Why should my Blog have a title?

Re-location

2011-09-12T11:41:00.002+05:30

I've moved to wordpress now. Here

Ohio bans outsourcing.

2010-09-28T22:25:00.002+05:30

Here comes a post after a long time. I read about this sometime back and wanted to write a post on it. But as usual, was too lazy to put my mind on it. Here it comes now.

Patriotism is one of the qualities you would find in many Americans. People in Ohio must have been celebrating this “victory” (read outsourcing ban). And it has raised fears that more states might make similar move. Off-shoring work is a $50-billion industry. And they want to retain a piece of that cake now.

Why outsource, because manpower is LOT cheaper in India than in US. So when outsourcing is banned and the jobs are retained in US, it means the companies have to start hiring people in US to get the work done.

Awesome! All the jobless people get their jobs back. Patriotism I say. Generating employment and paying salaries increases the spending capabilities of the people in Ohio, which in turn starts the cycle of the demand and supply, which is a good sign for the economy and the people of Ohio.

What about the firm’s profits? Yes. If the cost to a company increases by paying more salaries than they are now, it eats up a part of their future profits. When companies are forced to pay almost five times the salary of some guy in India when outsourcing is banned, it is indeed a “victory”.

Isn’t America supposed to be a capitalistic country? Isn’t it a free country where anybody can do business if they have good ideas and capital? Why restrict their profits for the sake of the employment of other people?

--

2009-11-18T14:47:00.001+05:30

The car had stopped near my house. I got down and noticed that there were puppies sleeping on the road. They were right in front of the car and if the driver went any further, they would come under his wheel. I thought the puppies would walk away hearing the sound of the car. But they were too young to realize the danger. The mother had ran away hearing the car start again. It was barking to the puppies, maybe she was telling them in dog’s language to move. But the puppies were fast asleep I guess. The car started moving and the driver had turned the wheel so that the puppies could be saved. Alas, when the puppies woke up, they found the car above them and confused ones started moving towards the hind wheel . Next moment I could hear them yelping with pain for help and struggling. I had to direct the driver correctly so that he could steer clear and save the puppies, but the damage was already done. By the time the car left, one puppy had expired and the second one was fighting for life. The mother came running towards the puppies after the car left and was licking the puppies, expecting them to wake up. After few minutes the second one passed away. The mother was still licking the puppies and the other puppies who had cleverly ran away came back and were yelping to wake the dead puppies. I was watching all this from my house. This continued for 20 minutes and then the mother realized they were never going to wake up. It started barking, which sounded like a cry. I stood there empathizing the pain the mother was going through. I knew the pain it was going through. One moment, you’re there with them and the next moment, they are not there with us anymore. After an hour I went inside the home as I could not do anything else but see the mother cry, which I could not.

When I woke up this afternoon, the puppies were still on the road and the mother beside them. The other three puppies were hungry and were trying wake the mother for their lunch. Mother refused to wake up. I went back in and was getting ready to leave for the office. After an hour I came out to leave when I saw the mother was still sleeping. The place was stinking because of the two dead puppies. I walked towards the dog and puppies and then I realized, the mother had passed away too...

Lizard King

2009-10-07T01:40:00.004+05:30

On every side was silence, pressing upon him with its tangible presence. The world around him was moving, moving away from him. He felt like he was being transported to another world. The perfect world for him, which was right in front of him but could not be seen or visited normally. It was a secret world which could only be visited by smoking you know what. He was liking it. People around him were dancing, like they were taking part in some ritual. He started dancing too. Jim Morrison was singing “Light my fire” when he started giggling. His senses were going numb. His memory was becoming weak. He forgot the reason why he was giggling. Finally someone spoke, he lifted his head to see who. It was Anderson who spoke. Jim Morrison was singing louder than Anderson and he could not hear a word of what he spoke. He paused the song to listen to Anderson. “Dude, roll another joint” said Anderson. He showed a tag and said office. He then sat in a corner, tired after the ritual dance. He opened the book “Nobody gets out of here alive” autobiography of Jim Morrison and started reading. Anderson and the rest of the people left the room leaving him with Chaitanya, who was already asleep. He saw something was moving in front of him. He tried to concentrate as the image was unclear. It was Jim Morrison and he was drinking at the bar. He looked around and found himself in the bar. He was surprised to find himself there, when he just read about this scene in the book. He was reading further and he could see that happening in front of him. He jumped from his bed and shouted “ I saw the Lizard king! I saw the lizard king!” Chaitanya who was asleep woke up and did some gibberish talk. He did not bother about him and turned to the page where it was written that when Jim sang, the crowd was enchanted and started a dancing ritual. He played the song “Light my fire” and could see the crowd. He started dancing with them too. He felt they were being transported to another world…

The alarm was ringing and he was too lazy to wake up. Chaitanya was trying to wake him up “Get up! You have to leave for the office in another 20 minutes” He woke up and saw the note written on the table. A note to recollect everything that happened last night and to put it in his blog. He smiled.

