IKNiazi,FlopShow,Ozil,Marchionne.

#328
1) I am back from short trip to Gujarat. Boy, this year rains are like, mad, I have never seen such a spell in my 33 years of visits to Gujarat. Few days there was practically non stop rains and Sun was never seen. No wonder, the potholes were plenty in the Bombay-Amdavad NH!
2) I got in touch after 10 years with my German Colleague! I had travelled in his car from Frankfurt to Hamburg for a safety audit. This picture was taken then! I don't think I ever experienced that speed any other time! BOY!!

3) Near Gate 52, Terminal 2, Mumbai airport, there is an awesome Marati restaurant. Enjoyed the food out there during Lunch pit stop before boarding the flight back home. 

4) I was passing by TheoBroma Pastry shop on way to gate, I quickly called and asked my daughter, if I should pick some pastry for my son. I was sceptical that he would want it as he is on crash diet etc. My daughter said, never mind Bring it on!! When he saw that,boy!!! oh Boy just delight as kid! Girls judge things perfectly!! hehehehhehe!!!

Today elections in Pakistan, a rare event in a sense transition to democracy would happen through a democratic process. Rarely, this happens as Military always intervenes in a coup and never allows the Prime Minister to complete his term. I expect Imran Khan to be the leading party and possibly the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. I see relations between India and Pakistan not improving in his tenure. Let's see!!!

A movie taken by spending 110Mn$ in China, became super flop grossing 7 Mn $ in 3 days and is taken off screen for remake. China products are questionable quality!! Didn't realise movies too!!! hahahahah!!! 

As they say Success is Bastard, Failure is an Orphan. The case of Mesut Ozil,who is made a scapegoat for the disgraced German exit from world cup is a classic example. As he and Lukaku says, When we score /win, we are Belgian or German, when we lose we are Congolese or Turkish! Sad aspect of racism prevailing in many countries!! I agree that comes to fore when failure hits!! Human nature I guess! 

Sad to hear the passing away of Sergio Marchionne, the boss of Fiat /Chrysler!! End was swift today!! May his soul rest in peace. What a turn around! But he was a workaholic.


As usual, few memes and Modi Bashing!! hahahahhahahh!!! 

An Aeronautical Engineer inspecting a Rafale fighter jet in order to increase it's price from 520 cr to 1600 cr to utilize taxpayers money. (2018)

A Globetrotter Searching Croatia on Map for his next Visit. (2018)

Until next week, take it easy, take care.
Karthik
25/7/18
1800 Hrs. 

Deluge,Eritraia,AbiyAhmed,Croatia.

#327
Housekeeping:-
1) Today, I complete 5 years of staying away from Idiot Box for watching stupid, ugly, lousy, fucking, Indian News channels and Entertainment! Even saying III class is a disgrace! Boy!! I can't comprehend how people are putting up with all the shit that is dished out!!

2) Friday, I was invited as panel member for Safety event, at 5pm, and I posted a Selfie, Radhu says, I looked "DOPED" Do I???? hahaahhah!!

3) Mom is back in India after her 2 month stay in #OMAN! The clean air around there has helped her respiratory issues to the minimum! Of course 45C heat is another matter for to be there!! 

Credit to Donald Trump, once again when it comes to national interest, he puts aside his personal like'/dislike. In choosing Judge Brett Kavanugh as his second nominee for US Supreme Court, #SCOTUS, Trump has looked for a person who abides to constitution as it says rather than looking for personal interpretation. It is no secret that Trump loathes the Bush(es) and Judge K was Bush nominee to Circuit court in DC as well as his wife was personal secretary to "Dubiya!!! The confirmation hearing would be interesting given that the razor thin Majority republicans hold with John McCain wont be able to vote. I personally sense, over a period of time Roe Vs Wade, the landmark judgement would be eroded away one statute at a time and come 2023, the 50th anniversaty there would be nothing left. Also to note that Trump with 2 year of Presidency left has potential for 2 more nominations (Senate Majority Key) of conservative leaning with Ginsburg and Breyer in to their 80s can fade from the scene!! Already with 5-4 that can turn to 7-2 with ramifications for good 2-3 generations to come. (#SCOTUS is for life or option to retire as Justice Anthony Kennedy did) 

