Ok folks, I have started experimenting with Wordpress now. The transition, if at all is gonna happen, will take some time. I wish to make it a smooth one and slowly migrate over.
Here's the link to my latest post http://rand0mwalkoflife.wordpress.com/ (Note the '0' in rand0m)
Cya there, but keep watching this space for more.
Thanks and Regards
Randomwalker.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Monday, December 25, 2006
Maya
Opening Mood: Merry Christmas :)
Opening Song: She will be loved - Maroon 5
Santoor! What an instrument. Listen to it and you begin to imagine the ripples in the clear pond. Slowly growing in size but at the same time, fading away. Slowly. Steadily. Wonderful Experience.
I first heard this wonderful instrument when Pt. Shivkumar Sharma came over to NITK in my second year of Engineering to perform for Viraasat. I loved that performance. So many strings vibrating in tandem, but vibrating in perfect harmony.
Earlier this week, I went beserk shopping some instrumental music. Bought off Desert Rain by Indian Ocean (truely earthy music), Krishna by Pravin Godkhindi and Maya by Rahul Sharma.
Maya is extremely soothing. It's a compilation of ten tracks, based on the theme of Maya, the godess of illusion in the Indian Mythology. The title track features Sunidhi Chauhan her volcals suitably complementing the santoor. Each track is a fusion of Santoor and some techno beats. All the tracks are good. My personal favorite is the one titled "Permeability". It sounds happy and light as compared to others which are sound slightly more complicated.
Wonder how would it be to play the tabla for these compositions. Should try it out sometime.
Closing Song: Kandisa - Indian Ocean.
Closing Mood: Extremely hungry imagining all the christmas cookies and brownies.
Opening Song: She will be loved - Maroon 5
Santoor! What an instrument. Listen to it and you begin to imagine the ripples in the clear pond. Slowly growing in size but at the same time, fading away. Slowly. Steadily. Wonderful Experience.
I first heard this wonderful instrument when Pt. Shivkumar Sharma came over to NITK in my second year of Engineering to perform for Viraasat. I loved that performance. So many strings vibrating in tandem, but vibrating in perfect harmony.
Earlier this week, I went beserk shopping some instrumental music. Bought off Desert Rain by Indian Ocean (truely earthy music), Krishna by Pravin Godkhindi and Maya by Rahul Sharma.
Maya is extremely soothing. It's a compilation of ten tracks, based on the theme of Maya, the godess of illusion in the Indian Mythology. The title track features Sunidhi Chauhan her volcals suitably complementing the santoor. Each track is a fusion of Santoor and some techno beats. All the tracks are good. My personal favorite is the one titled "Permeability". It sounds happy and light as compared to others which are sound slightly more complicated.
Wonder how would it be to play the tabla for these compositions. Should try it out sometime.
Closing Song: Kandisa - Indian Ocean.
Closing Mood: Extremely hungry imagining all the christmas cookies and brownies.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Participation
Opening Mood: Relaxed
Opening Song: Soona man ka aangan - Parineetha ( What a song! )
A week back, I went on a trip to Nagarhole with my colleagues. It was a lot of fun. We stayed at JungleInn resorts which is very close to the Nagarhole forests.
That night, the resort folks had organized a tribal dance around the bonfire. A bunch of people from the Kuruba tribe sang tribal songs and danced around the fire. They used wooden sticks as props for their dance which was a tribal variation of the popular dandiya.
However, we didn't quite enjoy it. Standing there like fools and watching the tribals sing and dance was definitely not our idea of fun.At least not mine. So we started clapping and shouting, in order to have our share of fun ( It's only been a while since I've been out of college, so it wasn't unusual for me :) ). On seeing us behave like one of them, the tribals invited us to join them. Bharata and myself, we joined the tribals for the dance, and boy! I must tell you, we enjoyed it a lot. It wasn't very difficult or very artistic or something. Just a simple rhythm and simple steps to go with that rhythm.
This must have been the favorite pass-time of these tribal folks since ages. After a hard day's work, just get together and have fun singing and dancing. Their idea of socialization. What's important here is that, you won't really have a lot of fun unless you participate. Just sitting on a chair, sipping beer and trying to *find* beauty in the song/dance might not yield as much fun as participating in that dance might.
That's exactly the case with culture too. Unless you participate, it is very difficult to understand a particular culture, let alone appreciate it. True, these things are not invented by any one particular person. It has contributions from almost everyone. But what makes it work is the fact that no one bothers "who" contributed "what". The bigger picture is what matters. And this is the bigger picture which prompts people to take part and contribute.
So what about the ego?! Well, I guess it gets dissolved in the social spirit of participation. After all, ego is of any use only when left alone. It's utterly useless and predominantly pathetic in a social gathering :)
Closing Song: Lakshya - Title track.
Closing Mood: Hmmm.. Vacation. Smells sweet despite the bad cold.
Opening Song: Soona man ka aangan - Parineetha ( What a song! )
A week back, I went on a trip to Nagarhole with my colleagues. It was a lot of fun. We stayed at JungleInn resorts which is very close to the Nagarhole forests.
That night, the resort folks had organized a tribal dance around the bonfire. A bunch of people from the Kuruba tribe sang tribal songs and danced around the fire. They used wooden sticks as props for their dance which was a tribal variation of the popular dandiya.
However, we didn't quite enjoy it. Standing there like fools and watching the tribals sing and dance was definitely not our idea of fun.At least not mine. So we started clapping and shouting, in order to have our share of fun ( It's only been a while since I've been out of college, so it wasn't unusual for me :) ). On seeing us behave like one of them, the tribals invited us to join them. Bharata and myself, we joined the tribals for the dance, and boy! I must tell you, we enjoyed it a lot. It wasn't very difficult or very artistic or something. Just a simple rhythm and simple steps to go with that rhythm.
This must have been the favorite pass-time of these tribal folks since ages. After a hard day's work, just get together and have fun singing and dancing. Their idea of socialization. What's important here is that, you won't really have a lot of fun unless you participate. Just sitting on a chair, sipping beer and trying to *find* beauty in the song/dance might not yield as much fun as participating in that dance might.
That's exactly the case with culture too. Unless you participate, it is very difficult to understand a particular culture, let alone appreciate it. True, these things are not invented by any one particular person. It has contributions from almost everyone. But what makes it work is the fact that no one bothers "who" contributed "what". The bigger picture is what matters. And this is the bigger picture which prompts people to take part and contribute.
So what about the ego?! Well, I guess it gets dissolved in the social spirit of participation. After all, ego is of any use only when left alone. It's utterly useless and predominantly pathetic in a social gathering :)
Closing Song: Lakshya - Title track.
Closing Mood: Hmmm.. Vacation. Smells sweet despite the bad cold.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Change!!!
Opening Mood: It's a new day of a new week :-)
Opening Song: Standing in Motion - Yanni
The inactive idiots sleep soundly, wrapped in their quilts of security and stability when the first winds of change start blowing over their heads. But they are so engrossed in the lazy music their own snores that they hardly catch these first winds. With time, these light winds grow stronger metamorphizing into a storm. The inactive idiots wake up in the middle of this storm and think that they are in the middle of a "Revolution".
Remember, o fame seeker, it's these idiots who stay back to write the history books!
Closing Song: Santorini - Yanni.
Closing Mood: Munir Lands the Plane - Yanni.
Opening Song: Standing in Motion - Yanni
Change is inevitable.
The Proactive bring about it;
The Reactive adapt to it and further stabilize it;
And the Inactive try to resist, only in vain.
The inactive idiots sleep soundly, wrapped in their quilts of security and stability when the first winds of change start blowing over their heads. But they are so engrossed in the lazy music their own snores that they hardly catch these first winds. With time, these light winds grow stronger metamorphizing into a storm. The inactive idiots wake up in the middle of this storm and think that they are in the middle of a "Revolution".
Remember, o fame seeker, it's these idiots who stay back to write the history books!
Closing Song: Santorini - Yanni.
Closing Mood: Munir Lands the Plane - Yanni.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Love!!!
Opening Mood: Just returned back from home.
Opening Song: None.
There are thousands and thousands of quotations on love. There are millions of songs and Zillions of stories and Gazzillions of movies on love.
And I am not sure which one of them to believe, because of so many reasons, one of them being the lack of experience. So I better keep my mouth shut about this kind of slippery stuff, but I feel like barking today. For no particular reason [probably theg's post has triggered something, which I am not able to concretely identify] I want to talk of one quote on Love.
