Monday, January 25, 2010

A Hiss or A Bite?

Recently I read this book Getting Control of Your Anger by Robert Allan. I was touched by an example where the author narrates the sage-and-the-snake tale. As you may know, there was this snake that lay on a village path leading to the temple and bit people passing by. A saint advised the snake that it was wrong to bite people, and the snake obeyed. Finding the snake passive, the village boys dragged it and stoned it.
While passing by that way again, the saint found the snake bleeding. The snake blurted out how it had been abused ever since it had promised not to bite. “I told you not to bite,” said the saint, “but I did not tell not to hiss.”
Knowing the difference between a ‘hiss’ and a ‘bite’ might be the best starting point in managing anger effectively, writes Allan. Good anger management is “the challenge of learning when, how, and under what circumstances to effectively ‘hiss’ — that is, to stand firm and issue a warning that certain behaviour is unacceptable.”
A hiss might include a clear statement of what the consequences will be if the unacceptable behaviour continues. This tactic is very different from lashing out with an aggressive bite, explains the author. “A hiss is a warning sign; it says, ‘watch out, pay attention!’ whereas a bite is any action intended to inflict pain.”
He quotes Aristotle thus: “Anyone can become angry — that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not easy.”
There are a few more examples explaining different scenarios. This book is a must to have in ones library.  
Clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)

Friday, January 22, 2010

IPL bosses talk Cricketing Logic: an egg on their face!

"This talk that we decided together not to bid for Pakistani players is plain rubbish", claimed Mr Mallya through a pair of astonishingly bad shades. And one franchise owner went beyond bizarre, proclaiming there was "cricketing logic" in the decisions made. Parnell over Umar Gul? Roach over Aamer? Martyn over Umar Akmal? Get real guys, it is turning out to be a display of pure idiocy.
IPL bosses and team owners have egg on their face because they are spreading a canard when they didn't have to.
Lalit Modi appears on prime-time television and claim "he knew nothing about this". Come on Mr Modi, and here we thought not a pencil sharpener changes places in the corridors of the IPL unless you approve it!

If there was indeed "cricketing" logic in the decisions, why weren' the cricketers allowed to offer it? I would have accepted if Sourav Ganguly told me that he preferred an ageing and injury-prone Bond over an up and coming Aamer. Or if Anil Kumble told me Morgan was a better choice than Umar Akmal. Both were at the auction, why weren't they fielded? Instead, Shilpa Shetty told us how the man who won her Royals the first IPL, Sohail Tanvir wasn't really worth it. Instead they went for the might of Damien Martyn who is pushing 40 and has no T20 credentials to shore up their batting order. Preity Zinta went on about how Yusuf Abdullah was the bowler they needed and not perhaps Rana Naved ul Hasan who can bowl yorkers at will in the death overs. "Cricketing logic" doesn't become so just because it emerges from the mouths of the beautiful.

Australians weren't the hot picks this year as well. Point taken. But Australia are involved in a cricket series at the time. What are Pakistan doing? Nothing at all. Their players are available for all six weeks and can certainly play T20 cricket, they won the world cup, remember?
So it was the presumption that they might become "unavailable" that led to this decision. And since the team owners are pumping in the money, they have every right to put it where the investment returns. If they choose not to risk it, that's fine too. All we ask is that instead of skirting the issue and hiding behind shallow words, they let us know. What's that line about honesty being the best policy??

The auction was about several happy stories. Kieron Pollard and Kemar Roach, made richer beyond dreams. The tag of "rebels" finally being shed from former ICL players with three of them landing contracts. And the franchise owner, one in a stunning blue dress, another in dimples still dazzling a room full of cynical men.

Ahhh, if only they wouldn't have taken us for fools!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Fahrenheit 9/11 – a must!

It took me a long time to post a review about one of my very few all-time favourite documentaries. Among the chosen ones, “Fahrenheit 9/11” stands tall.Fahrenheit 9/11 is an award-winning 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker Michael Moore. The film takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terrorism, and its coverage in the American news media. The film holds the record for highest box office receipts by a general release political film.


In the film, Moore contends that American corporate media were "cheerleaders" for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and did not provide an accurate and objective analysis of the rationale for the war or the resulting casualties there. The film's attack on the Bush administration generated much controversy around the time of the film's release, including disputes over its accuracy. In response, Moore published an extensive list of facts and sources for the film on his website.
The film debuted at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival in the documentary film category and was awarded the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm), the festival's highest award.
The film had a general release in the United States and Canada on June 23, 2004. Sony reported first-day DVD sales of two million copies, again a new record for the genre.
A must see, highly recommended for those who are yet to watch this masterpiece. The film is a lesson for budding journalists, an awesome case study for upcoming film makers.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Motion Blur in Photography

Capturing movement in images is something that many photographers only think to do when they are photographing sports or other fast moving subjects.
While there is an obvious opportunity in motion photography to emphasize the movement of objects – almost every type of photography can benefit from the emphasis of movement in a shot – even when the movement is very small, slow and/or subtle.
Recently I tried to capture effects resulting when one combines night photography along with motion.
The results were not too bad. do have a look.


Clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Military Truisms

I found a bunch of lines about Military. On a lighter note, I am sharing the same with all my friends.. Enjoy!!
  • "Aim towards the Enemy." [Instruction printed on Rocket launcher]
  • When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is no longer our friend. [From an Army Field Manual]
  • Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs always hit the ground.
  • Any ship can be a minesweeper . . . . once.
  • If the enemy is in range, so are you.
  • Tracers work both ways.
  • The problem with taking the easy way out is that the enemy has already mined it.
  • If you can see the enemy, he can see you.
Clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Pyro-works

Tried my hands on fireworks last night.. Not an easy task.. Imagine trying to get hold of a slippery fish!!! 
I am learning!!!
I am learning!!!
I am learning!!!
I am learning!!!
Clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Relic of War - The Tank on Tank Bund

“A day will come when a cannon will be exhibited in museums, just as instruments of torture are now, and the people will be astonished that such a thing could have been.” (Victor Hugo)

M-47 Patton on display at the famous 'Tank Bund' in Hyderabad.

I live very close to Tank Bund road in Hyderabad. Usually I pass through the Rotary Park spot where this machine has been put onto display. I correlate such type of structures as an exoskeleton with a weapon mounted on it. Man-made, used to kill the mankind. I has been a significant contributor to the damage caused during War. These machines are witness to the happenings that one never would like to see.

On asking, a Pentagon official, why the U.S. military censored graphic footage from the Gulf War, replied “If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war.”

Clicked on my Canon EOS 1000D. (Specifications on request)
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