Sambit Bal

outlines the potential problems for the new selection committee. I also agree that Aakash Chopra does deserve a chance! May be he or Gambhir can bat at 3.

Why don't

fact finding committees investigate terrorist activities. These organizations have time only to investigate when alleged muslims terrorists are killed in terrorist encounters. Isn't something fishy here?

What is the need of the hour

More regulation? No! Smart regulation as detailed here
For people who think regulation works, do you know the biggest firms that went bust first were the most regulated firms (Fannie and Freddi Mac).

It is sad

In the last 2 days these are the 3rd blasts! Don't even know what to say!

The bailout is off

It seems the congress has rejected even the updated bail out proposal. If what I read here is anything to go by, this might not be good for the markets.

Weird day

Another one of those weird days where all you want to do is do nothing. May be something that does not go according to plan leads to this or its just that I am not getting time to unwind for whatever reason. I have been emotionally tense all the way for the last 2 weeks (well not that it has been better before that!).

Anyway, hopefully someday soon it will get better.

With the NSG waiver

India and France manage to sign a nuclear agreement. It should benefit us!

Well

I surely do not encourage drunken driving. But if you have the wit to do this, I guess you are not that drunk!

Ian Chappel

as forthright as usual on the upcoming India-Australia series

Different perspectives

People tend to have different perspectives towards life. There are people who are very clear on what they want and build everything around it. There are people who are still testing waters unsure of what to do in their life. Then there are people who know what they ought to be doing to reach a particular goal. All these different kinds lead to a variety of issues. But when you meet somebody who isn't from your type it will not be easy. It might sometimes be painful. But in life all you do is learn and adapt. Take everything as an experience. Well, may be thats all you can do!

Another nice post

here by madmomma.

The list at the end is very nice! Do check that out!

Weirdness

has been the way off late. I just don't get it. Work has been going on slowly. I am worried about work. Sometimes close to freaking out. I cannot stay for an extra year here. I am a little scared if I will be able to get everything done! I hope I can! No, I have to. I will !

This does not seem to

be great news.

Sometimes

A striking flash occurs to me sometimes and all it shows me is "What was I even thinking?"

Anyway!

Interesting

analysis on the Paulson plan. Don't think that I understand everything :P.

This is a

very nice story involving Wadekar and Sir Garry Sobers

Do read it here

A nice piece

by Mukul Kesavan on the upcoming series!

Singur

Greatbong laments the potential loss of Tata factory to Bengal.

Interesting

My horoscope !

Although you may be quite pensive about the gulf between what you want and what you have, your day brightens when the Moon returns to your sign this morning. Still, you have much to reconsider, especially if your current line of thinking hasn't brought the rewards -- emotional and financial -- that you seek.

Funny

that I am pretty clear on who I am supporting in the Irani trophy match.

Wishing luck to Viru and his Delhi team. (Didn't I support Delhi in IPL too. Delhi is fast becoming my favorite state/city. Of course it all boils down to one man!)

Playing domestic cricket

isn't easy especially when you don't know what to do to get back to the national team.

Aakash Chopra in a forthright interview with Nagraj here

A nice excerpt

Last year you spoke about how Rahul Dravid met you at Hove and said you were in contention for the opener's slot still. What has Virender Sehwag's advice to you been?

Viru will always give you a perspective in as few words as possible. You might like it or might not but he has your best interests at heart. For example, when I wasn't picked this time for the Australia series, he said "Aakash, you'll play for India. If myself or Gautam [Gambhir] don't make runs in the next four Tests, your name might come again, but if both of us make runs then your name will not come up." He is black and white always in what he says or does. And you need to take him at face value.

One more reason for me to love Viru. I wish I could always talk in black and white too (in addition to hoping to play cricket like him)

I am speechless

an awesome post. To say anything more is to do injustice to the person who wrote it.

Becker

Well, after so many days I got to watch a new episode of Becker. And boy the show is awesome! I simply love it! Even on days like the ones I am having it makes me really happy!

Final crisis - a layman's perspective

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha presents a very interesting primer on the US bailout with some history of such incidents earlier

Here are some interesting excerpts

But there are two other lessons. First, most financial crises are followed by years of sub-par economic growth. Second, the final cost of bailouts averages around 13% of GDP, according to a 2002 World Bank study cited by MoneyWeek columnist Adrian Ash this May.

