tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70011436252518304242024-03-08T19:28:36.752+05:30Niles BlurbsMy perspective. My thoughts. My opinion.Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-57248202525763371312011-03-11T21:17:00.004+05:302011-03-11T21:52:04.169+05:30India....My arguement !<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Everytime I crib about some process, system, public service to my friends I am bombarded by "If you don't like it here why don't you go live abroad" or "You are not proud to be an Indian you should have been born in America Instead".<br /><br />Well I don't agree with these people. And infact I think it is these educated people who themselves by saying all of the above have what we call in India the "Chalta hai attitude"<br /><br />I pay 35% of my income in tax. Then with what is left i am either paying 12.5-20% VAT or 10.3% service tax or both for anything I buy or use. In effect I am giving away 50% of my hard earned money to the Gutterment (government).<br />Yet for that 50 % given way I cannot<br />get good smooth roads to drive on<br />use the public health facilities<br />use the public education system<br />get germ free drinking water in my tap<br />open a restaurant without 25 permits and bribes<br />travel through customs 10 times out of 10 without being harassed<br />the list goes on and on<br /><br /><br />The sad truth is that in the year 2011 the 21st century, except for Bombay none of the other "metro" cities have 24X7X365 electricity. God help the Indian in smaller towns when his turn will come !<br />Even in the metros we don't have proper healthcare , schooling, drainage and drinking water !<br /><br />These are the basics of quality of life.....something many of the western cities got by the 70s itself.<br />Yet instead of bashing the gutterment for letting us down, hauling them over the coals of the mind-boggling number of scams....2G, commonwealth, swiss banks,etc......what do we do ?<br />We accept it......fooling ourselves that ohhh....India is a poor country, we are new nation, these things take time, etc.<br /><br />And diss the guy who moans about it. Asking him to leave or accept it. Well No ! I am not leaving ! And I am going to complain....bec i pay my taxes....and i have a right as a citizen to get something in return ! And I have a right to want my country to improve and for the citizens to get their due and not for the money they contribute to be lost in greed and corruption !</span><br /></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-15453015942190563732011-03-11T20:10:00.005+05:302011-03-11T21:35:29.206+05:30The Business ? no Art ?..no... Joy of Giving :)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >This week whilst visiting a good Bombay hospital for a regular checkup of my Mom I stumbled across a little girl in a wheelchair with her mom. She apparentaly was suffering from some birth defect which I judged by her slightly disfigured face. But what was most upsetting was to see that little arm of hers with a plaster cast almost to keep that IV needle in place and scanty air probably a sign on a more scary disease. Yet there she was like a little girl, talking to her mom about the little things that a child does.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Later on the same day a friend had a post on his facebook of a collection drive for treatment of cancer kids at Tata Memorial who cannot afford it.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >That day I was very upset because it is moments like this that remind us of how precious good health is, and how much responsibility we the people who "have" have vs. those who needs help the "have nots".</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >While I have taken an oath in April 2010 that from that month onwards I will contribute an X % of my monthly nett salary to charity till the day I am earning a wage, it pains me to see so few people who give either money or time to any social cause.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >These very same people will without thinking leave the 10-15% tip at a fancy restaurant or tip the valet but never give anything to charity. Why ? Or why is it so difficult for all of us to maybe give 1 hour a week on a weekend to physically or mentally help out somewhere with the skills we posses and use in our sphere of work ?</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I mean i am sure many NGOs and social organizations can do with the skills of practicing lawyers, accountants, doctors, management experts, chefs, computer experts ,etc. It is NOT only about funds and money.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >What also got me thinking is that I don't know why people seem to think that giving is only the duty of the rich. I did a simple example to disprove this or show you how giving is not about large sums.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >India by some account has a middle class and above population of 200million. Assume now I asked these people who earn 200,000 and above a year to give just Rupee one per month towards charity. Surely 1Re a month is easily doable ? and I am sure all these people somewhere in rounding off errors would not think twice about a mere Rupee.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Yet those 12 rupees combined by 200million would give me a annual corpus of 2.4 Billion a year ! Think of the Miracles...yes Miracles ! I could do in India with this.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >But alas it is not the case. Because everyone assumes the billions given away by Gates & Buffet and Premji is enough.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Do i sometimes think of the X% i give away and all the material things I could have bought if I had kept it instead ? Yes I do. I am human after all. But then at the end of the day I remind myself that, that Swiss watch that I crave or the new TV that I want, will just take 3 years of savings instead of 1 or 2. So what, I can wait.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Do i regret it ? Not at all. I cannot describe the pleasure I get everytime I write that cheque and hand it over to the orphange or cancer home or hospital. Yet to experience a better high :)</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >And that's why I say.....Giving must be a Joy. Give with your heart. Don't think of it as a compulsion or business or duty. It will give you more mental peace than anything in the world.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I've experienced it, when will you ???</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-13978149693534433742010-07-16T23:17:00.002+05:302010-07-16T23:30:07.245+05:30Strangers...<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Would you leave your house keys with a stranger ? Ask a stranger to look after your baby in a pram whilst you pop into the grocery store ? I am sure for most of us the answer would be a resounding "No".</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Yet, I am sure many of us have at some point of time or the other, confided in a stranger. That unknown person on the long flight next to you, that random person like you stuck on the bus in a traffic jam, that online chat buddy. Sharing a personal problem, a secret, a work frustration or the understanding of being in the same situation. Why ? Because we know that that person doesn't know us, doesn't know the person in the problem, doesn't know who your secret is about and mostly you will never meet this stranger again. So you share more, because you feel safe. And most importantly this person doesn't know your past or history and hence has no fixed and biased opinion of you. Not having this bias or preconceived opinion, most will admit that at some point or the other they have received valuable advice or help from a stranger.