Jive Mathew's Band

The Dave Kurlan Effect

2012-01-29T17:46:00.001+05:30

I remember taking the "Dave Kurlan Sales Force Profile Test" way back in 2005. Recently, while clearing my stuff, I came across the Dave Kurlan report that I got during my Oracle days and it really was an eye opener! This test is highly recommended to anyone and everyone. More info here.

The Evolution of the BSchool Fest Poster

2012-01-17T14:18:00.002+05:30

Saw this fantastic poster during my visit to Christ University yesterday.

Desi Post Its

2012-01-12T02:31:00.001+05:30

Saw this India map made out of Post Its at Welingkar's Bangalore! Brilliant!

No Parking!

2012-01-12T02:29:00.001+05:30

Seen at Koramangala!

Melvilasom

2012-01-09T18:41:00.001+05:30

Melvilasom is a brilliant watch. A great script and superb acting makes this Malayalam film a gripping flick. It's good to see some quality cinema once in a while from Kerala :P

Brilliant DVDs

2012-01-01T12:01:00.001+05:30

Currently watching

1. Ancients Behaving Badly

2. Days That Shook The World

This Is All I Have To Say

2011-10-20T20:38:00.002+05:30

This book by Swapan Seth is brilliant. The layout and the way content is organized is awesome! Highly recommended light reading!

Top 5 Reasons Why Delhi Belly Rocks

2011-07-05T13:06:00.003+05:30

1. There is no interval. The story is seamless and captivating. An interval would have spoilt the carefully built up tempo.
2. Slick editing. Every scene is vital for the movie to proceed further. Aamir has gone into the details as far as editing is concerned.
3. Great songs. Also no song is forced into the movie. Bhag DK Bose is already a cult favorite!
4. Great sequences like the Burkha robbery, Orange Juice & Ja Chudail dance provided the zing.
5. Side characters like Disco Fighter, house owner & Kathak dancers add the icing on the cake.

Udaan

2011-06-26T01:49:00.000+05:30

Bollywood at its finest. Must watch.

The Alchemist Graphic Novel

2011-06-20T01:31:00.001+05:30

Just picked up the graphic novel version of Paulo Coelho's fantastic book. The book really came alive in this graphic format and was a great read. Recommended strongly for all Alchemist fans!

Source Code

2011-06-17T00:49:00.002+05:30

Source Code is what you get when you mix the Matrix, Avatar and Inception. Brilliant watch! Go for it!

The Man From Earth

2011-04-09T14:51:00.009+05:30

It's not too often that you see a low budget/zero CGI/non action movie being brilliant & slanderous at the same time! This sofa discussion flick is a mind boggling crazy mix of theology/philosophy and cant be bracketed into the scifi genre. This cerebral movie is shot at one location but all you need to do is listen to the dialogues & imagine how you would react in such a situation. No wonder it became one of the most downloaded movie on BitTorrent! The blasphemous part makes it the perfect movie for an atheist, but we know that its a piece of fiction at the end of the day.

Tomorrow is D-Day

2011-03-31T15:20:00.016+05:30

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has waited for tomorrow for more than two decades & more. So have we. Here is probably the last chance that he has at cracking this one.

As soon as the semi-finals clash with Pakistan was over, the whole stadium was lit up with Sachin's smile. He was truly and genuinely happy at that instant. We all know that this means a lot to him and here are a few of my thoughts on why tomorrow is D-DAY for India's greatest sportsman ever.

1. At the semi-finals we saw the angry Sachin, when one of his throws almost became an overthrow; since no one backed it up. That shows how much & how badly he wants it. This "hunger for success" is something thats worth learning from.

2. He walked. In a World Cup! Ricky Ponting didn't, inspite of a huge nick. Sachin's actions often remind us that it is still a "Gentleman's Game"!

3. The way he has fielded this World Cup is excellent motivation for the youngsters on the side. I have never heard of Sachin dropping a catch. He fields even on days when he has hit a century in the first innings of an ODI.

4. He doesn't have ego issues and is not insecure about Dhoni being the captain or taking the major decisions. He sticks to his role and does what is expected of him without meddling with Dhoni's mind.

5. He is happy to let Sehwag hog the limelight, while he slowly paces his innings. What a brilliant strategy of symbiosis & collaboration. Its a great case study of how aggression combined with strategy can take you places.

6. A century of centuries is a great achievement. And will probably never be beaten anytime! You can argue that Bradman was better, but he played in an era where LBW didnt exist and played only against one country (England), whereas Sachin has played against a dozen!

7. He is a brand ambassador for Boost and not a liquor brand. The latter would have paid him more money, but he took a stand.

8. Sure, the cynics say that cricket is escapist, a waste of time and money. But tell me who else other than Tendulkar can get people from all religions/caste/creed & across all strata of society to come & pray together for a common dream?

9. Facing intense media scrutiny for two decades can drive anyone nuts. But the man's managed it so well without getting dragged into controversies or politics.

10. Finally Tendulkar (the bowler) has more than 150 ODI wickets to his credit, which is decent and adds value to the team.

So the big day for the man is tomorrow. One just hopes that India's favorite son gets the one thing that he has desired most. The World Cup deserves Sachin.

Sucker Punch

2011-03-29T15:48:00.005+05:30

Watched this flick at the movies last week. Went in with zero expectations and was totally blown away! Zack Snyder is fast becoming one of my all time fave directors. After "300" and "Watchmen", he is back with a movie that lives up to its title. Sucker Punch takes the visuals of Matrix & Avatar to a totally new level. The storyline is a cocktail of Inception, Matrix & Kill Bill!! :)

Where Can I Buy This?

2011-03-13T18:36:00.002+05:30

Inside Job

2011-03-12T12:06:00.004+05:30

What a brilliant documentary with some excellent narration by Matt Damon. This explains the financial crisis of 2008 like never before.

Recommended Flicks

2011-01-09T23:35:00.015+05:30

Cube: This is a movie that truly messes with your mind and plays on the fear of claustrophobia. The audience is left guessing once the movie is over. A great example of how a low budget movie could be a great watch! Not for the faint hearted!

The Social Network: This has got to be the movie of the year 2010 for sure. Great story-line and superb casting makes this a slick movie.

Frozen: Wow! A movie that places you in a very difficult spot by literally giving you the chills! What would you have done in such a scenario? Again a low budget movie, having a great impact.

Damini: A brilliant Hindi film that poses questions on the society at large. Sunny Deol delivers the performance of a life time in this one!

Endhiran: Rajni's magnum opus. A superb Shankar film that needs no review!

Dabangg: Salman's star power is unmatchable. Great masala flick.

Devil: Manoj Night Shyamalan has kind of finally redeemed himself by scripting this film. This is a superb watch and the thrill exists from the beginning to the end.

The Special Relationship: This HBO film is about the friendship between Bill Clinton & Tony Blair. Its a great watch if you like political dramas and such.

Buried: Another film that plays on the fear of claustrophobia. Though the ending could have been better, the overall idea was great and well executed!

The Trial: If you are tired of the overdose of CGI that most movies have these days, here is a movie that keeps it simple and tight. One of the better courtroom dramas of recent times, its a great one time watch.

Madholal Keep Walking: Here is a movie about the common man at last, without the typical glamor quotient and item numbers that infests Bollywood! A film that celebrates the "never say die" Mumbai spirit. The story-line could have been more fast paced and edited better, but overall this is a good heart warming film.

