Nike and Apple have joined hands to bring about a more complete experience for runners. The new Nano while blasting music in your ears also records your run statistics. Infact when you download and synchronise the data, there are some cool things you can do with it, including seeing how many people in the world went for a run with their Nike-iPods around the world in the last 24 hours!!! What it still doesn’t do is decide the music too. I want my iPod to compile a playlist according to my pace/cadence. I don’t want to be stuck with an inappropriate playlist, should my mood change. This brings in the element of fun that you get in the shuffle mode without having to worry about the change in intensity that your music can influence during the run.- I want my G3 phone to enable other people to send alarms on my phone. Just like Bluetooth data I should be able to either accept or reject the alarm. Then there will be no reason for me to forget that I had promised to help a friend with her project. Even TV programmes can send me alarms so that I don’t forget to watch my preferred shows. I could ask utility bill companies to send me alarms about payment days and then I could even pay the bills via a text to my bank. I don’t want to go into the calendar and keep setting alarms…. It’s the most boring thing to do with your mobile phone. But I do it because it’s so helpful.
- I want a Dictaphone the size of my iPod that when connected to my PDA or computer transcribes everything I have said to it via a reliable speech recognition software. I don’t want to listen to myself and then type all the words. Then I could decide whether I want those ramblings to be converted into an audio blog or to be deleted.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Three lazy wishes
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Mirror mirror on the wall.......
'Women in Africa and Asia use bleaches to get fairer; sometimes to a point to harming their health'. I have heard this line, this comment, in many a coffee conversations with my fellow mates. But, how is queuing up for an injection that gives you a permanent tan any less harmful or more healthy? Or even for that matter hours on your back in 40°C?
Why do people ask me with wonder what is it like to be as a society, obsessed with fairness. I generally talk about the fairness creams available in the Indian market, the demographics of the population likely to be the consumers of such products, with the same sense of inquiry I ask about tanning parlours.
Why is it so difficult to comprehend that a tropical place where the common physical feature is dark skin can covet fair skin? Perhaps, the same way that fair skinned people covet a tanned look? But I am told, “Oh, but that is different. A tan is a sign of health not wanting dark skin.”!!!!!!!! Probably, different psychological approaches by the media and marketing wisecracks, based in a more ‘savvy’ and politically correct society.
I would simply say, it doesn’t matter which way you look at the glass, it’s about the price of the drink in it. It’s about peddling consumer goods, whether its skin bleaches or tanning lotions. It’s about creating a general dissatisfaction about your physical appearance irrespective of your base primer.
If all this globalisation; which is making it possible for two people from completely different backgrounds mate and procreate will not do it…. I am sure the cosmetics companies will give a huge helping hand in creating a drab monotone shaded society.
Why do people ask me with wonder what is it like to be as a society, obsessed with fairness. I generally talk about the fairness creams available in the Indian market, the demographics of the population likely to be the consumers of such products, with the same sense of inquiry I ask about tanning parlours.
Why is it so difficult to comprehend that a tropical place where the common physical feature is dark skin can covet fair skin? Perhaps, the same way that fair skinned people covet a tanned look? But I am told, “Oh, but that is different. A tan is a sign of health not wanting dark skin.”!!!!!!!! Probably, different psychological approaches by the media and marketing wisecracks, based in a more ‘savvy’ and politically correct society.
I would simply say, it doesn’t matter which way you look at the glass, it’s about the price of the drink in it. It’s about peddling consumer goods, whether its skin bleaches or tanning lotions. It’s about creating a general dissatisfaction about your physical appearance irrespective of your base primer.
If all this globalisation; which is making it possible for two people from completely different backgrounds mate and procreate will not do it…. I am sure the cosmetics companies will give a huge helping hand in creating a drab monotone shaded society.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Historical trail of sensational lines.
Are today's journalists tomorrow’s historians..... Who are historians? The ones who read history? Or the ones who document it. And these two can’t be one and the same..... They possibly can't live in the same times.
I read on Google quote for the day, Winston Churchill said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”. I am sure he meant, he will feature in history texts of the future.... but how could he then possibly guarantee that he will be projected well? We have all read some of his work at some point. If I can remember he even won the Nobel Prize for The Second World War, which was obscenely long. But, all this still doesn't guarantee that history would be kind to him.
