Student Heros' - Dangerous stunts on trains

I had to travel from Thiruvanmiyur to Mylapore by train this morning around 8.00am. In all subsequent platform from Thiruvanmiyur till Mylapore, I noticed a small group of boys aged between 12 years to 17 years, run along the train to get on it, about 4 children per opening. It was quite frightening to see a competition among them as to who would last longer as the running train gathered more and more speed. In my compartment, one boy’s hand was in a sling and he was doing this dangerous stunt.

I requested the boys not to do that as the risked their live every time. I told them, if they were grievously hurt, losing their limbs forever, it was much more a negative impact on their very lives as they had to live many more years to come without them. I told them death was the easiest of all, but have they thought about their parents who struggled so hard for them to study. Some older boys in same school, who were snickering, I had asked them to advice younger ones.  They replied to me that those kids do not listen to them, but I told them to make a strong point and impression on their younger school mates. I asked them the school and understood, they belonged to a famous school on R.K.Mutt Road.

On getting down at Mylapore station, I went to the station master to request him for a solution, but all I received were complaints and they were trying their best. The station master mentioned that the children had been caught, and the school had been made aware, but it has not helped. They had also handed over some repeated offenders to police but as they were juvenile, no cases were registered and they were let go. They asked me to approach the school.

 I went to the school on R.K.Mutt Road. As the prayers were being done, I was asked to wait. I met the social sciences teacher Mr.R, to whom I mentioned what I had seen. Many students’ railway passes were cancelled when they had been caught, but the students had got themselves regular railway passes to student passes and still indulged in dangerous stunts. Once, when Mr.R had once informed a group of students not to do the stunt, he was asked by a fellow passenger as to what bothered him. When Mr.R mentioned he was a school teacher for that boy, that fellow passenger informed Mr.R to not bother the boy and keep it to the school only. What sort of society are we in, where a teacher who wishes well for his students is asked to shut up?

Mr.R then accompanied me to the principal’s office, where I updated him of this morning incidents. The Principal mentioned he had caught 2 such students belonging to his school a couple of days back. The parents of such students to meet were asked to meet the principal and provide letters of apologies that it would not happen again. Sometimes, where the parents are called, the parents deny flatly that their wards were even capable of what the Principal mentioned and out rightly denied. Any warning does not have a permanent affect and may only affect a small part of the population. The other students still continue their dangerous stunts.

I understand that a long drawn plan which can hit at the root cause of the problem will be one of the best ways to resolve them. I have noticed that none of the girls do any such stunts.

Movies teach stunts. By performing a stunt, the young boy student feels the following:

(i)                  I am a hero. I can face danger and do danger. I am the best.

(ii)                I can impress other students (boys) that I am willing to take risk with my life. You all should look at me as a hero.

(iii)               I can impress other girl students and be a hero.

The hero culture of risk taking need a root cause analysis and a handling at the very root of the problem. My suggestion to the Principal was the following.

1. Please have an inter-school competition for this age group of boys & girls.
2. Topic: Dangers of stunts on trains and buses.
3. Select about 20 students, who have done an outstanding essay. Idea is one boy and 1 girl per month for entire school duration of 10 months.
4. 1 boy and 1 girl speak every 15 days at a school prayer for 5 minutes.
5. Coach these students with the final presentation to the entire schools. (I volunteer myself, and other who desire to help)
6. The students present to their peers on the dangers.
7. Set up anonymous help line to students to report any dangers seen.

I have suggested some long term plans to the Principal, which he mentioned he would discuss and get back. I have also informed that I will help in whatever little ways that I can, to create a positive impression on the students’ minds. We need to tackle all the student community against this dangerous practice and not just this school.

Idea is for the students to understand danger and opt out of it voluntarily in a peaceful manner. I feel students should not be threatened into submission. A threat of a TC, punishment or dismissal from school, or any punishment by a policeman or any other is not a good direction, as not all will be threatened by such an act.

A TC from the school, I feel serves no purpose. It is a means of the school establishment saying that is not my problem and the problem will still continue in another school. Worse, the student may lapse into bad habits or bad company.

Any physical punishment is also temporary, how will it really make the student understand the act of stunts is not correct?

Please spread the word, and if you see any student doing stunts, please ask them to stop. Collectively, we can make an impact. I please welcome your comments, where we can seek a permanent solution in a constructive manner to the next generation.