Blogging Trends

2011-01-01T19:03:00.003+05:30

Just noticed some statistics around blogging. I had

- 415 blog posts in 2007

- 343 blog posts in 2008

- 246 blog posts in 2009

- & only 33 blog posts in 2010!!!

Atleast in my case, micro blogging (Twitter) seems to have overtaken traditional blogging. Am guessing this is the case with many others as well. Thoughts?

To End All Wars

2010-12-30T18:24:00.004+05:30

This war movie touches you at the very core of Christianity. The lessons of forgiveness remain etched in your mind for a long time. Highly recommended, especially since this was a TRUE story!

Thoughts On The Wikileaks Controversy

2010-12-16T00:24:00.006+05:30

- If you see the "Collateral Murder" video, you will know in your heart that all arguments against Wikileaks should be dropped.

- Wikileaks is just a messenger. Dont shoot the messenger!

- Assange has probably given Hugo Weaving, the lead actor from "V for Vendetta" an inferiority complex. He is probably the most important person of this century post Gandhi. Sometimes such vigilante action is warranted to re-engineer the system.

- Why do whistleblowers always have to suffer? Like Amnesty International, we need to have a global org that takes care of and protects whistleblowers.

- Time Magazine should not have given the "Person of the Year" award to Mark Zuckerburg. Assange deserved it more. The online vote was won by Assange and Mark didnt even feature in the list!

- Wikileaks has a couple of lessons for the world media on investigative journalism. Wikileaks also exposes how the media is hand in glove with many corrupt governments.

- Am feeling bad for Julian's mom Christine, who might be going through hell right now.

- The lesson to be learnt is better application of RTI such that the public can avail of such information as and when needed. Hopefully this will bring about more transparency in governments.

Dear Blog

2010-11-18T00:11:00.002+05:30

Over the past few months, I have neglected you, amongst many other things. I promise to make up for lost time in December :)

The Cove

2010-09-04T11:17:00.005+05:30

'The Cove' is documentary film making at its very best. It was an absolutely riveting watch and very moving. This movie and 'Sharkwater' are just terrific eye openers. Please watch.

Meet Or Meat?

2010-09-04T10:44:00.000+05:30

Harishchandrachi Factory

2010-08-21T22:46:00.007+05:30

Thanks to Apoorv, I got to watch my first Marathi film (with English subtitles). This film is a story of the pains that Dadasaheb Phalke took to make the first motion picture in India. It's a very inspiring film and the lesson I take away is that just one individual's passion & determination can fuel a revolution. Wonderful watch!

Discovery Atlas

2010-07-28T11:11:00.006+05:30

Saw the 'Discovery Atlas' episodes for Italy and Australia(narrated by Russel Crowe). Brilliant!

The Magic of Chris Nolan

2010-07-28T11:08:00.004+05:30

Just saw 'Inception' last week. Its was a superbly crafted mind game by Chris Nolan. The man is a genius. The Alfred Hitchcock of my generation! I have nothing more to add. Period.

Nice Ad from Lee

2010-07-18T15:49:00.000+05:30

Army Of Darkness - Movie Review

2010-07-05T15:17:00.002+05:30

Hahahahahaah! I never had so much fun watching a horror movie! Its really a horror movie which is turned into an action adventure, fantasy, and comedy movie. Its like Indiana Jones & Ace Ventura in a horror flick! The dialogues are incredible and the background music kicks ass. Do remember that this was made almost 2 decades ago, but the magic remains! Bruce Campbell rocks!

Nine Dead - Movie Review

2010-07-04T22:32:00.002+05:30

What a superbly written film! The storyline is yet again similar to 'Saw', but with many twists and turns. Another movie that keeps the audience guessing till the very end. Well done, really (except for a couple of plot holes)!

Exam - Movie Review

2010-07-04T15:25:00.002+05:30

This is such a superbly crafted low budget movie. This was very similar to Saw - Part 1, where you have a bunch of strangers in a room. You dont even get to know the names of the characters, similar to the concept in 'Reservoir Dogs'. This is a movie that keeps you guessing all the while. Highly recommended. Please pick up a DVD now!

Kick-Ass

2010-06-13T20:41:00.002+05:30

What a terrific movie. Great storyline and slickly presented. Cant wait for Part II :)

Unthinkable

2010-06-12T23:49:00.003+05:30

An incredible thriller that raises important questions about torture, in extreme situations. Highly recommended.

Songs On My Mind

2010-05-15T10:46:00.001+05:30

Bawitdaba - Kid Rock
Tubular Bells - Mike Oldenfield
Listen To The Music - Doobie Brothers
New Kid In Town - Eagles
Listen - Beyonce
You Maybe - Aladin OST
Face In The Photograph - Yanni

Iron Man 2

2010-05-09T18:40:00.006+05:30

A couple of years ago no one gave a damn about Iron Man, and now he is one of the most popular super heroes, even closing in on the fan following that Superman and Batman has. The second installment was a superb sequel and here are a few of my observations (hopefully without any spoilers)

- Oracle doing subliminal marketing. Great job Larry!

- The Grand Prix scene is unparalleled.

- Rourke didn't get as much footage as the Joker did in the TDK, but still captivates.

- Tony Stark's reluctance to join the 'superhero boy band' aka Avengers was a good twist.

- Iron Man's drunken scratching music on the DJ turntables and lazy donut escapade was funny.

- Rhodey using the Hammertech missile against Whiplash was downright unexpected.

- Bill O Reilly ranting on TV was a nice touch.

- The dad connection that all superheroes have. Superman, Batman and now Iron Man.

- The scene post the credits where the agent finds Thor's hammer in the desert was really too short.

- Lawrence Fishbourne would have made a better Nick Fury than Samuel Jackson.

Now, I have one final question. Who will win if the "Justice League" takes on "The Avengers"!!!

Micheal Moore Returns - Capitalism, A Love Story

2010-05-02T23:38:00.003+05:30

Moore is back in superb form in this take on capitalist policies. Powerful documentary film making at its very best.

Bhramaram

2010-04-25T10:23:00.002+05:30

After a very long time, here comes a Mohan Lal film that really takes things to the next level. The talented director Blessy does a wonderful job of extracting an award winning performance from Mohan Lal, in this thriller that really shakes you up at many levels. A must watch for every mallu in the house cuz this is absolutely top notch stuff!

Undercover Boss

2010-04-09T18:18:00.001+05:30

Now thats a good idea for a reality TV show! Will this get the TRPs in India, is the question!

Time Magazine's Quote On Sachin!

2010-03-31T12:44:00.002+05:30

"When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam. When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy. It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."

A Rather Nice Graphic Novel

2010-03-26T18:30:00.004+05:30

Got this book as a bday gift a couple of months ago and it was a great read. Finished it in 15 minutes or so, but found it a really creative and endearing way to tell a story.

Recommended Names for Kerala's New IPL Team!

