A Throwback Thursday post:
Jess did a Hot Seat on T Bone Burnett last week, and that jogged the memory of this tune.
Burnett was married to Sam Phillips and produced her "Martinis And Bikinis" album, one of my early 90s favorites.
Fun fact! The album cover picture led to her being cast as Jeremy Irons' mute terrorist girlfriend in "Die Hard With A Vengeance."
Hear the song on Youtube.
Thursday 29 May 2014
Wednesday 28 May 2014
No degree is better than having one
 |
It all started with tweets from Madhu Kishwar and Congress spokesman Ajay Makhen, questioning her competence to head the education ministry. And, it backfired, with a barrage of countertweets. Columnist Swapan Dasgupta said: “Someone remind me. Did Rabindranath Tagore go to university? He certainly established one & had enlightened views on education.’’ Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah tweeted: "To say that someone needs to be educated to be HRD Min is like saying one needs to be a pilot for Civil Aviation or a miner for Coal Min".
I wonder when did educational qualification become an imperative to join politics or to become a minister. Not just in politics, elsewhere too everyone is looking beyond degrees. We have infinite examples of under-qualified people doing well, and well-qualified people under-performing.
Let her do her job
As a minister, Smriti and others are more of managers and leaders. What she needs is a good set of advisers. And she should have the will to push the policies that are good for the teachers and the taught, and generally for the educational setup of our country. And for all that, a PhD or an MSc or an MBA is hardly required. In fact, a highly qualified person may prove to be a disadvantage, since he or she won't be able to look beyond his or her field of specialization. Such people very often have a constricted view, while a minister of education of the country should have a very broad view.
Let Smriti be allowed to do her job. If she has come this far, she must be smart enough to figure her way ahead too. If we need to criticize, let us do that for her omissions and commissions as a minister.
(Picture credit: The Hindu)
Tuesday 27 May 2014
Eric Clapton "Call Me The Breeze"
Eric Clapton has put together "An Appreciation Of JJ Cale," featuring covers of Cale's tunes as done by Clapton, Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler and others.
"Call Me The Breeze" is out as a single.
Should MVY play it?
On the one hand, does this version really add to or change your perception of the song? Not for me. It's a very tasteful take on the tune, but I don't feel like I'm experiencing anything new here.
And really, does anyone need to hear "Call Me The Breeze" every again? It's one of those songs that feels a little like driving by a McDonalds---you don't have to go in, to know exactly how the food is going to taste. Or in this case, listen to the song to know what it sounds like.
On the other hand, maybe adding the version to rotation provides a little lift to the version we play (MVY has the original JJ Cale song in rotation; we don't have the Lynyrd Skynyrd version in rotation). Alternating versions might make the listeners listen a little harder, wondering "Which version is this?"
The very pragmatic reason to play it, is that any airplay or record sales that come as a result of someone hearing it on MVY, means money for the songwriter. In this case, the estate of the late JJ Cale will benefit.
Cale was beloved by the great guitar players of the generation who followed him, but he never rose to the level of commercial success of the folks who are on this record. Playing the album will financially support the Cale family.
But when a listener flips the dial and hears a song, they probably aren't thinking any of these things.
Instead, they're making a snap judgement---do I want to hear what MVY is playing, or change the channel?
What do you think listeners will do when they hear this one?
Hear the song on Youtube.
"Call Me The Breeze" is out as a single.
Should MVY play it?
On the one hand, does this version really add to or change your perception of the song? Not for me. It's a very tasteful take on the tune, but I don't feel like I'm experiencing anything new here.
And really, does anyone need to hear "Call Me The Breeze" every again? It's one of those songs that feels a little like driving by a McDonalds---you don't have to go in, to know exactly how the food is going to taste. Or in this case, listen to the song to know what it sounds like.
On the other hand, maybe adding the version to rotation provides a little lift to the version we play (MVY has the original JJ Cale song in rotation; we don't have the Lynyrd Skynyrd version in rotation). Alternating versions might make the listeners listen a little harder, wondering "Which version is this?"
The very pragmatic reason to play it, is that any airplay or record sales that come as a result of someone hearing it on MVY, means money for the songwriter. In this case, the estate of the late JJ Cale will benefit.
Cale was beloved by the great guitar players of the generation who followed him, but he never rose to the level of commercial success of the folks who are on this record. Playing the album will financially support the Cale family.
But when a listener flips the dial and hears a song, they probably aren't thinking any of these things.
Instead, they're making a snap judgement---do I want to hear what MVY is playing, or change the channel?
What do you think listeners will do when they hear this one?
Hear the song on Youtube.
Monday 26 May 2014
Judge not Modi too soon
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| Narendra Modi being sworn in as PM by President Pranab Mukherjee. (Photo credit: Rajeev Bhatt/The Hindu) |
It should normally have been just another transition of power -- for the 15th time, if you didn't include two stints of 13 days each when Gulzarilal Nanda was the acting prime minister after the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966. But there has been so much of excitement this time around.
In the recent past, perhaps only two other transitions created so much excitement -- in 1977 when Morarji Desai became PM heading India's first non-Congress government that too after both Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi were defeated in the election; and later in 1996 when Atal Behari Vajpayee led a BJP-led minority government, for 16 days, just 4 years after the demolition of Babri Masjid.
Given the way the UPA-2 government was drifting rudderless courting one controversy after another -- under a competent man, who unfortunately never got to do what he wanted to (unlike in 1991 when he was the finance minister, Narasimha Rao was the PM and Sonia Gandhi hadn't entered politics) -- Narendra Modi becoming the PM was very much foreseen.
Why the excitement?
- The hope that we will have a government that will be also seen to be functioning.
- After 16 years, we have a prime minister who has campaigned and led his party to victory.
- After 30 years, a single party has got majority in the Lok Sabha.
- Regional satraps who have only a score or two MPs won't hold the entire nation to ransom.
- The talk that Modi is an efficient and tough taskmaster who gets things done.
- We have a PM who is backed by a reasonable set of achievements, though he has quite a lot of negative attributes as well. But in the absence of any alternative, many seem to have decided to focus on his pluses than minuses.
I am sure Modi wouldn't restrict himself to token gestures, as he and his team gets the wheels of effective governance turning again. Expect not just sweet symbolisms, but quite a few harsh and unpopular decisions as well that are needed if our country has to scale heights of economic and social excellence. Hopefully, sloth, lack of accountability and indiscipline in governance will be things of the past.
Eager anticipation
It's more anticipation than excitement; anticipation on how the future would be. Going by the way votes have gone, it has been established on multiple fora that people who voted for the BJP had chosen to look at economic issues over communal and religious issues.
One important area that has suffered over the past few years is investment. We are not talking about the more controversial foreign direct investment, that too in retail. We are talking of investment in infrastructure, education, science and technology, agriculture, industry, tourism etc. And we are not talking of foreign investment. We are talking of Indian investment. Many Indians, wary of investing in India itself, have been turning to foreign countries.
The biggest change most Indians are looking forward to is this. Because, it will have a great bearing on jobs, state of the economy, and by extrapolation, the standard of living.
But the huge flip side of the mandate is that very other Indian who voted, didn't vote for BJP. Its vote share was a little over 30%. The majority of those voted, the nearly two-thirds, will be keeping their fingers crossed with a lot skepticism.
Hopefully Modi will keep them in mind, the huge majority who didn't vote for the BJP. Finally, his image and success, will depend on how he takes care of them.
Test of crisis
It's said the strength of a chain is its weakest link. It means, when pressure is applied on the chain, it's weakest link that will snap first. So, how long lasting the chain is depends on that weakest link. Similarly, how good Modi is will depend on how well he can handle a crisis. It's during a crisis one's abilities are put to test. So, we will be able to judge best, when he is faced with a crisis, by looking at how well he resolves it.
Saturday 24 May 2014
Review ~ Raised by Sharon Stevenson
Good afternoon!
So I have a new review for you! I have a couple more in the future so prepare yourself, it's been so long! This one is New Adult or older and it is a Sci-fi book so if that sounds like your kind of thing this is your book. I am happy to have found this new to me indie author :) It is also FREE for all e-readers, another reason to jump on it.
Everyone deserves a second chance even the dead. In the future the world is taken over by beings creating it so that there is magic to be harnessed. Pete has died and someone has brought him back to life, but he doesn't know who or why as he sets out on his journey to avoid being captured and forced into the military. Raised is a story that has characters that are realistic, well the main characters at least, and how realistic as a dead man can be. Sharon Stevenson will have you involved in the characters in a manner where you are going to keep flipping through to find out what happens next.
It usually takes me a little longer to read Sci-fi books. However with Raised I was able to zip through the book in a steady pace. The readers are in a fully developed world without the extra word jungle that I get lost in with some Sci-fi books. The main character has an array of emotions that the readers can understand because they are in the book's world. There are even plot twists. Hang on for book two though...
Goodreads
Amazon
BN
Smashwords
Author website
So I have a new review for you! I have a couple more in the future so prepare yourself, it's been so long! This one is New Adult or older and it is a Sci-fi book so if that sounds like your kind of thing this is your book. I am happy to have found this new to me indie author :) It is also FREE for all e-readers, another reason to jump on it.
