mandaiyan maligai kadai ... .. egg-head !!

A few decades earlier, it was Goundamani – Senthil comedy in every film .. ..  like many others, a young Senthil at 13 ran away from his town and landed at Egmore railway .. .. ended up in tinseldom, partnering Goundamani.  Mani would kick him, abuse him, call derogatory words often referring to his head in various ways adding prefixes to .. .. …mandaiya !!  Sendhil would not mind as it brought laughters – and big money for the actors.. .. going by that would you call one an ‘egg-head’ ?

This is not entirely new or the first time – students indulging in cheating / malpractice –   In examinations, dishonest attempts are not new and that includes impersonation.  From famed ‘bits’ to chasing and changing papers, to impersonation – all place such errant students above those who are by nature intelligent and  had worked hard !!

The Kamal Prabhu starrer Vasool Raja MBBS was a hilarious comedy.   Rajaraman, a small time don gains admission in Medical college by forcing Dr Margabandhu [Crazy Mohan] to impersonate and write exam his behalf. .. … then when a tough internal exam is set, Kamal writes the exam with the help of Crazy Mohan through  Bluetooth !   In Sankar’s Robot – Enthiran with the storyline of Sujatha,  Chitti helps Sana [AishwaryaRai] first by voice and then by emitting the visual images of books reflected near her.

Images of students wearing so-called "anti-cheating hats" during college exams have gone viral on social media in the Philippines, sparking amusement.  Students at one college in Legazpi City were asked to wear headgear that would prevent them peeking at others' papers. Many responded by creating homemade contraptions out of cardboard, egg boxes and other recycled materials. Their tutor told the BBC she had been looking for a "fun way" to ensure "integrity and honesty" in her classes.  .. .. and according to a Professor, the   idea had been "really effective".  It was implemented for recent mid-term exams, which were sat by hundreds of students at the college in the third week of October.

A student wears a homemade hat made of egg boxes during a college exam in the Philippines.  Prof Mandane-Ortiz said her initial request had been for students to make a "simple" design out of paper.  She was inspired by a technique reportedly used in Thailand some years previously. In 2013, an image went viral appearing to show a room of university students in Bangkok taking test papers while wearing "ear flaps" - sheets of paper stuck to either side of their head to obscure their vision.  Prof Mandane-Ortiz said her engineers-in-training took the idea and ran with it - in some cases innovating complex headgear in "just five minutes" with any junk they found lying around. Others donned hats, helmets or Halloween masks to fulfil the brief. 

A string of the professor's Facebook posts - showing the youngsters wearing their elaborate creations - garnered thousands of likes in a matter of days, and attracted coverage from Filipino media outlets. They also reportedly inspired schools and universities in other parts of the country to encourage their own students to put together anti-cheating headwear. Prof Mandane-Ortiz said her tutees performed better this year, having been motivated by the strict examination conditions to study extra hard. Many of them finished their tests early, she added - and nobody was caught cheating this year.

Interesting ! and before closing,  in English slang,  egghead is an epithet used to refer to intellectuals or people considered out-of-touch with ordinary people and lacking in realism, common sense, sexual interests, etc. on account of their intellectual interests. It was part of a widespread anti-informed, social propaganda effort that insisted that credentialed intellectuals were not the only smart people, but that serious human intelligence could be found widespread among ordinary people regardless of deprivation of information. A similar, though not necessarily pejorative, British term is boffin.  The term egghead reached its peak currency during the 1950s, when vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon used it against Democratic Presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson. It was used by Bill Clinton advisor Paul Begala in the 2008 presidential campaign to describe Senator Barack Obama's supporters when he said, "Obama can't win with just the eggheads and African-Americans." 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
25^th Oct 2022.

  

story of a fishing trawler - Giripat .. .. Ranee of Hyderabad !!

In the folklore of fishermen, ‘Ranee of Hyderabad’ was a charmer.  I have heard the story  (not once – multiple times – more of the same version) of the  boat “Rani of Hyderabad” pristine at its peak, built of teak and having copper hardware,  built somewhere in 1966  but continued its operation during 1990s also. Amidst the  ripe stories of the boats carried away in stormy weather, this one  from Kakinada coast was lost  in a storm and found miles away -   in 24 Paraganas / in Bangladesh (or was it Burma) but with all its crew safe and that some local astrologer was able to provide info on  its whereabout by looking for it in a betel leaf !! Strange are the ways at SEA.       

