Open Up...

Have Breakfast… or…Be Breakfast!

2010-02-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

An interesting management article from Dr.YLR Moorthi.Have Breakfast… or…Be Breakfast!

Who sells the largest number of cameras in India?

Your guess is likely to be Sony, Canon or Nikon. Answer is none of the above. The winner is Nokia whose main line of business in India is not cameras but cell phones.

Reason being cameras bundled with cellphones are outselling stand alone cameras. Now, what prevents the cellphone from replacing the camera outright? Nothing at all. One can only hope the Sony’s and Canons are taking note.

Try this. Who is the biggest in music business in India? You think it is HMV Sa-Re-Ga-Ma? Sorry. The answer is Airtel. By selling caller tunes (that play for 30 seconds) Airtel makes more than what music companies make by selling music albums (that run for hours).
Incidentally Airtel is not in music business. It is the mobile service provider with the largest subscriber base in India. That sort of competitor is difficult to detect, even more difficult to beat (by the time you have identified him he has already gone past you). But if you imagine that Nokia and Bharti (Airtel's parent) are breathing easy you can't be farther from truth.

Nokia confessed that they all but missed the Smartphone bus. They admit that Apple's I phone and Google's Android can make life difficult in future. But you never thought Google was a mobile company, did you? If these illustrations mean anything, there is a bigger game unfolding. It is not so much about mobile or music or camera or emails?
The "Mahabharata" (the great Indian epic battle) is about "what is tomorrow's personal digital device"? Will it be a souped up mobile or a palmtop with a telephone? All these are little wars that add up to that big battle. Hiding behind all these wars is a gem of a question – "who is my competitor?"

Once in a while, to intrigue my students I toss a question at them. It says "What Apple did to Sony, Sony did to Kodak, explain?" The smart ones get the answer almost immediately. Sony defined its market as audio (music from the walkman). They never expected an IT company like Apple to encroach into their audio domain. Come to think of it, is it really surprising? Apple as a computer maker has both audio and video capabilities. So what made Sony think he won't compete on pure audio? "Elementary Watson". So also Kodak defined its business as film cameras, Sony defines its businesses as "digital."

In digital camera the two markets perfectly meshed. Kodak was torn between going digital and sacrificing money on camera film or staying with films and getting left behind in digital technology. Left undecided it lost in both. It had to. It did not ask the question "who is my competitor for tomorrow?" The same was true for IBM whose mainframe revenue prevented it from seeing the PC. The same was true of Bill Gates who declared "internet is a fad!" and then turned around to bundle the browser with windows to bury Netscape. The point is not who is today's competitor. Today's competitor is obvious. Tomorrow's is not.

In 2008, who was the toughest competitor to British Airways in India? Singapore airlines? Better still, Indian airlines? Maybe, but there are better answers. There are competitors that can hurt all these airlines and others not mentioned. The answer is videoconferencing and telepresence services of HP and Cisco. Travel dropped due to recession. Senior IT executives in India and abroad were compelled by their head quarters to use videoconferencing to shrink travel budget. So much so, that the mad scramble for American visas from Indian techies was nowhere in sight in 2008. (India has a quota of something like 65,000 visas to the U.S. They were going a-begging. Blame it on recession!). So far so good. But to think that the airlines will be back in business post recession is something I would not bet on. In short term yes. In long term a resounding no. Remember, if there is one place where Newton's law of gravity is applicable besides physics it is in electronic hardware. Between 1977 and 1991 the prices of the now dead VCR (parent of Blue-Ray disc player) crashed to one-third of its original level in India. PC's price dropped from hundreds of thousands of rupees to tens of thousands. If this trend repeats then telepresence prices will also crash. Imagine the fate of airlines then. As it is not many are making money. Then it will surely be RIP!

India has two passions. Films and cricket. The two markets were distinctly different. So were the icons. The cricket gods were Sachin and Sehwag. The filmi gods were the Khans (Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and the other Khans who followed suit). That was, when cricket was fundamentally test cricket or at best 50 over cricket. Then came IPL and the two markets collapsed into one. IPL brought cricket down to 20 overs. Suddenly an IPL match was reduced to the length of a 3 hour movie. Cricket became film's competitor. On the eve of IPL matches movie halls ran empty. Desperate multiplex owners requisitioned the rights for screening IPL matches at movie halls to hang on to the audience. If IPL were to become the mainstay of cricket, as it is likely to be, films have to sequence their releases so as not clash with IPL matches. As far as the audience is concerned both are what in India are called 3 hour "tamasha" (entertainment). Cricket season might push films out of the market.

Look at the products that vanished from India in the last 20 years. When did you last see a black and white movie? When did you last use a fountain pen? When did you last type on a typewriter? The answer for all the above is "I don't remember!" For some time there was a mild substitute for the typewriter called electronic typewriter that had limited memory. Then came the computer and mowed them all. Today most technologically challenged guys like me use the computer as an upgraded typewriter. Typewriters per se are nowhere to be seen.

One last illustration. 20 years back what were Indians using to wake them up in the morning? The answer is "alarm clock." The alarm clock was a monster made of mechanical springs. It had to be physically keyed every day to keep it running. It made so much noise by way of alarm, that it woke you up and the rest of the colony. Then came quartz clocks which were sleeker. They were much more gentle though still quaintly called "alarms." What do we use today for waking up in the morning? Cellphone! An entire industry of clocks disappeared without warning thanks to cell phones. Big watch companies like Titan were the losers. You never know in which bush your competitor is hiding!

On a lighter vein, who are the competitors for authors? Joke spewing machines? (Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, himself a Pole, tagged a Polish joke telling machine to a telephone much to the mirth of Silicon Valley). Or will the competition be story telling robots? Future is scary! The boss of an IT company once said something interesting about the animal called competition. He said "Have breakfast …or…. be breakfast"! That sums it up rather neatly.

—Dr. Y. L. R. Moorthi is a professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. He is an M.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and a post graduate in management from IIM, Bangalore.

NIce thought

2008-11-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

Decide to be happy today, to live with what
is yours - your family, your business, your job.

If you can't have what you like, maybe you can like what you have.

J ust for today, be kind, cheerful, agreeable,
responsive, caring, and understanding.
be your best, dress your best, talk softly, look
for the bright side of things.

P raise people for
what they do and don't criticize them for what they cannot do.

I f someone does something stupid, forgive
and forget.

A fter all, it's just for one day.

W ho knows, it might turn out to be a

good day!

Happy Children's Day.....

2008-11-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star......
How I wonder what you are......

Kakkaay kaakkaay koodevide......

Here is Ayaan wishing all my friends a very happy Children's day....

For those who are not able to celebrate...dont worry...we will do that any time cause year round "we are the world, we are the children"...

So all of you keep smiling...

Love you all,
Kuttu

ROMANTIC SECOND LINE

2008-09-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Here is another e-mail fwd I read today morning :
THESE ARE ENTRIES TO A WASHINGTON POST COMPETITION ASKING FOR A TWO-LINE
RHYME WITH THE MOST ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, BUT THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND
LINE:

My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life.

I see your face when I am dreaming:
That's why I always wake up screaming.

Kind, intelligent, loving and hot:
This describes everything you are not.

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you:
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty
and so is your head.

I want to feel your sweet embrace:
But don't take that paper bag off your face.

I love your smile, your face, and your eyes :
Damn, I'm good at telling lies!

My love, you take my breath away:
What have you stepped in to smell this way?

My feelings for you no words can tell:
Except for maybe "Go to hell."

One Amazing Incident...

2008-08-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

One the first day , as President Abraham Lincoln entered to give his inaugral address , just in the middle , one man stood up. He was a rich aristocrat.He said , "Mr. Lincoln , you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family". And the whole Senate Laughed ; they thought they had made a fool of Abraham Lincoln.

But Lincoln - and that type of people are made of a totally different mettle. Lincoln , looked at the man and said "Sir I know that my father used to make shoes in your house for your family , and there will be many others here...because the way he made shoes ; nobody else can. He was a creator. His shoes were not just shoes , he poured his whole soul in it. I want to ask you , have you any complaint ? Because I know how to make shoes myself ; if you have any complaint I can make another pair of shoes.But as far as I know , nobody has ever complained about my father's shoes.
He was a genius, a great creator and I am proud of my father."

The whole Senate was struck dumb.They could not understand what kind of man Abraham Lincoln was. He has made shoe making an art , a creativity. And he was proud because his father did the job so well that not even a single complaint had ever been heard.

It does not matter what you do. What matters is how you do it - of your own accord , with your own vision , with your own love.

Then whatever you touch becomes GOLD

Legs & names

2007-11-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

This is a good one..forwarded..in a mail :

A college student needed a small two-month course to fill hisschedule and the only one available was wildlife Zoology. So he joinedin and after one week of study, a test was held. The professor passed out a sheet of small paper where in each square was a carefully drawnpicture of a bird's legs. No bodies, no feet, just legs.The test asked each student to identify the birds from their legs. Ourstudent sat and stared at the test getting angrier every minute. Finally he stomped up to the front of the classroom and threw the test on theteacher's desk. "This is the worst test I have ever written."The teacher looked up and said: "Young man, you have not filled in anything and you definitely have failed the test. Tell me, what's yourname?"The student pulled up his pant to the knee showing his legs and said,"You tell me..."

Interesting Answer....

2007-11-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

Another interesting one , forwarded by a friend in an E-mail :

A young and pretty lady posted this on a popular forum:
Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?

I'm going to be honest of what I'm going to say here. I'm 25 this year. I'm very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above. You might say that I'm greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York. My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married? I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you? Among those I've dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit. If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden (?), $250k annual income is not enough.

I'm here humbly to ask a few questions:
1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)
2) Which age group should I target?
3) Why most wives of the riches is only average-looking? I've
met a few girls who doesn't have looks and are not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys
4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)

Ms. Pretty

Here's a reply from a Wall Street Financial guy:

Dear Ms. Pretty,

I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyse your situation as a professional investor. My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I'm not wasting time here. From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain. Put the details aside, what you're trying to do is an exchange of "beauty" and "money": Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square. However, there's a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can't be prettier year after year. Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It's not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is your only asset, your value will be much worried 10 years later.

By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a "trading position". If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term - same
goes with the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or "leased". Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income. This has better chance than finding a rich fool.

Hope this reply helps. If you are interested in "leasing" services, do
contact me…

signed,
J.P. Morgan

Father & son....

2007-11-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

From an e-mail shared by a friend :

An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:

Dear Son,

I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.

Love, Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram: "For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!"

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.

Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next.

His son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad.. It's the best I could do for you from here."

Moral:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS. THINK ABOUT THIS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

Manage....Everything

2007-04-04T02:36:00.000-07:00

Got the below as a mail forward today , found a good read , what we often dont tend to do and forget...

1. Sleep less. This is one of the best investments you can make to make your
life more productive and rewarding. Most people do not need more than 6 hours
to maintain an excellent state of health. Try getting up one hour earlier for
3-4 weeks and it will develop into a powerful habit. Remember, it is the
quality not the quantity of sleep that is important. And just imagine having
an extra 30 hours a month to spend on the things that are important to you.

* 2. Set aside one hour every morning for personal development matters.
Meditate, visualize your day, read inspirational texts to set the tone of
your day, listen to motivational tapes or read great literature. Take this
quiet period to vitalize and energize your spirit for the productive day
ahead. Watch the sun rise once a week or be with nature. Starting the day off
well is a powerful strategy for self-renewal and personal effectiveness.

* 3. Do not allow those things that matter the most in your life be at
the mercy of activities that matter the least. Every day, take the time to
ask yourself the question "is this the best use of my time and energy?" Time
management is life management so guard your time with great care.

* 4. Remember that your expectations create your reality and life
pretty much sends you what you think and expect.

* 5. Always answer the phone with enthusiasm in your voice and show
your appreciation for the caller. Good phone manners are essential. To convey
authority on the line, stand up. This will instill further confidence in your
voice.