Sholingar, Vellore - Yoga Narasimhar and Yoga Anjaneyar temple

We decided to go for this temple to begin our 10th Anniversary of married lives. We woke up at 3.30am, started out from Chennai at 4.30am towards Sholingar after blessings of Vinayakar. It was a pleasant day for us. It had rained the previous night and ws drizzling in a mist format when we were travelling by car. The weather throughout was fantastic, compared to the previous hot days. The perfect weather for a good climb.

From Chennai, it is around 2.5 hours by car via NH4. The return journey, I decided to choose from MapmyIndia which showed the Trichy-Chennai highway. This took us more than 4 hours to return. The first hour of Trichy highway was fantastic, but after that my speed was between 20 kms per hr to 40 kms per hr. This road has only 2 lanes and you have to follow the person in front. The road was full of potholes and the traffic high and crawling.(Do not recommend the 2^nd route at all)

We had used google maps to reach, but this temple is shown incorrectly in google maps. The temple shown for Sholingar temple was instead Dhanvantari temple. I had to ask people nearby to go to the Sholingar temple which was around 14 kms from this location. Sholingur temple is just on the left after government hospital Sholingur around 2 kms away. Better to set your route on this hospital.

We reached the location in 2 hrs 10 minutes, but to search to arrive took another 20 minutes. Filled petrol on the bunk on the way. By the way, this Dhanvantari temple also has 2 hills and looks too similar to the Narasimhar temple.

Any pooja items it is better to buy down and take up, you may not find anything sold up. Also hide it inside any non transparent bag, as the monkeys will grab anything - tulsi mala, ordinary flowers, water or eatables.

They also sell a stick for Rs.5, do buy at least one. I did not have any problem with the monkeys, but some monkeys did act rough with other people. I saw one man who did not do anything to the monkeys getting beaten by the monkeys for around 50 steps. He did not carry anything on his hand, neither did he bother the monkeys, but 2 monkeys took a dislike to this man, beat him on his legs, pulled his dhoti and scratched him. They also snarled at him, as a group of 5 monkeys. Some passers by came to his help.

Yoga Narasimhar temple comes first. Yoga Narasimhar has about 1300 steps to climb (barefoot). There is sunshade on the top of the steps. You can buy only Pooja items on the ground. However lots of monkeys around and they will snatch anything from you – water bottle, flower or tulsi mala. So, we need to keep it hidden in a bag when we climb up. They are very bold too. In the temple, one of them, called me on my knee and then pulled my pocket. (twice after a gap). I just told him, I do not have any eatables to give you. He went away. However, I noticed other people had a tougher time.

Lakshmi is in a separate santoram.  After Lakshmi, we could visit Yoga Narasimhar.

Special queue costs Rs.20 per head. For each sannidhi, the archanai ticket cost Rs.10 (Rs.5 per person name)

Outside the temple, there is a small kulam, with green water and many monkeys playing there. I did see tiny fishes in the temple pond.

You can get special threads outside the sanctum sanctoram if you ask a priest. They will not try to sell or mention, you need to request them. Each cost Rs.20. They will also inform you a special procedure to use it.

It took us only 30 minutes to climb the steps. We were on top around 8.00am. But I believe the temple opens at 8.00am only and after Pooja for 30 minutes it will open at 8.30am. As any Narayana temple, the temple serves delicious Prasad. I found the tamarind rice and vada excellent. The curd rice had ginger, and it was ok.

We came down so quickly them our feet started trembling. So far, all climbs previously have been made with shoes and this was the longer one without shoes.

The Yoga Anjaneyar temple was around 250 meters away, we took the car near the temple steps. This had around 400 steps to climb. This also took us 30 minutes. (J We were tired after climbing up and down). Again they also had a special Pooja and asked us to wait 30 minutes. But we had to start back as my mom asked us to return and our child was asking for us. We reached the bottom in 20 minutes, the reason being, a shop midway served Paneer soda (Goli Soda) with Lemon. I had to try it out, and it was delicious after the climb.

There is a Doli service there which caters to bringing up elders and children. (I did not know of it earlier, or I would have taken my 3 year old child). I spoke to one of these doli men and these were the rates they mentioned for taking a person up the temple and back down for Yoga Narasimhar temple. The person will wait until your darshan is complete and then carry down the person.

Child less than 10 years which can be carried up by 1 person – Rs.500

Normal person – who can be carried up by 2 people – Rs.800 to Rs.1200

Heavy person – if carried by more than 2 people (up to 4 people) – Rs.1800 – Rs.2200

An Old Re-union

On 24^th Jan 2013, Friday, there was an old gentleman who came to my house. He was neatly dressed, tucked in shirt, spectacled. He asked for Srinivasan (my dad). I had invited him to our house. He told me that he was a friend of my dad’s from the college days. They had studied B.Sc Mathematics at Vivekananda college in the 1960’s. He wanted to invite my dad to a reunion of all the batch mates that he had traced.

