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Saturday, June 09, 2012
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Pleasant Surprise from Airtel
I am not a big fan of Airtel's mobile services, especially their customer care. I've heard people ranting about being overcharged by Airtel. I have even had a bad experience with their customer care when they disconnected my post-paid CUG mobile connection without any prior intimation, which ultimately turned out to be a flaw in their process. Sometimes I've had the impression that Airtel treats you nicely only as long as you are their prospective customer. Once you become their customer, their attitude can change quite dramatically. Hence, I was pleasantly surprised when I got this SMS from Airtel.
Wow, so is Airtel finally beginning to care about their customers? Are they feeling the heat with fierce competition breathing down their neck? Is number portability forcing them to be nicer?
Whatever it is, I'm not complaining since Airtel made me feel nice, for a change.
Update: I happened to tweet this post and got a response from Airtel within 5 minutes! Now that is fast. Airtel have surely improved their social media presence!
Thank you for paying your Airtel Mobile bill well before the due date! We appreciate your gesture and look forward to serving you better at all times!
Wow, so is Airtel finally beginning to care about their customers? Are they feeling the heat with fierce competition breathing down their neck? Is number portability forcing them to be nicer?
Whatever it is, I'm not complaining since Airtel made me feel nice, for a change.
Update: I happened to tweet this post and got a response from Airtel within 5 minutes! Now that is fast. Airtel have surely improved their social media presence!
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Football fever in god’s own country
Kerala’s passion for football is well known. It is one of the few states in India along with Bengal, Goa and some North eastern states, that has a substantial football following. Football fever reaches a crescendo during world cup time, once every four years. I happened to catch a glimpse of this enthusiasm and energy during my recent visit to Kerala.
When I was traveling on the streets, I saw large banners and posters of top football teams at almost every bus stop or junction, whereas I could hardly see any movie poster or a political party banner! The overwhelming favorite team among local people seems to be Argentina, followed by Brazil. There are lot of local fan clubs for both these teams. The clubs collect money from their members and put together banners supporting their teams.
The worldwide rivalry between Argentine & Brazil fans seem to find an echo in their banners too. Brazilian banners proclaim they are the greatest team and indirectly take a dig at Argentina. Argentine fans in turn try to put down Brazil players in their banners.
Maradona is undoubtedly the most popular footballer in Kerala. People told me that back in 1986, when Maradona-led Argentine team lifted the world cup, some parts of Kerala virtually resembled the streets of Buenos Aires. People celebrated like crazy as if Maradona was a part of their family! Some crazy fans even offered special prayers in temples while he was playing. Now, almost 25 years later, his popularity remains intact. Here he is seen smoking a cigar.
Lionel Messi is another popular name. Here he takes on wings and becomes an angel!
Brazilian banners had pictures of their great players, such as Pele, and current players such as Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho, etc. Che Guevara was also seen, both in Argentina & Brazil banners. Couldn't figure out how Che is connected to Brazil!!
My neighbor told me that flags of Argentina & Brazil are in demand during world cup time. In some areas, fans also paint walls with Albicelestes colors.
Other teams had supporters too, although they were few when compared to Argentina or Brazil. I saw just one or two Spain, German & Portugal banners.
Most people want to see a Brazil-Argentina final on July 11. That would be a dream match up. As of now, both these teams have entered the WC quarterfinals and are on course for a final showdown, unless Germany or Spain has other plans.
I've wondered what makes people love these footballers so much that they spent their hard-earned money and invest time and effort to celebrate their achievements. I think it has got to do with an undying passion for the beautiful game that cuts across all borders of nationality, religion, caste and language.
If you ever happen to visit Kerala during world cup season, try to stop for a moment and savor the atmosphere over there. It is a unique experience, one you can't find anywhere else in India.
When I was traveling on the streets, I saw large banners and posters of top football teams at almost every bus stop or junction, whereas I could hardly see any movie poster or a political party banner! The overwhelming favorite team among local people seems to be Argentina, followed by Brazil. There are lot of local fan clubs for both these teams. The clubs collect money from their members and put together banners supporting their teams.
