Monday, January 31, 2011

Eye Candy - Kawasaki W800

Wonder when will stuff like this come to India. I don't want 800cc. 200, 300 or 400 is enough. This stuff leaves me droooooooooooolin' :).




Now don't tell me get a Bullet Classic. I have many reasons not to buy that one. Had booked it once; sure it looks good and has a new engine too. But I got tired of the waiting period. Besides, a lot still to be desired as far as service is concerned.

Triumph or Kawasaki must develop one such model for India. I'll buy.

Know more about Kawasaki W800 here.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

What works?

The table below shows all-time top posts on this blog:


And this table below shows top posts in the last one week on this blog :):


If the visuals are slightly less clear, the two posts are titled:
  1. Afghani Nuskha & Japani Tel (click here to check out the post)
  2. 2011 Tata Safari Dicor Beer-holder Edition (click here to check this post)
Okay, now a few questions and inferences:

Have I written nothing better or shared nothing more important? If 'traffic' is one measure...

Of course, my popularity as a writer is as good as anybody's guess ;)

Guess, I am ridiculously away from what's 'important' for the world.

Guess, the manner of presenting these two posts is better than all other things/thoughts I've presented. :)

Perhaps, 'funny' things are more important than important things.

Perhaps, fun is more important than even the 'important'.

Perhaps, important things in the guise of 'humor' work better than in the guise of 'important'.

Perhaps, 'possessing' is 'fun'.

More inferences? :)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

:) :) :)

Now those smileys might give you a good idea of how happy I could be, right? I realize that texting and instant messaging have inadvertently and so innocuously introduced, by way of 'number of smileys', a way of measuring the moods/emotions of people. Mind you, not just the 'smiley' itself. It's 'the number of smileys'.

Of course, there are words which can depict appropriately the intensity of different emotions but then in a community where English isn't a native language, usage of such vocabulary is rather limited. But with the use of English going really mass, the urge to convey the emotion correctly has resulted in a rather simple solution: the number of smileys.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Grappling with my non-Pavlovian status

My last post was a reflection of my state of mind. This extends the explanation.

It really feels strange to be out of a 9 to 5 routine. Sometimes I find myself staring into the void. Still not able to relinquish my 'Pavlovian' needs :).

Perhaps this word needs some explanation. 'Pavlovian' as I've used means a repetitive juxtaposition of certain two elements such that eventually one is accepted as the cause of existence of another for no 'logical' reason. For example, getting a certain salary/compensation in the first few days after every month. So, 'the end of the month' gets so connected with 'receiving salary/compensation' that it becomes cause enough to expect 'salary/compensation'.

Anyway, seemingly linked to the above phenomenon, I've observed people are hired more for their availability than for their actual work. Just making sure that people are available at any point in time gives a sense of security that work will happen. And this observation is a rather disturbing one. For it undermines the value of time. Or, in other words, it simply implies that it is okay to let people idle away their time when there's no 'work'. It isn't a wonder then that spending 30-31 days at your workplace, doing whatever, means you oughta get your 'salary'.

Now, one can raise a question what is 'actual work'. :) Have fun.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Low cost living

Now that I'm planning to venture out on my own (and hopefully, the store I'm planning, will get ready in 2 and a half months), I realize I've to cut down on superfluous spending. Not that I feel that way most of the time when I spend. But yes, guess I've come to a point where I really have to prioritize and work in the most disciplined manner possible.

Another realization is the fact that the more space you get the more conscious choices you have to make. And there's nobody to blame or hold responsible for your decisions. Freedom in that sense always always comes with enormous responsibility towards your own self.

I'm trying to look for avenues where my physical presence isn't necessarily needed for 9-10 hours in a day. My physical presence might be required only when there is work of that sort.

The last two days have been rather disconcerting. Not having a lot to work on (as in 'the work given by or coming from someone else') is pretty scary. And I observe myself getting panicky coz of the space I've created for myself. I have to make choices. The decisions. Coz they will determine how monies flow :).

Crucial point in the journey. Will keep you posted.

And ya, now (at least for some foreseeable future) the base is A'bad.

Crabs vs Elephants update

Attended by 52 doctors of Bhilwara.

Appreciated by (almost) all of them.

Made sense to (almost) all of them.

The presentation and talk went on for about 45 minutes followed by a discussion of about 30 minutes. And of course more discussions ensued with dinner.

How and when the spark turns into fire is yet to be seen. :)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Crabs vs Elephants

Invitation Cards for the Conference

That's the title of the conference on Medical Business Economics arranged here tonite at 8:00. About 100 odd doctors are expected to participate. Hoping for a breakthrough.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

  
  
  
  
  
  
Blanket keeps you warm only if you keep in touch.
 
 
  
  
  
  
  

Saturday, January 8, 2011

SMS from a good friend

Man, I see the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.

:) I've held myself back and haven't bought the much desired motorcycle for the last one year. And I'm gonna buy a good bicycle soon, stay fit and sleep well. And share good things I read and think :).

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

How many avatars you have?

Avatars of Srinathji gracing the wall at Dr. Vishal Mehta's Clinic, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad

Traffic Rose, Ahmedabad


We were returning from CIMS. And when we stopped at a traffic signal, found these traffic policemen along with some volunteers (I guess) distributing roses(!!!) to people who had the seat-belts fastened or who had their helmets on.


This man seen on the left of the windscreen was distributing the info-material.


The rose and the info-material we received. Wow!

For once there was no punishment. There was a different way of approaching the problem of safety on road. Instead of penalizing those who aren't doing it, publicly (and warmly) complimenting those who are actually doing it.

Am sure this is a far better (i mean, effective) way of addressing the problem. And it does many more things.

It shows the police is a far amiable (instead of dreaded) manner. It shows they are working. It reflects the importance of safety precautions. Most importantly, it completes the loop - for people disposed to positive changes - by acknowledging a seemingly trivial but good habit.

You ask them to change. They change. You acknowledge the change and those who change. Loop completed. Word spreads. Results spread.

Kudos to whoever thought of this. Mr. Narendra Modi, his team, the policemen, the volunteers, and whoever formed a part of the execution of the idea.

Monday, January 3, 2011

On platforms of execution

If 'execution' demands a platform, what is that platform made of? People, their attitude, their thinking abilities, their education, their knowledge, their ambitions, etc.

Looked at in that context, Mumbai is a terrific platform. Seen broadly, you'll find similarities in attitudes, in education levels, in willingness to do stuff, in ambitions, etc. Just to give an example, there are countless MBAs from top b-schools in Mumbai. Just this very fact ensures that there is a certain level of thinking - which is needed for good work - already in place. It isn't a surprise that so much work happens there.

Bhilwara is another platform. One where there are such large inconsistencies in education levels, in ambitions, in attitudes, in thinking abilities, etc. How can a team ever work well to execute anything of substance?

So then the challenge of working in such a place is twofold. First, manage to create a platform. Then worry about execution.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Push Posts

Having got addicted to reading through Google Reader and to using a Blackberry, I have a suggestion for smart-phone makers/marketers:

Introduce PUSH POSTS for smart-phones

If facebook and twitter mobile apps help people socialize to their heart's desire, if push mails help people stay as closely connected with their work-related matters as possible, PUSH POSTS might help them climb greater levels of enlightenment. The world needs more enlightened souls, no?

Hope 2011 is the year when marketers wake up to the idea of PUSH POSTS.