Three things follow from all this. One, the US government has — for all the ambiguities in the Paulson package — done well to move fast and prevent further financial deterioration. Two, the US economy is very likely to have at least a few years of anaemic growth or recession. Three, the current cost estimate for the bailout — $700 billion, or around 5% of US economic output — is most likely too low.

This would be interesting

in terms of the future of Gordon Brown
link via (economist free exchange)

Gordon Brown is preparing
to deliver a speech that may make or break his political future. The beleaguered prime minister has been readying this speech for a month now. He'll aim to increase confidence in his leadership, but the one included idea cited in the press—a £300 education programme—is hardly impressive stuff.

Might be someone

to look for in the future?
Peter Siddle - The new blond cricketer from Victoria!

Very clear

I am in a very weird situation. But there is something that I surely will know at the end of this situation. I have a feeling what I will find out will not be to my liking. But it surely will be the correct course of action for me.

All I can do is wish for better things for people I care about!

Meeting

Today I met my prof. Something did n't seem right to me today. I am lacking something. I need to get my dissertation running faster than the current pace. I know I can do it faster. Its just that I am not seeing the inner motivation. I have to strengthen myself to do that. Hopefully soon!

Fall

Today is the first day of fall this year. I hope the change in season will bring a change to my mood too. This year has been way more taxing than most in my life. I just hope things will change for better soon.

There is an element

of truth in this analysis by James Surowiecki.

See the excerpt

Considering that Wall Street firms spend all day dealing with the market, they have been slow to understand just how vulnerable they were to it. Companies like Lehman and, earlier, Bear Stearns saw going public as an excuse to take on more risk and act more recklessly, when in fact becoming a public company makes caution more important, since the margin for error is smaller, and the punishment for failure swifter. Now that the government has acted, Wall Street (or what remains of it) may yet be able to regain investors’ confidence. But long-term survival really depends on remembering the fundamental truth about playing with other people’s money: it’s a lot  of fun until they suddenly decide to ask for it back.

The man of the moment

Hank Paulson should be feeling pretty good about himself now. If I were him I surely would. He has released a proposal that has been the talk of the town all over the economic world (Link via economist freeexchange blog)

End of Wall Street

as we know it ?

Its not easy

to blame only a few people for the current crisis

A passionate

post on the treatment meted out to the old.

Hmm

I am not good at some things and because of that I get pained. But the pain is worth it because it does make some very crucial things clear to me. This shall help me in my future!

Arbit

The weekend has just begun. But it has been one of the weirdest beginnings to a weekend. I have a couple of friends who live near my campus. They had a very weird break-in kind of incident. It was in the middle of the night. It is so weird I cannot even think of writing it here. Anyway, the girls are handling the incident pretty well. They surely got freaked out (I don't blame them!). But I guess in 2-3 days things should return to normalcy. I hope for their sake they do. Living far away from family is difficult enough and I wish nobody would have to face such stupid things in life.

Anyway, as friends we will do whatever we can!

A very interesting

discussion on what next for America (link via IndiaUncut). I wouldn't claim that I understood everything. But from my understanding of the article it surely seems very difficult

See this for instance!

We’re going to need regulators who can anticipate what the nextWall Street business model is going to look like, and how the nextcrisis will be different than the current one. We’re going to needsquads of low-paid regulators who can stay ahead of the highly paidbankers, auditors and analysts who pace this industry (and whothemselves failed to anticipate this turmoil). We’re apparently going to need an all-powerful Super-Fed than can manageinflation, unemployment, bubbles and maybe hurricanes — all at the sametime! We’re going to need regulators who write regulations that controlrisky behavior rather than just channeling it off into dark corners,and who understand what’s happening in bank trading rooms even if theC.E.O.’s themselves are oblivious. We’re also going to need regulators who can overcome politics and human nature. As McArdlenotes, cracking down on subprime loans just when they were gettingfrothy would have meant issuing an edict that effectively said: “Don’tlend money to poor people.” Good luck with that.

Not very easy I think!

New female political sensation

Well, If you thought I was talking about Palin, sorry to disappoint you. I am here talking about Tzipi Livni the potential PM of Israel (I came across her through palscape).

