Thursday, August 28, 2003
U.S.Open
This was supposed to be Pete Sampras's last open tourny but instead of playing he just announced his retirement. Sampras with his tounge out was a picture, which would remind one of a champion eater getting ready to feast. Heard his last interview on HBO with Bob Costas and thought hmmm even after 13 grand slams he is still so humble. I just like humble people, and really do think of it as a virtue (Parag is the best example of tht). I guess and it comes with age. One thing is so apparent though he won lotsa tournaments when he was young but Andre is like on the other end of the sprctrum. Never liked Andre so much when he was young, always thought of him as a talented player who couldnot finish. But now as he is gettin better with age. Now he is the onluy player I really like to watch and really like to win.
I and guess everybody notices this that in every era of tennis their is one female player who is always ruling but that's not the case in men's tennis. Their is always more than one player winning and most of all surprise players, like 80's one hit wonders win one single grand slam or one slam final and they just vanish. Nobody knows where they went. This is not at all a common occurance in Women's tennis for some reason.
Whatever may be is the reason behind that but its U.S.Open time for sure!!!
I and guess everybody notices this that in every era of tennis their is one female player who is always ruling but that's not the case in men's tennis. Their is always more than one player winning and most of all surprise players, like 80's one hit wonders win one single grand slam or one slam final and they just vanish. Nobody knows where they went. This is not at all a common occurance in Women's tennis for some reason.
Whatever may be is the reason behind that but its U.S.Open time for sure!!!
Monday, August 25, 2003
Bombay Bomb Blast #???
This is scary stuff, this is outragous. Kinda like two different types of emotions at the same time. On one hand I am sad and scared for people, my parents, my friends but on the other hand just angry about this whole issue. Just hate it. I hope now there will not be any riots or that kind of crap killing more innocent people. I don't know why you want to kill people for a stupid building. Why should people die so that we can have a place to worship. Worship who? what? Something that you cannot even see, feel. I am not an aethiest, I do believe in god but killing, hating people in the name of god is not acceptable I guess. I wish, I hope Shree Ram should use his "Brahmastra" on these stupid hindu fanatics. I think all the gods up there must be laughing and not feeling bad about all this. Why should they feel bad about this? Is this evolution? I don't think so.
In our day to day lives to come across all sorts of people good, bad and the ugly a whole gamut of people. So do we go on killing people because we don't like them, their principles. I just always wonder who the hell these people are who are so fanatic about "RELIGION". I read a book about Psychology of a Hacker, that made me understand why people do those types of criminal acts. I guess I should read a book about Psychology of a Terrorist, may be that will help me understand these people. If killing people makes you happy, I think you should kill yourself instead of killing other innocent people. Go in some desolate place and blow yourself up, so your are killing yourself and doing good to the community at the same time so you will get your predecided number of virgins. Their is a bonus if you blow couple more guys like you with you, you get some of their virgins too. I guess this will work nicely.
This battle of good vs. evil is never ending I guess. So using armies and all that kind of stuff against them is of no use. Because I guess if one person goes down another will stand up so unless the root cause of all this is eradicated these things will keep blowing in our faces.
In our day to day lives to come across all sorts of people good, bad and the ugly a whole gamut of people. So do we go on killing people because we don't like them, their principles. I just always wonder who the hell these people are who are so fanatic about "RELIGION". I read a book about Psychology of a Hacker, that made me understand why people do those types of criminal acts. I guess I should read a book about Psychology of a Terrorist, may be that will help me understand these people. If killing people makes you happy, I think you should kill yourself instead of killing other innocent people. Go in some desolate place and blow yourself up, so your are killing yourself and doing good to the community at the same time so you will get your predecided number of virgins. Their is a bonus if you blow couple more guys like you with you, you get some of their virgins too. I guess this will work nicely.
This battle of good vs. evil is never ending I guess. So using armies and all that kind of stuff against them is of no use. Because I guess if one person goes down another will stand up so unless the root cause of all this is eradicated these things will keep blowing in our faces.
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Last weekend's power outage/outrage
Its funny how whatever that happens in USA is given so much importance. The media feeds people not only in USA but through out the world with some crazy pretty uselss stuff. Somebody at work told me the real acronymn for CNN, it goes as "Crazy/Crappy News Network".
The weirdest stuff I heard was they had some guy from India, talking about how Indian electicity system is and kinda how screwed up it is. They were discussing the comparison between the USA electric services and their Indian couterparts. Just couldnot understand the relevance of the whole talk.
I just couldn't understand why all the leading Indian newspapers were having the headline as "Black out in New York/USA". Big deal!!!! As if like people out here cannot live/survive couple of days without electricity. Friends back home were sending emails and asking if the electicity is back yet, kinda like were you able to survive two days without electricity. As if like Ooooh what calamity you had to face. Its like people were calling and asking with the same concern as they did when 9/11 happened. The news coverage and hoopla about the whole thing made people thought that it was like some sort of terrorist act or soemthing.
A little irrelevant but still the coverage reminded me of the way Marathi newspapers back home used to write in the newspapers " Ya ghatane mage parakiya shakticha haat asu shakto" as if like people have to guess who this "Parakiya Shakti is".