Passion

2009-10-06T20:54:00.001+05:30

Passion. The inextinguishable fire.

Lives of passion are monumental in the world. They shine among us, reaching always for the paths without compromise.

As with everything in life, there are no guarantees. There is no promise that being true to your passion will bring success, financial and creative. And in that sense it can be scary road to travel. Those around you may be on traditional paths in their careers and in their personal lives. And when you look around at your contemporaries to take on a reading on how you measure up, you may find that don’t - on those terms. You might not be married, have a three bedroom house, a car, with a couple of retirement plans in the bank, or on the higher tiers of conventional success ladder.

But passion and its pursuit have payoffs far greater than numbers you can deposit in your bank.

The light in their eyes, the smile in their voices, the understanding, the compassion comes from having lived in worlds that are not normally open to most people.

The Rainbow

2009-10-06T20:53:00.001+05:30

On one of my journeys to Hyderabad (from Bombay) I saw a beautiful scene which would remain in my memory for a long time if write it down here. (written in the journal)

At some unknown place the train halted for a signal and I woke up from my deep sleep. It was raining outside, and walked up to the door to get some fresh air and to have a look at the rain.

The moment I opened the door, I was filled with awe. The land in front of me was a plain land with little grass on it and the sun, almost at the end of it. It stopped pouring after few minutes and the shining sun made its presence felt by brightening up the place. The drops of water which settled on the grass after the rain made it shine.

Usually in any city if you observe leaves or grass, they look dead to you from the pollution. But here, they looked fresh and alive.

It was drizzling again and I walked to the opposite door with a curious look on the face searching the endless sky for something I haven’t seen in years, a rainbow. Ah! There it was, the rainbow. The sign of happiness.

How beautiful it looks, is what I cannot explain in words.

I dont know how to name this post.

2009-01-18T00:41:00.000+05:30

I dont see how a debate can be informative when four guys are shouting at the top of their voice to make their point. And what does the debate lead to? Now thats a question I'am unable to comprehend. How would it matter to me if i know Mr.M is prime minister material or not? The question if any, of this kind should arise when he wins the election and people are searching for this so called prime minister material guy.

Another thing i dont understand is, why people think it is necessary to know the outcome of this debate. Why is it so necessary to understand what these four guys are shouting? Im sure there were other kinds of debates in the past as well, and none of them led to any thing constructive. Welcome to the new era guys! We broadcast entertainment (read crap) in the name of news!

Future of olympics

2008-11-01T04:01:00.000+05:30

From the year 1896 modern Olympics are being played across the world by all countries. How long will they be called the modern Olympics? Someone has to innovate the games they are playing. What now are sports may become luxury in future. Maybe because of shortage of water, there would not be swimming in Olympics? Maybe because of global warming there might not be winters, so no winter Olympics would be held.

Time, i suppose will change the situations that the sportsmen would compete in future. But the real question is by 2050 will there be enough space in world considering the rate of population growth of China and India and other countries? I suppose these countries population will eventually move to other countries because of land and resource limitations. Then maybe the population of the rest of the countries would also rise. Then serious questions of wasting lands for sports when there is shortage of it would arise.

So new games would be introduced in Olympics. So one weekend, I thought why not innovate modern games for future Olympics.

Traffics Olympics

Crossing the road [not on a zebra crossing] without getting hit by vehicles.

Taking public transportation and earning a seat.

Running bus, trains, where the person who catches the train/ bus at highest speed is winner.

Mart Olympics

Finding all the given items in the list and getting them billed first.

Locating the items from the list first.

Etc…

When we tried playing unrecognized mart Olympics at some mart one weekend, people gave me a odd look. I say, wait till 2050!

Sambar and Chutney

2008-10-18T22:06:00.000+05:30

For a long time i wondered why there's no Mc'D in chennai. chennai is a metropolitan city and Mc'D has its outlets in all major cities. I could see no reason for not having a Mc'D in chennai in any point of view. But after constant thinking and head banging (to the wall..) i came to a conclusion. Let me discuss about that a little later.

