1. Rumble in the Jungle
The mob of beasts lumbered towards him. Slowly at first and then faster. Even from this distance he could hear the racket they made. Snarling, sometimes at each other, they would kill him if he wasn’t careful.
He glanced at his nervous deputy and said, ‘Turn the traffic light red’.
2. Picked from a Line Up
The moment she walked in the store, I knew she was trouble. I’d seen her type before. Rich, young, bored. Her husband didn’t pay her attention anymore so she went looking for trouble. Just my luck. She looked towards me and my heart sank.
‘I’ll take that poodle’ she said.
3. I Need a Break
I glanced at my watch. Just 4 o’clock! When would this day end? I had taken enough crap from these people the last few days. I needed a break. I needed my sanctum, my zone. I needed to get away from them.
Why aren't the stock markets open on weekends?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Enough is Enough
Here's one of the most powerful videos I've seen in a long time....And the music is awesome!
I've seen this video a number of times since yesterday and each time it connects in a different way.
When I first saw it I was horrified. The scenes which show the whale in its death throes, the rotting dolphin and the animals hung by the side of the road really disgusted me. They also made me feel ashamed. For being part of a species that can cause so much death & destruction. We aspire to noble sentiments, think of ourselves as God's children. Yet at the same time we turn a blind eye to what we don't want to know and continue to do the Devil's work.
But then the video changes its theme within a few seconds. I think that the scene with the wall of children's drawings marks the turning point. It is as if to say, 'Okay we've messed up in the past. But we can change the future.' And the lone Greenpeace activist calls in for help. His buddies arrive and you begin to think that the tide can turn.
The latter half of the video gives you a sense of hope and a realization that action is needed. I think Greenpeace has done a brilliant job showing the kind of dedication that people have for the environment. They've also shown how tough, and dangerous, their job is. Not to mention how harsh the authorities can be.
Its a great video with many great scenes. One that sticks in my mind is the banner which says, 'Enough is Enough'. Of course, its a lot easier to watch a video than it is to stop climate change. But unless we draw the line somewhere, how will we know when Enough... really IS enough?
I've seen this video a number of times since yesterday and each time it connects in a different way.
When I first saw it I was horrified. The scenes which show the whale in its death throes, the rotting dolphin and the animals hung by the side of the road really disgusted me. They also made me feel ashamed. For being part of a species that can cause so much death & destruction. We aspire to noble sentiments, think of ourselves as God's children. Yet at the same time we turn a blind eye to what we don't want to know and continue to do the Devil's work.
But then the video changes its theme within a few seconds. I think that the scene with the wall of children's drawings marks the turning point. It is as if to say, 'Okay we've messed up in the past. But we can change the future.' And the lone Greenpeace activist calls in for help. His buddies arrive and you begin to think that the tide can turn.
The latter half of the video gives you a sense of hope and a realization that action is needed. I think Greenpeace has done a brilliant job showing the kind of dedication that people have for the environment. They've also shown how tough, and dangerous, their job is. Not to mention how harsh the authorities can be.
Its a great video with many great scenes. One that sticks in my mind is the banner which says, 'Enough is Enough'. Of course, its a lot easier to watch a video than it is to stop climate change. But unless we draw the line somewhere, how will we know when Enough... really IS enough?
Monday, July 06, 2009
The Anti-MBA: Return on Documentation & Common Sense
We MBAs love to coin terms, invent frameworks, run regressions and perform analyses. It’s what we get paid to do and, often enough, it’s how we justify our existence in an organization. When you can bandy about terms like ‘positive network externalities’, ‘time compression diseconomics, ‘coefficient of regression’, ‘sustainable competitive advantage’, people tend to think that you are someone who knows a lot.
I’ve seen people run regressions and come out with statements like, ‘In order to turn around the hotel, we need to fire 273 people’. Hmmm, an interesting number and the speaker’s confidence might make you believe that his word was gospel truth. But in this case, there were two minor flaws in the argument. One, people don’t draw the same salaries, so do we pull names out of a hat and say, ‘Sorry old chap. This recession is a real pain’? The second flaw with this brilliant quantitative analysis was that the total number of data points used to run the regression was…. 3. Yes, 3. It’s the number that comes after 2 and before 4. You didn’t need MS Excel 2007 and a bunch of, in this case, overpaid MBAs to do the analysis for you. You could have managed with a 3 year old who knew how to connect the dots with a pencil and a ruler.
Now I am no 3 year old (though I used to be), but I do have an open mind. Today I learnt a new term called Return on Documentation, or as some of you might prefer, ROD. Given the pathetic money I’ve earned from the Google ads on this blog (subtle hint for you) I personally think that ROD has very little significance in the real world. But I wouldn’t want my bitter experiences with Google to taint what should be an objective discussion.
Don’t get me wrong. I think doing an MBA was a marvelous thing. I went from being grossly underpaid to marginally underpaid on the financial front. But intellectually, it opened up many new avenues to my tiny brain and gave me a slightly better understanding of how things work. It also allowed me to meet some of the most interesting, genuine and hardworking people I know – the housekeeping staff and the librarians at ISB.
Jokes apart an MBA did change my life. For the better. The reason I wrote this post is only because I feel that a lot of the jargon is well, just that. Jargon. The same goes for most of the analysis we do. I often get the feeling that it is done to cover our backsides in the event that things go wrong. ‘Look, we did our due diligence, it’s just that the macro-environment changed’.
But isn’t that what we’re supposed to plan for? We’ve all heard of the 5Cs & 4Ps of marketing. To this list of management by alphabet, I would like to add ‘6Ps of Strategy’. The 6Ps are ‘Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance’. Might sound to you as stating the obvious. That’s exactly my point. A lot of what we MBAs pass off as management techniques are actually different forms of a simple thing invented by cave men. It’s called Common Sense. (Cave Man: Fire hot, no touch. Tiger Angry, no tease. Mother-in-law coming, no drink with buddies).
Take some common sense, add plenty of humility & genuineness, throw in some healthy respect for numbers, a touch of street smart and finally a dash of willingness to take decisions and you’ll make a pretty decent manager.
Now that I know the recipe, I need to start making one myself.
I’ve seen people run regressions and come out with statements like, ‘In order to turn around the hotel, we need to fire 273 people’. Hmmm, an interesting number and the speaker’s confidence might make you believe that his word was gospel truth. But in this case, there were two minor flaws in the argument. One, people don’t draw the same salaries, so do we pull names out of a hat and say, ‘Sorry old chap. This recession is a real pain’? The second flaw with this brilliant quantitative analysis was that the total number of data points used to run the regression was…. 3. Yes, 3. It’s the number that comes after 2 and before 4. You didn’t need MS Excel 2007 and a bunch of, in this case, overpaid MBAs to do the analysis for you. You could have managed with a 3 year old who knew how to connect the dots with a pencil and a ruler.
