My Digital Thoughts : Shashi's Diary

I liked this article very much and many important lessons for me are contained in the article - Great integrated overarching way to think of yourself as a manager: Manage yourself. Manage your network. Manage your team. -Build and nurture a broad network of ongoing relationships with those they need and those who need them; that is how they influence people over whom they have no formal authority. I like the second point here about networking relationships and also an example where it is important to campaign within a group or company ahead of time before a presentation so no one has the surprise factor. But then again I have a copy if Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hansson on my table which is a story for another post Amplify’d from hbr.org The whole question of how managers grow and advance is one we’ve studied, thought about, and lived with for years. As a professor working with high potentials, MBAs, and executives from around the globe, Linda meets people w...

Anything's possible , originally uploaded by ShashiBellamkonda . I am taking a walk on my second day in Austin and looking up into the sky I see this. It's not a plane ( even though the airport is close by), it's not a bird ( it's too high) and it's not superman because there is no movie theater near by. It was nice to see a glider( could hear the motor) but wonder where they would land .. Is it usual to see this in Austin. are folks using gliuders to commute - seems like a awesome idea.

The Economist ( Yes ! I like the economist very much) has an interesting article on how over the past 400 years the West has maintained a promise of better times from generation to generation. Now hope is on the move. " The rise of positive thinking ", population demographics and Nandan Nilakani's quote" greatest achievement lies not in producing technology but redefining the boundaries of the possible" make this an interesting article to read. There is also a takeaway that along with propserity comes responsibility - a message for the BRICI countries. Amplify’d from www.economist.com “HOPE” is one of the most overused words in public life, up there with “change”. Yet it matters enormously. Politicians pay close attention to right-track/wrong-track indicators. Confidence determines whether consumers spend, and so whether companies invest. The “power of positive thinking”, as Norman Vincent Peale pointed out, is enormous Now hope is on the move. ...

When may of the folks I know visit the US they want to go to Niagara Falls, Disneyworld and New York. As the economy changes travel patterns will change and more Asian countries will encourage their citizens to visit other countries. This Economist article talks about the places that Chinese are flocking to see in Europe and not necessarily the ones that the locals think are popular. Mount Titlis in Lucerne Switzerland, Kings College Cambridge. Strangely UK does not get many of these tourists since UK is not part of the border-free Schengen zone and it's a nightmare for Chinese tourists to get visas to any European country. Enjoy reading the Economist article. Amplify’d from www.economist.com China’s tourists are carving out a new European itinerary, with some unexpected stops When the bamboo curtain lifted a generation ago, the first contact many Chinese had with the outside world was in the form of imported goods, whose foreign fame was viewed as intrinsic proof of quality...

Great gift for parents with teenagers , originally uploaded by ShashiBellamkonda . I bought this on Amazon amzn.to/g5qpDE A few years ago the MD Transportation dept used to give out these magnetic signs but with the serious 'Rooki e Driver" This sign is hilarious. good gift for parents with teenagers.

I have had great experiences with the post office. I have changed my address a  couple of times and every time the post office ( 20878) had forwarded the mail beyond the 6 months date. The mail always arrives on time snow or rain (20854) and always courteous. It is easy to place a vacation hold and temporarily forward mail if you are going on a long vacation. And best of all I was thrilled to read this Popular mechanic's article : Which Shipping Company Is Kindest to Your Packages?  Guess who has the gentlest touch ? Thank you USPS , thank you post person of zip code 20854. Happy Holidays !

