We are the Champions!!

Some atrocious defending saw India lose the advantage of Renedy Singh's splendid goal from a free kick, and drag an otherwise hard fought encounter to penalties onto sudden death. But in the end Baichung & Co. prevailed. In an outfit full of experienced campaigners such as Baichung, Renedy, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli and in form young guns like Sunil Chettri and Steven Dias, it was Bengal boy Subrata Pal whose intimidating stance and safe hands saved the day in the end for India. The Bengal keeper saved 3 spot kicks to give India their 2nd Nehru Cup in a row with a win over Syria in a packed Ambedkar Stadium at the capital.

A nailbiting finish, and a well deserved victory. As usual I got lucky to catch the highlights.

Only in Calcutta

Last evening amidst the flow of traffic from Park Circus towards Char Number Bridge (Bridge no.4), I saw a Red Alto stop in the middle of the road to let out a man in a shiny black shirt who scampered towards the edge of the road and the pavement, all the while holding his crotch while dodging oncoming autos, and unzipped his pants and took a leak. Right then, right there, right next to a cop who simply shook his head in disapproval/disgust and looked the other way.

I love my city. My hometown.

oooh oohh, days go by..

It has been a terribly long and hectic one and half weeks for me. Now I suddenly find myself a little blank and in need of a breather. Hence the return to blogosphere.

Despite the long hours at office I did have some minor excitements that the universe chucked my way. Firstly an older friend and mentor turned 40. We had a magician and good scotch whiskey to celebrate his birthday. While I'd like to elaborate on the magic show, hours of typing Form TM 5(s) - for the uninitiated...trust me you don't care enough to want to know - and answering inane client queries have induced a strange weakness in my digits and I shall refrain from indulging in providing further details. Let it suffice that it was a good show, I'd witnessed live magic after quite sometime and while I did not expect Magician Pijus (for your entertainment I am here!!) to really deliver anything out of this world, he did exceed my expectations and provided for a good half an hour/forty minutes of pure entertainment. For those in Calcutta who wish to hire the services of a magician at a reasonable price, you can find Mr. Pijus Bannerjee at 09830111195. He's also a ventroquilist in case you need one.

Besides this the football season has started again. My old favourites in the English Premier League, Arsenal have started well by netting 10 goals in their first 2 matches. This Saturday they face arch rivals Manchester United, who too have regained form after a first match loss to Burnley. It should be an interesting encounter. Pray the days of Patrick Viera and Roy Keane return and the young guns in both the teams shine through in a season that has already been overhyped by record shattering transfers.

India on their part have recovered some of their pride by defeating Sri Lanka convincingly in the ongoing Nehru Cup. I was lucky to be able to catch the highlights of yesterday's encounter against Lanka. It was amazing to see the men-in-blue dominate and crush our neighbours. India has restored some of its chances of making the final, though all is not clear. But the show put up by Baichung & Co. under pressure after their early loss to Lebanon was commendable. Special mention must be made Steven Dias who was unstoppable on the right flank. All residing in Delhi can watch the finals live at the Ambedkar Stadium which is hosting the entire tournament.

I'm still at work. The days are going by really fast, and the weekends even faster. But life is good, and football adds sufficient spice to it. I just wish I had more time to watch every match.

Revival of the lousy poet

To my oldest friend, TJ Eckleburg who constantly saves me from being completely hunted, no matter how much I might desire it myself. A tea awaits you at Vien. The following is what happens when I get drunk and follow your wishes. You asked for it, bastard guy.

travellers II

with stunted breath we spoke and climed mountains
and held our fears close to our hearts,
we laughed and cried and cried and laughed
every moment making a new start.
failing again, and again to memory; lord bless them
guitar strings that brought us some mirth
when there was none, not here and not in your heart
every moment falling a little apart.

the mountains are climed, the words are spoken
with true love and hate now we paint our world.
i cut, rape, lose, scream, break the glass of your window and sing
to you a million times.
silently.
you hear, you know, you smile sometimes and catch that
cab back to the airport leaving that broken pane,
broken to my world.

where will we try old friend, to meet and curse each other again?
what time of the day would you say then,
that you hate me and i should hate you back?
when will we find another mountain to climb,
when all we are left with is familiarity from another time?
where will you touch me then, would you dare to?
and what would you say, if i wished to slit your throat,
and asked you for one last smile on your way out?

I go back to work tommorrow, the beginning of another week of blissfull numbness. Cheers.

Guitar God of another kind

Peter Green used his work to play the melancholic blues. Gary Rossington made it groove under the slide. Dicky Betts made the same screach and moan on the top of its mechanical lungs. And Jimmy Page, well what can one say about what Page did? Jimmy Page showed the world what it could really sound like.

