The Vayu Vajra/BIAS route info can now be found on the phone browser on http://zook.in or by sending an SMS query to 57575665. Queries could be "late night jayanagar bias" or "koramangala afternoon bus to bial", etc. The SMS interface is still being tweaked, but I hope its helpful in more people finding out more about the BIAS service, and taking them more often.
Children's Festival and learning
Shubha's helping out with the Festival starting tomorrow, and it got TOI coverage! Rainwater Club is surely doing a lot for awareness too.
Vir Sanghvi on Bottling Water
Vir Sanghvi writes in LiveMint about the idiocy of bottled water. Fortunately, Bangalore seems to be an exception inasmuch that most restaurants do have water filters and I've seen most people trust these and ask for "regular, not bottled".
The shipping part is very irksome - for water more so.
The shipping part is very irksome - for water more so.
Choosing kids' bikes
We have been looking around for an upgrade for Akshat's current bike. Came across this:
http://www.ibike.org/education/buying.htm
Sadly, there's very little knowhow amongst bike dealers around here.
Lovin' it ?
After a long time we mustered up the courage to venture out on a Saturday evening - albeit to the close-by Total Mall in Madivala. Following Akshat's keyboard performance at school, the kids had been promised a much awaited trip to the Golden Arches, and their excitement itself was reason enough to brave traffic, the rain and the crowds.
Surprisingly, it was a nice experience at McD's for a change. Not the food - there are better burgers all over town - and the Fish Fillet I tried was the suckiest fish I've had (tho I'm no connoiseur when it comes to any form of meat), but the overall experience was definitely good. For one, the kids totally loved it and there were no bored-kids-to-be-distracted fires to be put out :) Also, the staff is trained to be kid friendly, and I even sent Akshat to get stuff, and both of them seemed at ease. Of course, the "window" seat, the India-Bangladesh match on the TV right in front, and the gentle rain outside helped the mood overall.
I'd never imagined I'd be caught saying this - but I came close to kinda lovin it.
Surprisingly, it was a nice experience at McD's for a change. Not the food - there are better burgers all over town - and the Fish Fillet I tried was the suckiest fish I've had (tho I'm no connoiseur when it comes to any form of meat), but the overall experience was definitely good. For one, the kids totally loved it and there were no bored-kids-to-be-distracted fires to be put out :) Also, the staff is trained to be kid friendly, and I even sent Akshat to get stuff, and both of them seemed at ease. Of course, the "window" seat, the India-Bangladesh match on the TV right in front, and the gentle rain outside helped the mood overall.
I'd never imagined I'd be caught saying this - but I came close to kinda lovin it.
How expensive is that bike again ?
100kms Up!
Crossed the 3 digit mark on the way to work today on the bike! Haven't missed a single day of commute-on-the-bike since I started 6 days ago. Had a chain slip today - and it got caught between the front cog and the cover - and wouldn't budge. An auto guy smilingly obliged when I asked for a screwdriver, and that was fixed in a jiffy.
Yesterday was great too -
Cut pasting from an email thread:
Yesterday was great too -
Cut pasting from an email thread:
Yesterday got "mobbed" by 3 traffic cops at Sony World while I waited for traffic to pause :)
what is this - battery ? no, lights
geared ? yes, 24
Cost ? 15k [ ok i lied, tried to lessen shock, to no avail ]
15k ???? 1-5-0-0 ? No, 1-5-0-0-0
why? Sir you can easily go up Nandi Hills on this.
Alone ? No carrier/lover-geever along ? (smile) no sir, alone. Married, two kids, saar.
(Vigorous head-shake) ? Exercise, saar, and no pollution
Good good! (way clear) ok sir, have to go now....
:) I think I'll meet all the people I've never met on my commute
In fact the commute's been full of interesting episodes - for other people as well. Here's a link to a thread where people are posting their road experiences.
More Less-Fumes, in Chennai now
Techies on bicycles Quintegra chants green mantra - CIOL Feature
This is pretty cool - either I'm getting to know more and more of this, or its just spreading faster. (Especially in Chennai's humidity - its very commendable!) Hope its the latter, and at least in the urban context we take off at least a few thousand cars of the road over the next year or so.
Baby's Day Out
Took Akshat out on his bike on Haralur Road while I rode "guard" alongside to shield him from the traffic and vice-versa. We did the 2-km "round trip" twice - and this included a slope (both up and down), a road crossing, a u-turn and light to moderate traffic crossing us, with a few pedestrians thrown in for good measure. He totally loved it, and so did I (top speed 8 kmph, lowest about 4). Realized how tough riding on the bike he has is, and have decided to get him a better/larger one.
All our wheels
Added pics for all the wheels we have at home here. Overall, the bias towards less fuel consuming modes is evident, and hopefully, we'll be able to add more cycles and less cars on the roads.
First ride to work
Had Cramsters to carry for a fellow (motor)biker - so asked Nikhil to swing by in an auto and carry them for me. Handed them over near Springfields and left along with the auto.
The butt felt a little sore from last evening's ride - though surprisingly that was the only noticeable after-effect. In a few minutes that eased up - and the gears slotted relatively easily - though shifting the front gears will take me some more practice. Soon was climbing the only (gentle) ascent of my entire commute - from the ORR intersection towards Iblur Camp - at a fairly easy pace since I did not want to push myself too hard all of a sudden. From thereon it was gentle easy riding, took the first right after the lake and stayed as much as possible on the back-roads. Getting past the Sony World lights was a breeze, cause the pavement was suddenly legitimate territory, and drop-offs not a problem :D
As I got to office, Nikhil was just walking up the stairs - so I managed the same time as an auto, at least. And as the legs get more used to this, I should manage an average speed of more than the 18.3kmph that I did today.
Update:
The ride back was a bit more strenuous - my limbs were beginning to speak to me a bit, plus right from Sony World all the way home is a gentle upslope except a short patch or two. I was probably also a little tired after a long day at work. But the after effects wore off in 10 mins and a glass of water, so the optimism is alive!
Is my carbon-credit meter ticking on nicely or what :)
The butt felt a little sore from last evening's ride - though surprisingly that was the only noticeable after-effect. In a few minutes that eased up - and the gears slotted relatively easily - though shifting the front gears will take me some more practice. Soon was climbing the only (gentle) ascent of my entire commute - from the ORR intersection towards Iblur Camp - at a fairly easy pace since I did not want to push myself too hard all of a sudden. From thereon it was gentle easy riding, took the first right after the lake and stayed as much as possible on the back-roads. Getting past the Sony World lights was a breeze, cause the pavement was suddenly legitimate territory, and drop-offs not a problem :D
As I got to office, Nikhil was just walking up the stairs - so I managed the same time as an auto, at least. And as the legs get more used to this, I should manage an average speed of more than the 18.3kmph that I did today.
Update:
The ride back was a bit more strenuous - my limbs were beginning to speak to me a bit, plus right from Sony World all the way home is a gentle upslope except a short patch or two. I was probably also a little tired after a long day at work. But the after effects wore off in 10 mins and a glass of water, so the optimism is alive!
Is my carbon-credit meter ticking on nicely or what :)
Black, White, Wheels!
Got it! The Merida SUB 40-V in Black and White, with a touch of Red!
Rode 15+kms to home. Got the first flat within 5 kms - a sharp nail being the culprit.
Venkatesh was there to help right away - he and Prashant - another rider - fixed the flat in moments. Gotta learn this stuff. Prashant rode back upto BTM - did a lot of pavement riding too.
I will take a couple of days to "slot" into traffic. Gotta get a good helmet, too.
Feeling good - a little surprised how easy the first 15 felt. Am looking forward to both the commute and some serious riding. More pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/get.sameer/Merida
Edit: And I must mention this - what got me started on this journey was BOTS - and Rohan and Nikhil's infectious enthusiasm and help with the entire process.
Rode 15+kms to home. Got the first flat within 5 kms - a sharp nail being the culprit.
Venkatesh was there to help right away - he and Prashant - another rider - fixed the flat in moments. Gotta learn this stuff. Prashant rode back upto BTM - did a lot of pavement riding too.
I will take a couple of days to "slot" into traffic. Gotta get a good helmet, too.
Feeling good - a little surprised how easy the first 15 felt. Am looking forward to both the commute and some serious riding. More pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/get.sameer/Merida
Edit: And I must mention this - what got me started on this journey was BOTS - and Rohan and Nikhil's infectious enthusiasm and help with the entire process.
Born Again Biker ?
Have been deliberating for some time now - and with a heart of steel, have decided to go ahead and get the Merida Matts Sub 40-V 18" :)
Lets see where this goes. If it does go well, I'll save fuel, be healthier and would have done that little extra for the planet. Its also a slower-than-(motor)bikes mode of transport, so I should get to see more.
Next Question: where does one park these things. Home ? Office ?
Oh, and the extra vocabulary I picked up in all of this:
Hardtail : no suspension at the rear
Lockout : Switch to a "no-suspension" mode for serious climbs etc
apart from the usual dérailleurs, new frame fundaes, etc.
Cheap Plastic, eh?
Reusable Bags - The Real Cost of "Free"
Shouldn't everything packaged, especially in plastic, have a carbon-credits cost added to it ? Similarly, shouldn't stuff transported over a long distance have a larger carbon credit tax added as compared to stuff brought in locally ? Should not it be worth it to NOT chop down Amazon forests for crop grown for producing bio-fuels?
Oh I nearly forgot! We're the generation who merrily borrows from our future. We're the ones who're "tactical" - and have ensured "better lifestyles" at the cost of risking life itself as we know it. We're the civilization which competes amongst us for "growth" - whether we need that growth or not. The endless debates on the definitions of various needs is pointer enough. We're a bunch of short-sighted morons, nothing less.
Sorry - feeling a little grumpy, cynical and pessimistic about our planet and us. Actually I take that back. The planet will probably survive.
Shouldn't everything packaged, especially in plastic, have a carbon-credits cost added to it ? Similarly, shouldn't stuff transported over a long distance have a larger carbon credit tax added as compared to stuff brought in locally ? Should not it be worth it to NOT chop down Amazon forests for crop grown for producing bio-fuels?
Oh I nearly forgot! We're the generation who merrily borrows from our future. We're the ones who're "tactical" - and have ensured "better lifestyles" at the cost of risking life itself as we know it. We're the civilization which competes amongst us for "growth" - whether we need that growth or not. The endless debates on the definitions of various needs is pointer enough. We're a bunch of short-sighted morons, nothing less.
Sorry - feeling a little grumpy, cynical and pessimistic about our planet and us. Actually I take that back. The planet will probably survive.
Reva (H)2.O ?
Thats a Reva shell - if Maini has any connection with this - its good news for emissions in Bangalore, but perhaps not-so-good news for water ?