Then i got the news from some guy that Mc'D has finally opened an outlet in chennai. So i've decided that i should go there this weekend. It was opened in a IT park's food court, which was also open to general public. Again i wondered before going there, why there? why not in some posh place in chennai? Duh? posh place in chennai...??
More head banging which resulted in no answer.

Weekend arrives, and i arrive at the IT park. After ordering at Mc'D, i learnt that that particular outlet was opened months ago. But i was told about it only a week ago. After observing that the only poeple eating at Mc'D were the north india guys. Basically the IT park was full of them, and the local guys could be counted in numbers. The guy who told me about Mc'd was also a north indian. Eureka! Without any headbanging this time!

The reason for opening the outlet in that IT park, even though it was way too far away from the city is because of the north indian crowd, who incidentaly were the only customers (from what i saw). Now, the answer for the first question. They dont serve sambar and chutney with Mc'Veggies and Happy meals. And local guys idea of a meal is not complete with sambar! So they must have thought why open an outlet here when we dont see a possible future for it.

This IT park's food court had Pathankot, Bayleaf, Noodle house outlets usually a choice for north indian poeple. And they were doing good in that IT Park. This might have led to the outlet in Chennai.

If ever Mc'D has to expand its operations in chennai and has to open branches across the city, where the majority of the crowd is sambar eating crowd. The volume of sales for the whole city would be less than the volume of sales in that IT park. Why? Because they dont serve sambar. So, i think if Mc'D plans for an expansion, it should serve sambar and chutney in sachets instead of ketchup. :P

Just an average guy

2008-10-16T00:20:00.000+05:30

Then when are you going to settle and and support your family? asked his uncle. Its only one year now, it would take some more time, he said wondering what made him ask this question. Thats never expected from you. I never expect people to expect anything about me said he. Oh! gasped people around him. You should never answer like that said his aunt. What do you care about? do you have any idea that you are 23 and still not serious? i supported the whole family when i was 22! And see you! you are 23 and useless said his other uncle.

Everyone wants him to get settled, earn lots, support his family. Its almost a rarity that he meets someone who understands his position. He is always expected to be a winner. Such were the standards set by people around him. It doesnt matter what the standards are. People always refuse to accept that he is an average guy. The problem is they dont want to be assosiated with these average guys. Not when they are related to them.

Okie, what are your future plans? what do you think you would be doing after a year? In a year you should be buying a house, a vehicle, a good job. Good job? i have no idea what that means, he thinks.

Why should i do all that? just because everyone else is doing? Why? why should i be a part of this rat race? he thought.

Requiem for Answers

2008-10-01T16:27:00.000+05:30

Have you ever questioned yourself on your very existence? The purpose of your existence? For the past few days questions like these are coming up on my mind. Maybe because im free, not occupied, bored most of the times? Maybe because im confused thinking about myself? Maybe it is the "no-work" at work place factor?
What ever the reason maybe, i don't care. I need answers. Many people are lucky enough they dont face this situation. Some people are lucky enough that they find the answers. But not me. Maybe im not looking for the answers in a correct way? Is there a way to look for these answers?
What am i doing with my life? why am i doing it? why should i live? Maybe the only reasons in still living is because im still breathing, and i don't have guts to end it. Why should i end it anyways? Is this some kind of problem? No. Given ample work and no room for thoughts like these, i would probably still live my life without any complaints.
What am i doing? What do i want to do? What gives me happiness? why am i so stupid that i dont have answers to all these endless questions?

Smoking in public places Banned!

2008-10-01T13:12:00.001+05:30

World is a public place. Nobody owns it! Why sell when you don't want people to smoke in public places?? Govt gets considerable amount of revenues on selling Smokes. They are the Fastest moving consumer goods in India. The largest tobacco manufacturer is the leading company in FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) sales.Be it in volume of sales or the revenues generated (for the firm) tobacco is the fastest moving consumer good. And govt would loose a lot if it bans the selling of tobacco. So it will not do that, but instead it has a ban on smoking in public places. The fine for being caught smoking in public places is 500 bucks. Again, will the people stop smoking in public places if it is banned? Majority of them don't care about the laws in India anyway. If it is not the case, the country would have been a much better place. So they will smoke, and again revenue generated (not a considerable amount, keeping in mind the revenue it gets from the sales). Quit selling, and people would quit smoking in public places. Because if selling is banned they have to be smuggled, which is a bigger offence and the number of people who are ready to take risks come down.

