Nirvana

... or as close to it as you can get...

A fine white wine, a piece of Edam on a fork, an open Blogger window ( I prefer online blogging with Safari to Ecto and Smultron), and reruns of an Arsenal Blackburn match that Arsenal won 4-0....

On Change

Hillary is behind Obama on total votes, as she is ahead on the number of politicians, governors and mayors endorsing her. She also seems pretty confident on the shooting competition in the Super-delegate range.

I wonder why that is.

It may be that her tide is turning - that she is really as tenacious and plucky as they portray her to be, that she is more than that unimpressive, boring hag Bill knew when he picked brainless buxom secretaries do to his dirty laundry (and more). She is a lawyer, and though the stereotype of the arrogant argumentative prick is close, the lawyers I've known are tenacious and would fight till the end. The lawyer part also explains the Iran-posing, and the intricate loophole-less set of policies she spouts every time she is asked for her stance on something.

Or it may be that she is afraid. Obama does not take highly specific stands on abortion and gay rights with forty six escape clauses in Sections 1 to 6. He speaks like us - he says what he means. And the only thing he doesn't change is change. Which appeals to the common man. Hence the vote. Don't get me wrong - I (and they) aren't against Hillary - she's fine by herself and she's got Bill at her shoulder. What I don't like are the stage tears and the mock-drama she has to resort to to garner votes.

But why are politicians scrambling to support Hillary? Because they know that the change, and hope, that Obama projects needs to start from the political system itself; that the antiquated black-and-white, For-us-or-against-us two-party system that Bush so successfully gamed may be in danger of reform. Here is a 35-year old professor with a Kenyan father who spent half his childhood in Jakarta standing against experienced (read 'older') statesmen from seasoned political families and rocking the boat, and they are not about to make him the captain.

Fortunately for us, that decision is not in their hands - it's with the voters. Unfortunately, it's too close. Fortunately, having two strong candidates draws more undecided voters to register Democrat. Unfortunately, the super-delegates may have the last say. Unfortunately, the super-delegates are chosen from the politicians, and not surprisingly, they are elitist. Unfortunately, there's more to this story. Fortunately, I'm stopping it here.

But I do have a formula for real change... here it is... whoever wins here runs Democrat and takes the other one as Vice-President. If Cheney can make that much noise being the VP, I'm pretty sure it's not just a redundancy position. We'll see what you're made off and elect you the next time.

Technorati Tags: Politics,Random Thoughts

Tastes Awful... and I like it

If you go to the iTunes music store, you can subscribe to Comedy Central's podcasts - little nuggets of stand up comedy that make my morning. This morning I was watching one of the better episodes which I had saved (by an Amy Barnes) ... and the ad was an absolute gem!

Buckley’s Cough Mixture.
It tastes Awful.
It Works.

Granted, it's not the conventional eye-opener. It's not the Sony style ten-thousand multicolored bouncy balls bouncing down a quaint European suburban road. It's not the 1984 Apple market-breaker. Or this condom ad. But it is no less inspired that these. That a company can own up to what it is. and turn a percieved weakness into a huge strength.

For me that ranks right up there with Red Bull creating an aura around energy drinks and making them mainstream.

It looks awful. And it works.

The Beginning

It is said that a good start often make a shitload of difference to anything.

Personally, I don't seem to have the best of starts in life. I mean I know I am intelligent, sexy, confident, with a body to die for... and a liar. Its just that the universe is out to get me... you know what I am saying?

But let's get to the point... good starts.

Einstein was kicked out of Physics class.
Reliance began as a 15000 rupee textile store.
Abdul Kalam started out as a newspaper boy.
Hewlett Packard and Microsoft started in garages.
And I dont know if the universe began with a whimper, but this blog I start with one... and it's gonna be great.