* 6. Throughout the day we all get inspiration and excellent ideas.
Capture them. Keep a set of cards (the size of business cards; available at
most stationary stores) in your wallet along with a pencil to jot down these
insights. When you get home, put the ideas in a central place such as a coil
notepad and review them from time to time. As noted by Oliver Wendell Holmes:
"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original
dimensions."

* 7. Set aside every Sunday evening for yourself and be strongly
disciplined with this habit. Use this period to plan your week, visualize
your encounters and what you want to achieve, to read new materials and
inspirational books, to listen to soft soothing music and to simply relax.
This habit will serve as your anchor to keep you focused, motivated and
effective throughout the coming week.

* 8. Always remember the key principle that the quality of your life is
the quality of your communication. This means the way you communicate with
others and, more importantly, the way you communicate with yourself. What you
focus on is what you get. If you look for the positive this is what you get.
This is a fundamental law of Nature.

* 9. Stay on purpose, not on outcome. In other words, do the task
because it is what you love to do or because it will help someone or is a
valuable exercise. Don't do it for the money or the recognition. Those will
come naturally. This is the way of the world.

* 10. Laugh for five minutes in the mirror each morning. Steve Martin
does. Laughter activates many beneficial chemicals within the body that place
us into a very joyous state. Laughter also returns the body to a state of
balance. Laughter therapy has been regularly used to heal persons with varied
ailments and is a wonderful tonic for life's ills. While the average 4 year
old laughs 500 times a day, the average adult is lucky to laugh 15 times a
day. Revitalize the habit of laughter, it will put far more living into your
life.

* 11. Light a candle beside you when you are reading in the evening. It
is most relaxing and creates a wonderful, soothing atmosphere. Make your home
an oasis from the frenzied world outside. Fill it with great music, great
books and great friends.

* 12. To enhance your concentration and powers of focus, count your
steps when you walk. This is a particularly strong technique. Take six steps
while taking a long inhale, hold your breath for another six steps, and then
exhale for six steps. If six steps is too long for the breaths, do whatever
you feel comfortable with. You will feel very alert, refreshed, internally
quiet and centered after this exercise. So many people allow their minds to
be filled with mental chatter. All peak performers appreciate the power of a
quiet, clear mind which will concentrate steadily on all important tasks.

* 13. Learn to meditate effectively. The mind is naturally a very noisy
machine which wants to move from one subject to another like an unchained
monkey. One must learn to restrain and discipline it if one is to achieve
anything of substance and to be peaceful. Meditation for twenty minutes in
the morning and twenty minutes in the evening will certainly provide you with
exceptional results if regularly practiced for six months. Learned sages of
the East have been advancing the many benefits of meditation for over 5000
years.

* 14. Learn to be still. The average person doesn't spend even 30
minutes a month in total silence and tranquility. Develop the skill of
sitting quietly, enjoying the powerful silence for at least ten minutes a
day. Simply think about what is important to you in your life. Reflect on
your mission. Silence indeed is golden. As the Zen master once said, it is
the space between the bars that holds the cage.

* 15. Enhance your will-power; it is likely one of the best training
programs you can invest in. All elite performers have high levels of
self-discipline. Here are some ideas to strengthen your will and become a
stronger person:
a) Do not let your mind float like a piece of paper in the wind. Work
hard to keep it focused at all times. When doing a task, think of nothing
else. When walking to work, count the steps that it takes to get all the way
to the office. This is not easy but your mind will soon understand that you
hold its reins and not vice versa. Your mind must eventually become as still
as a candle flame in a corner where there is no draft.
b) Your will is like a muscle. You must first exercise it and then
push before it gets stronger. This necessarily involves short term pain but
be assured that the improvements will come and will touch your character in a
most positive way. When you are hungry, wait another hour before your meal.
When you are laboring over a difficult task and your mind is prompting you to
pick up the latest magazine for a break or to get up and go talk to a friend,
curb the impulse. Soon you will be able to sit for hours in a precisely
concentrated state. Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest classical
physicists the world has produced, once said: "if I have done the public any
service, it is due to patient thought." Newton had a remarkable ability to
sit quietly and think without interruption for very long periods of time. If
he can develop this so can you.
c) You can also build your will-power by restraint in your conduct
with others. Speak less (use the 60/40 Rule = listen 60% of the time and
speak a mere 40%, if that). This will not only make you more popular but you
will learn much wisdom as everyone we meet, every day has something to teach
us. Also restrain the urge to gossip or to condemn someone who you feel has
made a mistake. Stop complaining and develop a cheerful, vital and strong
personality. You will greatly influence others.
d) When a negative thought comes to your mind, immediately replace it
with one that is positive. Positive always dominates over the negative and
your mind has to be conditioned to think only the best thoughts. Negative
thinking is a conditioned process whereby the negative patterns are
established over and over. Rid yourself of any limitations and become a
powerful positive thinker.

* 16. Make an effort to be humorous throughout the day. Not only is it
beneficial from a physical viewpoint but it diffuses tension in difficult
circumstances and creates an excellent atmosphere wherever you are. It was
recently reported that members of the Tauripan tribe of South America have a
ritual where they awake in the middle of the night to tell each other jokes.
Even tribesmen in the deepest sleep wake to enjoy the laugh and then return
to their state of slumber in seconds. The shortest distance between two human
beings is laughter.

* 17. Become a highly disciplined time manager. There are roughly 168
hours in a week. This surely allows plenty of time for achievement of the
many goals we desire to accomplish. Be ruthless with your time. Set aside a
few minutes each morning to plan your day. Plan around your priorities and
focus on not only those tasks which are immediate but not important (i.e.,
many telephone calls) but especially on those which are important but not
urgent, for these allow for the greatest personal and professional
development. Important but not immediate activities are those which produce
long-term, sustainable benefits and include exercise, strategic planning, the
development of relationships and professional education. Never let the things
which matter most be placed in the backseat as compared to those that matter
least.

* 18. You become who you drink coffee with. Associate only with
positive, focused people who you can learn from and who will not drain your
valuable energy with complaining and uninspiring attitudes. By developing
relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of
the best that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path
to the top of whatever mountain you seek to climb.

* 19. Stephen Hawking, one of the great modern physicists of the world,
is reported to have said that we are on a minor planet of a very average star
located within the outer limits of one of a hundred thousand million
galaxies. Are your problems really significant in light of this? You walk
this Earth for but a short time. Why not become devoted to having only a
wonderful experience. Why not dedicate yourself to leaving a powerful legacy
to the world? Sit down now and write out a list of all that you have in your
life. Start first with your health or your family - the things we often take
for granted. Put down the country we live in and the food we eat. Do not stop
until you have written down fifty items. Once every few days, go through this
list - you will be uplifted and recognize the richness of your existence.

* 20. You must have a personal philosophy in life. This is simply a set
of guiding principles which clearly state where you are going and where you
want to be at the end of your life. A mission statement embodies your values.
It is your personal lighthouse keeping you steadily on the course of your
dreams. Over a period of one month, set a few hours aside to write down five
or ten principles which will govern your life and which will keep you focused
at all times. Examples might be to consistently serve others, to be a
considerate citizen, to become highly wealthy or to serve as a powerful
leader. Whatever the mission statement of your life, refine it and review it
regularly. Then when something adverse happens or someone tries to pull you
off course, you quickly and precisely return to your chosen path with the
full knowledge that you are moving in the direction that you have selected.

* 21. No one can insult or hurt you without your permission. One of the
golden keys to happiness and great success is the way you interpret events
which unfold before you. Highly successful people are master interpreters.
People who have attained greatness have an ability which they have developed
to interpret negative or disempowering events as positive challenges which
will assist them in growing and moving even farther up the ladder of success.
There are no negative experiences only experiences which aid in your
development and toughen your character so that you may soar to new heights.
There are no failures, only lessons.

* 22. Take a speed reading course. Reading is a powerful way to gain
many years of experience from a few hours of study. For example, most
biographies reflect the strategies and philosophies of great leaders or
courageous individuals. Read them and model them. Speed reading will allow
you to digest large quantities of material in relatively small periods of
time.

* 23. Remember people's names and treat everyone well. This habit,
along with enthusiasm, is one of the great success secrets. Everyone in this world wears an imaginary button that screams out "I WANT TO FEEL IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED!". Leave people better than you found them and just watch your own life change.

* 24. Be soft as a flower when it comes to kindness but tough as thunder when it comes to principle. Be courteous and polite at all times but never be pushed around. Ensure that you are always treated with respect.

* 25. Do something each day to improve yourself and your life. Even a daily enhancement of only 1% will lead to a 30% improvement just four weeks from today.

* 26. Be truthful, patient, persevering, modest and generous. And be
the kindest person you know.

* 27. Soak in a warm bath at the end of a long, productive day. Reward
yourself for even the smallest of achievement. Take time out for renewal of
your mind, body and spirit. Soon all your more important goals will be met
and you will move to the next level of peak performance.

* 28. Learn the power of breathing and its relationship with your
energy source. The mind is intimately connected with your breathing. For
example, when the mind is agitated, your breathing becomes quick and shallow.
When you are relaxed and focused, your breathing is deep and calm. By
practicing deep, abdominal breathing, you will develop a calm, serene
demeanor that will remain cool in the hottest of circumstances. Remember the
rule of the Eastern mountain men: "to breathe properly is to live properly."

* 29. Recognize and cultivate the power of self-suggestion. It works
and is an essential tool in maintaining peak performance. We are all
performers in one way or another and it is particularly valuable to use such
techniques of athletes and public figures for our own enhancement. If you
want to become more enthusiastic, repeat "I am more enthusiastic today and am
improving this trait daily". Repeat it over and over. Purchase a legal
notepad and write out this mantra 500 times. Do it for three weeks with
regular practice and feel that this quality is developing. Very soon it will
come. This is a strategy that Indian sages have employed for thousands of
years to aid their spiritual and mental development. Do not be discouraged if
the results are not immediate, they will certainly develop. The spoken word
is a powerful influencer of the mind.

* 30. Maintain a journal to measure your progress and to express your
thoughts. Writing out not only your successes but your troubles is one of the
world's most effective methods of erasing the worry habit, staying in optimum
state and developing precision of thought. Your life is worth living so your
life is worth recording.

* 31. Stress is simply a response which you create in the
interpretation of an event. You see the world - not as it is but as you are.
Two people might find that a given event results in quite different
responses. For example, an after dinner speech might strike fear into the
heart of an inexperienced speaker while a strong orator views it as a
wonderful opportunity to share his thoughts. Understanding that the perceived
negative effects of an event or task may be mentally manipulated and
conditioned towards the positive, will allow you to be a peak performer in
all instances.

* 32. Read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. It contains a wealth of wisdom and powerful insights into further developing your character and enhancing your personal relationships.

* 33. Become a committed learning CD user. Most personal-mastery
programs and bestselling business books are now offered in this format.
Listen to these inspirational materials on your way to work, whilst waiting
in the line at a bank or while you wash dishes in the evening. Make your car
a college on wheels and use the drive time to make knowledge your best
friend. All down time can be very effectively used in this productive
fashion. Use such opportunities to learn and continually expand your mind and
its vast potential. All it takes is one big ideas to transform your life.

* 34. Try fasting one day every two weeks. During these fast days,
drink fruit juice and eat fresh fruits only. You will feel more energetic,
cleansed and alert. Fasting also has a salutary effect on your will-power as
you are subverting the otherwise pressing impulses in your mind calling on
you to eat more. And it will give your digestive system a much-needed break.

* 35. Keep a CD player at your office and listen to soft, soothing
music throughout the day. Place pleasant scents and inspirational pictures in
your workplace. By the magic of association, your work will become something
you enjoy even more and arouse a very pleasant feeling within you. Budget
your time on trips such that you can spend half an hour in the airport
bookstore. They always contain the latest and best self-mastery books and
tapes given that those who travel by air are of a group that finds value in
these materials.

