Suman Das’ Blog


Lie to Me
July 16, 2010, 11:32 PM
Filed under: The Mango Man

Lie to me
Tell me that you’ll be here.
Lie to me,
Tell me that there’s no need to fear.
Lie to me,
Convince me that you can care.
Lie to me,
Convince me that you’ll be fair.
Make me believe that you can love me,
Even though, I know this will never be.
Please, just lie to me.



I hope I’m not too late

Six feet under my unfulfilled dreams,
Where a broken heart ebbs to beat,
I am at peace with the world that gave me my life,
I am now the world myself,

This had to happen eventually, I was not immortal, neither are you, you’re just plain late… hurry up, you may still make it…

Join me by my side,
We’ll sleep away this tide,
Hide ourselves from our lives,
What do we have to fear now,
What mortals dread now, now we’ll laugh away,
Immune are we now to tomorrow and yesterday,

Death ended my life, ended my fears, ended my tears…

Tears ended my sorrows, killed my joys, killed my smiles,

and killed me…

But with death, arose an unborn truth,
I was sad no more at my demise,
Why be sad when you can’t smile?
Why feel lonely when you’re one with them all?

Death is victory over life itself,
Death is an ultimate liberating force,
Death relieves you of all your pain,
Death kills you till you are sane,
Death kills all the vice in you,
Death is what makes you YOU,
Death is what will save this world today,
Death will finally show you the way,
Towards a better you….

I can see myself now, taking her hand, its icy, its cold, its holy,

anointing myself till I can no longer see my reflections in my mirrors, till I am no more myself…

I’ll take leave now,
I have to re-discover myself,
I hope I am not too late…



Black Rhinoceros : Endangered or Extinct?

An endangered species is a population of an organism (usually a taxonomic species), which because it is either few in number or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters, leaving it at risk of becoming extinct. Many countries have laws offering special protection to these species or their habitats: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves.

Only a few of the many endangered species actually make it to the official lists and obtain legal protection.

Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public notice. The greatest factor of concern is the rate at which species are becoming extinct within the last 150 years.

While species have evolved and become extinct on a regular basis for the last several hundred million years, the number of species becoming extinct since the Industrial Revolution has no precedent in biological history. If this rate of extinction continues, or accelerates as now seems to be the case, the number of species becoming extinct in the next decade could number in the millions.

While most people readily relate to endangerment of large mammals or birdlife, some of the greatest ecological issues are the threats to stability of whole ecosystems if key species vanish at any level of the food chain. One such endangered animal is the Black Rhinoceros.

The Black Rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis also colloquially Black Rhino is a mammal in the order Perissodactyla, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Although the Rhino is referred to as a “Black” creature, it is actually more of a grey-white color in appearance. For most of the 20th century the continental black rhino was the most numerous of all rhino species. Around 1900 there were probably several hundred thousand living in Africa. During the later half of the 20th century their number severely reduced from an estimated 70,000 in the late 1960s to only 10,000 to 15,000 in 1981.

In the early 1990s the number dipped below 2500, and in 1995 it was reported that only 2,410 black rhinos remained.

According to the International Rhino Foundation, the total African population has since then slightly recovered to 3,610 by 2003. According to a July 2006 report by the World Conservation Union, a recent survey of the West African Black Rhino, which once ranged across the savannahs of western Africa but had dropped to just 10, concluded the subspecies to be extinct.



Worst Habits of the Indian Workaholic

It has been around 3 years since I joined the IT industry. For the first 10 months, I was really bored as I didn’t have much of work. Then, I started to get frustrated coz I felt I wasn’t given the amount and quality of work for which I was getting paid.

But, it was only since April this year that I got some real responsibilities. Then, I got power and I was satisfied. Slowly, I got more power and more responsibilities, and I was happy. Gradually, I became a workaholic.

It was only since the last 1 month that I started getting sick. I was bed-ridden for about 5 days. Then, I made this research to find what went wrong. The following are the 7 worst habits of workaholics:

1. Forgetting to relax

While some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated, too much stress or chronic stress will take its toll on your body.

2. Eating on the go


Between meetings, conference calls and deadlines, workaholics forget to take out time to sit down for a healthy lunch. But a good meal is exactly what a person needs to stay mentally sharp throughout the day.

