Paes win US Open mixed doubles title

Finally after 2 years an Indian player have again shown some talent in Grand slam. The last I saw was the 2006 US and Australian Open Mixed doubles titles that Paes and Bhupati have won respectively. Hope next year we see more of these.

Movies of the Day

I just wanted to write about the movies I saw yesterday. I have seen two movies which had comedy and romance.

1. Lost in Translation - The first 30 minutes of the movie clearly shows the culture differences between the western and Asian countries. This part of the movie is very hilarious. Overall I liked the movie and would rate it 7 out of 10.

2. You Have got Mail - I was looking to watch this for a long time but did not really see it. Finally yesterday I was lucky to get time to watch this movie. Its also a romantic comedy flick. The movie shows the relationship between two people in real life and through Internet. I heard that its a remake of one movie from 1940s. I shall watch that sometime and would love to compare the both. I would rate this movie 6 out of 10.

Teacher's Day

Gurur brahmaa gurur vishnuh
Gurur devo maheshvarah
Gurur saakshaat parabrahma
Tasmai shree gurave namah.

Meaning
Know the Guru to be Brahma himself. He is Vishnu.
He is also Shiva.
Know Him to be the Supreme Brahman,
and offer thy adorations unto that peerless Guru.

This is how we respect our Guru's (Teachers). I thought of writing a small post on this occasion of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan birthday which we all celebrate as the Teachers Day on SEP 5th every year. As students we all have a lot of influence on us by our Teachers and there is no doubt in the fact that they are the one who put us in the right path. It is so important that in which ever position that we are in today - we should spend some time and remember all those teachers who shaped our careers. So on this important occasion of Teachers Day - join me in sending teachers day greetings and messages to all those teachers our success.

History of Middle Finger

Well, now......here' s something I didn't knew before, and now that I got to know it through a forwarded mail, I feel compelled to share it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified. Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?

Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking the yew" (or "pluck yew").

Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, See, we can still pluck yew! Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodentals fricative F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird."

IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE TO THE FRENCH TODAY!
And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing.

My Hanoi and Halong Bay Trip Pics

Ganapati Bappa Moriya

Elements of Ganesha

Ganesha Chaturthi aka Vinayak Chaturthi aka Vinayaka Chavithi is on 3rd September, thats tomorrow. When I was in India we used to celebrate with utmost bhakti. This was a special day for us because its my dads birthday also that we celebrate on the same day. Normally this comes in Mid Aug or Mid Sept.

Typical Ganesh Pooja

I just don't want to write what this festival means or what it is all about. I just want to write some of my observations about this festival. Previously the idols were small and cute. Now a days it has become like a competition and the height of the idol is going on increasing. Even at houses people want a big idol.

These huge idols are made of plaster of paris. The quantity of these chemicals used in these huge idols are also high. This not only pollutes water in rivers, lakes and sea but also makes the horrible situation the next morning.

Small and Cute Idol

Some of my suggestions:
1. Keep the idols small and theme BIG.
2. No chemicals but should be made of mud.
3. Immersion in tanks specially organized for this.

Rock on Rocks

Friday night we went to watch this much awaited Rock On Movie. The music was awesome. The actors did their role very well. Everything was great in the movie. I would give 8 out of 10 for this movie. This is yet another youth oriented movie like Jaane tu Ya Jaane na. The story line is inspirational and motivating.

Farhan did a great job even as an actor and singer. Even Arjun Rampal was at his best. The debutants (Prachi Desai, Luke Kenny, Shahana Goswami, Koel Puri) also did a great job in the movie. The best part of the movie is the music by Shankar Eshaan Loy.