I had offered him coffee and boost but he preferred boost. Over a cup of boost, I spoke with him in length of his “reunion journey”.

That led me to ask him a question on how he traced my dad.

He said, that one of his friends had told him, my dad last worked in "Bank ..****". He went to that Bank and enquired of my father. They had mentioned that he was drawing pension from **** Branch. Then he went to that branch and secured my father's phone numbers.

He said, that initially, he tried a land line phone – 24****** but it was mentioned it was not in use and then he had tried the cell phone but that also came as not in use.

His friend “Seshadri” (Auditor) had mentioned that my dad was living in a Ramaniyam building between Imcops and Adyar terminus. This gentlemen, had walked all over the place trying to trace the elusive Ramaniyam building but the only multi storied apartment he saw was Appaswamy builders. He had then enquired in a petty shop of a Ramaniyam and the shopkeeper had mentioned that he would be able to see one near Jayanthi theatre.

So on another day (today), he had again walked to Jayanthi theatre but the building near the theatre was not Ramaniyam. He again approached another petty shop owner and enquired. This shopkeeper had mentioned that the building was behind the hotel Vegnation. He had turned up at the gate and enquired of the security whether there was a Srinivasan in our building. (Mind it that there are totally 125 families living in my apartment) The security has mentioned my name – and there was someone as Srinivasan staying with me. So, he had come to my apartment and rang the bell.

I wanted to hear more. So I had asked him on the reunion and how many people were coming there. He told me that he had managed to trace 25 people. He told me that he had been individually tracing people for the reunion for the past 6 months. He had taken 2 weeks to trace my dad. (Old fashion detective style).  Of the 25, so far 15 people had committed to meet.

I had asked him whether other friends of his have done the kind of footwork that he had done? He mentioned that one more friend had helped him but the footwork was mainly done by him. When he had approached his friends, they had told him, that if he is able to trace others, they will try to make it to the reunion. He mentioned that Feb 15^th as “the” date. He would try to trace as many as possible. When I had asked why he had used that particular date, he mentioned that “Ellarum kizam kattaigal…inniko..nalayo..ellarum oru thadavai parthu pesanum..” meaning Everyone was old…Today or Tomorrow…Have to see everyone and speak with all.

He told a little about himself. He mentioned initially he had worked in TTK for around 10 years after which he had gone back to take care of his lands. He had stayed in Adyar in 1992, but again sold his house. Now, he was living in Indira nagar with his son and daughter in law. His son was working in a IT company.

I was elated by the enthusiasm of this gentlemen. He has shown incredible stamina and energy and glowing with enthusiasm at having traced his long seen friend.

I had explained that my dad was currently in US with my sister. He may not be available for the reunion. But I requested him to wait, as I said I would call him at US.

I dialed and my sister had taken the phone. I just told her that Appa’s college friend was at home. Don’t tell Appa. Just give him the phone. She played along with me and she gave the phone to Appa.

Mr.Dhanapalan introduced himself on the phone to my dad. There was a bit of silence and after recognition, laughter on both sides. They exchanged news.

My dad was sad that he had not known about the reunion or he would have postponed his US trip. He did miss his friend and all his batch mates, which he also affectionately called as his “gang”.

After speaking with my dad, he got up ready to go. We exchanged addresses and phone numbers so that  he could reach my dad and vice versa.

As he left our door, and walked slowly to the lift, in a slow measured pace, a man in his 70's, age had affected his physical appearance… I could see that he was wearing a hearing aid.  But not his mental strength, Mr.Dhanapal who has shown that age does not matter and single mindedness wins. He is a winner all the way - to see his “gang” of friends for a happy reunion. 

I am very happy of having met my father’s friend. I am sharing this joy of the old reunion to all others. My sister called me later…and I told her the incredible story. Both of us were very happy and elated.

To all my good Friends, I do not know who you are now, but I only know that some time before you were a good friend of mine and you still remain so.

Many of us are in the peak of our career. We have a family, leading highly pressurized lives.But for old time sake … let us “just meet” and be “happy” for at least 1 day a year.

Ashram school - Truly loved by the children

This incident happened somewhere around a year back. My niece who was studying at Ashram school at that time. One day when the class was going on, my niece stepped out of class without asking the teacher any permission. She returned to class 10 minutes later. The teacher has asked her where she had been. My niece had sweetly replied to the teacher - Since she was hungry, she went to the kitchen to find out if the food was ready. So the teacher asked her if the food was ready for which my niece replied in affirmative. On that, the teacher, trouped her entire class to the kitchen for lunch.

