Sunday, March 30, 2008

"Why do we get stressed out and tensed in a journey?"

"Why do we get stressed out and tensed in a journey?"

I have a long way to drive from Tambaram to Guindy on a daily basis for work. I love the drive. But when some one says "Tambaram?" and/or "So far!" is a disgusting and discouraging tone, I really want to give them a kick. People should encourage others and never ever try discouraging them in any point of time. Recently a friend of mine was telling me that he felt tensed while in buses. Quite curious, I was asking him why. I told him that let me do a simple research on the topic and try to share with the world too.

This simple research spanned from March 1st 2008 to March 30th 2008, a period of one month in full. There were a number of different parameters that were taken into consideration. A few of them are:

  1. Different Cities [Cities known for thier notorious traffic snarls like Chennai and Bangalore]
  2. Different Time Zones
    1. Peak hour
    2. Non Peak hour
    3. Late Nights
    4. Early Mornings
  3. Modes of Commutation
    1. Public Conveyance
      1. Bus
      2. Share Auto
    2. Private Hired
      1. Dial a Cab
      2. Call Taxi
    3. Private Two wheeler
There are a number of observations and factors that make a journey memorable or unpalatable. These are:

  1. The number of tasks on hand. When you are more time-critical tasks, you normally feel that the mind is always on the task and the intermediate journey as an obstacle.
  2. The lack of appreciation to the Nature and the ambience around. There are a number of interesting things happening around you during your journey. We need to listen, watch and learn a lot of things from them.
  3. Bad Road. Currently, the way government recklessly digs roads on the pretext of laying bridges, the roads are in a real bad shape. This presents a number of traffic snarls and the end result being turbulent journey.
  4. Bad Road Sense. At least in Chennai, people just try to overtake one another throwing traffic rules to the air. This creates a lot of confusion on the roads. Abhishek has a good initiative to book traffic offenders through his innovative TrafficViolators website. Check it out here and participate in the unique community venture. What's more. You can also get a free email account at TrafficViolators from here, powered by Windows Live.
At least currently, the only way to overcome the tension are the following. We can not keep complaining and have our blood vessels to blast in hypertension.

  1. Listen to a cool FM radio on journey. I have hyperlinked my earlier post on Nokia 6030 which has a builtin FM radio and GPRS.
  2. You can also read books but be warned that doctors advise against reading books in a moving vehicle since it strains the eyes.
Readers: What do you feel about your long drives? Do share your views.

Voicing for our 'dumb' friends


Voicing for our 'dumb' friends

Animal cruelty seems to be always on the high at least in Chennai. A few of the different forms are:
  1. Reckless run over of dogs and animals particularly on Velachery - Tambaram Road
  2. Nonchalant attitude to animals' difficulty and illness
We have been discussing about this topic sometime back too over here. Today while travelling from Tambaram to Guindy, I came across an animal shelter which said 'Approved by Animal Welfare Board of India'. I was just curious regarding this institution. I would like to share the information which I found in a quick Internet Search for the benefit of others who can also help prevent cruelty to animals and help our dumb friends.

  1. Websites of Animal Welfare Board of India
  2. Wiki Page
Check out the websites and let us try joining hands to help the little lovely animals which add beauty to Earth.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Pride of Bangalore

The Pride of Bangalore

Bangalore has something more to be proud of as I observed during my recent Bangalore visit. Two things I would like to mention:

1) Unlock Bangalore mission of The Times Group to bring traffic snarls in Bangalore under control.
2) BMTC Helpline to control and check erring conductors who refuse to issue tickets. Now anyone can call the helpline at +9945670171 or their 12667 (Call Center). I saw this message in Metro Digest column of "The Times of India" (Bangalore Edition).

I think these little steps would bring the elegance of Bangalore as a green cool garden city. Sometime back we had a similar discussion on the enhanced safety measures adopted by Indian Railways. You can check out the discussion here.

The intimidating question of "Where do you go?"

The intimidating question of "Where do you go?"

There is a common saying in Tamil or a belief and it is considered an ill-omen when someone asks you "Where do you go" at the time when you are starting out. There are quite a few beliefs similarly like ''A cat crossing the street","A widow coming in front", "A single Brahmin coming in front". When I say ''single'' brahmin, I am not intending a marital status but the number of persons. When there are two or more, it is considered holy. :)

Recently one of my friend emailed me that he is feeling disturbed that when he starts somewhere one of his coworker deliberate ly asks "Where do you go". He apprehends it as a sinister motive query. I checked against a few websites and a little bit of Internet research and consultation with scholars reveals the following.

[Where do you go]
This query is valid only one it is unintentional and inadvertant. Actually there is a voice from the Lord through the asker to alert of a potential threat to the adventurer on his task or an impending evil or an imminient delay in the task on hand.

Any other way of encountering this question can be brushed aside and thrown to the dustbin since they can be treated as null and void.

The other two listed symptoms have the following workarounds:
  1. Sit down
  2. Drink some water and relax
  3. Do same prayers and resume your work.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Saturday morning shopping :: Britannia Good Day with Milk Bowl

Saturday morning shopping :: Britannia Good Day with Milk Bowl

I had a quick visit to More for You (formerly Trinetra) Supermarket at Gowriwalkam. When I purchased a couple of Britannia Good Day biscuits, I was actually offered a cool milk bowl. There seemed to be an offer that when you purchase two Britannia Good Day biscuits, there is a sweet milk bowl free with the same.

Just I recalled that a few days back, I have seen this advertisement as part of Sodexho food coupon too. There are some cool good advantages due to this morning shopping:

  1. Britannia Milk Biscuits itself is a milk product. Milk is always holy.
  2. Milk Bowl extends the blessing of the Lord one step further.
Just thought I would share the news with others so that they can check out with nearest supermarket when the offer is still on.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Happy Eighth Birthday to SitaGita

Happy Eighth Birthday to SitaGita

Years are flying out so fast. My little SitaGita celebrates her eighth birthday today (International Women's Day). It was this day that age (in 2000), she was born (launched) at Apcom computers. I have a unique pride of being one of the development team of Sitagita at 3rdAgenda.

Let us wish her Many Many Happy Returns of the Day. For those interested, also check out our 7th Birthday Post here.

I am authorised to drive MCWG and LMV now...

I am authorised to drive MCWG and LMV now...

After a two month long wait, today I have got my driving license for LMV (Cars) granted by Regional Transport Office (RTO), Tambaram. There is an interesting coincidence of events.

  1. I have applied for the Learner's License sometime during Vaikunta Ekadasi (around December 19).
  2. I have taken the Driving Test at RTO, Tambaram an Ekadasi day on February 29.
  3. Due to license endorsement delays of my two wheeler license from RTO, Ayanavaram ("Central RTO"), the actual license could be got only on 7th March, 2008.
Perhaps you would already read my earlier driving post "A for Accelerator, B for Brake and C for Clutch". Now there is more greater and enhanced mobility achieved, thanks to my Lord Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.