bag full of, say, 100 chavannis and make a deposit of Rs. 25.

However, July 1, 2011 was the last day you could actually exchange these tiny cute coins at banks or the RBI. From July 1 onwards, 50 paise will be the minimum coin accepted in the markets as all denominations below it will cease to be legal currency. Also, the entries in books of accounts, pricing of products, services and taxes would be rounded off to 50 paise or whole rupee from this date.

I have many fond memories of 25 paise. This little shiny thing provided me with a little shiny sweet toffee so many times. I also remember buying pepsi-colas. The only way I can think of to describe it is, frozen flavored water. It was a popsicle like thing. Don't know how many of you have tried that or remember that but they were quite popular. I used to get excited just by looking at the variety of colors and flavors it used to come in. I remember just as the vendor used to open the deep-freezer door, I used to peep my head in to look at the different varieties – wait a minute, I think I was talking about something else. Oh yes…cute little chavannis.

I remember I used to collect them and balance them on top of one another to see how tall a pile I can make. I know, silly time pass, but cable TV and computers (not to mention Internet) were not so prevalent then. My mom also used to collect them. Don't laugh. It was because she needed them to put as an offering in temples, place them in Puja Thali on auspicious occasions, you know sava rupaiya (Rs. 1.25) – used to be a common offering.

A brief history of the humble Chavanni.

I wonder how many of you know that the first of the 25 paise coins were issued in India in 1830s during the reign of William IV.

The coins were made of silver. Yes, silver coin with the value 25 paise.

Through 1840s to the end of century, the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen V ictoria, was featured on the face of the 25 paise coin. But it was not the same image that was embossed all through the 60 years. It changed from a young lady's image in 1840s to a more mature looking image during her later years. While Queen Victoria was adding to her years in real life, she also put in a bit of weight on her image on the coins.

The new century witnessed a change in the British monarchy. Following the death of his mother Queen Victoria, Edward VII was crowned as the King of the United Kingdom and also as the Emperor of India. All new coins issued during the time bore his name and face.

With rising silver prices following World War I, the new equivalent of the quarter rupee coin, the 4-aana coin, with a new design was introduced in 1919 that was made from cupro-nickel instead of silver. These coins had the effigy of King George V.

But the 4-aana coins didn't gain popularity and soon the quarter rupee coins had to be brought back.

During 1930s, while coins of other denominations went for a design change, the quarter rupee coins continued, with only a new monarch, King George VI, replacing his predecessor, Edward VIII. There were no coins issued for Edward VIII.

Early 1950s: Following the Independence of India the currency system continued with the British series of coins till the establishment of the Indian Republic. The first coins of independent India were introduced on August 15, 1950 and it included the quarter rupee coin made of nickel. The coins had the words 'char aana' embossed in Devnagri script and had the Ashoka Emblem on one side.

The next landmark in the history of the 25 paise coin happened following the introduction of the decimal series in accordance with the Indian Coinage Act that came into force from April 1, 1957.

The 19 mm 25 paisa coins were called '25 naye paise' but in June 1, 1964, the term 'naye' was dropped. The coins weighed 5 grams and were made of nickel.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, other coins of lower denominations underwent a major change and moved to aluminum, but 25 paisa coin didn't change much. In 1988, the 25 paisa coin went steel and was made of ferratic stainless steel. It was a little heavier than its predecessor at 2.83 grams but was of the same size. The last 25 paise coins seen in popular circulation were minted in the year 2002. I know what you are thinking…"This Rhino looks familiar", right?

In July 2010, when this poor little guy was already on its deathbed, the Government of India unveiled the new symbol for the Indian Rupee and designer D Udaya Kumar also designed a new symbol for the paise.

But with the 25 paise going out of circulation, we are unlikely to see this image anywhere. But now, the journey for this tiny fellow has come to an end. Even the books of accounts have ditched the poor guy. I think chavanni was like the Kareena Kapoor of coins – you know, size zero. Can't really say that we'll miss you but we certainly shared some nice moments and we'll cherish those. You represent an era when things were simple and you meant something.

Adieu Chavanni !!!

Shakti Shetty - An enigma, a true talent; but a friend above all!!!!

2011-09-07T08:40:00.002-05:00

Many of us might have heard the proverb, ‘A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma,’ made famous by Winston Churchill. When I think of Shakti even today, that’s a saying that

keeps coming back to me. Although I have known him for some

time, I still have not been able to completely understand him.

He was the first person I was fortunate enough to know when I joined as a new employee in our previous Company, and he still

remains as mysterious and unpredictable, but a darling for all of us nonetheless. I hope he doesn’t mind me calling me that though.

Now, coming back to why I nominated him for Morningstar Got Talent. Firstly, he is an encyclopaedia or even a Wikipedia (Shakti’s favourite reference tool) of knowledge. He has indepth knowledge about almost everything that we would ever care to know and ask, but only more. Your questions will sometimes find it hard to keep pace with his answers. Just trust me on this. I say this from firsthand experience. His passion of knowledge, information and the drive to constantly keeping himself abreast of all the latest events and updates is almost insatiable and undoubtedly inspiring. You can see him constantly peering at the computer screen for hours, which for most of us seem too much, but he seems to love it.

Wait, that’s not it. We haven’t got to the best part yet. He is somewhat of an icon of sorts in the world of Twitter, Facebook, Blogger and whatnot. To just give you a rough estimate of his penchant and forte in the web – he has over 30,000 tweets to his credit and many of his Facebook pals rise and sleep by either liking or commenting on this latest updates. For those that prefer detailed expression and not be limited by brevity of microblogging and status messages, he has carved out a niche for himself in the world of bloggers. Am a fan myself to be honest.

