Cracking the password

I had a disturbing nightmare yesterday. No, it was not that I was torched to death by mobsters nor did I happen to fall on the toothed granite rock after the bungee rope gave way. It was far worse. I had forgotten all my logins and passwords in this global village of Earth. I was a castaway.
My day …and night ends with logins and passwords. The moment I enter the office, my computer commands my credentials. Our company password policy demands complex passwords so I have a different password apart from the ‘usual’ ones which I use for web e-mail IDs. Thankfully, my personal folders are not password protected now. I have already lost two such folders encompassing 2 years of hard work and a few leisurely photographs. Then there are a host of websites which require knowing me. McKenzie does not give me access if the ‘caps lock’ is ON on an alphabet, stock market websites do not allow me to witness the ‘expected’ daily increase in portfolio return and even the good old Indian Railways plays fickle if I happen to transact online. Over the months, despite my earnest attempt to have a simple individual password policy for myself, I have been rushed into this quagmire more and more. If I have three user IDs and three unique passwords, there will be 9 possible combinations. My Online Banking allows only 5 attempts. Every two months I happen to make 5 attempts in a row and get my password reset. Alas! Had I had only one banking account? There are three; adding on to the complication. Then there are accounts on facebook, linkedin, orkut, twitter, blogger and other important websites (newspapers, travel etc.); not to forget my wife’s laptop and my everlasting desktop. Also, there are host of ATM PINs, Mutual Funds’ PINs and Online Investment PINs. My life is a worldwide web and I am the inefficient spider.
What does one do in such a case? Google as usual. There are online password managers like clipperz and Lastpass. Do I trust them? No. Do I use innovative methods of remembering passwords? Surely, but are they secure and time-tested? Perhaps…but they do not allow changing username of existing IDs.
‘You are an idiot?’ was my sister’s response when I narrated my plight to her. She showcased the Notes in her Outlook where she had beautifully crafted all the user IDs and password details. Such a Big Risk. My heart tanked when I saw that information. I cannot fathom preparing a document and listing all these sensitive and not too sensitive details. The idea of storing them on mobile seems a lost idea as there is a good probability that I will lose my mobile one day. So what do I do? Any ideas? I would have to killed myself before Alzheimer kills me.

