Sleep sleep little baby...

It's 3.45am, and am awake and writing this blog, for past 2 1/2 hours I was fighting hard, real hard to sleep, but my mind has thoughts of its own, some unfinished business which haunts it. While the body wants to rest in peace, by mind doesn't and while my bed mouns for a noiseless, moment-less transistion to dream world fast.
I tried hard to get out of my thoughts going through my daily ritual after returning back from office by watching TV before dosing off, this didn't seem to be working. All kinds of thoughts lingering in my brain tinkering my grey cells a lot. Well seems like there will be no peace of mind and rest for it. Thoughts on my next career move are the ones thats been bugging me a lot for most of the time.
These thoughts have been triggered by plans for my next move of a change of location and company. They should do me some good in terms of putting back things on a back-burner and start rebuilding and making up for the lost ground. For now I am on a new client assignment, which happens to be among the top 5 investment banking organisations, this is the kind of role which I was looking forward for sometime. But 2 years seems to be a long wait in the company like Genpact where pays are low and investing 2 more years to master the IBanking processes is seems to be some kind of a gamble. If it clicks it will pay off rich dividends in terms of expereince, exposure and next move would well orchestrated financially. Tactically looking though, what I would have to consider as an opportunity would be loss of x% jump in salary that I would stand to loose by going to taking up my Mumbai offer, though which is high paying for my experience, but I would be getting functionally getting stuck in an oblivion of a BPO sector Quality Function without domain expertise. I at this moment couldn't capitalise on Domain expertise knowledge base of Insurance for long and media Domain where I worked last was probably is taking me no where. Being functionally sound and able seems to have got a disadvantage in itself on a long term, though tactically functional application plays a big role.
Apart from this a few on-site opportunities in consuting appears a few days away from negotiations and if that where to click its sure shot work abroad situation, and at present juncture am a bit apprehensive of that situation of adapting to lots of new things and that too without much domain knowledge, consulting wholy from a functional standpoint still is very tricky.
Heads filled with lots of thoughts with a few options in hand

Big QUESTIONS
1. Should I chase money - For I wanna own a car of my own now and clear off few of my credits
2. Should I chase the domain - Ibanking is something which I fancied for a while, and wanted to build my expertise on these product lines
3. Should I chase Location -
a. Mumbai - Was on high priority for sometime, now with thoughts and lots of consultations that seems to be out. And for the Raj Thakery phenomenon, Mumbai appeard scary.
b. Abroad - Looks like heading abroad for location change seems good, but I still have no clue on working abroad and the kind of support I need from profesional circles for such assignments.

For now Iam so much inclined to complete my Ibank assignment and ask my MBB for re-allignment from Finance to Ibanking Services, for I am enjoying my contribution and if everything falls in place I could work out my certifcations and also build domain expertise. I really pray I get a hike of 15% for this shift. Want to take this bold step for my parents especially my Mom will be very unhappy, secondly I need to take back my resignation and do some bit of talking without actually knowing what is to happen in terms of bonuses and re-negotiations for my faith in the HR machinery is on all time low with the kind of treatment and sensitivity shown by AVP-HR.
I sincerely hope everything goes well, really well and may success know my door-steps more often from now-on. 4.30am now time to catch-up a little sleep, for been blogging a lot during the last 48 hours, eyes already have given up on me, migraine building up. Pleassssssse Goddddd answer my prayers soon and show me the waaaaayyyy!!!!! I am forgetting the meaning of patience and want to see some action, the very action I've been deprived off since October and professional one since December. Pllllllleeeeeeaaaaaaaseeeee.

Traffic Anamolies - Traffic Situation on Indian Roads

The traffic conditions on Indian roads is a worst thing to mention and as the number of vehicle on Indian roads keep growing day by day, problems in this regards are also increasing by leaps and bounds. The study on how to correctly predict match and arrive at the correct vehicle estimates is like taking or arriving at a correlation between Sensex numbers, growing GDP numbers, Global warming numbers with the vehicular presence on the Indian Roads. Well good thing is we need lots of staticians to be hired, leading to good all round employment creation. With the Nano evolution just to start in few quarters I would like to leave the numbers to the staticians and economists.

From my end I would like to share my few penace of travelling on the Indian roads, what kind of people you would come accross, etc.

1. How to overtake, well the sign say overtaking not allowed or overtake only from the right, well thats for weak hearts. On city roads, it is ‘survival of the fittest’, you really have to drive past your onlookers keeping just an inch gap, such that they barely will be saved from getting hit and detracted. The overtake is from all sides - right, left, and may be the day is not very far when someone will ‘fly past’ you from above the head and gush out a stream of smoke. Just trust your instincts, ascertain the direction, and proceed. Adherence to road rules leads to much misery and occasional fatality.
2. RGY (Red Green or Yellow) - People in India are colour blind, they can't really differentiate between colour changes, thats the reason that most of the drivers trust the driver in front of them for direction at the crossings. If the vehicle infront is moving and police is not waving his hand its all go. Don't bother about the lights its for jazzy up the road-life, and attract foreign investments. City like Hyderabad incidently has the highest number of colour blind people closely followed by Kolkata.


3. Don't stop at pedestrian crossings just because some fool wants to cross the road. You may do so only if you enjoy being bumped in the back. Pedestrians have been strictly instructed to cross only when traffic is moving slowly or has come to a dead stop because some minister is in town. Either ways don't get bothered if a young man puts his hand-up as he crosses the road for he just a fan of Hitler, he misses him so much so that if you were to hurt him other Hitler fans on the road will join in the pursuit to show and demonstrate the Desi-Nazist culture. Never ever dare to defy the birth right of one who puts his arm up. "Hey Ram" - gone are those days of Gandhi-giri.