This sounds pretty impressive

But while watching the news yesterday on the Israeli situation (thanksto SBS, which covers international news quite thoroughly) I  was struckby Livni’s smartness, poise and the authority with which she carriesherself (check the video above). Plus, she was a former Mossad agentand a lawyer, and  is currently handling international diplomacy in oneof the most volatile areas of the world. In my eyes, all that makes herfar more attractive!

Somethings

are so apparent yet it befuddles me that i am afraid to accept them

Freakish

It seems freakish when some weird things happen!

McCain seems

to have got the economy issue terribly wrong as highlighted in here. A list of all his gaffes in ...wait for it... only one week!

Yes, I agree

with Lal Badshah that he has nothing to clarify. But, in India (for that matter any society) people won't let life be that simple.

(An aside: But, in India (for that matter any society) people won't let it be that simple
In place of In India, I wrote in this country and then realized I live (and have been living here for 4 years) in USA. So corrected it to in India. Such thoughts chill me sometimes)

There surely

is some truth in what Andrew Miller thinks about the postponement of Champions trophy from Pakistan

An excerpt

International cricket will die of neglect if this pattern carries on. Zimbabwe is already a basket case; West Indies is relying on Allen Stanford to kiss it back to life. Many of Bangladesh's senior players, who have never yet been invited on a full tour of India in spite of playing them in the country's maiden Test in November 2000, have given up hope of ascending to the big time, and have instead sold their souls to the Indian Cricket League. Don't be surprised if a raft of Pakistanis follow suit. The Champions Trophy may have been detested as a competition, but right now, no one feels quite as detested as its jilted host.

When she wants

to she can dazzle you with her writing. I am talking about Shoba

These are questions you need to ask yourself!

I’d like to think that I would risk my life to save another person. I’d like to believe that I would take a bullet to save my best friend. But it is hard to be sure. What is character until it is tested?

Mother

hmmm.

Only a mother can say this!

Friends will come and go, the OA and I might divorce - everything can be forgetton. But my children even if they hate me and go away  - will always be my children. And there will come a night when they will no longer need me and that is when I will remember the sleepless nights. The difficult pregnancies, the painful deliveries, the nights of breastfeeding, the waking up at nights… and now this - the odd night when my son still needs me.

American Economy

To understand the significance of Lehman Bankruptcy all you have to do is look at the greatest bankruptcies in American history.

Lehman 639$ billion. The second value is 100$ billion, third (the famous Enron) is 63$ billion. The magnitude of Lehman is so huge. It begs the question what the regulatory organizations were doing when the firm was collapsing that heavily? Weren't there any signs or pre-cursors to the eventual downfall? Sounds unlikely to me. But what do I know of finance and markets!

Source and more details see the full article on Rediff

Work

Addressing conflicts at work is a pain. I am very bad at drawing the lines and end up doing stuff that I don't have to. I have to work on this aspect!

Anyway!

Now if you are Congress

what will you do if you loose elections in some states. Issue them warnings, may be dismiss the governments and impose President's rule. I just cannot understand what moral authority a central government, which allows bomb blasts every 6 weeks, has to even send a warning to state governments regarding the state of law an order in their state.Were these warnings sent to West Bengal during Nandigram? Were these warnings sent to the Andhra Pradesh government during the violence related to land capture? Oh sorry the left was part of the government .. so no warning to Left in Bengal. And Congress rules AP so nothing can be wrong. So no warning there too. But Karntaka and Orissa aren't run by Congress (or congress friendly parties) so issue them warnings under the Article 355. This is crap!

For a day

I was surprised that the Congress Government displayed some strength. But well they are running back to where they ought be today!

Small things

Small things in life make a huge difference. They make you extremely happy and also very very sad. Ironic is n't it?

Things are bleak

across the world financial markets

See for instance (full link here

If you were wondering whether this financial crisis was a global phenomenon, wonder no longer. The world's major central banks jointly announced an effort to provide an additional $180 billion in emergency funds, bringing total auction facilities to $247 billion. The Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of Canada, and Swiss National Bank participated in the effort, the announcement of which calmed Asian markets and reduced overnight rates, but which hasn't yet had an impact on longer-term interbank rates.

Bad days I guess! For how long is the important question!

