If you visit Bangalore, the IT capitol of India and the capitol city of the state of Karnataka, you'll find yourself hailing a rickshaw. It's a three wheel auto that runs on gas (some are powered by natural gas) or petrol as it is commonly called in India. Rickshaws are the handiest modes of transportation in most parts of India aided by a size that is small enough to allow them to slither through heavy traffic (the traffic itself warrants a separate post) that is now a disagreeable feature of Indian roads. Rickshaws are also rickety contraptions that have no use for shock absorbers and given that roads in India are dotted with plenty of potholes (distinguished only by their various amoebic shapes) they can make for a bumpy ride that leaves you with a sore bum and a few bruised bones.
As unique as the rickshaws themselves are the men who operate them. These folks are a wily lot and have the uncanny knack of spotting a passenger who is a visiting tourist. The hapless souls are then literally taken for a ride. I speak the local language, but I haven't been spared either because they seem to know almost instantly that I haven't lived there for a long time.
When I rode a rickshaw on my last visit, I informed the driver of my destination and settled in. Midway through the trip we reached a fork in the road at which point the driver turned around and asked me what route he should take. I had no idea. I later learnt that both roads led to the same destination; one route was longer and the other shorter. It was a neatly laid trap designed to test my local knowledge. Had I answered it right, the rickshaw driver would have banished the thought of bilking me of some money by taking a circuitous route that I'd never know was long and windy. I don't quite remember what I answered, but the question, the context and the guile with which it was posed still startles me.
I asked some locals what they would say in such a situation. One person told me that they would ask the driver to do what is right. Another said he would ask the driver to chose the one that took the least time and avoided heavy traffic.
Regardless, the next time you hail a rickshaw in Bangalore, be ready to be hit with that question and have an answer ready
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Travel agent or the airline
I don't know who I should be more cross with: the travel agent or the airline? The travel agent is Sunnyvale travels in downtown Sunnyvale. I bought tickets once before from them, but it was on a Singapore airlines flight and that airline rarely screws up.
What irks me is that the agent waltz off with her commission, but when we hit rough weather won't come to our rescue. She said something today that really got me all riled up. She had a hard time getting through to Thai and she just gave up and told me to deal with them. She basically washed her hands off our problem. Come on now! A travel agent is only worth the money if they can deal with these last minute emergencies. That's when they prove their usefulness. This one has been an absolute duffer and no use at all.
The hard part is that she is eight months pregnant and counting and right about ready to pop out a baby. So I have been restrained in my conversations with her.
If the few days before our journey turn out to be the worst parts of it, I'll be grateful. I hope it doesn't set the tone for our entire vacation. That will be a bummer.
What irks me is that the agent waltz off with her commission, but when we hit rough weather won't come to our rescue. She said something today that really got me all riled up. She had a hard time getting through to Thai and she just gave up and told me to deal with them. She basically washed her hands off our problem. Come on now! A travel agent is only worth the money if they can deal with these last minute emergencies. That's when they prove their usefulness. This one has been an absolute duffer and no use at all.
The hard part is that she is eight months pregnant and counting and right about ready to pop out a baby. So I have been restrained in my conversations with her.
If the few days before our journey turn out to be the worst parts of it, I'll be grateful. I hope it doesn't set the tone for our entire vacation. That will be a bummer.
Flight from hell
Our vacation to India next month is quickly turning into a nightmare thanks to a shoddy airline and an even more unhelpful travel agent.
A word of advice. If you can avoid Thai airways flying out of San Francisco, please do. It is just not worth the trouble.
We were booked on SFO-LAX-BKK-BLR flight. I checked Thai airways website and was informed that there was no need to reconfirm tickets. But I went ahead and reconfirmed anyways. Imagine my shock when the agent told me that our flight timings had changed. Even better that the flight number listed on our ticket no longer existed. We were passengers on a phantom flight. The airline did not inform us when the timings were changed or at least it did not get to us. They blame the travel agent and the travel agent blames them. Meanwhile I the consumer am left feeling the pinch.
