Out of touch, out of reach yeah
You could try to get closer to me
I’m in luck
I’m in deep, yeah
Hypnotized, I’m shakin’ to my knees
I gotta know tonight, if you’re alone tonight
Can’t stop this feeling
Can’t stop this fire
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria, oh can you feel it?
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Last week has been the most enriching Christmas week, I've ever had.
Last sunday, the church youth ( which includes yours truly) organized the games stalls for the Annual Church Fete. I had never organized a fete before, so this was one of those learning opportunities I was looking forward to. When it came to the fete, the priority was very clear - we were all gonna have a FUN time.
However, if success could be quantified, nothing like it. And what better way to quantify it than to see how much money we could make out of this.
Some of the considerations that came in while making our estimates of what we could earn were:
- No. of game stalls reqd
- Total no. of games played
- Price/game
- Costs - esp for the prizes
- Probability of winning for each game
The above 5 were key in deciding the profits we were going to make. Another important consideration was that no prizes should be leftover with us after the fete. The "inventory" of prizes should move, else the amount spent in buying these prizes and cost of transportation would be a waste. Moreover, this leftover inventory would not be serving its purpose - making the prizewinners happy.
Clearly, a situation emerged where we had balance multiple objectives of more participation ( and therefore suitable pricing), profits, no leftover inventory, and so on.
I made my own model prior to the fete, and from a profits point of view was anticipating only break even ( I overestimated the chances of winning,and underestimated number of games played).
I was wrong.
The Fete was a whopping success, not just in terms of numbers but in several softer aspects such as participant satisfaction, winner satisfaction, stall management, crowd control and so on. In money terms our profits were 40% of revenues.Not bad! ( beat my estimate atleast).
So that was Sunday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were adventures in themselves. The youth planned for door to door carol singing on these days, when we would visit most of the youth member's families. Fortunately for me, being the year-end, closing was around the corner and so workload was somewhat thanda. Didnt waste this window of opportunity and so joined the choir every evening.
I have been part of 3 official church choirs ( including the current one). The current by far was the most fun choir ever! ( although our singing skills could use a little help!!. Special thanks for Mr. Sebastian for taking time out of his work and transporting us guys from house to house.
Of course, after 3 days of roaming around in the chilly weather, I caught hold of something that was inevitable - the common cold.
Thursday and Friday was a break ( kind felt low after the 4 days of excitement - something like withdrawal symptoms). Saturday, headed of to church to help fix the giant Christmas star on the roof. The actual star was done, but help was needed in hoisting the star to the roof top and in giving the electrical connections. The latter I enjoyed doing the most, cos I could finally use some electronics engineering I had picked up at our Lab Classes at NIT, Calicut.
Went for Christmas mass at midnight and the choir was lovely.
And that's the story of this Christmas week.
Last sunday, the church youth ( which includes yours truly) organized the games stalls for the Annual Church Fete. I had never organized a fete before, so this was one of those learning opportunities I was looking forward to. When it came to the fete, the priority was very clear - we were all gonna have a FUN time.
However, if success could be quantified, nothing like it. And what better way to quantify it than to see how much money we could make out of this.
Some of the considerations that came in while making our estimates of what we could earn were:
- No. of game stalls reqd
- Total no. of games played
- Price/game
- Costs - esp for the prizes
- Probability of winning for each game
The above 5 were key in deciding the profits we were going to make. Another important consideration was that no prizes should be leftover with us after the fete. The "inventory" of prizes should move, else the amount spent in buying these prizes and cost of transportation would be a waste. Moreover, this leftover inventory would not be serving its purpose - making the prizewinners happy.
Clearly, a situation emerged where we had balance multiple objectives of more participation ( and therefore suitable pricing), profits, no leftover inventory, and so on.
I made my own model prior to the fete, and from a profits point of view was anticipating only break even ( I overestimated the chances of winning,and underestimated number of games played).
I was wrong.
The Fete was a whopping success, not just in terms of numbers but in several softer aspects such as participant satisfaction, winner satisfaction, stall management, crowd control and so on. In money terms our profits were 40% of revenues.Not bad! ( beat my estimate atleast).
So that was Sunday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were adventures in themselves. The youth planned for door to door carol singing on these days, when we would visit most of the youth member's families. Fortunately for me, being the year-end, closing was around the corner and so workload was somewhat thanda. Didnt waste this window of opportunity and so joined the choir every evening.
I have been part of 3 official church choirs ( including the current one). The current by far was the most fun choir ever! ( although our singing skills could use a little help!!. Special thanks for Mr. Sebastian for taking time out of his work and transporting us guys from house to house.
Of course, after 3 days of roaming around in the chilly weather, I caught hold of something that was inevitable - the common cold.
Thursday and Friday was a break ( kind felt low after the 4 days of excitement - something like withdrawal symptoms). Saturday, headed of to church to help fix the giant Christmas star on the roof. The actual star was done, but help was needed in hoisting the star to the roof top and in giving the electrical connections. The latter I enjoyed doing the most, cos I could finally use some electronics engineering I had picked up at our Lab Classes at NIT, Calicut.
Went for Christmas mass at midnight and the choir was lovely.
And that's the story of this Christmas week.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
I'm thinking about my New year Plans...
Didnt think abt this until yesterday when both Aditi and Ron wanted to know what I was doing for New year.
Ron asked me to come down to Mumbai.
