whats cool about cuil?

So what's the big deal with cuil? Is there a big deal? Is this going to be the next google? Here's what i think: its too early to make a call. The current trend on the web (reddit, and other news gathering sites) is people are not happy, there are screenshots of unacceptable search answers, or keywords which fail badly. Well what else do we expect? Even though I believe that the system was tested for some users (depends on the numbers of users), but when such a system is opened to the world, and get PR as top newsites, it's expected that the system will crash, bugs will be found! So may be we should just wait for sometime before passing a judgment like this is stupid, retarded, or this is awesome, great. Playing the devil' advocate, who knows what the top search companies are up to --- it is in their interest that such a new search engine (hyped or otherwise) is killed at the infant stages. So I will just wait and see how the game unfolds. Its difficult to trust any source these days, like how much can you trust this (biased?) opinion?

tarka et al.

campus loop + gndx2 -> 33mins

found a cool shortcut or rather a narrow alley through kalu sarai. suddenly malvia nagar looks much closer now. also we found this tiny (?) food place (tarka) in kalu sarai, a good option for a lazy evening. the food is not spicy, at least the ones we ordered were almost home-cooked!

imf

was there one more time. it rained quite a bit in the afternoon, so the big(?) wall was closed. the cave was open, and the holds were mostly lying on the ground. had fun setting up a couple of nice routes, and also trying some of the comp routes! may be head back on wednesday ... wishful thinking?

i ran

campus loop, 25mins.

ran today

campus loop (short) 20mins.

an evening at imf

Yes I finally made it to IMF. It was a typical muggy Delhi evening, the heat was not too much just the humidity was high. I had a great time at IMF bouldering cave (more of a mini cave) and then spend sometime on the wall. It felt good, though the routes (specially those on the wall) felt difficult. The roof was tricky, but in a few more sessions I may cross the lip ... lets see. Got the annual membership. Hope I can make it one more time this week! The way back was funny, I got into a share auto for the first time in Delhi -- which meant I had a quick trip back home.

INA market and Delhi haat

There is little common between the two other than the geographic proximity --- located on two sides of the main road. Another common feature is both are definitely worth visiting, if not for the wide, surprisingly wide, variety of things on can see and buy there, just for the sheer pleasure of seeing so much art/skills and strange food products (depending on which side of the street you are on).

The Delhi Haat, a meeting place for artisans from all over India and buyers from Delhi. The stalls are basic, and set up with lots of space in between. Although many of the stores are there for multiple sessions, there are always some new arrivals, and thus surprises!

INA market a place to go shopping for exotic spices, fresh vegetables of all types, and of course fish and meat. There is also this old watch mechanic who is unusually modest specially given his skills, knowledge and dexterity. If you are in the area definitely visit both the places. Jack told me that he used to frequent INA market when he was in town, and I can totally see why. Lastly, INA market has a tiny stall selling the best momos in Delhi (of course among the ones we have tried).

joy of coding

Well summarized in this posting: http://duartes.org/gustavo/blog/post/lucky-to-be-a-programmer. Its all about passion, and not having to explain your strange 'working hours' to others. Its just about coding, it applies broadly to thinking for work, not necessarily at work.

how guys think?

a new rating system: http://putupyourdukes.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/the-area-code-rating-system-why-1-10-just-isnt-enough/. Lets not get too much into details but its definitely a fun read. Specially the examples.

