One of the quotes that I read lately goes something like "If you hate someone, you hate a part of yourself that you can see in them. Nothing will disturb you if you can't connect yourself with them". This post is somewhat about the reverse corollary that I can derive from the thought.
When I think about what I love, and I don't mean the person or the thing or the idea, but what particularly I like about them so much, I can't help but get the imperfections inherent in them as the response to this curious question of mine.
These irregularities, these nuances are what makes our object of love so unique. Makes them what they are. There is a warmth and an assurance in knowing about them. And there is a fondness that I derive from this knowledge. Maybe like what Robbin Williams said in Goodwill hunting, "The little idiosyncrasies that only I know about: that's what made her my wife" and "People call these things imperfections, but they are not. Ah, that's the good stuff".
These imperfections are also what makes humans humans. Will smith said, on the eve of the release of I robot, that you won't make a robot and give him my ears. During my adolescent days when I used to sneak a peek on Fashion TV, my favourite models were the ones who had at least one observable imperfection. Like the teeth of Laetitia Casta.
And maybe that is why I have difficulty digesting the concept of a single, all-encompassing, omnipresent, ideal God. Only because he is, rather the idea is, too perfect to feel a connect with. For me God is a concept to admire and to be awed with and be inspired by, but it doesn't propel me to become anything like him or her, because deep inside I know that I am a human and a very imperfect one at that. I won't be a human if I am perfect. I will be an idea that doesn't exist in reality.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
My Mumbai, My Indians
I am ashamed to write this but the civic sense of the average Urban Indian can be summed up as "Donate all possible bodily fluids to the roads"
Monday, October 25, 2010
Happy Day :)
Some simple things can make one happy. Here are what made me happy today:
1> A call early morning from my fav sister Chitra that she's in Mumbai. Sanpada to be precise.
2> Wishing 4 of my juniors all the best for their strategym paper and getting thanks from 2 of them.
3> Eating sunfeast choco cookies. They are bit bitter, smooth and like dark chocolate. All this for just 6 Rs.
4> Getting appreciation at work from Boss. Probably the first occasion in my professional life.
5> Buying a mouse for 150 rs and a headphone worth 200 rs. The headphone has amazing bass and thump. Perfect for trance!
6> Getting to know that one of my junior and a very good friend Jignasa had her Strategym paper really well.
7> Getting a call from my mamaji on the pretext of thanking me for wishing him for his birthday.
8> Telling my doctor about the progress at work.
1> A call early morning from my fav sister Chitra that she's in Mumbai. Sanpada to be precise.
2> Wishing 4 of my juniors all the best for their strategym paper and getting thanks from 2 of them.
3> Eating sunfeast choco cookies. They are bit bitter, smooth and like dark chocolate. All this for just 6 Rs.
4> Getting appreciation at work from Boss. Probably the first occasion in my professional life.
5> Buying a mouse for 150 rs and a headphone worth 200 rs. The headphone has amazing bass and thump. Perfect for trance!
6> Getting to know that one of my junior and a very good friend Jignasa had her Strategym paper really well.
7> Getting a call from my mamaji on the pretext of thanking me for wishing him for his birthday.
8> Telling my doctor about the progress at work.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Nayan Tarase
Amit Trivedi is a genius! He won the national Award for his work on Dev D. I have just heard the full version of the song "Nayan Tarase" from the movie Dev D and I am sure I'll be playing it on repeat for 20+ times a day for the next few days (it's already 10+ in the past couple of hours).
The song has a distinct clear-cut identity. It is contemporary, it is unlike the usual mass-pop that's churned out by Bollywood movie after movie. It is not at all popular like "Munni Badnaam Hui" from Dabangg or "Anjaana Anjaani" that's playing non stop on TV these days.
The music can be described somewhat by the word fusion. The lyrics are pure Hindi. Not the kind we use in daily language, but what was spoken decades, perhaps centuries ago. It is mentioned as "chaste" Hindi somewhere.
Here I present the lyrics of the song with complete translation. I've tried to do as much justice as possible in the translation. Also kept in mind that a person from another culture might not understand the specifics.
Nayan TarseNayan Tarse
Daras Na Mile
Nayan Tarse
Nayan Tarse
Nayan Tarse
Dono Se Bahe Dhaar
Nayan Tarse
Haare Ye
Path Nihar
Nayan Tarse .. Tarse .. Tarse Re …..
Bisar Gaye .. Bisar Gaye
Bisar Gaye .. Bisar Gaye
Biraha Mein Chal Chal, Pal Woh Gaye Badal
Swaha Swaha Hey Hey Hey Hey
Bisar Gaye .. Bisar Gaye
Bisar Gaye .. Bisar Gaye
Sunahre Yeh Din, Kaali Raat Mein Gaye Dhal
Raama Raama Raama Raama Re
Saawan Barse .. Saawan Barse
Tapish Ki Phuhaar
Sawaan Barse
Saawan Barse .. Saawan Barse
Chubhan De Hazaar
Sawaan Barse
Gaali Si Lage Malhaar
Sawaan Barse Barse Barse Re
Translation:
Eyes yearn (My eyes are dying to see you)
Eyes yearn
Can’t find sight (of you)
Eyes yearn
Eyes yearn
Eyes yearn
A stream is flowing from them both
Eyes yearn
They have lost (They are tired of)
looking at the path
Eyes yearn…yearn…yearn
They have been forgotten
They have been forgotten
walking in separation, those moments have changed (Swaha is the act of burning in a flame)
They have been forgotten
They have been forgotten
Once golden days, now carved into dark nights
(Exclamation, Raam is a hindu God)
It rains (Rainy season)
a fountain of distress
it rains
it rains…it rains
gives a thousand stings
it rains
The sound of rain seems like an abuse
it rains it rains
Repeat Para 4 & 5.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Thoughts for the day
not copied from anywhere...
1> There is a very fine line between hoping for something and greed.
2> It isn't always bad to interact with strangers...remember that your closest friends were once strangers to you.
1> There is a very fine line between hoping for something and greed.
2> It isn't always bad to interact with strangers...remember that your closest friends were once strangers to you.
Friday, September 3, 2010
oongli football
As I've said before, this one is also about a game. But in all probabilities it is the last one on the subject. Last because of two reasons. Firstly, I have stopped playing Fifa, haven't played for the last 3 months or so. Secondly, I might not want to write about other games (I don't play that many...really). This post, unlike the ones before, is like a guide.
So welcome to the world of Electronic Football.
Junkie's guide to Fifa '09 Manager Mode:
Manager mode is absolutely different from tournament mode and is perhaps the most challenging one in the game. It tests not just your fingers/operational skill (playing a match, in case you were wandering off somewhere else), but also your ability to manage the finances, keep the board happy, keep the fans happy and keep the players motivated! In short, the complete fantasy of a a football fan, to be the man in charge of his favourite club.
After many mistakes, much tinkering around, endless discussions with another junkie and spending hours per day before finally uninstalling the game, I've completed multiple manager careers successfully. Thus the qualification to write this guide. This is mostly about which players to buy. I'll also include some tips on other things, but will concentrate on players. All money figures are in Euros.
First of all, choose a good team with a good budget and most of the staff already at level 9 or 10. The reason is that with a strong start, you can buy good players before their market price shoots through the sky in future seasons. Also, good players are likely to prefer big clubs during transfer. I prefer Arsenal not only because I am a gooner, but also because of the following reasons:
Why Arsenal?
1> 90+ Players:
A whole host of players in the default squad of Arsenal reach an OVR of 90+. Take a look:
Cesc Fabregas 94
Robin Van Persie 92*
Samir Nasri 92*
Denilson 90*
Carlos Vela 95
Gael Clichy 91*
* The OVR is inclusive of 1 that the player gets after completing 100 Match XP. Sometimes in the first completion, sometimes later. In a unique case, Clichy got 1 extra point after one defender skill training (affected his attributes).
2> 80+ Players:
A slew of players in the default squad who are already 80+ or will reach 80+, in hardly a couple of seasons in some cases. Thomas Rosicky, Eduardo, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Alex Song, William Gallas, Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida, Randall, Bakary Sagna, Abou Diaby, Emmanuel Eboue..phew..I don't think I can remember whether Bischoff reaches 80, I think he doesn't. In fact, it is much easier to list players who won't reach 80+: Sylvestre, Almunia, Fabianski (I don't remember if Vito Mannone is in the 2009 squad)
3> Youth Brigade
Many players in the Arsenal squad are young and growing, and will remain at their peak till the last season (15th season is the last season in manager mode). Few will even be the best available in their position when they reach their peak till the very end. The last list includes Carlos Vela (ST, 95), Aaron Ramsey (CM, 89), Fabregas (CM, 94), Wilshere (LM, I think 88). I think even Denilson makes the cut. In any case, many players remain at their peak for the majority of the manager mode. E.g. Bendtner (84), Walcott (85)
4> Pace Attack!
Clichy on the left wing and Walcott on the right possess inhuman speed in this game. Exploit it to score. I discovered that beating Manchester United in the later seasons is very very easy when you attack from right (or pass from left to right in the Gunners style). I've scored many hat tricks with Walcott, some even in the Professional level.
Why Not Arsenal?
The biggest curse being a Gunner Manager in Fifa 09 is the loss of few really good players due to Rivalry. Arsenal's default Rivals in the game are Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United. You won't be able to buy few young and really tremendous players like Tottenham's Giovani Dos Santos (ST, 97) & Gareth Bale (LB, 90) and ManUtd's Fabio and Rafael (LWB, RWB, around 86). The last two and Giovani are the best in their category when it comes to the last seasons. I am not counting the 90+ overhyped and over priced stars in the game like Ronaldo, Rooney, Terry, Lampard etc as they age later and their OVR declines later on.
Other good teams to start with are: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Roma, Juventus, and the remaining top 4 of BPL. I haven't tried with AC Milan but it doesn't seem right with so many aging players. Apart from these "star" teams (4.5-5 stars by default), I have tried Valencia, Porto, Ajax and Lyon. They are average, nothing great about their squad or staff apart from a couple of gems of players like Villa (92) or Silva (92) or Huntelaar (92).
Right, so you have chosen your team. Now comes the big question. Which Players to buy? I'll list the players according to their position. Only those who are the best in the game. Based on two facts:
1> They are young. They would start with crap OVR when compared to stars, but they will beat them eventually as the seasons progress.
2> They get the max OVR in their category in the last seasons. Last because a fanatic like me would like to play the whole 15 seasons of the manager mode career and would like to retire in style, winning all trophies even after 7 or 8 seasons.
