Live life Golden!

Paa and a true case of Progeria

2009-12-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

Children afflicted with Progeria endure a lot of stares, sickness and a very short life. I checked online and found numerous cases of kids affected by this disease. Basically, a sufferer ages too fast with limited mobility and a lot of pain usually associated with the old.

Amitabh's 'Paa' is one of Bollywood's more beautiful movies and destined to hit International theatres soon. The movie succeeds in drawing the attention of the viewer to the plight of similar children from around the world.

I wish there is a cure for this disease so that these children can grow up normal and healthy lives like the rest of us. I wish God had created everybody equal.

Here is a link on Zachary Moore, a child who died at age 3 with the disease. May God bless his soul. - https://www.oldatage3.com/Home_Page.php

A proud moment - Burj Dubai

2009-11-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

As a grown-up who spent his childhood in Dubai, my heart swelled with pride when I read that the new building Burj Dubai is the tallest skyscraper in the world.

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Here are some other interesting statistics:
Height: 800+ meters
Floors: 160 floors
World's fastest elevators - 64kmph
15,000-strong workforce, mainly from India
Premises has a musical fountain that is the same height as a 50 story building
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Dubai has changed a lot over these past years and its transformation into a world-class city is the greatest story never told. I am sure that one day the UAE will be given more power and visibility in the International stage. A big thannks to the ruling Sheikh family and the expatriate population for helping the UAE reach where it has today.

Psycho Killer

2009-11-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

One fond memory from childhood is me gyrating to an awesome song called 'Psycho Killer'. This number by Talking Heads has a strong bass and rhythm that will leave you mesmerized! I recently downloaded its mp3 and I realized that I still am in love with its tune...

Today, I decided to check up more about the song and found out that it was written to represent a serial killer's thoughts. With a title like that, I guess this fact was a foregone conclusion.

Well, I still love and enjoy this song. I hope you do too!

Hail King Nano!

2009-11-15T00:04:00.000-08:00

The TATA Nano is the most revered car in India. Period.Want proof, huh? Line up a Nano along with a Merc, a BMW 750 and a Bentley. An Indian passing by will only notice the Nano and will stop by to admire its 'beauty' and 'architectural marvel'. This is a prime example of Indian pride for you.

Here, in my humble opinion, is a list of the most revered cars in India:

1. TATA Nano
2. Maruti 800
3. Ambassador
4. Contessa
5. Premier Padmini

The cars mentioned above still elicit a sense of nostalgia and a strong sense of pride in being Indian. What more could we ask for?

A humble message to the Nissan-Bajaj working on a Nano rival - if you can re-create the hype that surrounds Nano, then you have a winner car in your hands!

Kerala Health Minister's embarassing English

2009-11-14T23:08:00.000-08:00

If you do a survey to find the country with the most boring leaders, then India would win hands down. Our PM Manmohan Singh always has this sleepy grin on his face, while Sonia's speeches can drive even the faithful into a coma. The less said about our President, the better.

It took the likes of Raj Thackeray, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Amar Singh and Rahul Gandhi to inject some life into Indian politics and this is why the media adore them. Kerala has its share of popular leaders and Shashi Tharoor leads from the front, albeit for the wrong reasons. He presents himself as highly sophisticated and wordly(he really is) but gets himself into unpleasant situations, thanks to his 'tweets'.

I believe his mannerisms and penchant for speaking in English has rubbed on to some other Kerala leaders as well. Foremost among them is P.K. Sreemathi, who delivered a speech in English with highly embarrassing results.

Is it necessary for a politician to know English to do his job well? Does a regional leader have to give a speech in English to prove his caliber? Since our politicians rarely do anything for the common man, it will be difficult to form opinions on the matter.

The bottom line is that India's politicians should do good for the people who voted them to power. Knowing the local language and being confident and authoritative are what is mainly required.

Happy Birthday Juhi Chawla!

2009-11-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

Juhi Chawla just turned a year older - 42 to be precise and looks as beautiful as ever. Juhi had numerous on-screen pairings and those with Aamir, ShahRukh and Rishi Kapoor were particularly successful.

At this juncture in her career, she now has all the creative freedom in the world to choose movies that appeal to her. Recently, she turned in a fun-filled and humorous performance in 'Luck By Chance'.

For me, the fondest memories of her are from a movie called 'Love, Love, Love', in which she was paired opposite Aamir Khan. The movie bombed but I had seen it a thousand times.

