Dravid, Cricket & Diplomacy

Just finished reading through this article by Kamran Abbasi on Cricinfo. As pointed out by Kamran in the Article:

"It is hard not to be impressed by Dravid—and let’s put his batting prowess to one side for a moment. He articulately handles the media with assurance and honesty, skills that the massed ranks of VVIP podium-huggers would do well to acquire. On this occasion, though, Dravid excelled himself. With the interview clearly over, Dravid hogged the microphone to thank Pakistan for touring India, playing in the right spirit, making friends, and being great ambassadors for their country."

I think Dravid will make a better captain than Gangs, not from a win-loss record standpoint, but rather because of his tactical acumen and his Cool-as-a-cucumber image. Gangs was more like loose canon. You never knew what he was going to do. But, that is how Gangs was. He was an instinctive captain. I see Dravid will be more on the lines of a Fleming or Waugh (Sr). But, for all this talk about Dravid being Captain, I still think we should retain Gangs. Who wouldn't want a reprise of his Lord's innings against England or the Taunton Inns against Srilanka in the '99 WC.

PS: What about Mr. Dependable aka Anil Kumble as the next Maharaja of Team India? Do I hear any Aye's!!!?

The Professional

Software professionals as a creed can rarely be seen at their cube's during the early hours of the day. We pride ourselves in reporting to as well as working late. So, it was really a rude shock when on my usual weekend walk - don't ask me why it doesn't spill over to the weekdays - I spotted a member of the clan from the fairer sex (I somehow have a fetish for this term) reporting for work at 7am on a saturday morning.

She was dressed in true bharatiya nari style though the black high-heeled slip-on didn't match her attire (can't stop myself from typing that :-) ). As I was left wondering the intent for an early start to official duties on a saturday morning, the answer unfolded in the next few moments. She walked up the stairs and near to the door did she bend and picked up the broom stick to dust off my thoughts on her job profile.

I went ahead with the contentment that the thoughts on my clan still hold valid. Hail-ho!! techie.

Does an indian life have any meaning?

I am typing this blog at a moment when my anger is whistle-blowing. I just finished reading the article on rediff on the killing of BSF assitant commandant Jeevan Kumar. Throw a search on google and you will find contradicting tales that have appeared in the bangladeshi press. I think its high time india unshackles itself from the no-first-strike policy. The bangaldeshi's will not learn their lesson through diplomatic means. You got muzzle them and then start squeezing them through economic, miltiary and political means to let them understand the consequences of inciting big-brother India.

I can't believe that the indian media hasn't taken up this issue, what with just the ubiquitous report being put out by the papers. This brings back painful memories of the 16 BSF jawans, who were killed in an equally gruesome way. I think its time India realises that it can molly-coddle the pakis but not these banglas. They need to be crushed sooner than later.

Web Clock

Like what you see above. Can't wait to have it. Then your next stop -> Clocklink

Bring Back Gangs

Lot has been said and written about the abysmal and spinless performance of the indian team in the last one day international. With the next series in Sri Lanka, starting only in August, the time is ripe for two things
1. Coronate Dravid officially as the captain.
2. Retain - to give him a chance to redeem himself as a batsman, Gangs in the team.

The last two ODI's have exposed a cruel albeit interesting fact. I have gone through a glut of articles debasing Gangs and that without him the indian team would be better off. As a human who believes the pen always burps out the truth, I believed the reasons attributed in the articles calling for the removal of Gangs. But, the naked truth is that these team is in the morass, with/without gangs. So, as I see it, drop gangs as the captain but give him one last chance to redeem himself as a batsman. Because as we have seen it even with 'His Highness' Sachin Tendulkar, once he was stripped of his duties as a leader his batting flourished. So, why wouldn't the same happen with Ganguly? But, to satiate the cynical minds amongst you- If gangs fails, then the same rule should be applied to judge his form as for his team-mates.

No-one can ever claim not to have been bewitched by ganguly's ODI's exploits - I am not going to dwell into his abilites as a test batsman. There are few destructive batsman - with all due respect to Jayasurya & Afridi - in ODI, who can make the whole experience of watching a cricket match as exciting as a derby race. I am not going to dwell more except say that 'Gangs was the god of offside' and I hope for the sake of his devotees, the god re-invents himself come this August.

PS: Read through this piece of Amit Varma to understand why my case of asking for the return of gangs will fail.

Do you wanna bitch?

Don't get me wrong. Take a look at Chien(ne)s Sans Frontières. They are a blog group and their articles are really a eye opener. I happened to tresspass this site when I was searching for Google's Code Jam

Earning in Dollars?

