Refer the below invite for details …..

The workshop will be mentored by Mr G Sethuraman, a professional photographer of more than 25 years and a passionate teacher.

The fees will be Rs.600.00 and is to be paid using credit card at the Pixetra site or by cash at the venue before the start of the workshop.

For more details contact Sethu at 93823-43437 or email at sethu@pixetra.com

1. Separate staircases and elevators for boys and girls.
2. Separate work areas for ladies and gents
3. Separate dining areas for ladies and gents
4. They decline to shake hands with our clients many of whom happen to have 2 X chromosomes.
5. Iron grill creating separate seating areas for men and women in buses.
6. Separate mousepads for girls and boys
7. Your boys also refuse to work on code written by girls, and in our company, I’m afraid team work is critical
8. We have video conferences, and your boys refuse to look into the camera because they are afraid that they might accidentally make eye contact with girls.
9. Some of them are complaining to our security demanding separate corridoors and coffee machines for boys and girls.
10. Their productivity is very poor unless we make our security officers stand around in the work areas. Apparently, they are so used to “squads” that they find life without them impossible.

There are only two genders in Homo Sapiens society and at some point or the other, it is fairly inevitable that some interaction between them is required. So I earnestly request you to please upgrade your college rules to a level slightly above Medieval Spanish Inquisition so that IT companies can continue to flourish in this city.

A Concerned IT Manager.

During the Emergency, Sanjay Gandhi initiated a forcible Vasectomy campaign.

In late 90s, engineering colleges in Chennai initiated a forcible mental vasectomy campaign thanks to rules such as these

Enough has been written about this for a long while now. But finally, even the mainstream media seems to have suddenly realized that something is rotten in the state of pass mark.

Times Now did this recent investigative piece on the what they titled extreme segregation in TN colleges and you can watch part 1 here and part 2 here

Lets hope things improve now at least.

Hrish Thota and Co., the people behind FilmCamp.Tv – a film academy in B’lore, are spreading the film making spirit to Chennai this December.

On Decmeber 9th, 2007 (Sunday) they are organizing the first film-making workshop in Chennai. The one day workshop aims to provide a hands-on experience in film making, under the guidance of professionals. It covers every aspect of film making, from script writing, story boarding, shooting (with the cameras they provide) and editing with Final Cut Pro (on the Apple Mac that they provide at the venue).

With professionals to help you at each stage of film making, this workshop will give you an undiluted insight into the world of film making. The event starts at 8:30 am in the morning and stretches till late in the evening, by when they promise to educate you to complete your first short film (one minute).

This concept has been a roaring success in B’lore, where they have managed to get participants to finish 11 films in the past workshops held there. They also help you popularize your film, by launching it on their site.

All this, for just 1000 bucks. Trust me it is worth every rupee. When I made my first film, I had to go thro’ a lot of pains, without people to guide me and learning small things the hard and costly way. But here you get all the knowledge in just a day for a mere sum of Rs. 1000.

Also you will be put into a random 5 member team at the venue (the venue details will be mailed to you at the time of registration), which adds to the real life experience of many film makers. While making a film, you have to get in touch with many strangers and make them visualize what you have in mind, an art that any good director/script writer must possess. FilmCamp.tv gives you an opportunity to test that too.

The registration process if fairly simple, just shoot them a mail at direct [at] filmcamp.tv and they will guide you.

FilmCamp.tv – Chennai Workshop

How can anyone be ever so dumb? Banning the use of cell phones because some punk from a rich family who was a spoilt brat put up pictures of him and his girlfriend playing sword fight with their tongues? That’s disgusting.

Technology like all other things exists to enable productivity and safety. Like every damn thing on earth technology can also be used to ruin and be destructive. Did not we bring in the helmet rule to make people aware of the necessity of it? Well yeah cops making merry and people hardly respecting and following the rule is a different issue but it is enforced and it is being followed partially at least now right? Why the heck can’t we do that on cell phones? Why not make use of technology to break things down favourably for the students? We are 1 billion in number and we have truck loads of technology freaks out here in this country and no as an answer is something we can’t take here in India when it comes to technology cuz we are pioneers in every field of technology.

