Yup, it's a big pain to go through the "switch on mains, switch on UPS, wait for UPS POST, switch on monitor, switch on PC, wait for BIOS POST, wait for Windows boot, wait for game load" routine just to play a game. At the end of the day I'm so tired that I skip the game playing just because I don't want to switch on the PC! Of course, there's a smaller but still significant wait while the PC powers off after I'm done with it. And because of some bad experiences, I always wait to ensure that the shutdown has completed before wandering off.
It's different at work, since the workstations are always on. Getting started is as simple as unlocking the screensaver, but, of course, I can't do that at home!
And I think I'm getting addicted to the 20" LCD at work... my poor 19" CRT at home looks bulky and flickery.
Jan 27, 2006
Jan 25, 2006
Welcome to rediff.com
Welcome to rediff.com:
Blooper on rediff's cricket score. Probably the only interesting thing that happened in this entire match!
India O M R W Nb Wd RPO
I Pathan 20 2 68 1 1 0 3.40
RP Singh 19 2 72 0 0 0 3.79
Zaheer Khan 18 6 59 0 7 0 3.28
A Kumble 21 3 1118 1 4 0 53.24
Harbhajan Singh 22 2 77 0 0 0 3.50
Yuvraj Singh 8 0 40 0 0 0 5.00
Blooper on rediff's cricket score. Probably the only interesting thing that happened in this entire match!
Jan 22, 2006
Quotes of Reason
Quotes of Reason: "'God made me an atheist. Who are you to question his wisdom.'"
That's a VERY good point, no?
That's a VERY good point, no?
Literacy?
Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters: "CNN has a rather disturbing confirmation of what many of us have already seen in practice. In a recent literacy study it was found that 'more than half of students at four-year colleges -- and at least 75 percent at two-year colleges -- lack the literacy to handle complex, real-life tasks such as understanding credit card offers.' The literacy study took a look at three different type of literacy: analyzing news stories and other prose, understanding documents, and having basic math skills needed for checkbooks or restaurant tips."
I guess this would be true for most people out here as well. One argument put forth was that most people are simply too lazy to read things like credit card agreements (which are in a language that no sane person would want to read anyway). But going by the number of "improve your credit rating" spam that I get, it looks like many people have no idea about how to keep their finances in check. It's one thing to take a planned loan for a house or for education, it's quite another to fall into a credit card debt trap. For me a card is simply a convenient way to pay, as compared to carrying wads of cash around. And since all my cards are now "free" i.e. with no annual charges, they ain't making any money from me directly.
I'm rambling, but I'd put up a similar post some time ago, with the same title. I believe this points to the fact that education imparted today is not quite relevant, why can't schools have classes on how to interpret credit card offers, bills, how to use ATM cards, what are the personal tax laws of the land, and such other things? I learnt these the hard way and I am still not comfortable with investments and savings and spending. I see people paying hundreds of bucks to tax consultants to fill out their income tax return forms, when all you have to do is fill out a few numbers from another piece of paper (in most cases).
I would also like to see classes on what the Internet is all about and how to navigate it properly, what are the online services available including banking, share trading, how to search, how to blog (and whether to blog at all, for that matter)... These are skills that would be of much more use than knowing how to read log tables and learning about prehistoric geography (which most people seem to forget anyway). What's more, I think the first lesson in a CS degree course at the college level should be on typing!
I guess this would be true for most people out here as well. One argument put forth was that most people are simply too lazy to read things like credit card agreements (which are in a language that no sane person would want to read anyway). But going by the number of "improve your credit rating" spam that I get, it looks like many people have no idea about how to keep their finances in check. It's one thing to take a planned loan for a house or for education, it's quite another to fall into a credit card debt trap. For me a card is simply a convenient way to pay, as compared to carrying wads of cash around. And since all my cards are now "free" i.e. with no annual charges, they ain't making any money from me directly.
I'm rambling, but I'd put up a similar post some time ago, with the same title. I believe this points to the fact that education imparted today is not quite relevant, why can't schools have classes on how to interpret credit card offers, bills, how to use ATM cards, what are the personal tax laws of the land, and such other things? I learnt these the hard way and I am still not comfortable with investments and savings and spending. I see people paying hundreds of bucks to tax consultants to fill out their income tax return forms, when all you have to do is fill out a few numbers from another piece of paper (in most cases).
I would also like to see classes on what the Internet is all about and how to navigate it properly, what are the online services available including banking, share trading, how to search, how to blog (and whether to blog at all, for that matter)... These are skills that would be of much more use than knowing how to read log tables and learning about prehistoric geography (which most people seem to forget anyway). What's more, I think the first lesson in a CS degree course at the college level should be on typing!
Jan 21, 2006
KDE...
.. and ACL and the libattr.la problem. If you know what I am talking about and have a solution, please let me know. I don't have root access, by the way, so I'm not going to be linking things from /usr/lib to /lib :(
That time of the year...
I fired up two sites today - ICICI direct to check up on my stocks and Fabmall to check up any new games they might have.
The first one keeps timing out, and I have no clue whatsoever. I mean, it's a Saturday and there's no trading going on...
The other site is more interesting. It's plastered with gift options for Valentine's Day - roses, cakes, chocolates, books and CDs. And get this, "The Da Vinci Code" is a romantic gift. Oh well, anything goes to sell their products...
The first one keeps timing out, and I have no clue whatsoever. I mean, it's a Saturday and there's no trading going on...
The other site is more interesting. It's plastered with gift options for Valentine's Day - roses, cakes, chocolates, books and CDs. And get this, "The Da Vinci Code" is a romantic gift. Oh well, anything goes to sell their products...
Jan 18, 2006
Quotes about Operating Systems
Quotes about Operating Systems:
"In pioneer days they used oxen for heavy pulling, and when one ox couldn't budge a log, they didn't try to grow a larger ox. We shouldn't be trying for bigger computers, but for more systems of computers. (Rear Admiral Grace Hopper)
What would you rather have to plow a field — two strong oxen or 1,024 chickens? (Seymour Cray)"
"In pioneer days they used oxen for heavy pulling, and when one ox couldn't budge a log, they didn't try to grow a larger ox. We shouldn't be trying for bigger computers, but for more systems of computers. (Rear Admiral Grace Hopper)
What would you rather have to plow a field — two strong oxen or 1,024 chickens? (Seymour Cray)"
Spam
My own little contribution to the war against spam - complaining to abuse@ wherever the spam originates from (usually one of the free webmail services). In many cases the email service providers have apparently terminated and deleted the accounts from which the spam is sent. Not that it will deter the spammers in a major way, but if everyone starts doing it then the spammers will at least go through some pain setting their accounts up again.
I'm starting to get fed up with telemarketers' calls too. Sigh.
I'm starting to get fed up with telemarketers' calls too. Sigh.
Jan 1, 2006
It's customary...
... methinks, to reflect upon the year gone by when a new one dawns. I won't go into whether it's altogether a good thing to do or not, because for most people, looking into the past merely helps them to create a list of things they could have done.
Me? Looking back into the past is like reading a book. For the second time. You already know what's going to happen when you turn the page. But sometimes you get an insight that you missed before, or better understand the motives of the villian, and sometimes you think you could even write a book about your own life!
Another year came and went and another one just like it has started. It too will pass. Will life change? Certainly. For the better? Hopefully.
Me? Looking back into the past is like reading a book. For the second time. You already know what's going to happen when you turn the page. But sometimes you get an insight that you missed before, or better understand the motives of the villian, and sometimes you think you could even write a book about your own life!
Another year came and went and another one just like it has started. It too will pass. Will life change? Certainly. For the better? Hopefully.
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