Broadcasting my thoughts
There was a mosquito and a dog who loved each other a lot ..
One day the mosquito got excited and gave a love bite to the dog ..
The dog became emotional and bit the mosquito .
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The next day .
Mosquito died of rabies and dog died of malaria ..
What a touching story ..!!!!!!:-)
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Thank you Monica for sharing this and helping me to improve my sense of humour.
Posted in Personal.
– July 21, 2007
With the advent of user generated videos & Rediff iLand now allowing to post video,I thought of sharing my favourite ads in this post.
Close Up [Kya Aap Close Up Kartey Hai]
Cadbury Cricket mania
Have a nice weekend
Posted in Hobbies.
– July 20, 2007
Last night my friend Pallavi ,a consumer behavior expert, was grouching over her irresistible junk diet “potato chips”. To my knowledge she is highly health conscious or at least this is what I perceive about her. Well are potato chips simply irresistible??
Google Trends says so. Through out the year the demand of ‘potato chips‘ seems incessant.
So what happens to our physique consciousness?? The trend of ‘Potato chips’ ,’Swimwear’ & ‘diets’ shows something interesting. kind of trend worm I love to see.
Potato chips as usual almost a straight line. ‘diets’ grows in the start of year, “swimwear” grows somewhere around March then both falls during the last few months of the year.
Hitwise analyst LeeAnn Prescott has an answer to this seasonality in her blog.
Not surprisingly, it turns out there is a seasonal correlation between ’swimwear’ and ‘diets.’ The search term chart below shows that the lowest volume of searches for the two terms is in October, November and December. Of course, searches for ‘diets’ surge in January when people make their New Year’s Resolutions, but ’swimwear’ doesn’t pick up again until March, when spring break approaches. It is odd though, given how much time it takes to loose any significant amount of weight, that the correlation between ’swimwear’ searches and ‘diet’searches is timed so close.
Ohh Great !! Thats an interesting correlation.
Related Resource:
Wiki Resource
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Dedicated to :Pallavi Aiyer
Posted in Hobbies.
– July 18, 2007
Design your own Converse Shoes..that’s what Converse promises.Shopping is all about choice, and finding exactly what you want feels great.But I wondered “Who wants customization in shoes ??”
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Henry Ford once said “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is Black“.
In the history of human evolution,the man was the “hunter” i.e he would venture out each day to risk his life as "hunter" to bring food back to his woman and their children. Women's role was to care for her children, collecting fruits & vegetables and interacting with other women in the group i.e. she was the "nest-defender". Somewhere between 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, Humans’ small toes became weaker. Sturdy shoes first came into widespread use during this time.While early humans living in cold northern climates may have begun covering up their feet to insulate them as early as 500,000 years ago, protective footwear comparable to modern-day shoes is thought to be a much later innovation.
It has been difficult for archaeologists to determine exactly when humans stopped going barefoot, however, because the plant and animal materials used to make prehistoric shoes is highly perishable.
“The oldest shoes in the world are about 9,000 years old, and they’re from California,” said Professor Erik Trinkaus, of Washington University in St Louis, US.
Ever since then time has changed a lot. Women are no more mere "nest-defenders". In todays market they are no more a “niche marketing” segment. Tom Peters and Martha Barletta ,in their book "Trends", has pointed out "Women are the primary purchasers of virtually everything". The paradigm in new economy shifts to "Condescending to women" to "Catering to women" and "Marketing to Men" to Marketing to Women".
Additional mind boggling trends took me to complete awe.
Various internet studies uncovers the gender bias in cyber community is slowly fading away in developed nations.
Susan Dunn points out in US Internet world
• If 100 people were using the Internet, 52 of them would be women, and 48 of them would be men.
• If 100 women were doing business, 61 of them would be doing it on the Internet and 39 would not be.
BBC reports suggest British women are spending longer than men on the web for the first time.
But the tide has steadily been turning, as sites specifically designed for women help to pull in the female audience and such sites had their own good (bad) time.
MSN Adlab unveils its Women who are predominantly searching for “Shoe”
John Trinakus at Zicklin School of Business in New York City has dedicated his academic life to the scientific observation of everyday life.When “something” annoys or intrigues professor Trinkaus, he takes the time and trouble to carefully count that “something”–how numerous it is or how often it happens.He has visited railway stations and noted that color of sports shoes worn by men and women (79 % of male sports shoes wearers chose white versus just 34 % of female wearers). Trinkaus was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize for 2003.
Hmm acknowledging trends it seems shoe customization is somehow very important for females.
Well then I must say the initiatives of Converse , Vans and Nike are surely on right track.
