The other day my tenant told me that he is planning to look out for another apartment as he finds the present rent too high.
That triggered a thought in my head - though I own an apartment I have always stayed in a rented one ( don't ask me why - long story ) and I always used to worry that the landlord will ask me to vacate. Now when I am the landlord I am worried that the tenant would leave.
Ulta..pulta
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Are we maturing?
This Indian election has been as fascinating as all the others with its usual non-surprises :-
1. Overall the voting percentage was 60% which is good but I am sure majority out of that is from rural areas. So the apathy of the urban voter towards this exercise continues.
2. A horde of parties contesting, celebrating the concept of the largest democracy
3. A large number of independents trying their luck
4. Casts still playing a dominant role etc.
However, one thing which came as a pleasant surprise to me is the projected results in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Now before you jump to conclusions that I am happy because I am a supporter of a specific group let me clarify my point. It is projected that in AP, Congress and its allies would do well while in Bihar it is BJP+JD(U) combination which is supposed to do well. Further in TN it is expected that DMK led alliance would not do so badly as initially thought. Why was it a surprise? it is so because all these results show that the electorate are recognizing the good work which is being done by the local governments and they are reaffirming their faith in the present ruling setups. This is a welcome change from the tendency of voting for candidates based on caste or regional lines. In AP for example the incumbent CM comes from a caste which is not a majority but still he is doing well. I am not saying that this concept has disappeared from the Indian elections but I am just hoping that these elections show a small light of hope that we are moving towards issue based politics where the actual credentials of the candidate and the past record counts. Its a long journey though.
1. Overall the voting percentage was 60% which is good but I am sure majority out of that is from rural areas. So the apathy of the urban voter towards this exercise continues.
2. A horde of parties contesting, celebrating the concept of the largest democracy
3. A large number of independents trying their luck
4. Casts still playing a dominant role etc.
However, one thing which came as a pleasant surprise to me is the projected results in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Now before you jump to conclusions that I am happy because I am a supporter of a specific group let me clarify my point. It is projected that in AP, Congress and its allies would do well while in Bihar it is BJP+JD(U) combination which is supposed to do well. Further in TN it is expected that DMK led alliance would not do so badly as initially thought. Why was it a surprise? it is so because all these results show that the electorate are recognizing the good work which is being done by the local governments and they are reaffirming their faith in the present ruling setups. This is a welcome change from the tendency of voting for candidates based on caste or regional lines. In AP for example the incumbent CM comes from a caste which is not a majority but still he is doing well. I am not saying that this concept has disappeared from the Indian elections but I am just hoping that these elections show a small light of hope that we are moving towards issue based politics where the actual credentials of the candidate and the past record counts. Its a long journey though.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Have you ever seen this before?
Has anyone seen this thing before? I even loathe to call it an automobile or vehicle. This travesty of something with wheels and engine is known as the Actyon and the contraption is hammered together by a company named as Ssangyong.
I initially thought I had finally seen a Chinese automobile but later figured out that it is a Korean brand. The company was founded in 1954 ( can you believe it?? )
This is what the official company website says -
In 1986, when the SsangYong Group acquisitioned Keohwa Motors specialized in manufacturing jeeps with the brand of Korando, and launched a full-scaled investment in automobile manufacturing. In 1988, it developed a compact 4WD SUV, Korando Family, which was the first SUV manufactured in Korea, opening the era of SUV. Since then it has established its reputation for innovation, leadership, and quality in the SUV field in Korea.
WOW! Are not Hyundai and Kia the other Korean brands which we know of? I mean they are much better known and are really making a concentrated effort to improve their image in the world market with good products, decent quality and after sales service initiatives. Still they are not looked at in the same league as the other manufacturers from Europe or US.
And to top it all up Mercedes Benz has done a strategic investment in Ssongyang. Now coincidentally I saw a SLK and a Actyon standing next to each other. I only have one question to ask - what the hell was Mercedes thinking?
Beauty and the best???
Yeah I know you all would say that I am biased because of the looks of the vehicle but heck I am talking about viewing this thing in the land which makes the "best automobiles" in the world so who can blame me for loathing something which is so ugly to look at.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Very slow
Wondering whats happened to me these days. I have always enjoyed reading and have been a voracious reader for ages but over the past few months I have noticed that my speed is going down.
Its been months and I still am trying to finish Shantaram. Agreed it is a big book but I finished Lord of the Rings in 3 weeks so not completing a book for months is something which I cannot explain. Maybe the changes in life have something to do with this.
By the way, I came across something very interesting yesterday - "Peace causes the biggest cut." So true isn't it? We all know war does not achieve anything but do we also know that peace could cause "cuts" too? Found it to be thought provoking.
Over the weekend bought couple of new books though. Will let you all know when I get to them.
Its been months and I still am trying to finish Shantaram. Agreed it is a big book but I finished Lord of the Rings in 3 weeks so not completing a book for months is something which I cannot explain. Maybe the changes in life have something to do with this.
By the way, I came across something very interesting yesterday - "Peace causes the biggest cut." So true isn't it? We all know war does not achieve anything but do we also know that peace could cause "cuts" too? Found it to be thought provoking.
Over the weekend bought couple of new books though. Will let you all know when I get to them.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The most efficient concert yet?
Last weekend I had the privilege to drive over to Saarbrucken and see one of the legends of our time perform. Considering that I drove for around 130 kms after running for 15 kms with uphill stretches it can be safely assumed that I was really looking forward to the concert.
