They have done it again!
I sat aghast staring at the screen, my senses numbed. And then the bile rose in my throat; my temper even higher. Birmingham 2 - 1 Arsenal. Carling Cup Final.
This was to be the match, that all Arsenal fans were looking forwards to since months.
Finally, we would add a trophy after 6 long years. The empty red banner at the Emirates stadium would feature a trophy after eons.
Now it won't. No glory, no Cup, no smiles for me. A classic case of the ecstasy and the agony. The ecstasy of the getting the cup, and the agony of losing it with 1 minute left on the clock.
Hang on. We never actually had the cup. We weren't even leading. I don't blame Koscielny and Szczesny, though it was their mistake. Like duh! But the whole team choked. Arshavin was good but lacked the cutting edge. Rosicky, much-maligned, was ineffectual. He hardly had any impact on the game. Song was weak for a change. Nasri couldn't establish himself on the flanks. Clichy was.... how he has been for a while now, poor. Save Wilshere and Van Persie in the first half, everyone is culpable. This was the Final for God's sake.
I am now officially dejected, depressed and pissed with everything that moves. My patience and belief in Arsene Wenger still exists, but its getting eroded. We must win, sooner rather than later. To paraphrase Frost:
'The cups are lovely, bright and shiny,
But we have promises to keep,
And miles to go before we win them!'
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
A Stranger in my Home
I stand staring at the black nothingness that engulfs the view through my balcony. The sea stretches into oblivion with a few faint twinkles. Below is the spread of the hutments and small houses. A distinctive breeze raises the hair on the back of my neck. Something is amiss.
I feel like a stranger in my own home.
I return to India after 16 months with a sense of deja vu. As if something is wrong. As if I dont belong here. The cacophony of noises on the street, the traffic, the sheer glut of people chokes me. As if someone is smothering you with a cloud of swirling dust. I felt elated uptil the point I reached home - as if I was undertaking a great journey of sorts. Now that I'm here, its downright weird. My house has been transformed in my absence, the neighbours are new, the cars in the garage different. It seems that I felt time was still, and I'm returning back to what I left - expecting things that aren't there anymore.
I pause, take a breath. Juxtaposing that its just been a few hours - relax. Feel like listening to Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'. I echo the lines - "I can't explain, you won't understand, this is not how I am".
I guess things will quieten in a few days, make me feel more at home. I guess. The queasy feeling in my chest subsides a bit. The power of this city starts to wash over me.
A few days later......
I love Mumbai. I've said it a hundred times. You can't take that out of me. The shock over, I finally feel at ease.
I finally feel at home.
I feel like a stranger in my own home.
I return to India after 16 months with a sense of deja vu. As if something is wrong. As if I dont belong here. The cacophony of noises on the street, the traffic, the sheer glut of people chokes me. As if someone is smothering you with a cloud of swirling dust. I felt elated uptil the point I reached home - as if I was undertaking a great journey of sorts. Now that I'm here, its downright weird. My house has been transformed in my absence, the neighbours are new, the cars in the garage different. It seems that I felt time was still, and I'm returning back to what I left - expecting things that aren't there anymore.
I pause, take a breath. Juxtaposing that its just been a few hours - relax. Feel like listening to Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'. I echo the lines - "I can't explain, you won't understand, this is not how I am".
I guess things will quieten in a few days, make me feel more at home. I guess. The queasy feeling in my chest subsides a bit. The power of this city starts to wash over me.
A few days later......
I love Mumbai. I've said it a hundred times. You can't take that out of me. The shock over, I finally feel at ease.
I finally feel at home.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
10 Things I will miss about USC
I leave for Mumbai on the 8th of Dec, 3 hrs after my final Final! Yay!!!
I'm going for 6 weeks, and though I desperately look forward to reaching home, there is a touch of nostalgia, nay a tinkle, for the life and routine I am so used to....
