Is Dollar loosing its Glitter ?

Euro is getting stronger day by day. Starting its counter against Dollar in 1999 at 1.17 to a dollar now it is 1.34 after the turbulence's in last 8 years. Is now Euro taking the glitter of Dollar ?

Dollar which constituted 70.9% of the Global Currency Reserves in 1999 was at its peak when Euro was introduced which stood at 17.9%. Gradually over years Euro as a new reserve currency has become popular. At the end of 2006 the Dollar has slipped to 65.7% and Euro has climbed to 25.2 %

China in 2005 unpegged the exchange rates against US Dollar when 1 Dollar was 8.28Yuan (Renminbis) and now which stands at to 1 Dollar = 7.65 Did this move by China lead to the decline of Dollar ?

Also China which is the biggest holder of foreign exchange reserves at $1202 billion of the total $5820 billion foreign exchange reserve of the world. United states itself only holds 66 billion !

The US trade deficit with China in 2006 was 232 billion.

I know it sounds like the statistics provided by Vijayakanth ! (Indian - Tamil readers would understand; others please excuse) but this is the tip of the iceberg.

Will there be a Dollar Collapse ? No one can guess this; may be the FED has more information !

I would guess it as "No" as in the short term a Dollar collapse is not good for the countries which have a high concentration of its foreign reserves in US Dollar. For sure the Dollar loosing its strength will alter many economics and the way in which trade is being done in the world today !

Nalayira Divya Prabandham

Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4000 pasurams (short songs) in praise of the Sriman Narayana. It is also called the Dravida (Tamil) Vedam. Sri Nathamuni compiled these songs written by the twelve Alvars. Also this is considered to be one of the oldest contributions to Tamil Poetry.

Today we have the 4000 songs because of Sri Nathamuni. It is good to see the 4000 pasurams published in the internet in English / Tamil / Sanskrit and many more languages which can be downloaded freely from the internet from various sites.

I do not see any explanation (commentary) of the 4000 hymns in any language in the internet. Of course there are books published with the commentry which are copy righted material. With the Internet becoming a massive communication/data sharing medium we must have such works published in the websites downloadable at free of cost.

Does any one know if such articles/web links exist? If yes it would be great to share the information with the numerous audience who are interested in such works for religious, knowledge and literary purpose.

Mohan Raman V

TABLET PC !

My first blog from a Tablet PC! using my brother's HP Pavilion tx 1000 to Write an article. Though it looks to be a challenge initially!I am able to Write with the Stylus fast enough. moving to a Scientific age!

I can See that the auto formatting is to be tuned. I will Write a bigger blog later With Correct formating!

Mohan Raman

(my writing skills with the pen/stylus to be improved ! The words with Capital letters in between a scentance is a mistake on my part when i was writing with the sylus; though i expect the system to automatically correct it !!!)

Beware of Phishing !

There is an article in rediff today about "How thieves rob you online" which is informative and alarming too. The article says $6 billion is stolen by phishing till now globally !

I am sure any one who reads this blog will have an Bank account and would have operated his/her account online. With the increase in number of online transactions (Financial transaction in the Internet); online fraud also grows proportionally. (I leave it to some one to calculate the amount of fraud to amount of online transactions !)

What is Phishing ?

Acquiring sensitive information such as Bank Account Numbers, Credit Card Numbers, Personal information through web communication by misrepresentation is generally termed as Phishing. This information is then used for committing a fraud.

A Simple Example

It is quiet tough when some one is intentionally trying to cheat. A simple example is you try to login to your bank account with an address like www.icicibank.com but when you type you type it as http://www.icicbank.co.in/ or http://www.icicbank.com which are actually wrong address. Notice the difference in the spelling. What happens if some one is using the wrong address intentionally to commit fraud by designing their website similar to your bank account ? You might not notice the difference and simply try to login with your user id and password. The person captures the information and uses it to login to your account to commit a fraud. Theoretically all these frauds can be traced back but do you need to risk ?

This is just one way. Read the information provided by your banks on security carefully and understand them. Generally a lot of people ignore such communication.

