Is ATP a hoax and other updates

Brilliante Award

First, thanks to Ladybird for giving me the brilliante blog award. She gives it to me hoping that it would prompt me to blog frequently. Thanks Ladybird for that diplomatic nudge.

Breaking News

And after some extensive investigation, lead by my colleagues, we come to the conclusion that Asal Tamizh Penn (ATP) is a hoax and much of the blog is fiction. At least she is not a journo with TH claims the majority of the population surveyed. Though I just cannot believe it, all evidence points au contraire.

I have to tell it for this writer - "hoax" or otherwise - she/he/whoever wrote extremely well, and could weave stories out of the most mundane activities like eating curd rice, drawing room discussions and picking up an aunt from the railway station.

Yet, I never liked ATP for her stereotyped of north Indians, her obsession with gothrams amidst other things. But, who am I to judge her blog, its hers, or his, or whose ever.

But still it was a bit scary to read her blog, because I cannot in a very naive way imagine journos as anything but open minded and objective. (Yes, I can hear you laughing.)

Though some office pals are enraged and are calling for blog ethics, I on the other hand believe in Sakshi Juneja's succinct byline - to each, his or her own.

Blog fodder

Gloria Steinem and Zuheir Hammad in conversation, a link via Mekie. She sure reads a lot every day.

And this amazing illustrations on the CERN experiment. I know everyone knows about PhD comics but I cant help but marvel at their brilliance. After all, what many write in 4000 words, these guys sum up in five comic strips! Pure genius.

Some day, ah...someday, the news industry will catch up.

I am not a Pink, but I like this Red

I have not discovered my political thought yet. I do work for a Left-inclined magazine but cant even be called a Pink. Why such a disclaimer? Because in post-lib India, I dont want to be defending anything to a high-end mnc/techie pal.

I just like some and then dont like many in a quaint way. My thoughts change depending on my mood to Vandana Shiva, calvin and hobbes, street food, SEWA, M17 bus, Tehelka, kalamkari paintings, Wikipedia, detesting chennai autowallahs, Pudiyador, udipi sambar, BBC, early morning marina visits, BSNL, bhavra mann, Khadi bhavans, rip van winkl-esque sleeping to Suzlon.

Though not in that pedestal, I also like Rossana Rossanda's 'Comrade from Milan', some wonderfully penned memories of war time and how it felt to be 15 and 21 in 1939 and 1945. Some of her other writings like this and that, have impressive co-authors. I love this piece sent by Mekhala ages ago. Some day if I visit Italy and she is still alive, I want to look her up.

I am gonna ask for more....

Turning twenty-four?
You got to ask more!

Life is devilish, often crazy;
Whirl around 'til you're dizzy.

A'int running any race,
Don't forget any cheerful face.

Around the world you hop,
Your folks wave from the top.

Ancient footsteps on the pristine sand,
Many a friend follows the wedding band.

Let's hit the old highway by morning;
Drinking the red wine as we're rolling.

- mekhala writes this for a bday wish, aint it the best?! By the way, I didnt like red wine when I tried it long back at a pal's wedding. Maybe I should try it again, this time, rolling!

A whole new meaning~!

I was at the Pudiyador, Vannandurai centre last sunday. Wow!!
The place looks fabulous. For someone who saw it on the first day it opened up - an unused corporation building freshly cleaned of years-old-grime, musty and plain - it looked remarkably well-loved, full of life and bursting with energy.
Charts on the wall monitor every child's individual performance in academics and extra-curricular activities. Library and store-room duties are assigned to kids who maintain them diligently. And the decibel levels were ear-splitting as volunteers from Ivolunteer were just wrapping up the sunday's events and games. Pudiyador, Vannandurai is at home and is second-home to most of the kids now.
I still remember how I freaked out when I had to manage a film screening for the kids on the day Pudiyador Vannandurai started. After that I have gone there only occasionally, though every time I meet someone who could help us, I promptly do a PR fix....theatre, puppeteers, teachers, funders, potential volunteers.
It is nothing compared to the ground work that Pudiyador volunteers (balaji and co) do at the various centres or what the core committee does when organising funds, exhibitions, and programmes. But I am really glad that however fleeting and insignificant, I do my bit. But it is humbling when I see how much mekie and and the rest of the gang (manix, divs, swaps) does, even from as far as Ann Arbor.
If you'll have any good books for children, in tamil and english - on science particularly - do send them to Pudiyador, Vannandurai, Adayar, Chennai - 40. Alternately, if you know me, you could drop it with me. And if you have a story to tell or time to help someone with their homework, do let us know.

Copying from One is Plagiarism; Copying from Many is Research~!

What is this world full of chance,
With no time to stand and glance;

High being the expectations,
To hell with the combinations;

If you think, you aren't free,
Imagine the conditions on me!

Beware - if your grades are random,
High be the possibility you abandon;

Lest, you don't take note of this caution,
I advise you to think and take Poisson.

Or perhaps, Chi, Anova or T-test,
Whatever suits one best.

Drained of devising arguments?
Try research methodology for advancement!

~~~
If you are wondering how this sounds light years ahead of my "cat, rat, bat, sat" - type rhymes.....think no further. Its mekie's musings on probability and statistics and I merely tweaked it to suit me. Anyways, I was plagiarising~!

mekie is the best....

A something written for mekie early today morning....
the wonderful weather was responsible for this.
~~
how do I describe mekie...?!
by her name that speaks of mystique and subtle strength?
or by Popocatepetl that describes her awe for fabled mountains.
maybe the lost submarines that make her want to fathom the deep seas
or the islands and hills that she has never really returned from......

do I compare her with...
Jeeves for his refreshing wit?
or Katy and Anne for their child-like charm?
maybe Dara Shukoh for his legendary courage.

should I simply say about her work....
its cheerful vision for children, and her honest simplicity in research.
and her faithful cycle that lets the wind blow her hair,


do I recall the walls we scaled or the stories shared?
the dreams we coloured or the growing up about which we are sad? disovering the Red Indian Chief, and Riot's grief.
old world grace and a crossword phase.
childhood memories and youthful stories....

I honestly don't know..... because mekie is everything and yet beyond as well. And when I know, I am sure I won't find the words.


romie (still thinking)
love you meks, have a great day and wonderful year ahead~!