ATM safety: hoax OR not?

Bangalore has witnessed a lot of ATM crimes: The robbers abduct the victim and torture them till they let the goons reveal the ATM PIN; The Card and PIN is then used by the robbers to take out money from the ATM.

There was an email taking rounds stating that if you enter the PIN in reverse that will intimate the police without the knowledge of the robber. Soon after I got that mail, I got another one which stated that the mail about the ‘reverse-PIN-safety’ can do more damage than help... I'm listing both the mails below.

Mail on using reverse-PIN for safety:

If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse. For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The ATM recognizes that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine.

The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.

This information was recently broadcasted on TV and it states that it is seldom used because people don't know it exists.

Mail that asks not to use the reverse-PIN:

The email-forward that claims that if criminals forced you to withdraw money from an ATM, entering your PIN in reverse will automatically alert police, can do more harm than help…

The technology that makes this possible does exist. However, so far, banks have not implemented it. Thus, if you are forced to withdraw money against your will, the chance that the ATM will have the reverse pin technology installed is exceptionally slim.

Back in 1994, Joseph Zingher from Chicago began developing ATM software that would silently call police if a PIN was entered in reverse. Since then, Zingher has spent years trying to sell the idea to banks in the United States without success. Several US states have explored the idea, but it is yet to be implemented. In 2004, the US state of Illinois passed legislation requesting that banks install reverse-pin safety technology in their ATMs. However, banks were not legally required to do so, and have so far displayed little interest in using the system.

Zingher and others continue to push for the implementation of reverse pin or similar consumer safety systems at ATMs. The concept is sound, and such technology could certainly increase ATM security, discourage forced withdrawal crime and possibly even save lives, if it was widely used. In an increasingly security conscious consumer market, it may not be too long before banks decide that such technology is financially viable or legislation forces them to act.

Until then however, forwarding this message is ill advised. Since it is extremely unlikely to work, the "advice" in this message could actually be dangerous. Forcing a victim to withdraw money from an ATM is a high-risk, violent crime. If a victim enters a reverse pin at an ATM that does not have the safety pin system installed, he or she will receive an error message and no money will be dispensed. This delay could antagonize the criminal and increase the risk of violent retaliation.

Moreover, if banks were to install a safety PIN system, they would provide information to their customers explaining the new system and how to use it. The message claims that the system is seldom used because "people don't know it exists". However, it is absurd to suggest that a bank would go to the considerable expense of implementing a safety PIN system and then not bother to tell their customers about it.

The message mentions a "broadcast" as the source of the information. This may refer to a September 2006 WOAI San Antonio News story on the subject. The video cites the case of a San Antonio man who was forced to withdraw money from several ATMs and explains the concept of reverse-pin technology as a means of countering such crimes. However, the story very clearly states that such technology is not yet being used.

How Iraqis hide from the Americans

Courtesy: Forwarded Mail

In the name of Love...

I think this scene from Moulin Rouge, called Elephant love, has got an excellent music tuned to some sweet lyrics... What do you think?

In the Line of Fire...

Vivek Pradhan was not a happy man. Even the plush comfort of the air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi express could not cool his frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and still not entitled to air travel. It was not the prestige he sought, he had tried to reason with the admin person, it was the savings in time. As PM, he had so many things to do. He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time to some good use.

"Are you from the software industry sir," the man beside him was staring appreciatively at the laptop.

Vivek glanced briefly and mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care and importance as if it were an expensive car.

"You people have brought so much advancement to the country sir. Today everything is getting computerized."

"Thanks," smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a look.

He always found it difficult to resist appreciation. The man was young and stocky like a sportsman. He looked simple and strangely out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a prep school. He probably was a railway sportsman making the most of his free traveling pass.

"You people always amaze me," the man continued, "You sit in an office and write something on a computer and it does so many big things outside."

Vivek smiled deprecatingly. Naivety demanded reasoning not anger. "It is not as simple as that my friend. It is not just a question of writing a few lines. There is a lot of process that goes behind it." For a moment, he was tempted to explain the entire Software Development Lifecycle but restrained himself to a single statement. "It is complex, very complex."

