tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45418439810844661382024-03-05T16:42:51.961+05:30This Thought Counts!Can every thought that comes to one's mind be shared on a blog page? I think not. However, some thoughts are sure to be interesting or thought-provoking to others. Here are some such thoughts that fall in this category.Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-52211667848321043192012-09-16T22:04:00.003+05:302012-09-16T22:06:46.446+05:30Indian tennis' young brigade can achieve great things!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is very heartening to see that Indian tennis' young brigade beat the New Zealand team 5-0 in the latest Davis Cup tie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">India ranks a lowly 24 in the Davis Cup list, but Yuki Bhambhri, Vishnu Vardhan, Sanam Singh & Divij Sharan have the makings of a strong team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">No one can forget the remarkable contributions of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, but it is not right to expect them to on and on.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnDcrDvcarEgZWR8aZawFmFK-CoRTKWbGzIF7sQCq78FyImWMXPBuKUXcnz9R013ouImkfrRXyxu05OA1gUEyKhHelaiCqmCb5Zbs65h2l4kvXRxk1GqIX7msFNgBpvnSTB32tMmnbDg/s1600/India'sNewDavisCupTeam.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnDcrDvcarEgZWR8aZawFmFK-CoRTKWbGzIF7sQCq78FyImWMXPBuKUXcnz9R013ouImkfrRXyxu05OA1gUEyKhHelaiCqmCb5Zbs65h2l4kvXRxk1GqIX7msFNgBpvnSTB32tMmnbDg/s320/India'sNewDavisCupTeam.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
With the young team raring to go, I'm Indian tennis will surely move up the pecking order surely, though slowly.</div>
Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-21981629332197583082012-08-26T22:09:00.000+05:302012-09-16T22:31:17.964+05:30Utterly unacceptable and rude service at Odyssey outlet on ECR Road, Chennai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Caveat: This is a RANT, but published so that my friends save some valuable time shopping books and gifts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yours sincerely was at the receiving end of utterly unacceptable and rude service at the Odyssey outlet on ECR Road in Thiruvanmiyur.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been shopping at Odyssey right from the days it started as a small outlet in Gandhi Nagar many, many years ago -- 17 years to be accurate when they opened in Adyar, Chennai.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashwin was one of the partners then, and packaged great customer service with an excellent range of quality products. This unbeatable combination resulted in great growth, a swankier outlet, and ultimately the retail chain being purchased by Deccan Chronicle holdings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I must have provided Odyssey well beyond a two lakhs in business over the years -- in music, cards, gifts, gift certificates for my Quiz programs, gift certificates for birthdays, and most importantly books that I love to read. Being a regular customer, I was accorded a small but regular discount -- something extended to loyal customers. This continued up to my last visit on 26th August.<br /><br />First off, it was shocking to see that the range of products had shrunk a lot. Books had yellowing pages and frayed covers, but were all being sold at full price. Service was skeletal, with very few of the old staff in place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I still picked up books, gifts and cards worth Rs. 3,000+ and went over to check out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I requested the usual discount at the time of billing, the cashier (who knew me as a regular shopper) called for the Manager.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder how they ever recruited this man Saravanan for a Retail Manager role. First, off, he was officious, and totally unfriendly. When the cashier conveyed my request, he turned it down outright. I explained that I had been a customer since the Ashwin ownership days, and that I had provided very substantial business.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I later came to understand Deccan Chronicle has been financial trouble, and that they have recently shuttered their Express Avenue store. This might be a reason for stopping the discount program.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead of patiently explaining this patiently, Saravanan was in no mood to listen and became quite aggressive in language.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I calmly said I could put this kind of service on Twitter, Facebook and my blog, he was very blase about this. He then retorted, 'You are welcome to do anything you want."<br /><br />I went ahead and tweeted then and there, showing him how this message would have reached 125+ Twitter followers, 425 more through the automatic post on Facebook.</span><br />
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No reaction.<br />
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Worse, of the two gifts I had given for gift-wrapping, only one was given to me. I had to demand to get the other one that I had already paid for.<br />
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Quite an advertisement for customer service isn't it?<br />
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Marketing research suggests that the cost of acquiring a new customer is 6x the cost of retaining a loyal shopper.<br />
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Odyssey and its owner Deccan Chronicle obviously does not understand this.<br />
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If this trend continues, the future will continue to be very bleak for them.<br />
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The bottomline? Shop at this Odyssey store at your own risk!<br />
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Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-16951847021848322432012-05-25T11:08:00.000+05:302012-09-16T22:36:41.976+05:30Predictions of a Giraffe on Chennai Superkings making it a hat-trick of IPL Titles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">If I keep sticking my neck out like this, it will become as elongated as a giraffe!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrJrdd-1Hr226X2v4D5ZmDmwr8LjvnmYViLp7u8JCM4HbbOznCdoWuv39SvYB9gxZxlsARMHMaXepizJfsIDK2hmKS3-KBPnIwHC1gif1pIXRu5F1orUpPbQqkPQTMVPa31KXmQPDtmM/s1600/Giraffe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrJrdd-1Hr226X2v4D5ZmDmwr8LjvnmYViLp7u8JCM4HbbOznCdoWuv39SvYB9gxZxlsARMHMaXepizJfsIDK2hmKS3-KBPnIwHC1gif1pIXRu5F1orUpPbQqkPQTMVPa31KXmQPDtmM/s320/Giraffe.gif" width="236" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Anyways, here it goes for today's match, and CSK's chances of making it a hat-trick of IPL titles:</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">1. My estimate of CSK's chances of beating Delhi Daredevils in today's match is<strong> <u>65%</u></strong>. (See Rationale A below)</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">2. If Chennai do beat the daredevils from the national capital today, chances of them beating Kolkata in the</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>final on the 27th is <strong><u>60%</u>. (</strong>See Rationale B below)<br />3. Therefore, combined probability of CSK winning the IPL title three times in a row = <strong><u>0.65 x 0.60 = 0.39, or 39%.</u></strong>That does not make KKR's chances 61%!<br /><br />If Chennai makes it today, KKR's chances of beating Chennai at the home ground of the roaring Lions would only be <strong><u>40%.</u></strong>Thus, right now, KKR has a 1% edge over CSK for a tournament win. </span></span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><u><br />However, if CSK win today, their chances go to 60% versus 40% for KKR.</u></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Go Chennai! Give us more joy today!</span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><u><br />Rationale A (CSK's 65% chances at Chennai today)</u></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">a. DD's batting is still top-heavy, and not very suited for the slow Chennai track (unless the track changes character suddenly a la Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">b. DD's bowling attack is also highly pace oriented, with Morne Morkel, Umesh Yada & Varun Aaron supported by Irfan Pathan. Sehwag stuck to this attack against Kolkata and paid the price. While he may not make the same mistake again, their spin department is not as strong as Chennai.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">c. Chennai's bowling attack is far more suited to their home pitch, though they have not mastered it this season. While a leg-spinner is lacking, Ashwin, supported by Raina as off-spinners and Jakati, supported by Jadeja as as left-arm spinners can really "turn" the pressure on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">d. The home team's batsmen are peaking at the right time, with Hussey and Badri in the team adding stability to a line-up of aggressive stroke players. Captain Cool's blazing form in the last match is a great sign.<br />e. CSK are great at dealing with pressure, thereby giving their fans pleasure! Especially in the play-offs, they are masters of mastering pressure. The fact that they restricted Delhi to 114 in the previous match here would certainly give them psychological advantage.<br />f. Chennai's performance in the play-offs has been truly intimidating to opponents. This cannot be brushed off.<br />g. As if the roaring lions don't have enough support already, there will be over 12,500 more fans seated for this match. Imagine the adrenaline rush Chennai will receive with so many more full-throated fans all whistling for the home team, acting as a truly strong 12th player against 11.<br /><br />All this said, Sehwag and Warner, both big match players, are sheer dynamite who can blast the opposition in a matter of a few overs. The KEY batsman for Delhi will be Mahela Jayawardene. He will absolutely relish the Chennai surface, using his quicksilver footwork and use of the crease to possible dent the dominance of the Chennai tweakers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />If Dhoni's men can get the dynamic Delhi opening duo and Jayawardene fairly cheaply, they will have a better than 65% chance of getting through to the finals!<br /><br /><strong><u>Rationale B (CSK's 60% chances against KKR) if they win today</u></strong>a. KKR will obviously be much tougher opposition in the finals -- they have a terrific bowling attack suited to the Chennai track (Narine, Abdulla, Shakib, Yusuf & Balaji, not to mention, Kallis and Rajat Bhatia).b. KKR's batting line-up starting with brave captain Gambhir and Kallis, is also far better suited to face Chennai's spinners.<br />c. KKR are VERY HUNGRY for victory, but this could go against them in a high-pressure match which an IPL final certainly is. Chennai's proven capability in soaking up pressure will be a big advantage.<br />d. As detailed in Rationale A, Chennai's bowling and batting still have an edge over KKR on their home ground. They know the pitch far better. If they reach the finals, they would already have played nine matches on this ground this year, compared to KKR's one.<br />e. The home crowd will be out with FULL SUPPORT for the roaring lions, and this can be quite intimidating for the opposition.<br />f. Chennai's record in the IPL so far, especially in the play-offs, is also very intimidating to KKR.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MKU-QCQMCfY9vUx9skcNI_f3unaO8jIwirP_EoK1bORBa1NQCurAUQwV9lttGa2NuzyXMmpfQ7EzDtpb5TNS1Y3xCyO5MxNoB8BkLOylw95ZBPrPWk69bPQNSSLCm4Xk203tqq2Tp_A/s1600/RaiseYourHands.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MKU-QCQMCfY9vUx9skcNI_f3unaO8jIwirP_EoK1bORBa1NQCurAUQwV9lttGa2NuzyXMmpfQ7EzDtpb5TNS1Y3xCyO5MxNoB8BkLOylw95ZBPrPWk69bPQNSSLCm4Xk203tqq2Tp_A/s1600/RaiseYourHands.gif" /></span></a></div>
