Satire

at its best here

Finally

I decide its time to post. My trip has been slicha hectic involving travel from DC to Philly, NY and back. Now I have finally settled into my hotel and the Fellowship program has begun. It looks like it is going to be strenuous. I hope I will be able to have some fun!

Blogging will be slightly random till I get back!

I still have random moods, but the work is keeping me slicha busy!

Lets see!

2009 begins

with a long trip for me away from Austin to the North East!

I need a good break.


I hope it will be fun!

2008

The year end post.

Me
Academically this has been a productive year. Got some good work done. Completed my proposal. This year I have achieved a dream of mine when I joined UT. So I am very pleased about that.

On the personal front I had to face some setbacks. The pain is still there and it shall be there for some more time. I only wish I knew for how long.

Non-academically I shall be proud of finishing the Austin marathon!

Family
It has been a decent year in terms of my family. My sister made me proud by completing her MTech. She also has started work and things look good for her

Friends
This year has been good for my friends. Three good friends got married, another one started work in Austin, Another got a job in Academia, Another two of my friends are heading back home for good. Also some of my batchmates have got married. Looks like the peak shall be in 2009.
Also, I will remember 2008 as the year where I made a very very good friend. But


Cricket
Indian cricket has made giant strides this year. The highlights include the victory in Perth, CB series victory, Chennai test win. Of course Viru had an awesome year! Also of not were the performances of Ishant and Gautam. Dada and Kumble have retired. Cricket after 2008 will never be the same again for me! Also, Australia have been toppled (still unofficially) as the world champions. For now the mantle shall go to South Africa. But under Dhoni India can change that. Lets hope 2009 will be that year

Tennis
Federer had a rough year. Only the US grandslam. Not happy with that. But Nadal deserves credit for that. But I hope Fed to be back to his best this year.

Books
Managed to read some good ones such as "A Thousand Splendid Suns", "Siddhartha"

Trips
India trip was short. I was under immense pressure during the trip but managed to hold up decently.
Seattle trip rocked. The good old days of bachelorhood groups are over!
TRB 08 and DC was as usual fun and good!

Overall
In my current state I am happy 2008 is finishing. But may be in some years time I might look at it more kindly!


Anyway hoping 2009 will bring happiness to everybody!

The last time in 2008

I had to do this alone for a change. I did it. I had to.

Happy New Year everybody!
I hope 2009 will bring you joy!

A nice piece

on highs and lows of cricket by Osman Samiuddin

Some excerpts

The best advertisement for Test cricket this year

Test cricket has never been as rowdy as when Virender Sehwag is at the crease. He resurrected his career with a resolute Adelaide hundred but he lit up the year with two outrageous innings. A triple hundred against South Africa at better than a run-a-ball in Chennai was easily the fastest triple ever, managing to enliven what was
otherwise one of the year's dullest Tests. The second capped off one of the best: A ludicrous 68-ball 83 that really made impossible nothing, letting India chase down 387 at the same venue but on a very different pitch.

The most audacious match-winning innings of the year not played by V Sehwag

This year Graeme Smith confirmed his status as one of the best last-innings batsmen ever, leading South Africa to victories in four countries. He started with a 79-ball blitz against the West Indies in Newlands in January, his 85 fairly hunting down a tricky 186. Sixty-two came in a dicier 205-run chase in Dhaka. But the glory lay first in a monumental unbeaten 154 at Edgbaston, chasing 281; a blistering 108 in Perth in the second-highest chase ever; and a calming 75 at the MCG to seal the series. No longer the cocky kid, in 2008 Smith became a man of indomitable will.

The Inzamam-ul-Haq Award for figure of the year

Jesse Ryder. The boy may be fat but the boy can most definitely bat.

Retirements of the year

The quietest but loudest "Just one more things lads' was how one of Indian cricket's most significant figures quietly announced his retirement. Sourav Ganguly signed off with a bang, however, with 324 runs at over 50 against the men he riled the most. No better way of saying he could've played on.

Most statistically satisfying

Stephen Fleming's actual batting was far sexier than his career numbers suggest, but if he had failed to finish with an average of 40, it would've been cricket's greatest injustice since Bradman's 99.94 and Inzi's 49.60. Fortunately, two typically smooth innings (typically, not hundred either) ensured he didn't.

The biggest shoes to fill Those left behind by Anil Kumble and Adam Gilchrist. Both were among the biggest game-breakers their country - and cricket - has seen. Who will be the more difficult to replace: A wicketkeeper-batsman who made 33 international 100s at a strike-rate not far from 100, or a grim-faced leggie with over 600 Test wickets? Will make the search for the next Beefy look like a walk in the park.

Haircut of the year
Ishant Sharma, because he got one.

Splendid

Mitra Kalita's last piece on Mint. Simply too good!