The attitude of AVOIDING problems to eliminate them instead of addressing them the resolve them should stop. Telling someone to wear something is outright pure sexism and perversion. What people wear and do is their level of comfort. Yes, provocative dressing should be discouraged for safety concerns but jeans and t-shirts did not kill anyone. It’s the lustful eyes of people who consider one pretty individual as nothing more than an object of sexual gratification that is killing everyone. Why this? Again the problem is lack of sex education. We need it the most but we ban it because we find it not fitting into our culture. Anna University of all people could introduce free sex education classes to its students and teach them how to respect another person’s private space and make the day better rather than trying to do useless things like banning a technologically revolutionizing device such as a mobile phone.

I mean come on you darn administrative hypocrites, how more pathetic could this get? We don’t ever talk about sex but we are 1 billion in number. Somebody is fucking around, don’t you think???? Who is responsible??? Yes, us the citizen you and me are responsible but we never revolted against any ill decision of the authorities so why does not it take the authorities to make one right decisions amidst the 1 million wrong decisions they make everyday challenging our intelligence and common sense to the core. I’m sure most Chennai dwellers will tolerate one good decision. When we can put up with pathetic choices like building 3 lane roads but placing barricades every 100 meters and speed breakers every another 100 meters because you cannot control people over speeding.
Problems my dear Chennai authorities need to be ADDRESSED to a RESOLUTION. Please stop hiding behind your mama’s saree because you aint got the nerve to make decisions that are going to be hard on people. You brought in the rain water harvesting scheme because we did not care when you were kind to us and requested us to do it. Why can’t you just do the same for everything?

Nobody not even the president of India has the right to physically abuse another Indian citizen. However authorities you are gifted with that power because you are entrusted with that massive responsibility of making sure things work well all the time. You cops have the lathis and your rifles, you govt officers have your red, blue and green forms that can strip us off every right of ours and drag us to the streets. Disappointingly year after year, party after party, election after election, rule after rule you have not proved one ounce worthy of your responsibility that you have been entrusted upon.

I know most of you don’t read this because you hate computers and the few of you who read this will comment on this section as “Anonymous Coward” and M and F me all the way to your gleeful desirous content and be done with it. The point is if I’m going down so are you because you are my brother and we live in the same country/state/city and we use the same roads, drink the same corporation water, eat at the same places outside from kaiyyendhi bhavan to park Sheraton and use the same facilities and share the same needs most of the time. Think about it. It’s worth your time; you can count your bribe/mamool or think about which wine shop to hit after work later.
Peace, a concerned citizen from Chennai.

The program is being implemented at:

· Anbu Karangal Orphanage, Thiruvanmiyur
· SOS Village, Tambaram
· Jeroham Orphanage, Madipakkam

The results have been encouraging, and the initiative is likely to be expanded to a few more orphanages soon, depending on our resources.

Kanini Course Structure:

The program aims at teaching the basics of computer science. It comprises of:

1.Theory: Includes the history of computers and its development into modern day systems, basics of operating system and troubleshooting.

2. Practical: Since most of the children would have never used a computer, there are more practical sessions than theory and the program concentrates on giving a hands-on experience. Sessions would consist of MS office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Paint, etc.), using the Internet – e-mail, searching for information, and the like.

3. Module Test and Feedback: After every module, a test is conducted to help us analyse the children’s understanding of the subject and also get their feed back to re-structure our program for the future.

Duration of the program:

The program, which targets children of classes 7-12, will be spread over 16 days, 2-3 hours per day during the weekends.

How you can help:

· If you have an old computer or even parts of it (even a P3 would do!), you can donate it to one of the orphanages.
· You can join our members in the teaching program.
· Language is not a problem, You can instruct in Tamil/English or both.
· You can start the program at an orphanage or a school for the underprivileged near you.

E-mail: chennai@bharatudaymission.org

Hari Shankar : 98400 97583
Dr.Prahalathan : 98841 88018

One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.
~ Carl Jung

“I’ve been in the teaching field for 36 years,” she smiles. “And I don’t think I shall ever tire of it. It’s the noblest profession there is – because it’s not just about you. It’s about the next generation you help raise.”

