Jispa is so besotted by Angel (my brother’s dog) that she invented a new game Angel Angel. She has taught this to everyone at her school and her other friends outside school. They play angel angel all the time. Where ever they meet, whenever they meet. Its quite a craze. Obviously it means jumping around, crawling around and getting horribly dirty everywhere. The mothers are a bit tired with all this crawling and barking. These are obviously the mothers of the core gang that Jispa has. In fact they have seriously considered banning Angel Angel. I am serious. And it’s not the mothers who are to blame here. It can get quite irritating looking at the kids panting like dogs all the time. Why would they want to play dog, god alone knows but yes in the game there are masters and there are the dogs. And it is privileged to be the dog. And I guess because Jispa can run around like a dog better than others, she kind of becomes the pivot of the game. She looks like Mowgli roaming around the house. The same tiny wire frame doing all kinds of mind numbing twists and turns.
Yesterday they were playing Angel Angel with a twist. Angel had super powers that she could transfer to her masters. Whatever!
Just then one mother told me of an ad by Surf excel and that it reminded her of Jispa . We searched the net and we all saw it. Yup.. that’s her allright. They peeped into my house and got the inspiration I guess. When we all did see the ad, Jasmine and we were worried that this was akin to showing the monkey where the razor was kept
Friday, September 04, 2009
space fight
Sometimes I wonder how petty we can get. When we shifted into the new office, in about a fortnight a horrific grapevine set the floor abuzz. It seemed some senior manager was quite sore about the cabin he got. He didn’t like it. He looked around other cabins and realized that … horror of horrors, Oh my god, his cabin was smaller than his mere mortal neighbor whom he allegedly outranked. He threw a fit. He screamed and shouted around and said that dam it, his cabin looks smaller. He then … yes… he did it… he got the human resource flunky to come in with a measuring tape and measure the length of the cabin. It was smaller. Now I don’t know how smaller is smaller, but I have seen the two cabins and let me tell you, I think they look the same. So he threw a fit again screamed a bit, then a bit more and brought the whole floor down. He is still sitting there though so I really don’t know who benefited from all this. He probably lost a bit in the process.
I guess a lot of us corporate junkies eye every little perk in the business including cabin sizes. There aren’t too many people who can say that they are detached from it all. But knowing that this office is a temporary place from where we should be shifting a year from now, what’s the big deal. The reverse will be told to you. You better scream now or you will never be heard. Next time they would be wary of messing with you on anything. Well I don’t know. There is some truth in the argument but I guess each one will have to choose his fight. I for one don’t want to fight on cabin space. I hate cabins to start with. Give me salary, designations and real perks then I am game for a fight. A few mm of space? Go on take mine….there are multiple barriers in my mind before I would pick the cabin space fight… To start – I need to realize that his is bigger than mine (the cabin space you nitwit). Then I need to see a fault with it. then I must feel no shame to make it a big issue, then I must feel the need to trouble someone with the measuring tape and then I must feel the need to shout about it to all who would care to listen. I think there are too many barriers to this.
To all those who care to listen… if I were to ever behave like this… do me a favor and shoot me... noooo…not with a gun. You are a real nitwit you know that. You should just shoot me with a handy cam. Play it back to me and I would die of embarrassment. This was you wouldn’t be guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
I guess a lot of us corporate junkies eye every little perk in the business including cabin sizes. There aren’t too many people who can say that they are detached from it all. But knowing that this office is a temporary place from where we should be shifting a year from now, what’s the big deal. The reverse will be told to you. You better scream now or you will never be heard. Next time they would be wary of messing with you on anything. Well I don’t know. There is some truth in the argument but I guess each one will have to choose his fight. I for one don’t want to fight on cabin space. I hate cabins to start with. Give me salary, designations and real perks then I am game for a fight. A few mm of space? Go on take mine….there are multiple barriers in my mind before I would pick the cabin space fight… To start – I need to realize that his is bigger than mine (the cabin space you nitwit). Then I need to see a fault with it. then I must feel no shame to make it a big issue, then I must feel the need to trouble someone with the measuring tape and then I must feel the need to shout about it to all who would care to listen. I think there are too many barriers to this.
To all those who care to listen… if I were to ever behave like this… do me a favor and shoot me... noooo…not with a gun. You are a real nitwit you know that. You should just shoot me with a handy cam. Play it back to me and I would die of embarrassment. This was you wouldn’t be guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Friday, August 28, 2009
guava economics
Peru, also known as guava. A lovely fruit a zillion hard seeds. Some like it ripe, some have it …well… unripe or is it called raw? But yes some like it really hard and green and some soft and yellow. What dictates your taste? Well as the answer turns out, it depends on the soil condition of your home town. Yes I realize, this piece is highly inspired by behavioral scientists like Dan Ariely and economists like Steven Lewitt. Well I have reading a bit and listening to them on ted.com a tad too much. But that does not take away the finding… allow me…
So how do you like your guava?
While I walk into office from the parking lot everyday, I see a guava cart. The man sells guavas for three four or five bucks a piece. You have an option of choosing how rip you want it, both extremities included. I like them slightly ripe, not complete. Light green or just about yellow not rotting yellow. And I figure they are healthy so yesterday while I was at office instead of having chips or other snacks I sent my peon to get me one guava worth five bucks. I told him to get one and put a bit of salt (not too much). He gets me one really really raw piece. As I sink my teeth in it, I could feel the hard skin and the hard middle. Hard seeds as well. I threw away half of it after forcing myself to eat one half.
I kept wondering. This peon of mine, Vinod, is really a sweet guy. Vinod has grown up in a village and he knows his fruits. During the Mango season he gets us a few choicest of the yellow fruit and he explains exactly how to have them.
And I think he likes me (I hope0. so why would he get me a bad piece? This raw? Today I felt like having another one. I give him five bucks and ask him to get one but this time I told him, get me a slightly ripe piece. Sure enough a tasty ripe one comes along. He likes me :D.
