Resilient system.

The next two months are going to be quite a challenge at work. I have been given a new system to handle and there are quite a lot of issues in this new system.With hardly any documentation or knowledge transition on this system- handling it would be quite a challenge.

After being in a system for nearly two years and having learnt it quite well and executing several projects in it i thought i was getting complacent and settling down into a comfort zone and my learning curve was stagnating.I somehow felt i needed a change and a bigger challenge and i dont know for what heavens reason, i decided and agreed to take this system.The last 10 days have been quite horrible in this new system,people screaming,fire mails all around,you feel as if you have been air dropped into a war zone with bullets flying all around.

The resilience of this system just infuriates me and motivates me more to set it right.My motivating statement on my cube is -'I am gonna knock this bastard off' after the famous saying by Edmund hillary.Lol.

Reminds me of a UG saying - 'The plain fact is that if you don't have a problem, you create one. If you don't have a problem you don't feel that you are living.' Amen to that!!

Adios my friend!

Last week was an extremely painful week for me.I lost a very close friend who drowned in the St.Croix river when his car went into it.These are his last words when he dailed 911 when the Car was sinking in.

D: Dispatch
C1: Original caller
V: Voice in background
C2: Person first caller handed the phone to

D: Washington County Sheriff’s Office this is Sue.
Radio traffic St. Croix County to transfer for Stillwater
C1: (inaudible) Yeah, ah, actually we are in Stillwater
D: What?
V: The car is sinking
C1: We are, the car is sinking. We are, we are inside the Stillwater
V: And it’s boat, near the boat area (Very hard to understand.)
C1: It’s, it’s near the boat ah area (inaudible and very hard to understand)
D: Okay. All right. Just a minute here.
C1: And make it fast.
D: What is going on in Stillwater?
C1: Car, Oh God, we are in the car and we are going inside
D: Okay you’re in the car and your going
C2: Hello,
D: Yes.
C2: Hello we in the Stillwater, okay, and our car is sinking, now we in the water now. We are going to be submerged.
D: Okay, you’re car is sinking. Where are you in Stillwater.
C2: (inaudible) The car is going to sink now. You need to come. We are boat rental area. ( Very hard to understand)
D: You’re on where sir?
C2 (inaudible)
V: “I’m afraid” (inaudible)
D: It’s okay. Can you get out of the car without hurting yourself?
C2: Hello, hello.
D: Can you get out of the car, sir, without hurting yourself.
C2: Hello.
D: Where are you in
C2: Hello
D: Stillwater.
C2: Hello
D: I’m here.
C2: Yeah, our car is going to sink now. (crying)
D: Sir where are you?
C2: We are in Stillwater.
D: I understa
C2: We are in the near boat rental area. (Hard to understand)
Radio Traffic
D: Anybody else hear that?
V: (inaudible)
C1: Why did you go?
D: Can you get out of the car at all?
C2: No the car is, the water is full
D: The car is full?
C2: Yeah, the water is inside of our car.
V: (inaudible) in Stillwater
D: I need some help here because, I cannot understand where they are.
V: (inaudible) sinking (inaudible) Stillwater
D: All right, Sir
V: Sinking please.
D: All right you’re in front of the marina?
C2: Hello behind the boat rental deck area.
D: Okay
C2: We are sinking.
D: I know. I understand that. Can you get out of your car? Can you open your door?
C2: (inaudible) We don’t have swimming.
D: Okay, you can’t,
V: Don’t touch me.
D: You can’t get out of your car?
C2: We are going to drown
V: (inaudible) (Different language)
C2: One minute (inaudible)
D: Sir, sir, sir. Open the door.
V: Speaking in different language
C2: One (inaudible)
D: Can you open the door sir?
C2: No we can’t open the door.
D: Can you roll the window down at all?
C2: Hello
D: Is it, how much water is in the car?
C2: Hello
D: Sir, how much water is in the car?
C2: Hello, (inaudible) Hello.
D: I’m right here sir.
C2: We are in the (inaudible) area, Stillwater, and our car is inside the water.
D: Okay, how much water’s in your car do you think?
C2: Our car is going to submerge in the next ten minutes.
D: Can you kick the window out at all?
C2: No we can’t open the window. We can’t open the window.
D: I understand that. Can you kick it? Can you kick it with your foot.
C2: No we can’t do anything. It’s freezing water.
D: I know sir. I understand.
C2: (inaudible) us all.
D: Is your passenger on the phone too?
C2: Hello, hello, can you please answer for me to call 9-1-1.
V: (inaudible)
D: We already did. We already have. We already have someone coming to help you.
C2: Hello.
D: Sir.
C2: Hello.
D: You’re doing a good job sir. Can you kick the window out with your foot.
C2: (inaudible) ( Different language)
D: Sir, can you kick the window out at all.
V: (inaudible)
Radio traffic
C2: Hello.
D: Sir can you kick the window out at all with your foot.
C2: (inaudible) are submerged fully and die now.
V: (inaudible)
D: Can you kick.
C2: Different language. I’m going to die in this here.
D: Sir do you have a snow brush or anything sharp in your car? Or anything, ah heavy?
Radio traffic.
C2: (inaudible) Don’t panic. (inaudible)
V: (inaudible) Please,
D: Sir
C2: Hello
D: Sir
V: (inaudible) Lots of talking in background in car.
Pounding
Radio traffic
V: We can’t open the window.
D: They can’t open the door or something.
Phone tones like numbers being pushed
V: We cannot open the window.
Radio traffic
Phone tones like numbers being pushed
D: Sir
Radio traffic
D: Sir
Radio traffic

