I was right on Gujarat, 2G verdict ,Leadership 101, IC 814

#296
Housekeeping:-
1) I am back last night from Hyderabad, 6 months flew, done and dusted. 20+ days/ month is a tall order, much tougher than I thought. Anyway, I now look to a good break to relax and catch up! One of my favourite Andhra dish is Peseruttu! I had an opportunity to have the dish Friday night at sister's place. 

2) Delighted to see Son's first patent is filed in USA Patent office! Two more are on anvil. Kids go different speed! Good luck and God bless!

I am glad that my prediction on Gujarat results proved right. As back in October, I predicted BJP would return to power < 100 Seats. The Anti Modi current is very strong. Of course, Gujarati's, stupidly believe being HINDU is a big thing and see BJP as the Dumb Hindutvaa Champion. The Anti Muslim feeling there is something to be seen to believed. So No surprise that this is the result. For me,stupidly believing "BEING HINDU outside Pooja room is an act of Galactically stupidity". That would erode your logical thinking and common sense and think independently, the very essence of Hinduism(Disagree,Dissent, Divergence are key component being Hindu). More than "PAAS" (Patiddar) it is "Kapaas(Cotton કપાસ ) farmers in rural Gujarat and Sauhrastra got BJP decimated. I am glad I get every election results spot on, it is common sense talking to people get pulse. 

2014 UP MP seats!

I am also glad that the 2G verdict is out!! Glad that the BJP govt had egg on its face!! (May be their Holy COW dung, is the right word!! hahah!!!" மோடி மூதேவி மூஞ்சீல சாணி " How much I loathe that fraud Bastard?!! CBI like they call FBI as Fucking Bunch of Idiots! "Corrupt Bastards Incompetents"! I want Modi Govt to fail on everything! Country can go to dogs! Who cares?? Mallya is right? hehehehhehehh!!!! 

Modi's 3 years has eroded all pillars of democracy! Judiciary, Executive, Legislature, Press! I see no hope for this banana republic! Modi is Gen Zia-ul-Haq, of India who divides people on religion and stupidly believes fucking Hidutvaa is solution to India's problem. Dumb Indians believe him!!!  It is all downward spiral to a failed state in 30 years from now! I am glad I would be long gone!!

I am glad the core philosophy of Manager tools which is grooming effective manager is "Coaching, Feedback, Performance review, Delegation"is emphasised across organisations. Radhu attended four day session on leadership at Delhi from her corporate training-leadership program, and brought this desk top. Totally agree!

Today (24th Dec) is 18 years since IC 814 Hijack. Another Stupid Bachelor Bastard of a Prime Minister like Modi (This guy a Womaniser, that guy a Drunkard, Moraji Drank Urine, hahahhah! BJP=Bastards Jerk Porukki party) incompetence, ineptness, idiotic governance lead Hijackers putting country to ransom and getting away with it! In a larger sense, this and 9/11 brought a lot of improvements in Aviation Safety, of course, both countries paid a huge price. I am all for no negotiations with Hijacker! As a frequent flyer, If I am gone, so be it!Surrendering to hijackers is an act of cowardice!

Finally, today is birth anniversary of Mhd Rafi Saheb! Mom love his songs!! I am now stauch Anti Hindi/Anti Cow belt, guy! Still, here it is mom! The famous song she loves.

O Duniya Ke Rakhwale-- Mohammed Rafi 

Take care, stay safe, God Bless
Karthik
Christmas Eve.
1045am.

55 Events, Thoughts, Books, Articles that helped me to steer life.

#295

This week, no Housekeeping announcements!

As I turned 55 this week, I was wondering, pondering on 55 articles/books/ thoughts/events that helped me to shape my life. I would try to post this in chronological order as much as possible. Memory can play tricks.