Now I am no 3 year old (though I used to be), but I do have an open mind. Today I learnt a new term called Return on Documentation, or as some of you might prefer, ROD. Given the pathetic money I’ve earned from the Google ads on this blog (subtle hint for you) I personally think that ROD has very little significance in the real world. But I wouldn’t want my bitter experiences with Google to taint what should be an objective discussion.
Don’t get me wrong. I think doing an MBA was a marvelous thing. I went from being grossly underpaid to marginally underpaid on the financial front. But intellectually, it opened up many new avenues to my tiny brain and gave me a slightly better understanding of how things work. It also allowed me to meet some of the most interesting, genuine and hardworking people I know – the housekeeping staff and the librarians at ISB.
Jokes apart an MBA did change my life. For the better. The reason I wrote this post is only because I feel that a lot of the jargon is well, just that. Jargon. The same goes for most of the analysis we do. I often get the feeling that it is done to cover our backsides in the event that things go wrong. ‘Look, we did our due diligence, it’s just that the macro-environment changed’.
But isn’t that what we’re supposed to plan for? We’ve all heard of the 5Cs & 4Ps of marketing. To this list of management by alphabet, I would like to add ‘6Ps of Strategy’. The 6Ps are ‘Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance’. Might sound to you as stating the obvious. That’s exactly my point. A lot of what we MBAs pass off as management techniques are actually different forms of a simple thing invented by cave men. It’s called Common Sense. (Cave Man: Fire hot, no touch. Tiger Angry, no tease. Mother-in-law coming, no drink with buddies).
Take some common sense, add plenty of humility & genuineness, throw in some healthy respect for numbers, a touch of street smart and finally a dash of willingness to take decisions and you’ll make a pretty decent manager.
Now that I know the recipe, I need to start making one myself.
Monday, June 22, 2009
I Wish I Knew
A few things that have crossed my mind from time to time. Maybe you can help me with the following:
1. Orange - is the fruit named after the colour or is it the other way around?
2. How on earth did someone think of 'Bluetooth'? Will we soon have 'Greenhair' or 'Blackleg'?
3. When all of us have mobiles, why do we still wear watches?
4. When the anesthetic needle hurts, isn't it defeating the whole purpose of getting anesthetized?
5. What language do dogs dream in?
6. Why can't they invent a towel that doesn't have lint (or whatever) when its new?
7. What would your dead relatives think of you if they could actually observe you all the time?
8. When women wear trousers or pants, its considered modern or professional or even normal. But when (some) men wear skirts, they are called cross dressers (amongst other things)?
9. Would we really laugh at half of the jokes on sitcoms if it wasn't for the canned laughter?
10. Why aren't you making me rich by clicking on those crappy Google ads?
1. Orange - is the fruit named after the colour or is it the other way around?
2. How on earth did someone think of 'Bluetooth'? Will we soon have 'Greenhair' or 'Blackleg'?
3. When all of us have mobiles, why do we still wear watches?
4. When the anesthetic needle hurts, isn't it defeating the whole purpose of getting anesthetized?
5. What language do dogs dream in?
6. Why can't they invent a towel that doesn't have lint (or whatever) when its new?
7. What would your dead relatives think of you if they could actually observe you all the time?
8. When women wear trousers or pants, its considered modern or professional or even normal. But when (some) men wear skirts, they are called cross dressers (amongst other things)?
9. Would we really laugh at half of the jokes on sitcoms if it wasn't for the canned laughter?
10. Why aren't you making me rich by clicking on those crappy Google ads?
Friday, June 19, 2009
Strangers In The Dark
I saw a man last night.
Under a tree, in the shadows.
Broken, beaten, homeless, friendless.
And worst of all, without hope.
He had rags for clothes, foot sores for shoes, lice for company.
He was half sitting, half lying down.
Like he couldn’t decide whether to give up on life,
Or whether to rave one last time at the world.
He stared into the darkness.
Was he staring into the darkness of his soul?
He had probably known better days,
But then his shirt had probably known a better owner.
Our paths crossed, but our eyes never locked.
He stayed in his world, and couldn’t leave it even if he tried.
I felt bad for the briefest of minutes.
But then I stepped into the light and drove to the mall.
Under a tree, in the shadows.
Broken, beaten, homeless, friendless.
And worst of all, without hope.
He had rags for clothes, foot sores for shoes, lice for company.
He was half sitting, half lying down.
Like he couldn’t decide whether to give up on life,
Or whether to rave one last time at the world.
He stared into the darkness.
Was he staring into the darkness of his soul?
He had probably known better days,
But then his shirt had probably known a better owner.
Our paths crossed, but our eyes never locked.
He stayed in his world, and couldn’t leave it even if he tried.
I felt bad for the briefest of minutes.
But then I stepped into the light and drove to the mall.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
An Open Letter
Dear Learned Indian,
I hope you will help me sort out a few things in my head. I watch you on TV, read of you in the papers and see you on the roads. Your confidence and knowledge shines through in your opinions that you so generously share with everyone. I am sure that you will help me figure out the following:
1. Why do you get angry when Indian boys are beaten up in Australia, but you think it's good fun to tease or molest young white girls when they come to your country? Pardon me for asking, but isn't the saying 'Atithi Devo Bhava' and not 'Atithi Babe Bhava'?
2. On one hand you have very high expectations from your cricket team and do not tolerate any mistakes or losses. At the same time you continue to vote for the same corrupt criminals. I mean, aren't they both an overpaid bunch of people who under perform, and yet have an exaggerated sense of their own importance?
3. You talk of Indian culture, or should I Bharatiya Sanskriti, yet you love to see semi naked women gyrating obscenely in the Swiss Alps in your movies. How many of you actually go for Indian plays or dance performances? I'll bet you haven't read Kalidas, but can recall at least a few words from Shakespeare?
4. Why do you smirk when the Pakistani army fights in the Swat valley, yet change the channel when the news reports another Naxalite attack in some district? Is it really true that one country's problem is a civil war and the other's is just a domestic issue? Or is that starved tribals and their children are not from your India and so shouldn't disturb your comfortable world?
5. Why are you so impatient when you drive your car and honk all the time, and yet you don't mind waiting for hours when you to a Government office? Does honking actually make traffic move faster? And do babus really deserve your respect?
