tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13444065644586687472024-03-14T20:29:46.539+05:30Seeking Grey MatterI will, one day, laugh at this. Until then, it's all yours.Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-36489880644362154992017-01-18T19:30:00.000+05:302017-01-23T02:03:29.411+05:30Come here, 2017. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t mean to sound like a twat, but let’s review what we have
on our hands. Shall we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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can agree I was mentally 42 a decade ago). </span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Empathy. For snot-faced kids that I’d
previously treat like radioactive Uranium. Because I didn’t have a single walk
out in the cold when my nose didn’t decide to behave like a malfunctioning
water pipe. </span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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adopted family. And discovering, rediscovering the best of friends. The kinds I
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Courage. In trusting my overly enthusiastic,
untrained, whiskey loving, sister-from-another-mister colleague with my fragile
hair for a free hair cut. </span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Brevity. And being reminded of its importance
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Entitlement. And why getting rid of it is so
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2016 dropped by all of that and more. She
alternatively knocked me out cold and slapped the widest of grins on my face
but either way, she was a stunner. Go one better, will you,
2017? *fist bump*</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-49566905554525717702016-11-18T21:15:00.001+05:302016-11-18T21:52:53.511+05:30One More Time<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
Who was I kidding? Of course this wasn’t going to be easy. </div>
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After I’d hopped between what felt like 403.99 connecting trains, I found myself in a tiny train taking me to Verviers, Belgium. This was the last train on my journey - I had to work my way through the next couple towns with buses. But it felt like the tougher part of the journey was somehow over. A voice in my head declared, “This is it, Merin..It’s happening!”..and it happened. Commentator’s curse struck and my train jerked to a halt and stayed motionless. In fate’s defence, the damn train managed to break down near a gorgeous river that I could feast my eyes on. A train official soon walked in, sang an apology in French and walked on. I looked around the compartment hoping to find someone who could translate the message for me. Nope. Not one of ALL three people in my compartment spoke English. Twenty seconds into kicking myself for not making any effort to learn French from my nice French ex-boss, I dragged myself onwards to find more people. When the train official and I finally found each other, I understood the train had broken down for good and we’d be taken to a town called Pepinster by a bus, from where we were on our own. I explained where I needed to go and he looked deeply into my eyes and told me with genuine empathy, “Good luck”. </div>
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After 25 minutes, we got onto a rattling bus to Pepinster. To distract myself from the piercing cold, I wondered how the town ended up with a funny name like that. Were its founders drunk, you know, like mine? (Merin? Pfft). Anyway, much of what happened after we got to Pepinster is a haze because my brain had frozen. Not the kind of freezing that renders me looking stupid in everyday social interactions but the 1 deg C kind of freezing. With no internet or humans around, I relied on Google’s wonderful Offline Maps to get me about. Making my way from one bus stop to another, easily annoying each of those strictly French bus drivers with half a dozen questions, I finally..FINALLY reached the small town of Spa. There’s a small chance I was delusional but I totally heard violins and pianos go off in the background as I stepped off the bus and onto Spa’s fine roads. </div>
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Surreal. Walking around the quaint town with its F1 themed restaurants popping up around every corner was surreal. But I had to get going if I wanted to reach the circuit in time for a ‘guided tour’. Maps told me I had another 12kms to cover to reach the circuit. Since the next bus wasn’t going to turn up until two hours later and absolutely no taxi was willing to take me there, I decided to walk it. A pretty walk, I’ll have you know, despite really gloomy skies (also, just FYI, Salzburg is still the prettiest). As the tips of my fingers and toes began freezing over, the saner of all voices in my head cursed my irrational need to see this race track. Keep walking, I told myself, just like Johnny Walker would’ve told me if I had him in a glass at that very moment. </div>
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A few kilometres in, I met Jean. Wonderful, wonderful Jean. A charming, silver haired cab owner who agreed to take me to the circuit. If that wasn’t great, he loved chatting F1! “When F1 comes here, we make at least 10,000eur over one weekend. Many Verstappen fans came from just over the border this year..those crazy orange men think this is his home race! But next year is going to be even bigger and exciting for us!!” ..”because Stoffel Vandoorne”, I quipped. He looked at me with big eyes that clearly had new found respect because I knew of his compatriot who’s set to race in F1 next year. “You weren’t lying! You ARE F1 crazy! Why come all the way to this track when there is no race?”. Sigh. Beats me, Jean. Completely beyond my reasoning. </div>
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The drive to Spa-Francorchamps is straight out of a postcard. Beautiful roads, ridiculously pretty countryside. Wasn’t too long before we got to Francorchamps Route de Fagnou - the bus stop closest to the circuit. I got off, thanked Jean and walked to the circuit. And I am NOT making this up - as I walked through ‘Gate B’ of Circuit de Spa Francorchamps and saw what was possibly a V8 super car zoom up and over my favourite corner in the F1 calendar, the sun found its way through the clouds and made its presence felt. That moment. Magic. </div>
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After the guided tour of the track and all its facilities, and a long, long walk, I sat myself down to a good view of Eau Rouge. The forest, sun light, clouds, tarmac and echo of mega engines around combined marvellously to make my favourite race track come alive. Genuinely, magic. </div>
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Of all the times I counted my blessings this year, this felt like the tipping point. The year’s been mental for sure. Between good old hard work, numbing cold weather and mindless sacrifices, I got to keep a swell job working with amazing folks, got to compare Ricciardo’s smile to mine, watch Verstappen behave like a fun 18 year old, ‘experience’ Rosberg’s German sense of humour and watch Raikkonen marinate in a race suit inside a sauna while I kept his wife and son company (whaa!). After Monaco, Hockenheim and COTA, I now saved myself a mental image of Spa Francorchamps. The circuit where Schumacher won his first race, where Raikkonen crashed and broke my heart in 2008 (prompting me to cry in my bathroom for hours and start this blog - have I told you this story yet? I have? Oops), where every race is..magic. </div>
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You can’t shut me up when I start talking about this year or this silly pilgrimage, but one thing’s for sure. This blog’s now come full circle.<br />
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Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-23446511052108294462015-08-23T00:56:00.000+05:302015-09-06T23:06:08.364+05:30Top 10 memories: Sports<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello there, kind reader. Like your dentist last promised you, this one's going to be real quick. Less pain to endure - my word. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fresh" from watching three sport-related documentaries back to back on a bumpy flight, I find myself sitting on the carpeted floor of an airport, justifying the emptying of my hard earned and well guarded piggy bank for a trip that (as much as I've dreamt of for *years*) does not involve an F1 race in Belgium. And since there's nine hours of this sitting, waiting and miserable analysis I imagine I will subject myself to, I've taken to poor Notepad for distraction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The documentaries I watched - one on Arsenal, one on Nadal/ Federer and the last, on motorsports (but of course!) - got me navigating my far-from-nimble mind palace to take stock of moments from these sports that really got to me. So here's a simple list of my top sport memories - some good, some bad but all bloody brilliant - from the last decade or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm giving myself just one shot and less than half an hour to list down the top ten, allowing myself a fine excuse for when I think of other entries that should've made the cut. Given how my memory is known for everything but retention and quick recall, I figured I'm better off announcing this disclaimer. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Federer vs Murray - Wimbledon 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a charged Andy Murray, there's perhaps all of England connecting with Jesus because they want to see a British champion again and there's Roger Federer calmly raining down brilliance. Good guy Murray, but Federer reclaiming the Wimbledon title in style gave me a high that refused to go away for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Sebastian Vettel's first win at Monza in 2008</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This 21 year old's emphatic pole + victory at a passion-packed track like Monza was special not just because he's German and held promise but also 'cuz his hero was good old Schumi. Like in a fairy tale, baby-faced Vettel grew up to race alongside his hero and won the Race of Champions Nations trophy with Schumacher (for Germany) in 2007. His consistent performances in F1 made me wish we'd see him in Ferrari one day. Well.. yay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Schumacher's engine's PMSing - Japanese GP 2006</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Schumacher was <b>this</b> close to an 8th world championship. But while he was in the lead in the penultimate race of the year, his engine decided to put up a show by going up in smoke. That's that. Bollocks. Miserable rascal, that engine. Ugh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Miroslav Klose/ Mesut Ozil - World Cup 2006 / 2010</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Klose's Golden Shoe for being the top scorer in the 2006 World Cup in Germany was immensely special because that was the first time I found myself hooked to football. It's inexplicable why I took to the German National team like I did but there's been no going back since (Except to the Deutscher Fußball-Bund cap I have..since the darned thing has Adidas on it). And Klose was an instant favorite for reasons I can't remember. His personality, perhaps. Whatever it was, I'm a fan for life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similar scenes with Mesut Ozil - love at first sight during the 2010 World Cup. Yes, despite his frog-like eyes. On a good day, what he does on field is pure magic to my eyes. More power to the boy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Kimi Raikkonen's suspension failure - European GP 2005</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you knew me back when Raikkonen raced Schumacher for the championship, you'd remember just how much I enjoyed his cars' many reliability issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raikkonen's engine blew? HAHA! The smoke escaping his car was my favorite version of modern art.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raikkonen crashed at the first corner? <i>"Oooooh boy, good luck explaining that static grin on your face to teachers in school tomorrow, Merin."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But something pulled on my heart during the European GP in 2005. Raikkonen took the lead at the first corner of the race after a brilliant start and drove a good race up until, perhaps, boredom hit him. A few driving errors meant he damaged his tyres a tad too much. The damage eventually got so bad that he began experiencing vibrations throughout the car; still in the lead but with an eager Alonso closing in, a pit stop meant relinquishing victory. During the final laps of the race, the vibrations were so severe that you could see his head bobbing about in the cockpit and I remember thinking that that level of determination and hunger for victory deserved immense respect. Suddenly, BOOM! Last lap of the race and his suspension broke under immense pressure. Seconds later, he picked himself off the barriers. It was all over. That was the first time I felt terrible for the Finn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of many times, as we'd have it. When I next found myself crying - literally - for him, I ended up writing my first (wonderfully cringe-worthy) blog post - <a href="http://lost--in--transition.blogspot.se/2008/09/sunday-7th-of-september2008.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Germany's triumph at the 2014 World Cup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After years of agonising near-misses at World Cups and Euros, DFB made gold theirs..with a 7-1 scoreline along the way! Too good to be true, I'd have said. Everything - luck included - worked well for Germany in 2014 and the end-result gave me good reason to feel like a champion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Albeit temporarily, as always.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 and 3. Germany's loss to Spain (Euro 2008) and Federer's loss to Nadal (Wimbledon 2008)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both these matches took place in the span of a week, mid-2008. And both saw Spaniards come out on top. If Germany's loss to Spain hurt deep, what happened at Wimbledon the following weekend left me emotionally drained. My mom and I were both teary-eyed at the end of the match..only, mum was celebrating Nadal's victory. I have absolutely no credentials to bother you with my commentary on that EPIC match but I remember passing out from a case of spectator's exhaustion, utterly heart broken.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Schumacher brothers at the San Marino GP - 2003</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After pulling off a 1-2 at qualifying in San Marino, Ralf and Michael had to rush to Cologne to be with their ailing mum. They unfortunately lost her on race day morning but flew back down to Imola to put in measured drives, with Michael taking the win. On the top step of the podium, we found Schumacher - popularly declared stone hearted - crying. The grit, determination and pain I saw on Michael's face that day left behind a mental image that will never leave me. Ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Schumacher vs Kimi - Brazilian GP 2006</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was set to be Schumacher's last race, given he'd announced his retirement at Monza that year. He started the race down in 10th but moved up the track pretty quick - only to endure a puncture and go all the way back the grid. He then drove a blinding race with upto eleven-twelve beautiful overtaking manoeuvres, to finish fourth. The pass that leaves me drooling every single time I watch it though, is the move Schumacher pulled on Raikkonen towards the end - sudden, precise, gutsy, too close for comfort. Perfect. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite F1 moment, shared by my favorite F1 people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* 0. A bonus! My favorite moment, irrespective of everything in the world, will be when I walk the track at Spa Franchorchamps in Belgium. :) Someday soon, I tell you. Someday soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's that! What's your list like? :) </span><br />
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</div>
Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-36639087296511217892015-03-22T20:59:00.000+05:302015-03-22T21:11:30.964+05:30“What did your MBA give you?”<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>XIME turned 20 and the celebrations were big! A kind, unsuspecting alumnus asked me to write a nostalgia-driven article for a magazine that was to be published for the occasion. Here's what I managed to cough up.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a member
of the minority race in my first company – I was the rare MBA graduate in a sea
of Chartered Accountants – I often got asked questions on my MBA experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“<i>Why MBA?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What made you decide you wanted to do MBA?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What
did your MBA give you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I have
been dishing out adulatory hokum that seemed to serve as appropriate answers,
the anniversary celebrations at XIME did get me wondering - what did my MBA really give me? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I couldn't conjure up the perfect
answer, but please indulge me as I attempt to put it down here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From my two
years at XIME, dotted with several hundred precious, some painful and many nerdy
memories, one in particular overwhelms me the most – one made during our batch’s
twelve day <i>educational</i> tour of China / Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. (That trip faced ridiculously high expectations set by 180 eager students but boy, did it deliver!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a part of
our tour, we had the blessed opportunity to visit The Great Wall of China.
