Releasing this summer ....

The A-Team: The movie version of one of my favorite-est TV shows.

The Expendables: Just the star cast is enough to make this one of the most awaited movies ever! Oh and they left out Scwarzenegger & Willis from the poster.

Whazzat?

O
MG
WTF
STFU
PWNED

Spotted the above eye chart at the Devi Eye Hospital on the way to work. An optician with a wicked sense of humour?

Chennai are the 2010 Super Kings

After losing the finals in 2008 and the semi finals in 2009, the IPL's most consisitent side finally bagged the cup this year. It has been the toughest year for them, requiring them to win their last league game to reach the semis - which they duly did thanks to Dhoni's 17 runs in the last over.

Opposite them, were the Mumbai Indians - in awesome form through the tournament with their youngsters (the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary & Shikhar Dhawan) showing sparkling talent, complemented by a good showing from their experienced hands & overseas acquisitions (Malinga, Fernando, Duminy, Sachin, Zaheer, Harbhajan & Pollard). It seemed that everything had finally come together for what has always been the IPL's strongest team on paper.

But then there is the issue of luck. Or captain's luck.

On the one hand was Dhoni - somebody made captain of a T20 side in a World Cup where none of the 'seniors' wanted to put in an appearance. And he went on to win it for the country - part of the reason behind the present day hype for T20. Ever since, he has consolidated his position as one of India's best cricket captains ever in the Test & ODI arenas.

On the other hand - there was Sachin. Great player, legend, God of Indian cricket - but with rotten captain's luck. Sort of like Ganguly's captain's luck in tournament finals - his team could never seem to win!

So while Mumbai Indians were ramming their way through in the league stage of the IPL, there was always this feeling that come crunch time .... something would go wrong. And that is how it transpired. Even though Sachin played with stitches for a torn webbing sustaned 2 days previously, it was not enough. It was a heartbreaking end to one of the best campaigns ever seen in the IPL.

Full marks to Dhoni though - his aura just continues to expand. And this seems to be the correct result keeping in mind that the World T20 - the one that began it all - comes up in a few days time. Dhoni will once again be leading the side with many of the men he commanded in the Super Kings.

Well done & best of luck to Dhoni & his men then - bring it home again, guys!

I be baker

Thanks to Betty Crocker & the Microwave, I 'baked' my 1st cake today. And it came out super .... couldn't believe it myself!

Sahara Pune Warriors

The logo & name of the newest IPL franchise were revealed today. Looks good.

The Hurt Locker

It's like a long train of bomb disposals; shootouts & suspense. Which is what the director probably wanted to convey.

Brings home the reality & tragedy of war in a mind-numbingly non subtle way.

Wagon R 2010

Maruti screws up the current JDM Wagon R's front & launches it as the all new 2010 model for India. Everything else looks pretty good. And the ABS+Airbags version is priced for fantastic VFM.

This might well be the 1st car I end up owning.

Tata Magic Iris

Tata launches the radical looking Iris. It's supposed to be the autorickshaw killer. Interesting.

What now?

The 1st day after 12th of March, when I come back home from work & there isn't a T20 match in progress.

Anyway, the league stage is over. The 4 semi finalists were finalised by the 2nd last league game & Kolkata still had a mathematical chance of making it to the last 4 in the very last game. Yes, this year's IPL has been the most competitive ever.

So here's the final standings before the semis ....


Mumbai Indians are the odds on favorites to win the title this year. They have dominated like no other team in the competition.

Chargers had a fantastic comeback after losing their way during the mid stage. Winning their last 5 games in a row & storming to 2nd place is some feat.

Chennai struggled more than they ever have, but made it to their 3rd consecutive semis appearance.

Bangalore began very well, but floundered later on. Managed a place in the top 4 by the skin of their teeth.

Delhi flattered to deceive. A strong team with weak performances. They don't have my sympathy.

Kolkata had their best showing ever, but messed up during crucial games far too often.

Rajasthan .... well, the 2008 fairytale is well & truly over. And with Warne having played out his last season, things will only get worse.

And finally Punjab .... they really blew it this year .... big time.

Samsung CE 103 VD

Wanted the black one, but opted for this since there already is an abundance of black colored 'white goods' at home. This is one common home gadget I am not at all familiar with. That's about to change now.

Prince

Manages to hold your interest .... be it throught the songs or the stunts or how over the top every second scene or script twist seems to be. Dunno why it has been so badly panned by the critics though.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC W310

Never really fancied a digital camera, what with the N73 delivering 3.2 megapixels of wonderful spur-of-the-moment pictures. But Shanu had been on the lookout for one since long.