Bengaluru Railway Station Revisited
Had gone to SBC after a long time yesterday to see parents off. They were carrying 140kgs of luggage - moving cities after retirement - so we thought it best to book the extra luggage.
Here's a quick recap of/facts from the experience:
- The allowance on a IInd A/C fare is 50kgs per head for free, though you can carry upto 100kgs inside the compartment itself.
- The luggage booking office is on platform #1 - close to where the subway stairs are.
- You get trolleys and porters to ferry it for you - we parked near PF8 and paid about 400/- to PF1 and back.
- Wanted to book stuff in the break van, but they insisted we should've "come in advance" for that. We did not get to figure out what timeframe that implied.
- It was about 10/- per kg for excess luggage over 100kgs
- Since the idea was to avoid inconveniencing other passengers, we "requested" the attendant on the Rajdhani to manage some of the luggage in the space where they store blankets etc. 200/- :)
- There's now a passenger/freight elevator leading to the subway - and its made life very convenient. Carting the trolley to PF1 took barely 10 mins.
- The Rajdhani looks pretty funky now with Airtel having redone most of it. Here's a pic:
- The platform ticket through SMS still works - very cool
- Platforms are pretty clean, mostly
There's a temple on the platform at SBC!! Never noticed it in all these years. [ Courtesy M S Gopal ]
ICICI makes a statement
| 1 | 06/06/2008 | GREENODH THIGH | DR | INR zzzzzz.00 |
This if from an ICICI Bank statement for the fee cheque paid to the kids' school - Greenwood High :)I dunno if someone speaks the details out to someone else, or whether its OCR based, or speech to text, but it surely does not work!
Convenience/Effort
deep_thought: Chota sa break
I have similar feelings about the anytime-you-need-just-ask bakery at the new Total near home. I mean there's some niceness about putting in effort/thought/planning into gifts, flowers etc. Or are we so focused, as a people, on getting it absolutely right and making it worth it that we've started ignoring the reasons and thoughts behind some of these actions ?
Nursery A
Alankrita started school yesterday - and went all by herself by bus. The first hour was anxious, expectedly, especially for her. But then (reportedly) she settled down well and "played in the sandpit" and danced to rhymes and painted, and had "cherry bread" and a banana (?)
She did seem rather proud of boarding the much awaited yellow bus this morning, so I guess one can believe most of the above :)
[ This also means rushed mornings, and a little more free time post 7:40am ]
She did seem rather proud of boarding the much awaited yellow bus this morning, so I guess one can believe most of the above :)
[ This also means rushed mornings, and a little more free time post 7:40am ]
Relive Adrian Sutil's Worst moments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSK4kb8He_8
Gotta be one of his worst moments, while its merely a racing incident in the life of motorsport, and Ferrari.
BIAL Tips
AIRLIFT ONLINE : Anywhere in bangalore
Sounds like a good service! At 300/- a trip, with WiFi, A/C etc, its very cool.
Sounds like a good service! At 300/- a trip, with WiFi, A/C etc, its very cool.
BIAL impact stage one
Chennai to Bangalore: For once, trains are faster-Chennai-Cities-The Times of India
This was bound to happen - and is very logical. Actually, even with HAL, it often made a lot of sense to drive, if one was ok driving highways. Cheaper, quicker, and if you do like such things, more fun!
This was bound to happen - and is very logical. Actually, even with HAL, it often made a lot of sense to drive, if one was ok driving highways. Cheaper, quicker, and if you do like such things, more fun!
Kanua Again
Friends from Hyd were here - took them and a bottle of Grover's to Kanua. Peeked into Quetzel for a few minutes before that - its always a delight to see the store with its smart designs and bright colours.
Kanua, as always, was a delight to just enter and sit down in. In fact, with the great weather and gentle breeze, even more so. Soft lighting, soft music and a relax-all-you-can ambience helps the mood. Had Soorna Kachdi, Podhis, and some great food after that. They requested we keep the bottle with them - regulations, I guess - and served wine in regular glasses. But very very nice evening with good company and free flowing, candid conversation.
There are some places, people and times of life that make you feel very positive. T'was one of those.
Edit: Their contact/numbers here. No kids allowed for Fri/Sat/Sun dinners these days :(
Kanua, as always, was a delight to just enter and sit down in. In fact, with the great weather and gentle breeze, even more so. Soft lighting, soft music and a relax-all-you-can ambience helps the mood. Had Soorna Kachdi, Podhis, and some great food after that. They requested we keep the bottle with them - regulations, I guess - and served wine in regular glasses. But very very nice evening with good company and free flowing, candid conversation.
There are some places, people and times of life that make you feel very positive. T'was one of those.
Edit: Their contact/numbers here. No kids allowed for Fri/Sat/Sun dinners these days :(
Small big step towards plastic degradation?
TheRecord.com - CanadaWorld - WCI student isolates microbe that lunches on plastic bags
Sounds simplistic, but I'm sure a lot of "wow" stuff gets overlooked for similar reasons. While there is some cynicism, am staying positive on this till there is definitive negative news. If true, this guy should get the biggest VC funding to start his company around this idea - this will do us all a huge favour - way more important than anything else we've "invented" in the last couple of decades.
Bravo Adrian Sutil
Sutil devastated at losing fourth. - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
It was the saddest moment of my F1 viewing life - Kimi Raikkonen taking out Adrian Sutil's Force India car that he'd driven so amazingly to get upto fourth from 19th! And with merely 3-4 laps to go!!
Somehow - both Ferraris had seemed twitchy for a lot many laps before the incident itself. And after the pitstop where Sutil took over 4th place from him, Kimi was looking rather desperate and edgy, only to lose grip horribly in whats ultimately a racing incident, but way more than that for Adrain Sutil and FI.
Drive of the day, Sutil! And I hope the opportunity is created again for a fantastic race like you drove yesterday.
Somehow - both Ferraris had seemed twitchy for a lot many laps before the incident itself. And after the pitstop where Sutil took over 4th place from him, Kimi was looking rather desperate and edgy, only to lose grip horribly in whats ultimately a racing incident, but way more than that for Adrain Sutil and FI.
Drive of the day, Sutil! And I hope the opportunity is created again for a fantastic race like you drove yesterday.
In this book
Comes v late, but this is the book the Ladakh trip got published in. Check out the last part of the ToC.
Coalition groanment [edit:maybe not!]
Coalition government likely again in Karnataka
Oh no. Hope there's a swing in someone's favour - don't care who as long as its not the Gowda gang. Unlikely tho - given that he could provide the "support from outside" to either party and have his say in everything. Yet another series of frozen-in-time, inactive, governance-less governments ?
Did my vote even matter ?
Update: Looks like the BJP is headed for a 112+ seats, based on leads. Phew. Yediurappa is certainly not my first choice as CM, given his flair for melodrama and his demonstrated small-thinking ways. But most importantly, no coalition, and then there are a few sane leaders in whats a rather centrally controlled party and hopefully Yediurappa will have decent orders from upstairs guiding policy etc.
The BJP has sobered down a lot, but for Monster Modi, and I'm staying positive on this for now. Biggest takeaway is that Mr. Gowda will have not too much of a say. Not that earlier single party govts have always been forward thinking and development focused, but this is nearly the last chance we have to move forward.
Phew!
Update 2: Looks like the BJP will fall short of 112 by 4-6 seats. Oh well, they should still manage to "woo" (read, cash, Ministers posts and other benefits) a few independednt - but am sure wily old HDDG will be trying his damndest right now to manufacture some way of having a say. Hope I'm wrong and he's merely considering retirement from politics. That'll be really good for the state.
Did my vote even matter ?
Update: Looks like the BJP is headed for a 112+ seats, based on leads. Phew. Yediurappa is certainly not my first choice as CM, given his flair for melodrama and his demonstrated small-thinking ways. But most importantly, no coalition, and then there are a few sane leaders in whats a rather centrally controlled party and hopefully Yediurappa will have decent orders from upstairs guiding policy etc.
The BJP has sobered down a lot, but for Monster Modi, and I'm staying positive on this for now. Biggest takeaway is that Mr. Gowda will have not too much of a say. Not that earlier single party govts have always been forward thinking and development focused, but this is nearly the last chance we have to move forward.
Phew!
Update 2: Looks like the BJP will fall short of 112 by 4-6 seats. Oh well, they should still manage to "woo" (read, cash, Ministers posts and other benefits) a few independednt - but am sure wily old HDDG will be trying his damndest right now to manufacture some way of having a say. Hope I'm wrong and he's merely considering retirement from politics. That'll be really good for the state.
BIAL online
New Bangalore airport handles 341 flights Day 1
Phew, finally. Love it or hate it, Bangalore has a new airport now.
The poor connectivity between the
gridlocked city and the new airport did not impact much the vehicular
movement due to less traffic on the weekend. The magnitude of the
connectivity problem will be known on working days from Monday, as the
arterial road to the airport is used by vehicles hitting the National
Highway No.7 towards Hyderabad.
I have a feeling that people will get used to the above too, like most other things. Taxi guys from Mysore are recommending people leave about 10 hours before the departure time!
Phew, finally. Love it or hate it, Bangalore has a new airport now.
The poor connectivity between the
gridlocked city and the new airport did not impact much the vehicular
movement due to less traffic on the weekend. The magnitude of the
connectivity problem will be known on working days from Monday, as the
arterial road to the airport is used by vehicles hitting the National
Highway No.7 towards Hyderabad.
I have a feeling that people will get used to the above too, like most other things. Taxi guys from Mysore are recommending people leave about 10 hours before the departure time!
Crash Boom Bang
Wanted to go to Wayanad/Coorg for a weekend. Left around 8:40, got the helmet beading fixed and refuelled right after Bidadi.
Wrist still hurts, so here's copying from a mail i'd sent out earlier to folks:
ran into an innova. nobody/nothing serious but everything/me hurt.
innova at a u turn with indicators a km after wonderla, me switches to left lane.
innova swings to the left as i get close (later realized he was swinging to accomodate his huge turning radius) and i move to the right.
he moves to right too.... braaaaaaaaakkkkkkkeeeee.
Boom (probably at 40-50ish) and the Pulsar's tyres and fork took a lot of it, and the Innova took the rest. Me flew onto the rear windscreen or thereabouts (tough to be precise abt these moments, really) and helmet took the windscreen out, and the sheet metal made glorius contact with my pelvic region, thighs.
Me on the road - ppl around - get up - things moving! Specs ok, jeans dont even have a scratch, hands, fine.
Someone points to the chin/neck - thick drops of blood, and pieces ox ex-indicator from the Innova around two smi-deep wounds. Wash, wash, wash, drink water, Innova guys help me catch my breath.