Everyone deserves a second chance even the dead. In the future the world is taken over by beings creating it so that there is magic to be harnessed. Pete has died and someone has brought him back to life, but he doesn't know who or why as he sets out on his journey to avoid being captured and forced into the military. Raised is a story that has characters that are realistic, well the main characters at least, and how realistic as a dead man can be. Sharon Stevenson will have you involved in the characters in a manner where you are going to keep flipping through to find out what happens next.
It usually takes me a little longer to read Sci-fi books. However with Raised I was able to zip through the book in a steady pace. The readers are in a fully developed world without the extra word jungle that I get lost in with some Sci-fi books. The main character has an array of emotions that the readers can understand because they are in the book's world. There are even plot twists. Hang on for book two though...
Amazon
BN
Smashwords
Author website
Thursday 22 May 2014
Toad The Wet Sprocket "The Moment"
People asked us for months, "What is going to be the first song you play on your new FM signal?"
And everyone had an opinion.
You may be a little surprised to know that even just a couple of hours before we were to go live, we hadn't picked a song yet.
A few weeks back, Barbara Dacey and I had agreed that we should air the "ocean waves" sound effect that comprised the last 20 minutes of our final broadcast on 92.7, fifteen months ago.
My first idea was that we would play "Riviera Paradise," which was the last song on 92.7. It seemed to suggest that we were picking up right where we left off. But then it didn't seem original enough.
While brainstorming, Barbara suggested Carly Simon's "Never Been Gone," which is perfect on a number of levels, since it is specifically about the Vineyard, and the joke that "mvyradio feels like it never was away" was pretty funny.
But we set that idea aside, because we really wanted the first song to be something upbeat. (Hilariously, the 2 comments I saw online about "Never Been Gone," which ended up being the 3rd or 4th song we played were along the lines of, "I can't believe you didn't play that one first!" and "Ugh, I can't believe they played Carly Simon!?!" So I guess we did strike the appropriate middle ground)
It was Barbara who came up with the unconventional choice of playing James Brown's "I Got You."
Though it's not a tune we would regularly play, the spirit and vibe matched the moment.
But that wasn't the first song on the new 88.7.
What I knew all along was that we were going to have to turn on the new transmitter and be certain that everything was working properly, before it was safe to announce to the world that we were going to "launch" 88.7.
And we had no idea when that was going to happen.
We were scheduled to have the antenna hung on the tower, last week. But rain prevented the contractors from doing the work.
They were supposed to start Monday, but they couldn't get a ferry reservation.
They got to the station early Wednesday, but by mid-morning, they realized that a couple of necessary cables had not arrived via UPS. We tracked the package and found that it was on-Island, so I furiously started texting a couple of guys I know who work for UPS, to see if we could pull some strings and get it there. It came shortly after lunch.
I kept wandering down to the engineer, who was hooking things up in the basement.
"Now? How about now? Are we close?" I was like a 4 year old.
The plan, once the thing was live, was to put the ocean wave on, send out a press release to the media and send an eblast to our listeners giving them a 45 minute heads up. Craig, the engineer, just had to finish his work to set this all in motion.
Finally, he came running upstairs, and simply gave me the thumbs up.
Craig, Barbara and I ran out to the parking lot, and put on the car radios.
88.7FM was on the air.
"Does it sound good? It is a go?"
It was "The Moment." Completely random that the Toad The Wet Sprocket song was the one on the air when the switch was flipped. But there it was, coming out of our speakers.
We all smiled. And yes, a tear or two was shed.
Toad The Wet Sprocket was on 88.7FM, which probably only had 3 listeners, Craig, Barbara and me.
I ran back inside and put the waves on the air.
The moment had arrived.
Hear the song on Youtube.
And everyone had an opinion.
You may be a little surprised to know that even just a couple of hours before we were to go live, we hadn't picked a song yet.
A few weeks back, Barbara Dacey and I had agreed that we should air the "ocean waves" sound effect that comprised the last 20 minutes of our final broadcast on 92.7, fifteen months ago.
My first idea was that we would play "Riviera Paradise," which was the last song on 92.7. It seemed to suggest that we were picking up right where we left off. But then it didn't seem original enough.
While brainstorming, Barbara suggested Carly Simon's "Never Been Gone," which is perfect on a number of levels, since it is specifically about the Vineyard, and the joke that "mvyradio feels like it never was away" was pretty funny.
But we set that idea aside, because we really wanted the first song to be something upbeat. (Hilariously, the 2 comments I saw online about "Never Been Gone," which ended up being the 3rd or 4th song we played were along the lines of, "I can't believe you didn't play that one first!" and "Ugh, I can't believe they played Carly Simon!?!" So I guess we did strike the appropriate middle ground)
It was Barbara who came up with the unconventional choice of playing James Brown's "I Got You."
Though it's not a tune we would regularly play, the spirit and vibe matched the moment.
But that wasn't the first song on the new 88.7.
What I knew all along was that we were going to have to turn on the new transmitter and be certain that everything was working properly, before it was safe to announce to the world that we were going to "launch" 88.7.
And we had no idea when that was going to happen.
We were scheduled to have the antenna hung on the tower, last week. But rain prevented the contractors from doing the work.
They were supposed to start Monday, but they couldn't get a ferry reservation.
They got to the station early Wednesday, but by mid-morning, they realized that a couple of necessary cables had not arrived via UPS. We tracked the package and found that it was on-Island, so I furiously started texting a couple of guys I know who work for UPS, to see if we could pull some strings and get it there. It came shortly after lunch.
I kept wandering down to the engineer, who was hooking things up in the basement.
"Now? How about now? Are we close?" I was like a 4 year old.
The plan, once the thing was live, was to put the ocean wave on, send out a press release to the media and send an eblast to our listeners giving them a 45 minute heads up. Craig, the engineer, just had to finish his work to set this all in motion.
Finally, he came running upstairs, and simply gave me the thumbs up.
Craig, Barbara and I ran out to the parking lot, and put on the car radios.
88.7FM was on the air.
"Does it sound good? It is a go?"
It was "The Moment." Completely random that the Toad The Wet Sprocket song was the one on the air when the switch was flipped. But there it was, coming out of our speakers.
We all smiled. And yes, a tear or two was shed.
Toad The Wet Sprocket was on 88.7FM, which probably only had 3 listeners, Craig, Barbara and me.
I ran back inside and put the waves on the air.
The moment had arrived.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Tuesday 20 May 2014
Sarah McLachlan "In Your Shoes"
Last week there was a conference of non-commercial radio stations. I wanted to go, but it was during our Fund drive for Friends of mvyradio.
I was quite interested in the forum titled "The Tori Dilemma." The question at hand was, if you are a station that breaks new artists, but you've been doing it for years and years, what do you do when your new artists, have become established artists? You're not really breaking new artists if you are playing the new Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant or Sarah McLachlan. But if you don't play them, you are effectively ignoring the artists you told your listeners were important to pay attention to.
For MVY, we're not necessarily chasing a younger, more fickle audience. We still try to break new artists, but we're comfortable sticking with the heritage acts, even if they are "old."
Hear the song on Youtube.
I was quite interested in the forum titled "The Tori Dilemma." The question at hand was, if you are a station that breaks new artists, but you've been doing it for years and years, what do you do when your new artists, have become established artists? You're not really breaking new artists if you are playing the new Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant or Sarah McLachlan. But if you don't play them, you are effectively ignoring the artists you told your listeners were important to pay attention to.
For MVY, we're not necessarily chasing a younger, more fickle audience. We still try to break new artists, but we're comfortable sticking with the heritage acts, even if they are "old."
Hear the song on Youtube.
We will miss you, MP. Rest in Peace
Flying Officer (Rtd) M P Anil Kumar, the unbelievable source of inspiration for countless people, left for his heavenly abode at 8.15 am today. He turned 50 on May 5.
Funeral will be at Bopodi crematorium near CME (Harris) Bridge, about 2.5 km from Paraplegic Rehabiliatation Home, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 21. The body will reach the PRC at 9 am, where tributes will be paid by PRC inmates. The body will be moved to the crematorium at 10 am. From 10.30 to 11.30 friends and well wishers will be able to pay their tributes. The funeral is at 11.30 am.
From June 28, 1988, to today, a stretch of 26 long years, MP (as we all called him) fought his adversities so bravely. He was a fighter pilot, flying MiGs. But ended up fighting a different battle from his wheelchair and bed.
MP was one year senior to me in school: Sainik School, Kazhakootam, Kerala. He was there for the games and parades. He got into NDA like many of my schoolmates, shone like bright star, won medals and accolades, until that fateful day in June, by a strange quirk of fate he was rendered immobile from neck downwards.
I will let MP himself tell what happened, in this highly inspirational essay: "Airborne to Chairborne", which he wrote for the Indian Express. Click here. (In case the link is not working, you can also read the full essay at the end of this post.)
His home was the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Kirkee, Pune. Whenever I had a chance to go to Pune, just like many of his friends, I too made it a point to call on him at PRC. He would just keep talking about politics, defence, sports, media. He had an amazing depth of knowledge and was well tuned into all that was happening around us. He wrote many articles on defence related matters in Rediff.com, and middles in Indian Express. Despite his limitations, he was always cheerful, with a great sense of humour.
