“The only way to spend New Year’s Eve is
either quietly with friends or in a
brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends
and people pair off, someone is bound to
be left in tears. ” – W.H. Auden

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

“Another fresh new year is here .
. .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”
William Arthur Ward quotes (American
dedicated scholar, author, editor,
pastor and teacher)

One resolution I have made, and try
always to keep, is this: To rise above
the little things. ~John Burroughs

Of all sound of all bells… most solemn
and touching is the peal which rings out
the Old Year. ~Charles Lamb

“An optimist stays up until
midnight to see the new year in. A
pessimist stays up to make sure the old
year leaves.”
Bill Vaughn quotes (American industry
author, mentor and subject-matter
expert)

“Be at war with your vices; at peace with
your neighbors, and let every new year
find you a better man.”
Benjamin Franklin

“It wouldn’t be New Year’s if I didn’t
have regrets.”
William Thomas

“I’m a little bit older, a little bit
wiser, a little bit rounder, but still
none the wiser.”
Robert Paul

“Drop the last year into the silent limbo
of the past. Let it go, for it was
imperfect, and thank God that it can go.”
Brooks Atkinson

“New Year’s Resolution: To tolerate fools
more gladly, provided this does not
encourage them to take up more of my
time.” – James Agate

“The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past
bury its own dead. The New Year has
taken possession of the clock of time.
All hail the duties and possibilities of
the coming twelve months!” – Edward Payson Powell

Cricket Is Not Just A Game in India It is A Religion…And God of This Religion Is Sachin Tendulkar…….

1. Most Matches Played: 449 ( Most )
2. Most Inning appearances: 438 (Most)
3. Consecutive ODI Appearances: 185
4. Most Stadium Appearances: 90 different Grounds
5. Max runs in an ODI Innings    200 runs 
6. Maximum runs in ODI  —–   17842  ( avg 45.05)
7. Maximum number  for scoring 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year(7 times – 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007)
8. only batsman to score over 3000 runs against any opponent ( SriLanka, Australia)
9. Fastest to reach 10,000 runs taking …..     259 innings
10. highest batting average among batsmen with over 10,000 ODI runs(only 7 batsman above 10000 runs)
11. Max no of four in an ODI inning   — 25 fours
12. Maximum number of 150+ score in ODI   —    5 times
13. Most centuries in ODI   —-  48
14. Only batsman to score double century in ODI
15. Most ODI centuries against one country    — 9 (Australia)
16. Most centuries against 6 nations —- Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Australia, South Africa, SriLanka
17. Most Centuries in finals of any series    —- 6 ( Indian wins all times)
18. Most centuries( test + ODI) against One Country – Australia 20 (11 test+9 ODI)
19. Max number of fifties in ODI—-  93
20. Most number of 50+ scores in ODI ——  141
21. In world cup most fifties —-   13
22. Maximum time Man of the Match Awards   —-61
23. Maximum Time Man of the Series Awards   —–   15
24. Most runs ( ODI) in a calendar year    —–    1894
25. Most Centuries in one calendar year    —-   9
26. Maximum number of runs in the opening partnership. —    6609 run (136 innings) with Saurav Ganguli
27. Maximum number of century partnership with one player   – 21 century  partnership with Ganguli
28. Max number of opening pair century partnership – 20 century partnership
29. Highest ODI partnership   —    331 runs ( with Rahul Dravid)
30. Maximum number of 200 run partnership in ODI   –   6 times ( this record he shares with Ganguli and Dravid)
31. Maximum runs in world cup tournament —- 2009 runs
32. Highest run in any single world cup tournament   – 673 run in 2003
33. 2 time maximum scorer in one world cup —- 1996, 2003
34. For 3rd wicket Highest Partnership    —-   237 run   ( with Dravid)
35. Maximum number of test played    –177 tests
36. Maximum number of runs in Tests   —- 14692 ( avg 56.94)
37. Fastest to score 10000 runs   —-   195 innings ( share with Brain Lara)
38. Maximum  runs scored in Tests away from home    —–    7819
39. Maximum number of Centuries in Tests away from home.   —–   27
40. Maximum time scoring 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year  —  6 times
41. Maximum Number of test centuries   —– 51
42. Maximum number of 150+ scores in Test   —- 20
43. Maximum centuries before he turned 20   —- 5 centuries
44. scored centuries against all Test playing nations
45. Maximum number of centuries in international cricket  —- 98
46. Most runs in international cricket   —–32534
47. maximum number of times getting out   between 90 -99 runs   —–   24 times ( 7 time test + 17 time ODI)
48. First to appear in 400 innings in ODI matches.
49. First player to cross 10000 runs in ODI
50. First player to cross 11000 runs in ODI
51. First player to cross 12000 runs in ODI
52. First player to cross 13000 runs in ODI
53. First player to cross 14000 runs in ODI
54. First player to cross 15000 runs in ODI
55. First player to cross 16000 runs in ODI
56. First player to cross 17000 runs in ODI
57. First player to cross 12000 runs in Test
58. First player to cross 13000 runs in Test
59. First player to cross 14000 runs in Test
60. First Player to cross 27000 runs in international cricket
61. First Player to cross 28000 runs in international cricket
62. First Player to cross 29000 runs in international cricket
63. First Player to cross 30000 runs in international cricket
64. First Player to cross 31000 runs in international cricket
65. Most centuries in World Cup  —   6 centuries
66. Sachin completes his 2000 runs in World Cup 2011….