To those of us interested in knowing and understanding big ships,  fishing boats offer a good chance.. the Fishing  trawlers  commonly seen in most coastal areas. They are fishing vessels – slightly bigger boats used to catch fish in sea, or even in lakes and rivers.  Depending on the purpose, the length of voyage and other factors, the vessels vary in size and in their power and capacity.  There appears not much of standardization of fishing boats.. there are some which go for fishing and return in hours, some go early in the morning and return mid-day or evening; then there are others which go for 3 / 5 / 7 or more days of voyage.  Smaller boats are made up of fibre glass; bigger ones or are wood and steel too.  Have seen a fishing trawler made of teak wood with aluminum nails…

Trawler gets its name from the way it catches fish ~ it is primarily a dragger – a method of fishing that involves actively dragging or pulling a trawl through the water. Trawl nets are fishing nets that are pulled along the bottom of the sea. There are many variants of trawling gear. Then there is the otter board which keeps the trawl net open ….

Francisco Franco Bahamonde (1892 – 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War and thereafter ruled over Spain from 1939 to 1975 as a dictator, assuming the title Caudillo. This period in Spanish history, from the Nationalist victory to Franco's death, is commonly known as Francoist dictatorship.  He rose from the post of a cadet in Spanish army to become the youngest General.    In 1936  leftist Popular Front came to power, initially reluctant, he joined the July 1936 military coup, which, after failing to take Spain, sparked the Spanish Civil War.  His dictatorship's use of forced labor, concentration camps and executions led to between 30,000 and 50,000 deaths, when combined with  wartime killings, the death toll is in lakhs !!

In post-civil war Spain, Franco developed a cult of personality around his rule by founding the Movimiento Nacional. During World War II he maintained Spanish neutrality, but supported the Axis—whose members Italy and Germany had supported him during the Civil War—damaging the country's international reputation in various ways. During the start of the Cold War, Franco lifted Spain out of its mid-20th century economic depression through technocratic and economically liberal policies, presiding over a period of accelerated growth known as the "Spanish miracle".   Franco died in 1975, aged 82, and was entombed in the Valle de los Caídos. He restored the monarchy in his final years, being succeeded by Juan Carlos, King of Spain, who led the Spanish transition to democracy.

Interestingly read about the missing of a small fishing trawler linked and being described as clandestine operation of British Naval Intelligence is interfering with Franco’s Spain !!

George Black Orsborne (1902 – 1957),  was a Grimsby trawler captain and seafarer, who acquired notoriety in 1936 when he took the trawler Girl Pat on an unauthorised voyage across the Atlantic. The escapade attracted much press attention, and Orsborne and his crew were briefly hailed as heroes.  Orsborne served in the Royal Navy in both world wars. He published an account of his adventurous life in 1949.

Girl Pat was a small fishing trawler, based at the Lincolnshire port of Grimsby, that in 1936 was the subject of a media sensation when taken by  its captain on an unauthorised transatlantic voyage. The escapade ended in Georgetown, British Guiana, with the arrest of the captain, George "Dod" Orsborne, and his brother. The pair were later imprisoned for the theft of the vessel.  Built in 1935, Girl Pat was the property of the Marstrand Fishing Company of Grimsby. On 1 April 1936, Orsborne, with a crew of four and his brother James as a supernumerary, took the vessel out on what the owners authorised as a routine North Sea fishing trip of two to three weeks' duration. After leaving port, Orsborne informed the crew that they were going on an extended cruise in more southerly waters. Nothing more was heard of them until mid-May, when the owners, who had by then assumed the vessel lost, received invoices relating to its repair and reprovisioning in the northern Spanish port of Corcubión. Subsequent sightings placed her in the Savage Islands, at Dakar in Senegal, and Îles du Salut off the coast of French Guiana in South America. The captain's main means of navigation during a voyage of more than 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) was a sixpenny school atlas and a compass. At one point Girl Pat was reported wrecked in the Bahamas, with all hands lost. After the vessel's capture and detention following a chase outside Georgetown on 19 June, Orsborne and his crew were hailed as heroes in the world's press.

Charged with the theft of the vessel in October 1936, Orsborne maintained in court that the owners had instructed him to get rid of the ship, as part of a scheme to obtain its insurance value. This claim was dismissed by the court. Years later, in his memoirs, Orsborne told a different, uncorroborated story: in absconding with Girl Pat he had been carrying out a mission on behalf of British Naval Intelligence, connected with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936.

After his release from prison, Orsborne took part in further maritime adventures and served in the navy in the Second World War. He died in 1957. In Georgetown Girl Pat was acquired by new owners who returned her to Britain, where she was displayed as a tourist attraction in several resorts. In 1939 she was sold to the Port of London Authority for use as a wreck-marking vessel and, after being requisitioned by the Royal Navy during the war, was returned to the authority in 1945. There is no public record of her subsequent career.

Interesting ! 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
22^nd Oct 2022. 

a king called Virat Kohli ... .. .. and that last over by a spinner !!

