quick off the top of my head entry
i come home everyday from work, only to find the traffic increasing. only 3 months ago it used to take me 15-20 mins, while it now takes 25-45 minutes depending on how unlucky i am.
what i noticed on more than one occassion is that i tend to get through an intersection much MUCH faster if the lights are not working. anybody else notice this?
it seems that a single car breaks down, the slightest diversion and we have a traffic jam 1/2 KM long. however, it still seems more desirable to be able to wiggle your way through a light in less than minute than waiting in a line at the intersection for 10 minutes.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
networking with little or no real networking?
i am a member of a few networking sites, primarily Linkedin and Facebook. the others i have registered on are xing, marzar and maybe a couple more here and there. my reasons have been well defined in my mind- facebook for my personal network and linkedin for professional networking. i'll even stake a bet and say that these are probably inline with most people's perceptions of the respective networks, including the networks themselves.
i've found that on either site, particularly linkedin, people are adding numerous contacts to their list all the time, while there is little actual networking. i can prove it- i have at least 10 contacts on my high school list on facebook, none of whom i ever speak to, and i have empirically proven it. 80% of the time when i msg some of these people, i don't receive a response.
on linkedin, i have had a few experiences where people either simply do not respond, or get irritated when you ask them to help you with something or seek an introduction. this despite the fact that people call themselves LIONs or open networkers. on the other hand, the hypocrisy lies in the fact that they rarely if ever examine their own barrage of Q&A, free advice or adding people at random, just so they can be placed on an irrelevant mailing list.
i would appreciate any insight on why bother even posting a profile when you're never going to use it! is it just a numbers game? perhaps an ego issue where you can get a leg up just by showing off your 10,000+ contacts?
i've found that on either site, particularly linkedin, people are adding numerous contacts to their list all the time, while there is little actual networking. i can prove it- i have at least 10 contacts on my high school list on facebook, none of whom i ever speak to, and i have empirically proven it. 80% of the time when i msg some of these people, i don't receive a response.
on linkedin, i have had a few experiences where people either simply do not respond, or get irritated when you ask them to help you with something or seek an introduction. this despite the fact that people call themselves LIONs or open networkers. on the other hand, the hypocrisy lies in the fact that they rarely if ever examine their own barrage of Q&A, free advice or adding people at random, just so they can be placed on an irrelevant mailing list.
i would appreciate any insight on why bother even posting a profile when you're never going to use it! is it just a numbers game? perhaps an ego issue where you can get a leg up just by showing off your 10,000+ contacts?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ruchika's case
so i have been watching the news and reading the paper like every other indian. front page news these days seems to be centered around petitions to bring justice to Ruchika (i can't remember/spell) her last name. the latest i heard yesterday was that the former DGP (i think that's the right designation) will be booked or has been booked under the 'Abetment of Suicide' clause, if you will.
i have two things to say about this, before which, i want to clarify my position on the case. I am on Ruchika's side- it's not the hardest thing to believe that a corrupt government official has once again molested the common man- in fact most of us are common men, i should say.
1. the media has once again shown its positive side by bringing much needed publicity to an otherwise 'buried' case. i've been involved in an excellent project in the past, related to the 'new media' revolution in the US and other western countries, and i think we're still pretty lucky to have a relatively 'good' media.
2. someone was over recently (i won't say who) to see me and he mentioned very quietly (which i don't blame him for, considering how sensitive people are about the subject), "You are only hearing one side of the story". now to his credit, he is not suggesting that the IPS officer is innocent. however, it underscores a very important aspect of civilized society that we as Indians forget. if we want justice, we can't go about doing our trials in monkey courts. we have to be fair and just, and while the IPS officer may be corrupt, he isn't necessarily guilty on all the counts that may have been or will be presented.
it's important for India as a developing nation to remember that there is a reason that courts exist- to offer justice. justice isn't obtained by violently or vehemently but blindly taking one side. we must keep our 'emotions' at bay when we take a call- support Ruchika- all the Ruchikas in fact. However, don't let popular or some random person's opinion get to your higher ability to decide justly.
MAY JUSTICE PREVAIL.
i have two things to say about this, before which, i want to clarify my position on the case. I am on Ruchika's side- it's not the hardest thing to believe that a corrupt government official has once again molested the common man- in fact most of us are common men, i should say.
1. the media has once again shown its positive side by bringing much needed publicity to an otherwise 'buried' case. i've been involved in an excellent project in the past, related to the 'new media' revolution in the US and other western countries, and i think we're still pretty lucky to have a relatively 'good' media.
2. someone was over recently (i won't say who) to see me and he mentioned very quietly (which i don't blame him for, considering how sensitive people are about the subject), "You are only hearing one side of the story". now to his credit, he is not suggesting that the IPS officer is innocent. however, it underscores a very important aspect of civilized society that we as Indians forget. if we want justice, we can't go about doing our trials in monkey courts. we have to be fair and just, and while the IPS officer may be corrupt, he isn't necessarily guilty on all the counts that may have been or will be presented.
it's important for India as a developing nation to remember that there is a reason that courts exist- to offer justice. justice isn't obtained by violently or vehemently but blindly taking one side. we must keep our 'emotions' at bay when we take a call- support Ruchika- all the Ruchikas in fact. However, don't let popular or some random person's opinion get to your higher ability to decide justly.
MAY JUSTICE PREVAIL.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Welcome Post
Hi guys,
this is my first ever post on my new blog "the true patriot". why do i call this blog what i do? really it ties in what i feel about our nation, our society, etc. etc. etc., and my philosophy around the Emperor's New Clothes- yes the old nursery tale we used to hear in Kindergarten.
i feel that we're living in a society with cliches, hypocrisy, double standards and all that stuff. all i aim to do via this blog is to voice my concerns, feelings and impressions about all those things, and hopefully do my bit for the nation. i believe true patriotism is not about singing bollywood songs, watching indo-pak war movies or waving a flag. it's about doing something! not pretending to do something!
I welcome everybody's comments, positive or negative. All i ask is that you participate, share and help. if you're part of the MNS, or believe that criticizing your own country is a bad thing, you're not helping, you're making it worse.
thanks and i hope this is the start of something truly great.
this is my first ever post on my new blog "the true patriot". why do i call this blog what i do? really it ties in what i feel about our nation, our society, etc. etc. etc., and my philosophy around the Emperor's New Clothes- yes the old nursery tale we used to hear in Kindergarten.
i feel that we're living in a society with cliches, hypocrisy, double standards and all that stuff. all i aim to do via this blog is to voice my concerns, feelings and impressions about all those things, and hopefully do my bit for the nation. i believe true patriotism is not about singing bollywood songs, watching indo-pak war movies or waving a flag. it's about doing something! not pretending to do something!
I welcome everybody's comments, positive or negative. All i ask is that you participate, share and help. if you're part of the MNS, or believe that criticizing your own country is a bad thing, you're not helping, you're making it worse.
thanks and i hope this is the start of something truly great.
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