New Year's Eve is suchhhh an important occasion for everyone the world over. We make plans many days in advance. In some cases, many weeks in advance or even months if we plan to travel around that time. And we get all pissed off if someone ditches or anything goes even remotely wrong with our well laid plans. "Oh goddammit, how could i forget to bring my glow-in-the-dark UV hair gel for NYE in Goa????"
Honestly, i don't quite understand the hype. Don't get me wrong. I love partying on NYE. I have helped plan parties, i have been to multiple parties, crashed other ppl rocking parties, and had a whole load of fun on NYE. But that has mostly been me going with the flow. I honestly believe that I wouldn't care if I actually did nothing on NYE(you can lower that sarcastically raised eyebrow now). More than anything, I party on NYE only because my friends will be out partying, and i dont want to miss out. Just like any other outing.
Another thing i notice around NYE is the big date question. "Who are you bringing to the party?" There is sooo much pressure on NYE to be with someone. To kiss someone at the end of the countdown to midnight. Sure, it would be nice to not be the guy who screams "GET A ROOM" to all his friends who are busy making out at midnight. (In my defence, there is nothing much to do when u see yr friends making out.... except stare into space or make fun of them) This year on NYE, i will probably do the same. But this time, i think a lot of people at the party will also be single.... so i'll be doing a lot of hugging at 12...and no screaming.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Metropolitan Areas: A Service Industry - Part 1
This post started off as something, and became something else.... so i'll probably write something more coherent and meaningful on the topic sometime later.
Dubai was fantastic.
I haven't seen any place with so much money being spent everywhere. Its a city built for outsiders. Luxury hotels, all the big restaurant chains, bars, malls, all the big luxury, pret, haute couture, and auto brands, the tallest buildings in the world. Sure there are rich as hell locals, but the entire set-up in Dubai is built for outsiders. The outsiders who pour in their money. Which makes Dubai a bit of a whore. It caters to every whim, fancy and dirty fetish of the outsider, the customer.For their money. Maybe i'm being a little harsh. Maybe its better to describe Dubai as a bit of a service industry of its own. With its inhabitants and tourists as the customers. Our wish, is its command. And boy, can it deliver!!
So if you see each city as a service provider, Dubai would be one of the best (from my limited experience of travelling overseas). and Bombay and Chennai would be somewhere far far below on that list!
In Dubai, people don't pay income tax. but they pay charges like nowhere else. Sky high parking charges, road tolls, renewal of car registration every year.... and the list continues. They complain a little about these charges and are like "we payy so many charges that the "no taxes" benefit gets almost nullified. I still feel they get way more service for the costs they incur. I pay income tax every month and I get shitty roads, horrendous traffic, power cuts, water shortages, a poor joke for a public transportation system, (i love the bombay local trains and all... but seriously, the conditions we travel in are inhuman) politicians whose thugs and cops block roads and make traffic worse than it already is, and this list continues too! Dubai, while charging shitloads of tolls etc, actually use the money to provide services to the people. 12 lane roads, great water supply (in a country that is a desert island, mind u), repair work that gets done overnight, no powercuts, etc etc.
Infrastructure-wise Dubai is unbeatable. OK they may not have a great public transport system. Bombay beats them hollow there. But everything else, it seems like ur getting bang for your buck.
We could take a page out of their book and learn a few lessons. How long are we going to make excuses for every damn thing and when will we start delivering? When will people like me stop writing this shit on blogs and get off their asses and actually do something?
Dubai was fantastic.
I haven't seen any place with so much money being spent everywhere. Its a city built for outsiders. Luxury hotels, all the big restaurant chains, bars, malls, all the big luxury, pret, haute couture, and auto brands, the tallest buildings in the world. Sure there are rich as hell locals, but the entire set-up in Dubai is built for outsiders. The outsiders who pour in their money. Which makes Dubai a bit of a whore. It caters to every whim, fancy and dirty fetish of the outsider, the customer.For their money. Maybe i'm being a little harsh. Maybe its better to describe Dubai as a bit of a service industry of its own. With its inhabitants and tourists as the customers. Our wish, is its command. And boy, can it deliver!!
