Something About Everything

Bottle Shock

2012-02-10T20:55:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Bottle Shock
Director : Randall Miller
Genre : Comedy / Drama
Starring : Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor
Released : 2008
My Rating : 7 out of 10

If you think the typical strategy of using an underdog story to make a feel-good movie has nothing new to offer, you need to watch Bottle Shock. Based on real life events, this time the underdogs are the Napa Valley vintners in 1976, competing against the mightily snobbish French.

Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) is a multilingual Brit, running a fledgling "Academy of Wine" in Paris. His neighboring shop-owner and what seems like his only customer, gives him an idea of a publicity stunt to revive his business. A blind wine tasting competition between the French and the "new world" wines. So he comes to Napa Valley in search of finding some competition, although he is very skeptical to say the least. A chance encounter introduces him to Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman). His winery is also struggling, and he too is very skeptical of this snobbish gentleman - fearing that the competition won't be fair. Helping Jim in his wine-making, is his son Bo Barrett (Chris Pine), a new intern Sam (Rachael Taylor) and a Mexican immigrant Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez).

It's a fictionalized account of what happened then between all these characters and how the competition was won by Napa Valley. In spite of the little publicity the competition received at the time, it put California on the wine map, squarely competing against the myth of the French wine. Lot of success depends on marketing and hype, especially in Wine industry, and this was the trigger that lit the fuse.

It's such an enjoyable movie that it's easy to forgive its flaws. It totally fails as a love triangle, mainly because Sam's character is so ill-developed. The commentary on racism feels very out of place because it doesn't add anything to the story. But the dramatization of the events leading to the competition is lot of fun, and makes the whole package stand out. The tone is always light, and goodhearted. The acting is just OK, except Alan Rickman, and if I have to use typical wine lingo, adds a bright acidity to an otherwise mellow round bodied fruitiness :-)

I have to mention a couple of spoilers, so forgive me. When Jim asks, "Why don't I like you ?", Spurrier responds, "Because you think I am an ass... I am not, it's just that I am British, and well, you are not". So when Spurrier pays him for tasting, Jim asks his son Bo to take Spurrier on a wine tour. All vintners are surprised - "He wants to pay for tasting ?", and are happy to oblige. Oh, what times ! Today, tasting brings in a sizable revenue to Napa Valley. Good for our economy, but I still wish Spurrier hadn't started this damn tradition.

Whether you like wine or not, I definitely recommend this movie. A note : this is nothing like Sideways, which was a much better movie because wine was a backdrop, with focus on characters. Here, wine competition is the story, and people are just a sideshow. It's not for the kids, but it is much safer than Sideways.

Hummingbird Eggs

2012-02-05T00:33:00.000-08:00

Hummingbirds are common in my area. I was able to take a photo of one - because it was resting ! See here.

I find them one of the most amazing creations of nature. Their nests are equally amazing. You would expect it to be tiny, and you would be wrong - it is even tinier than what you might expect :-)

It's only about an inch in diameter. It seems like made of mud and is glued to the branch. (Wikipedia tells me, a lot of spider silk is used to make it sticky). Here is another photo to give you an idea of the scale.

The eggs are as small as jellybeans !

No eggs were harmed in taking these photos ! But I didn't get to see the chicks. I didn't want to disturb anything, so didn't go near it again. From a distance, it was hard to see if the eggs hatched. Other birds, and even ants are likely predators of these eggs. The nest seemed empty after a few days :-(

Brilliancy by Aronian

2012-01-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

Every January, Wijk Aan Zee holds the prestigious chess tournament. It is sponsored by Tata Steel, who bought Corus a few years ago, and have continued supporting the tournament. This year, it was won by Levnon Aronian from Armenia, who is among the only 5 players to ever cross the 2800 ELO rating.

His win with black over Anish Giri (a child prodigy himself, and a super-GM with rating over 2700) was a brilliancy. The entire game is very complicated, and is worth playing over. I would like to present just the final moves.

Be prepared to be amazed. If you want, you can pause here, look at the following position. With black to play, how will you proceed ?

Position after white's 41. Ra2

As you can see black (Aronian) has sacrificed the exchange (rook for a bishop). White doesn't have a strong attack, despite the open h file for his rook. On the other hand, black can build up strong attack on an open white king. That's easy to understand. But how should black proceed ?

41. ... Ne1!!

Position after black's 41. ... Ne1!!

The difference between a grandmaster and a wood-pusher (like me) is enormous. It's not just the memory, the knowledge, the ability to calculate many moves ahead or even the intuitive feel about a position. It's also the imagination. Calculating all the consequences of such a move is beyond us, that goes without saying. Truth is, we won't even try to calculate such a move, because such a move simply doesn't come into our imagination. This is where chess becomes what it is loved for - a truly unique combination of logic and art.

What's the point ? The threat is of course ...

42. ... Nd3+
and any way the king moves results in a lost position for white.
If 43. Kb1 Nc5+ wins the queen.
If 43. Kc1 Nxf2+ wins the rook.

White accepts the sacrifice. He doesn't have to, but finding the least damaging move in tournament play is extremely hard for such positions.

42. Rxe1

Position after white's move 42. Rxe1

OK. But now what ? Black is down a full rook.

42. ... Qf4+!!
Black offers even more - now the queen. Of course, it's untouchable.

Position after black's 42. ... Qf4

If 43. Nxf4?? Rxe1+# is a pretty mate delivered with very little material.

That's the main point behind the knight sacrifice - to allow the queen to go to f4.

If the rook was still at h1, this queen offer wouldn't work, as the rook protects the e1 square from mate. But by being lured to come to e1 to capture the knight, the rook became a target instead !

But that raises another question - why does the queen want to go to f4 ?
Because it's on its route to the intended destination.

Naturally white plays the only real move
43. Kd1

Position after white's 43. Kd1

Now comes the quiet but crushing move.

43. ... Qe4!

Position after black's 43. ... Qe4!

0-1

White resigned due to the unstoppable threats on the b1-h7 diagonal.
Black queen goes to d3 and/or b1 to give mate or just win a lot of material.

This e4 is where the queen wanted to come after it has forced the white king to get stuck on d1 by giving the check from f4. But the check from f4 was not possible as that square was protected by white's knight. The idea behind the knight sacrifice is to lure white's rook to e1, which very indirectly enables the black queen to safely go to f4. This is beyond brilliant.

The question Aronian must have asked himself is, how to make it safe for the queen to travel to f4 and then to e4. This level of reverse reasoning is beyond us. Even if the question was directly asked, we won't be able to answer it. But remember, he even had to invent the question itself ! It's like explaining a magic trick. Sometimes it seems obvious when explained. But figuring it out is not the real genius. It is to be the one that comes up with the idea behind the magic trick.

In three amazing moves, without capturing anything, black won the game.

Alcatraz

2012-01-24T23:19:00.000-08:00

Review (First Impression) : Alcatraz
On Fox : First episode aired in Jan 2012
Rating : 4 out of 10 (based on pilot)

I am very selective when it comes to watching long TV series, whether its drama or action. It's a lot of commitment of time. Time, which can be used to watch something else, or just sleep. Very precious. I have a much higher tolerance for movies. If a movie turns out to be not so good, it only wastes a couple of hours.

So generally, I simply choose to not watch a TV series, till I hear a lot of good things about it, and then watch the entire seasons on DVD. It worked well for "Rome", and first seasons of 24. In other instances, I have quit midway in season 1 DVD itself, for "Tudors" and many others.

This year, I decided to try to be current. Alcatraz ads that were getting bombarded during the NFL games, hooked me on. Especially, because the story happens in my neck of woods.

After watching the pilot, I have to give up on this rather quickly. I was OK with the weird Sci-Fi like premise. Before Alcatraz closed, a lot of prisoners simply vanished. Now they are suddenly coming back, and causing mayhem. Some time travel is indicated, as they haven't aged a bit. This could have been interesting. But it isn't.

There are numerous problems. I can handle the unexplained. It's too early for explanations. But the ease at which the characters (the lady cop and the Alcatraz expert) accept the weird happenings makes it unbelievable. There is no shock, no confusion. They just accept it as routine case. Then there is this mysterious special unit whose sole task is to track and capture these bad guys. It's super secret, but our lady cop joins it with little effort. Even the civilian author gets initiated just like that. That one sequence gave me real bad feelings about this. And the guys who come back, have no problem adjusting to the modern times. No future shock. There is complete disrespect for viewer's intelligence.

Overall, this seems to be going the way of "Lost". Mysteries within mysteries, inexplicable events happen in such a way, that not only the viewers are dumbfounded, but even the writers cannot figure out how to get out the hole they dug themselves in. I gave up on "Lost" in just a few episodes of season 1. After reading about how the later seasons frustrated many (except the die-hard fans), I feel happy about not watching Lost.

Alcatraz may be able to handle its own enigmas better. Or maybe it won't. I don't see much point hanging around. And if it does manage to keep itself in check, I can always watch it on DVD. I seriously doubt it though.

Let's see what "Touch" does now.

Oxford Murders

2012-01-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Oxford Murders
Director : Álex de la Iglesia
Genre : Suspense / Mystery
Starring : Elijah Wood, John Hurt, Leonar Watling
Released : 2008
My Rating : 5 out of 10

How do you take a decent mystery plot and convert it into a mess of a movie that’s so superficial in its attempt at being intellectual that it gets really irritating ? Answer : Oxford Murders.

Martin (Elijah Wood) arrives in Oxford to learn under his idol Professor Arthur Seldon (John Hurt), who, as expected, is obnoxious. There he meets Lorna (Leonar Walting), a nurse, who we learn later, had an affair with the older professor. A murder happens, and then another and a hunt is on for a serial killer who is leaving mathematical clues.

Nothing wrong with this idea. But the script is overly focused on appearing smart, and that desperation is obvious. It completely fails to impress us with all the references, because the it's just constant name dropping. Wittgenstein, Turing, Heisenberg, Fibonacci, Gödel, Pythagoras, Fermat - all the right names, and nothing else. By the way, Andrew Wiles did present his first proof of Fermat's Theorem during the same time period, but the movie changes his name for some unknown reason.

The love triangle is laughable, because we don't even understand why Lorna fell for any of those. The truth is, there is not one believable moment of human interaction.

This is all sad. The kernel of the mystery had potential for surprises. Actors are capable. (Elijah Wood is really trying hard to shed his Frodo Baggins image.) Camera work is not bad either. But the writing is amateurish. I think a lot of blame can also be placed on the original novel.

I cannot really recommend this movie. It's definitely not for the kids. There is no gore - the murders are "clean", so to speak, but there are disturbing images. If you are willing to endure pseudo-intellectual blah blah for a potentially good suspense idea, then by all means watch it.

Remember When

2012-01-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

I "discovered" Country Music over 10 years ago. I was flipping channels on the car radio, and stopped when a tune sounded catchy. Then the lyrics caught my attention ... hmmm ... words that actually made some sense. Finally ! Then as I listened to more and more Country songs, I found songs that I can actually relate to.

I have a very open mind when it comes to music, movies, food and books. But I used to get turned off by vulgar music videos and lyrics that make no sense. Till I discovered Country Music. So I have decided to write about Country songs that I like !

Alan Jackson is one of my favorite artists. Great voice, simple touching music, and almost always, great lyrics. Starting with one of his best. This is almost poetry.

Remember when ... thirty seemed so old
Now looking back, it's just a stepping stone
To where we are, where we've been
Said we'd do it all again
Remember when ...

Remember when ... we said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad
For all the life we've had
And we'll remember when

Enjoy !

Astounding Optical Illusion

2012-01-12T17:19:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't like optical illusions ? It's been a while since I have seen something new, and this is one of the best I have seen. (This is not a new illusion, it's a few years old. I saw it only recently).

Which square is the darker shade of gray ? A or B ?

Of course, since you know this is an illusion, let me just give you the answer. They both are same shades of gray ! Now that you know it, can you see it ?

That's what makes this such a great illusion. It's irritating, no matter how hard you try, your brain just refuses to accept that they are the same shade.

There are many ways to prove this.

1. Print the image. Cut a small piece from both the squares and lay them side by side.

2. Copy and paste the image into an image editor like PaintBrush. Cut a small piece from each and compare.

3. Use a color inspector utility : like the Digital Color Meter on Mac. Hover over the squares to make sure that the RGB values are the same for both.

4. See this interesting proof ! (Focus your eyes on B).

You have to take the colors out of the surrounding context to see the same shade. That's pretty much the only way.

This image is courtesy of Prof Edward Adelson. You can find many similar examples on his site.

Another equally astounding and my favorite from this collection is the Koffka Ring.

War Horse

2012-01-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : War Horse
Director : Steven Spielberg
Genre : Drama / War
Starring : Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup
Released : December 2011
My Rating : 8 out of 10

Spielberg's latest movie, War Horse, has everything. A moving story, many memorable scenes, outstanding cinematography, heartfelt messages about the horrors of war - and a nice dose of sentimentalism. Overall, it's a high class demonstration of how the art of movies can be grand and effective.

Based on a best selling book by the same name, the movie takes us on a journey following the hero - a thoroughbred named Joey. We meet him when he is born. Albert (Jeremy Irvine) falls in love with him. His father Ted Narracott (Peter Mullan) buys the horse at an auction to win an ego battle. His wife is not too happy about it. Deep in debt, they needed a plow horse for work. Albert trains the horse, and a bond develops between them. But World War I breaks out and circumstances force Ted to sell the horse to the army. As one tragic situation after another occurs, Joey gets transferred from one caretaker to another. But he is no ordinary horse and eventually finds his way back to Albert.

This synopsis and the promos may give you the impression that this is yet another boy-loves-his-pet story. A part of it is definitely that, but just a part. The backdrop of World War I offers little opportunity for being cute and innocent. Every time Joey's ownership gets transferred, it's because of tragic circumstances. Many would compare this to Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan". That comparison is valid, but not accurate. Here too, the battle scenes are real enough to make you feel the heat. You may have read about the first World War’s fighting in the trenches, but you will experience it here. That's where the similarity ends. In "War Horse", it's the war that’s the villain, not a person. Most people we meet have the right intentions, but the sad reality is, all wars are simply horrific - and that's a big message of the story.

This starkness makes it impossible to categorize this as a feel-good movie, in spite of the predictable happy ending. There is a lot of sadness, pain and tragedy throughout. It is no easy story to present and Spielberg masterfully prevents the movie from being too depressing. There is just the right amount of laughter and hope and good-heartedness sprinkled throughout to keep a perfect balance. Only an experienced and accomplished director can manipulate our emotions like that.

Another challenge of the story is the sheer number of characters. Again, Spielberg shines through. The movie should be a tutorial to all those single dimensional action flicks on how to define a character in just a few minutes. Of course it’s done to make us love the characters, so when tragedy strikes, we reach for our handkerchiefs.

Like many other great directors, Spielberg has given us numerous impossible-to-forget scenes. The rolling boulder from Indian Jones, the T-Rex in the side view mirror from Jurassic Park, the girl in red coat from Schindler's List - everyone will have his or her list. I added a few to my own list. Joey's run through the battleground left me speechless. For that scene alone, I can recommend this movie. Of course the one immediately after that, where an English and a German soldier work together to help Joey, is also memorable for its poignancy. In another scene, German machine guns eliminate the English cavalry. Spielberg shows us horses without any riders on their back, jumping over the trenches. This indirect method of showing the massacre will touch all viewers, and kids will likely cry.

Acting is superb overall, but all individual characters are just supportive to the journey of the War Horse. Even though everyone does extremely well with the limited screen time, I have to mention Jeremy Irvine, considering that this is his first movie. And of course, the real star - the horse - is a wonderful actor too. Very elegant, and with eyes of a puppy. It's impossible to not like him.

Since I am a fan of John Williams, I have to mention the music. This score is not as memorable as Star Wars or Indian Jones or Jaws or Superman (and the list goes on), but it will very likely add to his unbelievable total of 45 Oscar nominations.

Camerawork is great too. Yes, there are some cliched shots – especially the ending scene. But it’s easy to forgive, because in general, the idea is to be supportive by creating the right atmosphere, yet to remain unobtrusive so that attention is not diverted from the story.

This one has my very strong recommendation. But do not think of it as a family movie. It's not for young children. The war scenes are extremely intense. There is no gore, but there is violence. It's suggestive, but potent. Horses get hurt. These images can be very disturbing. It's likely to be fine for teenagers. But everyone will feel the emotional impact - that I guarantee.

PTA Reflections 2011 - Diversity Means ...

2012-01-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

The PTA Reflections is a great program that encourages kids to be creative. In 2011 the theme was "Diversity means ...". Kids can submit their entries in different categories like drawing/paintings, music pieces, essays, photography etc. The best entries from each school are sent to next level - the school district level. From there, winners advance to county - state - national levels.

This was my first time visiting the award ceremony for the school district level. My daughter did not win, but she had fun participating. I was very impressed with the overall creativity.

The award ceremony was held in the Fire House Art Center. For a small town like Pleasanton, this is an impressive theater.

The interior is tastefully decorated.

Here are some of the photos I took of the exhibits. Remember, the theme was "Diversity Means ...". Each kid had his or her own take on the theme. The kids were from all grades - elementary all the way to high school.

I don't remember which of these won the prizes. They are all good.

Cleopatra

2012-01-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

Book Review : Cleopatra
Author : Stacy Schiff
My Rating : 3 out of 5 stars

The complete title of the book is "Cleopatra: A Life".

This is yet another book that I decided to read because the author was interviewed on "The Daily Show". Stacy Schiff has written a few biographical works and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1999 for "Vera".

The idea behind the book is great. Everyone has heard of Cleopatra, but how many know what is fact and what is fiction ? The book's cover conveys its theme well. A portrait without the face. We don't know a whole lot about her.

Naturally, it's hard to arrive at historic truth about someone who lived more than 2 thousand years ago. So author Stacy Schiff has decided to mix meticulous research with intelligent speculation. Based on what we know about the times and places, she suggests what might have happened around the facts that we know for sure. It's a very interesting approach that I personally liked.

Still, the book lost me. Stacy Schiff is really a very good writer. Her style never gets dull. But the book is too big, too detailed and eventually got tedious. If you are seriously interested in history, this may be a great book. If you just want to know more about who Cleopatra was as a real person and unlearn what Hollywood has taught you, then this book gets overwhelming. I learned a lot about Cleopatra, and even how life was in Egypt. Some of the insights were surprising, and I am happy to know them now. Nevertheless, I think the length could have been reduced to half, and I would have still gotten all that knowledge.

The strength of the book - the amount of detail - was precisely what turned me off, and I started skipping sections to get to the finish. I really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I cannot recommend it, unless of course you are studying Egyptian History, in which case, I have no authority to make any recommendations to you anyway !

Descendants

2011-12-29T22:50:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : The Descendants
Director : Alexander Payne
Genre : Drama / Comedy
Starring : George Clooney, Shailene Woodley
Released : November 2011
My Rating : 7 out of 10

With only a few movies, Alexander Payne just might have established himself as a sincere artist. His Sideways is widely loved, and he was also the producer of "The Savages", which I liked. The genre of Drama/Comedy applies perfectly to his movies, with the focus of presentation on underplay and subtlety.

His latest movie, The Descendants, will be a candidate for many 2012 Oscars, with both George Clooney and Shailene Woodley having a good chance to win in their categories. Even with strong Oscar / Golden Globe nominations, the real question is always, should you watch the movie ? Hopefully, my reviews help you decide that.

