#94: "you know, like, seriously"

.... as overheard on the Metro. Apparently this sequence of words means something. It does not however make any pretense of grammar or composition. Text-messages now set the norm. No wonder then that Miss Teen South Carolina offered such an insightful and compelling response at her beauty pageant. She may have been distraught that "US Americans" do not have maps in adequate numbers. But in turn she single-handedly put South Carolina on the global cyber-map.

Is it really surprising that reading skills and scores among school-students is stagnant or even declining? That's not just only in US; I got a greeting card from a cousin in India which did not fare any better.

PS: Here's a link to comments about "that answer" in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

#86: caving in

Some people are born great, some become great, and some have greatness thrust upon them. I joined the ranks of the last, thanks to a doting aunt who broke down my resistance to owning an iPod. Technically I maintain that I stayed true to my resolve: I did not line the pockets of Steve Jobs. It was a gift.

It's all downhill from here; a downward spiral that creates a perpetual revenue stream out my meager earnings. First I'll need more memory on my computer to store the songs. Then I'll need to buy more songs to keep it from going stale. And then I'll start chasing a bigger iPod to store the new songs. The consumerist cycle has just begun. I better get used to this new diet.

#80: oh, my bleeding heart

Paris Hilton was handed a 45-day prison sentence for driving when intoxicated on a suspended license. A caller on the radio cried bloody murder for this biased and disproportionate punishment. Yah, right! Non-resident-aliens (FOBs like me) can get deported on our first instance of DUI or DWI. The "harsh treatment" of celebrities truly bleeds my heart.

Notoriety and infamy is a passage to fame: ask Martha Stewart, Naomi Campbell or Marion Barry. Beaming them 24/7 is the zeitgeist of the 21st century media. The day Scooter Libby was indicted, the headline on WPost.com was Anna Nicole Smith's fatal drug overdose. So much for priorities and burning issues.

#78: beam me up, scotty

A zoom lens, and an unsuspecting stranger on a bench 4 floors below....

A famous misquote
The line "Beam me up, Scotty" is one of the most notorious misquotes in popular culture. Although Scotty became synonymous with the line, it was never actually said in the Star Trek series. The closest Captain Kirk came to was in the fourth Star Trek movie, when he said "Scotty, beam me up". See link.

#54: the lute's magic

Sting's new album "Songs from the Labyrinth" is a breath of fresh air .... the lyrics, the melodies, and the sounds. They aren't his own; he's sung verses of the Elizabethan composer John Dowland.

Some critics claim that this version does not do justice to Dowland's works, nor does it reflect how these pieces were sung some 400 years ago. Maybe. But all credit to Sting for stepping out of pop-comfort-zone. He's brought this composer back from the forgotten pages of history. I had never heard of Dowland, far less his ballads. The songs are moving – particularly "Come Again". And sung by one of my favourite musicians, well that's icing on the cake.

#52: happy birthday

The iPod fairytale will be 5 years old tomorrow. With 68 million pieces sold, this Apple revolution has swept from New Delhi to New York and all in between.

How liberating it must be to have all our favourite music in one place and at our fingertips – wherever and whenever. No more clunky CDs to lug around; no more having to listen to commercials, unwanted music, or street cacophony. Solitude and peace of mind is just a finger-flick away. It looks chic too.

But here's a counter-point. For all its convenience, the white wires of the iPod sticking to the ears is one powerful signal screaming .... "Do not disturb" or "Leave me alone". In a modern-day life that is already isolated and isolating, do we need any more help to hide into our cocoons?

That's just my critique of this 21st century icon. I am sure my friends will take me to task for my blasphemy. Oh well ....

#40: live long and prosper

Star Trek was born on the television screens this day 40 years ago. 6 TV series, 10 movies, countless conventions and millions of viewers later .... the franchise is still trudging along. True, the series is now at best limping on life-support. But in its heydays, it was way ahead of the curve. It's found a place at the Smithsonian Museum of American History as an American icon, and it is one. Phrases such as "Beam me up, Scotty", "Live long and prosper", "Engage", and "Phasers on stun" are television folklore. NASA named its first space shuttle "Enterprise" as a tribute.
The original series was my first science fiction on TV at age 11. I remember watching it for the first time at my aunt's apartment in Alameda, CA. Soon it became a habit.

My idol, why – Mr. Spock of course – the cool, composed, rational, logical, and "slightly superhuman" vulcan-earthling hybrid. He was methodical, his thoughts were always precise and organised (type ISTJ) – unlike Dr. McCoy. I admired his special abilities – physical and intellectual, his control over emotional turmoils, and his self-restraint to strictly adhere to his moral code – to use these strengths only for the "greatest good". Plus he was almost always the saviour of the last-resort. In contrast, Captain James "Tiberius" Kirk's notion of making contact with aliens was principally through fraternising with the bimbos of those species. Notice how they were invariably blondes. Diplomacy for him was a post-seduction after-thought!