"It has to be. No wonder you people are so highly paid," came the reply.

This was not turning out as Vivek had thought. A hint of belligerence came into his so far affable, persuasive tone.

"Everyone just sees the money. No one sees the amount of hard work we have to put in.Indians have such a narrow concept of hard work. Just because we sit in an air-conditioned office does not mean our brows do not sweat. You exercise the muscle; we exercise the mind and believe me that is no less taxing."

He had the man where he wanted him and it was time to drive home the point.

"Let me give you an example. Take this train. The entire railway reservation system is computerized. You can book a train ticket between any two stations from any of the hundreds of computerized booking centres across the country. Thousands of transactions accessing a single database, at a time concurrency; data integrity, locking, data security. Do you understand
the complexity in designing and coding such a system?"

The man was stuck with amazement, like a child at a planetarium. This was something big and beyond his imagination. "You design and code such things."

"I used to," Vivek paused for effect, "But now I am the Project Manager,"

"Oh!" sighed the man, as if the storm had passed over, "so your life is easy now."

It was like being told the fire was better than the frying pan. The man had to be given a feel of the heat.

"Oh come on, does life ever get easy as you go up the ladder. Responsibility only brings more work. Design and coding! That is the easier part. Now I do not do it, but I am responsible for it and believe me, that is far more stressful. My job is to get the work done in time and with the highest quality. To tell you about the pressures, there is the customer
at one end always changing his requirements, the user wanting something else and your boss always expecting you to have finished it yesterday."

Vivek paused in his diatribe, his belligerence fading with self-realisation. What he had said, was not merely the outburst of a wronged man, it was the truth. And one need not get angry while defending the truth. "My friend," he concluded triumphantly, "you don't know what it is to be in the line of fire."

The man sat back in his chair, his eyes closed as if in realization. When he spoke after sometime, it was with a calm certainty that surprised Vivek.

"I know sir, I know what it is to be in the line of fire," He was staring blankly as if no passenger, no train existed, just a vast expanse of time.

"There were 30 of us when we were ordered to capture Point 4875 in the cover of the night. The enemy was firing from the top. There was no knowing where the next bullet was going to come from and for whom. In the morning when we finally hoisted the tricolour at the top only 4 of us were alive."

"You are a..."

"I am Subedar Sushant from the 13 J&K Rifles on duty at Peak 4875 in Kargil. They tell me I have completed my term and can opt for a land assignment. But tell me sir, can one give up duty just because it makes life easier. On the dawn of that capture, one of my colleagues lay injured in the snow, open to enemy fire while we were hiding behind a bunker. It was my job to go and fetch that soldier to safety."
"But my captain refused me permission and went ahead himself. He said that the first pledge he had taken as a Gentleman Cadet was to put the safety and welfare of the nation foremost followed by the safety and welfare of the men he commanded."
"His own personal safety came last, always and every time. He was killed as he shielded that soldier into the bunker. Every morning now, as I stand guard I can see him taking all those bullets, which were actually meant for me. I know sir, I know what it is to be in the line of fire."

Vivek looked at him in disbelief not sure of his reply. Abruptly he switched off the laptop. It seemed trivial, even insulting to edit a word document in the presence of a man for whom valour and duty was a daily part of life; a valour and sense of duty which he had so far attributed only to epical heroes.

The train slowed down as it pulled into the station and Subedar Sushant picked up his bags to alight.

"It was nice meeting you sir."

Vivek fumbled with the handshake. This hand had climbed mountains, pressed the trigger, and hoisted the tricolour. Suddenly as if by impulse,he stood at attention and his right hand went up in an impromptu salute. It was the least he felt he could do for the country.

PS: The incident he narrates during the capture of Peak 4875 is a true-life incident during the Kargil war. Capt. Batra sacrificed his life while trying to save one of the men he commanded, as victory was within sight. For this and his various other acts of bravery he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra the nation's highest military award.

