Clear demarcation of popular naming trends, across 3 generations!

"When even the most powerful business leaders stay quiet because they fear retribution, it says something about the state of the democracies they operate in that is undeniably dark".

BBSS may win too, given recent history. Our country's supposed devotion to Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma seems to be very, very, very fluid and convenient - mere words are enough; deeds are never questioned.

Trump: Join my Board of Peace for Gaza. Modi: Those indulging in arson can be identified by their clo... sorry, wrong forum. I'm on election duty now, I will think about it. Thank you for your attention in this matter.

What systemic, institutional bias against women looks like.

Double-engine failure with blood on the hands of so-called Sanatana Dharma's guardians. While the Neros fiddle in Delhi, a victim dies, with justice nowhere in sight.

The insane personality cult in US is different from the one around Modi in India because in the US, Trump is completely open about his intent, while in India, Modi and BJP try to mask the cult inside institutions, rules, policies, even though the cult shows very obviously.

What does Congress intend to do with this prehistoric specimen?

Leader instigates, underling acts on the street, taking law into his own hands. This is BJP's double-engine lawlessness.

Milliblog Weeklies, Week 292 tinyurl.com/JAN18-2026 With 5 excellent songs from Kannada, Harris' excellent ode to Raja, Santhosh's ode to MSV, plus good new music from Sean Roldan, A R Rahman, Vishal Chandrashekhar, Thaman, Jasleen Royal, among others.

If only I could also add the fragrance of this freshly bloomed Magnolia into the photo! Absolutely magical smell that feels like a mix of fruits and ice cream!

BJP only wants minorities (caste-wise, religion-wise, and even gender-wise) to *feel* inferior, but not *talk* about it. We are not in that kind of a democracy.

Strange coincidence that after Pushpak, the 1987 masterpiece by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (with stupendous music by Ilayaraja), the next two Indian movies without spoken dialogs are 2025's Ufff Yeh Siyapaa and now, 2026's Gandhi Talks - both have music by A R Rahman!

"If public design (of the 'I ❤️ city' boards) is to move beyond cliché, we must rethink how it is commissioned to trusting artists to interpret the cultural DNA of a location, instead of defaulting to safe, repetitive forms that prioritise convenience over meaning and integrity".

Jai Maharashtra. Mera Bharat Mahaan. Long live Sanatana Dharma.

"The most successful alpha males are rarely bullies. Individuals who rely on intimidation alone are frequently overthrown by coalitions of smaller, socially adept rivals. Across more than 120 primate species, strict male dominance is rare and females often wield decisive influence".

"Presented the Nobel peace prize to Trump as recognition for his unique commitment to Venezuela's freedom" Vs. "Truth is, as Trump now admits, the coup’s main aim is not to restore democracy. It’s not to safeguard US security. The aim is the oil. Trump is looting the country".

Jan.4: Demand | Jan.10: Enforcement | Jan.16: Boards installed. From demand to enforcing the demand without any approval, opposition, law, or Constitution, in just under 2 weeks. The real rise is using election wins to impose and enforce their diktat, meaning, doing whatever they want to do.

"I miss the comfort of believing Germans were different. I miss believing that we Americans could never be led by a fearmonger to commit atrocities he claimed were necessary and good. I miss believing we are not like them".

Finished watching All Her Fault (JioHotstar, November 2025; based on Andrea Mara’s 2021 novel by the same name) yesterday and was surprised to see how the basic plot points so shockingly similar to The Stolen Girl (JioHotstar, April 2025; based on Alex Dahl’s 2020 novel, Playdate)! 1/4

Congratulations, India! I hope the so-called upholders (by words only, not by deeds) of Sanatana Dharma are adequately disturbed by this evolution.

An ad that mistakes shame for persuasion. A democracy is strengthened by informed choice, not moral intimidation. Encouraging voting is valid, but branding non-participation as a “social crime” is not. Voting in India is a right, not a legal obligation. Voters are entitled to choose not to vote.

Every single newspaper has carried Modi's write-up on Kashi-Tamil Sangamam today, verbatim. At this rate, I won't be surprised if Modi announces that India's capital would be Chennai, for 5 days every year, just ahead of TN elections (besides unleashing even more of CBI, ED, CBFC on local leaders).

