SNIPPET OF THE DAY – AT 8:55 A.M. ET:

From sources in India:   A teleprompter will be in use for the first time in the Central Hall of Parliament when US President Barack Obama addresses MPs on November eight.

As per the tentative programme being worked out, the address by Obama, who once said that "America has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi", would not be for more than 20 minutes.

I'm moved that an American president will introduce the technical miracle of the teleprompter to the Indian parliament.  I'm less moved to learn that "America has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi."  In the immortal words of Johnny Carson:  "I did not know that."  And neither did anyone else.

October 25, 2010