"Emphatic test series win in New Zealand after 41 years". Such an exaggerated fad. Firstly, for the reason India has played in New Zealand on very few occasions. Without donning a statistician-hat, one can say they haven't been there more than five times, after their last series win in the adventure nation. And secondly, frankly this was by no means any where close to being an emphatic victory for this New Zealand side could be their weakest in the history. With all the talks about India being the prospective test No. 1 team this scoreline of 1-0 isn't thumping enough. Especially, considering when there was a straight and simple opportunity to bulge the verdict to 2-0.
If Dhoni wasn't even looking to seal a win but just secure a draw with a safety-only approach. He might be someone to consider walking helmet-headed on the sideways :) And, he is not really as special as he's made out to be. He's just a lucky good cricket captain, not the great one.
All the talk about Dhoni being the master tactician may well be a little stretched if he was indeed intending to win that last drawn test. It's beyond logic to eat up precious hours of play to post 600+ runs for New Zealand's chase. After they were bundled out for meager 197 in their first outing. For New Zealand is not the greatest batting lineup. And even more glaringly rains were expected on the last two days of the test. This is a scenario not too different than what Dravid's team did in England last year. Somehow, Dhoni isn't getting half the flak as much as Dravid did for his over-defensive ploy.
This is not about Dhoni-bashing. But the best guess is Dhoni misread the game. That's lesser of the two evils above. After all, Dhoni isn't so helmet-headed :)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
High on wheels
Almost 20 years ago, for the first time I got to set my feet on the roller skates. Those were the summer school breaks for which I would wait year long. One such summer, I joined my cousins in their skating exercise.
Being the late starter among all and for being there for about just a month or so, I had a little extra consideration. My turns came often than others and they lasted a little longer as well. The momentary elevation on the skates would thrill me of a tall view. The wheels underneath, took me faster with little effort. Biting the floor was my last concern till I had a decent hang with those skates. The slightly long living room was our skating rink, where we took turns and practiced for hours from one door to another.
Next summer break, there was something new more exciting and the skates were forgotten. That was the "20 years ago" captioned part of the movie in black and white :) (gives me a nausea that I'm talking in terms decades :( )
Enter presence, Mr.Me gets another chance to have a go at the skates in Innovative film city's skating rink. I started very shakily with very less belief that I could regain my childhood expertise. But as the time moved, my skates kept moving better. Soon, I was managing with out the support from cushioned fences. And Finally I was at a decent speed with my typical chicken-dance-kinda arm movement to balance the go. It was immense joy of finding something back that I had not missed so bad but relished whole exercise.
May be, "Skills once acquired are nearly forever"
Being the late starter among all and for being there for about just a month or so, I had a little extra consideration. My turns came often than others and they lasted a little longer as well. The momentary elevation on the skates would thrill me of a tall view. The wheels underneath, took me faster with little effort. Biting the floor was my last concern till I had a decent hang with those skates. The slightly long living room was our skating rink, where we took turns and practiced for hours from one door to another.
Next summer break, there was something new more exciting and the skates were forgotten. That was the "20 years ago" captioned part of the movie in black and white :) (gives me a nausea that I'm talking in terms decades :( )
Enter presence, Mr.Me gets another chance to have a go at the skates in Innovative film city's skating rink. I started very shakily with very less belief that I could regain my childhood expertise. But as the time moved, my skates kept moving better. Soon, I was managing with out the support from cushioned fences. And Finally I was at a decent speed with my typical chicken-dance-kinda arm movement to balance the go. It was immense joy of finding something back that I had not missed so bad but relished whole exercise.
May be, "Skills once acquired are nearly forever"
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Best ever rivalary
Roger Federer and Rafeal Nadal might make up the best ever rivalry for the world of tennis to have witnessed. They are players of contrasting features. Federer silky and all class while Nadal is about athleticism and relentlessness. Without each other, they could dominate Men's tennis like none other. It's a sheer treat to have them play at the same time.
After 2008's Wimbledon epic final these two have continued to treat the tennis lovers with their supreme brand of tennis. As I blog this, Nadal stops Federer yet again from that elusive record equaling 14th grand slam at Melbourne. Another long five setter with tennis of highest quality and many to follow.
After 2008's Wimbledon epic final these two have continued to treat the tennis lovers with their supreme brand of tennis. As I blog this, Nadal stops Federer yet again from that elusive record equaling 14th grand slam at Melbourne. Another long five setter with tennis of highest quality and many to follow.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wings and Roots
Since the last time I had been home, wings and roots have been creeping through my mind. Enough impetus for me to pen down the below. Go on...
