AND FINALLY... HERALD WAKES UP TO THE TRUTH!

Look guys, we have never said that the Herald is trash. But then what can we do when the editor and his staffers are of this opinion? Don't believe us? Check this photo out. It was published on the November 11 issue of the Herald. And the photo and probably the caption was given by the newspaper's Oracle-like reporter Guilherme Almeida (there is even talk that the St Tome chapel may anoint him for sainthood). We have not written a word or played around with his caption. It really does conveys the message, doesn't it? hehehe

THE GREAT BIGFOOT PALANQUIN TRICK -- HOW THE CHIEF MINISTER FINALLY GOT RID OF HIS WIFE!!!

Hi guys... sorry we've been unable to upload much last few days. Things got a bit out of hand... work suddenly piled up making it a bit tough for us to upload regularly... But the stories we've promised you guys are coming in... assured.
You know, sometimes you don't make a mistake and yet what finally gets published appears so silly. And that gives pricks like us something to humour up a bit. Like this GREAT BIGFOOT PALANQUIN TRICK... You know why we have called it what we have... Look carefully.
You see chief minister Digu in the picture (which appeared in the Gomantak earlier) above. That's him on the right seat on the palanquin. The lady facing him is Mrs Digu and the one in the background is Mahendra Alvares, the guy who runs the over-rated outfit 'Bigfoot' in Loutolim. Where were we... Ok... before you proceed to the next photo, look at the expression on poor Digu's face. Sad isn't he? And Mahendra behind him seems pretty nervous. He seems to be wondering... Will it work? What if it doesn't? Now check the next pic (which appeared in Tarun Bharat) out...

VOILA... A grinning Mahendra and look... look at Digu... He's gleaming too. Between the two of them and the palanquin bearers, they seem to have gotten rid of Mrs Digu... She's just disappeared... And do they seem pleased? Look at Digu will you, can't contain his glee... And Mahendra his GREAT BIGFOOT PALANQUIN TRICK works... Wonder if it was here that chief secretary J P Singh made the Aldeia de Goa file vanish too?

IT AINT YOURS, ITS 'MINE'

Had any of you been a loyal Navhind Times reader, you never really have missed out on any of these significant events. Like for example Srinivas Dempo speaking at a public function. Or Pallavi Dempo dressed in the snazziest of shiny pants giving away awards of excellence. Or even a baby Dempo beaming at you after winning a consolation third prize. If TNT editor Arun Sinha babu wants to please his boss, in the near future you could even see a record breaking peeing attempt by Baba Dempo, standing high stop on one of his mining pits aiming at one of the village dwellings.
You'd probably even never miss out on the 18th sapling that Srnivas Dempo planted (of course they'd never mention the 18 mountains pulverised, but anyway) in a tree plantation drive with Srinivas wearing his philantropy pants. But if you carefully go through last weeks issues of The Navhind Times what you probably will not have seen is mention of the agitation started by the villagers of Nhaveli (Bicholim) against mining operators. Owned by mine owners themselves the Navhind Times has a history killing any stories that goes aganist the interest of any mine-owner. Forget this... When Pissurlem village was washed away by floods some years back after water logged in mining pits gushed down in torrents, TNT ignored the news on the day it happened and only carried the story as a face saving device some time later. Its to the good fortune of the readers that Gomantak and Gomantak times have now been weaned away from the Chowgule's (another mining biggie). Or else the mining lobby had been so successful in squelching public interest stories such as these from print.

HANG ON GUYS... THE TURKEY'S IN THE OVEN

Hi guys, sorry we've been a bit patchy of late. Just that we've been focussing our attention on a few significant stories on the media which need a lot of attention. That doesnt mean we are going to ignore all the filth that's been flowing in print for the last few days. We have it all canned, sealed and disinfected it and will bring it before you soon.
But before that, we'd like to inform you that one of the stories that we are working on (hope we manage to work it out) may result in a few ideals coming down with a crash. It deals with one of the biggest and most 'respected' based media moghuls and one of the most recognised face of Indian television news.
One of the other stories rips out the heart of a purported 'big story' that was broadcast on national television some time back.
We trail off this note with a touch of irony.
This here is one of Herald's Robin Abreu's editorials on the Uphaar judgement. Robin claims that the judgement should spell out a warning for all owners and managements to put in proper systems and precautions in place to prevent mishaps.
Strange, has anyone ever seen a fire escape in the Herald building? And what about the illegal floor right at the top? And has the clearance from the fire department for the Herald's building finally come through?
Or is it another Uphaar waiting to happen?

