Camping in BPM Territory

In my new role I am finally able to spend some quality time on a particular business/technology domain - Business Process Management. The previous role as an Integration PM gave me broad exposure to a wide range of technologies from mobile networks to digital video transmission to virtualized IT environments to enterprise application deployment. Having that broad view was fantastic, but I did wish I could stay long enough to go deeper in to a couple of those areas.

Thus, having been a bit of a gypsy I have now set up camp for an extended period in BPM-land. The concept has been around for some time, and BPM based architecture (i.e- Service Oriented Architecture- SOA) is still on its way up and is likely to be relevant for a while to come. Many larger companies have picked it up in a big way having made expensive and extensive transitions. Several large software houses have built their product strategies around it. If they can sell their BPM software to a company, they can package many other products that complement it. (Having said that, one of the biggest features of BPM s/w is its ability to integrate cross-platform).

Its getting late...
Will add to this soon.

Lawsuit tennis - Samsung vs. Apple

I was reading the latest episodes of the Samsung v. Apple battle on Smart Phones. Well, if your technology was being copied without credit and benefit to you of course you have a right to object. At the same time, a massive amount of focus is put on research by these companies, and they are all trying to come up with features that are user friendly, energy efficient, etc. There is a logical limit to actual functions that a user would find 'friendly', or rather, the main players are all trying to tweak the same features that tiny little bit. Hence, competing companies are bound to come up with the same ideas on their own.

From what we can see Apple seems to be following a strategy of digging for the vaguest of points to object over, and throwing law suits left-right-and-centre to impede Samsung's sales. Latest indications are that this approach is impacting their image as well. Apple is increasingly seeming like a bully or as being selfish.

I really admire Samsung as a company. It is ruly amazing the length and breadth of their business. From mining to housing material to electronics (phones, TVs, cameras, fridges, etc.) they seem to be ever expanding in their portfolio.

I will take a side on this --- Non-Apple.

Battle hotting up - VM Ware v. Microsoft

Interesting article about the virtual machine domain -

http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/news/2240158346/VMware-vs-Microsoft-Cloud-management-is-the-new-battlefield

“It isn’t just, ‘Do I buy an orange or an apple today?’ It’s, ‘Am I investing in the future of apples or the future of citrus products?’”

Found myself again

That's right. I am back after four long years.

It is time that I pen my thoughts (type, in fact) again on the world wide web. For anybody and nobody to see. 

Never the less, it will be there. 

Work of art

Work of art
Originally uploaded by Anjz.

It took a bit of misery to get to the early morning train having gone to bed late and finding our way through the maze at Delhi Train Station. A pleasant first class train ride then got us to Agra.

The Taj mausoleum complex was quite impressive. The grand old structure itself, quite marvelous. It looked imposing and grand from every angle, yet when I got close it seemed smaller than I expected. But a work of art nevertheless...

The photographer in me was cringing over the fact that I had busted my camera the previous day. Borrowing my friend's camera I kept exploring angles. I wanted to capture and lock one image in my mind for keepsake. This is the one I chose. This is my favourite. It was taken right against the cool marble floor. The image takes me back to the moment... the amazing sight, the cool marble floor, light dry breeze and the low chatter of people.

This one is for the memories...

College

College hall facade
Originally uploaded by Anjz.

Many a memory of lessons learnt, games played and friends made....

Sukitha's Century

Sukitha's Century,
originally uploaded by Anjz.

When he was a kid, Sukitha would imagine playing in the big match, and would actually practice his 100 celebration, looking at the reflection of himself off the french windows.

His innings gave momentum to the Royal first innings, and allowed them to reach a record totalof 432/7. The opening partnership of 216 between Sukitha and Malinga Maligaspe (140) was another record for the series now in its 127th year.

The celebrations went on till the wee hours of Sunday morning. The following Monday was declared a holiday for the school. It was a memorable win for the Royalists after 15 years.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Earth... Water... Fire... Wind... Sky

Earth... Water... Fire... Wind... Sky,
originally uploaded by Anjz.

Earth... Water... Fire... Wind... Sky

The water was perfectly still. I threw a rock to create ripples. I felt somewhat guilty after that. Photograph taken at Marawila, Jan 06.

Earth (chi) , Water (sui) , Fire (ka or hi), Wind (fuu) , and Sky (kuu). The 5 elements according to 'Onmoyodo' or traditional Japanese cosmology.

In Memoriam - Surfers' Tribute

In Memoriam - Surfers' Tribute,
originally uploaded by Anjz.

Picture taken at Hikkaduwa, 1 year after after the tsunami. (To the minute).
The surfers were preparing to form a circle and float a candle in the middle.
The surfing tourists have helped the people in the area rebuild their damaged houses and to share the grief.

Sarath's damaged house

Sarath's damaged house,
originally uploaded by Anjz.

Sarath de Silva sells thambili (king coconut) near Ambalangoda on the Galle Road (Southern Sri Lanka). We stopped by his little cadjan hut to buy some, and I asked him if he would mind me taking a photograph of him. He obliged and later brought out a little photo album with some family photos. The picture shows his house which was damaged by the tsunami. He lives there with his 10 year old son. His wife had died 3 years ago in a road accident as she was crossing the road.

I am planning to help him personally. If anyone here or travelling here would like to join me and help out Sarath and a few other spirited hard working indivuduals, please contact me. Or you may donate to one of the local NGOs like Sarvodaya (www.sarvodaya.org)

Photo taken on 26th December 2005 (1st Anniversary of the tsunami)

Serenity

Serenity,
originally uploaded by Anjz.

I saw the priest walking in the distance, and this picture formed in my mind before it did in front of my eyes. Had to wait 5 minutes for him to walk up to perfect place with the lake (Tissa wewa, Tissamaharamaya) backdrop.
Dec 05

662kms....

....of adventure.
Started with a beach party (Hix) and ended with a beach party (Unawatuna).
Religious site (K'gama), Ancient ruins (Sithulpawwa), flooding roads and off-roading (on the way to Sithulpawwa), sea bathing, road rage, late night driving, good food, bad food .... it had it all....

Buffalos in Hambantota need to be painted with luminous paint on their behinds and foreheads.
On a dark road, you just can't see them.
You screech to a violent stop inches off their face, and all they do is give you a disinterested look and just stand there.