Another

insight into the reason why McCain chose Palin. I will agree with Confused that Palin does shift the attention from Obama (read democrats) to Republicans! The trick so far seems to be working. Will it get votes? Well that is a question that will be answered in November only I think!

My semester

I am TAing for the first time in my life as a graduate student. For a person who has been in school for 4 years its rare that you get the opportunity so late in you career. Not that I am complaining. But it feels good to sit with students and help them with their minute problems. It allows you to see how students react and how you would need to make minor changes to the way you explain them. This for me is very interesting and enjoyable. Anyway, the course is not hectic by any stretch of imagination. So, I would say I am having a nice time. Lets see if it stays that way for the entire semester.

The other part of my semester is revolving around a statistical consulting course that I am taking. This allows me to interact with professors from various departments that employ statistical techniques to solve their research problems. It is interesting to see how people from other departments look at statistical applications. For them these are tools that they need to learn as appropriate. I work in an area where I need to improve (sometimes enhance) the existing methods to develop new models. So, the way I look at statistics is slightly different. But it surely makes you appreciate what you do more! Today I have a consultation session to get a feel for my second problem that I will be assisting this semester. Lets see how that goes !

Something

that has bothered me for a while. Writing obituaries or orkut messages for people who died by people who did not know them at all.

The Girl From Ipanema write a very interesting post related to this. I have to agree with her.

An interesting

discussion on arranged vs love marriage by Chamdni

Hmmm

Sometimes things seem fine.
Sometimes they don't.
Sometimes I just do not understand what to do.
Sometimes I feel I went overboard.

Anyway!!

Home minister speaks out

The impression Shivraj Patil makes when he talk is of utter disrespect for human life.

Read the below excerpt from his comments (full text here)

Again, he was careful to counter the charge of being "soft" on terrorism by pointing out that he was adhering to a policy framework set out by the Congress leadership. "My party's ethos is to do justice and to see it is done in a manner which contains and controls criminal and terrorist activities and at the same time does not give any opportunity to human rights violations," he said.

Refuting the charge of intelligence failure in the Delhi blasts, he said as he has in the past with regard to other attacks like 7/11, "It (inputs) were available with us in Delhi also. But what was not available was the timing and the method to be used for the purpose." He claimed that this was the case even before Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi warned of an attack on the Capital. Unfortunately for him, the claim does not seem to carry conviction even with his colleagues who are worried about the political cost of his continuation in the home ministry.

I can see only two things from this text:

1) I don't care about innocent people dying as long as we keep our muslim vote bank happy

2) I don't see why I will be held accountable for the bomb blasts when all I do is follow my party orders!

Not good

news this

A financial analysis by Anantha Nageswaran thats very scary to say the least.

Hindoo Calculator

Ramanujam. Some details here

A nice quite of Ramanujam

An equation means nothing to me unless it expresses a thought of God.

Link via desipundit

Really crazy news

here.

Lehman files for bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch is sold... Where will the new Investment Banking jobs come from?? I am curious

More nightmarish details here

A Wednesday

on a sunday was surely worth a watch. Especially in the background of yesterday's blasts. Well made movie!

An interesting debate

on the abortion time limit

Running

My running is on track. Today I ran 10 miles. It was a nice feeling reaching home after running for 10 miles. Well, looks like my marathon training is on track!

I actually

wish Australia will cancel their tour. At least then may be the problem of terrorism will be given the attention it deserves. In India, cricket can help lay the path for action. I am a cricket fan but still I hope the tour is canceled. That would result in the perception that until Indian Government does something, India is a viewed as an unsafe country! Man, if there are blasts at the rate of one every six weeks it deserves attention and necessitates action. I juts hope it will begin!

More on the

Delhi bomb blasts

Here Jagdish points out objectively how Sivraj Patil has been an arsehole

A rather violent approach proposed by Atanu Dey

Virender Sehwag

Its not right if i don't write about my other equally favorite sportsman on a day when I talk about Roger Federer
So here he talks about Geoffrey Boycott

"Boycott can say what he wants. He once batted the whole day and hit just one four"
Virender Sehwag takes recourse to history to hit back after Geoff Boycott referred to him as "talented but brainless"

I love this quote from him

After a long time

I am genuinely content. For the first time in the last 6 months I guess. I hope I can maintain this!

I am not alone

in express dismay at the handling of the terrorism crisis.

