Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Lady Gaga 1600x1200 High Quality Wallpapers
Lady GaGa is an American singer and songwriter. She started working for Interscope Records when she was 20 years old, writing songs for Pussycat Dolls, among others.
Why I Didn't Become A Journalist
Ladies & Gentlemen, believe it or not, once upon a time, I was actually contemplating a career as a journalist. I had always been a pretty good writer (as well as public speaker, poet, rugby player, Star Craft player, Checkers Champ, etc but why be arrogant about my God given talents?) I was in high school, in Karachi Grammar School (KGS) when I first started writing professionally (getting paid; I was trying to earn my way to my first cell phone), I was a pretty productive writer (unashamedly money, resume and intellect driven), I even founded a 'Journalism Society' (read "Club I founded & appointed myself President; true Pakistani style"). I used to write incessantly for the likes of Dawn group's Young World, Education Pages, Review, Books & Authors, The Star (Designated: Youth Editor), etc. Many assumed that I'd continue on with that writing fervor and commit my career (and possibly my potentially short-lived life) to journalistic endeavor.
Well, I didn't. I discovered this wonderfully practical thing called economics, then finance and voila here I sit today, a cog in Pakistan's well functioning Financial juggernaut. I have no regrets and never will. But I still write, and will probably continue to do so till it utterly bores the inspiration right out off me.
As far as I was concerned, it wasn't a bait and switch to get into college (I had a phenomenal resume and list of extra currics). I was actually more than mildly interested in journalism. I could write, I had an inquisitive mind, a flair for witty prose, but sadly I lacked passion for journalism, the search of truth in itself. Perhaps more importantly (to me anyway) I discovered that I didn't actually like most journalists. For a social animal like myself, great people to work with tend to matter.
The media industry, as cool as some of it's folk are, is heavily laden with self-important, overly clever, under talented individuals *who*seemed to be put on this earth to aggravate my early morning happiness. Now, to be fair, I'm a rather judgmental person and not the greatest morning person to start with, but I'm forgiving, have an analytical mind and tend to care about the news; quite a nice lad infact.
Journalists seem to enjoy this "I'm searching for the truth & enduring hardships" mindset that may seem adorable to an 13 year old idealist child, but I found it (and still find it) extraordinarily annoying. All these veteran truth seekers seem to want to talk about was how much secret information (dirt) they had, how the government tries to hide the truth (which I'm sure they do), or how some XYZ person was completely corrupt and how they were going to uncover the truth and expose them all for their crimes (probably guilty); they barely ever did; they were however, very quick to blame the government and their publishers who probably wanted something called 'verifiable sources'.
I do recall an occasion where one particularly irrate pompous Journalist was claimed that the government refused to allow him entrance into a particularly dangerous hostile area. It was a hot spot for decapitations and murders...can you blame the government for not allowing journalists in the area? I don't. Now if they did let the Journalist in question get himself killed, the head lines would rage about how insecure the area and how the government ought to have provided personal protection to the individual. Which if the government actually did they'd be criticized by the Journalist for constraining his movement and not letting him get the entire picture. It's a perfect damned if you and damned if you don't situation. Because a newspaper always seeks a headline, even if it has to create one. That's another thing I hate about journalists, everything is in hindsight.
On the rare occasion that these stalwarts of truth, justice and freedom were successful in uncovering whatever massive conspiracy they had arduously pursued, they always seemed embittered by how little people cared. How ignorant the general populace was about their ground breaking achievements (Most failed to realize that over half the population can't even etch their name).
Pakistani Journalists don't write with a passion for the truth or some mildly noble cause, they write for accolades, and a fleeting sense of self worth; one headline at a time, byline by byline. As if a newspaper article would catapult them onto the national stage and shower them with prestige. Evidently it doesn't, at least not in the lofty social circles that they expected it to (they want fame & fortune like everyone else).