Buying these players when they are young will help you avoid paying insane amounts once they become stars. They will also mean a super low wage bill for the first 5 years (if you offer them contracts for 5 years. Or extend it to 5 on their first salary). You can use the money saved from these low wage bills to upgrade your other staff, especially the super expensive in the short run, stadium manager. So buy them as soon as you start your first season. They are the best. The only ones who beat them are a few freak players who come out of youth squad. Their presence is unpredictable anyways, so buy the ones listed here.
Always remember to watch the player growth of your squad in the team management section. As a rule of thumb, I keep players who will reach 80+ in the graph, and sell players (from initial squad and from those coming from youth squad) who won't or are in the last season of their peak (usually happens when they are 28-32).
Players:
Goalkeepers:
Sell all your goalkeepers and buy these two:
1> V Fiorillo (94)
2> Sergio Asenjo (90)
If you want to buy a third one, buy Rui Patricio (87)
In the earlier seasons you may like to flirt around the idea of having Buffon, Casillas, Cech, Adler, Neuer, Lloris, but they are damn expensive (both Transfer fees and Wages) and within a few seasons will start to decline. Thus they have no resale value and will unnecessarily inflate your wage bill.
Sergio Asenjo will reach 90 pretty quickly, then Fiorillo will overtake him. And in the end (around last 3 seasons) they will both decline from their peak OVR but still will be the best. So don't sell them ever. In the last season Fiorillo will still be at 90 OVR.
Defenders:
Fullbacks (LB/RB): (Since playing on either full back position is the same in the game)
D Gosling (RB, 90)
Thimothee Kolodzieczak (LB, 88)
Fabio
Rafael
I don't remember the exact OVR but it is around 86 for both. These Brazilian, wing-back, Da-Silva twins who are in ManUtd's default squad are the best in their category in the last seasons.
Other players (who are not at their peak in the last season but are still awesome in many seasons) are: Sergio Ramos (RWB, 91), Emiliano Insua (LWB, 88), Gael Clichy (LWB, 91), Philip Lahm (RWB, 90 I think), Gareth Bale (LB, 90). Ramos has a perfect finish, so you can even use him for free kicks/penalties/corners. Clichy and Lahm have blistering speed so you can use them as wing-backs. Out of these Insua and Bale remain at their peak for the longest.
Central Defenders (CB):
Breno (92)
Micah Richards (93)
Miguel Vitor (89)
Midfielders:
Good midfielders are very rare and 80+ midfielders become near extinct as the seasons progress. Hence I recommend a 4-3-3 over a 4-4-2, as there are more good Forwards in the game than midfielders. Besides, it is much more fun to attack from all sides and score goals isn't it ;)
Defensive midfielders (CDM):
Moussa Sissoko (91)
Jack Rodwell (91)
Central Midfielders (CM):
Francesc Fabregas (94)
Denilson (90)
Aaron Ramsey (89)
Attacking Midfielders (CAM)
M Pjanic (95!)
Anderson (97)
M Hamsik (92)
Anderson and Hamsik will decline in the late stages. You can use these as your wingers, as in the game a CAM can play without losing his OVR in the following positions: LWM/RWM/LM/RM/CAM/RCAM/LCAM
Winger (LWM/RWM)
Lionel Messi (98!)
Not many good wingers in the game. You can use a CAM as a winger.
Forwards (ST/CF/LF/RF):
Giovanni Dos Santos (97!)
Alexander Pato (96)
Jose Baxter (96)
Carlos Vela (95)
Stevan Jovetic (93)
Diogo (92)
Sergio Aguero (92)
Victor Moses (90)
Bojan Krkic (90)
M Balotelli Barwuah (90)
Messi can play as a Forward at 96.
Buy Micah Richards, Anderson (if you have a formation that has a CAM), Jovetic, Pato and Diogo as early as possible. These guys start with a 80+ OVR in the very first season (Jovetic and Diogo reach 85 in the summer of 2009!) hence are more expensive than others who are late bloomers. Remaining are very cheap and you can wait till the second transfer window (or even second season). Starlets like Messi, Benzema (93, but not till the end), Bojan and Barwuah are expensive right from the beginning and I don't recommend buying them until you have stable finances. In fact I don't recommend you to buy them at all. You don't need so many forwards any ways. If any of these starlets becomes a free agent only then it makes sense to get him, like any other good free agent. So keep hunting for free agents throughout the transfer windows, especially in summer.
On a side note, there are many players in the game who play equally well as a forward as their respective midfield positions. E.g. Denilson, Walcott, Nasri (hardly loses 1 OVR as a forward). Same principle applies to CDM/CB. A few players like Miguel Veloso can play equally well in those 2 positions. Porto's Marquinhos plays at 87 whether he is a RF, ST, CF, RWM or RM. I am sure he will play at 87 even at LM, LWM & LF.
Finance:
1> In the transfer window, buy good free agents then sell them for a fee.
2> Always sign a sponsor that gives you the most variable on a match win.
E.g. Don't sign with a sponsor who gives you a fixed 1.7 million sponsorship per match when you have a sponsor who gives you a 1.4 million plus a 33% win bonus. With more matches, this small amount makes a large difference to the bank balance in the end of the season (in this case, with just 38 league matches it means a neat 6.33 million extra, and that is excluding cup wins). Avoid sponsors that pay less but promise a high sum if you win with an "undefeated season" or "maximum clean sheets" unless you plan to play each and every match.
3> Play the matches (and win) in the first season instead of doing quick sim. This way you make use of the win bonus of the sponsor money. It also helps after you've won the two trophies in the first season, as the next season the sponsors will be ready to give you much more money. Once you reach a stage where your team's Morale and chemistry are very high, then u can do quick sims for most of the matches. I still like to play against rivals even with a 99 everything (1st screenshot).
4> Always keep the ticket prices as high. Always.
5> Whenever you sign a youth player, immediately check his growth. If he is going to reach 80+, immediately extend his contract to 5 years at the same wage. Then keep loaning him out till he reaches 80. Then you can either keep him or sell him if you have better players at his position. If he is not going to reach 80, you can sell him immediately (without extending contract).
6> Always invite teams for friendlies. All 4 possible. This gives you 4 extra matchday money (sponsor if it is at home, win bonus in any case and ticket split if it is away). This also gives you more chances to play with the transfer window. It also improves team chemistry and morale.
Concentrate on building your squad in the first season. Don't buy many players, but only enough for 2 full fledged squad, with subs. The reason is that in the first season you are likely to play only 2 tournaments, the league and the domestic cup. The only exception is the English League, where you have an additional Carling cup to handle. But even then you will only play max 2 matches per week in the first season. Upgrade your staff apart from Stadium manager in your first season. Stadium manager upgrades cost very much and are best left to season 3 and beyond. Upgrading your scouting staff is the most essential to make money in the transfer window (explained later). Upgrading your other coaches ensure that players recover from fatigue more quickly. So midfield coach and Scout upgrades are the first on the list.
Sell your star players as soon as the first transfer window if they are already on a decline. E.g. if you've started with Real Madrid, sell Raul and Van Nistelrooy in the winter transfer window. There is no point in paying high wages when other equally good players are available for a lower wage. Also, these players lose their market value every season as their OVR reduces and age increases. The worst is that they can announce retirement, making it impossible to sell them. So again, check your squad's growth as soon as you start the season.
The biggest tip for building Finance is to make the most of the transfer windows by buying free agents and selling them for a fee. This is where a good scout helps. Not only you get to see more free agents in your search, you also get to negotiate with them more easily. First go for 80+ agents. They will charge a high fees no doubt (between 50,000 to 100,000), but after just one match you can sell them for 15 million or even more. When you run out of them (in the earlier seasons the no of such free agents is practically 0, and increases only slowly every season) then target 75-80 ones. Then 70-75. Don't accumulate a large no of free agents as the last day of the transfer window is very unpredictable. You might end up with no demands for these high wages players and get into negative bank balance! It has happened with me once. So as soon as you sign a free agent, place him on the transfer list. Don't worry much about not getting more money if his morale could be improved by playing him more. Just get rid of him if he is not in the list.
Contract Extension:
When you buy these players, most will agree to a 5 year contract. If they don't, transfer them for the duration that they agree with, then as soon as they are in the squad, extend their contract on the same wage for 5 years.
Never ever extend their contract till they are over. You will end up paying a much higher wage than the current contract for the duration remaining on the original contract. Instead wait patiently till their contract runs out. Then as soon as the 5th season ends, you get an automatic contract toggle alert. These contracts are automatically extended at lowest market price. I think the scout plays a role here too.
Formation:
It is entirely your call, but with my experience I've seen that the game favours a 4-4-3 and 4-5-1 over a 4-4-2. As there are more quality forwards and strikers in the game than midfielders. Also, instead of simple full backs, the game has better wing backs.
If you like the wings and would like to take a risk, you can even try a 4-2-2-2. Works well if you have quality CAM/LM in your original squad, such as Real Madrid (Robben, Van der Vaart, Sneijder).
Miscellaneous:
Put the players of lower stamina from the same position in the sub list (of the first team). For the players I've mentioned above, they are Aguero and Diogo.
Ensure your sub list reflects your formation. E.g. for my 4-3-3 my subs were 1 GK, 1 CB, 1 LB/RB, 1 CM, 3 CF/ST, and I used to sub a CM and 2 CFs. As I used to run my forwards very much from the half line instead of running my midfield too much.
Keep a minimum of 2 goalkeepers. A friend had only one, who was called on an international friendly. The game stuck and he couldn't proceed with his profile.
After playing a while, you'll get an idea as to which players from your squad are frequently called for international friendlies. I've noticed that most of 90+ players are called, but only a few countries have international matches, viz England, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Germany. So whenever these dates are announced, ensure that the player likely to play is rotated in such a way that he definitely plays just before the international. This way you don't over exhaust the substitute for the player during the break. The international friendly happens on 3rd Matchday from the day of announcement. (For the stupid English FA cup, the day on which FA cup happens there is always another league match happening, so that day is technically 2 match days, a really stupid concept of the game in my opinion...where in real world does the same team have two different matches on the same day?)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Poke-her
I have no idea why this game is called Poker. I also don't have much clue about the terminology, but I am sure hooked on to this game. Let me clarify that I haven't played this game in real, ever, the only place I play this on is Zynga (Facebook), with only virtual chips. Never real money, never ever.This is a good excuse to meet people from all over the world, in a casual, friendly environment, exchanging chats and virtual "gifts". For some guys it is yet another place to "woo" hot women. Although I have serious reservations how much a "picture" of Rose or a champagne would win the ladies. I play only for fun, not to "achieve" anything. I can say this so easily because I've already crossed the psychological 1 Million $ mark long before ;)
This game is about skill and luck. It is about betting. There are a million guides available for Texas Hold'em Poker across the web, and probably a thousand books written on the subject, so I won't delve much on it. But i will tell you that it is not as mindless as other popular games (farmville, mafia wars etc). It is not about refilling anything while you are not playing, nor it is about a short burst of spending (energy etc) while you are at it. This game is all about playing. Also, it is about you alone. There is no point of recruiting "neighbours" apart from the odd, चिल्लर (change) random chips, but if you play well you won't be needing them anyways.
