Will India qualify 2014 FIFA World Cup?

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches are on, we are continue to be supporting big for Argentina, Brazil, Spain, England etc, the common question will again come around. Why isn’t India playing? 

I was sharing this painful feeling to my non-Indian colleges and friends here in US; they have just surprised me by asking “dude, do you have a team over there”? 

Well guys, The India has a national football team, controlled by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation, and a member of FIFA. In 1948, the AIFF was affiliated to FIFA. But the fact is India, ranked 133rd in the world, has never come close to qualifying for the World Cup, So dear Mike your question is genuine. Nothing to get surprise. India is not even one of the leading teams in Asia, ranked a lowly 28th behind relative small tiny chain of islands-Maldives.

With a population of more than 1bn one might expect India to be among the world's foot balling superpowers. Articles are written about it, debates are held on various medias, the general public would love to see India play in a football World Cup, but all this is forgotten once the tournament is over. Actually the fact is that a lot of hard work needs to put into Indian football for us to one day qualifying for a football World Cup. Do our Leaders have enough will power and maturity to lead India to the Brazil world cup grounds for 2014? Or at least 2018? Or so on.

Most of us might not be aware; In 1950 FIFA invited India to be play in the World Cup played in Brazil. The world football governing body was willing to pay for the flights! But our great AIFF decided against sending a team as FIFA made it mandatory in 1950 to wear football boots. Indians in those days used to play barefoot and they said such a change would have affected the team’s performance! A blunder decision which still haunts us today. Think about our leaders forecast. The team has never since come close to qualifying for the World Cup.Ok past is past, take it easy, there is no if and else in History. Think about future. How we can take a kick off. 

Everyone wants to see India qualify for WC.Public started dreaming India for 2014 WC, 2018 WC, 2022 WC, 2026 WC And remember we don’t have enough patience. We want success, if possible immediately and India should be able to compete against the best in the business like we do in other sports like cricket and hockey. But what is often forgotten is that football is the only global sport with 208 nations and territories as members in FIFA with another dozen countries and territories wanting to be part of the global football family. This highlights how difficult it actually is to qualify for a football World Cup with the qualifiers in Asia amongst the toughest with only four direct spots available amongst 46 Asian nations. So as of now we are not good enough to play amongst the best 32 teams in the world. And then there are many other nations especially countries from Europe and South America. There are many thoughts to pull our legs but be positive, just think about North Korea despite of all political problems they made it to South Africa. And just imagine they too have a same team like Team India. Yes guys we are very close.

Today there is a great confusion weather Hockey is our National game or Cricket. We have totally sidelined football. Cricket it not a sport it is a religion for Indians. Why Cricket got gold and football players are getting Peanuts. (Lesser the wages and lesser the standards of the sport.) The Indian Media is the primary responsible for this. It’s time to think and act. Second one who are holding responsibility is corporate and big business. They should start promote this event too. Good thing is that now corporate are started showing interest. Mahindra was one of the sponsors for FIFA and business people started thinking of investing here and starting 20:20 likes matches. Next thing is professionalism in Indian foot ball. What it means by Football should be managed by the chief executives of marketing or training.

This is professionalism. Last but least is political vision. But if public demands no politician can hold this movement. People too are reluctant to follow a career in professional football. They prefer cricket, especially now that wages in the game are increasing. We need a Sunil Chetri or a Bhaichung Bhutia to get a few big advertising deals in order to prove that money exists in football. Maybe then Indian parents will let their children pursue a career. Just come to any of Indian streets, you see kids playing football in the street with no shoes everywhere in this country but there's no development at youth level. It is very important to spot talented youngsters now so that they will be prepared when the next cycle of World Cup qualification comes around," Talent has to be spotted at a young age and groomed properly those, and coach education, are reasons why we are not as advanced as we should be.

Just one more thing is coming in my mind may be I read it somewhere how about India as a host nation for FIFA world cup? Nothing surprise India can do it. India could get involved in the next bidding cycle for the 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cups. (Not sure this is already booked) This will also bring importance to football in India. As the host nation, India qualifies automatically! (Just kidding we don’t want back door entry). But for this I guess First of all India needs to be recognized as a host nation for big sporting events. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi would be a crucial stepping stone; also we are hosting next Cricket World Cup. India becoming a successful host. So we have hope.

