3000 Posts in JavaRanch

No matter what, It is always yet another factor which keeps me feel happy and little proud of the consistency with respect to the technical stuff I deal in my day-to-day life for my bread and butter

Yet another milestone of 3000 posts in JavaRanch . The page is available  at http://www.coderanch.com/t/470408/Ranch-Office/Hurray-Reached-posts-JR

The earlier one was when I reached 1000 posts, which was blogged here http://blogsofraghs.wordpress.com/2007/08/16/1000-posts-in-javaranch/

As usual, sharing the screenshot here

snapshot of the 3001st Post in JavaRanch

Way to go!!

same day 2 years back

Before I start off, I presume all the friends in the blogosphere are keeping well and life has been in sync with their dreams

Its been sometime (more than what it could afford to) i was away from my dear blog due to various constraints.

18 September 2007 – Tuesday, the same day 2 years back, for the first time I had travelled out of country (to Bahrain) . Professionally speaking, it was my maiden onsite trip!

All those incidents are afresh, the way I was enjoying the excitement in me about the new environment, life style etc., Thanks to my brother Muthappan for having assisted in purchasing almost all the things I needed to carry .

The main reason for this post is all about the nostalgic feelings of my beloved dad, who was there with me by then but NOT today . I miss you very much appa!

For sure these wordings and blogging could NOT get you back but to some extent they become the medium through which i can express my gratitude and feelings! I deeply get immersed in those fond retentions…

I entrust my thoughts for reaching you! and you are being cherished in all my thoughts, actions…

Will be back ….

3rd year anniversary

Its yet another celebration time I feel. I have completed successfully 3 years of service in my present company as of yesterday. My date of joining in this company was 1 Dec 2005 Thursday.

But one thing is that I could never be in office premises to see the LCD display with my name and the year of services with the congratulating message for all the years! That’s one of the features which kinda impressed me during my offer-letter-getting-period .

I remember, in the year 2006 I was at a local client’s place (local/domestic onsite!) DaimlerChrysler, 2007 last year was at Bahrain (abroad onsite ), and this year 2008 I am in madurai in a hospital to take care of my father.

I had been just discussing this news with mom and dad two days ago, but today somehow it got slipped off until I just happened to see about 40+ emails from my colleagues (managers, students, team members, friends from other projects) having the heading ‘Congratulations‘. Have to acknowledge all those mails individually. Well, there are times and things which gets slipped off without our knowledge and intention. Right?

Yes, of course I feel happy for having completed 3 years of service. Not just that, also having been attached to a single employer for a longer duration and sustaining a good relationship!

Let’s see what happens on 1 Dec 2009, the next year!? Where am I and what am I?

Wish me good luck . Of course, way to go .

Happy Birthday Appa

Here I am wishing my dad a Very Happy Birthday today!

Happy Birthday Image in Colour!

Of course, honestly speaking, “You are my  very first guru and many aspects I have learned from you is yielding benefits not just to me but also to my buddies“. My sincere gratitude to you and let the almighty accept my prayers to keep you happy and healthy forever!

Have a great year ahead!!

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Damn Happy at the moment

How many of you (us) capture, save, cherish the moments and momentary occasions? I am glad to say that I fall in that category.

I would like to say I am damn happy at the moment because of having bought one Audio CD that contains one of my most favorite songs in the movie ‘Dhinandhorum‘ [casting: Murali, Suvalakshmi and Directed by Nagaraj, released in Feb 1998]. The reason being all my efforts in searching for the song in the music portals, websites were in vain. Also with my friends!

The songs are:

1. Oh Kannukkul Sugam Paaindhadhenna (Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha)
2. Nenjathil Vegu Naatkalaai (Unnikrishnan, Anuradha Sriram)
3. En Vaanam Neethaanaa (SP Balasubramaniam)

As I had been to Reliance Timeout (Cunningham Road, Bangalore) to get a headphone and to grab some books, happened to see one music CD named ‘Azhagoviyam’ which contained this movie with other few. Felt so glad and had a dilemma whether should I get this CD or can i continue searching?  Finally purchased the CD as NOT to regret later (as usual) for having missed the chance!

