For a few days, it seemed like Sri Lanka had a decent chance of winning the world cup. They seemed the in form side, a great line up of bowlers, a gallery of sharp fielders and useful batsmen who might outwit the Aussies when they least suspected it.
How heavily are such light hopes crushed.
It seemed inevitable that Australia would reach the final, perhaps even more so that they would win it. Four years ago it was with a determined hammering from Ricky Ponting, and yesterday Adam Gilchrist decided to attack the crowd from his position in the middle. 149 off around a 130 balls. If he had just made 30, Sri Lanka might've been in it.
What a tragic ending to an often dismal tournament. Cut short by rain, I would have thought that the World Cup Final of all cricket games would have been rescheduled for the next day. Unfortunately, the completely idiotic powers-that-be decided otherwise, and 38 overs a side it was. More rain meant that the Australian side celebrated too early due to a mistake by the match referee. Whatever the case, Sri Lanka lost by 54 runs a la Duckworth-Lewis. Or for the more sensible, Aus 281-4 (38 overs) beat SL 215-8 (36).
Australia have won the ICC Cricket World Cup for a fourth time, and for a third successive time. Cricket receives another nail in its coffin.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Virginia Tech University
33 dead. About as many injured. 1 gunman, 2 intermittent attacks.
Too familiar.
It takes just one student - one lonely, depressed, irrational person - to end so much life. Lives that could have changed the world one day, lives that were setting up the stage for those changes.
Why?
We should really know why by now. The apathy of society and the weight of modern life have put a strain on the human condition - place a gun within reach of a person, and you have a disaster on your hands.
Help is nearly always there for people who feel so down and angry at the world that they feel like destroying it. The concern needed to get a person to get help, and the desire to accept help, isn't always.
There is no way to ever completely stop these incidents. But the frequency of such events is alarming. The tools for such a killing may have to be kept away; people may just have to listen more; the world might just have to slow down.
Please, never again.
Too familiar.
It takes just one student - one lonely, depressed, irrational person - to end so much life. Lives that could have changed the world one day, lives that were setting up the stage for those changes.
Why?
We should really know why by now. The apathy of society and the weight of modern life have put a strain on the human condition - place a gun within reach of a person, and you have a disaster on your hands.
Help is nearly always there for people who feel so down and angry at the world that they feel like destroying it. The concern needed to get a person to get help, and the desire to accept help, isn't always.
There is no way to ever completely stop these incidents. But the frequency of such events is alarming. The tools for such a killing may have to be kept away; people may just have to listen more; the world might just have to slow down.
Please, never again.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Kurt Vonnegut, 84
Kurt Vonnegut, author of "Slaughterhouse 5" and an American soldier in the Second World War died on Wednesday, 11th April. Listening and reading radio and newspaper obituaries, I've learnt that he was a cult figure in the 60s and 70s, continuing the dark humour surrounding Billy Pilgrim's tale into his other works. A literary icon has passed away. So it goes.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Life on Mars
Why did it have to end like that? My god, Sam Tyler committed suicide to end up back in 1973!!!
I feel sick!
I feel sick!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Malinga 4 Wickets from 4 Balls
I just had to put this video up - the weirdest action in the world brings a dramatic ending to an otherwise straight-forward victory for the Proteas! I'm so glad Sri Lanka have him!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Are things beginning to crumble?
It may not seem like it at first, but skip to the middle bit or whatever, and you'll find O'Reilly screaming his lungs out! Are the neo-cons self-destructing?
That's just not cricket, Amnesty International!
There have been reports recently that AI - the human rights watchdog - has been attempting to "educate people about human rights" by handing out cricket balls at World Cup matches with comments which put the Sri Lankan government into disrepute:
Angry Sri Lanka blasts Amnesty International for human rights cricket campaign - International Herald Tribune
Normally (and I do mean normally, not just rhetorically), I would just shake my head and feel embarrassed about my country's continuing downward spiral, but AI has crossed a very thick line in my book.
Perhaps Apartheid-era South Africa deserved to be treated like a leper when it came to the world of sports, for denying a majority of their population from taking part. However much Sri Lanka is to fault though, this is uncalled for. Cricket is pretty much the only good news Sri Lanka has received over the past few years, and with our team doing rather well (if I do say so myself), it would be sinful to disrupt their concentration. Anything other than a win in the final, with the knowledge that Sri Lanka are world-beaters in one at least one avenue of life, would result in a collective state of mental depression. We're not much for effigy-burnings or big protests if we lose, just the odd letter to the editor and an aggravated pundit.
