10 years, Poll, Supremecourt, Vandelism.

This week completes 10 years of creating my hotmail ID. I can still remember the cybercafe location in which I created the Hotmail Account in Mangalore when I was working in BASF. I felt that time itself, Email and web was the way to work out things and they will break the knowledge barrier that existed based on geography. I can recollect the first exposure to the internet during my interaction with CII-EMD team in New Delhi. That became an addiction during the 3 week visit to Yokohama on AOTS Scholarship where anything and everything was on the web based applications. I am glad I embraced the internet and results were always great. Yes, Microsoft was Hobsons choice at that time. 2Mb storage space was a big thing and big file size attachment a big no. My son wonders how people managed files less than 2Mb. This was endorsed by Bill Gates and Steve jobs in their conversation with Walter Mossberg in 2007 at D5 conference when they admitted 128Kb in 1980s was a big thing. Long way ahead!!.

Linkedin has a poll option by which it is possible to post polls to collect data. I have posted one today on the support function that is required for carrying out day to day activities.

I came across this judgement by the honorable supreme court of India that it is no longer necessary to submit proof for getting tax deductions from employer for travel on holidays and conveyance. This is indeed a land mark judgement. I wish the tax deduction is made as an affair between employee and Income tax department. Many of you reading this would agree that the finance managers are so risk averse these days that they are hesitant of taking decisions and do an overkill sticking to the rule of law. A far cry from the finance managers of the 1990s who did things based on trust and judgement and principles of integrity and supported all functions as a job enablers!!. You can only dream of such kind of managers. I always miss such managers in an Indian context!!.

One of the mystery of the cricket was why was the Ashes test at Headingly, Leeds in 1975 was vandalized and spoiled us of one of the great finish in cricket history? Never followed up on that, I got the answer in this week's economist on the Obituary of Rose Davis whose husband's jail sentence marked vandalism of the cricket pitch as a way of protest.

Ok, Till next week, Take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Retrival, Kenken, Kindle, Friday 13th.

A quick check on the number of Blog postings, completed 125. Going good with one post a week commitment. Taken almost 40 months, so at 3 an average per month. Would like to see 200 when I hit 50 Months, lets see!! Stretch target!!.

I always believed that linkedin is a good tool to expand your network, it was a bonus for me to find out some of my college mates almost after 25 years. Ofcourse,the indirect way of some of the person who knows them were on linkedin as secondary connection and my search turned up to make them join on my network. Great dig tool I should say.

I read about the new number puzzle game Kenken which it appears more complex than Sudoku. I have wondered as to how people can doing that for hours together!!. I must admit I am never a fan of crossword/ number game/ puzzle etc. Never remember trying out one!!. Life is too simple to indulge in unveiling the unknown or complex issues.

This week, Kindle new version was released and there are raving reviews and there is hope that this will revive news paper reading!!. The price 359$ is little high for this part of the world. Lets see how it takes shape. I remember Ipod/ Iphone was distant dream even couple of years ago here, but it is now available at reasonable price! I would assume, Apple/ Google may come out with something to capture the market!!.
I was deeply touched by this reality story in Fortune, It really brings to us the situation of those affected by US recession across spectrum. Makes you wonder where everything went wrong and what is the quickest way out?

I am not a superstitious person, so dont bother much for the day and date. But still the events of this Friday the 13th made me to think about it!!. Yes, I remember the historic aspect in Davinci Code. The Plane Crash (Friday here in India) and Train accident which together took about 70 lives. Wonder, what could have been done different.

I leave with the link to the famous Tamil podcast on devotional aspect, Varam oru Allayam (Weekly temple visit in Tamil). Nataraj has done in an in depth research and makes a wonderful presentation. Worth listening for those folks, who believe that whatever happens to them is Divine's will.

Untill next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Happy, Soles, Feedforward, Resurgence, Pyjamas

I am enjoying one of the best times, Yes, you may wonder why? It is because due to the dispute between the cable Television operators and the television channels over subscriptions, many of the TV news and entertainment channels are blocked for viewing. So no Bull crap of made up news and idiotic news / entertainment (So called!!!) coverage by third rate / sickening presentations. As such I don't watch TV more than 15 to 20 min a day and follow news thro Web( NYT, BW, BBC, JP thro the RSS feed). I have covered before about this topic so I wont beat the horse to it's death.

The times of recession shows how to be frugal, here is a WSJ article on how Americans are driving an hour to find a cobbler and mend their shoes thus to save 500$. Interesting to read that many are seeing what a cobbler does for the first time. Reminds me of a joke

In a worldwide survey UN asked a question:

"Would you please give your Honest opinion about solution to the Food Shortage in the rest of the world?":!:

Drastically the survey failed because :

Africans don't know the meaning of 'Food'.
Indians don't know the meaning of 'Honest'.
Europeans don't know the meaning of 'Shortage'.
Chinese don't know the importance of 'opinion'.
People of central-east(?) countries don't know what is 'Solution'.
South American people don't know what is 'Please'.
& lastly....
Americans don't know what is 'Rest of the world'.
Hmm!!!
I came across 10 of the best all time HBR articles in the new HBR site. All are a gem!! worth going thro.

Almost 3 months after purchasing, I finished Marshall Goldsmith's What got you here, wont get you there. A must read for every one who has aspirations in life as well as for the one who are a boss. (Including myself). Marshall has given practical solutions to the issues which retard our way thinking as we move forward in life. Feedforward is a wonderful concept.

