MAULIK PRABHUDESAI

Success

2011-12-15T23:01:00.000+05:30

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Of course, success is a moving target...!

2011-12-01T17:09:00.002+05:30

http://www.mybitforchange.org/2011/selective-islam/

Article by former Pakistani cricketer and now politician Imran Khan.

Definitely worth a read

Quarter Life

2011-10-30T19:23:00.003+05:30

This sounds like a Chuck Lorre production but actually I found it over the internet. And of course, this is my first blog post from Dutch country.

‎23-25 is not a nice age for a man. Your ex-gfs are getting married, your career has just started.
Elders treat you as unproven theorems, college guys feel that you are too old to have in there group.
You seem to enjoy both cartoon and news. You can no longer eat whatever you wish without putting on weight.
You look like an ape if you don’t shave daily. You are not invited for weekend cricket matches.
Every Aunt you meet asks about your marriage plans (or lack of them) and Uncle asks about future career choices.
When the reality is that you are just riding the wave and going with the flow.
You have all the confidence in the world but little achievements to show.
You already have the first hand experience of the life, You know that whatever you have been taught about the world in schools has been sheer waste of time.
You can be denied a job even after passing the test and you could be given a job if you know someone placed high enough.
Politics till now was a dirty word but now you feel it everywhere.
You know now love is not that blind and that friendship has its terms and conditions.
You know there is nothing for granted and free lunches are not free.
Your overconfidence is now making way for a humble conscience.

You now know it is not exactly what we thought it would be.

Day 19

2011-03-10T00:28:00.000+05:30

Well India seems to have an interest in making all matches as entertaining as possible. Otherwise no other explanations seems to fit for why India is letting minnows believe that they have a chance.
Holland began cautiously but in the end their middle order struggled to continue the good work. I expected them to work their way up to 250 given their steady start but they folded for a paltry 189.
India too started as though they were in mood for early dinner but had to put their plans on hold because of some great bowling by Seelar.
Lastly Yuvraj Singh was pathetic - I am sure he must have said sometimes that he plays for the team and blah blah, it is at such occasions that one realises how hollow these statements were. Dhoni should have known better and finished the match as early as possible.

Lankans play the Zimbabweans in what should be a cakewalk for the Lankans on the picturesque ground of Pallekele. Best of luck to Zimbabwe though - they are going to need it.

Day 18

2011-03-08T23:02:00.000+05:30

What an innings by Taylor! Single handedly demoralized the Pakistani batting line up and won the game at half time. The commentary team rightly called him the 'Plunderer of Pallekele'. 114 of 6 is something you rarely get to see even in T20. Most memorable was Shoaib Akhtar's ninth over - 28 runs! Murder.

We play the Dutch tomorrow at Ferozeshah Kotla where the curator messed up big time and produced a slow and low wicket after renovation - this bothers me as the Wankhede which is scheduled to hoist the finals was recently renovated - dont know if the curators have preserved the track of relaid it.

Anyways this may be the most boring match of all.

Cheers

Day 17

2011-03-07T23:55:00.000+05:30

Was not even a bit interested in today's match. However pleased to know the result that Canada won comfortably and managed to avoid the wooden spoon. After all they are the fifth home team here. Signal for Kenya to improve their cricket administration. (In that area the Canadians are no better either - they stuff their side with Asian expats and an ageing Australian).

Pakistan play the Kiwis tomorrow. Going by the past form of the Kiwis, I dont give them a chance against the in form Pakistanis (wonder how they will handle Shahid Afridi's variations on a spinning track). But Pakistan are known to do the unexpected and we may have a game out of this one (also interesting to see how the Pakistani batsmen fare against Vettori)

Cheers

Day 16

2011-03-07T01:17:00.000+05:30

Well Ireland did not come up with an encore performance in batting but were about the pull the match by some tight bowling. But thanks to Yuvraj (all though he ran Kohli out) we did not take away the choker's tag from South Africa. This team unfailingly comes up with stupid performances and loses matches from where even a club side would win convincingly. Maybe some things are written in destiny and one cannot change them no matter what. If they do not make it to the last 2 or maybe 4 of this world cup, I will feel sad for Jacques Kallis.

Kenyans are playing the Canadians tomorrow and both teams will make desperate bids to avoid the wooden spoon! Least interested.

Day 15

2011-03-06T00:07:00.000+05:30

Well cannot write much about today as the match was washed out because of rain. But can definitely say something about tomorrow's matches.

In an all important match, the English play the South Africans - always an exciting match. Hope to see scores will in excess of 300.

India vs Ireland takes place in the magical Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. Team batting second always seems to make a mockery of daunting totals here and thus India must look to play it safe with opting to bowl first. But in all I am not too worried about India's performance in tomorrow's match. Wish them best of luck!

Day 14

2011-03-05T02:10:00.000+05:30

The most disappointing day of the world cup! Pathetic display by Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. At least Zimbabweans reached double figures. Windies have shown that they are as strong contenders for the WC as are India ans South Africa.

Personally I expected Zimbabwe to show some aggressive cricket against the Kiwis given how the Kiwis had struggled against spin attack in India. Well maybe the ICC's decision to keep the associates out of the WC in the 50 over game is justified after all.

Well in a repeat of the 2007 finale, Sri Lanka play Australia and I am hoping that this game will be a display of fireworks from both the sides.

Good Night

Day 13

2011-03-04T00:25:00.000+05:30

After those kind of innings by Amla and De Villers there was no way the Dutch were going to win this. I expected them to give a fight, try to pull an Ireland here but they failed miserably and it is painful when they fail at doing that.

Pakistan must thank the gods for the stupid and inexperienced batting of the Canadians for a Pakistani loss here would have meant that the match fixing ghosts would have come back to haunt them. The Canadians did all the hard work and restricted Pakistan for a paltry 184 only to fall out at 138 themselves. Such a pity! And Shahid Afridi is the man on fire and may very well be Pakistan's trump card this world cup.

