Tuesday, December 29, 2009

My View of 2009

So many things happened in this world in 2009. I consider the following 12 events are very significant. These are my own personal views. You may even laugh at me for considering some of them as important. You may not even recognize some of the names. So here it goes:

Happy

Barack Obama, first Afro-American, was sworn in on January 20, 2009, as the 44th President of the United States.

U.S. stock markets recovered from their 2008 disaster. With only 3 days to end the year, compared to the beginning of 2009, Dow Jones Industrial Average is up by 17%, NASDAQ Composite is up by 40%, and S&P 500 Index is up by 21%. A better year financially.

Summer Bird, a horse owned by an Indian-American couple, Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, won the prestigious Belmont race on June 6, 2009. (I wrote my first blog on this on June 8 and only one person commented and that too a month later on July 6, 2009.)

Scientists discovered water on the moon. They had long assumed the moon was dry. This will make way for growing vegetation in the moon.

Sad

Senator Ted Kennedy died on August 25, 2009, at the age of 77. As President Obama said “His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives.”

Michael Jackson, King of Pop, died on June 25, 2009. He was 50. His album “Thriller” still remains the best selling album of all time. It sold more than 50 million copies.

Ed McMahon, long time side kick to talk-show host Johnny Carson, died on June 23, 2009, at the age of 86. As Donald Trump said "America has lost one of its great icons. Ed McMahon was a terrific entertainer and a wonderful person”. When Ed had financial difficulties during the last days of his life, Donald Trump helped him.

Farrah Fawcett, actress, model, national sex symbol (to any age group) died of cancer on June 25, 2009. She was 62. Michael Jackson’s death on the same day over shadowed this sad news.

In 2009, H1N1 (Swine Flu) broke out in many countries across the globe. Fortunately major catastrophe has been avoided.

Tiger Woods Affair. Very sad. Tiger is a child prodigy. He won a putting contest at the age of 3. He is credited with popularizing the sport of golf. He is solely responsible for other golfers to get more prize money. His picture-perfect family life and his public image as a disciplined person were all shattered. For better or worse, I consider him as Man of the Year for 2009.

Pathetic

On February 24, 2009, a triumphant President Barack Obama addressed the Joint Session of U.S. Congress for the first time. His speech was eloquent and at the same time plain-spoken. It showed how well he reads the public.

Whenever the President speaks before the nation, American television networks give equal time to the opposition party to give a rebuttal. (I do not think this practice is followed in many countries.) This rebuttal will be broadcast live immediately after the President’s speech. The opposition party, Republican Party, chose Governor Bobby Jindal to give the rebuttal. Governor Jindal is likely to run for the President of the United States in 2016. Everyone thought this rebuttal will be an introduction of Governor Jindal to all the people of USA. But what a disappointing performance by Jindal! Boston Globe wrote: "Insane, Childish, Disaster". Even Republicans criticized his performance. Some people commented since no one wanted to stand up to Obama at that time, Governor Jindal was made a scapegoat.

Blunder

Indian Government’s approval to create a separate Thelungana State. In 1956, for the first time, a new state was created based on language. Andhra Pradesh was created from the Madras State. It paved the way for creating many states based on language. If that was a bad idea, this one is worst. A state is being divided into two even though both states will be speaking the same language.

This is going to be a precedent for many more problems. Royala Seema wants to be a separate state from the proposed Thelungana State. Gorkha Land from West Bengal. Vidharba from Maharashtra. Saurashtra from Gujrat. In addition, the U.P. Chief Minister wants to divide it into 3 different states.

Mr. Karunanidhi is going to take advantage of this situation. He is already thinking of dividing Tamil Nadu into 3 different states. With Madurai as the capital, there will be Azhagiri Nadu. With Chennai as the capital, there will be Stalin Nadu. With Coimbatore as the capital, there will be Kanimozhi Nadu.