How to counter Phishing ? or How not to become a Victim of Phishing ?

Simply follow the golden rules

1. Never share your login id and passwords of your email, bank account etc.

2. Do not share your credit card number to any one.

3. Do not send these information even to the organisation which has issued this. A Trustworthy organisation will never ask this from you !

4. Do not use the same password on all web sites.

5. Frequently change the passwords.

6. Do not use simple passwords which every one can guess it.

7. Use a browser with Anti phishing software. Browsers like internet explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 Opera 9.1 supports anti phishing options. Enable these options.

There are Banks like HSBC which issues a secure pin generator which is to be used in addition to your password. Hope other banks also implement such security features soon. Similarly most of the Bank implement in secure web site (https://infinity.icicibank.co.in/ Watch the "s" after "http" : "https"which denotes that security has been enabled on the web page.)

I know any software consultant would appreciate the contents above and will also add more such golden rules !

Am i following the rules given above ? Not yet; i think it is time for me to follow them !

Mohan Raman V

PDA /Smart Phone or iphone

PDA - Personal Digital Assistant were initially launched as alternative to olden day organisers. Now they support phone, camera, mp3 players, radio, games, GPS, Wi Fi access and are like pocket computers themselves.

PDA Phones becomes the order of the day with numerous models hitting the market. Already the market place is flooded with numerous models like Motorola Q, Blackberry, HP ipaq, Sony, Nokia etc.

Yet another launch from Apple the "iphone" is being promoted with loads of features which combines the successful ipod. The Branding and campaigning has already started. Lets wait and see if iphone takes over the market including the ipods themselves !

Mohan Raman V

Globalisation and China

Tooth Picks to what not with made in China Tag ! It is not an exaggeration.

Remember the famous advertisement of Hutch "Wherever you go our network follows" where a cheeka (dog) follows a small boy where ever he goes. I am neither a small boy nor does the cheeka follows me. But i can see Chinese products already flooding the local markets wherever i go !

I can remember of a movie by name "Lord of War" where Nicholas Cage features as Yuri Orlov, and compares himself with Bridget Moynahan who features as a successful model. Nicholas sells arms and ammunition's to different parts of the world and sees that the model reaches all the place before him and is quiet popular already.

Looks like the topic is deviated ? No the point i am trying to make is; What if the story is rewritten by the author again; may be he will compare with Chinese products instead of Bridget !!! I started to write all this after reading a news article "Chinese cars may soon run on Indian roads". India itself is a base for making foreign cars where we already have Suzuki, Hyundai, GM, Ford factories in India. Also we have indegenous cars made by us. Now we will also have Chinese cars to compete in the market; may be the consumers will stand benefited with the stiff pricing competition posed by China.

Check this web site to find what China sells with "Made in China" brand name.

Oops we need to mention about "Made in India" tag; the movie "Lord of Wars" features a Soundtrack from the movie Bombay done by A.R.Rahman !

May be the CII - Confederation of Indian Industry or Ministry of Commerce in India should get to do some thing about this web site soon.

Mohan Raman V

Site Meter / Hit Counter

Do you need a Hit Counter for your Blog Page ? It is quiet easy. I found a web site which offers this service. Visit https://www.sitemeter.com/ and create a profile and add the page you want to track for the hits. Quiet easy to use. You will know it better when you try it.

Happy Blogging !

Mohan Raman V

Globalisation and Currency Integration

Will Globalisation kill the current currencies of the world in due course ? Does is it not sound like fiction ?

Who knows what the future holds for the currencies which are in circulation today. Euro was introduced a few years back by removing some of the European currencies. Now the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries talk of similar proposals. SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) had similar talks years back.

Does it still sound like a fiction on integrating several currencies into one ? It is a fact that Globalisation is shrinking the world in a faster pace. Trade is happening between countries in unimaginable proportions. With all this it still might be a dream where the whole world transacts with only one single currency but who know it might happen too !!!

Mohan Raman V

Ramuni Sannidhi Seva Sukhame !

