Real Vs. Fantasy

Some men cannot keep their mouth shut (actual news),

here's Ponting's latest outburst & Sreesanth's not so recent statement (booooo)

while others never want to make friends (imaginary from Web)

Symonds after all the recent sleazy incidents wanted to set things straight with Bhajji. After a rigorous net session at Melbourne before the T20 match, he saw Bhajji sitting in the pavilion. Symonds went straight to Bhajji and asked quite friendly - “Are you relaxing?”

Bhajji really got pissed and replied back - “No, I am Harbhajan Singh”

What will ICC do now?

Here are some of the headlines in sydney morning herald after the Harbhajan verdict:

"Cricket's day of shame"
"ICC hit for a six as India shows whose running game"

Here's my point:

1. Why all this outcry if there is no strong evidence to prove a point?

There's also this quote:

"The thing that pisses us off is that it shows how much power India has," the anonymous contracted player told the paper. "The Aussie guys aren't going to make it [the accusation] up. The players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks."

What's Australia's point? Take their words as is and ignore what Indians say? Are they saying that would be a fair trial? Are they accusing Indians as liar and they would make up a story?

2. What does ICC do now to Mike Procter? Do they have enough guts to clean their own house by starting an inquiry on one of its own official because he gave a wrong verdict?

3. Why did Channel 9 stopped the stump mic feed to ESPN effective from 3rd day of Sydney test? Is it mere coincidence that the event happened exactly on that very same day?

4. What did Symonds actually said to Harbhajan that started the whole issue?

5. What's ICC stance on India, now that Aussies have opened a can of worms by openly accusing (sacking Bucknor, Harbhajan's ban revoke) that India's money power runs ICC? Are they going to tell Cricket Australia - "Shut Up, we are under control and we run the show"?

ICC by not conducting and controlling the game will have long term issues that will pose a serious threat to the game itself. They need to define clearly the rules and regulations on how the game will be conducted, how it will use the technology, how it's officials (umpiring, referees) will be selected, rewarded, monitored and if necessary even sacked. If they don't, ICC's annual calendar will definitely include fiascos like "Oval Test" or "The World cup finals" or "Sydney woes".

ARR's Jodhaa Akbar

Jodhaa Akbar - A R Rahman's musical has been released and there are 5 songs and 2 additional instrumentals. With most of the ARR music, your initial reaction will be that the album had good music but there's just one or two catchy numbers. IMHO, this one falls in that category too. You will instantly hum "Khwaja Mere Khwaja", very catchy number, as soon as you hear first time. This one is sung by ARR. The voice mixing in this song is breath-taking. "Is Lamhon" sung by Sonu Nigam & Madhushree is another catchy number. There are other 2 solo songs by Javed Ali and Bela Shende (both the singers not so familiar to me) which will take 2-3 times listenings to get additional details. "Shehansha" song is a fast number and a good one too.

ARR has done so many periodical/historical before, so his effort in giving something new and in the process also maintaining the feel and mood of the century that this film was set is commendable. There is only so much you can do as a musician when it comes to historical, so it will be interesting to see how the songs are picturized.

*****

Pictures Courtesy: http://www.jodhaaakbar.com/

Tamil New Year

Our genius politicians has made a new proposal to change the Tamil new year from CHITHIRAI to THAI. The tamil new year has been traditionally a Hindu festival (even other states like Bengal, Andhra, Kerala etc) has their own New Year day that is different from Jan 1. I think our politicians has gone all out in identifying every single source of Hindu ritual, custom, tradition, superstition and is making every effort to change the norm.

What's next? How about Diwali is not a tamil festival, so it will be banned. How about celebrating Tamil day on one of our politicians birthday. This is like going back several thousand years where the Emperor tells what people should do and people have no control over anything.

I am sure all these changes will remove all poverty and the miseries of poor!!!

Vaazhga Tamizh and Tamizh Makkal!

What is DHODA?

I just named my blog "Dhoda" without much thought and there was very little reason behind the name. However I became curious recently and 'google'd the word and here's some interesting insight

Dhoda - Dhoda is a popular sweet in Haryana and Punjab. It is something totally different than doodh barfi as it contains wheat.

Dhoda - It can be a last name (surname) of a person in some parts of India.

Dhoda - This is a place situated in Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan.

Biggest surprise of them all is this last one:

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenases (DHODs) catalyze the oxidation of (S)-dihydroorotate to orotate, the fourth step and only redox reaction in the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. A description is given of the crystal structure of Lactococcus lactis dihydroorotate dehydrogenase A (DHODA) complexed with the product of the enzyme reaction orotate. The structure of the complex to 2.0 A resolution has been compared with the structure of the native enzyme. The active site of DHODA is known to contain a water filled cavity buried beneath a highly conserved and flexible loop. In the complex the orotate displaces the water molecules from the active site and stacks above the DHODA flavin isoalloxazine ring, causing only small movements of the surrounding protein residues. The orotate is completely buried beneath the protein surface, and the orotate binding causes a significant reduction in the mobility of the active site loop.

Now, seriously my reaction is "Dhoda!"