Ages ago, I read this very powerful book "The Fountainhead" which had a great line about love -
When I first read it, I was like "Wowie! What a statement" without even half realizing how might it feel to be in love. I don't think I understand that now either!
I have been wondering, I have been thinking. I don't have an answer, but, you bet, I do have a question.
All's fine if you treat Rand's statement like a photograph. Look at it, appreciate it, turn the page and look at the next photograph in the album. But when you start thinking of Dynamic quality, you start wondering, is this statement always true?! I mean, will this statement hold good once both "I" and "You" have acknowledged the "I Love You"? Will knowing to say the "I" help, once "I" and "You" have combined to become a "We"? Shouldn't "Love" be the guiding light for "I" and "You" then onwards?
Arrrgh @$#!@#!! What am I even thinking?! Something about which I know absolutely nothing.
Where is the Mop, where is the Broom???
Let me shove this thought outta my Room...
Whoooosh!! Mop Mop Mop!!!
There - Swept away. Back to a clean state of mind again :-)
Closing Song: None.
Closing Mood: In a hurry. Another trek. Charmadi Ghats this time!
Opening Song: None.
There are thousands and thousands of quotations on love. There are millions of songs and Zillions of stories and Gazzillions of movies on love.
And I am not sure which one of them to believe, because of so many reasons, one of them being the lack of experience. So I better keep my mouth shut about this kind of slippery stuff, but I feel like barking today. For no particular reason [probably theg's post has triggered something, which I am not able to concretely identify] I want to talk of one quote on Love.
Ages ago, I read this very powerful book "The Fountainhead" which had a great line about love -
"To say 'I love you' one must know first how to say the 'I'."
When I first read it, I was like "Wowie! What a statement" without even half realizing how might it feel to be in love. I don't think I understand that now either!
I have been wondering, I have been thinking. I don't have an answer, but, you bet, I do have a question.
All's fine if you treat Rand's statement like a photograph. Look at it, appreciate it, turn the page and look at the next photograph in the album. But when you start thinking of Dynamic quality, you start wondering, is this statement always true?! I mean, will this statement hold good once both "I" and "You" have acknowledged the "I Love You"? Will knowing to say the "I" help, once "I" and "You" have combined to become a "We"? Shouldn't "Love" be the guiding light for "I" and "You" then onwards?
Arrrgh @$#!@#!! What am I even thinking?! Something about which I know absolutely nothing.
Where is the Mop, where is the Broom???
Let me shove this thought outta my Room...
Whoooosh!! Mop Mop Mop!!!
There - Swept away. Back to a clean state of mind again :-)
Closing Song: None.
Closing Mood: In a hurry. Another trek. Charmadi Ghats this time!
Friday, November 03, 2006
Imagine
Opening Mood: Weekend blues again...
Opening Song : None...
Fixed a stupid bug which had been creating a lotta noise recently. The fix was accepted in the -mm tree!!
Anyway, I was listening to John Lennon's "Imagine" the other day. Imagine (not the song, but the verb)
how Lennon would have written the song if he lived in the present day. He probably would have written an anthem for open source.
Something like,
One more of my stoopid imaginations!!!
Closing Song: None.
Closing Mood: Running home for the weekend!
Opening Song : None...
Fixed a stupid bug which had been creating a lotta noise recently. The fix was accepted in the -mm tree!!
Anyway, I was listening to John Lennon's "Imagine" the other day. Imagine (not the song, but the verb)
how Lennon would have written the song if he lived in the present day. He probably would have written an anthem for open source.
Something like,
Imagine a world so open,
Without any gates or windows
Where people love to share and care
Where knowledge freely flows.
Imagine all the people,
Living with the source.
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one..
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
One more of my stoopid imaginations!!!
Closing Song: None.
Closing Mood: Running home for the weekend!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Weekend Mujik (Continued ...)
Opening Mood: New version is out... Gotta start porting everything soon.
Opening Song: Piano Man - Billy Joel.
Have you noticed that when you want something *very* badly, it's always out of stock.
Like yesterday, I went to Planet M, hoping to buy Switch by INXS. Searched the whole shop and finally found INXS. But no Switch. There was every other album of their's except Switch. Now my usual response is to walk out of the shop with a dejected face. But not this time!
Right next to INXS was James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam". Something that I had not planned on buying. But I wanted it the moment I saw it. For the past two days, the song "You're Beautiful" has stuck like some worm in my head. I simply cannot seem to get rid of it.
And then after a bit of browsing I also found "Piano Man - The best of Billy Joel". If you like Billy Joel, you gotta have this one. This has all my favourite songs including - "She's always a woman", "Piano Man", "We didn't start the fire", "River of Dreams" and many more.
Shakira! I don't know what's there in her music except the fact that it make me go "oo-la-la" everytime I listen to it. Bought off "Hips Don't Lie". Trust me, they don't!!
But the top buy of the evening was "Let's folk again" - A planet M Exclusive. It has some of the best folk songs by stalwarts like Dylan, Baez, Simon and Garfunkel, Chris De Burgh and others. It's a two CD Album and also comes with the lyrics book. Nice package.
Also bought off "Anand" DVD. I've been wanting to *own* this one for quite sometime now. It's one of my all time favorites.
I know I've spent a fortune on all these. But the knowledge that the music you are listening to is one hundred percent legal, is simply priceless!!
Closing Song: Kya mujhe pyaar hai - Woh Lamhe.
Closing Mood: Fresh!
Opening Song: Piano Man - Billy Joel.
Have you noticed that when you want something *very* badly, it's always out of stock.
Like yesterday, I went to Planet M, hoping to buy Switch by INXS. Searched the whole shop and finally found INXS. But no Switch. There was every other album of their's except Switch. Now my usual response is to walk out of the shop with a dejected face. But not this time!
Right next to INXS was James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam". Something that I had not planned on buying. But I wanted it the moment I saw it. For the past two days, the song "You're Beautiful" has stuck like some worm in my head. I simply cannot seem to get rid of it.
And then after a bit of browsing I also found "Piano Man - The best of Billy Joel". If you like Billy Joel, you gotta have this one. This has all my favourite songs including - "She's always a woman", "Piano Man", "We didn't start the fire", "River of Dreams" and many more.
Shakira! I don't know what's there in her music except the fact that it make me go "oo-la-la" everytime I listen to it. Bought off "Hips Don't Lie". Trust me, they don't!!
But the top buy of the evening was "Let's folk again" - A planet M Exclusive. It has some of the best folk songs by stalwarts like Dylan, Baez, Simon and Garfunkel, Chris De Burgh and others. It's a two CD Album and also comes with the lyrics book. Nice package.
Also bought off "Anand" DVD. I've been wanting to *own* this one for quite sometime now. It's one of my all time favorites.
I know I've spent a fortune on all these. But the knowledge that the music you are listening to is one hundred percent legal, is simply priceless!!
Closing Song: Kya mujhe pyaar hai - Woh Lamhe.
Closing Mood: Fresh!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Weekend Mujik
Opening Mood: Weekend Blues!
Opening Song: Piano Man - Billy Joel.
I walked to office today. It was pretty early in the morning and there wasn't much of traffic. And had Radio Indigo to keep me company. The usual soundtracks played on the airwaves. One of them stood apart.So much that I made a conscious attempt to remember the refrains inorder to google it and find out more about that song.
It turns out to be this awesome song called "Afterglow" by the aussie band INXS ( Pronounced In Excess).
When I first heard this song, I thought it was some remix version of Bryan Adams' "Here I am". But it wasn't. It was something much more special. The percussion in the background reminds you of bollywood. But boy, the lyrics ... They are simply too good...
Buy of the week is their album - The Switch.
Closing Song: Speed of Sound - Coldplay.
Closing Mood: Running home.. Weekend's here!!
Opening Song: Piano Man - Billy Joel.
I walked to office today. It was pretty early in the morning and there wasn't much of traffic. And had Radio Indigo to keep me company. The usual soundtracks played on the airwaves. One of them stood apart.So much that I made a conscious attempt to remember the refrains inorder to google it and find out more about that song.
It turns out to be this awesome song called "Afterglow" by the aussie band INXS ( Pronounced In Excess).
When I first heard this song, I thought it was some remix version of Bryan Adams' "Here I am". But it wasn't. It was something much more special. The percussion in the background reminds you of bollywood. But boy, the lyrics ... They are simply too good...
