RAJESH WARRIER

Indian Space Odyssey
Sunday, June 24, 2007

"The Indian Space Odyssey" read the headline in one of the Indian newspapers.
"India stayed up to track Sunita's return" read another one.

It was reality television at its best. Packed with spine-chilling thrills, nerve-wrecking action and ending with an outburst of cheers and tears, Sunita Williams’ journey back to terra firma was watched with rapt attention throughout India. While some Indians performed pujas through the night, others tracked her return by the microsecond on the NASA website. Most, though, just chose to sit glued to their television sets.

How can one not think what this all about? Sigh!! Is there really something wrong or is it just me? Can our country [India] claim any role in the so called "Indian" space odyssey? The answer is simple - No. Why then do our folks act the way they do is beyond my comprehension. NASA has a right to take proud in whatever they have accomplished and so do the Americans. But these folks in the Indian media - are nothing but a bunch of jokers.

For one, she was born in Ohio and has an Indian origin because her father hails from India. But thats it. There's nothing wrong in making the Atlantis story a big deal, there's a way to do it. The reasons that our folks back home quote are quite stoopid. And then run SMS campaigns praying for the safe return back home of Sunita Williams. I personally don't have anything against the astronaut, she has achieved many milestones and has reached heights that other's haven't. The problem that I have is with the media and the people back in India. We do have more than enough pagans back home don't we? Why then do we spend energy and time for folks like Williams, Jindal etc.etc.

A quick check on the news aired in Slovenia reveals the difference. Afterall Sunita is a half Slovenian yeah? So a quick check revealed that they have other things going on. The top headlines were -

Slovenia Cracks down on smoking.
Slovenian ambassador visits Bethlehem

I only have two words to say "Shut Up". Make claims when ISRO sends folks on a space trip. Back them up and give them credit for what they have been doing. Support their effort and teach children back home the "facts" instead of making someone (who's not even looked back at India) an overnight hero.

Labels: India, ISRO, Media, NASA, Space, US

Posted by Rajesh @ 10:50 AM; PERMALINK, ,

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See Both Sides Of The Story
Saturday, June 16, 2007

The timing couldn't have been better. My last post - "what a week" highlighted my displeasure towards news channels in US. All these years in the US I have been watching Fox News, CNN and some local news channels to get to know the news from different parts of the world. Here's how it looked -

Their reach was limited to the War in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Korea. Countries like Russia, India, Japan, Australia that existed when I was back in India were somehow off the charts the very moment I landed here.
News channels aired scores and snippets not from International sports like Soccer, Cricket, Tennis but from Universal games like Football, Baseball and NBA - winners claiming themselves to be World Champions.
Stories like Cat rescued by fire fighters, Tiger gives birth to a calf, Man sues laundromat for million bucks are prime time news and there's a panel discussing pros and cons of rescuing the cat.
Biased opinions and the opaque curtains denied understanding what exactly occurs (occurred) after an incident.
Witnessed accusations and verbal fights on evening news/interviews and most often the interviewee gave up while the interviewer made a fool out of himself in front of a million viewers.
Someone who's a Smoker is a big big issue (in this country?) and if that person happens to be a Presidential Candidate - then FORGET ABOUT IT. They will rip him apart.
Shows like O'Reilly Factor and The Situation Room try to add spice to a news that wouldn't appear even on Page 3 in other parts of the world.

Thanks to BBC World - they announced their entry to the States and that they would try to come up with the other side of the story. This would be great; at least one can get out of the monopoly prevalent out here.

I'm looking forward to it.

Labels: Asia, BBC, CNN, Fox, Media, News, US

Posted by Rajesh @ 2:32 PM; PERMALINK, ,

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What a week
Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Quite a happening week I'd say, not only in this part of the world but the Asian subcontinent had a fair share -

Entertainment

The much awaited finale of 'The Sopranos' was deemed as the final whack. Though, I've heard a lot about the series, didn't quite want to watch the series. When the screen suddenly went blank towards the end, many people went insane. Started jabbing buttons on their remote control, yelling while panicking and even checking their cable connection to make sure that the screen indeed "went blank". They said -

That was the ending of “The Sopranos”?

That?

The Hilton-going-to-jail saga came to an abrupt end and was aired by news channels throughout the evening. So much for CNN and Larry King and the Daily news channels providing news from across the country US. I think I will stop watching CNN one of these days. Larry even aired interviews and had his typical set of questions - oh well!

Conan O'Brien has a smart way of putting things and mentioned that she was dearly missing her facial cream which left her skin dry - sob sob.

Technology

Apple iPhones are finally to hit the market on the 29th. They've come up with some good promotional ads - see them here.

They've also come up with SAFARI for windows .... mmmmmmm

Also - the new leopard's out there. Trying to conquer time and space.

Sports

Nadal once again proved that he's the best on Clay. Fedex delivery did not reach Roland Garros for the 3rd year in a row. I think the window is now closing for Fedex, if he's not able to life the trophy in the next 2 years, he's done. Deprived of the French Open like so many tennis greats!

Graeme Ford did the right thing by slapping BCCI on its face. He was offered the position of Indian Cricketing coach which he rejected the very next day. The series of embarrassments continue after India's early exit from the WC, this time its the BCCI to blame. They should seriously revisit the terms and conditions they put forward while on a Coach hunt.

Walt Disney announced that they would be acquiring 'Cricinfo'. Tough to digest but they are staring to venture out of their traditional - American football, Baseball, Basket ball & NASCAR.

The All New Leopard

Labels: Apple, Coach, Cricket, Entertainment, Ford, India, iPhone, Sports, Technology, US

Posted by Rajesh @ 6:22 PM; PERMALINK, ,

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90 dollars please
Saturday, June 09, 2007

I just stared at the official when she said "90 dollars please". I asked her if she said 19 or 90. She re-iterated "90 please". I'm not sure how the state justifies these , they just charged me 90 bucks for an Out of State License conversion. You end up paying as much as you would would for registering your vehicle in the state (what?). And No, its not the same in other parts of the US. Place where I had got mine issued before - they charged me 20 bucks.

"The Spirit of America"

Labels: Dollar, License, Ma

Posted by Rajesh @ 10:16 AM; PERMALINK, ,

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Area 51
Thursday, June 07, 2007

I can't breathe right now!

You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I've just said!
See the Dead ain't touring
And this wasn't all in my head.
See, they took me by the hand
And invited me right in.
Then they showed me something
I don't even know where to begin.

Lyrics courtesy LyricsWiki...

Labels: Area 51, Music, Tool

Posted by Rajesh @ 7:45 PM; PERMALINK, ,