Office: Senior Software Tester Tag and what does it really mean to me

I am again writing after pretty long time, almost a month, again its not that stuff wasn't happening in life just wasn't feeling in a mood to write it.

Plenty has been happening, but the point that really has been running in my mind for last few days has been my raise in salary and post, I am officially a "Senior Software Tester"

I don't know why this point is something that has been running in my head,

I am given a Title "Senior Software Tester" but am still doing the same thing I have been doing before, nothing new. True my TL keeps telling me to delegate stuff to juniors but when I look something or the other would already have been given to them by my TL,  Now if he has already given them work what do I do.

Another thing is that takes up plenty of my time is the small small work which has to be done, so by the time I delegate and explain to my juniors how to do it I can finish the work myself so I do the work myself which again increases my work.

Apart from that I have been told to coordinate with the marketing team to solve the technical support query, this is something which I don't call it a headache, because I like to solve stuff, but when I have to keep following it up with someone else who is very busy to complete the technical support makes it irritating.

Have been in the same project for almost more than 1.5 years, I kind of know what happenes where on the site, so many things are routed to me by TL or others, its a good feeling, but this small stuff also takes up time.

Now I dream  to do a MBA, to manage stuff, if I can't manage things in such small scale how will I be able to manage stuff in large scale? really? Am I cut out for the big stuff, the stuff I dream about, I really hope so I am

"Senior Software Tester" the tag really sounds good, especially the Senior tag, ;)
But since I am still doing the same job how much of a difference does it make? If I had a choice between getting this "Senior" tag or getting extra money I am really not sure which I would have chosen.

Extra cash is always welcome, but after working for 2-3 years you need to have a feeling that you are progressing somewhere and not still stuck at the same place. Thats where the tag helps, it gives you a feeling of importance (I am not sure if thats a good thing) but when you are continuing to do the same stuff you really start questing the tag.

Can I ask you guys who ever is reading this, If you had a choice between a cermonial tag and extra cash, which whould you take and why?

When will the “Aam Aadmi” get some balls?

July 5th all India Bandh called by opposition parties protesting against the prize hike, Great, I have never understood the concept of this bandh thing, cause of a few people who think they are the leaders of the people I have to sit at home today and work on a Saturday, and I really hate working on Saturday, Saturday and Sunday is not for work but to enjoy that’s why its called weekend (End of the weakness called work).

Congress, the party that coined the term “Aam Aadmi” and came to power is now being hit back by the opposition that the prize hike on fuel is hurting the “Aam Aadmi”; Question to the opposition isn't your bandh harming the “Aam Aadmi”? But am sure none of the opposition is going to answer this question.

Which brings us back to the “Aam Aadmi”, I think I feel I have understood about the “Aam Aadmi” is that he doesn't have Balls!!(Which brings another question to my mind, If he doesn't have balls can he still be called a Aadmi?)

If the “Aam Aadmi” would just go about his work and not sit like a coward at home this Bandh would have been a total failure, but no, He will sit at home thinking why to take the risk, Its better I lose a days pay rather than a hand or foot to the fools who have called the bandh, But what I feel is that he doesn't understand he sitting at home is really giving the Jackasses who are calling the Bandh more power.

Why does the normal person listen to the people who are calling the bandh and depriving him of a days pay rather than to the government he voted to power saying "don't worry, we will protect you, police will be out, we won't allow any disruptions to take place". Now if the people don't trust the government then why did they vote them to power? Should have voted the wolves only to power right? It better to be friends with the devil rather than the enemy of the devil right?

Please, I don't support the prize hike, it hurts me too, but what I am trying to say is that covering down in front bullies is not the best idea, I can preach this because I at least tried to go to office before being told that office is closed today and we working on Saturday :(, But seeing the police protection and trains running smoothly I really feel we are making a big mistake by helping the Opposition making this strike a success.

Music Musings

Was listening to FM today and  I heard these two lovely songs,”Give me some sunshine" from the movie 3 Idiots and "Fireflies" of OWL CITY.


I just love these songs, it’s because it makes a connection to me, the wordings just touch my deepest thoughts and feelings. so just felt like sharing it.

