George Carlin on national pride

George Carlin takes on jingoists in his own inimitable style. Hilarious.

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood: Crossroads (Live at Crossroads Festival)

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007, with Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhill. Simply brilliant.

Woman going berserk after missing her flight at Hong Kong airport

A hysterical passenger screaming at airline staff and going berserk after missing a flight at Hong Kong airport . She is screaming her guts out in Mandarin or Cantonese. To date it has already got 3,249,066 views on youtube.

The footage appears to have been shot with a mobile phone from behind the staff desk.


With English subtitles.

Call For Submissions: Chicken Soup For The Indian Armed Forces Soul

One need not be a defense personnel to write for this series. Families, friends and others are welcome to write for us provided the stories are related to the theme.

We invite stories from the Indian Army, Navy, Air force and paramilitary forces like the BSF, NSG CIFF.

Since defence personnel are barred from talking to press/media I have acquired permission for the same from Brigadier S. K Chatterjee. He is the Director Deputy General Public Information. The other permissions (Navy and Air Force) should come soon too.

Besides the stories that we are looking into deal with themes as love, learning, dealing with death and dying, overcoming obstacles, parenting, stories of personal triumphs against all odds, etc. I believe there is a lot to share which is essentially unclassified.

Forward this mail/post to others who may be interested please

This is Raksha Bharadia. I am the author of:

1. 'Me' - A Handbook for Life (Rupa & Co)

2.'Roots and Wings' - A Handbook for Parents (Rupa & Co).

3. Chicken Soup for the India Soul (Westland).

The current assignment undertaken by me is compilation of individual experiences for the 'Chicken Soup for the Indian Armed Forces' Soul' for Westland publishing house.

The write-ups will carry the contributors' name. Westland pays Rs 500 per story and a copy of the book. We carry a 3-4 line profile on all contributing authors. We accept blogged and published work too. The copyright of the stories stay with the author.

Please send your stories to:

bharadiaraksha (AT) hotmail.com and mark a cc to rakshabharadia (AT) gmail.com

before 30^th April 2009

Recipe for A Winning Chicken Soup for Soul for the Armed Forces'

A Chicken Soup for the Soul® story is an inspirational, true story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. It is a simple, inter-denominational, living art piece that touches the soul of the readers and helps them discover basic principles they can use in their own lives. They are personal and often filled with emotion and drama. They are filled with vivid images created by using the five senses. In some stories, the readers feel that they are actually in the scene with the people.

Chicken Soup stories have a beginning, middle and an ending that often closes with a punch, creating emotion rather than simply talking about it. Chicken Soup for the Soul® stories have heart, but also something extra…an element that makes us all feel more hopeful, more connected, more thankful, more passionate and better about life in general. A story that causes tears, laughter, goosebumps or any combination of these. A good story covers the range of human emotions.

The most powerful stories are about people extending themselves, or performing an act of love, service or courage for another person.

Guidelines for a Chicken Soup for the Armed forces Soul® Story

1. Tell an exciting, sad or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Make sure that you introduce the character(s).

2. Tell your story in a way that will make the reader cry, laugh or get goose bumps (the good kind!) Don't leave anything out — how did you feel?

3. The story should start with action; it should include a problem, issue or situation. It should include dialogue and the character should express their feelings though the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, a positive change or pay-off.

4. Above all, let it come from your heart! Your story is important!

What a Chicken Soup for the Soul® story IS NOT:

1. A sermon, an essay or eulogy.

2. A term paper, thesis, letter or journal entry.

3. About politics or controversial issues.

4. A "My Grandma Just Died, and Let Me Tell You What A Wonderful Person She Was" or "Let Me Tell You About My Disease or Operation" or "I Gave a Bum Some Money, Aren't I Incredible?" or "Why My Mother Is the Best Mother" or a personal testimony that may mean nothing to the reader.

Story Specifications

Stories should be non-fiction, ranging in length between 300-1200 words.

