Well, the words have been written, the pictures and videos posted, the feedback and wishes coming in, and we are already facing withdrawal symptoms. At the end of the MS Bangalore meet, we were deciding when we can possibly meet again for a day out, possibly doing something more and something with a new agenda. Republic day was mentioned be Nawaz Bhai, and it looks like a good time.

And I got thinking, for another day out, why not meet up for Aero India 2009, at Yelankha, Bangalore. It is to be held on 11 - 15 Feb 2009. I last attended it 2 years back, and I absolutely loved the aero show, along with the change to see many top fighter aircraft at close quarters.

http://www.aeroindia.in/

How about it? If we can plan this in advance, I think it has the potential to be a great day out, esp. for photography also :). I have attached a couple of photos among the many ones I clicked in 2007.

P.S. Sid, I know you work near HAL and have probably seen all the planes already, but kya kare yaar... the rest of us are not so fortunate ;)

"It's not how hard you hit, it's about how hard you get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving... Forward."

An iconic line delivered by Sylvester Stallone in 2006's Rocky Balboa, when he has taken a beating at the hand of the World Heavyweight Champion, but decides to get back up to his feet, and fight on.

The world of sporting has been purview to many iconic comebacks, from hardships, over time, or indeed, even during a single game. The most recent one has to be Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten ton against England in the Chennai test, steering India to the fourth highest run chase even in a Test match. Many said that this is one of his greatest centuries ever, and indeed, would serve to erase those painful memories of the 1999 test against Pakistan.

Such moments are indeed an inspiration, a treat to watch, when the emotion runs high and we feel really happy with the achievements of the person concerned.

I do not deny the criticisms levied against Sachin, of not being there for the Indian team when we needed him the most. Indeed, there are many such instances of that as well (the miserly 4 runs he scored against Australia in the finals of the 2003 World Cup still strikes a nerve). But, we are human after all, aren't we? And such achievements make us love the game even more, no matter which one it is. After all, we can admire Roger Federer's utter class at Wimbledon, but we would like someone to take the fight to him.

I admit, I do not know about too many sporting comebacks, but here is my selection of favorites.

In no particular order, I first ask you to draw your attention to Goran Ivanisevic's win as a wildcard at Wimbledon 2001. Maybe it was the fact that he had lost the title in the finals 3 times (in 1992 to Agassi, and in 1994 and 1998 to Sampras); maybe it was the fact that he entered Wimbledon as a wild card in 2001, ranked 125th in the world, and that everyone had written him off as an also-ran in the Wimbledon circuit. Whatever, I was delighted to see him finally win at Wimbledon that year, and of the flood of emotions, of having finally mastered one of the greatest tournaments in the world after coming oh-so-close. It was indeed a magical sporting moment.

Another choice of mine would be Michael Schumacher's winning the Formula 1 title in 2000 after a gap of four years. Yes, we all know the Schumacher era when he dominated and made the sport boring. And yes, we do also know of the fact when he tried to ram Jacques Villeneuve off the track at Jerez in 1997; but that doesn't take away from the struggle of turning the struggling Ferrari team in 4 years to a world championship contender. In 1996, he was saddled with a car which many said drive like a truck. In 1997, was the Jerez Incident. And in 1998, during the last race at Suzuka, Japan, with the title on the line, his car cruelly died on him at the start. His accident in 1999 during mid-season took him out of the reckoning that year. In 2000, it was a close fought season between Hakkinen and Schumacher, heading into the penultimate round at Suzuka. I remember, when Schumacher exited the pit lane after his final stop, and Hakkinen was still about 400 meters behind, that the grandstand erupted with the sound of horns and cheers. The crowd and the race commentator going beserk, I don't remember hearing such a din at a Formula 1 race. It was epic.

My last example this short list would have to be South Africa's epic chase of Australia's 431 at Johannesburg. After Australia slammed what was, for a few hours, the highest ever score in a one-day international; I and many of us, felt that chasing it was impossible. But then, the heroic effort of Gibbs (many say that this was his way of repaying the dropped catch of Steve Waugh in the 1999 World Cup), coupled with a smashing all round effort from the tail, enabled South Africa to complete the greatest ever run chase with one ball to spare. A titanic battle, and indeed, a great sporting moment.

