Well done Ireland !

Ireland gave a good run for India in the ongoing ICC World Cup today. It was not a smooth sailing for India. Few wickets in the initial stage still make them too cautious.

India though won the game comfortably, took the same amount of overs to get the runs. Had they scored quickly, they could have proved that they are good. Of course, not loosing wickets is also important.

The Irish spinners were good. I don't know why Ashwin is not selected and Piyush taken. Anyway, Yuvaraj did a good job with the ball and later with the bat.

It is a new World Cup record - a player scoring 50+ and 5 wickets in a match. Kapil was bit closer in 1983. But now the record is against the name of Yuvaraj.

The why, why of the game...yes, the YY...Yusuf & Yuvaraj completed the formalities. Yusuf showed how to play without fear by smashing 2 sixes and a 4 in the first 5 balls he faced.

For those who paid for the tickets, it was an interesting and good match and can leave the ground with joy. However, monday blues are waiting.

Happy week ahead.

Cheers,

Ramanan

Another edition of World Cup started in a big way!

The opening ceremony of the ICC World Cup (Cricket) has started in a big way. Soon, it will overtake the Filmfare, Grammy, Oscar award ceremony and also Olympic opening ceremony.

Earlier, cricket used to be a sport. But, now it is more of entertainment, money-spinning, betting and fashion show.

In 2003 world cup ad - Sachin featured for Pepsi. In 2011 he appears for Coke. Who knows he may not even drink Coke or Pepsi but only BOOST !!! So, does this mean that Pepsi is not good and Coke is good? If you really look at it...it is we the fools, who pay for the advertisement (as it is a part of the cost of the drink).

Dhoni's comment that the players are streched too much is correct. They have to act, do fashion shows and in between play cricket & party too.

All TV channels looking at increasing their TRP and fighting to get something or the other to get the viewership & advertisement.

Am sure with this world cup, our economy will do well ! GDP will increase, as we have :

• more foreigners visiting India
• more advertisements - good for media companies
• good for advertisement consultants
• good for players - more money
• good for BCCI - more collection

Hope it does not though up any scam like the CommonWealth Games!

What about the sportsmaniac?

• Forego the exam study
• Spend money to watch it in the stadium
• Electricity charges
• Those who do not get the channel, cough up for the program
• I started counting the advertisements, but gave up after 5 mins.

Yes, of course, I still enjoy watching the game, but not that keen. Now that it is more of an entertainment, I prefer T20 than an ODI. Test matches? Whaaaaaaat? It is there in the cricinfo, mobile etc., so just check whenever you want. Who has the time to watch a test match?

That said, all the above vanished, as I see India in a stronger position in the opening game against Bangladesh. As I write, Bangladesh started loosing its tail enders.

Enjoy the ICC World Cup!

Cheers,

Ramanan

A story on love - on the valentines day

It’s another morning..…..  Again I have to go to office..
Ohh, this is me… I shouted having a glance on my snap in today’s news paper.   
But what the HELL it is doing in the death column??    Strange…   

One sec... Let me think, last night when I was going to bed I had a severe pain in my chest, but I don’t remember anything after that, I think I had a sound sleep.

Its morning now, ohh….. It’s already 10:00 AM, where is my coffee?

