Odyssey Quiz 2006

Though not an avid quizzer, i went to this years' edition of Odyssey Quiz 2006. An annual event held on republic day every year at chennai, the event was well conceived and well conducted (spare the delays and initial hiccups in getting the seating done and repeated announcements of starting the quiz in about 'five' minutes for about 5 times).

Once the quiz started, the quiz master, Dr. Praveen Goday had the participants in rapt attention. Prelims consisted of a written round of 35 questions (Opened with, "If M in M. S. Subbulaksmi stands for Madurai, what does the M in M.L.Vasantha kumari stand for?") . During the discussion of answers, it was refreshing to see the quiz master identify young boys and girls and give them a chance. However, the organizers forgot to involve participants seated in the mini hall during the discussion.

Once the discussions were over, the best team name price was announced, a lot of imaginative names were on display( "ra ra Odysee-kku ra ra...", "Al-Quizda from quizakisthan", "virginial geniasis"), the best judged team name was "Jab thak samosa me aaloo rahe ga thab thak odyssey quiz chaloo rahega". Honestly, I was disappointed that our team name "B2K" an improvisation on B2B, B2C and the like ( with Balaji, Bhupender and Kamesh) was not even mentioned in the list.

"No Questions Asked" finished at number three, Metaquizzics, over came their infatuation with the 'ozone layer' in time, to be ranked second, but as far as Odyssey quiz 2006 edition goes, it was them all the way, wonder who? "They who shall not be named". Here is a moment from the Prize distribution




"They who shall not be named" are the winners of the Odyssey quiz 2006. (Pic Courtesy: Bhupender)




Thought the audience could have stayed a touch longer to appreciate and applaud the winners.

UnReal Estate

I recently read about moon treaty, and Assuming that the International space faring nations sign the treaty,

1. Who will operate the first 3 days and 2 night trip to moon?
2. what would happen to inhabitants of moon on a new moon day? ( would they not be there or would they not be visible)
3. would international passports issued by world countries be valid for the trip in point 1 ?
4. who would issues visas to moon?
5. Who will do the on arrival immigration clearance in moon?
6. What would be the currency in moon?

Google Whack

Google whack is about getting google to return exactly one page for a two word query. ( for details http://www.googlewhack.com/tally.pl). I did it with 'Windowsill beedies'.

Choosing your next book made easy

Ever had a problem of choosing your next book to read? Now the selection is made a little easy, just log on to this site and it gives you a list you could choose from. I tried it with books i have read and the results were encouraging. Happy Reading!!!

http://whatshouldireadnext.com/

A Victory in a Draw

The first Test between india and pakistan has ended in a tame draw. Much was said before the start of the indian innings on how the indian quicks could not be effective on a flat surface while their pakistani counterparts have a superior air-speed and can get to reverse the ball, speculations apart, the surface proved to be a batting paradise and a bowler's nightmare. Lets look at the gains of the teams from this tame draw.

Batting Gains

Pakistan.

The top order and middle order have had some useful hit in the middle barring Inzy that is. While the likes of younis khan, mohammed yousuf, Afridi, Akmal running into the kind of form they have augurs well for the pakistan team, Not much can be read into Inzy's cheap dismissal, he has been in excellent form throughout the english series.

India

Phenomenal is the word for the efforts of sehwag & Dravid in blunting the likes of Akthar, Rana Naved, Sami, Kaneria et al. The Batting efforts augurs well and might have gained them the pscyhological edge over pakistan. That said, its demoralising for any bowling attack to be kept on the field for so long with so less to show for their efforts.

Bowling

Neither side has bowled the other once, so pretty much even stevens as most pakistani wickets were hara-kiri than great bowling save the faster one from kumble to Inzy.

In the end

While the match ended in a draw, India has definetely won the psychological battle.

Men of the match

Curator and groundsmen.

Dravid Leading from the Front

Openers job is to see the shine off the ball, tire the front line bowlers and then build an innings of substance. With Dravid opening the innings, each one of them - see the shine off, tire the front line bowlers and build an innings, each one of those things is possible, so its in the interest of the team he is leading, that dravid has opened. On the contrary, one could speculate, if Ganguly went out in the middle to open, it would have been a morale booster for the opening bowlers ( they already know the line and length - on the leg above the rib), and dravid would have walked sooner, this time with a wicket on the score board and the bowlers pscyhed up since they would only have to take 9 more wickets.

By giving Ganguly his regular slot in the middle order, Dravid has put the team interest above any thing else...

Wish the weather held steady and our batsmen kept the opponents on the field longer than they themselves have been, that would mean a moral victory for the men in blue.