The battle so far...

Its been two weeks since the Barclay's English premiership 2007-08 kicked off and we have had quite a good number of surprises.Manchester United have made their worst possible start in 15 years...while the other team from Manchester are looking down at the big guns from the top of the table.
Sven Goran Eriksson(former England manager)was appointed as the manager of Man City this season and it is surprising for me to see that a manager can influence the result to such an extent...or is it mere luck driving Man City?Talking of luck...how can i forget Chelsea?It was pure luck that saw them home from Liverpool with one point in their bag.There have already been lots of talks criticising the referee's decision to award a penalty to Chelsea. The big four of the EPL(ManU,Chelsea,Liverpool,Arsenal)have all had starts which they would not have exactly wished for.
Though Chelsea looks better off(2wins,1draw)it is to be noted that they struggled to beat probable relegation contender Birmingham city.Chelsea won 3-2.After a long time we got to watch attacking play from Manchester United which was displayed against Man City.Though they lost their match against a far weaker team...the signs were encouraging.Tevez and Nani need more time to settle and results cannot be expected from them just as yet.The result was always on the cards since both Rooney and Ronaldo had to miss out.It remains to be seen how long Eriksson's team will stay at the top.But i believe that they are serious contenders for a place in the top 6.To me,Ferguson is still THE manger so far as he blew out his rivals with quick signings of Hargreaves,Anderson,Nani and Tevez.As far as results are concerned...no doubt that the former England manager stands tall.Jose Mourinho is bristled as United stole his show last season and will not settle for a second place.Arsenal,perhaps have expectations at their lowest for a decade and the time is good for them to spring a surprise,though i doubt their capability at doing so.Liverpool have always been considered as a top team and regardless of European heroics they will not be considered successful until they win the league for the first time since 1990.Fernando Torres,their new signing,promises a good season ahead of them.The psychological battle between these teams are set to continue and the title battle promises to be as nerve-wracking as ever.After all the fiasco in these two weeks Manchester United,to me,are still the team to beat.

Knowledge no bounds

A few of us at the venue knew nothing about anything.Some of us knew something about a few things.A few more knew something about almost everything.Together,we knew pretty much everything.

The venue i am referring to here is the Music Academy,Chennai...and 'we' or 'us' is the 1800+ strong crowd present at the venue for the Landmark Quiz 07.Dr.Naveen Jayakumar was the Quiz master for this 15th edition of the annual event.(The pic shows the stage of the music academy all set up for the start of the event).The prelims consisted of 40 questions which were to be answered on a sheet of paper and each team should be comprised of 3 members.An interesting range of questions kept me interested throughout the evening.I was disappointed that there was no question regarding the game of cricket/football in the prelims,though there was one cricket question in the finals(Who are the two players to have scored a century in both their debut and in their final test?This question was actually asked to the huge audience and not to the teams.I knew the answer and was jumping and shouting with a raised hand...but unfortunately the quiz master had decided to go to the right hand section of the hall whereas i was seated on the left hand side).However,there were 2 questions concerning Harry Potter in the prelims.There was a prize for the best school team and the winners said that they had got 23/40 correct.We(my team)got 20 questions correct i guess.So,our performance was below par when compared to 3 school guys.(I am just out from school and to make this a huge difference between us would be unfair on me:( ).There were 3 prizes for innovative team names and we chose to have 'Aiya Thoda' as our team name.('Aiya Thoda' is a commonly used Tamil slang which is something similar to 'Yeah right').The team with the name 'Sharukh says Chuk de..we say cheque de' won the prize.The final showdown between 8 teams kept the audience glued to their seats.The crowd favourite was one guy who kept going after some wild guess and he also won the 'Quizzer of the day' award though his team finished a credible fourth.His team 'Singapadai'(Lion's army)were sitting right in front of me during the prelims.My most favourite question of the evening was 'What do you mean by the term "Fridge googling"?'.None of the eight teams had the answer and so it came to the audience and i saw only 2 hands being raised.'Fridge googling' actually refers to running a Google search for recipes depending on the items one finds in the refrigerator.The crowd gave a huge roar when the last question(video question)was asked.It was a song from the movie 'Sivaji' and the crowd went berserk on seeing Rajinikanth.Another video(A scene from MIB)was shown and the connection between the 2 clips was asked.The answer was that both the videos were shot in Guggenheim museum.While the Sivaji song was shot in Spain branch of the museum..the MIB clip was shot in the American Guggenheim museum.
Earlier i had hoped that Derek O'Brien would be the quiz master(he has come in 2 or 3 occasions)but nothing goes as i hope for.

