The Right Stuff

The movie is adapted from Tom Wolfe’s book of same name is must see for those who believes in team work and believes that only through equal participation can one be successful. In a team you don’t need a captain nor a leader what you need is equal and faithful contribution.
The story revolves around seven astronauts who were selected by the US Government on their mission to send men out into the space. It’s the end of 50s and beginning of 60s. The space war between USSR and US is at the peak. The scientists on both sides are high on their heels to knock each other out. Because all knew those who control the space will control the world.
The three hour long movie never bores you down. It comprises of lots of drama, action and some real funny moments. It begins with man’s want to break the sound barrier i.e Mach 1. As the race to break the sound barrier and further on to break the Mach 2 benchmark goes on the story moves from here to the Space War between the two super powers. The recruitment process and the dilemma faced by the seven astronauts’ wives are portrayed well.
To sum up the here’s a conversation between two of the astronauts of the mercury mission at a function organized by the Vice President to felicitate the seven astronauts.

Gordon Cooper (played by Dennis Quaid): You know it’s funny. Here I am, I got 25 grand a year for magazine contract, got a free house with all furnishings, got me a Corvette, got free lunch from one end of America to other and I ain’t even been up there yet.

Gus Grissom: I noticed that.

Gordon Cooper: Oh you noticed that. You noticed that I hadn’t been up there yet……Then I guess they are saving the best for the last.

Must see.

Helping Hand

Months ago as I was going towards Usman Road, I was approached by a person. He was accompanied by two other men and two women with five small kids. He spoke to me in Hindi. He said his family had climbed the wrong train so landed up in Chennai and now they were short of cash to go back to their hometown Sangli, Maharashtra. He said he needed only some money to give some food to his kids. I felt a bit bad and handed over a fifty ruppee note. He thanked me. Again a month or two after the incident, as I was walking through T Nagar, a man approached me asking whether I knew Hindi. I kept quite and walked away.

Today it happenned again.....

I was walking from Haddows Road towards the Gemini Flyover. As I turned towards the right of Taj Hotel, an elderly gentleman who was walking by asked me where is Taj Hotel. I replied it's just around the corner. He continued "Can you tell me which bus goes towards IIT from the Taj Bus Stop?". I replied "I'm new to Chennai so don't know much". He asked "Where you are from?" I replied with a bit of hesitation "Kerala". He said "Is it? Even I'm new to Chennai. I just came today morning from Trichinapalli to join IIT!!" He continued "Are you an engineer?" I knew an affirmative reply would pronlong the conversation. I gently said with a smile "No".

Errata: The hotel I turned from was not Taj. It was Park.