He who sins aught
Sins more than he ought,
But he who sins nought
Has much to be taught.
Beat or be beaten,
Eat or be eaten,
Be killed or kill;
Choose which you will.
-Samuel Butler, Erewhon
Aug 12, 2026
Cold Arms by Alok Naik
Oh yeah. Right. I know all about it. Tell me more.
Come to think about it, you ought not be surprised if you see a ghost in a haunted house in a remote village in India. If you don't find ghosts there, then where do you expect to? I've had my share of shrieking skeletons and creaking doors in my village. And I won't even talk about the witch-doctor who dances with his head clutched firmly under his armpit. Ghosts and ghouls are pretty commonplace entities out there and we simple people have learnt how not to antagonize them. Nobody from my village ever wasted time trying to figure out what these things were or where they came from. They were there, as solid a part of the environment as the man-eating leopards.
The reason I won't talk about the witch-doctor is that he's my uncle. And as his sole heir, I was expected to follow in his footsteps. When I was a child I was given lessons on how to talk to the spirit world and how to interpret the answers. I was taught how to fool the poor innocent villagers by telling them what they wanted to hear; regardless of what the spirits said. My uncle was sure I would become a great leader of the people. But then my father decided that I would go to school and get smart instead. Which I did, along with four other boys from the village. But I don't want to talk about those unhappy days either.
I was one of the "fortunate few" who managed to get a college education after school. For which I used to walk fourteen kilometers to the nearby town every day, but that's a different story. I got myself a degree. And then I came to the big city. Oh, it wasn't as big as some of the cities you'd have seen, but it was big enough for me. I was as miserable as it's possible for a person to be. Then I did something which changed my life forever. I took a correspondence course in basic computing. Oh, why didn't I stay back in the village and become a witch- doctor ?
The computer course was supposed to help me get a better job. I landed one as a "data entry operator" which meant that I would be spending my days banging away on a keyboard. Such is life.
The very first day I knew that something was wrong. As soon as I sat down in front of the terminal I was assigned to, I felt two cold arms encircling me. The manager must have seen my alarmed look, for he smiled sardonically and said that it would take me some time to "adjust". I knew that it was just a machine, but I couldn't believe that it wasn't sentient in some way. And the two cold arms refused to go away.
That night I made up my mind. I would never go back to sit in front of that machine again. I would go back to my village. I would become a witch-doctor and become a great leader. But the next morning found me staring at the monitor again. The two cold arms were waiting for me and I couldn't help myself being drawn into their embrace. I looked around to see whether I could summon help. All I saw was blank faces staring at flickering screens, their expressions so like the zombies that my uncle brought forth from the graveyards.
Every morning I would make an effort to escape. And every morning I would sit in front of the screen and start tapping away. The two cold arms would hold me tighter and tighter and suck me deeper into the trap, if it was a trap...
There was one thing I figured - this "thing", whatever it was, had never harmed me. It just held on to me; and made me come back in front of the screen every morning. Then why did I fear it? Couldn't I try to talk to it ? Like I did with the spirit world back home ? I talked; and so did it.
Its words were as cold as its arms. It was as if it knew no warm feelings. I felt that it had desires - to expand, to assimilate. And that did nothing to remove my fears. There was no way it could be manipulated, no way to use it for my benefit or for anyone else's - there was something very sinister about it.
I don't remember much about the next few months. Each day was like the one before it. Cold arms, flickering screens and tapping away. A few conversations with "it"; and it seemed to get more alive each time it talked.
Then one day, the cold arms around me were gone. Instead there was one large frosty hand which reached right inside me and squeezed my heart. Fear took on a new meaning as the cold swept around and in me.
The thing had enlarged beyond my imagination, it had spread its tentacles all around it; and flashes of electricity sped along innumerable wires to and from all the other terminals in the room. From somewhere far off, I heard the manager boasting about his new network.
I am now a witch-doctor back in my village. I have an unholy nexus with the spirits. I have sold my soul to them, I give them whatever they want. Anything to protect me from those cold arms...
Come to think about it, you ought not be surprised if you see a ghost in a haunted house in a remote village in India. If you don't find ghosts there, then where do you expect to? I've had my share of shrieking skeletons and creaking doors in my village. And I won't even talk about the witch-doctor who dances with his head clutched firmly under his armpit. Ghosts and ghouls are pretty commonplace entities out there and we simple people have learnt how not to antagonize them. Nobody from my village ever wasted time trying to figure out what these things were or where they came from. They were there, as solid a part of the environment as the man-eating leopards.
