Here's something that warmed my heart.
I'm probably just old, but have not made my peace with non-"phone ring" ringtones yet :)
"Ring" tone is called that for a reason
Markets down ? Not for cycles...
Original Article Here
I guess it is a wonderful invention, and as the human race discovers more and more of it, it can only do us all a lot of good. Meanwhile, people have been putting in fabulous mileage on their bikes - and I'm totally awed/inspired.
First "weekend" ride
Finally managed to do a weekend ride around Sarjapura Road this morning. Apartment - Hosa Road - left at the end towards Huskur - Continued straight towards the road on which Vakil Township etc are - then Dommasandra. Had IVC there - and headed back via DPS - some back roads - Sarjapura Road. 30 easy-riding kilometres in all. The stretch just before Huskur was pure off roading fun.
Riders/Bikes:
Saurabh/Trek 4300 V
Arvind/Trek 6500 D
Sameer/Merida SUB 40 V
Total time: 1Hr 40 mins including the breakfast break.
Average riding speed as per my Trek cyclometer: 17.4
Next week target : 50kms hopefully.
Pic: Saurabh rides up in a light drizzle as a I take a break.
Riders/Bikes:Saurabh/Trek 4300 V
Arvind/Trek 6500 D
Sameer/Merida SUB 40 V
Total time: 1Hr 40 mins including the breakfast break.
Average riding speed as per my Trek cyclometer: 17.4
Next week target : 50kms hopefully.
Pic: Saurabh rides up in a light drizzle as a I take a break.
Lets go down *that* road
live the life that you want to buy the high definition TV to watch on ?
be moments you catch in someone's fairy tale ?
breathe the cool mountain air that looks so cool on flickr ?
what do you wanna do ? lets go there ?
are you already in the script somebody else scripted ?
do you want to be in someone else's skin ?
which is the real you, and where will it be found ?
which is your favourite colour ? Dessert ? Sound ?
But thats just cause its cool.
acquired, borrowed taste.
an overarching sense of urgency and haste.
a busy life, a sense of purpose.
what is it you really want, what ?
high end beemer ? cruise control ?
faster download, smoother road ?
better this and more aspirational that ?
when you fly so high, oooh, it all looks flat.
or did you just catch a glimpse of what might be the other life ?
is it an escapist dream or the true self ?
what happens now, if you just give in ?
give in.
is it just a little bit the same as giving up ?
have you just tired a little of living it up ?
are you ready to face the consequences of the pursuit of the dream ?
or does the thought of "consequences" make you scream ?
free fall, high rise, take the context to a different life.
green grass, blue sky. Out of the tube, and go you, fly.
flow with it. go with it. take the risk thats not a risk.
ah what music to the heart
but will you, will I, ever ?
Not sure you want to buy that high end Trek/Merida?
Rent-a-cycle now, if you're not sure you want to invest in a high end one right away. Bangalore Bikers thought some about it, and decided it would both help people discover these bikes, and trails, and let the bikes earn for themselves when idle.
Moral Brigade Adventures Episode N
Now the moral police corrects moral code violations involving inter-community-interactions.
Isn't this contempt of law, the constitution and the basic ethos of multi-cultural India? If any hard line stance needs acceptance, its the one thats completely intolerant of such policing. Sure, they have a right to frown upon it and not agree with it conceptually, but "Girls reform themselves once they are thrashed and humiliated in public, but boys are tougher to control" gives away these Neanderthals for what they really are.
This is really regressive, sad and irritating. But then polity today lacks leaders - who can create consensus and drive progressive opinion - but has mere "followers" of populist - and sometimes not even that, but merely shrill and unchallenged - opinion. And one hardly expects these vacuous individuals to provide progressive thought leadership, or take on the loud mouths that are practicing anarchy in the name of ethnic, religious identities.
Isn't this contempt of law, the constitution and the basic ethos of multi-cultural India? If any hard line stance needs acceptance, its the one thats completely intolerant of such policing. Sure, they have a right to frown upon it and not agree with it conceptually, but "Girls reform themselves once they are thrashed and humiliated in public, but boys are tougher to control" gives away these Neanderthals for what they really are.
