New IPod Nano

Apple has done it again. They have unveiled
Ø the new models, with “shake control technology”
Ø new media player for PC, iTunes8
Ø Nano has Apple’s genius technology which automatically creates play lists from songs in the music library
Ø I Phone feature, ‘accelerometer’ technology extended to Nano. (Adjusts screens to how the devises are held and lets people shuffle music with ‘a shake’!)

Upgraded, slimmer Touch, with built in speaker (Now I am going to regret this. I now own an outdated Touch, though acquired not very long back L. I always it could have been lighter and should have provided a built in speaker, for that size! )

True to the reputation of Apple to keep continuously improving on their IPod. Apart from the new features, the new Nano is made with toxin-free components and is made of recyclable aluminium and glass. Great !

Happy Onam

Onam greetings to all...
Onam, though a Hindu festival, is a festival for all and celebrated by all in Kerala and beyond( true to the spirit of hinduism, Sanathana Dharma)
This is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, who visits Kerala, his erstwhile Kingdom, thanks to a boon bestowed by Lord Vishnu in His Vamana-avthaar. When King Mahabali ruled there was equality, purity and happiness. Something, we terribly miss today.
To bring back the true spirit of Onam is the need of the hour, and our individual responsibility. Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu...

5 Oct 08

Took off on time, thanks to almost an empty airport, being off season.
Sudha Murthy's book, Gently Falls The Bakula , kept me glued to the same and did not realize as time 'fly by' too. Occassionally, I looked outside. As we took off, it was desert, with different patches of landscape. Lateron, it was just sand all over ! After sometime, it was the grandeur of the sea ! ( The grandeur of desert landscape, sea... is almost Divine !)
As we came closer to India, it was raining outside. Thankfully, it was just overcast when we hit Mumbai... !
Mumbai's slums always made me feel sad. But this time, the city, esp areas which have slums had a blue-tint. Lot of these dwellings have blue plastic sheet on the roof, to protect from rains. That is spirit of Mumbai, they handle the problem in hand and just MOVE ON !
The airport has got more than a facelift. But, the quality of service, lot of scope to improve. As we drove into the city, taxi guy warned me of some traffic jams. I realized, I would hit the highway just in time to catch the office-crowd, returning home after a tough day. To add to it, it was first ( 1.5 day) Ganesh Visarjan. Not much traffic though, but got few glimpses of Ganesha procession, with its music and dance. Indeed, it is auspicious to be around when Mumbai celebrates its favourite festival...

It is great to be back HOME ! :)

Dhoni for test captaincy

Going by the press reports, a case is slowly getting built up for MSD as test captain. Gary Kirsten's interview to NDtv is the latest, though he confirms Anil Kumble is doing 'a great job'.

MSD is a good cricketer and a good leader. But, test captaincy is a much bigger challenge. MSD needs to pick up the nuances of test-captaincy from the seniors in the team, full of ex-test-captains !!! MSD has exhibited this learning aptitute and also the humility, apart from the skills. We will be unfair to MSD by putting on him the responsibility of same, immediately. Couple of years later, as and when Anil retires, would be the right time.

PS. The final ODI loss to Sri Lanka was almost as humiliating as the test series. What we want is the consistency of Australians, not even of Kirsten's home team (after their white-wash by British team)