Some says hospital/stictch and all that. I just sit.
Innova guys were on their way to Kerala too and had decided to take a u-turn for breakfast.
Both said sorry to each other - and i guess both of us had indeed screwed up.
Called wife (who was on her way to Vadakara for a rendezvous) and asked her to return to Tvm.
My right wrist hurt a little and palm felt sore. So pleaded with Venkat to send help to pick bike.
Finshed some juice i had, felt ok, ate chikki, washed some more blood. Meanwhile Innova guys said bye after confirming with me if i'd be alright.
AutoSvc guys, one rode the bike, i went pillion on the other. Interceptor charged the guy 300/- for 74kmph
Went to AS and to the hospital closeby - got an ATS in the rearside, wounds cleaned and dressed and hazaar antibiotics etc. That *really* scared me.
Anyhow - took an auto back home. Visions of a great weekend mauled and oh-man-what-do-i-do-for-3-days
Wrist still hurts, so here's copying from a mail i'd sent out earlier to folks:
ran into an innova. nobody/nothing serious but everything/me hurt.
innova at a u turn with indicators a km after wonderla, me switches to left lane.
innova swings to the left as i get close (later realized he was swinging to accomodate his huge turning radius) and i move to the right.
he moves to right too.... braaaaaaaaakkkkkkkeeeee.
Boom (probably at 40-50ish) and the Pulsar's tyres and fork took a lot of it, and the Innova took the rest. Me flew onto the rear windscreen or thereabouts (tough to be precise abt these moments, really) and helmet took the windscreen out, and the sheet metal made glorius contact with my pelvic region, thighs.
Me on the road - ppl around - get up - things moving! Specs ok, jeans dont even have a scratch, hands, fine.
Someone points to the chin/neck - thick drops of blood, and pieces ox ex-indicator from the Innova around two smi-deep wounds. Wash, wash, wash, drink water, Innova guys help me catch my breath.
Some says hospital/stictch and all that. I just sit.
Innova guys were on their way to Kerala too and had decided to take a u-turn for breakfast.
Both said sorry to each other - and i guess both of us had indeed screwed up.
Called wife (who was on her way to Vadakara for a rendezvous) and asked her to return to Tvm.
My right wrist hurt a little and palm felt sore. So pleaded with Venkat to send help to pick bike.
Finshed some juice i had, felt ok, ate chikki, washed some more blood. Meanwhile Innova guys said bye after confirming with me if i'd be alright.
AutoSvc guys, one rode the bike, i went pillion on the other. Interceptor charged the guy 300/- for 74kmph
Went to AS and to the hospital closeby - got an ATS in the rearside, wounds cleaned and dressed and hazaar antibiotics etc. That *really* scared me.
Anyhow - took an auto back home. Visions of a great weekend mauled and oh-man-what-do-i-do-for-3-days
Oh well
Now that I look back at it - the hit was probably at 20-25, and I must have braked hard enough by then. The bike was actually ridden back to Banashankari, None of my clothes, jacket etc had even a major scratch - and even after one night I'm not hurting too badly. The wrist is still sore but given how the crash happened, got away cheap.
First "proper" crash in my riding life - there've been a couple of the usual city - scrapes and slides but nothing really. Partly a funny and late overtaking manouvre, partly my error of judgement, partly mushy front brakes.
But for all you riders out there, invest in good quality safety gear - it really really helps. Not just a helmet, but a good jacket, riding pants and possibly even boots. I do not have the last two and that will soon be corrected. The jacket and helmet surely saved me majorly. I could not believe I had such (relatively) little injury when I saw the Innova later - possibly also its crumple zone or whatever ?
Anyhow - my long solo ride's still pending...
Trash Check
Six Million Pounds of Trash On Beaches » Celsias
The amount of plastic/packaging one sees being used in our cities too is scary. We seem to be consuming more and more prepackaged. Imagine a small darshini buying a fews tens of litres of milk in plastic packets - there has to be an alternative.
BIAL Go-live on 23rd May
Bengaluru International Airport - Team-BHP
The info available on the above page should be useful to many, especially those filled with uncertainty and misgivings. (So far, I belong to this brigade though the sudden flurry of activity - new buses, shared shuttles, magic boxes, etc, give one hope than in a year the drive there should be easier)
Edit:
The maps etc seem to be on the BIAL page as pdfs.
Edit:
The maps etc seem to be on the BIAL page as pdfs.
Wayanad
Did a quick dash to Wayanad and back over the weekend - a rather rough-it-out stay in the Banasurasagar Hills - a tiny house under construction with a mat+sleeping bag for acco, instant noodles ("Magic") for dinner and some tough-by-our-sedentary-lifestyle-standards mini-trek up the hill in the evening and early morning to see the place. Also went to the Banasurasagar Dam after a driver through some very pretty roads.
Travel Bug
Why do I travel ?
Discover.Taste.Learn.Feel.
Relax.Do Nothing.De-stress.
Excitement.Fear.
Appreciate.Share.Make Friends.Accept
Escape.High.Romanticize.
Beleive.Feel-good.Claim.Self Image
Ride.Walk.Push Hard.
Write?
Earn?
Why do I think ?
Addendum:
http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/06/18/specials/theroux-travel.html talks about why a travel book should be written ? Yeah, sometimes you do get bits and pieces of anthropology and politics as you travel, but similarly, there's history, food, traditions and most importantly, the sense of connections with something else you've seen somewhere else, the similarity, or contrast, that make it an adventure. At the end of the journey, there're a hundred new questions, and the start of another journey in them.
I guess each of those that Theroux castigates is one or piece of the complete story, and from the camera toting tourist to the 6 month-trip backpacker they all take some of it, a little at a time.
Uttarakhand Trip: Part I (Blore-Corbett)
Took a long vacation from Apr 15th-Apr 30th - Akshat had vacations, there was a wedding to attend in Meerut and it'd been a loong time since a proper long break.
Brief Triplog:15th - 17th : The Sampark Kranti from Yeswantpur-Delhi via Pune takes forever.
Of course, we had all six berths to ourselves for nearly half the journey, and the kids totally loved it. Train trips are still a perfect way to start a long vacation - destress, catch up on a book, talk a lot, have numerous cups of chai, see the countryside...
At Delhi our cab guy - Kulvinder Singh - met us as planned, and we had a decent looking Indica for our trip. Amazingly, all the luggage fitted into the boot despite my fears to the contrary.Apr 17th-18th: Meerut
Apr 19th: Meerut - Ramnagar - Kaladhungi
Left Meerut early morning towards Mawana. Nice and cool - Kulvinder insisted the Moradabad route would have way more traffic, and someone had assured him of an equally short, quicker route via Bijnor. We hit a few back roads from Bijnor - towards Kashipur. Most roads were decent, if narrow. We made quick progress. Shubha was enthralled by the wheat being harvested/threshed all along. Vast, flat plains of wheat, sugar looked pretty indeed.
There's a US Nagar, UK!! Thats Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand :) A little into this district, we stopped for breakfast - our first Aloo Paranthas for the trip, with fresh curd and tea.
A little later the surroundings got less flat, though not quite hilly. There were also sporadic traces of woods as we got a little beyond Kashipur - and lots of things started getting called Corbett this or that. Soon a sign welcomed us to "Corbett City" and we were in Ramnagar.
Staying inside the Corbett National Park (the Dhikala FRH being the best place for this) needed arrangements to made by faxing a request etc at least a month and a half in advance, we had picked the KMVN place at Kaladhungi, about 30kms from Ramnagar, for our stay. The resorts outside the park, mostly along the road to Dhangarghi Gate are quite nice (most sell the banks of the Kosi as their USP) but quite expensive, especially in the context of a long drawn vacation across the region. Kaladhungi also offered other charms - being the winter home for Corbett. His house there has been converted into a museum dedicated to him. The village he bought there (and later gifted to the locals, who revere and adore the man even today) was named "Chhoti Haldwani".
We had been advised - over the phone - to come in a day earlier and ensure our permits/reservations for a Gypsy or bus safari inside the NP. The Visitor Centre was a very confusing place, but we soon realized that we'd have to turn up before 6am, when they open, and stand in queue to get ourselves into the "Canter" Safari list or to get a permit so we could hire a Gypsy.
Ok, here's the dope on the permit/safari deals for future time-constrained visitors:
There's a US Nagar, UK!! Thats Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand :) A little into this district, we stopped for breakfast - our first Aloo Paranthas for the trip, with fresh curd and tea.
A little later the surroundings got less flat, though not quite hilly. There were also sporadic traces of woods as we got a little beyond Kashipur - and lots of things started getting called Corbett this or that. Soon a sign welcomed us to "Corbett City" and we were in Ramnagar.
Staying inside the Corbett National Park (the Dhikala FRH being the best place for this) needed arrangements to made by faxing a request etc at least a month and a half in advance, we had picked the KMVN place at Kaladhungi, about 30kms from Ramnagar, for our stay. The resorts outside the park, mostly along the road to Dhangarghi Gate are quite nice (most sell the banks of the Kosi as their USP) but quite expensive, especially in the context of a long drawn vacation across the region. Kaladhungi also offered other charms - being the winter home for Corbett. His house there has been converted into a museum dedicated to him. The village he bought there (and later gifted to the locals, who revere and adore the man even today) was named "Chhoti Haldwani".
We had been advised - over the phone - to come in a day earlier and ensure our permits/reservations for a Gypsy or bus safari inside the NP. The Visitor Centre was a very confusing place, but we soon realized that we'd have to turn up before 6am, when they open, and stand in queue to get ourselves into the "Canter" Safari list or to get a permit so we could hire a Gypsy.
Ok, here's the dope on the permit/safari deals for future time-constrained visitors:
- They allow some 30 vehicles on every trip - twice a day. The enrty timings for these are 6:30am and 2:30pm or so. The vehicles are allowed in the Bijrani range and "lesser" places. To travel around Dhikala in a private/hired vehcile, you need to be staying inside. The permits are cheap - though scarce - and the Gypsys cost about a 1000/- or thereabouts for a 3 hour trip.
- The Park organizes "Canter" rides - these are open bus-like vehicles with stepped seating and good views all around. The vehicles-on-hire guys tell you that these are noisy diesels and scare all the animals away. The Park and KMVN guys tell you that these are your best bet since if you're staying outside the park, this is the only way to get deep into the park - near Dhikala, where the reservoir and hence most animals are (esp in the drier seasons). The ride lasts a little under 6 hours, and I'd agree with the latter view after our experience. Of course, sightings are all a matter of chance - and just the experience of the deep woods and driving through the place itself are a treat.
