This is the MG Road, this one goes to Indian Express Bus stop .. bla bla etc. At one junction, the auto stopped under semi-constructed namma metro flyover.  He started enriching my knowlege with some stats. Construction of these metro tracks started way back in Dec. 2006 and its 2009, they have not achieved anything concrete yet. They are spoiling the garden city by erasing all the gardens. What’s the point, 2012 is near, nothing is gonna survive.

Gosh !! I was amazed. The movie 2012, seems to have made a real impact even on the autowalas.

Case 2: Weekly shopping at Reliance Fresh for the vegetables. At the vegetable counter, the reliance guy, Bhaiyya 2012 dekhi kya? Ekdum mast movie hai .. jarur dekhiye … kya mast effects hai …

Looks like the movie has made an impact in different segments and sectors of the Indian Population. What’s your take on this ? Bunch of my friends liked it and appreciated. I am yet to watch it

A brief intro on how it happened

It all started with my adamant attitude to have a dual partition on my Dell Vostro 1510. Fedora, my obvious choice led to multiple crash of the lappy’s motherboard. The reason sounds strange, but is the concrete reason, as it happened not once but rather twice. Burnt the ISO image of Fedora Core 10 on a DVD and began to boot the lappy. It started normal, but before the UI asking for Fedora installation could load, the laptop hung with nothing shown on the LCD. Forceful shutdown and subsequent reboot led to weird behavior, caps lock, num lock and scroll LEDs glowing indefinitely, without anything up on the LCD. The usual methods of removing the RAM, resetting the static electricity failed to work and it turned out that it was a motherboard failure. Hence a replace for the same was done by the manufacturer.

Video

The video below is shootout of the replacement of the motherboard. ( Done by manufacturer’s engineer). But you may give a try on your old laptop or if your eagerness could not be held anymore.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part5

Part 6

Part 7

How did we capture and process the video

The video capture was done using a Sony Ericsson phone and which resulted in multiple 3gp files. It was essential to merger these multiple files and convert them into flv format for upload using some tool. ffmpeg was the ideal option and worked like a wonder. Key steps were …

-> Converting indiviual 3GP files to flv with all the parameters viz. bitrate, frame etc

ffmpeg -i file.3gp -s 320×240 -vcodec h263 -r 25000 -b 200 -ab 64 -acodec amr -ac 1 -ar 8000 file.flv

-> Merge all files into single. This method somehow did not work with flv files, hence they were converted to mpg format and back to flv for upload to youtube.

converting to mpg with same parameters

ffmpeg -i file.flv -sameq -y file.mpg

Merging into single file

cat 76.mpg 77.mpg 78.mpg 79.mpg 80.mpg >final_mpg.mpg(This method somehow did not work with flv files)

And finally, back to flv file

ffmpeg -i final_mpg.mpg -sameq final.flv

Download the new version’s (say FC 10)  iso(DVD) image and save it to a disk drive partition. I used a pen drive for the same. It works very well for filesystems viz. FAT32,ext2 and not NTFS. Copy the image file to any directory say for example /mnt/FedoraCoreDVD.iso( Assuming, that pen drive is mounted at /mnt) . Mount the iso image in a directory(any) to extract the isolinux folder.

#mount -o loop /mnt/FedoraCoreDVD.iso /home/user/Fedora/

Copy the isolinux folder and paste it inside the boot folder.

#cp -r /home/user/Fedora/isolinux /boot

Now we need to make an entry in the grub file to boot the copied isolinux folder’s install.img

# cat /etc/grub.conf

______________________________

title Fedora Upgrade
root (hd0,8) ———–> should be your  partition containing the current linux installation (0->First Hard Drive,8-> Partition number on this drive )
kernel /isolinux/vmlinuz
initrd /isolinux/initrd.img
______________________________

Copy the isolinux folder also to the pen drive(/dev/sdb, mounted at /mnt in this case) and reboot the system. Select the ” Fedora Upgrade” option in grub and the normal installation/upgrade demon anaconda will start. It will ask for the option of disk partition and folder containing the iso image and iso linux folder, which is /dev/sdb1 in this case. Select the same and the upgradation works like a charm.

