I don’t often talk publicly about politics, politicians or the dramas unfolding around them. It’s not because I don’t have solid views or don’t like a debate, but it’s because I like my peace of mind and if you go verbal on social about any such issues, there’s polarity (which is great), constant trolling (which can be entertaining) and threat messages (which is shameful and disturbing).
Continue reading “The Seesaw of Stupidity”
If you’re a motoring devotee, staying in a proper metropolitan city has some advantages. The more exclusive brands — Merc, BMW, Audi, Jag etc — don’t seem all that exclusive, and you can find the rich-and-famous type coming out flashing their Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches at night.
Continue reading “The Supercar, The Fart & You”
I love it when I get a chance to work in industries beyond automotive.
Over the past few months, I’ve been involved in a couple of creative and business pitches on behalf of a global media title that I am associated with as a consultant. The two couldn’t have given me any more a polarising experience than they did.
Continue reading “Happy & Sad Presentations”
To those reading — which is my 13 family members — do you see ‘normalcy’ returning where you live?
In the NCR, things are starting to open up. From my apartment on the eleventh floor, I can see the shops starting to buzz again after this pause of three-or-whatever months.
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I own a smartphone. I have a couple of news-feed apps that throw regular notifications. I am absolutely miserably fed up by the daily message that says, ‘India records its biggest one-day rise in coronavirus cases’.
Of course it did, you idiots — India has been ‘peaking’ every day, for several days. This is how things are going to be for some more time to come. We’ve been testing more than ever and cases ought to rise proportionately. So stop with that freaking headline already!
It was a weekend. As was customary, we drove out to a relative’s place.
We reached and warm greetings were exchanged. “Great timing! You must have lunch with us.” I’m still wondering if it was said sarcastically. It wasn’t great timing. It was 11am and lunch would eventually be at around 4pm. You’ll read why.
Continue reading “The Earth’s Fuming. Literally.”
I have a small circle of very close friends. At best, it’ll be a metre across if we stood holding hands. Er. That would be an awkward sight.
Of this circle, one is Kunal. He’s a regular chap with simple needs and doesn’t obsess over much. Other than maybe gadgets. He’s been a tech developer, a tech journalist and is now Product Director with a leading tech firm in foreign land. But beyond his enthusiasm for technology, he’s rather simple.
Continue reading “Beyond Vanilla; Maybe Blueberry?”
COVID-19 has given us a wretched reality. It’s pathetic — there’s no doubt about it.
After some relaxations were announced, the first things that circulated heavily on all kind of social media were videos of queues for booze. There was one of near where we live — the queue went on for almost 800 metres with people squeezing into each other.
Continue reading “Abnormal, Please Be The New Normal”
The lockdown has done great wonders! People are living with each other instead of in their respective phones, there are social praises on the society message boards instead of defaulters lists, and there’s greater sense of cooperation in general.
Instagram is full of great cooking, it’s brought out men’s house cleaning skills, suddenly studying at a stressed age doesn’t look that difficult and people are adding certificates from edX, Udemy or wherever, and there’s realisation that it’s never too late to start a hobby or learn a craft.
Continue reading “Still In Lockdown And Still Loving It!”
WhatsApp. According to the latest figures, over 1.6 billion people use it. And that’s discounting China where it is largely blocked. Based on several social media reports, it is also the first thing that a huge chunk of people check on their smartphones.
For an equally preposterous percentage of people — almost 80% of total consumers — the first real activity of the day is checking their smartphones. If they had a choice, breathing would be second. Other morning duties would be optional undertakings.
Continue reading “Bare Essentials”