Version Of Truth

About 200 civilians died and more than 300 injured in Nov 26 terrorist attacks. The worst part people had to watch it happening, waiting for terrorist to get shot - a horrifying drama that went on for 60 hours.

Why it happened & what’s next? I am going to post my views in next few posts - mainly revolving around following questions:

1) who are there these terrorists? History and intention.

2) Motive behind attacks: Terrorize, money, heaven, fund-raising?

3) Is there any solution? why it is very difficult if not impossible for Pakistan government to crack down Taliban, LeT and other groups operating from the region.

4) Whats next,  who is next & where will be next? Ofcourse terrorists will like to attack US if they can, if they are not scared. Among many other reasons one is attacking the most powerful.

5) Is it worth writing or reading about issue or let big guys handle it - government, president, PMs and intelligence guys are smart people and they will do something that needs to be done?

Not long back I was Scott Adams fan; but I think Dilbert has lost its charm. May be the new design with colored cartoons makes its unfunny!

I think he is relatively unbiased regarding politicians though he clearly mentions affiliations of the economists in the survey. Overall, a good read; I would trust economists to tell me who are better for economy than I guessing based on my perception. Perception of young guy like me could be based on anything like Joe Biden’s tie or Sarah Palin’s glasses.

Link to Survey: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/dilbert.economy/index.html

Lehman brothers is planning to file bankruptcy. Many thoughts flashed my mind with this news:

1. how big is the financial problem? how long will it last?
2. About 5 years back, a friend got a huge salary package for joining Lehman brothers - the biggest I had heard at that time.
3. One of my best friend working with Lehman in IT.

Companies fail - people don’t - specially if they are smart and tough. Bad times are temporary, they will come, leave some wounds and go away - usually making you stronger. I haven’t talked to my friends from Lehman in months but knowing them - they must have found a new job by now or may be they will go on a vacation and later come back to find a better and higher paying job!

Running 5K is tricky; I can run 5K non-stop but it gets tricky when you try to minimize the time of race or maximize the speed. If you try to run fast in the beginning you risk to run out of gas and get slower towards the end. If you run too slow in the beginning - again you may take more time than you want.

Greek Festival 5K was my first 5Km race. There were about 900 runners in the race. I have run 8k earlier so my main objective was to improve on my average speed. I completed race in about 30 minutes with speed of about 6.18 miles/hour(10km/hour).  It can be considered a very good beginning.

Its fun to see lots of people running; its fun to see few families & friends who come to encourage their loved ones and to see how everyone feels they have achieved something after the end of the race. Few are happy for just completing it; few for improving their speed; few for doing it again; and few for just trying. Whatever reasons may be - run is fun!

Running has many advantages but who cares of advantages when you start enjoying it. Talking about advantages of running long race: good for health and requires attitude not to give up - keep running & running and you will hit finish line.

I ran Dilworth 8Km race on Aug 9th. I have never been a runner; didn’t even qualify for any running competition in school.  I wanted to give it a try; I knew it will not kill me and if I can be consistent and continue running for an hour, I will definately hit the Finish line. I ran non-stop for 53 minutes; considering it was my first race, I am impressed with myself.

In Picture: Running buddies - Alan, Connie, Satish, Damien, Matt, Raj(me). After race we went to pancake house to enjoy our well deserved pancakes.

End result: A winning feeling and little pain in shin - result of using cross training shoes(not running shoes) and lack of practice. I will have to take rest for atleast a week before I start running again - practice for Aug 23rd Greek Festival 5K.

I played a cricket match last week - after a long long time. Match was between bofa crmservices(my team) vs TCS. Most of the player in CRM Services were from Senior Management and guys who have never played cricket. On the other side were TCS guys - a team with all Indian players who grew up playing cricket.

It was a friendly match with surprising result - TCS lost and CRM services won the game. Most of the players in my team were playing for the first time, learning rules while playing but on field showed amazing performance. Few baseball players hit six runs - hitting ball out of the boundary.

