Sunday, October 31, 2010

ST7 for the Red Riding Dude

 
Displacement is 678.2cc precisely. And the price - as I read on bikeadvice.in - would be anywhere around 4.5 to 5 lacs. Not bad, yeah? Can't say whether I can afford to own one like this quite yet. It has far greater chances of making me a Red Riding Dude. ;)

My eyes are still set on this one.


It is closer (in terms of price, styling, power, madness, neatness, etc.) to what I've been thinking of for quite some time now. How far are the test-rides? When do the bookings begin?

Saturday, October 30, 2010

2011 Tata Safari Dicor Beer-holder Edition


I try reclaiming my life every once in a while sipping on the beautifully sculpted Carlsberg 500ml. The only glitch in this process of reclamation is that the bottle holders in Prateek's Safari aren't big enough. So the brief intervals I take while sipping are filled with 'resetting the bottle' instead of reclaiming life; the intention is to keep the cleanliness of the SUV intact.

I announce the launch of Tata Safari Dicor Beer-holder Edition 2011. Beware, you might not get it though.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Plastic Poopers

That's the name I've given to the mass bikes getting launched in this country. As the name suggests these mass bikes are made to look really smashing with plastic jobs. But if it comes to any semblance of grace and performance they would fall like pins in a trashcan.

Mini Triumph Bonneville in India

  
After watching a slew of launches from so many motorcycle manufacturers present in India, I realize this is what I really really want. Forget the tech-specs; I want a bike with this kind of style in India. Surely, there's Bullet Classic but even that doesn't cut in front such a beauty as Triumph Bonneville.

Mahindra Mojo is a great attempt at styling a simple yet radical bike.


Its reputation will only grow once it hits the road I believe. However, my earnest desire is to see a mini Triumph Bonneville 300cc or 350cc specifically for India. So that at least I can buy :).

One will trumpet arguments against my desire (like practicalities and volumes and blah blah), but that's what Mahindra has done; gone against all current norms to announce Mojo. Given a totally new twist to motorcycling in India. Whether the flow will drift in their direction is yet to be seen but I am sure there will be many takers.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Aggression

Bioscope Multiplex Washroom, Bhilwara
While this could be out of sheer negligence or ignorance, the word has some aggression embedded. No? 

It seems to me that another word/concept out here has aggression embedded in it. GYM. I'll spare the details of an incident that took place at Prateek's gym today but I'll share the inferences.

GYM = Body Building = Brawn = Dongiri
GYM = Fitness, or GYM = Stamina, doesn't register.

360 Degrees, Bhilwara
The Gym almost became a face-off platform for the Dons of the town.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Visible Filth, cleaning it all up across the country, every street must be beautiful

Earlier Mumbai, now Bhilwara. A'bad is fairly clean compared to these two towns. But guess A'bad (and few other cities as well) is an exception in this country.

Visible filth depresses me.

When I travel by train, most often I alight with rather discomforting feelings. The sights around are saddening.

I want to do something to remove the VISIBLE FILTH. I have some ideas but I wanna know from everyone, who reads this, what should/can be done. There are some agencies who are already working towards this. There are government agencies whose regular work involves removing VISIBLE FILTH. But I don't think either group has been massively effective. By 'massively' I mean at a nation-wide level. Forget nation-wide, don't think any agency has been effective even at a local street level. So I want to do something.

Any suggestions?

Comments section is open. Alternatively write to me at sidsoni at gmail.com.

If you think, your friends might also have something to say, please share this link with them. My gratitude in advance.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Hair.make-up.nails.skin.coffee&gossip.

Flaunt. Hair.make-up.nails.skin.coffee&gossip.
Yes, the slightly illegible words in the picture read exactly as I've written in the caption above. Hair.make-up.nails.skin.coffee&gossip. Hair... Coffee & Gossip? O' Hair... Coffee & Gossip! Oh, ok!

Does it pique your interest? Visit when you are in Ahmedabad and have some time and are anywhere near Prahladnagar area.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Living without Air Conditioners

isn't easy. More so when you live in a place like Bhilwara. So the obvious thing to do is install air-conditioners and stop thinking. But the damage that ACs do to the environment puts your life at stake anyway. If not now, sometime tomorrow.