Stepping outside the world of knowledge and the web, his area of expertise delves into the world of sports and social causes as well. A keen sports enthusiast with interest ranging from Football to Tennis to Cricket to F1 among other sports, and a statistical guru in his own right, he is a pretty good footballer and a distinguished chess player. He also considers himself a pretty good singer, which I agree to some extend but not entirely. He can sing in at least three languages if not more and does a fair job at it. He is a passionate about social causes, including freedom, liberty and equality. He cares for the environment and his love and pride for India is second to none. Always up for a healthy debate and constructive discussion, he is a real livewire, but only if he is interested, which is not as often as you would like.

Although he is not perfect and has his fair share of things to improve on, he is an apt example of Morningstar’s Got Talent. I wish him all the best and I can vouch for the fact that he is will be an overachiever in the not too distant future and will soon realize his true potential. So, folks, don’t be surprised if you hear the name Shakti Shetty doing the rounds. You rock dude.

Time we lose!!!!

2011-07-11T07:46:00.003-05:00

I know you have the right to be angry,

What I did is deserving of your ire,

But fighting just wastes time we don’t have to lose,

Already so short to be spent together and treasured.

Show your anger for sure without fail,

But why spoil the time we already lack,

If hurting me is the way there cud be another way,

Why do we compromise on luxuries so dear.

Just remember life is nothing but memories we share,

Memories are made by the time we make splendid,

Let's not waste something as precious as companionship so sacred,

Hurt me by ways where we and our future get stronger without hatred.

The pain of reclusion gets unbearable to even imagine,

Frustration breads thoughts that nullify reason and harbors destruction,

Hurt me in ways that satisfies you but secures what we have,

Salvage this one thing that's a symbol of salvation and hope.

Every second that's lost is something that aren’t coming back,

We'll miss these moments when time is running out.

I wish to preserve every second with you that I can but still let you extract your revenge as you desire,

Please don’t destroy this bliss as when the end comes, this time can't be bought nor does it come for hire.

Heartfelt Admiration!!!

2011-04-30T23:45:00.000-05:00

A true symbol of a leader who leads by example,
Who's action speak louder than any voice can ever convey,

Someone you look up to in many more ways than one,

An inspiration to all and someone who stands tall above one and all.

A visionary who believes in building from the base up,

No matter what the odds, carries on and never gives up.

Easy to get along, approachable and a true pro to the core,

With whom your confidence, drive and growth will only soar.

You believe in giving the best in pursuit of excellence,

By your side, confidence comes easy which propels quality and performance.

No goal seems afar or a bride too far amidst fears of a fumble,

With your vision and support obstacles stumble and barriers readily crumble.

You are the pillar of strength that carries us forward,

Your guidance is the ray of light that illuminates our path ahead.

Sir, you look at us all as true equals no matter tall, dark, stocky or stout,

Without you to lead us on, we would have been lost and dazed no doubt.

You are someone who believes in mixing work and play for the optimal best,

You are the ideal partner we want on the other side, be it 20-20, One Day or a marathon Test.

Sir, we wish you all the accolades on top of what has already been a marvelous success story ,

We urge you to lead us on, on our march to unmatched highs and unrivaled glory.

Bryan Adams in Mumbai

2011-03-10T18:10:00.000-06:00

With a crowd of over 15,000 swaying to the music, Mumbai was at its energetic and spirited best as Canadian rocker Bryan Adams belted out hits after hits at his rocking concert in Mumbai.

The stage was huge, with two massive screens adorning each of its side and one behind him, for the comfort of those who couldn't catch a meaty glimpse of the 51-year-old, who rocked as if he truly believes in 18 till I die.

He sang around 20 songs including "Let's make a night to remember", "Please forgive me", "How do ya feel tonight" - but the audience didn't seem to have had enough of him. They went berserk as Adans sang "Summer of 69" and asked the audience to sing in between. But even a breather between two songs by Adams sent the crowd chanting 'Bryan, Bryan, Bryan'!

Dressed in black, Adams too was exhilarated about the response, saying, "I came first in 1994 and this is the fifth time I am performing in Mumbai. It's one of my best shows!"

He made sure to interact with the audience very well, and even invited a girl on stage to sing with him. Later, as he asked the 15,000 plus crowd to switch on their digital cameras and phone cameras, and go flash as he sang "Please forgive me", the MMRDA Ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai glittered like never before.

Danger: Expectations

2011-03-10T06:33:00.002-06:00

It is a known fact that life isn’t perfect,

But why is this urge for perfection so strong?

I do realize fairy tales aren't meant to be lived out,

It is just a metaphor for what can never be.

Why do I chase emotions and feelings that defies rationale,

Why I keep hoping for a tale that gives me my happy ending.

Why a realist like me keeps chasing a facade of happily ever after,

While for many it is just an exercise in futility and reason for some pathetic laughter.

I do believe this sphinx of unmet desire reaches out to gloom,

If persisted with could lead to my untimely doom.

Why this shackle of parody tightens against my timid resistance,

What drives my diabolic motivation that fuels my ungainly persistence?

Today I am surrounded by troubled negativity and depravity in search of a final recourse and way out of the shambles,

I fear I'm destined to chase unstable shadows on shaky grounds where realities rumble and sanity slowly stumbles.

Growth and Me….???

2010-12-14T00:41:00.000-06:00

Everyone I know is obsessed with success and growth,
willing to go to any length to realize this solemn oath.

Many are driven to realize this growth at any expense,
Pursuing an invisible façade without any whims or pretense.

But many are misguided to what growth really means,
What it represents and the reason for its aura and alluring sheen,

Growth may vary from material gains to emotional solace,
Ranging from appreciation of work to owing a pristine palace.

It could be as simple as finding internal peace and calmness of the mind,
Or manifest into desires of conquering the world and ruling every kind.

Growth has the potential to script life’s greatest blockbuster,
Or turn everyday life into an out of control rollercoaster.

It is crucial to realize and appreciate what growth truly means to each,
If not it could turn into a growth where happiness is unfaithfully out of reach.

