the apt Gangaram

What all things can you think of when you hear Gangaram?
There are quite a few already who go by this name. One is a Marathi movie titled Ram Ram Gangaram, starring Dada Kondke et al. I haven't seen that one, but you can't miss getting some idea, regards the content of the movie, by just knowing the actor. Next comes a shoe shop by the same name in Udaipur. It is a crap place which i would recommend only if all other shoe shops in Udaipur and neighbouring cities are shut down. If you discount a break in the syllable, there's also a hospital in Delhi by the name Ganga Ram, and as far as i have heard about it, it's got the best the capital has to offer in terms of medical facilities; so what if it has to share its name with one of Dada Kondke's movies.
What else?
The occasion was a fair in the city, held every December, where you can choose from among a myriad of things to gift someone. You can see paintings, wall-hangings, furniture, leather goodies, thick carpets with prices running into five figures, and what not; and a plethora of diverse and dazzling performances coming from all corners of the country. At the same place there was an enclosure from which a microphone-equipped man was luring the passers-by into witnessing some outstanding powers of a donkey. And guess what was the name of the donkey; yup you guessed it right, it was Gangaram.
So i paid ten bucks to enter the enclosure, which was basically a simple tent. It's one good thing about roaming all alone, you don't need to consult anyone before changing your path abruptly (a one-line digression à la Chetan Bhagat). In the middle there was the host, and all the people who were tempted like me, formed a circle around him. First up, using his hands to close the donkey's eyes, the host asked for someon'e watch and told a girl to keep the watch. I was not impressed much when Gangaram went and stood next to exactly the same girl when asked to. That must be some regular girl, thought i. But as the show progressed, i could see there was indeed something. Like when the host asked Gangaram to point out a man wearing spectacles; lo and behold, that ass moved a full circle and stopped near me. I was so astounded, that i couldn't stop myself from fondling Gangaram, falling short of only a peck. I looked around to see if there were many men wearing spects, but there was only one: i. A few more of such Qs and As followed.
It's obvious that there was some terrifically imperceptible coding system in place between the host and his pal. Either that or the donkey is really an extraordinary animal, who not only understands the question but also is intelligent enough to answer those.
That's Gangaram for you, an apt one at that.

'gimme a break mate!'

Almost every other day, you can find someone or the other writing, either through newspapers or blogs or some online article, on the Australian cricket team's poor current performance. Now, there's one more to the list.
People are bashing these guys right, left and centre for their poor tactics with the the bat, the ball, and in the field. They are writing pages on how Australia should have planned better, given that the retirements of McGrath and Warne were round the corner, and how the selectors should have used some more of their discretionary powers.
I agree, everything that they say is fine. Australia are playing cricket at a level that is nowhere close to the what they played a few years ago. In the past 10 years' period, no one is used to seeing Australia fight despearately to save a Test on the last day, except on a few occasions, you know against whom; but in their own backyard -- naaah!
But come on, think of it! What else do you expect? Australia has been at the top almost for a decade now. I am not much into statistics myself, but you can put appropriate filters at cricinfo statsguru and check it for yourself. And now it's only natural that they are being replaced. How interesting would cricket be left if Australia does another hat-trick of World Cups? I, for sure, won't love it. But that does not imply that Australia has to take flak for that.
I daresay that there's little difference between being vicarious and bashing the Aussies for there current run. It can be, at times, equated with sadism. Australia is not used to attract any sympathy in recent times, but i don't want to be a sympathiser either, for i fear the i-told-you-so attitude.
So what's up for the Aussies now? Ponting for sure can't do anything better than keep his mouth shut. If he does otherwise, he's sure to receive more from the same people. But i would be very heartened to see him open his mouth and scream at the top of his voice, 'Gimme a break mate!'