Bookaroo 2016. Not as exciting as one had hoped. But disappointments build character ;-)
This question has been burning in my head since November 8. How do they print notes without the employees at the press knowing that's being printed. Are they all awesomely nationalistic and don't leak news? Googling on the subject got me nothing. This lady claims that at a security press, the workers don't even know what's being printed. That is awesomesauce technology. And I say that as someone who's hung out at printing presses since childhood. Everything keeps breaking at a press.
I wonder how this works. Are the citizens involved when the requirement is analysed. When the scope of work is decided. When the technical specifications are drawn up. When the bids are evaluated. When the terms of the PO are discussed. If not, how can they waltz in when it is time to pay and say, "No, we don't like this work". If the work is shoddy, it isn't always the contractor's fault. What if the engineer drew up bad specs. And she had to because finance didn't give her adequate funds.
Anyway, a step in the right direction I suppose. I hope vendors weren't always vilified. Unless you respect your vendors, you're never going to get quality work.
Anyway, a step in the right direction I suppose. I hope vendors weren't always vilified. Unless you respect your vendors, you're never going to get quality work.
7yr old: (wipes public 3D glasses with tissue) Dad where do I put this tissue?
Me: (rolls eyes) In the cup holder in your seat. Or your pocket.
Me, to myself: When will this kid grow up?
Half an hour later, 9yr old: Dad can you take this tissue?
Me, to myself: Smack my head. This one is grown up.
I suppose I'll miss all this once they're actually grown up and responsible.
Me: (rolls eyes) In the cup holder in your seat. Or your pocket.
Me, to myself: When will this kid grow up?
Half an hour later, 9yr old: Dad can you take this tissue?
Me, to myself: Smack my head. This one is grown up.
I suppose I'll miss all this once they're actually grown up and responsible.
What Fidel built. Universal quality education, best in the world (yet free) healthcare, and a lack of economic opportunities.
The one trait you always hear about life in Cuba - happiness. A people that are given to singing, dancing, sharing and caring. I wonder how much communism had to do with that.
In the context of Black Friday, I wonder - is it possible to happily coexist with stores that stock every material object in the world?
What do tribal societies have in common with Cuba that makes them so happy? A closely knit social fabric, a lack of material distractions, or both?
The one trait you always hear about life in Cuba - happiness. A people that are given to singing, dancing, sharing and caring. I wonder how much communism had to do with that.
In the context of Black Friday, I wonder - is it possible to happily coexist with stores that stock every material object in the world?
What do tribal societies have in common with Cuba that makes them so happy? A closely knit social fabric, a lack of material distractions, or both?
The American election cycle. The gift that keeps on giving.
Nilay. Going against the flow, as usual.
Me: I am importing these Microsoft licenses. Do they look authentic to you?
Microsoft India: We cannot help you.
Me: You cannot even look at the license and tell me if it looks authentic to you?
Microsoft India: We can only verify licenses sold in India.
Me: So if I buy and use/resell these licenses in India, Microsoft India will not sue me if they turn out to be unauthentic.
Microsoft India: Ah. Oh. I see what you did there. Let us get back to you.
Microsoft India: We cannot help you.
Me: You cannot even look at the license and tell me if it looks authentic to you?
Microsoft India: We can only verify licenses sold in India.
Me: So if I buy and use/resell these licenses in India, Microsoft India will not sue me if they turn out to be unauthentic.
Microsoft India: Ah. Oh. I see what you did there. Let us get back to you.
Why get thinner when you can get dinner.
The need is to strike a balance between the state taking away all your money, and a few people owning half the wealth of the nation. Some private property is a good idea. Excessive concentration is 'against the nature of nature'.
Kavin took the video to be instructional. He watched it thrice. Practised each nod. Cleared all doubts. Now he is a master.
The kid can't talk without nodding his head. I thought this might help. Plan backfired.
The kid can't talk without nodding his head. I thought this might help. Plan backfired.
मेरे पास सौ-सौ के सौ नोट हैं। तुम्हारे पास क्या है?
My first withdrawal since the demon struck. Didn't even have to visit the bank. The perks of maintaining a healthy banking relationship over a long period.
(Actually, the perks of having your own business with an accountant who maintains a healthy relationship with your bank for you.)
My first withdrawal since the demon struck. Didn't even have to visit the bank. The perks of maintaining a healthy banking relationship over a long period.