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Yet it is our fixed opinion that prevents us from leaving the key to our flat with the stranger of a neighbour you don't know. Or asking that stranger to watch you kid at the park whilst you talk on the phone. Strange paradox isn't it. And another marvelous example of how fascinating the human mind is....</span><br /></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-18138349785748893652010-07-13T23:13:00.002+05:302010-07-13T23:19:13.251+05:30Guess who is back ???<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">....Yeah its me ! After a long hiatus, I am back and should be blogging soon once again. About what else ???....the random, the fun, the crazy, the practical....all with my twist and spin on it of course :)</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">One and a half years was a long time to be away. Unfortunately after all that of my last post there was much worse to come and it was the worst phase of my life so far.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Anyways....till the next post.....Ciao</span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-26137907810381269902009-02-04T22:07:00.003+05:302009-02-04T23:02:11.205+05:30Lessons Learned<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The last few weeks have been stressful. My Dad was in hospital for three weeks, out of which two in the ICU. There were critical moments even and overall it has been a rollercoaster for the family.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I've changed a lot as a result of all that has happened in these three weeks and I'd like to share my learnings with all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">1. Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today = True. It's in moments like this that you realise, that you should say what you feel to your loved ones or do what you have to do TODAY. Tomorrow is very uncertain. So be it making out that new insurance policy that you just kept delaying or hugging your child or doing that "routine" medical test. do as much as you can TODAY.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">2. Save for a rainy day = True. Rainy days do come. And it is best to be prepared. It's all very cool to admire those people who seem to live for the moment and are least bothered about planning for tomorrow. Tomorrow when it does come with it's share of problems then one is not prepared to deal with it. This does not mean that you over plan and burden yourself constantly worrying about a problem or tomorrow, but not planning the basics is foolhardy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">3. Medical care in India has lost it's soul and Doctors are businessmen. Sitting outside the ICU 24 * 7 and seeing doctors come and go and other critically ill patients families what struck me what the common line once the doctor comes out of the ICU...."he/she is stable", "lets wait and watch", "I can't say".......and always looking at the mobile screen and hurrying to the lift.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">No explanation to the family, no understanding of the situation, Nothing. The nurses are clueless and not so well trained. It is a joke.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">4. Hygiene in Indian hospitals is a joke. My Dad was in a supposedly 5star suburban hospital. Basic common sense tells you that ICU patients are the most critical and susceptible to germs. Yet the A/C ducts of the ICU are covered in dust and anyone is allowed during visiting hours as is from outside ! with your dirty shoes, clothes, etc. Your not forced to wear gloves or a mask. What if I have a fever ? what if I have stepped in shit ? what if i've come straight off a train where 1xxxxxxxx people travel.....no worry....walk right in !</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">5. Pity for the middle class. After paying a monstrous bill and seeing others also in ICU pay the same (mid-upper 6 digits) I shudder to think how the common man can afford good treatment and care. The healthcare system needs an overhaul. Quality healthcare and the rates doctors charge for operations is out of the reach of many.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">6. Hospital - Doctor nexus. Insane amounts of daily blood, x-ray, sonography , ecg tests for all patients. the nurses hardly wear gloves and masks yet you will be billed for a box of 50 gloves and masks every few days. The cardiologist-cardiac surgeon planning is to be seen to be believed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">7. Respect a hospital when you pass by. It is th closest thing to God like power. Somewhere in there there is a new life coming into this world in the maternity ward. Yet somewhere else someone is losing his/her life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">8. Do your medical tests regularly. Especially if you are above 50. Sitting in the ICU the amount of people with ..Strokes, Heart-attacks, kidney failure because of diabetes, cancer was overwhelming. A little study shows me that the odds of the above diseases in 1 in 5 with a poor lifestyle. That is a very very scary percentage. Simply put, imagine yourself in your car with your 4 friends or family. Now think 1 of those people out of the so few of you in that car is going to die after 50 out of one of the above. Not a very pleasant thought but reality of the rubbish quality of life we live today in India especially because of the assault of dust, germs, pollution and infected water supply.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">9. Health is wealth = True. All the money in the world cannot make you happy nor can it buy you good health. E.g: Dhirubhai Ambani with his stroke. All his crores and crores could not give him his health back. While we crib and cry about so many materialistic things we should be thankful</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> just for having a healthy body for ourselves and our parents, siblings, children. Nothing is more important. Trust me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">10. I have the BEST friends = True. Throughout the ordeal the only thing that has kept me sane has been the love of my friends. They have called, helped and supported more than I could ever imagine. Be it my school friends or college ones or gym ones or even online ones. The level of support has been just WOW. I cannot be thankful enough.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">11. The Indian system sucks . We love our heros and "power" people too much. We bend over backwards for them. The mother-in-law of a poweful CM aspiring Maharashtra politician was in the ICU. While we "ordinary" relatives of the person inside can visit them only in the designated times, the relatives of the above person can walk in and out of the ICU as they please ! While we have only 1 pass and only one person can wait outside, they have 5. Are you saying my Dad's life is less important to the hospital that his mom-in-law ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The pits was when his son wanted to take the lift down. His police escorts emptied the people already in the lift from a higher floor when the door open so they could go down ! is the person already in the lift less important ?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">12. Respect the people in the "white coats". Don't only admire the Jack Welch's and Narayan Murthy's of the world. Admire all those people in white lab coats who toil aways for their lives in labs around the world...be it engineering or medical. So that we people have that new pill that cures us, that new injection that saves the life of a loved one, that safer plane so that we don't fall out of the sky, that new airbag in your car that just saved your life . Yet we forget them, when they have done so much. so we can be safer and healthier.