These are just a few things that came to mind. I see you offering, what must be, informed opinions all the time on TV and any other public forums so I guess you are far wiser than I. Please enlighten me, oh scion of an ancient and glorious land.
Yours Logically,
A Confused Indian
PS: Except for the first point, I am as guilty as any of all the points I have raised. Am not casting stones, am just looking in the mirror.
I hope you will help me sort out a few things in my head. I watch you on TV, read of you in the papers and see you on the roads. Your confidence and knowledge shines through in your opinions that you so generously share with everyone. I am sure that you will help me figure out the following:
1. Why do you get angry when Indian boys are beaten up in Australia, but you think it's good fun to tease or molest young white girls when they come to your country? Pardon me for asking, but isn't the saying 'Atithi Devo Bhava' and not 'Atithi Babe Bhava'?
2. On one hand you have very high expectations from your cricket team and do not tolerate any mistakes or losses. At the same time you continue to vote for the same corrupt criminals. I mean, aren't they both an overpaid bunch of people who under perform, and yet have an exaggerated sense of their own importance?
3. You talk of Indian culture, or should I Bharatiya Sanskriti, yet you love to see semi naked women gyrating obscenely in the Swiss Alps in your movies. How many of you actually go for Indian plays or dance performances? I'll bet you haven't read Kalidas, but can recall at least a few words from Shakespeare?
4. Why do you smirk when the Pakistani army fights in the Swat valley, yet change the channel when the news reports another Naxalite attack in some district? Is it really true that one country's problem is a civil war and the other's is just a domestic issue? Or is that starved tribals and their children are not from your India and so shouldn't disturb your comfortable world?
5. Why are you so impatient when you drive your car and honk all the time, and yet you don't mind waiting for hours when you to a Government office? Does honking actually make traffic move faster? And do babus really deserve your respect?
These are just a few things that came to mind. I see you offering, what must be, informed opinions all the time on TV and any other public forums so I guess you are far wiser than I. Please enlighten me, oh scion of an ancient and glorious land.
Yours Logically,
A Confused Indian
PS: Except for the first point, I am as guilty as any of all the points I have raised. Am not casting stones, am just looking in the mirror.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
The Value of Money
'75 rupees for a pencil! Don't be silly!'. The shock on his face as he looked at his daughter said it all. He was amused that someone could actually demand that much for a pencil, surprised that people would be prepared to pay for it, embarrassed that I had noticed him and ashamed that he couldn't afford it.
I was at the counter of a book store when this little girl came running up to her dad with a shiny silver pen-pencil. 'Papa, papa... I want this one'. I didn't pay any attention at first till her dad expressed his views on expensive pencils.
I glanced at the child. She wore a school uniform. It was a clean but worn out. Probably handed down from an elder sibling or relative. Her hair had been cut really short. She had either come back from Tirupati or her barber didn't like her or her parents thought that stubble on a girl's head was a great way of beating the heat.
The father was probably in his mid 20s. He had an honest and straightforward manner. I guess he worked as a junior executive in a company. Or so I'd like to think.
'Please Papa, please'. I felt like giving the child the pencil she so badly wanted. The father caught my gaze and knew I was observing the two of them. For a second he looked down at the child and then addressed me. 'She has to learn the value of money'.
And with that he gently led the bawling girl away from the counter.
I stood there for a while and thought about my own childhood. My parents weren't rich but they never denied my brother or me anything we asked for. In fact, there were times when they put our entertainment (video game) ahead of their comfort (desert cooler). I don't recall ever throwing a tantrum in a store. Probably because my grandparents got us all the latest toys from Canada. Yet, that scene in the book store gave me a small insight into what it must be like to be a parent and have to provide for another person's needs.
Managing your own needs is one thing. Having to look after a child or a parent who is totally dependent on you is another. For a minute I wondered how I would handle my kids' demands. Then I remembered that my parents had taught us the value of money. And knew I would do just fine.
So I collected my book and walked out of the store with a smile on my face.
Thank you Mom, Dad, Grandma and Gramps.
I was at the counter of a book store when this little girl came running up to her dad with a shiny silver pen-pencil. 'Papa, papa... I want this one'. I didn't pay any attention at first till her dad expressed his views on expensive pencils.
I glanced at the child. She wore a school uniform. It was a clean but worn out. Probably handed down from an elder sibling or relative. Her hair had been cut really short. She had either come back from Tirupati or her barber didn't like her or her parents thought that stubble on a girl's head was a great way of beating the heat.
The father was probably in his mid 20s. He had an honest and straightforward manner. I guess he worked as a junior executive in a company. Or so I'd like to think.
'Please Papa, please'. I felt like giving the child the pencil she so badly wanted. The father caught my gaze and knew I was observing the two of them. For a second he looked down at the child and then addressed me. 'She has to learn the value of money'.
And with that he gently led the bawling girl away from the counter.
I stood there for a while and thought about my own childhood. My parents weren't rich but they never denied my brother or me anything we asked for. In fact, there were times when they put our entertainment (video game) ahead of their comfort (desert cooler). I don't recall ever throwing a tantrum in a store. Probably because my grandparents got us all the latest toys from Canada. Yet, that scene in the book store gave me a small insight into what it must be like to be a parent and have to provide for another person's needs.
Managing your own needs is one thing. Having to look after a child or a parent who is totally dependent on you is another. For a minute I wondered how I would handle my kids' demands. Then I remembered that my parents had taught us the value of money. And knew I would do just fine.
So I collected my book and walked out of the store with a smile on my face.
Thank you Mom, Dad, Grandma and Gramps.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Global Warming At Home
I defrosted my fridge last night and woke up to see the effects of global warming first hand. In my dining room.
Huge ice caps had melted. Water covered what used to be dry land (my living room). Food supplies (milk and veges) were thrown into disarray. Fresh water (cold) became scarce. Long forgotten plants and animals, aka food packets, were rediscovered under the mass of ice. Inaccessible regions, like the back of my freezer, became easy to reach. Man had to survive on whatever he could find to eat (bread and jam).
It was like watching 'The Day After Tomorrow' and 'Ice Age 2'.
And if the look on my maid's face when she saw the mess is a true reflection of her feelings, social unrest is just around the corner. 'Water World', here we come.
Huge ice caps had melted. Water covered what used to be dry land (my living room). Food supplies (milk and veges) were thrown into disarray. Fresh water (cold) became scarce. Long forgotten plants and animals, aka food packets, were rediscovered under the mass of ice. Inaccessible regions, like the back of my freezer, became easy to reach. Man had to survive on whatever he could find to eat (bread and jam).