(Actually, the perks of having your own business with an accountant who maintains a healthy relationship with your bank for you.)
So, I'm reading the news, and I see Thomas Franco speaking for the AIBOC.
And I remember listening to one Franco who worked at SBI, in 1999, at an AID India conference. So I do some digging:
https://aidindia.org/2016/10/18/franco/
https://aidindia.org/2016/10/25/what-a-rupee-saved-can-earn/
So I dig some more, and I find this:
http://aisbof.org/bio_data/franco.doc
Having being an AID volunteer, at any point in life, is a gift that keeps on giving :-). Fellow I worked with is now "leader of bank officers’ union", of all banks.
He doesn't look as humble as he used to. I suppose you have to pose like that if you are supreme leader ;-)
And I remember listening to one Franco who worked at SBI, in 1999, at an AID India conference. So I do some digging:
https://aidindia.org/2016/10/18/franco/
https://aidindia.org/2016/10/25/what-a-rupee-saved-can-earn/
So I dig some more, and I find this:
http://aisbof.org/bio_data/franco.doc
Having being an AID volunteer, at any point in life, is a gift that keeps on giving :-). Fellow I worked with is now "leader of bank officers’ union", of all banks.
He doesn't look as humble as he used to. I suppose you have to pose like that if you are supreme leader ;-)
We wanted the poor to start banking. So we made them queue up endlessly outside banks.
Customer acquisition, +1
User experience, -10
Customer acquisition, +1
User experience, -10
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. The Sharp FU-A80E-W is the best air purifier I have tested so far.
http://www.saurabhja.in/sharp-fu-a80e-w/
Thank you @[504214305:2048:Mithun Sundar] and @[599522094:2048:Divya Rolla]. And good choice!
http://www.saurabhja.in/sharp-fu-a80e-w/
Thank you @[504214305:2048:Mithun Sundar] and @[599522094:2048:Divya Rolla]. And good choice!
Two of my earlier observations reflected in this article. One, that IT department will find it difficult to scale. Appararntly it already has a staff crunch and huge backlog. Two, that the announcement that deposits up to 2.5 lakhs won't be investigated corresponds to the income tax exemption limit.
We were lucky to be here, and celebrate Anupreet's father beating his usual timing.
I am getting daily SMSs from 5-6 banks. Most of them I have not even banked with, ever in life. Most messages begin with "Dear customer, as per RBI guidelines..". Every day there is a new guideline. Following them has become difficult. We should just have a scoreboard instead.
Today we watched two plays at Jashn-e-bachpan, NSD.
The first was a Malayalam play about the environment. The kids could relate to much of the story without understanding the dialogues. After the play, apart from the story, we also talked about the age of the actors (all little kids), their fluency and flawlessness, the beautiful colours, props, lighting, sound, etc.
The second was an Assamese play. It had special children as part of the cast. Actually, there are one of two possibilities. Either the special children were fantastic actors. Or the children were exceptional actors who could copy the mannerisms of a special child without making it theatric. We had to leave midway because the kids were hungry.
Watching both plays, we realised that theatre provides a window not just to stories from other cultures, but also the language, clothing, houses, lifestyle, mannerisms, hairstyles, etc.
We had actually gone rushing for a Hindi play but it was running house full. We hadn't booked in advance because I wasn't expecting to be free today.
Tickets only ₹20. It would be a shame if you live in Delhi with kids and don't attend. Don't bother about the language, just go.
The first was a Malayalam play about the environment. The kids could relate to much of the story without understanding the dialogues. After the play, apart from the story, we also talked about the age of the actors (all little kids), their fluency and flawlessness, the beautiful colours, props, lighting, sound, etc.
The second was an Assamese play. It had special children as part of the cast. Actually, there are one of two possibilities. Either the special children were fantastic actors. Or the children were exceptional actors who could copy the mannerisms of a special child without making it theatric. We had to leave midway because the kids were hungry.
Watching both plays, we realised that theatre provides a window not just to stories from other cultures, but also the language, clothing, houses, lifestyle, mannerisms, hairstyles, etc.
We had actually gone rushing for a Hindi play but it was running house full. We hadn't booked in advance because I wasn't expecting to be free today.
Tickets only ₹20. It would be a shame if you live in Delhi with kids and don't attend. Don't bother about the language, just go.
Kavin: Om nom nom. This food is very nice. Can I have the feedback form?