I admit that I haven't included Lance Armstrong's amazing wins at the Tour De France in this list, but it definitely deserves its place in the shortlist of greatest sporting comebacks.

So there you are, a few sporting moments which made us sit up, take notice and whoop with delight... which are your greatest sporting moments.

The first day, I didn't know you
the second... I didn't see you
and on the third, when we met
there were no sparks, no zing or zest...

Oh how was I... right there
how were my emotions lade bare...
how was I to realize...
That I would love you, through day or night

I didn't talk to you for months
I didn't know how your name begun
But then fate played its little hand
And I met you, met a friend

Now, I normally keep to myself
I have few contacts, and fewer friends
and you were so unlike me
you were sunshine, yet still a mystery...

And I don't know, why I poured
Out to you... my heart and soul
About my pains, my sins, my lies
and you just listened, with a patient smile

You are an angel, I cant deny
that God saw fit to be at my side
when I was troubled, when I was hurt
when it was so lonely, like a caged bird...

And then one day, you asked me to see
a movie, about friends and love
perplexed I was, till i saw the same
and then I realized, the emotions that came

That I Loved you, that such a word existed
beyond movies, songs or proses
and then I saw the angel smile
and I was in heaven, with you by my side

I never thought, that I would find love
Never imagined that a comforting word
at the end of a long, tiring day
soothed my soul in benevolent ways

And I loved you, as best i could
I am not perfect, but you knew I would
Do Anything for you... selflessly
for that's what Love is... endlessly

But, oh, why does, fate intervene
and step aside, the hope that gleans
of sharing my life, with you and you only
of having a life, where angels speak free

And then last month, I finally lost you
you broke the bonds, of friendship as well too...
and I knew then, why people say
that Love pleasures, but hurts in equal ways

and life was hollow, life was painful
I listed to songs, but they sounded mournful
I cried all night... till the tears ran out
I waited all day, but you never called

So there I was, alone and broken
my best friend gone... to another dimension
so I drowned myself, in activity
to stop the bleeding, in its profusity

And as I pen this, I know you are happy
and I feel glad, to know that you are...
Now I realize that Love is more
than a relationship with ties that bond...

And I am back in heaven
among the angels...

Last week's column was on thoughts which may wander and swirl in your heart and head when you are walking down a desolate, dark lane at night, under the stars...

So I thought that a different theme was in order for this week's column... I just finished 2 reviews right now, on the Quantum of Solace and the Nokia 1100, and am ecstatic about the response I got...oops, correct my language, but I really am groggy right now... Overwhelmed, yes, thats the word.

Am listening to the Songs of Rab Ne Bana De Jodi... especially like Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte... rarely does a remix come out as well as this, taking bits and pieces from older Bollywood hits and blending them togther into an addictive cocktail...

Ah, Songs... Music... Lyrics... things which were quite sparse in my life until a couple of years ago... let me clarify. I was not really into music for the first 20 or so years of my life. It was mostly books (for school), Cartoon Network, and cricket with friends. Music was the 90's bolloywood tracks which used to come on cable TV... it is only recently that I have started appreciating the range and emotions that music can play in our lives.

My music collection is still rather barren compared to many people I know, but even those few notes add a zing to my days when all seems broken.

Do you remeber the sequence in Jerry Maguire, when he sings his heart our in his car, the song 'Free Falling', with not a care in the world. Well, sometimes, I belive that we should try it, it really does relive us of our burdens, if only for those few minutes. My favourite these days to scream along to with absolutely no care for what anyone is thinking on my daily commute back home in the evening is the Rock On!! track "Socha Hai"... literally screaming out "Socha Hai" at bemused travellers at traffic lights... but I simply dont care :).

Music... it really is a balm for the aching heart, a stream for the parches soul, and, when combined with a good, peppy track, a great workout for the body!

Let me clarify, in hostel, we had to organise a dance for an event, and I was to coreograph it. We practised for around 2 weeks at night, for around 2 hours each night. At the end of those 2 weeks, I found that I had lost 3 kgs. (which I promptly put back on in the coming 3 months)

And it was great fun... it wasnt boring or dreary. We had a ball, and it brought a lot of us a lot closer.

