tim lak lak -tim- tim lak lak

While scores of people around are clueless about how to move-on,
looks like a guy from Sydney has the solution : Go sell your life!
No sir, not to the devil, but on ebay.
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The Left refuses to budge and the allies want to keep the Government alive.
Like Mr.Paswan puts it... We are trying to score runs and save wickets at the same time.
Common sense yaar, like those analysts in fancy suits and lit studios say: which political party will risk early elections for a non-issue?
The nuclear deal ain't going to win them any extra votes and our parties are nothing if not politically wise. National interest be damned, everybody is scared of going to the polls when inflation is likely to be the hot issue.

In an NDTV show yesterday Shekar Gupta said something to the effect of: Everybody knows the deal is as good as done and backing away from it is not really an option. Its just delaying the inevitable and both Congress and the Left are just going through the motions of doing the right political thing, as in... both don't want to look as if they have walked away from the negotiating table.
Hmm... so what do we have as a result: Congress which says, it is committed to the deal but still harbours the dream of taking Left on board. Left which makes it clear that it shall withdraw support if the govt as much as talks to the IAEA, but is just not yet calling quits.
And what do they tell us after the 'god knows how many-th' meet: that the govt has bought time. Time for what? Like one of those analysts said : apparently to do some political maneuvering or to put it straightly... to bring SP on board.

Enough of this, time to have some fun now:
So here's providing, my dear readers.. for your pleasure alone, exclusive footage of 'peep-into-Manmohan's mind'.
Curtains Raise!
Audio: tim lak lak -tim- tim lak lak
(remember the sound bite from RDB? the 'zindagi humein nachathi hai' bit.)
Video: a smug Karat
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Meanwhile, a certain mister Federer begins his grass campaign in distant lands.
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Beep Beep : 1 Message Received
Jill smiled.

De sakhta hoon main thoda pyaar yahan par, jitni haisiyat hai meri.
Reh jaaoon sab ke dil me dil ko basaakar, ek aisi neeyat hai meri.
Ho jaaye to bhi raazi hoon, Kho jaau to main baaki hoon.
Yun samajhta hoon.

Lyrics: Aslam
Album: Sifar - Lucky Ali

because somebody wrote Iris Simpkins...

I have heard someone wonder about the US presidential election generating buzz, like never before, here in India. I don't know if much has changed except the advent of 24X7 news channels, but at least I have been, to some extent, following the US elections since the infamous 'The one which Al Gore lost'. That was nothing short of twenty20 bowl-out.
I remember rooting for him; for no apparent reason though. Now that I think about it, may be it had something to do with, him looking more presidential than Bush. Yeah, that must have been it.
Today in the age of 24X7 news reporting and in many ways... US and India more closely alligned than ever before, maybe the interest shouldn't come as a surprise. But I also think, its because we, like everybody else love symbolism. Forget about what it would translate into, in terms of concrete reality, you gotta agree that... it makes great news lines.
"A Woman and an African American" running for the democratic ticket, in a year when the democrats were heavily tipped to win. Its just too good to resist..ain' it?
Heck, I would have loved to draft that headline, if I were the editor.

I have to confess, I was totally smitten by the primary season.
True, there are calls within US to get-over the arcane and complicated process. But if you ask me, it was democracy at its vibrant best. All the campaigning, media debates, opening up to the public, to rigorous scrutiny, to questions... it was great. Contrast that with our political system, where we have criminal record holding ministers sitting in the parliament and you will see what I mean. When you see them being held accountable for each bill they voted for and against, each word they uttered, it doesn't take much to see how easily our folks get by.
One thing though, I just don't get all this parade-your-family thing. Why do they have to hug and kiss their partners and profess their love for the kids? I think we are better off, in this department. Rotten our politics maybe, but there is a line that people don't cross here.
The personal is never in the limelight, thankfully. The media might have started getting enthusiastic about it, but it is atleast not part of the campaigns till now.
Also, coming to actual election procedure, me thinks ours is more centralized, direct and simple, don't you think?!
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Meanwhile there are signs of the govt finally summing up enough courage to snub the left and go ahead with the IAEA talks.
But will it go all the way? Will dhamkis like these suffice?
Is it already too late?
Has Bush enough time left, to get it done?
*narrowed eyes and mapping delicate patterns on my chin.
We ain't gonna go nowhere with these coalition governments, I tell you!
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Here are two recommendations :
Justin Webb - BBC's North America Editor
For nice coverage of the elections and for providing fantastic links to further browse.
stuffwhitepeoplelike
If it's your kinda humor, you will find it hilarious.
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About the title.... for now, I think a 'I love the character' should suffice.
Its from 'The Holiday' bytheway, for the uninitiated.