FIDE ratings at last!

The 2nd Mangalore FIDE Rated All India Open Chess Tournament was held in Mangalore from 19.7.2008 to 26.7.2008. Totally 280 players from all over India took part including 2 Grand Masters, 7 International Masters and about 150 FIDE rated players.
I am glad to announce that I scored 7 points out of 11 rounds and all points came against FIDE rated players.
I am proud to state that I secured the best unrated player award and a cash prize of Rs.2,000=00. I will also get a FIDE rating of around 2050 in the next list to be published by the World Chess Federation in Jan 2009. Perhaps, that would be a realization of my long cherished dream of earning a FIDE rating.
Ok, once you manage to get ratings with great effort and pain, what next? Maintaining the same level, is difficult. Losing rating would be painful. There is an apt shloka in Panchathantra, Mithrabheda:
अर्थानामर्जने दुखं अर्जितानां च रक्षणे
आये दुखं व्यये दुखं धिगर्था: कष्ट सम्श्रया:
(There is sorrow in earning money. Protecting what you have earned is also sorrowful. Earning and spending also is painful. The wealth which brings so much of misery be condemned!).
The shloka holds good for rating also.

Double check

My cousin, M Shankaranarayana Bhat, a late entrant to the world of computers seems to have mustered some free time to visit my blog and go through the contents. He was generous while complimenting my effort to publish the blog in web. He observed that there are no article on Chess and sought my explanation. His comment has awakened me from deep slumber and forced me to run for cover. To use a phrase of chess-
“Even the laziest King flees wildly at the face of a double check!”

Good bye to Mr.Apricio A Pereira

Myformer boss Mr Apricio A Periera is retiring from Govt service on 30.5.08.
He was very good, considerate and a thorogh gentleman. I wish him all the very best and a happy retired life.

A very imaginative lady

A very original and truly amusing joke:

A farmer stopped by the local mechanic shop to have his truck fixed. They couldn't do it while he waited, so he said he didn't live far and would just walk home.

On the way home he stopped at the hardware store and bought a bucket and a gallon of paint. He then stopped by the feed store and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose. However, struggling outside the store he now had a problem - how to carry his entire purchases home.

While he was scratching his head he was approached by a little old lady who told him she was lost. She asked , "Can you tell me how to get to 1603 Mockingbird Lane?"
The farmer said, "Well, as a matter of fact, my farm is very close to that house. I would walk you there but I can't carry this lot."

The old lady suggested, "Why don't you put the can of paint in the bucket. Carry the bucket in one hand; put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?"

"Thank you very much," he said and proceeded to walk the old girl home.On the way he says "Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no time."

The little old lady looked him over cautiously then said, "I am a lonely widow without a husband to defend me. How do I know that when we get in the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt, and have your way with me?"

The farmer said, "Holy smokes lady! I'm carrying a bucket, a gallon of paint, two chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?"

The old lady replied, "Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the paint on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens."

Haircut

I got my hairs cut today. The cutting was so bad that my family was shocked to see my new hairstyle (or hair less style!). They exclaimed that my present look is so ugly ( a candid admission that earlier I was handsome!). The best remark came from Vaish who told that the barbers should not be paid any money for suh a bad haircut. In any case, for some time I may have to silently digest the puzzling and funny look of onlookers!

Hearty Congratulations to Sir Badkar

I am glad to announce to the world that Sri M V Badkar has been promoted as a DIG in Coastguard and posted to Mumbai. Promotions are difficult to come by in Govt Service and often there are many obstacles for good work i.e., श्रेयांसी बहु विघ्नानी . I am lucky to see him rise in his career. He is very committed, sincere to the core, very polite and richly deserves every accolade. (Although I can go on adding every adjective, I am restraining, else you may think that my genuine feelings too as an exaggeration!)
My best wishes are to him, ofcourse in Sanskrit:
शुभमस्तु पंथाना: व्याप्तो भव सुप्रसन्नो भव सुप्रसिद्धो भव

Thanks to my dear Sudhir

After a long gap, I am here to update my blog. The specific reason is to thank my dear friend Balathbail Sudhir Acharya. He is my friend, philosopher and guide in the world of computers. Although, there are n number of reasons to thank Sudhir, the latest two reasons are:
1. Vaishnavi had pressed few keys and the display in my home PC had tilted 90 degrees. I pressed hundred more keys, yet the display was not set right. In fact, the remedy I attempted was worse than the disease. Hence approached Sudhir. अन्यथा शरणम नास्ति . He solved the same with his brilliant answer. All that was to be done was ctrl+alt+up arrow key.
2. I was struggling to get google ads i.e., adsense to my page for nearly six months. Typical of me, there was no progress. If at all you see few ads, it is because of Sudhir's master strokes.
Thank you Sudhir.