I'd thought of going for Sony's S series of cameras, but this one was far sleeker & came with better features at a not so significant price difference. And Shanu wanted to this to be her purchase anyway, so went for it.

Heat!

I'm sweating inside the office! Definitely the warmest I've ever experienced in Bangalore.

SprtRd - the 4th service

I had my doubts when I saw Venkatesan at the service bay instead of the sales office. "Saar, 2 people resigned .... I have been moved into service now" .... oh well, just get my bike serviced & have a look at the squeaks from the brakes while you are at it.

Came home. The promised SMS informing me of service completion by 2 PM did not come. Nor did it come at 3. At 4, decided to march off to the dealership myself.

SprtRd was standing ready & polished. "Why didn't you send the SMS?", I ask at the payment counter .... "we were jusssst about to" comes the reply.

Riding back, something seems amiss. Take off to Reliance Fresh for the weekly shopping .... & it slowly becomes apparent .... something is jamming the rear wheel. It isn't freewheeling.

Off to the mechanic .... he diagnoses it as a chain too tight. Adjusts it pretty quickly. All seems well.

NOT the usual bike service that I am used to.

Ducati Multistrada

.... at the office parking lot!

Scything through ...

Moments come, which come but rarely when driving in Bangalore traffic, when we pass a signal just before it turns red, when a gap appears in the next lane just when you need it, when there is just enough space on the right of the fast lane to allow one to overtake a long line of cars & get to the front of the column, and when the soul of a driver, long suppressed, finds utterance.

Today was such a day, when nothing could stop my advance & when all potential obstacles just seemed to melt away as I approached them.

Amazing, it made me happy enough to want to make a blog post about it!

Easter worries

Today is Easter. And it was probably the most excited I've ever been on this day.

Shanu called Daddy on the way to church in the morning to wish him. I was in a foul mood because of having had to wake up early. And because of the back pain I'd picked up playing cricket during the team outing. And because the church is so far.

Any way, church over, we come back home. Shanu lays out lunch & I'm just about to dig in when Jolly calls - Dad's mobile is not reachable. Since the last 1 hour. And no one's picking up the land line. Hmmm, this don't sound good.

Try calling him about 10-15 times. The same result each time. Call up Bunty, maybe he can go & have a look. He doesn't pick up. Call up Anurag, he doesn't pick up either. Am beginning to get worried now. Anyway, decide to continue with lunch. Tasty, from Shanu, as usual.

5 minutes later Anurag calls up & apologises, he was having lunch it seems. Ask him to go & check out the house. He says he will. I am somehow not assured. Soon, Papa calls up - asks when was the last time we talked to Dad - give him the details - he says he'll go & check out the house with Vinni. I'm beginning to pray silently now.

Half an hour later, Z Fi calls - she sounds really worried. From what she says, the entire relatives network from Tata to Patna to Bombay is abuzz. God! Dad, what are you upto? I'm sitting on the bed sick with worry. Try to calm myself down. Think of alternatives - go down some if-then-else lines of thought. Think of looking up the flights out of Bangalore to Kolkata today.

Jolly calls up numerous times - no luck whatsoever. It's been about 4 hours now. Papa & Vinni couldn't find anything at home.

Around 4:30 in the evening, Shanu's been trying Dad's mobile for 10 minutes - suddenly a new message - the number is busy - some relief - didn't get through, but at least it's not out of reach anymore! In another couple of minutes she gets through - can hear Dad's voice - he'd gone off to Chandil on a test ride of his friend's new Tata Safari and hence was out of the network area for all this while. Relief all around.

Call everyone else - most already know. Call up Vinni after dinner to get all the juice from her first hand. Poor girl & Papa went to the house, to the neighbour's house, the government hospital & were just about to go to the Police when contact was established. The especially intense summer heat made her sick by evening. Thank God for people like her. The feeling of helplessness one gets sitting here so far away from the scene of action is just too overwhelming. Call up Y Fi in Bombay - she's scolded Dad like in anything. Just goes to show the bonds between them.

All's well that ends well then. But it sure was scary. Happy Easter!

The 800 ... going ... going ....

Maruti stops retailing the 800 in 13 cities where the BS4 emission norms come into effect from today.

The beginning of the end for the car that put middle class India on 4 wheels.

Holiday drought

Tomorrow, 2nd April, is a holiday for Good Friday. The next scheduled holiday is on the 2nd of September for Janmashtami ..... a straight 5 months without a single day's off from work!