A Visual Story for the Greedy :: Black Hole

 

10 Rules for Successful Life

An early morning e-mail with inspirational thoughts always enlightens my day. This excerpt was sent by my dearest friend Nihira today J via emai

 

Here the 10 Rules for Successful Life:

 

(1)  Never think or speak negatively about yourself; that puts you in disagreement with God.

(2)  Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage yourself, for much of the time nobody else will.

(3)  Don't compare yourself to anybody else.  You're unique, one of a kind, an original.  So don't settle for being a copy.

(4)  Focus on your potential, not your limitations.  Remember, God lives in you!

(5)  Find what you like to do, do well, and strive to do it with excellence.

(6)  Have the courage to be different.  Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.

(7)  Learn to handle criticism.  Let it develop you instead of discourage you.

(8)  Determine your own worth instead of letting others do it for you.  They'll short-change you!

(9)  Keep your shortcomings in perspective - you're still a work in progress.

(10)  Focus daily on your greatest source of confidence - the God Who lives in you.

 

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future and relationships. Please try it in your life

 

Yet another wonderful "Union Bank of India" Print Ad.

The tag line “Your dreams are not yours alone” is well pictured in every latest Union Bank Of India commercial both on print and TV.

This ad, portrays the bonding between a couple to emphasize the same.

 

Hats-off “Mudra Marketing Services” who is the campaign partner of Union Bank of India to have produced such wonderful series of ads.

Wow : Pilobolus

Video shared by my bro via email.

Fantastic.

Funny Pitstop Wallpaper

I have the habit to searching new Wallpapers to fantasize my desktop every now and then. And I came across this cool yet funny wallpaper titled “PITSTOP”.

21 ways to be happy

Article Courtesy: DAILY MIRROR - Article published in “Bangalore Times” dated 16-10-2008

Life may feel miserable but,in many ways, we’ve never had it so good. So cast off those blues with our guide to instant joy

Paying your EMIs, feeding the family and paying for the odd treat is getting tough as bills soar. You’d think that coping with the credit crunch would have us all sick with worry… But, in fact, we’re doing really well — fitter, stronger, healthier and living longer. “Life expectancy is so good that eliminating all accidents and infectious diseases would only raise it by a further two years,” says Prof Steve Jones, of University College London. Most of us are warm, well-fed and healthy. Still miserable? Try these to be happy...
BOOST YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Identify what you’re good at and do it. Self-esteem is linked to happiness and surveys show the feeling of success is a common source of joy.
AVOID INFO OVERLOAD
A study found that people who multi-task are likelier to have high blood pressure. So instead of talking on the phone while picking up the kids’ toys, sit down and focus on the conversation.
WASH YOUR HAIR
A century ago, women washed their hair once a month using borax or egg yolks. Enjoy modern haircare products and wash your tresses every day. Clean hair makes you feel good.
MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS
People with a circle of supportive friends are likelier to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol levels and stress hormone levels than those with two or fewer close friends.
TAKE PART
Feel what you think doesn’t matter? It does. Have your say by voting.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Focus on what you’ve got, not what you’re missing. A study found that people who took the time to count their blessings once a week boosted their mood and improved their health and energy levels. And it relieved pain and fatigue, too.
GET RID OF THAT NIGGLING TASK
Visit the doctor, answer a difficult email or buy something you need. Crossing an irritating item off your to-do list will give you a rush of energy.
PAMPER A POOCH
Walking and stroking pets can relieve stress, lower blood pressure and heart rates. One study showed pets are better than spouses at relieving stress.
ENJOY YOUR JOB
In 1908, a typical working day was 14 hours with few breaks. There was no employment regulation and no minimum wage. Still hate your job?
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Few of us get enough sleep and that makes us grumpy. Getting into bed by 8 pm one night with a book — and turning the light out an hour later — can do more for your mood than any amount of therapy.
SING IN THE SHOWER
Music activates parts of the brain that produce happiness, the same parts activated by sex and food. So in the morning tune the radio to your favourite station and sing along.
VISIT A QUIET PLACE
Museums, parks, libraries and places of worship provide islands of peace in a frantic world. Find a quiet place near your home and make it your secret hideaway.
STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR AGE
Celebrate all your birthdays. Remember when you were 10 how 21 seemed ancient? Enjoy your age, because you won’t be this young again.
IGNORE THE STOCK MARKET
Chinese researchers have found a direct link between the daily performance of the stock market and the mental health of those who follow it. If you don’t have money invested, ignore it. If you do, remember time heals financial wounds. Give your investments time — and give yourself a break.
HAVE A GOOD CRY
Bottling up emotions can lead to a build-up of suppressed anxiety and anger. Let your emotion come out when you’re upset and have a good cry.
LIGHT AN OIL BURNER
Getting a good nose-full of lavender aids deep relaxation. Find a scent that soothes you and burn it when you’re relaxing or put a few drops of essential oil into your bath.
SAY “I LOVE YOU”
Tell those close to you that you love them. A little praise never hurts.
GIVE YOURSELF SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO
It may be just a walk in the park or reading a book. Build these treats into your daily life.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT
Helping others less fortunate that yourself puts your own problems into perspective.
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
People who survive a terminal illness, accident or witness a tragedy have a different perspective on life. Many say that they no longer leave anything until later. They travel now, learn a new skill now, contact an old friend the same day the thought pops into their head. Follow their lead - try living for today and not tomorrow.
WATCH IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
This classic 1946 film stars James Stewart as George Bailey who, facing financial troubles, is about to commit suicide when he meets his guardian angel Clarence. It guarantees a smile

