காதலர் தின குறிப்புகள்!

• காதலர் தின கன்னராவியை எல்லாம் கொண்டாடியே தீர வேண்டும் என்ற கட்டாயம் எதுவும் இல்லை. நம் கலாச்சாரத்தில் சேர்த்தி இல்லை என்று சாய்சில் விட்டு விடலாம்
• கொண்டாடியே தீர வேண்டும் என்று முடிவு செய்தால், நெரிசல், கார் கொள்ளை (Surge) இவற்றை எல்லாம் கண்டு கொள்ளாமல், சிரமம் பார்க்காமல், பார்க், பீச், ஹோட்டல் என்று வெளியே கிளம்பி விடுவது புத்திசாலிகளுக்கு அழகு
• தனித்துவமாக, வித்தியாசமாக வீட்டில் கொண்டாடலாம் என்று கொள்கை இருந்தாலும், ஸ்விக்கி துணை என்று ஆன்லைனில் ஆர்டர் செய்வது உத்தமம். ஆர்டர் செய்ததை மறைக்க மெழுகுவர்த்தி எல்லாம் ஏற்றி வீட்டை விடுதியாக்க முயற்சிப்பது எல்லாம் வீண்வேலை!
• பிப்ரவரி மாதத்தில் நாட்கள் குறைவு என்ற காரணத்தால் மாதக்  கடைசி சற்றே முன்பாக வந்து விடுவதால் தானே வெளியே போகாமல் வீட்டிலேயே விழா கொண்டாடுகிறோம். பண்டிகை என்று நினைத்து மடியாக ஏன் நாமே சமைத்து, சேமித்து அசத்தக் கூடாது  என்று எண்ணம் வந்தால் நன்றாகத் தெரிந்த, அவ்வப்போது சமைக்கும் தோசை, மேகி போன்றவற்றையே சமைக்கவும். வேண்டுமென்றால் அதில் இதயம் ,அம்பு இத்யாதி ஆகியவற்றை வரைய முயற்சிக்கலாம். அதிக கேடு இல்லை. அதிகம் போனால், ஒரு கரண்டி மாவு. கடவுளுக்கு, காக்காவுக்கு என்று தாண்டி சென்று விடலாம்/
•  அதையும் தாண்டி காதலர் தினம்டா, கலக்குவோம்டா  மாஸ்டர்டா என்று கண்டதை எல்லாம் முயற்சிக்க கூடாது. இதை தான் தேவ பாஷையில் வினாசே காலே வீபரீத புத்தி என்கிறார்கள். அப்படி வரும் வீபரீத புத்திக்கு பிரயாசித்தமாக, செய்ததை பிரசாதம் போல் சாப்பிட்டு  மீதியை வாட்ச்மேனுக்கு கொடுத்து விடலாம். வாட்ச் மேன் விடும் சாபத்திற்கு வரும் கருட  புராண தண்டனையில் இருந்து தப்பிப்பதற்கு அப்படியே சிவ, சிவ என்றோ ராமா கிருஷ்ணா என்றோ சைவ/வைணவ வெறிக்கு தகுந்தவாறு சொல்லிக் கொண்டு படுத்து விட்டால் பண்டிகை, விரதம் மற்றும் புண்ணியம் என்று கூட்டிக் கழித்து கணக்கு சரியாக வந்து விடும். 
• அப்புறம் எவ்வளவு நேரமானாலும், ராமானுஜர் வழித்தோன்றலாக இதை எல்லாம் ஊருக்கும், வரும் பிற்கால சந்ததியினர் நன்மை கருதியும் இப்படி கல்வெட்டில் எழுதி வைத்து விடலாம்.
• மிக முக்கிய குறிப்பு: வருடத்திற்கு ஒரு முறை வரும் காதலர் தினம் எல்லாம் காதலிக்க நினைப்பவர்களுக்கும் காதலர்களுக்கும் தான். கல்யாணமானவர்களுக்கும் கூடி குடித்தனம் நடத்துபவர்களுக்கும் (Live-In Relationship) சமையல், வீட்டு வேலை எல்லாம் செய்து முடிக்கும் நாள் , ஏன்  சமையல், வீட்டு வேலையில் உதவி செய்யும் நாள் எல்லாமே காதலர் தினம் தான்!
• மிக மிக முக்கிய குறிப்பு: இவை எல்லாம் ஆண்களுக்கான குறிப்பு என்று நினைக்கும் ஆண்கள் சத்தியமாய் இந்த ஜென்மத்தில் காதலியுடன் காதலர் தினம் கொண்டாட மாட்டார்கள்!

I am a Genius!

No, You read it right. I am not drunk  It is a reference to myself. I have all the hallmarks of a genius. If you won't believe, keep reading and let me prove that to you.

Recently, I shifted house. It also means new office bus stop. Let me tell you it is little tricky to find the exact place where the bus stops. Even for a genius, more especially for a genius.

Fortunately, the first day, I was able to spot a face which looked familiar and boarded the office bus without any difficulty.  The next day, saw the same face talking to another familiar face in the stopping.

I was not sure whether the new familiar seeming face also works at my office or not. When the bus arrived, the old familiar face and I boarded the bus. I also thought the old familiar face is such a friendly chap and knows even people from other companies. Bus stop buddies, good and nice. Guess what the surprise was, I see the new familiar face which did not board the bus at office as soon as I land up at office. Thought weird and left that at it

After that saw the new familiar face very paly paly with the bus driver while leaving at evening.

Yesterday, I reach the bus stop on time, well even early. To my surprise the bus did not stop at the designated place and kept going. After a long time, had to chase the bus and got in at the signal. The irony was me chasing the bus despite coming early to the stop.

I was furious and wanted to take up the case with the driver or cleaner or transport department. Had no time or patience or energy to deal with it. Also was shy to ask them about it and did not feel like creating a ruckus over it.
 Evening I went to board the bus, thinking may be I will have a  quiet word but the driver definitely looked different. I thought why would he come for a evening duty when he did not come for a morning duty but still just kept quiet.