The worldwide rivalry between Argentine & Brazil fans seem to find an echo in their banners too. Brazilian banners proclaim they are the greatest team and indirectly take a dig at Argentina. Argentine fans in turn try to put down Brazil players in their banners.
Maradona is undoubtedly the most popular footballer in Kerala. People told me that back in 1986, when Maradona-led Argentine team lifted the world cup, some parts of Kerala virtually resembled the streets of Buenos Aires. People celebrated like crazy as if Maradona was a part of their family! Some crazy fans even offered special prayers in temples while he was playing. Now, almost 25 years later, his popularity remains intact. Here he is seen smoking a cigar.
Lionel Messi is another popular name. Here he takes on wings and becomes an angel!
Brazilian banners had pictures of their great players, such as Pele, and current players such as Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho, etc. Che Guevara was also seen, both in Argentina & Brazil banners. Couldn't figure out how Che is connected to Brazil!!
My neighbor told me that flags of Argentina & Brazil are in demand during world cup time. In some areas, fans also paint walls with Albicelestes colors.
Other teams had supporters too, although they were few when compared to Argentina or Brazil. I saw just one or two Spain, German & Portugal banners.
Most people want to see a Brazil-Argentina final on July 11. That would be a dream match up. As of now, both these teams have entered the WC quarterfinals and are on course for a final showdown, unless Germany or Spain has other plans.
I've wondered what makes people love these footballers so much that they spent their hard-earned money and invest time and effort to celebrate their achievements. I think it has got to do with an undying passion for the beautiful game that cuts across all borders of nationality, religion, caste and language.
If you ever happen to visit Kerala during world cup season, try to stop for a moment and savor the atmosphere over there. It is a unique experience, one you can't find anywhere else in India.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Avatar vs Vettaikaran at Chennai BO
Its going to be an exciting weekend at the Chennai box office with James Cameron's Avatar and Vijay's Vettaikaran clashing with each other for box office supremacy. Both are much anticipated, most awaited movies of the year. Both movies have been promoted well.
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Avatar has been in the making for close to 4 years and is reportedly the world's costliest movie ever. It is releasing in both 3D and 2D versions. It boasts of never-before-seen advancements in 3D and CGI technology. Most importantly, the director of Avatar is James Cameron whose previous works include Aliens, Terminator, Terminator II, True Lies, Abyss and Titanic. The movie has already generated lots of positive buzz around the world. Those who got the see the paid previews are raving about the movie.
Vettaikaran has also been in the making for a while now. Sun Pictures are releasing the movie and they have been hyping it up for the past few weeks. Some people say Vettaikaran is make or break movie for Vijay as his past few movies have not exactly set the cash registers ringing. The storyline of Vettaikaran is unknown as of now. If initial reports are to be believed, Vijay is playing a college student (yet again!). This time around he is a plus two student who fails over and over and finally reaches college. He gets to romance Anushkha and also fights off the baddies in his own style. Vettaikaran songs are already a hit with frequent playtime in FM radio stations. With Vijay's mass appeal and aggressive promotion by Sun pictures, Vettaikaran should bring in the crowds in large numbers.
My gut feel is that both movies will take a bumper opening at the BO. How they fare eventually will depend on the quality of the movie and the word of mouth generated after the initial weekend. Lets see who reigns over the Chennai BO this weekend!
Avatar has been in the making for close to 4 years and is reportedly the world's costliest movie ever. It is releasing in both 3D and 2D versions. It boasts of never-before-seen advancements in 3D and CGI technology. Most importantly, the director of Avatar is James Cameron whose previous works include Aliens, Terminator, Terminator II, True Lies, Abyss and Titanic. The movie has already generated lots of positive buzz around the world. Those who got the see the paid previews are raving about the movie.