I was so pleasantly surprised at this entire encounter. I have not heard of any school in the past which allows students to leave the class without any permission from the teacher.

I have not heard of the teacher who so pleasantly takes care of the students in her care that the child is treated a child with love.

I was very surprised that the child was not mistreated in any manner or made to feel sorry for her behavior.

The Ashram school is run by Mrs.Latha Rajanikanth. (Our Superstar Rajanikanth's wife).

What good values have been infused that even an elementary teacher showers such love on a child!

My best wishes for such a good school and may many other schools adopt such healthy practices.

US TV NTSC works in INDIA

I am jubilant!!! Finally got the LED TV which I had got from US to work. The LG LED TV LE5400 Supports only NTSC.

With advent of Digital Channels, I was under the impression that any TV will work, but was I surprised. My Tata Sky did not work. It showed only Black and white. I checked out with one of my wife's friends and he had informed that Airtel TV works, but only in HD mode for those 8 channels. (Not at all helpful). Checked out some broadband forums and many people suggested using Dish TV as it was supported also in the computer and I also found Sun TV is hosted in US through the Dish network.

(Did lots of research on the net and asked lots of people also). Some people had also mentioned that Sun Dish has a NTSC option. It was put in a broadband forum. All this left me confused. Was down to 2 choices: Sun Dish or Dish Network.

My dad at that time consulted a LG technician. He affirmed that LG works in SCV as it has a NTSC option. (Thanks a lot for that LG Technician who helped me make that choice) We earlier had a SCV, which my dad renewed. I gave all the connections. It was still black & white. I went into System Options and changed both for UHF and Audio Video Settings to NTSC_M.

Now, I have a beautiful TV which works in India. Some screenshots showing the settings. Hats

off to SCV who are forward in their thinking of providing all options in a set top box, I was able

to see PAL (India), NTSC (US), Secam (Europe). I have temporarily set this up to check its working. Will set up the entire set on the wall by end of day.
Added: Also confirmed that Dish Tru HD set top box using HDMI cable works for NTSC TV.

Om Nama Sivaya - Sidhar Padalgal at Maruntheashwarar temple

I was in Marundeashwarar temple at Tiruvanmiyur around 4 weeks back, on a Thursday. I was a bit late from office and could make it to the temple at only 8:30pm. That turned out to be my luck also. In the closing of the temple doors and the last abhishekam, I was made part of a heartrending composition by a siddhar, which all the persons outside the Sivan sannidhi were chanting. The love with which it was sung really brought tears to my eyes. I was mesmerized during the entire chanting.

Now, I make it a point to go there at exactly the closing time just before the abishekam. This chanting is done on all days during closure of the temple at night about 8:30pm.

I have attached the recording in mp3 and also provided a scanned version in tamil. Also the link here will take you to the actual song (Lyrics). I have provided below a sample in english.

Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya

odiodi odiodi utkalantha jothiye
naadi naadi naadi naadi natkalam kazhinthu poi
vaadi vaadi vaadi vaadi vaazNDhu pona manthargal
Kodi Kodi Kodi Kodi enniRunthe Kodiye

Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya

ennele iruntha unRai yaan ARindhaThilaye
ennele iruntha unRai yaanARinthu konddin
ennele iruntha unRai yaavar kaana villaro
ennele irunthu irunthu yaanum kandukonDene

Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya

naanathethu niiyathethu naduvil ninrathethadaa
konathethu kuruvathethu kooRidum kulaamare
avethethu azhivathethu appuRaththil appuRam
eenathethu raama raama raamaa enra naamame

Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya

anjezhuththile piRanthu anjezhuththile vaLarnthu
anjezhuththai othukinRa panchapuutha paavikaaL
anjezhuththil or ezhuththu aRinthu kuuRa villiirel
anjal anjal enRu naathan ambalaththil aadume

Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya
Om Nama sivaya om om Nama sivaya

The Lyrics in Tamil:


And the mp3 version of Om Nama Sivaya Om - 5.55MB - 64kbps - 12:07 minutes. - Rapidshare

Added: MP3 Version - as above - Mediafire (Many people experienced difficulty for Rapidshare.)

I have not found this lyrics with all the combinations on a google search. Let all benefit.

