Believe it or not, I didn't do much this weekend. That may not be too drastic for anyone but for me it is. Because most weekends, I have a routine, cleaning up my place, studying .NET stuff and going out and getting some chores done. But this weekend was cool. I slept a lot too. That also explains no posts for two days. Well I just lazed around on the couch and watched movies. I saw Troy and Manchurian Candidate on DVD. then went to see Batman Begins with a couple of friends at the IMAX. But even though it was raining, people just flocked to the movies and we did not get tickets so had to see it in a normal theatre. Also saw one Hindi movie - My Brother Nikhil. Decent movie, very sensitively made. Oh, If I don't say anything about Batman Begins, some people may get offended. Yes, the movie is pretty good. I like action, but even though this one was not hardcore action, it was good in many ways. Didn't like Katie Holmes though with her lopsided mouth. I also read a couple of books, some pages of each I mean, not the whole thing.
So well, today is Monday and it was difficult to get back to work, but have to feed myself ;-).
Next weekend won't be so restful. I am going to Orlando for the 4th of July. Yeah! My first time there. There are so many places to see, so will have to decide on a couple soon. The theme parks are so costly, another reason I need to keep working ;-)
Monday, June 27, 2005
Friday, June 24, 2005
Lack of Advertising Talent!!
This is what I feel, that the commercials in the US are just so dull, boring and sometimes outirght stupid. Back in India, we have such funny and humorous ads that sometimes we would wait for a particular commercial to come up. Even commercials with celebrities would be witty and there is always competition to win over the other guy in content and concept. Here you just mention the other company's name in bad light, and that's a commercial for you. I have noticed that about 70 percent of total commercials are either about food or restaurants and cars or car dealerships. On my God! car delearship commercials would be my worst nightmare if I was in this business.
That is not to say that all hope is lost. There are still some funny ones like the Visa credit card with all superheroes or some just cute like the quiznos baby and some more which I can't seem to remember right now.
I am a creative and artistic person by nature and therefore do expect a bit better quality commercials. According to an article yesterday on slashdot titled DoubleClick Warns Against Ad-Blocking Browsers the end of free content is near if people continue to use ad-blocking popup something similar to people going to restrooms when a commercial comes up on television. Don't even get me started on internet popups. first there used to be actual popups where a new window opened up. So companies created ad-blocking software. But now there are popups within the web page itself. For example, on rediff you always have such popups that show up for about 5 seconds and then scale down to a smaller size. So everytime I click a link to read a news article and come back, this thing shows up again covering all links. Will someone please inform me if there are any blockers for such popups.
So that's all the whining for today. Looking forward to my weekend.
That is not to say that all hope is lost. There are still some funny ones like the Visa credit card with all superheroes or some just cute like the quiznos baby and some more which I can't seem to remember right now.
I am a creative and artistic person by nature and therefore do expect a bit better quality commercials. According to an article yesterday on slashdot titled DoubleClick Warns Against Ad-Blocking Browsers the end of free content is near if people continue to use ad-blocking popup something similar to people going to restrooms when a commercial comes up on television. Don't even get me started on internet popups. first there used to be actual popups where a new window opened up. So companies created ad-blocking software. But now there are popups within the web page itself. For example, on rediff you always have such popups that show up for about 5 seconds and then scale down to a smaller size. So everytime I click a link to read a news article and come back, this thing shows up again covering all links. Will someone please inform me if there are any blockers for such popups.
So that's all the whining for today. Looking forward to my weekend.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
A book, A guide, A path to success??
Just today, I was browsing books at the town public library when I came across a book that sure enough seemed to jump right at me, telling me to read it especially with recent interesting happenings around me. So I took a look and before even going through any of its chapters, I read the first topic which said "Why this book was written and How". Some of you may have come to know by now which book I am talking about. Yes, the book is called "How to win friends & influence people" by Dale Carnegie. The title is grasping enough.
So as I was saying, hardly had I read through the second page of the above mentioned topic, I realized that my last blog had just asked the question whether technical skills or people skills take you further. According to the author, research conducted by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Carnegie Institute of Technology revealed that "in such technical lines as engineering, about 15 percent of one's financial success is due to one's technical knowledge and about 85 percent is due to skill in human engineering - to personality and the ability to lead people". This one simple sentence says a lot and forces you to rethink. This book may have been first published in the 1930's but it sure applies today and would always.
I had to simply check it out and read it and maybe even buy it. Maybe we all are to some extent born with our human engineering skills but we need to polish them up. Maybe this book will do that for us.
