Reasons to Believe!

I was as usual browsing and I came across this beautiful song called 'Whatever' by 'Oasis'. The lyrics of this song is beautiful. But it was this class of cute kids who sang this song in perfect harmony that made this song even more beautiful. Coca-Cola used this song to create a beautiful commercial.

Here goes the lyrics:


I'm free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose
And I'll sing the blues if I want


I'm free to say whatever I
Whatever I like
If it's wrong or right it's alright


Always seems to me
You only see what people want you to see
How long's it gonna be
Before we get on the bus
And cause no fuss
Get a grip on yourself
It don't cost much


Free to be whatever you
Whatever you say
If it comes my way it's alright


Free to be whatever you
Whatever you say
If it comes my way it's alright


You're free to be wherever you
Wherever you please
You can shoot the breeze if you want


Whatever you say
If it comes my way it's alright

Finally! I broke into my own house!

This is quite a funny story that happened to me yesterday. My parents had left for Bangalore early in the morning and I was working at night. I reached home at about 7:30 in the morning. The way back home was not good since it rained at night and my street was filled with muddy water. As soon as I entered the gate I emptied my pocket and washed my muddy shoes and the mud off my pants. When I reach the door I realized that I did not have the keys.

I was locked out of my own house with no spare keys. I was homeless for the entire weekend. I decided to break in. Now let me explain about the door. Its an Iron Door with a latch and a padlock. The door is not strong enough as it was an additional door. Luckily I had the key for the other door or I would have had to break two doors to get in.

There is a shed in my garden where we keep most of the tools. But last year's rain had broken down a part of the shed. So my dad shifted some of the tools back inside the house. I looked for a hammer but didn't find one. I found a crow bar, placed it in-between the loop of the padlock and pushed it with all the strength I could use.

After 30 minutes of attempt to break open the pad lock I realized that it was not possible since the holder is weaker than the lock itself. After all this struggle, I noticed that the holder was bent in a bad shape but it did not have any effect on the padlock.

Frustrated, I slowly walked around my garden and that's when I found it on the ground. Apparently I had my key with me and I must have dropped it when I emptied my pocket. Thinking about my stupidity and the valuable 30 mins that I wasted, I picked up the key and tried to open the lock. Looked like there was a little damage done to the lock as it was not opening. I pressed the locked hard and tried to turn the key and after a few attempts I was finally able to open it.

Now all that was left was to pull the latch and get in. But the story was not over. The damage on the holder was bad enough that the latch was stuck and it was not coming off. I picked up the crow bar and started hammering the holder in the opposite direction, but in vein. No matter how hard I hit the holder, was not able to bring it back to shape. I searched the shed again and found an iron filer. I placed the filer in between the latch and tried to pull it out. After another 15 mins of struggle I was finally able to pull the latch out. And what are the effects of dropping the keys? Damaged lock, damaged latch in the door and I had to break into   my own house.

The Choking Story!

South African cricketers are called as the 'Chokers'. Recently you might have caught glimpses of their chocking abilities. Most recent ones are as follows.

Feb 21, 2010 - South Africa lost to India by 1 run.
Chasing a stiff 299, they were reduced to 180 for 7. But then brilliance of Kallis helped them to get to 290 for 8. Unable to withstand the pressure they lost their last two wickets easily hence losing by 1 run.

Jan 15, 2011 - South Africa lost to India by 1 run.
Chasing 191, they were 152 for 4 when they lost 6 wickets for only 37 runs losing by just 1 wicket.

Mar 6, 2011 - South Africa lost to England by 6 runs.
Chasing a mere target of 172, they were 124 for 3 when they lost 7 wickets for 41 runs.

South Africans have a history of World Cup chokes. They 'Choke to Death' in all the World Cups. Here is their famous history.



1992 World Cup:

South Africa was facing England in the Semi-Final. They needed 22 to win off 13 balls. Rain interrupted play for 2 overs. When play resumed, the target was revised to 21 to win off 1 ball. The most unluckiest way to get out of the World Cup.



1996 World Cup:

It was the Quarter-Final and South Africa were facing West Indies. Needing 265 to win, South Africa were 186 for 3. They then lost the next 4 wickets for just 12 runs, which ended up losing the game by 19 runs and knocked off the World Cup.



1999 World Cup:

Who can ever forget the magnificent Semi-Final between South Africa and Australia. Being a nail-bitter, South Africa needed 9 runs off the last over with only 1 wicket in hand. Lance Klusener hits two boundaries off the next two balls thereby needing just 1 run to win off 4 balls. And then the silliest thing happens. Klusener pushes the ball and runs a quick run and Alan Donald just stands there looking at the ball. Both the batsmen ends up in the same side of the wicket and an easy run out ties the game. Since Australia had higher points compared to South Africa, they enter the finals and South Africa crashes out of the World Cup.



