bigblue01

Are u kidding??

2006-07-18T16:31:06Z

Not 2 years have passed since the Terror Tsunami of 2004, and we still have not got our act together. This week's latest edition managed to kill 200+ people again in Indonesia. The fact that the Government did not issue immediate tsunami warnings after the earthquake is horrific negligence. The last time this mistake was made 230,000 people died. However 2004 was the first of its kind for a while, and additional warning systems were supposed to have been in place. Officials they say, were too busy tracing the aftershocks that in the confusion noboby sent out Tsunami warnings.

The trace of events point to another dangerous hurricane season. Has America really learnt its lesson from Katrina. Or will similar mistakes result in yet another monstrous calamity that will send FEMA floating off again. Do not want to wait and watch..

Countdown to kick off

2006-06-29T20:10:06Z

The Clash of the Titans kicks off in just less than 20 hours. After 3 weeks of nonstop action, 2 perfectly placed rest days become the perfect setting for us to catch our breath and realize the spectacle that is awaiting us. Germany V Argentina in a World Cup setting!! Powerful hosts playing a surprising brand of attractive, aggresive soccer against supremely talented lads from the Pampas. The repeat of Finals from '86 and '90, this quarterfinal matchup promises to dish out fare worthy of another final.

So here's to sitting back, relaxing and enjoying one helluva game of football!! Cheers~!

Service to the nation - Kalam's thoughts

2006-06-20T23:57:35Z

Ppl.. Saw this address from our President Dr. Kalam. Inspirational thoughts about our nation from a great man!

Tale of 2 stories!

2006-03-10T00:49:28Z

Haven't written anything here in months. Today's CNN homepage sparked some fresh thoughts that needed to be penned. No clue if the headlines will be the same when you see CNN, but the irony in the news published at this moment is explosive. The main gut-wrenching story is about one of CNN's reporters narrating his experiences in drought-struck Africa. Having toured the continent the last 6 months, he writes about 3 famines that have made human and animal life miserable.

The other story is about water being found on one of Saturn's moons by the space probe Cassini. This development sure is inspiring to many of us who believe in man's ability to continuously push the limits of technology. However, the seemingly unrelated stories published next to each other makes one wince! The objective behind the Cassini mission just like other space explorations, is to obtain evidence to solve questions behind the origin of life. Funny that billions are pushed towards this noble stimulating cause, when 1/6th of the planet has no clue where to find food and water!!

Sustainability, where art thou?!

whoa!!

2006-01-31T07:55:09Z

A techie political party !! Inspiring news!

The Kyun of Kyoto!

2006-01-11T02:38:17Z

Should the price for reducing industrial pollution be borne by the common man? Or should companies that put out toxic chemicals have to pay for their misdeeds? Interesting article by Janaki Kremmer

My New Year Resolution!! No wasting food!!

2006-01-05T19:26:14Z

Wish everyone an awesome year!! A shocking and most inspiring photograph.

Obituary

2005-12-26T23:44:48Z

The father of pyjama cricket, media mogul, Kerry Packer passed away. Packer's outrageous ideas formed the basis of what today is limited overs floodlit cricket. More about his eccentricities here.

ESPN Horror Show

2005-12-23T00:51:33Z

ESPN has saved its best and most blatant gimmick for the last week of college football. A new analysis team involving Fowler, Herbstreit and May compare this year's USC team against the "Top 11" teams from all-time. The show (broadcasted thrice daily) has these 3 respectable analysts compare apples and oranges and quite astonishingly make a show out of it!!

Each day one team from history is brought in to compete against the Trojans as a war of words and statistics. The analysts break down this imaginary contest and shell out reasons why the Trojans would romp home. Yesterday's example involved a matchup of the 2002 Buckeyes and today's Trojans. Mr. May's argument was that although the Buckeye's defense was stellar, it would fade away compared to the Trojan's two-headed monster of an offense. Mr. May conveniently forgets that the Buckeyes had a very physical defense which delivered a body blow to the 'Canes offense by taking away the McGahee threat. If comparisons are to be made, a Bush'less Trojans team would not score many points against that D.

