Shivaji Market

Shivaji Market
Originally uploaded by FredMikeRudy.

Here's another view of the Shivaji Market Pune, the area
that I lived in for the first 20 years of my life. I like to think of this
as a 'gift' from Rolf Heimann from Germany. I mentioned earlier
that Rolf wanted the Poona Blues.
Well, he certainly realized his dream when he
found himself like Robert Johnson at the 'Crossroads'.....in Pune !
Only problem, the last time he was in Pune was about 40 years ago.
Here's part of his e-mail :
"Of course, after so many years it was like travelling in one of those
sci-fi time travelling machines: India has changed so much.
To my mind, it's basically more people, more houses, more traffic -
and the infrastructure is completely overstretched. It is awesome to
see the masses of people belonging to something of a new middle
class who all seem to have mopeds and buying power.
One day I went out into the countryside and I found the old India
again, but even there businesses were flourishing and traffic was
breathtaking (literally)."

Related post:
http://virtualpoona.blogspot.com/2006/05/shivaji-market-poona.html

LEGO : The Abston Church

Precious Memories
Amy Hughes constructed a church entirely from Lego
blocks, all the while documenting construction progress.
Her cat, Precious was an onlooker during the entire
process and passed away shortly after project completion.
The Abston Church is dedicated to Precious.

See photos

Link to Amy Hughes' site

Bollywood hits Comedy Central

Stephen Colbert's funny take on Bollywood gossip
via You Tube video pits Amitabh against Shahrukh Khan.

See who wins :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5itvvHGrmw&eurl=

Street Justice for Nagpur Pervert

Angry locals took justice into their own hands
on Thursday when they stripped, paraded
and beat up a social welfare officer accused
with sexual harassment of a minor over a two-
year period.

Read the IBN News article here

Watch the CNN/IBN video here

Related links :
New Year's Eve Teasers
The Blank Nosie Project
Hollaback NYC

Free TV and Movies on your PC !

UPDATED - Dead links deleted 1/29/09

If I was looking to profit from this particular post,
I'd probably say something along these lines :

" WTF ? You refuse to pay hundreds of $$$ for Cable TV or
Satellite channels but you want to watch an Indian sitcom or
the news from the U.K.? How about Comedy Central,
Trance from France, or Japanese Game shows, or an oldie
Bond flick or a Silent Classic like 'M'?
Well, OK....grouch no more, my disturbed friend ! "

But I'm not out for profit so enjoy these links
I've painstakingly put together. All you need is basic
hi-speed internet, a little patience (depending on your
personality/attitude) and lots of time to watch the
3,000+ channels available.

NEWS channels
Ov Guide rules !

CNN TELETEXT
CNN is EVERYWHERE! Just go to CNN.com, wherever you are....
http://www.cnn.com/cnntext/html/frameset2.html

TV Serials/Full Blockbuster Movies/Anime/ Music

Bollyclips http://www.bollyclips.com/
(No registration, but requires Free Google Video Player)
In addition to Oldies,TV, Cartoons, full Music albums,
Slideshows and Cricket, there's new full-length
Hollywood movies here :
http://www.bollyclips.com/moviesonline/#hollywoodmovies

and new full-length Bollywood movies here :
http://www.bollyclips.com/moviesonline

Movies, Music and Documentaries and more
http://www.ovguide.com

Global TV Portal
http://wwitv.com/portal.htm

Health
The Patient Channel

'Informative. Empowering. Accessible'. Not my words,
theirs. Viewed in many hospital waiting rooms and clinics.

Shopping
For your online addiction.....
The Home Shopping Network

If you're having viewing problems e-mail me at:
frdmilltx(at)yahoo(dot)com

Saddam is Hydra-like

In Greek Mythology one of the twelve labours
of Hercules was to kill the two-headed Hydra,
a serpent-like underworld beast.
The problem here was that each time one head was
cut off, two heads grew back.
(See Wiki explanation here )

So Saddam is dead and buried, you say ?
Well, my disturbed friends, read on and see who
your grandchildren's peers could be .......