At this time of the year we look forward to this parade by the  Rockville Volunteer Fire Department who will carry on its tradition of parading from downtown Rockville to Gaithersburg as it carries a lighted menorah on a fire truck Thursday night.. PARADE TIMES AND ROUTES The Menorah Fire Truck parade will leave Rockville Volunteer Fire Station 3 at 380 Hungerford Drive in Rockville at 6 p.m. - First stop: Fallsgrove, corner of Fallsgrove Boulevard and Shady Grove Drive, estimated arrival time is 6:15 p.m. - Second stop: Potomac Glen, Shady Grove Road and Cavanaugh Drive, estimated arrival time is 6:45 p.m. - Third stop: Chanukah Wonderland, Travilah Square Shopping Center at 10066 Darnestown Road in North Potomac, estimated arrival time is 7 p.m. - Fourth stop: Washingtonian Woods in Gaithersburg, pool on Midsummer Drive, estimated arrival time is 7:15 p.m. - Fifth stop: Lakelands Park in Gaithersburg, estimated arrival time is 7:25 p.m. - Final stop: Chabad of Upper Montgomery C...

The man on the street India expects the US to address the issue of why US is not stopping terrorist attacks against India. ( from NDTV). As the global economy stagnates it is natural for any corporation /state or economy to look towards the fastest growing  economies India 8.8% growth  11th biggest economy in the world, India is the second fastest-growing , behind China. President Obama is pitching US exports to India and i think doing as much as any Republican administration would have done. Did you know that India... - is the world's second largest small car market - is one of only three countries that makes its own supercomputers - is the fourth largest economy in the world (measured in terms of purchasing power parity) - is one of six countries that launches its own satellites - 100 of the Fortune 500 have R & D facilities in India - has the second largest group of software developers after the U.S. - lists 6,600 companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange; only th...

Beantown

This is not a rant against TSA, I think they are doing a reasonably good job. I just passed through the BWI airport and there wss no line in Terminal D and if I was doing any other task I should have walked away happy that it took less than 5 minutes to walk through security. I think flying has become a chore and the best part of a vacation does not include the security lines at airports or for that matter the flight itself. As a passenger I am always worried about forgetting something while going through the security line added to that the harsh and loud instructions from the TSA staff makes feel guilty that I could be doing something wrong and get publicly rebuked in a loud voice. Here are my suggestions : No loud shouting should be allowed  Talk to anyone who makes mistakes in a very friendly and soothing tone. Pay special attention to anyone needing help if necessary asking other fellow passengers to help. Should be simple enough. What do you think ?

If you have heard Jason Falls speak you will agree that he does a great presentation with humor and learning that its a pleasure to be in the audience with him. He is on a trip to Bangalore/bengaluru India and is logging his travel at a Video Blog  http://fallsofftherocker.com/ Worth a look

My new @tbd cap

Just got this message in my personal Gmail Account and I am posting it to warn folks about this phishing email. Do not send your credentials in an email to anyone. Email title: Google Account Verification Email Body : Due to the congestion in our Gmail servers,there would be removal of all unused Gmail Accounts.You will have to confirm if your E-mail is still active by filling out your login info below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons. Account Name:  Password:  Country :  Note: This email is only for Account owner. Thank you for using Gmail !  The Gmail Team Report it as phishing as I did.

From the National Parks Conservation Association:   The land at Gettysburg has been set aside by our nation so we can honor the sacrifices made there and show respect for that devastating and defining battle. This is not the place for the casino , recently proposed on land so close to the park that it would have been within Civil War cannon-shot. A casino so close to this hallowed ground is at odds with the very nature of this place where so many died to preserve our country. Gettysburg National Military Park belongs to all of us and we must protect it from this development. We are also working against proposed development in Orange, Virginia, on the site of the 1864 Battle of the Wilderness --General Ulysses S. Grant’s first battle of his decisive “war of attrition” against General Robert E. Lee. But officials in Orange have approved the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter on Battle of the Wilderness ground . With your help, and our numerous local allies, we have ge...

This is a picture that my friend Arun Rajagopal took as he was traveling in India by train. My family has told me that the origin of my name came from this place Bellamkonda. See  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamkonda

White House asks community to solve the problem of US students not taking Science with enthusiasm as their global peers On Tuesday May 11 th the White House held a briefing for a group of 150 mostly local technology companies, non-profits , associations and others interested in knowing more about the White House initiative the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign. The campaign’s goal is to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Greg Nelson According to the White House website This campaign will include efforts not only from the Federal Government but also from leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies to work with young people across America to excel in science and math. In January 2009 the Scientific American reported “ 85 percent of kids surveyed by the Lemelson–M.I.T. Invention Index , an annual survey that examines Americans' attitudes ...