The point being made here is that with no notable college football action, TV networks are trying various ways to make their analysts earn their pay. While viewers like the theatrics of ESPN's GameDay, this new offering leaves a lot to be desired. Hope with some good games coming up soon, the experts will get back to talking sense and not earn their money by making baseless comparisons.

Thankyou Santa!!!

2005-12-07T21:30:45Z

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

This year I've been busy!

Last Wednesday I gave geelaebee a kidney (1000 points). In July I put money in aldehyde's expired parking meter (14 points). In August I bought porn for ranjaniiyer (-10 points). In November I pulled hemitzer's hair (-5 points). In April I ruled Asscrackistan as a kind and benevolent dictator (700 points).

Overall, I've been nice (1699 points). For Christmas I deserve a red Radio-Flyer wagon!

Sincerely,
bigblue01

Turkey Day

2005-11-24T20:42:03Z

HAPPY TURKEY DAY ppl!! My yearly holiday to Wisconsin finds me here 4 weeks too early. Not to say the weather is any better. Today's morning hike involved walking in wind gusts that brought temperatures below 0F. Super cold experience as I had no clue where my toes were after.. 5 seconds out in the cold!! Having a great time at my mamas. Will be watching my first NBA game this weekend when the Bucks play the Pistons at Bradley Center. Looking forward to it. Saw (slept thru actually)the movie Paheli yesterday. The movie was outright nonsensical with the plot having a ghost get Rani Mukherjee pregnant. The movie is Indias entry to the Oscars for "showing Indian values". Some logic!!!

Dont burn your wallet tomorrow ppl!! Have a safe and warm Thanksgiving!

Tommy and Tata's glory

2005-11-21T18:16:58Z

Auburn's football season came to a joyous close this weekend. Amen Corner proved Auburn to be legit this year. After some hints that people thought last year was a fluke, this year's record should certainly solidify Coach TT's base in the plains. Outwitting Georgia (my first away game experience) and thumping 'Bama is certainly not many Auburn teams have done in the same year. Hoping we do a repeat appearance at the Sugar Bowl or go Capital One bowling with TOSU. Fun time.

Super surprised to find Ratan Tata's name on our web page this gloomy morning. He is being given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the AU College of Human Sciences for corporate philanthrophy. My grandfather's hero, Tata pioneered growth of the Indian heavy industry and today, his software company ranks as India's largest forex generator. Ever since I was born in Telco hospital, Tata Nagar as the grandson of a man who worked for Tata's industries all his life, I have heard dinner table stories of this amazing personality. To see the man fittingly honored by AU makes me real proud. Grandpa must be feeling the same too.

bigblue01 @ 2005-10-18T14:49:00

2005-10-18T19:49:23Z

Your 1920's Name is:

Furman Oakley

What's Your 1920's Name?

Make Mother Nature happy

2005-10-14T18:45:18Z

Someone's got to come up with a way to appease Mother Nature. The havoc that She has wreaked in the last 2 months is unimagineable!! Just what did we see.. A monstrous Hurricane that twisted and turned all the way until it crept up the tiniest of gaps, dealing a body blow to America's fragile social and economical balance. Forest fires that raged and ravaged through millions of acres of precious west coast forest. A wicked earthquake in South Asia that swallowed entire towns and left millions homeless at the mercy of a mean mountain winter. Unrelenting rains in South America that made villains out of pretty mountain sides, covering up entire communities and making mass graves out of tourist resorts. And all this not even a year after Tsunamis ran across the Indian Ocean. With predictions of a harsh winter, one shudders to think of whats coming next.

So have we ended up making too big a mess of our planet already??

