Not a canal, just a regular street.

We stay near Miyapur (enroute to Bachupally) and work in Madhapur. Hyderabad. Some call these areas as ‘in’ Hyderabad, some call it ‘just outside/ sub-urbs’ of the abad and we just call it Miyapur, Hyderabad; whatever that association may mean to different people.

This is our normal route to office: Bachupally road Vikas school – Miyapur X roads – Miyapur (old?) Police Station – Miyapur Cheruvu – Hafezpet flyover – Hitex – Madhapur.

We’ve witnessed different traffic conditions – low and high volumes; travelling by different means – bike and car in the last many days. The maximum time it took could be one hour – to, or fro, with last Tuesday being an exception. We started around 6.35 pm at my office and reached home at 9.15 pm. Quite a long drive huh? Oh, we did break for a pizza (HAD to) for 15-20 mins.

It rained like hell and traffic congestion is expected. When it took 30-40 mins from Google office to Hitex charminar, we thought it was a little too much. It was kool all through the Hitex campus though, until we exited on the other end in Kondapur.

We had many vehicles entering the wrong side of the road. We deligently waited for our turn and got into the correct lane. If I drive on the right half of the road, papam where will the inflow traffic go? If there is no divider, it sometimes happens that the complete road is covered by the same direction traffic; entering the wrong side in spite of the road divider is too much I say!

We were moving at snail pace and looking around to analyze situation and water levels. On our side of the road, it was dead slow but was still moving. For 2-3 mins the traffic on the other side of the divider was moving fast. We know something bad will be awaiting the flow and it in fact did. All the cars slowly came to a halt. We were still moving at our same pace looking on the right at the stalled vehicles. We passed about a dozen cars and there was a break-down. Couple of them were trying to push the car to movement. We felt sorry for everyone on that side but we moved on. Another dozen cars later, another break-down. Crap!

That was not all. The traffic from the opposite direction was in full swing by then. That’s their legal side of the road and the ‘break-downs and the batch’ were in fact creating more problems. A little further, the worst has happened. These cars in the wrong lane are by the divider, there is no median to slowly even get into the correct side, and the opposite traffic, including a Mercedes bus was waiting in 6 lanes. Hu la la! No space to move forward and no space to turn back. For those who have observed, am sure the ‘HOT CHIPS’ store nearby was a big releif!

I have no Arya 2 sadism properties in general but I really felt ‘nice happened’ for those who created the problem. It did take another hour or so for us to get home, but we at least moved ahead. Apparently, that block was cleared after the complete normal flow traffic in that direction has stopped – which was around 1.00 am.

After a lot of driving, worrying, waiting, observation, facebook updates and Radio Mirchi traffic-beats, it occurred to me again. Even if it takes a little more time than usual, stick to your side and stick to your lane. Even if we are stuck there for some reason, at least the rest of the traffic will flow smoothly, creating way for us to get along. What say?

(Keep songs from Kotha Bangaru Lokam and Ye Maya Chesave handy, traffic lo irukkunna time atte gadisipothundi bore kottakunda )

A lot has happened since I last published a post on my blog: I resigned to my position at CA, was on a short break (kind of long rocking weekend) and then joined Convergys. So fa, so good.

While I do have a lot going on in my mind to blog now, am still trying to get comfortable with the new company, policies, procedures, team, environment, culture, schedules, office, commute etc., just wanted to drop a note here to scream out loud, “AM STILL PRETTY MUCH ALIVE!!!”

By the way, here’s something to think about for the next couple of weeks. Now that I moved to complete day schedules, the photographer in me is just excited! I just hope I’ll be able to spend a few hours every week, even if I can’t make it happen by 19th Aug. Wish me luck!

Another wonderful forward if you have missed it, just in case!

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.  He said the expression “going bananas” is from the effects of bananas on the brain.

Never, put a banana in the refrigerator!

This is an interesting article. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again!

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one more here; want a quick shine on our shoes? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit!

It might not be known when the next cyclone will hit the northern Indian Ocean, but what is already known is its name – Bandu, an official said.

Cyclones derive their names through a systematic procedure laid down by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Cyclone Laila, which developed in the Indian Ocean off the Andhra Pradesh coast creating much havoc in the state, was named by Pakistan. The next to hit countries in the north Indian Ocean region will be called Bandu – a name given by Sri Lanka, and the one after that will be Phet, named by Thailand.

