Pay per Second – How good is it?

It has been a long time since I updated my blog. the reasons were many ranging form not getting free time to not knowing what to write. but few days back when i received a message from my friend notifying the change in his contact number from Airtel to TATA’s Docomo, a strange thought process developed in my mind regarding  the Docomo plan “pay per second“.

At first even I was fascinated by the idea. But i felt sorry for TATA coz they seem  to lose huge revenue by providing services at such cheap rates. but one day when I was traveling to my place in BMTC, again this question started to trouble in my mind. so i took a piece of paper and started to write some random minutes and seconds and tried to figure  out what individual plans going to cost. To my surprise I got Docomo rates higher than normal 50 paise/min plan. So I thought to make it more structured and planned and make it free from human emotions in generating those random numbers.

Today i am really free with virtually nothing to do . so i thought let me write simple C program and make it more comprehensive. below is the simple C code. (for people who don’t know anything about programming write down some random numbers and figure yourselves out)

// rates.c :

#include <time.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include<conio.h>

#define NO_OF_TEST_CASES 900
#define MAX_MINUTES 10

struct callrates
{
int minutes[NO_OF_TEST_CASES];
int seconds[NO_OF_TEST_CASES];
float totalrate;
} Docomo,normal_50;

int main()
{

int count = NO_OF_TEST_CASES,min,sec,i;

srand((unsigned int)time((time_t *)NULL));

for(i=0;i<count;i++)
{

min = rand()%MAX_MINUTES;
sec = rand()%60;

printf(“%d\t\t%d\n”,min,sec);

Docomo.minutes[i] = min;
Docomo.seconds[i] = sec;

normal_50.minutes[i] = min;
normal_50.seconds[i] =sec;

Docomo.totalrate += (float)(Docomo.minutes[i]*60 + Docomo.seconds[i])/100; // convert to paisa and then to rupees

normal_50.totalrate += (float)((normal_50.minutes[i]*50)+50)/100;        // convert to paisa and then to rupees

}

printf(“Docomo\t%f\nnormal_50\t%f”,Docomo.totalrate,normal_50.totalrate);

getch();

return 0;
}

( For Programming Geeks : Before commenting on the style of programming or code refinement or making it more optimal please know that I am not a great programmer so please don’t see the above code from that perspective . but if you find any logical errors in calculations or better algo for generating random nos etc commenting on that is highly appreciated.)

How to Use :
1. you just need to change NO_OF_TEST_CASES and MAX_MINUTES

How I chose NO_OF_TEST_CASES

Lets say i call 5 times a day.for one month its 5*30 = 150 and i keep this plan for around 6 months .so totally it will be 150*6 = 900 calls.

Choosing MAX_MINUTES

Lets say i speak for a maximum of 10 minutes . All my calls last within 10 minutes.

My Test Results (corrected to nearest integer…included only 5 cases for demonstration purpose)

DOCOMO: Rs. 2647
NORMAL: Rs.2431

DOCOMO: Rs.2746
NORMAL: Rs.2522

DOCOMO: Rs.2646
NORMAL: Rs.2434

DOCOMO: Rs.2727
NORMAL: Rs.2498

DOCOMO: Rs.2758
NORMAL: Rs.2525

GOT THE POINT?????????…

How we have been (at least me) fooled by the “pay per second” plan. I think this plan suits to only those who normally dont talk much over the phone. but the marketing was done so nicely that they made us to feel that we are under “gadi ka atyachaar”. When someone talks for around 10 mins then the next few seconds does not count at all. but we fail to recognize this and simply believe that this plan is the best. For those induviduals who speak a minimum of 10 minutes over phone like businessmen or the one having girlfriend/boyfriend this plan is suicidal.

You can try giving different values to the two macros according to your needs and find out which one suits you the best.

By looking at this I realized TATA is not making any loss by allowing us to pay per second and now why every operator seems to be liking this idea. After all nobody sells anything for a loss. Hats off to the guy who created this plan!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer : I am not in favour of any operator or any plan. I was just letting a machine generate some random numbers and calculate the rates according to the paln. I assume the reader’s mind is evolved to the extent of making his own judgements without blind acceptance. If any reader claims he lost money  coz of this article anything related to this, the author doesnot take any responsibility in such cases.

Any constructive comments which may lead to a healthy discussion is highly appreciated !!!!!!!!!!!