4. Blow-horn - OK Well thats what you read on back of a truck and never hesitate, or else the person one your back will think your impotent. Blowing a horn on the road unlike many countries is not sign of protest, but an expression of joy, excitement, resentment, frustration, romance or say simply a small kids way of expressing himself of his arrival in the world. Some of the meanings you need to decipher when someone honks.
"Hey look, watch out. I am coming."
"I am overtaking you, notice me."
"Invisible people beware!"
"Speed up." or "Give way."
"The light is green. Why can't I move?"

5. Connecting People - Cell phones are the devices which connect people, and people know that barriers break when people talk, true very true, for drivers home their mobile devices soo close to themselves that they are never willing to forego the same. And one of the ad on TV sanctifies the statement that people love giving free advices. So guys take my bit of advice keep your handsfree, bluetooth's on while driving. Well if you have none of this our human body is so ergonomically designed that one can tilt our heads to hold the phone by a bend of a neck driving at neck breaking speeds on seemingly smooth and pothless holes.
6. Everyday you learn and preach - With every passing day the know-how and knowledge-base of a person grows exponential with every minute one spends on the road. You will know the meaning of a road-rage, stunt driving, balancing acts of entire families travelling on two wheeler, optimal utilisation of hatchbacks, how to maximise capacity utilisation and incresase the tonage of trucks well beyond its permissable limits so as to wheelie a truck. A whole lot of road etiqutte can also be learned from the Autowalla when you faintly try to honk and pass them off, or when you trying crossing a road on a busy road, travelling on Indian roads makes one equip with whole new lot of Vocabulary, for its not just eye, hand and ear coordination but also the mouth coordintation which is so omni-essential. And if for some strange reason you curse the driver or the road or anyone in general, you are reminded in no uncertain terms, "Buri Nazar Waale Tu Zeher Khaale!" ("You evil eyed one! Why? Take some poison."). Well I guess the F1 drivers like Ralf have taken a cue from our truckers by putting "Don't hit me, if you can read this you are close-enough" kind of slogans on back of their tail fins.
7. Lane(Gulli) Culture - There are no standards for road signs or for lane markings or the color or the markers. Sometimes lanes are divided by yellow lines, sometimes they are white. Sometimes they are solid white, sometimes the two sides of the road are divided by double yellow lines, sometimes just a single yellow, and so on. Lane discipline and lane markings, are non-existent. Lanes can only work in a nominally homogenous traffic. In India, one will find, in the busiest of highways in the biggest of metros, everything from bullock carts to Mercedes S Class sedans. In most places, three cars will occupy two lanes. Suddenly the lane will disappear and two lanes will become one. Since the horse-power of vehicles on an Indian road is anywhere from 0 to 300, there is every possibility that both the lanes on a road are filled with rickshaws or cows or beggars or people just having a fun time spitting or haggling with the fruit vendor.) Moreso no one follows or rather understands the lane culture for its very much Alien to us right, Firangi culture it is. By the way lanes never mean a route or a speed route or a vehicle lane but mere colour pattern for making the roads more beautiful.

People on Indian City Roads

1. Young blood…Th youth of today. The flag bearers of tomorrow. The future of India. Listening to Himesh Reshammiya sneeze his way to nasal popularity. They think wearing sunglasses at night is cool. Usually to be spotted in bright colored cars (model and make directly proportional to either income or if no income, then father’s income). This genus of car-owners deserver their rightful place in the traffic ecosystem as entertaining jukeboxes in course of a long traffic jam. Their contribution to the orchestra is always as the percussion. They honk in rhythm with the beats of the song playing in their car stereo. Lost in the hypnotic effect of rhythmic honking, they usually end up in H&R scenarios (hit and run). After all, they’re young blood!
2. Safe Players - My teeth fall faster than I can change gears
   The pioneers of driving. The blood of yesteryears, now simmered down and circulating in a body crouched over the steering wheel. These respected old men have it all – patience, sobriety, forbearing, unhurriedness. Their insecurity on the road shows up conspicuously, as they desperately try to cope up with an altogether different league of drivers, with both hands gripping the wheel. These poor uncles, out of no fault of theirs, bear the brunt of excessive honking from their other callous peers. Having learnt driving on Fiats and NEs they never get accustomed to the gear stick on the floor and play it safe by sticking to first two gears only. Much to the chagrin of the rest of the traffic. They do their musical bit via intermittent long honks. Just to make sure everyone heard them.
3. The Upper Crust
   These are the most educated and sophisticated of the lot. That is, up till you hand them the wheel. They usually are US returns, having a glorified view of the land of opportunities and a totally opposite opinion about their motherland. Frustrated by the fact that the common man has no say in the parliamentary proceedings, they voice their opinions through the loudest means as possible – honking. To “cut them some slack”, they are obedient drivers, have car papers in order and follow traffic rules. But when it comes to the honking, they are the horniest men ever! Peeved by the Indian atmosphere full of dust and smoke, they travel in a permanently air-conditioned environment. The only time they are exposed to the true Indian air is in the short hop from car door to home door and back. These isolated conditions make them unaware of the decibel level of the horn that they blow. The high-end cars which they travel in also have special amplifiers I believe. Even car companies are building disabled-friendly (extra loud horns for deaf people) products nowadays.
4. Meandering Motorcyclists These are men of the future. Literally. They overtake you first and sound the horn later. By the time you realize what just rushed pass you, they are busy doing the balancing act again rounding another car in a dangerous curve. Some fancy guys dare to install horns meant for four-wheelers onto their two-wheelers. Poor chaps, that’s the closest they can get to luxury. That, in fact, is a real tricky and slick move. The driver of the car ahead expects a car behind whereas a motorcyclist rides by in a blur honking away to glory. They are at their musical best when performing as a choir group. Each bike acts as a motivator (or rather a rival) for the other. The harmony thence produced is rarely surpassed and is a sight to witness. Add on it the latest fad of brake tunes. A dash of Bollywood chart toppers at every speed breaker ensures that their journey is never the same again. I wonder whether there are copyright issues with this or not!
5. Bossy Buswalla
   The true kings of the road, notorious for the most accidents on the road, the 2 tonne six wheeled disel powered monster ploughing its way through the busy 30 feet road is an achievement in itself for a buswalla who is busy ferrying his bus overstacked with immigrants who have no insurance booked for them or for the passers-by. Poor onlookers and by-passers only insurance policy is the one-lakh rupees of exgratia the government offers for loss of life in case of fatality, I guess a few of the Insurance company are noting down the potential opportuity in making. Well I don't mind if a buswalla every now and then lets the governement offer that hefty ex-gratia to a politician, this would atleast increase the funds flow of Governments books. Not to forget that the bus is symbol of pride, honour and justice. Did I say justice, yes of-course if you are not in agreement with any of the government poilicies easiest way to bully around is to stop a bus, remove the air, break a few glasses and if required torch-the busy if one wants to turn on the heat.
6. Ludicrous Ladies
   It would have been unfair to the fairer sex had a separate section not been devoted to them. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world and honks the horn most unnecessarily. Ever since the women’s liberation movement gained momentum, they are on the lookout for ways of empowerment and have wrongly deduced the horn to be one such power. The horn is the answer to all problems. It doesn’t matter if they never used the external rear view mirror. It doesn’t matter if they use the internal rear view mirror only for make-up. It doesn't matter at what speed and at what end of the road they are driving for what matters is do they have the foot on the throttle and know where the brake is. It doesn’t matter if they keep the headlights always on high-beam (“What’s high-beam?” they’ll ask). It doesn’t matter if they reverse the car without looking back. All that matters is that no traffic orchestration is complete without a solo performance from a lady driver.

