Month: December 2011

Categories
Musings

An old beloved TV Series

The problem with having a high speed broadband internet is that when you aren’t downloading anything on it, you feel you are wasting your money. So while desperately trying to fill up my second 2 Terabyte hard disc, I suddenly noticed that a very old serial was on the torrent – Street Hawk. I loved the show as a kid. So much so, that despite being a pampered brat, I could be coaxed into almost anything so that I would be allowed to watch it on DD1 every Sunday. And boy, did my mother blackmail me for the watching privileges. As a 5 year old, I would wake up early (on a Sunday), do my homework, polish my shoes, get ready as a good kid, eat green veggies and do almost anything without a peep for this show.
This was a short-lived series they broadcast in India in 1990, about a vigilante on a special motorcycle. Although it was on air for only 13 episodes, it still had a cult following. Its theme music is catchy and I believe anyone who has seen the series will still be able to identify it. So while I was watching it as a grown up, which also happened to bring back one of the best things I looked forward to as a child, I noticed a few stunts which I believe, have probably affected some of the very popular films and games. Amusingly enough, no one has noticed it so far. Keep in mind that the series originated in the mid 80s.
In the second episode of the series, Street Hawk is chasing George Clooney’s car over a “flood control channel” area. Now I am not sure what that area means, but it looks damn similar to the area where Arnold chases T-1000 in Terminator 2. Street Hawk makes the exact same jump as Arnold would do later with his Harley in the ’90’s. Only difference being, the Arnold scene looked much better.
Throughout the series, the protagonist is asked to change into his Street Hawk identity by his friend using the phrase – “Suit Up!!” Barney of HIMYM, sounds familiar?
In the same episode, George Clooney is being chased by cop cars. To ditch them, he sideswipes a scaffolding (pursuit breaker) so that it falls down just behind them, stopping those cars. NFS fans, reminds you of Most Wanted chases?
And in case you might be thinking, George Clooney did appear in the series before he became an icon.
Which series did you guys love as kids?
 

Categories
Miscellaneous

AFSPA DEBATES

Guest post by T R Ramaswami
Opponents of ASFPA must read the autobiography of an ex-IPS officer, Shri E.N. Ram Mohan, titled Simply Khaki. Mr. Rammohan was last DG of the BSF (1997-2000) and had served for extensive periods in the North-East and J&K. In the book he states that every political party, particularly in the North-East and Kashmir has a militant unit which comes into play when that party is in the opposition. Insurgency is therefore a political issue which ALL political parties are responsible for creating and nurturing.
Instead of asking for the ASFPA to be repealed, why doesn’t anyone, including human rights activists, central/state governments and the media have the guts to ask for withdrawal of the army in toto from internal security duties? Or let us have another alternative – if any state wants the army for insurgency operations, without ASFPA, the Home Secretary and the DG Police of the state will be sent home for incompetency and the army commander will function in both those offices. Or better still, President’s rule will be declared in the state and martial law declared. Done? Every political party wants ASFPA to be repealed when in the opposition but needs the army to hold their pants when they are in power. Will media even have the courage to state openly that using the army internally signifies failure of all politicians, police and bureaucrats? I challenge anyone to counter my views openly. I am of course assuming, but am open to correction, that media has the courage to publish this letter. It is lack of this courage to express true public views, that has led to “hate sites” which are now clownishly attempted to be censored.
 

Categories
Miscellaneous

AFSPA FOR DUMMIES

Guest post by T R Ramaswami
ASFPA opponents may note this story that explains the issue neatly. A human rights NGO worker, a TV journalist and a tough old soldier were captured by terrorists in Kashmir. The leader granted each one last request. The HR NGO worker said, ‘Well, I’d like one last plate of tandoori chicken.’ The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chicken. The HR activist ate it all and said, ‘Now I can die content.’ The TV journalist said, ‘I want to record the scene here and what’s about to happen. Maybe, someday, someone will see it and know that I was on the job till the end.’ The leader handed over a video camera and the journalist filmed as he spoke. He then said ‘Now I can die happy.’
The leader turned to the soldier and asked, ‘ Havaldarji, what is your final wish? ‘Kick me,’ said the soldier. So the leader kicked him. The soldier rolled to his knees, pulled a hidden pistol from inside his vest and shot the leader dead. He emptied his sidearm on the shocked terrorists and with an AK-47, from an already dead terrorist, sprayed the rest. In a flash all of them were dead. The HR NGO worker and the journalist asked him, ‘Why didn’t you just shoot them all in the first place? Why did you ask him to kick you?’ ‘Because’ replied the soldier, ‘if I had shot first, you two would have reported that I was the aggressor and the root cause of all the blood shedding in Kashmir! Now you know why the army needs AFSPA. Go tell this to the world.’
 

Categories
Miscellaneous

Cellphone Woes

Mobile phone is like the ultimate fashion accessories these days. We change phones not because the old one is damaged/lost but because we no
A year ago one of my female colleagues was really delighted by Micromax Bling. She loved its square shape, the fact that it had a square screen with 2 crystal buttons with a mirror. She felt that it was like a nose powder box and was the latest fashion accessory that should be added to her purse. She actually bought one and was quite happy with it. Her only dissatisfaction was that “The phone is not pricy enough. I would have loved it even more if it was 5,000/- more expensive.”
Similarly for my mother, less is more. All she is looking for a phone with a good battery life, strong reception during her travel, few buttons and big font size in the display (so that she can function even without her glasses). She does not want a smart phone. It’s not that she is averse to technology; she just associates a phone with telephonic conversations. Any why shouldn’t she STD rates in India are as low as 20-50p (6,000 paisa = 1 USD). Plus you don’t have to pay any monthly commitment/subscription fee.
She does not want a touch screen: because she would rather use an application over the laptop then over a tiny weenie screen. Also her ear-rings (in spite of the proximity sensors etc.) have a tendency of muting her conversation (or a similar mischief). She would rather use an application over a laptop where everything is clearly visible than over a phone.
A business phone (like blackberry) is counterproductive because the key size is too small without the glasses.
Till recently she had a simple nokia phone with a standard 12+3 button format and a color screen. However now she does not want it because her maid has a similar phone.
I am sure there is a huge market for expensive phones with easy to use features.