A Kenyan born, muslim born, coloured christian man living in Chicago now holds the highest office in the world. Arguably the most powerful man on the planet will now take calls on several issues like free trade between countries, American taxation policy, foreign policy, alternate energy fuel policy, war on terror policy and a much more. I have seen America go crazy over the Presidential debates and the campaigns, and I can totally understand that. I have watched and read a few debates too and its very educating to see two very learned men debate over some fine issues.

However, I feel very strongly that the American elections are overrated outside of the US. The hysteria that follows specially in India is unbelievable. I can understand ‘a following’ and ‘an addiction to debates’ but when people get serious over how ‘Obama is better than McCain for India’ or vice versa, I find it hard to digest. Barack Obama may have a different outsourcing policy than John McCain but its no rocket science to understand outsourcing is not policy driven, rather its driven by business pressures of resource needs, competition and cost. The nuclear deal with India has not been signed by a republican president, it has been signed to bump few jobs and business in America. Even my 92 year old grandma understands that few years ago India was jailed for conducting nuclear test and now we have the direct access and support of American nuclear technology. It was common sense on both occasions and nothing to do with policies of ruling party.

India has seen incredible growth during last 10 years of republican administration ruling in USA, but ironically every heart in India is beating for a Democratic President, Barack Obama. Where is any sense in all this? I guess as usual it is an emotional Indian sentiment that has no room for logic but a trademark Indian passion and dare I say ‘insantity’. I wish people in India would just follow it, enjoy it and discuss it, but not ever get hysterical, captivated, or worst threatened by an American election.

I have had a good time watching elections. I understand it was the most expensive election in these turbulent economic times, and it was historical in some proportions - A black man, a lady, an old 72 year old man were all part of the history. I clearly had a neutral view to the election, but naturally feel a little sorry for the 72 year old, cancer survivor who gave his heart out in this long campaign. Its also exciting to see a black man take control in the white house, particularly because of the millions of interesting jokes that will follow suit over the next 5 years. I guess on a serious note, America has marginally redeemed itself of its dark racial vilification past.

This week’s koffee with Anu will feature Cho Ramaswamy & Mauli. I like both of them. It will be a very interesting episode where the two great actors, directors, etc… Cho Ramaswamy is famous for his very brave speech and points out the mistakes done by the ruling party in his magazine Tughlak. Mauli is one of the best character actors who recently appeared in Poi Solla Porom film even. I think they will speak about their early days of dramas & film. Dont miss it..

I used to be kinda’ low, depressed, sad… on seeing how poor people suffer! There was this old man who clears the over grown grass on our garden. He always comes after 12pm. My mom asked him why he’s coming only in the afternoon and is working in the scorching sun, whereas it would be easier for him in the early mornings. His reply, “Mathyanam vantha thaane saapadu tharuveenga madam” (Only if i come in the afternoon, i can have some lunch!) According to him, if he works early in the morning, he’ll get only the koolie(wages) for his work. Whereas, if he works in the afternoon, it would be lunch time and he can get the lunch for that day as well as the money. Makes, me think how hard people work to get the basic necessity of life, Food!  Even today, while returning home, i saw an old man picking up rice which fell on the road. Apparently, the plastic cover in which he was carrying the rice tore open and fell down from his cycle. So, he was picking up the pieces of rice from that dirty road, clean it and then eat! Now I feel bad about wasting food!!!

But, after pondering over these kind of things all these years… And out of experience… I’ve come to accept the Truth! The Reality!

Everyone in this world cannot be Equal! It is against the nature of man. There is something unique in everyone. Right from his Date of Birth, Place of Living, Fingerprints, Appearance, Qualification, Attitude, Tastes, etc etc. A talented man cannot be asked to be satisfied with what a man totally devoid of talent is able to obtain from life. If all of us are equal, we would be like machines, robots!

No one can be equal to someone else. Even then, i pray to God that the divide between the Poorest and the Richest is not this huge as it is these days, in India.

Here, we are back to the Rainy Season of the Year!

Though i enjoy Rain, Rain in Chennai is anything but enjoyment! With the Poor Drainage System and Flooded Roads…

I wanted to write more but no time here… WIll write another post after sometime about My Relationship With Rain!

The Only thing one gets to do at a Call Centre is Answering Calls. That is what we are getting paid for. I learnt the value of every minute only after joining the Call Centre. In a Call Centre, a person called CCOD (The Person Who Controls the Call Flow) always shouts Auto-In Auto-In (The Term Used for asking the Agents to Go On Calls instead of Staying Idle) and you can see people speaking all over the floor. Time Flies when U r on calls. You never know when the Shift started and when it has Ended! Its nearly 5 months since i joined this Call Centre. And I nev er felt like that!

Yesterday the Call Volume was very Low. And most of the time we were in Aux 5(The Reason Code that we enter in our Avaya for Staying Idle). All the fun started when Govind started Reading Palms. We knew he doesnt know much about it. But ellam therincha maathiriye appadi oru act vitan! And almost everyone started surrounding him, for him to read their palms. Including the Group Leaders. Thankfully my seat was next to Govind’s and since there was no space for me, even to go near my seat i remained in Idle Aux for almost the entire day. And roamed around the office, listened to the stories that he spinned for everyone. The Best Part was when Gowtham said Our CCOD would always say Auto-In Auto-In!

