sari ke fatte

Run throught the rain

2009-08-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Good article i found on the net

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’ she said

‘What?’ Mom asked.

‘Lets run through the rain!’ She repeated

‘No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mom replied..

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: ‘Mom, let’s run through the rain,’

‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said.

‘No, we won’t, Mom.. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm.

‘This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?’

‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!’

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

‘Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,’ Mom said..

Then off they ran.. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked.
But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

Medical Camp

2009-07-30T02:07:00.000-07:00

IRDP team of the Srujanavani NGO, has organised a medical camp this sunday(26th July) in Rayapalem village of sankaram panchayati, its some 70 -80 kms from Vizag. The medical camp was for the people residing in and around the village rayapalem,(people were informed about the date and venue of the camp before hand).Two volunteers Nagaraju and Devudu coordinate with the IRDP team in organising any activities organised by Srujanavani.
The camp was a success, some 105 people were treated and diagnosed, and the medicines were distributed. Such camps will be conduct on a bimonthly basis in these secluded villages.
Mr.Ravi Kumar(Guruji), says "Medical Camp is a success as three of the family members of the volunteers were diagnosed with a low haemoglobin content."
Photos of the camp will be loaded shortly

Livestronger than ever

2009-07-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

Lance Armstrong is back after a four years long break, mainly to promote LiveStrong. And is in great shape. Finished third, on the podium, thats commendable, considering the facts that he didn't compete for four long years and he is 37. He didn't do well in the individual time trials, four years back it was his forte.

Contador won the overall championship. He is too good on the climbs. Schleck's tried everything to beat him on the slopes of the Alps.

Humans , we were are and will be like this only

2009-02-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

I was going through the chanakya niti and realized one thing we are like this only. Man has landed on the moon( may be a hoax), we have invented this and that, discovered, acquire new diseases. But the mind was corrupt right from the birth of civilization. There was fighting, and killing back then and is still going on and will keep on going.

A beautiful quote from a beautiful movie "WINGS OF DESIRE",

"Are there still borders? More than ever! Every street has its borderline. Between each plot, there's a strip of no-man's-land disguised as a hedge or a ditch. Whoever dares, will fall into booby traps or be hit by laser rays. The trout are really torpedoes. Every home owner, or even every tenant nails his name plate on the door, like a coat of arms and studies the morning paper as if he were a world leader. Germany has crumbled into as many small states as there are individuals. And these small states are mobile. Everyone carries his own state with him, and demands a toll when another wants to enter. A fly caught in amber, or a leather bottle. So much for the border. But one can only enter each state with a password. The German soul of today can only be conquered and governed by one who arrives at each small state with the password. Fortunately, no one is currently in a position to do this. So... everyone migrates, and waves his one-man-state flag in all earthly directions. Their children already shake their rattles and drag their filth around them in circles."

Sack the coach

2009-02-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

Yes thats what happens everytime, its the coach who will be put in the bag. Its behind the doors or few players or don't know what but yes sack the coach is the final ohh sorry first answer to show to the fans that the board of directors are doing something towards the betterment of the club.

Scolari was a good national coach with Brazil , portual and was able to manage and win few titles with few clubs in brazil, but not a huge success with the chelsea, no time to settle down, only 7 months on the payroll and sacked.

Sack the architect of the present chelsea team, Mourinho, a very good manager. This man has his own style, may be arrogant, may be, but knows how to build a team and win matches.

Few of the coaches who are still with the clubs for long no matter what the results were

Sir Alex Ferguson (Man U)

Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)

Carlo Ancellotti (Milan)

these lucky few have got time to prove themselves, build the team and produce results, they have pressure but only of the results not losing their jobs, i guess.

I am on my way

2009-02-02T23:39:00.000-08:00

This seems to be the most used phrase on the cell phone. Now a days call someone where are you, why are you late, they will answer i am on my way.

I called my friend when he was late, he promptly answered back, " i am on my way". I said hello, you are forgetting one thing, i called you on a landline and not a cell.

Basanti ki shaadi , VEERU se nahi

2009-01-28T02:45:00.000-08:00

Kaafi time hogaya hai shaadi hoke, but generally remember few incidents.

Venue: Kota, THE KOTA, the land of bansal classes,

I was going out to look at the kota thermal plant, some fort in kota, Basanti told me to get hair gel for him as he was busy decorating his hands and legs with mehendi. Me and my guide for the kota city Hemant, basant's younger brother, go out to a shop i ask the shop keeper to give a hair gel, first the shop keeper was surprised and ask's back, baal mein lagane waala na? Haan bhai, Hemant was laughing his heart out, little later i realize that i was donning the JORDAN(basketball) hair style.

Basanti's Mother always wanted to be a designer Mehendi artist, didn't get enough opportunities to realize her dream. Shaadi time was the right time to practice, a stepping stone, the lauch pad, all she wanted was a helping hand. Basant didn't trust the amateurs, hemant was reluctant to put the mehendi on his hands. Gupta brothers conspire and make me the scapegoat or the helping hand. Aur kya Maaji ne practise kar li hai. Neha has the photo of mere mehendi ke haath. I should ask her to mail me the photo.

Sheikh TYSON, in the same hyper state, beria(the manager), pawanji(the gyani) , Bhayaji(silent killer) were there for the marriage. It was good as everyone was at their best, farting. Of all the people attending the marriage we were laughing the loudest, like Hyena's.

Basanti ke papa ke dost hum se jyada aaye, does not matter but decibel levels humhare jyada the.

One of beria's statement, "Shaadi mein dosto ka kaam sirf baraat mein nachne tak hai, thats it, phir no body cares ki hum hai ki nahi, agar khaana khila diye toh woh courtesy hai."

Another thing, Kota mein Jodhpur ke Kachoori bahut famous hai. Haan they were good, should not miss the kachooris.

Change is the only permanent thing!

2009-01-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

But we are like this only, somethings are better unchanged.

Tabi boss didn't call me on my bday just sent a SMS, considering that i might be sleeping better not to disturb me. topi is that you!. Theres really something wrong with this world, you know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy and topi is considering.

But call ARCHANA GARG, and as ask her whats on TV, you know that TOPI is still the same and you get to hear the wrath of Mrs.Garg.

And the DOTS are out Finding Nemo. They want to setup a aquarium at their place, inspite of many futile efforts and killing many innocent nemos.

Try try and try until, others give up thats the motto.

$120 M Kaka

2009-01-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

Football Transfers and economic slump, don't go together i guess. Anyways, there is a talk of Kaka moving to Manchester City, not so successful neighbour of Man U, at a world record fee of $120 m. With this comes the perennial debate that this transfer is the death of football? Really?

Football has been and will still be the most beautiful sport in the world, no matter what. Doesn't matter if kaka is bought by some club for $120 m or if Messi is bought for $200 m or Ronaldo etc etc, what is expected from the club and them is, win trophies. Chelsea thought they can do so, but they needed a divine intervention in the form of Mourinho to win silverware inspite of buying $** M players, maybe the average salary of the bence will be higher than many of the first team players at other small clubs. And Mourinho did not need chelsea to prove his caliber, he won it with porto.

Coach or Manager builds the team not the money.

The galacticos, or Arsenal or Man u, Milan, Inter, Barca, valencia, or for that matter Bulls, lakers, Dalas stars(ice hockey) or Yankees, anywhere in the world its the coach or manager who is sacked first, if the team does not win trophies. If Mancherster city does not win, they won't sack KAKA, its HUGHES who will be given the red card( the PINK SLIP).

Now from Kaka's point of view: thats his job, his pay, he wants more money(and may be milan are more desperate for money), its like moving for more salary from TCS to Satyam, a sinking ship( just an analogy). Thats his call, if he likes Milan fans, the way they treat him than he will stay with Milan, else BIG MONEY is calling him.

We know the FIGO saga with Real Madrid, he is booed everytime he visit's Barcelona. For that matter Ronaldo( Brazil version), Inter and Real.

Thats why there is only one who is regarded as GOD in Napoli, or Fiorentina fans woundn't erect a statue to honor Batistuta. You want to be a GOD stay with the club and win trophies for them and with them, thats your call.

And no player is bigger than a Club or "FOOTBALL".

If Milan has potential to make another Kaka or win trophies without his services they will and i guess they already have won many trophies before Kaka and will do so after him.

"The Invisible Hand"

2009-01-13T03:17:00.000-08:00

Definition: {from wikipedia}The invisible hand is a Metaphor coined by the Economist Adam Smith. Once in The Wealth of Nations and other writings, Smith demonstrated that, in a free market, an individual pursuing his own self-interest tends to also promote the good of his community as a whole through a principle that he called “the invisible hand”. He argued that each individual maximizing revenue for himself maximizes the total revenue of society as a whole, as this is identical with the sum total of individual revenues.

May be this holds true for the present slump in the economy, all over the world(except the terrorist, and the defense budgets). The value of everything was shooting high, you like something and wanted to buy, what's the price! okay, see you. The land(not only land but everything) rate, the rents were obscenely rising, everybody was abusing the real value. It has to come down to reality some how i guess it did, not completely, but to some extent. Its the work of the invisible hand.

Just for fun, did we hear the terrorist using kitchen knives to hijack a plane, we got only the kitchen knives, a price cut measures.I would like to see a spoof movie on these line.

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

2009-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

A quote from the movie "The dark knight". Why quote this, its appropriate for the SATYAM saga.

The year that was for spain and India

2009-01-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

Spain did good in sports living not up to their expectations, pun intended, what all did spain went on to win in the year of the Rat(as per the chinese calender).

First the most important FOOTBALL EURO 2008 winners, they won it.

France le tour carlos sastre, in cycling they are dominating wining almost all the tours i guess , road race Sanchez won the gold in cycling at the olympics.

Nadal replacing the Fedex at the Numero uno, Wins the davis cup, that too with out the Hard working, hard hitting NADAL. Silver medal (Basketball olympics) .