Sunset at Broken Bridge

I had the opportunity to visit broken bridge after nearly 10 long years thanks to one of my recent friends. This is just behind Theosophical society leading to the beach and it is approachable through Besant Nagar Beach. A tiny road mostly made of sand and tar ridden with potholes took us to this spot. This location is situated in a bit of lonely spot and mugging has been common. I would advise anyone traveling there to go with the right companions.This area is also famous for being the starting point for the famous Olive Ridley Turtle walk.

I really liked these two compositions best among my shots.

Recover files hidden by w32 silly virus

I recently got infected by W32 Silly virus passed on to me by a friend. My symantec antivirus has effectively removed the virus but where did all the files disappear from my USB stick?

I have been searching 3 days through googling but so far I did not come across anything effective. I downloaded a couple of undelete programs but they did not give me back my files.

Finally today I discovered all my hidden files. In windows explorer, Tools -> Folder Options -> View , Advanced setting: untick the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). Now, this will show your files in your USB drive.

Right click the files and tick the archive. Now you can view all the files and folders which have been hidden. Such a simple unlock, wonder why there is no proper instructions in any website I googled.

Amazing Indian Inventor - G.D.Naidu

Today, there was a joke on TV, where the tamil film comedian, Goundamani was calling himself equal to G.D.Naidu. That is when my mother volunteered more information about this amazing person. He was a good friend of my (late) grandfather, freedom fighter Arunachalam.

My grandfather had some amazing stories to tell his children. He had told my mom that he was a whiz at growing plants. Guavas in his garden which normally is the size of an orange, in his garden alone, grows to the size of a large coconut. He used to inject plants with injections containing his marvelous ideas and used to achieve incredible results. Another incident was that a coconut tree which was hardly 3 feet tall, but would grow bunches of over sized coconuts and each of them will be within an arm's length. He did not believe in using any harsh fertilizers and believed in using naturally available insecticides. He was constantly experimenting and inventing and believed that neither education nor age is a barrier to a true inventor. He had at that time also asked my grandfather to send his son to learn through him as soon as he completed his PUC (a degree of the yester years). These incidents date back upto 40 years or more from now.

Neither the government at that time, nor any private investors encouraged him much. He was a patriotic person and he wanted his secrets only among the indian people so that India would grow. He did not beleive in profiting from his ideas, and refused to sell the ideas to foreigners to make money. At the same time, he did not reveal many of his secrets as he wanted it to be of use to the common man and that it should not be made for profit. It is said that the secret of his inventions died along with him, which is a really sad news indeed.

If only, there was a G.D.Naidu or his secrets alive, the world's hunger could have been postponed for some years now or even eradicated.

Fireworks at the Beach

I finally got myself a tripod. Manfrotto no less. The hunt for this stand has been long. I finally purchased at bangalore. I did receive assistance on choosing a good tripod from a fellow photographer - Dr.Deepak V Rao of Bangalore. Thanks Deepak. This was a fireworks show at Besant Nagar Beach. Some shots here.

I was trying to take photos and at the same time was managing the camcorder. There was a huge light pole which I tried to avoid on the beach. But unfortunately most of the shots were bursting near that location and I had to shift the focus there. No, I could not change the angle since I was on a terrace of a house.

Ganges at Haridware - Blog Title Picture

The Blog title picture was taken by me at Haridware (One of the holiest places in India) at night. I was across the river Ganges and the line of lighted shops caught my eye. Took a lot more snaps. A couple of them here. I still have not purchased a tripod!!!
Thank God! I had a steady hand.

Car Accident - India - What to do?

It seems to be a period of unwanted tension & loss.

I had a recent car accident with an ambassador - tourist. At the Nungambakkam signal @ abt 10 kms per hr during rush hour traffic. The tourist car was at fault and his minor scratch on his car due to his rash driving translated in heavily scratched & dented left panel and mud guard for me. The reckless driver's sudden lane change without signalling and aggressive driving tactics left me very little choice to escape.

I went to the Police station and everything / reports were given in my favor. But I did not take a written statement from the driver stating his fault. That turned out to be my mistake.

I was unable to collect on 3rd party insurance due to this small fact. (In US, it is treated differently where the police statement is the final word.)

Car Accident - Not my fault!