A NATIONAL PRESS DAY SPECIAL -- HOW TO GET A GOAN EDITOR INTO BED!!!

FIRST, READ THESE CLASSIFIED ADS CAREFULLY... DON'T MISS ANY DETAIL... AND THEN, READ ONIt is irritating to put this note right at the head of this post. We wish we could have just plunged headlong into the story instead. But we must make sure that you guys know the motive behind this small, but dishy story that we bring to you. There is no personal element involved here. We have only tried to do bring to the fore, the callousness with which newspapers treat their readers. We tell you how it takes only a Rs 60 classified ad (in vernacular newspapers) or a Rs 120 classified ad in English language newspapers to expose the moral and ethical bankruptcy in Goan newspapers. (in all we spent Rs 300 for the classified ads that were published in the three newspapers on November 16, 2007)
What Penpricks has attempted to do in public interest, is pay these newspapers back in their own slimy, stinking coin. Our objective is to remind the editors of the responsibility they owe their readers. We are aware that this blog is a puny David in front of these mammoth newspapers of Goliathic proportions and hence we have followed this guerilla approach to lash out at their wrongs. We've jabbed their jaw, punched their chest, tied knots round their feet, but this story is a knee up their groin. Should serve them well to remember, that they should not take their readers for a ride.

This is the story... here goes
You must have seen several classified ads in Goan newspapers peddling 'massages' to clients. We had run a story on such obvious soliciting (through massage parlours of course) in The Hindustan Times some months back. We were not very pleased with this trend creeping its way in our own backyard and hence were looking out for a way to work a story around this, when one of us pricks in a rare spasm of brilliance, came up with this idea.
This was the premise...
a) Most 'massage parlour' ads solicit prostitution
b) Newspapers in Goa have no compunctions against publishing such ads
c) The editors are and should be held responsible for all the content published in their respective newspapers. There is no way they can shy away from this responsibility.
This is how we went about planning the story. We picked three newspapers. We could have easily picked up more, but that would have meant more money...
We worded these classified ad in such a way that there was no ambiguity about the fact, that the ad had less to do with massages and had everything to do with the flesh trade.
Secondly, the ads we released clearly said that there were 'well built Arab/Asian boys and girls' to be had for massages and entertainment.
It is shocking that the newspapers had absolutely no issue advertising "BOYS and GIRLS" or in other words minors, for the purpose of massage and 'entertainment'.
Can you beat this guys?
In other words, these chappie have absolutely no qualms being party to peddling minors for massage and entertainment purposes. And by entertainment, we clearly did not mean a Bharatnatyam or a Salsa performance. It could mean only one thing... You know what that is.
Next comes the core of the brainwave, the prick came up with.
In the classified ad, we put in the mobile numbers of the respective editors as contact numbers for people interested in the 'services' that the ad offered.
If you read the three ads, you'll see the contact names as Aruna, Sandy and Robby and their corresponding cellular numbers. The ad which says Aruna was published in The Navhind Times. Aruna is scrambled for the newspaper's editor Arun Sinha and that's his mobile number up there. The ad which says Sandy was published in Gomantak, Marathi. Sandy stands for Gomantak editor Sanjay Dhavalikar and of course finally the ad which says Robby was published in the Herald. Robby is scrambled for our one and only Herald editor Robin Abreu. Sanjay and Robin's mobile numbers too accompany their respective ads.
We are sure people interested in such 'services' have called these guys up using the phone numbers given. Till an hour or so the editors had already stopped picking up phones from unknown numbers. We know this would really rankle them. We are glad it does. It ought to remind them of the job they are supposed to be doing as journalists in senior positions. In case they still don't remember, Penpricks will come up with a few more ways to remind them again.
If you are convinced with what we’ve written out here, do call em up and speak your mind to them ask them why such ads are published? Or you could also call them, if you want to listen to their side of the story... here are their numbers...
Arun Sinha: Editor, The Navhind Times -- 0832-6651120 and 0832-6651123 (direct line) or 09823026348
Robin Abreu: Editor Herald 09822122325 and 0832-2433373 (direct line)
Herald board numbers: 0091-832-2224202,2224460,2228083
Sanjay Dhavalikar: 09822129348 or 08322402701/02

HOW TO TAKE AN EDITOR TO BED

Hi guys, we've a string of stories lined up, which we'll keep punching coming weeks. These are no tidbits but proper hard stories... But to begin with we've got one which will and probably has rattled these 'preach-from-the-pulpit' editors... This one comes up today evening... And take our word for it, the cake is in their face already.
These guys who advice the world on ethics and propriety should now take a closer look on what goes on in their own newspapers... Do they even know what they are dishing out to their readers? They had better take stock before we remind them again...
For more, hook on to us later in the evening....

