off the line

personal information privacy

2009-04-08T12:31:00.000+05:30

Am sure most of us have heard of this initiative EARTH HOUR - which speaks about everyone coming together to switch off our lights.

Am not really keen on discussing the initiative or its implications or how successful this would be in reality - my concern is towards the value, we as internet users, give to our personal information. This emerges from the fact that numerous sites on the internet request our personal information (ranging from items as trivial as your nickname, to items as critical as your credit card number.) for being able to access all sections of the site or utilizing services offered. The issue is not with who collects information or what information is collected - the issue is with what is being done with this information.

So imagine this - you really want to be a part of a 'good, social initiative'. You register yourself and in the process providing your personal details. This information, which now resides in some server in some corner of the world, is accessible by a lot of people who definitely have nothing to do other than manage it. But then, you cannot control or stop them from accessing it and doing whatever they want with it. The worst part is that all this is done without your knowledge / control.

The solution clearly is not in prohibiting websites from collecting information. How can such an issue be tackled?

IP messenger snippets...

2009-04-01T21:31:00.001+05:30

Woohoo! Just stumbled upon this relic text file log that emerged from my lappy clean up session. Am sure all NITIEans from my batch will relate very well with this one, especially since this episode starts from the very famous conversation ice-breaker called "net?"

Would love to hear on whether you liked this content. Also, if you do stumble upon such prizes possessions which are very popular with junta, do send them over so that I can help them reach a larger audience.

[ For the lesser mortals - 'net?' usually intended to pose a question on whether the internet connection is up and running or has gone for a ride leaving us users stranded in our rooms. However, multiple assumptions from the myraid minds have drawn creative interpretations of the phrase leading to hilarious replies that are often worth offline discussions :-D ]

=====================================
From: Devendra_Devil's Own (IM 13/NITIE-C3D634FF1)
at Tue Dec 18 12:09:14 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
net..???

=====================================
From: SumeetChoudhary_9969395111_420 (IM 13/IBM-20235A83DDA)
at Tue Dec 18 12:09:53 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>net..???
fishing

=====================================
From: DJ.. (IM 13/DJ)
at Tue Dec 18 12:10:16 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>net..???
>fishing
mosquito...

=====================================
From: Amit Pal (Kakey): X X X X _ _ _ _ (IM 13/NITIE-65198D2F2)
at Tue Dec 18 12:10:43 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>net..???
to catch a bird????
go to africa

=====================================
From: Sukhie_9833679297 (IM 13/THINKPADZ60)
at Tue Dec 18 12:11:09 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>fishing
>mosquito...
keede makode....

=====================================
From: Alankar HSBC GR (IM 13/ALANKAR-WS)
at Tue Dec 18 12:11:26 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>net..???
>to catch a bird????
>go to africa
what abt the birds of NITIE? who will net them?

=====================================
From: DJ.. (IM 13/DJ)
at Tue Dec 18 12:12:00 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>to catch a bird????
>>go to africa
>what abt the birds of NITIE? who will net them?
panchhi :P

=====================================
From: Amit Pal (Kakey): X X X X _ _ _ _ (IM 13/NITIE-65198D2F2)
at Tue Dec 18 12:12:20 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>to catch a bird????
>>go to africa
>what abt the birds of NITIE? who will net them?
not many are left now
few were caught b4 and few were caught recently
ask panchii

=====================================
From: Soham (IM 13/BIN-LADEN)
at Tue Dec 18 12:12:21 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>fishing
>mosquito...
net (v): an error in tennis where the ball is blocked by the net.

[- end of log -]

Nano Nano yes papa...

2009-03-16T22:00:00.001+05:30

Read some updates about the Nano today, including when bookings start, the various configurations the car is available in etc etc. You can find most information here.

What was more interesting were reactions from competitors. Small car makers trying to defend their brand / products denying the launch of Nano would affect their vehicle sales albeit they knew the dent in sales will eventually be visible.

Then there was the 2-wheeler brigade trying to tie up both ends on the premise that lower end bikers wont be able to afford it, while the higher end bikers would always have money for a better car.

I also heard from a news channel that our rural folks are pareshaan as the erstwhile dowry demands for bikes will now be replaced by ones for Nanos. Am sure the Tatas would not have thought this deep!

All in all, its quite evident that the industry, which was in an easy mode when the West Bengal episode happened, has now woken up to the sudden jolt [read nano] that is shaking up ground beneath their feet. And its only revolutions like these that truly redefine the direction in which the industry is moving.

