Academia at UIC was a novel experience for me. It failed my head why homework was given so much of preference. Ultimately I did realize the gravity of the allotted job and was dawned with a happy realization that students around took it seriously! However I did feel the urgency to expand my sphere of intelligence. I had already joined the Formula Student team and I remember the Automation Expo I had attended back in Mumbai. Out of all the expos, this one was my favorite. The product base was so vast, we could virtually make the whole car at the expo. No one was sponsoring is another heart-rending story all-together!
So I read about a similar expo happening at McCormick Place. That was downtown, I was dying to do downtown for eons! I registered for the event via FSAE. However I was smart enough to put my company as University of Illinois at Chicago. I thought it would help for networking if someone had to look me up!
So after a regular day at class, I was off to McCormick Place. I was already conscious of what I was wearing. A T-Shirt, jeans and a pair of converse didnt seem very conducive for the event. However I took a 2nd opinion to make myself feel at peace and the Team Captain said you need to look like a student! Well I wasnt looking like a beggar, so its cool!
McCormick Place was bigger than what I expected. It looked so posh with the over the road building transfer section, I was instantly drooling! It was an indoor expo. My sister being in Exhibition Display and Design, I had 1% of her gray matter and experience implanted in me too and I wondered, how the hell did they get the machines in! Then the light shone bright, who cares, just go watch! I knew this was going to be another virtually make the car in an instant, what I didnt know was it was bigger than what I imagined it to be!
So I saved myself a $55 entrance fee since I was registered online and they gave me my ID Card. It had a lot of stuff written on it, along with my University. Now in the Indian system, I understood designation as Mr. or Miss or Mrs. or something. It also came before my name when I was filling the form. And then I realized I was supposed to write Mechanical Engineering! Hmph, STRIKE 1! Anyway, it was now time to step into the expo! I was trying very hard to forget my mistake! There was a huge bag rack with bags on it. I picked one thinking I'll collect brochures from everywhere!
So let's face it, it was bigger than the Indian expo for sure. I could already see that. I started walking in the first aisle. The stalls were not as grand as the one in the Indian expo. They seemed more focus on the product and its applications rather than the layout of the stall. Obviously the big wigs had bigger space, but I guess my sister will be bankrupt if she opens a company subsidiary here. So everyone greeted very nicely asking how I was, how my day was and stuff. They didnt differentiate me as a student and tried to get rid of me. Someone almost thought I represented the University of Illinois at Chicago! Hmph! In Converse?
I soon realized the MR. on my card was pretty misleading for people. So I cancelled it and wrote Mechanical Engineering Student. Now I felt much better about everything! So people were also looking for students. The expo was divided so beautifully that all the manufacturers were together, all surgical equipment guys were together, the precision movement companies were paired together. In India you would have had the bearing guys scattered all over the place! There were other superb innovations that blew my mind away. Rapid prototyped metal, wow! How the hell did they do that? Or 3-D Scanning, the opposite of Rapid Prototyping! I was amazed out of my head!
Another thing was when I was at the 3M exhibit. We were talking and he wanted my contact details. In this position I would usually pull out my Orion Racing India visiting cards! But I was no longer a part of ORI. So when I thought of writing it down, this guy came with a barcode scanner, scanned the barcode on my badge and voila! He now knew where I stayed. I was hoping he'd pass it on to his colleague and she would make good use of it! Even an e-mail would be convincing! :P
Ultimately the expo ended at at 4. People started leaving. I left too with memories of my first expo which had already left me spellbound! I hope to be back soon! :)
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Dell Customer "CARE"
Well a few months back I had an unusual experience. Probably something totally out of the blue and you wouldnt really expect something like that to happen to you at 11 in the morning! But anyway it was a memorable one! I had been ignoring my precious DVD drive in my laptop and it was now time to call Dell Customer Care since I had a warranty! Woohoo! :P
So I get their number from the website and dial it from the phone! After some jazzy music a nice voice picked up on the other side! Now the voice didnt really give me the feeling that today's gonna be a nice day but yea surely I had different thoughts after the call! Anyway here's back to fixing my laptop? (Or was it just the reason?)
DCC - Hello this is ____________. How may I help you today? (I dont remember her name!)
Me - Good morning! I own a Dell Inspiron 15R and I have some problems with my DVD drive! Its not reading DVD's!
DCC - Surely sir, I will sort your problem out! Can I have your service tag please?
Before I could respond, Its at the back of your laptop right below the barcode on the left! I had never heard such detailed instructions over the phone before! Anyway I wasnt really into the phone call at the start!
