Nexus 4

Today my Nexus 4 was delivered. This is my first smart phone. Third cell phone. It does not work with Verizon and I do not want to go for a Sim for last 15 days in US so I am using it as a convenient device.
It is good so far. Should have bought it earlier. Tried reading a book. Not for a full length book. Screen is good. Software is responsive. Will update.

Cattles Online

Cattles being sold online in India, reports Indian Express here. In my 3 year long stay in US Midwest, I am yet to see something similar. In an inter hostel debate I participated with Alok, we were given the topic of globalization and its effect on India. One of the examples we used to support our idea was that of Indian flavors included in McDonalds and Dominos menu. With selling of the cattle online, we see one more of such example. From weekly haats, where one would see colored cattle (to distinguish cattle from one owner to other), to online selling space is not natural. At least not now. Not to me. But then I guess I have very high opinion of me of knowing what goes on in India. I am surprised, in a happy way, to read this. I shall be returning to India next month, for good, with the hope that it will provide me with interesting problems. It will be very different from the textbook world I am used to and therefore solving problem will require something more than discretizing a grid and numerically solving a differential equation at grid points. With news like this, I am more hopeful to encounter new scenarios which are yet to be covered in textbooks from Wiley etc. 

E Book wish list

I like to read. Books are a favorite. They last longer than a normal blog article, usually covers a topic or idea from start to end, and I get a sense of accomplishment after I finish one. Whenever I try to find a book for reading, I start with a search in the library. If I like it, then I buy it. Sometime I do not find the book in library. Then I buy it. Sometimes these are the books which never get completed. Lately, I have started buying eBooks. I am a convert. I never thought I will ever like an electronic version of book over a dead tree version. Some times it is difficult to wait. But main reason, in my case, is size of book. Some of the books which runs into 500+ pages and it is very cumbersome to carry them around. Some books, however, are still not available in electronic format. Here I am maintaining a list I wish to see in electronic format:

• A Suitable Boy
• Kinetics of Materials
• Raag Darbari
• Mujhe Chand Chahiye