Chapters

Every book is divided into topic chapters with the following as a guideline for typical chapters:

1) On Love This chapter contains stories that describe acts of love and kindness; the healing power of love; acts of tenderness and compassion; acts of generosity; and events that transcend racism, sexism, ageism and nationalism. In regards to the Armed forces these stories could also talk about issues of moving, lengthy separations and endless anxieties.

2) On the line of Fire This chapter contains stories of near-death experiences, moments of personal revelations and understanding, stories of courage and pride when behind the line of fire.

3) On Parenting: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate love and caring in the act of parenting and grand parenting.

4) On Teaching and Learning: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate caring, compassion and creativity in the art of teaching—both in the classroom and outside the classroom.

5) Overcoming Obstacles: This chapter contains stories that demonstrate how we have triumphed over our own personal obstacles or supported one over theirs, and how individually each should be celebrated.

6) On Death and Dying: This chapter will contain stories about the power of the human spirit to confront the loss of loved ones through spiritual understanding, healing acts of love and kindness, and through humor.

7) On Aging: This chapter will contain stories about people over 60 years old who are making remarkable contributions to society, who are challenging the stereotypes of aging, and who are living without limitations.

8) On Living Your Dream: This chapter will contain stories that demonstrate the power of believing in your dream, the power of goal setting, the wisdom of trusting and following your heart, the power of giving encouragement and the importance of asking for and being open to receiving assistance from both other people and God.

9) Eclectic Wisdom: This chapter contains stories that don't fit into any other chapters. The stories are what about any aspect of life that is emotionally moving, touching, inspiring and insightful.

Raksha

http://bharadia.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm

10 of the greatest Stella Artois beer advertisements

To mark the end of the relationship between ad agency Lowe and Stella Artois beer, here are some of the 26-year-old partnership's best TV ads.

1. Pilot

2. Flower Seller

3. Ice Skating Priests

4. The Bicycle Race

5. Masterpiece

6. Last Wish

7. Destiny

8. Contaminated Doctor

9. Homecoming

10. Prison Ship

The 10 most irritating phrases in English

The phrases appear in a book called Damp Squid, named after the mistake of confusing a squid with a squib, a type of firework reports The Telegraph.

The researchers who compiled the list monitor the use of phrases in a database called the Oxford University Corpus, which comprises books, papers, magazines, broadcast, the internet and other sources.

The database alerts them to new words and phrases and can tell them which expressions are disappearing. It also shows how words are being misused.

As well as the above expressions, the book's author Jeremy Butterfield says that many annoyingly over-used expressions actually began as office lingo, such as 24/7 and "synergy".

The top ten most irritating phrases:

1. At the end of the day
2. Fairly unique
3. I personally
4. At this moment in time
5. With all due respect
6. Absolutely
7. It's a nightmare
8. Shouldn't of
9. 24/7
10. It's not rocket science

Can you think of any more? Please leave them in the comments section.

FDA approves depressant drug for the annoyingly cheerful

How to perform heart surgery using a radio

This scene is from a true Bollywood masterpiece called "Clerk" starring Manoj Kumar. It is supposed to be a tragedy movie but can be termed as the funniest movie of the century. In this scene Manoj Kumar performs a triple bypass heart surgery on Ashok Kumar just by playing a patriotic song on his radio. Hysterically funny!
(Hat tip to Priti Nair)

Muthalik as Ravana: How to really fight the moral police

I am getting endless invites to join the pink chaddi campaign. The pink chaddi campaign is utterly juvenile. It is generating a lot of PR and buzz for some fringe organization which will revel in it (and so will the pink chaddi brigade).
These do-gooders need to get a clue. Spare me these space cadets who lack the courage to carry out their campaign in Kashmir, where the jehadis have warned that those who celebrate Hallmark Card Day (14th February) will be shot.
What would I do? Here's a thought:
Since Ram Sena names itself after Lord Ram, why not use their ideology to defeat them?
Ergo, only asuras like Ravana harassed women. So Muthalik is like Ravana.
I am carrying out a word of mouth campaign to all the folks I know so it hopefully filters down to the most remote part of Karnataka ( and the rest of India).
You can do the same. If you have anymore workable ideas, please feel free to share them.
Pink chaddi is an elitist and silly idea which is limited to Facebook and some blogs.
For high resolution images, please feel free to email me.
Thank you.
~Sunil
Art Director: Mandar Wadke
Copywriter: Sunil Shibad

Laurel and Hardy dancing to Masakali from Delhi 6

Under fair use convention.

