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Finally,

we had a first team movie outing.... everything was good except of the fact it was a self sponsored one. Well, one more thing is there :- The pleasure of successful completion of idea proposed me and its execution. The idea for a team outing for a movie suddenly clicked to me when I was coming back from the tea along with Riddhish. So I asked our boss, Satish, we call him "Sarkar" also. To my surprise, he agreed for it and that too on a working day. So we got the green signal.

Recently, all of us in Motorola moved to Google Apps from Outlook, which had one good feature of conducting polls. And we made a good use of it. To our surprise, out of 14 member team 12 agreed to go f

or this. This was definately more than what I expected. The factors which influnced 85% + turnout in the team were

1. It was on a Working Day
2. One who doesn't go for movie can't take it off and will have to work in office
3. It was in English (As our team is a mix of people with different native tongues any other language will have resulted in more rejections for sure)
4. Hype of Avatar and its Graphics.
5. 3D. (Not many of us has watched a 3-D movie)
6. Lastly, Holiday mood ..... ;)

Based on everyone's convenience as well as tickets availability, we finalized the day of Thursday(24th December). The Avatar day arrived and we started assembling and most of us reached there using bikes through route avoiding the Metro-construction route, which was the shortest one. We all reached Fame Cinemas on time and were ready to Avatarised in 3D way.

Movie Review:-

1. Awesome Graphics
2. Nice 3D experience
3. Story was okie-dokie.
4. 2nd half is better than 1st half.
5. Movie is definitely over-hyped.

Fame Cinemas' Review:-

1. Seats were cozy & spacious.
2. Nice Environment.
3. Food inside is very costly. (Which is expected in Multiplexes in cities :(

Somehow, I kept thinking about Avatar. It may be because of many reasons. May be because as I am Hindu and we have always been saved by our deities who reincarnates themselves in form of Avatars. Or may be because my first disposition for patent was Avatar Transformation System, which got rejected. :( Or was it because of the thoughts which kept coming to my mind, like what we have done to the nature of our planet. Ah Ah... somehow I felt the movie was over hyped, but deep inside there was some link with the word Avatar or some of the values projected through the movie "Avatar". Even, I thought about if the 10th Avatar of Vishnu, as predicted by Bhavisya Purana will actually come? If he comes will he be in some horse with wings or this white or it is some aircraft as most of them are white also they are regarded as war-horse.

Origin of the word "Avatar" is from Sanskrit.

1. A manifestation of a deity in Hinduism.
2. A new personification of a familiar idea
3. An icon or animation to represent a participant used in Internet chat and games

Moto Cliq

Moto Cliq

Finally, the much awaited first Android Phone from Motorola has been officially introduced. Though I had a chance of looking it before also as one of the developers.

But had to hold any of the comments till the official release.

I wont say much, just that this is an awesome phone if you are addicted to social sites/blogging, etc.

Unfortunately, its not introduced in India yet. But once it comes people will

definately like it as its feature rich and nice integration of all sites, especially the Blur home screen.

So if you are addicted to social sites and are in US and are looking for a good new feature rich smart phone, don't miss to checkout http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/Motorola-CLIQ-US-EN

http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/GenericRegular.aspx?PAsset=Pro_Pro_MotoCliqLaunch&WT.mc_id=637m3

Joke of the Day !!!!!

Joke of the Day !!!!!

Don't Trust Anybody !!!

A burglar decided to rob the safe in a store.

On the safe door he was very pleased to find a note reading: "Please don't use dynamite. The safe is not locked. Just turn the knob."

He did so. Instantly a heavy sandbag fell on him, the entire premises were floodlighted, and alarms started clanging.

As the police carried him out on a stretcher, he was heard moaning: "My confidence in human nature has been rudely shaken."

Trying to Love Music !!!!

Trying to Love Music !!!!

Last week, when I was thinking about the things to do, which I always delay for later because of work or other committment, I was able to jort down a list of items. One of the item in the list was Music. I know no-way I can sing well... so was thinking about some musical instruments, and today I took some steps to go ahead with the plan.

