Friday, October 27

Quatrain CLII -- EMBEDDED EXCLUSIVES

NDTV, take a bow
For coaxing the Holy Cow
To crap,
Then broadcasting it, gift-wrapped

Sonia's exclusive interview to Vir Sanghvi on NDTV
http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstory.asp?category=National&slug=Manmohan+Singh+a+man+of+integrity%3A+Sonia&id=20598

Tuesday, October 24

Quatrain CLI -- BARMY ARMY

Who's whipping up this fear?
Of a mole in every army tier
Why should the ISI plant spies galore, when
Defence Ministers' make-do with a couple of crore

Pranab: No decision yet to blacklist Barak
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143240
Probe on to unravel spy network in Army: Pranab
http://www.kashmirobserver.com/index.php?id=896
Two Armymen in spy net, Pak driver in it too
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=206263
ISI trying to subvert forces, says Pranab
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061024/main1.htm
Armed forces in a tizzy over Pak moles
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2236118.cms

Wednesday, October 18

Quatrain CL -- WHEN A NOOSE BECOMES A CLIMBING ROPE

He’s back
Clean from crack
Now he even has a vision, whose
Root stems from Afzal's noose

Rahul Mahajan to join BJP's anti-clemency dharna
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.p
hp?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=16440

Rahul Mahajan wants Afzal hanged, to sit on dharna
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=2&a
rticleid=1016200623405157810162006234042562

Rahul Mahajan to join BJP's anti-clemency dharna
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=16440
Rahul Mahjan to sit on dharna to press for death sentence to Afzal
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=329869&sid=REG

Tuesday, October 17

Quatrain CXXXXIX -- DRDO... DODO

A five-year old tot
Mailed Kalam, a Viagra dot

He'd heard that the missile man's gun
Took more than two decades to come


Buy or make: Can the forces bank on DRDO
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2172733.cms
Govt. plans to close down Trishul anti-missile programme
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200610162135.htm
Govt drives final nail to 'Trishul' coffin
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1822196,0008.htm\
R&D work on Trishul missile to be stopped
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/15/stories/2006101502771000.htm

Monday, October 16

Quatrain CXXXXVIII -- FAROOQ FAR OFTEN

The playboy prince of flesh
Can afford to be rash

Let India burn
And pack the ashes, in an electoral urn

Farooq trying to create communal wedge
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2172309.cms
Hang Afzal, and some crook may kill judges
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/hang-afzal-and-some-crook-may-kill-judges/23963-3.html
India will burn if rebel hanged says Kashmiri leader
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/hang-afzal-and-some-crook-may-kill-judges/23963-3.html
If Afzal is hanged Kashmir, India will go up in flames: Farooq
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=15_10_2006&ItemID=26&cat=1

Friday, October 13

Quatrain CXXXXVII -- BLUE BILLION BUCKS

The match-fixing sharks
Stride back into the park

Somewhere, someone’s held the door held ajar

For Kapil, Chopra, Jadeja, Mongia, Akram, Azhar

Suddenly, all those accused and prima facie fishy players in the match fixing scandal have returned and are back to playing roles, suspisciously aligned with the sport. Kapil (25 lakh to throw away a match against Pakistan) as chairman of the National Cricket Academy. Ajay Jadeja (betting on matches he was involved in and underperforming) as commentator. Nikhil Chopra (for match fixing and proximity to bookie Sanjeev Chawla) as a commentator and member of the Delhi state selection committee. Azhar (matchfixing and underperformance) is also on the verge of being embraced by the BCCI. Nayan Mongia coaches the Thailand cricket team. The BCCI has “cleared” these cricketers through its seedy “internal enquiries”. The Delhi Police have also ruled out the involvement of Indian players in the matchfixing scandal after probing Gibbs. Was match-fixing only a bad dream then?
Nayan Mongia to coach Thailand
content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/141024.html
Azhar, Ajay Sharma may be prosecuted
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001102/main1.htm
New committee fails to decide on shortlist (Nikhil Chopra)
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=201942
Nikhil Chopra deposes before CBI
in.rediff.com/sports/2000/jun/29chopra.htm
Kapil becomes new NCA Chief
http://cricket.expressindia.com/fulleistory.php?content_id=74572
Match-fixing judge surprised at Mushtaq's (Mushtaq Ahmad) appointment
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/259929.html
Match-fixing judge reveals 'soft corner' for Akram
content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/232548.html