Prejudice - The Silent Hurt !!!

2010-12-07T10:03:00.001-06:00

Prejudice is venom that seethes the inside,
Slowly but surely that embroils the outside.

Victims of prejudice are oblivious to the reality,
Blaming their luck or doubting their rationality.

Prejudice may spawn from innocuous bias,
Or is bread through ones malicious desires.

Reason and intellect are compromised for indifference,
Tendency to victimize grows and overcomes common sense.

Prejudice may lead to pessimism and manifest into self destructive depression,
Leaving victims clueless as to the reason for this cruel and crushing repression.

Many are unable to fathom the right way forward and find it very hard to cope,
Pondering over the idea of submission where the notion of incompetence grows.

Prejudice is often borne out of ego and insecurity of the weak,
Where the weak try to nullify their shortcoming by calculated conjunctures.

Prejudice is often used as a tool to blunt the growth of the promising,
A de facto measure of the leader to stymie the new talent from rising.

Often the reality of prejudice is dismissed as paranoia,
But the effects of this smothering are slowly unraveling.

When faced with prejudice, patience is truly the greatest virtue,
Make sure facts and constructive criticism are not glorified lies.

Make sure to stay true to your strengths and always work on your weakness,
But don’t allow a prejudiced view be the bane that espouses ignorance.

57th Indian National Film Awards 2010 Winners

2010-12-03T16:30:00.000-06:00

Best Film - 'Kutty Shrank'

Best Director - Rituparno Ghosh for Abohoman

Best Supporting Actress - Arundhati Nag for ‘Paa’

Best Supporting Actor - Farooq Sheikh for 'Lahore'

Best Popular Film, Best Director and Best Producer – ‘3 Idiots’

Best Film on Social Issues - Shyam Benegal's 'Well Done Abba'

Best Film on National Integration - Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Dilli-6'

Best Camerawork - Anjali Shukla.

Best Music Director - Amit Trivedi for Dev D

Best Playback Singer (Male) - Rupam Islam

Best Playback Singer (Female) - Niranjana Sarkar (Housefull)

Best Sound Engineer - Oscar winner Resul Pookutty

Best lyrics - Swananad Kirkirey for 3 Idiots

Best Choreography - K Shivashankar for film Magadheera

Best Children Film - Ottani Pati and Kesu

Best Special Effects - Kamalakannan for film Magadheera

Most Anticipated Movies of 2011

2010-11-21T22:56:00.001-06:00

Source: http://www.movie-moron.com/?p=13779

20. The Green Hornet

Starring: Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz
Director: Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
Release Date: 14th January 2011

First up is a comic book adaptation (of which there are many on this list) from wacky director Michel Gondry. Anticipation was a little higher for this before the trailer hit, if only because we all assumed it would be more outlandish than it appears to be, but it still looks like a nicely executed superhero flick. If anything, it seems somewhat reminiscent of Iron Man, in terms of having a strong personality (in this case Seth Rogen) in the central role to give a piece of standard fare that added verve. Also looking good is Kato-vision, as seen at 2:05 in the trailer. We’re being optimistic. It’s potentially the best superhero bromance to ever hit our screens.

19. Fright Night
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Toni Collette
Director: Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl)
Release Date: 7th October 2011

Star Trek’s Anton Yelchin is Charley Brewster, the young man trying to convince everyone that a murderous vampire (Colin Farrell) has moved in next door. He turns to gothic TV celebrity Peter Vincent (David Tennant) only to find he’s not the tough vampire hunter he portrays. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is Charley’s best friend ‘Evil’ Ed, and Toni Collette plays the mum. The 80s original was an enjoyable, well written comedy horror. This has upped the stakes with a near perfect cast of fun actors.

18. Cowboys And Aliens
Starring: Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell
Director: Jon Favreau
Release Date: 29th July 2011

Most people were sold on this movie on its title alone – it’s about as high concept as it gets. Cowboys. Aliens. Throw in James Bond, Indiana Jones and Miss Tron and you have the kind of movie that makes the crowds at SDCC go nuts:

It’s telling that there was virtually no talk about the movie on that panel…I guess there’s always next year. Director Jon Favreau was hot off of Iron Man when first attached to the project, but now, coming off of the lukewarm reception to the somewhat disappointing Iron Man 2, we’re hoping for a return to form. ‘Lost’ scribe Damon Lindelof has helped out in the writing department, so we’re hoping his nerdcore sensibilities shine through too. Cowboys. Aliens.

17. Thor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Rene Russo
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Release Date: 29th July 2011

With the mighty Thor hitting theatres, we are one step closer to The Avengers, which we’ve been impatiently waiting for since a badass in an eyepatch broke into Tony Stark’s house. But more than just a stepping stone to a bigger picture, Thor is a different breed of Superhero movie. Sure, there’s a cape or two, and people punch things in the name of truth and justice, but the mythic side of Thor is pretty much unprecedented in the world of superhero movies, and now that we’ve seen stills and that leaked SDCC trailer, we could not be more excited to see what the god of thunder has in store for us.

16. Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark
Starring: Bailee Madison, Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes
Director: Troy Nixey (first timer, Guillermo del Toro ‘protege’)
Release Date: TBC 2011

It’s a conventional horror premise – young girl sent to live with her father (Pearce), and new girlfriend, discovers creatures in the home who want to claim her as one of their own. But the presence of Guillermo del Toro as hands-on co-writer/co-producer should elevate this to something genuinely unnerving. The filmmakers were going for a PG-13 but got rated R for ‘pervasive scariness.’ It’s a remake of a 1973 made-for-TV film that few will remember. Good to see Guy Pearce getting some mainstream work again.

