It’ been a good two months since I started writing on my web space and I have to admit that I have absolutely loved every bit of it. I have been (and still am) very skeptical about my writing skills and my ability to pick topics to write on. Given that I have always had an opinion about everything that goes on around me (capital punishments / public display of affection / arranged marriages et all) and the fact that I have always been very passionate about the things that I believe in, it is rather surprising that I hadn’t started writing earlier. Anyhoo, I am just glad that I started writing and hope to do so for a while. I keep thinking that me having my own web space is akin to a chimpanzee having its clarinet- The chimp loves it but its total nuisance to everyone around. (Tough luck boys, you have to put up with my dross for a while!).
I have never been able to make up my mind if I am writing to gratify a fetish of expressing my opinion on a subject matter or getting a perspective from the select few who actually read my blog and whose opinion actually matter to me. I think it’s a combination of both. My friend P is of the strong opinion that he writes only because he enjoys it and doesn’t really care what other think. While I disagree respectfully I am glad I am getting a different opinion even on simple things like these.
A couple of interesting things about my blog:
I was curious about the visits to my blog and decided to look up the stats last week. I was astonished to see that the numbers had spiked significantly last week. (I am not going to reveal the numbers to save myself some embarrassment). I was thinking to myself that maybe my writing was as bad as I thought and I should start giving myself a little bit of credit. After all I had come up with a blog about which most people tended to agree with me (Reservations) and another on some reasonable funny incidents that happened around me (10 things that have made me laugh/smile recently). So I decided to look up for the key words that brought people to my blog and to my shock horror found out that 2 out of the top three search words something I never imagined :
1) Shriya+Sex+Video
2) OBC Resrvations
3) Shah Rukh Khan+Sex
Oh sweet lord! Anyone who is trying to get more hits to the blogsite???? You guys know what needs to be done. Just stick a couple of soft porn videos on your website and hits galore. Further which crazy rat basta#d was looking for SRK’s porn???
Not able to withstand the humongous pressure that my beloved patti has been subjecting me to get married, my mom and dad being the dutiful parents that they are took my horoscope to the family astrologer. Following are the salient points of their discussion:
Ø He reckons that I won’t get married until the year 2010.
Ø He reckons that mine would be an arranged marriage much to the delight of my patti
Ø He reckons that I might pursue higher education
I have a strong feeling that this gentleman has made all his predictions based on my 2 blogs:
Could there beeee a better bing? – I rather embarrassingly admitted that I am pathetic with women.
To M (Be) A or not M (Be) A – Wherein I expressed my desire to pursue higher education
It’s good to know that my blog is being read by masses far and wide.
Cheers
S
PS: Thanks for all the good souls who have made it a point to read my rather boring ramblings. What will I do without you guys??
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
10 Things that have made me laugh/smile recently
1) How all my recently committed or married friends have been asking me “Dei. Are you sure you are not hiding anything from me. I can’t believe a guy like you is STILL single. (Do you guys even know me???)- They completely miss the irony that they all decided to let me know about their marital status after considerable delay.
2) Have you guys noticed that the rhymes Twinkle Twinkle little star and the ABCD sing to the same tune.- Amazing I have missed this for so long for as a kid I hardly knew 5 rhymes
3) I just realized that despite being a guy with simple needs in life my desire to earn more money is just gargantuan- I am not even a miser!
4) Reading a newspaper article about the BJP not wanting sex education to be a part of the curriculum in government school- Can some please tell them we have the second largest population in the world. There is absolutely no way we can be ashamed/embarrassed of the words intercourse / arousal. We are experts in this game.
5) The likes of Ishant / Ponting Dhoni/Hayden celebrating each other’s success a mere two months after wanting to kill each other- Money sure talks
6) Every conversation that I have had with my patti has led to her remark “ All I am hoping is to see you get married this year or Bharath having kids soon”. Eg. I call my patti at about 6.00 AM on Tamil New Year’s to wish her and she goes like….”Intha… (fill with the name of the tamil year) varshathla onnaku oru nalla CA ponna pathu kalyanam panni vekkanam”- I have never seen such bloody minded-obsession with a single task in life from anyone…and that lady is a sweet 82- God Bless!
