The Call Center phenomenon
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
This is not the first time I've experienced it, but couldn't resist today. Before stating anything I'd like to say that I dont like to brag a lot, its when matters get outta hands that I start pondering.
So, had to call up Citibank customer service today and as usual the Call Centers come into play now-a-days. Now, I've heard that most of it has been outsourced as a cost cutting strategy, if nothing else. What I experienced today has changed my perception a whole lot and what goes on behind those 1 800 numbers.
As usual they have their security checks, FName, LName, Security question etc..etc. To my surprise I was informed today that I havent given the correct information on the call viz - my Full name. He goes like - Sir, the information you've provided is incorrect. I reiterate the information printed on my Card and some other details as a proof. He was so adamant and sounded as if I made a mistake with my Name.
I didn't want to sound rude but told him that its correct. How on earth can I mess that up ? And then - boom I receive another shocker - Sir, I dont think I would be able to help you with anything, I will transfer your call to a customer rep. Duh ~ whom am I speaking to then ? The matter was finally solved, though it took me about 10 minutes to get everything sorted out.
No offense, but these MNCs should put in a lot more towards customer satisfaction if they intend to open up Call Centers or proceed with them going forward in the future. I could easily figure out what was going on and hell I could have even guessed which part of the coutry the rep was from. Slow and steady, but I think I'm onto something here - finding a possible explanation to why we remain such hypocrites.
Archived in: Call Center MNC Customer
As usual they have their security checks, FName, LName, Security question etc..etc. To my surprise I was informed today that I havent given the correct information on the call viz - my Full name. He goes like - Sir, the information you've provided is incorrect. I reiterate the information printed on my Card and some other details as a proof. He was so adamant and sounded as if I made a mistake with my Name.
I didn't want to sound rude but told him that its correct. How on earth can I mess that up ? And then - boom I receive another shocker - Sir, I dont think I would be able to help you with anything, I will transfer your call to a customer rep. Duh ~ whom am I speaking to then ? The matter was finally solved, though it took me about 10 minutes to get everything sorted out.
No offense, but these MNCs should put in a lot more towards customer satisfaction if they intend to open up Call Centers or proceed with them going forward in the future. I could easily figure out what was going on and hell I could have even guessed which part of the coutry the rep was from. Slow and steady, but I think I'm onto something here - finding a possible explanation to why we remain such hypocrites.
Archived in: Call Center MNC Customer
Posted by Rajesh @ 9:32 PM; PERMALINK,
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Jeremy spoke in Class today
Monday, May 29, 2006
Eddie had the crowd on their toes till midnight. Tweeter Center, Camden was a superb location - right over the bridge from Philadelphia and the view of the downtown from the lawn was OMG. Good that we got tickets to the Lawn, the closed enclosure and the front row seats wouldn't have let us enjoy the way we did back on the grass. Oh well, atleast we jumped up and down and screamed and made frequent trips for the refills :)
The show was sssuperb, my first PJ concert though and was attended by a freaking 20,000 PLUS crowd !!!
Eddie started off with an acoustic - Gone and then went on to play, Life Wasted, World Wide Suicide, Severed Hand, I am Mine, Porch, Come Back, Alive, Even Flow and many more !!! The pace was superbly set and I was jumping up & down much like the crowd present, waving hands , whistling, shouting on top of my voice, yelling rather. Sigh ~ if I had a penny for every whistle I blew or everytime I screamed, woulda become a millionaire by midnight tonight ;)
And now I've been diagnosed with ailments - cure unknown.
Symptoms -
- A buzzing sound, echoing in my ears.
- Throat - took the beating throughout the 3 hours and now isn't able to generate sound in a smooth fashion.
- Sore throat - needs to be cleared every 2 minutes.
- Need to amplify sounds so as to comprehend what's being said.
- Tired calf muscles, a result of jumping for 150 minutes.
- Pain in the Neck (the back side to be precise) - would last for coupla days atleast.
... and many more.