Yet another Hilarious Forward mail.

Excerpts from the forward mail: 

I took my dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes (he is 74). We decided to grab a bite at the food court. I noticed he was watching a teenager sitting next to him. 

The teenager had spiked hair in all different colours: green, red, orange, and blue. My dad kept staring at him. 

The teenager would look and find him staring every time.

When the teenager had enough, he sarcastically asked, 'What's the matter old man, never done anything wild in your life? 

Knowing my Dad, I quickly swallowed my food so that I would not choke on his response, knowing he would have a good one.

And in classic style he did not bat an eye in his response . 

'Got drunk once and had sex with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my son.'

Recent TV Commercials which I loved so much...

Some TV Commercials not only captivate you when you watch them but also keep lingering in your mind and leaves a sweet and lasting impression.
Though the US financial firms are having a down side, the Indian financial institutions are trying to emphasize their credibility and trust-worthiness via some cool, sweet and innovative advertisements. Here are some for your view.

Union Bank of India (Chweet Kid .. Sone kaa daanth ad): This ad is so lovely that I melted down on the sweet innocent words of the kid which is so caring yet mature.


Union Bank of India (Taxi Ad): Via this ad I literally could see my parents in that place. Seldom I too try to act mature ignoring my parents. But as always they reassure you that they are always there for you. The first time I saw this ad was like "dejavu" and yeah there was "tears of joy" as well.


Max Newyork Life Insurance: Beautifully depicts circle of aspirations.


HDFC Standard Life:


IDBI Bank: Not just for the big boys. Could not find the video of this ad. So have linked to the Storyboard of the ad.

http://origin-www.afaqs.com/perl/advertising/storyboard/index.html?id=2839

4-4-5-4-9-8 is Happy Birthday to You

Came across this tit-bit.

Dial “4-4-5-4-9-8” on your phone.

The tone will be similar to the Happy Birthday tune J

 

Finished reading "LEADERSHIP WISDOM from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari"

I just finished reading "LEADERSHIP WISDOM from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari". This is the second book by Robin Sharma, which I have picked up to read after “THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI”.

The foremost thing I like about Robin Sharma’s books is that when one reads the chapters of the book, it is like being on a personal journey. The text is so engaging that you can relate yourself to every situation/problem explained and the solution to realize it. The wisdom exposed in the book is absorbable instantly.

