Monday, June 26, 2006

HIV Terror - Urban Legend...

This is with respect to a earlier post of mine - HIV Terror, a forward that i had received from a pal.

I stumbled on to another link with respect to the same....seems to be a rumour and thats a Relief..!!.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa100798.htm

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Live in Space...advises Mr.Hawking

An Open Letter to Stephen Hawking
=================================

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.aspsectid=16&articleid=
6132006221812816132006221728703

Hi Stephen,

Please come to mumbai, a novel city that guarantees you large number of craters.
To experience the walk on the moon, you simply need to drive through our city especially in three wheelers called Autos, we guarantee you that gravity will not have any effect on you, most of the journey you shall be suspended in space.

There is no water on moon, its almost the same in mumbai too, as different living organisms have made their presence felt in water, we are more dependent on cola/tea.

Armstrong left a footprint on moon, we have been given that opportunity too by the municipal corporation to leave our footprints across the city on wet mud,sand,debris lying around various BMC projects. It has been suggested that in case any one has the privilege to slip and die in the potholes, the government will bury the person there at their project's cost and the particular pothole shall be named after him.

By the way, i do not recall how the moon looks like since the time my neck has been affected with spondalytis by looking down for potholes and open manholes, day and night. If you happen to visit moon do get some snaps, i am curious as my kid told me 'Pa, they [mumbai and moon] look the same'.

Take Care,

Gaurang

Friday, June 09, 2006

Believe . . .

Thanks to a pal...for sending me a marvellous poem.
============================================

Believe that you're special,
through the hurt and the pain,
for sunshine will come, after the rain.
Hold on to your dreams, let them not die
and live not in torment by questioning why?
The answers are somewhere and sometimes unkind,
with so many reasons you will never find.
Be true to yourself, don't be what you're not,
for often you'll find, you're all that you've got.
Don't become battered by games people play
and don't take to heart what others may say.
You've got so much life and so much to give,
go out and enjoy it, go out there and live!
Though heartaches are many and tears they will flow,
the more that you live the more you will grow.
There are many that love you, don't ever forget,
let the past be a lesson, you do not regret . . .

Zarqawi and Oil Prices !!

Oh so it was Al-Zarqawi, that the oil prices were so high.
And now that he is no more, crude oil prices have come down reports the media.

All this time I was blaming the poor PM and the state government whenever i go to the petrol pumps to for my quota...[This word "quota" is catchy man!].

Well now we can relax man - I am sure with Bush's one point agenda of capturing laden, I am sure the cooking gas prices would come down too.

@%x*&* - This words have been censored, not by me though.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Now that's a sportsman...

What Lara the King says :-

“I just thought that it took so long… 15 minutes for 24 big men to come to a proper decision in a sport. I think it was ridiculous.”

Advising on what needs to be done to ensure that such incidents don’t occur in future, the West Indies legend said:

“Just be sportsmen… at the end of the day it’s a sport you are playing and you got to trust your competitor, the guy you are playing against.

You know there are situations where we can’t come to a decision and in such situations if you can’t back each other, even though we are in opposite teams, then it doesn’t say much for the sport.

Hope the Australians heard that....

Naked Electric Wire in Playground..

I wish the shivsena and MNS would also start helping people either by taking up legal recourses on behalf of victims or by lynching the errant officials who are responsible for the boy's death.

Boy electrocuted playing football
By: A Mid Day Correspondent
June 7, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deepak Jaiswal (15) was playing football with his friends outside his building in Gandhi Nagar on Manpada Road, Dombivli, when he accidentally touched a naked electric wire in the playground.

The boy desperately tried to reach for support and unfortunately grabbed the iron gate of the building. The incident occurred last evening.

The local office of the power distribution utility Mahadiscom had to switch off power supply to the area before Jaiswal, who was stuck to the gate, could be rushed to a doctor.

He was pronounced dead on arrival.

An accident case has been registered at Manpada police station

Sledging in Cricket...

Got a forward...nice one regarding sledging.

===================

Sledging has always been a part of cricket. Even the great WG Grace did it.
Once in an exhibition match given out leg-before, he refused to walk and told the umpire: "They came to watch me bat, not you bowl". And the innings continued.

Grace's ability to stand his ground would have done Sunil Gavaskar proud. Once, when the ball knocked off a bail, he replaced it and told the umpire: "Twas the wind which took thy bail orf, good sir."
The umpire replied: "Indeed, doctor, and let us hope thy wind helps the good doctor on thy journey back to the pavilion."