Me: The feedback form is the pot bellied guy standing at the entrance. Go make his day.
Me: The feedback form is the pot bellied guy standing at the entrance. Go make his day.
Or out of cash
Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes.
I would be very grateful if, as a gesture of celebrating my birthday, you would spend some of your bank balance to buy food or medicines for those who do not have the means. I know it sounds cliched and cheesy, but hey, haven't I always been that way :p
Even better, if you have some (usable) cash, please buy from the little guys. They do not want your charity. They need your change to get the cash economy going again.
Thank you again for making my day really special. Jai hind!
I would be very grateful if, as a gesture of celebrating my birthday, you would spend some of your bank balance to buy food or medicines for those who do not have the means. I know it sounds cliched and cheesy, but hey, haven't I always been that way :p
Even better, if you have some (usable) cash, please buy from the little guys. They do not want your charity. They need your change to get the cash economy going again.
Thank you again for making my day really special. Jai hind!
Boy: You know fifty people have died already because of demonetisation.
Girl 1: Why?
Girl 2: अब बूढ़े बूढ़े लोग line में खड़े होंगे तो...
Girl 1: उनके पास black money था :-o
Girl 2: 👩🔫
Girl 1: Why?
Girl 2: अब बूढ़े बूढ़े लोग line में खड़े होंगे तो...
Girl 1: उनके पास black money था :-o
Girl 2: 👩🔫
Nothing is going as per plan in this demonetisation. Nothing is scaling. Will the IT department scale? Will they be able to process the crores of transactions and find the wrongdoers? Will they be able to nab those who laundered money through jewellers etc.?
The guru has spoken from the trenches. We had to wait eight days, because there are no shishyas of rural journalism. https://t.co/rjpjHH4Ov6
State funding of elections. Yes please, provided all other spending is banned. Simultaneous elections, of course yes.
You had one job!
Crores of people with Jan Dhan and other bank accounts have never used their debit-cum-ATM cards. Why? Because of a lack of financial literacy in India.
Impart financial literacy to those around you. Help them cope with life after cash (if you believe that the current demonetisation move will lead to a cashless Indian economy).
https://www.google.co.in/search?q=financial+literacy+india
Impart financial literacy to those around you. Help them cope with life after cash (if you believe that the current demonetisation move will lead to a cashless Indian economy).
https://www.google.co.in/search?q=financial+literacy+india
Now is an excellent time for all of us to ask our banks to move from MasterCard and Visa to RuPay.
When you swipe your debit or credit card at a shop, the merchant receives money in their bank account. The bank that issues the POS terminal to the merchant, charges them a fees per transaction. There is a fixed fees and a variable fees. The variable fees has been capped by the Indian government at 0.75% for transactions under ₹2,000, and 1% for transactions above ₹2,000.
This percentage fees only applies to cards issued by MasterCard and Visa. There is an Indian initiative called RuPay, where there is no percentage fees at all!
Compare charges here: https://www.services.irctc.co.in/payment.html
Are you using a RuPay card? To my knowledge, 100% of Indian ATMs and POS terminals accept RuPay. Stop making videshi companies richer. Go swadeshi with RuPay.
When other card issuers charge 1%, RuPay was merely charging ₹1 per transaction. Even that has been waived two days back. Gotta love these guys!
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/npci-waives-switching-fee-for-rupay-pos-transactions-116111401389_1.html
When you swipe your debit or credit card at a shop, the merchant receives money in their bank account. The bank that issues the POS terminal to the merchant, charges them a fees per transaction. There is a fixed fees and a variable fees. The variable fees has been capped by the Indian government at 0.75% for transactions under ₹2,000, and 1% for transactions above ₹2,000.
This percentage fees only applies to cards issued by MasterCard and Visa. There is an Indian initiative called RuPay, where there is no percentage fees at all!
Compare charges here: https://www.services.irctc.co.in/payment.html
Are you using a RuPay card? To my knowledge, 100% of Indian ATMs and POS terminals accept RuPay. Stop making videshi companies richer. Go swadeshi with RuPay.
When other card issuers charge 1%, RuPay was merely charging ₹1 per transaction. Even that has been waived two days back. Gotta love these guys!
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/npci-waives-switching-fee-for-rupay-pos-transactions-116111401389_1.html
Now is a great time to force the government into encouraging Business Correspondents. BCs have been allowed to exchange notes, which is a shot in their arm.
