With globalization and the current US Govt’s obsession with the spread of freedom and democracy and its pre-occupation with Iraq, the US economy has been sinking steadily. As companies continue to under perform (like Unocal) and their values drop, such mergers and acquisitions are bound to happen. Rather than get into protectionist mode and prevent such mergers, I think these mergers should be encouraged. Its just the inevitable result of globalization and the growth of Asian economies. So “let’s bring’m on”
Month: June 2005
IE6 doesn’t like Google Maps
If you are wondering what this image is about, I was just trying the new add image feature in blogger, way cool stuff!
Google video viewing: A Quick take
As always, pretty cool, but from the first look of it, appears quite preliminary. The search was very slow and very often results were returned with screen shots but no video! Try searching for “Bachchan on Charlie Rose”. You have to go through a couple of screen before you find the text “Video is currently not available”. (this text can be more “in your face”).
Further increase in toll!
Foreign coach for Maharashtra state team!
Check this out. Maharashtra Cricket Association has hired an Australian coach! This is quite a trend. Its only a matter of time before other states go down the same path. Btw, check out this rumor about Bahutle and Jadeja defecting to play for marketers. The biding war for cricketers at the Ranji level is just round the corner. Matching fixing at the local level is next?
Aussies are back to their winning ways
I think they are going to win all the remaining one-day games of this series. (I predicted their victory over England 🙂
Movie Review: Parineeta
Starring: Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan
Hindi, romantic story based on Saratchandra Chatterjee’s book.
Like most Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s movies (1947, Kareeb, Munnabhai, Mission Kashmir etc.), this one is a made with a lot of attention to detail. The music is excellent and blends perfectly with the film. The sets are very impressive and the overall quality of the movie making is excellent. Newcomer Vidya Balan has put in a very creditable performance and is an excellent choice for the role. Saif Ali Khan, gradually emerging as a commercially viable romantic hero (Hum Tum, Kal ho Na Ho and now Parineeta), has put in a good performance as well. Sanjay Dutt (a fixture in Vidhu Vinod Chopra films) appears to have gained weight and aged significantly. The rest of the cast does their part.
The storyline as such is nothing new or for that matter earth shattering (as made out by some reviews and other movie promos). Typical stuff — childhood friendship, grows into romance, some misunderstanding, love triangle develops, hero agrees to marry another girl (small role by Diya Mirza), realizes his mistake, melodrama ensues, and the couple come together. Someone has to be a villain. In this case its the hero’s Dad. Saif plays the hero, Sanjay Dutt completes the love triangle, while Raima Sen helps fix the traingle. Rekha appears in a dance number to enhance the star power. The strength of the movie lies in the treatment of the none too new plot, the excellent music and the overall production quality.
If you are the type who generally enjoys commercial romantic films, this movie is a very safe bet.
Book Review: Q and A
Title: Q and A
Author: Vikas Swarup
Fiction, story based in India.
The book is quite “filmy”. In other words, it has a strong bollywood feel to it. Perhaps the author was considering a movie even while writing it (or maybe it began as an attempt at writing a movie script). Its a masala of sorts — gays, match-fixing, espionage, murder, robbery, romance, suicide, filmstars, child abuse, sex, prostitution, contract killing, incest, you name it– a comprehensive list of issues du jour are cleverly captured in the book as a part of the story.
Overall a very impressive and commendable effort for a debut novel. Most debut novels have an autobiographical side to it. But this book is the product of a hugely imaginitive mind and has little, and probably no autobiographical side to it.
The author is from the ministry of external affairs in India. Check out his interview.
Firefox: Tabbed browsing problems
Aussies in trouble?
Tomorrow’s match against England is crucial. If Australia loses again, they are going to be under a lot of psychological pressure. If you think about the last match against England, barring Pieterson’s super performance, Australia were well on top. So one could argue that it wasn’t as much of a failure on Australia’s part. It was more to do with one “out of the world” batting display that sealed their fate.
With Symonds and Lee back in the side, Australia might just return to their winning ways. Symonds has a lot at stake given that his captain blatantly lied to coverup for him. All in all and interesting tussle lies ahead and for once the Aussies are on the defensive! If they lose again, they could be in real trouble!
Here is my prediction for tomorrow’s match: Australia will thrash England