Newsmericks

I'm attending the Global Voices Citizen Media Summit in Budapest, Hungary

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:51:00 +0000

One minute, was doing up my nest,
Very next, I was off to Budapest!
I am part of (and proud),
Of the Global Voices crowd,
And this Summit is surely the best!

We have been away for a long time, but believe me, doing up a new apartment and transforming it into a nice and comfortable home is time-consuming!

Now, here I am in Budapest, Hungary attending the Global Voices Summit and believe me it is wonderful to be a part of this vibrant global community. You can follow the sessions of the summit here

Regular blogging will start from 14th July. But am glad to be back online :)

On our prolonged absence

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Fri, 23 May 2008 07:43:00 +0000

Our Inkspot ain't finding the time
To serve you those verses sublime,
But dear reader, don't grouse,
For the Chief's moving house;
Don't despair, soon you'll get your rhyme!!

We promise to be back by early June, take care - see you soon!

:)

The Great Indian Middle Class and global food prices

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:33:00 +0000

Prez George Bush, it has come to pass,
Has laid blame on our Middle Class.
It seems we have hurled,
The rest of the world,
Into crisis by not chewing grass!

ET 3/5/08: US President George Bush has joined his top diplomat in suggesting that the growing prosperity of India's large middle class is contributing to rising food prices around the world. Get the story here

A hair-splitting tale

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:34:00 +0000

When in Saudi a young man was hauled
Up for flirting, the Gov. was appalled;
One glance at the guy
And I realized why -
The young flirt was entirely bald!

:D

Yahoo News 29/04/08: Saudi governor orders haircuts for men who hit on women. Get the story here

Move over cricket, the IPL is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:45:00 +0000

At the opening match of IPL,
I suddenly heard somebody yell:
"Oh King Khan, your team,
Is playing like a dream-
They're giving the Challengers hell!"

And in the end, what do we find?
The Challengers peeled off like rind.
The dashing Knight Riders,
Just squashed them like spiders-
It's a league that is one of its kind!

The Hindu, 19/04/08: Kolkata Knight Riders humble Bangalore Royal Challengers. Get the story here

For Charlton Heston (1923-2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:34:00 +0000

The Baptist and Moses was he,
Michaelangelo and El Cid too, see,
But for sure, down the ages,
In film history's pages,
As Ben Hur, remembered he'll be!

The New York Times 06/04/08: Charlton Heston, Epic Film Star and Voice of N.R.A., Dies at 84. Read about it here

For you, Scrabulous!

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:13:00 +0000

This Facebook game is simply fabulous.
The players find it smooth and not sabulous.
And though bigwig Mattel,
Has entered the battle,
I don't think I'll give up playing Scrabulous!

Washingtonpost.com 06/04/08: RealNetworks , which has previously professed its supposedly neutral position in the copyright controversy over the popular Facebook application Scrabulous, is now sneaking itself into the mix: it is quietly introducing a version of Scrabble on Facebook, called " Scrabble by Mattel". Get the story here

Birthday greens

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:36:00 +0000

His mummy asked, "My darling Jake,
It's your birthday dear, what shall I make?"
Poor Jake scratched his head
And then gloomily said -
"Make salad, mom, ain't allowed cake!"

Yahoo News 3/4/08: Children in a New Zealand school have been banned from bringing cakes to share on their birthdays, due to new government healthy eating guidelines. Get the story here

When the penny pinches

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:06:00 +0000

"Now the biggest threat facing our Nation,"
Said the Minister, with slight hesitation,
Isn't border onslaughts,
Nor vile terror plots."
"Then what's it?" I asked, "It's inflation!"

Sify Business 31/03/08: Alarm bells are ringing loud for Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The inflation figures released last week have put the financial authority at the central bank in dilemma. For the week ending March 15, the inflation stood at 6.68%, a whooping 76 basis points increase over the previous week figure. Not only is the figure way above the target set by the RBI, but also at 13-month high. Read about it here

Excuse me your Honor, dead men tell no tales!

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:58:00 +0000

In the court, when the statement was read,
"There's something amiss Sir," he said;
"The victim has claimed
That I am to be blamed?
How the hell could he do so, being dead?"

MSN News 30/03/08: Ever heard of a dead person's statement being recorded? Well, that's exactly what Delhi Police did to solve an accident case! Eager to show that they were on top of things, police cited in court a statement of Sheikh Azibul Khan that was curiously recorded a year after he died in the accident. Get the story here

Congratulations Sehwag!

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:18:00 +0000

Sehwag played some of his best
Strokes with the bat in this test.
A sizzling triple-ton,
In the hot Chennai sun -
Now surely his critics will rest?

Mid-Day 29/03/08: Sehwag has managed to silence his critics after his herculean innings yesterday.

(Photo credit: ABC.net.au)

RIP Sir Arthur C. Clarke

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:27:00 +0000

RIP dear Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
Writing sci-fi you had made your mark.
May you now find your place
In that great outer space,
As on new odyssey you embark.