1. 1971 War win over Pakistan,We lucky generation,never before,never again.
2. 1975 Emergency, Mrs Gandhi's only mistake,these days bastards do 100s.
3. 1976 "Well now my Pretty". My first crime fiction! JHC. Crime never pays.
4. 1977 Stone for Danny Fisher and other Harold Robbins books, Reality of life including Sex. 
5. 1977 PK Sridhar my schoolmate,introduced me to Carpenters!Addict to Karen,even after 30+ years of her passing away!Music of 70s 80s is divine.
6. 1978, 10th grade,at last I took studies seriously!Still cant believe I passed History exam,51%,certain that was not my paper or god filled in 20 marks.
7. 1980 College life Engineering "RAGGING" gave me courage, resilience! Kids miss this now. Believe me, it was extremely harsh, but bring it on!
8. 1981 Botham's Ashes, Nothing is lost until everything is lost! Still works for me 36 years on and for me, I am sure even 36 years later! Eternal Optimist in me. 
9. 1982 Stone Leopard, thriller, I must have read 10 times, Trust nothing!
10. 1983 Hostel life!! Boy,Mom's cooking is good! Really,at last I started taking things in life seriously!  
11. 1984 Smoking!! an awesome feeling, I can understand why that is the greatest addiction!?
12. 1985 Landing in job, MBO----> Maaraa Maari between Ourselves (Fight!) my exposure to Peter Drucker books at Corporate.
13. 1986 Power of Positive thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, What you think is contagious and influences you a lot !! 
14. 1987 Bhopal, Chernobyl, Sandoz fire,My focus to Safety environment career vindicated!My exposure to Trevor Kletz books for subject knowledge.
15. 1989 Smoking,Chasing women(Not Girls,note!),movies,all disappeared one night!I still wonder how?? Do I regret??? hahahh! No way!! 
16. 1990 Think and Grow Rich! Changed my life, I planned my life went as planned 95% even now. I gifted the book to my children, 2012, I wish I got the book at 18!
17. 1990  Lalitha saying "YES" to me! Smart man+smart woman=Romance, still on 28 years.....
18. 1991 Sandoz!Changed my career destination and confidence! We started breaking Rules. I don't think I ever worked at a better organisation,great colleagues, value system.
19. 1993 First airline travel, at age 30, never Imagined even wildly, I would do a 1000 trips all included, across world!Some things are luck, u at right place, right time! (Radhu international trip age 14, Son 19!) 
20. 1994 X Files----> Molder and Sculley! That is how, workplace relationship should be! Sex and work don't mix! PERIOD! 
21. 1995 Grandfather's Death----> My first meeting of tragedy! Changed my outlook, within 12 months moved out of Gujarat, a place I thought I would settle forever.
22. 1997 Dr Rajan, My Manager at BASF, I became a better Manager+ Family FIRST! 
23. 1999 Japan visit, my addiction to Internet, 3 months down the line, Computer and Internet at home, my vision changed. Esply "OSHA" access for my professional growth.
24. 1999 how to ace a job interview in must win times! Prepare prepare prepare! Speak the organisation's jargon!! Game changer! I wouldn't have done without Web.
25. 2000 "7 Habits of effective People" Ripper, Organised my life, work. I got as a gift/souvenir at the Conference at Monsanto. 
26. 2000 I realised at 37,I need to give gift,even to wife on occasions!Female boss/colleagues,enhanced my view->'Woman are better managers "PERIOD! 

    

    Lalitha, Jolanta me, 2010 a good 4 years after I left Monsanto. 
27. 2001 Presentation to 1000 Global audience,in massive St. Louis, Hyatt Ball Room, I figured then, I have flair, good at public speaking, presenter! Some day I should fuck myself off from the corporate Rut!! Happened 11 years later!! 
28. 2001 hahahah!!! 9/11 happened, I @ Pakistan, I used very rough language, at some colleagues that night,they took it so cooly! Showed me, you don't have to react to everything; you can move on!! Have I toned down?? No way? Not me! That is my oxygen!!! 
29. 2001 I read what I practised at Sandoz a decade back, "First Break all the rules, by Marcus Buckingham" 15 elements of great managing! Helped me a lot when to change jobs as well as quit job forever, when I see signs.
30. 2001 Jack REACHER!"Naam Kaafi Hein If you want to know more,Google!
31. 2001 First copy of Harvard Business Review, what a magazine to read. My thoughts, views changed!
32. 2002 HBR exposure made me to take up qualifying in MBA-HR, Used international flying time to read course notes, write assignment!! My friends joked 9/11/2002, Another 9/11 happened that day, I got my MBA admissions.!! U have element of luck, all fits in!
33. 2003 Stumbled up on JRD Tata's guiding principles! It hung on my work desk next 10 years. I still keep a copy.
    
