Woodbridge retires! The end of an era. I remember watching this short right hand player with his tall leftie partner at Wimbledon playing some great doubles. The angles, power and volley rallies were amazing. I also remember Paes - Bhupathi beating them either at Wimbledon semis or finals.
I somehow always rated Woodbridge lower than Woodforde, but I think they won because Woodbridge had a much better return game.
My prediction for the mens finals - Federer - Roddick. I think the occassion will get to Johansson and Hewitt will be outplayed by Federer.
Thursday, June 30
Tuesday, June 28
Wimbledon Day 7,Second week
Haven't posted over the weekend as my little brother was here. I know he is a bit taller than I am but that does not mean I can't be older! This resentful tone is induced by my neighbour laughing when introducing B as my little brother. Ha Ha!!
Back to Wimbledon. Mirza went out despite fighting really hard and playing a great match on Center court. I have been told by "authoratative" sources who watched her play that she needs to work on her serve and fitness.
In today' s fourth round matches there were no upsets bar one. It seems amazing to me that most of the matches today were straight sets victories in both the mens and womens competition.
I dont know what has happened to mens tennis when we have only about three or four serious contenders for the title. Federer, Roddick, Safin and Hewitt????
Ancic, my great Wimbledon hope lost to the giant killer Lopez. I saw him play today and he has a lovely serve and volley game. A Spanish s and v player. Thats as rare as a week in the UK without rain.
Quarter final line -up :
Federer v Gonzales - Federer
Hewitt v Lopez - tough one, but would have to go with Hewitt esp after he beat Taylor Dent today in what was probably his best match at wimbledon this year.
Johansson v Nalbandian - Probably Nalbandian. I think Johansson will crack under pressure and Nalbandian is slightly craftier.
Roddick v Grosjean - Roddick
BTW, there are eight different nationalities represented in the quarters. Cool!
Its like Davis Cup!
So, A Federer -Doddick final looms large, again.
Women's :
Davenport ( who played a great match against Clijsters. She looks in good form. Please dont let Sharapova win) v Kuznetsova. - This has to be Davenport. I think she has too much experience and power for the Russian.
Mauresmo v Myskina - Mauresmo, who plays really when without any media pressure.
Pierce v Williams in the comeback game of the century. Two top players trying hard to rekindle their careers. Tough one to call. Just depends on who plays worse.
Sharapova v Petrova - Sharapova. I just realised that she even grunts when she serves. Alan Mills who retires this year is firmly against grunting and argues that if it is deliberate or distrubing should result in a penalty against the player. Sharapova's grunts are a 100db loud.
Thats like factory machinery or someone screaming in your ear. thats how loud it is!
Speaking purely from a health perpective, if you are exposed to 110db you must limit yorself to an exposure time of 1 minute and 29sec. Every women's tennis player is slowly going to go deaf if they play Sharapova in a five set match.
I am looking forward to the second Lions test. I predict the Lions will win by less than 10 points.
Back to Wimbledon. Mirza went out despite fighting really hard and playing a great match on Center court. I have been told by "authoratative" sources who watched her play that she needs to work on her serve and fitness.
In today' s fourth round matches there were no upsets bar one. It seems amazing to me that most of the matches today were straight sets victories in both the mens and womens competition.
I dont know what has happened to mens tennis when we have only about three or four serious contenders for the title. Federer, Roddick, Safin and Hewitt????
Ancic, my great Wimbledon hope lost to the giant killer Lopez. I saw him play today and he has a lovely serve and volley game. A Spanish s and v player. Thats as rare as a week in the UK without rain.
Quarter final line -up :
Federer v Gonzales - Federer
Hewitt v Lopez - tough one, but would have to go with Hewitt esp after he beat Taylor Dent today in what was probably his best match at wimbledon this year.
Johansson v Nalbandian - Probably Nalbandian. I think Johansson will crack under pressure and Nalbandian is slightly craftier.
Roddick v Grosjean - Roddick
BTW, there are eight different nationalities represented in the quarters. Cool!
Its like Davis Cup!
So, A Federer -Doddick final looms large, again.
Women's :
Davenport ( who played a great match against Clijsters. She looks in good form. Please dont let Sharapova win) v Kuznetsova. - This has to be Davenport. I think she has too much experience and power for the Russian.
Mauresmo v Myskina - Mauresmo, who plays really when without any media pressure.
Pierce v Williams in the comeback game of the century. Two top players trying hard to rekindle their careers. Tough one to call. Just depends on who plays worse.
Sharapova v Petrova - Sharapova. I just realised that she even grunts when she serves. Alan Mills who retires this year is firmly against grunting and argues that if it is deliberate or distrubing should result in a penalty against the player. Sharapova's grunts are a 100db loud.