Once when I met him in 2000, I was amazed to see the books on computer that were stacked in his room. That was the time, when personal computers were getting affordable and popular. He got on to the cyber world to keep himself active, and be in touch his friends. He kept himself engaged, visiting schools, giving inspirational talks. Many school and college projects have been done on MP.
Two years ago, when I met MP, he was telling me how age had caught on, how his body had become weak, and how he wasn't able to read for long, how he became too tired too fast etc.
Things were getting more difficult for MP, but the most tragic blow, after all that he had suffered, came last month. He was having frequent bouts of fever, and on April 12 he was admitted to Military Hospital Kirkee, Pune, for detailed tests. A few days later, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (it is one of the more dangerous forms of blood cancer). Due to his quadriplegia, severe treatments were ruled out. He was administered one round of chemo.
I visited him on Sunday, May 11. I was a bit skeptical as to how the meeting would go. But the moment I saw him, all my worries vanished. He was smiling, instantly started talking to me, with that sense of humour he had. He just put me at ease. I was there for close to 2 hours, from around 12.15 pm. He also spoke on phone to my father, who taught him in school. I wished him speedy recovery. He thanked me. After one final caress on his forehead and cheeks, and I left, with the fervent hope that I will be able to meet him again.
He was okay, and a few days later, he was shifted back to PRC from the MH. But soon his condition worsened. On Saturday, May 17, he was moved to ICU in MH, Kirkee. Doctors put his condition under DIL (Dangerously Ill) category. Last night, one his friends messaged me that his condition had got really worse. And, today morning, that valiant struggle ended. An irreparable loss.
There are very few who touch people's hearts the way MP did; very few who are looked up to for their strength of mind and their determination, very few about whom children study as a part of their curriculum in schools, when that person is alive.
MP was an unbelievably true fighter. God had scripted this different life for him. But, MP taught us that there is plenty of life even with the worst adversities. He taught us many many invaluable lessons.
Life is not about longevity. It's about what you mean to others, people around you. MP, you achieved so much, in spite of all your hardship. You meant so much to every one who knew you.
You have been a true guide, an invaluable inspiration. Will never forget you.
Rest in Peace, MP.
*******************
Airborne to Chairborne
All my attempts to move my limbs were futile. The pain in the neck was excruciating and it intensified by the second. I was stumped for a moment but quickly recovered to realise the seriousness and significance of my inability to get up. I do not remember whether I screamed involuntarily, then, in sheer desperation. On that abominable night, my mind was in a medley of intense frustration, utmost dejection and extreme disappointment. For some timeless moments, I wished I were dead.
On 28 June ’88, at around 2300 hrs, whilst returning to the Officers Mess on my motorcycle after night flying, I drove onto a road barrier just ahead of the technical area gate, inside Air Force Station, Pathankot. The impact of the helmet on the wooden bar wrenched my neck and broke the cervical spine. Fifteen minutes after the accident, I was taken to the Station Sick Quarters in an unconscious state. While being carried, my head was left unsupported. The base of the helmet (rear side) which was resting against the nape of the neck pushed the fractured vertebrae into the cervical spinal cord. (The casualty must always be carried in a stretcher, after immobilising his/her neck with a cervical collar.) The resultant spinal injury completely paralysed me below the neck.
After overnight’s stay in Military Hospital (MH), Pathankot, I was transferred to Army Hospital, Delhi (AHDC). Neck surgery failed to mitigate my predicament. Though I had brief spells of consciousness during the fortnight’s hospitalisation in AHDC, my memory fails to recollect my fight for survival. On 12 July ’88, I was transferred to the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of MH Kirkee, Pune.
Two weeks after my admission, I gathered my wits and eagerly inquired about the prognosis. The medical officer looked up and motioned his hands skywards; perhaps he wanted me to adjure divine intervention. This charade instantly deflated my hopes but it lucidly conveyed the enormity and helplessness of the incurable nature of the incapacitation. Inconsistencies of life have always bemused me but not even the wildest nightmare presaged that one day I would fall prey to such a quirk of fate. The modicum of faith I had in Providence got shattered when I failed to show even an iota of improvement.
The cervical spinal injury (quadriplegia) necessitated me to lead a totally dependent life, tethered to the bed and wheel chair. Now, I am like a man fettered for life; unable to use my hands and legs, incontinent and spoon‑fed. Ironically, the most painful aspect of quadriplegia is the painlessness! It isn’t mere loss of tactile inputs and outputs but absolute dependence on someone else to accomplish mundane necessities and domestic chores that yoked me; even for things like swabbing ears and swatting flies.
Disuse atrophy had set in within a couple of months and took its toll by altering the geometry of my torso and limbs. The mirror replicated the image of a human skeleton swathed in a layer of wizened skin. Two years’ stay in MH Kirkee taught me how to battle the numerous encumbrances and how to conquer the bouts of depression. With a smile on my face, I managed to dissemble the pangs of the heart. The Indian Air Force (IAF) realised my uselessness and discharged me from the service on 12 April ’90. The silly accident dealt coup de grace to my aspirations and terminated my fledgling career in the IAF. In August ’90, at the young age of 26, I got admitted in Paraplegic Home, Park Road, Kirkee, Pune, as an inmate to begin the second phase of my life afresh.
I was born and brought up in a village by name Chirayinkil, 35 kms north of Trivandrum. At the age of nine, I entered Sainik School, Kazhakootam. A slow learner and an unobtrusive student by nature, I had excelled consistently in both academics and sports. Later on, I was found worthy enough to be adjudged as the best Air Force cadet of 65th course of National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune and as the best in aerobatics of 134th Pilots Course of Air Force Academy, Secunderabad. In Dec ’84, I was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot. I had 700 hours of flying experience (including 500 hours of flying in a magnificent flying machine called MiG-21) during my truncated career in the IAF.
All my efforts to rationalise personal catastrophes have always mystified and at times stupefied me. To adapt to the new challenges posed by the debility, I had to unshackle myself from the self‑imposed stupor. Therefore, in Sep ’90, I decided to learn the art of writing by holding a pen in my mouth (because of dysfunctional hands). I began scribbling illegibly but was chagrined to find little progress even after 3 weeks’ laborious efforts. Then, I decided to change tactic and wrote a letter to Sheela George, the person who kept on chivvying to start mouth‑writing (earlier I had paid little attention to her exhortations). My joy knew no bounds when I completed the few lines that embodied my first mouth‑written letter. Initially, I found my hard work to be a mere pie in the sky; but, 4 to 5 months’ assiduous efforts resulted in attaining a readable style of writing. This modest achievement enabled me in reviving the chain of correspondence and begetting new friends.
In May 1991, I was presented with an electrically operated wheel chair, with chin controls for manoeuvring, thanks to the benevolence of the IAF. Motorised mobility, though only a poor substitute for natural one, has enlivened my lifestyle considerably.
It was Wing Commander PI Murlidharan, my former flight commander, who mooted the use of a personal computer (PC), as a writing tool. He added that it would assist me to utilise my mental faculty to the hilt. Hitherto unsuccessful attempts in procuring a keyboard (modified to suit my requirements) have somewhat emasculated my resolve. Nonetheless, my hope of acquiring a PC remains undiminished.
In the meantime, I toyed with the idea of teaching. For some untenable reasons, I kept on declining the offers by bringing one imaginary reason or another as an ad hoc excuse. Aforesaid setbacks notwithstanding, I’m very hopeful of converting the second phase of my life into something as meaningful as the one I would have had from the confines of a cockpit.
"Believe it or not, every dark cloud has a silver lining. To surmount even seemingly insuperable obstacles, one has to muster the remnant faculties and shun the thought of disability and then canalise one’s dormant energies purposefully and whole‑heartedly. It isn’t just physical ability and average intelligence but an insatiable appetite for success and an unflagging will power that would texture the warp and woof of the fabric called human destiny. Greater the difficulty, sweeter the victory."
Funeral will be at Bopodi crematorium near CME (Harris) Bridge, about 2.5 km from Paraplegic Rehabiliatation Home, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 21. The body will reach the PRC at 9 am, where tributes will be paid by PRC inmates. The body will be moved to the crematorium at 10 am. From 10.30 to 11.30 friends and well wishers will be able to pay their tributes. The funeral is at 11.30 am.From June 28, 1988, to today, a stretch of 26 long years, MP (as we all called him) fought his adversities so bravely. He was a fighter pilot, flying MiGs. But ended up fighting a different battle from his wheelchair and bed.
MP was one year senior to me in school: Sainik School, Kazhakootam, Kerala. He was there for the games and parades. He got into NDA like many of my schoolmates, shone like bright star, won medals and accolades, until that fateful day in June, by a strange quirk of fate he was rendered immobile from neck downwards.
 |
| With the IAF chief. |
His home was the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Kirkee, Pune. Whenever I had a chance to go to Pune, just like many of his friends, I too made it a point to call on him at PRC. He would just keep talking about politics, defence, sports, media. He had an amazing depth of knowledge and was well tuned into all that was happening around us. He wrote many articles on defence related matters in Rediff.com, and middles in Indian Express. Despite his limitations, he was always cheerful, with a great sense of humour.