The weirdest stuff I heard was they had some guy from India, talking about how Indian electicity system is and kinda how screwed up it is. They were discussing the comparison between the USA electric services and their Indian couterparts. Just couldnot understand the relevance of the whole talk.
I just couldn't understand why all the leading Indian newspapers were having the headline as "Black out in New York/USA". Big deal!!!! As if like people out here cannot live/survive couple of days without electricity. Friends back home were sending emails and asking if the electicity is back yet, kinda like were you able to survive two days without electricity. As if like Ooooh what calamity you had to face. Its like people were calling and asking with the same concern as they did when 9/11 happened. The news coverage and hoopla about the whole thing made people thought that it was like some sort of terrorist act or soemthing.
A little irrelevant but still the coverage reminded me of the way Marathi newspapers back home used to write in the newspapers " Ya ghatane mage parakiya shakticha haat asu shakto" as if like people have to guess who this "Parakiya Shakti is".
Floydian Realization
I have been listening to Pink Floyd for quite a while now, thanks to my brother for introducing me to some great music and mainly some great lyrics. Was listening to Final Cut while working and just realized how close the lyrics are compared to the things happening aroung me, us. The album was released after Great Britain had the Falkland war with Argentina. Following are the lyrics to the last song in the album, the lyrics are just too amazing:
Two Suns in the Sunset (Waters)
In my rear view mirror the sun is going down
Sinking behind bridges in the road
And I think of all the good things
That we have left undone
And I suffer premonitions
Confirm suspicions
Of the holocaust to come.
The wire that holds the cork
That keeps the anger in
Gives way
And suddenly it's day again.
The sun is in the east
Even though the day is done.
Two suns in the sunset
Hmmmmmmmmmm
Could be the human race is run.
Like the moment when the brakes lock
And you slide towards the big truck
"Oh no!"
"[scream] Daddy, Daddy!"
You stretch the frozen moments with your fear.
And you'll never hear their voices
And you'll never see their faces
You have no recourse to the law anymore.
And as the windshield melts
My tears evaporate
Leaving only charcoal to defend.
Finally I understand the feelings of the few.
Ashes and diamonds
Foe and friend
We were all equal in the end.
Two Suns in the Sunset (Waters)
In my rear view mirror the sun is going down
Sinking behind bridges in the road
And I think of all the good things
That we have left undone
And I suffer premonitions
Confirm suspicions
Of the holocaust to come.
The wire that holds the cork
That keeps the anger in
Gives way
And suddenly it's day again.
The sun is in the east
Even though the day is done.
Two suns in the sunset
Hmmmmmmmmmm
Could be the human race is run.
Like the moment when the brakes lock
And you slide towards the big truck
"Oh no!"
"[scream] Daddy, Daddy!"
You stretch the frozen moments with your fear.
And you'll never hear their voices
And you'll never see their faces
You have no recourse to the law anymore.
And as the windshield melts
My tears evaporate
Leaving only charcoal to defend.
Finally I understand the feelings of the few.
Ashes and diamonds
Foe and friend
We were all equal in the end.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
India's Independence Day!!!
This is India's 56th year being an independent country. Lots of things have changed, even more drastically in last 10 years or so. Last week's India Today had the latest results from the biggest census survey ever done in India. Some results were baffling, some were amusing while some were just astonishing. We have changed a lot as a Nation but some of the root causes of the problems we have been facing for past 56years remain the same. Namely politicians and corruption. These two things go so hand in hand. Their are exceptions as always but very few I guess. Atalbihari Vajpayee is one of them to me. Even though his Hinduism thoughts are a tilting towards fundamentalism from my perspective, he is one of the best Prime Ministers that we have ever had. Just because of him, all the pieces of the make-up-change-your-principles-for-being-in-power parties and politicians could stay together. Hats off to him for making sure that the government is going to finish the full term.
The current India Today issue is having a cover story in which it tries to cover the 56 events that changed India. That is kinda like the most prominant event that took place every year since independece, it is very interesting.
Heres a very interesting article from BBC a little away from the topic but about India.
The current India Today issue is having a cover story in which it tries to cover the 56 events that changed India. That is kinda like the most prominant event that took place every year since independece, it is very interesting.
Heres a very interesting article from BBC a little away from the topic but about India.
Monday, August 11, 2003
Great weekend
Had a very fufilling, satisfying weekend with Parag, Vaishali, Aaji and Ashwini. Ashwini gets the "and" status because she is special. She has become like the biggest star attraction in a very short time.
The rented car had "Sirius" satellite radio. Just loved it. Too much entertainment too many good channels to choose from. I used to be or may be I still am a TV freak. I never realized it before that entertainment without visuals can be so much fun. I just realized that if somebody has not painted the picture for you, one tends to paint a picture from what you hear so I guess that gives your brain a little to work for. I was listening to some travel program while driving and listening to the whole thing made me imagine and paint a picture about Kansas in my mind. Different experience but I enjoyed it. Never thought radio can be so much fun, "Siriusly".
Funny trivia of the day: The big blob of a movie "Gigli" spelled backwards reads as Ilgig and that's what it is!!!!
