Bill Gates on H1B Visa restrictions

H1B visa is the visa issued by U.S.C.I.S to foreign skilled workers. A few years back the annual cap on these visas reduced to 65,000 from 195,000.

Bill Gates spoke at a recent Microsoft sponsored discussion about ways to drive US innovation and help the country compete with other nations. He talked about the H1B restrictions imposed on foreign skilled workers.

"The whole idea behind the H1-B restriction thing is, 'Don't let too many smart people come into the country...... The thing basically doesn't make sense."

Finally someone makes sense!

Aishwarya Rai on the Oprah Winfrey Show!

Yes she was!. She looked stunning. And why I am blogging about her, is not just because of her TV appearance. I loved to see the drooping jaws of american women on the show when Aishwarya walked in. I loved to see the faces of a couple of women, which looked like they were standing in front of the Taj Mahal. Oprah for some reason kept asserting again and again that she was the most beautiful woman on the world. Personally..yes...she did look stunning and looked confident as ever. Missed the show? Ahh, don't worry, I've got the video here.

Aishwarya Rai on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Download the Video Here (27 MB)
(Once you reach this page, scroll all the way down and click on 'FREE'. Then on the next page scroll down again, wait for the countdown to end and then click on the file name)

Indian Born Confused Desi

I was on my way home from the Newark Airport. I was supposed to take the Air Train, which takes you from the airport terminals to the train station. The Air Train is an unmanned computerized train which keeps moving round the clock, stopping at the 5 stops on the airport. On April 17th, the Air trains were working on a delayed schedule due to preventive maintenance. The trains which usually arrive once every 4 minutes, were now working every 20 minutes or so. I was supposed to take the train from Terminal C. When I reached there, I saw this humongously huge crowd. Suddenly, this small serene station had turned into a chaotic room full of nonsense. And I say nonsense because all sorts of people were tryin to do all sorts of things. There was this couple, which was continuously banging at the elevator button, in anticipation that it would arrive faster. They kept babbling that this is freakin crazy and that they wanted to take the cab home. Then there was this huge man who was asking the 'assistance and information' lady if it was a good idea to take the train that goes the other way and eventually come back with it (he was more worried about getting a seat. There were oldies, kids, business travelers and even airport employees all having their own specialized inputs about how 'ridiculous' this was and that Newark Airport was not what it used to be...etc. etc. The most pressurized person was the red jacketed customer service representative from the airport. She was an old Asian lady with a walkie-talkie in her hand. She looked dazed, because realistically she was as clueless about the things as was everyone else. She looked like she was standing at the epicenter of confusion. She was bombarded with atleast a dozen different kind of questions in one voice from all directions.

Person X: Why is the Airtrain on delayed service?
Person Y: Can the connecting train to New York be held till this train reaches there?
Person Z: Is there an ATM around here?
A polished business traveler: I am sorry to bother you and I in no way want to add to your confusion, but is there any way you can tell me where the closest restroom is?
Person A: CAN I JUST WALK TO THE TRAIN STATION???
Person B: I am assuming that if I miss this train, I'll have to wait for another twenty minutes??

So basically the station was filled with confused and lost passengers like these.
And then there was me....Chilled out, at peace and enjoying a game of pool on my cell phone. I was in no hurry whatsoever to get home. After a while, I wasn't interested any more in the chaos. I was just happy doing my own thing.Frankly, it was simple ...the trains were running late. All one had to do was just wait for some time and get on the next train. And I just couldn't understand why people refused to realize this simple logic Suddenly the chatter of the people rose to an alarming level, I turned to look back and the next thing I see is the customer assistance lady actually climbing on a seat and yelling out :

"PLEASE PAY ATTENTION! THE AIRTRAIN IS WORKING ON A DELAYED SERVICE, THE TRAINS ARE ARRIVING EVERY TWENTY MINUTES. SO PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE! THE TRAINS FOR TERMINALS A, B AND C LEAVE FROM THAT TRACK! AND THE TRAINS FOR THE PARKING GARAGE AND THE RAIL LINK STATION LEAVE FROM THIS ONE. THE RESTROOMS AND THE ATMS ARE HERE......AND THE FOOD COURT IS DOWNSTAIRS!!! ...THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN REACH NEW YORK FASTER.....UNLESS YOU WANNA SPEND FIFTY BUCKS ON A CAB!! WHENEVER THE TRAIN COMES IN PLEASE ALLOW THE PASSENGERS TO GET OUT FIRST!...THANK YOU!"

