Value of Rs 500.

I stumbled upon this piece of amazing video while browsing web today.



What would your answer be if you was in this ??

I started my life promising myself I will never run behind money and will be more than just a cog in a wheel of life. Its time to think about my priorities and think about the millions who didnt got the opportunity I got. I have thought and written a lot about doing stuff but have hardly done anything. I am giving myself 2 years to change life for 20 people in this world. I will revisit this blog and update my success or failure on Nov 20 2011. stay tuned !!

The One Million $$ Challenge

I have been reading about lot of stuff lately trying to find something exciting to me Finally I have got something to excite Me with 1 Million good reasons to do so :) Yes, I am talking about the Netflix challenge. In short

"Netflix provides movies recommendation to its user based on movies simillarities and user preference The challenge is to optimize/improve Or find new recommendation system to get 10% better results than the Netflix strategy"

The Grand Prize is 1 Million USD. The current leaders are listed here. I like competitions they give you a focussed goal to apply your passion. My strategy is to understand why does people watch movies ?? and what makes a good movie ??

Few related questions I have in mind is

1. What makes two movies similar ?
   
2. How much overlap we have in individuals movie taste ?
3. How does our movie choice change with time ??
4. How much an individual ratings differ from the crowd ??
   

ending this blog with a quote I read somewhere

"Tell me your passion and I will Tell you a reason to live"

The man who defines passion !!

I used to play a game as a teenager take a word and close your eyes and see the first face which comes to your mind. That face defines that word for you and you can never forget it again.

If I close my eyes and think of word Passion, There is only one face which comes to my mind and that is the immortal revolutionary Bhagat Singh.

Bhagat Singh (Punjabi: ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ بھگت سنگھ, IPA: [pə̀gət̪ sɪ́ŋg]) (September 27, 1907[1] – March 23, 1931) was an Indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He is often referred to as Shaheed Bhagat Singh (the word shaheed means "martyr"). (Wikipedia)

He sacrificed his life at the young age of 23. The age when people worry about pimple on their faces or dress for next day in college or busy writing a poem for their beloved. He chose to worry about his country, country men and their apathy, wrote verses which of freedom and sacrifice and gave up his life for the good of his nation.Few very deep thoughts of him from his original letters/notes.

1. What is Revolution ?? : the word Revolution is used in that phrase, is the spirit, the longing for a change for the better. The people generally get accustomed to the established order of things and begin to tremble at the very idea of a change. It is this lethargical spirit that needs be replaced by the revolutionary spirit.

2. What is Justice ?? : no one can do justice to anybody without taking his motive into consideration

3. On Death Penalty : I am the only man amongst them who is anxiously waiting for the day when I will be fortunate enough to embrace the gallows for my ideal.I will climb the gallows gladly and show to the world as to how bravely the revolutionaries can sacrifice themselves for the cause.

4. On god and traditions: Any man who stands for progress has to criticise, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith.

I am just amazed at the depth, passion, the fire and thinking of a 23yr old can have. He was a revolutionary people remember him for his acts of bravery I think he commands much more respect for his thoughts and ideals.

Why do we buy ??

Had a very interesting chat with a friend today about why do people buy ? and what all can a shop do to increase their sales. The problem is definitely well studied .. duh .. it can make better profits for corporation. I remember couple of things I have heard/read

1. In Apple store Steve jobs introduced people roaming with card-reader in hand. Waiting in line people used to put back lot of items they buy now in impluse.

2. All US stores have a return back policy, one of the reason is that people are lazy with a return policy they are more frivolous and carefree in buying and a small percentage do come back to return. (It also have better customer experience and choice factor)

3. Walmart optimize its item arrangement. Six packs are kept closed to Diapers .. A tired man in evening send by nagging wife to get baby diapers usually fell pray to the six pack lure.

4. Ikea has optimized the route in its warehouse for people to follow all the store even when they came just to buy a spoon. They usually end up buying a vase/lamp/bedsheet

The argument I had with him was very interesting, It was clash of two different opinions, He says observing customer behavior in stores can give you these patterns/Ideas and where I believe he is right but as a generic solution mining data for pattern will give us more information.

To his credit .. example 1 cannot be learned by data mining (Unless we have data about how many people take item from shelves and put them back) but example 2/3/4 are coming straight out of data mining approach.

junoon And ME !!

Junoon ...

A word which rhymes with me.
Junoon (Urdu: جنون) means "obsession" in Urdu and "madness" in Arabic.

Its the state of mind when your pursue something with all your strength,will and energy. Its the state when you can work for 48 hours straight without getting tired or feeling hungry. Its the state when just nothing else matters.

This blog is dedicated to stories/moments and people who are Junooni.. Who have got some dream to fulfill some stars to catch and some records to break.

The name of the blog 70minutes is dedicated to Chak De India.



Stay Hungry Stay Follish !!

Chak De OBAMA !!

5th Nov 2008,
00:20 AM,
Mountain View,
California.

Today the world has changed, Obama has won the presidency of United States of America. The first African-American president. The junior senator from Illionis has become the commander in chief of the world mightiest country. He has given hopes to millions and more importantly He has given them dreams.

Yes We Can !! three simple words but oh so mighty powerful. At the time when world is facing so much despair with greed/corruption/arrogance floating in all corridors of power, He shines like a much needed beacon. His belief in core values and strength to take the less traversed path has given people something to hold on to as we put our steps into the 21st century.

I am very excited, by Obama his campaign but most importantly the youth which has awakened here in America and is ready to follow Obama to the path of the righteous man.

May God bless him and give him strength to fulfill his promises for the world is watching and it may be our last chance !!

Wishing for just One politician in India who I can look up to as I do for Obama .. or May be I just need to look deep inside me as we now know .. Yes You Can :)