Am putting in a few lines from the song Give me some sunshine, not the entire lyrics here, and my thoughts on the side about the lyrics

Saari umar hum Mar mar ke jee liye Ek pal to ab humein jeene do Jeene do Give me some sunshine Give me some rain Give me another chance I wanna grow up once again	I wanna grow up once again, I miss my childhood, like I have read many times in emails and facebook status messages "Getting High" meant "On Swing" "Drinking" meant "Apple Juice" "Dad" was the only "Hero" "Love" was "Moms hug" "Highest place on earth" was "Dads Shoulder" my "Worst enemies" were "My own siblings" Only thing that could get "Hurt" were "Skinned knees" The only thing "Broken" were my "Toys" and when "Goodbyes" meant till "Tomorrow"
Kandhon ko kitabon Ke bojh ne jhukaya Rishvat dena to khud Papa ne sikhaya 99% marks laaoge to ghadi, varna chhadi Likh likh kar pada hatheli par Alpha, beta, gamma ka chaala Concentrated H2SO4 ne poora Poora bachpan jalaa daala	I remember being send to the room when you wanted to play, but I got to say the line about dad beating you up if you didn’t get 99%, well I got to give it to my dad, he never said anything to me, Ya he scared me when I didn’t get good marks, but it always ended with "I know you can do better, you just need to put in the effort Savio". And those words broke your heart all the more to see the disappointment, he never asked for a 99%, just the decent marks
Bachpan to gaya Jawani bhi gayi Ek pal to ab humein Jeene do jeene do Saari umar hum Mar mar ke jee liye Ek pal to ab humein jeene do Jeene do	This is something that really hurts, Bachpan to apne hat sa gaya, now working and not living the dreams you is like letting your life go, I know my life is running away from me I just don’t know how to correct the situation, sitting in front of the computer in a 4 walled office when such a big world awaits, I want to be free, I want to see the world, I want to fly a plane, I want to do a lot of things, things in the real world that require money. Thinks that without money I can only dream about, So now sitting and trying to make money by working and is my life go by is so depressing.

And this other song Fireflies by OWL CITY, I am pasting the whole lyrics here I just love this song.

You would not believe your eyes If ten million fireflies Lit up the world as I fell asleep 'Cause they'd fill the open air And leave teardrops everywhere You'd think me rude But I would just stand and stare I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems 'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs From ten thousand lightning bugs As they tried to teach me how to dance A foxtrot above my head A sock hop beneath my bed A disco ball is just hanging by a thread	Various things about this song affect me, starting with the fireflies stuff, Every summer vacation, I used to be packed off to Kerala, My native place, apart from playing with cousins, grandma’s cooking, something that really strikes me was fireflies, they used to come out at night, and sometimes when the power goes, which used to happen often in Kerala at that time, these fireflies were a sight to watch some 100s of them just shining there green lights, I used to enjoy just gazing at them, now its been a real long time since I have seen one. (1 thing if anyone of you are trying to catch it for me, they smell bad when you crush them) Another thing was that like the line says I would rather stay awake when I am asleep, because everything is never as it seems, Really, nothing is ever as it seems
I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems When I fall asleep Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here) 'Cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here) Why do I tire of counting sheep (Please take me away from here) When I'm far too tired to fall asleep To ten million fireflies I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyesv I got misty eyes as they said farewell But I'll know where several are If my dreams get real bizarre 'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems When I fall asleep I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep 'Cause everything is never as it seems When I fall asleep
I'd like to make myself believe That planet earth turns slowly It's hard to say that I'd rather stay Awake when I'm asleep Because my dreams are bursting at the seams	I wished planet earth could stop for me, so that I may catch up with things I want to do, because really my dreams are bursting out a lot…. :(

to listen to the songs check the youtube links given below
FIREFLIES by OWL CITY 
Give me some sunshine from 3 idiots (anyone find a better link please let me know)

Sick Leave

1 week of leave,
hmmm...what all can we do with it? Visit Goa, go to Ladak, etc, No one would like to spend 1 week of precious leave sitting at home watching crappy television. If I heard some one had done that I would be laughing at their face, but its so difficult to laugh at yourself.

Thats correct I have been sitting at home watching crappy television cause of some kind of fever that raises my body temperature up every day, ya I know Fever does that to your body, but isn't fever something that comes and goes in two days not hangs around you for 2 weeks like a guest who doesn't leave.

I always complain how dumb work is and how difficult it is for me to drag my ass to work everyday, but guess what for the last week sitting at home and watching television I have been wondering how much better it would have been if I could go to office, and save my leave for something better like going on a vacation.

Everyones heard the saying health is wealth, how true is that, I am being sick and my doctor is getting wealthy on my health. dam the guy "Savio, lets observe the fever for a week", nice so I am a observance tool, some kind of lab rat to be experimented on. "Ok RAT, have this drug, lets see how your body reacts to the drug".

and you know parents the few real people who care about you, well I don't want to say anything, but taking care sometimes becomes a bit too irritating when a 23 year old is treated like a 5 year old.