7) Shah Rukh Khan with his ridiculous dance movements in the IPL T-20 every time the camera focuses on him- Now I am looking forward to an article in the our newspapers telling us about Shah Rukh’s infectious exuberance pushing the Kolkatta Night Riders to seek glory.- The man has invested sh*t loads of money and he is literally pooping in his pants- that ain’t a dance.
8) Honestly, I don’t know which is funnier- Getting a one year old married to a dog to keep him free from diseases all his life or giving a radio set, a gold ring and other household articles as dowry to the groom.- What has this world come to?
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/oneyearold-boy-married-to-dog-in-orissa/61788-13.html
9) Shriya Saran’s inspiring speech at the SIAA’s protest fast against Karnataka. The female has absolutely no clue about the whole protest. And we thought blondes were dumb! (No offence meant- I love you gals equally if not more than the brunettes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Its9OX5ixck
10) Dinner table conversation with my friends :
M: I don’t know how all Filipinos end up looking the same. They are all surprisingly short
Me: Their parents basically prayed to god to given them a daughter who is beautiful and is six feet tall. God in his infinite wisdom gave them double their wish. He gave them 2 pretty daughters who are three feet each.
2) Have you guys noticed that the rhymes Twinkle Twinkle little star and the ABCD sing to the same tune.- Amazing I have missed this for so long for as a kid I hardly knew 5 rhymes
3) I just realized that despite being a guy with simple needs in life my desire to earn more money is just gargantuan- I am not even a miser!
4) Reading a newspaper article about the BJP not wanting sex education to be a part of the curriculum in government school- Can some please tell them we have the second largest population in the world. There is absolutely no way we can be ashamed/embarrassed of the words intercourse / arousal. We are experts in this game.
5) The likes of Ishant / Ponting Dhoni/Hayden celebrating each other’s success a mere two months after wanting to kill each other- Money sure talks
6) Every conversation that I have had with my patti has led to her remark “ All I am hoping is to see you get married this year or Bharath having kids soon”. Eg. I call my patti at about 6.00 AM on Tamil New Year’s to wish her and she goes like….”Intha… (fill with the name of the tamil year) varshathla onnaku oru nalla CA ponna pathu kalyanam panni vekkanam”- I have never seen such bloody minded-obsession with a single task in life from anyone…and that lady is a sweet 82- God Bless!
7) Shah Rukh Khan with his ridiculous dance movements in the IPL T-20 every time the camera focuses on him- Now I am looking forward to an article in the our newspapers telling us about Shah Rukh’s infectious exuberance pushing the Kolkatta Night Riders to seek glory.- The man has invested sh*t loads of money and he is literally pooping in his pants- that ain’t a dance.
8) Honestly, I don’t know which is funnier- Getting a one year old married to a dog to keep him free from diseases all his life or giving a radio set, a gold ring and other household articles as dowry to the groom.- What has this world come to?
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/oneyearold-boy-married-to-dog-in-orissa/61788-13.html
9) Shriya Saran’s inspiring speech at the SIAA’s protest fast against Karnataka. The female has absolutely no clue about the whole protest. And we thought blondes were dumb! (No offence meant- I love you gals equally if not more than the brunettes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Its9OX5ixck
10) Dinner table conversation with my friends :
M: I don’t know how all Filipinos end up looking the same. They are all surprisingly short
Me: Their parents basically prayed to god to given them a daughter who is beautiful and is six feet tall. God in his infinite wisdom gave them double their wish. He gave them 2 pretty daughters who are three feet each.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Reservations
I was absolutely appalled this morning when I saw a news item this morning about the Supreme Court upholding the OBC Quota. To borrow the words of Glenn Beck, I am no expert when it comes to determining if it violates the basic structure of Constitution but I am a thinker. Reservations being successful in uplifting the OBCs chances of obtaining better education has the same probability of a double date between Karunanidhi/ Jayalalitha and Sonia Gandhi and Advani in the lovely locales of Bermuda. Who are we kidding here?