The best WG Grace sledge was on him, though, not from him. Charles Kortright had dismissed him four or five times in a county game - only for the umpires to keep turning down his appeals. Finally, he uprooted two of Grace's three stumps. Grace stalled, as though waiting for a no-ball call or something, before reluctantly walking off with Kortright's words in his ears: "Surely you're not going, doctor? There's still one stump standing."

The Prasad Vs Sohail Incident: Hero to Zero in 3 easy steps

Chasing India's score of 287-8, pakistan got off to a flyer of a start, Amir Sohail and Saeed Anwar went about tearing the Indian bowling attack. Pakistan looked all set to win as they reached 110 odd for the loss of just 1 wicket within the 15 overs.

1. Play a Great Shot: Amir Sohail was completely bent on demolishing the Indian bowling to pieces, charging down the track to the faster bowlers (if u can call Prasad that) in this particular case he came down the ground (a good 4-5 steps, anymore and he would have hit Prasad too) and slashed the bowl over vacant off side area... the ball disappeared into the fence in a flash .... what followed has since been etched in the memories of every cricket fan in the subcontinent.

2. Act Oversmart:Amir Sohail is no Miandad. But he tries to be,and fails miserably. Sohail after hitting the shot pointed his bat the area where the bowl had disappeared and then towards Prasad apparently gesturing where he will send the next one.
Its not everyday that you see a batsman sledging the bowler, and Sohail was about to learn just why.

3. Get what you called for: Sohail attempting to repeat the shot (albeit with his feet stuck to the ground this time) made room and exposed his stumps, and his weakness, and in return lost his wicket and his face.
As the wicket lay uprooted, Prasad returned the favour to Sohail, pointing to the pavilion this time.

The comeback was truly remarkable, almost a miracle .... Prasad has bowled thousands of deliveries and taken hundereds of wickets in his career but, it was this one granted him a place in the History of Indian Cricket .. for ever... the ghost of Miandad's last ball six was exorcised, once and for all.

Steve Waugh Vs Curtly Ambrose Episode.

It really does not get any bigger than this, the two legends of cricket came face to face, literally and engrossed in a verbal duel in a test match in Trinidad. All the juicy details were not to be known until Steve Waugh came out with his autobiography.

Ambrose repeatedly stared Waugh down during a searing spell, and Waugh, who sized up the towering Ambrose, said: "What the f*ck are you looking at? "
Ambrose was stunned because, as Waugh says (in his Autobiography), "no one had ever been stupid enough" to speak to him like that.
Ambrose replied, "Don't cuss me, man", before Waugh's response, which had nothing to do with bowling.
"Unfortunately, nothing inventive or witty came to mind, rather another piece of personal abuse: 'Why don't you go and get f*cked.' "
The Windies skipper Richie Richardson had a hard time keeping Ambrose from hurting the Aussie.

McGrath Vs Brandes

In a showdown of best pacers of two countries, Brandes made up for his complete absence of batting skills by some displaying some great sense of humor and presence of mind.
Aussie paceman Glenn McGrath was bowling to Zimbabwe number 11 Eddo Brandes - who was unable to get his bat anywhere near the ball. McGrath, frustrated that Brandes was still at the crease, wandered up during one particular over and inquired: "Why are you so fat?"
Quick as a flash, Brandes replied: "Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit."
Even the Aussie slip fielders were in hysterics.

Viv Richards v Greg Thomas

This incident took place during a county championship match between Glamorgan and Somerset. Glamorgan quickie Greg Thomas had beaten Viv Richards' bat a couple of times and informed the legendary West Indian ace: "It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering."

The very next ball was given the King Viv treament and smashed out of the ground, into a river - at which point Richards piped up: "Greg, you know what it looks like. Now go and find it."

Merv Hughes and Viv Richards

Merv Hughes usually never short of a word while on the field, rarely keeps quite. During a test match in the West Indies Hughes didn't say a word to Viv, but continued to stare at him after deliveries. "This is my island, my culture. Don't you be staring at me. In my culture we just bowl." Merv didn't reply, but after he dismissed him he announced to the batsman: "In my culture we just say f*ck off."

Sachin Tendulkar Vs Abdul Qadir

The year was 1989, the little master had recently made his debut in Pakistan. Sachin not even old enough to get a driving licence Sachin Tendulkar was facing the best bowlers in the business. As the Pakistani crows jeered and mocked Sachin holding out the placards saying ""Dudh Pita Bhachcha ..ghar jaake dhoodh pee", (hey kid, go home and drink milk), Sachin sent the then young leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed hiding for cover (he had hit two sixes in one over. The frustaded mentor of Mustaq Ahmed the legendary Abdul Qadir challenges Sachin saying "Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao` (`Why are you hitting kids? Try and hit me.`).
Sachin was silent, since then we all have come to know that he lets his bat do the talking. Abdul Quadir had made a simple request and Sachin obliged, and how. Sachin hit 4 sixes in the over, making the spinner look the kid in the contest. The over read 6, 0, 4, 6 6 6, David had felled Goliath ... and a legend was born.