It was like watching 'The Day After Tomorrow' and 'Ice Age 2'.
And if the look on my maid's face when she saw the mess is a true reflection of her feelings, social unrest is just around the corner. 'Water World', here we come.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Work and Me
I just realized that if 'work is worship', I am an atheist.
PS - Vaze, please make note of the above statement. Don't try to palm it off as yours.
PS - Vaze, please make note of the above statement. Don't try to palm it off as yours.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
50 Word Stories - Part 2
1. The Pole
He looked at the pole at his workplace. Strong, hard, metallic, male. Every day he would wear his hat & slide on it. Girls giggled when he talked about it. They’d bat their eyelids, smile and want one thing only.
‘So mister, what’s it like to be a … fireman?’
2. Burning Flesh
She stared at the flames. They had a hypnotic effect & were mocking her. She was trapped. Why had she ever entered this room? Flesh was burning before her eyes. Something had to be done or she was doomed. Panic!
‘How’s that roast coming along?’, asked the Master Chef.
3. Waiting
Cold sweat. Racing heart beats. Dub dub dub. The excitement of what was to come. Why had they done it? Why had they waited so long? Their lives had changed forever. Anticipation. Love. Panic. Worry. Joy. Mixed emotions.
‘Congratulations, your wife just gave birth to a boy’, said the doctor.
He looked at the pole at his workplace. Strong, hard, metallic, male. Every day he would wear his hat & slide on it. Girls giggled when he talked about it. They’d bat their eyelids, smile and want one thing only.
‘So mister, what’s it like to be a … fireman?’
2. Burning Flesh
She stared at the flames. They had a hypnotic effect & were mocking her. She was trapped. Why had she ever entered this room? Flesh was burning before her eyes. Something had to be done or she was doomed. Panic!
‘How’s that roast coming along?’, asked the Master Chef.
3. Waiting
Cold sweat. Racing heart beats. Dub dub dub. The excitement of what was to come. Why had they done it? Why had they waited so long? Their lives had changed forever. Anticipation. Love. Panic. Worry. Joy. Mixed emotions.
‘Congratulations, your wife just gave birth to a boy’, said the doctor.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Football's All Time Greatest XI
Just for the heck of it, I came up with my All Time Greatest XI. It was a helluva lot of fun coming up with the list. Though, most of the players would feature in almost anyone's All Time Greatest XI.
After a lot of consideration, I opted for a 3-5-2 formation. For the uninformed, that means 3 defenders, 5 midfielders and 2 forwards. Given the talent and skill that these players possess, I guess any formation would do.
Strikers - Mueller and Pele
Attacking Midfielders - Puskas and Maradon
Wingers - Cruijff (left) and Garrincha (right)
Holding Midfielder - Matthaeus
Defenders - Maldini & Baresi
Sweeper - Beckenbaur
Goalkeeper - Yashin
Pele and Mueller were shoo ins for me. I couldn't think of anyone else to play as strikers. I think that Mueller's finishing skills are second to none. And Pele is Pele. But just in case they have an off day, I've put Puskas and Maradona as attacking midfielders right behind them. Maradona's a genius. Arguably the best footballer ever (some might say Pele), and no team would be complete without him.
Now I know that Puskas wasn't a pure midfielder, but with his talent and goal scoring abilities (84 international goals in 85 matches), I just couldn't leave him out.
The same with Cruijff. He was one of the greatest forwards to play the game. But he was also the best proponent of Total Football. So I can put him anywhere I want in the field. And he'd still run circle around his opponents :-) And Garrincha just has to be the best right winger ever. The magic he worked with those bent legs is one of the reasons why Pele won so many World Cups.
Okay, we've assembled an awesome attack. But you need someone to hold it all together. To my mind, Lothar Matthaeus is that man. He would play as a holding/defensive midfielder, protect the defenders and link up with the forwards. I think a player who won EVERYTHING except the Champions League and who Maradona called 'my greatest oppponent' gets the nod for this position.
Now, in the unlikely event that someone manages to get the ball and hold on to it for more than 2 passes, they would run into a stone wall. Maldini and Baresi would be prowling around just behind Matthaeus and would shut down any thoughts they had of crossing the half line mark. And with the Kaiser playing as sweeper, I doubt that Yashin would have much to do other than stretch around.
As you can see, this team is built for one thing - camp inside the other team's half. Unrelenting pressure, constant ball possession and mindblowing dribbling would be the way to go. Score goals, score more goals and then score even more would be the game plan.
There are a few other players I did consider. George Best, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Uwe Seeler, Bobby Charlton, Nilton Santos, Alfredo di Stefano, Socrates, Romario, Sepp Maier to name a few. I guess you could put together a very good team with them too. I left them out for different reasons. Best, di Stefano and van Basten mainly because while they achieved club level superstardom its the international matches which count. The others were good, very very good in fact. Its just that there were better players in those positions.
So that's my XI. Maybe you think that you can come up with a better team. Let me know. :-)
After a lot of consideration, I opted for a 3-5-2 formation. For the uninformed, that means 3 defenders, 5 midfielders and 2 forwards. Given the talent and skill that these players possess, I guess any formation would do.
Strikers - Mueller and Pele
Attacking Midfielders - Puskas and Maradon
Wingers - Cruijff (left) and Garrincha (right)
Holding Midfielder - Matthaeus
Defenders - Maldini & Baresi
Sweeper - Beckenbaur
Goalkeeper - Yashin
Pele and Mueller were shoo ins for me. I couldn't think of anyone else to play as strikers. I think that Mueller's finishing skills are second to none. And Pele is Pele. But just in case they have an off day, I've put Puskas and Maradona as attacking midfielders right behind them. Maradona's a genius. Arguably the best footballer ever (some might say Pele), and no team would be complete without him.
Now I know that Puskas wasn't a pure midfielder, but with his talent and goal scoring abilities (84 international goals in 85 matches), I just couldn't leave him out.
The same with Cruijff. He was one of the greatest forwards to play the game. But he was also the best proponent of Total Football. So I can put him anywhere I want in the field. And he'd still run circle around his opponents :-) And Garrincha just has to be the best right winger ever. The magic he worked with those bent legs is one of the reasons why Pele won so many World Cups.
Okay, we've assembled an awesome attack. But you need someone to hold it all together. To my mind, Lothar Matthaeus is that man. He would play as a holding/defensive midfielder, protect the defenders and link up with the forwards. I think a player who won EVERYTHING except the Champions League and who Maradona called 'my greatest oppponent' gets the nod for this position.