I wondered a bit and then asked him. You like guava’s raw isn’t it? Yes he said. A bit of asking revealed this. He always eats them raw. In his village guavas don’t grow that much. Small trees with a little fruit grow. So typically they pluck the ones that are easily accessible. It’s not a crop that is grown for a commercial harvest. Since there is little fruit, if they do leave it to ripen, the kids throw stones and eat it. The ones that are on top are ones that ripen because no body else reaches them. "Only parrots eat ripe guavas" (I dont think he realised he called me a parrot). They reach on top and eat them. He is from konkan. He says Nashik, Shirdi, Pune are other places where guavas grow well due to the soil conditions. There you get trees with plenty of fruit and are grown commercially. There you get ripe guavas. Since they are plenty of them. In his village no one grows or eats ripe guavas. It is always plucked and eaten raw.
A ha, that’s why he got me a nice beautiful raw guava. I think he spent some time picking the rawest guava he could get his hands on. After all the soil conditions in his village don’t exactly favor ripening of guavas.
There you are… a freak answer to a simple issue.
So how do you like your guava?
While I walk into office from the parking lot everyday, I see a guava cart. The man sells guavas for three four or five bucks a piece. You have an option of choosing how rip you want it, both extremities included. I like them slightly ripe, not complete. Light green or just about yellow not rotting yellow. And I figure they are healthy so yesterday while I was at office instead of having chips or other snacks I sent my peon to get me one guava worth five bucks. I told him to get one and put a bit of salt (not too much). He gets me one really really raw piece. As I sink my teeth in it, I could feel the hard skin and the hard middle. Hard seeds as well. I threw away half of it after forcing myself to eat one half.
I kept wondering. This peon of mine, Vinod, is really a sweet guy. Vinod has grown up in a village and he knows his fruits. During the Mango season he gets us a few choicest of the yellow fruit and he explains exactly how to have them.
And I think he likes me (I hope0. so why would he get me a bad piece? This raw? Today I felt like having another one. I give him five bucks and ask him to get one but this time I told him, get me a slightly ripe piece. Sure enough a tasty ripe one comes along. He likes me :D.
I wondered a bit and then asked him. You like guava’s raw isn’t it? Yes he said. A bit of asking revealed this. He always eats them raw. In his village guavas don’t grow that much. Small trees with a little fruit grow. So typically they pluck the ones that are easily accessible. It’s not a crop that is grown for a commercial harvest. Since there is little fruit, if they do leave it to ripen, the kids throw stones and eat it. The ones that are on top are ones that ripen because no body else reaches them. "Only parrots eat ripe guavas" (I dont think he realised he called me a parrot). They reach on top and eat them. He is from konkan. He says Nashik, Shirdi, Pune are other places where guavas grow well due to the soil conditions. There you get trees with plenty of fruit and are grown commercially. There you get ripe guavas. Since they are plenty of them. In his village no one grows or eats ripe guavas. It is always plucked and eaten raw.
A ha, that’s why he got me a nice beautiful raw guava. I think he spent some time picking the rawest guava he could get his hands on. After all the soil conditions in his village don’t exactly favor ripening of guavas.
There you are… a freak answer to a simple issue.
try em, dry em
Economic slowdown does throw up some funny insights into human behavior. Let me explain one such… the admin fellows were set upon cost cutting in all possible ways. One of the holy cows that they decided was not so holy was tissues in the bathroom. Well the tissue rolls nest to the pot were definitely holy cow but the paper napkins next to the basin were obvious manifestations of sin. So precise excel sheet calculations showed that these alone cost the company more than 3 lakhs a year. Off they go. The gloomy external environment ensured the silence. And the dam hairdryer was there since inception in case you wanted to dry your hands.
I for now was completely for it. I grew up without it and I though it was a colossal waste. The hand dryer was there and so was the humble roomal (napkin) in your pocket. Didn’t your mother ensure you always went with one? It was pinned to your shirt in kindergarten, so that you don’t lick your runny nose outflows. Whenever I saw the dustbin full of used crumpled tissues, I felt that the culture had gotten a bit too far. Especially when people use more tissues when one should be enough.
So there, in place of the tissue dispenser, there remained two screws as a mute testimony to what had been.
But here is the interesting part. I now see people in front of the dryer…well.. drying. Nothing interesting till you see what they are drying – it’s the humble napkin that their momma (or wife) put in their pockets! I assume they wash their hands, take out the napkin, wipe their hands and then hold out the napkin in front of the dryer and dry their napkins. It is true. If only my cell camera worked I would shown you the picture. And this is not an isolated incident. I have seen multiple people so this. Stand in front of the dryer for some time (they dry that fast) holding them by the edges, turning the dam thing over. I wonder what this would have done to the electricity bill, though! Its fun to watch them. What must be the reason for this behavior? Would an economist theorize?
On another note when was the last time an ad made you get goose bumps?
Watch this one…
I dont about you but I felt something
I for now was completely for it. I grew up without it and I though it was a colossal waste. The hand dryer was there and so was the humble roomal (napkin) in your pocket. Didn’t your mother ensure you always went with one? It was pinned to your shirt in kindergarten, so that you don’t lick your runny nose outflows. Whenever I saw the dustbin full of used crumpled tissues, I felt that the culture had gotten a bit too far. Especially when people use more tissues when one should be enough.
So there, in place of the tissue dispenser, there remained two screws as a mute testimony to what had been.
But here is the interesting part. I now see people in front of the dryer…well.. drying. Nothing interesting till you see what they are drying – it’s the humble napkin that their momma (or wife) put in their pockets! I assume they wash their hands, take out the napkin, wipe their hands and then hold out the napkin in front of the dryer and dry their napkins. It is true. If only my cell camera worked I would shown you the picture. And this is not an isolated incident. I have seen multiple people so this. Stand in front of the dryer for some time (they dry that fast) holding them by the edges, turning the dam thing over. I wonder what this would have done to the electricity bill, though! Its fun to watch them. What must be the reason for this behavior? Would an economist theorize?