Not bad as well for the billions of INDIANS, we are doing good at the sports front. Did well in cricket, IPL starts, thats what is lacking in India, i mean its a big business, look at NBA, EPL, la liga, F1 sports stars are minting money, if someone is making money let him, thats his pay, but on the field is he playing his heart out or not is more important than his prize tag, if he is not worth the prize tagged he won't he there for long, he has to live up to his expectation, this IPL kind of leagues should be introduced to all the SPORTS, but we don't have stars, the ICONS, for whom people are ready to pay 500 bucks or take a leave to watch on TVs.

So finally a olympic medal gold(individual), Bindra, bindra who? everyone knows, Susil kumar, vijendra singh who are these guys?

Saina is doing good in Badminton, Chetan anand won the Czech open badminton.

V.Anand is as usual at his best. he is a role model for many grand masters in india. In chess india is doing pretty good.

Jeev Singh, the golfer, son of the Flying sikh, is doing good. Over all good for Indian sports scene.

Events that occured in 2008 and i can recollect

2009-01-03T02:11:00.000-08:00

Euro 2008( ha haha) first thing that comes to my mind is football. Spain won the championship in style.

Nov26/11 mumbai attack. No one will forget for sometime. News channels will try to make the most of it. I just saw this movie "Ace in the hole" a good movie about how a journalist makes the news out of something.

Economic recession Lehmann brother, GM,.

Nadal is the new no 1.

Obama makes history.

Manu won the Champions league and the ipl

Celtics won the NBA.

Tata Nano and singuru

The iphone.

HOW TO BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME

2008-12-27T01:33:00.000-08:00

First of all it has been a while since i blogged, as usual no time no time. I will promise myself again that i should blog often.

Make some shitty comment about the most happening event in the world. I mean can't flow with the people and make news , you have to make news your self. Make a comment some think like the Kerala cm or the antulay, everyone in the terror hit nation will come to know about you and the media will be after you. You will definetly get some mileage, maybe short, but sure.

Will blog more often.

Its the year of Spain

2008-08-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Its was Rafa defending his french open successfully and went on to win the wimbledon. First man since the great Borg to win on clay and grass surfaces i guess, correct me if i am wrong on this. Then the end of a long wait for the Espana football team, it won the Euro 2008. I will say it dominated the proceedings. Le tour Carlos sastre won the tour de France. Lets see whats in store for the spain at the olympics.

Do you know why i started this blog

2008-08-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Saw the movie dark knight, typical batman movie , with hifi gadgets and street action. The good vs bad fights goes on and on. But the best part of the movie is the Joker, player by the Late Heather Ledger, it has always been the villians who have been the attraction for most of the batman movies. Here are few of the names the two face man, the riddler, poison ivy, Mr. freeze etc etc etc the list goes on. It was chilling to watch the Joker explain how he got the scars on his face. May be after The hannibal Lecter, darth Vedar, the JOker or the clown goes on as the Wickedest villians of all time.Thats my feeling.

Godavari (Movie)

2008-07-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Turning out to be one of my favorite movies. A goody goody movie directed by Shekhar Kammula, till now he has directed four movies dollar dreams(haven't seen this movie) Anand (good movie), Godavari (good) and Happy days(nostalgic good movie).

Fell in love with the character Sita Mahalaxmi (played by Kamilinee Mukherjee) very nice character.The scene i like the most is the Treasure hunt scene, where sita mahalaxmi is pestering Ram about what's in the bag, and all finally when she gets a chance to have to look. SHe is disappointed.

Rafa Vs Fedex

2008-07-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

This time fedex couldn't deliver, the king of the clay has conquered the grass surface. A grand display of tennis, a hard working fore hand master vs the symphony on court. Hard working Rafa was better on this day and went on to win a five setter. Again the same old question has resurfaced, is the king losing his kindom? NO, is my answer. The conquered was far better that day, may be we will have to wait and see the next grand slam for the answer. THE US OPEN. Definetly a bad year for the fedex lost the Aus open, French(was never his cup of tea), now the wimbeldon. Will it be a year without a grand slam for the king.

The wait is finally over

2008-06-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Spain are the euro 2008 champions. The jinx is broken, the underachievers have achieved. The sleeper has awaken. Jose Luis Aragones has controlled, managed a team which is tagged as the underachiever. He has managed spain at the 2006 world cup, but spain could make it till the last 16. Everyone, the whole of spain (world) were not surprised by the early exit.

Then comes a bold decision, drop Raul( Raul who , the golden boy of spain) ,and face a wrath from media, federation, fans. And he faced them head on. He believed in his young team.
Winner takes it all still holds good, Aragones won, so media will tag him as the greatest coach ever to manage spain, if spain lost, it would have been a different story for aragones, questioning him over his decision to drop certain player and his strategy.

Any how, Alls well that ends well
Y viva Espana.

Lakers Vs Celtics

2008-06-18T02:10:00.000-07:00

It may not have the same flare as the magic vs bird game. Its not the same rivalry, as players are different, the coach is different almost everything is different, but its a Lakers vs celtics match.

Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce deserved to win a ring more than anybody(besides stockton and Malone) else. They were the best players in some weak teams and played exceptional basketball.

Defense win match, still holds true, pistons, spurs, lakers, bulls, won the titles because they restricted the opponents.

ITs been long long time since blogged something

2008-06-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

May be i should start blogging more often, thats what i think every time i start, after a long gap.

Not the right moment to write about Man U winning the premier league and the champions league, writing about Man U is right moment for me anytime.
Man u won the premier league and the champions league.Premier league went on till the last match, it came down to goal difference, and so was the champions league finals, it was decided on penalty shootouts, that too in sudden death. IN the EPL matches, whenever Man u plays Arsenal or the Blues, its the Arsenal or the blues which dominate the match, i mean in terms of possession and shots on target etc. But under pressure ManU, performs much better than the two big epl teams. Thats what mattered in the end.

But in the champion league final it was Man U who dominated the proceedings right from the start. They missed out few chances, it should have been 3-0 by half time, luck favored the blues and they were on level terms. and went on till the shot out and in the shot outs Luck favored, rather in poured on manu and went on to win the title.
More blogging. Or regular blogging with my views on wider subjects.

Roger that(him)

2007-11-15T22:39:00.000-08:00

Nalbandian defeated Roger fedex twice this year in Madrid masters and paris masters . And the way Nalbandian is playing he should surely win a grand slam in 2008. Or is it just a few matches played with passion. Like the one in which Safin outclassed Pete sampras in the US Open finals. sampras was just a spectator that day.
Nalbandian is having a good run at the end of the year.

Run Jason Run

2007-11-03T00:33:00.000-07:00

Recently saw the third of bourne series( movie), its just fun. In his search for his identity he outsmarts the whole of CIA. David webb is his real name, this was told to him at the end of the second movie.
Some journalist writes about Jason and so is marked by the CIA, jason meet the journalist and warns him, journalist is killed, and we have a Jason on the run again. Its doesn't matter why he is on the run, but he is, thats the heart and soul of the movie. Run Jason Run.
The chase and how he uses his skills to the beat the one who trained him is pure entertainment.
Do we have a fourth movie, may be, its about his past life. The life before amnesia.

Team of misfits

2007-11-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

The red sox won the world title, and what a way to win the title. clean sweep in the finals. may be its the first time that a team won the finals 4-0. need to blog more.

Young Guns

2007-10-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

I am back. Blogging after long long long time. Starting off with my fav topic football. Arsenal is playing good football without their prolific, long serving striker, HENRY.
Fabregas and Thierry Henry have admitted that Henry's inclusion in the Gunners line-up was sometimes more of a hindrance than a help to the team. Looks like it is, the way the young gunners are playing make us believe that it surely was a hindrance to the team.

For some F1,
Lewis Hamilton could have carved history on the tracks of F1, as the first and may be the only driver to win the drivers championship on his debut, but Ferrari team had other ideas with luck and planning, they have pulled something impossible.

Boston red sox have won the american league, rallying from 3-1 down to clinch the series 4-3 with a emphatic win over the Indians. They will be playing the Rockies for the world title.

Recently finished reading The bartimaeus trilogy its good, its about magic, 12 year old kid out to take revenge and earn himself a place in the cruel magical world. Far better than Harry Potter, i mean the book. Talking of harry potter, from the seven i will rate the third as the best, The prisoner of AZAkaban.

Me basant and topics

2007-06-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

June 26th, 2007 will go down in the history books as the day on which me and basant have talked about girls.

We have talked about everything under the sun, football, treks, crap, most important our favorite topic FOOD, except girlfriends. It happened on this fatal day June the 26th, 2007.

streetsmart

2007-05-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

All the characters in the blog are real.

My.Sunny from Jampot, and a flithy rich Gujju Mr.Anand few acquaintance in vizag.
Sunny and anand hang out on the beach road in the evenings along with few chicks. On one of such occasion, a beggar comes begging, our man anand wanted to impress the chicks and offers him a job give him his office address. Beggars asks for remuneration, which anand quotes something around 15oo per month.

Our beggars rejects the offers and proposes a new offer to anand, saying you work for me only in the evening, come with me to beg i will pay you 3000 rs per month. It was so embarrassing for man who has constructed four apartments in vizag and a laugh riot for rest of us. We keep on asking him about his new job did he accept the offer etc etc.

PJ

2007-05-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since i enjoyed a PJ. I was reading some PJ's on the net found this one and laughed a lot. Very funny my level of PJ or fart.

Gum woh cheez hai ...
Wah Wah..! Kya dard hai!
Gum woh cheez hai ...

Jisse paper chipkaya jaata hai

My name is gladiator

2007-05-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Gladiator revisited excellent movie. Just too good movie. There are lots of quotable quotes from this movie this one is worth mentioning, i thought.

Proximo: Ultimately, we're all dead men. Sadly, we cannot choose how but, what we can decide is how we meet that end, in order that we are remembered, as men.

Long time no B

2007-05-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

Hello all its been long since i blogged. Reasons i am lazy. I am busy.

SO what all happened.

