Sorry to dissapoint you all

Sorry to disappoint you all.
I hadn't updated since a long time since I was damn busy.
I was so busy that I have lost tab of the many good/bad/interesting things that have happened to me.
So I made you miss out on a lot of action.
Anyway, it is important to start from somewhere, I will start up by describing the week gone by.
Give me some time, by monday, this blog must have been updated. Bye, take care, be here ny monday, to find new stuff. ADIOS!!!

The hurl at the rock show

By Sanket ‘rock music in my veins’ Kambli

Though the title has analogy with a blink-182 track, this is not a punk music write up.
It isn’t even a gig review. It is more like a stupid attempt to fill up space. Let us begin the filling process. Last week at a rock show called Mosh Mania, there occurred an incident which successfully managed to ruin, a not so good image of rock music. This is what happened. Mosh-crazy rockers had assembled to dive into head banging frenzy. The band line-up was impressive with Helga’s Funk Castle, Zero, Them Clones, Pentagram (big names in Indian Rock Scene). Problem started when, a few among the crowd were bored by the lack of heavy music, and they decided to show their displeasure by throwing bottles at the stage, at that time pentagram had taken stage. This stupid act ticked off Pentagram front-man; he lost his temper, and started spitting expletives at the crowd on a whole. And the extent, to which he lost his temper, can be judged by the fact he managed to hurl the mike-stand at the crowd, and hurt an innocent bloke who was there to, just enjoy some live music. Here we should note that the blame is not only on the group which started the fiasco but also on Penta…. lead vox, who instead of trying to diffuse the situation diplomatically, showed a bloated rock star attitude. These people have maligned the not so good image of rock music, though everyone would say that the show must go on. And rock music cannot be killed by such stupid incidents by some dim-wited people. But the question remains unanswered, have people learnt something from this incident, if something of this sort happens again somewhere else, we will easily know it didn’t have the desired effect. So what can be done? Everything, but preaching, because we have a bad habit of not taking advice, anyway, we all know that, Rock and Roll will never die, period.

Stealth Movie Review:

By Sanket ‘frequent flier’ Kambli

Stealth is about a pilot-less futuristic fighter jet which goes rogue, and this rogue jet or EDI=Extreme Deep Invader(spelled as Eddy) makes the movie smarter and more ambitious than it first appears. Amid the dogfight sequences (including a truly magnificent slow-motion crash and a scary pilot-eject at 35,000 feet) and requisite gratuitous shots of Jessica Biel in a bikini, screenwriter W.D. Richter ("Big Trouble in Little China") sneaks in the dangers of win-at-all-costs counter-terrorism and a solid search-and-rescue third act that has little to do with the crazy runaway plane. Biel ("Blade: Trinity"), Josh Lucas ("Sweet Home Alabama") and Jamie Foxx (contracted to a supporting role before "Ray" put him on Hollywood's A-list) play Navy pilots who make up an elite emergency strike force in ultra-high-tech jets that fly in to blow up terrorists and stolen nuclear warheads on a moment's notice. The specifics of these incidents are often logically ridiculous, and they get even more so after the team is forced to accept the computerized plane into their ranks as an experiment. When a lightning strike turns its circuits into bunk ("EDI is war plane. EDI must have targets," it declares in an intimidating monotone), the fight is on to bring the thing down. Director Rob Cohen sets the stage with satellite shots showing worldwide locations, then zooms in and in and in to catch up with realistic (though CGI-generated) canyon-charging flight sequences jazzed up further with creative editing. He hires great actors like Sam Shepard and Joe Morton for supporting roles as the pilots' clashing commanders, one of whom knew the dangers of the rogue plane and let it fly anyway. The script even allows for a little honest (if overly simplistic) philosophical debate about the civilian casualties and the dehumanizing effects of turning warfare into a video game...before turning hypocritical when the pilots violate two foreign countries' airspaces, then shoot down their quite justified defenders.

"Stealth" is far more concerned with being cool than with being smart, so contrivances, plot holes and conspicuous overproduction are constantly pecking away at the movie's defendable assets. With the SPFX being so good the dog-fights and city attacks are just beautiful works of visual-art candy. There's this insane floating gas-station that of course gets "dismantled" and it was pretty nice, as improbable as it was. Even the impossible aerobatics look good. At one point EDI turns around at super sonic speed and shoots down a plane as it flies by him. EDI was also good. He's smart and evolving but they just take it as far as they could have. But the story lags so much, there's nowhere to go with it. I wish they had done some SERIOUS damage in a big city, but movies rarely go there. They have to save the day by cutting the blue wire one second before everything goes boom. The movie sucks in many ways. But for some reason I had fun anyway. Because I love jets, I love stories about AI, especially tough AI’s with emotions, because I love well-accomplished SPFX and the score rocked and rocked HARD.