This is really regressive, sad and irritating. But then polity today lacks leaders - who can create consensus and drive progressive opinion - but has mere "followers" of populist - and sometimes not even that, but merely shrill and unchallenged - opinion. And one hardly expects these vacuous individuals to provide progressive thought leadership, or take on the loud mouths that are practicing anarchy in the name of ethnic, religious identities.
Come the rains...
Governance, governance, bad roads.
Such articles make an appearance around this time of the year, every year.
Does it matter who's running things, if nobody is at all ?
I think a lot's been done at a micro level - roads have been repaired, drains cleaned - but its the overall civic/town planning that does not exist at all - and they velleys and natural drainage systems have been interfered with all over Bangalore. I don't even think the guys running the show can think at that level of complexity/abstraction. The problem's bigger than them.
Does it matter who's running things, if nobody is at all ?
I think a lot's been done at a micro level - roads have been repaired, drains cleaned - but its the overall civic/town planning that does not exist at all - and they velleys and natural drainage systems have been interfered with all over Bangalore. I don't even think the guys running the show can think at that level of complexity/abstraction. The problem's bigger than them.
Biased, or merely shallow and lazy ?
Yet another "analysis" of the Kashmir situation without even a cursory read of the various issues, arguments and stances involved.
Yeah India's had the army in there for ages now, and that creates huge issues with the local population (anywhere, be it Naxalite dominated areas, the NE, or Kashmir). But the escalation was not a one way street - though surely not the best way to solve it. We've also had rather hostile neighbours around there, and the time there was lowered presence of personnel, we had to go to war to reclaim territory, and lost a few hundred brave men in the process.
Its also a fact the Kashmir enjoys special powers and an independent constitutional status, something very few countries would've permitted within their borders. Kashmir is almost an independent nation within India - and its been a one way street from that point of view. They've even managed a couple of really free polls and have had a shot at improving their situation with Kashmiris at the helm - how long can they keep on passing the buck to "New Delhi" ? Bihar has been in a worse spot, gets lesser from the Centre, yet cribs lesser, and is not clamouring for independence. If they could not make it work, and I'm not saying it didn't work - they are - within a free, democratic setup, then all the best within a mess like one that Pak is in today.
As for the plebiscite, India owes nothing to anyone, legally. If the Pak army had moved back, and freed up all of Kashmir, and if the vote happened in all of the region, the UN resolution argiment would've been admissible. Right now, it has no bearingon the case.
Also, the Valley is a small part of J&K (&L, if I may dare to include the voice a huge mass of people otherwise unrelated to this issue). Not all of those people are demanding Azaadi.
Yes, I think India should hold a referendum in the Valley - because we should take the higher moral path and try and get this resolved - and because we've tried hard enough and long enough. If they really want out, well, let them. not to honour defunct resolutions, but because we cannot get over their distrust of us anymore, and we'd rather not have them hang around in their current state.
Jammu, Ladakh are Indian, and happily at that. We cannot drag them into this.
And international reporters really really need a little deeper sense on the issue before they pass judgement. Its just too shallow, and presumptuous.
Yeah India's had the army in there for ages now, and that creates huge issues with the local population (anywhere, be it Naxalite dominated areas, the NE, or Kashmir). But the escalation was not a one way street - though surely not the best way to solve it. We've also had rather hostile neighbours around there, and the time there was lowered presence of personnel, we had to go to war to reclaim territory, and lost a few hundred brave men in the process.
Its also a fact the Kashmir enjoys special powers and an independent constitutional status, something very few countries would've permitted within their borders. Kashmir is almost an independent nation within India - and its been a one way street from that point of view. They've even managed a couple of really free polls and have had a shot at improving their situation with Kashmiris at the helm - how long can they keep on passing the buck to "New Delhi" ? Bihar has been in a worse spot, gets lesser from the Centre, yet cribs lesser, and is not clamouring for independence. If they could not make it work, and I'm not saying it didn't work - they are - within a free, democratic setup, then all the best within a mess like one that Pak is in today.