Best time to visit Corbett is supposed to be mid Feb-mid March. Here's a link for reservations. The recommended way is to fax a request, receive a confirmation and send them a DD etc. About 2 months in advance, ideally.
So off we went to Kaladhungi, had a huge room with 2 double beds to ourselves for a mere 400/- and walked around town. Owing to some local elections, the Muesum was closed though we walked around its gardens and caught up with a little of Jim Corbett's amazingly diverse, rich life. The man did a lot in his life - from serving in the war, to being a Railway guy. But he was at his core a man who loved and loved the forests of Kumaon, spoke the language of the people, understood that of the animals, and took it upon himself to protect these.
Earlier in the afternoon we had visited the Corbett Falls about 5 kilometres from Kaladhungi. Nice pretty place with the falls
With no real restaurants around, we walked up the few metres to the end of Kaladhungi looking for tea, and an Aunty's Chai Stall near the culvert at the end of the village on the road towards Nainital became our defacto place.
We took the Canter, eventually, and had a lovely few hours inside the park.
Some Pix:
So off we went to Kaladhungi, had a huge room with 2 double beds to ourselves for a mere 400/- and walked around town. Owing to some local elections, the Muesum was closed though we walked around its gardens and caught up with a little of Jim Corbett's amazingly diverse, rich life. The man did a lot in his life - from serving in the war, to being a Railway guy. But he was at his core a man who loved and loved the forests of Kumaon, spoke the language of the people, understood that of the animals, and took it upon himself to protect these.
Earlier in the afternoon we had visited the Corbett Falls about 5 kilometres from Kaladhungi. Nice pretty place with the falls
With no real restaurants around, we walked up the few metres to the end of Kaladhungi looking for tea, and an Aunty's Chai Stall near the culvert at the end of the village on the road towards Nainital became our defacto place.
We took the Canter, eventually, and had a lovely few hours inside the park.
Some Pix:
All time favourite ad
I just revisited this courtesy God knows what link trail - it was fantastic the first time I saw it, and the music and the visuals are still as perfectly in sync for the same effect. Brilliant.
Another great one.
Over time, the truck has also gotten that much more capable, and is probably now way more deserving of the ad :)
Vote!
Useful resource: bangalorevoterid.org
Have figured out that we're in Mahadevapura
| 1 | 174 | Mahadevpura | 160 | 2802 | C 208 | Sameer Shisodiya | R S Shisodiya | 34 |
from here
The name's been misspelt a wee bit (reverse translation from the Kannada version, I guess), and I hope that does not throw the spanner in my first-sincere-attempt-at-voting-works.
Here's the list of candidates I need to pick from:
http://search.eci.gov.in/ae_2008e/pollupd/ac/states/s10/aconst174.htm
On what grounds ? Am not sure. What I do know is my vote's not going to a certain Impediment-to-Bangalore's-progress that we often read about.
Come to think of it, we're really outside the whole governance loop. Sad, true.
Riding Risks and Safety
CHP - Motorcycle Safety - Informational Video
The video is a grim reminder to not start to feel invincible - and that happens a lot to riders - especially in the early days. Similarly for drivers and passenger of cars who do not lay enough stress on buckling up - you're as vulnerable as a guy on a bike without the seat belt.
The real costs of globalised, cheap, 24/7
Environmental Cost of Shipping Groceries Around the World - New York Times
I used to love waiting for red juicy carrots in the winter. Our kids pretty much have no clue that carrots and the winter have a correlation.
Have always held thats it merely absurd economics and artificial calculation of costs that make it worthwhile to ship stuff like everyday food needs, toys etc across continents. This kind of stuff should be sourced as locally as possible. Specialized produce, say, Chinese Silk, or high-grade electronics, etc, is worth shipping around and the fact should get reflected in its costs, which include huge costs in terms of environmental damage caused by a lot of not-really-necessary shipping. Its the mad urge for "growth" not really needed by the market, but only be the sellers and their shareholders, that perpetuates this. Of course, the consumers now been "trained" to expect anything, anytime, and cheap.
Its also nice to go someplace and discover its food and produce. Not have it available in your neighbourhood mall, all year round, for a pittance.
Also, often, since the export market is more lucrative, the local market may be deprived of certain products.
How blind have we been ? And continue to be. I hope this move catches on.
And the carrots are merely orange, and not quite the same.
Have always held thats it merely absurd economics and artificial calculation of costs that make it worthwhile to ship stuff like everyday food needs, toys etc across continents. This kind of stuff should be sourced as locally as possible. Specialized produce, say, Chinese Silk, or high-grade electronics, etc, is worth shipping around and the fact should get reflected in its costs, which include huge costs in terms of environmental damage caused by a lot of not-really-necessary shipping. Its the mad urge for "growth" not really needed by the market, but only be the sellers and their shareholders, that perpetuates this. Of course, the consumers now been "trained" to expect anything, anytime, and cheap.
Its also nice to go someplace and discover its food and produce. Not have it available in your neighbourhood mall, all year round, for a pittance.
Also, often, since the export market is more lucrative, the local market may be deprived of certain products.
How blind have we been ? And continue to be. I hope this move catches on.
And the carrots are merely orange, and not quite the same.
Positive Swadeshi
Sena plans vadapav stalls to counter Mac
I'm probably the least likely Sena supporter ever, yet the above must be commended. Of course, its still possible that its a gimmick, and merely to make a point, rather than a real marketing strategy, but this is surely a more preferable approach to popularizing ethnic foods, languages, etc, in comparison to the decidedly Neanderthal approach of, say, smashing McD's glass frontage.
A brief glimmer of hop for positive politics (especially coming from its most unlikely quarters!) ?
A brief glimmer of hop for positive politics (especially coming from its most unlikely quarters!) ?
Entrepreneurship along a different dimension ?
open free world: Roy's Experiments with Life
Its anyhow about exploring, creating value, starting something new, daring to think different, bring value to an existing space and work hard, for immense amounts of satisfaction. No 10x scale, yes, but not everything needs to - ?
Its anyhow about exploring, creating value, starting something new, daring to think different, bring value to an existing space and work hard, for immense amounts of satisfaction. No 10x scale, yes, but not everything needs to - ?
Food Honour!?????
Bush’s Food Remark Irks India
Whats the big furore about ? Bush might be wrong, or partially right, but all he's said is that we're getting more prosperous, which is good, and when people get more prosperous they eat better and (especially if they were eating less than normal), more. If "people" is a sizeable number, which we are, its bound to affect demand supply!
I would have never imagined a day I'd be "defending" Gerorge W, but the affront that India collectively took was mystifying. Did nobody read beyond the screeching, shrill headlines ?
Its not my call to say whether this was the only factor contributing to the food crises and prices going northwards. But if I were in a generally speculative mood, it would surely be one possible factor, and I'd actually be quite happy and take pride in the reason, while worrying about the impact. Shouldn't we be happy that at least a decent percentage of the population is eating better?
Weird.
Franchise!
Yeah, finally got successfully registered as a Bangalore voter! Now to figure out what else one needs to go vote...and of course, who for :)
Lead to believe its progress ?
Damn Interesting » The Ethyl-Poisoned Earth
Very very scary read. Is it the age of smugness, or ignorance, or paranoia ?
TOI again ? A little tired of the Hindu's agenda.
The Hindu : Opinion / Readers' Editor : Online : Balance: Readers’ perceptions, and the practice
The Readers' Editor has indeed done a little soul searching on the Hindu's behalf, but to little effect, I think.
This gives a comprehensive ringside view of the debate about the Hindu's leanings, which I had not known or anticipated at all when we switched to the daily, but perceived very quickly.
The Readers' Editor has indeed done a little soul searching on the Hindu's behalf, but to little effect, I think.
This gives a comprehensive ringside view of the debate about the Hindu's leanings, which I had not known or anticipated at all when we switched to the daily, but perceived very quickly.
Yet another dream
sudipto.dg - Bicycle tours in Eastern Himachal Pradesh
Start cycling again and do this trip (that we did on the Pulsar earlier) slooowly. Need to get started, first. I'm sure I'll collapse after a couple of kilometres in my current state :)
Road Rage Stats
Synovate In:fact July 2005 - Is the leisurely drive on the road to extinction?
How do various people define "rude" and "aggression" probably has a role to play too.
BIAL is probably better than this tho...
Heathrow Horror Show | Autopia from Wired.com
This is not very surprising :) I've heard worse tales of Paris, and its all good fun. Except for the passengers. That reminds me - got a flight to catch early am, should go to sleep....thankfully its only from HAL so I do not have to start in an hour.
There we go again
Tamil film screenings disrupted in Bangalore
Step 1. Find a random, preferably soft target to represent whatever it is that you disagree with
Steo 2. Smash, stone, hit, kill, main, burn.
What a wonderful way to voice one's protest, and to gain the moral upper hand. The word "Vedike", in the Bangalore context, is rapidly deteriorating into meaning "thugs". Unfortunately it will get coverage in the print and electronic media, and without being the voice of the real Bangalorean (which is a far more sober, friendly and sane voice), will end adding some smear on our city's face.
A lot of good men continue to stay silent, and the noisy, shrill fringe gets a bolder voice. Once again.
Steo 2. Smash, stone, hit, kill, main, burn.
What a wonderful way to voice one's protest, and to gain the moral upper hand. The word "Vedike", in the Bangalore context, is rapidly deteriorating into meaning "thugs". Unfortunately it will get coverage in the print and electronic media, and without being the voice of the real Bangalorean (which is a far more sober, friendly and sane voice), will end adding some smear on our city's face.
A lot of good men continue to stay silent, and the noisy, shrill fringe gets a bolder voice. Once again.
Cycling ?
One Way to Encourage Urban Cycling: Traffic Protected Bike Lanes | Autopia from Wired.com
Given enough bike lanes - Bangalore would be perfect to bike in. Short distances, good weather, no major slopes. Safety, as the article and subsequent comments demonstrate, is a function of a multitude of factors. And any mode of transport can be less or more safe than any other, given the right circumstances. Idiot bikers, idiot drivers, idiot pedestrians, we're all part of the problem awaiting a solution :)
Tension in Tibet
The Dalai Lama finally did speak for peace, and has threatened to resign if the violence continues. Of course, actions would have spoken louder, and this episode has made me see the strength of Gandhi's conviction in his idea.
China continues to say the Dalai Lama wants a free Tibet (and I'd say he should) despite his repeated protestation that he's looking merely for greater autonomy and freedom within China, and that the Tibetans should befriend the Chinese. The Chinese line is beginning to sound like a not-really-disguised excuse.
The Indian position continues to disappoint - though the GoI has asked China to talk, but the Chinese have expressed satisfaction at the Indian stance. This is also a great opportunity to hold a few cards against someone who plays hard all the time - we WILL have to negotiate on Arunachal too, sooner or later.
