Sears .. nah Willis

Damn! that name Willis is so Brit. So anyways, Sears , the iconic tower of Chicago is being officially renamed - Willis Tower.

Willis Group Holdings, is a London based Insurance Broker.

I have a small personal connection to Sears. My office desk was bang opposite it on the other side of the road, in 2005-06, when we were on South Wacker.

I am not on Facebook yet, and have been resisting to join it for a while, but looks like it has a Group of folks who have come up to save the name. Not sure if this would push me to join. Nevertheless, this is my own little protest, on my blog, which is read by...arrrr.... a grand sum of 3 people, give or take one.

Suicide Clinic?

"British conductor Edward Downes, a longtime stalwart at the Royal Opera and maestro of the first-ever performance at Sydney’s iconic Opera House, has died with his wife at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland"

(Link)

I am a supporter of euthanasia where the condition for patient/individual is unbearably painful; however inhuman/immoral this may sound to 'people of Christ' out there.

I wasn't aware that there were 'Suicide Clinics' though. By calling it such, they are not doing justice to the dying patient. The term suicide rings a negative bell.

I think #3 here makes sense. "People should not be forced to stay alive".

In India a ton of saints have taken samadhis, although it's not the same, in essence these people detached themselves from pain.

Men

Link

Hayward 2k ,Gold Flake & 48 Rupees

What's the best way to spend Rupees 48? What's the worth of 48 Rupees?

Well, I can't buy a New York Times with that money today. But sometime back, during our college days (yeah right... those days!) it could buy us everything. Everything we wanted, that is!

Imagine this. You hop on a Maharashtra State Transport Bus, the awesome red colored monster with Dolby stereo sound effects under your seat, pay a grand total of 2 Indian Rupees to the dead-stone-faced conductor who was least interested in anything life has to offer. You get down at the college town's "downtown", and head straight towards a shady Bar & Restaurant called Golden; and there's nothing 'golden' about it. You order a Hayward's 2000 and Masala Baigan plate with Tandoori Roti; trying to see the face of the waiter through the fog of cigarette smoke and then you ignite that ultimate Cigarette man ever made - Gold Flake. What a killer combination!

Masala Baigan, Haywards2000 and Gold Flake. Try to top that, and you get a free ticket to Vegas.

I have to tell you this. There's no cigarette like Gold Flake. None. It's the epitome of cigarette-ness; if there ever was. It's ITC's gift to mankind.

And then add to that, the absolutely shoddy and cheap beer called Hayward 2000 and you are "Golden".

So if I have to paraphrase this whole thing...

Bus ride to city square and back - 4 Rupees.
One Hayward 2000 - 32 Rupees
One Baigan Masala plate - 8 Rupees
Tandoori Rotis - 4 Rupees

The memory of all this; a decade too late : Priceless

What can I say; visiting Jannat cost us just 48 Indian rupees. End to End.

[P.S: I quit smoking few years back.]

Quote of the day

The quote of the day comes from Economist Bibek Debroy -

"If con is antithesis of pro, Congress is antithesis of Progress"

You see I never told you I was in a bad company :)

Its West. Its Wild

Some quick notes I made on our weekend trip to the Colorados (//todo : update with pictures)

- Our B&B is awesome. It's like a very old Victorian mansion; and I am glad paying through our noses for this wasn't such a bad idea.

- Built in late 1800s we got a quick tour of it's history even as we settled inside.

- We can see the Pike Peaks right from our backyard where we have our breakfast.

- Its cool to have someone personally serve you breakfast in this country. The owners are pleasant!

- There's a whole wedding party in our company here @B&B. Although can't figure out who the groom and bride is. My better half seems particularly interested. (Women, I tell you)

- Royal Gorge is super duper hype. If you are not interested in engineering of bridges this Patel Point can be avoided.

- Loved our trip to the Peaks at 14,000+ feet above sea level.

- It suddenly became extremely foggy at the top even as our Train reached the summit.

- Trivia This : The Pike Peak is the 2nd most visited mountain after Mt. Fuji.

- Had small talk with tour guide. I like to do that. She was smart and chirpy.

- We have cris-crossed around 300 miles of CO state. It doesn't get more Wilder and Western than this. I always get a feeling that Cohen bros are shooting somewhere on the next junction of state highway.

- What's with the obsession of horses in this state? There's a stable at every nook and corner.

- Rocky Mountains is more touristy than Glaciers in Montana.

- Damn! we got blocked again on the highway by someone taking pictures of Elk Bull.

- Things to do: Take a bike and take a hike. Do some rafting.

- Tip : Spend more time in Rocky Mountains. Choose spring time if possible.

Beauty over ranking..

Wimbldon folks have admitted that they prefer beauty over ranking..

[..] Wimbledon has become the first Grand Slam to admit that they do consider looks over ranking when deciding on who should play on Centre Court. They don't call it sex appeal but box office appeal.[..]

As a lover of sports I am appalled. But lez be honest guyz; I have to add that as a Man (from Mars) I am not ;-).

I would have to quote Chandler from Friends here - "I tried to look up for Billie Jean King, but no one posted one!"