Vettaikaran has also been in the making for a while now. Sun Pictures are releasing the movie and they have been hyping it up for the past few weeks. Some people say Vettaikaran is make or break movie for Vijay as his past few movies have not exactly set the cash registers ringing. The storyline of Vettaikaran is unknown as of now. If initial reports are to be believed, Vijay is playing a college student (yet again!). This time around he is a plus two student who fails over and over and finally reaches college. He gets to romance Anushkha and also fights off the baddies in his own style. Vettaikaran songs are already a hit with frequent playtime in FM radio stations. With Vijay's mass appeal and aggressive promotion by Sun pictures, Vettaikaran should bring in the crowds in large numbers.
My gut feel is that both movies will take a bumper opening at the BO. How they fare eventually will depend on the quality of the movie and the word of mouth generated after the initial weekend. Lets see who reigns over the Chennai BO this weekend!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Se7en
Happened to watch Se7en on TV yesterday. A dark, disturbing film, gripping till the last frame.
The movie stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey and is directed by David Fincher. This is the second time I am watching this movie and this time I was able to follow the dialogues better, thanks to the sub titles.
The plot is about 2 detectives, played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, trying to solve a series of murders that seem to be inspired by the '7 deadly sins'. There have been many movies with similar themes in the past, but what makes this one different is the picturization. The director employs a dark visual tone almost throughout, with frequent visuals of dark alleys, rooms, and constant rain in the night. Music by Howard Shore blends with the visuals very well. There is a lot of strong language throughout along with some gory scenes, so the movie may not be ideal for kids.
Casting is another area in which the movie scores. Brad Pitt, Freeman and Paltrow are very aptly cast. Although Kevin Spacey has very little screen time, his character is well etched and remarkable. Watch out for the climax, its totally unexpected and shocking one. The movie is a must watch, especially if you like the drama/mystery genre.
The movie stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey and is directed by David Fincher. This is the second time I am watching this movie and this time I was able to follow the dialogues better, thanks to the sub titles.
The plot is about 2 detectives, played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, trying to solve a series of murders that seem to be inspired by the '7 deadly sins'. There have been many movies with similar themes in the past, but what makes this one different is the picturization. The director employs a dark visual tone almost throughout, with frequent visuals of dark alleys, rooms, and constant rain in the night. Music by Howard Shore blends with the visuals very well. There is a lot of strong language throughout along with some gory scenes, so the movie may not be ideal for kids.
Casting is another area in which the movie scores. Brad Pitt, Freeman and Paltrow are very aptly cast. Although Kevin Spacey has very little screen time, his character is well etched and remarkable. Watch out for the climax, its totally unexpected and shocking one. The movie is a must watch, especially if you like the drama/mystery genre.
Monday, November 16, 2009
David Garret 'Smooth Criminal' cover
Was blown away by this amazing performance by David Garret - a cover version of MJs Smooth Criminal.
Before viewing this video, I never thought anyone can play a violin version of this song. This could be one of the best tributes ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXkEMwrNjyk
Before viewing this video, I never thought anyone can play a violin version of this song. This could be one of the best tributes ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXkEMwrNjyk
Friday, August 07, 2009
R.I.P Murali
Malayalam actor Murali passed away yesterday. He was 55 years old.
Murali was one of the finest actors to have graced Malayalam cinema in recent years. He started off with theater and small roles in movies, went on to play leading man, and turned to character roles later on. He has performed in a variety of roles in his movie career, except for comic roles. In some of his earlier movies, he played villain or the villian’s side kick. He then moved on to play the friend of the protagonist in movies such as Lal Salaam, Amaram, etc. It was in the early 90s that he got a break as a leading man. I think Aadharam was his first movie as hero.
I still remember watching Aadharam in theaters. He was so good in the movie and the movie was a hit during the early 90s. After Aadharam, for a brief period during the early 90s, Murali was even considered a threat to the Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammooty. He had a couple of memorable years with movies such as Venkalam, Champakulam Thachan, etc. However, he could not sustain the box-office draw for long and subsequently went back to donning character roles.
For me, some of his memorable roles in Malayalam are Aadharam, Lal Salaam, Amaram, Dhanam, etc.