As for the plebiscite, India owes nothing to anyone, legally. If the Pak army had moved back, and freed up all of Kashmir, and if the vote happened in all of the region, the UN resolution argiment would've been admissible. Right now, it has no bearingon the case.
Also, the Valley is a small part of J&K (&L, if I may dare to include the voice a huge mass of people otherwise unrelated to this issue). Not all of those people are demanding Azaadi.
Yes, I think India should hold a referendum in the Valley - because we should take the higher moral path and try and get this resolved - and because we've tried hard enough and long enough. If they really want out, well, let them. not to honour defunct resolutions, but because we cannot get over their distrust of us anymore, and we'd rather not have them hang around in their current state.
Jammu, Ladakh are Indian, and happily at that. We cannot drag them into this.
And international reporters really really need a little deeper sense on the issue before they pass judgement. Its just too shallow, and presumptuous.
BIAL User Development Fee or What A Pain
Now this.
Oh well, the airline industry is facing massively challenging times. And the users are getting less and less positive about flying, at least in Blore. Its constantly getting more painful, AND more expensive, unlike the pre-low-fares era, where the emphasis, at least, was on the luxury/comfort part of flying.
Is it any wonder that trains are tougher to get reservations in, once more ?
Oh well, the airline industry is facing massively challenging times. And the users are getting less and less positive about flying, at least in Blore. Its constantly getting more painful, AND more expensive, unlike the pre-low-fares era, where the emphasis, at least, was on the luxury/comfort part of flying.
Is it any wonder that trains are tougher to get reservations in, once more ?
The Choices For Kashmir
Gurcharan Das writes a very simple, straightforward and relevant piece on Kashmir's choices.
I agree (I point to the Valley alone when I say Kashmir). I have a fear that the wrong choice may already have been made - owing partly to poor PR skills on the Indian government and media's part, and to Neanderthal reactions from some political parties seeking to score political points in this issue of serious implications.
However, if the choice is indeed what the cacophony suggests it is, and if its proven to be thus by a referendum that we must conduct, then we must let go. And let go with a complete dissociation. All those who choose the idea of India our welcome. And all those with a parochial outook - bye.
However, if the choice is indeed what the cacophony suggests it is, and if its proven to be thus by a referendum that we must conduct, then we must let go. And let go with a complete dissociation. All those who choose the idea of India our welcome. And all those with a parochial outook - bye.
I hope, if the average Kashmiris do think India's a better bet, that they muster the courage to come together and subdue the shrill voices we're hearing right now.
Cycling - aches, pains, postures and glossary
I have had a dull ache in the calf muscles for a week or so - and did some reading up about this. Am sharing what I've learned through this - its not first hand knowledge, and you should talk to a doc if you have specific issues.
- Learn about Cadence. Yeah its a technical term, but a useful one-read
- Don't trust your instinct alone - most of us associate "pushing hard" with developing fitness - and there are times where its useful, but mostly counter productive, for bikers
- Read this
- And this : The physiology of cycling,, pains, etc is good to keep in your head
- Stretching not only helps, but is very critical for overall fitness.
- Other pains, injuries. Correct Saddle height, riding technique, are all important as you start doing longer distances.
More on the Kashmir now-debate
Reuters picked up the 2 columns, and sparked off a debate.
From the comments, its obviously a tough battle - getting people to agree to even put let-Kashmir-go on the list. Years of chest beating have attuned us to patriotism based on weird stuff. It matters not that its an impediment to our march forward as a nation, and drag on resources, and to top it all, the people of the place want out.
The only stakeholders who can think otherwise with some legitimacy are the Pandits, whose home this land was and who've suffered there. But I suspect a lot many will be pragmatic, and look ahead rather than backwards.
At the very least, keeping this out of the scope of the discussion is certainly both short sighted and counter productive. I even think a lot many Kashmiris will themselves wonder about how it'll work out for them once this option becomes a possibility, however bleak. I'm sure they realize how Pakistan's progressed, and how Indian has. Even the Pandits that were pressurized into leaving have done way better outside of Kahmir.
