Thank you

Saying thank you would be the most difficult thing that our country face. People never thank the cab driver who drop them off at their doorstep late night from work. Nor do they thank the auto driver when they are dropped off at their homes.

 This is not a rant post. But I just trying to note down some points on how our citizens are facing this acute problem of ‘not’ saying ‘Thank you’. Some think that you don’t need to thank the waiter when he serves you as ‘its his job’. Nor do they think that an auto driver is worth the ‘thank you’ that he has to offer.

Le’s take the white collar job scenario. Everyone at work would want to be thanked either by their client or their manager each time they do their work. I have even heard colleagues telling me that all they expect are simple words of appreciation. They even go to the extent and proclaim that they don’t care about bonuses or hikes, all they care is about the ‘kudos’ they get from their manager. Yes everyone needs it to keep going. So why don’t we start doing it?

Start a day by thanking your wife/maid/mother when she brings you the early morning coffee. Try saying it to the autowalla who drops you at the bus stop. Or the cab driver who drops you at work. If you driving to work, try thanking the other drivers who stop at a junction for you to take a turn. How do you do that? Salute him/her !! Or a small hand gesture would do. Try thanking the bus conductor when he gives you the ticket. Thank the people who stop the lift for you. Thank the security after he checks your bag/car. Thank the person who holds the door open for you. Thank everyone.

Would people think you are crazy? NO ! They would love it.

 Few months back, when I visited my hometown, I went out to a small sweet place to buy some sweets. I requested for a discount as I was buying a lot of sweets. The shop owner declined my request and proceeded to bill for the entire amount. When I was collecting the change back, I told him ‘Thank you’. The shop owner was confused on what to do next. He did not smile, nor did he nod. He just looked at me. I said ‘Thank you’ again and stepped out.

 I am sure that many like the shop keeper at my home place are not used to these two words. No one would have ever thanked him after paying him for the sweets. Try thanking the autowalla. I have done that all the time and many of them were very happy to hear that. Especially after the fight over meter charge and his customized charge. He would never expect a person to tell him that.

 Try it.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

 PS : Never expect a ‘You welcome’ or ‘Not a problem’ or ‘My pleasure’ or ‘Anytime’ anytime !

The great Indian Adjustment.

I was traveling by train the other day on the Lalbagh Express (Chennai – Bangalore) . I managed to get a confirmed ticket on Second Sitting, which is the second class sitting compartment – reserved. The train starts at 1530 hrs and it was not crowded at all. But when the clock struck 1525, there was a huge gust of people rushing in and occupying whatever seat they could find. This did not amaze me; well I have been traveling in trains for a long time now. But there is one another thing that is common in all train journeys.

 

The seat adjustment.

 

Consider a family of 4 or a large group of 6, since most of the time we book tickets at the last moment the seats would be allotted scattered. The first one hour after boarding the train would be spent by the leader (whom we can assume as the one who has the tickets and keeps on counting the seats and berths, shouting out his seat numbers, indirectly asking the people sitting or leaning on his reserved seat to MOVE) to move people (read other passengers) around the compartment so that he can get his group sit together.

 

A well dressed man approached me and said

“   “

“I am sorry??” I said and removed my ipod headphones.

 “Are you traveling alone?” he asked again. Smiling at the silliness.

“Yes” I said.

“Do you mind moving to another seat.”

“I don’t as long as there is one, Sure ! “ I said and picked my bag.

He directed me to another seat pretty much closer to mine.

 

He approached the old man sitting (or was sitting) next to me and asked the same question. And in a while the old man was with me in our newly allocated seats.

 

“Koncham adjust pannunke” (Please adjust a little) he said again and kept few of his luggage under our seats.

 

The adjustment.

 

I am a victim of seat adjustment every time I travel alone. They target the single travelers who fall easy prey to their questions. How do they identify that you are traveling alone?

If you are armed with a book and have head phones glued to your ears. You are traveling obviously alone.

 

I am okay with adjustments. It’s okay to move. It’s okay if the family wants to sit together.

But I get moved every time! Every single time!

Think Like A Terrorist

No one ever imagined how you turn a plane into a flying missile. No one knew about suicide attacks. No one knew that setting up multiple bombs in a city can bring it to its knees. No one knew that you can just walk in through coastline and start shooting. No one knew that star hotels could be the next target. (well, not everyone!).

 

After the deadly attacks on the WTC on 9/11, the Unites States beefed up its airport security, so did the rest of the world. India also did it share by increasing security checks at airports. We learned a lesson. We are now increasing the security at the Hotels.

After the recent Mumbai attacks, we are thinking of how to stop terrorists from entering through our coastline.

 

One thing that our Intelligence Agencies should be doing is to think like a Terrorist. If you notice the pattern of attacks, it’s all new. They used the planes as bombs, now a few young men sprayed bullets on to the street. They come up with new tactics all the time. I guess our authorities are only trying to stop another terrorist attack in the pattern they know of. The terrorists would have already started working on the new pattern.

