Wimbledon

4 down three more to go.

Interesting

article on how criticism hasn't been handled well in financial sector

A legend

speaketh: Joel "Big Bird" Garner

Weekend

Was an interesting weekend with some valuable time with a friends parents. I always enjoy spending time with people who have been there and done things that we are working so hard to do. It is immense pleasure to interact with them. Somehow I feel I can learn a lot from them. I think the experience was pretty nice!

Wishing I will meet them more!

Work

Hasn't been progressing well. The uncertainty on how to position isn't helping. Lets see

A very nice

post on marriage

Funny

An incident from the past

Andhra

I hope YSR learns his lesson the hard way.
An article by GLV NArasimha Rao here

Well, advice for the

future to all young men.

This is heartening

to see. Finally the LGBT ((lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual) come out in the open in Delhi. A small step it might be but a very important one!

Zimbabwe

There has been a lot said about how Zimbabwe is under crisis. Robert Mugabe, a despot, has ruled the country for many years and is responsible for the dire straits people are in. Yet,the world ignores the atrocities. Well, I will not question that. Every country cannot be invaded like what USA has done (to Iraq). But, as civilized countries with respect for individual dignity, shouldn't we at least oppose the despot on principle. Shouldn't the countries control the financial resources going into the country by sanctions or even severing the trade relationships. The least a country like India can do is cut off its cricket relations. I know the Congress government is spineless and shameless. Yet I hope they will do it. All I am asking for is common sense. Is it too much to ask?

On a similar note, the stupid BCCI has decided to suppot Zimbabwe's full member status. I write this with disgust! How can these people live while making such ridiculous decisions. The role of a country in abetting crime is not far away from the role of the criminal himself! Do you remember England's reception to Hitler or Osama bin laden being supported by US. Histiry teaches a lot. If only people (or leaders) are willing to learn!!

Wimbledon

Well 3 down, 4 to go for Federer.

Unfortunately Ivanovic was knocked out today. But I will take that well if it means Federer will win.

Among other results Safin and Ancic go through. Lets see how far they will go.

Something

feels weird. I am not sure what!

Anyway!!

what crap is

this?
There are not enough girls worthy enough to equal the strength of a single branch in one IIT. Now they want to start an entire IIT for girls. How ridiculous can people get?

Is reservation the way for everything? This is only going to worsen the situation of women!

Not intended to hurt woman. But, if there are not enough girls getting into IIT look into the reasons for it and try to strengthen their math and science. The remedy for every damn problem is not to create reservation. I just cannot undertsand how can the PM take this president's word seriously on this. Is he dumb or what?

Well

Today seems to be an unproductive day!

Why can't I have two good days in a row!

Aching feet

Women with aching feet, get yourselves a husband who can attend to them

I hope

Indian cricket board will do the sensible thing with respect to Zimbabwe

Wimbledon

2 down 5 to go.

Also Djoko is knocked out by Safin. Good thing that!

Commentry

prior to TV was only on radio. Here is a nice article about one of those commentators

An excerpt

Commentary, for Suresh Saraiya, is like playing cricket: you need to know the game
inside out, and you need to have the right technique, which is a good
voice, clear thoughts, and the play of phrase. Saraiya must have had
all that, one can tell that – because when he tells a story he
generally has your attention, and doesn't leave you disappointed by the
end of it.

This is why the

left is not ready to support the Nuclear deal. That's pretty ridiculous

Interesting

research result

Hmm

My horoscope

This can be an emotionally charged day, especially if you aren't seeing eye to eye with a close friend or partner. Luckily you have an opportunity to change the game by shifting the playing field. Instead of unfolding the current situation within a context of personal dissatisfaction, reframe what's happening in an imagined universe of material abundance and spiritual grace. It's not about needing more; it's about appreciating what you have.

Some hilarious quotes from Wimbledon blog

from here

"Ivanovic doesn't deserve to still be in this! Sharapova to win this year! She is a great beauty and was superb yesterday!"

"Ivanovic is still playing - why are people saying that she has already lost? Pay attention people! Anywho, I am soooooo happy Djokovic is out early!!! He was getting waaaaaaay too full of himself!"

