True Love or S (with letters ex)

While reading a news (rediff.com) I saw this picture pasted twice on the same news, and this ad was taking quite a good place. Even animal can understand they can not find true love if follow this ad. What do you say?

Berlin: Blockade which results into AirBridge

We need a second Berlin airbridge, and if they could do that in the end of the 1940s -- set up in no time a lifeline to millions of people -- we should be able to do that in 2005," he told a news conference in Geneva, referring to the U.S. airlift set up in 1949 to keep Soviet-blockaded West Berlin supplied

Today when I read this, in one of the news (yahoo) then, I thought let's find out what's this all about. And outcome was interesting to read. If interested you can read too, right here.

Awards and Exception: Peace vs Movie

Wondering! what's the relation among them, ok I will tell you, there is one missing link for each and that is 'Nobel Prize' for peace and 'Filmfare awards' for Hindi movie. How? Well, Nobel prize for peace, and there couldn't be better example than M. K. Gandhi to describe peace. You know what, Gandhi never got that (Nobel Prize for peace). That's how and why I said exception. But here what I wonder is, why? Why? Why not Gandhi? (Just for a record Bush was nominated for peace prize last year, correct me If I am wrong).

I was under impression that Peace prize is for those who achieve their mission through peacefull solution or contribute to keep peace in the world, One way or another.

And, there was a man whose motto was 'Ahinsa param dharm'. Who had always opposed any kind of violence in his whole life. Who fought without using any weapon to get independence for his country. But who was never be considered as candidate for nobel peace prize.

I always wonder why it was not given to Gandhi. Below is a list of winners during 1939 to 1949, when M. K. Gandhi could get the awards:

1939-1942: Of the prize money for this period, one-third was transferred to the Main Fund and two-thirds to the Nobel Institute's Special Fund.

1943: Reserved.

1944: One-third of the prize money for 1943 was transferred to the Main Fund, and two-thirds to the Nobel Institute's Special Fund.

1944: Reserved.

1945: The prize for 1944: The International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva. Founded 1863.

1945: Hull, Cordell, USA, 1871-1955.
Former Secretary of State. One of the initiators of the United Nations.

1946: The prize was divided equally between:
Balch, Emily Greene, USA, 1867-1961.
Former Professor of History and Sociology. International President of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom;
and Mott, John Raleigh, USA, 1865-1955.
Chairman of the first International Missionary Council in 1910, President of the World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations.

1947: The prize was divided equally between:
The Friends Service Council, London. Founded in 1647; and
The American Friends Service Committee (the Quakers), Washington. The society's first official meeting was held in 1672.

1948: Reserved.

1949: One-third of the prize money for 1948 was transferred to the Main Fund, and two-thirds to the Nobel Institute's Special Fund.

1949: Orr of Brechin, Baron John Boyd, Great Britain, 1880-1971.
Physician, nutritionist, leading organizer and Director General of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, President of the National Peace Council and the World Union of Peace Organizations.


Ok that was about Peace and now move to Movie. Similar kind of thing happened to one of the great movie of it's time. And that movie was 'Sholay'.

Do you know it took decades for Filmfare Awards (or/and others such group) to recognize that sholay was the masterpiece. Sholay and Deewar both released in 1975, nobody can deny that both were very good movie. But when awards were given for 1975 release then Sholay got None.

Filmfare Awards 1975 - Best Film: Deewar | Best Director: Yash Chopra (Deewar) | Best Actor: Sanjeev Kumar (Aandhi) | Best Actress: Lakshmi (Julie) | Best Actor in a supporting role: Shashi Kapoor (Deewar) | Best Actress in a supporting role: Nadira (Julie) | Best Performance in a comic role: Deven Varma (Chori Mera Kaam) | Best Story: Salim Javed (Deewar) | Best Music: Rajesh Roshan (Julie)

Ans that's the end of this post, there is always an award but none for exception.

Note: This year Nuke watchdog wins Nobel Peace Prize

Tagged again...23rd and 5th

I was tagged by Meenal ...

something about picking up the 23rd blog entry from the archives, find the 5th sentence and post it:)

My 23rd post was called "Virtually There" and here's the fifth sentence: Wondering How? I will explain here.

Here's a link to that blog entry. Once there then scroll little bit and stop at "Virtually There"

I will tag Keshi, Avik, Prasad, Neelima and Kroopa [will spare Akhil & Mona this time ;)].

Did you notice this is just CCP post. Until you realize Read this interesting story.

Crime makes Cry-me

The former U.S. education secretary-turned-talk show host said Wednesday that "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." Bennett quickly added that such an idea would be "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do." But, he said, "your crime rate would go down."

Bennett's comments came Wednesday, during a discussion on his talk show "Morning in America." A caller had suggested that Social Security would be better funded if abortion had not been legalized in 1973 because the nation would have more workers paying into the system. This is a HOT topic now-a-days in political circle. While his comnent was totally absurd but instead of criticising I thought it would be a good idea to dig on google. And rest of this post is what I found while digging.