Guess what happens today morning. I come to bus stop. I see the new familiar face getting dropped in by his mom and starts chatting with the old familiar face. Bus arrives and this new familiar face waits back as though he doesn't cares.  I am like, what the hell dude? Is his mom, gonna come to pick him back to home or drop him to office. Then i look at the bus to realize it is bus no 6 and not the bus no 2  which I board in evening.  Also it hit me there are two buses in the same route and hence that day the bus did not stop at my place.

Wait are you still wondering why I am a genius? let me make it simple and clear, if you haven't got it.

1. You don't get what I speak and I have to make it simple and clear for you to understand
2. I am shy to talk to people or raise ruckus, even when I am suffering
3. I am such an introvert to go talk to people 
4. I am so oblivious to things like the bus route as they kinda clog my memory and thinking process and I gotta think and worry about bigger issues rather than the trivial stuff
5. Someone who lives with me thinks all these are hallmarks of laziness and carelessness than the hallmarks of a genius (and you still don't believe I am a genius!)

Killed a Billion Dollar Startup Idea!

How do you define, What is right? What is wrong? What is Legal? What is Illegal? Is it possible that what was once a right thing was wrong at a later point of time and vice versa?

Well, my point is always it depends and it is not always that simple and straightforward as we think it is. Once "Sati" the practice of burning women after her husband died was a standard practice and even celebrated with folk songs in praise of Sati Devi. ( I won't talk about Galileo and LGBT's)
Why am I talking about all of these when the title is about killing about a billion dollar idea?

Last week, was part of the jury panel for the startup weekend at Anna University. One of the pitches was to be the market place for the Airline luggages. Premise is there are sizable number of business class travellers and others who don't utilize the luggage limits to the fullest or don't utilize it at all. Also there are lot number of people who are in need of it and end up paying the airlines for that space.  The airlines also end up selling the unutilized space to the cargo companies. Yeah, apparently seems they are selling the same space twice! (and still they are not profitable! sigh!)

We, the jury said it was illegal for you to carry the luggage of other and outrightly rejected it. [Before the judging we were also talking about Zenefits] Well of course the other pitches were better. Though I thought it was one good helluva idea and more unique and innovative than others, I never made the case for them. Somehow, I still can't get that idea out of my head and how we people look at things and evaluate new ideas.

Yeah, the numbers need to be validated, need to see will passengers be comfortable carrying the luggage of others, will the incentive offered be something that would interest the business class customers, Airlines may completely clamp down or alternatively do it by themselves,(offer extra miles if you carry less on a business class and so on)

I was much intrigued by how we look at things, how we perceive and interpret them.

How many times have we paid the exorbitant extra luggage fee to the airlines? How many times have we asked one of our friend to carry our luggage? How many times have we carried the luggage for others? So why not make a business out of it?

Lets go beyond and look at other things. While at abroad, How many times we have asked someone, I will pay you (or pay me in local currency) and I will ask someone to settle the equivalent amount back in India? (Isn't it hawala in the smallest scale and how many such transaction happen and what if we can bring it online and create a marketplace for it?)(This I still do think it is totally illegal!)

Before we scream about legality and right and wrong, let's take a hard look at ourselves.
We hate the local auto guy cause he never runs the meter or charges exorbitantly and want the government to rein in them. Yet we talk about supply and demand and think surge price for Ola and Uber is perfectly fine. If charging above the meter is illegal, isn't the surge price illegal? Or are we going to call it a market price (as in how land value is higher than the government guided price) Point is how we think it is okay for Ola/Uber to do it but not for the auto guy.

While we would happily go to court or at least threaten to go to court, if someone sells beyond M.R.P, we are more happy to hunt for discounts and go and buy from the online site that sells for the lowest. One could say it is maximum retail price but not the minimum retail price so why not buy it at the lowest price.  Let's worry about consumer behavior and the irrationality of it some other time.

Coming back to the legality of market place for airlines luggage, take a look at airbnb! If I am letting someone stay at my home and charging them for it, shouldn't I be subjective to the same laws and compliances to that of a hotel? What if AirBnB was never given a chance?

Point is most of big billion dollar bets started as crazy and impossible and never can be done ideas!

வாஷிங் குறிப்புகள்

இந்த பேச்சிலர் சமையல் குறிப்புகள் எழுதிய போது, வாஷிங் குறிப்புகள் எழுத வேண்டி வரும் என சத்தியமாய் தெரியாது! ஏன் என்றால் எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடிக்காத வீட்டு வேலை என்றால் அது துணி துவைப்பது.

எதை எதையோ இலவசமாக தரும் அரசாங்கம் ஏன் வாஷிங் மெஷினை இலவசமாகத் தருவதில்லை என்ற ஆதங்கம் இப்பொழுதும் உண்டு. அப்படி கொடுப்பவர்களுக்கு என் உடல், பொருள், ஆவி அனைத்தையும் சமர்ப்பணம் செய்யலாம் என இருந்தது எல்லாம் ஒரு காலம்.

கோவையில் கல்லூரி விடுதி ஒன்றில் வாஷிங் மெஷினைப் பார்த்த பின்பு, ஏதோ  பக்கா பிகரைப் பார்த்தது போல இங்கு சேர்ந்திருக்கலாம் என்று ஒரு இரவு முழுக்க பிதற்றிக் கொண்டிருந்தேன்.  வாழிங் மெஷின் மீது அப்படி ஒரு மோகம்.  மடத்தை விட்டு தனி வீட்டுக்கு வந்தவுடன் வாங்கியது முதலில் வாஷிங் மெஷினைத்தான்.