I am still trying to come to terms with his death which has come as a shock.The events in the last week seem like a bad dream.I helped write the obituary for internal infosys circulation,photos which i had taken of him came in the local news papers and was displayed at the memorial service,all happy ones of his!When they asked people to come across and talk about him at his memorial service,probably among all the people out there i could have talked the longest,but i couldn't speak a single word,all i could do was weep.

Yes,for me a very good friend(probably a brother) is gone but more than that a life is gone.A set of dreams, immense potential is gone.That vibrant enthusiasm for life is gone,that unique mindset is gone,that love for one's mother is gone,that immense love for people he liked is gone,those ideas,those thoughts,those ideals,everything,everything is gone forever.Nobody had a say!Nobody had a choice.


Links on the net about the happenings.
http://www.startribune.com/local/east/17664559.html
http://www.twincities.com/ci_8966505?source=most_viewed

Charlton Heston dies.

Well ,i heard the news that Charlton heston was dead a couple of days later after he died.I kinda liked him as an actor especially his Ben hur and ten commandments.I remember a high school trivia from the quizzes i used to attend- the question was connect Cecil Demille- moses and michelangelo.It seems Cecil Demille chose Charlton heston for the role of moses in ten commandments after the moses statue of michelangelo.Heston's nose which was broken, had a very similar shape to the nose of moses of michelangelo,that is why he was chosen.To think fate can intervene like this
!!

Balance.

My friend had gone to chicago and he had gone to the science and technology museum there and was explaining an experience there where in there is a bridge on which you are made to stand and the walls begin to move giving you the perception that the bridge is turning.It creates such an illusion that after the wall turns a certain degree you think you are going to fall off and hold onto the railings desperately.He said you just cannot make yourself to move because you think you are going to fall off and hold on to the railings tightly. He said though he knew this was an illusion ,his body just refused to budge.Then he said he closed his eyes waited for a few seconds and tried walking and he was able to walk.

Now ,I have always been fascinated with the human body and dig into how the body works.My awareness about how the body works is pretty good,i can name organs which others dont know much about,i understand most of the endocrine system pretty much,brain is my most favourite organ,then comes the nervous system(i am not the expert but i try to understand and retain and co-relate what happens where on a high level).I hate the idea of having a body which i use every day,day in and day out,which i exercise,which i feed,and which i use to do and accomplish so much and don't know what it is and what is going on inside.It is one of the most beautiful,complex and delicate systems ever built.For me its also philosophical with questions like who built it,how did it evolve,why did it evolve,what is that energy giving source called life,why doesnt wood,or metal made of the same basic atoms have life like we do?Questions like these make me believe in a higher power and the beauty of the world we live in.

Now this experience of my friend fascinated me a lot,i knew that the balance happened in the ear in the vestibular system,but there had to be a co-relation between sight and balance also for his closed eyes experiment to work,so as always i posed my question to google,here is an article which explains everything,it may be technical(not too much) but it is really very fascinating.