I hope she continues doing sensible roles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUHI

Amitabh - the Supremo!

2009-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Most of you already know that Amitabh had a comic superhero based on his persona. Well, I learnt about this only 2 days ago. Even though I gorged on his movies, I never had a liking towards Amitabh, the superstar.

Being a die-hard fan of comics, I was immediately smitten by Amitabh, the comic superhero. Which other movie star can boast of having his own comic?

The 'Supremo' comic was released for only 2 years in the 80s. It's a pity that we don't have any of them anymore. Does anybody have a copy of Supremo :-)?

I noticed that the Indian version of Spiderman wears a dhoti just like Amitabh's Supremo. I guess its safe to say that the creators of the Indian Spiderman were 'inspired' by Amitabh's Supremo!

Tribute to Freddie...

2009-11-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

My fascination for English music began when I was around 8 years old. As a child, I used to love listening to soft rock, techno(read OMD) and alternative. The older I grew, the more fascinated I was with singers, bands and their escapades. But one man stood out in my mind and he answers to the name Freddie Mercury.

Freddie, a Parsi with origins in Mumbai, has the best male voice I have ever heard. He may have been the flamboyant driving force behind Queen's success but led a very shy and reclusive private life.

Success can be very intimidating and Freddie's short gay flings with multiple men led to his downfall. He was diagnosed with AIDS and died in 1991, placing him among the first celebrities to admit having AIDS.

Even though Freddie has left for a better place, I can feel his presence around me through his music. Songs like 'Living On My Own', 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'I want to break free', 'We are the champions' and 'The Great Pretender' will keep playing in my mind and heart forever.

I agree with Queen - THE SHOW MUST GO ON

God bless you, Freddie!

A long break away from blogging!

2009-11-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Wow! Its been a while since my last post and this time I am here to stay!

Henceforth, I will be writing on topics of interest to common folks like you and me. Stay tuned.

Graeme Swann breaks records!

2008-12-12T00:59:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable! England's off-spinner Graeame Swann takes 2 wickets in his very first over in Test cricket. Splendid debut, huh? I am sure there is more explosive action in store during this innings. His unlucky victims are Dravid and Gambhir. India are dangerously poised at 37-3. Sachin and Laxman at the crease...

The England cricket team wins hearts...

2008-12-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

The return of the English team to India's troubled shores must be welcome with the highest form of respect. The team first had to convince their loved ones and ensure that everything is safe. A lot of voices were raised- some for the tour and some against- but better sense finally prevailed.

The England team then went ahead and donated 50% of their match fees from the 1st test to Mumbai's terror victims. This gesture surprised the Indian public forcing them to sit up and take note of the human side of cricket. The England team has definitely won a lot of hearts and fans!

The 1st test has finally started and Strauss began with a splendid century. I wish the England team the very best!

A tearful farewell...

2008-12-03T03:33:00.000-08:00

A lot of questions have risen about the actual number of casualties in the recent Mumbai terror strikes. We do know that we have lost 16 brave police personnel in this mindless act. Do we know these martyrs?

Here is a list of these men. India salutes Mumbai Police!

1. Hemant Karkare, Joint Commissioner of Police, ATS
2. Ashok Kamte, Addtnl Commissioner of Police
3. Vijay Salaskar, Police Inspector, Anti-Extortion Cell
4. Shashank Shinde, Police Inspector, CST Railway
5. Prakash P. More, Police Sub Inspector
6. Shri. Bapusaheb Durugade, Police Sub Inspector
7. Shri. Tukaram G. Omble, Asst. Police Sub Inspector
8. Shri. Balasaheb Bhosale, Asst. Police Sub Inspector
9. Shri. Arun Chitte, Police Constable
10. Shri. Jaywant Patil, Police Constable
11. Shri. Yogesh Patil, Police Constable
12. Shri. Ambadas Pawar, Police Constable
13. Shri. Vijay Khandekar, Police Constable
14. Shri. M. Choudhary, Police Head Constable, R.P.F.
15. Shri. Rahul S. Shinde, Police Constable, S.R.P.F. Group X, Solapur
16. Shri. Mukesh B. Jadhav, Home Guard Constable

India will remain forever in debt...

Cricket anyone?

