Earth Hour - 2008

EARTH HOUR - 2008

LET'S DO OUR PART

LET'S SAVE OUR PLANET

New Format for TEST CRICKET needed

The name "Test" is thought to arise from the idea that the matches are a "test of strength and competency" between the sides involved. It seems to have been used first to describe an English team that toured Australia in 1861-62, although those matches are not considered Test matches today. The first ever official Test match commenced on the 15th of March 1877, contested by England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the Australians won by 45 runs.

( Wikipedia )

By Sunday evening India time, another test match would probably go down the tubes as 'Draw', aka 'No results'.

I am not sure if there are other games that can end in a 'No result' situation.

Not sure about you, but for me, it is just too boring to watch a five day game that ends in a tame draw !

Test cricket - The five day version of the game with two innings per side has been going on for a few centuries now. A few changes have happened in the last century like the scrapping of the 'REST DAY'.

But for most part, test cricket is still the same.

I feel it is high time the authorities came together with a new format for the longer version of the game ( IMHO, for the survival of Test cricket ).

May I suggest a maximum of one day per side ? And if the scores are tied at the end, a shoot out or a coin toss. I don't mind 2 innings per side.

The world has changed since test cricket evolved and is changing by the second.

Why not TEST CRICKET ?

Universal Charger / Adaptor

NIKON DSLR

CASIO Digital

LG Cellphone

Nokia Cellphone

Razr Cellphone

Nintendo SP

Nintendo DS

Sony PS2

WII

IPOD

San Disk MP3 Player

Laptop

Wireless Router

Modem

Battery Chargers

Bluetooth Chargers

Hair Trimmer

Shaver

Electric Toothbrush

Etc. Etc.

If you own these gadgets you know that each one of these has a different charger / power adaptor. If you travel - God bless you ! You need a seperate bag for the Chargers !.

I was browsing Amazon today for Universal chargers / adaptors and found this product. Looks very interesting indeed. I am planning to try it out. I'll let you know how it works out.

Cochin International Airport

( My photo of Cochin International Airport )

I had the opportunity to fly from Cochin to Chennai during my 2006 India trip. I loved the airport and the services.

I liked the cleanliness, the architecture and the passenger facilities. The waiting area was very nice indeed and so were the shopping areas. The roads were nice around the airport and the parking lot was huge. As I took off from Cochin I noticed how green it was around the airport.

My only crib was the doubt if it could handle the load when many more airlines come to Cochin.

Looks like Cochin Airport is a big hit according to IBNLIVE.

Sachin said...!

Pawar recalled Sachin Tendulkar meeting him to convey that players of his generation would like to opt out when the selectors were about to announce the Indian team for the ICC World Twenty20.

“Sachin met me and suggested ‘I know you don’t interfere with the team selection but please tell the selectors not to include players of my generation in the Twenty20 squad.’ He said ‘my generation is not fit for Twenty20, so give an opportunity to the youngsters.’”

( News from THE HINDU )

நடுத்தெருவர்க்கம்

அன்று

நடுத்தரவர்க்கம்

இன்று

நடுத்தெருவர்க்கம்

Happy Birthday Adhithi

Adhithi turned 14 today

Time flies

'Happy Birthday Adhithi'

Tamil actor Raghuvaran passes away

Photo courtesy: Sify Movies

49 years is too young an age to die. God bless his soul.

I am a big fan of Raghuvaran. Started right from his TV Serials and his Tamil movie 'Ezhavathu manidhan'. Those who saw 'Mudhalvan' would recollect his wonderful portrayal of Tamil Nadu's CM.

I'll watch 'Mudhalvan' anytime, just for Raghuvaran.

Big Loss for the Tamil Film Industry.

நியாய தர்மங்கள்

அப்பா அழுது நான் இதுவரை என் 22 வயது வாழ்வில் பார்த்ததில்லை !

'போயிட்டு வாம்மா !' துண்டால் முகத்தை துடைத்துக்கொண்டே அழுதார். அம்மா என்றும் இல்லாமல் இன்று கொஞ்சம் தைரியமாக இருந்தாள்.

பாட்டி பாதிக்கண்னால் பார்த்து..ஒரு கை தூக்கி பொக்கை வாயில் என்னவோ சொல்ல, மாமா, மாமி, சித்தி, சித்தப்பா, குழந்தைகள் கை அசைத்து வழி அனுப்ப..