2010-03-22T18:32:00.008+05:30

So, I randomly asked on Facebook what the name of the Kochi IPL team should be and here is a bunch of funny answers from friends :)

Kottayam Kokonuts! Chemeen Crusaders! Kochi Kowboys! Mallu Mogambos! Lungi Brigade! Mazhuvancheriparambath Minikochammas! Kunjacko Bobans? Mohan's Lalz? Mum's Ooty? Coastal Wonders!Kuttapanum Suhurthukallum!Cochin Copras? Thrissur Thampis? Hit me Babys? Kerala Karales! Cochin Achayans! Mallu Melodramas! Sreesanth's Suparis? Banana Bangers? Kairali Keralites? Onam Oothapams? Appam Avengers? Moon Sticks! Appam Stew-ards! Idiyappam Icons! Cochin Coaches! Kochi Kallans!!! Chillax Chetas! Meen Machines! Kochi (Old) Monks! Munnars Mones! Tintumon and the Bombastic Padayaligals! Money Dineshas! Kaily Munde Mates! Kochi Popy's! Cochin Warriors! Fort Kochi Kokonuts! Kalari Fighters! Mattancherry Dudes ! Backwater Boys! Poppy Umbrellas! Kappa Krusaders! Kochi ChetasXI! Zimble Zoopermen! Oto Rajas! Pink Lungi Panthers! Awesome Achayans! Jimmy's Chetas! Onion Anniyans! Kasargod Killers! Trivandrum Thrillers! Kozhikode Coders! Kochi Kochunnis! Kerala Kokonuts! Kochu Kallans!Kathakali Kickers!

Vikram Aur Betaal

2010-03-19T20:45:00.003+05:30

Watched the whole set of episodes of this really old tele-serial. The stories and puzzles were simple and very interesting. A nostalgic watch!

The Lost Year In Iraq

2010-03-13T10:24:00.002+05:30

A powerful documentary on how the Iraq war was mismanaged in many ways. Rarely does the common man get to know about the real politics that happened behind closed doors! Frontline does a great job of throwing some light with this series of first person interviews.

42 Ways To Kill Hitler

2010-03-06T23:31:00.002+05:30

What an incredible feature from National Geographic! This movie features unbelievable true stories on how assassins tried to kill Hitler. Its amazing how he survived !!! Must watch for all history buffs!

Slacker Uprising

2010-03-06T11:44:00.002+05:30

What a brilliant documentary. Its inspiring to see a documentary film maker being able to create so much social awareness and bring together millions for a cause. Hats of Micheal Moore. Cant wait to see your take on CAPITALISM!

Man On Wire

2010-03-04T19:27:00.004+05:30

An exceptional movie about an exceptional man and his exceptional feat! The kind of challenges that this guy had to undergo to achieve his dream was incredible. A must watch documentary on how to make it despite the odds and how he committed the 'artistic crime of the century' .

Puthiya Mugham

2010-02-26T13:24:00.006+05:30

Malayalam films typically have either of the two superstars (Mamooty or Mohanlal) doing their usual antics on screen, which all Mallus have seen umpteen number of times. But here comes a refreshing Malayalam flick, that really takes the game to the next level. The action sequences are world class and its good to see someone else take center-stage. Go PrithviRaj!!!

A Note Of Thanks ...

2010-02-24T12:15:00.001+05:30

It gives me immense pride to bring to your notice the valiant efforts of my friend and colleague Rajveer Singh Rathore. All of you would have heard of the tragic fire at Carlton Towers this evening, viz bang opposite Diamond District. While most people gathered to watch the plight of the victims, Rajveer's presence of mind was truly commendable. While many of us could help only by diverting traffic on Airport Road away from the spot, Rajveer really rose to the occasion and did what even some policemen failed to do.

- He climbed all the way to the top floor of the building inspite of the choking suffocating smoke. This was without an oxygen mask and torch.

- He helped the people who fell from top floors, into autos and sent them to Manipal hospital. There were blood stains on his person.

- He fought with a traffic policeman (inspite of not knowing Kannada) to get the area near Manipal hospital signal cleared, so that the victims could reach the hospital on time.

At the end of it all, he understandably looked disheveled,shaken and jaded. Kudos for keeping cool in a highly panic driven situation. Somebody had to recognize his humanitarian effort and his large heartedness. Hats off to Rajveer Singh Rathore!!

S T Bed Fest

2010-02-22T16:02:00.005+05:30

Sometime ago, some enthu neighbors in our layout had organized the first ever full fledged layout fest. This was a pretty impressive initiative. More to community involvement.

Bangalore Stand Up Comedy Is Back (With A Bhang) !!!

2010-02-08T20:18:00.003+05:30

So, on Saturday after watching "Just Maath Maathalli" for Raghu Dixit's music, we headed straight to Koshy's Chillout. The place was JAM packed with the usual coolio suspects in the audience. We had all assembled to watched this show titiled "Saturday Night Madness" by the comedienne duo of Aporup Acharya & Ashvin Matthew.

Ashvin Matthew, (Yeah! The same bald mallu cheta who played the drunk Malayalee in Anil Abraham's "Gentlemen") was smiling away as his comrade Aporup took center stage. And then all hell broke loose. The comedy was stricly ADULTS ONLY, and almost every line had a triple entredre joke in it! Even Mamta Banerjee was not spared! Aparop made this Australian dude in the crowd, regret the day he was born! Hahaha! He infact left before the show got over! Guess he's not heading back to Koshy's for a long time now.

Ashvin is the best Manglish (Malayalee cum English) standup comedian in town. Period. Listening to his brand of comedy has side effects such as seat squirming, palm sweating, chair rocking and hard rolling on the floor laughter. He has a unique approach on all topics that is Malayalee related. Just when you thought you'd heard all stereotypes of Mallus possible, he takes the audience to an all together new level. The audience was literally in pain from laughing so hard on the "ooru ooru" joke. Topics that were covered were as varied as 'Mohan Lal in RGV Ki Sholay', studying at Cottons, Quantum Theory, Sets and parents who are troubled that their son is a standup comedian !

I don't often simply rave about a show and so this show was a gem. There was no awkward stoppages. Timing was spot on. The venue could have been more spacious since it felt a little claustrophobic. But other than that, the show did tickle everyone's 'funny bone' and more.

Home

2010-02-03T00:23:00.004+05:30

This film by Yann Arthus Bertrand is simply brilliant! Stunning! Mind boggling! Breath taking! Outstanding! Superb! Splendiferous. Unrivaled! Peerless! Numero Uno! Am running out of adjectives now ...!

When Music Is Divine

2010-02-02T00:35:00.003+05:30

Watching the DVD of A R Rehman's Jai Ho concert in Sydney. Wow!!! What a terrific performance. One of the best concerts ever!

Xmas Decorations

2009-12-17T12:04:00.003+05:30

... somehow brings out the warm fuzzy feeling in the heart :)

Highly Recommended Movies

2009-12-16T10:42:00.030+05:30

Legend of Bagger Vance - The magic in the game of golf.

Maiden Heist - A funny robbery movie.

Blood N Bone - Its takes off from where Ong Bak had left.

Over California - Brilliant aerial documentary.

BBC Hiroshima - A very touching documentary on the tragedy.

Death @ A Funeral - A light and refreshing comedy

3 Idiots - Aamir takes things a notch higher!

Avatar - Absolutely brilliant sci fi!

Sherlock Holmes - Must watch thriller.

Washington The Beautiful - Another aerial documentary gem.

BBC Leopard - Wow!

Law Abiding Citizen - On how the system must pay!

The Invention Of Lying - A superb comedy that takes on organized religion!

Just Maath Maathalli - Raghu Dixit's music mesmerises.

BBC's Earth (The Power Of The Planet) - The best documentary ever made!

