Ian Botham and his mother-in-law

I've been coming across references to this every now and then.

It starts in the early eighties, 1983, to be precise. Ian Botham had problems with his knee after the first test in Pakistan and left the country "muttering, infamously 'Pakistan is the sort of place every man should send his mother-in-law to, for a month, all expenses made.'" (Osman Samiuddin A tumultuous past).

Nine years later, Botham was allegedly asked by Aamir Sohail to "send in his mother-in-law" after being dismissed in the final match against Pakistan.

This year he turned 50 and celebrated in Pakistan while he was part of the commentary team there for the England tour. He seems to be a changed man. Not only was he qouted to have said "It was a vibrant city, an excellent hotel, a big ground and a fantastic atmosphere. What was there to be scared of?" while pondering over reasons England had for their huge loss in the Karachi fixture, he was also reported to have travelled back to England for a few days in the middle of the tour in an emergency, to visit, it turned out later, an ailing mother-in-law. Wish her the best of health.

What's Life. (Or an attempt to be able to inspire myself)

Ok, this is going to be one of them. But no, its not pessimistic. Infact its anything but that. And its not that I don't have anything negative going around rightn now. There ARE a lot of events around which I should be concerned about, but the fact that I'm still positive at this very moment means I can reflect on it.

Firstly, the realization and acceptance of the phrase from a Sufi story, "This too, shall, pass." It really will. While the phrase has two meanings, to realize good times ahead in times of adversity, or be humble in better times, incase bad times strike again, I am basically talking about the former part of the meaning here. You have had great times in the past and definitely something better in the future. Unless the universe ends, you can always be content that some thing better will happen to some part of you in the future. That could be a physical part of yourself. Or a person, an animal, a venture that you played a part in bringing about. This is an extreme case and only to be used in case things completely stopped happening to you, the idea being that even in such an instance there would be something better for you.

Secondly, no tension. Nope. Take every moment as the first. Whether you're a final year student concerned about a job or a professional fearing job termination (whether as a result of downsizing or retirement), just feel as if its your first year at university/work. Do not let the tension build within yourself. Be concerned, but limit it to that.

Be, in "the zone" for as long as you can. It can be hard to feel that way, but try to fake it. The zone can best be described as emotional adrenalin. It happens to athletes when they are performing at their best - the feeling of performing higher than your abilites and not being aware of it. You are dynamic. Things are happening and they will happen. Opportunities will come your way. You shall use them at abilities you never knew were within you. Soon you're making world records. But the sooner you become conscious of it, the sooner you fall back. You are dynamic. The world is happening around you and you are playing your part. Smooth. "The flow."

Commonly known Acronyms and what they actually stand for

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism act is also known as the USA PATRIOT Act.

Back to the critical literature review. (This was a fun-fact while researhing. One of the good things about this course). :)