I had a feeling he was kind of dormant for a while in Malayalam for the last few years. Did not hear much of him since 2004. May be its because I’m not following Malayalam cinema as much as I used to do before. And now suddenly I hear Murali is gone. His death is a huge loss for the Malayalam movie industry. This year seems to be really bad one for Kerala stars. Murali is the third talented personality from the Malayalam movie industry to bid adieu in the last few weeks, after Lohitadas and Rajan P. Dev.
The man may be gone, but movie lovers will remember him through the many roles he portrayed on screen. May his soul rest in peace!
Murali was one of the finest actors to have graced Malayalam cinema in recent years. He started off with theater and small roles in movies, went on to play leading man, and turned to character roles later on. He has performed in a variety of roles in his movie career, except for comic roles. In some of his earlier movies, he played villain or the villian’s side kick. He then moved on to play the friend of the protagonist in movies such as Lal Salaam, Amaram, etc. It was in the early 90s that he got a break as a leading man. I think Aadharam was his first movie as hero.
I still remember watching Aadharam in theaters. He was so good in the movie and the movie was a hit during the early 90s. After Aadharam, for a brief period during the early 90s, Murali was even considered a threat to the Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammooty. He had a couple of memorable years with movies such as Venkalam, Champakulam Thachan, etc. However, he could not sustain the box-office draw for long and subsequently went back to donning character roles.
For me, some of his memorable roles in Malayalam are Aadharam, Lal Salaam, Amaram, Dhanam, etc.
I had a feeling he was kind of dormant for a while in Malayalam for the last few years. Did not hear much of him since 2004. May be its because I’m not following Malayalam cinema as much as I used to do before. And now suddenly I hear Murali is gone. His death is a huge loss for the Malayalam movie industry. This year seems to be really bad one for Kerala stars. Murali is the third talented personality from the Malayalam movie industry to bid adieu in the last few weeks, after Lohitadas and Rajan P. Dev.
The man may be gone, but movie lovers will remember him through the many roles he portrayed on screen. May his soul rest in peace!
Monday, May 25, 2009
The triumph of willpower over adversity
Saw this video and felt truly inspired. This woman may not have arms, but she has what it takes to survive - "willpower"
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Amazing Photos of Indian Wildlife
Came across a couple of web sites which deal with Indian wildlife photography.
http://www.thejunglelook.com/
http://kalyanvarma.net/
I was always a fan of breathtaking photographs and was impressed on the first look itself, especially the kalyanverma site. Great set of photos of rare wild animals and birds. Its a pity we can see them only in photos nowadays!
http://www.thejunglelook.com/
http://kalyanvarma.net/
I was always a fan of breathtaking photographs and was impressed on the first look itself, especially the kalyanverma site. Great set of photos of rare wild animals and birds. Its a pity we can see them only in photos nowadays!
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Big Day for Indian Music at World Stage
AR Rahman wins BAFTAS for best music score for the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Zakir Hussain wins Grammy for "Best Contemporary World Music" for his "Global Drum Project" album. Two more Indians were nominated for the Grammys but they didn't win.
Wow! What a day for India & Indian music at the world stage. It seems to be raining music awards these days in the Indian sub-continent. Reminds me of the idiom "When it rains, it pours"!
Wow! What a day for India & Indian music at the world stage. It seems to be raining music awards these days in the Indian sub-continent. Reminds me of the idiom "When it rains, it pours"!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Bindra's gold makes his blog popular
http://abhinavbindra.blogspot.com/
This must be the most popular blog written by an Indian sportsperson ever, judging from the number of comments each post is attracting. Just look at the number of comments for the last few posts:
143 81 74 256 183 894
The 894 comments are for a blog post titled 'The day after' which is the first post Abhinav made after winning his Olympic gold. They are full of congratulatory messages from patriotic Indian sports fans. I'm joining the chorus too. Congrats Bindra, for making every Indian proud.
Hope your blog remains popular for a long time to come, and hope some of that popularity rubs off on some non-cricket sports in India!
This must be the most popular blog written by an Indian sportsperson ever, judging from the number of comments each post is attracting. Just look at the number of comments for the last few posts:
143 81 74 256 183 894
The 894 comments are for a blog post titled 'The day after' which is the first post Abhinav made after winning his Olympic gold. They are full of congratulatory messages from patriotic Indian sports fans. I'm joining the chorus too. Congrats Bindra, for making every Indian proud.
