The 2007 Cutting the Chai calendar has been downloaded 266 times. Given the fact that it was a late release (May 2007), the numbers were encouraging enough for me to work on the 2008 calendar and release it well in advance of the new year.
You can download printable versions of the calendar which lists major Indian festivals and holidays from the links given towards the end of this post.
This is a one page A4-sized calendar (landscape), without much visual appeal. That might be compensated if I release an eye-candy version later (if things go as planned). Meanwhile, for people (like me) who have lost track of time and are always short of dates (of all kinds), this basic tabular array should suffice (for dates of one kind).
2008 Calendar with Indian Festivals and Holidays (Size A4)
Download PDF [53 KB]
Download Image [JPEG 118 KB]
Government of India's list of official holidays for 2008 can be downloaded from the links below:
List of 2008 gazetted holidays [JPEG 20 KB]
List of 2008 restricted holidays [JPEG 48 KB]
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
KS Roleplay Ads

Here's a roundup of theme "Who do you want to be tonight?"

Who do you want to be tonight?
Kamasutra Condoms
(Detective)

Who do you want to be tonight?
Kamasutra Condoms
(Nurse-patient)

The dancer performed well.
The instructor gave her several zeroes as a reward.
Kamasutra dotted condoms.
Who do you want to be tonight?

The art critic praised the artist for his use of lines.
He promised her many more private viewings
Kamasutra ribbed condoms.
Who do you want to be tonight?

The geography professor gave private tution on different contours.
The biology teacher couldn't stop thanking him
Kamasutra contoured condoms.
Who do you want to be tonight?

The gardener surprised the landlady with an off-season flavour.
He was suitably rewarded
Kamasutra Surprise. Assorted flavoured condoms
Who do you want to be tonight?

The doctor came late.
The nurse was glad
Kamasutra Longlast. Climax control dotted condoms
Who do you want to be tonight?
To share/embed this video click here
Download video [00:00:35 FLV 903 KB]
Kamasutra Condoms - Detective TVC
To share/embed this video click here
Download video [00:00:41 FLV 1 MB]
Kamasutra Condoms - Lifeguard TVC
(But that can be at any time of the day. Don't let the tonight clause keep you waiting)
Monday, December 10, 2007
Shock Value Advertising
Internationally, United Colors of Benetton has become synonymous with shock advertising. Indian advertising may be provocative at times, but it is rarely shocking (the Centre Shock ads don't count). But then it is not an altogether unknown genre here.
Here are some ads that might be shocking (or offending) to some readers at the first read, but then read the complete message. No images or pictorial depiction, just plain words.
[Some readers might find the content offensive. Read further at your own discretion]

Gone to bed with men, women and children.
Blossom
House of used books
#84/6, Opp. Amoeba, Church Street, Bangalore - 1.
Visit us at www.blossombookhouse.com
Agency: Mudra Communication

Slept with three, wanting more
Blossom
House of used books...
Agency: Mudra Communication

Dumped by her. Abused by him.
Blossom
House of used books...
Agency: Mudra Communication

Do not demand d**ry, you cocksucker
Dowry, it's the dirtiest word [In fine print]
The Sisterhood Collective
Agency: Brand Curry

Say no to d**ry, you fucking prick
Dowry, it's the dirtiest word [In fine print]
The Sisterhood Collective
Agency: Brand Curry

Motherfucker
www.achyutpalavcalligraphy.com
Even bad copy deserves to look good
Agency: Grey Worldwide

Bastard
www.achyutpalavcalligraphy.com
Even bad copy deserves to look good
Agency: Grey Worldwide India

Bitch
www.achyutpalavcalligraphy.com
Even bad copy deserves to look good
Agency: Grey Worldwide India
Related: How Many Babies Did You Kill Today?
Here are some ads that might be shocking (or offending) to some readers at the first read, but then read the complete message. No images or pictorial depiction, just plain words.
[Some readers might find the content offensive. Read further at your own discretion]

Gone to bed with men, women and children.
Blossom
House of used books
#84/6, Opp. Amoeba, Church Street, Bangalore - 1.
Visit us at www.blossombookhouse.com
Agency: Mudra Communication

Slept with three, wanting more
Blossom
House of used books...
Agency: Mudra Communication

Dumped by her. Abused by him.
Blossom
House of used books...
Agency: Mudra Communication

Do not demand d**ry, you cocksucker
Dowry, it's the dirtiest word [In fine print]
The Sisterhood Collective
Agency: Brand Curry

Say no to d**ry, you fucking prick
Dowry, it's the dirtiest word [In fine print]
The Sisterhood Collective
Agency: Brand Curry

Motherfucker
www.achyutpalavcalligraphy.com
Even bad copy deserves to look good
Agency: Grey Worldwide

Bastard
www.achyutpalavcalligraphy.com
Even bad copy deserves to look good
Agency: Grey Worldwide India

Bitch
www.achyutpalavcalligraphy.com
Even bad copy deserves to look good
Agency: Grey Worldwide India
Related: How Many Babies Did You Kill Today?
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
The First Ever Dot Com
TheLongestListOfTheLongestStuffAtTheLongestDomainNameAtLongLast.com (Now that's a loooooong domain name) has put up a list of the first ever dot coms to be registered.
...the first .com which was registered on March 15 1985 and it was symbolics.com which still happens to be up and running, although not much to look at.[Via Slashdot]
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Introducing ChaiTV

To visit ChaiTV you just need to click here (and a pop-up window should open unless it is blocked by your browser) or the icon on the left panel. In the unlikely likelihood that you want to include ChaiTV on your blog you can copy/paste the HTML below into your html.
ChaiTV