Footmarks of a traveller

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

The Curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon

A 15 year old child sets up to write a detective novel on the murder of a neighbor’s dog called Wellington. While solving this murder mystery, the child- Christopher Boone, comes across secrets of his family that changes his life completely.

Christopher, who stays with his father in Swindon, is an autistic child and unlike other children. He, though, is gifted with a photographic memory and he understands Maths and Science very well.

3 Red cars in a row mean its going to be a Quite Good Day. 4 Yellow cars in a row is a Black Day. He hates Yellow and Brown colors and doesn’t believe in God.

The author, Mark Haddon, has also put lots of scientific tidbits in the book from subjects like Maths, Physics, Astronomy and Chemistry. The chapter numbers in Christopher’s murder mystery novel are not sequential. Rather they are Prime numbers. Christopher also has a pet rat named Toby.

This book was winner of Whitbread Book Awards in 2003 (Costa Book Awards now-
http://www.costabookawards.com/)

It’s a must read as it suggests a change in the way we look at life. There are lots of things we touch and see in our daily life but we don’t seem to notice them. It also says that Logic is more helpful than intuition many a times.
Last but not the least, it directs us towards learning more about Maths, Science, and the nature we live in. Worth a read.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Quotes on Sachin Tendulkar

Though India couldn't make it to the finals of DLF cup in Malaysia loosing to Australia in the do-or-die match, yet Tendulkar played two good innings in this series (but for the lost match against Australia where he made only four runs before being caught on a ball by Brett Lee): both against West Indies; one in which he came as an opener and stayed not-out till the last and scored 141 runs on 148 balls; other in which he was again the top scorer making 65 runs.

Here are some quotes on the Master Blaster from the mouths of some of the legendary people associated with the game-

» In terms of technique and compactness, Tendulkar is the best: Desmond Haynes.

» I have watched a lot of Tendulkar and we have spoken to each other a lot. He has it in him to be among the very best: Sir Garfield Sobers.

» He is 99.5 per cent perfect. I'd pay to see him: Viv Richards.

» I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two... his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel: Sir Donald Bradman.

» Technically he stands out as the best because of his ability to increase the pace at will: David Boon.

» There is no shame being beaten by such a great player, Sachin is perhaps only next to the Don: Steve Waugh.

» Sachin is cricket's God: Barry Richards.

» India's fortune will depend on how many runs the little champion scores. There is no doubt Tendulkar is the real thing: Sunil Gavaskar.

» A complete batsman — he's the best in the business: Mohinder Amarnath.

» Sachin is an attacker. He has much more power than Sunny. He wants to be the one to set the pace. He has to be on top. That's the buzz about him: Jeff Thompson.

» If I've to bowl to Sachin, I'll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard: Dennis Lillee.

» You take Don Bradman away and he is next up I reckon: Steve Waugh.

» I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player: Shane Warne.

» When it comes to judging the best among these fabulous band of batsmen, my vote goes to Tendulkar. He has an uncanny ability to come out on top under different circumstances and under different conditions, whether it is Test cricket or one-day internationals. And more importantly, he has done this so young: Shane Warne.

» Don't bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours: Michael Kasprowicz.

» Hell, if he had stayed, even at 11 an over he would have got it: Allan Border (after India won the Coca-Cola cup in Sharjah).

» He is a perfectly balanced batsman and knows perfectly well when to attack and when to play defensive cricket. He has developed the ability to treat bowlers all over the world with contempt and can destroy any attack with utmost ease: Greg Chappell.

» It's scary, where the hell do we bowl to him: Allan Border.

» Yeah mate, but that's with all great players: Ian Chappell.

» Imagine what he'll be like when he's 28: Allan Border.

» I'd like to see him go out and bat one day with a stump. I tell you he'd do okay: Greg Chappell.

» Sachin's better; Lara is more risky outside the off stump: Mark Waugh.

» You have to decide for yourself whether you're bowling well or not. He's going to hit you for fours and sixes anyway. Kasprowicz has a superior story. During the Bangalore Test, frustrated, he went to Dennis Lillee and asked, "Mate, do you see any weaknesses?" Lillee replied, "No Michael, as long as you walk off with your pride that's all you can do: Shane Warne.

» He's a phenomenon. We have to be switched on when he plays allow him no boundries, for then he doesn't stop: Mark Taylor.

» Tendulkar is the most complete batsman I have stood behind. I saw the hundred in Perth on a bouncy pitch with Hughes, McDermott and Whitney gunning for him — he only had 60-odd when No 11 came in. I've seen him against Warne too: Ian Healy.

» Harder he works, the luckier he gets: Ian Chappell.

» He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling: Richie Benaud.

» Sachin's the best. I've had this view since I saw him score that hundred in Sydney in 1992. He's the most composed batsman I've ever seen: Mike Coward.

» He's better than Ben Hur: Paul Wilson.

» The pressure on me is nothing as compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin, like God, must never fail. The crowd always expects him to succeed and it is too much pressure on him: Mark Waugh.

» I still think Tendulkar is the best batsmen in the world ahead of Steve Waugh and Lara: Glenn McGrath.

» He is currently the best batsman in the world: Sir Gary Sobers.

