What a date!

A federal judge today has asked Microsoft to put down about $500 million to Alcatel in damages plus interest, supporting the jury’s verdict that the software maker infringed on two patents. The jury decided that it infringed on an Alcatel patent that is all about software users choosing a calendar DATE from a menu in some programs like Microsoft Outlook. Wow! I am sure today’s DATE will be marked in that calendar eternally. Let’s see what happens when the giant appeals the ruling.

What will happen to Michelob?

Anheuser-Busch, the brewers of Budweiser, yesterday announced that it will buy over the outstanding 50 per cent stake in Crown Beers India that is at present held by Crown Group. Does it mean that any hopes of Michelob being available in India are drowned? I’d follow the deal.

UN declares rape a war tactic

‘a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instill fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate civilian members of a community or ethnic group’. This is how the resolution by a 15 member council defined rape today. My problem is not with the definition. I am glad about it. Nor do I doubt the intentions of the resolution. My problem is with the UN as it has always been. What I am repulsed by is that why rape limited as ‘a crime against individual victims’ (in this case in the times and regions of war) not big enough an offense to jolt the UN to take extreme measures against it. Why do we need another rationale to take stricter actions against the perpetrators of this grisly sin? Chinese Deputy Ambassador Liu Zhenmin said to the council that “sexual violence should not be treated as a stand-alone issue, nor should attention be given to its symptoms only.” Is he corroborating that till now UN was giving attention to the symptoms of rape only, and not to its prevention? I hope not. In countries like Congo, no less than 50 women are raped every day. I hope this action from US brings this figure down to zero soon.

Everything is illuminated

One movie I watched of late and loved is “Everything is illuminated’’ by Live Schreiber. This is a marvelous directorial debut of Schreiber who I think is a better Director than he is an actor. The movie will take you, both visually and intellectually to places you have never been. The movie is outrageously awesome. Simple yet profound. The last words of the movie ‘Everything is illuminated in the light of the past’ will stay with me for a long long time.

Spain v Italy, Euro 2008

Tomorrow is Spain v Italy (Euro 2008). And here’s my guess of who is going to win: Spain. The reason: David Villa, swift, astute and sharp-edged. He is top of the chart with 4 goals in the kitty, and with Donadoni’s boys showing evidence of missing Marcello Lippi, David should put 2 more gems in his basket tomorrow.

Abou this blog

Beliefs, Law, World politics, Cinema, Liquor, Business,Sports and a few awry deliveries of bourgeois observations. This is what I intend this blog to perform. Knowing well that neither my friends nor my clients are interested in my personal life I will keep away from discussing myself or my life. However I hope the readers will excuse me for minor deviations now and then.