Long Time!!!!

Its been a long time since I wrote something in this page.. many things changed in life.. good that everything is so far on the positive side. The last blog was dated Apr 14th 2008. After that I have been twice to India. Got married and now into a mode of forced bachelorhood. trying to think think think.. what to write.. just dont get words.

Time for Volleyball now......

A Conversation!!!!!

Today it happened to be a Tamil New Year and I wished one of my friends in Tamil and after that we tried chatting in tamil and somehow was successful. Here is the so called conversation. There was no topic as such:

me: tamizh puthandu nalvazhthukkal
P: nandri .. unamkkum thamizh puthandu nalvazhthukakal..
me: vidumurai nanraga kazhindhadha?
P: thamizh puthandai evvaru kondadinai??
vidumurai andru naan chicago nagar sendru erunthaen..
me: ingu oru vilayatai paarka sendren..
baseball endru adhrakku peyar
P: piragu oru tooniyil nagarai valam vanthaen..
me: migavum nanru
P: athu namathu mattai pandhu attam poll erukkum allava??
me: adhuve thaan
nanraga irundhadhu..
P: athai naanum pala murai namadhu tholai katchiyil parthu erukkiraen aanal athan vidhi muraigal puriyavillai
me: migavum elimaiyana vidhi muraigal.
P: athalaal athai naan avvalavagha rasipathu illai
me: oh.. appadiya..
P: satru enaku athai kooru..
me: enakku adhellam pathi kavalai illai..
nandraga irundhadhu.. neriya azhagiya penmanigal vandhanar
adhayellam paarathe nerathai pokki viten
3 mani neram thaan..
P: ippozhudhu ennaku purigiradhu.. antha attam mattaiyai pattri alla kattai yai patri enru
me: abacharam
neer enna pesugireergal enru enakku vilangavillai
me: umakku nyabagam irukiradha.. palliyil naam veera pandiya katta bomman nadagam oru nadithome
P: naan enna koorinaen enraal.. mattai pandhu vilayattil mattai ubayogipparghal anaal indha vilayattil mattaikku padilagha oru siriya kattai aai ubayogipparghal

me: aangilathil
aam thaangal kooriyadhu sariye

P: aamaam amaam nanraga gnayabam erukkirathu... naan thaane athil katta bomannagha vedam aninthaen..
me: adhuvum sariye.. thangaludaya moolai abaramaga velai seikiradhe
marandhirupeer endru nenaithen
P: adhai naan evvaru marakka eyalum... antha vedam aninthu naan kuriya varthaighal ellam thavaru analum namakku kai thattal kedaithathu...
atharkana madhiennum kedaithathu...
me: aamam..
P: manikka vendum mathipenn
me: adhil naan enna vedam anidhen endru thangalukku nyabagam irukiradha?

me: thangaladhu velai thondharavu seigindren endral mannithu vidungal
siridhu neram kazhithu meedum thangaludan urayadal kozhgiren..
P: neer thaane durai vedam aninthu eruntheerghal??
me: enakku nyabagam illai..
P: appadiye aghattum
me: seri pin naan vidai petru kozhgiren
needoodi vazhga

nanri..
P: needodi vazgha
nanri..

me: thagaludaya tholaipesi ennai kudungal
me: irukeera?
P: manikka vendukiraen... enadhu sagha thozhilali udan urayadal nadathi kondu erunthaen
me: aagatum
thangaludaya tholaipesi ennai tharavum
P: ungalukku solla maranthu vttaen ennudaya tholaipesi yen mari vittathu ennudaya puthu yen 847 585 5341
me: ippozhudhu azhaikalaama?
P: naan ungalukku piragu azhaippu kodukiraen..
me: appadiye aagatum
P: mikka nanri...
me: nanri
ennudaya ennai ezhudhi kollungal..
925 692 6859
idhu ennudaya paniyin tholaipesi en aagum..
indha ennil thodarbu kollungal
P: ungalai eppozhuthu azhaikalam..
??
me: eppozhudhu vendum aanalum
P: mikka nanru
me: 12 manikkullaga koopidungal
ennudaya 12 manikkulaga..
P: ungalukku ange eppozhuthu 10 man erukkuma??
me: 10 10
P: mikka nanru ungaludaya 12 manikkullluasgha azhaikiraen..
me: mikka nanru

