Slice it whichever way

At Charlotte Douglas Airport, biting into a slice of forgettable sbarro pizza, I see a US Army soldier at the payment counter. A girl walks upto him just in time, offers to pay for his lunch. The man in uniform says 'Ok thanks, I appreciate it.'
End of story.

India: Out of Control

Inorganic Growth
There is a huge divide. Cultural. Economic. All the development is happening in A and B cities. Rest of the India remains poor and undeveloped. All the metro cities are already overloaded with capacity that their fragile infrastructure cannot handle. Why not just put a full stop and develop new cities. Would this not spread the development? Why choke these cities then?

Migration
A heterogeneous development also means mass migration. Such as from the  BIMARU states to cities like Mumbai and Delhi. What do you expect when a person who has been living in totally dark ages all of a sudden comes to live in the most advanced place (in the country). What kind of cultural shock is he supposed to get? Do you expect him/her to gel with the society?

Income Disparity
What is the minimum wage by law in India? I don't know. If there is any, I'm sure it's meager. A private security guard (usually seen everywhere, now-a-days) is paid arond Rs. 6k every month. In contrast, the lowest paying engineer will be paid Rs. 20k. The 20k+ population drives the cost of living up for everyone in the city. Rents go up. School Fee goes up. How would the 6k population ever afford it? There is no chance their quality of life would improve with such prevailing income disparity.

Lack of Recreation
How many cities of India have developed recreational avenues for its population. All we see are concrete jungles. For a healthy development of the society, it's important the people get opportunities to engage is constructive and recreational activities - such as cultural and sports. This would not only create employment but also allow people to do something other than twiddling their thumbs. There is a need to channel the latent energy which is present in every individual, in the right direction.

Job Guarantee
Why is the Govt Sector job synonymous with Job Security? Can anyone disagree that a very high percentage of Govt Officers flout the rules or just turn a blind eye to their violation. And this happens because there is no fear that they might lose their jobs.

Discretionary Privileges
Why should there be any discretionary privilege be given to any individual? Why can't every thing run by the rules. Equality before Law - wasn't that the Idea? It's the discretionary powers that breed corruption.

Slow motion Judiciary
Appoint more judges, all cases should be fast-tracked. Especially those related to Public Servants and Crime. It's not the punishment, it's a working justice system that acts as a deterrent.

Post of the President.
This post is a loss to the exchequer. Why the hell do we need a ceremonial head of state? Either turn to Presidential System or abolish it altogether. It's a huge waste of money.

Whips in the House
Why can't a representative cast a vote against the party line? If they have to follow the party line, we only need one representative from each party, not 543.

The Past and Future of Nokia

Symbian software in the quarter to end-June, more than the 4 million sales in Windows phones, even though it has launched only one Symbian handset in the last 12 months."
It's symbian which is paying Elop's salary. Now if that's not killing the golden goose then what is!

iPhone 5: First Impressions

The shortest review of the new iPhone 5.

• Oddly rectangular with patented rounded corners.
• Couldn't have been made wider. A wider body would risk a lighter grip. And if it falls, the screen too fragile to withstand any shock.
• What's next, iPhone 6 with 5" body but the same width! Would you want it? No! Could it not have been bigger now?
• Bluetooth not compatible with non-Apple devices. No NFC. No USB. 
• No removable memory. Pay extra for the connector adapter, which comes for $30. Pay premium for all things Apple.  Accessories for Apple products are already a vast and lucrative business. In the last year, iPad, iPod and iPhone add-ons, including speakers, cases and power chargers, generated $2 billion in sales in the United States alone, according to the NPD Group, a research firm. This year add another $1B which is coming from Samsung courtesy rounded corners.

50 Timeless Movies

50 Movies that I recommend you to watch.

http://www.imdb.com/list/mGE-BNfkvMo/

hell

fucking severe urticaria.

Videocon Sucks

I was looking for a new TV but didn't want to spend much. So I decided to go for a CRT TV.
Now we have all grown up watching them, haven't we? Other than the "bulk", never faced any issues.

Got Videocon (model# VCS21SBB) delivered from the NEXT retail shop. Turned it on only to find that it can't keep lines straight!

To rule out any optical illusions that I might be having, it used a Test Card. It confirmed, as you can see below, that none of the lines are straight.

Not only that, you can also spot unusual darkening around lower left and lower right areas.

As expected, called Videocon customer service (or rather lack of it). A technician paid a visit. Concluded that "this is NORMAL and cannot be fixed because there is nothing to fix".

So if you have grown up watching CRT TVs, do you too think that it's normal? I don't for I have never seen such distortion in a CRT TV. I mean they have had Test Cards just for the very purpose, since time immemorial.

