November 5, 2009
This is an insert that I received with the Sunday newspaper. Needless to say, I was totally surprised! Which company came up with a Slaughter House Management System which provides a Animal ID to the “identified” animals??!!??
Hats off to the Indian Entrepreneurship spirit!!
Bakrid Insert
September 11, 2009
Ok. First off…this is not an original idea. A friend of mine has done something similar (not online though).
What is it? Had some spare time and was playing around with Google Maps when this idea struck me…I used Google maps to create a custom map. I have used push pins to show the places across the world that I have been to. Right now those pins are few and far in between…but, hopefully in a few years, I hope to light up the entire map!
My Global Footprint - Click on the image to open Google Maps
May god bless me. Amen!
August 19, 2009
A major IT company based out of Bangalore mandates that men have to be in formals (with Tie) on Monday/Tuesday and formals (without Tie) on Wednesday/Thursday. They permit casuals for the rest of the week (Friday is the only day left!). It is a similar story in most of the organizations in the IT sector. I have tried hard to find a reason why employers want to force a mandatory dress code down the throats of their employees. Am still unsuccessful at nailing the reason…
Let us look at why a company would want to establish a dress code? I think the main reason would be to project a professional image to the customers, potential employees, and visitors. You wouldn’t want your customers to be in the office full of men in their gym wear and ladies in beach wear! Formal clothing does give a sense of professionalism and a serious approach towards work. One of my previous managers had told me that he works better when he is dressed in formals. So much so that even when he is working from home, he would slip into his formals, wear a shoe and then sit on the dining table with his laptop! He was of the opinion that when one is able to work better and free of any distractions when one is dressed appropriately.
So, is it necessary to have some sort of dress code in the modern day IT work place? I think Yes. Every company should have a dress code set. But this dress code should serve more as guidelines rather than a set of rules. Most employees are capable of reading the guidelines and understand what can be worn to office and what cannot be. I am kept wondering why a company makes rules about the dress code. Ties on Monday/Tuesday?!? What extra advantage can possible an organization get by enforcing that? Business formals look formal enough with or without the tie! Next I know companies would come up with a list of day wise shirt colors!
My Ideal World: I am of the strong opinion that people perform best when the workplace makes them feel comfortable. You cannot make an employee comfortable unless you let him wear something comfortable. If I am running a company, the only guideline I would provide to my employees would be to wear clothes which make them look smart, professional and to ensure that what they are wearing does not distract others in the office.
August 18, 2009
A Rattle Snake for a Pet?
If I ask this question to someone back home, I am pretty sure that the response would be “Are you crazy?”. The same question in US and the answer could be “Perhaps!”
People in America are spoilt for choices…And, this extends to every realm of life, including pets. I recently went to a Pet store where there are all sorts of pets up for sale. I have had dogs and cats as pets back home, but I was taken aback by looking at the range and variety of pets available in the store. There is a big choice of lizards, rats, guinea pigs, turtles, snakes etc. available off the shelf for the american to buy. Pets are sold online too. Check out Reptiles & Critters for a vast range of “exotic pets”.
An iguana is one of the ugliest creatures I have seen. It looks so repulsive, that I almost ran back into the office when I saw glanced upon one just outside the office. And, then, I got to meet a colleague who has an Iguana as a pet!
Want a Pet?
This is also a good example of the part of US that I admire the most. People here do what they want to, when they want to. No body bothers about what the other person thinks of you. You do what you have to do. People will like you if they have to. The amount of freedom that this country gives to its citizens is amazing.
July 5, 2009
After seeing the Ocean 11 series, I always had it in my mind to visit a casino. And, what better day than the Independence day for that! My first visit to a casino was in one word, mind blowing!
Seminole Hard Rock Cafe
I had visited the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood FL last evening. The first thing that hit me is the size of their car parking. Across the 4 levels, there was enough parking space to park a zillion cars! I was truly impressed with the number of people that it managed to attract. And, to think of the perfect planning that went into making this place. Even with so many people and cars, there was no chaos at all.
Click here to see the Bing Maps birds eye view of the casino. The entire area that you see is what is the Seminole Casino. It is HUGE!
You enter the place, and discover that what was shown in Oceans 11 was not an exaggeration! Money flows here. Loads of slot machines, countless poker and blackjack tables, live bands playing awesome music, a well stocked bar, sexy girls serving booze….the list just goes on and on.
Slots
Gaming Tables
This is where I made my "fortune"!
I tried my hand at slots and got lucky! Made $100 by the time I was leaving. just could not get the hang of the table games, and so, I did not try them. Will surely go back after learning the game. By the time I left at 1 am, there were still people pouring in. The casino is open 24×7 and rightfully so. There is never a dull moment here!
July 2, 2009
Till last week, my day used to start with the newspaper. Depending on the time that I had in the morning, I read upto 2 newspapers to get myself updated on what is happening across the globe. Little did I realize before reaching the US that I was in for a rude shock. There are hardly any newspapers around here! Those who want to read the news (and I suspect there is a very small minority falling into that category!) read it online. Nobody gets the luxury of getting a hard copy delivered.
Compare that to India and you will hardly find any similarities. Everybody I know gets a newspaper at home. Even though there is good penetration of internet and broadband in cities, I don’t know anyone who goes online to get his morning dose of news. A newspaper and a cup of coffee/tea has become the Indian way of welcoming the day! If one is traveling, he/she gets free copy of the newspaper from the hotel/airport. But, that is not the case here in US.