This again is one of the gem in the compositions, made by Sri Thyagaraja towards Sri Rama. This song is told to be composed by Sri Thyagaraja when the King sends wealth and gifts and his invitation to Sri Thyagaraja asking him to come to his court.

Sri Thyagaraja after hearing about the gifts and invitation he composes :

Pallavi :
Nidhicala sukhama ramuni sannidhi seva sukhama nijamuga balku manasa (Nidhicala)
Anupallavi :
Dadhi navanita ksiramulu ruciyo dasharathi dhyana bhajana sudharasamu ruciyo (Nidhicala)
Charanam :
Dama shamamanu ganga snanamu sukhama kardama durvisaya kupa snanamu sukhama mamata bandhana yuta narastuti sukhama surapati tyagaraja nutuni kirtana sukhama (Nidhicala)

Which means as per the analysis of various web sites by me is given below.

Sri Thyagaraga asks his mind what will comfort him ?

"Nidhicala Sukhama Ramuni Sannidhi Seva Sukhama ?"

"Does Wealth gives Happiness or Worship of Sri Rama in his temple gives happiness ? "

"nijamuga balku manasa"
"O Mind tell me the truth !"

"Dadhi navanita ksiramulu ruciyo dasharathi dhyana bhajana sudharasamu ruciyo (Nidhicala)"
"Does Curd, fresh butter and milk taste better or Nectarine juice of meditating and praising Sri Rama, the son of Dasaratha is taste better ?"

"Dama shamamanu ganga snanamu sukhama kardama durvisaya kupa snanamu sukhama"
"Does taking Bath in the Holy River Ganga which is considered to be same as the practice of self control to tranquility gives comfort or does taking Bath in the water of well of filthy/evil natured objects of sense gives comfort ?"

"mamata bandhana yuta narastuti sukhama surapati tyagaraja nutuni kirtana sukhama"
"Does praising the short lived human who is controlled by his ego and bonded to samsara give comfort or does the songs rendered by this Pure minded Thayagaraja in praise of Lord Sri Rama gives comfort ?"

Mohan Raman

Seethamma Mayamma Shri Ramudu Ma Tandri

I started to write this blog when i found a picture which portrays the song.

Pallavi :

Seetamma mayamma shri ramudu ma tandri

Anupallavi :

Vatatmaja saumitri vainateya ripu mardana dhata bharatadulu sodraulu maku o manasa

Charanam :
Paramesha vashistha parashara narada shaunaka suka surapati gautama lambodara guha sanakadulu dharaija bhagavata-gresaru levvaro varellaru vara tyagarajuniki parama bandhavulu manasa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What it Means:

Pallavi: O Mind (manasa)! Seetha Devi is my mother (amma). Sri Rama is my father (tandri).

Anupallavi: Anjaneya (vaatatmaja), Lakshmana (Saumitri), Garuda (vainateya), Satrugna (ripumardhana)Jambavaan (dhaata), Bharata and others are my (maaku) brothers (sodharulu). O Mind!

CharaNam: Paramasiva (paramEsha), Vashista, Paraashara, Naarada, Saunaka, SukaÉIndra (surapati), Gautama, Ganesha (Lambodhara), Subramanya (guha)Sanaka and all (varellanu) the true (nija) BHAAGAVATAs on earth (gresarulu) are my (tyagarajuniki) intimate (parama) relatives (bandhavulu), O Mind!

Again i heard the song from my fathers collections Thyagaraja Krithis by Dr. K.J.Yesudas and Gems of Thyagaraja by Sudha Raghunathan. The song mesmerises any one who can appreciates carnatic music. Ironically Thyagarajas parents name were Ramabrahmam and Seethamma. Its know doubt why Thyagaraja was a prodigy.