China continues to say the Dalai Lama wants a free Tibet (and I'd say he should) despite his repeated protestation that he's looking merely for greater autonomy and freedom within China, and that the Tibetans should befriend the Chinese. The Chinese line is beginning to sound like a not-really-disguised excuse.
The Indian position continues to disappoint - though the GoI has asked China to talk, but the Chinese have expressed satisfaction at the Indian stance. This is also a great opportunity to hold a few cards against someone who plays hard all the time - we WILL have to negotiate on Arunachal too, sooner or later.
Tibet Trouble
This is sad indeed, on many levels.
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Dalai Lama's Tibet bloodshed fear
On my Ladakh trip, I've come to admire Buddhism even more for its base thought-process. Also have always had a huge soft corner for Tibetans - they've had it really bad, and merely because of China's might, there isn't too much support for their cause.
(Ok there go my chances of ever being able to bike in China. Oh well!)
I'm also a little disappointed with the GoIndia for not speaking up for the Tibetans a little more. They're toeing the China line a little too much. Pragmatism and poilitical expediency is ok, but on the other hand they don't have to keep reiterating that they believe China rightfully owns Tibet.
I can empathise with the Dalai Lama's stance - though I wish he played the role of the Spiritual Leader a bit more and made the Chinese cringe. He's had the opportunity to play today's Gandhi - and that includes not giving in - but I do think he's squandered it a little bit.
The deepest anguish is with the Tibetan people. When Indians resort to violence it feels sad - when Tibetans (or any other Buddhists) do, one feels a little hopeless - if those who've grown up in the tradition of the middle path shed it and cannot force matters without hurling stones and bombs, there's very little hope for peace in the rest of the world.
I certainly cannot understand the Chinese point of view. Its a culturally different region. Its tough to maintain and administer, and can only be a drain on resources. It did have its usefulness as a buffer between China and India, and controlling it made sense from a military strategists viewpoint, but is that a valid concern or need in this day and age ? On the global stage, its only a blot on China's image - but for a few issues like these everyone's pretty impressed with them and wants to do business.
The only rational explanation one can forward is that the Chinese establishment still harbours thoughts of military expansion - and thats very scary for the rest of us, and regressive for them.
The whole thing's gone downhill in every aspect. I hope the Dalai Lama - like Gandhi always did - feels ashamed of his followers and apologises to the Chinese on their behalf. This might shame them towards a more peace-led yet resolute approach, and in turn put greater pressure (with less of a moral ground to stand on), on the Chinese. Right now they can very easily point to all those pictures of mob violence and justify a crackdown. When you're in a fistfight, who started it first stops mattering.
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Dalai Lama's Tibet bloodshed fear
On my Ladakh trip, I've come to admire Buddhism even more for its base thought-process. Also have always had a huge soft corner for Tibetans - they've had it really bad, and merely because of China's might, there isn't too much support for their cause.
(Ok there go my chances of ever being able to bike in China. Oh well!)
I'm also a little disappointed with the GoIndia for not speaking up for the Tibetans a little more. They're toeing the China line a little too much. Pragmatism and poilitical expediency is ok, but on the other hand they don't have to keep reiterating that they believe China rightfully owns Tibet.
I can empathise with the Dalai Lama's stance - though I wish he played the role of the Spiritual Leader a bit more and made the Chinese cringe. He's had the opportunity to play today's Gandhi - and that includes not giving in - but I do think he's squandered it a little bit.
The deepest anguish is with the Tibetan people. When Indians resort to violence it feels sad - when Tibetans (or any other Buddhists) do, one feels a little hopeless - if those who've grown up in the tradition of the middle path shed it and cannot force matters without hurling stones and bombs, there's very little hope for peace in the rest of the world.
I certainly cannot understand the Chinese point of view. Its a culturally different region. Its tough to maintain and administer, and can only be a drain on resources. It did have its usefulness as a buffer between China and India, and controlling it made sense from a military strategists viewpoint, but is that a valid concern or need in this day and age ? On the global stage, its only a blot on China's image - but for a few issues like these everyone's pretty impressed with them and wants to do business.
The only rational explanation one can forward is that the Chinese establishment still harbours thoughts of military expansion - and thats very scary for the rest of us, and regressive for them.
The whole thing's gone downhill in every aspect. I hope the Dalai Lama - like Gandhi always did - feels ashamed of his followers and apologises to the Chinese on their behalf. This might shame them towards a more peace-led yet resolute approach, and in turn put greater pressure (with less of a moral ground to stand on), on the Chinese. Right now they can very easily point to all those pictures of mob violence and justify a crackdown. When you're in a fistfight, who started it first stops mattering.
State of _ ?
the need to fly usurps
besieged by questions, though
how do i spread my wings ?
can i even walk anymore ?
is it my own, or,
did i just borrow desire ?
will i merely burn down to cinder
if i do ignite the fire ?
is it free, or high, i seek ?
do i want to fly at all ?
perhaps my road is different.
or am i afraid to fall ?
is it a rush i'm after ?
or an elevated zone ?
perhaps
all i need is to explore
before i turn to stone.
State of mind/city/stock market/economy/nation/startups ? A little bit of each, i guess.
Spokeo Alert/Apologies
I responded to a friend's request to signup for Spokeo - with my gmail id.
Without realizing it, in a few moments, effectively ended up spamming all contacts in my address book - tried sending apology mails - after the first lot seem to not be able to send mails using my gmail account any more. For those of you who got that Spokeo spam - my apologies.
Without realizing it, in a few moments, effectively ended up spamming all contacts in my address book - tried sending apology mails - after the first lot seem to not be able to send mails using my gmail account any more. For those of you who got that Spokeo spam - my apologies.
The Cup Runneth Over
I consciously paid for a coffee at Barista after a while today. What I mean is I actually looked at the bill, and saw the prices.
"51? Isn't the regular Cappuccino 34/- ?" I asked [ I'd asked for "1 cappuccino please"]
// a cup of coffee for a dollar and a half, in Bangalore!!? Ridiculous by most yardsticks
"No sir - its 51 - where does it say 34/- ?" said the man.
"Isn't that 34/- there on the menu there...." I pointed to the wall, which, to my embarrassment, was 34/- only for the Espresso.
Ah - there was no "Regular" Cappuccino any longer. 51, plus taxes - nearly 58/- for a cup of coffee and a few minutes of chair occupancy! I was both embarrassed, and shocked, with the latter feeling winning the mindspace battle and slowly turning into a slight feeling of having been had. I expressed the same to my colleague, and said CCD seemed to be relatively more reasonable (though neither could get close to the VFM a regular darshini offered). He remarked that I seemed to be biased against "large corporations" and chains.
Hmmm, was I ? Before I was anywhere being closed to being a grown-up - I remember as Bata being a "large chain" we could trust anywhere. Good shoes, good prices, even an exchange policy! Shubha and I have leaned towards Titan, and Tanishq, for their respective wares. I do like my Dominos/Pizza Hut pizzas more than the ones that Pizza Corner delivers - so I don't think I'm that much against big brands (though I do love to see a local store take on the biggies, and succeed). I even appreciate what Namdharis sells despite them never offering even a slight discount, ever.
Yet, there was an element of truth in what he said. I guess it was the feeling of having-been-had, or trying-to-charge-infinity-more-cause-i'm-a-big-brand alone! Titan makes great watches, yet tries to "compete" and provide "value". I know its intangible, but thats what it is! HP seemed like a rip-off when they asked me to change the entire LCD screen cause a teeny diode in the screen's power supply - a distinct component - was all that was not ok. BPL, otoh, has impressed in the past with great after sales and their attitude of fixing-the-small-issues-with-small-fixes approach. Even a surge at my parents' place merely meant a 40/- buck fuse replacement, not some major "oh but we have to change the whole component" crap.
If you run a consumer product company, or a chain, or whatever - remember - I - and many consumers - hate the feeling of having been had, whether its a legally tenable position or not.
It didnt help that the Barista dude was not too polite, either, even though I was wrong. [ Pizza Hut once gave me a free Pepsi refill that I dropped! ]
"51? Isn't the regular Cappuccino 34/- ?" I asked [ I'd asked for "1 cappuccino please"]
// a cup of coffee for a dollar and a half, in Bangalore!!? Ridiculous by most yardsticks
"No sir - its 51 - where does it say 34/- ?" said the man.
"Isn't that 34/- there on the menu there...." I pointed to the wall, which, to my embarrassment, was 34/- only for the Espresso.
Ah - there was no "Regular" Cappuccino any longer. 51, plus taxes - nearly 58/- for a cup of coffee and a few minutes of chair occupancy! I was both embarrassed, and shocked, with the latter feeling winning the mindspace battle and slowly turning into a slight feeling of having been had. I expressed the same to my colleague, and said CCD seemed to be relatively more reasonable (though neither could get close to the VFM a regular darshini offered). He remarked that I seemed to be biased against "large corporations" and chains.
Hmmm, was I ? Before I was anywhere being closed to being a grown-up - I remember as Bata being a "large chain" we could trust anywhere. Good shoes, good prices, even an exchange policy! Shubha and I have leaned towards Titan, and Tanishq, for their respective wares. I do like my Dominos/Pizza Hut pizzas more than the ones that Pizza Corner delivers - so I don't think I'm that much against big brands (though I do love to see a local store take on the biggies, and succeed). I even appreciate what Namdharis sells despite them never offering even a slight discount, ever.
Yet, there was an element of truth in what he said. I guess it was the feeling of having-been-had, or trying-to-charge-infinity-more-cause-i'm-a-big-brand alone! Titan makes great watches, yet tries to "compete" and provide "value". I know its intangible, but thats what it is! HP seemed like a rip-off when they asked me to change the entire LCD screen cause a teeny diode in the screen's power supply - a distinct component - was all that was not ok. BPL, otoh, has impressed in the past with great after sales and their attitude of fixing-the-small-issues-with-small-fixes approach. Even a surge at my parents' place merely meant a 40/- buck fuse replacement, not some major "oh but we have to change the whole component" crap.
If you run a consumer product company, or a chain, or whatever - remember - I - and many consumers - hate the feeling of having been had, whether its a legally tenable position or not.
It didnt help that the Barista dude was not too polite, either, even though I was wrong. [ Pizza Hut once gave me a free Pepsi refill that I dropped! ]
"Poor Farmer"...
... or the systematic deglamorization of the food production industry.
Disclaimer: I'm no economist. I do not even claim to understand all aspects of farming and its markets. I'm just perplexed about why its so uncool to do it.