Thats like factory machinery or someone screaming in your ear. thats how loud it is!
Speaking purely from a health perpective, if you are exposed to 110db you must limit yorself to an exposure time of 1 minute and 29sec. Every women's tennis player is slowly going to go deaf if they play Sharapova in a five set match.
I am looking forward to the second Lions test. I predict the Lions will win by less than 10 points.
Friday, June 24
THE MONSOONS HAVE ARRIVED
I woke up today to be greeted by a grey,cloudy sky. This is in complete contrast to the sunny, blue and clear skies we have had for most of the last fortnight.
So, just as I was beginning to get used to all the sun and slowly revealing my summer wardrobe today hapenned.
Its just a bad day today. My bike broke down yesterday. It finally refused to move unless it was taken care off. My weekend is going to be spent in taking care of it. The tantrums these bikes throw. I remember my motorcycle back home, which began to growl while I was changing gears until I took it for servicing.
So, no bike in the morning. Bus ride in the no.15 to woodfarm.
Then, while we were half way up the hill the clouds finally began to bawl. Just like the first monsoon rains it poured large droplets of rain! Just like home. I got off the bus and by the time I moved three meters for cover under a tree I was drenched. You can hear the rain drumming the ground, smell the damp ground after it has been watered(I love that smell), feel the vibrations of thunder in the background and find yourself completely drenched to the skin. I ran like mad from one shady tree to the next but just like school you finally decide to make a dash for it. I reached the lab dripping with a smile on my face.
My incredulous lab mates thought I was slightly mad! I attempted to explain the emotions associated with dancing in the first monsoon rain but you can't explain such things to people's who pysche commands them to whinge when the first drops of rain begin.
I really wish I was home today. It felt great to just run freely in the pouring rain. I remember how we used to wait for the rain to go out and play football. I wish I could do that now.
Anyway, the lab beckons and I shall answer the call of cloning.
So, just as I was beginning to get used to all the sun and slowly revealing my summer wardrobe today hapenned.
Its just a bad day today. My bike broke down yesterday. It finally refused to move unless it was taken care off. My weekend is going to be spent in taking care of it. The tantrums these bikes throw. I remember my motorcycle back home, which began to growl while I was changing gears until I took it for servicing.
So, no bike in the morning. Bus ride in the no.15 to woodfarm.
Then, while we were half way up the hill the clouds finally began to bawl. Just like the first monsoon rains it poured large droplets of rain! Just like home. I got off the bus and by the time I moved three meters for cover under a tree I was drenched. You can hear the rain drumming the ground, smell the damp ground after it has been watered(I love that smell), feel the vibrations of thunder in the background and find yourself completely drenched to the skin. I ran like mad from one shady tree to the next but just like school you finally decide to make a dash for it. I reached the lab dripping with a smile on my face.
My incredulous lab mates thought I was slightly mad! I attempted to explain the emotions associated with dancing in the first monsoon rain but you can't explain such things to people's who pysche commands them to whinge when the first drops of rain begin.
I really wish I was home today. It felt great to just run freely in the pouring rain. I remember how we used to wait for the rain to go out and play football. I wish I could do that now.
Anyway, the lab beckons and I shall answer the call of cloning.
Wimbledon day 4
THE DAY OF UPSETS!!
Henman out! I think Henman was very under-prepared coming into wimbledon and with the rather easy draw he got thought he might be able to squeeze into second week without too much effort. Unfortunately, it seems that the problem is not his opponents but himself.
Nadal out. I know this is an upset because he was no 4 seed, but he is playing his second wimbledon I was not really expecting much from him.
I love wimbledon for just this reason. At least in the Men's game the surface is so different and unique that seeding and ranking accumulated from playing on hard courts over the year do not really carry any weight. Its possible for someone like Mario Ancic last year with a good serve and volley game to thrash Henman. Its possible for someone like Ivanisevic to win after geting a wild card.
Its all about how you can play on grass. Anyone who plays on grass knows that the surface requires a completely different set of skills. You need to stay low and have to be very quick otherwise the ball just skids and slides away from you. You also need to be very fit. As you might have noticed lots of ankle and knee injuries take place at Wimbledon because of the stress you place on them during matches. Finally, you would be hard pressed to win Wimbldeon without a decent net gamel because you have to charge the net and force the point.
Other than that big British hope MURRAY taught Stepanek a lesson in grass court tennis with a straight sets thrashing. Federed cruises again and so did Hewitt. Coria came through in five against Malisse and in an epic match Alexander Popp of Germany overcame Wayne Rthurs of Australia 14 -12 in the fifth.