சுரேஷ், விஜய், ஷங்கர், ராமா, பாலாஜி, சாரு, சித்ரா, அதிதி, ப்ரீதி மற்றும் நண்பர்கள் 'BYE..BYE' சொல்ல...

கனத்த மனதுடன், கன்னத்தில், கண்களில் நீருடன், கார் கதவை திறந்து ஏறிக்கொண்டேன். ராஜேஷ் மேல் சாய்ந்து கொள்ள கார் கிளம்பியது.

நான் பிறந்து, வளர்ந்து திரிந்த ஊர்..மெல்ல மெல்ல..பின்னால் மறைய..இதோ ஒரு 100 கிலோமீட்டர் தூரத்தில் உள்ள ராஜேஷ் வீட்டுக்கு....என் புகுந்த விட்டுக்கு..பயணம் ஆரம்பம்.

ஏன் டீ ரம்யா பெண்ணாகப் பிறந்தாய் ? ஏன்.. ஏன் ? எனக்குள் ஒரு கேள்வி.

--

( தொடரும் )

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BCCI - A Suggestion for ODI Team selection

Dravid wants to come back to the One Day Team

Ganguly is desperate and wonders how he can get in

Laxman wants to be there

Sachin is holding on

Zaheer Khan, RP Singh are getting ready after injuries

Yuvaraj isn't sure - To Date or To Bat

Dinesh Karthik, VRV Singh, Pankaj Singh - Tired carrying drinks

Sehwag - Losing hair over ODI Thoughts

S Badrinath, Murali Karthik and the likes:

Learning SAP to try and get into IT rather than wait forever for a chance

Ajit Agarkar - The Warrior

Still trying hard, using the 'Kar' value !

My suggestion to BCCI:

Just like Under-19, have a few more teams

20 - 28 ( Team Acne )

29 - 35 ( Team Amrutanjan / Idupvali )

and then finally a

Senior Citizens team of India ( Team Viagra )

Hold a Lottery to choose which group goes for a series.

That way you can satisfy all !

DJIA vs. Hang Seng & BSE Sensex

BSE Sensex vs Hang Seng

Hang Seng vs Dow Jones Industrial Average

BSE Sensex vs Dow Jones Industrial Average

Ilayaraja - My God

Picture courtesy: Keerthi's Avyukta

I grew up listening to Ilayaraja's songs. In my opinion he revolutionized Tamil film music. He came with a bang via 'Annakkili' and there was no stopping ! Even today his songs stand apart..just for one reason - Sheer Melody.

I was watching some videos in Ganesh's Blog today and went speechless for a few minutes to see the talent in Kerala. Please watch and enjoy IR and these wonderful singers. Please don't miss the comments of the judges at the end of the videos.

A word about Keerthi. His creativity is amazing. This pencil sketch of IR (above) is a classic example of his creativity. I love his writing, his photography and his paintings / sketches. I consider myself lucky to have such a great person as my friend.

Curry leaves - No Stock in Bay Area

Photo courtesy: Paajaka.com

Three vital ingredients in Indian Cuisine:

Turmeric

Asafoetida

Curry Leaves

All of the above have very good medicinal properties which are well documented.

Now, all of a sudden there is a shortage of Curry Leaves in the Bay Area. I am not sure why. I didn't read anything about it.

All I hear in the Indian stores is

'Sorry , Out of Stock'

Does anyone know what is going on ?

Delegates & Super Delegates

Photo courtesy: Conservative Outpost

Those of you who follow the presidential race in the USA would know by now that it is going to be an extremely tight finish for both Mr.Obama and Mrs. Clinton to get the nomination of the Democratic party.

Looks like it would finally come to the Super Delegates.

Here is what Wikipedia says about Super Delegates:

Unlike most convention delegates, the super delegates are not selected based on the party primaries and caucuses in each U.S. state. Instead, the super delegates are seated automatically, based solely on their status as current or former elected officeholders and party officials. They are free to support any candidate for the nomination.

I wonder why they still continue this 'Super Delegate' tradition.

I remember when President Bush got elected 8 years back, he did not have the popular votes..but he won thanks to the delegate count. I thought that was not fair !

Now again, Mr.Obama and Mrs. Clinton are ( even for their nomination ) at the mercy of Super Delegates.

Ponting & Co. RIP !

Photo courtesy: Sydney Morning Herald

So, the proof is in the Pudding aka 'CB Series Winner'

Congratulations Team India - Under 30. ( 99% ).