As the movie opens, we learn that Matt King (George Clooney) is a successful lawyer, whose very large and extended Hawaiian family has inherited a substantial fortune. Unfortunately, his wife is in coma due to an accident, and the prognosis is not good. He has never been really there to perform his parental responsibilities - he calls himself a "backup parent". Now he finds himself in a situation where he has to rebuild the relationship with his kids, inform all the relatives about the doctor' decision to pull the plug on his wife, handle the legalities of inheritance - all at the same time. To make matters worse, he finds out that his wife was having an affair and was about to divorce him.

To say that this is an unpleasant situation would be a gross understatement. This particular storyline poses numerous challenges for the writer, director and the actors. It can get overly emotional. Any attempt to infuse humor might show disrespect to the serious issues faced by the characters. I think the movie keeps the right balance between all these elements, thanks to superb direction and absolutely great acting.

I am quite certain that George Clooney will be nominated for Oscar. It is a great performance, no doubt. In contrast to his usual role of a suave, confident man, this role requires him to play a middle-aged man with slouching shoulders and a tired gait. I was very impressed with his performance.

But more than him, I was completely won over by Shailene Woodley's performance. If casting George Clooney for this role was a surprise, the character of his teenaged daughter is completely anti-stereo typical. She is not the careless, disrespectful teenager often found in movies. She is bitter, but because she saw her mother cheating on her father. In her own strong-headed style, she supports her father all through out the movie. Shailene Woodley's acting is so real, that you might forget she is playing a character. I am looking forward to her future movies.

So in spite of this, why only 7 out of 10 ? That's where subjectivity comes into play. I thought the movie was unnecessarily slow, to a point where many viewers may just give up on the movie. As a parent, I also found a few of the dialogues/scenes involving the younger daughter quite uncomfortable. Removing them wouldn't have done any harm to the overall effect of the movie.

If you are OK with slow movies, it's definitely worth watching. My wife was quite bored by this movie, but I liked it. It's definitely not for the kids, although I doubt if any kid/teenager would have even the slightest interest in watching this movie.

Sudoku Bragging :-)

2011-12-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

I like Sudoku, but I didn't solve too many puzzles in the printed form. If you make a mistake in deciding a number for a square - especially at hard levels - it becomes too much pain to figure out later what went wrong and how to fix it. But the iPad app is the best way to solve Sudoku. If you make a mistake it immediately lets you know. It also allows you take notes and helps in visualization.

I have been using Sudoku2, and definitely recommend it. It has a nice point system, in addition to the timer, to keep you motivated :-) I am no longer addicted to it, as I was a few weeks ago. Mainly because, I have reached my limit in improving the score. So here is what I think is my peak score :

Can you beat it ? :-)

Lady bug

2011-12-22T23:04:00.000-08:00

It's awfully hard to capture a photo of an insect ! They are constantly moving in search of food and are not enthusiastic about posing for a portrait. So I could not get a face shot of this self centered starlet. (And I don't have a macro lens. Ever since I discovered how good prime lens can be, I haven't taken it off.) Holding the camera in one hand, focusing continuously while the other had was trying to twist the branches to make the bug face the camera, I spent about 15-20 minutes without success :-(

Interview With Michael Platt

2011-12-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

A very interesting video about the implications of Europe's crisis - interview with Michael Platt, founder of one of the largest asset managers in the world, BlueCrest Capital Management. It's a bit long - 15 mins, but very well worth watching. In case you are short on time, I have summarized the key points, as I understood.

Disclaimers :
1. This is obviously NOT an investment advice.
2. I do not know anything about this person, apart from what I have learned from the interview. So I am taking it at its face value.

Why I think it's worth watching :
1. He seems like a very smart guy. Apparently manages about $30 billion in his hedge funds, which is huge. Claims to have generated positive and hefty returns over last many years. Let's say all that is true.
2. He is NOT shouting from the roof, crying Armageddon. He sees a high probability of a significant crisis due to European debt situation. He is calmly talking about his viewpoints, and his strategies.

Key points he is making :
1. He is worried about the crisis. So he has all his money in the safest and liquidest instruments : short term US and German government debts.
2. No matter what the policy makers are saying, Euro break up is being priced in for, in options and futures markets.
3. Math is against Europe. Example : Italy's debt is already 120% of their GDP. GDP is declining and debt is growing at 5%. Arithmetically, this will blow up.
4. There is no growth to get Europe out of this. Austerity makes it worse. And their is no willingness to transfer money across boundaries to ease the burden.
5. Most of the European banks are now insolvent.
6. As an investor, you do not make money by going into a crisis. You make money in the aftermath of the crisis.
7. Things will get worse in 2012. What's going on is significantly worse than 2008.
8. He thinks that bold solutions - like ECB printing, a fiscal union etc - will solve the crisis. (This is the where I disagree. Printing money does not solve anything. It just changes the problem from high debt to to high inflation. And an European fiscal union is probably a non-starter.)

U-12 Chess Champinonship

2011-12-12T16:03:00.000-08:00

The chess revolution started in India by Anand continues to generate more fruits. Adding to the list of Humpy, Negi - now we have Karthikeyan Murali. He won the U-12 chess championship.

You can read more on Chessbase.

Many kids from India participated in the World Youth Chess Championship and many did well. But it's hard to find online news articles to link. :-(

Savages

2011-12-09T11:07:00.001-08:00

Movie Review : The Savages
Director : Tamara Jenkins
Genre : Drama
Starring : Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco

Released : 2007
My Rating : 7 out of 10

Tamara Jenkins' first major movie is about a brother and sister forced to take care of their dying father. It's not a comedy, although labeled as such. In fact, it can be quite uncomfortable to watch at times.

There is no plot as such. Lenny Savage (Philip Bosco) is suffering from dementia. We learn from references that he wasn't that great of a father, as a result Wendy (Laura Liney) and Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) share no love for him. But they are forced by the circumstances to share the burden. This provides the backdrop for the real story where, they have to confront their own shortcomings and get their life in order.

This is not all that funny. And although the tone can be a bit light-hearted, the handling is quite serious. It's a dysfunctional family. The brother and sister have major personality traits to overcome, which they have acquired definitely because of their father's neglect. There is risk that a viewer can get completely indifferent to such characters. It's the credit of actors and the director that make you feel sympathetic to them.

I can watch any movie for Laura Linney, an uncommon combination of beauty and ability to play complex characters. Hoffman rarely disappoints. And they together share 90% of the screen time. Philip Bosco supports them well portraying an old demented man.

Only if you like to watch different but well made movies strongly based on characterizations, I can recommend this. It has limited appeal otherwise. Definitely not safe for kids.

Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat

2011-11-17T13:09:00.001-08:00

Book Review : Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat
Author : Hal Herzog
My Rating : 5 out of 5 stars

The complete title of the book is, "Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals".

As is quickly clear from the title, we humans have a multidimensional relationship with animals. And the book explains, this relationship is much more intricate and even contradictory on all these dimensions.

Dogs may be family members in US, but in many countries, dogs are vermin. Some of us have mice as pets, but most of us hate them, but squirrels are cute, even if they are from the same rodent category. And when it comes to eating, there is indeed a very wide divergence of opinion on what is edible and what's not.

Now add ethics, economics and politics to that equation. Is it ethical to eat animals, and if yes, which ones, and how should they be farmed ? Which animals should be banned from being pets - tigers, pythons, chimps ? If it's illegal to raise chickens for fighting, even when they are treated like kings, why is it legal to raise them for food in horrible living conditions to eventually die a painful death ? If using monkeys as research objects is immoral, why is it ok to use rats instead ?

This expands the scope of the debate by orders of magnitude. But wait - let's add logic and philosophy to it. If you were an animal lover, would you rather have a cat as pet, or a python as a pet and feed live stray cats to it ? Don't squirm. Use hard cold logic. Cats destroy local bird population. And even if you force them remain indoors, the cat food itself comes from killing many other animals. On the other hand, a python can survive on a few cats for the entire year. Just look at the pure number of lives lost in feeding a cat v/s a python, and see if you change your mind. That is of course, if you want to be called as an animal lover, as opposed to a cat lover.

One last question - hypothetically of course - if you were in such a situation, would you kill a panda to save a child ? 100 pandas to save a child ? 100 pandas to save an old man who is going to die in a few years anyways ?

OK. Enough. This is how enormously complex the subject is. It's not just vast, multi-dimensional. But it's also cold, slippery and very uncomfortable. It gives rise to heated, passionate debates with polarized opinions, but the answers are elusive to most, while crystal clear to only the ardent activists. Most of us draw a line based on our comfort zone, and move on with life. That's because of the simple truth - we are emotional creatures, not rational beings.

This would serve as a nice summary of the book - except it doesn't completely convey how marvelous the book is. Author Hal Herzog has done wonderful job in exploring the enormity and complexity of the subject. This is no easy task.

The book covers all the things mentioned above and much more. Author Hal Herzog is a professor of Psychology, specializing in anthrozoology - a field focusing on human-animal relationship. With many years of research, he is well qualified to write on this subject. More than competency, his attitude wins the reader's heart and mind. His approach is very scientific. It is also honest and humble. He is unafraid to mention his biases and irrationalities. Neither does he offer any answers, nor does he advocate a certain point of view. He wants to highlight the contradictions within us, to explain why is it so difficult for most of us to come up with satisfactory answers.

The writing is smooth, thought provoking, funny. Totally enjoyable. But unlike many pseudo-intellectual books (e.g. Malcom Gladwell) there is more than just pleasant writing and touching anecdotes. Hal Herzog has done his own research. Not all of course, it is impossible given the scope of the issues involved.

This is a great survey of the numerous issues. It's a wide span, from analyzing how dogs came to be a fashion statement, to stereotyping of dog persons v/s cat persons, to the ethics of eating meat, to using animals in research, to the hypocrisy and moral inconsistency within all of us. It will engage you, enlighten you and force you to reexamine your beliefs. Just don't try to find any easy to use supportive arguments here, no matter what your stand is. Because this book, ultimately, is about the conflicts within us, not about animals.

I highly recommend this book. Read it and let others know about this. A scientific, objective and honest way to examine complex moral issues is rare. Especially, when it's presented in such an accessible manner.

Bend It Like Beckham ! Indeed.

2011-11-11T17:55:00.001-08:00

MLS 2011 Conference Finals. LA Galaxy v/s Real Salt Lake. The game would be remembered for how many times the ball hit the post and for this amazing assist by Beckham. I am not a fan of Beckham, but this is indeed his signature cross. Beautiful, perfect and it just makes you exclaim ... WOW.

Agora

2011-09-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Agora
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Genre : History / Drama
Released : 2009
Starring : Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac

My Rating : 7 out of 10

I have always yearned for movies based on the lives of mathematicians, scientists and philosophers. Not all highly intellectual persons are whimsical, nor are their life stories boring. Quite contrary. Their stories are not as well known as those of kings and queens, and are often full of struggles and dramatic elements. Especially tragedy, which was always a strong possibility if the thinker was living in a society controlled by religious extremism.

Such is the story of Hypatia, perhaps the last woman scholar of antiquity, and around whose life the movie Agora is built. A bit of historical context might be helpful to understand and appreciate the movie.

Hypatia lived in 3rd - 4th century Alexandria, in Egypt. She was of Greek origin. Most Greeks and Romans in Alexandria were pagan. She probably was not religious, and was more devoted to science and philosophy. It was not uncommon in Egyptian society - especially in Alexandria - for women to have almost the same rights as men. Hypatia was a well-known scholar, a very well respected teacher and almost universally admired. Agora means a place for public assembly. In this case, the library hall, where Hypatia taught.

Alexandria was always a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic city ever since Alexander the Great established it. With the growing strength of Christianity, it also became a multi-religious society. This led to religious friction, which led to extremism and violent conflicts. During such times, intelligent, outspoken and respected women like Hypatia are considered threats by extremist men who want to grab power in the name of religion. Hypatia was lynched by a Christian mob in a most brutal fashion.

The movie picks up the story when trouble had just started brewing in Alexandria. It is not a story of Hypatia. It is a story of a city in transition. This choice allows the director to reconstruct every detail of how life was and how it changed. This turned out to be a mixed bag. The city life is magnificently reconstructed with clever techniques. While the political drama and mob violence is effectively portrayed, the central figure of the story, Hypatia, is a bit under-developed. It just doesn't feel complete. This is a fault of the script. Rachel Weisz, who won Oscar for The Constant Gardener, does a superb job as Hypatia. Other actors are not as well known. You might recognize Max Minghella (as Davus) who played Divya Narendra in The Social Network).

This is a movie based on good research of historical facts and tries very hard to remain accurate and fair. The pagans, the Jews and the Christians are all depicted without any bias. Among the graphic scenes of carnage, there are also moments of thoughtful reflection. Of course, the director has every right to take some artistic freedom and Hypatia's research is definitely fiction. It is not known if she really knew if the Earth revolved around the Sun or if the orbits were elliptical. Maybe she did, maybe she didn't.

This is a good movie. If you don't know much about the history of that period, you will definitely enjoy it. If you are just interested in watching well-directed movies, this fits the bill too. It is definitely not for kids.

Jalapenos !

2011-09-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Now the jalapenos are ripening ! Finally, I am getting a decent yield of something from my backyard :-) As I mentioned previously, 2011 season has been disappointing. In contrast, I had bumper crops of tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers and cucumbers in 2010.

These are deliciously hot !

The Debt

2011-09-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : The Debt
Director : John Madden
Genre : Thriller / Drama
Starring : Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, Sam Worthington, Jesper Christensen
Released : September 2011

My Rating : 7 out of 10

I rarely get to watch movies in a theater. When the opportunity came last weekend, there was only one choice suitable for my taste - "The Debt" by John Madden.

The story outline is very interesting. In 1967, 3 Mossad agents are in East German side of Berlin on a mission to capture an ex-Nazi - a German doctor who performed experiments on Jew prisoners. These are young, passionate, idealistic agents. They are not there to kill him, but to bring him back to face trial. In spite of their homework and thorough planning, things go wrong. They don't succeed in bringing the monster alive out of East Germany. Instead, they have to bring him back to their apartment and wait for more help.

We pick up the story 3 decades later. We learn that 2 of the agents - Rachel Singer and Stephen Gold - had gotten married and later divorced. Their daughter has written a book about this assignment - the movie opens up during the publication of this book. The third agent, David Paretz, has returned to the country many years later. There is tension between all these characters, and we are led to suspect that there is more to their story than meets the eye.

The movie jumps back and forth between the 2 periods. But the jumps are not frequent, and they are not used to make things unnecessarily complicated. As a director, John Madden reveals his cards slowly. This approach will successfully grab viewers who are willing to pay attention and do some thinking on their own. And the payoff is worth it. There is enough drama and suspense, without much action and violence. As you can expect from the synopsis, this is not a spy thriller like a James Bond, or even Jason Bourne movies. There are many aspects to this movie. There is a romantic love triangle, and the brevity of its presentation makes it more effective than any love story we have seen lately. There is also a morality angle, but it's not handled as well as other aspects of the movie. What the movie really excels at is maintaining tension.

John Madden is known for his "Shakespeare In Love". I fell in love with his "Proof", a much better movie, I urge you to watch it, if for no other reason than Gwyneth Paltrow's acting. Even here, acting is top notch across the board. Interestingly, different actors play the characters from different periods. I liked it better than seeing the same actors with heavy makeup to change their age.

I thought it was a pretty good movie. My wife found it to be good as well, but she was not as impressed as me. I definitely recommend watching it, but you can wait for the DVD.

Colorful Peppers

2011-08-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

This backyard farming season has been disappointing. No tomatoes, no peaches and no plums. Got a few cucumbers. But peppers have started showing some hope.

All the bell pepper plants were from the same set - so the different colors were a pleasant surprise. Of course Mendel wouldn't have seen any reason to be surprised about it. :-)

Familyhood

2011-08-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Familyhood
Author : Paul Reiser
My Rating : 4 out of 5

We all know Paul Reiser for producing and acting in the famous sitcom "Mad About You". Apparently he writes books as well. And he is pretty good at it. His first 2 books "Couplehood" and "Babyhood" were both New York Times Bestsellers. "Familyhood" is his third book.

I haven't read his previous books. I picked this one up because I liked what I read on the back-cover. An admission of how inadequate he feels his parenting skills are. I felt an immediate connection !

The book is just a collection of short essays. Mostly about his handling of family affairs. And some about seemingly unrelated topics such as a GPS and a chair ! In all, he is the stereotypical dad - goofy, insecure, well-intentioned - just a regular guy. With an emphasis on being a "guy". It's a father's view. And as such, all mothers must read it :-)

You won't find any advice here on being a better parent. The book has the feel of a stand-up comedy act. Every good comedian needs to have great observational skills. They use those to point out our own absurdities, idiosyncrasies, and make us feel that they are reading our mind. That's what makes it fun. Paul Reiser will make you chuckle, smile and laugh. And he will not bore you.

It's not just all comedy. It's about being a family, so there is that special warmth too. But nothing melodramatic. He has his tough times, but he is not trying to win your pity. You will be surprised at how he maintains a positive tone even while discussing the sorrowful parts of his story.

It's been a while since I read a humorous book. I am glad I read it. It's a short book and I definitely recommend it. In fact, even though I haven't read them, I can still recommend his previous books (Couplehood, Babyhood) - depending on which phase of life you are in.

Quote Of The Day : Peter Schiff on S&P Downgrading US Debt

2011-08-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

This man speaks what's on his mind. He has been right about gold, housing bubble and our debt problems.

The only thing they did wrong was, they waited too long to downgrade and they didn't downgrade low enough.

It was really funny to watch Tim Seymour getting uncomfortable with Peter Schiff's rant.

If you want to watch the CNBC video clip, click here.

Troubleshooting Guide For Baking Bread

2011-07-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

When I wrote about my bread recipe I claimed that it was THE easiest recipe for artisan bread. I stand by that claim. A lot of people have had good success with it. But for someone who has never baked before, a few more tips would have been helpful in that article.

So here is a little troubleshooting guide in case you need it.

1. What if the dough doesn't rise ?

Without properly risen dough, the bread is not going to be successful. In this recipe, the dough rises nearly 3 times. If the dough doesn't rise after 4-5 hours, it's not going to rise at all. Most likely the yeast that you used was old and dead. You can test your yeast very easily. Just dissolve some sugar in lukewarm water and sprinkle some yeast. If you don't see any foam/bubbles in 10-15 minutes, the yeast is dead and unusable. I buy dry active yeast and store it in the refrigerator. It stays alive for really long time.

If the yeast was fine, them most likely there was not enough water. Yeast needs water to activate and then thrive. See below on for tips on how to properly measure the ingredients.

2. How to measure ?

The best part of my recipe is that it doesn't demand absolute perfection in measurements and time and all the parameters that are generally part of any bread recipe. But the measurements still need to be at least approximately correct ! Not having the correct ratio of flour to water is the most common problem in bread baking. If the water is off by a teaspoon, it's probably going to be OK. But a tablespoon of water makes a big difference in the final result. So you cannot eye ball the amount of flour/water and you have to use a measuring cup.

For measuring flour, scoop it out and level it with a table knife, or just your fingers. Don't press the flour to tightly pack the measuring cup. When you need 1/2 cup of flour, use a scoop that is of size 1/2-cup. Don't use the scoop that's 1-cup size and try to guesstimate 1/2 cup by filling it only half. It doesn't work that way.

If you are using a big glass cup with markings to measure the water, then fill the cup, put it on the counter and bend down so that your eyes are at the same horizontal level of the marking. You cannot judge the water while looking from above.