Return of the Exorcists

2005-10-14T18:21:22Z

Been thinking about writing here for a while. This piece of information helped in breaking the hiatus. News is that the Vatican has started teaching Exorcism as a course again. Exorcism continues to be the Vatican's best kept secrets, although the mere mention of the word attracts huge media attention. The new Pope seems to have waved the green flag to train his priests in this age-old practice. Watching the movie gave me plenty sleepless nights. To think people would learn it as a University course is baffling. More information on this here.

bigblue01 @ 2005-10-06T10:50:00

2005-10-06T15:54:29Z

With all the madness that comes every Fall, never a bad time for some 'Bama bashing! Found this on a message board. Expertly compiled, I think. What say????

What is Alabama football?> It is getting serenaded with "Rocky Top" by the Minnesota band after losinga 3rd-tier bowl game.> It is worshipping an old dead drunk.> It is losing cases in courtrooms from Memphis to Tuscaloosa and still thinking you were innocent.> It is losing 3 in a row and 4 of 5 to your arch-rival and still maintaining an air of superiority.> It's rolling baby, it's rolling.> It is never beating your archrival in your home stadium, named after thedead drunk, and claiming your archrival has an inferiority complex.>It is claiming 12 national titles when no one else with half a brain recognizes you with more than 6.> It is claiming a national championship after losing to Mississippi State and Vandy.> It is claiming national championships retroactively.> It is claiming national championships after losing your bowl game.> It is all about the Benjamins.> It is 5 coaches in 5 years.> It is 2 probations for cheating in less than 10 years.> It is a worse record and winning percentage than AU in the last 20 years. > It is going to Hawaii to get beat and calling it a "Bowl" game.> It is moral victory after moral victory.> It is having a coach with less career wins than Tuberville got in one year.> It is knowing that your biggest tradition is buying and bidding on players.> It is being a national laughingstock and not even realizing it.> It is delusion, delusion, delusion...> It is "knowing" you are the best team even when you lose.> It is knowing that the refs are against you.> It is knowing that the NCAA is against you.> It is knowing that UT owns you.> It is getting turned down by USF's coach.> It is trying to make yourself believe that you're superior to Auburn.> It is going through 4 coaches in 2 years.> It is having head coaches leave for places like Duke, Kentucky, UTEP, TexasA&M, Millsaps College, and Luverne High School.> It is having your 5th choice for HC turn you down.> It is asking if "Got Twelve?" refers to the number of players in yourhistory that weren't bought and paid for.> It is watching Tommy Tuberville AND Phil Fulmer having as many SEC wins at your home stadium as your own Head Coach.> It is dreaming of a day when you could beat Tennessee 3 times in 15 months.> It is hoping that Northern Illinois doesn't show up again to ruin Homecoming.> It is reminiscing of Shula's Greatest Game - a win over Southern Miss.> It is offering Ole Miss walk-ons Football Scholarships.> It is sharing a home field with the Blazers.> It is being proudly named the "Crimson Tide" after merely tying Auburn in a football game - and broadcasting that fact to the world on your website.> It is fans proudly displaying toilet paper rolls and empty detergent boxes when the whole world can see that you don't know how to use either.> It is a Million Dollar Band and a Two Million Dollar Defensive Line.> It is decades of ignorantly mocking your arch rival for being named the Tigers and yelling "War Eagle" when you're called the Crimson Tide and have an Elephant walk the sidelines.> It is having your head football coach make less than the head basketball coach.> It is Phyllis of Mulga being the prettiest face in the Bama crowd.> It is giving your head coach a contract extension after going 4-9 and 6-6.> It is giving your head coach a contract where he can earn a bonus for winning 7 games - and the bonus remaining unpaid.> It is throwing bricks through your coach's window after a 10 win season.> It is knowing that Notre Dame takes pride in saying "well, at least we're not as bad as Alabama".> It is bragging about playing your arch rival close but losing with your third string QB, third string FB, and third string RB when just 2 yearsprior your arch rival beat you with their second string QB, fourth string FB, and fourth string RB on your own field.> It is running off the last coach that won you a National Championship.> It is recognizing that the closest your Head Coach and Quarterback will be to a ring is when they shake their father's hand.> It is threatening to leave the SEC and having no one notice.> It is pulling for Memphis because they're actually winning and they have your 150k D-lineman.> It is proclaiming your QB to be the best thing since sliced bread after he shreds Utah State, Mississippi, and Western Carolina before he gets hurt....again.> It is having a head coach realize that the ugliest stripper in Pensacola was prettier than the Alabama coaching job.> It is running off your backup QB by playing him with a concussion.> It is having a losing record since January 1st 2000.> It is tarnishing the legend of your greatest coach by playing an incoherent drunken sound-clip at the beginning of each football game.> It is knowing what used to be and then realizing what is.> It is being the fourth best football team in your state...

