Life's Good .... Yeah Right!!!!

Subshine in a wine glass

2009-04-26T19:24:00.001-05:00

L26, originally uploaded by sporadic.

2009-02-26T17:12:00.001-05:00

not feeling that well today ... SIGH

2009-02-25T02:49:00.001-05:00

Can Ishant/Zak/Irfan blast the kiwis out

2009-02-25T01:37:00.001-05:00

shdn't have bothered waking up in the middle of the night to watch this crappy batting performance from India

2009-02-25T01:26:00.001-05:00

7 sixes and 1 four ... i have not seen this before ... neither have i seen such mindless batting (Sharma departs)

2009-02-24T19:02:00.001-05:00

Tweeting on Thwirl

2009-02-24T18:44:00.001-05:00

http://ping.fm
If you are a (virtual) social butterfly, you cannot afford to miss this app. Take control of all your social networking sites from one place. Update statuses, blog ... and much more

2009-02-24T18:40:00.001-05:00

Testing Ping.fm

Bye

2008-09-27T09:53:00.000-05:00

Another trip home ends tomorrow, but this time will the hardest, to say goodbye. Mebbe its because ive matured as Ive aged, mebbe not, who knows. All I know is that ill be pretty homesick as soon as I board the flight tomorrow.

Mebbe this is the sign Ive been waiting for, for so long. A sign thats telling me to come back home permanently, a symbol of the end of my wandering days. A part of me wants to believe that it is so, another part wants to check one last time if there is something left to do.

Mom has been putting up a brave face all of this week, but i have spotted a tear or two when she thinks im not looking. Dad, as always, will not show what he is feeling, but I can hear it in his repeated questions about what I need to buy from India. Ill miss them, a lot. but ill miss my sister the most.

I love you guys a lot, I hope you understand.

Teri maa ki = Monkey

2008-01-30T18:29:00.000-05:00

So the Harbhajan Singh saga is over, or is it? Justice Hansen decided Bhajji is not guilty of racial vilification, but instead, of using obscene language. Well, so far, so good, but news filtering in is that the Aussies are not thrilled with the decision. Here's my problem with the whole fucking mess

- If the judge has no evidence to prove Bhajji guilty, why are the Aussies unhappy? Why should Symonds be going around saying "I tell the truth, as always"? Are we supposed to believe that, if so, why?

- Why can't Bhajji, instead of getting involved in all this shit, concentrate on his bowling? Have you seen his bowling lately? I personally shy away when some (lame?) commentator calls him the world's leading offie!!!

- Harsha Bhogale puts things in perspective in his column here, and I coudn't agree with him more
"Are India flexing their muscles? Three examples have been given. One, that Steve Bucknor was asked to leave. That happens. Employers sack employees, selectors drop players when they are not performing. Umpires have been asked to leave the elite panel in the past.

Two, Harbhajan Singh was allowed to play on. That is part of the ICC's rules; pending an appeal a cricketer can play.

Three, Harbhajan has got away with a slap on the wrist in spite of three players claiming he racially abused Andrew Symonds. Maybe he did, but maybe he didn't. The players who think they heard what he said might feel disappointed, but that is not how the law works. If judgment was to be made based on what one person said versus what another did, the world would become unlivable."

- Aussie newspapers are not far off from adding to the ruckus. Why be jealous if India is the richest cricketing nation? If it takes a little "brinksmanship" to put Steve Bucknor in his place, why not? I agree the thought of ending the tour is nonsense, it is not sportsmanlike, but then standing up for what is right is not "brinksmanship"

- What really pisses me off is the way the Indian media is handling this. I saw a couple of videos where a news anchor(are they called anchors coz they are dead weight on society?) hailed this day as the great one for Indian cricket!!! Pray tell, O king of assholes, what is so great that an Indian cricketer got fined 50% of his match fees for using obscene language? How has it saved the "honor" of the nation? Fucking Idiot!!!

I hope the players involved in this take a step back and see the kind of damage they are doing to the game. I don't think Bhajji passed a racist comment (we have no evidence, remember!), but it'd be better for him if he'd concentrate on his cricket. I don't think India did any wrong in taking a strong stand, but celebrating this judgement as a "victory for India" is wrong!!

Get on with it guys!!

A Dare

2007-12-17T11:23:00.001-05:00

Make me freak out, make me shout
I dare you.

Decide , choose, select, pick
Be damned, if it doesn't tick
Can't stand stupid, it ain't fair
Why is common sense so rare
Make my choice, make my decision
I dare you.

