Education

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

 - G. M. Trevelyan

The essence of Blogging

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!!!!!!

The Wrestler

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

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

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!!!!!

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

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?

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!!!!

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

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

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

Haydos Retires

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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

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

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

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