FrankenSteyn

A cricket shot from Privatemusings, taken at the third day of the SCG Test between Australia and South Africa. Dale Steyn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All I have to offer is my deepest sympathy. Our Boys in Blue are at it again, being destroyed on swinging and bouncy pitches outside of the sub-continent, as they almost always have. Forced into a very odd schedule by their greedy board with zero practice matches, it's probably some sort of crime under a rarely used law to then place a slightly psychotic Dale Steyn up against them.

-

Dale Steyn's Twitter ID bio [@DaleSteyn62] is short. It says "Terrible guitar player..." The humility is extraordinary. And terrifying. Simply because he doesn't feel the need to boast about his daytime job don't mean he is no good at it. Quite the opposite. Virat Kohli recently said "No one is afraid of anyone." Brave words but a little irrelevant. You don't need to be scared of Dale Steyn, only of his deliveries. 

-

The scariest bit is that the cricket playing world's deadliest fast bowler is not trying to be the fastest bowler on the planet every single delivery. He is too busy deconstructing the victim's/batsman's mind, unravelling his technique and plotting his wicket. Oh, but he can be exactly that, on a whim, leaving the batsman's chin and Adam's apple unhappy at the metronomic accuracy that accompanies his fatal pace.

-

Sure, the other bowlers on the current South African side are no tag-alongs and great sportsmen in their own right but none of them engender a primal fear for personal safety like Steyn. On his day, as most days on speed friendly pitches are for him, any batsman's dismissal is unremarkable; survival admirable and anything else unthinkable. 

-

[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/12/frankensteyn.html]

Kuch nahin badlegaa

Arvind Kejriwal and friends (Photo credit: vm2827)

What's the easiest argument against working for reform? By pre-declaring it a lost cause. Saves a lot of effort and a lot of stress. Joining in on the constant chorus of negativity has dual benefits. Of not feeling guilty while simultaneously deriding those who tried unsuccessfully with a condescending "I told you so".

-

The counting of votes for the 2013 Delhi assembly elections has begun. It will determine the future of one of those who tried. That an upstart political outfit like the Aam Aadmi Party could shake the concretized foundations of the Congress and BJP was laughable... not so very long ago. It would be fair to say that things have changed.

-

That politics is a tough place for good, honest men to survive is an accepted fact. The problem is the strange criticism that seems to be the primary one against Arvind Kejriwal these days. Look at him, they say. He is playing politics!

-

Yes, he is playing. It's tough to see what's wrong with that. Simply put, democratic politics is a giant popularity contest where the SMS votes are replaced by the somewhat longer queues at the voting booths. The difference is that victory in one leads to a studio album with a steady career in New Year's Eve programme performances; in the case of the other, it is the not-so-minor opportunity to make history.

-

Just to clarify, indulging in the greatest scam since the country came into existence is not making history. Gifting your loyal 'donors' a mining license is not making history. Giving your kids permission to beat up a hapless toll booth attendant who committed the travesty of asking for the toll is not making history. The apt word for all of the above in Hindi is chindigiri a.k.a cheapness.

-

Democratic leaders are fond of referring to themselves, albeit tongue-in-cheek, as servants of the people. The truth is they are for all practical purposes, our kings and queens. In them are invested the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands of their subjects. Every second that these leaders spend in plotting how to rob & steal is a second lost in achieving tasks worthy of the power invested in their hands.

-

Being a democratic leader is the biggest challenge there is. Making decisions that will affect generations to come is no cakewalk, even for those (especially for those?) with unselfish intentions. Then there is the matter of making your party members see the light, followed by the nightmare of making the opposition and the public come around. Figuring it all (or at least some of it) out is an ego boost worth dedicating a lifetime to. Also, it happens to be the stuff that greatness is made of.

-

Whatever be the outcome of the Delhi elections, it would by no means be a failure for the likes of Kejriwal and crew. For far too long, we have looked away from the 'dirty' world of politics, blaming the caste-religion-region leanings of our 'ignorant' masses for the devious and corrupt leaders that our system churns up. Cold, hard facts say that democracy gives us the leaders we deserve. If it ain't working, there's only us to blame.

-

Kuchh nahin badlegaa? Kuchh nahin karoge, toh kuchh kaise badlegaa?