Crime in the United States accounts for more death, injuries and loss of property then all Natural Disasters combined. The Disaster Center is pleased to be able to provide you with access to the statistics of crime compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

the victims and their relatives often experience financial problems, and time is often lost from work to handle the legal, insurance and personal problems associated with being a victim. The trauma associated with any crime often makes it hard for victims to cope with normal daily routines. And the victims of crime are frequently blamed by their friends for not being more careful. The trauma continues as victims of crime often find themselves ignored by law enforcement, and confused by the court system

Here are some statistics that demonstrate this:

1. Every two minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.
2. In 2002, there were a total of 4,854 cases of aggravated assault in Washington DC. On a daily basis, this computes to 13.2 aggravated assaults a day.
3. In Maryland, there were 3,228 cases of larceny and thefts per 100,000 people in 2002. This is one-third higher than the national average rate of 2,445.8 cases per 100,000.
4. In Detroit, there were 41.79 murders per 100,000 people in 2002. This is alarmingly way above the national average rate of 5.6 for the same year.
5. In 2002, with the exception of burglaries, Philadelphia led all crime levels which were above the national average rates for murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assaults, larceny/theft and motor vehicle theft.

This is interesting to read Race and Crime in the USa. But I didn't include part of it because this article had the data between 1994-1999. So If you go by this then it wouldn't be hard for Bennett to defend himself, but past is a past and no one should be judge based on this old data.

Based on recent data it looks like there is some improvement. Here is some data what I found for recent time.





The intimate homicide rate has fallen for blacks in every gender and relationship category while the rate for whites has not declined for all categories
The intimate homicide rate --

1. for white girlfriends was about the same in 2002 as it was in 1976
2. for white wives and ex-wives has declined but not as much as that for white husbands and ex-husbands
3. for black husbands and ex-husbands was 16 times greater in 1976 than it was in 2002
4. is higher for black girlfriends than any other group in 2002, although it has declined 58% since 1976

In general, guns are most often used in intimate homicide but weapon type varies by relationship. From 1990 to 2002 --

1. Over two-thirds of the spouse and ex-spouse victims were killed by guns.
2. Boyfriend victims were more likely to be killed by knives than any other group of intimates.
3. Girlfriends are more likely to be killed by force than any other group of intimates.



And at the end, here is data for Murders (per capita) per country



India is 26 on this list (0.03 per 1000 people).

what I believe, We should not judge a race or religion or nation based on wrong doing of handful individuals or groups. Because our comment or decision can lead other innocent people of same race or religion or nation to get suffer.

Source: Uniform Crime Report">, Bureau of Justice Statistics, country based data

Professors - Lost in Translation

This is what happening in one of to be super power's (as few people, I mean Indian media believe so) university right in the heart of country, ie. her captial and that's for national language. Isn't it shame? Any doubt? Read More

I got to know about this from my hindi blogger fellow hindini.

Is this thing in Google yet

If you Googling and don't find the article or thing you googling for, then go right here. How useful is this I don't know so figure it out by yourself.

I do, You don't

Zellweger, Chesney split. That was the news I read today in CNN and it force me to write a post about this.

Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger and country singer Kenny Chesney are seeking an annulment after five months of marriage, a spokeswoman said Thursday. Publicist Nanci Ryder confirmed that Zellweger and Chesney, who stunned the entertainment world in May with a marriage on a beach in the Caribbean, had split. In court papers filed Wednesday, Zellweger listed "fraud" as the reason for the breakup but did not elaborate, The Associated Press reported.

One thing which I don't understand why and how much time you need to understand a person. Usually Here before marriage couple spent lots and lots of time together, living or dating bla bla bla and when they realize (I believe so) they know each other they get married. In spite of all this, it's suprize me that more time couple takes to get married compare to time they take to get divorce after marriage. It's obvious that is not true for every one here in this country but most of them, especially I think all Celebrities.

I read and noticed lots of people of this country asked how you guys (We Indian or asians) can do or do arranged marriage without even knowing or meeting someone. For them My question is how it's possible to get divorce from a person with whome you get married after living or dating so many days (montha or years) and after realizing this is the one made for you. If you get answer of this, you will know other too.

Do you know? There is no word in Hindi for english word Divorce (at least I am not aware of it, FYI 'Talaak' is urdu word).

Indian's Death Toll 585 - Encephalitis

Since Hurricane Katrina slammed gulf coast of USA, hundreds of article or post has been written about how USA handled the relief effort even most of the Indian papers and bloggers have written criticism about it, some known so called columnist also expressed their point of view or criticism. The offical death toll is around 400. While in India, 585 the number of deaths (all children) reported so far related with encephalitis Details here, China View. And this number is quite higher than katrina's present toll. It seems no one care about this in India. It seems Kids die let them die they are of poor villagers kind of attitude. Wake-up guys.....and stop saying that India is going to be next super power. Every day or week 8-10 children are dying and what government is doing - nothing. At least increasing count gives the same feeling.