Me - Its _______________.
DCC - Okay great! She plugs in the number and types stuff for a while! Okay sir, I see your laptop is in warranty but I see that your warranty is about expire.
Me - I know. Exactly why I called! :P
DCC - Sir we have some new plans that we could help you out with! There are monthly, one yearly and three yearly plans! The costs are ______________.
Me - Okay! I'll be shifting to another country in some time so I guess they wont be applicable then!
DCC - Where are you going?
Me - United States of America.
DCC - Oh! We have plans for that as well! She looks up stuff on her laptop for 30 secs and is like we have this plan, that plan! Goes on blabbering for 2 minutes! I guess her voice sounded good so I didnt say anything? :P
Are you interested sir?
Me - No thank you. I'd just like the DVD player fixed!
DCC - Surely sir I can help you out with that as well! (Wasnt that the thing I called up for?) Do you have the Dell CD's and DVD's with you?
Me - What? You'll sent stuff with the laptop? I have no idea!
DCC - Yes sir! Please check your packet! I'm sure its there inside!
I raced to the other room to look for the packet! Meanwhile as I was carefully taking the packet out,
DCC - This is the second time today! Even one of the previous customers had no idea that we had sent some CD's and DVD's with the laptop! I asked him to look for it and he couldnt do it! He had no idea where he'd kept the box! I'm glad that you found the package! (Probably there's an issue with the box guys! Do better visible packaging next time onwards!)
Me - Okay I have the pack with the discs in it!
DCC - Oh that's awesome news! Now we can be done with it very easily! Just take the Drivers and Utilities DVD and put it in the tray after pressing the button! (DUH!)
Me - Its not reading! (That's the problem you BITCH!!)
DCC - Oh okay! Can you please restart your laptop with the DVD on it and hit F8 when you see the start screen!
Me - Okay!
DCC - The start screen is the Dell logo with a progress bar below it! Please do it really fast so that we can use the DVD to boot up.
Me - Okay! I pressed F8 but nothing happened! Normal Windows just began all over again! I guess I missed it and I'll have to restart again!
DCC - Dont worry Mehul! I'm sure you'll get it in the next attempt. Its very easy!
Shocked! Okay that's too much for encouragement now! :P Anyway the laptop restarted and I pressed FN+F8 this time and voila! It worked! Okay I got the boot-up screen!
DCC - Wow! Thats good work! I knew you'd get it the next time! Please select the DVD-Drive now!
I pressed and Windows just started normally all over again! What a pain!
Me - Its Windows again!
DCC - No problem sir! I think your DVD drive is not working! (Precise what I have been telling you right?) Please try and insert another CD into the tray.
While I was doing this...
DCC - So where in the US?
Me - Shocked! Chicago!
DCC - Why?
Me - To pursue my Masters!
DCC - Masters in?
Me - Mechanical Engineering!
DCC - Oh that's great! Which university?
Me - University of Illinois at Chicago!
DCC - Oh that sounds so good!
Me - Do you know the University?
DCC - No! *facepalm*!
Me - Are you an Engineer?
DCC - Yes. Computer Engineering!
Me - From where?
DCC - MHSSC! Saboo? Fuck! *turn off*!
Me - Okay great!
DCC - Yes! Its from Mumbai University! (Like I didnt fucking know!)
Which college have you done your Graduate study from?
Me - K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering!
DCC - Where is it?
Me - Vidyavihar!
DCC - And where do you stay? (Dont you already have my address and phone number on the screen?)
Me - Ghatkopar.
DCC - Oh that seems pretty close to your college! Nice choice!
Me - So you're based in Hyderabad or Bangalore?
DCC - No, the call centre is in Mumbai itself!
Me - Okay!
DCC - Yea! We have a lot of centres all over India but all the traffic is usually diverted here!
Me - Okay! Good!
Finally my laptop loaded with the CD! Okay the CD seems to be working! The DVD isnt!
DCC - Okay sir we will give you a free replacement of your DVD drive.
For the next one minute she just typed in stuff, confirmed my address and scheduled an appointment to get my drive changed! So finally it was time to bid goodbye now!
Me - Okay! Thanks a lot for your help! Appreciate it!
DCC - You're welcome sir! It was a pleasure talking to you! I wish you luck with your life ahead in Chicago! I hope you have a successful life ahead! I hope I have solved all your problems with the laptop! If there is anything more, please dont hesitate to call us back and I will be there to help you! Thank you! Bbye!
