Three runs...

A snippet from cricinfo.com commentary of the last day of 4th test match between India and Australia:

54.1 Lee to Laxman, 3 runs, banged in short outside off stump, Laxman gets on top of the bounce and plays the ball down between second slip and gully, Hussey sprints after it superbly and pulls the ball in just inside the boundary

Rare moment. Laxman does not run 3 runs very often does he?

When double clicks start bugging....

When I read a web page, I have to have the mouse in my hand, just like when I read a book, I have to have a pencil in my hand !

Though I have almost grown past my latter habit, it is almost impossible to leave the former one. When I am reading a web page, I have this habit of selecting words as I read. Since a double-click also selects a word, I double click a lot - on crucial words, or otherwise - but a lot.

Believe it or not, even while watching a movie (using VLC usually), I keep fiddling with my mouse. If you know me, you must be aware that it is really hard for me to sit alone and finish a 2 hour movie in 2 hours. I get bored easily and start surfing the net. At other times, I am busy with my mouse doing all sorts of things - including double clicking which toggles the full screen mode.

I have not had any problems with my habit, but of late new generation websites have emerged which consider themselves to be "over-smart", to a level to make the user insane. I am talking about these double-click pop-ups of all kinds which come up when you double click anywhere on the site.

So, while reading, I keep getting unwanted dictionary definitions of the words I happen to double-click inadvertently. Now this is really annoying. The good part is, it will make me get rid of my "mouse fiddling" habit one day. :)

(I hope by the time you are reading this, blogger does not come up with this strategy!!)

You can see one such web page here.

By the way, have you visited this? (Click at your own risk, do not curse me later :D)

Just love these words ...

अकेला नही मैं .. खुली आंखों से नींद में चलता ..
गिरता ज्यादा, कम संभलता ..

अकेला नही मैं, खुली आंखों से नींद में चलता ..
गिरता ज्यादा, कम संभलता ..

फिर भी न कोई .. शक न सुभा ..
निकलेगा फिर से .. सूरज जो डूबा ..

हैरत हो सबको ऐसा अजूबा ..
है मेरा जहाँ ...

I have been a great admirer of Prasoon Joshi ever since he started writing songs. His songs are full of insight, and the words he uses are just the best. I write poems too, but not as great as him. I would love to be like him one day. (By the way, we share initials!)

Added to the great words, Adnan Sami renders the score beautifully to create a number I will remember forever.

Read the full lyrics of the song here.

Must read !

Just go through this

"We regret to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, the publication of The Astrological Magazine will cease with the December 2007 issue."

Can you appreciate what I am trying to show here?

Poor Rediff !

Need I say more? :)

Just crossed my mind...

"Who wants a cynic who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing?"
- Oscar Wilde (quoted by Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par)

Well, I feel bad that I have acted like this cynic at times in life. But as other sayings go -

"Life is the short name for constant endeavor of self improvement"
"You will most probably undervalue something you have got just like that, but you can never undervalue something you have earned"
- Pawan Jain :)

Inspiration and motivation is the sole driving force of my life. I want to deserve, and then earn whatever I want. Thats my motto...


... And ... I feel better !

So, what about the Nano?

So, as the curtains unveil the smallest car in India, and the most economical car in the world, everyone wants to have one. This is the first time this has happened in the car industry - where a large set of Indians can actually think of owning it. The obvious and the most interesting reason - the price tag. Where in the world will you find a car priced at $2500 ?

Beyond all the apprehensions of the "People's car" being unable to run, being unreliable, being made of plastic, ..., there was an unswerving faith that resided in the heart of each and every Indian - the faith in one man - one shy man who has proven himself time and again and won accolades for his ideas and his execution of strategies. When Ratan Tata came up with Tata Indica, it was his sole belief and dream of having a car which is 100% Made in India. While all his board of directors were doubtful, he did it, and today Indica has carved out a niche for itself with a decent market share.

And before anyone could imagine - here he is - with his latest - the Rs. 1 Lakh car ! Although he had declared his plan more than four years back, it was seen with as many doubtful eyes as one can imagine. Personally, I was hopeful, but I never expected it to arrive this soon!



All this hullabaloo about it notwithstanding, I am not going to buy this car, neither for myself nor for any family member of mine. The looks are decent, but I have serious doubts about comfort. Remember Tata's words - the motivation behind the car was providing "safe" transport to a 4-member family. From that perspective, and looking at the nominal price, anything with a decent seating and back support is high on comfort.

My parents already possess a M800, which I am sure is much more comfortable than the Nano which does not even have reclining seats. So they obviously deserve much better. And for me, exterior looks are okay, but I am not impressed with the interiors - it is essentially basic minimum, sans any funky stuff (Anyways, that would be asking too much for Rs. 1 Lakh!). So here's wishing Mr. Tata all the best for his latest endeavor. Hope it becomes the "People's car".