Measuring ingredients if often considered a sign of lack of skill by many - especially Indian cooks. Because baking is not all that common in India. Baking is a bit of science, not just art. You don't get to make any adjustments once it's in the oven. So get over it, and measure your ingredients :-)

3. What if the bread didn't rise a lot in the oven ?

First the oven has to be pre-heated before you start baking. Secondly this recipe will NOT produce a tall loaf. This is not sandwich bread. After rising, the dough is almost batter like and will spread over the cookie sheet. The looser it is, more it will spread. The bread will still be fine, will have nice big holes in the crumb. If you want you can try reducing the water by a teaspoon the next time. But remember, this is a no-knead recipe. The dough has to have enough hydration. So err on the side of more water, not less. The dough has to be very sticky, not dry.

Even if it looks flat on the cookie sheet, you will get a nice oven spring. The bread will be about a couple of inches tall, not more.

4. How to do more tweaking ?

You should start with the measurements in the original recipe, oven temperature and make only minor adjustments. A regular oven is better, but I have successfully used toaster oven as well. In any oven, you shouldn't need temperature over 450. Underbaking is rarely a problem for beginning bakers, most end up overbaking their bread, because it takes time to develop the visual judgment. Take out the bread from oven and tap it's bottom. If you hear hollow sound, then baking is done. It shouldn't take more than 25 minutes for this recipe.

Do not try to change the water temperature till you get more experience. Just use room temperature water.

The flour is naturally the most important ingredient and will have the most impact on taste and texture. Bread flour will obviously give the best result. All-purpose flour has lower gluten content and hence will result in slightly shorter loaf, but the bread will still be good. Indian Roti flour results have been just about OK, as it’s mostly from Durum wheat more suitable for pasta. Whole Wheat flour (generally of Red Winter Wheat) gives dense bread that I really like. You can use this same recipe idea for other flours as well, for example Rye bread. My favorite variation is by mixing some blue corn flour with whole wheat flour.

5. Don't give up.

There is nothing like a fresh baked homemade bread made by using just simple ingredients. It's healthy and tasty. If you need more advice, just ask me. I am passionate about bread, and will be more than happy to help you.

Doubt

2011-07-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Doubt
Director : John Patrick Shanley
Genre : Drama
Released : December 2008
Starring : Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
My Rating : 9 out of 10

I like to watch movies with as little information about them as possible. Due to the many nominations it received at Oscars and Golden Globe in 2009, I had filed "Doubt" in the long list I have for "must see it later, so don't read any more about it" :-) It shouldn't have taken so long for it to bubble up to the top of the queue. I should have watched it then, not later.

While watching, it was clear to me that this must have been based on a play. Indeed it is. Director Shanley has adapted from his own Pulitzer Prize winning play, and it's equally clear why the play won so many accolades.

The setup is deceptively simple. Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is the Principal of a Catholic School in Bronx during 1964. An eighth grade teacher, Sister James (Amy Adams) brings to her attention that Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) had called the only black student, alone to the rectory. Sister Aloysius suspects Father Flynn to be engaging in an improper relationship and sets out to oust him.

On the surface, the question is of course, is Father Flynn guilty ? With what we know about that period now, we are inclined to answer yes. But is it true ? This is not a detective movie, and in real life arriving at truth without any ambiguity is rare. So if you don't like loose ends, chances are, you will be unsatisfied when the movie ends. The lingering doubts harass the characters in the story, as well as the viewers. That's how the director intends it to be, and I found it very clever.

Both Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn claim to have nothing but good intentions, and may be that's true. But their approaches and personalities are polar opposite. Sister Aloysius is as strict as you would expect a principal to be in a Catholic school circa 1964. She doesn't even approve of ballpoint pens. I remember my teachers saying that ! Students are terrified by her. Father Flynn on the other hand is very accommodating and gentle. He has a good sense of humor, and kids love him. Is this difference in personalities the real reason of the conflict ?

On a deeper level, it's also a conflict between moral righteousness versus compassion. Father Flynn believes in forgiveness, whereas Sister Aloysius believes in justice. These two different faces of every religion are often incompatible.

And on an even deeper level, this is about the very nature of truth. In life, especially about behavior of real people, truth can be very illusive. How can you be certain - without any doubt ?

This ability to appeal us viewers on many different levels is why I think this is a great movie. It wouldn't have been so nuanced without the phenomenal acting by both Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. For Meryl, this earned her yet another nomination - one of her unbelievable total of 16 till date. And as for Philip Seymour Hoffman, I think he did better than Meryl ! His internal battles are clearly visible on his face. I cannot think of a better choice to play this complex role. Amy Adams provides good support, but her role is much simpler and we have seen this type of portrayal many times before. Viola Davis gets a fraction of the screen time compared to other actors, and yet, she manages to make as big an impact as others.

Director Shanley chooses to get noticed by not trying hard to get noticed. The story matter is handled with utmost respect and sensitivity. It's an uncomfortable topic for the viewers as well as for the characters. Shanley chooses to provoke thoughts in your mind, rather than jolting you out of your seat. As the writer, he paints the characters as mostly good, but not perfect. It's hard to strongly dislike any character here, each is trying hard to do what is right according to them. But it doesn't stop you from wishing that they had made slightly better choices. It's subtle and superb writing.

I definitely have a bias for character based movies, still I think this movie will impress a very large percentage of viewers. This is one the "must see" movies.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

2011-07-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Book Review : The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Author : Stieg Larsson
My Rating : 3 out of 5

Almost everyone in the world has read this book and it's 2 sequels. Everyone except me, till now. The books have been an enormous international best seller series, but I am rarely enthusiastic about best selling fiction. The hype is usually overdone.

As almost always is the case, a movie follows such success. And like always, once the movie is scheduled to be released, I am forced to read the book before I watch the movie. Because, as we all know, books are generally better than their movie incarnations. In this case, I can safely bet that the opposite will be true.

Why do I feel that way ? Because this book is way too long and the movie will have a good chance of doing the editor's job, that is so glaringly absent here. The author tragically died before his books were published. That may be part of the reason why the book couldn't be edited and also why these books became runaway success.

I had managed to stay away from knowing any details about the plot or the theme. Didn't read any reviews. In fact I purposefully avoided reading the back cover and the inside descriptions. I like to read a book or watch a movie without any preconceptions. In the same vein, I will keep my synopsis to a minimum for those few (if any) who haven't read the book.

The story is about a financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who has been tasked by a prominent industrialist to solve a decades old cold case of disappearance of a young girl from his extended family. He gets help from Lisbeth Salander, a social nutcase and the reason for the book's title. This book is story of that investigation and about a lot of personal details about the 2 main characters.

Larsson spends a whole lot of time establishing the characters and setting the stage. The book doesn't become a page-turner till you are nearly half-way through. I have no problem with character development, I like it. But here it's too much irrelevant details and mundane stuff that fill up the pages. The characterization felt very shallow and unrealistic. Blomkvist is an average middle aged man, and still all the women in the story - from 50+ year old to twenty something Salander - cannot stop themselves from getting into bed with him. Really ? The attitude of everyone in the book towards relationships is callously casual.

He also introduces us to an extremely large family and it was hard to keep track of all those names and their relationships to one another. He gives a picture of the family tree, but a map of the island (on which the story takes place) would have been more helpful.

The investigation is gripping, in spite of being tedious at a few places. And although the mystery is not impossible to guess, there are some surprises. That's the main part of the story, and fortunately the strongest. I wish the book was far more concentrated on it. After the investigation is over the author spends another 100 or so pages in closing a subplot that could have been left open. It's so weakly written and unbelievable, that I was just skipping over it to somehow finish the book.

As you can imagine I cannot offer a strong recommendation to read this book. But it will probably lend well to a movie depiction. We will know this December, when the Hollywood version starring Daniel Craig hits the theaters as "The Feel Bad Movie Of Christmas" ! The Swedish movie has been out for a while now.

Power of Suggestion

2011-07-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Found this while browsing the popular financial blog Naked Capitalism.

How do we understand what we hear and what we see ? I am always amazed by the abilities of the brain - human or otherwise. Like any programmer I compare the deterministic abilities of my own code with the seemingly indeterministic behavior of any human/animal brain, It's easy to get amazed at the speed of search and pattern recognition performed by our brains. What's truly mind-boggling (!!) is how well we handle the fuzzy, unclear and incomplete data.

This demonstration highlights that point. How a suggested frame of reference makes us see patterns that do not exist. It's kind of similar to how "preconceived notions" affect our thinking. Also similar to what is referred as "Confirmation Bias". Whatever the name might be, this demonstration is quite dramatic.

Simon Singh is a very good author. I have reviewed his books Big Bang and Fermat's Enigma. Loved them.

GaDiMa-2

2011-07-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

Long long time ago I used to be an active participant on the rec.music.indian.misc usenet group. During those times, there were often debates about who is/was the best lyricist for Hindi movie songs. There were many Gulzar fans, and were particularly impressed by his wordings in songs such as

हमने देखी है, इन आँखो कि महकती ख़ुशबू

Generally I think highly of Gulzar's poetry, but I was never particularly impressed with such phrasings. To me, they always seem very forced. Some find it confusing, others find deep meaning in them. Note that I am talking only about the refrain, the song has other marvelous lines - such as

नूर कि बून्द है, सदियों से बहा करती है !

But that's subjective. The real misconception is that Gulzar is the only expert of this style when it comes to movie lyrics. Far from it. He relies on it more than others, but examples abound in the works of other lyricist.

Here is one from महाकवी गदिमा - it will be a crime to call him a lyricist - who was both Sahir and Gulzar (and much more) for Marathi movies. Sahir is my favorite lyricist of Hindi Movies, but neither he nor Gulzar has done anything to be compared to a giant such as GaDiMa. To those unaware of Marathi literature, "गीत-रामायण" has made GaDiMa (Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar) the Valmiki of Marathi Poetry.

नसेल माहित तुला कधी ते,
रोज तुझ्या मी स्वप्नी येते,
त्या स्वप्नांच्या आठवणी
ह्या ओठां देशील का ?

It's not straight-forward to attach a simple meaning to this verse. My attempt at a very loose and literal translation (forgive me, I am NOT a poet). Feel free to do your own 'काव्य-रसग्रहण' !

You may be completely unaware,
that in your dreams, I always appear
Memories of those dreams
Would you please ...
Install on my lips ?

As amazing singer Asha Bhosle is - I think she was more than that in this song - she was just perfect. Listen to the mesmerizing short आलाप at the beginning. One of the best compositions by Baabuji - Sudhir Phadke. Very typical of his compositions, easy to hum, but not at all easy to sing.

I want to make two small observations here. Both about the other stanzas in the song.

First, the word "दिनांती" (meaning 'at the end of the day'). I am trying to remember any other song/poem with that word, but I can't. It's not that unusual a word - at least it should not be - but I cannot think of an example. If you know, please share it with me.

Secondly, and more interestingly the words "एकांती" and जवळी are repeated (their two occurrences are adjacent) in the song. I do not know of any other songs that has such a feature. It's not just that they are repeated - first occurrence ends a phrase and second begins the next phrase. It's pretty smart. Especially the line

मी येतां पण सलज्ज जवळी, जवळी घेशिल का ?

Sudhir Phadke is known for his pains-taking attention to poetic details. His tunes fit even the ह्रस्व-दीर्घ (short and long) pronunciations of the vowels ! So it's not Babuji taking liberties with the lyrics to fit to a tune. It's GaDiMa's deliberate word play.

The song is from the famous 1952 movie लाखाची गोष्ट by Raja Paranjape.

Previously ... GaDiMa-1

Inglorious Basterds

2011-06-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Inglorious Basterds
Released : 2009
Director : Quentin Tarantino
Starring : Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger
My Rating : 8 out of 10

I am not a big fan of Quentin Tarantino. Oh, I totally "get" his movies, I like them, but I just don't think of them as highly as most others do. In my opinion, he stresses more on style than on substance. I am also turned off by his fascination with macabre violence, and ego trips like Kill Bill. I am perfectly aware that this is but a minority viewpoint among movie aficionados.

I did like Pulp Fiction, and would definitely consider it a classic. And I have to say that, Inglorious Bastards is, in my opinion, the best Tarantino movie since Pulp Fiction. It's well crafted, full of vintage Tarantino scenes and very gripping.

The story takes artistic liberties to create alternate history of World War II, without being pretentious. There are 2 threads. In one, a group of American soldiers - the Basterds - led by Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) is raging a successful guerilla warfare in France. Their task is to kill Nazis and collect their scalps. When they learn about the Nazi leadership attending a movie premiere in a small theater in Paris, they hatch a plan to blow up the entire theater. Helping them is a double agent Bridget von Hammersmart (Diane Kruger), who is a German actress.

In the second thread is about the owner of the theater - Emmanuelle. Her real name is Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent). At the beginning of the movie, we see her family butchered by the "Jew Hunter" Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). She also has her plans for taking revenge during the movie premiere. As expected, the 2 threads of the story eventually meet.

One of Tarantino's main strength, and his signature style, is to blend superb dialogues within scenes of brutal violence. Some of the scenes in this movie are wonderfully taut and tense. It's the anticipation of the violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Of course, the ensuing violence is typically shocking, as you can expect from Tarantino. The movie is watchable just for those scenes.

I do not want to give away a lot, else the unpredictability of the movie will be compromised, depriving you of a lot of excitement.

Acting overall is fairly good - especially by Christoph Waltz. His portrayal is unsettling and mesmerizing. Brad Pitt, does a variety of roles, quite unlike his super star image, and he succeeds. With every movie, I get more and more impressed. Both the female leads (Diane Kruger and Mélanie Laurent) look beautiful and give a strong performance. There are cameos by Eli Roth, and Mike Myers.

I definitely recommend this movie. There is no need to remind anyone, but just in case, Quentin Tarantino movies are never for kids. For anyone else who loves movies, this is one that should not be missed.

Plastic

2011-06-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Plastic
Author : Susan Freinkel
My Rating : 5 out of 5

The complete title of the book is "Plastic : A Toxic Love Story".

Susan Freinkel's "Plastic" is a very current, up-to-date book that has to be on your "must read" list.

Plastics when used in daily conversations, is a nebulous term. Technically, it's a polymer (mostly man-made) with long molecular chains, which give it all the properties that we associate with plastics. Paradoxically, the very same properties that make plastics so desirable - lightweight, durable, inert, strong and cheap - also make it such a nuisance. As a result we cannot live without them, but we wish we could.

Susan Freinkel explains both aspects of this love-hate relationship. It was indeed revolutionary that we figured out a way of using the by-products of petroleum processing. It wasn't just about efficiency. These by-products generate a wide variety of plastics that make all sorts of items - from everyday utilities such as comb and toothbrush, to ultra-thin ultra-flexible tubes required in medical equipments. This platics revolution was crucial to improving our standard of living. Its substitution in place of wood and animal parts has helped us stop the plundering of Mother Earth. Think abut it. Today we see pictures of sea birds dying because of plastic trash. But its use has also saved many species by removing our need to kill them.

Freinkel explores the world of plastics, and it's effect on world in general by using a very novel approach. She devotes a chapter to objects such as chair, comb, Frisbee, credit card, bottle etc. I really liked this idea. It was a great pleasure to read the history of plastic chair and comb and Frisbee. These chapters are a great cocktail of information and story telling. The later chapters have less emphasis on story, but more on opinions and research. As a result there is some danger of information overload towards the end. Overall it's very well researched, well presented and well argued.

Consider the case of the plastic bag. It's hard to find an item as reviled and still as widely used. Well maybe the plastic bottle can compete for that dubious honor ! Are these items so deserving of scorn and activist attention ? The book's discussion of these topics was an eye-opener. I had always suspected that, replacing plastic bags with paper bags, is not really a wise solution. My suspicions were confirmed. But there is way more to it than what I had naively suspected. I urge you to read those chapters.

I had also wondered what happens to the items I throw in the recycle bin. I got answers. I think I agree with what I have learned. Recycling is needed, but the need to recycle is also a problem ! Reuse is the solution. Not always possible, but we should do it whenever possible.

As the author correctly points out, plastic is not a villain, and making it compostable won't make it a hero either. It's the culture of irresponsible consumerism based on single use, that's the root cause of the problem. For example, replacing plastic bottles with glass bottles will only increase the fuel required in transportation. Plastic has genuinely great benefits all over the spectrum of its applications. But if we keep throwing it away, we will become a civilization that choked on its own trash.

She points out that, it takes nature thousands of years to create the fossil fuel that's used to make plastics. It takes us few seconds to use it and trash it. Trash that will kill many species and outlive us by many generations. Very ironic and very sad.

Changing consumer behaviour is a tricky multi-dimensional problem. In here, there is a superb survey of many such attempts underway today.

That's not the only focus of the book, nor is its intention to be an activist mouthpiece. It's a social commentary too. I was chuckling when she pointed out how we all disapprove plastic chairs as being cheap, but we still use them. There are many such observations about the curious nature of our relationship with plastics.

I think this book has a wide appeal and it's very relevant today. Read it.

Why do I think Messi is the greatest soccer player ?

2011-06-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

FC Barcelona won the UEFA Champion's League 2011 Final (3-1) against Manchester United in style. Messi scored one, and helped in David Villa's magical goal. It was yet another amazing performance and complete dominance by Barca under Josep Guardiola.

I just want to bookmark a few videos celebrating the best Soccer player ever - Lionel Messi. At 23, he is already at the top of the world. Has won the FIFA best Player of the Year in 2009, 2010 and will likely win it again, having scored the most goals in La Liga and Champion's League.

There is a reason why. He is not just a prolific goal scorer, but he is also a dribbler and a passer. He is not the forward waiting for the midfielders to create an oportunity for him. He creates the opportunities for himself and others. And his control of the ball is already legendary.

For his dribbling skill, check out this video. At around 0:48 check out the sea of yellow jerseys needed to prevent him from scoring.

For his amazing passes, check out

And even you have watched this before, please watch again one of the greatest goals in the history. Starting behind the half-line, he beat 6 defenders and the goal keeper to score this goal !

Movie Review : Frozen River

2011-05-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Frozen River
Director : Courtney Hunt
Genre : Drama
Released : October 2008
Starring : Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott
My Rating : 7 out of 10

I have a bias towards movies that have a strong focus on story and people. The CGI, special effects are nice, but they are definitely not sufficient, and not even necessary for me to like a movie. "Frozen River" is such a low budget movie, with a simple touching story of struggles of day to day existence of 2 single mothers.

The main character is Ray (Melissa Leo). As the movie opens, we learn that her husband has run away from her, taking her savings to blow on gambling. She was saving this money to move into a brand-new double wide trailor. Yes, that's the dream house, and now even that modest dream is unattainable. Living in a small village near a Mohwak reservation in upstate New York and working part-time in a store to take care of 2 sons makes even basic needs seem like luxary.

But she is a fighter. When another single mother Lila (a Mohwak who doesn't really like white people all that much) offers her to join her to smuggle people from across Canadian border, Ray grudgingly takes up the offer. Lila needs Ray to drive the car, as cops are less likely to stop a white female driver. It's Christmas time, which means Ray needs the money to buy presents for her kids as well. It also means, she has to drive the car across the frozen river, a risky endeavor. It's only a matter of time before Ray gets in trouble.

Director/writer Courtney Hunt Makes us root for Ray. She is helped tremendously by an exceptionally strong performance by Melissa Leo (winner of 2011 Oscar). The story revolves around her, and it's her portrayal that makes the movie so believable. Director Courtney Hunt keeps things real, and doesn't make it too dramatic. Yes, life is hard for Ray, but there are some positives as well - her elder son is well-intentioned responsible teenager who wants to help his mother.