We have a stopover in BKK and fortunately we still have enough time to catch a domestic Thai flight despite the change in flight timings. The return journey promises to be a nightmare. We leave BLR at 10:30p on 31st Dec. Originally scheduled to connect to BKK-LAX leaving at 8a on 1st Jan. Now that flight has been rescheduled to 8p in the night arriving into LAX at 8p on 1st Jan. Unfortunately well past 4p when our connecting flight from LAX to SFO leaves in the afternoon.
I found out that there is no flight to SFO after 8p in the evening on the 1st. We'll have to wait at the airport overnight and catch a flight on 2nd Jan at 10a. Return journey including flight time and layover is now almost 42 hours. The airline agreed to pay for hotel in BKK but won't put us up in LAX and we'll have to fend for ourselves.
Has anyone tried to call the Thai airline office in LA? Don't even try. Takes me at least 45 min to get through to an agent. Then agent tosses me to ticketing and they toss me back to reservation without even listening to me. They also seem to be understaffed. I have spoken to the same agent on both the days I have called. Somehow I don't think it is just coincidence. Frustrating!
If you are flying out of SFO, don't fly Thai. We only chose Thai because we have stopover in BKK on the outbound journey. Bad mistake! Should have gone with Singapore or Cathay that are more reliable and fly out of SFO.
A word of advice. If you can avoid Thai airways flying out of San Francisco, please do. It is just not worth the trouble.
We were booked on SFO-LAX-BKK-BLR flight. I checked Thai airways website and was informed that there was no need to reconfirm tickets. But I went ahead and reconfirmed anyways. Imagine my shock when the agent told me that our flight timings had changed. Even better that the flight number listed on our ticket no longer existed. We were passengers on a phantom flight. The airline did not inform us when the timings were changed or at least it did not get to us. They blame the travel agent and the travel agent blames them. Meanwhile I the consumer am left feeling the pinch.
We have a stopover in BKK and fortunately we still have enough time to catch a domestic Thai flight despite the change in flight timings. The return journey promises to be a nightmare. We leave BLR at 10:30p on 31st Dec. Originally scheduled to connect to BKK-LAX leaving at 8a on 1st Jan. Now that flight has been rescheduled to 8p in the night arriving into LAX at 8p on 1st Jan. Unfortunately well past 4p when our connecting flight from LAX to SFO leaves in the afternoon.
I found out that there is no flight to SFO after 8p in the evening on the 1st. We'll have to wait at the airport overnight and catch a flight on 2nd Jan at 10a. Return journey including flight time and layover is now almost 42 hours. The airline agreed to pay for hotel in BKK but won't put us up in LAX and we'll have to fend for ourselves.
Has anyone tried to call the Thai airline office in LA? Don't even try. Takes me at least 45 min to get through to an agent. Then agent tosses me to ticketing and they toss me back to reservation without even listening to me. They also seem to be understaffed. I have spoken to the same agent on both the days I have called. Somehow I don't think it is just coincidence. Frustrating!
If you are flying out of SFO, don't fly Thai. We only chose Thai because we have stopover in BKK on the outbound journey. Bad mistake! Should have gone with Singapore or Cathay that are more reliable and fly out of SFO.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The power of incentive
I was at the carwash this past weekend waiting for my car to be washed and cleaned when something caught my eye. The folks who were cleaning the cars appeared to be in a race, working at breakneck speed and hustling from one car to the next. I couldn't spot a single employee slacking off. These folks were probably making minimum wage, yet they seemed to be in a hurry to get to as many cars as possible.
My best guess is that the owners have an incentive in place that pays employees by the number of cars cleaned rather than a hourly wage. If that is indeed true, I think it is a brilliant idea. Think about it. I as a consumer am willing to pay someone to clean my car, but I want the service to be fast and efficient. The service provider has the same goal; they want to clean as many cars as possible in less time (and do a decent time of it at the same time) so that they can get to more. Talk about synergy!
It's a system that rewards itself, if everyone works as a team and with clockwork precision and weeds out sloths who drag the team down and hurt the team from performing at its best.
My best guess is that the owners have an incentive in place that pays employees by the number of cars cleaned rather than a hourly wage. If that is indeed true, I think it is a brilliant idea. Think about it. I as a consumer am willing to pay someone to clean my car, but I want the service to be fast and efficient. The service provider has the same goal; they want to clean as many cars as possible in less time (and do a decent time of it at the same time) so that they can get to more. Talk about synergy!