Hope your blog remains popular for a long time to come, and hope some of that popularity rubs off on some non-cricket sports in India!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Amazing concept car from BMW
Engineers at BMW have come up with a new concept car called GINA. Well not exactly new, because the car was developed 6 years ago, but for some strange reason BMW chose to keep it under wraps for so long! May be they were waiting for the right moment to unveil it.
Whatever be the reason for the delay, GINA looks amazing. Check out the video here. Its metal body is covered by some kind of a fabric which allows the driver to change its shape as per his wish.
You won't be able to see this car on the roads because this is not meant for mass production and will probably be confined to the BMW museum in Munich.
Whatever be the reason for the delay, GINA looks amazing. Check out the video here. Its metal body is covered by some kind of a fabric which allows the driver to change its shape as per his wish.
You won't be able to see this car on the roads because this is not meant for mass production and will probably be confined to the BMW museum in Munich.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Future perfect?
Argentina's under-20 team win the football u-20 world cup. They beat Czech Republic 2-1. They have now won 5 out of last 7 under-20 world cups. The future looks promising, isn't it?
Argentina current national team of very talented players often start favorites (ahead of Brazil) at every championship they play. But after living up to their billing at the beginning, they seem to run out of steam against tough teams in the later stage. In WC 2006, they lost to Germany when everyone was expecting them to defeat the Germans comprehensively. In Copa America 2007, they lost to a Brazil side sans Ronaldinho and Kaka in the final, beaten fairly easily. All this after dominating previous matches. It must be heart-breaking for Argentinian fans. They seem to have all the talent, but can't seem to win when it matters. Seen in this context, their under-20 team's world cup win is something to savor. Hope this team of future superstars will dominate the world stage in the future.
Argentina current national team of very talented players often start favorites (ahead of Brazil) at every championship they play. But after living up to their billing at the beginning, they seem to run out of steam against tough teams in the later stage. In WC 2006, they lost to Germany when everyone was expecting them to defeat the Germans comprehensively. In Copa America 2007, they lost to a Brazil side sans Ronaldinho and Kaka in the final, beaten fairly easily. All this after dominating previous matches. It must be heart-breaking for Argentinian fans. They seem to have all the talent, but can't seem to win when it matters. Seen in this context, their under-20 team's world cup win is something to savor. Hope this team of future superstars will dominate the world stage in the future.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Stray dogs shot dead - yet again!!
Read a news item in the Hindu today - it said around a dozen stray dogs were shot dead by 'Narikuravas' in a multiplex in ECR.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071759310400.htm
These Narikuravas were employed by the management of the multiplex. From the article, I am assuming the 'multiplex in ECR' they are talking about is Mayajaal. Why can't they just say Mayajaal instead of saying 'a multiplex along East Coast Road'? But thats not the point here.
Is there no other way to curb the stray dog menace other than killing those poor animals? They could have thrown stones and scared them away or something of that sort. But why kill them? Really shocking! Man's best friend is killed by man himself.
Update: Around a dozen animal rights activists protest in front of Mayajaal. This news item was seen in Hindu couple of days ago.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071759310400.htm
These Narikuravas were employed by the management of the multiplex. From the article, I am assuming the 'multiplex in ECR' they are talking about is Mayajaal. Why can't they just say Mayajaal instead of saying 'a multiplex along East Coast Road'? But thats not the point here.
Is there no other way to curb the stray dog menace other than killing those poor animals? They could have thrown stones and scared them away or something of that sort. But why kill them? Really shocking! Man's best friend is killed by man himself.
Update: Around a dozen animal rights activists protest in front of Mayajaal. This news item was seen in Hindu couple of days ago.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Great goal by Lionel Messi
Argentina vs Mexico Copa America 2007 semifinals
Messi comes up with great stuff! Watch it n njoy!
Leo Messi - Argentina - Mexico Copa America 11.07.
Messi comes up with great stuff! Watch it n njoy!