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">13. Read "The last lecture" by Randy Pausch</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">14. LIVE a balanced life. I am fed up with people being busy. All work and studies and no play. All stressed and solving the stress with alcohol or drugs or cigarettes or eating disorders. 90% of the people in hospital are with diseases related to the above.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Live a simple life. Part work part family part yourself. Have time for yourself and those around you. dedicate time for yoga or meditation or a sport or gym. have a hobby. meet friends and family often.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">15. There is always someone worse off than you. I have told that to a lot of friends and use that line often. To console them and myself in the disappointments we face in our life...be it a missed promotion or a broken relationship. In my own case I was complaining of how life was so cruel and my Dad was lying there with 5 tubes/needles in him. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Then in the next bed was someone with 10 machines and 10 tubes and needles attached to him. Was his condition not worse ? Were his family not worse off than me ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Remember that your problems however bad....especially materialistic ones , there is always someone worse off than you in this world. Who has lost more, who has suffered more. It will bring you peace and more importantly perspective.</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-73260994001088607452008-12-01T22:12:00.002+05:302008-12-01T22:31:13.941+05:30Humans. The fallacy of Intelligence. Human Emotions<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I sit here writing this entry on the 1st of December 2008 with my air-conditioning on full blast. It's been a stressful few days for all of us in Bombay with all that has happened on 26/11 and onwards.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And I think......how we Humans have destroyed our planet. That we have ecologically damaged it so much that on the 1st of december i need to air-conditioning on , something that i never every remember ? Have we destroyed our planet so much that climate change is a way of life ? How we have driven wild animals to the brink of extinction and depleted our natural resources in our never ending quest for goods and services ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And how we have all these never ending battles of terror and war ? Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine,etc.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And who is responsible for all this ? After hearing, reading and more importantly feeling all this I feel like laughing out of pity that God created us as the most intelligent species on this planet. I shudder to think what he must be feeling now, seeing the great intelligence wasted and abused to the brink of destruction.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Intelligence the more I think about it, the more it intrigues me. Don't we worship it too much ? Don't the worlds best companies hire the "smartest" and most "intelligent" people as their board/ceo/md etc ? And as our policymakers and leaders ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">If these intelligent people are so good and smart how is it Citibank, Lehman the country of Iceland and GM, Ford, etc are all bankrupt ? And economies of most countries in disarray ? Didn't the harvard & princeton and iim educated intelligent policymakers and leaders see all this ?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In view of all the carnage that has happened in Bombay in the past few days and also all over the world in the last few years, I sometimes wonder if we are right in tagging love and bravery and honesty as up there in the list of most popular human emotions ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Because seeing what we have done to our planet, our co-inhabitents and ourselves I think ......Greed, Ego, Selfishness should replace the list of most powerful emotions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">If you ask me, right now, in the state the world is, no emotion is more important and more powerful right now than Hope. Let us give it a chance.....so that all us humans...the so called intelligent species use that intelligence for the good of this planet and ourselves. And live to see a better future.</span><br /><br />GoodnightNisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-18309576022385470172008-06-28T09:15:00.002+05:302008-06-28T09:28:53.587+05:30Whassup ? Nothing much. Been "Busy"<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">How many times have you heard the above line in recent times ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Well I've heard it a lot and I consider "busy" as being one of the biggest problems affecting us in the 21st century.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Slowly but surely this hectic go-getting lifestyle has crept up on society and all of us are victims of it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Take the average day of a Bombay working citizen</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Hrs in day: 24</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Sleep: 7</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Work: 10</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Commute to work and back: 3</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Get ready for work/breakfast: 30</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mins</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Get ready for bed/dinner: 30 </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mins</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Balance time: 4 hrs</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">There you go. 4 hrs is all I have time for .........for myself, my family, my friends. And if you work in investment banking or audit or any of those 15 hr jobs then please make it 4 hrs of free time a week !</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Sure, all of us have ambitions and want to move ahead, and all companies want to get bigger and stronger, all kids want to be smarter and cooler. And in this quest we are losing our balance. No wonder we see more heart disease and divorces and social crimes and the like. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">It's not just us working folk who seem to be pretty busy. You ask any kid "hey long time no see ?" and you'll get the same reply "Busy....with dance class and </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tuition</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> and computer class and guitar class and what not"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">When is the last time you managed to fix a dinner plan with a bunch of 6 friends who are working too.....in the "1st" attempt ?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I'd love to hear about it..................... :)</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-4272263755636908232008-06-28T09:02:00.002+05:302008-06-28T09:14:03.465+05:30Discipline: India's ticking time bomb !<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">3 events in recent weeks have gotten me thinking on what is going to happen to our country going ahead.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">A few weeks ago driving into town on a Sunday, not once but twice now I've seen people break a signal DESPITE there being a very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">visible</span> cop right after the signal. Both times when the cop has tried waving the car down post the signal the driver has just driven right past the cop !