Lessons Learnt:
1. Call the cops for report
2. Inform sequence which led to the crash.
3. Show proof.
4. Take photos with you mobile camera of angle of crash, your car and his car
5. At police station, you provide your
(i) Driving license
(ii) Insurance
(iii) Registration
6. Signed statement from police of what happened. / FIR ( If you opt for FIR, the police will detain your car at the police station quoting that it has to compulsorily go for a brake test. Unless your car is damaged beyond use, do not go for this option. It is a test of endurance and you will end up going back and forth between police station. RTO Office and other places as instructed. This could be a point of collection also. You may end up losing more.)
7. Take an original copy of the report from the police.
8. Get a signed letter from the defaulted party that it is his fault and that his insurance company is responsible (I did not do this step alone)
9. Get a copy of his DL, Insurance certificate & Registration.
10. Call his insurance company and submit the data collected. (Take a personal copy first)
11. His insurance company will pay after verification.
12. You can give your car to the service center for evaluvation of damage.
13. Work to an amicable figure which is accepted by the insurance personnel and also the repair person.
14. Your No claim Bonus is intact!!!

In US, if you make a 3rd party claim through your insurance, they in turn will collect moneys from the offending party's insurance and your insurance stays intact. This facility is not available in India!!

My insurance company in India also quoted something like knock for knock policy. In a group of insurance companies, this translates to each insurance company paying for their insured car.
But in the consumer angle, you can still collect from the offending party insurance. (Though in the payment process, external to you, will be made by your company only)

Without a driver attestation owing responsibility for the car accident, you will be left in a lurch and you will have to file a legal case with a lawyer/attorney. That will translate to 5-10 years for settlement. That also translates you to many trips to the court and loss of work time.

Why should "we" the non defaulting party bear the loss?

When are the Indian Insurance companies going to adapt some of the right ethics from their counter parts in US?

Magic Lamps

I was walking to my car the other day and was thinking, it has been a long time since anything mystical has happened around me. What if this street lamp, turns off by itself the moment I stepped under it? I mentioned it to my wife too. And the lamp...

It did! Just that one turned off. (I heard a click)

My wife was surprised too.

About 2 days back, we were walking to the beach and this lamp was not burning, and a wishful thought what if it turned on the moment I stepped under it.

(Click!) It did again! It turned on!

My wife was again surprised.

No wonder, she calls me her Harry Potter!

I am waiting for the last potter series, the Deathly Hallow. And hope that the main characters do not die... We, who take after the characters in our portrait, will like to win over evil always.

Nightouts - Good or Bad ?

Useful Night-outs occur in one of these scenarios:
1. Project Delivery Phase.
2. When the person would like to work "extra" to complete a calculated portion of the work.
3. When the person is unable to complete a standard work within the allotted time of 9 hours.
4. Debugging / Error correction.
5. Correction of a Dangerous Error on a live server.
6. Negotiation Discussions with other geographies on their time.
And maybe just a couple more. I have not mentioned concall here since you are free to leave after the call 95% of the time, except when it leads to a situation of one of the above. And it is always kept in a comfort zone for India and US.

More than a night-out, it must be thought in respect of commitment to the cause, and any reason above will not hurt you or the company, since it occurs on very few occasions and many last a few days and it is never permanent. Being committed means delivery on the promised schedules. This creates a sense of achievement and satisfaction to all stakeholders namely,
1. You
2. Your colleagues on the project / team
3. Project Manager
4. Delivery Head
5. Relationship Manager
6. Practice Head
7. CEO
8. Customer / Client
9. Potential Clients.

Any company to progress must achieve and deliver against forecast results. In order for all of us to grow and excel, we sometimes do night-outs too.

You must also take into account those days where you are not pressed or pressurized for work completion during other phases of the SDLC. And after delivery and signoff, there is always a period from 1 week to 15 days where there is very less or no work at all until you get allotted to a different project.

But most other cases where night outs are made but not necessary:
1. You sit since everybody sits.
2. You are not able to complete the work allotted to you within time allotted to you since you while away your office hours in a irresponsible manner.
3. Come late and go late.
4. Overload - You accept too many responsibilities.
5. Overshoot - You miscalculate the time required to complete the job.
6. Just browsing to spend time.
Here, you not only hurt yourselves but also the company and both stand to lose on health, time and money. Night-outs should not be made a practice since in the long term; it will hurt all the stakeholders.

Tips:
1. Work Smart!
2. If you have over estimated, admit it and try to correct ASAP.
3. Do not postpone you work. Even if you correct in time, test it and correct all errors.
4. Though an UAT will be made from customer side, try to do one from our side. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Quick Office Tips

Excel
1. Wrap text within the cell --> Press Alt+ Enter
2. Move to the next sheet in the workbook --> CTRL+PAGE DOWN
3. Move to the previous sheet in the workbook --> CTRL+PAGE UP
4. Shortcut, make charts --> F11
5. To select the entire column --> CTRL+SPACEBAR
6. To select the entire row --> SHIFT+SPACEBAR
Word / PowerPoint
Align – Justify --> Ctrl + J

My Bike is Stolen

My new bike purchased on 7th June 2006, hardly 4 months old / Apache (Red) has beeen stolen from my house compound. It has run only 2500 kms and just finished the second service.