-

[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/12/kuch-nahin-badlegaa.html]

Tourists and mad scientists

Everything about the Niagara Falls screams "TOURIST TRAP!". The teeming populations of Indian and Chinese tourists overrunning the area confirm that the trap is working perfectly. The Canadian side of the Indo-China Falls, as I call them, seems especially over-commercialized with ugly, garish casinos and hotels right on the water's edge.

-

The area around the Falls has been developed so that everyone and their grandma can enjoy the grandeur of the views. Unfortunately for those seeking to enjoy the power of the Falls in the quiet and solitude it deserves, everyone and their grandma does.

-

Despite this criticism, yours truly has been there 4 times (once to see it, the other 3 times to show it), and being a citizen of one of those countries accused of the tourist gluts, I shouldn't be casting aspersions on my fellow countrymen. I must add it's a 900 odd mile round trip from Boston, so not exactly a short drive either. 

-

The incessant crowds might bother some people, but I don't feel as bothered myself. 

-

Ignore minor bugaboos like a screaming toddler running rough-shod over your toes or having to shift a little every few seconds to stay out of someone's "Romantic gaze in front of a waterfall" photo-frame. Once the zen-like state of calm is acquired, it becomes fully possible to appreciate the scale of the show put on by nature. 
-
In my mind's eyes, the majesty of the Falls overwhelms every other distraction. The sheer volume of water that the Niagara river carries over the plunging edge is impressive no doubt but even more so is the sound. The roar of the currents, understandably distressed at being tossed off a high cliff, dominates the soundscape. 
-
The hundreds of birds circling through the spray, squawking and wheeling around in search of their next meal, are like mid-air whirlpools. The transient little rainbows that flicker to life through the mist only to disappear in a few milliseconds are more incentive to keep the memory film rolling. 
-
There is another oft-ignored aspect to the American side of the Niagara Falls, which keeps bringing me back to visit it over and over again, nerd that I am. At this site of nature's grand spectacle, is also a monument to one of science's greatest innovations and its innovator.
-
On Goat Island, near the elevator that plunges down to the Cave of the Winds section of the Falls, there happens to be a giant statue of a giant of a man. For this was a genius of such calibre that he could assemble complex machines within his mind and run accurate thought experiments to check their viability. The name of that genius was Nikola Tesla.
-
Besides being the most popular destination within (too) easy reach of hordes of tourists, Niagara Falls is also the location of the world's first Alternating Current hydroelectric power plant. Inventing a way to transmit AC electricity over great distances was Tesla's greatest gift to the world. 
-
All those devices that make us 'modern' - computers, TVs, artificial lighting and the industries that build every mass-manufactured product that sustain our existence would have never come to be if this man hadn't discovered a way to pump the energy that feeds them.
-
Tesla, a once-in-a-species grade scientist would end up dying alone, broke and insane as some ill advised financial investments towards the end of his life would lead to his downfall. The world did appreciate him in retrospect, putting up his statue at the site of his greatest triumph but in his lifetime, it saw him off with cruel criticism and bitter ridicule.
-
In the universe's weak attempt to address that sort of lingering injustice, today his statue seems to be quite popular. Children clamber onto his lap; adults pose in front flashing their pearly whites - with understanding I hope of who this person they are taking pictures in front of is.
-
I realize popularity may not have been his thing - he was much too much of a geek to seek that. His likeness set amidst a sea of visitors from far off lands is a very well chosen one. All the fuss by these new-age admirers crowding around him, does not bother the metal Tesla. 
-
He is too busy reading a book.
-
[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/09/tourists-and-mad-scientists.html]

Tesla statue at Niagara Falls (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Big Easy

"Orleans, baby!"

-

No one ever said that. No one will ever say that. Therein lies the charm of New Orleans.

-

The streets are narrow. The pubs and restaurants are small. The live music scene is dominated by superbly talented but relatively unknown local bands belting out classic tunes. The milling crowds of revellers walking in and out from one fuel stop to the next seem strangely happy for people who don't seem to be the "Look how rich I am" type. Not having a Lamborghini is no problem in getting an entry into any popular place in this town. It's a party town all right, unlike any other, but more focused on enjoying the moment, less on boasting how much it cost.