We have 2 interesting matches tomorrow which I expect to be full of entertainment. Kiwis play the Zimbabweans and the West Indians play the Bangladeshis. Catch you tomorrow!

Day 12

2011-03-03T00:54:00.001+05:30

What a match! Ireland did not look minnows at all and a person with no prior knowledge of the standings of the respective teams could have easily mistaken Ireland for a seasoned ODI side. Guess the time is ripe to grant them a Test status.
We were watching the match in our room and almost gave Kevin O'Brien a standing ovation. After watching England post a mammoth total, I did not have the slightest expectation that the Irish will pull this off. But pull off they did and that too with style. It was a wonderful sight watching O'Brien rip through the English attack like an untethered elephant running amok a helpless crowd.
Pakistan play Canada tomorrow and I am hoping that the Canadians save some pride. (Sincerely wish that John Davison stops looking like a fool and comes to the party started by Sehwag and carried forward by the likes of Tendulkar, Strauss and O'Brien).
And the Dutch will do some fighting against the Proteas but then again, no big expectations. They just do not have the firepower to cause serious injury to a full member side. It was Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 1999, Kenya in 2003 and now I hope this WC gives the Irish their due recognition and a Test status - which they fully deserve.

Day 11

2011-03-02T00:23:00.000+05:30

Well this world cup the crowd as all been for revenge matches. Revenge for 1987, revenge for Lord's 2009 and so on. Even the Lankans were looking for revenge for 2003 against Kenya. The Lankans stroke upon the Kenyans with great vengeance and furious anger and dismissed them for a paltry 142 thanks to a hattrick by Malinga. (we have had 2 hattricks on 2 days, and remember that these are subcontinental pitches) Naturally they took it as a T20 game later on and chased it in some 18 overs.

The Irish play the Pommies tomorrow and I am expecting one cracker of a match.

Cheers!

Day 10

2011-03-01T00:21:00.000+05:30

Well minnows will always remain minnows. Canadians looked at one point that they will restrict the Zimbabweans and make a match out of it. However they let it slip and Zimbabwe posed a relatively imposing total. Zimbabwe usually look to bowl 40 overs with spin and thus watching them play is always interesting as they run through their overs quickly. I expected some fireworks from the Canadians given their performance in the warm up match against England and some late display of fireworks in the last match. However what happened was totally disappointing. It was really painful to watch John Davison trying to ascertain his superiority and failing miserably again and again.

When Pollard and Roach are breathing fire, no team can do much and the Dutch were no exceptions. Cannot blame them. After the tie, we have an hat-trick in this one and the WC has suddenly come alive!

Sri Lanka play Kenya tomorrow. Zzzzzzzz!

Day 9

2011-02-27T23:12:00.001+05:30

Tumultuous, shocking! Took me this very moment to fully comprehend the meaning of 'Topsy Turvy'. We should have lost. But at least we did not let them win. The master blaster's wonderful effort, which should have been enough to ensure an outright victory proved only sufficient to deny the opponents what should have been their most famous win till date.

In tomorrow's matches, I expect Zimbabwe to open their account against the Canadians although not without a fight from them and I am rooting for the Dutch to cause an upset by defeating the out of form Windies.

In the end, all's well that does not end unwell!

Day 8

2011-02-27T00:31:00.000+05:30

From what I heard, this match was one which I should not have missed. But today was a day I will never forget ever in my life and hence I do not regret missing this one.

But after many tiring days, I will finally recline and put my legs up and watch India play England.

Best of Luck to India

Day 7

2011-02-25T23:55:00.001+05:30

Australia totally steamrolled New Zealand. Abysmal showing by the Kiwis. Right in continuation from where they left off in the series against India.

I had high hopes from Ireland and they nearly lived up to them. In the end, playing Bangladesh at their home in the company of a large and boisterous crowd proved too much. The Irish realised that in the subcontinent, cricket is played and followed with an intensity unparalleled anywhere else. Hopefully the 'other' men in green will only get better from here and cause an upset or two.

Tomorrow is probably the first really competitive game of the tournament.Watching the Lankans play the Pakistanis has always been interesting. Will surely catch the highlights of this one.

Ciao Ciao!

Day 6

2011-02-25T00:56:00.000+05:30

Chris Gayle's tall claims came crashing down thanks to a some sublime batting by De Villers. This West Indian side looks out of touch and poorly prepared. Will be easy meat for the likes of India (let's hope it is) and the two associates will hope the best in their respective matches against them.

Australia vs New Zealand - mouth watering eh? But I have miles to go before I rest down and enjoy cricket.

Good night!

Day 5

2011-02-24T00:21:00.001+05:30

It is becoming monotonous. The associates raise your expectations and then fail to live up to them. Dismissive feeling.

South Africa play West Indies tomorrow. That's one match I do not want to miss. I can vividly remember the opening match of the first ever T20 World Cup where Chris Gayle blasted the wind out of the South Africans only to get battered by Herschelle Gibbs again.

Cheerios!

Day 4

2011-02-23T01:22:00.001+05:30

Well played Holland! Cheers to Ten Doeschate! SRK will be smiling 'loudly'. I am sure you will have better matches ahead Holland.
Pretty Exhausted. Have no interest in watching Pakistan play Kenya but will still hope for something special.

Good night!

Day 3

2011-02-21T23:49:00.002+05:30

Anticipation gone down in drain once again! Zimbabwe should have applied themselves and sealed this match! But they look on the right track at least in the bowling department and I wish them well and hope that they spring up an upset. I bet the ICC officials are smiling.

