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Google Code Jam 2003 : Tough problems. Intense competition. No pressure.

Google is bowling a googly again. This time it is to the rugged coders. Google Code Jam 2003, is a coding contest which is essentially a timed, Internet-based test of programming skills. Leaving out the first prize of $10000, it might be also a lucarative oppurtunity to fetch you a job in google labs. You can use Java, C++, C# or VB.NET languages to solve the problems.

The top 500 coders selected from first round will be made to form a group of 10 in virtual rooms. All of them will be presented with the same set of three problems of escalating difficulty. The accurate solution in the shortest time just as a racy screenplay is awarded first place.

The challenge phase relies on breaking-code funda where each opponent is made to see other opponent’s code and pass test conditions to break it. Successful challenges score points and unsuccessful ones have points deducted. This seems to me as the most interesting and thrilling part as there is a head-on collision between coders.

Registration for the Google Code Jam 2003 opens on October 1st and ends on October 15th, 2003. Registration is unlimited, but only the top 500 scorers from the Qualification Round will advance to Round 1 of the Code Jam 2003 on October 24th.

TopCoder, a technology company specializing in programming tournaments, is helping google in creating a series of problems for programmers to solve.

Check out the official CODE JAM 2003 page. Also the google’s page about this contest.

I can see the sun rays sparkling high above the dome of twin towers which travels at a lightining speed and blinds my eyes… I close my eyes..drifting away in my dreams…

“dey avana wudungada” – the smile of now SUSI GANESAN fades out in slow motion shot.

Writen by Senthil, my closest friend, a compulsive film lover, an aspiring director and a pass-out from MIT Chennai wanted to share his thoughts of Madras Institute of Technology with his immediate senior Susi Ganesan. Susi Ganesan, is none but the director of hit flick Five Star and an assistant to Mani Ratnam. Senthil is currently in Malaysia, coding in Java and Beans instead of camera and actors.

Senthil has writen a letter to Susi about his first days in MIT, his ‘encounters’ with fellow seniors and how he came to know about Susi becoming the director of Five Star. It’s more like a well written script than a letter-to-the-friend. Heck. You got it right!!. He also takes this oppurtunity to ask for a chance of working with Susi Ganesan hoping that Susi will find this letter in this better-bitter-internet. Hope he gets it.

Read the letter here.

Boys tells it like it is! :

My Boys review is in rediff now. Read it here. But unfortunately a portion of that is edited. I know why.

vesukindra thendraley, vellai illai nindru po
pesukindra vennilla, pennmai illai oyindhu po
poo valartha thottamey, koondhal illai theerndhu po
bhoomi paarkum vaanamey, pulliyaaga theyindhu po
paavai illai paavai…

this post repeats, time and again.

The Hindu, India’s leading news daily is completing 125 years of sheer journalism. It has put together a special supplement that celebrates the history and the culture this newspaper. Before you jump into the ocean of these articles check out Editor-in-chief N.Ram’s editorial. He is one of my most favorite journalists.

Excerpts from R.K.Narayan’s short stories published in Hindu is also put together as Malgudi in Madras. Take a spin.

If you are a south indian, I am sure The Hindu has played a role in your growing up. It is the only newspaper that gives me the feel of a newspaper. I have many times tried to read other newspapers but after that I come back and read Hindu. ‘Cause only then the feeling of complete comes back. It’s an awesome feeling to read Hindu every morning as I sip the filter coffee.

Shobha De once wrote in her column that The Hindu has a bad online presence due to it’s lack of design in the online version. Accepted. With Ram getting promoted as Editor-in-Chief, he promised that he would try to improve their online presence. I hope they would rectify this in the near future.