Marriage. Thousands of parameters, hundreds of prospective options, tens of people advising you what to do and what not to do, just one brain to process a sh** load of information.
One part I don't like about Indian marriages is the stress given on the horoscope/stars etc. A girl/guy being rejected without a second look just because they were under a particular planetary position is incomprehensible idea for me. The reverse is also true, just because someones birth sign and stars/planets match your, again you ignore to look at their entire profile. Astrology is a destroyer of possibly like minded individuals being joined in holy matrimony. Totally unfair!
The only thing that I hate more than astrology is judging and being judged (both things I hate) in an arranged marriage. I mean, how much can you learn about someone in a 30 minute discussion, to casually accept/reject them? For all you know, you might be losing a greatest match you may ever find again, or get married to someone totally incompatible. Totally unfair!
All these problems because I did not invest enough time and effort to fall in love, choose my own girl. Then again, you have unknowns there too. Looks can be deceiving, good short term compatibility does not necessarily ensure long term compatibilities. Things change, people change, appearances change, commitment levels change. Totally unfair!
So I still am not certain that getting the right life partner is not a matter of you choosing her or someone else doing it for you. As much as I hate it, I got to play the game. The more I think about it, more marriage sounds like gambling. A game where you don't know your odds, learn the rules as you play. Doesn't necessarily mean that you cant win, just that it is an unfair game with some pleasant surprises, some disappointments and a lot of compromise.
On the flip side, an unfair game seems to have its advantages. So let us see how I fare..
Monday, August 17, 2009
Friday, June 05, 2009
Back To India
Just back from the states. This would be the best time to write something comparing the two great countries.
The journey back was smooth to say the least. Generally people complaint about Air-India as being late, not very comfortable etc. But not this time, not for me - It was a surprising early boarding, a very decent flight, along with the usual goodies like beautiful air hostess and nice Indian food. The domestic Indian-airlines flight was not that great, but OK (As soon as you step on to Indian land, you tend to expect discomforts, start to compromise - the great quality that keeps this nation going). By the nudging and overcrowding, the queueless-ness at the shuttle which takes us to the Indian airlines flight, I realized that I was indeed back in India.
Back to home town 30 minutes late - which is pretty good tolerance for a trip of 20 hours, in Indian terms. Suddenly it hit me in the back of my head - all the old friends, home made cooking, staying and working out of my own city, glorious public transport (virtually absent in the US), the dust and pollution, the crowds and traffic, auto rickshaws, the goods and bads - all coming back in a flash. There are all the things I expected to find. What I did not expect were the price raises on the day to day commodities - food items, restaurants, petrol (no more calling liquid as "Gas") and all that is essential for the masses. Last 2 years I have been out of India, prices have jumped 50-100% depending on the item.
Within US, I was fortunate to have moved to a southern city before moving back to India. From 10 deg C in upstate NY to a warm 30 deg C actually helped a lot when I came home to a 40 deg receding summer. Hopefully the peak summer is already past and temperatures should be going down from here on. Now that I am here, lot of catching up with old friends. Some fellas got married recently, got to visit them with some presents, new job here - lot of impressions to be made, should keep me busy for some time...
The journey back was smooth to say the least. Generally people complaint about Air-India as being late, not very comfortable etc. But not this time, not for me - It was a surprising early boarding, a very decent flight, along with the usual goodies like beautiful air hostess and nice Indian food. The domestic Indian-airlines flight was not that great, but OK (As soon as you step on to Indian land, you tend to expect discomforts, start to compromise - the great quality that keeps this nation going). By the nudging and overcrowding, the queueless-ness at the shuttle which takes us to the Indian airlines flight, I realized that I was indeed back in India.
Back to home town 30 minutes late - which is pretty good tolerance for a trip of 20 hours, in Indian terms. Suddenly it hit me in the back of my head - all the old friends, home made cooking, staying and working out of my own city, glorious public transport (virtually absent in the US), the dust and pollution, the crowds and traffic, auto rickshaws, the goods and bads - all coming back in a flash. There are all the things I expected to find. What I did not expect were the price raises on the day to day commodities - food items, restaurants, petrol (no more calling liquid as "Gas") and all that is essential for the masses. Last 2 years I have been out of India, prices have jumped 50-100% depending on the item.