Unique to Indian traffic:
Auto-Rickshaw
This is something which MR. Bond, Oops James Bond fancied a lot that he left his fancy cars to take a ride in this -wheeler in the movie Octupusy. The Auto-Rickshaw or an Auto or Rick for short is a collision between a rickshaw and an automobile, this three-wheeled vehicle works on an external combustion engine that runs on a mixture of kerosene oil and creosote. This triangular vehicle carries iron rods, gas cylinders or passengers three times its weight and dimension, at an unspecified fare.
After careful geometric calculations, children are folded and packed into these auto rickshaws until some children in the periphery are not in contact with the vehicle at all. Then their school bags are pushed into the microscopic gaps and also cling on as side bumpers all round so those minor collisions with other vehicles on the road cause no permanent damage. Of course, the peripheral children are charged half the fare and also learn Newton's laws of motion en route to school. Auto-rickshaw drivers follow the road rules depicted in the film Ben Hur and are licensed to irritate.

Mopeds
The moped looks like an oil tin on wheels and makes noise like an electric shaver. It runs no more than 40 kmph on a teaspoon of petrol and travels at break-bottom speed. As the sides of the road are too rough for a ride, the moped drivers tend to drive in the middle of the road; they would rather drive under heavier vehicles instead of around them and are often "mopped" off the tarmac.

Leaning Tower of Passes
Most bus passengers are given free passes and during rush hours, there is absolute mayhem (hell). There are passengers hanging off other passengers, who in turn hang off the railings and the overloaded bus leans dangerously, defying laws of gravity but obeying laws of surface tension. As drivers get paid for overload (so many Rupees per kg of passenger), no questions are ever asked. Steer clear of these buses by a width of three passengers. Most of the passengers hanging or not, just shout at the ticket collector "Pass" meaning they have a license to free-board the vehicle cramp it and stomp it.

One-way Traffic
These boards are put up by traffic people to add jest in their otherwise drab lives. Don't stick to the literal meaning and proceed in one direction. In metaphysical terms, it means that you cannot proceed in two directions at once. So drive as you like, in reverse throughout, if you are the fussy type.

Reverse Gear Beepers
One finds an utterly remarkable device in Indian cars these days. It is the reverse-gear beeper. As soon as the car is put in reverse gear, the car starts sounding loud beeps or melodies. Now why would one need such a device? Two reasons: Hubris on the part of the driver (why look back when he is sounding such a loud beep that everybody should get out of his way) and unawareness of one's surroundings on the part of the other creatures on the road (the road is their property, what is this car which is slowly moving to and fro and honking, well he's honking, so he must want to get somebody who is in front of the car out of the way. Ater all, how do they know that his honking is for them. Oh, it is the reverse honk. Okay, sorry buddy, moving away.)

Innovative Ways of Saving Fuel
No Sir, am not talking about Hybrid calls or Jatropha fuel, am talking alternative innovative commonners way of saving money. Cars running on subsidised(by over 70%) domestic cooking LPG cylinders. Passenger vehicles mixed with subsidised kerosene, or a Merc fitted with Ambassador engine or worse. Cars and motorcycles going the wrong way because to take a U-turn further up the road would be really expensive. People find all kinds of excuses to save money.

Bullock Cart
This is something which proves that Indian is still an Agrarian country, a country of farmers. No am not talking about a scenario in a village, this is in heart of the city, that every now and then you still can see bullock cart ferrying fodder, steel pipes, counstrction material etc. A marvelous site to watch as the moving vehicles stall on the 30feet roads. As this weren't enough in the bull-market run, the heat rises up as the counters hit all time high with a passing herd of buffalo's fresh out of their afternoon bath is nearby drains and sewage system. Yikees I don't believe that the milk supplied is so bubbly after all the exotic shower.
Lest I sound hypercritical, I must add a positive point also.

Rash and fast driving in residential areas has been prevented by providing a "speed breaker"; two for each house. This mound, incidentally, covers the water and drainage pipes for that residence and is left un-tarred for easy identification by the corporation authorities, should they want to recover the pipe for year-end accounting.

Having said all this, isn't it true that the accident rate and related deaths are less in India compared to US or any other countries ? Then why the cry and hue over the Helmets and the Seat belts - for we hardly can go beyond 40kmph on our roads except on the highways and bigger roads.