The basic principles of this game are the same wherever you play it. Bet when you have a good hand. Fold when you don't. A good place to start would be to learn which hands to bet here and which to fold here (before the flop). Just by doing this your game would improve leaps and bounds. Then after playing a while you'd get a hang of it, like which hand beats which, when to raise and how much to raise, when to fold when the other is raising. You'll also learn a little about psychology or trends, that is, after playing with a person for a few hands, you'll be able to predict whether he is bluffing or not, or whether he has a higher hand than you or not. It will be very useful for you if you can quickly calculate probability. One very good site is this one.
It's called gambling for a reason. Only those with big balls win big. Obviously not all the time. Many a times have I lost a straight when someone has a higher straight, or a flush when the other has a full houses or even a full house when the other has a bigger full house. It's not necessary that you'll win with all the possible big hands, but you have to take a chance sometime.
I think that this game is very close to how trading on stock market works. A little bit of judgement, a lot of guts.
The screenshot is of a very rare phenomenon. The dealer dealt 3 Kings on the river. The only way for someone to beat that hand was to have another King in his hand, or to have a pair (to make it a full house). Then by the river it became even more shocking. All 4 Kings had been dealt, and there was no way to beat that hand. You can judge the surprise on everyone by the comments in the chat (bottom right corner).
The next comment was "Beat that". I wondered if the pot will be split or a "kicker" will be used to decide, in the end it was split between two guys who had an A each.
I wish to play Poker sometime with my friends, without money, just for fun. It will be interesting to see how many can hold a "poker face" in real life.
CS CZ
When someone spends as much time playing games for the lack of work, and also holds an interest in blogging, then it is only obvious that he will combine the two sometime. So for the next couple of blogs, I'll be writing something about the games I play. Nothing in detail, just short ones.
This one is about counter strike. The version I play is Condition Zero. I play all sorts of maps but only with Bots. Gone are the days when New Mumbaiites used to exploit the network of Sify and play on LAN.
This screenshot is a very good game that I've had just now. It's not my personal record in terms of kills but definitely beats the record for max kills without dying (53). It was a 20 mins map (fy_snow). 7 vs 7, where the 13 apart from me were bots, hard level.
I used 6 different weapons (20 kills per change). First was a m4a1 carbine, first 10 without silencer, the next 10 with it. Next was cv 47, then Magnum, then Machine Gun, followed by Bullpup. The last was Krieg (semi sniper, this map doesn't have the full sniper and you can't buy anything on this map). I did use Grenades in between but they hardly added 10 to the tally.
This post is like a diary post, to archive a part of my interest. Maybe in the category of "once upon a time", as I have earlier left few games for years before coming back, or completely left them. I'd hardly get time to do this once work starts. But this is a very good way to remove frustration, especially when u've had a silly fight with someone (a much better way is jogging/long hike).
Phenomenon
Inception is a movie that captured the imagination of everyone. It has led people to think, rethink, hypothesise, argue, and most importantly, watch it over and over.
Here are two of the concepts that I really liked in the movie.
From the trailer (Cobb explaining Ariadne):
"Dreams feel real while we are in them.
It's only when we wake up that we realise that something was strange."
From Christopher Nolan's interview:
When we are in a dream we are experiencing what our mind is creating.
When we are conversing with a person in our dream our mind is supplying information to both sides but we experience only our end. How much potential the human mind has.
Here are two of the concepts that I really liked in the movie.
From the trailer (Cobb explaining Ariadne):
"Dreams feel real while we are in them.
It's only when we wake up that we realise that something was strange."
From Christopher Nolan's interview:
When we are in a dream we are experiencing what our mind is creating.
When we are conversing with a person in our dream our mind is supplying information to both sides but we experience only our end. How much potential the human mind has.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Diary Post: The longest vacation
Today I am officially a post graduate! MMS is the title I can use now (Indian equivalent of MBA). The wait for the final semester result was like a Roller Coaster ride...a long rise to the peak followed by a swift drop and a ride that seemed to never end. This post is about what I did during these vacations, mostly for the purpose that I may recall this post somewhere in the future and feel nostalgic about it, especially after going for a few months without a holiday.
At the onset, this vacation is not technically the longest break I have had from Professional life. The longest one was from September 2007 to August 2008, which was when I was preparing for MBA. But that was a self imposed break (as I had quit TCS) whereas this was a break due to external factors. My employers, BoB, like other PSUs, wanted to be absolutely sure that we cleared the course and would offer us a joining letter only after we hand them over our marksheets. And our beloved Mumbai University took a whole 113 days to declare the result. But as they say, all's well that ends well.
Our last exam was on May 3. About 12 of my batchmates had nothing to do but to wait for the result. The companies who made the batch of 2010 do this are HPCL, BoB, SBI Caps and BoI. The wait produced some expected and some hilarious reactions from the "stakeholders". While we students were left pondering if this is the fault of our employer or the University, there were some events reported in the newspapers. The first one was about the self appointed law breakers..err..makers of India...err...Mumbai, MNS, taking up the matter with the university, in their way, about the delay in the results of MCom and MMS. The other one elicited a chuckle. It was about the vice chancellor justifying the delay with a reason that they would have declared the result if the students had approached him. Without it, they probably had no idea that it was "urgently required" by anyone. Well after a lot of coaxing around by a lot of students, they finally declared ours today.
The honeymoon phase began early May. The party began the night of 3rd May itself. And it got extended due to the motormen's strike. What a taxi ride it was from Colaba to Vashi, being stuck in traffic, making all of us realise that there is no alternate to train travel in Mumbai, and that the city is pretty much dependent on it for its working.
After a few days I went to 2 big trips with Mom. I had no difficulty in convincing her that these destinations were the destinations to go. Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Ladakh trip is summarised very well in my Photos on Picassa, facebook and on my review on mouthshut.com. Arunachal Pradesh trip brought many wild and first time experiences (postponing a flight twice, facing the real risk of running out of cash, staying in the same place doing nothing for 4-5 days, not finding any hotel for overnight stay at Guwahati etc). It is also preserved well on my post in Indiamike.com and in my photos on the 2 sites.
Then came the dreary but necessary work of pending documentation related to our house. Something that should have been 6 years was now being put into place, after a lot of running around, trying to learn specific bureaucratic setups and processes, spending money, all to put the rightful owner's name in the right place.
Meanwhile I finished the manager mode of Fifa 09 and following the crazy addiction episode, just uninstalled it.
Saw a lot of movies. Both the home version and the theater version. At one point of time, when my other PSU employee friend heard that the result is going to be delayed for another 10-15 days, we decided to make the most of the time by watching some great movies on at that time, and I ended up watching some 6 movies in theaters in 8 days with 3 different sets of people, including Inception, Lamhaa, Udaan, SALT.
Finished the fantastic Bartimaeus trilogy, even after trying to postpone it to the training period, thinking about the loneliness in an alien city and not many things to do. Well, like one of my friends said, there are a lot of other things to do TP with. So I have another fantasy fiction "the riddlemaster trilogy", that I had to order online, and the site had to order it from USA. And of course many movies, all of whose backups I had made thanks to reinstalling Windows on my laptop. No matter how many versions of Windows does Microsoft make, the basic problems never change.
Wrote a few blogs and poems, including the epic memory log for the 2 years of MBA at JBIMS and a die hard romantic poem.
Thanks to the small push from mom and me harbouring my lifelong dream, learnt swimming. According to many people in the earlier batches, the 3 of us (guys) learnt a hell lot in just 16 days. I could manage my first full fledged 25 meters freestyle lap without any supporting equipment or without stopping on the last lap of the last day.
Finished a small certification in banking. NCFM's commercial banking beginner's module. It didn't take too much effort and I did it because I didn't want to have absolutely zero knowledge on banking before starting my career.
Finally spent a LOT of time with friends. Friends from all walks of life, from the ever increasing list of institutions where I made such good friends, school, college, work etc. Lots of get togethers, one that even had us shaking a leg at a pub. Hope to make good friends in my new workplace as well.
At the onset, this vacation is not technically the longest break I have had from Professional life. The longest one was from September 2007 to August 2008, which was when I was preparing for MBA. But that was a self imposed break (as I had quit TCS) whereas this was a break due to external factors. My employers, BoB, like other PSUs, wanted to be absolutely sure that we cleared the course and would offer us a joining letter only after we hand them over our marksheets. And our beloved Mumbai University took a whole 113 days to declare the result. But as they say, all's well that ends well.
Our last exam was on May 3. About 12 of my batchmates had nothing to do but to wait for the result. The companies who made the batch of 2010 do this are HPCL, BoB, SBI Caps and BoI. The wait produced some expected and some hilarious reactions from the "stakeholders". While we students were left pondering if this is the fault of our employer or the University, there were some events reported in the newspapers. The first one was about the self appointed law breakers..err..makers of India...err...Mumbai, MNS, taking up the matter with the university, in their way, about the delay in the results of MCom and MMS. The other one elicited a chuckle. It was about the vice chancellor justifying the delay with a reason that they would have declared the result if the students had approached him. Without it, they probably had no idea that it was "urgently required" by anyone. Well after a lot of coaxing around by a lot of students, they finally declared ours today.
The honeymoon phase began early May. The party began the night of 3rd May itself. And it got extended due to the motormen's strike. What a taxi ride it was from Colaba to Vashi, being stuck in traffic, making all of us realise that there is no alternate to train travel in Mumbai, and that the city is pretty much dependent on it for its working.
After a few days I went to 2 big trips with Mom. I had no difficulty in convincing her that these destinations were the destinations to go. Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Ladakh trip is summarised very well in my Photos on Picassa, facebook and on my review on mouthshut.com. Arunachal Pradesh trip brought many wild and first time experiences (postponing a flight twice, facing the real risk of running out of cash, staying in the same place doing nothing for 4-5 days, not finding any hotel for overnight stay at Guwahati etc). It is also preserved well on my post in Indiamike.com and in my photos on the 2 sites.
Then came the dreary but necessary work of pending documentation related to our house. Something that should have been 6 years was now being put into place, after a lot of running around, trying to learn specific bureaucratic setups and processes, spending money, all to put the rightful owner's name in the right place.
Meanwhile I finished the manager mode of Fifa 09 and following the crazy addiction episode, just uninstalled it.
Saw a lot of movies. Both the home version and the theater version. At one point of time, when my other PSU employee friend heard that the result is going to be delayed for another 10-15 days, we decided to make the most of the time by watching some great movies on at that time, and I ended up watching some 6 movies in theaters in 8 days with 3 different sets of people, including Inception, Lamhaa, Udaan, SALT.