On day 4, Pakistan play Kenya - I expect the Kenyans to do an encore of their performance against the Black Caps, and the Dutch play the English (one might call it a north sea rivalry!) amidst memories of the Twenty20 world cup match in Lord's, 2009. Ten Doeschante will be looking to show that his signing by KKR was a good deal and more Dutch players would be looking at this cup as an opportunity to bag IPL contracts as well as county stints. Best of luck to the Orange boys!

Bon Nuit and Au Revoir!

Day 2

2011-02-20T22:37:00.000+05:30

After a brief resistance at the start of the innings, just when I thought that the Kenyans were getting any better at the gentlemen's game, they collapsed like a pack of cards (or for that matter like cycles in a cycle stand). I know this sounds cliche but the way the Kenyan batting unfolds is a cliche as well and hence I have not bothered to find a better term.

The first game got over even before the second was about to start. In the other game of the day, technically both the teams were playing on home grounds - the Canadian team is comprised of Indian, Pakistani and Lankan expatriates. I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary from the Canadians but I hoped that in chasing a big target, John Davison would come up with another one of his blistering knocks (the one which we have been waiting for since the match against the West Indians in WC 2003). Alas I can only say that this cup was an opportunity for the Canadian players to enjoy a trip to their home at their board's expense.
Such performances more than provide an excuse for the ICC's decision of banning associates from future editions of the world cup. I hope that the Irish and the Dutch prove the ICC wrong and cause a few upsets here.

Among other things, Somdev Devvarman, India's lone hope in tennis meets Roger Federer in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships and I just feel proud that an Indian is competing in a field that comprises of Fedex and Djoker. Being an ardent fan of Federer, I honestly do not know whom to support! But I guess it does not matter who I cheer for and I am happy to know that I will not cry myself to sleep if Federer loses.

Meanwhile Day 3 is another don't care day where Australia play Zimbabwe. The Zimbabweans beat the Aussies in a Twenty20 world cup match in South Africa in 2007 and I hope that we at least get to see a contest. Nothing is more exhilarating than seeing fringe players from weaker teams rise to the occasion and push the bar right up by playing the tournament of their lives - because that is what makes history and that is what the world cup is for!

Adios \m/

Day 1

2011-02-20T01:11:00.003+05:30

I missed the action! And I feel violated. The Bangladeshis could not match an imposing total of three hundred and seventy runs. They had done their homework well and planned for the master but forgot to do so for his apprentice destroyer.

I pity myself that I could not resist the urge to sleep on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. No more afternoon naps during this world cup. Especially not on match days!

The Canadians play the Lankans and the New Zealanders take on the Kenyans tomorrow on day two. Could I be more interested?

Daffodils

2011-02-18T19:55:00.003+05:30

Another poem that has been doing the rounds of my mind these days is Daffodils by William Wordsworth. Poetry appreciation is not really my forte but whenever I come across such beautiful poems I feel that I should have studied the English language with a lot more interest.

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher

2011-02-18T19:36:00.002+05:30

Some pieces of literature, no matter how old they are never become obsolete. One such example is Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher.

Reading it again and again gives me great pleasure and I cannot help but marvel at Lincoln's astute observational skills and strong belief in morality.

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow,
my son!

Greed!

2011-02-17T00:39:00.002+05:30

Greed, for lack of a better word is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cut's through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed in all of it's forms. greed for life, money love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, mark my words will not only save Teldar paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called The USA

- Gordon Gekko

World Cup fever begins!

2011-02-16T18:26:00.003+05:30

There is a possible Anglo Irish rivalry brewing up in the subcontinent and this is a small evidence.

I expect to see the Irish in the quarters and soon in white colours playing their maiden test against India just like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

On other hand, Yuvraj Singh did not get to sharpen his weapons in the run slaughtering fest called 'warm up match' prior to the Cup. Is this a sign of the future things to come?

2011-02-09T19:25:00.001+05:30

We have all descended from monkeys... And we are still descending!

- Navjot Singh Sidhu

2011-02-07T10:14:00.000+05:30

The wait always seems unending!

Ezekiel 25:17

2011-02-03T23:30:00.002+05:30

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost jewellery and I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers and you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

2011-01-30T12:36:00.002+05:30

Leadership is a two way street, loyalty up and loyalty down. Respect for one's superiors and care for one's crew.

- Grace Murray Hopper

2011-01-28T15:26:00.001+05:30

It is not the will to win that makes a winner, it is the will to prepare

- Anonymous

Quotes

2011-01-26T10:28:00.002+05:30

In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It's how we make a living.

- Barack Obama

Read Here

Chuck Lorre

2011-01-21T12:15:00.002+05:30

I have a recurring dream that I have been drafted to play on an NBA team. This is very upsetting because I cannot really play basketball. I mean, I play pretty much how you would expect a middle aged Jewish comedy writer to play. The words clumsy, hesitant, clueless short and frightened come to my mind. During the dream I am well aware of my grotesque lack of talent. I run up and down the court hoping the ball does not come my way, all the while wondering why the coach does not take me out. Even me executing an uncontested lay-up or free throw seems like an impossible or an unlikely event. Assuming dreams work like a metaphor and I am not really subconsciously afraid of having to go mano a mano with Kobe or LeBron, the question I find myself asking is what in my life do i feel fully engaged in yet completely unqualified for? The answer is simple; intimate relationships. Once again the words clumsy, clueless, short and frightened come to my mind. Well, not short... average.

2011-01-15T13:04:00.001+05:30

If you want success as bad as air to breathe, then no one can stop you from getting it - Socrates

Cato the Elder

2010-12-16T21:29:00.002+05:30

When I die, I would rather have people say why there is no monument to me that why there is.

Wiki - Leaky

2010-12-05T23:17:00.004+05:30

Inspite of all the uproar against investigative journalism and the fear of compromising any nations security, all wiki leaks does is open your eyes to this very simple fact - Diplomacy, Secrecy and Politics should be used to serve the cause of humanity and not otherwise

2010-11-05T20:24:00.002+05:30

To My Countrymen

who gave unto themselves the Constitution, but not the ability to keep it,

who inherited a resplendent heritage, but not the wisdom to cherish it,

who suffer and endure in patience, without the perception of their potential.