The reason I won't talk about the witch-doctor is that he's my uncle. And as his sole heir, I was expected to follow in his footsteps. When I was a child I was given lessons on how to talk to the spirit world and how to interpret the answers. I was taught how to fool the poor innocent villagers by telling them what they wanted to hear; regardless of what the spirits said. My uncle was sure I would become a great leader of the people. But then my father decided that I would go to school and get smart instead. Which I did, along with four other boys from the village. But I don't want to talk about those unhappy days either.
I was one of the "fortunate few" who managed to get a college education after school. For which I used to walk fourteen kilometers to the nearby town every day, but that's a different story. I got myself a degree. And then I came to the big city. Oh, it wasn't as big as some of the cities you'd have seen, but it was big enough for me. I was as miserable as it's possible for a person to be. Then I did something which changed my life forever. I took a correspondence course in basic computing. Oh, why didn't I stay back in the village and become a witch- doctor ?
The computer course was supposed to help me get a better job. I landed one as a "data entry operator" which meant that I would be spending my days banging away on a keyboard. Such is life.
The very first day I knew that something was wrong. As soon as I sat down in front of the terminal I was assigned to, I felt two cold arms encircling me. The manager must have seen my alarmed look, for he smiled sardonically and said that it would take me some time to "adjust". I knew that it was just a machine, but I couldn't believe that it wasn't sentient in some way. And the two cold arms refused to go away.
That night I made up my mind. I would never go back to sit in front of that machine again. I would go back to my village. I would become a witch-doctor and become a great leader. But the next morning found me staring at the monitor again. The two cold arms were waiting for me and I couldn't help myself being drawn into their embrace. I looked around to see whether I could summon help. All I saw was blank faces staring at flickering screens, their expressions so like the zombies that my uncle brought forth from the graveyards.
Every morning I would make an effort to escape. And every morning I would sit in front of the screen and start tapping away. The two cold arms would hold me tighter and tighter and suck me deeper into the trap, if it was a trap...
There was one thing I figured - this "thing", whatever it was, had never harmed me. It just held on to me; and made me come back in front of the screen every morning. Then why did I fear it? Couldn't I try to talk to it ? Like I did with the spirit world back home ? I talked; and so did it.
Its words were as cold as its arms. It was as if it knew no warm feelings. I felt that it had desires - to expand, to assimilate. And that did nothing to remove my fears. There was no way it could be manipulated, no way to use it for my benefit or for anyone else's - there was something very sinister about it.
I don't remember much about the next few months. Each day was like the one before it. Cold arms, flickering screens and tapping away. A few conversations with "it"; and it seemed to get more alive each time it talked.
Then one day, the cold arms around me were gone. Instead there was one large frosty hand which reached right inside me and squeezed my heart. Fear took on a new meaning as the cold swept around and in me.
The thing had enlarged beyond my imagination, it had spread its tentacles all around it; and flashes of electricity sped along innumerable wires to and from all the other terminals in the room. From somewhere far off, I heard the manager boasting about his new network.
I am now a witch-doctor back in my village. I have an unholy nexus with the spirits. I have sold my soul to them, I give them whatever they want. Anything to protect me from those cold arms...
The Destruction of Earth by Alok Naik
Research on the time machine started in the year 2021. The Grand
Unified Theory of Time and Rotatory Piston Engines was completed
in 2078, by a person known to history only as "The Idiot". But it
took the year A.D. 2289 for researchers to finally build a time
machine that worked. For the first few weeks nobody knew what was
going on. People were stepping in and out of time as if there was
no tomorrow. There were stories of people visiting far off times,
as far off as the year 2005 and as far on as 2305. Many were
annihilated when they met two or three versions of themselves at
the same time and place. The Laws of Physics began to get so
complex that it was inevitable that someone would do something
about it.
The reaction came from the very place where it was expected. The
National University of Universal Physics. The students rebelled
at having to learn Laws of Physics that changed from place to
place and time to time and person to person. There were different
Laws for two different persons in the same time and two same
persons in different times and two same persons in same
times and different places... you get the idea. The thing got
even more weird when there were two different persons in the same
time and the same place. And the Mathematics involved was simply
stupendous.