Palm Reading is quite interesting. Interpreting your love, head and life lines in palm reading can be a fun game to play with your friends, not to mention a great conversation starter at a party. So whether you take this art seriously or are just curious to see if your hand accurately reveals your personality, take a look and see what your palm says about you. Or, examine the palms of your friends to gain insight into their past and emotions. Pretty soon, you’ll have all the knowledge about their lives in the palm of your hand!

I’m planning to learn it sometime, provided i don’t lose interest in it before i start learning it!!!

I wanna know what is to be…
To see what life’s cut out for me…
I’m waiting for my fate…
I wanna know just what’s in store for me…

I wish I had a crystal ball…
To see my rise and see my fall…
I’ll just have to wait and see!!!

Hi friends… I’m back after a week! Looks like a long time!!!

My old comp’s hard disk crashed. Its been nearly 5 years since i veen using this old comp. So, thought of changing it and now i’ve bought a Tower and accessories. Went to Ritchie Street, the Electronics Market in Chennai along with my Gowthaman. Bought the Parts from Tech Media. Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz, Mercury Nvidia M/B, 2GB AM, 160GB SATA HDD, and a Cabinet. And came back home and both of us sat down to assemble it. Assembled it finally, but it was not working. The Front Panel Connection was not correct. Something was wrong but didnt know what. Gowthaman had to leave. So, after that i had a small nap and then consulted the Techie Guru who asked me to refer the manual to connect the front panel based on  that. I did that finally got the computer up and running.

Yea really consider spending on Computers and Mobile a waste. Either they get Repaired or Outdated. But, i cant resist using them as well!

More than Active Smoking, its Passive Smoking that causes more damage! So, I wholeheartedly welcome this ban. Most of the things our Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss plans to implement looks so correct to me frm my point of view. Like the 1yr extension of MBBS course etc.(Will write a diff post on that) He should try and ban selling of cigarettes!

After I started working, i see that most of the people here smoke. And the reason they give.. Work Pressure, Tension, Relaxing! I welcome the ban bcoz i feel that the ban will be only Good for them as well as the others who are near them too

Here are some details of the ban:

• Penalty charges for smoking at in public places - Rs 200
• Higher penalties for hotels and industries
• Smoking prohibited in all indoor establishments
• Companies can no longer have designated smoking rooms

Public Places Defined:

So where should people smoke? In their own houses I guess or on the streets or in some designated closed space in a hotel. I don’t feel sorry for them. I don’t see why I should inhale passive smoke when it’s known to be bad for health. I have my rights.

Some people equate the ban to fascism and fanaticism:
What I don’t understand is why people are reacting with so much anger to this ban. For example, an article in the DNA has called this ban the work of fanatics! The ban on smoking in public spaces has been compared to bans against Valentine’s Day celebrations, Boys and Girls sitting together in public parks! What an odd comparison. I am totally against banning the above but I am all for banning smoking in public places as it physically harms others. I am against moral policing but I am all for the rules that will protect my health.

Another article (also in the DNA) by Pravin Nair says:

I just don’t believe it will work. Bans have never worked. Not on smoking…You only drive the problem underground and make it that much more difficult to deal with…

I am not worried smoking goes underground. If smoking goes underground, it is not my business. I just don’t want to get affected by it.

Is there any chance of this ban being overturned?
Anything is possible. The ban almost didn’t go through as tobacco giant ITC as well as the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI, the apex body of all hotel associations) have filed cases against it. Well, at least for now the Supreme Court is not listening. It shouldn’t. Commercial interest should never come before an individual’s interest.

I hope that the various tobacco and hotel lobbies do not pressurize the government to take back the ban.  Everyone of us has the right to breathe in a smoke-free environment and not get affected by the bad habits of others. And smokers and smoker’s lobbies and those whose business will be affected by the ban on smoking have no right to force us to inhale their poison! This isn’t about moral policing. It’s about the rights of non-smokers.

Well, I am not sure whether it will work, but I sure want to be on the right side of the law when I request someone to refrain from smoking.

Hey Guys… As always i checked the Google PageRank of my Site today Morning…

And was surprised to find that the PR of this Site was 1…

What was even more Surprising is that my www.rvivekshanmugam.wordpress.com site is now having a PR of 4, surprising coz i stopped posting in that site long back!!!

Well… Now that the PR is 1… Lets stop and celebrate this now!

There’s More to Come yet! Keep Watching this Space!

I Got a Call from Liqwid Krystal a half an hour back! For starters, Liqwid krystal is a group of ppl who conduct E-Training on Comp Programming Fundamentals for Corporates. And right now they’re doing that for Infosys

A lady called in and asked me, ‘Are you Shan, the Owner of a community in Orkut in which the answers for the Online Test conducted by them, are being shared!

Me ‘Answers being shared! Really?! I never knew. I just started the comm and never even had time to check all thats happening in the comm!’

She ‘Well, you are not supposed to do that and this could seriously affect your joining’

Me ‘Kya?!’

She ‘Yes. Your IP address are being tracked and blah blah’

Me ‘Okay what am i supposed to do now?!’

She ‘Delete the comm and make sure this doesnt happen again’

Me ‘Okay fine!’

Call Ended.

Came back Online and the other guys in the comm started scrapping/pinging me saying they too got the call. Now delete it plz! Well… Okay, for the welfare of all the guys n gals in the comm! Am deleting the comm!

Jus’ wanted to Ask these LK ppl, ‘come on man.. By deleting a comm how can u make sure the answers are not being shared. If people want to share answers they can do that by any means… There are less popular social networking sites, chat rooms, e-mails, cell phone, and they can directly see each other and exchange answers in the old fashioned way. How will you stop those kind of people!’