 

Now how do we find their pattern? Think like a terrorist. I know it’s hard for ordinary citizens like us, but for those in the line of duty, in Intelligence it shouldn’t be that hard.

 

In serial killer movies/books/real life stories (The one like CITIZEN X, an HBO original movie), the investigators morale get deteriorated after months of chasing the killer. With every new death, the investigator would be taking it as, his own personal loss and failure. That’s when they start thinking like a serial killer. Who would I target next? Who would be my next victim? How will I trap him/her? How am I going to kill him?

 

Terrorists are serial killers.

 

I guess it could be a tough process to think like a killer. This is nothing new, but the results would be good if used intelligently.

Ban Them From Politics.

 

It’s sad, it was massive. But then we will fight back !

 

Its even more heart breaking when the politicians play the blame game to the ‘resign’ game. Now what?

 

I am surprised that they sit in their cozy air conditioned rooms till there is a real crisis and then leave office when the people really need them. Yes, they are accountable, but the buck shouldn’t stop there.

 

I am sure these guys will be getting a new seat in the next elections. May we would vote them again. My point is when there is an issue; don’t let them escape by just resigning. This would be running away from responsibility, that shouldn’t be the case.

 

The home minister of India said “The burden is off my shoulder”. Sir if you were a real leader or to that matter of fact an INDIAN you could have commanded your post (as the brave soldiers of this country do at the time of war/crisis) and lead us to victory and then face the nation on what went wrong.

 

Imagine if we are under attack at the border and the army commander decides to quit the minute the firing start???? Who is going to lead his men?

 

The congress or the BJP should ban these guys from contesting any more polls. That would teach them a lesson and not to resign at the time of crisis and contest polls again next year and be the CM/Home minister again !!!!!!!

 

 

 

How to topple a government? By An Idiotician.

How to topple a government?

By An Idiotician.

Important notice : You can use this against your own government, your people and more importantly against your country.

1. The best part of toppling a government is the crores of money we lose when we have to go for elections ahead of schedule. What the hell, its tax payers fund anyway.

2. Another good part is the coverage we get on TV. Wow I can say this, that and everyone will come around with microphones asking about something, errr Nuclear Deal what was that? I always reply that ‘Its against the interest of the country’ hehe, well its against my interest, I mean who cares about the country?

3. Now for the toppling part, lets get all our MPs from Jail first. Wait a minute, one of us is in Jail for murder. No problems, we can get him on bail for the confidence vote, or is there a Vote from Jail option? I will start that provision once our government comes to power.

4. What he is sick? Bring him down in an Ambulance… What??? he is abroad on a surgery? Get an AIR AMBULANCE. This is national emergency, we need to get the government down.

5. What? Economy will suffer? Dear, I have plenty at my wife’s estate house. She has hidden it deep under. So much for economy.

6. Inflation? What is that?

7. Get every friend, foe anything which walks on 2 legs to support us.

This idiotician wanted total anonymity when he gave the above 7 points. I think he deserves it as he was very honest in what he said above.

Meetings on Roads?.

 

Common people (excluding policemen, politicians, their supporters) are the ones who are tortured, chased around and deprived of basic rights. One of the basic rights would be to take your tax paid-insurance updated car on the NH and drive to your destination.

But the people in brackets make sure that this wont be an easy ride.

 

I have seen many times that National Highways being blocked for meetings, processions by political party. The police does their part in favor of everyone else other than the common man, may be because they are helpless too. The traffic is diverted to some smaller roads which get blocked in a few minutes.  Now my question is why the hell am I diverted because some Idio-ticians has to meet on the road. I think those idio-ticians should be held for jaywalking. I would be fuming in the car(not mine !) even though the ac is running, helpless just because some idio-tician want to save the country(read save his A$$pirations and fill up his pocket).

 

 

Prices on the rise

 

Another price hike?  The Government is meeting on Friday to discuss about a new price hike in fuel. The hike would be in the range of Rs 2 to 3.

 

Fuel prices in karnataka are the highest in the country because of higher tax component and 5 percent entry fee.

 

Now that the fuel price hikes are common, I feel many are not bothered. In Kerala however we celebrate every fuel price hike with a holiday(read hartal), mostly declared by the opposition party. Now since the opposition in Kerala are ruling the country, BJP helps Kerala in relaxing with a hartal. In 3 years there were numerous hikes in fuel. We observed one day of holiday for each, but then the prices are still increasing. All we got was few holidays.

2005 by BJP, 2006 by ruling LDF, 2008 by BJP.

 

In 2004 Kerala scored 124 on its haral-bandh score board. Here is an interesting take on the hartal menace.

 

Back to fuel price hike.

 

I remember an old joke which goes like this. (Warning : Bad Joke)

 

———————————————————————————-

Guy #1 : Petrol prices hiked from 50/litre to 52/litre.

Guy #2 : Nah, its not going to bother me anyway.

Guy #1 : Why????