The rebelling students turned violent when the Grand Vizier of
the Everlasting Sultanate of the Imperial Planet of Mars was
seen giving the same lecture on democracy in fifteen different
halls in the University at the same time. The paramilitary forces
had to be brought out when the students let loose a black hole
right in the middle of New York City and using the Theory of
Duplicity of Mass made it appear at the same time in the Grand
Vizier's kitchen.
Now, you can't let loose black holes inside a Vizier's kitchen
without the Galactic Council coming to know of it. In an emergency
session, the Council decided to send a fact finding team to
Earth and it's colonized planets to find out the facts. It did
not take long for the fact finding team to determine that the whole
problem was caused because humans had discovered how to rebel
in the year 65,000,000,000 B.C.
The only solution that the Council could think of was to
destroy humans and human populated planets. In any case the
Council had not destroyed any race in the Galaxy for more than
five hundred years and the Councillors wanted to have their
share of fame too.
Thus it came to pass that the planet Earth and all other meteoroids
and planetoids and planets inhabited by the human species were
destroyed on December the 15th, in the year A.D. 1947. This was
accomplished by transporting a large google into the Earth's
central plasmoid which created a whirling pool of jelly and
destroyed all life forms on this planet.
How are all of us still here, you ask ? Oh well, that's another
story...
Unified Theory of Time and Rotatory Piston Engines was completed
in 2078, by a person known to history only as "The Idiot". But it
took the year A.D. 2289 for researchers to finally build a time
machine that worked. For the first few weeks nobody knew what was
going on. People were stepping in and out of time as if there was
no tomorrow. There were stories of people visiting far off times,
as far off as the year 2005 and as far on as 2305. Many were
annihilated when they met two or three versions of themselves at
the same time and place. The Laws of Physics began to get so
complex that it was inevitable that someone would do something
about it.
The reaction came from the very place where it was expected. The
National University of Universal Physics. The students rebelled
at having to learn Laws of Physics that changed from place to
place and time to time and person to person. There were different
Laws for two different persons in the same time and two same
persons in different times and two same persons in same
times and different places... you get the idea. The thing got
even more weird when there were two different persons in the same
time and the same place. And the Mathematics involved was simply
stupendous.
The rebelling students turned violent when the Grand Vizier of
the Everlasting Sultanate of the Imperial Planet of Mars was
seen giving the same lecture on democracy in fifteen different
halls in the University at the same time. The paramilitary forces
had to be brought out when the students let loose a black hole
right in the middle of New York City and using the Theory of
Duplicity of Mass made it appear at the same time in the Grand
Vizier's kitchen.
Now, you can't let loose black holes inside a Vizier's kitchen
without the Galactic Council coming to know of it. In an emergency
session, the Council decided to send a fact finding team to
Earth and it's colonized planets to find out the facts. It did
not take long for the fact finding team to determine that the whole
problem was caused because humans had discovered how to rebel
in the year 65,000,000,000 B.C.
The only solution that the Council could think of was to
destroy humans and human populated planets. In any case the
Council had not destroyed any race in the Galaxy for more than
five hundred years and the Councillors wanted to have their
share of fame too.
Thus it came to pass that the planet Earth and all other meteoroids
and planetoids and planets inhabited by the human species were
destroyed on December the 15th, in the year A.D. 1947. This was
accomplished by transporting a large google into the Earth's
central plasmoid which created a whirling pool of jelly and
destroyed all life forms on this planet.
How are all of us still here, you ask ? Oh well, that's another
story...
The Story of Celery -Alok Naik
This story takes us back; aeons ago, in the mystic folds of time; when there lived an insignificant little wizard. Uh, for that was his name, spent all his time dabbling in white magic. One day, while taking a walk on the ethereal plane, Uh stumbled upon the all-powerful weapon - the Hammer of Thor. Forged in the fires of everlasting light by the great god Thor himself, the Hammer transformed the little wizard into a mighty warrior. For the rest of his life, Uh fought evil and brought peace to all edges of the globe. He finally died of a heart attack when his wife stopped nagging him.
Uh's son, Oh, was a good for nothing oaf. He dreamt of becoming an engineer and four years in a hostel left him a physical and mental wreck. He dismantled his father's dictatorship and established a democracy; and this move set all good people of the land shivering in their shoes. Oh then went to Micronesia to help uplift the downtrodden. There he found an uninhabited island habited by cannibals who had him for dinner.