A FEW DAYS MORE

Sorry guys we were unable to upload any entries last few days. We are working on a few stories... Spare us a bit of your patience... We've some good dishes coming up soon....

'BURMAN'ISING THE GOAN MEDIA -- ANOTHER READER WRITES IN

I am really worried about our 'boys' in Herald. Have they really become such despos and wretchedly penniless loonies so as to sell their stinking souls to Burman for a cone of icecream.
I am cringing in shame mingled with sorrow over the fact that the Herald boys fell for a cone icecream. Atleast you could have demanded a Faluda na. Or a litre of Baskin Robbin each to devour while doing the pages and another two litres each to as takeaways.
Jeez, I still cant believe it that a cone did the trick when earlier Burman used to bring Old Monk and the likes to insert some news of politicos.
Burman must still be laughing that he got himself into the Herald pages with just a few icecreams.
This is the pits herald boys. I think you guys need some help to get out the self dug pit and become men. you definitely need help to make you stand up for your right to demand from Burman that this will not do. That the icecream is just not enough. To tell Burman on his face that he cannot get away with such daylight crimes.
If you are really men, tell Burman that it is payback time, that you need watches, gold pens, mobile phones. The most daring among you can even demand laptops, but certainly ice with or without cream cannot be the price.
Come on boys, when will you grow up and become men. instead of licking the creamy top of the rounded cones, you could have demanded some bucks (atleast a couple of hundred thousand) to be distributed evenly among everyone as per their seniority. I hope you boys know that nowadays ATMS are open even in the night.
How low have you stooped down herald boys. If any of you had the balls, then you could have told him to FO from the place and bring the works if he wanted his picture in the papers.
Did Burman mesmerise you or did Burman promise you that more is to come and that the icecream is just a taste of things to come. Did he tell you boys to just taste the tip and the real booty is down there.
MAYBE, we can have each of the Herald boys to tell us their experience of eating burman's icecream. How did they lick the cone? Hard or slow. Did they swallow it whole and hard or waited for it to become soft and slippery. Was it rough or smooth? How was the taste. Did they slurp on it or eat it just like normal.
Yikes. just thinking of it makes me feel nauseated.
But hats off to Burman for putting the 'topi' on herald boys. I almost hear the gurglish laughter of Burman ringing in my ears. Only a Burman can do this? And he still gets away with it.
Shame shame, puppy shame to herald boys???!!!
I am still worried that Heralders dont know how to hold their pants up.
Is there any honour among thieves?

'BURMAN'ISING THE GOAN MEDIA -- A READER WRITES IN

For those of you who do not know Milan Burman and why he hangs around in the Herald here are a few tips: Burman is the podgy, quintessential p... cum shoeshine boy of the Congress party who has a quid pro quo arrangement with the Herald and with a senior editor S... In a day of hurried political developments that favour the Congress, Burman is the much-sought advertiser in the Herald. The day's edition is delayed until his excellency stamps his approval on a Congress ad.His patronising of the Herald with ads ensures that his biased press releases are carried without question. The icecreams are just an icing on the cake to celebrate the sealing of his deal. The icecream treat is preceded by negotiations that secretly take place between him and Sergio or between him and Robin.Burman simply knows which palms to grease. And S..... is ever willing to oblige him in any which way he can. Simply because, Burman was instrumental in goading Luizinho Faleiro to provide a top slot for S.....'s wife in a government backed educational institute. In gratitude Sergio would encourage publication of any printed filth that spewed from Luzinho's office when the latter was education minister.The arrangement surreptitiously continues to this day. All S.... needs to do is play the part of a rat whose just nibbled the cheese, which he does to perfection. But the rat does not know that there's a fly up in the wall.
Here's a course correction:Melvyn didn't have the icecream I am told because he apparently proceeded on leave. Despite his saintly demeanour, Melyvn, just like the rest of the Herald pack, would succumb to Burman's cooling charms.So pricks please verify your facts before going off tangent and portraying anyone as an exception to a circumstance. Unlike in your screen, its not always what you see is what you get in journalism.