Ok, I know, my mistake that I became ill, but how the hell is it my mistake that the germs found my body attractive, well atleast some one found it attractive right? ;)

Let me stop complaining and wish myself "GET WELL SOON SAVIO"

Humans, do we only try to survive and reproduce?

Humans, the earth’s dominant species, Ok! Are we so great or is it just a lot of water under the bridge?

Let’s take it point by point, we have conquered the whole world, visited almost every region, found ways to survive all kinds of situations Mother Nature could throw at us, from the Cold of the arctic to the Heat of the desert, we have conquered the tallest mountain (Mount Everest) and visited the deepest place (Marina Trench) on earth. We have found ways to fly like the birds or swim like the fish even if we weren't designed to do so and I think we will all credit this to one organ the BRAIN.

Look at us, 2 legs not made to run fast, the fastest a human can run is 9.6 miles per hour that also a 100 meter dash, a predator like a lion would make an easy meal of us. Two hands, ok, put us in front of an angry Ostridge, it will peck us to death and then turn and say "Look mom!! No hands". Two eyes that can see only in a limited wavelength, no wonder we are compelled to return home at night, Two ears that’s limited to a particular range of frequencies, nothing so great about us, apart from the one organ BRAIN.

The brain discovered fire, the wheel, thought the hands to wield tools, made instruments to run faster, fligh higher, swim deeper than nature could. And so what happened we became the dominant creatures of the planet. Ok, I don't want to disagree to that! But are we really the smartest?

I am quoting from a famous book Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "Humans think that they're smarter than dolphins coz humans have invented the wheel and slogged to make a lot of progress while the whales just muck around enjoying life all day... Dolphins on the other hand feel that they're smarter than humans for precisely the same reason". Sounds pretty reasonable right? Wasn’t mucking around whole day much better than the pressures of the day, how to earn money, how shall I impress her/him so that I may mate? How can I provide that little rascal? etc etc. Sounds mucking around is a much better alternative.

Ok! one argument I heard against this was, we got a highly developed brain, we have emotions, we feel love, we get scared, we get bored, which proves for a fact that our brains are better than a Dolphin cause we feel emotions, and cause of that, if we just mucked around we would be bored. Also we can talk, we communicate, and there is no other species that can communicate the way we do.

What is it to prove that animals don't have emotions, that animals don't communicate? Dogs bark, birds sing, what you think it is random sounds? It’s been proved that Whales communicate over large distances, that Plants communicate by the means of pheromones.

Again how can you say animals don't have emotions? You feed a dog everyday, play with it, it comes running to you, wags its tail to show it’s happy that you are around. Isn't that emotion? Beat the same dog up, you will see it start whimpering and running away the next time it saw you, I would call it being scared, another emotion,   Elephants have been know to remember who was kind to them and who was not. Take what is called the dumbest animal, a Donkey; it will try to protect its kid if you try to harm it. Motherly love? Emotion?

Wait I am hearing what you guys saying, all the things above can be explained by one word Instinct. A baby being born knows by instinct that it has to breathe, animals running away from fire, Instinct. Ok then I can say that our emotions are nothing but instinct, We feel we love someone and don't want that person to get hurt, ok I will say we got that instinct a modified version of motherly love. I don't think anyone reading this has jumped off a 100 foot tower, we know its crazy, we will get hurt, how? Instinct. So how are humans better than any other creature?

I would say that humans like any other animal are just another species trying to survive and reproduce. The so called great developments and progress made by humans which made us the dominant species of the planet are mostly always made by a few ultra smart talented people who comes along once in a while (Einstein, Newton) an exception rather than a rule.

To start with fire, some unnamed unrecognized "Einstein" recognized the power of it,

The rest all human race are just copycats who are trying to survive and reproduce...