Possible Cure - Plug in my Ipod and listen to more Pearl Jam :D. Some snaps coming along tomorrow.
Archived in: Pearl Jam Eddie Vedder Boston Rock Concerts New Jersey Camden Tweeter Center Philadelphia Crowd Chicago Music Metal Ozzfest
Posted by Rajesh @ 1:09 AM; PERMALINK,
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Spotted me ?
Saturday, May 27, 2006
They informed me that I was spotted in the Philly area today. Could be treu ... 'cause I do find myself out here this Long WE ... its hot everywhere, hot climate, hot people, hot happenings :)
Not much time to pen down the details right now. But definitely in due course .... and oh yeah with the PJ stuff
~Later
Posted by Rajesh @ 12:34 AM; PERMALINK,
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Decent enuf
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Come winter and they had the "Storm casuals". Summer's here and its nothing different. I was expecting something, though nothing like this ;). Here goes what they had to say -
Stretch, stirrup, capri, lycra-spandex, or low-waisted pants
Shorts
T-shirts; halter, tube, cropped or tank tops
Sweatpants or sweatshirts
Patterned or textured nylons
Sneakers, cowboy boots, sandals, or flip-flops
Baseball caps or fashion hats
Hmm Cowboy boots and Sweatshirts ... moi thinks.
Archived in : Work Weekend Business Casual
As the summer months approach, we would like to remind of appropriate dress code, particularly on business casual dress on Fridays and other days that are designated as business casual. Please use the following guidelines in helping you make appropriate decisions on business casual days.
Example of Unacceptable Casual Business attire for men and women
Jeans/Denim clothingStretch, stirrup, capri, lycra-spandex, or low-waisted pants
Shorts
T-shirts; halter, tube, cropped or tank tops
Sweatpants or sweatshirts
Patterned or textured nylons
Sneakers, cowboy boots, sandals, or flip-flops
Baseball caps or fashion hats
Hmm Cowboy boots and Sweatshirts ... moi thinks.
Archived in : Work Weekend Business Casual
Posted by Rajesh @ 10:51 PM; PERMALINK,
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The beautiful game
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Amazing article written by Sean Wilsey on NGC titled "The Beautiful Game" ...
There are many beautiful things about being an American fan of men's World Cup soccer - foremost among them is ignorance. The community in which you were raised did not gather around the television set every 4 years for a solid breathless month. Your country has never won. You can pick whatever team you like best and root for it without shame or fear of reprisal. You have not been indoctrinated into unwanted-yet-inescapable tribal allegiances by your soccer-crazed countrymen. You are an amateur, in the purest sense of the word. So with the World Cup taking place next month in Germany - and the World Cup is the only true international sporting even on the planet (no, the Olympics , with their overwhelming clutter of boutique athletics, do not matter in the same way) - you can expect to spend the month in paradise.
Thats what I do. The world of the World Cup is the one I want to line in. I cannot resist its United Nations - like pageantry and high-mindedness, the apolitical display of national characteristics, the revelation of deep human flaws and unexpected greatness, the fact that entire nations walk off the job or wake up at 3 a.m. to watch men kick a ball.
There are countries that have truly multiracial squads - France, England and the United States - while other teams are entirely blond or Asian or Latin American. A Slovakian tire salesman, an Italian Cop, or a German concert pianist - having passed the official fitness tests- will moonlight as refree.
There are irritating fans; USA ! USA ! USA ! (Blessedly few). There are children who hold hands with each player as he walks onto the field. National anthems play. Men paint themselves their national colors and cry openly at defeat. An announcer shouts "GOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL ! GOL , GOL, GOL ! " on the Spanish language channel you're watching. (Its often the only way you can see the game live.) There are two back-to-back 45 minute segments without commercials.
To quote the book every traveling athlete finds in his hotel room: "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." Or as they say "Are you Ready? Ready to cheer the players to victory, marvel at their fitness, speed, and skills, urging them to win every tackle for the ball, ready to explode at a powerful shot ? Ready for the excitement of flying wingers, overlapping backs, curling corners, slick one-two passing and goals scored with panache? Ready for another moment in a fantasy world?"
