And this was what Tendulkar and Dravid were penalised for??

Look at the inherent lack of criticism in the article (link)

Once this became known through the serialisation of Trescothick's autobiography in a Sunday newspaper, the Australian media gleefully leapt on the news. "The secret behind the devastating swing bowling that took England to its historic 2005 Ashes win has been revealed. They cheated," wrote The Australian. Former players were dredged up to complain about perfidious Albion.

But bowlers have always tried to give themselves an advantage and generally, unless it has been blatant, umpires have turned a blind eye. Suncream-laden sweat or lip balm has the same effect on leather as mint-infused saliva. Why do you think so many bowlers in the 1950s wore Brylcreem? In 1921, Johnny Douglas, the England captain, threatened to report Arthur Mailey, the Australia leg spinner, for using resin to grip the ball. Mailey countered by pointing out that Douglas's thumbnail was worn to the bone by picking at the ball's seam to aid his own bowlers.

And what would have happened if it had been Wasim Akram, or someone else from the sub-continent who wrote that? Why did they punish Sachin, Dravid, if *everyone* is doing it - and Sachin, on the lack of evidence that too!

It aint for nothing that they call it a "gentleman's sport" - the inherent reference being to a white man.

Disgusted.

Dont expect Indian media to do anything about it. or for Trescothick to be punished.

Tag: Cricket, England, Disgust.

Al Qaeda ka kakkidi(cucumber) in Iraq.

And especially of the freakier kind. Only that would explain these:

Besides the terrible killings inflicted by the fanatics on those who refuse to pledge allegiance to them, Al-Qa'eda has lost credibility for enforcing a series of rules imposing their way of thought on the most mundane aspects of everyday life.

They include a ban on women buying suggestively-shaped vegetables, according to one tribal leader in the western province of Anbar.

Sheikh Hameed al-Hayyes, a Sunni elder, told Reuters: "They even killed female goats because their private parts were not covered and their tails were pointed upward, which they said was haram.

"They regarded the cucumber as male and tomato as female. Women were not allowed to buy cucumbers, only men."

Boy, o boy! So *this* is what the Al Qaeda does when its hiding in the mountains.

On a more sombre note, they were upto their routine jobs:

Most seriously, Sheikh al-Hayyes said: "I saw them slaughter a nine-year old boy like a sheep because his family didn't pledge allegiance to them."

And people *still* wonder why I support the US' occupation/ presence in Iraq.

Tag: Al Qaeda, Iraq, War on Terror, USA .

Anju who?

Rediff has this article (link via Shadow Warrior) which goes:

"Anju disappoints with three foul jumps" (link)

Anju Bobby George broke a billion hearts on Tuesday when she failed to qualify for the final of the women's long jump at the Beijing Olympics after three consecutive foul jumps.

Now, when was the last time you can actually recall Anju being a medal hope? The article has that too, but still talks of disappointment:

Since attaining her best of 6.83 metres at the Athens Games, where she placed sixth, four years ago, Anju hasn't been in the best of form, but was at least expected to go past the qualifying mark.

On a side note, I have not written of our solitary gold medal winner, Abhinav Bindra, because of my lack of info on him. For pieces on Bindra, read these excellent pieces:

1. Hartal in Kerala (link)
2. India doesn't need Olympic pride (link)
3. The Gold Medal and me (link)
4. From Athens to Beijing (link)

All the last 3 come from Amit Varma's India Uncut incidentally.

 Tag: Olympics, India, Anju George, Medal Hope, 2008, Beijing.

Quote of the Day (courtesy Google Labs)

Bill Vaughan  - "Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them."