As I watched the movie "Office Space" last night, I could relate to a lot of things. And I picked up a new phrase - "Case of the Mondays". Yes, it is true that so many times in our lives we have felt why is today a Monday? Why could it not have been a Sunday for just one more day?
Well, we all know that wont happen. So, let's face the truth and hope that the week ahead is good. After an uneventful last week, I am hoping that a new week brings better luck. What better way to start than on the first day of fall. A refreshed me, renewed energy and a formatted cell phone that works better should bring better luck. The signs were quite visible when I won a couple of rounds at the bowling alley on Saturday night. It felt so good to strike twice in the last round and win suddenly out of nowhere. Some good boost for me ;-)
Have a great week ahead!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Money & Its importance - During life and afterwards
Everyone knows that money is very important for survival. But it was important after death, I realised it only today. AIG almost went bust, giving insurance holders a near heart attack. But it is the lack of insurance that must have caused even more grief for the parents of Vikram Reddy Tummala - one of the two Indian students who were found dead in St.Louis last week. I was appalled to read that the concerned authorities demanded over Rs.Three Lakh to transport and secure his body from the USA. It is a shame that the parents had to go through this during such a stressful period. It is true that logistics should be sorted out, but there has to be some sense in trying to figure out priorities. I hope the family get to see the boy's body before it is too late.
May the boy's soul rest in peace!
May the boy's soul rest in peace!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The tale of two birthdays and the "queeny"
It makes for a wonderful story if I tell you how I got two birthdays. Yes, one is the original and the other that is now on all official records. But the truth is that there are two birthdays that I can boast of.
It is difficult for me to think that I am "officially" older by a year. So, when someone wishes me on my official birthday, it sometimes takes me a while to remember why they said so. My organization sends me greetings and lots of colleagues pour in their wishes through emails. It is a nice feeling but it reduces the number of wishes by that many on my actual birthday, which is sad.
Anyway, coming to the point, speaking to a colleague today at office, I got to know that the Queen of England has two birthdays- an actual and another official one to celebrate in summer with the public. I later learnt that this is common practice in several countries. So, when I told them that I too had two birthdays, someone instantly joked and said we have a "Queen" here! And so, I got nicknamed 'The Queen' today. Couple of minutes and a few laughs later, that name changed to "Queeny" which was even more worse (and funnier to them)!!!
That is not the most "queen-tessential" name that one would like to have.
It is difficult for me to think that I am "officially" older by a year. So, when someone wishes me on my official birthday, it sometimes takes me a while to remember why they said so. My organization sends me greetings and lots of colleagues pour in their wishes through emails. It is a nice feeling but it reduces the number of wishes by that many on my actual birthday, which is sad.
Anyway, coming to the point, speaking to a colleague today at office, I got to know that the Queen of England has two birthdays- an actual and another official one to celebrate in summer with the public. I later learnt that this is common practice in several countries. So, when I told them that I too had two birthdays, someone instantly joked and said we have a "Queen" here! And so, I got nicknamed 'The Queen' today. Couple of minutes and a few laughs later, that name changed to "Queeny" which was even more worse (and funnier to them)!!!
That is not the most "queen-tessential" name that one would like to have.
Cla-sick-al music
The sun shone the week before, then it rained.
After a weekend of perfect weekend outing in lake Michigan waters, a week of cold, cough and fever gripped me. My first music class went OK but the second was a quick short 20-30 min rehearsal for the classical music concert (you may ask - music concert in the second class???). But then that's the way our music teacher is. Threw a challenge at us and there we were on stage on the night of our second music class!
It was a simple song, would have spanned 2-3 mins. Remember the numbers '2-3' because that's the number of mistakes I made while singing that pretty simple song. The day was rainy, things were not going all too well for me and then 'on expected lines', I made few mistakes. But, despite the blunders, the music concert had its own good points - there were very few people to notice the mistakes that we made and most importantly, our friends were there to encourage us, cheer our performance and then to appreciate it. They say the rainbow comes out after the rain and that's exactly what happened to us. After the initial mistakes in the song caused some disappointment, we sang the 2 stanzas in coherence and finished on a high with appreciation.
Our first classical performance, was not a bad start after all! It indeed gives us a very good lesson and little scope to fumble from now on.
After a weekend of perfect weekend outing in lake Michigan waters, a week of cold, cough and fever gripped me. My first music class went OK but the second was a quick short 20-30 min rehearsal for the classical music concert (you may ask - music concert in the second class???). But then that's the way our music teacher is. Threw a challenge at us and there we were on stage on the night of our second music class!
It was a simple song, would have spanned 2-3 mins. Remember the numbers '2-3' because that's the number of mistakes I made while singing that pretty simple song. The day was rainy, things were not going all too well for me and then 'on expected lines', I made few mistakes. But, despite the blunders, the music concert had its own good points - there were very few people to notice the mistakes that we made and most importantly, our friends were there to encourage us, cheer our performance and then to appreciate it. They say the rainbow comes out after the rain and that's exactly what happened to us. After the initial mistakes in the song caused some disappointment, we sang the 2 stanzas in coherence and finished on a high with appreciation.