Now I am listening to the songs of Dhinandhorum and felt like sharing the happiness I do enjoy at the moment..

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Tags: personal, experience

An Atrocity from Citibank

I do keep facing atrocities at various parts and with few people at times! Its just one sample to describe.

There exists a facility called ‘Ready Credit‘ from Citibank which the bank offers to certain (valued added — they say) customers based on the level of usage, salary credit, funds maintained etc., I have used this facility once and of course I am thankful to citibank for the same. The situation was, when I have given a cheque to ING Vysya bank and they did NOT process it on time but they did it on the next month for 2 cheques altogether. Being the very first month I did not keep a track and the next month there was a shortage for two cheques at the same time! ;(. By then Citibank did really help me by pulling out some money from the so called Ready Credit account and they honored the cheque as well as preventing a black mark on my transaction history. Hats Off! The very next day I paid them back the money with the applicable interest (it was Rs. 10/- i guess). This happened in last year (July 2007).

Today I happened to receive the Suvidha Account Statement via email (which I have opted for). As I do check my account everyday (the helping stuff I do insist me to check and acknowledge me promptly the individual volunteers for their contribution), I thought of skipping it. But somehow there was an instinct to just glimpse! I was just browsing through as all were known transactions until the last few which triggered me. It was like ‘Education Cess 2%, Service Charge 10%’. I was surprised and shocked to see such entries as I have NOT done any such transactions. I found out later that these 2 charges for the ‘Citibank Ready Credit Account Charges‘ which was Rs. 750/- and the Service Charge for the same is Rs.90/- plus the Education Cess was Rs.2.10/- which is altogether Rs. 842/-. Isnt it a good/big sum? All happened without my knowledge:(.

The ultimate ATROCITY was all these happened albeit I rejected for the same on all the 3 calls in last month from Citibank executives asking for the same Ready Credit Account!

Immediately called up the Customer Care and asked for the clarification. With no feelings, he just apologized for the same – at the max what he could do being an employee of citibank! He said that he will ensure the same does NOT repeat again in future. But he could not proceed further when I replied him back for the same saying, “this is the 3rd time I face such thing with citibank but with various aspects”! He does NOT have answer for my query stating, “Does Citibank look the money from customers like this?“! Moreover, he said the money would be credited back to my account within 13th of this month. I have to wait for 3 more days.Huh?

I just asked, “When you have an Auto Debit System” why not you have an “Auto Credit System?”. Again no answer! . Moreover “If I had used the money from bank and give it back after few days, would not the bank levy some interest towards the amount? “. Here my money was blocked for about 13 days (if at all it gets credited within 13th of this month as promised) and there is NO interest for the same! — Again no answer/reciprocation and I was just left with my own satisfaction of having asked! That’s it!

I had already one such scenario in the year 2006 wherein I just happened to find out that there was an auto debit of Rs. 13,000 or so. Obviously wondering and shocked to see that, had to call up the customer care from the ATM Centre itself (opposite to KPN Travels, Madiwala, Bangalore) and it was extended 4,5 times to various divisions but no one had the proper answer for the sudden auto debit. Later it got escalated to the Head Office, Chennai and a person named ‘Ashok’ who took it up and asked for 2 days time to investigate. He got back to me saying that it was not just mine but almost all the employees of my company. It was all because the main reason for the auto debit was one transaction entry in our salary account and that was entered as ‘Salary Credit‘ instead of ‘Reimbursement‘ for the claims we do every month. No doubt, the claims would be very less compared to the salary and there the discrepancy. But I had no answer for my query, “Would not there be any sense to detect the sudden decrease of salary and how come there would be two salary credits on a single month?”. As we do have two salaries – one is the base component gets credited on the last day of the month and the other – the flexible credit for reimbursements which happens on the 10th of the same month. But NO proper answer because it was all done on a dumb terminal with which they just get escaped — “System“! Thank god, I just noticed it a littler earlier before one of my cheques to a friend was processed. otherwise it would have got bounced   All because of this barbarity from my employer and the Citibank with no fault of mine! . After all the issues are sorted out, I had to wait for more than a weeks’ time to get back my own money  with NO interest! Same answer for the question asking would the bank simply accept the principal alone? — Silence was the answer I was given!