Wings and Roots
------------------
Stars and planets have lit up to
set a glittering fresco
above and broad like none
triggering a wish deep inside
wanting to fly high and high
taking off with sparkle filled eyes
longing to merge with the clear sky
spreading the wings with wide eyes
sailing through the clouds
claiming the open horizons
pretending all the tallness
gazing the great distances
the ever fluttering wings
never ending empty skies
have had their toll
high spirits taking a free fall
remained a single possibility
crashing onto the ground reality
broken bones to befriend shattered dreams
dust all over blocking the earthy scenes
crawls in a earnest, faint call
soothing the battered soul
gaping all over for the angel to spot
there rested the firm and deep into ground
the very roots to let
the wings blossom
Wings and Roots
------------------
Stars and planets have lit up to
set a glittering fresco
above and broad like none
triggering a wish deep inside
wanting to fly high and high
taking off with sparkle filled eyes
longing to merge with the clear sky
spreading the wings with wide eyes
sailing through the clouds
claiming the open horizons
pretending all the tallness
gazing the great distances
the ever fluttering wings
never ending empty skies
have had their toll
high spirits taking a free fall
remained a single possibility
crashing onto the ground reality
broken bones to befriend shattered dreams
dust all over blocking the earthy scenes
crawls in a earnest, faint call
soothing the battered soul
gaping all over for the angel to spot
there rested the firm and deep into ground
the very roots to let
the wings blossom
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Marina Bitch oops....beach
I was presented with this opportunity to visit Chennai. This was my first entry into the south city. I did have a preset perception of the city already, specifically Marina beach.
On learning about the convenience of the travel from my hotel to Marina, I decided to board the local public transport, that kind of lets you feel the pulse of the city and its people. The roads were good enough for the traffic at hand. It was a little hard to find someone knowing a common language, thats how I found myself well past the Marina stop (free excess trip though :)).
Determined not to have another excess drive, I took care to sit next to someone who looked likely to share a common language with me. A chinki guy(chinku?) from north-east saved me with his english.
It was a long walk from the road to the so much crowded beach. No wonder the sea was not to be heard in the mob noise :). With my lee coopers on, I walked as though each of my legs were tied to heavy sacks of sand. If this is what a walk is to be, I would never "walk the talk" agian...LOL
The sloppy walking with those heavy steps were complemented well enough by the beating sun and shabby surroundings with all the throwing. I bet garbage collectors have a bright future on Marina. I saw things like paper wrappers, plastics, left over fish dishes (on which a large number of crows pounce to get their pound of flesh). I thought "I'm at the most littered beach in the world!".
No wonder there were all sort of stalls on the beach to supply such never ending garbage. Shops that sell articles made of shell, funny sunglasses, toys, clothes, fried eatable, boiled eatables etc etc... Another stall had tens of helpless balloons hung on a board waiting to be shot. The long guns with fillers probed me to have a go at those innocent balloons. I decided not to embarrass Abhinav Bindra :)
But this stall takes the cake. It had all the tamil super stars (right from Rajni saar till hot Asin and hotter Thrisha) lined up for you to get flashed with. Yes, they were all life size portraits. Isn't it quite an "IN" thing to get clicked when you have Thrisha by the side with Marina roaring at the back (if worse, there is a possibility that the background could include some peeing in the open :) )
And here I was finally at the sea. Serene with the waves following a pattern known to none. Some people had found their playground at the sea shore, having a dayout with family or an odd ones with their girlfriend (they are odd not to indicate that they have a girl, its just that they were less numbered). Those in the sea playing "throw-coconut", truly south indian version of throwball.
On learning about the convenience of the travel from my hotel to Marina, I decided to board the local public transport, that kind of lets you feel the pulse of the city and its people. The roads were good enough for the traffic at hand. It was a little hard to find someone knowing a common language, thats how I found myself well past the Marina stop (free excess trip though :)).
Determined not to have another excess drive, I took care to sit next to someone who looked likely to share a common language with me. A chinki guy(chinku?) from north-east saved me with his english.
It was a long walk from the road to the so much crowded beach. No wonder the sea was not to be heard in the mob noise :). With my lee coopers on, I walked as though each of my legs were tied to heavy sacks of sand. If this is what a walk is to be, I would never "walk the talk" agian...LOL
The sloppy walking with those heavy steps were complemented well enough by the beating sun and shabby surroundings with all the throwing. I bet garbage collectors have a bright future on Marina. I saw things like paper wrappers, plastics, left over fish dishes (on which a large number of crows pounce to get their pound of flesh). I thought "I'm at the most littered beach in the world!".
No wonder there were all sort of stalls on the beach to supply such never ending garbage. Shops that sell articles made of shell, funny sunglasses, toys, clothes, fried eatable, boiled eatables etc etc... Another stall had tens of helpless balloons hung on a board waiting to be shot. The long guns with fillers probed me to have a go at those innocent balloons. I decided not to embarrass Abhinav Bindra :)
But this stall takes the cake. It had all the tamil super stars (right from Rajni saar till hot Asin and hotter Thrisha) lined up for you to get flashed with. Yes, they were all life size portraits. Isn't it quite an "IN" thing to get clicked when you have Thrisha by the side with Marina roaring at the back (if worse, there is a possibility that the background could include some peeing in the open :) )
And here I was finally at the sea. Serene with the waves following a pattern known to none. Some people had found their playground at the sea shore, having a dayout with family or an odd ones with their girlfriend (they are odd not to indicate that they have a girl, its just that they were less numbered). Those in the sea playing "throw-coconut", truly south indian version of throwball.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
12 angry men, a classic
Last night I stumbled upon this monochrome movie made in 1957, 12 angry men. It's an extremely gripping and intelligent drama that unfolds on the sets of a jurisdiction to decide on the conviction of an 18 year old slum dweller for supposedly stabbing his father four inches into his chest.
