One Minute Movies

BBC website has a source for budding filmmakers & indi film makers. the idea is to tell a story in one minute. It's a unique idea & i have watched a few movies, simply amazing the way people are coming out with the ideas.

View BBC One Minute Movies

Incredible India - Sex Sells

Question: What do you do when every country in the world, throws you out of the window for being a pedophile*?

Answer: Land in India and go to Goa.

Goa is the new destination, which attracts global tourists irrespective of Tsunami & other issues in India. Tourists from all over Europe particularly the British, Germans, Dutch, French, Swiss and Swedish come to Goa for reasons told above. These tourists are part of the sex tourism, which is slowly started cropping across India. If Goa is the place for pedophile, Kerala is for girls with a lot of oil in their ayurvedic clinics. Goa is the the finest Indian spot for sex tourism. Tehelka did a underground study on what makes Goa ticks.

Here is an excerpt:

"A five-month undercover investigation conducted by Tehelka has revealed that hundreds of Europeans — British, Germans, Dutch, French, Swiss and Swedish — visit Goa to seek children for sexual gratification. They come to Goa because it is easy, and cheap, to sexually abuse a child here. On the run after crackdowns on cheap child-sex tourism in Thailand and Sri Lanka, the paedophile bus has rolled into Goa. And turned the picture-postcard tourism destination into an arena of perversity and of horrors.

Goa has made an alarming transition from being a laid-back resort to a paedophile’s paradise. And the government, despite knowledge of this debased crime, despite alerts from international agencies, chooses to look the other way."

* An adult who is sexually attracted to children

Microsoft website in Tamil

Republished here my blog

It's surprising to see that the lazy Seattle giant has actually taken a serious step in localisation. Microsoft has actually taken a concrete shape to compete in the local markets in india. The first step being their website in Tamil. Don't be surprised, It's true and it's here to stay.

Have a look at this snapshot and go to the Ms-Tamil Page



Way to go for all leading MNCs in India

The art of Bushism - Unsocial Security

The art of Bushism is started in US. After winning the elections, the first official Bush's Press conference was held sometime last month. He answered the questions for Wall Street Journal, one of the most respected, Republican newspaper supporting Bush. Bush said in his interview that there will be a crisis with the "social security".

This is the first attempt by the Bush, post Iraq War to terrify the American public. It reminds me of the interview in Faranheit 9/11, where Moore interviews a social psycologist, where he repeatedly saying that the Bush's Government wants to make the people in fear always. The idea is to create tension in the minds of the people, where people will not be able to think and will get carried away by the media information which is fed to them. Terrifying, frightening and making people in constant fear enable the Government to spend more on the millitary & defence expenditure. Read my earlier post on "What drives America"? you will see the connection there.

The Newyorker, one of the world's famous magazine & a leftist wing magazine in US, clearly details the proposed bill of Bush. Excerpts from the article - Unsocial Security

"Bush proclaimed at an “economic summit” a month ago. He does indeed have some ’splaining to do. This year, the Social Security system—the payroll tax, which brings money in, and the pension program, which sends money out—will bring in about $180 billion more than it sends out. It will go on bringing in more than it sends out until 2028, at which point it will begin to draw on the $3.5 trillion surplus it will by then have accumulated. The surplus runs out in 2042, right around the time George W. Bush turns ninety-six. After that, even if nothing has changed, the system’s income will continue to cover seventy-three per cent of its outgo."

It’s as bogus as the Alliance for Worker Retirement Security—which, in reality, is an “astroturf,” or fake-grassroots, front for the National Association of Manufacturers. There is no Social Security crisis, and there is not likely to be one.

The much-hyped “crisis” looks suspiciously like the Social Security equivalent of W.M.D.s. This time, though, we have better intelligence

Read the full report from New Yorker

Free Iraq

Remember Imad Khaddari, the Nuclear Scientist of the Saddam Hussian era. Declared by US as top 10 dangerous criminals in Iraq. This man writes a detailed report & fighing for the freedom of Iraq. He is writing a blog, very interesting read (take this blog with a pinch of salt thrown in. He talks more about Islamic supremacy anyway!!)

My Tamil blog

Finally, as usual, as late as ever, i have launched my tamil blog. Clearly specifying the way forward & how we discussed things ourselves, i finally come to a conclusion that I am atleast is horrifically "useless". So here it goes in tamil - "urpudathathu"

Don't expect anything great here. Just simple analyses of cinema, environment and things i feel for.

