GBUF - 26 May 25

 

#GBUF #sriGINthoughts #26May25 #GoodBadUglyFunnyTrusk

Last week, education found itself in the spotlight – twice, through incidents that unfolded tens of thousands of miles apart.

📕 In Singapore, the prestigious National University of Singapore (NUS), currently ranked 8th globally, decided it was time for some spring cleaning. Unfortunately, this meant literally dumping over 9,000 books from the now-defunct Yale-NUS College library—into the bin. The university cited an “operational lapse” while following “standard library practice.” Many, however, saw it as a “1984” moment of historic revisionism: throw away the books, and perhaps you can erase the memory of the Yale-NUS experiment altogether. After a solid public furore (and a lot of egg on the institutional face), NUS salvaged most of the books and is now giving them away for free on May 28. #ShredEducation 📘

🏠 As NUS shredded its books, Donald Trump attempted to shred Harvard—by attempting to block it from enrolling or hosting foreign students. While a judge has temporarily stalled this draconian measure, the damage is done. Thousands of students are now left uncertain about their academic futures. Universities across the U.S. are on tenterhooks, waiting for the next political guillotine to drop. Students across the world are looking more seriously at alternatives in Europe and Asia. O #MAGAEducation, what a rage! 🛫

🚙 Speaking of rage, road rage is universal. Someone overtakes you from the wrong side. Someone honks incessantly. Someone else flashes the middle finger. Your blood pressure spikes. You breathe in, chant “All is well,” and slowly return to normal. Unfortunately, elephants don’t quite work the same way. On a Malaysian highway near an elephant crossing, a conscientious driver stopped and turned off his car’s headlights to let a herd pass. The impatient drivers behind him, however, honked—startling the pachyderms. The result? Three elephants ambled up and smashed the first car to smithereens. Rage is truly universal. #ToughTuskers 🐘

🐶 In Singapore, the rules around pets in public housing (HDB flats) are strict. Only certain breeds of dogs are allowed, and only one dog/cat per flat. It’s a no-pets policy otherwise – much like that infamous condominium in Bangkok that made news last week. But humans being humans, rules tend to get bent. One flat owner housed a noisy, rule-breaking dog, much to the frustration of a neighbour. So, what did the neighbour do? He took matters into his own hands, or more accurately, his own fangs. He released two large snakes into the corridor, declaring: “I couldn’t carry the bigger one today!” Somewhere, Salazar Slytherin is smiling. #EyeForAnEye 🐍

🟠 Meanwhile, in the U.S., the political corridors are shifting—yet again. Elon Musk, once an ardent cheerleader of DOGE and certain political figures, appears to be stepping back. Following the passing of Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Musk is apparently disillusioned. He has hinted at reducing his political involvement to focus instead on achieving a “sustainably abundant future.” But Trump is sustaining his abundant rhetoric ensuring the future is a guesswork for all. He’s threatened a 25% tariff on phone makers, called Putin “absolutely crazy” (pot, meet kettle?), and delayed tariffs on the EU after their calls for “respect.” #SwampIsThick 🦌

₹ And India, now the world’s fourth-largest economy, ahead of Japan with a GDP of approximately $4.3+ trillion, is on a diplomatic overdrive. She sent out envoys all over the world on a PR blitz to tell the world on how Operation Sindoor was a necessary and repeatable action against a truant Pakistan. Naturally, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, the diplomat-par-excellence is drawing all the attention with his suave and eloquent deriding of DJT, sitting in NY. #DipOps 🗣

And finally, the best for last.

🏎 Kush Maini just became the first-ever Indian to win an F2 race at Monte Carlo. That alone is a tremendous achievement. But the wag had a little extra spice: “He’s from Bengaluru. After navigating the moon-craters they call roads over there, Maini must’ve become ‘bahoot khush’ at seeing a proper, smooth road, and floored it!” 🤣 I am sure people would hope that some of the enhanced GDP would flow onto the roads & not just flood waters! #SmoothRace 🚩

Views are personal. Any hurt unintentional.

GBUF - 19 May 2025

 #sriGINthoughts #GoodBadUglyFunnyTrusk #GBUF #19May25

The past fortnight was ablaze—literally and diplomatically—across the Indo-Pak border. India claimed (with visual proof) that it had struck multiple "terrorist" camps inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. Did India lose a few fighter jets, including possibly a Rafale? Whose drones were flying all over Pakistani skies—Turkish Bayraktars, perhaps? Details remain fuzzy. But in a refreshing display of strategic restraint (much to the chagrin of blood lusting primetime media), the Indian Armed Forces stayed mostly mum. The IAF chief’s smirk, when asked if they hit Kirana Hills—allegedly a Pakistani nuclear storage site—spoke louder than words. Meanwhile, Pakistan's counter-operation reportedly had the hilariously unfortunate acronym: BUM (Bunyan-Un-Marsoos).