3. Putting off sleep for work


Even busy professionals need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Missing out on sleep can lead to irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and poor judgment. It has also been linked to obesity.

4. Not making time for exercise

Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise most days is very important to immediate and future health.

5. Working even when sick

Many people come to work despite being ill. But there are three common sense reasons to stay home — nobody wants your germs, you’ll be less productive and you need your rest to get better.

6. Drinking (too much)


Excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, liver disease and some forms of cancer.

7. Skipping annual medical check-ups


In order to detect problems early, prevent others from developing and get the best treatment if you have a condition, you need to know what’s going on in your body.

Although, I had taken care of the last 3 points; I am yet to take care of the first 4. Once I take care of all 7 of these, I guess, I can call myself a healthy workaholic.

What about you???

Original Post: The Ultimate Renaissance



Top 7 Safest Cars in US

7. Mercury Sable

Base MSRP: $23,935.00 Base Invoice: $22,096.00 Destination: $800.00 Engine: Engine-6 Cyl-V6 Transmission Transmission-Auto-6 Spd Body Style: 4dr Car Drive Type Drivetrain-FWD

6. Honda Pilot

Base MSRP: $27,595.00 Base Invoice: $25,010.80 Destination: $670.00 Engine: Engine-6 Cyl-V6 Transmission Transmission-Auto-5 Spd Body Style: Sport Utility Drive Type Drivetrain-FWD

5. Infiniti FX

Base MSRP: $38,050.00 Base Invoice: $34,980.00 Destination: $865.00 Engine: Engine-6 Cyl-V6 Transmission Transmission-Auto-5 Spd Body Style: Sport Utility Drive Type Drivetrain-RWD

4. Lincoln Town car

Base MSRP: $45,295.00 Base Invoice: $41,626.00 Destination: $920.00 Engine: Engine-8 Cyl Transmission Transmission-Auto-4 Spd Body Style: 4dr Car Drive Type Drivetrain-RWD

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Base MSRP: $29,420.00 Base Invoice: $27,009.00 Destination: $730.00 Engine: Engine-6 Cyl-V6 Transmission Transmission-Auto-5 Spd Body Style: Sport Utility Drive Type Drivetrain-RWD

2. Jeep Commander

Base MSRP: $28,330.00 Base Invoice: $26,054.00 Destination: $730.00 Engine: Engine-6 Cyl-V6 Transmission Transmission-Auto-5 Spd Body Style: Sport Utility Drive Type Drivetrain-RWD

1. Ford Taurus

Base MSRP: $23,635.00 Base Invoice: $21,801.00 Destination: $800.00 Engine: Engine-6 Cyl-V6 Transmission Transmission-Auto-6 Spd Body Style: 4dr Car Drive Type Drivetrain-FWD

Top 10 IT-BPO Destinations in India

A study — conducted jointly by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) and global management consulting firm A T Kearney — has identified 10 cities in India that are good for the IT-BPO industry. The study took into account the following key parameters to arrive at its inference: Knowledge pool and skill-set availability; infrastructure; social and living environment; enabling business environment; government support; and operating cost. So here are India’s best cities for IT-BPO centres.

Rank 10: Nagpur

Nagpur, the second capital of Maharashtra, has for long suffered due to lack of strong leadership and political will. Thus the manufacturing boom that many other Indian cities embraced with elan bypassed Nagpur. However, as if to compensate for this ‘loss,’ the city has turned into a major trading hub.

Rank 9: Jaipur

The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a major IT-BPO centre. The city has seen large investments by Genpact, Infosys, etc in the IT BPO sector, making it a vibrant destination for such companies. The boom in the IT sector in Jaipur has also led to a mushrooming of shopping malls, large retail outlets, entertainment facilities, etc. The boom has also attracted big funds into the city’s real estate sector too.

Rank 8: Mohali / Chandigarh

Mohali sits cheek by jowl to Chandigarh. The Punjab and Haryana governments’ incentives and friendly policies have seen many an IT-BPO firm set up base in the two cities. A vibrant IT talent pool, apart from impressive infrastructure attracts IT-BPO companies to these cities.