It is the Gibson Les Paul.

It was created by a man called Lester William Polfuss, affectionately known to the world of Rock n' Roll as Les Paul. He is credited as the pioneer of the solid body guitar that made Rock n' Roll as we know it possible. I don't understand so much about guitars, but I do understand that we wouldn't have had the sweet sweet melodies created by many a guitar legend, had it not been for his invention.

Instrumentalists in general are said to share a special bond with their instrument. The instrument is like an extention to the musician's own body, or rather his self. Many legends whom I adore, worshipped Senor Les for his contribution towards their art.

The creator and his creation

Lester William Polfuss passed away yesterday of complications from pneumonia, at age 94. This post is a thank you to the musician and guitar technician who inspired many of the greatest guitar players born till date. So thank you Sir, for doing what you did.

RIP.

The POLE-ITE Girls!

Of late, the evolution of different internet portals such as Youtube has offset a new era in performance arts, wherein performers - particularly unconventional ones - do not just rely upon auditions, agents and nods from giant production corporations to access an audience. Most of them can freely flaunt their talent or lack thereof upon the internet, accessible by millions at a click. One such bunch of people come out with an online mini-series called the ELEVATOR that I enjoy during breaks in my work.

The other, more fascinating, bunch that I came across was the "POLE-ITE GIRLS!". Their most popular video - the one that brought them stardom & a Fox News interview - was shot at the NYC Subway. They claim to be a conglomeration of freelance artists who create videos that bring many kinds of pleasure to the bored and joblessly employed such as myself, and showcase faboulous talent simultaneously. Also its interesting to note the reaction of their impromptu audience, especially the difference between the men and the women. Its safe to say that although their target audience is the entire world, their true fans are predominantly male.

Here's how they choose to describe themselves on their webpage.

THE POLE-ITE GIRLS! is a sexy new web series that integrates dance, music, fashion, & story into a cutting-edge piece of contemporary culture. THE POLE-ITE GIRLS! brings different collaborators and artists into each episode keeping the flavor fresh, fun, & exciting. But underneath the surface, THE POLE-ITE GIRLS! challenge the ideas and standards of our culture by bringing dance into a public space. Subways, streets, & public transit systems all over the world will be their playground & the lucky passengers & passersby will be shocked, entertained, & tantalized by their skills.

I wish I'd met such women during my time in college. Unfortunately I didn't and now all I can do is make up for lost time by drooling at them on Youtube, while I'm actually supposed to be filing some poor bastard's trademark.

On a more serious note, I love these girls and truly dig what they've started. I further believe such endevours should be encouraged.

Hope you, my reader, like it too. Cheers.

Lines from another world

To my sister,

a sea of stars flood them green fields,
across from a life boat they call shankar's
remembering dylan
i wish i was with you, all tangled up in blue.

first mumbled on Thursday, February 21, 2008.

Wrapping Paper

In the gutter,
Moving slowly as the wind on the sea,
Faces calling, waves moving
In your picture on a wall of a house of old times.
Can you hear me; Can you hear me
Can you hear me; Wandering sadly?...

- Jack Bruce & Pete Brown.

I got my wrapping paper. I got my freedom ticket. I wish things were different, but there's no other way they'd let it be. So just let it be. We'll still be free.

A toast to the ones who paid a greater price than I; and another to the ones who left loaded in gold.

Things I do at work

Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	High
Sloth:	Low
Envy:	Low
Lust:	High
Pride:	Medium

The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz on 4degreez.com

Horny and Pissed Off, thats me....

sheesh

Of rainwashed Gods and rainsoaked Phlegm

It was pouring in Calcutta this morning. The images of worship - I've seen Jesus, Kali and Shiva on different days - drawn on the pavement at the Woodburn Park Rd.-Forum turning with crude colours by the resident beggar, in order to induce passers-by to donate their loose change, had been washed clean; returning the pavement to being just a pavement. People usually avoided stepping on the images, irrespective of whether they spared any money for the artist or not. This morning the pathway being free of its Gods was stamped upon and used to the fullest by the scampering public on their way to work, school or a morning show at Forum.

Also while on a smoke break, I witnessed a crow nibbling at someone's phlegm/spit floating in a puddle of rainwater with great gusto. It is by far the most disgusting activity I've known any living creature to participate in. The crow didn't seem share my opinion, nor did it pay me any attention while I sat and smoked two feet away from it. It kept at it the entire time in which I finished my cigarette and tea. Nibbling at phlegm soaked in rainwater must be the in thing this season in a crow's world.