Excellent post

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/ZNP1UirG4TzQP8vwkAEtyK/The-boy-who-refused-a-penalty.html

Actual economic discussion on demonetization

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/niFH9uM377oUSHEQcRuUWP/Demonetisation-fallacies-and-demonetisation-math.html

Omkar

A new addition to our family - Omkar S Eluru. 

I was always fascinated by the word "Om". From Wikipedia - The Brahmana layer of Vedic texts equate Om with Bhur-bhuvah-Svah, the latter symbolizing "the whole Veda". They offer various shades of meaning to Om, such as it being "the universe beyond the sun", or that which is "mysterious and inexhaustible", or "the infinite language, the infinite knowledge", or "essence of breath, life, everything that exists", or that "with which one is liberated".

In addition to the meaning, the use of the word in two of my favorite songs - Omkaru nadana sandanamai from Sankarabharanam [see here] and vidhata talapuna from sirivennella [see here] were instrumental in my choice. I look forward to listening to these songs with my son in due course. To be sure, I am no expert on music - but these songs were some of finest music i could appreciate and they have been songs i go back to listen to soothe myself. 

With this new addition, our lives will never be the same again in a good way. I am looking forward to this new phase of life.

Another one of those passages of time

Well - things are going well on so many fronts. But yet there are passages of time that completely shake you for a short time. After spending a huge amount of time, a major endeavor has produced nothing. I was hoping for at least a small one - alas it was not meant to be. Don't get me wrong i am thankful for all the support i have but there are days when it hurts so bad that it all seems meaningless.  To see the effect of these passages on those who are close to you is not easy either. in fact it makes it worse. All we can do is dust yourself and keep moving.

Hoping for better outcomes in the future. 

A pure waste of resources

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/59wJsl5b347lFp3UCYVpBJ/SC-order-on-national-anthem-Five-things-to-know.html

Well put

Laudable scheme - just make it work now!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/EkmLAaGA4SWC0vnrjD70GO/Dear-prime-minister-the-buck-stops-with-you.html

A sensible post

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/YDhaKtMFXyGGF5Jugkl9GJ/Our-elitist-response-to-pollution-post-Diwali.html

Can't argue with this!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/SVA2w1skGtwXTQnf6lBapJ/Understanding-the-Modi-way-of-doing-things.html

I hope we can hang in there effectively

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/4Sx6lQ0iEz2dd4lKwje5SM/Pakistan-troops-target-Indian-posts-civilian-areas-along-Lo.html

My thoughts exactly!

I hope they don't celebrate too much!
http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/2016/09/29/what-to-make-of-indias-surgical-strike/

Cant argue!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/INSFufotn0Gz6kPjpnT6EL/Indias-strategic-restraint-is-a-losing-game.html

I really hope we atop honoring the Indus Water Treaty

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/AJyJYJD4vnAvyCysxxphTN/Mending-Pakistans-behaviour.html

Guha

I have a soft corner for Guha - but it seems like he is on the blind leftist band wagon too!
http://greatbong.net/2016/09/17/intellectual-standards-organization

While a good suggestion ... Dont see it going through!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/MVgIiVyQc61tWONxmZgXzK/The-case-for-directly-elected-leaders.html

Reminds me of my own thoughts on Azhar

http://greatbong.net/2016/09/01/azhar-the-review

Can't agree more... The bill is more burden than benefits

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/8LQjqMqXaRVDTPLCEUv31L/The-surrogacy-bill-is-dangerous-overreach.html

Example of laws that are wrong

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/Ie8H1Cp09ZjEeNPU5UwwyH/Surrogacy-bill-Modi-govt-sets-new-terms.html

More on karmakar!

http://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/17191749/dipa-vaults-biggest-stage

Proud

Watched Dipa Karmakar do her vault routines today. She finished 4th. It was amazing to see an Indian gymnast perform so well at the Olympics. Also, she chose to do tough routines. If only she had support - I think she has the talent to be medal winner. I hope she gets the support she deserves. Wishing her well.

Happy B'Day India..

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/eGPZMkqgr0pFczCPVCQKwL/The-best-is-yet-to-come-for-India.html

5 years

Time does fly fast. It has already been 5 years. 3 years in Montreal and nearly 2 years in Orlando with multiple visits to Austin.

I just hope it continues this way for a long long time :)

Wimbledon

Another Wimbledon and another Federer heart break - so sad to see the genius affected by age; but for a genius like him to continue and struggle with mere mortals is an example worth following. 

