Mark Epstein is a Western psychiatrist who has explored the pursuit of happiness from a Buddhist perspective. This interview with him is an interesting one http://human-nature.com/interviews/epstein.html

Dear Amit,
You restart 23 yards and THIS is what you come up with? "Smiling is good for you?" Even the title makes me cringe! Are you so detached that you do not care about immediate events such as a certain Test that starts on friday the 13th, Jan 2006? Or perhaps you think those lesser than you will open and be blinded by that Pandora's box and that you needn't bother. I for one would like to debate the assertion put forth by Sehwag that "If Pakistan prepare hard and bouncy tracks we have 3 seamers to take advantage of that situation" Who? Yes Pathan is formidable, but Agarkar?, an under cooked Zaheer? RP Singh who does not even wear the right sized wrist band ( perhaps he thinks he is a mini Michael Jordan) What a laugh! Yes, Sehwag has an average of 98 against Pakistan so he can say what he wants, and he is right in saying Pakistan will not prepare a wicket which will allow both Kumble and Harbhajan to be picked together, that would be suicide, especially if Pakistan bat last. But to say India has 3 seamers ( note, not pacers, seamers) which will take apart the "Technically Unsound" Pakistani Batsman is bordering on Delusional, a step up from the usual Arrogance, which India cannot help displaying since the World Cup; heaven forbid anyone mentions that a score of 359-2 belongs in Test Cricket, not in a 50 over WC Final. Perhaps he thinks India's "Seamers" are a far sight better than England's ( faster and better ) Bowlers. Are you ashamed to bring this up, Amit? Or is Smiling good enough for you?

Feroz, good point. I happen to be on holiday, and should probably have put up a post to that effect. Regular blogging resumes when I'm back. Maybe some India-Pakistan masala as well, let's see.

Amit Varma,
You call yourself a blogger; a blogger who is on Holiday, fine..
there is a Test series starting this friday, I believe it is India vs. Pakistan, yet none of your fellow bloggers have started anything apropos said subject. Zainub, your token Pakistani blogger is silent, Angshuman is extolling the virtue of Dravid over Ponting, Chris has dug up Shane Bond, the Categories-India-Pakistan and Pakistan have been silent for a month.
I know you have a Magazine to organize and sell. I for one will NOT subscribe to it if this is the attitude that the Bloggers have to the audience. Many people around the world are looking forward to the series, and we would like to talk about selection and tactics BEFORE the series starts, not replying to a shallow observation at lunch on the first day. I mean come on!!
To give an example the NFL season is over for many teams but click on to ther Boards and see how many people are on at 3.30 in the morning talking about Draft Choices and Coaching changes. For shame! You want to sell a magazine but you do not care if the audience waits a day or a week or a month for your words of wisdom. The time to talk about cricket is BEFORE the series starts, not during, and it's not about how a batsman holds his pose or a bowler wipes his sweat, it's about tactics and selection, but I suppose that's way beyond you and your fellow bloggers. If could find another Blog I would, I don't see anything in here that makes me want to stay.

Most people are on Holiday 2 weeks a year, the very fortunate have 3 weeks; is 23 yards a horse that refuses to come out of its gate? I would not miss you, were it not for Bloggers on the Cricinfo team whao cannot for the life of them, raise a single comment to their posts, I feel sorry for them but I cannot always be the one with the reply, that would merely dilute my thoughts into an insipid soup of repetitive rasam-excuse my spelling-but you get my drift. Pakistani Bashing is bad enough but sulking in silence does not create any healthy debate. Hope to see you back soon, maybe by Karachi? All the best, Feroz.