Meter Down Economics

I was as usual stuck in the auto rickshaw 2 minutes away from office but the traffic was moving as though it would take me 15 minutes to get to work. Ironically these were two conversations I had at the same location, once in an auto rickshaw and the next time in a cab. As usual I quipped in an irritated and anxiety ridden tone – “What goddamn traffic this is!”. The first time I did that, this old auto rickshaw driver turned around and said “Sir, do you know why there is this problem?”. I wondered obviously this is because there are all these vehicles there, the digging of roads, Andheri is now a central hub for business blah blah blah. He said “This is because of the schemes all these banks are offering. They are giving all these great loans that everyone can now afford a vehicle. For a mere 1000 odd rupees a month I can own my own vehicle.” He continued to drive the rickshaw nonchalantly towards my office after saying that. I was taken aback for a while not expecting that response. Went to office with what he said in my head. It was more like Freakonomics that I was reading all this while except this driver wasn’t a Ph.D. The root of the problem like he said was elsewhere.

Next time again at the same location same situation, the taxi driver gave me the same reason. He then went on to say “Sir, why does the Government allow cars to everyone. People sit alone in their huge SUVs and Sedans and use so much of space on the road. Maybe they shouldn’t allow households with less than three people to own cars. They should be given two wheelers. Also like they do rationing on gas cylinders, they should do the same with cars. One household can own one or two cars maximum provided there are more than two people in the household. That way there will be less traffic on the roads.” I was amazed at the thought process. All I could do was listen, and take back my learnings share it on this blog.

Meter Down Economics I called it, I paid for the ride and for the economic insight. Conversations that I have had with these two drivers regarding why traffic jams occur in Mumbai and how to solve them led me to believe that economics is not sole property of the educated. The uneducated also have their 2 pence to contribute provided there is a ear to hear them.

50th Muttering

I have been muttering for over a year now. A lot of times I know it didn't matter to anyone else but me (refer the 0 comments on some of the posts). Nevertheless I have gone ahead and managed to mutter quite a bit.

Incidently I realised I had posted my 49th blog, so I thought that I would continue to pamper my new found friend and write about it when I write the 50th blog. This one is dedicated to the mutterings that mattered and the mutterings that escaped my teeth but never saw themselves on this blog. Maybe they were too controversial or unmentionable to come up here tsk tsk.

So here I am writing this post though it's not a muttering actually wondering and eagerly awaiting to probably get to the 100th mark a lot quicker than I did to get to the 50th.

Also thanks to all of you who commented on my blog and made my mutterings worthwhile.

Wanted!!!

I was on my way to office and this job opportunity advertisement at a Travel Agent's shop struck me. I have tried to represent it as closely as I saw it, all with the colors used and the layout as well.

I am intrigued as to what they were trying to look for. This is a classic messaging blooper where you mean something and it ends up meaning something else. Lady Computer - Now where did I hear that one before. Or is it someone who knows how to operate a Lady Computer. That one should be interesting. I do hope the travel agency is able to find what they were looking for.

While they are at it looking for their lady, let me take this opportunity to wish all women a very Happy Women's day. When will we men have a Man's Day? Sigh! But it's still a Man's World right?

Personally I don't think we should have anything called Women's day. It just shows the inequality to women and then we console and appease them with a special day. I think what's wanted more is an Inequality Abolisher - Male or Female.

Any Takers?

Man's best friend!

In the blogining there was just a plain blog and I let it be as is. Then it struck me that I was ignoring my blog. So to take care of that I did what I call blog pampering. I pampered my blog by gifting it with an analog clock, a web counter and put it up on display on Indian Bloggers, Technorati and BlogTopsites.

Now I have become rather blogsessive about my blog. I am blogged down by how my blog looks. I keep it fit and healthy by feeding it with posts. I keep checking out how my blog is faring on Indian Bloggers and BlogTopsites to see it being recognized amongst the best blogs around. I’m all bloggered up to take my blog to a walk in blogspace.

I have been bitten by the blog bug and I’m loving it. I love my blog! The times are changing a blog is now truly a man’s best friend!

Does this Ad up?

Thanks to the pathetic condition of the roads in Mumbai today, DNA the newspaper had an interesting billboard off the Western Express Highway and I quote “First they cut the trees to make roads and then dig them up to plant trees.”

This is not a tribute to the creativity of DNA but to the concept of outdoor advertising has been an effective means of communication for a long time now. It has served its purpose in more ways than one – especially accidents that are caused by distracted drivers ogling at billboards with skimpily clad women. The funnier ones make a lasting impression. Everyone knows of the long standing Amul campaign which is presently in its 30th year of having topical billboards. Apparently that’s a Guinness Record as well. I stumbled upon another site that lists some funny albeit loaded with innuendo billboards.

Have fun watching billboards – and just a warning ogling at billboards while driving is injurious to life.