So as I was saying, hardly had I read through the second page of the above mentioned topic, I realized that my last blog had just asked the question whether technical skills or people skills take you further. According to the author, research conducted by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Carnegie Institute of Technology revealed that "in such technical lines as engineering, about 15 percent of one's financial success is due to one's technical knowledge and about 85 percent is due to skill in human engineering - to personality and the ability to lead people". This one simple sentence says a lot and forces you to rethink. This book may have been first published in the 1930's but it sure applies today and would always.
I had to simply check it out and read it and maybe even buy it. Maybe we all are to some extent born with our human engineering skills but we need to polish them up. Maybe this book will do that for us.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Technical skills vs. People skills
A few days back I had an interesting and rather thought provoking conversation with one of my friends. My friend was looking to change his job because he was going nowhere with his current one in spite of his excellent technical knowledge, dedication and a good personality. What was more annoying is that a person with less experience of the same job but with just better speaking skills marched ahead.
Since then, I have been wondering what takes you higher, superior technical skills or outstanding people skills. I am sure you can debate for one or the other. I personally believe that it takes a right balance of both.
Talking about myself I would say that I am good at the technical stuff. My people skills are fair enough. I converse well with people when required to do so but I don’t keep jumping in and blabber away all the time. So is this the end of the ladder for me?
I am sure most of you will agree that software engineers in general are more technical than communicative. So when your company expects you to be more communicative, talkative or someone who should keep giving suggestions to the management and basically butter up, what do you do? At this point, I would start thinking those 6 years of college with an average GPA of 3.5 doesn’t really matter. You can be exceptional at your technical knowledge and skills, but you won’t climb the ladder of success unless you speak up often.
I am not against innovative, thoughtful and required communication. Like I said at the start, a right balance is always required. But if you are ignored, like my friend, because the person who has the power to promote you overlooks your contribution to the company as a developer and experience of the past years, just because you are not always under the limelight is taking it a bit too far. I believed that as long as you do your job well, meet deadlines and put in the necessary amount of time to get the product out of the door, you are good to go, But seeing that more deserving and intelligent people being surpassed by “people skilled” individuals I am forced to think again. So what is the right attitude? Will this match been won by the people skillers or the techies? Will there be justice?
Since then, I have been wondering what takes you higher, superior technical skills or outstanding people skills. I am sure you can debate for one or the other. I personally believe that it takes a right balance of both.
Talking about myself I would say that I am good at the technical stuff. My people skills are fair enough. I converse well with people when required to do so but I don’t keep jumping in and blabber away all the time. So is this the end of the ladder for me?
I am sure most of you will agree that software engineers in general are more technical than communicative. So when your company expects you to be more communicative, talkative or someone who should keep giving suggestions to the management and basically butter up, what do you do? At this point, I would start thinking those 6 years of college with an average GPA of 3.5 doesn’t really matter. You can be exceptional at your technical knowledge and skills, but you won’t climb the ladder of success unless you speak up often.
I am not against innovative, thoughtful and required communication. Like I said at the start, a right balance is always required. But if you are ignored, like my friend, because the person who has the power to promote you overlooks your contribution to the company as a developer and experience of the past years, just because you are not always under the limelight is taking it a bit too far. I believed that as long as you do your job well, meet deadlines and put in the necessary amount of time to get the product out of the door, you are good to go, But seeing that more deserving and intelligent people being surpassed by “people skilled” individuals I am forced to think again. So what is the right attitude? Will this match been won by the people skillers or the techies? Will there be justice?
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
My two cents on the Tom Cruise – Katie Holmes relationship
Well, I thought I should also contribute my views about the relationship between these two and how the media is handling or mis-handling it. Besides, there is so much coverage that it is hard to ignore them unless I am a cave person.
Every article I read on these two had one statement about the poll where people believe that this is a publicity stunt. According to me it might be or might not be, but who really cares. According to a Steven Spielberg interview, Tom is being punished by the media for his open declaration of love. So, I started wondering, Why is the media angry with Tom Cruise, why are they so frustrated that he is openly declaring his love, why why?
And the answer is, the media is angry because it is not making any money out of the love life of Tom Cruise and Katie Homes. Because they are not hiding the looooooove, the paparazzi cannot snap secret, one-of-a-kind pictures and demand half a million for them. Because their confessions are so public and out in the open, that all the gossip magazines do not have anything exclusive for the readers which isn't already available in print, media and on the internet.
I guess this is the price of fame, being private is a problem and going public is a bigger problem.