Without further ado, in no particular order, the 10 Things I will Miss the Most about Life @ USC (atleast for a month)
1. The weird beeping of the Signal at Jefferson/McClintock allowing pedestrians to cross.
2. The Subway Sandwich at USC, whose Veggie Delite I have grown to love, and is my staple diet.
3. The late night tram driver who plays Bollywood songs and greets Indian students in Hindi.
4. Midnight sojourns to Spudnuts!
5. My 25-inch monitor and superb speakers to which I am so used to by now ....
6. Chipotle!
7. The singularly unique neighborhood of USC. Not walking alone at night, looking over one's shoulder, the wild party-goers swaying drunk on the streets bawling weird songs... nocturnal journeys to the Frat Row...
8. Grande Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks. Oh! Heaven!
9. CS Nights! Haven't played that in a loooong while....
10. The thrill of submitting an assignment at 11.57 p.m. for a midnight deadline.
I'm going for 6 weeks, and though I desperately look forward to reaching home, there is a touch of nostalgia, nay a tinkle, for the life and routine I am so used to....
Without further ado, in no particular order, the 10 Things I will Miss the Most about Life @ USC (atleast for a month)
1. The weird beeping of the Signal at Jefferson/McClintock allowing pedestrians to cross.
2. The Subway Sandwich at USC, whose Veggie Delite I have grown to love, and is my staple diet.
3. The late night tram driver who plays Bollywood songs and greets Indian students in Hindi.
4. Midnight sojourns to Spudnuts!
5. My 25-inch monitor and superb speakers to which I am so used to by now ....
6. Chipotle!
7. The singularly unique neighborhood of USC. Not walking alone at night, looking over one's shoulder, the wild party-goers swaying drunk on the streets bawling weird songs... nocturnal journeys to the Frat Row...
8. Grande Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks. Oh! Heaven!
9. CS Nights! Haven't played that in a loooong while....
10. The thrill of submitting an assignment at 11.57 p.m. for a midnight deadline.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A Tale of Desire
Have you ever wondered,
That the things you see,
Are they actual things, indeed?
The lure of money, the whiff of fame,
Power's corruption are all to blame;
Crowns and Thrones, positions and titles,
Are all lost in defeated battles.
Comfort and luxury, softness' embrace,
They are all fleeting, a passing phase;
When the sun, the stars, the moon can shift,
Life's tumbling fortunes shall eternally exist.
Have you ever wondered,
That the things you see,
Are they actual things, indeed?
Why are people so fickle, I hear myself ask,
Forever ready in glory, to bask;
'The problem lies within', I hear a voice say,
'Hearken to me!', and heed I pay.
When the ego shall die asunder,
The jealousy burn and smoulder;
Ambition be replaced with good will,
And passion never be overkill.
Then shall we be at peace,
Bloodbaths and wars shall cease;
Humans will have dignity and love,
And we shall find our gift, a white dove.
That the things you see,
Are they actual things, indeed?
The lure of money, the whiff of fame,
Power's corruption are all to blame;
Crowns and Thrones, positions and titles,
Are all lost in defeated battles.
Comfort and luxury, softness' embrace,
They are all fleeting, a passing phase;
When the sun, the stars, the moon can shift,
Life's tumbling fortunes shall eternally exist.
Have you ever wondered,
That the things you see,
Are they actual things, indeed?
Why are people so fickle, I hear myself ask,
Forever ready in glory, to bask;
'The problem lies within', I hear a voice say,
'Hearken to me!', and heed I pay.
When the ego shall die asunder,
The jealousy burn and smoulder;
Ambition be replaced with good will,
And passion never be overkill.
Then shall we be at peace,
Bloodbaths and wars shall cease;
Humans will have dignity and love,
And we shall find our gift, a white dove.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Mundane Musings of a Monotonous Mind
I won't lie about the title. But it reflects the somewhat sombre and melancholy mood that I'm in. I didn't have anything particular to write about, but various small tidbits that I wished to share. Apt title aside, my ramblings are winding and treacherous. I don't know where to start. How about my favourite topic, Arsenal.