WebIndia123.com article via UPI
How many Saddams to make a village?
Lakhanow, India | January 10, 2007 12:01:13 AM IST

There''s not much to picking out a name for new sons in
the village of Lakhanow in northern India -- all the boys
are being named Saddam Hussein.

The BBC says the name hardly was ever used before the
first U.S. war against Iraq in 1991 but now there are more
than 20 in Lakhanow and 100 others in 27 adjoining villages,
mostly populated by Sunni Muslims.

Since Saddam''s execution last month, Lakhanow villagers
have decided to name all newborn boys Saddam Hussein.

This is our way to pay tribute to our leader. We want to carry
on his legacy here at least in our village, Ejaj Alam told the BBC.

Villagers admit, however, having so many Saddam Husseins in
one place can be a bit daunting.

In the playground we have Saddam Hussein running after
Saddam Hussein, behind Saddam Hussein who is ahead of
Saddam Hussein but too far from Saddam Hussein ...
it can all get a little confusing, he said.

New Year's Eve Teasers 2

Aussie couple comes forward

A thoroughly dismaying follow up to New Year's Eve Teasers
wherein we learn of multiple assaults on females in Mumbai.
Harassment and molestation takes place on a daily basis in this city,
on the street, on trains, in buses, at bus stops.
The links below are to brief clips from CNN/IBN News video
which give an idea of the challenges that lie ahead for those who
are attempting to bring about change. People I applaud like
the Blank Noise Project in July 2006, and Hollaback NYC

Overpopulation, Poverty, Corruption, Illiteracy and Apathy
all contribute to this escalating problem.
For your mothers, for your sisters, spread the word !

Australian Couple Recalls Molestation Horror
Lee and Maya, a couple from Sydney were in Mumbai
celebrating new year's eve when a mob surrounded them
and molested Maya. The tourist says she was badly bruised
and over 20 men tried to rip off her clothes. The couple
somehow managed to escape and chose not to file any police
complaint either. They only decided to voice their nightmarish
experience after seeing the footage in news reports of a girl
(still untraced) being molested by the mob.
Link to CNN/IBN video

Mumbai Cop Held for Molestation
Constable Rajesh Pawar was reportedly hauled up by the public
and handed over to the Marine Drive Police Station for
outraging the modesty of a young woman.
Link to CNN/IBN video

Mumbai's Image Forever Tarnished
As if this weren’t enough to tarnish the city’s image,
a 30-year-old American tourist has said she was molested
while taking photographs at the Prince of Wales Museum
in the Fort area of the city.
Link to CNN/IBN video

For your mothers, for your sisters, spread the word !

Movin' On Up in Mumbai

From the International Herald Tribune :
Under an inventive government program in Mumbai, builders raze
entire slum neighborhoods and use part of the land for tenements
to house the original residents. In return, the developer wins the
right to build lucrative towers on the rest of the land and pays
nothing but the cost of the slum resettlement

Slideshow with terse comments: Moving Up in Mumbai

Compare this to a previous Virtual Poona post

New Year's Eve Teasers

Found this* at DNA India just moments after reading
the latest entry at Holla Back NYC which encourages
women to fight back against street harassment :

*'MUMBAI: A photographer from a city-based tabloid,
on duty to capture revelry at the Gateway of India on
New Year's eve, clicked pictures of a girl allegedly
being harassed by a group of men during celebrations.'

Here's the follow-up story, Jan. 6th

Over 60 men involved. This is progress in the world's
next economic powerhouse ? Related link

Happy 2007 from Bangkok

Pom in Thailand sent this greeting to y'all :

Happy New Year 2007!

and click here: http://www.birthdayalarm.com/HappyNewYear

and said :

It's nice to hear from Rusell again, welcome back in action.