Saturday, May 30, 2009

Who say its recession in US… it’s a fallacy…

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Last week I and my friend (same friend who had just got a license to drive “my friend dadooo”) so just to have to long drive and to gather some more driving experience we set for a shopping mall (with intension not to buy anything :-0)

It’s a 60miles drive to “Woodbury mall” is had got a great landscape (located it between mountains and it does have some 130+ brand store)… so we reached this place and were amazed to see the crowd…. It took more then 45+ mins to find a parking spot… (in spite is having 75 allays which can hold some 30-40 cars but still we were searching for parking… it like all wanted to spend money and shop till drop (not including 2 of us) does this symbolize that US is in recession…

And the best scene was outside outlet of “COACH” the store had so many shoppers already inside that they had to close the front door… and you can see already a big queue was forming outside to enter the store…. I was never able to find my people were fanatic to buy from COACH, and this I saw another waiting line outside one more store (forgot to take a pic of that)

So next time when ever one do hear… Customer confidence is down in US, Shopping Mall is facing the pinch due to recession… I know what the truth is...

I assumed that recession would mean:
- Less people going for shopping (people not spending fewer)
- Less Traffic on roads (people staying at home to save)

Weird Smells (radio channel quiz)

1 People commented...
Lately I have started listening to radio (actually its my morning alarm clock) which helps me sacrifice my bed every morning (it do start at 7:am and my next 30-45 mins I manage to sacrifice my bed J) it is a real tough fight every single day(specially week days)


Every day this host comes up with some sort of quiz of question and wait for people to call back with the view and comments.

Some time over the week, this fellow asked to his partner “Tell me the weird smell, that you love and drives you crazy”

She replied : Do you intend to fart.. he replied, not that every day I do…

Okay then they were serious and telling there replied few of that I remember

- Smell of crayons
- Smell of coffee bean
- Smell of Gasoline(Petrol as we do call in India )

Ever few listeners called back and replied

- A lady told smell of Tide (detergent soap) (I guess she do not work in a Laundromat)

I also was running down my own list

- During my childhood days I loved smell of petrol, whenever I used to pass my Petrol station I used to literally wait and take few long breath J
- Then I do love the smell of Marker pen (actually the spirit)
- When it rains for the first time…

I guess all would have some or the other weird smell weakness, do comment you’re your irresistible weakness :-0

Friday, May 29, 2009

Grilling and b’day cake…

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Two weeks back we (our gang) celebrated Tridib d’bay… it ended in way more then perfect.. as we had planned for doing grilling and the b’day party along with it…

B’day Cake: it was a chocolate Mocha cake and as usual we forgot to get some candle, so ended up with large fragrance candle… and we it was way to good decorated (trust me any one would desire for such a cake)

Grilling: This is my second summer in US, and we all wanted to do grilling from long time… during out last year trip the house which we had rented had a grill in the back yard we all enjoyed it… but never got a chance to try out… This we ended up buying a small grill and ended up cooking it was way to great, as food was prepared on charcoal smoke it has a different taste… we grilled a lot of meat, corn.. and we party whole night…

Note: Proof attached :-0


Thursday, May 28, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire:Not a nice story... bad part -- Part II

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Last week, i happen to read that child artist "Azharuddin Ismail" who was part of Slumdog millionaire house was demolished by Anti-Slum in Mumbai... and i guess many people would have felt really bad that, the child artist were still in rags after the movie churning a ton of money...
But today i did see again an article from Director "Danny Boyle" that he would be visiting to India just to check back on this children state... And i wish those kids do get a better standard of living and education

The last post was full on against the director / producers, and this post is more like a ripple effect (Thanks to Newton I am was able to phase this – Every action has opposite reaction)

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/danny-boyle-to-visit-india-for-slumdog-kids/93481-8.html

Monday, May 18, 2009

Navigator.... in Dadoo car!!!

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Yes last weekend i played the role of a Navigator to my friend(we were roommates for nearing to 2 years, he kicked me out before getting married ;) )...

He got his US driving license sometime Wednesday, and trust me this guy had never driven a 4 wheeler in India.... Where as do have a Indian driving license (which cost him some 600/-) and he decided finally to take up driving lesson as his wife (this guy married 6 months back) had threatened him if he is not getting a license.. poor chap succumbed to the threat :)

As his wife is back in India for couple of weeks he finally got his license and on Friday he rented a car (for the wk end) so it was time for some drive over the weekend-- tighten your seat belt, take long breath and zoom!!! zoom!!! Here we go in and around the city)

After a few initially hick-up all the driving was smooth enough... if the driving distance from point A to B was 10 km, we managed to reach that place in less then 15km... Thanks to my superior navigating skill (trust me I am good in this, I would confidently point my right hand and tell him to take a left turn... (Later he got used to it and told ... "you mean the other right... and I would YES :-0)

However, by Sunday evening we had successfully completed 250km driving... and we were back on our own safe and sound... he is all exited to rent next week also... I guess this time it would be a more relaxing drive :) :) but still fingers will be crossed hehehe

Friday, May 15, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire:Not a nice story... bad part...

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When Slumdog million was nominated for 10 academy nominee and happen to end up winning 8... All India was buzzing with happiness that a movie made on Indian slum managed to get 8 golden Oscar lady... we ended up with track "Jai Ho" was part of the election campaign...
Every day i was able to see in all print and television media Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, they were chased by paparazzi every where, some time i felt that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will be having some breather time for paparazzi as they can easily stroll in any Shopping Mall...