Capt. Vikram Batra

Live humbly, there are great people around us, let us learn!

Winners are too busy to be sad, too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated!

Courtesy: Forwarded Mail

Space Problem...

My dept. has got chronic space issue. It keeps adding people. But never bothers to add more floor space. It has an excuse to it - bureaucracy. It seems that it takes six month to fly in the client and get the approval to work in a new office space. Seven people working in a cube is a very common sight in my dept.! Interviews for new candidates are conducted in aisles! None of these seems to bother the project office to speed up that 'bureaucracy'. They try to cover up all this with one mantra - With growth comes pain!

Whatever be the 'growth', I guess if the 'pain' lasts for more than a year, there is some serious problem with the upper management. Here's one dilbert cartoon that depicts the space problem. Check out Wallies' head. It is in the arse of the lady.

The funniest thing is, in spite of these problems, they try to project the dept. as the “Best Place to Work”. Instead of resolving the basic issues, they try to divert the attention of the folks by coming up with some gimmick!

Quite interesting…!

Ee dooravani durasthiyillathe

I dialed +91-80-25360750, hoping the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. would have got their phone working. It is still "Ee dooravani durasthiyillathe. Dayavittu swapa samayandadra dial maadi"...

Plan to buy Gold from Bank? Think again....

Here's one interesting article on why one should not buy gold from banks. Pretty interesting...

Get paid to do what you love...

Today, while talking to my friend I mentioned that the stuff I'm trying to learn is a bit boring. She responded that I should quit if I don't enjoy what I'm doing. Reminded me the dialogue in the movie - The Road to Perdition

Sullivan: Is that your profession or your pleasure?
Maguire: Both, I guess. To be paid to do what you love... ain't that the dream?
Sullivan: I guess so

.

Right Angle...

Wonderful Angles...




Courtesy: Forwarded Mail

Do you like me more...?

In the movie Road to Perdition, Mike, son of Sullivan, asks him a question: "Pa, did you like Peter (Mike's brother) more than me?" To which Sullivan replies: "No. I loved you both the same".
Mike: "But you were different to me"

I guess this questions passes through the minds of almost all kids. They ask the same to their parents and get the same reply. They stare at that answer, liking it, but not completely convinced... a little bit puzzled: How can one like different people the same?... They get convinced later. But it takes years... and parenthood for that.

Dilbert and his Date

If you want to have a succesful date, learn to be "funny" talking crap that is "intellectually simulating". Not to mention being "caring" enough not to hurt her "sentiments" ;-)

Conundrum of God

Certain chapters of Holy Scriptures are strewed with prophesies. Most of the prophesies draw a bad picture about the future. Through these prophesies the religion instills fear in its followers and thereby makes them obey its doctrines. My objective here is not to criticize the "stick and carrot" approach of religions, but to analyze those prophesies. Time and again lots of prophets have appeared in this little blue planet. Their “abstract” fortune-telling are similar to those that one will find in the holy books. Have you ever thought why these prophesies go abstract? If God is speaking through them – both scriptures and prophets - then why give something that is abstract? Why can't the prophesies be more specific? E.g. instead of saying "underworld daemons will destroy one forth of the human race" (which is tsunami), why can't they say "The sea will swallow most of the land on so-and-so date". Some might argue that phenomenons like tsunami were puzzles to the prophets themselves and hence they had to use such similes to convey the message to masses, who were not as educated as modern men.

Another version can be that, God is not really sure of the future. So He gives something abstract to the prophets, which they deliver. The beauty of such abstract prophesies filled with similes, is that one can fit any contemporary disaster to it. But why should God do that? Is He (or She) not confident about His predictions. Perhaps yes... He is not *that* confident and He is trying to get a bail through the abstract. But why on earth (and heaven) should God - the omnipotent - be unconfident about His own predictions? The answer partly lies in the book - God's debris. In that book Scott Adams raises a question. How can an omnipotent challenge himself? Perhaps the omnipotent gave a part of his powers to human beings. His current mission is to get all that power back by attracting the souls to Him and not away from Him. When He is dealing with an energy or form that has part of his powers, He is not quite sure how “that form” will react to his moves. His moves consist of religion that would lead the people to Him (through a “stick and carrot” approach): "if you do this then.... else...” Humans, that possesses a part of His power can choose that "else" and then another "else" and then another "if". How can one accurately predict when the numbers of such combinations are overwhelming? That can be the conundrum that puzzles God. And that can be the reason why He conveys abstract prophesies.

