Bumbling Cops, Convict Escapes - For a second time!

Bumbling Cops, Convict Escapes - For a second time!

One more about cops: This time, they allow a convict (who was supposedly being taken to court) to escape - Interestingly, for a second time!

• http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAwOC8wNi8yNCNBcjAxMTAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Wonder what will come next???

Regards,

N

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Cop gets into a shooting frenzy!

Cop gets into a shooting frenzy!

Things often don't get crazier than this - a story of how a cop gets into a shooting frenzy, that too at his wife's home ... ... ... Read on:

• http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAwOC8wNi8yNCNBcjAxMjA0&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

And we thought that cops were supposed to be taking care to ensure that other citizens obey the laws of the land!

Regards,

N

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Dumb ads - The University Collection, Indian Terrain

Dumb ads

"The University Collection, Indian Terrain"

There are ads, ads and more ads - However, some of them are so dumb that one starts wondering whether the ad agencies were paid for the ad by the client or by the client's competitor(s)??

This blog will take a look at some of those ads from time to time. Be warned, however: the order in which one lists / elaborates these ads is no indication of the extent to which those ads are dumb. Here's one such ad:

Take a look at Page 4 of the "Times Life" supplement of Times of India dated June 8, 2008 - There's a rather vague ad supposedly for "The University Collection, Indian Terrain". Despite taking a careful look at the ad, I couldn't fathom head or tail of it.

Among a whole lot of other things, I couldn't understand:

• The communication brief, if any
• The intended meaning of the copy (fortunately, it was at least short - just read "Street lessons"
• How the ad differentiates Indian Terrain from other brands
• The role of the two maces in promoting the product!
• The relevance of the background or the copy to the sub-brand "The University Collection"

If there's someone who happens to be brilliant enough to have understood the above ad, will she / he please elaborate the meaning for the benefit of lesser mortals who read this blog?

Regards,

N

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Murder of Aarushi & Hemraj

Murder of Aarushi & Hemraj

I can understand the media hounding a celebrity like Diana (Charles) or our own bollywood Khans & Bachchans.

I can even understand a small box item of this double murder in the papers or a passing reference of the same in a couple of TV channels.

To watch it repeatedly days on end with every new development including some third house neighbour's ex-servant's fourth cousin's views is really taking things way too far.

If the media is going about hounding the cops (whether Noida police or CBI or Scotland Yard, for all you care!), seeking their views almost akin to a running commentary of a T20 Match, what can we expect the cops to do?

My dear media friends, for heavens sake, "Lay off"! Let the cops do their job. Give them some time. If, after a certain period of time there's still no new development, then you can always go for a follow-up story. Please!

Regards,

N

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Impact of TV & Wearing Helmets - Part II

Impact of TV & Wearing Helmets - Part II

I certainly hope that this doesn't become a trend.

After I posted about Anandam & Simran Thirai showing two-wheeler riders without a helmet, today (June 17, 2008) it was the turn of yet another serial - "Kasturi" to show a guy riding a bike without a helmet.

Hope that the cops do something about it.

Regards,

N

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Shitting on the beach

Shitting on the beach

The title of this post is intentionally direct - hopefully not too offensive for the readers who choose to read this blog! However, I'm sure that it is far less offensive than what one is forced to endure every time one visits the Marina, the pride of our beloved Chennai.

If we walk down to other beaches of the city like Santhome, Foreshore Estate, Eliots, etc., things are equally bad. Whenever we go anywhere near the water eagerly, we end up having to see the results of someone who lacked civic sense. Or, worse still, we're forced to endure the actual person in the act!

Why can't we, as citizens of this otherwise wonderful country, that too in a city which prides itself for its cultural heritage, do something about this?

• Folks who "use the beach" as an open-air toilet should desist from doing so.
• Authorities who are supposed to be responsible to take care of our beaches should enforce rules
• Corporates with some conscience can consider providing a series of toilets / mobile toilets at the beach for the benefit of one and all
• We, the beach-loving citizens, can and should express our thoughts in a firm and forthright manner whenever we notice people "in the act"
• We, the beach-loving citizens, can and should support other citizens who are trying to address the problem.

I can perhaps understand or even tolerate general littering on the beaches (at least for now!), but certainly not human excreta!

Regards,

N

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Impact of TV

Impact of TV

People generally believe that TV has a large influence on viewers at large, and children in particular.

Considering this, there must be some care on what is shown on TV channels. Unfortunately, our channels don't seem to care.

Chennai has a "Compulsory Helmet" rule in force for two-wheeler riders.

I happened to watch episodes of two popular Tamil Serials on two different channels on TV today (June 16, 2008):

1. "Aanandam" on Sun TV at 7.30 PM
2. "Simran Thirai" on Jaya TV at 8.30 PM

Both the episodes showed two-wheeler riders riding without a helmet. What was more appalling was that on both occasions, the riders represented the Police! 

Will the authorities do something about these?

Regards,

N

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