yet another once in a lifetime occurence, and i've lived it.
turned twenty-two on 22.
im now twent-two years old (where did the 'y' go?), or maybe twent-two years young (where did the 'y' go again?). as of now, i do not know if i am young or old. as of now, i don't really care.
all that's bothering me is that i'll be boarding the bus tomorrow night to get back to 'yuck-work' on wednesday. 3 months away from home, and i've already started not-quite-enjoying my life there. it's not home-sickness. if it is, it's not completely home-sickness. there are bits of away-illness as well.
this was probably one of the top three most-not-celebrating birthdays i've had. but this was easily on of the top-three most satisfying ones. had the best gift ever - BEING WITH MY FAMILY ON T22 !!!
not that i haven't ever celebrated my day with them, but this one was different.
TEAM INDIA are just Twenty20/T20 World Champs... i'm two steps ahead!
i'll be gone in no time at all. i need to come back soon. something's missing. need to find that missing part to complete this jigsaw puzzle. let's see where it leads to. i need to be satisfied. i'm not. i need to be satisfied.
phewww...
for the time being...
happy birthday sweetheart... i love you, a little less than your family... but a little more than you.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
ALL THE WORLD'S A GRASS COURT
It's not just the re-opening of schools and the monsoon that make the month of June special, there's another feature that sets it apart from the other eleven. But don't blame this feature for causing you a pain in your neck, because all you do while watching it live is rotate your head from one end of the court to the other. Yes, we're talking abt the greatest spectacle that the world of Lawn Tennis has to offer us - THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON!
It's all green and white- The grass court, the line-markings, the net, the player's uniform's, et al. The World Cup of Lawn Tennis, kick-started way back in 1877 and has only gotten better till 2007. Wimbledon has given the world some of the best moments to talk about. There isn't a greater joy on the planet than watching the Samprases and Federers return a one-handed backhand, swooshing past their opponents, leaving them disabled. Or maybe getting to hear the grunts of Monica Seles, wondering if its her racquet or her voice-box which is doing the harder work, was in fact, the greatest music to the ears. And checking your entry passes, on watching Michael Chang run like hell, to confirm that it's Wimbledon you're serving as an audience to and not a 100 mts dash in the Olympics.
Talking about Gentlemen's Singles Championships, one very strange fact about the Wimbledon is that England being the host, there hasn't been any English player that has even reached the finals since 1939. To even that fact out, we have had all-English Men's Singles finals since the Wimbledon's inception in 1877 to 1904. Ladies have also had a similar run, dominating till about 1914 and then they've been hiding since 1970. But one major support the winners in earlier times got was, up until 1921, the winners of the previous year's competition (except in the Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles) were automatically granted byes into the final round.
Wimbledon has it all... Federer's one-handed backhands, Nadal's aggression, William sister's grunts, Andy Roddick's express serves, Mauresmo's manly strength, Sharapova's intoxicating charm, also our very own Paes-Bhupathi's chest-bumps.
If Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, Lawn Tennis is the most respected one- a major thanks to Wimbledon. Let's hope that the Wimbledon this year, produces real champions, yet again and some prodigy registers her/his name into super stardom yet, yet again.
Let's salute and thank THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Let's salute and thank WIMBLEDON!
It's all green and white- The grass court, the line-markings, the net, the player's uniform's, et al. The World Cup of Lawn Tennis, kick-started way back in 1877 and has only gotten better till 2007. Wimbledon has given the world some of the best moments to talk about. There isn't a greater joy on the planet than watching the Samprases and Federers return a one-handed backhand, swooshing past their opponents, leaving them disabled. Or maybe getting to hear the grunts of Monica Seles, wondering if its her racquet or her voice-box which is doing the harder work, was in fact, the greatest music to the ears. And checking your entry passes, on watching Michael Chang run like hell, to confirm that it's Wimbledon you're serving as an audience to and not a 100 mts dash in the Olympics.
Talking about Gentlemen's Singles Championships, one very strange fact about the Wimbledon is that England being the host, there hasn't been any English player that has even reached the finals since 1939. To even that fact out, we have had all-English Men's Singles finals since the Wimbledon's inception in 1877 to 1904. Ladies have also had a similar run, dominating till about 1914 and then they've been hiding since 1970. But one major support the winners in earlier times got was, up until 1921, the winners of the previous year's competition (except in the Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles) were automatically granted byes into the final round.
Now some interesting facts-
-Charlotte (Lottie) Dod became the youngest player ever to win a Wimbledon Singles event when, in 1887, she won at the age of 15 years, 285 days. In 1996 Martina Hingis became a Wimbledon Doubles champion at 15 years, 282 days. And by the way, Dod was also a silver medalist in archery at the 1908 Olympics, a member of the British national field hockey team in 1899, and the British Amateur golf champ in 1904. When I was of the age of 15 years and 285 days, I was probably preparing for my 11th grade 1st Terminals.
-In 2007, the men’s and women’s singles winners will each receive £700,000 (close to Rs 5,60,00,000.) This is the first year that women will get as much prize money as men. In 1968, the year of the first “open” championships, the prize money was £2,000 for the male champion and £750 for the female champion.
-Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova have won the Gentlemen's and Ladies', respectively, the maximum number of times (7 & 9 respectively again).
-Each year, the tournament begins on the Monday falling between 20 and 26 June (six weeks before the first Monday in August).
-The All England Club (where Wimbledon is held) requires players to wear "almost entirely white" clothing during matches, a reason why a young Andre Agassi boycotted the tournament in the early 1990s. No other Grand Slam tournament has such a strict dress code for players.
-For the spectators, strawberries and cream is the traditional snack at Wimbledon. Approximately 62,000 pounds (almost 28,000 kilograms) of strawberries and 1,540 gallons (approx. 6450 kilograms) of cream are sold each year during the Championships.
It always is a matter of concern how will Lawn Tennis be carried forward in the coming years. Will it still retain its charm then? Will it keep filling the world over with the same excitement as it has been in the past and now? And what about the class? But Wimbledon has made sure, every single time, that it does not let its supporters down. From the Bjorn Borgs & McEnroes & Connors to the Samprases & Agassies and now the Federers in men and from the Billie Jean Kings & Navratilovas to the Grafs now the Sharapovas & Williams. The class has been maintained, if not bettered. We still have fond memories of the 2001 Wimbledon when, the then Swiss prodigy, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras, the seven time and defending champion, in the 4th round. Sampras, gunning for his fifth straight title, which would have equalled Bjorn Borg's record, was silenced in a five-set thriller by a composed teenager with a tantalising array of shots.
Like i said, the quality shall never fade away. Roger Federer aka Fedex, is someone who's today considered as one of the all-time great lawn-tennis players. And who produced him? Wimbledon.