Well, today when I woke up with alarm at 6 am only to find that I was suppose to wake up at 5 am and get ready to go to Kanteerva stadium. Ahhh... I missed again the bus because of my sleep.... I remember the way I missed the flight for kol in a similar way 3 years back. Actually, today there was a corporate race sponsored by Nike and I was supposed to participate from Sasken. The team size from each company needed to be 50+ and must have included a minimum of 6 female participant. But as I woke up at 6 am, it was already to late for me to even try to reach there. So to add to that action items my Sleep is one more thing that I need to control. :(

Coming back to music, I got enrolled finally for a Music Instrument Classes. The first instrument which I enrolled for was guitar. So now I had to buy a guitar. I contacted Ranjit & Tushar, as they have already bought one so will definately have a better idea in this respect. So we planned to go together in the evening after their guitar classes get over. So I reached on time at the Indiranagar center. There I found Ranjit & Tushar standing up just to find there bikes towed away by the traffic police. So we went to the traffic police station acting as student and gave a fine of Rs 200 per bike...they were demanding Rs 300 initially (Rs 100 fine + Rs 200 as towing charge). Then me and Ranjit left for chickpet. Damn chickpet area was too crowded similar to Bara Bazaar (kolkata). We finally reached to place to find that the shop is closed. But we saw another shop near by and bought a guitar from there. Hopefully now I can start playing something on guitar soon. First target is just to play Sa- Re- Ga- Ma ;)

Its time to close the waiting List !!!!!!!!!!!!

Its time to close the waiting List !!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, seems like now I need to take a stand on myself and start closing the never ending waiting list of the items which I keep planning every month once or twice, but never even initiates, forget the conclusion. But after the PGSEM's disappointing results I'm not going to let the wait continue on other things which I just plan and never do.... Yeah these were the thoughts running thru my mind on last Friday,....after burning my ass-off in the same chair sitting in front of the PC and working like a typical s/w professional....

I'm a Libran...And yes....I'm Lazy by nature and find hard to reach some decisions pertaining to me fast....The above things only prove this :(

I remember a few Fwded mails containing the characteristics of a person based on the zodiac signs.... And some of my characteristic definately matches with the typical zodiac signs of mine....The item which is always on a planing list but never executed were

1> Working out in Gym:-

Ah !!!!!!!!! God knows from when I am planning to do this ...probably from the 3rd year of engineering .....So its nearly 6 years of planning and execution of just a month or two when I was in Sasken, until I moved to the client side, Motorola. Motorola has a better gym than sasken but still I just go there once in a while to measure my weight with Sandeep, my closest work mate... Seems this item will stay as pending and will be probably the last one I will close.

2> Learn Dancing:-

Well, this desire comes up only when I see someone dancing too well and feeling what the fuck I am doing just standing and watching !!!!!!!! Not sure if its the right age to start this ...but its a hidden desire inside ...probably one day I will do ...Atleast before going to the GYM ;)

3> Learn Driving:-

Not sure, what blocked me from doing this. Probably bcoz of my lazy nature ....But yes, this is one of the workitem I am planning as of now to execute soon ... Hope its not the same old planning way ;)

4> Music:-

Well, my voice was never pleasant enuf to be that one of a singer...so its just the ears who have been doing his work... But this aspiration added a new dimension of playing instruments after I watched "Rock On !!!" ...Obviously, Guitar is on the List first of All the instruments .... I have enquired also, and there is a good teacher nearby my flat where I can enrol... next Saturday will definitely execute :)

5> Swimming:-

Oh no !!! One more ... so many items ...pending list is big ...when will I execute all of them :(

6> Come Out of Past:-

Though I might act as I am out of my past, but its never the case it seems....deep inside there is something which sometimes I regret but can never make out what went wrong ....Probably I never understood the emotions of the loved ones...and never knew when I hurt themmm....But its time to be just friends and be back to normal !!!! :x

Lets see when I execute them ....But other than work these are the items which i need to do ....I don't want to be just an IT professional.... Enuf of just work....Life has something more to do....... Its time for a new Phase of Life !!! And better one for sure !!!!!!!!!

Its time to close the waiting List !!!!!!!!!!!!

Waiting to be an MBA continues....

PGSEM - The Wait Continues

Its has been a 3 longs years since I am trying to get into the elite IIMs, but seems like my wait is going to continue for another year. :(



This year I just gave CAT and PGSEM. And fortunately got an interview call for PGSEM on March 9, 2009. On March 9, I got a mail from PGSEM admissions that I have been shortlisted and should be available for an alumni interview, to be held at the IIMB campus premises during 15th March, 2009. I was pleased to read these mails and there started all the anxieties for the alumni interview. I went for the alumni interview to IIM-B, my first visit to IIM-B, praying to the Lord that it should give me with the opportunity to be a regular visitor here as a student. IIMB's campus is sorrounded by trees and once u enter u will feel like that u are not in bangalore, the atmosphere is so quite and silent, a perfect one to study without any outside interference. My Alumni interview was about to begin as we were waiting for the Alumni's to arrive. Then suddenly someone asked for my name and said me to come along with him in the interview room. There were two panelists, one was from Wipro (13 years + exp) and another one was from Tech Mahindra. Both were IIM-B PGSEM passouts. Alumni interview was very interactive and good one and I was preety sure that they were happy with the interaction we had.