"Touch me and I will follow in your afterglow
Heal me from all this sorrow
As I let you go I will find my way, I will sacrifice
Now I’m living in your afterglow
Bathed in blue, the walls of my memory divide the thorns from the roses
It’s you who is closest "
Buy of the week is their album - The Switch.
Closing Song: Speed of Sound - Coldplay.
Closing Mood: Running home.. Weekend's here!!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Undecided yet
Opening Mood: Accomplished - Patches posted.
Opening Song: Lucy in the Sky - The Beatles.
Ok, I am not quite sure what to write about. Haven't thought of anything. But I *know*, I will write something and in a matter of minutes the amount of junk here is going to increase exponentially.
Yup, found my topic. Or rather topics. Bangalore night life, Diwali celebrations, and Bridge on troubled waters. Dunno which one to expand on. I feel like a third grader who has been given a set of topics to write a full page essay on, but has no clue how to begin or end. Just a few bones here and there but the full skeleton is not yet known. Archealogy. Yeah, that's what those idiots probably do. Dig out a bunch of bones and try to fit them together and give it some weird name like pithecanthropus, whatever that means.
See! I have already filled up more than ten lines without actually writing about anything concrete. It aint all that difficult to fill pages.
Ok, Bangalore night life it is....
Just a few months back, one of my collegues got mugged when she was going back home from work.The time was somewhere around 10pm at night. Which makes me ask the obvious question, what was the Bangalore Night Patrol ( I think they call it Hoysala) doing?!
Now I know. They were all on MG road and Brigade road, waiting outside the pubs to ensure that there were no "drunken brawls" or "drunken drivers" on the road.
Hmmm, that's a nice way of showing your authority. Just catch hold of some damn guy and test his breath. The probability that he will test positive for alcohol would be extremely high. Fine him a coupla thousand bucks and thy job's done!! Thou hast done thy duty. And how!
If you are thinking that I am going to talk about Mr.Adam Biddappa's innocence, stop right there.
On then contrary, I feel today's kids are given too much freedom including the freedom to shy away from the responsibility that comes along with it. Don't you think that the reason why the police does night patrolling near the pubs might be because of the past experiences of "irresponsible" behaviour by these children of freedom??
I come from a society where one is expected to "earn" freedom by proving that you are capable of handling responsibilities. But I don't like this model. Because freedom is a fundamental right, and the "guardians" of freedom can always end up being the guards thereby screwing your happiness. That's definitely not the way to go.
But that doesn't mean that we start assuming freedom comes for free either.
Yeah, I know, I know. You are thinking, WTF is this guy talking about? Neither this nor that, can't he just stick to any one thing ?
My answer would be - NO. I cannot. Because I believe that life is all about striking the right balance between conflicting goals.
So now you would wanna ask, Ok Mr.Smarty Pants, how am I supposed to strike the right balance? Hmmm, you know what, if I knew the answer to that question, I would have just coded the whole thing up, compiled it, executed it and rested in peace. I mean WHAT is the point of living if you knew the answer to that? It would be like playing Age of Empires with god mode on. What's the fun? Satisfying your stooopid ego probably!
Yeah, so my take on night life at bangalore - It won't improve unless we are ready to behave as responsible citizens.
And having said that it would be of great help if we could have more policemen patrolling on ring road. I wouldn't want to get mugged like my collegue!
PS: Its so much fun to dump your mind's snapshot :D
Closing Song: Free as a Bird - The Beatles.
Closing Mood: I am hungry. It's dinner time!
Opening Song: Lucy in the Sky - The Beatles.
Ok, I am not quite sure what to write about. Haven't thought of anything. But I *know*, I will write something and in a matter of minutes the amount of junk here is going to increase exponentially.
Yup, found my topic. Or rather topics. Bangalore night life, Diwali celebrations, and Bridge on troubled waters. Dunno which one to expand on. I feel like a third grader who has been given a set of topics to write a full page essay on, but has no clue how to begin or end. Just a few bones here and there but the full skeleton is not yet known. Archealogy. Yeah, that's what those idiots probably do. Dig out a bunch of bones and try to fit them together and give it some weird name like pithecanthropus, whatever that means.
See! I have already filled up more than ten lines without actually writing about anything concrete. It aint all that difficult to fill pages.
Ok, Bangalore night life it is....
Just a few months back, one of my collegues got mugged when she was going back home from work.The time was somewhere around 10pm at night. Which makes me ask the obvious question, what was the Bangalore Night Patrol ( I think they call it Hoysala) doing?!
Now I know. They were all on MG road and Brigade road, waiting outside the pubs to ensure that there were no "drunken brawls" or "drunken drivers" on the road.
Hmmm, that's a nice way of showing your authority. Just catch hold of some damn guy and test his breath. The probability that he will test positive for alcohol would be extremely high. Fine him a coupla thousand bucks and thy job's done!! Thou hast done thy duty. And how!
If you are thinking that I am going to talk about Mr.Adam Biddappa's innocence, stop right there.
On then contrary, I feel today's kids are given too much freedom including the freedom to shy away from the responsibility that comes along with it. Don't you think that the reason why the police does night patrolling near the pubs might be because of the past experiences of "irresponsible" behaviour by these children of freedom??
I come from a society where one is expected to "earn" freedom by proving that you are capable of handling responsibilities. But I don't like this model. Because freedom is a fundamental right, and the "guardians" of freedom can always end up being the guards thereby screwing your happiness. That's definitely not the way to go.
But that doesn't mean that we start assuming freedom comes for free either.
Yeah, I know, I know. You are thinking, WTF is this guy talking about? Neither this nor that, can't he just stick to any one thing ?
My answer would be - NO. I cannot. Because I believe that life is all about striking the right balance between conflicting goals.
So now you would wanna ask, Ok Mr.Smarty Pants, how am I supposed to strike the right balance? Hmmm, you know what, if I knew the answer to that question, I would have just coded the whole thing up, compiled it, executed it and rested in peace. I mean WHAT is the point of living if you knew the answer to that? It would be like playing Age of Empires with god mode on. What's the fun? Satisfying your stooopid ego probably!
Yeah, so my take on night life at bangalore - It won't improve unless we are ready to behave as responsible citizens.
And having said that it would be of great help if we could have more policemen patrolling on ring road. I wouldn't want to get mugged like my collegue!
PS: Its so much fun to dump your mind's snapshot :D
Closing Song: Free as a Bird - The Beatles.
Closing Mood: I am hungry. It's dinner time!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Evolution Vs Revolution
Opening Mood : Attentive.. Running stress tests :)
Opening Song : None.
This is what the Benevolent Dictator for Life ( read Linus Torvalds ) had to say about Evolution vs Revolution.
Now I know why I love this field so much. Just love the idea - to evolve, to grow, to change, to adapt. Dynamic, eh? You bet it is :)
Who made the statement "Have your head in the clouds and your feet firmly rooted to the earth" ? I can't remember.
But, if you can't imagine how to do that, think of climbing a mountain, and you'll know how. :)
Closing Song: None
Closing Mood: My tests need me. Something not going according to the plan. Need some Change!
Opening Song : None.
This is what the Benevolent Dictator for Life ( read Linus Torvalds ) had to say about Evolution vs Revolution.
"Only stupid people think they should throw away old proven concepts. What happens quite often in academia in particular is that you find a problem you want to fix, and you re-design the whole system around your fix. This is how we get crap like microkernels. They have 'an agenda', and that's the _worst_ thing you can have when designing software. You fixate on some perceived problem, and the end result is that yes, maybe you fixed _that_ problem, but in the meantime you also generated a whole new of issues - usually things that were solved by the original approach. The UNIX/Linux approach is a very pragmatic thing - leave the things that work well alone. There's no point in re-inventing the whole system just because of some small perceived flaws... And many things _can_ be done without throwing out old designs. Implementation improvements are quite possible without trying to make something totally new to the outside. That's how things like the dcache come about, for example - keeping the standard old boring UNIX filesystem approach, while internally caching it in new ways, improving performance tremendously. Not throwing out the baby with the bath-water doesn't mean that you cannot improve the system. I'm only arguing against stupid people who think they need a revolution to improve - most real improvements are evolutionary."
Now I know why I love this field so much. Just love the idea - to evolve, to grow, to change, to adapt. Dynamic, eh? You bet it is :)
Who made the statement "Have your head in the clouds and your feet firmly rooted to the earth" ? I can't remember.