My contribution: I did not contribute many runs from bat but did good as a wicket keeper. I have received many recognitions for work but this time it was for playing cricket. Boss of my boss of my boss of my boss  recognized my contribution in monthly newsletter. He was playing his first cricket match. I was surprised that he already knew rules and did great while bowling. Few lines from CRMS newsletter:

“First I would like to highlight and commend our Keeper, Rajesh Kumar. The job of the Keeper is stand behind the stumps, these are three sticks that are pounded into the ground behind the batter whose job is to prevent ball from hitting the stumps, and keep the ball from escaping further into the pitch preventing the batsman from being able to score a run without hitting the ball. Not only did Rajesh perform his duties expertly, he did with such intensity and vigor that he raised the spirits of the entire team.”

Playing cricket is fun, winning is amazing and getting recognition from top boss for raising spirits of team - priceless - or may be price to be received in future!

I enjoy driving fast, I like going fastest. Sometimes, I wonder why people drive in fastest lane if they are driving at only 89 miles/hour(in 65 miles/hour zone). If my car is tailing your car, it means you are supposed to leave the fastest lane. All this is going to change for me now.

Today, cop stopped me for speeding. I was driving in Charlotte on I-85 at 83 miles/hour in 65 miles/hour zone. I was lucky, I was driving only at 83 miles/hour and unlucky that cop saw me. Like a good law abiding resident I stopped my car talked to him confidently and politely;  he asked my license and registration and came back telling me he had given me 3 points and $150 fine.

Cop: You can take a 4 hour safe driving class to avoid points as points can take your insrance up.
Raj: I think I will take a class to avoid any further increase in my insurance( I am already paying about $1000/6 months).
Cop: That will be good option for you, Sir. I have written your speed only 80 miles/hour so you get option of cancelling points by taking class.
Raj: I appreciate it.

Cop’s final words: “I like your car”. I replied “Thank You”.  I hope my BMW will not attract his attention again

High oil prices may not be as bad as it looks for developed countries. Here are few advantages of high oil prices:

1. People will start using less oil, which means oil will last longer and probably to next generation.

2. Invention of cars that will consume less oil and more research on alternative fuel.

3. Oil price is same for all countries not producing oil. It will be easier for US to handle oil price but in countries like China and India, it will become less affordable. Eventually, China and India will loose price advantage - which will bring jobs back to US.

4. This schenario will make dollar weak against Euro and middle east countries but it will get stronger against Indian and Chinese currencies. China is major exporter to US and keeps steady rate of their currency aginst US dollar, this will hurt them more. Weak dollar against Euro can help US can sell products like i-phone, fighter planes and other machineries.

There is a possibility of getting a positive outcome of high oil price issue - may be its good for future generations or may be not.

“In future software programmers will be considered as sexiest men” - Scott Adams

Saving software application could be as adventorous as fighting a war, doing a surgery or saving a life. It depends how much passion you put into it.  When application is down you throw ideas, think what could have brought it down, brain storm and save it. It can be more adventorous than winning a basket ball championship - with a difference in basket ball fans watching understand the game.

I was involved in a release today to upgrade database: Oracle 9i to Oracle 10g. More than 50 applications depend on the database, more than 15 teams and more than 50 programmers/managers were involved in the release. Everyone finished verification except for 2 applications. We had to work till late Saturday night and because of delay we are supposed to meet tomorrow morning. It is a team task - everyone succeeds of fails together. In the programming world a small weak link can cause application downtime and if it happens during work time - loss of hundreds of work hours - depending on impact.

Ofcourse all programmers are not equally good; like few surgeons are better than others; like few players are stars and only few soldiers win awards. And, thats what makes it exiting. 

Today I found a new running trail. It starts at a Park at Mallard Church Creek. It is a beautiful trail surrounded by trees - goes below Mallard Church Creek Road, North Tryon and I-85. I don’t know how long is the trail and where it ends.

It was a surprise as I never knew running trails like that exist. I searched google and found there are few running routes in charlotte with hills. I was not much into running but I am sure going to enjoy running around curly paths and green trees.