Today's insensitive gospel

So the other day, I went for a quick break with some of my colleagues to the roadside tea-shack. While we chit-chatted, the smell of piping hot tea wafted towards us, making me(a confirmed tea-lover), break out into a smile.

An avuncular man, with a toddler-girl in tow, walked towards us. Thrusting a pink pamphlet in our hands, he proceeded to talk earnestly about a nearby church, which was to hold an hour's gospel session that Sunday.

Murmuring our thanks, we expressed regret that that particular weekend looked iffy, but promised to drop by any other Sunday we would be in the area.

The man walked away with a beatific smile.

Our eyes followed him, as he made his way to another group, who, like us, were sleepy(it was the perfect time to snooze away, post lunch), and since a siesta looked improbable(nay, next to impossible), had decided instead, to grab their afternoon cuppa of steaming tea.

A couple of minutes sped by - the man, after distributing the pamphlets, proceeded to the other side of the road, the little girl trotting faithfully behind him.

The minute the duo had crossed the road, the group to which he had been speaking with, carelessly tossed the pamphlets aside. One even went so far as to crumple it, while yet another wiped his hands with it, flinging it disdainfully onto the sandy side of the road.

As I winced, the group merrily chattered away, finished their tea, and walked away, crunching the strewn papers under their ostensibly expensive shoes.

Leaving me with a disdainful expression on my face, thanks to their thoughtlessness, and utterly crass behavior.

The above scene is not one in isolation. You and your neighbor might have also encountered it. Quite a lot of people would probably say that the person distributing the pamphlets was a proselytizer, and it served him right that his pamphlets were treated in the above manner.

Some would pretend that doing so was sacrilege, but in the next breath, say something to the tune of each man being different, and behaving dissimilarly.

The rest would just turn their faces aside, shrug their shoulders, and walk away.

Which one are you?

Put Your Best Foot Forward

The humble kolha-puris, beaded sandals, and flip-flops are fast making a disappearance.

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a tad bit, but hey, wherever I cast a look, I can see a whole spate of footwear, many of which I am sure I don't even know the names of.

Trendier versions are all the rage(not that I am complaining); and here I am not talking only about the killers - stilletos.

Today's footwear, especially for women, has come of age. And how!

Whatever the occasion, you have appropriate shoes that fit both your soles, as well as the wallet you carry.

You and I are spoilt for choice - the dainty ones can choose from Mary Janes, ballerina shoes(a fast catching-on trend, what with all the Tinas, Dianas, and Harriets, wearing them to every possible place), as well as peep toes.

Thick ankles? Worry not - go buy yourself a pair of wedges(available in that mall yonder, the supermarket, the neighborhood shoe-store, and its neighbor).

More of an office person?

Madame, pumps and mules are right up your street.

Choose from the perennial black, brown, beige, or white.

Have that crinkly, flowy skirt, and clueless as to what to team it with to that weekend party? Loads of boots out there - choose from any of these - go-go boots, ugg boots, cowboy boots( A word of caution: avoid the stilletoed-version in colors like fuschia pink, scarlet, aubergine, flurescent green / yellow, unless you want to give the impression of a dominatrix or a street-walker).

Hitting the gym? You are bound to be spoilt with all the sports companies vying with each other to coax you into buying their trainers.

If heels are as appealing to you as meat to a vegan, there is absolutely no reason for you to be dismayed.

The footwear industry boasts of espadrilles, and Chuck Taylors, available at any Converse outlet, in various eye-popping colors.

Platforms are another type(but since I have an aversion to seeing them, either adorning display windows of showrooms or on the feet of women), I woon't write a thing about them, except that they look obnoxious to me.

Whew! Now that I've let the steam off, I can continue with this post :-)

Stilletos, when teamed with killer outfits, besides looking pretty weapons of mass destruction , can also turn into neat weapons of self-protection. (Here the clunky, chunky platforms can also be given a note of mention). Soome jerk annoying you like hell? Wham! Off with your footwear, and teach him a good lesson. Don't just brandish the heels, use them, ladies.