The Sri Lankan team is perhaps (crossing my fingers here) a symbol of national unity, with players from different parts of the country and different ethnic backgrounds working together towards shared goals. There are scandals of corruption, of politicising the board, of dealing with criminals - but the team is something to feel passionate about.
I'll also wager that if we weren't playing so well at the moment, and left after the group stage - like say, a certain Zimbabwe - this wouldn't be happening. I didn't seem to hear anything about the Zimbabwean team having such a campaign against them last month.
So if you're reading this, AI, this is my plea: just let us at least have a chance at trying to win this thing!
Angry Sri Lanka blasts Amnesty International for human rights cricket campaign - International Herald Tribune
Normally (and I do mean normally, not just rhetorically), I would just shake my head and feel embarrassed about my country's continuing downward spiral, but AI has crossed a very thick line in my book.
Perhaps Apartheid-era South Africa deserved to be treated like a leper when it came to the world of sports, for denying a majority of their population from taking part. However much Sri Lanka is to fault though, this is uncalled for. Cricket is pretty much the only good news Sri Lanka has received over the past few years, and with our team doing rather well (if I do say so myself), it would be sinful to disrupt their concentration. Anything other than a win in the final, with the knowledge that Sri Lanka are world-beaters in one at least one avenue of life, would result in a collective state of mental depression. We're not much for effigy-burnings or big protests if we lose, just the odd letter to the editor and an aggravated pundit.
The Sri Lankan team is perhaps (crossing my fingers here) a symbol of national unity, with players from different parts of the country and different ethnic backgrounds working together towards shared goals. There are scandals of corruption, of politicising the board, of dealing with criminals - but the team is something to feel passionate about.
I'll also wager that if we weren't playing so well at the moment, and left after the group stage - like say, a certain Zimbabwe - this wouldn't be happening. I didn't seem to hear anything about the Zimbabwean team having such a campaign against them last month.
So if you're reading this, AI, this is my plea: just let us at least have a chance at trying to win this thing!
BUMPER STICKERS: TO TAUNT YOUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
1. Bush: End of an Error
2. That's OK, I Wasn't Using My Civil Liberties Anyway
3. Let's Fix Democracy in this Country First
4. If You Want a Nation Ruled By Religion, Move to Iran
5. Bush. Like a Rock. Only Dumber.
6. If You Can Read This, You're Not Our President
7. Of Course It Hurts: You're Getting Screwed by an Elephant
8. Hey, Bush Supporters:
Embarrassed Yet?
9. George Bush: Creating the Terrorists Our Kids Will Have to Fight
10. Impeachment: It's Not Just for Blow Jobs Anymore
11. America: One Nation, Under Surveillance
12. They Call Him "W"
So He Can Spell It
13. Whose God Do You Kill For?
14. Jail to the Chief
15. No, Seriously...Why Did We Invade Iraq?
(Oh, never mind...you just sound like a broken record of
misinformation!)
16. Bush: God's Way of Proving Intelligent Design is Full Of Crap
17. Bad President! No Banana.
18. We Need a President Who's Fluent In At Least One Language
19. We're Making Enemies Faster
Than We Can Kill Them
20. Is It Vietnam Yet?
21. Bush Doesn't Care About
White People, Either
22. Where Are We Going?
And Why Are We In This Hand Basket?
23. You Elected Him.
You Deserve Him.
24. Dubya, Your Dad
Shoulda Pulled Out, Too
25. When Bush Took Office,
Gas Was $1.46
26. The Republican Party:
Our Bridge to the 11th Century
27. What Part of "Bush Lied"
Don't You Understand?
28. One Nation Under Clod
29. 2004: Embarrassed
2005: Horrified
2006: Terrified
30. Bush Never Exhaled
31. Pray For Impeachment
(Nooooo!!! Scratch that!
Who wants Cheney for Prez??!!!)
32. At Least Nixon Resigned
2. That's OK, I Wasn't Using My Civil Liberties Anyway
3. Let's Fix Democracy in this Country First
4. If You Want a Nation Ruled By Religion, Move to Iran
5. Bush. Like a Rock. Only Dumber.
6. If You Can Read This, You're Not Our President
7. Of Course It Hurts: You're Getting Screwed by an Elephant
8. Hey, Bush Supporters:
Embarrassed Yet?
9. George Bush: Creating the Terrorists Our Kids Will Have to Fight
10. Impeachment: It's Not Just for Blow Jobs Anymore
11. America: One Nation, Under Surveillance
12. They Call Him "W"
So He Can Spell It
13. Whose God Do You Kill For?
14. Jail to the Chief
15. No, Seriously...Why Did We Invade Iraq?
(Oh, never mind...you just sound like a broken record of
misinformation!)
