India

Reached India safely. Was a nice trip back home. Finished "English Patient". Nice read, Then watched "The Namesake". As expected a really good movie to watch when you are going home. Have been on an eating and shopping spree. will go to shop again today. Will meet some friends before going back to my native place. Once I reach there I will loose connection with internet for sometime.

Till then have fun

A nice argument

of economics (though lot of which is just jargon for me)

A nice read on

Roger Federer

Another weekend flies by

Another decent weekend before I leave for my trip. Volley was bas as it has been the last 3-4 weeks. Saturday night movie was decent. The dinner Sunday was awesome. Went to meet my friend. It felt nice after such a long time. It is always a pleasure spending time with the friend. I always wonder if only we could meet more often. I do understand the reasons for that not happening! the house really impressed me. Good to see your friends doing well in life! It sure does give you some hope :P

As an aside Federer wins his 50th title. I have very little to add to my earlier posts about the genius. Well done!!

Well its already monday and I have 2 more days to go!! Bring them on.

Well, this is why

Zidane headbutted!!
I feel Zidane did the right thing.

4 days to go

I am waiting now for wednesday when I can start my journey to India.
Until then have a bunch of things to complete. will finish them soon!!

Another good Kumble moment

"Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. Both quality legspinners but neither, until today, had a century. Warne went through 145 Tests without a hundred (his highest score was 99 at Perth). "Warnie came really close. That thought was definitely there when I was batting that I should not slog and get out on 99," said a cheery Kumble at the end of the day. Now he has 10 in a match and a hundred. Surely we can forgive him for not spinning the ball (actually he does that too...but anyway)."

Link from Cricinfo

Watching Yes Minister

I am a big fan of "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister". Some how British comedy is very good. I love it. Have been watching 2 episodes everyday. Good fun! You need it especially if you are waiting to go home!!

Can't question this..

good to see people recognizing Ganguly's determination

Death?

I have thought about this for many years. Yet I am unable to accept it easily. I thought I was weird and was the only one who thought about some meaningless issues. But I talked to some people and realized I am not alone. In fact Leo Tolstoy refers to similar feelings in his book Anna Karenina. That was comforting. However, I still don't have an answer. Well, until i get an answer I will be frustrated many a times.

Why Patel should have been the PM

instead of the "esteemed" Nehru.

A week to go

The countdown to my India trip has begun. I have 7 more days to leave austin for a month. I am really looking forward to the trip. It is important in many ways to me. In a way I hope to recover my drive for work with this trip. Also, personally it is a very important trip for me. I hope it will go well. That is n't too much to ask for no?

A nice article

especially on the eve of independence by Prakash

Independence Day

What does it mean to me? I am slightly scared. After staying in the US for three years (a little less than) have I lost touch with what's happening in India. Well to know that I have to go back and start living there. Hopefully in 4-5 years I will be back home and celebrating the independence day at home. Until then I will celebrate it here on my blog!

Happy Birthday India.

Well.... What can you say

The advantage of serials

Chak De again

Very close to what I felt
"And that leaves us to talk about Shahrukh Khan who I must admit I haven't been the biggest fan of because I'm often bored by the filmshe chooses. But for the first time since "Swades", Shahrukh plays a role without any of his typical trappings, without any of his trademark quirks. He sinks his teeth into the part of the determined coach and comes up with such a terrific performance. He's hopeful at times and despondent at others, he's humorous at times, and stern at others. He plays Kabir Khan like a real flesh-and-blood human being. Look at him in that scene where he's moving out of his house with his mother after being publicly shamed -- Shahrukh has seldom been this
good."

For the full review read this

Thats not bad

Jelly beans issue.. its repercussions, albeit not very serious :P
"Sweet manufacturers Jelly Belly have said that their online sales of
their "sport beans" category has seen a 20% increase since the
Nottingham Test. Who'd have ever thought that a cricket match would
lead to better jelly bean sales."

Can you believe it?

A good take on

Chak De

Chak De India

Simply amazing movie. I just loved it. For the first time I liked SRK's action. (For people who know my dislike for him that is a huge complement for SRK). The movie is well directed and well made striking the exact chords that make you happy or sad at the appropriate moments. There were scenes where your eyes are filled with tears when something happens. I, as an avid sports watcher, can really understand the ecstasy or agony that a sportsman is filled with when he/she wins/looses. There were very many good scenes. And of course, as one of my friends expected, one of the best lines of the movie came from a gult girl. That line itself made my day :P

The plot was decent and the way it was executed was perfect. To put it simply i am impressed and happy!!

Running

The last two weeks I have been running on Sundays. Today we were supposed to do a 3 mile loop and I ended up running for about an hour. The speed at which I run will ensure the distance I ran close to or above 5 miles. So, its pleasing. Especially I did that after a night out preceded by volley. Not bad huh?

This is purely bullshit

You just can't believe this happens in a democracy

Interesting

Today's Leo lunar light show is playing on your center stage and features five planets in your very own sign. This brings the attention of the world on you, as others seem to follow your moves. Meanwhile, you could be a bit lost in the Neptunian haze, somewhere between chasing a dream and reaching spiritual enlightenment. You may need to look back one more time at a recent disappointment before you are allowed to move forward again.