We would tend to say, it is only a game, a Cricket match .. .. but a game involving India Vs Pakistan is always emotional buster ! .. .. so too was the 16th Match, Group 2 (N), Melbourne, October 23, 2022, ICC Men's T20 World Cup - T20I no. 1842 that went down the wire. 

No post on the entire match, but more on the dying moments, especially on the last over and the Umpiring decisions now questioned by few that includes famous fast bowlers of yesteryears from Pak.  The thrilling match between India and Pakistan on Sunday ended with India defeating Pakistan by four wickets. For many it was a revenge of the defeat that Pak handed last year.     

The final over was bowled by a leftarm spinner and perhaps Babar needed Maths tuition.  He had Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf – yet preferred Nawaz to bowl the final over without shuffling them.   Mohammad Nawaz may have  started out  as a quickie  at the age of 14 as a left-arm medium-fast bowler but now only bowls slow left arm spin. 

India won the toss and Rohit preferred to chase.  Arshdeep made immediate dent in removing Babar Azam for a duck and later accounted for Mohammad Rizwan.  He and Hardik Pandya bowled so well and both took 3 wickets.  Bhuvaneswar was wayward in the death.  From 15/2 – Pak made a slow progress to 91/3 in 12.2 and 98/5 in 13.6  - in the last 6 – they made runs to set a target of 160 which at some point of time looked insurmountable. 

 

After early debacle, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli's  century stand  rescued India and set them up for their grandstand finish.   The pair retrieved from the depths of 31 for 4 in a chase of 160.  When Hardik walked in in the seventh over, India had lost KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel. They needed 129 runs from 83 balls - asking rate over nine. There was only Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin and the fast bowlers to follow. The asking rate rose  to over 11 as the partnership went the next 24 balls without a boundary. 

Even by IPL standards – 48 off 18 is sort of most difficult if not impossible – India overcame this because of Kohli’s magical wand.  The 48 runs by India are the joint-second most target runs chased in the last three overs in men's T20Is, behind the 59 by Sri Lanka against Australia earlier this year in Pallekele.

 

From 48, it boiled down to 31 from 12. Haris Rauf bowled so well conceding just three from his first four balls. That made it 28 from eight. At this stage, Pakistan looked clear winner  - then off 18.5 – Virat Kohli hit a stunning six – a  length ball, hit back with a straight six with a swagger of hip and clearing the ropes.   Next a swinging fullish ball down the leg, flicked so beautifully like an artist – pure wrist work sent it soaring over fine leg.   Equation changed for the better – 12 off the last 2 made it 16 of the final over !! 

               Mohammad Nawaz to bowl with lots of tips offered by mates.  The wicket keeper Mohammad Rizwan was standing back to the spinner-  Deep extra-cover, long-off, long-on, cow corner, deep square leg are back and came another twist.  Hardik Pandya tried to slog over leg, edged to cover point.   16 off 5 is gettable.  The touted finished Dinesh Karthik walked in, hit a full toss for 1 .. .. 15 off 4 – Kohli ran 2 .. ..  15 from 4 – requires boundary of every ball .. ..  then came the climax .. .. 19.4 was a no ball, Kohli dragged the full toss over deep square, fielder getting a hand to it, for a 6.   Next ball was a wide .. so still 19.4 to be bowled – Kohli bowled – but being a free hit, not out – ball went to 3^rd man region.  Kohli ran 3 – what fitness levels !  2 runs required off 2 – DK jumped, played all over, ball hit his pads, Rizwan collected it wide leg side, and stumped him.  Ravichandran Ashwin walked in – 2 off 1  … .. inexperienced Nawaz bowled another wide – so now India could not lose – 1 off 1 – if hit – India wins, if not, there could be tie and super over !  . .. ..  Ashwin casually cleared the infielder and with that match was won . .. ball rolled to the boundary.  

If a team can win from 28 off 8 – it was King Kohli magic.    Two back-to-back sixes off the excellent Haris Rauf, and that put all the pressure on Mohammad Nawaz, whose last over was a total mess !! 

Now about that mistimed decision to bowl Nawaz and the crazy 20^th over there were some purported controversies. 

1.     That No ball which Kohli hit for a six.  It was dipping – waist-high, Kohli hoisted it over and immediately appealed for a no ball too. 

It was flash point as the Pakistan team converged around the umpire Rod Tucker in protest.  It was not marginal as pointed out by slow motion – it was indeed a no ball – and a good decision by Umpire at that .

 

2.     Then runs after being bowled – Pakis contended with the Umpire that the ball had hit the stumps and hence should be a dead ball.  

Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg also raised this objection.  It was poor understanding of the laws of Cricket by Pakis and again Umpires were right .. .. full marks to Kohli and DK who without waiting for the decision kept running and in fact ran 3 !

