75%

{ June 23, 2009 @ 9:24 pm } · { Life }
{ Tags: , } · { Comments (3) }

On a recent trip to Chicago my parents questioned me about my single relationship status.  Like any other Indian parent with a kid in their late twenties they are ever impatient, wanting to see me get married.  They’re one line of advice is the subject of this post:

“Son, if you see a girl that is 75% okay then you should go for her…”

Huh?  What does that mean?  Was I supposed to be keeping a grade sheet for every girl that I was interested in?  No one told me there was a grade sheet for this thing!

My folks think I’m picky.  In their mind saying no to someone must have meant saying no to a trivial issue.  She’s too short/tall, too skinny/fat,  skin too dark/light, or stank too much.  In their mind, we are all the same… Most of us were born in the same “village of America”, attending malayalee Pentecostal churches with the same beliefs and values.  The ONLY difference besides career, family background, and spirituality can be the trivial ones.  If 1 out of 4 of those trivial issues doesn’t float your boat,  don’t stop and get hitched! 

The miscommunication comes from the simple fact that most malu parents do not really know how different we all are.  How our likes and dislikes, values, and beliefs are so different.  How men and women in my martial scope have such vast and varied personalities.   I am looking at a group of a few hundred women and narrowing down to a few that have the most basic of qualities I’m looking for.  Not all, but some.  Maybe a 75% match.  Of course in order for it to work she’ll have to like me too….or at least 75% like.

Slumdog Millionaire In My Fav 5!

{ December 26, 2008 @ 9:32 pm } · { Uncategorized }
{ } · { Comments (1) }

The must see movie of 2008, after Dark Knight, has to be Slumdog Millionaire!  Coming from Indian roots, I’ve seen my fair share of Bollywood films and movies that tell the story of the ancient caste system in India.  However, no film has told the story in such creativity as Slumdog Millionaire.   At its very core it speaks as to how street smarts, will and love can direct your path.  Go see it!  Slumdog was so good that it cracked my top 5 all-time favorite movies. 

I’ll end this post with my best/worst movies of all time.

Top 10

10.  The Dark Knight
9.  Blow
8.  Wizard of Oz
7.  Sneakers
6.  Being John Malkovich
5.  Cast Away
4.  The Matrix
 3.  Slumdog Millionaire
2.  Office Space
1.  Shawshank Redemption

Bottom 5

5.  Hell Boy II:  The Golden Army
4.  Matrix Revolution
3.  Charlie’s Angels
2.  Spiderman 3
1.  The Mummy Returns

Looking forward to seeing “Doubt” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Later Folks,

Jimmy

Wedding Hookups – Auntie Style

{ November 24, 2008 @ 1:09 pm } · { Life }
{ Tags: , , } · { Comments (1) }

On Saturday I attended the wedding of a friend I’ve known since birth.  Needless to say, I was excited and happy to share in the joy of her special day.  On top of that this church was amazing! It was a catherdral whose benefactor was none other than John D Rockefeller. Check it out for yourself: http://rockefeller.uchicago.edu/

During the ceremony I was gazing at the amazing stained glass windows and stone work in the cieling, when I felt a tap on my leg from an Auntie a few feet away to my left.  ”Monay…turn around…there is a nice looking girl behind you…her mom is a friend of mine.”  If that wasn’t awkward enough.  Apparently Auntie did not have an inside voice, and her outside voice was heard by everyone around me.  I responded with an awkward chuckle and told auntie to tell me about her later.  While this was the most awkward hookup moment,  the reception yielded itself to more mentions of single ladies from several aunties.  They all used Joe the Plumber descriptions followed by “she’s good looking” to describe these girls.  I.E.  ”Betsy the engineer…she’s good looking!”  ”Suzy the nurse…she’s good looking!” and “Julie the MBA…she’s good looking!”

The joke of the night had to be me.  Caught up in catching up with friends and families I had not seen in awhile, I did not take the time to meet anyone new.  In the words of my sister, “For shame!”

Til next time I bid you adieu.

- Jimmy the computer guy…i’m good looking!

