Scalia, Saami, History of India, VICE!!!

My memory flashed that today 13th Feb is first death anniversary of Antonin Scalia!! I was right! (We folks from Pre Google /Calendar era and has to work on memory to survive) Event with 13 you usually remember!! One year on, the stalemate in #SCOTUS continues! Justice Scalia known for following the law to the spirit and see what is past to indicate the future!! Also his interaction with Justice Ginsburg is a classic example of how people with extremely opposite views can get along for a common cause and keep their relationship intact with mutual admiration and respect! Lesson to be learned! 

Here is a Tamil post from my classmate Thirumalai Rajan on Dr Subramania Sami. Like he mentioned, I too support Stupid III Class politicians only on issue based aspect. (only 3 people I blindly support are all dead last 35 years)  So in the TN situation Dr SS talking favorably of Sashikala in totally unacceptable and best he stays away from issue! While I read and don't believe that money changed in crores for him to speak favourably and to exert influence, as there are plenty of fake news (Reminds me more of Almighty -Irving Wallace) it goes to show some times PVNR way is best way!!

I am also aware that TN politics is like other states in India is a stench and best is to leave it to god to sort as the country is beyond god's help!

Yesterday, I had gone through 14 episodes of VICE! Season 2 and 3 done dusted! Astonishing research in to various world events in depth! Take a bow Shane Smith!! (Thankfully You can play now You tube videos also 2X speed to speed up things as well as text available to read thro fast!) 

This podcast on Historical India gives a very good overview! Great listen for weekend long walk! The gentleman has devoted great time and effort (He has full time job and other personal commitments) I have gone through 4/10 podcasts and gave lot of new insights in to what our history as well as Mythological views!!! A good listen!! 

Have a great day! Take it easy take care! Stay safe, God Bless.

Karthik

13/2/17 0900Hrs. 

Abe, Bangalore& #MONSANTO, Work and study!

Hodgenville, Kentucky, 2012 June. 

12th FEB is birth anniversary of one of a greatest human being ABRAHAM Lincoln. Today is his 108th birth anniversary, a significiant number in Hindu way of life as all good rituals are asked to be done 108 times. I was glad I was able to visit his birthplace at Hogdenville, KY, while carrying out a Safety audit for a facility 100Km away in Louisville and see the hut he was born in!! hahhah!

Hut Lincoln Born 

My idea to keep beard flashed when I studied Lincoln history in my school text (We had separate book called Non Detailed in which History, Culture were taught but no exams in such) in which the Girl Sarah (sic later named Grace)  asks Lincoln to grow beard so that he can be successful and things would turn

...... hahah!! Another matter Laltiha too liked my beard and graciously said keep it when we met first time 1990( Man proposes, Wife disposes)!!!! 

Cargill Seeds which became Monsanto and I was recruited to turn seeds business initially! Great colleagues!! I was given cubicle in this office before integration 2 years down the line !!! 

Jolanta Paull, My Boss for 7 years!! Her Parting Gift on Lunch outing with Lalitha !!! I am still in touch with her 10+ years down the line with  monthly calls etc!! 

12th Feb also marks our beginning of 18th year in Bangalore having moved from BASF Mangalore after 3 year stint. I joined Monsanto and career was never the same!! Great team, Outstanding Leadership of Ladies and Gentlemen, global colleagues always accessible with phenomenal subject matter expertise to turn to as well as Billion GB of data repository to seek and find information besides great friends. What distinguished Monsanto, then, above all, was perform or Perish culture which keeps you on tenterhooks to sharpen the saw all the time!! The 7 years at Monsanto drove me to excel and most rewarding. Also on personal side, female colleagues there exposed me that I am a dumb husband who never gave away gifts to Wife !!First of many gifts started for Lalitha 9 years after marriage !! hehehehehhehe!!!! 

Bangalore a great place then!! ahhah! It would take 25 minutes to cover 15 Km in the morning traffic!! Son commuted daily from Indhranagar Diamond Dt to NPS Rajaji Nagar. Now he cant even dream to cover half the distance in that time!!

When I landed in Bangalore first time 1996 from Ankleshwar, population was 27 Lacs (2.7Million) today touching 10Million+!! Massive growth without planning has lead to mess! I wonder what next 10 years would bring?? Would I go back to 1996, Bangalore of waiting for city bus every 20 min as only way to commute 15 Kms to City Railway station from Yelahanka New Town where we stayed ??? I won't mind!!! 

Interesting to hear Meg Whitman talk saying that if one thing she would do different is to do business degree after a couple of years work and besides she would have done an Engineering degree!! So true! When I did my MBA in 30s or my safety diploma after 5 years of work experience in 1989 it gave a different insight to connect what you study with practicalities!! Also there is less pressure to perform( I recollect finishing my safety exams 15 minutes early and rushing to catch train to home 120 Kms away; still I finished II in my batch!!! hahahahhah) or My MBA in HR in 2002 done with absolute disdain!!! I am glad Son has taken to work in corporate for a couple of years and then pursue masters in Engineering/business degree down the line!! good for him!!!