Thus was the once prosperous land shoved onto the path of destruction. One thing led to another, till civilization ground to a halt and industrialization took over. The next head of government was Celery; the same Celery who coined the term "Yabblins". He ruled more or less wisely for many years, doing the best he could. Then came news, one fine morning, that in far off India, a great war had begun. Celery immediately sent for the Hebrew translation of the Mahabharata (for Celery could understand only Hebrew); only to find that the Mahabharata had not been written till then. At this Celery grew exceedingly angry, for he wanted to know whether the opposition parties would ask him to interfere in the war (how reading the Mahabharata would have helped Celery is unclear to the present author). When a nuclear exchange seemed imminent, Celery took up the Hammer of Thor and rode out on his bicycle (for the horse was, by then, out of fashion) to set things right.
Celery reached the grim battlefield of Kurukshetra just in time to see the great and noble Bhishma pull out shafts from his body and remark, "These cannot be Shikhandi's arrows. Surely they are Arjun's, for they burn the flesh..." Celery watched in awe as Arjun steeled his heart and sent well aimed arrows from his famous bow, that pierced the grandsire's armour, cut down his flag and killed his charioteer. With so many arrows in his body that not an inch of intervening space could be found, the grand old warrior fell from his chariot.
The battle stopped as the fighters came running to pay their respects to the fallen commander. Celery stood at a respectful distance and was wondering what to do next, when a smart man in a pinstripe suit popped up before him. "I'm from Popsi and my company would like to sponsor this break in the war," he said brightly. This crude attempt at commercialization so angered Celery that he hit the Popsi man with the Hammer of Thor and sent him flying to America. Celery was moved by the great drama unfolding around him (for details, refer 'Mahabharata' by Ved Vyas), but there was work to be done.
He contacted the Supreme Commanders of both sides and asked them to give up their nukes. He was, however, bluntly told that India would not give up the nuclear option as long as Celery had the hammer. Celery returned home, a dejected and broken man. He lost the next general elections and the Communists came to power. Celery was duly executed along with family and friends. The Communists ruled for some time, and then gave up because no-one listened to them any more. The destruction of the once-beautiful land was thus complete, and as a final act, Celery's granddaughter threw the Hammer of Thor into the Pierian Spring's clear waters where it slowly sunk out of sight.
Yeah, so some phrases seem like you've heard them before. So what?
Uh's son, Oh, was a good for nothing oaf. He dreamt of becoming an engineer and four years in a hostel left him a physical and mental wreck. He dismantled his father's dictatorship and established a democracy; and this move set all good people of the land shivering in their shoes. Oh then went to Micronesia to help uplift the downtrodden. There he found an uninhabited island habited by cannibals who had him for dinner.
Thus was the once prosperous land shoved onto the path of destruction. One thing led to another, till civilization ground to a halt and industrialization took over. The next head of government was Celery; the same Celery who coined the term "Yabblins". He ruled more or less wisely for many years, doing the best he could. Then came news, one fine morning, that in far off India, a great war had begun. Celery immediately sent for the Hebrew translation of the Mahabharata (for Celery could understand only Hebrew); only to find that the Mahabharata had not been written till then. At this Celery grew exceedingly angry, for he wanted to know whether the opposition parties would ask him to interfere in the war (how reading the Mahabharata would have helped Celery is unclear to the present author). When a nuclear exchange seemed imminent, Celery took up the Hammer of Thor and rode out on his bicycle (for the horse was, by then, out of fashion) to set things right.
Celery reached the grim battlefield of Kurukshetra just in time to see the great and noble Bhishma pull out shafts from his body and remark, "These cannot be Shikhandi's arrows. Surely they are Arjun's, for they burn the flesh..." Celery watched in awe as Arjun steeled his heart and sent well aimed arrows from his famous bow, that pierced the grandsire's armour, cut down his flag and killed his charioteer. With so many arrows in his body that not an inch of intervening space could be found, the grand old warrior fell from his chariot.