ಕೋಲ್ಮಿಂಚು

ನೆನಪಿನಾಳದ ಗವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಕಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತಿಹೆ
ಧರೆಗಿಳಿದು ಬಂದ ಸುರೆಯಂತೆ ನೀನು
ಹೃದಯದ ಪರಿಧಿಯೊಳು ಬಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟ ಹೂವಾಗಿ
ಕಾಡುತಿಹೆ ನೀ ಎನ್ನ ಮನದ ದನಿಯಾಗಿ.

ತುಂಬಿದೆ ಬಾಳನ್ನು ನಿನ್ನ ಸವಿಯಾದ ನಗುವಿನಲಿ
ಬಳುಕುತಾ ಸಾಗಿದೆ ಝರಿಯಂತೆ ನೀ ಎನ್ನ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ
ಮಳೆ ನಿಂತ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಣಿದ ನವಿಲಂತೆ
ಗರಿಗೆದರಿ ಹಾಡಿತೀ ಮನ ನಿನ್ನ ಸನಿಹದಲಿ.

ಹರ್ಷದಿಂದ ಕುಣಿದಿದ್ದೆ ತಿಳಿದು,ನೀ ನನ್ನ ಬಾಳಿನ ಉದಯರಾಗ
ಆದರೇನು ತಿಳಿದಿತ್ತು ನೀ ಕೊನೆಯ ಚರಣದ ಸಂಧ್ಯಾರಾಗ
ಎಣಿಸಿದ್ದೆ ನೀ ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ಬಾಳನು ನಂದಾದೀಪದಂತೆ
ಆದರೆ ವಿಧಿಯೆಣಿಕೆಯಂತೆ ಬಂದು ತೆರಳಿದ್ದೆ ನೀ ಕೊಲ್ಮಿಂಚಿನಂತೆ.

–ಡ್ರೀಮ್ ಕೋಟೆ

ಡಿಂಗನ ಗೋಳು – Part 2

Placement ಆದ ಖುಷಿಯಲಿ ಡಿಂಗ
ಮಜಾ ಮಾಡಿದ ಗೆಳೆಯರ ಸಂಗ
CS, Movies ಎಂದು ಸಮಯ ಕಳೆದ
Trekking ಅಂತ ಕಾಡೆಲ್ಲಾ ಅಲೆದ.

ಆದರೆ ಉಳಿಲಿಲ್ಲ ಈ ಸಂತೋಷ ಬಹುದಿನ
ಕಾಡಲು ಹತ್ತಿತು Project ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ಷಣ
Teammate Yeda, Guide ಆದ HOD
ಇಂತ combination ಬೇಡ ನೋಡಿ!!

ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ನಿನಗೆ ಏನೂ ಕೂಡ
ಮೊದಲು Project ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿದು ನೋಡ
ನಂತರ ಬಂದು ಕಾಣು ಎಂದು
ಬೈದು ಕಳಿಸಿದ Guide ಅಂದು.

ಡಿಂಗನು Research papers ಕಲೆಹಾಕಿದನು
ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಅದನೋದುತ ಕುಳಿತನು
ಎಷ್ಟು ಓದಿದರು ತಲೆಗತ್ತಲಿಲ್ಲ
ಈ ಚಿಂತೆಯಲಿ ನಿದ್ದೆ ಬರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

Guide ನ ಕಾಟ ತಾಳದೆ ಡಿಂಗನು
ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಈ ರೀತಿ ನಿರ್ಣಯಕೆ ಬಂದನು
“ಮೊದಲಿನ ಹಾಗೆ cool ಆಗೆ ಇರುವೆನು
ಕೊಟ್ಟರೆ ಕೊಡಲಿ FF ಅವನು.”

—ಡ್ರೀಮ್ ಕೋಟೆ

Last Bench Speaks….

“Oh god! Again I am late 15 minutes…Mam is going to kill me with her comments. So better not attend this whole session. Let me come to the afternoon class..”  Thinking like this I went back to my room and threw myself on the bed. I decided, this afternoon I will be the first one to enter the class and get rid of my label as “late comer”.So I got ready and left quite early because I didn’t want to listen blithely to the acerbic comments made by every teacher who took first hour about my late coming. No one was there in the class. So I was a happy man. Just to pass the time I took my mobile out and there was a message from CR “No classes in the afternoon ..just enjoy”.. “Damn it”..I thought . I came all the way from the hostel to be a good boy ,but all my efforts went in vain.

I just put my head on the desk trying to soothe myself. Suddenly I heard a loud laugh for which I got up too see anyone. To my surprise there was no trace of any living being in the whole class. I got puzzled, from where did the sound come. Then I realized, its from the bench itself on which I was sitting ,“The Last Bench”!. I got stunned, how could this happen, a non living thing laughing looking at my plight?