(I have a question. How did the central government approve the word “nadu” in Tamil Nadu? Nadu means country. Nadu does not mean state. Tamil Nadu means Tamil speaking country. Is there a separate country within a country? What is the motive here? After all, Karunanidhi and his party were advocating seceding South India from Indian Union and naming it Dravida Nadu. Thank God they did not have enough support in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala.)

20 comments:

  1. good update of events. dividing the states is like opening a pandora box..but our govt is famous for first creating problems and then busying herself in solving it, thats the reason we dot develop at a fast rate...this is really frustrating to see, when will they understand that development doesnt come with small states only..rather the no. of ministers, baus and ultimately the expenses increase.

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  2. Happy

    Obama - a very good thing..
    stock exchange needed the recovery too..hope recession in India gets over soon..many of my fresh MBA friends are still jobless..
    oh, the horse one thingi - i was not aware about...will dig your archives post my exams :)
    water on moon - again a nice discovery..and you are funny - growing vegetation there..actually they may try so :D

    SAD

    all the deaths yeah; pretty sad..and reading about them depress me :(
    H1N1 and tiger woods - unfortunate things..

    Pathetic

    hmm, you have a point..I didn't follow it so closely; so can't comment..

    Blunder

    though you have elaborated this issue pretty well here..but I would still like to read a post on this by you..

    thanks for the summary :)

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  3. Like the update of the year.
    I live in the city most effected by the 'blunder' of separate statehood. All I know is that there is uncertainity and thanks to the politicians we have had violence and loss of property. Work hours are effected.

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  4. Read your post. I liked the Azhagiri nadu, Stalin Nadu and Kanimozhi Nadu.How many more Nadus will happen we will have to wait and watch.

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  5. Pretty off-track view. It was very professionally written - sort of like how news channels report when yr end approaches.

    Thanks for all the info. I'm quite ignorant about politics and liked reading your gists.

    However, I feel TWoods didn't deserve a mention in Sad. He can't ever be forgiven true and it is a deplorable act, but I hate the media & the dozen girlfriends more making it such a vulgar spectacle!

    Ok SG , HAPPY NEW YEAR2010!!!! :-) Its been good reading you this yr.

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  6. Really MJ's death was really sad.

    Well coming to the "Nadu" thing...it is politics SJ things happen like this isin't it!!

    Will be active in blogging world soon....hav shifted to a new city so m waiting for my internet connection.

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  7. Thanks for your comments Renu. I understand your frustration.

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  8. Thanks for your comments Neha. You have analyzed my post very well. I will try to write a post on creating new states.

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  9. Thanks for your comments Radha. I can feel what you all go through on a daily basis.

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  10. Thanks for your comments Chitra. I am glad you liked my humor.

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  11. Thanks for your comments lostworld.

    I understand and appreciate your views on Tiger Woods.

    Happy New Year to you too. Hope my 2010 blogs are also worthy of your reading.

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  12. Thanks for your comments Nazish. Yes, Michael Jackson's death is really very sad.

    Hope you settle in your new city quickly. Looking forward to reading your posts.

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  13. aandava!! hope my thala Vijaykanth or T Rajendar comes into the crown !! no more new states :D ...different moods!

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  14. Thanks for your comments HaRy. I agree with you. No more new states.

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  15. Thanks SG...I will be waiting for your post..:)

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  16. Wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year !!!!

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  17. Thank you so much Renu. Wish you and your family a very happy new year.

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  18. Happy - Obama as President.
    Sad - Death of King of Pop
    Scary - HINI outburst
    Pathetic - Jindal's speech for sure
    Amusing - Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
    Blunder - Perfect, the chaos out of Telangana.

    I liked the sarcasm in dividing TN. And yes to add, Tulus in Coastal Karnataka are asking for separate state, the Kodavas are asking for Kodavaland...

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  19. Thanks for your comments Insignia. I did not know about Tululand and Kodavaland. Thanks for the info.

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