The Economist’s special report on New Media

I've been waiting for this one special report from The Economist quite impatiently ever since I saw the advertisement a couple of weeks ago in the respective issue of the magazine itself. And to my surprise, the whole of the survey is available for free online although this is proned to change. Maybe it's a glitch from their side but even the premium articles, marked by this logo, are free to anybody.

No need to say, I jumped on this rare occasion and I'm currently printing the whole of survey. Althought I will buy this issue as well.

Update (21 April, 19:16): Looks like The Economist did make a mistake. The majority of the articles, forming part of the survey, are in fact Premium articles, that is you need to pay to get access. As I've mentioned earlier, although the logo denoting premium content was placed besides the links to the individual articles, all right, the complete version of the articles were available for free. Unfortunately for you guys, it's no more. Premium content is indeed premium content now. You'll have to buy the issue, I guess.

Such a sweet rejection email

Really, for the first time in my writing life, I enjoyed reading this rejection letter.  And it's sort of like, I want more.

The story that I sent to The Means is entitled My wife's Menses.  It wasn't a really great article you know but it was something new – something I never tried before.  I actually forgot that I had sent this article and now that I'm thinking about it, it was obvious that it was going to be rejected.  However I'll definitely work on this one again.  I mean, I like the idea of it.
A peak into the article:

My wife's menses
by Khalil A. Cassimally
kcassimally@gmail.com

"Tell me what do you think of me."
"Euh, you're beautiful, sensual and very cute with your hair let loose like this."

"Thank you, but tell me what you really think of me."
"What do'u want me to say? I think you're the only person who can make my heart beat as fast."

"Ooh honey that's so sweet; but what about me? Am I special?"
"Of course you are darling.  Come here, let me tell you something."

"Come on, don't try to change conversation, why did you choose me? I mean, why me?"
"Because you are the only person I ever had eyes for.  And this hasn't changed a bit.  I love you and only you and I only want you in my life."

"I love you too.  Sniff."
"Please don't cry.  You're very pretty when you cry you know." 

And here's the famous email:

From: Tanner <tanner@the-means.com>   
To: "Khalil A.Cassimally" <kcassimally@gmail.com>
Date: Apr 18, 2006 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: Submissions, Khalil A. Cassimally

April 17, 2006

Dear Khalil,

Thank you for submitting your original work to the inaugural issue of The Means.  We meticulously read your submission and unfortunately could not find a place for it within the pages of our latest issue.

However, rest assured that our read-through of your piece was not in vain!

Unlike other journals, we pride ourselves on not allowing the volume of submissions we get to prevent us from taking the time to extend ourselves personally to a discussion of your work.  We discovered upon reviewing your work that it is in the preliminary stages of whetting our palates, it just did not fully satiate our thirst for the written word.  And while our decision to cut your piece was tough, it is with the utmost sincerity that we acknowledge that your work was a consideration for publication.  Those being the case let us offer you a few words of encouragement:

   1. The format was fresh and different.
   2. We like the idea of calling attention to normalcy or small talk, particular as it operates in relationships
   3. The point of the piece felt a bit elusive to us, that is perhaps because we are dumb.

Please deliberate over our reasons, and if you disagree with our conclusion, feel free to keep in contact with us so we may get to know you better and understand fully the creative force behind the works we read.  It was truly our pleasure to have read your entry, and encourage you to submit either a reworked version of this submission or a new vibrant work for the next issue of The Means.  Please check our website (http://www.the-means.com) often for information about future issues and reading periods.

Lastly, we are confident your endeavors will most likely take you to other literary magazines, and implore you to never forget us in your travels.  Keep this letter as a token of our appreciation for your efforts.

Fondly,

Tanner Higgin
===================
Co-Editor, The Means

http://www.the-means.com

Rang De Basanti

I always thought

There were two kinds of people in this world:

Men who go to their deaths screaming

And men who go to their deaths in silence.

Then I met the third kind…

The one, who laughs on his way to heaven.

He laughs because he knows that he's already achieved what he's been put on this Earth to perform. He laughs because because he thinks there is a cause worth dying for.

The ONE Campaign

I woke up today…

… and thought that it was Saturday.  In other words I thought that I had to wake up at that very moment and prepare myself for a hectic day (I spend only about 10h home on average on Saturdays).

Fortunately it's Sunday today; my free day.  I wonder whether this feeling hasn't got some common points with deja-vu.