(The answer to that cricket question is Mohammad Azharuddin and Greg Chappel)

Landmark day

Tomorrow is the 60th independence day of India..and there is a lot of patriotism in the air.More people are uploading the Indian tricolour as the display picture on orkut..(dunno how long it will last though!!)and A.R.Rahman has stirred everyone with his 'Jana Gana Mana'.From being one of world's most ancient nations to one of the World's fast developing economy...India has travelled a very long way.
By the way..i have registered myself for the 'Landmark quiz 07' which takes place on the 15th of august at the Music Academy in chennai every year.I am keen on participating this year and no prizes for guessing...i dont expect to get into the finals.Its usually has a huge turnout of people..that actually a sorta-stampede occurs before the prelims begin.In the Odyssey Quiz 07(january 26...and it is similar to the Landmark quiz)..VV.Ramanan(quizmaster for various events notably 'The Young World quiz')didn't turn up as the quizmaster but actually as a contestant(phew!).With these kinda people turning up...how can people like me even dream of getting into the finals? If you ask anyone (regulars at these events) about their aim and hopes..they will answer..
"Who cares of winning?Its about the experience you gain dude".
Absolutely..and if by any chance you win..you are damn brainy!

Piracy at its best

Wookay!I got the 'award' on the annual day of my former school...stop guessing what it was! I just got a certificate acknowledging my score in Sanskrit...and a kinda good -looking certificate folder...phew!I know...these school people are so dumb or they are so mean.Whatever.

I am watching almost every ball that is being bowled in the ongoing third test between India and England...and i must admit that Test matches generate more interest in me than ODI's or Twenty-20's.I am a specimen..i know..probably you can comment that i shouldn't belong to this age.But...i am sure every person who is passionate about this game of gentlemen will share my view...old or young.Mind you...i am not offending anyone! It was heartening to see India perform so well...and i can't think of any other result than a 2-0 series victory unless there is rain,as predicted..from today.Most of the English batsmen got off to a good start but failed to convert any of them.I don't blame them..but the credit should go to the Indian bowlers who picked wickets at regular intervals which their counterparts failed to do....and this has been the most important achievement of the Indian team in this tour.Just 2 or more days or perhaps even 1, left for India to celebrate what has been a remarkable feat.Sure enough...the choice for the 'Man of the series' is going to be a toughie....though i am confident that Anil bhai will grab the 'Man of the Match' award.

In my previous post i had failed to share with you about my visit to 'Burma bazaar' which can be described by any Chennaite as the primary capital for PIRACY in this city.From i-pods to perfumes....you can find anything which you can prefer to be pirated!You can lay your hands on items for an unbeleivable price and if you have some bargaining skills..you can get the product for half the price of what would be initially quoted! This was my first visit to the place...and the cause of my visit was again - Boredom.Yes! I felt so bored that i wanted to watch some movies...and i didn't want to visit any theatre as i have done so frequently in these damn holidays.So...i set out along with some friends to get hold of some pirated DVD's.Not many people would dare post such a visit...and nod that they do encourage piracy.But not me. I feel that it is extremely hard to demolish piracy in a nation like India where there are 2 classes of people living.It would take a few more years or even decades for the hand of liberalistion to cover the length and breadth of the nation.Until that happens...the state will more or less remain the same....only witnessing a gradual decrease in the customers for piracy.

The week that was

The past few days have passed rather quickly than expected...these few days have witnessed some activity..which has been rare in these extended-hols.Yes,this week also saw my birthday pass and that is probably the main reason for such a feeling of mine.I gave my birthday 'treat' to my friends yesterday....and the evening flied in a jiffy.The annual day function of the school i studied in,is being held tomorrow and i have been invited by the school to receive an award for my so-called "outstanding performance".The thing is...the school has invited all those who got full marks in at least one subject.I fortunately/unfortunately got 198/200(that's the maximum)..in Sanskrit!!(which was my 2nd language)...hence i have been invited.All those guys who didn't score any centums but managed to get pretty high marks will miss out on the award...and they can call themselves lucky/unlucky..whatever!Above all...tomorrow will be a day to remember...not because of this silly award...but it promises to be the day when i get to meet most of my friends after a long gap...as most of them are expected to come.Who knows!?!..it might even be the last time i meet some of them!

