The Whole Nine Yards

The American summer of 2010 is now an archive locked in my Facebook album and the mellifluous autumn is gradually yet persistently dragging us to what may be a rather long dark winter. One often has to wonder why our literary predecessors attributed darkness to winter, specially when there is copious amount of snow around.

To say that the the passage of time has been eventful is an understatement. Only this morning did the Tea flavoured G.O.P whip the Democrats and storm their way into the Congress and besieged America's Nobel Laureate President's already humongous task of managing his country and many others too. On the positive note, for a country where many citizens subscribe to the dual principle of not paying taxes and individual gun rights, this result stands as a testimony to the fastidious minds of voters and increasing polarisation.

Without delving into psephology, one can derive that politics can be a fluctuating and sensitive business. It is the art of making seemingly revolutionary promises and hardly living up to them. But the unknown citizen falls prey to the same bullet in no man's land. Of course, the way the common man is exploited varies in style and intensity depending on the terrain. While China suffocates the press and dissemination of information in the name of national interest, India's young Turks fool a billion people with a flashy dynastic surname. The surname you see at the New Delhi airport, in the history books, on the geography maps, inside the Parliament and outside of it as well. For a country with a literacy rate of sixty odd percentage, such sycophancy dating back to the stone ages is no bloody surprise.

Too much of bad blood. I'd rather prefer Bad Romance with Lady Gaga. Yes, she is not the sexiest prima donna in tinsel town but she sings and sings rather well. More than a billion views on YouTube is close to the best awards designed by humankind. But I hear she is not in the business of sleeping with strangers like our mate in Manchester - Wayne Rooney. For someone who spent close to $100 for a Rooney world cup t-shirt and flashed it in an American bar with pride in an England vs USA World Cup engagement, it was shameful. The week long drama and stand off with the revered Sir Alex Fergusson exposed the mercenary in him. And a poor mercenary too. I have vivid memory of watching Rooney, Lampard & Co. getting hacked by the Germans at Bloemfontein earlier this year. First, it was the War hysteria traditionally created by the English media. 'France gets kicked out really early. Italy does not even count. The Americans arrive late to the round of action and the English are left at the mercy of the Germans.' And the merciless Germans made sure that there was no need for England to worry about any explosive transition in the fabric of time and space. For the Germans, it was a routine victory and for the English an opportunity to re-define time and space. But Churchill's finest hour is history now. Not completely though. The pub where I was watching the English demise was invaded by German fans gloriously singing 'Deutschland über alles' - a song that is now banned in the Fatherland. And as Angela Merkel aptly remarked, 'multikulti' must have terribly failed in Germany. I learnt that in Pittsburgh.

But not everything in this world can be that bad. Sitting at Sharp Edge pub on a typical Friday evening discussing the World Cup with my mates, I had a jolly good chap approach me and ask me in a strong Mancunian accent if I watched cricket. Sort of, yes! And then he went to remark: " Can I just say that I have seen God play at Old Trafford. He was more brilliant than words can describe. Watching him was a privilege and a dream come true." This God in blue is Sachin Tendulkar. Such is the beauty of sport and the charisma of true blue sportsmanship. Or may be the effect of globalisation! To hear praises about an Indian cricketer from an Englishman whilst chatting with my American mates in Pennsylvania. Or better still, walking on the bylanes of Soho in London in the wee hours of the morning with my new Finnish acquaintance when a Pakistani pimp tries to hustle me for some floozy action with a 'Made in China' stamp. Sounds sterling, darling. Aye!

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh weather forecasts indicate snowy action earlier and longer than expected. Suggestions to lighten the dark winter are welcome. I'll do the Facebook bit. Just don't mention the summer. Today's beautiful moments are tomorrow's wonderful memories. Cheers and Happy Diwali.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNpmMAR30VM