* 36. Read "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. And don't just read this little book once, read it over and over again. It contains an abundance of timeless wisdom on living a fuller and happier life.

* 37. Remember that forgiveness is a virtue that few develop, but one
that is most important to maintaining peace of mind. Mark Twain wrote that
forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed
it. Practice forgiveness especially in those situations where it is seemingly
difficult. By using your emotional forgiveness muscles more regularly, petty
wrongs, remarks and slights will not touch you and nothing will penetrate
your concentrated, serene mindset.

* 38. Empty your cup. A full cup cannot accept anything more.
Similarly, a person who believes that he cannot learn anything else will
stagnate quickly and not move to higher levels. A true sign of a secure,
mature individual is someone who sees every opportunity as a chance to learn.
Even the teachers have teachers.

* 39. The Two Minute Mind is an excellent exercise for developing
concentration. Simply stare at the second hand on your wristwatch for two
minutes and think about nothing else for that time. At first your mind will
wander but after 21 days of practice, your attention will not waver during
the routine. One of the greatest qualities a person can develop to ensure his
success is the ability to focus for extended periods of time. Learn to build
up your concentration muscles and no task will be too difficult for you.

* 40. Drink a cup of warm water before a speech. Ronald Reagan employed
this strategy to ensure that he maintained his honey-smooth voice. Mastery of
the art of public speaking is a noble goal. So dedicate yourself to it. You
will be judged by the caliber of your communication skills.

* 41. When you stand and meet someone, stand firm and steadfast. A telling sign of an unfocused, weak mind is constant fidgeting, shifting of the eyes and shallow breathing.

* 42. Act strong and you will be strong. Have courage and inspire
others with your actions. But always be considerate.

* 43. Ask not what this world can give you but, rather, what you can
give to this world. Make service an important goal in your life. It is a most
fulfilling investment of time. Remember, in the twilight of your life, when
all is said and done, the quality of your life boils down to the quality of
your contribution to others. Leave a rich legacy for those around you to
savor. Sustained happiness does not come from what you get but from what you
give.

* 44. Once a week, rise at dawn. It is a magical time of day. Be still,
go for a walk or simply listen to an old Ella Fitzgerald recording. Take a
long, hot shower and do 100 pushups. Read one of the classics. You will feel
alive and invigorated. Getting up early builds self-discipline and
self-respect.

* 45. Your health is your wealth. Without excellent health, you have nothing. Make being in world-class physical condition your number one priority.

* 46. Master the art of public speaking. There are few natural
speakers. One great trial lawyer stammered dreadfully but through courage and
strength of conviction, he developed into a brilliant orator. Role model
anyone you think is a highly effective, influential communicator. Visualize a
picture of this person. Stand like him, smile like him, and talk like him.
The results will startle you.

* 47. Seek out leadership speakers committed to character training and
lifelong success. Make it a point to attend inspirational lectures each month
to consistently renew the importance of personal growth in your mind. In a
two hour seminar, you can learn powerful techniques and strategies that
others have spent many years learning and refining. Never feel that you have
no time for gathering new ideas, you are investing in yourself.

* 48. Read the wonderful book "Discovering Happiness" by Dennis Wholey.
It will certainly open up new horizons for you in your quest for an optimal
state of health and happiness.

* 49. To enhance your concentration, read a passage in a book you have
never explored. Then try to recite it verbatim. Practice this for only 5
minutes a day and enjoy the results which follow after a few months of
effort.

* 50. Try entering a 5 km running race and then a 10 km event. The
adrenaline that flows from the experience of racing with several hundred
other fitness-minded people is exhilarating. By constantly pushing the
envelope of your capacity, your potential will quickly unfold. Remember, the
body will give you only what you ask of it.

he is here to Rock On....

2007-03-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

....on Feb 24th , Saturday , at 1:30 PM IST at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences , Thiruvananthapuram.He weighed 2.89 Kgs when he met us.

he was staring at each and everyone of us waiting impatiently outside the labor room for past 18 hrs to get a glimpse of him....and to hold him..

and he was called AYAAN [GOD'S GIFT IN ARABIC]

Logic... hain na?

2006-08-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

As usual forwards sometimes tickles me :-)

We have read all these and more ..but today may be because I had a bad day ..I was giggling for almost all of them today...so if you too happened to drop by when it was raining I am sure you will jezt enchoi dis...

Logic Lessons....

If your father is a poor man,
it is your fate but,
if your father-in-law is a poor man,
it's your stupidity.

...............................................................................

I was born intelligent -
education ruined me.

...............................................................................

Practice makes perfect.....
But nobody's perfect......
so why practice?

...............................................................................

If it's true that we are here to help others,
then what exactly are the others here for?

...............................................................................

Since light travels faster than sound,
people appear bright until you hear them speak.

...............................................................................

How come "abbreviation" is such a long word?

...............................................................................

Money is not everything.
There's Mastercard & Visa.

...............................................................................

One should love animals.
They are so tasty.

...............................................................................

Behind every successful man, there is a woman
And behind every unsuccessful man, there are two.

...............................................................................

Every man should marry.
After all, happiness is not the only thing in
life.

...............................................................................

The wise never marry.
and when they marry they become otherwise.

...............................................................................

Success is a relative term.
It brings so many relatives.

............................................................. ................

Never put off the work till tomorrow
what you can put off today.

...............................................................................

"Your future depends on your dreams"
So go to sleep

...............................................................................

There should be a better way to start a day
Than waking up every morning

...............................................................................

"Hard work never killed anybody"
But why take the risk

...............................................................................

"Work fascinates me"
I can look at it for hours

...............................................................................

God made relatives;
Thank God we can choose our friends.

...............................................................................

The more you learn, the more you know,
The more you know, the more you forget
The more you forget, the less you know
So.. why learn.

...............................................................................

A bus station is where a bus stops.

A train station is where a train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station....
what more can I say........

Motivational Anecdotes - The Cab Ride

2006-05-05T05:05:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this ...so sharing with you all...after all good things in life are measured by their reach and their significance increases manifold only when they are shared.

Happy Reading.!

THE CAB RIDE
By Author Unknown

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word,
a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away. But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.

It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".

"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

"I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. "You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Brand postioning & punchlines...

2006-04-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

Little did our Beloved "NETAJI" Subhash chandra Bose knew that when he requested his followers ‘Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azaadi Doonga", he was actually marketing a product that is’FREEDOM’ with this Punchline. In the process an old women donated all the jewellery she had for the cause of freedom even when she had lost her only child in the battle of freedom, to ‘Netaji’ only due to the powerful oratory of the great leader. Such is the impact of words.

Marketers also know the importance of powerful words and use them as ‘Punchlines’for their product/brand endorsements. Although the Punchline as a marketing tool comes under Advertising which itself comes under the ‘Promotion’ of Marketing Mix. But there is a strong need of paying special attention to these One-liners or Punchlines or Ad slogans.

POSITIONING

Subroto Sengupta in his book ‘Brand Positioning’ has defined the concept of positioning as:

The Position of a brand is the perception it brings about in the mind of a target customer.
This perception reflects the essence of brand in terms of its functional and non-functional benefits in the judgment of that customer.
It is relative to the perception, held by that consumer, of competing brands, all of which can be represented as points or positions in his or her perceptual space and together, make up a product class.
In short ‘position’ represents the whole or overall perception of that brand in that consumer’s mind and it is always a relative concept.

Perhaps Charles Mittelstadt has defined ‘Positioning’ more accurately as "Positioning refers to how you want your brand ‘thought about’ in connections with competitors in its product category. It needs to be specific to your brand aimed at a specific target audience."

This definition clearly states the importance of ‘Positioning’ for the success of any brand. It is like that indispensable vitamin to the body without whose the body will collapse. So ‘Positioning’ can make or break a brand. Therefore, a confused ‘Positioning’ can simply kill the brand. A clear ‘Positioning’ will always be one of the success factor. This is the place where Punchline comes into act. If you have to Position your brand perfectly in the mind space of the customer, your Punchline must be so accurate and appealing that it neither erases from the mind nor can be replaced by any other competing brands Punchline.

EXAMPLES SHOWING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSITIONING AND PUNCHLINE

Let us have a look into some of the famous Punchlines both in International and Indian markets and how does they respond to their ‘Positioning’.

IBM ThinkPad----- " I think, therefore IBM"---- Here IBM tries to say that if you have the capacity to think then you should go for IBM ThinkPad, the Punchline exactly conveys the message.

Nike ----- "Just do it" ---- There is no other better way to boost the self-confidence the way Nike has put through their famous Punchline. Thus the ad line simply communicates that using Nike can improve your performance by enhancing the self-confidence.

Adidas ------ " Forever Sport"----- They wanted to say that whenever you think of sports think Adidas. The Punchline perfectly associates Adidas and Sports.

7-up ----- "The Uncola"---- Perhaps the most talked about Punchline, it gave the brand a distinctive image in the mindspace of soft drink customers.

American Express ---- "Don’t leave home without it" ------The Punchline has made the card an essentiality of lifestyle. Thus the card directly made a safe place in the wallet of the customer for always.

Heinz Baked beans ----- "Beanz Meanz Heinz"-------The catchy, peppy punchline is easy to settle into the brain. People can easily relate beans to Heinz.

Philips ----- "Lets make things better" ----- Philips wanted its customer to appreciate the quality of the product, which the Punchline defines accurately.

Polaroid ----- " We don’t have negatives" ---- The Punchline itself was boasting about the uniqueness of the product, which the company was trying to position.

Crest -------- " Look, Ma, no cavities" ----- The Punchline reflects the emotional relationship between mother and children along with the basic benefit. That’s what every mother wants to hear from her child. Perfectly positioned and perfectly communicated.
10) Esso ----- " Put a tiger in your tank" ---- The tiger represents ‘power’ and ‘strength’. Esso wants to deliver these benefits to its consumer and accordingly positioned its products which were evident from the Punchline.

Lets have a look at the national front

1) Pepsi--- "Yeh dil maange more"-----Such was the effect of this punchline that an Indian army captain after winning a battle proudly yelled "Ye dil maange more".What drives us to buy pepsi or Coke? these punchlines.

Raymond ---- "The Complete man"--- The Punchline gives the notion that man is not complete unless he wears Raymond. The possession of Raymond is kind of status symbol, the status of acquiring manhood.

Coca Cola ---- " Thanda Matlab Coca Cola" ----- People in India generally refers cold drinks as ‘thanda’. So Coke wanted to give an impression that whenever a customer think of ‘Thanda’ he should think of Coca Cola. So the Punchline makes ‘Thanda’ equal to Coca Cola.

Birla Mutual Fund ----- "The name inspires Trust" ----- Trust is the basic platform on which mutual fund business works. An investor will invest only in that company in which he has confidence and trust. So the Punchline was directed towards Trust building.

Last but not the least

Wills Navy Cut ----- " Made For Each Other" --- The Punchline brings about the brand loyalty by making the customer and the brand too close to each other. It suggests that both the entities complement one another.

Most of the above mentioned ad lines are award winners just for the simple fact that they conveyed their brand’s positioning dead accurately.

BRAND IMAGE AND PUNCHLINES

Brand image can be defined as the characteristics and attributes perceived of a brand by a customer. Different consumers may have different brand images for a same brand. Brand image includes all the properties of the brand. Brand personality and brand image are more or less similar but the only difference is that brand personality is much more oriented towards the emotional aspect of the brand. Brand image helps the customer to personify a brand. Consumers always perceives brand as a human being, which has certain values, beliefs, attitudes and characteristics apart from its functional and non-functional benefits.