But, if you can't imagine how to do that, think of climbing a mountain, and you'll know how. :)
Closing Song: None
Closing Mood: My tests need me. Something not going according to the plan. Need some Change!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
My World View - Postmodernistic
Opening Mood: Normal da.
Opening Song: Some peppy thing on Radio Indigo
What is your world view ? Are you a Postmodernist, an Idealist, a Romantic, a Fundamentalist??
Find out at http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=23320
Looks like I am a Postmodernist! This is what the site said:
Well, from the looks of it, I am more of a materialist as compared to a Romantic! Well, I always thought it was the other way around!!
I don't know, and I don't care!
Closing Song: Belly Dancer by Akon
Closing Mood: Didn't you read properly?! I don't know and I don't Care.
Opening Song: Some peppy thing on Radio Indigo
What is your world view ? Are you a Postmodernist, an Idealist, a Romantic, a Fundamentalist??
Find out at http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=23320
Looks like I am a Postmodernist! This is what the site said:
You scored as Postmodernist. | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Postmodernism is the belief in complete open interpretation. You see the universe as a collection | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Well, from the looks of it, I am more of a materialist as compared to a Romantic! Well, I always thought it was the other way around!!
I don't know, and I don't care!
Closing Song: Belly Dancer by Akon
Closing Mood: Didn't you read properly?! I don't know and I don't Care.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Mes chansons préférées de l'amour
Opening Mood: Nice :) The patch has come out good.
Opening Song: El Condor Pasa by Simon and Garfunkel.
It's been a long time since I blogged. That doesn't mean nothing happened.
Infact lot has happened since I last posted. My first patch got published,
It fetched some good reviews, and some *not* so good ones.
I also went for my first trek. It was fun, the trek. We walked
from M.M Hills to Nagamale, and from there to Palar. 24 kilometers
altogether. Details can be found here.
Other than that, I also visited my hometown twice more.
And did the obvious - Sleep!Sponsered Advertisement!Ok, back to the post, this one is about mushy songs. Doesn't
The Shastra contest is back with Priya's entry going great
guns. The key words this time are
-ThamesPortal : Thamie anything to do with you??!
Or is it Ma Sport Lathe?
-Zalecenia : Hmm.. How about Alice Zane?!
-Autophytes : Looks like I've seen this one. Biology??!
Wait, Hot USA Type?
-Invernesshire : Seen Irish nerv???! Awww, a missing 'e'!
Boy! I still have a thing for Anagrams!
quite fit in this blog, now does it?! I know, I know, but I seem to have
kinda developed a liking for some of these songs lately.
For four years in college, I've just been collecting
a lot of music, but listening mostly to the instrumental genre.
Even at work, I love my Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Mae, Yanni. Probably
the lyrics distract me from coding ;). However, I wanted a change and for
the past two weeks I've been listening to songs with lyrics.
And guess what?! The mush songs seem to be the most relaxing ones!
With them, you just drift away, where the singer wants you to.
Like taking you back in time. Mmmm, nostalgia, smells sweet!
Here's the list of my favorites. In no particular order that is.
I want to spend my lifetime - Mask of Zorro Soundtrack.
I guess this one was sung by Mark Anthony. Vipin recommended it way
back in 2nd year Engg. But I was busy listening to Hindi Music back then.
Lady in Red - Woman in Red Soundtrack.
Don't know who the singer is. But it's damn good. One of the
first english songs I ever listened to.
I'm leaving on a jet plane - John Denver.
I had heard the Aerosmith's version of song back in college. Probably
it was the soundtrack of some movie. I remember Steve Tyler screaming
his lungs out towards the end of the song.
Love will keep us alive - Eagles Original.
A nice song from the Hotel California gang. The vocals are girlish.
I had the video of this song from their 'Hell freezes Over' concert.
That thing you do - The Wonders soundtrack.
Would have deleted this song, if Thamie had not made such a fuss outta it.
Thanks maccha, it's a nice song. Also saw the movie "The Wonders".
They were truely The 'One'ders.
Iris - City of Angels Soundtrack.
This has been my long time favorite. Though didn't quite know
who was the singer or the name of the song. It was played on
Radio Indigo today morning. Seems that original was by Goo Goo Dolls.
The one I have is Ronan Keating's version.
Sealed with a kiss - Bryan Hyland, The Wonder Years Soundtrack.
Got this one from the songs I flicked from our seniors. It's the mushiest
of them all. But boy, does it have that retro feeling! Awesome!!
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone - Notting Hill Soundtrack.
Bill Wither's version, this is one those songs which can put you
in a light-blue mood!
When you say nothing at all - Notting Hill Sountrack
Silence is Golden! Reminds me of the night-walk-in-the-park scene
from Notting Hill.
Love is All around - Four Weddings and a Funeral Sountrack.
I haven't seen this movie, but another *mushy* movie which has
this same song is Love Actually. Liam Neeson's story in that movie
was a nice one.
Bridge over troubled waters - Simon and Garfunkel.
What a song this one. It's certainly one of my all time
favorite. Abhinav Chaturvedi recommended it while we were
interning at Pune. Thanks dude, else I would not have listened
to this awesome duo.
El-Condor Pasa - Simon and Garfunkel.
Another one of their beauties. I am not sure which is the string
instument they use to create the opening tune of this song. Sounds
simillar to santoor. The song has a Mexican feeling, evident from it's
title.
Good Riddance - Green Day.
Reminds me of Lenon strumming on his guitar while we were sipping
hot tea. This one is considered to be a famous breakup song.
Suitably named :D!
She's always a Woman to me - Billy Joel
I had this song since ages. Listened to it only last week. The lyrics are
really good. One of those narrative songs with very little background music.
I just called to say I love you - Stevie Wonder.
Those who've seen Omkara, this is the *same* song which
Viveik Oberoi teaches Kareena Kapoor.
Only that the original version sounds *much much* better :)
Something Stupid -Robbie Williams version feat Nicole Kidman.
The original version of this song was sung by Nancy Sinatra. Another
of my latest discoveries. They played this song on Radio Indigo
this morning.
By the way, Bangalore has a new international radio station -
Radio Indigo 91.9 FM. Finally some good music in the airwaves.
A big relief for anyone bored with nasal "over"tones!!!DISCLAIMER: The paragraph above is not a sponsered Ad
for Radio Indigo. It's just a token of gratitude for playing
great music. Keep up the good work guys! :D
Closing Song: It's Probably Me, Lethal Weapon Soundtrack.
Closing Mood: Good. Brilliant infact, to get started with the locks!
Friday, September 01, 2006
Quality
Opening Song: Pulp fiction Title track.
Opening Mood: Cool. Infact hangover from ZATAOMM.
The past few days of my life have revolved around only two things.
Locks ( all sorts of them ) and ZATAOMM. I wanted latter to be more of a way to relax so that I wouldn't dream of the kernel-code.
But, it proved to be much more than that. It was as if you are groping for something in the dark and you find something, which you just keep for the sake that you have found it. But later when you shed light on that find of yours, you realize what wonderful a thing you've found.
ZATAOMM is *the* Elixer which has to be sipped slowly inorder to savour it. Gulping it down in one shot might leave you with a dizzy feeling.
Anyway, this post is about Quality. The subject that we've been discussing all through our seventh and eight semesters through Software Engineering and Software Quality Assurance. I wish I had read this book back then.
The excerpt below echoes most of my ideas, only that it presents these ideas in a manner that's way more enjoyable.
So without much ado, I present before thee Phaedrus and his discovery of the qualities of Quality.
I am only half way through the book by the way!
Closing Mood: Calm.
Closing Song: IRIS ( Movie OST of City Of Angels).
Opening Mood: Cool. Infact hangover from ZATAOMM.
The past few days of my life have revolved around only two things.
Locks ( all sorts of them ) and ZATAOMM. I wanted latter to be more of a way to relax so that I wouldn't dream of the kernel-code.
But, it proved to be much more than that. It was as if you are groping for something in the dark and you find something, which you just keep for the sake that you have found it. But later when you shed light on that find of yours, you realize what wonderful a thing you've found.
ZATAOMM is *the* Elixer which has to be sipped slowly inorder to savour it. Gulping it down in one shot might leave you with a dizzy feeling.
Anyway, this post is about Quality. The subject that we've been discussing all through our seventh and eight semesters through Software Engineering and Software Quality Assurance. I wish I had read this book back then.