-Charlotte (Lottie) Dod became the youngest player ever to win a Wimbledon Singles event when, in 1887, she won at the age of 15 years, 285 days. In 1996 Martina Hingis became a Wimbledon Doubles champion at 15 years, 282 days. And by the way, Dod was also a silver medalist in archery at the 1908 Olympics, a member of the British national field hockey team in 1899, and the British Amateur golf champ in 1904. When I was of the age of 15 years and 285 days, I was probably preparing for my 11th grade 1st Terminals.
-In 2007, the men’s and women’s singles winners will each receive £700,000 (close to Rs 5,60,00,000.) This is the first year that women will get as much prize money as men. In 1968, the year of the first “open” championships, the prize money was £2,000 for the male champion and £750 for the female champion.
-Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova have won the Gentlemen's and Ladies', respectively, the maximum number of times (7 & 9 respectively again).
-Each year, the tournament begins on the Monday falling between 20 and 26 June (six weeks before the first Monday in August).
-The All England Club (where Wimbledon is held) requires players to wear "almost entirely white" clothing during matches, a reason why a young Andre Agassi boycotted the tournament in the early 1990s. No other Grand Slam tournament has such a strict dress code for players.
-For the spectators, strawberries and cream is the traditional snack at Wimbledon. Approximately 62,000 pounds (almost 28,000 kilograms) of strawberries and 1,540 gallons (approx. 6450 kilograms) of cream are sold each year during the Championships.
It always is a matter of concern how will Lawn Tennis be carried forward in the coming years. Will it still retain its charm then? Will it keep filling the world over with the same excitement as it has been in the past and now? And what about the class? But Wimbledon has made sure, every single time, that it does not let its supporters down. From the Bjorn Borgs & McEnroes & Connors to the Samprases & Agassies and now the Federers in men and from the Billie Jean Kings & Navratilovas to the Grafs now the Sharapovas & Williams. The class has been maintained, if not bettered. We still have fond memories of the 2001 Wimbledon when, the then Swiss prodigy, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras, the seven time and defending champion, in the 4th round. Sampras, gunning for his fifth straight title, which would have equalled Bjorn Borg's record, was silenced in a five-set thriller by a composed teenager with a tantalising array of shots.
Like i said, the quality shall never fade away. Roger Federer aka Fedex, is someone who's today considered as one of the all-time great lawn-tennis players. And who produced him? Wimbledon.
Wimbledon has it all... Federer's one-handed backhands, Nadal's aggression, William sister's grunts, Andy Roddick's express serves, Mauresmo's manly strength, Sharapova's intoxicating charm, also our very own Paes-Bhupathi's chest-bumps.
If Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, Lawn Tennis is the most respected one- a major thanks to Wimbledon. Let's hope that the Wimbledon this year, produces real champions, yet again and some prodigy registers her/his name into super stardom yet, yet again.
Let's salute and thank THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Let's salute and thank WIMBLEDON!
And with the prize money being £700,000 this year, I'd like to try my hand at Lawn Tennis too. Anyone for doubles?
Monday, June 25, 2007
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT... MOVED ON, LONG BACK
It's strange how we 'used to' do a gazillion things since eons ago, and we still aren't 'used to' them. It's strange how badly you want things earlier and then don't want them when u have them. It's still stranger how you want things that you've already had before and life keeps going on, saying, 'Sorry Son! You can't have more of that.'
Not for nothing the times we've had before are called GOOD'OL TIMES! Not for nothing we long to get back there everytime we think about them! Not for nothing we ask our juniors to have a ball while they are there.
- We used to fool around, having no idea what's happening around, and still have an expert opinion about every possible thing.
- We used to have a heart that could conquer the entire world.
- We used to be revolutionists.
- We used to sit on the fence and watch the local gully-cricket and enjoy it till we dropped.
- We used to watch 'Different Strokes' and 'I Dream of Genie' every single day and still can't get enough of them.
- We used to hide in the most secret of places, playing 'Hide n Seek', and later cry out loud when caught, 'I wasn't hiding there yaaa, i swear (holding the skin on our neck out)!!!'
- We used to play in the parks and get irritated on seeing couples holding each other's hands, concluding that they have no moral responsibility and they just don't care about their families.
- We used to study the syllabus so sincerely, without even knowing why we're doing it and how would it help.
- We used to participate in every sporting event without caring about winning or losing.
- We used to make sure we jump like hungry wolves and get the maximum number of chocolates when the balloon hanging up there on the ceiling-fan was burst during birthdays.
- We used to sit under the tuition-building for hours together with friends, getting philosophical, talking about cricket, homework, bikes, and last but not the least, girls, of course.
- We used to sit in the college canteen, wasting the major portion of the academic time on tea, cold drinks and some hot, spicy food.
- We used to call up the toppers, a day before the exam, and ask them to help us with the IMPORTANT topics, which'll help us pass.
- We used to put up late at nights, so late that it was early morning, to complete the assignment a day before the submission date.
- We used to curse our school and college for being the worst of the lot, no matter where it could get you.
- We used to fight for every single mark, yelling at the teacher, 'Why can't I have 5 marks for this if he can!'
- We used to become the know-it-all scholars when it came to matters relating the heart.
- We used to start having humid eyes if the opposite sex person, we had a liking for, didn't spend the same amount of time with us, she/he did the day before.
We used to do all of that and we still aren't used to all of that now! Ironic enough?
We've been there, done that, but all that still seems unexplored. Yeah, we'd all wanna be there to experience it again, at once, if given a choice. Who would'nt wanna be 18 till she/he dies? The summer of '99 beckons. But beckoned is all we can get, nothing more.
Life has moved on eversince we were those teensy-weensy bits. Only memories remain and shall forever. Live to the fullest is all we can do. Life's been beautiful, and it will stay beautiful. To make the most out of it you need to make-out with it before its beauty fades away.
There are days and there are days. Those were the days we had then and these are the days we have now...
...LIVE'EM!!!
cheers... ;)
Not for nothing the times we've had before are called GOOD'OL TIMES! Not for nothing we long to get back there everytime we think about them! Not for nothing we ask our juniors to have a ball while they are there.
- We used to fool around, having no idea what's happening around, and still have an expert opinion about every possible thing.
- We used to have a heart that could conquer the entire world.
- We used to be revolutionists.
- We used to sit on the fence and watch the local gully-cricket and enjoy it till we dropped.- We used to watch 'Different Strokes' and 'I Dream of Genie' every single day and still can't get enough of them.
- We used to hide in the most secret of places, playing 'Hide n Seek', and later cry out loud when caught, 'I wasn't hiding there yaaa, i swear (holding the skin on our neck out)!!!'
- We used to play in the parks and get irritated on seeing couples holding each other's hands, concluding that they have no moral responsibility and they just don't care about their families.
- We used to study the syllabus so sincerely, without even knowing why we're doing it and how would it help.