me: unavu mudindhu vitadha thangaluku?
P: Ennum mudiyavillai Nanbane.. Ennadu sagha thozhilalarghal ennum velai seidhu kondi eruppathal satru neram kakka vendi erukkiradhu
me: madhiya unavirkku enna ?
P: namadu entha urayadalai ennodaya valai pakkathil ellorukkum kanbikkalam endru erukkiraen..
neer enna solghirirghal??
me: edharkaaga?
P: madhiya unavu ethuvum seyya villai enghavathu unavaghathil thaan poi unna vedum..
valai pakkathl anaivarum kandal thaan namadhu thamizh pulamai anaivarukkum theriyum..
me: naanum ennudaya valai pakkathil podalaam enru irukiren

P: america kuttu manilangalilum eppadi thamizh vithagharghal erukkirarghal enru theriyum
unnudaya valai pakhathin kuriyittai enakku koora mudiyuma??
naan athai kaana mighavum avaludan erukkirae..
me: http://karthiksiva.blogspot.com
paarthu vittu kooravum evvaru ulladhu enru

P: naan tharkku mubu partha pozhutu eppakathil nanghu thalaipukal kuraivgha erunthathu...
neer avvalavakka elutha mattirghaloo.??
me: neram kedaipadhu illai..
thalaippum kedaipadhu illai..
adhalaal ezhuduvadhu migavum kuraivu
P: thalaipukku panjama innattil??
me: endha thalaippum ennai avlavaga kavaravillai
me: tamizh puthandai otri ezhudhalaam enru irukiren.. enna koorugireergal.. appozhudhu nam urayadalai adhil podugiren
yaarenum paarthu thavaraga ninaithaal enna seivadhu??
edho inam puriyadha mozhiyil pesi irukiraargal endru?
P: naan yaerkanave padhithu vittaen.
thalaippu ethuvum kidayathu..
satru athai parunghal..
me: edhai?
edhai paarka vendum?
P: ennodaya valai pakathai thaan.. nanba..
me: paarkiren maalai veetukku sendradhu
m
P: ungalakku aluvalagathil parka anumadhi illaya??
me: irukiradhu.. aanal yaarenum paarthal edhavadhu kooruvaargal
veen pechukku naan aalaga maaten
P: nanba enudaya valai pakkathai padipathu erande paerkal thaan ondru naan ennondru ennodaya thanthai..
avarukku ennna padithu erukkirom endru puriyathu
athalaal kavaai pada vendam...
me: thangalukku enna ezhudirukkom endru theriyadhu
P: Yaraenum padithal nam eruvaril oruvarukku azhaipparghal
yaen endral athil nammudaya tholaipesi yenghal erukiradhu
me: naan adhai azhithu viduven

P: naan azhikka mattaen yaaraenum azhaithaal upayogamagha erukkum..

me: appuram nanbare.. madhiya unavu mudindhadha?
P: mudintathunanba thookamum mudinthathu ipppozhuthu thaan serindhu kozhumbu neer arundhukiraen
me: oh.. migavum nandru
P: thangal madhiya unavu unnum neram agivittathat..
me: unavu arundhi aagivitadhu

P: mikka nandru
me: thailand naatu unavu arundhinen indru
P: mikka nandru thangalukku anaithu nattu uavin mel evvalavu ishtamaaa??
naan athu ariyamal erunthaen
me: naan ella naatu unavum arundhuven.. aana saivam maatume arundhuven
P: naamudiya urayadalilirundhu palveru thamizh thiraipadathukku paer suttalam
me: aam.. migavum sariyaga sonneer
P: mikka nanru saivam maattume unniveerghal enbathai keettu mikka magichi adainthaen
naan enru enathu mutha thohzilali yai vimana nilayathil vittu varum neram vanthu vittathu
inri avar oor thirumbughirar
me: oh.. migavum nalladhu..
eppozhudhu sella vendum?
P: aathala inru naan satru sikkiram sendru viduvaen
me: appadiya.. migavum nalladhu
P: nangu mani aalavil naangal avarudaya aaraiyai vittu kilamba vendum
me: ippozhudhu mani 3 30 allava?
P: appadiyanal aluvalagathilirundhu munrarai mani alavil kelammbuvim
am
eepozhudhu kilmbum neram aghi vittathiu
me: appadi enral ippozhudhu kelamba pogireer endru sollungal
P: thanghalidam vidai perru selum neram vanthu vittathu
amm anbareee..
me: seri nanbare.. thaangal kilambungal..
kaala thaamadham aagivida pogiradhu
P: thanghalidam uraiyariyathu migavum nanraga erunthathu
me: ingum appadiye..
P: nalai santhipom nanbare..
me: seri nanbare.. udambai paarthukollungal
meendum naalai sandhippom..
nanri..

