Deepa's Jottings

  "Security theatre" is "a term that describes security countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually improve security".This is particularly true of many security measures that our banks use. I really would like the cushy job of a security guard at one of the banks, or their ATM's. To demonstrate:On the 20th of December, I visited the ICICI Bank ATM at about 10.30pm, to withdraw some cash. I found this very alert security guard on duty:The radion was blasting songs at full volume, and I came in, finished my transaction, took the…

 On the 20th of December, at about 3pm, we were travelling in a hired cab, and the car (an Innova, belonging to M/s. Chandru Travels) was stopped near the Ranga Shankara/Innisfree House School area by the traffic police.They asked to see the driver's documents, and the driver (Mr Prabhakar) had everything in order.Mr Prabhakaran was dressed in a white shirt and trousers, presenting a neat appearance.The police then wrote out a challan for his "not being in complete uniform" as the driver of a hired cab, and fined him Rs. 100.Can someone tell me the logic of such a rule,…

  "Security theatre" is "a term that describes security countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually improve security".This is particularly true of many security measures that our banks use. I really would like the cushy job of a security guard at one of the banks, or their ATM's. To demonstrate:On the 20th of December, I visited the ICICI Bank ATM at about 10.30pm, to withdraw some cash. I found this very alert security guard on duty:The radion was blasting songs at full volume, and I came in, finished my transaction, took the…

 On the 20th of December, at about 3pm, we were travelling in a hired cab, and the car (an Innova, belonging to M/s. Chandru Travels) was stopped near the Ranga Shankara/Innisfree House School area by the traffic police.They asked to see the driver's documents, and the driver (Mr Prabhakar) had everything in order.Mr Prabhakaran was dressed in a white shirt and trousers, presenting a neat appearance.The police then wrote out a challan for his "not being in complete uniform" as the driver of a hired cab, and fined him Rs. 100.Can someone tell me the logic of such a rule,…

  Gopalan Innovations Mall has been more than 6 years in the building, and it opened a while ago, with Westside and just a few more shops to start with. Today, I noticed that there were multiple cinemas... and also, that they were opening today!I decided to go up and enquire. The weekday shows are priced at Rs. 150 and Rs. 180...I didn't find out the weekend rates. The number for the cinemas is6533 6764I was told that I could "book over the phone, but you must come and buy the tickets here, madam"...a statement I have yet to figure out! J P…

  Gopalan Innovations Mall has been more than 6 years in the building, and it opened a while ago, with Westside and just a few more shops to start with. Today, I noticed that there were multiple cinemas... and also, that they were opening today!I decided to go up and enquire. The weekday shows are priced at Rs. 150 and Rs. 180...I didn't find out the weekend rates. The number for the cinemas is6533 6764I was told that I could "book over the phone, but you must come and buy the tickets here, madam"...a statement I have yet to figure out! J P…

  When the law says, "Do not ride a two-wheeler without a helmet", this is how we choose to obey it.... Even at the cost of one's life, there seems to be some thrill in observing the letter of the law and flouting its spirit! ⊕

  When the law says, "Do not ride a two-wheeler without a helmet", this is how we choose to obey it.... Even at the cost of one's life, there seems to be some thrill in observing the letter of the law and flouting its spirit! ⊕

  I was pleasantly surprised, when I was walking back from Ranga Shankara, to see that a small park in J P Nagar 2nd phase has been designated a Senior Citizens' Park: In these days, when senior citizens have difficulty even walking on the roads and seem constantly under threat from all quarters...lack of servants, lack of family members sometimes, and lack of facilities...it was very heartening to see this! ⊕

  I was pleasantly surprised, when I was walking back from Ranga Shankara, to see that a small park in J P Nagar 2nd phase has been designated a Senior Citizens' Park: In these days, when senior citizens have difficulty even walking on the roads and seem constantly under threat from all quarters...lack of servants, lack of family members sometimes, and lack of facilities...it was very heartening to see this! ⊕