Gays OK as long as they behave !

I am fairly lazy when it comes to Blogging, but there are some stuff that you just cannot pass up commenting on. Like the story I came across about Blackie the racist dog and such stuff.

I just read in the Belgian news today about reaction from two-thirds of the first division footballers that Gays have no place in Soccer. The Belgian association, I believe rightly, has decided not to take action on this, because, I assume that this is a personal opinion.
However, one player, Didier Dheedene of Germinal Beerschot, was conditionally open-minded about Gays, provided 'they behave in showers'. He did not explain what he exactly meant, but I assume this includes, not dropping the soap, not looking over, in fact not making eye (or non-eye) contact or engaging in friendly banter in shower, which you would do otherwise, but which take on an entirely new meaning when you are not in your clothes.

What is this guy going to do when a gay player scores a goal? Give him a formal handshake, or an email afterwards appreciating the effort ? I mean, this conniving Gay player could be very well scoring goals just to get some hugs from other men...

I am not squeamish about taking showers after games, which I frequently do with my team mates after badminton, despite being not used to it in India. I am sure that statistically it is possible that there are some gay guys around in the shower. I do not have a problem with it. Of course, I draw the line at after-game baths though, which doesn't happen, but still...

The photo above, taken without permission from the article, is the one accompanying this report. I feel bad for the players who are in the picture though - now, are they gay or not?

Biking Emotions

Now that I am biking regularly and in a club with a group of bikers far better than me, I am slowly getting better myself. I do 60 kms, two days a week, at an average of 28 km/hr. This is a huge effort for me. It is indeed a battle of mind versus body. These are the typical range of extreme emotions that I go through during the 60 kms...

km 0: looks like a nice day, I am motivated, I have a gut feeling that I am going to bike well today

Km 5: damn, this group always starts too fast, why can't they start a bit slow? Need to catch up..

km 10: Ok, now I am settled down, I managed to get in someone's slipstream, now to try and stay there

km 20: I am doing good, feeling energetic...I could go on forever

km 30: Oh, that's a climb, better change gear now..or later?..shit, I lost my momentum, I am the last one, the whole group will have to slow down for me.

km 30-km 45: Man, this shit sucks. Did I get out of my house for this? I could be sitting on my couch and watching TV...I wonder why I do this

Km 45: Only 15 more kms..I am almost there...I am getting a second wind, feeling energetic

Km 50: Still 10 kms to go... uphill again? damn..not now...

km 60: Thank god it has ended...I am the greatest..can't wait to do this again soon...

The Sensitive Indian

While 'Slumdog Millionaire' was winning awards around the world, in India a lot of attention was focused on the fact that the movie showed India in a poor light - focusing on the poverty in India. Some protested the fact that the word 'dog' hurt the sensitivities of the slum dwellers.
Last week there was a protest against auctioning of some personal effects of Gandhi - his glasses, sandals, watch etc. His great grandson denounced this act as 'immoral'.
Few days back, Indian superstar Shahrukh Khan's movie 'Billu Barber' (story of a humble barber and his movie star classmate), dropped the name 'barber' from its name to prevent potentially increasing protest from the barbers in India.

Have we become so insecure that we have to start reacting over everything? Do we have to get offended so fast? I mean' Slumdog Millionaire' is a sort of rags to riches story celebrating the fighting spirit of the slum dwellers. And for those who were not aware of this, let me say this now - there is poverty in India, and people do live in slums !

I always assumed Gandhi was not about his sandals and spectacles, it is about a greater ideal that he symbolises. In any case, Gandhi, with his fairly pragmatic view on life, would not have thought that this is 'immoral'. He himself recommended detachment from material things.

And as for the movie - well, I assume that the quality of movie was so bad that the barbers did not want to have their name associated with something like this. Not that they are the sensitive kind. In any case you do not want to offend a person carrying a sharp instrument - sensitive or not.

The 3rd and 4th beautiful

I was reading recently about the most beautiful train stations in the world. I was sure that New York grand central and London St. Pancras would be there somewhere. I was happy to notice that the third most beautiful station in the world was Victoria Terminus in Bombay (now called Chatrapathi Shivaji Station of Mumbai) and the fourth most beautiful was Central Station at Antwerp. I was happy that a station from both India and Belgium were on the list.
Apparenlty St. Pancras also has the longest champagne bar in the world. It is a beautiful station, but I think Grand Central is...well, grander. Here is the list:

1) St.Pancras, London (UK)
2) Grand Central Terminal, New York (USA)
3) Chatrapati Shivaji, Mumbai (India)
4) Central Station, Antwerp (Belgium)
5) Gare des Bénédictins, Limoges (France)
6) Lahore Railway Station (Pakistan)
7) Central Railway Station, Maputo (Mozambique)
8) Hua Hin Railway Station (Thailand)
9) Atocha Station, Madrid (Spain)

Iphone Show off

Many people (including me), never let go off an opportunity to show off their iphone, sometimes to detriment of other people, as seen in the comic strip below