On another note when was the last time an ad made you get goose bumps?
Watch this one…
I dont about you but I felt something
Thursday, August 27, 2009
pop...she goes
Jispa wanted to stay up till late one fine day. Jasmine told her, sure you can. But you need to then get up on your own, get ready on your own and have your breakfast on your own. When you sleep late we have a tough time getting you ready for school. So do this for a month (prove you can) and you can stay late. This was the deal jasmine cut with her. Since I was the one waking and bathing her (and enjoying it), I felt cut off from the deal. Yesterday she woke up, had her bath got ready… all on her own. We just told her the alarm is ringing wake UP. So I was feeling a bit sad that she has finally grown up and I would not be required… for now…
Today when we woke her up, we told her… come on… get up and do your stuff on your own.. she replied “aaaa…ummm…I bunking that today…” pop she went back…
Well good times don’t last do they?
Completely unrelated - I came across this awesome quote:
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
Today when we woke her up, we told her… come on… get up and do your stuff on your own.. she replied “aaaa…ummm…I bunking that today…” pop she went back…
Well good times don’t last do they?
Completely unrelated - I came across this awesome quote:
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
what does angel know
While the house work is on we are staying at our brother’s place. The highlight of the stay is obviously his dog Angel. Its great fun to come home and get greeted by Angel. She is so loving and adorable. I do need to thank Angel for helping overcome some mind block. Getting kissed by a dog is one. Especially if you consider that a dog kiss is actually a dog lick. I take my lips in and put my face close to her when I come home. Awesome. In the morning its also fun to get greeted by Angel as she comes out from my brother’s room. Jispa and I await her.
Quetsion of the day was posed to me today morning by Jispa as she was playing with Angel. “Does a dog know it is a dog?” Err….. “Ask her”. “PAPA!”… “ok… ok.. I don’t know” I answer. Then she goes “does a dog know she is running, sitting, rolling over. does she know?”.
Actually I haven’t a clue. It is a good question Jispa, is all I can think of. I have no clue if a dog knows she is a dog. I guess the domesticated ones kind of live human lives but I sure know that many humans don’t know they live a dog’s life.
Quetsion of the day was posed to me today morning by Jispa as she was playing with Angel. “Does a dog know it is a dog?” Err….. “Ask her”. “PAPA!”… “ok… ok.. I don’t know” I answer. Then she goes “does a dog know she is running, sitting, rolling over. does she know?”.
Actually I haven’t a clue. It is a good question Jispa, is all I can think of. I have no clue if a dog knows she is a dog. I guess the domesticated ones kind of live human lives but I sure know that many humans don’t know they live a dog’s life.
Monday, August 24, 2009
let no one tell you...
My blackberry camera has gone on the blink and I do feel quite handicapped without it. Its so much fun to spot something, capture and blog it. But I guess I will have to do something else till such time.
But the of the loss of the camera is replaced by the joy of discovering something awesome. http://www.ted.com/ . It is an awesome site where they put up talks of some amazing people for viewing. The best part is that talks are timed for about 16 minutes forcing people to talk on only what is absolutely relevant and important. It’s just about the time that human brain can focus.
Today I came across (serendipitous) a talk by Ben Saunders. I just love experts talking about their … err…“expertise”. Sports persons especially so. I guess it’s the visible triumph of human achievement. Cracking the genetic code might be of greater consequence or difficulty but a sports person’s achievement has more empathy as we all have felt our own limitations at our arena.
Coming back to Ben Saunders. In 2004, Ben Saunders became the youngest person ever to ski solo to the North Pole. An absolute triumph of human achievement. But the most striking part about the talk is the last bit when he talks about his school report card as a 13 year old. The report card is a telling on the understanding our education system. He says he has framed it and it lies on his wall. It says:
"Ben lacks sufficient impetus to achieve anything worthwhile"
Ben’s response to it:
“No one else is the authority on you potential. You are the only who decides how far you go and what you are capable of”
Well said Ben. Well said.
his talk...
further Ben reading...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
please my I disappear? NO, shut up and sit down.
V-inu calls me and wishes me. Then he calls me later in the day saying – he read my post and wants to take back his wishes. Gladly… then he says have you heard Time by Pink Floyd. We search it up and the lines he wants me to read –
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinkingRacing around to come up behind you again The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're olderShorter of breath and one day closer to death
This is what he tells everyone when they come and wishs him. You bloody morose sadist. Then dear V gets our third part of the triumvirate Dee-nesh to read my last post. So Dee-nesh calls up and says I am not wishing you because I read the blog. Ok thank you. How thoughtful of you. He gives me gyan on the improbability of disappearing on this wonderful day. Thank you again for bearing with me. What are friends for after all…
So I am signing off with my disappearance wish highly unfulfilled. I am such a complainer. almost v-inuesque. Actually i am unfair to him. its not that he complains but he is actually angry with the world. Why? Ithink he loves it but hates the fact that he loves it. SOmething like that... nahhh... I am just being mean. He's a good guy. I'll vouch for that. Dee-nesh? Oh, he always was...
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinkingRacing around to come up behind you again The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're olderShorter of breath and one day closer to death
This is what he tells everyone when they come and wishs him. You bloody morose sadist. Then dear V gets our third part of the triumvirate Dee-nesh to read my last post. So Dee-nesh calls up and says I am not wishing you because I read the blog. Ok thank you. How thoughtful of you. He gives me gyan on the improbability of disappearing on this wonderful day. Thank you again for bearing with me. What are friends for after all…
So I am signing off with my disappearance wish highly unfulfilled. I am such a complainer. almost v-inuesque. Actually i am unfair to him. its not that he complains but he is actually angry with the world. Why? Ithink he loves it but hates the fact that he loves it. SOmething like that... nahhh... I am just being mean. He's a good guy. I'll vouch for that. Dee-nesh? Oh, he always was...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
who's got the blues?