Movie Goodness

2009-12-07T19:39:00.011+05:30

Sacha Baron Cohen takes provocative comedy to the next level. Sure, this movie has a dozen scenes that make you uncomfortable in your seat, but you get to see the humanist behind the character and the message he is trying to convey. Watch only if you are willing to experience the most twisted movie ever. Not at all an easy watch.

Brilliant documentary on insect life. Though a voiceover would have been good. Do note that this was made more than a decade ago!!

OK! At last hats off to Karan Johar for moving away from his typical romantic mush filled movies and trying something new. One time watch.

Brilliant remake of one the best film noir movies ever. The story line is gripping and the twist at the end was awesome. A good movie to catch on DVD.

Postcards from Chennai

2009-12-04T14:37:00.006+05:30

The street with some brilliant artwork.

Car top marketing ?

The crowded beach.

Wow, thats a mean achievement!

I used to make these designs in school during geometry class!

Test your muscle power!

Celeb Crazy Us

2009-12-04T14:34:00.005+05:30

So I was randomly strolling around Marina Beach, when I discovered a fantastic new business model. On the beach was life size cut outs of Indian celebrities. Apparently you could get a picture clicked with any celebrity of your choice for a certain sum of money. What a way to cater to the celeb hungry junta! Smart!

Postcards from the Rangashankara Comedy Festival

2009-11-21T13:28:00.002+05:30

Project S.T.R.I.P.

2009-11-20T11:19:00.004+05:30

Witnessed this superb comic satire written by my schoolmate Ram Ganesh at RangaShankara a few weeks ago. A powerful script combined with top notch acting, makes this play pack quite a punch. Well done!

Nokia Dev Con

2009-11-18T14:40:00.001+05:30

Looking fwd to the Nokia Developer Conference - http://bit.ly/FNDC09

Recommended Flicks

2009-11-16T15:41:00.016+05:30

A slick documentary on Jimmy Carter's new controversial book on Palestine.

Danny Boyle's genius! Now, what if he remakes this with the Slumdog kids?

A neat documentary exposing the war crimes of Henry Kissinger.

A brilliant documentary which tells the story of the "Tipton Trio".

A screwball comedy on the issue of school bullying.

A leave your brains behind comedy, with a bunch of laughs.

Hahhaha! A totally 'high' movie. Must watch.

A must watch for every mallu, for the sake of the old memories.

A superb documentary on the Apollo missions, with never seen footage.

Paul McKenna's movie can be quite compelling for the smokers. (Though I am not one myself)

The New Sony Walkman

2009-11-16T15:40:00.003+05:30

After the onslaught of Apple's ipod, Sony has come up with the brand new walkman mp3 player. It looks great and is liteweight, making it a perfect companion during gymming. Recommended!

The 99 Things Meme

2009-11-01T12:12:00.005+05:30

Picked up from Clive Shepherd.

1. Started your own blog. YES
2. Slept under the stars. NO
3. Played in a band. NO

4. Visited Hawaii. NO
5. Watched a meteor shower. NO
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. NO
7. Been to Disneyland/world. YES
8. Climbed a mountain. YES
9. Held a praying mantis. NO
10. Sang a solo. NO
11. Bungee jumped. NO
12. Visited Paris. NO
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. NO
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. YES (Photoshop/Flash)
15. Adopted a child. NO
16. Had food poisoning. YES

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. YES

18. Grown your own vegetables. NO
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. NO
20. Slept on an overnight train. YES

21. Had a pillow fight. YES
22. Hitch hiked. NO
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. YES

24. Built a snow fort. NO
25. Held a lamb. NO
26. Gone skinny dipping. NO
27. Run a marathon. NO

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice. NO
29. Seen a total eclipse. NO
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. YES

31. Hit a home run. NO
32. Been on a cruise. YES
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. NO
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. YES
35. Seen an Amish community. YES
36. Taught yourself a new language. NO
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. NO

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. NO
39. Gone rock climbing. YES
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person. NO
41. Sung Karaoke. YES
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. NO
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant. NO
44. Visited Africa. NO
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. YES

46. Been transported in an ambulance. YES
47. Had your portrait painted. YES

48. Gone deep sea fishing. NO
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person. NO
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. NO
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. NO
52. Kissed in the rain. NO
53. Played in the mud. YES
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. NO

55. Been in a movie. NO

56. Visited the Great Wall of China. NO
57. Started a business. NO
58. Taken a martial arts class. YES
59. Visited Russia. NO
60. Served at a soup kitchen. NO
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies. NO
62. Gone whale watching. NO
63. Gotten flowers for no reason. NO
64. Donated blood. YES

65. Gone sky diving. NO
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. NO
67. Bounced a check. YES

68. Flown in a helicopter. NO

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. NO
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. NO

71. Eaten caviar. NO
72. Pieced a quilt. NO
73. Stood in Times Square. YES

74. Toured the Everglades. NO
75. Been fired from a job. NO
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London. NO

77. Broken a bone. NO
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. YES
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. NO

80. Published a book. NO

81. Visited the Vatican. NO
82. Bought a brand new car. YES
83. Walked in Jerusalem. NO
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. NO
85. Read the entire Bible. NO
86. Visited the White House. YES
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. NO
88. Had chickenpox. YES
89. Saved someone’s life. YES
90. Sat on a jury. NO
91. Met someone famous. YES
92. Joined a book club. NO
93. Lost a loved one. YES
94. Had a baby. NO
95. Seen the Alamo in person. YES
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake. NO
97. Been involved in a law suit. NO
98. Owned a cell phone. YES
99. Been stung by a bee. YES

The TED Commandments

2009-10-31T15:48:00.001+05:30

Its quite interesting to note that TED gives out these rules to all speakers. Nice!

This Is It

2009-10-30T00:38:00.003+05:30

A fitting tribute to the greatest entertainer ever. A few thoughts..

- These are just rehearsals. One can imagine how powerful the real show would have been.
- MJ's of involvement in minute details in phenomenal. 110% commitment!
- The background dancers & singers are really really good.
- There was no lip syncing at all. ZILCH!
- For me, the "Smooth Criminal" bit was the best.
- "Earth Song" was touching too. The new 'Thriller' was fun!
- The audience was riveted to their seats even as the credits rolled.
- This music will live on forever.No doubts about that.

What Inspires You ?

2009-10-27T23:43:00.021+05:30

Sure, I watch tons of movies/tv shows and read a hell lot. But here are some memorable stuff that is forever etched in my mind. Just to enumerate a few of them ...

- The superb episodes of "Dragons Den" & "The Apprentice".
- The mindblowing special FX from "Shaolin Soccer".
- The intensity of "JFK".
- "Your Song" from Moulin Rouge.
- Bill Pullman's speech in ID4.
- The madness of "Run Lola Run"
- The protagonist of "Payback".
- The irony in "Full Metal Jacket".
- The songs from "Nacho Libre".
- Randy Pausch's last lecture.
- Liam Neeson's 'man on a mission' feeling in "Taken".
- The style in Lucky Number Slevin
- The steady friendship of Jay & Silent Bob
- The OCD from Monk.
- The nonchalance of Denny Crane from Boston Legal
- The unique intro of each Simpsons episode
- The randomness of Forrest Gump
- The diaglogues of Pulp Fiction.
- Barney from "How I Met Your Mother".
- The art of Sin City

- That TV show called 'Standoff'

- Nana's dialogues in 'Ab Tak Chappan'
- The sports comedy in 'Blades Of Glory' and 'Dodgeball'
- The phrase 'Last Man Standing'
- The fun in 'The President Is Coming' and 'Loins Of Punjab'
- Everything about 'Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog', 'Shrek' and 'The Prestige'
- The storyline of "Pirates of the Silicon Valley".
- The adventures of "Harold & Kumar".
- The way the tide turns in "12 Angry Men".
- The random comedy of "Kung Pow".
- The Alec Baldwin scene in Glengarry Ross.