Churchill was a participant in the Second World War; historians need to be detached at least in principle... I am sure there will be things he must have written in that book that might be refuted in others.... so once again to the point; even though he did write history he couldn't guarantee that it was kind to him.
I think even in those days, as today; famous people would just say things for effect and attention.
I read on Google quote for the day, Winston Churchill said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”. I am sure he meant, he will feature in history texts of the future.... but how could he then possibly guarantee that he will be projected well? We have all read some of his work at some point. If I can remember he even won the Nobel Prize for The Second World War, which was obscenely long. But, all this still doesn't guarantee that history would be kind to him.
Churchill was a participant in the Second World War; historians need to be detached at least in principle... I am sure there will be things he must have written in that book that might be refuted in others.... so once again to the point; even though he did write history he couldn't guarantee that it was kind to him.
I think even in those days, as today; famous people would just say things for effect and attention.
Monday, July 24, 2006
The fine print.
There is a reason why no matter how smart my arguments are in the case of capitalism and free trade that I somehow don’t win over my very sceptical left wing counterparts. These days I have been feeling exasperated with these companies myself. These corporates stood for the right values in the right times. Values of service to a society that recognises its benefit and happily pays for it, coz it enriches lives, it makes life comfortable, it takes away the chores, it brings about stimulation, it informs people of things they otherwise would remain ignorant of.
But that’s not what is happening today with the markets getting more and more cramped and the competition more stiffer, instead of a simple linear relationship of better products with increasing competition; here we get to witness a scheming mind rather than a engenuine mind. These companies pay high salaries to executives who can develop strategies for trapping people into an unknown deal, which is simply fuelled by greed rather than progress. But, they refuse to pay the R&D folks half as much. The reason there are more marketing MBAs loitering about town than doctors.
Every service provided today requires you to sign some sort of contract. A contract for mobile phones, internet, TV channels, health clubs, bookstores, magazines and periodicals, insurance and even your own bank expects you to commit a series of payments before you have even had a taste of their services. You could sum up the fine print that rambles on for 14 odd pages in about two sentences;
"you shall keep your side of the commitment by paying the company regularly, we however will keep changing our standards of service as and how the market fluctuates and we may even perform to the utmost of all appalling standards".
My internet company on a regular basis has troubles with its 3Mbps line, the same one they used on me when they were short selling to me last year. But when I call to downgrade my package as I no longer use the internet the way I used to, I am told that there is a penalty to do so!!!
My landline telephone company believes in environment friendly business strategies so it does not send me any itemised bills to save paper. However I could log on their website to check my usage. When I do, that control panel keeps experiencing technical difficulties. That doesn’t stop them from deducting whatever they feel like from my account, when I talk of my statutory rights, 3 different customer service folks promise to send me my bills via email….. 3 months later, there is no bill but the direct debit every month has only inched upwards.
My mobile phone contract came with a cash back guarantee after 6 months of completion of the contract term. After tedious application forms, more like sophisticated begging, nothing comes through in the post for 8 weeks. When I enquire, the receipt doesn’t match what they wanted on it. That means if I have exchanged a faulty handset the cash back offer stands voided, even if the exchange of handset was within their exchange policy terms!!!! If I want to downgrade my monthly usage limit, I have to first serve a sentence of 6 months before I am eligible for parole.
My estate agent won’t draw a year’s lease as that would mean I get the ‘one month notice’ advantage, so he draws only 6 month contracts and there is no escaping within those six months, so if your boyfriend asks you to move in with him within the 1st month of your contract, you either lose the relationship or pay twice the rent for 6 months.
My energy supplier loves to call me and stop me in the supermarket to tell me ways of capping my electricity bills for the next 5 years. But when you ask them to explain a certain meter reading they start speaking in an aboriginal dialect and are highly trained in losing you.
The one place I did find superb service was the city council office. I informed them that I will be moving my residence and within minutes they sorted my bill and did not try to contest me on everything I said, did not even ask proof, just fixed my problem and sent me on my way. The one place where you expect back logs and waiting, complacency and bureaucracy is the one place I found superlative business tact. They were transparent as to what I am liable to pay, when I am expected to do so and what the penalties will be should I default.