Rohit Brijnath

on my favorite sportsman Roger Federer

Not bad huh

He has now reached at least the semifinals of his last 18 grand slams. Pete Sampras’ best streak of grand slam semis (or better) in a row was three. When Federer won, relief was on his face and in his words.

Fighting terrorism

I didn't expect to be agreeing with Narendra Modi in my life. But, on this one I have to agree.

"This government is soft on terror. It has sent a signal that its softness on terror is minority friendly. The softness on terror is being used by the UPA as an instrument for vote bank politics," said Modi.

What more can be a scathing attack on the inefficiency of this central government!

Singur and Tata Nano

There appears to be something wrong with all the groups involved in this problem. The West Bengal Government and Mamta Banerjee are not handling things well. I cannot understand how there can be so many offers floating around with some being accepted up front and rejected the next day. it is simply ridiculous! Its appalling and what kind of sign are we giving to investors when you can't manage a crisis like this. This would give them a lot of confidence to invest in India!

Anyway!

Serial blasts in Delhi

Is it my feeling or are these blasts occurring with an alarming degree of regularity. Seriously something has to be done and all the political leaders do is express their grief over death of civilians. I am appalled at the way the government of India is handling these blasts. Nothings seems to be done and not even an honest effort to get hold of the people involved. Please, I appeal to government of India, please act before its too late! Do not think the muslims of India will stop voting for you if you go against the "extremists" who happen to be muslims. I think the muslims of India want these extremists to be brought to law as much as any other Indian would. So i earnestly request some action on this front!

A well written

article on Roger Federer's US open victory

Inspiring story

of the Olympic Bronze Medal winner Sushil Kumar

Seems like a time for

cricketing obituaries. One for Matthew Hoggard, who is  unlikely to represent England again. He was one of those likable guys. His spirit is best described in Nasser Hussains' words

"He will run into a wall for the captain".

That pretty much sums it all!

If you like

an Englishman talking about nothing in particular (of course he is a cricketer) do listen to this, by Bumble (for people who are bulbing, he is also known as David Llyod)

Squash

This week I started playing squash. I played racket ball before but squash is in a different league. This is revealed by the way my body reacts to an intense (not high quality.. just intense) game of squash. Today after nearly 2-3 months I just could not get up from the bed. Unfortunately, I had to so I did. So, I will depend of squash to help me out with adjusting my schedule appropriately. But, I still hope to be able to run long runs over the weekends, time and other factors permitting. This weekend might be a wet one here with Hurricane Ike bring in lot of rain and storms across Texas. I hope it will not cause destruction to property and importantly human life.

Work this week has been better. I still can work better and soon I hope to be at my optimal levels.

What can you say?

Mind it!



Link via vantagepoint

Nice game

here

One of favorite

English cricketers of the 90's Darren Gough's friend writes a wonderful piece on his "heart on sleeve" approach. That was the reason why I loved this guy be it his bowling or batting.

An insight

into the business culture of India. A discussion on why the business dynasty culture might  trump the corporate culture of the west. I hope it is true :)

Nice article

on Flintoff.

I liked this the most for reasons that are obvious

Both Flintoff and Lee may have been a bit less so in their youth but that’s just part of growing up. Lance Klusener too finished his career giving the impression of someone who put cricket in perspective. In the modern game, Mike Hussey, Dwayne Bravo, Shane Bond, Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag appear to have similar sunny dispositions. It could be an elaborate disguise but one hopes not. They all seem genuinely likeable characters.

Another

religion related issue causing trouble in India. This time it is the Hindus and Christians in Orissa.

May be its worth

celebrating for the women!

An expression

of sadness, agony and pain at the death of a friend by madmomma

Giving

A nice piece on the attitude of people towards GIVING

America

needs to handle the situation with ISI better than this if they need to maintain any shred of credibility in the war on terror.

Weird days

There are days where you think everything is going on fine. But, suddenly everything collapses and you realize today was no different from rest of the days. It's just that the weirdness comes very strongly in a short span.

All you can do is for it to subside.

