How to scare your Mom

And I thought I was the master at this game

What if they do this in India

Plenty of anti-social elements in India anyway so one train defecator won't hurt.

Why it pays to be Chinese

Ya, commit a crime and get away with it. Am not saying he did it though.

Diwali Blues

There's something really depressing about going to office on Diwali. More so when you're the only guy in office barring the security guard snoring outside. But as the saying goes, you gotta do what you gotta do. Hope you guys had more fun. Happy Diwali anyway.

Track your Pics

Came across this website called Tracking Shot that automates interesting montages with photos and music. Upload your favourite still pics and music and Voila! - an instant movie is ready.

Check out my first creation (that of my IIMC days) here. It took me just 5 minutes after the painstaking task of uploading selected pics.

It's not problem free - you cannot completely control the slideshow - and mine is obviously too fast. But then it's the thought that counts. Right?

As one classmate put it, the montage brought "tears into her eyes". I presume they were tears of joy at this blast from the past. Go ahead and try making your own movies with photos and music.

Indian football gets a canine twist

Perhaps the only highlight of last evening's Asian Cup qualifying match in Bangalore was the mangy mutt who rushed to provide succour to the losing Indian side.

Play was held up for some minutes as the friendly canine gambolled around the field giving some respite to our beleaguered football players.

But the dog offered its four paws in vain. Bob Houghton's boys put up a brave front, especially in the second half, but Ryuji Bando struck twice to give holders Japan a well-deserved 3-0 victory.

Bhaichung Bhutia had even more reason to be unhappy. On Wednesday, the Indian Football Association suspended him for the remaining three matches of the Kolkata Premier League. The former skipper is also being fined Rs 50,000. His crime - showing dissent during a domestic league match in September.

Moral: Every dog has its day but Indian football's only canine fan would be better off watching cricket.

My first podcast - finally!

Yes, today I officially became a podcaster. Check out this podcast link for the previous post.


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You can subscribe to the Tony Tharakan podcast here

This Way, That Way

The other day I was waiting for someone to pick me up from Statesman House. It wasn't too long a wait - only 30 minutes or so - but six persons came and asked me for directions.

Of course, my knowledge of the capital city is famous for its limitations and these people had the misfortune to bump into me. But I guess in this case it wasn't entirely my fault.

They didn't want to go to Greater Kailash, India Gate or Noida. In fact, one of them wanted directions to go to 'Jheel' wherever that is. When I pleaded ignorance to knowing where Jheel or Jawahar Nagar or Anand Vihar was or how to get there, I was given some pretty (or rather un-pretty) withering looks.


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Just when I was about to give up and commit suicide, the sixth country bumpkin showed up and asked for directions to the British Council.

Finally! A place that I know like the back of my hand. I gave the perplexed stranger precise instructions to get there, secure in the knowledge that I was not useless after all - that I had been stationed there by Destiny for this precise purpose. To guide this hapless creature to his destination.

I looked up to the sky and smiled - a pretty big smile. And wished fervently that no more country bumpkins may cross my path again.

Why Superman never takes the Lift

Why Jay should win the Turner Prize