Everyone was obviously kicked to the hilt all through the journey..only to
reach the destination and find the mighty place dressed with fog and rain drops. But before I could complete my whine about
how a sunny Great Wall would have made for a better experience, the boys from
the batch (and some girls too!) made their way up the steps leading to The Wall
in speeds that could make Usain Bolt proud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Juyong pass,
the part of The Wall that we visited, had six watch towers (or levels, as we
called them) along the way to the summit. Considering we weren’t the fittest of
the lot, my friend Shinu Simon and I decided we could loiter around a couple of
levels before hitting the tour bus. We enthusiastically covered two levels and
clicked enough snaps for Facebook glory along the way. As the rain began coming
down harder, our motivation to touch level three grew weak. It absolutely did
not help that the steps got steeper and the path, narrower. But uh oh – there it
was. Peer pressure! With nearly everyone wanting to cover as much ground as possible,
we coaxed ourselves to go one level further. And we hit Level 3! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But..<i>could we possibly do more? </i>Our
Duracell-driven Mallu peers (who’d happily made their way up to the summit and were headed
back down) threw incentives at us – Level 4 had a souvenir shop that handed out
medals, they said. Before we knew it, Shinu and I were staring at our medals with so much pride, you’d have
thought we held new-borns in our hands. But hey! Mission accomplished! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or was
it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At Level 4, the number
of enthu-cutlets running about The Wall had trickled down to 1/5<sup>th</sup>
the number at the base. It was cold – SO cold, I remember feeling pain in my
fingertips and toes. The stinging rain was no less harsh, slapping us in our
faces every time we attempted to raise our heads. We were incredibly exhausted and
our muscles seemed to have taken turns to submit their resignation letters. We
looked up at the VERY steep steps leading up to Level 5, looked at each other,
felt common sense leaving our bodies and hauled ourselves up, step after step.
With every step I took, a voice in my head broke down, abusing my unnecessarily
zealous ideas. When we finally did land at Level 5 though, the voice shut up.
Shinu, my voice and I – we all knew we could go no further but we also knew we
had gone an extra mile, pushed our limits like never before and <i>accomplished</i>
something that would make us smile every single time we thought of it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ3rrNRxYsK7EY9TthXaFEQgjFdfH_1E0BI5RO8t06JFSvt_GzRDaOsbE092G61qT-WMFM_l41HPZfm9yDgNMyHhnxuEv3jEsq9k8-sgtC0MPNaVpbhqM3-dLKcZeTFUkAht9jnFxrIc/s1600/IMG_20150305_120408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ3rrNRxYsK7EY9TthXaFEQgjFdfH_1E0BI5RO8t06JFSvt_GzRDaOsbE092G61qT-WMFM_l41HPZfm9yDgNMyHhnxuEv3jEsq9k8-sgtC0MPNaVpbhqM3-dLKcZeTFUkAht9jnFxrIc/s1600/IMG_20150305_120408.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yep, just how
it makes us smile now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find
myself comparing this experience to the two years of MBA itself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most of us started off with two things: a definitive goal (get a job?) and a
hazy path that we hoped would lead us to said goal. We made our way through one
year – learning, bonding, winning, fumbling and discovering our capacities, our
friends and ourselves. As we approached the second year, having gotten a taste
of all things Corporate during the summer internship, the ascent got steep and
tense. We had to decide (if we didn't already know) our majors / career-streams, embrace them and work towards them. There was encouragement and
advice from professors – some of whom we can (gratefully) <i>still</i> call on - just as much as there was pressure from peers. We constantly fell out of our comfort zones
(for instance, some of us had to befriend the enigma that called itself <i>International
Finance</i>(!)) and were compelled to go a level further than we ever had before. And we finally made our way to the finish line hoping we'd given it all our
best. Hoping, that we’d enhanced our skills and opened up avenues for a career
that could keep us happy. Hoping, that we’d made a good number of friends for
life in the process. And hoping, that we’d look back and smile. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, three
years since that hike, I can’t find reasons not to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you haven’t already given up on my almost-failed attempt to give that
question an honest answer, here goes:
What do I think my MBA gave me? It gave me what I worked for
and what I longed for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Simply put, my MBA gave me everything I <b>really</b> wanted to take away from it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-11470882336598799722015-02-04T19:15:00.000+05:302015-03-22T19:06:41.575+05:30STFU dear relative, you're out of your element<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello there, dear reader. Been a while, innit? My writing is as rusty as my grey matter so you will excuse me while I rant my way through this article, won't you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
The emotional fuel required to get this post going came from a call my mother received some time last week. It was a relative calling in with what seemed to be terrible news.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Relative: *small talk in a bored, somber tone* <i>Riight..so..there's umm..news. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mom: *silent prayers for every one's health* <i>Ok? What is it?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Relative: <i>X </i>(my nephew)<i> is getting engaged. As is Y </i>(my niece)<i> - both in the next month..BUT don't worry!! Merin will eventually have this happen to her too!!!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
My, my. A tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. *clenches fist* The last time I was this overcome with rage was when I wanted to tackle a Schumacher-deserves-that-coma preacher to the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Relatives, relatives! There's incredible ones, of course..but there's also the species that serve as a perennial itch to your mental peace. They will check on your grades while you're young and certify your behavior based on the rainbows you vomit in response to anything they ask of you. They will also check on your height and your weight and the growing evidence of your lady-ness, all through your teenage years. They will work with their network of spies to unearth juicy details about your college life (and their efforts will have been in vain if your love life was as non-existent as mine). And exactly when you hit quarter-life crisis, an alarm goes off in their heads, compelling them to remind your already harrowed parents of your unmarried-ness. Their calls start off with a simple, "She's old enough, no?", proceed to "Isn't she getting too old?" over the next two months and before you know it, there's a repetitive chant haunting the walls of your home: "You'd better get your girl married off soon or else ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<br />
There's more. Remember when your distant cousin's mother once pulled you aside during a function and asked you, one hand over your shoulder and creepy smile in place, "Is there somebody in your life already? Tell me, I promise I'll make it work. *wink and nudge* ".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeaaaah, why not? And while you're at it, scheming and forgetting promises faster than Kiran Bedi forgets her principles, please choke on the pandi curry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
From the lives of my (absolutely amazing) cousins, I also know of the alarm that goes off nine months into one's marriage. I find it unbelievable that people relentlessly walk up to a couple that's been married a while and asks them, "So..are you trying? How's it going?". Wait, what? Didn't the almost-random uncle just ask my sister how well she's planning and executing her sex life? Ugh. Take my word for it - once married, your husband and you simply must come up with replies our older generation of N-th order relatives wouldn't be able to cope with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<i>"No, uncle..it's been a bit tricky. How did you and aunty go about the whole 'trying' thing?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Or better still, kill the problem for good:</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I've already had children, uncle. Triplets. Identical. Would you believe it?"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh, it's been a roller-coaster, you know, having a son. The brat's barely 3 and I'm having to use a straight-jacket on him already."</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
I'm thinking I'll mostly go with, <i>"I'm settling for a couple of adopted dogs, uncle. They're cuter than kids, I bet you'd agree! :)"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Them relatives also have a war chant I find hard to cope with - the extreme necessity to marry within one's own caste/ religion. HEY - Before you decide to torch my car, I'm all for finding a nice and intelligent (and funny? please?) Coorgi and conning him into marrying me, alright? What I don't get is the ridiculous hate that's spewed on <i>inter-caste </i>weddings. If you haven't come across an inter-caste wedding that was largely attended by people who behaved like they were at a funeral, you're a lucky child. I've often come across people passing remarks so snide, I've wanted to smack their vacuous heads together. I was once stopped in my tracks by the bride's father at one such a wedding and the drunk man, doing justice to what smelt like Mansion House brandy, told me, "No matter what you do, marry a Coorgi! It doesn't matter if he's dumb or retarded, if he's Coorgi, marry him!".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sure. That's probably the advice his wife was given before she made that leap of faith.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's hard enough to find love in this batshitcrazy world, ladies and gents. Be happy - be VERY happy - if your child got lucky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Speaking of which, I realize I owe thanks to a few genuinely nice relatives who saw through my desperately-feminine conversations, discovered a girl who was born to be a wing-man and decided they just had to help me find an equally difficult man. Yep, they've tasked themselves with the challenge of arranging my wedding. I think the process behind initiating an arranged marriage is akin to a spoof of the average horror movie. You never know where a <i>groom candidate </i>is going to pop out from and how much these boy-meet-girl sessions are going to affect you but you always walk away having experienced Vadivelu-level comedy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For instance, one seemingly smart NRI-chap I spoke to detailed his talents, achievements and extreme NRI-ness to a great extent - perhaps deservedly so! But then, half an hour into the conversation where I'm sure I managed to sound like I had a functioning brain, this happened:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We're celebrating Thanksgiving next weekend so my schedu..Oh wait! Do you even know what Thanksgiving is?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Facepalm, really. I wanted to chip in with, "<i>I dunno, something about us Indians in America?</i>". I didn't but I sure laughed over it. Until my dad gave me the you-are-beyond-hope stare.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
I can never sufficiently rant about this (or anything, for that matter) but I've run out of steam already, so I'll shut it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
I'll leave you with one vaguely important piece of advice though. This isn't advice from inherent wisdom - but you must know that already, smart reader? The words wisdom and inherent were never destined to appear together in a sentence about me. This comes from experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Consider a scenario where you're as unfit as a goat prepped for sacrifice. Ok? Extend that thought and allow yourself to attempt some stand-up comedy. By that I mean - go on, play cricket for the first time ever, with utter disregard to the concept of inertia. Now here's the most important thing you need to remind yourself as you indulge in this interesting sport, young padawan: DON'T WHACK YOUR OWN STUMPS WHILE BATTING.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You won't get over it easily. I assure you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
I'm not <i>really</i> saying this happened to me while I fooled myself into thinking I could react intelligently to the stimulus of a moving ball, guys. *twiddles thumbs innocently* As The Dude might have put it, well, y'know, this is just my opinion, man.</span><br />
<br />Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-52815247218947905832014-02-04T21:57:00.002+05:302014-02-05T22:57:49.521+05:30What is wrong with you, human?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is the chant the voice in my head repeats, in various
tones of frustration and helplessness, as I drive to and from work every day.
There is also the addition of expletives, the raising of the hand to point all
fingers at the offender in question and the deadly eye-to-eye stare that you
ensure you deliver with the look of a Bollywood mother-in-law. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The traffic’s gone bat-shit crazy, y’all. This is stating
the obvious to everyone who lives in Bangalore but let me do my thing to let
off ze steam, please? I often drive four hours a day, sometimes bumper to
bumper and sometimes bumper to just-missed-that-human. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me clarify that this isn’t a solution manual, primarily
because I have no solution to offer. Let me also state that I adore the
Bangalore I grew up in and I love its people too, but we can all agree
Bangalore of the 90s is no more. The immense road rage today’s Bangalore
witnesses on a daily basis makes me want to move to Kenya and live with the
Maasai and their lions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“But why? Bangalore is so young and the weather is SOO .. ...”
Shut up. Let me repeat, shut up. And
stop honking while you’re at it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t claim to be an expert driver or a skilled observer
of every day occurrences but here’s what I understand of Bangalore’s traffic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Bangalore, <i>peak hours</i>
have been acquired by Murphy’s laws. Because peak hours are on whenever YOU get about driving on the streets. Irrespective of the time, you will find
yourself muttering under your breath while you steer the wheel with one hand
and point to the hooligan driving alongside you, with the other.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here, the buses think they’re cars, cars are make-believe
bikes and bikes are humans on wheels, practicing aerobics. Of course, it is
unfair to generalize, but to a great extent, drivers do not seem to understand
the dimensions of their vehicles. That bus you saw in the distance in your
rear-view mirror about 5 seconds back is going to stand ½ a foot away from your
vehicle in the time you blinked. The driver will then proceed to look out his
window and examine with pride, this artsy juxtaposition of vehicles. Of course,
if he notices the woman at the wheel, he is going to stare longer and smirk the
‘so she thinks she can drive?’ smirk – but that’s a whole other debate and
another unfair generalization. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ladies and gents on two-wheelers seem to find pleasure
in swaying around the center of the road like a dandelion in the wind. You will
find them hovering about while talking on the phone/talking to the pillion
rider/not talking to anyone but demonstrating his or her belief in
‘(ridiculously) slow and steady wins the race’. And if you’re stuck in a
jig-saw-ish traffic jam, brace yourself for the cavalry of two-wheelers and
rickshaws that will descend down on you from both sides, wriggle their way past
your vehicle, put a scratch on it or deliver a KO to your side-mirror and
occasionally turn around to get a glimpse of your tomato-red-rage face,
complete with steam emanating from the ears.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally then, our pedestrians. They either believe they are
from Krypton or they have trouble telling their backyard from a main road. You
will not go by a single day where there is no human hopping across the path of
your car as if to dare you. Even the cows know better – they stay stationary
while you navigate around them! Yes, I am a Malleshwaram - hudugi but the
number of people that loiter lazily, star-gaze and whisper stolen poetry into
their lover’s ears BANG in the middle of the road they call 8<sup>th</sup> Cross
makes me wonder how there hasn’t been a petition to turn it into a park. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are plenty other ingredients to this heady mix as well.