I've been trying to find out whether there exist architectural models which make us stay cool without ACs. So after a few days of searching, I have found these interesting bits:

Syrian Beehive Houses

Dano Secondary School
More on the same here.

And the most interesting place Green School in Bali, Indonesia. I want to open one such place too. Or rather many such places across the country. Or across the world. :)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Giving gravity its due

Table Board in the conference room
The picture shows a huge white board placed on a table.

Typically white boards are wall mounted. One person scribbling or doodling and sort-of 'teachering' the people gazing at the board. Now that's more like a mass-media phenomenon. Advertisement bombarded through television and watched haplessly by folks gathered around.

I've tried making white board activities slightly more engaging, slightly more involving by placing it right on the table around which people sit. That way there's very little chance that they are staring at a void. They can't. Besides, working like this creates more proximity (actual physical proximity) between the content/matter and the people sitting around the table. And I've felt that this proximity rubs off positively. It's like everybody sharing the board-space equally; everybody's got a stake.

Lastly, you must've noticed this if you've ever scribbled for a while on a wall-mounted white board, standing. Legs tire. And so does the writing-hand. I've arranged it in a naturally convenient manner; you don't have to fight gravity to raise your writing hand. You don't have to stand and people don't have to stare keeping the heads held high and erect. They can slouch. They can keep the heads down. Work still happens. They are still receiving. They are paying attention.

Try it if you are a meeting-holic team.

Shree Chang!

On Ahmedabad Udaipur Highway
Next you know, you'll have a Guruji Shree Shree Chang!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Fired!

A few days back, I fired an old accountant who joined the hospital after retirement from government service.

Today, I fired a youngster whom I hired just a month back. Why? He was handsomely paid. He thought well, talked well but he wasn't able to conclude his tasks and depended on me to take decisions. He was a young engineering grad whom I had hired for marketing communication!

I offered him to stay but at a lesser salary. He denied.

His spirit impressed me even as he left. He was smiling. He said, "I believe in revolutions. If you think of something new (referring to a project I discussed with him just yesterday), let me know."

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Achanak Juice

Achanak
Had gone for some work to Jaipur and was hanging around the Gaurav Tower area when I noticed this. Achanak! You don't measure your thirst until the moment you suddenly announce that you are thirsty. Quite a name.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Intentions & Conversations

One of the things that I've shied away from on many occasions is 'conversations'.

Not any longer though! I've been talking and talking and talking with numerous people and on numerous matters - most of them petty matters.

And even when I am free, there's someone who wants to have a conversation. I suspect, people here find me good-natured. Mind you, 'good-natured' has as many negative implications as positive in this place. Couple this with the position I'm in at the hospital. And combine this couple with the earnest desire of people to fill time somehow.

These people sound the sweetest people on earth. They make spicy interesting conversations. And in each of these conversations, there's a reference to salary and money and earnings and expenses.

Tomorrow comes. I cry hoarse to make them understand how work ought to happen.

How we jump?


This one has stuck to me for a few days now. So makes sense sharing. Besides, the fact that I'm struggling to get a grip here definitely makes this stint nothing less than an adventure :). I made a choice.

Hugh Macleod shares his nuggets here.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Art of Naming

Prateek just got out of the Safari to buy something when his mobile rang. I ignored the rings for a few seconds before I thought I should take the call. I missed the call but I couldn't miss noticing the name of the caller.

"Naresh purple shirt body builder bhl m p gym"

I browsed through his Blackberry and observed some more names:

"Vinod ji gattyani Honda shwrum ke upar ki property"

"Airtl net account paswrd Online bill payment"

"Akshay sharma financer ref khaan sab"

"Mr sharad green tea jaipur twinning dealer"

"Pankaj bhaia tendor ref manish bhaia"

You get the drift? These names give an idea of where/how the contact originated. When you name it like that, your memory will not fail you. If your memory doesn't fail you, most likely you'll be super efficient.

It's tough to appreciate this way of storing names but if you meet or like meeting a lot of people, this little bit will help a great deal. I bet.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Highways

Having spent a considerable time as a subordinate, and having spent time as a 'boss' as well for some time now, there's only one question: how does work happen?

HIGHWAYS

If my boss allowed me to work on my own, take my own decisions and get it done anyhow, I enjoyed it more and I did it faster. Every time I was forced to consult or seek permissions meant there was a speed-breaker.