This is foreword to the book We, The People, by Nani Palkhivala

2010-10-22T20:00:00.001+05:30

A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction.

Very well said by Oscar Wilde.

Adidas Tribute to Sachin

2010-10-22T00:18:00.002+05:30

'Impossible' is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they have been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, it is an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration, it is a dare. Impossible is potential, Impossible is temporary.

Impossible is nothing!

Dedicated to the man who makes a burgeoning country stop in it's tracks everytime he walks out to take the crease.

Sachin Tendulkar.

Ayodhya Verdict

2010-09-30T17:37:00.002+05:30

It was very very unique and absolutely unprecedented situation that in side the boundary wall and compound of the mosque Hindu religious places were there which were actually being worshipped along with offerings of Namaz by Muslims in the mosque[1].

And suddenly someone felt the need to create discontentment out of nothing and the temple movement was started. Hot headed extremists and cold blooded Machiavellians, one seeking redemption and the other political mileage rallied under the saffron flag and destroyed the very emblem of symbiotic unity in which fathers of modern India had placed their belief.

Today once again, we had to resort to partition to buy peace[2].

We seem to have mastered the art of creating a divide out of nothing. Partition is seen as a sure road to peace. Today India confused the deliverance of Justice with the appeasement of the masses.

A very saddening day in my life.

On a lighter note, it can be seen that it was us who first used 'Zero' and fractions, that too irrational fractions. [3]

References

[1] http://rjbm.nic.in/suk.pdf

[2] http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/ayodhyabench.html

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrational_number#History

And I forgot

2010-04-10T00:22:00.002+05:30

And I forgot about this famous one "Poker Face"

People playing poker have to rely on the other person's facial micro-expressions so that they can call his bluff.

So the other person tries his best to keep his face expressionless, a term which led to the origin of the word "Poker Face" a term using which I would like to describe myself !!!

Phrases related to cards

2010-04-10T00:12:00.002+05:30

"If you do not have a good partner, you should have a good hand"

This is related to Bridge and we all know in which context do we use it.

"Up the ante"

This one is from blind man's bluff (poker) or our very own teen-patti. The person who sees his cards is required to play the double of a blind man. So the stakes depend upon the blind mans money. So to to increase the stakes, the blind man is expected to raise his money in the game, which is known as upping the ante.

btw 'stakes' is also a betting related term :D

Mine

2010-04-09T01:16:00.000+05:30

The first step to finding the solution to a problem is to make everyone at the table accept that the problem exists. Any attempt to force a solution without taking this all important first step would result in the conference room turn into a boxing ring.

And in a bout, someone’s bound to get a bloody nose.

Gandhi, Bihar and Mumbai

2010-02-03T19:46:00.003+05:30

Rahul Gandhi suddenly realized the injustice in Mumbai. Isn't it such a wonderful coincidence that this epiphany came just before the Bihar elections?

This proves just one thing, that sending poor people to Mumbai has always been and will be the agenda of winning governments in that sorry state. Instead of giving impetus to industrialization which will create jobs for poor illiterate labourers, Congress feels it right to make people think that immigration to Mumbai is the solution to the hapless land's problem.

Lets face it, Mumbai is a city which reeling under the weight of its huge population. Add to this the inefficient infrastructure (world record passenger/hr/km density of the Churchgate Virar local, largest slum in Asia, 2 hours traffic jam between to signals placed a kilometre apart etc etc are not the things which we should be proud of, even if we rattle them off to others proudly). It is a city which cannot tolerate more. It is better if we do not discuss the security against terrorist threats. Under such circumstances putting a man in the city with no money, no place to sleep, no fixed job (the man is not a tax payer) is not a good idea after all.

The city which gives India more than 70% of the tax money certainly deserves more. The central government owes good shelter, good security and better overall standard of living to the people of this city which is probably the face of India in the outside world. If it cannot provide that to people coming to Mumbai, it should ask them to wait until these facilities are provided.

Beating up poor, helpless men is not and will never be the solution. The problem in Mumbai is grave and unique one faced by our country which is relatively young. The solution cannot be found by rattling lines from the constitution. Such unique problems demand a unique, 'never thought of before' solution. I have realized this problem after I started studying in Surat. Life in other cities is much more easy and it reflects in the fact that average age of Mumbaikar's is one of the lowest in the country. The stress caused by poor facilities ultimately kills people living in Mumbai. What we need is the urgent improvement in facilities or otherwise a moratorium or a strict protocol on migrating to Mumbai. If you cannot give them a good life here, do not bring them here to create chaos (and also a vote bank in the hapless state).

I am deeply saddened by this attitude of the ruling party towards my city. When it comes to eating the political pie, everyone recognizes the injustice the Thackeray's (little brother, cousin brother and uncle) do to migrants. But no one ever realizes the injustice done to Mumbai by the centre.

Interesting blog

2010-01-31T00:31:00.002+05:30

All of you guys who like technology should take a look at my eccentric friend Khushraj's new blog Mathematics behind Technology (pardon the huge name). It is an interesting blog which gives you opportunity to brainstorm over seemingly simple things we have studied.

I always wanted to start a technology blog of my own. But I never had the will nor the concrete idea of what I would be discussing in that blog. This blog comes pretty much close to the kind of forum I would have liked to create.

So guys, check it out regularly.

Peak Year

2009-12-31T13:20:00.003+05:30

This has been my peak blogging year so far. More number of posts than my firts two years put together.

I am loving it

Statuses

2009-12-30T22:50:00.003+05:30

People keep all kinds of stuff as their status update in google talk. Some is to the point update on whether they would like to be disturbed or not, eg 'dnd', 'at work' or the simple 'away'.

