What you won't see on the evening news!

Since December 31, the issue of statehood for Telangana has been a constant part of the newspaper coverage, but with the exception of the reading of the six option convoluted report that was finally delivered on January 6, nothing else has been shown on the news. We just learned that the rioting on the Osmania University campus was purposefully not covered by the TV news by request of the Chief Minister. But since we live in the colony populated by members of the legislative assembly (MLA), we get "special" treatment like the barbed wire cages and the bales of razor wire ready to pull across the street. These are manned by police in riot gear and armed with AK-47s. These folks were not happy when I was in our little shopping area taking pictures, asking me politely NOT to take their pictures. OK, fine! No problem!

This little shopping district, one of literally hundreds that dot the neighborhoods of Hyderabad, is a hub of activity for the thousands of working folk who do everything from construction to delivery people to the maids and cooks for the households in the neighborhood. There are chai carts and vegetable and fruit vendors.

Just beyond the screens is Apollo Supply, an event services business. They dry their carpets in the street so that all the traffic (us included) run over the red or blue carpets as we drive to or from our homes. Ya gotta love it! But it does bring to mind the facility I used in Barquisimeto, Venezuela which was a very large pole barn with a dirt floor. I had it carpeted with what had to be the rejected $2.99/yard carpet from the now defunct New York Carpet World. When I asked the decorator to sweep the carpet, that's exactly what they did. About 20 people with brooms began at the far end of the building and swept the royal blue carpet. You have to believe that with an uneven dirt floor, this expanse of blue carpet rolled and swelled like a Turner colorized opening of NBC's Victory at Sea series from 1952 .

From what we understand, the decision on what will happen to the statehood issue will be in about a month and we'll be back in the States by then. Until that decision, the chai stand guy is going to do a booming business serving the police stationed here a few times a day.

Technically being "winter" you see folks with ear muffs and coats on in the morning when it's at the lowest, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The afternoons is in the low 80s, so it is absolutely great!

Must go for now but with all the police protection I feel safer than a man just getting through a thorough TSA patdown!