Just what we needed

The politicians' "kadai kann paarvai" has fallen on the IT sector. As if their influence on all other walks of life in India isn't enough, we now have the communist parties pontificating on the need for a union for the IT industry. After Gowda's all-out assault on NRN, this is just what we need.
We'll all soon be enrolled into the various unions automatically, we'll have to contribute to the monthly union fund, and if a strike is called for, we'll have to carry the hammer and sickle flag. Choiciest abuse would be reserved for the guys who dare to work on the day of the strike to meet project deadlines.
Brilliant!!!

Bangalore Floods

It has been raining cats and dogs in Bangalore. The south-west monsoon morphed into the north-east monsoon, and Bangalore has had rains on and off for the past 5 months. Can't remember the last time I saw the sun in all its glory against a spotless blue sky. The cauvery is in spate, and mettur is now an all-pass filter. Trichy is almost submerged.
Even the so-called posh localities in Bangalore have had to bear the brunt of nature's fury - directly or indirectly. All this is already known. What triggered this post is this photo on the front page of yesterday's "The Hindu".
Reminded me of the massive flooding that occured in Chennai during deepavali time in 1985. 5 families including our's (close to 30 people) stayed for about 10 days in a 1 bedroom house. I can still remember the obnoxious odour emnating from the rotting paper and wood as we entered our home after the floods drained away a bit. At that time, such makeshit rafts were used to transport essential supplies. Chennai has been spared of the torture so far this year.
Then, our parents always used to tell us how well-planned Bangalore was, and how a site would be sanctioned only after the drainage, water-connection etc., was planned for. I makes me sad to see Bangalore's state of affairs now.

The Devil Incarnate

Note : This is transliterated tamil, so might take some effort :D

adho, avargaL vandhu vittArgaL. engalukku mattumey sondhamaana iravin nisabdham "doppler's effect"-udan kulaiya poagiradhu. engaLin thanimai pari poanadhaal avaL migundha seetRatthil irukkiraaL. dhooratthil avargaLin manjaL niRa kaNgalai paartha udaney en thozhanukku aathiram patRi kondadhu. Avan kaNgalil teritha kobam ennaye oru muRai ulukkiyadhu. Sagaakkal iruvarin uNarchi vayapatta nilai ennayum totri kondadhu. Moovarum oruvarai oruvar paarthu koNdoam. "Indru ivargalai vidak koodadhu" - thoazan seerinaan. Avargal engalai nerunga nerunga, naangal thayaar aanoam. Urumik koNdu vadha andha irandu peygaLayum vaaykku vandhabadi ellam thiTi kondaey thuratinoam. Aanal indRum avargal thappi viTaargaL.

Ramesh : raathiri aachunaaley indha naai-nga thollai thaangala
Chandru : naalaikku main road-la poidalaam. innikki adhunga rombavey aakroashama namma bike-a thoratichunga.

(Guys who've rode through some of Bangalore's smaller roads during night times will know...)