So what do think this is?
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Where should the minds go?
This post was prompted by Supriyo's comment
What are the areas of study that human minds should direct their attention to? A pretty loaded question I must say. But I really think its a matter of personal choice, whether I study geography or literature. I believe you should do whatever interests you the most.
From a point of view of exploration any field is as important. People are able to predict a lot about earthquakes and all just becoz there are so many satellites in the space. Things are too intertwined to be segregated so it would be be wrong to say i should focus on biotechnology and not quantum physics. Its a big fuckin chaos out there so it really dosen't matter what you start exploring. Its all related in the end.
Though when it comes to funding research and allocating budget for different disciplines it really boils down to what is important for the industries and the corporations. So they would fund space research becoz there is a lot of cutting edge technology to be developed there and lot of big bucks to be made, but not sesimology. People lives are at stake, but for capitalism the welfare of people is never an issue. They would focus on such issues ONLY when they see it translating into some SHORT TERM PROFIT. Maybe once they see some capital gain from pursuing research in geography then they would invest in it, but not otherwise.
And tell me one thing, does it really matter to the US, "the research capital of the world" whether people die in INDONESIA? They killed 4,000,000 people in Indochina during the Vietnam war? For what joy? Nuthing, becoz they wanted to spend on the military. There was no need for THAT WAR !!
Though for the day: Is the nature more cruel or the human beings that inhabit it?
What are the areas of study that human minds should direct their attention to? A pretty loaded question I must say. But I really think its a matter of personal choice, whether I study geography or literature. I believe you should do whatever interests you the most.
From a point of view of exploration any field is as important. People are able to predict a lot about earthquakes and all just becoz there are so many satellites in the space. Things are too intertwined to be segregated so it would be be wrong to say i should focus on biotechnology and not quantum physics. Its a big fuckin chaos out there so it really dosen't matter what you start exploring. Its all related in the end.
Though when it comes to funding research and allocating budget for different disciplines it really boils down to what is important for the industries and the corporations. So they would fund space research becoz there is a lot of cutting edge technology to be developed there and lot of big bucks to be made, but not sesimology. People lives are at stake, but for capitalism the welfare of people is never an issue. They would focus on such issues ONLY when they see it translating into some SHORT TERM PROFIT. Maybe once they see some capital gain from pursuing research in geography then they would invest in it, but not otherwise.
And tell me one thing, does it really matter to the US, "the research capital of the world" whether people die in INDONESIA? They killed 4,000,000 people in Indochina during the Vietnam war? For what joy? Nuthing, becoz they wanted to spend on the military. There was no need for THAT WAR !!
Though for the day: Is the nature more cruel or the human beings that inhabit it?
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Three-metre tsunami hit island: reports
At a glance
- Magnitude 8.7 quake struck at 2.15am AEST
- Epicentre 10km below seabed 250km from Banda Aceh
- Death toll unknown but may be in thousands on Nias
- Two killed in Sri Lanka amid widespread panic in region
- Indonesian president cancels state visit to Australia
- Australia gives immediate relief package of $1m
- 'High profile' surfers safe and well
What is going wrong with this world??
UPDATE:
SEA-EAT
Monday, March 28, 2005
How Yahoo got its Mojo back
A really interesting article about how Y! went about changing its images, all the good things it has done in the last year, all things that makes it score cookie points over G00gle. Wonderful read...
"A handful of blog-evangelists, a couple of key buys and some libertarian friendly moves have turned Yahoo from a dot.has.been to the new darling of the chattering classes. It is only a matter of time when mainstream media rediscovers Yahoo, and a stock market resurgence follows…." more
Zeremy's response to the post. "(Mental Note: Meet Om in person one of these days... Buy him a drink!)"
LOL !!!! I so love this guy :D
"A handful of blog-evangelists, a couple of key buys and some libertarian friendly moves have turned Yahoo from a dot.has.been to the new darling of the chattering classes. It is only a matter of time when mainstream media rediscovers Yahoo, and a stock market resurgence follows…." more
Zeremy's response to the post. "(Mental Note: Meet Om in person one of these days... Buy him a drink!)"
LOL !!!! I so love this guy :D
Holi
As the brief spring warms the landscape, northern India cuts loose for a day of hijinx and general hilarity.
The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year.
Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemmoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.
This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura - the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.
