The new automated announcements on the metro—"Doors closing, please stand clear"—they sound very crisp, but you know, my old customer who cannot see well, he tells me he misses the announcer who used to say "Next station, Basaveshwara Nagar" with a little pause, like a friend reminding you. Swalpa adjust maadi, but I think the machine cannot feel that the train is delayed by 10 minutes and the old man is waiting for his grandson. Bahala chennagide for the software people, but who pays for the extra cup of filter coffee when he misses the connection?

Last week a young fellow brought his modified Swift to my shop, complaining the alternator couldn't keep up with his fancy strobe