I will be late for office and my boss will get a chance to irritate me.    Where is everyone…??? I screamed.    “I think there is a crowed outside my room, let me check.” I said to myself.    So many people….. Not all of them crying…    But why some of them crying…    WHAT IS THIS??? I m laying there on the floor…    “I AM HERE” … I shouted!!! No one listen.  “LOOK I AM NOT DEAD” … I screamed once again!!! No one is interested in me.  They all were looking me on the bed.I went back to my bed room.    “Am I dead??”  I asked myself.Where is my wife, my children, my mom-DAD, my friends?I found them in the next room, all of them were crying… still trying to console each other.My wife was crying… she was really looking sad.  My little kid was not sure what happened, but he was crying just coz his mom was sad.    How can I go without saying my kid that I really love him, I really do care of him. ??  How can I go without saying my wife that she is really most beautiful and most caring wife in this world..??    How can I go without saying my parents that I m … just because of u ??    How can I go without telling my friends that without them perhaps I have done most of the wrong things in my life… thanks for being there always when I need them… and sorry for not being there when they really need me..    I can see a person standing in the corner and trying to hide his tears…    Ohh… he was once my best friend, but a small misunderstanding made us part, and we both have strong enough ego to keep us disconnect.    I went there.. And offered him my hand, “Dear friend… I just want to say sorry for everything, we r still best friend, please forgive me.”  No response from other side, what the hell?? He is still preserving his ego, I am saying sorry… even then!!!    I really don’t care for such people.    But one sec…. it seems he is not able to see me!!!! He did not see my extended hand.  My goodness…  AM I REALLY DEAD???    I just sat down near ME; I was also feeling like crying…    “OH ALMIGHTY!!!! PLEASE JUST GIVE ME FEW MORE DAYS…”    I just wasn’t to make my wife, my parents; my friends realize that how much I love them.    My wife entered in the room, she looks beautiful.    “YOU R BEAUTIFUL” I shouted.    She didn’t hear my words, in fact she never heard these words coz I never said this to her.    “GOD!!!!” I screamed… a little more time plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. .  I cried…

One more chance please… to hug my child, to make my mom smile just once, to feel my dad proud on me at least for a moment, to say sorry to my friends for everything I have not given to them, and thanks for still being in my life….
Then I looked up and cried!!!!I shouted….    “GOD!!!! ONE MORE CHANCE PLEASE!!!!”    "You shouted in your sleep," said my wife as she gently woke me up. "Did you have a nightmare?"I was sleeping….  Ohh that was just a dream….    My wife was there… she can hear me…    This is the happiest moment of my life…    I hugged her and whispered…. “U R THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND CARING WIFE IN THIS UNIVERSE…. I REALLY LOVE U DEAR”

I can’t understand the reason of the smile on her face with some tears in her eyes, still I m happy…. :)

“THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS SECOND? CHANCE.”

So, Now it’s not late.... Forget your egos, past ...., and express your love to others …. Be friendly .… keep smiling and be happy for ever…

Stories with message

Friends,

We come across many stories, which has many messages, value in our day to day life. We just read them and forward them and get lost in the mails. There are very few chances of getting the mail opened to read it again. I thought of collating and publishing the same in this blog, for future references.

These stories are email forwards, heard or even my own - but has some value to the human beings.

Hope you enjoy the stories, which are short by great!

Happy valentines day!!!

Ramanan

Raja arrested for 2G scam

Today A.Raja (ex-Telecom minister) was arrested for the involvement in the 2G scam. 

two weeks back, I was watching an interesting programme in a local channel, where Cho Ramasamy was discussing about the Congress & DMK He made a valid point. If Kapil Sibal is of the opinion that there is nothing wrong in the 2G allocation, then why not call A.Raja to the same portfolio?

After the CBI grilling Raja is now arrested. This is a blow to the DMK government and the tie between DMK and Congress.

We know how things move in our system. Let us wait and see what is going to happen.

Cheers,

Gopal

Age is just a number - Cougar relationship

Do you know what is a Cougar relationship? It refers to a relationship where a woman is romantically involved with a man younger than her.This trend is now common in India. Such things have happened in the past,but not too openly, says psychiatrist Sanjay Chugh.

People just raise their eyebrows on this topic and then move on when another interesting topic comes. Samir Parikh,consultant psychiatrist,says,Anything which is slightly different raises eyebrows for a while.This happens more so with celebrities because they are so much in the public glare and the reactions are all the more manifested in nature, says Parikh.

Sachin, Shilps Shetty, Manisha Koirala, Aishwarya Rai - to name a few in this category.

When psychiatrist say public notice the celebrities getting into this type of relationship but not the non-celebrities, as in most of the cases, we do not know the ages.

My take on this:

Most [ I say most..and not all ;-) ] of the men end up listening to their spouse (whether like it or not) and in the case of such cougar relationship, they can take shelter by saying that they always listen to the elders advise.

