How To Play Sudoku

Many of you out there would be Sudoku addicts. In fact before i took to online writing, I too was a keen sudoku player.

Sudoku originated from US but the version that we are all familiar with came, recycled, from Japan (hey, I didnt know that, wikepedia says so).

Sudoku's a way to place just 9 numbers (from 1-9) on a 9X9 square grid. Sounds easy, doesnt it? But the hitch lies here, you can have only one solution, you cannot repeat a number in a horizontal line, vertical line on in a square! Not so easy, you see.

Why should you play sudoku?

I played it when I was pregnant and had left my job and didnt have anything to do...You cant get pregnant but well you may have a lot of time to waste:-)

I also played it because I never have been able to solve a crossword in a morning paper, and this was the first crossword like stuff that I could actually manage to finish!

I also played it because it was about numbers and it made me feel good solving them (believe me the solution has nothing to do with nos. you even substitute the nos for alphabets and use the same rules!!! - thats an idea for a new game - wow) because many people didnt even look it because they were numbers! numbers =>brains=> me!!!

Finally, I played it since I became an addict!!! I mean i never became addicted to the Rubik's cube (I could never solve it, dammit)...so Sudoku was an intelligent way to make my family think I was doing something brainy!

Reliance Power IPO - How Many Shares Will You Get?

Reliance Power IPO oversubscription stories are flying aroung on the internet and TV channels constantly. As a retail investor how many shares can you realistically expect? Here's the take on it

As on 15th Janury, contrary to what the channels and brokers are saying, Retail has not even been fully subscribed (been subscribed 0.8 times on 15th as per the official NSE website). What does it mean? It means that the IPO has allocated 30% of the total shares offered for retail investors, those investors that can invest not more than Rs 1 lakh. For this 12000 Cr IPO that means roughly Rs 3600 crores. The IPO that came nearest to it, DLF, offered 2700 crores for retail investors and that was undersubscribed.

Now as is being popularly assumed, for retail investors to get just 15 shares (on applying for 225 shares), the retail portion has to get oversubscribed 15 times. Rs 3600 * 15, ie Rs 54000 crores retail money has to be applied in that case which doesnt seem likely. But as with all things Reliance we will have to wait and see.

If say, the retail portion gets oversubscribed 5 times (5-7 times seemed to be the estimate before the IPO) the investor will likely get 45 shares. So those investors who have paid Rs 25875 @ 115 per share, they will get a refund of Rs 6525 and 45 shares

If say the retail portion gets oversubscribed 3 times, which I think is likely now, the investor will get 75 shares and will have to pay Rs 6375 (if applied at Rs 25875 @ 115 per share.

So happy money making!

Perth Test Preview

So the Perth Test does start after all the drama and action surrounding it! What have the all the players involved been doing?

Kumble - As quietly and gentlemanly as possible made an agreement with Ponting to have a "gentlemanly" Test

Harbhajan - After all the controversy surrounding him, he has been dropped from a pace friendly track where he has no business to bowl

Sehwag -He opened his mouth only after scoring a century and has made his way back into the playing side at the expense of Yuvraj. Sehwag as an opener is always exciting... and maybe Dravid will play faster at his usual slot!

Steve Bucknor - One who actually and deservedly paid some penalty, being dropped for the remaining of the series

Punter - Has to save face. So he is saying they will still play aggressively. But we can expect to see a more disciplined Aussie side (hopefully)

Andrew Symmonds - Too much to hope he will not put those lip colours at just that appropriate place!!! and will he grow up? its doubtful!

Watch India Vs Australia 3rd Test match Live online at the link! There's also a free version!

You Cant Miss THIS Blog!

I am relatively new to blogging so am continuosly discovering the wonders of it. Here's something I found in wordpress, which is the BEST BLOG I have read! Its called "5 things I saw in America" from a canadian blogger. Now, I have never been to America, but reading this I realise I AM missing out on something good! Enjoy!!!


http://paulitics.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/top-5-things-i-saw-in-america-which-as-a-canadian-freaked-me-right-out/

Britney Spears Story - Where is it heading?