Yes, I will complete with news that will please a life long, die hard WINDIES fans like me( the only cricket team I had supported and follow closely for 37 years) the trashing they gave to England last night. What a victory,looks like Petersen and company were already thinking about IPL rather than their heart at Sabina Park. I was skeptical when Daren Powell predicted 3-0 win, But that looks a real possibility now!!. Sad state and wonder how much IPL ( Underwear cricket, much like Bill O'Reily's Pyjama cricket) is going to cause havoc and disaster in many cricketing nations growth and ambitions!!!.

Until next week, take it easy and take care, Live Consciously
Regards
Karthik.

Hitman, Foxclocks, HBR, Google

I came across this interesting video by John Perkins, the author of Economic Hitman. I had done some FCPA, (Foregin corrupt practices Act) work in my previous assignment and this kind of clear indication as to why FCPA was legislated in the first place. Wonder, if any of this would have serious effect when it comes to commercial interests.!!

It was pleasing to see the newly designed HBR website. The top 10 all time great HBR articles (Must read) caught my eye. Some gems and some Great authors!. Looking forward to go thro some of them soon.

Foxclocks is a good add on to know the international time zone on your browser.

As you would have been aware GMAIL is now available offline version to work and sync when you have connection to work and sync. Great leap for email usage. So what was missing to match MS products is now complete. Yes you need to install GOOGLE GEARS.

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Mintzberg, Google , Obama, Dangle

I am back to blogging, I thought I could take a couple of weeks off, honestly even last week I was like a fish out of water, of course last Sunday(18th) was our wedding anniversary so the day was a kind of tight schedule to indulge in blogging.

I guess, I would stick to blogging Sunday evening and may be try to do more than once a week on some quick thoughts during the week. Lets see.

I always read Henry Mintzberg articles with admiration. I came across his article on Musings on Management quite a fascinating one. This 10 pointer are designed to stir everyone up who cares about Management. He always take the practical stance. I remember my early days in my career (late 1980s)when there were huge debate that whether MBA folks alone can bring the turnaround!!. Some answers!!!.
I must confess I am not a die hard fan of Microsoft, this blog is composed using Firefox. Even I felt pity when I read the mint article on how MS missed the innovation on paid search advertising to take one on Google. Well as we say in this part of the world, Destiny I guess!!!.

So on 20th January 09 at 2238 Indian time History was made in USA when Barack Obama (140 Million search in GOOGLE!!!)took oath to uphold the job next to god. As a staunch GOP supporter as well as a person with more of conservative views, I was disappointed that Mccain didnt make it. Any way at this time of the world crisis, you need to put your personal feelings behind and rally for a cause. So here is to wish him all the very best for the next 4 years.

Please give a listen to the latest podcast on career tools by Mike and Mark on DANGLE. It is one in which you are informally promised of a possible promotion etc after you join in a present position for which you are interviewed. Very practical insights, as usual from them!!.

I close this week with sincere prayers to the almighty for the recovery of 2 people who had made a deep impact in the tech world as well to entire India. Our Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh has undergone Heart surgery, Saturday. He is the architect for all the financial reforms post 1991 and is a gem amidst all the Black coal!!. The other is Steve Jobs, Man, what a change he has made to the TECH world!!. Here is to wish them all the speedy recovery and a one as fast as possible. We need you back to complete more of the unfinished tasks. (Disclosure- my political views are different!!).

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Weeks off.

I will be away for blogging for a couple of weeks. Just to collect thoughts, ideas, to come out with better aspects.
Stay in touch.
Take it easy and take care; Live Consciously.

Karthik

Linkedin, Best and worst Jobs, HBR, Google.

I was checking the linkedin sites over the weekend answering some of the open questions when I found some cool add on features worth adding in to your linkedin home page.
a) Reading list by Amazon, you can find out what people in your network are reading or the books you/ others would like to read. So a chance to know the books that are popular or a must read. Of course, there are other platforms like Shelfari which helps you to know the best books in network, but this helps over a sizable size network.
b) Boxnet you can share your work for edit/view/ comment or let your network people read some of the files. Good file sharing site.
c) Bloglink helps you connect all the blog pages of your network in one page to browse thro.
Good stuff on colloboration which is the key these days.!!!.

Came across intersting article in the Wall street journal on the best and worst of the jobs. Mathematicican is number 1 and Lumberjack at 200. The safety, rewards, scope are all covered. I was looking for Health and safety manager (my profession) was ranked at 89, Not bad!!!!

I was delighted to see in my snail mail, the Harvard business training programs offering in India from the Harvard Research centre here. This was a dream once to many Indians. The travel cost to attend programs will be a great saver. I hope I get a chance to participate in some program in future. But the great feeling is as they say Mountain has come to Mohammed.

I have installed new google themes of save the children, Action against hunger, Doctors without frontiers etc to my google home page tabs. They are great to remind you of the issues that exist in the world.

I look forward to celebrating the harverst festival of Pongal this week (Our thanksgiving). The summer officially starts here as the sun starts its journey back to tropic of cancer. This is also the month when the very old elderly wish they reach the heavenly abode.(As happened to my grandparents aged 97 and 90 on Jan 25th and Feb 3rd).

Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live conciously.
Regards
Karthik.