'BURMAN'ISING THE GOAN MEDIA

The guy with the face hemmed inside the black rim. Look at him closely. You'd generally see him around journalists and politicos in Goa. In fact you'd almost mistake him for a rogue journalist. He's got the same sycophant sort of look on him. Look carefully... The reason why we are running him here is this photo... This here is Milan Burman, a Congress liason man operating in Goa, strangely of Bengali origin. To be very specific, he is more of a Luizinho Faleiro and Mauvin's greaseman. He's their liason man and does those things for these politicos, which they cant be seen doing. To be honest, he's not as smooth as Kedar Dhume... But Burman has his charms...
This pic was published in the Herald one day after the media hoopla over Sardinha's victory. Wanna know how this pic got into print? On the night of November 3, Milan desperately zipped in and out of the Herald office trying to get this picture published. The second last time he stepped out of office was only to get everyone in the Herald including guys on the desk, reporters, news editor, compositors ice cream cones to get this picture published. We think, the only guy we think who did not have Milan's ice cream that day was Melvyn. (If there were others, raise your hands please) The rest of them did not mind. Even the news editor Sergio who finally gave the go ahead for this photo to be published. What's in the photograph? Well there's Burman himself holding fast on to an open jeep and all the vulgarities of a 'victory' procession.
And guys, now you know what to feed journos at Herald if you need to get your stuff published out there.

DUMB AND DUMBER PART III -- ROBIN DOES IT AGAIN

Lightening doesn’t strike the same place twice. Sure, but there’s no adage about being ‘dumb struck’ twice a week, is there.
Robin does it again.
We really do not know where he sources his information from? Robin goes about again Kundaim and Keri. When did Keri ever boycott polls? Perhaps by roping in Kundaim into the editorial this time, Robin maybe desperately trying to hold his pants from falling around his ankles. Like a guilty kid trying to sneak some cookies back into the jar after he’s been caught stealing from em once too often.
And as usual, the editorial is as bad as they come from.

http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3821&cid=15
Stand by them

Forty thousand votes that was the margin Francisco Sardinha won the South Goa Member of Parliament seat on Saturday. But what will Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar have to say about this. While it may sound cruel to ask him surely the win by Francisco Sardinha by so many votes, is a clear indication that voters of South Goa want peace and tranquility in that region. And what was even more shocking was the huge margin considering the low voter turnout, which is an indication that the BJP and its cronies had got all their calculations totally wrong. So wrong were the calculations that one wonders what the BJP think tank must be wondering at the moment. They thought they had everything going for them but it is more than obvious that they could not get through to the voter and considering that two villages Kundaim and Keri abstained from voting is another slap on the face.
But Francisco Sardinha should also take heed from this. While the people of South Goa have still kept their faith in the Congress, as they have always done so, Francisco Sardinha should stick to what he has promised. He should not make the mistake of forgetting what was promised during the campaign when he trots off to Delhi. And this is very important for Francisco Sardinha because though he won by 40,000 votes his campaign was marred by controversy and skepticism especially his remarks on dhirio’s. That did not win him many friends and in fact nearly cost him the election. On the other hand Dr Wilfred Mesquitta’s stand and campaign especially regarding the Special Economic Zones did earn him many brownie points. But then what went wrong during the voting. And also considering that many from the minority community did not participate in the elections, Francisco Sardinha’s victory does assume much significance.
This is where Francisco Sardinha will now have to woo back many people and voters who had turned away due to the anti-SEZ feelings that are running high in the state? True he will have a tough task ahead of him but his task will be much easier as compared to if Dr Mesquitta had won. The reason, there is a Congress government at the Centre and it will be much easier to get an ear to listen to. This would not have been possible if Dr Mesquitta had won the election but he would have been able to drum up support and definitely use this as a plank that the Congress is anti-people. Francisco Sardinha has everyone on his side at Delhi. Show the people the Congress cares, try and revoke this Central government decision of trying to have fifteen SEZ’s in the state.
True Francisco Sardinha has made a statement that there should only be two SEZ’s in the state – one in North Goa and one in South Goa. But what does the Centre say and will he be able to convince the Centre. This is off crucial importance especially for the people of Goa. If he does not manage to do so, then the people’s trust and faith that has been imposed in him will vanish. It is for this reason, that Francisco Sardinha should start from the beginning and do something. Because if he does not the BJP will say I told you so. If he does, he can always retort ‘SEZ who’.