John McCain

I have read articles where people bemoan the tactics of John McCain's campaign (here, here), be it the Palin candidacy or the confrontations with Obama campaign on trivial issues. But all of them question McCain's giving up his character to win the election. Please guys grow up. Why did a decorated war veteran of his stature join politics? To be called a decorated senator. No, he wanted to become the president of United States. That is why he is in the politics. So, to achieve his individual goals (a concept that is as American as it can get) he is putting everything on the line. Even if he looses he will still be a decorated war veteran. People will forget the campaign in no time. But if he wins he will get what he wants. This is simple politics. I feel its funny that so many bloggers lament over the fact that McCain is employing petty tactics to win.

Anyway, just to clarify, I do not endorse what McCain is doing or for that matter what Obama does. It does not affect my life here (I hope so), so i can afford to be indifferent and yet enjoy the drama!

Is ManMohan Singh

really this smart politically? Hmm. I am not convinced

Really good piece

on the concept of arranged marriages in India connected to the issue of freedom of choice!

Another polite obituary

to Saurav Ganguly

Suggestions on

how to deal with our neighbor China

Have to agree

with Kunal on the Ganguly issue

Obama's lead

might not be a true lead as pointed out by Andrew Hacker

Something called Bradley effect might be in play in the case where people belonging to the majority race might say they will vote for the candidate from minority community (or for a minority cause) only to feel good.

More here

As I write, several polls give Obama about 47 percent and McCain about 45 percent, a decline of several points for Obama from the polls of May and July. The rest of the respondents say they are undecided. At the same time the state-by-state estimates by pollster.com show Obama leading in electoral votes, with 102 such votes
a “toss-up.” The numbers will probably have changed by the time you read this. Yet now and later, there’s a chance that the real percentages will be the reverse of those I’ve cited. Some people who are telling pollsters they’re for Obama could actually be lying.

Such behavior has been called the “Bradley Effect ,” after Tom Bradley, a black mayor of Los Angeles who lost his bid to be California’s governor back in 1982. While every poll showed him leading his white opponent, that isn’t how the final tally turned out. Things haven’t been far different in some other elections involving black candidates. In 1989, David Dinkins was eighteen points ahead in the polls for New York’s mayoral election, but ended up winning by only a two-point edge. The same year, Douglas Wilder was projected to win Virginia’s governorship by nine points, but squeaked in with one half of one percent of the popular vote. Nor are examples only from the past. In Michigan in 2006, the final polls forecast that the proposal to ban affirmative action would narrowly prevail by 51 percent. In fact, it handily passed with 58 percent. That’s a Bradley gap of seven
points, which isn’t trivial.

Pollsters contend that respondents often change their minds at the last minute, or that conservatives are less willing to cooperate with surveys. Another twist is that more voters are mailing in absentee ballots, and it’s not clear how those early decisions are reflected in the polls. Yet the Bradley gap persists after voters have actually cast their ballots. Just out of the booth, we hear them telling white exit pollers that they supported the black candidate, whereas returns from these precincts show far fewer such votes. Thus they lie to interviewers they don’t know and will never see again. Barack Obama wants to think “white guilt [over treatment of blacks] has largely exhausted itself in America.” I’m less sure. Almost all people who reject black candidates say they have nonracial reasons for doing so. And many undoubtedly believe what they’re saying. So I’m not persuaded that the Bradley gap won’t emerge this year. The Obama campaign would do well to print signs to post prominently in all its offices: ALWAYS SUBTRACT SEVEN PERCENT!

(Link via Amit Varma)

Aakash chopra

starts his tour diary on the first class season!

I always liked this guy! He played his role very well in the 04 Australian tour supporting Sehwag and taking the shine off the new ball. He writes an honest account of life in the domestic circuit.Will look forward to reading more from him.

Interesting

to say the least.
My horoscope !

Although your birthday may have come and gone, today may feel like a day when you can make a wish and have it come true. But as enjoyable as an unrealistic fantasy is, you're better off now focusing on the more practical aspects of your daydreams, for they reveal important clues about what's around the next bend.

Have to admit

the article presents a very radical perspective. However, its worth a read.

Will United

sue to the news website for the loss?
(link via economist blogs)

And shares of United Airlines fell 75% before recovering yesterday, after an old story related to United's 2002 bankruptcy was accidentally reposted on a news site. Before the mistake could be corrected, shares of the airline fell from $12 to $3. United closed down just over 11%, despite wide acknowledgement that the report was posted in error.