In “LEADERSHIP WISDOM”, Robin Sharma takes you on yet another journey to elicit leadership wisdom via “THE 8 RITUALS OF VISIONARY LEADERS”

1. Link Paycheck to Purpose (The Ritual of a Compelling Future Focus)
2. Manage by Mind, Lead by Heart (The Ritual of Human Relations)
3. Reward Routinely, Recognize Relentlessly (The Ritual of Team Unity)
4. Surrender to Change (The Ritual of Adaptability and Change Management)
5. Focus on the Worthy (The Ritual of Personal Effectiveness)
6. Leader Lead Thyself (The Ritual of Self Leadership)
7. See What All See, Think What None Think (The Ritual of Creativity and Innovation)
8. Link Leadership to Legacy (The Ritual of Contribution and Significance)

I personally enjoyed the journey of reading this book and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to be wise and wishes to evolve as a leader and leave behind a legacy. As Robin Sharma says, you don’t need a title to lead – “Lead without Title”.

Visit www.robinsharma.com for more on Robin Sharma’s offerings.

 

Creativity & Innovation at the Workplace

• Creativity is always stifled when people feel that they have something to lose.
• Visionary leaders never manage creativity; they simply unleash/uncover it and allow it to flood the organization.
• Life should be lived as play. So is work.
• The company that plays together stays together.
• See what others see, Think what none think. Find hope where others feel despair. See light where others see only darkness.

 

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

Self-renewal

• All action begins in rest. That is the ultimate truth – Lao Tzu (Chinese philosopher)
• If I have eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my axe – Abraham Lincoln
• Failing to devote time to the discipline of self-renewal is like saying you are so busy driving that you don’t have time to stop for gas
• Don’t be so busy striving to make a living that you forget how to live a life
• Stop wishing for fewer problems and start searching for greater wisdom
• Learning no longer ends the minute you pass your last exam. It must continue until you take your last breath
• As you care for your body, so you care for your mind
• The person who doesn’t make time for exercise must eventually make time for illness

Quotes from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”.

CERN - Big Bang Experiment (Particle collision)

The first ever time, I came to know about “Big Bang Theory” was when I was in 12^th grade school. I took a seminar in-front of my Physics teacher and co-students without even preparing for the same. I still remember, I repeatedly pronounced the theory as “Bing Bang Theory” and I still remember the embarrassment I felt after the seminar.

Hmm .. adhellam oru kaalam.

 

Now coming to the point : As a milestone in nuclear research, CERN has started off the experiment to study the state of particles which would resemble the state after the great “BIG-BANG”. For more info check http://public.web.cern.ch/public/

 

Workout by reading this...

Image received via forwarded mail J

Violin maestro Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan passes away.

Violin maestro Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan passed away on Monday 8-Sep-2008. He was 73.

Every tamizh music lover would have seen this maestro performing on stage or on TV(especially during festive seasons, where his violin serves joyous & elegant music to ignite the festive mood). He was a great South Indian Classical Musician who was versatile and was brilliant in performing hit movie songs to enthuse audience as well.

We will definitely miss the maestro. Though he departs this world, his music & memories will never. Long live his pride & his music contributions.

 

Excerpts from online articles:

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan is a top performer, arresting violinist, innovator and an artist of varied interests. He was born in 1935 to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, an important Lord Muruga Kshetram of Tamil Nadu. His father was an erudite scholar in Sanskrit, Tamil and Carnatic Music and a great Composer and Exponent of Carnatic Music and Kathakalaksheparn. So, for Kunnakudi, Vedha Sastram and Sageetharn have become the main discipline besides schooling.

Even at the early age of 12 his sound knowledge made him to accompany great stalwarts like Shri Ariyakudi, Shri Semmangudi and Shri Maharajapuram.

He is known for his dexterity and subtlety in handling the instruments. He is catering his art not only to the Erudite scholar in music but also to the layman. His play reflects his own different moods and the demands of his audience with whom he establishes and enjoys rapport. He dwells with ease and competence at the highest and the lowest octaves.

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan has deep faith in the therapeutical merits of music.

Besides continuing his profession, he joined the film orchestra with modern Theatres, Salem. In 1963, his Carnatic base and light music knowledge helped him to join in HMV as a freelance Music Director mainly for producing Bakti Songs. To prove his new region of Music, he chose celluloid media and produced Tamil Musical films of his own. The feature film ‘Todi’, his full length presentation of rich music with T.N. Seshagopalan is a success.