In a rut, or on the run
getting bored or having fun
plain lazy or disinterested
am in, interested or invested
make me buy it, make me commit
I dare you.

An old friend, or a love lost
pain, tears or whatever the cost
the smells, the sounds, what I feel
the mind wanders, heel.. HEEL
make me ignore, make me forget
I dare you.

Hyderabad Blues

2007-11-01T12:20:00.000-05:00

It was with a little apprehension mixed with a healthy dose of excitement, that I decided to move to Hyderabad. The fact it was a good (and probably the only) carrer opportunity had a role to play. But at that point, I think I just wanted to get the hell away from delhi and the past that kept haunting me there.

Still, for a North Indian guy to move to anywhere in South India, is a bit of a cultural shock. Im sure it is the same vice versa, but I do believe our southern brethren and their sistrens are much more malleable when it comes to adjusting socially. Personally I think its their more easy going nature which helps (please note, S Sreesnath is excluded from this category. His crazy jigs on the cricket field would gain him entry to the most brash of punjabi clans anyday). We northerners are too brash and boisterous for our own good, not that its bad or anything, but mebbe we need to tone it down a little

So I decide to up and move to Hyd, with much encouragement from my family. The fact that two of my best friends were also moving with me (to work for the same company) laid any apprehensions I had to rest. The first few days were spent trying to remember the names of places (all the palli's and the pet's of hyd), discovering the cuisine, crashing through the language barrier and discovering that the words "quickly" and "immediately" were not recognized in Hyd.

The new job, hunting for a place to stay and generally adjusting to the place ate up a few months before I had time to "see" Hyd. I think I started enjoying the place after I made some new friends, which probably started at the first HBM (Hyd Bloggers meet). Infact, the whole process of blogging started since I had become totally anti-social at that time and wanted to keep people at an arm's length.

The rest, as they say, was party time. Now when I think about it, I miss those days so much. Infact, this post was prompted by a get together I had my place last weekend. After the people had left (at 2 AM!!!!), I started thinking, if it were Hyd, this is the time someone would be going out to fetch more booze and biryani.

I think I enjoyed my stay in Hyd more than I thought. Some of the best times I had were when I was there. Funny, I cant think of any major trips or events that I undertook, but mebbe its the fact that normal days/weekends were so much fun that I never needed to. I don't think I have that city to thank for this, as much as the people who made it worthwhile. I wont mention anybody here, you know who you are (i.e., if you ever read this).

- I miss the all night jam sessions and hanging outside lifestyle or the millions of coffee shops.
- I miss the midnight biryanis and the amazing chicken 65 (its the best food on the planet. I even found place in Atlanta which makes a decent C65)
- I miss the 'intellectual' conversations with my buddies, which often ended in drinking/laughter binges
- I miss the ladies of the group, some of whom put us men to shame when it came to drinking
- I miss rocking at Easy Rider or OFD
- I miss the Irani chai at 5 AM
- I miss the mirchi bajji and chinese food on the bandi (or is it bundy)
- I miss trips to Whisper Valley, drinking and seeing the city lights
- I miss the call on Friday evening asking what the plan for the weekend was, even though we all knew we were gonna get piss drunk, the only question was ... where?

Well, I dunno if im ever gonna be back in Hyd, or if it will even be the same if I do go back. But the great time I had in this fabulous place, and the friendships I carry with me, I will forever be thankful for

2007-10-22T20:37:00.000-05:00

To each his own. Every one's own private hell, or heaven, depending which way you look at it. The only thing constant in this flux is the change itself.

I've been away too long ... the words don't come that easy anymore. Writing was once therapeutic for me, and Im hoping it still is. Sadly it isn't like cycling, or sex(really?) ... im out of practice. I know when I read this later, ill probably grimace. Oh, what the heck ... who cares..

Everyday, sooner or later, someone is gonna ask you the question. The one that should really make you think, if you really think about it, but sadly, most of us just respond with a perfunctory programmed answer. Maybe its because the questioner himself does not expect anything else, or mebbe you don't deem him worthy enough to answer the question honestly. Who cares, thing is, the answer is prompt ... "I'm fine" ... or its numerous variants like "great", "doin good", so on and so forth

No come to think of it, what would be your answer if you were honest, So here I ask you the age old question again, my friend, how are you?

Im Pissed !!!!