Arsenal seem in bad shape, after a lucky draw at a resurgent Liverpool and a thumping win at lowly Blackpool, our frailties in defense are hard to ignore. We need atleast another superb centre-back, a new goalkeeper and adequate cover for Song. Then we can hope to challenge for one of four honours.
Another one of my teams is in dire straits - India. After a disastrous match, humiliating defeat and press debacle, I think somebody needs to teach Dhoni and Co. a few PR skills.
I've had an eventful summer. My internship was an enriching experience. Apart from learning a few technical skills, working in a big office, the work environment, the friendly staff and superb colleagues and managers all made my time at the Kern Organization a fun affair. I leave with a tinge of nostalgia.
Now summer has ended and lo and behold! We are 'seniors' now. Damn, I can hardly believe its been a year in LA. Time has got wings of its own, lifting us up and away into its fold, whisking us into the future.
And yes, shifting officially sucks. Period! I've shifted, packed, unpacked and cleaned to last me a lifetime. Its a pain, a hassle and something that ingenious scientists like ahem, myself, should find a solution to. Portable homes, anyone?
And now I sit looking outside my kitchen window at the empty street below. Soon this will fill with the footsteps of eager students out on the journey of their lives. They will step over the fallen leaves and the damp earth, and before you know it, time will work its magic and I'll be wishing you Merry Christmas.
But then I come to think of it, I realize that it wasn't a monotonous summer after all. I made new friends, moved into a nice new house, worked with some great colleagues, slept little but saw more. That's how grown-up summers are meant to be - hectic but fun, tiring but rewarding. And even though I have a tough Fall ahead, I shall always look back fondly at this summer, the summer of dreams, the summer of substance. The Summer of Liberty!
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
-- Robert Frost
Arsenal seem in bad shape, after a lucky draw at a resurgent Liverpool and a thumping win at lowly Blackpool, our frailties in defense are hard to ignore. We need atleast another superb centre-back, a new goalkeeper and adequate cover for Song. Then we can hope to challenge for one of four honours.
Another one of my teams is in dire straits - India. After a disastrous match, humiliating defeat and press debacle, I think somebody needs to teach Dhoni and Co. a few PR skills.
I've had an eventful summer. My internship was an enriching experience. Apart from learning a few technical skills, working in a big office, the work environment, the friendly staff and superb colleagues and managers all made my time at the Kern Organization a fun affair. I leave with a tinge of nostalgia.
Now summer has ended and lo and behold! We are 'seniors' now. Damn, I can hardly believe its been a year in LA. Time has got wings of its own, lifting us up and away into its fold, whisking us into the future.
And yes, shifting officially sucks. Period! I've shifted, packed, unpacked and cleaned to last me a lifetime. Its a pain, a hassle and something that ingenious scientists like ahem, myself, should find a solution to. Portable homes, anyone?
And now I sit looking outside my kitchen window at the empty street below. Soon this will fill with the footsteps of eager students out on the journey of their lives. They will step over the fallen leaves and the damp earth, and before you know it, time will work its magic and I'll be wishing you Merry Christmas.
But then I come to think of it, I realize that it wasn't a monotonous summer after all. I made new friends, moved into a nice new house, worked with some great colleagues, slept little but saw more. That's how grown-up summers are meant to be - hectic but fun, tiring but rewarding. And even though I have a tough Fall ahead, I shall always look back fondly at this summer, the summer of dreams, the summer of substance. The Summer of Liberty!
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
-- Robert Frost
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Intercepted!
From the title you must have guessed, correctly, that I just watched Inception.
And you must have also guessed, albeit incorrectly, that I'm going to write a review of the latest Christopher Nolan directed flick starring Leonardo Di Caprio.
Rumour has it that Caprio turned down several Nolan films before finally agreeing to don the garb of mind-hacker Cobb.