Once when I met him in 2000, I was amazed to see the books on computer that were stacked in his room. That was the time, when personal computers were getting affordable and popular. He got on to the cyber world to keep himself active, and be in touch his friends. He kept himself engaged, visiting schools, giving inspirational talks. Many school and college projects have been done on MP.
 |
| When I met him on February 21, 2012 |
Things were getting more difficult for MP, but the most tragic blow, after all that he had suffered, came last month. He was having frequent bouts of fever, and on April 12 he was admitted to Military Hospital Kirkee, Pune, for detailed tests. A few days later, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (it is one of the more dangerous forms of blood cancer). Due to his quadriplegia, severe treatments were ruled out. He was administered one round of chemo.
I visited him on Sunday, May 11. I was a bit skeptical as to how the meeting would go. But the moment I saw him, all my worries vanished. He was smiling, instantly started talking to me, with that sense of humour he had. He just put me at ease. I was there for close to 2 hours, from around 12.15 pm. He also spoke on phone to my father, who taught him in school. I wished him speedy recovery. He thanked me. After one final caress on his forehead and cheeks, and I left, with the fervent hope that I will be able to meet him again.
 |
| Talking to me, when I met him on Feb 21, 2012. |
There are very few who touch people's hearts the way MP did; very few who are looked up to for their strength of mind and their determination, very few about whom children study as a part of their curriculum in schools, when that person is alive.
MP was an unbelievably true fighter. God had scripted this different life for him. But, MP taught us that there is plenty of life even with the worst adversities. He taught us many many invaluable lessons.
Life is not about longevity. It's about what you mean to others, people around you. MP, you achieved so much, in spite of all your hardship. You meant so much to every one who knew you.
You have been a true guide, an invaluable inspiration. Will never forget you.
Rest in Peace, MP.
*******************
Airborne to Chairborne
All my attempts to move my limbs were futile. The pain in the neck was excruciating and it intensified by the second. I was stumped for a moment but quickly recovered to realise the seriousness and significance of my inability to get up. I do not remember whether I screamed involuntarily, then, in sheer desperation. On that abominable night, my mind was in a medley of intense frustration, utmost dejection and extreme disappointment. For some timeless moments, I wished I were dead.
On 28 June ’88, at around 2300 hrs, whilst returning to the Officers Mess on my motorcycle after night flying, I drove onto a road barrier just ahead of the technical area gate, inside Air Force Station, Pathankot. The impact of the helmet on the wooden bar wrenched my neck and broke the cervical spine. Fifteen minutes after the accident, I was taken to the Station Sick Quarters in an unconscious state. While being carried, my head was left unsupported. The base of the helmet (rear side) which was resting against the nape of the neck pushed the fractured vertebrae into the cervical spinal cord. (The casualty must always be carried in a stretcher, after immobilising his/her neck with a cervical collar.) The resultant spinal injury completely paralysed me below the neck.
After overnight’s stay in Military Hospital (MH), Pathankot, I was transferred to Army Hospital, Delhi (AHDC). Neck surgery failed to mitigate my predicament. Though I had brief spells of consciousness during the fortnight’s hospitalisation in AHDC, my memory fails to recollect my fight for survival. On 12 July ’88, I was transferred to the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of MH Kirkee, Pune.
Two weeks after my admission, I gathered my wits and eagerly inquired about the prognosis. The medical officer looked up and motioned his hands skywards; perhaps he wanted me to adjure divine intervention. This charade instantly deflated my hopes but it lucidly conveyed the enormity and helplessness of the incurable nature of the incapacitation. Inconsistencies of life have always bemused me but not even the wildest nightmare presaged that one day I would fall prey to such a quirk of fate. The modicum of faith I had in Providence got shattered when I failed to show even an iota of improvement.
The cervical spinal injury (quadriplegia) necessitated me to lead a totally dependent life, tethered to the bed and wheel chair. Now, I am like a man fettered for life; unable to use my hands and legs, incontinent and spoon‑fed. Ironically, the most painful aspect of quadriplegia is the painlessness! It isn’t mere loss of tactile inputs and outputs but absolute dependence on someone else to accomplish mundane necessities and domestic chores that yoked me; even for things like swabbing ears and swatting flies.
Disuse atrophy had set in within a couple of months and took its toll by altering the geometry of my torso and limbs. The mirror replicated the image of a human skeleton swathed in a layer of wizened skin. Two years’ stay in MH Kirkee taught me how to battle the numerous encumbrances and how to conquer the bouts of depression. With a smile on my face, I managed to dissemble the pangs of the heart. The Indian Air Force (IAF) realised my uselessness and discharged me from the service on 12 April ’90. The silly accident dealt coup de grace to my aspirations and terminated my fledgling career in the IAF. In August ’90, at the young age of 26, I got admitted in Paraplegic Home, Park Road, Kirkee, Pune, as an inmate to begin the second phase of my life afresh.
I was born and brought up in a village by name Chirayinkil, 35 kms north of Trivandrum. At the age of nine, I entered Sainik School, Kazhakootam. A slow learner and an unobtrusive student by nature, I had excelled consistently in both academics and sports. Later on, I was found worthy enough to be adjudged as the best Air Force cadet of 65th course of National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune and as the best in aerobatics of 134th Pilots Course of Air Force Academy, Secunderabad. In Dec ’84, I was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot. I had 700 hours of flying experience (including 500 hours of flying in a magnificent flying machine called MiG-21) during my truncated career in the IAF.
All my efforts to rationalise personal catastrophes have always mystified and at times stupefied me. To adapt to the new challenges posed by the debility, I had to unshackle myself from the self‑imposed stupor. Therefore, in Sep ’90, I decided to learn the art of writing by holding a pen in my mouth (because of dysfunctional hands). I began scribbling illegibly but was chagrined to find little progress even after 3 weeks’ laborious efforts. Then, I decided to change tactic and wrote a letter to Sheela George, the person who kept on chivvying to start mouth‑writing (earlier I had paid little attention to her exhortations). My joy knew no bounds when I completed the few lines that embodied my first mouth‑written letter. Initially, I found my hard work to be a mere pie in the sky; but, 4 to 5 months’ assiduous efforts resulted in attaining a readable style of writing. This modest achievement enabled me in reviving the chain of correspondence and begetting new friends.
In May 1991, I was presented with an electrically operated wheel chair, with chin controls for manoeuvring, thanks to the benevolence of the IAF. Motorised mobility, though only a poor substitute for natural one, has enlivened my lifestyle considerably.
It was Wing Commander PI Murlidharan, my former flight commander, who mooted the use of a personal computer (PC), as a writing tool. He added that it would assist me to utilise my mental faculty to the hilt. Hitherto unsuccessful attempts in procuring a keyboard (modified to suit my requirements) have somewhat emasculated my resolve. Nonetheless, my hope of acquiring a PC remains undiminished.
In the meantime, I toyed with the idea of teaching. For some untenable reasons, I kept on declining the offers by bringing one imaginary reason or another as an ad hoc excuse. Aforesaid setbacks notwithstanding, I’m very hopeful of converting the second phase of my life into something as meaningful as the one I would have had from the confines of a cockpit.
"Believe it or not, every dark cloud has a silver lining. To surmount even seemingly insuperable obstacles, one has to muster the remnant faculties and shun the thought of disability and then canalise one’s dormant energies purposefully and whole‑heartedly. It isn’t just physical ability and average intelligence but an insatiable appetite for success and an unflagging will power that would texture the warp and woof of the fabric called human destiny. Greater the difficulty, sweeter the victory."
Saturday 17 May 2014
Congress 44 seats out of 543. What next for Sonia?
As poll surveys and exits polls dominated television, and everyone seemed to be pretty convinced that Narendra Modi would be the next prime minister, I wondered if there would be any surprises yesterday, the day votes were counted. Exits polls on most previous occasions, overestimated the winner. So the fear was if NDA would end up just around 272, allowing smaller regional parties to have a field day. Anticipating that, BJP started even looking for more allies a couple of days before counting.
But I was proved wrong and there were plenty of surprises yesterday. The biggest of them all was the the sweep of the Modi storm. Though Modi would have dreamt of this, and worked strenuously for the result, I am sure he himself was taken by surprise. So too millions of voters, who voted for BJP but just kept their fingers crossed. My random guess is that many people who don't basically agree with BJP ideology (including Muslims) would have have voted for BJP. Why they voted for the BJP could be the subject of a debate.
The other big surprise was the depth to which Congress plummeted yesterday, which didn't get highlighted so much, thanks to the blinding effect of the BJP gust.
Congress managed to win just 44 seats in a House of 543. Simply can't believe this.
Their worst performance was in 1999, when Vajpayee-led NDA restricted them to a mere 114. In fact, that itself was worse than the 1977 tally of 153, when a hurriedly cobbled together combination of Janata Alliance dealt a body blow to Indira Gandhi-led Congress -- a punishment for the severe excesses during the Emergency: a particularly black chapter in India's independent history. Then, both Indira and her son Sanjay lost the election. At least the family members have won this time. Some consolation for Congress.
Yesterday, as one saw Sonia and Rahul come out to meet the media, and valiantly put up a smile and graciously accept the result in all humility, it was difficult to suppress a surge of sympathy for the plight they find themselves in. To be fair to Congress, their government did launch a number of social initiatives aimed at helping the disadvantaged, besides a slew of economic policies to benefit the youth and career-minded burgeoning young middle class. But the barrage of negative tidings for the top leaders of the party was so strong, Congress had time only to keep themselves afloat rather than counter the BJP. No one understood or took notice of the few good things the government did.
