Dell Customer Support Sucks!

A couple of fellows came from Hyd office to NY. They asked our help in ordering laptops from Dell and I bought one from my Dell account and another from A's account using same billing address. The online account shows 2 orders in my account and 2 orders in A's account. I realized it because of the same billing address but it didnt make sense. Anyone's account should show the orders made only in that account. I wanted to confirm this issue and make sure that Dell wont process 4 orders.

* I called customer support and the call kept transferred to 5-6 people and I had to explain the issue again and again for ~45 min

* Finally, the last person gave an email id (X) to contact for these kinda issues (hhmm why not the first person do that?)

* I emailed and waited for couple of days to get a reply asking me to email to another address (Y)  (why not they do themselves and get me a reply?)

* I emailed to the new id and waited for a day and got  a reply asking my account information (still they didnt solve my issue)

* I sent all information and waited for couple of days

* They replied saying that there are 2 orders in my account (hhmm was that my question?)

* I replied again explaining the situation and asked them to clarify the issues before my order got processed (I became impatient by then)

* I got a reply after a couple of days asking me to forward this issue to email id X (thats where I sent my first email)

* I replied asking them the same question and didnt hear from them yet!

I understand that the customer support has to follow certain guidelines but it is pathetic to see the lack of common sense which irritates the customer. Wont they be careful enough to read the complete email thread and take responsibility to clarify the issue? I received two laptops last week and my incident in Dell customer support is still pending!

Fortunately, it was just a clarification request. I dont know how a person would suffer if there are any real order issues. 

J

Where is the party?

Ah, namma ootla party :D

I liked this song from Silambaattam ..jolly song :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpqB5F7k5P0

Other recent fav songs:

* Unn Thalai Mudi from Kadhalil Vizhundhen

* Thozhiya en kadhaliya from Kadhalil Vizhundhen

indha padathula songs elaam hit'nu enaku theriyathu. When I first heard 'Naaka Mukka', I didnt like and didnt listen to other songs...I was just checking the other day and when I talked to my sister, she made fun of me...'idhellam old songs ma, ippa dhaan kaekariya' nu..

I started listening to Vaaranam Aayiram and ofcourse 'Mundhinam Parthenae' became my fav..Other songs are yet to catch up.

J

Tennesse Vacation - A few pics

Inside Natural Bridge

Chattanooga - Natural Bridge

Rock City Garden Waterfall

Rock City Garden

Ruby Falls - Underground water falls - amazing!

Ruby Falls Cave - on the way to waterfall

Gatlinberg - Early morning 

Term Break!

Successfully completed my 1st term. I have got 2 weeks vacation (since Monday). Mr. A is busy. So did not plan anything so far. Late'a thoonghi late'a ezhunthutu iruken.

Few things running on my mind:

* Got to assemble my new computer table. paadhi assemble pani apdiyae vachu irukom.

* Milagai podi theendhu pochu. ivlo naal veetla irunthu eduthutu vanthathae dhaan use pani iruken. first time naanae ready panna poren.

* Murukku pannalaamnu idea. Last year Deepavali'ku pannathu..ippa freeya irukappa pannalaamnu yosichutu iruken. hey intha year eppa Deepavali?

* Fridge clean pannanum

* Planning to buy SLR camera during the thanksgiving day (or black friday) sale. Adhuku research pannanum...Any tips?

* Waiting for my next term text books.

* Got to complete a project that I have taken from one of our friends. (idha last'a solrenu enakae kevalama iruku) :p

(Vijay style'a) 'evvaLavo panrom, idha panna maatoma' ;-)

btw, 'Raaman Thediya Seethai', 'Saroja', 'Jeyam Kondaan', 'Dhaam Dhoom' movies elaam nalla irukunu kelvi patten....any other new Tamil movies worth watching? Subramaniyapuram eppadi iruku?

pudhu Tamizh paatu, "KangaL Irandaal" is my fav. Any good new songs?

J

Confidence

Happened to see this video (T.Rajendar's) today http://www.tubetamil.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8d604df160cd1b01710d

Best example for over confidence LOL :)) habba mudiyala da saamy :-)

But kidding aside, I really wish I had 1% of his confidence (for things that I know I can do).

