Points To Ponder

Some surprising and alarming footnotes:

1) Kabul’s population has increased from 300,000 in 2001 to 3m today.

2) Ireland was the second richest country in the OECD, behind Japan before the current economic recession.

3) In Britain, between 1991 and 2008, deaths directly attributed to alcohol almost doubled.

4) In 2007, total European stock market capitalization exceeded that of the US for the first time since 1945.

5) Isaac Newton invented the cat flap.

6) Windscreen wipers, laser printers and bulletproof vests were all invented by women.

7) Worldwide, the number of mobile phone users will overtake the number of non users this year for the first time.

8) Mao Zedong had a hair dresser called Big Beard Wang.

9) Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

10) There are five people under 18 in custody in Finland. In Britain, there are roughly 3,000.

11) Spammers usually need to send a million emails to get 15 positive responses.

12) Cumbria has the lowest number of homicides in England and Wales- none last year compared to 168 in London.

13) Brazil has more people of African descent than any other country outside Africa.

14) The production of a kilogram of beef omits the same amount of Carbon dioxide as the average European car driving 250 kilometers.

15) 11 out of 12 men to have walked on the moon were in the Boy Scouts.

Source: in fact, Prospect

Funny pix in the men's room..

I clicked these pictures from my phone in the men's toilet of an Irish Bar in Hong Kong.

Looking at the man in the picture I thought I have a long way to go.

I was lucky I was not wearing a tie...


And I was still sane in my mind not to hug the toilet....

And finally I knew where to stand correctly...

It’s Camera, Lights and more Action for Frieda.

Frieda Pinto’s life in the last few months makes a perfect screenplay. She had a dream debut as a leading lady in this year’s greatest movie Slumdog Millionaire, she was in the news for dumping her boy friend of four years to concentrate on her acting career, she was voted as ‘next style icon” by Vanity Fair magazine, got criticized by the so called Indian fashion gurus for creating a fashion disaster with her dark blue, beaded, one sleeved gown by designer John Galliano at the Oscar night.

Ouch! To be in the news so much in such a little time with just one movie in the kitty and wanting to make it big in the cut throat celluloid world can be very very stressful. You make more enemies than friends at this juncture. You suddenly land in a position where everyone becomes your advisors; focus can be easily lost and chances of becoming a one movie wonder looms large.

Well Frieda can only thank her good god for it was not the case with her though. Not only she has remained to stay focused, she continued to woo the industry leaders at the last Sunday’s Oscar night and bagged a role in the next prestigious Woody Allen productions. Now that’s certainly is a break as getting the second break right after a blockbuster debut is what it takes to shape a successful career.

Yes, the starlet is to feature in Woody Allen's next film, alongside Australian actress Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Sir Anthony Hopkins. She couldn't have asked for a better break than this. Could She?

"This year's Cinderella at the Oscar ball will join the long list of Allen's muses as she takes on the ingénue role in the still-untitled pic," industry paper Variety reported.

Let’s hope this muse from Mumbai goes on to make it big and bring home more accolades in the time to come.

Well done and good luck Ms. Pinto!

-Anil Kumar

Mahatma on Sale!

A pocket watch that belonged to Mahatma Gandhi which clicked the time of India’s Independence, A pair of sandals in which Mahatma walked corner to corner, end to end, length to breadth of India in his quest for India’s independence and the Iconic spectacles that he wore and once he famously said “gave him vision to Free India” are all going under the hammer next month (4th and 5th March) in New York.

Auctioneers have priced these “invaluable” items for just £30,000 or US$ 42,000 but expect to get a bid higher than the set price.

Aren’t these priceless and should remain within India?

The government should step forward, buy and preserve all of Gandhi’s things by placing it in a place where it remains for generations to come so coming generations can draw inspiration from.

If the Government fails to act on this, a TATA, a AMBANI or a MALLYA should get their hands on these priceless possessions and gift it back to their fellow countrymen. After all, giving back to the community is also a part of Business.

It’s sad that Indian media didn’t even cover such an important issue in their so called news channels or national newspapers. Haven’t they got FREEDOM or INDEPENDENCE yet?

-Anil Kumar

And the week belongs to letter "B"....

What’s with the letter “B” in this week’s big news around the world?

I am talking about the Bush Fires in Australia, BAFTA for A.R. Rehman, Brotherly Acts of Husseys and Pathans, Barack Obama’s Bailout stimulus plan etc.

The deadliest bush fires in Australia which started last weekend continued to blaze the Victoria State. At least 191 are confirmed dead and the death toll could touch 300 very soon. As of last night, there were 30 blazes still burning in Victoria and so far more than 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land has been destroyed. Australian Police is probing an Arson attack after Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd going on record emotionally saying that the act was nothing but a mass murder hinting towards Arson attack. The blistering heat with soaring temperatures of 46 degrees in the state is adding difficulties to the catastrophe. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s office said the federal government is planning a memorial service for the bushfire victims. “The whole nation stands with Victoria during this time of national tragedy,” it said in a statement.