Taking leverage of this point Marketers appoint Brand Ambassadors for their strategic or Mega brand. For example Rajdoot Motorcycles tried to position itself as a macho man and accordingly appointed film star Dharmendra to endorse the motorcycle. Again ICICI appointed Amitabh bachchan as their Brand Ambassador for the credibility image. The Punchline must also support the image of the Brand Ambassador; point is, the Punchline must synchronize with it. A famous example is Sachin Tendulkar’s association with Visa card. The Punchline was ‘Go get it". As Sachin is a ‘go getter’, never afraid of any circumstances and gives 100% performance, so the Brand image of Visa card was totally in tandem with the image of Sachin and the Punchline depicts the same thing. Thus we can safely conclude that Punchline is the Bridge between Positioning and Brand image.

IMPORTANCE OF PUNCHLINES AND WHEN THEY ARE USED

It is very difficult to find out the right Punchline. Marketers have to select right words to form that sentences which can correctly express the positioning strategy of the brand. A bad Punchline can kill a good ‘ad’. For example the recent global ad of McDonalds, the ad line is " I’m lovin it" sung by N-sync guy Justin Timberlake. Critics are simply asking the relationship between Positioning and Communication.

When a Marketer launches any new brand, the general idea is that initially he has to increase the awareness among the consumers by differentiating it from the offerings of the existing competitors or differentiating it from the same need fulfilling products. For that he has to convey his USP in its Positioning. The most basic job of a Punchline is to carry this USP along with it. Consumers must be able to figure out the USP from the Punchlines.

Also whenever Marketers reposition a brand, Punchlines play a major role in it. It acts through the concept of Kurt Lewin’s change model theory.

At first the customer possess certain beliefs about the values, attributes and benefits about the brand, which may not be satisfactory. A perfect repositioning Punchline instigates the consumer to ‘unfreeze’ that behavior and makes him ready to change. If the Punchline strikes him as attractive due to repeated exposure it ‘changes’ the mindset of the customer creating new set of beliefs. Then due to consistency or when the benefits of the product match with the new expectations, which has been imbibed by the new Punchline, this new behavior ‘freezes’.

It really needs lots of strategies to build up an accurate and catchy Punchline to set the Positioning of the brand in the mind space of the customer. The Punchline represents the values of the company, benefits, attributes, features, quality, cost, special technology and last but not the least the ‘ USP’. If we really want to appreciate the value of Punchlines, then imagine an advertisement without any Punchline. It looks like a dumb. So basically the Punchline is the voice of the brand, which primarily gives out the minimum momentum, thrust or impetus to push the brand in the mind of the customer. Is Punchline the 5th ‘P’ of the Marketing mix?"

Credits:- Indiainfoline.com

Times of India Cartoons...

2006-03-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

I got these today morning..funny ones!:-)

.....another year younger!

2006-01-18T00:46:00.003-08:00

On account of republic day on 26th , its a day off from work.

I am leaving for Muvattupuzha tonite....will get home by early morning...poor Umma will have to go for work tomorrow also ...wish she was also there...

This time I had decided to spend my birthday at home sweet home at Edappally ..with Uppa and Umma...and as a bonus there is Lipsa and Mehak also ...wow!

And guess what morning when I called up Uppa , Umma , Lipsa n Mekhu are at Palathinkal house.... so I shall going there directly ...BLR-MVPA-EKM-BLR..thats my trip route this time...

Here is another year younger me ... singing Hum bhi agar bache hote...naam hamara hota dabloo babloo....

Happy Birthday to me...my cousins Hana , Sana and Sherin(Chippi).

All I Ever Need to Know about Testing I Learned in Kindergarten - By Lee Copeland

2006-01-18T00:46:00.002-08:00

Summary: Recently, Lee Copeland participated in the EuroSTAR testing conference. In addition to presenting a tutorial and a keynote address, Lee was asked to give the after dinner speech at the closing gala reception overlooking Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. He chose to model his comments after Robert Fulghum's book "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." But in his speech, which we've reprinted as the column of the week, Lee changes the rules of childhood into guidelines for living life as a tester.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1986, Robert Fulghum published a book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." It contains some wonderful ideas. I'd like to discuss how those might apply to us as testers.
Share everything.
Once I observed a situation in which a tester, with better knowledge of an application domain than an inexperienced developer, used his knowledge to find and report bugs in a system. He could have shared this knowledge with the developer, but wanted to stroke his own ego and pump up his bug report count. Our profession advances when we share information instead of using it for our own purposes.

Play fair.
Here are some other things I've seen testers do: One tester reported the same defect over and over again with slight variations to pump up her bug report count. Another tester discovered a significant defect during a design review but did not inform the developers. He waited until the defect was implemented in code and then filed a scathing defect report.

What goes around, comes around. When we don't play fair, we become untrustworthy. Then others won't play fair with us. It's lose-lose all around.

Don't hit people.
If you find a defect in someone's work, first tell him informally, personally, and discretely.

Once a co-worker gave me a document he had written and asked for my review. I didn't get to it until the last minute. Rather than talk with him in private, I blasted his work publicly in a meeting. Later, he came to me and simply asked, "Why?" I still remember the look in his eyes, and I have never done that again.

As a tester, remember that we are paid to "hit" software, not the people who wrote it. It's the software that's buggy, full of holes, not worth the ink used to print it, and, as James Whittaker likes to quote Neil Young, "A piece of crap."

Rather, remember Norm Kerth's gentle words: "Regardless of what we discover, we understand and believe that everyone did the best job they could, given what they knew at the time, with their skills, abilities, and the resources available."

Put things back where you found them.
You probably use a test lab. It's probably a common resource used by other testers. When you are finished, put things back--reconfigure the hardware, restore the software, reload the test data, set up the accounts, and reset the parameters.

In one organization I visited, the lab had a sign on the door that read "Test Lab." Everyone else in the organization read it as "Spare Parts Room."

Clean up your own mess.
And while you're at it, throw away those pizza boxes and coffee cups.

We have a rule at my house, "It's OK to spill." No one ever gets yelled at for spilling. But we have another rule, "Clean up your mess." That one you will get yelled at for not doing.

Even better, try not to create messes in the first place. One way to do this is to write clear bug reports--ones that will really help your developers find defects quickly; not reports that will lead them on wild goose chases for your amusement.

Don't take things that aren't yours.
One thing people take that isn't theirs is credit. Once my boss asked me to research something. Later, I wrote a memo, which began, "To: Boss, From: Lee." The next time I saw the memo it read "To: Big Boss, From: Boss." He took my work and didn't give me any credit. I learned something from that experience. From then on, I always took memos that my staff had prepared and put a sticky note on them that read, "My staff member wrote this . . . I think it's good work . . . I hope you concur."

Another thing people take that isn't theirs is guilt. You will not find every defect. Try hard, use your skills, do a good job; but remember, some will sneak by you and that's OK. As Boris Beizer says, "We need devious testers." But sometimes, as devious as we are, our developers and users exceed our capacity.

Say you're sorry when you hurt someone.
No matter how careful we are, at some place and time, we will hurt someone. Most of us will never intentionally hurt anyone physically, but we will hurt him emotionally. We'll say something or do something--perhaps intentional, perhaps in ignorance, or perhaps in jest--that will reach into his chest and rip out his heart.

As testers, we're in the error-discovery business. Our job is to find other people's mistakes. When we find them, we report them publicly. We know to always focus our reports on the errors, not the person who made the errors. But still, sometimes egos are bruised; sometimes feelings are hurt.

Say "I'm sorry." It is one of the most powerful, healing phrases in the human language.

Wash your hands before you eat.
In other words--start clean. Once the system fails, it may not be in a stable state to look for more defects. Reboot or reload often.

Flush.
This is always good advice. And, as a professional user of airport toilets, I am amazed at the number of men who don't know to do this. Of course, a real tester would flush all the toilets at once, just to see what happens. Could you do that with your software too?

Also, always remember to flush the cache when doing performance testing.

Sometimes features need to be flushed from the product before shipment because they are so problematic. Sometimes entire projects need to be flushed. Perhaps you can help--maybe you can even pull the handle.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Yes, they are. Enough said. (Oh, it's better if your employer furnishes them. And chocolate chip cookies are the best.)

Live a balanced life.
There are things in life in addition to testing--friends, family, travel, sex, food, rest, sex, health, fitness, art, recreation, good deeds, sex, spirituality, learning, play, and, of course, introspection.

It is difficult, especially in the early years of our careers, to put work aside and focus our attention on other things.

But, as the great philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

From a testing viewpoint, create diversified test teams and develop diversified test strategies.

Learn some, think some, draw some, paint, sing, dance, play, and work every day.
This one is more difficult to apply. How about "Learn some, think some, model some, explore some, document some, communicate, and test every day"?

Take a nap every afternoon.
If you work in an office with cubicles, taking a nap in plain sight is probably not a good way to win friends and influence people. However, we all need quiet time to be with ourselves--time to think, time to reflect, time to rest, time to regenerate. Try to establish your own quiet time--a time when you don’t read email, answer the phone, attend meetings, or allow interruptions.

Taking a step away from your project will give you fresh insight and a different outlook. When you come back to the problem, you often have your own "a ha!" moment.

When you go out in the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
There is great strength in teams. The days of "us vs. them" are over. The days of "throw it over the wall to the testers" is over. It turned out that idea was about as successful as Communism.

Synergy is the concept that the whole of us is more than the sum of us. In years past I ran an experiment in one of my seminars. It was based on a "Lost in the Desert" exercise in which individuals are given a problem to solve, and then they solve the same problem again in teams. When working together rather than as individuals, 98 percent of the time, the team score was better than the average of the individual scores. And 95 percent of the time, the team score was better than every one of the individual scores on the team. Working together as a team is better, smarter, and more powerful than working as individuals.

Be aware of wonder.
I have a four-year-old granddaughter and a two-year-old grandson who live with me. Imagine, at my age, I'm doing the "father" thing all over again. And it is a fabulous experience. You see, I had forgotten the "wonders" in the world: the wonder of butterflies and bugs; the wonder of the rainbow; the wonder of first words; the wonder of fire trucks and cement trucks and bulldozers and diggers of all kinds; the wonder of heartfelt hugs; and the wonder in a child's eyes and smile.

Be aware of wonder as a tester: the wonder that they made so many stupid mistakes; the wonder that so much actually does work; the wonder that your organization is still in business; the wonder of your own talent as you discovered an amazingly convoluted bug in the code; and the wonder that you have so much fun and get paid for it.

The world is full of wonder. It is a wonder-full world. I wish you a wonderful life. Good night.

About the Author Lee Copeland has more than thirty years' experience in the field of software development and testing. He has worked as a programmer, development director, process improvement leader, and consultant. He has developed and taught a number of training courses focusing on software testing and development issues based on his experience. He is a technical editor and regular columnist for Better Software magazine and StickyMinds.com. Contact Lee at lcopeland@sqe.com.

nothing else matters

2006-01-18T00:46:00.001-08:00

My leave is cancelled and is asked to do a sacrifice.... whatever is the priority for you.... wanted to be with parents atleast this birthday....its not possible...I have to be around for the team........

the one statement which came to me all of a sudden was "No, nothing else matters "

Here is a song from metallica...

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters

never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us, something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters

never cared for what they say
never cared for games they play
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
and I know

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters

Eyes will soon be turning red

2006-01-18T00:46:00.000-08:00

Came across a beautiful poem..though its not April or May :-)
here it goes...