Britney Spears continues to pay a heavy price for being famous. A child star, she was thrown into the ring at the tender age of 9 (wikepedia says she was an accomplished gymnast before that) and went through the grind in TV , stage, backstage before "Baby One More Time" happened in 1998. She had reached the ripe old age of 17 by then!

In the preceding 9 years she has handled boyfriends, career, paparazzi, boyfriends, being a diva, unprecedented popularity, a 48 hrs marriage, Madonna, being a youth icon, being a role model, millions of dollars and lately a gigolo husband obviously after those dollars and two kids through whom he aspires that money, etc etc.

And all she has had for support has been middle class middle aged over aspiring parents, an aspiring younger sister (now foolishly pregnant), and countless pseudo advisors.

She has had virtually no teenage years, no obvious friends (a stream of Assistants though) but countless admirers and detractors.

She has handled more than any normal person is expected to handle in seven lifetimes and she is expected to behave normally!

And what has been the price? Her kids taken away to be taken care of by an oaf? Her visitation Rights removed? Just ask any mother how she feels when her 1-2 year olds are removed from her...you will understand her plight. A chauvinistic judge passing ridiculous judgements, that she cannot see her kids? Those same kids being entrusted to the care of a person who has two previous kids whom he has deserted? He married Britney when his previous girlfriend was 8 months pregnant. How low can you get in life? And Britney loses the lives she has given birth to, to that man!!! What justice is that?

Britney is not being given a chance. Those kids are her only link to sanity. How old is she? Just 26!!! She needs a break but she gets paparazzi. She needs help from the society she lives in, not judgement. It reflects very poorly on humankind to not to be able to help the desperate girl who has given such joy through her music, to give her the space and support she craves for, not condemnation.

I have not put any pictures of Britney here because we have had enough of her photos.

What is a Candidate Calculator?

Candidate Calculators are really "How to choose a President" web pages

You think that you will find what you in a President in Republican McCain. But some of your ideas may also be Democratic. And you really are not sure your favorite candidate's view on what you think is most important for the nation since you havent followed the debates closely or the papers. No problem.

There's help for you if you are still uncertain and "independent". Many sites are offering what can be called candidate calculators just so that you will find the best match. For choosing your President may be as important as choosing your spouse!

These candidate matching sites offer the following generally.

They get your priorities, views on important issues (like for example Iraq, Health care, social security, gun control, etc) and match it with the candidates' take on it. So you dont really have to follow all the TV debates to know who best epitomises what you want!

Check vajoe a popular candidate matching site and others

Tears Work For "Comeback Gal" Hilary Clinton

Hilary Clinton's win at New Hampshire is being seen as a result of the show of a small chink in her iron clad armour, hitherto missing, some emotion and her tearful eyes. The tough speaking and tough acting senator has so far been seen as an intense fighter who has been ambivalent on major issues (which politician isn't), but not one for the softer emotions. However her emotional attack on Obama and his call for change, her tear stained eyes, seem to have struck a chord somewhere and caught her and her advisers by suprise too. In New Hampshire women out-voted men and Hilary got majority of those votes.

Hilary being seen as unemotional goes back to Bill Clinton's days, when her ambition was seen as the reason for her backing Bill during his Monika Lewinsky days. That support seems to be paying off now, as with Bill's backing, her iron clad will power and a strong experienced team, she is all set to be the "comeback gal" as her husband was the "comeback kid!"

India Will continue to Play In Australia - God Knows Why!

Indian tour of Australia is on, unfortunately. After being at the receiving end of such despairingly poor umpiring decisions and then the imposition of the 3 match ban on Harbhajan Singh, wild rumors floated that the Indian team would not be travelling to Canberra. However it seems that is not yet the case. I really wonder what the Indian board is really waiting for to call off the tour! Maybe the murder of a player or two?