Me - Thank you! Bbye! Have a nice day ahead!
DCC - You too have a great day ahead! Nice talking to you!
Okay now this was getting too much! We probably spent more time saying bye, rather she spent more time saying bye than scheduling an appointment for my DVD drive! I unfortunately had to press the red button on her! The whole episode sounded pretty horny to me actually! I've never come across such good Call-Centre employees! I always hoped she'd call me again! (Misuse my number actually!) :P I guess I'll have to wait until I blow another part on my laptop again! This time without warranty, so the expected call is scheduled longer! :P
Until then, that's how you take care, horny care! ;)
P. S. - Next time you're stuck deciding between Dell/HP/Apple/Sony/Lenovo/Acer,etc you know what the appropriate answer is! Cheers!
So I get their number from the website and dial it from the phone! After some jazzy music a nice voice picked up on the other side! Now the voice didnt really give me the feeling that today's gonna be a nice day but yea surely I had different thoughts after the call! Anyway here's back to fixing my laptop? (Or was it just the reason?)
DCC - Hello this is ____________. How may I help you today? (I dont remember her name!)
Me - Good morning! I own a Dell Inspiron 15R and I have some problems with my DVD drive! Its not reading DVD's!
DCC - Surely sir, I will sort your problem out! Can I have your service tag please?
Before I could respond, Its at the back of your laptop right below the barcode on the left! I had never heard such detailed instructions over the phone before! Anyway I wasnt really into the phone call at the start!
Me - Its _______________.
DCC - Okay great! She plugs in the number and types stuff for a while! Okay sir, I see your laptop is in warranty but I see that your warranty is about expire.
Me - I know. Exactly why I called! :P
DCC - Sir we have some new plans that we could help you out with! There are monthly, one yearly and three yearly plans! The costs are ______________.
Me - Okay! I'll be shifting to another country in some time so I guess they wont be applicable then!
DCC - Where are you going?
Me - United States of America.
DCC - Oh! We have plans for that as well! She looks up stuff on her laptop for 30 secs and is like we have this plan, that plan! Goes on blabbering for 2 minutes! I guess her voice sounded good so I didnt say anything? :P
Are you interested sir?
Me - No thank you. I'd just like the DVD player fixed!
DCC - Surely sir I can help you out with that as well! (Wasnt that the thing I called up for?) Do you have the Dell CD's and DVD's with you?
Me - What? You'll sent stuff with the laptop? I have no idea!
DCC - Yes sir! Please check your packet! I'm sure its there inside!
I raced to the other room to look for the packet! Meanwhile as I was carefully taking the packet out,
DCC - This is the second time today! Even one of the previous customers had no idea that we had sent some CD's and DVD's with the laptop! I asked him to look for it and he couldnt do it! He had no idea where he'd kept the box! I'm glad that you found the package! (Probably there's an issue with the box guys! Do better visible packaging next time onwards!)
Me - Okay I have the pack with the discs in it!
DCC - Oh that's awesome news! Now we can be done with it very easily! Just take the Drivers and Utilities DVD and put it in the tray after pressing the button! (DUH!)
Me - Its not reading! (That's the problem you BITCH!!)
DCC - Oh okay! Can you please restart your laptop with the DVD on it and hit F8 when you see the start screen!
Me - Okay!
DCC - The start screen is the Dell logo with a progress bar below it! Please do it really fast so that we can use the DVD to boot up.
Me - Okay! I pressed F8 but nothing happened! Normal Windows just began all over again! I guess I missed it and I'll have to restart again!
DCC - Dont worry Mehul! I'm sure you'll get it in the next attempt. Its very easy!
Shocked! Okay that's too much for encouragement now! :P Anyway the laptop restarted and I pressed FN+F8 this time and voila! It worked! Okay I got the boot-up screen!
DCC - Wow! Thats good work! I knew you'd get it the next time! Please select the DVD-Drive now!
I pressed and Windows just started normally all over again! What a pain!
Me - Its Windows again!
DCC - No problem sir! I think your DVD drive is not working! (Precise what I have been telling you right?) Please try and insert another CD into the tray.
While I was doing this...
DCC - So where in the US?
Me - Shocked! Chicago!
DCC - Why?
Me - To pursue my Masters!
DCC - Masters in?
Me - Mechanical Engineering!
DCC - Oh that's great! Which university?
Me - University of Illinois at Chicago!
DCC - Oh that sounds so good!
Me - Do you know the University?