It's a very windy day
Just a week ahead of May
And a tiny little ocean wave
Emerges from the fray
It's a little overcast
So she's moving very fast
'Cause she knows that soon the clouds will burst
And down will come the rain
Her main
Complaint
Is that the beach is several days away
Why stay
'Til May
When April doesn't shower anyway?
Ever westward is her ride
With the East Winds on her side
She puts miles and miles behind her
'Til she's snatched up by the tide
Now she's just a day away
From her wondrous wedding day
She's alone and she's exhausted
But tomorrow she's a bride
And she
Believes
That rocky beach is gonna set her free
And she
Can see
A future void of any misery
Mother Ocean always said
To remain on the sea bed
For the surface was a likely place
For her to end up dead
Father Earth was always near
Fueling all those fires of fear
She could take his side no longer
So she took her own instead
A bore
A chore
A way to keep the rich above the poor
No more
Sea floor
No way that she can take it anymore
It's a very humid night
And she doesn't like the sight
Of the stormclouds that are brewing
To her left and to her right
Only two more hours to go
'Til she meets her sandy beau
If the sky would only keep away
The rain she'd be alright
Drops keep falling on my head
Eyes will soon be turning red
Drops keep falling on my head
Eyes will soon be turning red
Drops keep falling on my head
Eyes will soon be turning red
Drops keep falling on my head
Eyes will soon be turning red

100 Stress busters...

2005-12-29T01:25:00.000-08:00

Getup 15 minutes earlier
Prepare for the morning the night before
Avoid tight-fitting clothes.
Don't rely on your memory
Practice preventative maintenance
Make duplicate keys and store them where you can get to them
Say 'no' more often
Set priorities in your life
Avoid negative people
Use your time wisely
Simplify everything you can
Make copies of important papers and store them where you'll be able to find them
repair anything that doesn't work properly
Ask for help
Chunk down big jobs into little ones
View problems as challenges
Look at challenges as opportunities
Unclutter your life.
Smile
Be prepared for rain
Laugh at something
Pet a dog or cat
Don't try to know all the answers
Look for the silver lining
Say something nice to someone
Teach a kid to fly a kite
Walk in the rain
Schedule some time each day to play.
Take a long shower or a bubble bath
Be Conscious of the decisions you make
Believe in yourself
Stop beating yourself up
Stop saying negative things to yourself.
Visualize yourself winning
Develop your sense of humor
Stop thinking that tomorrow will be a better day
Set goals for yourself.
Say hello to a stranger
Ask a friend for a hug
Give a friend a hug.
Look at the stars
Breathe slowly
Learn to whistle
Read a poem
Listen to some music you've never heard before
Watch a ballet
Read something
Do something new.
Stop a bad habit.
Buy yourself a flower
Smell the flower
Find support from others
Give support to others
Do it today.
Work at being cheerful and optimistic
Put safety first.
Do everything you do in moderation.
Pay attention to your appearance
Strive for excellence, not perfection
Stretch your limits a little each day
Look at a painting or a sculpture
Hum a song.
Eat nutritiously
Plant a tree
Feed a bird
Practice grace under pressure
Stand up and stretch
Have a "plan B"
Draw a picture
Buy some crayons and color
Learn a joke.
Be responsible for your feelings
Meet your own needs.
Know you limitations and let others know them, too.
Throw a paper airplane
Exercise
Learn the words to a song
Get to work early
clean out one closet or one drawer
Go on a picnic
Take a different route to work
Put an air freshener in your car
Watch a movie
Eat some popcorn while you watch a movie.
Write a note to someone you haven't heard from in a while
Take a walk.
Go to a ball game and scream
Eat a meal by candle light.
Recognize the importance of unconditional love.
Remember that stress is an attitude.
Keep a journal
Practice a smile
Remember that there are always options
Develop a support system
Quit trying to "fix" people.
Get enough sleep
Talk less
Listen more
Praise others
Stop counting things.

Serendipity..

2005-12-29T00:34:00.000-08:00

Credits to Sophia.

he would never forget those days ..those days when they where hanging around together…they where neighbors and had been in the same college for their bachelors n masters…every grass in the campus would tell stories of their love…she was the prettiest gal in college and he was handsome too…he was her senior…and lil would the subject enter her brain without him… the whole college envied this pair…there was no opposition for their love except for destiny

going abroad for his job was written in his stars
the comforts that he enjoyed made him forget her…and his home land….he got married there
his marriage lasted only 3 years…
it was then he realized her love and was back to pavilion…..

he went to her house straight from airport…but no one was there…
he saw the pic of her parents hanging on the wall…garlanded…
the neighbors told him that she lived alone for the past 3 years..
her parents had passed away in an air crash….
the feeling that he was not there in her miserable moments started slaughtering him…
he wanted to make up for everything that had happened…

he sat in a chair in the courtyard
watching the birds sing their day break song…
he never knew how time had passed…he was into a sweet siesta..
he woke up hearing the sound of the gates…
she was there… it was almost afternoon
his eyes hazed with tears…he was speechless…
but she had no expressions on her face…except a smile
he expected a surprise on her face…he was puzzled
he gave her the pink orchid bouquet that he had got for her from the airport
it was her favorite …
she took it from him and sat beside him…she was pale, muted…
he told her everything that had happened in his life…
she was silent…
he reverberated the happenings of the past…the happy times that they had..
she was laughing remembering all that had happened
when they had finished it was evening …
they had forgotten their thirst and hunger
she brought for him a steaming coffee and fresh sandwiches …
they had it together…
he took her hands in his…he crossed his fingers with hers….
he couldn’t resist from kissing her….he wanted to marry her…
he told her…
Bethovan’s symphony was running in the background…
It happened and they made love…he was feeling happy after a long time
she promised to meet him the next day evening…in “the café”
the same place where they usually sat…

he hired a room in the same café on the first floor…
he thought about her all the time…
he cursed himself for not being there for her when she needed him the most…
he had lots of thoughts running in his mind…
she had lost her parents…she had no siblings…
how miserable she would have felt …living alone all these years
how could one be happy…

it was a Wednesday morning
and there she was sitting…
he was suffering in mixed emotions …..
he was down four times…that day…
he every time went back to change to her favorite things
a blue color shirt, denim black jean..perfume
she was there ..waiting…
he went to her….and sat opposite to her….

he gazed at her pensively across,
her emerald eyes perplexedly open
tears blended moistly with the miasmic mountain haze
like the looming storm clouds above,
a crash of distant thunder brought to her mind memories of the past,
of an era when the world was juvenile and she was ecstatically carefree.
she shrugged her shabby hair, and
allowed a weary smile to loosen her lips

he kept gazing at her….she told him…”u have to wait for few more days”
she also told him…that she will have news for him within a weeks time…till then he has to wait
he asked her “what’s wrong?”…she said “nothing”.
she turned from him and walked away…..
a silent tear fell down from her cheek and she whispered “everything”.
little did he know that she was sinking …..

he came down the next day hoping to see her…she wasn’t there…
her house was also locked…the neighbors where clueless..
the same happened even the day after that…he was becoming impatient…
his imaginations ran wild…
he thought “would she bring a guy and say that she would marry him”
he was confused…thinking was this a revenge on him…
days went by…it was almost 5 days

and a Monday morning….the sun was bright….
the day dawned as usual with all its charm…
he came down for a coffee…the bearer brought a note for him
he opened it….

It read

“remember me when i am gone away
gone far away into the silent land
when you can no more hold me by the hand
nor half turn to go yet turning stay
remember me when no more day by day
you tell me of our future that you planned
only remember me; you understand
it will be late to counsel than or pray
yet if you should forget me for a while
and afterwards remember, do not grieve
for if darkness and corruption leave
a vestige of the thoughts that once i had
better for you should forget and smile
than that you should remember and be sad”

the same lines which they read a number of times in the college library…that wouldn’t enter her head….how many times he had explained them to her…..

he continued reading….. “i wrote this note to you on the day i met you at home…brought it to give it to you in the café…i was of course angry with you for some time…but it vanished as soon as i saw you…rather when i saw the deep love in your eyes…seeing your love for me…didn’t want you to see me die…i am confirmed of blood cancer ….when you read this…i would be in the silent land….sorry Harshad for leaving you when you need me… “

always only your
Richa

he burst out crying like a child …..

High Alert! Extra Care

2005-12-28T20:34:00.001-08:00

It was yesterday that terror struck an international conference at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus on Wednesday night killing a retired Mathematics professor from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, M C Puri, and seriously injuring four others including one of the inventors of the Simputer, Prof Vijay Chandru from IISc.

Following the attack, the Bangalore police imposed a nakabandhi in the city and were screening all vehicles.

Environment is scary and insecure. This morning on my way to office , though bugged with all traffic signals still enjoying the ride...there was no fear in mind till I reached office gate . There were four guys to stop me to ask for my badge. Its tough when you ride a bike on the way to stop , open jerkin and take out the card all this should happen in microseconds time and push off in(if they are OK! if not take U-turn) else you will be hit or honked by one of your colleague behind your vehicle.
Positive side of it is they care for us and thats why they do it...so I dont mind..from tomorrow I have decided to display my badge outside the jerkin. There is another danger here , earlier we were warned to take off our Id bages and keep it safe in the bag / pocket as soon as we are out of our office campus , there is a danger of attack if they find that you are a software guy / employed and they tend to think that you have bundles of currencies tucked in!.
Where do we go from here? Life in Bangalore seems to be horrifying!

Ithatha called up last night to tell me this incident at IISc when we were in the making of "2-Minute Maggi". I was in the kitchen (matter of fact reached home early for a change , went out for getting grocery with Shabin to foodays) and was cutting vegetable for our Noodles dinner.!

Still things will happen what has to happen ..after the call center employee's murder mental setup is not that OK..for IT/ITES crowd...and now another science sector...which was quite unexpected and was on a very normal day ...I was not aware of an international conference at IISc happening but certainly it should not come as news with such happenings.

It was sickening to read in a morning daily today that "Bangalore is a potential target" and who is taking care of all terrorist tasks?

Take care all Bangaloreans! Have a terror-free day!

déjà vu

2005-11-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

Today I receieved an Email with subject "deja vu"..though heard many a times , I was curious to know what it really meant and I think I found it as written below..

The term déjà vu is French and means, literally, "already seen." Those who have experienced the feeling describe it as an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar at all. Say, for example, you are traveling to England for the first time. You are touring a cathedral, and suddenly it seems as if you have been in that very spot before. Or maybe you are having dinner with a group of friends, discussing some current political topic, and you have the feeling that you've already experienced this very thing -- same friends, same dinner, same topic.

The phenomenon is rather complex, and there are many different theories as to why déjà vu happens. Swiss scholar Arthur Funkhouser suggests that there are several "déjà experiences" and asserts that in order to better study the phenomenon, the nuances between the experiences need to be noted. In the examples mentioned above, Funkhouser would describe the first incidence as déjà visité ("already visited") and the second as déjà vecu ("already experienced or lived through").

As much as 70 percent of the population reports having experienced some form of déjà vu. A higher number of incidents occurs in people 15 to 25 years old than in any other age group.

Déjà vu has been firmly associated with temporal-lobe epilepsy. Reportedly, déjà vu can occur just prior to a temporal-lobe epileptic attack. People suffering an epileptic seizure of this kind can experience déjà vu during the actual seizure activity or in the moments between convulsions.

Since déjà vu occurs in individuals with and without a medical condition, there is much speculation as to how and why this phenomenon happens. Several psychoanalysts attribute déjà vu to simple fantasy or wish fulfillment, while some psychiatrists ascribe it to a mismatching in the brain that causes the brain to mistake the present for the past. Many parapsychologists believe it is related to a past-life experience. Obviously, there is more investigation to be done.

Credits : Howstuffworks.com

Another Day in Paradise

2005-11-21T01:44:00.000-08:00

Hmm....my 8th class crush...for grammy when nominated...Ithatha , me , lipsa just cannot forget this one...all on my phones in this lazy Monday afternoon at work...

She calls out to the man on the street
’sir, can you help me?
It’s cold and I’ve nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me? ’

He walks on, doesn’t look back
He pretends he can’t hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

Oh think twice, it’s another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it’s just another day for you,
You and me in paradise

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she’s been crying
She’s got blisters on the soles of her feet
Can’t walk but she’s trying

Oh think twice...

Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh lord, there must be something you can say

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she’s been there
Probably been moved on from every place
’cos she didn’t fit in there

Oh think twice...

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL

2005-11-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

Am recollecting all the poems what I learned in school...here is another one...
Its nice to read all these all over again....may be I understand it now better.. :-)

The mountain and the squirrel

Had a quarrel,

And the former called the latter

“Little prig.”

Bun replied,

“You are doubtless very big;

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together

To make up a year

And a sphere.

And I think it no disgrace

To occupy my place.

If I'm not so large as you,

You are not so small as I,

And not half so spry:

I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track.

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;

If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can you crack a nut."

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

The solitary reaper

2005-11-17T04:53:00.000-08:00

Schooldays...memories when Umma had to run behind me teaching me the real meaning of this...and now that I have got what she always wanted me to be in a job..not dreaming high a dream of a middle class working mother. I love you Umma...

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
0 listen! for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands;
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings? -
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago;
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

Whate'er the theme, the maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore
Long after it was heard no more.

Salute to Sir William Wordsworth

Friend wrote...

2005-11-17T02:01:00.000-08:00

When things start going wrong…everything goes wrong….

This is a fact….My mind is so heavy now…believe me I couldn’t read the whole message….

I don’t know what gonna happen to me….but rt now am in a terrible cond…that’s it…and no one knows it better than u…but still if u want what u have written about I have nothing to say…..

Tears...tear you apart...

2005-11-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Tears...tear you apart...

time does it all...it pains!

Today you are best of people to each other...

split of seconds everything changes ....

till yesterday when you were sweethearts to each other...

fate does it all...

he decides it...

and you got to live on with it...

your best buddy says " you are bad"...."walk out of my life"..

what could you do other than digging your head in hot sand...

pray for a rain to wash it out...

and a sunshine also...

you will never know....

be ready for anything...

for you may not exist tomorrow.....

no next moment...

forgive your friend and live on....

dont talk a word back ... dont even know what are you being punished for?

he will understand you...and come around...

let it pain till then..but thats ok as long as my buddy is happy.....

Mehak

2005-11-05T22:46:00.000-08:00

Much awaited happiness to us with close of Ramdan....Mehak is here....

Lipsa did it for us ..Mehak was out at 11:30 am today... The wait with patience , lot of love in store , and esp the extra calorie what Lipsa put on for Mehak is all today seen...and we are all so so happy that it happend when we were going back from vacation to work..after all who likes to ? I didnot get to hold Mehak with that joy I looked into her eyes when Lipsa was in labor room ... I have seen babies earlier also ...but this time I realised it's different to meet my own new blood..yes! there was a flow of emotions when i saw Mehak..who was just 2hrs fresh out to a whole new world..God is great ...she is into a different world where she can see things now , hear...etc..etc..Uppa , Umma so happy to get a grandchild and Mehak is infact the first to lead the next generation of children on both sides...wow!You score!

One liners...

2005-10-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

One liners , I often stop to read something like these when I really have time and patience...I wonder who does all these...good read...

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ø When I was born, I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half.

Ø Join the army, see the world, meet interesting people, and kill them.

Ø Until I was 13, I thought my name was 'Shut Up.'

Ø I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens.

Ø Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.

Ø I've never been drunk, but often I've been over served.

Ø The road to success is always under construction.

Ø I say no to drugs -- they just don't listen!

Ø Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce.

Ø Work is fine if it doesn't take up too much of your time.

Ø When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

Ø Born free; Taxed to death.

Ø Everyone has a photographic memory; some people just don't have film.

Ø Life is unsure; always eat your dessert first.

Ø Smile -- it makes people wonder what you're up to.

Ø I love being a writer... what I can't stand is the paperwork.

Ø A printer consists of 3 main parts: the case, the jammed paper tray and the blinking red light.

Ø The hardest part of skating is the ice.

Ø The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot; the guy who invented the other three, he was the genius.

Ø The trouble with being punc tual is that there's no one there to appreciate it.

Ø If our constitution allows us free speech, whyare there phone bills?

Ø If you tell a man there are 300 billion starsin the universe, he'll believe you. But if you tell him a park bench has just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure.

Ø Beat the 5 O'clock rush: leave work at noon!

Ø If you can't convince them, confuse them.

Ø It's not the fall that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end.

Ø I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

Ø Hot glass looks same as cold glass. (Cunino's Law of Burnt Fingers)

Ø The cigarette does the smoking - you are just the sucker.

Ø Someday is not a day of the week

Ramadan - The month of fasting

2005-10-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am on Ramadan fasting .

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation"
It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation

During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning

According to the Holy Quran:

One may eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night"
The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things -

the telling of a lie
slander
denouncing someone behind his back
a false oath
greed or covetousness

These are considered offensive at all times, but are most offensive during the Fast of Ramadan

During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer). The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer

On the evening of the 27th day of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year

When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.

Is mod(e) pe...

2005-09-27T02:19:00.000-07:00

Wonder only we guys at home sleep till its 9 and rush up for office...which was not the scene some months with me .... I was a dedicated jogger at our park where ladies , couples , come for a walk , a jog , some with little of YOGA , breathing exercise...its really funny watching a few of them...
I am on my first step to start my workouts again...

I realised was every moment in life should be seen , felt to the fullest of its pleasure( hold there! within limits) when I saw in our park all those green tall trees , those red bright flowers I dont know what its called ...we dont take some time to enjoy all these...days just pass by with work , loads of food , chitchat , or turf with someone...why???? and why dont we take that part of our beautiful life to be observed under a microscope?...I have decided I need to change and change a lot.. Some unbelievable sights ..I saw a couple complete contrast how they appeared...I cant stop commenting on this..cause everytime I take a round and see them pass by holding each other's hand ...I just said in mind God! How unfair! No! ...may be what matters to both of them is the bonding they have as a person and does looks matter in that case? They arent married ...so who are they? should be friends??? no they dont look so ... whatever its not my headache in life...But lifes full of mistakes....everyone commits it...and we all live with mistakes...who will pay the price for our mistakes?..keep pondering over this..

MLTR - Out of the blue

2005-09-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

(Jascha Richter)

I was almost about to lose my faith
Was still dreaming but feared it was too late

But then you came along to my surprise
and stole my heart before my very eyes

Chorus: You took me right out of the blue
simply by showing that you love me too
only by giving me your everything
with a love so true you took me out of the blue

I was wondering what love was all about
I was trying but couldn't work it out

But then you came along to my surprise
and made my frozen mind come alive

Chorus: You took me right out of the blue
simply by showing that you love me too...

You let me out of the darkness
you brought me out in the sun
I think you must be the only one for me
'cos you took me

Chorus:
Right out of the blue
simply by showing that you love me too
only by giving me your everything
breathing air below my wings
You took me right out of the night
simply by filling my heart with light
only by giving me your energy
with a love so true you took me out of the blue

I MISSED 'EM

2005-09-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

I dont care what happens in Palace Grounds otherwise....this time it was MLTR live performing....I dint wanna miss them ...somehow this happend..true we were all running short of cash but if I had a push or atleast someone to go along..

But I was destined to miss them in Bangalore may be I will meet them in Denmark in sometime...

Watch found in 2nd floor Gents Toilet

2005-09-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

A mail below which I sent out taking a clip from our bulletin board...after I get back my lost sexy watch

Thanks to MTH4 security guy..., George Behanan,Latha and Jayamani and his highness ofcourse!
Topic:
Lost & Found

SubTopic:
Others

Subject:
Watch found in 2nd floor Gents Toilet

Auhor:
Jayamanikandan N

Email ID:
jayamanikandan_n

Respond To:
jayamanikandan_n

Posted on:
9/16/2005 10:01:00 AM

Phone No:
No phone no

Mobile No:
No mobile no
Content

A STEEL watch found with INNER BROWN colour,written Time Design.
Please contact me at 3513 or mail me.
Thanks.
Jayamani

Thanks to Jayamani… who picked it up and very promptly posted up in BB.

Things which we see and use daily turns out to be most precious only when we lose it….and atlast to get it back “feels like heaven”… I thank few people this morning who directed me getting this done in a 15 min drama uff!!! Which was like 15hrs of trauma I underwent ..

Have a nice day and a lovely weekend.

Lazith

Wounds are visible

2005-09-01T03:37:00.000-07:00

Life has started to seem like
a wall whose color is fading.
Now there's nothing left to hide;
through the cracks, the wounds are visible.
I am your body's shadow;
how can you keep me apart me from myself?
It's my nature to make mistakes
because I am human, not a god...
I admit to all my sins.
Humans make mistakes.
Now there's nothing left to hide;
through the cracks, the wounds are visible.
Sometimes, in the darkness of evening,
birds take a pilgrimage down the road,
but they return to their brances when the dawn arrives.
They return to their branches.
Something like this happened with me as well.
This is what I'm saying with my gestures.
Life has started to seem like
a wall whose color is fading.
Now there's nothing left to hide;
through the cracks, the wounds are visible.

Life has started to seem like
a wall whose color is fading.
Now there's nothing left to hide;
through the cracks, the wounds are visible.
Until now, I only saw you;
today, I've also learned what you are.
Today, when I looked at you closely,
I accepted that I went wrong somewhere...
Perhaps, in every mistake you committed,
I was complicit somehow.
Now there's nothing to hide of myself;
through the cracks, the wound has started to show.
Come be with me once more;
we'll make the house of our dreams.
What was scattered, we will piece together;
we'll search out happiness once again.
The burdens of life are halved
with the support of one another.
Life has started to seem like
a wall whose color is fading.
Now there's nothing left to hide;
through the cracks, the wounds are visible.

Credits to the original hindi which is one of my favorite song...
Anyone who can guess which is the song...will win prize!! :-)
Take care...

Moosical Nite...

2005-08-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Sandese Ate Hain... Me and Vijay at the Grand Finale...

Just back from home today after an elongated weekend on Independence Day account.

We had a screening last week for Musical Night. It was quite unexpected for someone who has lost touch with any kinda singing competition and then it becomes really tough when you decide on a song when your name is called and go there on stage and think of a song in mind....OK! I thought if I am singing two lines also let me sing a song which I am comfortable hearing as if I myself sit with the audience...so went on for a song which I have sung in college...Kumar Sanu 's "Sambhala Hain Maine" from Naaraz .
I started thinking only that I have to be singing loud cause there is a note in the sing I knew where you require to ramp the pitch up which would put tremendous strain on your vocal chords if you dont start from a pitch low....atleast this is the case with me and thank God! I know how it sound when I sing...I dont require a feedback monitor when I want to sing...like this...so I did..and I knew when I was done with the song that I dint make a mistake but the only concern how good I was when did a match with others?

Dear wear...Dare wear..Ethnic wear

2005-08-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

[Dedicated to those loudmouths whose criticisms are just unheard ....do we listen to a dog bark?? ...we just hear!!! Learn our culture , our music , our values , what ethnicity do we have as a nation , as a state , as secular country, as a family , and coming down as an individual...Dare all those anti-ethnic elements..for whom Eminem comes first , no Indian music... to give a feast for eyes like we did here ...]

Truly ethnic me was in Kerala Muslim (except for the green wallet attached mollakka belt) wear.

Me and Jayesh got up with whole lot of energy for ethnic day.We both are always in high spirits for all the cult n extra activities.So was for ethnic day also. I just moved into a new project. So doesnt have much of people with whom I could team up with. The project which I work for is a huge account but as said testers lead a different life ..so I am in that community.