Award winning Short Story...

There was a contest in a software company to write a fictional story for 500 words max which would start with the line " On a dark and foggy night, a small figure lay huddled on the railway tracks leading to the Bangalore station "

This is what a guy wrote for the contest....... and surprisingly, it was adjudged the best short story : ))

On a dark and foggy night, a small figure lay huddled on the railway tracks leading to the Bangalore station. At once I was held back to see someone in that position during midnight with no one around. With curiosity taking the front seat, I went near the body and tried to investigate it. There was blood all over the body which was lying face down. It seemed that a ruthless blow by the last train could have caused the end of this body which seemed to be that of a guy of around my age. Amidst the gory blood flow, I could see a folded white envelope which was fluttering in the midnight wind. Carefully I took the blood stained envelope and was surprised to see the phrase "appraisal letter" on it. With curiosity rising every moment, I wasted no time in opening the envelope to see if I can find some details about the dead guy. The tag around the body's neck and the jazzy appraisal cover gave me the hint that he might be a software engineer. I opened the envelope to find a shining paper on which the appraisal details where typed in flying colors. Thunders broke into my ears and lightening struck my heart when I saw the appraisal amount of the dead guy!!!!! My God, it was not even, as much as the cost of the letter on which the appraisal details were printed.... My heart poured out for the guy and huge calls were heard inside my mind saying "no wonder, this guy died such a miserable death"... As a fellow worker in the same industry, I thought I should mourn for him for the sake of respect and stood there with a heavy heart thinking of the shock that he would have experienced when his manager had placed the appraisal letter in his hand. I am sure his heart would have stopped and eyes would have gone blank for few seconds looking at the near to nothing increment in his salary.

While I mourned for him, for a second my hands froze to see the employee's name in the appraisal letter... hey, what a strange co-incidence, this guy's name is same as mine, including the initials. This was interesting. With some mental strength, I turned the body upside down and found myself fainted for a second. The guy not only had my name, but also looked exactly like me. Same looks, same built, same name.... it was me who was dead there!!!!!!!! While I was lost in that shock, I felt someone patting on my shoulders. My heart stopped completely, I could not breathe and sprung in fear to see who was behind......... splash!!! Went the glass of water on my laptop screen as I came out of my wild dream to see my manager standing behind my chair patting on my shoulder saying, "wake up man? Come to meeting room number two. I have your appraisal letter ready".

Courtesy: Forwarded Mail

Timex Expedition "Alarm Puzzle" Decoded

A meeting is on. Suddenly from some corner the alarm of a watch goes on. Beep... Beep... Beep... - the distinct pitch of a Timex Expedition. After the meeting I meet the owner of that Timex Expedition. I check with him why he set an alarm at an odd time. To my expectation he replies that he didn't set it. That sometime back it was accidentally set and he doesn’t know how to turn off the alarm. I was glad to meet another person facing the same problem that had haunted me for a while. Welcome to the Timex-Expedition-Watch-Problem Group!

The instruction set (key combinations) for Timex Expedition is quite complicated that it is quite hard to remember the combinations. I couldn't find any online manual that gives those instructions. So here goes one blog dedicated to the owners of Timex Expedition watch. It will help you turn off your alarm and chime. I have numbered the keys of the watch. Please see the image.


To turn off the alarm:

1. Toggle the button 2, till the word ALARM blinks on the display.
2. Then press toggle buttons 3 and 4 simultaneously. The tiny alarm symbol (not word) on your display should go off.
3. Press button 2 again.