I remember as a kid counting the days till my birthday. I even remember once counting up to 60 or was it 90 odd days. While we were in Dubai till the 3rd standard my birthday used to fall in the summer vacations so I was mighty excited to shift to Mumbai. I would finally get to wear colored clothes and distribute sweets. Be the centre of attention… ya.. That was good. I liked it. Surely did. Slowly it moved to college where I wanted ot get gifts, cut cakes and again be a star for that day. Cut to office… the fun of celebrating with office guys, cutting cakes etc…. cut to now…..I want to disappear. I have no reason why I am so unexcited by my birthday. I almost forgot I, I didn’t realize it was this week and I gave strict instructions to my gang in office that I will not accept any gifts this year.
I did not bargain on social networking sites publishing the information to all … today I got a few wishes in advance and a few calls asking me my plans.
I really wished for this birthday to be invisible. I wanted no one to wish me, no one to gift me anything, and no one to hug me for sure. Jispa and Jasmine – you are excluded. Angel – you are ok too… I love your kisses any time.
Its not being depressed and morose… it’s just that I feel like being alone, away and reflective. More than being celebratory. I dunno… Actually I just wanted to forget it. But that’s not going to happen. So sit back and enjoy it while it lasts. Thank god its just one day. And like most other things in life... this too shall pass.
I did not bargain on social networking sites publishing the information to all … today I got a few wishes in advance and a few calls asking me my plans.
I really wished for this birthday to be invisible. I wanted no one to wish me, no one to gift me anything, and no one to hug me for sure. Jispa and Jasmine – you are excluded. Angel – you are ok too… I love your kisses any time.
Its not being depressed and morose… it’s just that I feel like being alone, away and reflective. More than being celebratory. I dunno… Actually I just wanted to forget it. But that’s not going to happen. So sit back and enjoy it while it lasts. Thank god its just one day. And like most other things in life... this too shall pass.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
fast blow
Yesterday was my tryst with an unmitigated disaster. Jainism has this 8 days of fasting. And am really not the religious types. But since the last couple of years I have been doing a day fast. Basically surviving on water through the day. It’s my way of experiencing hunger or getting my self a detox. Full TP.
So this year I tried one fast yesterday. It went off well through the day – drinking tons of water. Evening the head started hurting and the weakness began to set in. I guess it was the loss of sugar or something. Also contributing was the fact that we have been staying at our in laws ever since the renovation work has been happening at our house – so that means generally sleeping later than usual. So I was sleep deprived. Then in the evening we happened to walk into a theatre and watch Kamine. A dark film with a dozen gangsters thrown in. That was the limit. At interval I stroll out with my head reeling and spinning very fast – I pop in a gelato ice cream and corn cheese nuggets. Later after the movie I drink juice and eat a pear before collapsing in the bed.
Either I was too tired to fast or too old. In any case it dealt my self esteem a decently large blow.
So this year I tried one fast yesterday. It went off well through the day – drinking tons of water. Evening the head started hurting and the weakness began to set in. I guess it was the loss of sugar or something. Also contributing was the fact that we have been staying at our in laws ever since the renovation work has been happening at our house – so that means generally sleeping later than usual. So I was sleep deprived. Then in the evening we happened to walk into a theatre and watch Kamine. A dark film with a dozen gangsters thrown in. That was the limit. At interval I stroll out with my head reeling and spinning very fast – I pop in a gelato ice cream and corn cheese nuggets. Later after the movie I drink juice and eat a pear before collapsing in the bed.
Either I was too tired to fast or too old. In any case it dealt my self esteem a decently large blow.
Monday, August 17, 2009
whose head is it in anyway?
I took Jispa to the Queer Parade yesterday. It ended up being quite a non event as far as Jispa was concerned. Before I took her I explained to her that you know who man can love women. “ya’. Man can also love man and women can also love women. “ya”. Ok. Ok. So that was that. A matter of fact for her and a revelation for mankind.
There I was showing her the transgenders and explaining that they are actually men who think they are women and therefore dress as women. “ohh .. ok”. We reached the parade at 3 sharp. Crowd was just about gathering and did not really go anywhere. The heat and the humidity were irritating. Soon enough we left there and headed back home. I guess the parade needs a bit of colorful characters to make it really loud and hence more noticeable. That would get the word flowing and the crowd going. One thing for sure was that I think Jispa was the only child there. So there. One step taken. I don’t know if the step was Jispa’s or mine.
Friday, August 14, 2009
return of the raj
In the era of cost savings I would be pretty sacred to requisition a duster for my white board. So while I have a whiteboard I don’t have a duster. But hell, this is India and labor is ridiculously cheap. In fact it is so cheap that if I have to use my white board, I use it and scribble away as much as possible. Then to erase it I simply call housekeeping. They have a guy on every floor. He comes in with his magic spray and cleans the board. Sometimes I tell him to lean it completely and sometimes I tell him to leave a part of it. I wonder if getting black boards or cheaper than buying your own duster (and helps spread employment) we should soon start this as an outsourcing activity. Don’t wipe it – Bangalore it…
I am not fibbing here. This actually happened. Here … it’s a good thing I have my handy cell phone camera, else you guys just wouldn’t believe me. Would you? I could get used to this. Isn’t this remnant of the raj? 
I am not fibbing here. This actually happened. Here … it’s a good thing I have my handy cell phone camera, else you guys just wouldn’t believe me. Would you? I could get used to this. Isn’t this remnant of the raj?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
open up
These days I have been reading about the kahp panchyat and how these administrative groups believe in regressive methods and are equally notorious as the Taliban. Any of these right wingers really get my goat. After all these ears we still remain enemies of love. The khap panchayat send out lynch orders for those marrying within the ‘gothra’ (sub sect). They try and control so many elements of life. It is so completely anal. But if I were to think a bit more, just about 15 years ago I had to face resistance from my would be in laws while getting married. Not that it was in any way so severe. They are pretty sweet and they were pretty willing to listen but the fact that they had to be convinced to start with is the point of contention. I am not so sure if my side of the family would have been as amiable if Jasmine had been a Muslim or a Christian. I duuno why would you have issues on this to start with? Why would love marriage be such a dam taboo? In fact one of the things that I am planning to do is go for the queer march on 16th august. I want jispa to know pretty early that she can choose her life partner and it surely can be any sect or sex. I would want her to know that love is truly blind.