We've got to look beyond the land itself, and boundaries. We've got to move ahead and get to other problems. Too much effort, money, time is being spent on this, with little in return.
Update: Jug Suraiya gets into the act too. Its a pretty strong vote for considering this possibility already. The shrill noises from the other end, as experienced from the users comments to this, mean that a lot of PR work remains if this option is to made workable, but totally discounting it isn't healthy for us, right now.
From the comments, its obviously a tough battle - getting people to agree to even put let-Kashmir-go on the list. Years of chest beating have attuned us to patriotism based on weird stuff. It matters not that its an impediment to our march forward as a nation, and drag on resources, and to top it all, the people of the place want out.
The only stakeholders who can think otherwise with some legitimacy are the Pandits, whose home this land was and who've suffered there. But I suspect a lot many will be pragmatic, and look ahead rather than backwards.
At the very least, keeping this out of the scope of the discussion is certainly both short sighted and counter productive. I even think a lot many Kashmiris will themselves wonder about how it'll work out for them once this option becomes a possibility, however bleak. I'm sure they realize how Pakistan's progressed, and how Indian has. Even the Pandits that were pressurized into leaving have done way better outside of Kahmir.
We've got to look beyond the land itself, and boundaries. We've got to move ahead and get to other problems. Too much effort, money, time is being spent on this, with little in return.
Update: Jug Suraiya gets into the act too. Its a pretty strong vote for considering this possibility already. The shrill noises from the other end, as experienced from the users comments to this, mean that a lot of PR work remains if this option is to made workable, but totally discounting it isn't healthy for us, right now.
More on the Shabana Azmi utterances
This happened yesterday.
In the entirespeech interview (which is very different, cause the questions often lead down certain paths), she:
In the entire
- mentioned the first hand experience of difficulty in buying a house in Mumbai
- started off with the fact that she considers Muslims safer in India, and that they have a bigger say because of democracy.
- held that the Muslim leadership needed to do more for an image change
- clearly said that Muslims "is allowing itself to listen to the fundamentalists , who actually are not their leaders at all".
- said that there was a gap in understanding the community on the part of those outside it.
Its a rather honest assessment, springing from a bitter first hand experience (not debating whether its true by and large, etc - but its her experience, and she has a right to state it). Its absurd to read any of those points in isolation, as the media have done, and that Mr. V Naidu has promptly pounced upon and denounced as anti-majority, anti-national!!! Pray whats anti-majority/nation in stating one's first hand pain, and reflecting on your own community's problems in addressing issues that impact them ?
I understand the need for sensationalism - but this is twisting things way out context. Way too much.
Disgusting. The media, polity and all of that. So ready to bend anything for their petty PR gains. Yuck.
I understand the need for sensationalism - but this is twisting things way out context. Way too much.
Disgusting. The media, polity and all of that. So ready to bend anything for their petty PR gains. Yuck.
Increasing Polarization ?
Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi unable to buy houses cause of their religious affiliation ?
If true, its a very serious situation. I can say with confidence that Bangalore is way way way better than that (though, because of my name - assumed to be community specific in Bangalore, I have been sometimes asked "the question" when I tried renting a house some years ago. But by and large people live, eat, travel where they want to).
If true - this means to me that Gujarat and now Mumbai have gone down the drain as far as citizen's security is concerned, or even common ordinary folks, or even the leading lights of the places, have all become fundamentalists.
I hope to God she's wrong. I hope to God this was in frustration from a one-off incident. 61st "independence" day ? Hmmmmm......
I'm sticking to Bangalore. Shabana, Javed, you're welcome here too.
If true, its a very serious situation. I can say with confidence that Bangalore is way way way better than that (though, because of my name - assumed to be community specific in Bangalore, I have been sometimes asked "the question" when I tried renting a house some years ago. But by and large people live, eat, travel where they want to).