In Entertainment News, the week began on a high note for Indian musicians with the prodigal Music Director A. R. Rehman bagging a BAFTA for his Music score in the rags to riches movie Slumdog Millionaire, making his claims much stronger for the much awaited and coveted Oscar. The legendary Indian Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain was conferred a Grammy for Global Drum Project - nominated under the Best Contemporary World Music Album category. Hussain worked with Mickey Hart of the rock band Grateful Dead, Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju and Puerto Rican jazz percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo for the album. Apart from Zakir Hussain, there was an interesting line up for Indian nominees at this year's Grammy Awards. There was Louis Banks, who got nominated under the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category. Besides Banks, there were two more Indian musicians competing against each other in the Best Traditional World Music album category; Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya and Lakshmi Shankar.

In Cricket, this week saw two teams, Australia and India winning their respective ODI and T20 match against NZ and Sri Lanka mainly because of brotherly heroics. Australia went on to equal the ODI series against NZ 2-2 taking the series to the Brisbane decider. India won their lone T20 match against Sri Lanka to end the tour of Emerald Isle on a high. In both matches it was the brothers who played their hands in shaping their team’s victory. With Australia, it was the partnership between Hussey brothers which kept NZ away from winning the game and with India; it was the Pathans who joined hands to clinch the win away from Sri Lanka in an exciting T20 game.

This week also saw US Lawmakers agreeing on a $789 billion economic stimulus plan that President Barack Obama said is urgently needed to keep the country from sliding into a deeper recession. The big question on everyone’s mind is whether The plan bails the country out of recession or not? The year ahead is very tough and all we can hope is that Barack Obama’s plan turns out to be a miracle.

-Anil Kumar

Australian Cricket: Has the empire crumbled?

South Africa came down under, saw a crumbling empire, licked their lips and conquered them by humiliating the world champs in both Test and One Day series and went back home to a tumultuous welcome by SA cricket fans.

Immediately, arch rivals Kiwis landed in Australia when the Aussies were still healing their wounds, humbled them with two consecutive one day international wins by rubbing salt to their wounds in one hand and licking manuka honey on the other. This was the fifth straight one day match loss at home for Aussies, who were number two before the home series against All blacks and now dropped to third position on ICC One Day rankings. So from today’s match the series is a battle among equals as both Aussies and Kiwis are placed 3rd and 4th in the ICC One Day Rankings.

Who in the cricketing fraternity imagined this state for the once mighty Australian team a year back? Today’s match, the 3rd ODI though Aussies won, they had to go through some anxious moments when Grant Elliot and Brendon McCullum were still at crease for the 8th wicket partnership.

Before the start of today's match, the Australian supporters, cricket writers and the Australian media panicked at the consecutive 2 match loss at the hands of All blacks. The Australian selectors did show that they were worried and sent an SOS call to the rested Ricky Ponting to come and join the team. The man answered the call, team members rejoiced and the openers fired when they batted first. Brad Haddin scored a quickfire century with 3 sixes and 8 fours and was supported by Mr. Reliable Michael Clarke who scored 64 and supported Brad Haddin well in an opening partnership of 135 runs.

This lead the platform to set a target of 302 for the Kiwis and they fell short by 32 runs to lose the match and hand Australia their first win in the last 6 ODI’s played.

Kiwis just need a win in the remaining 2 ODI’s to win the series to hurt the Aussies badly. That might set an end of the Australian regime at the top. The team for the tour of SA is announced and it will be a daunting task for the Aussies to challenge the South Africans at their backyard.

At the moment nothing is going good for Aussie Cricketers. They were not in great demand in the recently held IPL Auctions for the IPL T20 competition beginning April 2009.

Will they bounce back to the top where they sat firmly and enjoyed for nearly 2 decades? Only time will tell. Let’s sit back and see how they manage to pull up.

-Anil Kumar

Who said there is no “FREE LUNCH” in this world? Come to Bangalore, You can get “MARRIED FREE”!

The great Indian marriage season is about to begin. Ask anyone in love and is planning to get married; they will know the pain that goes in planning, mobilizing funds and organizing everything to get that once-in-a-lifetime event happen without any glitch. This year especially, brides and grooms all over India getting into wed lock are undoubtedly worried due to rising costs, recession because of global credit crunch, worst economic meltdown, job losses and uncertainty looming over their future etc.

Not in the case of couples from Bangalore at least for a day. That’s right because this association in the name of “Sri Rama Sene” has volunteered to conduct mass marriages on 14th Feb 2009 (Offer valid for one day only!) to any couple celebrating St. Valentine’s Day, FREE OF COST in till recently known as the Garden city.

Yes you heard it right couples. The rules are pretty simple and straight forward. No registration required, No “first-come-first- serve” basis and No forming huge queues outside any office required. All you have to do is walk hand in hand or show affection with your partner publicly on Bangalore’s noted areas with a hug or a cuddle. To get noticed quickly, you could hold a bouquet of flowers in one hand and an Archies greeting card in another. That is all it takes. You will be greeted by some “Samaritans” of Sri Ram Sene and both you and your partner will be slapped, beaten, kicked and ultimately will be taken to the Sub Registrar’s office to get you both married.