Ian Healy Vs RANatunga

Ian Healy's made a legendary comment which was picked up by the Channel 9 microphones when Arjuna Ranatunga called for a runner on a particularly hot night during a one dayer in Sydney... "You don't get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c*nt!"

McGrath to Ramnaresh Sarwan

Sarwan, the West Indies vice-captain, and McGrath went toe-to-toe in an ugly shouting match in Antigua in May 2003, The incident was sparked after Sarwan, on his way to a match-winning second-innings century, reportedly reacted to lurid taunts from McGrath by telling him he should get the answers from his wife, who was recovering from radiation therapy for secondary cancer.

The details:
McGrath: "So what does Brian Lara's d*ck taste like?"
Sarwan: "I don't know. Ask your wife."
McGrath (losing it): "If you ever F*&king mention my wife again, I'll F*cking rip your F*fing throat out."

Mark Waugh Vs Adam Parore

Mark Waugh was standing at second slip, Adam Parore relatively new to cricket came to the crease played & missed the first ball.
Mark Waugh- "Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, you're fu*king useless now".
Parore- (Turning around) "Yeah, that's me & when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you've married her. You dumb c*nt". “

Ravi shastri v/s Mike Whitney

Its common knowledge that Indian's usually don't resort to sledging, and the Aussies swear by it. In this rare ocassion the tables had turned and it was the Aussies who were at the receiving end.
Shastri hits the ball towards Mike Whitney (the 12th man in the game) and looks for a single, this guy gets the ball in and says
Whitney: "If you leave the crease i’ll break your f***ing head"
Shastri didn't bat an eyelid before replying : "If you could bat as well as you can talk you wouldn't be the f***ing 12th man"

Merv Hughes Vs Cronje

Merv Hughes was one of the greatest exponents of the fine "art" of sledging. Once during a tour game in South Africa Hughes was bowling to Hansie Cronje . It was an especially flat wicket and Cronje was hitting Hughes for fours and sixes all over the place.
After the umpteenth boundary, Hughes headed down the pitch, stood near Cronje, let out a fart and said: "Try hitting that for six." It was five minutes before the guffawing stopped and play could resume.

Robin Smith and Merv Hughes

During 1989 Lords Test, Merv Hughes said to Robin Smith after he played and missed: "You can't f*cking bat".
Simth replied, both with the bat and with words, he smashed Hughes to the boundry and said "Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't f*cking bat and you can't f*cking bowl."

Team mates Sledging

England were playing Pakistan and, at what turned out to be a crucial moment later on, Frank Tyson managed to get an outside edge off a Pakistani batsman after the batsman had been frustrating them on a hot sweaty day. The ball went right through the hands of Raman Subba Rao who was standing in first slip and through his legs. After the over Raman heads over to the bowler and says, "Sorry Frank, I should've closed my legs." Frank Tyson, who didn't find any of this amusing, quipped back, "No, you bastard, your mother should have."

Ian Healy Vs a Short chubby batsman

In one of the tour matches in South Africa, Australia played Hansie Cronje's province. Cronje was at the non strikers end, there was a short chubby batsman on strike.
Ian Healy yelled to Warne, "Bowl a Mars Bar half way down...We'll get him stumped"
The Aussies and Cronje were all in hysterics, all this was before a classic reply from the batsman.
The exact words: "Nah, Boonie (David Boon) fielding at short leg will be onto it before I can move."

Miandad Vs Lillee

Miandad played Lillee to square leg and completed an easy run, with a collision taking place in the center. According to Miandad, Lillee had tried to block him in the path. After a verbal exchange, Lillee went ahead and kicked Miandad on his pads. Miandad, started charging towards Lillee with his bat lifted high above the head, as if to hit him. The umpire’s intervention prevented what could have turned out to be a real assault had Miandad gone head with his plans. However, the picture of Miandad hurling his bat at Lillee made the whole incident look even worse, and was promptly declared as the most indignified incident in the history of Cricket.
Lillee’s version, to this day, had Miandad first hitting him with the bat, and then swearing at him. He maintained that there was no contact from his side throughout the incident.

Note: The author is awsare if the fact that this incident has nothing to do with sledging, but found the temptation of mentioning the episode was too hard to resist.

