How to cook Maggi

Got this through an e-mail forward:

Four simple steps to cook Maggi:
Step 1: Boil one cup of water
Step 2: As soon as Ganguly goes for batting, put the noodles in the boiled water and put the tastemaker.
Step 3: Stir till Ganguly is on field.
Step 4: As soon as Ganguly is back in the pavilion, your noodles are ready to eat.

:-D

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Started Jogging

After close to four years of procrastination I started jogging today. I hope to stick to it. How did I break the jinx you ask? Well, it is a combination of factors. One, I was disgusted with myself for being such a lazy bum. Two, thanks to the beer, I have my own cute, little pot belly. Yikes! Enough is enough I said and got up at six this morning; that is another first: I have never got up so early, ever.
Amit knows how much I love beer, but as some Hollywood script writer (I can't recall who) said, you have to kill your darlings. No more pitchers for me. Only a mug, or two. Slurp.

I have to admit that it feels rejuvenating. Kribs how the hell do you manage marathons man? My lungs were burning after a couple of KM. I guess with my new acquisition, an iPod shuffle (thanks to Malini, my cousin), jogging becomes an experience to look forward to, every day!

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Laxman, Kumble, and Karthik dropped for one-day series

I was stunned when I heard that Kumble was dropped. What the hell is wrong with the selectors and the captain? How can you drop a bowler that enjoys great respect in the Pakistani camp? If I am not wrong, Kumble was the leading wicket-taker for India in the test series. One can argue that he should make way for the young ones in the waiting, but Dinesh Mongia and M.S. Dhoni!? Sorry guys, something fishy there.
Why drop Laxman? Why should he prove his worth all the time? He is the fav fall-guy of Indian cricket. While Sachin and Saurav get away with murder, Laxman pays for the failure of the famed middle order.
Dinesh Mongia! F***, when will these guys be able to pull their heads out of their butts?
Message to Sachin: Don't worry son. I hope Somalia is forming its test team. So, be ready to massacre them and to become the only batsman to score 40+ centuries. No shit.

Link on ESPN

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Cricket Commentators of the Sub-continent

After observing the likes of Ravi Shastri, Arun Lal, Waqar Younis, Sunil Gavaskar, and (hoo-ha) Sidhu I have concluded that these guys just don't have it in them to offer objective, passionate, intelligent, and engaging commentary. These guys' commentary is filled with cliches, bad grammar, partiality, and politics. One exception is Harsha; he is good. very good.
Take Rameez Raza. This guy has only one string on his commentary violin. Pakistan. I can understand if a little partiality creeps in, but if that's what your stupid commentary is all about... well, shove it up. I mean there's a limit yaar.
Gavaskar is notorious for using the commentary box to further his politics. Remember his outburst against Azharuddin?
You know I am not saying that the Australian or English commentators are impartial. At least they have the talent.
Just now our great captain was bowled by Afridi. And the fool refused to leave the crease. Ha ha. Maybe Saurav should seriously consider that offer on one of the placards (50% off on fee for batting classes).

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The Madras Slang, Dappankuthu, and Gaana

Finally, one of the most fascinating dialects of the Tamil language is documented on Wikipedia, and I hope that it gets the recognition that it deserves. Along with the dialect, the 'Gaana' genre of music finds mention on Wikipedia.

Madras bashai is a type of mixed language spoken in the city of Chennai, India. It is a loose polyglot blend of Tamil and English, with some loanwords from Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. The word bashai derives from the Hindi bhasha (language). The term therefore is Tamil for "Madras language".
The evolution of Madras bashai can be traced back to early Kollywood movies from the 1950s. It started out as a parody of the language spoken in parts of the city of Madras (subsequently Chennai), using dialogue with puns and deliberately ambiguous interpretations. It forms the basis for the lingo used by college students in Chennai.
Madras bashai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Madras bashai is used in a particular genre of music in Kollywood movies, called the gaana paattu. The relation between gaana paattu and Madras bashai is analogous to that between hip hop and hip hop slang. The typical gaana paattu is characterized by rougher lyrics and a pulsing rhythm, usually without a discernible melody. Many instances have a strong theme of poverty in their lyrics, and are eminently suited as accompanying music for the traditional dappaankuthu dance, which is usually performed in economically backward urban areas in Chennai. Gaana paattu is also popular among city college students who use it to gain street cred among their peers, irrespective of their economic status.

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Cricket Talk

Some possible reasons why BCCI did not consider Chennai for a venue of the ongoing Indo-Pak Cricket series:
1) The last time India and Pakistan played there, Pakistan won.
2) The crowd gave the victorious Pakistan team a standing ovation. Even Miandad said that the Chennai crowd was the best. So, it is possible that the cricketers and the BCCI are pissed :D
3) It is one hell of a hot place. Pakistan won't mind, but the Bombay boys-used to the constant snowy, chilly weather in Bombay-may have voted against Chennai.
Ok, I am just trying to rake up a heated debate :D. However, I'd like to reiterate that the rest of India thinks Chennai is the world's hottest joint. Once, a guy from Jaisalmer complained about Chennai's weather to me. It took a super-human effort for me to not smash his face.

Amit Varma has an interesting theory on why Laxman is always targeted, while Ganguly gets away with murder.

On Sachin, Sanjay, and Rameez: Sachin. The selfish b*tch. Enough said. Sanjay Manjrekar is an exemplary sycophant. The way he sucks up to Sachin on national television disgusts me. Rameez, ah, what do I say, even while commenting in an Australia-S.Africa match, he'd talk about what Pakistan ought to do to win that game.

Krish Srikanth: He was confused between 'Camel' and 'Captain'. I am not surprised though; he referred to Ricky Ponting as 'Ricky Martin' once. I don't know what he is doing on that stupid show. I mean Charu-the condescending-Sharma needs only that ugly woman for the show.

Dinesh Karthik: Just play your game machaan. You are probably the best wicket keeper-batsman India has ever produced. Did someone say Parthiv? Hey, we are talking keepers here genius. Also, a birdie tells me that Parthiv is itching to get on his knees; Dada made no effort to hide his admiration for Pathiv on Aaj Tak some time back.

Maninder Singh: Someone please take the f***ing mic off him. He probably has an in-built amp up his you know where. He gets excited and screams even during drinks.

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Modi denied visa to visit US

The USA denied Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, a visa. BJP says it is an insult to the nation. Oh yeah, slaughtering innocent people, obstructing judiciary, and making a fool of himself on BBC is not.
While at the outset it appears as a self-righteous decision, I have a feeling that the US did it to please someone.
Modi said that it was an insult to the constitution. I am thrilled that Modi is aware that constitution exists. If only he'd discovered it when he was busy partnering with fundamentalists to slaughter innocent people, and, bringing judiciary to a grinding halt while at it.

The US has denied visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to visit the country, apparently because of Gujarat riots. (Link on Rediff)

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the US decision to deny him visa is an insult of the Indian Constitution. (Link on Rediff)

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The iPod Shuffle Review

Okay, folks I am B2B, back-to-blogging, ("Applause, drumroll, and champagne". Thanks girls, I missed you too).
Do not buy some unknown Flash-memory MP3 player (Kribs may disagree but he has the right, aye.) when you can getThe iPod Shuffle @ Rs 8,500!. If you have a cousin or a dog or both in the USA ask them to get one for you. Works out cheaper that way. If you have no one in the USA, wait for a few more months. The prices WILL drop.

Also, if you have not already, download Sharpreader RSS aggregator. It is simple and easy-to-use and most important, it keeps you in the know.

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