I dint have anything in mind..for sometime I just thought ok! would wear Kerala usual stuff...."Kodi mundu , and the shirt which goes with that". But again a thought struck me whats so ethnic for me in that wear which is going to be a repeat show which I did the last time.
So thought would do a dare show. Nothing can be as daring as a typical Muslim wear...
:-)
Clothing include:-
*Lungi( Kerala men's wear at home or when they are in a and ladies (not girls) too wrap it around when they go for a dip + washing clothes in a river)
,* a namaaz cap(Muslim men wear it on head when they go to Mosque or Hajis wear very often)
,*thorthu(usually white piece of cloth cross knit thread)
,a belt(green required which is what Muslims usually wear but couldnt get that so wore my thick black belt) over my vest just below my waist.
I thought I would go bare foot but dint get time to put my floaters aside.

No hype here....I felt like a celebrity after the function got over when I saw people wanted to get snapped with me.... I never had an idea this would happen when I dressed up in the morning before the function started and went to our main building where people took out their cellphones to catch me ....hehehehe.....

Julie Andrews...My Favorite Things

2005-07-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things!
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things!
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things!
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember
my favorite things
and then I don't feeel so bad!
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things!

Dedicated to all my childhood pals and to my Uppa,Umma,Ithatha,Lipsa....I remember we watching this movie and singing to Ms.Andrews with snowflakes , raindrops on roses... "Doe Ray Me Far Sew La Tea"..Now you can imagine how I know it with precision as she explains it for the kids to remember the notes..with examples from kindergarten...

LoadRunner

2005-07-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

I am in Software Testing after a year in development...I knew I had mind for constructive destruction...ahem!!

After Zope , Plone & Python , this is now a change with work..

I setup the Linux Project Server did some ten thousands words of documentation of the setup etc..etc...

Now into something very exciting and I am trying dipping my hands hopefully to become a "Performance tester"

Thanks to people who made this possible for me...Uppa , Umma , Lipsa , Ithatha, and everyone..who did it for me thru their continuous prayers...and to the highest power ,most benevloent...

To Raj , Shahnawaz, my whole team ,Sylvia and my new boss Shalaka.

Shalaka is building a hi-performance testing team here(sounds good)..so I should be a part of it..

LoadRunner has already put enough load on me...with VuGen, Analysis tool,VLoadController..

Evrything starts with LR again ...but here its "LoadRunner" Thank you Mercury Interactive.

Will update here soon...:-))

Its weekend!!!!!

2005-07-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Supposed to be winding up with work!!! but you never know when things fall apart for you!

Its raining cats n dogs!!!!and am stuck up here at desk.

Listening to "Aao Na" from "Kyoon Ho Gaya Na"....I dont mind listening to it time n again...infact I listen to this atleast once a day...

Anoop has gone home..tried calling him but looks like his "customised motorola flip" is out or range(read as out of order)

Lots to write a long time I have thinking of blogging... Such an irresponsible lazy laz....:-))

Appraisals are DONE with....better not comment on it much....things happen much worse in other parts of the world...so this is nothing.

Forget it...I have just started...

Now "Zara Zara" from RHTDM....Bombay Jayashree is just awsome....infact i used to like the Tamil version "Vaseegara..."hey these guys try so hard mixing the lyrics n music....offffff!!!!!
I just hate it when they do that , its all money calling when some good music strike the right chord....waste no time give it to people sometime (all the time) the lyrics are just out-of-context
just dont matter if its for this movie or any other movie , they would just want to market the music in some banner thats all...

enough of bhaashan for tonite....

Ithatha called up in the morning...I am surprised why dint Lipsa call up today?

She neva forget to give me a call on a Friday!!????

Just waiting for her to get back..All of us back at home all excited for the next "big event"....at home.....yeah! it was she hit the chart last time too when we had all fun , time crunch , event organise.....wow! Lipsa you are rocking....

Parineeta

2005-07-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

End of days with an agenda to pick up something new....

Its been long since I watched a movie!!!! (Not really) . I have been in the cinema quite often ....say two a month I dont keep a count of any of these...when I feel like , just zooooommmm....

As usual me n Jayesh were in Swagath cinemas for show at 9:30 pm...on Friday..

Parineeta was a movie which I wanted to see ..not because of the so-called "beauty" Ms.Balan... I like this guy "Saif Ali"..there is something about him and the songs caught me right from the time I once chanced upon its promos.

Movie is worth Rs.40/- which we prefer to pay as royalty to Bollywood after our mistake at PVR paying for a shitty "Nazar" casting the first timer in Bollywood.. Meera Khan....believe me anyone can become an actor once I watched her....
F*** Rs.130/- I burnt for this cool shit of 2.5 hrs. Never again we decided once we came out of the hall.

We both in past few months from March have spent enough on almost all brands and on movies , eatouts....:-)

Movies we have been together...
Sarkar , Paheli , Kaal , Bunty Aur Babli , Nazar , Parineeta , Thaskara Veeran(Mallu) , Lucky...and the list goes on...

Our favorite apparel is at "United Colors of Benetton" (only when we are at a spree... as a matter of fact its always the same..)

`

SMS mania

2005-04-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been receiving a lot of SMS from friends
...I would like to put 'em all...

My friends customise a few of em for me alone....I call that "heights of SMS entertainment"....it rains somedays...."SMS rains.. to Lazith's Nokia..9886..........."

My cellphone message box is full and I dont feel like deleting any of them ...some are so crazy ones...and some are thought provoking too....leme start with something which I learned and thinking which I console myself sometimes...here they are ..

And giving due credits and my sincere "hats off" to the person(s) who can sincerely , patiently do a lot of writing ....

1. "I cried because I had no shoes till I saw a man with no feet". Life is full of blessings sometimes we're just too blind to see them.

- During my Microsoft training days I happend to attend Rashmi's session..when she too said the same but it was "I was in blues without a shoes"...may be it rhymed well.... :-))

2. Palkon mein qaid kuch sapne hai. Kuch begane hai. Kuch apne hai...
Na jane kyaKhashish in khayalon main...
Wo ghair hokar bhi kitne apne hain....

- Wah Wah Wah!!!!

3. I have 100
Reasons
y
I Like u,
I have 100
Reasons
y
I Care for u,
&
10 millions
Reasons
y
I Miss you.
I just have
One thing
2 tell you!
Thanks for being my good friend !

- Cute nay????

4. Tonight
I caught
a STAR
I'm giving it
to you
so you'll
know
how
Sparkingly
Special
u are to me!
*
'
'
'
'
Catch it...its for you...

5. Nice ppl are r like wind.
..u'll never know what's inside their heart..
But u will always feel their presence..U'r one of them...

6. When sky becomes dark I remember you...
When clouds gather ,
I remember you...
When Rain starts , i remember you....;
Please return my umbrealla you....fool...:-)))

- Whdya say for this???

7. Idli and chicken for dinner ... who said combinations are for calculations alone?

8. Nigahe aapki,
Pehchan hain hamari,
muskurahat apki,
shaan hain humari,
rakna ifazat se apne ap ko,
kyoonki saanse aapki,
jaan hain hamari...

9. Love is blind
Then whats marriage ?
Surely to remove the blindness..
& Realize the mistake..

10. Ah!!!!.....Sardar special ...how can you ever miss that????
A sardar invested two lakhs in a business , and suffered a huge loss...
Can you guess what his business was?
Dont have to scroll down for the answer...
"He opened a saloon in Punjab"

11. If smile is book, I give you library,
If hug is SIM , I give you talktime..
If luv is bike , I give you petrol..
If friendship is life , I give you myself...

This is true Bang ishtyle....sheesh!!!!

12. 30 grams sand, 15 grams wood , 10 bolts & 2 nails + 1 kg clay ..

u may ask what are all these things...

it is the CT scan report of your head...

- I swear this was never customised....:-D

13. Sardar going to shop 2 buy India flag.

Note:- Sardar talks mallu here

Sardar :- Indian flag undo ?

Translation :- Do you have Indian flag ?

Shop Keeper :- Ithaa Indian flag.

Translation :- Here is your Indian flag.

Sardar :- Veray color illay?

Translation :- Dont you have any other color?

Please laugh eh!!! kaashu tharaam....

14. The greatest gift you can give someone is you time...
When you give someone your time , you are giving them a portion of your life
that you will never get back...

- Thanks for your time....hehehehehehe

15. As long as we have memories , Yesterday remains.
As long we have hopes , Tomorrow awaits.
As long as we are friends , everyday is a beautiful day.

- Fact.

16. Sorry here I cant make those smileys here...
but yes! trying to write what is there in SMS....

"smiling , crying , angry , bored , proud , hungry , confused ,sleepy , whatever u feel ..
I like you in any mood..."

17. I have a little angel flying around with a hammer ,
Each person she taps gets a little bit of my love and friendship ...
Hope she beats you up badly....

18. Stelaing the blue from the splashing sea,
a tinge of green from youthful trees ,
a bit of orange from the sunset hues,
n crystal white from the morning dews....
I framed a bright n colorful wish just for you...

19. "To share what is difficult . To heal what is hurting,
To think what is not possible , To understand without talking...
Is the miracle called friends....

20. Fill in the blank.
I am your __________ friend.
a) cute b) sweet c) loving d) boy/girl e) decent f) boring g) naughty h) none of these

21. I know you are SO-SO-SO -B-U-S-Y-
But take 3 seconds to think of me
1......
2.......
3.......
So sweet ...Now continue your work....

22. Life is only travelled once , Today's moment becomes tomorrow's memory...
Enjoy every moment good or bad , because the gift of life is life itself.......

23. Pleasant morning cheer up and rejoice coz every new day brings new life , mew blessings, new hope ..Have a day full of success...

- What else do yu need to start a day???

24. Safar lamba hain...
Dost banathe rahiye ...
Dil mile na mile...haath badathe rahiye....
Taj na banayiye ..bahut costly padega...
Har taraf mumtaz banate rahiye....

I like this stuff!!! solid.....eh!!!!

25. Dreams touch our heart n soul....
Its a magical memory dat unites fantasy n reality...
Hope you will sweetest dreams tonight...

26. True friends see you true...
Believe in things you do...
Feels glad when your dreams come true...
Best of al....then dont judge you...
They simply like because you are YOU...

27. Before facing a new day, bow your head and say this prayer:
"Thank you GOD for this amazingly good looking sender..May her smartness inspire me all day today "....

- Customised here...

28. Anyone can make you smile.....
and Anyone can make you cry ....
but ...it takes a special person to make you smile with tears in your eyes...

29. Analysis of relations ..

Dad :- Advices and scolds.

Mom :- Love and care.

Sis :- Affection and company.

Bro:- Fighting and chatting.

G/F:- hurging and teasing.

Friend :- All the above.

SMS Update :-
30. Ur heart is like sky n ur close well wishers are like stars. If any day you dont find me in them , dont be afraid I am d falling star to complete your wish. Have a nice day...

Touching..

31. A big gud evening to my...

sweet loving

sugar coated

chocomilk shaky

honey dipped

cheez meltin

orange juicy

peperoni spicy bacon

icy butter FRIEND.....

32. I 've opened an emotional bank account 4 u in my heart.
Deposit your friendship in it & I'll make sure that u receive interest as long as I am alive.

33. You are a friend with a heart of GOLD ,
How much you mean to me can never be told...
U r someone so sweet and true...
One in a million & thats why only u....

34. We are as cool as Vodka,
Hard as Tequila,
Warm as Cognac,
Exotic as Malibu,
Mixed as Cocktail,
&
Special as Champagne...
Cheers to our Friendship.....

- Same here Gudiya

35. Promise me we are True Friends,
U r the roof & I am the ground,
U r the floor & I am the tiles,
U r the sun & I am the rays,
I am the tree U r the monkey OK?

36. Beauty is AGELESS,
Luv is BOUNDLESS,

heart beats are countless,

n a Friend like you is
HOPELESS

Oops
Shameless

Cha...Sorry
Useless

37. Think well
work well
eat well
sleep well
play well
and if
you dont like messaging me put
your mobile inside the same well....

Aiyo..Extremely Sorry
PRICELESS

Sivamani

2005-03-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Doesn't all creation emerge from destruction, and vice-a-versa? Something to ponder on, yeah...