How Balance Works

Balance is the ability to maintain an upright position. Coordination is the capacity to move through a complex set of movements while maintaining balance. Balance and coordination depend on the interaction of multiple systems working together. The primary systems including the vestibular system (inner ear), visual (movements of the eyes), and proprioception (commonly referred to as your touch and feel sense). The central nervous system, primarily the brain stem and cerebellum, provides the central processing for the three sensory input systems into one coordinated event, allowing for one output of responses, balanced and coordinated.

The vestibular system (inner ear) is also called the labyrinth, which monitors our directions of motions during: turning, moving forward-backward, side-to-side, and up-and-down. The inner ear contains two individual organs for balance:

(1) the utricle, made up of macula and saccule and (2) a set of three semicircular canals.

The organs of the utricle are responsible for the sensation of gravity. The maculae and saccule are made of delicate nerve endings that are connected to a structure made of calcium carbonate. These particles have a greater density relative to the fluid that they are immersed in, causing them to "fall" because of the action of gravity. As the head moves in relation to gravity the particles exert pressure on the nerve endings (the best example of this is feeling the acceleration and deceleration in an elevator). The macula and saccule are roughly at right angles to each other and give slightly different positional information. In this way the utricle of the inner ear is able to provide the brain with information about the position of the head relative to gravity.

Information on head rotation is provided by the semicircular canals. There are three semicircular canals in each ear: superior, horizontal, and posterior. They are roughly at right angles to one another; each one corresponding to one dimension in a three dimensional space. The canals are filled with a fluid. As the head turns, the fluid rotates within the canal and moves hair cells connected to nerve endings within one end of the canal. Fluid within the canals always moves in the opposite direction in each ear; the best way to explain this is, our ears are on either side of our head and if we turn our head, one ear goes forward and the other backward. This holds true with the fluid in the ear, it always moves in the opposite direction and the brain understands these signals as a coordinated movement. The nerve endings within the canals then send information back to the brain about how quickly and in what direction the head is moving. Try this, close your eyes and move your head a very tiny, tiny bit; almost keeping your head still and you should be able to sense even the very smallest of movement with your three semicircular canals in any direction. This is a very delectate system.

The visual system or eyes monitor where the body is in space (i.e. upside down, right-side up, etc.) and also the directions of motion. Vision provides necessary information to the brain about our relationship to the environment. As we move and see how objects in our world are changing, our brains calculate our body's relationship to those objects. The best example of this is looking over a cliff; we feel as though we are falling, even though our bodies are stable. It is our eyes that are pulling us into our visual field; this is where our vestibular and proprioception systems try to over compensate the signals to the brain, telling us that we are not really falling into the open space. Additionally, there is an intricate communication between the vestibular system and the movements of the eyes, the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR). The vestibular system works to control eye position and movement so that when your head moves, your eyes can automatically stay fixed. VOR is easily explained; when you walk your head moves up and down, but your visual world stays stable (unless your VOR is fails, in which case you have oscillopsia or bouncy vision). Because of the vestibular-visual link, vestibular system problems can also cause fuzzy vision, nystagmus (abnormal eye jerking), and other visual sensations.

The proprioceptive system, or skin pressure & muscle and joint sensory receptors, such as in the joints and spine, tell what part of the body is down and touching the ground as well as what parts of the body are moving. Humans seem to rely primarily on signals from the pressure sensors in the legs and torso (proprioceptors) to maintain good balance, more than other animals with four legs (who have four inputs) or fish that rely almost solely on their vestibular sense. Proprioceptors are essentially billions of messenger nerves located in the skin, muscles, tendons and virtually everywhere. These messengers send signals to the both the vestibular system as well as the brain to process our environment. This portion of our proprioceptive systems that communicates with our vestibular system to maintain balance by controlling the muscles of postural control is the vestibular spinal reflex (VSR).