என்ன தான் வாஷிங் மெஷின் இருந்தாலும் பின்வருவன மிக முக்கியம்

எத்தனை உள்ளாடைகள் இருக்கிறதோ அதன் எண்ணிக்கையில் இருந்து இரண்டைக் கழித்தால் எத்தனை நாட்களுக்கு ஒருமுறை மெஷினில் துணி போட வேண்டும் என்பது தெரிந்து விடும். (உள்ளாடையை உள்புறமாக திருப்பி அணியும் பழக்கம் இருப்பவர்களுக்கு இது பொருந்தாது)

மெஷின் போட்டு முடித்தவுடன் துணியை எடுத்து காயப் போட்டு விட வேண்டும். பல மணி நேரம் விட்டு காயப் போடுவது, பல மணி நேரம் ஊற வைத்து துணி துவைப்பதை விட சோம்பேறித்தனமான, பொறுப்பற்ற செயல். (இதைப் படித்தவுடன் ஆஹான், சரி சரி என்று எல்லாம் மைண்ட் வாய்ஸ் வந்தால் அது எல்லாம் பிரமையே. இருந்தாலும் எதற்கும் மனநல மருத்துவரை அணுகவும்)

வாஷிங் மெஷினுக்கு  எத்தனை வாளி தண்ணீர் தேவைப்படும் என்று எல்லாம் மனக் கணக்கு போடக் கூடாது. அப்படியே போட்டாலும் மனக் கணக்கை சரி பார்க்கும் பரிசோதனையில் இறங்கவே கூடாது.

இறங்கினாலும், வாஷிங் மெஷினின் வால் போல தண்ணீர் வெளியேற்றும் குழாயை அதற்கான குழியில் இருந்து எல்லாம் எடுத்து பார்க்க கூடாது

அதே போல மிக முக்கியமானது, எலிக்கு பயந்து, மெஷினின் வாலை, வெளியேற்றும் குழாயிலிருந்து வெளியே விட்டிருந்தால், மெஷின் போடும் முன்பு வாலை குழாயில் சுருட்டி வைத்து விடவும்.

சுருட்டாமல் வாலாட்டினால் வரவேற்பறை, வாய்க்கால் வரப்பு போல் ஆகிவிடலாம்.

வரவேற்பறை வாய்க்கால் வரப்பாகி வரம்பு மீறி வரக்கூடாத படுக்கறை பக்கம் வந்தாலும், விழுந்தடித்துக் கொண்டு எல்லாம் ஒட வேண்டாம், வழுக்கி விழும் அபாயம் இருக்கிறது.

இதனால் அறியப்படும் நீதி என்னவென்றால். வாஷிங் மெஷின் ஒருவனை உத்தமோத்தவனாக மாற்றி விடாது! உத்தமோத்தவனுக்கு நேரம் நன்றாக இல்லாவிட்டால், வாஷிங் மெஷின் இருந்தாலும் இடுப்பு வலி வரும்...

Hello 2016!

All that starts well, ends well! 2015 was no exception!

If you had read my post on how 2014 went by, you would know 2015 did start , cool and nice. This eve too was very special in a way :)

• Much of 2015 revolved a lot around career. Certain things went well. Certain things are a work in progress. 
• I should have read more, written more and achieved more. Nope, it is not just the greedy optimist in me. For e.g this post is a proof for how rusty my writing is.
• Few things, I wished, hoped and aspired for did not happen. Yeah, that's life for you. Better to deal with it. (More on that later, hopefully)
• In the last year, I also feel I have changed a lot. No more as aggressive in the face,as I used to be but more mellower.Worse I am even afraid that I am being good at being diplomatic! 
• Interesting irony is much of what I wanted to do and wrote as advice at the start of the year for me still holds good. This means either
• I am still the old me, not learning from my mistakes
• Probably my writing is good and can stand the test of time.
• Contradicts my claim of rusty writing :)
• At the end of the day, well actually at the end of the year, 2015 was a very good one!

No matter how good things are, you have to let them go. So the better and best come your way. Something tells me 2016 will be more awesome!

பேச்சிலர் சமையல் குறிப்புகள்

இப்படி எல்லாம் குறிப்புகள் எழுத வேண்டும் என்றால் நிச்சயம் சமைக்க வேண்டும். படம் பார்க்காமல் விமர்சனம் எழுதுவது போல் சமைக்காமல் சமையல் குறிப்புகள் எழுதுவது எல்லாம் பேச்சிலர்களுக்கு சாத்தியப் படுவது சற்றே கடினம் தான்!

சமைத்து விட்டு சரியான நேரத்திற்கு அலுவலகம் சென்று முதல் வேலையாக இப்படி எல்லாம் எழுத வேண்டும் என்றால் சீக்கிரம் வெகு சீக்கிரமாக அதிகாலையில் எழுந்திருக்க வேண்டும்.

சாப்பிடுவதற்கு முன் தான் பல் தேய்க்க வேண்டும், சமைப்பதற்கு முன்பாகவும் பல் தேய்க்க வேண்டுமா என்று எல்லாம் குழப்பங்கள் வரலாம்.

பால் காய்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கும் பொழுது மொத்த கவனமும் அதில் தான் இருக்க வேண்டும். நான் இப்பொழுது பால் காய வைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன் என்று எல்லாம் லைவ் அப்டேட் செய்து வாட்ஸ்அப்பில் கடலை போட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தால், பீர் பாட்டில் ஒபன் செய்யும் போது பொங்கி வழிவது போல பால் பொங்கி விட்டது, துடைத்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறேன் என்றும் அசடு வழிய அப்டேட் செய்ய வேண்டி இருக்கும்.

குக்கரில் அரிசிக்கு சரியான அளவு தண்ணீர் வைப்பதை விட மிக முக்கியமானது அந்த பாத்திரத்தை சுற்றியும் குக்கரில் தண்ணீர் இருக்க வேண்டியது.

ஏதோ கருகுவது போல தீய்வது போல எல்லாம் தோன்றினால், சந்தேகம் வேண்டாம் நிச்சயம் ஏதோ தீய்ந்துக் கொண்டும் கருகிக் கொண்டும் தான் இருக்கிறது. இப்படி நிறைய எழுதினால் கீதாசாரம் போல் சீக்கிரம் சமையல் சாரம் என்று புத்தகம் எழுதி விடலாம்.

அடுப்பின் மீது சில பல நிமிடங்களாக பாத்திரம் இருந்தால் நிச்சயம் சூடாகி இருக்கும். சூடாக இருக்கும் பாத்திரத்தை அப்படியே தொட்டால் சுடத் தான் செய்யும். நாம் எல்லாம் நரசிம்மா விஜய்காந்த் இல்லை என்பதை நினைவில் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அதற்கு முந்தின இரவில் வடுக நாட்டு பாலையா படம் எல்லாம் பார்த்தாலும் பாத்திரத்தை அடுப்பில் அப்படியே தொடும் எண்ணம் வரலாம்! வந்தால் கட்டுப்படுத்திக் கொள்ளவும். இல்லை என்றால் கைக்கு கட்டுப் போட்டுக் கொள்ள தயாராக இருக்கவும்!