Our first classical performance, was not a bad start after all! It indeed gives us a very good lesson and little scope to fumble from now on.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Economic Turmoil
Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy this morning. Among the news of big financial firms falling apart, this was another jolt that has dampened the spirits of those who were trying to think that the economic crisis has passed and we can now slowly build the economy back. Lehmann Brothers is the fourth largest investment bank in the US. It is scary to hear such news and goes to show that the impact of the US mortgage market can still be felt for some more time to come. With so many banks trying desperately to stay put, who knows what lies in store ahead.
On the other hand, IT companies are feeling the pinch too as several big names in Indian IT sector are firing employees left, right and center. Sends jitters down my spine for sure. TCS fired 500, Wipro 1000 and another 2000 under review, Satyam 4500, Patni 400 - these are still early days and depending on how the economic situation in the US shapes, things will change. Let's hope that things will turn for the good.
On the other hand, IT companies are feeling the pinch too as several big names in Indian IT sector are firing employees left, right and center. Sends jitters down my spine for sure. TCS fired 500, Wipro 1000 and another 2000 under review, Satyam 4500, Patni 400 - these are still early days and depending on how the economic situation in the US shapes, things will change. Let's hope that things will turn for the good.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Cheers to a decade since college!!!
"R. E. C." - Regional Engineering College - A name synonymous with some of the best education institutes in India.
"Warangal" - A place in Andhra Pradesh infamous for naxalism.
Combine the two words and you get "R.E.C. Warangal" - the first REC in the country that was established in Oct 1959. The name continued till 2002 when we graduated and it was changed to National Institute of Technology, Warangal (N.I.T.W.).
It was September 1998 when 324 gems from different parts of the country stepped in to RECW to get polished and shine. And looking back at it today, I do really feel that it was worthwhile to have joined the college. It still feels like it was yesterday we were in college and we were all mischievous. But the truth is that today we completed 10 years since the day we joined college and had our first lecture.
10 years!! Sounds like a long time and, as a matter of fact it is. We have traveled further in our lives and have progressed quite well. Many have completed their masters, some have done doctorates and some have excelled in the industry. Many have progressed in their personal lives too and have married, become parents too. Despite all this progress, I can bet that many would yearn to go back to college all over just once more to have all the fun and relive those moments. Alas, life gives you only one such opportunity and I am happy I was there with all those great blokes.
I still remember the people who ignorantly asked why my parents were sending me away to a far off place when there were several new colleges near by. I laughed then but realize now how important that decision was. Thanks to my parents, teachers and professors who have guided me all through. 4 years at that place doesn't seem to be enough.
I had been to college in Dec 2006 and I was a total stranger in that place. A place where everyone seemed to recognize one another had seemed so new to me. That day I really understood the meaning of "It's the people and not the place that makes for a happy living".
Today, all that remains is contact with a group of few good friends. But to know so many good people all in one place was amazing. Thanks RECW for giving me such good friends! Cheers, to a decade of friendship and much more!
"Warangal" - A place in Andhra Pradesh infamous for naxalism.
Combine the two words and you get "R.E.C. Warangal" - the first REC in the country that was established in Oct 1959. The name continued till 2002 when we graduated and it was changed to National Institute of Technology, Warangal (N.I.T.W.).
It was September 1998 when 324 gems from different parts of the country stepped in to RECW to get polished and shine. And looking back at it today, I do really feel that it was worthwhile to have joined the college. It still feels like it was yesterday we were in college and we were all mischievous. But the truth is that today we completed 10 years since the day we joined college and had our first lecture.
10 years!! Sounds like a long time and, as a matter of fact it is. We have traveled further in our lives and have progressed quite well. Many have completed their masters, some have done doctorates and some have excelled in the industry. Many have progressed in their personal lives too and have married, become parents too. Despite all this progress, I can bet that many would yearn to go back to college all over just once more to have all the fun and relive those moments. Alas, life gives you only one such opportunity and I am happy I was there with all those great blokes.
I still remember the people who ignorantly asked why my parents were sending me away to a far off place when there were several new colleges near by. I laughed then but realize now how important that decision was. Thanks to my parents, teachers and professors who have guided me all through. 4 years at that place doesn't seem to be enough.
I had been to college in Dec 2006 and I was a total stranger in that place. A place where everyone seemed to recognize one another had seemed so new to me. That day I really understood the meaning of "It's the people and not the place that makes for a happy living".
Today, all that remains is contact with a group of few good friends. But to know so many good people all in one place was amazing. Thanks RECW for giving me such good friends! Cheers, to a decade of friendship and much more!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
LHC and The Big Bang
There is such a big noise about the Big Bang. Noise - why do I call it noise? Simply because it is an unknown territory where no one knows what the outcome will be but everyone hopes that the Big Bang can be repeated. The LHC - Large Hadron Collider - is a massive achievement after several years of hard work put in by numerous tireless scientists, helpful, sympathetic, empathetic and apathetic governments and many more ardent observers and followers. I am hoping that the expirement turns out to be a success for the good and not because so much of money and effort have gone into it.
Such is the passion of these scientists that they are even competing with the American Fermilab near Chicago to understand the nature better. I wish I too had such passion towards... ummm... hmm... aaan... something :D I dont know what it is though ... he he he...
Such is the passion of these scientists that they are even competing with the American Fermilab near Chicago to understand the nature better. I wish I too had such passion towards... ummm... hmm... aaan... something :D I dont know what it is though ... he he he...
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