DCC - No! *facepalm*!
Me - Are you an Engineer?
DCC - Yes. Computer Engineering!
Me - From where?
DCC - MHSSC! Saboo? Fuck! *turn off*!
Me - Okay great!
DCC - Yes! Its from Mumbai University! (Like I didnt fucking know!)
Which college have you done your Graduate study from?
Me - K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering!
DCC - Where is it?
Me - Vidyavihar!
DCC - And where do you stay? (Dont you already have my address and phone number on the screen?)
Me - Ghatkopar.
DCC - Oh that seems pretty close to your college! Nice choice!
Me - So you're based in Hyderabad or Bangalore?
DCC - No, the call centre is in Mumbai itself!
Me - Okay!
DCC - Yea! We have a lot of centres all over India but all the traffic is usually diverted here!
Me - Okay! Good!
Finally my laptop loaded with the CD! Okay the CD seems to be working! The DVD isnt!
DCC - Okay sir we will give you a free replacement of your DVD drive.
For the next one minute she just typed in stuff, confirmed my address and scheduled an appointment to get my drive changed! So finally it was time to bid goodbye now!
Me - Okay! Thanks a lot for your help! Appreciate it!
DCC - You're welcome sir! It was a pleasure talking to you! I wish you luck with your life ahead in Chicago! I hope you have a successful life ahead! I hope I have solved all your problems with the laptop! If there is anything more, please dont hesitate to call us back and I will be there to help you! Thank you! Bbye!
Me - Thank you! Bbye! Have a nice day ahead!
DCC - You too have a great day ahead! Nice talking to you!
Okay now this was getting too much! We probably spent more time saying bye, rather she spent more time saying bye than scheduling an appointment for my DVD drive! I unfortunately had to press the red button on her! The whole episode sounded pretty horny to me actually! I've never come across such good Call-Centre employees! I always hoped she'd call me again! (Misuse my number actually!) :P I guess I'll have to wait until I blow another part on my laptop again! This time without warranty, so the expected call is scheduled longer! :P
Until then, that's how you take care, horny care! ;)
P. S. - Next time you're stuck deciding between Dell/HP/Apple/Sony/Lenovo/Acer,etc you know what the appropriate answer is! Cheers!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Mumbai - Exit Strategy
For most of you'll who have passed a premature judgement on my much awaited departure from Mumbai(India), thinking of this as just another dig at the "nothing-to-do" country with all kinds of super scandals, you may as well read the post once!
Now I havent been to 461551331497625761237613267216741 cities to say that Mumbai is not very live-able, but it would be blasphemous if the common eye fails to read that and still blindly follows the over-hyped "Mumbai Spirit", quoting " I <3 Mumbai" and other so called "patriotic" slogans. I totally fail to understand why people are not very conducive to this idea, why do they not accept the truth?
Often I've been criticized as the one who just doesnt have any kind of feelings. A cold heart and guy with a opinion about almost everything. A guy who will point out the problems but will never give the solution. A guy who complains but is just not ready to take essential steps to make the change. A guy who has sense of belonging anywhere, at least not in Mumbai. Well I guess I took their piece of advice a bit too seriously, and am putting down some points for Mumbai, essentially an exit strategy from this breakneck life and clogged atmosphere!
1. Make Mumbai a Union Territory - Yes, it will be more expensive since Mumbai will have its own legislature, but ultimately it only helps to manage the city more efficiently. The smaller the group, the better the management. Most will argue saying we have so many scams and corrupt officials, it wont make a difference. Probably true, but atleast there is an increased chance of hope!
2. Shift the entire Industrial belt to outskirts of Mumbai - Expensive? Yes. Very much so. But in a bid of doing this, it will reduce the amount of trucks running into the interiors of the city, noticeably the southern areas where there guys thrive. An awesome option to decongest the entire city.
3. Shift the airport to outskirts of Mumbai - I guess this one needs no understanding or explanation. For others still stuck, catch a domestic flight to Mumbai sometime! Its a good way to test your luck!
4. I know most Mumbaikars thrive on the local trains. As they're known as the lifeline of Mumbai, running in the heart of Mumbai and all the other phrases that go along with it, most Mumbaikars(blind men) tend to forget that these Railway lines cause the maximum amount of traffic jams. Majority, as a matter of fact, 99% of the stations just have a 2 lane 2 way traffic bridges connected the eastern region of the suburb to the western region. And with the sudden onslaught of cars, this is only going to get worse. Believe it or not, its true!