#financialinclusion
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/demonetisation-business-correspondents-under-pressure/article9341888.ece
#financialinclusion
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/demonetisation-business-correspondents-under-pressure/article9341888.ece
Now is a great time to force the government into improving our ATM infrastructure and penetration levels. One way of doing that is to promote non-bank ATMs. Read more...
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/3YLmH9ZyWTIxjIchh8ed1K/White-Label-ATMs-struggle-to-stay-afloat.html
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-09-07/news/66297068_1_wlas-interchange-fee-national-financial-switch
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/3YLmH9ZyWTIxjIchh8ed1K/White-Label-ATMs-struggle-to-stay-afloat.html
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-09-07/news/66297068_1_wlas-interchange-fee-national-financial-switch
Let me clarify. I personally stand to benefit tremendously from this drive against black money. Although the industry I am in, hardware, is mostly "white", there is still significant evasion. This means that our competitors do not have pay income tax on their margins, like we do. This encourages them to lower prices - they take home the same profit as us even if they reduce margins by 33%.
However, nothing we are seeing right now will reduce the long term evasion of income tax. Folks will continue to under invoice imports, thus paying significantly lower import duties than us for the same components. They will also evade excise tax by creating shell companies that "manufacture" up to ₹1.5 crores worth of goods every year, while being exempt from excise. But most significantly, they will continue to show phantom employees on their books, who are all paid in cash at the end of each month. Now these employees will be paid in ₹2,000 notes. Nothing else will change.
However, nothing we are seeing right now will reduce the long term evasion of income tax. Folks will continue to under invoice imports, thus paying significantly lower import duties than us for the same components. They will also evade excise tax by creating shell companies that "manufacture" up to ₹1.5 crores worth of goods every year, while being exempt from excise. But most significantly, they will continue to show phantom employees on their books, who are all paid in cash at the end of each month. Now these employees will be paid in ₹2,000 notes. Nothing else will change.
Rudyard Kipling called General Dyer the "saviour of India" after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. How little history we know, and how littler we choose to remember. We all sit and enjoy the Jungle Book as if...
Please see this. It is refreshing to see an Indian media outlet use data visualisation to explain something that affects us on a daily basis. Wonderful, and so useful.
Bangalore is the only major city that is livable. Mumbai appears livable, till you realise that the peaks during the morning and evening are very high, and that exposure is also bad for kids.
Bangalore is the only major city that is livable. Mumbai appears livable, till you realise that the peaks during the morning and evening are very high, and that exposure is also bad for kids.
Kavin: Why is it #KoffeeWithTwinkle?
Me: Because she is the main guest. Not him.
Kavin: Yes, but why Twinkle?
Me: Because her name is Twinkle.
Kavin: Whose name?
Me: The girl. She is called Twinkle.
Kavin: 😕
Me: Because she is the main guest. Not him.
Kavin: Yes, but why Twinkle?
Me: Because her name is Twinkle.
Kavin: Whose name?
Me: The girl. She is called Twinkle.
Kavin: 😕
Windows is still relevant!
कल मेरी अपने मोहल्ले के डाकिए से मुलाकात हुई।
मैं: अरे आप डाक बांट रहे हो! तो नोट कौन बांटेगा?
डाकिया: अरे उस सब के लिए और लोग हैं भाई। जब पैसा आएगा, वह बदलेंगे। मैंने डाक न बांटीं तो कैसे चलेगा?
मैं: आएगा मतलब?
डाकिया: अरे डाकघर में कोई ख़ज़ाना थोड़े ही है। हमारे पास भी पैसा बैंक से आता है। अभी बैंकों में पैसा नहीं है तो हमें कौन देगा?
आज आस पास के बैंकों ने लोगों को निराश किया। कल डाकखाने खुले तो हैं, मगर वहां मिलेगा क्या?
मैं: अरे आप डाक बांट रहे हो! तो नोट कौन बांटेगा?
डाकिया: अरे उस सब के लिए और लोग हैं भाई। जब पैसा आएगा, वह बदलेंगे। मैंने डाक न बांटीं तो कैसे चलेगा?
मैं: आएगा मतलब?
डाकिया: अरे डाकघर में कोई ख़ज़ाना थोड़े ही है। हमारे पास भी पैसा बैंक से आता है। अभी बैंकों में पैसा नहीं है तो हमें कौन देगा?