Funny and probably true!

http://heartranjan.com/what-sort-of-a-coach-would-anil-kumble-make/

Another tough issue..

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/YJFZYlzt2IN3lkOlljLjfO/Why-India-needs-a-uniform-civil-code.html

Hope it works out!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/iReIeWeuql57apczLUT7RI/The-idea-of-24x7-shopping.html

NBA Finals

After many years, I started watching NBA finals. The reason was the golden run of Golden State Warriors and the ridiculous shooting of Steph Curry. After watching the Western Conference finals, I realized King James through his smart words made me shift allegiance. After the 7 game series today Cavs won the game - a close one. It was fun watching basketball again.

Lebron was quite impressive on court and off-court (Kyrie Irving was awesome too!). The way he talked after winning was quite nice. He said I did not want to be asking "Why me?" and rather try and do your best to get it done. Its something worth remembering when you wonder if the world is designed to be against you. I just hope i can remind myself!
Congratulations to Cavs.

Have to agree!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/AiHG5QOg78Dgccd6dc1DLJ/Our-view-The-Raghuram-Rajan-affair.html

Sad

The culture where killing a professor for a grade - well sad for him and his family.

I never realized being a professor is a dangerous business!

Ridiculous

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/WYxExZMrpxzXxwKrpmPzSI/BJP-Shiv-Sena-seek-action-against-AIB-for-video-mocking-Lat.html

It is such holier than thou attitude among BJP that will ensure it remains a laughing stock among educated elites. I mean, it's comedy guys! Take it easy!!

If only the left leaning folks spend a minute reading such pieces

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/DKGYW62kXJD1T8DguBnHOK/How-to-leave-a-lasting-economic-legacy.html

I hope BJP listens!

https://thegoldstandardsite.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/incompatible-with-intelligence/

Agreed!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/1WI08KQxHB7sxjj3IDAjnK/Five-reasons-Subramanian-Swamy-is-wrong-about-Raghuram-Rajan.html

The courts overreach again!

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/WoZo91Fl77GUW6t9FDBSXJ/Release-adequate-funds-to-tackle-drought-SC-tells-centre.html

One of those times

The semester is done... proposals are getting to a close ... have not been able to do as much as i want. And on top of all this - the existential questions on my research and career keep popping up! I seem to be at a crossroads - lets hope the summer will help me clear the cobwebs and get back to a normal state of mind. Right now, it seems quite tough!

Wonderful to see this!

http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/arvind-panagariya-the-turnaround-in-infrastructure-116050800661_1.html

Nice article!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/d3ddePsFMHKZhHLmx1jAxL/The-men-who-knew-infinity-Indias-lost-history-of-mathemati.html

If only the saffronization front talked in this way!

Really nice piece on Kohli..

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/NJ6x2qKxTXyyzGirBirc0M/Love-death-and-Virat-Kohli.html

Sheer crap as article

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/O701gk8EHesjOlvI5Jx73L/An-emerging-pattern.html

Some good points

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/K7BtzvPYmyO0KlDn21iixH/How-to-break-the-back-of-Indias-Leftwing-ecosystem.html

Excellent advice. I only hope NDA govt. can follow

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/wsN9P7r6csy14VnHi8traN/A-clumsy-response-to-the-JNU-controversy.html

The excesses during UPA are still haunting the economy

http://www.livemint.com/Money/fbfhWut7UeW4L8YdYXyc7H/Past-excesses-come-back-to-haunt-Indian-banks.html

Super Bowl

Good win for Peyton Manning. Reminds me of India 2011 world Cup. Tendulkar rightfully won the World Cup with support from his team mates. Peyton won his Superbowl with his team taking the lead.

Funny

I am arguing about the claims but the headline made me smile

Congress accuses Modi of nepotism, conflict of interest 

Just could not ignore the irony of the accusation. 

Very good article!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/YVxOHuNeHYFObgiP069emN/Anarchy-through-kritarchy.html

One of those days

Where life seems to be hard and unfair. Anyway, all we can do is continue the struggle and be happy and content with what you have!

Happy New Year 2016.

I am finding it hard to write a summary for 2015. It has been a brutal one!

Hopefully somebody will see this!

https://realitycheck.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/delhi-schools-run-by-non-minorities-lose-all-admissions-autonomy-under-media-coverfire-of-lies-and-deceit/