     Law 24: No Ball

Mode of Delivery  :  The Umpire shall indicate to the Striker whether the Bowler intends to bowl over or round the wicket, overarm or underarm, or right or left-handed. Failure on the part of the Bowler to indicate in advance a change in his mode of delivery is unfair and the Umpire shall call and signal "no ball". 

The Cricket rules are categorically clear -  the ball was not a dead ball because off a free hit, a batsman can get out only in four ways i.e. Handled the ball, Hit the ball twice, Obstructing the field and Run out. The three runs were thus given as three byes and Dinesh Karthik took strike with 2 runs to get off the last 2 balls. The ICC rule on the dead ball says: "20.1.1 The ball becomes dead when 20.1.1.1 it is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or of the bowler. 20.1.1.2 a boundary is scored.  Kohli was not out because the delivery was a free hit, the ball was not dead when the ball hit his stumps.  

3.             My friends might jump when I say this – Dinesh Karthik is highly rated as a finisher, compared with Dhoni and is playing ahead of dasher Rishab Pant – but he clearly panicked ! – 2 off 2 – should have been won very casually

4.     I have been a great fan of Ravichandran Ashwin and many wrote – how brainy he was in just allowing the ball to the keeper without attempting a stroke and getting a wide !

Ash no doubt is a very intelligent cricketer but don’t make too much of a simple act.  Every club cricketer knows that a ball drifting down the leg is a wide.  So even if he tried to flash and failed to make any contact, still it would have been a wide, irrespective of whether it passed below the bat or not !  

His lofted shot off the last ball certainly revealed his composure and took India home.. .. ..  

Clearly, categorically, the hero  who engineered and competed the chase was King Kohli .. .. .. and in doing so, Kohli has compelted 3794 runs in 110 matches / 102 innings – second being Rohit Sharma 3741 in 143/135.  Statistically, Kohli has remained unbeaten 18 times in chase and have been on the winning side in all these !!    Kohli has scored 1621 runs in 36 successful T20I chases with 16 half-centuries.   

Before concluding,  India has thus far played 12 T20Is against Pakistan and have won 8 – lost 3 and 1 tied.

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
24.10.2022.

  

an early morning trot in T Nagar!

The Arc de Triomphe de ( 'Triumphal Arch of the Star') is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formed by its twelve radiating avenues. The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

 

It is a fascinating destination – a shoppers’ paradise !  .. .. lakhs of people throng this area, and with Deepavali around the corner, every shop touches its peak sales.  Perhaps, none would have time to see anything else other than shops and walking on the streets is a very big challenge and risky at times !!

One should not be surprised if someone were to statistically say that 10000 people were walking on  Ranganathan Street – a small bylane leading to Mambalam Railway station, having Saravana Stores, Jayachandra and 100 others !!

An early morning walk throws some surprises !  -  empty Pondy Bazaar, Usman Road, Ranganathan Street – only small coffee shops open.   A good coffee at Geetha’s café added to the morning romance.

Some photos of T Nagar area sans people .. .. surprised to see that in the Textile ocean of Nallys, Kumarans, Pothys, Chennai Silks, RmKV, Saravanas and .. .. .. – there is a shop exclusive for ‘9 yards’ – 9 gajam pudavais are worn by traditional people or rather people only on religious occasions only  these days ! 

May be, you could have seen a man inside the closed glass doors !  .. ..BUT the pleasant morning walk was sort of spoiled by an educated man !!  -  there was this white good looking dog – it’s leash itself could be worth a few hundreds ! -  this friendly animal was literally pulling the elderly man in shorts on the broad pavements of Pondy Bazaar.

.. .. then, it stopped at couple of places – one such was a pile of goods – closed with a rubber sheet by a vendor – the illiterate/ irrational  animal lifted its leg, urinated on the merchandise (not sure whether there were any edible items kept for sale) – then moved on to its next destination, the good looking slabs meant for people to sit and continued its work !

The educated owner was busy fiddling his phone and on the other end of leash – unmindful, or perhaps allowing the animal its daily routine.  Went nearer and told him that it is so unfair – he gave a strong cold look – gave the animal a small whip – turned the other way.

For a moment thought, a crowded T Nagar, is better than a free one !!

Thyagaraya Nagar, famously T Nagar, historically was East Mambalam, now  a very affluent commercial and residential neighbourhood in Chennai. It was constructed between 1923 and 1925 by the Madras Presidency government as a part of town planning activities initiated according to the Madras Town Planning Act of 1920.  T. Nagar is believed to be the first planned urban neighborhood in Chennai created in 1920, conceived in a European style, with the Panagal Park resembling the Arc De Triomphe and the Pondy Bazaar resembling the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Initially built as a residential neighbourhood, it is now considered the largest shopping district in India by revenue !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
Morning of 23^rd Oct 2022.