Never Drink and Talk

Background:
Boy – Girl friends for a couple of years, they know each other but not great friends, Boy is drunk after a night out with friends when he gets call from the girl. 
Writing in {} are thoughts of the guy


Boy: “Hi, saw your miss call, what happened?”
Girl: “Nothing, am at Dadar, do you know how to get to the station?”
Boy: “Why don’t you just ask anyone, it’s pretty easy anyone they will guide you?’ {How can I guide you when I don’t even know where you are at Dadar?”
Boy: “where are you at Dadar?”
        “I don’t know I see a Citibank ATM here”
Boy: “ok take a right and go strait you will reach the station” {I don’t know where the ATM is”
Girl: but the guy here told me to take a left
Boy: that only, my right, his left you’re straight
Girl: “are you making fun of me?” “It’s so crowded here”
Boy: “Its Mumbai what do you expect? Roses on the street?”
Girl: “you are not talking properly to me today? What happened?”
Boy: “nothing, talk to you later?”
Girl: “dam this crowd!” “Hey I see the station?”
Boy: “Good!! So talk to you later?”
Girl: ‘why are you in such a hurry to keep, can’t you talk to me?”
Boy: “sweetie, Am drunk, you want me to keep on talking?”
Girl: “Shee!! You drink, very bad, you shouldn’t drink”
Boy {I am supposed to listen to lecture, should I cut the phone saying no range?”}
Girl: “this is bad, think about your health”
Boy: “why are you worried about my health, you are not my GF”
Girl: I am your friend, I care for you”
Boy: “I am single, you care for me, why don’t you become my GF? “ {F*** what am I saying}
Girl: “you and my BF, hahahahahahaha”
Boy: “what’s so funny, Why can’t I be your BF, what’s wrong in me”
Girl:  “Nothing”
Boy: “then, I am smart, earning well, also from same religion what’s the problem” “{Stupid what are you saying, wait this is going to be fun, lets see her reply}
Girl: “Nothing”
Boy: “then??”
Girl: “Stop it!! There is no problem with you, you are a nice guy”
Boy: “then why don’t you become my gf?
Girl: “I don’t see you like that; you are my nice friend that’s it”
Boy: “you girls are real bad, now when a guy is saying he likes you, you shoot him down”
Girl: “Stop it, you are too drunk, am cutting the call, bye”
Boy: “Before when I was keeping you wanted to talk, now when I saying I like you, you keeping the phone, how bad”
Girl: “Stop it; you don’t even know what you saying?”
Boy: “I am drunk, and a drunken person always says the truth”
Girl: “Is that true?”
Boy: “Come on, how can anyone think clearly when they drunk? And when you can’t think how can you lie?”
Girl:  ""
Boy: “hello!!”
Girl: “we will talk later; you won’t even remember tomorrow what you are saying”
Boy: “No!! I will remember,”
Boy: “I love you” {WHAT???}
Girl: “what?”
Boy: {WHAT??, STUPID WHAT DID YOU SAY NOW?”}
Girl: “hello!!”
Boy: {WHAT, always say I like you, never I LOVE you, NEVER}
Girl: “Hello!!, you there”
Boy: “ya, me here”
Girl: “What did you say right now?”
Boy: “Nothing!!, was just saying I will remember the conversation tomorrow”
Girl: “I reached the station, we will talk later, you take care, goodnight”
Boy: “goodnight”

                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Morning –

Boy: {Good Morning Stupid, what were you talking yesterday?”}
Boy: {I better call her up}
Calls her, Girl doesn’t pick phone
Boy: “Dam! What now she won’t talk to me also?”

                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------


Boy tries to call girl for 2 days, girl never picks the phone and doesn’t call back either


Cell vibrating, boy picks up cell and sees message from the girl
“Hey Boy, jus wantd to say dat m not lookin fr something serious.. atleast not now.. hope dats mutual..”
Boy {DAM! What do I do} tries to call her again, she doesn’t pick
Replies to the message “U got scared after that Friday right.. I knew it, No wonder u didn’t pick my calls, trust me, we r just friends, what happenes in future lets see, but we just friends.. “

Girl Repies “Ok Cool..No Commitments.. Jus hav Fun, hang out :) “
Boy Replies “ yep, 1 question.. hangout? When do we do that??”
Girl replies “hahah, next Saturday?”
Boy replies “No Commitments baby, we just agreed on that right?”
Girl replies “hahaha”

                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Boy calls the girl the next day, she picks up the phone, happy conversation, happy ending..

                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer : 
The above writing may or may not be fictional, the blogger may or may not take any questions regarding the above writing, tho criticism and suggestions are always welcome

Wacky Mobile Phone Ideas

Today my dad just in just asked me "If I was told to design a mobile phone, what features would I add into it?"

This set me thinking 

First the normal list,

Touch screen, slim, stylist, 3G enabled, GPRS, FM, MP3 video support, large memory camera, blue tooth, etc you know the normal things available in today’s Hi-End Cell Phones.

Now if I could add any feature into it what all would it be?