Holi is one festive in India where people forget their inhibitions and lay aside differences to rejoice in the warmth of the spring sun. Passions flow like colored water which gently embraces eyeryone, the old and the young alike. Its India's way of celebrating love, passion and life. The new harvest and the procreation - the centre of pagan belief.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Books today
Went on a book buying spree:
The Numrod Flipout - Edgar Keret
blink - Malcom Gladwell (of the Tipping Point fame)
52 Weekend breaks from Bangalore - Outlook Traveller
The Great Indian Novel - Sashi Tharoor
The Numrod Flipout - Edgar Keret
blink - Malcom Gladwell (of the Tipping Point fame)
52 Weekend breaks from Bangalore - Outlook Traveller
The Great Indian Novel - Sashi Tharoor
Life is a play :: in Real Color
I was talking to a friend of mine the otherday and she asked me this "have you ever looked at you life in a third person perspective. Trying to analyze whats happening coldly with out any emtions?"
I did say yes, and actually I do it all the time. But then a related thought came to mind.
Once we had been working pretty late in the robotics lab when we suddenly felt hungry. Most of the places on campus would have closed down so we decided to go out and grab dinner at a new joint.
Now this place is on NH1, aka Grant Trunk (GT) Road, and is one of the bussiest roads by nighttime.
I was sitting inside and having dinner with him, some tasteless pasta with was way too cheezy (pun intended) and discussing the problem at hand. And at the same time I was looking outside their glass wall. Though there was a lot of noise outside barely anything filtered through the wall.
And then I had this strnage feeling come over me. It was like I was so disjoint from everything going on. The trucks, their blaring horns. I even couldnt hear what my friend was telling, (didn't hear/didn't feel like hearing). I felt like I was sitting in the midst of a 360 theater while a play is going on. Just a mere spectator, do disjoint, do disconnected. I think it was the first time I had that really wierd feeling.
It was like floating in space, I could see people speaking, but their voices were being sucked by some black hole, unable to reach me. Normally I would have just freaked out, but somehow it felt so soothing. Everything going dim and mild, all the influx of information just going down to a dribble. (The human body receives info at the rate of 1032 bps. ) Somehow it felt really COOL !! Well I am wierd but then it was gr8 for me too :p
That was the first time I had that experience. Now when I am thinking hard about something/one I tend to relapse into the same mode. I really lose track of what people are saying or whats going on around me.
Pretty dangerous I must say, but its damn addictive. Try it out sometime :D
I did say yes, and actually I do it all the time. But then a related thought came to mind.
Once we had been working pretty late in the robotics lab when we suddenly felt hungry. Most of the places on campus would have closed down so we decided to go out and grab dinner at a new joint.
Now this place is on NH1, aka Grant Trunk (GT) Road, and is one of the bussiest roads by nighttime.
I was sitting inside and having dinner with him, some tasteless pasta with was way too cheezy (pun intended) and discussing the problem at hand. And at the same time I was looking outside their glass wall. Though there was a lot of noise outside barely anything filtered through the wall.
And then I had this strnage feeling come over me. It was like I was so disjoint from everything going on. The trucks, their blaring horns. I even couldnt hear what my friend was telling, (didn't hear/didn't feel like hearing). I felt like I was sitting in the midst of a 360 theater while a play is going on. Just a mere spectator, do disjoint, do disconnected. I think it was the first time I had that really wierd feeling.
It was like floating in space, I could see people speaking, but their voices were being sucked by some black hole, unable to reach me. Normally I would have just freaked out, but somehow it felt so soothing. Everything going dim and mild, all the influx of information just going down to a dribble. (The human body receives info at the rate of 1032 bps. ) Somehow it felt really COOL !! Well I am wierd but then it was gr8 for me too :p
That was the first time I had that experience. Now when I am thinking hard about something/one I tend to relapse into the same mode. I really lose track of what people are saying or whats going on around me.
Pretty dangerous I must say, but its damn addictive. Try it out sometime :D
Plane Speaking
At a recent software engineering management conference, the keynote speaker wanted to make a point about thorough testing. "Our industry is plagued by public perception that our products are unreliable." He looked around the room. "If you had just boarded an airliner and discovered that your programming team was responsible for the flight control software on the plane, how many of you would disembark immediately?"
Slowly hands began to rise until only one man sat with hands in his lap. When asked what he would do, he replied that he would be quite content to stay onboard.
"You're really that confident in your team's work?" asked the speaker.
"With my team's software," the man said, "the plane is unlikely to even reach the runway, let alone take off."
Slowly hands began to rise until only one man sat with hands in his lap. When asked what he would do, he replied that he would be quite content to stay onboard.
"You're really that confident in your team's work?" asked the speaker.
"With my team's software," the man said, "the plane is unlikely to even reach the runway, let alone take off."