The excerpt below echoes most of my ideas, only that it presents these ideas in a manner that's way more enjoyable.
So without much ado, I present before thee Phaedrus and his discovery of the qualities of Quality.
Those of you who are interested to read more, there's an online version of the book which can be found here.The world now, according to Phædrus, was composed of three things: mind, matter, and Quality. The fact that he had established no relationship between them didn't bother him at first. If the relationship between mind and matter had been fought over for centuries and wasn't yet resolved, why should he, in a matter of a few weeks, come up with something conclusive about Quality? So he let it go. He put it up on a kind of mental shelf where he put all kinds of questions he had no immediate answers for. He knew the metaphysical trinity of subject, object and Quality would sooner or later have to be interrelated but he was in no hurry about it. It was just so satisfying to be beyond the danger of those horns that he relaxed and enjoyed it as long as he could.
Eventually, however, he examined it more closely. Although there's no logical objection to a metaphysical trinity, a three-headed reality, such trinities are not common or popular. The metaphysician normally seeks either a monism, such as God, which explains the nature of the world as a manifestation of one single thing, or he seeks a dualism, such as mind-matter, which explains it as two things, or he leaves it as a pluralism, which explains it as a manifestation of an indefinite number of things. But three is an awkward number. Right away you want to know, Why three? What's the relationship among them? And as the need for relaxation diminished Phædrus became curious about this relationship too.
He noted that although normally you associate Quality with objects, feelings of Quality sometimes occur without any object at all. This is what led him at first to think that maybe Quality is all subjective. But subjective pleasure wasn't what he meant by Quality either. Quality decreases subjectivity. Quality takes you out of yourself, makes you aware of the world around you. Quality is opposed to subjectivity.
I don't know how much thought passed before he arrived at this, but eventually he saw that Quality couldn't be independently related with either the subject or the object but could be found only in the relationship of the two with each other. It is the point at which subject and object meet.
That sounded warm.
Quality is not a thing. It is an event.
Warmer.
It is the event at which the subject becomes aware of the object.
And because without objects there can be no subject...because the objects create the subject's awareness of himself...Quality is the event at which awareness of both subjects and objects is made possible.
Hot.
Now he knew it was coming.
This means Quality is not just the result of a collision between subject and object. The very existence of subject and object themselves is deduced from the Quality event. The Quality event is the cause of the subjects and objects, which are then mistakenly presumed to be the cause of the Quality!
Now he had that whole damned evil dilemma by the throat. The dilemma all the time had this unseen vile presumption in it, for which there was no logical justification. that Quality was the effect of subjects and objects. It was not! He brought out his knife.
I am only half way through the book by the way!
Closing Mood: Calm.
Closing Song: IRIS ( Movie OST of City Of Angels).
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Google Topper.
Shastra , the techfest of IITM has a smart new competetion this time. It's basically asking you to create a webpage such that google returns the webpage as the top-search result for a certain search string.
Here's Nitk-Numbskull's effort for the competition. coecelanth zeppelin shaastra durbatuluk equivocate.
Random Walker wishes them all the best!
Here's Nitk-Numbskull's effort for the competition. coecelanth zeppelin shaastra durbatuluk equivocate.
Random Walker wishes them all the best!
Monday, August 21, 2006
My One Week Vacation
Vacation! What an interesting concept... or rather, should I say, an
alien concept!
It's been like four years now that I have taken a proper vacation.
Ever since joining engineering, I have spent my holidays either learning
a new language, or doing some project here or there.
Not even once in the past four years did I get time to wake up at like say ten
in the morning, order mom to serve breakfast, then ponder over the day's
newspaper and laze on my bed reading a novel or day-dreaming.
Instead, I chose to spend time in some obscure lab, either deciphering
protocols or designing them, or creating weird image editors and what
not!
However, this time, I got myself like a full week off from work, thanks
to a few people in the office. And I kind of needed it badly too. Recently
I had been seeing kernels compile and systems crash even in my dreams!!!
So I decided, I am going to relax like never before.
I took home with me my Thinkpad,and 2 novels - "Eragon" , and
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence" (ZATAOMM henceforth).
These were supposed to occupy all my attention for the next eight days.
Eragon was my first prey.Or rather, I fell prey to it!
It was Kripal who one day asked me - "Do you like fantasy?".
The exposure I've had to fantasy is like very limited.Other than grandma's
tales from Indian mythology and the three LOTR movies, I was a complete
fantasylliterate (to be pronounced as Fantasy-illiterate).
"I'd like to try",I blabbered.
"Then here's just the thing for you.",he said and handed over the copy of
Eragon.
"The author,Christoper Paolini is hardly twenty", he added.
I finished Eragon, and this is what I thought about it.
I got ZATAOMM as a gift a year ago. I've been trying to read the book for a
year now, but didn't quite succeed.
Even in these eight days, I managed to just get past the first 150 pages.
Not that it is verbose, but the material presented demands apt attention
and needs to be understood carefully if it is to be enjoyed.
However, I feel, this is the perfect time to read it.
Other than reading novels, I also visited my alma-mater , met the professors
there, got some offical work done, conducted a workshop on Introduction
to Linux Kernel Programming. Basically, had a lot of fun at the college.
I also got a chance to meet all my relatives. Had a party at my maternal
grandma's place. Grandma's prawn curry preparation was awesome.
I hogged till I was satisfied.
My appetite, has to be lauded though! I managed to hog so
much after a wonderful afternoon lunch. Diseal and Cherry's rock!
Anyway,we played cards that night, pulled each others legs and chatted till
wee hours.
Now that vacations are done, and I'm back, lemme get back to work!
I am missing it already!PS: Next time, you see a guy carrying a Giordno Backpack,
and sporting a haircut akin to that of a ISKCON monk,
walking somewhere in the streets of Bangalore, shout (one of )my
(many) name(s) aloud!
I shall respond :)
Offer valid until the hair grows back ;)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eragon,the first book of the "Inheritance Trilogy" tells the story of a
young farm boy named Eragon and how his world changes since the day he finds a
bright blue stone. How gets to become the "chosen" one to be first among
the next generation of Dragon Riders,a race considered extinct.
Helping him in his pursuit are Brom,the story teller,
Murtagh a trustworthy friend with a doomed legacy,Varden the rebels,
Arya the elf and of course his dragon Saphira (pronounced as Saf-ea-raa).
The story is set in Alagaesia - the kingdom of a evil king named Galbatorix,
a former Dragon rider himself who had usurped the throne by betraying
his felow riders. There's a faction who call themselves Varden (The Warders)
who had challenged against Galbotorix's despotism.
So it's basically set amidst a raging war for supremacy.
The story consists of all the elements of fantasy.
There is magic, there are Urgals ( akin to the Orcs of LOTR)
the Kull ( eq. to Uruk-hai's of LOTR ), there are soccerrers and Witches,
there are Dragons, Werecats, Dwarfs and Elfs. There's also the ancient
language, the dwarven language to add more flavor to fantasy.Very similar
to LOTR (which I haven't yet read) probably.
Coming to the characters,
Eragon's a young farm boy who accidentaly discovers something which makes
him the next Dragon rider. Hardly fifteen, he is confused about his destiny.
His transformation from an adoloscent to a brave and manly dragon
rider is very well portrayed.
What's more endearing is the relationship between the Rider and his dragon.
You never feel that Saphira is a dragon.Paolini has made her very human.
She can relate to Eragon like no one else,counsel him wisely and also
display emotions when there is a need.In the other folklore, Dragons have
always been objects of fear, but in this one novel, through Saphira
you'll find them very much lovable.
The other character that stands out is that of Brom. Old, he
is but also wise and strong. A perfect teacher for someone who is destined
to be a Dragon Rider. He has many secrets, most of which are revealed
in the novel. A strong character and a well etched one.
Murtagh appears a worthy ally. He is a bit older than Eragon, but
is supremely skilled in the art of weilding the blade. He has his priorities
right and is wise. The only thing that goes against him is his flawed past.
Bad guys : We encounter in this novel the
Urgals - a monstrous species which are neither humans nor animals. Call them
brutes if you will. The Kull which are the elite among the Urgals are like
some eight feet tall and more powerful. Then we have the Shade, the main
bad guy in the book - a powerful man who has traded his soul with the evil
for power. He is very cunning and extremely competent with the blade.