</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Last week I was at my gym and hearing an old man who didn't get his treadmill slot on time rant "I've never used my power of being on the club committee. Now I am going to do it so that you people realise you can't take me for granted, blah-blah"</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And also a few weeks ago while waiting in line to get my niece one of those hand painted tattoo things at a restaurant.....other parents <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">coolly</span> pushing their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lil</span> kids ahead of the waiting line for the tattoo !</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">This scant disregard for the law, abuse of power and basic courtesy is going to come back to bite us in the ass.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">It may seem like a little rant of mine of 3-4 incidents but we see it time and time again day after day........we Indians love to bend rules to the maximum and just be oblivious to others. Be it breaking signals and drinking and driving to always cutting lines at airports, insisting on talking on the phone in planes, honking on no-honking day, throwing trash on the road.......we just love it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">It's all fine right now when India is the "hot" growth story and our time is now and blah-blah.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">But believe me once the growth and good times slow down....we'll have a tough time. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bec</span> we'll have this HUGE population a majority of which have no discipline and then we will be too far down the road to correct ourselves.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Change with all bad habits takes time. And the time to start is now !</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-45938078770454136632008-05-26T22:00:00.002+05:302008-05-26T23:30:59.739+05:30Thailand....a visit....some thoughts !<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I recently visited Thailand (Bangkok & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pattaya</span>) through work and then a brief vacation. I was going back to the country after a long time. Last I went there was when I was 6 or 7 as some friends of mine who love to pull my leg would say.....A long time ago :O and therefore have no memories of that place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Following are my observations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The country is fabulous....from the lush fields of Chang Mai to the pristine waters off <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Koh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Samui</span> to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. All bound together by the warmth and respect of the Thai people who thought don't speak very much English.....are amazing friendly and respectful to tourists.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pattaya</span> is like Goa. Tons of tourists and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lil</span> bars and shacks. and lots of girls.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I did some water sports on Coral island and was amazed how well managed and efficient the full tourist thing is. Why can't Goa be like that ? Instead we always have confusion.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Bangkok with its great food, wonderful shopping and cheap (compared to other places) luxury hotels is a nice melting pot.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In the 7 nights that I was out almost till 3am. Not ONCE did I see a single fight at a bar over a girl or safety or even once read in the papers about rapes or anything of that sort.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In some weird way it seems the easy availability of women ensures crimes against women (probably <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">arising</span> out of frustration) is less.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ohh</span> and traffic is worse that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bombay</span>....yet people stick to their lane and don't honk like maniacs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Sigh ! So much to learn..............</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-63246623504030778752008-05-26T21:53:00.003+05:302008-05-26T23:34:00.041+05:30Do you know............<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >............what's happening about the Jessica <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lal</span> saga ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sunil</span> More from the Marine Drive rape thing ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >those <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">molesters</span> from the Gateway of India 2006 ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">molesters</span> from opposite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">JW</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Marriot</span> 2007 ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Alistair <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Perreria</span> of Carter road "I ran over 10 people" fame ?<br />the probe into the teen horribly raped in Goa ?<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >those 3 horrible young guys who hung a 2yr old with a telephone cord from the cooking class lady murder ?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Weren't all you guys livid when all of the above happened ? and commended the press for bringing up the issue ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Where is all the concern now ? Or the follow up from the press ?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I'm taking odds one year from now....you won't know much about .......The girl who chopped her boyfriend into 300 pieces nor the man who murdered his 14yr old daughter in cold blood.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Try me....I'm giving good odds.</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-35157388963062607612008-01-12T20:16:00.000+05:302008-01-13T21:43:12.261+05:30Tatas (Bawas) Rock !<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Like all Indians this past week I watched as Ratan Tata kept his promise of a 1Lac car. How cool is that ???</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I think its great that people who ride a motorcycle or scooter not because they want to but because they have to due to cost factors can now own a car.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I agree with Mr.Tata totally. By asking is it safe and worrying how so many Nanos will congest the traffic further we are missing the point.......a car will always be safer than a scooter ! crumple zones and airbags or not ! and instead of appreciating the man and company for making an affordable car for the truly middle-class....we blame him that he is going to congest roads !!! Is it his fault our 3rd rate excuse of a government hasn't invested in infrastructure ???</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In other news, hats off to him again for opening a new Cancer hospital in Kolkata with 50 % (yes FIFTY) of the beds there available free to the poor.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In a time where Indians are popping left and right on the Billionaires list it is a matter of great shame that the only cancer hospital in Bombay is the one the Tata's started all those years ago. I suggest you drive past there one morning. Or even better stop and visit. And see the thousands of poor who come there for treatment. And how the staff and doctors selflessly helps them.