Every journalistic rant is laced with enough generic platitudes to send an elephant into a coma and begging for an enema, or at least therapy. Journalists brandish unspecific ideas, abstract concepts and ridiculous prose as if they are Paul Coelho. They are not. they are scribes, and there is nothing wrong about that, but for my morning news, I'd love a little clarity.
The 9th time I read 'betterment for our country', 'morality', 'cultural values', 'Islamic ideals', 'democratic ideals' and 'not our culture', I stop caring what else the writer has written. Because he has no clue what he's talking about. Or at the very least can't convey his thoughts in an effective enough manner that an English educated Foreign graduate like myself can't fathom what the hell he's talking about.It's a waste of my mental acumen to concern myself with what he may or may not mean.
Most journalists have their own little (or large) pet cause or NGO that they support and strive very hard to make them relevant (sometimes for an additional commission). They feel that their patronage is the most important part of the organization, never mind the hard work actually done by the NGO's foot soldiers.
Journalists feel that it's their God given right to bash the government over any and everything. The default crux of anything printed somehow revolves around the government's inefficiency. I understand, Public Sector enterprises cost the government (give or take) almost $3 billion dollars in bailouts last year. But which private (preferably foreign) company would want to buy a bloated, unprofitable enterprise? PIA has negative equity. Which in layman terms means you have to pay someone else to take it over.
On the flip side, does anyone really want mass unemployment? because if the Government did make such a move, the media would be loaded with stories of how the government was 'ending the livelihoods' of so many people and 'destroying' their lives whilst the politicians load up on corruption. It's a perpetual blame game in which journalist can sit back and criticize without any actual value creation; though some esteemed journalistic icons have expressed how by criticizing and holding the government accountable they were infact 'saving the nation (usually from some form of far-fetched conspiracy)'. Basking in hindsight journalism is about as useful as completing a marathon on a broken foot. You can complain about it, but shouldn't you have rested the foot instead of navigating the rest of life with a limp. Pro-active versus Reactive.
"More things in politics happen by accident or exhaustion than happen by conspiracy."
Jeff Greenfield
Everything is a conspiracy with a delectable combination of the government, various political parties, United States, NGO's, IMF, Indian secret intelligence (RAW), the army and the ISI (Pakistan's version of the CIA). As much fun as drawing room conspiracy theories are to discuss. They really ought to stay away from News Papers. News Papers should have a grounding in Facts. Unless it's the funnies section; I love the funnies section...till the publishers shortened it to expand their pulpit space.
Maybe it's an inherent part of our 'culture' to blame anyone in a position of authority stemming from a 'colonial mind-set' but eventually we need to stop making excuses and own the government that we have. Cut them some slack when deserved and bash them when they do mess up gloriously.
Call me an elitist demanding snob, but if I'm going to devote the 50 odd seconds or so of my day perusing some poorly spell checked piece I demand that it not only be properly written but have some actual actionable result. Bemoaning the lack of government involvement is a cop out.
I did ask myself if I wanted to be the man that changed that? And the truth is that I lacked the conviction too. Everything I wrote would either be edited, dumbed down or rephrased in such a way that the authors style was scrubbed from the piece and the editors meek voice reigned supreme. Personally, I also hate it when people edit my work. Hence the bloggery with all of my mistakes is still my preferred outlet.
I still write more than a few satire pieces and general free lance articles for Dawn, Pakistan's largest English Daily Newspaper, but I write primarily as a mental release. I'm selfish in that I write to amuse myself (and possibly a few others) and enjoy the perks of being published (of which there are none that I actually care about).
To be fair there are some Journalists that I have a massive respect for, but I had and still have no desire to be in their place; though there are pleasures to be had as the Saint in the land of Sinners. Just not for me.
* Thanks Alec
Ajith’s Billa-2 team coming back!