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Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-13290511108283203442012-05-24T08:30:00.000+05:302012-05-25T18:57:39.316+05:30Torrentially Tweeting on the Chennai Superkings v Mumbai Indians Eliminator match on 23rd May 2012.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When you are a die-hard supporter of any sporting team, your emotions swing like a pendulum depending on how well or badly your team is doing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here is a set of 35 original tweets and two retweets during the CSK - MI match from my handle, @fromkarthik:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It is interesting to look back at the range of emotions, though they did not swing too much:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Started with quiet confidence, it went to worry when Chennai lost two quick wickets, calmness as Badri & Hussey resurrected the innings, happiness as MSD started with a boundary and elation as the innings ended</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. When the MI innings started, it was quickly worry as Dwayne Smith took Hilfenhaus to the cleaners, wonder at Sachin's noble sacrifice, with happiness increasing with every Mumbai wicket going down!</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I will be regularly tweeting tomorrow's match too. If you would like to follow, my Twitter tag is @fromkarthik.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Tweets before, during and after CSK's match against MI:</strong><br /><u>On the HEART and the MIND:</u>The mind says Mumbai - 60:40. The heart says Chennai - 80:20 (20 for Sachin). Hoping breathlessly for the heart to win! #IPL #CSK</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><u></u></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/18px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Before the match, on the trends till then:</u>A hat-trick of +ve results to qualify for the playoffs.A hat-trick of wins needed starting today to win a hat-trick of IPL titles! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Before the match, on the mental make-up of the rival captains:</u>Hoping icy steely Dhoni will win over fiery spicy Bhajji today. Encouraged by Mark Waugh's opinion: a cooler mind has better prospects! #IPL<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>On the fall of two quick wickets with just one run on the board:</u><br />Uh oh! Exactly the start we DID NOT NEED in a crunch match. Time for a rescue act! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>On Badri's innings relieving the pressure of two early wickets:</u><br />Badri playing a REAL GEM here. Should have come in ahead of Raina as usual in a crisis. Hope things are turning around for #CSK! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Retweeting Karun Chandhok's (@karunchandhok) post on Chennai's recovery:</u>come on #CSK #IPL !! decent recovery in the last couple overs.... more of the same please!<br /><br /><u>On the need to keep the foot on the accelerator:</u><br />With Bravo, Dhoni, Morkel & Jadeja to come, #CSK need to keep the foot firmly on the pedal. No brakes please. Go Chennai, go! #CSK<br /><br /><u>Hussey keeps the pressure on:</u>... and Mr. Cricket is doing exactly that... foot firmly on the pedal - two boundaries in a row. Keep going, our roaring lions! @CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Badri departs for 47 trying a lofted shot after a terrific innings under great pressure:</u>Another lion-hearted innings by Badri! Come on, fans, raise your hands and lets raise a loud chorus of ROARs for him please! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>On Dhoni's hot start to his innings, hitting a boundary off the first ball he faced:</u>Piping hot start by the icy cool captain. Looking real good after a real long time. Hope he continues taking MI apart! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Contrasting performance by the opposition captains:</u>Captain Cool blowing really HOT and fiery Bhajji off the boil so far today. Ominous signs? #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>On Viswanathan Anand holding challenger Gelfand to a draw from a slightly tough position:</u>COOL result for Chennai today! Our resident Anand holds with black against an aggressive Gelfand. Three matches to go, two with white! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Two overs of CSK’s innings left:</u>Come on Lions! Time to ROAR proudly again. 30 in two overs would be great to set them over 9 an over... #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>On Bravo's fierce hitting:</u>Bravo, brave Bravo! Bring us more like that, please! #IPL #CSK<br /><br /><u>On Dhoni's Helicopter shot:</u>And there comes the Helicopter, helping #CSK fly! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Praise for the batting of Dhoni & Bravo:</u>Great Caribe flair brave Bravo! Nice finish please, Captain Cool! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>CSK's score is worth 210+ due to the pressure of the chase in a sudden death match:</u>#CSK have enough. 187 in a pressure match, even on a batting beauty, is worth 210+ with 'sudden death' looming. Go Chennai, go! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Comment on the innings break on CSK's score:</u>187 is 10% above par on the Bangalore track. Worth more in an eliminator. But its not over. #CSK will need some early wickets! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Retweeting Praveen's (@tweetpraveennow) comment mocking those who said CSK was here purely due to the Luck factor:</u>So to all those out thr, if RCB hd bn 2/2 with Gayle and Kohli out, wud RCB have hit 187? No chance. Better think again b4 u say luck. #IPL<br /><br /><u>At the break between innings, the importance of the captain leading from the front:</u>The captain's performance gives the team immense confidence. No doubts for guessing which captain did better. Go, #CSK, go! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Hilfenhaus being taken to the cleaners by a very aggressive Dwayne Smith:</u>Rough start for Hilfenhaus. Wickets will be important for CSK. Come on, lions -- you can do it! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>CSK get their first wicket through a mix-up between the openers:</u>Now that's a start in the wickets column. The big man gone! A few more and we are firmly back in business. Go lions, go! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Saluting Sachin' sacrifice, giving up his wicket for a rampaging Smith:</u>Great gesture from the great man! Selflessness that's so rare in this selfish, selfish world! Hats off to you, Sachin! #MI #IPL<br /><br /><u>Dwayne Smith flays one too many:</u>Two down, eight to go! The dangerous Smith goes! Now if we can just get Rohit & Pollard cheaply. Go Lions, go! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Dhoni's cool nerves versus Bhajji's fiery nature:</u>Icy steely Dhoni will win over fiery spicy Bhajji today. Mark Waugh: In a pressure match, a cooler mind will win. #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Dinesh Karthik, my namesake, falls to Morkel:</u>And then one more perished! Sorry about it, my namesake, but thanks nevertheless! The pressure is starting to take its toll! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>With wickets falling, Chennai's chance to turn up the heat:</u>A couple of quiet overs and the asking rate will go up like the price of petrol in India. Go #CSK, go! #IPL<br /><br /><u>One of the key dangermen gone, with Rohit succumbing to the pressure of a few dot balls:</u>Rohit gone now! Get Pollard, and it will soon be done. The Lions are REALLY ROARING now, with Mumbai crumbing under pressure! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Five Mumbai wickets down with Rayudu falling to Ashwin:</u>Cream of the batting gone now! The carrom ball induced the fear, and the next one did it! Can Pollard do it all alone? Think not! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>With Franklin falling to Bravo, six Mumbai wickets down:</u>Six down, four to go! Pollard the only one standing like the boy on the burning bridge -- between #CSK and victory! #IPL<br /><br /><u>Harbhajan hit on the helmet by a short ball:</u>Wake up call for Bhajji -- not just in the physical sense! He's also rattled in more ways than one! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Seven Mumbai wickets down (Bhajji goes to a stunning catch by Raina):</u>And then there were three! Pollard still the only one standing between the roaring lions and victory! #CSK #IPL<br /><br /><u>Four overs and one delivery left:</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/18px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My calculation is MI need 15 boundary hits off 25 balls. A few dot balls or singles and it will all be over! #CSK #IPL</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>When Pollard was reprieved by a no-ball:</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a reprieve for Pollard! I thought the final nail was in the coffin! #CSK #IPL<u></u></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>With the asking rate at 21 with three overs left:</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">63 needed from 18 deliveries. 15 fours & a single of each delivery needed. Unless Pollard hits six sixes in a row. Possible? Nah! #CSK #IPL<u></u></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>When Pollard was done in by Bravo:</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final nail in the coffin is finally in! The fat lady is clearing her throat & will soon sing full-throatedly! Bye-bye, Mumbai! #CSK #IPL<u></u></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Elation when the win came!:</u></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Great show, CSK! One win down, two to go. Go on and take the cup for a hat-trick of titles! #CSK #IPL</span></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-73692690474865365362012-05-23T20:14:00.000+05:302012-05-25T16:16:47.621+05:30Dangerously sticking my neck out in public!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