5. Divert all incoming population to outskirts of Mumbai - Yes CST will lose its charm, bigtime. This will only help to channel the population in a much better and easier way. This will also decongest CST which may just make it easier to keep track of people and probably make better use of those Metal Detectors, which at present do not work!
6. Hike fuel prices to Rs 150/litre and Diesel to Rs 100/litre in the city. Most of you'll will hate me for it but this will reduce the car population and will encourage the use of public transport. Yea, public transport is not all that great, but time is of the essence here rather than comfort.
7. Ban paan.
8. Improve the coast guard - Get them lighthouse support. This is one of the most efficient ways to combat coastal problems, guess Qasab may just not have had it easier!
9. Use waterways - A guy from Dombivali bought a speedboat and reaches work in and around 20 minutes with utmost comfort. Guess that sums it up.
10. Build parking houses - Yes, once we have these with exorbitant parking prices, roads will get cleaner and traffic issues can be handled better with people not parking at places where they block most of the road.
11. Use forks for No Parking - Yes, you can get it broken at Kurla CST for 100 bucks after using a Stephanie, but who has two spare tires and rims at the same time?
I guess if these maybe implemented, we could see Hong Kong rising from the ashes in India! Cheers!
Now I havent been to 461551331497625761237613267216741 cities to say that Mumbai is not very live-able, but it would be blasphemous if the common eye fails to read that and still blindly follows the over-hyped "Mumbai Spirit", quoting " I <3 Mumbai" and other so called "patriotic" slogans. I totally fail to understand why people are not very conducive to this idea, why do they not accept the truth?
Often I've been criticized as the one who just doesnt have any kind of feelings. A cold heart and guy with a opinion about almost everything. A guy who will point out the problems but will never give the solution. A guy who complains but is just not ready to take essential steps to make the change. A guy who has sense of belonging anywhere, at least not in Mumbai. Well I guess I took their piece of advice a bit too seriously, and am putting down some points for Mumbai, essentially an exit strategy from this breakneck life and clogged atmosphere!
1. Make Mumbai a Union Territory - Yes, it will be more expensive since Mumbai will have its own legislature, but ultimately it only helps to manage the city more efficiently. The smaller the group, the better the management. Most will argue saying we have so many scams and corrupt officials, it wont make a difference. Probably true, but atleast there is an increased chance of hope!
2. Shift the entire Industrial belt to outskirts of Mumbai - Expensive? Yes. Very much so. But in a bid of doing this, it will reduce the amount of trucks running into the interiors of the city, noticeably the southern areas where there guys thrive. An awesome option to decongest the entire city.
3. Shift the airport to outskirts of Mumbai - I guess this one needs no understanding or explanation. For others still stuck, catch a domestic flight to Mumbai sometime! Its a good way to test your luck!
4. I know most Mumbaikars thrive on the local trains. As they're known as the lifeline of Mumbai, running in the heart of Mumbai and all the other phrases that go along with it, most Mumbaikars(blind men) tend to forget that these Railway lines cause the maximum amount of traffic jams. Majority, as a matter of fact, 99% of the stations just have a 2 lane 2 way traffic bridges connected the eastern region of the suburb to the western region. And with the sudden onslaught of cars, this is only going to get worse. Believe it or not, its true!
5. Divert all incoming population to outskirts of Mumbai - Yes CST will lose its charm, bigtime. This will only help to channel the population in a much better and easier way. This will also decongest CST which may just make it easier to keep track of people and probably make better use of those Metal Detectors, which at present do not work!
6. Hike fuel prices to Rs 150/litre and Diesel to Rs 100/litre in the city. Most of you'll will hate me for it but this will reduce the car population and will encourage the use of public transport. Yea, public transport is not all that great, but time is of the essence here rather than comfort.
7. Ban paan.
8. Improve the coast guard - Get them lighthouse support. This is one of the most efficient ways to combat coastal problems, guess Qasab may just not have had it easier!
9. Use waterways - A guy from Dombivali bought a speedboat and reaches work in and around 20 minutes with utmost comfort. Guess that sums it up.
10. Build parking houses - Yes, once we have these with exorbitant parking prices, roads will get cleaner and traffic issues can be handled better with people not parking at places where they block most of the road.
11. Use forks for No Parking - Yes, you can get it broken at Kurla CST for 100 bucks after using a Stephanie, but who has two spare tires and rims at the same time?
I guess if these maybe implemented, we could see Hong Kong rising from the ashes in India! Cheers!
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