Watch Inzamam obstructing the field

Here’s Inzi obstructing the field in the last One Day International against India (Feb 5^th 2006 in Pakistan). Somebody please tell him the rules first – Cricket is not just a game where a bunch of boys put bat on ball and run.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7291827629213340346&q=inzamam

This has got to be it!

This has got to be the funniest spam I received in a loooooong time:

“Former President Bill Klinton uses Voagra!”

What measures people take to get around my spam filters!

And sometimes they succeed – and I don’t really mind. Keep trying ...

The Australian: India pushes its own barrow [February 09, 2006]

An intersting comparison of an 'open' and a 'closed' society. Indeed, we don't hear much of what's going on inside China. Most of the time it's all positive news coming out - which is hardly realistic. For an investor, this paints a false picture as there is very less to properly judge the advantages and the disadvantages of investing in that country.

""Contradictions within the people," a Maoist euphemism covering anything from small, peace protests to riots involving thousands, are admitted to have totalled 87,000 last year, up from an already remarkable 74,000 in 2004. Beyond efforts to stop the news travelling by tightening internet censorship and clamping down on the more outspoken publications, the leadership cannot work out how to contain them. "

I did not hear about even 1 protest!

The Australian: India pushes its own barrow [February 09, 2006]

Two new galleries at Museum soon : HindustanTimes.com

Allahabad has a museum - and its in good hands it seems!
Two new galleries at Museum soon : HindustanTimes.com

Casting of an Indian Soap

The entire casting of Kyon Ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Complete with the lead actors and extras. Taken from a gathering at 5, Ponappa Road. 

Mussoorie

Shruti and I in Mussoorie. This was taken on the 24th of November '05. We took the ropeway to Gunhill from near Picture Palace (on the Mall). The beauty of the mountains is visible in this photo. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the 'Queen of Hills'. Unorganised, anaesthetic and unplanned construction and development, commercialization and over-population has made mussoorie simply unpalatable. 

Interesting Blog..

Ever seen a Chinese girl wandering in the by-lanes of Varanasi – or any city of India for that matter – well – I have seen many in Allahabad. Here’s a blog from one such courageous girl who ventured to India and then took the land route back to China – through Pakistan! http://www.leylop.com/2005/05/meeting-tibetans-in-india.html

There are a few interesting jottings on this site – along with some wonderful pictures. Also read the one describing her tête-à-tête with the dude in Varanasi.

And how did I chance on her site? Looking up ‘democracy’ on http://www.google.cn/ !

Churmura!

For those who've had it know what it is. Allahabad's famous churmura corner and the famous churmura wala (no - those are not his bikes). Civil Lines, Allahabad. 

St. Joseph's College, Allahabad

The principal's office and the quadrangle. Do you also notice the TANK! Who put the tank there? 

St. Joseph's College, Allahabad

The swimming pool (I still wonder why I never learnt how to swim!), the gymnasium (in front of the clock tower of our chapel) and the junior section. 

St. Joseph's College Allahabad

I visited my school on my visit to Allahabad this December. On the left is the main building of the senior section. The right is the principal’s office and the quadrangle where we used to gather for our morning assembly and prayers. 

India V Pakistan

To those who don’t know – India is in Pakistan playing 3 tests and some one day games later. The first 2 tests are over and the scoreboard reads 0-0. Apparently the pitches were prepared so that all the games are drawn and there is no way Pakistan loses any games - for obvious reasons. I bet the coin used is also rigged (Pakistan won both the tosses).

Anyway – I came across this blog (http://indiauncut.blogspot.com/ ) from Amit Varma. He is there covering the series for Gaurdian, NDTV and BBC. He has some pretty nice stuff.

Back again!

Sorry guys,

Been out for a long time. (you know its kind of weird – for all I know there are, in all of 6 billion souls on this planet, 2 people who read this blog. Shruti is one and the other is the random person who chance upon this site by no fault of his – so to apologize for not writing is funny).

Actually – I was in India for the holidays and attend a wedding – but I have been here a long time ago now and I should have written.

Visited my hometown and had the time of my life. Must say – Allahabad is not the same it was. Many more cars, lot more cell phones, crowded streets, more unplanned construction, stray dogs and cows and plenty of dust. The weather was mild and there was enough sun.

Throughout my stay there was one day when it rained. The dust settled down a bit on that day – but the streets became clogged. I wish it rained once every week – for about half an hour or about half an inch. It will help have a fresher look to the plants and trees and the surroundings in general – but its just that – a wish. But its not like it doesn’t happen anywhere in the world – entire Europe gets rain like that – the US gets rain that is evenly divided throughout the year.

Sometimes I think that to make smaller Indian cities better places to live, you should start from the very basic things – like proper drainage.

Anyways – enough of wishful thinking – so my trip to India began from where it begins every time! Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi. The continental airlines flight takes you directly to Delhi from NJ in about 13 hours. I recommend that flight to everybody. No connecting flights to worry about and no missed baggage – and best of all – you can sleep for a good 5-6 hours at a stretch without worrying about missing a meal or that ice cream. It lands at a very convenient time as well – at about 9:30PM instead of the usual time of 1AM or something like that. India is a lot closer to the USA now.

Easy..

Wouldn't you want to buy something like this? When things get hard, just press the 'Easy' button!

Here's what I mean..

Another view of the Boston Public Garden. Pictures taken on the 7th of August 2005. 

Boston Public Gardens

Home to the "Make Way for Ducklings" sculpture, the Boston Public Gardens are unique. With the highrises as a backdrop and a beutiful lake in its midst, the gardens have a delightful mix of trees and flowering seasonals. Not just a 'A must visit', but a must 'spend a lot of time there' place! 

What's going on?

First the Tsunami (South, East Asia), then the deluge in Mumbai (India), then Katrina and other hurricanes (USA), then this earthquake (Indian Subcontinent) and the mudslide and hurricane (Central America).
Did I miss any?

And we still have 80 days left in this year!

Add to it all the manmade disasters in Iraq, Bali etc..

Reminds me of a line from King Lear:

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport.”

This has got to be the most disastrous year in recent memory.

Qoutes..

Here are some nice quotes I got from Neville’s blog:

Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who try.

Dig the well before you are thirsty.

A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.

Group Photo

Told him not to move! Group photo taken at Swamy's place. We gathered there to give a farewell to Abhijit (guy in Red and white stripes). He is going to Memphis. It was a lot of fun with him around. We will miss you Abhi. The party was a lot of fun with great music and a lot of dance! Great food too.

Online Banking..

CNN had a piece on online banking the other day. Seems like the trend is catching up with a lot of people here - and why not? It doesn’t hurt to earn 3%-4% interest on cash that’s sitting in your checking account gathering dust. No matter the amount.

2 of the specific ones that was mentioned in the article were ING Direct (3.4%) and Emigrant Direct (4%).

BTW – if any of you are interested in opening an account at ING-Direct, they will credit you account with $25 if you are referred by an existing customer. So drop me a line and I’d be glad to do the needful.