OK, I'm sticking my neck out here... <br />
<br />
What are Chennai's chances of winning the IPL this time to record a hat-trick of IPL titles?<br />
Most important disclaimer: I am an unabashed and loyal CSK fan!<br />Next disclaimer: These are my rough calculations and I don't claim absolute accuracy.<br />
Now that CSK are in the play-offs, its easy to say that it will be a cake-walk to the title. I wish life was so easy!<br />
<br />
Here are the BEST CHANCES for each of the teams in the last 4. These are based on a careful analysis of all 14 paths to victory of all teams combined (CSK & MI two each, DD & KKR five each):<br />
<br />
<strong><u>A. MUMBAI: Beat Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi that order </u></strong><br />
<strong>Probability = 60% (a) x 40% (b) x 55% (c) = 13.2%</strong><br />
<strong></strong>Rationale? Here it is:<br />
<br />
a. MI are in great form, match is at Bangalore where fans will support Mumbai for obvious reasons, and the faster pitch will suit MI's stroke players more than Chennai.<br />b. Chances of Mumbai beating KKR are less than 50% on a Chennai track. This track will dent Mumbai's big hitters while at the same time favouring Kolkata's slow bowlers including Narine, Shakib & Yusuf, not to mention Abdulla.<br />c. Chances of Mumbai beating Delhi at Chennai are better than 50%. Sehwag & Warner are big match players though the Chennai pitch may not exactly be to their liking! With MI having beaten Chennai there in IPL5 and having won the Champions League at this ground last year, they have the edge. Sachin also loves this ground. <br />
<br />
<strong><u>B. CHENNAI: Beat Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata in that order</u></strong><br />
<strong>Probability = 40% (d) x 70% (e) x 65% (f) = 18.2%</strong><br />
<br />
Here's the rationale for this calculation:<br />
<br />
d. MI are in great form, the match is at Bangalore where fans will support Mumbai for obvious reasons, and the faster pitch will suit MI's stroke players more than Chennai.<br />e. Delhi already crumbled once for 114 at Chennai, their pacemen will not be as effective on that pitch where Chennai's spinners will be dangerous and the home crowd will be firmly behind the defending champions.<br />f. KKR's bowlers, especially Narine will be very effective on the Chennai track, and Gambhir+Kallis will be very effective batsmen on this pitch. However, CSK know this track well, will have the fans firmly behind them and have better experience in the play-offs. The added factor is that this time around KKR will be considered favourites in the final and could freeze under pressure. Having come back from elimination right up to the final, Chennai will feel extremely confident. Hence Chennai's chances of a win against KKR in the final are calculated at 65%.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>C. DELHI: Beat KKR today, hope to meet & beat MI in the final</u></strong><br />
<strong>Probability = 45% (g) x 45% (h) = 20.25%</strong><br />
g. On a slow Pune track, KKR with Narine, Shakib, Abdulla and Yusuf should be able to defend any total above 150. Sehwag & Warner, while being big match players, may not find this track to their liking. Hence KKR's winning chances are better at 55%.<br />h. Chances of Mumbai beating Delhi at Chennai are better than 50%. Sehwag & Warner are big match players though the Chennai pitch may not exactly be to their liking! With MI having beaten Chennai there in IPL5 and having won the Champions League at this ground last year, they have the edge. Sachin also loves this ground. <br />
<br />
<strong><u>D. KOLKATA: Beat Delhi today, hope to meet & beat MI in the final</u></strong><br />
<strong>Probability = 55% (i) x 60% (j) = 33.00%</strong><br />
i. On a slow Pune track, KKR with Narine, Shakib, Abdulla and Yusuf should be able to defend any total above 150. Now, they've scored 162! With Sehwag & Warner not finding this track to their liking, KKR's winning chances are better at 55%.<br />j. KKR have a 60% chance of beating Mumbai in the finals at Chennai. While Mumbai has had success at that ground (against Chennai in IPL5 & in the Champions League last year), Kolkata's spin quartet plus Bhatia and Shukla in the bowling stakes and Gambhir & Kallis in the batting front would play a BIG role.<br />
<br />
<strong>TO SUM UP, Kolkata has the BEST CHANCE </strong>of lifting the cup this year (since their team is excellently suited to Chennai's slow track), followed by Delhi who, by qualifying at #1 get a second chance. Chennai (excellent spin options + home advantage) are third, with Mumbai last.<br />
<br />
That said, if CHENNAI gets their toughest match (against MI at Bengaluru) out of the way with a win tomorrow, a probability of their win increases dramatically from 18.2% to 45.5%, and if they beat Delhi in the 2nd match, their chances increase to 65% against Kolkata at at Chennai.<br />
<br />
I fervently hope and pray that the dominos fall Chennai's way.<br />
<br />
Still whistling, raising my hands and cheering Chennai on!</div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-31068881296040908022012-05-23T12:08:00.000+05:302012-05-25T18:59:08.601+05:30Do you DARE say Chennai SuperKings got into the play-offs JUST due to luck???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">What was that again?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Did you just say that the Chennai Superkings got a semin-final berth based purely on luck?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Do you say that CSK qualified because of the "mercy" bestowed on them by other teams... </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Do you dare say that CSK are "undeserving tenants" in the last four?</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong><u><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Well, here are some sobering FACTS for you!</span></u></strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">1. The defending champions beat both #1 (DD) and #2</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(KKR) at least once in their league matches. Even with the only team in the top 4 they did'nt beat (MI), they came within a boundary hit of a win (Dwayne Smith of MI scored 14 off the last 3 balls).</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">2. The lions in yellow had a far better NRR than RCB who were ultimately placed 5th. (For those who say a difference in NRR of 0.122 is small, please realize it is the equivalent of around 33 runs). If RCB was 2 points behind CSK, they would have had to beat DC by 36 runs to beat Dhoni's men on NRR, not an easy task in a 20-over match.</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">3. In some tournaments, if teams are tied on points, their "head to head" record in the League stage counts. If that rule applied, the Chennai men had one win against Mally's Challengers with the other game a No-Result. Even with that rule not applicable, didn't Dhoni's men beat Kohli's, albeit off the last ball?</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">4. Chennai also had the disadvantage of playing their last match well ahead of the others, meaning that of it came to NRR, Bengaluru would know exactly what to do to get through. Not fair, no?</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">5. The Chennai track "misbehaved wantonly", taking away most of the home advantage. You can say it was in CSK's hands as a home team to make the track behave, but do you know how hard that is?<br /><br />I can go on and on and on... but I already have. I rest my case.<br /><br />Any arguments?</span></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-19281502178881322812012-05-21T16:03:00.000+05:302012-05-25T18:59:41.793+05:30Yes, Yes and Yes! Miracles DO happen!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, Yes and YES! Miracles do happen, and fortune does favour the brave!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A hat-trick of favourable results for CSK, and we are now in the last four.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can we now please have another hat-trick of wins in the next three matches to make it a hat-trick of IPL titles?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On current form, it looks like Mumbai have a good chance of beating us on the 23rd, but the classic sport dictum is that "Form is temporary, but class is permanent!".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Am definitely whistling for Chennai, raising my hands and cheering for the team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Go CSK, go! Go on, play like the lions you are and make your loyal fans proud!</span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-7737371775164135562012-05-19T23:45:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:00:23.345+05:30Delhi Daredevils beat the Kings XI! Keep the faith, CSK fans!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Keep the faith, CSK fans! Two results in our favour, one more to go!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Based on yesterday's showing by the Chargers, <strong>I'd say their chances of beating RCB are probably 10%. </strong><br />
<br />
If Steyn & Mishra who bowled brilliantly yesterday perform an encore, who knows? If they can get Gayle, Kohli & AB early, who knows, anything could happen.<br />
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Hope, however slim, still lives on for CSK!</span></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-55853611922341975212012-05-18T15:51:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:01:18.790+05:30Deccan upsets Rajasthan. CSK's chances increase!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is good news, and there is bad news. Which do you want first?</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The good?</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, here it goes:</span><br />