It's not a perfect movie. But very worth the time. Definitely recommended. It's rated R, but apart from some strong language, I didn't find anything objectionable in it for kids. Younger kids will get bored, but older kids who like to read, may actually like the movie.

Paranoia

2011-05-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Paranoia
Author : Joseph Finder
My Rating : 4 out of 5 stars

When I read Joseph Finder's, "Company Man", I had no idea of what to expect, as it was the first time I was reading a book by the author. Having liked it, I was eager to read more of his work, and picked this one due to high praise in Amazon.com reviews.

The book is told as a first person account of Adam Cassidy. (I have a bias against this style, but it's not the book's fault.) Adam is kind of a loser, doing a mundane job for Wyatt Telecom. He commits a really stupid fraud and easily gets caught. The company CEO Nick Wyatt makes him an offer - either go to jail on fraud charges, or work as a spy with competitor Trion Systems. Naturally, Adam chooses the second option. Wyatt trains him in corporate espionage and Adam manages to secure a high visibility position in Trion with the sole purpose of stealing secrets. The combination of this training, the new job and a new girlfriend beyond his dreams, completely transforms Adam. Will he fulfill his job as a spy ? If he doesn't, will he be punished for his fraud ? Will he lose his girlfriend in the process ? How will he extract himself out of this mess ? This makes up for a nice high adrenaline set-up for a corporate thriller.

The book delivers on most of its promises. Except, I don't think the ending is that hard to guess. I grant a lot of freedom to thriller books when it comes to the believability of the plot. Things don't have to be completely logical. Life isn't, and often times stranger than fiction. But some readers will shake their heads and might call the plot a bit too "Hollywoodish". There is some truth in that complaint.

Regardless, Joseph Finder is a good story-teller. He manages to draw you within Adam's world. There is a right balance between characterization and page turning action. The main character - Adam - is not a hero, but Finder makes you root for him. The corporate world, definitely feels real - it is not restricted to only boardroom politics.

It's a fun book to read and relax on lazy weekend.

The ongoing Debt Crisis - at State Level

2011-05-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Meredith Whitney is feeling even more confident about her call on the coming crisis in Muni Bond Market. The States are in deep financial troubles. The apparent cause is economic downturn, but the real cause is unrealistic retirement benefits and huge inefficiencies. It's not clear when the day of reckoning will come, and when it comes what the repercussions might be. Greece is serving as a test model for the debt crisis. Using that model and common sense I can say that,

Politicians will try as hard as possible to kick the can down the road. "If the crisis hits when I am gone from office, then I won't be blamed" is how they think. Fixing structural issues is hard. Printing money to create an illusion of prosperity to buy time is easy.
Hope springs eternal - which helps us humans survive tough times, but often makes us blind to a future crisis. Americans will continue to be completely sanguine. No one was willing to believe how bad the credit bubble was, and similarly, no one is ready to understand the implications of the debt crisis. Debt at Federal level and debt (including promised future retirement benefits) at State/Municipal level, is simply unsustainable. There is no way to grow out of this.
No real solution (like a hard reset via bankruptcy) will ever be attempted unless the market forces it upon us in an unpleasant way. Why ? No one likes to be the bearer of gloom/doom news. No one with vested financial interest (e.g. unionized government workers) would prefer to lose a big chunk of their entitlements, and no politician in his/her right mind would offend the voting blocks.

This cannot end well.

My roses are taller than yours :-)

2011-05-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Finally the spring arrived in Pleasanton. Unfortunately it was too late to get any bloom on the fruit trees :-(, which means no fruit this year. At least the roses are happy. These roses blossom profusely and a few of them are really tall. I need a stepping stool to trim them !

This one is trying to go over the first floor.

These are already over a very tall fence.

This one has some catching up to do.

The roses in the front come in different shades of orange and pink on the same branch.

This one is a vine, which I plan to run along the fence.

The most mysterious is this one - it's hard to capture it in photos. Every rose starts as a bright yellow flower and as it blooms, changes color almost every day - goes from yellow, to orange to pink to red !!

Up In The Air

2011-05-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Up In The Air
Director : Jason Reitman
Genre : Comedy/Drama
Released : December 2009
Staring : George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
My Rating : 8 out of 10

Jason Reitman is destined to become one of the greatest directors of all time. Not even 35 yet, he has given us "Thank You For Smoking", "Juno" and now "Up In The Air". I was tremendously impressed with "Thank You For Smoking" - definitely the sharpest satire I have seen. In "Up In The Air", he mixes in some sensitivity in the satire without loosing the sharpness of the comedy.

The story is very contemporary. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) works for a company that helps other companies fire their employees. Ryan is a specialist, a professional. He understands the delicateness of his job responsibilities, treats people with respect and loves what he does. Not because he enjoys hurting people, but because he thinks he doing tough important work. And he also loves the lifestyle. Definitely. He has mastered the art of living on road. Figured out every detail. And he is more concerned about joining the 10 million mile club than having any roots anywhere.

We also meet Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), another road warrior. Ryan and Alex get together very well, right after their first meeting. They arrange their plans to meet at common airports, have frequent short steamy encounters and are almost like a couple - almost. Joining Ryan is Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a new hire who has some novel ideas about how to fire people.

The story moves on - touching us in many different ways, we chuckle, we feel the pain. And we learn more and more about the characters. And Ryan learns a lot more about life and himself.

Although Ryan's transformation, and even the ending, is somewhat predictable, it is believable. Reitman doesn't trick us. He also keeps the drama aspect to a perfect level, only as much as needed. The movie is not a romantic comedy, although it may appear at times as such. It's not just drama either. It cannot be pigeonholed into one genre.

The movie has multiple strengths. The screenplay is exceptional. Character development is perfect - all 3 major characters are multidimensional and you understand them completely, even if you may or may not like them. Acting is superb. The lion's share goes to George Clooney and he is a perfectly cast in this role. In the beginning of the movie, we see George Clooney giving a motivation speech. Compare that to the one he gives at the end. These are 2 very different shades of the same color. Very nicely done.

I loved this movie. I think it has appeal for a very large diverse audience. Highly recommended, but not for kids.

Our Green House

2011-05-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

For last 2 years, we have been trying to do our part to help the environment. Please allow me to pat my own back. I can proudly say that we have reduced our share of landfill to almost nothing. We have been averaging just one small trash bag every week. Not only do we have a smallest size trash container from the city, every week we just put one small bag in it.

We compost anything that can be composted. And recycle anything that can be recycled. And without spending any extra effort/money, we achieved near zero trash. Most people I know recycle as much as possible. But they are apprehensive about composting. Hopefully I can remove some of the apprehensions.

First, if you do not want to manage the composting yourself, you can throw all the compostable material in the green container for yard waste. You can confirm with your city. Pleasanton has a big list of what can be thrown in this container. You will be surprised how many things can be composted.

I just use a few containers - a couple of small sized bins, a couple of medium sized (similar in size to the in-house trash cans) and one larger sized container. I created a few big holes at the bottom for drainage as well as for creating good contact with the soil below. These containers are placed on top of the soil near the fence. That area gets only partial sunlight and not suitable for plants anyways.

I did not buy any expensive equipments, nor did I purchase any worms etc. Just kept it very simple.

I start with the small container, line its bottom with soil from my backyard. Then whenever there is compostable waste - like vegetable peelings etc - I throw them in there. After a few days I throw in another handful of soil, sometimes a handful of grass clippings. Once the container is full, I just empty the whole thing into the medium size container, and when that gets full, it gets emptied into the biggest size container. It easily takes 6 months or more before I have to empty out the biggest container to make room for the compost in other containers. In this time, the compost in the biggest container turns into fluffy, dark and very fertile soil! I just empty it out in my planting area. Done.

So what's the work involved ? Just tumbling the containers once a month, and once a week, throwing in more soil or leaves/grass. Both are essential. The tumbling exposes the entire compost to air and sunlight. And mixing some soil is also necessary to keep adding natural composting workers.

What do I compost ? All fruit/vegetable cuttings/peelings/skins, tea bags, kitchen towels - all organic matter. Except anything related to meat. I would recommend against throwing any meat or even prepared food, else it might attract come critters. We don't waste any food anyways. Many shells don't compost at all - like egg shells or nut shells. No point putting them in there. And definitely don't put any bones, they will only attract critters. Bones do not compost, else we wouldn't have found dinosaur bones !

And to answer your question : NO. It does NOT smell at all. Plant waste is what I am throwing in there. Unless you put your nose into the container :-), you are not going to smell anything. (You might smell something while you tumble the contents.) In cases when you suspect some odor, just add some soil/grass/leaves on top to cover it. It's the manure and animal products that generates the bad odor in the industrial compost plants. Plant waste is not a problem. If you throw prepared food in there, then it might generate some odor due to the fat/oil in it. I wouldn't know, my compost is fat free :-)

You will see some flies/tiny insects around the bins, but they are part of the solution.

There is one downside of this, if you can call it that. The soil generated from this compost, is too fertile, the weeds easily germinate in there ! But that's why my plants grow so strong and yield so much fruit. Pulling out the weeds is a small price to pay. I am helping the environment, and in return getting excellent home grown, fresh vegetables !

Gravity's Arc

2011-05-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Gravity's Arc
Author : David Darling
My Rating : 4 out of 5

The complete title is "Gravity's Arc: The Story of Gravity from Aristotle to Einstein and Beyond".

Author David Darling has covered a lot of material in this short book that can be read very quickly. Starting from early theories of Gravity to all the way upto current speculation about Dark Energy.

The focus is on gravity, not on relativity theory or quantum mechanics or creation of the universe etc. Darling starts with Aristotle's explanation of how things fall to earth and projectile motion. Then we learn how later scientists found flaws in them and corrected - till Newton's formulation of the theory. And as you can expect, we then learn how Einstein used non-Euclidean geometry to change our understanding of gravity and eventually land into current ideas that still await experimental verification. It's quite a journey in fast forward.

All popular science books face a hard choice. Without math, the treatment is bound to be superficial - just verbal explanations. But how much depth can be added without overburdening the layman ? In this book, Darling chooses to just scratch the surface. This allowed him to fit a lot of material in few pages, but left me unsatisfied. But that's just me.

If you haven't read a lot of pop-science, then you might enjoy this book a lot. If you have, then you may not find much new stuff here. That's my criticism. Books like "The Big Bang", by Simon Singh and "Fabric of Cosmos" by Brian Greene cover a lot of gorund, in much more detail and in a very easy to understand style. So a frequent reader of pop-science books has no strong motivation to read this book.

Apart from the overlap problem, the book has no issues. It's a pleasant read.

Messi !

2011-04-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

First leg of UEFA Champion's League Semifinal between Real Madrid and Barcelona. One of the long standing great rivalries. A completely start studded event. Among them is the brightest star - Lionel Messi who at 23 is already being considered as one of the best soccer players ever. In my mind, he is the greatest, surpassing Maradona and Pele.

Watch him create an attack out of nowhere, beating 4 defenders (among the finest in the world), and then the goalkeeper Casillas (who is also the goal keeper of the Spanish team that won the World Championship), and also a 5th player that tried to catch him in vain.

AMAZING. The speed, the dexterity, the control and the imagination.

Edge Of Darkness

2011-04-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Edge Of Darkness
Director : Martin Campbell
Genre : Thriller
Released : January 2010
Starring : Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston
My Rating : 5 out of 10

"Edge Of Darkness" is one of those forgettable thrillers with top stars that Hollywood mindlessly churns out so often. This one is barely enough to be a popcorn movie. It has some shocking scenes, but is generally devoid of any tension whatsoever. And as is typical of such movies, the viewer has everything figured out long before the characters in the story.

It's a simple story. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a detective in Boston. In the opening few minutes, we see his daughter being shot in front of his house. The rest of the movie has Craven trying to find out the people responsible for this.

It's disappointing. Martin Campbell has Casino Royale and Golden Eye under his belt, so what happened here ? This was remake of a TV series and was crammed into a movie. Maybe that's why. There are so many scenes - where I was just left scratching my head and saying - "What ?", "Why did he say that ?", "Really ?" etc. The character of Ray Winstone was just too mysterious for me, completely unbelievable.

I like Mel Gibson a lot - as an actor/director, NOT as a person, let me be clear on that. So I could sit through this movie. But I would recommend his other revenge flick, Payback, over this one.

There is no inflation

2011-04-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

I can keep ranting about the absurdities of current economic policies in US forever. But videos like this capture the essence perfectly. Only the budget deficit drama theater in Washington is comparable.

Somehow, people - when in very large groups like a nation - are completely incapable of fixing the root cause. Sad. Too much debt, too much money printing, too much entitlements are the root cause of our current economic malaise. Nothing will be fixed until it's too late. Because no policy maker wants to be the tough guy administering a bitter medicine.

This cannot end well.

On The Right Track

2011-04-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Book Review : On The Right Track
Author : Marion Jones
My Rating : 4 out of 5 stars

The complete title for this small book is quite long "On the Right Track: From Olympic Downfall to Finding Forgiveness and the Strength to Overcome and Succeed".

Marion Jones was the superstar of the 2000 Olympics, winning 5 medals. Later she lied under oath when questioned by federal agents about performance enhancing drugs made by the infamous BALCO. After a many months, she came clean on her own. Unfortunately, she received the maximum sentence for this offense and spent 6 months in a jail. Her medals were taken away, she was financially broke, lost her home via foreclosure and well, everything was bleak.

This is her story, in her own words about her struggle to get back to normal life. It's a touching, honest account of her feelings.

There is very little in this book about Marion Jones before she went to prison. This is not an auto-biography. This is a long monologue containing her guilty plea, her difficult journey to get back to normal life, her love for her family and how faith helped her.

Marion Jones is not a very good author. The book lacks coherency - but she makes it up for all that and more, by her truthfulness, maturity and honesty. She owns it up, admits her own mistake, doesn't try to transfer the blame, and stays completely non-controversial. The honesty is refreshing and striking. It's impossible to not be moved by her ordeal and her approach to stay positive. The book overall is inspiring, and your heart goes out to her.

What she did requires tremendous courage, very few people can manage to do it. And I can only salute her for that and thank her for writing this book. God bless her !

This is one more book I decided to read because of watching an interview on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show". Happy that I have read it, I can definitely recommend it.

At The End Of The Rainbow

2011-03-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

I am one of the few people who loves rain. One reason is the rainbow, whose scientific explanation has not dulled it's beauty to me. This one was very near my home. These shots are from my window.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

2011-03-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Director : Andrew Dominik
Genre : Western
Released : September 2007
Starring : Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck
My Rating : 4 out of 10

I decided to watch this movie based on the curious title, the cast and the true story on which it is based. Sadly, this turned out to be a long movie (with a long title) - a whole 160 minutes - that feels way longer than even that. I thought I was watching it for like 5 hours.

First the good news. Great acting by Casey Affleck. Really superb. Very nice cinematography. Last 30 minutes are well scripted. That's about it.

Bad news is plenty. Brad Pitt is not a bad actor, but he is badly cast as Jesse James. Completely unbelievable portrayal. A large number of unnecessary scenes. And they are slower than snail. You will learn almost nothing about Jesse James. There is zero tension in scenes that should have been tense. It's hard to care either way about any character except Robert Ford (Casey Affleck).

And the movie takes itself way too seriously. It's absurdly pretentious.

There really isn't much of a synopsis to write about.

I don't mind watching long slow movies at all. But there has to be enough return on investing so much time. Not here.

Had this movie been cut down by half to 80 minutes, I might have a given a tentative recommendation based on the camera work and Casey Affleck's acting. As it stands, you are better off not watching this one.

Humpy Koneru

2011-03-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

I know Cricket World Cup is happening, but this is an important news, that should not be overshadowed. India's highest rated woman GM, Humpy Koneru, has qualified as a challenger to play for the title of the Woman's World Chess Champion against the current World Champion - Chinese GM Hou Yifan !

Humpy has been a leading female player for a while. With some impressive results so far (like winning Girls Junior world championship title). She has been awarded Arjuna Award and Padma Shri by the Indian Government.

The current Woman's World Champion Hou Yifan is a phenomenally talented 17 year old. She won the title when she was 16 years old - and created the record of being the youngest person in the history to win a chess world championship.

Apart from the highest rated female player Judit Polgar (who does not participate in Woman only tournaments), these are the only 2 other girls rated over 2600. So they are the logical contenders for the championship. But the match would be tough for Humpy - in their games so far, Hou has won 7, and Humpy only 2.

If Humpy wins the match later this year, both male and female World Chess Champions would be Indians.

Partial Derangement

2011-03-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

As part of a bigger problem, I wanted to solve what I decided to call "Partial Derangement". This may be part of standard course material on Combinatorics, but I couldn't quickly find anything similar. So I gave it a try on my own. I may be reinventing a wheel here, but it was a fun challenge.

The problem is similar in nature to "derangement". In the derangement problem, we want to find out all such arrangements, which do not have any object in its correct place. Here the restriction is placed on only a few items. Say you want to find out arrangements of letters [A B X Y] such that A cannot be in first place, and B cannot be in second place. There is no restriction on X and Y .

For example, [B X Y A] is a valid arrangement. But [X B A Y] is not. Because here B is in its natural second place.

Let's modify the problem we looked at, while discussing "derangement".

Say M men and W women went to a party. Each was given a name tag. Assume they all had different names. To play a fun guessing game, all the men deliberately put on a wrong name tag on their shirts. No man had the right name tag. The women, on the other hand can put the right name tag if they want. In how many ways can they do it ?

Note how this is quite different from simple derangement discussed before. Here a man can put a woman's name tag to satisfy the requirement of the game. For every man, there are (M-1) * W valid choices. Whereas in a simple derangement, every man would have had only M-1 choices. In other words, this is NOT a derangement only within a subset. Hence the answer cannot be D(M) * W! where D(M) is number of derangements of a set of M objects.

This problem is a bit harder than derangement. But very similar logic can be applied to solve it. First, let's define what we want to solve for.

Let's define, PD (N, K) as the number of arrangements of N items, out of which particular K predefined objects cannot be in their correct place. Note that there are specific K objects, already identified to be deranged.

Think of N numbered balls (from 1..K..N) to be put in N numbered bins (from 1..K..N) . The task is to arrange N balls so that no ball numbered (1..K) is in the bin with the same number.

We will solve it using the similar reasoning style for derangement.

Pick a ball, numbered between (1..K) This ball i can either

A : Be put in any unrestricted bin, which is numbered (K+1..N) In this case, any bin can be used, there is no restriction. There are N-K choices for such a bin.

B : Be put in a restricted bin from (1..K) There are K-1 choices here, as ball i cannot be put in bin i .

Let's examine each case in more detail now.

A : When the ball i is put in an unrestricted bin, we lose one unrestricted bin, of course. But now the corresponding bin i for this ball becomes unrestricted, as any ball can be put there without violating the rule. Meaning the number of unrestricted bins remains same, and the number of restricted bins is now one less. So after this placement, we have N-1 balls, with K-1 restricted bins. This is same as PD(N-1, K-1) . And since there are N-K choices for choosing an unrestricted bin, the sub-total of these arrangements is (N-K) * PD(N-1, K-1) .

B : This is where I am copying the logic used in finding derangement. Here ball i was placed in a restricted bin, from (1..K) . Since it cannot be placed in its own bin, there are K-1 choices for this. Let's say it was placed in bin j . Now let's decide a place for the ball j corresponding to that bin. There are 2 choices - it is either placed in bin i or it isn't.

B1 : It is placed in bin i . This effectively removes the pair i and j from the set. We are left with N-2 balls, to be placed in N-2 bins, out of which K-2 are restricted bins. This is same as PD(N-2, K-2) .

