Marching on...

I checked on APSD's blog today and boy... that kid can write. A book review, films, music and one general gibberish. I acknowledge the compliment. King of Playlists is a new one. I feel like a golden god. Like I pumped a few more Kgs in my bench press session. But really, Orange Sky is an unbelievable track.

I wish I was more of a reader actually. But then again, I love my sleep and my gym time too much to spend reading... even if its on WWII. I rather not read at night and wake up sharp and bright in the morning than read a lot and end up groggy. A personal thing that has come in the way of reading.

My movie quota may get better this week with Michael Clayton and Vantage Point. No sign yet of No Country.. or There will be Blood or Into The Wild.

Akshay sent me the 20th Anniversary Deluxe edition of Joshua Tree. The deluxe package comprises The Joshua Tree CD, a Bonus CD (featuring b-sides and rarities from the Joshua Tree sessions). The Box Set also includes a 36 page bound book, featuring liner notes by Bill Flanagan with a special essay by The Edge, previously unseen photos by Anton Corbijn and handwritten lyrics by Bono and B&W prints from the album cover photoshoot. The Bonus DVD includes a documentary, U2's Live performance at the Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris (on July 4 1987) and 2 previously unreleased music videos.

My take of the box set:

a) Since it was a gift, it was great. But I wouldn't have thought twice before paying for it either.

b) The album sounds the same... I thought there would be parts of it that may sound crisper (thanks to remastering)... but I guess thats the way U2 wanted us to hear it. I always thought Joshua Tree could have done with some remastering... another album I look forward to (a remastered version of) is The River - Bruce Springsteen. So as far as this unit is concerned - no great shakes over the existing Joshua Tree CD in my CD tower.

c) The Bonus CD looks like its quickly compiled... the better songs have already appeared in the B Sides of the Best of 1980-1999. So, no great shakes there again.

d) The 36 page booklet is very well conceived. The pictures are awesome, with the essays being more than insightful. The band's love for America is so evident in these works.

e) The Photo Prints: good stuff - but too tiny to frame. In any case, good collector's items.

f) The DVD:

i) The Documentary is more like out-takes from the Band on the road. Fly-on-the-wall depictions of them in their chartered plane... in the store buying boots and hats. This 'documentary' was TRULY disappointing. The Making of Joshua Tree is a better documentary - and would have fitted in this collection perfectly.

ii) The 2 unreleased videos (a version of With or Without you and Running to Standstill) will probably be watched twice in this lifetime.

iii) and finally the concert - TWO THUMBS UP. Maybe the best performance of U2 on screen after the legendary Red Rocks concerts (taped and released as Under a Blood Red Sky). This concert has none of the blinding lights and extended ramps... and the video has none of those MTV type quick edits... thanks to the 16 camera set-up these days. Plain rock and roll... and Bono performs harder than I've even seen him. It just shows how, as a performer, he works much lesser these days (by making the audience sing along - drowning out his weaknesses). The show closer '40' was outstanding.

Nett, the concert portion of the DVD was alone worth the whole box set.

The cricket series in Australia is still on. And our journos are so excited that watching the News is such a waste these days. The IPL has been garnering a lot of attention - with the player auctions and all. I for one don't think this is gonna work. just because a broadcaster has paid some insane amount for rights, and sponsors are running all over the place doesn't make this a sure-fire success. My reason why this will not work:

Disclaimer - if you are one of those Indian cricket crazy jihadis - stop reading now. Or forever suck on your piece.

Indians cricket fans are not CRICKET fans. They watch cricket only to watch India win. They don't appreciate the strategy behind a game. Worse, they care a fuck about recognizing the qualities of India's opponents because they are so blinded by their 'patriotism'. Their love for their country allows them to support the likes of Sree Santh and Harbhajan (specimen from 2 interesting breeds - the crazy Mallu and the psycho Surd) when they go out and embarrass the rest of us.

"India have been on the receiving end for long. Now its our time to give back", I've heard this mantra a few times. So, imagine these same Indian fans getting all wet, wild and delirious about regional cricket - that too peppered with the likes of Aussies and Pakistanis and Sri Lankans. Our regional preference may apply to our cuisine or bahu... or even sometimes reach jehadi proportions when you have the likes of Raj Thackeray involved... but for cricket - I can't imagine some Chennai kid getting all worked up when the Chennai Chaatiyas take on The Chandigarh Chutiyas. Or the Maratha Dabbawalas taking on the Delhi Badwaas.

I don't see spectators paying 'good' money to watch this. In a country of 1.2 billion, we will have spectators - but this only after they drop the ticket prices to below that of a coke. I'm quite certain this will not take off as expected... and if it does, my understanding of the Indian psyche needs some revisiting.

There is this stupid girl I know in Singapore. She is Indian and is doing some worthless job in a media agency there. Like a deranged animal, every now and then she reminds me that she wants to come back to India... and work here. But just like the other idiot I know, most of this is just for the sake of conversation. These people are so happy with their new life in Singapore that they just crib about it (they think its cool to do so), but enjoy themselves at the same time. So finally, I lost it on her. Hopefully no more loose talk from her. And the other guy is history now - life is better with lesser-complicated people around you.

My credit card woes haunt me - now in India. But I understand why things are so weird here now. What do you expect when there are more people with disposable income (thanks to fucked up call centre jobs) defaulting on their credits?

I have a few guys telling me that my choice for MY first car sucks... apparently because its boot is too large. Motherfucking cocksucking twits!! Which one of you bastards have ever bought anything without begging/ borrowing or fucking stealing from your parents or flat-mates or fuck-buddies? Comment on my car if you have bought a car with your own money. And comment on my house if you have paid for your house yourself. If you bought these with cash generated from dowries, wedding gifts, parent's gifts, etc etc... fuck you!! None of you will ever know what it is to be a self-made person. You take money from your parents and believe its their duty to give you... most of you don't even have the basic gratitude for it.

I had this guy in class in Singapore (Indian obviously) who, one night, after getting drunk on my Myers Rum, went on a tirade against his father - calling him a bastard and a chuth. For what? Because his Dad (who happens to be a senior chap at ICICI Bank in Mumbai) was not doing anything about finding him a job in Singapore. Apparently, all his dad had to do was make a call... and there would be 4 Investment Banking jobs open to him!!

I asked him a few questions...

a) Are you paying for your MBA... or is your Dad doing the needful?
b) Did your Dad wire you money to buy your air-tickets to Bangkok so you could unleash holy hell on your savage girlfriend on the stained bed sheets in some apology of a hotel?
c) Have you ever bought your folks a fucking gift?

Suddenly, he stopped crying. He looks at me... and said, 'I know. He has done a lot for me... ... ... ... ... ... ... But he is a Bastard....' and there he started again. He was talking to someone who took a loan to study. And one who never took a Rupee from home since he started working in 1999.

So, if you want to make fun of my car, check your fucking credentials asshole. Otherwise go to your mama and your papa... and tell them you fucking love them for making a colossal mess out of you and tug on their fucking wallets.