I guess to some extent we all love to hear gossip about celebrities but the media here just takes it too far. Day in and out they just focus on one lousy story. Don't believe me, what about the "runaway bride", "brangelina" and many more. There are bigger and more adverse problems in this world about which most of the american people are unaware.
Every article I read on these two had one statement about the poll where people believe that this is a publicity stunt. According to me it might be or might not be, but who really cares. According to a Steven Spielberg interview, Tom is being punished by the media for his open declaration of love. So, I started wondering, Why is the media angry with Tom Cruise, why are they so frustrated that he is openly declaring his love, why why?
And the answer is, the media is angry because it is not making any money out of the love life of Tom Cruise and Katie Homes. Because they are not hiding the looooooove, the paparazzi cannot snap secret, one-of-a-kind pictures and demand half a million for them. Because their confessions are so public and out in the open, that all the gossip magazines do not have anything exclusive for the readers which isn't already available in print, media and on the internet.
I guess this is the price of fame, being private is a problem and going public is a bigger problem.
I guess to some extent we all love to hear gossip about celebrities but the media here just takes it too far. Day in and out they just focus on one lousy story. Don't believe me, what about the "runaway bride", "brangelina" and many more. There are bigger and more adverse problems in this world about which most of the american people are unaware.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
The ONE Campaign
Today I was watching the Brad Pitt interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC primetime. And maybe I was just watching it because of all the media frenzy over Brad Pitt or maybe because he is too cute to miss, but I learnt something, saw something which touched my heart. The whole part about his trip to Africa to help the children, the statistics about medicine, education and just the money required to improve the life of African children was overwhelming.
You can find something about this interview at http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=813282&page=1
Only $16 can help fund education of a child in Africa for an ENTIRE year. That's how much most Americans spend on eating out each day. In July, big nations of the world are going to meet to decide about changing the face of Africa, to fund them and provide support. The ONE campaign is about that. Lend your support by signing the declaration at http://www.one.org/ActionSignup.aspx
Each of us can do something more, something that makes us feel better about ourselves. Signing this declaration can just be a beginning. Sometimes we want to help, but we just forget in our daily routine. I am that person too. I have this wish to adopt a child, give someone a future they could not have. Give them a life that I can give because I have the resources. I am from India, where there is still poverty and maybe from watching this show triggered my dormant feelings to help my country too. Maybe all of us from all over the world can take small steps to make someone else's life a bit better. In our own little way, we can make a big difference. Help your neighborhood, community, nation and the world.
You can find something about this interview at http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=813282&page=1
Only $16 can help fund education of a child in Africa for an ENTIRE year. That's how much most Americans spend on eating out each day. In July, big nations of the world are going to meet to decide about changing the face of Africa, to fund them and provide support. The ONE campaign is about that. Lend your support by signing the declaration at http://www.one.org/ActionSignup.aspx
Each of us can do something more, something that makes us feel better about ourselves. Signing this declaration can just be a beginning. Sometimes we want to help, but we just forget in our daily routine. I am that person too. I have this wish to adopt a child, give someone a future they could not have. Give them a life that I can give because I have the resources. I am from India, where there is still poverty and maybe from watching this show triggered my dormant feelings to help my country too. Maybe all of us from all over the world can take small steps to make someone else's life a bit better. In our own little way, we can make a big difference. Help your neighborhood, community, nation and the world.
Update to Gulf Air complaint
Well, this does seem unexpected, but a couple of months back I received a reply from Gulf Air regarding my complaint mailed to them as in the previous blog of mine. They said, they did not accept any responsibility for the stolen items but are willing to compensate for delayed baggage, ofcourse with a clause that I forego any claims towards Gulf Air. In short, I can't sue them ;-).
I signed a waiver and stuff and today I received a check for $83, the amount they said they would give in the letter. Well don't know where that figure came from, but I thought something is better than nothing.
Oh, this does not change my mind about not flying gulf air again. But just wanted you all to know the status.
I was hoping to fly Jet Airways, but for all the news items saying that some US company Jet Airways Inc. alleges that the Jet Airways of India has links with Al Qaeda. Oh well!! my luck!!
I signed a waiver and stuff and today I received a check for $83, the amount they said they would give in the letter. Well don't know where that figure came from, but I thought something is better than nothing.
Oh, this does not change my mind about not flying gulf air again. But just wanted you all to know the status.
I was hoping to fly Jet Airways, but for all the news items saying that some US company Jet Airways Inc. alleges that the Jet Airways of India has links with Al Qaeda. Oh well!! my luck!!
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