-

For the other half of the day when the sun is up, a warm sub-tropical cloak envelops the Crescent City. Walking past the vine covered houses with their wrought iron verandahs, some dilapidated, some bright and cheery, a trumpet chorus floats in from the distance. A little further down, the languid Mississippi runs through this town, a river both embodying its spirit and shaping it. For centuries, artists of all calibres - writers, painters, musicians have been drawn to the creative hum that fills this city. The cemeteries, the trams, the gardens, the varieties of neighbourhoods - all point to a past which refuses to leave and a future which will accommodate them at the cost of perfection.

-

On that count, there is no conflict. This is the Big Easy. 
-
More pictures @ http://tinyurl.com/n57cfvb

-

[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-big-easy.html]

India first

English: India. Area controlled by India in dark green; Claimed but uncontrolled territories in light green. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An India  for all religions. An India  for all regions. An India for all cultures. An India for all philosophies. For if we fail to keep India a place of unprecedented integration and cultural intermingling, we have failed the idea of India, the history of India. Tolerance and peace are not a sign of weakness, they are a sign of strength and wisdom. The world needs to learn from us in that respect, not the other way around. India first.

-

Tolerance and peace for the sake of our multicultural future but not for acts of evil. Passive acceptance of corruption and its extended family of evils must end. Wrong-doers need to be punished irrespective of any affiliations - religious, political or social and do-gooders encouraged. Accountability from the powers-that-be can only be achieved by their collective shaking up by an active citizenry. Our incessant complaints about how our democratic rights are being trampled upon are one half of the story. The real question is have we done enough to fulfill our collective responsibilities? India first.

-

Confidence. In each individual about their ability to figure it out. Yes, there are problems. Political problems, social problems, economic problems, ecological problems, security problems - the list could be longer but you get the idea. None of them with a straightforward answer. No purpose is served in being terrified of 'foreign' culture to the point of blindness. There is much to be observed and admired in the world around us. What is to be learned must be learned without prejudice. Just another flower in our bouquet of knowledge. India first.

-

"We will do it together" has a nice ring to it but is wishful thinking, wasting a lifetime waiting for the revolution. Every committed man or woman must be prepared to go it alone as many have done in the past. Self proclaimed God like iron men (not naming any names here) who will wave their magic wand of 'development' to 'fix' all of India's problems optional. India first.

-

[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/08/india-first.html]

Destination driven destiny

Image via CrunchBase

I feel only one emotion towards Google and some German car manufacturers' research into self-driving cars. Hate. As someone obsessively fond of driving for hours through unknown roads, the idea of being only a passive passenger on a trip through the open road drives me bananas. When it comes to driving, I am a control freak.

-

Sadly enough, I have to admit that this is an idea whose time has come. There is nothing more tragic than a death in a car accident, nothing more needless. The veteran of many a epic road-trip (often all by myself), I sorely accept that driving is mainly a mechanical task. Keep moving forward and avoid hitting anything encapsulates the basic logic of daily driving. Such cold, hard, simple logic is something a computer will always beat a human at. Always.

-

In the early 20th century, when strange mechanical contraptions called automobiles first began clattering across carriage paths, I am sure they got murderous glares from men who loved riding their horses to their daily tasks. How can a nuts and bolts monster replace the emotional connection that a man has with his horse, they asked? 

-

I find it distressing to think that the very next generation of humans will laugh at us, we who controlled the magic wheel of direction that took us down winding streets, using only the limited combination of our hands and heads and feet. Why did we trust our prone-to-fatigue human senses, they would wonder, when microprocessors can determine the right moves in pico-seconds every time without error?

-

Basking in the bright lights of the future, the past seems odd-ball and needlessly 'inefficient'. I hear you now, Mr. Horseman, I feel your pain.

-

[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/08/gps-driven-destiny.html]

Pappu-purush v/s Puppy-purush

English: Narendra Modi in Press Conference (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the choice is between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, it is fair to say it's not the best position to be in.

-

Does Modi deserve to be the Prime Minister of India? Did Rajiv Gandhi deserve to become PM in 1984 right after his Congressi 'troops' had massacred innocent Sikhs by the hundreds in broad daylight? The answer, as they say, is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind. Since none of us speak wind, let's wait till the 2014 elections are done.