Like smoke and dust (and whatever else renders you incapable of inhaling air)
and bad roads, some so terrible, they could put the moon to shame. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of every drive, one needs to calm the nerves and
thank the Lord for not letting one’s vehicle get intimate with any other mobile
or temporarily stationary object on the road. Else one risks busting ‘em
nerves, busting one’s job or one’s personal life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yep, it sucks how road rage is hardly as fun as Road Rash
promised it would be.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-80246074953514270482013-11-23T10:58:00.002+05:302013-11-23T11:01:50.397+05:30More motorsport!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I got to write about Formula 1 and related things for <a href="http://livemint.com/">Livemint</a>, last month. (woohoo!)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, yes, I remember shoving this in all your faces via other social media. I'm just plugging this in here..you know, for posterity. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After 13 years of bantering about Formula 1 on the internet (my status/ your status/ blog/ gmail/ twitter/ whatever), over phone and in person, I finally got to do the same for a newspaper. We can all agree I'm a happy soul at the moment. :</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">) </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">My three articles for Mint:</span></span><br /><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1. All about female motorsport fans -</span></span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/HI9b27087bv7lvT62UwW5J/Formula-One--Beyond-the-fan-formula.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/HI9b27087bv7lvT62UwW5J/Formula-One--Beyond-the-fan-formula.html</a><br /><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2. About Turbo engines in F1 -</span></span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LebvzDqj0HikBaP6FBkq4H/Formula-One--Turbo-II-Here-to-stay.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LebvzDqj0HikBaP6FBkq4H/Formula-One--Turbo-II-Here-to-stay.html</a><br /><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">and 3. On the new racing series, Formula E -</span></span><a href="http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/5HAfWGa6szShQakPASYlcO/Formula-One--The-future-of-motorsport.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/5HAfWGa6szShQakPASYlcO/Formula-One--The-future-of-motorsport.html</a> "</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's that, ladies and gents. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-57004614102465287682013-04-07T10:11:00.001+05:302013-04-12T04:53:07.108+05:30About that MBA course I did<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has been terribly long since I wrote, so you nice people with incredible amounts of patience are going to excuse me if I'm not entertaining you enough. I intend to mock myself every once in a while, so you have something to look forward to. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">I'm not entirely sure of what I want to write in this post that's been titled with zero creativity. All I feel is an overwhelming want to tap away at my keyboard - and I'm feeling good while at it. </span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I was set to begin my MBA course, I was very apprehensive. It was to be my first time away from home. I wanted different things from my life - I didn't know what I wanted, really, but .. <i>different</i>. For several reasons good and bad though, MBA happened in 2011. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like with every important occasion in life, my relatives had a lot to say. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"These places are full of fast girls and boys. Don't pick up bad habits ok?"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"You will not find friends here. Everyone will be very competitive. DON'T make friends."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">..and the classic - "Why all this? Just get married no."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Damn you, you old menopausal lady - I'd get married if you could find me an unsuspecting fool.</span> </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But my wise cousin who has <i>been there, done that</i> helped soothe my nerves. "Friends you make at your MBA college are ones you'll surely carry with you through the rest of your life", she said. And she couldn't have been more right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After six terms, a few hundred assignments and exams, twice as many episodes of falling asleep in the wrong places and 10635 times of my face meeting my palm in extreme slow motion.. it feels like it all began just yesterday. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Balls. I'd laugh at anyone who says that because I feel like I aged 8 years! No, you little owl, I know you think I meant I've gotten bald-er and fatter and shorter. But while that might be true to a great extent, I managed to crash-test my head so many times that I came out of it all a tad wiser. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See, there are these lessons you've always known because you studied them as a Kannada gaadhe or as proverbs in schools - or because your mother narrated them to you while she attempted to feed you dinner. You've always been told stories of how success is short-lived, as is failure. How you really can achieve seemingly impossible things if you wanted them real bad - if you just tried hard enough. How sometimes, you might not get what you desire despite wanting it desperately. And these lessons only seem to make sense to you when you've come across an event in life that helped you relate to them. For me, this entire MBA course seemed to be structured around helping me relate to these lessons that have surrounded me since I was little. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I learned to love unconditionally - for someone who is an only child, I can now gloat about having learned to share my time, energy and most importantly - food, with my new-found siblings. I know now that it's hardly possible to constantly please everyone around you. I know that you can't sit happy on your previous little achievements and that you have to constantly better yourself - because you can prove yourself smart once, but folks will still wonder how you managed to bag yourself a good job, until you prove yourself smart again. I know that Formula1 will start making appearances in my dreams if I drop indications of quitting this sport - this sport and I are stuck for good. And thanks to the mirror and my receding hairline, I know that <u>absolutely nothing</u> is worth losing your mind over. *insert appropriate YOLO gif*<insert appropriate="" gif="" yolo=""></insert></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I am entirely convinced that the writer of my fate was not sober when he decided that I'd successfully complete a course in finance, I don't despise him for his irresponsible drunkenness. My fate took me to all the nice people, a slew of incredible places and ohmygoodness, to top it all - it had me pay my way to a Formula 1 race. That's more than ten years of yearning for something with every cell of my being and then suddenly being lucky enough to get to it. So when I say I love what the last two years have placed in my hands, I mean it. For the most part. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sure, life could have panned out differently had I done something else instead. I could have even been happier as a database administrator or an F1 junkie, perhaps. But right now, I couldn't possibly care less. I'm taking away with me a truckload of experiences that I can narrate to my nieces and nephews when I'm forced to babysit them. I'm taking with me friends who'll stick with me until they produce more kids than they can handle. I'll carry with me some incredible professors who're the sort of friends that have your back and discuss your favorite singer's good looks with you. Heck, I'll even take with me a degree in Finance - whoever saw that coming?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Irrespective of what <i>'I'm taking with me'</i> though, I know I can't prepare myself for what's in store. Be it work in the big, bad corporate world or just, you know..life. Thankfully though, I can stay confident of being ok despite being knocked down because I have the incredible ability to laugh at myself. And you - you can count on me to update my twitter account with my periodic facepalm and foot-in-mouth moments as well. And also slap me every five months that I don't churn out a blog post because *HOLY COW AND RED BULL* <holy and="" bull="" cow="" red="">I feel so good right now! </holy></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alright then. Since I have sufficiently ranted, I'll put an end to this post. I will now look forward to that day, 20 years from now, when I'm going to be teaching your kids Geography, in my backyard.</span></div>
Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-92044475098156915942011-12-22T10:27:00.001+05:302012-06-20T02:00:38.646+05:30Off to a better place, are we?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So I've been lucky to have a few amazing friends in my life. Some of whom have loved me far more than I could, in return. This one's about one such a soul - one that I forced into being my friend. And he turned out to be a bloody good one, that darned adorable thing. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He turned out to be the kind of friend that you can talk to for hours without worrying if he's still listening - because you simply know he is. The kind of friend that you..or perhaps just me; that I'd declared was goofy and hyper enough to be my little brother. The kind that makes sure he shows you how happy he is to see you, even if it's only been five minutes since he last saw you. The kind that won't judge you when you eat chocolate at 3am or when you fall asleep sprawled across the floor. The kind that will make you giggle like a teenage girl irrespective of the shit the world throws at you all day. Importantly, the kind that will let you have the last piece of cake, the last slice of pizza and even the last lick of an ice cream and <i>not</i> hate you for it. Ok, not that I gave him a choice there.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The kind of retard who'd run into your arms despite having fractured legs, who'd stupidly and hopelessly try licking you in your face even after being sedated. The kind that would go to no end to churn out unbelievable amounts of energy just to show you how much he loved you, every waking minute of his life. You'd think it would be impossible for him to get anything wrong, but the bugger couldn't fight off some of 'em rotten viruses, I've been told.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO00NT8vkAUx7qKWEwEzdGDXhfmrdl6gubFt-lyukn-uTKMF_Ou2HVc12nGEqFOzwnmqqCPDPXsW6Dq_pOfK0oGGPM4eNLoJQZOR-Y84-tSGpTDRWQ_u4yzlvKy5WsSQ7IX04wFiDQTg/s1600/t47936_10150248904040245_862440244_14767809_6536484_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO00NT8vkAUx7qKWEwEzdGDXhfmrdl6gubFt-lyukn-uTKMF_Ou2HVc12nGEqFOzwnmqqCPDPXsW6Dq_pOfK0oGGPM4eNLoJQZOR-Y84-tSGpTDRWQ_u4yzlvKy5WsSQ7IX04wFiDQTg/s320/t47936_10150248904040245_862440244_14767809_6536484_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIP, love.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Now since I can't talk to him anymore, I'm going to disregard all kinds of logic and safely assume that he was smart enough to look this page up before making a permanent exit from here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For the crazy amounts of love and joy you induced into my life..and to our family's, here's a very mediocre, sappy and barely justifying message - We'll miss you more than you know it, you stupid dog. </span></div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-74103271539780564792011-10-22T23:23:00.003+05:302011-10-23T05:08:33.487+05:30On the Rocky Road to ..Hosur<div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="gmail_quote" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Been forever, eh? It's almost if that budding li'l writer in me ordered a self-abortion. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(No, you will not tell me I never really could write).</i></span> But every once a while - twice a year, in my case - one comes across situations that make one want to vent. Vent so bad that one decides to write on her long forgotten blog. Wait, don't scurry away just yet. My traditional rant will follow right after a mild banter about the life of a 5ft-er in an MBA institution. <br />
<br />
This entire post would be a miserable sink-hole, if I loathed my college. Yes, I am hinting that I like this college.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> (You didn't see this one coming, did you?</i></span>) I actually have had a wonderful time in my four months here. That, despite feeling like I was being run over by a truck - in painful slow motion - every single day. But that's just the way post graduation rolls, they say. To cover the last four months in a single post is quite the task. Since day one, I've felt like I've been dropped onto an ice-rink with roller skates on. I'm still figuring out how the system works but dare I say, I don't despise the process.<br />
<br />
There's several things I need to work on. For one, desensitization hasn't really happened. I still am praying, from the purest part of every living cell of my body, that somebody somewhere is working on a commode for public bathrooms that can be used without having to make any kind of physical contact with the device. Not that this place is unclean, but my bathroom-OCD still requires me to carry my army-kit of Dettol, et al and sanitize the damned place every single time. Another issue that needs a miracle-solution is my sinusoidal mood. Every other day, I wake up feeling like I fell from the sun and half expect '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO_C7kRBzZM">Bad to The Bone</a>' to play in the background as I enter class. But then, I wake up a couple of hours later feeling like Felipe Massa does <a href="http://sidepodcast.com/post/post-race-debate-your-thoughts-on-ferrari-team-orders-in-germany">after being ordered by Ferrari </a>to sacrifice his ice cream for Alonso. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8EYl6AmzGYoujKyA3gJ8HNnLTySpqtpdxtZNbQk2T9m0PJOe10r-JCbYjwg2v-1I_aooZpdH4JynbBiAfq2MxO6G5uimtflYOWk1nDJgYEXodIR1gHwuO6GrRFiFuT2_JPleH_sYZlY/s1600/ce188815b1962991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8EYl6AmzGYoujKyA3gJ8HNnLTySpqtpdxtZNbQk2T9m0PJOe10r-JCbYjwg2v-1I_aooZpdH4JynbBiAfq2MxO6G5uimtflYOWk1nDJgYEXodIR1gHwuO6GrRFiFuT2_JPleH_sYZlY/s1600/ce188815b1962991.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK_5uCj9rqE05-dnTqN3TRs8TIPidRZb0EQFXveAQkiXnAcA4jhrDoyCl24FrsUhlyyuoFoK9hvO7DyiK0RVFphSKUCFjmomNtRFbySaxFu2farCZgftvmIIfn9yxdSTLUGMr3zJmgOA/s1600/ce188815b1962991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a> <br />
Oh, about the sleeping. Courtesy my randomly generated 'name', I've never really had a nickname. But if I do land one here, it will definitely be on the lines of 'sleepyhead'. The lecturers, the friends, 'em parents, the janitors and even me - I'm convinced I have a sleep disorder. I sleep through most of the day..and ..most of the night. I've managed to sleep through blood donation drives, exams, functions, speeches and conversations too. I'm not saying I'm proud of it but given how I can't seem to control my need to sleep at random times, a part of me is extremely curious to find out for how long I'll keep my first job. And the numerous that will follow. But I've got a backup plan in place - I've begun brushing up on Geography, I could teach. Yes yes, you can send your kids to me for tuition, once they've passed my 'How much of a bother is this brat?' test.<br />
<br />
Plentiful assignments and the itch to conduct a case study on my sleep pattern aside, there's the regular song-dance-act functions that happen and I can confidently state that I've never enjoyed functions like these so much before. This one time, my friends and I were to sing a German-Christmas carol along with a few exchange students from Italy. That we did alright, but what we also did was recreate the song - Hitler style. And since I've gladly let the world laugh at me ever since I set foot on the internet, here it is: </div><div class="gmail_quote" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="gmail_quote" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
The <i>actual song: <a href="http://youtu.be/6guVKTsmmBs">http://youtu.be/6guVKTsmmBs</a></i><br />
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<i>..and a part of what we made of it: </i><a href="http://soundcloud.com/merinduh/voice-0014">http://soundcloud.com/merinduh/voice-0014</a></div><div class="gmail_quote" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
(This is also my official request for Hitler-meme enthusiasts to get in touch with me.) <br />
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Oh, have I mentioned I sound like a guy now? Laryngitis, I've been told. Four months into sounding like a horse, I've given each of my friends a solid reason to remind me that being born a female was a mistake. As if this wasn't enough, my hair - which has always had a mind of its own - has had a falling out with my scalp and doesn't wish to stay on it anymore. I have a strong feeling the water here in E-City has a huge role to play in this scuffle, but there's little I can do that won't go against my laws of laziness. In order to make up for these losses, the women-folk here insisted I watched chick-flicks. The results have been so intense, I'm going to scar my blog by admitting publicly that I liked them. <br />