And a last word before I end this post - if you are one of those who stagger, all wobbly-legged like Bamby the deer, on those impossibly-high heels, making people around you, giggle, do yourself a favor - get kitten heels.

They might not boast of those killer heels, but then, your peds will be grateful, believe me. Besides, kitten-heels look classy, you look as if you have experimented with heels, and you can walk around in them for ages, without wincing each time you take a step.

Go on, step out in style.

A World full of @#$%^&*

A lot of my friends say that I make many references to only one blonde – a certain heiress of luxury hotels.

While there have been news of another blonde who recently tried taking her life post a bald pate(and depression – in that order), and yet another one of them(a buxom one, this) shouting off the rooftops that she’s more than game for a stirring relationship, this blog post is about none of these.

I’m referring to a 20-something Hollywood actress who shares the same mane-color like the above mentioned ladies, and has a penchant for letting loose a stream of unparliamentary language.

While the lady in question apologized till she was blue in the face, and quite a few psychologists sympathized with her truly pitiable classic case of Tourette’s Syndrome; the unforgiving press is unlikely to forget, forgive and move on in a hurry.

This situation is not unlike what we see everyday around us.

To cite an instance, a speeding car bumps into another. Though the damage may be next to none, both the drivers are sure to indulge in a volley of cussing and swear words, besides proudly displaying their respective middle fingers, almost like war trophies.

Colorful words are abundant even in the tamest of situations, and one would probably hear them roll off freely, both the mouths of adolescents as well as their more senior (and seemingly mature) counterparts.

Women too are not to be left behind; now I am no prude, but yes, it does sound a lil jarring to hear profanities being delivered effortlessly from the so-called gentler sex, delivered with aplomb, all the while maintaining a cool-as-a-cucumber face.

Phew!

A few choice abuses have made their way into the vocabulary of endearments too. Two bosom pals meet after ages; they will liberally intersperse their salutations with colorful phrases. Case in question, “hey, you @#$%!^&*, where the friggin hell have you been, man / chick?” and then exchange hugs / hi-fives with such carefree abandon that one would think that they had never dropped one profanity.

Such cases leave me clueless as to whether the recipients of such abuses are supposed to keep stoic faces / grin genially / take major offence.

Tricky one that.

What’s your say?

News you can use

Came across this site sometime back - www.firstandsecond.com.

An online book, music and movie store, this one offers cool discounts of upto 70%, as well as free shipping across the country.

The search option is quick and efficient (a sure plus sign for impatient people like me). You also have book reviews, editorials, snippets about books and authors, news, and interviews.

Quite a nice site to browse when you have some spare minutes on your hands.

International Women's Day

Since last week, I've noticed a fair number of companies waving special schemes, freebies, complimentary packages - all with the same intention - to woo women.

and then it suddenly dawned upon me: oho - Women's Day was just around the corner. And hence, the following: a leading two-wheeler company giving trial runs to women, radio station / channels / newspapers - all urging you to don your 'thinking caps" and name your woman icon, etc etc etc.

Today, I was a tad amused to see the oppo gender at their chivalrous best - opening doors for their female counterpaarts, holding their bags(and laptops), the works.

However, I just want to see if the chivalry continues. Or was it just a one-day fad? (Obviously, I am keeping my fingers crossed).

More on this later.

Happy Womens Day!

Apple iPhone - India Edition

Though Apple is keeping a stiff upper lip on it, everybody around knows that they are planning to introduce the iPhone in India.

The uber-cool gadget looks all set to storm the Indian market, and probably cause the likes of the Blackberrys, Nokias, Samsungs, and Sonys, to break out into a cold sweat.

On the looks front too, Apple does not disappoint: the iPhone will be a 3.5 in, 160ppi touchscreen display beauty.

Add to that a memory of 4 or 8 GB, option of using the it as a widescreen iPod(seamless sync with iTunes using USB), unique features, and you are ready to groove. And how!

Now if only 2008, the year it gets launched in India, come around quickly.