 

More Links on Kunnakudi:

http://chennaionline.com/musicseason99/profile/kunnakudi.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunnakudi_Vaidyanathan

Some Laws Newton forgot....................good one!

Got these funny laws as a forward mail …

Law of queue: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.

Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged one.

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tyre, the next morning you will have a flat tyre.

Bath Theorem: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.

LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

LAW of the RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will!

LAW OF BIOMECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle arrive last.

LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Hare & Tortoise (The team way)

We all like stories. That too the ones we heard when we were kids. Here is one such story which is retold with circumstances relating to modern day workplace.

Got this PPT as a forwarded mail attachment from my manager :)

Success begins within.

Golden words on Self Leadership, quoted from “The Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

 

• “There is nothing noble in being superior to others. True nobility lives in being superior to your former self” – Ancient Indian Proverb.
• “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves” – Sir Edmund Hillary.
• “Before you can do something, you must be something” – Goethe.
• “Success on the outside begins within”.
• “Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly” – Confucius.
• “We see the world not as it is, but as we are”.
• “You can’t do good, if you don’t feel good”.

Environment pleads Lord Ganesha on his Official Birthday

“Oh Lord, save me and keep me thriving” pleads the environment to Lord Ganesha this season, yet again.

It is yet another Ganesh Chaturthi, the day on which it is believed that Lord Ganesha bestowed his presence on earth to all his devotees. So it is his OFFICIAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY :). On this day, it is believed that this Supreme god of wisdom brings prosperity and good fortune to his devotees on earth.

But some devotees bring upon adverse environmental effects as well. Yes. When you think of Ganesh Chaturthi, you not only think about doldrums, decorated streets and temples, exuberant devotees and tons of music but also colorfully polluted ponds, lakes and sea. For years, the Indian Government and Environmentalists have emphasized on the ill effects of dissolving Ganesha idols in such water medium but to the deaf ears of these devotees.

I wonder why people dissolve Ganesha idols and found this piece of info in Wikipedia – “Traditionally, the Ganesh idol was sculpted out of earth taken from nearby one’s home. After worshipping the divinity in this earth idol, it was returned back to the Earth by immersing it in a nearby water body. This cycle represented the cycle of creation and dissolution in Nature.” But these days rather than realizing the essence of this ritual, people create disruption of the environmental balance by such dissolution of idols (made of artificial elements like Plaster of paris, Asphalt etc).

I wish this Ganesh Chaturthi, people realize the actual purpose of the ritual and the god bestows the required knowledge to his devotees for the same.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2007/09/environmental-pollution-caused-by.html

Me and the Virtual Bangalore-Inner-Ring-Road Grandprix

While driving on the road, sometimes you get an urge to race against some of the co-commuters for no reason. I experienced one such urge surge today. I was driving my car to Koramangala from Indiranagar. When I was about to cross the Domlur flyover to hit the intermediate ring road, two monsters zipped passed with roaring engines. One, a stylish black PORSCHE CAYENNE and the next a white bull, the BMW X5 - both 3500+ cc gas guzzlers. I felt the enormous power of these vehicles(by the thrust of air which pushed my little car) when they went past me.

Though I realized that my 1000cc puny WagonR was no match for them, the Narain Karthikeyan in me stepped up the accelerator and started chasing these Goliaths and imagined that the Ejipura signal crossing would bear the chequered flag.. Inner ring road is one of those few roads in Bangalore where you can push your speedometer needle move past 90kmph. And this time around i could see the needle struggling between 100 and 110 kmph. While I was busy dodging other fellow commuters at this speed and trying to catch up with my competitor Goliaths, I saw them zooming out of my sight burning the road (they should have been a real 150+ kmph) ... I felt like a bunny who was trying to chase cheetahs (Though I was not the prey).

Another half a km down the road, I could see Ejipura signal emerging and the Goliaths slowing down. I took advantage of the puny size of my car and moved smoothly slipped between the cars waiting for the traffic signal and reached the FINISH line (Zebra crossing). Ha ha ha. I felt like Lewis Hamilton winning British Grandprix. As I exulted with victory, KNOCK KNOCK, a traffic constable knocked on my wind shield and gestured to move behind the zebra crossing.
Though I eventually won the race (unethical & manipulated virtual victory), "எல்லாம் ஒரு _ _ _ திண்ண சந்தோசம் தான் " as my dosht Raghavan says.