The renowned Internet bankers PayPal have announced drastic changes effective 1st March 2011 – virtually crippling the operation of personal accounts of Indian citizens. This is against all norms how an International Bank should conduct business and grossly discriminates Indians, among the International community for no fault of theirs.

Before going into the analysis, PayPal have announced by individual emails to Indian customers some strange conditions as follows, which startles one and all:

1. Starting 1 March, 2011, PayPal customers in India will not be allowed to receive payments for any export-related goods or services for an amount exceeding US$500 per transaction. This change is to ensure that we continue to comply with the RBI Guidelines.

2. PayPal customers in India will not be able to keep money in their PayPal account balance. Instead, all money received into a PayPal account must be transferred to a customer’s India bank account within 7 days from the receipt of confirmation from the buyer in respect of the good or services.

3. We’re glad that you offer PayPal to your customers. Unfortunately, we will not allow customers in India to send money from their PayPal account balance starting 1 March, 2011. This means that your customers will need to link a credit card to their account in before sending you money with PayPal.

4. Starting 1 March, 2011, PayPal customers in India will not be allowed to receive payments for any export-related goods or services for an amount exceeding US$500 per transaction. If you are listing products greater than US$500 per transaction then you may need to seek alternative methods of payment.

5. As an exporter of products or services abroad, you need to ensure that your buyer has received the product or services as per specifications set out on your website. As an exporter of goods, you may withdraw the balance to your bank account in India upon reasonable consideration of shipping time and other clearances such as excise and customs for the destination country. As an exporter of services, you may withdraw the balance to your bank account in India upon receipt of payment from your buyer into your PayPal account.

Now for those who do not know, there are thousands of Indian customers using the service of PayPal. At the time of joining, the unwary Indians were lured by the terms and conditions of this online Bank – as being one of easy and most suitable for trusted operation for crediting and debiting money into their accounts, for their small business transactions online.

Let us explain by a simple example: You are a freelancer. You get projects or assignments from various countries and enter into a contract with the service buyers that on completion of the project, the remuneration should be credited to your PayPal account. You accumulate all those earnings and withdraw the funds from your account whenever you wish. Withdrawal is mostly through online transfer to your account in any Indian bank.

Supposing you work as a team manager, you distribute the work and on realization of the remuneration into your account, share the proceeds in the same way by advising PayPal to credit the money into the accounts of the team members. All these years this system was working smoothly, whereby a lot of Indian freelance writers were benefited.