What does this prove ? It proves the faith of the Indian selectors. It proves the faith of a common ( often called Aging ) man like me. It proves that young blood is the need of the hour especially in the smaller versions of Cricket.

Finally it proved wrong all those critics, all those who spat at the selectors, when they found that Mr.Wall and Mr.Dadha were dropped from the ODI squad. I got some flak too, for applauding the team selection !

Thanks to injuries to RP Singh and Zaheer Khan we found a few gems like Ishant and Praveen. Thanks to the sacking of Dravid/Ganguly we found gems like Rohit Sharma !

Believe me, there are some more gems in this same team, who were not brought out ...to show the world their dazzle. Time will come soon for them too.

Sachin - Congratulations for the great knocks in the last two matches.

Lastly a word for the Aussies - I hope you are a bit light-headed now, thanks to the trashing by India. I hope you lost your head weight !

Ponting & Co. RIP !

சுஜாதாவுக்கு - ரா.கி.ரங்கராஜன் அஞ்சலி

புதிய எழுத்தாளர்கள் அவரைப் போல எழுத வேண்டும் என்று ஆசைப்பட்டு எழுதுவது உண்டு. அவ்வளவு ஏன்... ஆரம்ப காலத்தில் நானே அவரைப்போல எழுதிப் புகழ்பெற வேண்டும் என்று சிறுபிள்ளைத்தனமாக ஆசைப்பட்டதுண்டு.

அவருடைய நுட்பமான அறிவு, அளவிட முடியாத உழைப்பு, படிப்பு, நட்பு வட்டாரம், பெரிய இடத்துப் பழக்கவழக்கங்கள் இவற்றில் ஆயிரத்தில் ஒரு பங்குகூட எனக்கு வராது என்பதை உணர்ந்து, அவரை முந்தவேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தை விட்டுவிட்டேன்.

மரணம் ஒன்றில்தான் அவரை முந்த முடியும் என்று எண்ணியிருந்தேன்.

அதையும் பொய்ப்பித்துவிட்டார் என் அருமை நண்பர் சுஜாதா!

ஜூனியர் விகடனில் - ரா.கி. ரங்கராஜன்
( படிக்க சந்தா தேவை)

சச்சின் - விசிறிகளே !

நூறு அடித்ததும்

வாரி கட்டிக் கொண்டு

வசை பாட
ஓடி வரும்

சச்சின் - விசிறிகளே!

அவர்..

நாறிய பொழுது

பேச்சு மூச்சு இல்லாமல்

மறைந்து கிடந்த

மாயம் தான் என்ன ?

Sydney ODI - My thoughts

It doesn't matter if India loses the next two games. It doesn't matter if we are beaten black and blue. A mostly young Indian team ridiculed by many for a lack of experience proved that they could beat a formidable Australia...in Australia.

Today, every other magazine and website has praised Sachin. Hats off to him. Despite his age he was able to tackle the Aussie bowling on a mostly flat track. Great knock indeed.

I am not a great fan of Sachin - but I admired something yesterday. Even as he reached his hundred he was quite active. He wasn't showing signs of any distress physically. This is something I haven't seen with the younger players these days. They usually call for a bye-runner and cramp and show signs of physical weakness as they go further.

To my surprise Sachin batted the 45+ overs and he was OK in the end. Hats off Sachin. You have to bat well the next game or two to prove your critics like me wrong !

I didn't read anything written about a 19 year old Piyush Chawla. Those who saw him bowl yesterday would have admired his Leggies, Topspinners and Googlies and his amazing accuracy. 10-0-33-0 is an amazing analysis !

The catch he took was a turning point in the game. I bet Munaf would have stood there watching...if he was in the team !

I am glad the Indian Team Management finally decided to give Piyush a go. And what a move it was !

Well..Well...as we go to GABBA on tuesday Sachin and Co. beware. If my instincts are right it will be a fast track. Though we have Ishant....I doubt if a fast track will suit Sachin and Co. Only time will tell. Let's see.

And like someone in the crowd said yesterday:

' Yuvi - Stop Dating - Start Batting '

60,000 crore Loan waiver

New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday presented a Budget which waived off loans worth Rs 60,000 crore to small farmers, hoped for an 8.8 percent growth and announced several social sector schemes.

Source - IBNLIVE.COM

How do you define a small farmer ?

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Is there a fool-proof mechanism in place to identify them ?

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Who is going to pay for this waiver ?

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