Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Who Polices the Police?


The appalling situation of the police in Bangalore. Until recently, things like the police being inept and incompetent were news that I heard from others. All of this changed yesterday when I was subject to a very unpleasant encounter with the police.

I was returning home from office and was on my usual route. Close to home, a police jeep comes on the wrong side of the road and blocks my way and starts abusing me that I was on the way. I have been living in this locality for the past 15 years and this road was never a one way. The exchange got a little heated and the constable started hurling abusive language at me. I laughed it off and headed home. As was going I realized that the behavior of the constable was unacceptable and something needs to be done about it. I turned around and headed back to the police station to make a complaint. What followed was shocking.

The inspector incharge (S S Kashi) accused me of being arrogant and instead of making a note, registered a complaint against me for obstruction of justice. While I refused to sign on the written document given by him, he threatened me that if I did not comply, he would arrest me. The irony of the whole episode was that even Mr Kashi was foulmouthed and just as guilty as his constable.

The whole episode makes me ponder on one question "Who polices the police?"

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Getting a Job!


There was a time when people went from one office to another looking for a job. Government jobs were the 'in' thing. Things have changed these days. People have the luxury of staying back at home and finding jobs at the click of a button. Want a hearty laugh....go read a resume! Here are some things that I had come across in a few of them


  • One said "College topper in: Business Ethics".... thank god he dint mention he was runner up in sack race!
  • Another said "Prior work exp: One month and 12 days ".....I wonder why he dint mention how many hours he worked too. Looking at his attention to detail, he should be a Janitor!
  • Another set of Individual have this tendency to write in resumes what they intend to do in the futur...like this one who said "Certifications: planning to do CFA & FRM(Already got prospectus)"
  • Typos are a real big source of fun. For instance one lady mentioned this on her resume "Career break in 2001 to renovate my 'horse'"
  • Social service constitute a good part of the resume these days. One gentleman mentions "Voluntary work: taking care of elderly and vegetable people"
  • When we talk about penning a resume, some people just go by the flow "Skills: Strong work ethic, attention to detail, good communicator, team player, self motivated, attention to detail" this resume just got lengthier by one line!
  • Not always do email addresses match the candidate's name. A few queer email IDs that I have come across: cooldude69, blackbeautywithatwist, youragony. One guy however had a very good reason too; it said 'ihatemyname'.
  • Job changes often have a hidden motive. Some people give it away easily, for instance one resume stated "married, three children, prefer frequent travel"
  • Putting thoughts in words is too tough, isn't it? "Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer"
  • Team work reaches a new level altogether "I can play well with others"
  • And then there are others who have rare skills. One resume mentioned this on the resume: "Dealing with customer conflicts that arouse"
Next time you get hold of a resume, make sure you read it....and read it well! Or maybe be relook at your own!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Why do you love?



Why do we love anyone? Strange Question to ask; isn't it? Do a little introspection, and you will know why! We all have different reasons to love. What if we did not have any reason to love? Does love even have a reason?

Well, I am of the thought that love needs no reason. Here is why...

It is said that love is not selfish. But hey, most of the places I see, there is selfishness. Now, when you have a reason to love somebody, that underlying reason makes it selfish and it is not love anymore. Lets look at some instances. A newly wed couple would claim they are in love. If it was an arranged marriage, I 'm sure there is lengthy process of background checks, people look at how much the groom earns, how much dowry does the Groom expect and so on. At every step there was a reason, the whole relationship was selfish. Where is the love?

Now lets consider love when two people are "in love" (which I sure don't agree with). She likes him because... He is smart, he is rich, he is intelligent, he is lovable, he is "my type", he makes me feel good, he is fun. He likes her because... She is adorable, she is beautiful, she is caring, she is a good girl, she is "my type", she is good at heart. Here again, the motive is selfish. What if your partner is not all of the above. It will all go one day. So, if a He states that "I love you because you are the most beautiful girl I have ever met", then it would mean that the moment he finds a better looking girl his love is gone. This would apply to all the reasons one would give when you say "I love you".

What is true love then? I believe that true love needs no reason. Love is unselfish and unconditional. Love with a reason is no love at all. Picture this, two people in love and they are not bound by conditions. They enjoy their love for each other. For them their love is not narrow. This love would last a lifetime.

Next time you feel you are in love, ask yourself this question. Why do you love someone so much? If you don't have a definite reason and still love that person...be sure, Its love!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Bourse Talk


"Hey man, Sensex is up again, stock X had great intrinsic value, should have bought em when they were undervalued"

Typically what we hear from our all knowing stock market enthusiasts. A few years back, when I had no clue what the stock markets were and how they make money, I used to wonder "who the hell is putting the numbers, people are buying what? I always looked in awe when someone spoke about stocks. Years later, when i really know how all this works, I came to the following conclusion:

  • Bull market: A random market movement causing an investor to think himself as a financial genius!

  • Stock market: A place where people make money by buying and selling nothing.(stock certificates are a thing of the past)

  • Speculator: Someone who got lucky (pretty often)

  • Investor: The guy who always wonders why he made less money than a speculator.

  • Bear Market: A frequent reminder that nothing is permanent!

  • Share Holder: A person who wanted to own a company, but never could afford one.

  • Shares: A proof that proves nothing.

  • Mutual Funds: An instrument that doesn't make the holder feel like a lone loser! You got company.

  • Market Crash: Hasha....pushaa....we all fall down.

Well, this is in simple words what happens in a stock market. Fact is very few people understand it; and the people who do think "what the hell?"