The weekend took off to a lazy start after a hetic day at work ysterday. Felt as if I had worked for 16 hours after spending a no-break 9 hours at work. I was on the edge and felt how it would be nice if everyone ........... well... There is nothing like a nice cup of Mocha Frappuccino and walk back home on a cool summer evening (probably a bike ride would have helped more) to calm the agitated mind :)

Tuberose (known as Rajnigandha in India) has a pleasant floral fragrance that continues to produce itself for days unlike other flowers. It is my favorite flower and I was surprised to see it this morning here. Reminded of the old times how V earned his nickname "florist" by sending me LARGE boquets of flowers once a week, I bought myself a few and my apartment is smelling good :)

July 30th 2004 - International Sys Admin Day

Today is the 5th annual Sys Admin Day. I agree with this...

A special day, once a year, to acknowledge the worthiness and appreciation of the person occupying the role, especially as it is often this person who really keeps the wheels of your company turning.

What good is an application if the systems don't have a good uptime?
Its no secret that developers and sys admins are always at loggerheads. They just can't see in the same direction though their objectives are the same - to keep the system/application up and running. I'm a developer and I have had a fair share of my differences with sys admins. But we've got past it and sometimes a lil empathising and compromise can work wonders and result in a good working relationship (the underlying truth is it iss a symbiotic relationship between the developers and sysadmins).
Lets face the facts. Sysadmins are required to be at the server's 'beck and call' :( - be it any time of the day or night. Its a privilege the rest of us have that they don't. I value my sleep so much and that is one reason I'm really appreciative of my sysadmins' effort and the nightless sleeps they go through. I wonder if there is a International Developer's Day!

via Joi via Boing Boing

I've posted an update to my earlier post "Connected, Distributed Work" as it elicited comments on Many to Many

Technology/Outsourcing - China vs India
"Doing our Homework" was published in the New York Times on June 26th. After listening to John Kerry's acceptance speech (which btw was very good) and reading this article, I wonder how outsourcing would be impacted after Novemeber.

When I was growing up, my parents used to say to me: "Finish your dinner — people in China are starving." I, by contrast, find myself wanting to say to my daughters: "Finish your homework — people in China and India are starving for your job."

Another good article - How a Technology Gap Helped China Win Jobs

Terrifying Thursdays

It was a beautiful start to the day yesterday. I woke upto a good news. I had this feeling that this Thursday was going to be an exception at work. It didn't take me long to realise this was no exception - if only worse. When the mess cleared up or atleast it seemed that way then, I decided to meet a friend for lunch as planned. But SOS calls started coming even before I reached the place. The day finally ended hours later than usual and it was very disappointing. Every time a system crashes, I get the feeling of flunking my exams (which I never did but once when the entire class did). I wonder if we ever learn from our mistakes. Do we look at problems with a different perspective? Its not the first time something like this has happened....well I hope it doesn't become a standing joke as "tell me something new" whenever I tll someone.."it is crashing.."

Anyways, the lunch with this friend was fabulous as always-- I got lost mid conversation as the sub consicous mind was thinking of whats going on at work and I couldn't resist temptation to call.

Looking back at my previous entries..there are many references to the nightmarish pattern of Thursdays which is not good.
Random Thoughts

Summer of '04

For 24 years, Monsoon, Hot, Hotter and Hottest were the only seasons I had experienced. I moved here last August when summer was almost coming to an end. Despite that the first few days were a nightmare in my apartment with no a/c or fan. It was a furnace :(. Thanks to the leasing guy for not telling that there was no air conditioning. Before I got adjusted to the city, summer was over and the cold spell in the last week of September took me by surprise. It is funny as I look back at the pictures of that weekend that I was the only one clad in a long black winter coat in September when Fall was just setting in. Anyways, the best memories are that of Winter. I was so happy to see the first snow shower ..it was about 9:00 p.m. and I went down to make snow balls after seeing a few kids. Spring was quiet but I was also glad that winter was over as shopping for groceries has become a lil easier.

Late Spring and Summer of 2004 will be very memorable to me.