15. The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn
Starring: Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis
Director: Steven Spielberg
Release Date: 23rd December 2011

The dream team of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are presenting us with an adaptation of Herge’s beloved comic book adventures of Tintin. The ginger-quiffed Belgian reporter is being portrayed by Jamie Bell, who previously collaborated with Peter Jackson on King Kong. You’ll never see Bell’s face though, because the whole thing is being done using the performance capture technology that made James Cameron’s Avatar possible. We’re curious to see what the 3D versions of Herge’s illustrations will look like, and intrigued to see what Spielberg does with the character and the technology. And Daniel Craig’s ‘camp bad guy’:

14. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick
Director: Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
Release Date: 18th November 2011

Boy, did we get moaned at for not having Twilight on our list last year. Well I hope you’re happy. Me? I’m confused. One of the votes in this Movie-Moron writers poll was for ‘Twishite: Breaking Dawn’ which was presumably a typo, and the other had the following to say: “2011 looks so crappy that I’d rather laugh and yawn through Twilight than watch most of that list.”
…so yeah. The further adventures of Edward Cullen and his (sort of) paramour – yeah, it’s a word, not just a band – make number 14 on our list. This one’s the craziest storyline of the bunch, leading up to werewolf Jacob falling in love with Bella’s highly intelligent baby vampire.

13. The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Charles Grodin, Steve Whitmire
Director: James Bobin
Release Date: 25th December 2011

Kermit and Co are like old friends. It’s been a long time since we saw them, and it’ll be a pleasure to see them on screen again – the silver screen is even better! With a working title like The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made, writer and star Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is giving himself a lot to live up to – and that’s a good thing, he’s acknowledging the daunting task ahead of him introducing the Muppets to a whole new generation.

Segel is joined on the project by director James Bobin, an unfamiliar name perhaps, but he was instrumental in bringing us Sacha Baron Cohen’s colourful cast of characters (Ali G, Borat and Bruno) as well as all-singing all-moping Kiwi folk-comedy duo Flight of the Conchords. We can’t wait to see him help the Muppets put on a show to save their old theatre.

12. Contagion
Starring: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Gwenyth Paltrow
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Release Date: 21st October 2011

Think Swine Flu: The Movie. Action-thriller about a deadly disease and the international team of doctors contracted by the Center for Disease Control to deal with the spread. It’s also about how information spreads virally in the internet age. Contagion is a global story, filming in 10 countries, described as ‘procedural’ yet ‘breakneck tense’. With Steven Soderbergh directing, a script by the writer of The Bourne Ultimatum, and a cast this strong, we’re confident it’ll be more along the lines of 1971′s brainy The Andromeda Strain than Dustin Hoffman’s Outbreak. Also Gwyneth Paltrow’s character is the first to contract the horrible disease, so that’ll be fun to watch.

11. Paul
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen (voice), Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig
Director: Greg Mottola
Release Date: 18th March 2011

Two British sci-fi geeks (Pegg and Frost) go on a road trip through America. On the way, they discover an escaped alien named ‘Paul’ (voiced by Seth Rogen) near Area 51. As they try to reunite him with his mother ship, they find Paul has many more opinions than your typical ET. You might expect Edgar Wright to be directing this, but instead it’s Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland). Pegg, Frost and Mottola are guaranteed to provide a few laughs, despite the dull title and somewhat thin premise. And it’s great to see Nick Frost finally getting his Hollywood due, hope it’s not too late.

10. Sucker Punch
Starring: Emily Browning, Jon Hamm, Vanessa Hudgens
Director: Zack Snyder
Release Date: 25th March 2011

The first original movie from slow-mo supremo Zack Snyder. The director of the Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen and that owl movie is taking us inside the mind of Babydoll, a young woman committed to to a mental institution who dreams up some pretty crazy stuff whilst inside (see trailer). This is supposedly set in the 1950s, so quite how her fantasy world comes off as a yet-to-be-invented Heavy Metal/anime hybrid remains to be seen. What we can already see is that Snyder’s visual flair is intact, and his female ensemble cast looks pretty kick ass hot insane. This is Snyder’s last chance to prove he can do good character work before he directs the Superman reboot.

9. X-Men: First Class
Starring: James McAvoy, Kevin Bacon, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, January Jones
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Release Date: 3rd June 2011

The X-Men franchise wasn’t on the boil for long. Bryan Singer’s semi-good X-Men was the movie that kicked off the superhero boom at the turn of the century, its sequel remains one of the best superhero movies ever made, but the third movie was weak and spinoff Wolverine fared no better. But wait, here comes Matthew Vaughn, the director of the excellent Kick-Ass, to tackle an X-Men prequel. And Kevin Bacon is the villain. Ok they started shooting without a finished script. And the 60s set images look a bit Austin Powers. It’s hard to know how this will turn out, but there are more positives than negatives and we have a lot of faith in Vaughn.

8. Sherlock Holmes 2
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris
Director: Guy Ritchie
Release Date: 16th December 2011

Guy Ritchie surprised a lot of people with the first Sherlock Holmes, a movie that was outside his comfort zone but managed to retain his sensibilities and be a fast paced, humourous adventure. In contrast to the staid adaptations of Holmes that have gone before, Ritchie managed to inject some real excitement into the proceedings. Unfortunately, because the movie wasn’t based on anything Conan Doyle had written, it deviated considerably from the structure of Holmes mysteries, and the actual mystery itself didn’t seem so important. But the interplay between all of the characters was great, Robert Downey Jr got to be Robert Downey Jr (which doesn’t seem to bother people) only this time with an English accent, and Jude Law got to shine for once in his supporting role as Watson. Now in the sequel the less-impressive Rachel McAdams is sidelined in favour of Noomi Rapace from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Stephen Fry will play Holmes’ smarter-but-lazier older brother (great casting). Ritchie has already surprised everybody by casting Jared Harris (who impressed on TV’s Fringe and Mad Men) as Moriarty, despite persistent rumours that former Snatch collaborator Brad Pitt would be taking the role.

7. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, John Hurt
Director: David Yates
Release Date: 15th July 2011

Some will be upset that this hasn’t been put higher on this list, but amongst the writers here there’s a feeling the series has dragged on for slightly too long (8 movies now). Nonetheless expect this to be a rousing finale to one of the most spectacular film series ever made. Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort’s final horcruxes, but when ‘Ol Snake Nose finds out about their mission you can expect to see school totally trashed by Harry and foe firing enough bolts at each other to keep local glaziers in work for years. In fact their fight sequence will reportedly expand on what’s witnessed in the book. Even though Part 1 missed out on 3D, Part 2 will probably be converted in time.

6. Green Lantern
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong
Director: Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Edge Of Darkness)
Release Date: 17th June 2011

The highest ranking comic book movie on our list is Green Lantern, the first major DC hero to hit the big screen that isn’t a bat, cat, or Kryptonian refugee. Coming to us from Casino Royale director Martin Campbell, Green Lantern, much like Thor, promises to show us a different side to superheroics and take us on a cosmic adventure. The story follows a test pilot who is given a ring by a dying alien which turns him into the Green Lantern, part of a collective who protect the galaxy from similarly powered villains. There have been a few voices of dissent about the casting of Ryan Reynolds – ignore them, he’s perfect for the role of Hal Jordan. The treatment for the sequel has already been ordered.

5. Scream 4
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts
Director: Wes Craven
Release Date: 15th April 2011

Scream transformed the horror landscape when it came out in ’96, kicking off the second slasher cycle (the first was after Halloween) and bringing a truly unique tone to the genre. Brilliantly directed as it was, it was Kevin Williamson’s script that really was a cut above. Scream 2 was largely a success too. Then the studio stupidly booted Williamson for the third instalment and the result was something like a Scooby Doo episode. We’re excited about Scream 4 because Williamson is back, and there are 10 years of horror movies (from Asian ghost movies to torture porn) to riff off, in that clever but still frightening way. It’s going to be interesting to see how the clearly-too-old-to-be-doing-this cast (Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox) is melded with the new generation (Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere etc). Will they kill off Sidney Prescott?

4. The Cabin In The Woods
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Amy Acker
Director: Drew Goddard
Release Date: 15th April 2011

Whedonites are legion. So having Joss Whedon produce and co-write the script is a good thing in terms of drumming up hype. And Cabin in the Woods promises a new take on a played out horror movie trope – the cabin in the woods. It’s directed by Drew Goddard, who was heavily involved with Lost and wrote Cloverfield. It stars Chris Hemsworth, the man who will be Thor. Shooting was finished a while ago but, like Bond, it’s caught in limbo by of MGM’s financial problems. The script is doing the rounds on the internet if you want to get a head start.

3. Super 8
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning
Director: J.J. Abrams
Release Date: TBC 2011

Godammit, Abrams. You’re doing it again. Remember how the hype for Cloverfield was fueled by furious speculation? How the starfleet uniforms from Star Trek were hidden from the world? Well, here’s J.J. Abrams’ Super 8. Another project shrouded in mystery. We know it’s heavily influenced by the films of producer Steven Spielberg, and that it involves Area 51. We know it involves a group of kids in 1979 playing around making movies with their Super 8 cameras who accidentally capture something sinister, possibly alien, on film. We know one of the stars is Elle Fanning, younger sister of Dakota.

The Movie Preview Critic has a few predictions about what the movie might have to offer, so it’ll be interesting to see how much he gets right:

(One wonders if the filmmakers even know what the movie is, since the creature was designed after the teaser trailer was released.)

2. Hugo Cabret
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley
Director: Martin Scorsese
Release Date: 9th December 2011

Hugo Cabret is a film of firsts. It is Martin Scorsese’s first children’s movie, it is Martin Scorsese’s first 3D movie, and it is Martin Scorsese’s first major release in ten years not to feature Leonardo DiCaprio. The official story of The Invention of Hugo Cabret is as follows: “Orphan, Clock Keeper, And Thief, 12 year old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together…” You can see some of the illustrations from the book upon which the movie is based right here. The movie has the potential to be magical in every sense of the word (apart from the one that means real hocus pocus, of course), which is why id’s so high on our list.

1. The Thing
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Eric Christian Olsen
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Release Date: 29th April 2011

Why are we anticipating this so much? Because there’s still so much mileage in the concept (if they are smart filmmakers), the setting and idea haven’t really been revisited by other movies since, and seeing our favourite horror movie ‘prequelised’ decades later has a big curiosity appeal. The prequel has already dropped the ball on two unconventional, but key, elements that helped make the original so unique – the all male cast has gone (the lead is now a hot female who’s helicoptered in), and the large cast of 12 mostly older character-actors has been replaced by the conventional 7 younger characters. It’s asking a lot, but if The Thing prequel turns out to be the smart, well written whodunit mystery it should be, and it stays away from cgi for its creature fx, this will be the cinemagoing experience we at Movie-Moron.com enjoy the most this year. Fingers are firmly crossed.

MOVIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE OUR TOP 20, BUT YOU’LL PROBABLY BE EXCITED ABOUT

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Starring: Johnny Depp, Ian McShane, Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush
Director: Rob Marshall
Release Date: 20th May 2011

Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are out. Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush are in. Good call. The story sees Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard (McShane) and his daughter (Cruz) are after it too. There’s a new director, Rob Marshall, whose only non-musical was Memoirs of a Geisha. Hopefully they’ll keep the running time down and won’t let the plot get too bloated.

Fast Five (Fast & Furious 5)
Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson
Director: Justin Lin
Release Date: 29th April 2011

Fast & Furious (4) felt like a last role of the dice for Vin Diesel’s career as a leading man, but it paid off huge at the box office. So now he’s sticking around to be joined by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and the co-star of 2 Fast 2 Furious, Tyrese Gibson. The plot sees former cop Brian (Walker) and Mia (Brewster) break Dom out of custody and flee to Brazil where they must pull one last job to gain their freedom. But a hard-nosed federal agent (Johnson) is on their trail. The director handled the previous two instalments so you can expect much of the same, with a bit of samba.

