Easy Run - Friday, 22nd January 2010

Did an easy run of 31.59 minutes, basically re-starting after the marathon. Next year's goals - sub 2.10 in half marathon; 125 hours of running, reducing weight to 65 kgs and running at least 6 events in 2010.

No Pak players in IPL-III

So there begins a drama, which threatens a non-existent state relations between two adversaries. If big bosses thought they were street smart by not bidding for any Pakistani players, then their naivete could be exposed if another issue flares up - that of Australian players in light of the continuous racist attacks against the Indians in Australia. I hope Australian thugs stop harassing Indian cabbies and workers, because without the Australians in the IPL, it is going to a big damp squib, please note.

Deemed University fracas

What will happen to the thousands of students who have enrolled in the deemed universities depending on the approval given to these universities. Government has said that the students will be protected, but not mentioned how this will be done. Is the government fooling people. Almost all the deemed universities are run by powerful politicians and they have built infrastructure running into crores of rupees. Why does'nt the government leave the education sector to private sector play and get out of micro regulating the sector.

Maharashtra Government retrogades on taxi permits

Not unexpected, but Maharashtra government decision to impose language conditions for obtaining taxi permits is certainly retrograde. Most of the taxi drivers ply in the airport area, don't they need to know English. Mumbai being a cosmopolitan area, most of the drivers need to know Hindi well to cater to their customers. What customers want is of paramount importance than what the government dictates. I thought with the passing away of Comrade Basu, government interference in silly matters would have lessened, but the chauvinistic leaders' mindset is always 50 years old. Would it not be better if the government did something about the shabby appearance, spitting habits and bad and uncouth language and ill tempered manners of the drivers and their refusal to ply to a distance not of their choice with impunity.

Ban 3-Idiots

Considering the spate of suicides which has assumed alarming proportions, it would be wise to impose a temporary ban on the screening of 3-Idiots, which ostensibly is the reason for students committing suicides as the film has one suicide and another attempted one. I am sure film fraternity will jump in alarm at my suggestion, but that seems to be practical at this juncture. Art imitates life or life imitates art. Well, when life imitates art, the consequences are unintended

India labour to beat Bangladesh

India huffed and puffed their way to a victory in a game which they had to win, after their stand-in captain made a foot in the mouth statement at the start itself, leaving the team red faced in the first innings. Quality of cricket is getting pathetic day by day.

Erich Segal

Erich Segal dies at 72, the first of the writers to take their final journey this year. I have not read his monumental "Love Story", but will definitely have a dekko to understand the fascination people had with this work.