Murali Karthik - "LEFT" arm spinner

There are quite a few shouts and cry around Indian team selection for one dayers. Effigy burning in Calcutta along with open disappointment shown by Ganguly, criticism on how and why Dravid and Laxman be dropped especially under Aussie conditions, how transition from old to new should be phased and not overhauled etc, but surprisingly I have not seen any one article or post on why Murali Karthik was left out for this tour.

Murali Karthik had almost given up on playing for India (he started anchoring/commentating) before he was called up for Aussie's home one dayers last year, promptly delivered NOT ONLY with the ball but also with the bat (along with Zaheer) to clinch a thriller and a decent follow up Pakistan ODIs and then promptly gets dropped for the next tour.

I totally believe in giving opportunities to youngsters, but the vision and idea should be clear and consistent. Why was he picked for just a handful of ODIs if he is not young enough? What would selectors do if India lose the ODIs handsomely or if one or two players fail miserably. The word "Selection committee" is the antonym for Clarity.

Roger "Emperor" Federer

I am really looking forward to this 2nd week of Australian Open (especially the next match b/n Federer and Blake) ever since a five setter was played by Roger. As much as I like his brand of tennis, I like some of his post match comments and interviews. Here's a sample.

I was always a great fan of Sampras, but now, I am even more obssessed with Roger's style and dominance. Here's a guy who has no full time coach, still almost plays perfect on almost all surfaces, has been in almost all grand slam finals in the last 4 years or so and winning 11 of the last 16 slams.. phenomenal. Even great Sampras was not so dominant in his good years. (Thanks to David Higgs picture from Aus Open website)

Is "issue" really an issue?

This is Alex Brown's recent post from Sydney Morning Herald. He interviewed the new ICC president elect David Morgan and the preface of the article says

Alex Brown sat down with the president-elect of the International Cricket Council to discuss many of the issues confronting cricket.

There are several questions and concerns raised on BCCI, Bucknor sacking and Gavaskar's comments. No money for guessing it right, NO QUESTIONS ON aussie sledging, behavior, match referee's meagerness etc. This is the same newspaper (on web) that is carrying only pictures of Sydney test win and NOTHING on Perth in it's sports main page.

I am sure we can create a case for Indian press doing the same, but this is really so tame.

Salman @ Tussaud

Tussaud's @ London has unveiled a wax version of Salman this week. The guy who is suppose to be in jail is not only leading a normal life, but is even honored and worshipped. It is Salman who should be in the museum, not the statue:-)

Good Bye to Bill Gates

This article on Bill Gates is a good one. The following statement says it all:

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that Microsoft became part of computing's warp and weave, and generally unremarked upon. That would be an enormous success for any company whose ambitions had been less lofty -- but Microsoft had never been just any company.

For all intents and purposes, Mr. Gates and Paul Allen fulfilled their original mission -- not just daily work but daily life has become unthinkable without a personal computer. For that to seem unremarkable now is a testament to how thoroughly they succeeded in making what was once unimaginable routine. And it was Mr. Gates who saw that revolution would be build on software, not hardware -- a realization so critical that calling it a billion-dollar insight considerably understates the case.

Google, Apple, Linux will probably be the bigger players than Microsoft in future, but the legacy left behind by Mr.Gates will be remembered forever.

Indian "Challenge" @ Oz Open 2008

With Mahesh and Leander opting to play doubles only and with Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritraj losing their way in qualifiers, the ONLY Indian challenge @ Oz open in singles is Sania Mirza. Though criticized by majority of the group (The best indian model to ever play tennis), Sania still offers some hope for Indian tennis followers, by inching ahead, slowly though, in the WTA circuit. She may not end up winning great many championships, but definitely have refreshed tennis enthusiasm on young Indian tennis aspirants. Another Indian origin US player Rajeev Ram, did not show enough promise by losing in the first round.

Post Sydney Test - New words in dictionary

Ponting: (n) (adj)
1. A substance or entity or even a person of unquestionable integrity
2. An act of uncivilized behaviour. [Also, pontingness (n)]

Usage: The judge was driven towards justice because he knew that the pontiff was a ponting. Sir Bonkers said, Don't try to bully me. I surely can fathom the pontingness in your eyes.

Bucknor: (n) (adj)
1. Temporary blindness leading to missing out on the obvious.
2. To be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
3. Situations leading to grave judgement errors.
Usage: I feel bucknored by my boss; Life often throws a bucknor at you.

Benson: (n) (adj)
1. Something that legitimizes a severe bucknor.
Usage: First they bucknored me and then they bensoned it! I am toast.
Also see bucknor

Sydney Saga

Funniest Moment: Channel 9 post match chat featuring Richie Benaud and Ian Chappel. The duo was all smiles and all priase for OZ and their acheivements, conveniently not touching any of the controversies that made the victory possible.

Post match best articles: Peter Roebuck, Prem Panicker

Ponting's accusations are childish and targeted towards getting revenge on Harbhajan at any cost. ICC is the most lame sporting body and BCCI is only after money and power. Spare a thought for players.

ORN - Onbathu Roobai Nottu

Happen to watch Satyaraj's "Onbathu Roobai Nottu" recently. Barring Satyaraj's breath-taking matured acting, the film is good old story. It's hard to believe how critics never make fuss when these ORN type of movies have the same old story line. You need some kind of "new-ness" when you make award winning style movies. Unfortunately ORN lacks it. 5 stars for Satyaraj and 1 star for the movie.