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Bawas and their donations and giving rocks. No community has done as much for the poor of their own community as the bawas with their schools, hospitals, housing colonies and donations. Infact no community has done as much for Bombay. I am glad the east coast will now experience some of that.</span><br /></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-71426718186163792212008-01-03T22:52:00.000+05:302008-01-03T23:12:18.648+05:30New Year's Molestation and the Law/Attitude problem in India !<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Since everyone and anyone is talking about the Bombay molestation case of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Juhu</span> on 31st December 2007 I might as well give my 2 bits.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Yes its horrible, yes the guys should be caught, whipped, etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">But why is it that like everything else in India we look only for the quick fix route ?.....be it our drains, roads, power, crime, etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Why do we never tackle the root cause or upgrade laws that were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span> when they where created in the 50s and 60s updated to the 21st century ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I mean its ridiculous that the police says...we can't do anything till the victims register a complaint (FIR). that's the law.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ummmm</span>....you guys are the upholders of the law ! the men in uniform. you are the people that are supposed to separate right from wrong. when you arrived on the scene couldn't you arrest the 3-4 men who had their hands on their women. You are your own witness to the crime.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ohh</span> and while all problems need a complaint....if you the ordinary citizen tries to help someone in distress there are 100 questions, forms and procedures that make it so difficult and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">inconvenience</span> you that people in India are reluctant to help.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">In the US or UK if you call the emergency services for a medical problem they will do their utmost to save you life 1st. Because that's their job. Whether you have been shot, blown up, had a accident or whatever. If your skin is black, brown, white or yellow is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">immaterial</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">But in India ...you go to a private hospital and they 1st want to see your "gold" credit card. then only you will be treated. Heck ! let the guy die. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I've had the bad opportunity of seeing someone at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kandivili</span> train station with a severed leg. But instead of rushing the guy to hospital he is lying in a stretcher and some railway guy is asking him...whats your name ? what do you do and all that ? I mean.....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wtf</span> !!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Also the case where some young kids rushed a guy injured on a bike on the highway to hospital and the cops questioned them ALL day ...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bec</span> as per they cops they could be the guys who banged him and brought him to hospital !</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Really....as our country gets more populous and richer its this lack of discipline and bad attitude that is going to screw us up.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ohhh</span> and one more thing. We keep cribbing about racism in our new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">hindi</span> movies and sports and this and that. But what about our own internal caste/<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">hierarchy</span> discrimination.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I know you'll say....that's only among the uneducated class.......but in return....I ask you this......</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">When the postman who comes to your house asks for water, do you ever give him water in the same glass that you'd give water to your cousin ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Does your servant eat from one of the same sets of plates that you eat ?</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-48655856792890936562007-11-16T22:52:00.000+05:302007-11-16T23:15:22.959+05:30Indian Festivals : Hijack of City<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I have just reached home in Juhu. It's taken me 2 1/2 hrs to travel 7kms. Yes you got those stats right ! Why ? Bec today is chhat......a Bihari festival. And every Bihari in town must head to Juhu beach.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Now I've lived in Juhu for 25 years, and till the last 5 the only Puja/festival celebrated was Ganapati. But now be it Durga Puja, Basi-Eid, Chhat, every festival and community ends up at Juhu Chowpatty ! And traffic and cleanliness of our neighbourhood is destroyed. Forget about the stuff dumped in the sea and the trash on the sands.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Why is it that we as Indians have zero tolerance for others when celebrating festivals ? Why can't we put ourselves in the other person's shoes ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Be it spraying someone in an open rickshaw with colour on holi when he/she doesn't want it, to gleefully bursting crackers in the middle of the night even when you know your neighbour has had a newborn or someone is asthmatic to hijacking the right lane of the road with pedestrian traffic on these chhat type festivals with a "do what you want, we will walk everywhere we want" attitude..........why do we do this ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">And the less said about the planning by the authorities in curbing noise, pollution, crowds, giving people traffic advice the day before, the better.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">think about any of our "Festivals". Think if some poor old person or little child having a serious health ailment needing emergency medical attention. Or someones house on fire. Now think if the location of these people's houses was......</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">a. Chowpatty on Ganapati</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">b. Mahim on Eid</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">c. Juhu on Chhat</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">and now tell me........what odds would you give those people ???</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">I'm not being mean and saying don't celebrate these age old festivals. But think of everyone else your inconveniencing. And therefore be tolerant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">And as for my ?. I'll give you a solution too. If I was chief of Police, I'd station a Ambulance and Firetruck every Kilometer depending on the festival and pocket of city that it affects.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Its time "celebrating" stopped being selfish and all about "I'm having fun" damm everyone else and more about the entire community/neighbourhood/city.