The Other Dimension

2011-03-08T08:46:00.001-05:00

40 years of hard won dravidian victories are being squandered away at the alter of 2G scam.

Oil shock v2.0

2011-03-08T08:12:00.002-05:00

the oil countries represent underdeveloped of medieval societies.

they don't have representative governments.

they don't have diversified economies.

they don't have educational institutions which can build a diversified economies.

they have do eyewash things like supplying cheap petrol and power, which ultimately, is unsustainable.

they don't even have refining capacity & most often import them.

Political economy

2011-03-06T14:04:00.005-05:00

Much of world economic policies moves pretty much the same way around the world - even in seemingly disparate countries.

For example, when Nehruvian India was trying its hand at "Mixed economy" and "Planned/managed economy", so was, hold your hats, the UK under successive Labour governments. Infact the power of welfare state in the western countries (Save the US of A), was so immense, even the so called conservatives did not do much. Tory governments, inspite of enjoying 4 consecutive victories left Britain pretty much the way they started - deeply socialistic.

Then the New Labour burst into the scene, which promised to replace massive socialism with regulatory socialism, if you will.

A very similar trend can be discerned in India as well. Starting with '91, since the now famous balance of payments crisis, India has steadily drifted right. India's version of new labour if you will.

USSR/Russia has followed a very similar trajectory - communism replaced by Yeltsin's shock therapy and followed by Putin's stability.

Same goes for China.

The interesting thing is, these countries do not appear to be imitating each other, but appear to be following the political and economic realities of the day. A deeper understanding of these phenomenon is needed.

Competition

2011-03-06T03:52:00.002-05:00

Competition is at core of existence. It is nature.

Children compete for their mother's attention. Adults compete for mates. Animals compete for food. Any system that prohibits the competition is unnatural. It is against God. It is a great crime.

Religio-economic-political systems like caste system and feudal system, which prevent competition, are being swept away.

நான் வீழ்வேனென்று நினைத்தாயோ

2011-03-04T10:06:00.002-05:00

"தேடிச் சோறு நிதம் தின்று – பல
சின்னஞ்சிறு கதைகள் பேசி – மனம்
வாடி துன்பம் மிக உழன்று –பிறர்
வாட பலசெயல்கள் செய்து –நரை
கூடி கிழப்பருவமெய்தி –கொடுங்
...கூற்றுக் கிரையெனப் பின்மாயும் – பல
வேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போல் -நான்
வீழ்வே னென்று நினைத்தாயோ..' - பாரதி

"Eating food everyday

Making small talk

Getting depressed and suffering

Hurting others

Growing old

and then dying off

did you think I will also fall like other small men?"

Corruption

2011-01-09T00:35:00.005-05:00

When Sonia appointed a Dalit as the nation's chief justice, it was hailed. Now it turns out that he was corrupt to the core. The indications were always there - he refused to put assets online, he called a high court judge who did put his assets online a publicity hound, he dilly-dallied on another corrupt judge PD Dinakaran.

Another Dalit - A Raja is accused on orchestrating India's largest scam ever. The Dalit queen, Mayawati, herself an epitome of inefficiency and corruption.

India created reservation laws to lift the Dalits from centuries of slavery & to provide them with equal rights. Now, it seems all of that was to merely give rights to be equally corrupt. It is like as if someone is proving a point - We can do as well as you at least in corruption. What is more shameful is they use their being Dalits as a defense!

That is not to say everyone who is a Dalit is corrupt or inefficient - merely noting the notables.

2010-12-30T03:34:00.003-05:00

Love, hate, victory, defeat, virtue and sin, affairs, cheating, people's sense of gain and loss, are all predicated on a grand delusion - of infinite existence.

If people realize they have only few more years to live, would they act the same way? Would they indulge in all the set of activities they do now then? There is this recent story of a husband who paid a strange taxi driver few hundred dollars to murder his wife, while they were on their honeymoon. I know of another person who murdered his wife of 2 months and made it look like murder for gain in order to marry his girlfriend (whom his parents did not approve of). What exactly did these guys gain by taking lives of those innocent women?

These corrupt politicians and officials. The terrorists who kill and maim in name of some God. What do they get?

For one thing they all seem to be thinking they are going to get away with it. But, also, they all seem to be under the illusion that they are gaining enormously by those barbaric acts; they seem to believe they will live on in a manner which is infinitely better than their current stations in life. Illusion of infinite existence.

Another aspect which stands out - a pathological inability to be happy with what they have. They always want more, or something that they don't have - often forsaking what they already posses, causing lot of pain and suffering in the process.

At 30, I know I probably have another 30 years to live, perhaps a few more - what can I do in that time? How best to use it?

As human beings we can think and choose. I don't want to live a life of pettiness, of cheating, of lying, of dishonesty.

I want to be happy with my wife and family, my career. Pursuit of happiness - but civilized.

Subversion by private media

2010-11-29T05:16:00.003-05:00

Private media has done great things for Indian democracy. But, from time to time, it also subverts the democracy. NDTV in particular is guilty of having a political agenda.

It deliberately exaggerated the "protests" during the Arjun Singh orchestrated "OBC reservation" drama. It took some 150 students "protesting" at AIIMS and tried to make you believe it is a crowd of 150,000. I have nothing against people protesting for or against a policy - I have everything against media twisting and subverting it.

Now, the Radia tapes. Wow. Ratan Tata has had to give a rare interview, has moved supreme court to stop its further release.

India is for sale.

NATO Phonetic Alphabet

2010-08-06T06:13:00.000-04:00

A Alpha
B Bravo
C Charlie
D Delta
E Echo
F Foxtrot
G Golf
H Hotel
I India
J Juliet
K Kilo
L Lima
M Mike
N November
O Oscar
P Papa
Q Quebec
R Romeo
S Sierra
T Tango
U Uniform
V Victor
W Whiskey
X X-ray
Y Yankee
Z Zulu

2010-07-30T14:42:00.000-04:00

to rise above the heights of all your fathers or fall into darkness with what is left of your kin.

Fire Ramesh (Environment minister)

2010-05-10T04:44:00.006-04:00

There is a stupid streak in Indians. Few people are immune from it. This is a tendency to venerate/appease competitors by sacrificing self interest at best or wantonly embracing outright suicide/defeat at worst.

Ramesh thinks Indian home ministry and a "security establishment" (sounds pakistanisc) are harming Chinese investment.

He will not be satisfied with anything short of Indian Military/Government's business conducted over equipment provided by Chinese telecom maker - Huawei. Because China has no history of espionage in foreign countries. China never hacks computer networks. They have never stolen technology from others.