Now, I am not saying that we join dance classes. Most of us have a basic sense of rhythm, and we can dance at home to the songs we like... for me, it is Dance Pe Chaance these days from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi... for a really enjoyable workout.

Of course, songs can also hurt and remind you, and move you to tears... Tum Ho Toh from Rock On!! does that for me... each and every time I hear it, it haunts me... about what I loved and lost... but enough of that topic.

On another note, I must say and ask everyone here who writes and rates a lot... how do you find time for Mouthshut in your busy schedules... I have been a member since 2003, but have never really been able to dedicate a 100% to Mouthshut; I hope some of you could guide me.

I don't know who is listening to this to this, or who cares to listen...

...
...
Sometimes I wonder, isn't a walk in a quiet little lane just the best way to get to know about things, to ponder about life's mysteries...until you hear the commotion around you and say to yourself, "Wait a second, I'm still in Bangalore city".

Quiet please... but I guess we don't get that these days, do we? It's just the commotion of our lives, going on and on and on... and then we wonder, after a while, What are we actually doing?

Now, I realize that this is an early time for me to be saying this;most of us who are reading this have seen many more years in the world than me, and a lot more of life's experiences, so you probably have the answers to the questions that I's asking... but...

I'd still like to ask you this... what is it that we actually do with our lives? When do we actually grow up? When do we find a purpose? When do we find love? When do we prioritize with our heads and not our hearts? When do we believe and when do we choose not to?

No one's life is perfect; I have come to accept that... then why are jealous of people's success, of people's happiness? Why do we apply that rule even for people who we used to care for and now don't anymore?

I don't know where this string of negativity comes through... I know that there have been many positive self help books written on this topic... but me, myself... I don't really have the answers... I am just walking down the road listening to a piano being played in the house next to me.. listening to the laughter... just wondering why,some people manage to find happiness everywhere.

Well, I realize one thing... when we are busy, we don't really find to do the things which we really, really cared about, can't find time to write on MS, to read and rate reviews and post comments... can't find time to pursue our hobbies... things we used to love when we were children... can't find time to stay with friends... can't find time for the people we love...

Was the world always so hectic... did it always have to be this way? Imean, you may have heard of Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of needs,where first comes the physical needs... then going up all the way to self-actualization. I guess that's what makes us human... we care... we need... something that puts us beyond everyone else...

Fulfillment...
Contentment...

we can't really chose who we were born to, can we? Some of us may have the path a lot easier, some of us, a lot tougher... but there are always those who manage to find the way through... to pull themselves across... and we know them for the famous personalities that they become, but then...

are they truly satisfied with what they are doing? Do they feel content? And they don't live perfect lives, I agree. They just live what we see through rose-tinted glasses. Do they mange to find time,given their busy schedules, for things that they care about? It's all choices which we have to make...

I don't know..., but then, this column has a lot of questions and if I keep rambling on, I'm not sure anyone would read this, so... at least for today's thoughts, walking down this long, winding road under the stars... this is me, signing off, until next week...

Life seems like a dreary journey sometimes, indeed, the latest terror attacks in Mumbai have only served to heighten anxieties and depression levels among us. Then of course, there is the job which burns you out, responsibilities and living upto certain expectations which you set for yourself, and caring about certain people and making time for them. In addition, you are trying to keep your weight under check, eat healthy, look good, and somehow find time to write on mouthshut and read all the reviews and diary posts. I never thought the phrase, "I wish I had more than 24 hours in a day" made sense, but I now realize it makes complete sense.

No, this is not a column about time or stress management, about exercise and weight loss, or about spiritual recourse. This is about music, especially the music you listen to during a break in the office, during commuting, or indeed, when you come back after a hard day's (or night's) work. As some of us may have seen in Jerry Maguire, sometimes, we just feeling like screaming our lungs out, caring not for anything in the world and just being ourselves, being free.

I had in an earlier column mentioned 3 songs which uplift my day, and I would like to recall them and indeed, add a few more... whether you choose to listen to them on your iPod, car audio or indeed, even the local FM radio, these songs are what transport me each time I listen to them, and for a few minutes, make me free from the responsibilities and tensions in the world.