bigblue01 @ 2005-09-29T22:33:00

2005-09-30T03:34:10Z

You Are 24 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

The Move

2005-07-21T06:06:35Z

Guess its time for my weekly update. A Honda Accord is the latest addition to the family. My first ever car and Latchumi runs like a beauty. Thanks goes out to my dear friend and her folks for parting with this machine. Signed papers to move into a new apt come fall. Will be my first ever move since crossing the Atlantic. To think of it, I reckon this is the longest I have ever stayed at one place since I left Bombay in 1987. Almost 20 yrs!!! Time to pack those bags.. Although the move is to just across the street!!

The story of the demise of a person I met almost 4 yrs ago saddens the heart. This person spanked our tails in the UGA cricket tournament 4 yrs ago. Not only was he gud with the bat, he also snapped up my full-blooded cover drive(the only shot I play worth any salt!). Found out today, he left us because of cancer. Tributes to him for fighting it out and condolences to his family and friends.

Bulldawg Days!!

2005-07-08T17:50:00Z

Yo bloggers!! Quite a long lull on my side. Our last wknds trip to Starkville for the cricket tournament demanded a blog. So here I am.

The drive to Starkville took 5 hrs and 3 brave drivers. Always unsure of our safety as the route took 14 Auburn Tigers through T-town. First time Id ever seen the School Up the Road and sure hope it isnt my last visit. Reached Starkville close to midnite to find out that the Oktibbeha county (think I spelt it right!) is deep in the Bible belt. For those who know what that means, you know the place wasnt on top of our favorites list. Tambi came up with quite an innovation and our team of excited cricketers hit the sack around 2 am.

Saturday started at 5:30 am with our captain howling and growling us out of our bed. Our game was supposed to start at 7 am and we barely made it there in time. Was shockingly welcomed by another team of orange jerseys. Just when I started thinking Auburn had sent another replacement team, I saw the sign Go Vols! Guess the Volunteers were in town too. Other teams that had the joy of getting out of bed at 5:30 were Tenn. Tech and the hosts MSU who had their game with us.

The first game saw us totally outplayed by the hosts, while Arkansas won a tough game against the host alumni team. Our next game, which was a win or go home game, was scheduled at 4 pm with the hosts alumni. A high level negotiation drama ensued and our game was changed to a 7 pm game, under lites against Arkansas. The motivation behind the change was heat, fatigue and the fact that the hosts were now fearing their alumni team needed some help from the organizers to get into the semis. The do or die game against Arkansas turned out to be belter. Floodlites cricket is definitely a spectacle and the match lived upto the expectations. We needed 9 off the last over with just 1 wkt in hand. Pulled it thru in a nail-biter and gave ourselves a chance to get into the semis.

The second day started with Arkansas mauling the hosts and thus giving us a chance to control our fate in the tournament. We had the exciting task of beating the host alumni team and kicking all 3 host teams out of reckoning for a semifinal spot. We did just that with some inspired bowling and sensible batting. So after looking dead and out during the latter part of the Arkansas game, we were now comfortably moving towards a place in the semis.

After 3 games we knew that our batting was surely suspect. Our semifinal opponents,Tenn. Tech, had won all their group games and their bowlers were in ominous form. All our chances of causing an upset evaporated within the first 5 overs of the game, when their bowlers made full use of a dusty wicket. Our attempts to reach the finals failed as for the third time in a row, the team lost in the semis.