A beatific expression graces the visage of Eugenie Pinto, Principal of the Queen Mary’s College, as we sit opposite each other in her spacious office, which projects a soothing aura of contrasting presences: today’s world, and an olde worlde charm that is quintessentially QMC. I have just wound my way through old and statuesque buildings still bearing remnants of the British Raj’s aura, around a bust of regal Queen Mary, and up corridors that positively reek of history, to meet Eugenie – and am aware, at once, that here sits a lady who has taken to the profession for all the right reasons: a sincere love for the vocation, a talent for foresight, and a genuine wish to assist those around her.

In this, the 37th – and the last – year of an illustrious career that began in 1971, she is as eager as ever to continue her good work. “I joined the IAS course, but my love for teaching superseded my ambitions to join the Administrative Service,” she reminisces. “You see, essentially, teaching is a way of serving people, and we, as public servants, are service-oriented. It’s something that’s enriched my life, and made it worthwhile.”

An alumni of the Stella Maris College, to which she came at the remarkably young age of 14½ – “Those were the days of Pre University Courses, so I jumped straight from school to College,” she smiles – and at 20, received an M.A., she remembers her years there with great fondness. “My love for literature kept me going – I’ve never regretted my decision to specialize in this field for a moment,” she says. As a child, her father’s career in the Southern Railways meant a great deal of traveling and shifting schools, homes and lifestyles. Instead of sparking an identity crisis, however, the changes produced a person of intriguingly different tastes and talents. “I never felt pulled up by the roots,” says Eugenie. “Far from it. I enjoyed every new experience, and made sure I absorbed something from everything.”

It may have played a great role in forming the person she eventually grew to be, as well. Working her way up from being a Professor at the Bharathi Women’s College and the QMC itself – “Did you know that one of my ancestors, Alice Pinto, did her undergraduate course in Geography here, in 1925?” – she steadily ascended the steps of the profession to being the Head of the Department of English at the Chennai Medical College and LN Government College, before taking the post of Principal in the Arignar Anna Government Arts College for Women, Walajapet. “Oh, that was a challenge,” she chuckles. “Earlier, I’d been the Head of the Department of English in the Quaid-E-Millat College, and when I received the offer for Walajapet, I wondered if I should take it. But the challenge appealed to me, so I did. And that worked enormously in my favour. One of the first huge tasks we had to undertake was getting the NAAC’s (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) Accreditation – we had to do it within 6 months. And we did! The whole college came together as a team, and we bagged a B++ from the NAAC,” she beams. “One has to project one’s merit. You get a good deal of credit for academic programmes. For me, it was an excellent learning experience.”

From there to the QMC was a huge step indeed, for her. “Walajapet was a sort of training ground – it was a Grade 2 college, with 9 UG and 2 PG courses,” she quotes accurately. “While the Queen Mary’s College is Grade 1 – with 24 UG courses, 16 PG courses, 11 in the M Phil and 4 Phd courses. We have 2 shifts as well, which brings the number to around 4500 students. And it’s truly wonderful that the government has sanctioned several new buildings for us – there’s so much one can do with the resources offered. It’s just a question of planning what one has to do, and executing them. There’s no limit to what can accomplish,” she says, clearly excited. “After all, the QMC offers a complete education at just Rs 600 a semester,” she reminds you. “That’s quality education for the economically disadvantaged – and we’re doing all we can to increase every opportunity that can be given to them.”

She credits the accolades the QMC has received to her extremely competent staff and talented students. “I wouldn’t trade my teachers and lecturers for anything in the world,” she declares. “And they do an excellent job of instilling self-confidence, finding ways of bringing out the talent that is already residing in our girls. We aim to make them self reliant; capable of facing the challenges the world throws at them once they leave the portals of the QMC,” she says seriously.

And a vastly talented, confident group they are, judging by the numerous awards and tributes they’ve won in theatre, literature, music and the arts as a whole. Eugenie brings up a slim paperbacked volume with obvious pride, which has inside it several autographs – and the reason for her delight is obvious. A result of the Creative Writing workshop conducted by well-known Australian writer Dr Inez Baranay from December 23 2005 to January 16, 2006, the students came up with their collection of contemporary short fiction, later published by the New Century Bookhouse under the title “Imagineering” – the first copy of which was received by Dr Beatrix D’souza, MP. “It’s a valuable little collection, and close to my heart,” she says, “Because every step of the students’ journey in writing can be traced in it.”