So if you see each city as a service provider, Dubai would be one of the best (from my limited experience of travelling overseas). and Bombay and Chennai would be somewhere far far below on that list!
In Dubai, people don't pay income tax. but they pay charges like nowhere else. Sky high parking charges, road tolls, renewal of car registration every year.... and the list continues. They complain a little about these charges and are like "we payy so many charges that the "no taxes" benefit gets almost nullified. I still feel they get way more service for the costs they incur. I pay income tax every month and I get shitty roads, horrendous traffic, power cuts, water shortages, a poor joke for a public transportation system, (i love the bombay local trains and all... but seriously, the conditions we travel in are inhuman) politicians whose thugs and cops block roads and make traffic worse than it already is, and this list continues too! Dubai, while charging shitloads of tolls etc, actually use the money to provide services to the people. 12 lane roads, great water supply (in a country that is a desert island, mind u), repair work that gets done overnight, no powercuts, etc etc.
Infrastructure-wise Dubai is unbeatable. OK they may not have a great public transport system. Bombay beats them hollow there. But everything else, it seems like ur getting bang for your buck.
We could take a page out of their book and learn a few lessons. How long are we going to make excuses for every damn thing and when will we start delivering? When will people like me stop writing this shit on blogs and get off their asses and actually do something?
Monday, December 1, 2008
Aren't you pissed off?
We have a S.W.A.T. team equivalent only in Manesar, and it takes them 9 hours to get to Bombay to shut down terrorists.
We have the Bombay Police force who have only lathis and .303 Lee-Enfield Rifles. The Lee-Enfield is incidentally, "the longest-serving military bolt-action rifle still in official service." Are we supposed to be proud that we respect tradition by using the same ancient weapons to combat automatic and semi-automatic guns?
I read somewhere that the snipers couldnt get a shot off because the scopes fitted on their guns were not powerful enough for them to make out whether the people moving inside the rooms were guests or terrorists.
Our NSG or Police don't even have night vision devices that any kid who has played any video game today will tell you wouldve helped reduce this terrorist attack, possibly by half the duration that it actually lasted.
If you've been to Leo's after the attack, you will notice a huge hole that one of the terrorists' bullets made in a lamp post. A Lamp Post, for heavens sake!! and the Mumbai Police with their Lee-Enfields were trying to fight the terrorists in their khakis. I get the whole "Mard Aaamhi Marathe Khare"(We are true maharashtrian men) theory, but this is just stupid!
Aren't you pissed off?
Night vision goggles were first used in WW-2. In a lot of countries, even civilians can own night-vision goggles. And the Indian police don't have them even today, 60+ years after they were first used. But of course we Indians are resourceful... we will use floodlights to light up hotel rooms.
Have any of you been to www.precisionremotes.com ? I suggest you go there and take a look at the kind of devices they sell to the US Dept of Defence. Now those kinds things would end a hostage crisis in a hurry.
Recently in October of this year, there was a hostage situation in Brazil. Some of the reasons for failure that were widely publicised are as under
1. Allowing the kidnapping to last for so many days(100 hours),
2. Not shooting the kidnapper with a Sniper,
3. Taking too long to storm into the apartment after the explosion of the door (The Nariman House operation made some similar mistake)
These 3 mistakes are classic No-Nos in a hostage situation, according to SWAT instructor Marcos Do Val.
India refuses to learn from previous fuck-ups. In 1995, 6 tourists were kidnapped by Al-Faran in Kashmir and they demanded the release of Maulana Masood Azhar - founder of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. India had arrested him in 94 for his involvement with the Harkat-ul-mujahideen. Both HuM and JeM are widely acknowledged to be supported by the ISI and Osama Bin Laden respectively.
In 1999, India saw another hostage drama - IC 814, where a plane was hijacked and taken to Taliban controlled Kandahar. Masood Azhar was released by the BJP government in exchange for the hostages. Masood was soon seen in Pakistan running around making fiery speeches.