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Dedicated To:
Monica Jasuja
Posted in Hobbies.
– July 15, 2007
Inspite of reliable spam filters everyday at least 10 spam mail like this hits my mailbox. I generally check the detailed header of the mail and try to figure out the originating IP of such mails through services like IP-Look Up (invariably thats US most of the time).
Postini provides a graphical map on where such SPAM originates from. It states 10 out of 11 mails are Spam. Within India Delhi & nearby areas are hotspot for Spams.
Posted in Hobbies.
– July 6, 2007
4th July, its US Independence Day. So what’s the mood of blogosphere today? Must be cheerful & upbeat right??? Nope…seems its sick & less cheerful ? But why?? Anyway Happy Independance Day 
Posted in Hobbies.
– July 4, 2007
Where are we heading to? Well we all know Beer rocks & Condom sucks.
Here is what Indians are buying everyday vis-a-vis Brand Equity Indias Most Trusted Brands 2007 survey findings.
Bikes are 6 times & Scooters are 8 times more popular than cars. Will all our future families be Nuclear or have we embraced the fact Indian roads conditions would never improve?
Are bikes more safer than scooter? [Hero Honda Splendor & Passion Vs No scooter in Brand Equity most trusted Brand ] Soft drinks are consumed 3.5 times as much as mineral water. Are we really growing health conscious? Pepsi & Thumbs Up improves their ranking in Brand Equity’s India’s 100 most trusted brands.
Soft drinks again are sold twice as much as Movie tickets. Are the movies growing so boring?? 3/4th of the 2006 Hindi movies were flop ,below average or disaster
. In addition Zandu Balm & Saridon moves up in Brand Equity- India’s most trusted brand ranking.
Finally a teaser
.Beers are sold twice as much as condoms. Is the pleasure of “sex” in a state of “intoxication” becoming de facto? 
Mera Bharat Mahan !!
Posted in Hobbies.
– July 3, 2007
I have been following the work of Janice Caswell for a while now.Her drawings and installations represent mental maps, an investigation of the mind’s peculiar ways of organizing memories. She attempts to trace the edges of recalled experience, plotting the movement of bodies and consciousness through time and space. Basic human function rests on the brain's ability to recall physical and mental action. A lucky minority of humans is born with a so-called photographic memory, some, unfortunately, lack a healthy functioning memory, while the rest of us rely on our varied capacities for retaining information. Although memory can make or break you professionally, socially, romantically, and academically, it never fails to produce a portal though which you can time travel to the best experiences of your life. But why are some memories more vivid and others more vague? What if there was a way to interact with your memory and monitor its internalization of your life, or at the very least, witness how image and action are eventually stored in the brain? Related Links:
Stemming from this idea of securing experience, Janice Caswell's "Lay of the Land" features a three-dimensional glimpse of what memory could look like in a physical space. Caswell is inspired by the concept of mental mapping, or, how the brain organizes memory. She uses various media, including beads, paper, ink, and pens, to create imagery similar to what "retracing your steps" might look like with a skilled and artistic twist. The viewer looks at her work assuming an aerial view, almost as if they were invited to investigate a microchip that stored Caswell's personal past.
"Vegas Baby," represents Caswell's experience while attending a convention in Las Vegas. Representing buildings with varying sizes of squares, and paths of travel represented by beads mounted on pins, she is successful in re-creating a rooftop view of her many encounters. She uses a pastel palette of paper circles of varying size to mark individual instances of experience that have been embedded into her conscious memory. The viewer is aware that these circles represent something to the artist, but are left in ambiguity and wonderment. Clusters of circles could possibly mean one thing, but to Caswell it means another.
"Alternate Realities," on the other hand, illustrates less of an actual memory and more of a hypothetical one. Caswell envisions a colorful map that signifies alternate paths of life she could have led.
Other titles include, "Broken Verses" ,"The Book of Salt" and "Resistance."
1.Janice Caswell's Mental Maps
2.Mental Maps
Posted in Science.
– July 2, 2007
This Friday 29th June I had to rush to Bangalore [now bangaloru] to catch up some of my friends there. I had a tight time schedule. So suppressing my instinct of cheap air tickets, I bought tickets on Jet Airways.
Bombay to Bangalore [9W 0443, ETD 10.30 AM ] and Bangalore to Mumbai [9W 2412, ETD 11.00 PM ]. Jet flights generally run on time. They understand consumer needs and tries to extend their facility beyond traditional ways.