"Our arrogrant world No 3 dumped out in round 2! Wasnt he expecting a cruise to a semi final clash with Fed Express?"

"Come on Marat - he still needs to grow up some before too much success. Beat him Marat!"

what can I say

I am yet

unsure of what lies ahead!

Will

the RBI move (detailed here) contain inflation?

Well making

a decision on his career came easy for Ajay Memon.

I hope

for England's sake the ECB won't be foolish to implement the three tier system in their county competition. John Sterns discusses whats wrong with the plan

Freedom of speech

Well, when people are arrested for such stuff. All you can say is "its just plain stupid"

Robert Mugabe

How shameless can a country aspiring to be a super power needs to be to support such a man. It is really sad that China surreptitiously supports him.

When you don't

want to, things get worse!!

Pretty

good article on cricket fans

A shrewd

move on the part of Democrats? may be

Swimming

Haven't made progress for sometime. But today managed to swim 125 yards on a trot. This for me is a nice improvement. I hope this will speed up the progress. Also, I have altered my aim for the summer. I was dreaming of swimming a km on a trot. Now, I will update it to a not so dreamy 750m total. Currently I am doing 405m. So I just have to double it.

Lets see how my revised aim goes!

Wimbeldon

First round done. 6 more to go !

An interesting incident from the first round

"There was a heart-warming moment when, at the changeover before
Federer prepared to serve for the match, Hrbaty broke all the
conventions by going to sit alongside his opponent for a chat. If he
was asking Federer to go easy, it did no good. The final game was won
to love and Federer was impressively embarked on the defence of his
crown."

Update on the match
read this

Seriously?

I mean to say this about the US. I hope the author is kidding. But I know he is not! All I can say is he is taking the issue way out of proportions illogically!

Well a

satire on advice to newly wed woman by Chandni

How will I react?

I don't know yet. May be in a day or two I will.

barbarindians

analyze the UPA rule in economic terms. Its surely not very appreciative of the efforts of UPA or the FM. I can clearly see why!!

Greatbong

reflects in his own style on the 1983 WC

Awesome

to see this article by Harsha Bhogle on WC 1983. I love his young optimism

Wimbledon

Its that time of the year again. Wimbledon (The Championships) will start from tomorrow. The draw for Federer is tricky. But I am confident he will manage it. As, Fed begins his journey towards the 6th crown, my days of tension will start.

Lets see how that goes!

Advice to the PM

I wish Manmohan Singh will follow this advice by GLV Marasimha Rao

Another weekend

After so much tension and pressure I put on myself this week the meeting got place today. Was not a favorable result to me. But I have no hard feelings. This was not something I expected. May be it has not hit me yet or may be I have hope that things will take a turn for the better with time. I don't know at this point. But, in spite of the result, I am happy it ended pleasantly and with what I cherish intact!

Well

this puts UPA government's rule in economical perspective

What can you say

Rahul Dravid is simply unbelievable.

Here is a Dravid interview with Anand Vasu

A nice article on

how security concerns for the upcoming ICC trophy are genuine discussed by Ashok

Simply too much

pretty cool excerpt from India Uncut

Many readers of this blog, shameless young kids all, were born after that 1983 World Cup. Those of us born before it are often asked where we were when the final was won. I was nine at the time, and hadn’t yet begun following cricket. I vaguely remember being in a room with many family members, all of them rather excited. When they began jumping up and down at the fall of the tenth West Indian wicket, I looked at the screen and sagely remarked: “But they still have one batsman left.”

pretty funny ha!!

Its a weird

feeling. I am so angry at my helplessness

The art of

gaurd taking described here

Hmm, this is pretty bad

Link via economist.

ALEX TABARROK is in China. He reports:

An hour and a half out of central Beijing, traveling through orchards of apples and pears and still the smog blankets the fields obscuring the view. Pollution like this I have never seen.

And yet the intensity of the pollution makes me optimistic. Pollution in China isn't like the demise of the snail darter or some wispy thing that might take a few weeks off your life if you live long enough. Pollution here irritates, it chokes and it kills young and old. Pollution like this people are willing to pay to avoid and as the economy grows the Chinese are willing to pay more and more.