Andy Murray

I have always thought Andy Murray was talented to be a threat in the future. Today he showed glimpses of what he can but not enough to trouble Roger. But one thing he did after he lost the match makes me appreciate Andy even more!

"You’ve had a great year, no matter what anyone says,” Murray whispered in his ear at the end.

This is what he said to Fed after the match point. For a 21 year old lad, who just lost his first grandslam to say such words is unbelievable. That shows a respect for greatness. I am sure Andy will have his share of greatness in the next 3-4 years. Now with those words he becomes the second player I will cheer for in the future. Go Andy, you are a genuine hope for a British champ at "The Championships" (For those who don't know what "The Championships" means see here)

A detailed

piece on the relation between the different economies with emphasis on the Asian countries by V Anantha Nageswaran

Roger Federer

Roger Federer wins his 13th grandslam trophy today.

I am happy he has reached 13! Way to go dude and I know you will win many more!

You never know with

Ganguly. So people are being circumspect in writing him off this time.

Ganguly's career over?

Does this mean the end of Ganguly's career? He has been left out of the Rest of India squad

You have

to admire the grit of this man. I wish he gets enough chances to prove his mettle in both forms of cricket!

Another hurdle

Earlier in my life, I knew I had to cross a variety of hurdles to make things work. On that occasion I failed. I did not have the conviction to go through with what I thought was correct. It was at the last hurdle and the most important of the hurdles. I thought I might have to face these hurdles again. But, fortunately or unfortunately, there is no need for me to tackle those hurdles this time because I did not manage to cross some of the initial hurdles in my way. The first time I always was guilty of doing not enough. This time I am sure I did what I had to. So, at least I have no regrets on that front. I can see positives even in this. Not bad huh! Of course, I still will never know if I had the conviction to take it all the way!

Anyway! Hopefully life shall move on to normalcy with time!

Weird

My horoscope

You may be overly busy today, but you would probably rather be
relaxing. Your first impulse is to have fun now, yet you intuitively
know that the current temptations are testing you in many ways. Don't
give in to your happy-go-lucky inner child; act maturely and do the
responsible grown-up thing instead.

Very well written

post on the new star turned politician on the block by Vinay!

Never

put all your eggs in the same basket. It is not a wise thing to do personally or financially.

Life is so humbling. You always learn!

It

will not be the same anymore? Worse, it will be absent. I still can't believe it!

No other game

can produce so many different characters. Only Cricket can and shall continue to do so!

China's labor supply

in danger? Read this good piece on the economist to find out!

Link via economist blog free exchange

Google Chrome

Chrome is a new browser launched by Google very recently. It is supposedly faster and more secure. I tried it. It looks fine. But I am not convinced yet that I should move away from My Firefox. Anyway!

A nice article

on the transformation of Dhoni the batsman.

I have been very impressed by the way he has handled the one-day team captaincy. He will be a natural to lead the test. But for that to happen, the old war horses of Indian cricket have to move to let Dhoni prepare his team. Until then letting Kumble carrying the test burden is appropriate.

How do you

choose your company? Shoba gives her views

There is a semblance of truth in this

The way geniuses solve this problem of intellectual arrogance is by
hanging around people with the same level of intellect as them.

I think this is how everybody solves their problem! That is one reason, once you know some people are different from you in perspectives, it makes it hard to talk to them like before!

Anyway

US Open

It is very rare that I do not blog about tennis when a grandslam is going on. But its been a weird time for me. But today Leander Paes brings me out of the reverie by winning the mixed doubles tournament. I know winning the doubles event isn't as great as winning the singles but Leander does deserve credit for this one. Man he is 35 and still has the touch and reflexes to defeat younger players. I hope he will his doubles event final too. Good job dude!

Sounds a good

move to phase out "Old" vehicles in India.

I just

hope the Andhra electorate make a smart choice in the coming election. It really hurts to read things like this and yet Congress boasting of their work! Its sad!

Only

Amit Varma can make jokes out of stuff like this

A poorly

handled cancellation of a "liberal" play leads to this post by Sharanya.

(Link via IndiaUncut)

It is

sad that it takes tragedies like Kosi flooding to remove the differences between people from different religions. Still its nice! Read the piece here (Link via barbarindians)

Well

Can't even comment on this one
Hilarious!!

An interesting

piece on Hick and Gough with specific emphasis on their personality traits!