This tour has smacked of conspiracy from Day-One, no Day -45, when the Aussies went back from India and accused that Symmonds had been subjected to racial abuse. What do the Aussies know of racial abuse? Andrew Symmonds had been subjected to mild teasing at best, definitely not racial abuse. When Andre Agassi had famously said that Pete Sampras looks like someone who hangs upside down from a tree, no one had accused him of racial abuse!!! And Symmonds attitude was a come-on! Though why should the match referee believe the word of a player (Symmonds) who doesnt walk when the ball has nicked, nay come almost off the middle of the bat, and the umpire turns a blind eye; the word of a captain who picks up a ball from the ground and claims a catch, so desperate is he for the win, is beyond most Indians. There were seven bad -no entirely wrong- decisions against India and at least four decisions for Australia when their batsmen weren't given out. I know all's fair in modern games these days, so an Indian walk-off would complete the fairness of the situation.

So what exactly is the Board waiting for to call off the tour, I ask again. Its obvious this Aussie side can go to ANY extent. Call off the tour - period.

Happy New Year

Its another New Year now! Its past one hour the New Year 2008, India time and Japan, China and the rest of the Eastern world have crossed the New Year with Happy New Years ringing in the air mingled with beers, whiskies, promises, orchestras, DJs and resolutions. Here in India, every resaturant, night club, Hotel worth its salt has at least one known artiste to bring in the guests...as unclad urchins look on through the frosted windows...Will the New Year be any less traumatic for these little street kids, born to daily wage earners, street beggars, scavengers, rickshaw pullers? Will they be less bullied by the police? Will there be some decent street shelter (poorhouses - though the term is obsolete, the concept couldnt be any less meaningful) where thay can at least be assured of one square meal? Will those kids ever have a chance or will they be condemned to a lifetime of disease and deprivation...somehow I dont see it happening -not in metropolises, not in big cities, maybe a little empathy is still left in one-horse towns...Anyways I dont think we will concern ourselves with them - they are not our problem...

Happy New Year 2008


(PS - I posted this blog on New Year at another site. Thought would share it here too)

My Way Of Making Tea and Coffee

Being an avid beverage drinker, I have learnt to experiment a lot with my tea and coffee. While my south Indian friends have taught me the best way to make coffee (both filter and instant), i have also had ample opportunity to taste the strong masala north Indian tea, just right for a heavy winter morning. And then there's the Bengali Tea. The flavour just kisses your palate and you are left wishing it would linger all day with you..and for many cups more. I thought I will just share my way of making tea...which I have 12-15 times a day!

Tea

A bit more than 3/4 cups water - Bring to Boil in a saucepan
A bit less than 1/4 cups milk - add and bring to further boil.
Add sugar to taste.
Add Tea Granules (1 to 1-1/2 tsp depending on the size of your cup) after water and milk has boiled properly.

Bring to boil twice (dont boil too much, just enough for the granules to mix in with the liquid). Switch off the stove. Add One spoon green leaf Darjeeling Tea. Cover and leave it till the tea leaves sink (yes, thats brewing).

Strain, Pour and Enjoy!

Coffee (Instant)

Add two tsps plain unflavoured instant coffee to your coffee mug. Add two spoons of milk and two spoons sugar. Stir it well till it foams. Bring water (1/4 mug) and milk (3/4 mug) to a boil. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes. Pour it on the coffee in your mug. Stir and you have your hot steamy foamy mug of coffee ready.

This is not the connoisseurs cappucino, but tastes divine. Add a spoon a cream on the top if you have a taste for it!

How To Start Investing In SIPs

An erronous belief about investing in Mutual Funds or the stock market is that you need to have a lot of money to start investing. The answer I often come across on investment queries is "I dont have money" to invest. This answer often is the start of your investment needs. You dont have money - so you need to make whatever you have work.

Take for example you save Rs 100 every month. That makes it Rs 1200 every year. Lets say, you are putting it in an instrument/bank/deposit that gives 5% annually. At the end of 5 years you are getting something like Rs 6830.