Eight north Indian Ocean countries – Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand – have prepared a list of 64 names. ”We give identity to the cyclones as per the list finalised by the WMO,” M. Mahopatra, director of the cyclone division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told IANS.

“The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began years ago to help in their quick identification while issuing warnings because names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers or technical terms,” Mahopatra explained.

“When a hurricane hits these countries, the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), housed in the IMD office in New Delhi, picks up the name next on the list. The RSMC has been set up by the WMO for forecasting tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,” he said.

The countries take turns in naming the cyclones. The last six were: Nisha (Bangladesh), Bijli (India), Aila (Maldives), Phyan (Myanmar), Ward (Oman) and the most recent being Laila (Pakistan). Local names are used for cyclones to make it convenient for use.

In the 1970s, the WMO in Geneva asked some countries around the Pacific Ocean to prepare a list of names. The decision to name the cyclones in the Indian Ocean was taken at a meeting of WMO/ESCAP in 2000.

Received the article as a forward.

George Burns once said, “Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy running taxicabs or cutting hair.”

Isn’t it true? Other than a few weekend get-together sessions involving alcohol, it’s the hair dressers and cab drivers I hear a lot about politics from. Of course, every one has a couple of friends who are die hard fans of a ‘leader’ and they wouldn’t even listen to your side of the story, no matter what. (Danny and Srikanth – am jus kiddin’ )

Just the other day I had an interesting conversation in the cab. I boarded at 5.00 am and the driver didn’t seem very happy to see me. Not that he doesn’t like me, but because I woke him up to get going. When they have no place to go, they come as early as possible and catch a nap. Anyone who is woke at that hour might feel the same irritation.

Normally I don’t talk much in the cab. I tune into radio (more often than not Radio Mirchi 98.3 idi chala hot guru!), recline my seat a little and close my eyes, letting my thoughts wander all around. And frankly, sometimes it is scary to sit in the front while a sleepy cab driver is handling the wheel, so closing my eyes works for best.

I did the same the other day too. The cabbie was driving slowly because he too knew he was a little sleepy. After 15 mins or so, when we were about to reach office, there was a ditch in the road that he didn’t notice. One of the wheels hit the ditch and made a loud noise. Neither the car stopped nor it broke down,  but it still hurts when the vehicle takes a shock or a scratch. He was full awake then and wanted to start a conversation to keep him active.

“We Indians are still in the 1940s mindset, sir. We have to change. The government has to do something. Isn’t that their responsibility? Why do we need so many speed-breakers even in small lanes like this? And what about the ditches like this? Everyone thinks it’s someone else’s duty and walks off. We have to change, sir. Our thinking has to change. Someone has to do something about all this. Is government not responsible for roads? Shouldn’t they be repairing the roads and keep them clean?”

Well, I have a paragraph for each sentence he spoke. He says “Everyone thinks it’s someone else’s duty and walks off”, and “We have to change, sir. Our thinking has to change.” and then he also says, “Someone has to do something about all this.” Am sure my mouth was wide open with wonder at his conflicting thought process. May be, his sleep was speaking.

If I start off with explaining each sentence of his, am sure the point would be lost. I nodded unwillingly and agreed with him. He was happy he made his point and he mentally patted himself on his back for being so thought provoking. It was a gleaming conversation for him that killed his sleep and brightened his day. It was an early morning encounter for me that I chose not to think a lot about. I had a whole day ahead of me!

I recently noted on facebook regarding the new Airtel application for broadband. Based on the few responses, it appears that Airtel has some policies and standards that make no sense [to me]. I’ve blogged about Airtel before regarding a Customer Care incident. Read the article here. This is another experience. I wonder how companies with glitches like this (also ICICI) make it to the top Innovative companies list.

Read on for this story from Airtel – my recent experience when I applied for a broadband connection. It’s not that bad to complain much or whine about; but sure is worth a mention. I just hate it when someone tries to take me for a ride. Most of the times I don’t let them do it. And when they succeed, I blog. [:P]