Why not avoid having New Delhi as a venue for international sports when the air pollution is at an all-time high? Why invite global shame by sports stars wanting to skip playing just because of pollution?

If Vijay had "agreed" (after all that incessant pressure) to join BJP as an ally for Tamil Nadu elections, his Jana Nayagan would have already released, and Modi would have written a glowing review of the film that would have been published in all newspapers today.

"Asking companies to move away from the explicit “10-minute delivery” taglines is a low-friction, high-visibility intervention that allows the state to be seen as acting without engaging in the politically harder work of enforcement, infra reform, or police accountability"

If you get Punjab National Bank's Luxura Premium Metal Credit Card, you and a friend would be allowed to make loud, unpleasant and prolonged noise at the ITC.

What a sordid man US has, in the name of a President 🤮

So happy to see that the sparrows in the neighborhood have accepted our bird feeder as a safe, predictable, and dependable food source after more than a year. Fills me with immense joy every time I see the bird feeder in the terrace and balcony filled with these incredibly cute, small sparrows :)

Couldn't find RBI chief's mention here. Aren't we THE Vishwaguru? "No major issue in the world is decided without consultation with New Delhi" as per laser-eyes, no? Or, does "New Delhi" = Modi only? RBI chief could have at least said, "This is not an era of war", in response.

Why was this declined? Is it based on (relative) popularity (vs. the many film stars who have sought similar personality rights and have been granted that by assorted courts instantly)? Who gets to decide popularity, if so, and how?

Did the BJP, RSS members, in its interaction with a visiting Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation, raise the topic of China reaffirming its ownership and rights on Shaksgam valley?

Yeah, sure.

Lifelong immunity from legal proceedings explains why the EC is so casual about the many dying BLOs due to work pressure and explaining away "system-driven procedure". Lifelong immunity = Zero accountability.

On the same page in today's Indian Express - 2 instances when people should be minding their own job, but do not, take upon themselves to be guardians of someone else's life decisions and just be a totally useless PITA.

Savage! The line is by TBWA\Vancouver in 2008, for BC Lung Association (British Columbia). This billboard is a re-used version of the original campaign, widely credited to be somewhere in Sudan or Egypt. #advertising #marketing #creativity

🥹

My picks for the 10 best international ads of 2025 tinyurl.com/intnl10ads25 #advertising #marketing #creativity

At this rate, she may blame DMK for making a monumental mess in Manipur and for invading Ukraine too 🤷‍♂️

At this rate, she may blame DMK for making a monumental mess in Manipur and for invading Ukraine too 🤷‍♂️

"The southern States have no choice but to join hands around the Digressive Proportionality principle (balances population size with state equality to prevent total domination by states with larger population".

Why doesn't celebrating violent goons, convicted rapists and murderers by BJP, RSS, VHP, or BD by welcoming them when they are out on bail, or enabling their paroles, never "hurts" anyone's "religious sentiment"?

Former chief of naval staff Admiral Arun Prakash (82) and his wife (78) have been asked to appear at the office of the chief electoral officer, 18 kms away from their home, on 2 different dates, despite them having submitted SIR forms and all documents, and having been visited by the BLO thrice.

"The caste system did not arise out of a purity-pollution cline; nowhere in the Rigveda or other samhitas is it suggested that there is a hierarchy of purity. It did not arise out of differences in eating habits; the idea of vegetarianism originated centuries later".

From 'seeking a ban on entry of non-Hindus' on Jan. 5th to starting to enforce the ban themselves on Jan. 10th, true "ease of doing *business*" in India!

And what must the youth have within, to seek redress for present wrongs by the BJP, instead of squatting on it with, 'Ek din desh main aisi sarkar aayegi jo...'?

Priorities.

🎯

Someone please advise the registrar Dr. SS Tomar that it's a pre-independence project (2012). He's already on the right track of "Gaay Hamari Mata Hai". But he needs to add, "Jai Shri Ram!" and "Seva Parmo Dharmah" to all his reports. Then, all these investigation impediments will vanish.

This is a profound cultural shift observed well by Ayushi Singh! Even as our cities are reorienting to the experience of silent electric vehicles, and vehicle manufacturers adding forced engine sounds (a government mandate in many countries), what happens to a sport that announces itself 1/4