But on the down side I really saw the bad news that "Azharuddin Ismail" (child character of Jamal) house been demolished... when i looked at those images its like he is still living in those tin roof top house which is part of Mumbai slum, it was demolished by Mumbai Anti-slum...
It like the child character we were used and thrown away after all the glitz and glory of Slumdog was en-cashed by the Producer's
I saw some time back "Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Ali " (child cast for Dev & Freida) walking the ramp during the Lakme fashion week... where as if you are a model and walking down the fashion ramp you can earn anything between 10k-100k... and look where are those kids leaving....

This time again... British’s came shoot a movie (making more mockery of Indian Slums) en-cashed all the CASH($343 million) and GOLD(8 Oscars) and living happing in the mist of glory.. And this kid is sill living in the mist of dust...

Jai Hind...

box-office collection -- http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=slumdogmillionaire.htm

Azharuddin Ismail House -- http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/1353-1.html

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Seven Years and still counting!!!!!

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Today “May 13”its been 7 years since I have started working…. To confess looking back still do not make me realize that its been such a long time span that I have finished my college days and been working for the same organization “Kanbay ” (currently know as CapGemini) its my maiden job and am still going strong on this one….

I would like to state how it all started, April 2002 we had finishes exams of Final year of Graduation (along which we were also doing a Computer course – 2 year) we were having our usual “BHEL” at our joined when one of our friend happen to mention that a company “Kanbay” is looking out for computer engineer for 2-3 months project, we 3 (Akshay, Vikraam & I) thought why to waste the 2 months (period when we were awaiting our result) lets earn some money and have some first hand experience in working in a IT industry…. So next day we showed up for interview we had a large company of people showing up 35+, and the end 8 were selected and joined in the following weeks…

We were still continuing our college life… and having nice time and by the end of 2 months we all were ready to leave when our Manager “Mayuresh” let go 4 of them and asked 4 to stay back ( we three & Val)… and that was the day we have completed 7 years in Kanbay (Vikram happen to leave and pursue in another company) where as we 3 are still holding our horses and working in different project and still going on!!!!

Looking back I still can still say that that we decided what we had to do on a BHEL

The year 2002 was not a nice year to start any one courier as we had just starting out for the DOT com bubble which made sure that many batches of our senior left the campus without any offer letter… and looking at today condition thanks to the Financial Crises which has gripped from last year and half… many have lost jod and we will see many fresh graduates would be leaving campus with no offer letter… this seams more like a 7 year life circle…

I wish we do see next 7 flourishing years of jobs for all….

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Gang Leader for a Day!!!

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This one is a Non-Fiction novel written by "Sudhir Venkatesh", He is am immigrant from India who spent his childhood in California , and pursued his master in "Sociology" from UoC ( University of Chicago ) this is back in 1989

As part of the assignment, where he was assisting his professor in some research work (which was more on, Finding the life style of Black poor family, how they end up with no Job, and end up in drug)

Therefore, he happens to visit one such housing project, which is inhabited by black community, day One he held hostage... and then the drama unfolds... Sudhir ends up studying up the living style in this community for next 10 years... He was in the middle of many drugs sale activity, drive by shooting, and many more activity…

Sudhir does give a good description how, drug trade is been managed on a bigger level, the hierarchy which is in place... how people are motivated to work as drug peddlers... as per facts, the low level drug peddler do earns less the minimum wage...
Sudhir does discuss many community issues, hope people do try to solve them, more and more small narrative incidence....

I was so much engrossed in reading this one... I manage to finish in a weeks time... which is a real bad thing for me as i would have to start searching for something new to read :)

More details -- http://books.google.com/books?id=8YTpGAAACAAJ&dq=gang+leader+for+a+day

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Summer, Summer !!! Holiday i miss them!!!

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I loved the summer :)

Hey Hey please do not hate me for writing this..... but if you think on Summer is such a nice time... and it has it own sweet memories right fro our childhood...

How we all used to wait for the summer holiday during our childhood, as all the exams which would have be terrifying and tortured us for the last couple of months had came to an end.... starting summer we would have a long couple of months holiday... its the best time to play play and just play... and have some more new friends…

It’s like we have been waiting for 10 long snail paced months to pass over for the summer vacations...

As we were from Kerala (abhi a punekar) we used to visit our native place every alternate year... those time were real special as we used to et to meet out friend back in Kerala but with a small gloom of missing all the friends back in Pune... its like i used to witness finest things of both the place....

Okay other then all the play i used to love the Mangoes which we used to eat all the summer, and have those sugarcane juices to quest your thirst...
oh and more over how can i miss this, the ice scoops (we used to call it baraf golas) in all red yellow and glowing green...

But as time passed by and entered our college year and in our initial office slogging year... it seams like we have lost the beauty of the summer vacation.... ahhh!!!! i miss those summer vacation of my childhood, this are the time i feel science should have been really really developed and we could have that fancy time machine... i would have loved to visit back and re-live all those finest summer days...

I wish the we really do have those fancy gadget selling in Amazon :) in next 10 year... I bet I can run and hoop still at that age :)... thanks to this lazy IT job and sitting in office culture is killing all our sweet time....

Okay then on a sunny and hinny summer note... lets enjoying back the summer :)