I was following the match online and it was great to watch the match swing every 10 minutes.
Ok, am in the lab so need to get back to DNA extractions.
WIll blog about the Monsoons later.
Henman out! I think Henman was very under-prepared coming into wimbledon and with the rather easy draw he got thought he might be able to squeeze into second week without too much effort. Unfortunately, it seems that the problem is not his opponents but himself.
Nadal out. I know this is an upset because he was no 4 seed, but he is playing his second wimbledon I was not really expecting much from him.
I love wimbledon for just this reason. At least in the Men's game the surface is so different and unique that seeding and ranking accumulated from playing on hard courts over the year do not really carry any weight. Its possible for someone like Mario Ancic last year with a good serve and volley game to thrash Henman. Its possible for someone like Ivanisevic to win after geting a wild card.
Its all about how you can play on grass. Anyone who plays on grass knows that the surface requires a completely different set of skills. You need to stay low and have to be very quick otherwise the ball just skids and slides away from you. You also need to be very fit. As you might have noticed lots of ankle and knee injuries take place at Wimbledon because of the stress you place on them during matches. Finally, you would be hard pressed to win Wimbldeon without a decent net gamel because you have to charge the net and force the point.
Other than that big British hope MURRAY taught Stepanek a lesson in grass court tennis with a straight sets thrashing. Federed cruises again and so did Hewitt. Coria came through in five against Malisse and in an epic match Alexander Popp of Germany overcame Wayne Rthurs of Australia 14 -12 in the fifth.
I was following the match online and it was great to watch the match swing every 10 minutes.
Ok, am in the lab so need to get back to DNA extractions.
WIll blog about the Monsoons later.
Wednesday, June 22
Malaria in India
Recent report on the malaria situation in India show a remarkable improvement in the total number of cases of laboratory diagnosed malaria from 3.0 million in 1996 to 1.78 million in 2003. Unfortunately, these figures are not complete because they are collected by the government NMCP health workers and do not take into account the number of cases that are treated as malaria without lab diagnoses and those treated in private clinics and NGO's.
Reporting in India is not perfect especially with the enormous private sector health service it becomes very difficult to measure and record health statistics.
Globally we find that less than 20% of the world's population suffer from 80% of the world's malaria and HIV. In India, the situation is exactly the same. Orissa is burdened with 23% of the total case load in the country.
Is the governance of a state indicated by its health indicators? Most people agree that good governance is often reflected in improvement of its citizen's health. Funnily enough of the 23 states that are malaria endemic in India only Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu show an increase in the number of cases between 2001 and 2003. Does that mean anything?
Gujarat can't even blame development as a cause of increased malaria (areas of development often show an increase in malaria incidence because of human migration,altered ecosystems, increasing population density and the presence of a naive population.
On the whole, most areas of the country have shown a decrease in malaria cases. Funding for malaria has also increased, not just from the MoH which spent $49 million in 2003, but also from the World bank which gave the Enhanced Malaria Control Project $23 million last year. Also, the EMCP is due to get a large grant from the Global Fund against TB,HIV and Malaria.
There are a number of critics of the Indian public health system and believe that it is completely useless. I disagree quite strongly. I have seen the importance of having PHC's,CHC'c and Village Health workers in rural areas. The problem is not that we should not spend on our public health sector, but we must make it more efficient and consumer friendly.
Let me give you an example of how good it is. The active case detection ( that is when workers go from door to door to collect blood samples) for malaria is so efficient that it collected over 100 million samples. Admittedly, a number might have been duplicate. However, think out of the 100 million collected only 1.78 million were positive. 1 in every 100 were positive, despite which our health workers go out and collect samples.
Another stat - 47% of positive cases sought treatment from the fever treatment depots set up for malaria control, 36% from primary health care workers and only 13% from the private sector.
ok, enough malaria. Good news. Roll no.41 has got married in a whirlwind romance...8 months of dating in the UK, one holiday abroad, GP rotations for both of them and within the next two weeks they are married.
Talking about marriage, sister dear is planning engagement on the 24th but is still confused. Poor thing, she gets some real creeps. Wish her the best and hope everything works out.
Reporting in India is not perfect especially with the enormous private sector health service it becomes very difficult to measure and record health statistics.
Globally we find that less than 20% of the world's population suffer from 80% of the world's malaria and HIV. In India, the situation is exactly the same. Orissa is burdened with 23% of the total case load in the country.
Is the governance of a state indicated by its health indicators? Most people agree that good governance is often reflected in improvement of its citizen's health. Funnily enough of the 23 states that are malaria endemic in India only Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu show an increase in the number of cases between 2001 and 2003. Does that mean anything?
