Its Soccer time baby !!!

FIFA world championship tournament is nearing and I am super excited. The previous world cup tournament in 2006, I clearly remember, I was in Pollachi. I had just passed out of college and joined work. We were given a fast track training for 20 days in Pollachi Mahalingam Engineering College. I had made new friends and had new room mates and everything seemed so fresh and lovely. FIFA world cup was on that time and we weren't suppose to watch TV after 9.00 PM. So we all signed a letter to our hostel warden and asked her to permit us to watch atleast the finals. And she couldn't say no :) And we all gathered in that TV hall to see the finals between Italy and France. Man, that was one fantastic game I should say. I wasn't a football fanatic, really. But I became one after watching this game. The penalty shootout which declared the winning team was one nail-biting moment of that final game. So this year I have decided to follow the tournament right from the first match. And yesterday my friend sent me this amazing world cup calender and I really wanted to share with you guys. Check this out and keep track of your matches. My most favorite teams are Italy, France and Germany. 

So what are yours and whom are you supporting ?? 

Women's dignity really saved by a Burqua Ban?

I hope most of you must have known about the Burqua ban in Belgium. Belgium claims to be the first European country to enforce this ban to wear over face coverings in public places, with exceptions like motorcyclists. The main intention is to target Muslim women who wear this traditional garb. The committee says that they cannot allow someone to claim the right to see others without being seen, and that wearing Burqua doesn't seem compatible with an open, liberal, tolerant society. Similar measures are taken in France also. The French president boasts that wearing Burqua is contradicting to the dignity of Women. And he says the only answer to this is to ban it. But statistics show that there are over 5,00,000 muslim women living in Belgium. But not all of them wear Burquas. Some really choose to wear it in order to express their religious faith. A month ago when France was seriously debating on this issue, there were so many blogs and articles popping up on this concern. I found that so many comments from Muslim women. They really wear the Burqua or the Hijab, only because they choose to wear it. Nobody forces them to do so. At least here in the west, nobody does, they say. I really don't get the point of guarding the dignity of women by banning the Burqua. I don't even see security issues here. When Muslim women go for a security check they very well co-operate and reveal their identity. So where is this getting to? When women don't get to choose what they wear, where is the whole idea of freedom and liberalism? And for heaven's sake, seven days jail for wearing a burqua?? God save this world !!!


 Image Courtesy

Scrabble - Rules Changed !!!

The rules of the world famous word game, SCRABBLE, has been changed for the first time in 62 years, since it was invented and trademarked in 1948. Originally the use of proper nouns was banned in the game. But now, Mattel, the company which owns the distribution rights of SCRABBLE has announced plans to make a few changes to the rules of the game.

The players will now be allowed to use names of celebrities, places and companies. The company believes that the existing players will enjoy this new twist in the game and enable young fans and families to get involved. However, the company will continue to sell the boards with original rules, for players who wish to continue with the old game.

This rule change is definitely going to be fun. I may know a place called "Eachempatti", a remote town in India, which may sound totally bizarre to my opponent. Or my opponent might try some popular Japanese celebrity's name which I would never have even heard in my life.

Whatever it is. Change is good. Always!!!

Kim Yu-Na bags Gold !!!

I very badly wanted to see the finals of the Ladies Figure skating event in the winter Olympics 2010. There was so much hype and support for Kim Yu-Na, the 19 year old from South Korea. There were blogs, support mails, fan clubs in facebook-twitter-orkut, opinion polling and what not. So i thought i should see her performance definitely. I looked up for the channels and event schedule and had even set a reminder for the program so that i wont miss it. And then finally the event started. Kim Yu-Na was to perform third in the finals. And man...She was just awesome. So confident, so flexible, so graceful, so full of spirit and she just breezed through the arena magically. She delighted all her fans and new-fans-to-be (like me :)) with her sexy James bond medley. Finally it was all worth it, after her whole year-long practice and hard work that she had put in. She got what she wanted from Vancouver. She was the most beautiful dancer on ice I've ever seen. And this new fan of hers bows down for her fantastic performance which won her the Gold :)

Japan's Mao Asada, a long term rival of Kim Yu-na, finished second and the grieving Joannie Rochette from Canada, who performed after two days of the sudden demise of her mother, won the bronze.

For those who missed it, watch Kim Yu-Na's Golden performance from here.

A Black in the House of Whites

I was never a person who was interested or too keen in political ceremonies. Be it national or international. But yesterday, believe me; I was waiting in front of my television to watch the live telecast of the inaugural ceremony of the America’s next president. The sole reason behind this was the man of the show. Barack Hussein Obama. There was something magical, something impressive and something attractive in his personality that I failed to notice in the Ex presidents Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush of America. I admired his determination and guts to become the President of the super power nation, being an African American himself. He picked himself up and dusted off the racial discrimination and fought himself a good fight. I really wanted him to win this president election which was looked up so keenly from all over the world. And Yes, He did… Hurray!!!!

Finally Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America and the First ever African American President. This is definitely a revolution!!! A black American taking the highest position of a white nation was definitely something the world wouldn’t have dreamt of. Or At least I dint. It’s a remarkable transition, an end to racism, a new laid path to the communal integrity of the world. It’s a fundamental turning point in history...He has now become a world icon!!!

It was definitely a time of honor for Obama, a time of hope for its wards, a time of come back for all those who fell back due to racism.

He took his oath on the same bible that was used by Lincoln when he became the president in 1861. This is considered as the most sacred oath the country.

Thousands of thousands of people were present to see the inauguration. Some were singing, dancing, happily waving, and some were even crying of joy. I saw a genuine smile in each one of their faces. They were there to witness another page of America’s history. That probably was the most cheerful crowd America has ever seen. The response the crowd gave for Obama’s first speech as a president showed the amount of hope and confidence they had in him.

He is indeed a great inspirational speaker. And in his speech, Obama mentioned all the challenges that America was about to face and his plans to face them. He asked America to prepare for the tough time that is nearing. For those of you who missed it, here are some lines from his first speech.

Our nation is at war and economy hardly weakened.

The challenges we face are real but they will be met.

America is bigger than the sum of our individual aspirations.

Our spirit is stronger and no one can outlast us.

Time has come to set aside our childishness.

A country cannot prosper if it only supports the prosperous.

Our economy calls us for actions, bold and swift.

We must begin the task of remaking America.

We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people

America is a friend of all nations and we are ready to lead once more.

America must play its role to make a new era of peace...

He also thanked, Ex-President, Bush for his service to the nation and smooth transition of Power. Obama has taken this position when America really needs a good leader to reshape their current situation.

His candidature is definitely not like the ones that India has witnessed, which sometimes not even lasted for 100 days. It’s definitely some serious business. He has quite a number of pending tasks, waiting in his desk which includes the war the country faces at Afghan and Iraq, the shutting down of the Guantanamo bay, a solution for the climate change and so on. His first and foremost will obviously be to fix the economic crisis that the nation is facing.

The economic crisis America faced, has definitely affected all the other industries tremendously all over the world. It’s not just the banking & financial sector or the Automobile industry or the IT industry that has taken the toll, but the others too.

He had beautifully expressed his need of every individual's co-operation. His first speech was full of opportunity, optimism, confidence and hope over fear. All these challenges will definitely not be met in a short span of time, as he mentioned clearly in his speech.

We’ll have to wait for some more time to see him in action.

So here’s wishing him all the very best for his new position and his serious challenges to be met…!!!

But wait a minute… Will there ever be a day when an Indian becomes the president of America….? Who knows!!! May be our children’s children will witness that….!!!! :D