At Jan's End.

Jagshemash from Chembur - the pits of the earth. 2008 has been not-so-good so far.

Last week, I lost my cell phone. The one I've had since Nov 06. It was in perfect condition - so losing it felt bad. What I really feel like an idiot about is I did not save a single photo from its storage card. And these include Sydney with Renu, nights out with Fred, Mediacorp friends, food court moments, Sukesh in his SRK outfits, Holland Village, Renu after hair-cut, APSD singing, APSD plastered, nights at Clark Quay, 2 New Year Eves, back to Mumbai, House Hunting, office spaces, bastards at Palador, toy displays at retail stores, babies, the random moments... I felt like someone sucker-punched me in the stomach when I realized I lost the phone. I now have a htc-touch that I'm still trying to de-complicate.

Every morning, I waste a few minutes trying to figure out something smart to write on my Facebook status. I go to bed with atleast 3 great ideas. While I navigate through the filth of Sion and Dharavi, I have better and more cynical updates. Back in office at 8.45... I go blank. And I read Akshay's update and go... damn I thought of that din I?

Renu is off this weekend to Nurnberg - for work. Something both of us share (unlike most people we know) is we hate to travel out of the country for work. Its a whole lot of effort for nothing. This week, it is Nurnberg, and early next month, it is Paris. We know people who get all wet and wild thinking about such travel. I know idiots who can't stop gushing about their official trips abroad - it even spills (and overflows) on their fucking Facebook/ g-talk profiles.

First of all - the shopping. Winter clothes (that will never be used back in India), ultra formals (that are not required to license toys in India) and the worst - getting to the airport at 3 am. I feel sorry for her. She's been having the blues for a few days now.

Being back in Mumbai means being unable to watch any new film that's causing all the raves everywhere else in the world. Eastern Promises was released here - but only in select theatres - in South Mumbai. The Metro Adlabs tickets was priced at 500/-. I cannot understand this. The dark side beckons. Soon, I will join the list of pirates who get their content illegally.

So, all we do now for films is rent stuff on BigFlicks: a decent effort by Big (Reliance ADAG) to bring home enetertainment to Indians. The sad part is that they have not struck deals with Sony Pictures - so as of now, we have to settle only for titles from Excel Home Videos. CARS is the best animation film ever made. Period. I have been catching up on Hindi films as well(professional hazard)... and have been fairly surprised by a few films.

Fred was in town for a few days, and we went to Blue Frog (the new place to hang-out). Fred was surprised that we had such a place springing out of a semi-dungeon like Tulsi-pipe road. Way over-priced, but music was good. But to spend the night again with Fred was fun. Dinner at Bade Miyan rocked like hell - the text message next morning from Fred rocked better though - 'hey, hope your ass is on fire like mine. Bade Miyan style baby'.

Sukesh was in town. The less said about this guy... the better.

Nothing like success/victory to make one forget the shame of the immediate past. India beat Australia in the 3rd test at Perth - and all is forgotten. I believe 2 umpiring decisions at crucial junctures went againt Australia. Thankfully, they didn't threated to boycott the next cricket World Cup... or take away the credit from India for defeating them. A lesson to learn for our idiots in blue. And Gavaskar - this guy had problems with Aussie agrression, Bucknor's umpiring and now (drum roll) the hawk eye that detects LBWs. Apparently the Hawk Eye is more like One-Eyed-Cunt when India is on the receiving end. He has a problem with machines now.

Heath Ledger died a few days ago. At 28, it looked like he had everything going for him. Maybe it was the Nick Drake effect. Or maybe he was upset that he was playing the role of the year (of the best villain in comic history). It was sad to read about the way he was found. 28!!

There is a mall opening up very close to our place - called Kstar or something. A multiplex with 5 screens. At last!! But what if its just 'Halla Bol' and 'Welcome' playing there? Or worse, South Indian stuff to cater to the Tam-Brams and Mallus living there?

Here's wishing travel-bug Apoorva happy holidays (again).

Cheers & Goodbye to the great Adam Gilchrist.

Kool & The Gang ARE still cool after all these years.

Tune of the week:
Cavatina: theme from 'The Deer Hunter'

SHAME ON (TEAM) INDIA, NEWS BROADCASTERS & ESPN

Tonight, all that was on the news was about how (Team) India was handed a raw deal by the umpires during the 2nd Test in Sydney. (Captain) Kumble attributed the defeat to their decisions and also went on to say that only one team played in the spirit of the game, and it was India. Tonight, the other big story was that of Harbhajan Singh being granted a 3-match ban by the ICC for racially violating Andrew Symonds. Really, where else can an apology-of-a-man like Harbhajan try to violate a guy like Symonds other than on a cricket pitch? Does he deserve the ban? Yes. Should one man’s word be taken another’s during such a case? No. Do I think calling Symonds ‘Monkey’ is ok because in India, we have a cultural relationship (as suggested by a stupid newsreader on NDTV 24x7) with the primates? No fucking way.