2007-04-03T11:05:00.000-05:00

Its old news, we lost. If you'd look around you would think the world came to an end. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan, infact I'm obsessed with the game ... but there is way for everything

I think Kumble put it correctly, what Indians, and I mean the average Indian, lack sportsman spirit and we as a nation lack the sports culture. We have become a nation of sheep, overreacting at the smallest provocation and following the wolf to our own slaughter.

The day after the defeat to Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, all you could see on any news channel was people demonstrating on the streets, burning effigies, stoning players houses and other such mindless bullshit. The headlines asked the players to be beware of the angry fans. Angry?? I could see all the "angry, cricket loving demonstrations" smiling like a stoned dopey as the camera caught their "display of anger". I dont ever smiling when I was angry. Did I lose my mind overnight or were those demonstration actually nothing but cheap stunts to see themselves on TV.

I ask you, If you underperform at your job, does your boss burn your effigy on the street? If you dont do your job well, do your juniors stone your house?

Common sense has never been India's strong point, but I did not realize and idiocy had become our biggest weakness.

One thing that has hit me really hard on this visit to India, is the total disregard we have for our fellow man. The total disrespect and utter selfishness that has become the trademark of our society. Look at us on the roads, we are like animals, fighting over an inch of space. I understand that this anger stems from the frustration an average man develops, struggling with daily life... but then its nothing a little patience and a smile won't cure.

Anyway, I digress, the above para is a whole topic unto itslef. Back to the assholes who got me riled up.

Lets not forget the "experts" on the news channels. I can't understand how people who themselves dint do shit, can unload so much crap on the current players. It makes me laugh when Kris Srikant talks about Sehwag not having a good technique. I want to hit Bishen Singh Bedi with a sledgehammer when he does a 180 degree turn on his views on Sourav Ganguly. I wanna ask Sanjay manjrekar to shut up when he says Tendulkar does not dominate anymore, like Sanjay was tarzan in his (minimal) playing days. A smart man once told me to heed advice only from people who had done the things they were advising you about, themselves. I will not buy a book called 'hoe to be a millionaire' from a struggling writer. Get it?

Media. I saw barkha Dutt screaming her ass off on one program asking "who is to blame, who is to blame". You wanna know Ms Dutt? YOU are to blame, YOU!! You build up these players like anything, you push them in a corner looking for controversial sound bytes, you misrepresent their views and then you call yourself the representative of a cricket loving public. HAH!!! You rake up a panel of "experts', ask the volatile questions, when they answer in a diplomatic way you cut them in the middel, move on to the next guy and provoke him to give you an angry sound byte, which you then play over and over again till hell freezes over. Tell me, are you supposed to show news as it is or are you supposed to instigate, provoke and misrepresent facts. news my ass, you are just TRP hounds with no conscience

We lost, and we are all disappointed, but it is not the end of life. We dint play well, and the reasons are not as apparent as we might think. The system needs to change. I feel the following should be done :
- All these fantastic Indian coaches should be put to work. Make them coach state sides, junior cricket sides etc
- Each state should have a state cricket academy, which should roll up to the national cricket academy
- each state association should be forced to spend 50% of their budget on facilities: grounds, nets, equipment, diet
- Expand the selection panel to 35 people. All professionals, full time, well paid and with Managerial skill and degree. They should roll up to a panel of 5. List out criteria on which people will be judged. Give weightage to each criteria. In the end, score each person on this systema nd pick the top 15
- Make human schedules for the National team. Dont milk the cow to its death
- Have an India A team, Under 19, under 17 and under 15 team. Each should have at least 20 international matches in a year
- Have BCCI run by a professional manager
- NO politicians in cricket
- No fitness, no selection

I could go on and on, but why ... It wont achieve anything ... so ill end this here

Im Pissed

Of things unimportant ...

2007-02-08T12:36:00.000-05:00

Its the dawn of a new era. First there was BC (Before Christ), then there was AD (Anno Domini- Latin for "In the year of our Lord"), and now there is AA.

Lost? Read on ...

AA marks the birth of a new epoch, a time that started with the coming together of two angels. One, whose beauty is unmatched in the entire world, and the other, whose charm is unchallenged.

Totally lost? Read on ...

Im talking on none other than Abhishek Bacchan and Aishwarya Rai. It wouldn't be wrong to call them the first couple of India, what with Mr Kalam being a (proud) bachelor and no one being interested in Mr Man Mohan Singh.

