No Answers From Google

Google has announced the end to Google Answers, a service where people could ask questions and subscribed experts would search the net and answer. Adieu to Google Answers However, I am surprised at the blog, which mentions how quickly college grads made the service, what all they learnt and what an experiment it was. However, no reason as to the closure of the service is mentioned. What made Google close this? How successful was the experiment? Were there any attempts made to rejuvenate the service? Questions, questions... answers anyone?

MPs demand no payment to cricketers for bad showing

I agree with the views posted in Chauka!.

It is suprising that MPs are demanding that the cricketers not be paid for their dismal show in South Africa. How about applying the same rule to the performance of our dear parliamentarians? Any MP game for a performance linked constituency allowance? ;)

Casino Royale

Watched Casino Royale and simply loved it. The movie has all the necessary ingredients - emotion, drama, action, romance, interesting climax. Worth watching.

Interesting blog discovered

Thanks to publishing my details on Skype, I got unusual friendship messages and contact details requests. One gentleman called Satya even called me up, saying all sorts of weird things. I have wisened up, thanks and have promptly removed all possible details. As if all the calls from the various financial institutions for all kinds of personal/home/car loans/credit cards and insurance policies was not enough!

It bugged me so much, I started searching google for "skype loss of privacy" which led me to http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com

Interesting blog.

Finally, negativity transformed to something positive.

Rift between Chappell and Dravid, Vengsarkar to intervene

Yesterday NDTV proclaimed a "breaking news" with a program on the rift between Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell, as apparently Chappell had sent Dravid for batting at a position at which he did not wish to bat. India lost dismally.

I am amazed at the growing sensationalism promoted by the leading news channels. We understand that we are a cricket crazy nation, however, all the spicing up of anything and everything connected with cricket is really stretching too far. The coach and the captain are professionals good at their job. It is true that they are not able to garner a respectable win for the team currently. However, I am very doubtful that they have even forgotten their core roles and responsiblities. The NDTV correspondents seem to have little understanding of team structures and dynamics, if they have come up with a program like this.

It is NOT the coach's job to decide the captain's batting slot, let alone govern the order for the entire side. And I am sure given the current form of Indian players, the coach has more than his share of work to do, leave behind the batting order! Also, the captain may take suggestions, but the final decision is HIS prerogative.

There are four possible cases here:
1. Chappell suggests something and Rahul agrees.
2. Chappell does not suggest, Rahul does as he feels correct.
3. Chappell suggests, Rahul disagrees.
4. Chappell does not suggest, Rahul does not suggest. No change.

So, let us assume that Chappell indeed suggested the place for Dravid. There is no way he could have forced Dravid, so Dravid must have agreed. Now, can any sensible person agree and then come back and blame? (From what we have seen of Rahul Dravid, we can grant him this much understanding at least, cant we countrymen?)

Now, let us take another scenario. Suppose Chappell did not suggest the place but Rahul went for it nevertheless. So, now, is there any reason for the supposed rift?

Or, let us take the third case. Chappell suggested some place and Rahul did not agree. Surely, then the captain did as he felt like and again there is no reason for a rift.

Also, let us also stretch our imagination wild and assume, just like our dear NDTV correspondents, that the two did have a disagreement on some batting order. Now, will they tell NDTV? Will Vengsarkar tell NDTV? If it was a big showdown disagreement, it would have been in the papers anyways. And if it was not, why waste prime time news slots on juicy aunty gossips?

GROW UP GUYS.

Sensible defaults

I agree with Jason. The advanced features must be available, however, the UI should be designed in such a manner that sensible defaults are available to the beginner and the intermediate users.

Best career for women ?

It have heard from a lot of people thathe teaching profession is the best profession for females. Teaching in a university is often looked at as the best way to balance family and employment. The apparent less hours demanded of a university teacher make the profession lucrative, especially for a mother with young kids. Somehow, I disagree and I feel strongly that for building any career, there is no shortcut. If one wants to have just a nice cushiony job and the feeling that one is employed, any option is fine. However, if one is interested in building a career, one has to invest the time and the energy for it. Even in teaching, if one wishes to excel, one will need to spend considerable time in learning and exploring, research and industrial projects. Sure, there may be a way out when one just teaches by rote and devotes a couple of hours every week and gets away with it by still being able to draw salary. But I am not sure if this is leading to a teacher whom students look upto and who is an expert in her field.

Guarding against SQL injection

Just read What's a SQL Injection Bug?. I think we need to update our code review guidelines to ensure this is not happening.

Ananda final round

Final set of activities under progress in the new house, kitchen tidbits, paint, wrap up of the woodwork. Long list of items still to cover - electrical fittings, registration, curtains...