आज आस पास के बैंकों ने लोगों को निराश किया। कल डाकखाने खुले तो हैं, मगर वहां मिलेगा क्या?
The insensitivity of those who have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this move is appalling.
Kavin: I'm watching a movie where only one car can talk like Cars 2.
Me: I know. Herbie.
Kavin: The car just winked at one guy and he was confused, because no one knows that Herbie can talk expect one girl who drives it.
Me: I ain't been living under a rock kid. I've seen the movie many times. Watch the movie by yourself. I'm sick.
Kavin: Now the girl drove the car onto a fence and it went upside down because another car had crashed in front on the race track.
Me: Grraaaarrrgorrr. (translation: don't follow me into the bathroom. I can't hear you. Can't you see I'm gargling.)
Some people just can't enjoy a good thing without sharing it...
Me: I know. Herbie.
Kavin: The car just winked at one guy and he was confused, because no one knows that Herbie can talk expect one girl who drives it.
Me: I ain't been living under a rock kid. I've seen the movie many times. Watch the movie by yourself. I'm sick.
Kavin: Now the girl drove the car onto a fence and it went upside down because another car had crashed in front on the race track.
Me: Grraaaarrrgorrr. (translation: don't follow me into the bathroom. I can't hear you. Can't you see I'm gargling.)
Some people just can't enjoy a good thing without sharing it...
This is the crowd outside just one bank. Hundreds of people. All blue collar, by the looks of it.
Witnessed such a scene at a major private hospital in Delhi yesterday. A family of foreigners with Indian cash was trying to get their patient discharged. They were told to go to their embassy, which would help them get fresh Indian currency. They said they had purchased Indian currency before coming to India, and this is all the money they had. They did not have international cards etc.
Since the patient was not discharged, additional daily bed charges were also accruing.
It felt like they were speaking Bangla amongst themselves. Might have been Bangladeshis in that case.
What chaos.
Since the patient was not discharged, additional daily bed charges were also accruing.
It felt like they were speaking Bangla amongst themselves. Might have been Bangladeshis in that case.
What chaos.
Basically government is saying, go for a holiday. Buy tickets, fuel, with old money. No tolls also. Let's go.
No surge on Uber even at peak hours. Looks like people don't have money to pay for cash rides. Also, hardly any traffic jams during rush hour.
Elsewhere, smooth operators are cold calling small business owners like me, asking if we want cash converted to white. And expressing surprise and disappointment when I proudly declare that all of our business has always been in white.
Are you an entrepreneur, business owner, or director in a company. Has anyone called you asking to convert your cash into white for a "small percentage"?
Are you an entrepreneur, business owner, or director in a company. Has anyone called you asking to convert your cash into white for a "small percentage"?
What is wealth?
Our lives revolve around money. We earn it, save it, spend it, lend it, worship it. And then one evening, just like that, someone declares it worthless.
Technically, cash, gold and bank balance only have notional value. But we never acknowledge that. Our houses, cars, clothes and stocks have some intrinsic value. But their market prices are almost always inflated. These too can come crashing down any day.
So what is real wealth? Some invest in relationships. But every day I hear stories of people being stabbed in the back by their own.
Others invest in knowledge. I build technology. Most of the stuff I learn becomes worthless within three years, as the next big fad comes along.
People build self respect. Social recognition. But look at the Syrians now. Where is their sense of identity? Their assets, experience, education, all ground into dust.
Everyone invests in themselves. You can travel. Meditate. Exercise (or, like me, eat). In that case, where is your wealth? Can you trade it with others? Can it be demonetised through an executive order? Can all your inner peace and sophistication wash away in the fury of one election result?
I'd like to hear from you. What is your wealth (material or otherwise)? How do you prevent others from taking it away from you? How do you exchange that wealth for things you need? Does it give you a sense of safety? Do you fear it losing its value overnight?
Our lives revolve around money. We earn it, save it, spend it, lend it, worship it. And then one evening, just like that, someone declares it worthless.
Technically, cash, gold and bank balance only have notional value. But we never acknowledge that. Our houses, cars, clothes and stocks have some intrinsic value. But their market prices are almost always inflated. These too can come crashing down any day.
So what is real wealth? Some invest in relationships. But every day I hear stories of people being stabbed in the back by their own.
Others invest in knowledge. I build technology. Most of the stuff I learn becomes worthless within three years, as the next big fad comes along.
