A Different World

Today was my first day back at the office after ten days spent mostly eating and drinking in the company of friends and family while looking spiffy, or eating and drinking in the company of my cat while looking like I just rolled out of bed.

The holidays are a special time.

Anyways there I was this morning, going through the contents of my inbox when I came across the following from a colleague in Bangalore.

(Note: Some personal and corporate details have been removed in the interest of not getting fired.)
 
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From: DJT
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 4:14 AM
To: DL ST2
Subject: FW: {URGENT} Bangalore Office to close early today


Dear Team,

Today I will be leaving early due to the anticipated unrest in Bangalore city due to the sudden demise of a famous actor. See you tomorrow.

Have a nice day

Thanks and Regards

D
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Intrigued, I proceeded to the original forwarded message.

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From: Info @ Labs India
Sent: Wednesday, 30 December 2009 2:35 PM
To: DL SLI BLR ALL
Subject: {URGENT} Bangalore Office to close early today

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

Dear Colleagues,

As you would be aware, earlier today one of the legendary actors from the Kannada film industry, Dr. Vishnuvardhan passed away due to a cardiac arrest.

We anticipate unrest in many parts of Bangalore city, with the actor's fans taking to the streets and disrupting normal life today. Hence as a precautionary measure, we have decided to close the Bangalore office early at 2:45 P.M.

All colleagues are requested to take the shuttles starting this time. We also request colleagues who have their own vehicles to leave by this time as well. The regular evening shuttles (5:15 PM, 7:05 PM and 9:30 PM) and the late evening cab services stand cancelled.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely. For further updates, please call the hotline.

Best Regards,
Crisis Management Team
Labs India
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Here is Dr. Vishnuvardhan:

R.I.P.

No Canadian performer could elicit such a response. If Donald Sutherland dropped dead on the sidewalk outside my office, we’d still be open for business up on the fourth floor. If Anne Murray, Elvis Stojko, Michael J. Fox, Pamela Anderson, Alex Trebek, and the original members of Steppenwolf were in a private jet that exploded over the Lachine Canal, it still wouldn’t be enough to paralyze local industry. If the Montreal Canadiens and Team Canada simultaneously won the Stanley Cup and the gold medal respectively, during business hours, I’ll wager the ensuing frenzy would take place mostly on Ste. Catherine Street, with a few yahoos disrupting the celebrations.

But over in my neck of the woods, projects would continue to be managed, code developed, and documentation written. 
 
In any case, I'd be into tracking down a few Vishnuvardhan titles. Apparently the guy was good.


UPDATE: Since posting this entry, my friend and co-worker Molly has suggested that a big Habs win could actually provoke a fair bit more mayhem than I've described. True, but I still say that it wouldn't be enough for the Montreal office to shut down pre-emptively.