Food Clothes and Shelter
The clothes and shelter guys are raking in the moolah - or at least branded-apparel-retail and housing/infrastructure seems pretty big. Food, if at all, is the most critical of all those necessities. There's a guaranteed, growing market. More people, younger people, and if news reports are anything to go by - more people are eating more, there's more veggies on peoples plates on an average, and a lot many people seem to be ok paying a lot for not just everyday stuff, but even exotic erstwhile-unpronounceable stuff. Any other industry with this kind of a consumer profile would be extremely attractive. What's so wrong with agriculture ?
Industry ?
Industry: 1. Commercial production and sale of goods.
There are a bunch of other definitions, most of which could easily include the citizenry involved in production and sale of food for the entire population. Some have capital (land) which they put in skill and effort into producing something worth paying for in the market, while others do not possess capital, and operate at a lower profitability level by selling skills to either get a share of the produce or in return for some cash and benefits.
Profit? Market ?
Over the last few decades, the government seems to have denounced the economics part of what should've primarily been a market activity. It tried telling them what to grow and when, how much to sell it for, and to whom, and dictated costs (and sadly, the quality and availability) of the raw material and other inputs needed. To be fair, even the "finished goods" industry lived under these circumstances, but I guess they were better organized and more into economics than the farming community to start with, resisted, and found ways around it - and finally managed to surge when the rules eased up.
Pride ? Real, livable, edible, monetary pride ?
The farming community, in the meantime, has only been further beggared and impoverished by their supposed do-gooders, and probably know way lesser about economics than they started off knowing. They've been painted in a permanently-stricken-by-poverty shade, consigned to inertia-unless-the-government-doles-something-out. They've not been free enough or helped enough (I honestly don't know if the latter is needed for the former) to learn enough about insurance, or drip irrigation, or re-learn micro-irrigation and water harvesting, etc. They haven't wisened up enough to make a healthy percentage of what the final market pays. The government, where it has removed the middlemen, has become one itself.
Over the years, "farmer" and "poor" have been made pretty much synonyms of each other. Along with reduced land holdings (and lack of co-operative farming ideas, or newer higher yield farm management) this has meant the only "respectable" options are those in-the-city.
Why isn't the average farmer a smart businessman, capable of managing the risks associated with the uncertainty of the rains, and of understanding and exploiting the demand/supply cycles without having those controlled by government decrees to ensure sugar mills are bound to buy X tonnes of cane at Y price etc ? Why aren't at least a decent percentage of people taking up farming as an alternative lifestyle after a few years in an urban career ? Why is it always a "brave/foolish" step and means a reduction in opportunity/lifestyle ?
I guess as long as the farmer is "poor" and every interaction with him guided with that as the foundation of it, the repetition of the fact will ensure its truth.
As an aside, the cities aren't much better for it. There is much more competition for much fewer jobs - I wish the security guards and maids had lesser competition and could earn better wages, and more "respectably". A healthy countryside economy (I'd rather not use the terms "rural" or "agrarian" because of the subtle negative connotations they've assumed over the years) will indeed be good for all of us. It may take some of the "truths" away from those trying to hoist Red flags and bring in improvement through "revolution", not the more sustainable market-driven approach. For God's sake - food is NEVER going to go out of fashion - just make sure you teach them how to recognize and profitably use that fact, not how to use automatic firearms, morons.
I await the day a retort to a post like this will emnate from a village - not by some "rural-BPO" employee but someone who's got a stake in a vibrant food-indutry-driven economy thats not just dying to sell all its land to the next mall as the neighbouring city eats into the landscape.
[ Yes I've made a lot many generalizations. Also, one cannot probably merely start treating all farmers as businessmen and leave them to their fate and hope to see wonders overnight. However, that MUST be the long term aim - to see farming and agriculture as a primary option for many - to see more innovation in that industry - to see more money - more pride. All dialogue must assume that as its cornerstone - and not dole out "alms" by way of 60k crores being written off. It must be a "trade", however benign it needs to be to start with. ]
Disclaimer: I'm no economist. I do not even claim to understand all aspects of farming and its markets. I'm just perplexed about why its so uncool to do it.
Food Clothes and Shelter
The clothes and shelter guys are raking in the moolah - or at least branded-apparel-retail and housing/infrastructure seems pretty big. Food, if at all, is the most critical of all those necessities. There's a guaranteed, growing market. More people, younger people, and if news reports are anything to go by - more people are eating more, there's more veggies on peoples plates on an average, and a lot many people seem to be ok paying a lot for not just everyday stuff, but even exotic erstwhile-unpronounceable stuff. Any other industry with this kind of a consumer profile would be extremely attractive. What's so wrong with agriculture ?
Industry ?
Industry: 1. Commercial production and sale of goods.
There are a bunch of other definitions, most of which could easily include the citizenry involved in production and sale of food for the entire population. Some have capital (land) which they put in skill and effort into producing something worth paying for in the market, while others do not possess capital, and operate at a lower profitability level by selling skills to either get a share of the produce or in return for some cash and benefits.
Profit? Market ?
Over the last few decades, the government seems to have denounced the economics part of what should've primarily been a market activity. It tried telling them what to grow and when, how much to sell it for, and to whom, and dictated costs (and sadly, the quality and availability) of the raw material and other inputs needed. To be fair, even the "finished goods" industry lived under these circumstances, but I guess they were better organized and more into economics than the farming community to start with, resisted, and found ways around it - and finally managed to surge when the rules eased up.
Pride ? Real, livable, edible, monetary pride ?
The farming community, in the meantime, has only been further beggared and impoverished by their supposed do-gooders, and probably know way lesser about economics than they started off knowing. They've been painted in a permanently-stricken-by-poverty shade, consigned to inertia-unless-the-government-doles-something-out. They've not been free enough or helped enough (I honestly don't know if the latter is needed for the former) to learn enough about insurance, or drip irrigation, or re-learn micro-irrigation and water harvesting, etc. They haven't wisened up enough to make a healthy percentage of what the final market pays. The government, where it has removed the middlemen, has become one itself.
Over the years, "farmer" and "poor" have been made pretty much synonyms of each other. Along with reduced land holdings (and lack of co-operative farming ideas, or newer higher yield farm management) this has meant the only "respectable" options are those in-the-city.
Why isn't the average farmer a smart businessman, capable of managing the risks associated with the uncertainty of the rains, and of understanding and exploiting the demand/supply cycles without having those controlled by government decrees to ensure sugar mills are bound to buy X tonnes of cane at Y price etc ? Why aren't at least a decent percentage of people taking up farming as an alternative lifestyle after a few years in an urban career ? Why is it always a "brave/foolish" step and means a reduction in opportunity/lifestyle ?
I guess as long as the farmer is "poor" and every interaction with him guided with that as the foundation of it, the repetition of the fact will ensure its truth.
As an aside, the cities aren't much better for it. There is much more competition for much fewer jobs - I wish the security guards and maids had lesser competition and could earn better wages, and more "respectably". A healthy countryside economy (I'd rather not use the terms "rural" or "agrarian" because of the subtle negative connotations they've assumed over the years) will indeed be good for all of us. It may take some of the "truths" away from those trying to hoist Red flags and bring in improvement through "revolution", not the more sustainable market-driven approach. For God's sake - food is NEVER going to go out of fashion - just make sure you teach them how to recognize and profitably use that fact, not how to use automatic firearms, morons.
I await the day a retort to a post like this will emnate from a village - not by some "rural-BPO" employee but someone who's got a stake in a vibrant food-indutry-driven economy thats not just dying to sell all its land to the next mall as the neighbouring city eats into the landscape.
[ Yes I've made a lot many generalizations. Also, one cannot probably merely start treating all farmers as businessmen and leave them to their fate and hope to see wonders overnight. However, that MUST be the long term aim - to see farming and agriculture as a primary option for many - to see more innovation in that industry - to see more money - more pride. All dialogue must assume that as its cornerstone - and not dole out "alms" by way of 60k crores being written off. It must be a "trade", however benign it needs to be to start with. ]
Underpass, overpromised, overchieved!
BBMPs "Magic Box" has been in the news for a while now, and is now nearly there.
It got ravaged by the press, at lest the TOI. Poor guys made the mistake of being transparently optimistic and said it'd take a mere 72 hours - but that became 33 days by the time it got done.
33 days - are you kidding me? When was the last time one saw any infrastructural project in Bangalore get done inside of 6 months - leave alone 33 days ? Even el-simplo stuff like relaying sidewalks took months together - and often got abandoned midway.
We got to give credit where its due - and in this case its definitely due! Kudos BBMP - this leaves me with a lot of optimism for further, quick improvements where bottlenecks are spotted. Perhaps, just perhaps, Bangalore is starting to learn how to manage its new expanded size.
[ Aside : reminds one a lot of the software industry - young, inexperiences enthusiasm genuinely imagines tasks getting over "by Wednesday" and 2 weeks later gets a lot of flak for being late for stuff that would've taken 3 weeks anyhow. ]
It got ravaged by the press, at lest the TOI. Poor guys made the mistake of being transparently optimistic and said it'd take a mere 72 hours - but that became 33 days by the time it got done.
33 days - are you kidding me? When was the last time one saw any infrastructural project in Bangalore get done inside of 6 months - leave alone 33 days ? Even el-simplo stuff like relaying sidewalks took months together - and often got abandoned midway.
We got to give credit where its due - and in this case its definitely due! Kudos BBMP - this leaves me with a lot of optimism for further, quick improvements where bottlenecks are spotted. Perhaps, just perhaps, Bangalore is starting to learn how to manage its new expanded size.
[ Aside : reminds one a lot of the software industry - young, inexperiences enthusiasm genuinely imagines tasks getting over "by Wednesday" and 2 weeks later gets a lot of flak for being late for stuff that would've taken 3 weeks anyhow. ]
Threat/Respect/Identity/Insults/Culture
So the MNS now does Maharashtra Nirmaan by targeting Northerners. Sure that'll help build a much better state! Migrant labour, newer ideas, wider participation are only impediments in the way of progress and success.
How often have fringe ideologies managed to hijack the polity - and get a quiet nod from so many who're not really supportive, but agree anyways cause they'd rather not disagree, or have some obliquely connected biases ?
How often have fringe ideologies managed to hijack the polity - and get a quiet nod from so many who're not really supportive, but agree anyways cause they'd rather not disagree, or have some obliquely connected biases ?
- Is language for communication, or domination? Is it worth burdening it as a vessel of culture etc if that causes a breakdown in communication itself ?
- Whats with this whole outsider/insider paranoia ? Are the insiders always more concerned about their city/state? [ If so Bangalore would be much better run :) ] Why are some outsiders so defensive and end being abrasive, not knowing how to handle their initial discomfort at what they cannot understand upfront ? Why is there so much digging up of trenches and hardlines ?