People who elect such morons deserve exactly this type of leaders. China hasn't opened up a mundane industry like Steel ... even jailed some people for revealing steel production target as "compromising state secrets" ... a detail which Indian steel makers proudly display at entry gates (this year target: 5.5 million tons etc).

And this impotent cabinet minister - absolutely convinced of enormous importance of his ministry is displaying the same stupid streak as so many of his predecessors.

Mani shakar Iyer kept on insisting China and India need not compete for oil fields (the inept naive clown) ... and we should cooperate with them! China never cared simply acquired everything. Energy hungry India has made no acquisitions & is left to starve ... other than the one Russia gifted away to India in Siberia.

Prithiraj Chauhan pardoned Ghazni ... to be skinned alive, eyes knifed out and killed. Indians are stupid people. They elect stupid leaders. They deserve what they get.

P.S: Ramesh is not elected. He should be fired.

2010-05-06T07:57:00.003-04:00

David Coleman Headley - Son of former top ranking diplomat. Distantly related to Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Faisal Shezhad - Son of Vice Chief Marshall of Pak Airforce.

Top terrorists. Terrorist infested country. The entire country seems to be procreating terrorists!

Fire telecom minister A Raja

2010-05-01T03:09:00.000-04:00

Did Chidambaram order the phone tapping?

2010-04-26T02:15:00.002-04:00

First IB reports to Home ministry & also Dig vijay singh and he have not been getting along so well ...

Shame!

Two parrots and a monkey v2.0

2010-04-20T15:08:00.003-04:00

Read my previous post on this. Last time it was fighter planes. Now its frigates. Read US sells Warship to India and US sells warship to Pakistan.

Note that both of these ships are proof of US's undying friendship to India ummmm and wait, to Pakistan as well ... so that they can fight well. After all what are friends for. Hey, we have told them not to fight eh!

One has to wonder with friends like these who needs enemies?

Fire Lalit Modi too

2010-04-19T07:11:00.000-04:00

Fire Tharoor

2010-04-18T03:45:00.001-04:00

Hadrian's wall

2010-04-11T13:28:00.000-04:00

View Larger Map

anti logic

2010-04-07T16:58:00.002-04:00

the Maoist insurgency will eventually lead to a strong central government with a powerful paramilitary. This may even lead to further weakening of the state powers.

India's tension with China and Pakistan are also good for us and should be kept alive. Boundary dispute with China especially should never be resolved.

That is the ONLY way the stupid Indian state will retain a semblance of strong military and not expose us to new attacks from foreign powers in 50/60 years down the line.

2010-04-06T17:45:00.001-04:00

if a priest is found abusing children in his 'rectory' he will be 'defrocked'. I don't know about you but there is something wrong in these words.

That loser

2010-04-03T04:02:00.003-04:00

This girl Sania Mirza, who loses in every single tournament she enters wants to marry someone.

Pakis are going gaga over it, some clowns in India are going wtf!

If she wants to be second wife or concubine or whatever the hell its entirely up to her isn't it? If she wants to live in a terrorist infested crazy country, then that too is entirely up to her isn't it? Even if it is to a fanatic moron (banned by the way) who apologized to the "Muslims of the world" for "losing to India" in the t20 world cup.

Leave her alone. I wish media stops covering this nonsensical story.

2010-03-19T04:57:00.002-04:00

this guy eats like a pig, keeps burping all day.
sneezes in to a hanky and goes on to hold it between his teeth, bite into it, lick it and taste it.

am sick of this clown. wonder who recruits such morons.

Over valued Chinese and their under valued currency

2010-03-15T01:39:00.004-04:00

Why can't anyone in the world do anything about the arrogant Chinese to free their currency? And restore some balance to the world trade!

A quote from NY Times:

China buys dollars and other foreign currencies — worth several hundred billion dollars a year — by selling more of its own currency, which then depresses its value. That intervention helped Chinese exports to surge 46 percent in February compared with a year earlier.

Read rest of the article here. You visit China, you will find nothing cheap there. People in Shenzhen go to Hong Kong to buy cheap things. Really stupid how things work! How can every country in the world sit and merely whine about how big their respective deficits are with China, but nothing about it?

Womens bill - path to return of the criminals?

2010-03-13T03:10:00.004-05:00

Election commission, and several PILs have to be credited for the removal of rapists and murders from Parliament. That is not to say there aren't any more criminals in the haloed halls, still the rules have made it very hard for thugs and goondas to contest elections.

Will the womens bill (I fully support it) be used/misused by that uniquely Indian way? i.e. Laloo-Rabri formula ... where Rabri replaced Laloo for the worse!

Will the criminals' obedient wives & daughters will take their place? One may ask what is stopping them today also without this bill? We may have to wait for another 10 ~ 15 years to find out. But I will remain an optimist.

hindu archeology news

2010-03-10T04:13:00.008-05:00

Tamil Brahmi potsherds found at urn burial site
The Indus ‘non-script’ is a non-issue
Ancient Tamil settlement in Thailand with Indus scripts
Ancient Tamil settlements in Egypt & Rome
April 15, 2010: Deciphering the Indus script: challenges and some headway

Oct 15, 2011: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2538550.ece?homepage=true

Message from Oscar awards 2010

2010-03-09T01:33:00.002-05:00

Pro US Military rather than anti-marine corp movie (Avatar)?

will be amazing if...

2010-02-22T15:50:00.003-05:00

Gordon Brown really manages to pull it off..

What price shall we pay for nuclear power?

2010-02-12T04:02:00.007-05:00

Was it part of a quid pro quo on nuclear deal? I think so.

Indian leaders have traditionally been incompetent and naive when it comes to interest driven foreign policy. This episode is just one more proof.

Right to sow seeds

The right to reuse and sow seeds is under threat now. It is a freedom so fundamental and self evident, it finds no mention in any of constitutions of world (all speak of life, liberty etc), a freedom which is presumed to be an axiom, self evident, inalienable right of the farmer and God given since dawn of human civilization. Contained within the seeds of Mosento is a new age of slavery. One has to wonder why cant this American company introduce this food in its home country first?

Food production is bed rock on which national security rests. Giving up sovereignty in food production with or without nuclear power is laying foundations for slavery of millions.

India where hundreds peoples death is usually shrugged off and forgotten quickly might have seemed easy test ground. Thank God for saving us ... for now.

Lack political and media opposition

Faced with this unprecedented and unheard of threat, what are our political groups doing? Nothing at best.

The biggest worry for me is, both of the major political alliances are totally for introducing and testing of genetically modified crops. All the opposition for this came from markedly non-political entities. Jairam Ramesh often lost his cool - perhaps out of frustration rising out of his failure to deliver to his corporate bosses.

Indians may have won the round #1 of new wave of colonization. They will come at us harder and smarter next time. Brace yourselves.