Officer : You have over-speeded

Motorist : Hmm… I was just 70 Km/hr

Officer [Hands him a printout]:  See this. You were at 76 Km/hr. The statistics have been captured by the #@&^*#5 camera with %#6*#*9 technology. Its all given below. I will have to fine you . 300 bucks.

Poor motorist had no other option.

P.S – Identity of motorist is concealed and is of no concern with respect to the blog.

M: Large coffee machines, surplus supply of beverage, good enough for coffee/tea addicts.

S: Limited supply of beverages, may vary depending on where startup is located, its own office, or a business incubation center.

M: Manager says, you need to be in the office at 9:00AM sharp, they are aussies, ahead of us by 4.5 hrs. We need to bridge this gap. Mails need to be checked every second. Sticking your ass in the office without doing anything is the motto. Punch the clock, 9:15 hrs a day. Some companies have started a early bird offer, earlier you reach the office, say before 8:30 AM, you acquire credit points making you eligible for the lucky draw coupon of Rs 500, Rs 1000 and so on.

S: A product based startup, timings are flexible, no one is going to ask you to push your ass at 9:00AM. But you have critical goals and targets to be achieved, which are of extreme significance for the startup. Hence, you cannot simply laze around in the office. You need to get things done and if you are passionate about work, this can be your dream come true.

M: Please display your ID, where is your ID. I hate this. You are like one in a million. Just another piece of shit in the campus.

S: You know everyone else. The whole comapny is a team and you are a integral part of the company. ID card?  I don’t remember the last time I wore it. Only thing you need is the incubation center’s access card. No one is going to pester you to hang the id round the clock, as if you may be a terrorist.

M: Dress Code. This is the most fascinating part. Mondays-Tuesdays- Ultra Formal, Wed-Thurs- Mild Formals, Fridays-Freedom, but with a limit, off course. Thank god they do not have any restriction your undies.

S: Dress is not a restriction. Work is all what matters. But that doesn’t mean that you can park yourself in the office wearing your sleeping t shirt and shorts .

M: Use of brain, minimal, rather its a rare event. And if you are a fresher, I suppose you will be doomed in most of the cases, they treat you really fresh. They may put you in some low profile, time consuming work and may not listen or ascertain your technical capabilities.

S: Ideas are supposed to nurture in a startup. Brainstorming and impelmentation of cool  thoughts to reality is inevitable.

P.S. Writings here are solely based on writer’s life experience and may not match up with the real scenarios or your beliefs. Contradications are likely to occur. Comments are welcome.

Delivery Manager : All the best, come back to $%$^% !

HR ( at exit interview ) : Had you told this in the interview, you could have asserted even to the head of the company, that I will work only with that profile. (It’s a good learning, you have full rights to claim what was promised to you in the interview)

Security Guard (at final exit, I don’t have the ID card, but the relieving letter)

(me) : I have the relieving letter

(sg) : Ok. That’s fine. But it’s my duty, show the letter. (Opens up the letter and takes a glance). Kisi acchi jagah ja rahe honge (you must be going to some good working place)

(me) : Yes. Kaam accha hoga wahan (Work will be good there)

(sg) : Laughs. Waise mujhe kehna to nahin chaiye, ^&^&%& aane se pehle main bhi sochta tha yahan bahut accha kaam hota hai ( Before joining here as security, I had an impression that work is great at this company, all because of the big name)

(me) : India main naam bade and darshan chote ( Bigger and branded name, but the work profile is low )

(sg) : Bilkul sahi (That’s perfect) ]]> http://www.twistedgenes.com/2008/08/last-day-first-company-few-last-words/feed/ 2 http://www.twistedgenes.com/2008/08/my-first-job-excitement-turned-otherwise/ http://www.twistedgenes.com/2008/08/my-first-job-excitement-turned-otherwise/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:39:00 +0000 admin http://rak19.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/my-first-job-excitement-turned-otherwise/ 17th June 2006 :
No. 72. Rakesh Gupta
No. 73. ….. and so on.
Hurray ! I was floating on cloud nine . I had made in to the company . The on campus drive at my college hyped as arduous process had been a cake walk for me. The faculty member read loud the list of the students who had made in. Celebrations were inevitable .