Gujarat can't even blame development as a cause of increased malaria (areas of development often show an increase in malaria incidence because of human migration,altered ecosystems, increasing population density and the presence of a naive population.
On the whole, most areas of the country have shown a decrease in malaria cases. Funding for malaria has also increased, not just from the MoH which spent $49 million in 2003, but also from the World bank which gave the Enhanced Malaria Control Project $23 million last year. Also, the EMCP is due to get a large grant from the Global Fund against TB,HIV and Malaria.
There are a number of critics of the Indian public health system and believe that it is completely useless. I disagree quite strongly. I have seen the importance of having PHC's,CHC'c and Village Health workers in rural areas. The problem is not that we should not spend on our public health sector, but we must make it more efficient and consumer friendly.
Let me give you an example of how good it is. The active case detection ( that is when workers go from door to door to collect blood samples) for malaria is so efficient that it collected over 100 million samples. Admittedly, a number might have been duplicate. However, think out of the 100 million collected only 1.78 million were positive. 1 in every 100 were positive, despite which our health workers go out and collect samples.
Another stat - 47% of positive cases sought treatment from the fever treatment depots set up for malaria control, 36% from primary health care workers and only 13% from the private sector.
ok, enough malaria. Good news. Roll no.41 has got married in a whirlwind romance...8 months of dating in the UK, one holiday abroad, GP rotations for both of them and within the next two weeks they are married.
Talking about marriage, sister dear is planning engagement on the 24th but is still confused. Poor thing, she gets some real creeps. Wish her the best and hope everything works out.
Tuesday, June 21
Wimbledon day 2
Henman is scared to death by Niemenin and finally wins in 5 sets to avoid being stoned by his home crowd! Why is he asked to play on centre court? Where is the merit? Surely, Hewitt qualifies a centre court appearance over Henman. I know, the crowds love him. If I may make an observation about the crowds on centre court over the years, they seem to have become more boisterous. Henman's appearance on court today brought out whistles and cheers. Can't remember that happening five years ago.
Other notables : Roddick cruises, Nadal sails past opponent,new GB sensation Andy Murray cruises past lucky loser Bastl. My dark horse for the semis - Tommy Haas retired with an ankle sprained while warming up...Idiot!! Gasquet,Coria and Stepanek through. Sharapova, Williams Inc. into the next round.
Queen's runner up Karlovic - out! How did he lose? "He serves from the trees", Roddick's quote. Presumably all you need to do after that is to be able to return your opponents serve well enough to get a break and you should be winning at least your first three rounds.
Upset of the day : Henin is out. She played a ghastly match. 43 unforced errors to lose to a very pretty looking 6'1" greek Eleni Daniilidou.
By the way, check out wimbledon's online IBM scoreboard and its new funky features. It gives you the stats and player profile which it did last year as well. This year's addition is the shot tracker which replays every point played on a visual of the court. It also gives a brief description of the point. VERY COOL. Check it out. As you can see, I spend most of my time in the lab in front of the computer checking tennis and cricket scores.
Is Collingwood as good as Sir Viv Richards? According to the English press, he is. For taking 6 wickets and a century against Bangladesh. Only Sir Viv has done it before against NZ. C'mon guys,lets put things into perspective here.... Sir Viv demolished attacks, Collingwood is a good utility player and really not in the same class.
Lots of other sports going on. Lions play the All Blacks on Saturday. Most of my portering shifts is taken up by poring over the rugby analysis. Consequently, I now know who plays at centre-half for England and am wondering whether Johnny will play at the no.12 position.
Ok, back to malaria and some mossies.
Other notables : Roddick cruises, Nadal sails past opponent,new GB sensation Andy Murray cruises past lucky loser Bastl. My dark horse for the semis - Tommy Haas retired with an ankle sprained while warming up...Idiot!! Gasquet,Coria and Stepanek through. Sharapova, Williams Inc. into the next round.
Queen's runner up Karlovic - out! How did he lose? "He serves from the trees", Roddick's quote. Presumably all you need to do after that is to be able to return your opponents serve well enough to get a break and you should be winning at least your first three rounds.
Upset of the day : Henin is out. She played a ghastly match. 43 unforced errors to lose to a very pretty looking 6'1" greek Eleni Daniilidou.
By the way, check out wimbledon's online IBM scoreboard and its new funky features. It gives you the stats and player profile which it did last year as well. This year's addition is the shot tracker which replays every point played on a visual of the court. It also gives a brief description of the point. VERY COOL. Check it out. As you can see, I spend most of my time in the lab in front of the computer checking tennis and cricket scores.