I have to make it very clear that I am not against OBCs (or anyone for that matter) having the right and opportunity for education. (I have a lot of friends who come from different backgrounds including BCs/SCs/STs.-Its funny isn’t it anybody who clarifies any comment about Caste and race always play this card). The logical solution for their upliftment is to provide financial aid ensure that most kids take up education. The new legislation should be implemented in such a way that it will be applicable only to primary education or worse case secondary education. We are only diluting the quality of professionals by having quota systems in esteemed institutions like the IIT and IIMs. Anything other than merit determining this is an absolute sacrilege.
Another important issue is that, the whole premise for Mandal Commission’s recommendation seems flawed. They are estimating the % of OBCs of the Indian population to be around 50% while popular govt statistics places this figure somewhere around the 30%. If they are uncertain about this elementary detail how can they be right about determining what is the right percentage?
Why should somebody be penalized for being born in a particular caste? I have never been a huge fan of the argument that somebody was suppressed for a certain number of years and hence they should be unfairly rewarded. By the same argument the Jews should be killing the Germans for the next 10 years and almost every country should invade England and plunder their livelihood. Somebody made a mistake in the past and it should be rectified by making sure that “ALL ARE TREATED EQUALLY” from now on. Are reservations being made with the intention of helping the OBC’s are out of spite for the other caste?
The fact that all political party including the BJP (who are supposed to be championing for the needs of the so called “Forward Caste”) are keeping quite about this whole thing further establishes this as an election stunt. They would not want their stand on this issue affect the outcomes in the upcoming election. I am pretty sure that the lovely politicians will use every possible resource to misuse this whole system. I am really certain that this will reward more undeserving candidates than it does rewarding the deserving OBCs. It’s such a shame that Meritocracy has become a myth in India!
Whilst we are on this subject, I have a quick suggestion-Why don’t we talk to the likes of Sharad Pawar and ensure that 27% of the Indian cricket team be made up of people from BCs/SCs. Also let that bloke KPS Gill who claims to be running the show for Indian hockey know about this proposal. I am sure given his wonderful contribution to the sport he would lap this idea. It would be hugely inappropriate if I don’t make a mention about the 2 good souls in Arjun Singh and VP Singh for their contribution to this wonderful new legislature.
Here’s hoping somebody in the system sees the flaw takes some corrective action.
Cheers
S
P S : Charlie Langeveldt pulled out of the South African touring party to India because he knew that he has been picked because of his colour and not because of his credentials. You sir are an absolute legend and I bow to you!
Statistics in the above piece have been taken from CNN IBN.
I have to make it very clear that I am not against OBCs (or anyone for that matter) having the right and opportunity for education. (I have a lot of friends who come from different backgrounds including BCs/SCs/STs.-Its funny isn’t it anybody who clarifies any comment about Caste and race always play this card). The logical solution for their upliftment is to provide financial aid ensure that most kids take up education. The new legislation should be implemented in such a way that it will be applicable only to primary education or worse case secondary education. We are only diluting the quality of professionals by having quota systems in esteemed institutions like the IIT and IIMs. Anything other than merit determining this is an absolute sacrilege.
Another important issue is that, the whole premise for Mandal Commission’s recommendation seems flawed. They are estimating the % of OBCs of the Indian population to be around 50% while popular govt statistics places this figure somewhere around the 30%. If they are uncertain about this elementary detail how can they be right about determining what is the right percentage?
Why should somebody be penalized for being born in a particular caste? I have never been a huge fan of the argument that somebody was suppressed for a certain number of years and hence they should be unfairly rewarded. By the same argument the Jews should be killing the Germans for the next 10 years and almost every country should invade England and plunder their livelihood. Somebody made a mistake in the past and it should be rectified by making sure that “ALL ARE TREATED EQUALLY” from now on. Are reservations being made with the intention of helping the OBC’s are out of spite for the other caste?
The fact that all political party including the BJP (who are supposed to be championing for the needs of the so called “Forward Caste”) are keeping quite about this whole thing further establishes this as an election stunt. They would not want their stand on this issue affect the outcomes in the upcoming election. I am pretty sure that the lovely politicians will use every possible resource to misuse this whole system. I am really certain that this will reward more undeserving candidates than it does rewarding the deserving OBCs. It’s such a shame that Meritocracy has become a myth in India!
