Nathan Waddell, The Conversation
'Nineteen Eighty-Four' might have been inspired by author George Orwell's fear of drowning
The novel isn't typically associated with fear of water. Yet it's filled with references to sinking ships, drowning people and the dread of oceanic engulfment.
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India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Patience, Honour, and Heart: The Joe Root blueprint for lasting success
Joe Root must be a fan of The Devil's Advocate, a mind-bending film starring Al Pacino as this over-the-top yet thought-provoking exploration of morality, ambition, and temptation, Pacino delivers a chilling piece of advice to Kevin Lomax, Keanu Reeves as a young lawyer: 'No matter how good you are, don't ever let them see you coming.' Root, England's cricketing maestro, embodies this a world full of cricketing divas, nobody saw him coming till he, like a sprinter racing in an alternate track away from limelight, burst ahead of all, bar Sachin Tendulkar. On Friday, July 25, during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Root's 150-run masterclass saw him surpass Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, trailing only Tendulkar. With age and form on his side, Root is set to overhaul Tendulkar's Test yet, who would have thought just a few years ago Root would be ascending cricket's Mt Everest, the summit of batting?The Sudden Emergence of a Cricketing SupernovaRoot's rise to cricketing immortality was not a blaze of instant stardom but a quiet, smoldering glow that erupted into a supernova, catching the cricketing world off he debuted in 2012 against India in Nagpur, scoring a gritty 73 off 229 balls against a formidable spin attack, Root was a promising talent but not a pegged him as reliable, yet his early career lacked the flair of peers like Virat Kohli or Steve Smith. Before 2020, Root's 17 centuries in 89 Tests and a modest conversion rate placed him as the underdog among the Fab Four. Among his peers, Root was the quiet one, always in the shadow of Kohli's swagger, Smith's maverick mastery, and Kane Williamson's steel.'But post-2020, Root transformed, shedding the captaincy in 2022 to unleash his full potential under 'Bazball.' Since 2021, he has scored 5,586 runs in 60 Tests at an average of 56.42, with 21 centuries, converting over half his fifties into the race of cricket's Fab Four, Root is the veritable tortoise to the other hares, his steady, unassuming stride outlasting their early of the Fab FourWhile Kohli, Smith, and Williamson burst from the blocks with flamboyant brilliance. Kohli's brash charisma shone in his 2011 Test debut century, leading to high expectations, and his crowning as Tendulkar's heir. But his form faltered since 2020, with only five centuries in five years, and a sharp dip in the Test average. Kohli started failing against seam, and struggling against spin. After flickering for a few years, his candle flamed out, belying his early the unorthodox genius, racked up 9,685 runs in 109 Tests, his 32 centuries a hallmark of innovation, but he has looked a bit vulnerable in the last two years. Williamson, the steely technician, has 8,881 runs in 102 Tests. His consistency has been praised, but injuries and New Zealand's sparse Test schedule have slowed on the other hand, has transformed into a run machine in the second half of his career. His 150 at Old Trafford took him to 13,409 runs, surpassing Dravid (13,288), Kallis (13,289), and Ponting (13,378), leaving him 2,512 runs shy of Tendulkar's 15, English GentlemanOff the crease, Joe Root lives with a quiet humility that keeps him far from the limelight's glare. Born on December 30, 1990, in Sheffield, Root was nurtured in a cricket-mad family. His early days at Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, under the shadow of Michael Vaughan, saw a shy talent emerge, earning a scholarship to Worksop College at 15 and shining at the 2005 Bunbury a boy, Root spent hours perfecting his cover drive in Yorkshire's gritty nets, often biking to practice with dreams bigger than his small frame from his youth paint a picture of shyness: teammates recall a teenage Root blushing when praised for a century, preferring to let his bat speak. Impressed, his friends and fans anointed him with prophetic nickname during his college days –FEC (Future England Captain) for his quiet non-controversial career reflects this reserve—unlike peers, he's avoided scandals, with his 2019 stand against homophobia, calmly telling Shannon Gabriel, 'There's nothing wrong with being gay,' showcasing principle over Honorable Foe And A FriendRoot's character, a blend of quiet resilience and profound sportsmanship, shines brightest in moments that transcend the July 14, 2025, during the third Test at Lord's, India's chase of 193 ended in heartbreak, falling 22 runs short when Shoaib Bashir dismissed Mohammed Siraj for 4 off 30 balls. Siraj, visibly shattered, slumped over his bat, the ball having spun back with cruel overspin to dislodge his leg the roaring Lord's crowd and England's jubilation, Root was the first to rush toward Siraj, his gesture a beacon of empathy in a match marked by fiery Siraj's earlier sledging—mocking Root's 'Bazball' with taunts of 'Baz, Baz, Bazball, I want to see' on Day 1 and venting frustration after a failed DRS appeal against Root on Day 4–the England legend set aside the on-field tension. He offered a firm handshake, a gentle pat on the back, and a quiet Multan in 2024, where he scored 262, Root quietly declined a celebratory wave to the crowd, preferring to share a private nod with Harry Brook, saluting their 454-run partnership as a testament to his team-first Root Teaches UsIn a game that so often idolises the spectacular and the brash, Root's journey reminds us that true greatness is forged in patience, humility, and the relentless pursuit of quiet resilience and unwavering commitment to the team underscore a deeper truth: in sport, as in life, it is not always the loudest or the fastest who reach the summit, but those who endure, who build others up, and who play with both honor and story stands as proof that, in a world chasing fleeting success and shallow fame amplified by hype, enduring greatness is built on character and substance.