Most imp - Manu won EPL.
Lost a Milan in the Champions leagues semi finals. AC Milan were too good in both the legs. Kaka and Gattuso destroyed the treble hopes. Gattuso didn't allow ronaldo to show his skills. Gattuso was just too good. kaka scored three goals (2 away goals) need i say more.
FA cup finals against chelsea.

Binu is going be a papa.

Dil Chahta Hai Revisited

2007-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

Celebrated this sunday the 25th (Happy birthday PDOT), watching the movie DCH.
Mood - nostalgic.
Song - In the shadows, the rasmus.
My new love - priyamani ( malu actress), Binu help me.

a long long time in the far away city...

2007-03-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

There used be a guy who used to blog regularly. The work is taking away his time and didn't leave anytime to blog in peace. Return of the blogs.

A lot has happen since my last blog. May be i will try to cover in brief. Starting with my fav football

Manu is still at the top of the table.
Larsson came, saw and conquered. He brought a lot of experience with him, which has helped manu a lot. The signings this year was amazing, carrick( the man who is wearing the keanu no), so far he is good, but he has to learn to control the tempo of the game, the what keanu was good at.
Larrson at 35 some say its over for a forward. But larrson doesn't think so. Kuszczak, still has to prove his worth.

last year winter singings have also started to show their true potential.
Vidic - the no non sense defender.
Evra.

Random Thoughts On Being an Entrepreneur by Huge Macleod

2007-02-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

check this out at www.gapingvoid.com

anyways hears what it has to say:

Random thoughts on being an entrepreneur.

I wouldn’t say I was an authority on entrepreneurship, certainly not in the same league as people like Fred Wilson or Jason Calacanis. That being said, the last couple of years haven’t been too shabby, either. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts I have on the subject, in no particular order. The list, by the way, is far from complete- I'll probably be adding to it sooner than later etc.

1. Everything takes three times longer than it should. Especially the money part.

2. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

3. People want what they can’t have. In fact, that’s pretty much all they do want.

4. Once you become an entrepreneur, you find the company of non-entrepreneurs a lot harder to be around. You’ve seen things they haven’t; the wavelengths alter, it’s that simple.

5. In a world of over-supply and commodification, you are no longer paid to supply. You’re being paid to deliver something else. What that is exactly, is not always obvious.

6. Word of mouth is the best advertising medium of all. The best word of mouth comes from disrupting markets.

7. People buy your product because it helps fill in the narrative gaps in their lives.

8. You can either be cheapest or the best. I know which one I prefer.

9. Some people think that once they secure venture funding, their problems will be over. Wrong. That’s when your problems REALLY begin.

10. It’s better to be underfunded than overfunded.

11. If an average guy in a bar can understand what you do for a living, chances are you’re halfway to becoming a commodity.

12. It’s easier to turn an ally into a customer than vice versa.

13. If you’re happy in your career before the age of thirty, you’re probably doing something wrong. Heck, if you’re happy in your career before the age of seventy, you’re probably doing something wrong.

14. Smart, young, artistic people are always asking me which is a better career path, “Creativity” or “Money”. I always answer that it doesn’t matter. What matters is “Effective” and/or “Ineffective”.

15. Write the following on a piece of paper, have it framed, and stick it on your office wall: “Have you hugged your customer today?”

16. People will always, always be in the market for a story that resonates with them. Your product will either have this quality or it won’t. If your product fails this test, quit your job and go find something else. Just making the product incrementally cheaper or better won’t help you.

17. Products are idea amplifiers. The molecules and/or bytes are secondary.

18. People remember the quality long after they’ve forgotten the price. Unless you try to rip them off.

19. Markets serve entrepreneurs better if the latter can keep the former undersupplied. Oversupply is the kiss of death.

20. I personally know a former CEO who, once he attained control of the company, ran an EXTREMELY profitable business into the ground in less than two years. From a market cap of $100 million to ZERO, just like that. Why? Short answer: He loved being “The" CEO, but he didn’t much care for being “a" CEO.

21. In terms of becoming an entrepreneur, probably the most useful thing I learned in the last twenty years was how to enjoy my own company for long stretches of time.

22. One successful entrepreneur I know well has a wonderful quality, namely that he never, ever compares himself to other people. He just does his own thing, which actually serves him rather well. Just because his competitor has bought himself a bigger motor boat, doesn’t mean he feels the need have a bigger motor boat. This quality helps him to build his business the way he sees fit, not the way the motor boat people see fit.

23. Running a startup is full of extreme ups and downs. Which is why so many successful and happy entrepreneurs I know lead such normal, stable, unglamorous, "boring", family-centered lives. Somehow they need the latter in order to balance out the former. Extra-curricular drama looks great in the tabloids, but that’s all it’s ultimately good for.

24. MBAs are conditioned to use their brains in much the same way as sex workers are conditioned to use their genitals. Nice work if you can get it.

25. Bill Gates may have a million times more money than me, but he isn’t going to live a million times longer than me, watch a million times more sunsets than me, make love to a million times more women than me, drink a million times more fine wines than me, listen to a million times more Beethoven String Quartets than me, nor sire a million times more children than me. Human beings don't scale.

26. F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “There are no second acts in American lives.” F. Scott was a drunkard and a fool.

Entertaining football

2007-01-01T05:54:00.000-08:00

Every season some team will play good entertaining football ( thats what fans feel, i guess). So this season its chelsea thats playing entertaining football at the cost of the first position in the table. Very nice.

It was Arsenal few years back playing entertaining football( i like that).

Chelsea was clinical last two seasons. They had Cech in the goal and defense was good. This seasons they are allowing too many goals. Thats the difference.
Not that they play entertaining football.

Red Devils

2006-12-30T00:23:00.000-08:00

First of all a very happy new year. Back to my favorite topic - soccer. Man U are doing good this season, they are at the top, 4 points clear of Chelsea. Few of the players worth mentioning( everyone should be mentioned, but)
in the goal - Van de saar - finally manu found a replacement for peter schmeichel. Van de saar has been brilliant.

In the defence

Nemanja Vidic - this no nonsense defender, has been at his best. He has a better understanding with Ferdinand in the middle.

In the middle

Ronald - finally this lad has learned to play team football.

upfront

Saha - who needs van nistelroy. he can score, he is unselfish. and he is quick.

Hindsight - Guy Kawasaki

2006-12-18T21:14:00.000-08:00

Hindsight

Guy Kawasaki was one of the founders of Apple Computer who helped create the Mac.
Here is a speech at Palo Alto High School Baccalaureate on 6/11/95 "Hindsight" by Guy Kawasaki. Just read through...

Speaking to you today marks a milestone in my life. I am 40 years old. 22 years ago, when I was in your seat, I never, ever thought I would be 40 years old.The implications of being your speaker frightens me. For one thing, when a 40 year old geeser spoke at my baccalaureate ceremony, he was about the last person I'd believe. I have no intention of giving you the boring speech that you are dreading. This speech will be short, sweet, and not boring.
I am going to talk about hindsights today. Hindsights that I've accumulated in the 20 years from where you are to where I am. Don't blindly believe me. Don't take what I say as "truth." Just listen. Perhaps my experience can help you out a tiny bit.
I will present them ala David Letterman. Yes, 40-year old people can still stay up past 11.

#10: Live off your parents as long as possible.
When I spoke at this ceremony two years ago, this was the most popular hindsight-except from the point of view of the parents. Thus, I knew I was on the right track. I was a diligent Oriental in high school and college. I took college-level classes and earned college-level credits. I rushed through college in 3-1/2 years. I never traveled or took time off because I thought it wouldn't prepare me for work and it would delay my graduation. Frankly, I blew it. You are going to work the rest of your lives, so don't be in a rush to start. Stretch out your college education. Now is the time to suck life into your lungs-before you have a mortgage, kids, and car payments. Take whole semester off to travel overseas. Take jobs and internships that pay less money or no money. Investigate your passions on your parent's nickel. Or dime. Or quarter. Or dollar. Your goal should be to extend college to at least six years. Delay, as long as possible, the inevitable entry into the workplace and a lifetime of servitude to bozos who know less than you do, but who make more money. Also, you shouldn't deprive your parents of the pleasure of supporting you.

#9 Pursue joy, not happiness.
This is probably the hardest lesson of all to learn. It probably seems to you that the goal in life is to be "happy." Oh, you maybe have to sacrifice and study and work hard, but, by and large, happiness should be predictable. Nice house. Nice car. Nice material things. Take my word for it, happiness is temporary and fleeting. Joy, by contrast, is unpredictable. It comes from pursuing interests and passions that do not obviously result in happiness. Pursuing joy, not happiness will translate into one thing over the next few years for you: Study what you love. This may also not be popular with parents. When I went to college, I was "marketing driven." It's also an Oriental thing. I looked at what fields had the greatest job opportunities and prepared myself for them. This was brain dead. There are so many ways to make a living in the world, it doesn't matter that you've taken all the "right" courses. I don't think one person on the original Macintosh team had a classic "computer science" degree. You parents have a responsibility in this area. Don't force your kids to follow in your footsteps or to live your dreams. My father was a senator in Hawaii. His dream was to be a lawyer, but he only had a high school education. He wanted me to be a lawyer. For him, I went to law school. For me, I quit after two weeks. I view this a terrific validation of my inherent intelligence.

#8: Challenge the known and embrace the unknown.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in life is to accept the known and resist the unknown. You should, in fact, do exactly the opposite: challenge the known and embrace the unknown. Let me tell you a short story about ice. In the late 1800s there was a thriving ice industry in the Northeast. Companies would cut blocks of ice from frozen lakes and ponds and sell them around the world. The largest single shipment was 200 tons that was shipped to India. 100 tons got there unmelted, but this was enough to make a profit. These ice harvesters, however, were put out of business by companies that invented mechanical ice makers. It was no longer necessary to cut and ship ice because companies could make it in any city during any season. These ice makers, however, were put out of business by refrigerator companies. If it was convenient to make ice at a manufacturing plant, imagine how much better it was to make ice and create cold storage in everyone's home. You would think that the ice harvesters would see the advantages of ice making and adopt this technology. However, all they could think about was the known: better saws, better storage, better transportation. Then you would think that the ice makers would see the advantages of refrigerators and adopt this technology. The truth is that the ice harvesters couldn't embrace the unknown and jump their curve to the next curve. Challenge the known and embrace the unknown, or you'll be like the ice harvester and ice makers.