It's a system that rewards itself, if everyone works as a team and with clockwork precision and weeds out sloths who drag the team down and hurt the team from performing at its best.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Gunned down for doing right
Stories like this chip away at ideals like faith, honesty and integrity.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Computer Associates
The company announced that they will change their name and be simply called CA. They'll change their logo as well. Why? It takes less space for sure, but the real motive I'd assume is to make people forget the financial scandals and the management improprieties that have plagued the company in the past few years. Quite a few companies have changed their names to disassociate themselves from a sordid past. It works long term as memories fade in the fuzziness of time. CA is betting it will work for them as well.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Low bar
I was talking to a particularly pesky partner at work today, pointing out some problems I found in their product. Their solution was that the problem existed in previous versions and didn't need to be fixed in the current version. What? Isn't that response dopey? They were suggesting in so many words that they had already set such a low bar for their customers in terms of quality that letting the problem fester in the current version would cause no grievous damage. I wonder how this company manages to be in business. Sad thing is that we are stuck with this partner thanks to some decisions that were made before my time.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Turning the other cheek
I was in either the seventh or eight grade at the time back in my hometown in India. Our class had let out for P.E. That was short for physical education. It was the one hour that we looked forward to during the day, when we played whatever game took our fancy. It was a break from the monotony of another dreary day at school.
The school I went to was co-ed. Sometimes the girls and boys played a game of volleyball or dodgeball together, but mostly, the girls were on their own. The boys played either soccer or cricket and that day we chose to play a game of soccer.
I was not much of a soccer player. My ball handling skills were feeble and I'll be the first to admit that my tackling was crude, but I still played for a reason that is not clear to me now.
We divided ourselves into two teams of roughly eleven players, give or take a few and played the game with no pretense of strategy or tactics. Our passes lacked precision and often direction; our drives were seldom coordinated. We ran to where the ball was, all twenty-two of us and from the ensuing melee someone managed to emerge with the ball at his feet.
On one such foray I stole the ball with what I thought was a deft tackle. Little did I know that in the process I had managed to bruise an ego and earn the wrath of a foe.
My lackluster skills were quickly exposed and I lost the ball promptly. As the game continued, I stopped to catch my breath and in the next instant was thrown to the ground by a violent shove that catapulted me a few feet away.
The ground was bare and my fall (from grace?) wasn't cushioned by a bed of thick grass. In stead I fell on some sharp stones that grazed my hands and legs.
From that fallen repose, I looked up at the perpetrator of my crime. He stood, hands on hips, looking down at me with eyes so wide that I could feel his anger. His pose suggested he was ready for a fight, ready to parry my best salvo with a more potent response.
His was the ego I had bruised.
I stood up and brushed the dirt off myself. And then I turned and walked away.
A short while later, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"I am sorry", he said.
"I am sorry too", I replied.
We remained friends until I lost touch with him a few years later.
The school I went to was co-ed. Sometimes the girls and boys played a game of volleyball or dodgeball together, but mostly, the girls were on their own. The boys played either soccer or cricket and that day we chose to play a game of soccer.
I was not much of a soccer player. My ball handling skills were feeble and I'll be the first to admit that my tackling was crude, but I still played for a reason that is not clear to me now.
We divided ourselves into two teams of roughly eleven players, give or take a few and played the game with no pretense of strategy or tactics. Our passes lacked precision and often direction; our drives were seldom coordinated. We ran to where the ball was, all twenty-two of us and from the ensuing melee someone managed to emerge with the ball at his feet.
On one such foray I stole the ball with what I thought was a deft tackle. Little did I know that in the process I had managed to bruise an ego and earn the wrath of a foe.
My lackluster skills were quickly exposed and I lost the ball promptly. As the game continued, I stopped to catch my breath and in the next instant was thrown to the ground by a violent shove that catapulted me a few feet away.
The ground was bare and my fall (from grace?) wasn't cushioned by a bed of thick grass. In stead I fell on some sharp stones that grazed my hands and legs.
