Climb the Pyramid

Cal Newport describes the pyramid strategy to evaluate one’s progress.

http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/03/the-pyramid-method-a-simple-strategy-for-becoming-exceptionally-good/

From the blog:

[quote]

I call this general technique the Pyramid Method. I claim that it’s a powerful approach for anyone looking to transform an interest or natural talent into an expertise that cannot be ignored. Regardless of the pursuit in question, if you want to take it someplace serious, follow Chris’s example. This means:

1. Pick a single relevant venue to join at the entry level and work to increase your standing.
2. Make sure the venue offers clear metrics on your progress; use these metrics to guide your efforts to get better.
3. Forget all the other bullshit advice and mini-strategies people offer for getting ahead in your pursuit. If you can’t master this one venue, then you don’t yet deserve the world’s respect.
4. Put your head down, and get it done.

[/quote]

The strategy can work for many skills music, sports and coding. But choosing the proper venue is critical. IMO, apart from the above properties mentioned by Chris, The venue should have some other properties.  I would talk about them from a coder’s perspective.

1. Have a low entry barrier: So that you can start early from a entry-level. So, when you only know the syntax and basic constructs of a high level language (C++, Java, C#)

2. A high competition/quality: So, you don’t “win” the venue too soon. So, you are actively engaged when you can solve non-trivial problems in your arena also. This also ensures that good coders will keep coming to your venue rather than taking off someplace else.

3. Can cater to more than 1 skill: I find this important to be a successful programmer you have to do more than code! This can involve making system architecture, understanding existing codebases, soft skills like communication.

One of the venues I know is Topcoder.com as it offers all what Chris has outlined in his article and what I have outlined here in this post.

Now, I just have to go and follow the all important Step 4 from Chris’s post.

10000 hour rule

The 10,000 Hour Rule says no one gets to the top of their field unless they log at least 10,000 hours of practice. That’s right - 10,000 hours!

The rule has been repeated multiple times by many people.. the latest person is Malcolm Gladwell (author of Tipping Point and Blink), in his new book Outliers: The Story of Success

Other people include Peter Norvig (Director of Research, Google) on his blog in the post "Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years" here

Bumptop

This looks so cool. Bumptop is a desktop tool, to make your desktop feel more like your actual desktop. They have integrated some really neat physics into the whole thing and the reviews from the beta have been awesome.

Just watch the video, I would really love to try this out, though I doubt whether it is as useful as it is "cool"

Array Indexing

One of the most confusing aspects about arrays is the convention that the indexing starts with 0. Here's a paper from Edger Dijkstra which tries to explain the convention

http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/ewd08xx/EWD831.PDF

I am a pc!

The latest MS commercials are awesome. I feel that the Mac vs. PC ads have become annoying over the years, even though Apple keeps infusing pretty neat ideas. Next time, I see one of the Mac vs. PC ad I am going to remember how Apple is stereotyping Windows users (which include me!) and they will definitely feel more annoying.

Check out a couple of stories at techcrunch and watch the latest MS and Apple ads there

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/18/new-microsoft-ads-are-live/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/19/huh-those-mac-ads-arent-as-funny-any-more/

The Bay Area

This post took a long while to come. So, after a very insecurity filled semester I got a lucky break and ended up in the bay area for the summer. I am working for VMware for the summer and its a lot of fun and work!

I am living in Mountain View nowadays and it just feels like a different world from Tucson. There's a so much more greener and bigger than Tucson. I love the amount of greenery that is here, I love walking on the streets just admiring the trees and plants which are lined up at any and every place.

There are number of interesting places to eat. The number of Indian restaurants is amazing and Downtown Mountain View rocks! I actually got to have good old Indian-Chinese food: Chicken hakka noodles, Chilly chicken ... etc.

Ofcourse there are a number of interesting places to visit and things to do. I haven't had many chances to go out a lot but have visited the Golden gate bridge, the CA-1 drive from Santa cruz to SF, Pier 39 on july 4th and I went for strike bowling with other interns.

One of the best hangouts for me has been the Mountain View library, It has been a great find for me to spend some time on the weekends I am doing nothing especially with no AC at home :-(. It has got loads of books, DVDs and PC games :-). Though I haven't read much during the summer but have played a lot of games.

I have about 3 weeks to go here but the summer has already been a memorable one.