முக்கியமாக செல்போனில் சார்ஜர் பேலன்ஸ் எல்லாம் இருக்குமாறு பார்த்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். ஏன் என்றால் அப்பொழுது தானே ஹாட்லைனில் சமையல் சப்போர்ட் பெற முடியும். ஹாட்லைன் என்றால் அம்மா தான் என்று அறியாதவர்கள் வாயில் எல்லாம் நிச்சயம் மண் தான்! மிக முக்கியமானது அப்பொழுது பார்த்து அப்பா ஹாட்லைனில் கிராஸ்ஸாகாமல் இருக்க வேண்டும். ஸ்கைப் இருந்தால் இன்னும் உசிதம்.

செல்போன், ஸ்கைப் என்று எல்லாம் லைவ் லைப் சப்போர்ட் பெற்றாலும், மேற் சொன்ன தீய்ந்த வாசனை வருகிறதா, சரியாக வெந்து விட்டதா என்பதை எல்லாம் சரி பார்க்கும் அளவிற்கு இன்னும் டெக்னாலஜி வளரவில்லை என்பது தான் அடிப்படையான நிதர்சனமான உண்மை! இனியாவது டெக்னாலஜி எல்லாம் டெவலப் ஆகிவிட்டது என்று சொல்வதை நிறுத்தி விட்டு Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality  போன்ற ரியாலிட்டிகள் எல்லாம் ரியலாக வேண்டும் என்று எம்பெருமானை அவ்வப்போது பிரார்த்திக்க வேண்டும்.

மதியம் சாப்பிடுவதற்கு முன்னதாக, அலுவலகத்தில் பணிபுரியும் அனுபவம்மிக்க பெண்மணியிடம், ”இன்று நானே சமைத்திருக்கிறேன். எப்படி இருக்கிறது என்று டேஸ்ட் செய்யுங்களேன் என்று பரிசோதித்த பின்னர் தான் நாம் சாப்பிட வேண்டும். (இங்கு வயதான பெண்மணி என்ற வார்த்தை பிரயோகிக்கப் படவில்லை என்பதையும் குறித்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்)
அப்படி பரிசோதித்த பின்னரும் பிரம்மார்ப்பணம் செய்து விட்டு சாப்பிடுதல் நலம்!

Notes on Deal Making

• Just because someone puts a deal on the table doesn't mean you have to do the deal
• Just because the deal on the table is interesting doesn't mean you have to do the deal
• Just because everyone says, it's a good deal doesn't mean you have to do the deal
• Just because the numbers seems to make sense doesn't mean you have to do the deal
• Just because you have seriously considered it and even did some ground work for it doesn't mean you have to do the deal
• Just because you started negotiating doesn't mean you have to do the deal

Think well, in a rational calm manner (without getting in to deal frenzy that you gotta do this deal) Think, is this what you want  to do it, if yes, what is the terms that you would want to do. Stick to your guns.

Remember you can always walk out. There will be several others!

p.s
For all you know, this post may not be about professional deal making at all! Let's take out the word deal and alter the situation with a gal, you might end up with a Valentine day post!
p.p.s
At the end of the day, even happy, good to have problems are also just problems!

Update:
May be sometimes you have to just do it when you have the opportunity and chance to do it.
cause, sometimes it may be too late. If you are wondering why such change of heart in less than 12 hours, read this insane story
If the above link talks about the good luck here it is the bad luck story

The Year that went by

It is more than a customary reflection post.  In a way, it is my serious and sincere attempt to start writing on a regular and consistent basis! The writing may be rusty in this post!

The year 2013 was not a great one, except for my post graduation. Year 2014 did start with a bang, literally and figuratively. :) :) I started it off with a lot of hope, faith and promises. Little did I knew then, it was going to be testing me a lot than the previous year! Well, 2014 wouldn't have tested me, if I had not been so arrogant and stubborn and over confident ;) In hindsight, all is well. Rather than the "no regrets" Actually am very happy with all my decisions and happenings!

I wonder the auspiciousness of the timings, when i made my 2014 resolutions; to read, write and travel a lot. Surprisingly, I did not even read as much as I usually read.  Yet, learnt a lot of lessons that will stay through out the life. In a way, it was more of a extended post graduation study in real time. Some of the lessons were more like reinforcement of my faith.

What exactly did I do in 2014

• Started a e-commerce site with my very good and best friend ever! 
• (Re) Started  my corporate career after post graduation
• Met a lot of new people, made some good friends, had awesome experiences  :) :)
• Wasted and whiled away a lot of time. Watched a lot of American TV series.

The Take away lessons

• Be clear on what you want. Once you know what you want, stay course, chase it with full focus until you get it. Have faith you will get it for sure!
• Do what you want. Only opinions of people close to you matter. The ones close to you will understand you and stay with you and support you. 
• It is okay to dream, as long as you are practical and have feet on ground with eyes open!
• Everything happens for a reason, a very good reason. If it was meant to happen, it will happen. 
• If you strongly desire for something, then the whole world conspires for you to achieve it. (Yeah that Paulo Coelho thing) If you don't achieve it , it is highly possible, that you did not desire it enough
• There are lot of good people as well as not so good ones. Yet, be nice to all. Life is too short and the world is too small.
• Have faith in humanity; Don't be a cynic. Good karma helps. 

For 2015,  Planning is underway with lot of milestones (more blog posts for sure) to be achieved. :) :) The greedy optimist and reality distortion specialist in me is confident of making all the dreams and desires come true despite the challenges!

p.s

• This post has not turned out to be the way, I wanted. Few weeks back, when I wanted to write this post I wanted it to be to more open, more tell all, but I guess my privacy instincts kicked in and took over, making it less personal :) :)
• 2014 is not over. I am hoping and looking forward for a memorable new year eve :) :)

UPDATE:

Yep, Indeed it was a darn memorable one. One of the coolest nicest (is that even a word?) pleasant and wonderful start to new year :) Thanks for making it happen! You know who you are! :P :D

Thoughts on Digital Piracy (Revisit! Reecho)

Sometimes back, I posted my thoughts on digital publishing and piracy. Now I guess it is time for another such post or echo them again.