This brings me to a thought, should we return to the government what is rightfully given to them by a voting public? The laws of governing a society. The laws of protecting the individual. The laws of freedom of information and punishment for anyone, however a conglomerate, for those who fail to be fair.
But that’s not what is happening today with the markets getting more and more cramped and the competition more stiffer, instead of a simple linear relationship of better products with increasing competition; here we get to witness a scheming mind rather than a engenuine mind. These companies pay high salaries to executives who can develop strategies for trapping people into an unknown deal, which is simply fuelled by greed rather than progress. But, they refuse to pay the R&D folks half as much. The reason there are more marketing MBAs loitering about town than doctors.
Every service provided today requires you to sign some sort of contract. A contract for mobile phones, internet, TV channels, health clubs, bookstores, magazines and periodicals, insurance and even your own bank expects you to commit a series of payments before you have even had a taste of their services. You could sum up the fine print that rambles on for 14 odd pages in about two sentences;
"you shall keep your side of the commitment by paying the company regularly, we however will keep changing our standards of service as and how the market fluctuates and we may even perform to the utmost of all appalling standards".
My internet company on a regular basis has troubles with its 3Mbps line, the same one they used on me when they were short selling to me last year. But when I call to downgrade my package as I no longer use the internet the way I used to, I am told that there is a penalty to do so!!!
My landline telephone company believes in environment friendly business strategies so it does not send me any itemised bills to save paper. However I could log on their website to check my usage. When I do, that control panel keeps experiencing technical difficulties. That doesn’t stop them from deducting whatever they feel like from my account, when I talk of my statutory rights, 3 different customer service folks promise to send me my bills via email….. 3 months later, there is no bill but the direct debit every month has only inched upwards.
My mobile phone contract came with a cash back guarantee after 6 months of completion of the contract term. After tedious application forms, more like sophisticated begging, nothing comes through in the post for 8 weeks. When I enquire, the receipt doesn’t match what they wanted on it. That means if I have exchanged a faulty handset the cash back offer stands voided, even if the exchange of handset was within their exchange policy terms!!!! If I want to downgrade my monthly usage limit, I have to first serve a sentence of 6 months before I am eligible for parole.
My estate agent won’t draw a year’s lease as that would mean I get the ‘one month notice’ advantage, so he draws only 6 month contracts and there is no escaping within those six months, so if your boyfriend asks you to move in with him within the 1st month of your contract, you either lose the relationship or pay twice the rent for 6 months.
My energy supplier loves to call me and stop me in the supermarket to tell me ways of capping my electricity bills for the next 5 years. But when you ask them to explain a certain meter reading they start speaking in an aboriginal dialect and are highly trained in losing you.
The one place I did find superb service was the city council office. I informed them that I will be moving my residence and within minutes they sorted my bill and did not try to contest me on everything I said, did not even ask proof, just fixed my problem and sent me on my way. The one place where you expect back logs and waiting, complacency and bureaucracy is the one place I found superlative business tact. They were transparent as to what I am liable to pay, when I am expected to do so and what the penalties will be should I default.
This brings me to a thought, should we return to the government what is rightfully given to them by a voting public? The laws of governing a society. The laws of protecting the individual. The laws of freedom of information and punishment for anyone, however a conglomerate, for those who fail to be fair.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
What's in 'my' name.
Suddenly my name is not that unpronounceable anymore!! However, not everyone spells their name like famous people choose to. Anywhere I go I get called Rihanna. There was me with my difficult name, even when there was no pop star strutting her stuff by a similar name.
All throughout since school days I have taken the effort to tell people that it’s ‘Re’ not ‘Ri’. I hate being called Rihana. That’s not me. Infact the ‘e’ in my name is almost pronounced like an ‘a’. And please do take the time to pronounce the ‘h’; it’s in there for a bloody good reason. No, not numerology folks, it’s to make the right kind of sound when you intend to get my attention. You ain’t getting it otherwise.
Now this new twinkie with some exotic twist to her name is making life difficult for me. Just when I thought that this place is beginning to feel more comfortable.
I remember overhearing conversations a few years ago in local trains in Bombay about call centre employees working on behalf of some American or European companies facing flak from their customers for not being able to pronounce their name the way they would like it to sound. Why do you then not apologise for making a sound I don’t relate to?