- The situation in "The Girl Next Door"

- The guts of Kevin Costner in "The Untouchables".
- The last song from "Walk Hard".
- The HR interview in "Boiler Room".
- The 'slapstick' comedy of Golmaal.
- The remote possibility in Robin William's "Man Of The Year"
- The replays in U2's "Stuck In A Moment".

Must Watch

2009-10-25T22:40:00.007+05:30

This documentary is one of the best ever.

A Gothic revenge saga with irony written all over it.

A superb movie for poker players.

TED Fellows Project : Srinivas Kiran Jaggu, innovation fellow

2009-10-24T09:41:00.007+05:30

Welcome to the TED India Fellows project where a team of 15 bloggers interview TED Fellows to get to know them better. My fourth interview is with Srinivas Kiran Jaggu, an innovation fellow with Stanford-India Biodesign currently developing a novel way to treat emergency patients who need vascular access.

How did you come about the idea of IntraOz? India might be seen as a key place for wellness tourism; but for any person facing an emergency, even receiving basic care, is still pitiable. There is a large lacuna in emergency care and related medical technology in India. We are working on one of the medical devices for emergency care.

How does this new technology help patients? Can this device be used on kids? Are there any side effects? If we think of any trauma, cardiac arrest or such other patients, getting vascular access to treat with medications or infusion is difficult, and critical time is lost. IntraOz provides a solution that is quick, definitive and usable even in resource constrained environments.

Glad that you asked about the pediatric population, they form a significant part of the market and finding vascular access is even more difficult in them.

Studies indicate that relative complications compared to alternatives are significantly lower. In other words, if we consider risk-benefit-ratio there substantial value for this. In India alone, more than a million patients are denied of quality treatment annually.

What work does Stanford BioDesign do? Mission of Stanford-India Biodesign is to train the next generation of medical technology innovators in India. This program is in collaboration between Stanford University, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The core of the Biodesign Program is a multidisciplinary, team-based fellowship. The team is mentored by “real-world” experts from the medical technology, legal and venture capital industries in the United States and India. Clinical needs within the Indian setting are identified for medical technology innovation. Working closely with Stanford, AIIMS and IIT Delhi faculty, the teams invent, prototype and develop one or more new technologies.

Contradictory the dominant belief, Dr. Yock, Director Biodesign program at Stanford, is proving that “innovation is a discipline that can be learnt” - This is a huge paradigm shift. The difference is observing to find what they need rather than asking what doctors want. (More in the new book, Biodesign: The Process of Innovating Medical Technologies by Zenios, Makower, Yock )

From GE to Stanford. You have an interesting journey. Please comment. It was indeed a privilege to be part one of the most admired companies in the world. At GE, I was very fortunate to be with a couple of great teams, working on imaging and surgical assisting equipments. What I value the most of being at Stanford Biodesign is its holistic approach to resolving problems that creates a huge impact.

What is the reach that your invention has? What could it be like 5 years from now? In five years, we plan to reach close to one million patients. We plan to penetrate other vertical segments and we believe there is an immense potential. Beyond the emergency vascular access there are huge numbers of unmet clinical needs that are specific to developing markets ,which needs to be addressed.

What has been the feedback from the scientific community regarding your work? There is immense positive reaction from the medical community on this. We had an opportunity to speak to hundreds of doctors across India right from big tertiary care hospitals to primary care centers, from hospitals in major cities to remote rural parts, from expert surgeons to less trained paramedics. Clearly, there is reflection of this dire need, and our affordable and accessible solution makes a clear fit for the market. It’s very interesting to note that, the involvement of the potential customers in early development cycle has immense value addition and a true win-win situation.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your line of work? Lack of ecosystem for medical device development remains as one of the key challenges in India. Support industries for device design, regulation consulting and clinical testing are limited or less renowned. This hampers the faster development of high quality products.

What have been your experiences or learning whilst undergoing creating complex medical systems? Working with medical equipments provides awful challenges and huge satisfaction at the same time. Design of medical equipments and devices involves challenges of using high-end technologies to most simplified designs. Secondly there are multiple skills that one needs to be continuously learning and applying. Most importantly the work we do, can distinctly make a difference in someone's life, and that is the most satisfying part of my job.

What aspect of your work are you the most proud of and why? The proudest moment of our work will be to see the device working, saving a life of a patient on the hospital bed.

What does India need to do in order to become a force to reckon with in the medical devices market? India has to invent its indigenous solution for healthcare problems; this involves some of the key aspects such as

1. The policies and regulating systems in India for medtech industry need to be re-looked to enable more indigenous development.

2. Our education system has to create a balance between developing vertical specialties and horizontal cross-disciplinary knowledge;

3. Academic and research institutions must be working closely with companies to enable talent development and foster innovation.

4. Infrastructure to develop, build, regulate and test medical technologies are yet be developed.

5. Health awareness among the masses in all segments of rural and urban class needs to be improved significantly.

What drew you to TED? TED talks triggers one to expand one's mind, and is very influential in opening up one's heart for a greater cause. The amazing line of presenters instills immense optimism and hope in what mankind is doing. It’s an honor to be part of this and I'm curious to be at TED.

Interesting Graphic Novels

2009-10-23T14:05:00.004+05:30

Parismitha Singh - The Hotel At The End Of The World
Sarnath Banerjee - Phantomville

Amruta Patil - Kari

Craig Thompson - Blankets
Y The Last Man
This Is Suki - Manjula Padmanabhan
Learning To See - Vharathy Murthy
Sarnath Banerjee - The Barn Owls Wondrous Capers
Alan Moore - Swamp Thing

TED Fellows Project : Siddharth Kara, author

2009-10-22T09:20:00.002+05:30

Welcome to the TED India Fellows project where a team of 15 bloggers interview TED Fellows to get to know them better. My third interview is with Siddharth Kara - Author of "Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery", which provides a business and economic analysis of the global sex trafficking industry.

You are a former investment banker who has moved to a totally different field. What inspired this jump?
My interest in modern-day slavery goes back to the mid-1990's. As an undergraduate at Duke University, I co-founded a project to volunteer in refugee camps in the former Yugoslavia. I spent one summer in a refugee camp, and heard many terrible stories of intense human violence, some of which involved the trafficking of Bosnians by Serbian soliders to brothels across the region. I returned home, pursued an MBA and business career (and later a law degree), but the stories from the refugee camp still haunted me. As I surveyed the antislavery landscape, there was very little in the way of reliable data, and I felt no one was adequately researching and explaning how human trafficking and other forms of slavery thrived in the modern world, particularly from a business standpoint. I took stock of my life and made the decision to set aside my corporate future and apply my business, econonomic, and legal training to the issue of modern-slavery, starting with its most barbaric and profitable component, sex trafficking. It took eight years of reseach before I published my first book, with two more to come on the other main categories of slavery: bonded labor and forced labor.