World Invasion: Battle LA
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Peña, Bridget Moynahan
Director: Justin Lin
Release Date: 11th March 2011

A Marine platoon faces off against an alien invasion in Los Angeles. The director of Darkness Falls and T’ C’ Massacre: The Beginning is shooting in the Saving Private Ryan handheld style. Hopefully this will be the Black Hawk Down + Independence Day – Jokes it promises. Think large alien ships similar to a Borg cube / Klingon war bird shooting helicopters out of the sky and 8 foot bi-ped creatures street-fighting with the army. The Comic-Con footage went down well. The movie’s probably fairly good as it put Liebesman in the running for the Superman job. At the moment the only footage online is this 3 second clip -

Captain America: The First Avenger
Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci
Director: Joe Johnston
Release Date: 22nd July 2011

During World War II, Steve Rogers (Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals. His enhanced body enables him to survive being accidentally frozen for several decades. He is thawed in the present day, where he continues his fight with skull-faced Nazi ‘Red Skull’ (Weaving). This is Marvel’s first period movie then, at least in part. Chris Evans was a surprising choice, since he was already known for playing the much-more-physically-suited-to-him Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four. Most now accept Evans as Cap. But not all. We’d be more relaxed if director Joe Johnston’s last movie The Wolfman wasn’t an expensive mess. Why isn’t this being released on July 4th?

Mission Impossible 4
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Josh Holloway
Director: Brad Bird
Release Date: 16th December 2011

Remember the sofa jump on the MI:3 press tour and Cruise’s public dumping by Paramount? Well, they made up. JJ Abrams, who directed the third movie, stays on board as producer, giving helming duties to Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille). It’s a risky choice of director, the last live-action leap made by a Pixar pro gave us Jonah Hex. The villains are played by Michael Nyqvist (09′s Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) Léa Seydoux (Inglourious Basterds) and Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire). Hopefully Mission Impossible 4 will remember it’s about the team not the individual (MI:2) and not get sidetracked by boring girlfriend issues (MI:3).

The Hangover 2
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong
Director: Todd Phillips (The Hangover)
Release Date: 26th May 2011

The gang are heading to Thailand. It’s rumoured that the plot revolves around dentist Stu sleeping with a Thai ladyboy. The first movie deserved its success, working as both a laugh out loud comedy and fun unpredictable mystery. In order to keep the original characters in this one (including the Korean gangster), and have the scenario repeat itself, expect unlikely coincidence to be pushed well beyond where it was in the first movie.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (U.S. Remake)
Starring: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgård, Robin Wright, Julian Sands
Director: David Fincher
Release Date: 21st December 2011

Director David Fincher’s on fire after The Social Network and he’s cast the woman who played Zuckerberg’s girlfriend as the lead in this remake of the Swedish phenomenon. It’s based on the first in a series of three novels penned by an author who died before they were published. Dragon Tattoo is a detective story about a disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) searching for a long-missing woman, assisted by an emo hacker with serious man issues. I didn’t find the Swedish original much better than your average Ashley Judd/Morgan Freeman thriller. I doubt the material would have attracted someone of Fincher’s talent without the huge following it has. P.S. The vital-to-the-mystery family tree in the Swedish original was confusing, hope they sort that out.

Rise Of The Apes
Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, Tom Felton, Brian Cox, John Lithgow
Director: Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist)
Release Date: 24th June 2011

It’s the prequel/reboot that nobody asked for. Rise is an origin story set in present day San Francisco, where experiments with genetic engineering create intelligent apes and trigger a war for supremacy. It’s primarily about the relationship between Dr. Rodman (Franco), who’s trying to find the cure for his father’s Alzheimer, and the most developed ape, Caesar. Sounds like a mega budget Monkey Shines. It will be interesting to see Tom Felton in a large non-Draco role, although he is still playing a evil son, this time his evil daddy is Brian Cox. We didn’t think much of Burton’s Planet Of The Apes, but this is a different kind of movie. Andy Serkis is playing a monkey, of course.

Transformers: The Dark Of The Moon (Transformers 3)
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey
Director: Michael Bay
Release Date: 1st July 2011

Megan Fox’s public insulting of Michael Bay has led to her getting fired from the series and replaced by newcomer-model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who plays Carly. The plot revolves around the space race and how The Transformers were involved in it right from the beginning. So real 60s history is being rewritten. Will it turn out Megatron assassinated JFK? We were left exhausted and bored by Transformers 2, this series is so inherently cool we’re waiting for someone else to take charge and concentrate on the interplay between the Transformers rather than Shia LaBeouf trying to score and hiding under a table.

Source: http://www.movie-moron.com/?p=13779

India, the Asian Games and Indian Sports

2010-11-21T09:59:00.001-06:00

Admittedly this hasn’t been the greatest Asian Games so far for India and we would be hard pressed to even match our performance in Doha four years ago. However, there have been some positives that get me enthused about India’s chances going forward in the not too distant future.

To start off, India won a couple of medals in disciplines that India was never considered to have even an outside chance in. Two Indian boys won us medals in swimming and gymnastics where even I, as an eternal optimist, has since long felt that we were yet not competitive enough to win anything at the Asian level. Oh boy, am I glad to be wrong and wouldn’t I be just delighted to be wrong on these more often.

So far China has completely decimated the competition and it seems as if most of the others are just competing for the silver and bronze medals. China's gold medal tally is more than its silver and bronze medal count combined and China got more medals in the first six hours then India’s overall medal at the end of 9th day of the Games as I write this.

