Wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali
May the year bring Joy, Happiness, and Prosperity!
Jul 07 2011
Books and Desk
I have been asked a number of times, what books do I have and use. It is a long list and I am too lazy to list them out. So instead here is a photo I had taken about a year ago. Sure there are more books since then on different topics, but this should be good enough to give you a flavour.
Also people asked me about my machines and study at home – and there is a photo for that too. This was in London and not in Bangalore of course. I guess this might mean I need to get to cleaning things more often and probably invest in some cable management solution. 
Apr 10 2011
Just the two of us
Read this story in the Guardian about a guy called Matt, who blogged about bringing up his daughter all alone, as his wife died soon after giving birth. This was such a heart stopping story, which is highly recommended. Interesting shift on the tone of the blog which first helped Matt with the bereavement and later gave him strength to cope with this to finally the blog providing support for others in a similar boat and looking for help.
If you get teary-eyed then you probably don’t want to read this, but I would recommend the article. Matt has just released a book called Two Kisses for Maddy as well.
Mar 25 2011
Moving
In other news of the day … we are going to be moving in the next few weeks to Bangalore. Avanade, is sending me on a posting/secondment to Bangalore for 18 months to help out with a few things. Of course, the family will be moving as well. After my tenure, the plan is to come back to London.
So, over the next few days/weeks there is going to be a flurry of activity with us trying to rent our flat, sell the car, packing, moving things into storage, figuring out what to feed and drink the muscle (a.k.a friends and family – suckers!) who we managed to rope in to help with the stuff, etc., etc.
I have been to Bangalore only twice before – each time for a few days on work. Needless to say, it is going to be an interesting experience. There are a few excited people in Bangalore waiting for this – I just hope I can live up the the hype.
And yes, the tickets have been booked and confirmed!
Mar 13 2011
Selling my Car (Left Hand Drive – BMW 330i)
Update 2: Car already sold – thanks for all the interest.
Update: Dropping the price we we need to sell the car soon! I am wanting to sell my car and thought I would put it up on my blog first before trying other places.
It is a Left Hand Drive BMW 330i Automatic (2001 model) with 89K miles in Excellent condition and has both the Sports and Premium packages factory installed.
We bought it brand new and are the only owners; and have all the paperwork since we bought it originally. This is a personal import (to the UK) and is fully legal in UK, Europe and US (it also meets California emission controls). It has 12 months MOT.
Here are the specifications:
- Left Hand Drive BMW 330i (E46), 4 door Saloon
- 3 Litre Engine (Petrol), producing 231 PS (170 kW; 228 bhp) and 214 ft lbf (290 N·m)
- Automatic Transmission (Steptronic Gears with a Manual, Sports and Fully Auto mode)
- Black Colour
- Automatic Climate Control Air Conditioning
- CD player with Premier Harman Kardon 8-way speakers
- Heated Door Mirrors
- Xenon Headlights
- All Leather Seats
- ABS and Anti-Skid Traction Control (a.k.a Dynamic Stability Control – DSC)
- Driver and Passenger Side Air Bags
- Multifunctional steering wheel
- Central Locking
- Cruise Control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- On board computer with trip details, Mileage, Service Indicator, Air Temperature, etc.
- Full Size spare
- Premium Package which includes:
- A multifunction steering wheel
- Wood grain interior trim
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Full adjustable Power seats for both Driver and Passenger
- Driver Seat memory
- Power Lumbar Support for both Driver and Passenger
- Moonroof
- Sports Package which includes:
- Three spoke sports leather steering wheel – provides had improved grip over the standard “square” steering wheel.
- Sport seats – provide better bolstering and support than the stock seats. They also include adjustable thigh supports.
- 17 inch wheels with staggered lower profile tires.
- Sport suspension which offered improved handling by way of firmer springs, a lower ride height, and tighter dampers.
Here are a few photos of the car – click on each thumbnail to see a larger version of the picture.
Mar 06 2011
New Parenting Blog
New Parenting blog up and running (finally) – by popular demand. The intention is to keep that completely different from this one. I and the wife will be starting to post there so watch that space. Happy to get other new (geeky) parents (or soon to be parents) contributing if they want to.
Mar 04 2011
Is technology making us less human?