From that fallen repose, I looked up at the perpetrator of my crime. He stood, hands on hips, looking down at me with eyes so wide that I could feel his anger. His pose suggested he was ready for a fight, ready to parry my best salvo with a more potent response.
His was the ego I had bruised.
I stood up and brushed the dirt off myself. And then I turned and walked away.
A short while later, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"I am sorry", he said.
"I am sorry too", I replied.
We remained friends until I lost touch with him a few years later.
Sania Mirza
I think she is beautiful, talented and has a very mature head on her shoulders. I hope she wins one of the big ones soon.
Affectation
Walking past the woman gabbing on her cell, I hear her say:
"I am so happy for you! I am so excited for you guys!"
I always find that sentiment forced and unnatural. I believe close family members are genuine in their feelings, but when friends or mere acquaintances say that to me I am not sure if their joy (at my good fortune) is feigned or sincere.
In fact I think it is normal to be bummed out. (Note to self: Keep stories of good fortune private! You won't disappoint anyone!)
It is possible that such expressions of delight and happiness are completely honest. I just think that in the vast majority of cases they are also accompanied by a tinge of envy.
"I am so happy for you! I am so excited for you guys!"
I always find that sentiment forced and unnatural. I believe close family members are genuine in their feelings, but when friends or mere acquaintances say that to me I am not sure if their joy (at my good fortune) is feigned or sincere.
In fact I think it is normal to be bummed out. (Note to self: Keep stories of good fortune private! You won't disappoint anyone!)
It is possible that such expressions of delight and happiness are completely honest. I just think that in the vast majority of cases they are also accompanied by a tinge of envy.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Red
The calm waves of the ocean slam into the giant rocks that dot the oceanside, like a car that has run into a hillside.
A short distance away another band of waves sweep water onto the sand and in retreat leave a trail of surf behind.
A mild wind ruffles my hair.
Out of the corner of my eye I spy red.
On a pretty girl who has colored her hair red and is busy foraging for sea shells.
A short distance away another band of waves sweep water onto the sand and in retreat leave a trail of surf behind.
A mild wind ruffles my hair.
Out of the corner of my eye I spy red.
On a pretty girl who has colored her hair red and is busy foraging for sea shells.
Fillers
The manager who sits in the room not far from my cubicle showers his sentences with a liberal dose of "basically". As I listen to him, I play an odd game, trying to guess when the next "basically" will drop.
The engineer at the other end of the hall embellishes each sentence with a trailing "kind of". An otherwise well crafted sentence sags under the weight of that unwelcome intrusion.
The engineer at the other end of the hall embellishes each sentence with a trailing "kind of". An otherwise well crafted sentence sags under the weight of that unwelcome intrusion.
Morning coffee
On the way to my desk at work, I have to walk past the desk of the administrative assistant for one of the bigshots here. Each morning, I say hi and she responds with a "Good morning" in the most mellifluous tone imaginable. It's an unexceptional morning outside but you wouldn't know listening to her.
Editing
I think I know what it feels like being an author. I find myself revisiting my old posts and editing them often (infact I just edited this post as well). I wonder if others do that too.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Just ask
At the networking event, we served lunch. That as usual generated a lot of garbage. So we bagged it all up and I went to look for a garbage bin where I could throw all the trash bags into. I couldn't find one nearby so I asked around. One person told me that the previous year each volunteer had taken two trash bags each and trashed them in the garbage bins in their apartment or their home. I thought that was insane.
So I called security and asked them if they could point me to a garbage bin on campus. They couldn't. So I asked them what were my alternatives. They sent security around and after a few calls they told me that I should bag up the garbage and leave it on the side. In the morning the janitorial service would come and clean up.
So just by asking around, we found a solution to an irksome problem that came as a relief to all of us faced with the prospect of taking two trash bags each and dumping it in the garbage bins in our apartments or home.
So I called security and asked them if they could point me to a garbage bin on campus. They couldn't. So I asked them what were my alternatives. They sent security around and after a few calls they told me that I should bag up the garbage and leave it on the side. In the morning the janitorial service would come and clean up.