Now because of the above restrictions – you cannot receive more than $500 per transaction; cannot accumulate funds; should withdraw your balance within 7 days; cannot transfer amounts to your team members. Why elaborate? Simply put your PayPal account is as good as dead.

Now the question is how an International Bank like PayPal ditch its customers like this – particularly Indians? Basically no International Bank – especially existing on the Internet – is bound by the rules and regulations of any particular Government of a country; because Internet is a world phenomenon and a technology for use by global citizens. These conditions of PayPal will not apply for an American; Australian; British or for that matter anyone, other than an Indian. If this is not discrimination aimed at a particular country’s citizens, what else is?

The ruse as given by PayPal “to ensure we continue to comply with the RBI guidelines” is to say the least – a lame excuse. They cannot get any credibility over such an excuse, to show gross violation of basic rules of the Banking industry; or even principles of natural justice; customer is supreme over any commercial organization; and would amount to showing discrimination exactly like the apartheid on color, race, and ethnic differences, the world has seen and vehemently condemned in history.

Even admitting, and not accepting the argument of PayPal, the objective of RBI regulations is intended to curb nefarious practices, such as hoarding black money and laundering illicit earnings into white by big money-bags. While so, where is justice in curtailing the activities of small customers like poor writers? They work hard in finishing foreign assignments; compete with world writers; and win contracts by competitive offers; and in doing so enhance the reputation of India as a whole.

So the remedial measures fair and just will be – to enhance the limit of $500 per transaction to at least $2000; remove the restriction to Paypal withdraw compulsorily within 7 days; allow customers to accumulate funds in their accounts up to $3000 as ceiling; allow transfer from one PayPal account to another; and let customers act freely as before within these limitations. In these hard days of inflation and economic conditions prevailing all over the world, the amount of $500 is nothing tangible; and imposing such a restriction is equal to nullifying the accounts of small entrepreneurs from India. If your real intention is to catch big fishes evading the law, please leave the law-abiding small fishes; for honestly they are not committing any crime by being PayPal customers! 

Commercial Exhibitions have been promoting industries no question. The Consumer Electronic Show – CES for short – is an annual affair, which has multi-pronged objectives than just promoting the Electronic Industry; it serves in reaching the global markets; connecting people and products worldwide; and highlights the latest innovations taking place. With this intro, let’s see what CES-2011 has in store for the world markets and its representatives attending it.

It has met with run-away success for more than four decades; the Consumer Electronics Association propels this show; it consists of over 2,000 corporate members across the globe, putting their heads together, in right from design and development to manufacturing as well as integration of products relating to consumer electronics. And its profits go to promotion and service of the industry again, including education and advocacy.

CES-2011 is scheduled for January 6 to 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. You can meet representatives from 130 countries at one place, saving some 700 million miles of business travel; go through the organized color-coded halls, to get a glimpse of the assorted electronic products exhibited on this largest consumer electronics tradeshow.
Attend Conferences – nearly 300 sessions where 900 expert speakers – where you can get educated on ways and means of expanding business; understanding new technology; and above all, discuss hot industry topics and trends in the super-sessions.

CES’ major attraction Apple, HP, Samsung, ASUS, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Fjiitsu have launched their latest version of gadgets. A new device of India, ADAM tablet is also going to rock the market.

Adam Tablet

Today, first day of CES 2011 Panasonic came with its VIERA Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Motorola Xoom, Asus EEE Pad, Toshiba tablet and Verizon revealed its first 4G tablet and Smartphone. HTC also introduced Smartphone HTC FreeStyle and RIM’s BlackBerry 4G tablet with its own OS, and Motorola announced smartphones DROID BIONIC 4G;ATRIX 4G;CLIQ 2.