Racism in Australia

2010-02-08T23:41:00.006-05:00

About the 'victims' themselves - Australians and foreigners may view everyone has Indians, but we have to dig deeper here. Almost all of the victims seem to be from Punjab belt. Almost all of them are doing petty courses like hair dressing and catering courses! Surely these courses are cheaper by the dozen in India. So what motive do these people have to cross the Indian ocean, across the great barrier reef to learn these low value/low skill courses?

They want to emigrate.

Australia probably has the friendliest immigration policy among all the OECD nations. They want more population, so they were turning a blind eye to several shady "colleges" - again most of which seem to be thriving in Victoria state, especially in Melbourne (some owned by Indians).

While Indian media has cried racism loudly (which may indeed be the motive in some cases), lets look at the mindset of "our guys". These guys wont hesitate to call disparaing names to their fellow Indians. "Madarasi" "Bihari" etc is part of their lexicon. I have seen a 65+ year old man teaching his 2/3 yr old grandson to call me "Madarasi". These are the guys who told couple of African cheerleaders that we don't want to see black girls performing here.

This attitude exists everywhere. From modern corporations to Punjabi gutters. This is not to say everyone from region is like this. But merely demonstrates that someone can be whiter than you :P. Hoo Haa!

So Why the fuck are you fucking crying now? As the Australians have said - "You have the right to leave".

Stop whining. (The guy who claimed to be set on fire couldn't even speak English but wants to become Australian). Suck it up or return to your gutters.

Rewarding bad behavior

2010-02-07T23:56:00.003-05:00

1. India has done a major about face and climb down since Mumbai attacks and has agreed to start talking to Pakistan. This is a familiar story for Indians who bother to follow news. There will be a major attack, India wont talk, Pakistan will deny and do nothing, after a while the pseudo-intellectual brigade will come out in force and start advocating talks, Impotent India will start talking, talks will go on for a year or two, another attack, India will stop talking till next cycle start.

2. US and its tired (disinterested) NATO allies want to start talking to Taliban about a possible settlement to pave way for their eventual withdrawal.

These decisions will only embolden Pakistan's myopic "strategic" thinkers to continue their polices of destruction and death. This is tantamount to telling Pakistan to keep up their terrorist training for long enough, we will tire and surrender.

Key is to get rid of the leadership. Kill Mullah Omar/Haqqani and their minions, everything will fall in place. Taliban will be rudderless, Pakistan will have no leverage.

Mumbai Marathon

2010-01-18T20:20:00.004-05:00

My first mumbai marathon. Finished in 4 hr 28 mins 11 sec's. My personal best, also my over all standing was 170.

I was so exhilarated in spite of the exhaustion, I felt no pain or cramps until next morning. Total adrenaline rush it was.

When I crossed the 30th km point in 2.58 and was still not feeling the crippling pains I had felt in kaveri marathon, I knew I was surely in for a sub 4.30 finish! As I was crossing the last 12 mile markers my happiness was increasing.

Strategy

Don’t go out too fast. You will be tempted. Resist. Don’t do it.

We all hear this all the time, but it doesn't work for me. I have to run at a fast steady pace at first. That's what I did. I did a 5.20 split for the first 7 kms or so ... the plan was to keep running till 21 kms. then start a walk for 1/2 mins as needed ... i.e. whenever tired or uphills or both etc. I was roughly doing 1.5/2 mins walk for every km I ran after 30th. Was doing abt 6 min/km in second half.

Food
Had carried 5 dairy milk fruit and nut chocolates. Ate 2 of them. Had to force myself to eat the second one. I was extremely hungry in the last 10 k but couldn't bring myself to eat the rest.

The last kilometer
I finished 41 kms in 4.23.30 and figured I was in real danger of missing the 4.30 mark; so i mustered whatever energy I could and ran the last km hard and fast (considering) and crossed the line in 5 mins or 12 kmph for line km.

Training without water
I often run without drinking water, am not sure if its a great idea but the idea is to train the body & mind to take get used to waterless conditions. The much hyped sea link section killed (mentally and physically) many runners, but that was the section I really started feeling better. I crossed 26th km and knew I can hold on till 30th I will be fine; which is what happened.

Public
The crowd support was great too; members of the public were out and distributing bananas, water etc.,. which was great.

Organizers & volunteers
Sea link section of about 6 km was without water; the ground temperature due to reflection from sea and road was much higher than other sections. Have to have aid stations and medical stations. I saw one runner collapsing and was delirious due to heat exhaustion and dehydration.

People were saying the course was about 300 meters longer! Don't know about that but this is a A event etc.

Vol's for the most part were awesome expect towards the end where they weren't of much help. And certainly no help at all for the weaker runners.

the Chinese solution

2010-01-13T10:42:00.004-05:00

When the inscrutable Chinese brain confronts an intractable problem, it invariably comes up with one simple solution. Build a great big wall!

Invaders from north - build a 4000 mile wall.
River is flooding - build the 3 gorges dam.
People talking on internet about government - build a great big firewall.

A wall everything.

Book: Descent into Chaos

2009-12-31T02:27:00.004-05:00

Ahmed Rashid is among the less than 5 truly intelligent persons alive in Pakistan. Book is lot of information, and some good analysis.

His well balanced analysis is found wanting when he discusses India sometimes, though not all the times. Most the blame, he lays, correctly at the feet of neo-con trio of Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush. Condi & Powell were truly irrelevant.

The battle is still raging, and one almost certainly rest of the world is going to lose. Obama will lose too. ISI and Pakistan will win this round, because they are too dumb to think anything other than destruction. Islamic terrorism will continue to flourish out of Pakistan.

Lucid, fast and well written. Read it.

Book: First salute

2009-12-18T22:04:00.002-05:00

Just finished reading this book by my all time fav author: The First salute.. As usual great stuff, the original words used by key players, the wit, the sarcasm, above all the bigger picture in few sentences.

Must read.

Change the climate you morons

2009-12-18T21:58:00.001-05:00

Hong Kong

2009-07-15T08:50:00.004-04:00

Sunday run & the chase

2009-07-12T13:53:00.004-04:00

Went to run a 10K only with the RFL folks, ended up doing it twice .. so 20K.

A bit of an adventure ... at round 17KMs ... this group of nasty looking bulls with sharp horns started chasing me. They would have tested the sharpness of their horns on me, but for the runner (thanks man) behind me who yelled ... and I managed to jump into the bushes ...

I had music at full volume ... so the dude had to yell really loud after running 17 KMS. Rest of the day was quite uneventful.

Trek: Nanling National park

2009-07-12T13:32:00.003-04:00

This national park is in Guangdong province ... about 5 hours northwest of Shenzhen.