Whilst we are on this subject, I have a quick suggestion-Why don’t we talk to the likes of Sharad Pawar and ensure that 27% of the Indian cricket team be made up of people from BCs/SCs. Also let that bloke KPS Gill who claims to be running the show for Indian hockey know about this proposal. I am sure given his wonderful contribution to the sport he would lap this idea. It would be hugely inappropriate if I don’t make a mention about the 2 good souls in Arjun Singh and VP Singh for their contribution to this wonderful new legislature.
Here’s hoping somebody in the system sees the flaw takes some corrective action.
Cheers
S
P S : Charlie Langeveldt pulled out of the South African touring party to India because he knew that he has been picked because of his colour and not because of his credentials. You sir are an absolute legend and I bow to you!
Statistics in the above piece have been taken from CNN IBN.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Are Champions allowed to be arrogant?
How often are you a part of a conversation in a coffee room at work that goes like “I hate the Aussies- those arrogant pricks”. Quite often I would assume. That begs the question - Are Champions allowed to be arrogant? Is there an unwritten code of conduct for the greats? Are Australia allowed to pay little respect to the lesser nations? Can the likes of Ronaldo show-boat without being kicked around? Are the likes of Cantona /Henry allowed to carry that smirk on their face every time they score a goal that all opposition fans grudgingly applaud but want to punch a hole in their face?
Let me use my example. I am no champion but am ultra competitive in life so much so that I do not see losing in anything as a part of the occupational hazard. Every time we played cricket in the gallies of R A Puram I backed myself to win it and I talked the talk riling up quite a few of my dear friends. I have always enjoyed these contests and I hope I am speaking for the few who competed with me that they enjoyed those battles. It just adds an extra spice to the battle and makes it interesting not to mention the added pressure to walk the walk
As much as I appreciate what the likeable champions of this world like Pete Sampras/Tiger woods (not as much as I have an inherent dislike towards the sport) and Sachin have done, I would prefer McEnroe and Brian Lara any day over the two for the sheer drama that they provide during the game. These guys are not trying to be disrespectful; they are just looking for an enemy to challenge themselves and do things that are only tales from the fiction for the lesser mortals.
Jose Mourinho in his famous first interview with the English media (yes those cocky over-rated idiots) claimed that he had to be treated on par with the likes of Wenger and Fergie for he was the “special one”. Come on lets give it to him .God knows that it’s that damn difficult to be humble when you get as good him. As much as we all love Sachin tendulkar’s calm demeanor nobody would forget the day when he took on Mcgrath in a war of words (Nairobi in the ICC trophy). Ganguly is revered in India mainly because he stood up to bullies like Steve Waugh.
Having said all this, there is a line that people should not cross. It is very hard to draw this particular line and it is very subjective. I don’t approve of the Oz trying to disrespectfully push Sharad Pawar out of the dais and celebrate the victory. The arrogance has to be displayed on the field-on the biggest stage of them all, when it actually matters. I don’t approve of Sreesanth’s antics on a cricket field or that of Andre Nel-the fact that those two cant be labeled as champions by any stretch of imagination is a different story altogether.
For most people it’s a question of convenience, if you root for the champion you think that the arrogance is permissible but not if he is a rival. Sport would be so much poorer if champions, for the fear of being admonished by the rival fans stop being who they are. Love them or hate them you just can’t ignore them.
Cheers
S
Let me use my example. I am no champion but am ultra competitive in life so much so that I do not see losing in anything as a part of the occupational hazard. Every time we played cricket in the gallies of R A Puram I backed myself to win it and I talked the talk riling up quite a few of my dear friends. I have always enjoyed these contests and I hope I am speaking for the few who competed with me that they enjoyed those battles. It just adds an extra spice to the battle and makes it interesting not to mention the added pressure to walk the walk
As much as I appreciate what the likeable champions of this world like Pete Sampras/Tiger woods (not as much as I have an inherent dislike towards the sport) and Sachin have done, I would prefer McEnroe and Brian Lara any day over the two for the sheer drama that they provide during the game. These guys are not trying to be disrespectful; they are just looking for an enemy to challenge themselves and do things that are only tales from the fiction for the lesser mortals.