People build self respect. Social recognition. But look at the Syrians now. Where is their sense of identity? Their assets, experience, education, all ground into dust.
Everyone invests in themselves. You can travel. Meditate. Exercise (or, like me, eat). In that case, where is your wealth? Can you trade it with others? Can it be demonetised through an executive order? Can all your inner peace and sophistication wash away in the fury of one election result?
I'd like to hear from you. What is your wealth (material or otherwise)? How do you prevent others from taking it away from you? How do you exchange that wealth for things you need? Does it give you a sense of safety? Do you fear it losing its value overnight?
I received this message at 5:30pm today:
Dear Customer, As per RBI directions, IDBI Bank branches will not be operational for public dealing today, November 9th 2016. ATMs will remain closed for today, November 9th 2016 & tomorrow, November 10th 2016. Debit/Credit Cards/Net Banking services at merchants/e-commerce can be availed.
They're telling me they are closed today - after end of business hours. These same people are supposed to carry out the largest currency exchange exercise ever! 🙄
Dear Customer, As per RBI directions, IDBI Bank branches will not be operational for public dealing today, November 9th 2016. ATMs will remain closed for today, November 9th 2016 & tomorrow, November 10th 2016. Debit/Credit Cards/Net Banking services at merchants/e-commerce can be availed.
They're telling me they are closed today - after end of business hours. These same people are supposed to carry out the largest currency exchange exercise ever! 🙄
Many of my American friends are already talking of emigration.
May I suggest India? And not just to those who are of Indian origin. (I know, I know, Modi is no Trudeau, but it's not like you're moving to another country to live with the PM.)
Sure, we have pollution, corruption, myriad other problems. But to a capable mind these are merely opportunities. Maybe not to make money, but definitely to make a difference to this world.
So if you don't buy into Make America Great Again, come to India. It's already pretty damn great here.
May I suggest India? And not just to those who are of Indian origin. (I know, I know, Modi is no Trudeau, but it's not like you're moving to another country to live with the PM.)
Sure, we have pollution, corruption, myriad other problems. But to a capable mind these are merely opportunities. Maybe not to make money, but definitely to make a difference to this world.
So if you don't buy into Make America Great Again, come to India. It's already pretty damn great here.
Since this is the most frequently asked question, I have decided to answer it, even though I have only personally tested three purifiers so far.
http://www.saurabhja.in/which-purifier-should-you-buy/
There is also an FAQ section now. Please, please ask questions. I've received some excellent questions over WhatsApp and I will be including those here later in the day.
http://www.saurabhja.in/category/pollution/faq/
http://www.saurabhja.in/which-purifier-should-you-buy/
There is also an FAQ section now. Please, please ask questions. I've received some excellent questions over WhatsApp and I will be including those here later in the day.
http://www.saurabhja.in/category/pollution/faq/
Meanwhile, the US has built a gun that costs $800,000 per shot. Which is so expensive that even the US cannot afford these bullets.
If this is happening under Obama, what will happen under Hillary or, god forbid, Trump?
The guns have been built. Eventually the bullets will also be bought. Every time they are fired, how many potential college scholarships would go up in smoke? And at the other end, how many lives would go up in a fireball?
If this is happening under Obama, what will happen under Hillary or, god forbid, Trump?
The guns have been built. Eventually the bullets will also be bought. Every time they are fired, how many potential college scholarships would go up in smoke? And at the other end, how many lives would go up in a fireball?
I'm a little irritated right now, and I'll share my troubles with you.
As soon as the demonetisation news came out, people started sending jokes over WhatsApp. I find some of these in very poor taste, for two reasons.
First, there is the image of Mahatma Gandhi on all of our current banknotes. The most distasteful forward shows a roll of ₹500 notes, with Gandhiji imprinted on them, being dispensed as toilet paper.
Second, it's all paper. When I was young, I was taught to respect paper. Not to step on it, or throw it on the floor. All paper was vidya, knowledge, an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati. I may be an atheist know, but I still culturally ingrained in me to respect what I may have an excess of but others find hard to get - money, knowledge, food.
So, excuse me if I snap back at you for your jokes. We are looking at them from different perspectives, and you may not appreciate mine.
As soon as the demonetisation news came out, people started sending jokes over WhatsApp. I find some of these in very poor taste, for two reasons.
First, there is the image of Mahatma Gandhi on all of our current banknotes. The most distasteful forward shows a roll of ₹500 notes, with Gandhiji imprinted on them, being dispensed as toilet paper.