The remake of Rajini’s Billa as Billa-2 by director VISHNUVARDHAN was a classy hit of 2007. Ajith proved he is as stylish as any international star. Nirav Shah brought in new style of cinematography which looked path breaking. Nayanthara also revealed she is the best.
Now buzz says the same team is again ready to rock with a sequel to Billa-2. Our sources confirm that Vishnuvardhan is ready with the final script of the sequel and is waiting for the confirmed dates of Ajith. By all means action thriller will start rolling from early 2011 confirmed the reliable sources
Endhiran audio release will be held in Malaysia on 31st July!
The audio release of the most expected film of the year Endhiran will be held in Malaysia on 31st July at 7.30 PM at PICC, Putrajaya. The event will be telecast in the local channels live but the audience from rest of the world will get to watch the extravaganza in Sun TV on 15th August, 2010. We will keep you posted!
Why Simbu not taking a decision over ‘3 Idiots?
Silambarasan (STR these days) has not yet made a decision whether to act or not in the Tamil remake of Hindi hit ‘3 Idiots’. The reason, according to the actor is, Vijay playing the role played by Aamir Khan in the original.
Speaking to student journalists at a meeting organised by a Tamil weekly magazine in Chennai recently, Simbu said, “I respect Vijay. And it is good to act with him. But Ajith fans like me a lot.”
“I don’t want to hurt the sentiments of Ajith fans. This is the reason behind me not taking a decision over ‘3 Idiots’ so far,” the actor-filmmaker said and added: “Hopefully I would decide on the issue soon.”
Saying that films targeting youngsters have become the order of the day, Silambarasan said this is because of the changing trend of Tamil cinema. “Because, youth subjects are welcomed by the audience these days,” he said.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Naan Mahaan Alla release date announced
Naan Mahaan Alla, the Karthi starrer, is all set to be released on August 20th. The film is distributed by Cloud Nine Movies and produced by Gnanavel Raja. Director Sussendran is upbeat about Naan Mahaan Alla and says that it will be another feather on Karthi’s cap.
Kajal Agarwal plays the female lead in this film. Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored the music for Naan Mahan Alla.
ASIN’S FATE TO BE DECIDED TODAY
The Producers’ Council General Body meeting is scheduled to take place today. This is the first meeting after the elections that took place this year. This meeting is also very significant as the Council will decide on the course of action against Asin for visiting Sri Lanka for the Hindi film shooting Ready.
It has to be mentioned here that the Nadigar Sangam had earlier said that it would abide by any action proposed by the joint action committee in this regard.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Anjali signs handful
Anjali who made a modest entry with the critically acclaimed film 'Kattrathu Thamizh' opposite Jeeva became a star after 'Angadi Theru'. But in the very beginning it was Mu. Kalanjiam who spotted Anjali even before ‘Kattrathu Thamizh’ and all set to launch the terrific actress with a film titled 'Sathamintri Muthamidu'. Kalanjiam had also given a new name Sundari.
But later ‘Sathamintri Muthamidu’ was shelved and with a new name Anjali moved on to do ‘Kattrathu Thamizh’ and the rest is history. But Kalanjiam had signed Anjali for four films before the turn of fortunes happened with ‘Angadi Theru’.
Now with Anjali’s star value on the rise, Mu. Kalanjiam has decided to revive his projects. At first he will launch ‘Karungali. In which he is also launching himself as the hero. Kalanjiam hopes the presence of Anjali will give his career also a boost to take up his other films.
3 Idiots remakes to start soon!
Raju Hirani’s cult classic 3 Idiots starring Aamir Khan , Madhavan, Bomman Irani, Kareena Kapoor is now going to be remade in Tamil and Telugu by Gemini Film Circuit.
South Indian cinema’s ‘numero uno’ director Shankar will be remaking the film as a bilingual.
Shankar’s publicist Nikil Murugan has tweeted that Vijay, Simbu, Madhavan along with Sathyaraj playing the role made memorable by Bomman Irani will be there in the Tamil version, while the only change in the Telugu version will be Mahesh Babu coming in the place of Vijay.