24th September 2006 :
Hey, did you collect the offer letter ? No, have they come? Cool. Having an offer letter in your hands of a big shot MNC, with a year more still left to complete your engineering degree, sounds fantastic. I had made my mind, I will join it. Become a fundoo coder shoder !! All things seemed to be so perfect. My future path was decided. But, I failed to realise that heavenly signal. As they say in literature, when you desire something, universe conspires to let you have the best. But, I was blinded by the charm and glamor and was not able to see that I had something better to achieve.

10th May 2007 – 25th June 2007:
Desperate wait for the receiving the joining letter at the company. As the history says, it should be something in the middle of June. Perhaps, this was one of the firsts of heavenly signal which I failed to realise. The signal that I am destined for something better and I should seek or continue with some other opportunity.

1st July 2007:
For the first time on the college’s history, a database giant had arrived interviewing our batch. The coll was over and everyone was relaxing at home. But the offering and name of the database giant tempted everyone to rush back to the campus from even their remotest abodes and try their knowledge and luck. The selection process was strenuous and I was pleased to make into top 18 out of the 500 people appeared. But unfortunately, they needed only 12 folks. Hence, had a narrow setback. I was disappointed, but this was another heavenly indicator that destiny has something else in store for me and I should realize my potential.

10th July 2007:
The joining date of the company came(23rd July). As expected, it was in their huge training campus. I had mixed feelings. But, I had made my mind and was careless to hunt for any other opportunities.

17th July 2007:
The company had altered the joining date and location to 6th August, to a place where I had never been too. Perhaps, this was the biggest heavenly indicator. Again, I could not sense it. What could I do ? I was not seeing things beyond joining this company, which eventually turned out to be a big mistake of my life. I have been avid passionate about Java and Open Source technologies since my college days. With an expectation of getting similar kind of work/training, I joined the company at the new location

6th August 2007:
Lush green campus and huge glassy buildings, good enough to dupe anyone. I was joyous. The training process started and things went on smoothly. Till one fine day, we had the catastrophic event …. MAINFRAMES, yes your batch has been identified for the mainframes stream. Happy hunting folks, Its gonna be a wonderful time. Man, I was shattered, I never desired to study those outdated legacy systems. The company was not willing to cater to your personal interests.

10th October 2007:
I started pumping my resume like anything. I wanted to get out and do anything but not mainframes. Ill-fated, nothing much happened. Only ray of hope was to complete training and expect to get a different technology project. Chances are meager, but you never now.

1st Feb 2008:
After successful completion of training, off to production. Seems, a whole new world is going to start. Fortunately, I managed to sneak into a non mainframe project after persuading one of the managers at the company. New energy and enthusiasm started to reverberate again in me.

10th April 2008:
All that glitters is not gold. I could perfectly understand that. This one was the biggest and best heavenly indicators, you need to work hard, you are destined for something else. Now I started feeling it hard. The project, they call it support and maintenance barely requires you to be smart, logically and technically sound. There was nothing much crucial I was playing. It started striking me that I am losing, losing rapidly; everything, my knowledge, my analytical and logical skills. What would my future be ? A dumb box. Oh no ! I won’t let that happen. Job hunt began with more fierce efforts. I needed to move out. No kidding this time. It’s a high priority to give justice to my career life.

15th July 2008:
Filed the resignation, a sense of relief or moksha.

20th August 2008:
I walkout like a free bird. With lesser apprehensions about my next venture.

Summary : Always listen to your heart and understand those heavenly signals, because if you have an intent desire and willingness for something, then universe will definitely conspire and let you get the best. And in DJ (Rang De Basanti) style, I would say Zindagi jeene ke do hi tarike hote hain, ek kisi Indian IT company join kar lo, aur jeete raho, appraisal ki cycle chalne do, doosra, jimmedaari uthao ise badalne ki aur startup join karo