Rank 7: Kolkata

Often termed fondly as the cultural headquarters of India, Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal has a population of 5 million. The city has seen a surge of investments in the housing infrastructure sector.

Several new projects have come up in recent times. Kolkata has been ranked as the one of the most attractive destinations for investment, especially in the IT-BPO sector. The city has good infrastructure, great manpower and talent pool that make it an attractive base for many an IT-BPO firm.

Rank 6: Mumbai

Mumbai, the commercial capital of India, is one of the world’s top ten trade centres. The city contributes 25 per cent of industrial output and 70 per cent of capital transactions to India’s economy.

Rank 5: Pune

Pune, in Maharashtra, has emerged as not just a major automobile and manufacturing base, but also as a powerful software industry hub. Already IT giants Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, Infosys and Tech Mahindra have their base here. The booming information technology industry has seen Pune come forth as a force to reckon with. The city has good infrastructure, great talent pool, an enabling business environment, government support, etc have boosted the city’s image as one of the best to set up IT-BPO centres in India.

Rank 4: Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh, is also known as ‘Cyberabad’ because of the rapid progress it has made in the field of IT. As per 2006 statistics, the per capita income of Andhra Pradesh was at Rs 25,625 (less than Rs 200 of national average). The city, that used to be a service city, is now the seat of many businesses, including trade, transport, commerce, storage, communications, and most importantly IT. Like Bengaluru, Hyderabad too has witnessed a real estate boom in recent times, mainly because of the growth of IT and retail business in the city.

Rank 3: Chennai

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, has emerged as a major exporter of software, IT, ITeS services in India.

Rank 2: Bengaluru

Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is also called the Silicon Valley of India due to its towering stature in the field of information technology. For long considered one of the best places to do business in the wired world, Bengaluru’s creaking infrastructure is taking some gloss off its image. Yet, IT and BPO firms keep making a beeline for the city, because of the availability of talent and a great business environment. Bengaluru is home to India’s best known IT firms like Infosys and Wipro.

Rank 1: Gurgaon

Gurgaon is the best city for setting up a software or a business process outsourcing centre in India. The Haryana city is home to dozens of top BPO firms, earning it the sobriquet: India’s outsourcing hub.

Great physical and supporting infrastructure, availability of ample talent, impressive real estate boom, affordable cost of living, good governmental support, etc make Gurgaon the ideal choice for an IT-BPO centre. Beside this, workforce and proximity to the airport are some other crucial factors that are heavily considered by most investors before starting a BPO in Gurgaon. However, Gurgaon on its own might not bag the honours: other areas like Delhi, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, put together make this region a powerhouse when it comes to BPOs. Some of the BPO companies that are housed in Gurgaon include Wipro, HCL Technologies, HTMT, 24/7 Customer, Inc, Infosys BPO, Convergys, Accenture, MphasiS, Daksh, IGate Global, Transworks, Genpact, and WNS.



Season’s Greetings
December 26, 2009, 6:28 AM
Filed under: Wordpress Official | Tags: , ,





Planning for an Indian wedding?

Wedding exhibition Bride & Groom was held in Delhi last year. The event showcased everything from this year’s decorating trends to mehendi to clothes and jewellery. Here’s a sneak peek at what trendy couples will be wearing for their nuptials. Fancy looking like a mermaid at your sangeet? This beautiful aqua-silver ghagra choli is from the ‘Manthan of Moods’ collection by designer Sulakshna Monga. Sagar Mehra’s collection sported plenty of colour and jewelled embroidery. Seen here is a heavy but tasteful bridal ensemble in traditional hue, matched with a champagne sherwani for the groom.

Metal glam continues to be a hot favourite this season — a sari by Megha Hasija shows off Mughal inspiration with rich embellishment and shimmery tone.

If you want to make a statement at a cocktail function, this rich dress by Sulakshna Monga is just right — note the encrusted bodice.

This beige ‘n’ gold sari with heavily worked choli, also by Sulakshna, is suited to the bride who doesn’t like too many embellishments.

Designer Anubha’s collection, Le Divas, boasted of several such outfits with becoming touches and light pastel colours.

Designer Radhika poses with a model wearing one of her creations, an Indo-Western fusion in electric colour.

Lovely, huh! Go for a design that suits you the most. Cheers!!!