Guardian story Social networking under fresh attack as tide of cyber-scepticism sweeps US where a number of academics have done studies which conclude that Twitter and Facebook don’t connect people, but on the contrary they isolate them from reality got me thinking about this and wonder if Technology is making us less human!
MIT professor Sherry Turkle’s new book Alone Together (which seems interesting and is something I have not had the bandwidth to check out), is leading an attack on the information age. It does seem to agree with the recent articles like Is Google making us Stupid? I don’t quite understand Facebook (even though I have been more on it recently); my views on Facebook are quite well known, especially in the context of privacy and security. If I talk to a friend who could be in Delhi or San Francisco, I don’t feel as connected having a dialogue with him or her over Facebook as I do when talking on the phone, IM or even email. Often people thing just because they have posted something on Facebook, that is the end of it – it almost seems at times, I am too lazy and can’t be bothered, so will post a message and get it over with – or as they say in Punjabi – “syapa mukao”.
In a related note, but a little different context I do think the vast information available to us is making us more stupid and we are forgetting the ability to learn, grasp, understand and appreciate the basics and fundamentals. When something is a quick Bing or Google away it makes us all very complacent. It also means that for us sitting down and reading something which is more than a few paragraphs is getting very difficult. I know I can also see this happening first hand. And I notice it every day at work – especially as the newer and younger generation joins the workforce; things that I would take for granted or appreciate does not seem to be the same. Of course and sites like LMBTFY and LMGTFY don’t help.
I was quite stuck by this paragraph from the article Is Google Making Us Stupid?
The process of adapting to new intellectual technologies is reflected in the changing metaphors we use to explain ourselves to ourselves. When the mechanical clock arrived, people began thinking of their brains as operating “like clockwork.” Today, in the age of software, we have come to think of them as operating “like computers.” But the changes, neuroscience tells us, go much deeper than metaphor. Thanks to our brain’s plasticity, the adaptation occurs also at a biological level.
I think it would be good for me to get a copy of Alone Together and then maybe post something back (feel free to comment below if you have read the book and got any feedback). Of course I do see the irony in the fact a geek like me talking about possibly to using less Technology.
Jan 10 2011
And then there were three
Those who don’t know, I and Meenakshi are the proud parents if our baby girl who we have named Maya Bahree.
Maya means illusion (and not money as some have thought.
She is a keen and eager little thing who despite being a few weeks early is doing extremely well and so is Mum.
We had to stay back at the hospital until the doctors were satisfied that Maya was doing well. Git back home about 2 data ago.
I do feel sorry for her, having gotten stuck with two clueless parents who she has to depend on for everything.
Still learning to deal with the sleepnessless (is that a word?). 
Dec 26 2010
Changed Themes
Was getting a little bored with the previous WP theme and changed to this one. It does have a lot of defaults in the footer and not had a chance to figure out how to turn it off or customize it. If anyone has any ideas on how to do it then let me know. Also, if you have any suggestions for free and cool WP themes then let me know.
Dec 25 2010
Blast from the Past
We were cleaning up the house – sort of like spring cleaning, except in Autumn and in old boxes came across a whole bunch of old stuff, which for me was a blast from the past and each with fond memories. Before I recycled/donated/threw it, took a few photos (click on them to see them in the original size).
Compuware, the best debuggers in town.
Anyone remember a Palm Vx?
Don’t miss the Joggable one
3Com PCMCIA adapters.
ATL Server anyone?
Netgear Print Server
Zip drives anyone?
More zip drives
Nokia – do they still make phones?
Dell Axim – I had forgotten I had one of these.
Oct 22 2010
Techy Books on Kindle?
I was thinking of getting the latest version of the Kindle, but one of the factors in the decision will be the number of techy books available for the Kindle. Anyone owning one has any ideas? Are there far and few or is there a good selection with more being added? I do read novels, but not as many and if there are not enough techy books for the Kindle right now then that might be a deal breaker.
Oct 22 2010
Running
Happy that recently my running has been consistent and the weather has been helpful too. Last few days it has turned cold with the temperature down to 4 degrees C. It helps me relax and de-stress and clear my head. 
Below is a screenshot of the workout profile from this week thanks for iMapMyRun free app for my Android Wildfire (which is small and light enough for me to carry in my pocket when on my run). Still need to build more stamina.
Next Page »