Saturday, May 06, 2006

An Avuncular Epiphany

Some of my friends (old and new) have conspired to bring me to a point where I have had to transcend to an avuncular state, leading to much introspection about life and the various mysteries it still holds. During one particular self analysis phase a couple of months ago, I realized that this phase, which is going to be forever btw, has the potential to rise at least a few embarrassing moments, unless I do something about it.

This phase came to its head sometime last week when the shiny silver motorola started buzzing with the advent of a text message that read "It's a boy!!! Name (***insert random in-vogue sanskrit name***). 7.5 lbs". Then I had an epiphany1, or to internalize what Frank Maiers once said (via Answers.com), a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself.

So, in a change that should rank right there with Intel's logo change2, I am letting go of the nick aNTi. Unlike other changes of this kind, this is not about the subject, i.e. me. It is about you all (Gabby, you, Mr.G and the Maharaja are included too). Because I don't want any kid to go Ok, so, here is uncle. Where is aunty? after being introduced to me and later being scarred for life after hearing the reply - Yes dear, this is aNTi. He is the uncle too.3

Now to choose an alternate nickname. That was a tough task. I was tempted to become Superman, but then that would entail a much bigger change, i.e. my tagline, something that my already overdrawn creative juices cannot withstand right now. Then I remembered that mystery Namibian fast bowler !Kabbo.

If you have seen Gods Must Be Crazy, you must remember the weird clucking noises that Xixo (played by this guy called N!xau) and the other Sho "tribespeople" made while conversing with each other in the native tongue. While the prospect of people making clucking noises (to pronounce the "!" in words and names like N!xau) while referring to me made taking a Sho nick an attractive proposition. I was actually going to post pics showing how to move your shoulders like a chicken's wing while mouthing the nick aloud.

But then the amnesia suddenly disappeared and I remembered the embarrassment in 2003 when someone gently reminded me4 that the Cricinfo piece from one year earlier was actually was a joke made on All Fools day. And since the Sho reference is way too obscure, I had to drop the nick with the clucking sound.

Finally I decided to take a cue from that master of name changes, Prince and decided that I could just choose myself a symbol and tell people that the symbol was called TBloFKAa or The Blogger Formerly Known As aNTi. But the presence of the letters F and K one after the other, made be do a rethink and so the symbol and the acronym was dropped in favor of the phraseology.

So there you have it. This blogger as you have known him in the past has ceased to exist.

[1] Yes!!!. Finally got to use the word on a post!

[2] I know..I know. No one noticed the change.

[3] A dig that the likes of Gabby would surely love to indulge in, bah.

[4] Haloscan comments are not available any more, so thankfully, no one can embarrass me about that again!

28 comments:

Mrudula Sreekanth said...

It will surely become TBliFKAa soon as no one is going to type in such a long name. Worse still, everyone will continue to call you aNTi and not bother about the change in the nickname. ;)

Krish said...

"The rant of an i(ndian) ant formally known as a blogger"

;-)

dev2r said...

T-Blo F*KA? That sounds quite 'urban' :D How's the new mom?

/thug life 4 eva

anantha said...

Dev: I havent spoken to her or R in the past week. Have to!

Thennavan: Lollu? :p

Hardu: We won't respond to any greeting that includes our former nick and then people will be forced to use our full name.

Me said...

[insert that new long name here] phew idhukku nan type ye adichirkalam... anyways... me calling u only aNTi Superman....;)

anantha said...

me: Comments will not be replied :p You can call me by my full/partial real name! We are not a anon blogger like you :p

rajesh said...

Since the burning question of your life has been reduced to how you are addressed in the world of blogs and comments,I suggest that you call yourself..
Anon-tha!

-Raapi

anantha said...

Raapi: No.. this is not only about here! In fact it mainly about not here!

passer by said...

aNTi is extinct.. TbFKaA is a typing exercise.. would address as aNTy therefore..

anantha said...

Shashi: Dei.. there is that other guy! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Fishy: We are now in a period of transition to our true given name. And we will scare no more children than Nemo or Dori, either of which could be your nick!

Me said...

to tell u the truth u had the best name aNTi Superman...which is quite close to ur name and which also means u r no superman....wat to do u r so bent in getting a not so cool name..;)

anantha said...

me: Truth (and accurate data) is sometimes bitter. So if my name is "uncool" so be it. But thats my given name. And one has to live with it. But nicknames are dispensible and hence this change :p

Me said...

ok TBFKAA....:)

D said...

if one were to go strictly by the capitalizations in your current choice, one could call you TNT

anantha said...

D: Ya.. I know. But regardless of the fact that it is the truth that I am da bomb, it would be too pompous, don't you think?

Me: Who is that?

Alpha said...

please da..come up with a name..i aint giving suggestions knowing very well that it wont be taken. all i can say is kids in this country with NOT call you uncle..they'll call you f** ol man!
whatever your name be..so not to worry.

anantha said...

Alpha: Thanks for your concern. We are looking to set up a commitee and looking into all options. And going with the logic of keeping our enemies (and abusers) closer, you are cordially invited to take up a leading role in this process.
And f** ol man huh? I actually experienced something like that yesterday on a tennis court with a group of kids almost bullying me and a neighbor into vacating the court. If there is such a thing as a "unwinnable argument", it is with a pre-teen intent on having his or her way!

Webmaster: That's an offer that I cannot refuse. But I am a recreational blogger (okie..stop the snickering!). Anyways will email you.

Alpha said...

aren't you glad you dont have word veri..see, you get to chat with spammers.

anantha said...

Alpha: I dont think that webmaster was a spammer :)

Anonymous said...

You coulda cut out the an and stuck with the "thee". Superstar's movie, and associations with volcanoes too, all in one.

anantha said...

?!: Believe it or not, my advisor used to pronounce it as "an-thee" as opposed to "an-tee"!

Sriram said...

"TBloFKAa" -- Err.. sounds like a crazy word verificaition thing :P.. but, i prefer aNTi and therefore, refuse to acknowledge the change ;)

Me said...

We are looking to set up a commitee and looking into all options. ....hey aNTi nan unda commitee la.....?

seri adhu enna we...?

anantha said...

Me: You namma set! So you are in the commitee. Alpha will chair it and I am thinking of inviting a couple of "nalam-virumbi" types. And that "we" is for all of you, my "anbal serndha padai", my army of well wishers. :D

Unknown said...

Me too me too please in the commitee

anantha said...

WA: You were one of the "nalam virumbi" types, invited part of the "keep thy enemies and abusers" closer logic ;) Only person left to be invited is CM amma. :D

capriciously_me said...

adi aathee....idhenna perula kozhappam...u always anti...btw, india-la ungala pathi naalu err moonu per "aunty" nalla irukaangala-nu visaarichaanga....rotfl!

anantha said...

CM: CM Amma enga aale kanum nu paathen! Who the visariching? All nalamvirumbis like you and Witchy? Or were they all part of my "anbal sendha padaiy"? Please elaborate!