The Indian Marathon Season

The Indian Marathon season has kicked-off in a grand style, with the Mumbai Marathon becoming one of the most publicised event both in terms of media-coverage and sponsorships that flew in for this event in addition the immense popularity exhibited by the spirited city-dwellers of all classes. The Marathon events are capturing the imagination of one and all in the country with the Span India Marathon taking off in every major Indian city.

I have been a witness to the Hyderabad half-Marathon in December, the most popular event being the 10k run round the scenic Hussain-Sagar lake, with lots of participation from the corporates and local enthusiasts alike. Compare the event to full marathon in a bigger city like Mumbai its un-imaginable.

History/Factoids

The marathon is a long-distance running event of 42.195 kilometres that can be run either as a road race or off-road.
The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who ran the distance of nearly 40km from a town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon.It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the Senate, exclaiming "nike!", the Greek word for victory, before collapsing and dying due to exhaustion.

An interesting Video book - Spirit and Expereinces



Records
Men's best - 2h 10m
Women's best -2h 30m

Care during the Run
-Ensure one has enough of training and 100% rest a couple of days before the race day.
- Drink sufficient amount of water not less not more - 3 litres to control dehydration and hyponatremia (coma, seizures)
- Fatique due to non-availability of Glycogen, and burning of Fat.
- Post Marathon Increase consumption of Vitamin C diet and avoid usage of Ibuprofen or Advil.

Having said that I could only imagine when will I be able to train myself to such fitness levels and participate atleast in a half-marathon.

Useful Links

Mumbai Marathon - http://mumbaimarathon.com/ - January

Delhi Marathon - http://www.delhimarathon.com/ - February

The Great Tibetan Half Marathon - http://www.great-tibetan-marathon.com/ - July

Taj Mahal Marathon - http://www.taj-mahal-marathon.com/

Chennai Marathon - http://www.chennaimarathon.org/

Kolkata Marathon - http://www.kolkatamarathon.com/

Bangalore Midnight Marathon - http://www.coindia.com/pe.html - December

Pune Marathon - http://www.puneinternationalmarathon.com/ - December

Hyderabad 10k, Half Marathon - http://www.hyderabad10k.com/ - December

All alone

As I scribble this blog, today is day6, all alone at my home. For the first time in my life and my mom's life, shez gone on long trip. Never ever before there was an instance that she took leave, packed and went of on a trip, that too a 10 day trip. My mom is on touring South India with her collegues, she fears that this being her retirement year, she wouldn't be entitled to such travels later.

The tour package will take her on bus tour of all moajor tourist and pilligrimage spots in South India, names of which I haven't heard till date. Will take the list of places once she is back.

For me this is a new experience too, taking care of the house entirely on my own. Firstly mom has discontinued the milk supply for the period and I need milk for my curd, difficult for me to inform the milk-walaa as I would not wake at the time the milk packets are dropped, so sad, I had to fetch it from my cousins or buy it separately as I did yesterday and had to set it up for making curd. All the more cleaning of the floor, washing of clothes (alternate days), utensils, cooking for my self, watering the plants all on the part of the agenda. One day I forgot to water the plants, fortunately I happen to notice them dropping due to lack of water and fortunately had enough of water stored to water the plants before I left for office, Mom & Dad would have definelty batted me out if they were to have sapped dry. For these plants are very dear to both of them, and fancy of taking care of the same.

Am kindaa getting up at 8.30am, freshen-up, bath and along with my rituals sit to have breakfast, two days I made dosa's, 2 days I had Ooats, a day with bread-butter-omlette. Let me see what will I manage in next few days. For lunch managed a bit from my guys in the apartment.

Scariest thing is when come home at 1 - 1.30 am there is no one and I had to freshen-up and head to my bed all alone. That's scary for a while when you realise that in your 2 bed-room apartment you are the only person alive. Have a had a strangest of dreams that I've had a call to visit Tirupati. Very strange as I see there myself with the entire family running accross but unable to make it to the darshan, at the Vyikuntam complex and queues are held up at afternoon and am hungry for food and thirsty too. Strange dream I can't decipher the dream as yet.

Another one I discovered in my shelf beside the window was a turmite mound. The turmite mound made through mud and water engulfed all the books and plastic material stored in the shelf. I happened to accidently discover this when I was trying to trace a MP3 CD which I replaced it somewhere. I used all kinds of pesticides I had but to no use, the turmites refuse to give-up, the next day morning I had to clean up the entire junk to get rid of the colony of white turmites. Yucky work !! Had goosebumps all through this cleaning process. I don't even know what all books and material went out in the 8kgs of stuff I dumped. Hopefuly Mom on her return is not annoyed at the clean-up. See the mess of the turmite mound in the pic below.

Days at home this year been spending a lot with myself, except on a few occasion where I got to venture out with the family on Sankrathi.

The list of the movies for this Month is long

Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum - Good movies but not meant for Indian Audience for it lacks the action though it has good plot and conspiracy and covert operations of CIA in this

Rush hour 1, 2, 3 - all three back to back

Aliens Vs Predator 1 , 2 (Requiem) - Didn't like the second part at all was mostly on lines of Resident Evil 2, where the entire city is nuked with little or no-coperation between humans and predator species.

Telugu - Na Upiri (schizophrenia based movie), Operation Dhuryodhana, Tulasi, Aadavari Matalaku ardhale verulee (both Venky starrer)

Goal, Golmaal, Jab We Met from the hindi movie front. Liked "Jab we met" a lot from which I have taken a few cues for my personal life.

Might want to watch Ek Chaalis ki last local and Shootout at Lokhanwala shortly.

Indian Vedic Astrology - Stars(Nakshatras)

There are 27 stars under the Hindu Astrology. The star that prevails on the day a person is born is called their birth Rashi. The life of a person depends a lot on the Star under which they are born.
Persons born under the influence of a particular star have certain characteristics specific to that star. Though they are general in nature, they offer certain clues about one's personality.