I have a epiphany of sorts as I write this piece that when I reminiscent on this blog again after 16 years, roughly at the closing stages of the fourth Asian Games after this current one, I see Indian and China going head to head for the most gold and I hope India gives China a hell of fight that China quakes in its boot and romanticize on the days of their complete dominance.

Guys, won’t it be a great day for India and a proud day for us all. By that time I also want India to be preparing to host the Olympics Games and give shape to the greatest Games ever

Getting back to the present though, the reality is much different and we have to take whatever we can from the present and build on it in the future.

On a positive note, I just have had a great evening watching Indian women winning 2 golds for India in the middle and long distance races on the first day of the track and field events where India has managed to match China’s tally. By matching I mean, so far at least. I also have a premonition here that there are some more gold medals still to be had for India in the track and field.

Today has been in fact the best day for India at the Games with one gold in the shooting range at last and two on the track and field as I said earlier. Our performance in shooting though has been a tad disappointing considering the pedigree we have in the sport, but better late than never I say.

Today, the Indian women archers also did India proud when they so nearly toppled the favorites South Korea which was mesmerizing to see. We were on the verge of beating them, but one shot cost us victory and we lost the match in a tiebreaker. The Koreans went on to eventually win the Gold and left me pondering on what could have been.

I really am proud of the girls who in the end won the Bronze coming back from behind to win a nail biting thriller over the Taipei team who lost focus and were at times getting too confident for their own good. I see in the Indian girls the potential to be real world beaters if they go on and build on the potential they showed here and are able to keep their emotions in check and handle the pressure better. I wouldn’t also be surprised if we do well at the individual competition at archery.

We can hope for some more medals coming from wrestling, boxing and tennis, but track and field holds the greatest promise.

Looking at the performance at some of the more un-fancied sports, I am optimistic of India’s chances in these sports in the coming time. All we need is a commitment to building up a sports culture and when you consider the size and population of India, we have many world and Olympic champions just waiting to be burst on the scene.

I today prophesize that India’s financial, strategic and political influence in the world would be mirrored by its performance in the world of sports and we are already seeing that in a number of sports where we have more world champions and world number 1 emerging.

China is set to have a greater challenger than what Asia has been able to offer so far and I also have no doubt that China also recognized the threat that India is destined to offer in the future and are already working towards minimizing the repercussions.

Saina Nehwal has already put a serious dent on the Chinese aura of invincibility and it is no coincidence that there are at least 10 cameras covering her every move so that the Chinese could work on her weakness prior hand and potentially prevent an Indian supremacy in what has so far been a Chinese bastion.

I only hope that Indian sports administrators take sports just as seriously as the Chinese clearly do. There is so much that the dragon nation could teach the slumbering elephant, pardon the clichéd use of analogies, but the fact of the matter is that Chinese are already preparing for an Indian onslaught, which although maybe years out, makes you marvel at the Chinese preparation and dedication.

But one thing I have to admit, I much better see the Chinese win on the world stage which is the strongest developing nation in the world rather than see the old barons of the sporting world dominate again and again. Many might ask why do I support China, but my thinking on this matter goes like this; what the Chinese can achieve today is a precursor to what India is poised to achieve tomorrow.

I just can’t wait for India to win some more medals tomorrow. Go India go. I know I’ll be cheering. I am sure you all will be too.

Chinese Millennium on the Anvil

2010-11-19T06:02:00.001-06:00

After seeing China cross the 100 gold medal mark at the Asian Games 2010, I wondered whether the shiny metal might end up losing its charm amidst such a gold rush. But I was quickly convinced that it won't, especially when it comes to the Chinese for whom gold medals at the Games is just another way of displaying its supremacy in a world where the best way to exhibit one's might is through 'Soft Power.'

China takes the display of this Soft Power very seriously and has left no stone unturned in its effort to showcase to the world what it is capable of and let the world know it’s a force to be reckoned with not just financially and militarily, but through the influence that it has on others when it comes to sports and implied cultural ascendancy using Soft Power as a leverage. It's much easier to convince others if the speaking is done by your actions rather than wasting a lot of time verbally confusing many and convincing none.

The Chinese success in hosting the Olympics and the Asian Games with its trademark management skills, clinical efficiency and clockwork precision manifested beautifully by the awe inspiring opening and closing ceremony at both the Games made the world stand up and take notice. It was just another feather in an already boisterous cap that the Chinese so proudly parade to the world in a mild conjuncture that the world has started to acknowledge.

It is the Chinese way of saying, "It is our time now. The West has had their 30 second of fame and it's the Chinese millennium from here on in." I am sure that Indian, Japan, and not to mention the U.S. might have something to say about that, but there is no doubt that no one is taking the Chinese claims lightly. Although Indian shouldn’t rest on its laurels and see China surge ahead, there is no better illustration or a case study that Indian could ask for and I am sure Indian, the other developing countries, and even the developed countries could do very well to emulate, at least emulate what China has done right so far.

Although China is still far from being perfect through its dismal human rights record, pathetic pollution track record and an autocratic and even hegemonic mentality to its policies in world finance and politics, no other country is better poised to take over the mantle as the next superpower. Trust me, I say that with a heavy heart being an Indian, but it's the reality of our times and is something that we have to make peace with.

The Dragon is flying high, but it has to be careful as the weather could turn anytime and even a Dragon needs to be careful and watch its back. But as of now, it's China all the way whether we like it or not.

President Obama's Visit to India - Short Synopsis

2010-11-07T16:28:00.001-06:00

So far President Obama has been brutally honest as to his views on India-US relations, which I must say is a refreshing and assuring change from the rhetorical Clinton or the paradoxical Bush. That doesnt mean he'll be good for India or anyone else for that matter, but atleast we'll knw what's coming and prepare for the challenges alone if need be, which we are more than capable of doing!!