Now, in the unlikely event that someone manages to get the ball and hold on to it for more than 2 passes, they would run into a stone wall. Maldini and Baresi would be prowling around just behind Matthaeus and would shut down any thoughts they had of crossing the half line mark. And with the Kaiser playing as sweeper, I doubt that Yashin would have much to do other than stretch around.
As you can see, this team is built for one thing - camp inside the other team's half. Unrelenting pressure, constant ball possession and mindblowing dribbling would be the way to go. Score goals, score more goals and then score even more would be the game plan.
There are a few other players I did consider. George Best, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Uwe Seeler, Bobby Charlton, Nilton Santos, Alfredo di Stefano, Socrates, Romario, Sepp Maier to name a few. I guess you could put together a very good team with them too. I left them out for different reasons. Best, di Stefano and van Basten mainly because while they achieved club level superstardom its the international matches which count. The others were good, very very good in fact. Its just that there were better players in those positions.
So that's my XI. Maybe you think that you can come up with a better team. Let me know. :-)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Lyrical Poetry - Part 1
Hey Andy, did you hear about this one?
I’ve fallen in love for the first time.
I don't know where my soul is,
Said I loved you but I lied.
I’m living in a dream, a fantasy
I have become comfortably numb.
I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis,
She took me in and gave me breakfast.
And she left before I had the chance to say,
I don't wanna be lonely no more.
I take my chance on a beautiful stranger,
If that's the way it must be, okay.
How can I tell her about you?
Because it ain't no use.
You built my hopes so high then ya let me down,
And all that's left is that image that I'll find a way.
I just can't believe that it's over,
I'd turn around if you'd just ask me one more time
Before you think I have completely lost it and have gone from being a bad writer to a horrible poet, allow me to explain myself. I didn't pen the lines above. They are taken from different songs. I just created a collage of words of sorts. And tried to make some kind of sense of it. :-)
The songs in the same order are:
First Para
1. Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
2. I Want to Break Free - Queen
3. I am Like a Bird - Nelly Furtado
4. Said I Loved You - Michael Bolton
5. Dreamer - Ozzy Osbourne
6. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Second Para
1. Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones
2. Down Under - Men at Work
3. Won't Go Home Without You - Maroon 5
4. Lonely No More - Rob Thomas
5. Beautiful Stranger - Maddona
6. Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Third Para
1. How Can I Tell Her - Lobo
2. Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie
3. I Can't Quit You - Led Zeppelin
4. Don't Stop - The Rolling Stones
5. So Long Jimmy - James Blunt
6. Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer - Kenny Rogers
I’ve fallen in love for the first time.
I don't know where my soul is,
Said I loved you but I lied.
I’m living in a dream, a fantasy
I have become comfortably numb.
I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis,
She took me in and gave me breakfast.
And she left before I had the chance to say,
I don't wanna be lonely no more.
I take my chance on a beautiful stranger,
If that's the way it must be, okay.
How can I tell her about you?
Because it ain't no use.
You built my hopes so high then ya let me down,
And all that's left is that image that I'll find a way.
I just can't believe that it's over,
I'd turn around if you'd just ask me one more time
Before you think I have completely lost it and have gone from being a bad writer to a horrible poet, allow me to explain myself. I didn't pen the lines above. They are taken from different songs. I just created a collage of words of sorts. And tried to make some kind of sense of it. :-)
The songs in the same order are:
First Para
1. Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
2. I Want to Break Free - Queen
3. I am Like a Bird - Nelly Furtado
4. Said I Loved You - Michael Bolton
5. Dreamer - Ozzy Osbourne
6. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Second Para
1. Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones
2. Down Under - Men at Work
3. Won't Go Home Without You - Maroon 5
4. Lonely No More - Rob Thomas
5. Beautiful Stranger - Maddona
6. Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Third Para
1. How Can I Tell Her - Lobo
2. Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie
3. I Can't Quit You - Led Zeppelin
4. Don't Stop - The Rolling Stones
5. So Long Jimmy - James Blunt
6. Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer - Kenny Rogers
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Save Rani Bagh
In spite of Tata Tea's best efforts I have decided that I will not register to vote. No, it's not because I am what the ancient Greeks would call and 'idiot' (someone who does not exercise his right to vote). Actually, I am what a lot of modern Indians would call an idiot, but that is a different story. The reason I have chosen not to vote is that I don't see the point of it.
Okay, before you start screaming that every vote counts let me clarify that I like the concept of universal franchise and democracy. I also believe that people should vote. In principle. But this morning I realised that there are other problems, bigger and more pressing, that I would rather help resolve. The environment to begin with. I think that what we are doing to the environment will have a much more severe and long term impact than deciding which party deserves your vote. A 100 years from now people will curse/thank us for who we voted for in the elections of 2009, but they will curse/thank us for what we did to save the planet.
So I have chosen a cause. You might argue that saving the environment has nothing to do with exercising your vote. And you're probably right. But I just don't give a rat's ass about which crook and his/her bunch of thugs comes to power. They are all the same. Now that's my stance. You're welcome to choose your own line of action.
As the first step towards trying to clean up this mess, I have signed an online petition to save Rani Bagh Botanical Gardens in Mumbai. Its a small step, but it is something at least.
Turns out that the Muncipal Corporation in Bombay wants to modernize this park which was set up in 1861. A noble thought, especially if you consider that they are willing to spend Rs. 433 Crores and pay a Thai and an American company to do it. Really, a noble thought.
Turns out that they planned to lop off most of the 3,177 and build a new aquarium, theatre, and exploration centre, car park, staff quarters, and expansion of the animal hospital. When the plan was opposed by environmentalists and conscientious bureaucrats (S.K. Patnaik and Dr. Rommel Mehta), the Central Zoo Authority told the BMC not to fell a single tree. However, the Machiavellian babus managed to get the order amended to state that 'diseased' trees could be felled.
Diseased trees! How about shooting diseased babus as well?
Anyway, the fight is still going on between the forces of good and the BMC. You can do your bit by signing this online petition. It barely takes 30 seconds. I know, coz I did it. And it beats standing in line outside a voting booth anyday.
Okay, before you start screaming that every vote counts let me clarify that I like the concept of universal franchise and democracy. I also believe that people should vote. In principle. But this morning I realised that there are other problems, bigger and more pressing, that I would rather help resolve. The environment to begin with. I think that what we are doing to the environment will have a much more severe and long term impact than deciding which party deserves your vote. A 100 years from now people will curse/thank us for who we voted for in the elections of 2009, but they will curse/thank us for what we did to save the planet.