B2 : If ball j is not be placed in bin i, let's represent that restriction by simply renaming bin i to bin j. This leaves us with exactly the same problem, with one less ball. That is, we have N-1 balls, with K-1 restricted bins. This is nothing but PD(N-1, K-1) .

Since B1 and B2 are mutually exclusive, for every choice of bin for ball i we have

PD(N-2, K-2) + PD(N-1, K-1)

arrangements. Since there are K-1 choices for bins, the subtotal here is

(K-1) * ( PD(N-2, K-2) + PD(N-1, K-1) ) .

Since, A and B are mutually exclusive, let's add them to get the final answer.

PD(N, K)
= (N-K) * PD(N-1, K-1)
+ (K-1) * ( PD(N-2, K-2) + PD(N-1, K-1) )
Note the term PD(N-1, K-1)is common in both. So after simplifying, we get a nice elegant formula
PD(N, K) = (N-1) * PD(N-1, K-1) + (K-1) * PD(N-2, K-2)

To use this formula, we have to have certain definitions, to avoid negative values. This is similar to saying 0! = 1 by definition, to terminate the recursion of formula N! = N * (N-1)!

PD(0, 0) = 1 (by definition)
PD(N, 0) = N! (No restricted bins, so all arrangements are valid)

We require one last definition, and it needs some explanation.

PD(N, 1) = (N-1) * (N-1)!

Here we want to know how many arrangements are there, in which one specific ball is not in its corresponding bin. The total arrangements are of course N!. How many invalid arrangements are there ? To find out put the ball in its corresponding bin and arrange the rest of the N-1 balls. This is nothing but (N-1)!. So we have

PD(N, 1)
= N! - (N-1)!
= N*(N-1)! - (N-1)!
= (N-1) * (N-1)!

Let's do a couple of quick checks.

PD(1, 1) = (1-1) * 0! = 0
Obviously, there is no way to arrange just 1 ball with our restriction.
And
PD(2, 1) = (2-1) * 1! = 1
Correct, as there is only 1 way to arrange 2 balls with out restriction.

Let's also check if we are in agreement with full derangement.

PD(N, N) is full derangement - no ball in its corresponding bin, so this should be equal to D(N) .

Let's see. Using our formula,

PD(N, N) = (N-1) * PD(N-1, N-1) + (N-1) * PD(N-2, N-2)
= (N-1) * ( PD(N-1, N-1) + PD(N-2, N-2) )
= (N-1) * ( D(N-1) + D(N-2) ) (using induction)
= D(N)

This was definitely harder than derangement, but it was also much more fun to prove a more general result.

Anoop Desai

2011-03-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

Anoop Desai was a contestant in American Idol season 8, finished at 6th place. His first music video is out. Pretty good song for a newbie.

Rome (HBO Series)

2011-02-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

Review : Rome (a mini TV series)
Produced by : BBC and HBO
My rating : 8 out of 10

HBO's "Rome" TV series covers the events of the Roman Empire in 1st century BC. It ran for 2 seasons in 2005 and 2007. Both the seasons are available on DVD. The first season has 12 episodes, starting with Julius Caesar's victorious conquest of Gaul and ending with his assassination on Ides Of March. The second season has 10 episodes beginning with Marc Antony discovering the assassination and ends with his eventual death (along with Cleopatra) when Octavian's (Augustus Caesar) army defeats him in Egypt.

With so many movies already filmed about all stories related to Roman Empire, what's the point in watching a TV series that cannot be really as "grand" ? Plenty of reasons, I would argue. It may not be as grand as a big budget movie, but it's very detailed. And in fact, the budget was not all that small. Due to expenses needed to recreate Rome, the series was cut short to 2 seasons, and the story at the end was compressed to a few episodes.

We follow 2 common soldiers in Julius Caesar's army, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. Their lives are entangled with that of the nobility and all the dirty politics that was rampant during that time. The story of Roman Empire (as much as is covered by the series), remains very faithful the known history than most of the movies I have seen. Of course, some kind of artistic license is needed to make it dramatic.

Rome is recreated as accurately as is possible. The sets, costumes, customs and daily lives of people in this series feel real. The acting is top notch. You understand every character, the motives and come to like them of hate them. Not a single soul is clean - in fact most are shallow, selfish and outright despicable. But that's how it was. Life was hard. Nothing mattered more than power. Revenge and brutality was commonplace. In spite of the lavish palaces and a Republic government (in theory), it was not a pretty world for most people, and it's shown as it was.

That's the real strength of the series. It doesn't depict grand battle scenes with awesome CGI effects, but shows the lives of people in extreme close-up. It may be too much of a close-up for many viewers, but that's what the series is about.

I highly recommend this series. But with a strong warning. Things are way too explicit and graphic here. Subtlety is completely nonexistent. If your sensibilities are easily offended, then stay away. I am not exaggerating. This is correctly rated "MA" - and is not suitable even for teenagers.

Singularity

2011-02-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

Book Review : Singularity
Author : Bill DeSmedt
My Rating : 2 out of 5 stars

In June 1908, there was a meteor impact in Tungaska, Siberia. This is the largest known impact on land, as powerful as 1000 atom bombs and devastating millions of trees in a 2500 sq km area. It's sheer luck that this was in an isolated area in Siberia, else the consequences would have been truly horrific.

There have been many alternate theories about the cause, including a crash of an alien spaceship. One theory, with little scientific backing, is this event was due to a subatomic black hole that passed through the Earth. There are many problems with this hypothesis. Can black holes be that small ? Can they be stable if they are this small ? How can such a small black hole get created in the first place ? If it was created during the early period following the Big Bang, how did it survive for this long ? That's for theoretical physicists to debate.

But one simple reason for opposing this theory is, lack of an exit event. If indeed a black hole passed through the Earth, then there would have been another explosion as it exited the Earth. Well, author Bill DeSmedt, has an answer. The black hole never left the Earth ! It's trapped inside and slowly eating the Earth away !!

Look, most science fictions have to bend the known laws of Physics, else even a "simple" thing such as inter-galactic travel cannot be used to make a story. So I am willing to play along - but to a limit. The ideas started transcending that limit when some evil Russian plans to "capture" the black hole using magnetohydrodynamics - yeah, look up that term, it's real. They track it's trajectory inside earth, build a trap exactly at the right spot and boom - capture it, just like that. I wish, building particle accelerators was that simple ! And if you think that's bizarre, wait till you find out, why exactly did they want to capture it. Are you ready for the spoiler ? To change history, of course ! To make Russia great again. Whatever.

Actually, that last part about changing history could have been made really interesting. And that's where the book really really really fails miserably. The last few chapters gave me an impression, that even the author was completely confused as to how to tame the weirdness of his own ideas. So many things are left unexplained, may be because it was impossible to explain them.

The characters are as clichéd as they can get. A computer hacker who can do pretty much hack into whatever he feels like. A beautiful female spy, who has lost her parents. A rich Russian with evil intentions. How novel.

Books like this, give Science Fiction a bad name. I have to mention the hilarious awkwardness of the prose.

In the fresh, clean hours after midnight, with the petty interruptions and annoyance of the day fading like dreams at dawn, he essayed prodigies of system design, assembling soaring fairytale architectures of logic, elegance, and power from dry dust of global variables and reserved keywords.

Wow.

DEEP TIME. Its texture is the granular trickle of sand through the fingers, its signature sound, the echoing of footsteps down marble corridors, past doorways opening onto light of other days.

And

... the cool and quite were all but sepulchral.

Sepulchral ? I know my English is quite bad, but reading a fiction book should not make you feel like appearing for GRE.

This book should have been very good. Mixing spy thriller with science fiction is a tantalizing idea. And it does start well - except of course the forced usage of jargon. And then it just fails. Flat on its face. I have to recommend against reading this book.

Obesity Crisis :-)

2011-02-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

Heard on Colbert Report.

Folks, there is an obesity crisis in America. Do you know that 33% of Americans haven't had a chance to be obese yet ?

Khamosh Pani

2011-02-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters)
Released : 2004
Language : Punjabi
Director : Sabiha Sumar
Starring : Kiron Kher, Shilpa Shukla, Aamir Malik
My Rating : 9 out of 10

The partition of 1947 - when the state of Pakistan was created - has been a subject of many movies. It was a traumatic experience for displaced families to say the least. As is unfortunately usual in such ethnic struggles, the ultimate price is paid by women. The point "Khamosh Pani" illustrates, is that the nightmare doesn't ever end - it just comes back in different but equally devastating forms.

Director Sabiha Sumar tells the story of one such woman "Ayesha" with simple honesty. Ayesha (played perfectly by Kiron Kher) lives in a village in the part of Punjab that ended up in Pakistan. Ayesha is a widow and her life revolves around her son Saleem (Aamir Malik) - who is becoming an adult, but still is not very mature. He has a girlfriend Zubeida (Shilpa Shukla) - who has big dreams of her own. Overall their life is typically placid.

But this is year 1979. Prime Minister Bhutto is hanged by the army dictator Zia Ul Haq, beginning Pakistan's long steady descent into the grips of Islamic Fundamentalism. We are only told about these events via news on radio, but we witness its effect on the protagonists. It's easy to see how an aimless lost youth like Saleem is an easy target to be devoured by fundamentalist recruiters. His conversion begins at the worst time for Aayesha. The Sikh people are allowed to come to Pakistan to visit their place of worship. This creates religious tensions. For Aayesha, this brings back all the painful memories she was trying to suppress all the while - because one Sikh person is looking for his sister who was left behind.

This is a difficult and excruciatingly sad subject. Women who could not escape in time either lost their honor or were killed by their own family members in the name of protecting the honor. It's not hard to guess what Ayash'a past must have been, and Sabiha Sumar treats it with utmost sensitivity.

That is the real hallmark of this movie. The directory just completely avoids the trap of over-dramatization. The entire movie feels really real. The village, the people, their interactions, everything. There is no preaching, no propaganda, just storytelling. There is a lot of symbolism, but nothing overt. It's impossible to miss the Aayesha's tragedy - she could never escape the horrors of partition. It took away her remaining happiness and life many years later, but take away it did.

Everybody performs well, although I thought Saleem's transformation from a naive youth to a blind fanatic deserved a better performer than Aamir Malik, who was overshadowed by his 2 main costars. We don't expect anything less from an actress like Kiron Kher and she delivers far more. Her portrayal of Aayesha is absolutely authentic.

This is a sad movie and not for kids. I would definitely include this in "must watch" category.

Derangement

2011-01-31T16:21:00.000-08:00

"Derangement" is a counting problem that commonly occurs in many puzzles, probability questions etc. I wanted to solve another counting problem, that required building upon derangements. So I brushed up on combinatorics to find a quick formula for derangement. It was so elegant, that I had to put it up here.

Derangement is such an arrangement, that no object is in its correct place. For example, if you are to create a derangement of all letters in the alphabet (A .. Z), then such an arrangement should NOT have A at the first place, and B at the second place, and so on, till Z cannot be at 26th place. There is precisely one "forbidden" spot for every object.

As an example, consider only 3 letters [A B C]. The only possible derangements for these letters are [BCA, CAB].

The question is, in how many ways you can do this for N objects ? Let's use the notation for derangement as D(N). Obviously, D(N) < N!.

This problem can be phrased in different ways.

Say N people went to a party. Each was given a name tag. Assume they all had different names. To play a fun guessing game, they deliberately put on a wrong name tag on their shirts. No person had the right name tag. In how many ways can they do it ?
Answer : In D(N) ways.

Another one.

Start with 2 deck of cards. Shuffle each of them separately, and put it next to each other on a table. Start picking one card from the top of each deck, compare and discard. Keep doing it till all 52 pairs have been compared. What is the probability that not a single pair had same cards ?
Answer : D(52) / 52!. Favorable outcomes divided by total number of outcomes.

But what's the formula for calculating D(N) ? It's very elegant.

Think of N numbered balls (from 1..N) to be put in N numbered bins (from 1..N). The task is to arrange N balls so that no ball is in the bin with the same number.

Start with any ball i. It cannot be put in bin i, so there are N-1 ways to choose a bin. Let's say it was put in bin k. For every such choice, following is true. We examine ball k, whose bin was chosen for ball i.

1. Either ball k was put in bin i.

2. Or ball k was NOT put in bin i.

These are mutually exclusive choices. So we can find the count of ways each can be done, and sum them up for getting final answer for D(N).

First choice, ball k was put in bin i. Just remove, the pair bin i and k, with balls k and i in them respectively. That leaves us N-2 balls to be put in an derangement. Each having exactly one forbidden spot. This is nothing but D(N-2).

Second choice, ball k is NOT to be put in bin i. Remove the bin k (with ball i in it). And rename the bin i to bin k, as the ball k is NOT to be put in it. That leaves with N-1 balls to be put in derangement. Each having exactly one forbidden choice. This is nothing but D(N-1).

So for every choice of k, there are D(N-1) + D(N-2) possible number of derangements. Since there are (N-1) choices for k, the formula is

D(N) = (N-1) * ( D(N-1) + D(N-2) )

This formula is very similar to Fibonacci numbers ! But the multiplication makes it grow really faster than Fibonacci sequence.

By defining D(0) = 1 and noting that D(1) = 0, we can calculate all derangements. For numbers up to 10, they turn out to be

D(2) = 1
D(3) = 2
D(4) = 9
D(5) = 44
D(6) = 265
D(7) = 1854
D(8) = 14833
D(9) = 133496
D(10) = 1334961

The math textbooks will also show another result that makes this even more beautiful.

The limit of (N!)/ D(N) as N approaches infinity is the number
e (= 2.7182816576664037...).
This means, the answer to our probability question is very close to
1/e (= 0.367879464285714...).

I will be building on this in another problems soon.

UPDATE : See the solution to Partial Derangement which builds on this post.

Company Man

2011-01-20T17:53:00.000-08:00

Book Review : Company Man
Author : Joseph Finder
My Rating : 4 out of 5 stars

This was the first book I read by Joseph Finder, who has written many best-sellers. And I was impressed.

The main character - Nick Conover - is CEO of Stratton, a huge manufacturer of office furniture, based in a small town in Michigan. He has recently fired thousands of employees and almost everyone in the town dislikes him. His house keeps getting broken into and he is receiving threats. To add to the stress, he has to raise his 2 kids (a young daughter, and a teenage son) all by himself, as his wife died in a car accident a year ago.

As the story opens, his family dog gets brutally murdered by the intruder, and during the next intrusion, Nick shoots the intruder and kills him. Instead of going to the police about it, he decides to hide it. Much more is written on the inside cover, but I will leave it there. And I would say, forget the inside cover, just read the book.

The books starts out slowly. Finder takes his time developing the characters, creating their lives in your mind. That's the real strength of the book. The interactions feel real. Their world feels real. Finder has done good research into how such a corporation would function on a day to day basis. It reminded me of Arthur Hailey.

Those strengths made me overlook the weaknesses. Our main guy Nick is not all that bright. Wonder how he became a CEO ! It takes him forever to see through the office politics. His judgment is quite poor. Maybe that's author's intention. The mystery itself and its inevitable conclusion is not that hard to guess. Still I found myself getting glued to the last part of the book, reading late into the night to finish it off.

I also have a problem about how long it took Finder to get into the rhythm. It was well past 300 pages when the book became truly gripping for me. Else I would have given this 5 stars.

I am very happy to have read this book and highly recommend it to mystery lovers

Juno

2011-01-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Juno
Director : Jason Reitman
Genre : Comedy
Released : December 2007
Starring : Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons
My Rating : 8 out of 10

For some unknown reasons, I had simply missed out on watching Juno till now. It had all the buzz when Diablo Cody won the Oscar for Best Screenplay and the movie had a few other nominations. But then I just forgot about it. It was a mistake that I recently corrected.

The story opens when Juno (Ellen Page) - a teenager - discovers that she is pregnant. She chooses the route of adoption over abortion. Fortunately, she has supportive parents (Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons) and even finds the perfect couple (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman) desperately wanting to adopt her baby. We see these relationships progress till the story ends with the birth of the baby.

The marketing department for the movie has labeled this as a "comedy". I disagree with that label. Not because the movie is not funny. It certainly is. Although it's unlikely to generate any riotous laugh, but it will surely make you chuckle many times. The reason for my disagreement is, the movie is way more than a comedy. In Juno, what is not being said, is equally important.

Juno does have a tough external shell and is constantly bubbling with energy and quirky one-liners. But we also see her sensitive vulnerable side, and we completely understand what's going on in her mind, without she actually telling it all. That's true for all characters, even the ones that have very little screen time. It's amazing how Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody can paint a complete character with so few brushstrokes.

They are helped by superb performances all around. Juno may come across as a typical teenager initially, but Ellen Page shows us that she is also smart and courageous. Forced into adulthood, she is still learning about the world. Part girl, part woman, she is sometimes confused, even as she doesn't really want to admit it. Jennifer Garner is remarkable too. In general the female characters in this movie are stronger and more likable than the male characters.

The movie navigates around every melodramatic pothole but still clearly conveys the feelings. I would like to highlight the scene at the mall when Juno runs into Vanessa. There are surprising dialogues mixed in an emotional scene. That combination of sweet and tangy flavors is sprinkled all over the movie. And I would also urge you to listen to the songs that play in the background. The lyrics are amusingly offbeat, both musically and literally.

It's a short movie but still feels very complete. I highly recommend it.

Lexicographically Lowest Possible String

2011-01-13T20:23:00.000-08:00

The qualification round for Facebook Hacker Cup happened last weekend. I was initially tricked by one of the problems. I thought I had solved it - but the next day while browsing some blogs about the problems, my wife discovered a mistake I had made. Fortunately, I had solved the other problem correctly to qualify for the next round.

The problem appears simple enough. You have been given a set of string and you have to find a "lexicographically lowest possible concatenation" of these strings. An example makes it perfectly clear. Assume that the only characters in the strings are lowercase characters from 'a' to 'z'.

If the input is abc xyz pqr . The correct output should be abcpqrxyz .

Of all the possible ways in which you can concatenate the strings, this will be the first one if you arrange them in ascending order. Conceptually, this is equivalent to saying, find all the N! ways in which the strings can be combined, sort them in ascending order and output the first one.

That brute force approach is horribly inefficient. So the quick solution that comes to mind is, just sort all the strings in ascending order, and then iterate over them to concatenate them one after another. That will work with our example. That's what I did. So what's the issue ?

Problem with natural sort and concat

Consider the following example case where the input is just these 2 strings[xa xab]
Since "xa" < "xab" a simple sort and append method will produce xaxab
This is not correct, as the other possible concatenation is the correct answer.
Because xabxa < xaxab

And that's the problem.

For any 2 strings S1 and S2, S1 < S2 does NOT imply (S1.S2) < (S2.S1).

This happens only if one string is a starting substring of another. There is NO problem with natural sort and concat in following cases.

For [abc pqrabc] the answer is still in natural order = abcpqrabc which is < pqrabcabc
For [abcd abczpqr] the answer is still in natural order = abcdabczpqr which is < abczpqrabcd

Even when we have a starting substring, the simple natural sort and concat can be correct.

For [xa xaz] answer is still in natural order = xaxaz.

Correct solution

My new solution is still a sort and append. But when the strings are being sorted, simple comparison "if S1 < S2" should not be used. The correct comparison is "if (S1.S2) < (S2.S1)". So the strings should be placed in ascending order using the comparison of their concatenations.

Generally speaking, before concatenating the strings should be ordered
[S0 S1 S2 ... Sn]
such that
for any k, the concatenation (S[k-1].S[k]) < (S[k].S[k-1])

Then the entire concatenation would be lowest.

