Ferrari's Loss,India's Gain!

Leon,Mumbai

What an irony! At a time when 7 times world champion n legendary Driver Michael Schumacher cancels his return to Formula1 goes a parallel story in a far away place from Germany called India.
Scumacher had to cancel his comeback as a result of the neck injuries he suffered in a motorcycle crash earlier this year and yesterday evening he informed Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and team principal Stefano Domenicali that he does not feel fit enough to replace Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix at Valencia on Aug. 23. Luca Badoer will now drive for Ferrari till Massa recovers.
Now The Parallel Story.. till recently no one knew V. Kathiresan (47). And those who knew about him knew only that he was a school dropout and that he was the ex-driver of an unusual Boss: The People's President A.P.J Abdul Kalam. But thanks to Mr.Kalam's inspiration and encouragement which motivated Mr.Kathiresan to restart his studies. The 10th class-drop-out who hails from Vadachennimalai, a six-hour drive from Bangalore today holds a long list of degrees,the latest being a PhD! Now, he has joined as a faculty of Arignar Anna Government Arts College. But, all of this din't happen as smoothly as it seems. He was in high school when his father Vellaisamy died. He couldn't complete his 10th exams and joined the Army.It was at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory that he met Kalam, who was then its director. He worked for four years with him, and served as his driverIt was at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory that he met Kalam, who was then its director. He worked for four years with him, and served as his driver. He never thought that his boss would someday become the President of India then. Mr.Kalam motivated him to take up distance education course nand helped Kathiresan with his studies in his leisure time. After clearing his 10th & 12th he took up a BA correspondence course from Madurai Kamaraj University and then completed Ma in Political Science form the same varsity.His list of had already started by now.B Ed and an M Ed from Madras University,a Law degree from an evening college and then came his PhD from Manonmaniam Sundaranar Universitywhich pusued full time.In 2001, he passed a teachers' recruitment exam and was selected on merit. Looks like a fairy tale but I say It happens only in India.
Kudos to the People's President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam and (now) Dr.V. Kathiresan and for my favourite Michael Schumacher,feel Sorry Yaar!

Me Missing in the Photograph as Always!

This is part of the AIPL Team.Let me see if the ppl working for AIPL can recognize everyone by name! Jet Set Go..

The X-Factor

The origin of "X" lies in the piece of cloth that labourers and farmers have worn since time immemorial to absorb perspiration and keep off the sun. This cloth gradually evolved into a decorative piece, called a cravat, which was worn around and knotted in the front by the Croatian mercenaries who served in the Army of King Louis XIV of France. Attracted by the dashing look that the X gave to the wearers, the French aristocrats adopted the same. The industrial revolution created a need for a X that was easy to put on, comfortable and would last an entire working day. That is how the modern X was born. Name X.

Don't Ask,Don't Tell

I guess this trivia has come to my mind at the perfect time.July 2 has bcome historic day when the Delhi High Court overturned the almost 150 years old Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.It has been called as the "Pink Letter Day" by the media.Now,the LGBT(Lesbians,Gays,Bisexuals & Transgenders) are celebrating with not only pride but also wid Parades! It's in the news for quite some time now so I won't write more on it..

But my motive behind this post is little different.All I wanted to share about is the "DON'T ASK,DON'T TELL" Policy. It was a Policy of the US Armed Forces, wherein the recruiters tactfully & unofficially accepted Gays but officially insisted them not to reveal their sexual orientation!

The Other Jackson!

Q. What do the following have in common, with respect to the world of entertainment: Martha Quinn, Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, JJ Jackson, and Alan Hunter?

Addictive Funda of the Day!

Question: Connect the following: Karna from the Mahabharata, the liberation of Goa in 1961, Amitabh Bachan, and the Kargil War of 1999?

The Bandra Worli Sea Link:Mumbai's Newest Landmark

The Bandra Worli Sea Link(BWSL) has been continuously making news since a month now.So,me being enthusiastic about the same could n't resist myself from publishing a post!

To begin with The BWSL is an 8-lane cable stayed bridge which will link Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli & central Mumbai and is the first phase of the proposed West Island Freeway system. The Rs.1600 crore project is being executed by Hindustan Construction Company.The bridge was innaugurated on July 1,2009 by congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi.It will enable speedy travel between Bandra & Worli cutting travel times from 60 minutes to just 15 minutes.An estimated 1,25000 vehicles will be using it daily!Almost 10 crores will be spent for illuminating alone.

Now that every1 is going gaga over the new landmark,it would n't have been possible without the 77 year old man behind it... A 1958 Post-Graduate in Structural Engineering from Madras University, Seshadri Srinivasan is must be 1 o' the most happiest persons alive! When asked about the no. of bridges he has designed..He pauses for a few second n tap comes the reply.."It would be safe to say I designed my 100th bridge a long time ago!!! Indeed he has to his credit The JJ Flyover,the Jamarat Bridge in the holy city of Mecca,which is used by Muslims during Haj in the stoning-of-devil ritual.Hats-off to You Sir.By the time my Addictive Mind wrtes more abt it..njoy the Videos attached.