Wine in India

We've already broached the topic of India's absurd import taxes (remember the $50,000 Accord?), but the government takes it to a new level with wine with up to 300% effective import tax with state/federal taxes combined. It's gotten so bad, France and the EU are complaining to the WTO about it. Not much has come of this complaining though.

To give you an example, a bottle of Yellowtail (~$7) in the US when I last checked in Bombay was $30 at a retailer. Now, let's say you want to buy the same bottle at a restaurant with the usual restaurant markup and the extra 25% tax on food service sales of wine, the bottle becomes ~$100. $100 for a bottle of Yellowtail!! There's no justice in the world. Or no wine justice in Mumbai.

We need wine tax reform or better local wine stat.

Dry days in Mumbai = Good for democracy?

Dry days in Mumbai are like Snow days in Wisconsin: no one really knows when they are coming (at most 3 or 4 days warning) and they mess up everyone's social schedules. You only find out through word of mouth and before you know it next Saturday no one else is allowed to sell alcohol in all of Mumbai. A la 1930s prohibition era creativity, bars go into speak-easy mode and people stock-up their liquor cabinets.

Traditionally, dry days are usually around Hindu sacred holidays. However, these days the state is imposing dry days around the democratic process as well; during this year's elections, the day before and the day of the election as well as the 2 days of vote counting the week after were dry days. Guess it's to prevent people from Voting or Counting Under the Influence.

Come to think of it, maybe they should do this in the US in November...preventing people from voting under the influence might lead to fewer knocked-up---I mean, "pregnant"--chads. Besides, it might be fun to have a dry day in New York once in a while to go to a real speak-easy instead of these overpriced faux speak-easys.

Affirmative Action in India = Sri is a white male

Whereas the US govt is often squeamish when it comes to being explicit about affirmative action, the Indian one is at the other end of the spectrum with strict minimum quotas for various groups. Below is a description from the website of AP Housing Board (AP = Andhra Pradesh, a major state in India) on what the minimum quotas/reservations are for various groups in their ability to purchase Govt. housing:

Houses offered on Hire Purchase and Outright sale :

Category	MLA/MP	SC	ST	BC	GS	PH	FF	DP	Total
HIG	3%	16%	6%	9%	10%	1%	1%	3%	49%
MIG	3%	16%	6%	9%	10%	1%	1%	3%	49%
LIG	-	16%	6%	11%	10%	2%	2%	2%	49%

SCs = Scheduled Castes; STs = Scheduled Tribes; BCs = Backward Classes; GS = Government Servants; PH = Physically Handicapped; FF = Freedom Fighters; DP = Defense Personnel.

In all the above allotments 30% shall be reserved for Women.


Interestingly enough, AP govt considers Muslims and Christians as BCs (Backward classes). Believe it or not, it turns out, I do not belong to any of these groups. One more similarity between the US and India, Affirmative action is still doing nothing for me! Oh well.

Halloween in Mumbai

So, as those of you may have noticed. I don't post for a few days and then do 3 posts on one day. If you think this is because during the days I'm not posting I'm basically working 24/7 with occasional breaks to sleep, you are right.

However, I'm hoping I won't have work this weekend as I'm invited to a Halloween Party at the Washington House (US Embassy) in Bombay. Given that it's schnazzy event, I need a fun, recognizable yet classy idea.

I was originally thinking of being Kanye West, but I don't think that's going to cut it. For those of you that don't know, I have a history of terrible/unoriginal costumes for Halloween, e.gs from the last two years:

* Vijay Singh (me wearing all white and a golf cap)
* Cookes and Cream (me wearing a different all white ensemble sans golf hat)

As you can see, I need help. Thoughts??

Domino's: 30 min delivery or I'm dead

Everyone in Mumbai has a Domino's story. In a city of 20 million with ailing civic services and crumbling public infrastructure, you might imagine getting from place to place takes an extraordinarily long period of time. Given this, the fact that Domino's guarantees a 30-min delivery or it's free in this city is amazing to say the least. May be their mopeds give them a competitive advantage.

Now onto some choice quotes from my Mumbaiker friends regarding Domino's:

* "Domino's delivery guys are hands down the most unsafe drivers in all of Mumbai...and that's saying something"

* "I once saw a Domino's delivery guy get hit by a car. Fall 10 feet away from his bike. Then get up, run to his moped and run off to his next delivery"

Also, for those of you that know how I eat will be proud to heard that I finally had my first Domino's experience albeit the authenticity of the event maybe called into question given that it was India. I don't think Domino's in the US serves spicy chili pepper pizza...although it should!

Dollar state of mind

India has gotten 10% more expensive in the last 10 days. No, India isn't in hyperinflation. The US Dollar has depreciated ~10% since I arrived. I'm still stuck in a dollar state of mind, as in I still convert all prices into US dollars before I buy things. Given that I'm a consummate consumer (can I say that?), this is especially painful.

However, if I step back, now that I'm being paid in rupees, this will be awesome for when I visit foreign countries!

New Reality Show: Sell my bed!

Okay, just kidding...it's not a show so much as a proposition to my readers in New York. Anyone want to sell my hypoallergenic queen bed in New York. You can keep half the proceeds!