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Which brings me to people. Everything that's wonderful about this place stems from folks here - and this comes from me, someone who's been allergic to people for most of her life. There are the roommates who're destined to become chefs specializing in dishes made from Cerelac, there's the pseudo roommates and the Brit-accented twin, the neighbour in class who already knows me better than I do myself, the obnoxious chap who reminds me of QuizCorp with every word that comes out of his mouth, the Dudes who drop references to everything 42 in Eco papers - assuring me that we as a team can bring down the world economy even before the EU can and there's my ball of sunshine who will dance with me - while smelling like a tube of mosquito repellent - in dimly lit corridors, to Bohemian Rhapsody <i>and</i> Beiber's Baby at 4am, instead of studying for an exam that would eventually mutilate us 5 hours later. There's the poet, there's the nerd : there's the unbelievably brilliant class, extremely talented, uber fun people outside of it and a set of amazing lecturers - I am NOT making this up and no, there is no gun being held to my head. Sometimes, even I get lucky. <br />
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Right, that's as nice and thankful as I can get in one blog post - now, I simply need to vent. <br />
The Indian GP. For the last few weeks, I've been steaming so bad over this race, that I might as well change my name to resemble that of some Icelandic volcano. Talk to me about the Indian GP. Go on, I dare you. <br />
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Do you know that feeling when your best friend grabs the last slice of pizza while you'd been eyeing it for the last 7 odd minutes? Or that feeling when you just discovered that the girl you had been heavily crushing on declared she was a Manchester United fan, while you'd waited months for the opportune moment to walk up to her and tell her "you'll never walk alone"? Do you know that feeling when your heart sinks so low down an abyss that (if you failed your biology) you'd almost worry about having to excrete it? THAT is how I feel when you ask me why I'm not going to the race. No, actually, that is how I feel when you mock me about how you're going to the race while I'm stuck in a town that's a skip, a hop and a jump away from Hosur.<br />
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As someone who's been excited about this sport and hence, the race track in her own country ever since the inception of the plan, it's immensely annoying when a 'newbie' F1 fan goes gaga about getting to see Narain Karthikeyan. You might want to know how to expand 'F1' and name a driver or two, before you walk up to me and get hormonal about India finally having a racetrack. Every sportsperson, every tech person, every movie star, every twitter-pun-master - heck, every nobody now talks of the Indian GP, despite not really giving a shit about it. And of course, they simply have to mention those passes they will be using to get into the track and cringe while 'em powerful F1 engines roar past them. <br />
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Initially, I thought the wannabe-aunties were #1 on my hit-list. You know, the kind that asked me "Why can't you go to the race? You call yourself an F1 fan?", with that repulsively disapproving look that could perhaps convince even me that I am no fan of the sport. But then our government decided it couldn't bear to not feature on any hate-list, so it's been out there feeding egos of the Lord knows how many people who obtain ridiculous pleasure in proudly chanting "F1 is not a sport". I sometimes wish I could give them all a break. Like a neat break bang in the middle of their backbone. <br />
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So in conclusion, flaunt your F1 ticket in my face only if you're prepared to deal with the consequences. Just so you know, I've been reading up on Voodoo and gathering material too.<br />
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Ever since my 'win a lottery' plan fell flat on its face, it hurts to see any sort of update about the race. The MBA schedule combined with MBA-driven-poverty have ensured I won't see the face of my childhood hero in Noida this month. Like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSnMb4YTY98">Himesh Reshmiya would perhaps put it, no race no race - only mba only mba</a>. <br />
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I'd decided to block every source of Formula 1 information and hide under a shell until the race was over, but then I chanced upon this. The video has Vettel taking us around the Buddh track and what can I say? For whatever reason, it was overwhelming. Have a look - <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwaMEwlSsiiMvyG5VfXXWVfXGUPMgbSn7_m82HzQSlp_xGW8dUJVJvwn-bHldk_q1cJEj_CVFTesEKZ0g0kTw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I love it how it sounds and how it looks. Like Vettel says, I can't wait for race weekend. I'm all set to lose my voice in the hostel mess(where the TV is) and be the sport's ambassador to E-City. <br />
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</div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-17733800531787008002011-05-30T18:36:00.001+05:302011-05-31T01:08:53.207+05:30Dealing with relatives-101, please?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">I've roamed this planet for almost 22 years now. Much learning has happened in the process. But if there's one thing I have absolutely no expertise over, it would have to involve dealing with members of human-kind who I happen to be related to. I admit in public today, I have issues with a majority(not all, of course) of my relatives and would love for a course that can teach me how to peacefully coexist with them.</span></div><blockquote align="justify"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Please note: according to Merin's dictionary,</span></i></span></blockquote><blockquote align="justify"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Set(relatives) = Set(people you are required to meet oh-so-often because your ancestors and their ancestors got naughty) </span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">minus</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> Set(cousins who are full of awesome)</span></i></span></blockquote><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">I can list several reasons and examples why my relatives and I are like the Venus Flytrap and a tiny insect, but I'll keep this rant very short. One, they talk too much. I know, I know - I'm not exactly the quiet type ; my life's not just any open book, it's like that history text book that was thrust into your face ever so often. But you'll have to agree with me when I say relatives go overboard while talking about their daughter's friend's neighbour who got divorced because the husband couldn't cook well. And our subtle, yet repetitive signals of disinterest fall on consciously ignorant eyes! </span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">It's worse when they are under the extremely unfortunate misconception that they know it all. We've all been through the "Ohh, you've gotten shorter! And..you've gotten wider" phases. </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Ok, I have</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">. But I figured this mocking would come to an end once you were labelled an adult. Nope, I couldn't have been more wrong. Sample this. I met an aunt, not very long back, who asked me what I had decided for my future. I shrugged telling her I wasn't too sure. WHAM! That was the biggest scowl I ever saw. And then she went on, in endearing Coorgi, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"You could not get a job? Your parents said your college was great?"</span></i></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Me: "</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Well, I did aunty. This company called JP Morgan.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Her: "</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Oh</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">." </span><insert diplomatic="" expression=""><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><insert expression="" uber-diplomatic=""><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> "</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Is it good?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></insert></insert></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Me: "</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Uh yes, aunty. It's a very good company, in fact.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Her: (draws a deep breath and..) "</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Don't worry, it's ok. Initially everyone starts off with a small job only. Small company and all doesn't matter, just try and get into some popular company in a few years.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">As I stared back, half in annoyance and half in shock, she added,</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Only then you will find a good match no. Otherwise who will marry you?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Immense.rage. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Speaking of marriage, have you noticed how utterly shameful it is to not have kids exactly 9 months after marriage? I have a cousin who's been happily married for three years now. At every function she attends, there are these old/bored men and women who walk up to her and cradle an invisible baby in their hands and then ask, very animatedly, "</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Where?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">". She, being the excellent person that she is, manages to smile and wittily change the course of conversation. But having recently attended a string of functions with her and watching this activity happen repeatedly, I know I won't make it past one function without wanting to chokeslam somebody. Hence, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">(in an act to combat boredom and)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> to prepare for the inevitable future, I'm preparing a small list which I will present to my relatives, when they make babies out of polluted air in my presence.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, here's - </span><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Why I will not have or take my own time to have a kid:</span></u></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">1. Genes. As whacked-out as I might be, I realise it would be horribly cruel to pass on this height to another human being. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">2. I am pretty confident I will lay down absolutely</span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> no</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> rules to the kid. If this catapults into the kid wanting to spend the rest of his/her life smoking weed, I wouldn't want to face my parents' wrath in my after-life. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">3. Passing on the same set of relatives? The kid might want to sue me for emotional damage.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">4. Very simply, I have faced enough facepalms in my life already. I'm not creating more avenues or opportunities to mess up. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">5. If at all the kid came into existence, he or she would have to attend every fancy-dress/dance competition dressed like Bowie. Preferably, </span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL97E3wgRkR9dvlAyIxZs5X20avVSx7Wv3SfZELxsFdLY1KqQUgzHhyuGOK3CEut3yKtmDRPfQkmo0LoKIYmmI8qfB9WXzur8d16qLNM_ogcRc8Q97JGfappzSFd3s3WKp_PD68Gp5f1s/s1600/DavisBowieAladdinSane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL97E3wgRkR9dvlAyIxZs5X20avVSx7Wv3SfZELxsFdLY1KqQUgzHhyuGOK3CEut3yKtmDRPfQkmo0LoKIYmmI8qfB9WXzur8d16qLNM_ogcRc8Q97JGfappzSFd3s3WKp_PD68Gp5f1s/s1600/DavisBowieAladdinSane.jpg" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">( Now Bowie's awesomeness probably reverses my entire argument, but let's remember that the kid might not be very amused. )</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">That should do, yeah? If this isn't enough to have my relatives label me weird and keep their windmill of gossip away ; if this isn't enough to keep my relatives from meddling with my choices for all eternity, I don't know what is. If this isn't enough, I'm going to look for and pay for classes. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">God knows I need them. </span></div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-20534455720181591552011-04-24T21:23:00.003+05:302014-06-15T10:54:49.233+05:30Coorgi Rage!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Citing the epic sites <a href="http://tambrahmrage.tumblr.com/">Tambrahm Rage</a> and <a href="http://kannadarage.tumblr.com/">Kannada Rage</a> as inspiration, I present to you - Coorgi (obviously) Rage.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjG8AUlShWGG_ppMTQSDjKmAJKky3xnLsHqIdPjU6KSMzT6A3VJLRJS_zBnmIGJGE_w4KXbq2RN1aCNXv5XBvepYVVnXj8wQ4Sz1JG1lSNdc5DP4Ke17ZT9B5oNS4t1tSPauX0h1syIA/s1600/COORGIRAGE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjG8AUlShWGG_ppMTQSDjKmAJKky3xnLsHqIdPjU6KSMzT6A3VJLRJS_zBnmIGJGE_w4KXbq2RN1aCNXv5XBvepYVVnXj8wQ4Sz1JG1lSNdc5DP4Ke17ZT9B5oNS4t1tSPauX0h1syIA/s1600/COORGIRAGE.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Marriages = tests of patience.</span><br />
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Psst. In case this didn't go down well with you, let me tell you I am a very proud Coorgi. There is no offence meant. :) </div>
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Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-48366294702650157312010-12-30T22:20:00.001+05:302010-12-30T22:20:38.991+05:30Oh just call it what you want.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've never kept any resolution, be it the popular '<i>exercise often</i>' types or the less known '<i>pray endlessly till you grow taller</i>' types. But this year, I managed to cheat my way through one. Write at least one post every month, I told myself in January. I figured this way my blog would stay alive. One would think, having scammed my way through the resolution, I might have the decency to close with a good post. But yet again I only have a set of completely unrelated things to say. Not that you should have a problem with it though, dear reader, because the last time I checked, you didn't exist. (always wanted to crack this one, heh!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hate to admit that as I typed the word 'set' above, all I could think was '<a href="http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/99903-Some-important-questions-Object-Oriented.aspx">bags and sequences</a>'. Yeah, that's the affect of having a gazillion exams breathing down your neck. Like most normal people, I have issues with exams. And like most <s>normal</s> lazy students, I tend to check the syllabus and find out if I have the right textbooks when the exams are two days away. Now this would be ok if I didn't suffer from recurring episodes of OCD. Have I got an entire syllabus to study in under 48 hours? Yes. Are there a lot of chapters to cover? Yes. Do I start from the preface and the author's notes to his loved ones? A painful, freaking YES. I simply can not go about exam preparation without cleaning my room, cleaning my table, laying down my pens and pencils in order, setting my playlist, sitting down in a corner of the house that my mind's vastu declares fit..and then finally I start from the first bunch of words that are printed in the textbook. Let me not go into details any further or I might start listing the rituals that take place when I finish reading each page. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The bottom-line is that I obsess over highly insignificant things. And people. And sports. Which, of course, reminds me to mention Formula 1. So I love that sport and would do quite a few unimaginable things to meet some of those racers, but the interest surely has waned over the years. This year, I slept through 2 races and missed all but one qualifying session. <i>*GASP!*</i> The thrill did come back later in the season, but sometimes I think its my need to obsess over something that keeps me hooked to Formula1. That being said, I'd rather obsess over Formula1 than anything or anyone else in the world. Like Justin Bieber. Or trolling about the poor lad on youtube.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now I can't remember what godforsaken things I've said or done over the year(and I'm glad I don't) but that must mean this year's been ok. The only memory of a facepalm that's fresh in my mind is that one dreadful moment when I accidentally flung my ID card(which was wrapped around my hand) at someone while trying to wave out to someone else. And I remember this because the guy I threw it at is a junior who travels in the same bus as me and he seems to grin mockingly every time he sees me. And that's nearly everyday. groan. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like every year in recent times, once again I hope the New Year will be better. But then, this is that year where one has to decide if one wants to work or study further, if one is willing to disagree with family on decisions for the future, if one should cut her hair short or simply leave that messy stack of hay alone.. So I foresee the usual dose of mayhem and conflict making itself at home in my life next year as well. But that's cool because we all know life wouldn't be fun without healthy amounts of <i>crazy</i> in it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Damn, typing 'stack' up there set off the alarm clock in my head which asks me to study for the exam that's coming up. And to think I thought I would never be one with Information Science and Engineering. Well, If you've managed to get to this point, thanks for all the effort, I appreciate it. I know it hasn't been an easy journey on this page, but your company has been fun and encouraging. So long, have a good New Year!</span>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-10550645764414384172010-11-15T19:14:00.000+05:302010-11-15T19:14:25.198+05:30F1 Season 2010 = Awesomeness.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gratification</span></b></u></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Part of speech : <i>noun</i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Definition : satisfaction</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Synonyms : delight, enjoyment, fruition, fulfillment, glee, joy, <u>kicks</u>, pleasure, recompense.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yup, that pretty much is the emotion being felt right now. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel has become the youngest World Champion, after winning the Abu Dhabi GP, his fifth win of the season. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why am I gratified? Two reasons : </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love Vettel. And I've noticed, for </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">fans of Raikkonen and Schumacher(me me me!), he seems to be the next best driver to support. I digress, the second reason - Alonso didn't win! Haha suck it, you bank-robbing, <b>Kimi-ousting</b>, team-order-imposing , whining piece of eyebrow!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But moving on quickly, lets get to the what was and what should be. A brief account of this season(whatever I remember of it, at least) and what I wish for next year. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IPHwlJT89x2-CJQquKqwvQyyHCIJXmXzF39SwDSehuKeDlwq1sSD8JP_sNtLY0_1DVtr3NvnE0bU98NV36NXkChhPuwrdhOSOpahQmNxn2eSODnkkVubRvi72C5CXlwF5MHP422zb6A/s1600/gepafull1500gepa-14111099031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IPHwlJT89x2-CJQquKqwvQyyHCIJXmXzF39SwDSehuKeDlwq1sSD8JP_sNtLY0_1DVtr3NvnE0bU98NV36NXkChhPuwrdhOSOpahQmNxn2eSODnkkVubRvi72C5CXlwF5MHP422zb6A/s200/gepafull1500gepa-14111099031.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No.1, indeed. Click </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">to see a bigger image</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sebastian Vettel. He's young, talented and comes with a sense of humor that keeps those interview halls filled with giggles. Whether he's winning races with <a href="http://www.f1badger.com/2009/04/china-reaction/"><i>Kate's Dirty Sister</i></a> or pulling Mark Webber's fractured leg, he simply is fun to watch. This season,<i> <a href="http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/11/11538.html">he lost over 66 points due to mechanical or technical faults</a></i>, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but never gave up. He never led the championship this entire season, but he never gave up! I admit he's not particularly good at overtaking without crashing. He's temperamental too, who doesn't remember him showcasing his rage after his crash with Webber in Turkey? But he's just 23, I think that's pardonable. I'm counting on him getting better. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winning the championship the way he did - with a win, was a big moment for</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">us, fans</span></s></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> him and one can tell there's more to come his way.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYiYxYBE3rCIs-Z7kPyr9fQvkZtzY_iTCD9sEIdh7lla8vdWOTnFm21rm8I69O_kVQ-dLODjCWMstuHlhE0v28IkOih-ee-yPP94Q69VdLtI_87263z4N_Wid656YRZhP9Nwf6Lbs7Wg/s1600/tumblr_l6w4bwG0bd1qbm0mn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYiYxYBE3rCIs-Z7kPyr9fQvkZtzY_iTCD9sEIdh7lla8vdWOTnFm21rm8I69O_kVQ-dLODjCWMstuHlhE0v28IkOih-ee-yPP94Q69VdLtI_87263z4N_Wid656YRZhP9Nwf6Lbs7Wg/s200/tumblr_l6w4bwG0bd1qbm0mn.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Webber jump</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Webber is fun! He talks crazy, he advertises for milk and he also set off the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://wtf1.co.uk/post/952302450/this-is-webba-celebration-launches-new-online-craze"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">most fun meme in F1</span></i></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">history. Oh of course, he also drives well and wins races, provided he has a good car. He came close to winning the championship this year, good luck to him for the next!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
Alonso. ha! Ferrari paid Raikkonen a hefty amount of cash, so he would leave behind a warm seat for Alonso to place his tushy in. But instead of winning a championship for the Italian team , Alonso <s>blackmailed</s> whined his way to becoming their driver no.1. He not only asked his engineer across the radio to shut up , because he was too upset to listen, he also provided us that priceless piece of theatrics in Germany, when he declared it 'ridiculous' that Massa was ahead of him and wasn't giving way. The Ferrari chaps promptly delivered those classic lines to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHok_YnR-1k"><i>Felipe baby</i></a> : <i>Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?</i> So, Felipe gave way. Of course, that wasn't a team order. Despite the fact that they immediately apologized to him - on air. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's the entire drama put together in one video: </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00OfqnJROk"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00OfqnJROk</span></i></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"> And here I thought Shakespeare was an ace in the <i>Tragedy</i> category. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But then, I guess its ok. Alonso won a few races, he brought the team an entire bank as a sponsor! He's got to be a worthy champi...*cough* *choke!*.. heck, I can't even kid about it.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mr.Whine reminds me of Petrov. Vitali Petrov drove a fault-less race, keeping Alonso behind him for about 30 laps, contributing to Vettel's championship win. Alonso sure wasn't a happy man at the end of it and he made it pretty clear to poor Petrov:</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySXVoEcCAJ9BiOyzHtDoLhECYws_x_evpEAJKC2ezJGppdYRn_2STzmJP30a4MgW7shVQPnFjj-Ttzt107yA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who knew it was illegal to race for points? Alright, lets leave Alonso alone for now. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Petrov has made scores of fans across the world happy with his drive in Abu Dhabi. He has also been performing decently well throughout the season. Him, Nico Hulkenberg - who grabbed that lucky(yet awesome) pole in Brazil - are two rookies who are likely to lose their seats now. I sincerely hope they manage to get themselves back into F1, they definitely are good racers. There's also Kubica and Kobayashi - both who drove superbly well this season, that I'd like to see in good cars, next season. Maybe Heidfeld could get lucky too. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU_pZaL5uH6ndDPKM6Icm0zepxfcJr4-KDxWnZEwwdGnrBCoYDWrFjcKyMMa18KfP219NxRmg4rL8-bEWeQWd4RPAagJvtbN-hnYHMuYby_v4d7FpnKF0HHZrWYURZy-RZgidzxsBdwg/s1600/HBgufY3o_Pxgen_r_Ax354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU_pZaL5uH6ndDPKM6Icm0zepxfcJr4-KDxWnZEwwdGnrBCoYDWrFjcKyMMa18KfP219NxRmg4rL8-bEWeQWd4RPAagJvtbN-hnYHMuYby_v4d7FpnKF0HHZrWYURZy-RZgidzxsBdwg/s200/HBgufY3o_Pxgen_r_Ax354.jpg" width="151" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Naturally blonde, he is.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hamilton, Button, Massa, Rubens, they've all had a pretty good year. (Rubens was nearly driven into a wall, you say? hmmm ) Lewis and Button, in particular, have been fair racers all through and gave Mclaren a respectable second in the Constructor's title. But my driver of the year is probably Goldilocks. Nico Rosberg, as you know him. He didn't flinch when Schumacher was made his team-mate and has driven very consistently race after race, bar an accident or two. He surely has helped Mercedes in jumping Renault for fourth in the Constructor's standings more than Michael has. So, cheers to him!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Talking about the Constructor's title, well done Red Bull! They were hell-bent on not using team orders and now they've got both titles in their bag. Something Ferrari could learn. Not to forget, they had a brilliant car. I'm one step away from starting to worship their engineer Adrian Newey.<i> </i>Also, Force India missed 6th to Williams by a single point. That hurts. About time they became regular faces in the top 5. C'mon Team Mallya! </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxcv7H6DAVMbRIXFP7e-W4jpepTfHX6E-pAaejWdcWu5lF1LGwzXSEm4cjSVJr-j7WpZPz4ZMirgjbwZfflaWC5pANd1b-IzN6kr950Um1fOQIqlUOMboygQMiIKdbh4jm_uzNXORZII/s1600/827.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxcv7H6DAVMbRIXFP7e-W4jpepTfHX6E-pAaejWdcWu5lF1LGwzXSEm4cjSVJr-j7WpZPz4ZMirgjbwZfflaWC5pANd1b-IzN6kr950Um1fOQIqlUOMboygQMiIKdbh4jm_uzNXORZII/s200/827.2.jpg" width="136" /></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, also, I'm praying the team principal of Lotus (or whatever that team is called) , Mr.Tony Fernandes, is as pumped about winning his bet with the boss of Virgin Racing, 'Sir' Richard Branson, as I am. The bet went something like this: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The losing owner must turn stewardess and serve drinks in the winner's Airline company, for a day</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Now since Tony's team has done better than Branson's, we're going to get to see Branson play dress-up. Hopefully.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Air Asia will most certainly have all tickets sold out on that will-be-eventful day. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE39Bdzban5d0XcnXRKo66bDXPLcx4D6oPTH9UFTwj5Ze1lThcTIC9ISH8_jEwo3tiTIiy0gH7tkPil9Uy0VAyxQ8Pe6v5hJVB6MTmtSLaXJT13Gh_TiTKKBm7_Lnb9NmighW_VOW1qM/s1600/167159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE39Bdzban5d0XcnXRKo66bDXPLcx4D6oPTH9UFTwj5Ze1lThcTIC9ISH8_jEwo3tiTIiy0gH7tkPil9Uy0VAyxQ8Pe6v5hJVB6MTmtSLaXJT13Gh_TiTKKBm7_Lnb9NmighW_VOW1qM/s400/167159.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael Schumacher. What can I say? To say it was a disappointing year would be an understatement. Nothing can take away all those brilliant drives over 15 years of racing, before his first retirement. He'll always be the hero that made me love Formula1. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The gap of 3 years, the transformation the sport has undergone while he wasn't here, his age..whatever be the reason he didn't step onto the podium this season, I'm glad he's coming back next year. After his accident at Abu Dhabi though, I doubt his wife would allow for it.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I suppose I've covered most things that have been hovering in my head. Hat tip to that genius Bernie - thanks to the new points system, the Driver's title had four contenders to the very end. Also, Bernie, continue to bring in ex-drivers as special-race stewards, please. Damon Hill in particular.*drool* </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;">The 2010 season has been fantastic. I know I miss F1 already, but I'll keep myself busy with dreams of going to a race next season. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;">Kimi's 10th in WRC standings sure are good for a debut, but I'd rather have him back in F1. Along with wishing for his return, Schumi's return to his winning ways and Vettel keeping his momentum, I have one other wish for next season. There was one fantastic fellow who made me enjoy F1 mid-season, when I thought the circus was getting too bland. He's amazingly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><b>crazy </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;">and can overtake a driver faster than I can type this sentence. If there's anyone out there who <u>deserves a winning car</u>, it's the guy who made the Japanese GP the best race of this year. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;">Kamui Kobayashi, stay awesome, you mad fellow.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxBezIUXYoVD02ZaO8vTsOhezVxnhYtaa0nwbErp79Wnk-NVyboXgasLO1FK_CklckIuGfA47nFz7g7RF9PySeS21_VPr5Jc48yLwAPaziXFEPDOaocqOHLPAPPItrSomJxcTilbxK0k/s1600/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxBezIUXYoVD02ZaO8vTsOhezVxnhYtaa0nwbErp79Wnk-NVyboXgasLO1FK_CklckIuGfA47nFz7g7RF9PySeS21_VPr5Jc48yLwAPaziXFEPDOaocqOHLPAPPItrSomJxcTilbxK0k/s400/new.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next seazon, all your meme are belong to me!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Bring on the 2011 season, I can't hardly wait!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-size: small;"></span></span>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-15976419241043464262010-10-27T01:08:00.006+05:302010-10-27T01:21:31.592+05:30In my life, I love you more.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course, there's plenty of them fantastic artists out there. But this band is somehow more special to me. And I'm just about to grant myself the permission to talk about them.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't pick a favorite Beatle. That, in a way, translates to - I can't tell whose voice I like most. But honestly, I can't rank the four of them for nuts. There would be no legacy of this magnitude, if any one of them wasn't a part of the band. Each one was/is so supremely talented and brought in unique elements to the band. Of course, people's perceptions vary, but I'd say Paul had an edge over the others, when it came to creating the nicest rhythms. Lennon introduced that zing, while forming my favorite song-writing duo with Paul. George, that sitar-using charm aside, most satisfies my need for a good looking, long-haired member in a band. And Ringo, mighty Ringo, kept this crazy bundle of creative energy packed together. And together, anything they created was magic.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm partly happy this band existed, partly regret that they split up too early. I love them by a good measure, but most of all, I feel gratitude. For all those songs, words and tunes, and for all the times I've found peace in their music.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is a Beatles song for <b>every</b> mood. And almost always, I'm a better person at the end of each song I listen to. And well, just some times, there's that overwhelming feeling of joy and thankfulness that compels you to write a post about them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm hardly qualified to say anything that does justice to The Beatles or their music, so I'll borrow a line from ABBA and simply say, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Thank you for the music.</i></span></div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-26883336717556395032010-09-30T20:51:00.000+05:302010-09-30T20:51:47.214+05:30Philosophical indulgence<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have a strong urge to post another 'arbit rants' labeled post, considering the number of unimportant and unrelated statements I want to make. But I'll skip them all for this. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's insulting to the author that I don't remember where I read this or when I read this, so I apologize. But this simple poem has come to mean a lot to me. I find much depth in it and can't help but share it. Hope you connect with it as much as I did.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let alone this desire</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And see a new world rise</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let alone this time</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forsaken in your mind</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let alone this pride</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And see the faces that smile</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let alone this hatred</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Filled up in your heart</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let alone this remorse</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And look straight in the eye</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Listen to the sound of a new life</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And we shall rise. </span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whoever you are, Mr.Author, thank you for these lines.</span></span>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-71130650701619270002010-08-25T18:50:00.003+05:302015-09-07T00:36:28.062+05:30The kind of post that gets deleted - 4<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Welcome once again, non-existent reader, to the world of arbitness. This is going to be one of those spontaneous posts, <strike> with no proof-reading or editing,</strike> where I simply wish to check if my keyboard is functioning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">2 fractures , one on each arm , while I was just being myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 hairline fracture - and I still can't bend that toe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 cycle <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">-</span> truck accident , after I forgot I was <a href="http://www.ratemydrawings.com/img/thumbs/2007/08/03/994/99469_Wile-E-Coyote-~-got-lazy.jpg">coyote</a> and not road runner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 muscle-ripping moped <i>-</i> rickshaw accident, because the rickshaw driver was just being your average rickshaw driver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And of course, not to disregard the common fall - that usual trip and fall and slide. And many an embarrassed smile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ask me to list the times I've hurt myself and these incidents immediately come to mind. So yes, I've had my fair share of accidents, falls and injuries. But I've never had that crowning moment. You know, when you get a bump on your head? Never, until last week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After all these miraculous feats, one would expect that I land the crown in a glorious manner, yeah? But no, I simply had to walk into that wall and then flail my arms like an awkward flamingo. It's disappointing. You know why? I thought this was one field where I exercised expertise. It's very disappointing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So is the buildup to our CWG. Like I wish the F1 season and Schumi's career would take off again, I hope, like every Indian, that the CWG happen smoothly and successfully. Also, the </span> Indian Olympic Association<span style="font-size: small;">, who took charge of CWG, signed a deal with the FIA for the Indian GP. Their involvement in this might just bring in a déjà vu moment come October 2011, when Bernie stomps his way around a deserted Gurgaon. But, we may not be the only country to pull a stunt like this. One of them Korean countries plans to hold a race too and their track looks like this :</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">F1 race track? You bet.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, did I mention? The Korean GP is set to happen <i>this</i> October.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkggY1k9S1iCFUmQ1IXu_0vuw-C4tpHM7RdHDgxzyNR5ERevFcjKU1knOuwV5JcRoxHE7G0hOC2CLozXVgfJDdnUKUfjyhVcfB4XJRJGgWSKwYBAXkA8x4L7N1WYRMOXUwZy9hBi1WbE/s1600/800px-Spa-Francorchamps_overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkggY1k9S1iCFUmQ1IXu_0vuw-C4tpHM7RdHDgxzyNR5ERevFcjKU1knOuwV5JcRoxHE7G0hOC2CLozXVgfJDdnUKUfjyhVcfB4XJRJGgWSKwYBAXkA8x4L7N1WYRMOXUwZy9hBi1WbE/s400/800px-Spa-Francorchamps_overview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The track at Spa</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The next race though, is at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium. A beautiful track, universally loved, what with its uphill sections and the works. One of my favorite tracks of all time, it's also been a great place for Schumacher and Raikkonen. The latter of course, won't even race here this time. And to think it was him and the Belgium GP 2008, that made me want to create this blog. <i>*nostalgia*</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love this track, yes I do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And I won't get to watch this race this weekend. No, don't ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have been overdosing on nostalgia of late, with many good friends passing out of college or moving out of the city. And as always, music comes to aid. While I have discovered/been gifted links to many wonderful bands/artists/songs over the last few months, I've got to make a special mention of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Extremo">In Extremo</a>. They're German and they play medieval Irish, Swedish and Finnish instruments. My thoughts initially - <i>are you kidding me?!</i> If you dig this kind of music, you should probably give this song a try : <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BtiEzLVRuQ">Vollmond</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ok, then, my testing's through. I'll leave you with this video of Formula 1 drivers doing their..err.. thing. They were to make sounds, imitating an F1 car, but Petrov and Massa were into something else altogether.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After laughing my heart out, it occurred to me that what happened in Hockenheim wasn't Ferrari's fault. No team orders, no growling Alonso. Massa has just always been the tame kitty.</span></div>
Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-6089026335855769502010-07-29T02:24:00.000+05:302010-07-29T02:24:09.834+05:30Black,red,gold and a chequered flag.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just like it is with the chicken and the egg, I'm not sure what came first - my obsession for Formula1 or for Germany. Either way, they have both given me something to look forward to every alternate weekend, for a decade now. Over the last two months though, Formula 1 barely managed to excite me, thanks to Klose and co. draining me off adrenalin as and when my body produced it. Loew and his men(boys?) gave me more than one reason to smile, so here's me saying<i> 'Vielen Dank, die Mannschaft'</i>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stepping into familiar territory, I've got to say I'm not enjoying this season very much. Lets just say its harder than I'd imagined, to see </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Schumacher</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> being a regular mid-fielder (all non-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Schumi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>s</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> , this is your cue to point and laugh). And that's not all. This season's throwing up a few too many unpleasant surprises. If my opinions mattered - and I really wish they did - I'd have this to say to the F1 kingdom :</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">@</span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Vettel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Webber</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> and Team Red Bull</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - STOP stealing Mclaren thunder! All those actions on and off track , garnished with your war of words are so ridiculously dramatic, it must be giving Lewis/Alonso an inferiority complex. You were liked for your fun-quotient and diplomacy - save whatever of it is left.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">@</span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Bernie</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- You sly, 5ft tall bugger, you! Are you behind the scene at Red Bull? Wouldn't be too surprised, considering we have no scandalous 'gate's this season. Just..pick another team?</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">@</span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Lewis, Button</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - So, you've been christened Lewson/Jenis by the media. Jenis, <i>seriously</i>? All the in-team-love is slightly over done, fellas. The patience is running out, just call each other a wanker and collide already!</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">@</span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Ferrari</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Dudes, I'm Tifosi and everything, but hello! You're supposed to be a Prancing Horse , not a braying child of a donkey. Let me put it across very simply :</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ferrari + Raikkonen + whining = monotone-d fun.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ferrari + Schumacher + whining = bearable.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ferrari + Alonso + whining = pain in everyone's rear.</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're not winning because you're not improving! It has nothing to do with one of the stewards not having a pleasant family life. No one's plotting against you!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrt4rC-h9xJ-Ja1_cFnTD_3yQwC1fq6xflcQQpdp_eB6aUliPpuqCZpwKrsrro1yzm1EQyxXRX0lheCk0oqD7aY0cDpmlpoKdOboIQ6uUqs1vQZwCisNJd6UvE0L95PyVCfsJD9yVJ8Q/s1600/alon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="133" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrt4rC-h9xJ-Ja1_cFnTD_3yQwC1fq6xflcQQpdp_eB6aUliPpuqCZpwKrsrro1yzm1EQyxXRX0lheCk0oqD7aY0cDpmlpoKdOboIQ6uUqs1vQZwCisNJd6UvE0L95PyVCfsJD9yVJ8Q/s200/alon.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Its all a conspiracy =(</span> "</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So stop wailing and pointing fingers, before your logo goes from the classic horse to this ---></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh Nando, you can continue. It's always fun when your frustration makes its way to the team radio , for all of us to hear. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, (dyamn) I don't really have any other reason to pick on you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(For </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">your</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> benefit kind reader, Alonso doing his thing : 1. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oVLOAXFxxE"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A funny one</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 2.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://sidepodcast.com/2010/07/11/all-we-hear-is-radio-ga-ga/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A sulky one</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> )</span></span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">@</span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Schumi </span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Don't quit. Not yet.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When the "Schumacher is a back-marker" claims drop into my chat window, I have nothing to say. I can only hope for better, I can only look back at </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Race_of_Champions"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Race of Champions</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and feel a sense of relief. No matter what though, my opinion of the maestro will never change. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Formula1 is set to redeem itself this weekend, with rain hinting it might pay us a visit. I, for one, have been looking forward to this race for a very long time. After Schumacher, Germany and Formula 1 combine most beautifully in the location for this weekend's race - </span><a href="http://f1alex3.tripod.com/id12.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hockenheim</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The German GP is here, bringing back every emotion the German football team did. I'm excitedly hoping to witness an entertaining race and I can tell I won't be disappointed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To all fans, happy (pre-poned and extended) Oktoberfest!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-49849775803782627572010-06-03T02:07:00.006+05:302010-08-25T01:20:23.811+05:3021 years of facepalm<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">It's that time of the year when it's all about me. Don't run away though, I'll keep this rant short. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">When I was 14, I was crazy about Formula 1 and I loved Schumacher. Today, I'm fond of Formula 1, I like Schumacher and I'm trying to hunt his son down. Back then, I loved watching Cardcaptors. Now, I watch Cardcaptors only when I find its Japanese version. I used to believe Richie Sambora was the best guitarist in the world. Now I don't think twice before saying Petrucci can kick Sambora arse. My behaviour, once termed </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">hyper</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">, is now </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">high</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">. As a teen, I'd regret a lot of things I'd say, often said without internal processing. Now I don't care enough to regret. Then, I was always full of energy and made good of it in athletics. I cared about education. I actually had ambition. And now, I'm ..well, I have energy and make good of it by looking for more food. I drag myself through the process of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">education</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">. I can't find my ambitions.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Many changes, o'er these years, some trivial, others not so much. Only a few things have stayed constant. My height for instance, but lets not go there.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">None of those changes, I had a conscious control over. When I turned 20, I decided to bring about changes that I wanted to see. It's only providing you with redundant information, when I tell you that none of it came through. But I did have exciting plans! I wanted to experiment and go trippin'.Instead, I had </span><i><a href="http://www.mumbaicorner.com/images/paan.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">paan</span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"> for the first time and went tripping over electric cables. Did I hear you say facepalm? Well, you're absolutely right. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">In fact, I'm pretty sure the doctor who yanked me out into this world 21 years back had a hard time getting my feet out of my mouth, while I hid my face in my hands. Ever since, its been facepalm after facepalm. My parents have even considered using surgical measures to keep my feet out my mouth. 21 years of it all, its been fun. For those who stood at a distance and watched, of course. I'm not too upset myself, I'm sure a lot of things could've been worse. Tough, crazy or blissful-it's at least been interesting all this while. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">The legal age for everything is here and I've waited for long. But harder times are to come, people say. I find myself wondering if I'm all set to '</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">battle the world</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">'. I wonder if I'll ever make a positive difference to my environment, or if I'll fall asleep in a bathtub at 27, without having achieved anything worth talking about. I..</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">I wonder how much I'm going to cringe when I read this a year from now. </span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Damn.</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-77322548984596651652010-05-09T03:59:00.009+05:302010-05-09T22:38:48.361+05:30There's a geezer in F1 (and its NOT Schumacher).<div><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"The five red lights eliminate and the *insert name*<insert> <insert>GP iis </insert></insert></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">GO</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">!" </span></b></i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Quite literally, ring a bell?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For religious followers of Formula1 who watch the telecast on Espnstar, every race begins with those words being spat out in mighty excitement by Steve Slater. And boy, is he one special character!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Before I stick to boring tradition and list out points as to why the man ought to be out looking for his screws, let me state that I like him. He's a fine chap, a typical middle-aged British man, I suppose, hyper and overly joyous all the time. Irrespective of everything I say, Formula1 RaceDay needs him. But considering all that bumbling, messing up and guffawing, I decided there had to be a post on the bugger. So, quickly getting down to business, here's what I find annoying/amusing about the man :</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">* </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The tone of his voice + accent.</span></u></div><div><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></u></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Maaybe</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> I shouldn't comment in this category because of my bias toward the baritone. But hey, its only fair that a sport have a commentator with a charming voice. I mean, the sport is a two hour show with cars going about one track, a shrieking voice can get to you, y'know? Alright, maybe not his voice per se , its pitch perhaps. Well, you get the drift. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And I won't trash the accent - I don't </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hate</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> it. Especially since it can get amusing at times.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> *</span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Mr.Excessivley Hyper </span></u></div><div><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></u></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeah, I'm no one to rant about somebody else being annoyingly hyper, but this man simply ought to calm down! What is he now, 50? All that excitement could rub his BP the wrong way. Earlier, there was the ever-calm Chris Goodwin, who kept things going steady, without giving any one's pulse a sudden jolt.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Agreed, there are two sides to the coin. Without Slater's constant cackle, non-crazy F1 fans might catch a snooze before lap 20. But just sometimes, his excitement can get to one's nerves. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">* </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Blunders galore</span></u></div><div><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></u></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the name of Ayrton Senna, someone please help him get all those names right. Slater almost always remembers to drop in a blooper during a telecast. In all his excitement, it seems like he often loses his train of thought. For instance (and this is just one of hundreds), at this weekend's Spanish GP, he went,</span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Whatever Sebastian Vettel can do, Vettel can do it 300th of a second better."</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Replace the second Vettel with Webber, please.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yes, I know, to commentate in real-time is very tough, I would've made a bigger fool out of myself.. yada yada yada. But one ought to know the basics like team and driver names, yes? </span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Kobayashi there, driving for the BMW Sauber.....Sauber...whatever it is they call it now! hehe!"</span></blockquote></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">BMW Sauber </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ferrari</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, thank you very much.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">* </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Talking over a driver's radio conversation.</span></u></div><div><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></u></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here's something that actually makes me want to send out a flying punch. When a driver's radio goes on for the viewers to listen to, you </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">quit</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> rambling and let people listen to the driver-engineer conversation! Slater always has a fellow commentator remind him to shush. When the man finally completes his rant and goes quiet, the radio conversation would be three fourths done with. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bollocks!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">* Well, strictly speaking, this is not a valid point. His bro-crush on Lewis Hamilton has nothing to do with this post. Yeah, he was a true Schumacher fan but jumped wagon. So? He never makes any biased remarks in Hamilton's favour now, does he? Does he? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Well, at least its better this year. Its just him going ga-ga over the Ham-boy. There is no bright orange-clad-pussycat's-annoying-doll going fruity in the pit lane. Phew!