Looks like

it will not be a cake walk for Congress on the nuke deal

As usual pretty funny

post by Chandni

With all the crap that

Muagabe's government is resorting to in Zimbabwe I think time has come for countries to take a stand and end their connections with the Government. The ICC needs to take a stance like it did in the case of South Africa and should not allow Zimbabwe to play cricket!

Mitra laments

the loss of her grandmother and remembers the lessons their generation give us

Sex and the City

criticized here

Informative

article on renting cars in India. Specifically for self-driving

An explanation

for midlife crisis

There are people

who still believe in FED

Well

looks like its decision time. Lets see how it goes!

Interesting

dilemma presented exacerbated with age presented here

Finally

A good friend of mine gets into Academia. I feel so happy for him.
Wishing him a great future there!

Interesting

article on the interplay of slow growth and inflation. The choice for central banks seems to be between increasing or reducing interest rates. The RBI is increasing rates to curtail inflation. We will have to wait and see how that pans out!

A nice article

detailing the challenges faced by cricketers from beyond the test world.

Interesting

gender based differences as experienced by Mudra

Tiger Woods

I guess this is why he is a Champion

Chandini

rants at the sexism ingrained in Indian mentality

Seriously?

Am i really thinking what I am thinking?
I am not sure. There have been times when I am taking this thought very seriously and there have been times when I am not. But there as been a slight transfer to the former in the recent days. Well, but still I am not sure how to address it.

Like most things, I will leave it for time to decide!

Good to see this

man succeed

Weird

Sometimes somethings are weird and unexplainable. Don't even know how to handle them.
Hopefully time will help me!!

All the women

who read my blog (I know there aren't many) don't do this to your husbands

Pretty horrific

dinner bill from Zimbabwe

Very very

funny article of an experience with a Masseur

Another nice sunday

Was an awesome day. Pretty much out of words to describe it!! Wishing there shall be more such fun times!

Things seem to be bleak

as pointed out here

Probably

this is very likely for the next election. Though I would hate to see Mayawati being the kingmaker.

Well, isn't this a little

too premature

An interesting fight

over the migration theory here, here

What are problems

This is a post that summarizes some of my own thoughts and perspectives that I have gained from discussions with my friends

Everybody in this world has problems. For a poor person on the road the most pressing problem is where will get his/her next meal. They lead their life worrying about trivial things that most of the populace takes it for granted. Well, the people who are comfortable in terms of food are plagued with a different set of problems. Some people take immense tension due to the work they do. Graduate students predominantly are concerned with issues related to research. Academicians are worried about getting their next paper published. Politicians are concerned about winning their next vote. Well all these are problems. But which of these problems is more important?

Well, the answer to that shall be subjective. Thinking from the very perspective of life, it is very evident that a person searching for his meal is facing a very difficult problem. Such a person will never understand the fuss about why people freak out when some code is not running (this does not even reduce the person's pay!) For, that person views the world very differently compared to those who lead a comfortable (in terms of essentials like food, house) life. But does that mean problems of people who are leading a "comfortable" life are "smaller". As far as I see it, it is human nature to suffer with problems of varying types. If today a man on the street gets money to lead a comfortable life. In a day or two all he will worry about will change significantly. Similarly if a person leading a comfortable life suddenly becomes a poor person his problems and thoughts also are affected. This somehow for me means people where ever they are have problems and complaints. However, it is important to have a perspective when you are complaining. For example, if you are working on a research paper and something does not work you need to understand its not the end of the world for you. Yes, you need to be worried, but getting hyper about such problems belittles so many problems that people in this world are suffering. This perspective will allow you to be more sympathetic towards others and at the same time tackle your own problems maturely!!

Well, that's my 2 cents. You are welcome to drop in your thoughts!

A groundsman

talks about a pitch making!

A detailed

article on the ongoing progress in Iraq in Economist

Another

in a series of funny articles

A superb

post on the theatrics of BCCI by Mukul Kesavan

Details of what

Congress does best

Interesting to see

Indian companies being acquired by foreign players. More details here

Have to wait and see how it will impact the pharmacy industry!

Well, its England Cricket Board

that takes the plunge into the world of money distributed by Allen Stanford.

