Q: What is a recession?
A: When companies tell employees to bring their own coffee (link)
Q: What is a depression?
A: When companies tell employees to bring their own toilet paper.
Apr 302009
Apr 252009
There were many great moments in the Premier League this season. But the one image that to me will define this season is that of Cristiano Ronaldo throwing his shirt in the air out of sheer joy, nay, an animal passion, like a hound baying for blood, after he headed home a cross from Wayne Rooney in the left flank to put United up 3-2. Man U would go on to win 5-2, after Spurs had gone 2-0 up. United’s lions executed the plot to perfection. A savage massacre on a football field like never before.
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Apr 222009
My music player served up James Galway’s rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon for the first time today in months. My spontaneous reaction was to think of a line from the start of the song Silar Sirippaar, Silar Azhuvaar.
காலம் பல கடந்து அன்னை முகம் கண்டேனே!
Bliss!
Apr 202009
The satellite ISRO launched into space yesterday carries a micro-satellite called ANUSAT, that was designed by Anna University, my alma mater.
ANUSAT is the first satellite developed by an Indian university (Anna University), which would demonstrate the technologies related to message storing and forward operations. University sources said scores of students and faculty from different streams had worked on this satellite for the last six years.
ANUSAT is a store-and-forward communication satellite that will help transfer confidential academic materials, including exam question papers, to prevent question paper leakages. It will also help monitor drought and wasteland, urban planning and other studies.
While my only contribution towards this effort was to not disturb anyone involved with it, it gives me and every other alumnus of Asia’s oldest engineering school immense pride at the achievement of our peers. Congratulations to all the people involved in this (some of whom I know personally)!
Apr 202009
The trouble with people like Arundhati Roy is that they are capable only of being rabble-rousers. I refer specifically to this opinion piece of hers in the Times of India that I read belatedly berating India for not doing enough about the war in Sri Lanka.
She ends her piece with an impassioned appeal to the world – whatever that refers to – to “step in. Now. Before it’s too late.” Step in, yes, Ms. Roy, and do what? I understand that there is a colossal humanitarian tragedy unfolding in that island. As a Tamilian (and even otherwise), my heart bleeds when I consider the plight of those caught in the middle of this terrible disaster, and mostly for no fault of their own. Yet, what can India or Norway or the United States or any other country do in this regard? Other than your characteristic mud-flinging at the powers that be, what have YOU done?
Apr 172009
1 fabulous movie!
Apr 132009
Sir Isaac Newton was also a member of the Parliament of England from 1689 to 1690 and in 1701, but according to some accounts his only comments were to complain about a cold draught in the chamber and request that the window be closed.
Apr 082009
… have made my day wonderful by beating Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield!
Apr 052009
It has been four years and four weeks since I last let out a sore-throat-inducing “Wow” when watching a goal. The previous occasion was when Ronaldinho scored that “foot of God” goal at Stamford Bridge. Just a few minutes ago today, a hitherto unheard of Italian teenager turned around in front of the Stretford End, half losing his balance, but strike he did a goal past the diving Brad Friedel that put United back on top of the Premier League.
The goal was doubtless beautiful. In the heat of the moment, one might even be tempted to describe it as the goal of the season. But such chest-beating is just a waste of time. Macheda’s goal is important not just because it spared United the ignominy of spending a week trailing Liverpool in the league table, but because it is potentially their first step out of the abyss that they have been languishing in since mid-March.
During that period, United have channeled their inner Liverpool by hitting the self-destruct button when they should simply have launched themselves out of such tellurian considerations as retaining their Premier League title into plotting to winning the Quintuple. To Liverpool’s credit, they channeled their inner Manchester United during the same period, banging in 13 goals in three games and yesterday jumping past United with a victory at Craven Cottage. So when United found themselves 2-1 down today and largely toothless, even the faithful would have doubted a comeback with just ten minutes and change remaining. But United being United rediscovered their true selves first through a left-footed strike from Ronaldo and then this wonderstrike from the 17-year old kid from Rome.
Fans of lesser teams would no doubt cast this as a lucky victory, for Villa were the better side for most of the game. The latter part of the previous sentence is unquestionable, but that is how championships are won – when teams eke out draws and wins in matches that were seemingly irretrievable. Just ask Chelsea. I don’t blame those doubters though. After all, when your teams win a trophy once every few years, or worse yet, you cannot recall when they last won anything worth winning, you are so far removed from what is quotidian in these parts.
Survival, though not a word used frequently in Mancunia, has been the motto of the past few weeks. Now is the time to resume normal service, to shift gears and power past Porto and Sunderland. Not even United can afford another slip up.
Update
Video highlights from the game. You can watch Macheda’s goal towards the end of the video — in the 11th minute. Watching it again, I think United should have won 4-2. That goal must have counted as two.
Manchester United 3 – 2 Aston Villa
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