However people also like to keep so many other things like lyrics of their favourite songs. (I honestly feel they would like if an option of streaming the video song was made available as the status). Some people put random quotes as their statuses. It is this which sometimes amazes me.

Some excerpts from statuses which my friends have put right now!

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
"Right and wrong do exist. Just because you don't know what the right answer is — maybe there's even no way you could know what the right answer is — doesn't make your answer right or even okay. It's much simpler than that. It's just plain wrong.

Like it!!!!!

Baroda

2009-12-30T13:17:00.007+05:30

I went to Vadodara a couple of days ago. Actually I had to go to Anand for some stuff. After that I decided to spend time in Baroda to meet my folks there whom I wanted to meet ever since I started staying in Surat.

I am not yet used to my mobile-phone camera and it did not occur to me that I could take shots of stuff while I walked past it. Yet somehow the beauty of this made me remember about the gadget I had and I snapped a pic of it.

Also my Anand job was nice and I realised at its end that I do not have any visual memento of my outing. So these photos were clicked at Anand station. Do not mind the quality of photo which have me in it as poor Manik was more interested in the chick standing next to us than clicking my pic.

Avatar

2009-12-21T23:50:00.002+05:30

Avatar is a great movie. Must see for every regular movie-goer and also for the average guy like me who judiciously chooses which movie to watch and which to chuck. James Cameron might be the most brilliant man in the history of film making and his written scripts may blow the mind of one and all.

I am seeing posts after posts, blogs after blogs going on how Cameron has commented on the oil war in the middle east by drawing parallels with unobtainium and how 'green' a movie Avatar is. People have somehow conferred upon this movie the title of the 'most awesomest movie' ever. And someone or the other is constantly digging into the storyline and trying to point out how this movie is actually a comment on the current international political scenario.

Chill guys. This is just a great great piece of entertainment. Nothing else.

TED Mysore

2009-11-17T23:31:00.002+05:30

This thing is AWESOME. Must watch it. For every guy who is into technology.

TED Mysore - Pranav Mistry.

The guy Pranav Mistry is an IIT alumnus and currently a PhD student at the Mecca of engineering (MIT).

He was speaking at TED conference in Mysore, India, 2009.

Really good ones

2009-11-15T12:09:00.002+05:30

I have come across quotes which strike the mind after a long long time.

Only the mediocre are always at their best.
- Jean Giraudoux

This is so true. Everyone wants to be above average but do not understand that for the term "average" to exist there should be equal number of people below it. No one is at their best all the time.

Let is take things as we find them; let us not distort them into what they are not. We cannot make facts. All our wishing cannot change them. We must use them.
- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Now I liked this one. I have been listening to people say shit about what should be ideal and that the ideal solution is only the ideal solution without accounting for reality. This quote just reflects and emphasizes what I want to say.

And this one is just too cool:-

The governments view of the economy can be summed up in few short phrases; If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, regulate it.
- Ronald Reagan

Pamuk

2009-11-14T14:12:00.000+05:30

I want to read Orhan Pamuk

Gen. A. S. Vaidya

2009-11-14T13:53:00.002+05:30

Fonseca, in a letter to the Lankan president, mentioned about an Indian army general we might have never ever heard the name of. General Arun Sridhar Vaidya. He was the one who planned operation bluestar and got us rid of militancy in one part of the country forever. The price he paid for this was his life. Terrorists pumped 8-9 bullets in his head and neck after he retired. Fonseka feared that he might have the same fate and might be killed by the remnants of LTTE.

What is similar and should be noted that these men, inspite of knowing the perils to their life, put the country at the highest priority.
And also that people like Vaidya are forever remembered by people who know the value of his contribution, by acknowledging him 23 years down the line in some country other than his own.

The True Ultra Nationalist

2009-11-14T13:40:00.002+05:30

"I strongly believe that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese, but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people. They can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things."
- General Sarath Fonseka (CDS of Sri-Lankan defence forces and a beloved war hero for the Lankans)

General Fonseka , in my opinion truly resembles the ultra nationalist who is one of the rare few who have a vision for their country. Even if this statement clearly displays his racial bias against the Tamils, he looks like the person who knows what should be done and has the power to do whatever should be done to lead his country into being a successful one; one with equality and justuce for people of all races.
Fonseka wants to quit the army and serve the nation in some other capacity, that of the president. May he become that and may we have everlasting peace in atleast one of our neighbouring country

3 years to live

2009-11-13T18:29:00.002+05:30

What would you do if you had only 3 years to live your life to its fullest???

Rediff posed this question to people and I decided to dig deep into the answers 3 men came up with.

Man 1 says(name withheld to protect privacy although you can google this article up and find who the fuck he is)

1. I shall travel all the world by plane.

2. I shall date as many girls as I can.

3. I want to kiss Aishwarya Rai.

4. I want to taste non-vegetarian food to see how it feels, because I am vegetarian.

5. I shall leave my job and go home to live with my family in my village.

6. I shall stop doing everything else and give all my time to my wife and daughter.

7. I shall go to gambling bars and play upto such a time that I have either nothing left to lose or win so much that I go to sleep right there.

8. I shall attend the marriages of all my relatives, which I used to miss when I had my job.

9. I shall buy a car and drive it for as long as I can.

10. I shall play cartoon games so as to remain happy upto the end of life.

See the order of the highlighted answers.

Also see Man 2:

1. Keep reducing my extra weight and get slim before I die.

2. Have sex for 1-2 weeks.

3. Resign from my job and spend time with my parents.

4. Spend time with disabled children.

5. Fly a fighter jet (getting permission to do so somehow).

6. Roam extensively around India to all religious places.

7. Visit the most haunted place in India.

8. Tell the girl I love how I feel and ask for a date.

9. Eat the most exotic vegetarian delicacies in India.

Again he got the order wrong.