I am Ready.
Archived in: Soccer World Cup US Germany Italy Argentina Portugal
There are many beautiful things about being an American fan of men's World Cup soccer - foremost among them is ignorance. The community in which you were raised did not gather around the television set every 4 years for a solid breathless month. Your country has never won. You can pick whatever team you like best and root for it without shame or fear of reprisal. You have not been indoctrinated into unwanted-yet-inescapable tribal allegiances by your soccer-crazed countrymen. You are an amateur, in the purest sense of the word. So with the World Cup taking place next month in Germany - and the World Cup is the only true international sporting even on the planet (no, the Olympics , with their overwhelming clutter of boutique athletics, do not matter in the same way) - you can expect to spend the month in paradise.
Thats what I do. The world of the World Cup is the one I want to line in. I cannot resist its United Nations - like pageantry and high-mindedness, the apolitical display of national characteristics, the revelation of deep human flaws and unexpected greatness, the fact that entire nations walk off the job or wake up at 3 a.m. to watch men kick a ball.
There are countries that have truly multiracial squads - France, England and the United States - while other teams are entirely blond or Asian or Latin American. A Slovakian tire salesman, an Italian Cop, or a German concert pianist - having passed the official fitness tests- will moonlight as refree.
There are irritating fans; USA ! USA ! USA ! (Blessedly few). There are children who hold hands with each player as he walks onto the field. National anthems play. Men paint themselves their national colors and cry openly at defeat. An announcer shouts "GOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL ! GOL , GOL, GOL ! " on the Spanish language channel you're watching. (Its often the only way you can see the game live.) There are two back-to-back 45 minute segments without commercials.
To quote the book every traveling athlete finds in his hotel room: "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." Or as they say "Are you Ready? Ready to cheer the players to victory, marvel at their fitness, speed, and skills, urging them to win every tackle for the ball, ready to explode at a powerful shot ? Ready for the excitement of flying wingers, overlapping backs, curling corners, slick one-two passing and goals scored with panache? Ready for another moment in a fantasy world?"
I am Ready.
Archived in: Soccer World Cup US Germany Italy Argentina Portugal
Posted by Rajesh @ 10:19 PM; PERMALINK,
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FIFA 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Yes ! The football (soccer) WC is around the corner. Kicks off 9th June @ Munich. Home team plays the first match against Costa Rica. Have to sit down one day and assess the teams, some good teams in Europe this time round.
And yeah get yourselves a tracker to start things off, probably here. Lemme know if you find something interesting though ;-)
Archived in : Soccer World Cup Munich Germany Statistics
Posted by Rajesh @ 11:31 PM; PERMALINK,
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I dnot wnat to be a Sellpnig BEE
Sunday, May 21, 2006
You a'enrt gnoig to bieleve taht you can aaclulty uaserdtnnd waht I am winitrg. Bacuese of the phaonmneal poewr of the hmaun mnid, acirndocg to a racsreeh at Cmradigbe Uvrienisty it dneso't matetr in waht order the ltteres in a word are, the only irntpaomt tnihg is that the fsrit and the lsat lteter be in the rhgit pclae.
The rset can be a tatol mses and you can slitl raed it whotiut a pleborm. Tihs is bsucaee the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey letetr by isletf but the wrod as a wolhe. Aaznmig Huh? Yaeh and you aawyls thoguht sellpnig was ipmorantt ~ duh !! :)
Thnkas MS for tihs leovly pecie of ifno
Posted by Rajesh @ 12:08 PM; PERMALINK,
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Robert Langdon & Sophie Neveu on the Big Screen
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Caught Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu today at Loews. As expected - a full house the whole day. hmm... now I should be writing something about the movie out here right ? No ... won't go out describing how good it was or was not.