The Power of TV (ofcourse responsible TV programs)

Abdul Rezzak, a port official on the Andaman island of Teresa, saved hundreds of lives during the tsunami because he remembered two documentaries on tsunamis that he had seen the previous year on the National Geographic Channel.

The two documentaries described the warning signs of a tsunami, so when Rezzak realized the port was experiencing these signs, he and his colleagues alerted hundreds of villagers, making them run nearly two kilometers up from shore. Because of Rezzak's actions, only three villagers died during the tsunami.

Learn more about this here

Help a Child to get back to School

With Akshara Advertising, I have started a online campaign for Bringing back the Child to School. You can have a look at the website Help a child to get back to School!! Spread the word like you spread your virus!! or 3sha Clip....for a good cause

Part of the crowd waiting for relief material

Part of the crowd waiting for relief material
Originally uploaded by Aravindan.

The massive crowd waiting for the material to be offloaded from the truck in Senthiathoppu village near Cuddalore town.

You can notice me at the left side of the photo in white T-shirt

What Drives America!!

I am not sure about how many people have seen my mail on 3rd fundamentalism. In continuation with that chat, i am exploring what actually drives America beyond their President & the Parliment.

Gnani has summarised the driving force behind America in this article for thinnai. As I was telling few of my friends, it's time, we need to take a stand in the way we are being represented globally. A stats in Businessworld tells that everyday US requires $2 Billion to run the country, and the country is in deep finanical deficit. The value of the dollar will further slide down. In spite of that, the US & the ruling party concentrates on these 3 areas.

Christian Fundamentalism:

• Then Attorney General of the US Justice department is a fundamentalist, who opposes Abortion of Kids.
• The appointment of Condoleeza rice has its own hidden agenda. Rice is a daugeter of a Bishop.
• Even on critical meetings on Iraq in the late evenins in White house, the members of the meeting will go on sing "prayers" in the name of God, post meeting.

US Defence Force

US Government spend half of their budget amount to their Military cause. About $343.2 billion are said be spent on US Defence in 2001 budget. The figures may have rocketed now with the war against terror". The defence is being initiated purely by Private weapon manufacturers. Companies like Raytheon, Allient Deck Systems, GE, Northrub Cremmon

Supremacy syndrome

The US wants to reign the world. US citizens never save anthing. The US government takes things from across the globe and use it for their won. We pay from our pockets as taxes for someone to sip bear on a friday evening in new york. The US has direct / indirect influence in many of the governments of the world. The recent example being Iraq & Afghanistan.

Where are we heading to?

Our money is being deposited as US$ reserve with US Government bonds by our Reserve Bank of India, and in return we get a meagre 1% interest on the capital. As I was quoting in the starting of this article, we need to move beyond dollars. We got to have our reserves in Euros and need to move more closer with EU than US.

In front of the hotel in Pondicherry

107-0760_IMG
Originally uploaded by Aravindan.

The whole ITC Tsunami Relief team in a relaxed mood after a hectic day

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107-0747_IMG
Originally uploaded by Aravindan.

Busy in distribution

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107-0767_IMG
Originally uploaded by Aravindan.

On the way back in front of Ginjee fort

Cuddalore Tsunami Relief Camp

http://photos1.flickr.com/3094176_84419b0308_m.jpg

Outlook Best Photos Collocter's Issue

Outlook has came out with a Collector's Issue of Best Photos of 2004. Worth buying it. Chk the magazine Website here and buy it offline ;-)

The images which moved me.

1. An image of a old HIV patient taking shower in Taiwan
2. An Iranian Traffice Cop trying to control the traffice dancing on the road.
3. The cover image of a Bangkok Siege on road with a Kid.
4. Anti-war protests in London
5. "I am Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq"
6. Taj celebrating 350th birthday a view from the boat.
7. Rape of Manorama ( The most daring photograph i have seen in the recent times. Not because of the imaginary, but the commitment & rebelliousness motives of this photograph. This photo is a testimonial what Indian Govt. did for the North Eastern states in last 54 years..)
8. The GAY couple marriage exchange in California. (Look the World is heading towards bi-sexual)
9. The now infamouse Nipplegate - MTV awards function with Janet Jackson

Worth a buy!!

The Photo We never want to see again in our Lifetime!!

Tsunami Reactions

• Sachin Tendulkar pulled off himself from playing the Tsunami Relief Fund raising match
• In Rajkot, school children polished shoes on road to collect money for Tsunami Relief Fund

Pongada Neengalum unga cricket-yum.

