This reporter has some sense of humor.
"After his arrest in Pakistan in 2006, Britain sought his extradition in the airliner bombing case. But he escaped when Pakistani police officers accompanying him back to prison from a court hearing in Karachi agreed to stop at a mosque so he could pray and — as the police told it — slipped out the back door."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/world/europe/15london.html
Playlist
- Eyes on Fire - Blue Foundation
- Rooster - Alice in Chains
- Jigsaw Falling into Place - Radiohead
- Quien Fuera - Silvio Rodriguez
- La Tortura - Shakira
Monday, September 14, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Hell hath no fury ..
.. as a moviegoer scorned. Especially, one who opened up his wallet to dole out $30 for two IMAX tickets to the kind of rubbish (aka Transformers 3) that I wouldn't even bother seeing on DVD. James Berardinelli does a much better job rubbishing the movie the only way he can so I'll stick to my frustrations.
We booked the tickets in advance - so there was an air of inevitability about me as the date was approaching. I kept justifying to myself that Transformers 3 is the kind of movie that can only be so bad - especially given the first installment which I rather liked. Unfortunately, the first one was the exception to the rule that Michael Bay should stay away from movies.
We booked the tickets in advance - so there was an air of inevitability about me as the date was approaching. I kept justifying to myself that Transformers 3 is the kind of movie that can only be so bad - especially given the first installment which I rather liked. Unfortunately, the first one was the exception to the rule that Michael Bay should stay away from movies.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Modern Indian History
Ramachandra Guha's "India after Gandhi" about India's postwar history is absolutely fascinating. The man's writing style is thoroughly engaging and mostly devoid of bias. It's funny that I decided to pick up the book after reading a favorable review of the author's works on Cricket. A man as versatile as Guha deserved to be read - and my 800 page gamble has been vindicated.
It is an interesting complement to Tariq Ali's - "Duel" about Pakistan. While the former is a work of history (100 pages of references) and celebrates the exemplary leaders (Gandhi, Nehru, Patel) and officials (Menon, Munshi, Sen) who literally cobbled together India against all odds, the latter - a much shorter work spun from a wellspring of the author's experience with the Pakistani establishment - is equally engaging and offers a contrasting view of the endemic broken-record behavior of Pakistan's political and military leaders starting with Jinnah himself.
That most post-Independence generations of India like mine have a hard time reconciling with the fact that there was no "India" as we know it before Independence is a testament to the work of the founding fathers and more than anything else, the majority of the vastly illiterate and indigent populace who had the maturity to unite as a nation in spite of the multi-dimensional differences. Against all odds (and I only have an appreciation for it now), India came to be - it is something to be celebrated and must serve as a source of inspiration for every Indian.
It is an interesting complement to Tariq Ali's - "Duel" about Pakistan. While the former is a work of history (100 pages of references) and celebrates the exemplary leaders (Gandhi, Nehru, Patel) and officials (Menon, Munshi, Sen) who literally cobbled together India against all odds, the latter - a much shorter work spun from a wellspring of the author's experience with the Pakistani establishment - is equally engaging and offers a contrasting view of the endemic broken-record behavior of Pakistan's political and military leaders starting with Jinnah himself.
That most post-Independence generations of India like mine have a hard time reconciling with the fact that there was no "India" as we know it before Independence is a testament to the work of the founding fathers and more than anything else, the majority of the vastly illiterate and indigent populace who had the maturity to unite as a nation in spite of the multi-dimensional differences. Against all odds (and I only have an appreciation for it now), India came to be - it is something to be celebrated and must serve as a source of inspiration for every Indian.
Ratzinger under fire
Ratzinger has come under Fisk-Fire this time around in one of his typically firebrand articles where no quarter is spared .. but there was still room for some humor.
"ex-Cardinal Ratzinger (anti-divorce, anti-gay and anti-aircraft, as I always remind myself)"
Read this for the anti-aircraft reference.
"ex-Cardinal Ratzinger (anti-divorce, anti-gay and anti-aircraft, as I always remind myself)"
Read this for the anti-aircraft reference.
Friday, January 23, 2009
ha ha ha ..
Point-and-Shoot Does Not Preclude Thinking
Butt Hole Road
"Mr. Bailey, who grew up on Tumbledown Dick Road in Oxfordshire, and Mr. Hurst got the idea for the books when they read about a couple who bought a house on Butt Hole Road, in South Yorkshire.
The name most likely has to do with the spot’s historic function as a source of water, a water butt being a container for collecting water. But it proved to be prohibitively hilarious.
“If they ordered a pizza, the pizza company wouldn’t deliver it, because they thought it was a made-up name,” Mr. Hurst said. “People would stand in front of the sign, pull down their trousers and take pictures of each other’s naked buttocks.”
The couple moved away."