TARUN V/S NOT SO TARUN BHARAT

Guys there’s a civil war in Tarun Bharat’s Mapusa bureau.
The two warring parties are a young gentleman named Mr G and the other is a wizened old hand Mr N. And at the cost of being judgemental, we must add here that the indiscretion was
committed by the youngster G.
We have dedicated one of our earlier posts to G from Tarun Bharat. After the scandal was discovered by the TB bosses, they transferred this guy to Panaji. But it so happens that Mr G was desperate to get back to Mapusa. This guy has his reasons. He’s been there for years now. Mr G is one of the most efficient matka bookies around there. He knows all the cops and government servants around. He was also in the process of donning the robes of a ‘social worker’. But the transfer came just at the wrong time.
Mr G is of the impression that the Mr N was the one who spooked the newspaper biggies with the former’s scandal and is now tormenting Mr N in weird ways. The TB office infact is more of a hot bed of conspiracy and intrigue. Mama Thakur had better do something quick…

DUMB AND DUMBER PART II -- 'KERI' ON ROBIN!!!

This is the story filed by Herald’s Ponda correspondent on October 31 on the one and perhaps the only highpoint of this bye-poll. Considering the nature of the story, it was significantly played up by the newspaper. The fifth word in the first line of this story happens to be Kundaim.
The story -- as you may have figured out by now -- is about the historic poll boycott by the villagers of Kundaim. As you read further, the fifth paragraph tells you why the villagers boycotted it. The correspondent in his report states that the village had decided to abstain from the poll following the government’s apathy and discrimination after the villagers clashed with disciples of PP Brahmeshanand at the Tapobhumi. This was published by the Herald in its November 1 edition.
It’s all fine up to this point.
Then a couple of days later, the editor Robin Abreu punches in an editorial that only reindorses his newspaper’s emerging prowess as the collector's edition of the 'Printer’s Devil Work Manual'. How can anyone get this wrong? How can you get the name of this village wrong? Not only does the dumbo get the village wrong, he also gets the issue (over which folks boycotted the polls), wrong. Doesn't he read his own newspaper?
And then he went about plagiarising stuff on the Keri issue from an article by Gary (not to be confused with the spaghetti-haired Gary reporting for Gomantak Times from Margao) Cohen and Satinath Sarangi from this site.
How can a newspaper get things so many things wrong at one time?
We can still understand a small error when it comes to reportage or spelling goof ups on the desk.
But this?
Perhaps we should relent our vigilance a bit and let Robin plagiarise a bit, what say… At least then the readers would at least get correct facts to read… Just joking guys… Small chance of us easing up on this front… Stop mopping your brow, Robin… we’re watching you man… We’re watching…

ASS'h'OL'e'NA AND ITS ILLUSTRIOUS INHABITANT

Hey guys, here’s one guy who we think writes really well…Valmiki Faleiro.
We found a small note by him on the goajourno mailing list. And it’s the info on Sarvesh Timblo (its not Timble’s as we had written in our earlier post) we had solicited from our readers.
Too bad for us, that this guy gave up journalism for building blocks…

Penpricks,
Did the kick prick or pain?
Whatever NT's circulation figures today (btw, does anyone really know the printrun of Goa's dailies?), when I wrote for The Navhind Times in the 1970s, guys like KP Nair and Balan joked that half of NT's print order was despatched to the Dempo-Souza mines all over Goa...
They are not *T(h)imbles,* Penpricks, they are our own homegrown Timblos, originally from Assolna (variously pronounced as Asshole-na), the same Salcete village that GT Editor, Derek Almeida, hails from -- and that's where the connexion ends, if I must hasten to add.
The Timblo brothers, Pandurang, Gurudas and Modu, catapulted from street hawking cloth in Assolna, to mining, thanks to the youngest, Modubab, who gained more than mere knowledge while studying for a Commerce degree in Bombay. Modubab was the family's catalyst.
Sarvesh is grandson of Gurudas Timblo, easily the best loved of the three Timblo brothers, who I had, to my loss, no opportunity to meet or interact. Those who were privileged to, even from Hindu social strata not particularly enamoured by Goan Saraswats, of whom I am a *bhatil'lo* descendant, swear Gurudasbab was a jewel of a human being.
So was Sarvesh's father, Satish Timblo. When one interacted with him, it was hard to believe he hailed from a mining family -- no inhibitions, no pretensions, no *I-am-wealthier-than-thou* airs so common among today's neo rich. (Satishbab's brother, Prakash's daughter, incidentally, is wife of Goa's current Health Minister, the junior Rane.)
Sarvesh, thus, is Gurudas Timblo's grandson by Satishbab; and Pallavi is Gurudasbab's brother, Pandurang's grand-daughter, by Chalebab's (that's how Margao knew Pandurang Timblo) only surviving -- of three -- sons, Pramod. For a minor detail on how Pallavi came to marry the scion of the Dempo clan, please read my piece on the WC Times, in Fred's compilation titled, Voices from Goa's Press.
That's how Sarvesh and Pallavi are second cousins.
Timblos were businessmen, and businessmen don't work for charity but for profit. By and by, like the Salgaocars, they were better of the human beings in that tribe of mineowners. Amen.