- We used to participate in every sporting event without caring about winning or losing.
- We used to make sure we jump like hungry wolves and get the maximum number of chocolates when the balloon hanging up there on the ceiling-fan was burst during birthdays.
- We used to sit under the tuition-building for hours together with friends, getting philosophical, talking about cricket, homework, bikes, and last but not the least, girls, of course.
- We used to sit in the college canteen, wasting the major portion of the academic time on tea, cold drinks and some hot, spicy food.
- We used to call up the toppers, a day before the exam, and ask them to help us with the IMPORTANT topics, which'll help us pass.
- We used to put up late at nights, so late that it was early morning, to complete the assignment a day before the submission date.
- We used to curse our school and college for being the worst of the lot, no matter where it could get you.
- We used to fight for every single mark, yelling at the teacher, 'Why can't I have 5 marks for this if he can!'
- We used to become the know-it-all scholars when it came to matters relating the heart.
- We used to start having humid eyes if the opposite sex person, we had a liking for, didn't spend the same amount of time with us, she/he did the day before.
We used to do all of that and we still aren't used to all of that now! Ironic enough?
We've been there, done that, but all that still seems unexplored. Yeah, we'd all wanna be there to experience it again, at once, if given a choice. Who would'nt wanna be 18 till she/he dies? The summer of '99 beckons. But beckoned is all we can get, nothing more.
Life has moved on eversince we were those teensy-weensy bits. Only memories remain and shall forever. Live to the fullest is all we can do. Life's been beautiful, and it will stay beautiful. To make the most out of it you need to make-out with it before its beauty fades away.
There are days and there are days. Those were the days we had then and these are the days we have now...
...LIVE'EM!!!
cheers... ;)
Monday, May 28, 2007
EXPRESS ABSTRACTIONISM
The day i realised that i was one of them, i stopped doubting them! And the day i stopped doubting them, i started believing myself a tad bit more. And this belief then had only one way to go and that was UP, up towards a more stronger level. There was something i could fall back upon... something that was MY genre! Something i was usually better than the most around. EXPRESS ABSTRACTIONISM!
The dictionary meanings of ABSTRACT are-
a). thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances,
b). expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance,
c). difficult to understand; abstruse,
d). an idea or term considered apart from some material basis or object.
The dictionary meanings of ABSTRACT are-
a). thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances,
b). expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance,
c). difficult to understand; abstruse,
d). an idea or term considered apart from some material basis or object.
Women, Men or basically, the People as a whole are divided into two classes - those who think conventionally, one... and two, those who think radically. Conventionally, you can say that its 3 am right now, radically, its sixty past two.
People ask, how do they do that. I mean, how do some people manage to think 'out-of-the-box' and do that almost before anyone could blink. Most of the interviews for both higher studies and jobs look for such out-of-the-box thinkers. Not that they don't take the others, but they certainly prefer the former ones. Its all about practising the practice of being an out-of-the-boxer. (The last statement has a very funny OTHER meaning too... READ AGAIN, if it hasn't struck you yet.)
Even RADICALISM has some RADICALISM attached to it. How? Just like YOU have some amounts of YOURSELF attached to YOURSELF, so does RADICALISM. Orange, the fruit, has some ORANGENESS to its ORANGENESS. Thinkers have some THOUGHTFULNESS to their THOUGHTFULNESS that makes them thougthful. Well, the bottom-line is, it is both easy and tough being unconventional.
Some are born freethinkers, some develop freethinkingness over the course of their unfreethinking lives. Belonging to the Avant-Garde takes a little bit of immoderacy. A renouncement of established beliefs and ways and starting anew, afresh. Beginning from the Level-Zero and zeroing in on a complete paradigm shift. Asking yourself, time and again, what are you doing to be uncommon in the common. How are you thinking differently from the general genre. And challenging yourself every moment to better your previous fanaticism.
Like i once said, TANG makes me TANGIBLE... thank goodness i don't like BANGS... that might make me BANGIBLE! Don't ask me what that means. And no, you don't have to be abtruse. Express Abstractionism is all about fast and quick out-of-the-boxness which should have a certain basis for its development and not just for the #eck of it. (where #=h)
Try looking at things differently. Think over the prospects from a different perspective. Make it a way of life. You might have the gift of thinking, or the gift of spontaneity, you might not have either of them, or maybe you might have both of them. If you have both of them, then you should not be reading this. This post isn't for you. The others, will have to develop the art. And it can only be done by doing it. Doing things in a manner which others won't be able to do might strike gold.
But being a non-confirmist doesn't mean that every established tradition needs to be challenged without giving a thought. All it means is doing things in a way which is different and BETTER than the earlier one. Bettering is very important. Michael Jackson once sang, Heal the world, make it a better place; for you and for me and the entire human race. So, lets do it for him (sniff... sniff), lets do it for the KING OF POP, Michael Uncle. (sniff... sniff)
And besides, being an individualist might even help you come up with some of these social-service-blog posts. A wiseman once said 'Being Abstract means being ABSolutely TRACTive'. (guess who the wiseman was... err... wiseman is. ME-ME-ME!)
Yeah, abstraction involves more careful thinking than non-abstraction. The logic is very, very imposingly unclear and profound. As far as you've got all that you're the next best thing (to being abstract).
Therefore, from this weird discussion, we learn that continuous Abstract Expressionism leads to EXPRESS ABSTRACTIONISM!
People ask, how do they do that. I mean, how do some people manage to think 'out-of-the-box' and do that almost before anyone could blink. Most of the interviews for both higher studies and jobs look for such out-of-the-box thinkers. Not that they don't take the others, but they certainly prefer the former ones. Its all about practising the practice of being an out-of-the-boxer. (The last statement has a very funny OTHER meaning too... READ AGAIN, if it hasn't struck you yet.)
Even RADICALISM has some RADICALISM attached to it. How? Just like YOU have some amounts of YOURSELF attached to YOURSELF, so does RADICALISM. Orange, the fruit, has some ORANGENESS to its ORANGENESS. Thinkers have some THOUGHTFULNESS to their THOUGHTFULNESS that makes them thougthful. Well, the bottom-line is, it is both easy and tough being unconventional.
Some are born freethinkers, some develop freethinkingness over the course of their unfreethinking lives. Belonging to the Avant-Garde takes a little bit of immoderacy. A renouncement of established beliefs and ways and starting anew, afresh. Beginning from the Level-Zero and zeroing in on a complete paradigm shift. Asking yourself, time and again, what are you doing to be uncommon in the common. How are you thinking differently from the general genre. And challenging yourself every moment to better your previous fanaticism.