» There's no doubt about it. He is the best: Tony Grieg.

» Technically, you can't fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow — nothing is a problem: Geoffrey Boycott.

» Sometime back I had written a piece that said that Sachin's the master and Lara a genius with his head high up somewhere. That's it: Peter Roebuck.

» A little genius. Reminds me of Sunny Gavaskar: Kieth Fletcher.

» He is Sachin Tendulkar. I hope he stays Sachin Tendulkar. We need a new player, a player in his own way. He has a technique which is the hallmark of a great player. Everything indicates that he will be a great player and I am sure he will prove me right. Reminds me of Barry Richards: Eddie Barlow.

» Destined to be a great: Barry Richards.

» What we (Zimbabwe) need is 10 Tendulkars: Paul Strang.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

TiE networking meeting- talk by Deep Nishar

I and two of my colleagues went to listen to a talk by Deep Nishar- Director, Product Management, Google in the TiE networking meeting at Taj Residency. It was titled, ‘Innovation within and beyond Google’. It was on Tuesday.

Deep talked about Google Adsense, Google News, Gmail, Blogger and other products. The talk started with a movie clip, which showed how the name Google is being used in Talk shows, Hollywood movies and how Google products are gaining popularity.

He shed light on how a project start in Google is in contrast to a project start in a big company. In Google, if an employee comes up with an idea, which he has taken to some stage of execution and if his idea is approved by the Management, he is given a Product Manager and two employees to work with. The project starts! After some time, based on the requirement of the project, 2-3 employees join the project and it becomes a full-fledged running project. To get a fast user feedback, they release a beta to the users as soon as the product (or service) is in some shape.

You might know that in Google every employee is given 20% of office time to work on his/her personal project.

Deep stressed again and again that it is the passion that drives Google employees and not anything else. They hire best of the best. He also brought forth the management funda that the team manager of a new team should spend at least 50% of his time in finding the right people.

I incidentally met some people whom I had met in Barcamp Bangalore held in April 2006- Pooran Prasad from Zealous Technologies being one of them.

The question answer session which followed the talk was all the more interesting where people asked all sorts of question, one of them being, ‘what will make Google crash?’ :))

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Queen’s on Church Street

Visited Queen’s on Church Street after a long time on Saturday night. The small Punjabi restaurant has managed to maintain the ambience and taste in food over years. Only thing that has changed around is the Church Street: new restaurants have come up and more cars are parked in its lane.

The cost of food is economical. A bowl of Dal Makhani costs Rs. 65, a Naan costs Rs. 20, a Phulka costs Rs. 5. A bowl of any non-vegeterian dish cost between Rs. 95- Rs. 100.

Worth a try.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Half Marathon completed

Charged-up people, wonderful weather, beating of drums, race-track in a stadium- this is how I would define the start of Bangalore Marathon. There were around 100 people participating in Full-Marathon and around 400-500 people participating in Half-Marathon. I participated in Half-Marathon. I ran non-stop for first 10 Kms which I think is not bad considering the fact that I didn’t train for this event. After completing 10 Kms, I could have pushed myself a little more but I didn’t want to overstretch. There were ladies who were running more than many a men and it was really awesome to see them at such a fitness level.

Water was available at every 2 Kms and in between too. There was an ambulance running at parallel and Police personal were managing the traffic very well. Clouds in the sky made sure people didn’t get too tired. The best thing that I witnessed was the people, standing by the side of the road, cheering us up. These were people who were enjoying their morning walks or children going to school.

I finally made it in 2 hrs 35 minutes which I think is not good. Given the fact that the winners complete Half-Marathon in 1 hr 10 minutes or so, I should be taking around 1 hr 30 minutes. Well, let it be my goal then….

Last but not the least it was a pleasant surprise to meet some of the colleagues.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Bangalore Marathon- 17th September 2006

Are you running in Bangalore Marathon on 17 September 2006?
It starts from Sreekanteerava Stadium. There are 3 events: Marathon, Half-Marathon and Celebration Run (7 Kms).

For more details, go to http://coindia.com/

I will probably be running in Half-Marathon which starts at 5: 30 a.m.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

"Minority report" made real

Got it as a fwd-

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

Saturday, September 02, 2006

79th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee Contest on ESPN

I was watching the 79th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee Contest (held in Washington D.C.) on ESPN this morning in which 8th graders were being asked to spell words in English. English words of German origin made some of the contestants including a contestant of Indian origin bow out. In the last round, there were only two girls and they were being asked to spell Championship words (probably those words which had been used in the same contest earlier).
Have a look at the words and find out how many have you even heard of. Katharine Close went on to win it.

Guilloche
Sciolto
Kilim
Zarzuel
Yizkor
Shedu
Croquingnole
Douane
Syringadenous
Heiligenschein
Hukilau
Austauch
Dasyphyllous
Clinamen
Icteritious
Esquisse
Psittacism
Maieutic
Aubade
Poiesis
Kanone
Tutoyer
Izzat (Arabic word)
Koune
Tmesis
WeltSchmerz
Kundalini (Sanskrit word)
Ursprache

Friday, September 01, 2006

Infosys- Mysore