Congratz! The alarm of your Timex Expedition is turned off.

To turn off the chime, replace step 2 with "Toggle the button 4 till the chime symbol goes off."

Why do people bike?

"You see things vacationing on a motorcycle in a way that is completely different from any other. In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car widow everything you see is just more TV. You’re a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is gone. You are completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.

That was an excerpt from Robert M Pirsig's Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZAMM)

Pirsig continues... explaining how one is "completely in contact with it all".

"I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning. The wind, even at sixty miles an hour, is warm and humid. In the wind are pungent odors from the marshes by the road.

Before trying to explore why people bike, let me share one more excerpts form ZAMM.

"We want to make good time, but for us now this is measured with emphasis on 'good' rather than 'time' and when you make that shift in emphasis the whole approach changes. Twisting hilly roads are long in terms of seconds but are much more enjoyable on a cycle where you bank into turns and don't get swung from side to side in any compartment.

So.... Why do people bike? Why do I bike? I love biking for those reasons mentioned above and many more. I see that as "trekking taken to the next level". For me, there can't be a combination better than Biking, Trekking and Photography. To elaborate: You bike to a location, clicking all the way; then you trek, clicking all the way; and then you return biking and clicking. Nothing can beat it. Enjoying this combination would mean you have struck a perfect balance of left and right brain; mind and body. At one point you will be cruising trying to reach your destination on time; your mind always active, making calculations about the time left, distance yet to cover, milestones you need to reach in the next couple of hours etc; your eyes actively searching for short cuts. On the way, to give some relief to your back ache, you would be doing some small stretches on your bike, like leaning forward with your chest almost touching the fuel tank. The next moment you would see yourself stopping on the road-side copying the nature into your camera, ensuring that you get the right frame. After a while you would find yourself navigating the potholes and overtaking those cars that had zipped by you sometime back. Stopping on the roadside and talking to the locals with a smile on your face is another thing that you would do. You will be banking left and right when riding through twisted and winding roads. And yes, you would be definitely enjoying the nature around.

I love biking.

1. Biking gives me a sense of freedom
2. It lets me stop with ease at any place I like thus providing me that wonderful opportunity to tame that lovely light in my black box a.k.a camera
3. I like to challenge myself physically and mentally. Biking gives me that opportunity.
4. Biking requires some basic knowledge of bike mechanics.
5. I enjoy the planning part of a trip... and to see at the end of the trip, the difference between the "planned" and "actuals"
6. Biking gives me the opportunity to meet different people of different places. It helps me meet other bikers - owners of excellent minds... and bikes :)
7. Biking helps in building confidence
8. I get a chance to explore the 'unknown'
9. It gives me that precious time to think about stuffs that I wouldn’t have if I had closed myself in a city. I can let my mind wander through the forest of philosophy
10. I find it much easy to travel in a bike through rough terrains than traveling in a car.
11. I can navigate easily through heavy traffic.
12. It is easy to park a bike
13. It is economical
14. As mentioned in one of the Discovery Channel Programs "For a man, it is nice to have a powerful thing thumping between his legs"
15. With that stern face and goggles, isn't biking fun?
    

So much said about my reasons of love, let us see why others love biking?

I stumbled upon this website - a wonderful website that tries to explore the Psychology of Motorcycle Riding. It says: "When you are riding a motorcycle, you are away from everything, and in a sense in the unfamiliar. You are unable to talk on a cell phone, listen to the radio, or even talk to a passenger (if you choose to have one). By removing all these things which have familiarity in life, a rider can be free and experience something new each and every time he/she gets on that bike." The author also explores the Psychology of motorcycle-gangs: "Because there is a shared interest between riders, they tend to treat each other with comradory. This is why there are “motorcycle gangs"”

Here's another website that I googled out. It talks about the pleasure of solo rides.

I hope folks-who-dont-bike and have wondered why-people-bike now know the reason.

Worm in Cafeteria Food!