1. Aswani: This is number one personality vast learning, well developed brain power, faith in religion, sacrificing tendency, ambitious, philosophical and social.
2. Bharani: Magnetic personality, changing mood, business minded, influential, high position.
3. Krittika: Vast learning, logical, doubting mind, creative ability, unsteady fortune, hot body, enthusiastic, engineering brain, brave.
4. Rohini: Well learned influential, travel minded, artistic, business-like, spiritual, changing affections.
5. Mrigasira: Vast learning, likes research, high position, noble views of life, attraction, mystical.
6. Aridra: Religiousness, responsible positions, artistic, brave, litigations, laziness, leader, passionate.
7. Punarvasu: Good-natured, trials in life, cultured, helping nature, vanity-minded, failure and success often.
8. Pushyami: Devotional, wealthy, doubting, soft nature, jack of all, well placed.
9. Aslesha: Moody, short temper, harsh speech, wealthy, religious, slow.
10. Makha: Capacity to command, wealthy, devoted, social worker, weak moral standard.
11. Pubba(Poorva Phalguni): Learned, business-minded selfish, saving tendency, philosophical, learned in sastras, impure mind.
12. Uttara: Faithful, greedy, proud, administrative, wavering, needy.
13. Hastha: Talented, wealthy, materialistic, fluent speaker, quarrelsome, sacrificing tendency.
14. Chitta: learned, sickly magician, superstitious, tactful, hard mind.
15. Swathi: Cultured learned, famous submissive to ladies, passionate, wealthy.
16. Visakha: Dreamer, fond of astrology, administrator, brave, strong, charitable.
17. Anuradha: Learned, religious minded, soft, musical talents, royal position, quickness.
18. Jyesta: Artistic, lover of ornaments, costly dress, dreamer, brave, agriculturalist, philosophically- minded.
19. Moola: Ambitious, learned, wavering, writer, proud, talkative, is fond of traveling, helpful.
20. Purvashada: Clever, helpful, brave, conspirer, selfish, evil-minded, wealthy.
21. Uttarashada: Preacher, respected, noble, boasting, wavering mind, short-tempered.
22. Sravana: Brave, administrator, adaptable, tactful, wealthy, evil company, slow.
23. Dhanista: Patient, suffering, royal life, enduring, revengeful, brave, social.
24. Satabisha: Cultured, artistic, writer, sacrificing, submissive to the fair sex, soft-hearted, religious.
25. Purvabhadra: Spiritual, unattached, helpful. Unknown, patient, boasting, quarrelsome, famous.
26. Uttarabhadra: Soft, helpful, suspicious, learned, devotional, religious planning.
27. Revathi: Artistic, divine qualities, noble, successful, respected

A bit about my Star ..

11. Poorva Phalguni(pubba) nakshatra (Leonis) (133:20’ to 146:40’ )
Those born in this nakshatra are experts in love making, strong and handsome but extremely fearful. They help others, and carry out works, which cannot be done by others. They are angry, frauds, cruel and candid. They are bright, wealthy, givers, and experts in music and dance. They are wise and are in the service of kings. They are long lived and beget few children. They are learned, reserved, love women, enjoyers, prominent amongst the learned, handsome, love their brothers, endowed with soft hands and feet, born of Rajamsha, endowed with attractive eyes, idle and possess kingly signs.

http://www.mysticboard.com/planets_and_houses/2088-your_moon_-_your_secrets-6.html
Compatibility Chart -

http://www.westgodavari.org/matrimonial/SeaByStar.asp

http://www.planetarypositions.com/chartmatch.html

http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/freehoroscopes/gunamatch.jsp

For Pubba

Best : Uttare, Magha, Arudra, Pubba, Punarvasu, U.Ashada
Worst : Dhanista, Chitta, Pusyami, Aslesha, UttaraBadra

Hyderabadii to the core....

Well I wanted to do a comparitive study between Hyd and a city which I am aspiring to build my career, but thought its too early for me to comment on the same. So decided to post in what being a Hyderabadi would entitle a person to be.... Well if you had read my previous 2 articles there is much funnier side to it, guess this is more serious narration of life, well with a Hyderabadi lingo into it..