Man 3 is a little less pervert

1. Spend most of the time with my wife and kids.

2. Visit America's Las Vegas.

3. Liquidate all my investments.

4. Slap all my foes.

5. Fall in love.

6. Throw a party and invite everybody in town.

7. Fly a fighter plane.

8. Stop going to work.

9. Dance will all good-looking girls.

10. Die near water, holding my kids' hands.

You can clearly see that men love sex more than anything else!!!!!

Harlots

2009-10-31T23:38:00.003+05:30

I remembered this while posting the last post... has anyone heard Charlot the Harlot? or 22 Acacia Avenue?

For the guys who haven't, I strongly recommend it

:-D

Quote

2009-10-29T17:36:00.001+05:30

If you would not step into the Harlot's house, do not go by the Harlot's door.

- Thomas Secker

I do not know why I liked this one. But somehow this makes sense.

Now what?

2009-09-22T00:55:00.002+05:30

After this clarification by Mr. Santhanam, I think the issue is pretty much clear. I wonder what the defence ministry has to say. It should be accepted that we do not have a H-Bomb. And that we wasted 11 years when we could have acted upon the failure and set things right. We have become a laughing stock for our adversaries. Our scam has been exposed. The Pakistanis will be stupid if they let us strong arm them and the Chinese will be stupid if they do not strong arm us.

A political failure which threatens to build insecurity in people's mind will only lead to instability and a weak government which will result in more patronizing of us by our not so friendly and also friendly neighbours.

A 'no first-strike policy does not have any meaning if you do not have the weapons, forget the capability for a second strike. When we developed nuclear subs and water-to-land misiles and displayed them with pride to showcase our second strike capability, we somehow chose to ignore the fact that we do not have enough and effective warheads to be mounted on them.

India won't be allowed to get away with this hollow exposure of national security. Isnt it is a strange co-incidence that the number of incursions by China from across the border and mischief from the Pakistanis at the western border increased manifold since the day Mr. Santhanam brought the nuclear program out of the closet?

The NDA which prided itself on being the government which carried out the Pokhran tests should hang their heads in shame. The Congress more so because it did not correct the failure of the past when they could and for dismissing things so obivously visible instead of accepting them and making future plans to achieve nuclear capability.

For the first time in my life of 20 years, I feel insecure about India's integrity in the future. Hope someone is listening and has balls to do the right thing.

Curiousity

2009-09-11T01:00:00.002+05:30

Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return, and you may remain in ignorance.

- William Wirt

I have come to believe in this statement in my pre-final year of engineering. And I enjoy doing this. I wish I had known this earlier.

good one

2009-09-04T00:07:00.001+05:30

Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.
- Evan Esar

Muzumdar leaving home

2009-08-21T13:03:00.002+05:30

Muzumdar is leaving 38 times Ranji holders Mumbai this season for minnows Assam. See here.
I do not to agree with his decision to leave Mumbai. His argument that playing for Assam will help reinvent himself as a batsman and captain seems inadequate. In Ranji Trophy cricket, earning a Mumbai call up is equivalent to earning the baggy green in Australia. I believe any player if given the option would like to be the 12th man wearing the baggy green than be the captain of minnow side. There is surely more to this than meets the eye.
As an ardent Mumbai cricket fan, I am deeply saddened by the prospect of not seeing Mazumdar in the starting line up this next time when Mumbai step out on Wankhede to defend their title and to earn their record 39th title. Although batsmen like Jaffer, Rahane and Sharma will ensure that batting department is looked after well, the abscence of Mazumdar is bound to be felt. He was the Prodigal son of Mumbai cricket and we fans have always looked upon him to deliver the goods when the time had come.
Although his role in the lineup was similar to Dravid's role in the Indian team, I will not call him as 'The Wall' or 'Dravid'of Mumbai. It was due to sheer luck that out of Dravid and Muzumdar, both batsmen of immensely great talent, Dravid got the call ahead of Muzumdar. Dravid capitalised on his goods and Muzumdar never got a look in later. God knows had Muzumdar got a call before Dravid, he would have ended up being the Wall. He is probably the best example of the abundance of talent in Mumbai cricket. He was the batsman who sat padded up for 3 days continuously in the dressing room because Tendulkar and Kambli were out there scoring a record 350 partnership in the school league (they all were schoolmates and played for the team). He is probably one of the few players in the world who could have warranted a place in any international side in the world. Ironically he is also one of the rare few of them who did not get to represent any.
He is 31 runs away from being the all times highest run scorer in Ranji Trophy history. I pray that he achieves this record at the earliest and hopefully sometime in the future retrns to play one last time for his home - Mumbai

Good one

2009-08-20T18:27:00.000+05:30

During periods of relaxation after concentrated intellectual activity, the intuitive mind seems to take over and can produce the sudden clarifying insights which give so much joy and delight.

- Fritjof Capra, physicist

Dhammapada

2009-07-25T18:23:00.001+05:30

Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.

- The Dhammapada

Obama

2009-07-16T21:48:00.001+05:30

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

- Barack Obama (President United States of America 2009 - )

Such inspiring words. Have never come across similar stuff from any Indian politician

Quotes and Quotes

2009-07-15T18:16:00.003+05:30

I do not do much writing on the blog these days. Say I do not have time or say I do not come across any topic which invokes the blogger within me. So to keep up I just post some good quotes I come across while surfing, which has become a habit for me now. Keeping up with the habit, here comes one more.

All charming people have someting to conceal, usually their total dependence on the appreciation of others.

- Cyril Connolly.

These are fun to read. Each one of them comes with an epiphany of being so true and we marvel at the insight of the person who quoted it as we relate it to our own experiences.

Real Live Preacher

2009-07-14T21:38:00.000+05:30

You can't know everything you'd like to know. You can't do everything you'd like to do. You can't read everything you'd like to read. You must hold onto some things and let go of others. Learning to make that choice is one of the big lessons of this life.