There are others who manage to make an impact in their brief appearence
- Jeod (pronounced Jode) Brom's friend, Arya the egg carrier elf,
Orik the dwarf, Ajihad - the wise leader of Varden, Angela the witch,
Solembaum the werecat to name a few.
Out and out it is a very vell written book. Something which I would strongly
recommend to anyone who loves fantasy. You won't be dissappointed. I just
can't wait to lay my hands on the second book of the trilogy entitled "Eldest".
young farm boy named Eragon and how his world changes since the day he finds a
bright blue stone. How gets to become the "chosen" one to be first among
the next generation of Dragon Riders,a race considered extinct.
Helping him in his pursuit are Brom,the story teller,
Murtagh a trustworthy friend with a doomed legacy,Varden the rebels,
Arya the elf and of course his dragon Saphira (pronounced as Saf-ea-raa).
The story is set in Alagaesia - the kingdom of a evil king named Galbatorix,
a former Dragon rider himself who had usurped the throne by betraying
his felow riders. There's a faction who call themselves Varden (The Warders)
who had challenged against Galbotorix's despotism.
So it's basically set amidst a raging war for supremacy.
The story consists of all the elements of fantasy.
There is magic, there are Urgals ( akin to the Orcs of LOTR)
the Kull ( eq. to Uruk-hai's of LOTR ), there are soccerrers and Witches,
there are Dragons, Werecats, Dwarfs and Elfs. There's also the ancient
language, the dwarven language to add more flavor to fantasy.Very similar
to LOTR (which I haven't yet read) probably.
Coming to the characters,
Eragon's a young farm boy who accidentaly discovers something which makes
him the next Dragon rider. Hardly fifteen, he is confused about his destiny.
His transformation from an adoloscent to a brave and manly dragon
rider is very well portrayed.
What's more endearing is the relationship between the Rider and his dragon.
You never feel that Saphira is a dragon.Paolini has made her very human.
She can relate to Eragon like no one else,counsel him wisely and also
display emotions when there is a need.In the other folklore, Dragons have
always been objects of fear, but in this one novel, through Saphira
you'll find them very much lovable.
The other character that stands out is that of Brom. Old, he
is but also wise and strong. A perfect teacher for someone who is destined
to be a Dragon Rider. He has many secrets, most of which are revealed
in the novel. A strong character and a well etched one.
Murtagh appears a worthy ally. He is a bit older than Eragon, but
is supremely skilled in the art of weilding the blade. He has his priorities
right and is wise. The only thing that goes against him is his flawed past.
Bad guys : We encounter in this novel the
Urgals - a monstrous species which are neither humans nor animals. Call them
brutes if you will. The Kull which are the elite among the Urgals are like
some eight feet tall and more powerful. Then we have the Shade, the main
bad guy in the book - a powerful man who has traded his soul with the evil
for power. He is very cunning and extremely competent with the blade.
There are others who manage to make an impact in their brief appearence
- Jeod (pronounced Jode) Brom's friend, Arya the egg carrier elf,
Orik the dwarf, Ajihad - the wise leader of Varden, Angela the witch,
Solembaum the werecat to name a few.
Out and out it is a very vell written book. Something which I would strongly
recommend to anyone who loves fantasy. You won't be dissappointed. I just
can't wait to lay my hands on the second book of the trilogy entitled "Eldest".
Monday, July 24, 2006
Dreams and Reality
Opening Song:Beethoven - Pastoral Symophony
Opening Mood: Reflective
Dreams and reality, Romantics and the Realists,Foolish and the Practical - Such has been the distinction made between men since ages. Take any field you want - Art, music, science,sports ; There have been people who have followed the norms and there have been people who have broken them to create new ones... Did you ever wonder why? Why is such a distinction required at all?
I've been thinking about this since quite sometime now... I've been wanting to voice out my opinion since a long time now... I guess, I found my voice in "October Sky".. However this post is not about the movie, its about the distinction that our "society" chooses to make.
The world is subjective, lets face it. There is no point in trying to beat around the bush , trying to find out a perfect equation that will model the whole thing and tell you "objectively" whats right and wrong, good and bad. Judgement,prerequires you to possess some standard by which you can judge. Do we have any objective standards?? I guess philosophers and scientists have been trying to figure out an answer to this riddle since quite sometime now. Only difference being that, philosophers were sitting on their armchairs and playing around with words, and Scientists sitting in their laboratories playing around with their equations.. Good and Bad, are nothing but "subjective" interpretations of the underlying reality.. So should anyone tell us what is good for us and bad for us?
Take an example of your own life... Think about those instances, where you get a great idea, a brilliant one, and want to try it out, but you don't... Why? You are afraid of being termed as a fool by the society. You are afraid of being judged. You are more worried about how you'll live in people's minds rather than your actual living.. You could have tried and tested the validity of that thing yourself. But fear of failure stopped you. Fear, that if it fails, you won't have the courage to think "new" again.
Look around you,and you'll find people looking for security in life. Parents want their kids to go to the best schools, score high grades, get a good job which offers a fat paycheck, get a good life partner, and "settle down". Settle down, into a loop - a secure loop,which will guarentee you a secure life. But ask yourself, what would that secure life consist of? What about your dreams, your thoughts , your ideas? What about these intimate things which were yours and only yours, which define you, the reason for why you are the way you are? Let go of them? Let go,to live a life?
Whose life are you living? Your own or the one society has chalked out for you? When the society is talking about high grades, does it say anything about understanding the subject and loving it?
When it talks of a great job with a fat check , does it mention anything about job satisfaction?
When it talks about getting a life partner, does it consider something called "love"? Na.. Why should it? Or rather, how should it? You see, understanding, satisfaction, love cannot be quantified? They are subjective terminologies which can be understood by each person independently. On things like these, you cannot impose standards, can you?
The great things that exist in the world today, which inspire millions to live, were not created within the security loop. They were created due to man's passion for his work. Due to his patience to test nature, and the patience to endure. Due to his ability to enjoy and appreciate the beauty in all things.
You see, a good design has to be creative. And creativity cannot be instilled through injections, or formulae. It is inherent, inborn. Comes out of careful observation and passion. Implementation on the other hand, can be considered a science. After all, all science is nothing but the documentation of things that have successfully worked till now ( and also of those which haven't).
There are people in this world, who just live a life in the secure loop. They treat it as a punishment, some sort of a unwanted mundane routine they have to go through, inorder to remain alive.. Then there are others, who are so impressed with their thought process, that they keep on thinking without bothering to check their thoughts with reality. Mankind needs a combination of both. If you try and look back in your own lives, you'll probably find that some of the happiest moments came when you lived your thoughts.. When you realized them.
Thinking is one thing, and taking appropriate action is completely another. Do both, and you'll see life the way it was never before.. Stick to only one of them, and you'll miss out on the other..
To be happy, you need both O Brother...
Closing Mood:Reflective
Closing Song: Nocturne for Piano no 9 - Chopin.
Opening Mood: Reflective
Dreams and reality, Romantics and the Realists,Foolish and the Practical - Such has been the distinction made between men since ages. Take any field you want - Art, music, science,sports ; There have been people who have followed the norms and there have been people who have broken them to create new ones... Did you ever wonder why? Why is such a distinction required at all?
I've been thinking about this since quite sometime now... I've been wanting to voice out my opinion since a long time now... I guess, I found my voice in "October Sky".. However this post is not about the movie, its about the distinction that our "society" chooses to make.
The world is subjective, lets face it. There is no point in trying to beat around the bush , trying to find out a perfect equation that will model the whole thing and tell you "objectively" whats right and wrong, good and bad. Judgement,prerequires you to possess some standard by which you can judge. Do we have any objective standards?? I guess philosophers and scientists have been trying to figure out an answer to this riddle since quite sometime now. Only difference being that, philosophers were sitting on their armchairs and playing around with words, and Scientists sitting in their laboratories playing around with their equations.. Good and Bad, are nothing but "subjective" interpretations of the underlying reality.. So should anyone tell us what is good for us and bad for us?
Take an example of your own life... Think about those instances, where you get a great idea, a brilliant one, and want to try it out, but you don't... Why? You are afraid of being termed as a fool by the society. You are afraid of being judged. You are more worried about how you'll live in people's minds rather than your actual living.. You could have tried and tested the validity of that thing yourself. But fear of failure stopped you. Fear, that if it fails, you won't have the courage to think "new" again.