A Hyderabadii like me who works in a mast company which is one of the largest 3rd party pure play BPO company gets up at Subah Subah not before 9am and 11am still Subah aram se fresh-up hooke nikalthahoo, gumne ke waasthe, hatth mein zabardasth time hain naa. If lost on road I don't bother to ask how to go xxxpet or xxxguda,xxxnagar,xxxpalli because you always get seedha chale jao or seedha cutlo xxx aajayega. Go to a numaish are wohi re All India Industrial exhibition during this month i.e Jan and call up at least one name Srinivas, Prasad, Raju, Rao or Venkatesh you would be surprised if not more than 70% of the people turn to identify you within six square feet. At the same numaish I find it extremely funny
If you are hungry don't worry one can always drop in at any of the dozens of Your street has at least one roadside mobile hotel that serves Chinese delicacies such as " Vegetable soft needles", "Navrotten Kurma", "Chicken Manchewurea" or "American Chompsee". If thats not it you a dozen more selling Chat items, a dozen more selling hot mirchi bhaji's. You never fail to pass a road without smelling fresh Irani chai, something unique to the older parts of the town. One can hang out in a Irani cafe the whole day after ordering one cup tea and a empty saucer for oneself and dear friend of yours and chat like thats the last day with each other. But as any South Indian Rice is a very stable food If you do not eat rice at least once a day you will die.(Nothing other than Rice is considered as a meal), very true for me I get migraine and headache if I miss my afternoon rice item. Hyderabadii's have an additional angle to the Rice saga, for which they will swear to die for and thats the famed "Hyderabadii Biryani", and very true its closest to dil of Hyderabadii. Very true that my favourite dish at any wedding is biryani(Veggie), and feel at ease at the smell of it. Bawarchi, Paradise, Golconda, Madina to name a few offer the best in this. Haleem is also a very special dish which is made during the holy month of Ramazan. Then also you have a very special natural flavours hand-made icecream stalls at Mojamzahi market, very delicious, original and cheap. I loved gulping down tons whenever I went there. And quite opposite to this is the great Karachi Bakery where the fruit biscuits are made, grab it as a souviner for your dear ones.
Hyderabadii's to that extent people in Andhra Pradesh have a craze for going abroad and its not surprising that one would have atleast one cousin, friend, colleague or acquaintance in the US in software. As a matter of fact my mom starts counting how many families in the apartment floor don't have their children in US, the answer is nil.
Work culture of a Hyderbadi is quite unique, people working at PSU's can be see spending a lot of time chit chatting with lots of Pan and Pan-masala, zarda in their mouths with Chai in their hand. Woman spend a lot of time talking about what went on in the serial last night on ETV, Gemini or more recently a Maa TV or a Visaa. Lots of topics around their children, studies, tutions, IITs and medicine EAMCET.
For a person in Ameerpet you could listen someone commenting on the latest upgrade or technology which is creating ripples and talks on how to put on some experience in the same. Quite amazing on the number of training centres you can come accross in this area. It would be probably be more than the total such centres in a city like Delhi. Next in the count comes the number of silver screens that the city offers and that too at a rate which is quite affordable, not surprising why the largest number of regional movies get produced here which also create good moolah. Good thing about the city is that piracy is not tolerated and people get their pirated versions either from a neighbourhood parlour or outside of Hyderabad. Favourite mode of travel for students seems like hanging over the footboard of the city bus flauntng their student bus pass, well for 5 years I did the same and trust me it was fun then but also a pain if travelling for more than an hour. People feel free and take it as their Nizami right to put up their hand and stop vehicles zooming so as to cross the road, if not one is a verbal witness to all the Hyderabadi gaaliyaa's of Hyderabad. Leaving a passer-by even the vehicular mannerism are to the extreme in Hyderabadi, rules are meant to be broken thats what a Hyderabadi says is," nahi to life mein kya mazaa hain". One wont be surprised to see a 6 wheeled bus, a state run-one going on a wrong side of the road to avoid a long route, gosh heights but what can I say, thats Hyderabadii.
After stepping in the corporate world my typical Hyderabadii laid bac attitude still survives, though my language (Hinglish so to say) is much refined, but other habits die hard. Nizaami, sounds syncronous to laid back lazy attitude. At office I feel its my right to come late typical behaviour. If you are hungry you might not find it odd to drive back home to eat, to go for loo or to have a nap and come back, its all part and parcel of work culture. Who complaints its easy travelling on roads if you don't mind bending a few norms. Hyderabadii are not good at marketing though they are very good at talking, for they like to break barriers and tend to be free birds rather than stick by the book. Mostly laid back they prefer working at their own pace rather than the other way.
Women in Hyderabad are very conservative, and doubt the looks at every onlooker. For every female on the road from a 13 year-old to a 60 year-old is gazed by every onlooker on the road, that they are s concious that they don't feel like lifting their heads-up. Talking with the male species is somekind of a sin, thats the feeler one sets in Hyderabad. But the girls are still charming and good-looking. Conservatism still continues in terms of behaviour, looks and dressing in Hyderabadii culture and I love it that way.
Accha mai chaltoon ... Syed bai ka pilane ka tame hora ... usko chodne 'pilane stop' jaana re bai , wo pilane ka dilaver hai nai ... wo apna dost ich hai maloom ... wo apana Anwar hai na ... Jaafar ka bhai re ... uneech chalara Syed bhai ka pilane aaj ... accha aatoo main !! kal phir miltoon yaneech ! kal kain bhi akko jaa re howle !!!!

Flipside of a Coin - Wealthy vs Rich

A topic thats been burning me to put some structure around for quite many years today I decided to key it down. . Just a few minutes back I finished watching my weekend quota of my movies. Watched Rush Hour 2 & 3 back to back, and tried to retire bac, but the itch in my mind was so high can't sleep and here I am keying in my 4th blog in 24hrs, actually would be my 6th, as I 've cleared a few post-dated drafts too.
I wanted to touch upon the topic of wether one needs to be rich or aim to be weatlhy, Had been reading a few similar article from jpmartin and rediff and decided to add my own & perspective ofcourse, I will be adding the same commentory too for few defintions and stories from a few of those sites.

Rich or Wealthy

What is the difference between being ‘rich’ and being ‘wealthy’? Is there a difference? If so, what is it? And how do we become rich or wealthy?

I always had this in my mind and sit over it brood and arive at a conclusion and sense of direction for me to achieve but after a few days everything is Status-Quo, so its high time I put my thoughts together and execute.

Defintiions first!! From a pure financial point of view, richness got to do with a potential of a person to buy nearly everything you want today as well as in the future. However, you are wealthy if you have enough money to buy everything you want today as well as in the future, and still have a great deal left over.

The other day a collegue at my office was talking about the Saree his sister bought for her engagement. The attire was predominantly designer wear and I fell out from my seat when he told the cost of the saree.
"These people must be fabulously rich." This statement was made by someone to my right and this made me a bit depressed, for I was well-off from a to-do good family, but never think of spending that much.Back home my cousin grinned and pointed out a few successful looking people who he claimed were earning well but swimming in debt, talking about his own case, on how people manage credit, and how a country like USA operates on ever mounting credit and debt.The point he was making: they may be rich but they were far from wealthy.

Is there a difference?
Sure there is. If you don't believe me, look at the antonyms.The opposite of rich is poor.The opposite of wealthy is broke.
Being rich is just a function of how much you earn. But being wealthy is a function of how well you manage your money.
An example a little down south, Kanchi in TamilNadu. One might run accross an average person clad in Dhoti, walking on the street simple and humble. A by-passer like me wouldn't even bother to look out. But thats until one where to be told that he runs his own weaving firm which earns him a Gross profit (profit after taxes) of Rs 1 crore per annum. That's shocking and one needs to learn a lot on how he has managed to save and invest wisely enough to build on these earnings.
He is not just plain rich. He is wealthy.

