SIM in full form thanks to KBC4

"What is the full form of SIM?"

Amitabh Bachchan asked this question to a contestant and I felt embarrassed. Smart? Subscriber? Service?... Seriously, what is the full form? I was so clueless when I walked into the room while my mom-in-law was watching KBC4. She instantly guessed aloud "Subscriber"!

Like most of our parents, she was never keen on having a mobile phone when we surprised her with it on her birthday. She uses the gadget only for answering and making calls when absolutely necessary. Of course she has never removed the SIM card from its slot. And there she spoke confidently "Full form of SIM is obviously Subscriber". Damn, I felt so embarrassed and while I juggled between Smart and Subscriber. I confessed I really have no idea... an idea that can change your life especially when you are seated in front SIRji's dad in Kaun Banega Crorepati! And even though I was not out there, I was so uncomfortable about not knowing the answer.

If Alibaba existed today, he must have been so disappointed. All he knew was that "Khul Ja Sim Sim" opens the doors to a treasure worth Crores. But not when the treasure lies with Amitabh Bachchan!

The moment Big B popped the question, people started Googling "Full form of SIM", "SIM card", "SIM means", "SIM fullform", "full form of SIM card" and what not. In fact, as I write this post on the next morning of the SIM waala episode, Google is still buzzing with these search terms! So, I was not the only one clueless about it ;)

Today, I did enhance my knowledge by Googling it. The full form of the abbreviation SIM is Subscriber Identity Module. A SIM card securely stores the service-subscriber key (IMSI) used to identify a subscriber on a mobile phone. By the way, the first SIM card was made in 1991, I had my first mobile phone and first SIM card in 2002 and now I know what it means ;)

A few years ago, Webchutney (if I am not wrong) made this viral / ad for Airtel + KBC. They used the Khul Ja Sim Sim idea... if only they had educated us on the full form of AAJ KA SIM then!!!

The four-word sentence

She called me up around 8 am. I saw her name beeping on my phone and I almost knew the bad news she'd to share. No... I wasn't prepared to hear it. Not today.

I answered the call with great hesitation. She was stammering. I knew it would be tough for her to inform us all. But some things have to be told, some things have to be heard. Those four words shook my day. "I can't come today", my househelp called in sick!

PS - I hope she recovers soon. Not for my selfish reasons. I really mean it.

Commonwealth Games 2010 Opening Ceremony 71 contingents update

Presentation of the teams from 71 countries participating in Commonwealth Games 2010 during the Opening Ceremony is impressive. Each team is led / welcomed by an Indian lady dressed in saree. So essentially we see 71 women dressed in 71 different styles of sarees. It's a beautiful experience to see the excited participants from so many countries - Cook Islands, Guernsey, Falkland, England, Australia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey... and of course India!

Common Wealth Games (CWG) 2010 Opening Ceremony Live Updates

If you are not watching the Common Wealth Games 2010 Opening Ceremony on Doordarshan right now, you are surely missing a lot. I can't help but share the live updates with you. Check out the aerofloater with the larger than life puppets swaying elegantly. A little prodigy playing tabla as beautifully as Ustad Zakir Hussain. The musical covering the entire variety across India. Hariharan singing Swagatham with people forming a Namaste and the lovely dancing hands formed by people. Kids forming huge mehendi designs on a huge sheet. You have to see it to believe it. For me, it's one of the best opening ceremonies.