If true - this means to me that Gujarat and now Mumbai have gone down the drain as far as citizen's security is concerned, or even common ordinary folks, or even the leading lights of the places, have all become fundamentalists.
I hope to God she's wrong. I hope to God this was in frustration from a one-off incident. 61st "independence" day ? Hmmmmm......
I'm sticking to Bangalore. Shabana, Javed, you're welcome here too.
The Valley of no hope ?
I've been having similar thoughts to those that Vir Sanghvi expresses. Its only with a heavy heart, and despair, that one is forced to say this. I've always believed no problem is big enough if people are rational, open minded and fair. Sorry, those have turned out to be big ifs.
If we cannot own a people, there's no point owning the land. Tactical superiority and all that be damned - armed defense no longer depends on who owns the higher hill. And our false machismo about "how can we give away even an inch of our land" needs to be relooked at - since the Kashmiris do not consider their place part of "our land", who are we to ?
I'd love to be friends with the Valley and its people, but like Sanghvi, it looks like its gone beyond the point of no-hope. As he points out, plenty and more has been done. In fact I suspect that the special status might be one reason for Kashmiris thinking of themselves as a different country altogether. Bihar has had rigged elections, and pretty much every other state to some extent. A lot many places have less progress, more poverty. Yet you do not see this degree of a desire for secession, and at this scale.
If indeed most Kashmiris want to join Pakistan, or be an independent country, let them. ONLY the valley, of course. Not Ladakh, not Jammu.
And then, make sure we have NOTHING to do with them. Economically, politically, from the tourism point of view, whatever. Let's see how well they do without the larger embracing idea that India is. Let's see if narrow parochial, diehard ethnicity does better than what India's been managing to do. Even if the Valley then runs into problems, or needs help, sorry, you asked for it, idiots. You think we're out to get you ? Wait till you do it to yourself, or worse, the mess that Pakistan is happens to you. Alvida, guys.
I suspect the resilient Pundits have already kind of given up on the Valley, and in fact, many have done well in other parts of India. I have friends amongst them, and think we should do our all to ensure they are well settled in India. [ Or at least as well settled as the rest of us are :) ]
I hate thinking in terms of a "them", but in case, to hell with them, and good riddance.
Update:
If we cannot own a people, there's no point owning the land. Tactical superiority and all that be damned - armed defense no longer depends on who owns the higher hill. And our false machismo about "how can we give away even an inch of our land" needs to be relooked at - since the Kashmiris do not consider their place part of "our land", who are we to ?
I'd love to be friends with the Valley and its people, but like Sanghvi, it looks like its gone beyond the point of no-hope. As he points out, plenty and more has been done. In fact I suspect that the special status might be one reason for Kashmiris thinking of themselves as a different country altogether. Bihar has had rigged elections, and pretty much every other state to some extent. A lot many places have less progress, more poverty. Yet you do not see this degree of a desire for secession, and at this scale.
If indeed most Kashmiris want to join Pakistan, or be an independent country, let them. ONLY the valley, of course. Not Ladakh, not Jammu.
And then, make sure we have NOTHING to do with them. Economically, politically, from the tourism point of view, whatever. Let's see how well they do without the larger embracing idea that India is. Let's see if narrow parochial, diehard ethnicity does better than what India's been managing to do. Even if the Valley then runs into problems, or needs help, sorry, you asked for it, idiots. You think we're out to get you ? Wait till you do it to yourself, or worse, the mess that Pakistan is happens to you. Alvida, guys.
I suspect the resilient Pundits have already kind of given up on the Valley, and in fact, many have done well in other parts of India. I have friends amongst them, and think we should do our all to ensure they are well settled in India. [ Or at least as well settled as the rest of us are :) ]
I hate thinking in terms of a "them", but in case, to hell with them, and good riddance.