The rented car had "Sirius" satellite radio. Just loved it. Too much entertainment too many good channels to choose from. I used to be or may be I still am a TV freak. I never realized it before that entertainment without visuals can be so much fun. I just realized that if somebody has not painted the picture for you, one tends to paint a picture from what you hear so I guess that gives your brain a little to work for. I was listening to some travel program while driving and listening to the whole thing made me imagine and paint a picture about Kansas in my mind. Different experience but I enjoyed it. Never thought radio can be so much fun, "Siriusly".
Funny trivia of the day: The big blob of a movie "Gigli" spelled backwards reads as Ilgig and that's what it is!!!!
Thursday, August 07, 2003
German Automobile Precision
This is shocking!!! German Automakers including Mercedes, BMW and VW have been downgraded in a reliability survey by a british consumer magazine Which? The list of car makers fared better thane these German giants is unbelievable. Japanese cars (Honda, Toyota, Mazda) are acceptable, but actually Korean (Hyundai) and American (Ford) were found to be more reliable in the survey. That is weird. The link to the article is German cars 'not reliable'
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Blood donation
Yesterday had gone for a blood donation drive thingy. A person donating beside me was donating for the first time. He was telling me to be calm and all before they started taking blood. I didn't know why he was saying all those things. But I realized it a little later, when he passed out looking at his own blood. What weird defense mechanism, asking others to calm down to calm oneself down:) I didn't know how to react, to laugh or to feel bad. But it was kinda funny, stupid weird me I guess.
Some benefits of blood donation:
Donating blood is good for the heart. Recent studies have shown that men who gave blood three times a year reduced their risk of a heart attack by more than 50 percent.
Recent studies have also shown that donating blood can reduce the chance of certain types of cancer in men.
Donating blood can only help your diet, it takes off one pound.
I just love the last reason.
Autologous blood donation has some risks. But I don't know what Autologous blood donation is???
Gigli the movie sucked so big time and it made such low business that Sony is actually taking off the TV ads. I just love, love it. Just wanted that movie to bomb and it did. Thank god that snooty bitch could not save the movie either. One of the Critics said that "It's worth knowing how to pronounce Gigli because it will enter the vocabulary as a word meaning 'massive box-office flop":)
My new laptop rocks they should have a referral program or something like that:)
Some benefits of blood donation:
Donating blood is good for the heart. Recent studies have shown that men who gave blood three times a year reduced their risk of a heart attack by more than 50 percent.
Recent studies have also shown that donating blood can reduce the chance of certain types of cancer in men.
Donating blood can only help your diet, it takes off one pound.
I just love the last reason.
Autologous blood donation has some risks. But I don't know what Autologous blood donation is???
Gigli the movie sucked so big time and it made such low business that Sony is actually taking off the TV ads. I just love, love it. Just wanted that movie to bomb and it did. Thank god that snooty bitch could not save the movie either. One of the Critics said that "It's worth knowing how to pronounce Gigli because it will enter the vocabulary as a word meaning 'massive box-office flop":)
My new laptop rocks they should have a referral program or something like that:)
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
hummerdinger
This is a free country, anybody can do whatever that they choose to do and all that. But I guess as long as your choice does not bother others it's ok I guess, atleast that is the condition for me. Anyways Hummer the mammoth car, is truely in all senses a white elephant. (BTW white elephant expression comes from Thailand or some other asian country where the kings down there used to gift white elephant as gift to take revenge since you were not allowed to use/put white elephants to work. So that is why it was expensive to keep these elephants and hence the name, get it got it)
Sierra club came out with a website hummerdinger This website tries to deliver a message and yes that too about the freedom of choice. Its pretty funny.
I came across one more bit of trivia. Cycling was way way way too famous in USA even before Lance Armstrong or probably any of us (Junta browsing the internet) were born. In the early 1900's they use to hold 6 day non-stop races in Madison Square Garden. Where 2 riders use to form a team and in between them they used to ride non-stop for six days and people actually used to watch it for like straight six days too!!!!
Yesterday was like a great kind of day in a different way. I played tennis with a guy who used to play pro tennis about 15yrs ago. The best part is he has played with Boris Becker, Matt Wilander and the likes. He has trained with Ivan Lendle and Connors and tastiest of all Chris Evert Lloyd. If I can't meet those folks at least I can hear about them and their stories.
Sierra club came out with a website hummerdinger This website tries to deliver a message and yes that too about the freedom of choice. Its pretty funny.
I came across one more bit of trivia. Cycling was way way way too famous in USA even before Lance Armstrong or probably any of us (Junta browsing the internet) were born. In the early 1900's they use to hold 6 day non-stop races in Madison Square Garden. Where 2 riders use to form a team and in between them they used to ride non-stop for six days and people actually used to watch it for like straight six days too!!!!
Yesterday was like a great kind of day in a different way. I played tennis with a guy who used to play pro tennis about 15yrs ago. The best part is he has played with Boris Becker, Matt Wilander and the likes. He has trained with Ivan Lendle and Connors and tastiest of all Chris Evert Lloyd. If I can't meet those folks at least I can hear about them and their stories.