#7: Learn to speak a foreign language, play a musical instrument, and play non-contact sports.
Learn a foreign language. I studied Latin in high school because I thought it would help me increase my vocabulary. It did, but trust me when I tell you it's very difficult to have a conversation in Latin today other than at the Vatican. And despite all my efforts, the Pope has yet to call for my advice. Learn to play a musical instrument. My only connection to music today is that I was named after Guy Lombardo. Trust me: it's better than being named after Guy's brother, Carmen. Playing a musical instrument could be with me now and stay with me forever. Instead, I have to buy CDs at Tower. I played football. I loved football. Football is macho. I was a middle linebacker--arguably, one of the most macho position in a macho game. But you should also learn to play a non-contact sport like basketball or tennis. That is, a sport you can play when you're over the hill. It will be as difficult when you're 40 to get twenty two guys together in a stadium to play football as it is to have a conversation in Latin, but all the people who wore cute, white tennis outfits can still play tennis. And all the macho football players are sitting around watching television and drinking beer.

#6: Continue to learn.
Learning is a process not an event. I thought learning would be over when I got my degree. It's not true. You should never stop learning. Indeed, it gets easier to learn once you're out of school because it's easier to see the relevance of why you need to learn. You're learning in a structured, dedicated environment right now. On your parent's nickel. But don't confuse school and learning. You can go to schooland not learn a thing. You can also learn a tremendous amount without school.

#5: Learn to like yourself or change yourself until you can like yourself.
I know a forty year old woman who was a drug addict. She is a mother of three. She traced the start of her drug addiction to smoking dope in high school. I'm not going to lecture you about not taking drugs. Hey, I smoked dope in high school. Unlike Bill Clinton, I inhaled. Also unlike Bill Clinton, I exhaled. This woman told me that she started taking drugs because she hated herself when she was sober. She did not like drugs so much as much as she hated herself. Drugs were not the cause though she thought they were the solution. She turned her life around only after she realized that she was in a downwardspiral. Fix your problem. Fix your life. Then you won't need to take drugs. Drugs are neither the solution nor the problem. Frankly, smoking, drugs, alcohol--and using an IBM PC--are signs of stupidity. End of discussion.

#4: Don't get married too soon.
I got married when I was 32. That's about the right age. Until you're about that age, you may not know who you are. You also may not know who you're marrying. I don't know one person who got married too late. I know many people who got married too young. If you do decide to get married, just keep in mind that you need to accept the person for what he or she is right now.

#3: Play to win and win to play.
Playing to win is one of the finest things you can do. It enables you to fulfill your potential. It enables you to improve the world and, conveniently, develop high expectations for everyone else too. And what if you lose? Just make sure you lose while trying something grand. Avinash Dixit, an economics professor at Princeton, and Barry Nalebuff, an economics and management professor at the Yale School of Organization and Management, say it this way: "If you are going to fail, you might as well fail at a difficult task. Failure causes others to downgrade their expectations of you in the future. The seriousness of this problem depends on what you attempt." In its purest form, winning becomes a means, not an end, to improve yourself and your competition. Winning is also a means to play again. The unexamined life may not be worth living, but the unlived life is not worth examining. The rewards of winning--money, power, satisfaction, and self-confidence--should not be squandered. Thus, in addition to playing to win, you have a second, more important obligation: To compete again to the depth and breadth and height that your soul can reach. Ultimately, your greatest competition is yourself.

#2: Obey the absolutes.
Playing to win, however, does not mean playing dirty. As you grow older and older, you will find that things change from absolute to relative. When you were very young, it was absolutely wrong to lie, cheat, or steal. As you get older, and particularly when you enter the workforce, you will be tempted by the "system" to think in relative terms. "I made more money." "I have a nicer car." "I went on a better vacation." Worse, "I didn't cheat as much on my taxes as my partner." "I just have a few drinks. I don't take cocaine." "I don't pad my expense reports as much as others." This is completely wrong. Preserve and obey the absolutes as much as you can. If you never lie, cheat, or steal, you will never have to remember who you lied to, how you cheated, and what you stole. There absolutely are absolute rights and wrongs.

#1: Enjoy your family and friends before they are gone.
This is the most important hindsight. It doesn't need much explanation. I'll just repeat it: Enjoy your family and friends before they are gone. Nothing-not money, power, or fame-can replace your family and friends or bring them back once they are gone. Our greatest joy has been our baby, and I predict that children will bring you the greatest joy in your lives--especially if they graduate from college in four years. And now, I'm going to give you one extra hindsight because I've probably cost your parents thousands of dollars today. It's something that I hate to admit to. By and large, the older you get, the more you're going to realize that your parents were right. More and more-until finally, you become your kids parents .I know you're all saying, "Yeah, right." Mark my words. Remember these ten things: if just one of them helps you helps just one of you, this speech will have been a success:

#10: Live off your parents as long as possible.
#9 Pursue joy, not happiness.
#8: Challenge the known and embrace the unknown.
#7: Learn to speak a foreign language, play a musical instrument, and play non-contact sports.
#6: Continue to learn.
#5: Learn to like yourself or change yourself until you can like yourself.
#4: Don't get married too soon.
#3: Play to win and win to play.
#2: Obey the absolutes.
#1: Enjoy your family and friends before they are gone.
Congratulations on your graduation. Thank you very much.

Oxymoron

2006-11-28T10:34:00.000-08:00

melodious Himesh
war against terrorism - i like this one.

Fade to Black by Metallica

2006-11-25T22:52:00.000-08:00

Life it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things are not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filing me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now He's gone
No one but me can save myself, but its to late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death Greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye

Raju the bhai

2006-11-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

Lately, apna bhai thoda time ke liye disappear ho gayale. Kissi ko pata nahin tha bhai kahan hai, kya karlere hai?

There are theories and practical's suggesting that raju the bhai is in love.

Theories : Not mailing anyone but one.

Practical:He was sighted in Germany with some UFO ( Unidentified Fairer Object).
Not supporting the Underdogs anymore.

About me-tyson and basanti

2006-11-13T19:21:00.001-08:00

Me and tyson had a very long discussion regarding the future of basanti. It was a very long, exhausting and fruitful discussion consuming lots of minutes and coming out with lots of minutes.
Its decided that basanti should marry TYSON, and everyone should live happily ever after.
As Bono says "i can live with or without you".

2006-11-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

Lots of my friends have decided to take the plunge and have invited me to see the act(sorry its for real).

The dates
December 11th Vinay phani kumar in Rajmandry
December 14th Montu in banaras
January 21st Bongi in Dehradun
January 24th Motu in Nizamabad
January 28th Arun in Allepy

Another addition

Thathagatha Feb 6th Jaipur

Child Labour

2006-10-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Governement has banned the use of children as labour, thats excellent. Thats good. But did governement do anything for those children who are now jobless. I have seen many children who have offered me to clean my bike for some money. I couldn't do anything. i was helpless should i let them clean my bike and give them money. How can i help them, i am not in a situation where i can support them right now.

Any NGO's willing to help, Do comment.

Here's the list

2006-10-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

Ankur
Rohan Patnaik
Amol Mane
Pdot
P N Raju
SatyaRupa
BKG
Neha

Ld
Pyla
Kalyan
Bobby
Bujji.

Chuddu cribs everytime someone visits Vizag. Abe saale hum Pune mein hai no comes to visit us tu saala vizag mein kiss kiss se milta hai be.

The city of destiny

Met Mr.Pdot and Mrs.Neha

2006-10-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

So the people visiting vizag is increasing. I mean people i know. good to meet her after long long time. Not much change, she still asks the same questions, am i looking good, am i glowing. I am having this and that in the morning and applying this that, i am glowing na. hahahahaha.

PDOT Crouch

2006-09-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

Pdot: Peter crouch used to play for ManU now he is playing for Liverpool.
Me: scope kya he never played for ManU
Pdot: Arre nahin he used to play ManU last season.
Me: Arre i am hardcore manu fan. i Follow the team.
Pdot: Theek hai bet.

haahahahahahaha.

himesh reshamiya

2006-09-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Guess what i think i have discovered where our great singer himesh got the inspiration from? Its a wolf, yes dear friends jungle boy, MONGLI'S brothers the wolves. Anything similar?

Basant kr Gupta

2006-09-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Bkg was in vizag. Its good to see him after a long time. As usual we had food at lots of joints. That's what we like to do. We couldn't cook food as i didn't have gas to cook food.

saleem fakeu boltoi

2006-09-11T02:56:00.000-07:00

Kya toh bhi hai ustaad? Lot has happened since my last blog. Ramudu, ld , pyla and bobby came to vizag we had a good time. Bobby has cleaned my appartment. Schumi within the striking range to win the title. Now only he can lose the title. Roger "framed" the federer won the us open third time in a row. I expected a nadal and roger final.
THe angreez a low budget Hinglish movie is great, too good yaaroo. Kya toh bhi movie hai. Hyderabadi istyle yaaroo. Maa ki kiri kiri yaaroo. Dekhne ka yaaroo.

Welcome back baby face assassin

2006-08-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

Its been almost two years since Man U were on the top of the EPL table at the start of the season. And chelsea hasn't seen this for past two seasons. This is a good start for ManU. But its just the start the road is long. And Ole, the baby face assassin is back. He scores for ManU. COmes back after two or three seasons, was out with knee injury.

Maddu Mess in Hindustan Times

2006-08-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Freedom

2006-08-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

Gandhiji said that true Independence is achieved when a woman walks alone at night. That was long time ago, at still the scene is same i guess. But one think has changed, lots of ladies are working in the graveyard shift, the call centres, and attending pubs and partying in nights. Is it for the good or bad we have to wait and watch.