34. 2004 Jack Welch-->Straight from Gut--> Energy, Energiser, Edge, Execute.
35. 2004 Broadband! I took Airtel, never regretted, Information no longer a power! How you use them is key! 
36. 2004 Selling stocks & $$$ New York Stock Exchange!Awesome, I tell u!
37. 2005 8th Habit---> Modelling& Path Finding, Aligning & Empowerment!! Beyond you, it is also helping others do better.
38. 2005 I took to Blogging!! My first Blog post! I am back here active, after 4 year lull due to twitter! (2012-16) 
39. 2005 Events lead to my romance with Lalitha strengthened to unbreakable bond! She the Jack Dawson of my life. 
40. 2006 Success Principles-->Jack Canefield amazing book touches all life. Book I purchased attending Honeywell job interview. 
41. 2006-12, Honeywell, We set world on fire as I say!! Everest conquered. Sandoz gave tech skills, Honeywell the"Swagger in me" 
    
42. 2006 If I am allowed to take one article with me to heaven, This one, "Who has got the monkey" As such I am a natural type to delegate, this strengthened my case. 43 years on, I think world would rate this in top 50 articles ever written.
43. 2007 Ipod!Life Changed What can I say!! Impulse purchase at Bangkok Airport.
44. 2007 Manager Tools, Oh yeah!! Delegation, One on 1, Coaching, Performance review triad management. Mark and Mike helped me take decisions effortlessly where others would fear.
45. 2008 Economist !! My print access to world, then to web and audio! If it is not published in Economist, WSJ, it does not matter..... 
46. 2008 What got you here, Won't get you there! What a book! I can't still understand how Idiotic managers & leaders, micro manage???
47. 2009 Boy Global Economic recession, shit hit the fan! Concept of Furlough! We pulled on! Gave me immense internal strength to face odd situations!
48. 2010! IPAD, Main reason to buy, so not to disturb a sleeping Lalitha with lights on while I am a night owl. Quickest purchase of my life at Chicago.
49. 2010 Manage your energy not time! What an article by Tony Schwartz! 
50. 2011 What your leader expects of you! Larry Bossidy! Not that I need deep introspection, but this article confirmed I am in right track! 
51. 2012 Million $ consulting, A book helped me to shape my consulting career!
52. 2013 Apple Mac-> my Children's surprise gift for my 50th birthday! whole feel of computing changed! Some things feels good than sex!! 
53. 2014 Smart phones, all in one, my Podcast, email, I wish I had this in 80s, we would have done much better job! Anyway!! 
54. 2016 After much pestering of grown up children, agreed for 1 movie a year  Jack Reacher after decades, Even today,Son cribs, what principle Dad!! I said man, I am a Sagittarian!! கொக்குக்கு மதி ஒன்னு !!! 
55. 2017 Joined GoodReads, posted all books I read! Memory Jogger??? 

Last!!!! 2017 Professional Blog!! Don't like what I post, EFF off!! hahahah!!! 

Take it easy, take care, God bless!!
Karthik

10/12/2017!!! 

1330 Hrs. 

Pilot by Birth, India by pics, Seatbelt! Mathroobootham!

#294

Housekeeping:-

1) With me outvoted 4-1 by all ladies at home,first time,Radhu took Lalitha for a movie in our 27 years of married life! Usually,I take Lalitha to movies (Which are only 7# in 27 years) Of course, being a Julia Roberts movie, Lalitha loves watching JR movies (Erin Brokovich, Pretty woman etc which she watched on TV) I didn't make a hue and cry! It seems "WONDER" is an awesome movie about a story of boy with facial differences! IMDb rates movie 8.1! Awesome. As my A movie a year quota is done for 2017, with Dunkirk, I need to give this great movie a miss!