Second, it's all paper. When I was young, I was taught to respect paper. Not to step on it, or throw it on the floor. All paper was vidya, knowledge, an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati. I may be an atheist know, but I still culturally ingrained in me to respect what I may have an excess of but others find hard to get - money, knowledge, food.
So, excuse me if I snap back at you for your jokes. We are looking at them from different perspectives, and you may not appreciate mine.
Some thoughts on improving the efficacy of your air purifier. Backed by pretty graphs, of course :-)
I'm not with anything that's written in Arial font using fluorescent colours (even if they resemble the colours of our flag).
Issues are important. Good typography is imperative.
Issues are important. Good typography is imperative.
Unfortunately, in all this, it is the police that gets a bad name. It then needs to run PR campaigns to come across as friendly and citizen-centric. Until the next time it is made to beat up the same citizens again. This happens in India, the US, pretty much everywhere you look.
With smog descending on us like never before, I've started collating all my knowledge on the subject at one place. I've also restarted air purifier tests and plan to review face masks too.
Those with an understanding of the subject, please fact check the site, and also verify the science. @[505907433:2048:Bhaskar Deol]
If you live in Gurgaon and can lend me your air purifier for a night, I'd like to measure its efficacy. @[504214305:2048:Mithun Sundar]
An interesting thing I learnt while making this site. Running your air purifier at full fan leads to poor results. For catching the tiniest of particles, you need to run your purifier on slow. If you have a manual purifier, run it at full till 200, medium till 100, then low to achieve 30 or whatever is the best your purifier can do.
More expensive purifiers have sensors and electronics to automate this process. I want to test some of these to verify if the control system actually delivers.
Those with an understanding of the subject, please fact check the site, and also verify the science. @[505907433:2048:Bhaskar Deol]
If you live in Gurgaon and can lend me your air purifier for a night, I'd like to measure its efficacy. @[504214305:2048:Mithun Sundar]
An interesting thing I learnt while making this site. Running your air purifier at full fan leads to poor results. For catching the tiniest of particles, you need to run your purifier on slow. If you have a manual purifier, run it at full till 200, medium till 100, then low to achieve 30 or whatever is the best your purifier can do.
More expensive purifiers have sensors and electronics to automate this process. I want to test some of these to verify if the control system actually delivers.
Good morning Gurgaon. PM2.5 at 500µg/m3, PM10 at 1,000µg/m3. What a beautiful morning 😑
Please make your children wear pollution masks. My younger one is embarrassed to be wearing his mask in public. If more children wear masks, he won't be the odd guy out.
Stepping out today is a travesty.
Please make your children wear pollution masks. My younger one is embarrassed to be wearing his mask in public. If more children wear masks, he won't be the odd guy out.
Stepping out today is a travesty.
This.
Getting stuff manufactured in India has huge cultural challenges. At Thinvent we have continually increased our total domestic content, but it isn't easy. Sometimes you just wanna give it all up and import SKD like the rest.
Getting stuff manufactured in India has huge cultural challenges. At Thinvent we have continually increased our total domestic content, but it isn't easy. Sometimes you just wanna give it all up and import SKD like the rest.
Lands like Australia and the USA have traditionally been ruled by white immigrants. I've often wondered what would happen if, through some stroke of legal jiggery-pokery, the native people of these lands were made the rulers instead.
In the light of what's happening with the Dakota pipeline, and the rather meh presidential choices currently on offer to the American public, I wish this weren't just a pipe dream.
If the world is to survive, we need less wars and more respect for nature. The typical 'Red Indian' in Western movies is always indulging in tribal warfare. I don't know how much of that is based on fact. But this much is sure. There would be lesser focus on short term economic gain - the Wall Street model. And greater focus on healing the earth.
In the light of what's happening with the Dakota pipeline, and the rather meh presidential choices currently on offer to the American public, I wish this weren't just a pipe dream.
If the world is to survive, we need less wars and more respect for nature. The typical 'Red Indian' in Western movies is always indulging in tribal warfare. I don't know how much of that is based on fact. But this much is sure. There would be lesser focus on short term economic gain - the Wall Street model. And greater focus on healing the earth.
Diwali made awesome by Mr. Venkat Rolla's enthusiasm and Rama's firecracker stash
Anyone wanna join me for this?
Diwaliiiiii