Even though it seemed weird, I asked “are you the one who laughed?” “Yes” It replied. I was quite amazed to see a bench talking and it seemed little fun to me. So I decided to continue my conversation with the bench. “So, howz life man…Ohhh sorry ‘bench’…” I asked. The bench didn’t answer. So I repeated my question. With a moment of silence, and then, “Exactly like yours…” it replied. I cant believe his answer “Like meeee…I don’t see any chance of you knowing howz ma life is going, dude…” I said. “Why? Don’t I see you being scolded by teachers almost everyday, don’t I see you happy causing trouble to the teachers sitting on me, don’t I hear the gossips you make during classes, don’t I feel the pain you feel when the teacher extends the class for 15 mins more? I see you almost everyday doing all the pranks, get caught by them and never regretting for that but still be complacent” bench asked vividly. It seemed so funny to me “Ok fine but how come your life is exactly like mine….” I said giggling. The bench in an emotional voice asked me “ Till today I haven’t shared my feelings with anyone . but  you seem to be a perfect person to share with. Do you want to listen to my story?”. I was very curious to listen to the story of “the last bench”. So I agreed and it started…..

“There were only few steps to heaven when I heard that I am going to be placed in a prestigious institute. I began to dream about my new place. Getting cleaned everyday by the cleaning staff, intelligent students sitting on me and listening to lectures with concentration, getting numbers written on me during exams etc etc. I still remember the day when I and my friends were brought to the institute. I was quiet apprehensive about my place in the classroom. I always wanted to be the first bench so that everyone looks at me while entering the classroom. To my delight I was taken first to the classroom but unfortunately placed at ‘last’. I was so distressed at my fate that I decided to end my life.(meanwhile I was thinking how could a bench commit suicide…but refrained from asking coz I didn’t want to hurt its sentiments – writer).

But soon the things became normal for me. Whatever my fate was, I was ready to accept it. I began to observe one interesting thing that few times people were desperate to sit on me. Though it gave me momentary happiness, I had a weird feeling that the desperation to occupy the seat in the last bench was not permanent, say just for one session. One fine day when I came to know the rationale behind this act, I was really upset for being used as a whore! They used me to hide from lecturers when they have to sleep or study for the test, the very next hour or so. Few even used to complete the unfinished assignments during class or to finish their half done breakfast or snacks etc. In other words I became safe heaven for all kinds of mischievous acts.

If these were the most hated persons in my list, the next were the dumb headed lecturers. I was getting furious whenever they said… “people sitting in the last bench, are you listening?”, “It seems Back benchers are puzzled, not able to understand” or in the middle some dirty comments like “a lot of noise from last benches”, “all the people sitting in the back come front. You should come forward in life not confine to back bench only.” I don’t understand what these people think of me. You can observe one thing in these comments that even though it’s the people who do the mischief, I am the one blamed always. If they make noise, what can I do? Why I am being blamed for that. These acts by lecturers compelled me to call them dumb headed.

During those days, I was desperately searching for at least one person who could understand my feelings. Nobody seemed to care about my needs and emotions. I was so depressed. I was eagerly looking forward to see a silver lining to my cloudy life and that came in the form of a group of students, all of them with a distinguishing personality, and with a mischievous touch in their acts, the permanent Back Benchers. These guys always wanted to occupy the last bench not just to hide their mischief but for their real affection towards the most neglected bench in the class.

I was very happy carrying their masterpieces which exhibited their extraordinary talent in painting, all over me. I felt myself proud in showcasing their poetic ability. I enjoyed resonating with their beat creating noise to disturb the ambience of the class. When I am with them I become one among them. I forget all my sorrows, all my bad experiences and began to love my life. They brought cheer in my life and I am really grateful to them and even to you as you are also one among them”.

Uffff!!!!! I wondered!!! Such a long story … I could never imagine how the small things we do in our life knowingly or unknowingly affects the others to such an extent. We do love our bench. We do care about it and most importantly we are proud to be Back Benchers. To put an end to my endless thoughts, the huge cacophonic bell rang and I felt as if somebody is forcibly pulling me out of a dream world.

It was already 5 in the evening and I started walking towards the hostel block carrying dilemma whether the last bench did really speak or I dreamt like that. Though I couldn’t come to any conclusion, one thing was clear that whatever it seemed to have said, each word is said is true for sure.