Wow, I loved that...they were like marching orders which suddenly made everyone stand in silence and look up to her. She said that in the most courteous manner but everyone knew it meant, " JUST STAND HERE!!...SHUT UP!!......AND STOP SCREWING ME!!!"

Everyone stood in pin-drop silence. Everyone thought twice before starting a conversation, coz everyone knew it would be heard loud n clear throughout the station.

All this while I was looking at this indian man. He looked from the southern part of india and must be in his late twenties. He looked like a perfect example of someone from a long flight. I could see him raise himself to say something. I was now inquisitive about the kind of question he was about to ask, because the lady had pretty much clarified everything. I was happy that he was loud and clear when he began to speak. All he said was ...

" Esss...Cuze me..... the air train is not working.??"

I burst into laughter. I kept on laughing. I knew I hadn't laughed this much for months. While I was laughing, i could easily see that I was the only one laughing so hard. I crouched, stood up again, and crouched again. There were people smiling, staring and some were slowly joining my laughter. After I finished, I started looking around, and the Indian guy was no where to be seen. I looked at the lady and shook heads.

U.S.A Tax Day Giveaways

April 15th is U.S.A Tax Day, the absolute final day for everyone to file taxes (one can begin filing on January 1st). I have a friend who works at a Tax Agency in Harrison, NJ and he told me that April 15th is one of the busiest day at their store ( Can you believe that??). An article on the IRS website says that the IRS expects to receive almost 9 million extension requests, which must be made by the normal filing deadline!!!

I came across a small list of interesting giveaways by stores and services in New York on Tax Day, in the local free newspaper A.M. New York.

• Staples is making free copies of tax returns on the sidewalk in front of the James Farley Post Office at 421, Eighth Ave.
• H & R Block locations throughout the city are serving Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and donuts.
• Dentyne is sponsoring free cups of coffee for New Yorkers on tax day at Space Market, 1 University Place and Big Cup, 288 Eighth Ave.

And here are my favorites...

• If you live in the Upper West Side, harlem, Washington heights or Inwood you can get free tax advice when you order a pizza today. Papa John’s is sending out certified accountants with their deliveries.....Wow!
• My company, is offering a Tax-Day giveaway of NeatReceipts to lucky winners. NeatReceipts is the coolest tax gadget to hit the markets this year. Got 15 seconds?...... Click here and register now for free and get prepared to file taxes for 2005
  

Of course for basic free tax help, see IRS.gov

World's Greatest Cookie

I didn't think I would blog about food items. But I couldn't resist writing about these. These are cookies by Pepperidge Farm. Having these is a completely different experience. When you take a bite, you first cut through the 'crunchy-but-soft' crust, and suddenly you find the sandwiched chocolate melting into your mouth. And they have innumerable flavors. Being the chocolate lover that I am, I tried, rich chocolate, dark chocolate and sumptuous chocolate . Each one in the class of its own. Move over Oreo and Chips Ahoy! ....You have to try these. No one can eat just one!

Tired of registrations? Try Mailinator..

home-tag
Originally uploaded by findvikram.

Sick of websites that keep asking for your email address? Tired of going to your inboxes every now and then and 'confirming' your email address? Well, 'Mailinator' is here. This unique service lets you create email addresses instantly. Want an abcdefg@mailinator.com or alphabets@mailinator.com?...They have it! Yes, Mailinator creates accounts when any mail arrives to that mail address. No sign-ups, no personal information...No hassles!

I believe I can fly..

This picture was taken in the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York during the July 4th weekend in 2004. We clicked almost four hundred pictures of this scenic place on this trip. All of us thought that this one clearly stood out. For me, this picture sums up the fun we had. From left to right its Me, Saurabh, Chirayu and Abhinav.

The World's Worst Website!!

I happened to visit this web page during a project in a 'Technical Writing' course in my under-graduate years. They call it the World's Worst Website. And you just have to visit the page once to see why. Interestingly, it was created to "demonstrate the most common mistakes made by new Web Page designers", says the homepage.

My three craziest conversations with Customer Services/Support Reps

offshore-outsourcing-to-india-1
Originally uploaded by findvikram.

Craziest Conversation : No. 3 (2005)

This has to be my conversation with the rep from PNC Bank. I had talked about this in my previous post. You can find the entire transcript of this conversation here.