Nice one

2009-07-10T23:00:00.003+05:30

God runs electromagnetics by wave theory on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the Devil runs them by quantum theory on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

- Sir William Bragg (British Phsycist)

So who runs it on Sunday? Whoever runs probably uses GUT!!

New definition of pleasure

2009-07-08T22:08:00.000+05:30

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

- Aristotle

Maybe thats why people always stress on hot r eceptionist or secretary.

Great Quotes

2009-06-24T21:46:00.001+05:30

In the end, we decide if we're remembered for what happened to us or for what we did with it.

- Randy K. Milholland

The sweat of hard work is not to be displayed. It is much more graceful to appear favored by the gods.

- Maxine Hong Kingston

Rains...!!!

2009-06-20T20:20:00.002+05:30

My post welcoming rains for the fourth year in succession. There is atlast signs of the rains hitting Mumbai. I always prefer to be drenched in water than in sweat. The first smell of wet earth carried by the wind always seems flirty.

Check this out! Amazing

2009-06-20T20:16:00.002+05:30

Going through a rather famous blog which comments on almost everything around us here in India.

Came across this post which talks about old beliefs. IMO funny.

The Aryan Toilet code

Chuck Palahniuk

2009-06-18T23:25:00.001+05:30

All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring!

This is so true

2009-06-02T16:50:00.001+05:30

"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?"

- Shantideva

Some amazing words spoken...!!!

2009-06-01T15:43:00.003+05:30

I must study politics and war so that my sons have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architechture, navigation, commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architechture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.

- John Adams

There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth.

- Agnes Repplier

The internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes easier to connect.

- Esther Dyson

Another fav quote

2009-05-25T21:31:00.001+05:30

Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all!!!

- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg.

V-Day

2009-04-30T18:00:00.002+05:30

I exercised my franchise to vote today. These days they put the ink mark on your middle finger. I guess they put it there so that we can show our finger to the assholes who do not vote!!!

Great Quote!!!!!

2009-04-18T20:55:00.000+05:30

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

Time for red dust

2009-04-10T17:27:00.003+05:30

Excerpt from www.rogerfederer.com :-

Dear Fans

I have decided to accept a wildcard into the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament that begins on Monday. I will head there this weekend to start the clay court season.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support.

All the best,

Roger

So what does this mean?

As a fan, I think this can only be good news. It shows that after that miserable loss to Novak Djokovic in the semis in Miami, Roger has not given up and retreated into hiding. No, no, no, no, no....instead he has decided to step it up and get in some more clay court practice. Now that's the mark of a true champ....and hopefully a sign that he is in a positive frame of mind.

Looks like he's serious about trying to complete his impressive CV with the missing Slam!
The good news also means I get to watch Roger in action again sooner than I expected—YAY!

Education

2009-03-29T10:38:00.000+05:30

Education... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.

- G. M. Trevelyan

The essence of Blogging

2009-03-23T17:16:00.002+05:30

It is not a bad idea to get in the habit of writing down one's thoughts. It saves one having to bother anyone else with them.

And that's why I blog once in a while!!!!!!

Terror and Politics

2009-03-08T19:06:00.001+05:30

A very good blog post by Rajdeep Sardesai :-

Terror and Politics find a new pitch.

The Wrestler

2009-02-25T23:01:00.003+05:30

I just saw the movie "The Wrestler". Liked it very much. It is about the life of a professional wrestler. Just like the ones we see on WWF and WWE. Some part of the movie reminded me of the time I spent watching the moves of my beloved 'Rock' and Stone-Cold. Mickey Rourke is just awesome. It is a must see

Putt's Law

2009-02-19T16:20:00.003+05:30

Technology is dominated by two types of people:

1. Those who understand what they do not manage, and

2. Those who manage what they do not understand.

This is known as Putt's Law and it really makes me chuckle.

We budding engineers are supposed to dominate the technology tomorrow. Now I am just figuring out, what kinda person will I be?

Einstein Quotes

2009-02-14T13:59:00.002+05:30

It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

This is a more famous one -

If A equals success, then the formula is A = X + Y + Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut.

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

And this is the last one for which I endeavoured to find all this.

If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.

Was watching a documentary where the narrator quoted Einstein. I liked this one pretty much. To get the exact context in which this was used by the narrator, see this.

Thank you you two!!!!!

2009-02-02T08:49:00.003+05:30

Although we feel terrible as a loyal Federer fans after what happened yesterday, we must console ourselves that as fans of tennis, that what we are witnessing is not just great, but a legendary rivalry of which tales can be told. Hats off to the two great magicians who have given us this amazing opprtunity to witness history being created, over and over again.

Another brick in the wall

2009-02-01T23:41:00.003+05:30

Its like the big wall that is eluding Federer his must deserved legendary status. Today another brick was added to it. Although full credits to Nadal for playing so well, I honestly feel that this title was Federer's for the taking. After playing so well, he did not deserve to lose the 5th set the way he did. His own nerves overcame his epitomic accuracy to plot his downfall in the decisive 5th set.

This article saves me the agony of discussing the event by describing those emotional set of events.

I deliberately did not put any pictures of that heart-wrenching sight because it is so fuckin difficult for me to see him cry...

Is this Tit for Tat?

2009-01-20T16:20:00.002+05:30

Pakistan is asking for India to hand over Samjhauta blasts suspects. Read here. This seems to be Pakistan's tactics of tit for tat. Pakistan should duly note that Col S. K. Purohit, the main accused is being tried upon in India for his wrongdoings and is in judicial custody unlike Pakistan where LeT honcho is being held under 'house arrest' and gets privilleges like talking to media. Indian citizens were also killed in the Samjhauta blasts and so it is perfectly allright for him to be tried in India. Pakistan should think before making such statements and be sincere in their efforts (if at all they have made any) against cross-border terrorism.
This is very demeaning to the nation of India, and also can be considered as a diplomatic failure that a rogue state like Pakistan makes such hostile statements, harbours hostile attitude, plans the disintegration of this great country (albeit with a lot of failure) and is allowed to go scot-free everytime.