I saw Shutter Island, and loved it. But I find a lot of critics drawing parallels where there aren't any. Yes, both protagonists have a troubled past, that affects their actions in the movie, but that is where the similarities end. Teddy Daniels is living in an alternate reality, while Cobb is aware of his past. Moreover, Inception is a structured narrative where one easily follows the plotline, albeit with a few bumps along the way. It does not trick the mind, or keep the audience thrilled with the sheer maniacal machinations of Shutter Island.
Inception raises the bar, its a class apart. The ingenuity of the idea, is almost esoteric, so fleeting - but it's execution is breathtaking. If you had narrated the script, I would have called the idea far-fetched, bordering on the absurd, and certainly too difficult to make the audience comprehend. Nolan does that - and keeps them gripped for over two and a half hours.
Inception does not make you guess, it makes you gasp. It might not have the mystery or intrigue of Shutter Island, but it has the panache and flair of a brilliant story and an even better portrayal of it.
Ellen Page as Ariadne is primand apt. Ken Watanabe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are good, but a little wasted. Tom Hardy as Eam is particularly suave. Dilip Rao as Yusuf is good. But the lead pair of Caprio and Marion Cotillard are striking, with great versatility. Leo has the range, Cotillard the looks.
Watch it. Again.
And you must have also guessed, albeit incorrectly, that I'm going to write a review of the latest Christopher Nolan directed flick starring Leonardo Di Caprio.
Rumour has it that Caprio turned down several Nolan films before finally agreeing to don the garb of mind-hacker Cobb.
I saw Shutter Island, and loved it. But I find a lot of critics drawing parallels where there aren't any. Yes, both protagonists have a troubled past, that affects their actions in the movie, but that is where the similarities end. Teddy Daniels is living in an alternate reality, while Cobb is aware of his past. Moreover, Inception is a structured narrative where one easily follows the plotline, albeit with a few bumps along the way. It does not trick the mind, or keep the audience thrilled with the sheer maniacal machinations of Shutter Island.
Inception raises the bar, its a class apart. The ingenuity of the idea, is almost esoteric, so fleeting - but it's execution is breathtaking. If you had narrated the script, I would have called the idea far-fetched, bordering on the absurd, and certainly too difficult to make the audience comprehend. Nolan does that - and keeps them gripped for over two and a half hours.
Inception does not make you guess, it makes you gasp. It might not have the mystery or intrigue of Shutter Island, but it has the panache and flair of a brilliant story and an even better portrayal of it.
Ellen Page as Ariadne is primand apt. Ken Watanabe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are good, but a little wasted. Tom Hardy as Eam is particularly suave. Dilip Rao as Yusuf is good. But the lead pair of Caprio and Marion Cotillard are striking, with great versatility. Leo has the range, Cotillard the looks.
Watch it. Again.
Enough is Enough!
If you've read one of my earlier posts, you'll know I'm an avid Arsenal Fan. If you didn't, well, now you do. And like any self-respecting Gooner, I have been vexed enough by the oft-quoted 'Cesc-transfer-saga'. I really liked Barcelona as a club, had respect for their players, their history.
Now I've had enough of this nonsensical 'Catalan roots' of an excuse to take Cesc to Barcelona. Our Cesc. A player who was overlooked while at the club, spotted by Wenger, nurtured and developed by the Arsenal Academy, now 'Belongs' to Barcelona.
Xavi goes as far as to say that we have 'loaned' him.
Let's put the facts straight. Arsenal bought Cesc after our scouts spotted him as a future talent. He was trained, developed and given the chance to prove himself at the highest stage. And now at 23 after becoming a world champion and our talismanic captain, we have to simply lose him?
Well, kudos to Wenger and his backroom for standing firm and not wilting under pressure. And now that Cesc himself has said that he is staying at the Emirates, the rumors are laid to rest - albeit only until the next transfer window.