To top it up, manufacturers have already announced their small car launches - including Honda [Jazz], Ford, Toyota, Fiat [Grande Punto/Bravo], Suzuki [Spalsh], Skoda [Polo]. Even Bajaj is planning an ultra-low cost car which it claims will run 30km per litre. Well, its surely gonna be shopping time for all those auto enthusiasts featuring the largest array of models India has ever witnessed!

Bollywood Bite - Shelf Life

2009-03-10T12:15:00.000+05:30

just done seeing "Socha Na Tha" - once more!. Quite liked the movie simply cause it relates well to my age group who are out there looking for their "someone" and the screenplay is very well portrays the confusion around all this stuff...

Besides the script, which is simple and well executed, I quite like Mr Abhay D. Have watched him in this one, Oye Lucky and Dev D - and liked his presence in all of them. The guy has something different in him which is very much a reason people go to the movies these days. Probably his frank free style act or his attitude that pave the way to engross the audience.

Often such stuff can enhance the so called "shelf life" of the actor. But as they say, change is permanent. And so will he be needed to evolve like his contemporaries have. Surprisingly, the shelf life of actresses has been reducing drastically - the Ranis and Preitys are being replaced very quickly with the Katrinas and the Sonams. But the opposite holds for the others half - Aamir gets to romance everyone from Juhi to Karishma to Asin - and people expect more! Now, at least I cant explain this :)

revival finally??

2009-03-10T08:56:00.000+05:30

Probably had a lot of things at the back of my mind which I wanted to pen down and share with everyone out there - not necessarily to evoke reactions or invite opinions, but often just to stir human minds with my thoughts

Guess I always kept procrastinating it all the time and finally I ve got done to get this done for once. Ofcourse this doesnt guarantee future posts, but I have to promise myself that I will be more regular than not-write-at-all

Thanks God its a Sunday

2006-06-04T22:22:00.000+05:30

...today was one hot dusty afternoon when I boarded the 13:15 local train for my 'Amreekee-shift' job. I just about settled and saw around the sparsely filled compartment when this dame boarded the train.

Now that’s not uncommon considering that that time of the day ladies compartments are empty and the so few of them who travel feel comfortable being with the ‘rest’ of us. But then, not everyday do people get to appreciate beauty at point blank range. That too at this time of the day when you’ve just about had lunch and the swinging train ride helps you catch a wink or two! Immediately she was the sole attraction of the entire bogey, and everyone from the trendy college goer, to the bald newspaper reading oldie to the chhapri guy (the without-ticket types) was feasting their eyes on her. And why not - she did have a pretty face, flowing hair and all dressed up in pink right down to those matching sandals.

She came and sat bang opposite my seat and almost ignoring her, I took out my usual reading stuff and tried digging into it. Oh come on, I thought, for once I needed to appreciate something more than just Financial Futures and Options! So it just happened that our normally reclusive guy looked up and gave a naturally artificial smile. And a soft ‘Hi’ was her instant response – adjusting her sunglasses to perch them above her head. She probably thought I was the only guy out there worth conversing with, didn't she?

I almost jumped up (ofcourse in my mind) for such a female probably had never replied to me, and that made her seem all the more beautiful. And now it seemed I could somehow pick up a short conversation with her. She just stood up to keep her bag when …SCREEECH… the train came to a halt with those creaky brakes being put to maximum capacity. Next thing, did she fall on me? Not really – I got up and just broke one more dream!

Why the hell does a Sunday start like this? Sigh!

Of Dilemmas and Paradoxes...

2006-05-27T23:50:00.000+05:30

Was always curious on what "Game-Theory" was all about. And stumbled across these articles, which made mee way too interested in it.

A very basic explaination
www.mid-day.com/news/city/2003/january/41199.htm
A very detailed (and mathematical approach)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_equilibrium

Also, throwing in some famous dilemmas/paradoxes which I hope most of you would like to skim through
http://www.wordsmith.demon.co.uk/paradoxes/

Well said: "Some things are just so simple, that it needs a genius to understand them!"

Government to go ahead with 27% reservation

2006-05-23T22:58:00.000+05:30

May 23, 2006 22:53 IST - Rediff.com

The United Progressive Alliance government has decided to go ahead with its proposal to provide reservation for Other Backward Castes in central educational institutes.
The proposal seeks to provide 27 percent reservation for OBCs.
The legislation for the same will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the number of seats will be increased in universities.

And now just look at how the spark is going to light a fire:
Students of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have demanded reservation for them in India's elite educational institutions.