Tyson Jaipurwaala

2006-08-08T22:49:00.001-07:00

Tyson(this one is jaipur version, but similar nature he has the potential to bite the ear and all that) has been visiting jaipur quite often these days. What's the matter Tyson? Last time someone visted jaipur often was Mr.Bharat Garg. Who got married after his visits? Do i have to make another visit to the city of palace and do make sure your marriage is not in summer. Jaipur summer, you should avoid.

Optical illusion

2006-08-07T04:46:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my favourite optical illusion

Did you see that!!!!!!!!

Pokiri

2006-08-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Finally a good telugu movie after a long long time. The movie is well directed and the concept is kind of old, an undercover cop. The script is good. Its been long since i have seen some good telugu movie. I have seen it some four to five times till now.

Zidane and Landis

2006-08-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

Both have done things which were not suppose to happen. Zidane butted Italian defender and was red carded in the finals. He was sent of in the final. But this doesn't damage the stature of Zidane. He is and will remain as one of the best in the world.

But thats not the case with landis. He has performed exceptionally well in stage 17 of the le tour. He won the stage all by himself. It was a show of what a determination can do. But has failed the drug test. Thats very sad, I had enjoyed that performance. From downunder to top, something impossible.

High tides

2006-07-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Recently(two weeks back) while jogging on the beach, i noticed that the waves in the sea were high, some two to three time higher i sat down on the beach enjoying the rough sea. Went back home, while surfing the TV most of the news channel were telecasting about some earthquake in Java. Then i realised they were the after shocks of the earthquake or the T.sumani. Next time i see high waves i shall run away to a higher safer place.

Landis: the story of comeback

2006-07-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

At the start of stage 16 Landis was riding comfortably in the yellow jersey. The stage is regarded as the toughest stage of this years le tour. The last 15 kms has completely cracked Landis. He lost his yellow jersey and was dropped to 11th place in the overall clasification. Exhausted, mentally and physically, thats what we think but Landis has other ideas. He rides to victory in the 200 km long stage. Attacks at the first base of the stage 17, reduces the time gas to 30 sec in the overall clasification and jumps to third place.

Curtains come down

2006-07-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

Italians kill the demons that have been haunting them, the penalty shoot outs. They have never won a penalty shoot out. They are the 2006 world cup winners and its Lippi's master mind that has helped Italy to grap the trophy for the fourth time. Italy has played some excellent football throught out the tournament. Their defense should get the credit for their victory. Pirlo and Guttoso commanded the mid field. Lippi selected 7 forwards in his 23 squad, thats strange for a side known for their defensive tactics and scoring on the counter attacks. This world cup has changed the image of the Azzuri's, they have dominated the game in terms of ball possession. One team not to win the world cup has gained the confidence match by match to take home the ultimate prize, and beating the home team.

Zizou went out of his final football butting his head into a player. He should have gone out with with a long round of applause. It shouldn't be this way, for a football ICON.

Scrape Gulti Kanti

2006-07-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

Kanti doesn't want to be the scrape goat for the argentina's middle exit from the world cup. She says that its a team game and every one is responsible for the loss. There is always next time.

The quarter finals

2006-07-04T01:11:00.000-07:00

Results

Argentina lost to germany - reason Kanti, she was watching football for the first time and was the fan of Argentina. That's why they played bad and not because of pekerman's bad stratergy. Lehmann's good saves.

Italy won over Ukarine, very compact team, with hard working gattuso and Canavaro in the defence, the best keeper buffon.

England and Portugal - Went down to shoot outs. Again England showed to the world how bad they are at the shoot outs. More important portugal has Scolari and England has Eriksson, both favour portugal.

France beat brazil - Viera and Mekelele were brillant that day. Showed to the world How to stop a team full of r's, with good determined defensive midfielder.

Dutch and The World Cup

2006-06-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

Dutch will remain as the best team not win a world cup. They like it that way i guess. Johan Cruyff is regarded as the master of total football, the dutch team in 1974 is regarded as one of the best teams and they taught the world how to play total football. They were the favourites to win the world cup, but lost to West Germany.

Then the ear of van basten, Rijkaard, Gullit they won almost everything, europion championship, euro cup, league title except the ultimate prize THE WORLD CUP. They lost in the shoot outs.

Dutch are their own enemies. Robben and Van persie were playing like kids who want to get noticed by big clubs and earn money. They played some excellent selfish game. They will remain kids of the big game. Who know only to show some flashy skills and impress the managers. But don't know to cross the ball.

Portugal displayed some excellent football(team game), how to play as a compact unit and win games. Winning is important, its the only thing. Ultimately fairplay, sportmanship and skills will not go into the history books. Only the score will go in to the books.

Argentina and RIQUELME Juan

2006-06-25T01:42:00.000-07:00

If Argentina is to progess to the finals of the world cup, there is a talk of Riquelme being the star performer. After watching him play for Villarreal and argentina i say that he has to change his game style. He is slow, plays the game at his pace and doesnt to want change the pace according to the situation, because he can't. No doubt he is brillant, but sometimes, for the teams like Italy you have to play at fast tempo game and don't let team settle.
His performance against Arsenal in the Champions league is poor, he was over shadowed by the energetic Fabregas, and grounded by Gilberto.

How to fry a papad? lessons from Uttam

2006-05-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Buy papad's
Light the stove
Put the pan on the stove
Pour some oil into the pan
Put the papad in the oil
Use your hand to take out fried papad

PS: Before buying papads you should have countless pegs of whisky

Barcelona are the UCL winners

2006-05-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

The final was a showcase of tactics and skill, both the teams displayed good football.
Arsenal started on a high note, controlling the game right from the begining, Henry missed few chances which he generally doesn't. Barca managed to subdue the pressure and raised the tempo of the game and created many chances. Lehmann was red carded trying to stop Eto, miss timed his run.

Beauty and Brains

2006-05-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

"Beauty and Brains" don't go together. In a recent discussions pdot agreed that Beauty and brains don't go together. Ndot being the beauty and pdot the no brains. This is from the ndot point of veiw and pdot point of view may be he thinks he is brains and ndot no beauty.

Long time no blog

2006-04-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

No blog for quite sometime, i was busy couldn't login or check mails, i had been visiting places, i had been to banglore, nagpur, hyderabad, now in madurai.

Recently i met a guy name SAI (9 years), i was just amazed with this guy. His business is selling flowers in the evening by the beach, his funda is good, goes to romantic couples sitting on the beach , caring about nothing in this world, looking into each others eyes, our man enters and pesters them till they buy flowers. This ritual continues till 8.30 - 9.00 in the night. Then before going home he collects the beer bottles on the beach, for selling them the next day. Wakes up in the morning collects plastic cups. His target for a single day is around 800rs to 900 rs, combining all three of them. If flower business is bad he work's harder in the morning with the plastics or bear bottles, but his target is plain and simple 800 rs to 900 rs. Out of this he gives 100 rs to his mother, 100 rs to some chit fund, 400 rs to the bank and rest to buy flowers. He used to give the money to his father when he was 7 years old, his father used to drink and beat his mother, so now he 9 years he knows what to do so gives then money to his mother, his mother makes him good food and gives him new dress on festivals. If his father beats him or his mother he gives him money to drink, while he is asleep he beats his father.

Rang de Basanti

2006-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

Good movie. Its been long since, bollywood made some good movies. Its good, Amir Khan strikes back after the fall of Mangal Pandey. Chuddu was the one who recommended me to watch this movie. Lately tamil(tollywood) has been making good movies, i don't remember the movie names. But definetly they are coming up with good movies. Like prabhu deva's first direction venture, don't remember the name.

Phobias

2006-01-30T06:35:00.000-08:00

I was just going through the list of phobias, ohhh lord i have phobia of phobias, Phobophobia(and this exists), may be binu might be having sariophobia. And this one surprised me, Alfred Hitchcock is afraid of eggs, Ovophobia. Any one for Blogophobia.

Aerobinucs

2006-01-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

Binu is attending some aerobics classes, very nice Mr.Binu, fitness freak . But yaar what's the incentive, the instructor is not a female, he is takla buddha. Or is it the safola ad. Very nice ad, in which few shapeless people are running uttering ladoo ladoo ladoo, and another one is running uttering butter chicken butter chicken. This reminds me of my situation, one year back, i was fat(86 kgs). Somehow managed to bring the weight down to 73 kgs.uttering cake chocolate mango etc etc And i was so happy and started to run less etc etc and now i am back to square one or sphere one, i have put on weight. Its all that apples fault which fell on Newtons head. He wouldn't have discovered about the gravity and we wouldn't know anything about weight. People would have been so happy. No fitness freaks. Now i know whats behind this saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away".It actually refers to Newton.

Cool quote

2006-01-04T05:25:00.000-08:00

There's so much comedy on television. Does that cause comedy in the streets?
- Dick Cavett

"The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy".
Either you will love this book or you will throw this book away after few pages.
This book can't be a okayish types book.
On the front cover, "A trilogy in four volumes".

New year

2005-12-31T01:17:00.000-08:00

Everybody is into a celebration mode. For the alcoholics another stupid reason to drink, as if they don't drink if its not a new year eve. Okay i respect their idea of celebration. My idea of celebration is sleep all day. Whoever is reading this, please don't call me, i will try to catch you the next day and wish you a very happy year. Its not different from a typical day. But yaar, kya kare neend bahut pyaari hai.
People have asked me, what my new years resolutions were? i don't have any. Or may be i will make one, "Don't wait for 31st decemeber to make resolutions, keep on making resolutions as and when required." hhmmm philosophical. Damn thats right sometimes i am philosophic.
I should have played a league with plato & socrates. I hate my parent's , i was born few,no, many years later. Or should i blame my grandparents or should i blame my great grandparents...... no way i will blame plato and socrates, bloody hell they could not keep a secret. Cheating.
"Somethings are better unsaid."

