Census 2011 - Questions

Currently, India is running one of its biggest projects - Census 2011. This is the 15th time that this exercise is being conducted. Because of the sheer population, 2011 seems to be bigger than the previous 14 census. The next one will be bigger.

The enumerators visited my home some days ago. There were a set of standard questions on the family setup. This was on expected lines.

There were also some questions on the house (structure) like number of rooms, number of loos, source of water etc. Though the question on number of loos was a surprise, I later realised that the question makes sense in rural areas where the loo is still an open field. Hygiene factors are measured and this may influence govt budgeting. Census is also trying to measure the success of Govt schemes (There was a scheme in Udupi district of Karnataka, where the panchayat provided around 1200Rs for building loos in the house where it was not existent). 

  

Then came the questions regarding the assets. Like in the previous census, there were questions like do we own a TV & radio. But there were a couple of new questions that caught my ears. "Do you have a computer or a laptop? Is there internet connection available?"  Will be interesting to see the data here. The other question was on telephones\mobiles. It would be interesting to check numbers of landline connections and compare it with the next census data. It would go down for sure, but by how much is the question. They did not ask questions on other assets like "Do you own a washing machine\oven\gaming console\geyser?" Could be because govt is not directly involved in the sales of these. Census is not a marketing tool for private companies.

Census sticker on my door

One question I seriously missed was about food habits - Veg, non-veg, alcohol, smoking habits etc. Won't this be of interest for Govt planning? States can decide to go dry, increasing plan outlay for agriculture or poultry farms based on this data.

I have participated, so has my family. If you have not participated in the census, you still can - Refer to the FAQ in the official website. Karnataka will finish the exercise on June 1st. State specific schedules are also available in the official website.

    

It rains moolah for Autorickshaws

With "Laila", the rains have arrived in South India. The first rain brings in pain for some. Especially the govt agencies, who are bombarded with complaints. Flooding of low lying areas, road blockages, tree falls, power outages, accidents etc etc. But most people are happy with the rains. Temperatures come down. The smell of soil is pleasant. There is a splash of greenery that blooms. Lazy cold nights brings in good sleep. And rains bring in big moolah for the Great Indian Autorickshaw.

 

Today started with rains. I had to carry an umbrella to the cab stop early in the morning. It was slightly greater than a drizzle, but not heavy. As I stood in my stop, I watched a atleast 4 autos come and pick up their customers..Rather the customers were ready to catch an autorickshaw. Usually the autos have to wait for sometime to get customers (or even go empty to the next location). The people do not have umbrellas and do not want to get wet. They cannot wait for the bus in the rain. And so catch a rick immidiately.

 

Imagine yourself in this situation.

It's raining. You get down from the bus. Your house is 1km from the bus stop. You have to reach home early because the kid is waiting or you need to cook or there is an RCB vs Chennai IPL match or any other urgency. On any other day you would have walked home. 10 mins walk (or 5 min run) perhaps. But today, you would just ask the autorickshaw to drop at home. He will also try to make most of your urgency and demand a higher price. You can't get wet, so you just oblige to pay more.

 

There are various other rainy situations where you have only one option - The Autorickshaw.

 

It's brisk business for the autos when it rains...

 

Pure coincidence - May 23rd 2005, I had blogged about the arrival of rains.

Alien games 2012 ?

There is a game character called Splork. This alien character, has one eye only. It has a tentacle with a hole on its head. Splork holds an equipment which has a couple of friendship bands (At-least they look like friendship bands). Have a look at the Splork below.

Splork

Now check the London Olympics game mascots - Wenlock and Mandeville.

The characters are born from steel drops. They are one eyed. The eye represents the camera lens. They have a London taxi light on their head. Wenlock has a couple of friendship bands in its arm. Much like the Splork.

Wenlock and Mandeville

Now can we call London games as Alien games!

Picture courtesy -

Splork - From the Peggle game website - http://www.popcap.com/

Wenlock and Mandeville - From the London Olympics games website - http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/

Football WC - Team Bus slogans

FIFA announced the bus slogans for the football world cup. The slogans will be printed on the team's official bus. The slogans were selected via a contest organized by FIFA in association with Hyundai. Some slogans are very good. I just wanted to dissect them and bring out a funny meaning from the slogan. Here's my feeble attempt.


Algeria - Star and crescent with one goal: Victory!

Good to have a goal, but have to be realistic!

 

Argentina - Last stop: Glory

When is the last stop? 2014?

Australia - Dare to Dream, Advance Australia

Are they their followers - How dare you dream of Aus advancing?

Brazil - The whole of Brazil is in here!

Stampede and hence no football!

 

Cameroon - The Indomitable Lions are back

Read it -  The Indomitable Lions are back at home - there is no deer in SA to hunt.

Chile - Red is the blood of my heart, Chile will be Champion

Blue is the color of  sky, Chile will not be champions - Absolutely random

Côte d'Ivoire - Elephants, let's fight for victory!