<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The <strong>good news</strong>: CSK's chances more than DOUBLED today with Deccan Chargers winning!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The <strong>bad news:</strong> My guess is that even with this increase, we go from a 1.4% chance to 3.5%</span><br />
<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><u>Here's how:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong>Chance of a DD victory</strong><strong> over KXP = 70%</strong>,<strong> chance of a Deccan</strong><strong> win over RCB = 5%</strong></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Combined probability = 0.7 x 0.05 = </strong><strong>0.035 or THREE and a HALF percent.</strong> Just slightly more than a 1 in 30 chance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><u>Now if only DD can</u><u> beat KXIP tomorrow, our chances go up to 5%!</u></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Still a loyal Chennai fan for all that the team has done for us over several years!</span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-81841497693203354022012-05-18T13:22:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:02:00.324+05:30Probability theory and all that!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We, the CSK fans are very depressed and down, but totally not out! Is there still hope?</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/18px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/18px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This is surely a drowning man clutching at straws to keep afloat, but if RR, KXIP and RCB all lose a match apiece, CSK will still be through to the next stage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Probability? According to my rough calculations, <1.5%. YES -- Less than ONE point FIVE%!</span></strong><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/18px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><u><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here's how I arrived at that rough figure:</span></u><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">1. <strong>Probability</strong></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Delhi beating KXIP: 70%</strong> (Assuming they don't "rest" Sehwag, Morkel or other "big guns" again). DD don't want a losing streak of 2 games dampen confidence ahead of the Knockout stage! At the same time, KXIP will come at them hard, with everything to play for.<br /><br />2. <strong>Probability of Rajasthan beating Mumbai beating Rajasthan: 40%</strong> (The match is at Jaipur, the Royals' fortress, but Mumbai will come hard because they don't want to finish 4th on the points table -- below Rajasthan if RCB win against Deccan).<br /><br />3. <strong>Probability of Deccan Chargers beating RCB: A maximum of 5%</strong> (Bengaluru are in TOP FORM, and have everything to play for! For the Chargers, there is only pride, which seems to have counted for little for the team this year)<br /><br />Revisiting my school math lessons, <strong>overall probability = 0.70 * 0.40 * 0.05 = 0.014 , or 1.4%</strong><br /><em>That's still better than ZERO, right?</em><br />Will that miracle happen? It could, but I'm not counting on it!<br /><br />All that said, we just did not play well enough to deserve berth in the play-offs:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />a. We lost to Kings XI TWICE and Pune once.<br />b. We almost bungled three other chases, including an easy one against Rajasthan where we won off the last ball chasing a modest total.<br />c. Our bowling, as Dhoni himself admitted several times, was sub-standard in many matches.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />d. We left the charge for uncomfortably too late, not just in matches, but in the league stage itself! On form, and with the talent we had, we certainly under-performed, and are now facing the consequences.<br /><br />While disappointed, I throughout use the word "We" since <strong>I REMAIN A STAUNCH CHENNAI SUPERKINGS SUPPORTER</strong>: The team brought us a lot of Joy in the past year, and our fielding was quite outstanding this year.<br /><br />I'm sure we will have better news this time next year!</span></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-23983033140294506842012-05-06T16:23:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:02:18.808+05:30Our Conference on PMI Today!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="fcg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: grey; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: inherit;">PMI Chennai Chapter's 2-day state conference is prominently featured in the May 2012 issue of PMI Today that reaches close to 500,000 project managers worldwide.</span></span><br />
<span class="fcg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: grey; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/18px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a matter of great pride that the photograph featured in the article is the one of all the Chapter volunteers who played THE key role in a successful conference!</span> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JKzwYo_KoA22HxgtBykvttTDYZmdvKH9x5LY31ds80VQbPFBG8qCOxO_hdz7oO0u1dOyY1aBRWL2IfavDOwKlVrKo8go7qnVQIGDKNBe8ld1w6fdkwQfV5RKciRL9wzKk09GP0QJUoo/s1600/PMITodayArticleOnTNStateConference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JKzwYo_KoA22HxgtBykvttTDYZmdvKH9x5LY31ds80VQbPFBG8qCOxO_hdz7oO0u1dOyY1aBRWL2IfavDOwKlVrKo8go7qnVQIGDKNBe8ld1w6fdkwQfV5RKciRL9wzKk09GP0QJUoo/s400/PMITodayArticleOnTNStateConference.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-90342882209225135232012-02-20T11:59:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:02:51.217+05:30Very proud of a truly amazing Volunteer team!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #0b5394; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Volunteerism at it's shining best!</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having led many successful teams before, I can confidently say I haven't seen any like this one! Total dedication, seamless sharing for tasks, people taking total ownership, and a relentless attention to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #0b5394; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">details.<br /><br />Can you believe this? The entire team, totally exhausted after this Conference, stayed back a full 4 hours after the event for a Lessons Learned session where 40 successes were discussed and documented with true pride and 60+ Potential Improvement Points were discussed?<br /><br />Truly a DREAM TEAM!<br /><br />Another unbelievable but true fact was that almost 40% of the volunteer team as composed of first-time volunteers!<br /><br />Am extremely PROUD of every one of you and the GREAT DELEGATE EXPERIENCE we SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED to all attendees!<br /><br />Every one of you truly proved the adage, "TEAM = Together, Everyone Achieves More!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrbueewEFidZlLPofBCCpbzy3kjqPi0-0zXukYrcAlGsD2jKe-JCPoZSVeAVFAJCY_gg2LuTqWwlD98gWHbrktVYYfExoREWDnwCyXZJK1geltL8X-QF-AyRowvhUEp0_GqlmN0q3lo/s1600/PMICC_StateConference2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrbueewEFidZlLPofBCCpbzy3kjqPi0-0zXukYrcAlGsD2jKe-JCPoZSVeAVFAJCY_gg2LuTqWwlD98gWHbrktVYYfExoREWDnwCyXZJK1geltL8X-QF-AyRowvhUEp0_GqlmN0q3lo/s320/PMICC_StateConference2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-18246501494770144802012-02-09T12:10:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:03:23.018+05:30Addressed volunteers at the PMI Mega Item Writing Workshop at the Hilton, Chennai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was great addressing a group of around 100 PMPs at the Hilton in Chennai today.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">All passionate volunteers, they had gathered for PMI's 2.5 day Mega Item Writing Workshop.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The power of volunteers was on full display.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">PMI is a indeed a great example of how volunteers make up a team that is several multiples more than the sum of all parts!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more, see </span><a href="http://www.pmi.org/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.pmi.org</span></a></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-34289474470892716802011-01-03T13:14:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:04:28.832+05:30Presented at the CII-PMI Capacity Building Workshop at Pondicherry.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Project Management Institute (PMI), along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is conducting a series of Capacity Building workshops across South India.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I was honoured to be invited to speak on "The Value of Project Management" </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">at the Workshop at the Ananda Inn, Pondicherry, on 22nd December 2012. The audience included participants from a variety of industries around the region.</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As part of the presentation, I did share quite some heart-felt angst on Corruption and its severe impact on India's growth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kIt0MKc8EVnPDZvRyWuTKNN3v1B42w-ZvgpvThHdv6Cu1ribygbYDgMjhirIDfQ0t-WZ7vd6nQbIRU7mPeYKC3mK1IUrnY2Z6SLGfsf8DjdDb5l6ipKSTrX06OdOVsB49v6SIhFbrHM/s1600/PMI-CII-PondicheeryWorkshopDec2010.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kIt0MKc8EVnPDZvRyWuTKNN3v1B42w-ZvgpvThHdv6Cu1ribygbYDgMjhirIDfQ0t-WZ7vd6nQbIRU7mPeYKC3mK1IUrnY2Z6SLGfsf8DjdDb5l6ipKSTrX06OdOVsB49v6SIhFbrHM/s320/PMI-CII-PondicheeryWorkshopDec2010.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There were a number of thought-provoking questions from the audience.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This article that appeared in the "Pondy Times" on the event.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKRDc1oFq2k3cQDmlCthwJceZNHrofC8Y3fT1ze1Zo_qDUeaj5HxLuHu0FDDhopSzGygs28AtxabK8qQEgtfbn5dYx3FrGcSwlBaWKcMWa9taqDJ8frBwbFs3Pzxj14Oo0Q_D9BRQk6Y/s1600/ValueOfProjectManagement_WorkshopAtPondicherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKRDc1oFq2k3cQDmlCthwJceZNHrofC8Y3fT1ze1Zo_qDUeaj5HxLuHu0FDDhopSzGygs28AtxabK8qQEgtfbn5dYx3FrGcSwlBaWKcMWa9taqDJ8frBwbFs3Pzxj14Oo0Q_D9BRQk6Y/s320/ValueOfProjectManagement_WorkshopAtPondicherry.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