Life in a so called metro

2008-05-28T00:33:00.000+05:30

Only because I had no Job for the past two years and two hundred unsuccessful interviews behind my back I had to take up the job here. I’m a racist, I hate these people. I’m not ashamed of telling truth. All my life I hated this place and I will do so for the rest of my life.

My first day at job, not even one speaks in English. Somebody said something to me in his language, “sorry I don’t speak the language” I said in English. I thought he would translate it in English to me, but he left the place…

I know anybody would love their language, but I think that should not stop yew from learning or speaking other languages. Not one or two, yew could find majority of people who love to be like a frog in a well.

“People are strange, when you’re a stranger.

Faces look ugly, when you’re alone…”

(Jim Morrison)

Man these people can get onto anybody’s nerves with a heavy influence of their mother tongue when they speak in English.

One day I was having lunch at office with couple of guys. They asked me where was I before I came to this place. I told them I was in Mumbai for a year. “Oh, Mumbai, it’s all slum” said a guy. I told him when yew compare this place to Mumbai, its slums were far much better than the whole city.

Yes, every street looks like a slum. Majority of the people look like they are from the slums. Mind yew, I’ve got nothing against slums, but they don’t even stand a chance for comparing themselves with slums of Mumbai.

Now lets get back to the city. There is summer from July to Feb, and from March to June there’s the super summer. You don’t have to take bath here, the sweating will keep you wet all day. Then there are the beaches, Which are never ever clean and half of the population is on the beaches on weekends. Never ever make a mistake of going there, I’m certain you would start hating the beaches.

I’ve been here for nine months but have not found one good point to mention here about this city. So let me end the blog here and sleep now…

July 24'th 2007

2007-07-24T20:43:00.000+05:30

This day would be in my cherished memories for as long as I live.This day, somebody called me and said I'am Hired.Yes after a long time,maybe two years and more than 150 interviews, im selected!!

The first thoughts that went through my mind after the call go like this...

What was the HR even thinking? Maybe it was a mistake! The firm is Doomed!
F*** it man, who cares, I got placed!

Man on the platform.

2007-06-18T15:14:00.000+05:30

One fine morning i set out to meet someone.So i was waiting for my local on a platform.While i was waiting for the train to arrive,I've started observing people around me which is my favourite pastime.Far away on the platform which was deserted sat a man on the floor crying.The very sight of him crying made me feel sorry for him.So i started to move towards him and find out what was the matter.Nobody around him was bothered to ask him what happened.Because sometimes people perform these kind of attention grabbing stunts so that their accomplice can make merry picking up the pockets of the people who gather around the performer.But this man didnt look like those attention grabbers who watch you while they cry.
He was on the floor with his hands covering the face.So i observed the place once again checking if he had an accomplice and then asked him why he was crying.When he lifted his head to see me,I could see that he was a 'Special person'.He told me that he couldnt catch the train and his mom already did.He neither knew his address nor the way.So he started crying again without bothering to ask me for help.I then decided to take him to the railway police who could be of help to him.Just then a voice calling his name from the other side of the platform.It was his mother who came back to the station taking a return train.The lady started crying on seeing her son safe ad sound.She then thanked me for my curiosity i guess.She then left the platform with her son on a train,this time making sure he's on the train with her.

Who's bothered anyway..

2007-06-12T17:57:00.000+05:30

I was standing in a bus stop waiting for a bus.I saw a boy on the other side of the road,cleaning cars which were waiting for the signal.He looked like a 3 year old,but i guess he was older than that.He was so small that the driver of the car couldnt see him cleaning the car.He was leaning from the road divider onto the car.With his small hands barely reaching the car,he was trying to clean it.Suddenly the signal was given to the cars which were waiting.I had this thougt in my mind that he would fall down as soon as the signal was on and the car kept moving,as he was resting both his hands on the car.The driver who could not see the boy started moving forward and the boy fell down.I ran towards him to help him out and to stop the car.His hand came in the way of the car and got hurt.As soon as the driver stoped the car,he started cursing the boy.The traffic police came running on seeing the crowd gather.He just asked the man to move his car and clear the jam,and asked the boy to leave the place or he would put him intlo jail .The boy started to run from that place fearing the policeman.
I went back to my bus stop and started wondering while waiting for my bus.Who's bothered anyway..