BLUNDER-ROMA

I can read Malayalam and understand the language pretty well too. But not the so-called "largest selling vernacular newspaper in India" "Malayala Manorama" anymore. I pay for this daily to get me confused some mornings. Like today. Check the screenshot they have on their website. It was the same article on paper in the morning. I thought they'll have realized the mistake and corrected it by now. No, they are bent on keeping people confused. Read this article I have attached.

Maybe I misunderstood. But I did verify with a number of people to check if it's my lack of depth in the language. It looks like it's not that. Can someone explain to me what the headline and the body of the news say? To me they are contradictory, read the parts underlined. Let me know if I understood wrong!

Besides, Manorama has such articles, well, regularly. We asked the newspaper guy to give us a different newspaper, but it looks like he's been bribed and he'll give us only Malayala Manorama. WE DON'T WANT IT. Confused enough? ';-))

Terming the "Auto"crats

Let me ask you, what in Bangalore traffic annoys you the most? Non-stop honks, dusty roads, unruly BMTC buses? These are the things that annoy ME the most. If there's anything else it's when I have to get an auto. You ask the auto driver if he can drop you to Sivaji Nagar bus stand or Indira Nagar from Garuda mall, you'll most probably get a very reluctant head-shake meaning a NO, unless of course a driver has to pass that way on his way back home.

Ok, you are ready to pay "one and half", meaning you pay Rs. 150, if the meter reads Rs. 100. But, ever wondered why that meter is running so fast, although you don't feel you are reaching the place any sooner? Yeah that's because it's a doctored meter? Doctored to run faster than necessary, making a few extra quick bucks. Of course, we feel cheated and so helpless with no one to turn to for help. That's no more, because, I've got a few numbers you can call to register complaints.

If u get into an auto next time and see the meter running nearly as fast as Usain Bolt, keep this numbers handy. 2220 7750, 2226 0554, 2225 3500, of course prefix them with 080 if u r calling from your mobile. These are the numbers to call and register a complaint with the Dpt of Legal Metrology if you find a faulty metre.

Or u can send an email with all the details of the auto and driver to clm@kslmd.com

If the auto walas are charging you excess amout or drop u half the way to your home and refuse to come further the traffic police has a helpline for us citizens. They are 2558 8555, 2558 8444. email id: trasncom@kar.nic.in. I guess that stands for "transport complaints"

Those important number are here again.

Legal Metrology Dpt: 2220 7750, 2226 0554, 2225 3500.

Email ID: clm@kslmd.com

Transport Complaints: 2558 8555, 2558 8444.

Email ID: trasncom@kar.nic.in

NB: The news paper article i got this info says that they will take the trouble to find out the auto and if the metre is found to be tampered with, they will be fined and penalized appropriately. During all this time our id will be kept confidential.

Don't forget to update me if this info was useful to any of u. if u tried and u got no reponse, update that as well. We'll know if it works. 

All the info from Dainik Jagaron, Indira Nagar Edition. Dt: 25.07.2009

I Bought some Underwear at last!!!

Did I sound a little vulgar? Maybe I did. Read on. You'll find out if I "meant" vulgar.  One of the things I have loved the most in my life is Radio. it was unstoppable passion that made me choose radio as a way of life. I had expected surprises in plenty. the one on the very first day of my radio life was damn bad. first of all, I do not have a proper job; rather I have a part time job that will pay me … whatever, but can't make me pull through a complete month. Although I loved radio, I felt betrayed. But I know it wasn't radio that betrayed me. So I stuck to it. but as time passed I realized I was sinking deeper and deeper into depths beyond recovery. friends kept advising that I leave. I wasn't ready to give up yet. But I did give it up when I realized it was going to be a ditch beyond all hopes of escape.

Thankfully I left without lingering on too long. It was time enough to gain some experience. Still, not too late to start doing what gives me some money. And if u want to know how bad my situation was, listen to this: I couldn't even afford a few underwear during the last 6 months^*. I left it and now, I can and I DID. Is it some kind of coincidence? Maybe! I couldn't just afford them, although I love all the people I worked with and the atmosphere there. I loved my job although I was never motivated to do anything really good. However, the shock that I got the first day never left and I left it at the end!

^* I had plenty of underwear back up, so nothing like I was going around unsaddled!';-))