1. Invalid address proof: I’ve been an Airtel mobile customer for years now. I change address every time I move without any problem. I never delayed a payment irrespective of the bill receipt. I pay online so I don’t need the bill for payment. One of the reasons I insist I receive the bill is to use it as a proof of address for any other applications/ requirements. Of course other reason being the verification of usage charges and monitor the call volume/ duration trend.When I applied for the broadband connection on Friday 7-May-2010, I offered a copy of the recent bill as a proof of address along with other documentation like PAN, Company ID etc. The executive rejected the document and opted for a rental agreement. He was very sure that Airtel doesn’t believe they keep correct addresses and therefore doesn’t accept the bill as proof. So, they are okay if my bill is not reaching me alright every month? I frankly didn’t know where to start to argue with the guy.
2. False promise: I came to know later that the normal time it takes to install a broadband connection after submitting the application is 4 days. I wish they could do it a little quicker but frankly doesn’t hurt much. If it takes that long to set up an account and do the physical setup and stuff, agreed; no arguments there.This representative promised he would “login” the application same evening and I can expect an engineer on Monday 10-May-2010 before 9am to install the CPE (Customer Premise Equipment – the phone, modem, cables etc.) I thought that’s probably the right time they need and agreed. I waited till 6pm and called the rep. Surprisingly he disconnected my calls! I would actually expect a call from Airtel as the appointment was not kept with an explanation and to reschedule the installation. Disconnecting my calls irked me a little and I had to raise a complaint with Customer Care about the whole commitment.
   
   Login is a term even the banks use with respect to applications. I guess it’s their entry into the system to start the workflow, but not sure.

3. Automation: I think the idea is great, but the implementation sucks. Airtel tried to keep me posted on the progress of the application and set expectations – just that they were not right.
   1. Airtel as a company did not know that the installation was scheduled on 10-May
   2. After few follow up calls and an escalation, it was installed on Tuesday around 5pm; about 32 hours delay
   3. The SMS around lunch time on 11-May (the next day after installation) says the set up will be done in 3 days from then! So they didn’t even know my connection has been active for almost a day? Or, was something incomplete? No info.
   4. There was automated email sent, a Welcome Letter with account number and an attachment with broadband plans. The “From” address/ name? – care.karnataka@airtel.in [:)]

Anyways, the connection is up and running for more than a week now and I guess I should be happy about it. Just hoping it will continue to work and not make me run around 121 calls.

P.S.: I drafted this post late last week and was waiting to click a picture of the SMS to post along with this text. Unfortunately my phone died over the weekend and therefore no pic. [:(]

Yet another forward that keeps making rounds every few months. Every time we read it, it’s new again.

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy. ‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy. ‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’

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Convex marketing is the art of looking at things through a magnifying glass. If you haven’t bumped into the term already, don’t worry. I just made it up!

Marketing is in a way by default looking at positive aspects and highlighting them big time to impress customers. And, looks like HDFC is doing it a little more than obvious.Here are a few instances I’m referring to:

• The 40% faster ATMs: If anyone already does not know, HDFC offers an option to ‘set favorite’ amount to withdraw using their debit card. If you want to withdraw the set amount, its just one selection after entering the PIN and the transaction is complete; the cash and card come out and you’re on your way. It’s an option some may find useful no doubt about it. I wonder who would want to withdraw same amount most of the times though- I withdraw different amount all the time, but it could just be me.

  I like few options like this to be available for convenience but am sure I wouldn’t want to switch banks for little convenience features. It’s good to advertise the feature once in a while like an ‘awareness’ concept to existing customers. But HDFC is running a complete series of ads with weird acts that make me think if that’s what all they’ve got. We have many features with ICICI net banking and if they have to do like HDFC’s marketing, their team needs be doubled.

  By the way, as I don’t withdraw the set amount every time, that’s an extra step to skip it and go to the normal workflow- so it’s like 20% slower ATM for me, all the time!

• Convenience of Online Utility Bill Payment using HDFC Bank Credit Card: One of the recent monthly marketing emails had this subject line which made me look into it for details. I’ve tried with ICICI when my Salary Account was it and I liked the option of receiving alerts within the net banking site and select the ones to pay, or all the more convenient, set to automatically pay bills a day or two days before the due date.

  Wow! I opened the email and spent a few minutes skimming through the contents. Towards the end, I got what I was looking for!

  “At HDFC Bank, we are here to make sure you don’t have to waste your time standing in long queues to pay your utility bills by bringing you more convenience and security to your doorstep. Now use your HDFC Bank Credit Card for easy and hassle-free online bill payments.”

  “So, go ahead! Take advantage of this great service and make your bill payments online.”

  I clicked on the links like electricity, DTH, Telecom, Insurance etc. and guess where I was taken? To a list of respective providers (not even all companies were listed in that category) and the URL of their respective websites. I look at the email once in a while and still wonder what the point is