More quotes!!!!

2009-01-20T15:43:00.003+05:30

I was walking down fifth avenue today and I found a wallet, and I was gonna keep it, rather than return it, but I thought: well, if I lost a hundred and fifty dollars, how would I feel? And I realized I would want to be taught a lesson. (ROFL)

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

- Emo Phillips

The second one is real funny and and also demands thought from the reader. Isn't this quite an explanation to why most criminals come from poor and illiterate families???

And also:-

Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed.

First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up and finally, you forget to pull it down.

- George Burns

Here also the second quote is rather a very true and a canny description of things which should treated with great sensitivity.

More of favourite quotes

2009-01-15T12:37:00.001+05:30

Dreams are postcards from our subconscious, inner self to outer self; right brain trying to cross that moat to the left. Too often they come back unread: "return to sender, addressee unknown." That's a shame because it's a whole world out there-- or in here depending on your point of view.

- Dennis Koenig and Jordan Budde

In pre-historic times, mankind often had only two choices in crisis situations: fight or flee. In modern times, humor offers a third alternative; fight, flee - or laugh. (Very True)

To err is human - and to blame it on computer is even more so. (LOL)

- Robert Orben

My favourites of Swaminomics

2009-01-14T20:56:00.002+05:30

This article appeared in the TOI nearly 16 years ago. It talks about economics and environment. A must read, I say.

Haydos Retires

2009-01-13T21:41:00.002+05:30

Matthew hayden or lovingly called Haydos retired from international cricket in a much awaited but a heart rendering move. I hated it when he used to walk calmly down the wicket to hit out poor bowlers out of the park. I truly miss his battles with Harbhajan Singh. As an arduous cricket fan, I will always remember the joyful occaisions when he belted opposition bowlers out of the park with alarming ease.

Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar

2009-01-06T15:18:00.002+05:30

I am a huge fan of this guy. I always make it a point to follow his articles whenever he writes in the Times of India or the Economic Times in the all famous collumn Swaminomics.

Inspiring words

2009-01-06T15:12:00.001+05:30

These are the lines of an old prayer. Aren't they inspiring?

Lord, give me the courage to change what I can, the fortitude to bear what I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Tennis 2009

2009-01-04T22:56:00.002+05:30

Tennis - a sport I am madly in love with is back again. India's premier ATP Tour event, the Chennai Open is starting from tomorrow and needless to say, I will be following it. Although all the big boys, the Federers, Nadals and Murrays are in the middle east the Chennai Open has always been an event to cherish. This has been India's own event with the people cheering madly for Paes and Bhupathi. Although tournament regular Rafael Nadal has decided to give this year's edition a miss, iron-man Nikolay Davydenko and swiss Stanislas Wawrinka are the star attractions this year. Also in the fray is India's very own Somdev Devvarman. I hope that we get to see some exhilerating tennis and have more of memorable moments like 2008's Moya-Nadal SF.

Savar Re

2009-01-04T22:24:00.002+05:30

Today I had the wonderful experience of attending a talk show of Mr. Pravin Davne. I credit my college public who decided to extend our vacation for this experience. This is after a long time that I have attended a live marathi show and I throughly enjoyed it. For those who do not know, Mr. Pravin Davne is a famous marathi lyricist and author. He, who is an eloquent orator himself, never fails at mesmerising audiences. Pity that as the marathi literature-world is still internet shy, there isn't much stuff about him available on the cyberspace.

Favourite quotes

2008-12-26T23:26:00.002+05:30

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity!!!

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me - they're cramming for their final exam.

Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that. (ROFL)

And the best one:-

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

- George Carlin

A few more,

What's the use of happiness? It can't buy you money.

- Henry Youngman

'Peak blogging year'

2008-12-26T22:01:00.003+05:30

And just as I posted the previous entry, I realised that this year has been the peak blogging year of my very young blogging career and this month with 15 posts has been peak blogging month. However I wish to clarify that the use of the word 'peak' in no way suggests that my blogging will go into a terminal decline. I will keep blogging from wherever I am, whatever the circumstances might be!!!

Analysis of the attacks

2008-12-26T21:31:00.002+05:30

This interview of Mr. Bernard Haykel appeared on Rediff on December 26, 2008. Mr. Haykel is professor of Near Eastern Studies at the Princeton University.

This is his blog which I find to be interesting.

This is another site - MiddleEastDesk where you can find articles by him.

The Legend that is K. Subrahmanyam

2008-12-24T13:10:00.002+05:30

This post appeared on rediff in honour of this brilliant strategist and bureaucrat.

These are two of his interviews which I believe were very enlightening to me

Dated, February 28, 2000 - "It's the cabinet and succesive PMs who are responsible"
Dated, August 7, 2000 - "Our ruling elite is totally indifferent to national security"

How India should respond to Mumbai Terror

2008-12-24T11:53:00.002+05:30

This is a series of articles appeared in rediff on the current situation troubling Indian diplomats. Sheela Bhatt of rediff has done a good job speaking to former bureaucrats and diplomats and this effort has helped people like me to understand the nuances of the diplomatic methods that governments employ.

First is this article by Mr. Brajesh Mishra. Brijesh Mishra is a former National Security Advisor who was a close associate of former Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Second article is by former foreign secretary Mr. Kanwal Sibal.

The third one is by Mr. Naresh Chandra who was India's former ambassador to Washington and an eminent diplomat.

The latest article by former bureaucrat, K Subrahmanyam is I feel the best of the series. Mr. Subrahmanyam has chaired the Kargil review comittee and was the convener of the NSCAB.