May 28, 2009

Forever United

THe football season comes to an end with what was described as clash of titans between Europes best clubs. unfortunately Red devils failed to meet the expectations and loosed the match and title too easily. It is one of the night that nothing went right for United. Players lost rhythm, our midfielders lost possession too easily, passing was poor, defense was broken apart, at times Ronaldo was selfish n failed to run freely and we failed as a unit in a big match.

The good part is United lost to the only other team in the world that plays exciting football as Manchester United

I don't have any regrets, United retained EPL in spite of tough schedules and loosing out several players due to injuries, the team has depth and quality, the junior boys showed there class (Macheda- Rafel- Danny wellbeck) and I am sure united will emerge stronger next season

Ending with a small question

Kia Joorabchian and a group of Investors of Media Sports Investments own economic rights of which Manchester united player

Answer in comments

May 14, 2009

Proudest moments of Indian democracy

Are you proud of Indian democracy? if you ask this question majority Indian's will say No(Esp educated, Urban, still sleeping kind).

And yes, without any doubts there are significant loop holes in our Election system. getting Voter ID cards is pain, we don't know if our name is in election list or not, we don't know where our vote is,25% elected representatives have criminal records,majority are corrupt, politics became a business and the list goes on and on.

But on the other side of coin, they are few classic examples of Indian democracies strength:

1. Voting rights to all irrespective of caste, religion, and qualification: The right to vote was given to all Indian citizens without any struggle, unlike in many countries which took decades to get voting right



Blacks in USA were guaranteed their voting rights in 1965 by Lydon Jhonson. The world's most matured democracy took 100 years to give its minority a chance to vote.

Greece, gave women right to vote in 1952, after 64 years of aggitations

Indonesia took 36 years to sanction voting rights to women

Like many other gulf nations, Saudi Arabian women still don't have voting rights

2. Military did not interfere in politics and by and large bureaucracy is not partisan:


Unlike our neighboring countries or many African countries Indian Army restrained from taking hold of power and restricted themselves to their duty.

Many of my friends occasionally rant about, benefits of Army taking our India. They feel it is the only way to kick out corrupt politicians. Unfortunately its not a intelligent solution. I believe semi-functional, un matured democracy is much better than no democracy. Absolute power without any review system will be disastrous.


3. Peaceful transfer of power:


India has ensured a smooth, almost effortless democratic transition for more than six decades.Again a fundamental thing for any working democracy which we did not screwed up in last 60 years, except on one occasion when congress leaders thought Indira is India, India is Indira.

4. Indira Gandhi defeat
1977 elections truly tested fairness in Indian elections.Indira Gandhi's mindless decision to take on judiciary and two years of ruthless power killed all democratic institutions(independent media, Police, Judiciary), however people taught Indira Gandhi a strong lesson. Remember it happened in 70's when there is no 24/7 media



I think we made a good start in sustaining our democracy, by and large we are convinced that there is a need of one working democracy, now the challenge is to make it better.

We need to change the way we elect our representatives, scrap First past The Post(FPTP) electoral system, a legacy of British colonialism and a system our constitution writers choose given India’s extremely diverse and multi-ethnic society. Stop criminals and encourage internal democracy in parties, make fund raising process more cleaner, and ensure politics attracts right(not winning) candidates.

May 13, 2009

Check It Out



Edgar Hernandez a.k.a "Patient Zero"may be the first person to have contracted the swine flu, or the New H1N1 virues. I hope he survived the deadly flu. BTW, Common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year worldwide.


Bill Waters claims to found out the original formula of Dr.Pepper from a book he bought at a antique stores. The formula is written in Alderton’s notebook labeled “CASTLES FORMULAS



Dr.Pepper was started out in the late 1800's as a syrupy additive to tonic by pharmacist,Charles Alderton, an employee of Wade B. Morrison at the Old Corner Drugstore. The original formula drink contains ‘denatured rum,’ and vanilla, among other thing and was probably sold as a "digestive" to help make stomach medicine palatable.

Cambodian Farmers expressed concern about the rice harvest after the royal oxen refused to eat the grain. more on this thamasha here

E.U levied a $1.45-billion fine on Intel for bribing retailers and manuf to shut its main rival out of European markets.Neelie Kroes, EU Competition Commissioner joked after passing the judgment that Intel can change its latest advertising slogan from "sponsors of tomorrow" to "the sponsor of the European taxpayer". More.