A True Sharks Fan!!!

"If you like Cheechoo's Goals, Joe's passes, Nobokov's Saves then you are a true Sharks fan and you live in Sharks Territory!!!!" thats how the Advertisement announces for the San Jose Sharks, NHL team from South bay and one of the 3 teams in CA. Off late I have been a following this team, from South bay just for their amazing performance in NHL. Ice hockey is a fast paced game and when watching it live in the stadium, it difficult to follow the puck when hit. The environment roars when Sharks move the puck into the opponents territory. I have seen only one game till now and I was astonished by the fan following for this small team. The environment is electrifying as good as a cricket match in India. Maybe HP Pavilion maybe small compared to MAC stadium. but the enthusiasm is same as I have seen in the cricket matches.

There are 30 teams in this league, but I am still trying to find out why I like this team. Maybe its the only local team that plays Ice Hockey in the bay area. But still there is something that makes me attracted towards this team.There is an adrenaline rush through my body when they score a goal, or anger fills my eyes when opponents score.

One reason for this maybe I live in Sharks Territory. Will find out the reason soon on this behavior of mine!!!

May be I have been biten by the sharks play.

May be I am the Sharks fan in the making!!! Will find out soon!!!!

BTW... Sharks def. Senators 3-2 in OT... Yippieeee!!!!

Dream come True

It was the night before the day of our return Journey, we went to Wynn Casino. It was nice big place with lot of slot machines. But I saw a board with an arrow marked straight. It was written in Golden Fonts. I wiped my eyes and saw the name again. I was not dreaming. It was printed "FERRARI". I was like wowwwwww, I will be seeing a Ferrari up close and probably will take some snaps standing near. It was always my dream to sit in a Ferrari and drive a Ferrari. I had always been a fanatic of the prancing horse right from my childhood.

I walked to the showroom. It was written entry fee of $20. Initially my friend was reluctant to pay that much just to see a Ferrari. But I somehow pulled him into it and we went in. There it was a red beauty standing there. It was Ferrari F430. But then came the news "No Photographs". I was little down coz of that. How can I just like that walk away without a photo of me standing near a Ferrari.

After a while, after looking at the cars in the 1st level, we were about to leave and then came to know that there is a basement where some more Ferrari's were there. There I saw a Ferrari standing in a green background. Here is where I thought my dream is coming true. After looking at all the cars in the basement, I came near this Ferrari in the green background and the person over there asked me sit on the Ferrari so that he can take the picture of me in Ferrari. I was enthralled to hear that. My dream came true. Finally I sat in a Ferrari F430, which I always wanted to do for a long long time.

Now I am aiming for the next big thing.. Driving the Prancing horse out of the Scuderia, atleast once... After that maybe owning one of those red machines in my garage. Its 1212 hrs I am writing, dreaming about that. Wish my dream come true one day.

Sin City... Been there.. No Sin (not that much)

I happen to visit one of the populous city in American West in Mojave desert which is also called the Entertainment Capital of the World. It was 2115 hrs when I looked out of the window on flight 3062, which took me to the city where the Alcohol flows in Gallons, where one lives with blessings from Lady Luck, I was amazed to see the amount of electricity that went into this city of around 150 Sq. Miles. It was lit and the main Strip was dazzling with lights.

It was 2130 hrs when flight landed and I along with my friend took a rental car and headed for the hotel room.