Here is my current list:

1. Kabhi Kabhi Aditi... this song really helped me get over my breakup, and indeed, is the song I have set as my mobile alarm (its a mood booster when you have to wake up at half past 5 in the morning). Soothing and realxing, I have the video of this song on my iPod Nano, and it is just about bubbly enough without being loud or fast... a nice morning number.

2. Aye Bachchu... from Ghajini, sung with a lot of spunk, this is a great driving song, one that makes you want to put your foot down when it comes on the radio... except you can't, not with Bangalore's traffic jams. Still, this song makes me foreget the days worries in my evening commute home... along with another song

3. Socha Hai from Rock On!!... with its somewhat childish, irreverent lyrics and hard tempo, makes me sing along whenever I listen to it. This song, along with Aye Bachchu, have an uplifting tempo, which really lift up my frayed nerves at half past 5 in the evening.

4. Hum Hai Rahi Pyaar Ke... from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi... with its lyrics and tunes mixed from many golden oldies, this is a song which is fun and a bit danceable, but more importantly, like the previous two, does not take itself too seriously. A fun tune.

5. Tum Ho Toh... from Rock On!!, on this list for no apparent reason apart from being one of the most haunting and melodic romantic tunes ever created. And its lyrics are easy to follow, even if I can't quite sing it aloud and match Farhan Akhtar'a amazing highs in the tempo.

6. Jaane Kyun... from Dostana... cool beat, cool song, perfect to listen to on the morning or evening commute, or indeed, at any time! This song is all about feeling good, and the repetition of the lyrics, "I'll be all right" works better than many self help books.

This is not the complete list, but these songs are the ones which come straight to mind and are the most repeated in my playlist these days. I have to add, Bollywood seems to be on a roll with good albums these days, with Dostana, RNBDJ, Yuvraaj and Ghajini... that said, I can't wait for RNBDJ on Dec 12 and Ghajini on Dec 25... I am booking my tickets in advance :)

Just saw the interiors of the Taj hotel in today's newspaper, and was horrified with the actual carnage which had taken place. The interiors look nothing like their glamorous self, they have been charred beyond recognition... and that brings me on to a line which was recently delivered by Morgan Freeman in The Dark Knight, " Some people do not want money. Some people... only wish to see the world burn." And No, it was not a fictional Joker like character this time round, it was real, with real deaths, and real destruction.

We have read about how these youngsters (some younger than even me) are brainwashed in Pakistan and told that they would reach heaven or some other nonsense if they carry out such senseless acts of violence and brutality. But really, is that so effective to take away even a shred of humanity from them? I guess so, for they do carry out the attacks with alarming ferocity and efficiency. But how can it be? Surely those youngsters had families, friends, people who loved them and whom they loved in return. They had their lives in front of them, what made them want to become another blot in the pages of history?

I do not know, to be honest. While I do feel a strange mix of pity for those people, my overwhelming feeling is one of rage. Come on, they wanted to kill, and they had no remorse at all in their hearts. So why should we not kill them in return. Those of us who have seen the brilliant movie, 'A Wednesday' would agree with the feelings Naseeruddin Shah has, as he wants to eliminate the terrorists since the government is too spineless to do it for the people. I agree, who all remember the 1999 Plane Hijacking? We released 3 major terrorists because of that, and since then they have conducted more attacks towards India. We saved 159 but have lost a lot more than that because of our inaction. Why do we let those captured terrorists stay alive, when they are no longer useful to us, living off the taxpayers money? But then, as seen in the movie 'Munich', we find that killing a few will simply result in more being created.

But what can we do? Nuke an entire country? Kill all, whether innocent or guilty, to get rid of the bigger problem? People would say that thinking like that makes us as bad as them, that we should 'save our humanity', but I am sorry; Gandhism will not work here. We need drastic steps and measures, and I do not know what to do.