–DreamKote

ಡಿಂಗನ ಗೋಳು

ಡಿಂಗನು ತಿಳಿದ final year ಚಂದ
Hostelಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದರೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಅಂದ
ನೋಡುವೆ movies ಆಡುವೆ ಆಟ
ಮುಗಿಯಿತು ಇನ್ನು lecturesಗಳ ಕಾಟ

ಆದರೆ ಬಂತು placement ಎಂಬ ವಿಘ್ನ
ಆಯಿತು ಇವನ ಕನಸುಗಳು ಭಗ್ನ
ಪ್ರತಿದಿನ ATBಲ್ಲಿ pptಯ ಕೊರೆತ
Apti ಬರೆವಾಗ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮರೆತ

Dream ನಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗೊ ಯೋಗ್ಯತೆ ಇಲ್ಲ
Normal ಬರೆಯಲು level ಬಿಡಲ್ಲ
C, C++ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಬರೊಲ್ಲ
OS, DBS ಗೊತ್ತೇ ಇಲ್ಲ

ಹೀಗೇ ಆದರೆ ಹೇಗೋ ಡಿಂಗ
ಆಗುವೆ ನೀನು ಇಂಗು ತಿಂದ ಮಂಗ
ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಅಂದು
ಕೊಟ್ಟನು ಉತ್ತರ higher studies ಎಂದು

-ಡ್ರೀಮ್ ಕೋಟೆ

Defense of the Ancients……..

Kill,Stun, Final…. were the screaming voices,
Hearing them I decided to defend the ancients.
As an expert, I thought its going to be cake walk,
But soon everything seemed to be in black.

I struggled hard to remember the heroes,
When I played,my kills were zeroes.
If one had strength, the other was agile,
Fed up with this I decided to quit and go on exile.

I played day and night troubling my roommate,
Got involved so much in discussions that I forgot what I ate.
Few people always tried to steal ma kill,
Though annoying, that failed to shake my will.

Soon I had a kill, double, triple and got better and better,
I went on rampage to become a monster.
I moved in the map like a hungry psyche,
At the end of the day, I was beyond godlike.

- DreamKote

Push yourself…..

My life was going, like a boat in a quiet sea,
Boat, strong enough to balance against any odds.
Though I didn’t know when the sea may turn violent,
I never thought of turbulence, so I remained silent.

This silence was killing me as it made me lazy,
Coz, I always wanted to do something classy.
One day I firmly decided to come out of my comfort zone,
Though I knew it, I am going to be all alone.

Few months went on as everything was under my feet,
I felt like the lord, whom no one can beat.
I was extremely happy that my dreams cherished,
But one day all of a sudden, everything perished.

What happened then was no where near good,
My condition was like a fly, caught in the mud.
I prayed and prayed to god hopefully,
But he turned down my prayers dreadfully.

Then I saw a saint, who was in full bloom,
And asked him why I was pushed into this gloom.
For that he smiled, and began to say
That, after every night there will again be a day.

Success is how you bounce back after a failure,
God is not the one you should censure.
Difficulties rush in to test one’s true self,
You can win them, only if you push yourself.

— DreamKote

Thinking – The basic quality of all beings.

Here, I’m presenting my first thought. This thought is about “Thinking”. Every creature on the earth always keep thinking of something. A Predator will be thinking of catching its prey while the prey will be thinking of escaping from it. So practically speaking there is no living thing existing on this earth which does not think even though we cant understand.
As Adi Shankaracharya says

“Baalastavat kreeda saktaha
Tarunastavat taruni saktaha
Vriddastavat Chinta saktaha
Parame Brahmani kopi na saktaha”

which means a child will always be thinking of playing, a Youth thinks about a woman,an old-man of his past things but no one thinks about almighty. But there is one thing which is common, that is, thinking about something, it may be play, woman or almighty or anything.
The different types of thinking are..

Creative Thinking: Its the best form of thinking one of the toughest too. Not many people are blessed with this talent. It needs thinking out of the box  and imagination of solving a particular problem with a considerable amount of ease.

Negative Thinking: Some people are bestowed with this. They cant think anything positive. If they encounter any situation you can expect a negative response from these people. To a small extent it is needed for example as the proverb says “Expect the best but prepare for the worst”, in order to prepare for the worst we need to think what the worst may arise out of a situation.

The striking contrast between humans and other beings is the unique ability to think ‘rationally’. Man has used this ability ‘wisely’ (this itself may be an issue of debate) during his biological evolution. Leonardo da Vinci has said

“Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen;even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind”

So, lets not be stagnant water but allow our thinking to take its own course.