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Well atleast that's my 2 bits on it ! </span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-12264454551831764832007-11-04T13:50:00.000+05:302007-11-04T14:00:52.332+05:30Life comes a full circle....almost<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Last night I was at a close friend's house warming party.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">It was great seeing him in his newly re-furbished house, cuddling with his girlfriend with whom he looks so much at ease, happy with his work and role there and just the overall all feel good factor.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Cut back 15 years ago when we were a bunch of 16 odd year olds I remember his Dad passing away. And then in an EXTREMELY cruel twist of fate his Mom passed away barely a year later.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> I remember being very disturbed at the time with this low blow so to speak. There were tough days and difficult times after that but slowly I think its gotten better and built up to this one moment.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Hence last night it was great.....to see him all happy and things all around looking up. All the very best Dude ! You deserve it.</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-56299334120552577662007-10-06T21:16:00.000+05:302007-10-06T21:43:04.828+05:30In the name of God<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">As yet another </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ganpati</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> festival gets over, I'm yet again confronted with a sight I'm used to for the past 2 decades of living by the sea. Thousands of dead fish strewn on the beach. The result of all that plaster of </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">paris</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">, oil paint, garlands, confetti </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">et</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> all put into the sea.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">And the sand strewn with plastic bags, food wrappers, rotting flowers, confetti, </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">thermcol</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">. The trucks will come again.....and again scoop away a layer of sand to be thrown away in some dump. The very grains of sand that nature has taken </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">hundreds</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> of years to create.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Do you know that as a 6 yr old playing on the beach I used to collect seashells by the bucketful. Take a walk down </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Juhu</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> beach today. If you spot more shells than I have fingers you will know how I feel.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">And this year the "band </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">baja</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">" has been more. Lot more people on the beach. More lavish celebrations......fireworks, bigger idols, mobile music stations on handcarts, the works.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The newspaper too has been filled with the details.....which is the biggest idol, which </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mandal</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> collects the most money, which film star is linked to which group, who is getting which DJ to "spin" </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ganpati</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> music on the truck from the </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mandal</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> to the sea.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">And in all this I wonder.......would it be so bad to have a little clay idol, with no colour, one that is prayed to religiously everyday, and immersed quietly in the sea following the age old tradition and with tranquility ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Isn't it the thought that counts ? The sincerity and all that ? And last time I remember isn't ego, pomp, show of wealth, causing </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">nuisance</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> to others the very virtues that God denounces and we seem to exhort every time we celebrate a large festival ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">So next time you pat yourself on the back for having immersed a larger idol than last year and burst that 1 lac "</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">laddi</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">" on the beach and expect blessings remember this. There are thousands of fish, crabs, prawns </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">et</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> all who are wishing just the opposite for you. Infact I won't be surprised if they are hoping really bad things happen to you. After all they are God's creatures too.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Hint: Next year try to have a little clay or natural idol. Pray sincerely. Be thankful. I'm sure God won't mind that the idol doesn't have all that toxic oil paint on it and a plaster of </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">paris</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">interior</span>. <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Infact</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> the one may just be that little bit more grateful :)</span><br /><br /></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-74350568290022514362007-09-17T13:15:00.000+05:302007-09-17T13:32:00.914+05:30I am lost for words !<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">You must have read today's TOI article on how Rs.31,500 crores of Wheat and Rice have been siphoned out from the distribution system and sold in the black market in the last 3 years !<br />We need to put this into perspective. 31,500 is a LOT of money. In any terms....even gold and diamonds. But divide the amount by the per kg. price of wheat and rice and the result is mind boggling !!!<br />We are talking of poor people in a few millions being deprived of a basic square meal.If your interested in the math, its 18.6 million families of 4 being fed !!! Does greed now know no bounds ? That our "people in the system" now have stooped to robbing from the poor. Is a few crores here and there per person not enough ? If short-changing us the tax payers with shoddy roads and infrastructure was not bad enough....you have stooped so low to rob food from the mouths of the poor ?<br />How do you people sleep at night ?<br />What is next ?......Stand at railway and bus stops and snatch candy and treats from little kids ?<br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-77541633211938561302007-09-10T22:27:00.000+05:302007-09-10T23:04:56.946+05:30Live for Today: Double Standards<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >We hear and see it often in our daily lives. Young people living it up. Credit card bills more than salaries....the partying, the drinking, the smoking the cars/brands ,etc</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If you tell the guy who eats...10 Big Macs a day to join the gym you will get "Who has seen tomorrow. Might as well live for today"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Or the guy who drinks like there is no tomorrow. "Hey I could get killed crossing the road" </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >My ? is this. How come its only vices and enjoying for ones self that comes in the "Who has seen tomorrow argument"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If tomorrow is so uncertain how come leaving your money for good causes is something you plan only "post" retirement and not give away now ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Or yoga you do only "post" 50 and not today ?