If the title applies to you, then you should read the, Truth About Earning in Dollars.

Though the author is reprehends some attitudes of the globe-trotting indian it still drives home the point that we should bring-to-a-close the age old indian mentality of comparing indian and foreign salaries. Worth a read.

What's in a name?

My parents christened me Arun Kumar. When parents baptise you with a name that is as common as a name as mine you know that is recipe for confusion. Confusion and my name go hand-in-hand. While in school, the only time I stood as top 3 of my class, the prize was given to my friend who carried the same name and initial. My mother still chides me saying that at the end of the ceremony - yours truly did ultimately get to lay his hands on the prize, An Enid Blyton book - it seems I had told her 'I'll never come in the top 3 ever again'. And, as fate would have had it, this remained true even uptil the day I finished my masters.

But, coming to the real story of the day. My wife's elder brother shares part of my name. Yup!! the second part. He just called up. The conversation went something like this:

Kumar: 'Arun...kumar'
Me : 'Yes, that's me.'
Kumar: 'Arun..kumar'
Me : 'Yes, this is Arun kumar speaking.'

The deadlock was finally broken by my wife - whose got a better hang of life than me, plucked out the phone from my hand and ended the frustration of my bro-in-law.

Phew!!! What's in a name? If you ask me, lots.

The bird and the bum

Now, this can be the most eyebrow raising blog title seen for a while but if you go through this blog by Nehasri, I am sure you would agree that the given title is most apt for the situation she's has described.

PS: If your from the land of Kamalhassan, I am sure you would be in splits even as you read this. Enna naan sonnathu, correct-a!!!!

Nomad Forum

Yup!! You read it right except for the discussions on this forum are skewed towards HDD-based mp3 players like iPod & Creative Jukebox. It's really informative if your a fellow nomadian like yours truly. I happened to bump into this forum while trying to find the latest version of Creative Playcenter. Found that there are actually better options to sync up my jukebox than subject myself to the torturous Playcenter that creative provides. On a passing note, if your here because of a search result on reviews for a creative jukebox , then you should probably lookup Andrew Ferrier's Review. CAUTION: Read this review only if you read one's that espouse you to buy one.

This Rant is worth a dekko

I just now finished reading through this blog - Creating Middle Earth - which talks about the making of the Lords of the Rings movie. Though its gets rather technical, I still think its worth enough to give a glance.

PS: I am not a big fan of the triology because "Harry Potter" rules, man.

"I have an attitude..."

Yes, I certainly do. Who doesn't but to let know the whole world know through a T-shirt seems the most pathetic way of telling the truth. Saw this line on a T-shirt worn by a member of the fairer sex (Does this qualify as a sexist comment!!!)

PS: This one's great though oft repeated. "All men are not stupid. Some stay bachelors". How I wish I was part of them? Hindsight is definitely a tool we miss.

BHEL & Puri

Just read this dry joke at Gaurav's Vantage Point

"Arun, where are you...."

'Can Cricket & Marriage ever co-habitate?'

I always wanted to write a review on a cricket match. Having played a lot of cricket myself I had always thought that I would be as-able as the so-called experts who ramble all-day-long on the Idiot box. Also, this would be a great exercise to gauge my knowledge of the game. The far I had got with this venture, till this saturday, was the thought. So, when India was to ‘lock horns’ (Don’t you already see, I love clichés) with Pakistan at Kochi, I decided that I will put down my review of the match on the blog.

You always need to prepare for a task and having being in the IT industry for the last 5 years, that is something like second nature to me. So, I prepared a to-do list of all the morning chores that I need to get done so that I am there for the first ball. I had made a mental map of all things that I need to get done, right from the time I need to get out of bad to having my breakfast. With the satisfaction of having charted out my plan, I went to bed.

I woke up the next morning from a dreamless night (oh!! boy, I have lots of them. Some good, little bad & the rest down right ugly). As always it was my instincts, rather than my alarm which I regularly fail to switch on, that woke me up. My wife once taunted me, ‘Arun, how is that you wake up on the dot even at 2am in the night (Psst!! This came during the horrible 2003 India’s tour of New Zealand) without an alarm when you find it difficult to pull apart your eye-lids otherwise’. I thought, ‘Lady, that is a gift from god.’ but as anyone, who has tasted the ‘shaadi ka laddoo’ would vouch its better to be quiet when the lady of the house talks.

I had stuck to my plan and done all the things that I had charted out. It was close to 9am when the first incident that unstuck my dream happened…….