I do understand that “If at all something is destined to happen, no matter what we would face”. But still, there should be a limit/extent to which our candidature can be considered. For no fault of us, it keeps going and growing! What else I would better call this, except “Atrocity“!?

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a prolonged journey

its been sometimes blogged as well. of course there are loads of contents/thoughts to be blogged, some or the other way there are factors keep pulling me out. some are worth mentioning and few are not! .

Blogosphere – more or like an university/college where people come in, join you, experience you something during the association. The impressions are also of varying in nature! huh! neways, the journey has to move on. so keeping it going..

last weekend had been to various places in TN and it was a joyous experience. As I had been dealing with some production issues in a neighbouring team and also some release work in my team here, the important activity called ’sleep’ was not considered much for about a week’s time. Saturday morning had to come to office for interviewing some people as I agreed to my manager for the same a day before. Finished with a couple of people and rushed to get into the Bus (ABT Travels) to go to Coimbatore. The main reason was to visit Lord Subramaniah in Pazhani (due to Kandha Sashti and I keep fasting for the same) and also to attend two of my friends weddings! Somehow managed to stop the bus through constant follow up and updating over phone every now and then and got into the bus by 140 PM at madiwala, Bangalore .

Good that the co passengers were neither starring at me nor shouting at me . Escaped. I guess just 10 – 15 mts of waiting dint make them feel so sad. During the journey had been reading a book ‘Head First EJB‘ as I got to train some new people in this week . Had to refresh the concepts as its been some years I worked on. After browsing through few pages, somehow was attracted towards the ‘Shivaji – The Boss‘ movie which was running on the 27″ flat screen . Continued with that. Next was with ‘Daas‘ – the movie by Jeyam Ravi and Renuga Menon. Remember had seen that movie in 2005 once it was released. As I like 3 songs in that movie, somehow switching between Head First EJB and Daas now and then . After a couple of hours though I thought i could read but i was nt able to. As the sun had set and 3rd movie was started – again Jeyam Ravi’s ‘M Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi‘. A nice movie. Started revising the movie for 5th time .

My co-passenger named ‘Jasper’ who is working as a Service Engineer in Tekenome, Coimbatore was going back from bangalore after his client visit. Man.. he was resembling the Actor Surya! – Not just the facial expressions but also mannerism, smile etc., altogether:) Nice guy and we had a good timepass. Two things were new to me. First time I met a person with the resemblance of a celebrity and his name is a part of one reporting tool we use ‘JasperReports‘ . Got a good friend though!

Reached coimbatore and attended my BE classmate Bino’s reception. Phew! the auto’s are all really a nightmare in Coimbatore! Though I had completed my BE in Coimbatore, I never travelled in an auto. so never aware of the consequences! For less than half a km, he charged 50 Rupees and the time constraint made me nod! Was very happy seeing my friend after 2,3 years so as he. As I kept checking with him over phone during the journey about the timings and his stay over there, i was expecting to see him in the main hall soon after I entered. But he was missing. Called him twice but no reply. Then i saw a room with utensils, plates. Assumed it would be the dining hall and there got a solution for the equation. Found my friend Bino in the dining hall with his partner and friends around . Had dinner with them and exchanged some conversation, greetings. After sometime we had a photo session, gift giving etc., then I left from there!

Saw ‘Seval‘ Movie in Royal Theatre as was interested because of Director Hari and the good-looking-and-nicely-portrayed heroine Pooja Bavnam. very homely face . The movie was okay kind. He had taken a different subject this time. But the violence was more and not much having interest towards it.

After the movie, went to Ukkadam bus stand by walk. It was again a nostalgic as I used to do the same during my college days. Thinking all those sweet memories, was walking on the road. Got a bus in Ukkadam bus stand to Pazhani. Reached there in the early morning at around 4.20 AM. Reached the temple by 5.15 AM and waited for the shrine to get opened by 6 AM for the very first dharshan (alankar called ‘vishu’). It was almost 1.5 years I visited my boss and so damn happy after seeing him ).