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Whatever happened to that thing called balance ?</span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-13824452382898781482007-06-25T15:36:00.000+05:302007-06-25T16:01:23.374+05:30Do charity. Its never enough.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">About a month ago i stopped near my office and handed out chocolates to 15 little slum kids aged 3-6 who study in a "school" thats basically a lady who teaches them on a footpath mon-fri.<br />The smile on their little faces at getting the treat touched my heart. one lil choc and they were so so happy. we evil adults on the other hand need so much more to get a BIG grin like that. A week later I stopped in again just to see what they were learning and if they were having fun. They were equally happy that I had just stopped to say Hi even though there were no chocs this time.<br />We all went wow when we heard that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet left all of their riches to the betterment of the poor. $100 billion. thats a lot of money right ? should last a long time yes ?<br />Well there are 3 billion people who live on less than $2 a day. So lets say their money is used to buy 3 billion people a $1 meal a day. Yup....that's right. In 33 days all that money will be over folks.<br />Its never enough. There are just too many who have too little. Nobody is saying to give off 1/2 your money. But every little bit helps.....from making small donations to charities close to your heart to giving old clothes to orphanages to recycling unsued or old home stuff with your servants to even lending a helping hand and not money at an orphanage or old people home for an hour every Sunday. Heck...or even an hour once a month. Something is better than nothing right ?<br />So next time your thinking of buying that one extra drink at the bar your partying at on sat nite....that you could really do without. Think about it. That Rs.300/- could buy 60 kids a vada pao....or 20 bars of choc. One less drink for you.....20 smiling faces....a no-brainer yes ?<br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-52721288741405866152007-06-24T00:22:00.000+05:302007-06-24T00:59:54.888+05:30India. Common Man = Helpful. People in Position to help = Losers !!!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Here is what just happened. I was on my way to watch Oceans 13.<br />I park my car opposite the theater, get out of my car and slam the door shut. As a look to cross the road, I hear a sickening "thud". I turn around and see that the left corner of the road had just crumbled and fallen into the open gutter next to it and with that the back and front wheels of the left side of my car have slid off the road and my car is now tilting precariously and almost gonna fall into the gutter !!!<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Manmohan</span> u loser......build roads that don't collapse with one strong shower. I pay my taxes...the least you can do is provide some basic quality infrastructure !!!<br />Tried lifting the car out with the help of 4 more guys but to no avail. Time to get a tow truck.<br />Its pouring like crazy I rush in the rain to the nearest police <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">chowki</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">juhu</span> circle junction only to be told by the cop there go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">juhu</span> police station for a tow truck. I jump into an auto and head that way. Reach there drenched in crazy traffic only to be told there is no tow truck here and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">shd</span> go to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chowki</span> at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sv</span>-road junction. I head there in the same auto and the cop is like "there is no tow truck here. you go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nagar</span> station" I was like "this is my 3rd police station. 2 hrs have passed. My car is sliding further into the gutter. Will the tow truck surely be at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">DN</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Nagar</span>". To which he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">cooly</span> replies "I don't know. How will I know what is there. You go there and see" !!!!<br />Last time I checked Cops were - protectors of the innocent,and helpers of those in trouble....well guess again.<br />Frustrated I jumped back into the auto and on a whim got off at the petrol pump next door.the puncture repair shop there had the number of a tow truck guy. He was nice enough to let me use his mobile phone to call as well <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bec</span> I had forgotten mine in a hurry in the car. I make the call, jump back into the auto and rush to my car to wait for him.<br />I'm at the car praying anxiously that it doesn't slide further and turn turtle :(<br />As i bend to inspect it....more of the side of the road crumbles into the gutter and I fall in !!! (ya i know whats in there. spare me the details). How about returning some of my tax <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">manmohan</span> ? so I can buy new jeans and sandals which are now totally destroyed !!!<br />The tow truck arrives. He looks at the angles and decides to pull <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">diagonally</span> from the front. 2 guys passing on bikes and 2 in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">honda</span> city stop to help. The pull out is a success.<br />As of now the damage stands at a scratched bumper, the bonnet alignment had gone and a little something under the car has got bent. 2 wet mobile phones, one of which, the screen seems to have gone bad in corner.<br />Drove home. had a bath in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">dettol</span> and washed my jeans and sandals in it too.<br />A big thanks to<br />1.the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">chawl</span> man in the umbrella who 1st came when the car fell in and helped gather 4 guys to push<br />2. the rickshaw driver who drove me from cop station to cop station n finally back to my car in mad rain<br />3. the guy at the puncture repair shop who let me use his cellphone to call the towing guy.<br />4. the towing guy who took his time to ensure he got the angles right and save my car. not to mention to come to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">juhu</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">khar</span> way past his shutting time.<br />5. the guys in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">honda</span> city who stopped to help and give moral support<br />6. the guy on the bike who helped push the car and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">disappeared</span> off on his bike before I could say thanks<br /><br />A big NO THANKS to<br />1. Our "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">garbagement</span>" "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">gubberment</span>" who takes taxes from us but gives us shit infrastructure in return. Collapsing roads. How cool.<br />2. Our loser cops who made zero effort to make any calls or to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">genuinely</span> help. Maybe next time I should run over some sleeping pavement dwellers. I hear the cops come really fast to the scene then.