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anyway, not digressing further ; the listed issues aside, there's Slater's constant comparison between F1 and chess ( "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">they're playing chess at 250kph!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">") and his never ending stuttering, among many such idiosyncrasies. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But like I said before, he's one endearing old bloke. He adds his Brit jazz to Formula 1 every Sunday and my race wouldn't be complete without him or his flubs. Of course, other sports have funnier people to celebrate, but here's my toast to that yeasty geezer from Formula 1 - Cheers.</span></div><div> </div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-89181493037785765852010-04-28T21:48:00.005+05:302010-04-28T21:57:11.383+05:30A day well spent.<div><span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Parikrma is an NGO that provides education to underprivileged children. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.parikrmafoundation.org/">Parkirmafoundationdotorg</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></em></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A fine Wednesday morning two weeks past the commencement of my summer holidays , I found myself running through my to-do lists, trying to find something to do. The mundaneness of everyday routines having numbed my nerves, I refused to recognize tasks that seemed uninteresting. Quickly looking past the ones labeled 'important' , I decided to step up to the internet, the sphere where time isn't respected enough. But before I could lose my way amongst the many webpages, I remembered Parikrma. My friend and I had been putting off a visit for a long while due to work at college and were eager to visit. I thought, why not meet those kids today and bring a smile on their faces?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />After a few calls to my friend and the Nandini Layout branch of the NGO, I left home. A short drive later, I found myself looking up at the bright and colourful school. I soon met my friend and together, we met the principal. We just wanted to volunteer, we told him. Very quickly, he had our work cut out for us. We were to assist teachers in minding 2 sections of tots.<br />Enthusiastically, we followed him into the nearest classroom. With just one look into 'Sun', the class for the youngest group of children, I realised I wasn't particularly qualified to handle the kids. Upon my request, we moved into 'Mercury', the standard 1 of Parikrma. Once inside the class, I saw everything that I had pictured an NGO school to be - except for one detail. I saw more smiles than I had expected to see. But that was the last mental note I was allowed to make. Five seconds into entering the class, we were surrounded by kids who only came up to our waists. Twenty five to thirty of them, all very excited and full of energy. They wanted to know our names, they wanted us to know theirs, they wanted us to take photographs with them, they wanted us to have a look at their coloured works of art and they wanted us to do it all immediately! I flashed my friend a part-exhausted, part-terrified look but she assured me we'd get by, unscathed. I tried to cross my fingers in prayer, only to realise my fingers were all clutched by different kids. I took a deep breath to calm myself, while my friend took charge. As worried as I was after the ambush, things only got better from then on.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Through the morning, we recited rhymes and math exercises, played games and laughed with the children. Every time a camera came out of our bags, they'd swarm around us and fight each other to ensure they made it into the frame. Of course, they wouldn't let us go until they had a look at the photo and felt content with their appearance in it. Evidently, we weren't the first visitors they had. But the love they seemed to shower on us so effortlessly made us feel very special. When it was time for lunch, we were invited to eat along with them. We were only glad to oblige.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The afternoon was consumed by art class. I had fallen in love with the kids, yes, but the talent-mine in that classroom drew a small measure of harmless envy. As we sat expressing our approval of all the masterpieces, the school bell rang. There was a loud chatter of bye-byes, lots of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">flying kisses</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and in less than a minute, the kids vanished. My friend and I turned to head home.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ6jyHlt-e-t6t-IpdfGoW4GOuY9VPC41BrH2R-fxVJYZEDaAC1gZ8h6PtNBaeThxHXWyqtW9tlSjFa8Pz9RzqjAD0pJmYYrHZsmaCpeEdREp85cUhJNzvEmF_cZ6DgelD0dUWGefQxI/s320/100_3044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465212912809258306" style="text-align: right; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The children on</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Independence Day.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZEL6cB_Qt70Ntz3yZeKDADXBV7JgrCX-8QmiebWaf7H19otNp1ooPgA48uXQiE96-PVOVpZVIsckUUKditq-Jx-no69GjtWcDsPadQySB8FdOSp_4XZRIlbB4kn0fX73CoVhWO1pnzE/s320/100_3019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465214098122074914" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Once home, I had a lot to think about. Parikrma mainly schools orphaned children or children whose parents are serving prison time. A majority of the children live in a hostel close to school, with just about the basic needs being fulfilled. For most of them, it had been years since they had seen a member of the family. For some, such a meet had never happened. But not once ; not once during the entire day, did they lose the smile from their faces. These children attend school everyday with unfathomable enthusiasm, study intently, greet visitors with tight hugs and rush out of school in the evening - only to come back in the next day, with the same energy.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Almost immediately, there was the inevitable introspection. I recalled my first year of engineering, when I'd get depressed over not liking what I was being made to study. I recalled the times when I refused food at home, wanting to go to a restaurant. The many times when I would fight with my family over a multitude of trivial issues. There was a lot to learn from these children.<br />Happiness seems to be the destination we all seek. But to a majority of us, happiness remains an elusive emotion. And then there are these children, who have nothing to lose but themselves. The energy around them is ever-so-positive and there is absolutely no room for hate. Sure, they have their mighty differences now and then, generally over an eraser or a crayon. But fifteen minutes later, you might find them posing for a photograph with their arms around each other. There isn't much that this world can do to take away their smiles. There hardly exists anything that can attack the bounty of happiness that lies within them. And there is absolutely no stimulus required, for them to share this bounty with you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />We went back to Parikrma again. For three months, we made charts , bound text books , sang songs and taught Math and English. Three months of bliss. While the children took lessons according to the designed syllabus, we had our fair share of life-lessons. The little ones showed us how the world is too small and life, too long, to feel hate. How there is never a need to seek happiness from around you ; you only have to look within yourself.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Even today, we go back for short visits when time permits. But unlike the first time I visited Parikrma, I don't visit the kids intending to bring a smile on their faces. I just know I'll return home with a broad one on mine.</span></div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-53732355329070597072010-03-29T20:25:00.002+05:302010-03-29T20:51:15.700+05:30Its raining Buttons.<div>I have a problem with this Formula 1 season and Espnstar is to blame. Why, I want to know, just why have they changed their <b>excellent</b> opening track for Raceday and Chequered flag? It might seem trivial to you, but I have prepared myself for every race, over all these years, by bobbing my head to that racy track. The new track may not be bad but it isn't a speck on the old one. I wouldn't complain if I could get it off the internet, but I simply couldn't find it. Can anyone please help me find it?</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on, it appears like Alonso is the only teenage girl in this world who can drive the wheels off that Ferrari. Good for the team, bad for people like me. He praises the team, he praises the car, he praises the strategies, he drools over the team boss..just how hormonal can girls get?! Even I haven't, ever, gushed over Gary Oldman or Tesla like Alonso does while talking about Montezemolo. <i>Really.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>After Bahrain, I assumed Ferrari would run away with the championship this year. Vettel, I hoped, would take the driver's title. Then Australia happened. For me, the onset of the Australian GP induced a mix of joy, grief and fear. Joy, to see Vettel and Ferrari doing great. Grief, because I can't forget Kimi's first win with Ferrari, same place, three years back. And fear, because I don't like the condition of the Merc that Schumacher is driving. The buildup to the race was entertaining though, with the Hamilton man trying to impress women on the streets of Melbourne - and getting fined!</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting down to the race itself, there was a world of change from Bahrain. Excellent maneuvers by Webber, Kubica , Roseberg, Hamilton(yech!) and a couple others, great battles between teammates, slight drizzle, a few wrong tyre-decisions and a small spray of accidents ; this race didn't let the fans down. The start was great for Vettel, Massa and Kubica, who wasted no time in darting to the first corner. The start wasn't good for me. Things were fine until Button decided to give Nando a li'l kiss on track. Their cars touched and Nando spun with joy : now only if he wouldn't knock down Michael's front wing and send him sliding off the track. While I tried to recover from this, two of my favorite rookies, Hulkenberg and Kobayashi, decided to park their cars in a spectacular fashion. Apart from a string of overtaking maneuvers and wild grass-rides, the race saw nothing significant happen until reliability issues struck the Red Bull again. This time, Vettel stopped a few meters shy of the barriers, after a brake failure. From there on, most cars played cat and mouse till the penultimate lap when things lit up for a moment. Webber touched Hamilton, ruining his race and Hamilton's chance for a podium. The final bit of action came from Schumi, as he overtook two cars, to land himself the final championship point. Button crossed the finish line with a rather butterball-ish John Travolta waving the chequered flag. Kubica took home a well deserved second. The Ferraris led by Massa, Rosberg and Hamilton came in 3-6.</div><div><br /></div><div>In spite of things not going well for Vettel or Schumacher, I could appreciate this race. It was a fine trailer that demonstrated how exciting this season can be. I have my own concerns about the scoring system, but predictions and comments can be pushed for after two or three more races. </div><div><br /></div><div>Looking forward to a better Merc and a reliable Red Bull in the next race, I'm also excited-giddy about the scene at Mclaren. While Whitmarsh <a href="http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/231119/whitmarsh-praises-button-s-strategy/">praises Button</a>'s strategy, Hamilton <a href="http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/231121/hamilton-upset-over-mclaren-strategy/">blames the team</a> for bad strategy. I'm glad there is enough action and drama to sustain Formula 1 this year. Despite what happens this season, I know I'll enjoy the races. I know I'll walk away from Steve Slater's jabber saying "I'm lovin' it!".</div>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-28528617111397192452010-02-23T22:53:00.003+05:302010-02-24T00:21:35.708+05:30Its on!<span style="font-family:times new roman;">What is? </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Firstly, <a href="http://www.utpt.blogspot.com/">UTPT</a><a href="http://www.utpt.blogspot.com/">. Quizzing doesn't get better than this. </a><a href="http://www.utpt.blogspot.com/">March 19-21st, 2010. Be there</a><a href="http://www.utpt.blogspot.com/">!</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Now with that out of the way, the 2010 season is ON! </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Nerves have started to twitch, fingernails have been digested , friends have been fought with - all this, with a month to go for the inaugural race! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">There is so much to like about this season. New teams, new points system, NO Mosley, a good selection of drivers and the return of a winning combination. Needless to say, I'm thrilled(beyond acceptable limits) to see Schumacher and Brawn back together. But before I continue with my joyous rant, I'm going to say one thing to those of you who believe Schumacher is back for the money, fan count(?!) yada yada yada : Foutre vous. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Getting down to business, the new teams are US F1, Virgin, Lotus and Campos. The newbies started to interest me after I read about <a href="http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=6&art_id=92023&sid=26463690&con_type=1&d_str=20091218&fc=10">Branson's deal with Tony Fernandes</a>, the owner of Lotus. If that deal is followed through, the team that ranks lower in the championship at the end of the season will have its owner serving wine in the other team owner's airline, for a day. Stewardess attire in place. How rad is that! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Their spirit is commendable. It has been and will continue to be an uphill task for the new teams to provide good/any competition to the established teams. Branson's glamour quotient aside, Virgin - the car, isn't really happening. If you look up an F1 thesaurus, you'll find 'US F1' to be synonymous with 'joke'. My genuine sympathies are with the team, but, that F1 is an expensive sport is no hidden secret. Lotus has launched a good-looking car, but is said to have downforce issues. And the last team, Campos, has been battling for survival. I have come across more rumors about Campos and Stefan GP than those about the foster parents of the world, Brangelina. It finally appears like Campos is being taken over by (some)Jose Ramon Carabante</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">, in which case the team might be renamed. News about a certain Stefan GP continue to float around. Stefan GP is linked to Villeneuve, Ralf Schumacher and India's Karun Chandok. I wouldn't mind having them enter the sport, if it means giving Karun an opportunity to do the same.<br />Frankly, I can not do justice to this situation with my post. At least, not like Ferrari seem to have done with their <a href="http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/228725/ferrari-criticises-new-teams-and-fia/">statement</a>. (Its a must-read</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Plenty new drivers coming in, but I'm excited crazy about The Hulk-enberg. I've been tracking this young German from his A1 and GP2 days and I expect him to perform well, given a reliable car. And perhaps, he could bag a better drive next season. Bruno Senna brings with him a legacy and the hopes of many fans around the world. US F1 brings with it some drivers whose names I haven't tried keeping in memory, not yet. Renault, for one, isn't paying a driver - the team is being paid by Petrov. Russian Petrov, his politically connected father and their tryst with F1 and money - this circus is far too controversial even by Formula 1 standards. <a href="http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/from-russia-with-interest/">Here's a good read on this.</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Of course, we still have charming Vettel around. He is my candidate for the driver's title, after Michael. And I'm praying, with as many fingers crossed as possible, that we'll have an ego-driven battle in the all Brit team of Mclaren. Unlikely as this scenario is, I'd simply love to hear Button refer to Hamilton's <span style="font-style: italic;">arse</span> on the team radio. All wishful thinking aside, I'm not ruling out Mclaren as a top contender. Mclaren, along with Ferrari and Red Bull seem to be the top 3 teams this season.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The new rules include a new points system, re-fueling ban et all. Interesting. But just having the old tyrant out feels good. My official congratulations to Jean Todt for becoming the new chief of the FIA. It is said, Todt wanted to appoint his <span style="font-style: italic;">son</span>, Schumacher, as his special officer. But fortunately for me and numerous other Schumacher fans, Brawn made Schumacher an offer he couldn't refuse!</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Ferrari tried hard to bring in a 3 car per team system, desperate to provide Schumacher a car. They couldn't manage that but had already booked themselves a whiny, brassy Spaniard. And before we knew it, Schumacher was set to join Brawn in his mission.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Ferrari have moved on, embraced their new line-up and can't stop singing wussy praises. They're sure of seeing <span style="font-style: italic;">their drivers</span> better Schumi. Stefano said at an interview recently, "Alonso is the only one to have beaten Michael by a huge margin - in 2005." Stefano worked for Ferrari in 2005, surely he remembers how pitiful that car was? </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Its rather painful to see Schumi separate from the family he held together for so long. Yes, I'm still miffed with Ferrari for ousting Kimi but once you wear Ferrari red, you don't trade the colour. I can't wait for Brawn to draw stunning strategies, watch Schumi execute them to perfection. I can't wait to upload photos of Schumi-Ross on the podium and tag them brawn and brain, respectively. I can't wait to feel the thrill and joy that I felt many years back! But it still is hard to accept that he isn't driving for the Tifosi. Whats harder, is watching Alonso drool over Ferrari like an annoying girl in her early teens. He is doing a great job behind the wheel though. The new car seems to be in great shape and I have little doubt that Alonso will make the best of it. Seeing Alonso top a Test session recently, with Michael coming in 5th(that Mercedes has me very worried) left me ripped. At this rate, cheering on Ferrari for Constructor's and Schumacher for Driver's isn't going to be easy. