Voting as a ‘pick up’ activity!

Can’t imagine an ad like this being allowed in India. We’re unfortunately stuck looking at stuffy politicians’ mugs. Seriously, though, an ad like this could just get voting to beyond 50%. Unfortunately, I also don’t think that voting booths in India could be so empty or the voting booth attendants so cool!

Bottom up or top down?

Which is the best way to ensure prosperity? Work from the ground up or push money down from the top?

This mindblowing video shares some insights into two thought processes by economists and their ideologies.

A must-watch.

Via India Uncut.

Stupidest commercial ever?

Sliding door trouble

We’ve all seen sliding doors. And often run into trouble. But how many of us have run through them?

I doubt this is in an ‘engineering’ college!

Paying attention

I’m positive that more people would pay attention to in-flight safety instructions if more instructors dressed up in only body paint. Can’t wait to fly Air New Zealand now. Whenever that happens!

South Africa — Week 1

Been a week almost since I left India. I did leave with some apprehension having heard some horror stories about the crime and other stuff down here. But then, I arrived. And I have to admit, I am blown away.

One has to wonder if South Africa classifies as a developing country. If it does, India deserves the “third-world” tag it has. There is great excitement about the 2010 FIFA World Cup here next year. And preparations are on in full swing. By the way, I’m here for the IPL and that isn’t lost on the audiences here. A couple of days ago in Port Elizabeth, there were over a couple of thousand people to see the Kings XI team play a local team (and lose!).

Coming back to the country, the airports are well planned, well appointed and well marked. Same for roads around the cities (the two I have seen a bit of thus far). Port Elizabeth is a stunning coast city that is perhaps ideal for a vacation. It doesn’t show too much signs of life, but that’s just fine! In comparison, Cape Town is a bigger city and the traffic snaking on the freeways was ample proof that it is a city on the move.

Staying close to the Newlands ground here means we aren’t as close to the city as one would like to, but still, there’s a bit to look around at. For one, Table Mountain is across the road! I wish I’d spent more time shooting, but photos shall follow shortly. I’ve got a lot of videos, unfortunately, not many I can share yet.

There also seems to be a conscious effort in SA to increase trust levels among visitors. We have been given warnings and letters with do’s and don’ts about leaving stuff in the room and all, but that’s more precautionary than anything else. However, I shall be taking their advise seriously! Don’t want to find out the hard way, now!

Watching the general level of discipline and regard for rules is a big eye-opener. The IPL Carnival that happened in downtown Cape Town on Thursday was testament to the planning that this country has been able to bring about in barely 20 days of preparation.

Another thing that has intrigued me is how SA can host the IPL and their own general elections on April 22 when India can’t. There’s something of an indicator of the gap India now has to fill. It’s kinda sad especially since a journalist on the plane asked me… and I had no answer. They are happy to have a distraction from the politics, it seems. I wish India’s politicians weren’t as self-involved!

Customer may be King

This has got to be the most impressive and detailed complaint letter ever.

It appears to be in an evidence bag from the scene of a crime. A CRIME AGAINST BLOODY COOKING. Either that or some sort of back-street underground cookie, purchased off a gun-toting maniac high on his own supply of yeast. You certainly wouldn’t want to be caught carrying one of these through customs. Imagine biting into a piece of brass Richard. That would be softer on the teeth than the specimen above.

But what really takes the “biscuit” is the reply:

Paul Charles, Virgin’s Director of Corporate Communications, confirmed that Sir Richard Branson had telephoned the author of the letter and had thanked him for his “constructive if tongue-in-cheek” email. Mr Charles said that Virgin was sorry the passenger had not liked the in-flight meals which he said was “award-winning food which is very popular on our Indian routes.”

WTF!

Do see the link for photos of the food!

This lifestyle chooses you, not the other way around

Truer words were ne’er spoken!

TechCrunch once again proves it worthiness!

Being an entrepreneur is also damn hard, for thousands of reasons and then some. I would like to point you to a testimony of that undeniable fact, penned by one of the founders of web startup MakeFive, whose Elevator Pitch video we recently highlighted. Eric Karjaluoto is his name, and his must-read blog post is titled ‘Why your web startup will fail‘. Required reading for aspiring entrepreneurs!

Here’s the gist, summarized in 6 points:

- You won’t have an audience
- You’re going to run out of cash
- You’ll get frustrated
- The emotional rollercoaster will beat you
- You’ll get excited about something else
- But it won’t be because of the competition

Read the full thing here.

The best tribute ever?

Simply outstanding.

Sarah Palin, the poetess

I’m no poetry expert. I can’t even make a rhyme by mistake. But she can. She should join the likes of Ehsan Qureshi, I say.

“You Can’t Blink”

You can’t blink.
You have to be wired
In a way of being
So committed to the mission,

The mission that we’re on,
Reform of this country,
And victory in the war,
You can’t blink.

So I didn’t blink.

More here.