BCCI to honour ex-skipper Azhar
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1058262

Thursday, October 12

Quatrain CXXXXVII -- DISPATCHED

A Russian journalist’s slain
The West is confused, pained
Poor Politkovskaya wouldn’t have been killed
If she'd embedded herself, on her own will

Journalist's Murder Seen as Indictment of Putin
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/worldopinionroundup/2006/10/journalists_murder_seen_as_ind_1.html
'Independent journalism has been killed in Russia'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1896806,00.html
Putin criticised over journalist remarks
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CF400CC1-71A9-4BA1-B99C-E98FE44586EE.htm
Putin decries journalist's slaying and reporting
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003298640_russia11.html
Embedded journalist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_journalist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq_media_coverage#.22Embedded.22_reporters
http://www.democracynow.org/static/IMIATOW.shtml
US media acts as a cover for power, says leading reporter
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_060928media.shtml
Colbert Roasts President Bush - 2006 White House Correspondents
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879

Wednesday, October 11

Quatrain CXXXXVI -- POOR VAJPAYEE... DIDN'T THEY GIVE HIM A PENNY?

Coffins, missiles, subs and ships
Did we just hear India’s underpants rip?

The last line of her defence, one would wonder
Must be some Swiss bank account number

Fernandes in CBI cross-hairs for Barak missile deal
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=142995
Quiz Kalam, not me: Fernandes
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/quiz-kalam-not-me-fernandes/23691-3.html
George Fernandes in Israel arms deal probe
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=
2006-10-10T221040Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-271696-1.xml

CBI alleges Rs two crore bribe to Jaya Jaitley
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2141131.cms
CBI names George Fernandes in arms scandal
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2139787.cms

Monday, October 9

Quatrain CXXXXV -- CAST'E' IRON

Kanshi Ram, V P Singh
Sinister masters of chess

Where shameless political moves

Are disguised as a caress


Kanshi Ram's family to sue Mayawati
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/kanshi-rams-family-to-sue-mayawati/23547-4.html
Master strategist, towering leader
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1057692
Founder of India's most powerful lower caste party, Kanshi Ram, dies
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/09/asia/AS_GEN_India_Obit_Kanshi_Ram.php
VP Singh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._P._Singh

Sunday, October 8

Quatrain CXXXXIV -- LETS HANG OUT TOGETHER

The jury is out
Ooh, isn't Afzal is haute
That end of the rope from which he hangs
Propels the ends of Haksar and her publicity gang

PUCL for clemency for Afzal
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200610071925.htm
Protests on Afzal death sentence continue
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200610061840.htm
Death of Afzal Guru will not solve anything
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/2344
Pakistan watching Afzal case
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100618831700.htm
Kashmir body urges EU intervention to save life of Kashmiri in India
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0610057185162914.htm

Wednesday, October 4

Quatrain CXXXXIII -- NEWS SENSE

Two bums from two ends of Fleet-street
Finally meet.

On their face there’s a frown

A rival bum's coming from the other edge of town


HT Media signs MoU with Times of India Group
http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20061003113149043&dir=2006/10/03&secID=livenews
India Rivals Join to Publish a Daily
http://online.wsj.com/google_login.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB115990364283681463.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj
Delhi's media giants join hands to launch paper
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/article_1207834.php/Delhis_media_giants_join_hands_to_launch_paper
HT Media Ltd, TOI Group shake hands on 50:50 joint venture
http://www.agencyfaqs.com/news/stories/2006/10/04/16100.html
TOI, HT join hands to publish Delhi paper
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2076288.cms

HT Media, Times Group forge JV
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1811687,00020009.htm


Quatrain CXXXXII -- SMOKING GUN

Terror is in the mind
Often a mess, the state leaves behind

To fester the sore

Terror’s a militant, even a mosquito


Dengue cases in Delhi cross 500; not an epidemic yet
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200610032101.htm
AIIMS ill-equipped for dengue rush
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/aiims-illequipped-for-dengue-rush/23121-3.html
Dengue situation continues to be grim
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/dengue-situation-continues-to-be-grim/23128-3.html
33 dengue cases confirmed in Haryana
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1811907,0009.htm
One more dengue case reported in Jammu and Kashmir
http://www.kashmirobserver.com/index.php?id=697