Some points though, it was pretty close to Dan Brown's masterpiece, one of the closest adaptation of a book/novel I've seen. Locations, direction, photography are superb. Silas gives you some excitement once in a while. As one would expect, it is difficult to get to the details in a 2 hour something movie, but Ron has done a pretty good job of highlighting the main points. Details missed - the concept of Phi (the golden ratio)..
I dunno how it would have felt if I hadn't read the book (thrice actually) but enjoyed watching it although I knew the minutest details in the film. My take - Go watch it !!
Archived in: Dan-Brown The-Da-Vinci-Code Movies Hollywood US Films Anagram Tom Hanks
Some points though, it was pretty close to Dan Brown's masterpiece, one of the closest adaptation of a book/novel I've seen. Locations, direction, photography are superb. Silas gives you some excitement once in a while. As one would expect, it is difficult to get to the details in a 2 hour something movie, but Ron has done a pretty good job of highlighting the main points. Details missed - the concept of Phi (the golden ratio)..
I dunno how it would have felt if I hadn't read the book (thrice actually) but enjoyed watching it although I knew the minutest details in the film. My take - Go watch it !!
Archived in: Dan-Brown The-Da-Vinci-Code Movies Hollywood US Films Anagram Tom Hanks
Posted by Rajesh @ 1:40 AM; PERMALINK,
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So Dark the Con of Man
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Strange things happen in this world of ours. Sometimes you would see people fighting for no reason whatsoever, slow and steady it is escalated to communal riots and religion comes in between all of a sudden from nowhere. On other occassions you would see them hanging out hand in hand, this time, though, they would have a valid reason .
Now-a-days it's Hollywood that's taking the beating. "The Da Vinci Code" has caught fire all of a sudden. People have started protesting all over the world and Christian groups from Thailand, India,Greece, S Korea, US have planned attempts to block the screening of the film and a Hunger strike is also taken into consideration in India.
Now this thing is beyond my grasp. Why do people take it seriously. The book itself is a piece of Fiction and the film should be taken as any other Hollywood movie. Check out the Hindi movies, no matter what's shown, people hardly take it seriously. Then why this show when it comes to Hollywood ? Read a piece of news the other day that Muslims and Christians in India have united and are asking for a total BAN on the screening of the film. Now if history is a witness, it was not long ago when they were fighting it out in the streets.
21st Century and still we havent progressed a bit when it comes to such matters. Having read the book, I would definitely like to watch the movie. And for one, these protests and headlines have been a boost to Dan Brown's book sales (not that it wasn't selling like hot cakes before). Lets see how far this thing goes ~ sigh !!
Archived in: Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code Movies India Protest Hollywood US Films Anagram
Now-a-days it's Hollywood that's taking the beating. "The Da Vinci Code" has caught fire all of a sudden. People have started protesting all over the world and Christian groups from Thailand, India,Greece, S Korea, US have planned attempts to block the screening of the film and a Hunger strike is also taken into consideration in India.
Now this thing is beyond my grasp. Why do people take it seriously. The book itself is a piece of Fiction and the film should be taken as any other Hollywood movie. Check out the Hindi movies, no matter what's shown, people hardly take it seriously. Then why this show when it comes to Hollywood ? Read a piece of news the other day that Muslims and Christians in India have united and are asking for a total BAN on the screening of the film. Now if history is a witness, it was not long ago when they were fighting it out in the streets.
21st Century and still we havent progressed a bit when it comes to such matters. Having read the book, I would definitely like to watch the movie. And for one, these protests and headlines have been a boost to Dan Brown's book sales (not that it wasn't selling like hot cakes before). Lets see how far this thing goes ~ sigh !!
Archived in: Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code Movies India Protest Hollywood US Films Anagram
Posted by Rajesh @ 9:32 PM; PERMALINK,
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Moving is a PITA
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Torrential rains over the past week was a BIG hindrance. I thought it would brighten up on Sat or atleast on Sun, for us to move the apt efficiently. But it was not supposed to be. Instead, parts of Mass. and NH declared an emergency receiving about 12-15 inches of rainfall and many towns hit by flood.