2008-12-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened in the past week. The terror act of November 26 has left Mumbai wounded and in grief. Among the voices of sorrow is the solitary speech of a broken man. Lalt Modi, cricket's most powerful administrator, is now trying to defend his territory. Cricket has been affected the most by these attacks. The following are some of the disastrous consequences of these attacks on the sport:

1. The Champions Trophy had to be postponed indefinitely. There are talks of having the tournament early next year but there is no certainty due to packed schedules.
2. The final ODIs with England were cancelled but Modi convinced ECB to return for the 2 tests.
3. The Indian tour to Pakistan early next year has further cemented its place as a non-starter.
4. India faces the threat of being considered as a 'dangerous' place to tour just like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
5. How many players would be comfortable in joining the IPL next year?

India has a lot of convincing to do and Lalit Modi is the right man for the job. While he is at it, lets hope he sanctions ICL too.

The Talented Mr. Anglerfish!

2008-11-29T09:17:00.000-08:00

The carnivorous Anglerfish is often referred to as the most ugly animal on the planet. This ferocious fish is capable of attacking and eating a prey twice its size! The Anglerfish lives a lonely existence at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.

The picture depicts a female Anglerfish.
Do you notice the dorsal spine portruding above the mouth? Strange isn't it? The skin of the Anglerfish emits a blue light that is used to attract its prey.

There are close to 170 species of Anglerfish and these are much sought after across the world. The Japanese are very fond of the Anglerfish and its taste is very similar to that of a lobster's. Hungry anyone?

Review: The Hoax

2008-11-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

'The Hoax' is solid proof of Richard Gere's acting prowess. Ably supported by Alfred Molina, Gere does a wonderful job as writer Clifford Irving. This movie is a tale of conceit intertwined with humor and emotion. Clifford manages to convince a major publishing house that he is writing an autobiography for the recluse Howard Hughes. He gets a contract and also is paid a handsome advance.
What follows is a rollercoaster ride as doubts arise about Irving's claims. How Clifford Irving finally manages to get his book published forms the gist of the story.

Look out for the following performances:
i. Alfred Molina as Dick Suskind, Irving's best friend.
ii. Marcia Harden as Edith, Irving's wife.
iii. Hope Davis as Andrea Tate, Irving's contact in the publishing house.
iv. Stanley Tucci as the publishing honcho.

This movie is already out on DVD and immensely enjoyable. A must-see!

Where's my Jackie Shroff gone?

2008-11-29T01:12:00.000-08:00

Jackie Shroff has always been my greatest influence. While growing up as a gawky teenager in Dubai, I practically gorged on his movies for most of my adolescence. Jaggu Dada had a dream debut with Subhash Ghai's 'Hero' and was an instant hit with the audiences. He then went on to star in hit movies that include 'Karma', 'Andhar Baahar', 'Kaash', 'Yudh', 'Parinda', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Tridev', '1942: A Love Story', 'Rangeela', 'Khalnayak' and 'Agnisakshi'.

In the late-nineties, Jackie started accepting all offers that came his way. He never chose to verify the credibility of scripts and ended up in horrible movies with bit roles. Currently, Jackie's star power has diminished completely and he has lost favor with most prominent directors, including Subhash Ghai.

His transition from saleable star to 'supporting actor' status has been swift and heartbreaking. Didn't Jackie ever think about his fans when he took roles in disastrous movies? Can we expect him to get strong and meaty roles in the future?

As for me, I have cherished memories of Jaggu that will keep me going. Jackie, wish you all the best!

Hemant Karkare, India salutes you!

2008-11-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

A lot has been said about the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Hemant Karkare, the ATS Chief. I only wish that the Indian Govt. is more strict and vigilant in matters of terrorism. India witnesses several attacks by coward terrorists each year but nothing is done to stop such mindless bloodshed.

The US has miraculously warded off attacks on its soil after 9/11 and probably the Indian politicos can learn a thing or two on how they handled such situations.

India salutes the bravery of Karkare, Salaskar and Kamte. You will always be etched in our minds.

The Indian public also condemns the way the Govt. functions and also the buffonery that Mr. Shivraj Patil has showcased in times of distress and terrorism.

Zulfi Syed's modesty

2008-09-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

I have never been a fan of reality shows but something about Bigg Boss 2 made me sit up and take notice. There is this very popular misconception doing the rounds that these shows are tailor-made for losers in the entertainment industry and I was shocked to see the popular model Zulfi Syed among this year's contestants.
Zulfi's career as a model has been quite successful but reactions to his movies have only been lukewarm. His roles in Pyaasa and Taj Mahal were well-received and I am sure that he has a lot more to offer.