Balance
As seen above, the three primary balance systems: vestibular, visual, and proprioception individually send signals to each other as well as the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity and rotational movements. In most individuals, the brain selects the most accurate signals from a combination of the three balance systems; which in theory should be the same information and signals. As the brain interrupts these three input senses, it generates one specific message that is sent back to the muscles of the limbs, torso, neck and eyes to keep us stable and upright. The more signals the brain receives and sends (in milliseconds), the better our balance. If one of the systems is damaged or affected in any way, the other systems must compensate to keep us balanced. Temporary loss of one of these systems can result in any period time can create instability. For example: changes in signals from a damaged inner ear vestibular system (ex. A concussion) can result in a sensation of dizziness; or a visual problem that causes blurring or double vision may cause a sensation of unsteadiness or disequilibrium, and variations in proprioception are seen after an injury, involving either as sprained or torn ligaments that changes your body’s awareness in three dimensional space. As stated, the signals that the brain receives or sends can be disturbed by changes or fluctuations in these systems, making it difficult to balance or stay coordinate during even daily activities. This is why is may be necessary to get a complete evaluation with specific testing for your vestibular, visual, and proprioception systems to determine the exact cause of your common symptoms and to determine an objective treatment course.

Hearing and Balance
The hearing and balance organs are connected to each other within the inner ear. This same inner ear fluid also fills the balance canals, so that when you move your head, this fluid flows back and forth, activating a nerve signal that is carried over the balance nerve to the brain. So long as the ear works in this way, we are able to experience normal hearing and balance. Because they are connected, about 30% of profoundly deaf persons are estimated to have vestibular (inner ear balance) problems. Hard of hearing persons may also have vestibular problems. Some of the signs of impaired vestibular function can include: infants who cannot sit unsupported by 6-7 months; infants who are not walking by 15 months; clumsiness; difficulty walking on uneven surfaces; poor balance in darkness; difficulty riding a bicycle; disorientation when swimming with eyes closed; and difficulty keeping a stable view of the world when you are jogging or riding in a car over a bumpy road.

Improving Balance - To help overcome balance problems due to impaired vestibular function, the brain needs to receive additional information from the visual and proprioceptive systems while the vestibular system is being stabilized. The more signals the brain receives from the two remaining systems, the better your balance will be. Some suggestions for improving signal strength and interaction from vision and proprioception (muscles) systems:

• Use your eyes as much as possible.
• Place nightlights in bedrooms, halls, and bathrooms.
• Train your leg muscles and increase signals from both the legs and feet by walking barefoot on a variety of uneven surfaces (grass, sand, trails, hills, etc.).
• Practice sitting on a narrow beam with your feet dangling in the air. This helps your hips and upper body to help the legs to maintain balance. Again, use a partner.
• Swim with the eyes open, wearing goggles if necessary.
• Increase your muscle strength with exercise and sports (Wear good, stable, flat laced shoes).
• Do balance exercises. Stand on one leg with eyes open and closed. Try to walk on a straight line (Practice with a friend to prevent falling).

When it is dark, use a flashlight. The reasons are obvious: we cannot see very well in the dark, so the brain only receives signals from the muscles; this makes the person unstable. It is apparent that the brain has an incredible capacity to improve balance by finding new pathways and developing new strategies when one or two of the systems are impaired and why some patients benefit from balance therapy and rehabilitation.

Link - http://www.earsoftexas.com/howba_lworks.htm

Traffic!

Yesterday , i was walking through the skyways of minneapolis to lunch ,i noticed two people sitting on chairs and doing nothing(atleast i thought they were doing nothing).I didn't take much notice of them then.While coming back after 30 mins i again saw those two guys sitting in the same positions on the chair again doing nothing.This just roused my curiousity.They were not selling anything,they were not sitting for alms(which is rarely heard of in america,atleast i haven't seen much) nor were they distributing anything.I moved a bit closer to them to see if i can figure out anything.When i got closer I saw a tag on one guy which said 'Metro transit-pedestrian traffic control'.When i saw this i did a flip! I just couldn't help feel amused that they have a pedestrain traffic control in USA.These guys had a counter in their hands which they clicked everytime they saw a person crossing by.

I suddenly wondered if such a thing can be implemented in India.The avenue road,majestic,MG road.. I just couldn't help laughing,can they manage to implement anything at all or would it be a mere statistic?I was just imagining things like a traffic signal for pedestrians.A red light to stop,green to go at cross sections of skyways,All pedestrians walk in a single file,a four lane system,for the faster people to go in the left most lane,if you are turning right show a right turn,no stopping - keep walking zones,no chatting zones.Wow!What if the world comes down to that!Probably its far fetched thinking,but for all you know with all these crazy and wierd rules flying around which people have come to accept, i wouldnt be too very surprised if the population decides to break loose and this idea becomes a reality.