Leo Messi - Argentina - Mexico Copa America 11.07.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Argentina blank Peru
Great stuff from Argentina. They defeat Peru 4-0; enter Copa America semis.
Watch all the action
Watch all the action
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Wah Taj - TAJ Mahal makes it to the list
All those campaigns for getting people to vote for Taj Mahal has paid off. The Taj has made it to the list of 7 new wonders of the world, announced by the new7wonders foundation. Though some people have dismissed this online poll as a marketing gimmick and UNESCO has distanced itself from this campaign, this does not take away anything from the victory.
AR Rahman fans will also be happy about this victory for Taj Mahal. Thats because ARR also had a part to play in this campaign. He came up with a specially composed Taj Anthem and that really gave Taj the much needed impetus to win this online poll.
I can think of some immediate benefits for Taj as a result of this victory. For one, it will attract more media attention worldwide, which in turn will attract more tourists to it. Thats good in one way. But the Indian government and local authorities of Agra should also be prepared to take in more visitors if they are to convert this influx of visitors to revenue. They should properly maintain the serenity and splendor of the Taj as well. No doubt, it will be a huge challenge for them. Secondly, more money will be pumped in to spruce up the Taj and it will help with lots of repair and maintenance work. I just hope this money is spend wisely and does not fall into the wrong hands.
How far will this victory help the Taj (and India) in the longer run? Only time can tell. For the moment though, we can all say 'Wah Taj'!
AR Rahman fans will also be happy about this victory for Taj Mahal. Thats because ARR also had a part to play in this campaign. He came up with a specially composed Taj Anthem and that really gave Taj the much needed impetus to win this online poll.
I can think of some immediate benefits for Taj as a result of this victory. For one, it will attract more media attention worldwide, which in turn will attract more tourists to it. Thats good in one way. But the Indian government and local authorities of Agra should also be prepared to take in more visitors if they are to convert this influx of visitors to revenue. They should properly maintain the serenity and splendor of the Taj as well. No doubt, it will be a huge challenge for them. Secondly, more money will be pumped in to spruce up the Taj and it will help with lots of repair and maintenance work. I just hope this money is spend wisely and does not fall into the wrong hands.
How far will this victory help the Taj (and India) in the longer run? Only time can tell. For the moment though, we can all say 'Wah Taj'!
Friday, July 06, 2007
Indian Players at Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the world's most prestigious tennis tournament with a long history dating back to 1887. Yet through all these years, no Indian (or Asian) has ever won the singles title!!
The best Indian performance so far at Wimbledon is by Ramanathan Krishnan. He reached the semifinals 2 consecutive times in the 1960s, losing out to eventual winners on both occasions. His son Ramesh Krishnan reached Wimbledon quarterfinals in 1986. Vijay Amritraj also reached quarterfinals 2 times in the 70s. After that, there is nothing much to say about Indian players in Wimbledon singles. Of course, in doubles we have had some good performances over the years by Anand/Vijay Amritraj and later on by LeanderPaes and Mahesh Bhupathi. But singles is a different matter altogether.
I have always thought why a nation of 2 billion people is not able to produce a single tennis champion? It cannot be the money factor. Even poorer countries like Serbia are producing very good players like Ana Ivanovic. Anyway there are lots of Indians who can afford tennis training now.
Just wondering, wouldn't it be great if India can produce players who can actually dominate world tennis? Our latest tennis hope is Sania Mirza. But she seems to be mostly inconsistent, often going out in the 2nd or 3rd rounds of big tournaments.
What are your views ? When do you think an Indian will win Wimbledon singles title?
The best Indian performance so far at Wimbledon is by Ramanathan Krishnan. He reached the semifinals 2 consecutive times in the 1960s, losing out to eventual winners on both occasions. His son Ramesh Krishnan reached Wimbledon quarterfinals in 1986. Vijay Amritraj also reached quarterfinals 2 times in the 70s. After that, there is nothing much to say about Indian players in Wimbledon singles. Of course, in doubles we have had some good performances over the years by Anand/Vijay Amritraj and later on by LeanderPaes and Mahesh Bhupathi. But singles is a different matter altogether.