Sex is the key to Happiness :-)

Sincerely for Gnana, Saras & Herbert

This email forward has moved me. Having lost my dad a year & half before, i am just gaining an understanding of what a vaccum he left for me to fill in. For every son, his dad will look like a villain in his teenage. I havent' felt it ever in my lifetime. Myself & Dad's discussions where like Mani rathnam's dialogue.

"Sappitiya" - Dad
"mm" - Me

"Night vara late-agum" -Me
"sari" - Dad

"Pani-la poi enn sutharae.....nearathukku veettuku vaa. Sari satham nee pottu sapdariya illai eduthu vekkanuma" - Dad
"Naan pathukaran" - Me.

I am just trying to rebuild my dad in my memories with these little conversations. Certainly, this will be one of the finest short film i can ever make in my lifetime. Wait & Watch!!

At 4 Years My daddy is great.
At 6 Years My daddy knows everybody.
At 10 Years My daddy is good but is short tempered
At 12 Years My daddy was very nice to me when I was young
At 14 Years My daddy is getting fastidious.
At 16 Years My daddy is not in line with the current times.
At 18 Years My daddy is becoming increasingly cranky.
At 20 Years Oh! Its becoming difficult to tolerate daddy. Wonder how Mother puts up with him.
At 25 Years Daddy is objecting to everything.
At 30 Years It's becoming difficult to manage my son. I was so scared of my father when I was young.
At 40 Years Daddy brought me up with so much discipline. Even I should do the same
At 45 Years I am baffled as to how my daddy brought us up.
At 50 Years My daddy faced so many hardships to bring us up. I am unable to manage a single son.
At 55 Years My daddy was so far sighted and planned so many things for us. He is one of his kind and unique.
At 60 Years My daddy is great.

Thus, it took 56 years to complete the cycle and come back to the 1st stage!"

I learn the greatness of my Dad at 29. My sincere advice, let's not miss that love, telling you from experience. Sincerely for Gnana, Saras & Herbert.....

I miss you Dad.

First Day on Road

This is the first time in my life time, that in a New year's Day, I wake up at early morning 6. Not because of any cliche of celebrating it (Everyday is one more day for me) The reason behind waking up so early is to be on road is for a collection drive.

In the meantime, within a short while, with Saravanan's request for fund requirement in Pondi, we organisms some meager fund. What is interesting is the entire fund is mobilised thru a chat conversation or a Yahoo instant buzz. Technology has come long way!!

Anand Siva of Akshara Advertising has organisms a collection drive in T.Nagar. I have already collected few loads of cloths. We started at around 8.30 AM with Tilak Street in T.Nagar. We are very clear that we will not take cash. I have asked Balaji to be a part of it, we moved street by street, knocking every door. All initailly we got was old clothes. Suddenly, an idea struck my mind (My mind works @ crucial moments under pressure situations....), I gave 'eversilver' utensils to a group of volunteers, asking them to insist on rice (even oru Aazhakku or 1 KG is gud enough). Then actually the drive started taking its momentum.

One guy near Kences Towers, has given a complete set of 'eversilver' utensils for a family. One lady had literally made us tired by providing loads & loads of cloths, utensils, eatables and more. We gotta Kerosin stove. A family gave us medicines. At 1.00 we closed the day session. We are back to Tilak street, where our collection center is. We had roughly gathered around 120 KG of rice, around 15-20 KG of sugar, thousands of clothes, good amount of utensils, eatables.

I was off to Mint to collect some more clothes, rice, money for medicine etc in the evening. When i met Anand at 9.00 PM in the night to give him my Mint collection, a team is busy segregating the cloths. The old cloths have been sold (Pazhaya patthra kadai karan!!) and we got 10,000 for the cloths. They have already done the packing of rice. The total rice was around 200 KGs with sugar, maida, rava, wheat, eatables etc.

Good to be a part of some activity which atleast in small part can help the society. Incidentally, no Photographs on road.

Interesting findings on the road.

• All big flats we entered, 40% of the residents, dint even take their morning milk or newspaper.
• Most no. of people have the curiosity and willing to donate though they have already done the donation.
• Most no. of people are waiting for someone to pickup goods from their house.
• Even Medical shops, Hotels, Vethalaipakku kadai, hardware stores on the road are also donated with their products.

Friends for years to come!! - Saras & Aravind Missing