Finished the fantastic Bartimaeus trilogy, even after trying to postpone it to the training period, thinking about the loneliness in an alien city and not many things to do. Well, like one of my friends said, there are a lot of other things to do TP with. So I have another fantasy fiction "the riddlemaster trilogy", that I had to order online, and the site had to order it from USA. And of course many movies, all of whose backups I had made thanks to reinstalling Windows on my laptop. No matter how many versions of Windows does Microsoft make, the basic problems never change.
Wrote a few blogs and poems, including the epic memory log for the 2 years of MBA at JBIMS and a die hard romantic poem.
Thanks to the small push from mom and me harbouring my lifelong dream, learnt swimming. According to many people in the earlier batches, the 3 of us (guys) learnt a hell lot in just 16 days. I could manage my first full fledged 25 meters freestyle lap without any supporting equipment or without stopping on the last lap of the last day.
Finished a small certification in banking. NCFM's commercial banking beginner's module. It didn't take too much effort and I did it because I didn't want to have absolutely zero knowledge on banking before starting my career.
Finally spent a LOT of time with friends. Friends from all walks of life, from the ever increasing list of institutions where I made such good friends, school, college, work etc. Lots of get togethers, one that even had us shaking a leg at a pub. Hope to make good friends in my new workplace as well.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Lucid Dreaming
Just yesterday I read an article (it was an advertisement for the page "how to" on facebook which had many wikihows on their wall) on how to dream a lucid dream.
What interested apart from the obvious reference to the movie Inception (they were riding the popularity wave really), was relating to one such experience that I have had for sure in my childhood. It was like I was aware that I was dreaming, and to an extent controlling the dream, once.
The article was more or less a repetitive instruction on how to force simple realities so that your mind becomes conditioned and you become aware of your dream and in the further levels you can control your dreams. It also mentioned a little about sleep cycles and that a dream is best remembered when interrupted during the REM cycle (when you are dreaming) and even recommended one to wake up at certain intervals (4.5 hours, 6 hours etc) so that you can interrupt your dreaming. Interrupting helps you remember it the best.
Now I didn't do it consciously but I was indeed interrupted at a time when I was dreaming by my neighbour. Then when I went to sleep, I had a dream and I vividly remembered that.
It was like a typical hollywood action movie. We were a bunch of guys in black gear (presumably navy seals or deltas) somehow trapped in the top floor of a small tower in the middle of the sea (or right next to the sea). The room's walls were circular as well as bowl shaped and made of glass. At this time there was no question asked by my sub conscious. It was like I was there in the present and it was happening for real.
To get out, our leader (let's assume that he looked like a slightly younger Morgan Freeman) took out a device so often used in hollywood (including a series like Prison Break), which is in the shape of a pen. It is like a swiss knife which can cut the glass. He started cutting a large circular hole in the glass to take it out.
This is the point when I became aware that this is a dream. Seriously. I didn't wake up with a start, in fact I didn't wake up at all. But I suddenly became very happy and satisfied that this is indeed my dream. Then came the control part. I could somehow make the leader use that glass piece as a sort of a boat/slide board on the water.
Then I climbed a device that could run very fast in the water, and it felt like I was flying on it, somewhat like a very fast hover craft. Now that I was in control of the dream, I wished to turn to the nearest river and go back the river's way. Maybe this was one of my fantasies hidden deep in my subconscious.
I could fly very fast to the nearest river mouth, which was wide. Then went back the river's path, it became narrower. It became high. The scenery changed. I could vividly see the trees around, the soil around. The texture, the colour changing from Red to Brown.
I don't remember what I saw after that, but somehow I drifted into the dream in an unconscious mode. Now I wasn't in control of the dream.
I was shortly interrupted again. Maybe this interruption is the reason why I remember the dream so vividly.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The end of an era
I am missing college a lot! As I stand on the doorway of the big bad corporate world (for the second time) remembering about the experiences of possibly the last college life, here are the memories that make me the most nostalgic about JBIMS, its people, and doing an MMS there.
The red building:
The Audi -
It won't be an exaggeration when I say that every one of my classmate has experienced all emotions right here in this hall.
From the agony of the announcement of a new assignment, to the ecstasy of the knowledge that we can leave earlier than anticipated due to an unforeseen circumstance.
From the pain of having to remain awake even after getting only 2 hours of daily sleep for a few weeks during induction; while simultaneously trying to make the head from the tail of the dozens of facts being thrown at us relentlessly; to the enlightenment of understanding a concept in the first go.
From the tense anticipation of a result, whether it is the semester exams or the 2 recruitments that are concerned, to the relief of having cleared the hurdle when the announcement is made in here, whether in the first go or after a few trials.
From the politics being played out live in front of the red chairs, to the trust found in the person sitting next to you who is either playing a kiddish game on a paper with you or complaining or praising (both in a hushed voice of course) the same thing as you.
It has been a venue for all the three Ps of MBA (courtesy Arbit mba):
Presentations, Parties and Placements.
And after the summer of 2009, even after it lost its status as the only room in the building capable of providing 120+ people simultaneous relief from the heat, it will remain in the annals of JBIMS history forever. Some will remember it for the cold blast of the ac in the first row and the struggling cushions and screws, while others will remember it for the "disco" lighting, and there will be a set that will remember it for the short movies we saw during lectures. Thank you, batch of 2001 for this wonderful gift.
15 and 21 -
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of 1983 & 1984 Alumni and administration, we were gifted these two monumental additions to the infrastructure. These swanky AC rooms full of modern lighting and furnishings are favourites of Professors and guest lecturers. These rooms just took off the pressure from Audi on hot summer afternoons. The rights to book these rooms on a Sunday will be fought over by the full time and part time students for years to come.
The Gate -
It has seen it all, the candid group photo sessions, the organised reporter interviews, the fervent wait, the tomfoolery of the "adult" students. It has hosted many events. It also prides itself as the starting point of various treats. So is it a surprise that it features prominently on photos associated with JBIMS everywhere?
The Tub -
Everyone who has been a part of the Bajaj family has accepted the Tub as a part of his/her legacy. It is like an ancient relic that is inherited from the generations above you. You adore it, you clean it and decorate it on special occasions (Prayaag/Placements), but you don't have a clue in hell about its original purpose.
During Nostalgia 2009, our hosts asked the alumni from previous batches as to what is the Tub for, and no one could offer a satisfactory and complete answer. Its significance seems to be lost in transition, among the older generations in the passing of time.
But it still holds its place in our hearts, appearing frequently in the various photos uploaded on Facebook.
It is not the perfections but the imperfections in life that form the most intimate memories and give the most fond experiences. The next time I am shivering from the cold ac on a winter day or after getting drenched in the rain inside a perfect swanky corporate building and I just want to take a break from sitting on my PC or attending meetings the whole day by sitting on the staircase or going to the hot verandahs or the canteen, I will miss college.
Canteen:
Vada Pav -
Our respected professor works a hard day at his office and still comes to teach us after 6:30 pm on a weekday. After much coaxing and whining from the students, he gives us a break at 8:05 pm. At this time there is no other venue open nearby that would kill the hunger beast. So 50 eager mouths rush together into the canteen to get some Tea and Vada Pav. No guarantees that the Vada Pav will be hot though, even if the CR of the class has told Shiva beforehand about the possible break timing.
Friendly Whispers -
The plastic tables and chairs that seem like they were once white in colour, that have witnessed every facet of the students' personalities; from furious finishing of assignment PPTs, freshers being instructed to keep secrets from "second year faculty" and "corporates from the nearby bank who visit our canteen" for reasons they don't quite understand even now, to the jokes, stories, updates and the behind the back politics and the "brainstorming sessions" strategising the next "event" and "elections".
Khau Galli -
The chat wala who used to give "hajmola" (a mixture of puffed rice, sev and potatoes) complimentary with every bhel. The idli wala who gave an ever-changing coloured Sambar. And the juice wala with his coloured cocktails (only the brave wandered to that territory). Many a lecture breaks have seen us thronging there.
The menu on the wall -
Those out-of-this-world spellings of the dishes. Sample a few masterpieces before they repaint them, or worse, a new caterer takes over. Chiness Bhel, Szewan rice, Veg Franky.
Whenever I visit MacD/CCD or a friendly neighbourhood restaurant, and I see those swanky glow signs with their artistic food photography and their perfect spellings, I miss my canteen.
Lectures:
Professors -
A big thanks to all the Professors who took so much of their time and made the biggest sacrifices in life to teach us. It can only be moving when someone of such stature leaves the comfort of his house and dedicates so much of his time with us instead of his family.
We have seen them all, rigid, flexible, practical, emotional, sensitive, eccentric. We have given them enough troubles and faced enough episodes of our own.
Duration -
It is possible that only Mumbai University has 3 hour lectures. Some are considerate enough to allow a short break after 90 minutes to let our grasping remain alive, while others go on relentlessly. At some point of time we all have tried to record lectures, but hardly ever played them back.
Roll Call -
Whenever I will hear anyone speak "sixty", I will miss college!
Sports:
Promises Promises -
Like Bipasha says in the advert, "hum sab fitness ke baare me sochte bahut hain, par karte kuchh nahi". And just like that, hum JBites sports ke baare me sochte bahut hain....
Many a times we pass Oval maidaan after a lecture, on a lazy Sunday afternoon or another morning when school and college kids are busy playing cricket and football, we contemplate and make plans of playing "the next time we are here". Some of us do play on a handful of days, but a good participation is limited to a week before the annual NITIE fest (separate mention in next section).
When it comes to forming teams, we use only the most rigorous analysis and perfected processes such as the following:
X-"Mujhe bowling aati hai, maine college me mast bowling daali hai". Captain-"Ok, 2nd over too daal".
NITIE -
Blessed are our b-rivals of the far suburbs, for they have a residential campus hosting acres of lush green grounds and arenas. (Of course we are blessed with the location of our college). They hold an annual sports festival that also serves the purpose of being the only occasion, apart from the almost daily rush to clamber on local trains, where we JBites get to use our muscles. Ok ok, due credit to a few hostelites who get to play TT throughout the year, and to a few other junkies.
The event coincides with the exams of the second year-ites, but even then the enthu make it. But whatever be the case, even after 2 years of being together we barely know the strengths of a particular person in a particular area of the sport.
And although the chances of it happening are far and few, I will miss college when the corp I work for hosts an inter-department cricket tournament.