why do I blog

A strange question, and I dont have a convincing answer to that. But then again do I need one? Isnt it enough that I enjoy writing about things I feel were important moments, passing thoughts, or just a way of unwinding at the end of the day. Does it matter if others pass by this page, does it matter if I write something personal and others come to read about it, and I worried? I guess its kind of daring to write down thoughts in public view, on a board there once written its hard to erase. Its no longer the personal diary of yester years, its a online diary opening myself to the world for some unknown reason. Opening myself to criticism, holding myself naked with my intense thoughts jotted down. In short, such thoughts dont bother me, at least not now, may be in a few months, years I will feel stupid and hope that I never did write like this. But then again who has seen the future. I live in the present, and plan only for next few days to come. Its definitely a stupid way to live, but its my way, I way I am comfortable with. Coming back to the question, is this e-equivalent question of why do we live? Philosophical queries that have stumped people for ages and its something everyone has to come up with their own recipe. Its a mean of coming to terms to oneself. The other option is not to think about such things and follow others, the mass. Enough fooling around for now, time to get back to work .. Just a parting thought -- when is a blog successful? When there are many visitors, readers, etc. or is it when there is someone who reads in and may be get connected, start a discussion. Or may be success if writing an entry helps clear up some logic for myself, its a mean of writing to myself, speaking to myself, trying to keep a structured though going, without giving myself the option to go back and clean up the writing. A blog to me is not a polished piece of writing or essay, but more a raw record of thoughts as they occur, sometimes in sequence and structured, while at others all at once, and then the fun begins .... Good luck to anyone trying to decipher that ;-)

back home and something to worry about

Ok I am back. Its cool and wet here -- monsoon with all its glory. Everything is very green, infact in many places its green were its not supposed to be! But again I should get used to the idea, and enjoy the rain while its out there.

Just read: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/06/eco.chocolate/index.html --- drop, steep drop in production expected for chocolate, over next 20 years. May be just a grim view with the world? Or just another exaggerated news report? I think this will further the push for artificial 'chocolate' or just sugar painted brown. But where do I get my dark love? Somehow things will work out, thats we hope for always, thats what makes it worth pushing forward always, no matter when, no matter how tough and bleak it all looks ...

schneeberg .. JS

Joe Stickler Gedächtnisweg (http://www.bergsteigen.at/de/touren.aspx?ID=224), a new route from 2002. After having to wait for about a year it was about time. The middle section some 6-7 pitches were exceptional. The climbing felt natural, the holds just enough, the friction amazing, and the pockets ... well may be deep will be an understatement, the pockets were bottomless. The pitch rated 7, was not a climbing route, it was a boulder problem, a hard one! The moves a sequence of 4-5 moves (if i didnt miss something) were powerful, pumpy, and felt heavenish! Had a great time! Hannes also agreed.

When is it time to give up?

Was back at Backerstrasse. Had a solid session with some overlap with Niki. We tried this one move some 10-20 times (may be another 20-25 times on tuesday). The move didnt look very difficult, and it was gentle on the fingers but still it was just not happening. After much grunting and cursing, I finally got it clean -- it really really felt good. We went to Alt Wien for a quick celebration.

Merde happens

How true is that, it does again, and again, and again. I felt like writing something yesterday, may be thought I should write something yesterday but somehow didn't. It was a busy day, a long day at work, but overall not a very long day. I was really on a low in the late afternoon, early evening, after things went completely opposite to how I wanted them to. However, it was one of those moments when you realize the value of doing things just by yourself, my inner self being the best friend. Like memories from books, music, and of course climbing, what else.

I was too tired to think about work. I just remembered about the rocks I had hugged recently, how gentle they felt, warm, tender (only once a bit too hot leaving some scars or shall we say love-bites), and at times grippy. I really cant explain, but it seems that they do have feelings and are there always waiting or rather craving for a gentle touch, a close hug, or eager to hear cries of agony of folks failing to make it in the initial attempts. Indeed with enough tries, even the impossible becomes achievable, not always, but sometimes --- who am I to talk about that. If even if doesn't, still worth the tries -- worth the pain and efforts that went in vain. Leaves us stronger, or does it? Just inspiring to hear Sharma talk about 100-s of times/sessions he tries the super hard moves before he can get them. Shows dedication, faith, perfection, focus ... things that makes climbing worth all the effort. So relaxing. In the end I just thought about the last week, various holds and embraces, moments to cherish, and guess what -- in a few minutes (well it took longer) -- I was back to my usual self. So Merde happens, but then you talk to yourself, pick up yourself, and move on with life -- its a wonderful life, isn't it?