Guy #2 : I always fill up petrol for Rs 100..

<end of joke>

———————————————————————————

This would mean my monthly expenses are gonna increase, it’s already on the rise with the all the prices for essential commodities going up! I wonder when my house owner is going to knock on my door to demand a hike in rent.

Related Post

80 Shut Downs in 18 Months.

 

Strange Laws.

 

Does people go to any extent to get that 3 minutes of fame on TV?. Recently  a ‘not so popular’ Godman was arrested for fraud and rape in Kerala. This made another guy in the same profession working on God domain sad as he was not getting his share of airtime. So he went on to get a gun from the attic, called up the press and the cops, paid a woman to scream and staged a drama to get some attention. And he got it. Big time. The video of this guy trying to suicide was all over the news. I am not sure why he did that, most of channels airing the video did not even know this guy’s name and they referred to him as ‘Godman’.  But then it was entertaining.

 

My reason for writing this post is not to discuss on why he did it. He might be awfully insane. But on why he was left off, after wasting tax payers money (which pays off the police force)… police time on him. And on why he was left off on bail after endangering the lives of the people around him ? Strange.

 

This also reminds me of Harbhajan- Sreesanth issue, why was Harbhajan not charged for assault by the police? If I give Sreesanth a tight slap, will I be only banned from ‘watching’ a few IPL matches?

 

Strange..

 

Band BroadBand.

 

Back home in Kerala my Dad has applied for Broadband from BSNL, unfortunately its not yet activated and the request is still pending with the telephone exchange .They have given explanations like ‘there should be at least 30 applications’ ‘infrastructure is not ready’ etc etc.

The BSNL telephone exchanges are technologically advanced ones, the people sitting there are still in the past (especially the ones in villages) they fail to notice the changes happening around them.

The delay was making my Dad angry, if you would have read this post, you would know why he hates inefficient people.

 

 

Scene Village Telephone Exchange

Dad hands over 35 applications to an employee.

 

Employee #1 : What is this?

Dad : These are 35 applications for broadband

 

Employee #1 : WHAT?

Dad : Yes. With signatures. We need broadband in our area.

 

Employee #1 : See…..well…..I…… How do I know whether you signed all this yourself?

Knowing that he just want to delay things Dad replied

Sue ME.

 

Employee #2 : Hey what’s going on? (Seems like this guy is the Chief (Read Cheap) Engineer.

Dad : I have submitted 35 applications of people who require broadband connection. Its in the papers recently that you are required to provide broadband within 1-2 months of application.

 

Employee #2 trying to act smart asked.

Employee #2 : Okay.. So which type of modem do you want?

His intention was to ask technical questions which my Dad obviously wouldn’t know and will retreat from making problems and asking questions.

 

“Which all modems do you sell?” came the prompt reply.

“Well. Eh…we have errr..” Employee #2 was a little stunned by this sudden answer.

“Well let me know which all do you have and then I will let you know which I want. Thanks.” Said Dad and walked out.

 

We have not received broadband connection at home till now. Categorized as a village, it would take at least another 4 months for them to process and get the infrastructure ready.

The communication revolution? Yes the applications are still revolving around.

 

In case if you wondering if the 35 applications are authentic, yes they are.

My IPL love

(Drafted this on my way to KTM, didn’t get a chance to post it. Here I go).

 

I am writing a lot about the IPL these days. Not because I am following each and every game (but am loving the hype behind it) but because it’s everywhere. I tune into the news channel and there is a special about IPL. Try changing channels, not even the music channels are ‘IPL’ free,  there is SRK with his video promoting his team.

 

The gossip channels air more of IPL these days than Bollywood, may be because of the close Bollywood association with the IPL.  They got glamour money and fame what more can these channels ask for?

 

This might be my third post that has something to deal with IPL. The funny part is however that all these post has nothing related to the actual game played. May be I was trying to explain in my own way on how the IPL is actually on air. There is less cricket and more of glamour.  So is it killing cricket? No.

 

As some media personality on a news channel explained. 20-20 is not cricket, its entertainment.

 

He is right.

 

Its for people like me who cant stand the entire 50 overs of cricket eating away half a day along with advertisements that run for more than an hour.

Its entertainment.

The cheerleaders (which they wanted to ban, Read here), the babes and less cricket makes it my favorite sport ever.

 

May be the IPL is answer to my prayers, but definitely not for the people who follow hardcore cricket the old fashioned way.

 

Saying all this, no one is paying much attention to the issues and scopes surrounding hockey. Last week there way a Scoop done by Aaj Tak which revealed that Secretary General K Jothikumaran accepting bribes to include a particular player in the Indian Hockey team.

 

Now the entire airtime is been used to cover IPL that Hockey is not even getting its share of airtime to be infamous.

That’s sad.

 

And on my way I heard that Sreesanth was slapped. Well I am not sure whether he deserves it. (But many in Kerala says he does J )But then I am sure that Cricket, once known as the gentleman’s game is no more.