Weight of a Black Hole

How do you weigh the biggest black holes in the universe? One answer now comes from a completely new and independent technique that astronomers have developed using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.

By measuring a peak in the temperature of hot gas in the center of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4649, scientists have determined the mass of the galaxy’s supermassive black hole. The method, applied for the first time, gives results that are consistent with a traditional technique. Astronomers have been seeking out different, independent ways of precisely weighing the largest supermassive black holes, that is, those that are billions of times more massive than the Sun. Until now, methods based on observations of the motions of stars or of gas in a disk near such large black holes had been used. “This is tremendously important work since black holes can be elusive, and there are only a couple of ways to weigh them accurately,” said Philip Humphrey of the University of California at Irvine, who led the study.

NGC 4649 is now one of only a handful of galaxies for which the mass of a supermassive black hole has been measured with two different methods. In addition, this new X-ray technique confirms that the supermassive black hole in NGC 4649 is one of the largest in the local universe with a mass about 3.4 billion times that of the Sun, about a thousand times bigger than the black hole at the center of our galaxy. The new technique takes advantage of the gravitational influence the black hole has on the hot gas near the center of the galaxy. As gas slowly settles towards the black hole, it gets compressed and heated. This causes a peak in the temperature of the gas right near the center of the galaxy. The more massive the black hole, the bigger the temperature peak .

This effect was predicted by two of the co-authors — Fabrizio Brighenti from the University of Bologna, Italy, and William Mathews from the University of California at Santa Cruz — almost 10 years ago, but this is the first time it has been seen and used. The black hole in NGC 4649 is in a state where it does not appear to be rapidly pulling in material towards its event horizon, nor generating copious amounts of light as it grows. So, the presence and mass of the central black hole has to be studied more indirectly by tracking its effects on stars and gas surrounding it.

This technique is well suited to black holes in this condition. “Monster black holes like this one power spectacular light shows in the distant, early universe, but not in the local universe,” said Humphrey. “So, we can’t wait to apply our new method to other nearby galaxies harboring such inconspicuous black holes.” These results will appear in an upcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal.



Unwanted species of the world

Shipwrecks on coral reefs may increase invasion of unwanted species, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study. These unwanted species can completely overtake the reef and eliminate all the native coral, dramatically decreasing the diversity of marine organisms on the reef.

This study documents for the first time that a rapid change in the dominant biota on a coral reef is unambiguously associated with man-made structures. The findings of the study suggest that removal of these structures sooner rather than later is key to keeping reefs healthy.

Overgrowth of coral reefs by other species, such as algae, are usually attributed to environmental degradation, but bleaching, disease, damage by typhoons, overfishing, coastal development, pollution, and tourism can cause problems as well. The study was conducted at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the central Pacific, a relatively remote, comparatively pristine area where little human activity has occurred since WWII. In 1991, a 100-foot vessel shipwrecked on the a toll. Scientists first surveyed the area in 2004 and found a species called Rhodactis Howesii —an organism related to sea anemones and corals—in low abundance around the wreck.

In subsequent years, however, populations of this organism increased exponentially. Scientists documented extremely high densities of R. Howesii that progressively decreased with distance from the ship, whereas R. Howesii were rare to absent in other parts of the atoll.

They also confirmed high densities of R. Howesii around several buoys. Whether this phenomenon occurs on other coral atolls is unknown; however, in the case of Palmyra, the R. Howesii infestation is beginning to reach catastrophic proportions, according to Dr. Thierry Work, the lead author of the study and a scientist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station. Within a few years, R. Howesii spread to where it now occupies nearly 1 square mile. “Why this phenomenon is occurring remains a mystery,” said Work.

One possibility, he said, is that iron leaching from the ship and mooring buoy chains, accompanied with other environmental factors particular to Palmyra atoll, are somehow promoting the growth of Rhodactis. “Given the ability of Rhodactis sp. to rapidly reproduce and completely smother reefs, managers are now facing the possibility that even with removal of the ship, sheer reproductive capacity of R. Howesii may continue to fuel its spread along the western reef shelf of Palmyra,” Work said.Understanding what constitutes a healthy underwater ecosystem, as well as what does not, is crucial to preventing further losses in species and habitat. 