Came down and went to Erode to visit one my best buddies home. It was also like after 2 years visit. I could get the happiness from their faces and the conversations. Had a very good time over there by conversing about many different topics right from spiritual, religious, cinema, personal updates etc.,. My friend Ramesh VG and his wife Suganthi were also a part of our conversation through yahoo messenger with a webcam . Good recreation.

Went to Namakkal from Erode to attend the other wedding of my unseen-but-good friend Krishna Srinivasan, whom I got to know through the technical forums (JavaRanch, JavaBeat – which he manages). Both of us were happy due to our very first meet on his marriage occasion .

From Namakkal, had to get a bus to Salem. During the journey, had completed one novel of Ramanichandran named “Laavanya” which was in progress till then. .

From Salem, got into a bus till Krishnagiri. There a movie was played. Again of Jeyam Ravi’s . Gosh.. I was thinking whether it was Jeyam ravi’s week (like the advt in Sun Tv – Indha vaaram jeyam raviyin vaaram).

From Krishnagiri to Hosur. The journey was quite interesting as got a friend named Somasundaram (though there are many somasundarams’ I have known). He is working a shift supervisor in CNC, Hosur. Exchanged the basic stuff our whereabouts, working nature etc., Again got a good friend .

Then finally from Hosur to Bangalore. It was around 11 AM almost when I reached. Huh… visited many places in a short span with nice experiences, new people.

I always love travelling mainly because of the new scenarios we happen to get, new sort/set of people we happen to meet. So thrilling and interesting. Mostly I have never failed in this!

Though had been longing to take leave because of lack of sleep and tiredness, the unresolved-and-still-pending production issue was inviting me for long! Of course have to keep up the name and belief the people have on us!

Let the journey continue..

33 to 29 and 75 to 63

Wondering what these figures could be? its the transition in my physique within an year!

Day before yesterday stepped into Brand Factory in Wilson Garden Area (in Bangalore) to grab some dresses on a huge offer sale (“Buy 1 Get 1 Free” on most of the items and “Buy 1 Get 2 Free” on few items). Thought I can check my waist size as i am compressed very much in an year. I remember my waist size was used to be 32 and a little later it was upto 33 so that i could get the pants/trousers of waist size 34 with ease. Now it is 29! ["32 to 29"] Its the change happened within me in an year as my appetite was gradually and drastically lost and i dint really feel like working on it to improve. I felt it was good and comfortable so left it as such. Also the (T-)shirts i used to wear of type “XL” and now the “L” itself is bit larger .

Happened to check my weight in a nearby hospital yesterday night during my visit to see the doctor and get an injection for the viral fever! There another fact got revealed. My present weight is 63 kgs and its almost 12 kgs lost. I was of 75 if i am right! ["75 to 63"]

What a change? Everyone says, “Welcome the Change“! so do I — with no further comments on it!

by this time last year

To be frank and honest, is this moment a much awaited one? Yes and No The reason being its one such day (17 September 2007 Monday) last year i was very busy purchasing and packing for my very first onsite trip to bahrain! Infact as usual I thought of blogging the splendid mixture of all those incidents happened soon after reaching bahrain but somehow it was missed! Thinking shall I do it now so that i can just test how much my so called memory is afresh which has been one of my admirable aspects!

18 September 2007 – Tuesday was the day I landed in Bahrain! And I am sure i had been thinking of this day somehow for quite a long time. May be to analyze how much changes I have undergone and experienced in an year!

Can we have this as a tag? I leave it to the fellow bloggers whoever happens to read this can take it up and scribble few things which they could recollect on the same day last year happened in their life — provided they are interested

Well, let me post the blog on my previous year experiences on this day last year a little later on a separate post!:) Though i feel like i should do it today itself, kinda feeling exhausted after a tiring day’s work at office! The post might be lengthy as the way the narration goes!

Back to Pavilion

Hey buddies,

Its been a weeks time I came back to Bangalore from Bahrain. Of course was about to write one post about ‘life in bahrain’. But had been quite busy with the KT and handover stuff. Let me see how soon i could finish that off!

As such completed 9 months over there and back to India. Could see many changes (improvements rather) here. Getting settleddddd….

Cheers!!