Inspite of this, we had to move the apt and although it was not far away from the old place, the weather, if nothing else, definitely did get on my nerves. What looked like a 4-5 round trip turned out to be a 20 PLUS car rides (excluding the UHAUL trips) and still there's stuff to be taken care of ~ sigh ! The cardboard boxes, polythene bags, carry bags, suitcases, furniture oh man the stuff never ended and kept on coming, leaving me and my mind in a dilapidated state.
Then comes the huge activity to restore everything as it was out there @ the old place. It started with my attempt to get hooked to the Comcast world. Boy did I have trouble. At 3 o'clock in the night here I was talking to the customer reps who were transferring me from here to there, from there to some other place and when finally they got it right - the fight to obtain the service that I was promised over the phone the other day before my move !
Internet is a different story altogether. Was put on hold for 30 minutes (@ 3:30 AM eh..) and here I was listening to Beethoven with my eyelids barely open. As if it was not enough, the line gets disconnected after ~ 30 minutes to make me wide awake. Again an attempt and after about 30 minutes - disconnected. What the #$@!, do I look like a nerd here, dialing the 24x7 toll free no. to be disconnected twice and hearing an automated messg. saying that "All our customer service agents are busy" ... oh well @ 4 o'clock in the morning yeah ?
Sigh ! Should have kept this for the long WE, I think. Could have enjoyed an extra day to get everything straight. (Not the coming long WE for, I have some other plans with PJ ;-) ..) It looks like a "less organized" villa but then a lot has been accomplished in these couple of days. For now and a couple of days, it has left me with an ache in almost every part of my body. Maan tell you moving is a PITA ... Pain In The (YouKnowWhere) ...
Archived in: Boston Comcast Massachusetts Weather Rain Pearl Jam
Inspite of this, we had to move the apt and although it was not far away from the old place, the weather, if nothing else, definitely did get on my nerves. What looked like a 4-5 round trip turned out to be a 20 PLUS car rides (excluding the UHAUL trips) and still there's stuff to be taken care of ~ sigh ! The cardboard boxes, polythene bags, carry bags, suitcases, furniture oh man the stuff never ended and kept on coming, leaving me and my mind in a dilapidated state.
Then comes the huge activity to restore everything as it was out there @ the old place. It started with my attempt to get hooked to the Comcast world. Boy did I have trouble. At 3 o'clock in the night here I was talking to the customer reps who were transferring me from here to there, from there to some other place and when finally they got it right - the fight to obtain the service that I was promised over the phone the other day before my move !
Internet is a different story altogether. Was put on hold for 30 minutes (@ 3:30 AM eh..) and here I was listening to Beethoven with my eyelids barely open. As if it was not enough, the line gets disconnected after ~ 30 minutes to make me wide awake. Again an attempt and after about 30 minutes - disconnected. What the #$@!, do I look like a nerd here, dialing the 24x7 toll free no. to be disconnected twice and hearing an automated messg. saying that "All our customer service agents are busy" ... oh well @ 4 o'clock in the morning yeah ?
Sigh ! Should have kept this for the long WE, I think. Could have enjoyed an extra day to get everything straight. (Not the coming long WE for, I have some other plans with PJ ;-) ..) It looks like a "less organized" villa but then a lot has been accomplished in these couple of days. For now and a couple of days, it has left me with an ache in almost every part of my body. Maan tell you moving is a PITA ... Pain In The (YouKnowWhere) ...
Archived in: Boston Comcast Massachusetts Weather Rain Pearl Jam
Posted by Rajesh @ 9:40 PM; PERMALINK,
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The Q isn't Whether, the Q is "The Weather"
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The week that started off with drizzles, rain and precipitation continues for the 3rd day in a row. I was hoping against hope that it wouldn't continue today. But woke up to find the same pitter patter sound, rain droplets hitting window panes and a strong wind battering against them.