As this show progresses, we also realize that Zulfi is probably the quietest among the lot. A man who keeps to himself, a man who doesn’t preen in front of those hidden cameras for the public. This week has thrown up 4 nominations for exit and Zulfi is among them. I hope that the public realizes the man's simplicity and worth and give him the long run he truly deserves!

A long break!

2008-09-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Wow! That definitely was a long break! I intend to stick around more and provide all of you with wonderful insights into what goes around us. I am hoping to see all of you around here! Chill and take care!

New Articles!

2008-03-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my articles:

1. Mitsubishi: The forgotten car.

2. My Guilt and my children.

3. The White Devil.

Thank You! Happy Reading!

Jimi Mistry, where are you?

2008-02-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

I don't hear much about Jimi Mistry nowadays. Where has the star of critical hits like 'The Guru', 'East is East' or even 'Touch Of Pink' gone? Born of mixed parentage(his dad is Indian while his mum is British), he is among the best stars England has to offer. I hope he does not fade away. Certainly a man of his talent has a lot more to offer. Looking forward for a lot more from you mate!

P.S: My favorite Jimi Mistry movie is 'Born Romantic'.

Review: 'Remington Steele'

2008-02-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

Pierce Brosnan. The man with the golden smile. The best James Bond ever! Well, before he became Bond he used to star in one of the most popular TV series of the 80s'- Remington Steele(1982-87). Brosnan played a thief who switches into the role of a private investigator named Remington Steele. Stephanie Zimbalist(I have not seen her other work) plays Laura Holt and also Steele's partner.

This series was also partly responsible for not allowing Pierce Brosnan to don the mantle of James Bond earlier in his career. Due to his commitment to the series, Timothy Dalton bagged the role.

Action, romance, comedy and murders- Reminton Steele has it all. A must-see for Pierce Brosnan fans and the best way to get to know an otherwise quiet Stephanie Zimbalist

I found this video in YouTube that has scenes from this famous series tuned to the amazing voice of Eric Carmen's 'Hungry Eyes'. A must-see
!

The Liger and the Tigon..

2008-02-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

I have always been fascinated by cats. The lion and the tiger have been known to capture the imagination of the public since generations. So it does not come as a surprise when the idea for mixed breeding of lions and tigers came up decades ago. A liger is bred by mating a male lion with a female tiger and have been mostly grown in captivity. Ligers are prone to gigantism. A liger is twice the size of a lion or a tiger and its weight can be the combined size of its parents. Ligers shot into the limelight recently after being mentioned in the movie 'Napolean Dynamite'(A must see movie! Watch it for Jon Heder).

The Tigon is a hybrid cross between a female lion and a male tiger. The tigon is not currently as common as the converse hybrid, the liger; however, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tigons were more common than ligers.
Tigons are the opposite of ligers and have a tiger father and lioness mother.

The breeding of ligers (lion father/tigress mother)
has always been easily accomplished, both by accident and design. Tigons, on the other hand, are extremely difficult to breed and very rare. Until recently, there were no recorded living tigons; the very few that do exist are probably in private ownership. Tigons are prone towards dwarfism and are much smaller than either of their parents.
So if you stay near a zoo that houses the liger or the tigon, please do pay a visit. They are a must-see!

Alluring Montenegro..

2008-02-24T13:27:00.001-08:00

Nothing much is said about the youngest country in the world. Barely two, Montenegro split from Serbia in mid-2006 taking the tally of countries in the world to 194(including Taiwan ofcourse).

Montenegro is among the most beautiful places in the world. Its only an hour from Rome or Budapest via the air route. Some of the attractions that await the inquisitive tourist include the following:

1. The Biogradska gora, the last virgin forest of Europe.
2. The peaks and National Park of the Durmitor mountain.
3. A cruise along Europe's largest lake- the Skadar Lake.
4. Did I mention the beautiful beaches?

As the country starts everything afresh, lets wish them the very best!

Movie Review: 'Eraserhead'

2008-02-24T08:21:00.000-08:00

Released in 1977, 'Eraserhead' is probably the most difficult movie of all time. Bordering between horror and fantasy, this movie is a cult classic among movie fanatics. This movie is open to interpretations of all sorts. The protagonist in this movie is a man who lives in an abandoned building. His pregnant girlfriend moves in with him and gives birth to a hideous creep-like creature. She abandons him and the baby and our hero is driven mad by the baby's cries and the apparations that he encounters. Watch it for its complexity. I will not divulge more. If you are not able to catch this movie in your local video store, then please do grab it at Amazon. This movie will not disappoint. Directed by David Lynch.