Is Collingwood as good as Sir Viv Richards? According to the English press, he is. For taking 6 wickets and a century against Bangladesh. Only Sir Viv has done it before against NZ. C'mon guys,lets put things into perspective here.... Sir Viv demolished attacks, Collingwood is a good utility player and really not in the same class.
Lots of other sports going on. Lions play the All Blacks on Saturday. Most of my portering shifts is taken up by poring over the rugby analysis. Consequently, I now know who plays at centre-half for England and am wondering whether Johnny will play at the no.12 position.
Ok, back to malaria and some mossies.
Monday, June 20
Sania Mirza wins!!
Yes, Sania Mirza has got through the first round and may I add IN HER FIRST WIMBLEDON!! She beat 71 ranked Akiko Morigami in an epic 3 set battle,6-3,3-6,8-6. Congrats and well done...and please keep it up!!
Other highlights : Federer cruises, Hewitt in devastating form against Rochus. Safin despatched Srichapan in straight sets. I thought this might be THE match of the first day, but such an anti-climax! Srichapan -what has happened to you? I know it was a difficult draw but you could have at least put up a fight.
Upsets : Robredo out, Enqvist out, Suigiyama and Patty Schynder out.
My guesses for the Mens Semis : Federer,Roddick,Safin vs Hewitt QF,Nadal vs Tommy Haas
My guesses for the Women's Semis : I dont rate the women's game very highly normally. Somehow this is the most open wimbledon in years - davenport, williams',belgians, russians.
I shall leave the guessing to the experts - "the little one".(I dont want to be sleeping on the floor again.)
It was a lovely weekend. 32 C and warm, no cloud!!Bujul and I played loads of tennis and then watched a lot of sport. Cricket - Pietersen thrashing Australia, Mexico beating Brazil in the Confederation Cup and dark horse Michael Campbell winning the US open coming from behind to hold his nerves against a resurgent Tiger.
Other highlights : Federer cruises, Hewitt in devastating form against Rochus. Safin despatched Srichapan in straight sets. I thought this might be THE match of the first day, but such an anti-climax! Srichapan -what has happened to you? I know it was a difficult draw but you could have at least put up a fight.
Upsets : Robredo out, Enqvist out, Suigiyama and Patty Schynder out.
My guesses for the Mens Semis : Federer,Roddick,Safin vs Hewitt QF,Nadal vs Tommy Haas
My guesses for the Women's Semis : I dont rate the women's game very highly normally. Somehow this is the most open wimbledon in years - davenport, williams',belgians, russians.
I shall leave the guessing to the experts - "the little one".(I dont want to be sleeping on the floor again.)
It was a lovely weekend. 32 C and warm, no cloud!!Bujul and I played loads of tennis and then watched a lot of sport. Cricket - Pietersen thrashing Australia, Mexico beating Brazil in the Confederation Cup and dark horse Michael Campbell winning the US open coming from behind to hold his nerves against a resurgent Tiger.
Friday, June 17
Goerge Tenet emphasising that if HE can make it in USA, surely us privileged students can definitely make it big! "The American Dream in Flesh"! Allow me to rant here about this American dream. Lets make something clear all the immigrant success stories are usually children of immigrants. So, they are actually Americans, educated and worked in the American system. Secondly, it is not something unique to America to see second generation immigrants succeed. In the UK,all the top business men are South Asians. The top physicians are South Asians. Any immigrant must work harder to reach a sustainable level of living and personally in a country which started isolationalist immigration policies post 1960, the American Immigrant Dream no longer has the allure that it possesed in the past.
2nd June,2005
After that artistic journey through the Temple of Dendur,Rodin,Monet and a couple of Van Gogh's we went home (this is my grand deluxe room no.1101 at the Peninsula Hotel). I just couldn't sleep at night and woke up at 4am to sit and answer a few emails. So, by the time we went down for a "leisurely breakfast" at 7am at St.Regis's Hotel I was really tired and sleepy. We had a couple of panel discussions and talks in the morning. George Tenet,former CIA director spoke to us before being quizzed by Chris Matthews (host of talkshow Hardball). Chris really tore into Tenet about WMD's and Iraq although admittedly Tenet defended well knowing that he was automatically on the backfoot from the beginning. Mr. "blogposter" asked a question and then continued to take his questioning form into the next couple of days, never failing to take the opportunity to ask questions.
After Tenet finished telling us about the American dream ( he is a son of Greek immigrants) and inspiring us to take up public office( I think he just presumed that everyone there wanted to come to America) there was a panel discussion on "Science and Religion". This was introduced by a pediatrician who couldn't believe that all of us had come from a melting pot of algae and slime. On the other hand we had Sir Paul Nurse, whose only point was that we must not allow a religious ideal to wrest political dominance and thus chart the scientific progress of a nation. He was obviously worried about all his scientists( he is President of Rockerfeller) working with stem cells being laid off.