Take it easy, take care, stay safe, God bless
Karthik.
12/2/17 0900Hrs. 

Accident Proneness!!! Seat Belts!! It's all Happening!! DJT!!!

As a Safety Professional, I dont belive in people being Accident Prone, despite evidence being contrary many times that same people injure or expose themselves to an unsafe environment and pay a price!! But when it happens at home you wonder!! Son has sprained his knee cap badly yesterday, while playing football at company Event(!!!!!!) and now his knee is strapped for 3 weeks!!!! 

This is his 3rd major injury (Fracture, fall from bike are previous incidents) in 9 years where the consequence was very high but recoverable! (me none not one so far in 54 years was I less exposed???? !!)  hahahahah! I didn't help him soothe his pain by comparing his injury proneness to unpredictability of Trump Presidency!

I was puzzled when car driver at Cochin said to me that there is no need for me to buckle my seat belt !! This too was at front seat! Goes to show how people take vehicle safety very lightly and are ignorant of High risk that high speed driving pose!!! I choose MERU Cabs for all my trip for very purpose that their vehicles seat belt working conidition is 100% in my 8 years ride to and fro for Bangalore Airport. Having seen 2 vehicle fatalities at work and worked a global level program to reduce road fatalities due to driving over last 20 years, I find intriguing that nothing has changed in people attitude!! I was reminded to post also when Lalitha sent this video over whatsapp a couple of days back!

Today is 80th Birthday of all time great Bill Lawry!!

Greig, Taylor, Richie, Ian Chappal, Bill Lawry what a team !!! pleasure!!! 

What a complete Cricketer cum TV commentator! Pleasure to hear him "It's all Happening" Lawry was the last captain to win a series in India 1969, until Gilchrist did in 2003!!! not again so far!! Happy Birthday to a great Victorian!!! 

3 weeks in to Presidency, a statue for Donald Trump? Coming up in Italy!! Cant believe??? heheh!! 

I also believe that if it doesn't get printed in WSJ or Economist, means it doesn't matter or not worth knowing!! So When Economist mentions TN political mess, means it is a serious happening to take note!!!!!!!! 

I leave with funny news that tourism ads in Lithuania shows places that are not in the country and fake !! I think our Indian crooks would be no different!!! ehehhehe!
Take it easy, take care, stay safe, God bless!

Karthik.
11/2/17 0850am! 

PSM, Responsible Father!!! Foregin!!! 3-0 !!!

I am Back from Business travel from Cochin this afternoon. I had been there facilitating 2 day session on "Process Safety Management"! A concept in safety that came in to operation post Bhopal gas tragedy. This is a regulatory framework in USA/Europe since 1992. 25 yrs on, still no sign of this standard becoming Mandatory in India, where Bhopal is situated,as no one cares, neither Industrial agencies nor Legislators. Thus, very few companies here go towards implementing this on a voluntary basis.......

It was so much satisfying to hear from my cab driver in my visit ensuring that all his 3 Children are qualified Engineers and well settled in life. His 2 daughters passed IT/software and Civil Engineering. Son is in to Mechanical Engineering or so!! Kids for their part got merit scholarship to reduce fee burden to parents!! I wish that the Government makes Education free for Girl Children entering Engineering say at least for top 1000 rank holders or so!! 

I was surprised to hear from him, that "FOREIGN" concept is back in Engineering academic. It existed during my college days! If you fail in the same paper on 3rd attempt, you would be sent home for one year (Foreign!!! hahahah) and come back after 12 months and take the exam!so one year study lost!Makes you put effort to pass the subject within 3 attempts!! Good aspect to make Engineering education more serious!! With 1000s of colleges, I guess 10s of  1000s of students would go foreign!!! 

So Hillary breaks her silence after ages; what a tweet!!! But I like the way Trump trying to break Status Quo!! Win or lose, You cant blame the man for trying to shake a few things!If only our Stupid மூதேவி MODI tried even 10% of this guts and go hammer and tongs to sweep the system!! !!!! 

See you, Take it easy take care, stay safe!!
Karthik
10.2.17 1515 Hrs.

Baggage Tag, Superbowl!!

This is short post as I am at Airport on way for Business Travel.

Baggage tag is back!! hahahahh! I am told it didnt work after weeks of trial!! hahahah! I tell you!! Cunning like Chinese, Crooked like Indians! looks like folks tried circumvent!! hehehe !! Security staff says no risk!!

One thing I never understood in America! Superbowl!! Sat thro one in TV at Salt Lake City few years back with my Friend Bob at  a bar!! Never got the game!! So Trump got one right!! His 8 point prediction close than 6 the final outcome! I think NEW ENGLAND Patriots lost when I watched!! (2008 I think)

Take care, stay safe

Karthik

7/2/17, 0735am!!!

48,000$, 308, 5, 0, 50 !!!!