Jose Mourinho in his famous first interview with the English media (yes those cocky over-rated idiots) claimed that he had to be treated on par with the likes of Wenger and Fergie for he was the “special one”. Come on lets give it to him .God knows that it’s that damn difficult to be humble when you get as good him. As much as we all love Sachin tendulkar’s calm demeanor nobody would forget the day when he took on Mcgrath in a war of words (Nairobi in the ICC trophy). Ganguly is revered in India mainly because he stood up to bullies like Steve Waugh.
Having said all this, there is a line that people should not cross. It is very hard to draw this particular line and it is very subjective. I don’t approve of the Oz trying to disrespectfully push Sharad Pawar out of the dais and celebrate the victory. The arrogance has to be displayed on the field-on the biggest stage of them all, when it actually matters. I don’t approve of Sreesanth’s antics on a cricket field or that of Andre Nel-the fact that those two cant be labeled as champions by any stretch of imagination is a different story altogether.
For most people it’s a question of convenience, if you root for the champion you think that the arrogance is permissible but not if he is a rival. Sport would be so much poorer if champions, for the fear of being admonished by the rival fans stop being who they are. Love them or hate them you just can’t ignore them.
Cheers
S
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
My favorite cricketing Eleven
For the past year or so I have been having this seemingly ludicrous feeling that my interest in the sport that I have lived and breathed for 24 years of my rather profligate life has been dwindling. I am not able to put my finger as to why that it- It could be because of any of the below:
a) Retirement of Brian Lara- I grew up watching this genius. The man is an absolute sorcerer with the bat. He can do things that lesser mortals like Sehwag can only dream of. (Ok that’s a cheap shot- but he came mighty close to stealing god’s record). It cant be the reason for I have always believed that the game is larger than the sum total of all it players
b) Me living in Bermuda –No longer do I sit on the parapet wall in Pattamal Street arguing with my mates (with the veins popping out of my forehead) about the technique /competence of who’s who of world Cricket- Cant be the case as I still have controversial opinions about the sport and have a good argument with M and K in bermuda
c) Football- It’s hard to be so passionate about 2 sports given that my passion involves sulking for 2 days if Manchester United loses a derby game. That is just too much effort!
d) The advent of 20-20- As much as I love watching a game of 20-20, I am too old fashioned and have developed an inherent dislike for the game since the 20-20 has started taking over the way the game is played.
So I have decided to re-ignite my love for the game and have entrusted myself with the rather unenviable task of picking an all time eleven. I know it’s impossible to do such a thing so I have drawn up some constraints to make the job relatively easier:
a) I should have watched the guy play
b) I am going to pick a Test XI
c) I do not give a rat’s a** about statistics
So here goes:
Sunil Gavaskar -. Was the rock of the Indian batting line up when we were forced to live with the mediocrity of Ashok Malhota and Sandip Patil. (Absolute shame that man is such a cricketing genius yet spouts so much rubbish as a columnist)
Gordon Greenidge- I was a huge fan of Australian cricket and I used to begrudgingly watch him plunder runs against England and Australia. Chalk and Cheese with Sunny Gavaskar
Brian Charles Lara- Nothing has given more joy than watch God bat. I have to admit that I was up until 4 am in the morning when he made the brilliant 153* against Australia and had my economics board exam at half nine that morning- Enough Said
Sachin Tendulkar- The fact that I was a Lara fan had me blinkered so much that I have questioned his big game temperament. Thanks Brian for retiring atleast a couple of years before Sachin so that I can appreciate yet another cricketing genius
Viv Richards- There is only one Viv Richards
Javed Miandad- The man embodies the passion with which the sport should be played. He is not in the same league as Jacques Kallis/Rahul Dravid when it comes to technique but supersedes all of them with the will to win.
Adam Gilchrist- Has single handedly redefined the definition of a wicket keeper
Richard Hadlee- Has to be the sultan of swing bowling.