Craziest Conversation: No.2 (2003)

She: Citibank Card Center....How can I help you.
Me: Hello, I just received this letter from Citibank today that my student credit card application has been rejected because I am not a U.S. Citizen.
She: Ok sir; let me pull up your information in my system
After verifying my information and looking up my details in her system she had this to say
She: Sir, your student credit card application has been rejected because you are not a U.S. Citizen.
Me: Duh!...Yes Maam I know that, the thing that is written in your system is also on my letter here.
She: So how can I help you?
Me: Well, I am international student and it says on your website that this card that I applied for can also be issued to International Students.
She: What visa do you have?
Me: I am on an international student visa
She: See? You are not a U.S. Citizen.
Me: Aargh, yeah I know, but isn'€™t this card also issued to International Students.
She: It's not issued to anyone except U.S. Citizens sir.
Me: Then why does it say that on your website?
She: I am sure it'™s a mistake sir, I am sure they will rectify it.
Me: Huh? I for sure know that all my friends have this card, and they are international students, and theyre NOT U.S. Citizens.
She: Then I think it'€™s a fraud case sir, we will have someone follow up on that.
Me: So you are saying that no one apart from U.S. Citizens, like international students, skilled workers and other immigrants have a credit cards here?
She: Not if they are not U.S Citizens.

I disconnected the phone and called back after five minutes. This time I spoke to a different rep and she accepted that it was their mistake since they put my application in the wrong system. She said that my application was now accepted and it will be further processed.

Foreign accented customer service reps are all over the place now. If you end up having a nice conversation with one of them, it is quite likely that they would in fact disclose their location. India it seems is the favorite country for companies here to set up their call centers. I was in India when the BPO and Call Center industry was actually booming. I in fact had a lot of friends who went under training to join these call centers. The conversation below was with a telemarketing associate from India

So here we go......Numbaah One!!!! (2004)

Me: Yelloww!
She: Hello sir, I am calling from Government Grants and Loans, you have been selected by the federal government to receive at least eight thousand dollars in grants.
Me: Waaaat?? Holy shit!!..Yoohoo!....I knew god was going to reward me some day! So where can I collect the money from?
She: Sir you will have to register with us. Once you do that we will send you an application packet and you should be receiving the money any where between six and 12 months.
Me: Cool!!, I am ready to register!
She: Ok sir, all I need is your bank checking account number, your bank routing number and your home address.
Me: You need my bank account number? Why?
She: Actually we will be withdrawing an amount of two hundred and fifty dollars from your account, that is just about three percent of your total grant money.
Me: Oh, so the government wants me to pay money to get the money?
She: No sir, we charge these small fees so that every thing is right with your application. If due to some reason you do not receive this grant money after eighteen months we will refund you this money.
( By this point, I realized that this was a scam. Also I figured out that the person I was talking to was located in India)
Me: Oh ok. But why did the federal government select me to get the money? I’m not even a U.S. Citizen!
She: Ohh..You'™re not!?....Err€...ok...gimme a second here.....Alright, sir, do you pay your taxes regularly?
Me: Taxes? Yea sure! Very regularly.
She: That means you are a U.S. Citizen!
Me: Wow! Am I ? I had no idea..Can I vote in the forthcoming presidential elections?
She: Sir for that you will have to talk to your local municipal office.
(I was ready to end this now)
Me: Maam, you are doing a good job, but this is not India and there is no municipal office here! I know this is a scam, if there is any way by which I can get the grant money without investing a single dollar that's the only way in which I am gonna go ahead with this.
She: Disconnected the phone, I never heard from them again.

But let me not take away anything from the efforts of hundreds and thousands of these tech support, customer support and customer service representatives worldwide. I have talked to some really cool, interesting and intelligent people this way. I think they do a tremendous job. I am sure that solving any kind of customer problems only on the phone is definitely a tedious job. But yes, I still agree with the professor. Not exactly with his belief that there is a disaster waiting to happen, but yes these reps should stop depending too much on their ‘systems’.

Let me end this post with one of the funniest gigs that I've ever come across on T.V. This was on the Late Night Show with Conan O'€™ Brian. Its about how one of the guys in their office ends up talking to a tech support associate from India and then actually goes all the way to India to get his computer fixed. Its funny, its worth a million laughs and it’s a must watch. Hats off to the writers of the show.
Click here to see the entire show.
You will need Windows Media Player to play the video. Click here to download it

In the meanwhile, please feel free to comment and suggest on my ideas and also share any of your similar experiences!