I am starting another new NGO. This one is called TASK, or the Taskforce for the Annihilation of the Salwar Kameez. I will be the President and A Rod will be the Dictator for Life. And Ratan Tata will be the Patron Saint.
TASK
August 16, 2007
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TASK | Tagged: a rod, ratan tata, salwar kameez, shashi tharoor, TASK | 
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Posted by Aadisht
The Stuff Sports Movies Are Made Of
August 14, 2007I’m off to Chennai tomorrow to compete in the Landmark Open Quiz. I’m going with Kodhi and Wimpy. We’re calling ourselves NED (No Enthu Da, for the uninitiated).
We will be up against formidable opposition. Most formidable of all will be our ex-teammate Swami the HT Commie’s current team, QED. And even without QED, enough brilliant teams from both Bangalore and Chennai to make life sticky.
However, we’re riding on a long shot – the God of Cliches, if he (or she) exists , is probably going to be on our side. Because, let’s face it, out of the contenders, none is as underdog and beaten in spirit as we are.
One of us hates his job and can’t think of where else to go. The other two don’t quite hate theirs’, but wouldn’t mind something more suited to their strengths, and which would give them more time to write. Also, in the past month, two have found out in unavoidable terms that they are The Other Man. And all three of us are going through teenage angst or a quarter life crisis.
So we shall go in as the team which has nothing to lose. And if the God of Cliches does his stuff, we will fight an agonizing battle to the last question, which we shall win on buzzer.
That’s the theory, anyway.
(On a serious note, I’ve been improving at Landmark ever since I started. Landmark Chennai 2004 – didn’t quali. Landmark Bangalore 2004 – just missed qualying. Landmark Bangalore 2005 – made it to the final 8. Landmark Pune 2007 – made it to the final 4. Hope are there.)
Update: The God of Cliches deserted us! We made it to the finals and then finished last. Bah.
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Posted by Aadisht
Is There No Honour Among Thieves?
August 13, 2007The Slimes has an interesting story. The Income Tax department uses informers to find out who’s cheating on their taxes, and conducts raids on them to recover the evaded taxes. The informers do this because they’re supposed to get a commission on the the recovered taxes.
In theory. Apparently the IT department has stiffed the informers:
On September 3, passersby outside Scindia House at Ballard Estate here will see an unusual satyagraha – a fast unto death by an elderly man whom the income-tax department owes money.
What’s unusual here – apart from the fact that the dues amount to an eye-goggling Rs 25 crore — is that the man will be masked.
…
“My sources have been threatening to kill me,” he says. “They refuse to believe that the I-T department has not paid me for cases as old as 15 years.”Gupta believes other informers will support him, as the department never pays heed to their post-raid claims. Indeed, the money owed by the government to the 60-odd informers in India totals a staggering Rs 1,200 crore. There are no written rules, only guidelines, for rewarding them.
Well, I suppose that’s what you get for trusting the Income Tax department.
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Dear Radio City,
August 12, 2007I have taken Wimpy’s advice and started listening to your breakfast show on my drive to work. While Vasanthi is not as awesome as Indigo’s Malavika, there is no denying that she is very good indeed. Listening to her in the morning helps a corporate ho like myself face the numbing reality of his life one day at a time.
Considering your promos advertise Vasanthi rather than the music, you seem to have realised that she adds substantially higher brand value than the Bollywood songs (which all other stations have anyway) or the traffic report (likewise). So I fail to see why you don’t give her more airtime.
I first have to sit through five minutes of ads. Then you play a promo pitching Sunshine Girl Vasanthi. Then, to my utter annoyance, instead of hearing Sunshine Girl Vasanthi, I hear Deedar De or something equally useless. Followed by another song on the same lines. After fifteen minutes of ads and songs I don’t want to hear, Vasanthi gives a two minute traffic update or contest, after which the cycle repeats itself.
For the love of FSM, end this madness. I want to hear Sunshine Girl Vasanthi, not Bollywood songs. Please. Give her more airtime. Instead of going straight to the songs, let her speak for a while. And also please stop playing songs that are more suitable for a party in Patiala than for a morning commute. If you do this you can rest assured that I will switch permanently from Cindu and The Big Breakfast.
Regards,
Aadisht
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Sex Education
August 12, 2007My esteemed flatmate has written a blogpost about sex education. He claims that when it comes to sex, Indians practice but don’t preach.
Please read it. As someone who preaches but doesn’t practice, his insight is invaluable.
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