Shane Warne- Despite all his failing as a human being he is the wizard of the Oz.
Curtly Amborse- If the bowler is to earn a wicket every time he beats the batsman outside the offstump the man would have atleast 15,000 test wickets. Some batsmen were just too ordinary to even get a nick.
Glenn Mcgrath- Unerring accuracy. The fact that he dismissed Brian so many times has probably has swung the tide in his favor over the likes of Wasim Akram and Courtney Walsh
I owe a huge apology to the likes of Kapil Dev/Wasim Akram/Imran Khan/Muttiah Muralitharan/Allan Donald/Allan Border et all for I could not fit them into my favorite eleven
I am not saying that my eleven would be good enough to beat anytime team put against them. But I think I would be willing to pay a fortune to go and watch these guys play a game together.
Looking forward to hearing from you folks about your favorite eleven.
Cheers
S
a) Retirement of Brian Lara- I grew up watching this genius. The man is an absolute sorcerer with the bat. He can do things that lesser mortals like Sehwag can only dream of. (Ok that’s a cheap shot- but he came mighty close to stealing god’s record). It cant be the reason for I have always believed that the game is larger than the sum total of all it players
b) Me living in Bermuda –No longer do I sit on the parapet wall in Pattamal Street arguing with my mates (with the veins popping out of my forehead) about the technique /competence of who’s who of world Cricket- Cant be the case as I still have controversial opinions about the sport and have a good argument with M and K in bermuda
c) Football- It’s hard to be so passionate about 2 sports given that my passion involves sulking for 2 days if Manchester United loses a derby game. That is just too much effort!
d) The advent of 20-20- As much as I love watching a game of 20-20, I am too old fashioned and have developed an inherent dislike for the game since the 20-20 has started taking over the way the game is played.
So I have decided to re-ignite my love for the game and have entrusted myself with the rather unenviable task of picking an all time eleven. I know it’s impossible to do such a thing so I have drawn up some constraints to make the job relatively easier:
a) I should have watched the guy play
b) I am going to pick a Test XI
c) I do not give a rat’s a** about statistics
So here goes:
Sunil Gavaskar -. Was the rock of the Indian batting line up when we were forced to live with the mediocrity of Ashok Malhota and Sandip Patil. (Absolute shame that man is such a cricketing genius yet spouts so much rubbish as a columnist)
Gordon Greenidge- I was a huge fan of Australian cricket and I used to begrudgingly watch him plunder runs against England and Australia. Chalk and Cheese with Sunny Gavaskar
Brian Charles Lara- Nothing has given more joy than watch God bat. I have to admit that I was up until 4 am in the morning when he made the brilliant 153* against Australia and had my economics board exam at half nine that morning- Enough Said
Sachin Tendulkar- The fact that I was a Lara fan had me blinkered so much that I have questioned his big game temperament. Thanks Brian for retiring atleast a couple of years before Sachin so that I can appreciate yet another cricketing genius
Viv Richards- There is only one Viv Richards
Javed Miandad- The man embodies the passion with which the sport should be played. He is not in the same league as Jacques Kallis/Rahul Dravid when it comes to technique but supersedes all of them with the will to win.
Adam Gilchrist- Has single handedly redefined the definition of a wicket keeper
Richard Hadlee- Has to be the sultan of swing bowling.
Shane Warne- Despite all his failing as a human being he is the wizard of the Oz.
Curtly Amborse- If the bowler is to earn a wicket every time he beats the batsman outside the offstump the man would have atleast 15,000 test wickets. Some batsmen were just too ordinary to even get a nick.
Glenn Mcgrath- Unerring accuracy. The fact that he dismissed Brian so many times has probably has swung the tide in his favor over the likes of Wasim Akram and Courtney Walsh
I owe a huge apology to the likes of Kapil Dev/Wasim Akram/Imran Khan/Muttiah Muralitharan/Allan Donald/Allan Border et all for I could not fit them into my favorite eleven
I am not saying that my eleven would be good enough to beat anytime team put against them. But I think I would be willing to pay a fortune to go and watch these guys play a game together.
Looking forward to hearing from you folks about your favorite eleven.
Cheers
S
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