As,i have already said...this week had its fair share of activity...i didn't find enough time to blog in peace.Last Sunday,i witnessed the FA community shield match between Manchester United and Chelsea.
I must admit...that it was an evenly matched contest between the two new (relatively new)rivals.Though i am an ardent ManU fan...it was good to see some Chelsea guys to play with passion.I thought Wright Phillips and Mallouda excelled.It also gave me pleasure to realise that Giggs can still score goals.Rooney disappointed a bit but Ronaldo made up for it.Chelsea clearly missed their star-striker Drogba and i don't think Terry would have created an impact had he played.The two teams fought with heart and finally the Reds seeked revenge for their FA cup loss against the same team.Van der sar excelled in the shootout.The match meant only one big thing to me...both these teams are going to sweat it out this premiership.I am looking forward for the season to kick off(august 11)...and may be..some other team might spring a surprise.But,i feel that the only team capable of doing so is Liverpool...as it remains to be seen how Arsenal will fare without Henry.Will Reading continue its good run this season(they have lost their key player Sidwell to Chelsea)...which 3 teams will be relegated?All these and more will be answered in the season that is all set to unfold.


I am done with Jeffrey Archer's 'As the crow flies'...truly a very good novel worth reading.It is just an ordinary story of a man...but in the author's hands it becomes an epic journey.What book next?
I know i am missing something in my life...and i also know what it is.
I have never read 'The lord of the rings' nor have i seen any of the movies.I know...i know..laugh at me the best you can.I had earlier got the chance to watch the movies...but i insisted that i won't do so until i have read the books.Unfortunately..i never got the chance.I didn't want to buy the book as many of my friends had owned it..i wanted to borrow it for someone and i knew it was just a matter of time.

The english speaking world is divided into those who have read 'The lord of the rings' and those who are going to read them.

Finally...i am all set to make a transition from one world to another!

Happy birthday to me!

Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday to Vinodh!
Happy birthday to me!
On this day i turn 17...hurray! Had i been living in Harry potter's world the ministry's trace upon me would have been removed...i would be free to perform magic outside Hogwarts..oh what fun i would have!! Now,coming back to the muggle world....
The day didn't start just as any other day...i woke up at 9(i was early by an hour atleast!!)..had a bath immediately(unusual of me!!)..and logged in. As a sudden thought...me and some of my friends decided to go out for a movie..(the original plan was that we go watch a hindi movie 'cash')..i had a quick lunch and started to my friend's place. Amidst all these i was constantly receiving birthday wishes(how sweet of all those...)and reached my destination(not exactly friend's place..it was a bus depot near his house)half an hour later than the designated time...and(not to my surprise)didn't find them(2 of them were supposed to meet me there).They came 5 minutes later and we started to the theatre at 11:50 am for the 12:15pm show...and as expected we were there by 12:20pm...but 2 more guys who were supposed to be present there hadn't turned up..and by the time they came (12:30) we had bought tickets for another movie called 'Partner'(hindi)scheduled for 12:45. I made my way into the movie hall lamenting.The movie was below average right from the beginning...and we guys couldn't stop commenting on how bad the movie has been copied from 'Hitch'.The movie however was good only in small patches.Though,(to my amusement) some people inside the theatre were laughing their heart out. Finally,i made home by 7 in the afternoon(we had gone to one of my friend's place after the movie)and after a few hours of browsing and chatting...here i am posting!!

