Azaadi...

The following is what I feel after being liberated from Vodafone, the erstwhile hutch, which was the erstwhile Orange.

I have never ever come across such a network. You have got to experience the technical service to believe it. Its worse than pathetic. This is one network, which spends good amount of money only on painting itself in different colors.

Building a brand identity is indeed very important, but then just indulging in brand identity while ignoring the quality of the service? I don't know which smart guy/gal thinks it works that way?

Lets look at the things they have done...

They officially became Hutch from Orange!!!

They then indulge in a massive marketing and brand re-building campaign which also involved, educating the user that Hutch is now pink and that its not orange any more... Like any body gives a damn if the color is orange or pink when we cant use the network at all, especially at times when its really important.

The amount involved for this marketing campaign was huge, had they invested this in their infrastructure, they would have retained far more customers and this would have added to their revenues.

But then who cares, its more important to paint things from orange to pink.

Next, they are bought over by a British company Vodafone...

Now what happens is that, they again need to paint things different all over again... this time from pink to red. And the best is that after Vodafone took over, things have gone from bad to worse, its like from the frying pan into the fire. If you look at their latest ad campaign, its like they realize, the only thing that they can claim good about themselves is the customer service. Other than that in the things that actually matter, the network and the quality of their infrastructure, they are zilch...

Every time they have changed their colors, they must have spend a good amount of time and effort and labour in updating their stationary, websites and most of the other things that were associated with the brand. Isn't it ridiculous that instead of focusing on their core competency, which is providing a good network, they have indulged in stupid PR gimmicks.

If this goes on, I am sure Vodafone would be doing just what the British had to do in 1947.

Politicians, come on.. Not Again!!!

Well, we all need a break from our petty politicians, who have really run out of real issues to deal with. Maybe its the realization that they are utterly incapable of doing something constructive.

• First there is a cry saying cheerleaders imported from the US of A are vulgar.
• Next, they are immoral.
• Next, the bar dancers who have become unemployed since the last time our PP's woke up, should be allowed to dance instead. ( PP -> Petty Politicians)

I reckon, that the real reason why there is such a hue and cry is, because the self proclaimed moral brigade cum PP's haven't got their share of the money or maybe they asked/begged for some couple of million rupees and they dint even get peanuts. So they respond in the manner best they can. Most of them are not good for doing anything productive, and by productive I meant for the nation, not themselves.

I wish to write more, but then as I write, realization hits me that I am wasting my time and energy on this.

Who gives a "f" what the PP's think, as they say, "The Show Must Go On"...

Tips on Filling petrol in your Vehicles...

This is a Message from an email received from a friend:

I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol... but here in Durban, we are also paying higher, up to 47.35 per litre.
But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every litre. Here at the Marian Hill Pipeline, where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4 million litres in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel; the next day is jet fuel, and petrol, LRP and Unleaded. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 litres.

ONLY BUY OR FILL UP YOUR CAR OR BIKKIE IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THE GROUND TEMPERATURE IS STILL COLD.

Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the denser the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening.... your litre is not exactly a litre. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products play an important role. A 1degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

WHEN YOU'RE FILLING UP, DO NOT SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER OF THE NOZZLE TO A FAST MODE.

If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low,middle, and high. In slow mode, you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS IS TO FILL UP WHEN YOUR TANK IS HALF FULL.

The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank, the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated, so that every litre is actually the exact amount.

ANOTHER REMINDER, IF THERE IS A FUEL TRUCK PUMPING INTO THE STORAGE TANKS, WHEN YOU STOP TO BUY, DO NOT FILL UP.

Most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope, this will help you get the maximum value for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS! LET’S SHARE INFORMATION AND BENEFIT ALL, FOR THE BETTER OF MANKIND.

Well as it says towards the end, share this information with other to help them. Thats what I am doing right now... Hope this helps!!