Motorola-Xoom

Finally CES – 2011 is an Eco-Friendly Show of Electronic goods, where attendees have incredible opportunities for recycling their products, apart from conducting business worth in millions – all at one place here – a location which is environment-friendly.

Tuesday, Honda revealed its latest hatchback, the Brio at the Thailand International Auto Expo 2010. The Introduction of Brio is momentous stride for Honda in fastest rising Asian Auto markets. The model revealed its significance in Thai market, but don’t disappoint Indian Auto freaks, it will be available in India for sure.

Honda Brio is obviously a competition for Maruti Suzuki Swift with price approx 5 lakh so it will also compete Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Nissan Micra, Volkswagen Polo and upcoming hatchback of Toyota Eltios (will introduce In April 2011).

Honda Brio will be made in greater Noida ta Honda Siel’s where it has capacity of 100,000 unit per year. Right now, its capacity to utilize to assemble 65% units of the City, Jazz hatchback, Accord and Civic.

The latest model of Honda will beat Indian roads by first quarter of 2011.

Toyota Motor Corp, the world’s largest auto maker, on Wednesday launched a car designed specifically for India with the objective of cornering a much bigger share is one of the fastest growing automobiles markets.

The Toyota Etios is priced aggressively between Rs 4.9 lakh and Rs. 6.8 lakh (ex showroom Delhi) for the sedan version, significantly lower than that of competing models like Maruti’s Swift Dzire. A premium hatchback version will be launched in April next year. The two segments together constitute 37% of the Indian Car Market.

The Etios is said to be the result of the five years of intensive efforts to understand the Indian market and develop a platform suited to Indian conditions.

The car has been scrupulously tested on the roads of India. MD of Toyota Kiloskar, Hiroshi Nagakawa assures to sell 70,000 numbers of Eltios in 2011.

With the announcement of Nokia E7 and Nokia C7, we can have glimpse of Latest Nokia X7 too. However it is not announced yet, but the video of Nokia X7 leaked on Youtube.

As Nokia comes with all its multimedia features in X series, X7 looks like to compete with Nokia N8 and C7. Experts assume its unofficial announced features 4.0 inches display with 360 x 640 pixels and AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. four speakers with 3.5 mm audio jack. Camera with 8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels, fixed focus, dual-LED flash, and supporting Symbian^3 OS.

The design is unique unlike other latest Nokia mobile phones. Audio should be loud due to four speakers. Although there is not any official announcement so we’ll have to wait until next declaration. I am eager to know its price.

I guess this device will change the general aura of Nokia X series.

My hubby (Amitesh) was very desperate to go somewhere for holiday, especially on hills. Poor thing – he was bored of the routine Delhi life. He was asking for “Valley Of Flower”, but I don’t feel good traveling in hills. He was insisting that option somehow. Finally we settled to go on short trip to CHAKRATA which by no means I was aware of – “God” only knows. As a surprising co-incidence, his close friend and family were also planning to go somewhere and contacted us. And all of us unanimously finalized our trip to Chakrata.

When I was skeptical about this unknown destination, Amitesh assured me …heavens…it will be an experience of the life time… bundle out your suspicions …so I did.

We 5 people, me, hubby, his friend and family moved ahead towards Chakrata on 27th July, 2010 at 5:30 am. We took the route on road by Car from Delhi -> Baghpat -> Shamli -> Saharanpur -> Vikas nagar -> Kalsi -> Sahiya -> Chakrata. From Delhi to Saharanpur the road was awful…to put it lightly.

Delhi-to-Saharanpur

At 10am we had our breakfast at Saharanpur that was not so good. I had to skip my breakfast because there was only South Indian food in option and I don’t really like it. On the way to Vikas Nagar, huge mango tree groves on both sides of the road with apparently fine-looking mangoes swinging lured us like anything.  We couldn’t control ourselves and stole two mangoes (Oh Landlord…forgive our Sins!). and it was a soar experience, since the Mangoes were not ripe.