</div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-10166081495820582602010-12-25T14:42:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:05:07.586+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">Here's wishing all my friends a Very Merry Christmas 2010 and a Happy New Year 2011!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #330099;">The Greetings are in the form of an Acrostic poem:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cClgAe-WofsEdnX3Krajm4G_g3qzC1PyBJYka_p_QoVPHaPnJTkTcHBYtkgLZR6f5aQd7Zp6BwthsUgciSNvDvAFm38mgxxYGluKaNkMwSdXNr6yGDRksAxWx7gAKsznklP4j_s1mRc/s1600/Christmas2011_AcrosticPoemGreetings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cClgAe-WofsEdnX3Krajm4G_g3qzC1PyBJYka_p_QoVPHaPnJTkTcHBYtkgLZR6f5aQd7Zp6BwthsUgciSNvDvAFm38mgxxYGluKaNkMwSdXNr6yGDRksAxWx7gAKsznklP4j_s1mRc/s400/Christmas2011_AcrosticPoemGreetings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-41502441196801570312010-12-12T14:48:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:05:53.861+05:30Super Shuttler Saina Shines!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Super Shuttler Saina Shines for India! <br /><br />I just saw her win the Hong Kong Yonex title over the Chinese Asian Games Gold Medallist! <br /><br />Hopefully, The World No. 1 ranking is now just a formality! Go Saina, go! You made all Indians proud!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyw0pKx3a5DIMuHrf685I1MFRq_BaST6pkyMbs0C_mNbOc1FsKO-Lkz9BYzZ-bGyhmIZLJ2dHs8U7TlIyGeBv3FmBRpJuaco011bneYHTI2MO5cpbrNt-ECYZP7vkhgNJO543Lpg7M_I/s1600/SainaShines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyw0pKx3a5DIMuHrf685I1MFRq_BaST6pkyMbs0C_mNbOc1FsKO-Lkz9BYzZ-bGyhmIZLJ2dHs8U7TlIyGeBv3FmBRpJuaco011bneYHTI2MO5cpbrNt-ECYZP7vkhgNJO543Lpg7M_I/s320/SainaShines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-82472075029155081242010-05-22T20:34:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:07:16.243+05:30Fifteen seconds of fame and embarrassment!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having your photograph published in the pages of a national newspaper -- if not for the wrong reasons -- is surely gratifying. It is an even greater ego trip when that photograph shows you in the company of famous people, in colour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, it can be quite embarrassment if the photograph is mentioned by someone in the presence of many!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the photograph in question:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqY_yLs-tK_UqQ8rhVOxsYFVMPriu71zNZt6FqyM0Cc191c9h7kJGZuZeXOWSV-wBdoH5t8RvLAzoRptohpzzkrp4SfFhi_9-wP8sprM2BP-d_C4iPtEnYiedWmzfDr8e043svUXLoM0/s1600/TheHinduArticleOnCentreAskingIIMsToStartAnMBACourseInProjectManagement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqY_yLs-tK_UqQ8rhVOxsYFVMPriu71zNZt6FqyM0Cc191c9h7kJGZuZeXOWSV-wBdoH5t8RvLAzoRptohpzzkrp4SfFhi_9-wP8sprM2BP-d_C4iPtEnYiedWmzfDr8e043svUXLoM0/s1600/TheHinduArticleOnCentreAskingIIMsToStartAnMBACourseInProjectManagement.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yours truly was given the honour of speaking at the Inauguration ceremony of a prestigious conference on Project Management in Chennai, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and supported by PMI India. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Noted industrialist Mr. T T Ashok, Deputy Chairman of CII, Southern Region, welcomed the gathering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking on the value of Project Management, I started with the rhetorical question, "If someone were to say that Project Management is largely an accidental profession, would you agree?", leading to how PMI was working hard to provide Project Managers with recognition. PMI does this through Research, Standards, Credentials and Training partners.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Pankaj Jain IAS of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation spoke about how the Centre was asking IIMs to come up an MBA Program on Project Management.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The event, held at the opulent Taj Coromandel hotel on 21st and 22nd May 2010, was attended by hundreds of middle and senior managers from a number of well-known companies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is a link to article published in The Hindu on 22nd May:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article435457.ece"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article435457.ece</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The same day the article was published, I was conducting a session on Project Risk Management at the Madras Management.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather embarrassingly, one of the participants mentioned the article and photograph in that morning's Hindu and commented, "We are in the presence of a famous person here!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All I could do was go red-faced and say, "It is just 15 seconds of fame that most people get in life!"</span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-84106866561234082522010-01-06T14:48:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:07:42.191+05:30Panel Discussion, PM Quiz and PM Cryptic Crossword at the PM National Conference India 2009.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">PMI India, along with PMI Team India (all seven chapters in India working together) planned, organized and conducted the mega event, PM National Conference India 2009.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), the event was a great success, with upwards of 900 attendees, special and volunteers from India and abroad listen to a a number of PM experts and leaders from across the globe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More details of the event are available at: </span><a href="http://www.pmi.org.in/congress/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.pmi.org.in/congress/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was there at this event based on my position as President of </span><a href="http://www.pmi-chennai.org/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PMI's Chennai Chapter</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and participated in the Panel discussion on the future of Project Management in India.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This YouTube video includes part of my contribution:<span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FfsNb-Qw4U&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FfsNb-Qw4U&feature=player_embedded</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">#!</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was also honoured to be Quiz Master and Crossword Compiler respectively for two unique competitions open to all Conference attendees. These competition were a great success.</span></span></span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-64707951333675414252007-02-06T18:48:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:08:19.942+05:30A walk down Memory Lane at TCE Madurai (continued).<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Continuing my walk down memory lane with pictures taken at TCE, in December 2006:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXY8fE0p_1SwnDG4MeCuKP4PTXpffTtI2H8souIfVyM3AWQJQ2dwcOi4PX3Nc95nS1p4L0DLRZpcK7Dm6HvL8wA_F6IFOL3dNu55glWWEvnChwE3GYGnzvsCBEFRBF04BB388zfziWGE/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+022.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028410924191467682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXY8fE0p_1SwnDG4MeCuKP4PTXpffTtI2H8souIfVyM3AWQJQ2dwcOi4PX3Nc95nS1p4L0DLRZpcK7Dm6HvL8wA_F6IFOL3dNu55glWWEvnChwE3GYGnzvsCBEFRBF04BB388zfziWGE/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+022.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the left, there was a game of cricket being played in right earnest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This medium-fast bowler was really bending his back, and thwack! The ball had been viciously pulled, and a fielder went scampering to the square leg boundary to retrieve the ball.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKHOthjvJifmmzz-Z0CvqEJbYeCH5AZ8-cQGBHSXkjg5vYCl5OB9UVybL-17erxTej3GV1Z_ikmRWAS6UTF3m3wKdUY_aiO8QxHOgPxey6j2Gp6m29VQZ6yb8PpTPGpqIWleLZCalz5M/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+020.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028411439587543218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKHOthjvJifmmzz-Z0CvqEJbYeCH5AZ8-cQGBHSXkjg5vYCl5OB9UVybL-17erxTej3GV1Z_ikmRWAS6UTF3m3wKdUY_aiO8QxHOgPxey6j2Gp6m29VQZ6yb8PpTPGpqIWleLZCalz5M/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+020.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the right side, there is a large new building, housing a well-equipped library named after the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karumuttu_Thiagarajan_Chettiar"><span style="font-family: inherit;">founder</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of the college.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1wZokHx15yNhyv2bB-tFobFoXZb9SiDz8zJQeMngKRmCP0dYPR3Uy4guQevy-n8tKTYCySIhevDrVPf9GQzasG-vWccuQBDszS-4bgGIQHGAH3RmG4s3uYabpperMk39U0c2SGyMtBs/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+028.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028675760464873714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1wZokHx15yNhyv2bB-tFobFoXZb9SiDz8zJQeMngKRmCP0dYPR3Uy4guQevy-n8tKTYCySIhevDrVPf9GQzasG-vWccuQBDszS-4bgGIQHGAH3RmG4s3uYabpperMk39U0c2SGyMtBs/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+028.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I kept walking down, next on the right was the imposing main college building. It's traditional grandeur has not diminished one bit in the last 15+ years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another example of how, even as many modern buildings have sprung up in the campus, the majesty of the old has not been overshadowed at all!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65By3j9K_05i-SxFQW0dYSGRBQRWmmpfDyOCbNcEroAMDcazd1ahSFyMtJ0mJjdVKuL9trikZvxMhFTxz0MiUo4ABQXJ_qrHqI3GDNntS-eLOca9QFrk1XhbMx9u0thFOjz_w_TLPKAU/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+028a.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028679973827791122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65By3j9K_05i-SxFQW0dYSGRBQRWmmpfDyOCbNcEroAMDcazd1ahSFyMtJ0mJjdVKuL9trikZvxMhFTxz0MiUo4ABQXJ_qrHqI3GDNntS-eLOca9QFrk1XhbMx9u0thFOjz_w_TLPKAU/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+028a.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">To the right of the entrance, there was a huge yellow silk banner on the </span><a href="http://www.cse.iitd.ernet.in/~icvgip/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ICGVIP</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (5th Indian Conference on Computer Vision, Graphics & Image Processing).