Old habits die hard. These days, I read the online editions, and, am trying hard to make the whole experience exciting!
I googled and discovered that US is not an exception to the newspaper thing. Infact, India is an exception! There are hardly few countries that has so much newspaper readership. Read this interesting piece.
Note: These opinions are based on what I have seen in the past 1 week. If anybody feels that this is incorrect, please add a comment or mail me.
June 29, 2009
I am already missing home! Not something that I should be saying…especially since it has been only 2 days for me in US! But, then, I am missing home and Bangalore and everything there. And, you know the problem is that the more you think about it, the more you start missing it. So, let me get down to writing about what I have been busy with in the last few days.
The flight from Bangalore to Philly was uneventful. British Airways was surprising! I have read quite a lot of bad reviews on the internet and was ready for pathetic service and missing baggage! But, things turned out to be fine. The flight attendants were very courteous and professional. The food too was good. The only thing that they could do is to ask people before they serve Beef. In my meal, I realized that the meat was actually beef only after finishing it. I wonder what a Chicken eating non-vegetarian Indian would have done!
I learnt my first lesson as soon as I landed in Philly airport. I searched for a pay phone since my International roaming was not yet activated. I realised that a pay phone needs coins for it to work. No coins no phone. The minimum currency I had was a $20 bill and there was no way I was getting change for that. All the shops in the international arrival section were closed…maybe because I landed on a Friday evening. After a lot of begging, the Information desk lady finally offered me her phone to call my bro/bhabhi! I made a mental note to carry change next time onwards.
Always have some of these when you travel
After my bhabhi was able to locate me, we were off to a short journey to their house in NJ. I was amazed at the kind of road infrastructure that I saw. Infact, the amazement is still there. Everytime I go out, I see those wise roads and the zipping cars. The road infra is just outta the world!
Roads of prosperity
In the 2 days after that, apart from recovering from my jet lag, we managed to spend sometime in downtown Philly and Penn’s Landing. Some pics below to do the talking…
It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's a flying advertisement!
Ben Franklin Bridge
Incredible India Advertisement on a Philly sightseeing bus!
We have moved on...Horses are only in Indian villages! Not in the cities!!
Everbody here has a car!
The only Indian?
Am headed to Boca Raton and work tomorrow morning…Will write in more later…
June 26, 2009
A friend of mine handles the recruitment for his organization. To check the English writing skills of candidates, he makes them write a passage on “What makes you feel that you are good enough to be hired”.
Below is the scanned copy of one of such passages. Read on…and enjoy!!
(You will have to click on the image to open a larger, readable version)
June 11, 2009
Auto rickshaws in Bangalore are a complete mess. That is the first reaction that hits me as soon as I think about them! I sit to think of one good trait about the Bangalore autos and I just can seem to find any.
There are many issues with the autos. Important amongst them are:
Most of the auto drivers in Bangalore feel that they are doing a favour on the traveller. It is not a buyers market but a sellers market. They have fixed places they want to go to. They will not venture anywhere beyond those places. Much has been written about their attitude. A few links for those who want to read: Bangalore Diaries; City Lights
My main grouse with the Karnataka government is about the fact that they have not done anything about the second issue. Delhi had moved to CNG almost 10 years back. Other places have atleast moved to a 4-stroke option. Bangalore must be the only big city which still has not enforced any norms for auto rickshaws. 90% of the rickshaws that run in Bangalore are 2 stroke. They create high levels of noise when they move. Everyday, they are helping Bangalore become a very very polluted place!
From (nz)dave's photostream
Why doesn’t the government bother to do anything about them? Why is it that the cops always stop car drivers like myself for checking the pollution certificate and ignore the smoking barrels that pass by?
From Cipson Thomas' Blog
The Karnataka government needs to wake up and get its act straight. It will need a lot of will power and focus to change the way things are presently. When the rule to convert all the autos to CNG was implemented in Delhi, there was a lot of resistance. It was because of the strong push from the Supreme Court that the Delhi government and the people finally had to comply. We will need a similar desire for change here in Bangalore. I hope that Yeddy is able to do that!
June 6, 2009
I have not written a post in the past few weeks and with a good reason. The heading of this post was my learning for the past few weeks.
I have had my legs operated a few years back due to what my friends refer to as “the world’s most expensive long jump!” When I was discharged from the hospital, I was advised to come back for a regular check up every year. Quite naturally, I forgot completely about the annual checkups once I was back on my feet. Somehow, I approach a doctor or God only when things go out of hand. I tend to ignore them otherwise!
I finally went for this checkup after a long 5 years break. The doc, annoyed that he was, sent me off for a Doppler test. The doppler exam showed issues. I was send for a MRA scan. The scan also showed issues. Apparently, the issue had grown over the last 5 year to the current stage. If this was detected early, the doc could have avoided it from transforming into a big issue. Suddenly, I found myself in between a debate on how and when to operate on my legs. All this because, I had not followed up with the doc…
In the past few weeks, I have been on the phone trying to get a consensus on whether an operation is required or not. My doc, my brother, my cousins…Everybody’s opinion has been sought and finally the operation is called off in the near seeable future.
During all this while, I and my family have been undergoing the mental trauma of going through another surgery. And, I have come to the conclusion that it is better listen to your doc rather than putting yourself and your family thorough all this torture.
Sam Walton - Made In America
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