I have always thought why a nation of 2 billion people is not able to produce a single tennis champion? It cannot be the money factor. Even poorer countries like Serbia are producing very good players like Ana Ivanovic. Anyway there are lots of Indians who can afford tennis training now.
Just wondering, wouldn't it be great if India can produce players who can actually dominate world tennis? Our latest tennis hope is Sania Mirza. But she seems to be mostly inconsistent, often going out in the 2nd or 3rd rounds of big tournaments.
What are your views ? When do you think an Indian will win Wimbledon singles title?
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Taj Mahal - A R Rahman video
Remember the vote for Taj Mahal campaign for which AR Rahman lend a helping hand by composing a special anthem? Now here is the music video for that song. must watch for ARR fans!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
..is the most recent sci-fi novel i've read. Very good stuff from Michael, one of my favorite authors.
Its amazing to know this book was published in 1968 and was one of the bestsellers of that time. Some of the concepts mentioned in this book are just out of this world, and they stand relevant even to this day. Many similar themes have been shown in later sci-fi movies.
I also heard that a movie by the same name was made in 1971. It would be interesting to watch that one.
This is my third Michael Crichton novel. I've also read Jurassic Park and Sphere. After reading 3 sci-fi books from Michael Crichton, I can almost see a common pattern through his novels.
1. The main characters are always scientists, or a group of scientists.
2. The way the plot develops is very similar. An out-of-the-world incident/accident happens somewhere in some remote corner of the world, for which there is no explanation. But most of the time, some secret government agency will be aware of it or will be tracking such happenings. And they will send a group of scientists to investigate. This group will be typically 4-5 member group and might or might not include a woman.
3. The group members might not agree among themselves at all points during the investigation. There will definitely be some kind of mistrust and/or betrayal between them.
4. The antagonists are mostly: aliens from outer space/extraterrestrial organisms/man-made organisms. They will have unimaginable strength and man can only fight them with his brain.
5. At the end of the story, all the group members might not survive.
6. Most of his novels seem to feature wonderful technology gone awfully wrong and seem to have some sort of hidden message to mankind. For instance, Jurassic Park had a wonderful message - "Do not fiddle with mother nature. Dinosaurs are extinct creatures because nature wanted them to be extinct. Bringing them back to life means you are going against nature".
I really like the way he uses technology in his novels. He explains them so very well that any one will be able to understand and appreciate it. I'm now looking forward to read some of his more recent works like Timeline or Prey.
Its amazing to know this book was published in 1968 and was one of the bestsellers of that time. Some of the concepts mentioned in this book are just out of this world, and they stand relevant even to this day. Many similar themes have been shown in later sci-fi movies.
I also heard that a movie by the same name was made in 1971. It would be interesting to watch that one.
This is my third Michael Crichton novel. I've also read Jurassic Park and Sphere. After reading 3 sci-fi books from Michael Crichton, I can almost see a common pattern through his novels.
1. The main characters are always scientists, or a group of scientists.
2. The way the plot develops is very similar. An out-of-the-world incident/accident happens somewhere in some remote corner of the world, for which there is no explanation. But most of the time, some secret government agency will be aware of it or will be tracking such happenings. And they will send a group of scientists to investigate. This group will be typically 4-5 member group and might or might not include a woman.
3. The group members might not agree among themselves at all points during the investigation. There will definitely be some kind of mistrust and/or betrayal between them.
4. The antagonists are mostly: aliens from outer space/extraterrestrial organisms/man-made organisms. They will have unimaginable strength and man can only fight them with his brain.
5. At the end of the story, all the group members might not survive.
6. Most of his novels seem to feature wonderful technology gone awfully wrong and seem to have some sort of hidden message to mankind. For instance, Jurassic Park had a wonderful message - "Do not fiddle with mother nature. Dinosaurs are extinct creatures because nature wanted them to be extinct. Bringing them back to life means you are going against nature".
I really like the way he uses technology in his novels. He explains them so very well that any one will be able to understand and appreciate it. I'm now looking forward to read some of his more recent works like Timeline or Prey.
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