<br /><br />Goodnight. God bless the man on the street who does his best to help (most times).<br />God help us from people in positions of power/responsibility in this country.<br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-80809196865974219692007-05-21T10:03:00.000+05:302007-05-21T10:07:23.796+05:30I'm Baaaaaackkkkk.........<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Hi Everyone.<br />After a long absence I'm back. Somehow didn't feel like writing for a bit so took a break.<br />There should be some new posts in the days/weeks ahead.<br />Cheers.<br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-51702437175916855392007-01-30T22:00:00.000+05:302007-01-30T22:16:00.066+05:30The sad truth of lasting impressions<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Zinedine</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Zidane</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">. Supremely gifted player of the 1st 14yrs, 315 days and 9 hrs of his career or just "that player" who head-butted someone in World Cup '06 ? Royal China. Restaurant where you have eaten 29 scrumptious meals over 2 yrs or that "useless </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">chinese</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> restaurant" where you got an upset tummy on your last meal there ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Why is a cook only as "good as his last meal" ? Why, when we have happily used various </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> phone models over the last 10 years but our latest one happens to be a bit "buggy" that NokiaNokia</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> is now that "shit maker of mobile phones ?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Why are we so intolerant and quick to form conclusions for only the goof-ups or bad experiences of recent memory ? Doesn't the past and majority of good over bad count for anything ?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">What next ?</span><br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-4170464267554712092007-01-18T22:28:00.000+05:302007-01-30T22:17:18.827+05:30Thank God you're not a B-Grade Indian Actress...<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">I</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">f you and me get called a "bloody </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">paki</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">" on the Tube in </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">London</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">, we go home, fret about it and that's that. Some of us might go lodge a complaint with the Cop at the station and the offender gets reprimanded.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">But if you happen to be </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Shilpa</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Shetty</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> on Big Brother its international news. Even the Ministry of External Affairs is now involved. Its grabbing news headlines. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ohhhh</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> we Indians have been insulted and its </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">racist</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Note to Press: YES, </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Racism</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> is BAD. But bring on stories that really tackle the issue. Not some </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bollywood</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> actress being abused on reality </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">TV</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">. And as for your headlines. There are people dying in Iraq, Africa & the Middle East. But then I guess that doesn't bring in the viewers does it ???</span><br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-87557061752083188812007-01-14T21:37:00.000+05:302007-01-14T21:47:23.834+05:30Masseur gives Marriage Counselling.......<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Yesterday I went for a massage at my gym.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Following is the transcript of my conversation with the </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">masseur</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> mid-way through the massage session.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">*******************************************************************************************************</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Masseur: Sir how old are you ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Me: 30</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Masseur: Are you married ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Me: No</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Masseur: Why not ?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Me: (giving logical answer to shut him up). I want to get married when I am more settled </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">financially</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> and otherwise. Give things time and be sure.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Masseur: Sir I agree with you but mid-20s and early 30s are prime of your life. You should be married during those years and enjoy these best years of your life with someone you love. Getting married late you just have to start a family and become a parent rather than enjoy marriage.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Me: (silence)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">********************************************************************************************************</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The man is a village bumpkin.But what he said did kind of make sense.</span><br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-44991390895885561922007-01-09T20:19:00.000+05:302007-01-09T20:23:46.365+05:30Pavement = Pedestrians, Road = Cars<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Obviously the above logic is lost on the average Indian who roams the streets. They choose to cross the road whenever they please and calmly walk in the left lane even when the pavement is empty ! (I excuse them when the pavement is full of squatters and stalls).<br />Oh and they have the cheek to cross the road looking towards to opposite side to where the traffic is coming from so that they avoid eye contact with you and don't have to hurry along....<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aaaagghh</span><br /><br />007 can I please borrow your License to Kill for a day ? please ?<br /><br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001143625251830424.post-6532765655522236082007-01-07T17:16:00.000+05:302007-01-07T17:28:51.164+05:30Weekend Stress Buster<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">End of the week ? Tired ? Stressed ? Irritated ?<br />Do what I do. Spend a few hours with small kids (Age 1-5). Their enthusiasm, their joy for the simple things in life (when was the last time my making "fishy lips" made you smile ?), brutal honesty (pointing to little bald spot and asking "why is there no hair growing there ?"), Love (when was the last time you got 5 kisses in 2 mins) and all round good times will make you forget the week that was and all other worldy problems.<br /><br />Tip: You must "Really" love them.They have a 6th sense. Fake smiles and pulling on the cheeks with a "so sweet" will mostly bring them to tears.<br /></span></span>Nisheelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10038647316773928689noreply@blogger.com0