Know more about Saint Thyagaraja

http://www.saintthyagarajar.com/lifehistory.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyagaraja

Nagumomo by Sri Thyagaraja

This being the music season we see numerous concerts being conducted with various artists performing and exhibiting their talent. I happened to hear the song "Nagumomo" rendered by Sri Thyagara Swami on Sri Rama and sung by Dr. K.J.Yesudas. It is a master piece created by Saint Thyagaraja which is brilliantly reproduced by Dr. K.J.Yesudas which i should say will vibrate any one. I googled to understand the meaning of the song. With the help of various sources the Song and the Meaning is given below :

Pallavi:

Nagumomu Ganaleni Naajaali Delisi

Nannu Brova Raa Raadaa Sri Raghuvara Ni

Anupallavi:

Nagaraajadhara Nidu Parivaarulella

Ogi Bodhana Jesevaaralu Gare Yatulundadura Ni

Charanam:

Khagaraaju Niyaanativini Vega Chanaledo

Gaganaanikilagu Bahu Durambani Naado

Jagamele Paramaatma Evarito Moralidudu

Vagajupagu Taalanu Nannelukora Tyagarajanutani

MEANING:

Rama. Supreme among Raghus; I am missing your charming smile-lit face. I languish here. Knowing my mental plight, cant you come and protect me.

One who holds Govardhana hill. Members of your retinue who have the duty of reminding you of your daily engagements cannot fail in their duty.

Does not Garuda execute your commands expeditiously. Could he have excused himself saying that he was staying far from the earth in Vaikunta, your heavenly abode.

Exalted Lord. Ruler of the Universe. Whom else can I appeal to. Please shun disregard. I cant bear it. Take me into your fold.

This Song has inspired me to listen to carnatic Music ! The same song is rendered by Sudha Raghunathan is in a melodious style.

Hats off to all those Great Men and Women. (Endaro Mahaanubhavulu Andariki Vandanamulu)

Egypt - Cairo - Giza Pyramid - Light and Sound Show

It was quiet an incident loosing and finding the Wallet before we reached for the show. All of a sudden there were a lot of tourist vehicles reaching the place and there were people from all parts of the World. India being represented by me; my friends and a few other Indian families conversing in Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi and Telugu etc. Now we reached the Ticket counter and took the tickets.

My Camera is able to see the Sphynx !

The show was quiet colourful well choreographed Sound and Light. All the three main pyramids lit up well without colourful light. The story and main events of the Egyptian History behind the Pyramids being narrated in our familiar English language. People sitting in the open place on Giza Plateau. Sky was clear with the moon and temperature around 4-5 degree Celsius with a mild Breeze. The show lasted for around 50 minutes and we all got froze by then. A mix of people with some watching patiently, some clicking their digital cameras and displaying the power of the flash lights in their cameras; video cameras shooting the scene; mobiles taking picture and taking photos. I was recording the show to test the video and sound recording capability of my new Nokia E50, children's around playing and some crying due to the cold weather.

The show was good and different one. Wonder if there are such shows in India too. Once the show finished we had a photo session along with all the brothers and sisters of the world from different places. There were people dressed like Pharaohs with a live band to attract tourists. It was a nice experience and a memorable evening for us.

Mohan Raman V

Disappearance of Wallet

Every other person would have lost his Wallet or some of his belonging; either flicked or lost by negligence. For me too; it was not an expected event; but i too now have a story to narrate now ! This incident happened on December 29, 2006.

We took a taxi and were on the way to the Giza Pyramids to see the Sound and Light show. The roads were quiet empty which was not quiet common for Cairo roads. The taxi reached the vicinity of Pyramids and we were able to see the pyramids in the moon light. The taxi stopped near the entrance of the Pyramids and we were surrounded with guides and shop keeper marketing to visit their shops/gallery selling Egyptian Souvenirs. I took my Wallet from the pocket and paid for the taxi and slid the Wallet again into the pocket. We paid 15 pounds as told by one of the colleague at work place. Though all the taxi's are fitted with meters i have never seen one working or being used; which reminds me only of the autos in Chennai. The taxi driver was asking for extra 5 pounds which i guess happens to all foreigners ! So i tried to get hold of another 5 pounds from a collection of lot of small and dirty notes in another pocket. We paid the extra money.