Out at work its a different scene altogether. I sometimes go and stand by the huge glass curtain walls (whenever I get time) and watch the clouds floating around. Believe me, its a superb sight from the 16th floor though it gives me goosebumps staring straight down watching people walking with an umbrella or vehicles lined up much like what you'd see while playing "GTA -Vice City".
Talking to my bro the other day, he was like - the heat here is unbearable 40 degs during daytime!! I said dude its 40 here too. He was psyched for a while but then realised that I got him this time. 40 deg - true but the scale is deg F in this part of the world as against deg C out there :) The variation out here in Boston is huge too. Last week we had temp. soaring as high as 75+ but 3 days later, rain and cold and a 30 deg dip ~ sigh !!
How's it in your part of the world ?
Posted by Rajesh @ 9:11 PM; PERMALINK,
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Trick during 2nd Pit Stop makes it 2 in a row for MS
Sunday, May 07, 2006
So what if I slept at 3:30, had to wake up @ 7:30 today to watch the 5th Race of 2006; and what a race it was!! MS did it twice in a row today, winning the European grand-prix in great style and thereby making it clear why he's a 7 time World Champ.
It was a monotonous race to start off with, no changes in the first 3 spots as Alonso warded his pole position during the usual confusion at the 1st and the 2nd chicanes. I thought that Massa 'let' MS retain his 2nd spot as he was off the block pretty quick - much quicker than MS actually. So coming back to the initial laps , it was monotonous and looked like it was gonna be Alonso again, with MS offering no threats whatsoever. Then came the 2nd pit-stop for Renault that changed the whole equation ....
Lap 38 and Alonso went for his 2nd pit stop. MS had done his 1st stop, a lap after the Italian. But come stop #2, here he was racing along giving goosebumps to the spectators and making me wide awake - now sitting on the edge of my bed. He was not getting in for a refuel :O .... One lap, Two laps and here he was still on the tracks setting the fastest sector times and overall lap times throughout. He did two things basically - gaining crucial seconds by setting fastest laps and now that he had less laps to cover, a quick pit-stop could be done, gaining seconds again.
Absolute stunner I'd say and an amazing pit strategy by Ferrari saw him exit the pit lanes way ahead of Alonso. By then it was clear with 20 some laps more to go and with Kimi stopping for his refuel, MS took over and there was no looking back. In fact Massa and Kimi started threatening Alonso now for the #2 position as he lost about 7 seconds to the 7 time champ ! Maan, tell you, the 3 laps (38,39 & 40) that MS completed were so crucial and he proved once again that there's no substitute for experience.
The team had confidence in him and I believe together they executed it perfectly from start to end. Teammate Massa finished #3, his first podium finish, and MS claimed back to back victories, his first since 2004 German/Hungarian Grand Prix. Good competition throughout and I'm sure we are gonna see similar strategies and superb display of talent in the upcoming races .... Next time they're gonna fight it out - 14th May, Spain.
Archived in: F1 Michael Schumacher Alonso Grand Prix Massa Europe Renault Spain Ferrari
It was a monotonous race to start off with, no changes in the first 3 spots as Alonso warded his pole position during the usual confusion at the 1st and the 2nd chicanes. I thought that Massa 'let' MS retain his 2nd spot as he was off the block pretty quick - much quicker than MS actually. So coming back to the initial laps , it was monotonous and looked like it was gonna be Alonso again, with MS offering no threats whatsoever. Then came the 2nd pit-stop for Renault that changed the whole equation ....
Lap 38 and Alonso went for his 2nd pit stop. MS had done his 1st stop, a lap after the Italian. But come stop #2, here he was racing along giving goosebumps to the spectators and making me wide awake - now sitting on the edge of my bed. He was not getting in for a refuel :O .... One lap, Two laps and here he was still on the tracks setting the fastest sector times and overall lap times throughout. He did two things basically - gaining crucial seconds by setting fastest laps and now that he had less laps to cover, a quick pit-stop could be done, gaining seconds again.