I heard that media is a very powerful medium but it seems NOT IN INDIA. USA will overcome with her situation in New Orleans, they will find out who screwed this thing and that person or persons will get punsihed for this. So it's better for India or we Indians to worry about our problems where no politician or powerful personality get punished for their wrong doing. So what you guys waiting for....when that count reach 1000 then will start thinking something. Don't wait for that, start writing your views. I will appreciate if instead of writing comments on this post if you post same comment in you blog as a new post. Spread this thing same way as encephalitis spreaded in North India.

update: Today health minister said those kids will get vaccinated against the mosquito-born disease but when he didn't mention. In the news in miami hearld, officials in Uttar Pradesh state say they lack money to do it and have sought help from the federal government and the World Health Organization. What rubbish, This government have enough money for the personal use for politicians and big officers but not for those poor children. Stop bagging every time infront of others, and then make your cut out of it.

Gmail Now in Hindi

Gmail is now available in Hindi too. To do this login into Gmail account, click on settings select language as hindi (there is option of other different language too) and Gmail is all set to display links and menu in Hindi. Even after this when you go to google.com, you will see hindi links there too.

Katrina's Fury

Katrina became TSunami for city of New Orleans. Last year I was in Florida and was witness of three hurricanes within 3-4 weeks period of time. It was horrible and aftermath was worse but we survived.

Now this year I saw what Hurricane Katrina did to Gulf coast and after watching this I can only say we were lucky and that was not even close to horrible, we were in far better position than people of gulf coast.

This is the worse natural disaster in US history. More Detail. Want to help

Sehar - the awaited dawn!

Sehar is a film inspired by real-life incidents. Sehar is a urdu word that means Morning or Dawn. I think, this is the first film ever to be made on the Mafia of UP, based on factual incidents and characters. Sehar is about the origin of organised crime in North India and the steps taken to bring it under control. The film is in flashback with an interesting narrative style.

Sehar moves in and around Gorakhpur-Lucknow-Benaras and terrorises every living soul in the vicinity and ends at Delhi.

Now, You will say every third crime movies have a plot like this. But believe me this is different with a good story, very good acting by Arshad Warsi, no useless un-neccessary songs...a simple film without filmi glamour, which makes this "Real" rather than watching "Reel".

Arshad plays a police officer (Ajay Kumar) who pays the price for his honesty by getting transferred often. And this film shows in Real Life Police officers are not hero as it depicts in other movies but there determination is. Story looks like written after doing a quite research. The film is set in 1997; cell phones were still a new phenomenon then. It makes sense when Pankaj Kapur, who plays an expert in cell phone technology, joins the STF.

Editing of Sehar is brilliant, A lot of thoughts and hard work display into the cinematography and costumes as well. Seher definitely brings out the seriousness of the issues it talks about, though this does give the film a slightly arty feel, and that's why this will appeal to a very thin segment of moviegoers. Kabeer Kaushik's direction is good too, it's daring to make such movie in early in his career. Last but not least, the Climax is different and at one point you get the hint about this too.

It's unforunate, Sehar happened to be a flop film in Box-Office. All in all, Sehar is a good film, worth to watch.

it's shame! being a human

The death of a Muslim woman, who was caught in a blaze as the locals refused to allow entry to male fire-fighters to rescue her. ‘‘We have a problem with women of Muslim community who do not want to be rescued by male fire-fighters even when they are on the verge of death. This has prompted me to think of raising a women force,’’ said Pratim Chatterjee, Minister for Fire Services.

Government need to be strong in certain matters. Until these kinds of issues are not solved in the country no matter where we are listed in powerfull countries, I and probably other countries too believe we still a weak and un-educated country who can not defend her people from people itself.

This is really shame for being a human.

Read Detail News

Encephalitis claims 90 lives in Gorakhpur

90 children have died in the last 15 days in eastern Uttar Pradesh around Gorakhpur. Encephalitis is endemic to eastern UP and cases have been reported practically every year since 1978 when 720 children had died. Still no Vaccination campaign by government, what does that mean. It means poor people in India just born to die and help country to control the population. Every year or alternative year 100's of children die since 1978 because of same disease still "India shining" not able to control this. Hello! people who live in villages and in small towns in rural area are also Indians. But who cares for them.

I am not surprize I got to know about this news first from local radio station news (EBC) here in NJ (yesterday, Aug 18, 2005 at 9 am). After reaching at work I checked almost all Indian newspaper and news channel website but didn't get a single word of news about this, And today I see this in NDTV's site. I thought USA is almost 11 hours behind India timewise but it looks otherway round newswise or is this India media got news from International media, or they are more interested what's happening in metros rather than what or how villages of India doing. just wondering!!!