Like i once said, TANG makes me TANGIBLE... thank goodness i don't like BANGS... that might make me BANGIBLE! Don't ask me what that means. And no, you don't have to be abtruse. Express Abstractionism is all about fast and quick out-of-the-boxness which should have a certain basis for its development and not just for the #eck of it. (where #=h)
Try looking at things differently. Think over the prospects from a different perspective. Make it a way of life. You might have the gift of thinking, or the gift of spontaneity, you might not have either of them, or maybe you might have both of them. If you have both of them, then you should not be reading this. This post isn't for you. The others, will have to develop the art. And it can only be done by doing it. Doing things in a manner which others won't be able to do might strike gold.
But being a non-confirmist doesn't mean that every established tradition needs to be challenged without giving a thought. All it means is doing things in a way which is different and BETTER than the earlier one. Bettering is very important. Michael Jackson once sang, Heal the world, make it a better place; for you and for me and the entire human race. So, lets do it for him (sniff... sniff), lets do it for the KING OF POP, Michael Uncle. (sniff... sniff)
And besides, being an individualist might even help you come up with some of these social-service-blog posts. A wiseman once said 'Being Abstract means being ABSolutely TRACTive'. (guess who the wiseman was... err... wiseman is. ME-ME-ME!)
Yeah, abstraction involves more careful thinking than non-abstraction. The logic is very, very imposingly unclear and profound. As far as you've got all that you're the next best thing (to being abstract).
Therefore, from this weird discussion, we learn that continuous Abstract Expressionism leads to EXPRESS ABSTRACTIONISM!
(You could read that in one go? Amazing!)
P.S. - Just in case you did not notice, i did not use any slangs in the post, which i even generally do not use in my posts and also, i did use as many as 10 variants of the word Abstract in the above discussion. Now this, for one, is a very ABSTRACT post.
P.S. - Just in case you did not notice, i did not use any slangs in the post, which i even generally do not use in my posts and also, i did use as many as 10 variants of the word Abstract in the above discussion. Now this, for one, is a very ABSTRACT post.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
FORCED TESTIMONIALISM
As you sow, so shall you reap!
Agree? Do all of us agree or not? No, first tell me. We all do, right? Okay!
THEN WHY ON MOTHER EARTH DO WE ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE US TESTIMONIALS? Why? No, Why? Why do we want people to write stuff about us that they really dont want or plan to. Why do we ask them to write us 'all that good' testimonials when we probably aren't all that good? Why do we ask others to write us any testimonials at all in the first place? Why do we want those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not? Does it really matter all that much? Will they really make a difference in what others think about us? If we really are deserving, then we'll have those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not someday or the other.
(For everybody's convenience we'll use the term THP - Testimonial Hungry Person)
What's at stake? THPs themselves are at stake. They seem like some desparate wannabes. Imagine people asking you to write nice stuff about them every now and then. Who'd want to talk to them? Try ignoring them a few times and they'll get more desperate. There have been cases where THPs, suddenly, out of no damn where, come up with such coo-chie-coo things about you. And all this effort for nothing? Naah... you'll be caught in a chakravyuh. There's a catch there. Oh yeah, there is. The moment you accept those testimonials, you're caught. Caught under an obligation. An obligation to return the favour. Return the favour in such a way, so as to balance-out each and every detail of the favour you've just received. Now that's some implication you're under. An implication to write things about the THP and make people infer the implied.
And then there was this case where one of the THPs was literally messaging people and asking them to write him testimonials. And here, he wasn't returning the favour. I'd love to know how could he even think of getting through with such a deal. What would he do with it? Adorn his online-self with these testimonials to show people how smart, philanthropic, kind, good-looking, talented, et al he is. Then? Message others, get in touch, talk, meet. Meet again. And again. And then maybe a few meetings down the line, the testimonialised image might prove to be incorrect. Maybe then he won't actually be like what his testimonials suggest.
What's the solution? Trust me, the REAL people do not pay any attention at all to the testimonials when they're just taking off with you. People who are there to interact, know and be friends, gauge others themselves and not by referring to those testimonials. Careful! I'm not denying the fact that these REAL people don't write testimonials. They do. And that is when testimonials turn invaluable. And the difference in their testimonial is visible when you read it. I say this with the backing of a very trusted source - MY EXPERIENCE.
a 'instant idli mix' packet - Rs 35
a pair of boxer shorts - Rs 250
a bike servicing session - Rs 1500
receiving a testimonial from those REAL people... priceless :p
There are somethings THPs can't buy, for everything else there are testimonials.
(and yeah, receiving a testimonial from those THPs......... free :D)
My REAL people: Juhi the Roo, Dhruv and my di - Baxter.
Nothing much left to say. Just that it's the THPs who are at loss when they beg for testimonials. And in the process of doing so, they spread this contagious virus of FORCED TESTIMONIALISM. It could be you too, spreading this virus. Stop doing it. Let us not beg for testimonials, let us earn them. 'Aye saala... abhi abhi... hua yakeen... ke aag hai mujhme kahin' - once you realise this, you'll start earning. Yes, you will. You'll start earning those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not.
I'd request each and everyone of you to join me in this quest, this akhil bharatiya andolan, this movement, this fight, whatever you'd want to call it, against FORCED TESTIMONIALISM.
SAY NO TO FORCED TESTIMONIALISM!
Thank you...
(your views are welcome)
Agree? Do all of us agree or not? No, first tell me. We all do, right? Okay!
THEN WHY ON MOTHER EARTH DO WE ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE US TESTIMONIALS? Why? No, Why? Why do we want people to write stuff about us that they really dont want or plan to. Why do we ask them to write us 'all that good' testimonials when we probably aren't all that good? Why do we ask others to write us any testimonials at all in the first place? Why do we want those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not? Does it really matter all that much? Will they really make a difference in what others think about us? If we really are deserving, then we'll have those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not someday or the other.
(For everybody's convenience we'll use the term THP - Testimonial Hungry Person)
What's at stake? THPs themselves are at stake. They seem like some desparate wannabes. Imagine people asking you to write nice stuff about them every now and then. Who'd want to talk to them? Try ignoring them a few times and they'll get more desperate. There have been cases where THPs, suddenly, out of no damn where, come up with such coo-chie-coo things about you. And all this effort for nothing? Naah... you'll be caught in a chakravyuh. There's a catch there. Oh yeah, there is. The moment you accept those testimonials, you're caught. Caught under an obligation. An obligation to return the favour. Return the favour in such a way, so as to balance-out each and every detail of the favour you've just received. Now that's some implication you're under. An implication to write things about the THP and make people infer the implied.
And then there was this case where one of the THPs was literally messaging people and asking them to write him testimonials. And here, he wasn't returning the favour. I'd love to know how could he even think of getting through with such a deal. What would he do with it? Adorn his online-self with these testimonials to show people how smart, philanthropic, kind, good-looking, talented, et al he is. Then? Message others, get in touch, talk, meet. Meet again. And again. And then maybe a few meetings down the line, the testimonialised image might prove to be incorrect. Maybe then he won't actually be like what his testimonials suggest.
