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RSS FeedJuly 30th, 2010
Les Invalides
Even though the picture 
doesn’t convey (my photography 
), Les Invalides was a great building! Apparently, it is a prime example of French Baroque Architecture, although what I enjoyed the most was the wide open spaces around it and the walk along the Seine. (The picture is taken from the other side of Seine, from just across the bridge).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Baroque_architecture
July 28th, 2010
Louvre!
Did not have enough time in one day to go to the Louvre and look at the best small painting in the world, but I did have an excellent time looking around the area. To put things in perspective for myself, Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, and receives almost twice as many visitors as my hometown museum – the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
The weather was excellent (20 degrees, no sun, 0% rain, 100% gorgeous).
Parisians must thank me for that
July 27th, 2010
Our Lady in Paris
Constructed in 12th century, Notre Dame in Paris is one of the finest Parisian landmarks. Too bad that for one day that I was there, the inside was under massive renovation, but from outside, it was a splendid view! One of the more famous cathedrals of the world.
July 19th, 2010
A simple view on terrorism
Any perspective on terrorism gets clouded by myriad discussions, arguments, points and counter points on the root cause, the related conflicts, and the issue of “collateral damage” (from all sides).
My take on this is much simpler: Moshe Holtzberg lost his parents due to terrorism. And there isn’t much more to say. God bless this child, in whom we see the optimism of life after the death and carnage that was Mumbai 11/27.
July 7th, 2010
Spain virtually owned Germany during those 93 minutes
Like most of my other predictions, this one turned out to be wrong as well. But this wasn’t a case where I was JUST wrong, I was COMPLETELY OFF the mark, in fact, I wasn’t even in the ballpark! Spain entirely owned Germany during those 93 minutes, and score could just as easily have been 3:0, rather than my prediction of Germany 1: Spain 0.
Most amazing was the manner in which Germany were beaten into submission, and towards the end, they were not even trying, very happy to be just one goal down. Spain’s one-touch passing simply too precise and tantalizingly close, but always so far from German feet. Spanish offense kept up the pressure ruthlessly and with sadistic patience, their midfield created spaces where they didn’t exist and there defense cleared too strongly for Germany to have crazy ideas. There wasn’t a whole lot left to do except to ponder if Suarez will be back to play against them in the third place playoff.
July 6th, 2010
Is Suarez a Uruguyan hero?
As I watched soccer with my office mates last Friday, my friend and coworker Joseph (who knows more about sports than I will ever know about anything at all) opined that Suarez is instantly a Uruguyan hero. Later while hearing the TV commentators discussing the “appropriateness” of his actions or whether it was in the spirit of the game, I find myself shaking my head and thinking that it is entirely within the spirit of the game. The guy knew what was the penalty for it (the red card and penalty kick) and in those 50 milliseconds was able to analyze and conclude that it was better to pay the penalty than to lose the game outright, and went for it. The penalty is established within the spirit of the game, and therefore his actions which warrant that penalty must be within the spirit as well.
Oh, and while we are on the topic, I do not think Manuel Neuer’s actions were in the spirit of the game – the goal had already happened, only the conning was left to do.
July 1st, 2010
A chess vanity plate
I always wa
nted to have a chess vanity plate, like Qxh7pp. Yesterday I came across a good one: e4Nf3, although I was wondering why not e4Nf6 or e4e5Nf3, but perhaps the person wants to make a point that he can play 1. e4 and 2. Nf3 IRRESPECTIVE of black’s first move.