I bought this bike in April. I have owned 2 bikes earlier as a kid. But for reasons unknown this one was very special to me. I would take it every evening for a ride along the lake shore. I parted with it today and it made me really sad. Last evening I took a few pictures of the bike to remember these good days by! Life has come to a full circle. 30 more days to go!

Connected, Distributed Work

As my interest in Wiki grew, I followed the session on Connected World - topic discussed in this years' Supernova. Read the transcript of this session.

80% of my time goes into coordination - communicating with people. The only tools that aid in communication are e-mail, instant messaging and phone. We made an effort to introduce all involved to the concept of Wiki and use it wherever possible to reduce the time and effort spent in writing/forwarding e-mails and communicating the same idea to a million people in a million ways (ok I'm exaggerating here). However all efforts went in vain. A lot of questions have crossed my mind (some of which were addressed in the session) since then. As Peter Quintas points out --

The technology there is the enabling piece of being connected in an effective and productive way. In today's collaborative environment, there are a few things that are missing. The first thing John touched on: security. Enterprises and organizations require that, but we can't let security be prohibitive simple fact is what's driving people to use email more and public instant messaging networks. It's uninhibited. People flock to what is easiest for them.

This is true. People are resistant to change. Changing a natural instinct to communicate an idea on WiKi page instead of drafting a e-mail addressed to 10 people is going to take time. The concerns of tracing an idea to its source will not be as easy as with e-mail. Only a tool that is easy to use e-mail will gain wide acceptance. The other issue I think is a very sensitive one - trust.
Ross states ---

JP mentioned trust. How do you get people to trust one another? If people are able to edit other people's work, that increases the amount of trust. Same with attention management. When people are able to control how they access information, it saves a lot of time. That can mean $1-2 million a year. We need to find ways to unlock all that value.

I beg to differ on this point. I don't think this is completely true. Editing other people's work might only lead to more friction in a diverse work environment than increase the amount of trust. Access control/workflow is the only way to preserve integrity.
I think I agree with Patrick --

Patrick: Another issue is trust. You might trust some of the people you work with, but not all of them. Especially if someone is two or three levels above the people working on a project, if they express themselves, it can be taken as an order, and communication quells that.

This is the best part of the discussion ---

And maybe it's a culture we created ourselves. Just look at email and bcc. Who ever thought that blind carbon copy would engender trust? Look at cc. That's just ass covering.

Now-a-days every time I 'cc' someone on a mail, I'm reminded of the term 'ass covering'. I'm keen to see how and what tools can improve work place communication.

Related Entries:
Wiki - Revolutionizing work place communication!


Connected Distributed Work - Updated (07/30):
This post has been mentioned in a post titled "WhyWikiWorksNot: 2004 Dance Re-mix" on Many to Many. It has spawned an interesting thread of comments. Ross in his post states that he agrees with Adina on how WiKis should have an objective and that it takes time for implementation and understanding. That was exactly my point. WiKi as a concept to be accepted and used is going to take time. Whether or not it will succeed, only time will tell. We had thought through how to use WiKi. Every project during the requirements phase spawns hundreds of e-mails as ideas float. We had setup a WiKi page - give users access, demonstrated how to use and as a proof of concept encouraged them to put in their ideas, so that all the relevant ideas can be collated and presented before the deciding committee. Now the obvious question is why Wiki? Well, so that one doesn't have to go through 10s of e-mails. The thought process is transparent when all the relevant information is on one page and there are no strings attached when a suggestion/idea is just a suggestion/idea without stressing on the source of its origination. Those of you who work amongst diverse functional groups will understand the politics associated and will be able to better appreciate this.

Spouses aware, Bloggers beware

--link via Ross 

GMail Features
Vote for the Most Wanted Gmail Features. I was composing a mail last Sunday on Gmail and decided to send it later. That is when I found out that there is no "Save as a draft" feature. I'm happy to see that it is top on this list.
--link via Google Blogoscoped

Blogger is continuously evolving into a good product. The new keyboard shortcuts for composing posts is neat.