So just by asking around, we found a solution to an irksome problem that came as a relief to all of us faced with the prospect of taking two trash bags each and dumping it in the garbage bins in our apartments or home.
Entrepreneurs
I volunteered at a networking event for software professionals on Saturday. It was a whole day event that started around 8:30 a.m. and finished at 5p.m. Us volunteers reported at 7 a.m., which meant I was up on my feet for well over ten hours. I was tired at the end and my feet hurt, but I think the experience I gained was well worth it.
The experience of mingling with entrepreneurs of various stripes was inspirational. You can't help be motivated to see folks who have staked out on their own and built companies from the ground up. The other side of the pasture always looks greener, but I'd imagine that building a company from scratch is a more entertaining and fulfilling ride than being in a deadend job.
I was also fortunate to run into some old college friends of mine who I hadn't kept in touch with. There was one friend who I always knew had great things in store for him. I was elated to find out he is now an author and runs his own company. I got him to sign his book for me and I intend to read it soon.
The first panel featured Joe Krauss, co-founder of JotSpot. Joe is well known for his first venture Excite.com during the glory days of the late 90's. It was easy to see why Joe is a successful entrepreneur. He was articulate and passionate in his views and extremely charismatic. And indication of how well he came across was evident at the end of the panel discussion when a crowd gathered around him and picked his brains for well over 45 minutes while the other panelists were relatively undisturbed.
Unfortunately as a volunteer I had to run in and out and couldn't quite sit down and hear the panelists out fully. There were quite a few folks taking notes and I hope someone or the other has a blog and will post those notes soon.
At the end, a person billed as a motivational speaker took the stage. He started out on a promising note, but then flattered to deceive. I thought he was all over the map and though his intention was to leave us with just a couple of thoughts to ponder over, I got a hundred different incoherent messages that taken together added up to a lot of noise.
The experience of mingling with entrepreneurs of various stripes was inspirational. You can't help be motivated to see folks who have staked out on their own and built companies from the ground up. The other side of the pasture always looks greener, but I'd imagine that building a company from scratch is a more entertaining and fulfilling ride than being in a deadend job.
I was also fortunate to run into some old college friends of mine who I hadn't kept in touch with. There was one friend who I always knew had great things in store for him. I was elated to find out he is now an author and runs his own company. I got him to sign his book for me and I intend to read it soon.
The first panel featured Joe Krauss, co-founder of JotSpot. Joe is well known for his first venture Excite.com during the glory days of the late 90's. It was easy to see why Joe is a successful entrepreneur. He was articulate and passionate in his views and extremely charismatic. And indication of how well he came across was evident at the end of the panel discussion when a crowd gathered around him and picked his brains for well over 45 minutes while the other panelists were relatively undisturbed.
Unfortunately as a volunteer I had to run in and out and couldn't quite sit down and hear the panelists out fully. There were quite a few folks taking notes and I hope someone or the other has a blog and will post those notes soon.
At the end, a person billed as a motivational speaker took the stage. He started out on a promising note, but then flattered to deceive. I thought he was all over the map and though his intention was to leave us with just a couple of thoughts to ponder over, I got a hundred different incoherent messages that taken together added up to a lot of noise.
Peter Drucker
My dad was a management consultant and it was through him that I was first introduced to Peter Drucker. Dad travelled a lot and when he came back from his travels brought back with him a stack of books. One of them was Drucker's autobiography "Adventures of a bystander" which I read as a kid. I remember being deeply impressed by it. Drucker was a seminal force within management circles. His strength was to perceive business trends before their time and to offer simple solutions to seemingly complex problems.
Drucker passed away last week. May his soul rest in peace!
Drucker passed away last week. May his soul rest in peace!
San Francisco
I played tour guide to my wife's cousin yesterday. We couldn't have chosen a better day to visit SF. The weather was picture perfect. Rarely have I gone to SF and not needed to wear a jacket and yesterday was one of those days.