We of course had a wishy washy diplomatic government spokeswoman(cant remember her name) who proceeded to inform us that we must remind ourselves of the values that inspire us to undertake science. Love for our brothers, altruistic intentions to eradicate hunger and disease..blah blah blah..
When I asked her how she dealt with the very human values that encourage science now being used to restrict scientific work in a particular area, she replied,"by having discussions like this". Rubbish!!
This was then followed by a really brief discussion about health policy which they had to cut short because of time constraints.
We then headed off to Gracie Mansion, NY mayor's official residence to have lunch in his garden. Its a huge house and fantastic garden. The sun was shining and the backdrop is the river with a bridge. Great view, nice food and good wine!! I sat next to Scott Momoday who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969. I had no idea who he was but chatted reasonably well with him after I told him that I had never heard of him or read his work. He is a Native American and we talked about extinct languages and Louis Lamour. He wanted to come to India and so I gave him a bit of advice about it.
Before we could start lunch we had the mayor giving a long speech and then an award to journalist and host of "Meet the Press" Tim Russert. Tim spoke really well, lucidly, engagingly and witty. Unfortunately as soon as they finished we were packed off again in buses to our next destination, Broadway.
That after a few more photos.
After Tenet finished telling us about the American dream ( he is a son of Greek immigrants) and inspiring us to take up public office( I think he just presumed that everyone there wanted to come to America) there was a panel discussion on "Science and Religion". This was introduced by a pediatrician who couldn't believe that all of us had come from a melting pot of algae and slime. On the other hand we had Sir Paul Nurse, whose only point was that we must not allow a religious ideal to wrest political dominance and thus chart the scientific progress of a nation. He was obviously worried about all his scientists( he is President of Rockerfeller) working with stem cells being laid off.
We of course had a wishy washy diplomatic government spokeswoman(cant remember her name) who proceeded to inform us that we must remind ourselves of the values that inspire us to undertake science. Love for our brothers, altruistic intentions to eradicate hunger and disease..blah blah blah..
When I asked her how she dealt with the very human values that encourage science now being used to restrict scientific work in a particular area, she replied,"by having discussions like this". Rubbish!!
This was then followed by a really brief discussion about health policy which they had to cut short because of time constraints.
We then headed off to Gracie Mansion, NY mayor's official residence to have lunch in his garden. Its a huge house and fantastic garden. The sun was shining and the backdrop is the river with a bridge. Great view, nice food and good wine!! I sat next to Scott Momoday who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969. I had no idea who he was but chatted reasonably well with him after I told him that I had never heard of him or read his work. He is a Native American and we talked about extinct languages and Louis Lamour. He wanted to come to India and so I gave him a bit of advice about it.
Before we could start lunch we had the mayor giving a long speech and then an award to journalist and host of "Meet the Press" Tim Russert. Tim spoke really well, lucidly, engagingly and witty. Unfortunately as soon as they finished we were packed off again in buses to our next destination, Broadway.
That after a few more photos.
Recgonise the white hair? He had to leave to attend a Larry King Live interview where he repeated the exact same things as his speech to us. Whatever you say about the guy, he is amazing. Just fills up the room with his presence and charisma. He took some question by all these pseudo-intellectual Americans about integrity and proceeded to recite some poem...Cool dude. If he was standing against Bush or Ross Perot. Forget the hair in the foreground. Thats just because everyone stood up when he entered the room
1st June 2005 contd..
It has been ages since I have blogged or sat at my computer for recreational activites other than Stickcricket. In case you have missed this phenomenon and idly sitting at home try it out at www.stickcricket.com.
As I have a lot to update on I shall go back to the night of the 1st of June,2005.(This sounds like some crime thriller or mystery book probably because I saw Usual Suspects yesterday night. Nice movie Kaante was a poor imitation of it)
After I got ready and finished listening to Bill speak about increased interdependence in the world in terms of security, trade and health and the growth of NGO's we retired for dinner.All this was taking place in the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Its a huge building very imposing and has some of the most amazing collections of impressionist paintings in the world. They obviously re-opened the museum for us and after this talk we had dinner inside the museum at an exhibit called the Temple of Dendur.
The Temple of Dendur was built by Caesar Augustus in 15 BC when he had occupied Egypt. The entire temple (albeit small in Egyptian terms) was given to the USA by Egypt in 1965. It occupies this enormous hall (the size of my school auditorium, the new Essar one at Modern). There is a slightly raised square platform the size of a tennis court on which Temple of Dendur is exhibited. Around the perimeter of this platform is a gutter of water which gives it a nice touch.