I do not wish to berate Barcelona - their tapping up, players coming all out and saying Cesc was a Barca player, Puyol's jersey joke - all point to how low the Catalan hierarchy can stoop to get a player. FIFA, UEFA, the various football federations all know about this, but such is Barca's weight on the conference table, that complaining hardly matters.
For my part, I'm happy that Cesc is staying. He is a true professional. I don't know for how long we will have his services, and he ours, but for as long as that may last, he shall lead the Arsenal faithful faithfully. As my friend oft says, 'what matters is the final score'. Arsenal 1 - 0 Barcelona.
Now I've had enough of this nonsensical 'Catalan roots' of an excuse to take Cesc to Barcelona. Our Cesc. A player who was overlooked while at the club, spotted by Wenger, nurtured and developed by the Arsenal Academy, now 'Belongs' to Barcelona.
Xavi goes as far as to say that we have 'loaned' him.
Let's put the facts straight. Arsenal bought Cesc after our scouts spotted him as a future talent. He was trained, developed and given the chance to prove himself at the highest stage. And now at 23 after becoming a world champion and our talismanic captain, we have to simply lose him?
Well, kudos to Wenger and his backroom for standing firm and not wilting under pressure. And now that Cesc himself has said that he is staying at the Emirates, the rumors are laid to rest - albeit only until the next transfer window.
I do not wish to berate Barcelona - their tapping up, players coming all out and saying Cesc was a Barca player, Puyol's jersey joke - all point to how low the Catalan hierarchy can stoop to get a player. FIFA, UEFA, the various football federations all know about this, but such is Barca's weight on the conference table, that complaining hardly matters.
For my part, I'm happy that Cesc is staying. He is a true professional. I don't know for how long we will have his services, and he ours, but for as long as that may last, he shall lead the Arsenal faithful faithfully. As my friend oft says, 'what matters is the final score'. Arsenal 1 - 0 Barcelona.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Coaster Madness
Hi,
I just completed an alpha version of my First iPhone Game titled, COASTER MADNESS!!!
It was built as part of our iPhone Games class here at USC. It was great fun to build, and a great learning experience. I shall post a youtube link soon. Kudos to Rita, Antonio, Adam, Sagar, Anu, Souranshu and your's truly...
The idea of the game is simple, a family is sitting on a rollercoaster car, and the track is incomplete. You have to drag track blocks into place before the car reaches that spot, else the family falls to their death. The camera shakes, the phone vibrates, the cart gains speed as the game progresses! Also keep an eye on the happiness meter - too bored or scared, and you shall lose points - and that is ultimately what the game is about. How long will you, erm.. the Family survive? its madness, Coaster Madness!
Stay tuned for more.
I just completed an alpha version of my First iPhone Game titled, COASTER MADNESS!!!
It was built as part of our iPhone Games class here at USC. It was great fun to build, and a great learning experience. I shall post a youtube link soon. Kudos to Rita, Antonio, Adam, Sagar, Anu, Souranshu and your's truly...
The idea of the game is simple, a family is sitting on a rollercoaster car, and the track is incomplete. You have to drag track blocks into place before the car reaches that spot, else the family falls to their death. The camera shakes, the phone vibrates, the cart gains speed as the game progresses! Also keep an eye on the happiness meter - too bored or scared, and you shall lose points - and that is ultimately what the game is about. How long will you, erm.. the Family survive? its madness, Coaster Madness!
Stay tuned for more.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
One of my Favourite Poems
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
-- Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
-- Rudyard Kipling
Nature's Rain
I am a proud Mumbaite. I do not say that it’s the best city in the world, simply that I see it that way. And I wear my heart on my sleeve. My favourite thing about Mumbai – the Rains. Oh the glorious, magnificent rain. There aren’t enough epithets in any language known to man to describe in vivid detail feeling of elation I get when I envisage myself in this epic shower of freshness.
The aroma of the first rains on the parched earth, the mud suddenly smelling like a musty perfume –can anything so banal ever smell so good. Suddenly transformed into something so beautiful.