The next day, after a tedious drive to Grand Canyon and back, I visited the famous Strip. First stop at the Venetian was breathtaking. They had made a little Venice inside with shops and Gondolas. After a little walk, We finally made into the Casino. It was interesting to see Slots machines at the full swing with different themes ranging from original 7 7 7 slot machines to the new hollywood theme. Then there were black jack tables where people eagerly waiting to hit 21 to get 3:2 pay. In another room there was a small ball revolving in a red and black dial and people praying to get their favorite number or color.

Next we left to a Caeser's Palace. It was no different from the Venetian except for the theme of Rome. But again the same slots and blackjacks and smoke from the tobacco.

We moved from one to another just to find the same thing. The only different was the shows that were happening through out the Casinos from Musical to Comedy to adult shows to etc to etcFinally we drew back to the hotel to rest for the night. It was rather a tired day after Grand Canyon.

The next day was entirely dedicated to the Las Vegas. We moved from Stratosphere in the North to the Mandalay Bay in the South. Stratosphere was interesting with a tall tower over looking the entire strip from the North. It had some rides atop with a ride suspending in the air at the top of 103 floors and rotating in air with part of Las Vegas beneath.

We moved to all the Casinos on the same day. Its not good to come without making contribution to the city of Nevada. My contribution was not much. It was as little as $2.

The day continued with the visits to various casinos built on various themes and nothing great about them aswell. It looked good from outside but the same slots and same ways of dissolving the money.

The next day was the final day at the Las Vegas. The morning trip was to a near by state park called Valley of Fire. It was a great place to visit.

Then finally after visiting some more Casinos that night we were set for the return flight the next day early morning.

There is a saying, "W2hat happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", But memories are still taken back. With that We started from Las Vegas, It was a nice place though.

The Long Wait....

It was Oct 4th and I was waiting for that mail. The mail which I thought would change my Career and would make people look up at me. The mail after which I thought I will be able to make my mark in a new position. I waited.. I waited.. I waited. Time went past and my Index finger was paining coz pressing F5. I was so impatient and irritated. The day went past and the mail never came. One thing that kept me happy was even my friends didnt get that. Somehow the day went past and even the night.. Next day morning, got a call from my friend. He told me that 3 words 'CHECK YOUR MAIL'. Inbox showed 10 new mails. First I was so happy that I would have got that mail. There was a mail from Dilbert. Then some quiz... then some junk.. But........................ That particular mail never came for me... I donno what to do or how to react. I was angry that I didnt get that mail. I tot may be I will be getting it late.... so again I waited and waited... but the waiting went in vain and I came to know that I will not get that mail as I was not in the TO list.. I spoke to the people and they said some reasons for not getting that mail.... Got even more angry but no one to show at.
Finally after a lot of tug of war between me and mind.. I pacified myself and continue to WAIT for that ............................................................ hoping my wait ends soon..

The Complete History of Cricket in 1 Min 48 Sec

I was browsing through some websites and came across this interesting article.

Instant knowledge: How cricket became a batter's game....

Back in the day, 70 all out was a good score – and not just when England were batting, either. Now, anything less than 350 is a poor effort. How did cricket become a batter's game? Get some instant knowledge: average reading time 1 minute 48 seconds.