The new James Bond of Tennis..

2008-02-23T07:06:00.001-08:00

The name's Tsonga. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Expect a lot from this dynamite. Tsonga, as we all know stormed into the Australian Open finals earlier this year where he was stopped by cute poster boy Novak Djokovic. Currently aged 22, Tsonga will be stealing the headlines for years to come.

Tsonga also shares a very close resemblance to the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Born of mixed parentage(his mother is French while his dad is Congolese), Tsonga is 6'2'' and currently ranked 18th in the world.

A word of caution though. Nadal would definitely be looking to avenge his loss to Tsonga at the Australian. Watch out for fireworks throughout the year. All the best, Tsonga!

Car Of Beauty..

2008-02-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

This car used to be the fastest car in the world(overtaken by the SSC Aero TT). Its being manufactured by the same company that gave us the reliable Beetle- the Volkswagen. I am talking about the Bugatti Veyron.
The first ever sales of this supercar took place at the Dubai Motor Show in 2005 when six Veyron beauties that were on display were bought by eager Arab customers.

The 2008 Bugatti Veyron will cost close to 1.3 million dollars placing it among the most expensive cars in the world. This gives me enough reason to add it to my ever growing list of out-of-reach cars. My old Honda serves me fine. Thank you.

The President Race..

2008-02-22T20:22:00.000-08:00

A lot of events happening in the US nowadays. And they all revolve around electing the new President. Clinton and Obama both seem very genuine. McCain is also a very dedicated fighter. I had read about his Vietnam experiences. He probably is the most worthy suitor to the throne.

The onus is on the voter. Bush has done his job and people have mixes views. The American public will soon decide who their new fighter is. Lets hope the follies committed by the previous government are forgotten soon. Lots of unhappy faces around the world. Faces that can only smile if the new government takes counter measures. All the best!

Tribute to Heath..

2008-02-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

Its been exactly a month since Heath passed away in mysterious cicumstances. Questions surrounding his demise have settled down and everybody has returned to their normal routine. Let me add my two words to the long list of tributes that were already lavished on him.

Let me start with his movies. Heath's fans cherish him for his roles in '10 Things I hate About You'(1999) , 'The Knights Tale'(2001), 'Two Hands'(1999), 'The Patriot'(2000), 'Monster's Ball'(2001), 'Ned Kelly'(2003), 'Lords Of Dogtown'(2005), 'The Brothers Grimm'(2005) and the critically acclaimed 'Brokeback Mountain' for which he was nominated for an Oscar in a Leading Role.

Despite some incidents with the press, Heath was a favorite with the movie going public and even though he was not praised as much as his leading contenders like Matt Damon or Christian Bale, he was a favorite whose movies fans looked forward to.

Ledger's 'Dark Knight' probably is the most higly anticipated movie in the world right now. His reprisal of Joker is something we all look forward to with the greatest interest. When we finally get to see this movie, I hope everybody realises that Heath left this world gifting us his most complex performance ever. The role that probably ultimately resulted in his demise.

Heath may not be in our midst now but he is sorely missed by his fans around and he will always be remembered. Heath leaves behind a 2 year old daughter Matilda Rose. I hope she encounters only good moving forward.

About Gere..

2008-02-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

I have been a fan of Richard Gere ever since a kid. I would like to share my stuff with everybody around. I am looking forward to creating a blog or website which would be a place to find everything about Richard Gere, from his reel and real lives. Having said this, I welcome feedback from anybody who would like to share their thoughts on this.

P.S. Watch out for his new movie 'Nights in Roadanthe' opposite Diane Lane and if you are on a DVD buying spree, spend on his 'Hunting Party' and award winning movie 'The Hoax'!

Shrek's the winner! Again!

2008-02-21T15:03:00.000-08:00

Noticed that Shrek and Donkey have won the best onscreen couple award in a poll conducted by some UK group. I wonder how true would that be. It seems Richard Gere and Julia Roberts share the 1st spot with them. I thought Shrek and Fiona would have made a couple but Donkey?? Seems wierd but hey its people like us who voted them to the top so they deserve it.

Its sweet that the Pretty Woman pair still has a fan following. The movie is a cult classic no doubt, people rarely mention the movie nowadays though.