Day 58-2011 : Long Live The Pen!

I write this as the Indian bowlers are getting clobbered by the English batsmen.  Who would have thought that the Englismen would chase a large total like 338 so ferociously!  But then that is the nature of modern day cricket. Nothing is impossible!  I have to however, admit that I had to take a couple of breaks writing this post, as India turned around a defeat into a one pointer tie.  Team aise hi nahi jeetti, jeetana padta hai! Problem is, team jeeti nahi aaj...The match has however livened up a damp squib of a World Cup so far.

Along with the nature of modern day cricket, a lot of other things have also changed.  One of them, I realised today, was writing.  Yes, writing.  Earlier in the day, I tried writing this post (to be frank, the topic at that point of time was completely different) with a pen on a notepad.  Strangely, I found it terribly difficult to pen down my thoughts.  What I think I was not very happy about was the speed at which I was able to write, or the lack of it.  I noticed that the pace of my writing was not able to keep up with the pace of my thought processes.  Come to think of it, I realised that in the last 10 years, I haven't really written much by hand at all!  The pen has been used most only for signatures and maybe for filling out some forms.  Almost everything else has been 'written' by the keyboard.  No wonder!

Will they survive?

I am sure that others, before me, have also experienced the same.  The reason is very simple.  We no longer 'write'.  We type.  We do all our documents on a computer with a keyboard.  And nowadays on mobile phones and tablets as well.  We no longer write letters; we type out emails and send them.  They are delivered instantly.  Why use a pen?  For signatures?  Well, I think this reason will also be obsolete in a few years when everyone might be using digital signatures.  Already, a lot of official documentation is concluded with digital signatures.

So, will there be any reason to use pens 20 years from now?   Maybe....maybe not!  Will the saying 'The pen is mightier than the sword' still be relevant or will it be 'The keyboard is mightier than the sword'?  Will our children learn the written word with the help of keyboards and not pens and pencils?  Will the pen die a lonely death? 

I hope not.  Take care. 

Day 48-2011 : The Cup That Counts!

Sounds a bit tacky, doesn't it?  The Cup That Counts.  Somehow, it just doesn't sound quite right.  And given that there are many like me who think there is too much cricket being played, I am not sure if it really counts!

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is here.  The sub-continent is the host.  All the competing teams are here.  A couple of practice matches have been played.  The opening ceremony today at Dhaka was a big spectacle.  We are all set...for the cricket extravaganza of the year!

Or maybe not.  I thought the hype leading to the event itself has been a bit subdued.  It might be the result of the ambush advertising ban enforced by ICC.  Basically, ICC, with an Indian politician at its helm, knows the value of money and the fact that it can milk its exclusive rights over the tournament.  Thus the ban on cricketers appearing in advertisements of competing brands of ICC's main sponsors.  The cricketers, who know the value of money as well and the fact that they can milk the fan following for the game in the sub-continent, tried their best to hop, skip and jump the ban.  It is, after all, all about money, honey!

Whatever be the case, I am going to enjoy the games, even if the one day game sometimes tests our patience.  Thanks to 20-20 cricket.  There has been a lot of talk about India being the favourites.  Australia, with their recent success over the Poms and the Proteas are also strong sides.  I think they are equally good compared to the Indian team.  And then, there is the mercurial Pakistan team, which on its day, can make mincemeat of any team in the world.  Like a true patriot, I am rooting for the Indian team.  With a captain who is an expert at absorbing the pressure with his ice cool demeanour and a team that believes in itself, I think they can actually do it.  But, who knows!  Cricket, as they say, is a game of great uncertainties.  Maybe one of the minnows, most likely to be Bangladesh with its home advantage too, might spring a series of surprises.  They did so at the last World Cup in 2007.  I doubt if many of the minnows will do well like in 2007, but at least one or two of them are likely to make a mark.

I am also looking forward to the event very keenly due to the presence of some of the biggest stars of the game in the same event.  I am hoping that Sachin Tendulkar, who is most certainly playing his last World Cup, might put up a special show for us all.  Ponting, Gayle, Brett Lee, Afridi, Malinga, Yusuf, Sehwag and many many other exciting stars.  The other exciting part would be the discovery of some new stars which the tournament might throw up. 

Lastly, one of the things that I wanted to do this time was go and watch a match in person at the stadium.  A quick peek at the ticket prices and availability put paid to that wish.  I am much better of watching all the matches that I want at home on the idiot box which provides the luxury of action replays, highlights, quick access to key statistics and views of expert commentators.

Enjoy the game.  May the best team win.  Play!

Take care!

P.S.: The tag line, though, still doesn't sound right.

Day 41-2011 : Time Out

It is an interesting fact, but it is true.  In the five and a half years that I lived in Chennai, I did not even once go to the Marina Beach, supposedly the world's second longest beach!  I must have gone to the famous shopping area of T-Nagar maybe a couple of times in that time.  I did not ever go to the Vandalur zoo.  Actually, I lived in Adyar for a couple of those years and in spite of wanting to, never visited the either the Theosophical Society or Kalakshetra!  And by the way, in the almost two years that I lived in Bengaluru, the city of gardens, I did not find the time to visit Lal Baug!  In fact, I could possibly come up with some places in my home town, Ahmedabad, as well, where I haven't been in my lifetime.

I am reminded of all of this because of a chance visit to the Chowpatty in Mumbai recently.  Yes, you probably guessed it right.  I did not go to Chowpatty specifically; I just happened to be in its vicinity.  However a strong urge to stop the car and to go and have a look overtook me.  And there I was, at 11 AM in the morning, savouring the bright Mumbai sunshine on Chowpatty beach.  I like the vast expansiveness of the sea; with the South Mumbai and Walkeshwar backdrops, the landscape was even better.  This experience however triggered a curious train of thought in my mind.  Why did I not do those things which I mention above in the first paragraph?  Why, even after more than a year of coming back to Mumbai, I haven't been to the Chowpatty, or the Gateway of India, or closer home, even the Juhu beach?



@Chowpatty after a long time!



I feel like I have lost out on the opportunity to intimately get to know these places by not being more adventurous.  Yes, driving in our cities these days is adventurous!  I can think of many reasons though, for not having explored these cities more.  And I am sure, I am probably not the only one who feels this way.

First and foremost, I think is the antipathy to crowded public places.  I hate crowds.  I guess T-Nagar is explained now.  Second, and it is related to the first one, is the lack of convenient public transport and the lack of available parking spaces.  I hate to be driving in circles trying to find a parking space.  If I do find one, the need to squeeze the vehicle into a buttonhole turns me off.  If I do indeed get there, the constant fear of a traffic policeman with a greasy palm makes me a nervous wreck!  Third, is time; or the lack of it!  I haven't had the time to think about visiting all these places in the last few years.  Even if I did think about it, I could never get down to actually doing it.  Modern urban life keeps one busy at work and even at home!  On the weekdays, you are trying to get things done at work.  In the weekends, you are trying to get things done at home!  Work, home, spouse, kids, friends (and yes, social networking sites too now) occupy all our available hours. 

Come to think of it, I haven't had a proper vacation since 2006, when myself and Priya went to Goa for our babymoon.  Even that trip came about because we had to attend a friend's wedding there!

However, now that I think I have missed out on these things all these years, I am determined to correct it.  I am going explore some of the interesting public places in the city in the next few months.  And I am definitely determined to plan a family vacation (or maybe even two!) this year!

Take care.