Mr Dhoot. and Company refused to acknowledge that there was indeed a problem and did not return any of my calls for service.

At this point, totally frustrated by their attitude, I had almost decided to go to the Consumer Forum. But something happened and I took the TV to the the retailer. I showed them the "problem" - they acknowledged but also put forward a "confessional argument" that all CRT TVs these days are just like that. It's unfortunate that they were RIGHT. I also observed the alignment issues on other CRT TV sets.

But I didn't go there to give up, so I asked them to give them a replacement, because
1. I did not want a TV which can't keep the picture straight and
2. I did not want a Videocon anymore.

Had to haggle for an hour or so, but finally I left the TV at the shop, and told them that I would come back in a few days and take another TV, which in no case would be from Videocon.

Went back and got a new Philips LCD this time. No questions asked.

Because I was able to get a replacement from the dealer, I am not going to sue Videocon anymore, but the least I can do is to spread the word.

Moral of the Story:
Never buy Videocon, not only their products are genetically defective, there corporate culture is also rotten.

Einstein Puzzle

This puzzle is attributed to Albert Einstein and it is claimed that 98% of the people are incapable of solving it.

Let us assume that there are five houses of different colors next to each other on the same road. In each house lives a man of a different nationality. Every man has his favorite drink, his favorite brand of cigarettes, and keeps pets of a particular kind.

1. The Englishman lives in the red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The green house is just to the left of the white one.
5. The owner of the green house drinks coffee.
6. The Pall Mall smoker keeps birds.
7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhills.
8. The man in the center house drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The Blend smoker has a neighbor who keeps cats.
11. The man who smokes Blue Masters drinks beer.
12. The man who keeps horses lives next to the Dunhill smoker.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The Blend smoker has a neighbor who drinks water.

The question to be answered is: Who keeps fish?

Solution:

Clue#4 is NOT from the pov of someone standing outside the house. Houses DO have their own left and right directions, don't they!

House 1	House 2	House 3	House 4	House 5
Yellow	Blue	Red	White	Green
Water	Tea	Milk	Beer	Coffee
Cat	Horse	Bird	Dog	Fish
Dunhill	Blends	Pallmall	Bluemaster	Prince
Norwegian	Dane	Brit	Swede	German

BREAKING NEWS!

It's not asking for too much if you want to watch 'motion' picture on your TV.

But take a look at this TV snapshot:

Not to mention, there are 3 different (and completely unrelated) news items hogging the screen at the same time. And somehow there is always a Breaking News! But that is besides the point.

The video that you are being served is only this much:

Roughly half of the viewable area!

Indian News channels are on their way to fully replace newspapers! Do tune in for your viewing reading pleasure.

For comparison's sake, here is how it is presented on BBC.

Tree, Leaf and Wind

People call me Tree.

I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn’t have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other’s gossip would hurt her.

I felt that if she were my girl, she’d be mine ultimately & I didn’t have to give up everything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years.

She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, “Go on!” before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her. There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up. Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said,

“Leaf’s departure is because of Wind’s pursuit. Or because Tree didn’t ask her to stay”

People call me Leaf.

During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt – Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won’t he pursue me? Since he loves me why he didn’t he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn’t like me, why did he treat me so well? It’s beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can’t expect me a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.

At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursues me. Everyday he pursues me. He’s like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree. In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn’t ask me to stay.

Leaf’s departure is because of Wind’s pursuit. Or cause Tree didn’t ask her to stay.

People call me Wind.

Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she’s so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person look ing at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talks with girls, there’s jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there’s a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit. Just like, she likes to look at him.

One day, she didn’t appear. I felt something missing. I can’t explain the feeling except it’s a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepts the note. The next day, she appeared & passes me a note and left.

It read, “Leaf’s heart is too heavy and wind couldn’t blow her away.”

“It’s not that leaf heart is too heavy. It because leaf never want to leave tree.” I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can’t remember how many times I have declared my love to her. Although I know, she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.

Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn’t hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, “What are you doing? How come you didn’t want to reply?” She said, “I’m nodding my head”. “Ah?” I could n’t believe my ears. “I’m nodding my head” She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rush to her place & press her doorbell. During the moment when she opens the door, I hugged her tightly.

Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn’t ask her to stay…

by Anonymous. Found on the web.

Dec 3, 2010

Q: What do you call the day when you put the Bucket on Fire, Char the Immersion Rod, Short the Circuit of your Apt and fall on your back trying to reset the RCB?