The league -
As with most walks in life, we have some similar interests and different tastes within those. With football following in JBIMS, just like in India, the niche is limited to English Premier League, in particular, to the traditional "Top 4". So the usually peaceful following of the routine is occasionally disturbed whenever there is an "Arsenal vs Manchester United" or a "Liverpool vs Chelsea" weekend. Apart from the verbal banter we also get to see some bright displays of loyalty in those who choose to wear club t shirts on some days.
I will miss college, when instead of the red t-shirt proclaiming "Fly Emirates", I will have to wear the same old formals on the Monday that follows a historic Arsenal victory on Sunday night.
Red Tapism:
The accounts section -
They have processes straight out of a central Govt office from the socialist era, whether it is the yearly admission process or a simple procedure to get a refund of your library's "caution money". They have their own version of Lay's original tag-line of "No one can eat just one". It is "No one can visit just once". After visiting them thrice in the space of 1 month in order to get my 1000 rs cheque, I am informed happily that "bade saab" is on leave and I won't get the cheque till he signs it. And when I ask them if I can call a number, they inform even more happily that the board of phones is out of order for the last 4 months.
For any other automated requests or bank transactions in my life when I get an sms within seconds of the electronic transfer, I will miss all the furious form filling activities of office.
People:
Friends -
They were our partners in crime, our confidantes, our company for the 2 year long journey. We did everything together, well almost. We spent night outs on the pretext of exams, projects, Strategym, or simply to watch a movie or play cards and ended up talking the whole night. We travelled in the train together and bored other people with loud high context talks.
We pulled their legs, teased them with the idea of a member of the opposite sex, shared secrets, went to lunch, danced to bollywood songs at parties and made trips in those groups. Now as many of us are thrown into a different city and are coping with the setup, we are sorely missing our friends.
Words will not do justice to the feeling of the missing bond that my classmates are already experiencing.
The stalwarts -
The professors, guest lecturers and corporate honchos who are rich, both in experience and otherwise. The storehouses of knowledge, the powerhouses of achievement, the people we all look up to.
While it is only expected that the corporate world will not be short of such stalwarts, I can be sure that I will never have an opportunity to learn directly from so many of people of quality in such a short space of time.
The Talented -
One only needs to look around the other 119 in a different way to restore his/her faith in humanity. You will find a host of blessed individuals who don't get many chances to showcase their talents. Some are singers, some musicians, some dancers, others are painters & photographers, many are writers and mimics. Perhaps there is a need for an annual cultural festival in the free part of the academic year to unearth this treasure of hidden creativity.
There is a whole segment of talent of a different kind as well. We have a few who have expertise in deriving fun from things as seemingly harmless as personal habits and figures of speeches of people from both the above categories. Then we have the often "considered shady" but sometimes useful "of a different kind" skill of anonymous hacking.
I already miss the rapport and the chemistry that I shared with you.
The "takeaways":
Career -
A boost to it. A change to it. After all that's what we all came here for.
The dawning -
We all realised at some point in MMS that it is entirely different from the picture that we painted before getting in. Things aren't always as they appear, even if lakhs of people can testify to seeing the same thing. Only after you go through the process does the truth become clear.
The parties and trips -
Countless stories and memories abound these trips and parties.
Partner -
Room partners, project partners, some even found life partners (hey they were inspired by some of our teachers no less).
GAS -
Also known as "Globe" in other B schools. There are two popular full forms of it in Mumbai.
Garbage Analysis System (used by our Western Suburb rivals' school), and
Generally Accepted Statements
Any statement made by anyone, that doesn't have any data/fact/emperical study/analysis/research is deemed GAS by the listener. Few question papers are known to have the ability to generate enough GAS to pollute the entire south Mumbai on exam days.
PPX -
The abbreviation PPT never held a more important place in our lives earlier.
One leads to "lack of questions" or questions in the line of "sir can you tell a little more about the profile?". The other leads to labeling people as "NPAs". No there is no one who is not an NPA. It is all relative, i.e., for one person the other is an NPA and vice versa.
PPI and PPO
People work hard all summer to get these magical 3 letters on their CVs. Some by their hardwork, others by luck, the rest by sheer bad luck. The latter, also fondly called "Pappu", is like an Olympics high jump bar. Once you get over it, you can't go "lower".
The inspiration -
The wise words that first greeted us when we began our journey in this red building were "The Mercurial Energy of the mind with its ceaseless capacity of cyclic Creation, Sustenance, Dissolution... Always New, Always Different, Always Explosive, Always Amazing." How inspiring. Portraying the potential inside each one of us in such a simple way.
As we continue the journey of life, and our brain makes way for new learnings, we will eventually forget almost everything that we learnt here, but the inspiration that we got from our guides, friends, the surroundings and the situations will surely continue keeping our flame alive for the rest of our lives.
The red building:
The Audi -
It won't be an exaggeration when I say that every one of my classmate has experienced all emotions right here in this hall.
From the agony of the announcement of a new assignment, to the ecstasy of the knowledge that we can leave earlier than anticipated due to an unforeseen circumstance.
From the pain of having to remain awake even after getting only 2 hours of daily sleep for a few weeks during induction; while simultaneously trying to make the head from the tail of the dozens of facts being thrown at us relentlessly; to the enlightenment of understanding a concept in the first go.
From the tense anticipation of a result, whether it is the semester exams or the 2 recruitments that are concerned, to the relief of having cleared the hurdle when the announcement is made in here, whether in the first go or after a few trials.
From the politics being played out live in front of the red chairs, to the trust found in the person sitting next to you who is either playing a kiddish game on a paper with you or complaining or praising (both in a hushed voice of course) the same thing as you.
It has been a venue for all the three Ps of MBA (courtesy Arbit mba):
Presentations, Parties and Placements.
And after the summer of 2009, even after it lost its status as the only room in the building capable of providing 120+ people simultaneous relief from the heat, it will remain in the annals of JBIMS history forever. Some will remember it for the cold blast of the ac in the first row and the struggling cushions and screws, while others will remember it for the "disco" lighting, and there will be a set that will remember it for the short movies we saw during lectures. Thank you, batch of 2001 for this wonderful gift.
15 and 21 -
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of 1983 & 1984 Alumni and administration, we were gifted these two monumental additions to the infrastructure. These swanky AC rooms full of modern lighting and furnishings are favourites of Professors and guest lecturers. These rooms just took off the pressure from Audi on hot summer afternoons. The rights to book these rooms on a Sunday will be fought over by the full time and part time students for years to come.
The Gate -
It has seen it all, the candid group photo sessions, the organised reporter interviews, the fervent wait, the tomfoolery of the "adult" students. It has hosted many events. It also prides itself as the starting point of various treats. So is it a surprise that it features prominently on photos associated with JBIMS everywhere?
The Tub -
Everyone who has been a part of the Bajaj family has accepted the Tub as a part of his/her legacy. It is like an ancient relic that is inherited from the generations above you. You adore it, you clean it and decorate it on special occasions (Prayaag/Placements), but you don't have a clue in hell about its original purpose.
During Nostalgia 2009, our hosts asked the alumni from previous batches as to what is the Tub for, and no one could offer a satisfactory and complete answer. Its significance seems to be lost in transition, among the older generations in the passing of time.
But it still holds its place in our hearts, appearing frequently in the various photos uploaded on Facebook.
It is not the perfections but the imperfections in life that form the most intimate memories and give the most fond experiences. The next time I am shivering from the cold ac on a winter day or after getting drenched in the rain inside a perfect swanky corporate building and I just want to take a break from sitting on my PC or attending meetings the whole day by sitting on the staircase or going to the hot verandahs or the canteen, I will miss college.
Canteen:
Vada Pav -
Our respected professor works a hard day at his office and still comes to teach us after 6:30 pm on a weekday. After much coaxing and whining from the students, he gives us a break at 8:05 pm. At this time there is no other venue open nearby that would kill the hunger beast. So 50 eager mouths rush together into the canteen to get some Tea and Vada Pav. No guarantees that the Vada Pav will be hot though, even if the CR of the class has told Shiva beforehand about the possible break timing.
Friendly Whispers -
The plastic tables and chairs that seem like they were once white in colour, that have witnessed every facet of the students' personalities; from furious finishing of assignment PPTs, freshers being instructed to keep secrets from "second year faculty" and "corporates from the nearby bank who visit our canteen" for reasons they don't quite understand even now, to the jokes, stories, updates and the behind the back politics and the "brainstorming sessions" strategising the next "event" and "elections".
Khau Galli -
The chat wala who used to give "hajmola" (a mixture of puffed rice, sev and potatoes) complimentary with every bhel. The idli wala who gave an ever-changing coloured Sambar. And the juice wala with his coloured cocktails (only the brave wandered to that territory). Many a lecture breaks have seen us thronging there.
The menu on the wall -
Those out-of-this-world spellings of the dishes. Sample a few masterpieces before they repaint them, or worse, a new caterer takes over. Chiness Bhel, Szewan rice, Veg Franky.
Whenever I visit MacD/CCD or a friendly neighbourhood restaurant, and I see those swanky glow signs with their artistic food photography and their perfect spellings, I miss my canteen.
Lectures:
Professors -
A big thanks to all the Professors who took so much of their time and made the biggest sacrifices in life to teach us. It can only be moving when someone of such stature leaves the comfort of his house and dedicates so much of his time with us instead of his family.
We have seen them all, rigid, flexible, practical, emotional, sensitive, eccentric. We have given them enough troubles and faced enough episodes of our own.
Duration -
It is possible that only Mumbai University has 3 hour lectures. Some are considerate enough to allow a short break after 90 minutes to let our grasping remain alive, while others go on relentlessly. At some point of time we all have tried to record lectures, but hardly ever played them back.
Roll Call -
Whenever I will hear anyone speak "sixty", I will miss college!
Sports:
Promises Promises -
Like Bipasha says in the advert, "hum sab fitness ke baare me sochte bahut hain, par karte kuchh nahi". And just like that, hum JBites sports ke baare me sochte bahut hain....
Many a times we pass Oval maidaan after a lecture, on a lazy Sunday afternoon or another morning when school and college kids are busy playing cricket and football, we contemplate and make plans of playing "the next time we are here". Some of us do play on a handful of days, but a good participation is limited to a week before the annual NITIE fest (separate mention in next section).
When it comes to forming teams, we use only the most rigorous analysis and perfected processes such as the following:
X-"Mujhe bowling aati hai, maine college me mast bowling daali hai". Captain-"Ok, 2nd over too daal".
NITIE -
Blessed are our b-rivals of the far suburbs, for they have a residential campus hosting acres of lush green grounds and arenas. (Of course we are blessed with the location of our college). They hold an annual sports festival that also serves the purpose of being the only occasion, apart from the almost daily rush to clamber on local trains, where we JBites get to use our muscles. Ok ok, due credit to a few hostelites who get to play TT throughout the year, and to a few other junkies.