The soft pitter patter of the raindrops on the roof, the whooshing of the monsoon wind as it billows gusts of wetness into your face, the moist damp air!
The feel of the soft globules of water on your cheeks as they slide down with a comforting caress; your hair drenched to the scalp, the slight chill that runs up your spine;
The vista – a lush, slightly haze paradise. The rains beating down on the beach, the postcard view through my kitchen window, the birds hiding under parapets, people rushing off the streets, nature’s beauty unveiled.
And Oh, Oh, Oh! The food. How about a hot cup of chai with some fresh, spicy deep-fried bhajiya’s- magnifique!
Would you have ever believed that nature’s embrace could ever be so beautiful?
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
-Bryan Adams, Heaven
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Oh! to be a Gooner.....
Definition:
Gooner:-
Well, simply put - I'm an Arsenal fan. Have been one for over 8 years now. It was my school friends who introduced me to the EPL and since then I've been hooked. I still follow it here in LA, where I watch it online(No TV, Damn!). And though I might not have actually seen Arsenal live in action, I consider myself a Gooner, nonetheless.
But that's not what this post is about. I wish to talk a little(a wee bit, I promise) about the current state of affairs at the North London club. As we all know its been over 5 years since we won a trophy. Let me put it this way:
Arsene Wenger, according to me is the best football manager in the world, atleast for teams in the 'Arsenal mold' of things. That is because, no other manager can successfully keep a small(come to that in a minute) club regularly in the Champions League while still playing the attractive style of football that he has, I vouchsafe, 'invented'. In 'Arsene We Trust' is oft heard around the Emirates. The problem is that some people feel he is getting increasingly stubborn and narrow-minded. Its not the face that we haven't won anything for long, its that we have been regularly been outplayed by our rivals. And this culture of accepting defeat, and not being wholly competitive is what is pricking the loyal fans. But this is what I say - Arsenal were, until a few years back a small team compared to our rivals. We have grown exponentially in terms of finances, but we have never had the monetary prowess of Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United. God forbid we have a foreign investor who licks the club clean - ala the Glazers/Hicks and Gillette. so given the circumstances, and a very small transfer purse, Arsene Wenger has done a tremendous job of keeping Arsenal at the same level, despite other teams spending a boatload of money.
If you want instant success, look elsewhere because Arsenal's youth policy will pay dividends - in the long run. My only concern is that we need to make sure our current stars stay on board till then. Case in point - Hleb, Flamini and to an extent Henry.
And look where they are now - Hleb said 'he wished he had never left Arsenal' and Flamini is being played as a makeshift defender in a Milan team which is a shadow of its former self.
Yes, gone are the days of seeing a Pires cross being headed in, the sublime touch of the magician Bergkamp, the pace and finishing of Henry or the midfield enforcement of Vieira.
But we have gained a lot. Now is when people say, even Chelsea and Man Utd fans agree, that Arsenal play the most beautiful form of football. And all this is down to the genius that is Wenger.
As also his ability to unearth today's rough gems and polish them into the jewels of tomorrow. He has done his bit. Now we need to give him time - yes, more of it. The results will come. Until then, sit back and enjoy the show.
It is perilous to be a Gooner - uncertain, bemoaning, sad, even exasperating at times. But our day is near enough, and we do not want to falter at the end. So say it aloud with me - 'IN ARSENE WE TRUST'
Gooner:-
Diehard supporters of the best team in the Premiership and the pride of North London. Feared by other like Yids, Mancs and Scousers. Fan of the peoples champions. The winners of more League Titles than the rest of London put together. They don't need the money or the Russian mafia to bring success, they just ooze it. | ||
Well, simply put - I'm an Arsenal fan. Have been one for over 8 years now. It was my school friends who introduced me to the EPL and since then I've been hooked. I still follow it here in LA, where I watch it online(No TV, Damn!). And though I might not have actually seen Arsenal live in action, I consider myself a Gooner, nonetheless.