The Sonia family will have to seriously introspect why such a fate befell their party. Congress is just riding on the family tag. That will have to definitely change. Congress doesn't have a leader. Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka are always in the background. They need a strong leader: both Sonia and Manmohan were weak. Rahul just made sporadic appearances. Priyanka came in too late to make any impact.
Rahul was simply no match for Narendra Modi.
Also, the Congress experiment of two heads -- one for the party and the other for the government -- has failed. It was made worse with the two leaders who could make no impact.
Congress needs to project as their leader, someone who has strong grassroots presence and is a leader in his or her own right. Neither Sonia, nor Rahul, nor Priyanka can take that position. The family's first task will be to identify that person, and groom him.
The family also needs to consider if loosening their grip on the party, would help in any way. It would be a tough call to take.
But things are so bad for the Congress, any decision to revive the party would be better than no decision at all.
But I was proved wrong and there were plenty of surprises yesterday. The biggest of them all was the the sweep of the Modi storm. Though Modi would have dreamt of this, and worked strenuously for the result, I am sure he himself was taken by surprise. So too millions of voters, who voted for BJP but just kept their fingers crossed. My random guess is that many people who don't basically agree with BJP ideology (including Muslims) would have have voted for BJP. Why they voted for the BJP could be the subject of a debate.
The other big surprise was the depth to which Congress plummeted yesterday, which didn't get highlighted so much, thanks to the blinding effect of the BJP gust.
Congress managed to win just 44 seats in a House of 543. Simply can't believe this.
Their worst performance was in 1999, when Vajpayee-led NDA restricted them to a mere 114. In fact, that itself was worse than the 1977 tally of 153, when a hurriedly cobbled together combination of Janata Alliance dealt a body blow to Indira Gandhi-led Congress -- a punishment for the severe excesses during the Emergency: a particularly black chapter in India's independent history. Then, both Indira and her son Sanjay lost the election. At least the family members have won this time. Some consolation for Congress.
Yesterday, as one saw Sonia and Rahul come out to meet the media, and valiantly put up a smile and graciously accept the result in all humility, it was difficult to suppress a surge of sympathy for the plight they find themselves in. To be fair to Congress, their government did launch a number of social initiatives aimed at helping the disadvantaged, besides a slew of economic policies to benefit the youth and career-minded burgeoning young middle class. But the barrage of negative tidings for the top leaders of the party was so strong, Congress had time only to keep themselves afloat rather than counter the BJP. No one understood or took notice of the few good things the government did.
The Sonia family will have to seriously introspect why such a fate befell their party. Congress is just riding on the family tag. That will have to definitely change. Congress doesn't have a leader. Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka are always in the background. They need a strong leader: both Sonia and Manmohan were weak. Rahul just made sporadic appearances. Priyanka came in too late to make any impact.
Rahul was simply no match for Narendra Modi.
Also, the Congress experiment of two heads -- one for the party and the other for the government -- has failed. It was made worse with the two leaders who could make no impact.
Congress needs to project as their leader, someone who has strong grassroots presence and is a leader in his or her own right. Neither Sonia, nor Rahul, nor Priyanka can take that position. The family's first task will be to identify that person, and groom him.
The family also needs to consider if loosening their grip on the party, would help in any way. It would be a tough call to take.
But things are so bad for the Congress, any decision to revive the party would be better than no decision at all.
Thursday 15 May 2014
Wednesday 14 May 2014
Barenaked Ladies "Pinch Me"
"I could hide out under there/I just made you say 'underwear.'"
I have to admit, I had never heard this underwear joke, until I heard Barenaked Ladies "Pinch Me" in 2000.
How did I miss this in childhood?
Well, that won't be true for my own kids.
I started saying "LOOK UNDER THERE!" to them, to trick them into saying "underwear."
It only took a few times for them to turn it around on me.
Now, pretty much every day starts with them saying to me, "Dad-dad-dad-dad-dad! Look under theeeere."
And I dutifully and happily play the fool who says "under where?!?!" eliciting peels of laughter.
Hear the song on Youtube.
I have to admit, I had never heard this underwear joke, until I heard Barenaked Ladies "Pinch Me" in 2000.
How did I miss this in childhood?
Well, that won't be true for my own kids.
I started saying "LOOK UNDER THERE!" to them, to trick them into saying "underwear."
It only took a few times for them to turn it around on me.
Now, pretty much every day starts with them saying to me, "Dad-dad-dad-dad-dad! Look under theeeere."
And I dutifully and happily play the fool who says "under where?!?!" eliciting peels of laughter.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Tuesday 13 May 2014
Tune-Yards "Water Fountain"
I can't imagine this song joining MVY regular rotation (can you hear this coming out of "Lay Lady Lady"?).
That said, it is the stickiest, most memorable, hummable, joyful song on the iTunes playlist right now.
Enjoy!
Hear the song on Youtube.
That said, it is the stickiest, most memorable, hummable, joyful song on the iTunes playlist right now.
Enjoy!
Hear the song on Youtube.
Monday 12 May 2014
Robert Cray "Deep In My Soul"
I dashed down to the basement.
Now that I have kids, a wife, and you know, stuff, many of the symbols of bachelorhood have been relegated to the basement.
Like the giant tower of CDs.
It was my kid's birthday party. So the house and backyard were packed with nearly 20 pre-schoolers, plus their parents (many of whom I only really know from drop-off) and various relatives.
And my wife said, "Can you put on some fun music?"
So I dashed down to the basement and came back up with a 1/2 dozen discs that I had quickly picked off the shelf, assessing that they'd be generally acceptable to the crowd.
That was a couple of weeks ago.
Yesterday was Mother's Day, which meant that it was time to give the house a big clean, since we were having family over.
I found the pile of CDs from my son's party, still next to the stereo. And seeing the names of the spines made me laugh.
Ray Charles
Al Green
Johnny Hoy & The Bluefish
Otis Redding
James Hunter
What appeals to pre-schoolers, grandparents, Dads forced to take their kids to a birthday party on Saturday who are trying to enjoy themselves by drinking a beer, Moms who are enjoying the company of other Moms who understand their struggles better than their spouses and Grandparents who look at their grandkids and remember when they were the hosts of these chaotic preschool parties?
What appeals to all these groups?
Soul Music.
It cuts across all demographic lines, works for all groups, creates the right mood.
Soul Music makes the party. Even a preschool one.
I mention this, in part, because Robert Cray has a new album called "In My Soul." It's his tribute to classic soul music. And for our Friends of mvyradio Drive, we're giving folks a copy of the record if they donate $100 to support our non-commercial station. Think about making that donation, and getting your own disc of music to make your party just right.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Now that I have kids, a wife, and you know, stuff, many of the symbols of bachelorhood have been relegated to the basement.
Like the giant tower of CDs.
It was my kid's birthday party. So the house and backyard were packed with nearly 20 pre-schoolers, plus their parents (many of whom I only really know from drop-off) and various relatives.
And my wife said, "Can you put on some fun music?"
So I dashed down to the basement and came back up with a 1/2 dozen discs that I had quickly picked off the shelf, assessing that they'd be generally acceptable to the crowd.
That was a couple of weeks ago.
Yesterday was Mother's Day, which meant that it was time to give the house a big clean, since we were having family over.
I found the pile of CDs from my son's party, still next to the stereo. And seeing the names of the spines made me laugh.
Ray Charles
Al Green
Johnny Hoy & The Bluefish
Otis Redding
James Hunter
What appeals to pre-schoolers, grandparents, Dads forced to take their kids to a birthday party on Saturday who are trying to enjoy themselves by drinking a beer, Moms who are enjoying the company of other Moms who understand their struggles better than their spouses and Grandparents who look at their grandkids and remember when they were the hosts of these chaotic preschool parties?
What appeals to all these groups?
Soul Music.
It cuts across all demographic lines, works for all groups, creates the right mood.
Soul Music makes the party. Even a preschool one.
I mention this, in part, because Robert Cray has a new album called "In My Soul." It's his tribute to classic soul music. And for our Friends of mvyradio Drive, we're giving folks a copy of the record if they donate $100 to support our non-commercial station. Think about making that donation, and getting your own disc of music to make your party just right.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Sunday 11 May 2014
Wattpad
Good Morning!
Just a friendly reminder that there is a giveaway going on till June 14! There are two giveaways, one for US only and one that is internationally. However that is not why I am here posting today. I am here to say that I am on Wattpad! I have a couple of chapters of End of the Line, Family Ties, and Beneath the Scars up there. I also posted the whole mini blog series Going Rogue up there as well. That was the part of End of the Line, Aaron's side of the story when he vanishes. However I yesterday posted the first chapter of my WIP Project US. I figured since I was going to be having someone edit that over the summer I would get its toes wet and getting a little attention early. My Wattpad is click here.