I have taken friends to visit San Francisco so often that I now have a tried and tested route that I have optimized over the years. I start off at Golden Gate Bridge, then follow the 49 mile scenic route that is at the south end of the bridge heading west along the coast. I break for lunch at Cliff House after visiting the bath ruins. Then I head to Golden Gate Park which is my favorite stop. There's a lot to see here that can take an entire day or two. If you have time, you should visit the Rose Garden, the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden. There is a nursery that has been renovated that is also worth visiting. And don't forget Stow lake where you can rent a rowboat. Then I head to Twin Peaks for a panoramic view of the city. After Twin Peaks I drive through the Pacific Height neighborhood where you'll find houses that form the distinctive landscape of San Francisco and are often printed on picture postcards. Then I head up Lombard Street toward Crooked Street before finally arriving at Fisherman's Wharf.
Yesterday, the area around Golden Gate bridge was a sight to behold. There wasn't a speck of cloud in the vicinity and the bridge itself was awash in brilliant sunlight. Something I like to do is to walk on the Coastal trail that is on the south west side of the bridge. There are great views of the coast and one particular spot where you can get great pictures of the bridge. The Coastal trail snakes along the edge of the coast. One day I hope to hike it all the way down to Cliff House.
Golden Gate park was brimming with people as usual. I love the lush open spaces and could spend an entire day there people watching. Along the way we stopped at Freddy's deli near Cliff House for lunch. It's behind the apartments that face Ocean Avenue and on the same street as the Burger King and the Safeway. Every time I play tour guide, I stop at this deli for lunch. Great food at great prices!
The view from Twin Peaks was breathtaking. I took some amazing shots of the entire city. My friend bought the Canon 20d recently and as I stood there I longed for one myself. Unfortunately, I'll have to break the bank to get me one.
I love the ride up Lombard to Crooked street. It is doubly fun when cars are backed up going up the hill. It is fun for the driver and nerve wracking for the passengers. My favorite is to drive halfway up the hill and then ask the folks in the back seat to turn around and take a look behind. It is usually a heart stopping moment for them. Yesterday the traffic was sparse and we made it up the hill in less than a minute.
Walking down the steps on Crooked Street, I wondered how those home owners cope with the constant stream of tourists everyday? I would go crazy if I lived on that street.
The seals on Pier 39 are still the draw at Fisherman's Wharf. They were a relatively disciplined group this time. The last time I went they were kicking up a racket. This time the sound was muted by comparison.
I find the stuff in the souvenir shops way too expensive. Wife's cousin bought a teddy bear. What's with women and furry toys?
I need to find a cheaper parking space near Fisherman's Wharf. We paid $12/- for an hour and a half. I thought that was steep.
Be forewarned though that packing all this sight-seeing into a single day can be exhausting. On the drive back home the folks in the back seat were fast asleep.
I have taken friends to visit San Francisco so often that I now have a tried and tested route that I have optimized over the years. I start off at Golden Gate Bridge, then follow the 49 mile scenic route that is at the south end of the bridge heading west along the coast. I break for lunch at Cliff House after visiting the bath ruins. Then I head to Golden Gate Park which is my favorite stop. There's a lot to see here that can take an entire day or two. If you have time, you should visit the Rose Garden, the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden. There is a nursery that has been renovated that is also worth visiting. And don't forget Stow lake where you can rent a rowboat. Then I head to Twin Peaks for a panoramic view of the city. After Twin Peaks I drive through the Pacific Height neighborhood where you'll find houses that form the distinctive landscape of San Francisco and are often printed on picture postcards. Then I head up Lombard Street toward Crooked Street before finally arriving at Fisherman's Wharf.
Yesterday, the area around Golden Gate bridge was a sight to behold. There wasn't a speck of cloud in the vicinity and the bridge itself was awash in brilliant sunlight. Something I like to do is to walk on the Coastal trail that is on the south west side of the bridge. There are great views of the coast and one particular spot where you can get great pictures of the bridge. The Coastal trail snakes along the edge of the coast. One day I hope to hike it all the way down to Cliff House.
Golden Gate park was brimming with people as usual. I love the lush open spaces and could spend an entire day there people watching. Along the way we stopped at Freddy's deli near Cliff House for lunch. It's behind the apartments that face Ocean Avenue and on the same street as the Burger King and the Safeway. Every time I play tour guide, I stop at this deli for lunch. Great food at great prices!