2009-04-07T23:03:00.000-04:00

Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind.

Few good (sales) men

2009-03-28T08:52:00.001-04:00

Sales: “You want answers?”

Finance: “I think we are entitled to them!”

Sales: “You want answers?!”

Finance: “I want the truth!”

Sales: “You can’t handle the truth!!!”

Sales (continuing): “Son, we live in a world that requires revenue. And that revenue must be brought in by people with elite skills. Who’s going to find it? You? You, Mr. Operations? We have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom.

You scoff at sales division and you curse our lucrative incentives. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what we know: that while the cost of business results are excessive, it drives in revenue.

And my very existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, drives REVENUE! You don’t want to know the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at staff meetings … you want me on that call. You NEED me on that call!

We use words like comps, migration, discounts, flex licensing, global purchase agreements, butt-fusion. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent negotiating something. You use them as a punch line!

I have neither the time nor inclination to explain myself to people who rise and sleep under the very blanket of revenue I provide and then question the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you” and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a phone and make some sales calls. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!”

Finance: “Did you expense the lap dances?”

Sales: “I did the job I was hired to do.”

Finance: “Did you expense the lap dances?”

Sales: “You’re goddamn right I did!”

PS: Got this from a colleague, not my writing :)

Trek: Trekking equipment in India

2009-03-13T20:55:00.001-04:00

Camping and Trekking Equipment stores in Delhi and NCR

Trekkers Point
Main Entrance, Mezzanine Floor
PVR Plaza, Connaught Place
New Delhi - 110001
Tel : 23325475, 23323362 Fax:23713245
Mob : 9313709326
mail : eagle@eagle-grp.com coleman@eagle-grp.com

STIKAGE
(Outdoor Adventure Sports Equipment and Tours)
7-UB, Jawahar Nagar-Kamla Nagar, Delhi-110007 India
Phone: 91 11 23850036, 23850026 Telefax: 91 11 23850026
Mobile: Surender Sonik- 9810025536 / Ravi Sonik- 9868064114

Rocksport Outdoor Gear Store
127, Rajendera Bhawan, Rajendra Place,
New Delhi
+91 9811398050
+91 9810215848

Adventure18
Contact: Mohit Oberoi
18, Satya Niketan, (Opp. Venkateshwara College), New Delhi - 110 021 (India)
Ph: +91-11-32970400 Fax : 26878888
E-Mail : mo1@vsnl.com, adventurers18@yahoo.com

Wildventures SF-002
Contact: Kashav Jani
Dlf Galleria Shoping Complex,Dlf City, Phase-Iv
(Above: Sitaram Bhatia Clinic),Gurgaon-122002,Haryana,
Ph: +91-124-4057778, 9313979994, Email: wildventures@vsnl.net

CARABIN adventure
C-62/3, Okhla Industrial Area,
Phase-2,
New Delhi
110020
Mobile: +91 9873780333, 9818889767
Tel: 91 11 41611082
Email: rajat.sethi@hotmail.com
www.carabinadventure.in

CARABIN INC.
K17/4A, D.L.F. Phase -2,
Gurgaon-122002
Tel.No.0124-4362362,4362636
Fax.No.0124-4362636
Mobile:9811076556/9811615298
Email:yashhanda@yahoo.com

Adventure 18 Noida :
Bhoja Market, Behind Vinayak Hospital,
Sector 27, Noida
(Ph. 0120 2532400)

Chogo Ri - Mr. Hemant Sachdeva
511, Kailash Building
26, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
phone- 01123312783, 01123312787

Han-Yin, Korean Equipment
F-25A HauzKhas
Rakesh : 98919 40627
Gauvrav : 98919 00627

Himalayan Gear, (previously Dimension Wilderness)
25, Chirag Delhi. Ph: 9350225713.

Shradha Outdoor - Gurgaon-01242561675

Zanskar Outdoor Equipment
Office: Pocket A-2/110 F,
Mayur Vihar, Phase 3,
Delhi - 110096
Workshop: RZ-1174/23, Tughlakabad extension,
New Delhi - 110019
Phone no.: 32961516, 22627453
Mobile no.: 9811676556, 9873323362
Email: zanskar@hotmail.com

Camping and Trekking Equipment stores in Mumbai

Avi Industries
13, Shriji Sadan, 352, Chandavarkar Road,
Matunga (E), Mumbai 400 019
Phone: +91 22 2414 3810 / 6577 9787
Email: avinashkamath@gmail.com

Adventure 18 mumbai
9/10 Wallace Appt, 4 Roushir Bharuch Marg,
Grant Road, Mumbai - 400007
+(91)-(22)-23803102
+(91)-9892626812
adventure18@gmail.com

Nisarga Vihar
106 Adarsh Commercial Centre, Behind Gurudwara Guru Nanak Nagar,
Ambadi Road, Vasai W, Thane - 401201
+(91)-2503206583
+(91)-9892472377
mantrims@vsnl.com

Great Outdoors India
Shop No.1, Gautam Villa Soc.,
Ghantali Devi Rd., Thane (W),
Maharashtra, INDIA 400 602
+91 22 540 3144
+91 22 542 2072
Fax 0091 22 540 9920

factory
Unit No.1,2,3 & 4, 2nd Floor, Sachin Industrial Estate,
Kolbad Rd., Kolbad, Thane (W),
Maharashtra, INDIA 400 601.
0091 22 544 3034

Outdoor Travel Gear
207, Hanuman Industrial Estate, G.D. Ambekar Marg, Wadala,
Mumbai 400031. INDIA
+91 - 22 - 2412 2030
+91 - 22 - 6663 5228
E-Mail smartdessignsindia@gmail.com

Camping and Trekking Equipment stores in Bangalore

GetOffUrAss in Indira Nagar.
@ 472, Sri Krishna Temple Road
Indira Nagar 2nd Stage
Bangalore
Ph : 51161600

Ozone
5th main ,12th block,
Kumarpark West
Bangalore
Phone / Fax : 3310441,3448054
EMail : ozoneindia@vsnl.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Camping ,Trekking, Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Paragliding and White Water Rafting etc. They also manufacture Outdoor camping equipment.

Summiters Outdoors Private Limited
Travel, Trekking, Adventure Gears
#24, "Belaku",
1st Cross, APC Layout,
Thindlu, Vidyaranyapura post,
Bangalore - 560097
Telephone: +(91)-80-2364-7529
Mobile: +(91)-98456-30364, 99456-48287, 98800-42096
Email : info@summiters.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

They also conduct trekking tours which cover bird watching, rock climbing, river rafting, nature walks, skywatching, aero sports, water sports, homestays.