~Ottilie
Just a friendly reminder that there is a giveaway going on till June 14! There are two giveaways, one for US only and one that is internationally. However that is not why I am here posting today. I am here to say that I am on Wattpad! I have a couple of chapters of End of the Line, Family Ties, and Beneath the Scars up there. I also posted the whole mini blog series Going Rogue up there as well. That was the part of End of the Line, Aaron's side of the story when he vanishes. However I yesterday posted the first chapter of my WIP Project US. I figured since I was going to be having someone edit that over the summer I would get its toes wet and getting a little attention early. My Wattpad is click here.
~Ottilie
Saturday 10 May 2014
200 Giveaway!
Hello!
I hit 200 likes on my facebook page! To celebrate I decided to host a mini giveaway, but two. I figured one for US only and one internationally because I feel bad that I keep short changing some readers, but I'm still on a budget. When you click to enter make sure that you are in the right one. I enjoy doing these giveaways so please don't cheat, but help spread the word.
US ONLY GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Geeky moment with the dog tags, I loved the site I found. I was able to put in Marine and it put in the format that I needed for that branch of the military. It has Riley's name on it, blood type, and for his SS# I put the date that the book was published for his SS# :)
I hit 200 likes on my facebook page! To celebrate I decided to host a mini giveaway, but two. I figured one for US only and one internationally because I feel bad that I keep short changing some readers, but I'm still on a budget. When you click to enter make sure that you are in the right one. I enjoy doing these giveaways so please don't cheat, but help spread the word.
US ONLY GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
US Prizes:
Dog Tags:
Blue Bracelet:
Green/Yellow
Black
I picked this one, because it made me think of Family Ties :)
Thursday 8 May 2014
The Sugarplastic "Montebello"
A Throwback Thursday post:
I was driving through Virginia during April vacation, and saw a sign for Monticello.
From the deep recesses of my brain, popped this tune, which I'm sure I haven't thought about since the 90s.
Hear the song on Youtube.
I was driving through Virginia during April vacation, and saw a sign for Monticello.
From the deep recesses of my brain, popped this tune, which I'm sure I haven't thought about since the 90s.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Wednesday 7 May 2014
Cover Revealing ~ Love Undone
Hi!
I'm a little late for this party, but Diana Nixon was nice enough to include me to her cover revealing! I love getting to know these indie authors, and you should check out this book because this cover is gorgeous! It is an NA book.
Love Undone
By Diana Nixon
COMING OUT JUNE, 3rd 2014
What would you do if all your memories were gone?
One day Kassie wakes up and realizes that her life is nothing but an endless emptiness…
One tragic incident takes away everything that she has ever cherished and loved: family, friends and all the best moments that she ever lived through.
Now everything seems unknown, including a beautiful stranger,
whose mere look makes her heart beat faster.
Who is that reckless and mysterious man? Is he just an old friend or an enemy? Sinking into the vortex of indescribable emotions, they will give in to the most irresistible temptation ever,
just to fall in love with each other, again and again...
Watch book trailer
Read TEASERS
DON’T MISS THE RELEASE OF CHAPTER 1 – MONDAY, MAY 12th!!! – will be available on Diana Nixon’s official page: http://diananixon.blogspot.com/
Other books by Diana Nixon:
Love Lines (LL, # 1)
Songs of the Wind (LL, # 2)
From Scratch (LL. # 2.5)
Diamond Sky (LL, # 3)
The Souls of Rain (Heavens Trilogy, # 1)
The Prisoners of Dreams (Heavens Trilogy, # 1.5)
Hate at First Sight (A contemporary romance)
Grab a copy of the book you’d like to read here:
Follow Diana Nixon on Facebook
On Twitter
On Pinterest
On Goodreads
Steve Miller Band "Fly Like An Eagle"
Like pretty much ever single solitary person my age in the late 80s, I owned a copy of Steve Miller's Greatest Hits on cassette. And I listened to it constantly.
I mean, I knew every word, every inflection. I knew how long the pause was from one song to the next, so I could start humming, in sync with the music. In fact, at a certain point, I didn't really need the cassette at all. I could have sung/hummed the whole album, in real time.
WBCN was promoting that Steve Miller would be stopping by the station, and he would be playing live in the studio. He had a new album out, but he was sure to play some old hits too.
And he did oblige, launching into a spaced-out version of "Fly Like An Eagle," solo, on an electric guitar.
"Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin . . . into the future . . ." Miller sang, and I sang too.
Then something strange happened.
Miller sang "Feed the children, who don't have enough to eat."
I kinda froze. What was he going to do?!?!
Now maybe you're saying to yourself, "I don't get it. What's the problem?
Here's the problem.
The lyric is "Feed the babies, who don't have enough to eat. Shoe the children, with no shoes on their feet."
But he had flipped a word, singing "Feed the children, who don't have enough to eat."
Was he going to have to complete the word flip and sing, "Shoe the babies, with no shoes on their feet"? That doesn't make any sense. Babies don't need shoes!
And it's not like he can stop the song to gather himself and think his decision through. He's going to have to do something.
We're only talking about 2 seconds. But I learned a valuable professional lesson in the space between the lines.
If it's live, let it go.
I've opened up the microphone on live radio tens of thousands of times. And sometimes, you make mistakes. You stumble over a word. Or a whole sentence. You misplace modifiers. You accidentally swear. You introduce a Bruce Hornsby song as "Bruce Cockburn."
And when you do, there's not much you can do. Once it has gone out, you can't bring it back. The only thing you can do it go forward. You can compose yourself so you don't fuck up again. But you go forward.
That's was Steve Miller did that day.
He sang "Feed the children, who don't have enough to eat. Shoes the babies . . ." and then he just let his voice drift off, and filled with his guitar. He picked up the lyrics with the next line, "House the people, living in the street, oh-oh there's a solution" and he just kept going.
I took that lesson to heart. Even Steve Miller, a guy who probably sang "Fly Like An Eagle" more times than even I had, can screw up from time to time.
But professionals don't let a stumble completely derail things. They just gather themselves, and plow ahead undaunted.
It's great advice for DJ's, and for life.
Hear the song on Youtube.
I mean, I knew every word, every inflection. I knew how long the pause was from one song to the next, so I could start humming, in sync with the music. In fact, at a certain point, I didn't really need the cassette at all. I could have sung/hummed the whole album, in real time.
WBCN was promoting that Steve Miller would be stopping by the station, and he would be playing live in the studio. He had a new album out, but he was sure to play some old hits too.
And he did oblige, launching into a spaced-out version of "Fly Like An Eagle," solo, on an electric guitar.
"Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin . . . into the future . . ." Miller sang, and I sang too.
Then something strange happened.
Miller sang "Feed the children, who don't have enough to eat."
I kinda froze. What was he going to do?!?!
Now maybe you're saying to yourself, "I don't get it. What's the problem?
Here's the problem.
The lyric is "Feed the babies, who don't have enough to eat. Shoe the children, with no shoes on their feet."
But he had flipped a word, singing "Feed the children, who don't have enough to eat."
Was he going to have to complete the word flip and sing, "Shoe the babies, with no shoes on their feet"? That doesn't make any sense. Babies don't need shoes!
And it's not like he can stop the song to gather himself and think his decision through. He's going to have to do something.
We're only talking about 2 seconds. But I learned a valuable professional lesson in the space between the lines.
If it's live, let it go.
I've opened up the microphone on live radio tens of thousands of times. And sometimes, you make mistakes. You stumble over a word. Or a whole sentence. You misplace modifiers. You accidentally swear. You introduce a Bruce Hornsby song as "Bruce Cockburn."
And when you do, there's not much you can do. Once it has gone out, you can't bring it back. The only thing you can do it go forward. You can compose yourself so you don't fuck up again. But you go forward.
That's was Steve Miller did that day.
He sang "Feed the children, who don't have enough to eat. Shoes the babies . . ." and then he just let his voice drift off, and filled with his guitar. He picked up the lyrics with the next line, "House the people, living in the street, oh-oh there's a solution" and he just kept going.
I took that lesson to heart. Even Steve Miller, a guy who probably sang "Fly Like An Eagle" more times than even I had, can screw up from time to time.
But professionals don't let a stumble completely derail things. They just gather themselves, and plow ahead undaunted.
It's great advice for DJ's, and for life.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Tuesday 6 May 2014
Lorde "Swinging Party"
I'm not a grumpy old man.
But clearly, I am an old man.
My friend Lori TB gave me the heads up that Lorde does a cover of The Replacements' "Swinging Party." (She wrote "I 100% always think of you when I hear anything at all to do with the 'mats.")
My first thought was "How does Lorde even know this song?"
My second thought was the realization that this song came out in 1985. Lorde wasn't born until 1994!
I'm not complaining that a young artist covered The Replacements. I just find it shocking. In the same way I'll find it shocking when they move Wheel Of Fortune's time-slot on the TeeVee.
Hear the song on Youtube.
But clearly, I am an old man.
My friend Lori TB gave me the heads up that Lorde does a cover of The Replacements' "Swinging Party." (She wrote "I 100% always think of you when I hear anything at all to do with the 'mats.")
My first thought was "How does Lorde even know this song?"
My second thought was the realization that this song came out in 1985. Lorde wasn't born until 1994!
I'm not complaining that a young artist covered The Replacements. I just find it shocking. In the same way I'll find it shocking when they move Wheel Of Fortune's time-slot on the TeeVee.
Hear the song on Youtube.
How smart are you with your phone?