How did you get started with research on this issue? You were a novice in this field when you started.
First, I apprised myself on the key issues that come in to play when researching slavery, such as sensitivity for the psychological and physical ordeals slaves have suffered, as well as the risks to the slaves associated with any perceived collaboration with a researcher. After that, I went straight into the field and used my wits and persistance to track down slaves of all kinds in more than sixteen countries around the world. As the years passed, I also developed relationships with key NGO's, which helped me gain additional knowledge and access. The more I learned, the easier it became to track down slaves, and even confront their exploiters. At last count, I had interviewed more than four hundred slaves and directly witnessed the sale of numerous slaves into slavery on four continents.

You do risky work! You were nearly attacked by a gang of pimps in Mumbai! What are the major risks involved in this line of work?
Because slavery is illegal everywhere in the world, those who exploit slaves can be quite aggressive in protecting their interests, though I have met others who pontificated proudly of their exploits, because they knew that little would happen to them. Researching this issue is fraught with risks, not just for the researcher, but more so for the slaves. If a researcher crosses a line of good judgment, he or she may evade harm, but any slaves left behind may be perceived to be working with the researcher, so they may be punished severely or even killed to protect the slave owner's interests. I made sure I never took any sort of risk that would result in harm to a slave, though I did get myself into a few tight spots on more than one occasion.

A woman or child is trafficked for sexual exploitation every 60 seconds! What are the 3 things that a common man can do to stop these forced labor markets?
1. Learn about the issue, not just stories of slave exploitation, but good analysis on what drives contemporary slavery and the real size and scope of the problem
2. Use the power of media and new media to: 1) share this knowledge you learn, and 2) aggregate like-minded activists into a cohesive movement centered around a sound abolitionist plan
3. Demand that lawmakers, governments, and other stakeholders adopt more aggressive, resource-driven, and sustained efforts to eradicate slavery once and for all

Would legalizing the sex trade make things better for the victims? In some countries this has been legalized and how has it worked out?
I am probably asked this question at every talk I give. At first glance, the logic appears sound: if you legalize prostitution, you can put protections in place not just for willing sex workers (though some will argue there is no such thing), but also to ensure individuals are not trafficked or otherwise exploited. Holland, Germany, and Denmark are countries that have applied this logic, while others, such as the US, Sweden, the UK, subscribe to the opposite logic. The problem with the legalization argument is that you can beat, torture, and threaten almost any individual into stating that they willingly choose to be a prostitute, and in a legalization regime, the conversation typically ends there. It is very difficult to reliably identify a victim of sex trafficking if they say they are a willing sex worker. As a result, most countries that have legalized prostitution appear to have increased levels of sex trafficking, though this is preliminary data and more analysis needs to be done. Where prostitution (and the purchase of sex) is illegal, there is no such legal veneer behind which greater exploitation can take place, though without care and understanding of the issue, sex trafficking victims can often be made to suffer twice: not just the exploitation, but also by law enforcement for violating laws against prostitution if they are arrested.

What are law enforcement agenicies not doing so as to counter trafficking?
One answer - sustained, sophisticated, aggressive, ongoing raids on any suspected area in which slaves might be exploited, in conjunction with human rights organizations to ensure proper care is applied to individuals living in those establishments. Almost all national anti-trafficking units are small, underfunded, and reactive (they respond to complaints or tips) without the kind of proactive intervention required to make a severe impact on this issue, including electronic surveillance, money tracing, and other tactics required to find slave offenders, gather requisite evidence to convict them, and liberate the slaves they are exploiting.

Please comment on your top observations on the economics of sex trafficking.
Massive profit, no real risk. The exploiters of trafficked sex slaves can acquire a slave for a global weighted average $1,900 and generate average profits of more than $29,200 per slave per year, with an average duration of enslavement of around three years. This return on investment is staggering. Put another way, even though only 4% of the world's 29.2 million slaves are trafficked sex slaves, those same slaves generate almost 40% of the $95+ billion in profits I calcualte will be generated by slave labor in 2009. Yet, most laws against sex trafficking are exceedingly anemic, with short prison terms and little or no economic penalties for the commission of the crime. Even where countries do provide for stiff economic penalties, the levels of prosecution and conviction are so low that the "real" penalty remains nil. As a result, there is presently is a near risk-free system of slave exploitation around the world.

Please explain what you mean by an "International Slavery Inspection Force" and the purpose it would serve?
Due to the law enforcement deficiencies I outlined above, as well as other barriers to more effective intervention such as corruption and a lack of training, I call for an "International Slavery Inspection Force" similar to weapons inspectors utilized by the United Nations. This force can work with domestic anti-trafficking police or replace them, depending on the preference of each country. Their mandate would be to execute the kind of relentless intervention required to elevate the risks and costs associated with the exploitation of slaves, while also liberating as many slaves as possible in conjunction with human rights organizations tasked with the care of the survivors.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your line of work?
The biggest challenge is to shift the nature of inquiry into this issue away from the emotive and sensational towards the more strategic and analytical. We are more than a decade into a new awareness of modern-day slavery, yet this new anti-slavery movement has met with limited impact, primarily due to the absence of sound strategic analysis of the nature of each mode of contemporary slavery, and the kind of tactics, policies, and laws required to respond to each distinct mode.

What has been your experiences or learnings whilst travelling the world investigating this issue?
The depths of poverty in the world, as well as the intense level of disenfranchisement of women and minorities have been startling for me. Just last week I met a Nigerian sex trafficking victim in Denmark who had been trafficked and re-trafficked four times. Intense poverty, a lack of education and any sort of economic opportunity, and severe violence at home had consigned her to a fate more bleak than most of us can imagine. The same is true of rural women I met around the world, be it Moldova, Thailand, Mexico, Nepal, or India.

What about your work are you the most proud of and why?
I am not quite sure what I am proud of just yet. Let me finish the next two books and I may have a better answer.

How can we instill and strong sense of outrage and desire for social justice in todays youth with regards to this issue?
One the one hand, I do not want to rely on sensational tales of human suffering in order to captivate interest in today's youth, but the truth is, just a few such stories tend to motivate people to want to do more. We can start there, but also make sure that a sound plan is set forth so that motivated people have a tangible way to take action.

What drew you to TED?
TED is a unique conference that brings together brilliant minds across many fields, and this is exactly what the anti-slavery movement needs. A new brand of global abolitionist movement will only be initiated by a multi-disciplinary "think tank" of sorts, that aggregates economists, lawyers, human rights experts, corporate leaders, and other key disciplines, tasked with designed and deploying a more effective response to slavery. The first anti-slavery movement commenced centuries ago in London, in the year 1787. Though slavery was outlawed around the world starting in the early 1800's, there are still millions of slaves in the world, and the work of this first anti-slavery movement must be finished.

TED Fellows Project : Anab Jain, design practitioner

2009-10-21T00:24:00.006+05:30

Welcome to the TED India Fellows project where a team of 15 bloggers interview TED Fellows to get to know them better. My second interview is with Anab Jain, designer and founder of Superflux, a UK and India based "futures" design company, creating opportunites at the intersection of people and technology.

1. You have setup up ‘Superflux’, a new kind of collaborative design studio. What’s the agenda?
Superflux is a think-and-do interaction design company where the emphasis is on invention, collaboration and even, provocation. We design opportunities, as well as the consequences that new and emerging technologies will have in our everyday lives today, and in the near future.