The sorry state of a Nation

Bollywood's image has been shattered(if it hasn't been so far)...fans of Sanjay Dutt are angry at the judge..disappointed at the verdict.More than half the country don't want to see the actor in jail.But not me.Not that i have anything against him nor do i hate him(and his acting).Dutt had acquired an AK-56 in January 1993 after the riots in Mumbai from Abu Salem,and was in touch with the brother of Dawood Ibrahim(also the mastermind behind the blasts).Don't you think such an offense deserves a 6 year rigorous imprisonment?None of us would bother to give a damn about the verdict had the person in question was not Sanjay Dutt.Why are our people so obsessed with personalities?
Recently Dr.Haneef was cleared of terrorism-related charges and released from custody.He was put into "residential detention"...so he flew back home.I am even embarrassed to say this...he was given a King's welcome in India.What did he do?He was suspected of terrorist activities..and was later cleared.The crowd might have gathered to give him moral support and cheer him up...but not all Indians are suspected of terrorism.We must be ashamed that he belonged to our nation...i am not suggesting that he is guilty...but there must have been some ground for arresting him(forget the fact that he was the cousin of the 'real' terrorist).What did he talk with his cousin the previous day?Australian immigration minister has said that(after Dr.Haneef was freed)the Indian doctor might have had prior knowledge of the botched terror plot in the UK.I,once again make it clear that i am not saying that he is guilty but only questioning the welcome he received in India.
And where does the road go for Munnabhai now?I am sure there will be appeal after appeal till he gets bail or something like a 1 year imprisonment.
This is the state of India.

5 day drama

I cant remember a more exciting test match than the one between India and England that concluded yesterday...(ofcourse...i haven't watched all those 'tied' tests and the bodyline series and blah..blah..).The match was fiercely contested and it showed how desperate both teams were for victory.My feeling was that it was the English who started the tale of verbal exchanges.You couldn't have missed Prior shouting at the Indian batsmen from behind the stumps even in the first test,if you had watched the match.It was hard for the Indians to keep their concentrations going.Obviously they felt their need to counter-attack when it was their turn and what better weapon than Santhakumaran Sreesanth??Oh..and poor ol' Zaheer and the jelly-bean hoolaboola...England should have let their bats do the talking..but somehow they seem to think that jellybeans would do the trick for them.You know what i call such people??LOSERS!!
Amidst all these...surely one couldn't have missed dear Simon Taufel.He has said that he regretted his decision against Sachin...but what about Ganguly??He said he would have given that out any day!!An attempted flick through the leg side..against a ball that would have been called wide in an ODI...bat brushing against pads...still..there was atleast a 3 cm gap between the bat and the ball.If the number 1 umpire of the ICC would give that out on any day..then..well..he should think of some other job.

Keeping the fires of innovate spirit burning

I stumbled upon an interesting article in 'The Hindu' two days back written by one E.C.Thomas.Pardon me...but this is the first time i am posting something that is not mine.Excerpts from the article....

It is highly credible indeed that India is achieving a growth rate of 8 to 9 percent in recent years. But it is incredible that with such a growth rate and abundance of technical manpower,Indian DNA is not on the products which rule the world such as personal computers,digital cameras,cell phones,ipods,dvd players,plasma television sets or medical breakthroughs like stent.
The list is long. India has no products which have revolutionised the world scene. Or do we excel only in the development of revolutionary concepts like zero or in soft skills like computer software?
Nor do we have innovative companies such as Google,Apple or microsoft.Our IT giants are really glorified sub-contractors to the elite corporations of the world.Our great manufacturing enterprises are just makers of products engineered by others.Even celebrated businessmen such as Lakshmi Mittal just built on existing entities.
Recently,there was an interesting story that Bill Gates was awarded an honorary doctorate by his Alma Mater,Harward University. Thirty years ago,he did not think twice before dropping out of the prestigious institution to promote the legendary company.Have you ever come across any young person who is prepared to drop out of an IIT or IIM to throw himself into unknown waters to follow a dream?The brilliant fellow goes on to become an outstanding executive of somebody else's dream.
So it so happens that the best of the corporations of the world like Pepsi,Vodafone,Microsoft have Indian top executives.The chief scientist of Google is Krishna Bharat who joined the company in 1999.There are path breaking Indian scientists Alas,we have no path breaking products.
The parents,Universities,private business enterprises and the state should form a holy alliance with a hidden agenda to keep the fires of innovative spirit burning in the brilliant minds of youngsters.
We should ensure that the best of us do not become available to the highest bidder.

Uncle Vyno!

Hey!!I became an uncle yesterday as my sister gave birth to a baby girl(in pic).
It was at 11:27 am IST to be more precise.Incidentally,my official date of birth is also 31st july(1990)....though i was actually born on the 6th of august.My parents had to change my date of birth because i was supposed to be born on or before 31st july 90..to be admitted in school at that time...and it would have been unwise to have me at home for another year just because i was late by 6 days. Moreover,i was already too intelligent...that they thought spending another year away from school might result in me being over-intellingent and i would have been admitted into higher education straight away. What an opportunity missed by my parents.