The fun would happen in parenting if she gets a doper or a complete nincompoop home. Now that’s going to be one test for me as a father. Rest I am pretty ok with.
I guess the thing is to be a bit open in life. Its tricky but necessary to isolate the cause form the symptom. Yesterday was on case in point. Jasmine’s borther comes home from a prayer meet for a 4 teenagers who died while picnicking at one of Mumbai’s beaches. They had just about gone into the water (knee deep) when they were pulled by the currents. He came in exclaiming “I have decided, no more going to the beach. It is too dangerous”. As he looked at me I knew it would be slightly controversial but I had to reply “more people die in swimming pools than off beaches!” I remembered reading something in freakonomics on more people in US die of swimming pools in homes than guns kept at home (or something like that). My next line was also my favorite line which I use all the time “more people die crossing the road than while on a picnic”. He looked at me. A few invaluable moments of silence and reflection. “beaches are not any more dangerous than roads, but the problem is going in the water in monsoon. The currents are dangerous and are likely to sweep you off. So don’t stop living. Enjoy your beaches but exercise caution and use your brains. It is visibly rough in the monsoon. Stay clear. In calm waters, enjoy”. Tinggg….The score reads one nil.
On right wing fundamentalism – I also read that thanks to their male fixations the sex ratio is getting adversely affected. Wow. There is no better way to finish a race than to somehow produce only males. I could not have given them a better path to self annihilation. The words of Master Oogway from the movie Kung fu panda come to mind “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it”
Yes. Master Oogway is one of favorite characters ever. Here is a snapshot of his immense wisdom.
The fun would happen in parenting if she gets a doper or a complete nincompoop home. Now that’s going to be one test for me as a father. Rest I am pretty ok with.
I guess the thing is to be a bit open in life. Its tricky but necessary to isolate the cause form the symptom. Yesterday was on case in point. Jasmine’s borther comes home from a prayer meet for a 4 teenagers who died while picnicking at one of Mumbai’s beaches. They had just about gone into the water (knee deep) when they were pulled by the currents. He came in exclaiming “I have decided, no more going to the beach. It is too dangerous”. As he looked at me I knew it would be slightly controversial but I had to reply “more people die in swimming pools than off beaches!” I remembered reading something in freakonomics on more people in US die of swimming pools in homes than guns kept at home (or something like that). My next line was also my favorite line which I use all the time “more people die crossing the road than while on a picnic”. He looked at me. A few invaluable moments of silence and reflection. “beaches are not any more dangerous than roads, but the problem is going in the water in monsoon. The currents are dangerous and are likely to sweep you off. So don’t stop living. Enjoy your beaches but exercise caution and use your brains. It is visibly rough in the monsoon. Stay clear. In calm waters, enjoy”. Tinggg….The score reads one nil.
On right wing fundamentalism – I also read that thanks to their male fixations the sex ratio is getting adversely affected. Wow. There is no better way to finish a race than to somehow produce only males. I could not have given them a better path to self annihilation. The words of Master Oogway from the movie Kung fu panda come to mind “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it”
Yes. Master Oogway is one of favorite characters ever. Here is a snapshot of his immense wisdom.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Salt and pepper
There are fine dine restaurants and the then there are those which are not. How do you know one from the pretenders? Simple. Look at the salt and pepper bottles. The udipis and the fast food restaurant are the ones who have always got them wrong. There is no consistency in the bottles so as to indicate which is which. Is the ones with fewer holes the salt or is it the other way around. Or is it something to do with the size of the holes. I have seen innumerable diners including myself, completely confused as to which is which. We invariably test one and wonder what comes out. White – now take the other – wow…black… now we know. Sometimes you get two whites or two blacks. I think the best designs here are the transparent containers where there is no mistaking what’s inside. I don’t even trust the ones with the markings P and S on them. I can read but there is no guarantee that the lowest common denominator at the restaurant can. Add to that the sticky Mumbai weather which ensures that salt does not flow and what have you? A complete customer experience. Yesterday we were at this restaurant and when we asked for the salt and pepper. This is what they gave us. So how do you know which is which. Look closer….
The only way to know for sure is to tilt it and see what falls! or else you can smell it and hope the first one is not pepper.
While on the subject. How do you know if your lassi (thick butter milk) is really a thick lassi with malai (cream) in it. You do the spoon buoyancy test. See below. If it floats, it passes, if it sinks, then that’s exactly where it belongs – in the sink. Forgive the absolutely inelegant use of the pun.
The only way to know for sure is to tilt it and see what falls! or else you can smell it and hope the first one is not pepper.
While on the subject. How do you know if your lassi (thick butter milk) is really a thick lassi with malai (cream) in it. You do the spoon buoyancy test. See below. If it floats, it passes, if it sinks, then that’s exactly where it belongs – in the sink. Forgive the absolutely inelegant use of the pun.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
make cars to improve life
Every book is interesting. Over the weekend I happened to come across ‘the Toyota way’ by Jeffrey Liker. The art and power of selective reading helped me finish it over the weekend. Don’t go by the book name. it might be primarily about the factory floor but as it was written on the cover – the Toyota way is much about the sate of mind as it is a car company. Very true. If I ever have to head a function that is high on process then the Toyota way will become an interesting book companion. The wikipedia has a comprehensive piece on the same.
While in college I was always enamored by the principle of kaizen meaning constant improvement. Little did I realize the importance of Hansei in Kaizen. The book talks about Americans being unable to really understand Hansei and my guess is that that is the reason why Kaizen does not show up on spell check while hansei does.
The obligatory pat on the back – I had been practicing a form (less intense I guess) of hansei through the last few years.