Summit/Wildcraft
(Near Shirdi Temple)
Cambridge Road,
Cambridge Layout,
Bangalore.

Wildcraft
#81/B, lakshmi mansion, 22nd cross, 3rd block jayanagar,bangalore
ph. +91 88 26555608

Camping and Trekking Equipment stores in Kolkata

UBAC
+(91)-(33)-23512628,23543627
34, Mahatma Gandhi Rd,, Raja RAM Mohan Roy Sarani, Kolkata - 700009
mon-fri 1.30am to 6pm/ sat 12noon to 6pm

Alpine
Mr. Dilip Naskar 9830194296 closed on sun and mon / off.hrs 3pm to 7pm
+(91)-(33)-26434319
+(91)-9830194296
18/6, Ballygunge Place (E), Ballygunge, Kolkata - 700019

IDRIS
Address: 6/14 Nilmoni Haldar Lane, (top floor), Kolkata -13
phone: +91 33 2245 5154.

RIA MOUNT SUPPORT
OFF-4/2A,WATERLOO STREET
2ND FLOOR
KOLKATA-700069
TEL-033-22135048
WORKS-3,D.N.STREET
HARINAVI
MOBILE-098831 76092 / 094320 75370
NAME-SATYAJIT KAR

Camp Craft
+(91)-(33)-24715107
+(91)-9433077447
camp_craft@rediffmail.com
25a, Nehru Colony, Regent Park, Kolkata - 700040
Snow Down Mountain Equipment
26837111,26850590
Hooghly, Kolkata

Yak Equipment
+(91)-(33)-26838007
yakequip_cal@yahoo.com
9,Sahid Kanai Kanan, Ru De Morera St,, Barasat, Hooghly - 712136

Chakra equipments, Shyambazar. Phone No. +91 33 2530 0648.

Cliffline - (033) 24160155 / 94332 79318

Hi-Trek - (033) 26460979 closed on thu and sun / off.hrs 2pm to 8pm

Camping and Trekking Equipment stores in Pune

Adventure World
Address - Kothrud Showroom - Flat no 6,
Bld no - 5, Daulat Soc, Opp Choice health Club,
Behind McDonald, Karve Rd, Kothrud, Pune-411029
ph - 020-25423188,64000482 Cell - 9422504030

Koregaon Park Showroom - Shop No - 12,
Gulmohar Garden, Opp Koregaon Police Chowky,
7th Lane, Meeranagar, North Main Rd, Koregaon Park, Pune - 411001
Ph - 9422504030

M/S X-limitz.
Contact: Mr. Surender Shelke
Adventure World,
Flat no - 6, Bld no - 5,Daulat Soc, Opp Choice Health Club,
Behind McDonald, Karve Rd, Kothrud, Pune - 411029.
Ph: +91-20-25423188

Strategy

2009-03-03T06:27:00.000-05:00

Goal, Capability and staying power

Trek: Cambodia ... Angkor Wat

2009-02-24T11:21:00.005-05:00

I have been dreaming about visiting Cambodia for over 10 years now ... Finally.

Reached here after grueling 8 hour bus & Car journey from Bangkok, the Cambodian visa officer game me some anxious moments ... seeing every page in the passport. He lit up as soon as he saw my US Visa ... "Oh you go to US too?" ... he processed it quickly after that :)

Anyway bought a 3 day pass to Angkor ... biked up 7 kms to Angkor and managed to get some good shots ...

Pakistani ambassador 'Condones' Mumbai attacks ....

2008-12-15T21:17:00.007-05:00

... she evidently wants to say 'condemn'. But watch her repeatedly 'condone'. Someone please teach this bimbo some English !!! Perhaps its the Jihadi education coming out in the fake accent.

Pakistani strategy

2008-11-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

Mumbai has not been brought to its knees. Stock exchange was open, Offices and Reserve bank were open. Things are normal everywhere else.

Pakistani strategy for sometime has been
a. To project terror acts against India as "home grown"
b. To project any mention of Pakistani involvement as "counter productive"

a. India has very large Muslim population, there are a disgruntled few. There is no way they can get trained/armed to the extent these groups have been without Pakistani involvement. That does not mean they are "home grown" with a "domestic agenda".

It was a Muslim who built India's missile and nuclear programs. I have many many Muslim friends who do not feel the need to go out start killing people.

These "home grown" terrorists are really peddling ISI's agenda.

b. Terror acts are different from burglaries wherein you CANNOT get finger print/DNA evidence. It is impossible to come up material evidence. No country or organization, not even the United States can do that (GITMO is case in point). Calling themselves "Indian Mujahedeen" / "Deccan Mujahedeen" fools no one. The training, funding, inspiration and arming of these terrorists all originate from Pakistan. Period.

Movie: W

2008-11-09T01:00:00.002-05:00

Very pro Bush. Very very pro Bush Sr.
Very kind to Powell, Cheney, Tenet and even Blair.

Thrashes Rice, Rumsfeld.

Mediocre production and direction.

2008-11-05T11:10:00.000-05:00

Old

2008-07-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

for the first time in my life i am feeling old. this has been the case since the day i turned 28. pheww. i need to get a life.

Book: Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War": How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World

2008-07-06T10:10:00.002-04:00

This book by NBC commentator & former Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan is an exercise in delusion bordering on racism.

The question he asks in preface - why western influence is in decline is answered not in his outlandish theories but someone so prominent believes in such a jaundiced version of world history.

No doubt if west keeps producing such "leaders" western influence is bound to decline.

4th of July at Pittsburgh

2008-07-05T09:19:00.001-04:00

Providence? Chosen Date??

2008-07-03T18:35:00.002-04:00

July 4, 1776 -- US declared it's Independence from Britain and its king.
July 4, 1827 -- Slavery was abolished in New York State.
July 4, 1947 -- India Independence Bill presented before British Parliament.

Alaska

2008-06-25T00:38:00.001-04:00

Trek: Zion National Park

2008-05-24T20:31:00.001-04:00

Trekking at zion national park turned out to be far harder than I thought. Everything from unexpectedly high ranges, longer distances (what appeared to be), lack of water, food, added to the extreme fatigue (result of doing Grand canyon day before).

There was luck too, I ran into 4 guys who had a water filter to suck up water from the dirty cess pool which was named - west rim spring. I bought MSR butane propane mix tank (found the shop by sheer luck) - which enabled me to have a good lunch in middle of jungle.

On the way.

Just as you enter.

Resting under a pine tree (my favorite resting place) near camp #3.

I peeked out for just a second from the tent to see this amazing sight. Almost full moon and forest. I was lying in middle of all this on top a mountain. Thank you God.

My camp in the morning. Couple of deers came to check it out.