Absolute stunner I'd say and an amazing pit strategy by Ferrari saw him exit the pit lanes way ahead of Alonso. By then it was clear with 20 some laps more to go and with Kimi stopping for his refuel, MS took over and there was no looking back. In fact Massa and Kimi started threatening Alonso now for the #2 position as he lost about 7 seconds to the 7 time champ ! Maan, tell you, the 3 laps (38,39 & 40) that MS completed were so crucial and he proved once again that there's no substitute for experience.
The team had confidence in him and I believe together they executed it perfectly from start to end. Teammate Massa finished #3, his first podium finish, and MS claimed back to back victories, his first since 2004 German/Hungarian Grand Prix. Good competition throughout and I'm sure we are gonna see similar strategies and superb display of talent in the upcoming races .... Next time they're gonna fight it out - 14th May, Spain.
Archived in: F1 Michael Schumacher Alonso Grand Prix Massa Europe Renault Spain Ferrari
Posted by Rajesh @ 9:29 PM; PERMALINK,
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Crashed into a movie tonight
Ever since the ga ga during Oscar about this movie, I've been eagerly awaiting to watch it. Hollwood videos had it on their MVP and I was glad to finally find one in their rack. Though it was nearing midnight, I wanted to watch it today and not procrastinate anymore.
Crash (as you might have seen or heard) is about race. I mean it covers and spans across the racial spectrum featuring characters who are Hispanics, Blacks, Whites, Asians, Persians ..etc..etc.. Its basically made up of several stories somewhat intertwined with each other and aims at putting forth the notion - the main theme of the movie - " how one's life can change in a moment". The director does a good job of hopping from one story to another during the movie but is careful enough to maintain the flow during the 2 hours.
Couple of funny scenes (maybe more actually) and I loved the Discovery channel part, believe me its so true and I've seen many a times while I was in Chicago and have to accept that it ought to be true - lol !!
Overall a good movie, dont want to get into justifying the Oscar or anything, but a worth watch. I kept saying to myself that I've seen him in other movies but couldnt recollect (talking about Ryan Phillippe here) his movies. Now I know that I had Cruel Intentions in mind ;-).
Archived in: Movies Hollywood Crash Race California Chicago Cruel Intentions
Crash (as you might have seen or heard) is about race. I mean it covers and spans across the racial spectrum featuring characters who are Hispanics, Blacks, Whites, Asians, Persians ..etc..etc.. Its basically made up of several stories somewhat intertwined with each other and aims at putting forth the notion - the main theme of the movie - " how one's life can change in a moment". The director does a good job of hopping from one story to another during the movie but is careful enough to maintain the flow during the 2 hours.
Couple of funny scenes (maybe more actually) and I loved the Discovery channel part, believe me its so true and I've seen many a times while I was in Chicago and have to accept that it ought to be true - lol !!
Overall a good movie, dont want to get into justifying the Oscar or anything, but a worth watch. I kept saying to myself that I've seen him in other movies but couldnt recollect (talking about Ryan Phillippe here) his movies. Now I know that I had Cruel Intentions in mind ;-).
Archived in: Movies Hollywood Crash Race California Chicago Cruel Intentions
Posted by Rajesh @ 1:47 AM; PERMALINK,
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Simbly amazing :)
Thursday, May 04, 2006
काफ़ी दिनों से मै यह सोच रहा था । न जाने कित्नी बार टाल दिया था मैने। पर आज ठान् ही लिया कि कोशिश तो ज़रूर करनी चाहिये। हिन्दी आते हुए भी लिख न पाना, यह तो नाइन्साफ़ी है। वह
क्या कहते है, हाँ … "करत करत अभ्यास के जड़ मति होंहिं सुजान। रसरी आवत जात ते सिल पर परहिं निशान"।
तो यह लीजिये जनाब, पेश् है - हिन्दी मै लिखा हुआ पहला ब्लोग पोस्ट । हालान्की ब्लोगिग़ं कि दुनिया मै मेरी एन्ट्री काफ़ी देर से हुई, आज के इस पोस्ट ने सारी कसर् दूर कर दी। :)
Posted by Rajesh @ 10:14 PM; PERMALINK,
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Unusual in its own way
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Had read this long time back in Readers Digest. Thought of sharing it out here. Try it on ur own, I mean without any help, maybe ;-)
This is a most unusual paragraph. How quickly can you find out what is so unusual about it? It looks so ordinary, you'd think nothing was wrong with it and in fact, nothing is wrong with it.It IS unusual, why? Study it. Think about it and you may find out. Try to do it without coaching and without any aid. If you work at it for a bit, it will dawn on you. So jump to it! Try your skill at figuring it out! Good Luck - Don't blow your cool!
