Bedhu’s Blog

At another innovation, this time from Indian American K.R. Sridhar.

K.R. Sridhar, founder of the Silicon Valley clean tech start-up Bloom Energy, says he’d like to see his company’s Bloom Box fuel cell technology lighting up most American households within the next 10 years.

The battery delivers 14 hours of video to cell phones.That’s a lofty promise from the Sunnyvale, Calif., company that doesn’t officially launch until Wednesday. And many experts are quite skeptical about whether Mr. Sridhar, who has already raised about $400 million to produce his boxes, can bring expensive fuel cell technology to the masses.
“The buzz is sort of a mix of excitement and befuddlement,” says Joel Makower, executive editor of Greener World Media. “It has to do with the fact that this is by no means the first fuel cell company to promote clean energy.”
To succeed where others have failed, he says, Bloom Energy will have to show its fuel cell technology is cheap enough for consumers while being adaptable enough for big business.
As the Next Big Future blog pointed out, the Connecticut company Fuel Cell Energy has been installing fuel cell units since the 1990s, but lost $71 million last year.

Full story at http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bloom-box-fuel-cell-generates-buzz-skepticism/story?id=9920285

What do you think of the new direct tax code. Well, if you are not thinking yet, please read the following article. This is going to impact a lot of our decisions (like buying a home).

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/5578251.cms

If you are a person too much into details, this link can help:

http://www.simpletaxindia.org/2009/08/new-direct-tax-code-released.html

I was watching the cinema version of Chetan’s novel, with Aamir Khan’s splendind act as I came across ‘Adam’.  Adam, is a tablet PC indigenously developed by young entrepreneurs of India. It is amazing how these two events reflect each other. Here is Ranzod Das(played by Aamir Khan), who believes that the system is not educating anybody, but just making them machines. He goes over and makes innovation spread like algae on sea floor. He takes over a school in Ladakh(north India) and teaches kids about “applying” science.

To the Adam story, here is the link for the interview with the “Adam” master : http://www.technoholik.com/news/sneak-peek-video-notion-ink-adam/

Oh, you make me proud guys.

Another video:

These 20 somethings are in competition with global tablet PC makers. I am just optimistic, Indian society may be getting closer to idea of education. If education doesnt improve the quality of life around us, it is just going to make us a bigger back office of the world. We are not getting any support from politics, but we cant care about it anymore. No complaining allowed, its a jungle out there. Its time to convert technology and know how into business results. Show results and demand attention. As Ranzod Baba says, focus on excellence, success will find you.

Cant write enough about the movie though. Thanks Vinod Chopra for another master piece. If you dont know India, you can never understand how movies can be medium of mass communication. Actors here are demi gods but not without a reason. Cinema’s power to interact with nook and corners of India is incomparable. It reaches places and minds Indian government couldn’t reach with power lines or public campaigns for child/family welfare. And impact of a movie like this asking fundamental questions about our education system are the need of the hour. Lets not decide child’s fate just about when they are born. Doctor and Engineer are not the only ways to live a decent life. We are in excess supply of machine-men/women, who are ready to do what ever, but always await for directions. We are in excess supply of human resources, whom we painfully reduce through our education system into machines ready to function way below their capacity. We need original thought for going to the next level. Original ideas, original methods of solving problems for 1 billion people. As Swami Vivekananda says and I quote: “Education is manifestation of perfection already in man”.

Think about and “comment” here about what you think.

Kudos, the idiots.

Kudos, the Adam.

Edited 16-Feb-2010:
I want India top this list of most innovative countries:
Sweden, US, Japan, Finland and Singapore are there for 2010
Details are at http://www.indiatimes.com/photostory/5576193.cms

I started from India on 22nd Jan. After a 22 hour flight I landed in Philadelphia. It took time to convince the immigration officer that I needed 6 weeks for this business trip to attend a conference. It was not fun, this guy got pretty worried about it.

Once I convinced I came down and started waiting for my baggage. Its just natural that yours would be the last to come on that serpentine baggage queue, especially when you are so worn out after 24 hours of travel. The plates on the queue move lazily like audience after watching avatar in 3d imax. I tried to grab a trolley so that I can carry both of  my humongous suitcases  at one shot. It need 4 $ to relieve itself from the stand. Can you believe it, 4 bucks for the trolley!! Hats off America, you sure know how to make money. Ok… my card doesnt work even if I am ready for paying that kind of money. Hell with it. I dragged my luggage and moved over to step out of Philadelphia Airport turf.  I was not sure if I have to take my rental car. Its been two years I am used to driving in Bangalore. So, by nature I am accustomed to follow no rules. Over and above, this is a right hand drive and over a freeway. But I checkout the rental car anyway. So, I boarded the “National” rental bus which took me to my car office. Other passengers were giving him tips. I was in the Indian Catch -22. I know a dollar means much more to me that it does to him. But, you got to go by the rules and I gave him a 2 euro coins and that is all the change I had at that time. It was damn cold.

