In the Times

"Outsourcing Works, So India is Exporting Jobs"
-- New York Times, 25 September 2007

Two of my coworkers are quoted in this recent article detailing the sometimes-hard-to-explain "why I'm here". The reporter was correct about the turning-down of other offers, but the Google reference was a misquote.

If you're wondering where I am in this article, I'm one of the "novices" with "no software knowledge" by which my company "saves money". Oh, journalism.

India, Part Three

Though it's been finished for a couple weeks, I didn't want to release it too soon after Part Two.

The Kerala Backwaters Tour

I only recently transcribed the following back-dated post from my moleskine. (does that sound pretentious? sorry)

To start, an 11-hour cab ride is no picnic, even if we did pack a loaf of bread. Averaging just over 20 mph due to potholes, all I could think was "This place better be heaven."

And it was. (End Suspense)

We arrived in the town of Alappuzzha at a boat launch called "Finishing Point" excited to start. It was 8 AM and we weren't scheduled to sail until 11, so we searched for some breakfast.
Alappuzzha reminded me of a lakeside cottage community in Michigan: narrow, maze-like roads lined with high shrubbery and fences dividing one private life from another.
We pulled into the gate of a very cool villa of a hotel. There was a small patio, a wooden rope swing, and the main cottage where a few random guests could be seen sleeping through open doors and windows. We noticed a few young Europeans staying there who looked like real world-traveler types. You'd have to be, I guess, because we soon found out they only had a squatter toilet. We ate, drank coffee, and played a few hands of cards before heading to the boat.

A long, beautifully-crafted wood and canvas structure was ready for boarding. Our captain & cook excitedly introduced themselves, then fired up the motor. The boat was 103 feet long, with a kitchen in the back followed by 3 bedrooms with flush (but where?) toilets, and then a large common area. There is a full pirate-style steering wheel in the front.
Our first meal was served quickly: fried, fresh fish ("sea fish" the cook responded to our query) with local rice (fields line the canals) and vegetable curries. It was very tasty, and a lot less spicy than the dishes of Karnataka. Sliced, sweet-and-tart pineapple followed for dessert.

We spent the afternoon, beer in hand, in awe of the beauty of the scene: palm treed banks against blue skies.
There was a brief stop to buy Tody, a drink of fermented coconut milk. It tasted like a mix of peanut butter and grass, but not in a good way.
Dinner was chicken, potatoes, roti, curried veggies, and more local rice. After stopping for the night, a few of us decided a swim would be a good idea. I wasn't as scared as I should have been, but the captain said there weren't any alligators, and I had momentarily forgotten about the 10-foot sea snake I saw earlier in the day. The water was amazingly warm... later browsing Google Earth I realized it looked quite shallow and green... preferred by alligators?



It was poker then to bed for a warm but restful night. The next morning was a feast of masala dosa, omelets, and toast and a short ride back to the dock as we compiled one of the best memories India will offer.

See an overlay of our trip stops in google maps.

on why I'm becoming a pirate

So The Office starts up again in 1 week, and my friends and I had planned on subscribing via iTunes and watching using my (now-obsolete) iPod's video-out cable. These plans unfolded when NBC decided not to renew its iTunes contract. NBC wouldn't waste too much time offering another online distribution channel, I was sure, and I was willing to try another method at the cost of my convenience.

However, when those alternate methods were announced (both Amazon Unbox and NBC's own technology) it was revealed they only run on the Windows operating system.

And that made my only remaining choice easy: I'll be using bittorrent this season.

NBC to Offer Downloads of Its Shows [New York Times]

The best thirst quencher

on why I'm becoming libertarian

that's my state! they love their mobiles here: i had a training instructor pause mid-sentence to answer his... twice.

Karnataka, India banning cellphones for kids under 16? [Engadget]

on an unrelated note, training instructors hold the official title of "Technical Evangelists". no joke.

Dress Code, Part Two

Well if I can't sport my leather jacket, I can at least tie a "Hogwarts Four-in-Hand".



Or safely land Apollo 13.



Slash preach fire and brimstone.

Dress Code

I understand that I can't show up looking like James Dean, but why can't my female coworkers show up looking like businesswomen? This "gentle reminder" actually offended a number of them.

Globes & Maps

I've uploaded photos from the Kerala houseboat weekend and the earlier temple visits into Picasa. As an added bonus, I've added approximate latitude & longitude to each, as I slowly spread out across southern India. Both web and Google Earth links are below.

Photos: [Google Earth (KML) | Album Map]
Backwater Tour stops: [Google Earth (KML) | Google Maps]
Mysore road map image overlay: [Google Earth (KML)]

Briefly, Transformers was at the campus multiplex this weekend, and it made me a little homesick for Detroit.

India, Part Two: The Grind

Well it's been a bit of an adventure experimenting in Final Cut Express after the disappointment which is iMovie '08. It took me twice the time it took to make Part One but I think it was worth it.

Briefly: Kerala was awesome. Wait for "India, Part Three".