Michael Phelps: An Inspiring Story

With all the buzz on Michael Phelps winning six Olympic gold medals, everyone is speculating whether he will break the record set by Mark Spitz and Larissa Latynina.
Whether he breaks the record or not. He has definitely found a place in the history books for his achievements in international events.

A little known fact is that as a child, Michael Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Here is an article from The New York Times on his childhood:
Phelps’s Mother Recalls Helping Her Son Find Gold-Medal Focus

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Update:
Phelps won 8 Gold medals at Beijing, crossing the 7 medal haul by Mark Spitz and Larissa Latynina.
Incidentally, there is one other American swimmer who had equalled Mark's record. Matt Biondi took home 5 Golds, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca on a Bass Guitar

While I continue to hope that I will learn the guitar some day, I also continue to go overboard in my searches for information on bass guitars. (Yes, this turned out to be another one of my Google/Wiki sessions.)
I found a rendition of Mozart's lively Rondo Alla Turca by David Hull. This guy just works the bass like a pro. I think he is a pro...there is another video — sporting longer hair and fuzz — giving instructions on how he plays the final part of Piano Sonata No. 11.

Now, this find is not new but I just want to give credit to this incredibly talented guy. So what if the video is a year old. Mozart's number was composed and played some time in the 18th Century and it's still enthralls.

So without much ado...presenting...on the bass guitar...playing Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca...young...David Hull!! *Applause*

Doordarshan TV Serials

This was a complete blast from the past...
I was trying to find the name of a sci-fi TV series on Doordarshan, which featured a half-man-half-robot called Shakti. After lots of googling and some neighbourly advice from my colleague...I reached a Fropper forum.

But it did not have anything on the show I was looking for. I could only vaguely remember watching a Hindi Star Trek imitation every Sunday morning.
"Try Wiki-ing one these shows mentioned in the forum", was another suggestion.

So I Wiki'd Stone Boy. At the bottom of the page, there was a reference link to a list of all the programs aired on DD.

Awesome find! Here it is: List of Programs Broadcast by DD National

I took some time out to correct a spelling and linking some of the TV shows to their respective Wiki pages. My way of saying, "Thank you!"

Oh and by the by, the sci-fi show I searched high and low for...found it under "S". Ess for Sigma. :)

Panties for Peace

It is only fitting that this post follows the theme of my previous post. (It also happens to be a coincidence.)
I will get right to it then, before you lose the thread (or the underwire)...
It so happens that the Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) Junta are very superstitious. One of their superstitions even rivals some of the oddball laws in the U.S. of A.
The regime, which is known for its blatant disregard for its people (especially its women), believes that touching a woman's underpants (or the sarong) drains a man of all his power. (My guess is, Rogue is going to need a new job.)
A Burmese peace activist group called Lanna Action for Burma, based in Thailand, launched a "Panties for Peace" campaign. This campaign may sound frivolous and really amusing but the ladies are dead serious about their motive...to protest against the junta and the generals ruling the country—in a peaceful way.
The official web site is www.pantiesforpeace.info and if you would like to be a part of this campaign, you will need to part with one of your underpants. But hey, you can always send more, right? The website provides details of the closest Burmese Embassy in your local area.
"Post, deliver or fling", they say.

Right Bra. Right Attitude

I received an e-mail last week. From "Right Bra. Right Attitude." with the same subject line. The ad looks nice but I guess the company has not figured the targeted approach yet. My Yahoo! profile has me set as a Male...even then I was the beneficiary of this feel-good campaign. Rather uplifting.

If women can get the right attitude with the right bra...what do men have to wear to stay ahead? It almost unsettled me...without a bra, I am never going to have the right attitude.

"It does not matter if you have the brains, or the brawn...it is all about the "braw" duude."

But as luck would have it, their tag line made me feel better, "If they only knew what was underneath." I feel much better now, knowing that "they" don't know. I can get by with my plain ol' Jockey vest—I would have looked real silly in A-cups. If not anything else, it would have raised a lot of doubts.

Force India Fly Kingfisher

Another aborted attempt at completing (let alone winning) an F1 race. Giancarlo Fisichella of the Force India F1 team leapfrogged Kazuki Nakajima's car only to end up in the pits. Pun unintended.
I think Fisichella is taking the Fly Kingfisher branding too literally.

Music by Jeremy Camp

Came across Jeremy Camp in a Various Artists album. Great vocals - sounds like the lead in Hootie & the Blowfish
Got to get a hold of the rest of his songs!