Butt Hole Road
"Mr. Bailey, who grew up on Tumbledown Dick Road in Oxfordshire, and Mr. Hurst got the idea for the books when they read about a couple who bought a house on Butt Hole Road, in South Yorkshire.
The name most likely has to do with the spot’s historic function as a source of water, a water butt being a container for collecting water. But it proved to be prohibitively hilarious.
“If they ordered a pizza, the pizza company wouldn’t deliver it, because they thought it was a made-up name,” Mr. Hurst said. “People would stand in front of the sign, pull down their trousers and take pictures of each other’s naked buttocks.”
The couple moved away."
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Alchemist
"Maybe it's better to be like the Crystal Merchant: never go to Mecca, and just go thru life wanting to do so, .."
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Seetaphal in Bogota?
I had been pressuring my Colombian coworkers to make sure they arranged for my favorite fruit - Sapota or Chikkoo in India also known as Zapote in Colombia - by the time I got here. Unfortunately, Bogota doesn't quite have the tropical heat required for the fruit so it wasn't available when I did get here.
However, Bogota has MORE than it's share of amazing fruits that I've been devouring in the form of milk shakes. Of particular note is the Guanabana - the local name for Seetaphal. The creamy texture of this fruit lends itself to a milk shake. Another new fruit I encountered is called Copo Azul - an amazonian fruit that has a similarly creamy white pulp.
Without exceptions, EVERY meal I've had at Bogota has been a revelation. You won't believe the variety of vegetarian options you get in most restaurants here. They range from delicately spiced lentil soups to delicious crepes (Crepes and Waffles), pastas (Di Lucca) and get this - Sushi rolls. 'The Wok' had 6 vegetarian rolls that were absolutely mind-blowing. It says something when I haven't had to order a salad here so far.
Even well known fast food chains like 'Crepes and Waffles' have a great variety of cheap but unbelievably tasty vegetarian options. They had one crepe called the "The Gandhi" .. with curried tofu. I resisted my patriotic impulses and instead got the portobello/goat cheese/arugula crepe - I was blown away.
If you ever get to go down to Bogota - check out these restaurants. You won't be disappointed.
However, Bogota has MORE than it's share of amazing fruits that I've been devouring in the form of milk shakes. Of particular note is the Guanabana - the local name for Seetaphal. The creamy texture of this fruit lends itself to a milk shake. Another new fruit I encountered is called Copo Azul - an amazonian fruit that has a similarly creamy white pulp.
Without exceptions, EVERY meal I've had at Bogota has been a revelation. You won't believe the variety of vegetarian options you get in most restaurants here. They range from delicately spiced lentil soups to delicious crepes (Crepes and Waffles), pastas (Di Lucca) and get this - Sushi rolls. 'The Wok' had 6 vegetarian rolls that were absolutely mind-blowing. It says something when I haven't had to order a salad here so far.
Even well known fast food chains like 'Crepes and Waffles' have a great variety of cheap but unbelievably tasty vegetarian options. They had one crepe called the "The Gandhi" .. with curried tofu. I resisted my patriotic impulses and instead got the portobello/goat cheese/arugula crepe - I was blown away.
If you ever get to go down to Bogota - check out these restaurants. You won't be disappointed.
Colombian Coffee ..
.. takes on a whole new meaning when you are IN Colombia. I'm by no means an ardent coffee lover - that would be someone like Manju. However, I do possess taste buds that are qualified enough to identify that the coffee at work really sucks and coffee that's not free is only marginally better. In 8 years in the US, I've barely spent $10 on caffeinated beverages.
So, when I was headed down to Colombia for a business trip, I was curious to test my Colombian co-workers assertions about the quality of Colombian coffee. After four days, I can honestly say that even the worst coffee I had here tastes better than the best coffee I had in the states. More often than not, I'm surprised by the flavor of the coffee - I always have it with milk.
Over the last few days I tasted gourmet coffee in restaurants with a reputation, from coffee machines at work and even the free breakfast lounge in the hotel I stay at. They have all been great. I'll be taking back some coffee. Not sure if I can replicate the magic back home.
Let's see ..
So, when I was headed down to Colombia for a business trip, I was curious to test my Colombian co-workers assertions about the quality of Colombian coffee. After four days, I can honestly say that even the worst coffee I had here tastes better than the best coffee I had in the states. More often than not, I'm surprised by the flavor of the coffee - I always have it with milk.
Over the last few days I tasted gourmet coffee in restaurants with a reputation, from coffee machines at work and even the free breakfast lounge in the hotel I stay at. They have all been great. I'll be taking back some coffee. Not sure if I can replicate the magic back home.
Let's see ..
Friday, September 12, 2008
Mouthwatering Pictures
I was scouring the web for some decent pictures of Andhra food (don't ask me why .. that's another story I hope to tell soon) and I finally stumbled across this one here. This (presumably a) lady seems to have an eye to match the amazing dishes she's making. Yumm!!!! I'm a fan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indianfood/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indianfood/
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