At the signal, I saw this hoarding - SPEED is a 5 letter word, so is DEATH. Hmmm ... "என்னா வில்லத்தனம்"?

My Suzuki WagonR: (http://www.marutiwagonr.com/)

BMW X5: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_X5)

Porsche Cayenne: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_Cayenne)

படிச்சாதான் Hero இல்லேன்னா Zero - Entrusting the value of education

Got a chance to see this video in my friend Rajarajan's orkut profile. It is great to see that celebrities contribute back to the society via such medium. This video on educational awareness was organised by Agaram Foundation run by Actor Suya.

துளிகள்:

புத்தகத்தில் உலகத்தைப் படிப்போம்.
உலகத்தையே புத்தகமாய்ப் படிப்போம்.

கற்றுக்கொள்வதும் கற்றுக்கொடுப்பதும் அன்றி
வேறென்ன வாழ்க்கை?

Chess - On the rocks (or) Off the board?

!!! Wow, what a way to play chess !!!

I guess alcohol improves strategic skills for these guys ;)
Wait a minute, what would be objective of this game? To loose ? Eventually with all the coins(cups) off the board, the player should be happier than the opponent. Right?
Hmmm ... Fellow குடிமகன்s (Drinkers) would understand :)

Make your own future

Wonderful Pravsworld quote shared to me by Nihira.

 

Grrrrrrrr ... Crazy act Dude ...

Just came across this random post http://www.asylum.in/2008/07/14/the-relax-a-text-position/
and found this video in it.

Man, this guy is crazy and cool.

Feel like this at office after lunch?

My best friend Nihira asked me this question after sending me this video via email.
Feel like this at office after lunch?

Really Cute video. I wish I was that kid.

Focus on the Worthy

• Law of planned neglect: The secret of getting things done is, knowing what to leave undone. Give up good for the best.
• There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all -- Peter Drucker
• Focus: The man who chases two rabbits catches neither / The person trying to do everything will achieve nothing
• It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The real question is what are you so busy about? -- Thoreau
• Lead time: Visionary leaders have the wisdom to understand that if you don’t lead your time, it will lead you
• Choice: We are being overwhelmed by choice. A plan relieves you of the torment of Choice – Saul Bellow
• As you live your days, so you live your life: The past is history and the future is just a figment. This day, the present, is really all you
• Self Discipline: The tougher you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you.
• Leadership is really simple: Planning to do things (wisely), doing what you planned to do, when you planned to do it.

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

Random Quotes from "Leadership Wisdom"

• The arrow that hits the bull's eye is the result of one hundred misses.
• The best antidote to fear is knowledge. He or she, who learns most, wins.
• "Observe always that everything is the result of change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and make new ones like them." - Marcus Aurelius
• People are rewarded in the marketplace by the value they add to it.
• Knowledge that remains unapplied is worthless

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

See the good

• No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit -Helen Keller
• Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves -Thomas Fuller

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

Mail-to-Blogger is working :)

The Mail-to-Blogger feature which was down was the past one week, if working fine now.

A great relief for me, since I love witing posts via email than going to the Blogger admin to write posts.

Ideas are the true commodities of success

In this new era of business you are privileged to live in, ideas are the true commodities of success. How far you go will be determined by how well you think.

Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go any higher than you think

-Benjamin Disraeli

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

யார் ஜெயம்கொண்டான் ?

A few lines from the inspiring ஜெயம்கொண்டான் movie song

... எவன் அடிக்கடி தன்னை புதுப்பிப்பான், அவன் வாழ்வில் இங்கு ஜெயம்கொண்டான் ...

... One who constantly evolves will emerge as a victorian in life ...

Not sure of the lyricist (Vaalee, Naa.Muthukumar, Kabilan, Yugabharathi are the lyricist of Jayamkondan Songs). Profound words though which are synonymous to my earlier post of "Surrendering to Change" and constantly evolving.