Metallica in Tucson

It was a feeling I can't describe. Truly, one of the greatest moments I have experienced. They were amazing to watch and listen to live. All the trouble was worth it. The shoving, waiting long for the cab, hell it took us 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the venue which was like half a hour away, but it was worth it.

Btw... you can join in some of the fun by looking at some of the vids
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=metallica+tucson&search_type=

Here' s the song-list, I am putting it here so that I can look back and relive it someday.

01. Creeping Death
02. Fuel
03. For Whom The Bell Tolls
04. The Unforgiven
05. ...And Justice For All
06. Sad But True
07. The Memory Remians
08. Fade To Black
09. Master Of Puppets
10. Battery
- - - - -
11. Wherever I May Roam
12. One
13. Enter Sandman
- - - - -
14. The Four Horsemen
15. Seek and Destroy

Tagged

1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
The Bourne Ultimatum, the first and only movie I have watched in a theater after coming to Tucson

2. What book are you reading?
None

3. Favorite board game?
Monopoly

4. Favorite magazine?
Reader's Digest

5. Favorite smells?
I agree with Tapasya/Bhavin over here wet earth after rain... and yes smell of freshly cooked good Indian food

6. Favorite sounds?
Guitar

7. Worst feeling in the world?
When I feel someone close to me has stopped caring about me

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
I think I can squeeze in another snooze

9. Favorite fast food place?
Etopia! in Lodhi colony. The Brownie with Vanilla Icecream + Chocolate sauce and nuts... mmmmh

10. Future child’s name?
I don't have a clue as of now!

11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d….?”
Buy a house, console games with every game possible, a fully loaded laptop...

12. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
No! But I do like to have a extra pillow to snuggle

13. Storms - cool or scary?
Cool because they are scary

14. Favorite drink?
Cold Coffee


15. Finish this statement, “If I had the time I would….”?
Well, don't want to think about this rosy situation now

16. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
I don't eat broccoli :D

17. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?
Bits of Blond Streaks, I would guess

18. Name all the different cities/towns you’ve lived in?
Delhi, Pune, Delhi, Tucson, (hmm.. delhi!)

19. Favorite sports to watch?
Soccer

20. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?
Well, its just too hard to do this.

21. What’s under your bed?
My earphones which slipped down under couple of months ago, possible some freebies I got from career fair

22. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
Why not?

23. Morning person, or night owl?
night owl ofcourse

24. Over easy, or sunny side up?
Over easy

25. Favorite place to relax?
My bed back at home

26. Favorite pie?
Pecan!

27. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookies and Cream, Brownie Vanilla Ice cream Combo(Eatopia), Hot Chocolate Fudge (Nirulas), Chikoo (Natural's Pune/Mumbai)

28. Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?
I am suppose to tag people?!

Ok everybody I know has been tagged I guess apart from Manish and Balaji So I tag those two.

Failure?

Google for "Who is a failure?" and Google will give you the answer

Where does Money come from?

Really a astonishing video for me... I would have never imagined that we all run on a system like this. I remember asking one day that if all countries in world are in debt who in hell is lending all the money and where it is coming from? The video answers the question, the money comes from "Thin air"

Bad Day

I tend to read quite a few web comics... One of the new ones i have started is Count your sheep.. its quite funny (!) and cute, check it out at http://www.countyoursheep.com/

I have been going through the archives and hit upon this amazing piece... especially with me having quite a few not so great days nowadays.

Night Owls

So I was just working on my RA work and was wondering how much more productive nights can be unlike days. I usually get more work done in nights than days in the same amount of time which is weird. So no matter how much I try sometimes its very hard to squeeze actual productive time out during the day.

I know that many people would agree with me on this. So I was trying to think of the reasons for the same and I came up with a pretty decent list I guess:

1. No phone calls, emails
2. No people around doing chores, chatting, gossiping
3. The feeling that you are up to get work done, or you are near a deadline.
4. No thinking about lunch time, No scheduled meetings.
5. Its actually quiet around :D

Ben's Bells

I got a chance to volunteer at Ben's Bells this saturday. This was a long time after which I was getting involved with some community service and this was the first time in US.

So, what's Ben's Bells? Ben's Bells are ceramic wind chimes made mostly by volunteers in Tucson. Twice a year, hundreds and hundreds of Ben's Bells are hung randomly in public places around the Tucson community and beyond to be found. The idea is to light some body's day.