The hills on either side and the zion valley in the middle. You can see the tiny little virgin river which carved out these mighty canyons. Amazing what persistence can do over 140 million years.

Trek: Grand canyon - North Rim

2008-05-20T16:16:00.002-04:00

Bridge on north kaibab trail.

Standing out for 130 million years.

No lens is wide enough to capture the grand canyon.

2008-05-07T15:30:00.001-04:00

Wanted

2008-05-04T08:59:00.004-04:00

Molecular, marine biology (or something cool like that) expert
Leftist, loves earth, loves traveling
serious about back-country and wilderness hiking
spontaneous, open to impulsive stuff
lively eyes

rest we can work out.
asking for way too much??

Congress party and sycophants

2008-04-15T18:39:00.004-04:00

Two of Sonia's most vocal opponents died in accidents. Divine intervention?

Anyway, now apparently she has asked her party men to put an end to "sycophancy" in congress party. Wow. I mean seriously, WOOOW!!

Isn't that the most central aspect of being a congress man? Netaji in his autobiography wrote Gandhi demands everyone mortgage their intelligence for his whims.

Sonia has indeed achieved some remarkable things. If she indeed puts an end to sycophant culture of congress - what an enduring legacy that will be.

PS: Whom does she think she is kidding?

Finish line

2008-03-23T19:49:00.002-04:00

My friends who have done things before I did them tell me about the joy they felt when it was all over. When they crossed the finish line, when they completed the task they took on.

I have almost never felt that joy. At least not at that very moment. I am saying almost because I was always relieved that its over.

Every time I took on something worth mentioning and actually finished it, it was invariably followed by a phase of clean up - tie the loose ends, thank everyone, reconcile, settle.

No overwhelming sensation of victory. But I cherish those memories. Crave to create more of them.

Mountain bike

2008-03-16T16:54:00.001-04:00

My latest splurge - A trek mountain bike.

Movie: The bank job

2008-03-10T07:47:00.006-04:00

Best movie so far in 2008...

This is a truly a tale of "un-intended consequences". Very well made movie.

One thing which stood out for me, was a character's similarity to one in V S Naipaul's book - The Guerrillas. I suppose Micheal X is the inspiration for the protagonist in Naipaul' book.

Guerrillas is without a doubt the most in-your-face book I have ever read. I was upset for days over the ending - an ending which was shown in the movie yesterday. My spontaneous reaction and murmurings had my neighbor confused, till I explained to her later.

Now I am able to connect the dots.

Trek: Raccoon creek

2008-02-24T09:33:00.003-05:00

Desolate.

Frozen lake.

Guess where I am going?

2008-02-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

This time it looks like a vast left wing conspiracy, Mrs. Clinton

2008-01-27T19:30:00.000-05:00

Vast sections of the Democratic establishment seems to have decided given a choice the Clinton's should step away.

Weird how things turn out. Let's see who wins.

Colonial game; colonial mindset; colonial treatment

2008-01-07T23:09:00.000-05:00

I don't watch cricket.

I used to love it. Love it. The match fixing scandal was so devastating I never went back to it, except on rare occasions when Sachin shows glimpses of his greatness.

This episode with Australia touched a nerve.

One man's word against another. How do you decide?

Australian witnesses, a South African referee, a British lawyer. Indian guilty. We have heard this before. In countless stories of "White man's burden" in India. Bhagat Singh to VOC. Similar court, Similar circumstances, same old verdict.

Indian is guilty. Alright.
Does he lack spine as well?

Book: In age of turbulance

2008-01-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

Alan Greenspan cuts through the India imminent super power hype. He points out what India needs to do in coming years to sustain its impressive (dubious?) growth - concentrate of manufacturing by running a weak currency.

Mr Greenspan is wrong on one count. He says India has chosen to excel in services sector. That is not true.

India chose to destroy it's manufacturing base.
India did not know how to destroy the nascent computer and allied services sector.

Ahmmmmm ...

Haunted

2008-01-04T10:36:00.000-05:00

I don't believe in ghosts. Let me make that clear.

But something absolutely unbelievable has been happening in my apartment lately.

Incident # 1
Mithun asked me why I called him on 2 Jan. I said I didn't. He showed his phone with a missed call. I looked into my phone and there was no outgoing call. To anyone .. not just him.

Incident # 2
I was sitting the couch watching TV and suddenly the volume started going up ... all the way to max. I thought I was sitting on the remote or its wedged between cushions. I started looking for it and no remote !!!!!!!!!

I found the remote 3 meters away on the dining table !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I am living a ghost. Though I don't know why it's calling Mithun and increasing volume. What are you telling me ghost?

2008-01-02T11:26:00.000-05:00

I was in Bangalore's brigade road on new year's eve of 2004 when I saw some 'party goers' were trying to grab a woman from her motorcycle.

News is pouring from every corner of India of girls being molested in mumbai, kochi & patna, teased etc makes me think some people need to be told what "partying" is.

I know such guys. It is very hard to describe their mindset, suffice it to say they are pretty dumb. They all believe Bollywood is real! Logic and reason doesn't penetrate their bird brains.

I remember once I tried to talk some of my friends (girls) out of going to one such "party place" - unsuccessfully. And it wasn't a pleasant experience for anyone. I was in rage ... such twisted logic of 'feminism' gets to me.

Only parallel I can draw is - deliberately jumping into a snake pit claiming it is my right. You don't fight with a pig - you get dirty and pig enjoys it. You know what I mean?

Bhutto Assassination

2007-12-27T12:50:00.000-05:00

She lived and died by the Gun. The Frankenstein she helped create - Fundamentalist radical Islamic Jihad in Kashmir & Taliban in Afghanistan for her own political gain has finally consumed her.

The selfish, corrupt style of politics she practiced meant she couldn't have had a heir apparent or a proper succession plan. Like most charismatic, shortsighted leaders she leaves behind a much more dangerous world, and a vacuum unlikely to be filled in near future.

Pakistani Army is responsible for everything that is wrong with Pakistan and to an extent even the whole world. It is time to liquidate them & that failed notion of a country bread for single purpose of bleeding India through a thousand cuts.

Her life will be a testament to the proverb: You reap what you sow.

Movie: The Golden Compass

2007-12-25T08:28:00.001-05:00

- Majesterium is the Church.
- Intercision is inquisition & all other atrocities carried out by Church or in name of the Pope.
- Battle for freewill and scientific inquiry against ignorance & total control is renaissance.
- The Golden Compass represents likes of Galileo, Newton etc who seek and speak the objective truth.

I now understand why the ultra right wing neo-con fundamentalists are so against this movie.