The Tamil Department, in turn, spurred on by the training given by the Theatre group “Nalam Dhaana” wrote, directed and performed their own play on drug abuse, which won more than its share of accolades. “Theatre gives you confidence,” asserts Eugenie. QMC, she says with pride, is also the first Government college in Tamil Nadu to introduce the Business English Certificate Course, now in its successful IIIrd year. Many QMC students are so well accomplished that they occupy prestigious positions in reputed organizations like Google, Cognizant Technology Solutions and Wipro – the visiting cards of whom occupy pride of place on her desk. “I’m thrilled with their performance. To see them do so well motivates me and my staff.” A good deal of credit, according to her, goes to the Alumni Association of QMC, a remarkably strong group that takes an active interest in the college.

“The QMC was reputed to be very elite once,” she muses. “But I’m rather glad that it isn’t so, any more. Now, it’s service-oriented. As it should be.”

The reason for their accomplishments, she says, lies in her and her teachers’ attitude towards the students. “Never force the girls – commanding a person accomplishes nothing. Instead, approach them with love, with compassion.” She pauses. “Women, as a rule, sometimes misunderstand their fellows. How can you ask men to respect them when women don’t do it themselves? Women should be the first to understand and appreciate what another woman goes through. I believe, quite firmly, in sisterhood. I’m not a feminist,” she stresses, “but I do want women to have all the opportunities there are.” There is a great deal of power and strength dormant in a woman, she says, waiting to be used for the betterment of society, as a whole. “Power can be used or abused,” she says. “I think I’ve used what power I had towards returning manifold, whatever goodwill I’ve received – and I’ve received a lot. Why not offer it to others?”

[Concluded in Part II]

The words of the veteran journalist, needless to say, caused more than a stir – for it highlighted the terrible fate of women and girl children in the country, particularly in the states of Haryana, Chandigarh and Gujarat. Such was the mortal fear the mother lived in, that her son was the only guarantee of her ever living a halfway normal life in her husband’s home. It served to throw light on the lives most women still led, despite these emancipated times – and directly connected to a disaster that still rocks the country: female foeticide.

On a warm evening at the Oxford Bookstore met a panel of eminent writers, novelists, journalists and activists to launch and discuss senior journalist Gita Aravamudan’s book, Disappearing Daughters. The book focuses on the tragedy of female foeticide in India. Gita Aravamudan has explored different aspects of female foeticide, its beginnings and its backlash, the ways it grows and how it can be stemmed. The panellists were stalwarts of the current literary and activist scene: Andal Damodaran, Vice President of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Thilakavathi, additional DGP and acclaimed author, and Rasheeda Bhagat, senior journalist and author.

“I welcome the release of this book, but I can’t say it’s a joy to read it,” commented Andal Damodaran, as the book was released, and the panellists moved onto a subsequent discussion on the subject. “It’s a deeply disturbing work, and quite chilling. But one needs to know the realities of the situation, and take necessary steps to route out this practice altogether.”

Gita Aravamudan, the author, went to describe her own experiences as she researched information and wrote the book. Coming across the issue in the early 1990s when she went to Usilampatti, Tamil Nadu, for a feature in The Week, she said that she had had a shocking time, as she discovered the enormity of the catastrophe, when girl children were being killed in hordes within a maximum of 48 hours of birth. More research, however, unearthed a bitter truth. “You couldn’t really blame the mothers. The life of a woman was so worthless, so absolutely horrifying that death was a better choice. The women there say, Better go to heaven than live a life like this.” Small reason then, the sex ratio has fallen to disturbingly low levels as 927:1000, and is even lower in states such as Gujarat.

Andal Damodaran added to the discussion, disclosing the gruesome fact that mothers and relations tended to find newer and newer methods to snuff out the life of a girl child, rather than the traditionally used paddy husks and poison – as the police took these crimes seriously, and took action.

The speakers put forth that despite the popular misconception that it was the economically disadvantaged people who carried out this practice, the rich, empowered middleclass were the worst perpetrators. “A male child is always a blessing from the gods. Every mother-to-be receives a traditional blessing of, May you have many sons – over here, gender itself is a genetic malfunction.”

“I think this book has enough material to make us all angry,” commented Rasheeda Bhagat, to much agreement. “Our women need to have more girls, to drive the point that a girl isn’t a liability, but an invaluable asset.”