The event coincides with the exams of the second year-ites, but even then the enthu make it. But whatever be the case, even after 2 years of being together we barely know the strengths of a particular person in a particular area of the sport.
And although the chances of it happening are far and few, I will miss college when the corp I work for hosts an inter-department cricket tournament.
The league -
As with most walks in life, we have some similar interests and different tastes within those. With football following in JBIMS, just like in India, the niche is limited to English Premier League, in particular, to the traditional "Top 4". So the usually peaceful following of the routine is occasionally disturbed whenever there is an "Arsenal vs Manchester United" or a "Liverpool vs Chelsea" weekend. Apart from the verbal banter we also get to see some bright displays of loyalty in those who choose to wear club t shirts on some days.
I will miss college, when instead of the red t-shirt proclaiming "Fly Emirates", I will have to wear the same old formals on the Monday that follows a historic Arsenal victory on Sunday night.
Red Tapism:
The accounts section -
They have processes straight out of a central Govt office from the socialist era, whether it is the yearly admission process or a simple procedure to get a refund of your library's "caution money". They have their own version of Lay's original tag-line of "No one can eat just one". It is "No one can visit just once". After visiting them thrice in the space of 1 month in order to get my 1000 rs cheque, I am informed happily that "bade saab" is on leave and I won't get the cheque till he signs it. And when I ask them if I can call a number, they inform even more happily that the board of phones is out of order for the last 4 months.
For any other automated requests or bank transactions in my life when I get an sms within seconds of the electronic transfer, I will miss all the furious form filling activities of office.
People:
Friends -
They were our partners in crime, our confidantes, our company for the 2 year long journey. We did everything together, well almost. We spent night outs on the pretext of exams, projects, Strategym, or simply to watch a movie or play cards and ended up talking the whole night. We travelled in the train together and bored other people with loud high context talks.
We pulled their legs, teased them with the idea of a member of the opposite sex, shared secrets, went to lunch, danced to bollywood songs at parties and made trips in those groups. Now as many of us are thrown into a different city and are coping with the setup, we are sorely missing our friends.
Words will not do justice to the feeling of the missing bond that my classmates are already experiencing.
The stalwarts -
The professors, guest lecturers and corporate honchos who are rich, both in experience and otherwise. The storehouses of knowledge, the powerhouses of achievement, the people we all look up to.
While it is only expected that the corporate world will not be short of such stalwarts, I can be sure that I will never have an opportunity to learn directly from so many of people of quality in such a short space of time.
The Talented -
One only needs to look around the other 119 in a different way to restore his/her faith in humanity. You will find a host of blessed individuals who don't get many chances to showcase their talents. Some are singers, some musicians, some dancers, others are painters & photographers, many are writers and mimics. Perhaps there is a need for an annual cultural festival in the free part of the academic year to unearth this treasure of hidden creativity.
There is a whole segment of talent of a different kind as well. We have a few who have expertise in deriving fun from things as seemingly harmless as personal habits and figures of speeches of people from both the above categories. Then we have the often "considered shady" but sometimes useful "of a different kind" skill of anonymous hacking.
I already miss the rapport and the chemistry that I shared with you.
The "takeaways":
Career -
A boost to it. A change to it. After all that's what we all came here for.
The dawning -
We all realised at some point in MMS that it is entirely different from the picture that we painted before getting in. Things aren't always as they appear, even if lakhs of people can testify to seeing the same thing. Only after you go through the process does the truth become clear.
The parties and trips -
Countless stories and memories abound these trips and parties.
Partner -
Room partners, project partners, some even found life partners (hey they were inspired by some of our teachers no less).
GAS -
Also known as "Globe" in other B schools. There are two popular full forms of it in Mumbai.
Garbage Analysis System (used by our Western Suburb rivals' school), and
Generally Accepted Statements
Any statement made by anyone, that doesn't have any data/fact/emperical study/analysis/research is deemed GAS by the listener. Few question papers are known to have the ability to generate enough GAS to pollute the entire south Mumbai on exam days.
PPX -
The abbreviation PPT never held a more important place in our lives earlier.
One leads to "lack of questions" or questions in the line of "sir can you tell a little more about the profile?". The other leads to labeling people as "NPAs". No there is no one who is not an NPA. It is all relative, i.e., for one person the other is an NPA and vice versa.
PPI and PPO
People work hard all summer to get these magical 3 letters on their CVs. Some by their hardwork, others by luck, the rest by sheer bad luck. The latter, also fondly called "Pappu", is like an Olympics high jump bar. Once you get over it, you can't go "lower".
The inspiration -
The wise words that first greeted us when we began our journey in this red building were "The Mercurial Energy of the mind with its ceaseless capacity of cyclic Creation, Sustenance, Dissolution... Always New, Always Different, Always Explosive, Always Amazing." How inspiring. Portraying the potential inside each one of us in such a simple way.
As we continue the journey of life, and our brain makes way for new learnings, we will eventually forget almost everything that we learnt here, but the inspiration that we got from our guides, friends, the surroundings and the situations will surely continue keeping our flame alive for the rest of our lives.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Adventure
"Adventure is not outside man; it is within" - David Grayson
Of all the adventures I have had in my life (that I certainly hope were only the beginning, that there are a lots more to follow), I recall two the most when I hear the word "adventure".
1> The Panhala (Kolhapur) "climbdown"
I was about 10 years old then. Mom, dad and me went for a small vacation in Kolhapur. That is where my mom's friend's husband used to stay and she took us there to see their family and her farmhouse. It was the monsoon season. Those who have been to Sahyadris (or the Karjat range, or any of the mountaineous terrain just outside Mumbai) will know how the place is different in the rains than the rest of the year.
We saw a baby black cobra snake in aunty's farmhouse one night and got really psyched out before my dad dealt with it. With such an impressionable mind, it is no surprise that our senses are very heightened. And anything a little out of the ordinary leaves a lasting mark.
We made an excursion to the great Panhala fort. There were elders (parents of both families) and children in the trip. Two boys younger to me, and a girl in her late teens. We reached the fort top by road together and spent lot of time exploring the fort. Facing chilly wet winds in those meditation caves.
Then came the time to get down. This is when the girl (didi from now on) got an idea that we children should trek down while the elders take their cars and wait for us at a restaurant almost mid way down the road. The elders agreed. I have a hunch that they also wanted some peace and quiet away from us.
It began with a simple trek down a kachcha road. The "road" then became more and more dangerous. Its gradient kept on increasing, all the while being wet and slippery due to the monsoon, till the time it was looking more like a water slide than a path. We actually had to slide down our bottoms at places while dodging the surrounding shrubs. A part of me thought that the slide might end up in an open gorge and I might die. Another part was looking out from the corner of my eyes afraid that a snake might pop out of one of the bushes.
The path reminded me of some cartoon videos or even video games. I expected the roller coaster to end no sooner than the entire height of the mountain. Instead, only in about 10 mins we reached a plane area. And then we saw a couple of pakka structures. Only to realise that it was some sort of a zoo. On poking our nose we saw that it was a snake zoo!
We went in, heart still pumping from the journey. Saw many snakes there, and being a kid, I also put my hand up on the glass of a Cobra. That Cobra struck the glass on the other side of my palm! With a hiss he struck it and I got the biggest scare of my life. For a moment I forgot that there was a cm thick glass between his hood and my palm. But that was that and I left the place.
We met the elders after about half an hour of starting the climbdown. We had a lot of stories to share that day!
2> The great Uran ST stand "hunt"
Sometimes I am very careless of my belongings and leave them all over the places I go. I have left an umbrella in train, a windcheater in a bus stop, a wrist watch on a table (hey i came back for it but it was gone....taken.....), etc etc. This time it was a whole strap on (shoulder carry) bag in a bus. In my defence, that day I unexpectedly got a gift from someone while returning home from a class, and I did manage to not lose that bag when I got off the bus. In fact I was sleeping in the bus for the long journey, and somehow got up only when my stop came, and in the hurry forgot one bag as my hands already had another (when used to carrying only one bag....sigh).
I got down and realised later that I left my bag. Although it didn't have much (a largely empty notebook, an umbrella and two cell phones....yes, two over-used cell phones that I was carrying to try to sell it at a mobile outlet for even 100 rs if possible....if only for the satisfaction of recycling dangerous electronics). But the bus had already left.
It was an ST bus bound to Uran. Well if you catch an ST bus starting at Dadar to get off at Vashi, then you have only 2 options. It is either Panvel bound or Uran bound, and it was Uran bound at the time i caught it. All the stories that I had heard about Uran came rushing back to me as I weighed my options, deciding whether to catch another bus to Uran so late in the night.
A friend at work used to stay at Uran and he had told me of horrid tales. Of people looting lone wanderers there. Of them injuring them or worse when they didn't comply. In fact, things were so out of control there (I don't really know how it is after 3 years) that it was an unwritten rule that if you do get surrounded by a group of men, you are supposed to give up all your valuables, wrist watches, even shoes without saying a word.
Even with this I went ahead, as in the back of my head I knew that I didn't have much that any mugger could have asked for. I called mom and informed her that I will come late. I waited for the next bus to Uran, which wasn't coming anytime soon, so I asked people around for directions and boarded a CBD bound train. I walked to the junction (Uran phata) and in the dead of the night waited for any vehicle or any bus that goes that way.
While waiting there for 10 minutes my mind was racing and again struggling inside. The rational part of me was insisting to leave the place then and there and just go back home. But without any solid reason I waited it out. Another man joined my wait there.
Finally a Sumo arrived. This vehicle was carrying 8 people and they asked me where I was headed. Fearing the worst I told them. I was pleasantly surprised that they were headed towards Uran and were ready to drop me to the bus depot for around 15 rs. I am guessing that was a standard sharing vehicle for the people who work late hours at the dock there.
Reached the depot, which was nothing short of a horror movie set at night. I found one conductor and told him the story. I didn't know the bus registration no but told him the details of origin, destination and timing of the bus. He was very helpful and after asking around his colleagues, took me on his motorcycle towards the bus where it was supposedly being cleaned up.
This is the point when my trust in humanity could have died but with such helpful people around, it became stronger. I reached the bus and searched the seat where I left it, and didn't find it. It was pretty hopeless to expect it to be still lying there in the first place, to be honest.
But at least I had my mental satisfaction. The next thought was to get the hell out of there.
It was already late and I was going to go back alone with no mode of transport. Thankfully the same conductor told me that there is a last NMMT bus for the night that leaves for Vashi at around 1230 am!
So I was back to square zero. The same dead night. The same slums surrounding the deserted street. All alone, waiting for a bus that could be fictional for all you could say. But the bus did arrive, and when I saw other passengers in it, I finally breathed a sigh. Although the bus was Turbhe bound, I was happy that I would be leading towards civilisation.
