Stuff

For Mumbai lovers only, Mid-Day's anniversary issue is a must browse (if not read). There are great accompanying pictures, vignettes into the everyday life of a Mumbaikar. ( Clicking on the article will open the article in a readable form on a separate window. )


I have also been watching a webcast of the daily India news on CNN-IBN. Click on the link on the top right of the web-page that allows you to view the webcast. This, for those who want to keep track of the current status of the blasts probe.

Common Man and friend at Worli sea-face, Mumbai

(pic courtesy: www.mid-day.com, photographer: Mukesh Parpiani)

Wonder what they're both thinking about. But, I am sure R.K. Laxman's "Common Man" is enjoying the boy's company too. As he stands there taking in the spectacle of the crashing waters of the Arabian Sea, the ebb and flow of the tides, boats and ships in the distance, the approaching monsoon clouds, and the setting sun every evening. Forever lost in contemplation.

Bombay street vendor Anna!

Yesterday, I briefly talked about street artists. Here's a story on/in Mid-Day about a street vendor Anna who makes money serving chai at night on the streets of Mumbai, and his interesting interactions with his customers. It's a very nice little piece illustrating once again that there are people out there who work very hard and innovatively at making a living (while others spend their time surfing on a computer and complaining about how there's nothing interesting out there! Heh! Heh!). We do see and know a lot of these people. And their stories are inspirational in their own ways.

I do visit Mid-day's website almost everyday. I guess because it gives me access to happenings in and around Bombay city and its suburbs. And also because it believes in good investigative journalism whereby all parties involved in a story are given the opportunity to put in their point of view (if they wish to). And some of Mid-day's columnists are really very good. Definitely a daily newspaper with some integrity.

Apart from their investigative journalistic stories, they also have interesting (and I suspect sometimes unintentionally funny) stories with slightly misleading headlines on their website. Sample this one titled "Tiger attacks man", and maybe you'll start to understand some of the content on Mid-day. Somehow, its captivating and interesting, and funny all at the same time. Makes for great timepass, that great Indian passtime.

Although, I do wish that they could provode a direct obvious link for the daily "Mid-day mate" on their website. Bombayites (Mumbaikars), you know what I'm talking about!:)