Creative Team: Atul Manjrekar, Anil Kakar, Mandar Wadke, Mahesh Abitkar, Vaishakhi Mehta, Swapnil Shete, Suchitra Ghosh, Norma Rodricks, Lavina Shahani, Joshua Newnes, Surendra Adivarekar, Madhukar Chilbe, Kuber Sarup and Sunil Shibad.

Based on a spoof found on youtube.

Direct link: Click here.

Delhi-6 is a forthcoming Hindi film (Bollywood) film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Om Puri, Atul Kulkarni, and Divya Dutta. The movie is reportedly based on Mehra's growing up years in Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi.The film will be Mehra's third directorial venture after critically acclaimed Aks and the immensely successful Rang De Basanti.

American-born Indian, Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) brings his ailing grandmother back to India. Little does he know that the quick trip will turn into the longest journey of his life - a journey within. The backdrop of the story is the ancient walled city of Delhi, better known as Chandni Chowk, a character in herself. It represents the chaos, religion, beliefs and ethos of the Indian people. The PIN code of that part of the city is 110006, and it is traditional to use only one or two digits of the pin code after Delhi.

Tina Turner and Mick Jagger: State Of Shock ( Live Aid)

Tina Turner and Mick Jagger performing "State Of Shock and "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll" at Live Aid, July, 1985. During their duet of "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll", Mick Jagger ripped away part of Tina Turner's dress, leaving her to finish the song in what was, effectively, a leotard.

Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton: Jingo ( Live at Crossroads)

Two guitar gods at their best. Performing a searing and soaring version of Santana's "Jingo". Clapton is playing his colorful Graffiti Fender Sratocaster. From the Crossroads Guitar Festival, 2004, Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas.

Crossroads Guitar Festival:

In the summer of 2004, a spectacular gathering of musicians from across the guitar world performed together at Eric Clapton’s three-day Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas. Featuring a once-in-a-lifetime showcase of guitar luminaries performing rock anthems, blues classics, and bluegrass hits. Joining Clapton are fellow axe legends Carlos Santana, Joe Walsh, and J.J. Cale; bluesmen Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, and Jimmie Vaughan; as well as James Taylor, country superstar Vince Gill, bluegrass player Dan Tyminski from Alison Krauss’ band Union Station, and young star John Mayer. Highlights include renditions of classics like “After Midnight” and “Layla,” as well as recent hits like Mayer’s “City Love.”

Proceeds from the extraordinary guitarfest went to support the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation center founded by Eric Clapton in 1997. The festival also offered guitar clinics, exhibits by leading manufacturers, and displays of guitars from the private collections of Clapton and his friends, which were auctioned by Christie’s in June 2004 and garnered more than $7 million to aid the Crossroads Centre.

Laurel and Hardy meet Carlos Santana

Laurel and Hardy dance to Carlos Santana's "Oye Come Va". Pure genius.



Here is another one where the lovable duo boogie to The Archie's "Sugar Sugar".



And another mashup with the Gap Band

Oren Lavie: Her Morning Elegance

* The music video was shot using stills - roughly 3225 still photos for the entire video, using one camera, hanging from the ceiling for the main body of the movie.
* It took 4 weeks before shooting to create an animated computer generated storyboard for the video, with 3d dummies for the characters.
* It took only 2 days of shooting for the live actors on set to re-create the 3.5 minutes computer sequence, frame by frame.
* Some of the bed sheets used in the video were taken from Oren’s own bedroom and are now considered collectors items, worth at the moment not very much and therefore used as bed sheets.
*Each of the wonderfully talented people above have worked on the video for a fraction of their normal rates (except Oren who worked for his normal rate of zero).