All phones are now smart. If someone wants to buy one, and there are quite a few less expensive not-so-smart phones available, most people willy-nilly choose an expensive smart one. Nothing wrong in it.
But I wonder, how many people really make use of the smart features in their phone.
Everyone may not know all the interesting features a phone offers. So, if you have got yourself a smart phone, explore the device, and start making use of the smart features.
Let's take a common example, of Google Search in Android phone.
In phones that run on Android 4.1 (released in June 2012) and above, Google Search is integrated with Google Now.
What is Google Now?
It's a personal digital assistant -- the Android counterpart of Apple's Siri. It helps you with a lot of information, by quietly doing a search in the background. For example, it gets you the weather, it reminds you of appointments, it will tell you how long you will take to reach your office etc.
If you enable the Google Now function, then these information show up in the form of cards. Information becomes more and more accurate as you continue to use it.
But the best part is you can search Google by just speaking into the phone. Look for the "Voice Search" icon in the menu of apps. Just tap it, and ask Google whatever you want to know.
The process is so simple and the results are amazingly accurate as well.
Ask questions like:
Google will tell aloud the answers to all these questions.
You can also get the phone to do some functions too. Like, set the alarm. make a call. Just tell Google, "Set alarm for 7am tomorrow." Or, "Call Ravi Kumar".
Or even "Take a selfie". Google won't click the camera, it will just open up the camera, for you to pose, and then you can click yourself when you are ready.
There are many other smart features a phone possesses. For example:
Getting directions using Google Maps. There is no need to ask anyone the direction. And using a very simple function called MapMaker, you and I can enrich the map contents by adding landmarks, or even suggesting changes. In fact much of all that you see in the Maps has been added by users.
Maximize the use of apps. There are definitely many apps that suit your interest. Just check them out.
On a Lumia phone of Nokia, there is a Kid's Corner function which I like a lot. You can activate that function when you give your phone to children to play. You can include in that feature only those functions of the phone that you think the child should have access to. It's great feature in these times when children play a lot with elders' phones. They sometimes accidentally call others, or even wander into unsafe areas of Internet or download unnecessary files.
You can do pretty much everything with your phone. One of my friends got herself a "very basic" phone, that will just let her make calls, text, take photos, and listen to the radio. But the phone was smart. So, she has ended up discovering many interesting features, she never thought she would ever use in her life.
So, get smart with your phone.
But I wonder, how many people really make use of the smart features in their phone.
Everyone may not know all the interesting features a phone offers. So, if you have got yourself a smart phone, explore the device, and start making use of the smart features.
 |
| Most of the phones may be Android, but Nokia's Lumia series phones are equally good providing a slew of smrat features. The photo shows Nokia's executive vice president of smart devices Jo Harlow posing with the new Lumia 925 at its launch in London May 14, 2013. -- Photo credit: Reuters/Luke MacGregor |
In phones that run on Android 4.1 (released in June 2012) and above, Google Search is integrated with Google Now.
What is Google Now?
It's a personal digital assistant -- the Android counterpart of Apple's Siri. It helps you with a lot of information, by quietly doing a search in the background. For example, it gets you the weather, it reminds you of appointments, it will tell you how long you will take to reach your office etc.
If you enable the Google Now function, then these information show up in the form of cards. Information becomes more and more accurate as you continue to use it.
But the best part is you can search Google by just speaking into the phone. Look for the "Voice Search" icon in the menu of apps. Just tap it, and ask Google whatever you want to know.
The process is so simple and the results are amazingly accurate as well.
Ask questions like:
- What is the weather in Bangalore?
- Who is the prime minister of Australia?
- How much is 478 dollars in Rupees?
- What is the height of Barack Obama?
Google will tell aloud the answers to all these questions.
You can also get the phone to do some functions too. Like, set the alarm. make a call. Just tell Google, "Set alarm for 7am tomorrow." Or, "Call Ravi Kumar".
Or even "Take a selfie". Google won't click the camera, it will just open up the camera, for you to pose, and then you can click yourself when you are ready.
There are many other smart features a phone possesses. For example:
Getting directions using Google Maps. There is no need to ask anyone the direction. And using a very simple function called MapMaker, you and I can enrich the map contents by adding landmarks, or even suggesting changes. In fact much of all that you see in the Maps has been added by users.
Maximize the use of apps. There are definitely many apps that suit your interest. Just check them out.
On a Lumia phone of Nokia, there is a Kid's Corner function which I like a lot. You can activate that function when you give your phone to children to play. You can include in that feature only those functions of the phone that you think the child should have access to. It's great feature in these times when children play a lot with elders' phones. They sometimes accidentally call others, or even wander into unsafe areas of Internet or download unnecessary files.
You can do pretty much everything with your phone. One of my friends got herself a "very basic" phone, that will just let her make calls, text, take photos, and listen to the radio. But the phone was smart. So, she has ended up discovering many interesting features, she never thought she would ever use in her life.
So, get smart with your phone.
Monday 5 May 2014
What am I up to Blog Hop!
Hi!
So you may or may not have seen the the Blog Hop of different authors the past month. Sonya posted a week ago tagging me in her post. She is real sweet you should check out her post. She tagged me and I'll do my best to answer these questions without sounding all over the place!
1. What am I working on?
Currently I'm working on three different stories. One is in edit mode, one is almost done being written, and I just started a new story the other week. A Pirates' Life for Me is in the edit mode. I wrote this story when I was sixteen and now I'm going back, fixing the sentences and adding more so that it is more show than tell. The power of writing changing as one gets older. It is a Young Adult book, going back to some of my roots. The one that I am finishing up is the second book and last book for End of the Line. Hopefully everyone will like where I took that journey, add more to the world that everyone thought was gone. Lastly my new project all I'll say is that it is New Adult and that Riley might be making an appearance ;)
So you may or may not have seen the the Blog Hop of different authors the past month. Sonya posted a week ago tagging me in her post. She is real sweet you should check out her post. She tagged me and I'll do my best to answer these questions without sounding all over the place!
1. What am I working on?
Currently I'm working on three different stories. One is in edit mode, one is almost done being written, and I just started a new story the other week. A Pirates' Life for Me is in the edit mode. I wrote this story when I was sixteen and now I'm going back, fixing the sentences and adding more so that it is more show than tell. The power of writing changing as one gets older. It is a Young Adult book, going back to some of my roots. The one that I am finishing up is the second book and last book for End of the Line. Hopefully everyone will like where I took that journey, add more to the world that everyone thought was gone. Lastly my new project all I'll say is that it is New Adult and that Riley might be making an appearance ;)
2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?
Psh awesome characters of course! I really hope at least, my characters are what makes my stories than any other stories out there. Pirates and the end of the world aren't new concepts, but hopefully it is my characters and their sense of adventure and the love that develops separates my stories from any other.
Psh awesome characters of course! I really hope at least, my characters are what makes my stories than any other stories out there. Pirates and the end of the world aren't new concepts, but hopefully it is my characters and their sense of adventure and the love that develops separates my stories from any other.
3. Why do I write what I do?
I write what I write because I have these characters who will not stop talking and begging to be heard! Plus there is that whole I love writing thing. I love teaching and helping students, but there is something nice where I have time to myself at night and I can just get lost in the words. I write what I write because books were and are still a big part of my life. The plots and characters are imprinted in my mind and at times have helped me through times where I needed that time to myself or help. Hopefully I am that escape to someone else.
I write what I write because I have these characters who will not stop talking and begging to be heard! Plus there is that whole I love writing thing. I love teaching and helping students, but there is something nice where I have time to myself at night and I can just get lost in the words. I write what I write because books were and are still a big part of my life. The plots and characters are imprinted in my mind and at times have helped me through times where I needed that time to myself or help. Hopefully I am that escape to someone else.
4. How does my writing process work?
Oh gees, I really wish there was a nice way to put it, but reading this blog I'm sure you can tell I really am not that organized. What typically happens is I usually get my story ideas during times where I have a lot of tests or homework and shouldn't be writing. I usually write at night for a little bit after the homework and work are done. If it's a break than I write any free time that I can get! I usually have the TV on in the background, because I can't handle silence, it unnerves me which might explain why I work in a middle and high school.
Oh gees, I really wish there was a nice way to put it, but reading this blog I'm sure you can tell I really am not that organized. What typically happens is I usually get my story ideas during times where I have a lot of tests or homework and shouldn't be writing. I usually write at night for a little bit after the homework and work are done. If it's a break than I write any free time that I can get! I usually have the TV on in the background, because I can't handle silence, it unnerves me which might explain why I work in a middle and high school.
Next on the blog hop...
1. Mia Hoddell
Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.
With three poems published before the age of sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Elemental Killers is her second series and with an ever growing list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.
With three poems published before the age of sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Elemental Killers is her second series and with an ever growing list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.
Her blog: click
Friday 2 May 2014
David Bowie "The Man Who Sold The World"
Much like "Random Ridiculous Songs That Have No Business Being Played In Public Again But I Heard In The Grocery Store Today," I keep an ear out for songs in public places, that are strangely out of place.
For instance, standing in front of the elevators of the Florence, South Carolina Doubletree Hotel, it does not seem like they should be playing David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World."
But on the tail end of a long vacation, somehow it seemed appropriate.
I'd just come from Disney, where the art of merchandising is perfected, and amazing.
