Vodafone BJP election nuisance!

I'm a Vodafone user and lately I've been receiving many SMS adverts from TA-BJP asking readers to vote for LK Advani and BJP. I get a couple of SMSes from the same id everyday. And I'm informed (in the SMS itself) that if I do not wish to receive any SMSes from this ID, I will have to send an SMS at Rs.3/-. I understand that it is a meagre sum and shouldn't matter much, but I did not subscribe to this BJP propaganda messaging service. So why should my service provider expect me to pay anything to stop getting these smses. Is it fair for cellular companies to spam their consumer's inbox with political party adverts and then ask them to pay up to stop the incessant messages?

I'm not sure if it violates any rules laid down by the election commission but I think cell companies should be more discreet while advertising for such issues, especially with the whole country being so upfront and alert of their citizen rights and voting privileges these days. Though I absolutely hate parties like BJP, I do realize that the more regressive they are, they do love to use of modern technology to reach out to the masses. No problems with that but why should they expect everyone to like reading their SMSes all the time. And shouldn't I be able to unsubscribe to this 'service' without having to pay a price for it? After all, I do have some freedom of choice in this country, don't I?

I don't know but this attempt does not seem right, should I talk to the consumer forum, any suggestions?

A lovely, nostalgic weekend in Pune

Hmmmm... long time, no posts!

I guess getting settled in your new job and house hunting for the first time in your life does not really give you time to blog much. The past few months have been truly testing every human virtue I thought I had and if I may say so, I've done quite well for myself. (I pat myself on the back :)) I think I really deserved a nice holiday after the most mundane period of my life. So on the long weekend thanks to Gudi Padhwa, I took off for a nice weekend trip to Pune, the place I miss dearly now.

Pune is where I first had a taste of independent life, staying away from parents, living with roommates (they really made me believe it takes all sorts to make the world!), pay my own bills, cook well ... the list is endless! I was never allowed to go out at all in Bombay you know so I just had a great time hanging out with friends and basically have a lot of fun while in Pune! :) But most of all, I owe greatly to Pune for all the lovely friends I've made there.

Gudi Padwa is also the founding day of my previous company, Persistent, and they host a function which is open to all employees, ex-employees and their relatives to celebrate the event. I went for this function to meet all my friends and what a pleasure it was! Seeing so many dear faces I've missed so often, the lovely corridors, the large work halls and the open work culture made me ask myself why did I ever quit my job there in the first place. Had a small and sweet get together session with all my friends there, I hope, I really do, that I meet them more often!

I stayed up at my friend Chandana's place and we had a gala time together just like we do always. Watching mad movies on Friday night, shopping all day on Saturday may sound like a regular deal but when you do it with someone who is a lot like you it can be pure bliss! Thank God for giving me Chandana as a friend. :) And guess what we shopaholics did while shopping, we actually went to watch 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'! If you've not watched it already - DO IT NOW! It's super fun and I'm sure every person will identify with Rebecca Bloomwood, if not in the almost depraved craving for shopping but at least when she describes the happiness that a new shoe or bag can give you.

Amidst all the street hopping, we discussed guys, marriage, life and basically all the things that cause much distress. I can't tell you how therapeutic the whole exercise was! Oh yes! And I had an amazingly lovely time (some 2 hours) browsing through books at Manney's on M. G. Road. Tired of all the shopping, we called it an early day and watched 'The English Patient'- absolutely, absolutely love Ralph Fiennes, another must watch. Though I did feel that the director was a little too obsessed with the twin parts of a woman's anatomy, it became a bit much really! :P

On Sunday I bid adieu to Chandana and Pune. But before that, I also went to meet my newly married friend, Sabu and his lovely wife, Kally for lunch. They were kind enough to give me some more books on my way home, so I returned home with quite a treasure (5 books). Will keep you updated on the reading list shortly, bye for now!