We were out of the Taxi and we just spoke to one of the guide there to find the timing of the show. The guide directed us to a nearby gallery/shop as there is more than 1 hour for the show in English. I do not know how; but i realised in a flash that my Wallet is missing in the pocket. I just told my friends that my Wallet is missing. We checked the road to see if i have dropped the Wallet on the road. It is not there. Were could it be now which i had it in my hand a minute back. We turned back and saw the taxi in which we came was leaving the place. We realised it could be in the taxi.

We tried calling the driver of the taxi to stop but he did not hear us. A Few guides with us ran behind the taxi and as the taxi left the scene without noticing us running behind. We wondered what next. My mind was working in full speed better than any computer to find how much i am loosing. A few hundred Euros, Egyptian Pounds and the pack of credit/debit cards. Another mind tells get your cards hot listed immediately. My eyes are searching for an Internet center to issue notification to the Banks which issued the cards. Another eyes reaching to another Taxi (Taxi 2). All of us running behind the taxi got our ideas synchronised in a flash and got into another Taxi 2 and got ready to chase the Taxi 1.

One of the guides asking me are you sure did you loose the Wallet in the Taxi 1? I only questioned myself what a ridiculous question he is asking; How can i be so sure to say i lost in the Taxi ? It can be only a fair guess. Any how no arguments now. Another travel guide instructing in Arabic the Taxi driver 2 to chase the Taxi 1 which just left the scene. I can only guess that this is the Instruction he would have given, as i do not know Arabic. I am in a foreign country; lost my wallet; with know knowledge of the local language they speak and with a few strangers in a taxi on the suburbs of the city in a quiet dark place. What could be next ? Only consolation was i was not alone; i was accompanied by two friends. One of the friend on the car with me now and another left behind with my camera Sony DSC H1 which i purchased for around $ 600 a year back. We left him back as there was no space available in the Taxi. We were chasing the Taxi 1 which is not in the vicinity now.

One of the guide asking us; is it this Taxi or that. It was like a typical Indian film; suddenly we find there were a few Taxi's alike and now we are confused ! What an irony. My friend told that the Taxi 1 had a blue reading light in the back which he noticed when he sitting in the back. A nice bit of information. We found a Taxi picking up few customers with a Blue light on the rear seat and speeding on the main way. We had a good chase passed along side of the taxi. All the Arabs in the car shouting at the Taxi to "Stop" in Arrabic; which again i guess. The Taxi stopped on the middle of the road and we were lucky it was the Taxi 1.

We surrounded the Taxi 1 now and i opened the front door where i was sitting earlier. The driver looked familiar now. The wallet is not in the seat; where could it be ? Obviously the driver would have returned or picked up the wallet if it was on the seat. We inspected the floor of the taxi and found that the Wallet was found there with all my Gold cards glittering there intact. We thanked the Taxi driver 1 and got in to the Taxi no 2 to return back. Another 20 pounds now paid to the 2nd Taxi driver for the fantastic chase. My hands now checking again to see if i have the wallet and mobile etc. I have them all !!! We thanked and tipped the guides who gave instructions in Arabic on our behalf to the 2nd Taxi driver. (I know my narration is like Visu's comedy with Taxi 1 and Taxi 2; but could not help now !!!)

Now the guide speaking the truth; told us the correct show timing in English which correlated with the timings checked in the Internet earlier. He directed us to the ticket counters. We thanked him again to see the Sound and Light show. to us. The incident was unexpected and quiet cinematic and i was lucky to get back the Wallet which i had lost. I thank the guides, my friends, the taxi drivers and God for helping me out. I still don't understand how the Wallet slipped out as myself i struggle some times to get it out of my pocket !

Mohan Raman V

Tirumala Tirupathi Visit

Tirumala Temple Towers

Tirumala Hill - A Natural Fortress !

This is about our visit to Tirumala Tirupathi on October 28th and 29th of 2006.

