Monthly Archives: December 2008

frustration

Hi Venkat.

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This post is to that Venkat – oh you are a little confused is it? Let me clear the air a bit. This post is for that Venkat ( I don’t know him though ) who keeps occupying the online world before I get there. 

I probably rank somewhere on a 7 on a 1 to 10 scale when it comes to the nerdish world. Why 7 – because I started twitting only a month back, had this blog since 2004 but seriously started writing only now, have an xbox – but have not completed a single game – better than the average unwashed masses but not a complete certified nerd yet.
Now this Venkat is miles ahead of me. He has grabbed venkat@gmail.com ( spam that guy you bots ughh ), has already created an an account with the name “Venkat” wherever I go. Today I tried to register in an online game – tavarian – and lo and behlod venkat is already taken.
So to you Venkat – I salute. And I certify that you are a 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. And my parting words to you – GET A LIFE. 
mobile internet, tools

Airtel GPRS – it is quite good.

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Next week I will be traveling to Calcutta to my in-laws place. Apartment Adda is live and I need to keep monitoring the servers, reply to support emails etc. and I cannot afford to be cut off. Also going to a cyber cafe is not an option – I am paranoid of key stroke loggers and what nots. 

I did quite some research – USB cards, data access card – which were quite expensive for the 1 week access that I needed. Finally ended up trying Airtel GPRS. The speed is dial up – as advertised. My site loads up fast and I am able to SSH. That is all I will need. 
You need a data cable for your phone – so you can use your phone as a modem. Then send the message “MO” to 6123 – this is a week plan for Rs 140 – unlimited usage. And when you want to stop the service send the message “MO CNCL” to 222. Simple isn’t it?
Also with the frequent power cuts I am facing – probably I will go for the 1 month plan – 100MB for 350Rs or so. 
Thanks AR Rahman for the tune and Airtel for your awesome service.
entrepreneur

The seed, the nucleus and the tribe

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I have been following Seth Godwin for a while – he posts frequently, and each post teaches me something new. Here is a video of him giving a speech on creating a nucleus and building around it – and identifying tribes and telling them a story – http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/12/the-seed-the-pi.html

What I learnt?
* You need to sell your service to the whole world. Identify a little group of people – and show them your service, tell them your story – they will spread the word for you – if they like it and your service is good.
* Everything starts small – as a seed, as a nucleus. Hold on tight to it  – and start developing on it – working around it and slowly let it evolve. Much like the agile process that I follow – in many iterations – adapting and modifying according to the feedback and what the customer wants.
cliches

5 oft heard cliches

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I am still fuming from the Mumbai carnage and hearing our politicians soundbytes. Felt it is bad for my blood pressure – so here is a post on a lighter vein – the cliches that media,politicians, pundits, commentators – keep telling on and on.

1. “Iraq is in the danger of going into a civil war.”
Knock knock – Iraq was in civil war from the very beginning since Dubya started his engagement 4 years back. Stop saying it and call what it is – civil war, failed state etc. 
2. “We will give a fitting reply”

This is what our Indian politicians say immediately after a bomb goes off somewhere. They have been giving fitting replies for the past 50 years. No one knows what the reply will be. Our youth leader has said Pakistan has slapped us and we should give a fitting reply. When asked what will that be – he says that is for the PM to give. 
Dude don’t pretend to be a leader come join me  in writing blogs – I can speak such things without giving any solution.
3. “Our strategy is to bowl tight and score runs”

Yawn. Same strategy from Kenya to Australia. Nothing new here. Move on. It will be the same strategy 10 years from now.
4. “We are in the danger of going into a recession”

From where Dear Economist? From a boom time – oh from another recession is it? And how is it different from the old one? Oh earlier it was sub prime crisis and toxic debts – the new one is…you don’t know yet do you -till it reveals itself to you?
5.”I still have some cricket left”

Now how do you quantify some? 1 Run, 2 Runs, 3 Runs?? Oh 4 is it? Ok ok – continue continue. I will also go do some work now.