Blogged out

Data Science Musings: Confusion Matrix

2020-09-16T12:00:00.001-07:00

Hello Readers,

Apart from writing personal blogs, I do technology consulting for living. I have started puting shape to my knowledge and experience in Data science in form of YouTube videos. Here is the first. Topic is " Confusion Matrix "

Confusion Matrix

From inside the bubble: Covid 19

2020-08-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

I very often think on the future of this new world order and all the businesses that support it.

I used to be a strong believer in the fact that all the businesses are there only to propel the civilization in some way or the other, but the spread of Corona virus, response of societies and its colossal impact (both at global and individual level) has turned my thinking upside down. My perspective to how things in the current world operate has undergone complete metamorphosis.

Billions of people work for businesses which are dependent on the privilege of some sections of the society to be able to spend beyond essentials. Retail, hell lot of manufacturing, travel, entertainment and so much more are nice to have things, but the existence of these businesses supports livelihood of innumerable world population and entire economies run on them. It feels like an unsolvable paradox of dis-balanced consumption and sustainability. Its a disaster of our generation and an imposed baggage that our future generations inherits from us.

The question comes - Can we really do something to reverse this, with people working in those sort of industries still earning their bread and living conveniently? Well, the immediate answer is NO and a after multiple bouts of thinking also, I concluded that the answer is NO.

But, can something be done about it? I think its unscrupulous of us to say that nothing can be done. There is no panacea, but man kind can start moving in the right direction. Its never too late, even after Corona Virus hitting us so hard.

Here is my two cents on this -

As a tech enthusiast and believer in balanced living, I feel that our generation is already in the habit of envisaging new business model trying to solve problems of society. Transportation, communication, retailing, Healthcare and disease therapeutics, Banking are some of the industries which now have no resemblance to their primitive form. Science and Technology has rocketed these sectors way beyond what an untrained mind could ever imagine.

Science & Technology has the power to propel us out of the precarious looking future as well. I believe there is going to be another leap of advancement in medicinal technology, much more accelerated than ever before.

All the enterprises and overall industries would now take a hard look on how technology can transform the way they produce and deliver goods or services. The business models need to rebuilt around sustainability and encourage right living. An excellent example of what not to do is Uber-ise the cities and make a mess of roads and respiratory system of city-dwellers.

The Data fuel, the Digital wave and the surge of telecommunication channels are all going to come together to enable this. We are at the cusp of this change and as a tech enthusiast, I am quite excited to witness and contribute to this mega transformation

Be born every day

2013-02-20T01:44:00.002-08:00

“Be born every day “Its the tag line of advertisement of Titan watches.

Knowledge comes from strange places. Through this blog I want to share a trivial piece of knowledge that dawned at me from the "The idiot Box".
This line peeps into the mind of a kid who explores new things everyday. Based on this new found wisdom accumulated piecemeal, he frames the images of his future. This imagination is devoid of any contamination. By contamination I mean to refer to parental suggestions, societal situations etc.

That such flights of imagination of this young, novice but creative mind find wings is a very rare phenomenon. In the course of time , life makes us forget everything we ever wanted to become. Rather we become what our parents or kin want us to be , or whatever best was possible in the resources our society , family or financial latitude allows.This imagination gets blur. But, it does n’t perishes away in every case. The dream as close to the reality as much perseverance that you possess.

For instance Bill Gates.

He nurtured the dream of working for the society. Even after being such a phenomenal success in the technology domain worldwide , he did n’t stop.All he wanted was that few paragraphs of his obituary will be about his philanthropist endeavors. His childhood dreams are shaping up finally i.e. helping people overcome their troubles.

My facebook one liners - My Random thoughts

2013-01-20T02:33:00.001-08:00

· Life went through its course like a gust of wind and I , like a particle of sand, had no choice. I closed my eyes and held her hand .....and said to myself - مكتوب (Maktoob) and thus it happened ........
· I deal in the stock market of the hope and I sell short.
· I saw up. The "sky" was pretending to be dark. I know that you are hiding bright splashes of colors in your shawl. I have seen them in my dreams
· There are 3 stages of all relationships - 1. stretch 2. tear 3. snap.
· I have too many friends and hardly a foe. This makes me ponder "is there something wrong with me?"
· Mr. " Afternoon " is feeling tired and lazy. He is dreaming of “night” and waiting for "evening" to take charge of the day.
· Life keeps on making dots and I keep on trying to make a line out of them. The game is on.
· Sometimes reasons are just not enough to explain phenomenon.
· It’s bloo all around. It’s Hyderabad. J
· It seems to be a long insipid journey, but I can see the road meandering. Who knows what's there, waiting for me for so long.....
· It doesn’t matter now and I am happy about that.
· Relationships are like dry Sand. If you hold loosely, it will fall down. If you hold too tightly it will slip away
· I see from the window of my room the artistry of God. He has so immaculately painted the sky. The light blue evening sky is merging with pale yellow aura of sun. The perfection amazes me...every single time I look across my window..........
· The business of forgiveness is the most unprofitable though most satisfying. :)

