It troubles me

That the developer that sits across me who is fairly advanced in years sucks one or two of his fingers rather like a two year old when he is deep in thought and then yanks them out and starts typing briskly. Also bothered by the manager, permanently dressed in what I call the bloke-blue, at the far end of the hall when he blows his nose rather noisily. This happens mostly around the time I am eating lunch or sipping tea. Poor me.

What should I read next?

Interesting website. Recommends other books!

Meeting

A group of troubled professionals gathered yesterday for a meeting in the hope that by gathering and talking some or all of their troubles would be resolved. For some unclear reason, the narrator of this tale was invited to it and was deeply pained by the invitation. The gathering was indeed multifarious. As with meetings, a conference room with chairs arranged around a round table was in order. The participants arrived one after another and spoke of the issues. It happened that one group had not quite understood the other. It also happened that another was not amiable to suggestion. And yet another knew nothing of the problem or a solution. Those that had the trouble did not take the initiative. Those that did, could do nothing to help. And some others who had nothing much to do with either group looked distinctly vacant and nodded when anyone spoke. Alas, the cost of lengthy meetings!

Special Eye Clinic

The Story of Romanesco

This most extraordinary looking vegetable was in the market today. The fascinating patterns! Never seen it before. Pinched a tip off when no one was looking and chewed before deciding to buy it. Heartlessly chopped and destroyed its shape. But it made a delicious dish with green chillies and jeera. Had it with vethakozhambu and rice.

p.s. Some googling revealed that it is a cousin of cauliflower. Read this.

Technology Invasion - The Intention Scanner

Call for ethical debate over possible use of new technology in interrogation

A team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act.

This device has been developed for interrogation. What makes it different from a lie detector is that it can understand the intentions of the person. It is aimed to be used to interpret the mind of suspects to see if they had any intent to commit crime. The technology of the brain scanner may also be used in medicine. It could help a patient manipulate an artificial limb merely by thought.

Having worked with software - and software always has bugs - as a tester for several years now, I am not always filled with trust for anything that has code in it. Carefully programmed and thoroughly tested code has bugs. And this scanner claims to interpret thoughts in the complex human brain? It may even have power to decide the fate of the persons involved. For now, it reports a 70% accuracy. So, aside all the ethical issues, how does one trust its verdict?

[ Listen to the Guardian Podcast about this ]

Snow caused train cancellations

Stayed at home. Drank numerous cups of tea. Lazed on the sofa. Peered out the window at committed people going to work. Saw people have snowball fights. Wondered where the stray cat hid last night. Watched the leaves heave with snow. Sat on a chair by the window and read a book. Switched off the tv after weather reports. Cleared snow from the windows and pavement. Thawed fingers from the hot water of the sink tap. Made a snowman. Turned to dog. See the picture.