The Frog Jumping incident, 1992 India Vs Pakistan

India vs Pakistan matches are always a treat to watch, and if its the World Cup its stakes are even greater. Javed Miandad, the Bad boy of cricket, at the receiving end for once. Miffed by the verbals from Kiran More, he complains “Insaan khel rahe hain janwaar nahin” (Human beings are playing not animals). And after a sharp run out chance, where Miandad closely survives Miandad starts jumping up and down, face distorted imitating Kiran More’s appealing. A sight to behold. Pure comedy. Pakistan loses the match but go on to win the cup.
'I did it instinctively', Miandad later told. He added, 'Hey, is this the way you appeal for everything? Don't appeal like that'.

Dropped the Cup?

Perhaps the most famous sledge in a World Cup match took place the epic Super Six clash between Australia and South Africa (in 2003). South Africa looked on course to a routine victory with Australian captain Steve Waugh at the crease and on 56. At that stage, Waugh clipped the ball in the air straight to South African fielder Herschelle Gibbs. In his haste, Gibbs dropped the ball when attempting to throw it in the air in celebration as he had not fully controlled it. As he passed him, Waugh is said to have asked Gibbs: "How does it feel to have dropped the World Cup?". Waugh carried on to make an unbeaten 120 and Australia posted an unlikely win and won the World Cup a few days later.
Waugh has however denied that quote, instead claiming that he said "looks like you've dropped the match".

Hughes Vs Miandad

The inimitable Merv Hughes has forgotten more about sledging than most people will ever know, so he was more than a little miffed to be on the receiving end in the 1991 Adelaide Test against Pakistan. Hughes and Javed Miandad almost came to blows after the Pakistani batsman dared to call big Merv a "fat bus conductor". But revenge was sweet for Hughes. A few balls later he finally got his man and as Miandad walked past, he could not resist shouting "Tickets, please!"

Dennis Lillee Vs Sunil Gavaskar

Dennis Lillee and Sunil Gavaskar, were involved in a war of words in the 3rd Test, MCG, February 1981. A historic win for India in that Test would definitely not have taken place had Sunil Gavaskar not calmed down. He clashed with Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who Gavaskar claims abused him after claiming his wicket and the Indian captain asked non-striker Chetan Chauhan to walk off the field, forfeiting the match. Gavaskar was batting on 70 when Lillee appealed for a leg before decision. Gavaskar showed his bat to the umpire, indicating he had ‘nicked’ the ball before it hit his pads. Angry words were exchanged between the batsman and the bowler, and Lillee even went to the extent of pointing to the batsman the spot where the ball had his pads. The decision went in favour of the bowler and as Gavaskar started his long, dejected walk back to the pavilion, Lillee turned around and abused him. That was it. Gavaskar snapped, and decided to forfeit the match.
Later, Gavaskar was to write in his book ‘Idols’: “That (the walkout) was the most regrettable incidents of my life. Whatever may be the provocation and whatever the reason, there was no justification for my action and I realize now that I did not behave the way a captain and sportsman should.”

Flintoff Vs Tino Best

Best, never short of a word or two when he is bowling, was done up like a kipper by the England all-rounder as West Indies slumped to defeat in the first Test. Flintoff saw his opponent preparing to face Giles' off-spin and shouted: "Watch the windows, Tino!" The wind-up had the desired effect, causing Best to come charging out of his crease like a man possessed. He took a wild swing at the ball, missed and was promptly stumped by Geraint Jones. Not a broken window in sight. Flintoff could not contain himself and spent the next five minutes giggling like a teenager, as Best sat on the balcony rueing his stupidity.

Viv Richards to Gavaskar

Gavaskar had decided to relinquish his opening position and come in at no 4 for that test. But, Malcolm Marshall fired out Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar for ducks, setting the stage for Gavaskar to walk in at 0/2.And he thought there would be less pressure! Viv Richards says "Man, it don't matter where you come in to bat, the score is still zero."

Steve Waugh and Parthiv Patel

Amidst all the hype surrounding his farewell match, Steve Waugh had to contend with an unexpected dose of his own medicine from a player half his age.
As Waugh fought a grim battle to stave off defeat in the series-deciding fourth Test in Sydney, 19 year-old Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel tried to unsettle the veteran batsman through some banter.
The baby-faced Patel egged on the 38 year-old stalwart to play one of his sweep shots one last time.
The India 'keeper was saying, 'Come on, just one more of the famous slog-sweeps before you finish'
Waugh replied: 'Look, show a bit of respect. You were in nappies when I debuted 18 years ago'.

Rod Marsh and Ian Botham

When Botham took guard in a Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: "So how's your wife and my kids?"