16. Bush: God's Way of Proving Intelligent Design is Full Of Crap
17. Bad President! No Banana.
18. We Need a President Who's Fluent In At Least One Language
19. We're Making Enemies Faster
Than We Can Kill Them
20. Is It Vietnam Yet?
21. Bush Doesn't Care About
White People, Either
22. Where Are We Going?
And Why Are We In This Hand Basket?
23. You Elected Him.
You Deserve Him.
24. Dubya, Your Dad
Shoulda Pulled Out, Too
25. When Bush Took Office,
Gas Was $1.46
26. The Republican Party:
Our Bridge to the 11th Century
27. What Part of "Bush Lied"
Don't You Understand?
28. One Nation Under Clod
29. 2004: Embarrassed
2005: Horrified
2006: Terrified
30. Bush Never Exhaled
31. Pray For Impeachment
(Nooooo!!! Scratch that!
Who wants Cheney for Prez??!!!)
32. At Least Nixon Resigned
France Eurovision 2007 entry - Les Fatals Picards
Honestly, these guys are just incredible - the video here is just hilarious. For those readers in Europe, you have to vote for them.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Germany
I've been in both Bonn and Berlin over the past two weeks which is why I've been away from the keyboard. However, it does give me something to write about, so that's what the next few entries are gonna be about. Take this picture for instance, of Berlin's 'traditional dish', the curryworst (a curried sausage), which I have to say is absolutely delicious. I had one from a stall somewhere near Kurfurstendamm, where the guy took a red sausage like I asked, and proceeded to chop it up into equal pieces and sprinkling curry powder all over it and lastly, adding curry sauce. Mmmm! 
Thursday, March 15, 2007
F1 for help
Take a look at this article: Wired News: The World? Your Oyster? Why Not?
It's something that I have to wonder about - we have all this damn information floating around "a series of tubes" and yet it seems to have achieved far less than what it potentially could.
What could it do? We should be able to know more about everything than we do now. The knowledge of all people, including Americans, should have vastly increased as a result. From this new knowledge, people should be more able to solve long-term problems such as poverty.
Are we solving poverty? Perhaps. However, either the media's focus on it is increasing or Africa appears to growing poorer and poorer. Does more knowledge mean more solutions? Or just more **** to wade through? Who knows. But something more should be happening as a result of the internet - it does have that power.
It's something that I have to wonder about - we have all this damn information floating around "a series of tubes" and yet it seems to have achieved far less than what it potentially could.
What could it do? We should be able to know more about everything than we do now. The knowledge of all people, including Americans, should have vastly increased as a result. From this new knowledge, people should be more able to solve long-term problems such as poverty.
Are we solving poverty? Perhaps. However, either the media's focus on it is increasing or Africa appears to growing poorer and poorer. Does more knowledge mean more solutions? Or just more **** to wade through? Who knows. But something more should be happening as a result of the internet - it does have that power.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Lenses
Got contact lenses last Saturday!
These are brilliant - feel like an entirely different person. Well, not entirely, but you know, I feel able to do things that I normally couldn't, due to the fragile nature of glasses.
Some would say that the contacts' labourious and tedious cleaning process would be a major drawback, but I don't think so. It is a careful, delicate ritual that I perform at dawn and after sunset, one that makes me feel like a master surgeon or technician, and allows me to practice staying as calm as I can.
These are brilliant - feel like an entirely different person. Well, not entirely, but you know, I feel able to do things that I normally couldn't, due to the fragile nature of glasses.
Some would say that the contacts' labourious and tedious cleaning process would be a major drawback, but I don't think so. It is a careful, delicate ritual that I perform at dawn and after sunset, one that makes me feel like a master surgeon or technician, and allows me to practice staying as calm as I can.
The Swiss are a-coming!!!
Apparently, the Swiss recently managed to invade their aggressive, barbarian neighbour of Liechtenstein.
A few Swiss soldiers, doing their traditional long walks across the countryside managed to lose their way and enter the principality accidentally. This was not, as one would so dearly love to believe, an act of aggression by a nation deeply frustrated at its neutrality and its recognition as a clean, tidy, democratic,tax-haven.
The joke that's doing the rounds now is that, unlike their US counterparts, the Swiss managed to realise their mistake, retreat gracefully, and apologise to the ruler of the invaded nation.