2) It was great evening with wearing new shirt kids presented, yesterday was my Birthday as per Indian Almanac, (I was born Karthik Month, Karthik Full moon, so named so)! as usual celebrations were given a miss at home. For a change Lalitha posed as was son who are both camera shy hahahha!! 

I got a whatsapp video of a 6 year boy Adam talking to Etihad Pilot, Samar, about all the Nitty-gritty of Flying! I dived deep to get the full story and boy! it was awesome and heart warming! The kid knows A to Z of flying! Being from Honeywell, I can relate to some of the terms of what he says! I am very sure he would captain a flight one day in future, God Willing!

Clyde Roe is my Monsanto colleague,spent some time here and was fascinated. He sends photos of India as he sees them as awesome. Even as an Indian,who come across 10s of photos a week, I am fascinated by things that are new to me! No wonder India is sub continent of contrast.There is nothing that is common, one bit, that unites us as Indians, more so a divisive, polarising, stupid, ass hole government of thugs governs us over last 3 years,still we co-exist as 1.3 Billion people?Some magic I guess!!

I was shocked to read "THE HINDU" editorial on Road deaths. About 155,000 Indians die on road every year. That is almost equal to the whole population of City of Basle. ( My first port of call 1994, so strong love for the city too) But other end of spectrum is stupid ways INDIAN behave in not wearing Helmet or seat belts!! You invite trouble!! Please use for your family sake! 

Mathroobootham pens an awesome column in HINDU I don't  miss here is today's one on Stupid Digital Money!! ahhahah!!! 

Leave you with some images!! heheh!!

Take it easy, take care,stay safe, God Bless

Karthik

3/12/17

1130am. 

26/11, Midnight Line, Rooster Bar, Bra-ffiti!!

#293

Housekeeping:-

1)Turning 55 on Thursday (30/11) was a sombre affair.No celebrations or dinner. Usually dad calls that day to wish and chide me, especially last 3-4 years, டேய் கார்த்தி, என்னடா 52 வயசு ஆச்சு இன்னும் பொண்ணுக்கு கல்யாணம் பண்ணல நீ,52 வயசுல நான் தாத்தா ஆயாச்சு !!As though, she waits for my approval!! hahahh!! miss u dad! Children from different generation and thinking, insisted I cut a piece of cake, making a wish! I obliged!

2) People who come to see me in my room at Hyderabad,(This is kind of my permanent room at the resort)are usually stunned to see the position of TV. I have put practically near waste basket! It has been five years since I tuned TV. Only when in Bangalore,I watch 930am BBC news. Even that gone now!! Who would watch stupid shows!

26/11 like 9/11 and 7/7 is a watershed moment, while terrorists took the country as hostage for a few hours, it must be mentioned that that was the last major terror incident over the last 9 years. Today, I would be very much shocked and astonished if such event repeats in India or anywhere is developing world. Even major blasts would be a thing of the past. Odd incidents of "drive to kill"l may happen. Intelligence gathering, data crunching, facial recognition camera, collective participation of the agencies and global support to work to rout terror attacks are high on priority on all government list. Bush, Blair, Man Mohan Singh must be credited for working no nonsense measures which the successive governments worked putting aside the differences.

I finished "Midnight Line" #Jack Reacher book. Awesome book, Reacher works with a team and brings his team work, listening skills in to fore. Lee Child touches up on the key aspect high end drugs which acts as soothing agent for war veterans who undergo the trauma of Physical and emotional traumatic stress disorder. Reacher is back to his old way no women, no sex while in act, which makes it more likable. For, me work and sex dont mix! Never ever!! Yes,nothing like reading book from Pages!! I started but then due to travel moved to Playbook version! Good news was 1) Son ordered the book! 2) Daughter too turning to Reacher fan! She finished #1-Killing Floor,(The book which made me a Reacher fan, 2002 or so!). Only Lalitha left!! hahah! She and English crime fiction!! போங்கடா வெண்ணை!!! 