More details here
There is even a picture of 20 Million $ in a glass box. That might be the closest I will ever get to seeing such a huge amount of money!!

The pressure of IPL

on Twenty20 domestic matches in England is discussed nicely by Jamie Alter

Another one

in the long list of abuses of power for minority appeasement by Congress

A very well

written article on Shivnarine Chanderpaul by Peter Roebuck

Sometimes I realize

I don't even understand myself!!

An interesting

perspective towards the future of cricket by Rob Steen

Weird way

to look at a film

This is

what you call funny

Loss of words

It is very rare that I am at loss of words. Today was one of those moments!!

An awesome

article that I wish politicians will heed to.
Well, I know I am dreaming!

BJP plans to go

High-Tech

French open

French open sundays start off pretty bad with Fed loosing to Nadal. But from there they personally get pretty good. Yesterday was no different. We watched Sarkar Raj. It was alright. Then the discussion that followed was amazing. Then I went on a walk with another freind and it was great too!!

French Open

Well, Federer was not good enough today.
I will wait for one more year!

Well the day has arrived

The day for another French open final between Federer and Nadal. Well, the prediction for tomorrow seems pretty same across various newspapers and pundits. Nadal will win in straight sets tomorrow. Well, I as an ardent Federer would like to see how it goes.

Interesting to know this

about this man

USA

a very nice article on the good's of USA

To all those bashers out there please do read it !!

Shane Warne

makes a statement on the captains he played under

"I was very lucky to play under a couple of very good captains in Australia. I played under some average ones, as well. You can make your own mind up which one's which."

Shane Warne was not always a fan of his superiors

My guess for the two groups are
Good ones: Taylor and Border
Average ones: Steve Waugh and Ponting

Ivanovic

Well, my new favorite tennis star has won her first grandslam tournament. I hope it will be the first of many!!

French open women final

After Steffi Graf retired I have never supported any of the woman seriously. But that has changed with the emergence of Ana Ivanovic (a player worth watching for both her game and beauty).

Lets hope she will win tomorrow!!

French Open

Another French open final is set for this sunday.
Another Federer Nadal final as many anticipated.
Another Nadal victory looms large
Another day of supporting Fed for me with hope
Another chance to win might not come for Federer

Well, the state of cricket in England

isn't great if the conversation is anything to go by.

"Stewards and groundstaff are always an interesting bunch to talk to at the cricket. And for a job which demands you watch cricket for five very long days, in between delays for rain and antiquated rests for cups of tea, some knowledge of the game would surely be a prerequisite. Not so for two such security guards who were engrossed in a conversation about its rules. "When do the other guys get to bat?" asked the first. "Tomorrow I think. They swap over or something." When cricket's wonderfully bonkers rules were explained to them, their disinterest grew even further, wondering quite how they would survive three more dull days of "people running about aimlessly".

Funny! isn't it?

Nice to see

a good govt empoloyee

Its a bad situation to

be in.

This is so

ridiculous!!

Pretty weird

way to get involved with drugs for Mohammad Asif. Well it might be one mistake too many for him now!!
Only time will tell.

A moving article

here

I hope she gets to read

this

Amit Varma at his best!!

An interesting excerpt

from Rajasthan's chief of coaching

There was this unique sense of camaraderie among the Royals. You seemed to be able to make the players believe they were one family?

I believe that was the difference between us and the rest of the sides. It's an immeasurable thing but it was important. During a mini-break in mid-May, when some of us foreigners went to Goa to relax, Asnodkar, who is a native, invited us to have dinner at his family home one night. Warne, Shane Watson, Graeme Smith, myself and Snape got into a car and drove 45 minutes to Swapnil's house. His parents were there along with his grandfather, who came up later and said, in Hindi, "I can die a happy man. Shane Warne sitting in my lounge room ..."

When Yusuf Pathan was selected for India, we all gave him a standing ovation because we all felt part of it - we felt that this tournament launched him to higher levels.

There was Zahir, our bag man. He lost his mother during the tournament, but he stayed on with the side. We wore the black armband in respect. He was important, too. Before leaving to go home he came to my room crying.

You can't quantify emotions and passion in people. It all has to do with trust, honesty and respect, and you only get that if you treat people fairly, evenly.