What is hansei? Hansei ("self-reflection") is a central idea in Japanese culture. Its meaning is to acknowledge your own mistake and to pledge improvement. In Japanese companies it's common practice that a manager expects hansei from his subordinates in case of mistakes. The manager takes the blame in public, whereas the department works on solving the problem. Hansei also means greeting success with modesty and humility. To stop hansei means to stop learning. With hansei one never becomes so convinced of one's own superiority that there is no more room or need for further improvement.
Many Americans have a very difficult time with the constant critiques and focus on the negative (opportunities for improvement). Andy Lund, a Program Manager at Toyota, explains it this way; “people who have not been to Japan may not understand that the objective is not to hurt that individual but to help that individual improve – not to hurt the program but to show flaws to improve the next program. If you understand that deeply, you can get through that constructive criticism. No matter how good a program or a presentation someone makes, we believe there is always something that can be improved, so we feel it is our obligation. It is not an ‘obligatory negative’ but an obligatory opportunity to improve – it is the heart of kaizen”
link1, link 2
I am reminded of the hindi lines uttered by Jasmine’s father “galti karo, sau baar karo, karte raho… par ek galti dubara mut karo” translation – make mistakes a hundred times, keep making them, but never repeat the same mistake.
The trick in life is not 'not to make mistakes'. But to make a lot of them and learning from them and to not repeat them. I have made my fair share and am continuing to make more than fair share of new ones. You can learn from other’s mistakes as well. That is a pretty cool short circuit process as well.
While the concept is easy to understand it is not so easy to implement. It requires one to be open to the fact that one is making mistakes. It requires deep introspection of the mistakes so as to never repeat them. A few years back I was into organizing large format events for our company. My subordinates used to call me ‘ravan’. I will come with my ten heads and think of new angles not visualized. Even after a highly successful event I would make time for introspection and the ‘obligatory negative / opportunity’. In events success can pretty much go to your head. I would try and guard against it. Yes it was a great event, but I am paid to do that. What is important is that we have lowered the probability of shit happening by thinking through and working hard. A 1% probability of anything happening then it means that in a hundred events that thing will definitely happen. With its occurrence will be the termination of my job. So after every event I would focus on the job, what went wrong, what could have gone wrong but didn’t, what went wrong but was controlled. I am generally less effusive in the praise unless I see something truly extraordinary. I don’t know if I should change that part of me though. Probably people deserve a bit of praise but I find it dishonest to give praise unless it truly deserves.
If one is reflective in success and failure then one understands the reason behind it and is able to better handle it. Both require handling and introspection…. Hansei
Another interesting concept is the Genchi Genbutsu. Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation. This is something I recently blogged about. Get off your high horse and outside your ivory tower and see for yourself what is going on. Extremely important for any function. I can vouch for that in marketing for sure.
A post script on the concept of praising:-
There is strategy involved in giving and interpreting compliments. Let’s say you hear someone play a difficult –but not too difficult– piece on the piano, and she plays it well. Is it a compliment if you tell her she played it beautifully?
That depends. You would not be impressed by the not-so-difficult piece if you knew that she was an outstanding pianist. So if you tell her you are impressed, then you are telling her that you don’t think she is an outstanding pianist. And if she is, or aspires to be, an outstanding pianist, then your attempted compliment is in fact an insult.
This means that, in most cases, the best way to compliment the highly accomplished is not to offer any compliment at all. This conveys that all of her fine accomplishments are exactly what you expected of her. But, do wait for when she really outdoes herself and then tell her so. You don’t want her to think that you are someone who just never gives compliments. Once that is taken care of, she will know how to properly interpret your usual silence.
source: http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/08/via-youknowwho.html
While in college I was always enamored by the principle of kaizen meaning constant improvement. Little did I realize the importance of Hansei in Kaizen. The book talks about Americans being unable to really understand Hansei and my guess is that that is the reason why Kaizen does not show up on spell check while hansei does.
The obligatory pat on the back – I had been practicing a form (less intense I guess) of hansei through the last few years.
What is hansei? Hansei ("self-reflection") is a central idea in Japanese culture. Its meaning is to acknowledge your own mistake and to pledge improvement. In Japanese companies it's common practice that a manager expects hansei from his subordinates in case of mistakes. The manager takes the blame in public, whereas the department works on solving the problem. Hansei also means greeting success with modesty and humility. To stop hansei means to stop learning. With hansei one never becomes so convinced of one's own superiority that there is no more room or need for further improvement.
Many Americans have a very difficult time with the constant critiques and focus on the negative (opportunities for improvement). Andy Lund, a Program Manager at Toyota, explains it this way; “people who have not been to Japan may not understand that the objective is not to hurt that individual but to help that individual improve – not to hurt the program but to show flaws to improve the next program. If you understand that deeply, you can get through that constructive criticism. No matter how good a program or a presentation someone makes, we believe there is always something that can be improved, so we feel it is our obligation. It is not an ‘obligatory negative’ but an obligatory opportunity to improve – it is the heart of kaizen”
link1, link 2
I am reminded of the hindi lines uttered by Jasmine’s father “galti karo, sau baar karo, karte raho… par ek galti dubara mut karo” translation – make mistakes a hundred times, keep making them, but never repeat the same mistake.
The trick in life is not 'not to make mistakes'. But to make a lot of them and learning from them and to not repeat them. I have made my fair share and am continuing to make more than fair share of new ones. You can learn from other’s mistakes as well. That is a pretty cool short circuit process as well.
While the concept is easy to understand it is not so easy to implement. It requires one to be open to the fact that one is making mistakes. It requires deep introspection of the mistakes so as to never repeat them. A few years back I was into organizing large format events for our company. My subordinates used to call me ‘ravan’. I will come with my ten heads and think of new angles not visualized. Even after a highly successful event I would make time for introspection and the ‘obligatory negative / opportunity’. In events success can pretty much go to your head. I would try and guard against it. Yes it was a great event, but I am paid to do that. What is important is that we have lowered the probability of shit happening by thinking through and working hard. A 1% probability of anything happening then it means that in a hundred events that thing will definitely happen. With its occurrence will be the termination of my job. So after every event I would focus on the job, what went wrong, what could have gone wrong but didn’t, what went wrong but was controlled. I am generally less effusive in the praise unless I see something truly extraordinary. I don’t know if I should change that part of me though. Probably people deserve a bit of praise but I find it dishonest to give praise unless it truly deserves.
