Pothole Alert App for Bangalore

Pothole - A typical scene in Bangalore
( Pic Source: http://logos.nationalinterest.in/)

Other day I was riding my scooter on 100 ft road, Indira Nagar. As I sped across the open road, I got a real jolt! On this smooth road, there was a big gaping hole. Somehow, I managed to cling to the fragile handle bar for my life, and fortunately the scooter I was riding obeyed to my death grip.

Well, this jolt did it's trick. I thought of a pothole alert system which would be relayed to drivers. So, how can application work.

• First, a person or group of people in the network would make an entry of the size and location of the pothole or a nasty road bump or a bad patch of road. 
• Second, when the driver opens the app and rides, he or she gets an alert. 
• Bad road ahead or a pothole ahead ( 300 mts) 

What's the need for a Mobile App For Drivers?

Need proof... Just drive across Bangalore to know how the state of affairs of road. There's no way a driver can ride with peace of mind. In every turn or sub road, there's a surprise waiting for the driver. For example, the road in front of  ASC Centre was recently laid, but the road has very bad holes which can throw a motorist from the seat.

Such an app could be used by BMTC buses, cab drivers, private vehicles, etc. This app could be used in other cities, highways, and it could be a place where drivers can get info about the road condition, terrain, traffic flow, best time to travel, etc.

Here's another app idea to track the pothole in city. 

Employee Cross Over Training

Babudom ( Files & white take in sarkar Office)
Source: http://www.syzygy.org.uk/

I don't know if the heading mentioned is right. Hopefully, you'll get the message in this part.

This idea which I had shared earlier is again a simple one. Simple as in, it gives an opportunity for people to be in other person's seat.

So, here it goes.

Recently a friend from Trivandrum called me to say that he is coming to Bangalore to attend a wedding. He asked me to do hotel booking, asked me few hot spots which he can visit in B'lore. During the conversation he asked me if we get booze in shops. He asked if it was government run retail outlets as in Kerala. I said heck NO.

Well, he is working in a senior role in a government office. And as a typical sarkari babu, he knows only his little big world. Yes, he is a big name in the department, where he takes lot of key decision as to transfer and posting.

Corporate office Tour - Eyeopener for Sarkari Babus

I feel that these fellas are just like tadpoles  in that deep well, without venturing to see how other states or countries are running their affairs. All they know, is their big role, and only the realms of that state.

Just like his there are scores of govt babus who run across the corridors of power as if they are the sole pillars of democracy or that particular institution. What they do not know is how other organization run much faster and efficient.

So, I was thinking if we give these fellas a guided tour to a private company. Yes, let them be in a place for a day or two and see things like:

• Working on a digital node ( Paper less office)
• Flow of daily tasks - How new rules evolve?
• Attend a typical corporate office conference
• Join for some games and fun in the office ( gym or sports)
• Find out the bottlenecks of the operations
• See power women who call the shots

Well, the idea is just to give an exposure to people working in traditional set-up offices to see how IT offices run. Well, it could happen vice-cersa too. Means, corporate offices will be asked to sit in the chair of clerk and she how the work happens there, how the rules makes the task more bureaucratic, etc.

Take home
I feel both sides has to learn from each other's work environment. Apart from these two, there is one new setup - the startup shops. These are chaps who run from coffee houses, meet in some random coffee or beer joints, yet have serious discussion on their plan, future, etc. It's a all-need breed of work space. We will discuss it later, when I have things to talk about them. 

Yoga Meditation Room in Every Corporate Office

Yoga Room at Wipro

Today while walking in a near by park and flexing my aging body, I thought of "Art of Living". Thought, I've never been to their classes, I know one thing they stress - how breathing affects your inner well-being. Well, I many be naive to put it this way, but that's the only thing I know about this tribe.

Relax, Body and Mind with Right Breathing

Today, I was late to start my morning walk. It was around 7:45 and I finished my sweating biz by 8:45. And, while I was finishing my walk with simple relaxing walk, I looked around this deserted park. And, I thought to myself - where are the people? Well, answer is simple - most people don't have the privilege like me to job or walk in the park by 8:45 in the morning. They have to get ready, have breakfast, and head to their office or cubicle. Before they reach, they have to nudge their way through this crazy traffic.

Imagine the bumper-to-bumper traffic or the bus ride through the heavy traffic junctions like Tin Factory or K.R Puram, or Hosur Road. Well, at this morning hour, there are thousands who are struck in these road, trying to reach office on time.