The JeM also carried out, under the leadership of Masood Azhar, the attacks on the Indian Parliament.
After 9/11, when USA forced Pakistan to get its act together, Masood Azhar was detained for a year by Pakistani authorities in connection with the Indian parliament attack, but was never formally charged. The Lahore High Court ordered an end to his house arrest on 14 December 2002.
This is just the Pak - Masood Azhar connection. The Akshardham incident was very similar to the Bombay terror attacks. With 2 terrorists firing indiscriminately and throwing grenades at people. On that day, it took 7 hours for the NSG commandos to get from Delhi to Ahmedabad. And yet, we did the same thing?
Why are we refusing to learn anything from past experiences? Pakistan has constantly supported these activities and we do nothing but talk, our forces are constantly found wanting and we do nothing btu talk, we give our brave men lathis to work with and they got shot and we do nothing but talk.... do we, the people of India really deserve this rubbish?
Aren't you pissed off?
We have the Bombay Police force who have only lathis and .303 Lee-Enfield Rifles. The Lee-Enfield is incidentally, "the longest-serving military bolt-action rifle still in official service." Are we supposed to be proud that we respect tradition by using the same ancient weapons to combat automatic and semi-automatic guns?
I read somewhere that the snipers couldnt get a shot off because the scopes fitted on their guns were not powerful enough for them to make out whether the people moving inside the rooms were guests or terrorists.
Our NSG or Police don't even have night vision devices that any kid who has played any video game today will tell you wouldve helped reduce this terrorist attack, possibly by half the duration that it actually lasted.
If you've been to Leo's after the attack, you will notice a huge hole that one of the terrorists' bullets made in a lamp post. A Lamp Post, for heavens sake!! and the Mumbai Police with their Lee-Enfields were trying to fight the terrorists in their khakis. I get the whole "Mard Aaamhi Marathe Khare"(We are true maharashtrian men) theory, but this is just stupid!
Aren't you pissed off?
Night vision goggles were first used in WW-2. In a lot of countries, even civilians can own night-vision goggles. And the Indian police don't have them even today, 60+ years after they were first used. But of course we Indians are resourceful... we will use floodlights to light up hotel rooms.
Have any of you been to www.precisionremotes.com ? I suggest you go there and take a look at the kind of devices they sell to the US Dept of Defence. Now those kinds things would end a hostage crisis in a hurry.
Recently in October of this year, there was a hostage situation in Brazil. Some of the reasons for failure that were widely publicised are as under
1. Allowing the kidnapping to last for so many days(100 hours),
2. Not shooting the kidnapper with a Sniper,
3. Taking too long to storm into the apartment after the explosion of the door (The Nariman House operation made some similar mistake)
These 3 mistakes are classic No-Nos in a hostage situation, according to SWAT instructor Marcos Do Val.
India refuses to learn from previous fuck-ups. In 1995, 6 tourists were kidnapped by Al-Faran in Kashmir and they demanded the release of Maulana Masood Azhar - founder of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. India had arrested him in 94 for his involvement with the Harkat-ul-mujahideen. Both HuM and JeM are widely acknowledged to be supported by the ISI and Osama Bin Laden respectively.
In 1999, India saw another hostage drama - IC 814, where a plane was hijacked and taken to Taliban controlled Kandahar. Masood Azhar was released by the BJP government in exchange for the hostages. Masood was soon seen in Pakistan running around making fiery speeches.
The JeM also carried out, under the leadership of Masood Azhar, the attacks on the Indian Parliament.
After 9/11, when USA forced Pakistan to get its act together, Masood Azhar was detained for a year by Pakistani authorities in connection with the Indian parliament attack, but was never formally charged. The Lahore High Court ordered an end to his house arrest on 14 December 2002.
This is just the Pak - Masood Azhar connection. The Akshardham incident was very similar to the Bombay terror attacks. With 2 terrorists firing indiscriminately and throwing grenades at people. On that day, it took 7 hours for the NSG commandos to get from Delhi to Ahmedabad. And yet, we did the same thing?