The show started dot at 8:00 pm and ended dot at 10:00 pm. the artist arrived ontime, played efficiently, focused entirely on his performance, didnt feel the need to unnecessarily try to connect to the audience by talking to them or talking about the beautiful spring weather etc., left exactly ontime and despite the full house clapping for an encroe didnt return. Guess the artist's name....
Guesss....
Guesss.....
Guesss....
Guesss....
you are right, Bob Dylan!
So yeah the concert was ok...I have seen better but the opportunity to see him perform was something which I couldn't let go.
The setlist -
1. Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on keyboard)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob on guitar)
3. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on keyboard)
4. Every Grain Of Sand (Bob on keyboard)
5. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on keyboard)
6. Beyond The Horizon (Bob on keyboard)
7. Honest With Me (Bob on keyboard)
8. Sugar Baby (Bob on keyboard)
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
(Bob on keyboard)
10. Po' Boy (Bob on keyboard)
11. Summer Days (Bob on keyboard)
12. I Believe In You (Bob on keyboard)
13. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on keyboard)
14. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
15. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)
16. Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard)
17. Blowin' In The Wind (Bob on keyboard)
In the end I do think it is probably the most efficient concert I have seen to date.
The T-shirt was nice though!
The show started dot at 8:00 pm and ended dot at 10:00 pm. the artist arrived ontime, played efficiently, focused entirely on his performance, didnt feel the need to unnecessarily try to connect to the audience by talking to them or talking about the beautiful spring weather etc., left exactly ontime and despite the full house clapping for an encroe didnt return. Guess the artist's name....
Guesss....
Guesss.....
Guesss....
Guesss....
you are right, Bob Dylan!
So yeah the concert was ok...I have seen better but the opportunity to see him perform was something which I couldn't let go.
The setlist -
1. Gotta Serve Somebody (Bob on keyboard)
2. Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob on guitar)
3. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on keyboard)
4. Every Grain Of Sand (Bob on keyboard)
5. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on keyboard)
6. Beyond The Horizon (Bob on keyboard)
7. Honest With Me (Bob on keyboard)
8. Sugar Baby (Bob on keyboard)
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
(Bob on keyboard)
10. Po' Boy (Bob on keyboard)
11. Summer Days (Bob on keyboard)
12. I Believe In You (Bob on keyboard)
13. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on keyboard)
14. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
15. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)
16. Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard)
17. Blowin' In The Wind (Bob on keyboard)
In the end I do think it is probably the most efficient concert I have seen to date.
The T-shirt was nice though!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Slumdog - sure, but why?
So yesterday I saw Slumdog Millionaire again - twice over the last two weekends but still the questions which elude answers remain - "why did the movie become such a big sensation?" "what's so different from any other usual Bollywood movie?". I watched the movie the second time mainly to try to see if I missed something the first time but unfortunately I am still clueless.
All my western friends love it and I also find the film an interesting one just that I can't seem to figure out why any other similar movie was not even nominated let alone win the big prize.
Rahman won the Oscar for the musical score as well as "Jai Ho" which is great news for him. I do believe he really deserves the accolades but again I felt he has provided much better scores which were not acknowledged earlier so what was so special about this piece of work from the master?
Maybe as is mentioned in the movie towards the end -
D. It is written
All my western friends love it and I also find the film an interesting one just that I can't seem to figure out why any other similar movie was not even nominated let alone win the big prize.
Rahman won the Oscar for the musical score as well as "Jai Ho" which is great news for him. I do believe he really deserves the accolades but again I felt he has provided much better scores which were not acknowledged earlier so what was so special about this piece of work from the master?
Maybe as is mentioned in the movie towards the end -
D. It is written
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Allowed to Drive!
After my board exams the most I have studied is for the driving tests which I cleared in February.
For the past few weeks before the 19.02 - both Sats and I - would be talking only about the driving rules. We had resorted to using sign language to communicate with each other so that we get used to paying attention to signs. Spending quality time meant sitting together and doing the mock tests - we had a package of 60 odd test papers and we each of us did each paper around 2-3 times. The people who had given the test earlier had convinced us that the actual questions are from these papers so we tried to mug 1800 odd questions and of course it was a Herculean task, phew!!
We also found the following website very useful link
For a driving license in Germany one needs to pass a written test and then clear a driving test. We cleared the written test on the 19.02 and then the driving test on the 27.02. The driving inspector told me that he is giving me the license but "I am a fast driver. Do be careful". Whatever! for a person who got his driving license home delivered in India without appearing for a test to clear the strict procedures in place in Europe on the first attempt is a big achievement :-P.
Now I look forward to the delivery of my car!
For the past few weeks before the 19.02 - both Sats and I - would be talking only about the driving rules. We had resorted to using sign language to communicate with each other so that we get used to paying attention to signs. Spending quality time meant sitting together and doing the mock tests - we had a package of 60 odd test papers and we each of us did each paper around 2-3 times. The people who had given the test earlier had convinced us that the actual questions are from these papers so we tried to mug 1800 odd questions and of course it was a Herculean task, phew!!
We also found the following website very useful link
For a driving license in Germany one needs to pass a written test and then clear a driving test. We cleared the written test on the 19.02 and then the driving test on the 27.02. The driving inspector told me that he is giving me the license but "I am a fast driver. Do be careful". Whatever! for a person who got his driving license home delivered in India without appearing for a test to clear the strict procedures in place in Europe on the first attempt is a big achievement :-P.
Now I look forward to the delivery of my car!
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