A very nice motto

"It’s up to me, not the reader, to do the work."

I wish all books involving math were written along these lines!!

anyway...

Well, Man mohan singh sounds

more like a fool after this

"I do believe that to the ordinary people of our country, games like hockey and football have [more] significance than the world of cricket."

Is cricket India's national obsession? Not to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, it isn't"

Interesting article

on the food crisis. Markets shall work. If only politicians don't interfere!!

Seriously funny

Read this

Last Juror

In 24 hours I completed another of John Grisham's novels. Somehow I like reading his books. This one was pretty funny too. Add that to a masala story and its very difficult to put the book down!

Greatbong reviews

IPL here

An awesome piece on

Indian World Cup Victory in 1983 by Ashok Malik

A very interesting view on

the global oil crisis!!

IPL summarized

Captains here
What it might mean to the ODI's

You've got to be kidding

Well, that was my initial reaction when I read this. But well its Mayawati we are talking about here!!

So true

Amit Varma points out to irony in the career of a leg-spinner here

What can i say

My horoscope
"Being the steadying force in someone else's life isn't that unusual for you, but today your actions might affect more than just one single person. Others could be looking to you for leadership now and you can be a hero if you deliver the goods. Don't underestimate the impact you have on those around you."

IPL Roundup

I was pretty unhappy Delhi didn't make it to the final. But, Rajasthan deserved to be in the final because of the way they have played in the IPL tournament. So, I wanted them to win against Chennai to complete a wonderful story of success of a team written off even before the tournament started.
What a match it was. Chennai played well to score 163. I was not watching their innings. But I started watching the Rajasthan reply. Was it crazy. It was so tense. Whenever a batsman was going great guns he got out. Asnodkar, the pocket dynamite, played very well to get out on 28. Then it was Watson, wh again got out for 28. In the mean time Yusuf Pathan was slowly (not really!!) making progress. He reached fifty and got out on 56 (whats with 28 and its multiples, i was thinking he crossed 28 so he is fine.. but he got runout on 56). Shane Warne came out to bat and I was wondering will this fellow finish it to win a great tournament for him. But like he has always done, he let his team do it for him by being with them. He hit a very important boundary of the last ball of the penultimate over. That boundary reduced the equation to 8 off 6. They won it off the last ball of the last over. Well done Shane is all I can say!! He has been a great leader and great performer when they needed him. but he was ably supported by Asnodkar, Pathan, Smith, Trivedi, Tanvir among others. Good Job Royals.

Spare a thought for Chennai. They reached the final and had a very good chance of winning it. But it wasn't to be. I was very impressed with the way Dhoni managed himself and his resources. But I was stunned by the way he addressed his team after the loss. That shows how good a leader he is!! I will have to agree he is the best person to lead India for a long time!!

The other semifinalists Delhi and Punjab also did well in the tourament. Sehwag made some crucial decisions as captain and most of them backfired. But as a batsman he, Gambhir and Dhawan played well. The rest failed. Their bowling was pretty good. Asif was a flop. McGrath was awesome. Amit Misra was good. He looks a nice prospect.

Punjab made it to the semis on the back of great batting from Shaun Marsh and Luke Pomersbach. Once they failed in the semis they lost. The captaincy of Yuvraj looked great because of the support from Mahel and Sanga. Everybody will know that. So, its pretty weird that Yuvi posed himself as a future India captain. I don't think he deserves that!

Among other teams, Sourav Ganguly proved his determination and fighting spirit for Kolkota. Mumbai played well in patches. Pollock and Bravo played well for them. Then the less we talk of Deccan and Bangalore the better. They had a torrid time. Especially it was painful to see Dravid the way the team performed. But they can only do better in the future. Gilly, Rohit and Venu played well for Deccan. But as a unit Deccan played very poorly.

Well, it surely was a very successful IPL. There have been many nice success stories with players like yusuf Pathan, Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Piyush Chawla, Manprett Goni, Sreevats Goswami, Praveen Ojha, Badrinath doing well to enhance their reputations. But the greatest success of IPL is surely the champion "Shane Warne"

Kudos to Warnie and his team!!