I dont Know my name .....

I dont know my name
I dont know my fame

Even though 180 minutes is my life
I get the attention of the sport as if I'am its wife

Millions of dollors & hearts are at stake &
A slight misbehaviour of me can become a costly mistake

Like every human I breath in & breathe out air ,
I burn out the food in my stomach and spend out the enerygy
Valves close & open , lines carry fuel like arteries,
Strands of conduits transfer the signal like the neurons

Thousands around the globe are working on my improvement caring like doctors ,
To unravel the fourmula for success ,to be number one ,to beat the 3 pointers( Mclaren) ,

In the spirit of Formula 1 ,Hail Red.......

Dedicated to all my fella tifosi's sround the globe

Formula 1...... Is it a game ????????

Many have told that they have no idea why people are crazy on F1 & that they totally feel its a big waste of time & money . I have been listening to many caustic remarks and criticism for some time (years now ). Very recently BBC had started a documentary on F1 .This is a 8 week documentary of 30 min duration each spread across the various facets of F1 or any process /Sport for that matter 1) Overview and money involved 2) Strategy & Leadership 3)Sponsorship 4) Talent recruiting & retention 5) Technology 6) Team work 7)Globalization & the impact 8) The Future . I sat in a self introspection of the game for myself . If a channel known for its credibility & keeping the spirit of "Being Informed" is running in to something , it should be something to be really looked upon seriously.

Before I go on a defensive mode on F1,Here are a few info bits on it.F1 by itself is one of the strongest brand creating a pull by itself . F1 attracts one of the finest technical & management graduates in to it from the best of the best schools every year. The game itself will run to a billion $ industry & every team spend a minimum of $ 500 million every year as operational cost apart form the remuneration,R&D,new car .

Every company works over new techniques,technology,skill set to create the Winning formula to be number 1 (hence Formula 1)

With due regards to my fellow F1 enthusiast Michael Sathya I reproduce the extracts form his blog on the same subject

Micheal writes …

“
I know I have already made some comments on this in my previous posts but want to elaborate on it. Every sport has its own share of enthusiasts. There are so many fanatics so many critics... A sports person's job is no joke. Well coming to the point, take a sport like cricket.Looking on television might be easy but then practically doing those things on the field are no joke. Fielding in the hot sun for more than 3 hours and also batting for long hours exhausts a human Football, baseball, basketball too depends on the players ONLY. Now coming to the topic... For a person who sees a race suddenly on the TV, the first thought that would come to his mind is that “ people driving a car around the same track so many times.”.. A cruel waste of time…

Let us start from the role of a driver. He solely has the skill to drive & take the maximum out of the car. All cars are approximately the same except for time difference in tenths of a seconds. When a good driver is having a good car you can naturally see their performance. Look at Lewis Hamilton now... Michael when he started with Jordan qualified only 7th on his 1st race but then that itself was a great achievement coming 7th with a Jordan. A driver has to know when to push the car and when not to. He has to take split second decisions while he is driving at 300k and it is no joke. All the controls jam packed in a steering wheel. Also imagine in driving in conditions with heavy rains. You don't even know where the track is with the water spraying. In the 1 1/2 hours that they drive they lose nearly 1-2kg body weight with a lot of fluid loss. It is no simple task facing the g forces. Well it doesn't end with the drivers part. The preparation starts long before the season even more than a year. It is a continuous process. The technicians at the lab work very hard so as to gain mere hundredths of a second. Each and every single component has a significance behind it. They work tirelessly doing simulations and wind tunnel testing and so much depends on the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. They design parts which they implement in the car and then there is the testing of the car evaluating it for its performance and also trying for newer developments. Then on the track before the race the preparations done. Getting ready 2 cars within a week especially when there are consecutive races is no joke. You pack everything go to the other place and again start assembling according to the track configurations. Transit is no joke as nearly 7 fully loaded large sized container trucks are required to transport. They have even special planes. For every race they need all race technicians mechanics and support staff. Even a small error with the mechanic may cause a problem. When once a fueler was injured in the pit lane they had to call in for a substitute. The Substitutes couldn’t match him and the team had to lose their lead . Each individual has a unique skill honed over time. Split second timing everything is done with pinpoint precession. Even the tyre engineers have a large role to play as it is the source of contact between the entire car and the surface. They gather data giving information to the teams on the performance etc. Every single factor has a significant role. We can go on saying all those intricacies.. it is never ending. Each person giving their 100% and working tirelessly all for gaining a few hundredths of a second... That alone is a fact gining a thought upon... “

In the Spirit of F 1 & the Tifosi’s (Ferrari Fans ) !!!! Hail Red ... Hail Red….