Upside: its gonna be fun meeting up with the gang once again and of course...new years at Mumbai is no doubt, fun!
Downside: Cash flows are fast approaching zero and tending to negative. Check fares could save the day though. Also going down just for 2 days...it dont feel right.
Aditi has invited me over to her place for a bash she's planning (atleast on paper)
Upside: Wont have to spend peanuts and I might have a good time.
Downside: Wouldnt know the crowd too well.
Other options include going to for a midnight mass or hanging out at home ( ie. sleeping)
I guess I'll only know on the 30th what I'm doing gonna be doin...
Didnt think abt this until yesterday when both Aditi and Ron wanted to know what I was doing for New year.
Ron asked me to come down to Mumbai.
Upside: its gonna be fun meeting up with the gang once again and of course...new years at Mumbai is no doubt, fun!
Downside: Cash flows are fast approaching zero and tending to negative. Check fares could save the day though. Also going down just for 2 days...it dont feel right.
Aditi has invited me over to her place for a bash she's planning (atleast on paper)
Upside: Wont have to spend peanuts and I might have a good time.
Downside: Wouldnt know the crowd too well.
Other options include going to for a midnight mass or hanging out at home ( ie. sleeping)
I guess I'll only know on the 30th what I'm doing gonna be doin...
Friday, November 25, 2005
Since the blasts in Delhi, I've been thinking about security. Post-blasts, there's been a lot of hype in the papers about a lack of security. The public is angry with the authorities for not having forseen this, for their lack of intelligence on militant activties, ...for being reactive rather than proactive.
Post-blasts, however, you can "see" that security has been increased in several parts in the NCR region. Police personnel have been deployed to several areas, including malls,movie halls, and other places where people gather in large numbers.
But I cant help asking myself..."Is this all just being to done CONVINCE the public?"
I visit, metro mall almost every sunday. Post-blasts, if were to carry my bag into the mall, the guard at the entrance would frisk my bag to check if I were carrying an explosive or something. At almost the same time I'm thinking, "Do you think someone who actuals wants to carry an explosive would walk in through the front door of the mall?!!".
I get bugged each time they ask me to show me the contents of my bag. So now I get into Mcdonald's (which has an entry from outside) and then get into the mall through the backdoor. No one notices, no frisking, no questions asked. So much for the security !
There was an article in the TOI about the detectors kept at Pallika Bazaar. The article says they are metal detectors. But guess what? If someone were to walk into Pallika bazaar with RDX strapped all over him , the detector cant detect it. Cos RDX can only be detected by a benzene detector. Oh! oh!
My concept of excellent security is when the people dont know that they are being checked,frisked or monitored. In good airports for example, my guess is that the metal detectors at the security check point are all kept for "show" - to convince the passengers that they are doing some checking! My guess, is that the passenger often travels through several detectors innocously placed in different points of the airport - but he/she is never aware of this!
For example, the passenger would probably never know, that when he enters a duty-free shop, he/she has already passed through a detector. The passenger will never know that the beautiful and friendly woman at the cashier counter is actually a member of the security staff,highly trained to detect psychological signs given by a trouble maker.
When I was at the KL airport, I simply didnt have to go through the frisking by security or anything like that. My guess is, I might have been "frisked" by a hundred cameras already (some of them probably see-through! )
I'm not sure if a metro mall or a pallika bazaar has this concept of an invisible "security cloak" established. If they have, I havent seen it yet - and that's a good thing. If they havent, well ...all i can say is ...Oh!oh!
Post-blasts, however, you can "see" that security has been increased in several parts in the NCR region. Police personnel have been deployed to several areas, including malls,movie halls, and other places where people gather in large numbers.
But I cant help asking myself..."Is this all just being to done CONVINCE the public?"
I visit, metro mall almost every sunday. Post-blasts, if were to carry my bag into the mall, the guard at the entrance would frisk my bag to check if I were carrying an explosive or something. At almost the same time I'm thinking, "Do you think someone who actuals wants to carry an explosive would walk in through the front door of the mall?!!".
I get bugged each time they ask me to show me the contents of my bag. So now I get into Mcdonald's (which has an entry from outside) and then get into the mall through the backdoor. No one notices, no frisking, no questions asked. So much for the security !
There was an article in the TOI about the detectors kept at Pallika Bazaar. The article says they are metal detectors. But guess what? If someone were to walk into Pallika bazaar with RDX strapped all over him , the detector cant detect it. Cos RDX can only be detected by a benzene detector. Oh! oh!
My concept of excellent security is when the people dont know that they are being checked,frisked or monitored. In good airports for example, my guess is that the metal detectors at the security check point are all kept for "show" - to convince the passengers that they are doing some checking! My guess, is that the passenger often travels through several detectors innocously placed in different points of the airport - but he/she is never aware of this!
For example, the passenger would probably never know, that when he enters a duty-free shop, he/she has already passed through a detector. The passenger will never know that the beautiful and friendly woman at the cashier counter is actually a member of the security staff,highly trained to detect psychological signs given by a trouble maker.
When I was at the KL airport, I simply didnt have to go through the frisking by security or anything like that. My guess is, I might have been "frisked" by a hundred cameras already (some of them probably see-through! )
I'm not sure if a metro mall or a pallika bazaar has this concept of an invisible "security cloak" established. If they have, I havent seen it yet - and that's a good thing. If they havent, well ...all i can say is ...Oh!oh!
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