But that's not what this post is about. I wish to talk a little(a wee bit, I promise) about the current state of affairs at the North London club. As we all know its been over 5 years since we won a trophy. Let me put it this way:
Arsene Wenger, according to me is the best football manager in the world, atleast for teams in the 'Arsenal mold' of things. That is because, no other manager can successfully keep a small(come to that in a minute) club regularly in the Champions League while still playing the attractive style of football that he has, I vouchsafe, 'invented'. In 'Arsene We Trust' is oft heard around the Emirates. The problem is that some people feel he is getting increasingly stubborn and narrow-minded. Its not the face that we haven't won anything for long, its that we have been regularly been outplayed by our rivals. And this culture of accepting defeat, and not being wholly competitive is what is pricking the loyal fans. But this is what I say - Arsenal were, until a few years back a small team compared to our rivals. We have grown exponentially in terms of finances, but we have never had the monetary prowess of Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United. God forbid we have a foreign investor who licks the club clean - ala the Glazers/Hicks and Gillette. so given the circumstances, and a very small transfer purse, Arsene Wenger has done a tremendous job of keeping Arsenal at the same level, despite other teams spending a boatload of money.
If you want instant success, look elsewhere because Arsenal's youth policy will pay dividends - in the long run. My only concern is that we need to make sure our current stars stay on board till then. Case in point - Hleb, Flamini and to an extent Henry.
And look where they are now - Hleb said 'he wished he had never left Arsenal' and Flamini is being played as a makeshift defender in a Milan team which is a shadow of its former self.
Yes, gone are the days of seeing a Pires cross being headed in, the sublime touch of the magician Bergkamp, the pace and finishing of Henry or the midfield enforcement of Vieira.
But we have gained a lot. Now is when people say, even Chelsea and Man Utd fans agree, that Arsenal play the most beautiful form of football. And all this is down to the genius that is Wenger.
As also his ability to unearth today's rough gems and polish them into the jewels of tomorrow. He has done his bit. Now we need to give him time - yes, more of it. The results will come. Until then, sit back and enjoy the show.
It is perilous to be a Gooner - uncertain, bemoaning, sad, even exasperating at times. But our day is near enough, and we do not want to falter at the end. So say it aloud with me - 'IN ARSENE WE TRUST'
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Life as a Grad Student
There's so much to say that I'm lost for words. Moronic it may sound. True it is. Bad Yoda imitation aside, there are so many differing thoughts in my mind on this topic that I find it hard to coalesce them into a cohesive whole. Where shall I start? I'll skip the part of coming to LA for a later post. Maybe I'll start from my first day here.
Tired, jet-lagged, a sense of deja-vu -- many epithets may describe my first day in the United States of America. And that too in Sunny California, the doors to Silicon Valley and The home of the Stars - Los Angeles. You see I am a Grad Student at the University of Southern California.and I had just landed after what was a long flight from India.
Fortunately, I had my cousin pick me up and whisk us away in his shiny Beemer to his pad in Century City. Little did I know that being totally spoilt over the next 2 days wouln't do me a world of good.
We(I'm living with 2 other roommates, and also my college pals for the better part 4 years) shifted to our 1 Bedroom/Studio apartment a couple of days later and that was when all the, shall I say turmoil, began. I'll spare you the details, though rest assured it was a torrid few weeks. Having to manage the household chores, study under a new system and do a part-time job all at the same time is in no way a mean feat. Though I must say I wasn't too disappointed with my GPA of 3.7, it could certainly have been better.
Fast forward six months, and I'm in the middle of my second semester with Spring Break approaching. I have shifted to CS - Game Development, made my first mini-game, made great new friends and am working on my first IPhone Game.
Well, more in my next post.
Adios.
Tired, jet-lagged, a sense of deja-vu -- many epithets may describe my first day in the United States of America. And that too in Sunny California, the doors to Silicon Valley and The home of the Stars - Los Angeles. You see I am a Grad Student at the University of Southern California.and I had just landed after what was a long flight from India.