The entire movie takes place in the jury discussion room other than a few frames in the washroom and at the stairs outside. If you ask me the characters, sorry, there's literally no name calling in the whole movie. Though just two of the jury members save to exchange their names right at the death of this drama. Not realizing the lack of character names is probably a testimony to the fact that audience was truly occupied in this, one of the most compelling of dramas.
The subtle and "It's possible" Henry Fonda plays one of the jury member, wants to be convinced of anything and everything about a decision before its made. He sets the tone for the rest of jury in realizing lack of convincing evidence amidst great stubbornness from the other few jury members, rude ones. The murder scenario gets discussed in length no member expected it to, hurting a few egos much to their dislike till they succumb to admit it's not convincing enough about what was though to be an open and shut case. The academic votes taken at the beginning tilts from 11-1 to 0-12. It's a must watch!!
The entire movie takes place in the jury discussion room other than a few frames in the washroom and at the stairs outside. If you ask me the characters, sorry, there's literally no name calling in the whole movie. Though just two of the jury members save to exchange their names right at the death of this drama. Not realizing the lack of character names is probably a testimony to the fact that audience was truly occupied in this, one of the most compelling of dramas.
The subtle and "It's possible" Henry Fonda plays one of the jury member, wants to be convinced of anything and everything about a decision before its made. He sets the tone for the rest of jury in realizing lack of convincing evidence amidst great stubbornness from the other few jury members, rude ones. The murder scenario gets discussed in length no member expected it to, hurting a few egos much to their dislike till they succumb to admit it's not convincing enough about what was though to be an open and shut case. The academic votes taken at the beginning tilts from 11-1 to 0-12. It's a must watch!!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
We the people
"We the people" is a show with difference on NDTV spearheaded by fluent and clear anchor in Burkha Dutt. The current affairs ranging across a wide set of topics will be discussed at length and a verdict of sort is derived by the end of it. The voices heard are relevent, refreshingly broad and free of hypocricy to a great extent. Seldom, the conclusions are drawn by the end of one hour show to issues of such magnitude.
Today's show discussed about "Legalizing prostitution". Some opined prostitution to be just another profession, some thought it to be exploitation and paid rape, while a few still wanted it to be continued underground. My few cents below.
India is nation full of parallelism. We witness tens of parallel societies around us day in day out be it on linguistic basis, caste basis or on the privilege ladder basis. The sex workers have been a tabooed section of our society of which half the people hesitate to acknowledge the fact that they have sex, this is truly parallel. Since, it's no legal thing to be doing it India, they are forced to run their trade undergrounds and continue to remain parallel.
We live in non-ideal world, where compromises(perhaps options too) are bound. They take place at different levels, some one compromised his US ambitions over Australia while the other chose truck cleaning over boot polish, some sex workers had to take it for a better living, the world's oldest profession. In pure economic terms, they sell what's in demand and tap that market. With no moral hats on, this looks perfectly alright as long as it's not of any inconvenience to others and the rest of the society. Most of the developed countries have already legalized it.
India definitely should legalize it as that will be the first step in protecting the human rights of the sex worker community and in controlling the HIV spread. But India may just not copycat the west by just legalizing, high taxes can be enforced and used in the betterment of the sex workers. The children of these sex workers should be a step above in the privilege ladder, have more options than their parents did and take up to something other than prostitution if they wanted to.
Today's show discussed about "Legalizing prostitution". Some opined prostitution to be just another profession, some thought it to be exploitation and paid rape, while a few still wanted it to be continued underground. My few cents below.
India is nation full of parallelism. We witness tens of parallel societies around us day in day out be it on linguistic basis, caste basis or on the privilege ladder basis. The sex workers have been a tabooed section of our society of which half the people hesitate to acknowledge the fact that they have sex, this is truly parallel. Since, it's no legal thing to be doing it India, they are forced to run their trade undergrounds and continue to remain parallel.
We live in non-ideal world, where compromises(perhaps options too) are bound. They take place at different levels, some one compromised his US ambitions over Australia while the other chose truck cleaning over boot polish, some sex workers had to take it for a better living, the world's oldest profession. In pure economic terms, they sell what's in demand and tap that market. With no moral hats on, this looks perfectly alright as long as it's not of any inconvenience to others and the rest of the society. Most of the developed countries have already legalized it.
India definitely should legalize it as that will be the first step in protecting the human rights of the sex worker community and in controlling the HIV spread. But India may just not copycat the west by just legalizing, high taxes can be enforced and used in the betterment of the sex workers. The children of these sex workers should be a step above in the privilege ladder, have more options than their parents did and take up to something other than prostitution if they wanted to.
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