October 29, 2009

Facinated by Quotations

I have always been facinated by quotations. Some have made me think, some have made me laugh and some have made me wonder. Quotes have such profound effect on me and many like me.

I found this set hand written by me in a piece of paper stuck in one of my old books; may be written around 15 years back, I guess. Some of the quotes were not attributed to any and I googled them to attribute to the right person and I don't even know many of them.

I am only listing some of the quotations from this list.

"By being pleasant always and smiling, it takes you nearer to God, nearer than any prayer."
- Swami Vivekananda

"At times, it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people wonder if you're a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."
- James G. Sinclair

"Be your own judge and you will be truly happy"
- Mahatma Gandhi

"Helping Hands are better than Praying Lips"
- Mother Theresa

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
- Marie Curie

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
- Robert Brault

"The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance."
- Confucius

"I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar."
- Robert Brault

"We are all born into the world with nothing. Everything we acquire after that is profit."
- Sam Ewing

"Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions."
- Earl Gray Stevens

"The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."
- Thomas B. Macauley

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
- Walter Gagehot

"He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still"
- Lao Tzu

"If today your abilities are small and your powers insignificant, begin now to make a more thorough use of them and they will grow."
- Raymond Holliwel

October 27, 2009

Top 50 movies since 2000 from IMDB.com

Top 50 movies since 2000 from IMDB.com (as on October 2009)

The ones bolded are the ones I haven't seen yet and non-English films have been given their English title in ALL CAPS:

  1. The Dark Knight (2008)
  2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King(2003)
  3. CITY OF GOD (2002)
  4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)
  5. Memento (2000)
  6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  7. Up (2009)
  8. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
  9. WALL·E (2008)
  10. AMÉLIE (2001)
  11. THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006)
  12. The Pianist (2002)
  13. SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
  14. The Departed (2006)
  15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
  16. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
  17. PAN'S LABYRINTH (2006)
  18. DOWNFALL (2004)
  19. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
  20. District 9 (2009)
  21. Gran Torino (2008)
  22. The Prestige (2006)
  23. Sin City (2005)
  24. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
  25. Batman Begins (2005)
  26. Oldboy (2003)
  27. No Country for Old Men (2007)
  28. Gladiator (2000)
  29. The Wrestler (2008)
  30. Star Trek (2009)
  31. There Will Be Blood (2007)
  32. Donnie Darko (2001)
  33. Into the Wild (2007)
  34. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
  35. Zombieland (2009)
  36. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
  37. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
  38. Snatch. (2000)
  39. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
  40. Amores perros (2000)
  41. Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
  42. Finding Nemo (2003)
  43. Ratatouille (2007)
  44. V for Vendetta (2005)
  45. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007)
  46. The Incredibles (2004)
  47. THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI (2002)
  48. Children of Men (2006)
  49. In Bruges (2008)
  50. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

October 9, 2009

My Favorite 50 Tamil Films of the '80s & 90's

My Favorite 50 Tamil Films of the 1980s: (In alphabetical order)
  1. 47 Naatkal
  2. Aan Paavam
  3. Aboorva Sakothararkal
  4. Agni Natchathiram
  5. Alaigal Oivadhillai
  6. Andha 7 Naatkal
  7. Billa
  8. Dhoorathu Idi Muzhakkam
  9. Indru Poai Naalai Vaa
  10. Johnny
  11. Kann Simittum Neram
  12. Mister Bharath
  13. Moodu Pani
  14. Moondraam Pirai
  15. Mouna Raagam
  16. Mudhal Mariyaadhai
  17. Mudhal Vasantham
  18. Naayakan
  19. Nalai Manithan
  20. Nallavanukku Nallavan
  21. Nenjaththai Killaadhae
  22. Nettrikkann
  23. Nizhalkal
  24. Nooraavadhu Naal
  25. Oomai Vizhikal
  26. Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
  27. Oru Thalai Raagam
  28. Paalaivana Rojakkal
  29. Paasaparavaikal
  30. Padikkaathavan
  31. Pagal Nilavu
  32. Pesum Padam
  33. Poo Vizhi Vaasalilae
  34. Punnakai Mannan
  35. Puthiya Paadhai
  36. Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
  37. Sathya
  38. Sattam Oru Iruttarai
  39. Senthoorapoovae
  40. Simlaa Special
  41. Sindhu Bairavi
  42. Thanneer Thanneer
  43. Thendralae Ennai Thodu
  44. Thillu Mullu
  45. Vaideghi Kaathirundhaal
  46. Varumayin Niram Sivappu
  47. Varusham 16
  48. Veedu
  49. Vidiymvarai Kaathiru
  50. Vikram
My Favorite 50 Tamil Films of the 1990s: (In alphabetical order)
  1. Anjali
  2. Annaamalai
  3. Avvai Shanmugi
  4. Azhagan
  5. Baadshaa
  6. Captain Prabhakaran
  7. Chathriyan
  8. Dharma Durai
  9. En Vuyir Thozhan
  10. Gentleman
  11. Gopura Vaasalilae
  12. Gunaa
  13. Idhayam
  14. Indian
  15. Iruvar
  16. Kaadhal Desam
  17. Kaadhalaa Kaadhalaa
  18. Kaadhalukku Mariyaadhai
  19. Karuthammaa
  20. Keladi Kanmani
  21. Kizhakku Cheemayilae
  22. Kizhakku Vaasal
  23. Kuruthip Punal
  24. Love Today
  25. Magaa Nadhi
  26. Mannan
  27. Marumalarchi
  28. Marupadiyum
  29. Michael Madana Kaamarajan
  30. Mudhalvan
  31. Mugam
  32. Naadodi Thendral
  33. Nadigan
  34. Nammavar
  35. Padayappaa
  36. Pudhu Vasantham
  37. Pulan Visaaranai
  38. Puthiya Mugam
  39. Rojaa
  40. Sadhi Leelaavathi
  41. Sangamam
  42. Seevalaperi Paandi
  43. Sethu
  44. Terrorist
  45. Thalapathi
  46. Thevar Magan
  47. Thottaa Chinungi
  48. Vaali
  49. Vaanamae Ellai
  50. Valli

a short & sweet funny clip!

October 2, 2009

ICC World Test & ODI Teams, Awards for 2009

World Test Team 2009:
  1. Gautam Gambhir (India)
  2. Andrew Strauss (England)
  3. AB de Villiers (South Africa)
  4. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
  5. Thilan Samaraweera (Sri Lanka)
  6. Michael Clarke (Australia)
  7. MS Dhoni (India) Capt & Wk
  8. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
  9. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
  10. Stuart Broad (England)
  11. Dale Steyn (South Africa)
  12. Harbhajan Singh (India) 12th man
World ODI 2009:
  1. Virender Sehwag (Ind)
  2. Chris Gayle (WI)
  3. Kevin Pietersen (Eng)
  4. Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)
  5. Yuvraj Singh (Ind)
  6. Martin Guptill (NZ)
  7. MS Dhoni (India) Capt & Wk
  8. Andrew Flintoff (Eng)
  9. Nuwan Kulasekara (SL)
  10. Ajantha Mendis (SL)
  11. Umar Gul (Pak)
  12. Thilan Thushara (SL) 12th man
Mitchell Johnson: ICC World Player of the Year

Gautam Gambhir: Test Player of the Year

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: ODI Player of the Year

Tillakaratne Dilshan: T20I Performance of the Year

Peter Siddle: Emerging Player of the Year

New Zealand: Spirit of Cricket award