Surrender to Change

"Doing the same things every day will not deliver new results.
To change the results you are getting, you must change the things you are doing.

The nature of water is to flow. It goes with the current. It does not resist. It does not hesitate before it yields. But it is also one of the most powerful forces on the earth. Study water and manage the changing currents of life and modern business like water manages the currents of nature. Rather than viewing change as an adversary, welcome it as a friend. And then surrender to it. That's what adaptability is all about."

Quoted from "Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari"

Inspired by Purpose

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts breaks their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to b e a great person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

Feeding & Spoon feeding

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
- Confucius

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”

How benign is Solitude ...

“When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign is solitude”
- William Wordsworth

Quoted from “Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”.

Work & Meaning

“Work is about daily meaning as well as daily bread: for recognition as well as cash; in short for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying...we have a right to ask of work that it include meaning, recognition, astonishment and life.”
-Studs Terkel

Quoted from Robin Sharma’s Blog.

Mail-to-Blogger Failure.

It seems there is some problems with the "Mail-to-Blogger" feature for the past few days. I usually use this feature to send posts to my blog as drafts and later publish them.
For more details on the issue follow the links
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Mail-To-Blogger
http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-troubleshoot/browse_thread/thread/dacac9a3ede1bd16/ab72c2f07580058e?lnk=raot

So I have to go the usual way of logging into Blogger and writing posts for some more days.

[Olympics 2008] The Golden face of India

http://www.ibnlive.com/olympicsnews/abhinav-bindra-wins-olympic-gold/70827-29.html

Excerpts from IBNLive:

Abhinav Bindra has done what no one has ever done for India at the Olympics. He won the first-ever individual gold medal in men's 10m air rifle event on Monday morning.

China's Qinan Zhu won the silver while the bronze went to Henri Hakkinen of Finland.

Earlier in the day the world champion had qualified for the men's 10m air rifle event finals.

However, Gagan Narang failed to make the final cut in the same event finishing ninth with a score of 595/600.

Narang shot a series of 97,100,100,100,98,100.

Bindra, a Khel Ratna awardee, finished the qualifying event joint fourth with Romania's George Alin Moldoveanu after the duo shot a score of 596/600.

The bespectacled shooter managed a series of 100,99,100,98,100 and 99.

Watched "THE DARK KNIGHT"

After a long wait, I got a chance to watch the movie which was making news "THE DARK KNIGHT".

I often watch Super-hero movies for their spectacular special effects rather than the content itself. And as always the Super-hero movies are predictable. Hero slays villain, saves people (including the loved ones).

But this time around with "THE DARK KNIGHT" that wasnt the case. I was attracted to the content or the essence of the movie rather than the special effects. Its a serious super-hero movie which goes beyond the usual hero-villain spat. I think thats what Joker tries to disrupt, the seriousness .. he ironically exclaims "Why so serious?"

What the villain seeks in this movie is not just chaos but the disruption of faith. Faith that bad things will begone. This movie portrays what forces a good man beyond his so called breaking point to turn himself from good to bad (as shown with Harvey Dent/Two Face) and though some one like Batman is on vigil to save people, its the people themselves who decide their fate (as shown in the scene where 2 ships filled with bomb and people).

All in all a fine movie. Kudos for the Dark Knight team.

Outlook Towards Life

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else;
And for everything you gain, you lose something else.

It is about your outlook towards life. You can either regret or rejoice.

My car is red no more...

My WagonR which was FANTASY RED in color when I purchased it is red no more.
Due to regular exposure to heat and rain (though the car is covered),
the color has faded and appears faded.
Hmmm... Like me, even my car needs some rejuvenation.

Good, Bad and Ugly

Three things happened to me over last weekend.

Good:
My brother got his first job as a Graphic designer

Bad:
My earlier blog http://being-raja00cs.blogspot.com was defaced in US servers pointing to some random Bible site. Hence I decided to move out and create this new blog.

Ugly:
"My irresponsibility & negligence exposed."
I lost my mobile phone (or) rather I should say I left the mobile phone easily accessible for the thief to make his work easier.