I started this blog to record thoughts of my dad. His last name is Reddy so the name "ready thoughts". My parents are visiting again and I am enjoying the conversations that we have.The perspectives from across the continents is definitely different or is it ? At Webvisions (a conference of web designers and developers in Portland OR in May 2019) Kris Krug a well known fashion photographer said "it doesn't exist if it is nit on the Internet".He of course was referring to the fact that in today's world your work if art/photo has better chances if being discovered if you had your work online. It was a coincidence that as I was walking with my dad, he said that inanimate objects have no power to publicize themselves but still get discovered and that's the power if God. I told my dad about what Kris Krug had said and he smiled and said then maybe the Internet is divine :) Then we spoke about CK Prahlad and the theory of the "Bottom of the Pyramid...

Steve Jobs getting customers to evangelize his company

Typos are not to be condoned

Every time I have a shower I am #thankfulfor the luxury of having a tap flowing with water and virtually no restrictions on the length of time I can keep the water flowing and have a bath. Life was not always like this. Growing up in the Southern city of Chennai ( It was called Madras then) I would remember having “water duty” that consisted of placing an empty vessel in the line for drinking water that would come from the local city water supply tap down the street for about 2 to 3 hours a day. I am really not sure why but this ritual of filling up your vessels with water would take place at an ungodly hour of 4 to 5 in the morning. Luckily this was only for drinking water. The other water supply came from a well and was piped into overhead tanks. This well water was in no way unlimited. The houses even had a pipe connected to the city’s municipal water supply but the amount of water from the Red Hills water reservoir was not enough for the city’s population. One summer the wat...

Today the Wasington Post came with a new Business Supplement "Capital Business" delivered with my 7 days subscription. What I don't get : Why are you charging 7 day Subscribers an extra $49 dollars a year for "Capital Business" when this content should be part of the business section of the Washington Post which has become thinner and thinner. Please make this free for regular WP subscribers and quit thinking like airlines that charge for carryon baggage :) What I get : I think this is a great development and love what I see in this inaugural Issue. Tom Heath and his column "Capital Buzz" , Dan Beyers as Editor Will do a great job. Loved the column about local DC tech by Nicole Norfleet and entrepreneurship by Vickie Elmer. Traditional media has better success in local markets and wonder what the Washington Business Journal is going to do ? Start a daily newspaper ?

I have been watching the reports on NDTV mentioning a rise of voilence against Indians in Australia . Time reports that : Some 17,000 people turned out on Feb. 24 in cities across Australia to eat dinner at Indian restaurants as part of Vindaloo Against Violence. The mass-dining campaign started as a 100-person Facebook event but soon grew into a show of solidarity with Australia's 450,000-member Indian community. Read more I wish I had heard of this before. Eating at restaurants for a good cause is not new here in the US and I am glad the response to this was good. This blog has come details of the Vindaloo Against Voilence . Related articles by Zemanta Australia probes Indian boy death (news.bbc.co.uk) Australians curry Indian favour in anti-racism drive (news.bbc.co.uk) Australia Condemns Racial Attacks (online.wsj.com) Fewer Indians 'to study in Australia' (news.bbc.co.uk)

I am a member of the NPCA and love the fact that they are a organization that helps keep our National Parks natural. Got a appeal from them about this issue and think its important enough for all of us to act. The Great Lakes have been changing--and for the better! For years we have been investing in their care and in the national parks around them. But now, an invasive species--the Asian carp--has emerged and could reverse much of the good we have accomplished. Asian carp are voracious eaters that can grow four feet long and weigh 100 pounds. They threaten to wipe out native lake trout, lake sturgeon, coaster brook and rainbow trout found in our Great Lakes and their parks. By gobbling up the same food that sustains native fish populations or by erratically leaping out of the water, Asian carp can quickly dominate entire aquatic ecosystems. As the water warms with the arrival of spring, the carp will be on the move, increasing their chances of entering the Great ...