• I really don't believe that piracy can be eradicated.
• I really don't believe that there cannot be an effective efficient fool proof technology to prevent piracy.
• I am also not a big fan of currently available DRM solutions whatever that I am aware of.
• More especially the ones that tells you can read the content only when you are online
• The ones which says you can read the book only on this device and on another or restricting to few platforms
• It is more similar to saying, you can buy this TV, we will install it in your house, but you cannot take it to your new house. To make it more apt, you can buy the DVD but use it only at your home but definitely not in your neighbors home
• You can buy this physical book, but you cannot lend it resell it to anyone.
• Digital books should be treated similar to the way the physical books are treated.

Having said all the above, let me tell you where the problem starts. Not all customers treat the digital books as they would treat the physical books.

They may lend a physical book to a friend or two, resell it again or give it away to library. If they want they may buy the book in bulk by paying and give it to others.  Have you ever seen anyone photocopying a book and sharing it across? No one can buy one physical book and make it available to scores of people free in one single second!

At the same time, when it comes to digital book, one single mail, one single upload, they make it available to 100's or 1000's or 100,000's of people at the same time.  (Makes me to rethink my principles and stand on DRM)

This is not a unique phenomenon to one part of globe or country or region. Pirated books, software, movie and music are available all over the world. If you want to find them, you have to resort to torrents, or some sites where people would upload or share under anonymous names.

No one ever puts out this pirated copy is brought to you by so and so. Please do send your thanks to this email id or send a Christmas card to this address!

Wait a minute, why this post ? Happened to see a FB group, which asks people to share the Tamil e-books that they have. Worse, also saw one very good and interesting book of leading Tamil Publishing house translated by the Publisher itself!

I am not sure, whether the guy who uploaded the file in FB knows, it is possibly a punishable offence.

As I said in the old post, unless people are aware that violating copy right and intellectual property is a punishable offence. (If I had understood and read the law, one can be imprisoned anywhere from seven days to three years and fine of INR 50,000 to INR 200,000 rupees)

Coming back to piracy, what would really stop it? My firm belief is, it stops only when the guy who commits the act of piracy decides to stop it! Also check out other factors in my old post.
For further proof here it from the horse mouth! The confessions of a Book Pirate!

Oh BTW, Both my books can be bought as eBooks here
 

New Year Resolutions

1. Read More
2. Write More
3. Travel More

p.s
Never been  a fan of making new year resolutions.
Never done an post analysis of what I did last year.
For me, New Year day is just another day.

Still, I guess the bug has caught on to me. Blame it on the place, where I live :) :)
I went and ahead made some personal resolutions, yet these are something, I felt I could share in public

 

Surprises about America: Nice Post,Thank You BI!

Before reading this blog post, this post in Business Insider should be read with out fail. It talks about surprises in America from an International Indian student. It is suggested to have both the pages side by side for reference.

Before I go on with the outrage and point by point rebuttal of fallacies in this article, let me explain why I am doing it?

It is just because, I respect Business Insider. I wouldn't have given a second thought or bothered with it, if it wasn't BI. It is perfectly okay for some one to have their very own opinion, write it in a blog.

My point of concern is BI publishing it in a tone as though it is from an expert authority. It really doesnt goes well with me to see all such sweeping generalizations appearing in BI! It is totally unfair to its readers. What if, a student in a far away corner in India, reads and takes it on face value and believes that to be a true state of reality. What will an American reading about this, think about India?

Hey, Who am I to comment on this?

I spent much of my childhood and formative years in a small Indian town, studied(spent time) in one of the best and the cosmopolitan colleges in India, worked in USA for more than few months, have been outside India for quite some time. Just making it clear, i have seen my share of the world outside India, interacted, worked and studied with more than one nationality and culture.

Grades:There are schools which have a grade no disclosure policy. There are companies which want near perfect grades. Still, should we believer that nobody talks about grades in US!

Private and no flaunting: Oh Yeah, all Indians do is nothing but trumpet their success and no one is humble. By the way, what the hell is that "their performance alone" and "share their accomplishments with everyone else"

Retail experience is nice in India! personal shopper! Many NRI's have opined that people follow you in these retails keeping an eye on you as though you have come to steal. What about WalMart,even there was no one to help out in shopping. Hmm, never know the American malls are so boring. [To be fair, I would Indian malls are good as malls abroad!]

Tech world: Well, they graciously offered to take your work off, cause the work has to be done and there cannot be delay due to one person's incompetence. I have seen people who are rude, offering help, passing the blame and infighting both in India and US.

Competition and Ethics: If students collobarate in US, it is difficult and hence they learn from each other in study groups. If students in India, colloborate, it is called cheating. [I am reminded of a Tamil comedy where if something red comes out of my head, it is blood, if it is coming of your head,it must be Tomato sauce] So, there are no group studies in India, no one helps the other guy. In US, every one is a good samaritan, and marines who leaves no one behind. Let us accept and understand that education system is different in India and US.

Thin Rich and Respect: Cheap food is fatty and home cooked food is expensive! really? I am really not sure, why i am still not fat!! In that one paragraph, where thin people are respected, the entire America is being made to look like the most shallow people on the earth. "Thin and tall but not as much"I cant recall any gal telling she likes her men short! (why am i generalizing in a post which is totally against generalization!) what does that "made me drinks with more care/love" means! If only that was true, For the way, I look and weigh, Starbuck baristas should be only making love to me! So starbucks treats customers differently based on their looks but not on being a regular. Hmm. Why is Starbucks havent sued yet?

Girls are not promiscuous. Oh finally, something right, but contrary to hollywood films. Yeah, even in India, people don't dance with 50 people in background  in rain, when they fall in love contrary to bollywood films. (Sarcasm Intended)

African Americans aren't given enough opportunity, broken families. Hmm, who is the POTUS now? There are no broken families in other communities.

