JOHN HOWARD— Militarism and aggression are the foundations of his [Saddam Hussein's] regime. If you doubt this, consider his actions against Iraqi Kurds, against the Shiah majority—particularly the Marshland Arabs. Consider the estimated 400,000 combatants and civilians who lost their lives in the war that followed his invasion of Iran—

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,,1720845,00.html

At least I'm not flying the flag solo for cricket podcasting any more!

Robert Harvey (who is a great supporter of The Net Sessions) has started The Cover Drive Podcast. One edition so far, an interview with Rediff's (and Sight Screen's) Prem Panicker, recorded during the Third Test between Pakistan and India. An interesting interview, even if some of the current events are now dated. I trust there will be more of The Cover Drive. The website is www.coverdrivepodcast.blogspot.com.

I promised when The Net Sessions began that I would try to keep to a minimum of one podcast a month. I didn't do a podcast in February. Sorry.

Busy, and frankly, a bit uninspired. Some of it has already been recorded, including a response to some of the feedback I have received. So maybe I'll get around to post-production next week.

"There are countries that apply religious or Sharia law; Saudi Arabia and Iran come to mind. If a person wants to live under Sharia law, these are countries where they may feel at ease, but not Australia."

- Peter Costello, from an address to The Sydney Institute, 23.2.06 (source: AM, ABC)

A latent cricket fan, or an ignoramus about Indian culture (and, indeed, of non-American cinema)? You be the judge.

From the transcript of Bush 43's round table interview with Indian journalists in the White House last Wednesday:

Q Between a cricket match and a Bollywood movie, what would a --

THE PRESIDENT: Cricket match and a --

For one reason or another, this is the first chance I have had to write up my thoughts on the VB Series finals. I'll turn this into a memory test, and not refer to any source material:

Australia won. Sri Lanka had the series in their grasp until Jayawardene grasped a half-volley off Ponting in Game Two.

Howard hits out at 'jihad' Muslims
(George Megalogenis/The Australian, 20.2.06)

Notwithstanding the fact that this article is really just pre-release publicity for a book The Australian is publishing to celebrate ten years of the JWH regime, the sheer ignorance of the man is mind-numbing.

Does he even have a clue what the term "jihad" really means?

I was saddened to read the other day of the passing of Irving Rosenwater on January 30 at the age of 73.

Rosenwater was a noted statistician and historian on our game, and one of a handful to have become a recognisable name to the wider cricketing community. He was the scorer for BBC Television's cricket telecasts in the 1970s until he succumbed in 1977 to the twin temptations of Australian sunshine and the Packer dollar, becoming the official scorer for Channel 9's World Series Cricket coverage. He stayed with Nine into the 1980s as I recall.

Cheney Shoots Fellow Hunter In Texas Accident

It begs the question... why wasn't Dick Strangelove chosen for the US Olympic Biathlon team?

US mediawatching is going to be fun this week!