What's the solution? Trust me, the REAL people do not pay any attention at all to the testimonials when they're just taking off with you. People who are there to interact, know and be friends, gauge others themselves and not by referring to those testimonials. Careful! I'm not denying the fact that these REAL people don't write testimonials. They do. And that is when testimonials turn invaluable. And the difference in their testimonial is visible when you read it. I say this with the backing of a very trusted source - MY EXPERIENCE.
a 'instant idli mix' packet - Rs 35
a pair of boxer shorts - Rs 250
a bike servicing session - Rs 1500
receiving a testimonial from those REAL people... priceless :p
There are somethings THPs can't buy, for everything else there are testimonials.
(and yeah, receiving a testimonial from those THPs......... free :D)
My REAL people: Juhi the Roo, Dhruv and my di - Baxter.
Nothing much left to say. Just that it's the THPs who are at loss when they beg for testimonials. And in the process of doing so, they spread this contagious virus of FORCED TESTIMONIALISM. It could be you too, spreading this virus. Stop doing it. Let us not beg for testimonials, let us earn them. 'Aye saala... abhi abhi... hua yakeen... ke aag hai mujhme kahin' - once you realise this, you'll start earning. Yes, you will. You'll start earning those goody-goody words, those honey-coated lines, those chocolaty one-liners and what not.
I'd request each and everyone of you to join me in this quest, this akhil bharatiya andolan, this movement, this fight, whatever you'd want to call it, against FORCED TESTIMONIALISM.
SAY NO TO FORCED TESTIMONIALISM!
Thank you...
(your views are welcome)
Monday, January 08, 2007
2006 - The Year in Review
Hello people, here i am again to bother you with yet another post. But this time its not going to be utter rubbish-I'm trying to make some sense here. I'll be reviewing something. Yeah, lets go back in time and see how 2006 behaved. It is fun reviewing a whole year and that too from a global perspective. A lot of issues have been studied and discussed and then, finally, posted here. Be it the Sensex, FIFA World Cup, Mittal-Arcelor, 7/11, you name it. 2006 was very eventful and recapitulating the events which have 'been there, done that', would definitely be interesting. Hope all my readers enjoy it... so here we go... (In the process, I will be making an effort to revive a lost tradition. I'll try and use English as purely as possible. I'll try and make people realise how beautiful the original English language is. No sms-lingo, no internet-jargon, just pure English. PURE, ENGLISH! u gEt it??? juz pURe eng mAtE ^^^ err... :p)
THE 2006 NEWSMAKERS
The Reservations Debate
Hmmm... here's an interesting one for you first up. This is something i feel for, very strongly. Anti-reservation protests took place in various parts of India in opposition to the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) decision to implement reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in central and private institutes of higher education.
The human resource development minister Arjun Singh promised to implement a 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher education (IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS). Students protested against this reservation, as the proposal, if implemented, would reduce seats for the general category from the existing 77.5 per cent to 50.5 per cent. Others also protested claiming that the governments's proposal was driven by vote-bank politics. The student against reservation formed a group 'Youth for Equality' and demanded that the government should roll back its decision.
On the 13th of May 2006, medical students protesting in Mumbai were lathi-charged by the police. The health infrastructure of a number of cities was crippled as the resident doctors too joined the medical students in the nationwide strike. Nearly 150 students went on a month long hunger strike in AIIMS. On 27 May, a huge rally was organized in Delhi. Almost 1 lakh participants from all over India attended the rally and it was declared that the strike by students and junior doctors would continue. A national coordination committee, comprising representatives of medical colleges, IITs and other institutions was formed to lead the agitation. Later the government assured the students that the number of seats in the concerned institutes will be increased so that the total number of general category seats was not affected.
Mumbai 7/11
Our very own 9/11 version, wasnt it? On 11 July 2006, Mumbai experienced a major terror blow that brought back memories of the 1993 serial blasts and the London Underground bombings. The financial capital of India was hit by a series of seven bomb blasts, targeted at the local trains, the backbone of Mumbai's transportation system. The first blast took place at 6.24 p.m., and the explosions continued for approximately eleven minutes, until 6.35. About 200 people died and over 700 were injured. The blasts took place at Matunga, Khar, Mahim, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Bhayandar; most of them were on moving trains while two were at stations. India's rail systems and airports were put on high alert after the explosions in Mumbai. Mumbai's entire rail network was shut down. Phone lines to Mumbai from New Delhi were jammed.
On 14 July, Lashkar-e-Qahhar, a terrorist organisation possibly linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the bombings. In an e-mail to an Indian TV channel, it said that the blasts were part of a series of attacks aimed at other sites such as the Mumbai International Airport, the Gateway of India, Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in New Delhi.
On 26 October, Mumbai police released the full list of terrorists wanted for the 7/11 blasts; most of them were Pakistani nationals.
India-USA Nuclear Deal
Yaaaayyy!!! USA and India finalised a nuclear deal after talks between President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi when the former visited India in February-March 2006. For India, which has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), this nuclear deal will end years of international isolation over its nuclear policy and will give access to US civil nuclear technology. The deal required approval from US Congress, which will then be asked to pass legislation allowing civil nuclear cooperation to go ahead. The approval has been given. This deal is one big success of the current UPA regime.
This deal will boost global efforts to develop new sources of energy, particularly those that won't increase the level of climate-warming gases. In exchange for this import, India will disentangle its civilian nuclear programme from its weapons-building facilities, subjecting the civilian side to inspections designed to ensure that the technology isn't diverted for military purposes.
The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Sensex
The Sensitive Index has never been so sensitive! During the past three years, the Sensex has almost tripled. It was the second-best performer in the period, behind only Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index. India delivered the second-fastest pace of growth among the world's twenty-biggest economies, thereby drawing international investors. Sensex passed the magical 12,000 mark on 20 April 2006. On the 11th of May it reached an all-time high of 12,671. On 18 May, the Sensex registered an 826-points fall to close at 11,391. This largest ever intra-day crash in the history of Sensex led to suspension of trading for the first time since 17 May 2004. The downward slide continued. On 6 June, the Sensex closed below 10,000; on 14 June, below 9,000. The flow of foreign funds out of the economy was sighted as the major reason. However, the market managed to bounce back. By the end of June, the Sensex moved up to cross the 10,000 mark again; September 15, crossed the 12,000 mark. On the 13th of Oct (my month), the Sensex registered a new all-time high of 12,690; 16 October, 12,953. On the 30th of October, the Sensex crossed the 13,000 mark for the very first time. I'd like you to allow me to include 4 January 2007 too here, because the Sensex crossed 14,000 that day. The bull-run shall, hopefully, continue.