Shame: US Military Aid to Pakistan

2007-12-24T11:12:00.001-05:00

What kind of army will put itself at the service another sovereign power, claim to be "ally" and then claim reimbursements for its "services".

The word is mercenary. The worst kind of scum. That too inflating the "bills" ... Oh my God what a shame. It is a SHAME. On one hand Pervez claims he runs a very professional, motivated, disciplined army. One other hand he claims he doesnt have money to conduct basic military campaign even a 2 bit army can run.

This article in New York Times lays it thread bare. I quote:

the military carefully checked whether Pakistan carried out the operations it claimed and typically approved only 80 to 90 percent of each invoice.

THEY DON'T APPROVE? Getting reimbursed is shameful enough, they reject your bills - absolute humiliation. Pakistani Army: You call yourself a proud force? Shame Shame Shame.

I wonder if United States is creating another monster out of Pakistan just as it created Taliban. Only this time it is not a pack of rag tag goat heads, but a nuclear armed, delusional, corrupt force.

I feel bad for Pakistani people - their military has kept them fooled for better part of last century about an non-existent India threat. I feel bad for Americans, who are being taken for a ride by an incompetent, self serving foreign army. Most of all I fear what India might have to deal with in coming decades, once United States turns its back on the region as it has so often done.

Movie: Charlie wilsons war

2007-12-22T22:33:00.001-05:00

Movie itself is very well made, mostly accurate. Full of bluntness and sarcasm. Loved this movie. Best movie of 2007.

Seeds of 9/11 were sown in that fateful decade. Especially loved the part where Zia demands all "help" should be routed through Pakistan - thus creating the 10 headed monster that is Taliban and Al Qadea.

Party

2007-12-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

I guess I have written something like this before. But still ... these parties!!

I went to one yesterday, as soon as I entered the room I saw a sea of dull faces busy doing something. And one of the organizer girls came by said "Haiii" - the usual American greeting as if you are the only person they wanted to see.

As soon as she left I ran out of that place ... got confronted today by another one. Boo!

We had an after office drinking session today and I got invited to 2 more parties ... worst - I cannot run out them ...

We were having a nice discussion on Steel industry strikes, Bob told me USS was on strike in 1980 - the year his second son (and I) was born, how difficult it was for him & his family to live after taking the pay cut ... and how for first 25 years of his career with USS, he was literally hanging by a thread to his job.

Brian told me he was a strike child ... born 1961, during another massive USS strike when he father was out of job. So no childhood photos, even the photos he has are with cloths with many patches ... (originally his brother's clothes). Whoever thinks Americans had it easy is probably wrong !!!

Both of them said they will vote for any democrat this time, fed up with repubs ...

I think after work drink sessions are good. :)

Movie: I am legend

2007-12-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

I am dud ...

7 things

2007-12-12T13:31:00.000-05:00

Tagged by EU, the doctor: Here it goes

I like surprising people ... i try to make it appear like sudden move ... even things which i do after lot of planning. i like watching that surprise on their faces.

I often contradict myself, but all are true. :)

I like climbing move than descending.

I love taking photos of friends when they dont expect/are not looking.

I have never felt home sick. And I have stayed away

I can spend a life time reading history.

I can't sleep during daytime.

2007-12-11T22:34:00.000-05:00

I am helpless, pissed off, upset, angry. planning planning planning so help me God.
God. Help me. Please.

Libraries & burning them

2007-12-11T13:26:00.002-05:00

Destroying a library somehow remains in public consciousness more than any thing else. I am not really sure why. They are remembered even more than the death toll in war/conflicts/riots.

Nalanda – burning this library by Taliban’s ancestors is recounted in countless books and folklore. Surely that invasion must have resulted in a large death toll. No one will tell you how many people died. They will tell you how many days the library kept burning.

Louvain library, Belgium – destruction of this library during the First World War by Germans became a rallying point among allies and galvanizing public opinion against Germans.

Jaffna public library – Burning of this library by the Sinhala police in June 1981 ultimately resulted in creation of LTTE - the struggle went from Gandhian style peaceful movement to a ruthless military campaign ... and shows no signs of stopping

2007-12-10T10:42:00.001-05:00

There is pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea and the music in its roar
I love not woman the less, but Nature more.

Apologies to Lord Byron for altering this wonderful poem. Rest of this poem can be found here.

The movie Into the wild starts with this slide. Loved it.

Movies

2007-12-09T16:17:00.000-05:00

Watched Into the wild yesterday night. Went for a late night show (after a long time). We were alone in the hall. Just 2 of us. Very creepy it was. Loved the movie & the story.

Watched the following at NYC:
Micheal Clayton: Boo ! Attempt to capitalize on Clooney image. Juvenile ending.
Bee movie: Right, it is for kids.
beowulf: Crap.
American gangster: Nice. As far as a true story can go.

Weight

2007-12-03T19:30:00.000-05:00

I have gained 10 kilos in 10 months.

I used to have mowgli's law: I can neither gain nor lose weight.

Have to stop Qdoba & cheese filled burritos.

2007-11-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

its been 2 months since i did some work any work ...

My 2 cents on American presidential politics

2007-11-27T22:51:00.001-05:00

Republicans: Collection of clichés.
Democrats: Terrified of republicans & their clichés.

American politicians: Total lack of leadership. Where are the JFK's and FDR's?

My prediction:

Republican nominee: Huckabee
Democratic nominee: Edwards
Winner: Edwards

2007-11-26T16:44:00.000-05:00

When you are facing a loaded gun, whats the difference?

If you have to fight, how does it matter if her face is pretty or not?

Manhattan

2007-11-18T17:25:00.000-05:00

View from the Adi's apartment window ...

Adi for some reason decided a bar which is next to a gentlemen club must be owned by same person therefore share facilities. He had to confirm it with the bar maid.

Adi: So these two places are shared?
bm: Which 2 places?
Adi: This bar and next door ...
bm: That is a gentlemen club, we are a sports bar. They show their boobs and we don't.

Material to take his happiness for another year ...

Ok I had to go here ... Nasdaq stock exchange

On a bench in central park ...

To New York City

2007-11-15T16:42:00.000-05:00

for next week ...

Kid stories - part II

2007-11-12T19:18:00.000-05:00

Another little cousin of mine was being fed by his mom on the terrace. He spotted a rough looking guy who had a beard and was sporting a turban.

He is 4 yrs old and in all of his infinite wisdom asked her

Mommy, Is that a terrorist?

No

Will he place bomb under our house?

No

Come lets get out of here.

He dropped his toy, left his slippers, wriggled out my aunt's hands and ran down the stairs.

At that moment we all had a good laugh, but think about it ... its kind of sad. Are we are raising a whole generation of kids who are already biased, scared and too ready to stereotype?.