Isn’t it simple friends? What? Did you say it hurts? Of course it hurts but look at the big picture; you are not spending a penny on your marriage during such a bad economic climate. Isn’t that a deal? Anyways 14th Feb is a Saturday so you get a day off next day to heal your wounds. Come on, you can’t have everything your way. Remember there is no gain without pain. Getting married FREE OF COST? It can’t get better. Trust me.

Well I do have a suggestion for Pramod, the leader of the gang of hooligans here. Why not start this noble exercise with our state’s first couple in love? Pramod, I am sure you know who I am referring to.

-AK

P.S: I am in no way responsible for any couple venturing out on 14thFeb to get married FREE OF COST.

Pub Culture, Government and it's Nonsense....

Rioting and intolerable nonsense appears high on Karnataka Government’s wish list. Well that’s what our elected CM and his office proved. Recently the Government was quiet when monkeys of so called Sri Ram Sena took law into their hands to wreck and pillage the pubs as well as the pub goers in Mangalore, Karnataka. What was supposed to be “happy hours” that early evening of Saturday last turned out to be terrorizing ones for the pub goers. Young Men and Women who were enjoying their time in pubs and bars in Mangalore were pulled out, beaten, kicked and were given lessons on Indian Culture.

Is having good time with friends in pubs and bars wrong? Certainly it isn’t if the patrons are not into any anti-social activities. India is shining and is a major force when it comes to development. Vast part of development is because of this very generation of people who have put the country on world map for good reasons. May be it’s time to remind our politicians that 65% of India's population is under 35 if they didn’t know. Why can’t they let people lead their life the way they want to? This generation’s thinking is very much unlike that of BJP honchos who made our country a joke by constantly setting commotion in the name of Lord Ram. Lord Ram must have cried had he was watching this hooliganism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yg-bdlmko

Mr. B. S Yediyurappa, Hon. Chief Minister of Karnataka stood by the stance of his colleagues at BJP that PUB CULTURE is against the Indian Culture and instead of taking action against the hooligans; he went on saying "Pub culture is against Indian culture and if pubs don’t exist, outfits such as Ram Sena also doesn’t exist". This explanation allows the younger generation to raise a question.

· Is beating and kicking men and especially women in India a part of Indian Culture?

Well then going by Chief Minister’s words on not encouraging Pub Culture, why can’t he relinquish the licenses of the pubs and bars in town? Can he? No because his government will topple. Would he want that to happen? Not certainly.

Instead of politicizing issues such as these, the Government should concentrate on issues which are bothering the state and needs immediate attention.

Well Mr. Chief Minister, enjoy your term but remember that you need votes from this generation of people also when you contest elections next.


-A “Sri Ram” devotee.

Aus Open Men's Finals

Discovery Bay, Hong Kong / Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park.

My wife and I together with our good friends watched the Australian Open Finals at a friend’s house a block away from our apartment in Hong Kong. We were 7 of us with 6 being Federer fans and my wife being a lone Nadal fan. We cheered, screamed, pumped our fists and yelled when Roger won his points and my wife took on all of us and staged a lone battle by supporting Nadal throughout. She was as confident as Nadal and I could sense the match going her way when Federer lost so many chances and a golden opportunity in the third set eventually losing the set and the match.

As the match got over with Nadal agonizing Federer again, I abruptly walked out like a loser not wanting to see the presentation ceremony. The walk back to my house, though a block away, felt like the longest walk I have ever taken. I was lonely that moment, crest fallen at another Federer loss. I personally had lost another grand slam to my wife. I felt down and out and minutes later when my wife joined me, sat next to me, consoled me with a few good words with her arm over me, my life was back to normal.

Nadal also consoled Federer but I am sure Federer will take many days or even months to come back to normalcy. I doubt he ever will come back. If at all there is someone to blame for his loss, it is the man himself. There were opportunities aplenty and he should curse himself for ruing those chances. That said, I am definitely not taking away the credit from Rafa. He played very well though not at his best. Created those unbelievable angles, returned the service with vengeance, came up with winners when it mattered, left the Swiss Master wondering at his impeccable court coverage and eventually sized down the legend into tears.

I did mention in my earlier post that whoever stays mentally strong will go on to win the finals. That’s exactly what we got to see and Nadal proved it right by staying both very strong physically and mentally. Where does Federer will go from here? Will Federer be able to question Nadal in his own backyard, Roland Garros? Will he be able to come out of that unlucky number 13 he has been associated with for some time? Only the legend knows and unless he cures himself by treating the mental blockage and an ailment called Rafael Nadal, these questions will remain unanswered. The faster he comes back, the better for all Federer fans. He must realize that getting up and walking is what it takes when you fall down.

I must also talk about the ESPN STAR commentators, Vijay Amritraj and Alan Wilkins. I thought they both were a little biased favouring Nadal throughout. Vijay indeed tired all the viewers by saying how tired is Nadal innumerable times. Well isn’t staying neutral a basic rule in broadcasting? I do hope someone points this to them and hope we get to hear their comments neutrally in future. I do have great respect for Vijay and will be disappointed if he doesn't change.

Well time for me to start the work week and will come up with more thoughts on a different subject by the weekend.

Have a great week ahead.

Best, Anil