Trying to fight? Elephants, lets physically run for victory!

Denmark - All you need is a Danish team and a dream

All you need is a Danish team For a beer!

England - Playing with Pride and Glory

Playing with Pride and Glory...not for victory!

France - All together for a new dream in blue

All "HANDS" together for a new dream

Germany - On the road to get the Cup!

Its hard to get in on the field!

Ghana - The hope of Africa

If Africa hopes on Ghana, God save Africa

Greece - Greece is everywhere!

Including your pockets and bank accounts!

Honduras - One Country, One passion, 5 Stars in the heart

One Country, One passion, 5 Stars in the heart but no cup

Italy - Italian Azzurro on African sky

Ok! What's on the earth? No space for Azzuries on SA land.

Japan -The Samurai spirit never dies! Victory for Japan!

Beware of Japan, Samurai war to be seen! Remind them it's football. 

Korea DPR -1966 again! Victory for DPR of Korea!

Decades behind schedule!

Korea Republic - The Shouts of Reds, United Republic of Korea

Shouting doesn't win cups, good football does.

Mexico - It is time for a new champion!

Inspiration for all first timers. Its time for you.

Netherlands - Don't fear the big five, fear the Orange eleven
Horror movie on cards...Don't fear though 

New Zealand - Kickin’ it Kiwi style
Wondering, how far can a kiwi kick a football!

Nigeria - Super Eagles super fan united we stand
I thought eagles fly...but these stand.
 

Paraguay - The Guarani lion roars in South Africa!
This is African safari...You will only hear lion roars. 

Portugal - One dream, one purpose… Portugal victorious!
Hope you wake up from the dream!

Serbia - Play with the heart, lead with a smile!
And we will win hearts, not cup!

Slovakia - Shake the green field: Go Slovakia!
Earth movers on the prowl!

Slovenia - With eleven brave hearts to the end
Oh, they already scripted the end. 

South Africa - One nation, proudly united under one rainbow
As hosts, they are advertising their nation and not football.

Spain - Hope is my road, victory my destiny
One victory and destiny is reached!

Switzerland - "C'mon Switzerland!"
C'mon we miss you at home!

Uruguay - The sun shines upon us. Go Uruguay!
We do not win the evening games, Sun doesn't shine then!

USA - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Victory!

Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and now South Africa - The Pursuit of Victory never ends.

PS - I did not participate in the contest. I do not intend to belittle the winners of the slogan contest. This blog is purely for fun.

   

World T20 - Random thoughts

Hypocrites

Most of us studied in Govt aided institutions. Most of us had the opportunity to join Govt service. We could have joined the forces, scientific organizations and served India directly. Still, most of us work in private companies who pay well. Leave it at that.

Dhoni and men represent India. Dhoni and men also represent their clubs\franchises in IPL. Most of us still say, they do not have national pride...They run behind private clubs to earn money. They don't have pride to play for India.

Aren’t we hypocrites? We ourselves work for private companies and we want others not to follow us!

Duckworth Lewis

England lost to West Indies in their first match of T20 WC 2010. Thanks to the rain Gods and Duckworth Lewis. England shared a point each with Ireland in their second match. Thanks to the same reasons. In the 2nd match, if rain Gods had delayed their arrival for 9 more balls, probably England would have had an early flight home. Ireland needed 13 runs of 9 balls (and could afford loosing 2 more wicks) to win the game. DL would have played spoil sport. Again.

DL would have knocked out the eventual champs in round 1.

It’s time to bring in a new methodology for the shorter version of the game.

Pakistan vs. India

Sadly, this match never happened. But look at both the teams, statistically.
Both teams won just 2 games in the tournament.
Both beat South Africa and lost to Aussies (their common enemies in the tournament).
India beat SA by 14 runs and lost to Aussies by 49 runs
Pak beat SA by 11 runs and lost to Aussies by 34 runs
Margins are similar.

The other victories for the former world champions came against lesser ranked teams.

Still Pakistan went into semis. And India came back early.

Isn’t it time to revamp the tournament schedule? Copy from the IPL format. After all it’s the WORLD CUP. And the best team should be World champions!

    

Negative way of seeing things

We have seen many advertisements...Ranging from ridiculous to puzzling to interesting to insane.

Here is one advertisement that caught my eyes recently.

It is an advertisement of a college. This ad big billboard facing the 100 ft ring road (connecting Mysore road with Bannergatta road). The college seems to offer BBM, MBA and PUC courses to students. 

The billboard (located in college premises) says

ABC* college

Courses offered - PUC, BBM etc

"Students who score more than 90%, get free education".

A novel thought to attract poor & intelligent students, who cant afford the huge amounts demanded by other colleges.

But...A wierd negative thought creeped in my mind.

Is this a challenge to the student - "Lets see if you can get 90%, under our guidance and coaching" ?

ABC* - Actual name is purposefully hidden!