Sequence of events: I left my motorbike within the compound wall of our apartments near the doctors house (Ground Floor) at 7:15pm on 10/10/2006. After that I had gone to my house on the first floor. I had locked the bike. I noticed the theft only in the morning on 11/10/2006 at 7:15am. A boy who comes to clean my bike informed me that there was no bike. I came down and searched but could not find the bike. I noticed some tire marks as if the bike had been dragged. When I had enquired with the persons staying on the ground floor (the doctors), they informed me that they had seen the bike at 10:30pm on 10/10/2006 when they had come home. So, I deducted that the bike has been stolen between 10:30 pm on 10/10/2006 and 7:15am on 11/10/2006. Verbally I had informed the police that I heard a siren, their blue brigade patrol at around 12:15am on 11/10/2006. There is higher probability for the theft to occur between 12:15am on 11/10/2006 to 6:00am on 11/10/2006, as there will be people movement in my area after 6:00am.

Yes, I do miss my stolen bike but the process after is more hurting. I found that my bike was under insured with ICICI Lombard and the IDV is mentioned as Rs. 49,875. I paid Rs. 61,500 for my bike, which includes special number for Rs.2500, and electric start. The insurance paper mentions it as kick start. And even if there's an insurance pay back, it is Rs.12000 less.

I have filed the FIR and filed for insurance claim. But this process will extend from a period of 2-3 months. What am I supposed to do for another 3 months ? I do not have any extra bike or scooter and neither can I buy a new one assuming that my bike will not be found.

I am following it through some known police officers, but they have not given me hope. They informed me that after stealing within that day, the bike is dis assembled and sold as parts. (I just hope that nothing like that has happened and hope that I will get my bike whole as on the day it was stolen.) The police officers at the police station have a bored look. They do not care at all.
I have borrowed my dad's bike temporarily, but it has given me such a bad back, that I do not want to use this device. It is going to be be long frustrating weeks with "Nataraja" service and Auto haggling.

All I wish is there some RFID device that I could hide into my bike which has a battery life of 1 year and a traceability area of 3-5 sq kms. If it is cost effective, then all these thefts will be passe. The police could trace all vehicles sitting in one location (A manufacturer site) With improvements, this tag can provide a better version and linking this with vehilcles will provide a maximum deterrent to theft, not only in India but also all over the world.

Any body else thinking along my lines ?

Questions for life …

- What is life ?
- Why are we here now ?
- What is the purpose of life ?
- Why do we die before/after enlightenment?
- What stage is enlightenment ?
- If the purpose of the human birth is until enlightenment, what am I doing here working my life off for money ?
- If enlightenment is my path, why was I not blessed with money so that I could concentrate on enlightenment ?
- What happens after death ?
- What determines my next birth ?
- How does birth as a human guarantee a transfer to another dimension ?
- Why is the law of Karma possible ?
- If Karma is there, pariharams are able to reduce bad effects, why is there Karma?
- Why is that some persons die even if pariharams are made ?
- Why cannot I sacrifice for someone else ?
- If love can make anything happen, why is it not happening ?
- What causes death ?
- How does one body affect another though marriage ?
- How does the life change after marriage ?
- Why is not possible to write off all debts in just one birth ?
- How does life (soul) come into the new born baby ?
- If the soul is able to choose the parents, is there a similar world as earth in another dimension ?
- How are multiple dimensions (ghost / after death / deva loka / ashura loka / shiva loka etc) existing ?
- If dreaming is considered as life in another dimension, does the soul just pass from one dimension to another and how does it exist simultaneously in several dimensions ?
- What is reality ?
- If “siddhi’s” should not be used, then why are they there ?
- Where does the soul reside in the human body ?
- If the soul is part “God”, why I am searching for him outside ?
- How do I achieve/realize "God" ?

I need ANSWERS and this is not the end of my list neither am I a novice to these questions and search for answers.

Who knows ?

Air Deccan's 3 for 3 - Good Deal or Raw Deal ?

Is this deal a good deal? What is the hidden agenda? What are the hidden processes ? Please find below a full blown discovery! My mail to Airdeccan and I received only 2 bot mails so far " We received your mail, we will get back to you" kind. I have not seen such callous attitude to the customer queries. Any body else feel like having received the same raw deal ?