A rickety-crickety analysis

By Sanket ‘trying to gain his form back’ Kambli

Our cricket team will embark on a new tour, which is just like other tours. And as usual they are carrying a huge baggage of ambitions on their shoulders. The tour to Lanka was disappointing to be modest, and it is hoped that we are able to, at least beat Zimbabweans convincingly.

But both the tours have a point in common, a point which is the most ignored one.

That common point between both the series is that, in the preceding tour, the lankans and windies had played a test series, similarly here the Kiwis and Zimbabweans have played a test series.

And like in the last one-day series, India is again directly playing a limited over series without playing a test series.

And those who think that it is enough for our team to play some practice matches with some local/amateur sides, then all of you may still remember their performances in the matches that followed some practice matches in the last tour.

So here we can clearly see the importance of playing a test series.

Being on the pitch for hours at end for 3-4 consecutive days, playing for a victory for which you have to wait for a few days. The grind of the tests helps a cricketer, to bolster his mental/physical prowess, so after a test series, where he has been able to find out what is wrong/right with him, he is able to perform more to his ability and this rubbish about form is debunked.

Whether he is on the losing/winning side, a test series is always helpful, as it triggers introspection at a personal level, whose effects are clearly seen when these cricketers take to field in a 50-over match.

These tests are much better than practice matches against reserve sides, and we can draw analogy from the concept of holding preliminary exams.

But this is driving us towards another thing called form. And this is where all the rubbish starts.

It is hard to find out; from where, this lame excuse to hide the player’s inability to perform at the highest level has come.

But it also shows how lucky our cricketers are, because if we go down at a student’s level, we as students cannot score low, and during an interview for a job, say that we were out of form.

But that is something we cannot change, so it gets added to my list of ‘things I cannot change’.

And if anyone found my write up, really dim-witted, then I would say I am just out of form.

Mumbai For Sale:?

By Sanket ‘not a salesman’ Kambli

The Maharashtra government has no plans to sell open spaces in Mumbai, as suggested by Environment Minister Ganesh Naik, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said.

"It was his personal opinion. Everybody has the freedom to put forth his views," Deshmukh told reporters in Mumbai.

NCP leader Naik had suggested that the state government could pay off its debt of over Rs 1.10 lakh crore from the proceeds of the sale of government lands in Mumbai.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, also belonging to the NCP, said there was no question of selling off the lands.

"The reservation on land as laid out under the Town Planning Act should continue," he added

Our CM has washed away any chance for me to write, something about our environment ministers remark.

But since my creative skills are limited, I couldn't get any better topic to write on.

If the politicians level of thinking falls to my level, and they implement the revolutionary idea given by Mr. Ganesh Naik, then there are many things that would change.

Since all these places, would become private, giving its owner crazy rights, so that would spell doom, for free sight-seeing lovers like me.

We will need to pay money, to just access places like gardens, and they would say quality life comes at a price.

But then, these places may also become very clean, and well maintained, as these spaces are something they own.

And we have a tendency to take care of only those things which are our own.

It won't be public property, whose maintenance blames are shifted from citizen's to government and vice versa.

Then if some monuments or landmarks are also sold, tourist guides will tell the tourists, something along these lines.

This landmark was build by ... in... And is owned by......

In this way the government will earn a lot of money, which it says it will use to pay off its debts.

Like the say the color of money has a lot of evil powers.

It will affect the vulnerable minds of our helpless politicians, and in a fit of trance make them pocket some of the booty.

This fresh inflow of cash, will make our state rich, it would mean more development, and many more things.

Our lives will change, whether in a good way or bad is controversial.

But sweeping changes or experimentation or not our forte, so let us just stick to traditions, and just go on with life, and even I am going, after draining out your intellectual capabilities in trying to find sense in this mash up of words.

Is Mumbai Safe For Women???

Everyone loves sight seeing, you must be thinking, what has sight seeing got to do with an editorial.

When the sight seeing is accompanied by some really disturbing scenes, we know that the picture isn't perfect.

Let us stop this play with words.

The uncertainty, over the motive, behind the lethal attack on two Indian women visiting Mumbai still exists. This incident has raised multiple questions into everyone's mind.

One of them that have received maximum print space has been of women's safety in this city.

An issue, which at one moment, was seen moving out of the focus, is back, and refuses to die.

Countless women will still consider Mumbai a safe city, even at night.

But here we have to bear one thing in mind that, these remarks are still comparative. Which simply means, it is safe but not that safe?

Even though women do feel safe here, they still prefer to venture alone only when they don't have any other option.

But this nagging fear was mostly limited to post-dusk time or some deserted corners of this city.