Not qualified to make comment on brick houses, though there is something on the comment section of the article.

Anywhere, buying bulk is cheaper. Hence the wholesale is cheaper. Americans waste food. Yeah, most of the Indian marriages and festivals don't ever waste food.(Sarcasm Intended)

Obsession with Coffee:Coffee was not consumed as much as it is consumed now in US, before Howard Schultz built Starbucks. Section of South Indians are not coffee addicts and can start their without coffee (Sarcasm Intended)

Split familes are not seen differently but when it comes to African American families it is probably a factual reason, that there is a dearth of them in technical fields. (Sarcasm Intended)

Support towards LGBT: Hmm, Why did Tyler Clementi of Rutgers committed suicide? Oh wait, One of the accused in the case was a Indian. All Indians meekly accepted and hailed the verdict when an Indian court criminalized gays and homosexuals! (Sarcasm Intended)

Smoking weed is same as smoking cigarattes. What really? I guess, I am surely smoking weed when i was reading and writing this! Too bad, Washington and Colorado passed laws legalizing Marijuana contrary to the federal law!

I thought, at least the excerpt from Quora was okay and more factual or US 101 until i read the 'almost-classless' soceity! Service professionals own iPhones cause it is on contract. So there are no poor bums in US! There is no haves and have not's.

The bottom line or conclusion is this: One usually goes to abroad looking for a different experience, how things are different, to see the other side of the world.I guess, after seeing the other side, one could still realize that though there is difference, it is not that different. There are good people, bad people, smart ones, dumb ones, hard workers, slackers in all communities. Every human being, culture, country is unique in certain aspects. Yet, one cannot and should not really stereotype or genaralize and put people or things in to boxes. There are norms, but always there are exceptions and that is the norm.

Nice and Informative Post. Thanks to BI.

p.s
I am also being more cynical and nitpicking cause i feel the article just deserves it



 

2 cents on Publishing and Piracy

It all started with this tweet . As I was also bestowed upon the honor of digital publisher, let me offer my 2 cents to this discussion

Before go further, let me add few Disclaimers, even at the danger of the rest of my thought process losing its relevance!

• I have committed sin. I have downloaded songs, movies and ahem even books.
• Do I feel good about them? Definitely no. [of course, i can try to justify them with context, but at the end of day, it is definitely not sharing. More on this later!]
•  Food, books, music and movies, each of them are very different and cannot be treated the same.(as usual there are exceptions)

Sharing vs Stealing

I buy a book and lend it to others. More than one person has read it, but still the author and publisher is getting the money from only one person.

I buy a book, other person photocopies it, still the author and publisher get paid only for one copy.
Irrespective of how it is being termed, sharing or stealing, the author or publisher don't get their due. 

At least, when it is photocopied, the photocopier makes some money!

Online or offline, sharing or stealing, the problem remains the same. The author and publisher not making the money they could (not should) be actually making. [number of people who paid for the book vs the number of people who read it]

The digital arena becomes a different ball game and outrage occurs due to the scale and unfortunately the scale matters!

Can we stop Piracy?

Are you kidding? Definitely No! No matter what kind of DRM is being used, there is always an hack and you can get something for free.

Can we cut down the losses due to piracy?
 

I strongly believe, that is possible. let me offer few thoughts on this context in general and from my personal experience

 

Personal Context

 

I have always preferred to buy original books rather than the cheapster version(pirated printing) as long as it was affordable. [How you define affordable is another question]

Given a choice to watch a good movie in theatre, on laptop/tv on a original DVD that is expensive, on laptop/tv on a pirated dvd, pirated cheap streaming version? I always preferred theatre.

To put it simply, i really don't mind and would be happy to pay for my consumption as long as the payment methodology is easy and affordable.

Yeah, its just you! what about others? hmm well. Lets take a look at the

General Context

Isn't Apple iTunes making revenue? Before asking, how much money are they potentially losing because of piracy, it is to be noted they considerably brought down the revenue loss to the music industry.

Why does Chetan Bhagat sell?

Why do still there are millions of copies of books sold, when they can be downloaded for free with sometime on Internet?

Remember, fifty shades of grey, before being a bestseller was absolutely free online and taken down later before it went for offline publishing.

Even in local context, Ponniyin Selvan is priced differently by different publishers and people do buy at varied prices.

Before thinking about alternate models, we need to have answer for these

most important question(s)

"How do you put a price on your creative content?"How much does a author wants for a book? a movie producer for his movie? How do we value the worth of time?

Remember these are the days, Apple offers it iOS for free and companies like wechat(tencent) sell smileys and virtual goods!

So what's the conclusion

• Piracy is a challenge that is here to stay. No one can eliminate it. Just live with it.
• There will be a small section of people who are good natured and still integrity, ethics and fairness matter to a lot of people.
• There will be another small section of people, who will always cut corners, find loop holes, would like to live on freebies. Remember the old song, until a thief wants to mend his ways, thefts cannot be stopped.
• There will be another major section of people whose behavior can be altered and can be nudged to pay. Figure out how to do it.The online/digital opens up several other alternate models of revenue. Feel free to explore and exploit. (Here, exploit means, the usage of models rather than people! Just to be clear)
• The hard reality is the industry is being disrupted, the rules of the game being changed. Adapt or get annihilated. 

Liar Liar

There are very few things that gets my goat! (Well, definition of "few" depends!)

I just cant stand hypocricy and hypocrites. Next comes liars. (Actually, there is a very fine thin line that differentiates both.Let's ignore the technicalities for now!) Oh and please, diplomacy and hypocricy are two different things.

It is not that I am the direct heir of  Shri Harichandra, a holier than thou cow or something like that. Then, why do I hate  Liars?? It is a two-part thing.

For one, It is utter stupidity to lie.People usually think they are pretty smart and they can get away with a lie. In reality, One must be stupid to think, they can lie and get away with it. Eventually the truth comes out. When it comes out, it looks bad on the person, the credibility is lost. Not only the past is questioned, on what are all the things you have lied? It also makes one wonder can i trust you in the future? How can i be sure that there aren't any more lies? This is the reason I prefer to hear the hard truth rather than a sweet lie. I prefer to speak the truth (most of times) cause, i dont want to look so embarassed and defend/explain why did i lie at the first place.

