The other day I was at the gym, where all the four TVs were playing Friends the famous and supposedly funny story of 3 men and 3 women in New York city.
There is no doubt that the show is a phenomenon and will have a place in the history of civilization if some sociologist does a research on its effect on the funny sensibilities of a generation. My Generation.
But I think the time has come to move on. To stop laughing at the same technique repeatedly. I am obviously not recommending suppressing your laughter if you pass by an electronics showroom that’s selling TVs, Friends and New York.
What I am suggesting though is alternate humour, the one that’s all around us.
Also, I’m suggesting to all the comedy show producers there is a serious void created and Friends has long reached saturation and the time is ripe for another Cult series. To think about it there might be one out there that I have missed.
I’m no critique of comedy show’s but I do know what people at Friends have successfully done is create distinct characters who have a certain funny quotient which is only funny in the presence of the other characters. It’s easy and brilliant just like most of the other brilliant stuff, uncomplicated to face.
So what’s worrying? The fact that there is an army of mini Chandlers, Joey’s and Monica’s being created. You see people trying so hard to copy their style that they forget, they cant possibly replicate the context, even if they start staying opposite 2 reasonably pretty looking girls in a “New York like” city flat.
Also, not as worrying is the fact that all the TV stars have a career graph that has just one peak, a 10 yr or so peak tho.. and they make a living off royalties etc.
Reason simply being the friends lens wit which audience watches all their other performances.
So all those who remember every dialogue, the one wit’s n the rest… friends is not the only freakin source of humour…take your mates out for a beer and explore their potential and yours.
*the opinion itself might be freakin outdated
Friday, April 11, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Consumer’s a Hobo and [Y]atra.com=Shoddy Co.
Growing economy, increasing buying power, liberalization etc. etc. are only fancy phrases. The modern Indian consumer market is as progressive as an Opera.
After all the bullshit is slinged and the beat settles, the fact is you still have to pay extra in the form of a tip, bribe or commission to get basic service.
Let me narrate one of the instances that has disgruntled me.
I’m coming to U.K. so I book a ticket from Delhi to London for a particular date.
Then I change my mind and decide to fly to Manchester instead. Promise you for sane reasons. Now, I check with [Y]atra, the online booking portal I've got my tickets booked with, if I would be paying any extra money to cancel the ticket already booked and book another one on the new route with the same airline. Unfortunately, people at their call centre cannot even attend to an FAQ respectably.
They were however nice enough to give me the requisite information ultimately. So, I’ll be charged Rs. 400. I’m like fairplay, I’ll go with that.
So I cancel my ticket to London and book one to Manchester. Now, both tickets cost close to 20,000 leave alone the cancellation charges. That apart, the time and effort in calling these instruction reading service executives, takin a million ref. no.s and wt not.
Anyways, once I’ve booked it I ask them how long it would take for them to credit the amount of the first ticket into my account. Now the thing is, this is my dad’s credit card and its not a lot of fun playing wit. Right so these buggers tell me they’ll credit it back to my account within 3-4 days. Fairplay.
Its been a month since I’ve come to Leeds, and the money has still not been credited to my father’s account. This, inspite of him repeatedly calling them up and mailing them.
Its painful to even think of him going through that routine. I mean he had to pay the credit card company double of what he had to at the end of Jan.
It is important to understand that this is not just about the money, but about the whole façade of customer service and online transaction security.
Its time we have better consumer forums that are accessible and fierce. Some one’s gotta take [Y]atra’s trip and make mine better. Untill then, I’m awaiting a defamation case. haha. O I forgot they’d be too lazy to file one, besides their damages would never exceed mine. Fuck it! who's reading this.
After all the bullshit is slinged and the beat settles, the fact is you still have to pay extra in the form of a tip, bribe or commission to get basic service.
Let me narrate one of the instances that has disgruntled me.
I’m coming to U.K. so I book a ticket from Delhi to London for a particular date.
Then I change my mind and decide to fly to Manchester instead. Promise you for sane reasons. Now, I check with [Y]atra, the online booking portal I've got my tickets booked with, if I would be paying any extra money to cancel the ticket already booked and book another one on the new route with the same airline. Unfortunately, people at their call centre cannot even attend to an FAQ respectably.
They were however nice enough to give me the requisite information ultimately. So, I’ll be charged Rs. 400. I’m like fairplay, I’ll go with that.
So I cancel my ticket to London and book one to Manchester. Now, both tickets cost close to 20,000 leave alone the cancellation charges. That apart, the time and effort in calling these instruction reading service executives, takin a million ref. no.s and wt not.
