Tales of Woe

In a few hours, Category 5 Hurricane Katrina will hit the Louisiana coast-line. It will probably hammer New Orleans. As most people know, the city is below sea level and expecting serious floods and winds. For those of you who cannot leave, for one reason or another, good luck.

The Iraqi constitutional 'convention' has fallen into disarray with interest groups unable to reach an agreement. I have to wonder whether it was a deliberate ploy on the Sunni minority's behalf to, at least pretend they still have power. It's unfortunate that the Shi'ite's and Kurds are allowing them to get away with it. Of course, these are groups who can't agree on religion, so there's no way in hell they're going to agree politically. On the good news side, it means a re-negotiation of women's rights which were in danger of being curbed.

And cricket. Okay, we lost. Again. Should have batted better in the first innings and should have been able to hold on to those catches. Congrats to the Poms for a match well played. The only sour note was the issue of replacement fielders. Personally, I've always believed that's what the 12th man was for. Why is the fielding coach fielding? In a test match? Doesn't matter who won or lost, what matters is whether a fieldsman has the right to be there. Replacement for Jones, no problem; resting your bowlers and having ring-ins, not the gentleman's game, people. It is merely an indicator of just how ruthless Duncan Fletcher is willing to be to win the Ashes back.

I'd like to smug for a moment here: twice the Poms had an almost insurmountable lead, and twice the Aussies came within a whisker of winning. To the Poms it should be a warning not to be complacent. To the Aussies, it should be warning not to expect to win the Ashes as easily as the previous 16 years would suggest. Work for it boys, work for it!