Its not about the bike : My journey back to life

Reached Bangalore and checked in to my rooms for a holiday stay ( or shud I say a hard earned vacation after my chaebol stint at Hyundai). Earlier Saw this book '' Its not about the bike : My journey back to life ,the auto bio of Lance Armstrong '' at the airport. Lance had become synonymous with cycling and tour de France. Being myself a speed freak be it F1 GP or Biking or cycling or be it the aircrafts. Lance shares with my other hero Schumi,Senna as well as the Ferrari V engine whom, I had idolized . Read thru the cover note and found to be neatly laid and inspirational one too. The 16$ price tag was something my eyes soured over.The book was still in my mind and as usual took a BMTC bus to the residency road ,scouted thru the Church Street , and there found the book seller Murugan , after speaking to him in some broken Kannada & Tamil got the book at Rs.50 / ( slightly > $1 ,as this being a pirated one).He respects me a lot as I had been one of his patron customer since 2004 (god, he easily makes 300 – 400 a month from me) .

Then went back to my room after my routine visit to the India coffee house on MG road gulping in 2 hot southi coffees ( not the filter ones) . Started reading this book and lo had finished half the book and didn't notice that 5 hrs have gone on this. Am still reading on , but the reason for me to sit on this blog is thou it had served my appetite of speed, adventure, comeback spirit ,team building and as usual a beautiful description of the virgin countryside and the forests , what has really affected me is the parental care and the upbringing of children pointed there.Mention of single mother,single father, divorcé ,partner etc… was as common as an adjective or a conjunction.

Upbringing of Lance had been a peculiar one by his single mother , who wud have changed 3 partners at least ,but noneth she mad sure Lance got all he wants. The mother son relationship had been portrayed with excellent hue's .

From my own instance , I had opportunities to grow / interact with buddies from a similar backgrounds. They really crave for the conventional home setup. Many a times I had thought & felt sorry for them. One set of these individuals are highly introvert and they banish themselves in to oblivion in a course of time ,in a bid to erase the past for reasons unknown. They either change their topographical co-ordinates or snap all the contacts .Then there are the ones who live up with the society like our hero Lance. I feel these individuals are self made / independent to the core & and can handle any crisis with élan than other individuals from conventional households.

It is also on our part ( I wont say onus ,as these are purely individualistic) to share and foster whatever u can with these individuals, as you will find people who treasure your relationship than anybody else ,as they know what it is to have a person who cares for them….

180 Degree View...

I recall speaking to one of my childhood friends ,who is working as a research associate in a govt.agency .She had volunteered to tutor underprivileged children thru an aid agency . Similarly, one of my college buddies who is always globe trotting being in merchant navy ,devotes a significant time of his 3 month annual vacation with a social working group for the rural children in and around the outskirts of Chennai.

There have also been instances ,where an acquaintance of mine working as an invest banking consultant with an energy major preferred to invest in a village self working group involved in making toys in the Guangzhou province in china ,as it would generate more job opportunities for the local residents I was going thru an inflight mag in my Delhi – Chennai flight recently , hit up on this glossy 40 cc article about a recent cleanliness drive by the employees of a corporate,a bunch of guys & gals in their casual trousers ,and branded tees specific for this event posing to the lens .

Are these so called one day social corporate responsibility affairs being used as an alternative marketing vista's on the fourth estate ,where in people have been doing these on a much sustained & a holistic way

Think…….

A Ray of Hope.....

Hope is a good thing ,may be the best of the things to happen
and no good thing ever dies

Have high hopes ,Aim for the sky in order to hit the roof at least
Dream ,Dream ,Dream.....this will steer your career trajectory

Downplay it on your other side of life , dear .. you wont have the heart to
bear in case you are getting screwed.

Being a Mechie .....

The other day, I was enjoying my weekend with one of the perfect ambience I love.
Dark room, hot rava maida dosa, coffee & of course watching the movie ''The MARKSMAN''. This was a movie set out in the Chechen Warfield, when a US army officer all alone goes on a deadly mission of deactivating a Nuke reactor .Absolutely a masterpiece plot.

All of a sudden I heard a thud knock on my door, found 2 of my cousins visiting my home. Both had come on holiday to India from (where else US). One on her way to a PhD at U Mich & the other with the big daddy of Indian IT Co’s TCS.

After the initial (customary) exchanges they stared at the bunch of books on my cot. The Avenger, Fist of God, Icon, Afghan. All written by Fredrick Forsyth. Are u a hardcore undercover enthusiast, I said with a beaming YES. There came a big advice try reading some soft novels. I asked her way do u mean by soft. Soft means light romantic novels. These have strong repercussions on your character. I replied to her people read books to enjoy way they cherish, not for others sake and these are the one I love. Also it’s a known fact that I had been reading tin tin ,tinkle till the fourth year of y graduation and these were the one’s which inculcated me the habit .

Ok me doing this now. Back in US we get these books at these prices. Can get these all from Wal-Mart (My guess was rite ...) .Back in US ……. Back in US …. Continued on and on she was back again.

What r u doing now, where do you work? Hyundai, I replied. Wat … U not a SW engineer. I said NO (Is it a taboo????). U R missing something big kutta. Next what did u major . Mech ??? Didn’t u have any other options? This really offended me. I remembered the first time I got offended, way back in ’99 during the counseling. I opted for mech. Sir Can I confirm asked the counselor, I said YES. Sir…. Still seats are there in ECE, EEE, one minute... even in CSE …… my choice is MECH.
I had always toyed / loved the nuts & bolts and would continue so…


And those 4 years When we were looked up as a different species altogether by the student community .Wat a life man … University rank holders, overall sports championship or be the cultural events .Mech was rite there at the top .I still remember when the fourth year seniors of ECE used to make way for us on the corridors when we were entering the second year (No jokes.. true). This turns u in to an all thru bred individual.