10 Things I should have known before writing the previous blog

1. Deep Pockets: Although Dubai with its extensive economic activity is seen as the face of the Middle East, it is Abu Dhabi which has the big bucks (owing to huge oil reserves). It is said that Abu Dhabi’s pockets goes deep down to the socks whereas Dubai is getting its pockets sewed. Abu Dhabi has in fact purchased Dubai’s assets and provided liquidity in order to bail it out from the economic crises. Also, Abu Dhabi is the only government in the world which announced in January to the entire world that the deposits of the customers in Abu Dhabi’s banks are entirely safe. No government in the world has provided that kind of guarantee.
2. No Prisoners in Apartments: Dubai’s Skyline is Abu Dhabi’s Onida Television – Neighbour’s Envy, Owner’s Pride. Dubai has swankiest of the malls and best of the places to visit. However, Dubai people term themselves as prisoners in their own apartments. With so much traffic on the roads, it usually took an hour to cover a small distance of 5 kms. The traffic condition is though better these days. A good expanse of Abu Dhabi resembles a parking lot but moving around the city is considered far easier.
3. Real Enabler: Real Estate can not be a sector that drives economic growth; it should just be an enabler. That’s why; one would not see hyped-up construction in Abu Dhabi. Apart from Oil and Gas, Abu Dhabi is promoting sectors such as Education, Healthcare and Entertainment that would result in steady yet sustainable growth. More the high rises, steepest and widest is the fall. That’s Dubai for you.
4. Sangeetha L.L.P: The food junkie in me is moving around like a zombie in these pious times. The goal is to find a vegetarian, cost effective and preferably Indian joint. Guess what! I have found one, a Tamil restaurant. Authentic Onion Rava Masala Dosa and Special Chennai Coffee (served in a steel glass within a steel cup) will go as the second highlight food of the trip (First of course is Ricotto – Please read my previous blog)
5. Sugar Daddy: Last year, 25% of the total cranes in the world were in UAE; majority being in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Considering that they are mere ‘dots’ on the world map, one can imagine the intensity of construction activities. The projects in Abu Dhabi are still underway at the same pace. Compared to Dubai, there have not been any lay-offs. The sovereign institutions such as ADIC and ADIA are flush with funds and have stakes in formidable companies of these times. There is a little twinkle in the eyes of Abu Dhabi people, a little confidence (and pride) suggesting that even if the situation turns worse, Abu Dhabi will be able to maneuver and in fact play ‘ Sugar Daddy’.
6. DD News and Sony: Hey, I now have these two channels as well and believe me it has helped a lot. I at last had a date with Sony Serials and felt at home. Although I am a strict detracter of Varun Gandhi type histrionics, I kept running DD news. After all, we Indians love chaos!
7. Rulebook Drivers: The more I commute in the city, the more the initial ‘Screw’ Driver image perishes. Most of the times, drivers run by the meter, provide you the receipt and do not resist tenancy in general.
8. Accessible Greens: Imagine Dubai? A concrete jungle, an expansive desert land, Sea-shores across Burj Dubai, the Malls – Most possibly, these pictures will flash across your mind (even if you haven’t visited the place). Where are the greens for the locals? - Except the Palm Trees on the sidewalks or on road dividers? The Corniche Road to the Port runs parallel to the creek and has manicured plantation all across the stretch. Parks and Gardens are lungs of the city and Abu Dhabi planners seemed to have ensured ‘access to greenery’ to every inhabitant.
9. Raining Time to Timing Rain: If one fine day, your girl friend/boy friend informs you that you are not required in her/his life, because climate has changed, what would you do? Hardly anything…, you were not prepared. The ghastly thunderstorms and continuous rainfall, which lashed out the city for the past 5 days, were never expected. The region has never witnessed anything like this before and was not prepared. Going by the spirit of Abu Dhabi, I am sure, next time, they will time the rain as per their convenience.
10. Where will you be on November 1?: These signboards cloud the city now as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the last of the Formula 1 race on 1st November. The tickets went on sale yesterday and were sold out in 2 hours. The City is understandably and successfully hosting a string of events to stamp itself as the ‘Culture’ capital of the region. The Other Day, Bertolucci, the world famous and signature ‘tenor’ artist, held in awe an audience of 20,000 people in the magnificent Empire Palace.

Notwithstanding these comparisons, Dubai would still glad a tourist’s attention. The Female Species is more prominent and amazingly supreme. As I wrongly considered, ‘Burqua’ is not a symbol for the old, oppressed and illiterate. It, in fact, adds to the mystique and to the desire. The ‘highlights’ of the travel remain the front desk at Zawya and Al Reem. My fellow traveler, Rahul, breathlessly and aptly put it – ‘They were dolls’

Air, Water, Food and Internet

Dubai smells like a pot of gold; shining with radiance, secretly-kept and stubbornly indefatigable. Despite being the richest emirate, Abu Dhabi is Dubai’s distant cousin. When Dubai is bracing itself to unveil the world’s tallest building, it seems Abu Dhabi is doing fitments on the 20th Floor.
The moment I ended up at Abu Dhabi Bus Station, I had to first struggle my way to the taxi stand and then quibble with the drivers. Dubai was so methodical; the drivers never deny you the taxi and always go by the meter. The Moslem Driver, with a deliberate attempt to convert his Toyata Corolla to a Mumbai taxi, somehow agreed to drop me to the hotel. The moment I shut down the luggage cabin at the back, he shouted shockingly – ‘Allah, Tumko Dheere Se Band Karna Nahi Aata.’ I hurriedly sat on the front seat, quickly apologizing to him and shutting the door – again a BANG. My heart missed a beat. The ferocity on his face desired my silence and … it helped. He charged me 10 Dirhams, refusing to give away change despite the meter reading being 6.5. I dutifully agreed to his demand, considering that the excess charge would be because of additional depreciation, I have caused to his fighting fit vehicle. By the way, Abu Dhabi is just 10 minutes by taxi or 10 Dirhams in circumference.

