Bailout by government.

I believe 100% in free enterprise and market driven economies of the world. Over the past couple of months US government has been interfering in private for-profit businesses (Financial and now automotive) and have been educating people "Why the government need to help struggling businesses?". I used to work for Ford and did several project work for GM and have lot of good Friends tied to the automotive industry and do not want to sound as blasting anyone here. I am very passionate and would like to see everyone has a right to work and bring up their families and be prosperous. But the gripe for me is why does government need to bail these businesses? If GM or Chrysler is in the verge of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, so be it - let both of them fail or one of them. These businesses did not have sound decisions and policies and their management has failed to do a thorough job. The shareholders and the stake holders have to unfortunately take the hit here. But in the spirit of capitalism and free enterprise let the market handle it on its own.

Proud of my country

Yesterday while I was flying back home, I was reading The Wall Street Journal and there was an one page advertisement from the TATA group that the Taj hotel that the terrorists attacked in Bombay is opening back. I felt good about it but just went on to read other articles. A gentleman sitting next to me asked me if I was from India and I said yes. He said one of the greatness of a country or an individual is to get right back up after getting knocked over and he said I should be very proud that India is doing the same thing. I thought about what he said and it is so true. Failures and disappointments in life are something we do not have a choice but the spirit to fight back is something that should never die. The advertisement in the paper also made a mention to similar effect that "TATA group has put out all the fires that was set on the terrible day, but a fire in the minds of the management will never tarnish".

Simply superb spirit to live by!!!

CPIM - Exam 2 - Master Planning of Resources

I started my prep work for this exam now. I plan to wrap this up by end of the year hopefully.

Passed my CPIM - BCSM

After missing a test and losing $120.00 because of going late, I am happy to announce that I finally passed the test by going into the center one hour before the test.

Thanks every one for the support and specially to my son who patiently let me go out and study.

Screen Capture tool

Based on recommendation from Amit Agarwal of the Digital Inspiration blogger, I found this utility awesome - http://www.bugshooting.com/web/

CPIM - BSCM - This Saturday at 2 PM

I am looking forward to finally sit for my BSCM test this saturday. Shall post how it goes this weekend. Wish me LUCK!

Next Book Agenda - Big Russ and Me

I am eagerly waiting for the Hennepein County Library to get my copy of this book - http://www.bigrussandme.com/. From the reviews and what I was told, very good and emotional read - can't wait

Finally done with the book

One of the most awesome thing I learnt from the book is how lucky I am to have an opportunity to get up in the morning and go to work without the fear of violence in the neighborhood and the place we live. As you all are aware like every big city Minneapolis, has it own share of ghettos and bad alleys that none of us should get caught. Sudhir goes in excruciating detail on how the life is one of these projects and explains on why people do what they do and how to better urban plan to bring these people into mainstream. Quality read, I highly recommend this book if you want to experience what is life in one of these projects in Chicago and what it takes for some one to get out and better themselves.

After you read this book, you will understand this comment - JT, I don't think you are a modern day Robin Hood, though you are a good business and taught me when to get out of something, when things don't look up.

More on Sudhir - http://www.sudhirvenkatesh.org/

Gang Leader for a day

I am also reading the book by Sudhir Venkatesh. I have actually read 1 chapter so far and it is just a superb work by this ethnographer. I will post more updates and my review after I complete the book.

I expect to see a movie of this book soon. Incidentally Sudhir has done few documentaries that have been shown in PBS.

Into the Wild

I have this book in my hand now. I hope to finish reading this book soon and shall post my review. This book was made as a movie by Sean Penn as well.

The Namesake the movie and the book

Like everytime the book was the best. I was able to particularly relate to the book and movie being a South Asian living here in the USA. The book and the movie is awesome.

Gogol Ganguli's struggle to manage two ethinicity culture and his trails to "fit-in" is something I can personally relate to. I do not try at all to fit-in but my actions sometimes sends wrong messages to the people I love and know. Overall, a great book and good movie. Kal Penn is cool like always he comes out.

GMAIL - Few cool things I learnt about GMAIL!

I need to thank Digital Inspiration (Amit Agarwal) for excellent articles and was blown away to learn this about GMAIL. I am not going to re-write all the things which is in the article, so I am going to summarize and point you directly to the article.

1) There is a limit on attachement(20 MB) and overall 6GB(although the ticker is always growing - may be will stop if MS fails to buy yahoo for $44.6 Billions).
2) You can send one email to only 100 people max through POP or IMAP clients, where as if you use browser you can send upto 500 people. I wonder if it is because most of the POP or IMAP clients used are Microsoft outlook!
3) You cannot send more than 25 people with in correct addresses.

Source - Digital Inspiration

US/Global Economy heading for a recession

As most of you are already aware and know that US is getting closer to a economic recession. What does it really mean to people here and the entire world?

Weaker US dollar: This is already a known fact especially for people in UK and many parts of Europe. It costs almost 2 dollars for 1 GBP now. Dollar will weaken even more and this will take few years for the USD to bounce back. The exporters from US are very happy because US products are cheap now in Europe. Imports coming from Europe will be next to nothing though China has a huge advantage like it has been for the last 10 years. Indian companies are not getting lucrative software deals but it is still a booming market for off shore.
Housing market: - This is the best market to go buy a house though if you can do not buy any property till economy stabilizes.
Job: Hiring and raises – Sluggish economy is going to make companies hire less and give less raises. This is just the nature of the beast and we all have to live with it one way or another. Mantra is save more, spend less.

With that being said, what is next?

There is lot of optimism in this land, more than ever. Capitalistic countries like US offers shrewd cut throat investors opportunity to buy companies when the market is down. It is a dog eat dog world. Lot of capital rich countries like India, China and some parts of Europe will have investors trying to gobble up companies here left right and center. This in turn will create jobs and will create an economic growth cycle. Adapt to the new ways of the capitalists coming in and work closely and aggressively to improve and sustain the growth. This country is a country of immigrants for the last 230 years. Every decade there is a new wave of immigrants come to this country, along with them comes the fresh ideas and culture to redefine. An auto company cannot call themselves a US based company if they do not have manufacturing facility in Mexico, their financial back office operations in Malaysia, their IT infrastructure has servers relaying nightly works tasks to Maraimalainagar Indian resources and the CAD/manufacturing operations in China.

Being American is being global anymore, we got to say buy global than buy American because Americanism and globalism are synonymous from the very second the Berlin wall was torn! Finally – be smart, hold on to the job and follow the mantra (spend less, save more and make more where you can).

Free Fax to any number in the US/Canada

The service through FaxZero is very good if you do not mind an advertisement in your cover page. There is also a paid service through the website, they call it the premium fax.

ING Direct - A Great Online Bank.

I opened an account with ING Direct couple of months back and have been extremely satisfied with their service. This is the first bank in the US I can say, I can reach any state/any city and as long as I can find a target, there is an ATM that I can withdraw cash without paying the extra fees. Also, their interest rates are pretty good - currently* at 4.10%.

They have operations in UK and in Australia where I have family. I will make sure I will post about the experiences, my family have once they send me more information on it.

My personal resolution is to Save more in 2008 and I wish the same for everyone of you.


* As of 01/01/2008, as you know interest rates change.

Wikinomics - Good Read

I read the Wikinomics - How mass collaboration changes everything recently and it was an awesome book. I am preparing my book review by chapter and shall post it soon in this blog. This book to me was like Part 2 of "World is Flat" by Thomas L. Freidman. Although, two books have a differing take on Open Source and Mass Collaboration, I thoroughly enjoyed the authors examples and some candid suggestions.


I give this book a definite 5 star!!