J

Kuselan

*** Hitting my head on the desk ***

Yesterday we went to watch this movie (me to Kuselan and A to Kadhanayakudu). I didnt have much expectations for this movie as I didnt want to get disappointed. Even then, it was a big disappointment. Ah, oru pidipae illai movie la. It was neither a Rajini movie (mass) nor Pasupathy's (acting).

I really want to see the original malayalam movie now. antha movie avlo famous aayirukuna, adha Kuselan maathri eduthu iruka maataanghanu thonuthu.

Pasupathy was natural for the character but Meena with her make up (lipstick and mascara) for that poor character and poor home was too much. The movie was a collection of scenes -- antha maathri oru feeling. thunda thunda irukarthu otti pota maathri. The fim message (end title podarappa varuthu lol:)) is good but antha characters or friendship kooda oru eedupaadae varalai audience'ku. pinna last scene'ma mattum sonaa apdi dhaane irukum. "Nanban" nu Rajini solrappa "Thalapathi" movie gavanam vanthathu :D

nalla vela, engha veetuku kita iruka theatre'la padam vanthathu. idhuku mattum train, bus elaam selavu pani Newark poyi paathu irunthene inum nondhu poyirupen. The movie is worth watching in dvd once. 16$/ticket - worth illai.

I liked Livingston in this movie :-) his couple of comedy scenes (his facial expressions) are good. vadivelu'va adhae maathri romba paathutomnu nenaikaren. so nothing new.

J

Iravu Gaanangal

Its 12.30 am here. I am working on some stuff and listening to these songs (randomly selected) ...night amadhiyana nerathula intha paatu elaam kaekarathu vida sorgam vera ethuvumae ilai. I just love this moment and want to capture it forever!

+ Kangal Irandaal - Subramaniyapuram
+ Aiyayoo - Paruthiveeran
+ Akkam pakkam - Kireedom
+ Vaigaasi Nilavae - Unnalae Unnalae
+ Mazhai mazhai - Ullam Kaetkumae
+ Munbe vaa - Jillunu oru kaadhal
+ Unnai kandaene mudhal - Paarijaatham
...

J

Movies/My fav videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNB6n0FfqAU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCEUTLnCWWU

I watch these videos whenever I want to bring myself up and keep going on with life.

I watched "Man on fire" the last weekend and there was a dialogue that Denzel Washington (my favvvv) tells a little girl when she was worried about her swimming competition. The girl feels that she is going to be tough and Denzel replies "There's no such thing as tough. You're either trained or untrained. Now which one are you?"
woooo I loved it.

There are a lot more great dialogues from English movies which I watched and inspired after coming to US and I am trying to make a collection of those scenes.

Movies are always my inspiration. Books also do at times but movies are always easy for me to grab things and start acting immediately.

J

Climate and Mind

I have this behaviour in myself. Whenever I see a climatic condition, my mind travels so fast to my past life and get back the feeling that I had during the same climate. For e.g whenever I see a very sunny morning, I quickly remember the school days, especially the exam time (April, May in India) and I get a fear/tension in myself as if I have an exam today. Whenever I see a cloudy day, I remember my paati veedu stay where we just used to have fun during the holidays and mazhai varuthaanu paati paaka sonnathu, mottai maadila poyitu, kaanja thuni elaam edhuthutu vaanu sonathu, oru maathri relaxed feeling irukum. Konjam trees iruka idam and nizhal iruka idam paatha college/hostel gavanam varum.

Mind ku evlo power la..It captures the moments with the environment, people, feelings that we had during the moment and climate too in my case and store it forever.

J

Rava Laddoo

A is a big fan of sweets. Have been thinking to prepare this sweet since some time.

sema easy and can be prepared in 20 - 25min. Yummy laddoos are ready :-)

click here for recipe

J

Dasavatharam mania!

Booked tickets for Sunday..woo hoo :)

Have you started working?

