This is how the Israeli's sell us missiles!

This is truly the funniest marketing video I have ever seen!

Alternative careers after journalism...

The first part in what might well become an increasingly frequent series - and none of them will have the option of setting up an online business or become (like Rick Redfern of Doonesbury) a 'blogger'. Let me assure you, there is little money to be made in 'blogging' and 'social media' on the whole is extremely hyped up. Take that for someone who actually understands what the f*** 'social media' means and does not claim to be a social media expert on 'Twitter'. I'm quite happy with my day job.
OK, back to the point, and I don't know how viable an option this is in India - you know with fringe lunatics such at Muthalik, but more on that later.
Become the manager of a Strip Joint. You know I'm pretty sure you could even hire PYT's in some channels as the girls. (Listen, don't flood me with self-righteous comments, I know where you download your porn from!)
Back to the Shri Ram Sene - which as I remember the Ramayana was a bunch of monkeys. Hey, how is this for an idea - if the BJP wants to prove that the Ram Sethu is man-made, send all these monkeys to build a bridge across the Palk Straits, even though given the current situation, the Sri Lankan Army will cross right over!
You know something, I hold some of the media responsible for creating mofo's like this - just like they created Praveen Togadia. Take away the attention and they will wither away. Note to the BJP - instead of running the Advani adverts everywhere - why don't you bring out a proper web post condemning such behavior if as one of their senior leaders shouted at me on the phone. This is a guy who hasn't screamed at me for a very long time. It is all about PR and the Congress is pitching Rahul G as 'change' when all he will do is more of same old sh*t. The website is nice, but you have to understand that Indian demographics are changing dramatically and by first nominating an old man, you aren't helping yourselves with the youth vote - and running a blog isn't a sign of youthfulness.
I'm not saying become like the British Conservatives, who are the most pussy-footed conservative organisation in the world. In a country where 13-year olds become fathers. The other extreme is Israel where the centrists are rightists- a country which produces hotties like this - hmmm - I could do the job described rather well methinks. Pity, Indian journalism doesn't have too many lookers left!
Oh well...

Surprised...

Given my catalog of 'Movies that I have but am yet to watch', it is rather surprising that on a Friday night after spending far too much time at work because I was waiting for a ride home, I came back waited for a friend who was coming over for a drink and sat him down and watched a movie. Maybe because I have this pathological thing against watching movies alone, perhaps because I like to talk too much, but, and coming back to the first point I made, I watched a movie that I only recently got my hands on. It is an Israeli movie, rather a documentary called 'Waltz with Bashir' (Wikipedia - has spoilers). 

What is remarkable about this movie, though it came out several months ago is that I watched it in the aftermath of the Israeli assault on Gaza. It seems remarkable that this movie came out of a country trying to deal with the guilt of what happened in an earlier war. It won accolades even being nominated for the best foreign language film Oscar - and if the makers of Taare Zameen Par thought they stood a chance - they should really watch this movie. The movie deals with the collective guilt of soldiers who fought in the 1982 Lebanon War and then that country goes ahead and does it again. I can carry on for hours about a recently decommisioned Israeli soldier I once met on a bus to McLeodganj while I was in college who told me stories from Ramallah and another young Israeli couple I met in Old Manali back some seven years ago while smoking far, far too much of the good stuff carrying on about war and how lucky we middle-class Indian kids are, but I'll leave those for whenever it is I write a book. I think it might make for better reading than reviewing the Atlantis Hotel.

I am no expert on the Middle East, I do not think that anyone in the world can profess to be - maybe George Mitchell can do something, but with this sort of traumatic history, I don't think peace can ever come soon. Many movies I watch I don't write about - I saw 'Slumdog Millionaire' the other day and was left feeling rather underwhelmed - Danny Boyle made 'Trainspotting' for god's sake and this isn't a patch on that. This is a great Bollywood film made in English, with a magnificent soundtrack. But the media really shouldn't get ahead of itself. On Christmas Day I went to a multiplex in Orange County and watched 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and well, I think 'Slumdog' has serious competition. I believe that Sean Penn will win the Best Actor Oscar for 'Milk' because like Heath Ledger's Joker, that is an Oscar role, but, all said and done, please take some time and try and watch this Israeli movie.