On March 24, I got a mail regarding my faculty interview schedule on Friday, April 3, 2009. So I reached there on the designated day. After doing the pre-interview formalities I was called for the interview. Again two faculty members were there. They asked a range of questions like
-- Asked about my company, Are you happy with it? Will you move to other company given an option? ....
-- About Singur Issue and what solutions I can give...what should I have done being in CMs chair at that time?
-- About my marriage plans in case I join course? and how do i plan to cope up with it.
-- And lot more.

The interview lasted for 30 mins. One of the faculty seemed happy in his expression after my interview and other one was okie-dokie. After the interview I tried to catch some present IIMB PGSEM students and got some more information.

But it seems that I was not good enough, I got a mail saying "I write to inform you that you have been waitlisted for IIM Bangalore’s Post Graduate Program in Software Enterprise Management, for the session commencing in June 2009. Your position on the waitlist is currently at No. 7. In the event that we can admit you into the PGSEM program, we will get in touch with you and convey our offer." on April 9. I was greatly disappointed after that. But got info from PGSEM groups that last year upto 10 waiting List were cleared... Now the hope was alive....

But Hope was for a short duration... I got a mail on saying May 5 saying "We regret to inform you that we could not accommodate you for PGSEM 2009 batch since we have limited seats and no cancellations. " Seemed like none cancelled. :(
Later from groups I got info that like no waiting list candidates were offered seats...few defered candidates prefered to join this year probably 4-5 in number....

The crux of the story is my waiting List continues ......:(

Bachelor Beer Party

Bachelor's Beer Party

Well, some events execute well and is more memorable if unplanned & happen with momentum. Yesterday was one of such events a gathering of 3 team mates just after the work. None of us would have thought that we would be landing up together at a common place holding a can of beer.

Yesterday was the same usual day arrived at 9 am (my usual time is close to 10 am)and leaving office at 10pm as I had a call. While leaving I thought to curse Chandan who had his reviewed planned today early morning (Two continous day to come to Office early ...common guys we need some extra sleep.....) ...So we thought to leave together and I will drop him near my home to take auto ....then the plan changed to having dinner together ... then to having beer together ( cheeerrrrrssssssss !!!!!!!!!!!)... While having beer we just thought to call up the 3rd face of our bachelor Trimurti of our team - Ridhish... We called him up and as usual we played the prank about us drinking at office and Ridhish as usual because of his innocence believed us....This poor chap is too innocent now ...I should say "Devil in the making" instead ;) . After knowing that we are at home and my home is near by...He dropped in too with a pre-condition that we get a beer for him before the bar closes (It was 10:30 pm and generally bar closes at 11pm in Bangalore.......ohhhhh yuk.......11pm all bars close :( Bangalore still sucks in this regard)...we got a beer for him & three of us landed up in my place with Beer...





Now everyone can imagine the topic / discussion happening when 3 bachelor team mates meet with a jar of beer ---huh !!! We did discussed chicks in our company and how we are sufferring at the hands of our Mgr, and whole lot of shit which we never thought would discuss.....Ahh !!!!!!!! But that was a good time felt like I am back to my Hostel days ....:)

Cost Cutting...

Cost Cutting

Seems like party for the IT software companies are over now.They won't be getting the same kind of growth of 40-60% as they were getting sometime back. Different companies are adopting different strategy to cope up with this situation. Some companies are on hiring freeze mode, some are on firing mode, some are in cost cutting while some are in salary cut mode. Or to say in simple terms most of them seems to be planning for short term or are just in survival mode. But is industry really low? Well, if you ask me, answer is both yes and no. Let us look to some specific industries, say Telecom. The sales of mid- & low-tier phones may be down as compared to last year, but it is being projected that smart phones will show a huge growth, projected around +50%. Now, smart phones category is a totally new segment and with the price of smart phones being on the higher end means that it will bring more revenue. So even if the number of units sold will be less, the revenue will be more. Same for auto-industry, though sales of more generic petro-automobiles are on downtrend, but consumers are now looking more inclined towards automobile which runs on Bio-diesel / Electricity / LPG... So for me no industry is down we just need to look for opportunities.

Whatever I might say or think but I fall on the side of being affected by one of the survival modes adapted by my company. AHhhhh ......no.....but yeah....there has been a salary cut of 10% through out my organisation .....& if you are in bench your cut will be 40%.........Thank God I didn't take any loans so don't have to pay any EMI's....But when I think of some person who might have taken a loan and has some EMI's to pay ...how will they cope up with it.....

With bloodbath all in the market...it seems right time to upgrade my skill - may be for an MBA....

Lets see ...Hope for the best