I hate that question. Inum sila per, chumma nakkal panratha nenachu, "inum vettiya dhaan irukiya"nu kaekapaangha. Thats not funny to hear. They really dont know how it hurts. I used to feel answerable to everyone and I feel a bit insulted/inferior when someone asks me this question as if I am not working now. It made me think a lot about defining 'work'. do you consider something as work only if it produces monetary output? apdina, 'have you started making money"nu la kaekaenum. Just bcos I dont earn money, I cannot answer that I am not working.

Every family member has a share of their work/contribution to lead their life. Why doesnt it consider as work? ippadi dhaan irukanumnu rule irukapa oruthar disciplined'a irukarthula periya vishayam ilai. eppadi venumnaalum irukalaamnu situation irukappa kooda disciplined'a irukarthu romba kashtam. I do have my own challenges, dreams and the work/research/training that I do myself to achieve it, fears to overcome etc--I have lot of work to keep myself physically/mentally active all the day. ennoda job la break eduthu 1.5 yrs aaga pothu, I have never felt idle so far. bcos I have improved a lot in many dimensions of personality/life and I keep 'working' on it and I am really happy for what I am. I cannot explain all these to everyone. Nowadays, I dont want to explain it too. ippa kooda intha post first publish panitu apram delete paniten..dont want to make a big deal out of it..but still this is my blog.

ippadi elaam irukarthanalayae I tend to keep away from people and I dont want to do it :( yaarkitayathu pesarathukae thayakama iruku. adhutha question avangha pidikathatha kaetu, marubadi kovam varumnu thonuthu. But I am trying to control myself and understand the other person's view too. I realize that its people mentality/curiousity to know the happenings at the other person's life. I just dont like someone asking the same question with sarcasm/humorous. apadi kindala ponunghala kaetu kaetu pazhakam aayiduchu neriya peruku. Anyways ennoda approach dhaan maathanum. am working on it :-)

btw, intha maathri kaekarappa enna reply panrathu? Somewhere I read that if you dont want to or dont feel like answering a question, ask the other person "why do you want to know it?". how far does that work? any idea?

p.s Me comment paathutu, intha post'oda serious mood'ae already enaku poyiduchu...cha:-
)

J

Cabbage Pakoda

Pakoda is my fav. esp namma oorla kedaikarathu. chinna kadaila kooda supera irukum. Hyderabad'la irunthappa, angha iruka pakoda namma oor taste'ae varaathu.
Last week I tried preparing cabbage pakoda. It came out super awesome. sema crispy and kadaila vaanghi saapdra maathriyae irunthathu. en kai'la irunthu ivalo sirantha output vanthathu paathu full satisfied :p

thought of sharing here...

Recipe Source: SpiceIndiaOnline.com

Preparation: easyo easy :)

J

All time mesmerising songs

When I was reading Ramya's post today, I am reminded of my fav songs of 80's & 90's period. Appo elaam cassettes dhaan irunthathu. And Amma used to write list of our fav songs and get it recorded. So, company cassettes irukaathu veetla. Each cassette of our own list for every season. Weekend ukaanthu enaku pidicha songs, thambi, sis, amma nu elaarum compose panitu, apram antha organize pani, that was our fav recreation time. idha record panrathukunae, engha veedu kita oru cassette kadaikara Anna maatitu irunthaar :-)

I listened to all these songs today after a long time and feeling happy, nostalgic - all mixed feelings :-)

(idhula some of the movies are not hits but songs supera irukum)

* Ezhuthugiren oru kadidham - kalki (Chitra and Anuradha Sriram)

* Anbe Anbe nee en pillai - Uyirodu Uyiraaga (Chitra and Hariharan) - I also like Nadhi enghae and poovukellam siragu from this movie.

* En manadhai kollai adithavalae - Kalluri vasal (Hariharan and Anuradha)

* Kavidhaigal sollava (sad version) - Ullam kollai poguthey (Hariharan)

* Ennulae Ennulae - Valli (Swarnalatha)

* Thuli Thuliyai kottum Mazhaithuliyai, Asaindhaadum kaatrukum, Thirudiya idhayathai - Parvai ondrae podhumae

* Paaraamal partha nenjam - poonthotta kaaval kaaran

* Enjeevan paaduthu - Neethane Antha Kuyil

and so on ...