I went into the car office and after pleasentaries and the shock she had after seeing my cardboard drivers licence from Govt of India, she asked me my credit card. Credit card.. are you kidding? There is no way my credit card limit would accept that kind of money!! So, I am down here not knowing what to do after 2o+ hours of brain dead journey. I called the authorizing company from phone at the car rental and told that it has to be directly billed. It was Friday evening and the lady taking the call was in no mood to go through this. But she sprang up to life and contacted all people she can to get an approval. Meanwhile, I traced the clock’s path for 15 minutes. I called her back and she told that it has been converted to direct billing. And my hotel is direct billing too. Thank God, I dont have to figure that out after reaching there. So, I took the car, which is a fantastic Subaru and got going. Drive was not fun as I forgot to adjust mirrors and seat to my convenience. So, here I was, driving at 45 on 55 mile speed limit highway, straining my head like a giraffe aiming for helicopter flying above and bending in all directions my seatbelt would allow me to have a glimpse of traffic. All the cars are zooming past mine, and drivers were giving that last look of  ”dude, are you 90 years old?” before they zip off. I am helpless, reminding myself of the “right hand drive ” stuff and so on. This is height of multi tasking, driving, reading maps and figuring out the controls.

Checkin into hotel was easy but I got pissed off to walk what appears like infinite road with all my luggage. However, I finished that task and retired for the night. I dont even remember I ate anything.

Hmm… it has been snowing very bad in Fishers, Indiana. So, to make my time useful, I thought I would shop on web. I was searching around for deals and found this site called meritline.com and started browsing. I thought I would first check for the quality of items and picked up small but interesting stuff like a USB blue tooth adapter, a mike for my laptop and other harmless jewellery all for under 20 bucks. Then, I submitted my order. There was no way I could mention my credit card address completely as they have no option to put a country other than US. So, I wrote as much as I can regarding my billing address. It accepted the card details and everything was fine. It took 2 days, yes 2 days, for them to realize that it is an international card. They sent me an email saying that my order is cancelled because they will not accept international cards. That was never mentioned when I was placing my order though. I bought stuff with India cards earlier(2 years before), there was no problem. I just wondered if that is a new law. Then I saw this good deal on 16 GB Sony music player on newegg.com and thought I would buy it. Everything went smooth and they didnt reject my order. Thank God, I didnt get rejected once again.

Pleased to inform you that Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions (RBEI) is conducting a Freshers Written Test on 2nd January 2010,

It is a open selection process for all B.E/B.Tech [ E&E, E&C, E&I, Telecom] students 2009 batch

Written Test Details: Criteria:- Aggr 70% and above

Venue:- Bangalore Institute of Technology

K.R road, V V puram, Bangalore – 560004

Reporting time:- 9.30am

Candidates who have attended our written test in the last 6 months are not eligible to take the test.

Test will comprise Technical + Aptitude questions and test of English language.

Selection Process: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for the personal interview. Details and venue of the interviews will be sent by mail.

Please bring 2B Pencil and Eraser without fail. You will be required to mark the answers with pencil.

Kindly carry the copy of this mail, identity proof alongwith Degree Certificates/convocation certificate.

Plan sufficient travel time to reach the venue. If you are from outside Bangalore, please get to know the location and route to reach the venue on time.
Note: – Only E & C, E & E, Instrumentation Engg., Telecomm Engg., Medical Electronics candidates with 70% and above will be allowed for the written test

We wish you good luck. Look forward to meet you on 02.01.2010

It was a fine day till I decided I would walk down to Hellbrun church. Who would think a 8 kilometer walk can turn so painful?
I used all the warm clothing I had with me and came out around 3 PM after watching “wake up sid” on some site. After walking a few minutes I realized I forgot the camera and went back to get it. By this time, my feet were telling me this can be an “Adventure”, not a simple walk. I denied listening to them and started back again. I went through the Muhleistrasse which was totally covered by snow by now. Then took a turn into the zoo area and walked around the snowy pitch. All the water bodies were frozen and few people were seen around. I could see the feeder entering wild cat arena and watched him feeding the cats. There were 4 of them half his size, but he was feeding them as if they were kittys. I then walked to the hellbrun castle. It was a long way. I didnt realize that when I came by bicycle couple of times. I was not feeling too cold, but feet started telling me that they are!! I could see the beautiful lakes with hyperactive ducks and big fish, frozen completely now. It is as if God decided against the colorful world and used white strokes where ever there is color, sans the colors on the warm human clothing. All the statues have snow hats now. My fingers, all 20 of them, are telling it is getting worse with the cold. I spent some time in the warm area of restaurant but they dont serve coffee I was yearning for. Some guy was selling hot meat.. sorry dude I am a vegan.. I went away. I looked at a group of men playing huge trumpets or some instrument (see photo). That was not too nice to ears and I wouldnt call that music. I clapped for their skill of handling both the book and the HUGE trumpet simultaneously.

I was looking for something to buy for my wife but the feet were killing me by now. I realized I have to start walking back. Ordeal starts now. My fingers started getting numb and my brain is telling me that I have to run. It was a pain like needles into my skin. I decided to do a power walk. I started walking faster and covered my face with the jacket as much as I can. My face was also very cold. So cold, that it was hurting. I walked so fast crossing people who were walking happily with their families. Some people stared at the “asian” man walking so fast with his face covered. I have no time to care. I slowed down only when the people had dogs walking with them. Slowly, my hands were feeling ok but my feet were getting bad. I could see some snow getting into my shoes. I had no time to stand and shake it off. I almost ran.

Till I came to the zoo entrance I was feeling ok. Sun was setting and sky was beautiful. I clicked couple of pictures as I ran.

I almost skidded couple of times on ice but didnt fall. Finally I reached Pension, opened hot water in a the tub and sat around for 30 minutes. Slowly my senses returned to me. I boiled some corn, covered myself up and had a movie running. It took almost an hour to recover. Simply, it is a walk to remember.