Media Mess

{ October 31, 2008 @ 5:52 pm } · { Mumbo Jumbo }
{ } · { Leave a Comment }

Read this.
 
 
“…Campbell is part of a stubborn wedge of people who, somehow, are still making up their minds about who should be president.”
 
What’s wrong with still making up your mind…there is still time to do so.  And how is that stubborn?  Some people need all the time they can get to make a decesion they feel comfortable with.
This condescending reporting is unfortunetly the norm.  Espeically, with a candidate such as Obama, who people just don’t know that well…there is no harm in waiting til the day of voting to decide on who to vote for.
 
If anything in this election, I have learned that the media at large (TV networks, AP, most newspapers) is biased toward a given party and out of touch with the people that actually think things through and don’t vote along party lines.  The independent thinker is rarely talked to anymore.  Don’t scare me or even try to convince me.  Report the facts and point out the bull ON BOTH SIDES.  That’s it.  For my political news I turn to CSPAN…where no one talks besides the candidates.
 
I’m not convinced that all of the media has a hidden agenda toward a given party…but they are sure doing a great job at polorizing America. 

Hurricane Ike

{ September 17, 2008 @ 2:04 pm } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , } · { Leave a Comment }

I managed to shoot some video before and after Hurricane Ike.  Take a gander.

The Craigslist Hustle

{ September 9, 2008 @ 8:18 pm } · { Life }
{ Tags: , } · { Comments (1) }

For the past month or so I’ve been hunting for a part time gig for some extra cash.  Specifically, I want to save up some money toward the downpayment of a new car.  My search has proved to be a challenging one.  I have a full time job, am owner of a web design start up company, and am invovled with HYPF.  This is all in addition to being a home owner in a bachelor pad that requires constant attention.  Needless to say my schedule is tight.  There just aren’t many part-time nights, no sundays, 10-15 hour a week jobs out there…outside of retail.  Nevertheless, I got my hustle on and hit up Craigslist.

Craiglist is an internet classifieds filled with items to sell, goods and services to trade, personals, local community events…and gig listings!  “Gigs” are a want ads of sorts posted by indiviuals and not companies that need freelance work done.  Anything from artwork to an article for a blog.  I focused my search on the “computers” and “creative” section under Gigs.  I was looking for any kind of tech support or web design gig.  I didn’t limit my search to just Houston.  We live in the internet age of home office jobs right?  I sent e-mails to a few posts that were decent fits with no response.  No worries. 

In Craigslist Chicago I found a simple gig posted by a freelance writer.  The request asked for a person to provide phone support on a as needed basis and asked for information regarding experience, rates, and a contact number.  I responded with the requested information and shared my issues of limited availblitiy.  I also attached a copy of my resume minus address information for reference.  In short order I heard back from Jennifer, a freelance writer orginally from Houston and a graduate of UT Austin!  How cool!  I had her sold because I actually responded with answers to her request.  I’m looking forward to working with Jennifer and getting some extra dough in my wallet in the process and I’m going to keep hustling on Craigslist for ways to make some extra cash.

Some advice on what to look for and what to watch out for: 

- Be wary of get rich schemes.  If its too good to be true, it is!  Stay away from “data entry from home” gigs.

- Keep correspondance to e-mail only until you feel comfortable to talk over the phone.  You may want to create a seperate e-mail account to use for craigslist, just to protect yourself against the possiblity of spam to your main account.

- Be persistent.  New gigs come up all the time, just keep checking for new posts and don’t be frustrated if you don’t land a gig or if no one e-mails you back.  If you can complete a gig without meeting the client in person, do not limit yourself to your locale…search in other cities.

-  Create a resume that just has your e-mail address as contact info.  and attach that to any gigs you inquire about.  This makes you look more professional and keeps you protected at the same time.

- Network through leads.  If a gig doesn’t work out, leave your contact with information aobut yourself that may lead them to come to you in the future or recommend someone to you for a potentional oppurtuinity.

Do you have a Craigslist Hustle story?

If you give Craigslist a try, I’d love to hear how it worked out.  Remember your skills are worth something!  But, its not just about the money, its a great way to network and meet people from all over while increasing that all important commodity of experience. 

