mere funde

Just realized that it has been more than 5 years since I wrote my first post.

Here’s to many more to come

… after a brief hiatus. I have been away for almost a month, mostly due to increased work load. But I am firmly and surely back again. I recount below some of the more interesting things that have happened over the past month.

1. BarCamp Delhi 4 was attended. It was my first BarCamp and a very nice experience at that. It was held at the Amity Incubator in Noida, and they were excellent hosts with brilliant WiFi and lunch. Met a lot of interesting people. The event was low on tech and more on networking I was slightly disappointed. I personally delivered a talk on “Software and IP” and Akshat one on “Folksonomies”. After the camp clicked a couple of snaps at the India Gate and got caught in hail and rain. Thankfully the lappie and the cam were unaffected. Photos here.

2. The Quiz at office was won. The Bong (Aditya Chakrobarty) and me – named as “Two Bongs or Not” – defeated three other teams by a huge margin and got ourselves coupouns for Landmark worth a grand each. Luck played a huge part, but I am not complaining.

3. Gurgaon experienced a week of “Awesome Mausum” – I phrase I can claim to have invented. Rain pounded and the temperatures fell so low that the fans were switched off! In the middle of May – who would have thunk!

Fell in love with Poets of The Fall – Carnival of Rust. Other than that I have been twittering quite a lot. You can follow me here.

The now famous Patent Troll Tracker has been identified by some one, and he has revealed himself on his blog.

I added this blog to my Google Reader way back, and ever since he has been a fantastic blogger and has come up with brilliant posts. It’s a shame he was forced to disclose his identity. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hope that he does not have to give up his work.

Keep going dude, you rock!

I like the guy and his interview style. Have liked a lot of his videos. Specially the one with Jonathan Schwartz (who, btw, I think rocks. Check out his blog post on acquisition of MySQL – at 5 in the morning from a CEO – super cool!). And love this bit from his post.

Life is too short and if that means I leave a few million on the table because I gave up equity in my own thing, so be it.

All my friends know that I am an Apple fanboy (who doesn’t own any apply product btw!), and one of the fiercest defenders of their policies.

But I guess that this time, they have gone over board and have truly screwed up. Think Secret is gone, and so is a source of free publicity for you, and more juice. Also, connects you with what people think about proposed changes and their needs. Sorry guys. I think you fucked up!

Ever had a client add you on a social network, or wanted to do vice-versa, and did not know whether it would be appropriate?

Well, the nice folks over at Edelman have published a company policy for its employees, which can be accessed here. I must say that most organizations would agree with the policies, with minor modifications at best. Personally speaking too, I support the rules laid down by them.

Best of all, I like the last rule.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Being professional doesn’t mean you can’t also speak in a human voice.

Jonathan Schwartz, my favourite CEO blogger, goes out and kicks some serious NetApp ass here.

So later this week, we’re going to use our defensive portfolio to respond to Network Appliance, filing a comprehensive reciprocal suit. As a part of this suit, we are requesting a permanent injunction to remove all of their filer products from the marketplace, and are examining the original NFS license – on which Network Appliance was started. By opting to litigate vs. innovate, they are disrupting their customers and employees across the world.

In addition to seeking the removal of their products from the marketplace, we will be going after sizable monetary damages. And I am committing that Sun will donate half of those proceeds to the leading institutions promoting free software and patent reform (in specific, The Software Freedom Law Center and the Peer to Patent initiative), and to the legal defense of free software innovators.

To be fair, NetApp says Sun sued first and they responded. But what I like about the whole saga is the intelligent use of his blog by JS. He manages to convince you that the are all good and NetApps all evil.

Go Jonathan. You rock boy!

Don’t have much time for a full post, so a small roundup:

• Google goes hindi. In a related news, it also launched the Finance service for China. Do it for India – the markets have gone bonkers!
• Jason Calacanis analyzes the Facebook hype. It is not a Google killer. Period. And I hate some Facebook apps that allow people to chuck things at me.
• Daily WTF – Copyright stupidity – Act One.
• Daily WTF – Copyright stupidity – the Grand Act. Sue a Durga Puja pandal of all things!!

According to reports, SonyBMG in UK and Ireland “has made it obligatory for all senior staff at both Columbia Records and RCA Records to start blogging actively.” The company clarifies, “you won’t be sacked for failing to blog“, but added, rather ominously: “If you don’t blog, it’s going to be frowned upon. Ged has made it clear that staff are expected to blog and participate in the community. He sees it as part of people’s jobs.”

Though I think it is way overboard and forces people to do stuff they shouldn’t be forced to, it also reflects how seriously the corporate world takes blogging. I wish however, that they changed “has made it obligatory” with “will encourage”. Blogging as a part of job profile – interesting!!