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Though called "Indian", this Conference was truly international, with participants from all over the world, including the US, Italy, the UK, Israel, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The list of Corporate Sponsors included international Tech biggies such as Microsoft, Adobe, AOL, GE, Google, HP, IBM, Yahoo, TCS, and Honeywell. If that does not read like a list of "Who's Who" of the movers and shakers of technology, what can? The event was also sponsored by non-corporates such as the GOI's Ministry of IT, ADE-DRDO, IIT-Delhi and TCE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, that's truly impressive!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04hG07ARVjFUwjQ4UixyLLvEX2KMql78kslcP8IFcr78lFIf-la8auRbr0nZtykH2KlAJ3ZlJd2y5EQ-ts1hG6m0pumi_H_zitGWHTg0DoYbWM12-b23u-Uj1YDrNn1BfmD2mTOrJ4EE/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+029.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028686734106315042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04hG07ARVjFUwjQ4UixyLLvEX2KMql78kslcP8IFcr78lFIf-la8auRbr0nZtykH2KlAJ3ZlJd2y5EQ-ts1hG6m0pumi_H_zitGWHTg0DoYbWM12-b23u-Uj1YDrNn1BfmD2mTOrJ4EE/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+029.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Just opposite the main building, was the TCE fountain in all its glory, </span><a href="http://www.frontgate.com/text/content/moreinfo/fountains.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">releasing negative ions and truly refreshing the senses</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It certainly looked a pretty picture!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdAIqb3_ZgVsstwri4mLGbfxNvsMTaNXxiO65D4hD3ombUX2l-x8xlGnWSPIm-xt3Y_pYKgddL9ljvubKAEBzusK3SzBvmmm3hDjYkhfEPsFFS3qWPSLI2sMCLf0Nv4UlY-DzKD9fby0/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+032.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028689495770286386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdAIqb3_ZgVsstwri4mLGbfxNvsMTaNXxiO65D4hD3ombUX2l-x8xlGnWSPIm-xt3Y_pYKgddL9ljvubKAEBzusK3SzBvmmm3hDjYkhfEPsFFS3qWPSLI2sMCLf0Nv4UlY-DzKD9fby0/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+032.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> And then, just round the corner, there was the famous </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_benghalensis"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">ficus benghalensis</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (Indian banyan) tree which had "sheltered thousands of TCE students at various points in time. This was the place more fondly known as the <em>"maraththadi"!</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The gentle warming rays of the morning sun filtering through its branches seemed to suggest the tons of "enlightenment" it had bestowed on countless TCEians!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxs_ZXQoxqGfmuqqSyh1-WChgfRY9G0mDwzKBOB94NX959Qxl8ajynId4WgLnHS5XoLoory9BEktyXdDCUgSAyKBD99vPkSJA3swk-S3h8j7qZMv8w5gJC9rNxqH7USENUzPvnLKccSY/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+033.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028692257434257730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxs_ZXQoxqGfmuqqSyh1-WChgfRY9G0mDwzKBOB94NX959Qxl8ajynId4WgLnHS5XoLoory9BEktyXdDCUgSAyKBD99vPkSJA3swk-S3h8j7qZMv8w5gJC9rNxqH7USENUzPvnLKccSY/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+033.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Here's a closer picture of that famous "community gathering place"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's a new reflective sign with directions to various departments. However, the concrete benches haven't changed one bit, and that's a comforting thought!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHtyEUcFvm-wI_Gb0ptckosd8NT3AMZpTS4uH7efOJ7KZtsSZ7h0gAMhjUFwiE8MpexcEJXynWLB0V9YRnqos3b8cxjOjgO3pLwHynAktwg1UXV4NXPKPY3I4tBQfCbkffZH9i5pT74I/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+035.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028744707574876498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHtyEUcFvm-wI_Gb0ptckosd8NT3AMZpTS4uH7efOJ7KZtsSZ7h0gAMhjUFwiE8MpexcEJXynWLB0V9YRnqos3b8cxjOjgO3pLwHynAktwg1UXV4NXPKPY3I4tBQfCbkffZH9i5pT74I/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+035.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> This is a nice picture of numerous branches of the banyan, and the small bridge we used to cross to get to the Computer Center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">TCE students would have certainly crossed many more metaphorical bridges in their lives since passing out of TCE!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm_NcmLujNYxe2lA5nPm3PIFUD8EtUuzPcvD-1SUljPnFBcinGIe8Onbc5Ti9byViaUI709tZQ-q33iJ-yw6APCsDimEcKEl-mWv-GF7vctqdi8aSGLwRgXufW9yjsGaLbCqBp0Cn7s4/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+037.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028745583748204898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm_NcmLujNYxe2lA5nPm3PIFUD8EtUuzPcvD-1SUljPnFBcinGIe8Onbc5Ti9byViaUI709tZQ-q33iJ-yw6APCsDimEcKEl-mWv-GF7vctqdi8aSGLwRgXufW9yjsGaLbCqBp0Cn7s4/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+037.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crossing the bridge, I was now in front of the Computer Center (note the Americanized spelling of the word!) where we had almost all our classes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The building is maintained well, and the verdant greenery all round hasn't changed at all!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk76gYQnMV3lsZPajilq2bavCey-tqd3KN1JWCGFtLd25tVEfitT_dmzN0ri6BKMSFGeu3ybj9QwiG8ZjH3M7WUQPu-bOEW8coYO5wvYRYowO-dQs6aZTbjkprA4OY7vk6GOUnFH-plc/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+039.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028746545820879218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk76gYQnMV3lsZPajilq2bavCey-tqd3KN1JWCGFtLd25tVEfitT_dmzN0ri6BKMSFGeu3ybj9QwiG8ZjH3M7WUQPu-bOEW8coYO5wvYRYowO-dQs6aZTbjkprA4OY7vk6GOUnFH-plc/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+039.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is another long-shot of the Banyan Tree and the bridge across to the Computer Center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is what we used to see when we walked back to "The Big Tree" after lunch at the canteen.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj63oHQ_uoDBJomVErZx-2fUP8f16rigQLO744LnVnm8f9s6ynToBICRo02fHGW4r0FaBiQnwmFtjtne1ELiCTZf0N4_GJAtk8_HL9WTKQ9CqydydQsFQH89nAzMNjv-uMhZb3Ekzsul0/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+043.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028747546548259202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj63oHQ_uoDBJomVErZx-2fUP8f16rigQLO744LnVnm8f9s6ynToBICRo02fHGW4r0FaBiQnwmFtjtne1ELiCTZf0N4_GJAtk8_HL9WTKQ9CqydydQsFQH89nAzMNjv-uMhZb3Ekzsul0/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+043.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Walking back towards the Guest House (built near the Men's Hostel), I clicked this picture showing the nice tree-lined avenue that ends at the new canteen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Note the neatly painted yellow-and-black stripes on the edges of the pavements...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkQ_MLaO0e8KpEjGDqpSKZGrGAPqtax1_M9PiiQJ6AbmsefcMUkLAgQE2CieGDmI-UTrARyCwwRzrXNorFIBBOEwR2LB4Vo0m_fDV3Mo8QWzJvysMx8XeNcY8yC4PVCI5Yziqp9bBX3s/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+046.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028749217290537378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkQ_MLaO0e8KpEjGDqpSKZGrGAPqtax1_M9PiiQJ6AbmsefcMUkLAgQE2CieGDmI-UTrARyCwwRzrXNorFIBBOEwR2LB4Vo0m_fDV3Mo8QWzJvysMx8XeNcY8yC4PVCI5Yziqp9bBX3s/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+046.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Most of the trees in the college campus have small dark blue signs with their names in Tamil, in English (botanical), and medicinal values painted in white letters.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0iBzyqrRtF3Gs6hKaHomCI-PUmk2gq0pQ4acd8hkdVwm_qWgHEhCxr3K-ILeemwayWNsqXuIt4U6DKxbwzwqLlkhteT3TdOUpnnDkFN9NxHwucN4nzR5nHeyJS98xr1WFJSYUg_Q9s0/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+050.jpg"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028750419881380274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0iBzyqrRtF3Gs6hKaHomCI-PUmk2gq0pQ4acd8hkdVwm_qWgHEhCxr3K-ILeemwayWNsqXuIt4U6DKxbwzwqLlkhteT3TdOUpnnDkFN9NxHwucN4nzR5nHeyJS98xr1WFJSYUg_Q9s0/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+050.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turning right, I shot this snap showing the long road exiting the College Campus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a road I had travelled many times during my 3 years at TCE, but this time, there was a different feeling, laden with many refreshed memories of those enjoyable college days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you enjoyed it, and look forward to your comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please do leave a comment!</span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-31666708333189660452007-02-06T18:45:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:09:35.921+05:30A walk down Memory Lane at TCE, Madurai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Walking down that long, winding pathway,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Basking in the warm glow of the morning sun,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Reflecting nostalgically on those good old days,</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The very special days that were oh, so fun!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was the poem I quickly wrote down as I visited my alma mater, the </span><a href="http://www.tce.edu/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE)</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in December 2006.<br /><br />So much has changed. Yet, the old charm and many of the familiar structures still remain!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was just past 7 AM in the morning, and the sun was shining a warm, welcoming glow. The air felt really clean, and the morning quiet was only enhanced by the musical chirping of birds all round. Suddenly, you felt how different this was from the smoggy, polluted, noisy hustle and bustle of a big city. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I clicked pictures as I walked towards the Computer Science building.