My favourite series was "The Next Generation" with Jean-Luc at the helm. The plots were better, the script far superior and less cheesy, and über-sanitised for political correctness. The special effects kept pace with times and technology. But Deanna Troi was irritating. The subsequent series all paled out in contrast. Most respondents to a BBC online survey share the same sentiment.

I'm not a hardcore Trekkie. But I wish it a happy birthday. And I hope the next movie titled ST-XI is better than the last few.

Update: Here's an op-ed piece in the NY Times from one of the writers of the show .... on the (intended) ideology of the series.

#34: isaak, live

My "Pop Music Quotient" (aka: PMQ) took a giant leap a few nights ago. I watched Chris Isaak live at Wolf Trap Farms. For the non-DC-ites, this is an open-air arts centre on the outskirts of the city. The audience sits on green grassy slopes, watches shows under the blue sky – sipping cold beverages with take-out dinners. It's a wonderful summertime indulgence.

I cannot claim to be a big Isaak fan; had heard a handful of his songs in passing. But I really loved his performance that night. He has a very versatile voice, and he works his gifts well. His music reflects an easy-flowing laid-back west-coast charm.

He also worked the crowd so well. We were up on our feet at times, clapping, chiming in, even singing for him. The audience loved every minute of his 2 hour show. I think I'll hear him more often in future. And I wish someday soon Sting would perform there (and that I can get myself tickets to it). For this experience I owe Nasim and her spare ticket, a big thanks.

#31: lil' ms sunshine

To those searching for a movie to watch, I strongly recommend Little Miss Sunshine. It's been a while since I watched a movie that tugged an emotional chord in such a thoughtful yet funny way. Thanks Paula, for your suggestion.Over the last 10 days I have watched three movies .... Rocky (the original), Seabiscuit, and now this. This isn't the usual Hollywood feel-good "everyone deserves a second chance" storyline. Nor is it a David and Goliath duel where the good but small fellow conquers against all odds in a fairytale plot. Maybe that's why it resonates with the audience. If I say anymore, I'd be spoiling it for those who haven't watched it yet – but ought to.

I was reminded of a lil' Ms. and a lil' Mr. sunshine. My nephew was 4 months old when I last saw him (that's him in the photo). I am told he's growing up to be quite a handful, in the positive sense. He's this sweet bundle of joy. Then there's Sophie, my friend's daughter – a full 4 years old as she'll remind you. She's the life of any gathering she is in – when awake.

Kids have this incredible magnetism that just lights up the place .... be it on a silver screen or anywhere else. Their spontaneity, trust, and openness is so transparent and touching; their boundless energy is so envigorating and contagious. They have an insatiable (non-excludable and non-rival) capacity to give and receive affection. Their emotions are pure, innocent, and uncorrupt in the truest sense. They'll tell you just exactly how they feel; no polite pretensions there. They are also incredibly forgiving; offering second-chances where adults would loathe to.

As we grow up we pick up our baggage of hangups, complications, reservations, fears, risk-aversion, mistrust .... And we carry this needless weight for the rest of our lives. I know I sound like a commercial for "The Little Prince". I wish we grown-ups would learn from Sophie and my nephew, rather than try to teach them. And I hope these kids aren't in a hurry to grow up into our habits.

#20: west wing blues

It was that one hour in a week when a television show had drama, reality, relevance, cerebral stimulation, dialogues that were thoughtful and meaningful – all resonating with each other. Little surprise then that in 7 seasons it won 2 Golden Globes and 24 Emmys. So many in the last few years have wished so often for the real West Wing to be anywhere remotely as thoughtful and purposeful as its dramatised version.

It captivated viewers with its bold, fresh, and yet unglamorous view of life in the centre of world power. It took on real-life, controversial, and topical debates – including those with no clear answers and no obvious winners; it showed the compexity of governance and the tight-rope walk that politics is; it captured the human nature of it all and could relate to the audience in very personal ways.

I really miss the show. It'll be tough to fill that vacuum on my television schedule. No reruns makes it worse. I leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

“This guy is walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, “Hey, you, can you help me out?” The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up, “Father, I’m down in this hole. Can you help me out?” The priest writes a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. “Hey, Joe, it’s me. Can you help me out?” And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, “Are you nuts? Now we’re both down here.” The friend says, “Yeah, but I’ve been down here before, and I know the way out.” – Leo McGarry from the West Wing episode Noel

#16: tintin @ 100?

Did my "evergreen" hero turn 100? Well, not really. It's the centennial year of Georges Remi, aka Hergé - the creator of Tintin.

As kids, we've idolised the usual super-heroes – Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and some local ones too. Tintin was the odd one in this congress. He had no cape; he couldn't fly. Yet he out-foxed all opponents with his wit and fearlessness. He captured the imagination of at least one restless 5 year old then, and still does.