A sad end to an exciting wknd, but we certainly had our money's worth. The next tournament coming up in Cookeville. Hope to do better there. Until then. Later.

PS. Pics from the trip here

update

2005-05-27T08:09:39Z

Well.. Howdy world!! Ages since I wrote any. Things flying past me so quick, been super hard to sit down and pen things. Our sports crazy group's escapades continue. Obsession moved from ping pong to volleyball to soccer within the span of a week. Transition involved scarlet rashes which came with lots of love from poison ivy and people getting hurt on the soccer field. Been a fun week though. Highlight of it all was the kick-ass Champion's League final I luckily got to saw thanks to a dear friend. Long time since I took off from work in the middle of a working day. Action was worth every minute though. Thanks Puttu for taking the trip to my grampies. They had a super time I heard. Our yearly trip to the Great Smokies is happening this weekend. Camping n rafting on the itinerary for our renunion. Weather seems fine too. Hoping to catch a gud dose of the mountain air!!

This one for our Comp Sci geeks!!

2005-04-14T18:12:04Z

A real neat link my Yellow Jacket bud sent me. Automatically generates Comp Sci conference papers. My nerdy friends have to check dis out!

http://www.pdos.lcs.mit.edu/scigen/

MIT grad students created this to spoof conferences that exist just to make money. More here

The Sacks Lecture

2005-04-13T18:42:07Z

Blessed is one who has no expectations, for he shall never face disappointment - Adapted from Alexander Pope's words..

Listened to an amazing lecture yesterday by Dr. Oliver Sacks on Creativity and the Brain. He is the same man that Robin Williams played in the movie made out of Dr. Sacks's book, Awakenings. The man is an incredible inspiration and a superb narrator. Totally recommend his books to anyone interested in medical fiction and writings. Dr. Sacks quoted experiences and incidents throughout history stressing on the importance of making path changing breakthroughs.

Obscenely talented people sometimes make the mistake of staying on the same course that brought them success. They end up becoming masters in the art of reproducing though by producing very little. It is the simple brilliance of creativity that is then often needed to bring about paradigm shifts.

Creativity!! where art thou?!

Mission Accomplished!

2005-04-12T16:02:29Z

'Tis the week my heroes were born! This year sis and me came up with a nice lil way to honor and celebrate. Sis went home on a surprise trip with gifts I got and totally knocked them out. Guess nothing works like a good surprise for a birthday gift! How I wish I could do the same!

Tagore's immortal words

2005-04-04T16:54:10Z

Being haunted by the power of Tagore's Ekla Chalo Re. Will post the full Bengali version as soon as I find it. Will have to make do with the English version until then.

If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,

O thou of evil luck,
open thy mind and speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
O thou of evil luck,
trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.
If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,
O thou of evil luck,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
and let it burn alone.

A week of two deaths!!

2005-04-04T16:36:08Z

Last week media all over the world concentrated on the demise of two individuals. A man whose tenure at the Vatican was arguably second to none in the history of the Catholic church and a woman whose medical condition and family feud became the topic of every American breakfast. While media attention for the passing away of Pope John Paul II was well deserved, coverage of Terri Schiavo's last minutes on this planet was quite disconcerting.

A woman who loved her life, loved to look good every minute of her life, was reduced to a mere topic of debate by interests that were none of her concern while she lived. That her family disagreed on the best way to give her peace is a sad event. A husband who refused several offers of millions of dollars in exchange for a divorce got called a murderer by a holy man on TV. The same husband who left his job and joined nursing school to take care of his wife also had abuses and threats hurled his way from people who did not even know the name of his wife.

Why do we judge people without walking in their shoes!!! It is one thing to tell the world a person is right or wrong based on how you think you would act in their situation. It is another to live through their experiences and then see how you actually react. Making observations about people and things around us is an involuntary habit. It is when you start using these observations to make judgements that affect the way you think and react, that you start walking on soft dangerous ground.

Hope Terri finds peace now that she is away from small petty minds!!