Despite Senator J.D. Vance quipping, “It’s their war, let them figure it out!”, something triggered a Mach 1-level escalation, forcing both nations’ hands. Enter DJT, shooting (pun intended) for the Nobel Peace Prize, and claiming credit for brokering a ceasefire. #TensePeace

Trump wasn’t exactly idle elsewhere. Last week saw him gallivanting across the Middle East...

• inking multibillion-dollar deals with MBS, 
• accepting a Qatari jet (cough bribe), 
• calling the Qatari Emir’s palace a “nice house,” 
• controversially appointing Ismail Royer (a convicted, though released, extremist) as a White House advisor
• praising Pakistan’s “wonderful products” (Pray, what exactly?), 
• warning Tim Cook not to make iPhones in India, 
• going 'wow' on seeing the 'Al-Ayyala' dance (video below) at UAE and 
• sending “warmest and best wishes” to Joe Biden on hearing about his cancer diagnosis. 
• Along the way, he pardoned Syria too. 

Dei! #Madness, as always, seems to be his only method.

While India was busy juggling a prickly western front (hello again, Pakistan) and a pesky eastern one (yes, Bangladesh—please lah!), cricket fans were hit for a six: IPL was paused for a week, and worse, Rohit ‘Hitman’ Sharma and Virat ‘Cheeku’ Kohli announced their retirement from Test cricket. Rohit’s decision was understandable (you can ride that ‘selfless’ horse only that much!) but Kohli still had some firepower left, methinks. Two greats leaving the format quietly. A bit sad, but perhaps inevitable. #ErasEnd

Speaking of inevitable exits, Warren Buffett—the Oracle of Omaha—is finally retiring at year’s end. At 94, it’s not his billions I admire most, but his diet: burgers and Coke. Legend! He’s probably had more people hang onto his words than their spouses’. #HealthyReturns

This fortnight also brought two major legal cases on sexual crimes—one ending, the other just beginning.

In the U.S., Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing a barrage of lawsuits involving assault, trafficking, and coercion. Allegations include drugging women, using firearms for intimidation, and a disturbing culture of abuse spanning decades. Over 100 alleged victims are preparing to sue. If things go south, only a diddy would bet on him walking free.

Closer home, in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, nine men were sentenced to life imprisonment till death for their role in a horrific sexual assault and extortion ring. Over 200 women—students, professionals, teachers—were reportedly affected, with thousands of videos recovered in 2019. A chilling reminder of systemic impunity.

How do we deter such predators from prowling again?

Speaking of prowling, a Mexican Navy tall ship—Cuauhtémoc—lit up in full glory, sailed into the Hudson a couple of days ago… only to smash into the 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge. Turns out, tall masts and old bridges don’t mix. The incident caused significant damage to the ship and tragically cost two lives. In a poetic twist, the mishap seems to echo Trump’s rhetoric: You want to come in from the Mexican border? Here's your bridge... blocked! #DoNotPassGo

Sigh. Madness, metaphor, and mayhem. 

Till next time.

Views are personal. Any hurt unintentional.

GBUF 04May25

#sriGINthoughts #GoodBadUglyFunnyTrusk #GBUF #04May25

It’s been a fortnight of fireworks—some dazzling, some damaging. Here is XI of them ;-)

The Law Moves… Slowly, But Surely

The long arm of the law may be arthritic, but it still packs a punch. தெய்வம் நின்று கொல்லும் and all that stuff. Mehul Choksi - yes, the same diamantaire who swindled Indian banks (PNB, Canara, Bank of Maharashtra... take your pick) out of a cool USD 1.76 billion—has finally been nabbed by Belgian authorities. Extradition to India is on the cards. Tihar awaits with its famous daal-roti platter. Just ensure he isn’t smuggling in a diamond cutter to escape the clutches. (Doesn't he look like Jabba the Hutt?) #CuttingEdgeCarbon 

