Random Ruminations

Fall 2010 End(before the grades came in)

2010-12-16T02:31:00.000-08:00

There couldn't have been a more dramatic end to the semester. AI and DAA finals back-to-back.

Things that I seem to be doing better:
1. Time Management (start early!)
2. Handling pressure

Report Card

2010-11-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

-Nov 22, 2010
1. Identified errors in Java code. But wasn't authoritative enough. Getting better, but needs to be more assertive.

Two lessons from today's MATI meeting

2010-11-09T16:47:00.000-08:00

9 Nov, 2010

1. I need to word things better(differentiate between the problem and the symptom of a problem.)
2. A virus is a program that multiplies(present as executable code.) Other malwares (that are not viruses) DO NOT MULTIPLY, but cause problems(security, resources etc.)

IR in the blood

2010-10-28T00:32:00.000-07:00

Oct 27th 2010,

I told Rao that I will be shifting gears and moving to the IR side. Rao was cool about it, and his reaction was ranged from no emotion to encouraging. I love IR, it's in my blood. I love AI. Being in Yochan, has removed the intertia I had for both IR and AI. I think I am at the right place. I am really looking forward to researching in IR. This is it.

Spring Semester Beckons :)

2010-01-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

The Spring semester is just a few days away. I am preparing myself mentally for the busy schedule I will have to endure during the next 4 months. I will be taking two really challenging classes this semester- Rao's Information retrieval and Gel's Supply Chain Analysis. I am sure the course selection would raise a few eye-brows, but I believe it's a direct reflection of my interests.

Needless to say, Inforamtion Retrieval( focusing on search engines) is one area which excites every computer science student- especially after the astronomic rise of Google and the kind of influence it holds on the industry today. What makes the course even more special is the instructor, Rao.

On the other hand, Supply Chain Analysis and Gel are unknown quantities. I haven't heard anything nice about her, from the seniors . Eventhough many people consider it brash to take the course, I believe it will give me an opportunity to pursue something that has long remained at the back of my head.

I am really looking forward to the Spring semester. I think these two courses reflect my interests and I'm pursing them. I am ready to put in the long hours starting Tuesday. I am really excited for it :)

PS: At times during the semester I might not have the same energy as when I write this.
This article is a "head fake" to motivate me to put in the extra effort during those times, and not give up.

One more reason for the fascination

2009-11-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

Home away from home

2009-10-03T22:29:00.001-07:00

I feel at home in Tempe :) I have a family here. Having an amazing time with my brother :) I couldn't have asked for more.

Bangalored?!

2009-06-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Ever since it's inclusion into the English dictionary, Bangalored has found popularity among journalists and quizzers alike.

Bangalored is a verb; it refers to people( especially in USA and Britain) who find themselves laid-off and their jobs moved to India. It's rather interesting to see a city's name used as a verb.

Why am I suddenly talking about some newly-added word in the English dictionary? Aren't new words being added commonplace these days? Apart from the Indian interest in the word, I came across a headline which instantly caught my eye. It deserved an article. I'm just giving credit where credit is due.

Here's the headline:

It may not be entirely correct for US dictionaries to verbalise outsourcing to India as Bangalored! With India’s capital city also attracting call centres ... the Americans could perhaps also talk in terms of their jobs being “Delhi-ted”.

Economic Times (India), 24 July 2004

Obama recently claimed he wants to shift jobs, "From Bangalore to Buffalo". The custodians of the language have some real work in their hands, and this time around there will be myriad connotations. Such practices of including derogatory jargons, only fuel parody, and are unbecoming of the English language.

References

The week that was at Wimbledon

2009-06-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a rather quiet week at wimbledon, with no major upsets- apart from Jelena Jankovic and Kuznetsova, going down late on Saturday evening, both to obscure teenagers. Now that I am pretty idle these days, I thought watching the first week of a Grand Slam-something I have done very little of, I always end up only watching the semi-finals and finals of all Grand Slams- would be a nice break from the increasing monotony. Not only was I entertained for those couple of hours, but it also continues to occupy me as I go about writing this blog.

I, for one, enjoyed myself watching the aforementioned games. First, was the game between the six-seeded Jelena Jankovic and a little-known qualifier from Altlanta, Melanie Oudin. From the outset, the feisty American was making life difficult for the former world number one. Her ground strokes from the baseline were solid, to say the least. And the winners she came up with brought memories of Steffi Graf. It seemed like the Serbian had to work hard to win the match; a loss was always out of question. It wasn't to be.

The Serbian won the first set in a tie-break, to quote a football-idiom, against the run of play. The inexperience of Oudin was palpable in the way she handled the big points, freezing during the three set-points that she had, before handing over the set to her opponent. It seemed the challenge was over, but not quite. Oudin came stronger in the next set. Her game was getting better by the point; it seemed both Oudin and the heat were getting to Jankovic. She later denied the latter. For the next hour and half the world witnessed the young American despatch her famed opponent. It is by a long way Oudin's biggest victory in her career yet. I back her to cause a few more upsets in the second week. Lets see how far that's right.

Star Sports, the official channel that telecasts Wimbledon in India, turned their attention to the match between Kuznetsova and Lisicki. The match was virtually over by this time. The young challenger was two points away from a famous upset, which she effortlessly completed. Later, listening to Vijay Amritraj and Allan Wilikins comment on the match, confirmed that Lisicki had meted out similar treatment as Oudin had done a little earlier.

If you are interested in reading more on these games, click here.

The weather-gods closely followed the drama on court- staying relatively calm all week, but ominously gathering above The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Saturday. No sooner had Murray made quick work of Viktor Troicki on Centre Court than the rain came pouring down. This gave the much-talked-about roof atop the Centre Court a chance to make its debut, much to the cheer of the audience. The crowd stayed put, even after all the proceedings for the day were done and dusted, to witness the historic moment.

Today is People's Sunday and is a holiday at Wimbledon. The players take a day off and prepare for the week ahead. I hope the action will be enthralling. And watch out for the now-not-so-obscure teenage wonders.

And finally, my "first post!"

2009-06-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

Two years after I created this blog, and after a couple of false starts, here I am to post my first post. Isn't it bad to use the same word twice in a sentence, 'article' would have been better. But I don't intend to change it. I have decided that my first article needs to be unedited, for no particular reason.

The last couple of times I started working on my "first post", I somehow couldn't make up my mind on what to write. Seeing Vijayashankar's blog yesterday has spurred me to finally complete my "first post", and as for the topic, I'm still unable to make up my mind. So I guess, I will just stop right here, without writing about anything specific. However, I really do hope that I will come up with something interesting to write in the future. How well I go about that, only time will tell.