Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Searching for responsiveness

Was reading a post on Royal Enfield's future plans on bikeadvice.in. One statement struck me in particular; I've been talking about this to a few people around me and to quite a few others on occasions:
“The good thing about the brand is that people want a relationship with it and are tolerant to the extent that we are responsive,” Dr Padmanabhan said.
I've been failing with Doudods just there. Have been trying different models, different ways of approaching people but it just doesn't cut. Seems to me that wherever money is the primary driver, responsiveness is highly likely to be misunderstood. Every software developer wants to do a project which is defined to the T and carries a fixed sum of money as compensation. To the specs, nothing else. Sounds so much like home-work done in school. I wonder if that's how great soft-social-ware can be built. Social responses have to be felt socially and have to be responded to socially. Conversations do not conform to the T.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

When I hate myself

A few days back while taking my car out of the parking, I bumped into another car parked close-by, denting it a little on the front door. I really didn't spot the car earlier; wonder how I missed it but it happened. Was scheduled for a meeting so moved out quickly thinking when I would come back I would inform the owner and apologize.

Forgot the apology that evening. Forgot the next day too. Few days passed until today I came face to face with the car owner and recalled that little accident. Without a surprise, he was annoyed. I couldn't say much.

The thing that troubles me isn't the accident but my own lack of responsiveness. How many times things happen to us and, to our frustration, the other person just doesn't bother to respond in any manner. Thinking about the car-owner's frustration makes me livid inside.

Just called him and apologized. Hope my apologies offer some peace after all.

Friday, May 27, 2011

b-Twin Sport 1 - the beginning of a ride


Delivered on 24th, this b-Twin Sport 1 was packed in a huge box. I've placed it against an empty wall in my room. My room's now a little closer to my always-imagined type of room. ;)

Well to begin my first ride on the b-twin was 18kms long, on 25th. Yesterday, I rode 22kms. I sensed I could do more but couldn't trust the entire setting. Cycle and me, on a highway going far and farther with no money or mobile phone or water-bottle in the pocket. Still baby steps in terms of cycling I guess...

Friday, May 20, 2011

Compulsive Expressive Disorder

I think being social is natural. So 'social media'. But like it happens with eating, it also happens with socializing. We over-do. Call that Compulsive Expressive Disorder.

There are occasions when I get into such a frame of mind that I start thinking about sharing or blogging before I actually do something 'worthy' of that. And times, when sitting with my laptop, I feel anxious what to write next, what to share next, what is the next update... And sometimes I actually do that. Thankfully I identify such moments soon enough. And also thankfully such occasions have been fairly limited so far; or at least I feel so :).

Twittering is the greatest manifestation of CED so far.

It is a disorder because at the back of the head you really do know that your desire to express isn't backed by much. You know that you don't have much to say but still say. You don't have much to share but still share. Expressing/sharing becomes important simply for the sake of doing so. 'What' is getting expressed/shared is immaterial.

And like many disorders CED also has a sunny side. Acting. It seems to me that 'acting' is very likely an outcome of persistent CED. In fact, one can say that if an actor doesn't suffer from CED, the likelihood of his/her success diminishes. Would you agree that Shahrukh suffers from that? Salman definitely does. Jim Carey? You bet. Johny Lever? Dilip Kumar? Bachhan? Meena Kumari?

Are you suffering from CED and never knew about it? So can you sense the symptoms? How is it influencing you?

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tickling name, isn't it?

News is that HERO MOTO is gonna replace HERO HONDA.

First, it reminds me of HELLO MOTO ringtone/jingle of Motorola mobile phones.

And just as that thought sinks in, I realize what MOTO means in Gujarati. HUGE! HERO HUGO sounds cool too!

And just as I am done with that, HERO in Gujarati means DIAMOND. In that case, it should've been MOTO HERO. HUGE DIAMOND! Guess, I unnecessarily get grammatically sensitive. HERO MOTO, DIAMOND HUGE is well understood, isn't it! :)

RED RIDING DUDE


And just when I thought I would succumb to the yellow temptation... Red always has a way of sneaking in to my life. Or rather I let it. Coz I love it. I'm living my words out: RED RIDING DUDE. 5 days to wait.

I suppose I am happier buying this before buying a motorcycle. Motors are so lethargy-inducing. Let me ride singing, with the winds, to the beats of my heart :). Poetic, no? ;)

b-twin SPORT 1

Thinking about a motorcycle for so long, I bought a cycle without a motor ;). Yes, just placed an order for b-twin SPORT 1.

My leg was hurting a bit the last time I went running. And not indulging in an endurance activity right in the morning is so mind-numbing; am not a couch potato but feel like a potato for sure.


Just sealed the deal today. If you've also been thinking intently on cycling and haven't yet for want of a cycle or a good deal ;), here's a trigger. Worth it! So, think about it. You might just get fitter.

Picture courtersy: motos.coches.net

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Burly got yellow

 

And just when I thought it is getting boring, it got yellow! Yes, the red riding dude likes yellow! ;) This color was long long awaited by many enthusiasts I suppose. Undoubtedly, the best looking 150 in the country.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Ganguly's back and how...