Informal Proof

That sounds intuitively correct. Still, since I was tricked once, I just want to make sure that this approach is indeed correct.

Let's say while sorting we decide to order the strings as [S1 S2] because (S1.S2) < (S2.S1). Then we check string S3, and since (S2.S3) < (S3.S2) we decide to put it last as [S1 S2 S3]. This will give us S1.S2.S3 as our answer. It's correct based on comparison of [S1 S2] and [S2 S3]. But what about the comparison of [S1 S3] ? How do we know that S3 should not be put ahead of S1 giving us the answer S3.S1.S2 ?

To prove that above ordring is indeed correct, we need to make sure that our comparison is transitively correct.

Prove that, if (S1.S2) < (S2.S1) and (S2.S3) < (S3.S2), then it implies (S1.S2) < (S3.S1)

The only interesting case in our ordered list [S0 S1 S2 ... Sn] is when the natural sorting order is violated for all 3 strings. Any ordering [S1 S2 S3] generated by our algorithm is trivially correct if S1 < S2. There is no point comparing S3 to S1 here. In fact we can simply combine such string pairs into one bigger string, and keep reducing the number of strings till we have a violation of the natural order in at least 3 successive strings.

Consider the natual sorting order [xa xab xabc]. But for us, the correct order is [xabc xab xa]. This is the only interesting case. We want to make sure our derived answer xabcxabxa is really the lowest.

Another example.

Consider the natual sorting order [xa xab xabz]. But for us, the correct order is [xab xabz xa]. This is NOT intersting as the order for first 2 strings [xab xabz] is just natural ordering. We can reduce this to [xabxabz xa] and now our solution is trivially correct.

To repeat, the natural sorting order of [S1 S2] will be violated only if entire S1 is a substring of S2, and (S2.S1) < (S1.S2).

So let's consider the case generally and name the substrings as X, Y and Z.
S1 = Z.Y.X
S2 = Z.Y
S3 = Z

Clearly S3 < S2 < S1 using natural order, but solution using our comparison came out to be in exactly the opposite order as [S1 S2 S3]. Let's prove it correct.

Also our algorithm decided that S2.S3 < S3.S2 - meaning Z.Y.Z < Z.Z.Y Removing identical substring from the beginignof both, gives us Y.Z < Z.Y and this implies Y < Z.

Now S3.S1 will be Z.Z.Y.X and compare this to S1.S2 which is Z.Y.X.Z.Y. Since we know that Z > Y, it follows that Z.Z > Z.Y. Therefore (S3.S1) is indeed > (S1.S2) and hence S3 should not be placed ahead of S1.

Maybe I made it too complicated. But I could not figure out a simpler proof. I can also prove it a bit more formally using induction, but I don't think it's simpler. In any case, the solution is really very simple to implement, and that's what matters !

The Alexander Cipher

2011-01-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

Book Review : The Alexander Cipher
Author : Will Adams
My Rating : 3 out of 5 stars

I am always on the lookout for books by new authors. When I saw "Alexander Cipher" and read the description, I was very enthusiastic about reading it. Now, having read it, I am not so enthusiastic about recommending it.

The book calls itself thriller, and it's written in the style of a modern page turner. Problem is, there is not enough incentive to keep turning the pages. That's a shame, because there is definitely a lot of potential here. The idea is cool, the author can write a complex plot and develop characters if he chooses to. But by focusing more on the Hollywoodish presentation than substance, the author lets the potential remains just that - a potential. On the plus side, there are no major logical holes - at the end things are nicely tied together.

During a building construction (in Alexandria, Egypt) a necropolis gets discovered which leads to some clues about the real location of the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great. The excavation of this site and ensuing search for the location of Alexander's tomb entangles the lives of all characters in the story. The hero is Daniel Knox, an archeologist who is connected by just one degree of separation to everyone else in the story.

This is a decent idea, sort of Indiana Jones, sort of Da Vinci Code. And there is plenty of running around - in fact way too much running around. That doesn't leave author much scope to do anything else. There is a bit of history lesson, there is some character development (especially the Egyptians) - but there is no puzzle solving as was in Da Vinci Code. And since we are not invested in any of the characters, we really don't feel much for them, let alone root for them. As a result, the countless action scenes do not feel thrilling, as we really don't care about what happens to whom.

I am OK with mindless page turners, but not if they are this long. And this didn't have to be like that. Egypt, Alexander, lost tomb, treasure hunt with clues - this is more than enough ammunition to sprinkle a handful of historical trivia in a gripping thriller. Just stop making your characters run from a place to place every third page, escaping one danger after another and sit down to develop them, throw in some puzzles, blend in some more history, take the reader with you on an intelligent adventure ! Oh well.

I can neither recommend against reading this book, nor for it. Set your expectations right, and you may like it.

It's Complicated

2011-01-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : It's Complicated
Director : Nancy Meyer
Genre : Comedy
Released : December 2009
Starring : Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin
My Rating : 6 out of 10

Nancy Meyer is known for light, comedy movies and "It's Complicated" is no exception. And .... hmmm, let's just say as it is - this is a "Chick Flick" just like her other movies.

But is it good ? The script starts out well, has some really funny moments. After about 3 quarters of it, the script forgets that it started out as a comedy, tries to change its genre to drama and makes "It's too complicated for itself". That's my attempt to make a pun on the name, just in case you missed.

Jane (Meryl Streep) is the owner of a bakery in an up-scale neighborhood. She is a divorcee, with 3 grown-up kids. She accidentally starts an affiar with her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) who is currently married to a much younger woman. The romantic triangle is completed by Adam (Steve Martin) who is helping Jane build a dream kitchen.

It makes for an interesting and a bit novel set-up for a light-hearted comedy with a clear target audience demography. I have already stated what's problematic with the movie. Still it has numerous strengths to make it worth watching. The main strength, of course, is the perfect cast. Alec Baldwin does a nice job and we know exactly what type of person his character is. Steve Martin, as a bit of surprise, plays a serious, sensitive and reserved person. The center of the movie is naturally the Godess of Acting herself - Merryl Streep.

The movie is less than 2 hours, but could have been even shorter. It is definitely enjoyable. There are more than a few adult only jokes in it, else it could have been OK for kids. In any case, I really doubt if there are any kids (of any age) interested in watching romance between old folks ! Just watch it for Merryl Streep, if for no other reason.

The Brass Verdict

2010-12-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

Book Review : The Brass Verdict
Author : Michael Connelly
My Rating : 3 out of 5 stars

Michael Connelly has written numerous best selling mystery books - based on 3 main protagonists - the detective Harry Bosch, or the lawyer Mickey Haller or the reporter Jack McEvoy. "The Brass Verdict" is a Mickey Haller (or called the Lincoln Lawyer) book with a guest appearance from other 2 characters as well. That was the main reason for me to try this out as my first Michael Connelly book - 3 in 1 !

A movie producer is arrested and being charged for a double murder of his wife and her lover. The first lawyer hired by the movie producer is also murdered and the case lands on the laps of Micky Haller. As he starts building his defense, naturally he realizes that there is more than meets the eye. Giving any more synopsis, would give out some surprises.

As a mystery, this is quite decent and well-structured. Everything falls neatly in place by the end, nothing seems forced, there are no logical holes and the conclusion is quite satisfying.

What made me give this only 3 stars is they way clues are tied together. In spite of being written as a first person account - we are not given enough insight into the mind of our protagonist. Of course complete insight will mean no surprises, but some of the real investigation is done by Haller's helper and we are never told what he discovered. We just hear the deductions made by Haller. The best mysteries are where the reader has almost the same amount of information as the investigator, but it's presented in such a way that the reader is never sure how to tie it all together - till it's explained by say someone like Hercule Poirot.

Nevertheless, this is a very nice book to read. Connelly excels at building a real multi-dimensional character of Haller - who is far from perfect. He takes his time, so the book may feel slow to some. To me the character development was a big plus point. We are given a nice tour of how the justice system really works, and the subplots are interesting too.

I definitely recommend this book. Personally, for the next book by Connelly, I would read a book from his other series - featuring detective Bosch - than by the same Mickey Haller.

Attack of the Frogs !

2010-12-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have an epidemic of frogs in my backyard. There are harmless to plants, but there are just too many. But I cannot kill them, because they are "aaawwww so cute". Now they are expanding their territory and climbing over walls and windows !

The Big Bank Theory

2010-12-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

The only real financial journalist in the country happens to work for the comedy channel ! Why is it only Jon Stewart's responsibility to catch someone lying ? This time it's The Bernanke who is lying about "printing money".

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Invention of Lying

2010-12-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : The Invention of Lying
Directors: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Genre : Comedy
Released : October 2009
Starring : Ricky Gervais, Jenifer Garner, Rob Lowe
My Rating : 6 out of 10

"The Invention Of Lying" is a very rare comedy that can make you ponder as much as it can make you laugh.

They idea is innovative. Imagine a world where no one ever lies - because they simply cannot ! It's not a matter of choice for the people in this alternative universe - they just speak the truth. All the time. Even when it's the harshest thing to say.

Mark (Ricky Gervais) is a loser who works in a movie producing company. We meet him as he is going on a blind date with an attractive woman Anna (Jennifer Garner). First look, and she announces to him that he is not good enough for her. But out of politeness they go to a restaurant where the waiter tells him that she is way out of his league. This is how people talk to each other in the movie. Not in an insulting tone, but politely stating things as they are. It's a simple and cruel world. And it's hilarious.

Mark discovers by accident that he can lie - and things get very interesting. Instead of using that ability to lie for his own petty benefits, he starts using it to comfort people. What an idea ! Saying things that are not true can help make someone feel better. Note that there is no such words as "lying" or "truth" in their vocabulary. And there is no word for "God" either.

That's where the movie transcends itself from being just a comedy. It's a funny take alright - but the viewer cannot escape the questions that are being posed in an indirect way. The entire notion of Mark's "Man in the sky", relies on just make-believe statements in order to make people feel better.

That's what I mean when I say, the movie forces you to ponder as much as it can make you laugh. Is lying all that bad if it makes you feel better ? Is that the basis of all religions ? If these unverifiable beliefs actually help people live their life, is that a justification enough for spreading them ? Of course, a comedy movie cannot be expected to answer those questions - these debates have been going on ever since humans developed an ability to introspect. I prefer these subtle questions far more than the extravagant philosophical discussions spawned by the "Matrix" trilogy.

This turns out to be a double edged sword. As much as it helps the movie rise to a different level, it also makes it a bit unwieldy. The comedy sputters and the movie gets very unfocused in the end.

Nevertheless, Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner, both make it work. Their acting is spot on. I recommend this movie - it's short, funny and thought provoking. It's not for kids.

Last Crop Of 2010

2010-11-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

Now that the temperature is dropping below freezing, I decided to remove all the tomatoes and jalapenos (and other peppers) from the plants. Made a huge batch of Insane Hot Tomatillo Salsa.

Take this quick quiz. How many tomatoes and peppers are there ? :-)

The Tipping Point

2010-11-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

Book Review : The Tipping Point
Author : Malcolm Gladwell
My Rating : 3 out of 5

The complete title of the book is "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference".

When I read "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, I had mixed reactions. I thought the author wrote a very nice to read book but was portraying some great insight which we already know via common sense. Still I was interested in trying his earlier books. After reading "Tipping Point", I hate to say this, but I don't think I will read his other books.

The books have the same format - interesting anecdotes mixed with author's assertions. In "Tipping Point", Gladwell is examining how a certain product suddenly becomes popular, how something becomes a fad - in short how a "meme goes viral".

This is a very interesting investigation. Gladwell classifies the concepts into various labels - Mavens, Connectors, Salesperson, Power of the context, Law of the few, Stickiness factor etc. Gladwell explains his labels well. There are enough interesting people and stories to keep the reader engaged. Gladwell supports his assertions using diverse stories that range from children's shows to religious groups to crime rates in New York.

All this is fine, and the book is easy to read. It did become a big long and repetitive for me by the end. But that could be just me. The real problem is - the whole premise feels unscientific. This is not real new research in any field of study, but it's presented as such. Like "Outliers", Gladwell is just quoting other researchers in this book. He does a good job of connecting their inferences and there is no plagiarism, but there is very little original contribution. And much less in the way of any new insight. Most of it is just common sense deductions arranged in a pseudo-scientific package.

In spite of giving it the 3 star rating, I may be coming off as a bit too harsh and negative. It's not a bad book, it's just that it doesn't deliver what it promises. The superficiality is frustrating. I know that books should be fun read in order to appeal to as much audience as possible, but serious research and original insight can be fun as numerous books have done - like "Freakonomics" or "Guns, Germs and Steel". This book may help you pass an idle evening or have some nice discussions around lunch table. But that's about it. Expect more, and you will be disappointed.

They Really Said It ! [9]

2010-10-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

Love him, or hate him, you have to hand it to Peter Schiff on how correct he was and how well he handled all the slander and ridicule he received.

This is a compilation from 2006-2007. Some choicest statement from Peter Schiff's opponent Art Laffer
- US Economy has never been in better shape
- The monetary policy is "spectacular"

The next one have an "expert" proclaiming a return to "only" 10% annual appreciation as that's how the "normal" market works ! Another one shouts "what artificial lending standards you are talking about" and starts laughing at Peter Schiff.

Then we have the famous Ben Stein claiming that the "credit crunch is way overblown" and "subprime problem is a TINY problem". He further advises us as "buying opportunity of the lifetime" when Dow was over 13K. It dropped nearly 50% from there and even today is 15% below his lifetime buying opportunity. Peter Schiff retorts - "The party is over for US". Then everybody proclaims, "Worst is over" and only Pter Schiff says, "the worst is yet to come". Oh, and it gets even hilarious - everyone loves financial stocks - and only Peter Schiff says, "they are toxic".

The following video is just too brutally hilarious. What else can you expect when a Realtor goes against Peter Schiff ?

Click here for previous installment in this chain.

THE Simplest Recipe for Artisan Bread

2010-10-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like eating fresh, hot from oven bread ? But most people find the entire process of baking bread very intimidating. First you have to use the right ingredients, get the proportions just exact, then knead the dough to a perfect consistency, let it rise and proof for just the right duration and then bake it at exactly for so long at an exact temperature. The amount of parameters that you have to think about make buying a digital camera seem like a child's play.

What's so special about this recipe ?

I have a very simple recipe, based on ideas from a few books and it will give you a very good artisan bread. It won't win you any prizes in bread baking competitions, but what makes it great is

1. It's very forgiving, you don't need to be super-perfect in order to get it right.
2. It uses the minimum possible ingredients, and can be very healthy if you use 100% whole wheat flour.
3. It provides ample scope for your creativity to do variations on the same theme to get very different breads. More on that later.
4. It's very flexible and can be adjusted to meet your schedule. I will cover that later, for now, let's keep things simple.
5. And it's tested. I have used it many times. I have told others about it and they have had great success with it.

The ingredients :

Generally, bread recipes call for 3 cups of flour. For the first time, use the following measures, and if you want a 3 cup bread, just double everything.

- 1 1/2 (One and one half) cup of flour. You can use bread flour, all purpose flour or 100% whole wheat flour. Whole wheat bread will be denser and heavier, as is to be expected.
- 2/3 cup water - but if you are using 100% whole wheat flour you will need 3/4 cups of water. Don't worry about the temperature of the water, just use regular water.
- 3/4 tsp table salt
- 3/4 tsp yeast (active dry or instant yeast)

Nothing else, this is as pure as bread can be (except of course breads using starters that catch air-borne yeast). Neither sugar nor fat of any kind is needed.

The first thing to note here is, the amount of water is way higher than recipes that require kneading. That's right, there is no kneading in this recipe, in fact so much water makes kneading impossible. We are relying on higher hydration to do the work for us. Apart from eliminating the kneading, high level of hydration will also give us soft, open crumb with big holes - typical of what is often called as an "artisan" bread.

In a large glass bowl (don't use plastic/metal) stir together flour, salt and yeast.

Add all the water to it.

Using a big spoon, keep stirring the dough for a couple of minutes. You won't be able to do that with your hands. The dough will be very sticky. As you begin, it may feel too wet or too dry, but don't worry. Just work the sides of the bowl to keep the dough in one lump. All you are trying to do is to eliminate any dry spots. It won't take more than 2-3 minutes. That's it. The dough will look like a very sticky lump.

Cover it, and keep it away from sunlight for about 4 hours. Don't worry about the exact duration. The rising won't be done in less than 3 hours, and won't need more than 5 hours. Use the following photos as a guide to decide when it's time to bake.

Halfway during the rising, it will look something like this.

When the dough starts looking bubbly like this, it's ready for baking. By this time, the dough would have tripled in size, if not more.

Liberally sprinkle a cookie sheet with flour. You can use a foil to line the sheet, I prefer parchment paper.

Now, very gently pour the dough - which will look like a thick batter - on to the sheet. Just remember to not force the dough, or you will punch it down. We want to protect the air bubbles as much as possible. Tilt the bowl, and let gravity do the work for you. If you have to, just nudge it around edges. But do NOT scoop it out. Do NOT press it. Sprinkle it with flour.

Once it's on the sheet, let it be. Don't try to shape it. Our bread is very similar to ciabatta - which literally means "carpet slipper" in Italian. The only drawback of higher levels of hydration is difficulty in shaping. I would recommend that you don't try to shape it at all. Don't even score it. If you are trying out for the first time, you will almost surely punch it down while doing so. Just keep it simple, avoid the work and as a bonus, you will get a nice bread !

This may look flat - but trust me, you will get a nice oven spring once the dough is in the oven. For first few minutes, the warmth of oven and high water content will send the yeast into a frenzy and before it gives up it's life as the temperature of dough goes over 200, it would have secured you a very airy crumb.

Pre-heat the oven at 425 F. Ovens are different. But you cannot bake it below 400 and anything over 450 is too high. If you have to adjust later based on the result, be within that range.

Put the sheet in oven and bake for about 22 minutes. Again, it won't be done in 20 minutes, and over 25 minutes, it will be almost over baked. Whole wheat may take 25 minutes, but not more.

During baking, the bread will rise and spread. It won't be a super-tall loaf. It needs room to increase its size sideways, so don't bake it like a cake in a pan to give it shape - this needs to be a free standing loaf.

Once it's baked, remove it from oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes. It's tempting to just cut it and eat it, but you have to let the steam, that's trapped inside, complete its job.

Use a sharp serrated knife and try not to squeeze the bread while cutting. Best time to cut is when you are ready to eat. This bread will stay for a couple of days, but it will start to dry out once cut - remember there is no oil to keep it soft.

This bread is perfect with an Italian menu and for many Indian dishes like "Paav-bhaji" and "Usal Paav" etc. It will be fresh, homemade, without any chemicals/preservatives and healthy. And very simple to prepare.

If you have any questions or need to make some changes or need variations, let me know.

UPDATE : See the troubleshooting guide for more help if you need any.

Changeling

2010-10-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Changeling
Released : 2008
Director : Clint Eastwood
Genre : Drama
Starring : Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich
My Rating : 8 out of 10

Clint Eastwood has established himself as a foremost contemporary director with a distinctive style. With well developed characters, a strong focus on the story and a very deliberate pace, his movies capture our attention and never let it go. Even when the movie is over. "Changeling" is no exception.

The movie is based on a true story. In late 1920s, a single mother (played by Angelina Jolie) is living with her only son, about 10 years old. One day, her son goes missing. Most likely kidnapped. The police claim to have found him. But when the boy is returned to the mother, she claims it's not her son. Why do the police pressure her to accept the boy as her son ? That's not hard to figure out, as the movie shows how corrupt the cops were. But what happened to her real son ? And will the police accept their mistake and find the real son before it's too late ?