Within US, I was fortunate to have moved to a southern city before moving back to India. From 10 deg C in upstate NY to a warm 30 deg C actually helped a lot when I came home to a 40 deg receding summer. Hopefully the peak summer is already past and temperatures should be going down from here on. Now that I am here, lot of catching up with old friends. Some fellas got married recently, got to visit them with some presents, new job here - lot of impressions to be made, should keep me busy for some time...
Friday, May 29, 2009
Lot has happened..
Been a while since I blogged last. Life has been keeping me busy for some time now. Change of employment status, change of job, change of country soon etc.
Simply too much has been going on around me and in my head to devote much time to blogs. Now is the calm after the storm - from being a software consultant I have become an full time employee of a software giant. The good things about the offer is, this time, I get to work is my home city, and my own technology specialization. Rest is all compromise. Among the lot of things I "potentially" lost, are my American Visa, a chance to be earning and being in the US for some more time, freedom to stick to my technology and last but not the least - the $$$ and spending it as I please.
The word "potentially" introduced an element of chance that can not be easily ignored. That may have been the most important factor in my decision. US is getting a little hostile for H1B visa holders, and IMHO is bound to stay that ways for a year. When an Ace capitalist turns protectionist, you can imagine the damage to the economy and jobs. Working in US is not going to be as profitable as before, period. Had I just landed in US or had plans to settle there permanently, my analysis of the whole situation would be very different. I would be riding the rapids, clinging on to dear life, hoping the turbulence will subside soon.
H1B program came in to keep America going after the baby boomer retirements. It has done wonders for both America and outsourced countries like India, China, etc. But now it is proving to be a pita (pain in the a**) for the US. Ironically, US is so dependent on these countries now, a full economic recovery is not easy without these countries. It is certainly possible - slowly - once you have enough students in college graduating in disciplines that are currently dominated by Chinese and Indians. But there is no short term fix. US is wise is choosing the longer-term alternative of doing the damage control in house. This essentially means death of the H1B program, and very slow economic resurgence for US. Question is if the incorporates would follow in the government's footsteps.
One of the most ironic things about capitalism is that the capitalist will sell you the rope to hang himself with. Actually they will give you the money to make a movie that makes them look bad, if they believe they can make money off it.
--Michael Moore
As corporations making money, it would be interesting to see what the likes of Microsoft and IBM would do to get out of this recession. Will they sell outsourcing contracts that will eventually kill local high-skill industries? or groom locals and encourage next generation of students to get into these areas? Either ways, two things are sure,
a) Outsourcing can/will not go, so I will continue to have a job in India
b) Capitalism can never work with protectionism, things must open up some time soon
I guess blogs will be more frequent now on..
Simply too much has been going on around me and in my head to devote much time to blogs. Now is the calm after the storm - from being a software consultant I have become an full time employee of a software giant. The good things about the offer is, this time, I get to work is my home city, and my own technology specialization. Rest is all compromise. Among the lot of things I "potentially" lost, are my American Visa, a chance to be earning and being in the US for some more time, freedom to stick to my technology and last but not the least - the $$$ and spending it as I please.
The word "potentially" introduced an element of chance that can not be easily ignored. That may have been the most important factor in my decision. US is getting a little hostile for H1B visa holders, and IMHO is bound to stay that ways for a year. When an Ace capitalist turns protectionist, you can imagine the damage to the economy and jobs. Working in US is not going to be as profitable as before, period. Had I just landed in US or had plans to settle there permanently, my analysis of the whole situation would be very different. I would be riding the rapids, clinging on to dear life, hoping the turbulence will subside soon.
H1B program came in to keep America going after the baby boomer retirements. It has done wonders for both America and outsourced countries like India, China, etc. But now it is proving to be a pita (pain in the a**) for the US. Ironically, US is so dependent on these countries now, a full economic recovery is not easy without these countries. It is certainly possible - slowly - once you have enough students in college graduating in disciplines that are currently dominated by Chinese and Indians. But there is no short term fix. US is wise is choosing the longer-term alternative of doing the damage control in house. This essentially means death of the H1B program, and very slow economic resurgence for US. Question is if the incorporates would follow in the government's footsteps.
One of the most ironic things about capitalism is that the capitalist will sell you the rope to hang himself with. Actually they will give you the money to make a movie that makes them look bad, if they believe they can make money off it.