Digging Deeper

A bit deeper thought as I also would do, the word ‘rich’ refers to money, whereas ‘wealth’ refers to something more than just money i.e. all the essentials in life - a total package of love, good health, good living, good job, great friends and loving family, spirituality, joy, peace of mind, plenty of time, combined with money and contentment with yourself and what you have. Being wealthy depends on what YOU believe is enough to make you happy, the amount is not the key.

Relativity Theory
This is something which happened on my way from Vizag to a small place in coastal Andhra, added some commentary from a similar article- As an educated person from a city, a well-paid professional. Say on the trip to a rural place to set eyes on the un-spoilt surroundings and one meets an elderly person, revered by all the locals
During the conversation, the leader shows interest to know more about you, the city and how wealthy one is - a matter of curiosity for him - a person from such a far off place to come and see him must have a lot of wealth!
One would probably flash one's E-services Nokia mobile, and digitl SLR, a Timex watch, nike shoes and all the designer brands one fancies. Then probably start talking about ones assets, cars, an excellent job. The elder nod’s his head in acceptance and then frowns in disappointment and looks to the other elders sitting beside, and starts a discussion with them. He comments on how many people he knows in his city and enquires about his social stature. For him we are extremely poor, because one's deprived off all he is revered for in his small village.

Now try to project the same to the millions of people who go to USA/UK or to that matter any country abroad for the making it big in life . They would be living the life facing lots of hardships, working it out in the toughest of conditions to earn those few extra dollars, back home they project themselves to be filthy rich. For example smaller cities in Punjab have the maximum number of Luxary cars in India, and these are funded by people who probably lived a tough life but show off a lot in there own back-yard. Owning a Merc is not a big deal abroad but is in India

Wealth is measured by everyone differently; each person has his/her own way of deciding how wealthy they are. Across countries and economies, what might be a luxury for some is not for others.

Someone once very rightly told that the difference between the rich and the wealthy is that the rich need to impress and the wealthy need to be impressed. In a way it does seem to be true. I've noticed many people who in order to keep up with the crowd or stand apart - try to impress by owning and driving a fancy car, live in a fancy house, wear fancy clothes and eat at fancy restaurants - anything to show that they are well off.
The rich become flush with money in a number of ways. They may inherit it, earn it in a few short years as a professional sports player or entertainer, or invent a new technology that is worth millions, or simply earn it over many years as a professional or a business owner or in because they are lucky make it in real-estate, gambling or stocks. So with all this money, they buy assets, generally those that depreciate fast.
On the other hand, wealthy people buy assets that can be converted to other assets i.e. value-creating assets. Those assets can be tangible like your business, your second house and intangible, like your knowledge, skills or even peace of mind!
The difference between a wealthy person and someone who is simply rich is that a wealthy person has sustainable wealth. A wealthy person will always be wealthy, because he is planning for generations, whereas someone who is just rich will only be so for a short period of time until the money is exhausted.

Reality Check
Is one wealthy?
One may be earning a lot but what one does with the money is what matters. In fact, a person earning comparitively lesser might be wealthier simply because they know how to manage their money and you don't.
The first step is to how the cash flows are (Cash flow statement not required here!!)
Let's say one is earning Rs 50,000 a month. Definitely, you will be considered rich.
But what if 50% of that is spent on servicing your credit card debt, personal loan and home loan? And the balance is blown up on petrol, eating out, buying expensive gadgets and hectic socialising?
With all the earnings channelised towards loan repayments and lifestyle maintenance, one certainly is not wealthy; neither one is heading in that direction.
If one is spending the bulk of earnings, they are certainly not on way to being wealthy.

Wealthy people know how to make money. Once you have the know-how, you can build sustainable wealth. Wealthy know that money comes and money goes - it’s not a big deal. But they also know how to generate wealth, when it’s gone.The best example is written down in history, by the richest man who ever lived. He obtained his wealth through knowledge and valued knowledge more than wealth or money. That man was none other than King Solomon. He was extraordinarily wealthy, even by today’s standards. But he was also extremely wise, the wisest who ever lived.When he first became king, when God asked of him what he wanted, he asked not for riches, but for knowledge and wisdom. And throughout Solomon’s writings, he lists wisdom and knowledge as the two most important gifts to ask of God. God gave wisdom and knowledge to help create Solomon’s great wealth.

What will make you wealthy?
Understanding time value of money, depreciation of assets and a good understanding of asset classes is of outmost importance.

• To be wealthy, one should invest in assets that generate money.Land, homes, art, equity are all wealth building assets. One can get phenomenal returns from them over the long term.
• The value of assets like cars, bikes, televisions and electronic goods decreases over time. They are assets that depreciate in value. While one will spend some amount of money on them, one should also look at assets that appreciate in value over time.
• Other investments like bonds and fixed deposits will ensure money is returned but neednot be the best grosser.
• Gold, these days has seen imense appreciation and is also liquied. With a lot of gold locked in the lockers, Indians are a fag wealthier than many of their western counterparts.

Golden Rules

~ Live below one's means.
~ Budget the spending.
~ Save on taxes.
~ Have a planned, disciplined approach to investing money to maximizse value creation
~ Invest in future, knowldege and wisdom.
~ Value relationships they always pay, are intangible & invaluble of all the assets

Words of Wisdom
Millionaires focus on building wealth, not consuming goods. They are also frugal, a quality that most non-millionaires don't possess

Rich or wealthy?

I figured I am neither :)

Being rich is having money to burn (which I don't have).

Being wealthy is not wanting to (and I do so badly want to!).

But I sure know where I am headed. Have you !!