“In Tamil Nadu, thankfully, the practice is almost down and out,” added Andal. “The 2001 census show not a single case of female foeticide – but on the other hand, scanning had come in by then, so that changed the circumstances,” she admitted.

Talk veered to the consciousness of the practice, in the press and among the educated class. As always, it was the local press that brought the matter to light first. “Writers like Rajam Krishnan have already thrown light on this,” said Thilakavathi. “The government has taken many steps to abolish the practice by bringing in the Cradle Baby Scheme, and others, in Dharmapuri and Salem.” But the scheme, she said, suffered from several rather confounding aspects. “Parents in these areas often come up with question to defeat the Cradle Baby Scheme, like: what was the guarantee the girl would be adopted and reared by someone of the same caste?” She shook her head. “It was unbelievable.”

The medical community had played it own part in compounding the situation. Doctors needed to be much more aware of the facts, in areas where female foeticide was practiced at a great rate. “It’s easy to talk about bringing in social change – but remarkably difficult to make it happen.” However, the scene was slowly, but surely changing.

Gita Aravamudan’s book, they agreed, was one that threw light on the reality of female foeticide, possible solutions, and the means of achieving them. Despite the seriousness of the theme and the underlying sorrow, it was eminently well written, readable, and gave an instant understanding to its readers. Disappearing Daughters combined interviews, case studies, analysis of statistics ad history to present a comprehensive and very human face to this ‘holocaust.’ The book also busted myths and suggested ways forward that may save future generations of daughters; even if it was too late for the present.

“I hope things will change with respect to this issue, with the increase of knowledge and awareness; that one day, we will live in a world that is free from such prejudices,” hoped Gita – and the wish was echoed by everyone present.

When I first dropped in, I’d expected the discussion to follow traditional routes, and perhaps be yawn-inducing – but fortunately it did neither.

In the beginning, it was a gathering of a few like-minded friends who cared a great deal about the city. Then, it grew to a series of meetings. More came to know of what transpired during these sessions, and signaled their interest to join. In 2006, it exploded into existence as one of the most happening occasions – and now it is the premier event of Chennai, eclipsing all else in August to the point of exclusion, with more than 60 events happening all over the city, put together by a number of organizations and Chennai-lovers. Le Madras Week, 2007.

This year, celebration started as early as the first and second week of August – but the celebrations proper began, as always, with a bang at the Taj Connemara on the 19 th of August, with Gowri Ramnarayan’s talk on musicians of Madras. Growing up in an atmosphere soaked in music, thanks to her family’s ties with the Kalakshetra and M S Subbulakshmi, it was a fitting beginning to this city of artists. Meanwhile, celebrations kicked off in style simultaneously, at the Gallery Sri Parvathi, where British-born numismatist Rod Hudson exhibited his coin collection dated circa the 1800s, with gleaming pagodas and panams throwing the spotlight on what ruled the roost of Madras Presidency citizens. Displayed, also, were scenes shot of Chennai – precise, clear pictures of what the city’s all about. Also to be found were wife Gita’s works, mainly centered on women.

The city’s colleges and schools were not far behind in showing their appreciation of Madras Week – for example, as a part of the Madras Day Celebrations, a group of 20 post-graduate students from the Department of History, Presidency College, Chennai, undertook a train journey which started from Thiru Mayilai to Beach Station by MRTS on 22nd August, 2007, enjoying the sights, sounds, and history of Madras; students of the MOP Vaishnav College in Nungambakkam came up with a painting competition, an elocution contest, and research-based presentations on the city, for the Madras Week. The T-shirt Design contests, the brainchild of the Madras Day organizers walked away from last year’s pretty kolam to piping hot coffee, showing another facet of Chennai.

20th August saw lifestyle journalist Geetha Doctor speaking at length about Eating Out in the City; humourous discussions on Buhari’s cockroaches, wrestler King Kong’s enormous breakfasts and Café Coffee Day’s feasts followed, with the evening’s tea calculated to send everyone present into a tizzy of gastronomic activity. Also hip and happening was a marvelous performance of thudumbhu aattam, presented by Spring Into Reading, an English-activity centre in KK Nagar, and an enchanting storytelling session by Nandini Sridhar, Anbu and Shankar – the latter two are mime artists.