--Michael Moore
As corporations making money, it would be interesting to see what the likes of Microsoft and IBM would do to get out of this recession. Will they sell outsourcing contracts that will eventually kill local high-skill industries? or groom locals and encourage next generation of students to get into these areas? Either ways, two things are sure,
a) Outsourcing can/will not go, so I will continue to have a job in India
b) Capitalism can never work with protectionism, things must open up some time soon
I guess blogs will be more frequent now on..
Monday, March 30, 2009
Gnome's Newest Docky
By far the best dock I have used in all of Linux and Mac. I am a predominant keyboard person - tend to use KB shortcuts than mouse. The auto search as you type in the application name is superb - saves me a lot of trouble navigating into menus!!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Kashmir Problem Solved
Received this as a forward from my friend.
An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly that made the world community smile.
A representative from India began: 'Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about Rishi Kashyap of Kashmir,after whom Kashmir is named.
When he struck a rock and it brought forth water, he thought, 'What a good opportunity to have a bath.' He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. A Pakistani had stolen them.'
The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and shouted, 'What are you talking about? The Pakistanis weren't there then.' The Indian representative smiled and said, 'And now that we have made thatclear, I will begin my speech. 'And they say Kashmir belongs to them................................................"
An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly that made the world community smile.
A representative from India began: 'Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about Rishi Kashyap of Kashmir,after whom Kashmir is named.
When he struck a rock and it brought forth water, he thought, 'What a good opportunity to have a bath.' He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. A Pakistani had stolen them.'
The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and shouted, 'What are you talking about? The Pakistanis weren't there then.' The Indian representative smiled and said, 'And now that we have made thatclear, I will begin my speech. 'And they say Kashmir belongs to them................................................"
Monday, March 16, 2009
Non-Newtonian Fluids
These fluids have both liquid and solid properties. If you subject them to stress or impact, they harden into solids! If you have some corn-starch and water, you can make this goo at your home...
People with too much creativity and a speaker to waste
And this is what a little more computer control and multiple vibrating surfaces can do!
People with too much creativity and a speaker to waste
And this is what a little more computer control and multiple vibrating surfaces can do!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
H1B Visas - The Dilemma
The baby boomer problem in US leading to starting of the H1B scheme, is diminishing rapidly. Again, this acceleration is solely due to the unemployment rates prevailing in the US now.
At some point US needed ready-made talent to pitch in and improve their economy because most of their working population was about to retire within a span of few years (due to the baby boom post WW-II). Thus came the H1B. India, China, Brazil and many other nations have capitalized on this along with the rise in Information technology and networking. Something like a global delivery model could be successfully implemented resulting in off shoring of thousands of jobs. This was a non-issue at that mid '90s because - (a) Americans needed ready made talent and (b)all these jobs were monotonous or too boring. I wont say that there were less IT/computer students in America to fit the role. But the boring and dirty jobs were taking up by people across the globe leaving the interesting IT research or managerial roles to be taken up by Americans. Also major corporations had a cost savings since they were able to get the work done from China or India.
For some time everyone enjoyed it. Personally, though I have worked with a lot of contractors who are American, seldom did I see fresh blood coming out of college into these boring support/call handling/ administration roles. Even those who did, just made the time (aka money) for a PhD or an MBA or some other job and then got lost. All seemed well. Since it was a capitalistic economy, the anti-outsourcing shouts lost relevance. More importantly American companies, their customers, vendors - everyone were making huge profits. IT pervaded more into businesses, resulting in more profits, part of which got reinvested in the IT departments. All was well, those who rode the wave became filthy rich.
Then came the damned depression. It affected every industry and business. Since IT is just a business enabler, it is more like the tail of a lizard - it would be first thing to be cut knowing that it can be regrown anytime. Unemployment and closure of business was so prevalent that senators started asking question about who loses jobs (eve the mighty Microsoft wasn't spared. But they gave a very diplomatic and reasonable reply.) So the million dollar question is what would happen assuming all the workers on H1Bs lose their jobs? Is that going to get employment for equal number of American workers? Hell no...
