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South Africa’s Olympic boss Gideon Sam:
“If [our athletes] are unhappy with their rooms because they have not been swept, they must take off their jackets and sweep them themselves. We will not complain. South Africans do not do that,” Sam added. “And when I get there on Friday, if a toilet is not clean, I will clean it myself.”
I respect his sentiment, but seeing the amount of work that needs to be done, I wish he’d come to India sooner ..
Back in Colorado. Another hike. Blogging break through Monday.
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In the meanwhile:
I know many parents read this blog (for the parenting tips): Can someone reckon why Indian kids make the most noise on a flight?
A little girl made the flight to Colorado miserable for all passengers yesterday with a sweet combination of crying, wailing and general yelling. I was half asleep, but was so sure she was Indian that I didn’t even bother to strain my neck to see who it was. And I’m pretty sure she was the reason the captain landed our flight 15 minutes before time.
Of course, as is Murphy’s Law, she was fast asleep minutes after the flight landed. Because she was asleep, she also looked adorable. The parents, while they remained seated for the rest of the passengers to alight, had this wonderful look of helplessness, embarrassment and ‘We’re not fit for this job’ realization.
My question: Is there something special Indian parents do to get such behaviour out of their kids?
Please let me know. I’d like to do the same to my kids.
When science meets religion, it results in fireworks.
When religion meets science, it results in A Guideline of Performing Ibadah (worship) at the International Space Station (ISS), approved by Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council.
I might just be inspired to someday write a book for TamBrams, Being ‘Madi‘ in Space.
Canada might pull out of Commonwealth Games.
Top British trio pull out of Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand mulls pull out of Commonwealth Games.
Commonwealth Games are headed to a pre-contraceptive era.
This is a ‘creation’ involving what looks like a crucifix. If it helps, you could imagine a statue of your favourite god instead.
Now for the fun part: Well, it is plastic crucifix in a jar of the artist’s urine. [Here is the entire explanation.]
Before you get outraged (more so if you heeded my advice and imagined your favourite god), here is how art can help push boundaries: Stop for a moment and think why urine is bad? Or why it has any negative connotation at all?
Because we decided so.
Just as easily, we could decide not so.
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If you’re Christian, I do respect your outrage at the above creation — as long as your reaction does not infringe on someone else’s rights.
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Link via Raghu.
Some precautions taken before Ayodhya verdict:
Media told to not speculate about Ayodhya verdict.
Media cautioned before Ayodhya verdict.
Media to be kept away from HC on verdict day.
Govt bans bulk SMS and MMS ahead of Ayodhya verdict.
They all seem reasonable restrictions. Security concern is the simplest excuse used by states to curb freedoms. If you think about it, the state has almost no control over law and order. Where you find law and order, it exists because it hasn’t been broken yet.
It takes one mob to crack the largest democracy in the world.
[Recommended reading: Mobs Are Above The Law.]
One-third of girls across cities reported having received obscene calls or messages. Shockingly, nearly 75% girls from Bhubaneswar reported having received such calls followed by Hyderabad (65%) and Bangalore (28%). The study also found that 77% girls felt eve-teasing was the biggest challenge they faced in urban spaces and 74%, in fact, felt most vulnerable in public areas. About 40% girls coped with harassment by ignoring it.
I feel for those other 25% girls in Bhubaneshwar: They might suffer from inferiority complex.
Anywho, I can’t wait for the CWG to start so we can all be proud of our country and ignore such petty issues.
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Speaking of women, 12,000 women are arrested in America every year for breastfeeding in public.
The news doing rounds today is:
India third most powerful nation: US report.
None of the articles explain what metrics of power were used to calculate this.
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Whatever the metric, I won’t be surprised if it is in fact the Indian government that is the third most powerful in the world, following the U.S. government and the Chinese government.
And how is that a good thing?
Babri verdict: Release of Anjaana-Anjaani, Aakrosh postponed.
Everyone agrees that we don’t need distractions after such an important verdict. We need to concentrate on killing people.
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I also propose bringing attention seekers like Rakhi Sawant and Rahul Mahajan under house arrest for the near future. And sending Arnab Goswami to the moon.
And sending Karunanidhi to the sun. No reason really; I just want to see how good his ‘cooling glass’ is.
Some choicest CWG news, all from the last 24 hours:
CWG main venue bridge collapses, 27 hurt.
Games Village is filthy, says CEO of CGF.
CWG may be called off: NZ chef de mission.
CWG shocker: stray dog found on athlete bed.
Okay, it is perhaps unfair to blame Kalmadi for the last one until we’ve spoken to the athlete in question.