Of Clutches and Brand Tags

Meanwhile, Chinese TikTok is buzzing—not with dances, but with deconstructions. Luxury bags, it turns out, cost peanuts to make. It's the LV, Hermes, and Chanel tags that drain wallets. A thoughtful Li from Shanghai summed it up: are you paying for quality of a no-name bag or just an expensive name tag to soothe your soul? #BagOfTricks

Life in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

On the cosmic quality of life side, scientists (with desi Dr Nikku Madhusudhan in the mix) have spotted signs of life just 120 light years away in K2-18b. Naturally, important questions arise: Will DJT claim it’s American? Do they stream Netflix? And what's the visa category—ET or PR? #StarWarsOn

Blu(e) Turns Blood Red

Talking of paying, the Jaggi brothers, Anmol (neither invaluable) and Puneet (nor holy), of Gensol/BluSmart fame, seem to have paid themselves, kith and kin, more and some more from the funds (close to 1000 cr INR? ~100m USD) meant for running the companies that they have been promoting. And before you ask, no, Jaggi from Coimbatore is not involved in this fraud. #NotBluSmart

Tragedy in Pahalgam

Talking of repercussions, India was rocked by a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed by five Islamist militants. It’s the deadliest since 26/11, and public anger is rising—many calling for swift retaliation against Pakistan, which seems to be tacitly complicit. Meanwhile, social media warriors on X and FB rage, question faiths, and demand action. But a direct war may not be wise. With trade tensions (hello Trump), a simmering standoff with China, and economic headwinds, India may prefer strategic, behind-the-scenes moves inspired by Chanakya Neethi over open conflict. #PahalGham

Of Faith, Smoke, and Succession
Two religious milestones this fortnight. 

In Rome, Pope Francis passed away after a life of service to the poor and marginalized. The Conclave convenes May 7 to find the replacement to the People's Pope. Perhaps an Asian Pope? Watch for the white smoke—Netflix has a decent one if you want to prep.

In Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, the fabled Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt anointed a new pontiff - Jagadguru Sri Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (formerly Ganesha Sharma Dravid, no relation to the Wall). Two worlds, two traditions, same message: love, faith, and compassion are what we need. Here's to hope—and a little #MoreHarmony.

AuroMille

But there is one thing that may not be harmonious as we move forward. Ownership of gold. It crossed the psychological threshold of USD 3000 (per ounce) or INR 10,000 (per gram of 24K) recently. With Trump and his minions mucking around in the tariff swamp, anti-risk is the rusk that investors want to eat. I think next time when I type the word, ‘gold’, I might have to swipe the card 😊 #DazzlingShine

Namibia’s Visa Swipe

Speaking of visas, Namibia has decided to return the favour to the US. Starting now, American tourists must get a visa—and a pricey one at that. Want to see the big cats? Plan ahead, and bring a big wallet. #TitForTat

Not Your Usual Family Drama

Here’s a fraud twist straight out of an OTT soap: Rahul (not one of the famous one/s 😉) from Aligarh eloped with his bride’s mother—yes, you read that right—on his wedding day. They fled with the wedding jewellery and cash. Turns out he had done something similar before – as in eloping with someone and returned back with no repercussions. Some folks just don’t believe in tying the knot—only untying others’. #HabitsTieHard

Singapore Sticks To Stability

And dazzle it did, Singapore’s People’s Action Party (and its 4G leadership) returned to power after the elections on May 3 with a higher vote share than what they managed four years ago. The threat of losing potential office holders and ministers (remember George Yeo in 2011) seem to have worked in some of the key battlegrounds in the city-state parliament of 97 members. Main opposition Workers’ Party retained its existing seats and performed well in a few other seats auguring well for future hustings. Hope the ‘authoritative mandate’ doesn’t turn out to be authoritarian. #BrightThunder

Iberia Blacks Out

And finally, Spain and Portugal had a week best described as... dark. A massive blackout hit homes, transport, even the Madrid Open. Theories range from freak weather to renewable imbalances to cyberattacks. The lights are slowly coming back, but for now, they're still groping in the dark. #FragileEnvironment

But all is not doom and gloom.

• #RCB seems to be on their path to capture the #IPL Holy Grail. #18ForAReason! (no, let's not talk about #CSK)

💖💖💖

View are personal. No hurt intended.

Escape Life Through Cricket

#sriGINthoughts #reviews #Tamilmovies #LubberPandhu #BlueStar #Viduthalai2

tl;dr (On comparing two similar Cricket-themed Tamil movies of 2024, one feels that Lubber Pandhu is better than Blue Star for various reasons.) 

3 min read.