Fortunately, I had my cousin pick me up and whisk us away in his shiny Beemer to his pad in Century City. Little did I know that being totally spoilt over the next 2 days wouln't do me a world of good.
We(I'm living with 2 other roommates, and also my college pals for the better part 4 years) shifted to our 1 Bedroom/Studio apartment a couple of days later and that was when all the, shall I say turmoil, began. I'll spare you the details, though rest assured it was a torrid few weeks. Having to manage the household chores, study under a new system and do a part-time job all at the same time is in no way a mean feat. Though I must say I wasn't too disappointed with my GPA of 3.7, it could certainly have been better.
Fast forward six months, and I'm in the middle of my second semester with Spring Break approaching. I have shifted to CS - Game Development, made my first mini-game, made great new friends and am working on my first IPhone Game.
Well, more in my next post.
Adios.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
una introduzione
As I sit here listening to my favourite music(Bryan Adams, by the way), I really can't decide what to write about. You see I've written a few things here and there - essays, columns, poems, short stories - but nary a blog. I guess this happens to a lot of people. There are, I think 2 types of bloggers - those that have a definite purpose in mind and know why they want to blog about, and those that just want to spew random experiences at the world. I guess I fall into the latter category. Or let's just say that I really don't know what I want to write about.Hmmm..... need to remedy that..... Soon
I thought I would be so crazy and excited about my first post, words would flow and never ebb. And now I sit here with this screen sneering at me - "I told you so" - it says. Damn, never knew this would be so tough.
Guess I'll go with the time honoured tradition of bragging about myself. For the uninitiated, the title of the post means 'An Introduction'.
I am a grad student at the University of Southern California, studying Computer Science - that about sums it up - Computer Science. I'm crazy about computers and all things geek. I confess that though my knowledge is far from all encompassing, I do know a little about the things I love - food, books and computers.
Since I was a child, I was fascinated with computers. I got my first one in the fifth grade, and being from India that's pretty soon in an average kid's life, during our times. Initially I was of the opinion that a pc was used for work or gaming - and boy was I wrong!
Fast forward to the ninth grade and I took up computer science as my elective. I loved the course, and did very well at it. That was when I found my one true love - programming. I was so fascinated with this thing called code, and the power that I could wield over the machine. I could (in theory) manipulate it to my will. That was the instant i realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life - program. I chose computer science as my high school elective subject where I was introduced to the hardware part of things.
I finally chose(and completed!) my Bachelor's in Computer Science. Here it truly dawned upon me how vast a field this had become in such a minuscule span of time. So thus I am doing my Master's of Science in the thing I love, respect and truly cherish.
Yours truly.
I thought I would be so crazy and excited about my first post, words would flow and never ebb. And now I sit here with this screen sneering at me - "I told you so" - it says. Damn, never knew this would be so tough.
Guess I'll go with the time honoured tradition of bragging about myself. For the uninitiated, the title of the post means 'An Introduction'.
I am a grad student at the University of Southern California, studying Computer Science - that about sums it up - Computer Science. I'm crazy about computers and all things geek. I confess that though my knowledge is far from all encompassing, I do know a little about the things I love - food, books and computers.
Since I was a child, I was fascinated with computers. I got my first one in the fifth grade, and being from India that's pretty soon in an average kid's life, during our times. Initially I was of the opinion that a pc was used for work or gaming - and boy was I wrong!
Fast forward to the ninth grade and I took up computer science as my elective. I loved the course, and did very well at it. That was when I found my one true love - programming. I was so fascinated with this thing called code, and the power that I could wield over the machine. I could (in theory) manipulate it to my will. That was the instant i realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life - program. I chose computer science as my high school elective subject where I was introduced to the hardware part of things.
I finally chose(and completed!) my Bachelor's in Computer Science. Here it truly dawned upon me how vast a field this had become in such a minuscule span of time. So thus I am doing my Master's of Science in the thing I love, respect and truly cherish.
Yours truly.
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