J

Yay, its summer time finally!

April month start aagi kooda ingha kulir pogama irunthathu. nethu GYM ku porappa vazhakkama pora maathri sweater pottutu veliya poyiten. paatha, it was warm. people are happily walking without the winter clothes. esp students and kutty pasangha, elaarum gang gang'a nadanthutu, vilayaaditu irunthaangha. wooooo :-) thiruvizha or vacation maathri irunthathu. The summer time beginning and ending phases are always nice la..koluthara veyil irukaathu. konjam warm, konjam kulir apdi supera irukum.

inum flowers varathu, apram adhu apdiyae leaves'a maarathu, antha color change elaam paakanum..yeyyyy :-) last time (first time for me) apdiyae rasichu rasichu paathen..engha veedu pakkathula iruka marathu kita poi, antha poo/illai elaam thottu paathutu irunthen. adhuvum summer'la mazhai vantha inum super..dew drops elaam paaka enaku romba pidikum. Its always a bliss :-)

Into Great Silence

Note: I have no intention to review or criticize this movie. Just wanted to share the fun I had the other day by seeing A's actions/reactions.

A was checking the Netflix site for the good rated movies and selected "Into Great Silence". Review padichutu, enkita sema hype koduthutu, we started watching the movie. 1 scene start aachu. romba neram paathutae irukom second scene'ae varalai. A was confused for a moment and said "hey pause button ethavathu click panitomaa enna?". adha check panrathukula second scene vanthathu. sari padam continue aachunu nenachu relax aana, antha second scene'um oru few minutes apdiyae irunthathu LOL :))

Etho meditation and moksham kedaipothungra range'la romba sincere'a paaka aarambichom. naangha paatha 15min'la oru oru scene'um few minutes apdiyae screen la irunthathu. adhu nijamavae "Into Great Silence" dhaan :-)

Recent songs

that I like ...

Tamil:

* Needhaana Needhaana from Saadhu Miranda
* Uyirile En Uyirile from Vellithirai
* Minnalgal Koothaadum from Polladhavan
* Unnarugil Varugayil from Kalloori
* idhu recent song illai, but naan recent'a dhaan kaeten. Mobile'a mobile'a from Rendu. first kaetappa, ennada lyrics nu nenachen. but kaeka kaeka enaku pidichu pochu :) adhuvum Iman paadara pallavi "nenjukulae kaetkuthae" nalla iruku.

Telugu:

* Edhalopala Edhodaham
* Iruvuri Manasulalo

Anjathey

Happened to watch this movie past weekend. I really liked the movie. Made me watch the whole movie, though a bit lengthy, without feeling bored or forwarding any scenes. oru oru characterkum importance irunthathu. aduthu enna aagumnu kadaisi varaikum yosikaramaathri irunthathu. Very nice movie. Liked the title song "Acham Thavir" and couple of gaanaa songs.

skiing

Couple of weeks back, we planned suddenly to go for skiing (for the first time). Mountain creek - thats the place we selected. We didnt have any idea abt the stuff required for skiing but angha pona elaa rentals irukunu paathutu poyitom. there were a bunch of packages and we took one with the lessons. And oru chinna thinaral'ku apram, we wore the shoes - habba enna weight da saami. apdiyae devalogathula nadakara maathri adi mela adi vachu oru vazhiya antha skiing school varaikum poyitom. After waiting for 1/2 hr and seeing ppl skiing happinly and easily (?!), I was under the impression that I would be doing like them after the class (LOL). A group is assigned to an instructor - naangha 2 per, and coincidentally 2 more Indians, 3 kutty pasangha. neram :-)

First sonna steps elaam enaku romba easy a irunthathu. naan A kita, "ippadi panna koodathu, apdi panannum" elaam solitu orae rowsu. nina edathula panrathu elaam ozhungha dhaan panninen. apram dhaan scene'ae. varisiya oruthar oruthara, apdiyae keezha vaanghanu instructor solla, angha chinna pasangha elaam avlo cute'a panaangha. naan mattum, keezha pola, keezhayae dhaan ponen :D

sari first time dhaan angha maathri nu, orae sportive'a eduthutu, 2nd time I tried. same thing happened. idhula enna kodumai na, A picked up so fast and he was doing good. antha class'layae naan mattum dhaan keezha vizhunthutae irunthen. vizharathu kooda kashtama illai, ezharathuku dhaan romba kashtam. Instructor helped me couple of times, apram intha ponu vizhuntae dhaan irukum polanu nenachaaro theriyalai, apram freeya vittutaar :( cant blame others too, cos elaarumae nikkarathukae kashtapadaraangha, so helpless. A was happily going for the next rounds. After some time, I started feeling inferior but then I was interested to try out again.

