Lucky Luc

From Mandira Bedi's column "Field Talk", Hindustan Times Cafe, April 25:

Do you know the most interesting part of a World Cup semifinal involving Australia? ... [Y]ou tend to be extremely predictable of an Aussie win. ... I think there is [another] factor also. It is the occurrence of the unpredictable. I am tremendously inclined to give full points to Ricky Ponting and his boys even before the start of [the game].

...

The only time [Australia] was down this season was when it lost a tri-series final to England and slumped to a 0-3 humiliation against New Zealand. But thereafter, Ponting and his boys have been on a galloping march. First, they picked up the Champions Trophy ... followed by the 5-0 Ashes whitewash at home over England. [Italics mine]

Hmm. You are "predictable" of an Aussie win; then you "acknowledge the occurrence of the unpredictable", which makes you "tremendously inclined" to an Aussie win. All I can say is, again, hmm.

And consider some dates: Champions Trophy, Oct/Nov 2006. Ashes whitewash, Nov 2006 to Jan 2007. Tri-series and final, Jan/Feb 2007. 0-3 defeat by NZ, Feb 2007.

Therefore, I am at a loss to understand that "thereafter". (Then again...).

***
Quoted in full and verbatim, here's a feature titled "What's on Your Mind Today?" in HT Cafe, April 25.

It's not exactly an obsessive, compulsive disorder, but here are a few things that are top-of-mind ..

TAKEFIVE


• ZIPPERS: Now stop looking at the fly of your jeans. This is one thing, you really need to be careful about.
  
  
• FRIENDS: Sounds a little uncool but it's true. For some, friends with looks, intelligence and contacts are a passport to being in the the [sic] limelight. Tch, tch.
  
  
• NAMES: There's no dearth of people who dislike their names. But hey, remember Shakespeare? What's in a Gogol, yaar.
  
  
• LINGERIE: There are plenty who have lingerie for all occasions. Need we tell you why?
  
  
• HANDS: For some reasons still being researched, people are conscious about their hands when they aren't busy. Forget the manicurist, huh.

OK, I'll admit it. I have no idea, repeat no idea, what this is all about. Any help welcome.

Also, to that question "Need we tell you why?", my answer is "Yes. Please."

***
Lady called Kim Sharma answers reader's queries in a column in HT Cafe titled "AgniAunt". In the column in the April 23 issue, she answers four questions.

Her first answer ends: "Lov n luc."

Her second answer ends: "Right now, my lov ... Luc."

Her third answer ends: "Luv n luc."

Her fourth answer ends: "Luv."

Which, of course, leaves me wondering: just who is this guy "Luc"?

***
Successive questions posed to Sexologist Dr Kavan Lakdawala, in his column "Sex and the City" (HT Cafe, April 24):

• While washing my penis during bathing, I ejaculate quite often. I am worried that the sperm left in the bathroom may lead to the ladies of the family getting pregnant. Is that possible?
  
  
• I went to a massage parlour a few days ago. The girl who was massaging me stroked my penis and I ejaculated. She was fully clothed and I didn't touch her. What are the chances of getting HIV infection?

I don't know. I think Dr Lakdawala should have reassured the second questioner with something like: "Don't worry, dude! She was fully clothed, right? She won't get any infection!"