A few Swiss soldiers, doing their traditional long walks across the countryside managed to lose their way and enter the principality accidentally. This was not, as one would so dearly love to believe, an act of aggression by a nation deeply frustrated at its neutrality and its recognition as a clean, tidy, democratic,tax-haven.
The joke that's doing the rounds now is that, unlike their US counterparts, the Swiss managed to realise their mistake, retreat gracefully, and apologise to the ruler of the invaded nation.
Conservapedia
Check out this website:
Main Page - Conservapedia
Conservapedia defines itself as the antithesis to that bastion of knowledge, Wikipedia. It makes the very observant note that Wikipedia is unwholesome and un-Christian, and is overwhelmingly controlled by those darned liberals.
Okay - let's take a look at this thing. It's a bit sparse, obviously due to those leftist pop-up propaganda windows that appear when you surf the net. It's got a nice list of the US Presidents - take a look at this segment from GWB's own page:
Hey, not too far from the truth right? I mean, the fact that executive salaries have increased means that ordinary people are doing well, doesn't it? And Bush did ... try to help ... suggested ... passed ... allowed the Democrats to pass ... never mind.
To be fair, it is changing - the article on Clinton has improved over the one week I've been looking at it. And they eventually got an article on Kennedy, though that is quite short.
But the thing is, will it match Wikipedia? And is the whole user-created, crowd-controlled content just stupid, like Alex Beam says in the NY Times?
Well, as I said to a friend in an email:
Believe Wikipedia. It is based on the theories of economics: the same unseen hand described by Adam Smith that drives markets controls Wikipedia. People's own individual interests in making sure information about what they like and know about is correct will, when such a vast group of people are involved, produce a net force of correct, unbiased information. It is comparable to the idea that you get your bread to the highest quality and cheapest price not because the baker is kind enough to do so: it is because the baker wants to earn a living and edge out competitors.
Anyways, if you do get the chance to edit something, just don't try to be a complete idiot and give out false info, cos you're ruining the essays and projects of a whole generation of school children.
Main Page - Conservapedia
Conservapedia defines itself as the antithesis to that bastion of knowledge, Wikipedia. It makes the very observant note that Wikipedia is unwholesome and un-Christian, and is overwhelmingly controlled by those darned liberals.
Okay - let's take a look at this thing. It's a bit sparse, obviously due to those leftist pop-up propaganda windows that appear when you surf the net. It's got a nice list of the US Presidents - take a look at this segment from GWB's own page:
Economic issues
Though the liberal media continues to disparage Bush's handling of the economy, they often neglect to report the many aspects of the economy that Bush has improved. For example, during his term Exxon Mobile has posted the largest profit of any company in a signle year, and executive salaries have greatly increased as well [5]. This is due to changes in the stock market that lead to a record high in 2006, recovering from the Clinton years which lead to the lowest point of the stock market in January 2000 AD since the great depression of 1929 AD, and "Companies are churning out double-digit profit growth" currently.[6] Even the working class is benefiting from the Bush economy, as unemployment hits an all time low in March 2007.[7] Bush worked with Democrats to raise the minimum wage to a more livable level.[8]
Hey, not too far from the truth right? I mean, the fact that executive salaries have increased means that ordinary people are doing well, doesn't it? And Bush did ... try to help ... suggested ... passed ... allowed the Democrats to pass ... never mind.
To be fair, it is changing - the article on Clinton has improved over the one week I've been looking at it. And they eventually got an article on Kennedy, though that is quite short.
But the thing is, will it match Wikipedia? And is the whole user-created, crowd-controlled content just stupid, like Alex Beam says in the NY Times?
Well, as I said to a friend in an email:
Believe Wikipedia. It is based on the theories of economics: the same unseen hand described by Adam Smith that drives markets controls Wikipedia. People's own individual interests in making sure information about what they like and know about is correct will, when such a vast group of people are involved, produce a net force of correct, unbiased information. It is comparable to the idea that you get your bread to the highest quality and cheapest price not because the baker is kind enough to do so: it is because the baker wants to earn a living and edge out competitors.
Anyways, if you do get the chance to edit something, just don't try to be a complete idiot and give out false info, cos you're ruining the essays and projects of a whole generation of school children.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Eyes
Having worn glasses since the tender age of 8, I thought it would be time to get contacts. So I went to an opticians today. I knew my eyesight was bad, but I didn't know it was this bad. I have myopia, and the glasses I wear have around strength -4 or so. But as I had my eyes tested, I was told I could see 30% of what I should be seeing. It ain't funny at all. For years, I've slowly been getting eyes that seem to weaken in their focusing ability. Just one more step downward I guess.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Is anyone listening?
