Transit in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

If you have plans to transit in Schiphol International Airport (Amsterdam) in Hollands, I would highly encourage you to have a layover for at least 3.5 hours. This would give you the required time to tour the city which is just 10 miles away. There are quite a few tour packages tailored for your time and pace. If you only have few minutes, please check out the airport for some great experience. There are good lounges, museum, library, shopping areas and of course people, people and more people.

The blog below lists the highlights of the airport:
http://www.terminalu.com/travel-features/10-great-things-to-do-when-transferring-at-amsterdam-airport-schiphol/3359/

Inspired Tamil songs !

Unbelievable. Some of the most famous Tamil songs seem to be inspired (read copied) from other languages. Here is a good compilation of this list. Musicians, from old to present, have all contributed to the list !

Me? Change? Give me a break !

I have been resting my bad leg for the four days because of a knee injury. Staying at home for so long has taken me back to my PSG Tech days. Sometimes, after bunking my classes, I will go back to my hostel room thinking of what to do. With no mood to work or sleep, I would watch funny videos, movies, play flash games and pass my time in the most inefficient way imaginable. Today, I realized that even though I have upgraded myself to youtube, facebook and twitter, the basic me has not changed a bit. After 10 years, I see myself wasting time to the max extent possible ignoring my duty of work..  Venkata - eppa da thirundha pora ?!

Venkat - knee injury (ligament tear)

US - social security issue

Every pay check, the workers in USA contribute to the Social security fund. For the immigrants or employees living in US for a short term, this is a money going to a black-hole. There are no returns for the dollars that are paid as SS tax. Here are a couple of articles in NewYork times describing the issues, the second one giving a more visual representation.


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/opinion/sunday/social-security-its-worse-than-you-think.html?smid=pl-share

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/06/sunday-review/social-securitys-flawed-forecasting.html?smid=pl-share

This has been one of the major issues / concerns in US. The promising solution to this problem is to raise the taxable income. Currently, as per the article, only $113,700 of the total income is subject to SS tax. Even if one earns $1 million as annual income, one will be paying SS tax only for $113,700. This may not completely solve the issue, but helps to stabilize the SS funds and not run into deficits.

Welcome 2013

Happy new year. Hope 2013 brings more fun, excitement and prosperity to our lives.

+2 results - Namakkal sweeps the accolades

Tamilnadu Directorate of Government Examinations have declared+2 Results today May 22 2012 (Wednesday). Pass Percentage- 86.7%

Toppers List: (With Tamil as 1st Language)


1) State 1st Rank - 1189 Marks (out of 1200) 
- - Sushmita from SCV Hr Sec School,Namakkal 

2) State 2nd Rank - 3 Students - 1188 Marks
- T Manikandan from Namakal
- T Kaarthika from Nammakkal
- B Ashok Kumar from Namakal

3) State 3rd Rank - 2 Students - 1187 Marks
- Maheshwari from Namakal
- Prabha Sankari from Namakal

Centum 200/200 Statistics:

- Mathematics - 2656 Students Scored 200 out of 200
(2720 students in 2011)

- Chemistry - 1444 Students Scored 200 out of 200
(1243 students in 2011)

- Physics - 142 Students Scored 200 out of 200
(646 students in 2011)

- Biology - 616 Students Scored 200 out of 200


Tags: +2 State First, Second, Third Rank - TN 12th 1st 2nd 3rd Ranks - State Board Plus Two, HSC, 12, Plus 2 Top Marks - Highest Score - Pondicherry Puducherry Public Exam - Centum Hundred out of Hundred 200/200 Statistics - Mudhal Manavar Peyar - Thervu Mudivugal

Congrats to all successful candidates. 

P.S: Thanks to vaartaahaa blogspot for sharing this.

Indimerica

I read this recent article on NY Times. Pretty interesting observation by a not-so-biased author.
#AusterityVsProsperity

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/opinion/sunday/how-india-became-america.html?_r=1&hp