Some cheer for Weekend Travellers

Among the best news I've heard is this – for travelers. Woot! The Government is actually thinking of something positive, of promoting tourism! Something I had been lamenting of late – that tourism is given a go-by, that it can generate a lot of income, spread wealth – make infrastructure better (by providing impetus for it).

 So, the KSRTC, that is Karnataka's State run Transport Corp. has announced a go anywhere in Karnataka, on a weekend for 700 Rupees only – that too on the relatively better maintained Rajahamsa buses (not a patch on the Vajras/Airavats/Volvos though!). times of India has more on that story at this link. (by the by, ignore the ToIs stupid headline!

Enjoy your weekends!

 Tag:  Travel, India, Karnataka, Weekend Travllers, Tourism Promotions.

XKCD to the rescue.

What do you do on an afternoon when your head feels like there's some serious love being spread between CPI's D Raja and Shiv Sena's Sanjay Nirupam with Barkha Dutt for moderation? You turn to XKCD. And discover this.


 Tag:  XKCD, Terminology.

Happy Deepavali!

Here's wishing all the readers of this blog a Happy Deepavali!

(If you're wondering why I'm wishing folks 2 days into it, I've been too busy bursting crackers and shopping! :D)

Random Ramblings

Its funny how life gives you clues in the most amazing subtle ways - and how sometimes your subconscious latches onto them - almost like one end of a Velcro fastener on the other end! ITs like the sleep that so overpowers you that all you remember is hitting the sack the previous night.
"Careful what you wish for cos you just might get it" say the PCDs but isnt that what most people want? I think so, anyways.
Why do dance movies all have a heroic, wonderful dancer - without a life?

Do people always do what comes most naturally to them when they're hurt - or do they do what they've trained themselves to do?

Picking a mentor

Digital Photography School has this wonderful post by Peter Carey, on finding a Photography Mentor(link):

6. Keep An Open Mind

The actual process of picking a mentor may put images in your mind of just exactly how the relationship will work.  While it's fine to visualize an intended goal, don't get too hung up on it.  Think of Daniel in the movie The Karate Kid.  Miyagi, his mentor, had him painting fences and doing all sorts of other things he thought had no relation to his goal, which was to learn karate and beat up some bullies.  But Miyagi's methods, while odd to Daniel, were simply a different path toward his goal than Daniel had imagined.  So keep an open mind and take a few chances if your mentor is asking you to stretch or try something new.

As in photography, so also in life - take a leap of faith. Choose a mentor! :)

And a bit of Seinfeld too:

Jerry Seinfeld  - "A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking."

Tag: Digital Photography School, Mentoring, Choosing a Mentor.

Flirting with the opposition...

At Cricinfo, today's commentary on the 3rd India-SL Test (link):

26.5	Prasad to Gambhir, no run, beaten on the flirt. It cut away from Gambhir who shaped to chase before trying to withdraw his bat away from the line. Agony for Dammika. GOod bowling.

Tag: Cricket,  Cricinfo, India, India - SL Tests, 2008, 3rd Test.

Score: After 35 Overs India at 178-4

You think it was an ODI? Nope, its the 2nd Test between India and Sri Lanka.
Up until the 31st over, India were 160odd for No Loss - that's right! A century opening Stand. And then, the famed "middle order" tumbled - and how!

Even as Virendar Sehwaag proves time and again that he's the vital battering ram behind which the infantry of Sachin Tendulkar,  Raahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman arrive, the seniors seem to be having quite a few, umm, "senior" moments!

As Ian Chappell noted, amongst the best things to have happened in the last year was the coming together of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwaag as an opening pair in ODIs - and Suresh Raina seems to have embossed himself in the One-Drop slot. This partnership's transition to Tests is now apparent. But why is the middle order crumbling like a cookie?

Here's what Rediff's report states:

The Indian openers looked determined to counter Mendis in an effective manner as Sehwag hit the mystery spinner for a huge six over long-on and a boundary through the covers in his second over.

Mendis was taken off after giving away 37 runs in his first spell of six overs

Why would you crumble after that? Why go 4 wickets down for nothing - after a start, in Tests where the run rate is upwards of 5 runs an over?

That, is the crucial difference between an Australian side and most others - even 3rd best (by ranking) and 2nd best (according to some pundits) India.

There is also the other big problem - Rahul Dravid's loss of form. In the seasons since  2001, it has invariably been Sehwag giving a start followed by Rahul Dravid's consolidation - with the rest of the middle order, that has won India many series - and pushed it to the ranking it has, currently. Without Dravid, there's only Sehwag - and even though he's in brilliant form, he cant always score a triple hundred. Sometimes, even after he scores 195, in 2 sessions, India goes on to lose! (link)

Tag: Cricket, India, Sehwag, India - SL Tests, 2008, 2nd Test, Batting Collapse.