There was drizzling when we started our journey, but it became a heavy rain during the journey. Amitesh was more than happy that he’ll feel the actual touch of clouds in this rain. But after some time we started hating rain – for the weather must be open now so that we can explore Nature’s beauty so lively.

We came to know earlier that Kalsi has a gate system, which opens for road traffic after each 2 and half hours, but fortunately there was no barrier for us. We found a beautiful waterfall on the way to Sahiya. But we couldn’t enjoy much due to heavy rain – still it was an unforgettable view.

However, even in this monsoon season, the road from Kalsi to Chakrata, was really good and there was not even a single pothole, though it was very narrow.

After a drive of 7-8 hours to cover around 330 km, we reached Chakrata at 2 pm.

Chakrata is an army cantonment area of Dehradun District, Uttarakhand, at an elevation of 7000 ft. It was earlier known as Jaunsar Bawar, cantonment of British Indian Army. It is very naturally scenic and beautiful town. There were only 2 renowned accommodations in Chakrata; one is Snow View and other one Himalayan Paradise. We decided to move direct to Hotel Snow View, where accommodation was fine without any luxury, but still manageable. People say it is famous for the viewing early morning sun rise.  Unfortunately we couldn’t see because of clouds but what we explored was more beautiful I must say.

The nearby major attraction around Chakrata is Tiger Fall. It was around 4pm after having lunch and we did not have sufficient time to go over there. Localities told us that the destination is 17 Kms away from Chakrata and the road is not in good condition.  And yet we braved to go there. There was no sign boards; no human beings in sight, who can tell us about Tiger Fall. It was 5:30 pm and dark due to bad weather condition. Cursing our ill-luck, we decided to retreat as otherwise we will face any kind of problem. So we returned to Chakrata and visited its local market.

Dinner was worst than lunch in the hotel. We were all tired up and so went to bed early.

Next morning me and Amitesh took a walk, the weather was clear now but so chill. We looked at our car and one of the tires got punctured. Only then we remembered we didn’t fuel up our car after Delhi. There was no fuel station in Chakrata.

Amitesh and his friend changed its Stepney; then both of them went in the hunt of tyre repairing and diesel. They came to know from the local market, there is only one shop of tyre vulcanizing which is being managed by a 12 year-old boy, who repairs the big military truck tires too. And diesel will be available at only one shop who sell diesel on a hefty premium. Unfortunately that man didn’t have diesel at that moment and they got to go 7 km away for the diesel. At long last, one shopkeeper was selling and it cost 10 rupees per litre! Making hay while it still shines!!

And finally we did breakfast in the same hotel and after lots of instructions from us, it was better than the previous day lunch and dinner. We checked out from the hotel and moved towards Tiger Fall and with the help of a goat grazer, we found the way to Tiger fall. After leaving our Car there was a trek of 3 km. or so but it was very steep slope.

We were just wondering about Tiger Fall – how will it be… and that was the moment which will be memorable the whole life. We were seeing a cloud-like picture, which was passing through the two mountains. When we went much closer….ha… it was breathtaking, mesmerizing. I am feeling helpless with words to describe you what exactly we saw there.

Tigerfall-Chakrata

It was huge, huge and very huge.  After the continuous raining from last three days, this TIGER FALL was looking like a real Tiger. It was on full boom of water and water everywhere, falling from 95mt. height. We were watching the falls with our jaws wide open as if a barbarian seeing an airplane for the first time.

We were all wet due to the drizzling of the waterfall. We were looking at side view, for taking a front look, we had to cross a fast stream and that was too scary. The water stream was so rapid and loud, but all of us wanted to go there, unmindful of the obstacles. And we did after all “Dar ke Aaage Jeet Hai”. (Victory comes after fear). We crossed the river by closely holding each one’s hand like a human chain. I don’t have right words to explain, I can just say it is ““Stupendo Fantabulously Fantastic” !!

The drizzling was so heavy that we couldn’t take proper snaps, but still we tried once with our new camera Canon SX20 IS.