For God's sake you are 4 years old, what do you know about terrorism, or bombs or even death. I was a real kid at that age.

ps: That's how I controlled him for rest of the day ... muhahaha

supply chain and fat men

2007-11-07T13:58:00.000-05:00

the middle man acting as agent used to purchase from farmers, reselling to wholesaler, to distributors and packagers and to retailers and finally to customers.

the new supply chain paradigm threatens to sweep away this age old multi tier process into 2 steps ... directly purchase from farmers and sell to end customers. Vola ... farmers finally make more money - pumping in unheard of amounts of cash into rural India ... and consumers get it cheaper releasing disposable income to spend on other things ... further benefiting the economy.

this effectively disenfranchises the fat middle man who was adding no value to the produce. now here in lies the social and political element ... for historical reasons only certain castes were allowed to do the "middle man" business. and they are a powerful political group ... a dominant business and political force. they are not letting go easily ... as we have seen in UP.

will corporates win or fat middle man? i think corporates. because the policy formulators are another class of fat middle men. they need bribes. who is going to pay them more bribes. the corporates.

now thats how india works. my india. :)

What all I had to do manage kids

2007-11-05T13:55:00.000-05:00

My 7 year old cousin Krishna was torturing me like anything when we were all gathered at a wedding ...

He went into the Groom's room for something.

Flash.

He came back to harass me ... and I informed him whoever goes into that room needs to get married today.

The look on his face ... oh my god ... he was really scared. Without wasting time I told him to find a girl for himself ... he stood up and looked around and found only 60 years+ ladies. He said "please dont do that".

I had him eating out of my hands for next 2 days. Muhahahahahaha.

Home

2007-10-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

Leaving on a short trip to India tomorrow.

Trek: Raccoon creek state park

2007-10-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

Raccoon creek state park has become my weekend home ... here are some pics from some weeks before ...

This is on the forest trail, western circuit.

Climbing report: Mt Elbert

2007-10-01T14:02:00.000-04:00

The weather prediction turned out to be wrong. It was 10 times worse than prediction. 20 below freezing, wind, blizzard, 60 mph gusts, hail storms, 3 inch of snowing in 1 hour.

From this

To this ...

And to this ... all in few minutes

Tarun still hiding under the small ledge we found ... where we sat out the hail for about 2 hours ...

Mt Elbert & rest of Sawatch Range

We did reach 13500 ft ... within shooting range of the peak. We turned around, left the peak for another day.

Mt Elbert

2007-09-28T12:13:00.000-04:00

Mowgli is going to climb the second tallest peak in Continental United States ...Mt Elbert in Colorado this weekend. Elbert is at altitude of 14,433 feet above mean sea level ... & Weather forecast has become ominous ... but come rain or shine I am climbing it ... :) ...

There is a plan B to climb Long's peak in case weather doesnt relent at Elbert. Let me see ...

Base ball game: Pirates Vs Giants

2007-08-17T10:20:00.000-04:00

This is Barry bonds, lets just say he is like Sachin Tendulkar of baseball. Highest number of home runs. But he is tainted by a doping scandal. Something our Sachin is not.

The PNC park stadium from level 3. Home of Pittsburgh Pirates. The tall brown building is my office.

A 'pitcher'. Its funny, the pitch is so much shorter than cricket, and they just throw .. a method illegal in Cricket. Still the ball travels at 70 miles per hour only. That's medium pace in Cricket.

Breaking news

2007-08-13T14:16:00.000-04:00

Chairman of board of directors came today. He asked us if you were the CEO what would you do? I made my pitch. He said he liked it. Hurrraaaaaaaaayy.

Bourne Ultimatum

2007-08-13T12:48:00.000-04:00

As with other Bourne movies, I loved this one too. Matt looks old & heavy. Fast fights & always 2 steps ahead of his enemies. Though little dragged out, it was still a good end to the series.

2007-08-12T01:52:00.000-04:00

I have been spending past few days laughing my hearts out. I always knew things will go this way. Just that it took some time & of course the rats deserted me long back.

I found a trail near Pittsburgh that goes all the way to Washington DC. It was paved - so it took the fun out a bit, but once I was out of city, it was wonderful.

Watched 300, excessively violent, with too many agendas & messages. Lousy movie.

The jealous wife syndrome

2007-08-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

Pakistanis want a similar civilian nuclear deal as agreed with India from US.

Among the several reasons quoted in opposition to the deal, one totally cracked me up - India's record on non proliferation is not good it seems. India redirected nuclear material from Cirus reactor in 70's to make its first bomb.

It is factually correct.

But proliferation by definition means, sharing nuclear technology with foreign countries. Something Pakistan excels at, not India.

Pakistanis are behaving like a jealous wife of a next door neighbor.

2007-08-07T08:26:00.001-04:00

Aryabatta screwed me
I always get 0

Some of my favorite photos

2007-08-05T16:27:00.000-04:00

The criteria for this list is, none of these were posed for the camera. All of it was shot on the spur of the moment - kodak moment if you will.

Shot at Top slip near Coimbatore. I got this shot and ran for my live after it.

The Kingfisher.
Shot at Kodai lake. It was kind of hard to get him to pose for my camera.

Ashok.
At Rohtang pass, while on a fool hardy attempt to climb it. We were at 4000 meters above sea level, oxygen content in atmosphere is only a fraction of what it is at sea level. I was sitting on a rock gasping for air, when he arrived huffing and puffing. I love this photo because apart from meeting the criteria, reflection off his spec's too was perfect.

Aditya & Raghu.
While climbing Kudremukh near Bangalore. We had climbed 7 kilometers, when the forest officer on a routine rounds stopped and asked us for the permit - which we didnt have. She ordered us to stay put while she completes her inspection, so that she can take us along with her to the starting point.

Talk of demoralized troops. Aditya & Raghu were devastated. Again I love this because this was a natural reaction after she left us to continue her round.

Marc.
This was shot on 7 day on the MTB circuit in Himalayas. We had to carry our bikes on our back for over 12 kilometers to the peak and then ride now. It was a test of endurance. The thing about Marc was he was sick from day 2. Here he is seen struggling ... I mean really struggling, refusing to give up, refusing all help. Hat's off.

2007-08-05T14:54:00.001-04:00

I moved to the dark side.

My application for the new job opening at my company: CEO

2007-08-01T21:02:00.000-04:00

Here's what I'll do:

1. Make it so easy & open that anyone can implement. License revenue will flow in.
2. Focus on KPO - be planning outfit for Fortune 500
3. Not more than 4 VP's. Not more than 8 Directors.
4. SME - no brainer planning systems. This is linked to point #1, we cannot deliver everything. We need to get others to do it for us. License revenue will flow in.