BE CAREFUL

A couple of days ago as I returned from market, guard at gate stopped me as he wanted to ask something. He told me that he had received a sms telling that he had been selected for first prize of Rs 2 lacs. On my query he confirmed that he had not purchased any lottery ticket or sent an entry by post or taken part in any competition. He further added that when he replied to that sms he was asked to deposit Rs 20 thousand in a particular account so his prize can be sent. He replied in negative on my asking if he had deposited that amount. He requested for my advice. I told him not to ever fall for such ruses adding that these are frauds and he would have lost his money had he deposited it.

This took me back by almost ten years. I had received a mail from a very reputed bank that I have been selected for award of Rs 5 lacs for my regular usage of e-mail account. It was really tempting so I replied as to what was to be done by me to receive this amount. I was asked to give my account number with bank name and branch etc. Being little cautious, I gave the information of one of my dormant accounts which had just about Rs 100. I received a reply that the money will be transferred to that account on receipt of Rs 50 thousand as tax on prize money which they have to pay to income tax department. I was given an account number of a private bank. I asked as to why that amount cannot be deducted from Rs 5 lacs and balance sent to my account. I was told that it was not as per their policy and I need to pay first. Now I knew that it was all fraud. I visited the said bank and got name of account holder with his address & telephone number by making a palatable story. I called that number and gave him my piece of mind saying that I am informing the police.

These kind of messages have gone up a lot since then. Not a day goes when I do not receive either a mail or sms about similar awards. I just delete the mails or sms without even bothering to read. Shocking is that names of very reputed organizations are used by such persons.

Now I found another way of fraud by such persons. I was on internet when pop up from a reputed organization url came informing that I can win a prize by answering just a few simple questions. Out of curiosity I clicked on NEXT to be informed that there were 4 cars costing Rs 5 lacs on payment of just Rs 50 thousand as first prize, 6 Smartphones costing Rs 40 odd thousand on payment of Rs 999 as second and similarly more items as third & fourth prizes. I answered the questions. I was then informed that first prizes have all gone and there are just 2 Smartphones left asking if I was keen. On my confirmation, I was asked to give my address where the said phone could be sent and asking me to pay the said amount online. Now I knew that I would be bidding goodbye to my money. I gave my address asking them to courier it on To Pay Basis and received no confirmation. So I just closed the link. I find more such offers at times.

I suggest that be careful of such tricks of depriving you of your money.     

ETIQUETTES WHILE KEEPING PETS

How does it feel when a big dog like this charges at you? We have been keeping dogs for a long time, over 30 years now, not counting my childhood time when my parents also had dogs. I do understand them and can to an extent control even an unknown dog, though I got bitten once by a small one at my friend’s place when I was petting him as he was sitting close to me and rubbing his body against my legs.

I take our dog for walks after her meals. We keep her free at home, no collar even but when we take her out we always keep her on leash though she is a small one – Cocker Spaniel.

I meet a lot of other persons also walking their dogs and most of the times as we greet each other, even by wave of hand, we find that even our dogs wag tails looking at each other.

Recently I found a gentleman walking his German Sheppard without leash. I know that they respond to commands very well but still as curious animal they too would like to come closer to other pets. This dog charged at us and even ignored master’s calls. As he came closer I said NO in raised voice. He stood about a couple of feet away from us. Our dog seemed frightened and was cowering behind me. There is a school nearby that place where a lot of small children are on the road walking to school. What would happen if some child gets scared and runs? Would that dog not charge after that child? Why don’t people take these possibilities in view when they unleash their dogs? I had no option but to tell that person forcefully to keep his pet on leash when on walk.

This reminded me of another incident which happened almost 25 years ago. I had gone to a cloth show room. As I was looking for what I wanted a huge Labrador came to me and started sniffing at my legs. I knew that he must be getting smell of our dog. I spoke to him in friendly tone and he got on his hind feet putting his front paws on my shoulders making efforts to lick my face. All this while he was wagging tail madly. Everyone in the shop was scared. His master came in and took charge. He happened to be a known person staying in our locality. I advised him not to leave his dog free like that in market as a lot many persons would get scared.

I strongly feel that if you keep a pet, you have to take other’s reactions also into account.  

NEED AND GREED

This one makes so much sense...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village. 