Small Is beautiful

2012-10-23T03:07:00.002-07:00

Few months back I happened to visit a place in the outskirts of my hometown, Patna. I went to a marketplace over there, more popularly known as “Haat” in the vernacular language. A wide range of things were at offer in the market, be it grocery items, vegetables, cloths, sweets etc. The scene was resplendent with colors of all shades – The true colors of India.

But midst all this, I happened to see a different flavor of this small and largely localized business hub of the adjoining villages. The marketplace followed a business model that is very robust and stable. This business model has been ensconced in the villages of India since centuries and is still in its pristine form, more or less.

I want to draw attention towards the fact that the suppliers to the petty shops (grocery, cloths, hardware, sweets, vegetables etc.) are mostly local. The shopkeepers are also native of the same locality as the consumers are. The place had an aura of being self-sustained, totally unaware and unaffected by the vagaries of Dalal streets or NASDAQ index.

The point I am trying to make may appear to be trifle when the proportion of money in the marketplace is compared to the colossal amount of money sloshing in the national share markets. But when we take into consideration the population of rural India (80 % of total) which empties its pocket into these ” Haats ” , then the actual connotations may surface into our cognition.

The detachment of these business activities from the international influence has prevented India from being grounded during the days of downturn to a large extent. When most of the nations (rich or poor) were trudging under heavy economic slowdown, India toiled towards a GDP of 6.1. Truly, domestic markets acted as a cushion in the tough times of recessionary trends.

If such can be the effects of a robust domestic production and consumption cycle, there are enough reasons for the government to improve the quality of indigenous products and services, and support SME’s with more heart. We need to bring our industrial capabilities at par with the global standards. This will enable the business model of self-sustainability to stretch its legs into the urban market also. At the same time it will also reduce our dependency on imported products and the economic upheavals of other nations.

Why shall one go for a foreign brand product when our very own Tata , Bajaj , Reliance, Aditya Birla etc. can cater our needs and appetite for quality. One more thing should be put high on the priority list of the government. The buying capacity and overall living standard of the Indian public, particularly the rural population should be improved. Their prosperity is directly related to the economic health of the nation as a whole. When foreign companies can view Indian market as an opportunity (as indicated by the rising statistics of FDI (foreign direct investment)) then why the Indian companies can’t cash in the domestic market by offering world class products and services. I.T. sector is already doing this. I am not saying that India doesn’t need the investment from MNCs, but won’t it be nice if such global handshaking is done by choice and not as a compulsion (aiming economic gain).

There are several examples when government’s apathetic policies towards this sacred rural structure have had devastating aftermaths. Adding to the irony of the situation is the fact that such imbroglio characterizes some of the most developed states of India i.e. Maharashtra, A.P. etc. Upsurge in the suicide of farmers in these states in the shadows of upcoming SEZs corroborate the fact.

Initiative of French premiere, Nicholas Sarkozy to look beyond statistics (GDP) and take into consideration the well being of the people (say happiness index) deserves applause. Also, the economic restructuring post the slowdown should be done keeping in mind the “Swadeshi” spirit .This I believe can definitely give a push to the well being of the Indians.

A leaf and The Wind

2012-04-14T23:38:00.001-07:00

Like a stray dog I roamed here and there on the stranger streets of Hyderabad alone for hours together. I sat at an unknown bus stop and saw the speeding automobiles and people passing by. To my surprise no bus stopped at the bus stop for those 30 minutes.

I walked straight towards the other end of the road (I did not know, if the road ends somewhere or not). I just kept on walking. I felt so lonely. Still there was a weird sense of peace in my heart. I realized that in real life also I am doing the same. I am walking aimlessly and going wherever the roads lead me. My mind is completely devoid of thoughts while I walk. All I do is just walking. Yes! Sometimes I feel tired. But I do not find any reasons to stop. I will wait until someone calls my name from behind.