FIFA World Cup 2006
I love this game! The 2006 edition of FIFA World Cup was the eighteenth of its kind, held from 9 June to 9 July in Germany. Italy won title defeating France in a penalty shootout in the final. This was Italy's fourth world championship title. Germany defeated Portugal to finish third.
Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six continents participated in the qualification process. Thirty-two teams qualified from this process for the final tournament.
The finals were played in twelve German cities and in total, sixty-four games were played. The opening match was played between Germany and Costa Rica at Munich. In the group stage the thirty-two teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each. Two best teams from each group then advanced to the knockout stage.
Almost all expected teams qualified for the knockout. Even in the quarter-finals, all the favourite teams from the knockout stage registered their berth. Germany beat Argentina, Portugal beat England, France and Italy did the same to Brazil and Ukraine respectively.
In the semi-finals Italy beat Germany while France beat Portugal. Germany defeated Portugal to finish third.
An unusual incident in the final match was Zidane's angry reaction to comments made by Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Near the end of extra-time, Zidane firmly planted his head into Materazzi's chest and was sent-off by the referee. The score remained 1-1 after extra-time and Italy won 5-3 on penalties.
The various awards: Golden Ball - Zinedine Zidane (FRA), Silver Ball - Fabio Cannavaro (ITA), Bronze Ball - Andrea Pirlo (ITA), Lev Yeshin (best goalkeeper) - Gianlugi Buffon (ITA), Golden Boot - Miroslav Klose (GER), Young Player - Lucas Podolski (GER).
Players received a record-breaking 345 yellow cards and 28 red cards, with the match between Portugal and the Netherlands accounting for sixteen yellows and four reds.
Pluto is No Longer A Planet
Sniff, sniff!!! Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. Pluto's small size and orbit had been long argued by some astronomers. On 24 August 2006, the International Astronomical Union passed a new definitionof planet that excludes Pluto and puts it in a new category of 'dwarf planet'.
Scientists agrred that for a celestial body to qualify as a planet:
- it must be in orbit around the sun
- it must be large enough that it takes on a nearly round shape
- it must have cleared its orbit of other objects
Pluto was automatically disqualified because its highly elliptical orbit overlaps with that of Neptune. A non-satellite body fulfilling only the first two of these criteria is classified as a dwarf planet, while that satisfying only the first criterion is termed a 'small solar system body' (SSSB). The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially identified Ceres, Pluto and 2003 U B313 (Eris) as dwarf planets. People all over the world protested against this move of the IAU because a relatively small percentage of the 9000-strong membership had participated in the final voting.
Mittal Steel and Arcelor Deal
I loved Mittal's 'Never Say Die' attitude. In January 2006, the Netherland-based Mittal Steel made a $22.3 billion bid (phewww!!! almost 1 lakh crores) for Luxembourg-based Arcelor to create a mega-steel company with an output three times bigger than its three nearest rivals combined. Mittal Steel and Arcelor were the world's largest and second-largest steel manufacturers, respectively. Loss of jobs was the major concern due to which France, Luxembourg and Spain governments objected against this bid. Finally Mittal Steel and Arcelor of Luxembourg agreed upon a 26.9 billion euros ($33.6 billion) merger to create a steel group. The new business is called Arcelor Mittal.
Australia Sets Record ODI Score, South Africa Breaks it, Sri Lanka Breaks it again
You think you know this game? Think again! On 12 March 2006 at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, one-day cricket was at its best. In an ODI contested between Australia and South Africa, Australia batted first and how!!! They piled up a jaw-dropping total of 434 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets in their alloted quota of 50 overs, setting the highest team score in an ODI surpassing the previous best of Sri Lanka's 398, set in 1998. The Aussie batsmen were in a destructive mood, and their captain Ricky Ponting led the way with a 105-ball 164. Now if that wasn't enough, then there's more. This record lasted for only a few hours as South Africa successfully chased that mammoth total. Herschelle Gibbs made a 111-ball 175 and the South Africans reached the target with one ball to spare. Thier unbelievable score of 438 for 9 was the new highest ODI score ever. What they did not know was that Sri Lanka were waiting for an opportunity to regain the record once more. The Sri Lankans accomplished this against the Dutch team in Amsteelveen on 4 July 2006 by scoring 443 for 9 in 50 overs, setting the world record of the highest one-day international total afresh. The total number of runs scored in a single day in the Wanderers match (872) is, however, a record that is likely to stand for some time to come.
Death of Pramod Mahajan
This was one of the saddest days of the year! On the morning of 22 April 2006, Pramod Mahajan, former Union minister and a master-strategist, fund raiser and election manager of the Bharatiya Janta Party, was shot by his younger brother Pravin Mahajan inside the former's apartment in Mumbai. He was taken to the Hinduja hospital where they found out that he had multiple organ failure and he underwent an operation on 23 April. After fighting for twelve days, Mahajan suffered from cardiac arrest and died on 3 May 2006. He was fifty-six.
The Youngest Long Distance Runner
Chhote Miyan! Four-year-old Budhia Singh is the world's youngest marathon runner. Considered an athletic phenomenon, Budhia, born in Bhubaneshwar, has participated in races of upto 60 kms which he ran in roughly six hours and thirty minutes. On 1 May 2006, Budhia completed a 65 km run from Puri to Bhubaneshwar injust over six hours.
Jet Airways-Air Sahara Deal Falls Through
On 21 June 2006, Jet Airways' deal to buy Air Sahara fell through after a deadline to complete it passed without an agreement. The $500 million deal would have been the biggest in India's aviation, creating the country's largest airline. Jet Airways pulled out of the deal, claiming that it did not receive the necessary regulatory approvals before the final date of closure of the deal.
Warren Buffet Donates $37 billion to Charity
What, on mother earth, was he thinking! On 25 June 2006, Warren Buffet announced a donation of about $37 billion to Bill Gates' charitable foundation. The donation is supposedly the largest-ever charitable gift in the US. He will hand over 10 million shares in his Berkshire Hathaway firm to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Prince Makes Headlines
It was princely down there! Prince, a six-year old boy who fell into a borewell in Kurukshetra, topped the media charts for the 21-23 July 2006 weekend, till he was rescued by the army on Sunday.
Kiran Desai's The Inheritance Of Loss wins the 2006 Man Booker Prize for Fiction
You've made us proud lady! On the 10th of October 2006, Kiran Desai's novel The Inheritance of Loss' won the very prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction for 2006. Harvey McGrath, Chairman of the Man Group plc, presented Kiran Desai with a cheque of 50,000 Pounds. Kiran Desai is the first Indian-born writer to win the prestigious literary award since Arundhati Roy. Desai is also the youngest woman ever to win the Booker in its thirty-eight-year history.