I decided I need to take this head on. Dei nee oru Mech Maa Manidhan Yezhindudu, Vizhithidu ,Vendridu .After some initial rounds of shots I hit at point blank

Shreya tell me, wat is it you are researching .I’m working on a mapping the pressure at sub sea level for deep sea oil drilling. This will be useful for oil exploration. I said does at have any application other than exploration. No this is what I’am working very specific. Watts the use of finding oil?? . Are u Nutsssss .

Wats going to be this oil of use, if it’s going to be a hypothetical situation of no cars, no bikes, no bus, no airplanes. A blank face ……. Mechanical engineers move the world.


Now Ram tell me, I bet your whole IT only supports or facilitates wat our mech guys have been doing … Hey common kutta ….

Ok if it’s hard to come this side I will come there. said I . Now if I’m rite u have different BU‘s at TCS tell me one by one.

Retail - wats the use of writing a coding for automatic billing using RFID for retail concept if there is no manufacturing & distribution of goods which a re our forte.

Travel- No point in creating a customer loyalty program or Air ticket billing If the turbine on the wing is not able to thrust upwards.

Now see this BFSI - hey whats the use of Motor insurance if motor itself is not there.
And more that 70 % of Investments banks must be investing in a manufacturing base in shanghai ,Guangzhou or sriperambedur

Bye the way who is your onsite client. Arvin Meritor, They are in to …… Stop there.
Dei you could keep your foot in the US because the largest auto component company had called u. Just think at it.


I had my day ……
Mandalum Maraindhalum Maru piraviyulum mech maamanidhanai piraka vendum

Coffee Jottings .....

You appeared on my table all of a sudden steaming ,
God only knows from where perhaps from the vending machine at the terrace.
This reminds me one of the hidden pleasures of my job those club breaks,
Stirring you thru those froths reminds of the rough is life ahead.
I find the depths of the cup , chunks of white sugar with brown streaks ,
One side tastes white & sweet ,another taste bitter & black ,
Mebbe this is what life is…..


Call it obsession Call it habitual
Call it fanatical But I am not tryingTo make this a skeptical
I have this craving,Justifies behaving,I really need some of that
It all ground up, In my favourite cup,
Black or whiteDark or light Strong or Double
Right to start the dayRight at work ,
Right at endA perfect thing for those breaks

A lot can happen over a coffee

A Tryst with Mottai Madi Cricket

Motai madi Cricket is essentially the stripped down version of the most popular game in India, cricket. It is a rage almost everywhere in India, Particularly in few Places in Chennai including , Natesa Nagar 4 th,5th 3rd ,,2nd ,1st main roads.
Rules
The game requires the most minimum of investment with the mandatory entities being a ball , a bat , few bottels of water ,broom stick for cleaning and a 1 rupee coin for toss. Tennis balls, specially made for cricket and slightly heavier than usual tennis balls, or rubber balls are normally used. Broken Antenna or windows s serve as stumps at the batsman's end while a piece of brick serves as the stumps at the bowler's end. When sticks and canes are not readily available, two stones with a gap of around 1o inches is kept on the ground. The players assume the stumps at an imaginary height. This leads to many interesting events as to whether the ball would have hit the stumps or not had the had the stumps been there for real. Sometimes the stumps are drawn on the walls. The advantage, there isn't a need for the wicket keeper , but there are frequent instances when the bowler / batemen need to go 2 or 3 floors down to collect the ball.
An interesting aspect of motai madi cricket are the rules that apply while playing. These rules have been devised to cause the least public inconvenience while playing. Several innovative rules ( e.g. Half out / Full out, One pitch catch, ball touch body out of terrace out ,1g , 2 g , no extras ,
One-Man Gaaji, Last-Man Gaaji) are seen in , which make the game more interesting. While hitting a ball as far as you can in a cricket stadium is rewarded by runs, doing the same might shatter a few glass panes or lose the ball in to nearby houses , streets and thus put the future of the match in jeopardy. Hence batsmen with ultra aggressive instincts stand a very good chance of getting out very soon.Each venue carries its importance when the venue specific rule comes into play.One more interseting aspect is the batting team to field in the play area , the batsman too does the fielding setup along with the bowler to save his wicket .

Some of the finest talents got nurtured and blossomed on the terraces of Natesa Nagar . Notable were SP / Naani ( for their agressive shorts ) , Kutti Karthi for his first paced fielding , Peformer Pradeep for his performance & last but not the least the formidable pair of Vidhya & Natti , the deadly duo of Mottai Madi , who can wreck in to any batting lineup at any point of the game as well as glasses of neighbouring houses ...

Terms Used to be continued …… ",1]