An Award for the awarder!

Any publicity is good publicity. Ample proof of which was given last week when the Nobel Peace Committee gave the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 to Obama. While the world debates whether he deserves it or not it certainly did give publicity to the prize. Columns are being written about what the prize stands for (see here) and whether the new nominee can stand up to the previous awardees.

"Nobel officials said their stunning pick was meant to build momentum behind Obama's initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism." Whether it builds omentum or not, it does certainly pitch the award to a new limelight. After all how many us remember last year awardee. Or for that matter how many of them do we remember anyway. A little search threw up the past list of Nobel laureates. All deserving I am sure, but none of them would have kicked up as much dust as this one. So while awarding the prize to Sherin Ebadi or Wangari Mathaai would have brought recognition to the work they have done, giving the prize to Barack Obama bought publicity to the Prize and what it stands for. A sound move by the committee I would say.

One interesting trivia- During much of the second world war (1939-43), the Prize was allotted to a special fund. Red Cross was the first recipient of the prize after the war.

P.S.- Even the taliban has a view - "Taliban touts ‘Nobel violence prize’ for Obama"...ouch.

Homecoming

Time to bid adieu to Grand rapids... Was lucky to be at the right time here. The weathers perfect and its green all around. Although there seems to be too much pollen in the air. I seemed to be developing some new allergy everyday and by the time my body got used to it, its time to leave. All in all a good trip though. Work was decent and satisfying and was able to get some Indian food, thanks to Ravi. But the best part was the soccer practice. Although I played only 3-4 times, the fact that i could stand up for 45 mins (atleast in the last game) was very satisfying...

Only regret is would have loved to go around and see a few places, if only there was some company. So not much of sight seeing, so very few snaps this time...

And now just hoping that the return flight is all smooth.

Saath Saal ke budhe ya saat saal ke jawaan

The weatherman says it'll brighten up just around the time of tommorrows soccer match. After 3 weeks of being injured hurt, i am dying to play a match. The last match though almost made me wonder if I should add soccer to my list of "Too old to do things" like Ted does in HIMYM S04E18. Halfway into the game, i was looking for a bench to rest on while everyone else around me just seemed to have just started the match. Trudged on for another 15-20 mins, moving around like an 80 year old, before i decided to put some more vigour into the game. My legs however didnt seem to share the same level of enthusiasm and with seconds to go before the final whistle, I heard a tearing sound in my left leg. It's taken more than 3 weeks for the leg to get back into some shape- whether match fit or not is something i should know tomorrow. That is if the weather doesnt play spoilsport and the other parts of my body dont fail before that...

Is the Frisk worth the risk?

Continental Airlines apologises for frisking Kalam

Much ado over frisking of APJ by Continental Airlines... lot of hungama in parliament...govt files FIR...alleged breach of protocols....rulebook slammed back by the airlines... and finally an apology by the airlines......but amidst all this, the man himself seems to be mum... Wonder what he has to say about the whole incident....

Meanwhile ex first lady, Hillary Clinton arrives in the capital... and i wonder if she was frisked too!

What Happens in Vegas

The Hangover...

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas..". You get the drift of the movie when you hear that line...4 guys out for a bachelor party in where else but Vegas, get slammed out and do crazy stuff...had the story been narrated in chronological order it would have probably been something very similar to the Harrold and Kumar Go to White Castle... but told in the reverse order with them trying to remember what happened last night, its an absolute riot...

The plot is guessable most of the times, but the story moves at a fast enough pace to keep you engrossed., with some very witty dialogues and funny moves...

best watched with friends...especially if some of them are still bachelors... i watched it alone though...but still couldn't help roll on the floor...