The Hotel, although exorbitantly priced, was again a ‘mood destroyer’. Okay, I can do without the poolside view or the gymnasium or the sauna but internet…Isn’t it mandatory these days? They don’t serve water in the room (or charge for it) and tap water is better avoided. Thirsty in the room without internet…

The peculiar stench made the air-conditioning (I regard AC as man’s greatest invention) look (I mean, smell) trivial. Thirsty, Breathless in the room without internet…

I kept the luggage in the room (no bellboys here) and went down on the street; to have lunch. Navratras have made matters worse; after all one can not expect a vegetarian course in these ‘Al Kabab’ restaurants. Hungry, Thirsty, Breathless and Without Internet on the streets of Abu Dhabi.

By the time I returned to my room, depression ran amok on my mind. The silent room with 3 ‘selected’ channels (Asianet, NatGeo and BBC) and no connection with the world, took me back 20 years, the pre-Nokia and Doordarshan era. I feel like a ‘castaway’

I have managed to find ‘Havana Café’ – the internet and dining café (5 Dirhams for an hour of internet access and one minimum order) which will be my ‘oxygen mask’ for the next 5 days. As we exited after the dinner, climate change felt real. It was raining cats and dogs in this desert land and exposed the city’s drainage system. Dubai is also experiencing a similar weather but the city is much better prepared.

I am less depressed now, not because of extended blogging sessions (postings will be delayed due to rarely available internet) that I will get but because of two things –

1) Carallione cac Spinac E Ricotto – Rolled Pasta breads with seasoned spinach and lots of Rocotto Cheese: It was yummyliscious and a purely vegetarian dinner. I am going to have one for tomorrow as well.
2) Dubai Abu Dhabi Express Bus: The Dubai Abu Dhabi bus journey was like Thai Airways’ – Smooth as Silk. Hassle less, air-conditioned and swift travel. Importantly, I can expect a similar journey back to Dubai, when I board my flight back to India on 3rd April.

My room still has a view, view of a large skyscraper, whose entire façade has two stagnant horses on their rear feet; ready to gallop. That’s what Abu Dhabi is for me. Dubai is far ahead conducting the ‘world famous’ Horse Racing World Cup this week.

This was a few days back. My views about Abu Dhabi are still evolving. Don't forget to catch the next blog ' Ten Things I should have known before writing the previous blog' in some time from now.

Sand Tunes to Sand Dunes in Dubai: Building to Brick to Pebble to Gravel to Sand to Speck

The Managing Director of a large investment bank in Dubai reached office today in 22 minutes for a distance of 35 kilometres. He usually takes 45 minutes these days and used to take quarter and an hour an year back. He is depressed. The continual flight of ‘black gold’ guzzlers off the roads of the city bears testimony to the difficult times we are in. There is minimal traffic on the roads and that is alarming. After all, if one is reaching home early these days, there is something really wrong with the person, his Company or the ‘alien’ economy.
Dubai’s Airport is massive. I must have wandered half a kilometer to collect the luggage. However, the gigantic pillars, metal draped ceilings, shining floors or expansive pathways do not make an airport. Where are the passengers? From the ‘magical’ to the ‘abandoned’ has been the story of the Dubai airport or the places elsewhere.The parking lot seemed to be decently occupied. How come? The thick veil of dust all over the body of the ‘guzzlers’ suggests that the owners have fled the country, in hope of returning when these chaotic ‘economic’ sand dunes give way to pleasing ‘sand tunes’ in this desert country.
Free flowing roads, interrupted construction, vacant malls and closed offices are enough to suggest that ‘oil’ is not ‘well’. A person aptly put it – ‘Dubai is like the world’s revolving door, there are people coming in but more so there are people leaving the place and that too swiftly’
More on Dubai exploits soon