3 Idiots had raked in Rs 240 crore from box office collection in its first 10 days of screening and is estimated to have done record business of Rs 400 crore worldwide. Made on a budget of Rs 45 crore, the returns broke all records.
Last Sunday 3 Idiots created television history, when Sony Entertainment channel, sold airtime at rates hovering around Rs 2.20 lakh for 10 seconds, the highest for a film on Indian TV!
Shankar and the production house feels more than being a multi starrer what will work for the film is its “story which has pure Indian sentiments and the message about our educational system. Education is one of south India’s biggest industries and Shankar will make necessary changes and package it to suit the taste of the local audiences.” .
Football & Religion: Bad Combo
Of all the crazy shit......
Malaysian Clerics Urge Muslims To Shun Manchester United Shirts:
Islamic clerics in Malaysia have warned their followers not to wear Manchester United shirts, as the club's nickname and iconography depicts the Devil.
United's traditional nickname of the Red Devils and the use of the symbol of a devil on the club badge has prompted clerics in the Asian country to issue the warning.
"This is very dangerous. As a Muslim, we should not worship the symbols of other religions or the devils," said Nooh Gadot, a cleric from Johor state, according to The Daily Mail.
"Even if it is a gift, we should decline it. It is even more sinful when people realise this is wrong and still buy these jerseys to wear."
Believers in Malaysia are also understood to have been urged to shun the national shirts of Brazil, Serbia, Portugal and Norway, as well as Barcelona's jersey, because their use of the cross is also considered un-Islamic
.....???....
Now, if this is the case and some insipid Malaysian Cleric feels that he has to go on the record and claim that my club, Manchester United's long held Red Devil symbol actually causes displeasure to God, then as far as I'm concerned the facts speak for themselves.
The message is resoundingly clear; The Clerics are all Arsenal Fans.
Here are some thoughts I've compiled:
Sacred Publicity: Firstly these Clerics are suffering from some attention seeking disorder that requires immediate medical treatment: Personally I vote electric shock treatment. Assuming that these poor chaps aren't completely insane in their relevance, I think it'd be safe to assume that they are looking for an entry point into the big time retarded fatwa business that the nut job Arab clerics appeared to have a copyright license on.
Watch out Arabic Cleric Supremos, you got competition. Next up. I'm waiting for a ban on Fried Chicken , because it's obviously a tool of repression deployed by the evil west to make Muslim Men unfit for battle against the Dark Lords of the Sith. Wait for it.....Farmville is next in line.
I wonder what this does to their donation inflow: particularly since the majority of Malays tend to hold the Red Devils close to their hearts....and their arms
Zionist Conspiracy: There is obviously some Zionist conspiracy in the Manchester United Symbol......I mean, duh, there has to be. The Malays just aren't clever enough to figure it out. The group that really ought to ban Football in general are the Christians, after all, it kills their Sunday Church Attendance.
Arsenal Investment: The clerics have secretly bought shares in Arsenal Football club and are hoping for a big pay day when the entire billion plus Muslim world professes their love for the Gunners. I'd like to point out that the greatest 'Gunnar' of them all never even played for Arsenal; His name is Ole 'Gunnar' Solskjaer.
Squad Representation: None of the players from Norway, Serbia, Brazil and Portugal play for Arsenal ....and conveniently Arsenal is trying rather hard to keep their captain from ditching to Barcelona...coincidence, I think not! ...maybe Cesc is secretly Muslim. Manchester United on the other hand have Vidic (Serbia), Nani (Portugal) and a plethora of Brazilians (Anderson, Possebon, Fabio & Rafael)
Arsenal = Muslim Compliant: Manchester United have no Muslim players. Arsenal have Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, Robin Van Persie (apparently he doesn't talk about it).
Football Grounds: They don't realize that although some dramatic columnists refer to football fields at as Sporting Cathedrals, that they are in fact not places of religious worship.
