I recently attended a rock fest. It was a competition event for the city's amateur rock bands. No, this is not a vitriolic attack on the performances. They were terrific. Lots of talent in the city. The guy who walked away with the Best Vocalist award sang amazingly well in English considering he couldn't speak the language otherwise. Though the music kept me occupied I couldn't help but notice the clothes worn by many in the crowd. Actually these days I notice clothes worn by most people in social gatherings. Aaargh!! Somebody shoot me, I'm becoming fashion conscious. Anyways, at this rock fest guys were wearing turtlenecks, oversized pants, and a lower body garment that is described as 'Capris' when worn by women. Chennai is not a place where the fashion conscious can thrive. The city offers only one season. Lets say it out loud. Summer!! So unless you have masochistic tendency a turtleneck is tad unsuitable. And another thing I have noticed is that many of the teenybopper generation is big-built. Ok, they are positively fat. Girls with humongous rear ends have no business being in hipsters. Please lose weight for your own sake and then flaunt that figure, not the lack of it. Oh, there was also this stud-muffin wearing a T-shirt that spelt out a four-letter word closely followed by a three-letter word. You don't have to be a genius to figure out my not-so-cryptic clues.

This rock fest was largely sponsored by Chandrika soap. The spokesperson for this oh-so-desi soap is none other than that madcap Cyrus Broacha of MTV fame. But using him to promote the soap is not in the best interests of the manufacturers. The poster ad showed Cyrus pointing to the soap with the lines "I love it. I am sure you will too". His expression is most unconvincing and most comic. It totally looks like Cyrus is indulging in an Andy Kaufmanesque gag. If Chandrika wants to appeal to the with-it generation then I would suggest a name-change in the first place. No self-respecting, capri-wearing dude is going to be seen picking up Chandrika soap at the supermarket let alone ask for it over the counter, Cyrus or no Cyrus.

Fortunately that earthquake was a fun event for most in Chennai. Not too many people can say that. We are truly blessed to experience one without having to pay for it with our lives. And we can indulge in stories of our personal experiences without it being for therapy. I work in what is supposed to be one of the most prestigious buildings in Chennai. What with earthquakes and terrorists flying into big buildings we had an evacuation drill. Apparently somebody sent the chief security officer of my work building a picture of the building with an aircraft flying at it. Duh! Some jokes are not funny. Anyway I am now an unofficial fire warden, so borrowing from the popular line "if you see me running...KEEP UP."

The whole world is waiting for the US to attack. The US is probably figuring out whom they can really attack. Terrorism is a global epidemic. But providing 50 million dollars as aid to a nation that breeds terrorists is not the best way to rout out the problem.

My mother now wonders if the Kalki avatar is a Muslim. Truly secular, my mother.