- Everyone seems too keen to believe in the myths about the "other". I just read on some blog's comments that "Hindi speakers have a superiority complex". Would've never guessed that - in fact the average Southie is looked up to as a learned, law abiding, religious, vegetarian up north - again a rather generalized prototype. Benefit of doubt, people ?
Diversity is a good thing (imagine having the same food, same songs, same everything wherever you go - would feel like the US!) - but the way its being used right now - for hardline ethic identities - makes one wonder if our nation deserves that. Go the strict French way and abolish any signs of difference ? Adhere only to the one Indian-ness and ban everything else - at least from the state's point of view ? Crappy and quasi-comunist, of course, but what else do a people who cannot celebrate difference and only live in fear of imagined demons that the "other" might be deserve ?
Sad. Very very sad.
Sad. Very very sad.
Bye Jamshedpur!
My parents bid adieu to the city where I grew up, have amazing memories of, made friends, got an education. I got to be there for no effort on my part - and am thankful to the Tatas, my parents and God that this came to be.
Jamshedpur set a benchmark in my life in terms of dreaming big, planning and execution (am still learning this last one), uncompromisable ethics, love for green lung spaces, planned towns and a charming life.
We've grown up - even said "there's a lack of opportunities here" - and moved out. We're part of the "real" world now - a bigger city - more diversity - more opportunity - larger ambition and huger aspirations. Yet there was something very, well "nice" about the place which is missing from the sum of all the adjectives the bif city might be able to cater to. There was no race to run all the time, everything was affordable and it was all smell the roses. Of course this was probably true more from my school-kid point of view than from my parents or other grown ups, but thats how I remember it.
No more Durga Puja, no more Bistupur, no more strange and specific-only-to-Jampot Hindi. No more sitting in the usual spot along the club fence devouring "signed-for" fingerchips and "Nova" at the club, and no more hitching free rides to school.
There is a dull ache in the heart, and lots of slightly-yellowed-and-withered-around-the-edges pictures in the head.
Adieu Jampot. May you live on and prosper forever. And thanks for the memories.
Jamshedpur set a benchmark in my life in terms of dreaming big, planning and execution (am still learning this last one), uncompromisable ethics, love for green lung spaces, planned towns and a charming life.
We've grown up - even said "there's a lack of opportunities here" - and moved out. We're part of the "real" world now - a bigger city - more diversity - more opportunity - larger ambition and huger aspirations. Yet there was something very, well "nice" about the place which is missing from the sum of all the adjectives the bif city might be able to cater to. There was no race to run all the time, everything was affordable and it was all smell the roses. Of course this was probably true more from my school-kid point of view than from my parents or other grown ups, but thats how I remember it.
No more Durga Puja, no more Bistupur, no more strange and specific-only-to-Jampot Hindi. No more sitting in the usual spot along the club fence devouring "signed-for" fingerchips and "Nova" at the club, and no more hitching free rides to school.
There is a dull ache in the heart, and lots of slightly-yellowed-and-withered-around-the-edges pictures in the head.
Adieu Jampot. May you live on and prosper forever. And thanks for the memories.
BIAL vs HAL
Dunno how effective/impactful this will be - but if there's any iota of a chance that it helps, this survey is worth taking. Takes under 2 mins.
Honestly, even if the roads are great, it hardly makes sense for those taking short haul flights (Chennai, Mysore, even Hyderabad, Mangalore) to travel that far out when a decent airport exists right in the centre of the city. One might be better off taking the train/bus or driving.
There's the added burden of huge costs, both to get to BIAL as well as in terms of the extra charges there. BIAL is a sure option for long distance flights, and we definitely need an efficient, scalable airport for international traffic. But they can make an exception for the short haul ones, at least.
Frankly, even a days trip to Delhi and back will be that much more strenuous now. Some early morning/late night flights for all domestics routes can also be routed to HAL.
Honestly, even if the roads are great, it hardly makes sense for those taking short haul flights (Chennai, Mysore, even Hyderabad, Mangalore) to travel that far out when a decent airport exists right in the centre of the city. One might be better off taking the train/bus or driving.
There's the added burden of huge costs, both to get to BIAL as well as in terms of the extra charges there. BIAL is a sure option for long distance flights, and we definitely need an efficient, scalable airport for international traffic. But they can make an exception for the short haul ones, at least.
Frankly, even a days trip to Delhi and back will be that much more strenuous now. Some early morning/late night flights for all domestics routes can also be routed to HAL.
Rain Rain save some pain
Rainwater harvesting is something thats supposed to have worked for Chennai, and can help alleviate the looming water crisis over all cities large and small as the population gets more and more concentrated in these places. Local/micro level water management is probably wayy cheaper and more effective. Each house, apartment and office should strive to do its bit.
Shubha's been on a sabbatical from her formal job and volunteered to work with the RWC. Its been a great journey and awesome learning so far, from whatever I gather. Its help build marketings skills, a nose for business issues and been a source of a great deal of satisfaction. There is something about a desk bound job not directly connected to the "real world" that gets to you once in a while, and volunteering for such jobs for a short/long/permanent duration may actually help individuals in multiple ways.
If anyone is thinking of doing anything towards rainwater harvesting, do visit the website or write in to rainwaterclub -- A*T -- gmail --DOHT-- com
Shubha's been on a sabbatical from her formal job and volunteered to work with the RWC. Its been a great journey and awesome learning so far, from whatever I gather. Its help build marketings skills, a nose for business issues and been a source of a great deal of satisfaction. There is something about a desk bound job not directly connected to the "real world" that gets to you once in a while, and volunteering for such jobs for a short/long/permanent duration may actually help individuals in multiple ways.
If anyone is thinking of doing anything towards rainwater harvesting, do visit the website or write in to rainwaterclub -- A*T -- gmail --DOHT-- com
Big town/Bean Town
Had been thru Delhi last week. Got driven through the opened-that-day Gurgaon expressway, and generally caught up with the mammoth scale of infrastructural strides the NCR has taken.
Bangalore is quite firmly a small town. There's been little reason to think big, and despite the numerous growth pains, commuter woes and string of issues that keep popping up in area after area, intersection, road, wherever, the swalpa adjust maadi has so far kind-of-worked-out. If the traffic is horrendous, most people still get to most places in an hour cause they need to go only, say, 10 kms at most. The city has only recently started to scale to a genuine big-city size where inefficiency in infrastructure takes things beyond breaking points. Mumbai and the NCR have been through multiple rounds of this, and have been forced to take corrective action right from the design phase, given the scale.
I also experienced fear in Delhi. The expressways seem to have steamrolled everything in their way - including dhabas and small chai shops and the like - a lot of the smaller things that made India the warm comfortable place its always been. One shouldn't always need to walk into a mall for a cuppa, should one ? I hope whenever Bangalore suffers-and-hence-learns, the Darshini, Re 5/- coffee, the roadside cobbler kiosks - these stay alive. Its tough enough to find small services in Koramangala already. Absolutely no need to lose one's soul in the name of growth.
There surely ARE other alternative development models to massive-highway lead urban sprawl that the NCR is experiencing. A much better alternative is to make driving so painful that great public transport HAS to be built. Yeah we have the metro, but there needs to be much more, much faster. Keep the city alive, and manage growth, should be the mantra. Bangalore as a city probably has way more brainpower and international exposure per capita than any other place - it should take the lead in a new way, not merely follow the last decade's developmental models.
Bangalore is quite firmly a small town. There's been little reason to think big, and despite the numerous growth pains, commuter woes and string of issues that keep popping up in area after area, intersection, road, wherever, the swalpa adjust maadi has so far kind-of-worked-out. If the traffic is horrendous, most people still get to most places in an hour cause they need to go only, say, 10 kms at most. The city has only recently started to scale to a genuine big-city size where inefficiency in infrastructure takes things beyond breaking points. Mumbai and the NCR have been through multiple rounds of this, and have been forced to take corrective action right from the design phase, given the scale.
I also experienced fear in Delhi. The expressways seem to have steamrolled everything in their way - including dhabas and small chai shops and the like - a lot of the smaller things that made India the warm comfortable place its always been. One shouldn't always need to walk into a mall for a cuppa, should one ? I hope whenever Bangalore suffers-and-hence-learns, the Darshini, Re 5/- coffee, the roadside cobbler kiosks - these stay alive. Its tough enough to find small services in Koramangala already. Absolutely no need to lose one's soul in the name of growth.
There surely ARE other alternative development models to massive-highway lead urban sprawl that the NCR is experiencing. A much better alternative is to make driving so painful that great public transport HAS to be built. Yeah we have the metro, but there needs to be much more, much faster. Keep the city alive, and manage growth, should be the mantra. Bangalore as a city probably has way more brainpower and international exposure per capita than any other place - it should take the lead in a new way, not merely follow the last decade's developmental models.
Green Sheen
http://www.morganstanley.com/about/community/littlegreenebook/
Interesting tips/advice.
How much do you follow?
Here's my list:
+ always wait to fill dishwasher up 99%+
+ short showers/baths
+ reuse plastic bags - even return them to the vegetable guy
+ only CFLs
+ shop locally
-I admit I've got used to a dryer
-love driving, sometimes for the heck of it (lota biking so better tho)
- leave phone charger plugged in
- lotsa devices on standby
- no solar energy so far despite desire
Hmmmm..
Taare Zameen Par : First Reaction
Very feel-good, PC and well made. Very useful message too. Pretty much nobody will "disagree" with the movie.
BUT, as moviemaking goes : (warning - may give away parts of the story - but this was more a treatment-movie than a story-one)
Story handled at a pretty superficial level.
No characters apart from the kids really developed at all.
Dyslexia was the easiest way out - there are lots of kids that need hearing/handling in a similar situation without dyslexia.
Not everyone else is usually that "black" vs the art teachers "white". No real grays, esp in Aamir K's character. No self-doubt, no reflection.
The teachers were essentially caricatures. Also, no real reason they/principal/school changed that much.
Kid himself changed too easily, too dramatically, but this is possible.
Most new-age parents (the internet toting, high pressure go-getters that the couple were shown as) at least pay lip service to "no-pressure-education". These seemed too clueless. The bigger problem is the actual fears/anxieties below the surface where despite the lip service, parents cannot really let-go. Not even scratched this angle.
Not one other sympathetic kid/teacher in the Mumbai school! I'm sure the place isnt that heartless :)
Dialogues were verrry documentary like - sermons, almost.
Art competition : seemed too orchestrated yet predictable, and the kid didnt necessarily have to win it. Non-dyslexic kids could also win it, after all. And almost seemed like the whole thing was a setup to let him win. Wouldnt the other kids might have gotten a -ve message out of that!? A "gallery" of the most appreciated ones may have been a better idea, for instance.