I hope i am just playing around with my imagination here! :)

Song listening to- Jesus Etc,Wilco

Rain drops keep fallin on my head ....

Today it rained !! To think just two weeks ago it was snowing and i was skiing to my heart's content.The temperature has risen to the 50's F.There is absolutely no trace of snow anywhere and everything has melted and SPRING is here!!!
I ran out in the rain and felt it on my skin,on my face,on my tongue,it feels gorgeous,i am the rain lover!!..Reminds me of the Burt Bucharach song from 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid'

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesnt mean my eyes will soon be turnin red
Cryings not for me
Cause Im never gonna stop the rain by complainin
Because Im free
Nothings worrying me.

Some snaps I took.I just liked the apples on the van,so just clicked it.

My latest desk top

These are my latest desktop wallpapers on my two laptops which i clicked today morning on my front yard.It was raining and everything looked so fresh.I particulatly like the Blue cap snap as a wallpaper,It looks gorgeous when you have all the icons on one side and the cap on the other.

Is life unfair?

I don't know where to begin this story.You know there are days in your lives or moments or sights or events in life which move you very deeply,you feel a deep heaviness and wonder can life be so unfair.Today was such a day of mixed emotions.

I think I talked in one of my previous mails about Mark ,my mentor at work,the person who introduced me to and taught me skiing,a perfect gentleman and one of the most patient man ever.You start believing there is goodness in mankind after all after seeing this man.A guy who perfectly fits the bill of 'high thinking and simple living'.All the above descriptions are to indicate of my opinion of him and just to make the point that i admire and adore him a lot.

Well coming back, we had trouble at work,with something i did,so it boiled down to me to fix it -'You break it,you fix it'.I was not able to figure out the problem so i went to Mark,this was on Thursday,we sat till 11 PM at office on Thursday and again till 11 PM at office on Friday and again came to office today on Saturday and we finally solved it at 1 PM.He didn't have to do it but he did it,he cancelled his weekend plans,Thursday and Friday dinner plans with his wife and sat with me to solve this.He missed his dinner on both days of Thursday and Friday.On top of this he gave the whole credit to me for solving this for which i received appreciation mails from my directors.Now what can i say about him after doing all this?I don't have enough to thank him.

Anyways after solving the problem today afternoon ,he offered to drive me home(he stays at the opposite end of town of where i stay),i firmly refused but he persisted so i gave in.We got in his car which was clearly evident because of the ski rack on the top.
I was in general chatting with him.Then i asked ..

Me; Mark,I guess you have three children ,right?
Mark:Yeah,two sons and a daughter.
Me: Do they live in Minnesota?
Mark: One of sons live at ..(some place) .. near minneapolis
and my daughter lives at ...(some place) in minneapolis.

then he stopped talking ...

Me:What about your second son?Where is he?
Mark: He pauses for a while and then says ..He stays with us..he is retarded ..he will probably stay with us as long as we are alive...

Then he goes silent .. I go silent.. i don't know what to speak..I know he felt the pain when he spoke it out ...We dont speak much after that (probably i was caught in my own thoughts so much i couldn't think of anything else to talk,probably the same thing happened to him too)..I show him directions to my house and i thank him and get off the car.

I don't know what! when i heard that,i felt a twang in my heart and felt a remorse as to why did i ask him those questions,to think such a gem of a person,you sincerely hope everything is happy for him.When i heard that,i just couldn't help get the feeling that life is so unfair sometimes.

I guess his son must be around 30 years considering Mark is around 60's.I know how hard it is to raise a retarded person,as one of my relatives have a retarded son who is also in his 30's.You have to take care of everything and have to constantly keep them in sights and take care of them like a small child.

I suddenly realised the source or secret(whatever you want to call it) behind his great patience.I dont know whether all his great qualities are inherent or were they derived?Did life teach him patience the hard way?the will to help?or rather would I put it as he developed these qualities to a very great degree for the love of his son?I don't know whether I am coming to the right conclusions here,probably not,and i dont want to ,but whatever it is, it doesn't change the kind of person Mark is and my respect for him has just multiplied by bounds!

Its so funny someone else's pain can affect you so much.

I sincerely hope there is a God out there!!