"Barriers Break When People Talk" - Airtel's new Ad

Airtel has decided to ‘express’ itself in a different way.
In an ad that broke in Dec 2007, Airtel has shifted away from its usual ‘Express Yourself’ brand premise, which has been a part of it for a couple of years now. Instead, the brand has dug a bit deeper and questioned the whole process and the need for communication itself, and the resultant thought, "Barriers Break When People Talk", has become Airtel’s new mantra.


KS Chakravarthy (Chax), ex-national creative director at Rediffusion DY&R, who was with the agency when the TVC was conceptualised.
Airtel The TVC begins on the shot of a Moroccan boy eating at home, when he sees a football land on his balcony. He steps out to find another boy on the opposite side of the fence (presumably the border of a neighbouring country) asking him to pass the ball back. Hesitating to talk with a person who’s presumably an enemy, he looks back to see if his parents are watching. After thinking for a while, the Moroccan boy kicks the ball towards the other who, in turn, invites him over to join the game. Not minding the restrictions any more, our boy crosses the boundary and joins his new friend. They start playing together and the voiceover concludes, “Deewarein gir jaati hain, faasle mit jaate hain, jahan do baatein ho jaati hain (Barriers break when people talk).”
The ad was conceptualised by Chax, Ajay Gahlaut, Abhinav Pratiman and Daniel Upputuru of Rediffusion DY&R. The team was briefed with the task of portraying the thought that the very definition of communication implies the dissolution of barriers.
It seems that the original idea was to set the ad at the Wagah Border, and get Indian and Pakistani soldiers to start a football game together, quite spontaneously. But that, as Chax says, would have been the predictable thing to do. “We wanted to make our idea more universal, more human,” he says. “After all, the brand is about regular people.”. Moreso I recall an 7pm whisky TVC on the same lines, and would have made the concept redundant.
The ad was shot by Prakash Varma of Nirvana Films in Morocco. Local boys (who had never faced the camera before) were selected for authenticity. The pre-production work took about four weeks, and the ad was shot in four days. A barbed wire fence was set up over acres of barren land, while the two houses were sets. That whole process took about a week.
To make the children act more naturally, Varma and his team often didn’t tell them when the camera was rolling, so as to capture their natural expressions.
The campaign uses children as symbols of minds free of prejudice, with their innocence depicted in stark contrast to the desolate landscape around them. Airtel’s point of view has clearly become this: The world would be a better place if only we all talked to each other.
- Adapted Commentory/ BG from Agency FAQs

What's it about Satya Swaroop?

What Satya Swaroop Means

A total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. Has the whole world under your spell, and can influence almost everyone one knows. Usually the best at everything ... strives for perfection. Confident, authoritative, and aggressive. Classic "Type A" personality. A seeker. Often restless - and have a lot of questions about life. Likes to travel often, to fairly random locations. The most comfortable when you're far away from home. Quite passionate and easily tempted & impulses sometimes get you into trouble. A free spirit, and resent anyone who tries to fence you in. Totally unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. Very charming... dangerously so, Knows what I wants, how to get it, and that I will get it. Wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. Always up to something. With tons of energy, and most people can't handle me & the intensity. Definitely handful, and is likely to get in trouble. But my kind of trouble is a lot of fun. Well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. Solid and dependable. Loyal, that people can count on. At times, a bit too serious. with a tendency to put too much pressure on myself. Influential and persuasive, with a lot of power over people. Excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in my interest.

A Type A Personality

You are hyper, energetic, and always on the mood You tend to succeed at everything you attempt And if you don't succeed at first, you quickly climb your way to the top! You could be called a workaholic, but you also make time for fun As long as it's high energy and competitive, you're interested You have the perfect personality for business and athletic success

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Direction Check for New Year - Blogthings (Fun)

You Had a Fantastic Year(2007)!

Compared to most years, last year was definitely great. Overall, you're living a much better life than you were twelve months ago. And nothing is a better mark of a good year. Here's to hoping next year is even better!

How Did Your Year Rate?

You Are In a Good Mood

Starting this year, you're feeling pretty together and happy. While not everything is going you're way, you're keeping things in perspective. And it seems like things are looking up for you!

Your Job Satisfaction Level: 33%

Your job is definitely a bummer, and you probably should get a new one. Make sure you know what's getting you down. Is it your co-workers? The work environment? Your boss? Getting a new job is important, but so is not repeating the same mistakes.

Should You Get a New Job?

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are balanced, peaceful, and sincere. You're the type of person who goes along to get along. And you're definitely afraid of rocking the boat. Underneath it all, you fear your world falling apart. You'll put up with a situation that you don't like in fear of changing it. Disruptive and forceful people intimidate you - and sometimes exploit you.

What's the Part of You That No One Sees?

You've Changed 44% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person. You're clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

I Belong in London/Kolkatta

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

Almost Ready to Date

You're over her... well, mostly. Truth be told, you still think of your ex on occasion. Enough to effect any new relationship you may start. Give yourself time and space - you are 90% there. And don't swear off Women, just make sure to play the field.

Ready to Get Married??

You've done more than dream about the dress and the honeymoon In fact, you spend a good deal of your time thinking about what makes a relationship work And from your answers, it looks like you have the skills to say "I Do" and mean it You've dated enough, learned your fair share, and you're ready to settle down.

A 89% Tortured Genius

You totally fit the profile of a tortured genius. You're uniquely brilliant - and completely misunderstood. Not like you really want anyone to understand you anyway. You're pretty happy being an island.

Are You a Tortured Genius?

Your Love Life is Like Pretty Woman

"I want the fairy tale" You believe that love is truly blind, unpredictable, and surprising. Two very different people can easily find true love. At least, that is how it will happen when you marry a gorgeous billionaire someday ;-) Love style: Sensual and flirty Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Surprisingly happy

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Your Life is Rated PG-13

Your life isn't totally scandalous, but you definitely don't shy away from adult themes!

What is Your Life Rated?