Sunday, October 26, 2008
How many men does it take to hold a water pipe?
Eight. Especially when the office next door is getting spruced up for some pre-Diwali fanfare. They connected the pipe to the fire hydrant thingy and let loose a volley of water. The trees surely appreciated it, although the cars parked nearby didn't like getting their wheels wet.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Taking the red bus home: a joyride in New Delhi
Riding home in the air-conditioned comfort of a gleaming red bus, I find it hard to believe I am travelling in New Delhi.
Squeaky-clean seats, no crowds jostling for room, automatic doors and huge windows offering panoramic views of the bustling streets — it's a far cry from the torture I have endured in the past.
Click here to read more.
(Photo by Vijay Mathur)
RELATED POSTS
Surviving Delhi's Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Part 1, 2, 3
Squeaky-clean seats, no crowds jostling for room, automatic doors and huge windows offering panoramic views of the bustling streets — it's a far cry from the torture I have endured in the past.
Click here to read more.
(Photo by Vijay Mathur)
RELATED POSTS
Surviving Delhi's Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Part 1, 2, 3
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Dog Wars: The Poop Strikes Back
Heard of the "dog poop DNA reward & fine scheme" yet?
Okay, it's not called that but believe me -- this is exactly what a program launched in a Tel Aviv suburb is doing.
Using a DNA database to match faeces to a dog and identify its owner. Ensuring that people clean up after their pets.
Isn't technology wonderful? Stock markets are in a turmoil, people are dying in floods, bombings, shootings (you-name-it and they are dying of it) and what do the people of Petah Tikva do? Worry about the origins of canine poop.
I wonder who came up with the idea. P Diddy?
Last week, hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs stepped in a dog's leftovers - literally.
Or was it someone who hates Britney Spears? Remember how the pop star let her puppy poop on a $6,700 Zac Posen gown during a photo shoot last year.
Anyway, the scheme is doomed to fail in India -- where millions of stray dogs rule the streets. Imagine the time and effort it will take to test their collective poop.
Of course, there's no one to pay the fines. Unless you consider these dogs property of the state. And make the municipal authority cough up the money.
On second thoughts, that's not a bad idea.
By the way, did you hear some crap about Indian stray dogs being voted the world's sexiest?
Okay, it's not called that but believe me -- this is exactly what a program launched in a Tel Aviv suburb is doing.
Using a DNA database to match faeces to a dog and identify its owner. Ensuring that people clean up after their pets.
Isn't technology wonderful? Stock markets are in a turmoil, people are dying in floods, bombings, shootings (you-name-it and they are dying of it) and what do the people of Petah Tikva do? Worry about the origins of canine poop.
I wonder who came up with the idea. P Diddy?
Last week, hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs stepped in a dog's leftovers - literally.
Or was it someone who hates Britney Spears? Remember how the pop star let her puppy poop on a $6,700 Zac Posen gown during a photo shoot last year.
Anyway, the scheme is doomed to fail in India -- where millions of stray dogs rule the streets. Imagine the time and effort it will take to test their collective poop.
Of course, there's no one to pay the fines. Unless you consider these dogs property of the state. And make the municipal authority cough up the money.
On second thoughts, that's not a bad idea.
By the way, did you hear some crap about Indian stray dogs being voted the world's sexiest?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
August 2008 Blog Mela
I know, I know it's a bit too late to be talking about the best of Indian blogs in August 2008 when we are already midway through September. Hope readers will bear with me and continue to send in nominations for the Blog Mela. I promise the next one will be on time.
For now, here's the best of the Indian blogosphere in August -
Asal Tamil Penn ponders on the quality of obituary writing
Lucifer House Inc is part of the great Indian bride hunt
Twisted DNA believes women suffer from physical disability
Toddyshop on being an HR professional
IndieQuill is on the lookout for Indian bras
Anjali is very bad
Jabberwock is watching Ekta Kapoor's Mahabharat
Great Bong is busy explicating the expletive
Mudra Mehta demands privileges for non-celeb bloggers
Gawker needs a man servant
That's all for now. The September 2008 Blog Mela returns early next month. But before leaving, do please vote for the best post in the August 2008 Blog Mela.
Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
Did you just come across a quirky, interesting or something-that-tugs-at-your-heartstrings blog? If yes, feel free to nominate it for the September Blog Mela being hosted here on October 2
To nominate, leave a comment on this post OR better still - Mail me at toeknee (at) gmail (dot) com
- Posts must have been written by Indians or have an Indian angle - Only posts published between 1-30 September, 2008 would be accepted
- If possible, please nominate individual posts, not the whole blog
- Feel free to nominate something you have written. Immodesty appreciated
- You can nominate as many blog posts as you like - provided you really like them
- Only nominations received before midnight on October 1 stand a chance to be featured on the Top 10 list
- No, you don't get any moolah for nominating or getting featured in the Blog Mela. That could change once I am a millionaire but for now you'll just have to bear with me
- Yours truly reserves the right to nominate good posts which you ignore
For now, here's the best of the Indian blogosphere in August -
Asal Tamil Penn ponders on the quality of obituary writing
Lucifer House Inc is part of the great Indian bride hunt
Twisted DNA believes women suffer from physical disability
Toddyshop on being an HR professional
IndieQuill is on the lookout for Indian bras
Anjali is very bad
Jabberwock is watching Ekta Kapoor's Mahabharat
Great Bong is busy explicating the expletive
Mudra Mehta demands privileges for non-celeb bloggers
Gawker needs a man servant
That's all for now. The September 2008 Blog Mela returns early next month. But before leaving, do please vote for the best post in the August 2008 Blog Mela.
Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
Did you just come across a quirky, interesting or something-that-tugs-at-your-heartstrings blog? If yes, feel free to nominate it for the September Blog Mela being hosted here on October 2
To nominate, leave a comment on this post OR better still - Mail me at toeknee (at) gmail (dot) com
- Posts must have been written by Indians or have an Indian angle - Only posts published between 1-30 September, 2008 would be accepted
- If possible, please nominate individual posts, not the whole blog
- Feel free to nominate something you have written. Immodesty appreciated
- You can nominate as many blog posts as you like - provided you really like them
- Only nominations received before midnight on October 1 stand a chance to be featured on the Top 10 list
- No, you don't get any moolah for nominating or getting featured in the Blog Mela. That could change once I am a millionaire but for now you'll just have to bear with me
- Yours truly reserves the right to nominate good posts which you ignore
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Losing sleep over Apple's iPhone 3G
I am not crazy about cellphones. So when I was asked to cover the midnight launch of the Apple iPhone 3G in India, it didn’t really seem worth sacrificing my sleep.
I walked half-heartedly to the Vodafone store in nearby Connaught Place, hoping to see frenzied youngsters jostling for vantage position outside its shutters.
I had read horror stories of people abroad queuing up 60 hours ahead of schedule for a chance to buy the iPhone first.
For more, click here
I walked half-heartedly to the Vodafone store in nearby Connaught Place, hoping to see frenzied youngsters jostling for vantage position outside its shutters.
I had read horror stories of people abroad queuing up 60 hours ahead of schedule for a chance to buy the iPhone first.
For more, click here
Monday, August 11, 2008
Jesus played cricket? It's an Olympic campaign
No, I really don't think Jesus Christ played cricket as a child as some media reports would have us believe.
That seems more like a conspiracy, to establish cricket as the game played by the saviour of the world -- and then use it to squeeze cricket into the next Olympics.
I am not complaining though coz India has a good chance of winning a medal in cricket.
But if you ask me, Jesus would have been a sure winner in the walking on water category, if that ever becomes an Olympic sport.
That seems more like a conspiracy, to establish cricket as the game played by the saviour of the world -- and then use it to squeeze cricket into the next Olympics.
I am not complaining though coz India has a good chance of winning a medal in cricket.
But if you ask me, Jesus would have been a sure winner in the walking on water category, if that ever becomes an Olympic sport.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Surviving Delhi Bus Rapid Transit Corridor III
Want to irritate me? You can show me the Delhi government ad on television that lists the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor project as one of its achievements.
Just because it's disappeared from the front pages of newspapers doesn't mean commuters are now in some sort of heaven. They are just resigned to the fact that there's no getting away with the bottlenecks at Chirag Dilli and Archana crossings.
The time taken is the same but the hot May sun is no longer beating down on motorcyclists and cars.
When you are waiting in the BRT line in August, the rain splashes down, dribbling down the car's windscreen and you can sit back and relax, armed with the knowledge that the car in front won't move another inch anytime soon.
Yes, the rain gods had pity on Delhi's hapless BRT commuters -- making that interminable wait at least tolerable.
But that doesn't make the corridor project a success. Hindustan Times claims people are adjusting to BRT, that Delhi has learnt to live with it. They should have asked me, I guess. Or anybody who goes through the BRT corridor day after day, month after month.
What worries me is this Times of India article, which says the Delhi government is planning more BRT stretches. It seems Sheila Dikshit hasn't learnt her lesson yet. Does she really want to lose the next election?
If only she had spent a few extra crores and extended the Delhi Metro till Khanpur. People would have been singing her praises. Alas! Each commuter on the corridor has only curses to offer.
My colleagues don't believe me. They feel I use BRT as an excuse.
"How bad could it be?" they ask.
"Travel down the corridor and you will see," I reply.
Unfortunately, they don't live anywhere near the BRT. And they will never experience the torture. After all, the rains will go away soon, the sun will come out and the commuters will sweat again -- and their murmurs would grow louder and louder still.
ALSO READ
Surviving Delhi's Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Part I
Surviving Delhi's Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Part II
Just because it's disappeared from the front pages of newspapers doesn't mean commuters are now in some sort of heaven. They are just resigned to the fact that there's no getting away with the bottlenecks at Chirag Dilli and Archana crossings.
The time taken is the same but the hot May sun is no longer beating down on motorcyclists and cars.
When you are waiting in the BRT line in August, the rain splashes down, dribbling down the car's windscreen and you can sit back and relax, armed with the knowledge that the car in front won't move another inch anytime soon.
Yes, the rain gods had pity on Delhi's hapless BRT commuters -- making that interminable wait at least tolerable.
But that doesn't make the corridor project a success. Hindustan Times claims people are adjusting to BRT, that Delhi has learnt to live with it. They should have asked me, I guess. Or anybody who goes through the BRT corridor day after day, month after month.
What worries me is this Times of India article, which says the Delhi government is planning more BRT stretches. It seems Sheila Dikshit hasn't learnt her lesson yet. Does she really want to lose the next election?
If only she had spent a few extra crores and extended the Delhi Metro till Khanpur. People would have been singing her praises. Alas! Each commuter on the corridor has only curses to offer.
My colleagues don't believe me. They feel I use BRT as an excuse.
"How bad could it be?" they ask.
"Travel down the corridor and you will see," I reply.
Unfortunately, they don't live anywhere near the BRT. And they will never experience the torture. After all, the rains will go away soon, the sun will come out and the commuters will sweat again -- and their murmurs would grow louder and louder still.
ALSO READ
Surviving Delhi's Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Part I
Surviving Delhi's Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Part II
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