Now how many highways have speed-breakers?! Or rather, how many speed-breakers do you find on highways?! And how far do you relish those?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Youth of Rajasthan & 'Government' Mindset

The hospital has been facing a shortage of nursing staff. Reason? Employees, old and new, left their jobs for a couple of months to prepare for State/Central Government exams.

In fact, even some team members, who've done their 'MBAs' and are involved in the management of the hospital, try getting into government jobs.

I tried finding out what is it that makes these people consider government jobs:
  • Security of job, of course
  • Fixed timings. That implies not working at odd hours.
  • Most of the times, no work at all and still receiving high salary
  • Transferrable jobs
  • Parents' pressure
  • Regular salary hike irrespective of whether there's work or not
And I am talking about very young seemingly bright youngsters in their early or mid-20s. Talk about the progress of this nation. It's growing at 8-9% nonetheless!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Dad's worry

My Dad is a bit worried. I would say most Dads would be worried if their sons make moves like I do. He keeps telling me, "Bas yahi baat hai ki aage career kaise badhega..."

I can't really explain this. But careers are better lived through than charted out with meticulous planning and/or inspired by fear.

Here's a little principle I try to follow: FIT BODY, OPEN MIND. If I ensure this, rest will follow.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Chamchagiri

Feedback received
We introduced a system of taking feedback in writing. There's a box in which people drop in their feedback. So here's something I received a couple of days back.

Few things can be safely inferred:
  • The woman/man giving this feedback is a part of the hospital. (Look at the trouble he/she has gone to. Stapling and all!)
  • The person is relatively old. 
  • The person is fearful.
  • And there's a little bit of politics happening out here.
Interesting nonetheless!

Here's a juxtaposed thought. Rahul Gandhi, so far, hasn't been making much of the opportunity he has. What's the opportunity? Involving the educated, professional youth in politics. How easy to make a comment like the one above! Ever looked at his team composition?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Couple of ads on Page No. 3 of Main Paper, Dainik Bhaskar, 5th October 2010

Woke up after a good 9 hrs' sleep. Haven't had that kind of good fortune for quite some time. Feeling fresh. Here's something from yesterday.

Mast Kalandar Ad
 I shared the Japani Tel & Afghani Nuskha the other day. Here's Mast Kalandar ;)

Italian Wall Putty Ad
What if I replaced the name Italian Wall Putty by Mast Kalandar Tel? :)

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Tann Tanaaan!

Me encircled in the larger context :)
Talk about my desire to land on Page 3. So what if it's Bhilwara ;). More than the appearance on Page 3, they were the Eagles numbers played by a local band which pleased me. But, as they say, any publicity is good publicity.

Me on the extreme right :)
If you notice, my name's been quoted as Siddhant Kabra!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Sorting it out the old post-office way

Sorting Grid

Hospitals are so document-intensive workplaces. And am trying to harness energies of a bunch of people who've never so far worked based on the written words.

As you can see each slot in the grid is labeled. Copies of TASK ALLOTMENT FORMS are sorted according to the labels. I only need to check each slot every now and then and follow up if required.

Basic tools but important ones even in this tech-heavy world.

Meeting Room

Office-view from the Meeting Room

Saturday, October 2, 2010

First step to getting tasks done

Main slip given to the person taking the task

Copy which stays with the person giving the task

Thoughts move faster than actions. There is always so much to do and so many people to do all the work. But none of them seemed trackable. Besides, there's a limit to remembering all that you've delegated. So just to facilitate memory and monitoring work, I introduced a simple mechanism: TASK ALLOTMENT FORM. 

Every time a person wants to get work done from another person, he/she simply fills this form and then tracks it on the basis of this form. The process has been in use for a few days now and it's helping so far. :)

Afghani Nuskha & Japani Tel


Today's Rajasthan Patrika, last page, premium spots :). Mumbai's local trains also carry similar things...

Friday, October 1, 2010

Glimpses of Krishna Hospital, Bhilwara

Sort of full-view of Krishna Hospital

Main entrance

Building entrance

Left hand side lobby view

Grasshopper on the bonnet


Bereft of entertainment options, one thing we do is go out late in the evening for a drive. This hopper stuck to the bonnet even at 100kmph :).

Btw, Bhilwara is home to a sizable number of hoppers. And they die a wholesale death getting crushed on the streets!