If one is reflective in success and failure then one understands the reason behind it and is able to better handle it. Both require handling and introspection…. Hansei
Another interesting concept is the Genchi Genbutsu. Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation. This is something I recently blogged about. Get off your high horse and outside your ivory tower and see for yourself what is going on. Extremely important for any function. I can vouch for that in marketing for sure.
A post script on the concept of praising:-
There is strategy involved in giving and interpreting compliments. Let’s say you hear someone play a difficult –but not too difficult– piece on the piano, and she plays it well. Is it a compliment if you tell her she played it beautifully?
That depends. You would not be impressed by the not-so-difficult piece if you knew that she was an outstanding pianist. So if you tell her you are impressed, then you are telling her that you don’t think she is an outstanding pianist. And if she is, or aspires to be, an outstanding pianist, then your attempted compliment is in fact an insult.
This means that, in most cases, the best way to compliment the highly accomplished is not to offer any compliment at all. This conveys that all of her fine accomplishments are exactly what you expected of her. But, do wait for when she really outdoes herself and then tell her so. You don’t want her to think that you are someone who just never gives compliments. Once that is taken care of, she will know how to properly interpret your usual silence.
source: http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/08/via-youknowwho.html
Monday, August 10, 2009
unemployment and a tooth
On Saturday my wife asked me to help her with making the theplas. Theplas is a type of gujju roti. So her job was to give me the dough all ready and in the right shape and I was to cook it on the stove. I had done this in the past before so I was pretty comfortable. As she churned out the raw material faster and faster the pressure was on me to keep the stuff going. Then Wifey comes out with one more pan and starts two at a time. On one pan the theplas get heated, then they get transferred to the other pan where I oil them on one side, cook a bit, then oil them on the other, cook a bit and throw them onto a pile. I was feeling pretty happy helping her finish the work fast. My servant also looked surprised to see me helping with the theplas. I was trying to do my part of the deal faster and was completely stressed out.
Then suddenly it struck me. I asked Jasmine “me helping is not really helping you do it faster is it? I think you would do all this without me at the same speed… isn’t it?” jasmine says “ya, I do all of this together at the same speed”
Hmmm… I remembered this theory of economics that we had learnt at college. I think it was in the first year. Suppose there is an acre of farm land that the farmer is tending to for years. After he has a couple of sons they to join in the farming as extra hands. So now we would have three heads employed, but if the productivity of the farm land has not gone up in the same ratio then we have what is called ‘disguised unemployment’. It just looks as if more are employed while the net effect is actually negative.
You get the drift….
Disguised unemployment at work.
One more tooth in the life of Jispa and her tooth fairy. Here is the long and shot of it. The ‘OK’ with the circle is her response to the entire episode. The no5 in the top corner is my wife clarifying which tooth number this is.
Then suddenly it struck me. I asked Jasmine “me helping is not really helping you do it faster is it? I think you would do all this without me at the same speed… isn’t it?” jasmine says “ya, I do all of this together at the same speed”
Hmmm… I remembered this theory of economics that we had learnt at college. I think it was in the first year. Suppose there is an acre of farm land that the farmer is tending to for years. After he has a couple of sons they to join in the farming as extra hands. So now we would have three heads employed, but if the productivity of the farm land has not gone up in the same ratio then we have what is called ‘disguised unemployment’. It just looks as if more are employed while the net effect is actually negative.
You get the drift….
Disguised unemployment at work.
One more tooth in the life of Jispa and her tooth fairy. Here is the long and shot of it. The ‘OK’ with the circle is her response to the entire episode. The no5 in the top corner is my wife clarifying which tooth number this is.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
is it still big?
Conferences are done by various agencies. Some big some small. They have varying formats and objectives. But one thing remains the same. They are all extremely boring. I got one invite from a retail consulting firm and I just passed it on to the kids as there was an interesting element in the invite. I improve by copying enough! The kids instead looked and said – “please can we all go, PLEASE!” “What shit… I am not going to this shit. Its pathetic. But then they were all senti.. They thought just because I had seen it all I was refusing them the chance to be there. So I say fine... We go. Today was the day. I went in the morning and sat for one panel discussion. I saw no point in sitting further. I attended some other meeting in town and got back to office. But like every thing this too had a silver lining – we had Bhasker the MD of Titan talking. He is clearly way above the rest of the world. He has a fine marketing and business brain. Now I know why Jasmine’s brother goes gaga over the guy and company. He is truly quite a remarkable guy. He knows the difference between opinion, fact and feeling, and talks accordingly.
But the rest are still good old boring. The kids attended the entire thing. Now at least they will believe it when I say all conferences are boring. Conference jaane ka bhoot uthar gayeja. Speaker after boring speaker, power point fatigue and no insight. It’s amazing to see so many people with so little to do and that too from the top. I think its one these elephant bumping sessions… just making sure and reinforcing that your elephantine arse is still as big as ever.
But the rest are still good old boring. The kids attended the entire thing. Now at least they will believe it when I say all conferences are boring. Conference jaane ka bhoot uthar gayeja. Speaker after boring speaker, power point fatigue and no insight. It’s amazing to see so many people with so little to do and that too from the top. I think its one these elephant bumping sessions… just making sure and reinforcing that your elephantine arse is still as big as ever.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
what do you think about it?
"The new identity builds on and expands the foundation of investment expertise that we have created over decades. It has been crafted in line with the organization’s philosophy and endeavor to continuously unearth value and create a brand association in line with changing consumer paradigms. Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, which completely altered the way financial institutions across the globe will function, we have recognized the shift in the Indian consumer's mood, orientation and mindset."