The entire exhibit was lighted for us and we sat on the platform really close to the exhibit and had dinner. Absolutely great feeling!! It was fantastic just to be able to sit up that close to the exhibit but the lighting,soft music and ambience created just produced a very heady feeling. The lightheadedness was only enhanced by some lovely wine. Our waiters had been ordered not to allow our glasses to be empty. So, after every couple of sips they were refilled. Very nice wine, a Savignon Chardonnay from France and some Red wine from Jordan. Hmm...
I met some very interesting people at my table. Jeff who was a guy studying government in Georgetown or something. Doreen sat next to me which is always reassuring. Then met this lovely lady who had just finished her PhD from yale. Sweet german woman who was obviously there to have a great time. We chatted a bit about her work and other stuff. Also, there were some Oxford guys who were from my year I was meeting for the first time. Imagining going all the way to New York to meet someone from Oxford.
After the three course dinner (which was horrible vegetarian stuff..raw and boiled veggies) we had open access to the Museum's French Impressionist's collection. Marvelled at the collection of Cezanne and Monet's (amma dont drool!!). Also was really impressed by Rodin's sculptures. Its the first time that I had seen them. The "Thinker" and "Gates of Hell" were such amazing bronze sculptures. It was fantastic to see someone able to carve the entire curve of a hunched person so smoothly. Even the emotions and just the detail of the sculpture just brought the whole sculpture to life. Unfortunately, I did not take a single photograph. I thought I can always come back and see it.
Ok, enough writing. Now for some photo blogging.
As I have a lot to update on I shall go back to the night of the 1st of June,2005.(This sounds like some crime thriller or mystery book probably because I saw Usual Suspects yesterday night. Nice movie Kaante was a poor imitation of it)
After I got ready and finished listening to Bill speak about increased interdependence in the world in terms of security, trade and health and the growth of NGO's we retired for dinner.All this was taking place in the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Its a huge building very imposing and has some of the most amazing collections of impressionist paintings in the world. They obviously re-opened the museum for us and after this talk we had dinner inside the museum at an exhibit called the Temple of Dendur.
The Temple of Dendur was built by Caesar Augustus in 15 BC when he had occupied Egypt. The entire temple (albeit small in Egyptian terms) was given to the USA by Egypt in 1965. It occupies this enormous hall (the size of my school auditorium, the new Essar one at Modern). There is a slightly raised square platform the size of a tennis court on which Temple of Dendur is exhibited. Around the perimeter of this platform is a gutter of water which gives it a nice touch.
The entire exhibit was lighted for us and we sat on the platform really close to the exhibit and had dinner. Absolutely great feeling!! It was fantastic just to be able to sit up that close to the exhibit but the lighting,soft music and ambience created just produced a very heady feeling. The lightheadedness was only enhanced by some lovely wine. Our waiters had been ordered not to allow our glasses to be empty. So, after every couple of sips they were refilled. Very nice wine, a Savignon Chardonnay from France and some Red wine from Jordan. Hmm...
I met some very interesting people at my table. Jeff who was a guy studying government in Georgetown or something. Doreen sat next to me which is always reassuring. Then met this lovely lady who had just finished her PhD from yale. Sweet german woman who was obviously there to have a great time. We chatted a bit about her work and other stuff. Also, there were some Oxford guys who were from my year I was meeting for the first time. Imagining going all the way to New York to meet someone from Oxford.
After the three course dinner (which was horrible vegetarian stuff..raw and boiled veggies) we had open access to the Museum's French Impressionist's collection. Marvelled at the collection of Cezanne and Monet's (amma dont drool!!). Also was really impressed by Rodin's sculptures. Its the first time that I had seen them. The "Thinker" and "Gates of Hell" were such amazing bronze sculptures. It was fantastic to see someone able to carve the entire curve of a hunched person so smoothly. Even the emotions and just the detail of the sculpture just brought the whole sculpture to life. Unfortunately, I did not take a single photograph. I thought I can always come back and see it.
Ok, enough writing. Now for some photo blogging.
Thursday, June 2
June 1st,2005
I left Twickenham at dawn. I mean literally...I tool the first train from Twickenham to Feltham,the 5.36am and then the bus to Heathrow. I have had some strange experiences on Airlines, but never thought I would spend half an hour waiting to get a boarding pass. This happened because the world is a small place and every 6th person in the world is an Indian. The AA official decided that he was getting really bored and began chatting with me and elicited my life history. You know the one thing Indians can always talk about is cricket and Politics...and this trait doesn't disappear when you become an expat.
