F1 Ramblings

Malaysian GP-Sepang

The Malaysian GP comes to an end with a very spectacular and exciting race for the fans. Lots of wheel to wheel action between drivers. The tussle between Webber, Ralf and Heidfeld was exciting, not forgetting the unavoidable collision between Webber and Fisichella. There was basically lots of action happening all over the track, bar Alonso and Trulli who were racing their own race without bother from the rest.

Im disappointed Fisichella wasn't competitive. His barge board fell off which realistically took him out of the podium, even without Webber not giving him enough space into the final hairpin. Well, its all still good and Ferrari is way off the pace. Actually, they are matching the pace of the Red Bull Cosworths which isn't that bad. Its all good. Trulli taking Toyota to their first podium.

Race results:
1. Fernando Alonso
2. Jarno Trulli
3. Nick Heidfeld

Ruminations In Passing

Candlemas Term Year 3 has finally come to an end. Finally can get down to some business, which is work, work, ems and finally proper studying and not forgetting my usually forgotten hobby, gyming. Wish I could go for a holiday, like Drew and Rachel. Hmm, nah will wait for Paris June 2005; coming your way. Yes you!

Actually, just chatting now on MSN while I do my weekend duty in Murano. Wee, how exciting. Coming back, yea its good to talk to this long lost friend of mine, Chauz and few others in recent weeks from Singapore. The stars are aligning us together again with the focal point in Singapore. Scary!!!

F1 Ramblings

Malaysian GP-Sepang

F1 race this year in Sepang, Malaysia will start in approximately 2 hours. Its all good as the Ferraris are not dominating the front rows, instead their way back with the Jordans. Woo-hoo. They really do need to fast track their F2005. So, the grid for today is Alonso, Trulli, Fisichella, Webber, Ralf, Kimi . I have no doubt that Alonso will win as he has race pace, but I hope Fisichella can match him all the way. Of course, if he makes a mistake Im sure Fisi and Kimi will be lurking not too far behind. My only worry is that Kimi and Webber might get caught up behind the Toyotas, who don't have race pace, and fall off the pace of the Renaults.

School of Athens - Raphael

F1 Ramblings

Australian GP - Melbourne

Yes, as predicted! Sunday's (very early morning in Glasgow) race proved exciting. Usually when you are able to predict something in F1, it alwayz has to do with Michael Schumacher and Ferrari. This time however, underdog Fisichella wins his second career GP easily. Wow, was I celebrating. Renault obviously looked good. McLaren on the other hand looked shabby though Kimi was slow mostly due to traffic just as was Michael who incidentally crashed with Nick Heidfeld. That certainly made the start of the season exciting. Looking forward to Malaysian GP in 2 weeks time. Sepang's otherwise dead town would definitely benefit from this annual event. This time though Im quite sure Renault are going to find it really really difficult unlike yesterday.

Top 3:
Giancharlo Fisichella
Reubens Barrichello
Fernando Alonso

F1 Ramblings

Australian GP - Melbourne

The Australian GP is tomorrow. I have been so excited for a week now. This the first race of the 2005 you see. The first qualifying round ended up a total wash up, literally. Fisichella was pretty much the luckiest one going out in sleeks and in relatively drier conditions that the rest and seized the opportunity to grab the top spot in the time sheets. He is a definite contender for the world champion title this year together with Raikonnen. I have no doubt that they will both shine as the races go by. Besides their talent, the car and its package looks pretty solid and promising. The McLaren with its 'viking horns' aerodynamics looks cool as well. So its all good for tomorrow.

On the top of Ben A'an

Travel: Ben A'an

Two weeks ago Ben (Price), Drew (Smith) and Rik(esh Patel), not forgetting me, went to 'bag' Ben A'an. It was the sixth Munro that I bagged. It was an easy climb up and down, taking about almost 3 hours on a leisurely hike. The beautiful thing about the climb wasn't the lack of reptiles and amphibians that you would expect to find in tropical countries, it was the fact that it was a beautiful sunny late winter day (not very many in Glasgow and associated areas).

When we reached the top, it started snowing lightly for a few minutes; just enough time for us to catch the panoramic view. We treated ourselves to a good lunch in one of the best local restaurants (or so says Drew) close to Calender on our way back. The food was undoubtedly good. I had lamb glazed with mint sauce. Rik as usual didn't eat his food 'properly'. Lots of wastage, which after a round of earful from me and Drew reduced significantly.

Stumbling in Heaven

Yesterday was the 5th of the 8 installments of my stammering group therapy. Good group dynamics for us that bothered to make it. Ruori felt well uncomfortable giving the presentation and felt even more dejected than usual. I felt the same way last week after the dismay of freezing during my presentation to the cameras. This week, even with the cameras I did quite well. David Lilburn, one of the organisers of Safety for Stumblers, a Glasgow support group for stammerers, has been a good inspiration to me and Im sure some others. His I-do-not-give a damn attitude about his stammering has led to me being more open about stammering. James (Sheffield) and Clare (Arneil) have also been instrumental in this evolution of mine for the past few weeks, from a very much covert stutterer to a semi overt stutterer. Can't wait for 'Buddy Nite' next week(sarcasm) when I can let my 'buddy' in on my whole stuttering life. Yay!

Post Mortem of a Living Silver Screen Production

HIDE AND SEEK ***

ARE WE THERE YET? **1/2

MILLION DOLLAR BABY ****

WIMBLEDON (DVD) **

SPARTAN (DVD) **1/2

ANYTHING ELSE? (DVD) **

FIDA ***

YUVA ***

VEER ZARA ***

RAINCOAT ***

Ruminations In Passing

The Michael Jackson Trial

Yesterday, the MJ trial was restarted after a delay due to MJ coming down with a flu.

Prosecutors went on to paint a picture of MJ being a slime who under his eccentricity lie a peodophile.

The defendant's lawyers on the other hand went on to discredit the credibility of Martin Bashir, former BBC jounalist who now works for ABC in US and the mother of the teenage accuser.

Today, the prosecutors have given their vivid version of MJ's Neverland Ranch Home which is said to have everything from mannequins of young boys, a grand piano to a model of Gollum for LOTR. Early silent police videos shown have depicted Neverland as a porn and alcohol haven used by MJ to seduce young boys into sleezy activities.

The trial continues...

Ruminations In Passing

The Shabina Begum Story

Yesterday, a schoolgirl who was refused permission to wear an Islamic gown in class claimed a "victory for all Muslims" yesterday after the Court of Appeal ruled that she had been denied the right to manifest her religion.

Shabina Begum, 16, decided when she turned 14 to wear a jilbab, a full-length dress that conceals the shape of a woman's arms and legs. She said the decision of Denbigh High School, in Luton, to insist that she wore uniform was the consequence of an atmosphere in which Islam had been made "a target for vilification in the name of the war on terror".

My take on this is just as my current flatmate, Mark, put it. People have far too many rights these days. The over emphasis on political correctness and human rights to the extent that a student has 'more power' that over-rules that of her institution of education is ridiculous especially since the institution has made provisions for religious uniforms to be worn by those of conservative eastern religion backgrounds.

Students have to be thought to conform to certain guidelines and made to follow the accepted norm in a particular society. This is vital in order for a student to be able to function as an adult with views/stands/behaviour that do not lie in the extremes of acceptable social practise, which is generally scorned upon.