A: Dec 3, 2010

The Candy-Bar Connection

Dairy Milk AD:



And here the same context is used to push Cell Phones:



Nice na... !

My Dream

A thought of tomorrow delights my heart,
A ray of hope brightens my path.
A day will come when I’ll stand away from crowd,
An identity of my own that will make me proud.
As the day breaks and I come out of somni,
With a new zeal I start to achieve the omni.
Way is tough and the journey is long,
No time to sojourn, but I just have to go on.
With every breath, with every step,
I get closer to my sky,
Breaking all the mete and spatting my fly.
With past and present,
Forgetting the sorrow,
I espy for future to unfurl the tomorrow.
Who says my dreams are too high,
I say they are there in my eye.

by akanksha

Mess-merising CWG.

1. QBR corruption was just 0.07% of the total budget.
=>C'mon India is used to bigger scams - whats the big deal. Get over it.
2. Collapsed bridge was only meant for common people
=> Common People don't matter. So don't care - it's doesn't affect National Pride.
3. What would change if we remove Kalmadi.
=> Nothing of course - you will replace him with an equally "capable" person as you always do. No change.
4. Acceptable Hygiene and Cleanliness Levels vary.
=>Yeah! they do... how about the World-Class standards that were promised. So I guess there are different World-Class standards too in different countries.. right!
(Lalit Bhanot might eat dogshit and also sleep in it.. the world doesn't).
5. (In parliament) Go file an RTI if you want to know how money was spent on CWG.
=>Unbelievable Arrogance shown by the Sports Minister - the same guy who pushed aside the coach for a Photo-Op!!!
6. It'll all come together in the end (like the Monsoon Wedding)!
=>Yeah..! Monsoon did bless Delhi... but we don't see any wedding. Guests are reluctant to attend this wedding.

And after 8 nations have threatened to pull out -
We don't see any spokesperson from Govt on Debates on news channel.
Delhi CM says "these are minor glitches and hitches. Be positive."

Epilogue:
There is nothing to save or salvage. It's over. There is no National Pride at stake anymore. India has either redefined the term "Third World" for the worse or confirmed First World's perception about it.

The Excuse that is CWG Delhi 2010

The CWG theme song is a Big let down. Like everything about the Commonwealth Games - the song is easily forgettable. Kalmadi and Co. really thought they could match Shakira, South Africa and FIFA !!! Gimme a break. Howsoever patriotic I might be, these games will show to the world - the real place where India stands in the world-order (which is somewhere around the bottom) ...

second thoughts on a death

On my way back home this evening... I found a dog who had just come under some vehicle (I'm inclined to think it was some IndiCab). It was lying dead - with all the blood and organs splattered around. And then I saw some other dogs who were barking at all oncoming vehicles. And then I realized why... unfortunately only on second thoughts.

Bollywood Blues

Loved this review of Bollywood.

"(Bollywood is largely estranged from the realities of modern-day India".

"Since the liberalisation of the Indian economy, Bollywood's divorce from contemporary realities has been complete. Pretty-looking films with prettier faces, lilting songs and noisy soundtracks shot on foreign locations are good "timepass" - as they say in India - for most audiences."

Further "the "diaspora film" is partly to blame for killing the industry's imagination. "The diaspora, wants to see an urban, affluent, glossy India, the India they imagine they grew up in and wish they could live in now."

There is more...

"And when Bollywood attempts to wrestle with contemporary issues - like the plight of Muslims after 9/11 - the results can be embarrassingly naïve and comical.
...
What could have been a gripping film becomes vapid and silly - the professor, for example, is shown teaching a class full of white, American students in an American university in Hindi."

"Bollywood is mythical, not historical. It works at the level of the myth. There is no engagement with history."

"(Bollywood is) essentially an industry of shopkeepers trying to sell their products at any cost".

Here is the full text.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/

swingin' in the rain

life is like a swing. one extreme to the other.

important update (21st Feb 2010): still swinging.

Trenditional

Trenditional: when trendy becomes the tradition.
I have discovered this word today (if not invented ...).

Experiences of a new motorcyclist in Pune.

or as if its different anywhere in India. I mean the traffic situation. People driving on the wrong side and pedestrian and bicyclists wobbling as if they own the road.
What's up with the cops who pull people over to check if they have valid licenses. We all know licenses have nothing do to with safe driving (in India).

Why don't they do something about

1. Excessive honking
2. Wrong-side Driving
3. Not wearing seat-belts
4. Taking on cell-phone while driving
5. Not following the lane discipline
6. Carrying 3-4 pillions on bike and no helmets
7. Seating kids the front seat of the car
8. Using the high beam all the time

Why don't they???