Friday morning I woke up and peeked through the window, mumbai climate was something scary. The sky was enveloped in thick dark cloud with heavy downpour all around I could see. My house at Andheri west to Mumbai domestic terminus is around 20 Min journey. Till the time I stepped out of my house at 9.00 AM ,I had no idea what the day has stored in for me. On any average day I find atleast 3-4 autowalas & / or couple of cab pullers desperately waiting for commuters, but this Friday was something exceptional.So far my limited vision went no autowala was there.One cab I could locate,but the shameless asked an exorbitant high fare i.e. 150 Rs.Thats generally one way fare from Andheri to Dadar.
First thing that stroked me “Alas !! only if I had booked the same tickets through Yatra and availed the airport transfer for Rs 99.”
After running pillar to post, I could coax another cab driver to drop me till airport. I jumped inside the cab & looked at my watch..grrr..it ticked 9.35 AM. "Before its too late ,I must tele-check In " I told myself. I had heard for consumers convenience EVEN Jet allows tele check in. But where are the tele check in number?? Must be in e-ticket right ??
I searched for the same in my e-ticket that was not there. It contained all possible post check in instructions except important contact phone numbers. Reminded me what Marketing Guru Kotler said " People want Hole, not drill". No one wants a product, what they want is a benefit.Marketers develop product/services identifying a consumer need, but rest 3Ps [Promotion ,Place ,Price] of marketing mix are often improperly formulated. Jet guys are no exception.
Wading through the partially water logged roads in Andheri ,I somehow reached domestic terminus at around 10.00 AM and rushed to Jet check in counter. Adding to my plight the lady at the counter regretfully informed me the flight was full. I thought of kicking myself. The agony of travel on a awfully bad weather had already started. For the first time in my entire travel experience I missed a flight.
Next flight to Bangalore [9W 417] departs at afternoon 2.00 PM. So I had to reschedule my return tickets as well. When I agreed to pay the fare differential , Jet ticketing counter, as if waiting for their next mullah,immediately rescheduled my journey tickets. Not to mention the e-tickets issued again had no what so ever tele check in information.
Once bitten ,twice wise.This time I checked in at 1.00 AM.Greeted by the cabin crews fake smile,I boarded in aircraft by 1.45 PM and hoped to reach my destination in 1 Hrs & 15 Mins.But it was all hope.Adding to my plight air traffic congestation delayed the take off till 3.00 PM. Like the hostages in a hijacked air craft ,we were not allowed to get down of the craft,were served with fresh lime juice & water.
The flight took off.My tired soul with plenty of liquids in was in sudden urge for wash room post 30 minutes.Yikes..the air hostess on board bestowed a charming smile and suggested me to seat back as due to bad weather seat belt sign was on.Me,the poor soul,kept staring at the seat belt sign with an hope that some magic will switch it off..that never happend till we landed up in Bangalore. So far my memory goes,ever since I passed out of primary school I never sat like an obedient pupil during a natures call.What comes first ?? “Customer Comfort” or “Flight Rules”..hmm I don’t know.
In the meantime to deviate my concentration,I picked up the Airline magazine..phew..rubbing salt to my injury..it contained all possible phone numbers,tele check in numbers,Jets new initiatives like check in kiosk at Mumbai ,Delhi,Chennai & Bangalore airport.What I am supposed to do with the numbers now when I have already checked in?? Should I save the numbers in my mobile for future use..he he that would be violation of rules inside air craft [You need to switch on your phone].At the the check in kiosk you are supposed to swap your debit/credit card for authentication and eventually to generate boarding pass.But why should an air-traveler use that once he/she has already reached airport?? Just for jet milage points ?? My guess is providing such facilities at ATMs on the way to respective airports would be of much more consumer centric.I also discovered, Jet has SMS Check in only for Jet Privilege Members.
Nevertheless,upon reaching bangalore around 4.45ish,first thing I hit was the washroom at the terminal.I was not at all surprise to find most of my co passengers there.
Unfortunately the saga doesn’t end here.I had scheduled my return flight 9W 450 [ETD 11.30 AM] on 30th June.After a late breakfast at around 10 AM at my friends place,reaching Bangalore airport in time seemed a distant dream.The obvious option was again “tele check in”.I knew its not in E-Ticket.With a hope it would be somewhere in my Mumbai-Bangalore boarding pass,I checked that out even.To my dismay & shock what I found distasteful “Classic Polo 25% OFF ad”…grr..”Jet,I find Indian Railway tickets more useful than your boarding pass”.IR never fails to print important customer inquiry numbers at the back of the tickets.Another lesson for you.
The flight was delayed by 30 Min which later extended by 2 additional Hours.I could check in without any hassle.Due to bad Mumbai weather,the ill fated Bangalore - Mumbai flight 9W 450 actually took off around 4.00 PM.The helpless passengers remained trapped within the air craft between 2.00-4.00 PM.Well,I must mention,to keep the passengers busy,foods were served twice.