That's the real focus of the movie, and hence I won't divulge any further. The movie takes its time in developing the story. But remember, true stories do not have neat fiction like endings. So more than the ending, how the movie reaches there is important. The story progresses on at least 2 lines. The struggle against the corrupt police system, and the real investigation that becomes more and more disturbing as it progresses.

These 2 lines eventually merge together. Neither one is pleasant. Eastwood doesn't take any easy routes and no parent can remain unmoved by what gets discovered in the investigation. This movie is not for the faint of the heart.

Everything about this movie is top class. Great direction, great script and superb editing. John Malkovich does a perfect job in the role of a pastor supporting Angelina Jolie's fight. All other actors perform admirably, especially the alleged kidnapper (played by Jason Butler Harner) is evil personified.

Angelina Jolie received an Oscar nomination for this role, and I happen to disagree with it. She did a good enough job, but I wasn't wowed by it. A role like this offers a lot of scope to the actor to be great. Her acting was very good, but should have been great. That and the length of the movie, stops me from giving it a full 10.

This is correctly rated as R, and kids should be kept away from this movie. For serious movie buffs, this is highly recommended.

My tomato is bigger than yours

2010-10-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

Had a nice crop of tomatoes this year. Some of them were quite big. The following is a tomato, NOT a pumpkin - it's bigger than a red delicious apple. Wish they had a tomato competition like they have for pumpkins. Maybe I should carve a tomato for this year's Halloween !

Your next crisis

2010-10-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

This century has began with a series of crisis on the economic front. From the dot com bust to the housing bubble to financial crisis and to sovereign defaults. I think the US Govt debt - as bad as it is now - is dwarfed by the political and economic crisis that will be brought upon us by the financial disaster waiting to happen at state levels.

This is NOT something that will happen in distant future. It's going to happen soon. See this story on Bloomberg ...(emphasis mine)

California, which has the largest U.S. public-pension fund, faces liabilities that may exceed its annual state-tax revenue fivefold within two years unless lawmakers rein in benefits, according to a study.

To keep their promises to retirees, the California Public Employees Retirement System, the biggest plan, the California State Teachers Retirement System, the second-largest, and the University of California Retirement System may have combined liabilities of more than 5.5 times the state’s annual tax revenue by fiscal 2012, according to the study released today by the Milken Institute. Levies are forecast to reach about $89 billion in the year that began July 1.
...

This will not be just a financial problem for the pension funds. This will be an economic issue due to tax implications and a polarizing political issue with potential social unrest. Why ? Because every California resident - is either paying for these pensions or receiving these pensions. A neutral stance is unlikely to be available :-(

California is not the only state in this situation. And this hasn't even started catching the attention of the masses. I have no idea how this is going to play out, but I suspect, it won't be pretty.

The "Lara Lappa" girl

2010-10-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

This song was played often on TV when I was growing up in India. It's from the comedy movie "Ek Thi Ladki" (released in 1949), but who really was that girl ? The tune is catchy, Lata's voice is very sweet, the lyrics are funny and the actress is cute enough to make you ignore the outdated and forced acting style. But what happened to that beautiful face ? I could never gather much information about the actress herself.

Till man invented internet, of course. I found all the information I was looking for, at UpperStall.

From being the heart throb of India (being known as the 'Lara Lappa girl' at her peak) to begging at a film function in the 1980s in Pakistan for money to marry off her sister's daughters, Meena Shorey's is the classic riches-to-rags story one often finds in the filmline, the world over.

...

Much more information at the link. Looks like a nice site.

Quants

2010-10-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Book Review : The Quants
Author : Scott Patterson
Released : Feb, 2010
My Rating : 3 out of 5 stars

The complete title of the book is "The Quants: How a New Breed of Math Whizzes Conquered Wall Street and Nearly Destroyed It".

The financial collapse of 2008, has generated a lot of information on many facets of Wall Street via books, news articles and TV documentaries. This book focuses on the secretive world of "Quants", or hedge funds primarily using quantitative analysis as their investment strategy.

The people who run these funds are not in the tradition of Warren Buffet, rather they are Math wizards. They depend on their statistical analysis skills and a deep understanding of probability theory to manage huge sums of money. Their models are built on massive number crunching, rather than fundamental economic analysis.

How different it is than traditional investing philosophy ? How did these funds come to manage such huge sums of money ? Who are these people ? How did they do it ?

The book tells us, that it all started with Ed Thorpe. He literally wrote the book on winning in blackjack, "Beat the dealer". He then extended those ideas about using probability, computer modeling and statistical analysis to beat the stock market - the grandest of all casinos.

Calling Wall Street a casino, is not just a cliché. Many of these quants are very good poker players. Peter Muller has won many poker tournaments. They are obsessed with gaining a complete control over risk, not in just managing it. Understanding probabilities and positioning for various outcomes is what they excel at. In that sense, there is a lot of common mathematical ground on which strategies for both poker and trading can be built on.

This is a fascinating story to say the least. Part history, part rough biographies, and part commentary - the book presents a lot of information in a very reader-friendly style. In spite of the heavy sounding title, this book makes for a very light entertaining read - the target audience is general public like you and me.

The author, Scott Patterson is a journalist, and that style is obvious. Very readable, but often time feels very superficial. There is a lot of research done on the historical aspects, no doubt, and it's very informative. On the other hand if you are interested in finance/investing, you will most likely not encounter anything new on that aspect. I also found the order of presentation a bit distracting. It's almost chronological, but shifts back and forth between different people and the transitions are not smooth.

I can definitely recommend this book to everyone. But it left me wanting for more, and only half satisfied. Is the author blaming the quants for the financial collapse ? Of course they played a part in it and the over-reliance on models is one of the main culprits. But how much blame goes to quants ? What about the over leverage in the entire system ? And outright fraud at all levels starting from borrowers to mortgage originators and to all the steps in securitization. Not to mention the bad regulation (repeal of Glass-Steagall) and failure of Federal Reserve. This context is not mentioned at all.

If you keep that in mind, I think you would enjoy the book.

Jon Stewart Goes Nuclear On Fox News

2010-08-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

They are either Evil or Stupid !
And the conclusion is : If you do not want your money to be used for terrorism, stop watching Fox News !!

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Movie Review : The Trigger Effect

2010-08-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : The Trigger Effect
Released : 1996
Director: David Koepp
Genre : Thriller
Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Elisabeth Shue
My Rating : 6 out of 10

While browsing the TV Guide, I came across this movie - it had an interesting enough synopsis, that perked my curiosity enough to record it on the DVR and watch it later.

Which movie would you prefer to watch about some Aliens attacking planet earth ? Is it "Independence Day" or "Signs" ? (Maybe for you the answer is "neither", but that's beside the point !) Do you prefer loud action ? Or do you prefer to see how ordinary people would react to extra-ordinary circumstances ? That answer should decide if you want to try "The Trigger Effect" or avoid it.

The situation in this movie is not post-apocalyptic, but has certain resemblance to it. Here a mysterious power outage throws a family's life in disarray. The movie does not explain why exactly the outage happened, and that's fine by me. What it tries to do is to show how common people would try to cope up with complete lack of electricity, no telephone, no radio/TV, no communication of any sort. This is 180 degrees opposite of "Mad Max 2". People in this movie are close to a breaking point and there are indications that if power is not restored, there will be anarchy. But everyone's trying his or her best to hang in there.

This is the kind of treatment I like. And if the movie is willing to go off a beaten path, I am more than willing to take a tolerant view of it. So while such a movie may seem boring to some, I am drawn to any such attempt of "new treatment". In spite of such biases, the movie was not entirely satisfying to me.

Generally this happens because of a hasty, contrived ending. The problem here is quite opposite. The latter half of the movie is quite tense and well crafted. The issue I have is with the setup. It takes forever for director David Koepp to establish the characters and their relationship. And even then, we don't really learn much about them. So chances are many viewers would start yawning and switch off before the 1st quarter of the movie is over.

Fortunately, there is no preaching about how over-dependence on the technology is bad. The movie is far away from being a Sci-Fi. I think the movie is incorrectly labeled as a "thriller", and "drama" would be a better genre for it.

I have very mixed feeling about recommending this movie. It's rated 'R' and is not for kids. It's definitely not a waste of time, but I don't see any compelling reason to go out and rent it either.

Bumper Stickers - 2

2010-08-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

Not very politically correct in this economic climate, but in it's own insensitive way, does have a point.

Work harder ! Millions of people on welfare depend on you.

if Furlough then Salary++ ;

2010-08-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Law of Of Unintended Side Effects, strikes again.

California Watch reported that :

Rather than receiving a 15-percent pay cut as intended, hundreds of state managers and other high-level workers brought home more money than usual during some furlough weeks thanks to an obscure federal labor law, a California Watch review of state records has found.
During furlough weeks between February 2009 and April 2010, state departments paid at least $1.6 million in overtime to salaried state workers who are not typically eligible to receive it, according to data provided by the state controller's office. At least 14 employees took home more than $10,000 in overtime payments during that period.
The payments were allowed because during furlough weeks, federal law requires the state to temporarily classify most salaried workers as hourly employees so their pay can legally be reduced.
But that shuffle has a side effect: It makes employees who are typically exempt from overtime rules eligible for a rare opportunity to collect the extra cash.

Ironically, the department that paid the most was EDD !

Of the three-dozen departments that paid at least some overtime to exempt workers, none shelled out more than the Employment Development Department, which paid more than $488,000. The department is charged with running California’s unemployment programs, which have been swamped in the down economy.
Department spokeswoman Loree Levy said demand for unemployment benefits and information technology projects within the department led to the overtime, which she said was closely monitored and approved.

Be happy, your tax dollars are working overtime !

Raavan

2010-08-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

Movie Review : Raavan
Released : 2010
Language : Hindi
Director : Mani Ratnam
Starring : Abhishek Bachhan, Aishwarya Rai, Govinda
My Rating : 1 out of 10

My only reaction to "Raavan" by Mani Ratnam, is "Hey Raam !"

I have loved many of Mani Ratnam movies. "Bombay" is on my list of best movies. So it makes me very sad to say that, this movie is not worth writing any review. Simply avoid it and send your ticket money to Mani Ratnam as a "retirement gift" and hope he gets the message.

Bronze Statues In Pleasanton Downtown

2010-07-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

Some very nice lifelike bronze statues are on display in Pleasanton downtown.

Eureka Man

2010-05-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Eureka Man
Author : Alan W. Hirshfeld
My Rating : 2 out of 5 stars

The complete title of the book is "Eureka Man: The Life and Legacy of Archimedes".

I visited Nehru Science Center as I high school student. I still remember my astonishment after seeing the "Archimedes Screw" to get water up from a low point. The simple ingenuity made me wonder, how could he think of that trick ? That was but one small achievement for the genius mind of Archimedes, who is considered along with Newton and Gauss as the greatest mathematicians ever.

But he was much more than a mathematician. Among many other things, he was a physicist, the greatest engineer of antiquity, an inventor and also a defense strategist for his native country Syracuse. His siege engines against the Roman army made him a legend for centuries. Galileo called him a super-human, Newton used his geometric diagrams to draw geeky graffiti, and countless other geniuses were awe-struck by the achievements of one man's mind.

So, when I saw a book on him, I had to pick it up and read. Unfortunately I was sorely disappointed.

The book has 2 parts. First part, talks quite dryly about the life of Archimedes and some of his achievements. Of course, the Eureka incident is mentioned, along with his work on levers, value of pi etc. His war engines and historical context also get a decent coverage. Little else is covered. Neither parabola, nor the spiral gets any mention. There are some nice pictures and photographs. The explanations here are OK, but what's missing is the passion.

A much bigger second half talks about the discovery of the Palimpsest - the copy from antiquity of Archimedes' original book. As interesting as the story is, it's way too much detail for me. For someone who is interested in the story of historical documents, this may be fun. Just maybe, as although it is informative, it's hardly gripping. I was bored.

It's a short book and it simply fails to respectfully treat the greatest polymath we have known. It's a shame.

Is it all about Euro ?

2010-05-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today the market broke many key levels (including the "devil's number") and is "officially" in the correction mode, at least according to CNBC. Every journalist is saying the reason to be the trouble with Euro - which not so long ago was touted as the new reserve currency of the world. And once in a while, you would hear the mention of the cute acronym PIIGS. But is it really just about the ClubMed countries ? How about ...

1. UK and US having similar debt burdens ?

2. A very real possibility that China may crash ? How many empty cities can you build to pump up the economy ? The commodity prices (see copper and oil for example) have gone down - and it's not because of Europe, but concerns about China.

3. Most states in US are effectively bankrupt, and personal debt levels still very high.

4. The entire multi-trillion dollar web of interlinked derivatives still needs a lot of unwinding.

All this points to deflation and almost no growth prospects, which means P/E ratios for US equities are still very high. That's the reason IMHO for the on-going crash. Of course you will not hear this on CNBC - which can only tell you to buy on the dip so that their real masters can make you the bagholders.

Anand retains the crown !

2010-05-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Today, Vishwanathan Anand won the 12th and final game of the match against Bulgarian Topalov, to retain the crown. This was an incredible match and deserved the dramatic finish it had today.

It didn't start that well for Anand. He first had trouble reaching the venue in Sophia, Bulgaria as the volcano eruption in Iceland had stopped all the flights. Then he lost the very first game due to a blunder. He bounced back immediately by winning the next game and equalizing the match. That was followed by very high level complicated chess by both the players - undoubtedly the 2 best players in the world today.

The match was tied before today's game. Anand won it as black. Today, he was definitely helped by Topalov, who committed a crucial blunder. But it wasn't all easy after that and Anand had to play precisely.

Overall, both players played terrific chess. The result is fair, as Anand definitely played better both technically and psychologically. His match strategy was generally better than his opponent. Even today, he avoided a draw in an equal position and kept on playing, applying pressure. This battle of nerves was over just 10 moves later, when Topalov self destructed himself. Then a desperate attempt to save the game simply did not work against the calm genius of Anand.

It's been 20 years since Anand has been at the top of the chess world. It's a phenomenal achievement. In the first half, he was second only to the greatest player in the history of chess - Kasparov. After Kasparov peaked and retired, Anand has been the overall best player. Kramnik and Topalov have had their peaks, but Anand's the only one to have the continuity.

The revolution he has caused in Indian chess is no less remarkable. He did it on his own, without any help from Indian Government, against the mighty coordinated schools of Soviet and Eastern European players, in spite of the dirty politics at the top of the chess world. And still, he is the same humble player with easy manners – which has won him fans all over the chess playing world. Just because of the inspiration provided by him, India now has a growing base of talented chess players. This game does not require strong physique and ton of money, like most other sports. It's all in the brain, of which there is no shortage in India. So one day, it's quite possible that India becomes the dominant country in chess. If that happens, Anand deserves the lion's share of the credit.

If you want to play over the games of this match, you can do so at http://www.chessbase.com.

Mendeleyev's Dream

2010-05-07T17:35:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Mendeleyev's Dream
Author : Paul Strathern
My Rating : 4 out of 5 stars

The complete title of the book is "Mendeleyev's Dream: The Quest for the Elements", and frankly it's a bit misleading. This is neither a biography of Mendeleyev (that's how author chooses to spell his name) nor is it any introduction to the periodic table. It's a history of Chemistry that begins of course with Greek philosophers, takes interesting detours and ends abruptly without really talking about the periodic table.

As a book on history of Chemistry, it's quite fun to read. In a relatively short book, the author manages to cover many famous scientists, their life stories, their achievements and their impact. Most of it is touching and captivating. The personalities cover a wide range of spectrum. From many famous scientists like Lavoisier, Cavendish to not so well known (at least to a layman) Paracelsus and Scheele. The anecdotes about them range from weird to tragic. The zigzag development of theory covers "Earth, Fire, Air, Water", alchemy, phlogiston to near modern chemistry. This is a very broad scope.

In addition there is a lot of trivia packed into this book, and I mean a lot. I tremendously enjoyed these additional tidbits of knowledge thrown at me.

For good or bad - (and IMHO more bad than good) - there is a lot of opinionated commentary thrown in. I cringed many times while reading the book. Some views get dismissed as religious hocus-pocus, while some are branded as "the biggest blunder in human thought" ! These are admittedly shallow comments. It's akin to dismissing ancient thinkers as stupid, because they thought the universe was earth centric. Without proper understanding of the prevailing social context, available tools for scientific experiments etc. it's simply wrong to make these judgments.

Another drawback is the lengthy detour about scientific revolution. I would have preferred a shorter discussion and more attention to actual periodic table, which was the topic suggested by the book's title !

Overall, this is a very fun book to read. It's also a very good book for high-school students who are really interested in Chemistry and want some historical context.

Pleasanton Murals

2010-05-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

I pass this mural in Pleasanton every day on my way to work. There are always cars parked in front of it. On a Sunday morning, I got a chance to take a few photos of the complete drawing - just at the same time, when someone else was also taking a photo :-)

Look closely ..

The mural without the 3-D illusion effects is nice on its own ..

and

Why is Goldman Sachs being sued by SEC ?

2010-04-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

Of course I am cynical - I don't think this is going to result in any meaningful change. All that will happen is the main employee mentioned (Fabrice Tourre) will be let go, GS will not admit to any wrong doing, pay a token file and then it will be business as usual.

Some things are interesting.

The announcement happened on an option expiration day. Why didn't the SEC do this over the weekend ? Or on Monday morning ?
GS was the top contributor (over $1M) to the democratic party in 2008 elections.
GS (not the company, but via employees and PACs) donated about $1M to President Obama's election campaign.
This is an election year. Maybe the political gods need a sacrifice. Maybe. Most likely not. Most likely, it's just to improve perception.
The Financial Reform Bill is on agenda. Maybe this is related.

So maybe I am cynical, or maybe not.

In any case, if you want to understand what exactly is the accused wrongdoing here, please see this video by my favorite news anchor Dylan Ratigan. He uses a simple analogy to explain and make this complex matter accessible to all of us.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tragedy in the backyard

2010-04-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

I know it's overly dramatic to call this a tragedy, but I feel like my pet just died.

I had planted many cherry seeds in good soil and 5 of them germinated to give nice seedlings. I was excited and looking forward to grow them, but all of them died. Just like that. No sign of any insects, snails or decease. Just dead :-(

They looked fabulous when they were alive.

Afalaatoon

2010-04-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

The word "अफलातून" - meaning extra-ordinary - comes to Indian languages like Hindi, Urdu and Marathi from Arabic and Persian word "Aflatoon" - with blended "F" and "L" sounds (अफ़्लातून). Where did this word come from into Arabic ? Any guess on the origin of “Aflatoon” ?

It’s a name that comes from Greek ! Plato (the philosopher) becomes "Aflaatun" where the last N is sometimes pronounced as only a nasal sound. I have also seen it written as "FalatooN" in Urdu poetry.

Since Plato was indeed extra-ordinary, the word acquired that meaning in many languages.

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The Camel Club

2010-04-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Camel Club
Author : David Baldacci
My Rating : 3 out of 5 stars

David Baldacci has written one best seller book after another. This is the first time I read any book by him.

Camel Club in the book is a group of 4 very ordinary citizens, who want to know the truth. There are many other characters, far too numerous to list. Apart from POTUS, head of NSA etc. the main characters are a secret agent and his girlfriend. As busy as Washington DC is, almost everyone’s path crosses with everyone else. There are also Middle-eastern terrorist and their plot remains secret for most part of the book.