These opportunities could be in form of real products, services or experiences that have immediate economic and social value. And the consequences could take the form of stories and debates that engage the wider public to think about the kinds of possible futures we may find ourselves in.

We work with a wide range of clients and commissioners including large mobile phone companies, science organizations, public sector institutions as well as whole range of individuals. To see some of our work visit http://www.superflux.in

2. What are the biggest challenges you face as a design practitioner?
Today I think there is a real need for design to address the public as well as industry, and to explore new ways of getting discussions going about what people really want and how industry can help us achieve it, rather than the other way around.

My (and my company’s) biggest challenge is to work with industry and organizations on design approaches that are bottomup when necessary. And to create an atmosphere where new imaginative ideas are given the opportunity to be tested, in order to produce outcomes that are exciting, while having economic and sustainable value.

3. How can a novice/amateur pick up skills on the design front? How can a novice learn to think out of the box or create innovative solutions?
I went down the traditional route of going to design schools, and both the National Institute of Design, and the Royal College of Art, London have played a big role in not only teaching me the skills, but providing an inspiring environment to learn and ask questions. I would highly recommend anyone interested in seriously pursuing design as a career to consider going to design school.

Other possible ways of honing skills are to work as an apprentice with a designer, a maker or an innovator whose work you are inspired by. However I think above all, a sense of commitment and rigor to follow your interest through are most important.

4. What's the idea behind the Power of 8 project?
Today, in face of, what seems to be, an economic crisis in many parts of the world, foreboding climate change, not to mention regular threats of war, terror and even the remote possibility of a technological singularity, we are (once again) living that moment in history, where images of a ‘dark future’ have become mainstream. Scientists, futurists and artists have commented about this crisis in their own way, and we are bombarded with predictions about the possible worst case scenarios.

While the fact that we live in a world of finite resources stands true, how do we, as members of the civil society, translate, what might seem to be relatively abstract predictions of the future, into our everyday lives? Where do they collide with our individual aspirations of the habitable, or even ‘perfect’ future worlds we desire?

I initiated the Power of 8 project to meet the voices of concern and the faces of gloom head on, and offer counter points by engaging directly with people. It is a collaborative project where I worked with seven other people from different walks of life, to build a public discourse around our aspirations for the future. For more information visit: http://powerof8.org.uk

5. How did the concept of Acres Green come about, and what does it represent?
The concept of Acres Green emerged from the discussions on ‘The Power of 8’ project. Diminishing natural resources, increasing food shortage, and the rapid death of bees that form the backbone of our food chain, were our main concerns in this project.

So we created Acres Green, a fictional sustainable community set in the future that is built around urban permaculture. At a first glimpse, Acres Green appears to be a seraphic vision of serene tranquility. Beamer Bees roll and twist towards a bounteous orchard of grafted trees at the foot of the generous mountain, as the scud clouds silently tessellate in the clement skies above.

However on observing more closely, one notices the ambiguity between the natural and the technological, as people balance a pragmatic requirement to live closer to nature with their natural human impulses to subvert and control it.

We are showing more about Acres Green and the various different elements inside this community on the ‘Power of 8’ blog starting tomorrow, so keep an eye on them: http://powerof8.org.uk

6. What is the concept behind Yellow Chair Stories?
“My Wi-Fi network is open for neighbours and passers-by. Free access from the yellow chair.” By placing this sign and a yellow chair outside my house, I conducted a live service design intervention and extended the boundaries of my home to encompass the boundaries of my wireless network. This ‘grass roots’ design approach illustrated how wireless technologies could become interfaces to recreate transient spaces for conversations at the threshold of the public and the private, the physical and the electronic. New, ‘real-world’ blog spaces were born, as passersby and neighbours used the yellow chair for a week. This experiment was repeated by different people in Chicago, New Mexico and Brazil. For more information see: http://www.anab.in/yellowimages.html

7. Are clients willing to experiment with alternate ideas or offbeat methods instead of sticking to the mainstream traditional approach?
That is an interesting question and one I am often asked. So far, I have been lucky enough to work with very open minded clients and commissioners who are interested in taking the risk as they are aware of the opportunities that come out of them. Many new innovations are often the result of taking the risk to try new, alternate methods or ideas. My ambition to be able to show the opportunities that lie in such a process to more clients.

8. Which have the the top 3 projects that you have been the most proud of and why?
From my recent work, I think ‘The Power of 8’ project was hugely satisfying as I was able to successfully brIng eight strangers to not only work together, but also produce captivating scenarios of their aspirational futures to a wider public. I now intend to take this further and propose a similar platform in India.

Another project was one I did at Microsoft Research, Cambridge, which exploring ideas around intelligent machines, artificial agency and robotics. I was successful in creating concept machines that may be unique in the way we relate to them, and not necessarily in the number of sensors they have. For instance, one of the concept prototypes I built used the idea of microbial fuel cell technology to imagine living with machines that have life-like qualities and need to be fed and taken care of, almost like human beings. This work not only sparked a debate amongst the scientists in the lab, and but also exposed them to ways in which design can enable public engagement around new and emerging technologies. It has been shown in numerous conferences around the world and is now part of several publications.

Lastly I am proud of the ‘Yellow Chair Stories’ project as it remains an important illustration of how wireless networks can be so much more than a soulless pay-for service, while also being a fun way of encouraging dialogue around sharing, and highlighting the evolution of social relationships in our urban terrain.

9. How will RFID be relevant in a developing country like India?
As far as I am aware, it is boom time for RFID in India. The technology is being used in many areas - from defense sector to corporates and even farmers are making use of it to track their cattle. But I think the challenge, as else where in the world, is to consider the technology not only for security and stock-taking, but think of more playful uses and social exchanges.

10. How has the recession affected some of the projects you have undertaken?
Typically, things slowed down and everyone was holding back from committing on projects. However on the bright side, the recession also became a reason to re-examine existing economic models and structures. It has given many of us the opportunity to experiment with new ideas and the entrepreneurial spirit seems to have returned, which is very inspiring.

11. What drew you to TED?
As so many of us out there, I am inspired by the TED talks on a regular basis, and this opportunity to be able to see the speakers live and actually be part of the conference was unmissable. I feel honored to be part of this unique community as a Fellow.

TED Fellows Project : Nandu Madhava, the mDhil Man

2009-10-20T09:01:00.005+05:30

Welcome to the TED India Fellows project where a team of 15 bloggers interview TED Fellows to get to know them better. My first interview is with Nandu Madhava, CEO and founder of mDhil, a startup providing basic health information via mobiles in India.

What is mDhil and its core USP?
mDhil connects the Indian mobile phone user with basic healthcare information. We envision the mobile handset providing accurate health information to consumers who want to know more about common health conditions, diseases, and medications. The concept was born from several years of emerging market field work and the realization that the vast majority of Indians do not have access to accurate health & wellness information.

How does your business model work for a customer? Can this be replicated in others countries which need similar help?
Our initial customer base can access our content over Airtel, Idea Cellular, and Reliance by SMS and USSD. We are consistently looking to expand distribution points and carrier partners in India and abroad. In the short term, we’ve started to explore partners who are independent of the carriers and need more specialized health information services.

What is the reach that you are planning as of now? What could be the reach five years from now?
Since our launch in March 2009, we have reached over 150,000 customers. It’s tough to estimate our reach 5 years from now as the mobile market continues to grow in remarkable ways and 3G provides an exciting opportunity for the mobile customer. We’re working to reach 1 million customers in 2010 and 3 million in 2011.