This is something I came across in my random surfing. What does it say… probably nothing. This is something we marketers put inside a press release and send it out to newspapers that end up carrying it. Most of the time they just paste it as is. No insight, no analysis. Monkey food. Look at the quote closely. It is about a brand with a new tag line. Does it help the brand? Does it give any insight into the reason for the change in line? You could take that paragraph and put it into any dam press release and no one would know. No one. I promise you. Whose fault is it? The PR person who drafted the release or the boss who had nothing to say? Both I guess. To use an old hindi one – taali donno haath se bajti hai. You need two hands to clap.
I many times see the insular nature of people as they move to the top. I had a bit of time to reflect on this as I was getting my shoes polished. The cobbler under the building take s around ten minutes to polish your shoes. He charges ten bucks but he keeps scrubbing your shoes. I realized that he would take quite some time soon enough. He had a decently clean shack and so I sat on seat made by the stones, next to him. Some peons of my office came to get their shoes repaired and were quite amused to see me happily sitting there. As the guys get senior they have access to peons and the workforce to do things for them. They come in AC cars, fly in planes, drink in five star joints and sit inside their cabins. They eat on their own and work on their own. Not too many guys venture outside their comfort zone. It’s funny how insular we can get. We then lose track of reality and how the world actually is…no wonder our insights are so bloody insular. The functional heads don’t meet customers, don’t really listen, don’t ask questions and generally give a miss to research happening around. I have seen this happen in every organization and at all levels. Even marketing managers commission research and then leave it to the agency to figure and present the findings in an air conditioned meeting room with butter biscuits. I have never understood why commercials are shown on a big screen in a darkened room with superior sound. Is that how most of your clients / customers going to see it? Their rooms are likely to have enough ambient noise and lighting. Simulate a home with the given distractions and show it on a 21 inch non flat TV. Now please tell what you think about it? Feedback please
This is something I came across in my random surfing. What does it say… probably nothing. This is something we marketers put inside a press release and send it out to newspapers that end up carrying it. Most of the time they just paste it as is. No insight, no analysis. Monkey food. Look at the quote closely. It is about a brand with a new tag line. Does it help the brand? Does it give any insight into the reason for the change in line? You could take that paragraph and put it into any dam press release and no one would know. No one. I promise you. Whose fault is it? The PR person who drafted the release or the boss who had nothing to say? Both I guess. To use an old hindi one – taali donno haath se bajti hai. You need two hands to clap.
I many times see the insular nature of people as they move to the top. I had a bit of time to reflect on this as I was getting my shoes polished. The cobbler under the building take s around ten minutes to polish your shoes. He charges ten bucks but he keeps scrubbing your shoes. I realized that he would take quite some time soon enough. He had a decently clean shack and so I sat on seat made by the stones, next to him. Some peons of my office came to get their shoes repaired and were quite amused to see me happily sitting there. As the guys get senior they have access to peons and the workforce to do things for them. They come in AC cars, fly in planes, drink in five star joints and sit inside their cabins. They eat on their own and work on their own. Not too many guys venture outside their comfort zone. It’s funny how insular we can get. We then lose track of reality and how the world actually is…no wonder our insights are so bloody insular. The functional heads don’t meet customers, don’t really listen, don’t ask questions and generally give a miss to research happening around. I have seen this happen in every organization and at all levels. Even marketing managers commission research and then leave it to the agency to figure and present the findings in an air conditioned meeting room with butter biscuits. I have never understood why commercials are shown on a big screen in a darkened room with superior sound. Is that how most of your clients / customers going to see it? Their rooms are likely to have enough ambient noise and lighting. Simulate a home with the given distractions and show it on a 21 inch non flat TV. Now please tell what you think about it? Feedback please
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
daddy dearest
It is easily the most thankless job in the world. It ranks higher than sewer cleaners and marketing managers at financial firms. It is the job of waking up your kid for school. I can’t think of any job that is more necessary but is more despised by the beneficiary than this. As kids get older this gets tougher. They want to sleep more and more. They get even more lazy in the morning and even more ‘frowny’. But hell it’s a dog’s… oops a dad’s life and someone’s got to do it.
Wakey wakey wakey….
I too hated being made to get up and we were three kids. I don’t really blame my mother for screaming…. GET UP… mothers tend to be busy, hassled and on a short fuse in the morning. Jasmine so far has been quite patient. But I guess that’s because every day waking Jispa every day has been my job. I want to see Jasmine patient if she has to wake up Jispa every morning. It can be testing.
Wakey wakey wakey….
I too hated being made to get up and we were three kids. I don’t really blame my mother for screaming…. GET UP… mothers tend to be busy, hassled and on a short fuse in the morning. Jasmine so far has been quite patient. But I guess that’s because every day waking Jispa every day has been my job. I want to see Jasmine patient if she has to wake up Jispa every morning. It can be testing.
Monday, August 03, 2009
image-ination
Jispa was unwell and upset at having to miss school. I was taking her photo and she was avoiding getting shot. This is what we get...
Today is friendship day or something. Jispa's bus friend (as pictured) ties me a friendship band, 'uncle, I got a band for you as well' she said after tying one to Jispa. Gee thanks...
Coffee with cream. So sinful and so tasty. good thing my metabolism allows me these sins.
The Landmark store at pune. Landmark sure has an awesoem collection of books. Interestingly the giftwrapping is done by the security lady. A tough lady with deft hands. She wraps pretty neat. Even my wife was impressed. Jasmine does have very high standards.
Me and Dinesh. I couldnt have posed any more filmy!
awwww......
Today is friendship day or something. Jispa's bus friend (as pictured) ties me a friendship band, 'uncle, I got a band for you as well' she said after tying one to Jispa. Gee thanks...
Coffee with cream. So sinful and so tasty. good thing my metabolism allows me these sins.
The Landmark store at pune. Landmark sure has an awesoem collection of books. Interestingly the giftwrapping is done by the security lady. A tough lady with deft hands. She wraps pretty neat. Even my wife was impressed. Jasmine does have very high standards.
Me and Dinesh. I couldnt have posed any more filmy!
awwww......
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