The One on Ads

I used to like watching commercials more than the actual programs in India. However, a majority of the commercials here aren't very appealing - they either lack creativity or use sleazy humor. The ones that I like, the ones that are annoying are listed in the same order :

Good Ones:

1. Six Flags - Great America. This one was an instant hit. The ads go like this - A bright red bus stops. Out steps a old man, Mr. Six with a shining head and large ears , wearing oversized spectacles and a tuxedo with a red bow tie. The quiet atmosphere is interrupted with the dance number from the loud speaker on the top of Mr. Six's bus. There is more to it. Mr. Six turns into dancing wonder with his impressive hand movements. Party time! Mr. Six has become an idol for amusement.


2. MasterCard's Priceless commercials.
   
   Since 1998, Mastercard has sponsored a variety of "Priceless" commercials. Each ad begins with a list of stuff (or services) and a matching set of prices. Then comes a phrase identifying some intangible that can't be purchased. And finally, there's the single word "Priceless," followed by the assertion that "There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard."
   --via Priceless Moments
   
   
   


3. Genworth Financial - a spinoff company of GE.
   
   Taylor Dent is out on a public tennis court with a little kid across the net who's hitting some pretty good shots. The kid is cute. He's got long hair, a bright smile and is constantly sticking his tongue out at all of the good shots he's hitting. Suddenly, Dent isn't just having a light hit with the kid, he's serving full force and ripping shots, and the kid is smacking them back with interest, running around the court with that big smile and tongue out of his mouth.
   
   Finally, Dent slams an overhead out of the court, raises his arms and let's out a primal scream, as if he's just won a grand slam. Then, a mini van pulls up to the public tennis court, just outside the fence. The driver honks the horn. Andre Agassi, rolls down the driver side window and yells to his son: "Hey, buddy. You ready?" Steffi is in the passenger seat with a little smile. Jaden Gil runs over to the minivan and says: "Coming." He hops in the back seat, next to Jaz, who is tucked in a baby seat doing a little dance with her feet.
   The commercial ends with a nice little slogan: "The right genes make all the
   difference."
   --via
   
   
   
4. Coke -Low carb ad.
   The Stones' rock anthem, "You Can't Always Get What You Want," will features in the first spot followed by a second ad, set to break in July, will feature Queen's "I Want to Break Free."
   
   Various scenes show people in situations where they can't get what they want. For example, a man rushes up to a crowded escalator while the onscreen super reads, "You can't jump the line." A group of beachgoers quickly gather up their belongings as a storm blows in. The onscreen super reads, "You can't change the weather." Yet another, shows a kid arguing with her parents and the line reads "You can't choose your parents".
   
   As the Stones' line, "But if you try sometime, you might find, you get what you need," rings out, people are shown enjoying C2. The legend, "Half the carbs, half the cals. All the great taste," closes out the spot.
   

The Boring Ones

1. Geico. All the ads show a situation where the person is in need of help. The rescuer walks in and says "I have some good news." and then delivers a bad news. It is followed by "I just saved myself a bunch of money on my insurance by switching to Geico."
   

I was a big fan of Raj Kapoor when I grew up. This is one of my
favorites. There were times when after listening to this song umpteen
times, I would solve multiple Maths practice papers for my tenth board
exams without a break! Listening to it after ages and it has uplifted
my mood :)

Pyaar hua, ikraar hua hai
Pyaar se phir kyoon darrta hai dil)

Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil
Maaloom nahin hai kahan manzil)

Kaho ki apni preet ka geet na badlega kabhi

Tum bhi kaho is raah ka meet na badlega kabhi
Pyaar jo toota, saath jo chhoota

Chaand na chamkega kabhi

Raatein dason dishaaon se kahengi apni kahaaniyaan

Geet hamaare pyaar ke dohraayegi jawaaniyaan

Main na rahoongi, tum na rahoge
Phir bhi rahengi nishaaniyaan

Pyaar hua, ikraar hua hai
Pyaar se phir kyoon darrta hai dil
Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil
Maaloom nahin hai kahan manzil

Sick. I'm having headaches again..this time so worse that I left work early and slept at 5:00 p.m. last evening and got up at 6:00 a.m. today!