Life is never as simple as it seems.
I'm one of those people who's always unsure of themselves. Whatever situation I'm in, I'm usually testing myself to see if I can respond in some predefined universally perfect manner to some stimulus. I know for the most part that this is ridiculous, that one's actions should always be something natural and sound based on the reasoning at the time and your own instinct. But I still do it, though more covertly.
Why? Why do these things have to be? Why can't I trust myself?
Life is never as simple as it seems.
I'm one of those people who's always unsure of themselves. Whatever situation I'm in, I'm usually testing myself to see if I can respond in some predefined universally perfect manner to some stimulus. I know for the most part that this is ridiculous, that one's actions should always be something natural and sound based on the reasoning at the time and your own instinct. But I still do it, though more covertly.
Why? Why do these things have to be? Why can't I trust myself?
Life is never as simple as it seems.
Worms of death
Have you ever read a Nicolas D. Kristof column? Usually (at least for me), it's pretty depressing stuff: genocide, hunger, suffering. And the one I last read, 'Torture By Worms' is right up there.
But however much other people's pain makes you cringe, or however much it doesn't, you cannot escape the fact that what he writes isn't some stuff out of a Stephen King novel. Sadly, it does actually happen to be reality.
Well, that particular column describes what must be one of the most horrible things I can imagine. Guinea worms, parasites that find their way inside you, before finding their way out again, are probably something you wouldn't want to find within a hundred miles of you. In fact, the sight of this torturous affliction moved Jimmy Carter to tears according to Kristof.
Even more sadly, something which I use and sometimes ignore on a daily or hourly basis, clean water, is what one needs to have in order to avoid the disease (the worm is spread in contaminated water according to Wikipedia).
I just like to say that I don't think anyone should have to go through that. Ever.
But however much other people's pain makes you cringe, or however much it doesn't, you cannot escape the fact that what he writes isn't some stuff out of a Stephen King novel. Sadly, it does actually happen to be reality.
Well, that particular column describes what must be one of the most horrible things I can imagine. Guinea worms, parasites that find their way inside you, before finding their way out again, are probably something you wouldn't want to find within a hundred miles of you. In fact, the sight of this torturous affliction moved Jimmy Carter to tears according to Kristof.
Even more sadly, something which I use and sometimes ignore on a daily or hourly basis, clean water, is what one needs to have in order to avoid the disease (the worm is spread in contaminated water according to Wikipedia).
I just like to say that I don't think anyone should have to go through that. Ever.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
War!...again?
In recent days, it appears that the US and Iran are edging ever closer to war. At least, that's what it said in the New York Times. Or at least what I thought it said. Or at least, something of the sort was mentioned. Whatever.
Well, here's a pot shot - I say they won't. Not inside of 6 months from today. Why?
How on earth can this administration wage one more war? It is pretty rare for an elected government to wage two wars at the same time and not be ousted in elections (and no, I don't think they count as the same war on terror). A third would be tough even for someone with 85% ratings, let alone for a President who has less than 50%.
And fighting a war against a country as large as Iran and as influential in the region is probably not a good idea. The only way that someone could justify it, as was mentioned somewhere in the Times, is if the White House says that the Iranians are already fighting against them in Iraq, so it wouldn't be much of a difference. Boy, if America falls for that, I don't think an apology from 50% of Americans would suffice, as was the case in 2004.
Anyways, jumping on this anti-War band wagon feels good. But then again, why should I care about what happens? I see people dying on TV, US mothers wanting sons back, but that's it. You don't have to listen to what I say, but I guess I'd like to say it.
Well, here's a pot shot - I say they won't. Not inside of 6 months from today. Why?
How on earth can this administration wage one more war? It is pretty rare for an elected government to wage two wars at the same time and not be ousted in elections (and no, I don't think they count as the same war on terror). A third would be tough even for someone with 85% ratings, let alone for a President who has less than 50%.
And fighting a war against a country as large as Iran and as influential in the region is probably not a good idea. The only way that someone could justify it, as was mentioned somewhere in the Times, is if the White House says that the Iranians are already fighting against them in Iraq, so it wouldn't be much of a difference. Boy, if America falls for that, I don't think an apology from 50% of Americans would suffice, as was the case in 2004.
Anyways, jumping on this anti-War band wagon feels good. But then again, why should I care about what happens? I see people dying on TV, US mothers wanting sons back, but that's it. You don't have to listen to what I say, but I guess I'd like to say it.
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