But not any more, this brutal incident which occurred in broad daylight, in front of a sizeable crowd, has instilled more than just fear of the dark.

Which brings us to another topic, care?

This isn't even remotely related to the NGO by the same name.

How much should people or mumbaikars care about their fellow mumbaikers?

This attitude of ignoring anything that doesn't directly affect them, is spreading rapidly among many people, this thing has managed to infect everyone, irrespective of their class, creed, age, etc.

Which is a matter worth thinking about, especially in the context of our religious attitude?

Now though religion isn't something that is directly related to this write up, it is enough to prove my point.

We are proud of how religious we are, and almost all religious books, never forget to tell one thing. Compassion

There has to be compassion.

And if the meaning of compassion is not known, it is time it is found out.

Irrespective of many man-made differences, whether the hardships faced by them are directly or indirectly are going to affect you.

As long as this piece is missing from our collective minds, the foundations of not only this city, but also this country will remain shaky. So till then enjoy your shaky life, and hope/pray for a miracle brainwash.

I am in love

I haven't put up stuff since a long time, as I am a bit lazy.
But the details of the last week are, as usual, fuzzy.
But I have a special reason.
I am in love!
The only thing that I remember, other than Pooja, is the fact that on 15th august(our independence day), we had a lecture (system software) taken in the canteen(!!!).
On 17th august, I confessed to Pooja, and since then, I have been 'on cloud number nine' .
Total credit to my friend rashma, for not only introducing, but also for helping me. Thanks a lot.
It was a week ago, that I was introduced to her, and now I am in love, we are crazy about each other.
That is all I have for now,bye.
Could talk more about Pooja, but got to go, have lecture tomorrow,
bye.

Reservations in the private sector

By Sanket ‘a bit reserved’ Kambli

Asked about the opposition to reservations in private sector, Manmohan Singh said: “Nobody can avoid it as it is going to be a national policy. Nobody can prevent an idea whose time as come.”

The Congress-led UPA Government has already begun a dialogue on including reservations in the private sector for Dalits.

It is probably the first time that a Central Government has pushed forward an agenda without genuine public demand.

Even though the Government is trying to build a consensus on the issue, what is surprising is there has not been a single move by the Dalits for such reservation.

This policy was declared in Maharashtra, which is going to the election polls soon (not that soon).

But those who read the dailies know that it was in Maharashtra, that Dalits have led the longest movement of "Namantar Movement" for getting Marathwada University's name changed after Babasaheb Ambedkar.

If a Government was not able to change the name of a university after a long movement, how is it ready to give reservation to Dalits in the private sector even without any demands by them?

It seems to be more or less a political stunt by the Congress party, which has no long-term plan for the Dalits and it is a general view that it has lost its credentials among them at national level in general and in Maharashtra in particular.

Though there maybe a need for the policy of affirmative action in the private sector because of a dwindling number of Government and public sector jobs due to privatization, liberalization globalization, and disinvestment, it is believed that Dalits are not convinced that the policy will see the light of day in the near future.

Judging by the past record of the Congress Government(records sourced from other reporting agencies), it has not been able to fulfill the allotted quota of reservation (15 per cent for the Dalits under Article 335 of the Indian Constitution in the central Government and public sectors) even 57 years after the commencement of the reservation policy. Mind you, this quota has been enshrined in the Constitution. Second, the various governments took 44 years to identify other backward classes and to begin the implementation of reservation for them.

Then how can Dalits believe that the Government will implement a reservation policy that is not yet born?

That is why the whole exercise looks more like a political stunt and it seems the Congress wants to hide its own sins of not implementing the reservation in the Government and public sector and plans to shift the debate to the private sector.

If it were sincere and seriously believed that reservation is necessary for the uplift of Dalits, then it should have taken concrete steps toward filling the backlog of vacancies within the Government. What is it waiting for? The Government should immediately remove the administrative hurdles before this plan.

These politicians do not have any authentic data to build an argument on the issue of reservation in the private sector. In fact, they do not have any answers for the questions raised by the private sector players asking whether it is a step against industrialization.

Eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi: Dream or Reality

By Sanket ‘dreaming of reality’ kambli

Last time, devotees successfully managed to drown out the civic authorities’ plea for an eco-friendly festival. Though civic officials involved in the mammoth post-festival clean-up operation felt that the quantum of biodegradable debris collected was perceptibly more than in previous years, the non-biodegradable refuse belched back by the sea and debris strewn on the shore told a discouraging story. In Shankar Talao, a small tank in Kandivli thousands of dead fish floated to the surface after the final visarjan, leaving civic workers, to work overtime to clean the pond. One official added that devotees have increasingly been using harmful chemicals in the paints on the Ganesha idols. ‘‘These chemicals greatly deplete the oxygen level in the water, causing the fish to die,’’ he adds.