Today I got a mail from a colleague. Subject: "Worm in Cafeteria Food!" It had a few attachments - the pictures of the worm crawling out from his curry, served by Riviera Food Court. Calvin would have loved to pick it and drop it in Susie's plate :-). Riviera Food Court, Located in Embassy Golf Links, Bangalore, is not our company's "official" cafeteria. But virtually it is! This venture started by a food vendor has monopolized the Embassy Golf Links business park. There is absolutely no competition in 1 sq km around the business park. Result: Pathetic food quality. Folks who eat here do so because they have no other option. Having food outside the park will cost them TIME, which they don't have when work pressure touches its peak.

Coming back to the mail, something I found interesting about it was the attachments - the pictures. Why? Because those pictures were captured in a mobile camera (Mobile Phone with Camera). Makes me think how powerful mobile cameras can get. If the Indian Judiciary can accept footages taken on mobile cameras as proof to charge the guilty, we can have millions of amateur journalists guarding our society from such menace. Five years back, could anyone imagine how powerful telecom could get?

Mentation aside, after getting the mail, I tried to reach the Food Inspector of Bangalore. I gave a google search - "Food Inspector Bangalore phone number" - to get the phone number. It fetched me nothing. So I called up JustDial - a yellow page service (Ph +91-80-23333333) and got the number of Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd, Kasturba Road, Bangalore. (Ph +91-80-22214431). When I called up, the personnel told me that the area I was referring to, i.e. Domlur, comes under the jurisdiction of another office of Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. He gave me the number of that office - +91-80-25360750. I dialed that number to get "Ee dooravani durasthiyillathe. Dayavittu swapa samayandadra dial maadi", which translates to - "This telephone is Out of Order. Please try after some time".

Guess I should try after a few days and learn the process of filing a complaint. Might get handy.

PS: I finally managed to get the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd Contact Details. Click here to get the details.

Riviera Food Court Manager "inspects" the worm

Calvin Again...

No other person can find a better use of Canteen Food

If you were Calvin's father would you do the same thing? What will be its effect on your kid's psychology? Won't he think that his 'hero' - you - doesn't care about him and gien an opportunity, is willing to desert him? Won't that leave a scar in his mind that will perhaps never heal? Think...

If I had a kid who is as naughty as Calvin, I would have done the same. Full marks to Calvin's father for handling that scene in the most apt way.

Isn't this true? Honesty and Selfishness are oxymorons!

Age doesn't matter

Whenever I think that I'm getting too old to do a few stuffs in my life, I go and watch this video clip. That keeps me away from being senile. Barbara you inspire!!

System Engineer OR SystemS Engineer

Which is correct - System Engineer OR SystemS Engineer. I have seen many going for the former. But the latter is correct as per INCOSE.

Talking about INCOSE and SE, I got this nice chart from INCOSE. It lists the skills and qualities needed by Systems Engineers...

Skills and Qualities Needed by Systems Engineers

• Good math skills
• Strong time management skills
• Aptitude for systems thinking
• Good common sense
• A strong desire for organization and efficiency
• Excellent communication/salesmanship
• Creative problem solving
• Quantitative skills
• Technical competency
• Continuous drive for improvement
• Resourcefulness
• Listening skills
• Negotiation skills
• Diplomacy
• Patience
• Ability to adapt to many environments, wear many hats and interact with a diverse group of individuals
• Inquisitive mind
• Continuous desire to learn
• Leadership skills
• Ethics

Shakespeare and Internet

For years there has been a theory that millions of monkeys typing at random on millions of typewriters would reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. The Internet has proven this theory to be untrue. - Anonymous

"NOT MY JOB" Award

Satan will be overjoyed to see this wonderful piece of work. It epitomizes Laziness - One of the seven deadly sins. People who stoop to such level hardly know the impact their act (or no-act) makes on others. (Or Do they know?) Bureaucrats fall in this category. This article (click here) shows how nasty bureaucracy in India can become. God save the common man. The same is seen in big companies. I have seen this deadly bureaucracy and laziness in my company. I used to get frustrated... but no longer. I guess I got used to it. These days I try to train new joinees on how to adapt themselves to the reality - that others laziness will impact them; that it cannot be cured; that... "What cannot be cured should be endured". I hope in that process I'm not turning into a lazy blot.