Why are we refusing to learn anything from past experiences? Pakistan has constantly supported these activities and we do nothing but talk, our forces are constantly found wanting and we do nothing btu talk, we give our brave men lathis to work with and they got shot and we do nothing but talk.... do we, the people of India really deserve this rubbish?
Aren't you pissed off?
Friday, November 7, 2008
Smells like......Bombay?
It seems like i was in Bombay eons ago! Actually, thats because it WAS eons ago. And the thing i miss the most are the familiar, exciting, disgusting, comforting smells of the city. The first thing that strikes you about Bombay (and i suppose everyone will say this about their city) is the smell. While I love Chennai, I have almost no smells that i associate with the city.
Bombay is a different story altogether. Odours of all kinds assail ones nostrils from the minute you step onto the tarmac at the airport or off the train at Dadar or VT or BCT.
I lived in Bandra, so the smell of Jude bakery when they would bring out the fresh pav was simply heavenly. So was the smell inside Brownie Point. (Where incidentally, i once met Uday Benegal of rock machine/indus creed/alms for shanti)
The smell of fish outside sassoon docks, from the 2nd floor of Kismet will always be etched in my memory. The smell of the first rains hitting the earth, the smell of chlorine at the sea-princess pool, the smell of casper when he got wet in the rain, the smell of food at Namrata's house - where i always landed up at meal and snack-time, the smell of the sizzling brownie sundae at bombay blue, the smell of kababs on Linking Road as you walk or drive past Jai Jawaan, the smell of Bade Miya all along Tulloch Road, the smell of the sea from the BPT Garden, the smell of the Parle factory as you travel by local train from Andheri to Vile Parle, the smell of the Golden Tobacco factory as you sit in your classroom day-dreaming, The smell of cakes and vanilla at Dinelle's house, the smell of rubber balloons and holi colours that disappear into oblivion when you meet someone who absolutely blows your mind, the smell of malli-pu and other flowers while you drive through the lanes of Matunga. The smell of samosas and jalebis outside Punjab Sweet House, the smell of milk from the Aarey factory at Worli seaface.
These are just a few of my favourite things.
Every Bombayite will have his or her Bombay-smell tale to tell. Anything you'd like to share, feel free..
Bombay is a different story altogether. Odours of all kinds assail ones nostrils from the minute you step onto the tarmac at the airport or off the train at Dadar or VT or BCT.
I lived in Bandra, so the smell of Jude bakery when they would bring out the fresh pav was simply heavenly. So was the smell inside Brownie Point. (Where incidentally, i once met Uday Benegal of rock machine/indus creed/alms for shanti)
The smell of fish outside sassoon docks, from the 2nd floor of Kismet will always be etched in my memory. The smell of the first rains hitting the earth, the smell of chlorine at the sea-princess pool, the smell of casper when he got wet in the rain, the smell of food at Namrata's house - where i always landed up at meal and snack-time, the smell of the sizzling brownie sundae at bombay blue, the smell of kababs on Linking Road as you walk or drive past Jai Jawaan, the smell of Bade Miya all along Tulloch Road, the smell of the sea from the BPT Garden, the smell of the Parle factory as you travel by local train from Andheri to Vile Parle, the smell of the Golden Tobacco factory as you sit in your classroom day-dreaming, The smell of cakes and vanilla at Dinelle's house, the smell of rubber balloons and holi colours that disappear into oblivion when you meet someone who absolutely blows your mind, the smell of malli-pu and other flowers while you drive through the lanes of Matunga. The smell of samosas and jalebis outside Punjab Sweet House, the smell of milk from the Aarey factory at Worli seaface.
These are just a few of my favourite things.
Every Bombayite will have his or her Bombay-smell tale to tell. Anything you'd like to share, feel free..
Monday, October 13, 2008
Is black the new pink?
I have been reading a few blogs and talking to a few friends of mine and this question seems to pop up like a Carrie Bradshaw article topic - Are men, the new women?