There are other places/days when they place these Ben's Bells to be found. Like this weekend, they were taking a trip VTech.

And the best part about it was that it was really fun, I painted dried clay beads with ceramic paint and also made some. I got a chance meet quite a few people and that's always fun. And I got to model also :) which was really cool.

To find out more:
http://www.bensbells.org/

To see me model:
http://www.bensbells.org/Pages/Merchadise2.htm (You'll have to scroll down a bit)


Overall, it was an awesome experience and I hope to visit them again soon

Spring break is over

:(

So true..

Taare Zameen Par

I saw the movie today. And well I regret not watching it in a theater. Definitely the best movie bollywood has produced till now and it seems Imdb agrees with me! It's the only bollywood movie in IMDB top 250 movies.

Amazing Acting, screenplay, direction and a strong message for all people out there. It definitely reminded me of my days in school. I don't know how the situation is there in US. But the movie accurately describes the turmoil one goes through during school education in India.

A must watch for all, and this one really deserves the oscar that bollywood has been aspiring for a long time.

End of the Semester

So, the semester has finally ended! And I must say it was a hell of a journey. From a new style of studies to cooking it was a struggle all the way. Though battered and bruised, I am happy that I have survived.

I remember when I was shifting schools in 6th grade. I used to be in a smallish school and was transferring to a bigger school and my Maths teacher said (the subject I used to top every time in those days!) that I would find it hard to survive in the new school with no spoon feeding and a higher level of competition. And I think what her reaction would be when I meet her today after not only surviving but topping that school in 12th boards and now studying here in UoA.

I think the one semester has taught me a lot (ok! gimme something new).One, I just can't get up early whether it's a early class or a RA meeting. Two, I can actually study the whole night. Furthermore, nothing can motivate me to work .. unless there's a deadline in a few days.

Hmm.. the third is somewhat surprising and unfortunate because I used to love programming. Well, to be frank I used to be geeky in school. So while a football match was going on in the school, I would use the "free time" to sharpen my C++ skills. But somehow I have lost it. And this was reflected in my project's performances this semester where my performances was certainly below par though I managed to scrape through both.

And I understand, though partially, the value of friends and in general people. I was
helped and cared for throughout this period by people. There were some I knew before coming here but most were complete strangers. I bombarded them with questions and I always got patient replies. And I can't thank them all enough. It's not about studies or survival but about their goodness that I want to thank them for. Just for being selfless.

P.S. Well, this post was a very random one and with the blog title "Musings of an Unsettled mind" what else can you expect.

End of Semester

Yay!

Blog Changes

Wanted to shake a few things here

Side menu changes:

1. About me is pushed down: No one who don't know me will not reach here (unless he googles for Amit Wadhwa, and clicks on result# 5/6 :-/) (Edit: It doesn't look good down there, so its back up)

2. Check this out: The main change I wanted to do, I will try and list something there which I think is worth checking out. It will probably be a site/song which you can "check out" in 5 mins. Just to add a little more personal flavor to the blog

3. Slideshow: Cool little new gadget, fetches pics from picasa and shows it in your blog :) Google always tend to pleasantly surprise me. Next up should be Orkut album + picasa integration. I don't count adding a feed to picasa as integration.

Though I have screwed the layout a bit, That's a to do in December, when I am planning to switch to a better template.

Do let me know if you liked anything

Which Sites are you addicted to?

I just read a post on Natasha's blog where she talked about her addiction to orkut/ facebook etc.

Just wanted to know what sites are people addicted to. My personal list would go something like this:

1. Digg : Amazing web 2.0 news site. Unlike Orkut/facebook where the probability of finding a new scrap/message per hour is pretty low (unless you are as popular as Balaji with 600+ pals) the chances of finding something amusing is quite high on digg.

Alternate: reddit / slashdot

2. Orkut / Facebook: For obvious reasons

3. bash.org /qdb.us: A site which stores comical quote found on IRC. You won't find it that amusing If you have never been on IRC.

4. phdcomics.com : Esp. if you are a new reader, you HAVE to go through all the old stuff so there's a huge backlog.

5. Root of all evil (and good?) : iGoogle?! With all the RSS feeds for jokes/ news plus maps, product search and ofcoz the good old conventional search!

So what are your faves?!