Volley Ball

Well, another saturday another day of volley ball. The scoreline today was 4-1. Well I do remember whenever my team looses. The last two weeks have not worked out well. My friend remarked today, so you lost again. Well, my team lost implying I lost too. But there is a very big point when you play a team game. There is only something anybody can do with their game, so whenever I play volley bally I look to give my 100% and encourage (may be force!!) other members of my team to do so. So, I feel I am doing good. The day I don't give 100% is when I will feel bad.
Anyway life moves on

Anil... Well done

Simply aweosme

article by Amit varma

I hope this happens

"With three days to go, and the odd plume of dust already rising from the pitch, it's Indian cricket's often-unheralded hero who could leave the old country with the loudest swansong of all"

Unbelievable yet so amazing

Believe it or not Anil Radhakrishna Kumble has achieved batting immortality today with a wonderful unbeaten century. I still remember the day he got out on 88 (The match against South Africa where my other favorite destroyed the South African attack at Eden Gardens) I felt so bad for him. I felt he had lost his chance of reaching a 100. After 9 years he proved me wrong. I am so happy to be wrong for once. I have always been a great fan of Kumble his determination, his resolve and grit. Today with his century he clearly showed all that and more. Well done man. Now you just have to get some wickets to win a deserving Man of the Match. Go do it dude!!

A nice article

regarding black money in India

So true

The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.
- Robert Jackson

Growing up never ceases

Well can't agree more!!

really nice pic

see this


bananas committing suicide

Link via ganesh

Very well written article

on P.Sainath by gaurav

My professor

There are very few people whose thought creates a stir and a feeling of happiness in you. My prof I worked with in India is one of them. I will look forward to meet him in India soon!!

Well

I did not know such things still happen

Capitalism Vs Socialism

Coming from India a socialist country (in principle at least after 1991 liberalization) I believed socialism is a necessity for nearly 20 years of my life. But after reading and experiencing how socialism stops achieving the goals of equality rather than helping it I have come to the conclusion that capitalism is a better option. In spite of working towards the progress of the individual capitalism drives innovation, offers challenges thus bringing in economies of scale. Though the aim is individual profit (or few stae holders) it helps collective upliftment and the effects trickle into the entire society. I know there will be people who will debate this and I am ready to fight!

An interestng

dilemma I guess

Viru

I surely see signs of a well deserved comeback very soon

A nice weekend

A really hectic but work free (mostly at least) weekend. I met many married people and also had a chance to watch movies, go shopping (get some stuff for my sis), eat lots of food, run, play volley (though I sucked big time!) and of course with all this activity sleep less. the shopping was fun too. Now I sympathize a little with women for taking so long to decide what to buy. There are simply too many ncie options!! Anyway, I had company of a couple of nice people to help me. So it made the 4 hour process successful and enjoyable at the same time. Now I will hope my sis will like the things I bought.

Count of Monte Christo

A very long novel but an awesome read. It is a very Masala kind of story but it is intriguing enough to make you feel you are reading a very nice classic. So after the book I feel like reading more of Dumas. So may be Three Musketeers is next.

By the way the best line from CMC (Count of Monte Christo) is "Wait and Hope". Simply amazing, Isn't it?

Hmmm

Some things are really funny. That is all I can say

A nice video

depicting the imbalance in this world

link via lalbadshah

This is scary

A potential tennis scandal

Well

This post is not aimed to blame anyone. It is purely my observation over the last six months or so of how different are the ways people treat their "friends" and how I deal with my friends.

Before getting into it - I decide who I will treat as a friend. There are some criterion for me to decide whether he/she falls into it. It is regarding these friends that I talk.

It could be a pessimistic view as well. But i will have to express it. So here it goes!!

For me, very rarely do I not find time to go out with a friend when i know the plan well ahead. I always make time because saying no to a friend is not in my nature. If I know I wont be able to make it I make sure my friend knows even before the plans are made. Further, if I say I will do something for some friend I remember to do it and most of the times have done it. But when I observe people I feel that is not the case universally. I have heard no's after every detail has been planned and I have heard people change their plans after everything is assumed to be fixed. I remember days when I was tight pressed for time but yet I went out. I always believed it just depends on the way you plan your day to work. But I have observed many (if not all) people give so much precedence to their work. Sometimes I nearly tell them even I work. But the reason why they behave like that is (to put it very bluntly) "They don't give a damn about how you feel when they have work". Well, there is nothing right or wrong in this. I am not making judgments here. I never even realized this until very recently. i was always ready to place friends above my work, but when I see so many people and moreover see how it is widely accepted you tend to reflect. After these six months now I am really working hard (yes I am!!) to put work above friends. Many things have changed for me in the last year n half (after my last India trip). The most important thing changed because I am a loser. Another thing that has changed is I have started to do things that make me happy. For many days I did things that my good friends liked (Well this is something I feel, may be my friends might beg to differ). Now, I make sure I have time to do things that I want. If somebody also likes it fine, else I will do it alone!!

Of course, I do know people who go out of their way to see that friends are happy. But sometimes I feel it is rare!

Anyway, i want to reiterate this is not aimed at any person. If it was I would directly go at the person (I am not afraid to do that, because i will show it on my face anyway!!).

Of course in spite of all this life moves on, doesn't it?

You surely

can't question his commitment

A nice article

by Amit Varma
The reason why India has so many problems is outlined precisely!!

My Birthday

Yes, it is the 25th. I guess it should be a significant birthday in once life. I had a small yet nice party. It is a nice but indescribable feeling and I am enjoying it !!