Share tips for 2008.

Let me hazard a guess for possible winners in 2008.
I get an instinct that ONGC (current market price is 1300) and Karnataka Bank (CMP is 260) are very strong bonus candidates. Investors who have a lot of patience can consider buying these shares. I must state every investment has risks and my views can also go wrong.

Upadesha Saara

Swami Brahmanandaji of Chinmaya Misssion is giving a discourse on 'Upadesha Saara' of Sri Ramana Maharshi at Mangalore. His discourse is very informative, easy to understand and laced with anectodes from Upanishaps, Bhagawad Gita and our own local 'Manku Thimmaana Kagga' of DVG.

Elli Mana kalukirado ...

I attended the School day of my daughter's school today. I took a day's off from office.
I was not too sure as to whether the school authorities allow me to watch the programme, as it was a Girls' High School. The apprehensions were not true as soon we onlookers were asked to occupy the chairs. I sought confirmation that we men are not chased out later.
The programme started with "Elli mana kalukirado elli thale baagirado..." rendered in most soothing tone, added with apt background music in harmonium and Tabla. It is certainly one of the songs that has impressed me most. If you want to hear that song, just stroll down near dongerkeri at 9.30am on any day except holidays.

Birthday wishes to my dear friend K K.

I am glad to state that today is the birthday of my dear friend K K.

He is gem of a man, very jovial, always positive, unassuming and ever reliable. I am not too sure whether he will approve me posting a blog in his name for his birthday(as he prefers to keep a low profile). That is one reason, I just addressed him as mere K.

So let us wish him Many happy returns of the day.

Before concluding, I must quote a superb riddle in samskrit. Those who know samskrit probably will know the answer too. Those who do not know, may furnish their email for explanation on the riddle and answer too.

Here it is:

केशवं पतितं दृष्ट्वा

पाण्डवा: हर्षा निर्भारा:

कौरवा: रुरुदु: सर्वे

हा हा केशव केशव

Quiz questions

My daughter participated in a quiz competition recently and one of the questions that was put to her was "Who is Country's first lady IPS officer?".
My daughter promptly replied "Mandira Bedi" (instead of the correct answer Kiran Bedi!)
It is no surprise as she has inherited her fathers' goof ups.
When I was in 6th std, I too had taken part in a quiz where one of the questions were:
"What should be done after Lunch?" The options were:
1. Take a Nap
2. Run little bit.
3. Eat fruits.
4. Smoke a cigaratte.
I had promptly given option 4 as answer. Thus, daughter's answer too had all the ingredients of her father's style.

Magic

Today evening, all the staff of my office were told that a magic show has been arranged. We rushed there partly to get some free entertainment and partly to avoid office work.
A young magician, with modest appearance, spoke in Hindi and introduced himself as one Chand. He said he has not studied much and it is a honour for him to perform his tricks before the well learned officers. (The officers duly nodded their head in total agreement as their learning has been accepted by an unlearned man!)
He began his show by converting a small white paper to two crisp Rs.100 notes!. The staff got interested as nothing attracts people as money!. The staff probably wished that if only they learn the trick well they can make some easy money. (Telgi would have preferred a stamp paper instead of Notes.)
Later he performed few nice tricks and unexpectedly sought contributions from the onlookers(staff)!. The officers were unable to wriggle out of the situation and out of peer pressure made contributions (though reluctantly). Thus, the show which started with the illusion of making currency notes out of white paper ended with real notes out of the ego of officers.

Nudisiri

Went to Alva's Nudisiri at Moodabidre. The idea was to get good books at discounted rates. Good books are often unread. Generally, it has to be sold at a discount. The books that I bought are
1. Neethi Vakyamrutham By Acharya Somadeva
2. Bhavabhoothi By Dr G S Gai
3. Chandombudhi By Dr T V Venkatachala Shastri
4. Leela Thilakam By P Subraya Bhat
5. Samskritha Sahithya Pravesha-2 By A S Bheema Bhat
6. Vedanga Jyothisha By Dr S Balachandra Rao
The books which are on sale can easily drill a hole in your pockets. One good idea could be to go to such places with limited money which will force you to think twice before buying. In my case it is think twice and don't buy!

Classical Music

Sangeetha Parishad, Mangalore is organising a 3 day annual music festival in Mangalore. On 30.11.07, there was Carnatic Classical vocal music by renowned Ms.Nithyashree Mahadevan. She sings in high pitch and her voice is very melodious.
She sang a kannada krithi "Satyavantharige idu kalavalla.." very sweetly with clear accent.
How true and relevant that song is for the present day. The very fact that you and me live merrily reveals that both of us are not honest in our daily life. May be this is the reason why there are so many "Vachana Brashta" people are around.