Like a gust of wind takes a tiny, nimble footed leaf on a ride, the roads take me on a quite walk every night these days. The walk has no purpose, no destination, no companion, no small talk, no smiles and no laughter. It doesn’t make me sad. It doesn’t make me happy. It gives me no pain, not even joy. To my surprise, it doesn’t even tire me or leaves drops of perspiration on my nape. I do not meet anyone on the way, nor does anyone meet me. I don’t see any single face that is familiar to me. I don’t receive a look of acquaintance.

Only two things repeat themselves, the road and me. We meet every night, but we choose to stay silent, as if we are very old friends on a long journey and we have run out of small talks. Everything has already been said and heard between me and the road. So, we travel silently in each other’s company.

The beauty of the walk is its simplicity. I have as if I have total control over myself. I don’t have to ask anyone which way to go. It starts and ends abruptly. The blandness of the walk is addictive. It keeps me tempting every night. The peace of emptiness is refreshing like that in a valley .

Life of a commodity

2011-12-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like I am a commodity, left in the market to be displayed, sold and earn tangible or intangible profit out of my worth( if at all I have any). People use me and give me respect (“attention” is a better word) only when they need my service. They recognize me only when my need arises. After I am used and they don’t need me, they just don't recognize my existence. I stare at their faces to see a smile. But, all I get in return is a blank stare and a horrific expression of indifference on their face which evinces disgust for me. The feel of disgust percolates into my soul (Damn! It’s so porous, that too weirdly selective. It lets in everything that hurts it). My insignificance in their life is so stark that I feel ashamed of my existence. But alas I have to live for them. After all I am a commodity and what a commodity is if there is no taker for it. What is its life if not to serve its user? I don’t utter these deep words; Shakespeare did …….long back

All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances.

I am amazed at life's intriguing interest in skirmishing with “innocuous” me. But, I seek no escape. I am proud that I am playing my part………honestly indeed. :)

Deadly temptation

2011-11-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Death is simple and hence it's beautiful

Everything goes away in a snap of finger. Everything vanishes in a blink of eyelid.
No pain of something bad that happened in the past or no hope of something good that will happen in future.
No expectation from any one . Everyone wil cease to have any expectation from you. It takes us away from the complexities of life, the mesh of choices, repentance of lost chances and guilt of wrong decisions taken.

Life after death will be so pretty, so peaceful, so serene. So tranquil... like the fog that settles in a valley on the jungle of moments lived, covering up all the freaky activities beneath. The wild bouts of senseless emotions, happy or sad, all submerged, in the shroud of death.Death is freedom. Life is an unending slavery of desires and expectation.

The kiss of death is so tempting. I don't find any reason to resist it. No reason at all.

Prelude

2011-02-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

I saw them. It happened all of a sudden. I was scared for a moment, even though I knew they are nothing but thin air. Its just my imagination smeared with the sense of guilt in my sub-conscious mind that made them feel real to me.They stared right into my eyes.So bright were their eyes that it made my retina shrivel.Their eyes were pellucid and their faces lit in the darkness like a beacon light. The fear in my heart begin to sink the next moment. It was now replaced with shame and disgust for myself , my being. I hope I could forget those eyes that stared into my flesh and warmed my soul.But, I wish I never forget the pang of fear.I want this fear to expose my weakness.I want it to make me realise the futility of my life and instigate me to rise ...I wish it to be a prelude to a life devoid of the mundane fear and kneel down in front of the fear of those eyes.

I want to see those eyes again. But , this time I want to look back into them with pride and dignity. I wish the redness of my eyes dissolves and the yellowness beneath vanishes.......

IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER

2009-10-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

It's the first post that has not been penned by me, but still I am including it in my blog because of the message it conveys ........

” The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that.”…......ROCKY BALBOA

Ek Kash Zindagi ki

2009-10-04T21:48:00.001-07:00

Hey Smokers! Please don’t feel guilty while smoking in front of those ignorant non-smokers .Take each puff with a glow of pride on your face. There is no need to feel bad about others who feel bad about you.

I don’t deny that that you may die of mouth or lung cancer, but still you have some reason to feel good about your being an avid smoker. If you can’t find any sense or logic in my words , let me tell you why you are no more a sore to the searing public gaze.

I know that people who know me will ask or even admonish me for my new found sympathy for the smokers , when I myself is not one . But, still as a good citizen of my beloved nation (and at the same time, owner of an idle mind) ,I happen to ponder over a thing or two about this beleaguered class.

