Democracy is a Farce.

Yes. Because in today's context, it is democracy that makes the state of Tamil Nadu swing both sides with a nullifying effect . I read Amit Verma's post on Democracy and Free Markets but I feel that such logic can be applied to all forms of government. It is democracy that forms a protective cocoon for hierarchical hegemony in Karnataka aka The Gowda Dynasty. Please don't mistake me for a communist, I strongly believe Socialism is the biggest lie man created to gain power.

But for now, I'd like to comment on Democracy.

It's by now very obvious why people would like to remain in politics. Power is addictive. It's the cause of 10 additional posts in the police force every year because the seniormost commissioner refuses to resign. Hence the chief objective of any person assuming this power would be to make sure that he keeps it. So instead of concentrating on his duties, he would be busy all through his tenure siphoning off enough to buy his way back in the next elections and drowning the opposition in scams. Most senior level misisters have enough money. If these people had the assurance that their power would remain for days to come, they probably would have concentrated more upon their duties. Although elections are supposed to be the actual deterrent for leaders to perform so that they don't lose their power, in a corrupt atmosphere, a public appraisal is the last thing on their mind. Revolutions only bring temporal imbalance in this power struggle only to replace a more corrupt power back in place. Dynasties are synonymous with complacence.

The solution? None. Giving powerful people unlimited power as against continuing the existing system would simply establish a Catch 22 situation. 'Cause power corrupts. So what can we do? Nothing. And it's not a big deal really. It's always been this way. That is why we shall ceaselessly write and blog about how were getting screwed without realizing that we've always been screwed. Since the age of the advent of society we've been screwed. So just shut the f**k up, stop protesting and get back to your desks 'cos you're screwed anyway.

Coming up (continued) - 300

From wiki:

In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC, an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. A small force led by King Leonidas of Sparta blocked the only road through which the massive army of Xerxes I could pass. After three days of battle a local resident named Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks, revealing a mountain path that led behind the Greek lines. Dismissing the rest of the army, King Leonidas stayed behind with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespian volunteers. Though they knew it meant their own deaths, they held their position and secured the retreat of the other Greek forces. The Persians succeeded in taking the pass but sustained heavy losses, extremely disproportionate to those of the Greeks. The fierce resistance of the Spartan-led army offered Athens the invaluable time to prepare for a naval battle that would come to determine the outcome of the war.

Plenty of action expected from this one.


Not sure about the Indian release dates, but should be out in a month.

Coming Soon!

This is going to be One Good year! Especially if you are as big a fan as I am of the comic/pulp movie genre.


Ghost Rider - Trailer
Ghost Rider has always been one of the elusive comic book anti-heroes whose out-of-the-world features would make any movie maker run miles away. But the trailer looks promising and Nicholas Cage seems to fit into the role pretty well.




Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - Trailer

I've never really been a Fantastic 4 fan and found the first installment to be rather boring. I guess the producers realized it too and roped in The most amazing planet hopper aka The Silver Surfer to add that extra sheen and I believe it's a mix that cannot fail. Check out the Human Torch chasing the Silver Surfer in the trailer. Good Times!


Spiderman 3 - Trailer
Venom + Sandman + Green Goblin + an already established mega million fan base, would undoubtedly make Spidey 3 the hottest thing to hit the screens this year. It's always good to see a movie exploring the idea of losing oneself to the dark side and the struggle within a Superhero. Which is exactly what this movie is about - The Battle Within.




Transformers - Trailer
Anyone who has grown up on the Transformers cartoon would still have that tank which folds into the evil Megatron. Director Michael Bay of 'Armageddon' fame will not let us down on this one. It would be interesting to observe the extent to which detail can be incorporated in such movies that require a tremendous amount of animation.





Grindhouse - Trailer
What happens when you bring together the Directors of 'Desperado' and 'Pulp Fiction' together? Pure unadulterated sleazy action witfest!!
This movie is actually made up of two stories: Death Proof and Planet Terror, one each by the maestros, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, each promising to bring back the grindhouse theater going experience of the 70s and 80s.


Now I know that not all of these may turn out to be as good as expected but I can't help being partial to them.. I guess we'll just have to wait and watch!

Companionship

It's hard to describe what I could have possibly done without music. When everything seems static and mundane, drifted and at most times lost, the melody has always played on. In my ears. In my head. In noisiest of crowds or the most chilling silence. I couldn't have survived the way I do everyday if it wasn't for music. I would have smiled a lot less. Laughed a lot less. Lost a lot more of calm. Lived a lot less.

The most important events in my life have a tune attached to them. Every time I hear that tune, I relive that age. It feels good. Things look down now. But even this will pass.. all on the strength of a song.

Update: With SP Jain results out today, my MBA aspirations are wiped out. So I'm singing:

So nobody ever told you baby
How it was gonna be
So what'll happen to you baby
Guess we'll have to wait and see

Well I still have one last straw left. A certain plan B. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

When I find out all the reasons
Maybe I'll find another way
Find another day
With all the changing seasons of my life
Maybe I'll get it right next time
An now that you've been broken down
Got your head out of the clouds
You're back down on the ground
And you don't talk so loud
An you don't walk so proud
Any more, and what for.

Estranged - G&R

Thought for the day

Speaking within the scope of moral and evolutionary sciences, aren't we the worst kind of animals to drink cow milk which, technically speaking, is the sole birthright of calves? I think it's a horrific exploitation of the natural resource of another species.

Meat eating is another thing. That comes in the realm of the Predator-Prey Cycle. You don't see orangutans milking elephants, do you?

Note: This thought came to me after an overdose of Amit Verma's posts on cows.

Prince Ali

All of you know I'm a humble guy but just FYI -

There are plenty of songs with my name such as:
Ya Ali Ya Ali, Mera Naam Hai Ali (AJUBA starring Amithab Bachchan)
Ya Ali (GANGSTER starring shiney Ahuja)
My Name is Ali( DHOOM2 featuring *choke* Uday Chopra)

But this one will always be my favourite -


And oh, the Sporting Legend of the Century celebrated his 65th birthday yesterday, so, sing along:

Make way for Prince Ali
Say hey! It's Prince Ali

Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar
Hey you!
Let us through!
It's a bright new star!
Oh Come!
Be the first on your block to meet his eye!

Make way!
Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
Are you gonna love this guy!

Prince Ali! Fabulous he!
Ali Ababwa
Genuflect, show some respect
Down on one knee!
Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your sunday salaam
The come and meet his spectacular coterie

Prince Ali!
Mighty is he!
Ali Ababwa
Strong as ten regular men, definitely!
He faced the galloping hordes
A hundred bad guys with swords
Who sent those goons to their lords?
Why, Prince Ali

He's got seventy-five golden camels
Purple peacocks
He's got fifty-three
When it comes to exotic-type mammals
Has he got a zoo?
I'm telling you, it's a world-class menagerie

Prince Ali! Handsome is he, Ali Ababwa
That physique! How can I speak
Weak at the knee
Well, get on out in that square
Adjust your veil and prepare
To gawk and grovel and stare at Prince Ali!

He's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys
(He's got the monkeys, let's see the monkeys)
And to view them he charges no fee
(He's generous, so generous)
He's got slaves, he's got servants and flunkies
(Proud to work for him)
They bow to his whim love serving him
They're just lousy with loyalty to Ali! Prince Ali!

Prince Ali!
Amorous he! Ali Ababwa
Heard your princess was a sight lovely to see
And that, good people, is why he got dolled up and dropped by
With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers
His birds that warble on key
Make way for prince Ali!