20 Questions to a better personality

I took this test on personality.
My results were:

You are an SRDF--Sober Rational Destructive Follower. This makes you a font of knowledge. You are cool, analytical, intelligent and completely unfunny. Sometimes you slice through conversation with a cutting observation that causes silence and sidelong glances. You make a strong and lasting impression on everyone you meet, the quality of which depends more on their personality than yours.

You may feel persecuted, as you can become a target for fun. Still, you are focused enough on your work and secure enough in your abilities not to worry overly.

You are productive and invaluable to those you work for. You are loyal, steadfast, and conscientious. Your grooming is impeccable. You are in good shape.

You are kind of a tool, but you get things done. You are probably a week away from snapping.

"All animals are equal -- but some animals are more equal than others!"
I think of this line in unfair/smart-ass situations. George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is one of my all time favorites.

Blogging Addiction

A conversation this afternoon at a corner cubicle got me thinking. There was a talk about blogs and it surprises me how popular the blogging phenomenon is. Anyways, my coworker made this statement - "Why do all this people go on vacation?". She was expressing her disappointment when there are "no daily entries" on the blogs she follows closely, when the blogger takes a vacation. I'm sure this is not a alienated feeling. I start my day by reading a few blogs and am disappointed too when there are no new posts for a long span.
After this conversation, it got me thinking if blogging was an addiction or an obsession? What do you call this compelling feeling to read/write blogs everyday? Here is a post on the same topic - Is blogging the opium of the Internet Generation?

This story appeared on New York Times.

TO celebrate four years of marriage, Richard Wiggins and his wife, Judy Matthews, recently spent a week in Key West, Fla. Early on the morning of their anniversary, Ms. Matthews heard her husband get up and go into the bathroom. He stayed there for a long time.

"I didn't hear any water running, so I wondered what was going on," Ms. Matthews said. When she knocked on the door, she found him seated with his laptop balanced on his knees, typing into his Web log, a collection of observations about the technical world, over a wireless link.


I know I wouldn't go to such great lengths as to blog during a vacation or miss deadlines at work to make 5 posts a day. Comments on a blog and increased traffic can be compulsive reasons to blog regularly - because then you are not writing for yourself, you are writing for an audience and there probably is an obligation and yearning for acceptance of views. Well I don't know...........

Emergency Services

I walk a mile to work every morning. In the past 10 months not a day has passed without being intercepted by a speeding blinking red lights vehicle. Everything comes to a grinding halt paving way for the ambulances/fire engines. This just amazes me as I see them everyday, sometimes 2 or 3 of them in a row. Well, but come to think of it ,there is actually a dark and bright side to it. Dark side being that someone is in an emergency situation. The bright side being the respect for these vehicles on the road. The slightest negligence (which is very rare) to give way for a ambulance is often met with resentment. The whole process of dialing 911-what's the emergency-emergency vehicles coming to one' doorstep in a matter of minutes is probably not a big deal for any developed nation. But it is to someone who comes from a billion plus people nation. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I say In India,ambulances have to race with other vehicles and make their own way on the roads. If they succeed, then it was the patient's good luck. No amount of honking will clear the way for them - it just adds to the already high noise level!

Bike Ride

Inspired by Harper, I rode 6 miles to the library on my bike on the road last evening. Distance wise, I have ridden more than this but only along the lake shore or on sidewalks. I was confident after reading the do's and dont's on bicyclesafe.com.

My headaches are back and it bothers me a lot. There is a persistent pain that just doesn't go away so I may have been in a lil irritant mood the past few days.

Countdown: Exactly 2 more months to go before I leave. "Going back" gives rise to mixed feelings. There are times when frustrating situations at work make me feel excited about going back, the thought of not having to deal with all this carries me thr the present. But such circumstances are also considerably low now. Anyways I hate to leave Chicago. This past 1 year has been great but it will also be history soon. It is time to move on!

I'm going to see "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Spider-Man2" this weekend. Read this good review on "Spider-Man2" in NYTimes.
Anagram for "Micheal Moore" is "Come Home, Liar".