<br /><br />Pictures DO say a thousand words, and I will only interrupt with short comments to put things in perspective for those who have not been back in the college for ages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer9yIOKhLGS9L16PX6GomXODZhyphenhypheneODUUvQzLxBeZ09VnI5cj5jXSfmdOatWualVsYj1ZslD89x8l2e_YfIUGYrGYIZctylXuEJQgc6v7pGhn-7PH8nmuglxw7khgJk7ks2TfiR4dV_dw/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+002.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028385223107168162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer9yIOKhLGS9L16PX6GomXODZhyphenhypheneODUUvQzLxBeZ09VnI5cj5jXSfmdOatWualVsYj1ZslD89x8l2e_YfIUGYrGYIZctylXuEJQgc6v7pGhn-7PH8nmuglxw7khgJk7ks2TfiR4dV_dw/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+002.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the long, impeccable paved and maintained road leading to the college. The playground is on the left, and the canteen is to the right.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgX3Gw5_-K7xTPeo66IszozRV5OgF6S0xxjhdkb2pnXIBAwaHKFB-nk1gmOzwKUWen99Q1dHyBSMyWAnrfztkrvdazywi19kHJYDpNcod7-IffT4sK4rpwEsdiju_r0DmgNHLkcLEYwaE/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+02a.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028387684123428786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgX3Gw5_-K7xTPeo66IszozRV5OgF6S0xxjhdkb2pnXIBAwaHKFB-nk1gmOzwKUWen99Q1dHyBSMyWAnrfztkrvdazywi19kHJYDpNcod7-IffT4sK4rpwEsdiju_r0DmgNHLkcLEYwaE/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+02a.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is an impressive, modern Guest House on the right. It has three good-sized air-conditioned visitor's rooms, a modern Conference Hall and a Dining Room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Guests, including placement personnel from companies, stay here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYr7xa9OU7-BtmxeCwkP5nvE93uiGMk1_I4B-6R3px4nKkdK0oVfV3uYXygQv2J3OVNNI4LNEVt36kqisrqjsmJNgq3_ky4vOrpSS6fsAU9Ogbx0Jc787KMbO6sdsDwKDVz7UXN1ggE0/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+003.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028388736390416322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYr7xa9OU7-BtmxeCwkP5nvE93uiGMk1_I4B-6R3px4nKkdK0oVfV3uYXygQv2J3OVNNI4LNEVt36kqisrqjsmJNgq3_ky4vOrpSS6fsAU9Ogbx0Jc787KMbO6sdsDwKDVz7UXN1ggE0/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+003.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the Department of Physical Education.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember a couple of my classmates who diligently practised singing "songs" for a Farewell Party for our immediate seniors!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPgxdw6yNdfIa3zx602tI2JhABQYWGmTuTdGapRwodNoypUkn2CD4uwamQ7xMLeSbSF9-YUbvEhJGEOG5aFyGGrLmENTR4ae9Y1YvGrGHDklyWuBHo8rEOHLhobKNzLsImD34vqrs6IE/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+004.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028389561024137170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPgxdw6yNdfIa3zx602tI2JhABQYWGmTuTdGapRwodNoypUkn2CD4uwamQ7xMLeSbSF9-YUbvEhJGEOG5aFyGGrLmENTR4ae9Y1YvGrGHDklyWuBHo8rEOHLhobKNzLsImD34vqrs6IE/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+004.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the right is the entrance to the Men's Hostel. The erstwhile Madura Bank Extension Counter is no longer here. Also, there is a new hostel canteen here with decor that can seriously compete with a fancy restaurant in Chennai - I'm serious! The food I had at this canteen was also of the highest quality!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also learnt that the Hostel now has a Home Theatre Room and several computers equipped with Internet capabilities.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXG2u6UuoqWTxIxVkH2bObkMu4AVEF70j3mJNNrPZckHcCZLpLm8Zq5H92BDAZr_xxWUgfYU441JAu8MEgBP_jZAvoODFnQ7O-0_IjUuFcm94vykzjTHTwhCPmOFYSVSG9oUOEb5v2YY/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+006.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028390742140143586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXG2u6UuoqWTxIxVkH2bObkMu4AVEF70j3mJNNrPZckHcCZLpLm8Zq5H92BDAZr_xxWUgfYU441JAu8MEgBP_jZAvoODFnQ7O-0_IjUuFcm94vykzjTHTwhCPmOFYSVSG9oUOEb5v2YY/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+006.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, it's official! TCE is around 465 metres above mean sea level. That must explain the "elevated" feeling we had at TCE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a Security post to the right, after the entrance to the Men's Hostel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This sign is right near the security post.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zM6XLcLb3YiHn0AWELk5gMnOJxb2lbd9RxrxbXHc96fQU_rqfCNgsKH9-qnYBeKtlK9dO6zS8JB1psHygcqbgnL4l7vgIoAXRI0bJ1gStwwJxRkSJOfIALnejr0MQyUKXMmsjuE9C8Y/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+008.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028391751457458162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zM6XLcLb3YiHn0AWELk5gMnOJxb2lbd9RxrxbXHc96fQU_rqfCNgsKH9-qnYBeKtlK9dO6zS8JB1psHygcqbgnL4l7vgIoAXRI0bJ1gStwwJxRkSJOfIALnejr0MQyUKXMmsjuE9C8Y/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+008.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Further down, I was nearing the left turning that would take us to the main College building.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is now a security gate to screen vehicles moving in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was told that security guys have been asked to take down name, address, contact details, branch and year of passing for alumni who might visit on holidays.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That shows the College is serious about rejuvenating and keeping in touch with its alumni.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw6iCj57RcTgFmCMrMJ7j-QSTZ1x18Oi31GG_SRSiIZSWBt7hBy8K9SOFM5WJorwdHE7rvYp4Tkbh_3uBOpDCrAn0nt6Ach994ucGt6Dg3fxKxLQrgS35nvLJq8X9orcZoZiyoe_Kdzg/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+010.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028393057127516162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw6iCj57RcTgFmCMrMJ7j-QSTZ1x18Oi31GG_SRSiIZSWBt7hBy8K9SOFM5WJorwdHE7rvYp4Tkbh_3uBOpDCrAn0nt6Ach994ucGt6Dg3fxKxLQrgS35nvLJq8X9orcZoZiyoe_Kdzg/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+010.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next on the right is the new canteen. This complex now has the extension counter for the </span><a href="http://www.icicibank.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ICICI Bank</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (which acquired the erstwhile Bank of Madura), a photocopying centre, a large Canteen Hall, and a Dining Hall that is used for functions, symposia, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The facilities are very modern, and are kept extremely clean. The original canteen (a short distance from the Computer Centre) has been converted into a Women's Rest Centre.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0cx9PVbIekjPOR_4exit2ATd33dOL86irXUlt56ntnVeosJFTi-SfrbzyPUm1n_uiXglFd26O5jma0hiKUnBikuilsA_BgnY6iLqFzrWCIH1f7K_-GHppHTRUukVQpdZICXtOSQ-6Nw/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+011.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028399718621792274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0cx9PVbIekjPOR_4exit2ATd33dOL86irXUlt56ntnVeosJFTi-SfrbzyPUm1n_uiXglFd26O5jma0hiKUnBikuilsA_BgnY6iLqFzrWCIH1f7K_-GHppHTRUukVQpdZICXtOSQ-6Nw/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+011.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">On entering the canteen "Arch", there is a beautifully landscaped, lush green path that leads to the Canteen Building. It's so nicely done, I couldn't help comparing it to some of the lush greenery at Sea World, San Diego!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoymar0ecBz_g7SWNCmhKaQp_coVldk-hm4Ihj_bHlWDvqor3JxCTYY4n0o0RdFRxQ4MArC25G9-WXxWht4vF3VgXttynYznDnPJgqD3-O4g5ygQDZ83FGw86b8Ub4drJFhvSgA2bXuY/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+014.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028400418701461538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoymar0ecBz_g7SWNCmhKaQp_coVldk-hm4Ihj_bHlWDvqor3JxCTYY4n0o0RdFRxQ4MArC25G9-WXxWht4vF3VgXttynYznDnPJgqD3-O4g5ygQDZ83FGw86b8Ub4drJFhvSgA2bXuY/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+014.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another picture of the verdant surroundings of the canteen, including a beautifully maintained lily pond!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ljhcS_5BSJ8B0_onaC4iniq8dyCfEPUBcpX-YY3PALd9ZDLf_tGE1ZserupcCflnDyGbullPENq-1X5Ti4Ve14pk2V35B2zORGGBK1d2_Dz21D_Xogy4ca1XN_v70j3BcDMhr_lgCFY/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+015.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028401479558383666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ljhcS_5BSJ8B0_onaC4iniq8dyCfEPUBcpX-YY3PALd9ZDLf_tGE1ZserupcCflnDyGbullPENq-1X5Ti4Ve14pk2V35B2zORGGBK1d2_Dz21D_Xogy4ca1XN_v70j3BcDMhr_lgCFY/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+015.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ready to turn left to the Main College building, I saw another welcome addition, a "Thought of the Day" board, with a nice quote by motivational speaker, </span><a href="http://www.jimrohn.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jim Rohn</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All vehicles need to be parked at this point. No more driving your two-wheeler all the way to the front of the Computer Science building!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBgcK5PuG2LzsgcRrvXQYRzc-eTFiourXdZXYZdshTLQ-_g5GOJS0en7HSX2MWAGWins3enZzWhyphenhyphen0pJuAcEpyM7wehgzx2dzsiRYTfd_mJFQAZGdRC49QElAH6sOCNDedsXpNhlpDyIg/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+016.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028404395841177682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBgcK5PuG2LzsgcRrvXQYRzc-eTFiourXdZXYZdshTLQ-_g5GOJS0en7HSX2MWAGWins3enZzWhyphenhyphen0pJuAcEpyM7wehgzx2dzsiRYTfd_mJFQAZGdRC49QElAH6sOCNDedsXpNhlpDyIg/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+016.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Right next to this board was a nice schematic map of the TCE campus.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTlOdQrwTkPJheBbv1Q0ds5ffyfxzw72vsycAmQjKbHlk4rd2bcRQa852DUs0phUXW4wpyXOYNyyO4NpI7VyCpubSDS4rPSiAGLf5BQ5FdpnGrkESS9pQhltZ-DJT1ORnq34F2iZmmQ0/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+017.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028405052971173986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTlOdQrwTkPJheBbv1Q0ds5ffyfxzw72vsycAmQjKbHlk4rd2bcRQa852DUs0phUXW4wpyXOYNyyO4NpI7VyCpubSDS4rPSiAGLf5BQ5FdpnGrkESS9pQhltZ-DJT1ORnq34F2iZmmQ0/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+017.