Something that the politicians of IPL can never get... What a pic! What a man! What a fan!

Osama & compassion misplaced

Have been reading a lot about systems thinking. In fact, even before I was aware of the term 'systems thinking', I realize I was thinking on those lines for a long time.

Osama is dead.

I just happened to check an image on the cover of India Today today morning. People protesting Osama's death. Another image showed people offering prayers in Osama's support/memory.

The truth could very well be that these very people (shown in images mentioned above) wouldn't support Osama if they lived in relatively more comfortable environment and had suffered from something like a 9/11.

So what's happening really? And why does anyone like Osama become a leader (call him a terror leader) in such a manner? Was he just a egomaniac? Was he a narcissist? Was he just doing it for fame? Was he just a despot? Was he fond of putting himself in utmost danger? Could be. But there is definitely a little more.

He was tall. From whatever images have circulated in mass media, he looked assured. Was media-savvy for sure. Could've been an actor, isn't it?

But he became an icon for a certain kind of people. If we analyze such people, we might see some common characteristics. Under-educated, under-privileged, illiterate, filled with powerlessness, lacking means for an appropriate living, jealous of those who are better off, hatred of being patronized, desirous of self-respect but not aware of the 'means' to possess some, failing to find someone appropriate to blame... Of course, they were wanting for something to feel proud of. Enter Osama.

It isn't that what I am writing hasn't been thought of. But I would like to say that, somewhere, men like Osama arise because of their compassion for their own people. But this river of compassion seems to flow through the steamiest rocks and the same water which could assuage thirst, burns.

One can say whatever one has to but men living without means for a long time are like that. They are sort of dangerously unhooked. Depending on what they chance upon, they will gravitate or levitate or evaporate or explode.

Osama was definitely inept in that he caused such unforgivable harm. Many of the so-called leaders of the world seem no great either. They might be good on the television but their solutions aren't solving much. And, at best, the blame for any explicit harm cannot be attached to them.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

The way I think about buying motorcycles

I am not gonna write an essay here. But I'll give you an idea. :) As mentioned in my last post, I am contemplating buying one of the following:

FZ16 (I can buy immediately), or
Classic 500! :D (perhaps in a couple of months I might be able to make the provisions), or
Bandit! :D :D (Yes, the 1250cc Bandit! God knows when I would be able to manage that kind of spare monies. Perhaps in about an year's time...)

The fear in waiting is that petrol would become so prohibitive that the one wouldn't feel like buying a Bandit at all. It would rob you instead! ;)

What a Royal surprise!

I've been contemplating buying a bike off late.

A few days back I visited the Royal Enfield showroom at Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Wasn't as interested in the test-ride as I was in knowing the price of Bullet Electra. So after a brief 5 minutes at the showroom, I was on my way.

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I got a call from Rakesh - I suppose he handles (or may be owns, I am not sure) that showroom. He asked me what I was thinking. Hearing my answer, he simply said, "I giving you a 500 for a day. Ride it for a day and then think. I am sending my guy with the bike at around 6."

And I had a Classic 500 for a day. I went for a ride to Gandhinagar in the evening. 55kms. Dad rode it too to the factory in the morning. 40kms. All combined we did a little more than 100kms before I returned the bike to the showroom.

I must say a lot has improved. Clutching. Gear-shifting. Starting, etc. And the one important (perhaps the most important thing) has stayed the same. The THUMP. And  the throbbing feeling you get riding a Bullet is just the same. I had a Machismo 350 (AVL engine) earlier and I sense 'this thump' is closer to the original than the one I remember of my Machismo.

As disappointed as I was with my experience at Royal Enfield showroom at Bandra Mumbai, this one thrilled me. And the gesture of offering me the bike for a day was oh so 'royal'. Policies are the same for every showroom; how the prospect feels depends on the man present at the moment of truth.

I might just buy a Classic 500 now!

What a Royal surprise!

I've been contemplating buying a bike off late.

A few days back I visited the Royal Enfield showroom at Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Wasn't as interested in the test-ride as I was in knowing the price of Bullet Electra. So after a brief 5 minutes at the showroom, I was on my way.

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I got a call from Rakesh - I suppose he handles (or may be owns, I am not sure) that showroom. He asked me what I was thinking. Hearing my answer, he simply said, "I giving you a 500 for a day. Ride it for a day and then think. I am sending my guy with the bike at around 6."

And I had a Classic 500 for a day. I went for a ride to Gandhinagar in the evening. 55kms. Dad rode it too to the factory in the morning. 40kms. All combined we did a little more than 100kms before I returned the bike to the showroom.

I must say a lot has improved. Clutching. Gear-shifting. Starting, etc. And the one important (perhaps the most important thing) has stayed the same. The THUMP. And  the throbbing feeling you get riding a Bullet is just the same. I had a Machismo 350 (AVL engine) earlier and I sense 'this thump' is closer to the original than the one I remember of my Machismo.

As disappointed as I was with my experience at Royal Enfield showroom at Bandra Mumbai, this one thrilled me. And the gesture of offering me the bike for a day was oh so 'royal'. Policies are the same for every showroom; how the prospect feels depends on the man present at the moment of truth.

I might just buy a Classic 500 now!