Suppose there was an instrument that gave you 15%? You know the amount you will make? Rs 8970! A cool disposable income of Rs 2000!!! That really is the magic of compounding. Remember we are just talking about only Rs 100 pm here.

The next question is - who will give that kind of money/return. Mutual Funds, well researched stocks have given that kind of return and more. Do you know that markets in Brazil, India, China have given returns in excess of 40% (conservative) in the last year. And its not a single year episode. These kind of returns have been seen for the past 4-5 years. To ride these growth markets, a plethora of country specific mutual fund schemes have arisen. So investing is a global phenomena! And if you are from these nations, your choice becomes wider! Even certain sectoral funds/aggressive funds have maintained a high rate of return.

So how do you jump unto the bandwagon - so to say… You don’t happen have too much idea of stocks, returns, markets, etc and naturally you don’t want too many risks. So mutual funds become your natural choice. Mutual Funds diversify your risk (puts your money in many companies, eggs in many baskets, so to say), you can invest small, you get the benefits of professional research (every stock that a mutual fund puts its money in is researched by a team of professional fund managers) and professional fund management services; its mostly liquid, ie, you can put your hands on your money whenever you want it. The best way to start investing in a mutual fund is through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). It means just that! You invest small amounts systematically in a fund/scheme of your choice.

Here are some easy steps to start investing.

1. Decide how much you can save in a month…Even if you “don’t have money to invest” you must be saving something.
2. Find a financial advisor. She/he will guide you on the schemes.
3. Research on the scheme suggested on the internet. Follow some basic principles - see the pedigree of the fund house, see the pedigree of the scheme like last 3-5 yrs performance, see the other schemes the fund manager is managing, the corpus of the scheme (ie the total amount of money in that scheme)
4. Stick to your small investment amount till you are comfortable investing, ie don’t let the advisor sweet talk you into putting in more!
5. See the liquidity of the scheme, ie whether you can withdraw your money whenever you want and if any cost/load involved.
6. Bingo you can start your SIP (systematic investment plan) and be on your way to investment riches!. Remember SIPs in equity mutual funds are your first tentative steps into the stock market (and eventual unimaginable riches :-))

Please dont treat this as a comprehensive investment compendium – its just a small nudge towards making your savings more effective!

What is Haunting Rahul Dravid?

That Rahul Dravid is going through a bad patch no one is in doubt. But the way he is handling his game at the same time increases my already immense admiration for the man. Even in this patch of his career he can last enough balls that the players in the purple of their career would have been proud of lasting. And he scores a half century too to boot. That would have done his confidence a lot of good. And he is blunting tha attack, wearing them even...its another matter that the much vaunted middle order from where he has been shifted has not been able to take advantage of the situation.

For me, an unashamed Rahul Dravid fan, the sweetest moment of the tour irrespective of the result, will be Rahul acknowledging the cheers from the crowd on reaching his first run after facing 40 odd balls! That gesture summed up the man - his acknowledgement of his poor form, his humility and most of all his sense of subtle humour.

You are GOD Dravid! Cheerio.

Yuvraj Singh With Deepika Padukone - Is That Why he Is Failing?

Deepika Padukone just seems to love cricket and those cricketers. But with her incredible sporting genes that shouldnt be a wonder. What is a wonder is her choice! Can the daughter of the cool dude Prakash Padukone, the even cooler Deepika stick it out with the HOT Yuvraj!

But make no mistake their pairing is and will be the biggest buzz for some time to come now. Last reported and seen they were holding hands, laughing and having dinner and drinks facing the Sydney harbour.

Now we know why Yuvraj and Dhoni are not performing! Yuvraj is too distracted and Dhoni too upset ;-) It seems they had a fight the other night too...over Yuvraj's dame stealing ways, and Dhoni threatened to drop him from the One-Day Team...or maybe it was my imagination:-)

But what is a fact is that Yuvi and Deepika had dinner, held hands and the lady is in the stands as India bats on the 5th day at Sydney! And for proof see the link and the telly.