Lessons for all who reading this:
1.Never travel during bad weather,else you may remorse like yours truly.
2.If things can go wrong..it will.Keep important airline related telephone numbers handy before you fly.
I am out & out exhausted now..zzzz…Good Night.
Posted in Travel.
– July 1, 2007
My friend Sangeeta so far been a voracious reader to my blog. Out & out mumbaikar, she is in middle east for quite some years. As a contributor to my blog she found some time to jot down her precious thoughts. Thanks Sangeeta —————————————— ” Koi kahe kahata rahe kitna bhi hamko deewana “ immediately reminds me of great blast I had with my old friends Sangeeta, Rashmi, Vaishali to name a few. We tinkered our rivals over this song. Did you hear it well ?? It will always remind you of some one named "good friend". They gamble and promise to pay you later….for years you remind them hoping to get the some penny back. On one hand you discuss with them on how to save tax on the other side you talk to them for hours on the phone. [END]
Friends - who are they?….where do they come from?….
They are just ordinary people like you and me whom we meet through some mutual connection or just land up seeing them around….but they touches your life in an extraordinary way .. some way or the other way they leave their invisible footprints behind.
Days in and days out ,"Me" the tomboy, remained occupied with my friends…my parents had their own agony on their daughters "paying guest" attitude .I used to return back home quiet late often just for good night sleep .[At times I skipped that even 
]
Who are / were they ?? Cant name all of them here, most importantly, incase I miss some of their names reading this .. really cant hear the deafening scream "How dare you forget my name?"
However they are my School Friends, Class friends, College Friends, Train friends and last but not least Marine Drive Friends like chanawala, coffee wala, and eunuch ( Hijra Sworn virgins).. bhi jisse sab darte hai.
I shared a good friendship with this community as well. They showered all their eternal blessings and love on me. Sab darte hai “Hijra” community se especially girls. But I was always curious to know more about them. I was sick and admitted in hospital and could not visit my "katta" on Marine Drive. They were the first to call on me all the way to Badlapur with my favourite flowers. Not to mention my parents shock & agony. All the further I have experienced them, on the softer side they are just average human being.. I am thankful to them for bestowing such a love & care for me. Well, may be in my next visit to India I will meet them definitely.
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
My friends equivocally arrived on a consensus "I'm too talkative and jovial so I mingle around find friends anywhere.. within a bus/train with co passengers, in the waiting lounge of airport and even in toilet".
They are right. Irrespective of caste, creed and age I mingled around perfectly with kids to octogenarian couples. They change your way to look at life….you seek the pleasure of their company..the time you spend with them shields you from rest of the world they becomes part and parcel of your life as much as you are involved in their life.
You share your thoughts, you cry with them, you laugh with them, you irritate them often untimely, you fight with them. They write crap on your plaster when you are in hospital…..they have a jury when you introduce them to your boyfriends/girlfriends. you give them a shoulder when they get dumped, you pull their leg when get married. You drink with them….ten people share one fag ,they help you lie to your folks and sneak out of the house through window.
You gossip and then there are days when you retrospect back over a couple of drinks discussing what mad things they have done in life so far. They are Friends.
“Purani jeans aur guitar..Muhale ki woh chat aur mere yaar….”
Well I must admit , loaded with professional commitments many a times I get carried away in my busy work schedule but I do miss them….I crave to spend time with them.
I know its raining in "Aamchi Mumbai ". As usual my mail & phone inbox is inundated with messages saying..” hey its raining and we are missing you”. Believe me it makes me feel so special. Rain drives me crazy and all of my friends are well aware of that.
Wading through the gusty rain with Ice cream and only one umbrella, sheltering Me & Sumedha had lots of fun on the streets of Mumbai. I know even she is missing that now.
Geo-proximity can never be a hindrance on how we miss our age old friends.
Did you notice while you were busy , someone was missing you ..someone did move on…..don't get upset….they are there….still thinking about you….hoping yo u would do great in life. Trust me ..give them a call and they will bridge the proximity and come running for you.
A handful of them of them disappears in crowd like a needle in a carpet but they never forgets you….they carries your memories of being together in whichever part of this global village you are in.
To conclude I have a message to all of my friends " Thank you for being my friend. I will always love you ". A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.
“When a friend’s in trouble, don’t insult him by asking what you can do, think for yourself and start doing it.”
“Yaroon dosti badi hi hassen hai,yeh na ho toh kya phir bolo yeh jindagi hai”
Dedicated to A-Z….( each and every friend whose name is in A-Z)
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Posted in Friends.
– June 27, 2007