Has any one ever given a thought to the fact that each minuscule cloud of smoke emanating from those millions of lips support a humongous , flourishing and ever expanding tobacco and cigarette industry, braving the statuary warnings and censor board restrictions(on filming cigarette smoking scenes on the silver screen).This industry employs a large number of staffs for the production , sales , marketing and advertisement of various cigarette brands , umpteen of them. Even small scale industry producing other tobacco products like biri etc. thrives due to the endeavor of these risk takers (The smokers), that would have perished otherwise.

Delving deeper into the matter ,I came to know that every year some 5.4 million people die of diseases caused by consumption of tobacco and primarily because of cigarettes. Just imagine the amount of liquidity oozing out from the pockets of these smokers into the pharmaceutical and medical industry (Yes , “medical” deserves the tag of “Industry” rather than “science” ). So many medicine manufacturing companies are focused on making drugs specifically for respiratory ailments.

None other than the smokers form the very basis of these industries that feeds innumerable number of families. Every one even distantly related to these industries should be grateful to them. The colossal amount of revenue that a nation earns from tobacco based products, should not be ignored either. In the time of economic recession, the contribution from the smokers becomes even more significant.

So , my dear smoker friends, don’t have even a shred of guilt while smoking. No body has a heart big enough to notice that you do this without caring about the piercing glare of the people around .Just take it as an act of philanthropy that you are bestowing on this ignorant society at the cost of your own life.

Such a valiant effort should not be criticized when its does so much of good. keep on smoking….. . Waise bhi ,Government’s policies on population control is not proving to be of any worth.

Chaining the elephant

2009-09-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

Governments around the globe speak of betterment of their people. They brag about the elaborate efforts to enhance the quality of their life and provide them a convivial society where they can lead a peaceful and secure life.

Do they aspire to achieve this while curbing the freedom of their populace? This question is staring right into the face of the modern societies, be it Asia (considered as conservative) or, USA (touted as the most liberal one).

Recently, some unfortunate incidents have taken place which draws attention towards the mishandling of judicial and executive powers to thwart the media personnel from speaking their mind.

I would like to mention two such examples.

The first one is the leverage of American media by some anonymous power lurking in the high echelons of government body. During the Katarina hurricane, U.S. Media was forced to present the African- Americans (most of them left behind in the evacuation operation) as plunderers, rapists and murderers. The news was so well concocted and spread that it led to the gunning down of several innocent black Americans by the security guards. It’s a fact that’s really hard to accept, but still its true and hard to swallow.

The second instance is a more recent one and has actually prompted me to pen down this article. It’s about the grave injustice perpetrated by the Columbo High Court on a senior journalist J. Tissainayagam. He is sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under Prevention of Terrorism Act(PTA).

The contention was that the article written by Mr. J. Tissainayagam in a local newspaper is said to bring disrepute to the government and is interpreted as supporting terrorism. The issue is not that weather the journalist is guilty or not, rather the incident shows that the Sri Lankan government is desperately trying to silence all the voices in the favor of millions of Tamil populace still languishing in inhuman living conditions. And that also at the cost of public voice. Its very unfortunate for the nation.

The point is that such incidents should be taken seriously by international bodies like U.N.O., A.S.E.A.N etc. and behoves them to take a rigid stand against such exceptional incidents, failing which their role on the global perspective will be to put to question.

Knowledge Sharing

2008-04-30T02:03:00.000-07:00

Just imagine what would have happened if greats like Thomas Edition and Newton would have patented and sold their theories to some Corporate bigwig .This didn't happen , rather they put there work before public for use and scrutiny.

But , this is not happening today. All the recent technologies that are being developed are strictly guarded from public vision and scrutiny.The market forces do this for there own benefit. This kind of practice is common in software industry as most of the applications developed are not open to all.There code is hidden from the people.Companies like microsoft are quite famous for this.

The Software is undergoing an upsurge of Opensource . Opensource is a way of software practice using which the developer of the application keeps the source code of the application open to all. Any one can access it and edit and enhance it according his own will. There are companies like Sun Microsystems engaged in spreading the word for Opensource. SunMicrosystems does projects on openjava. There are societies like netbeans that are working in this field.Operating Systems like UNIX are some very famous examples of OpenSource application.

Reservation Fiasco in India

2008-04-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

politicians now a days are trying to skew the constitutional provisions to make their way to the power.They are trying to take away the autonomy of the Premier institutions of India which are world famous for producing best talents in the market. But, by biasing the admission procedure the aura of institute like IITs,IIMs is sure to dwindle in time to come.
The implementation of reservation in jobs and education at such a large scale is the nonsecular face of India