The battle stopped as the fighters came running to pay their respects to the fallen commander. Celery stood at a respectful distance and was wondering what to do next, when a smart man in a pinstripe suit popped up before him. "I'm from Popsi and my company would like to sponsor this break in the war," he said brightly. This crude attempt at commercialization so angered Celery that he hit the Popsi man with the Hammer of Thor and sent him flying to America. Celery was moved by the great drama unfolding around him (for details, refer 'Mahabharata' by Ved Vyas), but there was work to be done.
He contacted the Supreme Commanders of both sides and asked them to give up their nukes. He was, however, bluntly told that India would not give up the nuclear option as long as Celery had the hammer. Celery returned home, a dejected and broken man. He lost the next general elections and the Communists came to power. Celery was duly executed along with family and friends. The Communists ruled for some time, and then gave up because no-one listened to them any more. The destruction of the once-beautiful land was thus complete, and as a final act, Celery's granddaughter threw the Hammer of Thor into the Pierian Spring's clear waters where it slowly sunk out of sight.
Yeah, so some phrases seem like you've heard them before. So what?
The Man from Xrrx by Alok Naik
He approached me and immediately I sensed that he was nervous. He was young, just past his teens. He was dressed in black jeans, a light blue shirt and white sports shoes. He looked like any other young man you'd see in the streets.
"Excuse me," he said politely and I wondered about how I'd look like to him. Slightly older than him, perhaps, and slightly more well dressed. He had the advantage in height and there was a glow in his eyes that mine would never have.
"Yes ?" I answered, rather gruffly.
"Could I talk to you for a minute ?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know you."
He followed me as I walked down the street. His tone was pleading.
"Please, it's a very important matter."
"I don't have time."
"I beg of you, sir."
Something in the voice told me that he was close to a breakdown. I stopped and looked at him. He licked his lower lip and sighed. His tone didn't change.
"You are not going to find this easy to belive," he said, "and I really wish there were some other way, but I can't help it now. Please, you must believe me."
Here he stopped, as if he expected a comment. I stared back at him and he continued to talk.
"I know it's hard to believe... I am not of this world..."
I started to walk away, but he grabbed hold of my arm. His grip was such that any normal man would find it painful. His voice now became intense.
"You must listen to me ! I'm only asking you to listen, damn you !"
What did I have to lose ? I began to wonder; suppose... just suppose what he said was... I stood in the street and listened to him talk.
"I come from the planet Xrrx. It's about five million light years from your sun. Xrrx is much more advanced than your Earth is; we have known about you humans for a long time. By a strange coincidence, we on Xrrx are also human; not humanoid, but human - there is no difference genetically.
"I was sent to your planet on an important mission. We have been battling with silicon based life forms from the Andromeda galaxy for years now. And we are losing the war. Xrrx desperately needs Earth's support. We need resources and energy and no other civilization in the galaxy is advanced enough to help us. If Earth doesn't help us, then it is the end of life as we know it in this galaxy."
He stopped again and looked at me. I could only feel pity for him. I said nothing.
"But I've run into major problems," he continued. "I was taught English before I left Xrrx, so I can communicate with your people. But my ship was totally destroyed in the landing. There's nothing left of it - couldn't handle Earth's magnetosphere, I think. Fortunately the flight computer ejected me before it went out. I stole these clothes from a clothesline; and so I have nothing with me to prove my story... it's the worst possible thing that could happen to me... I should have died like the earlier mission... nobody believes me. If I was hideous and slimy, you'd believe that I'm an alien - but I'm human. I've been trying to convince people, but they think I'm mad."
He was almost sobbing now. Delusions, hallucinations, I suppose would be the doctor's verdict. I spoke to him gently. I'm no doctor.
"I believe you."
My words shocked him and he stood speechless with his mouth hanging open.
"I believe you, but nobody else will. Trust me, I know. I've been trying to convince them for the past two years."
His eyes seemed to be popping out of their sockets. I then addressed him in Xrrxian.
"My ship was also destroyed by the magnetosphere but I survived. I've faced the same problem, and there's no way out. I'll help you find a job and a place to stay. We're both going to be here for a long time..."
"Excuse me," he said politely and I wondered about how I'd look like to him. Slightly older than him, perhaps, and slightly more well dressed. He had the advantage in height and there was a glow in his eyes that mine would never have.
"Yes ?" I answered, rather gruffly.
"Could I talk to you for a minute ?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know you."
He followed me as I walked down the street. His tone was pleading.
"Please, it's a very important matter."