The view from Twin Peaks was breathtaking. I took some amazing shots of the entire city. My friend bought the Canon 20d recently and as I stood there I longed for one myself. Unfortunately, I'll have to break the bank to get me one.
I love the ride up Lombard to Crooked street. It is doubly fun when cars are backed up going up the hill. It is fun for the driver and nerve wracking for the passengers. My favorite is to drive halfway up the hill and then ask the folks in the back seat to turn around and take a look behind. It is usually a heart stopping moment for them. Yesterday the traffic was sparse and we made it up the hill in less than a minute.
Walking down the steps on Crooked Street, I wondered how those home owners cope with the constant stream of tourists everyday? I would go crazy if I lived on that street.
The seals on Pier 39 are still the draw at Fisherman's Wharf. They were a relatively disciplined group this time. The last time I went they were kicking up a racket. This time the sound was muted by comparison.
I find the stuff in the souvenir shops way too expensive. Wife's cousin bought a teddy bear. What's with women and furry toys?
I need to find a cheaper parking space near Fisherman's Wharf. We paid $12/- for an hour and a half. I thought that was steep.
Be forewarned though that packing all this sight-seeing into a single day can be exhausting. On the drive back home the folks in the back seat were fast asleep.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Oscar nominations
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the movie "Crash" and said that I won't be surprised if it becomes an Oscar contender. It wasn't a hit at the box office when it released back in April, but has become a favorite thanks to word-of-mouth publicity. And today I read in Newsweek magazine that people think it may be on the Oscar list.
One movie that disappointed was "Cinderalla Man". I am waiting for the DVD to be released. It reviewed well when it was released, but I think Russel Crowe's run-in with the concierge at a New York hotel generated such bad publicity that it doomed the film. Russel Crowe may be a petulant and insolent human being, but I think he is a great actor.
One movie that disappointed was "Cinderalla Man". I am waiting for the DVD to be released. It reviewed well when it was released, but I think Russel Crowe's run-in with the concierge at a New York hotel generated such bad publicity that it doomed the film. Russel Crowe may be a petulant and insolent human being, but I think he is a great actor.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Phuket....
....awaits us in December. I can't wait for November to be over and December to be up on us. Phuket here we come...
Apple
I think this story has a lot of truth to it. Count me as one of the folks vowed by Apple products and seriously considering buying the iMac G5 to replace my ageing Pentium P3.
Femme has the 20GB iPod and loves it. I am not much of a music buff but was impressed with how well it was engineered. Even the package that it comes in is a work of beauty!
Femme has the 20GB iPod and loves it. I am not much of a music buff but was impressed with how well it was engineered. Even the package that it comes in is a work of beauty!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Job hunting.....
is a pain.
I went to a job fair organized by an Indian outfit recruiting for jobs in India as well as here in the US. So I went to test the waters and see if something caught my eye.
At the registration desk, I was checked in and handed a badge with my name on it. I was asked to stick it on my shirt so recruiters could see my name. I walked in to the ball room hoping I wouldn't run into someone from my present employer - it's not a smart thing to let your company know that you are looking for a new job. Fortunately I did not. Or perhaps we just did a good job of avoiding each other.
There were about thirty employers who were hiring and they had tables set up all over the ball room. I had gotten there about an hour after the event started and already there were huge lines in front of the Microsoft and Google desks. Most employers though were looking for folks with hardware skills. There were only a handful looking for software professionals which was a disappointment.
I walked around the room trying to make myself comfortable and searching out companies that I was interested in. Having made a mental note, I went and stood in my first line of the evening.
It took me about 10 min to get to the head of the line and for my first handshake of the evening. I met an earnest looking guy clad in a suit and we went through my work history and experience. After a while, I got the feeling that the dude wasn't all that interested in what I was saying. Perhaps I was babbling too much. Anyway I passed out my resume of the evening.
The dude at the Accenture desk was however the most earnest guy I met the whole evening. He was polite to a fault. He didn't interrupt or cut me off while I spoke; just listened to me attentively till I finished. When you are used to being cut off and interrupted, this purposeful and diligent behavior can be off-putting. Again I got the distinct feeling that I had been long-winded or maybe chatty. Note to self: brevity is appreciated!