A tourist complimented the local fishermen 
on the quality of their fish and asked 
how long it took him to catch them. 

"Not very long." they answered in unison. 

"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" 

The fishermen explained that their small catches were 
sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families. 

"But what do you do with the rest of your time?" 
"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, 
and take siestas with our wives. 
In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. 

We have a full life." 

The tourist interrupted, 
"I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! 
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch. 
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat." 

"And after that?" 
"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, 
you can buy a second one and a third one 
and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. 
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, 
you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants 
and maybe even open your own plant. 

You can then leave this little village and move to   Mexico City , Los Angeles , or even   New York City ! 

From there you can direct your huge new enterprise." 

"How long would that take?"   

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.   

"And after that?"   

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting, " answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"     

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen. 

"After that you'll be able to retire, 
live in a tiny village near the coast, 
sleep late, play with your children, 
catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife
and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."   

"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans.

 

And the moral of this story is: 

Know where you're going in 

life....   


you may already be there 

MATHEMATICS

I went to market today with Rs 1500 in my pocket. I am giving below how much I spent and what was balance each time.

                SPENT                         BALANCE

                  340                             1160

                  680                              480

                  330                              150

                  150                                  0

           ___________              ____________

TOTAL   1500                               1790

           ___________             _____________

Can someone please tell me where did my balance of Rs 290 go?

RESULTS OF UNWANTED HURRY

Today morning I was going to the market on some errand when I saw two cars which had met with accident at traffic lights. Both were damaged badly. In one the front was badly damaged while in other it was left side. On checking I learnt that the car which had damage on side had stated crossing the intersection when the lights turned green but just halfway a car from left side who’s lights had turned red came at high speed and smashed into it. Fortunately no one was badly hurt. It was a clear case of jumping red light by the second car which resulted in this accident. The person driving this was a young man in early twenties and seemed well educated.

This set me thinking that when we see green light ahead of us in an intersection we try to rush to pass before it turns red. We do not realize that if we speed up and it turns red, there may not be enough time to stop the car while those who get green light would also rush to move. There have been number of accidents due to this reason but I do not know when will we learn to take it easy. This is also the cause of many cars stopping on zebra crossing blocking the path for pedestrians, if not hitting someone trying to cross the road.        

WHY BEHAVE SELFISHLY ?

I had told you all about a friend who missed his grandson and the reasons for that in my posts Why We Complicate Life? (14 July, 2012) and Does One Think Rationally When Depressed? (10 January, 2013). I am so sad to inform that he is no more.

As I started feeling better so I took over my duties of taking care of our dog. I took her for walks, though short as per my own condition. Also I started doing other work like going to market or bank etc but at slow pace so as not to tire myself. I met him a few times. When I did not see him for more than a couple of days, I called up on his mobile number. It was answered by his wife who told me that he was hospitalized.

 I went to see him yesterday. Doctors had told that he had had mild heart attack and was not responding well to treatment for reasons unknown. When I met him he was half awake and recognized me. His eyes were most of the times fixed at the door as if expecting someone. Though he did not speak much but his eyes said all. He was waiting for his grandson to come who had not as his mother did not visit him. I consoled him asking him to get well soon so we could see what could be done to resolve the issue. Later in the evening I learnt that he had passed away in sleep.

Today I went to their house to pay my condolences. His daughter in law was there wailing loudly. Her husband and m i l were unhappy about her behavior but seemed to have kept quiet due to so many people being there. As we were moving out to go for cremation, I crossed her. She was wailing loudly but I could hardly see any tears. I could not resist telling her as to what is the use of wailing now when she did not care for his happiness while he was alive.     

PAST FLASHES

It is told that when one is near his or her end all past happening flash in mind. I have found it to be so true. When I became unwell and was in bed, I could not even read newspaper or see TV. In hospital I was put on IV for medicines as well as glucose etc so I was mostly confined to bed. How much can one sleep even if semi conscious but the mind never stops working. All past events kept flashing as if I was watching movie. Good or bad both. I do not claim to be a saint but I felt satisfied that overall I found that I had not harmed anyone intentionally. 

Do share your such experiences, if you have any.

PS : I am feeling much better with heavy medication though still far from full recovery. I shall reply to all comments on my previous 3 posts in the next few days. Please bear with me.