ii

Another interesting fact..the iata's global airport monitor rankings are prehistoric for many of the worlds airports..They follow the AETRA customer satisfaction survey, launched by Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA)in 2004 jan, (superseding the eleven year old Global Airport Monitor.We're determined to start behind:p

Airports

The govt finally wants some good airports. I wonder if its because-the-whole-world-has-it and only-we're-left-now or if its because of some phoren-delegate-to-india's comments. I'm told airlines actually have problems with the standard of the delhi and mumbai airports, the ones proposed to be 'modernised and restructured'. I hope there's some prestige related reason behind this move, its the only thing that seems to make the govt hilo. Take the example of the Delhi Metro, the speed with which it is being completed, much ahead of schedule and world class. Think, if it hadnt been for the common wealth games coming!

One thing strikes me as sad still. We always benchmark to the best, copy, follow. The current overall score of mumbai and delhi airports on a scale of 5 is 2.2 on the IATA global airport monitor rankings. The end aim, is to increase it to 3.5.
Said to be a very difficult task in itself, that of upgrading, it is considered 'practical'.
But there isn't a mention even of striving for the best. Of a 5. Why not?
True, the best airports in the world have ratings of about 4.25. But while we're aiming, cant we aim for the best, and for once try and get it?!!
HongKong International Airport won the best airport award last yr with a rating of 4.26
The metro is a great example of how we really can be the best, atleast among the best.

BW says the best airports are in Singapore and Dubai.
Now i dunno how these ratings are done and I havent been to Dubai, but the KL Airport compuleetly overshadows the Singapore Changi Airport, atleast according to me.

SpeakerRule

we were at cp. had to meet two speakers for drishtikon. early. In hindsight, that was the mistake. anyway. early. we had grumbling stomachs and after a short debate as to merit of kake di hatti and saravana bhawan where the latter won (not because of merit, but because yures truly hadnt eaten at saravana bhawan in ages and it reminded her of her nani's khana and and it meant we had to walk less) and well, we reached. waited for a table. sat. hogged. ambled out.

thereafter we split into 2s and reached speakers' offices.....
blew it:p

lessons learnt..
* THE rule to pitch at a speakers office, its always to atleast an articulate person and a layperson, or a layperson and a gurl.
* The other rule.. Dont eat pet bharke and go to the speakers office:P ... thirsty-hungry-hardworking-sweating it out for speakers-students is the kind of profile they prefer.
Obviously dont starve, but sprinkling some water and wearing an unwashed shirt that stinks might help:p
(once yuve eaten, yu stop giving a damn :p..)
:D

Shout box up

awritey:D

I Yam BlogRolled:D

Thanks Ankush a.k.a QuintEssense!
Will have my own blog roll up soon folks.. have a few blogs to recommend meself:D
Cheers!

----iii-----

Saw the same issue under discussion by Vivek Law on a show called Uncovered on CNBC.They showed a database peddler who charges something like 20 paise per persons identity. He sells the databses on cd, speaks fluent english and says he cannot get caught because he has a 'loophole', apparently a lawyer. Imagine. Your address, phone number, chosen soap, car licence/reg number, credit/debit card number, shampoo, footwear, favourite brand in clothing, updated.
Nething the client wants.
On sale without your knowledge and all for 20 paise.

ssspellling bee

Eminent has a single m, i just realised:p
I see, I have some 26 visits to my page:D, genuine, woh bhi.
Many from pagalguy.com too.
So well readers, was wondering, if you could help me out some...
Drishtikon is the annual seminar of my college, and being a core committee member, I really want it to look good...
In case ne of you have ever organised conference/ seminar, Id love for tips/ suggestions.....
Oh even contacts for speakers (from the 'echelons' of corporate India, no less;)
Seminar's on March 17th, Venue, a 5 ishtar hotel in delhi...
and i could give more details if i get some comments maybe;)
:p

Finding 'emminent luminaries'

Have started full time work for our college seminar Drishtikon 05, and as is the requirement of any seminar of reckoning( is that the right word here?:p), we want our seminar to have a great venue, awesome speakers that really add value, and ofcourse who represent well known and respected brands...
My friend suggested a good idea to ensure good speakers from good brands.
Gate crash offices in Gurgaon.
Take elocution tests of all heads that be of the organisation to ensure good accent, diction and voice modulation. Shortlist the ones with best designations:p
Invite.
Pray that they forget the act of doubting their achievements and diction and turn up for the few hours(for the free lunch at the 5 star hotel atleast:p)

Haappy VEE Day:D

Got the sweetest veeday card today:D
Really dig being called sweetheart:D
Didnt do much, for celebration.
Except wear a certain blue sweater (thats special) and a wierd grin all day long thanks to the card...:p
my veeday's sometime in July!
to everyone else though..Happy Valentine's Day!!

