Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Machine-aargh

Tapping this down from a sense of exhasperation that dawns on me when devices and networks don't work.

So there's a way they work, which is what we expect them to do. It's when they don't function despite no power cuts, software bugs or human intervention that sets you back a bit in limbo. That, if you can get a pulse on, is what makes the difference between really understanding inanimate things and flinging your phone across space time and wifi zones. If you can imagine that device as a living creature with needs, functions, care and maintenance, the gap between the machine and your patience threshold reduces. 

We may spend less on new gadgets and actually make the most of resources simple because we understand what more to do with them. Just a thought.

Machine-aargh

Tapping this down from a sense of exhasperation that dawns on me when devices and networks don't work.

So there's a way they work, which is what we expect them to do. It's when they don't function despite no power cuts, software bugs or human intervention that sets you back a bit in limbo. That, if you can get a pulse on, is what makes the difference between really understanding inanimate things and flinging your phone across space time and wifi zones. If you can imagine that device as a living creature with needs, functions, care and maintenance, the gap between the machine and your patience threshold reduces. 

We may spend less on new gadgets and actually make the most of resources simple because we understand what more to do with them. Just a thought.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Puppy politics is easy business

The general elections currently underway have split friends and relatives in factions. This got me thinking about things I don't usually bother much with. Are we are currently in love with an image? If euphoria can still sway this country, how far have we come from 1991?
Of all the geopolitical elements that go into making decisions, keeping all biases aside, we could discuss three things before we vote for a leader- ease of doing business in India, euphoria in marketing a product, and finally, the janlokpal bill.
Firstly, ease of doing business. India lags behind African countries on the ease of doing business index - http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/india
If one looks at the main factors that pulls us down on this index, it boils down to getting approvals in starting a business, getting construction permits and electricity. Corrupt government officials are the gargoyles that guard this gateway. Multinational corporations keep aside bribe provisions as part of incorporation expenses. So corruption is undoubtedly the Achilles heel for the entrepreneurial spirit of India.
Euphoria in marketing- if a product has an emotional appeal attached to it, the product will sell on its own. It helps hide crucial faults or intentions because the visual alone helps win half the battle. We have seen this in the Hutch (now Vodafone) ads in which the adorable pug boosted the brand value. Those ads sold pugs for Rs.50,000 a pup.
Janlokpal bill - that elephant in the room everyone wished wouldn't look at them. The first line in the agenda could be the only reason any politician would make sure it does not come in force. 'If a politician or government official is found guilty of corruption, he will lose his job, go to jail and his property would be confiscated- without government permission.' Ouch. Now that hurts the very purpose of getting into politics.
Its difficult to get a majority on anything nowadays. So go ahead and disagree, without a bias against a coughing candidate. C'mon... Now that's petty.

Puppy politics is easy business

The general elections currently underway have split friends and relatives in factions. This got me thinking about things I don't usually bother much with. Are we are currently in love with an image? If euphoria can still sway this country, how far have we come from 1991?
Of all the geopolitical elements that go into making decisions, keeping all biases aside, we could discuss three things before we vote for a leader- ease of doing business in India, euphoria in marketing a product, and finally, the janlokpal bill.
Firstly, ease of doing business. India lags behind African countries on the ease of doing business index - http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/india
If one looks at the main factors that pulls us down on this index, it boils down to getting approvals in starting a business, getting construction permits and electricity. Corrupt government officials are the gargoyles that guard this gateway. Multinational corporations keep aside bribe provisions as part of incorporation expenses. So corruption is undoubtedly the Achilles heel for the entrepreneurial spirit of India.
Euphoria in marketing- if a product has an emotional appeal attached to it, the product will sell on its own. It helps hide crucial faults or intentions because the visual alone helps win half the battle. We have seen this in the Hutch (now Vodafone) ads in which the adorable pug boosted the brand value. Those ads sold pugs for Rs.50,000 a pup.
Janlokpal bill - that elephant in the room everyone wished wouldn't look at them. The first line in the agenda could be the only reason any politician would make sure it does not come in force. 'If a politician or government official is found guilty of corruption, he will lose his job, go to jail and his property would be confiscated- without government permission.' Ouch. Now that hurts the very purpose of getting into politics.
Its difficult to get a majority on anything nowadays. So go ahead and disagree, without a bias against a coughing candidate. C'mon... Now that's petty.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

A man and a car

a man is a car
intake-
wined dined and drunk
fired up and smoked out
spark-
hold. retain.
together now, alone.
my head spins, not talking now,
I'm blanked out, something turns you on
kiss. sparks off a light that kicks the life into me
hard kiss, gets the pistons all fired up

exhaust-
verbiose, about how I feel
with all the ability of speech in me
out it comes, like a poet I never was
a piano that never had the keys
a bird that never knew it could sing

A man and a car

a man is a car
intake-
wined dined and drunk
fired up and smoked out
spark-
hold. retain.
together now, alone.
my head spins, not talking now,
I'm blanked out, something turns you on
kiss. sparks off a light that kicks the life into me
hard kiss, gets the pistons all fired up

exhaust-
verbiose, about how I feel
with all the ability of speech in me
out it comes, like a poet I never was
a piano that never had the keys
a bird that never knew it could sing

Wordpress it is!

I have moved to Wordpress. After much introspection and discussion on what Blogger and Wordpress are capable of, I figured a one-stop shop...