Archive for November, 2009
Who has ‘jollied’ Angelina?
Who indeed? And does she know about it! She is a fine actress, a busy mother, a wife, a Peace representative….. which of these would suffer if she put up for the Presidency?
How much world and international experience in all things political has she? What does Sarah Palin think about this likely candidate? Could it be a contest between two Amazon lady warriors? Might she succeed where Hillary Clinton failed? (Although in her defence she was unlucky having such a charismatic opponent).
The plot gets curiouser and curiouser! Hold your breath…..
2012 could be a vintage year for the Media!
Contributed by Barbara Turner
To strike or not strike
In Kerala the answer is yes. Seven bus operators voted in favour. In their defence, they are thinking of students and a suggested decrease of their fares but an increase of minimum fare to Rs 5 for other passengers.
The problem is that an increase might reduce the number of travellers and then jobs will be in jeopardy. For long journeys, the drivers will be safe as they are needed. But if buses run with fewer passengers on short routes, the operators might use fewer buses and students will suffer too.
What to do?
Talks will help but maybe end in stalemate. Will it be checkmate to the drivers or the operators? Will the students be pawns in their hands?
Contributed by Barbara Turner
Have a fetish? Can walk!
Read about Kareena Kapoor’s footwear fetish and realised that fetishes vary according to age, sexual orientation, fame, notoriety.
Mine are boring. I make lists and then lists of lists. I check the door lock twice and then return to check if I checked.
Buying exotic shoes makes more sense. I wish I could.
The latest are imitation python. These boots are not made for walking. They are showstoppers. Heads turn, women drool, men smile indulgently, love them only if they don’t have to pay.
The wearer stands six inches taller and ten feet higher in her own esteem. Boyfriends tolerate their girl looking down from a great height and the next day, upwards, adoringly, wearing favourite flatties.
But there’s nothing like a dame in boots, especially if she’s Kareena Kapoor.
Contributed by Barbara Turner
20 years of the Berlin Wall
It’s the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
I have been there (1995).
It looks just like an ordinary stone weighing about 2 kilos resting on my mantelpiece in pride of place. But it is special. Not just because I carried it in my rucksack for 1000 miles by train, bus, and on foot. Not just because I “stole” it and only I know that.
It is special because it was part of the infrastructure of the Berlin Wall, still lying on the ground, six years after it was torn down by joyous East and West Berliners. And I searched and found it, determined to own part of what had been and now, no more. Once, guards had trodden it, fired from it, killed from it.
I stole a little piece of history, and called it my own.
Contributed by Barbara Turner
The importance of frisking
I wonder why it has only just surfaced that American Continental Airlines were not as thorough frisking the former Indian PM, Dr. Abdul Kalam last April as they should have been.
It is possible that he might have been ‘ambushed” on the short distance he had to walk. Considering that no one should be exempt for obvious reasons didn’t seem to be the airline policy.
Searching heels of men’s shoes is regular but not, in my experience, ladies shoes.
In contrast, security at Indian temples is most strict probably because of the large number of visitors.
Although time consuming, it is in our own interests. Temples lost to bomb outrage are irreplaceable but then so are travellers everywhere.
Contributed by Barbara Turner