While another official, blames the increase in the number of idols being immersed. S S Shinde, who was overall in charge of the immersions last year, told Mumabi Newsline that the Nirmalay, or decorations for the idols, included plenty of metal, thermacol and plastic material, which is non-biodegradable. However, he remarks: ‘‘Going by the quantity of Nirmalay collected before the visarjan, it does seem that people have become a little environmentally aware.’’ He explains that the greater the quantum of Nirmalay collected before the visarjan means that much less debris is fed into the sea. ‘‘Though this is just a start, it indicates that people have started recognizing the need for a clean environment’’ he says. Even though some devotees appear to have heeded the eco-awareness drive, the campaign does not appear to have spread uniformly. It is not just Ganesha idols but the many mannequins that accompany him on his last journey and which keep bobbing in the water that give civic workers the runaround. Joining them are huge thermocol decorative pieces that kept floating in the sea. A rationalist body, the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, and other voluntary agencies, have not only launched a public awareness programme among the devotees but has been making arrangement for collecting the idols for an eco- friendly disposal without hurting religious feelings. Unlike in the past when the idols were made of ordinary colors and plain clay which got dissolved in water easily without causing much pollution, nowadays they are made of plaster of paris, distemper, plastic paint, dyes, metallic powders, adhesives, varnish, fluorescent powders and oil paints. The insoluble plaster of paris chokes natural water sources, seeps into lakes and wells. These chemicals harm the eyes, the skin, respiratory systems and have been reported to cause cancer. The samiti pointed out that the pigments used for painting the idols have poisonous and carcinogenic elements like deadly potassium cyanide and oleum. They even use mercury and lead. To make an idol scintillate, a stirring monomer is used in its colors, which are carcinogenic. All these chemicals, thus, cause dangerous water and land pollution. The water-based colours like distemper have CMC (carboxy methyl cellulose) which is very harmful and glueflex, made from animal bones. To dilute nitrocollulos-based paints, the idol-makers use NC thinner which is dangerous, according to the samiti. Only natural dyes and pigments, sourced from vegetables and soils, are absolutely benign but nobody is using them. Some artists use fabric or poster colours which are comparatively better. The harmful dyes and chemicals make even clay idols dangerous for health and environment. Last year, the samiti and its collaborating associations collected over 20,000 idols in 60 villages and towns of the State and disposed them of in a befitting manner. They also collected flowers and other items used in pooja and turned them into natural fertilizer.

And after reading all this, I can only hope, that people somehow realize the harm this festival can do to us(directly/indirectly), and how easy it is to minimize these effects by following some simple guidelines.

(Statistics sourced from news agencies)

Introducing: A river in Mumbai!

By Sanket ‘watered down’ Kambli

Post-floods many people seem to have understood the meaning and importance of mangroves. And this has put focus on a river, a river in Mumbai, have you recovered from the shock, no, this isn't a typo Error, Mumbai does have a river, it’s called Mithi River. River Mithi is a union of tail water discharges of Powai and Vihar lakes (found it in geography books!!). The river is seasonal and swells during the monsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the flow which is stopped by a dam in other times. During this season the river is a favorite with the anglers who catch large fish that have escaped from the lakes. Fishing is barred there. The river is also a natural drainage channel which carries the excess waters during the monsoons. However it is filthy mainly due to the presence of slums and the discharge of industrial effluents. The river begins at Powai and meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek flowing through residential and industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and Mahim over a distance of about 15 km. The river bed is narrow in the initial stretch and is about 10 meters wide but at Bandra-Kurla complex, it is much wider. The river begins at Powai and meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek flowing through residential/industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra-Kurla complex, Dharavi and Mahim over a distance of about 15 km. The river bed is narrow initially and is about 10 meters wide but at Bandra-Kurla complex, it is much wider. The river is treated as an open drain by citizens who discharge raw sewage, industrial waste and garbage unchecked. Besides this, illegal activities of washing of oily drums, discharge of unauthorized hazardous waste are also carried out along the course of this river. Cattle sheds in some areas contribute animal waste. Barrel cleaners, scrap dealers and others dump sludge oil, effluent and garbage in the river. The organic waste, sludge and garbage dumping has reduced the carrying capacity of the river. The water with mixture of sewage and industrial waste is a threat to marine life. The river bed is full of sludge, garbage and vegetation growth like hyacinth in many parts. The Maharashtra government has decided to take remedial measures to prevent obstructions to the flow of the Mithi River -- which flows through Mumbai, official sources said on Friday. Meanwhile, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials said that a Mithi River Development and Conservation Authority would be set up soon to decide upon issues like removal of encroachments along the river, prohibition of dumping of toxic chemicals and wastes into it and purification of its water.