Are doctors and the medical community in general supportive of giving advice over SMS?
It’s important to understand our service – we do not give medical advice over the phone, nor do we operate a call center full of doctors with dubious credentials. We do not seek to replace doctors, but instead help physicians in providing information to their patients about chronic conditions, diseases, and topics of health interest. The response we’ve received from doctors and hospitals has been overwhelmingly positive – they understand that an informed patient is empowered to lead a healthier life.

From Harvard to Peace Corps to Goldman Sachs and now mDhil. You have had an interesting journey. Please comment.
I have been fortunate to be part of wonderful institutions and organizations. I worked in the San Francisco office of Goldman and saw a number of interesting investments from the Bay Area / Silicon Valley. This experience helped shape my understanding of the capital markets and entrepreneurship. Harvard Business School was a transformational experience – there were exhaustive case studies done on founders, early stage start-ups, pitfalls to avoid, frameworks for success, etc. I graduated with life-long friends, and the professional network has provided tremendous support as I’ve started my own venture.

However, my greatest honor is to have served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Volunteers work on grassroots development issues such as education, public health, latrine construction, water sanitation, agriculture, etc. My experience from working in Latin American clinics gave me the inspiration for mDhil. I am proud to have served with fellow Americans who cared deeply about global humanity.

What has been your experiences or learnings whilst undergoing this venture?
I could write a book when answering this question, but I’ll give three items that come to mind:
- Surround yourself with people smarter than yourself who are optimistic and driven…it’s easy to be a naysayer, but frankly, naysayers don’t add much to society.
- Statistical fact: only 1 out of 10 VCs will be in the top-decile of performance and deliver outsized returns. So as an entrepreneur, recognize most VCs have no clue.
- Be patient and tenacious – in India, everything takes about 1 year longer than you originally expected.

Why would an urban customer choose mDhil, since anyway health information is avialable on his fingertips through the internet?
This is a popular question we get. First, understand the basic market size….India only has 50 million internet users (as compared to 5x – 6x as many in China). So while there is an image of a “techie India”, the fact is that less than 5% of Indians have access to the internet.

Next, we believe the ubiquity and pervasiveness of the mobile phone is a better platform for consumer-driven healthcare. A customer might only look at his computer screen once or twice a day, but a mobile user looks at their cell phone screen 10-20x a day. If you make information easily accessible at the mobile point of contact, you increase stickiness and impact of the message.

Finally, there is a misconception that urban India is healthy, while rural India is not. It’s incredibly naïve to believe that the dismal public health statistics of India only relate to poor rural citizens. Certain diseases (diabetes, pollution related asthma, HIV/AIDS, smoking related cancer) are exploding in urban settings and there is a complete lack of health and wellness information to help citizens make informed decisions about their life.

What drew you to TED?
Like many folks, I’ve been watching the TED videos on-line for years. It’s awe-inspiring to see people engaging society’s biggest challenges in thoughtful and revolutionary ways. It’s not an academic conference with people presenting papers, nor is it an industry conference with a bunch of talking heads and regurgitated panels. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a TED Fellow and have the opportunity to share our work with others.

The Internet Celebrity

2009-10-17T13:53:00.004+05:30

The "Peter Chao" phenomenon is interesting. Anyone with access to a computer and a webcam can become an internet celebrity overnight. Someone rightly said that, one of the greatest equalizers in life is the internet.

Screenwipe

2009-10-13T20:57:00.002+05:30

Charlie Brooker's show is a nice watch! The sarcasm rocks!

4 Minutes

2009-10-13T19:34:00.002+05:30

www.4minutesperday.com

Surabhi

2009-10-13T13:00:00.003+05:30

A TV program of the highest quality. Why dont we have this anymore? :(

Why Information Is Beautiful

2009-10-12T12:15:00.002+05:30

Here is the link.

Swarathma

2009-10-11T21:31:00.002+05:30

Aaah bliss! :)

Geek Logik

2009-10-10T14:53:00.004+05:30

A nice creative book, that has you in splits :)

BBC's Films

2009-10-10T14:52:00.005+05:30

BBC films rock. Recently watched 3 such films

1. Ganges
2. Wild China
3. Deep Blue

Highly recommended!

Dirty Jobs

2009-10-08T20:28:00.002+05:30

This show with Mike Rowe on Discovery will make you appreciate your current job!

Laser Tag

2009-10-08T20:18:00.001+05:30

Wish we had a laser tag joint in Bangalore!

Extreme Makeover

2009-10-08T19:57:00.002+05:30

I just get a feeling that the next Indian reality TV show is going to be based on Extreme Makeover. Lets wait and watch!

David Grey

2009-10-08T19:52:00.000+05:30

His songs "Babylon" and "This Year's Love" are mind blowing.

Permission Marketing

2009-10-08T19:38:00.003+05:30

Seth Godin's concept of Permission Marketing is superb.

Big Buck Bunny

2009-10-08T16:19:00.004+05:30

A decent watch. What makes this film special is that it was made using only free software! Wow!

Wake Up Sid

2009-10-08T15:05:00.003+05:30

A good watch. But 'Dil Chata Hai' remains the best 'coming of age' Hindi movie .

Blue Sky, Cochin

2009-10-08T09:38:00.008+05:30

Kashi Art Cafe, Fort Kochi

2009-10-08T09:38:00.007+05:30

Notice the sewing machine styled tables. Nice!

District 9

2009-10-06T16:54:00.006+05:30

Absolutely brilliant. The documentary feel makes the film an incredible watch. Peter Jackson strikes gold again!

Up

2009-10-06T15:04:00.012+05:30

Two thumbs up!

Lagaan

2009-10-06T15:04:00.010+05:30

Watched Lagaan after so many years again. India's best film. Ever.

Who Wants Leman Tea?

2009-10-06T14:58:00.001+05:30

*pic taken enroute Kochi

The Journalist & The Jihadi

2009-10-02T12:20:00.001+05:30

An incredible story.

Justice Harvard

2009-09-30T19:19:00.001+05:30

Micheal Sandel's lectures are superb to listen to. Here is the link.

Locked Up Abroad

2009-09-30T17:41:00.001+05:30

This Nat Geo series is exceptional. Must watch.

Malgudi Days

2009-09-30T15:59:00.003+05:30

Watching back to back episodes of Malgudi Days makes you miss the simple life we used to have. Now everything moves so fast. Malgudi Days is one series that will be forever etched in our collective consciousness.

Breaking The Magicians' Code

2009-09-27T18:38:00.004+05:30

This is a terrific watch!!! For instance, I can now make the Forum Mall disappear, if I have the right infrastructure!

Inglorious Basterds

2009-09-27T18:16:00.003+05:30

Decent watch. But doesnt match up to Tarantino's older movies.

Watchmen - A Disappointing Watch

2009-09-27T18:15:00.004+05:30

Zack Snyder disappoints after his mind boggling '300'.

The Richest Poor Boy Syndrome

2009-09-26T17:36:00.004+05:30

Alright! So, one of my buddies from over a decade, is going through what he calls the "Richest Poor Boy Syndrome". I thought that this stuff happens only in the movies, but its good to see someone stand by his convictions against incredible odds. And it is this conviction that will ensure this guy succeeds in life. Am sure about this.