Look around you,and you'll find people looking for security in life. Parents want their kids to go to the best schools, score high grades, get a good job which offers a fat paycheck, get a good life partner, and "settle down". Settle down, into a loop - a secure loop,which will guarentee you a secure life. But ask yourself, what would that secure life consist of? What about your dreams, your thoughts , your ideas? What about these intimate things which were yours and only yours, which define you, the reason for why you are the way you are? Let go of them? Let go,to live a life?
Whose life are you living? Your own or the one society has chalked out for you? When the society is talking about high grades, does it say anything about understanding the subject and loving it?
When it talks of a great job with a fat check , does it mention anything about job satisfaction?
When it talks about getting a life partner, does it consider something called "love"? Na.. Why should it? Or rather, how should it? You see, understanding, satisfaction, love cannot be quantified? They are subjective terminologies which can be understood by each person independently. On things like these, you cannot impose standards, can you?
The great things that exist in the world today, which inspire millions to live, were not created within the security loop. They were created due to man's passion for his work. Due to his patience to test nature, and the patience to endure. Due to his ability to enjoy and appreciate the beauty in all things.
You see, a good design has to be creative. And creativity cannot be instilled through injections, or formulae. It is inherent, inborn. Comes out of careful observation and passion. Implementation on the other hand, can be considered a science. After all, all science is nothing but the documentation of things that have successfully worked till now ( and also of those which haven't).
There are people in this world, who just live a life in the secure loop. They treat it as a punishment, some sort of a unwanted mundane routine they have to go through, inorder to remain alive.. Then there are others, who are so impressed with their thought process, that they keep on thinking without bothering to check their thoughts with reality. Mankind needs a combination of both. If you try and look back in your own lives, you'll probably find that some of the happiest moments came when you lived your thoughts.. When you realized them.
Thinking is one thing, and taking appropriate action is completely another. Do both, and you'll see life the way it was never before.. Stick to only one of them, and you'll miss out on the other..
To be happy, you need both O Brother...
Closing Mood:Reflective
Closing Song: Nocturne for Piano no 9 - Chopin.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Hack and Hack until it Yields!
Opening Mood: Chirpy...
Opening Song: Chandu ke Chacha ne - Aasma ( on 91FM)
Hi.. Back after a long long time.. I was casually going thru my own blog yesterday, and I observed my own categorization of the blogs I read.. There's the Regulars consisting of Theg, N, Kripal, Barki, Numbskulls, wattever and many more.. Then there's the Not-So-Regulars club, who write very seldom or used to write some time back.. I saw the date of my last blog.. June-20th.. The day when bangalore traffic was the worst( Atleast for me!). And it's gonna be a month soon.. I was wondering if I had to put my own blog in the not-so-regular category... Naa, a post in time saves all that trouble...
Blame the corporate world for me not being so regular..
Yeah, the *big bad* corporate world, which makes it's employees slog to death untill the last ounce of energy is squeezed out... This pathetic monster , gives so much work that employees have no time to go back home and enjoy even the teeny-tiny joys of life, like going thru the newspaper, or watching pogo... And the attire.. *yuck yuck* Decked in formals, top to bottom.. With polished shoes on the feet and a smile( a fake one) on their faces. And speaking in polished lingo all the time..
My impression before joining the corporate world, was exactly the same.. However, in these six weeks, the corporate world has proved me wrong..
I work in an organization, that is nothing like what I described above.
There's flexi-timings - meaning you come and go as and when u want. As long as you get the work done, no body has any problems what-so-ever.. I haven't seen most of my fellows in the office for a whole week, but they were working... Working from home!
And the attire, I must admit, I was completely wrong in thinking about all those formals.. The first day, I entered the office *all decked up* and I see my mates in t-shirts,jeans and casual shoes... I was like, have I even entered the right place! To make it worse, my mentor comes to me eyes my formals and says , "We don't dress like this in here... :D" .
The work's even better.. My company pays me for doing what I love the most... Hacking an operating system, trying out all the stunts I want to and writing papers on the results I get!!! (Not to forget filing patents, if the *hack* is really innovative). The entire day, I spend looking at the code openly available, and trying to improve it - adding new features, helping my fellow hackers if they are stuck somewhere, and of-course , reading the LKML the place where you get to know what's everybody else working on... It's like absolute freedom... you get to choose what you work on.. Though, you also gotta take the responsibilty for what you code... But then,responsiblity is always the price you pay for the freedom and I have no hassles with it... And the best part is that your team members are distributed all over the world... Most of them even have other day jobs, and kernel hacking is just a hobby.. Most of them don't even have the computer science background.. But boy, can they code! One of the most-respected persons in the kernel scheduler domain is a doctor by profession!
When you like what you do, work ends up being nothing but play! As a result, I've had no time to post and crib about anything for the past four weeks... But I have no regrets...
Let's hope this honeymoon with kernel hacking continues forever!! Hack and Hack until it yields...
Closing Song: Gapuchi Gapuchi Gam Gam (what does that mean?? ) - Trishul
Closing Mood: Gotta go to work!!
Opening Song: Chandu ke Chacha ne - Aasma ( on 91FM)
Hi.. Back after a long long time.. I was casually going thru my own blog yesterday, and I observed my own categorization of the blogs I read.. There's the Regulars consisting of Theg, N, Kripal, Barki, Numbskulls, wattever and many more.. Then there's the Not-So-Regulars club, who write very seldom or used to write some time back.. I saw the date of my last blog.. June-20th.. The day when bangalore traffic was the worst( Atleast for me!). And it's gonna be a month soon.. I was wondering if I had to put my own blog in the not-so-regular category... Naa, a post in time saves all that trouble...
Blame the corporate world for me not being so regular..
Yeah, the *big bad* corporate world, which makes it's employees slog to death untill the last ounce of energy is squeezed out... This pathetic monster , gives so much work that employees have no time to go back home and enjoy even the teeny-tiny joys of life, like going thru the newspaper, or watching pogo... And the attire.. *yuck yuck* Decked in formals, top to bottom.. With polished shoes on the feet and a smile( a fake one) on their faces. And speaking in polished lingo all the time..
My impression before joining the corporate world, was exactly the same.. However, in these six weeks, the corporate world has proved me wrong..
I work in an organization, that is nothing like what I described above.
There's flexi-timings - meaning you come and go as and when u want. As long as you get the work done, no body has any problems what-so-ever.. I haven't seen most of my fellows in the office for a whole week, but they were working... Working from home!
And the attire, I must admit, I was completely wrong in thinking about all those formals.. The first day, I entered the office *all decked up* and I see my mates in t-shirts,jeans and casual shoes... I was like, have I even entered the right place! To make it worse, my mentor comes to me eyes my formals and says , "We don't dress like this in here... :D" .
The work's even better.. My company pays me for doing what I love the most... Hacking an operating system, trying out all the stunts I want to and writing papers on the results I get!!! (Not to forget filing patents, if the *hack* is really innovative). The entire day, I spend looking at the code openly available, and trying to improve it - adding new features, helping my fellow hackers if they are stuck somewhere, and of-course , reading the LKML the place where you get to know what's everybody else working on... It's like absolute freedom... you get to choose what you work on.. Though, you also gotta take the responsibilty for what you code... But then,responsiblity is always the price you pay for the freedom and I have no hassles with it... And the best part is that your team members are distributed all over the world... Most of them even have other day jobs, and kernel hacking is just a hobby.. Most of them don't even have the computer science background.. But boy, can they code! One of the most-respected persons in the kernel scheduler domain is a doctor by profession!
When you like what you do, work ends up being nothing but play! As a result, I've had no time to post and crib about anything for the past four weeks... But I have no regrets...
Let's hope this honeymoon with kernel hacking continues forever!! Hack and Hack until it yields...
Closing Song: Gapuchi Gapuchi Gam Gam (what does that mean?? ) - Trishul
Closing Mood: Gotta go to work!!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Beam me up Scotty
Opening Song: None
Opening Mood: Sullen
Its a beautiful Tuesday morning... I wake up at 6 AM.. The song "Here I am" rings in my ears, filling me with hope and joy. I'm ready another great day of my life, I tell myself.
I get into my track suit and go outside..
Kela #1: It rained yesterday. The ground's wet and slippery. Can't jog.
Chill out, I tell myself, there are better things to do... Like what? Hmmm, let me iron my clothes.
I look at the heap of my washed clothes, carry them to the ironing board and begin the job of an Iron-Man!!
