Amazing Amazon

Recently happened to order this handset from Amazon for the home phone. When it arrived, found that the RJ14 cord is hard-wired into the handset, that is it cannot be detached from the handset. It also meant that I couldn't use my own wire which was plugged into a wall port, about 10 feet away.

What next? I just used the Amazon return/replace feature, chose the reason as 'Description incorrect on website', and was waiting for the next page to provide me details about the logistics to return the item (they usually pick it up for free, for Amazon Prime customers).

But, I was in for surprise! :D
The next page  gave me message about the refund being processed, and mentioned to my delight that there was no need to return the item!
Probably, it was an intelligent analytics engine that kicked in, found that the total cost of returning the item and the priceless customer's agony to the whole process for a reason which was reportedly their own mistake, was a lot more than the original cost of the merchandise itself - ~$9.

Isn't that amazing? No wonder Amazon continues to amaze and grow, even after scaling great heights already. The customer and his/her time is not taken for granted, PERIOD!

To groom or not to?

I was at this interview drive on Saturday for almost 5 odd hours. Candidates kept coming in, and it was kinda fun (or may be I just tried to enjoy myself!) talking to and having discussions with seemingly potential candidates.

By the end of the day, rather by mid-day I actually started feeling sad for the IT population that I have been grilling for the last few years. In fact, one of the candidates from one of the most popular IT state of southern India, had come in with a 3+ years of experience to show on paper, but was one really ungroomed chap. With an unshaven face, donning a pair of sandals, and nothing much (in fact nothing at all!) to show off technically, he seemed like a person straight out of exile :-)

I felt kinda sad for such population, coming from a small hamlet, and getting a sneak into the IT industry they probably never underwent any grooming sessions or even cared for such a thing.
At least a couple of times, I thought about sharing my email address with him so as to help him groom a little, of course only if he showed any willingness to, and even help him with some technical skills. This could have helped him cracked future interviews, and I'd have gained myself some karmic points too :-)

Not sure if my professional obligations allow me to share contact details with a rejected candidate, if it does, I would love to get into this path to voluntarily help groom people.
Am sure it'd give immense satisfaction to help groom people from where they are, to a point where they could stride on their own...

Sir, would you mind having your house demolished to make way for a maidan?

Came across this interview of a prominent politician in Maharashtra, who is known for his linguistic political agenda since the last couple of years.
In the interview, he was talking about the lack of facilities for tax-payers wherein they don't have any playground (maidan) to have an evening walk or recreate. He was quick to blame the local authorities for not leaving any space for playgrounds.

I have one question for him.
Sir, do you mind having your own house demolished to make way for a playground in Mumbai? That would not only help a select few to actually breathe some nice air when they get time out of their busy lives, but would also serve as a nice 'playground' for couples to sit and get cozy after dusk.

Howzzat Mr.Hypocrite?

Snobs amongst us!

I was at the Pune-Mumbai expressway petrol station @ Talegaon a few hours back.
Noticed that people did not even have courtesy to thank the guy who bends over 4 times per car, and probably a 1000 times per day, to fill air in the tires. If not the 2 words of kindness, they did not even bother to roll down the windows of the car to give a thanking smile.

Why do some people carry so much of attitude when they deal with such folks who are so very hard working and inherent part of the society? And the same folks get down on their knees when they come to the corporate world and deal with their seniors... such a shame!

If WE are not COURTEOUS towards such people, how would they get to learn mannerisms?

At least some blessing in disguise...

It was one of the worst mornings Pune had ever faced for quite some time. A bus driver, either out of some mental illness or wanting to vent out some frustration, went on a rampage playing a juggernaut behind the wheels, mowing down almost everyone and everything that came in his way.
The causalities being 9 precious lives lost, dozens seriously injured and not to forget the traffic chaos around the city areas where the incident happened, resulting in scores of people losing precious time of their which is a national loss.

Thankfully though, the driver was a local. One can just cannot imagine how the issue would have snowballed if the driver was from some other part of the country. Almost everyone knows of at least one political party which is hypocritically against non-locals progressing in this part of the country no matter their merit.
The non-local cab and bus drivers around Pune and Mumbai must be really thanking their stars that this incident was due to anyone amongst them. There could have been more rampages and possible riots too, to follow.

Sadly, a lot of individuals amongst us support the party and its agenda. I know I run the risk of triggering a controversy or probably losing some friends(?) but then if they can hold a strong opinion FOR that party, it is fair for me as well to hold a STRONG opinion AGAINST it!