I had to get down at Turbhe junction and waited for a Kopar Khairane bound bus. Finally I reached home at 2 am. Without the lost belongings but happy to be alive. My mom also had her heart in her mouth all this while.
Of all the adventures I have had in my life (that I certainly hope were only the beginning, that there are a lots more to follow), I recall two the most when I hear the word "adventure".
1> The Panhala (Kolhapur) "climbdown"
I was about 10 years old then. Mom, dad and me went for a small vacation in Kolhapur. That is where my mom's friend's husband used to stay and she took us there to see their family and her farmhouse. It was the monsoon season. Those who have been to Sahyadris (or the Karjat range, or any of the mountaineous terrain just outside Mumbai) will know how the place is different in the rains than the rest of the year.
We saw a baby black cobra snake in aunty's farmhouse one night and got really psyched out before my dad dealt with it. With such an impressionable mind, it is no surprise that our senses are very heightened. And anything a little out of the ordinary leaves a lasting mark.
We made an excursion to the great Panhala fort. There were elders (parents of both families) and children in the trip. Two boys younger to me, and a girl in her late teens. We reached the fort top by road together and spent lot of time exploring the fort. Facing chilly wet winds in those meditation caves.
Then came the time to get down. This is when the girl (didi from now on) got an idea that we children should trek down while the elders take their cars and wait for us at a restaurant almost mid way down the road. The elders agreed. I have a hunch that they also wanted some peace and quiet away from us.
It began with a simple trek down a kachcha road. The "road" then became more and more dangerous. Its gradient kept on increasing, all the while being wet and slippery due to the monsoon, till the time it was looking more like a water slide than a path. We actually had to slide down our bottoms at places while dodging the surrounding shrubs. A part of me thought that the slide might end up in an open gorge and I might die. Another part was looking out from the corner of my eyes afraid that a snake might pop out of one of the bushes.
The path reminded me of some cartoon videos or even video games. I expected the roller coaster to end no sooner than the entire height of the mountain. Instead, only in about 10 mins we reached a plane area. And then we saw a couple of pakka structures. Only to realise that it was some sort of a zoo. On poking our nose we saw that it was a snake zoo!
We went in, heart still pumping from the journey. Saw many snakes there, and being a kid, I also put my hand up on the glass of a Cobra. That Cobra struck the glass on the other side of my palm! With a hiss he struck it and I got the biggest scare of my life. For a moment I forgot that there was a cm thick glass between his hood and my palm. But that was that and I left the place.
We met the elders after about half an hour of starting the climbdown. We had a lot of stories to share that day!
2> The great Uran ST stand "hunt"
Sometimes I am very careless of my belongings and leave them all over the places I go. I have left an umbrella in train, a windcheater in a bus stop, a wrist watch on a table (hey i came back for it but it was gone....taken.....), etc etc. This time it was a whole strap on (shoulder carry) bag in a bus. In my defence, that day I unexpectedly got a gift from someone while returning home from a class, and I did manage to not lose that bag when I got off the bus. In fact I was sleeping in the bus for the long journey, and somehow got up only when my stop came, and in the hurry forgot one bag as my hands already had another (when used to carrying only one bag....sigh).
I got down and realised later that I left my bag. Although it didn't have much (a largely empty notebook, an umbrella and two cell phones....yes, two over-used cell phones that I was carrying to try to sell it at a mobile outlet for even 100 rs if possible....if only for the satisfaction of recycling dangerous electronics). But the bus had already left.
It was an ST bus bound to Uran. Well if you catch an ST bus starting at Dadar to get off at Vashi, then you have only 2 options. It is either Panvel bound or Uran bound, and it was Uran bound at the time i caught it. All the stories that I had heard about Uran came rushing back to me as I weighed my options, deciding whether to catch another bus to Uran so late in the night.
A friend at work used to stay at Uran and he had told me of horrid tales. Of people looting lone wanderers there. Of them injuring them or worse when they didn't comply. In fact, things were so out of control there (I don't really know how it is after 3 years) that it was an unwritten rule that if you do get surrounded by a group of men, you are supposed to give up all your valuables, wrist watches, even shoes without saying a word.
Even with this I went ahead, as in the back of my head I knew that I didn't have much that any mugger could have asked for. I called mom and informed her that I will come late. I waited for the next bus to Uran, which wasn't coming anytime soon, so I asked people around for directions and boarded a CBD bound train. I walked to the junction (Uran phata) and in the dead of the night waited for any vehicle or any bus that goes that way.
While waiting there for 10 minutes my mind was racing and again struggling inside. The rational part of me was insisting to leave the place then and there and just go back home. But without any solid reason I waited it out. Another man joined my wait there.
Finally a Sumo arrived. This vehicle was carrying 8 people and they asked me where I was headed. Fearing the worst I told them. I was pleasantly surprised that they were headed towards Uran and were ready to drop me to the bus depot for around 15 rs. I am guessing that was a standard sharing vehicle for the people who work late hours at the dock there.
Reached the depot, which was nothing short of a horror movie set at night. I found one conductor and told him the story. I didn't know the bus registration no but told him the details of origin, destination and timing of the bus. He was very helpful and after asking around his colleagues, took me on his motorcycle towards the bus where it was supposedly being cleaned up.
This is the point when my trust in humanity could have died but with such helpful people around, it became stronger. I reached the bus and searched the seat where I left it, and didn't find it. It was pretty hopeless to expect it to be still lying there in the first place, to be honest.
But at least I had my mental satisfaction. The next thought was to get the hell out of there.
It was already late and I was going to go back alone with no mode of transport. Thankfully the same conductor told me that there is a last NMMT bus for the night that leaves for Vashi at around 1230 am!
So I was back to square zero. The same dead night. The same slums surrounding the deserted street. All alone, waiting for a bus that could be fictional for all you could say. But the bus did arrive, and when I saw other passengers in it, I finally breathed a sigh. Although the bus was Turbhe bound, I was happy that I would be leading towards civilisation.
I had to get down at Turbhe junction and waited for a Kopar Khairane bound bus. Finally I reached home at 2 am. Without the lost belongings but happy to be alive. My mom also had her heart in her mouth all this while.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Change is the order of day
And in the world of football, it is all the more visible in the ongoing FIFA world cup 2010.
These are the four key changes that I have observed in the run up so far (just for the records, I am writing this on the third day of the knock-outs, in other words, round of 16). So ring out the old, ring in the new in the following:
1> Formation:
4-4-2 is a thing of the past. England, with their "traditional" 4-4-2 formation being criticised by none other than their own players, were ousted by the attacking Germany very early in the tournament. So did the US. They couldn't find innovation with their traditional formation against a resolute Ghana.
When you see the pre match show of any match you are likely to see a attacking 4-3-3 (with central mid in a defensive role and the striker ahead of the two support strikers, and the full backs providing extra support down the wings) more than any other formation. Other popular and successful formations in this world cup have been the diamond shaped midfield 4-1-2-1-2 (e.g. what Brazil deployed today against Chile, with Kaka in the CAM - in the hole behind the two strikers role) and the 4-5-1 (what Spain had used in Euro 2008, and no wonder they won Euro 2008 with this formation, they have the best midfield in the world!)
2> Mentality:
Countries known for their attacking prowess have taken the center stage. Earlier all hell had broken loose for the worshipers of the beautiful game in 2002 World cup & 2004 Euro (and also during Mourinho's Chelsea in club football) when Korea and then Greece showed that one can reach a long way in the competition by scoring one goal and then defending the slender lead with their lives. No longer the case in this competition. We have seen all the underdogs like Korea, US, Ghana or teams that couldn't supposedly score against their bigger opposition go ahead and equalise if not win after going 1 down.
France lost out when they tried a defensive 4-2-3-1 (two holding midfielders with only one striker up front).
On the other hand, offensive Argentina (Gabriel Heinze is a defender! yet he scored a header and makes defense splitting runs) and Germany registered handsome 4-1 and 4-0 wins even in their group stages.
3> Age:
Young Germany, Brazil and other teams with young players took the competition by storm. Compare and contrast it to the earlier year successes of France and Italy with their "experienced players". Argentina with veterans Martin Palermo (36) and Diego Milito (31) in their squad is no longer afraid to give Gonzalo Higuain (22) a start over the two. Make no mistakes, Milito was pivotal in getting Inter Milan the treble this year including the Champion's League for the first time in 45 years, scoring both the goals in their final against Bayern Munich among his 22 in all. Germany's leading stars are Thomas Mueller (20) and Mesut Oezil (21). And boy have the youngsters delivered! Higuain is currently tied for top scorer with 4 already in his kitty, having bagged the only hat trick of this world cup so far.
4> A new world order:
Both the finalists of 2006 world cup France and Italy were knocked out from their group in the very first round. Underdogs Russia and Turkey reached as long as semi finals of 2008 Euro. As football becomes more and more global, and top leagues hire more and more players from around the globe, the teams representing nations become more and more equal. Now when a Ghana faces a US in the round of 16 or when a Serbia faces Germany in the group stages, there is no fear in the supposedly smaller country's players' heads. Watch any two teams facing each other and chances are that you'll find at least a couple of opposing countries' players in the same club, let alone in the same league.
As Ghana becomes only the 3rd African nation in the quarter finals of a world cup, it will be for the first time in the history for the winner of Japan vs Paraguay to reach the quarter final stage.
Waiting for more drama and more history in the biggest event on earth!
Hoping that with these positive changes, FIFA also considers introducing technology soon.
These are the four key changes that I have observed in the run up so far (just for the records, I am writing this on the third day of the knock-outs, in other words, round of 16). So ring out the old, ring in the new in the following:
1> Formation:
4-4-2 is a thing of the past. England, with their "traditional" 4-4-2 formation being criticised by none other than their own players, were ousted by the attacking Germany very early in the tournament. So did the US. They couldn't find innovation with their traditional formation against a resolute Ghana.
When you see the pre match show of any match you are likely to see a attacking 4-3-3 (with central mid in a defensive role and the striker ahead of the two support strikers, and the full backs providing extra support down the wings) more than any other formation. Other popular and successful formations in this world cup have been the diamond shaped midfield 4-1-2-1-2 (e.g. what Brazil deployed today against Chile, with Kaka in the CAM - in the hole behind the two strikers role) and the 4-5-1 (what Spain had used in Euro 2008, and no wonder they won Euro 2008 with this formation, they have the best midfield in the world!)
2> Mentality:
Countries known for their attacking prowess have taken the center stage. Earlier all hell had broken loose for the worshipers of the beautiful game in 2002 World cup & 2004 Euro (and also during Mourinho's Chelsea in club football) when Korea and then Greece showed that one can reach a long way in the competition by scoring one goal and then defending the slender lead with their lives. No longer the case in this competition. We have seen all the underdogs like Korea, US, Ghana or teams that couldn't supposedly score against their bigger opposition go ahead and equalise if not win after going 1 down.