More stories to come!

Now What?

{ August 19, 2008 @ 1:55 am } · { feelings shmeelings }
{ } · { Leave a Comment }

We live life in constant expectation…the first day of high school, the first job, college, the first “real world”, a house, kids.

This past weekend as I went to NYC to attend my sister’s engagement and also meet 3 of the most adorable babies you’ll ever see (pics) a thought crossed my mind.  Once your there…at the awesome accomplishments life…even more questions arise.  Life’s checkpoints lead to more questions than the one answered.  My sister’s engaged, officially in a relationship…now what?…a year’s worth of planning for a wedding and a move to NYC.  My nieces whose parents have such profound hopes and desires for their kids…they don’t look far into the future…their concerns, hopes, dreams are for the here and now….They want to see their kids walk on their own, speak, and grow to be healthy children.

Now What?  Is a beautiful question to have.  Life is all too often a search for answers, but this weekend I learned to look forward to questions.

Blunt Knife.

{ July 23, 2008 @ 4:58 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ } · { Comments (1) }

Lately I’ve noticed that people have been cringing at the blunt nature of my arguments.  I walk the careful line of being polite and out right cruel.  Is there a line?

I struggle with being patient through logic and banter of argumentative conversation.  I wanna cut to the chase get to the point…but in the process I realize that I am cutting.  Sometimes a lil too deep.  Is it valid to do so?  Do some arguments require verbal stabs?  Or should I be a lil more tactful in my cuts?

The truth hurts and I’ve been throwing validity’s punches with reckless abandon…Stabbing blunt flawed logic in the heart…I’m feeling a bit of remorse at the trail of black eyes and drops of blood.

Job Satisfaction

{ July 9, 2008 @ 2:26 pm } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , } · { Leave a Comment }

Job satisfaction is a constant topic of conversation among my fellow 20 something friends.  Today I recieved an intresting university wide e-mail regarding employee turnover.  Here is a brief snipet:

…Employee turnover is expensive. Studies suggest that U.S. organizations annually spend over $200 billion recruiting and replacing their employees, while a “typical” medical center spends over $2 million each year replacing staff. Experts say that costs associated with replacing an employee are usually about 2.5 times the annual salary of the “lost” individual (these costs included recruitment, training, lost productivity, etc.).

One thing we know for sure is that employees, in general, migrate to training and career development opportunities. If employees feel that they are locked into too-specific or “dead-end” jobs with few opportunities for promotion or variety, they will leave. And this appears to be particularly true for Gen X and Gen Y workers…

——

The university has decided to put additional dollars into online training.   Some of these trainings will become mandotory and help maintain compliance standards with state and other health related laws and statutes.

While this is a solid idea.  I wonder if it will solve the turnover issue.  The assumption here is that with knowledge and training employees can move up the ladder.  But, how long will that take?   I feel that my generation jumps from job to job for the following reasons (in no particular order):

1.  Relocation:  Tired of living in the same city all their lives, 20 somethings look to explore what the world at large has to offer and look at their job as a means to experience their environments.

2.  Salary:  Several professors in college and fellow classmates advised me to switch jobs every 2-3 years…especially while single.  They concluded that percentage increases at your current employer, excluding job title or promotions, average approximately 5%-7% annually.  Where as a move to a new company could net you an increase of between 20%-30% on the low end.  This has proven to be fact for me.  At my last long term job I averaged higher than average wage increases of 8%-10%.   But, a change of employers over a 3 month span netted me a 60% increase in salary.

3.  Vibe:  My generatoin is less likely to to become “corporate slaves’ working long hours to move up the coroporate ladder.  Futhermore, they are in tune with the vision of the company and are constanly aware of their role in the greater mission of their organizations.

4.  Perks:  In conjunction with the vibe, we look for perks such as scheduling flexibility and tution reimbursement.

The bottom line is that we want our jobs to work around our lives, and not for work to become our lives.  While some of these needs can be addressed, the reality is that we sacrifice where we can and find our ninche in the workplace.

I’m intrested to hear how your workplace is addressing this issue.

« Older entries