Dealing with Diabetes.

iabetes is a worldwide epidemic.

A World Health Organization (WHO) article proclaims Type 2 Diabetes: An Epidemic Requiring Global Attention and Urgent Action.

As of The 7th Edition of the Diabetic Atlas of the International Diabetes Foundation, there are 387 million afflicted with diabetes worldwide today.

The article Is Diabetes Becoming the Biggest Epidemic of the Twenty-first Century? provides a richer variety of statistics to substantiate its title.

An interesting spectacle a couple of days ago in South Bangalore made me realize how Bangalore is

Make-Shift Testing Desk

coping with this epidemic. A healthcare industry employee in Bangalore sets up a temporary, make-shift, desk near public areas such as community parks. At this desk, the employee administers glucose measurement and blood pressure measurement for ₹30 ($0.45) and ₹20 ($0.30) respectively.

This setup is at the instance of a local hospital — name withheld by request of the employee — which, I presume, hopes that the individuals that got tested would eventually go to the hospital for any future medical needs. A useful service, I'd say.

How much of an education the tested individuals get through this testing episode is another matter. After all, you cannot improve anyone's life in an effective way unless the person gets sufficiently educated as well.

Uber Rides in Bangalore, 2015

esterday's Uber ride from Bangalore South to Bangalore North leaves me with the impression that Uber rides have made great progress since my first one.

Specifically:

1. It seems that Google Maps, on which the Uber software is built, has become very reliable within Bangalore. Quote from yesterday's driver, exuding confidence: "If you have given your [home] address correctly, then I can park the car in front of your home." "ನೀವು ನಿಮ್ಮ [ಮನೆಯ] addressನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯ ಮುಂದೆಯೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಬಹುದು."
2. Even at about 8:00 am this, November 20th, Friday morning you can see in the snapshot at right that there are 5 cars in wait for a Malleswaram Circle pickup location. The density of cars used to be much less in peripheral areas such as Malleswaram Circle last year. (Some people might regard Malleswaram as central to Bangalore, but I regard the Kempegowda Circle area, MG Road, et al., as more central).
3. Based on the kind of conversation I was able to strike with yesterday's driver, it looks like some of these drivers are also being sensitized to the importance of being good conversationalists too. I don't know whether Uber makes any special effort towards this user experience.
4. It is indeed true that the Uber rates are not much more expensive than the auto rates: I paid ₹228.09 for a 15.26km ride. Based on the tariffs in effect since January 8, 2014, the auto would have charged me probably 15.26*₹13.00, or ₹195.

Summary: I'll continue to patronize Uber during my presence in Bangalore. (Disclaimer: I don't own any shares of Uber).

Making Sense of Mobile Tariffs in Bangalore.

obile phones are a bare necessity these days, no matter where you go. If you have access to a smartphone, it is even better.

However, if you are used to 'all-you-can-eat' mobile plans as in the US, for example, it will take some sorting out to make the best out of the mobile plans in Bangalore, and perhaps in India.

A year ago, in June 2013, I got a SIM card for my then phone, an iPhone 4. Since I spent only a few days during that visit, I didn't pay attention to how the mobile tariffs worked, even though I was somewhat aware of the myriads of options, and settled for the Full Talktime options my bank provided.

It turns out that the options can be indeed mind-boggling. Just take a look at this Airtel example for Easy Recharge options for prepaid phones online in the Karnataka region. Yes — that's right — there are upwards of 60 Easy Recharge options from which to choose.

Primarily, if you determine the duration of your stay, you can maximize the mobile value by choosing additional options for Calls — Subscriber Trunk Dialing (STD) with or without roaming, International Subscriber Dialing (ISD), etc. — SMS, Internet access.

Airtel calls these options as packs.

So, you have to buy the packs in addition to the Full Talktimes, if you want to play the mobile usage optimization game.

My First Uber Ride in Bangalore.

ber ride in Bangalore?

I have experienced Uber ride in the US, and it has been quite pleasant.

My enthusiasm for experiencing an Uber ride in Bangalore, was boundless, as I landed last Tuesday. I had specially bought an Android smartphone as I landed in India so that I could use Uber App during my stay. (Use of an unlocked iPhone with a North America number, while possible, can add up to quite a sum while roaming internationally).