Read this in a mail in the morning. Thanks Agnelo, for sending this.

"It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule. Globalized processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. We have come to possess a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold endless meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end though, this always yields outstanding results. Said in another words:1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia and Absolut are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA. The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their cars to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, neither the second nor the third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be in a hurry and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think?" Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week. Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality" or the "quality of being". The French, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than the Americans or British. The Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen productivity driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking essential human values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, happier, lighter and more productive where people enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit. In the movie Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango. Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in what each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". Congratulations for getting to the end of this message. There are many who would've stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this "globalized" world."

I was reading biexplorers blog and I hit upon Tom kytes blog (the same asktom.com guy) where his latest entry is about how people always talk about their problem without explaining the background, details etc., and assume that who ever listens to/reads it will solve it for them. And some times they also shout /scream as the other person is not doing anything to resolve it (Doesn't it sound familiar!!!!), and I read this from his blog - 'Double double' - very intersting.. Read it and enjoy.

We know the 'andha kaala' stories like Ramayana and Mahabharata describes how Rama and Lakshmana, the gowravas and pandavas get into gurukul life and how their parents go to 'Sanyasa' life after making them the kings when they come out of gurukul and get married! So it is the kingdom for the children and sanyas/forest for the parents. Then, this was the well accepted norm and everyone followed it whole heartedly.

Life changed after that. After several thousand generations - NOW - history seems to be repeating itself. Kids go to residential schools may not the Doons, but never the less, it is residential schools (Gurukul?!). Parents work hard and meet kids now and then. Their parents are self-admitted/admitted into one of the old age homes (Sanyas?!) and in the process, I dont know who is happy!!!

The recent news I read told me that it is not something that I perceive, but this is what is happening. Houses are designed with 'His' and 'Hers' bedroom in order to let the man and wife have their rest and only visit each other when 'needed' - Hey is this not what was happening then? The king visiting the queen or one of the numerous wives he might have in the 'Andhapuram' when 'needed'?

See.. it is all happening and it is happening in India!

My birthday was celebrated in style. The only dampner was that Mallu was not around. Normally, I plan and I expect. This time since his travel was planned on 27th, I was so depressed that I did not plan for anything and there were no expectations in my mind. And every year, if it is a working day, I used to demand from everyone in office that they have to wish me as it is my birthday. This year I told myself - 'no such thing, you should behave like a grown up!'. Then it was full of surprises - starting from my collegemate (who seldom remembers my birthday), several people called me, mailed me, scrapped in orkut - I was really thrilled. The biggest one came in form of a celebration at office. We got an order which was WIP for a long time and hence 4 BIIIIGGGGG cakes were ordered to feed us all. When the cake was about to be cut, my boss announced that it is my birthday and I cut the choclate cake and as you would have guessed, almost everyone in the group wished me.

Moral of the story is that when you dont expect anything, whatever happens is extra and you will start feeling elated :)

It is all about TV ads today. My two cents on some of the good and bad ones. (Which implicitly means that I have become a couch potato and am unable to ignore the commercials as nowadays it is commercials which says - lets meet after a short programme break!) I will specifically talk about two ads, both by banks. The good one is the HSBC stuff - one where the daughter wants to wear the torn jeans and the mom comes and stitches it and for the same subject the green worm ad. Nicely conveyed message - different people have different needs...I feel that the HDFC one on similar lines for their savings account with Eggs is a copy!

The bad one is the HDFC personal loan one - it goes like this. The parents of the family is planning about a house interiors, and then the daughter and the son ask about their demands (Ofcourse all promised by the dad sometime or the other) and when the dad looks confused, HDFC says that he should get a personal loan to take care of their needs! I dont like the moral a bit to say the least. Am sure lots of kids are going to watch it and the parents are going to have a tough time... I believe in living comfortably with what you have and personal loans are only for emergency. This message, atleast for me was that personal loans are for living a kings life even though you can afford it! BAD.

Chennai Trip

Over the weekend, we drove down to Chennai in the year old Ford fiesta. Took the bangalore-chennai highway vira Hosur, Krishnagiri, Vellore. Roads are as good as (sometimes better) the bombay-pune expressway. Around 350 Kms, but did that in 5 hours with 30 mts break in between including the city drive times. Took a breakfast break at Hotel Tamilnadu, Krishnagiri - This has become the whole family's habit on any drive that crosses Krishnagiri. Food here is awesome.

While going, we started early at around 5:30 in the morning and did beat all the weekend traffic. Had a peaceful drive. Even I got to drive for 30-40 mts. There are four tolls - 25-35-45-30 rupees respectively for cars. After every toll, you can even find restrooms -well maintained ones. So far, I've always been forced to search for a decent hotel and have some snacks on such occasions. One big relief that you dont have to do that!

Coming back, we started in the afternoon at three and when we were out of Kathipara junction it was almost 4:15, and sun was hitting right on our face till sunset. Reached home by 8:30 with a Hotel tamilnadu break at around 6:15 in the evening at Krishnagiri. My advice is that never enter this hotel at this time of the day! While you are eating, you are eaten my mosquitoes. Such big and nasty ones and you are scratching all over yourself in no time.

The only problem in the whole drive is our country men/vehicles/herd of cows in the numerous towns and villages that you happen to pass by before you reach chennai. They dont realise the speed of the vehicle and happily cross at their own sweet pace. They even drive as if they are in US - all in the wrong side! They dont care a damn about their lives. Real scary as if you hit them, you are the one who will be repenting your whole life if something happens to them.

Anyways, that doesnot bother you too much as there is lots of good if you leave this out. Enjoy the drive.

Today is one of those bad days - Mostly because of the lack of proper sleep combined with anitbiotics. Added to that is couple of problems from unexpected fronts at office and I was really in a foul mood and sleepy when I entered home. After half an hour of trying to get Kimaya understand what I say, I was fed up.

Then there was Andrum Indrum Endrum programme that was being aired in Vijay TV. This is a concert by Ilayaraja with all the leading singers. What beautiful compositions - After I heard a couple of songs, I was slowly getting back to normalcy. Then I was drowned in it.. Any day, any year, i guess, these will give me that kind of serenity that I would need!.

I think Vijay TV aired this program as two parts. I had heard the first set lonnnnnnnnggggggg back and now this. The only problem that I found in the whole programme was Ilayaraja's daughter singing Mayil pola - Oh, that was awfully out of tune and if a person like me who has a little knowledge about music can identify that, I dont know how these muscians on stage put up with that! Am sure that it was something that could have been avoided.

Nevertheless, the nice feeling after hearing those songs, did not leave for a while.. Long live Ilayaraja.