Civilization: Conquest of the Month - India

India has always been an invader's paradise, No matter how many Persians, Greeks, Chinese nomads, Arabs, Portuguese, British and other raiders had their way with the land, local Hindu kingdoms invariably survived their depradations, living out their own sagas of conquest and collapse. All the while, these local dynasties built upon the roots of a culture well established since the time of the first invaders, the Aryans.

Game starts with 7 preset, bloodthirsty rivals as in reality, in this game too Gandhi and his India not only survived but got the victory too. Game start with this tiny portion of visible land, and Gandhi's settler first found Delhi and India started exloring the world.



(1786 AD center part of the India - Purple portion in the small window at the bottom is map of India)


Confused? What's going on? What Gandhi is doing here? ok! let me start from the beginning. I am here talking about a turn based strategic game named Civilization, I am a big fan of this game or should I say addicted to this game. This game is basically very very broader version of chess with the twist and turns of world history. Game starts from 4000 BC and you as a one civilization have to explorer the world and meet with new civilization. As the game continue you have to dominate the world either diplomatically or becoming a leader in tech race (space race victory) or conquest (as British did in the past) one small mistake or wrong move can give AI (computer) a good chance to invade or distroy your civilization.

So this month's Conquest of the month civilization was India. Month of august and COTM India, I couldn't stop myself and started playing the Game. And by the end of 1786 AD, Gandhi's India won the diplomatic victory


Here is the results


And that win was possible because of India built United Nations in Delhi


At the end of the game, this was the score card:


check this for more detail about civilization, Also you can check more pictures by clicking on Flicker window in the right, if interested.

The Rising: Ballad of Managl Pandey

This rising is not only about a man named Mangal Pandey but also about the rising of India. It's a very good team effort, a very well work done in all areas whether it is acting or Himman Dhamija's cinematography or Rehman's Music or Javed Akhtar's lyrics or Ketan Mehta's direction. And the song "Mangal Mangal..." is astonishing, amazing simply superb sung by Kailash Kher. If you are down in life or feel no energy then watch or listen this song.

This is a movie about friendship, social issues (like sati, casticism, corruption), East India Company's opium trade and ofcourse about the beginning of independence of country and of people. clips or plots of social issues were fit into screenplay very nicely. Film also rich in color and music too. Inspite of little avaiablity of the writings in the subject Ketan and team managed to come with a very good end product. Some time may be you feel movie is little slow or little stretch but by the time you realize it you will see picking pace again. There are couple of movies made on India's independence but very few also depict social issues of that time. Rising is one of them.

Only disadvantage what I see for this movie is the label of period film. So everyone knows the end but isn't it true for 99% of bollywood movies. Climax is really great and voice of Om puri in narration reminds me of 'Bharat ek Khoj'.

Overall a movie worth to watch but still not that par for a good actor to dedicate himself on this movie for 4 years. And beware if you are hard core fan of chopra's or johar's style of movie then it's better to sit at home and wait for DVD to release otherwise if you feel a movie should be good to watch in theater then stop readig this, Go and "Halla Bol!".

You can listen Rising's songs right here

A Secular ReThink

I came to know about this from Debashis, There is a nice essay competition being organised by the Indian Express group. So if you think you can write then here is a chance for a secular re-think. The winning entry can win prize of Rs. 50,000 as well as publication in Indian Express (English) and Jansatta (Hindi). One last thing submit before Aug. 15 this year.

Details are Here

Note: Because of time crunch not able to visit other blogs but thanks to those still stoping by.

An interview with Medha Patekar

Last month I posted and asked if anyone have any questions regarding an interview with Medha Patekar, unfortunately because of short notice I didn't get questions from readers.

Now interview is done and has been published, if anyone is interested, here is the link.

Street Fight: Police vs Worker

Now-a-days I am not getting time to read or write any post. But today while working at Gym this news just popped-up in TV screen infront of me at CNN. After watching all this couldn't stop myself to write a post. That police guy was literally bagging for his life (today ball was in the other court).

Don't have much time to read all about this, so can't figure out answers for where, why, when, how kind of questions. But it's really shamefull to see such thing. Couple years back I got chance to see how productive or un-productive these workers are and like everybody else me too know little bit about Indian police. So my comment for this whole episode is "Tu Daal Daal Mein Paat Paat" (तू डाल डाल मैं पात पात) until that unbiased committee comes with.....oh forget it.

Utha Le Inko

When I saw this picture first time in Sashi Singh's blog I couldn't believe. But believe it or not it's true. Anybody...'jara inhe bhi lift kara de.......few inch more utha le". A math question: A dead man goes in four shoulders can anyone tell how many men short here? Detail News Here