Rarely has the "coming-together" of two people caused more furore than till now. You would have thought they were the only humans left, capable of procreating, and hence the weight of propagating the human race rested on their shoulders (or a little down south .. for all those starting to think of shoulder pads as contraceptives). Its amazing ... actually, its positively mind-frigin-blowing how much was, and is being written about the conjunction (this post is another case in point ... dammit!!)

My mom was the first to tell me, but then I can hardly blame her. She does give me the daily fill of whats happening in India ever since I moved to Atlanta. It was more of a general knowledge thing, so that her smart little boy din't lose face while talking to his ab-crazy (Abhishek Crazy duh!!) and ass-obsessed (Aishwarya-Obsessed double duh!!!) friends.

Then I saw it on every website from rediff to indiatimes, from howtokillyourmotherinlaw.com to scrapingcockroachremainsfromthefloor.net. It was in the news, and the newspaper. The indian cab driver in atlanta, who dint quite know the speed limit on the freeway, knew all the juicy (read boring) details. News rooms were flooded with blood written notes from male fans and hospitals flooded with slit-wrist female fans.

And then some inspired, enterprising, resourceful and absolutely i-dont-have-any-work idiot coined the name, that we know them as .... "ABHIWARYA"!!! I mean ...wtf...isn't it ... (dammit, breathe man, breathe)

But then again, this could be fun ........... evil-glint-in-the-eyes kinda fun. Think of what other names we could come up with!!!

Disclaimer: For the sake of this exercise, and for fun (refer above), the author reserves the right to name such people as couples, whom might never even have met. This is being done with the utmost humility and the pun is totally intended

Aamir Khan & Gracy Singh: Gra-mir
Shahid Khan & Kareena Kapoor: Sha-reena
Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif: Kat-man
Ajay Devgan & Kajol: Ajol
Akshay Kumar and Karishma Kapoor: Ka-kshay
Dharmendra & Hema Malini : Dhema
Raakhee & Gulzar : Gul-khee

... feel free to add more

"Do the right thing"

2007-01-22T16:11:00.001-05:00

on a cobweb afternoon
in a room full of emptiness
by a freeway I confess
I was lost in the pages
of a book full of death
reading how we'll die alone
and if we're good we'll lay to rest
anywhere we want to go

Everyone makes mistakes, some knowingly, some unknowingly. There could be many reasons, not knowing enough, lack of will power, stupidity, but whatever the mistake .... is there always a way to own up and "do the right thing"?

Its difficult in itself, to "do the right thing", but even more so if you don't know what the right thing to do is !!! We are what our previous experiences have made us, so do good experiences make us a good person?

What is a good person, a noble human being at heart? Someone who has never made mistakes, or someone who has corrected his mistakes, or someone who has never repeated his mistakes? Or something else?

On the other hand, there are things that are hard to term as mistakes, even though going by the popular moral norm, they would be entirely unacceptable. What do you do then?
and on I read
until the day was gone
and I sat in regret
of all the things I've done
for all that I've blessed
and all that I've wronged
in dreams until my death
I will wander on

PS: Lyrics from Audioslave - Like a stone

2 months to go ...

2007-01-11T19:36:00.000-05:00

.... I can't believe I'm goin home!!!

To New Beginings

2007-01-02T16:37:00.001-05:00

A new day, a new year ... and we are all looking for a fresh start, aren't we? So I thought to myself, why not start off the new year with a new blog, a new space for my thoughts (however few they might be).

Ive missed blogging, I really have.... seems like there has been so much I have wanted to say, but have not had the time to organize my thoughts enough to do so. Oh all right, I've been lazy, I admit. But to prove my point, I do have a lot of unfinished posts somewhere on my laptop.

So lets see whats been happening lately:
>> I lost some money in vegas, gambling ... nuthn new there (mental note: Next time I go to vegas, transfer 90% of my bank balance to a place where I cant reach it for the duration of the trip)

>> India won a test match in South Africa, and promptly lost the next one ... nuthin new there

>> got drunk on new years eve ... nuthn new there

>> Hate going back to work after the holidays ... nuthn new there

>> Still love driving my new car ... nuthn new there

>> Still gotta quit smoking ... nuthn new there

>> Still can't decide on the exact dates for my trip to India ... nuthn new there

>> Still hate idiots, dumbasses, morons of all types, age, color and castes ... nuthn new there

>> Started this post with a specific topic in mind, and have TOTALLY gone off on a tangent ... nuthn new there

which reminds me, happy NEW year!!!!