Oops, mea culpa! I stand corrected, Sarvesh is not the son of Satish Timblo, as I mistakenly thought, but is, as I have now
confirmed, the son of Pramod Timblo and grandson of Pandurang Timblo.
Sarvesh, thus, is not Pallavi's second cousin, but her brother,or brother-in-law of Srinivas Dempo.
Sorry for the wrong info earlier.

IS ROBIN ABREU A FOOL* OR JUST PLAIN STUPID? YOU DECIDE...

Ok guys, here's some work for you. Read this editorial from the Herald dated November 2, 2007 and tell us what's wrong with it... Let's see what you guys can come up with... This is a howler in the making...
* by fool, we mean a person who lacks good judgement, lest Robin misunderstands it for a derogatory word

http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3688&cid=15
United Goa
Thirty five percent voter turnout and in what could be a historic, though unprecedented occasion, the entire village of Keri did not vote in this South Goa member of parliament bye election. What does it all mean? Does it mean that the people of South Goa could not make up their minds as to what they wanted? Does it mean that the people of South Goa could not make up their minds between a dhirio and a Special Economic Zone or was it that the people of South Goa preferred to stay at home and watch a cricket match – even if they were re-runs on the sports channel? No, on the contrary, the people of South Goa, like the rest of Goa were just plain fed up with all the political gimmickry and hypocrisy that was going on in Goa. And if one considers the turnout of voters even at the last general election and even the Panchayat election the low turnout is a significant indication that the people of the state are not at all happy with the political class. Apart from their governing style or policy decisions, the various governments have always let the people down.

However the village of Keri is a prime example of how the people of Goa can stand firm together, contemptuously reject the authorities and not be affected by promises and tall claims. But not coming out to vote, the entire village has shown its disgust to the various governments. Its anger stems from the fact that the people of the village have not hesitated to stand up to any injustices and have shown their anger openly. Theirs is a united village that does not hesitate to call a spade a spade and is willing to show it.

Goans still remember 1985, when multinational chemical plant DuPont with its Indian partner Thapar, picked the village of Keri, as the site of its future nylon factory. The Goa Economic Development Corporation agreed to use its authority under the national Land Acquisition Act to take the land from a local cooperative, then lease it back to TDL for a nominal rate in exchange for an 11 percent share in the project. What was shocking was that the state’s participation also guaranteed the company discount rates for water and electricity hookups. Over the next several years, TDL built a road to a bulldozed plateau, where it constructed several administrative buildings, dug bore wells for water and put up a huge billboard at the front gate that greeted the occasional visitor: “Thapar DuPont Limited: Better Things for Better Living. But the people revolted which led to the sad demise of a young boy Nilesh Naik, who was shot dead in the ensuing fracas.

And the villagers have always stood fast, always united against anything that would harm their village. Even when the local panchayat and Sarpanch got grants from the government and were clandestinely giving them to the panch’s relatives, the village got together and ousted the entire Panchayat. Now the youth and the entire village have come together under the banner of the Nagrik Kruti Samiti and are once again are banding together to fight a common cause.
Keri village and its villagers are a classic example of how people from various socio economic strata have come together to fight a common cause. Their cause is the future of the village, the future of their children, which will indirectly contribute to the future of Goa. How many other villages and villagers can also cooperate and do the same – which is come together to fight for the future of Goa. Or fight united.