2003 World Cup:

South Africa had a forgettable World Cup at home. But a win off the final league match against Sri Lanka will see them into the Super Six Stage. Due to the rain, the target for South Africa was revised to 230 off 45 overs, meaning they need 7 runs to win off 2 balls. Mark Boucher hits a SIX which made South Africa need just one run off the last ball. Boucher then defends the last ball without even attempting a run. What the hell happened there? Someone had told Boucher that it was only 6 runs to win off the last two balls. After the SIX he assumed that the game was won and he didn't bother to run off the last ball. The tie in this match meant that South Africa did not have enough points to get to Super Six and they crashed out of the World Cup.



2007 World Cup:

Well, this is the only World Cup were South Africa did not choke but they just gave it away during the Semi-Finals against Australia. Winning the toss and batting first, South Africa lost all their wickets for 149. Australia chased down the score with no trouble at all.



2011 World Cup:

So far South Africa have reach the Quarter-Final which they are to play against New Zealand today. Will they choke in the Quarter-Finals? Or will they choke in the Semi-Finals? They have never been to a World Cup Final. I really wish they would enter the Finals this time. Let's wait and watch.

Edited after the Match:

The chokers choked again. With 222 to win against a feable New Zealand attack, South Africa were 121 for 3. 100 to win with 7 wickets in hand. And guess what? They lose 4 wickets for the next 11 runs and ends up with 172 all out. Will they ever be lucky?

South Park is surrounded by Aliens

For guys who love South Park, you know that the first episode is about Aliens visiting Earth and giving an Anal Probe to Cartman. If you had watched the episode 'Cancelled' (S07E01) you might have known that 'Earth' is a TV show produced by the Aliens and that the 'anal probe' is a TV signal transmitter. The most common routine of South Park is Kenny dying in almost every episode. But do you know that every episode of South Park has aliens hidden in secret places? You might have spotted an unusual Alien in an unlikely place in one or two episodes, but there are aliens in every episode. You don't believe me? Check out for yourself.

S12E05 'Eek! A Penis'

S07E01 'Jared had Aids'

S03E02 'Spontaneous Combustion' (On the Moon)

S05E08 'Towlie' (On the Towel)

S01E01 'Cartman has Anal Probe' (Food Tray)

S02E15 'Spooky Fish'

India in a Dilemma!

Today is India's last league match. It's against West Indies. At the beginning of the World Cup India was said to be the favorites. But now people doubt if they will get to the Semis. India must win to keep up their hopes. India must win to bring back the confidence. But now they are in a bit of a bother. If India win against Windies they will have to face Australia in the Quarter-Final. That could be the end of the campaign for India. What are they gonna do? Win against the Windies and face Australia in the Quarter-Final or lose against the Windies and face Sri Lanka? Let's wait and watch.

Horrors of Nature

                                         

Hachikō - The Faithful

While surfing through the net I came across across this wonderful story of Hachikō the faithful dog. Hachikō is a Japanese Akita dog. In 1924 Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor took Hachikō as a pet. Hachikō used to greet its master everyday at Shibuya Station when the professor returns from work.

In May 1925, the professor suffered from cerebral hemorrhage and died and never returned to the station. Hachikō continued to wait at the station everyday for its master for the next nine years. This faithful act of Hachikō attracted the attention of the commuters. This faithful act of Hachikō was honored by the Japanese and a bronze statue was erected at the station. Also one of the exits at the station is named as 'Hachikō Exit'

Hachikō Statue at Shibuya Station

Gran Torino

Its been a long time since I felt like writing about a movie I saw. Gran Torino, directed and produced by the man, more famously known as 'The Man With No Name' than Clint Eastwood. At first I saw this movie's commercial in Star Movies. Once while surfing the net I saw that imdb had rated this movie 8.4. I thought I will give it a shot and downloaded the movie without even reading the synopsis.

I like Clint Eastwood and his movie. 'The Man With No Name' trilogy was of course the best. But there is no point in watching any of his movies without watching the trilogy. Cause those movies set a benchmark for his characterization. Once I made a mistake of watching one of his movies before watching the trilogy and I didn't like the movie at all. But then after watching the trilogy I saw the same movie again and only then I realized the specialty of that movie. Gran Torino is no different. If you had watched the trilogy and loved it, you will like this movie.

Clint Eastwood is no longer a young cowboy. But he is the only actor in this world who can portray an Action Hero even at an age of 78. Even at an age of 78 'Get off my lawn' sounds really dangerous and 'I blow a hole in your face and sleep like a baby' sounds like he is a person who means each and every word that comes out of his mouth. Even though the movie is slow, as it gets to the climax, it gets as thrilling as the trilogy.

Overall I would rate this movie 9/10, mostly for Clint's acting and for reminding me the great climaxes of the Man With No Name trilogy.

Happy New Year

Well, I haven't blogged for quite sometime now. The last few months of my life had been fast and busy. But never would I have imagined that I will be writing this post from office.

Yes, its the 1st of January and I'm at office. What to do? Situation gone tough. I seem to start my year with woes everytime I guess. Let's push it aside. First I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year.

2010, the one after a slow and the worst of my life, had been a good year. In fact, one of the best. It had been a year with a lot of surprises. I never expected myself to be in this situation, six months back. It has given me hopes to look forward to the new year. Hopefully, 2011 has stored in a lot of surprises for me.

Again I would like to wish you all a very happy new year.