Monday, March 21, 2005
Yahoo actually does acquire Flickr
"Holy smokes, SOMEBODY out there is bad at keeping secrets!! Yes! We can finally confirm that Yahoo has made a definitive agreement to acquire Flickr and us, Ludicorp. Smack the tattlers and pop the champagne corks!"
OMFG !!!!!!!!!!!!
OMFG !!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, March 18, 2005
code.google.com
"We're very happy to be launching code.google.com today. To begin, we're releasing some developer-oriented libraries and tools. A number of engineers have used their 20% time to ready these tools for release, and will also help build the communities we hope will form around them."
Can wait to start experimenting with PyGoogle. I had been waiting for the so long for Google to expose some code. I guess they had to do it becoz of the Y! move sometime back. Whatever it might be I am mighty pleased :D
Lets see what cool products people can come up with around these APIs etc.
Can wait to start experimenting with PyGoogle. I had been waiting for the so long for Google to expose some code. I guess they had to do it becoz of the Y! move sometime back. Whatever it might be I am mighty pleased :D
Lets see what cool products people can come up with around these APIs etc.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
White Noise
Well made movie. And it has the ravishing Keol Puri. Couldn't place her when I saw her the first time. Then it came in an instant. "Everybody says I am fine" She is the lead actress in that movie.
The story is about the Gauri who is writer and has a relation with a married man. The story starts with the lover's wife coming over to Gauri's place and announcing that there would be no relation between her and her lover.
The story unfolds to reveal the character of Gauri, the way she is has wrapped herself in her own world, becoz of her past and of her present betrayal. It looks as if she has woven a cucoon around herself and would not let anyone close to her.
Gauri then goes and joins Pavitra Aarti, one of those Kyoni like serial. There she meets Rahul Bose (Karan) who is a film editor who helps her unfold and come to terms with herself. One movie I was really able to relate to. Quite unlike black (hope sheets is not reading this :-? )
I really liked the end. One the banks of Ganges in Rishikesh.
Every happiness has a life...
Ah Gauri ;-)
Me
There are something that people who inteact with me should be aware of:
1. I shall bite you if I dont like you. If I already know you and I am friendly with you this will not happen, but if you are someone new you might reconsider. READ: STAY AWAY !!
2. I love living in my own imagination. This makes people around me very uncomfortable. Well I have the ability to translate my thinking into reality. Reality is what I think and what I can do for me. The "Real World" is far too fictitious and pretentious for me. If you feel otherwise keep you views to your self.
3. I am VERY open-minded to criticsm. In fact I revel in the cynicism of people. BUT the ones offering advice should be open to a dose of their own medicine. If you wish to discuss I am game, but I do not believe in sermons.
4. I hate hypocracy. Being confused is OK, not being a hypocrite.
5. I dont adhere to any rules and norms except of my own. And I NEVER EVER break any of mine.
6. I do not compromise !!
7. I may sound like a masochist but I really luv my life , but I live it my way.
8. DO NOT INTRUDE in my life. If I want to tell you I would without your coaxing. But if I do not wish to please do not bug me.
ADDENDUM:
9. I do not like people touching me.
I hope I shall share a wonderful relation with you :D
1. I shall bite you if I dont like you. If I already know you and I am friendly with you this will not happen, but if you are someone new you might reconsider. READ: STAY AWAY !!
2. I love living in my own imagination. This makes people around me very uncomfortable. Well I have the ability to translate my thinking into reality. Reality is what I think and what I can do for me. The "Real World" is far too fictitious and pretentious for me. If you feel otherwise keep you views to your self.
3. I am VERY open-minded to criticsm. In fact I revel in the cynicism of people. BUT the ones offering advice should be open to a dose of their own medicine. If you wish to discuss I am game, but I do not believe in sermons.
4. I hate hypocracy. Being confused is OK, not being a hypocrite.
5. I dont adhere to any rules and norms except of my own. And I NEVER EVER break any of mine.
6. I do not compromise !!
7. I may sound like a masochist but I really luv my life , but I live it my way.
8. DO NOT INTRUDE in my life. If I want to tell you I would without your coaxing. But if I do not wish to please do not bug me.
ADDENDUM:
9. I do not like people touching me.
I hope I shall share a wonderful relation with you :D
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Blogger Rulez :D
I had tried out blogger sometime back when I was contemplating my move from LJ. It SUCKED bigtime them. But with Picasa and Hello it works GREAT !!!!!!!!! I would have liked a free typepad account but this rules too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