Emblem Kissing: United players do it alot because we do this quaint thing called winning games....we tend to do it alot. Arsenals players on the other hand....play with theirs until they are deemed worthy to leave the club in search of actual sporting success: Trophies
Numbers: A great deal of jealously has emerged as the 76,000 plus attendance Manchester United's historic home stadium Old Trafford garners far out strips the minute number of worshippers that attend their local service in Malaysia. They are possibly of the view point that the only reason that so many people congregate in such vast numbers (not to mention the TV audience) is because of Satan. duh.
The clerics actually believe that we care what their opinion with regards to our footballing interests is. I'd like to beat the kid who brought it up in the first place. Someone who obviously has little self worth and needs a cleric to tell him how to live his life. That ladies and gentleman is where Suicide Bombers come from.
They don't trust the smiley face on the red devil. The vision of trophy less Arsenal fans crying year after year after there team loses again and again....and again, probably sits better with them.
I have a developed substitute symbol which I think all Clerics, Islamic, Moronic, Platonic and otherwise can appreciate and get behind....well...not literally...Unless they are into that sort of thing.
And now, that that's sorted. Get onto some real business. Like educating Muslims about their religion and spreading a message of peace, love and tolerance, which may of course preclude them from supporting Arsenal.
PS: YO MALAYSIAN IDIOTS! FOOTBALL FANS DON'T ACTUALLY WORSHIP THEIR TEAM'S SYMBOLS.
ENDHIRAN’S POSTER CREATES FLUTTER!
What with Shankar’s magnum opus sci-fi flick Endhiran touted to hit the screens in the first week of September, internet is abuzz with speculations about the impending audio release. Latest in the series is a poster announcing the audio launch of the movie. Earlier reports suggested that the audio release will be held in Malaysia and the poster also reiterates that the venue would be PICC, Putrajaya, Malaysia on July 31, 2010. However, no official announcement is heard from the SUN Pictures stable as yet about the audio event to corroborate this.
For more Endhiran movie stills[click here]
Oscar winner Rahman has scored for Endhiran whose latest release Raavanan became a rage among music lovers in Hindi and Tamil.
Shruti Haasan is very excited!
Shruti Haasan is truly excited about working with Suriya and Murugadoss in 7am Arivu. “I’m so glad I signed this film. It’ such a wonderful experience shooting with such sweet and talented people,” Shruti said. The crew is currently shooting in some of the prominent locations in Chennai, including a theme park and an educational institution.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Endhiran audio launch on July 31
It will be the mother of all audio launches. Sun Pictures are holding the biggest ever audio launch of their Shankar directed Rajinikanth Aishwarya Rai big budget Endhiran, with tagline ‘The Robot’ from KL in Malaysia on July 31.
The buzz in Kollywood circles is that the cream of the industry has been called for the audio launch, and some of them would be performing live at the launch. In addition to the cast and crew of the film, Amitabh Bachchan is also likely to take part in the function.
Rajinikanth fans worldwide are going ga-ga over the audio launch and the internet is full of Endhiran audio news. Rajinkanth sure has perhaps the biggest fan following among actors in India.
Kavya Madhavan files for divorce
Popular Malayalam-Tamil actress Kavya Madhavan has finally filed her divorce papers at the Ernakulam Family Court in Kochi on Saturday. She also filed another petition with the Ernakulam First Class Magistrate Court against her husband and in-laws under the Domestic Violence Act for causing mental stress.
Kavya, 24, got married to computer engineer Nischal Chandra in February last year and decided to call it a day from the film industry at the height of her popularity. After few months living in Kuwait with her husband, Kavya returned to her parents’ home.
And after a break from all public functions, she made her first public appearances in October, fuelling speculations that she might return to the silver screen. Early this year, she starred in her comeback film Pappi Appacha along with Dileep and she has two more films in the final production stages.