Voting, they say, is our biggest weapon, but it is also a lame weapon. Who do I vote? BJP (who were in power during the 1999 hijacking), Congress (whose inaction is responsible for all these deaths). Who dammit, who? I feel as disgusted with Narendra Modi visiting Mumbai as with Mamata Banerjee using politics to push out the Nano, and probably destroying a good part of West Bengal's economic development for the next 2 decades. In fact, it seems like there are 2 evils in Politicians and Terrorists. One, has an open and simple agenda, to Kill, the other, a hidden agenda, to come in and stay in Power at any costs, no matter what it takes.

To be frank, the Mumbai episode has deflated my hopes of there ever arriving at a solution to Global Terrorism (or indeed, Intra-county religious violence and fundamentalism)... which brings me to Raj Thackeray, who, like a self pompous jerk, want to divide the country on ethnic lines (just as the fundamentalist Hindu and Muslim organizations want to divide it on communal lines, and political parties on caste lines). Were the NSG all Maharashtrians who fought the terrorists? Didn't an officer from Karnataka, among others also die for protecting the lives of us Indians. So why then do we care to fight over such issues when we should be thinking of development, both social and economic, of fighting terrorism, removing poverty, and other major issues?

In all this gloom, I just to highlight the examples of the staff of the Taj and the Oberoi, whom the survivors said saved them from the terrorists, indeed, acting as human shields if need be. And of course, the Army, which has risen over stupid dividing lines with only one duty, as aptly said; "Forgiving terrorists is left to God. But fixing their appointment with God is our responsibility", INDIAN ARMY.

I would like to end with a note which someone wrote and showed on NDTV yesterday, which sums up my column;

"Mr. Terrorist: I am alive. What more can you do?
Mr Politician" I am alive, in spite of you

I am a Mumbaikar."

Tip: Sending empty messages Wednesday, October 15, 2008 3:01 PM Posted by Jon Kotker, Gmail engineering intern, Summer 2008

I often send messages where the subject is the entire message (e.g. "Want to grab lunch at 12:30?"), and Gmail would always prompt me to add in body text. Now, however, you can add "EOM" or "(EOM)" at the end of the subject line (short for End Of Message), and Gmail will silently send the message without the unnecessary prompt.

Check out the link for full details:

http://gmailblog.blogspot.c
om/2008/10/tip-sending-empty-me
ssages.html

A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the Head with a frying pan.

"What was that for?" the man asked.

The wife replied "That was for the piece of paper with the name Julie on it that I found in your pants pocket".


The man then said "When I was at the races last week Julie was the name of the horse I bet on"



The wife apologized and went on with the housework.



Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious.



Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again.

Wife replied. "Your horse called up !!!!"

Remember the book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”? “Well, today we will experiment with a new form called the ‘tandem story’. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right. As homework tonight, one of you will write the first paragraph of a short story. You will e-mail your partner that paragraph and send another copy to me. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story and send it back also sending another copy to me. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back and forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. There is to be absolutely NO talking outside of the e-mails and anything you wish to say must be written in the e-mail. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached.”

The following was actually turned in by two of my English students: Rebecca (last name deleted), and Gary (last name deleted).

THE STORY:
(first paragraph by Rebecca) At first, Laurie couldn’t decide which kind of tea she wanted. The chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the question.

(second paragraph by Gary) Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. “A.S. Harris to Geostation 17,….”, he said into his transgalactic communicator. “Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far…” But before he could sign off a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship’s cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.

(Rebecca) He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. “Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel,” Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth, when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree, with no newspapers to read, no television to distract her from her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. “Why must one lose one’s innocence to become a woman?” she pondered wistfully.

(Gary) Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of miles above the city, the Anu’udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace Disarmament Treaty through the congress had left Earth a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu’udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret Mobile submarine headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive explosion, which vaporized poor, stupid, Laurie and 85 million other Americans. The President slammed his fist on the conference table. “We can’t allow this! I’m going to veto that treaty! Let’s blow ‘em out of the sky!”

(Rebecca) This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic semi-literate adolescent.

(Gary) Yeah? Well, you’re a self-centered tedious neurotic whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium. “Oh shall I have chamomile tea? Or shall I have some other sort of f*****g TEA??? Oh no, I’m such an air headed bimbo who reads too many Danielle Steele novels.”

(Rebecca) Asshole.

(Gary) Bitch.

(TEACHER) A+ - I really liked this one. Only group to get an A