This research illustrates a little-known problem that, unlike global warming and pollution, could be prevented by removing man-made debris such as shipwrecks from coral reefs before organisms like Rhodactis Howesii can overtake healthy coral reefs.



Air Pollution

Today, we have many definitions and attributes of air pollution. But what is the real fact? Let’s look into this more closely!

Air pollution is a broad term applied to any chemical, physical (particulate matter), or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet earth.

Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the earth’s ecosystems. Worldwide air pollution is responsible for large numbers of deaths and cases of respiratory disease. Enforced air quality standards, like the Clean Air Act in the United States, have reduced the presence of some pollutants. While major stationary sources are often identified with air pollution, the greatest source of emissions are actually mobile sources, principally the automobile. There are many available air pollution control technologies and urban planning strategies available to reduce air pollution; however, worldwide costs of addressing the issue are high.

The most immediate method of improving air quality would be the use of bioethanol fuel, biodiesel, solar energy, and hybrid vehicle technologies. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.6 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution. Many of these mortalities are attributable to indoor air pollution. Worldwide more deaths per year are linked to air pollution than to automobile accidents. A Research report published in 2005 suggests that 310,000 Europeans die from air pollution annually. Direct causes of air pollution related deaths include aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung and heart diseases, and respiratory allergies…



Top 7 Most Expensive Cars of the World

7. Maybach 62 $385,250

The Maybach 57 and 62 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand’s revival by DaimlerChrysler. They are derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motorshow (which was based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan). DaimlerChrysler attempted to buy the Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque when Vickers offered the company up for sale. When this attempt failed (they were outbid by BMW and Volkswagen respectively) they introduced the Maybach as a direct challenger in 2002. Both models are variants of the same ultra-luxurious automobile. The model numbers reflect the respective lengths of the automobiles in decimetres; the 57 is more likely to be owner-driven while the longer 62 is designed with a chauffeur in mind. The engine is a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, generating 550 hp.

6. Mercedes SLR McLaren $455,500

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. Most people presume “SLR” to stand for “Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport” (German for “Sport; Light; Racing”). The car’s base price is £300,000 or $455,500. The SLR has a supercharged 5.5 (5439cc) litre dry sumped 90 degree V8. It produces 466.8 kW at 6500rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf)

5. Porsche Carrera GT $484,000

The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h.

4. Koenigsegg CCX $600,910


The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations. The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 based on the Ford Modular engine architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 850 hp (634 kW) on 96 octane (Euro rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel.

3. Pagani Zonda C12 F $741,000

The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12. Power is increased to 602 PS (443 kW/594 hp) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (478 kW/641 hp). The company promises a 3.2 second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h, a top speed over 374 km/h (225 mph) and it will be the queen in braking from 300 km/h to 0 (186 mph to 0). The Zonda F clubsport has a power to weight ratio of 521 bhp/ton (384 W/kg) . Compare, for example, the Enzo Ferrari which has a power to weight ratio of 483 bhp/ton (356 W/kg).

2. Ferrari Enzo $1,000,000


The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company’s founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders.

According to Volkswagen, the final production Veyron engine produces between 1020 and 1040 metric hp (1006 to 1026 SAE net hp), so the car will be advertised as producing “1001 horsepower” in both the US and European markets. This easily makes it the most powerful production road-car engine in history.



The Void…
April 6, 2009, 8:29 AM
Filed under: Indian Culture & Traditions | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Endless sarcasms with infinite tears
Murky shadows over the night sky
I walk alone, giving company to my fears
The rain beats down, as I start to cry

I just wanted to help others in pain
Now I stand here, forsaken by all
I hear the trembling voices whispering again
Telling the unfinished stories of my fall

I do not know if the world loved me or not
All I know is that it didn’t matter
Throughout my life, I only battled
Life lay before me now, lifeless and bare

A frosty chill wakes me up from my muse
A plethora of memories pass by
I was just another soul, a soul without the psyche
Perhaps best suited to be removed from all lies

The lights of the police car blind me once more
As they bend down over the body in the ground
I clutch the corpse with my both hands
In an attempt not to let it be turned around

I watch in vain as the men turn it over
Shaking silent heads, making way for others to see
I look down at my now exposed cover
To see my own blood spattered body, smiling at me…