Initial lesson mudinju, the instructor asked everyone to go to the other place which is steeper than the one where we practised so far. sari polaamnu konja try panrappavae, marubadi keezha vizhunthuten. avlo neram onum hurt aagama irunthathu, but this time, I hit my mouth with the poles and fell down.

I felt lonely and didnt want to go further. I took off my shoes and stood watching everyone with a sad face :) Instructor came and said, "you know what, 1/3rd of the ppl who come here are like you. So dont worry, you are doing good. There are always 2 ppl ahead of us.". Adha samaadhaana padutha sonaara, usupaethi vitaaraanu kozhapama pochu :)

A had a good time anyways. enaku orae poga pogaya irunthathu :( :p

eppadaa veetuku ponum pola irunthathu. we spent another couple of hrs and started back home.

When I see the pictures now, I feel like going again. I will. I want to learn this and do it happily like the kids were doing there. Angha lift'la poyitu keezha varappa, I saw 2 kutty girls skiing peacefully, talking to each other, and at the same time maintaining the position so casually. That was very wonderful!

Meeting minutes

Ennoda old company la join panna pudhusu. we had a staff meeting and it went for abt 3 hrs or so. naan and Tamizh gang oru place la ukaanthutu irunthom. US la irunthu vantha staff elaam romba neramaa company pathi elaam solitu irunthaangha. Join panna pudhusu, appo avangha slang purinjukavae kashtama irukum. And the trading/financial terms adha vida sutham :D
2/3 per romba neram pesina apram, "All these info are very confidential. You are not supposed to discuss with outsiders" nu sonaangha. Engha Tamizh gang oruthar oruthar paathukitom. And one of my friends, who is a very cool guy, said "Naangha kandipa solla maatom. En'na engalala mudiyaathu". Adhuku naan "Nammala veliya poi idha pathi sollunu sonaalae solla mudiyaathu...nalla velai, thappichom."

ennamo intha incident thideernu gavanam vanthathu. thought of posting :-)

bye,
J.

Recent movies

I dont know if my taste/expectation for movie has been changed lately. Recent'a theatre'ku poi paatha Tamizh padam ethuvumae avlo'va pidikalai.

Billa - sema hype create pani vitaangha. romba kashtapatu--didnt have a direct bus the other day. so we had to catch a bus, a train and then a bus to reach the theater--intha padatha paaka ponom. paathutu romba kashtapatutu veetuku vanthom :-)

Indhiralogathil Na Azhagappan - last weekend ponen. Ahhh, enna kodumai saravanan idhu. 23 pulikesi paakama vittuten. apram paatha, adhu nalla padama irunthathunu sonaangha neriya per and I too liked some of the scenes. sari, adhu maathri oru padama iruka pothunu, "nambi" ponen :-) disappointed. comedy'ae illai or enaku siripae varalai.

Happy Days - Recent hit in Telugu industry. Dont know why, both of us didnt like the movie. we expected some good movie like Anand (same director) but didnt find anything interesting. oru song mattum romba nalla irunthathu.

English padam elaam paathu ippadi aachaanu therla :p oru oru scene'appavum, 'sari mela solu, mela solu nu' comment dhaan varuthu :-)

But, watched "Kalloori" recently. Loved the first half of the movie so much. very natural and Balaji Shakthivel has given a good movie once again. Liked couple of songs too.

Any recommendations for movies??

Have a good weekend friends!

J

craving ...

for parotta and chicken kozhambu :'(:'( engha veetuku ponum pola iruku :'(:'(