It is no surprise that people have taken to streets for 6th night running in subzero temperature on the streets of Bucharest and other Romanian cities! This is more astonishing, that very people who elected the government just weeks back have poured out in Millions to demand roll back of 48,000$ corruption law which indicates that any bribe below that amount is not a jailable offence!! Government says it is to decongest prisons!! Having been to Romania, my personal interpretation was the country is as similar to our's with intellect people, passion and corruption no less!! (Indeed most Eastern Europe amongst equal with us in many aspects) Now people want this government to go as extreme dissatisfaction!! hahah! One way India is different, Indians thick skinned folks tolerate everything bastards Politician throw at us for over 70 years be it Congoon or Assholes BJP!!! We get the government we deserves!!! 

I am listening to great BBC Podcast #INCARNATION of 50 Indians that reshaped India over centuries!! Many names in that list like Malik Ambar (The Ethiopian Slave, Birsa Munda) the name heard for the first time. Some of the narratives too far different than what we assumed or told!! A must listen! I have gone thro 31 as of this morning..... BBC dishes out awesome stuff!!!

Intriguing to hear BBC Panorama that 1999 there was 0 yes 0 reported Type II diabetics in UK! Today the number is 4 Million cases with amputations as common as London Double Decker Bus on streets!! Many so amongst South Asian communities!! It was sad to see John Jameson the famous cricketer of Warwickshire/ENG 1971 in that list, undergoing Kidney ailment due to same!! Jameson  Run out (Bowler touching ball that gone to hit wkts at non striker end)  turned tide for India to win Oval test first time 1971!!

Willpower is often a topic that brings lot of debate! 5 aspects to work the same is well explained in this lecture by Kelly McGonigal and this animation !! Worth a listen! I agree feeling bad or guilt makes you do the same aspects more!! (smoking, craving sin etc etc)!!!! 1)Energy, 2)Sleep, 3)Good Nutritious Food, 4)Pre Frontal Cortex management and 5) Let Go attitude,are an essential aspects to sustain Willpower!! I agree!!

Astonishing, this week, back in 1975, Lance Gibbs Broke Fred Truman Record of 308 Wickets!! I recollect hearing on Radio 6th Test Melbourne!! Today at 800 wickets that record longgg longg way off!! But Cricket was class apart then!! Gibbs, Truman would be talked about 100 years down the lane than the successors!!! Incidentally it was to Lance Gibbs that a then a 21 yr man called Brian Lara said, one day I would break Gary Sobers Record of 365!! Boy Didn't he do TWICE??!!! hahahahh!!!

Take it easy,take care,stay Healthy GOD BLESS!!

Karthik

6.2.17 0830am! 

100 days, Elections!! Catholics& Jews!!!!

Lalitha is back from her 3 days travel, morning 5am! Thanks to Technology I could track when she would arrive when my sleep broke at 430 am!But in a larger sense shows uncertainty over events. I recollect days of post card/ telegram about arrival people and person would be there to receive you on dot!! It was good to hear she had great time on her father's 80th Birthday celebrations! She also visited Srirangam temple!!! (hahahha I even listen to her experience there shows how much I have mellowed over years hehehehhe) Interesting her most of her time went on visiting temples, shows richness of devotional spread around Trichy, Madurai (100Km radius) 

I was very intrigued by the elections in India spread over 35 days in 5 states, Oh Man, gimme a break!! I recollect 70s,80s  National elections done in 5-10 days and results declared in 24 hrs!.Even the tense national election,(Post Emergency) 1977 I remember Mrs Gandhi losing day after election was held!! Personally,I want BJP decimated and dont care who wins!! Let's see!!! 

So much lethargy, inefficiency crept in to system. Also bureaucrats passing the buck due to timidity, lack of confidence or authority to take decisions to go hammer and tongs!! 35 days election???  man,this is scandalous! Ass holes of bureaucrats, Govern us more like Yes Prime Minister!!! 

 Also, as indicated last year in my BBC Interview with Mathew Amroliwala, that how MODI would be undermined by these bureaucrats!! How Right, I was!!!! 

Amazing to hear US Media going all out to work views /swing on Trump presidency! While during election campaign they worked "UNITED States of Anxiety" (USA) Podcasts

to get Pro/anti views of Trump where indication for Trump winning was predicted in rural/rust belts!! They are now working a program through Phone in Monday -Tuesday, 8pm EST, in which 130 radio stations across USA hook up to a program "INDIVISIBLE" where people across spectrum phone in to express their views!! 

This program would work for First 100 days of Trump Presidency. So you can get to feel how things shape!! Classic example of people expressing views and you get an ear to the ground!!! It was a surprise to hear all current 8 #SCOTUS Judges now are Catholics and Jews!! If a guy wakes up from Grave of 1920s and gets an update, he would feel creepy, given the fact that first and only Catholic President was elected not far back!!!!  hahahahhah!!!! Things change and nothing is permanent except, Change! Embrace it!!! 

Hhahaha! On a personal side, Radhu/Shravan had their day!! They persuaded me to have ordered dinner!! Amazing, I recollect my good friend, Ashutosh's 85 year father saying, in our days, "we ate what was cooked inside the house and defecated outside! Now a days generation,eat  what is cooked outside and defaecate inside house,thus root cause of issues"!! I wonder is there some truth in it indirectly!! The craving for outside food just beats me!!! 

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

Karthik
5th Feb 2017 0830am!