We had lots of fun, no one of us wanted to come back from there. We found a safe place where the water flow was less hasty where we took proper bath and lots of masti (?). In this fun my specs was broken and the new mobile of Amitesh (Nokia E71) fell in water… we picked that but it went into eternal silence…oh these innovations coming without water-proof!!

We returned back from a steep climb, it was tiring but the nature’s view was so pleasurable, the beautiful color combination, with velvet touch of super green mountains, sparkling blue sky with feathery white clouds… ahhh… I feel good even now, when I remember it.

The same day we all decided to move towards Mussoorie via Chakrata -> Bairat Khai- > Yamuna Pul -> Kempty… . We started our next journey at 3pm. We reached Bairat khai at 5pm. View was breathtaking; there were only clouds out there. And we came to know we were at 7500 ft above sea-level.

Due to geographical landscape of mountains, the place is completely full of clouds. Around after passing half an hour on the road, we realized that not even a single vehicle is coming from the other side, and we were moving lonely. We entered in a small village for confirming the reason and a policeman told us that Mussoorie road is blocked due to heavy landslide. It was around 5:30 pm and Mussoorie was only 45 km. away from there, hardly at one or one and half hour journey.

We confirmed from lots of people and finally we came to conclusion that we have to take another route to reach Mussoorie. The alternate route was back again to Bairat khai (10km) -> Kalsi (38 km) -> Vikas Nagar (11km) -> Dehradun(45)  > Mussoorie (35 km).

Bairat khai to kalsi road was very slippery and scary. In total 38 kms. We found only one vehicle enroute and that was JCB which was clearing the road after land slide, occurring after each few kms.

Finally we reached Mussoorie at 10:30 pm. Had dinner in Sagar Ratna (South Indian Again ) and stayed in a hotel of Mall road… Next morning we had a morning walk on mall road and ate breakfast. And moved towards very renowned Kempty Fall.

Unlike the previous day journey, this road was complimenting, looking like cream, and we reached out Kempty in just 20 minutes.

We took rope way to go down to waterfall, but quickly learnt we have wasted our money. Kempty has been completely ruined; we were not feeling or seeing any natural things there, although we have gone there 8-10 times earlier. But this time it was completely damaged, may be due to monsoon season, We halted only 2 minutes there and moved towards its source from where this waterfall originates.

Finally we managed to find a place where we can have fun with water.

After returning we shopped some local things like its famous homemade chocolates and handmade accessories. Had lunch and returned. There are lots of places around Mussoorie like Lall Tibba, Gun Hill Point and more… but we have explored these places earlier and obviously after watching the beauty of Chakrata we didn’t want to go there.

There were lots of Kawariyan on the road in returning and we were forced to take alternate road after Haridwar via Deoband to Muzzaffarnagar. We halted in Modinagar and had its very famous Jain Shikanji, MK Hot Dong Burger, Aloo Chat, and Falooda. And finally we reached at home at 11:15 pm.

Chakrata is very beautiful and a place filled with Nature’s wonders.  I request you all, please don’t let it ruin like Mussoorie. Do not throw polythene bags, bottles, and other wastage products there. This is our India, and all these places people go for sight-seeing are ours for enjoying the beauty. So we should refrain from spoiling them – even if not helping for their preservation.

HTC decided to launch its Wildfire unlocked in India. As a cheaper substitute to the HTC Legend and HTC Desire this Wildfire is priced at16,000 INR (`) only, it possess Social networking integration (Twitter, Myspace, Facebook), 5 MP Flash autofocus camera, 3.2 inch QVGA touchscreen display with UI Sense, FM radio, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm headset jack, GPS, HTML browser. HTC Wildfire is powered by 512 MB ROM, 384 MB RAM and 528 MHz processor. It has 1300 mAH battery which provides 8 hour of talktime.

As per rumours HTC wildfire will be available in late July or early August 2010.

Via