1811
Umpires made responsible for choosing the pitch.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why Choice had originally been up to the visiting side, who could choose anywhere ‘within 30 yards of the centre fixed by the adversaries’. In practice, this meant that the leading bowler of the opposition picked an area he thought he could best exploit.
1811
No-balls could now be scored off.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why Previously a no-ball was declared dead. Now the batsman had more scoring opportunities – and a free hit too.
1823
Height of wicket raised from 24in to 27in and width from 7in to 8in.
Favoured Bowler.
Why More to aim at, stoopid!
1829
No-balls not scored off incurred a one-run penalty.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why Upped the scoring.
1830
Edwin Budding, of Gloucestershire, signed an agreement for the manufacture of his new invention – the lawn mower.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why The technology now existed to improve pitches. The mower didn’t pass into widespread use overnight, though; rabbits, sheep and scythes, remained prime grass-cutters for a while longer.
1835
Round-arm bowling legalised.
Favoured Bowlers. Why Originally, bowlers had bowled the ball along the ground. Then came the practice of pitching the ball underarm. During the 50 years to 1770, the average score per wicket had been 7.5; by 1810 it had risen to 13. In the 1820s, bowlers began to strive for greater pace by bowling with a higher action by 1830, runs per wicket had fallen to 10. By 1840, when the new style had been formally adopted, it was down to 9.
1849
Laws changed: pitches could now be swept and rolled before each innings.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why One of the main advantages for batsmen were that the worm casts, which would make the ball’s pitch unpredictable, could now be removed.
1864
Over-arm bowling made legal.
Favoured Bowlers.
Why Accurate bowling became easier.
1870
Heavy roller introduced to the game, at Lord’s.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why It brought an immediate improvement in pitches. WG Grace became the first man to score 2,000 runs in a season, and runs per wicket now stood at 17.
1871
WG Grace scores 2,739 runs in the season.
Favoured Batsman.
Why WG raised expectations as to what batsmen could achieve. That year he averaged 79 – the next best average was 34. By the then, the 25-year-old had scored more than 10,000 career runs – more than any man. His career average stood at 61, when the next best was Richard Daft’s 29. WG was literally twice as successful a bat as any man who had ever lived.
1880s
Rubber grips for handles introduced.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why They could now get a better grip, stoopid. And they acted as a shock absorber.
1884
Boundary lines introduced ‘where necessary’.
Favoured Batsmen. Why Previously,
all scores had to be run in full. However, in practice, boundaries had existed on many grounds since the 1860s, for the benefit of showing where crowds could safely watch. Boundaries have got nearer the square over time. When GF Grace caught Bonnor of a towering hit in the Oval Test of 1880, he was reckoned to be 115 yards from the wicket – and Bonnor was on his third run.
1887
Contact lens invented.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why A moving ball is harder to see than a stationary wicket!
1910
Law change: six runs now awarded for any hit over the boundary rope on the full.
Favoured Batsmen
Why Previously, sixes were awarded only for hits out of the ground. When Gilbert Jessop made two centuries in a match against Yorkshire at Bradford in 1900, he hit eight sixes out of the ground, and almost as many blows again cleared the ropes on the full but earned him only four. Incidentally, Jessop is the fastest scorer of all in Test cricket – his 569 runs are estimated to come off only about 480 balls. Fourteen of his first-class centuries took him under a hour.
1927
Ball size reduced from between 9 and 9 1/4 inches to 8 13/16 and 9 inches.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why The 1920s and 1930s were a batting paradise, with pitch preparation better and the design of the ball with its small seam offering little help to the bowlers. So a smaller ball was introduced. However the plan backfired as the new ball proved harder to catch and many bowlers also found it harder to swing.
1931
Wicket increased in size by 9in to 28in
Favoured Bowler.
Why Larger target.
1937
New lbw rule.
Favoured Bowler.
Why The experiment introduced in 1935, whereby the batsman could now be given out even if the ball had pitched outside off stump, so long as he was hit in line with the stumps, was now made law.
1963
First 18-county, limited-overs tournament.
Favoured Batsmen.
Why Batsman grew to learn new ways of scoring. The rate of scoring acceleration has increased consistently. In ODIs in England in the 70s it was 3.77 runs/over; in the ’80s, 4.15; in the ’90s, 4.59 and 4.82 so far this decade.
1969
Front foot rule introduced for no-balls.
Favoured Batsman.
Why Bowlers who dragged their back foot had been able to bowl the ball from in front of the popping crease under the old rule. Now everyone had to deliver the ball from further away.
1978 Australia’s Graham Yallop becomes first man to bat in Test in a helmet.
Favoured Batsman.
Why Protective clothing has taken away some of the fear – and need for good technique against the short ball – from the batter.
1999
Steve Waugh becomes Australian captain; Adam Gilchrist makes Test debut.
Favoured Batsman.
Why Waugh began a policy of intimidatory batting, asking his side to score at four an over. Other sides have adapted to keep up. Key to this policy was Adam Gilchrist, an ODI regular who made his test debut later that year and scored 81 off 88 balls. Of batters who have hit more than 1,000 Test runs, only Shahid Afridi (86 runs/100 balls) has exceeded Gilchrist’s strike-rate of 82.
2003
Twenty20 launched.
Favoured Batsman.
Why See limited-over answer – and multiple by several.