Well, we are talking about one of the best pair of hands in the world of percussion - Anandan Sivamani. Zakir describes him as a phenomenon that walks through this planet but once or twice in a century. No recording of A R Rahman is complete without him. He is a must with Louis Banks, be it live shows or studio recordings. What greater introduction does a musician need in a contemporary setting!

Good news for all Mumbaites - Siva has shifted recently to Mumbai from Chennai. And what a welcome Mumbaites have showered him with in the past few months! He has been regularly performing with various maestros and won a standing ovation every time.

So how did this young lad from Chennai, inspired by his father, S.M. Anandan, a well-known percussionist in Tamil film circles, carve such a unique path for himself? It was the magic of international master, Noel Grant, which enchanted Sivamani. Though he had been playing the drums since the age of 7, Noel Grant's recordings filled him with awe, and ecstasy. He used to try out the beats at home. He was also inspired by Billy Cobham, who became a role model. And one day in 1990, he actually shared the stage with the legend at Mumbai's Rang Bhavan.

But the route was arduous, plenty of moments frustrating. But the goal kept beckoning him and he had the blessings of wonderful friends, and masters across the globe. His earliest experiments in fusion were with Carnatic legends, Kunnaikudi Vaidyanathan and T.V. Gopalakrishnan.
There were dreams then about various possibilities in percussion. He heard Trilok Gurtu at a fusion concert in Chennai. He saw Gurtu do things that he had only been visualising. And then, there was no looking back.

India's rhythm ambassador Zakir Hussain invited him to share the stage with himself and Trilok at a concert in Rang Bhavan. And Siva grabbed the opportunity, carving his niche in the presence of the great masters. And very soon, he was to be a master in the making himself. He started playing with the uncrowned King of Indian Jazz, Louis Banks and became a permanent fixture at his concerts. A quick learner, he could perceive sound in every opportunity and created beautiful rhythms.

Siva is still upgrading his skills with Indian masters and winning his way into the hearts of millions of fans the world over.

Wannabe someone like him..if not composing...atleast in the studio...

What Barber Kuttappan...did..

2005-02-18T17:56:00.000-08:00

With Thanu , Uppa , Jayesh

Salmonella Typhie

2005-02-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

On 28th of January 2005 shifting to "Sridham" from that God forsaken place where I had worst of my time in life...because of varied reasons..

Same day left for Cochin...Anoop dropped me near Christ College KSTRC bus stop ...boarded the bus with a ticket which Anoop's friend had cancelled...

Reached home....with high fever ..Umma was troubled...a lot. Went to consult Umma's friend's son, Prashanth at AIMS.(Amritha)...said " will test my blood and get back"...

But then ,next day ,Sunday , Uppa Umma had to take part in Baby chechi's daughter's wedding...I was at home .. unable to move by then things had worsened...before getting the blodd sample results...we rushed again to hospital...Uppa does all things for us...How much do I trouble them?

Asked for an immediate admission there....cause I just couldnt stand on my feet...Uppa kept crackin jokes to keep me happy...but dint help much...

Got a bed in some tower some floor....

Thank GOD they could find out the next day what it was . I was at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences for 10 days.

They came up with a cute virus name "Salmonella Typhie" cause for Enteric Fever...which had struck me bad by then....sheesssssh!!!! How more can things go bad??

Ultra sound,ECG,liver function test,x ray and what not man....... injections were just heavy......i was on heavier medication...I will say.

Uppa Umma had a tough time looking after me .....managing their work timings along.
thats when we feel anf think about why do we have people and relations in hand.
anyways.....Good GOD.....am at home....now.doctor's advice to take good rest.

I was nt bothered whats gonna happen at work.

will have to find out another place then thats all...but if health doesnt let me do things....

then who can help it?

am getting better.....used to feel giddy ...one morning it so happend that ....my BP...always thought BP was something to do with aged , but now realise it can happen with anyone.
BP believe me its a very impo factor.....I realise it now.

a morning...in the hospital .....uppa was feeding me breakfast......all of a sudden i started feeling like ....my hands are stiff,......couldnt talk a thing....back was falling off....to the bed...
i could make out that there was certainly something wrong.....
immediately lay down there...in a bed for bystander....poor uppa would have been tensed but he never shows anything on face.
now...i called upon one of the guys there....these male nursing students....asked him to have a check on my BP i just guessed it correct....otherwise what they do is they have a time to check it.
they do it then.....see now i know things....normal bp comes around ...120 / something...it had gone upto....160...which is very much an abnormal range ....to be infact a very dangerous zone.....
this boy asked me to be there.,....lie down and dont try to get up...cos i may faint then.
so that was it....for a day's incident...only critical thing that happend.
next day.....morning ....i was shivering....which for the first time in my life...happend...
to my memory and best of it.....first time both these things are happening.....

now am at home....know what doc told me you are thinking of things and getting tensed and thats why you are not getting better...and you are strong medication ....please dont think of anything else now....why do you have to think of anything which is not your botheration...???
poor doc what does he know...whats in me!

Had a clean shave for my head on 12th Feb...went with Appu....he too did the same.:-))

Oh! wanna know how it feels?? Try it out....for yourself?

Jayesh visited me home followed by Paappan(Midhun), Poocha(Girish) & Velli Man(Allen)...
Reshmi R. called up ...she is such a nice friend.
Spoke with Ligey for a while when she called up to say something very exciting...hahahhaa..Oh! Ligey Happy Birthday...

Nothing much....I love my family a lot.

ARR's Panchathan

2005-02-16T15:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday

2005-01-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

Singing "Happy Birthday" to myself....

Another year ....missing Uppa Umma Lipsa n Ithatha....Love you all...

Sonia called up to wish ..though far
Anand's hotline from Thubai not knowing its my birthday.

Not well....no clue as whats wrong....got fever and it just doesnt subside....

Evening...took my team for a "not much happy" bash at Cafe' Coffee Day near BSK BDA Complex...

Reached home took a tablet and wanted to sleep off...but could not of various reasons...

Song suggestion , one of "Mattumma"'s ever favorite.... on my birthday...

from Nikah
by Salma Agha.

Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye
Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye -2

Hum wafa karke bhi tanha reh gaye
Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye

Zindagi ek pyaas bankar reh gayi -2

Pyar ke kisse adhoore reh gaye -2

Hum wafa karke bhi tanha reh gaye
Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye

Shayad unka aakhri ho yeh sitam -2

Har sitam yeh sochkar hum seh gaye -2

Hum wafa karke bhi tanha reh gaye
Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye
Khudko bhi humne mita daala magar

Faasle jo darmiyaan the reh gaye -2

Hum wafa karke bhi tanha reh gaye
Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye

This is really close to heart!! So no mockery on this ..if you gotta pat my back me on my choice you are WELCOME!..else please leave

The Four Masters of Life

2004-12-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dreams are made for a person’s happiness

Dreams are abstract

Dreams are not real

But they can be…
Fantasies are made for a person’s far-minded ideas

Fantasies are not real

They’ll never be real

But it feels like they are

Destiny is a dictator

Destiny blocks the dreams of a person

It doesn’t always end beautifully

Destiny cannot be fought

Fate is realIt is around us

It supports, sometimes unknown to it, destinyFate is clueless

You are a person

You live your life

Don’t let abstract things live it

Be the person you want to be

Not the person in your dreams

Not the person in your fantasies

Not the person your destiny dictates

Not the person where fate takes you

Be the person you love

Be the person you like

Dreams are always beautiful

Reality is not.

Reality is life.

Google Again

2004-12-15T22:58:00.000-08:00

Life is getting interesting ..More friends and more work!!!

I hate it when it comes to more work...still I just love it these days...

Cause I do it with whole of my heart and do things at my own paceAm in betweeen my favorite work and search engines...Google...

Philips SBC HP195

2004-12-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

Bought a music station yest to charge me up in work.....a real cool one..... Philips SBC HP195 for
700 indian monies....to be precise...695.Uppa's gonna shooot me at sight if he comes to know ..I am ready for it. what ? i am at par with A.R.R.
Sankar and Tahir were there with me. Sankar had a real bad day. Went to Nebu's place to collect ticket....Double sleeper.....UTTER CONFUSION WITH THIS.....MAN! I PAID FOR IT AND BOUGHT....NOT THE NEXT TIME....

We had a release on Saturday...all UI I did for MT CM ofcourse with AS vision but now I do it all alone...I give credits to evrybody.
Take it!
Gooooooooooood night!

Crocin...Cold

2004-11-18T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hacchhheeeee........ Its the second day I came from home. Loads of work pending. I am leaving office .....I cant sit anymore. ....tomorrow I will get my machine....brand new Honda Activa..My scooter....dedicating to my loving family....Uppa,Umma and all ....without whose support I would nt have been even dreaming of it.......

KA -5 EU 4208. :-))

My favorites...

2004-09-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

No Questions asked...I like each one of them cause of who they are.....and influenced me and my life....the order in which they appear..doesnot matter..
:-))

555

2004-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday MT ......its beena wonderful journey.......but whats in store...everyone sees a good future to it....It just the next day after we celebrated the five's in MT .Subbu ,talks of 555 achievements MT has made as a family together...World's youngest PCMM Level 5 Kampani...etc..etc..
Ashok! You are great!
Gonna catch some food and go FLAT...its late..I am all tired.

Tralala...

2004-04-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's all what has to happen....all duas from Umma , Uppa ,Ithatha,Lindamma ....went to making a career and a life for me....

I joined MindTree today as a "MindTree Mind" after six months as a trainee....

A brand new life..altogether....

I owe a lot to Anju Srinivasan now Anju Zabil , Boban James.

Anju remembered me when she was asked for a referral . Thats great!

That was the time when me and Jeoffrey (call him "Dhobble" from Dhoblan in Tamil means "Big Belly man") was in Bangalore on a job hunt straight from campus.

Never thought I would land up in Bangalore when I did my final sem project with NIC Delhi.

When Sagheer Ikka put me at NIC I was just trembling all over not knowing what to do at such a huge place called C.G.O Complex..where armed gaurds all over ..Delhi and esp CGO complex was a vulnerable place for terrorist attacks...

well! that was all in November 2002.

Coming back how I landed up in MindTree is a story...

I had joined Chimera Technologies , a small-sized product company in Koramangala....where the royally grilled me in Java,Oracle basics and C. Only when I cleared the interview I really knew by basics were good ...they had called for 30 candidates out of which only 3 got shortlisted and I was second in grades among them ....wow!!! thats nice and indeed was a mental boot up for me...

So zipping ahead....I joined with a good deal of negotiation with HR person , Gayatri , a charming lady...:-))

In two days time I happend to hear from MindTree when I called up Bob(Boban) he asked me to come for a discussion...thats what he said ..I was never prepared for a hot seat which lasted for almost an hour and half ....for him to tell me "Why dont you join on Wednesday ?"...I was "what?" ok.....

So saying bye bye to Chimera landed up in MindTree.....with Bob my best manager ever...

Our trainee gang at MindTree :-
Swarna,Raji,Anish,Vikram,Aparna,Richa,Rasana,
Santhosh,Anupama,Sasi,Thankamani,Ramesh,Pradeep,Sai.....Sibani.
Oh! yeah How can I forget Somaiah....???? He was my mentor....with a laugh loud which often comes late after we are done with all joke...

Slowly one by one started moving...out...

Raji - SAP
Anish - Wipro
Richa - SAP
Sibani - Syntel
Pradeep - got into a mech trade place
Santhosh - Phoenix
Rasana - Accenture
Aparna - Married and settled in the US.
Vikram - TCS

Finally in Jan 2004 Bob also left for Infy and then later chose work with Honeywell.

Strange...Strangers...

2004-02-16T01:04:00.000-08:00

Met up with a few people today.....whom I wanted to meet was also there....
it was all fun,...dance....masti...good night...so sleepy I am.