Some things I now know about the person who checked me in :
1. He has been in the country for 28 years
2. He has worked at AA for 15 years
3. He has two children
4. His brother-in-law's son's name is Sridhar
blah blah blah...
Anyway, to cut a long story short I reached JFK safely and passed through immigration easily and quickly. I was guinea pig for trainee induction, "This is his name..check it in the computer","This is the pasport number, enter here and see if it matches".. without any check in luggage I sailed through customs and shared a taxi with other Rhodies to the Peninsula Hotel, NYC. The taxi provided me with my first near-death experience. Our driver swerved into a car while coming out of an exit and was exactly(no exaggeration) one foot away from hitting another car which was trying to cut into the same lane. All this at about 60 miles an hour. Of course, he then proceeded to call up his friend and swear at the whole world and us in Punjabi!!
The Peninsula Hotel is without doubt the most luxurious and opulent hotel I have ever seen... My room is a suite and I am sharing it with another guy called Jeff from the States. We have a huge sitting room ( about the size of my whole sitting room back home) with a flat screen 51' TV. A sofa, working desk a couple of chairs and a small round table. This leads to a small corridor which ends with the bedroom(with a king size bed and another TV..Am I getting tired), a dressing area and a bathroom the size of my room.The bathroom has a separate TV just above the bath. That my friends, is true luxury!!!
After just about reaching the hotel intact, I picked up my tuxedo and got ready to head out into NYC. Went for a walk around Central Park with some people and got back in time to have a quick shower and get ready for our first event.
A quick student orientation where we were introduced to our host Catherine B Reynolds and we were whisked off in huge coaches to the MoMA. We were treated to a speech by President Bill Clinton, which he later repeated on Larry King Live later in the night. This man just exudes charisma and knows how to work a room. Obviously he had a prepared speech but it never once seemed like he had prepared it. He spoke about the increasing interdependence in the world today and then fielded questions.
Then we had Sr.Susan Hockfield, President of MIT(first woman Pres), Yogi Bear(baseball legend) who had this great quote for all of us.
He said,"When you come to a fork, take it!"
Then we had Catie Curtis, host of NBC's Today Show who really seemed to speak from the heart. I was really impressed by her although I usually am quite sceptical of these journalists.
Anyway, the treat was after..and all that in my next installment. Dinner at the Temple of Dendur and Rodin...
Some things I now know about the person who checked me in :
1. He has been in the country for 28 years
2. He has worked at AA for 15 years
3. He has two children
4. His brother-in-law's son's name is Sridhar
blah blah blah...
Anyway, to cut a long story short I reached JFK safely and passed through immigration easily and quickly. I was guinea pig for trainee induction, "This is his name..check it in the computer","This is the pasport number, enter here and see if it matches".. without any check in luggage I sailed through customs and shared a taxi with other Rhodies to the Peninsula Hotel, NYC. The taxi provided me with my first near-death experience. Our driver swerved into a car while coming out of an exit and was exactly(no exaggeration) one foot away from hitting another car which was trying to cut into the same lane. All this at about 60 miles an hour. Of course, he then proceeded to call up his friend and swear at the whole world and us in Punjabi!!
The Peninsula Hotel is without doubt the most luxurious and opulent hotel I have ever seen... My room is a suite and I am sharing it with another guy called Jeff from the States. We have a huge sitting room ( about the size of my whole sitting room back home) with a flat screen 51' TV. A sofa, working desk a couple of chairs and a small round table. This leads to a small corridor which ends with the bedroom(with a king size bed and another TV..Am I getting tired), a dressing area and a bathroom the size of my room.The bathroom has a separate TV just above the bath. That my friends, is true luxury!!!
After just about reaching the hotel intact, I picked up my tuxedo and got ready to head out into NYC. Went for a walk around Central Park with some people and got back in time to have a quick shower and get ready for our first event.
A quick student orientation where we were introduced to our host Catherine B Reynolds and we were whisked off in huge coaches to the MoMA. We were treated to a speech by President Bill Clinton, which he later repeated on Larry King Live later in the night. This man just exudes charisma and knows how to work a room. Obviously he had a prepared speech but it never once seemed like he had prepared it. He spoke about the increasing interdependence in the world today and then fielded questions.
Then we had Sr.Susan Hockfield, President of MIT(first woman Pres), Yogi Bear(baseball legend) who had this great quote for all of us.
He said,"When you come to a fork, take it!"
Then we had Catie Curtis, host of NBC's Today Show who really seemed to speak from the heart. I was really impressed by her although I usually am quite sceptical of these journalists.
Anyway, the treat was after..and all that in my next installment. Dinner at the Temple of Dendur and Rodin...
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