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Who are Galactus and Silver Surfer? Meet MCU's new villains in Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four: First Steps: Marvel is about to reintroduce the Fantastic Four, but this time, it's not just about stretchy arms or invisibility. The real buzz is around the cosmic villains, Galactus and the Silver Surfer. They're not your average bad guys. These two come from the far ends of space, and their presence signals a big shift in the MCU's tone. Instead of another city-level threat, Marvel is aiming for something way bigger, older, and stranger. If you're wondering who these two are and why the internet is so hyped, here's a quick, easy breakdown. Galactus: A god-like force of nature Ralph Ineson, known for his deep voice and serious screen presence, plays Galactus. But don't expect a typical villain. Galactus is older than the universe. He doesn't want to destroy — he needs to. He feeds on planets to survive, like a cosmic predator. As Ineson put it, "He's not evil. He's beyond good and evil." Galactus in 'THE FANTASTIC FOUR' Director Matt Shakman described Galactus as a '14-billion-year-old vampire,' which tells you a lot about the movie's tone. He's not going to give speeches or throw punches. He'll loom, he'll consume, and he'll make the Fantastic Four feel small. Visually, this Galactus looks more like the comics. No more cloud nonsense like in the 2007 version. He's huge, armored, and alien, with glowing eyes and a voice that could shake space. Silver Surfer: Tragic, powerful, and not who you expected Julia Garner plays Shalla-Bal, not the usual Norrin Radd. In the comics, she's from the same planet as Norrin and is often his love interest. In this version, she is the Silver Surfer — Galactus' herald, searching for planets he can consume. The first look at Silver Surfer in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Garner says her Surfer is quiet, conflicted, and tragic. 'She doesn't speak much,' she explained in a recent interview. 'You feel her pain just from her body language.' She's not just a shiny alien on a board. She's someone who's lost everything and now serves a being who eats worlds. This version of Silver Surfer adds mystery to the film. Is she loyal? Is she planning something? Can the Fantastic Four reason with her? That tension runs through the film and adds more emotion to all the action. What is The Fantastic Four: First Steps about? Marvel hasn't released the full plot, but this isn't an origin story. The movie is set in the 1960s, on an alternate Earth. It picks up with the Fantastic Four already formed and working as explorers and scientists. According to early leaks and set reports, they get pulled into something cosmic, something way beyond science. That something turns out to be Galactus, the planet-eater, and his mysterious herald, the Silver Surfer. While Reed Richards and team try to stop them, the story also plays with themes of sacrifice, duty, and survival. Expect space travel, a retro vibe, and more serious emotions than your typical superhero flick.
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Pink Villa
TWICE is all set to renew their contract with JYP Entertainment for 2nd time ahead of 10th anniversary, report
Popular K-pop girl group TWICE recently made their much awaited comeback with their 4th full-length album, THIS IS FOR. The group has also kicked off the first leg of their world tour, with two sold-out shows at Incheon's Inspire Arena on July 19 and 20. Amidst the success of their recent comeback, all nine members are poised to extend their contracts with JYP Entertainment, as reported by MHN Sports on July 21. TWICE members extended their contact with JYP Entertainment 3 years after first-time renewal TWICE 's Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu are set to renew their exclusive contracts with JYP Entertainment for another term. It is the second time they bestowed their trust on the agency. Their first contract renewal took place in July 2022, ahead of their initial contract expiration in October 2022. This second-time union extension marked a significant milestone for the girl group. The girl group members overcame the industry's 'seven-year curse', a phenomenon where many K-pop groups disband or experience lineup changes or switch agencies after seven years. TWICE was already past the phase long back and now they are preparing to celebrate their 10th anniversary. They officially debuted on October 20, 2015, with the release of their first EP, The Story Begins. Despite the growing buzz surrounding TWICE's alleged contract renewal, JYP Entertainment has yet to issue an official statement confirming the reports. About TWICE's latest comeback album and world tour TWICE's new album THIS IS FOR consists of 14 tracks, including the titular song, opening music Four, group songs– Options, Mars, Right Hand Girl, Peach Gelato, Hi Hello, Seesaw, and Heartbreak Avenue, and unit releases– Battitude, Dat Ahh Dat Ooh, Let Love Go, G.O.A.T., and Talk. Additionally, nine solo tracks have been created for each member solely for their world tour acts, and are not included in the album. The THIS IS FOR Part 1 World Tour started with domestic shows and will end with Bangkok concerts at Impact Arena on December 13 and 14. Amid the tour, TWICE is also set to bring the house down at Lollapalooza Chicago on August 2.