Amitabh Bachchan Awarded Legion d'Honneur
Congratulations Big B, err... Dr. Amitabh Bachchan. On 11 October 2006, Amitabh Bachchan's sixty-fourth birthday, the French government announced that it is conferring its highest honour, the Legion d'Honneur, on the Legend on Indian cinema. French President Jacques Chirac bestowed the honour on Bachchan as a tribute to his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond.
Racing Legend Michael Schumacher Retires
We'll miss you Schumi! Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher retired from Formula One after the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22 October 2006. He ended his career with a record ninety-one F1 titles including seven in his final season. Schumi also holds tha record for the most Grand Prix starts (250) and most pole positions (68). He won the driver's world championship in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He's statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen, and the most successful Formula One driver in history. He was the world's first billionaire athlete, with an annual salary reported to be around $80 million in 2004.
That is it friends. This is all i could manage, and i hope it did make sense this time. As you can see, 2006 was a very eventful year. Lots more could be written about it still, but then, i can't take my readers for granted, yet again. The figures and all the essential facts mentioned in the post have been collected from a trusted source, whose identity I'm not going to reveal. Who will read my blog then? After having all these (and more) events in it, 2006 passed by even before we could say 'Happy New Year'. 2-bond or 2-007 (:p) is here and will hopefully have a greater number of happy events than 2006. Your thoughts about the year-gone and the year-ahead will be appreciated. So do not hesistate in posting your comments.
Thank You.
THE 2006 NEWSMAKERS
The Reservations Debate
Hmmm... here's an interesting one for you first up. This is something i feel for, very strongly. Anti-reservation protests took place in various parts of India in opposition to the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) decision to implement reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in central and private institutes of higher education.
The human resource development minister Arjun Singh promised to implement a 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher education (IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS). Students protested against this reservation, as the proposal, if implemented, would reduce seats for the general category from the existing 77.5 per cent to 50.5 per cent. Others also protested claiming that the governments's proposal was driven by vote-bank politics. The student against reservation formed a group 'Youth for Equality' and demanded that the government should roll back its decision.
On the 13th of May 2006, medical students protesting in Mumbai were lathi-charged by the police. The health infrastructure of a number of cities was crippled as the resident doctors too joined the medical students in the nationwide strike. Nearly 150 students went on a month long hunger strike in AIIMS. On 27 May, a huge rally was organized in Delhi. Almost 1 lakh participants from all over India attended the rally and it was declared that the strike by students and junior doctors would continue. A national coordination committee, comprising representatives of medical colleges, IITs and other institutions was formed to lead the agitation. Later the government assured the students that the number of seats in the concerned institutes will be increased so that the total number of general category seats was not affected.
Mumbai 7/11
Our very own 9/11 version, wasnt it? On 11 July 2006, Mumbai experienced a major terror blow that brought back memories of the 1993 serial blasts and the London Underground bombings. The financial capital of India was hit by a series of seven bomb blasts, targeted at the local trains, the backbone of Mumbai's transportation system. The first blast took place at 6.24 p.m., and the explosions continued for approximately eleven minutes, until 6.35. About 200 people died and over 700 were injured. The blasts took place at Matunga, Khar, Mahim, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Bhayandar; most of them were on moving trains while two were at stations. India's rail systems and airports were put on high alert after the explosions in Mumbai. Mumbai's entire rail network was shut down. Phone lines to Mumbai from New Delhi were jammed.
On 14 July, Lashkar-e-Qahhar, a terrorist organisation possibly linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the bombings. In an e-mail to an Indian TV channel, it said that the blasts were part of a series of attacks aimed at other sites such as the Mumbai International Airport, the Gateway of India, Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in New Delhi.
On 26 October, Mumbai police released the full list of terrorists wanted for the 7/11 blasts; most of them were Pakistani nationals.
India-USA Nuclear Deal
Yaaaayyy!!! USA and India finalised a nuclear deal after talks between President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi when the former visited India in February-March 2006. For India, which has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), this nuclear deal will end years of international isolation over its nuclear policy and will give access to US civil nuclear technology. The deal required approval from US Congress, which will then be asked to pass legislation allowing civil nuclear cooperation to go ahead. The approval has been given. This deal is one big success of the current UPA regime.
This deal will boost global efforts to develop new sources of energy, particularly those that won't increase the level of climate-warming gases. In exchange for this import, India will disentangle its civilian nuclear programme from its weapons-building facilities, subjecting the civilian side to inspections designed to ensure that the technology isn't diverted for military purposes.
The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Sensex
The Sensitive Index has never been so sensitive! During the past three years, the Sensex has almost tripled. It was the second-best performer in the period, behind only Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index. India delivered the second-fastest pace of growth among the world's twenty-biggest economies, thereby drawing international investors. Sensex passed the magical 12,000 mark on 20 April 2006. On the 11th of May it reached an all-time high of 12,671. On 18 May, the Sensex registered an 826-points fall to close at 11,391. This largest ever intra-day crash in the history of Sensex led to suspension of trading for the first time since 17 May 2004. The downward slide continued. On 6 June, the Sensex closed below 10,000; on 14 June, below 9,000. The flow of foreign funds out of the economy was sighted as the major reason. However, the market managed to bounce back. By the end of June, the Sensex moved up to cross the 10,000 mark again; September 15, crossed the 12,000 mark. On the 13th of Oct (my month), the Sensex registered a new all-time high of 12,690; 16 October, 12,953. On the 30th of October, the Sensex crossed the 13,000 mark for the very first time. I'd like you to allow me to include 4 January 2007 too here, because the Sensex crossed 14,000 that day. The bull-run shall, hopefully, continue.
FIFA World Cup 2006
I love this game! The 2006 edition of FIFA World Cup was the eighteenth of its kind, held from 9 June to 9 July in Germany. Italy won title defeating France in a penalty shootout in the final. This was Italy's fourth world championship title. Germany defeated Portugal to finish third.
Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six continents participated in the qualification process. Thirty-two teams qualified from this process for the final tournament.
The finals were played in twelve German cities and in total, sixty-four games were played. The opening match was played between Germany and Costa Rica at Munich. In the group stage the thirty-two teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each. Two best teams from each group then advanced to the knockout stage.
Almost all expected teams qualified for the knockout. Even in the quarter-finals, all the favourite teams from the knockout stage registered their berth. Germany beat Argentina, Portugal beat England, France and Italy did the same to Brazil and Ukraine respectively.
In the semi-finals Italy beat Germany while France beat Portugal. Germany defeated Portugal to finish third.
An unusual incident in the final match was Zidane's angry reaction to comments made by Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Near the end of extra-time, Zidane firmly planted his head into Materazzi's chest and was sent-off by the referee. The score remained 1-1 after extra-time and Italy won 5-3 on penalties.
The various awards: Golden Ball - Zinedine Zidane (FRA), Silver Ball - Fabio Cannavaro (ITA), Bronze Ball - Andrea Pirlo (ITA), Lev Yeshin (best goalkeeper) - Gianlugi Buffon (ITA), Golden Boot - Miroslav Klose (GER), Young Player - Lucas Podolski (GER).