So, Mr. Obama, your honesty is appreciated but it's no longer about what 'you can' anymore. It's more about what you did and how you did it!! Anyway, thanks for the nice moves on the Koli number. But so far, that has been the highlight of your visit. However, I am still all ears for your exemplary oratory skills but with some positive connotations as far as India and the Subcontinent as a whole is concerned!

What You Mean to Me..........

2010-10-31T15:27:00.000-05:00

If beauty had an allure, you are its personification.
If life had a reason to spawn, you are its sustenance.
If god had a purpose in the consciousness, you are its conviction.
If melody has a rhythm, you are its most lyrical beat.
If holiness has a spiritual calm to it, you gave it providence.
If nature had a balance, you fill it with sanctity.
If truth had no equal, you give it credibility.
If diamonds are forever, you give it the glitter.
If conscious is clear, you give it its voice.
If motion is energy, you give it the right direction.
If living is learning, you make it discernible.
If democracy is fair, you give it a reality.
If love is life, you fill it with romance.
If my life has a reason, you are its most beautiful proof.

Note: These stanzas are my testimony to those who have felt love and eloquote this feeling into text. If you have something better and would like to add, gladly do so!!! I am all ears. Correction, all eyes!!!! :) Till then, spread love brothers and sisters!!! We can never have enough of it!! By the way, this is my 300th post. Yippeeee!!!!

Why Poetry?

2010-09-07T10:50:00.000-05:00

Why this urge to put my words into rhyme,
Why feel this need to make my feelings hum?

Why does prose seem a task strenuous on the mind?
Is it my lack of patience or a reflection of our time.

Are we too busy for words that seem plenty but linger at best,
Too occupied to appreciate the beauty of a detailed text?

Or is poetry a way to say much through so less,
Where many emotions are expressed and others genuinely felt.

Are both form of expression a part of a seamless and wonderful whole,
Are there times when both come together towards a greater shared goal.

For days I strained for the obvious and allowed lethargy to choose one over the other.
Preferring one of the sibling so unique yet crucial borne out of a common mother.

It was me all along who chose to ignore the significance of both,
The role of prose and poetry for true literary growth.

So many days lost and growth hindered that still may prove hard to compensate.
But lessons were learned and feel eager to start over as it's never too late!!!!!

What Memories Mean?

2010-09-07T10:26:00.004-05:00

Life is a concoction of memories accumulated in random,
events and episodes either planned or that transpire in unforeseen tandem.

The more memories you hold onto signifies a life well spent,
memories are one's true evidence of success and its only genuine testament.

Don't let life be left in cruise control and allow it become all but mechanical,
don't ignore the spirits of celebration and let life assume a sabbatical.

Be instinctive and cherish the uncertainties with fervor and passion,
and witness the wondrous joy of life that grows greater every season.

If we only could appreciate what life has to offer,
what it has in store in its unassuming and viscous coffer.

It is important to recognize that life is an art of living and not just an excuse to exist,
and if survival is presumed primary above all, then life is nothing but a glorified forfeit.

Me, and the new Change!!!!

2010-08-15T10:18:00.002-05:00

Almost everyone I know is weary of sudden change,
Inclined towards caution when faced with transition.

Every step is conservative and carefully calculated,
Guarded against any wrong moves or being manipulated.

It may seem as if these apprehensions are bordering on panic,
However, you suppress these feelings and conquer any reason.

Usually, this is how things go, but I was in for a pleasant surprise.
Somehow this transition felt pleasantly homely without much try.

It didn’t know what did the trick but I didn’t complain,
Everyday things got better and my lethargy started to drain.

It is now clear that it was the wonderful people who helped subdue my negativity,
Who made me feel secure and confident with their kindness and selfless propensity.

A realization soon struck me as to why change is constant and growth a necessity,
Why change is a precursor to progress and a feeler for our destined prosperity.

Today I feel part of something bigger and part of a greater whole.
I believe a bond now runs through us caressing all our tethered soul.

We all believe we are poised towards attaining something genuinely great,
Working towards a common dream as a team where everyone participates.

There is a positive spirit that I sense but cannot yet fathom,
A drive that urges all of us to push beyond our immediate horizon.

I’m proud to say that no goal nor dream seems a bridge too far,
Now, that I stand shoulder-to-shoulder as part of ‘Team Morningstar’.

Cricket Australia considers new 40-over format

2010-06-11T02:48:00.000-05:00

Australia is all set to revolutionize the 50-Over per side by splitting it into two innings each. That means watching the Great Sachin bat twice and enjoying the sight of Steyn charging-in in two different innings in one day. Wow!!! That's an exciting prospect. Cant' wait.

Cricket Australia considers new 40-over format

Makhaya Ntini - On a Mission to Unearth more hidden talent!!

2010-06-07T03:22:00.001-05:00

Link: Cricinfo Article - Worth a Read!

Go Ntini go. We as lovers of quality cricket have always craved high-quality crickets like the hay days of old when quality cricketers seem to be produced from every country with alarming ease and there was a real battle to be called the number one. The production line seemed to be exhausted for some reason, even in South Africa, a country that gave us some real gems. Also, the number of colored cricketers is not great and you see a lot of quality white cricketers leaving the country sighting unfair selection process. This seems to be doing no good for anyone.

Anyway, good luck with your initiative Makhaya. Let us hope we'll see more cricketers exhibit the same spirit and commitment that you displayed with distinguishment. Can't wait to see a big, tall, fiery fast ballers emerge from the Rainbow Nation and beyond. It can only help cricket as a whole. Nice Article!

IPL teams should be able to retain eight players - Tendulkar

2010-04-23T08:51:00.001-05:00

IPL teams should be able to retain eight players - Tendulkar

Posted using ShareThis

IPL teams should be able to retain eight players - Tendulkar

2010-04-23T08:45:00.001-05:00

IPL teams should be able to retain eight players - Tendulkar

Posted using ShareThis