So I have chosen a cause. You might argue that saving the environment has nothing to do with exercising your vote. And you're probably right. But I just don't give a rat's ass about which crook and his/her bunch of thugs comes to power. They are all the same. Now that's my stance. You're welcome to choose your own line of action.
As the first step towards trying to clean up this mess, I have signed an online petition to save Rani Bagh Botanical Gardens in Mumbai. Its a small step, but it is something at least.
Turns out that the Muncipal Corporation in Bombay wants to modernize this park which was set up in 1861. A noble thought, especially if you consider that they are willing to spend Rs. 433 Crores and pay a Thai and an American company to do it. Really, a noble thought.
Turns out that they planned to lop off most of the 3,177 and build a new aquarium, theatre, and exploration centre, car park, staff quarters, and expansion of the animal hospital. When the plan was opposed by environmentalists and conscientious bureaucrats (S.K. Patnaik and Dr. Rommel Mehta), the Central Zoo Authority told the BMC not to fell a single tree. However, the Machiavellian babus managed to get the order amended to state that 'diseased' trees could be felled.
Diseased trees! How about shooting diseased babus as well?
Anyway, the fight is still going on between the forces of good and the BMC. You can do your bit by signing this online petition. It barely takes 30 seconds. I know, coz I did it. And it beats standing in line outside a voting booth anyday.
Monday, February 09, 2009
About Me
I started this blog to write about myself. Along the way, I realized that people also like to read stuff about less interesting topics. (Smile). It suddenly struck me that it's been a while since I wrote something about yours truly. So here is a post that just about me.
Hold your breath, here we go...
1. I have studied in 8 different schools from the first grade to the twelfth. My favourite school was K.V. Arakkonam. Played the toughest sports, made the best of friends and ran after the prettiest of girls.
2. I learnt to ride my bike and drive my car after I bought both.
3. I have never given an interview and not got the job. I have also never been selected from a group discussion.
4. Someday I'll work for Greenpeace.
5. I've been lucky with friends. My best friends have invariably been smarter, kinder, more popular, wiser and truer than me.
6. I think that there will be more dogs in heaven than people. I also think that they will be happy to see me.
7. I have read Lord of the Rings thrice.
8. If I didn't wear specs, I could have become a navy fighter pilot.
9. I am right handed, except when it comes to holding a guitar, a rifle or a bow.
10. I have been house captain 4 times in school. Yet I can't remember the name of the house I was captain of in 12th standard.
11. I used to play as a central midfielder for the football team in college. I wore the number 13 jersey.
12. I can't play a musical instrument to save my life. And I doubt I can ever learn. You see, I am TONE deaf.
13. Till 6 months ago I didn't know the basics of cooking. Now, my friends' wives lecture their husbands about how they should learn from me. My friends secretly tell me that their wives ought to learn too.
14. I believe in true love. I just wonder if I'll be lucky enough to find it.
15. I think I should stop now.
Hold your breath, here we go...
1. I have studied in 8 different schools from the first grade to the twelfth. My favourite school was K.V. Arakkonam. Played the toughest sports, made the best of friends and ran after the prettiest of girls.
2. I learnt to ride my bike and drive my car after I bought both.
3. I have never given an interview and not got the job. I have also never been selected from a group discussion.
4. Someday I'll work for Greenpeace.
5. I've been lucky with friends. My best friends have invariably been smarter, kinder, more popular, wiser and truer than me.
6. I think that there will be more dogs in heaven than people. I also think that they will be happy to see me.
7. I have read Lord of the Rings thrice.
8. If I didn't wear specs, I could have become a navy fighter pilot.
9. I am right handed, except when it comes to holding a guitar, a rifle or a bow.
10. I have been house captain 4 times in school. Yet I can't remember the name of the house I was captain of in 12th standard.
11. I used to play as a central midfielder for the football team in college. I wore the number 13 jersey.
12. I can't play a musical instrument to save my life. And I doubt I can ever learn. You see, I am TONE deaf.
13. Till 6 months ago I didn't know the basics of cooking. Now, my friends' wives lecture their husbands about how they should learn from me. My friends secretly tell me that their wives ought to learn too.
14. I believe in true love. I just wonder if I'll be lucky enough to find it.
15. I think I should stop now.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Recession Proof Business
In these recession hit times, investors and entrepreneurs are searching for the elusive ‘recession proof’ industry. It’s like the Holy Grail. Everyone wants to find it, everyone is looking for it, no one has a clue as to what it might be, but we all know that it’s a huge jackpot.
Well, I think I just might have discovered it. At least theoretically.
First of all, let’s identify a recession resistant activity. It would have to be something really basic. Something that everyone wants to do. Hmmm. The 3 basic needs of man – food, shelter and sex. (The 3 basic needs of women are – gossiping, shopping and chocolate). So that leaves us with eating, sleeping or humping. Being a normal guy, I chose to explore the last activity.
Now, if one looks at the rate at which India’s population is growing it is obvious that people are … well… doing it. And doing it as often as they’ve been doing it for the last 100 years. The Government of India claims that every minute 48 people are born in this country. So if there are 5.25 lakh minutes in year, that must mean that there are 25 million people being born (theoretically) every year.
It’s a known fact that not every act of pleasure results in acts of joy or of sheer terror (depending on your relationship), so let us assume a 20% ‘hit ratio’. You might disagree with the 20% number, but that’s up to you. Therefore, there are 12 crore 61 lakh times that people do it every year without any form of contraception. Imagine that, people are getting laid that many times without a care in the world!
Course, not every guy who gets horny has plans of becoming a proud daddy. So let’s say that just 10% of the people wanted to have kids. The others just wanted to have fun. Logically, this means that the remaining 90% of the people boned each other without any form of protection or insurance. That’s a staggering 11 crore 35 lakh acts of free pleasure. With nothing coming in between the partners.
Now if you assume a packet of raincoats costs you 20 bucks and you get 3 missile caps in each, it gives you a Total Available Market (TAM) of almost 76 crores.
Those of you in the FMCG, and I mean realllllyyyyyyy FMCG, might want to give this a thought. Who says you can’t have fun and still get laid… oops, I meant paid… for it during these times?
For the rest of you, I think I need to get something to do with all the spare time I have. I just wanted to point out that there is plenty of money on the table, or in this case …. On the bed.
Well, I think I just might have discovered it. At least theoretically.
First of all, let’s identify a recession resistant activity. It would have to be something really basic. Something that everyone wants to do. Hmmm. The 3 basic needs of man – food, shelter and sex. (The 3 basic needs of women are – gossiping, shopping and chocolate). So that leaves us with eating, sleeping or humping. Being a normal guy, I chose to explore the last activity.