Anyways, once I’ve booked it I ask them how long it would take for them to credit the amount of the first ticket into my account. Now the thing is, this is my dad’s credit card and its not a lot of fun playing wit. Right so these buggers tell me they’ll credit it back to my account within 3-4 days. Fairplay.
Its been a month since I’ve come to Leeds, and the money has still not been credited to my father’s account. This, inspite of him repeatedly calling them up and mailing them.
Its painful to even think of him going through that routine. I mean he had to pay the credit card company double of what he had to at the end of Jan.
It is important to understand that this is not just about the money, but about the whole façade of customer service and online transaction security.
Its time we have better consumer forums that are accessible and fierce. Some one’s gotta take [Y]atra’s trip and make mine better. Untill then, I’m awaiting a defamation case. haha. O I forgot they’d be too lazy to file one, besides their damages would never exceed mine. Fuck it! who's reading this.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
From LEEDS, taking stock
It’s been about a week and a half since I’ve come to the U.K.
I had always deliberated traveling abroad. The idea was fascinating, n I know for some it just isn’t. What can I study? the opportunities, the experience, the interactions etc. basically how can I jus get out and c wt the rest of it looks like. And before I had much time to consider the option of making this trip, I was already making it. No time to think “well, how’s it gonna be ??”.
Wicked ! ain it?
Anyways, its not without expectations that I came around. And, I must say it’s been pleasant tending on chilly (pun intended) so far.
I wouldn wanna elaborate on whats gone on cuz it would not make a fun read.
All I’d say is that coming abroad to study, specially the circumstances that I have in (as an exchange student) is invigorating.
Whatever traveling for pleasure might be, this definitely isn’t.
One can simply take out a lot of the allure and substitute it with pragmatism.
You gotta do your own chores. Not every one is rich. The proportion of fools don’t change. Language (atleast the accent) does, again with every 5 miles. Loads of friendly blokes around. Culture, may I suggest those harping about the lack of it, I’ll have to check on America(greedy am I not). Services expensive products cheap so on and so forth.
K now incase all ya wonderin why such positivity, bloody anglophile and the rest of it slung, Leeds is a student town with a massive international student population from across the world. Perhaps, the reason it is so lively and friendly.
Education, sports and clubbing/pubbing - top notch in this part of the world and whoever tells me we’re getting there I think we’re jus being too lazy about it. These folks are grown ups in these regards and they know it. I got the opportunity to meet the coordinator of the youth Common wealth Games,Pune. She was around to partner with the sports faculty of the Uni cuz its super .I’ll save my comments on that for the future.
Kai, so my opinion of 12 days might be biased, but who gives a shit anyways.
All said and done, there is plenty that I’d miss eventually. At the same time I hope the dip isn round the corner.
“Cheers”
I had always deliberated traveling abroad. The idea was fascinating, n I know for some it just isn’t. What can I study? the opportunities, the experience, the interactions etc. basically how can I jus get out and c wt the rest of it looks like. And before I had much time to consider the option of making this trip, I was already making it. No time to think “well, how’s it gonna be ??”.
Wicked ! ain it?
Anyways, its not without expectations that I came around. And, I must say it’s been pleasant tending on chilly (pun intended) so far.
I wouldn wanna elaborate on whats gone on cuz it would not make a fun read.
All I’d say is that coming abroad to study, specially the circumstances that I have in (as an exchange student) is invigorating.
Whatever traveling for pleasure might be, this definitely isn’t.
One can simply take out a lot of the allure and substitute it with pragmatism.
You gotta do your own chores. Not every one is rich. The proportion of fools don’t change. Language (atleast the accent) does, again with every 5 miles. Loads of friendly blokes around. Culture, may I suggest those harping about the lack of it, I’ll have to check on America(greedy am I not). Services expensive products cheap so on and so forth.
K now incase all ya wonderin why such positivity, bloody anglophile and the rest of it slung, Leeds is a student town with a massive international student population from across the world. Perhaps, the reason it is so lively and friendly.
Education, sports and clubbing/pubbing - top notch in this part of the world and whoever tells me we’re getting there I think we’re jus being too lazy about it. These folks are grown ups in these regards and they know it. I got the opportunity to meet the coordinator of the youth Common wealth Games,Pune. She was around to partner with the sports faculty of the Uni cuz its super .I’ll save my comments on that for the future.
Kai, so my opinion of 12 days might be biased, but who gives a shit anyways.
All said and done, there is plenty that I’d miss eventually. At the same time I hope the dip isn round the corner.
“Cheers”
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