My thoughts on the arrest of drug dealers.

Recently news items regarding nabbing of drug peddlers and users hogged lime lite and went into oblivion in the mainstream media. The names of a few people connected to film industry were propped up.
A lot has been discussed about narcotic drugs, which I would not repeat.
I think the entire episode is enacted to benefit certain people. The possible motives seem to be :
1) To kill the careers of the targeted people.
2) Police want to show that they are serious about the drug abuse menace. Only for the sake of records.
3) Police want to raise protection money.
4) Drug peddlers want to increase the price of the commodity.
5) Internal squabble among the peddlers.

Dont't Have A Television? Thats Wierd!

I believe that the other name for television is "Idiot Box" is true.
I have been resisting having a Television at home for a long long time. I have been made fun of by relatives, friends and foes (if I have any) alike for this. Yet I stuck to my guns steadfastly. Before marriage some people thought that marriage would 'transform' me. Possibly they thought that there would be no woman who cannot stay away from the idiot box.

But I have proved them wrong. I have never coerced or forced my better half. I have rather convinced her. I don't think she regrets for that. Luckily my parents also never protested my decision.

When people (in my circle) came to know that there was no TV at my place, the most frequent questions I faced were "Then what do you do for entertainment?" or "How do you get to know the current affairs?" or "Don't you get bored?".

Most of my friends think that watching TV is pretty useful, that it improves their GK. I could never convince myself that watching a program like 'Kaun Banega Karodpati' would really enhance my general awareness. I would rather read a lot more in 1 hour. I am definitely not interested in participating in quiz competitions. But National Geographic Channel, Discovery, History channels are exceptions.

Here are some of the barbs thrown at me :
- Even slum dwellers watch TV.
- How much money would you save by sacrificing your entertainment.
- Why do you make your parents (wife after marriage) suffer.

We had, sometimes, to witness funny reactions of others. Once a guy came to our house for some survey about programs people watch on TV. It took some time for him to believe that we did not have a TV. Why not. May be our house could be the only one without TV in hundreds of houses that he went to survey.

I have displeased so many of relatives, who visited our house,that they missed one or more episode(s) of their favourite serials, to which they were addicted to.

Finally my reasons for not having a TV are simple. Others may think they are trivial, which is again subjective. Here are a few of them :
1) I do not want flavoured and coloured news.
2) Channels bombard us with more of negative things (like gory murders, robberies, murders, etc.). I certainly don't need this s**t.
3) Serials drag on with little content, waste of time and emotion.
4) Vested interests manipulate us, our thinking and the way we live. Without the power of TV, I cannot imagine how acids could be passed off as soft drink, junk could become happy meal and baby foods could substitute breast-feeding.
5) Unnecessary items are thrust on us like Bill Clinton's affairs or Sarah Palin's daughter's marriage or Prince Williams marriage. Why do I need all this. And finally...
6) Fear that I would interact less with the members in my family.

These People Are Mean!

One day I was on my way to office. As I got down the public transport bus, I heard Sri (not the full name), a colleague of mine, saying "These people are mean!". I did not understand whom she was referring. While walking to office from bus stop, the following conversation took place between us :

I : Excuse me!.
Sri: Oh! These bus conductors are mean.
I : What happened?
Sri : They don't return the change. They loot us.

I felt 'loot' was unwarranted and a bit too strong a word in that context.

I : Do they? Strange it did not happen to me not even once in more than 10 years. (With a puzzled look.)
Sri : I can't believe it. You are kidding.
I : Not at all. I am not a big fan of RTC bus conductors (to back them).

We dropped the conversation as I felt continuing any further would put me in a tight spot.

I will share the secret which saved me from accusing others of cheating. I always carry/carried enough change for my daily travel in buses. When I told this to a few friends, their reaction was either "It's not possible." or "It's difficult." or "Conductors should keep enough change. It's their duty." or something else of that sort.

In fact, often during my travel back to home, it would be last trip for the buses. Conductors end up having lot of change. So I exchange notes for coins, when they don't need them.

I would have found so many items in the Sri's handbag at the time of conversation - lipstick, powder, creams, soap, etc. except a few coins.

I do this only in my interest. I just do not want to upset myself over such a trivial and avoidable issue like this. Finally, as a matter of fact I rarely had trouble with auto drivers and fruit vendors over change.