The other  thing is the most important one. When I am being lied to, It insults my intelligence. One lies to me hoping that I would believe it and would never find the truth. It is one thing for a person to think they are smart but altogether a different thing to think other person is stupid.  Thinking that I am stupid and I could be lied to is what pisses me the most!

Thou shall not lie to me. Thou shall not face my wrath!Amen. Let peace be with me ;)

Darn You Google!

Nothing gets my goat than "Smart people being so stupid and silly"
Yeah, How can smart people be so stupid?

Googlers are considered to be smart. They do work on Space Technology, Internet Balloons, Cars that drive by themselves. (

Yet, they dont have a google talk on Apple Store. (Well, Hangouts cannot be installed if you do not have a front facing camera i.e iPhone 3GS)
The messenger in Google+ just doesn't works.

FB has messenger that works seamlessly across devices. Viber does that. But you Google! Shame on you.  [Skype doesn't have a seamless integration but it is understandable as they are owned by Microsoft now]

Hope the Product Managers at Google get their act together or may be the top management should do a realignment like Apple er like what Microsoft did ;)

P.S
They shutting down the Reader while having Currents is a post meant for another day.

P.P.S
Nothing has changed in Google Talk from 2008 as mentioned here. I have changed a little bit. I would love to take a shot at building the next Google rather than just making their perpetual beta products .

P.P.P.S
Inspired due to missed pings in Google Talk ;)

 

Why Why Why!

I am not a drinking person.
I am not interested in hitting on random strange women.
I am not good at boring small talk.
I can't shake my leg or hands in the name of dance.
I don't even understand the songs that are played.
Why the hell do i go to clubs!

The Reading List

After posting a review (if you can call that a review) of Polyester Prince, there were more than few mails and questions on suggestion for good books.

It also reminded me of the personal book list shared by a gentle man and reply sent by me as well as a reading list shared by one awesome guy.

So here is the list. Except for the first ten,the reco is from the folks above mentioned. Remember, I havent read all the books or authors mentioned here.Most of the authors are not even my type. Still, their 2 cents are worth it. If you like the list, say thanks to them. :)

My Ten:

Ten just happened to be a number. Again in no particular order. I have included only my non-fiction books.

In fiction, To name a few, Jeffery Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Robert Ludlum, David Baldacci, Tom Clancy and of course Harold Robins ;)

1) Barbarians at the Gate
Though it is a business book, far better than any of the thrillers that one could come across and more especially what the greed for money could do.

2)Straight from the gut
Jack Welch, at least for his competititive spirit

3) Who says Elephants cant dance
How IBM made a turn around

4) Made in Japan -Akio Morita

5) How to get what you want- Kopmeyer [ I have found the techniques mentioned here really works]

6) Think and grow rich- Napolean Hill [I am halfway through it but still i love it so far]

7)Competing for the future -C.K Prahlad [My all time favourite]

8)Future Shock-Alvin Toeffler [I still find this so relevant]

9)World is Flat [Thomas Friedman]

10) 7 Habits of Highly effective people -Stephen Covey [ This is one book i havent crossed more than 100 pages and i would say if you had read this all other self development books are unnecessary :)]

From the awesome guy a.k.a Gary

1. Khaled Hosseini - Till data Kite Runner is the best book I've read
2. Douglas Adams - Hilarious
3. Thomas Kennealy - Vivid images of Schindler's Arc (not seen the movie yet)
4. George Orwell - Could still taste the satire
5. Karan Bajaj - Big fan after Johnny Gone Down
6. Jeffrey Archer - The English wit and a master storyteller
7. Michael Crichton - Philosophy and Technology floored me
8. Simon Winchester - Story telling of true events
9. JRR Tolkein - The master of imagination
10. Joseph Heller - God level in Satire
11. Orhan Pharmuk - Brings words to lives
12. Leon Uris - Recommendation that I liked
13. Vikas Swarup - Indian - more than the others
14. Salman Rushdie - Impeccable but mostly too much work;For the dream scapes & for 'unbelonging'
15. Jhumpa Lahiri - Although namesake was not as good, brings images
16. Albert Camus: For the fall, & prose that hits like splashes of ice cold water
17. Arundhati Roy:For God of Small Things,& the shape shifting hole in the universe that its absence would've left behind
18. John Banville: For that striking mixture of cold, lyrical prose and dark, self conscious wit
19. Jorge Luis borges: For redefining poetry & recreating allusions
20. Gulzar:For those evocative word pictures and haunting 'trivenis'
21. J.K Rowling: For humor and imagination
22. Pico Iyer: For finding beauty in the banal
23. Wodehouse: For incomparable wit & adorable characters
24. Charles Schulz,Bill Waterson: For saying so much in so little words
25. Margaret Atwood: For her subversive & clever word plays
26. Fitzgerald: For the Great Gatsby
27. Jack London: For wonder, wilderness and wonderful winters long ago
28. Graham Greene: For deep dives into faith and doubt, and that stripped down, yet gripping style
29. Ayn Rand: For that incomparably heady conviction (one must rise before one Falls?)

Honorable mentions of Gary :)

1. The Great Indian Novel - Shashi Tharoor  (Mahabharatha of Indian Political History - Satire)
2. The Palace of Illusions - Chitra Bannerjee Divakuruni (Feminist Mahabharat - thru the eyes of Draupadi)
3. Wheels - Arthur Hailey (Heart of Car Industry) Any book of him for that matter :)
4. Hitchhikers guide to Galaxy - Douglas Adams (Pure unadulterated fun)
5. Open - Andre Agassi (Best Sports Autobio possible)
6. Cold Steel - Byron Odyssey (Business Thriller of Mittal Arcelor Deal)
7. Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid (Brilliance of a narrative)

From the Gentleman :)

1)The McKinsey Way-( Rasiel)  -
Taught me the insider view of Fortune 100 corporate and the MECE way of problem solving

2) What the customer wants you to know - (Ram Charn)
Ram Charn the First Indian to become Harvard Phd, Who served GE for more than 30 years advises the business acumen that every one needs today, this book is an Enabler of my success at Honeywell