Like most thrillers, Camel Club is about a conspiracy against US. Most such books require a suspension of disbelief, and this one is no exception. That's fine by me. This is not a news report. This is supposed to be a page-turner. So apart from the far-fetched plot, how good is the book ?

Pretty good I must say. The book is gripping. It starts out slowly, introduces all the characters, builds their interactions and gives enough teaser glimpses of the terrorist plot. It's hard to put down once you start it. Baldacci undoubtedly has mastered the art well.

So why only 3 stars ? Not because lack of character development. I wasn't really keen on knowing any of these characters. But their dialogues feel very unreal at places. There is a quite a bit of preaching to the reader woven into these discussions.

Secondly, the plot depends a lot of coincidences - many many coincidences. Characters routines run into each other at appropriate moments.

But the biggest flaw is the end. The last few pages are so rushed that it simply ruins the whole build up. It's not that the suspense is bad. It isn't. Just that the characters do not really behave the way you expect them to behave. One of the main characters realizes some significant information in the end. But the reaction is so muted that it makes you wonder if the author was on a tight deadline to somehow finish the book.

Baldacci has followed up on Camel Club in 2-3 other books. I am not sure I will try them. But I might try his previous books.

This book is no match to even to sub-par attempts of Forsyth. Nor is it in the same league of Ludlum. Think of it like a typical Hollywood thriller and no more. Then you might enjoy it.

In Dodd We Trust

2010-04-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

If there is a journalist who understands the financial mess we created and our inadequate reaction to it, it's Jon Stewart, who on this aspect, is miles ahead of etire CNBC crew combined. Watch this ...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

In Dodd We Trust

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Reform

Silly and Poor Jokes - 2

2010-03-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

Heard this on "The Big Bang Theory".

Q: Why did the chicken cross the Mobius Strip ?
A : To get to the same side.

A neutron went into a bar and ordered a drink. The bartender served it and said, "No charge for you".

I am thrilled to hear geeky jokes on a mainstream sitcom.

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Hydrogen : The Essential Element

2010-03-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Book Review : Hydrogen : The Essential Element
Author : John Ridgen
My Rating : 3 out of 5 stars

When I picked up this book, I was expecting a treatment more from the point of view of Chemistry than Physics. As it turned out, this book covers the role Hydrogen has played in theoretical physics with almost no mention of chemistry.

This is still an interesting premise. Hydrogen was formed in very early phases of creation of the universe and is still the most abundant element. Being the smallest element, with just one proton and one electron, many theories of atomic structure were tested against the hydrogen atom. So it's very fruitful to survey the history of Theoretical Physics with only hydrogen in mind.

In spite of this novel idea and good penmanship from John Ridgen, I came out a bit disappointed. It's most likely due to expectation mismatch. Ridgen focuses almost solely on 20th century physics. As interesting as this trip is, it gets very detailed at many places. From the introduction, we gather that Ridgen wrote a biography of physicist Rabi. This explains the detailed knowledge Ridgen has about that period in history. But overloading this book with exact dates and who said what to whom, distracted me. The plus side was the details about lab experiments that are often skipped by popular science books.

On the other hand, I would have loved to see more explanations of the theories. There is some discussion, but that's not enough as the focus seems to be on history.

It's a short book. I enjoyed it, but didn't learn a whole lot about science as I have from many other books on popular science. And all the historical trivia I read, was soon forgotten. If you read it with right expectations, you will enjoy it as well.

Bumper Stickers - 1

2010-03-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

Probably the best I have read so far.

Support American Democracy.
Buy a Congressman today !

Proof

2010-03-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Proof

Released : 2005

Director: John Madden

Genre : Drama

Starring : Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hope Davis

My Rating : 10 out of 10

Movies based on stage plays feel very different than other movies. Much of the story happens in limited settings, the focus is completely on characters and dialogues replace action. I have a strong bias towards such movies.

In addition, Proof is about mathematicians. Being in love with Math, I definitely was predisposed to liking this movie. But objectively, is this a good movie ? Yes, a strong resounding yes. In fact, in this genre, it's near perfect.

The story is simple. A famous mathematician Robert (Anthony Hopkins) - well past his prime, and suffering from dementia - has died. His daughter Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) gave up her career as a mathematician to take care of her father in his dying years. Catherine's older sister (Hope Davis), who stayed away for all this time to pursue her career, comes back to take care of practical matters. In the meanwhile, Robert's student Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal) goes over a pile of notebooks he finds in Robert's room, to see if there is anything worthwhile. And he finds a remarkable proof. Did Robert really write that ? Or was it Catherine ?

It's not much of suspense. But it's presented in a non-linear order and clues are offered via flashbacks, and hence there is a tiny bit of suspense for first half of the movie.

While the suspense if not the reason to watch this movie, Math is not the reason to avoid this movie. There is very little math-speak in the movie. There is almost nothing about the actual proof. Based on the very vague hints given in the movie, we can only speculate for fun about the topic. Could it be Goldbach's conjecture ? Riemann Hypothesis ? Doesn't really matter.

The movie is definitely about Catherine. And her interactions with 3 people in her life. Her father, her sister and her boyfriend. This is the core of the movie, and it shines brightly there. I was also particularly happy about the way her sister's character is portrayed in the script and played admirably by Hope Davis.

Gwyneth Paltrow gives an unbelievably breathtaking performance to bring out so many shades of Catherine's personality. She is strong at times, but very vulnerable at other times. She knows she is a genius, but sometimes wonders if she is mad. She knows her sister means well, but she is frustrated by the lack of understanding. Her acting is just perfect. Director John Madden teamed up with her before ,in "Shakespeare in Love", and although that movie is far better known, I think Proof is way much better for both of them.

Why are there so few women mathematicians ? That's a controversial subject. Proof does not really address it directly. But keep the question in mind, and you will understand Catherine better.

I haven't watched the Pulitzer winning play on which this movie is based. To me this is as perfect as movies can be. This is a must see movie for every serious fan of this art.

Carmel and 17 Mile Drive

2010-03-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

One of the standard tourist stops near Bay Area is Carmel and the near-by 17 mile drive. The Carmel town is very cute, but I find the 17 mile drive good but a bit overrated. Both offer numerous opportunities for photography.

I found a nice alley in Carmel downtown.

Carmel also has a mission.

The 17 Mile drive takes you via many famous spots. One being the Restless Sea.

And other picturesque locations.

Some of the beaches are easily accessible, with interesting habitants.

And

On that particular day, a squirrel and a bird were completely unafraid of the humans. Even without a decent zoom, I managed to take these pictures.

and

And of course, the drive is not complete without the famous Lone Cypress tree

They Really Said It ! [8]

2010-02-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

Book Review : Short History Of Financial Euphoria

Author : John Kenneth Galbraith

My Rating : 5 out of 5 stars

Most of the previous articles I wrote in this "They Really Said It" series were about criticizing people for denying the existence of the housing bubble. All my objections may seem as just another instance of 20/20 hindsight. Was it possible to identify the bubble before ? Were most of the people who warned about the imminent crash like a broken clock that's right twice a day ? Well, how about a book that was written in 1993, that analyzed historical bubbles and gave clear reasoning as to why these phases routinely repeat !

John Kenneth Galbraith was one of the most influential economist in 20th century. He was born in Canada, but lived most of his life in US. An adviser to President Kennedy, he was appointed as The US Ambassador to India. There, he often advised India's 1st Prime Minister Nehru on economic matters. For his service, he received 2 Presidential Medal Of Honors from US, the "Padma Vibhushan" from India and also Order Of Canada.

In "The Short History Of Financial Euphoria" he covers all the well-known bubbles and even some smaller ones - from the "Tulip Mania" to the Crash of 1987. It's a very short book and written in a witty style. Instead of merely reviewing, I would prefer to quote entire passages that I absolutely adore.

How does it start and how does it end ?

Galbraith argues that bubbles always begin on sound fundamentals. Then there are basically two types of participants. Majority are the ones, who believe in a new paradigm and a small minority who is there just for the ride, hoping to get off before the fall. But ...

For built into this situation is the eventual and inevitable fall. Built in also, is the circumstance that it cannot come gently or gradually. When it comes, it bears the grim face of disaster. ...... the speculative episode always ends not with a whimper but with a bang.

Galbraith is saying only disaster is assured in aftermath. Now, does anyone remember that Fed was going to engineer a soft landing ?

What about those who manage to not fall in above two categories ?

Given the pressure of this crowd psychology, however, the saved will be the exception to a very broad and binding rule. They will be required to resist two compelling forces: one, the powerful personal interest that develops in the euphoric belief, and the other, the pressure of public and seemingly superior financial opinion that is brought to bear on behalf of such belief.

He does not shy away from describing the groups as he sees it.

Those involved in the speculation are experiencing an increase in wealth - getting rich or being further rewarded. No one wishes to believe that this is fortuitous or undeserved; all wish to think that it is the result of their own superior insight or intuition. ... Speculation buys up, in a very practical way, the intelligence of those involved.

There are of course some who recognize the "mass insanity" as Galbraith calls it. How are they received ?

There are, however, few matters on which such a warning is less welcomed. In short run, it will be said to be an attack, motivated by either deficient understanding or uncontrolled envy, on the wonderful process of enrichment. More durably, it will be thought to demonstrate the lack of faith in the inherent wisdom of the market itself.

Yes, any critic of the euphoria was trivialized as just sour for "having missed the run". Galbraith gives more detailed account of this elsewhere in the book. He himself was accused as "Galbraith doesn't like to see people making money" !

But why do these bubbles keep happening ?

There can be few fields of human endeavor in which history counts for so little as in the world of finance. Past experience, to the extent that is part of memory at all, is dismissed as the primitive refuge of those who do not have the insight to appreciate the incredible wonders of the present.

That's a classic quote ! Another reason, he argues, that people have blind reverence for those who have a lot of money. "Money is the measure of capitalist achievement" !

Finally and more specifically, we compulsively associate unusual intelligence with the leadership of the great financial institutions ...

Really ! Often in such episodes there is "financial innovation" involved.

The rule is financial operations do not lend themselves to innovation. ... The world of finance hails the invention of wheel over and over again, often in a slightly more unstable version. All financial innovation involves, in one form or another, the creation of debt assured in greater or lesser adequacy by real assets.

This is simply my most beloved quote in the entire book ! I wish Greenspan had read this book before arguing against any bubble due to financial innovation :-)

What happens after the crash ?

This, invariably will be time of anger and recrimination and also of profoundly unsubtle introspection. The anger will fix upon the individuals who were previously most admired for their financial imagination and acuity. ... There will also be scrutiny of the previously much-praised financial instruments and practices ... There will be talk of regulation and reform. What will not be discussed is the speculation itself or the aberrant optimism that lay behind it.

Now, did he have a time machine in 1993 ? This above does not seem like having been written before, does it ?

Now knowing all this and more, the obvious question is why can't the warnings be taken seriously ? Can these bubbles be avoided ? During the foreword, Galbraith offers his pessimism.

Recurrent speculative insanity and the associated financial deprivation and larger devastation are, I am persuaded, inherent in the system. Perhaps it is better that this be recognized and accepted.

Go read this book ! You will fee like reading Nostradamus.

GaDiMa - 1

2010-02-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

One of the hallmarks of great poets is to take any situation and write a great poem about it. There are many famous songs in "गीत रामायण" and rightfully so. But even those that are not equally famous are a proof of GaDiMa's poetic prowess.

Before the war starts, Sugreev sees Ravan and unable to control his impulses, suddenly starts a duel with him. Seeing he is not a match for Ravan, he escapes with his life. Shri Ram delicately explains Sugreev how unthoughtful these actions were.

Now, this is not as solemn a situation to write "पराधीन आहे जगती", but GaDiMa still comes up with perfect words to describe the advice given by Sri Ram - the delicate balance between pointing out the stupidity without hurting feelings. The art of giving feedback !

Here is one stanza from it.

काय सांगू तुज, शत्रूदमना
नृप नोळखती रणीं भावना
नंतर विक्रम, प्रथम योजना
अविचारें जय कुणा लाभले ?

I especially like the word 'नोळखती'. I haven't seen/heard it anywhere else.

3 Idiots

2010-01-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : 3 Idiots

Released : 2009
Language : Hindi
Director : Rajkumar Hirani
Genre : Comedy
Starring : Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Mahadevan, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani
My Rating : 9 out of 10

Vidhu Vinod Chopra has had an illustrious career. When he has teamed up with director Rajkumar Hirani, absolute wonders have happened in the Indian Comedy genre. Both "Munnabhai" movies had a refreshingly unique style of presentation. Now add to this team actor Aamir Khan who has made himself synonymous with movies that are fresh, different and worth watching. This definitely raises the expectations of their combined venture. Judging by the box office response to this movie, both in India and abroad, it's clear that the movie has met or surpassed the expectations of most.

There is not much point writing the synopsis of the story which is based on a popular book by Chetan Bhagat ("Five Point Someone") . Most must have already watched the movie. The story as such is minimal. The focus is on characters and their interactions. So let's just skip the formality of capturing the story.

Most of the movie is about what these 3 idiots - "Rancho" (Aamir Khan), Farhan (R Mahadevan), Raju (Sharman Joshi) - their classmate "Chatur", the faculty chief "ViruS" and his daughter Pia (Kareena Kapoor). Much of it happens during their years together in a fictitious Imperial College (which is based on of course IIT), and this is presented in the form of numerous flashbacks. Right out of the gate, the movie sets its tone with a nice opening scene and maintains it till the very end.

The movie will be remembered for the relentless comedy. It should be. The director and writer do not shy away from using absolutely any situation to infuse with sudden jokes. Nothing is sacred and every character is a fair game. Sensitive viewers, take note. This style is refreshingly different in Indian cinema. Be prepared to feel surprised for laughing in what is otherwise a melodramatic scene. Even the deliberate use - I think its deliberate - of common devices like the bride running away, is full of hilarious punch lines.

But it's more than that. There is significant social commentary tucked in between the fabric of comedy. The comedy doesn't arise from some forced situations or impossible characters. The entire premise is firmly grounded in reality. The carefree crazy acts are common in numerous colleges and hostels all over India. The pressure to excel and its sometimes tragic consequences are real. The aspirations of parents and their sacrifices for their kids are real. Hence this movie touches you and strikes a chord, while making you laugh loud at the same time. The combination of realism and comedy is presented here with near perfection.

The movie is just a little bit on the longer side for my taste. Some trimming to keep it below 2:30 wouldn't have taken anything away.

This is correctly rated as U/A in India - which is PG13 in US. I do not recommend this for young kids. There are adult situations. For others, this is a movie you have to watch.

Ciabatta !

2010-01-03T22:08:00.000-08:00

Ciabatta is a favorite of all bread lovers ! It's wonderful light, airy crumb just invites breaking and biting. I started using the bread machine about an year ago, and has been quite successful with it. But baking a crusty rustic bread has always been the real goal. So recently, I have started experimenting with oven baking.

Ciabatta requires a starter and a very wet dough. I found a quite straight-forward recipe and was delighted at the result. The outside was uneven but with proper crust.

The inside, was a near perfect crumb.

And a close-up.

This was delicious and simply melted the mouth.

Avatar

2009-12-31T10:56:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Avatar
Released : 2009
Genre : SciFi Adventure
Director : James Cameron
Staring : Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana
My Rating : 10 out of 10

Many many years ago, while growing up in Mumbai, I watched "Star Wars". It was my first movie in a theater with stereophonic sound. That and the visual aspects simply blew me away. And as the sequels happened, I became a life long fan. I agree with a lot of deficiencies pointed out by critics of Star Wars. But to me, they simply do not matter. Star Wars is a fairy tale for adults and an experience to immerse yourself in.

Avatar generates exactly the same feeling in me. And I know there will be critics. I might agree with the objections they would raise. There is very little character development. The movie has a strong political message, about the history of interactions with Native Americans, as well as the desire to go on a war for "minerals". Cameron is repeating some of the "save the planet" message from his own "Abyss". I might shock a lot of people, but there is a certain lack of originality here. Yes, I mean it. The aliens are very human-like, the animals very much like dinosaurs, and the planet is very much earthlike. The plot elements have been seen in many movies, from Disney's "Pocahontas" to Kevin Costner's "Dances With Wolves". The planet that's alive (kind of) has been used in many SciFi stories. Even certain scenes like jumping in the waterfall have been done numerous times from "Fugitive" to "Anaconda". OK, enough.

So why 10 out of 10 ? Because all the objections listed above don't matter. Of course, more originality would have helped. There is enough imagination to overcome any such defects. But that's not the point either.

This is an experience. I watched it in IMAX 3D. Without 3D or IMAX, the opinion might be drastically different. I don't know. When you are watching the movie as it was intended to be watched, the awe and amazement of the entire package will overwhelm you. The action scenes, the attention to detail, the music and of course the extremely realistic 3D will put you "in there". You will not just be watching it, you will feel it.

The movie is not just action and visual effects. It is strong in the story-telling department. It's easy to root for the natives. We know them more than the human characters. We understand their lifestyles and their desire to protect it. The human characters are extremely single dimensional, but they are mostly villains, so it's OK I guess. It's kind of strange to be happy at the end when aliens win and humans lose.

Will this revolutionize movie making the same way Star Wars did ? I am not competent enough to discuss that. We will know in coming years. I am sure there will be sequels. Good sequels are more of an exception than norm. Unlike Star Wars, this is not a multi-generational saga, at least yet. And Lord Of The Rings is one cohesive story across many books. Here story has ended, and Cameron will have to invent a continuation, may be another attack by humans. But he has proved that he can do great sequels, "Aliens" and "Terminator : Judgement Day". So I think I should look forward to them.

Please make sure you watch this in IMAX 3D. Movies as game changing as this, do not happen every day. Most kids would enjoy this, but younger ones may get scared once in a while.

Jon Stewart and India

2009-12-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here are some nice Jon Stewart episodes related to India from 2009.

First about the suspected mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks being caught in Chicago - "Scary Plotter".

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Scary Plotter

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

The best was about Indian Space Agency discovering water on Moon - "Deep Space Naan".

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Deep Space Naan

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

The one about Shah Rukh Khan was just OK. Nothing great.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Shah Rukh Khan Detained at Newark

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Taken

2009-12-28T18:44:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Taken
Released : 2009
Director : Pierre Morel
Genre : Thriller
Starring : Liam Neeson
My Rating : 7 out of 10

Taken has at its heart, a nightmare scenario for every parent. A son/daughter being kidnapped. To make matters worse, the teenage daughter is kidnapped in a foreign country by a large criminal network, who is not interested in ransom, but selling off the girl for prostitution and then eventual murder.

This time, the parent happens to be an ex-spy who still possesses superhuman skills and great contacts. This aged superhero is racing against time to save his daughter and has to succeed in an amazingly diverse challenges thrown at him by the situation.

These are the kind of movies that require a firm commitment to not raise any logical objection whasoever. If you start thinking then you can find more holes in the plot than there are craters on the Moon. So the director has to make sure that the viewer does not get any time to think. And in this movie, the director succeeds.

He does that, by keeping the movie short, by not wasting any time in any unrelated fluff, by keeping it moving at a very rapid pace and by letting a very good actor take on 90% of the screen time. Casting was extremely important here. Liam Neeson is neither Daniel Craig (James Bond) nor Matt Damon (Jason Bourne). But he is perfect for this role who has to play both a doting father and a skilled mercenary. Everyone else, including the villains and the kidnapped daughter, gets only a few minutes, and manage to not ruin the fun.

I recommend this movie if you are willing to just enjoy a fast and furious 90 minutes of action.