France lost out when they tried a defensive 4-2-3-1 (two holding midfielders with only one striker up front).
On the other hand, offensive Argentina (Gabriel Heinze is a defender! yet he scored a header and makes defense splitting runs) and Germany registered handsome 4-1 and 4-0 wins even in their group stages.
3> Age:
Young Germany, Brazil and other teams with young players took the competition by storm. Compare and contrast it to the earlier year successes of France and Italy with their "experienced players". Argentina with veterans Martin Palermo (36) and Diego Milito (31) in their squad is no longer afraid to give Gonzalo Higuain (22) a start over the two. Make no mistakes, Milito was pivotal in getting Inter Milan the treble this year including the Champion's League for the first time in 45 years, scoring both the goals in their final against Bayern Munich among his 22 in all. Germany's leading stars are Thomas Mueller (20) and Mesut Oezil (21). And boy have the youngsters delivered! Higuain is currently tied for top scorer with 4 already in his kitty, having bagged the only hat trick of this world cup so far.
4> A new world order:
Both the finalists of 2006 world cup France and Italy were knocked out from their group in the very first round. Underdogs Russia and Turkey reached as long as semi finals of 2008 Euro. As football becomes more and more global, and top leagues hire more and more players from around the globe, the teams representing nations become more and more equal. Now when a Ghana faces a US in the round of 16 or when a Serbia faces Germany in the group stages, there is no fear in the supposedly smaller country's players' heads. Watch any two teams facing each other and chances are that you'll find at least a couple of opposing countries' players in the same club, let alone in the same league.
As Ghana becomes only the 3rd African nation in the quarter finals of a world cup, it will be for the first time in the history for the winner of Japan vs Paraguay to reach the quarter final stage.
Waiting for more drama and more history in the biggest event on earth!
Hoping that with these positive changes, FIFA also considers introducing technology soon.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Public Service message
1> A "commoner" patient is shifted out of a hospital's ICU to a barely livable room to accomodate a "referred" patient by a high post official.
2> All, I repeat, ALL tourists of Panchmarhi in MP are ordered to stay inside their rooms and absolutely no vehicles are allowed for 2 days because Mr. Advani is visiting.
3> No civilian is allowed to use the "Civilian Aviation transport" or the helicopter service from Tawang to Guwahati on 3rd June 2010 in spite of applying to the Deputy Commissioner and getting the list approved by him 5 days prior to the journey. Because on the morning of 3rd suddenly 12 relatives of the Chief Justice, the Chief Minister and an MLA decide to use the service.
What is the common irony behind the three incidences? All of the "VIPs" were elected by "commoners" to serve the "civilians"
2> All, I repeat, ALL tourists of Panchmarhi in MP are ordered to stay inside their rooms and absolutely no vehicles are allowed for 2 days because Mr. Advani is visiting.
3> No civilian is allowed to use the "Civilian Aviation transport" or the helicopter service from Tawang to Guwahati on 3rd June 2010 in spite of applying to the Deputy Commissioner and getting the list approved by him 5 days prior to the journey. Because on the morning of 3rd suddenly 12 relatives of the Chief Justice, the Chief Minister and an MLA decide to use the service.
What is the common irony behind the three incidences? All of the "VIPs" were elected by "commoners" to serve the "civilians"
Saturday, February 27, 2010
For Ramsey..and Arsenal
I have never felt so emotionally charged up after watching a match. That too i couldn't watch on tv thanks yet again to my cablewala who out of a sudden decides to show vancouver instead of Arsenal (and previous cricket matches highlights on other channel). Could only watch last 30 minutes on a low quality stream on the net with a dozen interruptions and reconnections.
Aaron Ramsey, a 19 year old bright midfielder of Arsenal, who has proved himself so many times this season and was all poised to be a shining star, suffered a career threatening injury to his leg in the match. The captain of Stoke, whether intentionally or not, BROKE his right foot. It was sickening to watch his broken foot hanging while he was writhing in pain. Sky decided not to show the replay as it was "disturbing". The offender was given a straight red card, and he left the field crying. Even he couldn't meet the eyes of Ramsey. The play was stopped for a good length as both teams' players were trying to help by calling medical attention and trying to soothe Ramsey. Arsenal's captain Fabregas and our best buy this year, the defender who is called "the verminator", Vermaelen, were both in tears. This happened after 60 minutes of the game.
Arsenal have always lost playing away to Stoke. Stoke have always scored against Arsenal by someone heading a long throw of Delap. They did it again in the early minutes of the game. But Arsenal today showed class and fought back into the game and ended up equalising before half time.
After the horrific injury, all the players on the field had their "shoulders down". No one seemed motivated to play. Still after about 5-10 minutes Arsenal gained composure. Our substitute striker Eduardo got a chance to finish the game but he missed it. Finally Fabregas got a penalty off a clear handball in the 89th minute. Referee must have felt bad for not allowing Ramsey a clear cut penalty in the first half. Fabregas had earlier got a penalty against the same keeper but the keeper had saved. This time also he guessed the correct direction but Fabregas scored. This charged up Arsenal again. The verminator scored with a simple tap in again from a Fabregas cross. Arsenal won 3-1.
It was such a crucial win. For the most important reason that just 2 years ago at the same point (February 21 or so) our striker Eduardo had suffered a similar horrific ankle break. In that match also Arsenal players had lost the will to play and ended up conceding a late penalty and drawing the match 2-2. Arsenal had been league leaders so far in that season but the season just dropped after that, and Arsenal drew 5 successive games, ending the season in the 2nd place.
But tonight Arsenal showed character. Fabregas motivated the players after the incidence. They even huddled together after the win in a repeat fashion of the "invincible" era (2004 season where Arsenal went on the entire season unbeaten, which was for the first time in 110+ years in the league, by any team). This team has grown up.
With League leaders Chelsea losing in a very negative game tonight, Arsenal are just 3 points away from them now.
After the match both the manager and Fabregas reacted very strongly against the teams who always play "physical" against Arsenal. This is the THIRD time in 5 years that an Arsenal player has suffered a 1-2 year losing injury. This is definitely not a coincidence as the lower teams employ such physical tactics because that is the only way they can stop the free flow passing football of Arsenal. But I wonder is this the price Arsenal pays for playing so well AND fairly? This year, out of all the 20 teams in the league, only Arsenal has not got any red card (remember that Chelsea got 2 red cards just today). That means Arsenal plays to win beautifully without getting into such malicious play. And in the process players like Diaby, Eduardo and Ramsey suffer such horrendous injuries?
The only positive out of tonight is that the entire team is now determined to (even Wenger said it in his post match interview) "win it for Ramsey".
With easy fixtures now for Arsenal and tough fixtures for their competitors (No 1 Chelsea and No 2 Manchester United have yet to play against each other), there is all the chance to win it now.
Hope that Ramsey recovers soon. And like Diaby and Eduardo, come back to play an awesome game for Arsenal again.
Aaron Ramsey, a 19 year old bright midfielder of Arsenal, who has proved himself so many times this season and was all poised to be a shining star, suffered a career threatening injury to his leg in the match. The captain of Stoke, whether intentionally or not, BROKE his right foot. It was sickening to watch his broken foot hanging while he was writhing in pain. Sky decided not to show the replay as it was "disturbing". The offender was given a straight red card, and he left the field crying. Even he couldn't meet the eyes of Ramsey. The play was stopped for a good length as both teams' players were trying to help by calling medical attention and trying to soothe Ramsey. Arsenal's captain Fabregas and our best buy this year, the defender who is called "the verminator", Vermaelen, were both in tears. This happened after 60 minutes of the game.
Arsenal have always lost playing away to Stoke. Stoke have always scored against Arsenal by someone heading a long throw of Delap. They did it again in the early minutes of the game. But Arsenal today showed class and fought back into the game and ended up equalising before half time.
After the horrific injury, all the players on the field had their "shoulders down". No one seemed motivated to play. Still after about 5-10 minutes Arsenal gained composure. Our substitute striker Eduardo got a chance to finish the game but he missed it. Finally Fabregas got a penalty off a clear handball in the 89th minute. Referee must have felt bad for not allowing Ramsey a clear cut penalty in the first half. Fabregas had earlier got a penalty against the same keeper but the keeper had saved. This time also he guessed the correct direction but Fabregas scored. This charged up Arsenal again. The verminator scored with a simple tap in again from a Fabregas cross. Arsenal won 3-1.
It was such a crucial win. For the most important reason that just 2 years ago at the same point (February 21 or so) our striker Eduardo had suffered a similar horrific ankle break. In that match also Arsenal players had lost the will to play and ended up conceding a late penalty and drawing the match 2-2. Arsenal had been league leaders so far in that season but the season just dropped after that, and Arsenal drew 5 successive games, ending the season in the 2nd place.
But tonight Arsenal showed character. Fabregas motivated the players after the incidence. They even huddled together after the win in a repeat fashion of the "invincible" era (2004 season where Arsenal went on the entire season unbeaten, which was for the first time in 110+ years in the league, by any team). This team has grown up.
With League leaders Chelsea losing in a very negative game tonight, Arsenal are just 3 points away from them now.
After the match both the manager and Fabregas reacted very strongly against the teams who always play "physical" against Arsenal. This is the THIRD time in 5 years that an Arsenal player has suffered a 1-2 year losing injury. This is definitely not a coincidence as the lower teams employ such physical tactics because that is the only way they can stop the free flow passing football of Arsenal. But I wonder is this the price Arsenal pays for playing so well AND fairly? This year, out of all the 20 teams in the league, only Arsenal has not got any red card (remember that Chelsea got 2 red cards just today). That means Arsenal plays to win beautifully without getting into such malicious play. And in the process players like Diaby, Eduardo and Ramsey suffer such horrendous injuries?
The only positive out of tonight is that the entire team is now determined to (even Wenger said it in his post match interview) "win it for Ramsey".
With easy fixtures now for Arsenal and tough fixtures for their competitors (No 1 Chelsea and No 2 Manchester United have yet to play against each other), there is all the chance to win it now.
Hope that Ramsey recovers soon. And like Diaby and Eduardo, come back to play an awesome game for Arsenal again.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
dying wishes
I want to do white water rafting on Brahmaptura much before it enters the plateau of Arunachal
I want to fly the druk air leg of Kathmandu to Paro....with Himalaya on both sides
I want to trek for 2 days in Peru to reach the hidden city of Machu Picchu
I want to fly the druk air leg of Kathmandu to Paro....with Himalaya on both sides
I want to trek for 2 days in Peru to reach the hidden city of Machu Picchu
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)