-

Did Modi have any role in engineering the 2002 riots? The justice system said no but media reports said yes. Bear in mind that it's the same justice system that let Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler of the Congress walk scott free when the same media had reported them to be leading the mobs against their Sikh victims in 1984.

-

Does India desperately need clean and strong governance, now more than ever before? That I can tell you without consulting the wind. YES. IT'S ABOUT TIME, I WOULD THINK. 66 YEARS OF WAITING WAS LONG ENOUGH. Of all the things that his rivals and biased 'press-titute' reports (as his less-than-diplomatic fans call the anti-Modi media) have accused Modi of, corruption is not one. I am sure they tried their damnedest to come up with something. That alone makes his candidature stand head and shoulder and Kolhapuri chappals above his rivals.

-

His decisions in guiding Gujarat's march forward and the ringing endorsements by industrialists of his leadership were perfect launching pads. Unfortunately Mr. Future PM had to open his mouth just long enough to put his royal foot in his mouth. Regardless of media spin and 'misinterpretation', bringing up puppies accidentally crushed by a car you are not driving in context of mass mob rioting, rape and murder is just plain vanilla wrong. Then to follow it up with a 'burqa of secularism' comment at a subsequent meeting was double clicking on the self-destruct button just to make sure.

-

India/Bharat/Hindustan is a nation just not designed to accept or survive such blind hatred, neither historically nor today. Get the Muslims first, they are the problem, right? Christians, aren't they secretly funded by the Vatican church to overthrow Hinduism? Everyone knows it's those SC/ST people who are the speed bumps on our road to progress, don't they? Oh no, wait, isn't it the North Indians who are dragging us down? Shut up, it's them, the non Hindi speaking ones who are causing this lack of 'unity', don't you see? Communists, God damn, those communists! Where does the finger pointing and divisiveness stop?

-

Incredibly, only possible in incredible India, Modi still has a golden chance. Only because of the capabilities (or lack thereof) of his presumed rival to the top post. The blank page of 'http://rahulgandhiachievements.com/' says it all, which  is basically nothing. The Congress haven't announced Rahul Gandhi as their Prime Ministerial candidate yet. It is the smartest thing they have done so far on their campaign for 2014 and their only hope is in that they continue this smartness.

-

I envision a third scenario too. Modi has a longer term plan than most would imagine. He, I believe, is looking at 2019 or beyond for his PM attempt. The Congress as of now is solely focused on bringing down the 'Modi for PM' bandwagon. Repeatedly calling him communal is all the pebbles they have in their arsenal drawing attention away from the mind-boggling number of scams and mis-governance that UPA-II has put our country through. 

-

Modi, bear in mind, is just the BJP election campaign head as of now, not the PM candidate.  It's his first role at the national level and he may be learning the ropes on the big stage through every minute in the limelight. There is no viable BJP alternative to him in Gujarat who will become the Chief Minister, if Modi were to become PM in 2014. Making his crude aimed-at-a-particular-community headlines is only a way to consolidate his strongly right wing supporters even more. He keeps drawing the fire until it is very near Lok Sabha election time and then... he steps away.

-

Someone more 'acceptable' to allies steps in for the PM post, maybe a Sushma Swaraj or a Arun Jaitley. Elections, as always in India are won or lost on local issues, not who is running for PM. BJP wins a decent number of seats. The allies like Nitish Kumar and BJD come safely rushing back, now that Modi is not a PM candidate. Lo and behold, the numbers add up and there is a BJP led government at the centre. Modi gets all the credit for running a successful campaign and his national stature grows exponentially.

-

There will always be a next time, Modi, like all other smart politicians, knows, if you play your cards right. The fate of India hangs in balance on his actions and those of his political contemporaries who block his road to power. Is there some other dark horse, yet unnoticed, an exemplary leader who will trounce all others with his enthusiasm and energy, without bad-mouthing a section of Indian society or without the benefit of being political royalty, waiting to lead our country out of its current predicament? 
-
The answers will start forming quite so very soon. Democracy can only give the people the leaders they deserve. 2014 will be a very interesting year, a very interesting year.

-

[http://virtual-inksanity.blogspot.com/2013/07/pappu-purush-vs-puppy-purush.html]