Doing my time outside of systems programming

I spend a lot of time doing systems programming. As humbly as possible I don't claim to be an expert at it. While there is a lot of learning to be done on the systems side, the applications side also drags me to it. I feel I should do my time with them, it's their fair due that I owe them; to understand them better and to appreciate them.



I've just started reading Web Services Essentials. I finished chapter 1, it seemed quite well written and was easily understandable. Unfortunately, the websites listed in the book are no longer accessible. That is quite understandable given that the book was written in 2002.



The other favourite book these days is "C# Precisely". It's a well written compact book. The book consists of 30 sections and you get the feeling that you are learning C# with the least possible time investment. I look forward to putting Mono through the C# precisely test

There are also some other things on my plate that I hope to finish up quickly. I suspect that going through this exercise will give me more debating power to argue for/against technology with my friends and colleagues and also help me appreciate what lies on the other side.

Ups and Downs from India's Australian Cricket Tour

An Indian Fan's view of the ups and downs

Up

1. India did well without their seniors in the ODIs
2. Tendulkar helped India win two finals
3. Dhoni led from the front
4. Harbhajan Singh managed to dodge charges leveled against him without evidence
5. India let Brag Hogg go, even though he used abusive words against the Indian captain
6. Bad umpiring was penalized. Steve Bucknor got his well deserved punishment for bad umpiring (long due, he seemed biased against India)
7. Hayden was reprimanded for denigrating an Indian player
8. Australian public criticized the spirit of the Australian Cricket team for unfair play

Down

1. Adam Gilchrist, a well respected cricketer retired
2. Michael Clarke got away, even though he tackled Tendulkar in the finals
3. Symonds seemed out of form
4. Ricky Ponting seemed out of form
5. Australian players got away by claiming catches that they really failed to hold on to
6. Australian media for looking foolish after every charge they leveled against the Indian team players were waved off