What an Idea?

Lowe says that there Idea Cellular Print Campaign is centered around the idea that your cellphone number identifies the city you belong to. I really dont see the point of this logic. Clearly there is a disconnect and the numerous hoardings do got give me a feeling of identification. Shouldnt my 'identity' be associated with brand rather than a number? I feel that Idea is driving home the wrong point. I have always felt that a good brand building exercise should involve a message. 'What an Idea' should actually be preceded by a really good idea. Idea is a respected brand by itself, but a city that is clearly overfed with good brands like Vodafone, Airtel and Reliance.  A momentary saviour from this mish-mash campaign would be the call and sms rates that will be revealed in a few weeks time. I sincerely hope they pamper us Mumbaikars with choice.

Yelena Isinbayeva

'The runway is my stage and I feel like I am the lead actress ....waiting to perform.' Watching Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, break her own record 14 times, is sheer delight. She has to be the most magnificent female athlete of modern times. Yaya and cheers to my favourite athlete!!!

To Weirdo, who is leaving us for lazier pastures and Counter Strike

To a friend who is leaving all of us ...for his betterment and for his success.. Many conversations later I know that Rolaf is not a word to be googled…it’s the sunshine of your heart Many conversations later I know that ‘Rgds, Robin’ signoff will be sorely missed Many conversations later, I know that Short sentences and concise language speed up efficiency Many conversations later, I know that Selflessness comes naturally to some people Many conversations later, I know that Looks can be deceptive and ‘bhola bhala’ doesn’t certify you Many conversations later It’s better to have a friend who criticizes you on your face, than behind your back Many conversations later Kids who fall in gutters frequently, can eventually rise beyond their potential Many conversations later, your bestest buddy can also be the most useless person on earth Many conversations later, I wonder Why we didnt meet earlier... I'll miss your incessant teasing ...uselessness..your advice...your screamings...and your witty replies to my angry statements...more than all this i will miss the time we spent together...and your presence.. A hug is worth a thousand words...a friend is worth more..

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult ends the acknowledgments of Nineteen Minutes by dedicating her book to different, unpopular and scared kids. You know the kinds who've been laughed at in school and college. The kinds who have been given 'names' by cliques because of their offbeat character..the kinds who dont 'fit in'. I am sure all of us had someone like this in our class at some point in time. The important question is whether we were a part of denting that student's self-esteem. If we were, in any which way a part of the mocking brigade, then unintentionally we have created a broken human being who, as in this case, destroys the source of pain and hurt. Peter Houghton has stormed Sterling High School and killed students on an impulse. He's exacted his revenge in 'nineteen minutes'. He has orchestrated this act with enough coldness to shock a jury and the town in consideration, but with enough sensitivity to spare his friend Josie Cormier. With two parallel storylines, one that runs forward and another that goes back in time, Jodi goes on to explain the concept of bullying and how it impacts students worldwide. Through Peter's character she shows how every little insult and every act of comparison drives the nail into the coffin. Its not just the act of bullying or the use of humiliation that is accounted, but also the apathetic nature of society who turns a blind eye to a child's helplessness. Josie's mother Judge Alex Cormier's character is introduced early on in the story and makes an impact right till the end. Through Alex's character, Jodi questions the right of society to judge anybody for a mistake that has been eventually created by society itself. Her need to protect her daughter from the trauma of her trial, forces her to relieve herself of legal duties related to the case. Josie Cormier's daughter who happens to be the only friend that Peter had in school, becomes key witness in the case. Josie Cormier is a typical case of a 'trying to fit in' personality. She abandons Peter for a more popular group of friends, who are the perpetrators of humiliation in school. Josie is Jodi's mirror for the popularity issue in schools and colleges alike.  There are teenagers who for hours on end keep thinking about how they can be popular and save themselves from incessant torture by the 'it' crowd. Come to think of it, for an average teenager it is indeed a questionable dilemma. The risk of being laughed at is huge and the need to get into a clique enormous. No wonder self esteem is derived from materialistic possessions. The novel is written in a remarkably easy to read language and combines the elements of drama, friendship and suspense to keep the reader involved. What strikes the reader early on, is the thought process that has gone behind the creation of each central character. For this reason the parallel storylines, that keep the day of shooting as the focal point, help us understand, slowly but steadily the events that led to D-day and the months after that. All while till the end, you as a reader, will agree with all the characters and their actions. You will think that each member of the novel is justified in his position. However you will thank that there is a law in place, that prevents us from turning into a banana republic. Then again, who are we as individuals to judge Peter's act. True, he took lives and scarred families, but werent the victims actually the cause of the crime? Shouldnt we all then be a recipient of punishment? Shoudnt the society that caused the formation of a monster be held accountable for this act? There is a beautiful point in the story where Lacy Houghton ( Peter's Mother) meets her friend Alex Cormier after many years and Alex recounts Peter's wonderful childhood years and the beautiful shades of creativity that he possessed ...She ends the conversation by saying this personal favourite quote of mine ... "Some things exist as long as there is someone to remember it " [digg=http://digg.com/arts_culture/Nineteen_Minutes_by_Jodi_Picoult_2]