Those who hired H1Bs were supposed to advertise and wait for 3 months for an American (in good conscience) before hiring a foreign national. Let us considering only that 10% of the American companies can follow this rule - i.e., either plan their projects 3 months in advance or put it on hold for 3 months before hiring a foreigner. Shouldn't this question be asked way back when the H1 program started? Now the government says that which ever company is receiving the bail out package from them shouldn't employ H1Bs. Thing to remember here is that the bailout is kind of a loan - the companies receiving them should submit a definite plan projecting resurgence/profits in a certain number of years/months. That calculation would have been done by assessing their existing workforce and their capability. Wouldn't a shortage of highly skilled H1Bs affect that planning negatively? All this is assuming that there is a pool of American talent immediately available for recruitment that can effectively replace the H1Bs.
Protectionism towards your citizens is good if unemployment is your only problem. Sadly that is not the case. For the economy to improve, you still need experts and skilled workers. Motivating your students to train in technical areas would be a good long term solution. But in the short term, if US is serious about improving their economy immediately, H1Bs are an essential part of the equations.
Link1 - talks of how H1 has affected the American industry in a positive way
At some point US needed ready-made talent to pitch in and improve their economy because most of their working population was about to retire within a span of few years (due to the baby boom post WW-II). Thus came the H1B. India, China, Brazil and many other nations have capitalized on this along with the rise in Information technology and networking. Something like a global delivery model could be successfully implemented resulting in off shoring of thousands of jobs. This was a non-issue at that mid '90s because - (a) Americans needed ready made talent and (b)all these jobs were monotonous or too boring. I wont say that there were less IT/computer students in America to fit the role. But the boring and dirty jobs were taking up by people across the globe leaving the interesting IT research or managerial roles to be taken up by Americans. Also major corporations had a cost savings since they were able to get the work done from China or India.
For some time everyone enjoyed it. Personally, though I have worked with a lot of contractors who are American, seldom did I see fresh blood coming out of college into these boring support/call handling/ administration roles. Even those who did, just made the time (aka money) for a PhD or an MBA or some other job and then got lost. All seemed well. Since it was a capitalistic economy, the anti-outsourcing shouts lost relevance. More importantly American companies, their customers, vendors - everyone were making huge profits. IT pervaded more into businesses, resulting in more profits, part of which got reinvested in the IT departments. All was well, those who rode the wave became filthy rich.
Then came the damned depression. It affected every industry and business. Since IT is just a business enabler, it is more like the tail of a lizard - it would be first thing to be cut knowing that it can be regrown anytime. Unemployment and closure of business was so prevalent that senators started asking question about who loses jobs (eve the mighty Microsoft wasn't spared. But they gave a very diplomatic and reasonable reply.) So the million dollar question is what would happen assuming all the workers on H1Bs lose their jobs? Is that going to get employment for equal number of American workers? Hell no...
Those who hired H1Bs were supposed to advertise and wait for 3 months for an American (in good conscience) before hiring a foreign national. Let us considering only that 10% of the American companies can follow this rule - i.e., either plan their projects 3 months in advance or put it on hold for 3 months before hiring a foreigner. Shouldn't this question be asked way back when the H1 program started? Now the government says that which ever company is receiving the bail out package from them shouldn't employ H1Bs. Thing to remember here is that the bailout is kind of a loan - the companies receiving them should submit a definite plan projecting resurgence/profits in a certain number of years/months. That calculation would have been done by assessing their existing workforce and their capability. Wouldn't a shortage of highly skilled H1Bs affect that planning negatively? All this is assuming that there is a pool of American talent immediately available for recruitment that can effectively replace the H1Bs.
Protectionism towards your citizens is good if unemployment is your only problem. Sadly that is not the case. For the economy to improve, you still need experts and skilled workers. Motivating your students to train in technical areas would be a good long term solution. But in the short term, if US is serious about improving their economy immediately, H1Bs are an essential part of the equations.
Link1 - talks of how H1 has affected the American industry in a positive way
Monday, February 09, 2009
Control That Consumes Us..
Just came across this documentary from BBC
If you do have the time and patience please check out all 10 parts. It is about a bunch of scientist, with ideas so radical and ahead of time, that they faced so much public criticism. And the extent to which they dedicated their own lives to to prove the unprovable - starting at one side and ending up on the other side of the line separating genius and insanity..
We see it all around us - uncertainty scares the sh*t out of us. Everything external has to be under control. Our craze for control, often leads to panic when stuff goes wrong. All that is around us needs to be certain and every change predictable..