Mobile phone info...

Came across this info...

If you lose your mobile/cell in India, send an e-mail to cop@vsnl.net with the following info. Seems that they will take care of the rest.

Your name:
Address:
Phone model:
Make:
Last used No.:
E-mail for communication:
Missed date:
IMEI No.:

To get the IMEI number of your mobile, dial *#06#. This part worked for me. Dial it and keep the details in a safe place

Source: Hindu 13-May-2006

Dilbert's tip to become a successful manager

Bet you have seen such 'successful' managers...

Calvin and his philosophy on life

Surroundings matters

Did you ever walk into a public washroom that smelt so bad you wanted to choke? But you were so desperate to go to the bathroom you had to carry on.

Did you notice something? By the time you left five minutes later, it didn't smell quite so bad! And what if you had accidentally locked yourself in there for an hour? You might be saying, "What smell?"

There's a principle operating here. We get used to our environment!

Live with miserable people, and you become miserable - and you think it's normal! Work with critical people, and you become critical - and you think it's normal.

If your friends tell lies, it worries you - in the beginning. Eventually you get used to people telling lies. Hang out with them long enough and you'll tell some yourself.

Mix with happy and motivated people, and you become happy and motivated - and you think that is normal.

If your family is negative and miserable, than you need to find some bright, happy friends. Somewhere in your life, you need positive company or the pessimists will drag you down - and you won't even know it is happening.

We are all affected (and infected!) by the people and attitudes around us. Sometimes we need to take action - or change the company we keep - while we still notice: "Something smells around here!"

Credit: A fwded mail

Lesson on Management

Once PVNR (PV Narasimha Rao), L.K.Advani and Laloo Prasad Yadav were traveling in an auto rickshaw. They met with an accident and all three of them died. Yama Raja was waiting for this moment at the doorstep of death.

He asks PVNR and Advani to go to HEAVEN. But, for Laloo, Yama had already decided that he should be sent to HELL..

Laloo is not at all happy with this decision. He asks Yama as to why this discrimination is being made. All the three of them had served the public.

Similarly, all took bribes, all misused public positions, etc. Then why the differential treatment? He felt that there should be a formal test or an objective evaluation before a decision is made; and should not be just asked on opinion or pre conceived notions.

Yama agrees to this and asks all the three of them to appear for an English test.

PVNR is asked to spell "INDIA" and he does it correctly. Advani is asked to spell "ENGLAND" and he too passes. It is Laloo's turn and he is asked to spell "CZECHOSLOVAKIA". Laloo protests that he doesn't know English. He says this is not fair and that he was given a tough question and thus forced to fail with false intent.

Yama then agrees to conduct a written test in Hindi (to give another chance assuming that Laloo should at least feel that Hindi would provide an equal platform for all three).

PVNR is asked to write "KUTTA BOLA BHOW BHOW". He writes it easily and Passes. Advani is asked to write "BILLY BOLI MYAUN MYAUN". He too passes. Laloo is asked to write "BANDAR BOLA GURRRRRR....." Tough one. He fails again.

Laloo is extremely unhappy. Having been a student of history (which the other two weren't), he now requested for all the 3 to be subjected to a test in history Yama says OK but this would be the last chance and that he would not take any more tests.

PVNR is asked: "When did India get Independence?". He replied "1947" and passed. Advani is asked "How many people died during the independence
struggle?". He gets nervous. Yama asked him to choose from 3 options: 100,000 or 200,000 or 300,000.Advani catches it and says 200,000 and passes.

It's Laloo's turn now. Yama asks him to give the Name and Address of each of the 200,000 who died in the struggle. Laloo accepts defeat and agrees to go to HELL.

Moral of the story : IF YOUR MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDED TO SCREW YOU, THERE IS NO ESCAPE !!!

Credit: A Fwded mail