Hope to get others views / experience / thoughts on this.

Cheers,

Gopal

Tatkal passengers will now have to carry ORIGINAL ID proof

Rail passengers travelling on Tatkal tickets must now carry their identity proof in original or face the prospect of being treated as ticket-less travellers and penalised. 

Dogged with complaints of alleged irregularities in the Tatkal scheme, Railways has directed that passengers travelling on such tickets must produce proof of their identity from February 11 onwards. 

Any one of the passengers travelling in a group have to produce the ID proof “failing which all passengers travelling on the said ticket will be treated as travelling without tickets and will be charged excess fare and penalty as per rules”, a statement issued in New Delhi said. 

The identity proof could be a voter photo identity card, passport, PAN card, driving licence, photo identity card issued by Central or State government, student identity card issued by recognised schools/colleges, nationalised bank passbook with photograph and credit cards issued by banks with laminated photograph. 

No identity proof is, however, required to be produced at the reservation counter while getting the Tatkal ticket booked, it said. 

The Tatkal scheme was introduced in 1997, with the provision that passengers booking tickets would indicate their identity card number at the time of booking and would be required to carry the same card during the journey. This provision was subsequently withdrawn in August 2004.

Railway officials said the latest move was aimed at putting to end complaints of bulk booking and the role of touts in cornering such tickets.

Railways had last year also barred e-ticket agents from accessing online Tatkal bookings from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. when booking commences for the day.

The move comes at a time when the Railway Ministry is understood to be considering a proposal to introduce Tatkal trains on busy routes, a mention of which is expected in the Railway Budget. 

If you look at the various identity cards, one cannot afford to loose when you travel. Especially when elderly persons are traveling, it is difficult for them to manage the safe custody of the Voter Id card or Ration Card. Getting again a voter id or ration card is not that easy.

Why not the Railways issue an identity card (through IRCTC) and charge Rs.25 as processing fee. When this card is lost, they can issue a duplicate (after checking the records) for a nominal fee. This Id number can be used for frequent traveller, managing travel booking, senior citizen proof etc., This can be used for other online travel bookings, as this is issued by a government agency.

An improvement in this regard would be highly appreciated in the ensuing Railway budget.

Others thoughts please.

Cheers,

Gopal

Will India pull out a sensational win against SA?

With 340 runs to win the match - whole day with the team, what would be going in the minds of Dhoni @Co?

• Play safe, without loosing wickets, and draw the match & series
• while playing safely, if we loose wickets, India will loose the series
• Play aggressively - go all out for a victory
• Shewag, Tendulkar, Dhoni, Pujara & Harbajan should step up with quick score, with Ghambhir, Dravid or Laxman on the other end to keep the wicket intact.

Ther is another 15 more minutes to go for the start of the match! Let us wait and see what is going to happen.

Anyway, this is going to be a wonderful final day - DO or DIE for both the teams, Shewag v Steyn. More than the spectators, team members, it is the umpires, who will be under tremendous pressure, as any wrong decision will favour a team.

All the best to India & SA team for a fantastic game.

Cheers,

Gopal

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2011

Friends,

Happy NEW YEAR to you, your family & friends. Like previous years, let this new year too usher in good luck. We wish everyone a Happy New year, every year. How about wishing once for all a HAPPY FUTURE !

Time flies and I stopped blogging from Apr 2010. I stopped blogging, as i got a mail from my company on  blogging policy. That stoppage took a long time to get back to blogging.

This is not my new year resolution to start blogging, but to restart from where I left. There were many things I wanted to share the shames & scams (CWG, 2G etc.,)..Tendulkar's superb double century in One Day International...India's victory run in Cricket, CWG (India's performance) etc., but could not.

May be this post for wishing you all a bright future, will make me to come back on track and start my blogging.

Hope to keep up my regular posting.

Once again wishing you all a bright and happy future.

Cheers,

Gopal

Anand v Topalov - Very interesting match

In an interesting final game, Anand playing with Black pieces, won the game against Topalov. It was good fighting and from the 43rd move..it was all along Anand. The game was over when he took Topalov's Queen.