Whew! Office Desk is in Sight

Have you seen people who reach office after braving the traffic, summer heat and bus ride? Have you seen the relief on their faces? It's definitely a BIG sigh!. And, then starts your daily work. Just imagine, if you're working mostly for pay not for some driven motive or passion, how will you feel. The work will appear like a chore, to be pushed out from your desk to the next level and it goes on. Or think of the pending work, the unaccomplished target which your boss pushes on you, and all other stress in life.

So, my question is...how can your employer make things a bit easy on the employee?

Make every employee do Yoga or breathing exercise 
This is my idea for today. It's simple, and hopefully it will bring some kind of calmness or reduces stress faced by employees.

• Start yoga sessions for employees. ( Not a very easy process, of finding time between meetings and deadline)
• Make a room where employees can sit in peace. No noise, No Mobile Room
• Pass a new rule that every employee should sit in the meditation room for 10 minutes, before occupying the office seat.
• Teach breathing techniques and ensure that they practice it everyday in the office and home

Design the yoga room with plenty of green plants, with wood panels ( Avoid typical corporate feel inside this room)

What do you say? Will it work in a hectic corporate life? Will the management think of giving away 10 mins for this activity? How much will breathing exercise benefit employee's productivity?

Btw, there are many things on the same line:

1. Sleeping pod in offices 
2. Spa or relaxing massage services in office
3. Canteen with tasty cuisine
4. Jacuzzi for employees 
5. Indoor games in offices 
6. Doctor/counselor in office
7. Nursery or crush for infants or new borns
8. Feeding room for mothers
9. Manicure, pedicure or basic beauty services inside the campus

Just a thought

Body Posture Correction Center in Bangalore

Get into Power Pose - You Can Do it!
Source: http://www.bodybuilding.com/

I've an arch shaped back. Well, looking at my old b&w pic of me walking with no clothes on, I can make out that it started very early in my life.

Now, when I walk, my tummy juts forward making it look sloppy. Most of the time, I'm not aware of the fact that I have a slouch in my walk. Recently, my partner reminded that my walk is getting more worse and it looks terrible. Shame on me!

Oh, how do I go about fixing my bad posture? Is there a doctor or a service to correct my bad posture.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one with a bad posture. Probably, there are many like me, and few others who are not aware of the way their body shows.

This made me think of a small biz idea - what about starting a clinic which takes care of fixing ugly pose. Such a clinic will have to talk about the benefit of having a straight, erect pose, which is good for health, looks and radiates a confident look.

So, are you ready to start a posture clinic?

However, for people like with a bad pose, there are few help around. Check out wiki page on correcting the bad posture and also this page on http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/posture-power-how-to-correct-your-body-alignment.html


 

Masturbation Booth in Indian Cities and Towns

Masturbation Booth

With No End in Sight - Rape a Daily Occurrence in India
When you open the newspaper, not a day passes without some report of rape, molestation or rape and murder cases.And, there's no let down of cases which are reported. One of the horrific rape in the recent past is the Nirbhaya case where she was physical abused and rape. While there was a hue and cry after the incident, things are just quite the same on the ground.

In Kerala, where another more horrific case came into the light when social media flamed with the hashtag #justiceforjisha. The incident, more wilder and more gruesome than than Nirbaya has again sparked the public to do the usual drama of protest and the like.

What the big question is this - Will this lead to any kind of relief or will it reduce the number of such rapes in India? I feel we have to think out of the box with new way to minimize such instances. Here's my plan and it's bit wierd.

1) Train Women how to Tactfully Overcome such Situation

    Well, it's not a easy as it sounds. While physical dexterity and quick thinking might help you thwart a scenario, there are some ways to avoid to certain situations. For example, avoiding lonely streets, keeping a tab of the surroundings, or keeping some handy weapon such as pepper spray or sharp objects.

Suppose a team of experts join together as a team ( Physiologists to self-defense experts or Councillors) to train women on  how to slip away unhurt in such a situation. I hope this kind of training in schools or colleagues and offices will help women to be prepared in case of such an eventuality.

2) Build Masturbation booth in each Panchayat, towns and cites ( Relieve & let go of the tension)

  In many cases, I feel this could help man to mellow down his fiery feelings. Sometimes, the bottled up sexual feeling can burst the normal logical thinking pipes. Man will be just thinking from his groin and he will later repent his action. So, why not a private masturbation room where a person can relieve his bony thoughts. We can make it better by giving these relieved men a glass of butter milk to regain and refresh. Howaboutit?