Early during the day we started from Chennai and drove down to Tirupathi. Myself, Sriram and Nana (as my sister calls; well why should i mention this ? Myself and Sriram call him Naina. Effect of Colloquialism ?/!) were travelling through the snail paced traffic from Chennai to Poonamalle. Mom could not join us as she was taking care of the Grandmother. Once we reached Poonamalle we were on the National Highway 205 and swiftly travelled through Thiruvallur, Thiruthani, Nagari, Puthur, Renigunta and reached Tirupathi crossing 150 kms.

One of the traffic constable diverting us to a ring road we had a short drive around Tirupathi town and headed to Tiruchanoor (also called Alamelumangapuram) to worship Sri Padmavathi Devi. The usual scene at the viciny crowds, shops etc. We waded throught the crowd and reached the TTD ticket office and got tickets to Kumkumarchana seva. Now we were before the temple gopuram and i was recollecting the article which i read about Rajaji's appeal for a devotee. His famous composition Kurai Onrum Illai related to this incident. Read this article to get more details http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/12/22/stories/2002122200220100.htm .

We were inside the temple and worshipped Sri Padmavati Devi with the Archagar performing the elaborate Archana with Kumkuma. It was a darshan which i will remember ever. After the worship we had our prasadams and we drived again to Tirupathi to have our Lunch. After the Lunch we went to worship Sri Govindaraja Perumal. We worshipped lord Govindaraja giving us darshan in Bujangasayanam. The temple is also called the Keezh Tirupathi. We were now heading to Tirumala.

It was a nice evening with the Sun playing hide and seek we started to climb by foot the Tirumala hill. The distance from Alipiri to Tirumala is 11 kms by foot. Sriram driving the car to Tirumala; myself and father were climbing the 7 hills by foot. It was a nice experience recapping our earlier such climbing. After the sunset and gathering of more clouds there were a few showers on our way. We climbed the hill in around 5 hours. It was an interesting experience again;

We were accompanied by all set of people like college students discussing movies, software professionals discussing Java and Oracle !, Elders discussing philosophy, Shop keepers as usual selling, beggers (also exchanging coins for Notes !) etc etc. Could not forget the person who was shouting Govinda Govinda when he was climbing.

We climbed the hill very slowly resting many times on the way. It was tough untill we reached Gali Gopuram as the steps was very slippery and we were climbing with bare foot. It was told to us that Sri Ramanuja Acharya climbed the hill on his knee as he considered that the hill as the lords Thirumeni. No wonder they termed the climb till Gali Gopuram as Muzhankal Mudichu or Knee breaking as the hill was so steep. It was unfortunate that we did not carry the camera to shoot the wildlife on the way. We met a wild deer starring at every one open in the wild ! There were small frogs, snails, beatles, insects etc on the way which my camera misses to shoot still.

There were small shrines and idols on the way. Some of the Dasa Avataram idols were opened and some were still being installed. On the way we worshipped the huge Hanuman where it was drizzling lightly. We worshipped Lord Narasimha on the way and reached the bridge and started climbing the last part of the hill. We found people doing padi puja by lighting campour on each step. We reached Tirumala after 5 hours.

After reaching up the Tirumala we had our dinner and offered our hair and got ready for the Archana Anthra Darshan of Lord Srinivasa (Lord Venkateshwara). Along with the waves of devotees we were also travelling through Q complex and reached the temple gopuram. We had an excellent darshan of Lord Srinivasa with Archagar still performing the Archana. The Temple is also called Kaliyuga Vaikuntam. Tirupathi is one among the 108 Divya Desams.

We also worshipped Varadaraja Perumal, Yoga Narasimhar, Sri Ramanujar inside the temple. Made our Hundi offering and had our prasadams. It was a swift and memorable darshan of the lord.

After having our break fast we were now heading back again to Tirupathi by car. We took some time to take some photos of the hill and scenic beauty. Amazed with the beauty of the Nature and fully charged with the positive energy of the temple we were feeling great after surrendering our self to the lord.

We had our Lunch again at Bhimas and returned back to Chennai. The weather still being cloudy we drived back home in heavy rains between Tiruthani and Thirumalisai. We reached home with our minds still filled with the Lord.

Mohan Raman V

Google Tirumala Tirupathi to know more about the temple !