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Every year, or every other year, or heck, whenever we feel like it, we summon up remembrances of things past. And figuring prominently among them are words said or written or printed about us that are untrue or inaccurate, reveal hitherto unknown facts about that even we didn’t know, or are just plain indescribably idiotic.

Initially, we were taken to gritting our teeth, tearing our hair out, and potty-mouthed cussing. But then we decided that the more cathartic if slightly Gandhigiri-esque way out was to reward these luminaries for their magnificent achievements.

Thus, inspired by Frank Zappa and our own favourite ditty Paper Puli (Plan B, 2004), were born the PaperPulitzers — our (hopefully) annual awards for journalism about Thermal And A Quarter that bends the word, reinvents the game, changes the rules and does just about everything but get the story right.

We have had one past winner (in 2007) who, we learned, exited the profession soon afterward.

Here, for your kind consideration, is the long-lost long list of nominations for the 2009 PaperPulitzers:

001

The three musicians have been singing everything from Carnatic to jazz and funk since they formed Thermal and a Quarter in 1996.
Poll Song – Pallavi Jassi/ The Indian Express – March 27, 2009

We sang Carnatic? How flattering! If only Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar had lived to read this.

002

“As part of the festival, we will have musician Jeff Peters performing our songs with us,” reveals Bruce Lee Mani of Thermal and a Quarter.

-  Jazz Got to Be there – Kavya Christopher/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis, February 28, 2009
Archived at TopNews.in

Sure, Jeff Peters mixed This Is It, but what a pleasure it would have been to have him perform with us, and that too at Java Jazz. And what a gem to stuff into Bruce Lee Mani’s shocked mouth!

003

- Photo caption – Play That Funky Music, Bangalore Times, The Times of India, Bangalore – April 16, 2009

Yeah, we know Rzhude is hard to spell but this is sheer genius

004

Not exactly a TAAQ mention, but this was for a Dire Straits Tribute gig where Bruce and Rajeev played. It was a Rolling Stone magazine event at the Hard Rock Cafe, Bangalore. But hey, those are very complicated instructions for our friends at the fourth estate. So they simplified them, and this is what we got.

The Dire Straits Tribute Band will pay a tribute to the Rolling Stones tonight.

- The Hindu Metro Plus, Bangalore, Dec 3, 2009:

Legends come alive with India’s finest musicians, featuring the Dire Straits Tribute Band. Like all other Thursday shows at the Hard Rock Cafe, the show promises to rock. If you are a fan of Rolling Stones, there’s no escaping this.

- DNA Bangalore, December 3, 2009

Here’s the best part – nominations are still open. Head over to the contact form on this blog or email us at taaqmail[at]yahoo[dot]com with the subject ‘PaperPulitzer 2009‘. Entries must be in the following format, with screenshots/ scans if applicable.

Name of the publication/ TV channel/ website/ other media

Name of the journalist/ anchor/ other

Date of publication/ release/ broadcast

Screenshot/ web address (URL)/ other sample

Excerpt of the inaccuracy/ howler

We shall accept nominations till December 26, 2009. After that, we shall throw the short-list open to voting until January 10, 2010. The PaperPulitzers will be announced on January 15, 2010.