Now, if one looks at the rate at which India’s population is growing it is obvious that people are … well… doing it. And doing it as often as they’ve been doing it for the last 100 years. The Government of India claims that every minute 48 people are born in this country. So if there are 5.25 lakh minutes in year, that must mean that there are 25 million people being born (theoretically) every year.
It’s a known fact that not every act of pleasure results in acts of joy or of sheer terror (depending on your relationship), so let us assume a 20% ‘hit ratio’. You might disagree with the 20% number, but that’s up to you. Therefore, there are 12 crore 61 lakh times that people do it every year without any form of contraception. Imagine that, people are getting laid that many times without a care in the world!
Course, not every guy who gets horny has plans of becoming a proud daddy. So let’s say that just 10% of the people wanted to have kids. The others just wanted to have fun. Logically, this means that the remaining 90% of the people boned each other without any form of protection or insurance. That’s a staggering 11 crore 35 lakh acts of free pleasure. With nothing coming in between the partners.
Now if you assume a packet of raincoats costs you 20 bucks and you get 3 missile caps in each, it gives you a Total Available Market (TAM) of almost 76 crores.
Those of you in the FMCG, and I mean realllllyyyyyyy FMCG, might want to give this a thought. Who says you can’t have fun and still get laid… oops, I meant paid… for it during these times?
For the rest of you, I think I need to get something to do with all the spare time I have. I just wanted to point out that there is plenty of money on the table, or in this case …. On the bed.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Purpose of Art..
Ever wondered why they made you attend music lessons in school, or drawing class or made you read those boring hindi poems (CBSE) that seemed to make very little sense. Ever asked yourself what the point was when they wouldn't get you into that engineering/medical college? Ever found reading boring?
Well, Dana Gioia certainly has a lot of the answers. Take my advice and fast forward the introduction. If you find what he has to say boring or tedious, then neither he nor I were addressing you. :-)
PS - I know I've been talking a lot about commencement speeches of late. But that's only because I slept through mine. Montek Singh Alhuwalia bored the living daylights out of me & 200 other ISBians from the Class of 2007. He went on and on. No wonder in this country the planning (commission) takes so long.
Well, Dana Gioia certainly has a lot of the answers. Take my advice and fast forward the introduction. If you find what he has to say boring or tedious, then neither he nor I were addressing you. :-)
PS - I know I've been talking a lot about commencement speeches of late. But that's only because I slept through mine. Montek Singh Alhuwalia bored the living daylights out of me & 200 other ISBians from the Class of 2007. He went on and on. No wonder in this country the planning (commission) takes so long.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Gen Next? How About Gen Now?
After watching Steve Job's Stanford 2005 Commencement Speech for the nth time, I decided to check out some of the subsequent commencement speeches made at Stanford. I struggled for 8 minutes with Oprah (2008) talking about herself & her god daughter (Class of 2008) and shamelessly trying to play to the gallery before I had enough of the woman. I then saw the link for the speech in 2006 by Tom Brokaw.
I have never heard of Tom Brokaw before. Turns out he is a world famous and, unlike Oprah, is also a learned person who has worked as a TV journalist all over the world for the last 30 years. His speech was that of a mature man who has seen a lot that life has to offer. It was also polished and hard hitting, as one would expect from an experienced journalist. Unlike Steve Jobs who talked about deeply personal lessons or Oprah who talked just plain crap, Tom focused on the responsibility that the Stanford class had to other people.
He talked about how he has interviewed the most famous & powerful people on the planet, and yet is still humbled by men & women who dedicate their lives to serve causes. The point he made about biologists in the Amazonian rain forests who endure illness, danger & discomfort just to try & catalog species before they are wiped out was a strong one. More so was the story he told about a doctor from a poor family who took a huge loan to go to Stanford & then went and joined Doctors Without Borders so that he could save children. The story of the Mongolian nomad who rode 15 miles on his horse just to vote held the class in rapt attention.
Tom then went on to remind his audience of the what he called 'the greatest generation America ever produced'. He was referring to the men & women who overcame the Great Depression, defeated the Axis Powers in WW2, laid the foundations for America to become the most powerful nation in the world, and yet found the time & compassion to not only rebuild their erstwhile enemies but also to liberate blacks & women in America.
Now my question to you is this, what kind of generation will we in India be remembered as? Where are the leaders who will do a Roosevelt for us? How many people are there amongst us who will take the path less traveled and turn their backs on the corporate rat race? How many of us actually care about the environment or the plight of people who aren't as fortunate as we are?
A close friend of mine often derides this nation for its plight. She says that we deserve to be poor and backward. Maybe she's right. There are times when I can't help but agree with her. But there are also times when I feel that this cannot be our answer. I personally know that almost all (of the little) that I have achieved has been due to the support & values that my parents gave me. I certainly didn't 'deserve' to be their son. I was just lucky. And so are most of us. As much as we'd like to think that we are self made men & women, we're not. We're the product of what our parents, our teachers, our friends and if you stretch the point, our country has made us.
Maybe its time we stopped worrying about things like our stock portfolio, our last rating at work, our next promotion, the new car the neighbour just bought and god knows what else.
There are much bigger challenges our generation has to deal with. Global warming, terrorism, religious intolerance, poverty, environmental degradation, pollution. Take your pick.
Unlike our parents & their parents, we've been lucky enough to never know what food shortages, foreign rule, lack of jobs & opportunities are. We've grown up in a land of plenty, we've been educated in the best institutions and we're armed with the latest technology.
This is our time. If we don't make a difference now, we never will. Steve Jobs spoke about how though we are young now, not too far in the future we will be 'the old' that has to make way for 'the new'. We need to ask ourselves if we want to be remembered as the generation that settled for reality shows when it had the chance to save the planet?
Ladies & Gentlemen / Boys & Girls, the clock is ticking....
I have never heard of Tom Brokaw before. Turns out he is a world famous and, unlike Oprah, is also a learned person who has worked as a TV journalist all over the world for the last 30 years. His speech was that of a mature man who has seen a lot that life has to offer. It was also polished and hard hitting, as one would expect from an experienced journalist. Unlike Steve Jobs who talked about deeply personal lessons or Oprah who talked just plain crap, Tom focused on the responsibility that the Stanford class had to other people.