I left after an hour having passed out four or five resumes. Thank God, I didn't listen to the email from the event organizers who advised each attendee to get thirty copies. That would have been a total waste.
It's been a week since the event and I haven't gotten a call or an email yet. That of course is not a hopeful sign.
I went to a job fair organized by an Indian outfit recruiting for jobs in India as well as here in the US. So I went to test the waters and see if something caught my eye.
At the registration desk, I was checked in and handed a badge with my name on it. I was asked to stick it on my shirt so recruiters could see my name. I walked in to the ball room hoping I wouldn't run into someone from my present employer - it's not a smart thing to let your company know that you are looking for a new job. Fortunately I did not. Or perhaps we just did a good job of avoiding each other.
There were about thirty employers who were hiring and they had tables set up all over the ball room. I had gotten there about an hour after the event started and already there were huge lines in front of the Microsoft and Google desks. Most employers though were looking for folks with hardware skills. There were only a handful looking for software professionals which was a disappointment.
I walked around the room trying to make myself comfortable and searching out companies that I was interested in. Having made a mental note, I went and stood in my first line of the evening.
It took me about 10 min to get to the head of the line and for my first handshake of the evening. I met an earnest looking guy clad in a suit and we went through my work history and experience. After a while, I got the feeling that the dude wasn't all that interested in what I was saying. Perhaps I was babbling too much. Anyway I passed out my resume of the evening.
The dude at the Accenture desk was however the most earnest guy I met the whole evening. He was polite to a fault. He didn't interrupt or cut me off while I spoke; just listened to me attentively till I finished. When you are used to being cut off and interrupted, this purposeful and diligent behavior can be off-putting. Again I got the distinct feeling that I had been long-winded or maybe chatty. Note to self: brevity is appreciated!
I left after an hour having passed out four or five resumes. Thank God, I didn't listen to the email from the event organizers who advised each attendee to get thirty copies. That would have been a total waste.
It's been a week since the event and I haven't gotten a call or an email yet. That of course is not a hopeful sign.
Spice....
It wrecks an otherwise delicious meal!
Let me explain. My wife's cousin is visiting. She is a fabulous cook and whenever I visit India, I manage to finagle an invitation to a hearty meal at her place. The two days she has been here, she's been cooking for us and by jolly, does she like those chillis? Every time I put a morsel of food in my mouth, my skin jumps and my tongue burns. I am breaking sweat by the time I am through. My wife and I asked her to go a little easy on the spice and those chillis. We'll find out tonight if our remonstrations had the desired effect.
Let me explain. My wife's cousin is visiting. She is a fabulous cook and whenever I visit India, I manage to finagle an invitation to a hearty meal at her place. The two days she has been here, she's been cooking for us and by jolly, does she like those chillis? Every time I put a morsel of food in my mouth, my skin jumps and my tongue burns. I am breaking sweat by the time I am through. My wife and I asked her to go a little easy on the spice and those chillis. We'll find out tonight if our remonstrations had the desired effect.
Terrel Owens
You wonder sometimes what goes on inside that brain of Terrel Owens. TO is undoubtedly talented as an athlete. But that's where it starts and ends. I think his apology today is a case of too little, too late. I don't think the Eagles will allow him back. Though if I were Andy Reid, TO's apology would have taken me by surprise. They gave him every opportunity to apologize before taking action and he refused. I'd expected him to stick to that stance. His apology today puts a spanner in the works, so to speak and at least opens up the Eagles to questions of whether they will relent and let TO back given that they are 4-4 and could use his talents on the field. I don't think they should. But I'm sure the media and the people of Philadelphia will have a field day discussing this.
Saddam trial
A lawyer for one of Saddam's co-defendants was killed a week or two ago. Today two more lawyers for two other co-defendants were shot at. Don't know what to make of it? I'd suspected that if there was going to be violence, then the insurgents would target the judges in the case. I would think that the insurgents would be allied with Saddam and his fellow scoundrels. I find it odd therefore that they would go after the lawyers who are trying to defend their buddies. Perhaps this is their wicked way of unleashing rumors that the government or the coalition forces are behind these incidents.
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