Today, it’s not only the jobs in western countries that are at stake of being taken over; it’s also their popular culture that stands on the brink of being sidelined. Its plain mathematics, there will be more Asian youth than Caucasians in the next few generations. Not too long from now, Rehana will be the more easily pronounceable name than Louise or Christine. If you want my grand children to get Louise right, then take the effort to pronounce my ‘h’ and bother to notice that I use an ‘e’ not ’i’.
All throughout since school days I have taken the effort to tell people that it’s ‘Re’ not ‘Ri’. I hate being called Rihana. That’s not me. Infact the ‘e’ in my name is almost pronounced like an ‘a’. And please do take the time to pronounce the ‘h’; it’s in there for a bloody good reason. No, not numerology folks, it’s to make the right kind of sound when you intend to get my attention. You ain’t getting it otherwise.
Now this new twinkie with some exotic twist to her name is making life difficult for me. Just when I thought that this place is beginning to feel more comfortable.
I remember overhearing conversations a few years ago in local trains in Bombay about call centre employees working on behalf of some American or European companies facing flak from their customers for not being able to pronounce their name the way they would like it to sound. Why do you then not apologise for making a sound I don’t relate to?
Today, it’s not only the jobs in western countries that are at stake of being taken over; it’s also their popular culture that stands on the brink of being sidelined. Its plain mathematics, there will be more Asian youth than Caucasians in the next few generations. Not too long from now, Rehana will be the more easily pronounceable name than Louise or Christine. If you want my grand children to get Louise right, then take the effort to pronounce my ‘h’ and bother to notice that I use an ‘e’ not ’i’.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
18 and ½ inches high.
What a win!!! Simple and sweet even though it was not straight sets. The Class, the strategy, the talent, the skill and that killer instinct, which no one gets to see. The perfect gentleman in the Perfect Gentleman’s game. Roger Federer, The King of Grass. He is the Bjorn Borg, Becker, Sampras, and Agassi of my childhood.
To be fair to the new kid on the block, the least he deserved was a standing ovation…. Hope he will be the competition Federer deserves in the coming years. He is almost so on clay and hard courts…. And what a steep curve on grass this year, No pressure.
Also, Goodbye Andre and Martina. I have grown up yelling my lungs out for you guys every year and then some more. Hope you achieve other things as well as you have in Tennis.
Hooligans.
I am angry. I am angry. I am angry.
I went to more than 10 pubs to enquire if they are showing the big match today!!! Checked their huge plasma screens, salivated when they said, 'Oh yes', looked at me as if I had so lost the plot. And then I said, "You know I am asking since the football finals are on today as well". The next moment was exactly the same response in every single pub. Pin drop silence. Blank, confused and absolutely dazed expression.
The weirdest thing to me was that some of them didn’t even know Federer express was playing with the new Mike Tyson of tennis, Nadal. All they knew was France Vs. Italy. Bunch of hooligans I tell ya.
So I said screw it all and decided to screw open my best bottle of Hardy’s Crest vintage white that I had saved for my special date and settle in my couch with all my cushions and a bag of my favourite nut mix. That’s it, I am not letting these spoil sports spoil my sport.
Hope you enjoy the Wimbledon finals with your family and friends unlike me this year in a new country of football hooligans….. And the host of the world’s best and Classiest Tennis Tournament of all.
Catch you guys after the match…..
I went to more than 10 pubs to enquire if they are showing the big match today!!! Checked their huge plasma screens, salivated when they said, 'Oh yes', looked at me as if I had so lost the plot. And then I said, "You know I am asking since the football finals are on today as well". The next moment was exactly the same response in every single pub. Pin drop silence. Blank, confused and absolutely dazed expression.
The weirdest thing to me was that some of them didn’t even know Federer express was playing with the new Mike Tyson of tennis, Nadal. All they knew was France Vs. Italy. Bunch of hooligans I tell ya.
So I said screw it all and decided to screw open my best bottle of Hardy’s Crest vintage white that I had saved for my special date and settle in my couch with all my cushions and a bag of my favourite nut mix. That’s it, I am not letting these spoil sports spoil my sport.