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Well, since I've got an entire season of racing, controversies and political drama to worry, lose hair and voice over, I'll end the post. I'll end it with a wish, an optimistic note that has been running through my mind for two months : </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Schumi, kick Nando's ass for 2006!</span>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-50490686984217605772010-01-10T13:38:00.016+05:302010-05-03T05:45:12.009+05:30Can Chuck Norris kick?<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">Its not safe to let people know your weaknesses. I mean, </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><a style="FONT-STYLE: italic" href="http://strandedonthestairway.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009.html"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pjux</span></a></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"> tagged me with two days left for my exams to begin. Clever tactic, wouldn't you say? Its exam time! How can anyone refuse a blog post?! Dang!</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">So anyway, here I am, making a public diary out of my blog. The year '09. The year that wasn't.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >January - The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">The wonderful Quiz Corp trip to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Saarang</span> happened and I missed it. Yes, I'm still sore. Will always be. If you didn't go, you should be sore too.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">This month, born with a bang, brought with it some cheer, a few tears, tough choices and general confusion. And all along I pondered about the truth in that thing they say, "What goes around comes around".</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >February to May - Electric Feel.</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">A good semester. It was no match to the previous, but good nonetheless. One fantastic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">UTPT</span>* and brilliant company all through : this semester had it all. Apart for a few misses, it was a fine period.</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">Almost all my lady friends had broken up with their men by now. Did I mention, it was a fine period?</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">*RV Quiz Corp conducts India's biggest Quiz Fest. You <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">didn't</span> know? Be ashamed. Be very ashamed.</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >June - White and Nerdy, still.</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">So I turned 20. In contrast to everyone else around me, I welcomed the 20. In contrast to how a 20 year old would be expected to behave, I ran around town, wholly excited, announcing that I'd turned 20. But it didn't really sink in then. It hit me a month later, when my brother got know I'd turned 20 and expressed shock. 'Why', I asked him, 'How young did you think I was?'. 'Not young, but dumb. You still have so much to learn...' and his voice trailed off. For this, he got a pillow shoved into his face but I can't quite shake those words off my head. There is indeed so much to learn!</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >July - Schism.</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">This period was all about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hugga</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bubba</span> Love. Many mistakes made but many more lessons learnt. What is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hugga</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bubba</span> Love, you ask? </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2umP7QakrCBj_b9UTiuXOqn-dVuNroqstvZ7M_YDudZFFUsP_SthuxV9CAb7NyzXRnqtMAkljaalxSGH7CP1O5v8cVljAd3MNMGjPRQBhYmOd48w53zMhIljCFc8QWag-lJDkQGfTAA/s1600-h/comic2-1642.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 554px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 329px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425028106776983570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2umP7QakrCBj_b9UTiuXOqn-dVuNroqstvZ7M_YDudZFFUsP_SthuxV9CAb7NyzXRnqtMAkljaalxSGH7CP1O5v8cVljAd3MNMGjPRQBhYmOd48w53zMhIljCFc8QWag-lJDkQGfTAA/s400/comic2-1642.png" /></a><dino link="" comic="" style="font-family:times new roman;">"T-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">rex</span> is the man!"<br />Go read that nutty web-comic. Go.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">August - Get Innocuous.</span><br />On one side connections were lost ; on the other, devious connections with old mirror images were renewed.<br />And right in the middle, we set up the fence. Fence101 : lessons in diplomacy, courtesy <a style="FONT-STYLE: italic" href="http://twitter.com/srtejas"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">okienowwhat</span></a>. I can vouch for its benefits. But it is a very hard thing to implement, this diplomacy. Definitely hard for a female Gemini. And harder for a female Gemini who was born with her foot -wait,scratch that- feet</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><dino link="" comic="" style="font-family:times new roman;"> in her mouth.<br />But there has been some visible improvement. Like the other day, I totally didn't guffaw when my friend asked me how her <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">outrageous</span> outfit looked.<br /><br />Honest! I only just chuckled! Jeez, give me a break already.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">September - The F-word.</span><br />Hair trouble.<br />It is not done. It is just NOT fair that guys can have longer, nicer, healthier hair than us. Than me. Yes, I do believe that the sight of long maned males is delightful, but its not particularly exciting when you are bald in comparison. They don't care, they wouldn't notice if birds laid eggs on their heads but nature doesn't seem to understand where the demand lies!<br />It pays to be a male, it really does.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">October - Take a bow.</span><br />The Nobel Quiz was set to happen. Quiz Corp worked hard for it. It wasn't quite the show we expected it to be though. Lessons learnt, yet again. For the event, I was asked to correspond with the media.<br /></dino></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:times new roman;" ><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-size:100%;"><dino link="" comic=""><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Wait, why am I not making this glamorous?</span></dino><br />I was the Media Representative. </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:100%;">Heh</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. I have to admit, this PR job, however insignificant it might be in its overall effect, gave me the biggest thrills of the year. Heck, I'd never been this excited to make phone calls! Seeing mum's joy when she saw my name in the newspapers(in grand, 5-5cm sized articles) was full-filling, to say the least. Must thank </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:100%;">pjux</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> for opportunity - and for all those phone numbers!<br /></span></div></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><dino link="" comic="" style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">November - Winds of change.</span><br />I , for the first time in the history of my being, have issues with Ferrari. Buying <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kimi</span> out of the sport itself? Sigh. Saying goodbye to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kimi</span> and welcoming <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schumi</span> into another team has been tough. I still dance with all tribal joy when I listen to Ferrari Polka*. So it definitely stings, but now, it won't kill to see the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Reinmeister</span> in overalls that aren't red.<br /><br />*Ferrari Polka by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cuki</span>. Fun track,this.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">December - Paint it black.</span><br />I'm writing this just before a final exam that I'm <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">not</span> prepared for, with a sore throat, heavy head and runny nose : can't paint with any other color.<br />I'm surprised none of us died of exam overdose this month. I had an exam outside of college too! The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Deutsch</span> exam. I got that German course certificate alright. After a year of working hard, coercing and waiting, the poor lady from the institution finally got me to write a small test and collect the certificate. I slacked off yet again, despite being so passionate about the language. One day though, I'll learn enough to post in German. Count on it.<br /><br />And Books. Try not to judge me, but I have a serious problem with books. I like them. I want to read them. But I can-not read them. Suddenly though, there are books everywhere. Every conversation I have, I'm introduced to a bunch of book names. So I finally give in, with sincere hopes that I won't give up on the third line of the first book. Little women to The Great Gatsby, the list is ready. I'm hoping I am.<br />Err..Don't worry, no matter what, I'm not reading anything that might result in <a style="FONT-STYLE: italic" href="http://www.mylifeistwilight.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">MLIT</span></a>.<br /><br /><br />In conclusion, this year ends like it began. Some cheer, a few tears and a lot of that general confusion. In Talking Heads' style, when I compare the first month to the last, its the "Same as it ever was". No useful knowledge gained, no substantial achievements made. No milestones conquered.</dino><dino link="" comic="" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> No, crossing that mark by weight is not counted as a milestone.</span></dino><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><dino link="" comic=""></dino></span></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><dino link="" comic="" style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />I did, however, learn a few life-lessons. Like how to sit on the fence and not taste my feet repeatedly. If I sound cryptic in this post, then I've learnt how to not use the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">internet</span> for dramatics. Also, that Karma goes by a pseudonym. Karma is Chuck Norris. What goes around not only comes back around, it also roundhouse kicks you in the face! And that brings me to the most important thing I learnt this year : Chuck Norris can kick very well and I'm most definitely not Bruce Lee.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Edit :</span> All ranting and invisible/unsuccessful attempts at humor aside, I must add, this year did bring me many smiles and cherished friendships, from January right until December. And I can not, not be thankful. Taking into 2010 nothing but goodwill and the good times, here's my toast to a wonderful year ahead! Happy and Prosperous New Year, everyone. :)<br /><br /><br />I tag Mirror Image, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vinay</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swathi</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Meghana</span> and Idle-in-Thoughts.<br /></dino></span>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344406564458668747.post-50094015625099600692009-11-21T17:50:00.003+05:302009-12-24T18:11:15.382+05:30Of Sport and Passion.<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >This article happened after raking the brain for hours. Six hours. Five of those six came after 00.00 hour.<br />Anyway, I wrote this for a<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> department fest magazine called Transit. The theme, hence, being 'change' or 'transition'. </span><br /><br /><br />Change. One knows not whether it is for good or for bad . Change is all pervading, all affecting. There are many things that change , as we grow. Grow out of our shells, grow out of our habits, grow into adults. All the while, moulding our personality, making us the people we are. And then there are those changes that we have no control over, but still make a massive impact on our lives. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> As a Formula 1 fan for about ten years now, I have seen the many changes that this sport has undergone. Be it rules and regulations, new teams, departing teams or simply the change into becoming a sport with theatrics, I have been there to watch. But nothing changed me, as much as Michael Schumacher did.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Michael Schumacher drove his last Formula1 race in October, 2006. It was a breath-taking race, a spectacular display of the Meister's capabilities. Watching him drive would have filled the heart of every fan with pride. After 71 laps, it wasn't just the race that had come to an end. For most people around the world, it was the end of an era. For me, it was the day my childhood ended. I had grown up watching his shiny red car take him to the podium every alternate weekend. This man, along with the team he revived, was the constant change that my life grew around.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Michael Schumacher gave me my identity. He defined my existence as a human being , driving most of my instincts and my puerile opinions. A Schumacher victory or defeat would decide my mood for the following couple of days. Being a tomboy who rarely cried, there was, surprisingly, no resistance for tears that rolled out of my eyes when he crashed. When the same happened to his opponents though, my neighbors would have monstrous laughter echoing through their homes. Defending him or cheering for him was all I ever did. There have been many friends lost over arguments. Countless hair strands were pulled out and plenty of blood vessels threatened to burst, while I watched every race. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It might seem like taking things too far if I said his wins inspired me to do well at school, but yes, they actually did. I particularly remember a project we were asked to do, on our favorite sports person. It was the first time I worked on a project with all of my heart and soul, making helmets and wheels out of paper , scanning the internet for hours and eventually ending up with a mini-biography. The appreciation I received from my teachers only made me love this man more. There have been times when I'd vow to not watch the sport again , all because Schumacher came second and not first. Until Schumi, I wasn't one who thinks of competition. Stories of his dedication to his team and to winning, of how he worked on his car all night , would leave me in a trance. A state of complete awe which would eventually have me motivated and full of energy. I was always told, it was an absurdity to let celebrities and their exploits affect us to such an extent. But how Schumacher drove his races would always show in me and my work. And more often than not, it worked to my benefit. The era of Schumacher was and will always be, the period when I had 'the time of my life'.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lets jump to the less inviting present. One might say the sport hasn't been drastically affected by Schumacher's retirement. Yes. Only, now there is more drama off-track than on it. If we recall the huge wave of excitement that swept the world when Michael announced a come-back earlier this year, we realise just what he did for this sport. There are many talented drivers, agreed. But no one for whom I would ignore sleep , skip work and ensure that races were not missed. There are Britons who have the whole nation rooting for them, charming Finns who never fail to spice up races , young Germans who don't stop proving themselves. But I, like many fans, still look for Schumachers in them. It is both a matter of pride as well as pain, when every driver who performs well is compared to Schumi. Pain, because no matter how good the newbie is, he is not Schumi. For Schumacher made the sport heavenly. His drives were nothing short of magical. My vocabulary restricts me from expressing articulately, the euphoria he brought to us, Schumacher fans. Michael was special. And he is irreplaceable.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So when Michael retired, I was stranded. For a while, there was nothing that could interest me or inspire me. I believed that it was the end of following the sport. That I wouldn't have anything to look forward to, week after week. That my passion for sport and enthusiasm for life would die a quick death. But three years on, I look back at his retirement as a refreshing reminder of reality. A change that was foisted upon me. After three calm years of introspection, I realize, it was not merely the person that had given me my identity, it was a whole body of ideals. Of heroism, of victory. Of dedication and will. Of simplicity and supremacy. He had been but the embodiment. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">With his retirement, a defining feature of my childhood was taken away. And I didn't have a say. I knew then that it was time to grow up. Schumacher, and what he stood for , changed me as a child, helped me grow as a teen and stand by me still. I reiterate, nobody will ever affect my life, like Michael Schumacher did.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A big </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Thank You! </span><span style="font-style: italic;">to Nihal and Sid, for getting this piece and me out of our ruts.</span></span><br /></span>Merin Mandannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03324336646333453882noreply@blogger.com7