DATELINE CANA'CON'A -- WHAT WHEN THE MESSENGER IS SUSPECT?

Guys… do not take us media folk at face value.
We are as suspect and weak-kneed as the person standing next to you.
Most times we aren’t even worthy of the benefit of doubt you guys allow us.
Look at our small journo community in Goa.
We have the corrupt amongst us cutting across hierarchy.
We have our own set of con-men in responsible editorial positions.
We have newspaper owners amongst us who destroy mangroves to build dance-floors.
We have our own gang of pimps. Some elderly looking, afflicted with respectable diseases like Parkinson and there are others young acrobatic learning the ropes.
We have some guys who have sex crimes registered against them, who continue to occupy topmost editorial positions.
Like politicians, we illegally squat on government land (government quarters too).
Some of us accept bribes in lieu of writing stories. A lot of us would settle for a lavish meal instead of money.
Sometimes we masquerade advertisements as news, much in the way politicians would steamroll money-minting schemes as development initiatives.
Some of us blackmail using privilege information, as leverage.
We are quite a reflection of our politicians aren’t we?
Politicians… hey and we actually have politicians amongst us… We’ve had the guys like Advocate Uday Bhembre, who turned out pretty shallow on both sides of the water. Then we had Raju Nayak (He has contested assembly on the Congress ticket) who has still clung on to the political hangover. Whose overt pro-Congress reportage is perhaps the worst, if compared to the current set of outstation correspondents in Goa. Then we have had Gurudas Sawal (recently retired) who was almost the MGP candidate from Pernem some seasons ago.
Then there were others like former chief reporter of the Herald, Julio D’Silva who had his bellyful with the BJP too…
We actually shouldn’t have rambled on so much. But, its just that when we read this article we were really pained. As a class of professionals we are so downright cheap… There is always the argument that you cannot allow exceptions to cast aspersions on a clique… but then we tolerate such shit. Don’t we?
How do we allow these weeds to grow amongst us…
Look at this guy Santosh Gaonkar now… the Gomantak correspondent from Canacona. He is one of the original Chilly Chicken Officers Choice (CCOC) maestros… He has been a correspondent for Gomantak for more than a decade now. More… he is serving his second term as councillor of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC). More his wife is a councillor too.
So here we have a councillor serving as a newspaper correspondent. He takes no leave of absence. He carries on both tasks. The newspaper sees no conflict of interest. Strange na.
The point we are really rattled about lies here in the story, which appeared in the Herald some days back. One of our readers pointed it out to us.
This Santosh guy, as councillor has pushed a resolution through in the CMC which demands that each councillor be provided with a monthly cellular phone recharge voucher worth Rs 570. Obviously, at the cost of the exchequer.
How petty is this?
Really guys, how do you expect the Canacona dateline in the Gomantak dish out public-interest stuff, if the guy reporting from out there is this petty? Again is it morally right for a newspaper to keep this guy on the rolls as a correspondent, when he is councillor?
Are they giving their readers a fair deal here?
How is one expected to believe a dateline, which smells of cash vouchers your money has paid for?

HERALD EXCLUSIVE -- A FART FROM OLD GOA

Someone pass around the hat in the Herald please… And make sure you collect enough money to buy the Old Goa correspondent Gilbert D’Mello a one-way ticket to Portugal… Either send this guy away quick or at least else check what this guy writes… Melvyn… (Melvyn is the guy who’s in charge of correspondent copies) man have you stopped going through this guy’s copies or what?)
The only thing Herald's ‘Old Goa’ dateline churns out is outlandish religious froth, apart from the weekly ass-licking offerings by Gilbert to the Old Police station. Divine messenger he is certainly not, or Gilbert really wouldn’t have had to evoke the name of his patron saint and Herald owner Raul Fernandes' name at least twice every evening, whenever he drops by our office with 'messages' from the Holy Quarter.
Ok… the point we were making is… hmmm ya… Portugal…
Have you seen this very small single column which appeared in the November 1 issue? Can any of you guys tell us if this stuff he has filed, merits place in a newspaper? What this shit would really merit, is a scolding from the guy who Gilbert hands his copies to? The crux of the story is a group of Portuguese tourists who dropped by to visit the Bom Jesus Basilica. That's it... That's the story... That’s the story!!!
Can you beat that? Of course the local parish priest has been named twice in a sentence, which sums up why the story really was pushed by Gilbert… These plugs are still alright once in a way, if you are developing a source, but the last time Gilbert filed a hard story was when he was in his sixties and the Bom Jesus Basilica was probably still being constructed… ;)