This is what I call

a good cricket fan. Lot of research would have gone into getting this fact.

Ok, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly, Sehwag and Kumble have a chance to be a part of cricket history by winning a test in every test playing nation. To make sure you understand the significance of it, even the world beating Australia does not have a player who is part of the team that won everywhere! So all that the rare sextet need to do is win a test in New Zealand. I hope they will. In case you haven't noticed my dude (Viru) has played only 60 tests and yet he is in the sextet! Thats cool naa!

anyway, the full piece is here. Good job Keyur Shah!

More embaraasment for the

Congress on the N-deal. For deatils see here, here, here

Bihar

Many of you would have been aware of the dire condition of many villages submerged by river Kosi in Bihar. I have been reluctant to read anything on this because I felt the situation could have been avoided. This was clear once Indian government and Nepal government started the blame game. It feels ridiculous to know that something should have been done before the monsoon season and it was n't. The strengthening of embankment on river Kosi would have avoided the evacuation of 6.48 lakh people (i am not kidding) and about 2.52 lack people are taking shelter in relief camps. If only the initial steps towards repairing the embankment were taken all these people would not have been so affected. But well this is India. We react never pro-act!

Well,

these words by Akram are a little premature for my liking!

Vinayak Chaturthi

I come from a family that is nt very religious. But this is one festival we celebrate at home conducting pooja and all (our style). Last year I was at home and could celebrate the festival with family. This year I an my sister could not be at home. It feels weird. It would have been great to be there!

anyway!
Happy Vinayak Chaturthi to everybody

A different

article on the Don (if you missed it, it was his centenary). Makes lot of sense!

Well,

This should make Mamta Banerjee and her ilk happy. The irony is the shutdown means the loss of potential jobs for thousands of people. Well, who cares for them!

Really surprised

to see that there was opposition to the OBC bill in parliament.Of course, it was oppossed by a single MP Tathagata Satpathy from BJD (Biju Janata Dal). Here is an excerpt from his speech

Aamir

Have been wanting to watch Aamir for a long time. Got to see it today.
The movie is based on religious fundamentalism and how normal people are forcible drawn to be a part of it. The movie is decently done! Sometimes, such things make you wonder the educated people part of the fundamentalist jihaad are drawn into it by force!

Anyway!

Argument?

I do not intend to argue but there is something wrong in the logic here

Yes there are always choices to be made and the pro-life group always sticks to the same choice. The fact that choices exist does not make it a pro-choice argument. The pro-life group refuse to take the other choice. It is just to ensure they get as much publicity as possible by acting as though they made a choice, while in fact there was never one to be made.

I am not taking sides. It is for the female to choose which side she wants to be! (which shows where i stand)

I missed this one

Mark Ramprakash makes 100 hundreds in first class cricket (when i was in India). He could be the last the batsman who will ever make it the 100-hundred list. The list is graced with eminent batsman. So, its a huge achievement.

Profile

of the new RBI governor D. Subba Rao

Interesting to note a gult RBI governor replaced by another one!

What more can you say

On Viru

The Solo

Like Robin Hood, Virender Sehwag looted the rich, the Sri Lankan bowlers, for the good of those rendered uncharacteristically poor, the Indian batsmen. Sehwag played the Test series in a different universe, and Sri Lanka's proximity to a win was always inversely proportional to the time he spent at the crease. In Galle he batted for 348 minutes before running out of partners. Another batsman might have scored a boy-on-the-burning-deck century in such circumstances, but Sehwag dealt out some fire of his own. Off 231 balls he scored 201; the rest - extras included - added 128 in 261 legal deliveries. Sehwag made it look so simple it was breathtaking, finding gaps in the field that other batsmen don't know of. The statistic of the innings: he took 70 runs off 77 balls he faced from Ajantha Mendis. At 199, he refused singles twice, shielding the No. 11, as opposed to rushing manically towards the double-century, his fifth. In the end, the Sri Lankans couldn't out Sehwag at all, and had to dislodge Ishant Sharma to afford themselves a sigh of relief.

more on the week that was from cricinfo

Well, people

surely are riled by McCain's choice of VP. Here is ipatrix's version. But i guess that is what McCain and the republican party would want. To gain some publicity/limelight of which they were getting none of until the announcement.