To: feedback@airdeccan.net

Dear Customer Care,

I was surprised to find that the refund of Rs.2784/- towards the trip from Chennai to Delhi has been credited back to my account at ICICI bank contained the PNR NUMBER!

(26/08/2006 AIRDECCAN RFND-PRN Cr 2,784.00)

Whereas you had refuted my query with you on several attempts by telephone and also in person, (between 24th August 2006 to 25th August 2006) by informed me that the PNR number had not been generated and so my ticket from Chennai to Delhi would be cancelled.

I had booked the ticket for 3 persons namely:

for 10th November 2006, from Chennai to Delhi by AirDeccan Flight DN639 through my ICICI bank account on 23rd August 2006 and my account had been debited for the same.

(23/08/2006 Dr 2,784.00)

This was purchased under your special scheme for Rs.3 for 3 lakh tickets. When I did not get a confirmation mail even after 3 hours, I had called up the customer care (should I say, “customer don’t care!”). After 45 minutes and 20 attempts, I was able to get hold of a “live person”. He informed me that the PNR number was not generated and the money would be refunded. This was confirmed by one more staff at your “ Whites Road ” office, where I had gone personally. (BTW, did you know that a girl appointed by you at the reception knows only this sentence “Call up customer care, I cannot help you”. My question to you – What is she there for and why does she has such a bad attitude?) The other “boy” at the reception was able to connect me with his manager inside the room. Only the manager present in the office was more kind (?) and informed me that the PNR number was not generated and so my ticket would be cancelled. He had confirmed this information to me, when your staff at the reception mentioned to me that the server was down. He maintained the same stance from my entry at about 11:30 am to my exit at about 12:15 pm. From where this manager was able to pull this information with the servers down, I don’t know! Must be magic!!! (The staff at the reception gave this reply to persons who wanted to book tickets. 2 persons were waiting for over 2 hours for the booking.)

I had also booked the return ticket (from Delhi to Chennai) on the same day after I had booked this ticket and have been awarded the same. So, please do not raise the issue that I could have booked later on.

This cancellation reflects to unfair trade practices and cheating of customers through one of the below mentioned techniques:

Unfair Trade Practice 1: (Staff)
I believe your staffs have been canceling tickets so that they can award themselves with the tickets. This has come to light because the cancellation of the ticket contains a PNR number which your staff informed me that a number had not been generated.

Unfair Trade Practice 2: (Company)
The system/staff (on instructions from the company) have automatically cancelled the ticket to Delhi for the same family since AirDeccan would want the family to purchase tickets one way. If so, you should have specifically have provided this information on your web site / advertisement failing which it becomes a plain case of cheating.

Please provide me a fair deal.

Up in Smoke!

I was reading my own post. But I remembered the exact reason why I left it. But I did not mention it in full truth since I did not want my sister to know how I had felt on that day!

Now, my sister is no more. But the reason why I left smoking was... She mentioned once in the hospital..."I will not take a smoker's blood", when I wanted to give my blood to her. She needed a transfusion and the hospital wanted a donor, and I volunteered immediately but she refused. I felt so ashamed of myself that I could not give blood to my sister, though many of my friends and colleagues did. I felt so helpless and so lonely. That day was the day I felt I was worthless. If I could not give up smoking, I was a total waste. And I did give up smoking ...with the thought of my sister..and I steeled it using other metaphysical resolves...thanks to my sister. Chomi..where ever you are I will always love you. I wish you to come back to me in your next birth.

Thank you Everyone

Thank you everyone for the heartfelt condolences and kind wishes. I am very glad that Sowmya had such wonderful friends in her blog world who respected her a lot. I am also grateful to the others who knew very less about her but still sent their condolences as a mark of respect for her memories. Thank you all.

I am now discussing with my family on whether to post the chain of events which lead to her untimely demise. She would have lived for a longer period if not for the doctors carelessness in administering the treatment.

There are 2 trains of thoughts running here.

1. Some feel that the causes be mentioned since somebody else could benefit out of it. They can also question the all knowing doctors on their treatment methods and not accept blindly. (We have questioned and proposed the latest lines of treatment through the best doctors from around the world and even then, there has been a lapse in methodology of treatment in the Indian counterpart)

2. Others feel that now she is no more, let not her "fight" be known. Except for the family and a few good friends, no one else knows, and let it be the same. Let the world not know the pain and suffering she underwent and just remember her as they knew her as happy memories.

Still discussing...