Tau's gossip column

2005-11-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

Tau's didn't get a chance to write an article in the Bombay times, so had to settle for the Indian Express. He should target Mid Day, Bombay times people in bombay will surely read in local trains.

November saw the focus of the media and polity focused on the Bihar elections and its results. Yet, through this entire period, a group of socially-minded individuals kept working at constructing houses in Kashmir’s quake-affected regions. And while media headlines have almost forgotten the earthquake, and the sufferings of thousands in Tangdhar and elsewhere, these people—many of them from Gujarat—have been working hard to ensure that temporary houses are built and made available to everybody before the onset of the winter snow.
Led by a Bhuj-based organisation called Abhiyan, they represent the new face of social activism in India. They involve professionals and may take the help of the UN and other international bodies but, more important, they believe in working with the government and have displayed a willingness and ability to link up with the district administration.
After the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, I had worked with the district collector of Bhuj-Kutch as a volunteer. It gave me an opportunity to observe the benefits of coordination between the district administration and NGOs.
There can be no denying that in disasters of such magnitude, the government inevitably emerges as the biggest donor. Despite the opinion one may have of the government and administration they have, time and again, risen up to the challenge in moments of crisis. While the decisions made can always be debated, it is generally seen that governments post their best officers to handle these situations. The government machinery, however, has its own constraints. Reaching people effectively is one such, and NGOs can definitely help out. Established civil society organisations in the affected region can engender a government-people interface and be an invaluable link between administrators and the administered. Bringing in experts into the effort is another area where NGOs can help.
Overall, these organisations and individuals become another arm of the government; an arm that is backed up by resources and authority and, yet, one that is closer to the people. Winning over people’s confidence is probably the most important factor in any disaster recovery programme. Although the role of the government and administrative agencies is important, it is the spirit of the common people that determines the outcome. The involvement of NGOs and local bodies provides people with a feeling of empowerment.
Once the government, NGOs and people’s groups come together, there can be no stopping the forces for change. NGOs and volunteers, therefore, have a key role in rehabilitation. They performed at Bhuj, they preformed at Nagapatnam, they are performing in Kashmir. Call them the Novel Government Organisations: the new face of social activism.

Neochipic Era

2005-11-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

Its been long since i posted something. My last blog was in the old chip era. Lot has changed since then. Pdot's and Neha's parents have agreed for their marriage. This reminds me of a quote "Hanging and marriages go by the destiny". Topi is in England, Prince visited India, RAJU BHAI visited the US of A, chuddu escaped again( Miracle). I am still tall dark and handsome and so is binu(I guess). Pdot visited a beauty parlour to impress his In-laws, he says, he was glowing. Man U beat chelsea. Ankur we shall play Drug lord sometimes.

Pastries and chocolates

2005-08-28T03:20:00.000-07:00

I remember to have tried everything to improve the attendence. Once me, Binu, rupa and Malad had come up with a fool proof plan( hmm) to attend the class. Anyone of us bunking the class has to give chocolates to everyone if he bunks the lectures and a pastry if he bunks all the lectures. The plan seemed good, very good initially. Every use to attend lectures, after sometime, ppl used to bunk first three lecture and wake up and go for the fourth lecture and give away chocolotes so as to avoid giving pastry. Next we used to bring chocolates from the canteen in the nite and keep to give to ppl in the morning. Later it happened that all of us used to bunk the lecture together, so no need to give anything to anyone. Partners in crime.

2005-08-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

kuch khaas hai hum sabi mein. This was a good ad. But how is it related to chocolate, i don't know. But whenever this ad is aired most of us are glued to the TV.All because of that lady.

more photos of the lady

Axe Effect

2005-07-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

The Axe Effect, there used to be a time when we used give gifts for the birthdays(thanks to OP). I was the first one to get, was soo happy, i got the LOTR. Then it was kissi aur ka birthday okay, pool the money buy the gifts. After two or three birthdays we realised boss, kya chal raha hai. We are buying gifts and visiting the same shops, and most painful was, what to buy?????. Somehow put an end to it. Tau was shocked when he saw this custom started by OP. That AXE is one of those gifts, which will remind us of those dark times. Every birthday, i will remind topi, beta, bums khaale aur sooja waarna OP aayega. OP the Khuladimaar.

Swiss present

2005-07-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

I was talking to Topi about the Swiss knife the other day. Was just saying i like the swiss blade. All the things in it. Etc etc, the next day he was in Dollar shop in Mulund found a swiss knife. Now i will join the swiss army. I have the weapon.
Seinfield on swiss blade," the Swiss have an interesting army. Five hundred years without a war. Pretty impressive. Also pretty lucky for them. Ever see that little Swiss Army knife they have to fight with? Not much of a weapon there. Corkscrews, Bottle openers. 'Come on, buddy, let's go. You get past me, the guy in back of me, he's got a spoon. Back off. I've got the toe clippers right here. "

Reason

2005-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Good song by Hoobastank. The Reason. Rock is back again, lots of modern bands are coming up with good rock songs. That what rock is all about it about singing your kind of music, doesn't matter wheather people like it or not. You want to listen, just listen, but i am going to play this kind of music. No hype no media behind them. I will put it this way, If you don't like what you seeing, shut the fuck up, a song by Extreme.

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why i need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

Au revoir Armstrong

2005-07-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Past 23 days its has been a treat to watch the best cyclist from different countries fight to outsmart each other to win the le tour. There was something special this year, its the last time Lance Armstrong will be riding his favourite tour. The routes he has been riding and burning the energy in his body, to set the road on fire. There were attacks from every one Ullrich, Ivan Basso have tried their best to attack Lance in the Alps, pyrenees, but he had answer for every thing. There were attacks from the media as well on the discovery channel. That its not the best team, in the tour. The discovery team answer next day by setting some amazing pace for the peloton. This was the stage when Lance increased the time on all his close rivals. From that day on Lance has the lead intact. He was challenged by Basso and ullrich but he answered the attacks by responding and joining them. The highlight of the tour was a stage win by Hincapie. He was put in the attack so that maybe he can assist Lance if nesscary at the end of the stage, but lance didn't need any assistance. And Hincapie went on to win the toughest mountain stage. Lance would have won the tour without a stage win. But he won the individual time trial stage, that day he was flying. He was setting the race on fire.
(Just a fact: Greg LeMond, american, was the first non-european to win the Le Tour. And won the tour without winnning a Stage. He too came back from an acident.LeMond on Armstrong: Armstrong may be doping to improve his perfromance. "If Armstrong's clean, it's the greatest comeback. And if he's not, then it's the greatest fraud." And "Lance is ready to do anything to keep his secret. I don't know how he can continue to convince everybody of his innocence.")

Part of the credit should go to his team Discovery channel.

Few Quotes:
Armstrong: “You either fight back or quit"

Armstrong: “If I was sick and came back and won the ping pong world championships it wouldn’t be the same”

Siddhagad

2005-07-25T02:17:00.000-07:00

Team: Basant, me, Gaza, Chandu, PawanG, Tyson and Moody
Date: 24th July 2005.
Weather: Rained, It poured.
Route: Kanjurmar to Kalyan(Local Train), Kalyan to Murbad(Bus), Murbad to Mhasa and Mhasa To Narivali( Jeep).

We had reached the base village, narivali at around 9.00 am. Our interpretor was chandu who knew marathi. We asked for directions, an old man directs us, but warns us that, its raining, so its dangerous to cross the river. But decide to check the river ourselves. We encountered strangers of our kind, ask for directions, everybody had only one answer SARL(straight), its raining, crossing the river will be dangerous. Anyways we keep on going on the SARL path, cross few streams(we are yet to cross the dangerous one). After walking through the lush green paddy fields and following the SARl path, we meet two people coming from Siddhagadwadi, shoot the same questions, is this the way to siddhagadwadi, how dangerous is the river?. Who say, with a strange kind of expressions, u can cross the river easily. After good three hour climb we finally reach the siddhagadwadi. Siddhagadwadi is on a plateau, the siddhagad fort is on the hill on the plateau some 1000 ft high. We climb the hill. A baba stays in a cave half way on the hill. He guides us. Basant gave up at baba's cave, saying its dangerous to go up, he says climbing is easy, but climbing down is the most diffcult part. Any ways Gaza, Moody climb to check the way.They come back after sometime, with news that it is climbable, but at your own risk. So gave up the idea of climbing in rain. We agree on eating the grub at a school in siddhagadwadi, Gaza was the one against the idea, as he didn't want to go to a school on sunday.
And we are still to find the river which is very dangerous to cross. May be next trek.
Photos

2005-07-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

This is the photo before the slip you can see Gaza sitting PC getting ready to climb or slip(whatever). You can see my head in the photo. I turn to take windy's photos PC slips.

Navra Navri Trek

2005-07-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Team: Me, Gaza , PC , Windy.
Date: 16th July.
Weather: Sunny, Clear Blue Sky.

This trek was suggested by Hemant. He wanted to do it, but could not find enough enthu to go for it.
So we tried our luck. And luck was on our side. We read in the book by Harish Kapadia( Bible for the shayadris Treks) it says(okay okay books don't talk), walk to the east 3km on a road that leads to JAVLI village. Walk 2km to BHOJ LAKE. This guys must have measured the distance using a 15 cm ruler. The lake is around 6 km from Badlapur. Anyways, took a auto to the lake. Just used our instinct and followed few tracks in to the jungle. Only reference point being a col in the ridge which we were to reach. We found the way without much difficulty.Reach the ridge.
Gaza was leading the way, the ridge was dangerous, one slip and you can kiss your sweet life good bye. There was a rock climbing part on the ridge. Gaza was helping PC with the climbing, me was talking windy's photos on the ridge. Windy's shouts and i hear some sound. I turn back and find PC is not on the ridge. Everybody missed few heart beats, i run towards the rock. I hear a sound, pc saying i am okay. But still ran towards the slip. He sliped some 10 - 15 ft, was stopped by a cacti plant. I go there pull him up and we sit on the ridge. Thanking almighty. Had food on the ridge, talk for sometime.
It was a good trek. All that starts well ends well.
Photos

Gaza noticed one thing, this monsoons we did the Na Treks like Nane Ghat, Nakhind , Navra-Navri.