Coming back to answer for heading question: FIFA announced 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers start on October 8, 2010.So it is too late for India to dream 2014 WC. In the FIFA world cup 2010 qualifiers, India was eliminated in the first round by Lebanon. But I am sure you can expect to see football done professionally in India soon. It is just a matter of time. Yes Team India will be there soon. At least in 2018 WC.I may miss lot of points here , you are more than welcome to contribute those missed points here.

BP oil disaster

Hilarious video explaining the BP oil disaster in layman's terms Click here dont miss it.

Phoenix to Los Angeles

From Phoenix to Los Angeles - around 400 miles, 6 hours (7.3 hrs in traffic).It was memorial day weekend , May 2010, we planned to meet our friends in LA.Also to cover some of the places that we missed out when we were there around 2 years.
Taking Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Arizona is not so easy if you don’t have a credit card. They will treat you as if we are going to run away to Mexico and never come back! JAccording to them this is a new guidelines may be something like SB 1070 ! State wanted to come with new legislations to enforce low and order it seems.Anyway we got a brand new car with only 100 miles on it.

Up and down it took approximately 14 hours. Most of the time you will be in Interstate 10 (I-10) ,keep your cruise in 85/90.You will enjoy the drive, guaranteed.(If you want to book your ticket keep the cruise in hundred !)For the complete trip it took around 29 gallons of gas.It was a good trip and we covered Disney Land one day and Catalina Island on the other day.One day we kept for our friends in Southern California.We camped in Shijo's house and visited Vijay,Srini,Mustafa,Rao, Dorine.We Missed out so many other friends including Raveen and Sudeep as they were already engaged with long weekend.The trip was so comfortable. Posting some of the clicks here.

Summer in Arizona.

Arizona is a state of the United States located in the southwestern region.Also known as Grand Canyon State. The capital city is Phoenix. The other major cities here are  Tucson, Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe,  etc. Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot summers, and mild winters. Arizona is served by three public universities: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University.

Being here in Summer I thought to share my experiences.Specially this year! It won’t be just the brutal summer sun giving us that usual 100+ degree weather. Compared to other summer this year it is getting too hot with SB 1070, (the piece of legislation which enforces, a state crime to live in Arizona illegally. It also allows local police officers to question the immigration status of anyone they suspect is in the country without proper documentation). k give me a break , dont want to get in to politics.

Do you know Sun's outer visible layer has a temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F). Here the summer months of June through September bring a dry heat ranging from 90–120 °F (32–49 °C), with occasional high temperatures exceeding 125 °F (52 °C) having been observed in the desert area.Yes, it can get VERY hot in the summer months but Arizonans go from their air conditioned homes to their air conditioned cars to their air conditioned offices and back again. Most malls are indoors, many homeowners have pools and other than the outside work force the heat does not affect other careers in general. The truth is that this piece of land is getting hotter not only because of sun but also because our humidity levels are lower. Some other parts of the country, 100° may not feel as terrible as in some parts of the country that have higher levels of humidity. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. High humidity makes people feel hotter outside in the summer because it reduces the effectiveness of sweating to cool the body by reducing the evaporation of perspiration from the skin.

It's not only the sun that makes the desert a harsh environment. Poisonous creatures are out there, too, but with a little common sense and some precautions you can avoid them. Rattlesnakes and scorpions are common, but your chances of meeting one are slight -- they tend not to come out in the heat of the day. However, never stick your hand into holes among the rocks in the desert, and look to see where you're going to step before putting your foot down. Arizona is also home to a large poisonous lizard called the Gila monster. These black-and-orange lizards are far less common than rattlesnakes. But I never had seen any one of them yet!
So being here in summer most of the time we will be Staying inside when ultraviolet rays are strongest.But sun will make sure we are cooked enough from morning 5 till 11:30 -12.The day time people here can take advantage of "public air-conditioning" - Visit stores, libraries, movie theaters and museums and afcource office too. Business will also participate in summer by sales, roll back deals to relax people from hot summer.
We can also take sum of the summer tips published by state :
1. Never leave infants, children, or pets inside a parked vehicle.
2. Increase your fluid intake regardless of activity level. Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink fluids; drink more liquid than your thirst tells you that you need.
3. There is no optimum temperature of drinking water, but most people tend not to drink warm or very cold fluids as readily as they will drink cool ones.
4. Avoid "heat hangover." Continue to drink fluids even after strenuous activity. This will enable the body to maintain optimum hydration, and help prevent the after effects of heat exposure such as headaches and fatigue.
5. Avoid beverages containing alcohol, caffeine, or large amounts of sugar as they dehydrate the body.
6. Avoid very cold beverages as they cause stomach cramps.
7. Never depend on thirst to signal when and how much to drink. Instead, drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish the necessary fluids in the body.
8. Limit exercise or outdoor activity between the hours of 11am and 3pm which is when the sun is at its peak intensity. If active during this time frame, drink a minimum of 16 to 32 ounces of water each hour.
9. Wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15 and apply it at least 30 minutes before going outside.
10. When outdoors, rest frequently in shady areas so your body can recover.
11. Take special precaution with infants and young children by dressing them in loose, cool clothing and shading their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella. Protect their feet with shoes.
12. Carry bottled water with you in the car for yourself, your passengers, and for anyone you see who might be suffering from the heat.
Now lets go through the temperature graph .

