Who am I

If asked how would we define ourselves:

1. Smart	51. New age	101. Informative	151. Important
2. Intelligent	52. Persistent	102. Meticulous	152. Awesome
3. Honest	53. Inquisitive	103. Sharing	153. Free-thinker
4. (Self-)Disciplined	54. Deep	104. Straight	154. Worthwhile
5. Driven	55. Clever	105. Integrity	155. Calm
6. Helpful	56. Kind	106. Efficient	156. Inspiration
7. (Self-)Motivated	57. Happy	107. Healthy	157. Human
8. Inspiring	58. Enthusiastic	108. Bold	158. Leader
9. Insightful	59. Brave	109. Intense	159. Searching
10. Focused	60. Weird	110. Nice	160. Conceited
11. Curious	61. Genuine	111. Methodical	161. Expert
12. Positive	62. Sincere	112. Straightforward	162. Systematic
13. Interesting	63. Committed	113. Rational	163. Precise
14. Creative	64. Proactive	114. Free	164. Effective
15. Open-minded	65. Witty	115. Writer	165. Earnest
16. Successful	66. Energetic	116. Optimistic	166. Wealthy
17. Experimental	67. Knowledgeable	117. Influential	167. Teacher
18. Determined	68. Unique	118. Evolved	168. Communicative
19. Conscious	69. Giving	119. Diligent	169. Trustworthy
20. Thoughtful	70. Arrogant	120. Odd	170. Pragmatic
21. Courageous	71. Intuitive	121. Motivating	171. Special
22. Passionate	72. Friendly	122. Outside-the-box	172. Eclectic
23. Personal	73. Compassionate	123. Challenging	173. Interested
24. Caring	74. Great	124. Bright	174. Extreme
25. Organized	75. Articulate	125. Centered	175. Fearless
26. Confident	76. Intellectual	126. Intriguing	176. Strong-willed
27. Independent	77. Thought-provoking	127. Authentic	177. Savvy
28. Generous	78. Detailed	128. Consistent	178. Cool
29. Funny	79. Humorous	129. Obsessive	179. Risk-taking
30. Growth-oriented	80. Productive	130. Truth	180. Relaxed
31. Dedicated	81. Thinking	131. American	181. Powerful
32. Inspirational	82. Thinker	132. Outgoing	182. Helping
33. Thorough	83. Prolific	133. Fun	183. Seeker
34. Innovative	84. Loving	134. Introspective	184. Valuable
35. (Self-)Aware	85. Clear	135. Progressive	185. Entertaining
36. Open	86. Original	136. Real	186. Imaginative
37. Geek	87. Best	137. Simple	187. Motivational
38. Ambitious	88. Different	138. Opinionated	188. Gifted
39. Vegan	89. Active	139. Guru	189. Genius
40. Practical	90. Goal-oriented	140. Work-centered	190. Reflective
41. Nerd	91. Industrious	141. Experienced	191. Goofy
42. Logical	92. Enlightened	142. Friend	192. Transparent
43. Adventurous	93. Brilliant	143. Eloquent	193. Professional
44. Good	94. Quirky	144. Balanced	194. Shrewd
45. Analytical	95. Eccentric	145. Unusual	195. Dynamic
46. Entrepreneur	96. Rich	146. Contemplative	196. Amusing
47. Wise	97. Unconventional	147. Broad	197. Strategic
48. Crazy	98. Purposeful	148. Serious	198. Connected
49. Spiritual	99. Growing	149. Assertive	199. Strong
50. Hard-working	100. Inspired	150. Lucid	200. Encouraging

Source:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2008/02/steve-pavlina-branding/

Venkat Reddy

Ad Blocker Plugin

Like many if you are often irritated by those pesky ads popping up all over the Webpage you are reading, you might find this "adBlock plus" tool handy.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

Note: its a Firefox only plugin. I left the default filter "Easy List (USA)" on, which blocks most of ads posted on US websites. After a long eye straining surfing experience its quite a relief to view the pages without the ads.

Venkat Reddy

Money as Debt

For long money has such a allure, its more like a magic, its source is always a mystery. Questions like who creates money is something we don't ask often and with myriad of complex global transactions its not easy to comprehend it. Money arouse in early ages as a convenience when barter system was the only option, but in its current form its no longer just a convenience, its something which defines every aspect of our lives. Watch this wonderful documentary which traces money from its inception to its current form and makes us seriously question things which we never bother to think about.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279

No matter how much the brilliant thinkers portray capitalistic monetary systems as the best thing, I personally feel its flawed because a exponential monetary growth system cannot be maintained over a finite resourceful world, in doing so we will end up exhausting ourselves to death.

Venkat Reddy

Layered Cello

The experience of a live Symphony is quite exhilarating, 30-40 people playing various instruments really absorbs you. Watch this performance by Zoe Keating who creatively plays Cello instrument as if she were an entire string ensemble condensed into one woman. This is one of the best cello performance I have heard, no matter how many times I hear it, the music keeps haunting.

http://poptech.org/popcasts/PopCasts.aspx?viewcastid=169

Some thing unusual here is that she layers her play over some repetitive background music layers, the way she layers her instrument is just perfect.

Venkat Reddy

Frozen in Time

Watch this nice experiment in Grand Central Station where over 200 people on a given cue just stop doing what they are doing and freeze in time for 5 mins. Notice the perplexed expressions in the commuters. Its good to see something unusual once in a while

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

I guess the group that organized this stunt is called ImprovEverywhere, looks like they pulled off 70 or so such surprises in public places.

Venkat Reddy

Cheaper Talent Hypothesis

The common trend now every company looks for is, the cheaper the IT guy rate the better the deal. Objectively this sounds fine because the company is saving a lot of money, but in reality would the company be able to get a better deal by bringing in talented programmers at a higher premium. Here is a interesting article by Martin Fowler who explains why this indeed is true.

http://martinfowler.com/bliki/CheaperTalentHypothesis.html

Its really difficult to drive this point to old school companies who think a army of cheap programmers is a bargain than small teams of really talented people. No wonder why there is so much inefficiency all around.

Venkat Reddy

Longevity Revolution

For most Indians an average life span of 60-65 yrs is considered a good run, though for healthy Americans it spans at 80-85 yrs. For a Indian with good diet (not considering typical desi food) and active lifestyle we can bump it up to may be 80-85, but anything beyond that is almost like living dead, with most of organs almost finished. Interestingly few people have started to question as to why that should be the case, cant we prolong it as much as we like. Think of a old house or a car, if a part is old we just replace it, that way we can keep extending its life. Though the analogy sounds convincing, in reality lack of complete understanding of a human body is the current limiting factor. I am convinced to a extent we are just a matter of few decades away where in we can opt for how long we choose to live, natures constraint would be thing of the past. Here is interesting video which explores the possibility.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4336018714668472419

In a Utopian society where people can live as long as they like, it rises challenging questions like what on earth would people want to do with some much available time, would we really want such a choice. May be yes may be not.

Venkat Reddy