Kela #2: The power's playing hide and seek. When it finally comes back, the voltage is not sufficient and starts tripping everytime I switch on the ironbox.
Ditch maga, you've already ironed a pair of trousers and a nice cotton shirt for today.. Find something else to do...
Aha.. my shoes. Lemme polish them... There, they look dark and shiny... I love formals!!
Kela #3: Just, wait can't you?!
8:45 AM ,I am waiting to catch a bus at the banshankari bus stand. Rohit and Vasanti are blabbering something on the Radio City, the music of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna(KANK) is being premiered on Mirchi and on AIR Rainbow *Yaaaawn*, nothing worthwhile.
Kela #4: 201J forgets to stop,somehow. 201G looks as if the people were always hanging from it. Cha, missed two busses.
201M arrives.. It's full, but what the hell, I've gotta get to work, I tell myself and struggle my way in..
It's full of people, who wanna get down at the next stop, but all of whom are buried somewhere in the back-end of the bus. They shove their way out pushing and cursing... I try to shove myself into the interiors. Radio City is doing their 9:10 routine.. Somehow, I manage to get enough space for myself... *Sigh of relief*..
I don't understand one thing. Why do you find so much free space at the back end of the bus, while it's always crowded near the doorway. Why can't people be cooperative.. May be we should start giving commuting classes, like we have those classes where they say -"Fork in the left hand, Knife in the right".
Kela #5: No sooner I start wondering about the commuting classes, than it hits me. All my ironing has gone waste :( My shirt's soiled; My trousers are muddied; My shining shoes, aren't shining anymore.. Kela #3 is finally realized!!
The bus moves at snail's pace... I begin wondering whether motion is what occurs between stops or is it the other way around... The flow of thoughts is interrupted by a certain high pitched nasal voice on the radio ( I don't remember whether it's 91 or 93.3 FM).
Kela #6: I switch channels. The remix version of the same song( high pitched nasal one) is being played here. So I switch to Rainbow(101.3, if you want to...) The RJ's delivering more of "Umm"'s and "aaa" than the dialogues.. Give me a break lady, Either start liking what you do or start doing what you like... Don't torture us and yourself by RJ'ing in such a pathetic manner.
The Bus finally reaches Silk Board, and I begin experiencing pain in my shoulders. It's 9:45... 1 hour for 7Km.. Ridiculous.
Stuck in the traffic,I manage to catch the sight of a plane flying in the sky... Lucky bastards, must be probably getting instructions on what to do when any mishap occurs -Wear the jacket, put on the mask, pull the string and jump outside....
I begin to see the practical demonstration of queueing networks...
To pass time, I start thinking of what can be done to alleviate this problem.
Closing Song: None...
Closing Mood: Still sullen :(
Opening Mood: Sullen
Its a beautiful Tuesday morning... I wake up at 6 AM.. The song "Here I am" rings in my ears, filling me with hope and joy. I'm ready another great day of my life, I tell myself.
I get into my track suit and go outside..
Kela #1: It rained yesterday. The ground's wet and slippery. Can't jog.
Chill out, I tell myself, there are better things to do... Like what? Hmmm, let me iron my clothes.
I look at the heap of my washed clothes, carry them to the ironing board and begin the job of an Iron-Man!!
Kela #2: The power's playing hide and seek. When it finally comes back, the voltage is not sufficient and starts tripping everytime I switch on the ironbox.
Ditch maga, you've already ironed a pair of trousers and a nice cotton shirt for today.. Find something else to do...
Aha.. my shoes. Lemme polish them... There, they look dark and shiny... I love formals!!
Kela #3: Just, wait can't you?!
8:45 AM ,I am waiting to catch a bus at the banshankari bus stand. Rohit and Vasanti are blabbering something on the Radio City, the music of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna(KANK) is being premiered on Mirchi and on AIR Rainbow *Yaaaawn*, nothing worthwhile.
Kela #4: 201J forgets to stop,somehow. 201G looks as if the people were always hanging from it. Cha, missed two busses.
201M arrives.. It's full, but what the hell, I've gotta get to work, I tell myself and struggle my way in..
It's full of people, who wanna get down at the next stop, but all of whom are buried somewhere in the back-end of the bus. They shove their way out pushing and cursing... I try to shove myself into the interiors. Radio City is doing their 9:10 routine.. Somehow, I manage to get enough space for myself... *Sigh of relief*..
I don't understand one thing. Why do you find so much free space at the back end of the bus, while it's always crowded near the doorway. Why can't people be cooperative.. May be we should start giving commuting classes, like we have those classes where they say -"Fork in the left hand, Knife in the right".
Kela #5: No sooner I start wondering about the commuting classes, than it hits me. All my ironing has gone waste :( My shirt's soiled; My trousers are muddied; My shining shoes, aren't shining anymore.. Kela #3 is finally realized!!
The bus moves at snail's pace... I begin wondering whether motion is what occurs between stops or is it the other way around... The flow of thoughts is interrupted by a certain high pitched nasal voice on the radio ( I don't remember whether it's 91 or 93.3 FM).
Kela #6: I switch channels. The remix version of the same song( high pitched nasal one) is being played here. So I switch to Rainbow(101.3, if you want to...) The RJ's delivering more of "Umm"'s and "aaa" than the dialogues.. Give me a break lady, Either start liking what you do or start doing what you like... Don't torture us and yourself by RJ'ing in such a pathetic manner.
The Bus finally reaches Silk Board, and I begin experiencing pain in my shoulders. It's 9:45... 1 hour for 7Km.. Ridiculous.
Stuck in the traffic,I manage to catch the sight of a plane flying in the sky... Lucky bastards, must be probably getting instructions on what to do when any mishap occurs -Wear the jacket, put on the mask, pull the string and jump outside....
I begin to see the practical demonstration of queueing networks...
To pass time, I start thinking of what can be done to alleviate this problem.
- Start coming in early to the office.. Real early, I mean at 6 'o clock.
- Or better, follow the US timing.. i.e. 9 P.M to 7 A.M
- Buy a dozen of wrinkle free shirt with my first salary.
- Somehow convince BMTC to put up 10 decker buses.
- Work from home.. Small Office Home Office..
- But this was the killer idea finally managed to hit me.. Start a new fund for research in teleportation quantum physics so that we could realize the idea of "Beam me up Scotty".. What say??
PS: I am sorry for writing such a sorry blog. I suck at cribbing.. Priya, Elixer, Barki - Guys, I badly need lessons here... But I am disgusted and extremely pissed off.. I managed to reach my office.. Yeah, thanks to god's grace I finally did; But at 10:45 AM...
Can someone please explain me why do you need 2 hours to cover 15 Km???? Or why should the radio channels keep playing songs of the jacket wearing-beard sporting-nasal singer-cum-music composer every ten minutes?? Sigh, Some questions have no answers...
Closing Song: None...
Closing Mood: Still sullen :(
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
On Demand Ad World
Opening song: Saagar jaise aankho waali - Saagar
Opening mood: Calm and composed.
The company which I've joined earlier this month, is quite popular for it's TV ad's, which are not understood by the general public. But, I just love these ads, since most of them are funny in a weird way.
During the induction program, I got to chance to see a few of the ads that weren't on air in India.
One of them goes something like this.
/* Scene: A room, somberly lit. We see on screen two people. One on the couch, looking tense and wiping his forehead (tense guy). The other one seated on a comfortable chair behind a desk (the shrink). */
Tense Guy: I get weird dreams.
Shrink: What kind of dreams?
Tense Guy: Nightmares. I am being chased.
/* Scene cut: A group of men dressed in black cloaks are chasing the tense guy, who's running and gasping for breath. */
(Cut back)
Shrink: Who's chasing you?
Tense Guy: The customers, the distributors,.. Basically everyone.
Shrink: What do they want?
Tense Guy (looking very tense): Everything; Efficiently; Immediately...
Shrink: Hmmm... I see the problem. You are slow, outdated, unable to keep up and in constant denial.
Tense Guy: No - I am not...
Shrink (smiles, without missing the beat): See you are!
/* Scene fade to black. */
The letters "It's an On Demand World" appears.
It's a short ad of about 20 seconds, but it does leave a mark on the minds of the viewers...
Of course, you need to have an active mind for the mark to be inflicted, or you might just miss it!
Closing mood: Feeling sleepy.
Closing song: Jaanu meri jaan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