A lot of women I know have been cribbing about how they have started looking for no-strings attached flings, one-night stands etc. and it is so tough to find a man who is into that anymore (apparently, there are enough assholes for that, but said women steer clear of them... yea, right!). Apart from the diminished libidinal energies, there are a lot more aspects to touch upon here, but for the sake of keeping the excitement levels up, we'll discuss just this one, ok?
Some instances I have heard from friends (male AND female)-
1. A guy didn't wanna do it with his gf (it wouldve been her first time) because he hadnt done it in a while and was actually worried that he may not be good enough.
2. A guy didnt wanna do it with a girl he met while she was on vacation, not because he was not attracted to her, but because he thought sex was important and not to be had with someone just for the heck of it.
3. A guy didnt wanna do it with a girl he was staying with on vacation, not because he was not attracted to her, but because he was leaving and they were good friends and it would make things weird.
4. A guy turned down a threesome offer from 2 superhot women because he was in a relationship with a girl (who had been studying overseas for the past 6 months and apparently had no way of finding out.)
In all 4 situations, the women have apparently been very persuasive, in different ways, but the men in each case were steadfast. So what is with the men of today? Are we becoming sappy, sensitive fools who are just looking gift horses in the mouth? Is this part of the new (gulp) metrosexual gene??
I read on a blog that "The one advantage of casual sex is of course the delicious unfeelingness of it. The utter unspeciality." I guess we men like the speciality. Yes, I did include myself in that breed of men by saying 'we'. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for flings and one-offs and have had a few fun ones myself. But there is nothing wrong in wanting something meaningful and being sensitive about these things.
Maybe this change is because we have sensible women friends who teach us about sensitivity towards women. Maybe we have great parents who teach us not to be shallow, (the occasional (read: rare) fling is not shallow...shush) or maybe its just who we are today, because of social and sexual evolution.
Either way, this change is here. Maybe the world will be a better place from this... Maybe.
A lot of women I know have been cribbing about how they have started looking for no-strings attached flings, one-night stands etc. and it is so tough to find a man who is into that anymore (apparently, there are enough assholes for that, but said women steer clear of them... yea, right!). Apart from the diminished libidinal energies, there are a lot more aspects to touch upon here, but for the sake of keeping the excitement levels up, we'll discuss just this one, ok?
Some instances I have heard from friends (male AND female)-
1. A guy didn't wanna do it with his gf (it wouldve been her first time) because he hadnt done it in a while and was actually worried that he may not be good enough.
2. A guy didnt wanna do it with a girl he met while she was on vacation, not because he was not attracted to her, but because he thought sex was important and not to be had with someone just for the heck of it.
3. A guy didnt wanna do it with a girl he was staying with on vacation, not because he was not attracted to her, but because he was leaving and they were good friends and it would make things weird.
4. A guy turned down a threesome offer from 2 superhot women because he was in a relationship with a girl (who had been studying overseas for the past 6 months and apparently had no way of finding out.)
In all 4 situations, the women have apparently been very persuasive, in different ways, but the men in each case were steadfast. So what is with the men of today? Are we becoming sappy, sensitive fools who are just looking gift horses in the mouth? Is this part of the new (gulp) metrosexual gene??
I read on a blog that "The one advantage of casual sex is of course the delicious unfeelingness of it. The utter unspeciality." I guess we men like the speciality. Yes, I did include myself in that breed of men by saying 'we'. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for flings and one-offs and have had a few fun ones myself. But there is nothing wrong in wanting something meaningful and being sensitive about these things.
Maybe this change is because we have sensible women friends who teach us about sensitivity towards women. Maybe we have great parents who teach us not to be shallow, (the occasional (read: rare) fling is not shallow...shush) or maybe its just who we are today, because of social and sexual evolution.
Either way, this change is here. Maybe the world will be a better place from this... Maybe.
Monday, October 6, 2008
New Beginnings
"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern." - William Blake
Yes, i copied this and i pasted it! No, it has no relevance to what I'm writing about. But then, 'copy---paste', thats what I do for a living, and I'd like to believe I'm pretty damn good at it. Maybe its time for some original thought, just for a change.
