Coming home now…

I’m moving back to Bloggy – http://perspace.blogspot.com

Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess

Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess

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Help Gaurav

A lot of times we receive emails from people seeking help from you, and
you almos always ignore because either you don’t know the person. Or if
you’re nice enough, you might spend a few minutes searching the details
before doing the minimum that you have to do, to make up with your
conscience.

I received an email like that today, and I almost did the same.
But, this time was different, it was one of the persons I knew well.
Gaurav Tandon is a friend of mine from Mumbai, we went to French
Classes together and he’s a really nice chap! Gaurav was detected with
AML (a type of Blood Cancer) in November 2008 (I last met him on Feb
9th 2008) and he needs help. I request you to go to his website, read
about him and then help him in any which way possible. He, his family
and friends, and I, would greatly appreciate any kind of support.

http://helpgaurav.com

Thanks,
Vamsi Duvvuri

Religiolous

Awesome movie… if you don’t know Bill Maher, please read about him, watch some of his videos on youtube and then watch this movie. It doesn’t answers any question, but asks a lot of good questions

Liverpool should be on top on Christmas

After a not-so-hard fought draw, Liverpool need the toffies to beat/hold Chelsea to ensure that The Reds remain on top with a slender lead. Yesterday’s game at The Emirates was fast and fun to watch with not many clear cut opportunities. But all you whiners at Arsenal, I see Wenger has written a new book “100 excuses to lose a game”…

Mujahideen reply

“Any aggression will be resisted jointly by Pakistan’s armed forces and the Mujahideens,” said Maulana Faqir Mohammed, a top figure in the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, in a statement sent to reporters. “We would raise a force of 15,000 tribal Taliban to fight on the side of Pakistan’s armed forces. We would infiltrate 500 suicide bombers into India to cause havoc there.”

WSJ Article

Mr. Faqir Mohammed, there is no need to “raise” any forces, every sane informed citizen of Pakistan and India knows that the force is already present in your country. And suicide bombers are entering into India everyday…

Life @ Emory – Mumbai Vigil

The US Auto-maker bailout

Is anybody amazed at the lack of support the US automakers are getting from the government, or am I the only one?

Washington is still dilly-dallying about the proposed $25Bn bailout to the big three in the auto industry. And I’m wondering why is everybody questioning this idea of helping out the biggest industrial component of the US economy, the idea of helping hundreds and thousands of workers and their families being supported by a mere 3% of what was provided to the financial sector ($850Bn). There are 3Mn jobs tied into the auto industry, and you’re talking about the poorest city in the country, highest unemployment and certainly most dependant on the car makers. People are giving a lot of arguments against the bailout and I think the administration has to consider the answers provided by many economists and experts:

1) Argument – Why help out auto-makers who are making the “bad-cars”

I agree, the big three, haven’t been making the best of the cars. But weren’t the investment banks making bad deals and selling fraudulent, misrepresented financial packages to clients. The financial bailout helps those banks, not to correct the system, but just to recapitalize the banking system, bring money into the pipeline, give help to house-owners, IT IS NOT FAIR TOO. Because FAIR is not a choice anymore, you’re talking about helping people who’re working their ass off to actually MAKE SOME PRODUCTS, in this case cars, unlike the commercial mortgage backed securities which don’t exist in the first place. I do think this calls for some economic-patriotism. Why no incentivise these car makers to come up with environment friendly cars by controlling the investments made by these auto-makers.

Why help AIG when their top execs spend $400K on a weekend getaway & spa treatment right after the first installments?

2) Argument – This is a big burden on the tax payers

But so is the $850Bn to the financial sector, the $150Bn to AIG (and more is coming on their way)

3) Argument – And the buck stops where?

The buck stops when you’re not losing confidence of the population any more. Do right by doing whats needed, whats required. If the country can support two wars at a cost of billions of dollars, a bailout for financial industry, they can certainly help the manufacturing industry. Because if you don’t do it now, you’re jeopardizing other manufacturing industries like defense and aerospace. If US gives its auto industry away, you’ve lost it. You’ll never be an industry leader because you’d not have sustained cash-flows coming in every year.

Update…

Liverpool were back on top of barclays premier league table, albeit for a day. Thorough professional display against the baggies, probably the worst team this season. But Chelsea are back on top with a convincing victory over Blackburn Rovers, who’re looking nothing like the force they were with Mark Hughes…

But the highlight of the weekend was Arsenal’s much surprising victory over Manchester United. I really hope this puts Manchester United under a lot of pressure because this season they might crack early, but thats just a wish… pray come true!!!

On the other hand, I’m struggling with deciding what classes to take for the spring semester. I’ve signed up for couple of exciting out of school experiences, a visit to China in March and a week in DC in January. I can’t wait for classes to be over, so that I can plan my 3 week vacation and then get back to work in the new year…

“Sports” people play

Na na na Na na na Na na

Na na na Na na na Na na

Talkin’bout you and me, yeah

And the sports people play

No, this is not a new song that I wrote/heard. This is the incorrect version of Inner Circle’s Games people play. I’ve always been wondering what is the difference between games and sports, and after several discussion, arguments and a class in strategic decision analysis later I have the answer. So here it is…

The difference between a game and a sport is that in posrts there is not interaction between the players, and hence, because of this lack of interaction, one player cannot affect other player’s strategy by the way he or she plays the game. A game is played between two or more players, when they’re consciously (or sub-consciously) aware of the other player’s presence, and when the opponent’s strategies change the way they themselves approach the game.

To make the distinction clear, lets talk about some examples:

Soccer:Game

Why? Because the opponent team’s actions (or passes, kicks and movement) affect the way my team’s going to apporach the game.

Chess:Game

Do I really need to explain why chess is a game? I don’t think so.

Swimming:Sport

Now this is interesting. Now matter how the other swimmers swim/float, my game-winning strategy is to swim as fast as you can. And in the most basic of setting, I’m going to win 99% of times I swim faster than others (and of course not using PEDs).

Athletics:Sport

Same as the above unless we’re talking about a marathon or a long distance race where opponents can change lanes and everyone’s looking for the shortest route.

Na na na Na na na Na na

Na na na Na na na Na na

Talkin’bout you and me, yeah

And the games people play

I feel relieved now