Bhajan’s somersault when he got Ponting out (for the 8th time…yes I’m keeping tabs along with Harsha Bhogle… seriously, why do people think this over-rated rubber mouth is still the epitome of commentary) was ridiculous. I’ve seen celebratory somersaults every weekend during the Premier League games… that’s what you call a somersault. Not a pussy act by the inimitable Sardar!!

Anyway, back to the game… here are my views:

a) Neither Ponting (nor any other cricketer) need walk if the outcome of the appeal is not apparent to the world. By world, I include the Blind-man’s buff Bucknor as well. For example, if a guy gets caught behind by a thick outer edge or caught-and-bowled, he better save us all some time and himself some ridicule by just walking. But if its not apparent, stay your ground and wait for the verdict. Don't disgaree or show dissent. But wait for the darn finger to go up. Cricket is no longer a stupid pastime the Brits had when they were not looting colonies like India or siring little cross-breeds with their ‘Aayas’. It’s a competitive sport, and walking is not always the smart thing to do… especially when you have opponents like (Team) India that include the likes of SreeSanth. Therefore, Ponting not walking had nothing to do with him appealing for Ganguly’s wicket. Mr. Gavaskar – you were behaving like a kid whose candy melted and fell on his hard-on. Grow up.

b) Which brings me to the Ganguly’s dismissal. The umpire referred the decision to the appealing team. That is the umpire’s fault. Why blame the Aussies? Go for Benson. I thought the catch was taken well.

c) Decisions sometimes go for you… and sometimes against you. In a game where human error is so common, our players should be mature enough not to make such silly comments and appear like sore losers. The first test was lost shamelessly by a margin of over 300 runs. The second test was better – but it was going to take more than a Rahul Dravid to help us win.

d) The events have helped direct the actual blame elsewhere, instead of pointing at the Jaffer’s, Dhoni’s and Yuvraj’s of the team. What the fuck is Yuvraj doing in the test team? The three idiots scored 52 runs totally in both innings put together. In the second innings, the only wrong decision was that of Dravid's dismissal. I'll even grant you Ganguly (although the catch was well taken even). What about Jaffer, Laxman, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Harbhajan, RP Singh and Ishant?

e) Which brings me to the unnecessary coverage of Deepika Padukone. I care a damn if she is watching the game or not. I care a bigger damn if she is dating Yuvraj Singh. ESPN needs a fucking reality check. It’s a sports channel – not Set Max.

f) Gavaskar should go for anger management. And then retire.

g) Bucknor should get that retina replaced. And then do a few favours for India. Then retire.

h) Ricky Ponting’s appeal for a catch that wasn’t: How many times have we seen players appeal for half chances? I remember our players being warned and find for excessive appealing many times. Type 'cricket India cautioned for excessive appealing' in your google search bar. You'll see. Nobody is fucking holier-than-thou here. To question the Aussie’s approach to the game (and its spirit) is simply stupid. 15 wins (I’m not adding the Sydney’s 16th) in a row cannot be achieved like this. 3 consecutive World Cups don’t happen out of the blue.

i) Kumble’s really poor remarks regarding the game not being played in the spirit of cricket – I understand his frustration. After all, he is the guy who played on with a broken jaw against the West Indies. But what the news channels failed to cover and what no ‘expert’ mentioned was India’s cheap tactics to waste time to force a draw. With 7 minutes of play remaining, 2 wickets fell in a row… and the players (RP Singh and Ishant Whatever) walked out to the pavilion and into the pitch so slowly it was disgusting. The latter was so smart he brought two right hand gloves… what a cheap thing to do. I was jumping on my sofa when Clarke got him out. Even he stayed his ground till he was given out. So – whats the fuss Kumble?

No point blaming Ponting and Co. No use in even blaming Bucknor. Some decisions will go for you... and some will go against. That’s the nature of this sport. Accept it. Swallow it. Smile and move on.

HAPPY TWENTY-OH-EIGHT

Happy Twenty-oh-Eight!!

A great way to end the year… with family and friends. I was back in Coonoor to visit my family. And the newborn… my brother’s adorable little blessing. What a beautiful little girl… and a happy kid. My afternoon naps have never been this good. I used to cradle her on my chest and we would sleep together for 2-3 hours. My parents look tired… but it ain’t easy being grandparents. Especially if you are the involved kind.

The weather was glorious… brilliant sunshine all throughout my stay, with splendid sunsets. The nights were chilly… and the cold brought back a lot of memories buried in my veins. My Mum made every possible dish I loved including the killer Mopilla Fish Biryani.

Towards the end, Akshay and his elegant friend Apoorva visited Coonoor. It was great to catch up with him after 4 months. A fine couple.

Back in Bombay on 31st, we brought in the new year with some blistering rock DVDs at home. The Old Monk was doing its bit… and I met my 22 year old brother-in-law for the first time. Now, it is back to work. New Year. New Job. New Dreams. New Goals. And the promise of Bruce Springsteen in Paris this June.