I was listening to a radio station the other day and they were discussing the ban on smoking in public places. One guy called in and spoke about how the ban was ridiculous and how people never "knowingly and purposely blow smoke in other people's faces". He also spoke about how the government should concentrate on more important things like catching terrorists and suicide bombers (umm, didn't they blow themselves up?). The RJs were mighty impressed with this caller and applauded him for being so outspoken and endorsed his views. (WHATEVER!!!)
Now, while i agree with the "concentrate on catching terrorists", I don't see why the world should come to a standstill while we all run behind terrorists. India always has been the kind of country that has been too busy with life, to let blasts affect it for too long. We haven't built memorials, celebrated/mourned anniversary after anniversary. Life must go on. While i do believe that terrorists must be caught, communal violence must stop etc etc, I also believe thathe government can't concentrate only on one thing at a time. Thats is the point of having a cabinet and ministries handling various portfolios. Each one does his bit in one's assigned area. And the Health Ministry is doing their bit to provide a smoke-free environment for everyone. Kudos to them. I also believe that everyone has the right to a smoke-free environment. And Mr. Radio-Caller, you don't need to blow smoke directly in someone's face for them to be affected by it. Sure, if you want to kill yourself, you're more than welcome to light up in the privacy of your own home.
People say "what about the cars that pollute the roads, and industries that pollute all over the place. The government should clamp down on them too". Absolutely! But that doesn't mean that they should turn a blind eye towards one thing, while they try to rectify another. And in any case the govt is working on this. All vehicles are required to be Bharat Stage III compliant, which means they have to follow certain emission norms. I have not read up on what factories etc. have to comply with, so i won't comment on that.
My point is, change happens everywhere, slowly and simultaneously. You can't disregard one move just because the move in other areas have not been as prompt. As human beings, we are naturally resistant towards change. But if we think about this ban objectively, we'll realise it will turn out to be better for us in the long run. (fuck that, it will be better in the short run too)
Yes, i copied this and i pasted it! No, it has no relevance to what I'm writing about. But then, 'copy---paste', thats what I do for a living, and I'd like to believe I'm pretty damn good at it. Maybe its time for some original thought, just for a change.
I was listening to a radio station the other day and they were discussing the ban on smoking in public places. One guy called in and spoke about how the ban was ridiculous and how people never "knowingly and purposely blow smoke in other people's faces". He also spoke about how the government should concentrate on more important things like catching terrorists and suicide bombers (umm, didn't they blow themselves up?). The RJs were mighty impressed with this caller and applauded him for being so outspoken and endorsed his views. (WHATEVER!!!)
Now, while i agree with the "concentrate on catching terrorists", I don't see why the world should come to a standstill while we all run behind terrorists. India always has been the kind of country that has been too busy with life, to let blasts affect it for too long. We haven't built memorials, celebrated/mourned anniversary after anniversary. Life must go on. While i do believe that terrorists must be caught, communal violence must stop etc etc, I also believe thathe government can't concentrate only on one thing at a time. Thats is the point of having a cabinet and ministries handling various portfolios. Each one does his bit in one's assigned area. And the Health Ministry is doing their bit to provide a smoke-free environment for everyone. Kudos to them. I also believe that everyone has the right to a smoke-free environment. And Mr. Radio-Caller, you don't need to blow smoke directly in someone's face for them to be affected by it. Sure, if you want to kill yourself, you're more than welcome to light up in the privacy of your own home.
People say "what about the cars that pollute the roads, and industries that pollute all over the place. The government should clamp down on them too". Absolutely! But that doesn't mean that they should turn a blind eye towards one thing, while they try to rectify another. And in any case the govt is working on this. All vehicles are required to be Bharat Stage III compliant, which means they have to follow certain emission norms. I have not read up on what factories etc. have to comply with, so i won't comment on that.
My point is, change happens everywhere, slowly and simultaneously. You can't disregard one move just because the move in other areas have not been as prompt. As human beings, we are naturally resistant towards change. But if we think about this ban objectively, we'll realise it will turn out to be better for us in the long run. (fuck that, it will be better in the short run too)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