Despite of all these the Arizona has become one of the popular place to live for the public which eventually makes population graph upwards. Arizona also has many lakes that residents and visitors alike enjoy plenty of fishing, camping, swimming and skiing. It is because of the year round great weather that Arizonans enjoy that keeps this state growing rapidly. One thing I can guarantee you, compared to some other states there will not be any days that keep people locked inside their homes. Arizona is not in an area that gets TSunami, hurricanes, tornados,earth quick (but I had minor one) extreme weather conditions and few if any rainstorms that keep people from getting to work or school. So many companies bring their offices to Arizona so they can be sure there are no days that would keep their employees from getting to work. Apart from all these I personally feel compared to other states you can do a better savings here without compromising luxury.Apart from this state tax will be always low rates compared to other states. So never hesitate to come to this planned city as well.But make sure you have seen the weather forcast before coming in.If you are planning to come next week here is the wheather forecast !!! just kidding 

Catalina Island, LA

Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is 22 miles (35 km) long and eight miles (13 km) across at its greatest width. The highest point on the island is 2097 ft. The Islanders made the 20-mile voyage to the mainland.Catalina Island has an interesting history. Seismic forces that lifted it up from the land under the ocean formed Catalina. The water that surrounds Catalina rises up to one-half inch per year.
As we told Catalina was not formed like the other Channel Islands. Catalina is the result of a collision between two plates. The Northern Plate was moving from Mainland towards the sea. The Pacific Plate was moving from the sea towards Mainland. As a result the two plates collided. This happened millions of years ago. The plate slipped under the North American plate for thousands of years. When this happened the plate became metamorphosis rock.
Here we can do many things, shopping, diving, and laying on the beach. Avalon's middle beach has a Casino building, Pleasure Pier, Yacht Club, and the Tuna Club and the Botanical Gardens. Island offers many recreational activities ranging from deep-sea fishing to horseback riding to hiking to snorkeling. There are also many attractions such as submarine rides and golf cart rentals.

Often there are travel deals available for the island and be sure to check with your hotel about any travel packages that are offered. It features cactus from around the world, as well as many endemic and native plants. Catalina is a place where wonders can happen. Access to the island is via Ferries or "The Airport in the Sky". The airport is located in the center of the island at an altitude of 1602 feet. It has a single runway which is only suitable for small planes. Two mountain tops had to be blasted away and the gap between the two was filled by rock. Something like table top run way! The airport is often closed due to low-hanging clouds. Make a point of visiting the airport while you are on Catalina Island - and preferably by hiking or by bike.
Even for a one day trip, a little planning can make the difference between a good experience and a great experience. Making reservations is our best advice. Passengers on board one of Catalina Express' high speed catamarans can expect to arrive in Catalina in about an hour, from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point. Catalina Express offers year round service and the convenience of up to 30 round trips daily. Book your tickets in advance and make sure on time as it leaves on time daily. Once you reached here it is easy to navigate–only about 1 square mile. Or you can take a taxi, a trolley or a shuttle bus to your destination. Or you can rent bicycles or our famous carts. Once you reach in it is take a relax, everything here is in walking distance. The main activity here is walking only, but it will be awesome if you have a bike with you.

I recommend for a one day stay on the island. First - take one of the city tours. This gives you a good idea of what's there and what you might want to see or do. After that you might want to take more of the tours (check out the combo tours), rent a golf cart to go out on your own or try some of the many activities available to you on the island. Most of them here is costly so first we need to plan what we are going to take it u today. For me it was a one day trip and that itself reduced my scope of covering all places. So we have picked up two things – One is city tour and other is submarine adventure.In fact, there's plenty to do, no matter your interest or budget. Stay for a day, or make a weekend of it. With balmy weather and loads of leisure time ahead, there's nothing quite as appealing! Posting some clicks here !