Players received a record-breaking 345 yellow cards and 28 red cards, with the match between Portugal and the Netherlands accounting for sixteen yellows and four reds.
Pluto is No Longer A Planet
Sniff, sniff!!! Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. Pluto's small size and orbit had been long argued by some astronomers. On 24 August 2006, the International Astronomical Union passed a new definitionof planet that excludes Pluto and puts it in a new category of 'dwarf planet'.
Scientists agrred that for a celestial body to qualify as a planet:
- it must be in orbit around the sun
- it must be large enough that it takes on a nearly round shape
- it must have cleared its orbit of other objects
Pluto was automatically disqualified because its highly elliptical orbit overlaps with that of Neptune. A non-satellite body fulfilling only the first two of these criteria is classified as a dwarf planet, while that satisfying only the first criterion is termed a 'small solar system body' (SSSB). The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially identified Ceres, Pluto and 2003 U B313 (Eris) as dwarf planets. People all over the world protested against this move of the IAU because a relatively small percentage of the 9000-strong membership had participated in the final voting.
Mittal Steel and Arcelor Deal
I loved Mittal's 'Never Say Die' attitude. In January 2006, the Netherland-based Mittal Steel made a $22.3 billion bid (phewww!!! almost 1 lakh crores) for Luxembourg-based Arcelor to create a mega-steel company with an output three times bigger than its three nearest rivals combined. Mittal Steel and Arcelor were the world's largest and second-largest steel manufacturers, respectively. Loss of jobs was the major concern due to which France, Luxembourg and Spain governments objected against this bid. Finally Mittal Steel and Arcelor of Luxembourg agreed upon a 26.9 billion euros ($33.6 billion) merger to create a steel group. The new business is called Arcelor Mittal.
Australia Sets Record ODI Score, South Africa Breaks it, Sri Lanka Breaks it again
You think you know this game? Think again! On 12 March 2006 at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, one-day cricket was at its best. In an ODI contested between Australia and South Africa, Australia batted first and how!!! They piled up a jaw-dropping total of 434 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets in their alloted quota of 50 overs, setting the highest team score in an ODI surpassing the previous best of Sri Lanka's 398, set in 1998. The Aussie batsmen were in a destructive mood, and their captain Ricky Ponting led the way with a 105-ball 164. Now if that wasn't enough, then there's more. This record lasted for only a few hours as South Africa successfully chased that mammoth total. Herschelle Gibbs made a 111-ball 175 and the South Africans reached the target with one ball to spare. Thier unbelievable score of 438 for 9 was the new highest ODI score ever. What they did not know was that Sri Lanka were waiting for an opportunity to regain the record once more. The Sri Lankans accomplished this against the Dutch team in Amsteelveen on 4 July 2006 by scoring 443 for 9 in 50 overs, setting the world record of the highest one-day international total afresh. The total number of runs scored in a single day in the Wanderers match (872) is, however, a record that is likely to stand for some time to come.
Death of Pramod Mahajan
This was one of the saddest days of the year! On the morning of 22 April 2006, Pramod Mahajan, former Union minister and a master-strategist, fund raiser and election manager of the Bharatiya Janta Party, was shot by his younger brother Pravin Mahajan inside the former's apartment in Mumbai. He was taken to the Hinduja hospital where they found out that he had multiple organ failure and he underwent an operation on 23 April. After fighting for twelve days, Mahajan suffered from cardiac arrest and died on 3 May 2006. He was fifty-six.
The Youngest Long Distance Runner
Chhote Miyan! Four-year-old Budhia Singh is the world's youngest marathon runner. Considered an athletic phenomenon, Budhia, born in Bhubaneshwar, has participated in races of upto 60 kms which he ran in roughly six hours and thirty minutes. On 1 May 2006, Budhia completed a 65 km run from Puri to Bhubaneshwar injust over six hours.
Jet Airways-Air Sahara Deal Falls Through
On 21 June 2006, Jet Airways' deal to buy Air Sahara fell through after a deadline to complete it passed without an agreement. The $500 million deal would have been the biggest in India's aviation, creating the country's largest airline. Jet Airways pulled out of the deal, claiming that it did not receive the necessary regulatory approvals before the final date of closure of the deal.
Warren Buffet Donates $37 billion to Charity
What, on mother earth, was he thinking! On 25 June 2006, Warren Buffet announced a donation of about $37 billion to Bill Gates' charitable foundation. The donation is supposedly the largest-ever charitable gift in the US. He will hand over 10 million shares in his Berkshire Hathaway firm to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Prince Makes Headlines
It was princely down there! Prince, a six-year old boy who fell into a borewell in Kurukshetra, topped the media charts for the 21-23 July 2006 weekend, till he was rescued by the army on Sunday.
Kiran Desai's The Inheritance Of Loss wins the 2006 Man Booker Prize for Fiction
You've made us proud lady! On the 10th of October 2006, Kiran Desai's novel The Inheritance of Loss' won the very prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction for 2006. Harvey McGrath, Chairman of the Man Group plc, presented Kiran Desai with a cheque of 50,000 Pounds. Kiran Desai is the first Indian-born writer to win the prestigious literary award since Arundhati Roy. Desai is also the youngest woman ever to win the Booker in its thirty-eight-year history.
Amitabh Bachchan Awarded Legion d'Honneur
Congratulations Big B, err... Dr. Amitabh Bachchan. On 11 October 2006, Amitabh Bachchan's sixty-fourth birthday, the French government announced that it is conferring its highest honour, the Legion d'Honneur, on the Legend on Indian cinema. French President Jacques Chirac bestowed the honour on Bachchan as a tribute to his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond.
Racing Legend Michael Schumacher Retires
We'll miss you Schumi! Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher retired from Formula One after the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22 October 2006. He ended his career with a record ninety-one F1 titles including seven in his final season. Schumi also holds tha record for the most Grand Prix starts (250) and most pole positions (68). He won the driver's world championship in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He's statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen, and the most successful Formula One driver in history. He was the world's first billionaire athlete, with an annual salary reported to be around $80 million in 2004.
That is it friends. This is all i could manage, and i hope it did make sense this time. As you can see, 2006 was a very eventful year. Lots more could be written about it still, but then, i can't take my readers for granted, yet again. The figures and all the essential facts mentioned in the post have been collected from a trusted source, whose identity I'm not going to reveal. Who will read my blog then? After having all these (and more) events in it, 2006 passed by even before we could say 'Happy New Year'. 2-bond or 2-007 (:p) is here and will hopefully have a greater number of happy events than 2006. Your thoughts about the year-gone and the year-ahead will be appreciated. So do not hesistate in posting your comments.
Thank You.
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