3) High -Impact Interview Questions - (AMACOM)-
All these 701 questions are really tough but good enough for one’s life

4)Tony Busan - Study skills handbook –
It is a must one to read for every one in school / college.. I have read it late and enabled me to read faster and grasp quicker

5) Param Vir Our Heroes in Battle - (Maj.Gen.Ian Cardozo) –
This is a biography of 21 people honored with Param Vir Chakra by government of India…It teaches every reader about the great purpose of life

6) Light the Fire in your Heart you can dare to lead - (Debashish Chatterjee) –
This book enlightens the reader to feel rather than think about whatever he or she do. Shares the experiences of Author’s Interaction with personalities such as Lee Kuan Yew, J.R.D.Tata, Mother Therasa, Richard Baranson,Kim Cambell,Anita Roddick, Dee Hock

7) Secretes of self made Millionaires – (Adam Khoo) –
Book Exhibits the mind of Asian millionaires. Learnt the power of compounding interest

8) The Story of Escorts (H.P.Nanda) –
The Most Terrific and inspiring biography I have ever read. It paints the picture of Lahoor, Simla, and Faridabad before and after freedom.

9)100 ways to improve your writing (Gary Provost) –
It seems it works because often people appreciate my mails :)

10)The Thank You Book (Robyn Freedman Spizman) – Saying Thank you to the author is not enough

11) Love Letters in the Sand – (Poems of Khalil Gibran) –
 Love is the language of leadership

12)The Circle of Love - (Debashis Chatterjee) –
It takes us to a dreamy world. If any one want to score top in Literature they must read it

13)Leadership Sutras - (Debashis Chatterjee) - It waves together the many strands of leadership wisdom in to a book that is both timely and timeless.

14)48 Laws of Power – (Robert Greene) - Jewish author explains 48 Political concepts with historical evidences. Though some concepts seem ruthless, the story narration is so nice.

15)INDIA 2039 – An affluent Society (Various Authors )- It is a book by authored by firms that offer financial support to governments.

16) Living the 80/20 Way (Richard Koch) –It is a very positive book exhibits author’s experiences on managing crises and how the 20% masters the skills that the 80% does not follow.

17) The millionaire next door –( Thomas J.Stanley ) - This book is a compilation of research done by the two authors about the saving and spending behaviors of more than 200 self made millionaires

18) The Entrepreneur book of Check Lists –( Robert Ashton ) – It is an excellent book compiling a 1000 over points that an entrepreneur must have a focus

Another recommended reading exclusively for Tamil books :))

Let them Sleep

Every now and then, I happen to talk to bunch of people.  Not every one is so excited and eager to hear me out.  Sometimes, even they cannot be blamed. There are other external factors which overpower them and they just cannot concentrate for no mistake of their own.

 Well I am no martinet but still I would call myself a strict authoratarian enforcing a lots of discipline. In spite, I make exceptions, there are times, I let them have their way, if they will let me have my way. I just let them sleep rather than distracting me or disturbing others.

Not all of my fellow brethren agree with me on this. There are people who feel, I shouldn't let them sleep.

And for all those, who don't agree with me. Please read the following:

"Sleep is a fundamenta​l and basic requiremen​t without which the existence of life itself would be in peril. To disturb sleep, therefore, would amount to torture which is now accepted as a violation of human right. It would be similar to a third degree method whic​h at times is sought to be justified as a necessary police action to extract the truth out of an accused involved in heinous and cold-blood​ed crimes,” the bench said.

“A sleeping crowd cannot be included within the bracket of an unlawful category unless there is sufficient material to brand it as such,” the bench added."

This is neither the opening of the fictional book I am writing nor picked up from any other fictional book. The above is a part of the ruling from a Supreme Court bench.

So, all you people, Parents, teachers, trainers and managers, Thou shall not distrub or prevent the people from sleeping. You might be prosecuted!!

p.s
I try my level best not to preach what i don't practice. If i don't practice and if i still preach, I make it a point to disclose it. I love sleeping. I fall asleep during meetings as well as classes!!!

Another Announcement, Another Column

To Cut a long story short, I have started writing weekly columns on the business of technology in Tamiloviam.com.

You can access the articles here.

Hope I will be sincere and write it, week on week with out fail, keeping up with the spirit of last two weeks :)

Kanapraba, Satheesh and Ganesh Chandra are the people who made this happen. Now you know whom to blame ;)

The Year that went by

How did the 2011 fare in terms of technology business?
To know more, listen here . Ahem. The first one is by yours truly. :)

To know more about 2012, go here.

That Day to This Day

More than a decade and half ago,There was this guy crossing a gate.

It was the same gate he had been crossing for the previous seven years.

That day was different, Instead of some elderly person accompanying him, he was accompanying a little one. It was his turn to be an elderly person.

When his turn to came to meet the headmistress, without any preamble, She said,you should come with your parents to collect your transfer certificate.

He replied, No Sister. I have already collected them.I am here to admit my sister.

Few years back, yet again, the guy and not so small girl  almost went through the same ritual of crossing a gate. It was a sheer coincidence it happened to be an yet another same gate which he had been passing through.

Fast forward today, the little one is almost woman. Today she did cross another gate in to a jungle all alone, leaving the guy behind. All in a moment of the flash. Wondering what was that in the mind, heart and the eyes of the guy at that moment?

The entire time from the first gate crossing to today seems to have passed in a moment of flash...

p.s
When i first started writing poems, One of my manager gave me a pretty good advice on how to write poems. Yeah, i was lucky enough to have managers who always let me do what ever i wanted to do and support me the whole nine yards. Coming back to the advice, it was something like "Never state explicitly what you want to state. Let the reader interpret it on his own. If different people interpret it differently then you are a darn good poet". Now thinking back, it also seems like, he was talking about "How to deal with clients?"  Connecting this post and his point on poems,I am not sure does it makes me a good writer, if different people interpret the writing in different ways. Let me state this explictily and simply. It was the first day of my sissy to Office. I was just reminiscing the day i took her to admit in the kindergarten. :P :D Now you also know, i never listen to my managers ;)