The real post is 2 paras later

Things don't come easy anymore. Many will be crying over Brazil's loss, the others will be sullen over England's tumble. I'm laughing. The Rogues from Rome are on their way to the semi-finals where they meet a much burdened Deutschland. In the other tie the frivilous French lock horns with the pragmatic Portugal. Any questions about whose flag I will paint on my dog?

Do people read Phantom anymore? I thought Billy Zane, in the purple suit and striped brief, was the most pansy superhero until he had a saviour in a blue spandex and a red cape. Brandon Routh is the 'gayest' that Superman has gotten. Kate Bosworth the most plain looking superhero chick, she beats the redoubtable Kirsten Dunst hands down. Kevin Spacey is hilarious as Lex Luthor. If you want to enjoy a very mediocre adaption of the world's favourite cartoon charcter, then watch Garfield 2 but avoid the latest Superman flick. There are many who will disagree. If you're really passionate about your views mail me. We will pick up a dialogue. That's the Internet way of saying - Meet me outside. (George Michael sang 'Let's go outside', this is different)

Now that I've played the role of town crier I better shift focus to the real idea of this post. I've never written an open letter in my life. Some people say I write very spontaneous personal mails, I hope that spontaineity filters through to this post which masquerades as a letter, or maybe its the other way round.

Vivek Narayan, I never got down, to mailing you about the project we spoke about. (Before all you rainbow warriors go dancing down the streets expecting an addition in your ranks, this is a business mail) I thought it might be better if I put up a post instead of a mail. Now we have a chance to guage people's opinion about the idea. Of course to get people to read this we will need Supriya or one of those much read Bengali Woman Bloggers to link to this post.(Will you Sups, please. I don't know many of them Bengalis).

For those who came in late, Vivek has plans to start a website that hosts a large number of views on Current Affairs, Arts, Culture and the other things that people like talking about. You know stuff like, 'Did Mika actually squeeze Rakhi Sawant while he kissed her?'. The idea per se isn't new, then Google too didn't pioneer search engines, they bettered it. So its the treatment that is important. Does anyone have a contructive idea about how the whole 'new treatment' must happen?

Vivek, don't bust your head up over the USP too much, you won't find it until...well, you've found it (Wow I feel as smart as Mariah Carey). On a rather serious note now(),apart from the whole USP thing and the conviction jazz you also need to structure a consistency model for your project. Hold forth a single voice, much like Rufus Wainwright. You will also need to address the problem of mediocre writers, many who claim to and write for regular newspapers. If you fall into the trap of young college writers you will end up with insipid, under-read writers like me, (as in, I haven't read many writings, not that my blog is under-read, its unread, undiscovered, much like 15th century America) authors who will try and be cocksure about everything and write with no conviction what-so-ever. So your first task will be to sift writers, get the good ones and motivate them to write on a regular basis. Your next big thing will be to have a design that makes people want to dig deep into your site. Don't hanker for long about the peripherals such as ad revenue etc. Once you have a product you can sell it and if you can't, we will play a requim, gab about how it would've been great if you had set up a revenue model before you started, and then plan a trip to Goa when the Swedish women start flying in.

So far so good, don't worry about competitors, you have none. Not because you're too cool and you have a cracker-jacker idea but because you are insignificant as yet. Its like Serbia playing the last league match, and that without Montenegro as a cankerous appendage. Make sure you have fun while doing it. Not 'IT' it but, it, the website.

Its very cool to write a verse at the end of your mails, it depicts the trail of creativity you're leaving behind.

So take your pick from these