What's this?

An excerpt from Nirmal Shekar's article in "The Hindu" on Wimbledon

"Ah, the languorous pleasure of waiting to watch grass court
tennis at Wimbledon, and then, being seduced into a reverie as
tiny rain drops keep falling on billowing court covers!"

As if we are the audience of a literature contest? This is one reason I have always made it a point not to read his articles unless its about a really favorite topic of mine.

I remember the character Ray, in the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" reading a book in exchange for his wife watching the ballgame with him on TV. He would read the first sentence as "Imagine a rain so beautiful that it actually never existed". The reaction on his face would say it all :-)

Sivaji

22nd Jun, '07
New Haven, CT

First time theater experience in US. A few natives turned up at the theater and we were saying "நீ எந்த hall-ல வேணாலும் போய் படம் பாரு... சத்தியமா ஒண்ணும் காதுல விழாது இன்னிக்கு". It was as expected a raucous crowd but as most of them were repeat audience, the raucousness was less pronounced. The theater management looked awe struck!

Something about the movie

• It's a colorful extravaganza. The movie is a visual treat!
• Newark Airport received a terrific applause with high decibel levels. Obviously!
• Udit Narayanan - as usual காதுல ஈயத்த கரச்சு ஊத்திட்டான்

Overall, a colorful technical fest with Shankar's good old formula executed via Rajni's beaten storyline of rich->pauper->rich again.

Watch the movie only in theaters. It doesn't fit anywhere else.

And nothing is cool anymore. It's "cooooool"

Its all about the head

Here comes that day, once every 35-40 days when I feel terribly uncomfortable, as uncomfortable as I can ever feel. Reason? Haircut. Yes, you read it right. Haircut it is. A good haircut is one thing that always eludes me. Right from the day I started to go alone to the Salon, I've always had bad to very bad haircuts only (come on, how long can my dad accompany me to the barber shop?).

And haircut day is always fun time for my mom who would give all possible comments about my head like "எலி பொந்துக்குள்ள தலைய விட்டா மாதிரி இருக்கு". And the trend became worser in October '95 during my Upanayanam when an act to uphold "Saasthram" screwed up whatever was in the top floor and I had to put up with that for many years until I received a peach of a haircut in June 2006. It was the first time I went to that shop near my home and I was so happy to leave with that to the United States.

I was told by my friend that it is mostly ladies who give haircuts in US and they are so professional etc., Overall, it was hyped up with all the necessary elements. The best haircut received in June 2006 was nulled by a factor -100 in Aug 2006. Bad (lady) luck with haircut continued in US and its been a different Salon every time here till today. I did get a good one from an old man near my home but his timings did not suit me :-(

The ladies always find different ways to screw with my hair and it takes a good 2-3 weeks to restore parity. The next haircut can be only after a good 2 months. Such is the impact :-(

I woke up with the same apprehension this morning courtesy an April 2k7 cut lined up right behind Aug 2006. It was yet another new shop this time and boy it was a guy atlast. End result - temporary relief for a few months... huh!

And I completed an year away from home today - one petty reason to feel happy :-)

Ring #4

11.50 PM Eastern : The San Antonio Spurs have done it yet again - they've just won their fourth NBA championship sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers 4 to zip.

Tony Parker for the MVP.

Go Spurs Go!

Indian Cricket...

is in shambles. Period.

Deja vu

I was on my way to office in the 8.30 bus and there was this guy in the bus in front of me who every now and then looked deeped down into a bag that he carried along. I was wondering if he had something prized inside and was afraid of being mugged. A little later, there was this weird smell that spread inside. பாத்தா அய்யா ஒரு quarter யேத்திட்ருக்காரு.

நம்ம ஊர் பஸ்-ல போரா மாதிரியே ஒரு பீலிங் :-)

MooLai... and the lack of it

The recent law enforced by the TN government to make it mandatory for two wheeler riders to wear helmets and the corollary to the law a couple of days later showcases two incredibly contradictory things

• A conscious effort on the part of the govt to enforce something that alleviates the lack of common sense on the part of the two wheeler riding public
• Lack of willingness to enforce the rule with whole heartedness. The second part exposes "government" mooLai or rather, the lack of it.

With the kind of people we have in our states, it is seemingly essential that there must be a rule to have common sense prevail. The govt. took a bold step in this direction with the intro of the helmet/seatbelt rule eff. June 1. The decision was conveyed in Feb and that gave sufficient time for everybody to get set and go ahead from June 1. Negligence led to last minute shopping and as a result many people ventured out w/o helmets at their own peril. The result - மாமாவுக்கு குடுமா குடுமா... field day for cops!

The rule is still not clear for several people especially in the suburbs who ask "Is this rule applicable in Tambaram?" That's a superb question because Tambaram is considered part of the city whenever the govt feels it has to be - CAS is one example.

Then comes the shocker of the decision to revoke the rule for lady and child pillion riders. Do any of those law enforcers have something called "Brain"? Its the pillion riders who get fatal injuries most of the time. And the obvious next qn is "What about men in the pillion"?

A step ahead... from the crooked thinker - "what about people getting a free ride on the way?" Are they expected to take and wear helmets? ;-)

A step further ahead, the whole exercise seems to be an effort to sell helmets and make commission eh?!? Another scam in the making?!?