ORU SINGAL

ORU = One
SINGAL = single

In Chennai when you go to a tea shop and ask for tea you might sometimes be asked: Single or cup?

The quantity of tea in a cup will be more and hence costs more than a single.

Let us explore inflation with reference to the single tea.

When I was in college, we used to go to Sukumar Tea Stall in Oliver Road beside our college, Vivekananda
College for a quick tea. The year 1967. A single tea we got for 15 paise.

In 2002, I used to frequent the tea stall in Mount Road and the single (which I always refer as hot water - becuase it is often nothing more than that) was priced Rs.2.

A few years later it went up to 2.50 but due to the coins problem they jacked it up to 3.00.

Within a year or so due to the increase in price of milk, 3 became 4.

And, within a very sort time span 4 has become Rs.5.

A cup of coffee in Chennai airport costs Rs.80.

That is inflation for you from the point of view of cost of tea. Yesterday I read somewhere that drinking
four cups of tea a day reduces diabetes. Any takers?

After wearing a dog's garb...

In the late eighties we took up dealership for Carrier Aircon Limited in Chennai.

Being a start-up we had more of sales people. Sales involves hard work and working even
on holidays and Sundays at times, if one were to be serious in his own progress and the
progress of the company.

But some of the new recruits were taking things easy.

In such instances my friend Mohan used to say: After wearing the garb of a dog, you can't say
that you won't bark! (Naai vesham pottu, koraikkamattaen endru solla mudiyathu)

Yes, one has to act as per the demands of the situation.

If one doen't get what he likes, he better start liking what he gets!

Lesson learnt from Movie (AC Dealers enjoy!!)

I was told that the heat in Chennai has not abated. That could mean extended sales of Air-conditioners
for dealers. Make hay while the sun shines!!

I have been watching any number of western movies and I again saw (who has not seen!) the brilliant movie,
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. This movie I saw in Texas in my niece's house in a huge TV and with home theatre systems and blaring sound.

When the following dialogue was about to come, my niece's husband said: Watch out, Uncle!!
(He had brought me several varieties of beer which we were drinking together)

{Tuco is in a bubble bath. The One Armed Man enters the room}
One Armed Man: I've been looking for you for 8 months. Whenever I should have had a gun in my right
hand, I thought of you. Now I find you in exactly the position that suits me. I had lots of time to learn to shoot with my left.
{Tuco kills him with the gun he has hidden in the foam}
Tuco: When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.


This made me think. Yes, we sometimes give materials to our relatives, friends, business associates, etc.
but forget to ask them as to who will make the payment. Sometimes we feel delicate to ask for the payment
in straightforward manner. What is wrong in that. When someone owes us money, we have to just ask for it.

I am reminded of my friend PRS (Mani) who used to say: Bhargav, if we have to oblige someone. Fine.
Let's just do the job and be happy. But whenever a bill is raised by the company, even if it is for Rs.200,
that money has to be collected.

Yes, that is very good business advise and sense.

Water, water, every where

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge one comes across these
famous words:

Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.

Well, all that water was sea water and so unfit to drink.

The first time I went to Singapore, my hotel room-mate, an Engineer from IIT asked
for some drinking water and we were advised to take it from the toilet sink. Yes, the
water being received anywhere in the pipes is potable water. However in this instance
we said that we were not inclined to take the water from the toilet sink and the waiter
readily brought us a bottle of water.

In the early sixties as a school student, I remember that while returning from the
playground we just used to pump the water from the metrowater mains and drink
it directly.

Alas! Today because of population explosion and so many other issues, the water
table has reduced in many areas. Many areas are not covered by metro water connections.
Water is not fit for drinking. Every where there is water, but not a drop to drink! We have
to buy mineral water cans for Rs.30 and more each. An average household spends
upwards of 500 Rupees for water alone.

Someone said: This is a sure sign that we are in Kali Yuga. Because we are forced to
buy water!

Knock, knock, knock - jokes apart

Knock, knock, knock.

Who's this?

Opportunity. Open the door.

No, can't.

Why?

Opportunity knocks only once!!

Jokes apart, opportunity does not come quite often in one's life. If we happen to see it, better
get hold of it.

I am giving you the price of silver (in dollars per troy ounce (31.1 grams)) as on 1st of June
for the last few years:

1.6.2003: 4.5 dollars
1.6.2004: 6.2 dollars
1.6.2005: 7.4 dollars
1.6.2006: 12.0 dollars
1.6.2007: 13.5 dollars
1.6.2008: 17.0 dollars
1.6.2009: 16.0 dollars
1.6.2010: 18.0 dollars
1.6.2011: 38.0 dollars (Yes, thirty-eight, that's right!!)
1.6.2012: 28.5 dollars
1.6.2013: ?
1.6.2014: ?

Do you see a missed opportunity and an opportunity knocking your doors right now?

I have no comments - leaving it to your judgement.

For more info mail me at: bharija@gmail.com

Arre Huzoor Wah Taj Boliye

Most of you might remember the famous and popular advertisement in  yesteryear TV.

It was for the Taj Mahal Tea featuring Ustad Zakir Hussain. A short ad: "Wah, Ustad, Wah"
and Zakir saying "Arre Huzoor Wah Taj Boliye".

This time round the Wah Taj goes to Tajin Rogers who won the first National History Bee
quiz in the History channel yesterday and won a scholarship  of $50,000.

He was able to answer almost any question and raced to win the quiz in the final round.

Nicholas - "Naan oru Raasi illa Rajaa"

Spelling Bee - 2012.

Casting a spell on the audience and making them watch spell-bound.

While watching the finals my favorite was Nicholas, the boy with his lucky yellow T-shirt.

Alas, he was given a word with a Tamil origin - Vetiver. One of the very few which I could have
spelled right.

"What word", he asked and then said "Oh, Tamil". His spelling was incorrect. But you will
notice that he is a real cool guy.

The final three were Indian-American kids.

Snigdha Nandipati became the fifth consecutive Indian-American winner and tenth in the last
fourteen years.

And you know something? In the run-up to the bee, she studied 6 to 10 hours a day on weekdays
and 10-12 hours on weekends.

Single minded purpose? Oh yes commendable indeed.

Other than that? A-tro-cious!!

I would place the top hundred on par and the winner is lucky to get the prize.

How will you spell Sridhar?  Sridhar, Sridar, Sreedar, Sreedhar.......or go to a nameologist?