The economics of public transport do not make it worth your while and the public transport is not getting any faster either.Ten-cent Metro fare increase is effective February 28 through June 26 and the Metro press release says “Additional fare changes likely this summer” Fare changes effective February 28 through June 26, 2010 Metrorail regular fare changes • The base boarding charge will increase from $1.65 to $1.75; • Maximum fare on the rail system will increase from $4.50 to $4.60; and • Metrorail fares for senior citizens and people with disabilities will increase from 80 to 85 cents. Metrorail reduced fare changes • The charge for the first seven miles of travel during off-peak periods will increase from $1.35 to $1.45; • The charge for travel between seven and 10 miles during off-peak periods will increase from $1.85 to $1.95; and • The charge for travel over 10 miles during off-peak periods will increase from $2.35 to $2.45. ...

A few hours ago (Feb 13th 2010) a bomb went off popular cafe ‘ German Bakery” in Pune India. At the time of posting this the press were reporting that 8 people had died and about 40 injured in this blast which left the bodies charred beyond recognition. The bakery is a popular spot with foreign tourists. The first information I got about 1.5 hours after the blast from one of my Twitter followers. At that time the incident had not even hit the mainstream media. I tipped of WTOP and they carried the news ( They may have got it from other sources) Picture courtesy http://twitpic.com/photos/abhi_bol WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN ANY INDENTIFIED BAG AND NOTIFY POLICE(applies anywhere in the world). According to initial someone tried to prise open a  unidentified bag at the German Bakery which may have triggered the blast. Here are some observations: This comes a day after both India and Pakistan agreed to resume talks that had been halted since the Mumbai attack...

Proud of my coloring sketches , originally uploaded by ShashiBellamkonda .

To celebrate the release of the film “My Name is Khan” the stars of the movie Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan rang the NASDAQ Opening Bell this morning (Feb 1. 2010) in New York. The film “ My Name is Khan ” opens worldwide on February 12 being released by Fox Searchlight (Fox is owned by News. Corp., which also owns and publishes The Wall Street Journal). Bollywood is now exporting movies worldwide and in several theatres across the US. See the Film’s page at Fox Searchlight or the movie’s blog at http://www.mynameiskhan.org/ Photo credit © 2009, The NASDAQ OMX Group , Inc     See the trailer here. My Name Is Khan by moviestune

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Rockville Central has posted a Flood Warning for areas bordering the Potomac River.   The river will be at or above Flood Stage by Wed morning.  Safety precautions should be taken until the water recedes. Read more http://www.weather.gov/alerts/md.html#MDC031.LWXFLWLWX.211800

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Afghan tribes always have and always will resist any type of foreign intervention in their affairs. says U.S. Army Maj. Jim Gant  who was featured in a Washington post article Jim Gant, The Green Beret who could win the war in Afghanistan. The piece written by Ann Scott Tyson also mentions the document “One Tribe at a Time “ a strategy for success in Afghanistan” written by Major Jim Gant of the United States Army Special Forces A digital copy (PDF) of this publication is available to the public at http://blog.stevenpressfield.com . Must read and also see the Washington Post Slide Show

Be nice to other humans even if they are not in a car , originally uploaded by ShashiBellamkonda . White bikes are memorials for cyclists killed in road accidents. Just a reminder that people enjoying walking and riding bikes. On the other hand distractions have increased for drivers. The white bike movement seems to have originated grass roots and is prevalent in cities around the world. According to ghostbikes.org - The first ghost bikes were created in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003 London Ghost bikes

This was like a great end of the year gift being featured in the Washington Business Journal and I consider myself very lucky. Shashi in reference to: http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/12/21/story9.html ( view on Google Sidewiki )