http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3657&cid=26
Portuguese group goes on pilgrimage to Old Goa
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
OLD GOA, OCT 31 - A group of 47 Portuguese nationals from Portela-Lisbon, who are on a tour to India, arrived in the State two days ago.
On Wednesday, the tourists along with their parish priest Fr Antonio Javela, went on a pilgrimage to Old Goa, where Fr Javela celebrated mass in Portuguese at 10.30 am in the Bom Jesus Basilica.
Speaking to Herald outside the Basilica, the tourists said their stay in Goa was “very pleasant and cheerful.”
The tourists will leave for Mumbai on Thursday afternoon, from where they will visit Jaipur, Agra and other places in India.

DR VAMAN NAIK -- THE PRINCIPAL'ED' PLAGIARIST

Apart from sexual harassment, here's another of SS Dempo's principal Dr Vaman Naik's talents we pricks have stumbled upon. It appears that plagiarism is also one of Dr Vaman Naik's forte... And we believe, his is the plagiarism of the worst sort... And before some of you guys jump up and cry 'character assassination' here's the proof...
You know, we always thought Herald editor Robin Abreu took the cake when it came to plagiarism. But Vaman here takes the icing and the cherry on top of it too. This guy not only plagiarises the answers in his career column, but the questions too...
This effectively means, Vaman actually fibs to his readers in his column CAREER QUERY that's published in The Navhind Times on Saturdays. We've picked up one example for you. You see the second question in this particular column... the one on the NET examinations. The same question appeared in the Hindu Education plus supplement of January 2006. While the answer is a complete copy, look at how Vaman plagiarises even the question and adapts it for his Goan readers.

This is the question which appeared in the Hindu a year and a half ago.
I have finished graduation in Commerce and am pursuing M.Com through distance education of Mangalore University. Am I eligible for NET exam conducted by UGC? -- Harish S.

And this is how Vaman twisted this question after plagiarising it... Vaman switched the universities from Mangalore to Osmania and re-christianed Harish S to Preetam Naik from Colva. This is the question that appeared in Vaman's column which we have reproduced.
I am doing MA in Economics through the Osmania university through distance education. Am I eligible for the NET exam conducted by the UGC. -- Preetam Naik, Colva

Well we have run the copy of the original question from the Hindu Q & A below. You guys could make the match if you want to...
And if you are convinced with what we’ve written out here, do call em up and speak your mind to them... Tell them to stop the con they've been selling to the readers in the name of 'career counselling'. Or you could also call them, if you want to listen to their side of the story... here are some numbers on which you could get the guys who are responsible for keeping the story from you... Arun Sinha -- Editor, The Navhind Times -- 0832-6651120 and 0832-6651123 (direct line) The Navhind Times news desk -- 0832-6651119 (Ask for Assistant Editor Arun Srivastva)

http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/01/23/stories/2006012300350200.htm
I have finished graduation in Commerce and am pursuing M.Com through distance education of Mangalore University. Am I eligible for NET exam conducted by UGC? -- Harish S.
The National Eligibility Test (NET) (http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net.html) of the UGC does not discriminate between Post-Graduate qualifications attained by the campus mode and the distance education. Hence, you are eligible. However, you should have a minimum percentage of 55 in the two years of Post-Graduation. The UGC notifies two examinations that are conducted in June and December every year.
For a better understanding of the UGC-NET, get to know the eligibility conditions:
Only candidates who have completed/are pursuing a UGC-specified Master's degree are eligible to appear in NET.
Candidates who have secured at least 55 per cent marks (without grace or rounding off) in Master's Degree (or) equivalent examination from Universities/Institutions recognised by UGC in Humanities (including languages) and Social Sciences, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this test. Fifty per cent is enough for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Physically Handicapped/Visually Handicapped category candidates.
Candidates who have appeared or will be appearing in the qualifying Master's degree examination and whose result is still awaited or candidates whose examinations have been delayed may also apply. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award of JRF/Lectureship eligibility only after they have passed their Master's degree examination or equivalent with at least 55 per cent marks.
Such candidates must obtain their P.G. degree/marksheet within one year from the date of NET with required percentage of marks, failing which they will be treated as disqualified.