Trueman and Aussie batsman

In an England v Australia Test during early 1960's Trueman was fielding close to the gate from the pavilion. As a new batsman came out he turned to shut the gate,
Trueman said "Don't bother son, you won't be out there long enough."

Daryll Cullinan and Shane Warne

As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been waiting 2 years for another chance to humiliate him. "Looks like you spent it eating," Cullinan retorted.

Adam Parore and Daryll Cullinan

Because Cullinan is well known for being Warne's bunny, New Zealand keeper Parore greeted the South African, carefully playing the first ball from kiwi Chris Harris, with a cry of: "Bowled Warnie!"

Malcolm Marshall and David Boon

Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon who had played and missed a couple of times. Marshall: "Now David, Are you going to get out now or am I going to have to bowl around the wicket and kill you?"

James Ormond and Mark Waugh

James Ormond had just come out to bat on an ashes tour and was greeted by MarkWaugh……..
Mark : “F*ck me, look who it is. Mate, what are you doing out here, there’s no way you’re good enough to play for England”
James: “Maybe not, but at least i’m the best player in my family”

Waugh Vs Jamie Siddons

In a Sheffield Shield game between NSW and SA, a Waugh twin (not sure which) was taking an enternity to take guard, asking the umpire for centre, middle and leg, two legs - the whole lot. Then he steps away towards leg side and has another look around the field, before re checking centre.
Jamie Siddons is at slip, and decided enough is enough. He yells out."For christ sake, it's not a 'f*cken test match."
Waugh replies: "Of course it isn't ... You're here."

Mother (in law) of all sledges

In the 1980's Ian Botham returned early from a tour of Pakistan, and on radio joked "Pakistan is the sort of country to send your mother in-law to." Needless to say the Pakistanis did not find this amusing, and when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamer Sohail told Ian Botham "Why don't you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse."

Barmy Army Vs Shane Warne

England's "Barmy Army" recently decided to sledge leg spinner Shane Warne musically, and it has been described as boorishly personal, but effective.
The sledge was based on Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - the "Where's your poppa gone?" Song. It has been converted to "Where's your missus gone?" (Warne had recently been divorced in life)

Special Mention

Inzamam-ul-Haq once told Brett Lee to "stop bowling off spinners".

In the recent Karachi Test when Irfan Pathan came to bat in 2nd Innings Afridi shouted two times " O mera Shehzada aaya ! " (Oh! my prince has come)

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Quote of the day...

Vote for the man who promises least; he'll be the least disappointing.

Bernard Baruch

Sensex below 10000

America's Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke's comment about inflation with respect to energy and food has shot down the world indices. He has indicated that interest rates may go up further whereas expectations were opposite that the rates would not increase further.

If comments and observations are all it takes to get the sensex crashing and not the real economic scenario than i would wish this so called prominent persons would shut the hell up.

Nobody can stop Indian markets from growth, it seems as if every thing in the world is related to the developed nation's economy [read america].No one had visualized the Euro a few years back, and with the kind of political leaders America is having no one would remember that dollar was the leading currency across the world a few years from now.

We unfortunately have spineless leaders unlike china, who attract business on their own terms whereas even with such huge markets we go begging for investments across the world. Let us forget the third world tag, or the developing nation tag, come out of the illusion.

With Nuclear Power, we cannot be viewed as a developing nation anymore...

Wake up...

Fuel Prices Hiked...

Ladies and Gentleman, The MAN has failed. Yes, our prime minister Mr.Singh has failed miserably.

Quota System, Office of Profit bill and now the fuel hike. Manmohanji should put in his papers if his conscience is in the right place.He has failed to protect the common man's interest and has only added to his plight.

Will the Left succeed in getting the price reduced, maybe a rupee or two and that will save its face, and at the same time the government will also succeed in raising the prices by 1 or 2 rupees.

Save us the Drama, please....see you in the next elections.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Why Mumbai can never be Shanghai...

Just a few mm of rains compared to 26/7 and mumbai was in a mess, infact mumbai looks like a bombed city with all the excavated garbage, potholes, open electrical wires etc. Am i in beirut? No wait, even beirut is better now.

Forget Shanghai, even bangkok with it's slums is better than mumbai.
And the credit for that goes to the civic sense of it's people and the city management system.

Check out Powai road towards Seepz once the flyover ends, its a disaster waiting to happen.

A child was electrocuted, accidents happened, waterlogging at homes, APMC and elsewhere. Illegal Autos with tampered meters rule the city, creating chaos while the city's transport authority sleeps...any exact count of the autos running in the city.??

Please Mr.Politician/Bureaucrat, if you do not know or understand what is city management or crisis management is all about, employ specialists and let them do the work. But for god's sake, stop the city from being raped.