It was a very good movie cause it'll make ppl pause at least once to start focusing on what the kid they deal with is thinking of. But the dyslexia angle took away from some of that. Normal kids have egos too, get hurt/rebellious too, also have multiple intelligences that need focusing on rather than a unidimensional stress on "expected performance" too. In fact, there is a lesson somewhere in it for all of us to stop letting the world decide the LHS of our lives' report cards.
All in all, a powerful concept, badly written script, well executed and heart-tugging, and a huge lost opportunity.
Hampi BikeNomads Meet 2007
Describes the Hampi Meet Perfectly
That photo describes the meet/place perfectly. Its also nice I'm in it ;)
Bus Bay
The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 140 bus bays to be constructed in Bangalore city
Welcome relief. Too many micro-jams caused by BMTC giants pausing wherever, whenever.
Only, hopefully these won't all be built within 50 metres of intersections - thats the bigger culprit, really.
Helmet Heaven
Motorcyclist At Large: Motorcycle Helmets: I understand and I still don't want to wear one..
Extremely good set of links - all you wanted to know about Helmets but have been making excuses against. I really hope Bangaloreans start taking to helmets voluntarily, not through legislation.
Right (to) Info
http://www.karnataka.com/faq/
Found a lot of useful numbers in one place. Really useful stuff for commonly needed rules and regulations, contact numbers.
Found a lot of useful numbers in one place. Really useful stuff for commonly needed rules and regulations, contact numbers.
So predictable
Deve Gowda's three conditions for the BJP
Karnataka's Legislative Assembly must be the largest real estate agency on the planet. Utterly shameful, or shameless, whichever way you want to look at it. I rarely have strong opinions against individuals but for the sake of this city and state one wishes the ex PM distances himself from the political landscape here - for whatever reasons or in whatever way.
Truly very sad.
Karnataka's Legislative Assembly must be the largest real estate agency on the planet. Utterly shameful, or shameless, whichever way you want to look at it. I rarely have strong opinions against individuals but for the sake of this city and state one wishes the ex PM distances himself from the political landscape here - for whatever reasons or in whatever way.
Truly very sad.
Back from a break
Had a 2 week break at Jamshedpur - where we're from. This was Durga Puja time, and given that my Dad's off from there next year, pretty much the last proper Puja I'll get to see.
The weather was really kind - no heat or humidity - and nothing torrential either. Took trains both ways and the journeys were very much part of the vacation - finished a book each way (after ages). Unfortunately the Yeshwantput-Tata exp had no pantry, so the food was iffy.
BTW, SPOT Citicab has amazing service - +918041100000. Found it on Zook :)
Bangalore's much colder since we returned - but feels pretty. The traffic just seems suddenly much much worse tho.
Thats a picture from the puja mela at the Sabuj Kalyan Sangha grounds in Telco.
Had also been to BIT Mesra where I passed out of in 1996 - had a brief chat with the final year guys. The Comp Sci department has grown to behemoth proportions, and the erstwhile OAT is now a covered, usable space.
Here's a few more pix from the trip - unfortunately all from the cell cam which isnt the best in low light.
The weather was really kind - no heat or humidity - and nothing torrential either. Took trains both ways and the journeys were very much part of the vacation - finished a book each way (after ages). Unfortunately the Yeshwantput-Tata exp had no pantry, so the food was iffy.
BTW, SPOT Citicab has amazing service - +918041100000. Found it on Zook :)
Bangalore's much colder since we returned - but feels pretty. The traffic just seems suddenly much much worse tho.
Thats a picture from the puja mela at the Sabuj Kalyan Sangha grounds in Telco.
Had also been to BIT Mesra where I passed out of in 1996 - had a brief chat with the final year guys. The Comp Sci department has grown to behemoth proportions, and the erstwhile OAT is now a covered, usable space.
Here's a few more pix from the trip - unfortunately all from the cell cam which isnt the best in low light.
Cutting Edge Consumers
My Mobile Blog
Used this to get Shubha to pick one the two - Sids blogged from his SE - and the decision actually changed as compared to the description over the phone earlier!
Hilarioubuntu
Fiendish Operating System: 1 – Sidin Sunny Vadukut: 1 | Domain Maximus
The fun starts in the second para, and never stops :)
Have you lived your dream ?
Your Job: Have you lived your dream? - Team-BHP
Hmm interesting discussion here. On common refrain amongst the software types is the drudgery of the job. What can fix that ? Perhaps too many jumped into the "current hot thing" and of course, till not long ago - and even today for a large percentage - following your heart was not an option.
Hypothetical question : Won't we all rock if we basically do what we love to do ? I mean there will be little by way of 'just doing my job' ... of course its a naive statement and things are rarely static - but its still a thought worth considering when hiring/creating workplaces.
I want to ride my bicycle
Bangalore IT professionals cycle towards a green future
bumsonthesaddle.com
A long time ago I did try this - on a higher end Indian bike. The traffic on Hosur road, and a flat, got to me and I gave up after exactly 4 rides.
Maybe time to give it another shot. Also a good way to exercise, and avoid traffic jams too!
Microcosm
Kuensel Newspaper - Who will tame the car?
The numbers are all tiny, but the problem huge. Its probably more fragile too.
Time for change ?
Change IST, save energy, say scientists- Hindustan Times
Wow, are their fallacies in there ? Is the "new time" communication to the huge population an easy task ? Are my blog entry titles getting a little too TOI-like ?
Another com-post
Bangalore woman SHOWS how garbage is 'exciting'
This one also demonstrates scale. Maybe halving the total garbage output of the city is not that much of a pipe dream, after all.
Think before you dump
Daily Dump - Compost at Home
Am not clear what happens to the compost yet - but sounds like a plan. If the garbage output of the city reduced by even 50%, it would solve a huge problem! Also, as a byproduct very rich topsoil might really improve yield. How does it get to those who need great topsoil, without being infinitely expensive ? No clue. Or is it sold in "retail size" packets ? Lotsa questions....
BengaluruKaapi?
Bangalore is officially Bengaluru
somehow the combo of the Anglic and the Vernacular had stronger appeal. So no change in the blog's name for sure.
Not that anyone cares :D
Recycled by BWSSB!
Deccan Herald - Thirsty Bangalore to get recycled water
This is both very encouraging, as well as a little scary. After all, BWSSB does only a just-about-ok job of treating relatively cleaner river water. Recycling is a great idea - especially at only 5% wastage - but running it efficiently is way more critical now, and way bigger a challenge for a governmental org.
Greener computing
techlogg.com - Five simple ways to save electricity with your computer
Greener = less unGreen, in this case.
Big Un!!!!
Sania stuns Hingis in Los Angeles
I am not a major tennis fan, and this ain't about Bangalore. But stuff like this does not happen everyday :) Wow! Wow!
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The Wheels of a Bus
The Pulsar went back for a round of diagnostics to Venkat's place. And I took a ride with a pal upto the Dairy Circle, and a shared rick upto St Johns. As soon as I hopped off there was a 342 something right in front, and empty too! I hopped on and had a relaxed bus ride after ages.
Whats usually a 10 minute dash turned into a 20 minute journey (plus a 10 minute walk in a very light drizzle from where I hopped off to home). There were 4-5 stops along the way, and so many folks got off and on, my life unwittingly, fleetingly crossing paths with theirs, and lost in the passing of time a few moments later...
Should take the bus once in a while. Keeps one rooted in the city one lives in, and one gets to see the usual routes from a vantage point, at a peaceful, languid pace.
Whats usually a 10 minute dash turned into a 20 minute journey (plus a 10 minute walk in a very light drizzle from where I hopped off to home). There were 4-5 stops along the way, and so many folks got off and on, my life unwittingly, fleetingly crossing paths with theirs, and lost in the passing of time a few moments later...
Should take the bus once in a while. Keeps one rooted in the city one lives in, and one gets to see the usual routes from a vantage point, at a peaceful, languid pace.
"life they had inherited from the corporations"
Songwriter's Notebook: Pivotal Moment in the Green Scare
All extreme points of view are usually exaggerated. But I'm discovering a liberal, left-of-centre streak to myself these days, and tend to empathize with the cause of lesser, lighter, less complex existence.
One also reads so often about America Inc's near total control of that nation - laws, policy and vision. Thankfully, India is still a noisy, slow moving economy where a large enough group of noisemakers can shout down changes they don't agree with. Not that I agree with the Narmada protestors 100%, or at all with those at Singur, but maybe there are things I do not understand and views of "progress" that are flawed. Who's to say....
And its so true that happiness usually eludes the larger cities, the richer nations and there's surely an alternative path to progress. India's possibly poised to discover it better than most, given the basic bent towards "sustenance" and not "growth" (u do have to ask what that growth is for, in a larger context). The earth has finite resources, and massive "growth" at a larger scale - not a personal one - may scar it beyond a level where it can sustain us. When that happens, my belief is we will get violently knocked out. And we may have started to see a little of that already.
Am I too leftist at moments ? But I do firmly believe in the freedom of the individual (ok thats liberal in many ways too) and growth - but harmoniously. No point increasing the pitch of the economic cycle to a level where the biggest resource of them all cannot take it anymore, right ?
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India, Do Not Call
National Do Not Call Registry of India
This has got to be a very useful resource for a lot of people. Telemarketers (while they're only doing their job) are a reviled lot, and this should make things easier for them. Is there scope for smart contextual advertising, since once in a blue moon I do get a call I respond to.
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And the more formal one....
Flickr Photo Download: Map of Ladakh
There are so many roads one needs to see - oh well.
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Very Good Map of Ladakh :)
Flickr Photo Download: Biking in Ladakh - our grp TShirts
Gives one a great overview, and starting point for planning your rides. Zanskar, Spiti aren't part of it tho - maybe I should get down to making maps on those Tees :)
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The Pulsar 220
Test rode this :
The beauty belongs to a rejuvenated Venkat of Auto Service, Banashankari.
Bajaj has bravely plonked it firmly above the Karizma's price range - and thats a very bold statement. This may yet again change the biking scene in the country.
Parents.....again
Calvin and Hobbes, comics, editorial cartoons, - Flash Player Installation
There's so much we miss down there from high up here. Need to remember to hear, see, feel and understand the tiny point of view a little more.
There's so much we miss down there from high up here. Need to remember to hear, see, feel and understand the tiny point of view a little more.
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How-to for parents
Calvin and Hobbes, comics, editorial cartoons, - Flash Player Installation
But we all get into sermonizing despite all the fundaes, don't we ? :)
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HungryBlore/Zook on TV
Hungry Bangalore on Headlines Today
As usual the media didnt get it ALL right. But glad they edited out my more nervous, rambling moments :)
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