If Lee Child came with Thriller and problem solving, Grisham is in elements at his wit best and awesome crooked law students in "ROOSTER BAR" 3 law graduate students rip the Capitalistic world of USA apart exposes the loopholes, scam in the system. I must say, with me away from Twitter, Facebook etc, it had given me so much time to read books and I finished in 3 nights or so in Google playbooks. I enjoyed the book and I recommend, if you want some light hearted stuff on a very serious issue. Finishing that I am on "David Baldacci" "The End Game". Day time read is "HIGH PERFORMANCE HABITS" by Brendon Burchard, A hands on practical guide, every 20+ person, entering critical aspects of life like Job, masters study, married life must read! 

Hahahhahah! I am never a boob watcher!never fascinates me, so when in IN BOX Bra' ffiti came as pdf, I watched the message than the background!! hehehh! Enjoy! 

I leave you with our teen days memory of things that we enjoyed would be hard to find in 2017! 

Ok, Take it easy, take care, stay safe, God bless

Regards
Karthik.

2/12/17, 1115am. 

MBS, Lakshmi, Leadership crisis Why?? Never go out naked not even for a second!

#292

Housekeeping:-

1) Mom's Angiogram scheduled for tomorrow. I am thankful for all the messages that are coming in expressing support and comfort. I shall keep you updated. Thank you so much.

2) Amazing, my son got my mom an awesome new cell phone. Not that mom's phone was shipwreck,but son said it had lived its life change of time change of mobile!! hahah!! I recollect getting Silk Saree's for my Grandmother in 80s with my salary. So mobiles are new Silkuu what பாட்டி want!! 

MBS????? What's that? 

If you have been reading the Economist, you would have got it!! like MMS here who worked the reforms in PVNR in 1991 to make India what it is! MBS is Mohammad-Bin-Salman, the crown prince who is set to become King of Saudi Arabia within next 12 months or so. At the very young age of 32, he has good 50 years to work his plans. MBS over past 20+ months has been quietly leading reforms. Yes, it is uphill struggle even for a man of his calibre with Wahhabi clerics, 1500 Cousins etc who may want to sit in the throne! I think, slowly he is sidelining and quietening all his detractors. As long as Saudi people have no discontent with his action, I see smooth sail for him. Many people to whom I speak across world agree that Saudi Arabia would go back to its 1970s Moderate Islam ism under MBS say by 2032 or so!! I would bet for that happening! If MBS fails, then it is bloody civil war with Iran getting emboldened. 

I hardly watch any Tamil content in videos or movies other than some Comedy snippets. I think I have seen few clips of Madras Central which has made me laugh out loud..... So I was curious when there was a twitter outrage on short film, Called "LAKSHMI" in which a middle class working housewife in an attempt to take out her frustration on her husband's extra marital affair,flirts with a guy. I have watched the film. I am firmly with the lady,she did no wrong. The sacrosanct relationship of marriage is terms of equal with both taking vow to fulfil their part faithfully. If one strays off, the relationship is then null and void and no point in blaming the other person to do what they do! Gone are days when Men can do what they like and women have to put up with it. "MEN WIRED FOR SEX WOMEN FOR LOVE" can't work as excuse for men to do what they want to do! With women becoming more educated, independent, stronger in social upliftment, they would hit back with vengence. Also,I am astonished at the outrage, that such ideas propogated, would push middle class women to try out relations out of marriage?? Seriously?? Give me a break!!! 

Like Italian city bus,that come to bus stop, I also quickly watched another Tamil Short movie clip!! It was just awesome!! When you have to die, you will die! no matter how much respite you have been given by St.Peter/Chiragupta!! ahhahah! Watch it, it is funny I tell you! As movie has English sub title any one can watch! I did so with my kids! Another matter, did they see it??? 