What a game. Had the game ended in a draw, it was sure that Anand is the winner, as Topalov has to play Anand in Rapid and then Blitz game, which even Topalov know that he cannot beat Anand.

This is the Fourth time that Anand is World Championship.

The start of the championship looked bleak, as the flights in Europe were cancelled due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Congrats Anand ! Jai Ho.

Cheers,

Gopal

Jai Ho India ! What a performance in Formula One !!!

In the recent Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, the Indian team had a field day. Adrian Sutil of Force India managed to finish 5th and Karun Chandok managed 15th position.

In the points tally,

• Force India - Mercedes is ranked 6th in Constructor standing
• Adrian Sutil (Force India) is ranked 9th (ahead of the legend Schumi)
• Karun Chandok is ranked 18th.

Grand Prix  Date Points Total Bahrain 14-Mar-10   2   2 Australian 28-Mar-10   6   8 Malaysian 4-Apr-10 10 18
The way Force India earning points is amazing. First race - 2 points, then 6 points and now in Malaysia - 10 points. Indians have made their way to the Grand Prix. Thanks to Vijay Mallya for buying a team in F1. Cheers, Gopal

No benefits for those who do not vote !

It was dismal show by the public in voting for the BBMP elections. The Government of Karnataka is contemplating to take away all the benefits for those who are not voting in the elections. It is a good move. I agree with that.

So, if you do not vote in the elections, you stand to loose the ration card, subsidised gas etc., My point is:

For those who are voting, will the government :

• issue a ration card immediately
• issue the other facilities, which they say that will be taken away?

Government should make sure that the electoral list is made properly. Inspite of applying for ages, there are people who still wait for their names to be found in the electoral list.


Let the government clean their house before penalizing others. How are they going to give the exemptions for the following:

• Those who are transferred to another state on government jobs
• Those who have not been provided with the election id card

Even ministers like Mr.Ashoka thinking like this is irritating. Let them put their house in order, before working on the others. If the government is perfect, people will voluntarily come and vote.

 

Cheers,

Gopal

Formula One...the season begins

The Formula One season is about the start! Here are the pole positions. Nice to see Force India in the pole position (10th).

Welcome back Schumacher !!!

1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Felipe Massa
3. Fernando Alonso
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Nico Rosberg
6. Mark Webber
7. Michael Schumacher
8. Jenson Button
9. Robert Kubica
10. Adrian Sutil (Force India)

This is the first race for Karun Chandok (represents HRT team). He stands last in the grid. But well done Karun. The second Indian in the F1.

For those who follow Formula 1, the points system has changed and also the pit & refuelling rules. Here are the new rules:

The new Formula One points system and other changes for 2010 have been rubberstamped after the International Automobile Federation (FIA) published the definitive regulations.

The new scoring system of 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 for the first 10 drivers in a race had been agreed but needed the approval of the world motor sport council, which has now included the change in the rules.

Another difference to last year is that starting weights of cars no longer have to be published after that line was taken out of the rules.

With refuelling during races banned this year, starting weights would have given an indication as to which cars were the most fuel efficient.
Tyre changes will be more important this season given the refuelling ban but the FIA wants limits on pitlane technology.

Powered devices which assist in lifting any part of a car are forbidden in the pit lane during a race - per the new rule.

What a start to IPL-3 !

What an excellent start for the IPL-3 (T20).

The first ball was a wicket.The 3rd ball was a wicket!..Vaas struck the initial blow.

Not able to get the relay properly in the Set Max.  It is worth not watching it. Poor quality of relay. Thank GOD, am saved from the advertisements.

So, relying on Cricinfo, as there is no other go....even the YouTube arrangement is also not worth watching.

Wickets are falling like nine pins...4 wickets down in 5 overs.

SINGH...VAAS...SINGH...among them they took the 4 wickets.

Another money spinning entertainment is on the cards.....We can tax the IPL teams and BCCI, which can fund the fiscal deficit to a great extent.

Cheers,

Gopal