The Bhuj Story

2005-07-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Its a novel by Rishi Mohan Sanwal(Tau for Many). Its not a fantasy about his stay at IIT or IIM. Its based on facts. Its about his experiences while helping the earthquake hit areas around Bhuj in Jan, 2001. Its straight from the heart.
Heres the link to buy the BOOK.

Mad about Soccer

2005-07-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

Nothing to blog, back to my fav subject soccer. Looking at the strengths and weakness of the top teams in Europe (mostly its english i will be looking at).

Chelsea: One man, Makelele, Real Madrids loss is Chelseas gain. He is the primary reason why chelsea had so many clean sheets. He is the one picking up, breaking the attacks of the other teams. No doubt they had good attacking plays, so what, many teams have. But other don't have Makelele. Edgar Davids used to as sharp and hard as Makelele, but now he is nowhere to be seen.

Arsenal: Defence let them down, they were missing the experience of Sol Campbell. Viera was inconsistent in the mid field. Players like Edu, Gilberto were in and out of the team due to injury. They are good defensive mid field players. If they played their part, story would have been different.

Manchester United: Old horse Roy Keane. Or the Mid field. Roy Keane is still the inspiration for the team. But age is factor he has to fight. He is the reason why Man U won so many titles, but right now they have to find a replacement for him. He is not as sharp as he used to be. He should be brought in as a sub.

Liverpool: Very inconsistent performance. CL winners and fifth in the EPL. Again Hamann changed everthing in the finals. Poor performance from the strikers. Morienties could not score for them in the EPL. But Rafa tactics are clear, defense win's matches.

Barcelona: They should have signed Edgar Davids. He was on loan from Juv. They let him go. Remember Juv - Real Semi finals 3-1, that day Makelele was suspended. Edgar Davids was neutralizing all the Zidanes, Figos and Ronaldos. Missed lot of players due to injury.Weakness Mainly Midfield players(defensive) and very inconsistent goalkeeper.

Real Madrid: Weakness, AGE. Everyone maybe star but, age is catching them. They need to find the right combination of age and young talent. Experience and youth. And of course the defense and defensive midfield.

AC Milan: Look at the players they have. They are one of the best teams in the world. They should win everything. What went wrong? Can't say its was not their day. Or it was Liverpools and RAFA's Day. Dida is inconsistent in the goal.

Nakhind Trek

2005-07-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Team: Me, Gaza, PC, Mohit(Dhar's friend from ISB), Basant, Tikidi and Sumedh.
Date: 10th July.
Weather: Clear Sky, No Rains.

Nakhind( mountain with a hole), is 705 m high in the karjat ranges. Took a local to Vangani Station. Its a 30 - 45 mins walk to the base village from vangani. We saw Airplane and Airplane II previous night, but thats not important, so we were in farting mood. Chandu as usual was at his best, his radio was on. Its the walk along show ( A new show like stand up show) by chandu.
There was another group going to nakhind had to over take them, and occupy the hole before them. All along we were praying , to send some rains. Our prayers were in vain. We should have tried the Lagaan style gaana, may be god would have been happy. On second thoughts no one had good voice, he would have got more angry. The walk along the ridge was good, few clouds were lingering. Planned to go to Peb fort from Nakhind, but few people were against it as the path is bit difficult. Had some food, no lots of food, we had everything bread cheese, biscuits, sev, Fruits, boiled eggs etc etc. After few mins of farting session we climb down.
Bottom line its a wonderful trek. Even without the rains. With rains the climbing down and climbing up would have been very difficult or fun. Its all muddy and getting a grip would be very difficult. Last time at Nakhind Bongi says, while climbing down, please maintain 4 ft gap so that you have enough buffer zone if someone slips, five mins later he is the one sliding into Gaza.
Photos

Charles William Miller

2005-07-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

Who is he? He is the Father of Brazil Soccer

Pele's, Ronaldo's, Rivaldo's etc etc , all the legends of Brazil Football should be thanking Charles Miller. Charles Miller took some soccer equiment, rules book to brazil in the year 1894.
If Charles didn't go to Brazil with rules book and equipment, may be may be, England would have won more than One World Cup. So All the England fans you know whom to blame.

Rain rain come again

2005-07-06T02:15:00.000-07:00

Two melodious songs by CCR for monsoons.

Have you ever seen the rain?
Someone told me long ago there’s a calm before the storm,
I know; it’s been comin’ for some time.
When it’s over, so they say, it’ll rain a sunny day,
I know; shinin’ down like water.

I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Comin’ down on a sunny day?

Yesterday, and days before, sun is cold and rain is hard,
I know; been that way for all my time.
’til forever, on it goes through the circle, fast and slow,
I know; it can’t stop, I wonder.

Who'll stop the rain?
Long as I remember the rain been comin’ down.
Clouds of myst’ry pourin’ confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, tryin’ to find the sun;
And I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop the rain.

I went down virginia, seekin’ shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable, I watched the tower grow.
Five year plans and new deals, wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder, still I wonder who’ll stop the rain.

Heard the singers playin’, how we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, tryin’ to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin’, fallin’ on my ears.
And I wonder, still I wonder who’ll stop the rain.

Piscine Molitor Patel

2005-07-05T02:33:00.000-07:00

Life of Pi. A must read. Its just amazing.
ITs about "Piscine Molitor Patel" who is stuck on a life boat with an orangutan, hyena, Zebra and a bengal tiger. Its about how he survives in the open sea, outsmarts the animals . How he becomes an animal, how he kicks his vegetarian ways, to eat like Richard Parker(bengal tiger). The end leaves you in shock and thinking. Buy, borrow or steal this book and read it now. I don't want to be a spoil sport and reveal the end. You have to read.

Don't Cry for me Argentina

2005-06-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

Argentina was thrashed( is a very soft word) by Brazil. When was the last time Argentina won some silverware(2004 olympic Gold and thats not a silverware), let me go back and dig the archives, Copa American 1993 and Artemio Franchi Cup 1993. Won the world youth championship 95, 97 and Fifa youth world cup in 2001. Aimar, Riquelme were part of 97 youth team(u20). Don't know can say about the World Cup 2006. I hope Ayala and The wall protect the Argentinas goal. Claudio Lopez, Crespo should do the scoring. Aimar providing the passes for them.Lets wait and watch.

Ozzy Rocks

2005-06-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

There are no unlockable doors
There are no unwinable wars
There are no unrightable wrongs
Or unsignable songs
There are no unbeatable odds
There are no believable gods
There are no unnameable names
Shall I say it again, yeah
There are no impossible dreams
There are no invisible seams
Each night when the day is through
I don't ask much
I just want you
I just want you
There are no uncriminal crimes
There are no unrhymable rhymes
There are no identical twins or
forgivable sins
There are no incurable ills
There are no unkillable thrills
One thing and you know it's true,
I don't ask much
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
I'm sick and tired of bein' sick and tired
I used to go to bed so high and wired, yeah - yeah, yeah, yeah
I think I'll buy myself some plastic water
I guess I should have married Lennon's daughter, yeah - yeah, yeah, yeah
There are no unachievable goals
There are no unsaveable souls
No legitimate kings or queens, do
you know what I mean? Yeah
There are no indisputable truths
And there ain't no fountain of youth
Each night when the day is through,
I don't ask much
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I just want you
I just want you,
Hey, yeah
I just want you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I just want you, hey
I just want you
I just want you

A long time ago in the galaxy far, far away.

2005-06-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Star Wars III THe revenge of the sith, it good very good. Atleast after a disappointing I and II. Well made, the star wars saga is complete now. It answer all the question except. Luke asks Leia, does she remember her mother, Leia says only things she remember of her is she is beautiful and sad. Luke and leia are born at the same time, infact luke is born first. How can leia remember her? Or is it she is using the force to remember the past.
Rating the six episodes
Star Wars V - This is the one which reveals all, Yoda, the jedi master. Luke comes to know that Darth Vader is his father. Very nice fighting scenes. Especially the first one in the snow. At the end of the V, theres a hint that, the force is strong in leia. When luke calls for her she hears it.
Star Wars VI - good side wins and the choosen one kills the emperor.
Star Wars IV and Star Wars III - both are good, VI because it was first of the series and III very good, how Anakin surrenders to the dark side.
Star Wars II - i rate this above I, because of YODA fighting scene, i wanted see yoda Fight.
Star Wars I - i hate Jaa Jaa Binks, ohh Me sir, i sir Jaa Jaa Binks sir.
But the question still remains who is the choosen one?
Is it Anakin skywalker, he is the one who kills Palpatine. Or luke who brings balance to the force by converting his father back to the good side.
Most evil in decreasing order
Darth Vader
Emperor
Darth Maul(with two sided red saber)

Painful characters
Jaa Jaa Binks
Chewbecca
Little creatures from VI who happen to take luke C3PO and hans solo prisoners.

Ranji is God

2005-05-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

Babaji, I Too Need A Boon by Jayakrishnan Nair

On the 55th anniversary of India's Independence, the major problems facing India are:

1. Corruption
2. Old people acting like teenagers
3. North Indian actors speaking Tamil

This is the impression I got after watching the new Rajnikanth movie Baba, which was released on August 15th. Rajnikanth had not acted in a movie after the super-hit Padayappa and that was three years ago. As a result, Tamil Movie fans were forced to watch movies like Alavandhan, Hey Ram, Panchathanthiram, and Tenali. All these movies explored subtle nuances of the human psyche using character conflict resulting in some powerful human drama and their resolution required Kamal Haasan to kiss young actresses.

So when Baba was released, we, Tamil movie fans were excited and became insane. 21-year-old Vijaya pawned his mother's jewellery to buy tickets on the first day. Another person, Mr. Parasuraman, requested the doctor to perform a cesarean operation so that his child's birth would coincide with the release of the film. One of the first things the baby did after coming out was to ask for a beedi, which the baby caught in his mouth after flinging it up in the air.