One of the biggest crisis we see across world across spectrum is the lack of leadership to guide people be it country or corporate. Leadership is pathetic, timid, inept, inefficient, incompetent, irrational, idiotic, insulting at all levels. I keep saying to my son that Indian shit hit the fan in 1988 to land in a mess we are in!! I would any day go back to India of 1988,it means no wife,no kids,no Internet,no flights to fly at moment's notice etc. (I would have always found them)... But it would have given back the days, people who care for each other,empathy,developing people, organisations which put values first, leaders who show actions with visible felt leadership at workplace etc. I think as for the world, it is in shitty state ever since 2008 crisis when lack of leadership, Greed is good took deep routes. I was triggered of this thought when I watched this awesome clip of Al Pacino in Scent of a woman, in which he shreds to peices the school board for lack of courage, integrity, the cradle of leadership that is broken and is pathetic. This act won him the Oscar and it will be 25 years of his achievement. 

Ok Enough of serious stuff, I would leave it with some funny stuff which I enjoyed!! Never go out Naked, not even for a second, no one would see!! hehehehhe!!!! Don't beleive me, watch this footage!

Some funny memes to chill maadi!! 

Innocent heart never sleeps, Krishna said so good folks wont get sleep, dont get scared if insomonia 

Take it easy, take care,stay safe, God bless
Regards
Karthik
13/11/17 1830 Hrs. 

Obituary, Tribute, Hoodwink, அடிங்கொ !!

#291

Housekeeping:- 

1) It has been good 3 months since I posted here. Dad's passing away, the following protocols of 45 days mourning as elder son as well as my work committment of 20+ days in Hyderabad rural has left me no time to post my thoughts here. I am now at #Bangalore on a 10 day break.(Today Dad's 3rd Month rituals,all done!) I would like to post some thoughts over next few days when I am here.

2) I have finished reading "What Went Wrong"by Hillary Clinton" an amazing one from her on the analysis of her failure to win the 2016 Elections. A must read for people to learn from failure. With so many fiction to read for me, the fact that I managed to complete the book shows how gripping it has been.

I received this short 7minute video this week from a friend. I am just amazed at people who rush through their life and then gone in a flash without realising how much they missed the people dear and near to them.I know of few cases of people whose life is taken away in their 30s, 40s without having spent quality time with their family and those whom they left behind feeling so helpless about everything or not having moments to cherish. For me personally, I was very lucky that I listened to Jack Welch, a good 2 decades back. Jack and  Suzy always maintained that it is never Work-Life balance, but Work-Life CHOICE. When you have one,you don't have the other! Of course, family always comes first and so the choice has to be managed sensibly with an agreed plan to share time with dear and near on a Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, Decade plan. Only a stupid would say that I should have worked more in his death bed. In these stressed out, rated out, corporate world of last decade or so, it is very easy to miss out long term loses for short term gains. I am glad I never got sucked in to this post year 2000 mad rush and bailed out just in time. 

This was an advertisement for family and freedom in Singapore, but a very powerful message on little imperfections of men! The wife gives an Eulogy at the funeral of her husband. It reminded me of Dad, Me!! (Hhahah! Last night 2am, Lalitha awaken by my Snoring!! hehehe she was sleeping good 10 feet away!) 

I laughed out so much!! Folks never get hoodwinked by pretty looking sales girls who would drown you by their sweet talk and flattery! No one is immune to this disease,even men in their 40s who want to look 20s!It is your hard earned money!! Be prudent, live the life you want, and always learn to say "NO"!! 

I am not convinced by all the outrage that idiots in Social Media are generating over "INDIGO" incident. This looks an outlier of a couple of rogue staff you would encounter anywhere in service sector. In my travel over last 24 years      (Since 1993 which would have now touched nearly 1000 Flights over 4 continents) I have not come across a single cabin crew,or support staff or agents who had been rude to me despite my pushing my point through argument. Of course,they push their policy,and if u do not like it do not fly the airlines. Indigo of this new boarding process in non aerobridge in to bus is an absolute rubbish or Emirates hell bent on 1peice cabin bag!Give me a break, I stopped flying Emirates!  However, the Meme are earth shattering!!

Take it easy, take care, stay safe, God bless

Karthik.

12/11/17 1420 Hrs.