Posted by Rajesh @ 10:29 PM; PERMALINK,
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Cross The Words Cryptically
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Back in those Undergrad days, we used to rush to the Library lest we would miss a chance to a attack the day's puzzle - The Daily Crossword which appears in "The Hindu". Lunch break, Time out in between classes or any 15minute break, there we were - attempting the X-word. Reading the news or even the headlines was secondary,then. And how we used to get dissapointed if we saw someone taking a crack at it already; b/c writing "Smashed" over the grid had its own fun, a sense of achievement.
Even now I try to keep pace, printing out from the online edition of The Hindu. Although my skills have become rusty, attempting a few clues brings back a few that I used to have up my sleeve about ~10 years ago ...
Have jotted A few ones that I remember ...
1.Indian boy and girl should know their limit (8,5) - Lakshman Rekha
2.twelve plus one remains the same (6,4,3) -Eleven Plus Two
3.Doctor, early morning gets involved in a stage composition. (5) -
Dr am a
4.Total is a couple of graduates, capital (5,5) - AD IS A BA BA (Adisababa)
16. (8) - Clueless [lol]
More clues later ;)
Posted by Rajesh @ 11:42 PM; PERMALINK,
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Had enough of Bollywood
Monday, May 01, 2006
I dont know when did I decide, but here I was repenting over my decision to watch some Bollywood movies over the WE ; sobbing over those vain attempts by hindustani directors to make the junta happy, making a mockery out there in India and all around the world.
To be frank, I didnot have a choice but nevertheless decided to watch "Dosti" to start with. * ing Bobby Deol, Akshay kumar, Kareena, Lara Dutta, Juhi Chawla etc.... I wish I had a choice. Sat there 2 some hours and the torture was unbearable. Lara looked gorgeous ;-) and probably the only reason to watch another bollywood crap.
Second "Deewane Hue Pagal" another star studded line up. *ing Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Shahid Kapoor, Rimi Sen, Paresh Rawal etc.... Another one that got on my nerves. All along I kept myself occupied thinking "have these guys stopped producing good movies". Well, not making hopeless movies would be good for a start then, or do we HAVE TO produce 500 some movies a year ?? Whtever ....
Number three "Hungama" - At this point I was dying to see a film to which I wouldn't have to critic, embarassing the director in front of my friends. But the plans for my enjoyment had already been made as I found out that its a remake of a Mallu movie (which was a good one actually) but this one (though from the same Dir.) was aaaarrrgghhhh....
I dont think I've watched a good Bollywood movie 6 months before and after RDB. These are the stats. that kept me away from watching hindi movies and if it goes on then its gonna be Tata Bye-Bye. Heard another friend of mine say that she watched Gangster and it was a good one (but then y me). Another dude changed his taste - started watching tamizh films (to get a break probably).
All this goes on to say the decreasing popularity of Bollywood maybe ? But then I do hear that even though I (or some of my friends) didnt like it, it was a HIT back in India. This is absolutely insane. All it does is prompt us to think - "Are we allright" ??
Sigh ! Eagerly waiting for M:i:III and The Da Vinci Code.
Archived in: Bollywood Hindi Movies India Miss Universe Hollywood The Da Vinci Code Tom Hanks Tom Cruise
Posted by Rajesh @ 8:50 PM; PERMALINK,
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