From untimely to uni-timely

A short and sweet link on Daylight Saving is here. I liked the part stressing why it is Daylight Saving and not Daylight Savings. Gopa was going ahead of his time from Terra Haute to Robinson here. (I can't find a link to his article, hence linking to his blog).

Whilst in New York, doing production support for consumers around the world, I used to experience two hours shifts over the weekend with New York's time zone moving in one direction and Australia's in the opposite direction.

I like best the proposal on uni-time. Time for a change.

Tamil bloopers

Typos and bloopers being my pet peeve, I am sorry to note that they are not restricted to English. There is an equal percentage of illiteracy in Tamil too. Confusion on which 'r' to use (Tamil has two 'r's - one hard and one soft, supposedly) and interchanging them renders the word meaningless at times and sometimes, changes the meaning.

Famous among them is கருப்பு, meaning 'black', substituted with கறுப்பு, 'anger'. The latest in this line is அறிய வாய்ப்பு (opportunity to learn) instead of அரிய வாய்ப்பு (rare opportunity). With the current trend, getting to see correct Tamil is going to be a rare opportunity.

Not knowing how to spell variants of borrowed sounds is another problem. There was a movie called ஜுட் (jut). The level of education is such that none of the movie crew and the set of critics could point out that the spelling should have been ஜூட் (jUt).

OK, I will sign off now. ஜுட், I mean, ஜூட்!

Saris from Paris?

Our people have been innovating with textiles. First, there was the reversible sari - contrasting colours on both sides, it is like two different saris. Then, there was the உள்ளே, வெளியே (inside, outside) - fabric that changes colour when outdoors - you may call them photochromatic textiles.

Hoping to outdo Paris fashion is a new line of saris with pockets for cellphones. I strongly believe this is a strong candidate for the awards - a fashion industry equivalent of the Razzies. Given that no two women drape themselves alike, what are the chances of the pocket being at the right place for all women who buy this masterpiece?

Something else seems to be at the wrong place: the brains of the persons who came up with this idea.

Non sequitur

Funny messages you get to see behind lorries. Apparently, these carriers are mandated to carry two or more messages. In all sincerity, someone takes the trouble to paint a couple of messages that seemingly have no relation to each other.

"Don't overtake at turns. AIDS can be prevented". Now I understand why so many people have AIDS. They have been overtaking at turns.

How about "Rain water is the water of life. Give blood". I assume one can safely infer that if someone runs out of blood (rather, blood runs out of someone), rainwater can be pumped into him/her and he/she can be revived.

"Thanks for reading this post. There are different ways to boredom".

Swearing in ceremony?

My readers know about my having high fun at the expense of hyphen (or the lack of one). The latest is a news report with the title: "Swearing in ceremony today".

With a hyphen ("swearing-in"), I would have assumed that the corporators would be taking oath of office that day.

Without a hyphen, as it was published, I take it that the corporators plan to hurl profanities at each other during the ceremony. How noble, how true to life!

Dial 'R' for Murder?

Read this story line:

• Husband accuses wife of infidelity and may or may not believe it himself.
• Husband plans wife's murder, sets up contract killer to enter his house.
• Sets up phone call for wife to pick up while he is (seemingly) elsewhere and returning home.
• Wife picks up ringing phone, is attacked from behind by the contract killer who wants to strangle her.
• Struggle ensues and wife ends up killing contract killer with an implement that happened to be there.
• Husband returns home to find the killer killed.
  

Sounds like Dial M for Murder or its descendant A Perfect Murder? Sorry to disappoint, that was from last night's episode of the Tamil teleserial "Roja". Tonight, I am going back on my Journey to the Centre of the Earth, unless they have a copycat scene from a movie (how about Fight Club, Balaji?) I have not seen.

Nixon 'waiving' his hand

Following BBC's slip, here is one more for Shastri's Snafux. Slate's commentary on Chevy's exploitative advertisement mentions that there is a clipping of Nixon waiving from a helicopter. One wonders what he was waiving? Was it taxes for the elderly? Could it have been sanctions against North Vietnam? Or, was he waving away his disgrace?

'Busting' Pune city

BBC reports that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are in Pune.

The article talks about Pune as "busting Western city". I have heard of 'bustling' cities, I have heard of cities 'bursting' at the seams, but a 'busting' city? Is that a veiled reference to La Jolie's appearance as Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider movies?