Raising funds for Parivaar thru Mumbai Marathon 2010

Dear Readers,
As in each of the last four years, I have raised funds for Parivaar, an NGO for underprivileged children started by Vinayak Lohani, a friend of mine. Read about my previous posts on this here

In each of the last 4 years, I have made direct contributions to Parivaar either through a cheque or online transfers as I didn't want to meet the transaction costs of various other NGOs which act as processors for organizations such as Parivaar. This year, however Give India has come up with an outstanding matching contribution challenge wherein Parivaar will get nearly twice of whatever you contribute since Give India will match, only if you do so by 10th Oct 2009.

Please click here to contribute.

If you happen to read this post after 10th Oct 2009, you can still make a difference to the lives of underprivileged children by visiting this page and contributing

Under the Influence...

...of pleasant weather and the gentle surroundings of my dear hometown, I had no choice but to buy the following at the Bangalore outlet of Landmark in their sale. The choices available were much better than the ones at Bombay...

Aiding and Abetting by Muriel Spark
G by John Berger (adding to my collection of Booker winners)
How to read a novel by John Sutherland (a former Booker committee chairman)
Lake Wobegon Summer 1956 by Garrison Keillor (*)
The Book of Origins by Trevor Homer
Genome by Matt Ridley

4 non fiction and 3 fiction (rare mix for me)

* mistake purchase since I thought I was buying a book with a similar title by the same author :( hopefully it is half as good

You Cannot Be Serious by John McEnroe

For most people in my generation and perhaps the one before mine, John McEnroe was the most volatile, talented and entertaining player to watch in tennis.

This auto-biography is amazing to read, being heartwarming at times, super funny at others and self-effacing.

Among other things, Mc's love and respect for Borg and his constant quest to discover himself come thru. Here is a sample from the book which convinces one to read it, "That's why bad things happen to athletes more often than with other people. They can't reach that high anymore, so they have to get it artificially, or, if they don't succeed, feel empty. "

Must Read.

P.S. I am using my holiday in Bangalore to knock off a few books on that really long list of books waiting to be read

Vinod Rajan R.I.P.

A beloved friend and batchmate, someone I have known for almost half of my life passed away in an accident y'day.

God bless his soul.

He leaves behind a vast number of grieving friends and admirers. He was a good sport and an extremely popular guy. Was very sharp and hard working and great company. Extremely humble and sweet character.

While one can console oneself saying God takes away his best sooner, it is still devastating to know someone so close is around no longer.

Even as I posted this, a lightning bolt struck a spot a metre away while I was in a train, reminding one of the fragility of life.

Dear Vinod, Wish You Were Here...

Design or Destiny?

There is this priceless scene in a movie named Snip starring Saurabh Shukla where the latter utters the word "Destiny"... See it....

But then, this is about something else. Decide for yourself...

I am on a cagg until I find a shot-clog

Read this to know what I am talking about

IS GOOGLE KILLING GENERAL KNOWLEDGE?

Read this excellent piece to know

Update: I am sort of thrilled to add Is Google Making Us Stupid? to the above article. The latter is a little more philosophical but a good read, nevertheless

Books from the Landmark Sale

Ok, Ok! I need some therapy alright...

Elephas Maximus by Stephen Alter
Why don't penguins' feet freeze?
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton
Strawberry Fields by Marina Lewycka
Liquid Jade (The story of tea from East to West) by Beatrice Hohenegger
Classic After-Dinner Sports Tales
Stick to drawing comics, Monkey Brain by Scott Adams

were all bought in the Landmark Sale today. The sale is definitely not recommended since there aren't any good bargains, atleast not in the Bombay shop...And still I managed all these!

Postscript: And my generous benefactors from Hyd have done it again... This time a gift in the form of The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde. May God bless them with untold riches...

Kabootar Ja Ja...

Pigeon transfers data faster than South Africa's Telkom

Crossword Sale

While heading home, saw the Crossword sale and was immediately overcome by a sense of dread about missing a discount.

Went and bought myself a Tolkien set of LOTR and Hobbit (essentially replacing a set flicked by a pal inaptly named Gandhi!)

Also bought The Middleman by Sankar.

Would have splurged more if the lights had been kept on by the staff :( They felt that customers entering after closing time should only spend so much...