RIP Internal Combusion Engine

The venerable internal combustion engine figures on just about every list of "The greatest inventions of all time". It is at the heart of virtually all automobiles.

It may soon be time to say goodbye to this remarkable device that has served us so well. One obituary predicts its demise sometime in the next 10-12 years.

When I first saw a Tony Seba video on this topic, I was blown away. Seba is a serial entrepreneur and a lecturer at Stanford University. More interestingly, he is a thought leader on disruptive technologies and clean energy. He has taken Clayton Christensen's disruptive innovation model, extended it to "disruption from above", and then applied it to a host of existing and emerging technologies to predict the future of energy production, energy storage, and transportation.

The headline is "All new automobiles produced in the world will be electric, and all of the world's energy production will be solar - by 2030". Sounds scarcely believable. We are talking about a cataclysmic change that will disrupt three huge legacy industries - oil and gas, transportation, and energy - all within a matter of a little over a decade. I hate conspiracy theories but this is certainly not one. Seba makes his case in compelling fashion with data, statistics, trends, and weaves a great story around the numbers. Watch this video to learn more - it is a long video, but worth watching.

Out-Aussie'ing the Aussies

One of the most fascinating transformations in Indian sport has been the metamorphosis of the Indian cricket team in the last 12 years or so - from a mild mannered bunch of nice guys playing the gentleman's game, into a hungry & aggressive pack of wolves ready to tear into the opposition.

The transformation was complete in the recently concluded Bangalore Test match where India came back from behind to beat the Aussies in a memorable scrap.

As I have written before on my blog, the Aussies have long been the undisputed bullies of international cricket. However they have gradually ceded this space to others - most notably to India. Not only have India caught up with the Aussies in bullying tactics (euphemistically called sledging by the cricket fraternity), they have finally learnt how to out-Aussie the Aussies. The surest sign of the transformation is the constant whining by the Aussies.

Sample this...

Ian Healy, the former Aussie wicket-keeper pronounced that he is losing respect for Virat Kohli due to his constant sledging of the Aussies. Healy was a part of the great Aussie team that boasted of super-sledgers like Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Glen McGrath, and Healy himself. What Healy really wants to say, perhaps, is that he is losing respect for the current Australian side for their inability to stand up to Kohli and his mates, and give it back.

Matthew Hayden has chimed in that the banter is OK while the batsman is at the crease, but after he is out it must stop - no sendoffs. And that the Indians must draw that line. He is repeating what David Warner has said in the past. Hey Matthew, it will be great if you can show us that rule in the cricket rule book, or perhaps in the book of etiquette published by the ICC. Unfortunately there is no such thing. These so called "lines" have been drawn by the bullies over the years, and the new bully in town does not like your lines anymore. Suck it up Matthew.

Lehman, the Aussie coach says that the Aussies are working on an image makeover - to be looked upon as role models who let their game do the talking. Good luck with that Boof. Lets see how long you can carry on with that image makeover while your nice guys get their backsides kicked by teams like India and South Africa. Not very long I would imagine.

James Sutherland, the head of Cricket Australia calls India's claims of DRS cheating by the Aussies "outrageous", while his captain has apologized for his mistake! There is video evidence available, and the ICC could talk to the umpires to find out if Kohli had indeed complained about the cheating earlier in the match. I wish India had stuck with their complaint about Smith to the ICC, but some clever maneuvering by Sutherland enabled Smith to dodge a bullet. Smith and the Aussies had much, much more to lose if the complaints against Kohli and Smith had been fully investigated.

Cricket is a funny game but I believe India will win this series - either 3-1 or 2-1. Even if they do not, one thing is clear - India have out-Aussie'd the Aussies, and the wannabe bullies ain't liking it one bit.