I saw the movie on the first day itself here in the San Francisco Bay Area because I saw Chandni Bar the previous day and needed something strong to offset the depression. Chandni Bar is a hard-hitting look at the life of beer bar girls and their family. It is the kind of movie where the director's idea of humor is when a local goonda comes into Tabu's house and asks her uncle to stand up. When the uncle thinks of shaking hands with the visitor, the visitor stabs him many times to death.

The story of Baba, penned by Rajnikanth himself, goes like this. Baba is a child born to a middle-aged couple by the blessings of Babaji, a 2000-year-old Y2K-compliant saint living in the Himalayas. Baba grows up to be a young atheistic ruffian played by a middle-aged Rajnikanth with the help of industrial strength makeup. In the first half of the movie, he drinks, smokes and fights with the son of the Deputy Chief Minister, because the interval of the movie has been scheduled couple of days later.

Even though Baba is a goonda at heart, in some issues he is very naive, like for example, love. He falls for his neighbor, Chamundeshwari, played by Manisha Koirala (not the body double) with the help of a dubbing artist. The dubbing is so perfect that Baba thinks she is a Tamilian. The fact that Manisha's mother's role is played by the Malayali actress, Seema, would have triggered the attention of any Intelligence Agency. A Malayali mother, a Tamilian father and a Nepali daughter; if this had happened in the United States, F-16s would be escorting Manisha's family to Guantanamo Bay.

One day a beggar who is actually a saint comes to Baba and tells him that his fake beard is constantly falling off. So they both decide to go to see Babaji who is in the Himalayas. Baba follows him even though the beggar is Sayaji Shinde speaking Tamil.

They enter a nearby tunnel in the mountains in order to reach the Himalayas but actually end up in Switzerland because the Indian Government denied them permission to shoot in Kashmir. According to the Government, various people from Pakistan were shooting there already without permission. The official policy was to deny permission to anyone who specifically asked for it. This is the answer to all those critics who have been saying that the Government is not doing anything in Kashmir.

In Switzerland, Baba meets Babaji, the 2000-year-old saint who gives him seven boons. Baba would have tried the boons immediately but for A.R. Rahman, who interrupted him saying, "I have composed these songs, many of them over the phone from London at unearthly hours." So Rajni breaks off to sing a few songs with Manisha Koirala while the rest of the cast go back to apply more makeup, especially Goundamani who has to act as a teenaged cool dude.

After verifying some of the boons (including a thrilling three-hour scene where a kite chases Rajni), Baba becomes a believer. Soon Baba had to face something very evil, something that no Tamil Hero had ever faced before -- Amrish Puri speaking Tamil. He was brought in by the evil Chief Minister, Bharat Dabholkar and his evil Deputy, Ashish Vidyarthi, both speaking Tamil to grab Baba's Divine Powers (elder brother of Austin Powers).

But all these people were no match for Rajni. He delivered some dialogs with political overtones such as: "I will not forget the salt I have eaten of Tamil Nadu because it did not have iodine." Sitting right behind me was a Rajni fan with a towel around his head, 'Baba' style. For each dialog Rajni uttered on the screen, he whistled with such force that often people had to collect his internal organs from various corners of the theater and return it to him.

Seeing all these North Indians in a Tamil movie I was reminded of a Hindi play, which some students of my college performed during one of the college Youth Festivals. I studied in Kerala and the only Hindi that we were familiar with was the one spoken by the Krishi Darshan anchor. The play was set in Bombay. A bunch of strangers are playing cards. They introduce themselves and find that all of them are from Kerala. So one of them suggests that they all speak in Malayalam instead of struggling with Hindi. For the rest of the Hindi play, they spoke in Malayalam. The judges of the play were last seen standing in front of an oncoming train.

Similarly, I thought Rajni would suggest that they all speak in Marathi. Instead he decided to renounce the world and become a sanyasi. But as Baba along with his sanyasi mates were going back to Switzerland, the person he had chosen as the Chief Minister gets shot. At that point people expected that he would turn around. But he did not. He turned back after 30 seconds because the camera was not set in slow-motion mode. The End. At this point I was willing to see Chandni Bar again.

To the usual ingredients in a Rajni movie, like style, political punch lines, the much-expected introductory song, coriander and MTR sambar powder, the filmmakers tried to add some spirituality and it was not well cooked. If you are cooking spirituality, you are supposed to wait for three whistles in the pressure cooker according to an old jungle saying. The story and screenplay of the film was by Rajnikanth himself. Director Suresh Krissna in an interview said that, "When he narrated the story to me, I was amazed by his vision and clarity." The media thought that Suresh Krissna was referring to the story of the film, but it turned out that he was talking about Rajni's contact lenses.

In Tiruchirapalli, an unruly mob ransacked the theater and ran away with the film rolls. The mob also damaged a special screen erected for the release of the film at the Sri Ranga theater at Jayamkondam and burnt giant cut-outs of the matinee idol. This was their way of saying, "We saw this movie and lost our money, so please don't watch it."

A 24-year-old woman committed suicide allegedly dejected with her husband for not taking her to Baba at the suburban Korattur area. She reportedly rushed to the kitchen and set herself ablaze after dousing herself with kerosene. She died of severe burn injuries at a hospital, police said. This is a story which can be made into a movie with Nandita Das playing the role of the woman, Raghubir Yadav as her husband, and Bobby Deol as the can of Kerosene. If she had seen the movie, she still would have committed suicide.

But at the end of the movie, when Baba turns back to face the people in slow motion, the words that came up on the screen sent a chill down my spine right into my Muladhara Chakra causing my Kundalini energy to rise up. The words read: "To be Continued." If anyone knows the location of that tunnel to Switzerland, let me know. I plan to go there to meet Babaji and ask for just one boon, "In the next movie, give us the Padayappa Rajni back."

Straight from the Stomach

2005-05-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

Visiting lots of eating joints and rating the hostels etc etc. The one and only condition being economically feasible. So all the five star hotels are out( okay if some one wants to give treats) will include them as well.
Fish and prawns
Sion lunch home.
Sion koliwada(mini punjab)
Priya lunch home(cheap and okay).

Kebabs and tandoori
Pakhtoon(should try the starters, they are excellent but bit on the expensive side)
Sion koliwada
Sarvi(nagpada)

Biryani
Maddu Mess
SP
Juicy Stuff

Malvani chicken
New Punjab restaurant (Bandup)

But nothing like Basant and sari's kitchen.
Will update on visting more places. Suggestions most welcome but condition being it shouldn't burn my pocket, if it burns my stomach, i will take ENO.

FA Cup Finals

2005-05-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Arsenal won the FA cup 2005(penalty shoot out). Man U were the best in every department, except keeping. Lehmann made some excellent saves to deny Man U a goal in the full time. Man U should have nailed Arsenal, they had some 4 or 5 chances to score. Thanks to blunt Van Nisterooy. Anyways whats important is who won the cup, not who dominated the game? The bottomline is Arsenal is the FA Cup winners.

Knee ligament rapture

2005-04-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

one and half years back, my knee was badly injured. A bad tackle in soccer. I couldn't walk, i had been to many speacialist(surgeons). Everybody suggested to get my knee operated. I almost fell for that. Thought i would show my knee to Dr.EDWIN (IIT Bombay Basketball coach), he suggested rehabilitation. He gave me program to follow, first target was to reduce my weight. I had gained a lot of weight, i was something around 86 kgs. After a rigorous rehabilitation and Dr.Edwin's expertise in physiotherapy. I can now play basketball, soccer, volleyball, badminton, tennis. My knee is back to its best, ready to take all the bashing. Few more days of training and knee will be 100% fit for treks (ya treks this is what i had been missing for sometime). Shayadris here i come.

Profound

2005-04-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Rocky singh in a frustrated or let me put it in a better way, in a profound mood, commenting on beautiful females. "Ladki ka taste aur ladko ka kismat, dono karaab hote hai". Hmm on seconds thoughts i agree. I am dam sure windy will agree with rocky singh.

Indian

2005-04-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

Family is important. Marriage is not just about two individuals, its the union of two families(sometimes more that two families).
Values and customs. Are very important?

Things that make me, as an indian, proud. To name a few.

IIT's
IIM's
Indian Army
Bhagat Singh,Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose , Veer Sarvarkar(Many more freedom fighter's who fought for one cause, India's freedom, doesn't matter using violence or non-violence.)
Rabindranath Tagore
Indira Gandhi
Medha Patkar
Dhyan Chand

Things i hate

Bureaucrats
Lack of civic sense.

Not able to attend

2005-04-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

Binu is getting married on 22nd in Banglore.
Manoj Issac is getting married on 23rd in Kochi.
My uncle is flying to Bangladesh on 23rd from Hyerabad, will be there for 3-4 years.

Live Strong

2005-04-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

The yellow LIVESTRONG band- cost $1, which goes to the Lance Armstrong cancer foundation. Its nice idea to generate funds for cancer research. Theres something of this kind for CRY(Child relief and you) not wrist band but greeting cards and stuff like that. We Care a sub group of CRY was formed by few of my friends. We Care used to generate funds and give it to CRY. We Care does't exist anymore god knows the reasons.

Angry

2005-04-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

When you get angry? Many suggest to let go your anger on something else, like hitting a pillow. Does that really help?!!!. You are actually not controlling your anger, by hitting a pillow or whatever. That way we are actually developing a bad habit of not controlling the anger. I sometimes get angry while playing. While playing a contact sport you don't have any pillow or anything to hit. Its the players who are near you. Angry is good in sports , but only channelized. Was contemplating on what to do when you get angry. Finally conclude to the one and only solution.

CONTROL YOU ANGER. DONT LOSE YOUR TEMPER.

YOU MAY LOSE MORE THAN YOU TEMPER IN ANGER.

CONTROL YOUR TEMPER WHEN LOSING AND YOU EMOTIONS WHEN WINNING.