Update:
Just came across a similar thought expressed by Swami Ankesaria Aiyer too. Reproducing the conclusion of his point of view :
India has sought integration with Kashmir, not colonial rule. But Kashmiris nevertheless demand azaadi. And ruling over those who resent it so strongly for so long is quasi-colonialism, regardless of our intentions. We promised Kashmiris a plebiscite six decades ago. Let us hold one now, and give them three choices: independence, union with Pakistan, and union with India. Almost certainly the Valley will opt for independence. Jammu will opt to stay with India, and probably Ladakh too. Let Kashmiris decide the outcome, not the politicians and armies of India and Pakistan. |
So its definitely not an isolated thought. Its not gained political currency yet, but I guess as a first step, someone needs to make the thought of making this outcome an acceptable possibility - and to ensure this is presented as an extreme one-off step, with disastrous consequences for those who want it - but alas, we cannot really help them if they want out of a nation on the path of greatness. We had promised a plebiscite, so we're just making good on a promise.
Free Stuff: SD cards, Nokia batteries
Ok, a pal of mine has really cleaned up. Here goes:
http://give4free.blogspot.com/2008/08/16mb-canon-sd-card.html
http://give4free.blogspot.com/2008/08/2-nokia-bl-5c-batteries.html
And I realized I had this at home:
http://give4free.blogspot.com/2008/08/16mb-panasonic-sd-card.html
This should be useful to someone.
http://give4free.blogspot.com/2008/08/16mb-canon-sd-card.html
http://give4free.blogspot.com/2008/08/2-nokia-bl-5c-batteries.html
And I realized I had this at home:
http://give4free.blogspot.com/2008/08/16mb-panasonic-sd-card.html
This should be useful to someone.
Two new BIAS buses to BIAL
BIAS-10
Shivajinagar Bus Station Bangalore International Air Port Indian Express, Vidhana Soudha, Cauvery Bhavan, AGO Office, Hotel Lee Meridian, Mekhri Circle, Hebbala, Jn.of Kogilu Cross ( Only Non AC Suvarna Services)
BIAS-11
Chikkalasandra Bangalore International Air Port Padmanabhanagar ,Kathriguppe, Hosakerehalli Cross, Deepanjalinagar, Vijayanagara, Basaveshwara nagar 8th Main, Navarang, Malleshwaram Bus Station, Sadashivanagara Bash yam Circle, Mekhri Circle , Hebbal, Jn.of Kogilu cross. (Only AC Vayuvajra Services)
Will be adding this to Zook BIAS schedules by tomorrow or so.
Shivajinagar Bus Station Bangalore International Air Port Indian Express, Vidhana Soudha, Cauvery Bhavan, AGO Office, Hotel Lee Meridian, Mekhri Circle, Hebbala, Jn.of Kogilu Cross ( Only Non AC Suvarna Services)
BIAS-11
Chikkalasandra Bangalore International Air Port Padmanabhanagar ,Kathriguppe, Hosakerehalli Cross, Deepanjalinagar, Vijayanagara, Basaveshwara nagar 8th Main, Navarang, Malleshwaram Bus Station, Sadashivanagara Bash yam Circle, Mekhri Circle , Hebbal, Jn.of Kogilu cross. (Only AC Vayuvajra Services)
Will be adding this to Zook BIAS schedules by tomorrow or so.
Got a helmet - Bell Venture
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Prasant's colleague got a couple of helmets from the UK - both BELL Ventures (reviews here). Picked one up - seems very nice - especially with the adjustable "head-grip" or whatever.
Finally, will look weird riding to work :D
Bangalore Commute Data Update
Update for this:
- 66 responses so far.
- 51.5% ppl commute <>
- 56% take the car(25.8%)/2 wheeler. And this survey first went out to a cyclists' (15.2%) list
- 71% people have divided roads - Bangalore sure has improved. A mere 10.6% have unpaved surfaces enroute.
- 30.3% folks go at 8-9am, another 30.3% at 9-10am
- 77% people leave bet 5-8pm. Shows on the roads
- Average Speeds: 37.9% < 20kmph, 41.4% between 31-45kmph
- 30.8% ppl encounter a jam once a day, 29.2% find multiple jams everyday
- 65%+ folks do groceries within a km! Thats nice. Walk ? Drive ?
- 39.4% exercise rarely, another 24.4% only "sometimes"
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