The Roberts Court, 2017 Back row (left to right): Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, and Neil Gorsuch. Front row (left to right): Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, and Stephen Breyer

The Rains have caused havoc across nations, with Hiroshima prefecture having seen it's worst rainfall of 50cm and loss of lives of around 200. People say in their living memory they have never witnessed anything like this. The mad rainfall of 15 Cm in 3 hours in Nagpur, and 55% Monsoon within 3 weeks of commencement at Bombay are tell tale signs of Climate change warnings that have been ignored by leaders. Adding insult to injury is the lack of preparation as well as poor III class infrastructure that exist. I am told in Bombay nothing has been done since British time in drainage system as city can take only 1 inch of rain/hr. All the natural creek that let rain water to the sea has been encroached by land sharks. This is case in most urban area in India. The warning is out there!!! No one cares and people suffer!!!

During my global travel, I have met Indians who have settled in Eritrea, a tiny nation which has been on war with its neighbour, Ehiopia for decades. People said the war would never end and there would never be peace. It appeared so, until the new President of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, who out of nowhere worked all political reforms that could only be a dream. He even reached out to the neighbour and now peace accord is worked out! Showing all it takes is a leader to swing things around. Also Ethiopian economy a fastest growing one goes to show peace is a must! 

Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed is welcomed by Eritrea's Isaias Afwerki as he disembarks the plane in Asmara, Eritrea on July 8, 2018

World cup is coming to an end, what a sporting event it has been! All top teams sent packing! France a young team under Tidier DesChamps (3rd person possibly to win world cup as player/coach) and Croatia an rank outsider are clashing. An Interesting article in WSJ on how Croatia win would settle scores as western Europe sees East with lot of contempt and insult! 

As usual I leave with few memes:-
1) JIO UNIVERSITY 

Take it easy, take care
Karthik
14/7/18
9am.

Miracle,Amlo,Netflix,SocialMedia_tax

#326
Housekeeping:-
1) I have been posting updates on Facebook,this was a hectic week of celebrations and events. Those who dont have FB access. This week was 1) Lalitha's birthday 2) Shravan's too and Father in law's 81st Birthday celebrations at Trichy.

Few pictures:-

2) Son and I took late evening time at Trichy to climb Rock fort temple. It was 450 steps (few steep) to reach the top of this 1600 Year old hillock which has Ganesh and Shiva deity placed on top. The rocks according to information displayed there are 35 Million years old. Astonishing. The construction at that time makes you wonder how they did what they did. 

3) With World cup fever on, my Semi Final predictions are Belgium, France, England and Croatia. Let's compare notes!!

What a news to wake up this morning on the finding of 12 Kids of football team and their coach trapped for 9 days in Thailand cave in which they got trapped due to flooding. The efforts to find them captured the world's imagination. Best in class technology and equipment were put in to use for this international effort. Goes to show prayers, miracle do happen to keep faith on human support. I am reminded of the Chile Miner's rescue back in 2010 October. 

Met the Man who swept the Mexican Elections. Amlo ( Andrés Manuel López Obrador) winning the election was foregone conclusion in the most violent election in modern day memory with more than 130 candidates and political workers and associated people killed in election releated violence. (Reminds me of 1989 election here, most violent in Indian History) He is Grandfather of Corbyn way of extreme left thinking. He has promised a lot! Let's see how he fulfils them. Last week, Colombia has elected a  Right of centre President, the elections cant be too contrasting. Shows the world drifting from center.  

This week Economist cover is on NETFLIX! Who would have even imagined 5 years back that this is going to take world by storm. I recollect couple of years back my kids switching to Netflix services and sitcom dished out! This is now bigger than Disney, Universal etc! Like Amazon so far no Profits! But I guess they would get there given the content it is delivering tailoring the regional requirements.

It was pathetic to read that Uganda has introduced 5c a day tax to use Social Media after due registration. The government says this has come in to effect after rumours and mud slinging in the name of freedom of expression. What a nonsense logic? I hope our Stupid Buggers here in India don't copy paste such stupid thinking! But then Mo(sa)di hai Bhai!! hahahh!!

As usual few meme to leave on laughing note!

Take it easy, take care, God Bless
Karthik
3/7/18
9am.