My take on Reservations: After all I am open!

2006-05-19T22:28:00.000+05:30

Even while global markets topple, this one issue seems to be snowballing each coming day, what with the media, acedemia, students, parents, politicians and 'experts' all involved. And why not, the impact after all is just too huge to ignore.

I too have been trying to keep up with the so many emails, news and discussions surrounding this. Recently a student at IIT was commenting on how it was baseless to have reservations for any category unless they had the full potential to exploit it to their best advantage. Which means they work hard, excel and show the world that they made best of it. Which is almost not the case. Makes so much sense!

Also, in some discussion I heard that some guy, obviously bugged by the fact that he couldnt get through to his dream college, got converted to some 'caste' and succeeded in doing so. He also later managed to convert back to his original status by somehow withdrawing/revoking the certificate. What follows was astonishing. Some person in Chandigarh (I assume that's right) has been issuing all kinds of 'conversion' certificates to people at something like a mere 1000 bucks!

Now IF that is infact correct, then this whole issue is absurd. If politicians know of such fact, or they can trace such people - then they ought to do that first and streamline the certification process before asking for more. ELSE (and I frame it in perfect programmer perspective :-)), we all know how to secure our seats in the elitist of institutes in India.

If all open category students opt for such conversion, how do the politicos and the reserved junta manage to handle that? Doesn't look so bad does it?

Marriage Season: Feeling the heat

2006-05-16T22:09:00.000+05:30

Love is truly in the air! And even with temperatures soaring across the country, marriage activity is virtually at its peak. Everything for the simple fact that once monsoons start, the 'shubh' times will come back only next quarter. And hence the hurry.

Just look around you. I have so many in my office and neighbourhood who brave the May heat to go shopping afternoons in air-conditioned shops. And though costs are prohibitive, nothing seems to hinder purchasing. As always, Indians love buying the yellow metal (even if it means 1 grand for 1 gram!). Halls and grounds are booked months in advanced and so are caterers, hotel rooms and decorators.

Ideally, as I see it, if you ask the bride and the groom, they are too tired of it. So are their relatives and friends, wearing heavy silks in summer and taking pains to attend one ceremony after another. So are their parents with all the arrangements. In such times, it looks like the only ones who are truly happy to cash in on these opportunities are professionals who help organise the whole thing and give you all the more ideas to spend on.

The future of consumerism

2006-05-05T02:16:00.000+05:30

Someone just asked me to post writings from generic topics. And this is one I could recollect - the future of consumerism. Selling the right products to the right people at the right time and price is going to be a major challenge going forward, and only so because this will make sellers end up interfering peoples personal lives to an extent that can only be imagined!

Imagine you just talk to a friend about having a pizza or SMS someone about shopping gifts. Within minutes, this data will be available at centralized databases - collected when you surf the net, call up people, or simply SMS. Software engines will work incessantly to analyze all this and send out alerts to the nearest shopping outlets which will then bombard you with offers that 'fit-your-pocket' and 'resemble-your-lifestyle'. Before you can think, you would have bought some and your bank account will be electronically debited.

And there is little to imagine, since its something hitting us hard. We are already spending electronically in shops, food malls, petrol pumps and their ilk. And a reason to support is that it's increasingly getting spontaneous. Answer to why chocolates are stored near the billing counter - to trigger your impulsive side and add to their 'top line'.

Now if that sounds harsh, imagine when your wife, kids and parents start doing this to your account. Soaring salaries mean no sense, right? Marketing guys have a tough job ahead! And consumers, even tougher!

Ding...times up!

[BTW: Top line refers to company revenues. Usually the top line of the balance sheet states the company's revenues/sales.]

The very first 15 minutes

2006-05-03T23:30:00.000+05:30

I've always enjoyed writing, right through school, college and even some articles for my office magazine. And everytime I read someone's blog, I'd venture out at the thought of owning one - my own place where I can post stuff and people can come and dig into it. Its more like exploring someone else's mind.

With this, I finally hope to do the same. Only that I've noticed a couple of improvement areas in other blogs which I'd like to implement in mine. As the name suggests, its 'the 15 minute blog'. I decided to call it so, since I found that many people with good blogs had not updated them since long. Or, suddenly people ran out of content and shut down blogging operations.

I just hope and wish to keep you'll busy reading this blog almost daily. Although I can't quite guarantee regularity, I'd surely aim at writing for atleast 15 minutes daily, to keep this a short and regular post.