But even more importantly, Tintin's adventures opened my eyes to the wide world outside – to cultures, customs, sights and sounds of distant lands – much before and beyond any book in geography did. It was learning at its best – a whole lot of fun. He made dinner-table quizzes exciting. I could pit myself against the elders: we were all equal on Tintin trivia. And above all, he sowed a seed of curiosity and the urge to travel around the world that still survives.

O how I implored my mother to let me roll up my trousers and wear white socks to school. Or to get me a blue sweater that I then refused to let go for days on end. She sportingly washed it often, to keep it fit for "my next adventure". I remember donning my father's yellow shirt that then reached beyond my knee in length. That was the closest I got to Tintin's trademark beige overcoat!! Ah, the amazing world of imagination.
Hergé was a master story-teller. Each character .... Captain Archibald Haddock – his bumbling habits and "mild temper", Professor Cuthbert Calculus – just a little hard of hearing in one ear but certainly not deaf, Nestor – the butler, the well-intentioned but thoroughly incompetent Thomson and Thompson, and Snowy – his supressed weakness for Loch Lomond whisky, .... was a gem in unique and eccentric ways. Trivia: Snowy (or Milou) was named after Hergé's first girlfriend Marie-Louise (Malou), and Captain Haddock got his after Hergé's wife mentioned that the haddock was a "sad English fish". Ouch.

Tintin remains timeless. Ask Steven Spielberg and 200 million other readers if you doubt me. He continues to bring a smile to faces across generations and continents. We owe Hergé our gratitude. Dank je.

#13: kal-el is back

Superman has returned to the big screen – with vastly superior visual effects, a water repellent lycra suit, and a molten magma resistant hair gel (for his curly tuft of hair).

The plot-line is weak. But then who goes to such movies (include James Bond and MI) for cerebral stimulation anyway. Someone sitting behind me began snoring 15 minutes into the movie!! Mr. Someone wasn't impressed.

The reincarnation of Clark Kent looks remarkably like a high-school adolescent Christopher Reeve who hadn't yet needed a shave. It creates a visual dissonance. Lois Lane has clearly aged, while Superman in his 5 years hiatus has perhaps lost age. Space travel to Krypton and back at the speed of light can have this effect .... Einstein postulated just as much in his theory of relativity.

But these pot-shots aside, the movie is entertaining. After the rigours of a week when not much made sense anyway, I went into the theatre knowing that I shouldn't try to connect the dots in the narrative. And I wasn't disappointed. Plus I have seen a lot worse on in-flight entertainment (my primary avenue of movie viewing).

#12: fresh sounds

Corny as it sounds, I listen to Casey Kasem's "America's Top 10" every Sunday morning on my drive to the soccer field. It's become a ritual over the years. I suppose he doesn't know. But this is an invaluable cheat-sheet for dorks: an instant connection to what's hot and what's not and some mindless trivia for empty-heads. It raises a few eyebrows when I drop stats like .... "Hips don't lie" moved up two notches this week. It's a bonus when such statements can be strategically mis-interpreted !!

Recently I have been introduced to some fresh voices and sounds, music that I have begun to like the more I listen to it. Alison Kraus, The Corrs, and Michael Bublé ("Save the last dance for me") top that list. My musical exploration continues ....

#11: lightning for fireworks

It's July 4th: time for celebration, fireworks and a long summer weekend. All good so far. But here's a contrary thought. I lecture on the interdependence of world markets, how globalisation makes this one big interconnected place where everyone is in it together – for better (think trade) or for worse (contagion, financial crises).

So what does "independence day" signify in the present times? Is it anything more than a notion now fading into irrelevance and a myth? Britain does not have one or need one. In US, it is more a holiday for parades, fireworks and barbeques under the sun. For fledgling nations, fresh from their experience of being colonised, the pomp and pageantry are vital reminders and reaffirmation of their new and hard-fought status. That too shall change as time passes on. But nowhere does anyone proclaim an "interdependence day" – other than in the office of one Prof. Benjamin Barber at UMD. Why is interdependence construed a sign of weakness and not a standard for greater maturity and understanding? Oh well ....

This may have been my last July 4th at the National Mall. But the rain gods clearly had a different plan. It was hot, sunny, and sultry – until evening. The clouds then rolled in and with it came rain, thunder, and lightning. They filled up the sky with light and sound effects no less impressive. So I ended up watching our local version instead. It was less spectacular than the big show downtown, but still carried a punch. There's something about seeing it in person that the television just cannot capture. Some of my classmates were there too. For now I'll just have to imagine how it must have been were I sitting by the Tidal Basin with one bronzed Thomas Jefferson Esq. peeping over my shoulders. Maybe I'll get a chance next year, or maybe not. No regrets. I had fun this evening with friends. And thanks for the holiday – the freedom from the daily humdrum for even a day: now that's an independence we all can relate to.