21st saw Joachim Bautze, who teaches Indian Art history at the South Asia Institute, University of Heiledberg, speak about the German ship Emden’s effect on the city of Madras at the Goethe Institut, formerly the Max Mueller Bhavan – Bautze also spoke on the Photographers Wiele and Klein, on 23 rd August, to an eager audience, describing the photographers’ foray into all sort of artistic pursuits from engraving to postcard production.

22nd August, The Madras Day, breezed through with a talk by K R A Narasiah, who once served in the Indian navy and later joined the Merchant Navy. The writer of his own autobiographical work, Kadalodi, his speech on Srinivasa Ramanujan, mathematician extraordinaire, held at the Chamiers received a vote of approval from listeners. The Postal Department also released a special cover, commemorating the Madras Day.

A slew of exhibitions on rare photographs, documents dating from the establishing of Fort St George, coins, currency, and postal cards were set up at as many venues as possible, with eager Madras aficionados pitching. The Madras Week Exhibition at the Centenary Hall, Government Museum was one such. An eager S B Raja Seetharaman made sure every visitor saw postcards released for every landmark occasion, promissory notes of the Asiatic Bank, while veteran collector of rare books, S A Govindaraju displayed ancient books on cinema, textbooks, and tram tickets – which were truly a wonder to behold.

No one who knows Madras will be ignorant of Randor Guy, the speaker who has the talent of keeping audiences spellbound. And spellbound they were on 24 th August, at his remarkable memory and the zeal with which he spoke at length about Two Murders in Madras – the Lakshmikanthan Case, and the Alavandhar Kolai Vazhakku (the latter was later made into a successful television serial). The same day saw the PRSI’s Chennai Chapter host a presentation at the Accord Metropolitan on Early Imprints in Madras, by G Sundar, Roja Muttiah Research Library’s Director. Interesting tidbits about the city’s earliest Tamil magazine, booklets and verses on Madras’s High Court, Toddy shops and colleges, had to be seen, to be believed. Not to mention old images of yesteryear magazines such as Cinema Ulagam, Sudesamittran, etc. Oru Paisa Thamizhan, is perhaps my favourite.

Meantime, parallel events at the Gallery Sri Parvathi saw publisher Badri Seshadri speak about street cricket, and his memories of the national game of India. Walking in with a bat, he took the viewers on a ride through memories of childhood games in the streets in Nagapattinam. Cricket, according to him, would live on forever in the Indian psyche, and therefore, an indispensable part of Chennai as well.

25th August, though, saw a different sort of event: a completely packed venue at the Chamiers, where historian-entrepreneur V Sriram treated an awestruck audience to a learned discourse on the devadasis of Madras. An excellent slideshow presentation, coupled with tasty tidbits on the Madras of the day, with dubashes ruling the land, wealthy, learned devadasis holding sway over temples, and their subsequent, rather pathetic decline, made sure that no one noticed the time fly past – even the ones with aching feet. I think I’ll have to do a humoungous post on this alone, for there were so many minute details and every one of them seemed worthy of capturing. Like tasty tidbits on the lives of stalwarts such as Veenai Dhanammal, Coimbatore Thaayi, and Banglalore Nagarthnammal’s fiery character.

Heritage walks held during the weekend, one tracing the trail of devadasis of Chennai, while another was through the Fort St George, spiced up the activities, by giving Chennai-ites a chance to see images of past fading into the present.

The last day of the Madras Week celebrations, the 26th August, finished with a grand finale: television and film actor Mohan Raman spoke on Madras, as a backdrop to Tamil cinema, sprinkled with interesting anecdotes, both from his own vast experience, and the works of Randor Guy, Theodore Bhaskaran, and others. Intriguing film clips followed, with movies such as Sabapathy, En Manaivi and Kadhalikka Neramillai shown. To last year’s visitors to Randor Guy’s own talk, some pieces were repetitions – but heck, it’s cinema, and cinema’s never boring. Especially the golden oldies.

It was with a rather bittersweet air that the audience dispersed, at the end of the week long experience of nostalgia, pride and wonder – but the way things are looking up, it’ll be a month-long thiruvizha by next year. What I’ve mentioned above is just a little bit of all the events that happened. And though Chennai’s often dubbed ‘dead’ – it couldn’t have been more alive, now. In the words of (even if you don’t want to know) Vicky Beckham, it was “totally major!”

Until 2008, then.