1) Auto Recharging

No more recharging, How many times have the cell suddenly died when you talking to someone special, or you are waiting for a important call, but then you notice your phone is dead cause you haven’t charged it. So I suggest auto recharge.

How to do it? You could include solar cells to the body to recharge the cell, but then if the cell is in your pocket it won't get charged right?

I am thinking of how automatic watches used to work, you keep a small movable part inside the cell, and it generates electricity to recharge the mobile while you walking or running, and even when you talking the small vibrations of your voice produce electricity to recharge the cell, (Just imagine how much power we will be able to generate when two ladies are talking?)

2) Water Proof, Child Proof, Damage Proof

How many Mobile have got damaged and spoiled cause some child spilled water on the cell, you jumped into a pool trying to save a pretty lady, in the rains, fell from your hands.

Making it water proof I guess should be simple, a water tight body which won't allow water to leak in, simple as that, how to make it damage proof and child proof, well make it strong that’s all I can say, if we can send a Man to the moon, why can't we protect a Mobile from damage?

Flip side to this is that if the mobile is not damaged how can we justify getting a new cell, (I will come back to this later)

3) Boss Protection

Now this would be a dream feature

No mood to go to office and need to call up the boss and tell him you sick, No problem, the Mobile does it for you, from picking which excuse to use to keeping track what excuse you used (so that your Mom-In-Law doesn't die twice the same week), 

If you calling in sick, it modulates your voice so that it you really sound sick. At the Cricket stadium and phoning to tell your Boss you at clients place, the phone removes the background noise so that your boss doesn't come to know

Chatting with the pretty lady in the canteen, and need to be alerted when the boss reached the office, your cell does it for you, watching the football match on your computer and need to know if someone going to peep into your cubical soon, your Mobile alerts you.

4) Theft protection

If anybody tried to pickpocket your cell, it would stunt him/her with a high electric volt, and as forgetful as you are if you leave the mobile in the locker room it would emit a loud sound to alert you to pick it up before you left the room. And yet if you don't pick it up, it starts following you till you pick it up. (Again if you can't lose a cell how will you buy a new one?)

5) Girl Friend Protection

You with Sandy and Mary calls up, Sandy's voice in the background is turned into office printer’s sound (or any other sound) and Mary thinks you are at the office working while you might be anywhere doing anything. 

Don't remember which Girls birthday is when, why worry the Mobile will send her fresh flowers or dry flowers depending if the relation is just starting or you dumping her tomorrow.

As with the boss protection the background noise can be adjusted depending on what lie you are telling her.

Wondering if the girl lying to you or sleeping with your best buddy, Mobile will act as a truth analyzer telling you if she is saying I love you while mentally undressing the Hot Hunk behind you,

6) In Style mode,

You cell is 6 moths old, there is a new stylized model out you can't afford to spend another 20 grand, what do you do, you do a style upgrade. Few minutes connected to the PC your cell reconfigures itself to the latest style. You can have the cell look like an IPhone or Google Nexus or any cell as you wish.

A great boon for the ladies, wearing a red dress and have a black phone, no problem, you press 2 keys the Mobile changes color to the exact shade of red you looking for.

7) Mobile Key

You open your house door, your car door, anything from your cell, just think with the theft protection in it, you can never lose it, you can never forget it as it itself warns you when you have forgotten it and follows you till you pick it up.

8) Your personal Fitness trainer,

Feel you are fat, ask the Mobile, it will tell you the truth, you don't like the truth throw the phone, don't worry its damage proof, ( think guys when your GF asks you if they have put on a bit of weight, you let the Mobile answer, they can direct the anger at the mobile not at you).

You wondering how much calories any food has, you take a picture of the plate with your cell and you cell tells you how much exercise you need to do if you eat that cake.

9) Personal Bodyguard

Include a Stun Gun inside the mobile, any one tries to rob you, you just stun the person (you can even use this to stun your annoying next door neighbor). If someone hits you, or you are hurt and unconscious, the mobile ring up the nearest police/hospital and brings help to you.

10) Cab Caller

How many times have we waited in the rains trying to hail a cab, or a empty cab just won't stop to pick you up, with a cab caller you just wave the phone and the nearest empty cab is dragged to you and forced to give you a ride. This would be so helpful when you want to rush home after getting drunk in the pup and you forgetting the time.

Wondering how the world would react if such a cell phone came out, ;)

These are just a few things that I thought of, You are welcome to share any other wacky ideas you can think of any feature you would like to see in you Mobile handset.