AFP 19/03/08: Sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke dies in Sri Lanka aged 90. Read about him here

Congratulations to the boys in blue

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:27:00 +0000

Our boys in blue vanquished the might
Of the Aussies, in the tri-series fight;
They clearly stole thunder,
From the Oz team down under -
What a memorable 'summer of spite'!

The Statesman 06/03/08: Bitter summer ends in triumph.

Inkspot speak

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:51:00 +0000

My life has been hectic of late,
Just too many things on my plate.
It's forcing me to reign
In my Newsmericks train -
But I'll soon be back, just you wait!

This year has started on a very hectic note for Inkspot and the pace refuses to slow down. I anticipate that this is how it will be, till early April atleast. This is slowing down Newsmericks for the time being. However, as Inkspot would like to say, do bear with us dear reader, we promise to be back soon, full swing!

Word defined: akhara

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:25:00 +0000

In Benaras, to keep fit and trim,

You could easily go for a swim.

Or, to exercise, there's

An akhara, downstairs,

What's an akhara? Sort of a gym!

In Northern India, a popular definition of an akhara is that it is a place for exercise and body-building. Traditionally, young men joined these akharas to practice wrestling . One can say that it is the traditional Indian version of a gym.

On sledging

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:48:00 +0000

Ricky Ponting awoke with a start.
"What a nightmare," said his racing heart.
"They are planning to master
Our sledge trick - disaster!
Or else why would they call it an art?"

The Telegraph Calcutta 27/02/08: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fresh from leading India into the tri-series finals, on Tuesday said sledging is an art and the Australians have perfected it but it won’t take long for his boys to learn the tricks of the trade. Get the story here

Home accidents

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:20:00 +0000

In the morning he woke, feeling blue.
He had broken, not one glass, but two.
"In my dream," said the master,
"I had caused a disaster -
And I also spilled oil in the loo!"

Painted into a corner

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:27:00 +0000

In Jakarta, when trav'ling by rail,
Buy your tickets, you must, without fail,
And don't be a goof -
Don't sit on the roof,
Or they'll paint you, set cops on your trail!

Yahoo News 11/02/08: Indonesian commuters riding on the roofs of trains will be sprayed with colored liquid so that security officers can identify and arrest them, a report said Saturday. Get the story here

A time to heel

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:07:00 +0000

If your love life no longer appeals
And you're bored, a new study reveals,
My dear girls, don't despair,
Go on, change your footwear -
Get the spark back in life, with high heels!

TOI 07/02/08: The sight of stilettos may shoot up a man's libido. But, if a study is to be believed, wearing the high-heel shoes can boost a woman's sexual desire. Read more about it here

Holy Moly!

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:52:00 +0000

The church warden looked quite forlorn;
"The chap was praying, I could have sworn!
Then on closer inspection,
Came to sight, his erection -
Guess the damned blighter was surfing porn!"

Yahoo News 01/02/08: Man views porn on nun's computer! Get the story here

The mother of all abuse

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:10:00 +0000

In a match, when two players got irate,
The referee said, “Boys, get this straight.
You may well hurl abuse
At your moms, if you choose,
But you can’t call each other primate!”

Daily Telegraph 29/01/08: Indian defence for Harbhajan Singh. Get the story here. Cricinfo 30/01/08: Insufficient evidence against Harbhajan - Hansen. Get the story here

In the new age of sportsmanship, it appears that monkeying around with moms is considered the lesser evil!

Whose loss is it anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:51:00 +0000

A school van that proved to be tinder,
Caught fire and burned down to cinder.
And young lives were lost
'Coz someone scrimped cost
On the CNG kit and cylinder!

The Telegraph 29/01/08: Five children, all between six and nine, were burnt alive today when the pool car that would have taken them home from school burst into flames the moment the driver switched on the ignition. Police said a “short circuit” sparked the fire in the LPG-fitted Maruti Omni and no gas leak from the cylinder could be established. Get the story here

When will we learn?

And...we're back!

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:47:00 +0000

You've been missing ol' Inkspot - I know.
And wondering, "Why this no - show?"
Well, we've been out, see,
On a house hunting spree.
But fear not, we're back with the flow!

This year, we have had a slow start as I have been spending a large part of the day outdoors - and offline. But things look more organized now and so Inkspot will be back with your regular dose of Newsmericks.

Souvenir that Columbus brought back

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:02:00 +0000

When the great Columbus sailed the seas,
The New World he discovered with ease.
In his zest to explore,
He then bedded a whore,
And thus brought back venereal disease!

Yahoo News 15/01/08: New study blames Columbus for syphilis spread. Get the story here

The business of kissing

noreply@blogger.com (Aparna Ray) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:06:00 +0000

In the UK, researchers confirm,
That a handshake can help transfer germ.
At your next business meeting,
Ensure safe form of greeting -
Go on kiss all those cheeks - and don't squirm!

Daily Mail 13/01/08: Kisses instead of handshakes 'will help you to stay healthy'. Get the story here