I mean, it's no revelation that the amusement rides promote the movies and the movies promote the rides, and they both promote the t-shirts and stuffed animals and acres of plastic crap that is every which way you turn.
But I did find myself both impressed an horrified and the marketing onslaught.
And as I stood there in front of the elevators, I thought, yeah Bowie, you're right, you can slap a logo on just about anything and sell it. Even the world.
Hear the song on Youtube.
For instance, standing in front of the elevators of the Florence, South Carolina Doubletree Hotel, it does not seem like they should be playing David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World."
But on the tail end of a long vacation, somehow it seemed appropriate.
I'd just come from Disney, where the art of merchandising is perfected, and amazing.
I mean, it's no revelation that the amusement rides promote the movies and the movies promote the rides, and they both promote the t-shirts and stuffed animals and acres of plastic crap that is every which way you turn.
But I did find myself both impressed an horrified and the marketing onslaught.
And as I stood there in front of the elevators, I thought, yeah Bowie, you're right, you can slap a logo on just about anything and sell it. Even the world.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Thursday 1 May 2014
Review ~ Hold me Tight by Faith Sullivan
Hello!
Title: Hold Me Tight
Author: Faith Sullivan
Release date: April 30, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords
HOLD ME TIGHT Synopsis:
He loves me. He loves me not.
Ivy's heart shatters upon hearing Eric's crushing ultimatum. Despite how much she cares for him, she won't give in to his demands. She has no choice but to leave, even if it's the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
She loves me. She loves me not.
When Ivy walks out, Eric can't help feeling betrayed. Unwilling to put her at risk, he values her safety above all else. By refusing to compromise, he's blindsided when she moves in with a man who's already stolen so much from him.
I love you. You love me not.
Lauren sees Eric and Ivy's split as an opportunity to end their relationship once and for all. When Ivy places herself at the mercy of Eric's rival, Lauren plots to destroy the fragile tie binding them together, even if she endangers Ivy's life in the process.
Excerpt:
But there’s something I have to do before this goes any further.
Slowly, I draw my head away from her embrace, finding the courage to finally meet her eyes. Her hair hasn’t been combed and her face is all tear-stained, but she has never looked more beautiful.
She stands, bracing herself against me. Her breath hitches when I gently start unbuttoning her shirt, but her eyes never leave my face. I stop partway up, raising the bottom half of her cami up and over her baby bump. Dropping down, I run my hands across her stomach, feeling her shiver against my fingertips. Looking up at her, I place my lips on her bellybutton, kissing the child that’s growing within her, the miracle we created.
“I will never ask you to choose again,” I say solemnly, my voice nothing but a whisper.
Ivy starts to cry in earnest, placing her hands atop mine.
“You are my heart now. Whatever happens to you happens to me.” I kiss each one of her knuckles as she sighs deeply, like she’s been longing with all her soul to hear me say these words. “I know I’m not as brave as you are, but I promise to try harder.”
“Eric, stop. You’re the bravest man I know,” she proclaims with a tender fierceness, tears shining in her eyes.
“I’m just so afraid of losing you,” I mutter, breaking down.
“Oh, Eric,” she whimpers, sobbing right along with me. “I know, baby... I know.”
I lean back against the wall, guiding her onto my lap. We don’t say anything more. We just sit there and hold each other, savoring the moment.
About the Author:
Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED. She writes love stories with a little dash of crazy.
Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads
So today I got a special treat for you. I have the review for Faith Sullivan's book Hold me Tight which is the third book in her Take me Now series! I was excited to get my hands on the last book in the series!
Shadows. Everyone has shadows, from every decision they have ever made. Ivy is hiding with Tim who might be the father of her true life's baby. Eric is drench in confusion of new information and wondering where Ivy ran off after their fight. This story is true to the Faith Sullivan's style, you think you know the characters, but there is a wrench thrown into the mix that the readers did not see coming. One character you feel sorry for might be the character you might want to strangle.
This book keeps up the thrills that the first two had set up. Ms Sullivan keeps true to her beloved characters that her readers fell in love with the first two books. Her writing flows, and paints each scene so that the readers are right there in the scene waiting for the next explosion. She does not leave any loose ends, and ties everything up nicely. A book that I would suggest you readers to pick up :)
**Not suitable for under 18**
Shadows. Everyone has shadows, from every decision they have ever made. Ivy is hiding with Tim who might be the father of her true life's baby. Eric is drench in confusion of new information and wondering where Ivy ran off after their fight. This story is true to the Faith Sullivan's style, you think you know the characters, but there is a wrench thrown into the mix that the readers did not see coming. One character you feel sorry for might be the character you might want to strangle.
This book keeps up the thrills that the first two had set up. Ms Sullivan keeps true to her beloved characters that her readers fell in love with the first two books. Her writing flows, and paints each scene so that the readers are right there in the scene waiting for the next explosion. She does not leave any loose ends, and ties everything up nicely. A book that I would suggest you readers to pick up :)
**Not suitable for under 18**
Author: Faith Sullivan
Release date: April 30, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords
HOLD ME TIGHT Synopsis:
He loves me. He loves me not.
Ivy's heart shatters upon hearing Eric's crushing ultimatum. Despite how much she cares for him, she won't give in to his demands. She has no choice but to leave, even if it's the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
She loves me. She loves me not.
When Ivy walks out, Eric can't help feeling betrayed. Unwilling to put her at risk, he values her safety above all else. By refusing to compromise, he's blindsided when she moves in with a man who's already stolen so much from him.
I love you. You love me not.
Lauren sees Eric and Ivy's split as an opportunity to end their relationship once and for all. When Ivy places herself at the mercy of Eric's rival, Lauren plots to destroy the fragile tie binding them together, even if she endangers Ivy's life in the process.
Excerpt:
But there’s something I have to do before this goes any further.
Slowly, I draw my head away from her embrace, finding the courage to finally meet her eyes. Her hair hasn’t been combed and her face is all tear-stained, but she has never looked more beautiful.
She stands, bracing herself against me. Her breath hitches when I gently start unbuttoning her shirt, but her eyes never leave my face. I stop partway up, raising the bottom half of her cami up and over her baby bump. Dropping down, I run my hands across her stomach, feeling her shiver against my fingertips. Looking up at her, I place my lips on her bellybutton, kissing the child that’s growing within her, the miracle we created.
“I will never ask you to choose again,” I say solemnly, my voice nothing but a whisper.
Ivy starts to cry in earnest, placing her hands atop mine.
“You are my heart now. Whatever happens to you happens to me.” I kiss each one of her knuckles as she sighs deeply, like she’s been longing with all her soul to hear me say these words. “I know I’m not as brave as you are, but I promise to try harder.”
“Eric, stop. You’re the bravest man I know,” she proclaims with a tender fierceness, tears shining in her eyes.
“I’m just so afraid of losing you,” I mutter, breaking down.
“Oh, Eric,” she whimpers, sobbing right along with me. “I know, baby... I know.”
I lean back against the wall, guiding her onto my lap. We don’t say anything more. We just sit there and hold each other, savoring the moment.
What readers are saying about HOLD ME TIGHT:
"I'm so excited! Eric's balls grew back! He's going to fight for her. I envisioned the whole scene in my mind. True romance at its finest."
- Rhonda Hofmiller
"You are such a tease! What a way to leave me hanging there, after that scene at the kitchen table. DAMN. Hose me down with cold water please!"
-Natalie Smith
"Hallelujah and praise the Lord, Eric is FINALLY going after what's his! *sigh* What a lovely welcome home present indeed!"
- Ashley Bodette
Books in this New Adult Contemporary Romance trilogy:
About the Author:
Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED. She writes love stories with a little dash of crazy.Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads
Big Audio Dynamite "The Bottom Line"
"The horses are on the track!"
Whenever I am telling a younger person about the stupid things I used to do, I invariably mention my one trip to the Kentucky Derby.
Being a group of poor 20-somethings, it was our plan to sneak alcohol onto the Fair grounds. But security was tight. How to get it in there?
Sandwich bags, filled with grain alcohol, stuffed into the bra of one of the women in our group. She looked rather busty, but no one frisked her chest!
Then it was soda and grain alcohol all day.
I placed my 2 dollar bet on a random horse, and couldn't believe it when I won!
They say Disney is the happiest place on Earth, but I have to say, I have never been in a happier place than in a massive line of drunk folks who had all picked the Kentucky Derby winner and were lined up to collect.
The Derby is this weekend. "The horses are on the track!"
Hear the song on Youtube.
Whenever I am telling a younger person about the stupid things I used to do, I invariably mention my one trip to the Kentucky Derby.
Being a group of poor 20-somethings, it was our plan to sneak alcohol onto the Fair grounds. But security was tight. How to get it in there?
Sandwich bags, filled with grain alcohol, stuffed into the bra of one of the women in our group. She looked rather busty, but no one frisked her chest!
Then it was soda and grain alcohol all day.
I placed my 2 dollar bet on a random horse, and couldn't believe it when I won!
They say Disney is the happiest place on Earth, but I have to say, I have never been in a happier place than in a massive line of drunk folks who had all picked the Kentucky Derby winner and were lined up to collect.
The Derby is this weekend. "The horses are on the track!"
Hear the song on Youtube.
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