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turning left, here's a view of the road leading all the way to the Computer Centre building. An international symposium was going on that day, and you can see flags on both sides set up for the event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I instantly remembered a note in my autograph book, reminding me about a brilliant idea during Softaware '90 to measure the distance between flags using computer stationery! Each sheet was 1 foot long, and I measured this would be an easy way to find how much distance to leave between flags.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought at that time it was "Out of the Box" thinking, but winds soon proved what a hare-brained idea it was!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLlbEeZ_C_bOGWdoyz_kXcX89rHwRxW28NBuGU0yene8Azy4U8hrkIY6LY7EkNNEG-xTDf6Q3pCHsxzT9uZa0weW9SyyWj36JTnybHAlSdR63s5NH5WzoTl6pP62cicy6g1Dp7QEBLYE/s1600-h/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+018.jpg" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028406367231166578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLlbEeZ_C_bOGWdoyz_kXcX89rHwRxW28NBuGU0yene8Azy4U8hrkIY6LY7EkNNEG-xTDf6Q3pCHsxzT9uZa0weW9SyyWj36JTnybHAlSdR63s5NH5WzoTl6pP62cicy6g1Dp7QEBLYE/s320/Adjusted_20061216_TCEMadurai+018.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point I could see a magnificent view ot the famous dome of the TCE Main building.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was particularly proud of this picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Too many images on this page already!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next set of pictures and narrative, including the famous "Maraththadi" are waiting in the post that follows!</span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-38539378602130016872006-11-17T17:08:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:10:15.163+05:30Wanted: Some maturity from constituents of the Blue Billion!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /><span style="color: #0066ff;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">I admit it!</span><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">I'm sick and tired of some members of "The Blue Billion", even though I'm a proud member. In fact, I'm even doubtful whether these guys are what they claim to be: True Fans of Indian cricket.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #330099;">Was I disappointed that India didn't make it to at least the semis of the just-concluded Champions Trophy?</span><strong style="color: #330099;"> YES.</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #330099;">Do I think the Indian team is going to smash the Springboks in their home territory? </span><strong style="color: #330099;">NO</strong><span style="color: #330099;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #330099;">Am I realistic about their chances, but hope they'll play well, fight hard, and give the South Africans a run for their money? Am I supporting MY team? </span><strong style="color: #330099;">CERTAINLY.</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #330099;">I read, with interest, many news items on the web about mature statements by Rahul Dravid & Co., at Press Conferences</span> </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/15/stories/2006111509772300.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">before departure from India</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, <span style="color: #330099;">and</span> </span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/14/stories/2006111407292100.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">on arrival in South Africa</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the reaction of India's "rabid" fans to these quotes? Here's a sampling from what I've heard from some friends, and what I've read on the web in the past few days:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<em>India will lose the ODIs and Tests 0-5 and 0-3 respectively"</em>, and <em>"Why are Dravid & Chappell making these 'BRAVE' statements? We know they are going to lose."</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Come on, folks, grow up and show some maturity!</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you expect Dravid and Chappell to say? What would you say if you are in their position? The following?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<em>We have not won a Test in SA before, we have not done well in ODIs in the past few months, we are missing a key player in Yuvraj, we are not used to bouncy wickets. So we will surely lose."</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Going in with a mindset thinking you will lose can only lead to one thing: you WILL lose. That's why the likes of underdogs Bangladesh and Zimbabwe almost always lose to stronger teams - they have already lost in their minds before they step onto the cricket field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You have a reason to complain if Dravid & Co were to make bombastic statements like, "<em>We will win the ODI series 5-0 and the Tests 2-0</em>"<em>, </em>or even, "<em>We will win</em>"<em>.</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">The fact is, this mature leadership won't make such statements even ahead of series against Zimbabwe or Bangladesh.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">Let's look at an IT analogy: If you lead an IT project, are you going to tell your Management and Project staff, "There is only a 9% chance we will be on time-and budget, because the </span><a href="http://www.standishgroup.com/sample_research/chaos_1994_1.php" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Standish Group says so</span></a><a href="http://www.standishgroup.com/sample_research/chaos_1994_1.php" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">,</span></a><span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">" or "The deadline is impossible to meet", or "we are grossly understaffed, so we can't make a success of this project". </span><o:p style="color: #330099;"></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">These may all be valid fears (some may even be facts), but what you will do will be to emphasise the positives while warning colleagues of the risks. And you are certainly going to try your best to deliver success!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Back to cricket:</u></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Please understand why Rahul and Greg are highlighting the positives: They give the team confidence, and something to play for, while, at the same time, emphasising that a lot of hard work is required to achieve good results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fans, please grow up! You neither need to praise the team to the skies when they win, NOR rubbish them into the nearest garbage dump when they lose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's be positive, yet realistic and wish the team all the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #330099; font-family: inherit;">After all, that's the least we can do!</span><span style="color: #330099; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span></div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4541843981084466138.post-84243932472559884182005-09-01T12:40:00.000+05:302012-05-25T19:11:25.594+05:30Narcissurfing and the Madras Quizzes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here's a quiz question: What does the term "Narcissurfing" stand for?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The term stands for "googling" for your own name on the Internet. It is obviously a combination of the words, "Narcissism" and "Surfing".</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">While it sounds like an ego trip, experts do recommend that everyone indulge in a healthy dose once in a while. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The benefits? If there is someone indulging in posting nasty things about you on the web, you at least have a chance of taking corrective action!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As recommended, I was indulging in "narcissurfing" recently, and </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">stumbled on this photograph. <br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I had the honour of being Quiz Master of the "Madras Quiz" in both English (28th August 2005) and Thamizh (22nd August 2012), along with my father Shri V Ramamurthy IAS Retd., during the Madras Day Celebrations in 2005. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Tamizh version, held for students of Thamizh-medium schools in the city, was especially challenging!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here are the winners of the Madras Quiz in English, Avinash Mudaliar and N Srinivasan.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIRrDZrZtjY4I2lLpbC1KbyKV-BGHyNJzCFRNuwcf7l81JcsTQ5yciKQu7D89MamhSt4EvU3JJbSO1mqOLcVZouis-ziKqZ-CACMFPTZN3ufQ-4uFkmAtex1iaDTsOdpOH7CmnDDb3iY/s1600/QuizMasterAtTheAdyarTimesMadrasQuiz_2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIRrDZrZtjY4I2lLpbC1KbyKV-BGHyNJzCFRNuwcf7l81JcsTQ5yciKQu7D89MamhSt4EvU3JJbSO1mqOLcVZouis-ziKqZ-CACMFPTZN3ufQ-4uFkmAtex1iaDTsOdpOH7CmnDDb3iY/s1600/QuizMasterAtTheAdyarTimesMadrasQuiz_2005.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here is a picture of my father during the Thamizh Quiz:</span></span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G-tn3Gjo7_N3Mr87D0X7OTk9izlMNRIFCOGolj0HnhFKRMbvPfXDROSkw06B7sMWrsyIRENKExzvCk_NrMjzakNv_aewljisjRhB3oQMexkQq6Hk1fFi3SRSPxZGF6XKJpwdhcQNLpk/s1600/VRamamurthyIAS_ConductingMadrasQuizInThamizh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G-tn3Gjo7_N3Mr87D0X7OTk9izlMNRIFCOGolj0HnhFKRMbvPfXDROSkw06B7sMWrsyIRENKExzvCk_NrMjzakNv_aewljisjRhB3oQMexkQq6Hk1fFi3SRSPxZGF6XKJpwdhcQNLpk/s320/VRamamurthyIAS_ConductingMadrasQuizInThamizh.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here are the winners of the Thamizh quiz, L Vasan and T Eezhakathir, receiving their prizes from the well-known writer, Randor Guy. This event was featured in "The Hindu": <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/24/stories/2005082415410400.htm">http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/24/stories/2005082415410400.htm</a></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSJobM_UXg9whYQ4ctv2PfiRlaS7jAFaak3eVMzIkNX2-hTtut13dp7sH7EQealU6tRS4su-Hp9Znj6-lSyjMU65hfpW6sjva0UhXaQa0W55viS0cl1Uh9P0is8UoKx5v7SllFniEl_I/s320/MadrasDayTamilQuizWinners2005.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
</div>Karthik K Ramamurthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769939745128182998noreply@blogger.com0