He talked about how he has interviewed the most famous & powerful people on the planet, and yet is still humbled by men & women who dedicate their lives to serve causes. The point he made about biologists in the Amazonian rain forests who endure illness, danger & discomfort just to try & catalog species before they are wiped out was a strong one. More so was the story he told about a doctor from a poor family who took a huge loan to go to Stanford & then went and joined Doctors Without Borders so that he could save children. The story of the Mongolian nomad who rode 15 miles on his horse just to vote held the class in rapt attention.
Tom then went on to remind his audience of the what he called 'the greatest generation America ever produced'. He was referring to the men & women who overcame the Great Depression, defeated the Axis Powers in WW2, laid the foundations for America to become the most powerful nation in the world, and yet found the time & compassion to not only rebuild their erstwhile enemies but also to liberate blacks & women in America.
Now my question to you is this, what kind of generation will we in India be remembered as? Where are the leaders who will do a Roosevelt for us? How many people are there amongst us who will take the path less traveled and turn their backs on the corporate rat race? How many of us actually care about the environment or the plight of people who aren't as fortunate as we are?
A close friend of mine often derides this nation for its plight. She says that we deserve to be poor and backward. Maybe she's right. There are times when I can't help but agree with her. But there are also times when I feel that this cannot be our answer. I personally know that almost all (of the little) that I have achieved has been due to the support & values that my parents gave me. I certainly didn't 'deserve' to be their son. I was just lucky. And so are most of us. As much as we'd like to think that we are self made men & women, we're not. We're the product of what our parents, our teachers, our friends and if you stretch the point, our country has made us.
Maybe its time we stopped worrying about things like our stock portfolio, our last rating at work, our next promotion, the new car the neighbour just bought and god knows what else.
There are much bigger challenges our generation has to deal with. Global warming, terrorism, religious intolerance, poverty, environmental degradation, pollution. Take your pick.
Unlike our parents & their parents, we've been lucky enough to never know what food shortages, foreign rule, lack of jobs & opportunities are. We've grown up in a land of plenty, we've been educated in the best institutions and we're armed with the latest technology.
This is our time. If we don't make a difference now, we never will. Steve Jobs spoke about how though we are young now, not too far in the future we will be 'the old' that has to make way for 'the new'. We need to ask ourselves if we want to be remembered as the generation that settled for reality shows when it had the chance to save the planet?
Ladies & Gentlemen / Boys & Girls, the clock is ticking....
Saturday, January 03, 2009
50 Word Stories
1. Knock Knock.. Open
You fat, lazy, greedy swine. How dare you ignore me? Look at me when I talk to you! Open this door right now. I was doing this before you learnt how to drive that fancy car. Ungrateful wretch. Don’t you know you’re supposed to give alms to beggars during Ramzan?
2. The New Girl
Nervous? Scared? Terrified? That’s how she felt on the first day at the new school. Groups of children stood in the corridors. Girls giggled as she passed. Boys whistled at her. ‘One last chance to run’ she told herself and entered the classroom.
‘Good morning teacher’ they screamed in glee.
3. The Judge
The judge sneered at the doomed man. He was sweating. The judge could sense the executioner running towards them from behind. The crowd bayed for blood. The man’s partner didn’t even look at him. Cowards!
The judge’s finger twitched. He was desperate to raise it and say ‘That’s out’.
4. The I-Fisherman
I opened a beer, applied some sun-tan lotion & wore my Ray-Bans. Blue skies, calm seas & a good boat. What else could a man want? Immediately my Blackberry beeped. What did the bitch want? Another distressed client? Another deal to save?
‘Fuck off’ I said and threw it overboard.
You fat, lazy, greedy swine. How dare you ignore me? Look at me when I talk to you! Open this door right now. I was doing this before you learnt how to drive that fancy car. Ungrateful wretch. Don’t you know you’re supposed to give alms to beggars during Ramzan?
2. The New Girl
Nervous? Scared? Terrified? That’s how she felt on the first day at the new school. Groups of children stood in the corridors. Girls giggled as she passed. Boys whistled at her. ‘One last chance to run’ she told herself and entered the classroom.
‘Good morning teacher’ they screamed in glee.
3. The Judge
The judge sneered at the doomed man. He was sweating. The judge could sense the executioner running towards them from behind. The crowd bayed for blood. The man’s partner didn’t even look at him. Cowards!
The judge’s finger twitched. He was desperate to raise it and say ‘That’s out’.
4. The I-Fisherman
I opened a beer, applied some sun-tan lotion & wore my Ray-Bans. Blue skies, calm seas & a good boat. What else could a man want? Immediately my Blackberry beeped. What did the bitch want? Another distressed client? Another deal to save?
‘Fuck off’ I said and threw it overboard.
A New Beginning
Hello World,
It's a new year. A chance to make a fresh start. A chance to look back, learn from your mistakes, laugh at the good memories and move ahead. Let's forget 2008 and make the most of 2009.
Here are some things I would like to see happen in this year:
1. Manmohan Singh finally show some spine and take on the pakis.
2. Obama give a huge boost to green technology.
3. Roger Federer win BOTH the French Open & Wimbledon. (The other two don't really count)
4. My credit card bill disappear.
5. A blanket ban on whaling.
6. A decent coalition come to power at the centre after the general elections.
7. Bin Laden finally gets caught.
8. The Large Haldron Collider that CERN built actually works & they discover whatever they were looking for.
9. The second season of IPL is shorter, but just as much fun as the first.
10. Bayern Munich do well in the Champions League.
Most of these 'wishes' are at a global level. But if you really ask me, I'd settle for just wish number 4 coming true. :-)
Cheerio Folks, have a great year ahead. Keep reading, keep commenting and most importantly, keep clicking on the google ads (only those you think are relevant..wink wink).
It's a new year. A chance to make a fresh start. A chance to look back, learn from your mistakes, laugh at the good memories and move ahead. Let's forget 2008 and make the most of 2009.
Here are some things I would like to see happen in this year:
1. Manmohan Singh finally show some spine and take on the pakis.
2. Obama give a huge boost to green technology.
3. Roger Federer win BOTH the French Open & Wimbledon. (The other two don't really count)
4. My credit card bill disappear.
5. A blanket ban on whaling.
6. A decent coalition come to power at the centre after the general elections.
7. Bin Laden finally gets caught.
8. The Large Haldron Collider that CERN built actually works & they discover whatever they were looking for.
9. The second season of IPL is shorter, but just as much fun as the first.
10. Bayern Munich do well in the Champions League.
Most of these 'wishes' are at a global level. But if you really ask me, I'd settle for just wish number 4 coming true. :-)
Cheerio Folks, have a great year ahead. Keep reading, keep commenting and most importantly, keep clicking on the google ads (only those you think are relevant..wink wink).
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