As a matter of fact, such a place should be constructed alongside of a public urinal or bathroom facility. But, not a dirty public too but one which is clean, neat and dry. As a prop, there can be few erotic men's magazine or hot erotic posters from Debanoir to get charged. It could be something like a room where men do to get their semen tested. The dark room with a cosy couch to sit, few tissues, even a condom to finish the act.

Btw, if our corporation is out of funds to construct a booth, they can approach Playboy or get sponsor from condom company like Hindustan Latex, etc. I got this idea from the masturbation booth in New York. Well, that's NY and not India, would be the typical answer. But, here we're not looking for a typical solution.

 3) Inflatable Sex Dolls for Military personal

    Just imagine the rough life of a military jawan who is far from home, not able to get his normal dosage of sex. And there were many instances where military jawans and officers who has abducted women from the outpost area. If it's happy-happy it's fine, but when it's not a consensual act, then there are other problems. I somehow feel that these solider should be given an inflatable doll along with their ration, supplies, booze and ammunition. Well, this is something to think about? And, I wonder if any army around us is doing this or allowing servicemen to have fun with such sex toys.

Female Intervention

Well, this is an idea that just popped in my mind. To make things fast and pleasurable inside the booth, a phone line could be placed where they can talk to a female in a call centre who will talk and make the man relieve. It will be a 7 minute talk and it will be charged. Oh, again it's going to be downright unthinkable in India, but let's think of it, if it helps the cause. Will such a public stuff cause a stampede, just like what we see in front of liquor retail outlets in Kerala? Again, it's a small price to pay to avoid a bad patch.

What do you think? Will this work in India? In what other way can you reduce the instances of rape in our country? Think and let me know!!

BTW: Here's a link with the details of masturbation laws in different countries. What about it India? 

Swing by the Backwater

Swing by the water

Oh, I should attribute this photo to one of my Facebook friend, who shared it on her wall. Don't know if it's her pic or from other source. Well, I'm using this picture on my blog just to share a point.

And the point is this - how can you make your resort by the lake or lagoon or backwater or sea more engaging, more mesmerizing, etc. This swing could be an add-on to your existing activities in your resort.

Well, what would be the cost - Very minimal, but thing of the experience you're giving to your customers how would like to enjoy this dreamy swing across the water. Moreover, customers will take picture of themselves on the swing, or take a selfie and share it on their social channels. So, that's additional publicity for your resort.

But, there's something fundamentally wrong with tourism in Kerala?

I bet something seriously or wrong with the way we Keralites thing of tourism. I was talking to a seasoned German speaking guide who takes big groups for south India tour. When I casually asked him about his guide business, I got a shocker and to my surprise, he said that he's winding up his operation - means he's not doing guide work anymore.

I asked the reason, and he has this to say... The people who are the business are only interested in money but not in providing service to guest or customers

Well, I too had this hunch about the state of affairs of tourism in Kerala. Whenever, I had inquired about hotel accommodation, what I felt was this - these buggers charge a hefty amount and that too for a basic stay. And the attitude in which they speak is that "if not you, we have many customers willing to pay for it."

So, why tourists are shying away from Kerala?

I bet we have taken for granted that these so called tourist are money bags and whatever you give them, they will lap it up. On top of it, there's a talk of liquor prohibition, lack of freedom to enjoy or have fun, like in Goa. Also, many national tourists are exploring places like in South Est Asia, where they have the freedom to experience all things from - massage, affordable stay, clean beaches, etc, with minimal budget.

Well, it's not too late, but I don't thing there's going to be a change in the attitude of Kerala entrepreneurs. Those who realize it early, will survive and others will just have to keep guessing why people are just not coming to their counter. 

Summer of 2016 in Bangalore

Natural Coolant

The unprecedented heat wave and drought in different parts of India is affecting the life of Bangaloreans. The new safety rules in Bangalore has made it compulsory for driver and pillion rider to wear those fiberglass helmets. For people travelling by bike for a long distance in the scorching has to bear the blunt of the sun's merciless light.

There are only few lucky ones who travels either by their air cooled car, or by air conditioned Volvo buses. Except these mortals, the unfortunate lot has no other options but to traverse in the burning sun.

So, what's the best way to keep internal system cool? What are the natural remedies, protection available?

1) Drink lots of water
2) Take tender coconut water or palm tree seeds
3) Have lime juice or sherbet juice
4) Avoid taking bikes, unless you don't have a choice
5) Piggy ride in your colleague's a/c car
6) Join for swimming classes 9