Hope you enjoy the Wimbledon finals with your family and friends unlike me this year in a new country of football hooligans….. And the host of the world’s best and Classiest Tennis Tournament of all.
Catch you guys after the match…..
PS - I am rooting for KING of grass, Federer.... I'm saying this right now so that you don't accuse me of backing the winner after the match blog!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Voices.
Rehana – Knock knock
Workout – Who’s there?
Rehana – Rehana
Workout – Oh Hello Rehana
Rehana – Hello workout, have you seen my strong shoulders by any chance?
Workout – Oh, yes. He is out on a date with Snickers bar
Rehana – I don’t understand why he does that, I have told him a zillion times she is not right for him.
Workout – Yeah, But you know how these beautiful girls say all the sweet things and entice the boys.
Rehana – She is a bit too sweet for her own good I tell ya.
Workout – Would you like to leave a message for shoulders then?
Rehana – Yes please, could you tell him that I was looking for him and to get his act together.
Workout – Sure
Rehana – And also tell him I intend to keep a watchful eye on him this time.
Workout – Ok
Rehana – So how are back, chest and the others doing these days? Don’t see them too often either.
Workout – Oh they went out on a group holiday to southern Spain, they should be back soon.
Rehana – Cool, tell them I said hello.
Workout – Sure.
Rehana – Got to go now…. You know how I get so hungry every time I meet you.
Workout – Yeah…. A lot of people say that to me, don’t know if it’s my BO or I just tire people out.
Rehana – Probably both. See you around more often then.
Workout – Yeah… Do keep coming, I feel better with your company.
Rehana – Buh Bye
Workout – Take care and don’t be too harsh on Snickers bar if you meet her on your way home…she can be quite a good friend on those PMT days.
Rehana – Yeah… that’s true. See you later.
Workout – Who’s there?
Rehana – Rehana
Workout – Oh Hello Rehana
Rehana – Hello workout, have you seen my strong shoulders by any chance?
Workout – Oh, yes. He is out on a date with Snickers bar
Rehana – I don’t understand why he does that, I have told him a zillion times she is not right for him.
Workout – Yeah, But you know how these beautiful girls say all the sweet things and entice the boys.
Rehana – She is a bit too sweet for her own good I tell ya.
Workout – Would you like to leave a message for shoulders then?
Rehana – Yes please, could you tell him that I was looking for him and to get his act together.
Workout – Sure
Rehana – And also tell him I intend to keep a watchful eye on him this time.
Workout – Ok
Rehana – So how are back, chest and the others doing these days? Don’t see them too often either.
Workout – Oh they went out on a group holiday to southern Spain, they should be back soon.
Rehana – Cool, tell them I said hello.
Workout – Sure.
Rehana – Got to go now…. You know how I get so hungry every time I meet you.
Workout – Yeah…. A lot of people say that to me, don’t know if it’s my BO or I just tire people out.
Rehana – Probably both. See you around more often then.
Workout – Yeah… Do keep coming, I feel better with your company.
Rehana – Buh Bye
Workout – Take care and don’t be too harsh on Snickers bar if you meet her on your way home…she can be quite a good friend on those PMT days.
Rehana – Yeah… that’s true. See you later.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Time for Hollywood writers to retire.
This is absolutely a new level of fraud. A new dimension, perhaps far superior to faking one's own death. With his death from a massive heart attack on Wednesday, Ken Lay cheated justice. And then some. Not only will the Enron founder not end his days in prison, but according to legal precedent, his entire case will be erased from the records. Why? Because you can't punish a dead guy before he has a chance to appeal!!!! Guess who is having the last laugh?Now the government has no means to collect on its forfeiture claim against Lay for $43.5 million. Worse still this whole incident wont even be mentioned in the books. Linda Lay is now officially a billionaire, no need for Cayman islands here. I want the truth documented, not this sham. I want the whole truth in history text books. How will we teach the future Jeffrey Skillings and Lays that its not that smart to try and outwit their shareholders....Unfortunately the only place you may be able to see this masterpiece of a real life unfold would be in a cinema near you, coming soon.
But for all of you sympathizers of a dead pirate, there is more to this. Think about it, now that Kenny Boy is no longer a felon, the University of Missouri at Columbia will atlast be able to fill its open Kenneth Lay Chair in International Economics.
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