Still clicking away...?

Seen the print ad of Sagem mobile fones? the camera ones?
Shows a curvy girl's silhouttee as she walks away with her shopping bags, has guys staring at her behind and another clicking her shapely behind:p
Reads:
Simply aim and click your favourite moments and share them with family and friends.
yada-yada-yada.

Considering it was something two kids got expelled from school for doing, one would think the advertisement would be less reckless.
Reminds me of the debates that raged rite after the mms crap happened... with piyush pandey acquitting the advertising clan.
Isnt it after all the media which leads the 'implicit message sending' to everyone
who sees the ad?
Calls for some responsibility on the part of the advertisers.
Especially for a relatively new brand like Sagem.
Indians do not need pushing to click unsuspecting women unknown to them and pass them around as it is...
Need they be given a reminder as to the tool they hold in their mobile fones by such ads,
rite when schools, clubs, saunas are banning cell fones?

----ii----

Vir Sanghvi's sunday editorial in HT is on the same topic as my last post...
was about to provide a link to hindustimes' site but i believe the article is only available on online subscription...
:(

What's my number?

Not too long ago, the cover story of one of the weekly magazines proclaimed we have no privacy. Our personal information is being sold to parties with diverse interests, cheaply.
While the article dismayed me, I was more or less certain that no one except my family and people i know has my number.
Yeah there was the odd fone call from credit card companies asking me if i wanted to get a card, but never often. This morning though, i was in for a shock.
First i get a mail on gmail from a study abroad consultancy, asking me to make use of their services in my search for good courses abroad. I had been told of google's search funda and how gmail sends ads which are most relevant to me. I am impressed.
I write back, volunteering no details on myself, but seeking information. An hour later, i get a call on my cell. From the very same consultancy. Though i was impressed at their speed of getting to me, I had to know how they got my cell number!
On prodding I heard they hire a 'PR' agency which gets them databases. Where from? 'Probably airtel, I dont know.'
Id like to file a case against airtel for leaking private information- for not ensuring safety of my information and letting callous employees sell them for a price; or worse, selling it knowingly, i said to my friend. I recounted cases of the people who were out of town on roaming, forced to pay the surcharge on the call they picked up that was a direct marketing call center executive.(they always end up wasting some more talktime in screaming at the them for wasting talk time)
My friend said, I must empathise with the sales people. Afterall, how else will they get to me? And if everyone were to object to their calling up, what happens to all the day call centers calling up for selling products?
They do hear a lot of rudeness thanks to their invasion of our privacy. Cut throat competition will ensure that if one firm doesnt, another firm will get to me, thru these very means. And maybe get my business too. I am really curious though, how much increase in sales do they see through such means. Does it even help really?
Would passing a law (i believe such a law is in the offing) stop it?
Do free market advocates agree? (I ask this because of an interesting rhetoric on why patents and copyrights ought to be abandoned.Unrelated I know but propelled me to wonder what might be said on the issue of invasion of privacy. Does it fall into a similar domain?)

Haburdy!

Haburdy 2 me:D
I turn 21 today. And a public blog for once seemed like a good idea.
Today has been funnish... My cell started ringing a few monutes before 12, and then on there was call waitings and more call waitings:D
Just when I thought nobody's gonna rememeber its my budday everyone seemed to rememeber.
Its childish actually, Im a big girl now and pretend on the surface at times that its aint no big deal. So yeah another day in the year. Happens to be the day I was born. And wasn't really in the mood for a bash this time either somehow. But having old frends call up from all corners of the world is ripping:D
Also fun to suddenly become mature in one day :p;)
Had an evening lunch out with two of my close frends, will also be going for BLACK probably on monday, when everyone gets free.
SO there... my first post...