Having an escalator for a gymnasium is the perfect example - I would chose not to exercise my body till I get into the gym. THAT is the place for exercise - why the hell do I pay these guys if I have to do the exercise climbing the stairs? But don't you dare ask me why those stairs exist - you are questioning my freedom of choice to have a stair case. But NO I wont use it..
We try to control everything from the temperature in our living quarters to nuclear fusion in reactors. Our fear of the unknown and uncontrollable is so great that it has consumed us. Ironic, isnt it? We try so hard to control things, in the process get controlled by the very thing. I just remembered one of the quotes from an old movie called "The Gods Must Be Crazy". Narrator compares the African bushmen with civilized city dwellers. It goes something like this..
"Civilized man refused to adapt himself to his environment. Instead he adapted his environment to suit him.So he built cities, roads,vehicles, machinery.And he put up power lines to run his labour-saving devices. But he didn't know when to stop.The more he improved his surroundings to make life easier, the more complicated he made it. Now his children are sentenced to 10 to 15 years of school, to learn, how to survive in this complex and hazardous habitat. And civilized man, who refused to adapt to his surroundings, now finds he has to adapt and re-adapt...every hour of the day to his self-created environment. For instance, if it's Monday...and 7:30 comes up, you have to dis-adapt from your domestic surroundings and re-adapt yourself to an entirely different environment. 8:00 means everybody has to look busy...... 10:30 means you can stop looking busy for 15 minutes. And then,you have to look busy again. Your day is chopped into pieces. In each segment of time, you adapt to new circumstances...."
The worlds leading economy, run by the most brilliant minds, the people most obsessed with control, is crumbling. It is ironic that Americans, the control-freaks, did not realize their lack of control measures to the stop this depression. So why they hell did I start with the documentary?
Reason is that control may be a good thing, but every once in a while we may have to reevaluate them and restructure them so fit the present. Else our control laws would be controlling our lives than the stuff we wish to control....
If you do have the time and patience please check out all 10 parts. It is about a bunch of scientist, with ideas so radical and ahead of time, that they faced so much public criticism. And the extent to which they dedicated their own lives to to prove the unprovable - starting at one side and ending up on the other side of the line separating genius and insanity..
We see it all around us - uncertainty scares the sh*t out of us. Everything external has to be under control. Our craze for control, often leads to panic when stuff goes wrong. All that is around us needs to be certain and every change predictable..
Having an escalator for a gymnasium is the perfect example - I would chose not to exercise my body till I get into the gym. THAT is the place for exercise - why the hell do I pay these guys if I have to do the exercise climbing the stairs? But don't you dare ask me why those stairs exist - you are questioning my freedom of choice to have a stair case. But NO I wont use it..
We try to control everything from the temperature in our living quarters to nuclear fusion in reactors. Our fear of the unknown and uncontrollable is so great that it has consumed us. Ironic, isnt it? We try so hard to control things, in the process get controlled by the very thing. I just remembered one of the quotes from an old movie called "The Gods Must Be Crazy". Narrator compares the African bushmen with civilized city dwellers. It goes something like this..
"Civilized man refused to adapt himself to his environment. Instead he adapted his environment to suit him.So he built cities, roads,vehicles, machinery.And he put up power lines to run his labour-saving devices. But he didn't know when to stop.The more he improved his surroundings to make life easier, the more complicated he made it. Now his children are sentenced to 10 to 15 years of school, to learn, how to survive in this complex and hazardous habitat. And civilized man, who refused to adapt to his surroundings, now finds he has to adapt and re-adapt...every hour of the day to his self-created environment. For instance, if it's Monday...and 7:30 comes up, you have to dis-adapt from your domestic surroundings and re-adapt yourself to an entirely different environment. 8:00 means everybody has to look busy...... 10:30 means you can stop looking busy for 15 minutes. And then,you have to look busy again. Your day is chopped into pieces. In each segment of time, you adapt to new circumstances...."
The worlds leading economy, run by the most brilliant minds, the people most obsessed with control, is crumbling. It is ironic that Americans, the control-freaks, did not realize their lack of control measures to the stop this depression. So why they hell did I start with the documentary?
Reason is that control may be a good thing, but every once in a while we may have to reevaluate them and restructure them so fit the present. Else our control laws would be controlling our lives than the stuff we wish to control....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)