"I don't have time."
"I beg of you, sir."
Something in the voice told me that he was close to a breakdown. I stopped and looked at him. He licked his lower lip and sighed. His tone didn't change.
"You are not going to find this easy to belive," he said, "and I really wish there were some other way, but I can't help it now. Please, you must believe me."
Here he stopped, as if he expected a comment. I stared back at him and he continued to talk.
"I know it's hard to believe... I am not of this world..."
I started to walk away, but he grabbed hold of my arm. His grip was such that any normal man would find it painful. His voice now became intense.
"You must listen to me ! I'm only asking you to listen, damn you !"
What did I have to lose ? I began to wonder; suppose... just suppose what he said was... I stood in the street and listened to him talk.
"I come from the planet Xrrx. It's about five million light years from your sun. Xrrx is much more advanced than your Earth is; we have known about you humans for a long time. By a strange coincidence, we on Xrrx are also human; not humanoid, but human - there is no difference genetically.
"I was sent to your planet on an important mission. We have been battling with silicon based life forms from the Andromeda galaxy for years now. And we are losing the war. Xrrx desperately needs Earth's support. We need resources and energy and no other civilization in the galaxy is advanced enough to help us. If Earth doesn't help us, then it is the end of life as we know it in this galaxy."
He stopped again and looked at me. I could only feel pity for him. I said nothing.
"But I've run into major problems," he continued. "I was taught English before I left Xrrx, so I can communicate with your people. But my ship was totally destroyed in the landing. There's nothing left of it - couldn't handle Earth's magnetosphere, I think. Fortunately the flight computer ejected me before it went out. I stole these clothes from a clothesline; and so I have nothing with me to prove my story... it's the worst possible thing that could happen to me... I should have died like the earlier mission... nobody believes me. If I was hideous and slimy, you'd believe that I'm an alien - but I'm human. I've been trying to convince people, but they think I'm mad."
He was almost sobbing now. Delusions, hallucinations, I suppose would be the doctor's verdict. I spoke to him gently. I'm no doctor.
"I believe you."
My words shocked him and he stood speechless with his mouth hanging open.
"I believe you, but nobody else will. Trust me, I know. I've been trying to convince them for the past two years."
His eyes seemed to be popping out of their sockets. I then addressed him in Xrrxian.
"My ship was also destroyed by the magnetosphere but I survived. I've faced the same problem, and there's no way out. I'll help you find a job and a place to stay. We're both going to be here for a long time..."
Bharateeya Blog Kela wakes up at last!
http://blogkela.blogspot.com/ -- the self-styled commander of a bunch of kelas has been tricked into putting up a link to this page. The result is that my hits counter has jumped by more than 100% in one day! (Yeah, most of the hits earlier were due to my friends and I, but whatever. (Oh, OK, I had only one friend reading this, will you quit picking on me ?))
Now I only wish I could make some money out of every su...[- oops ^H^H] reader who comes to visit...
Now I only wish I could make some money out of every su...[- oops ^H^H] reader who comes to visit...
THE DESTRUCTION OF EARTH, once again - Alok Naik
Research on the time machine started in the year 2021. The Grand Unified Theory of Time and Rotatory Piston Engines was completed in 2078, by a person known to history only as "The Idiot". But it took the year A.D. 2289 for researchers to finally build a time machine that worked. For the first few weeks nobody knew what was going on. People were stepping in and out of time as if there were no tomorrow. There were stories of people visiting far off times, as far off as the year 2005 and as far on as 2305. Many were annihilated when they met two or three versions of themselves at the same time and place. The Laws of Physics began to get so complex that it was inevitable that someone would do something about it.
The reaction came from the very place where it was expected - The National University of Universal Physics. The students rebelled at having to learn Laws of Physics that changed from place to place and time to time and person to person. There were different Laws for two different persons in the same time and two same persons in different times and two same persons in same times and different places... you get the idea. The thing got even more weird when there were two different persons in the same time and the same place. And the Mathematics involved was simply stupendous.
The rebelling students turned violent when the Grand Vizier of the Everlasting Sultanate of the Imperial Planet of Mars was seen giving the same lecture on democracy in fifteen different halls in the University at the same time. Paramilitary forces had to be brought out when the students let loose a black hole right in the middle of New York City and using the Theory of Duplicity of Mass made it appear at the same time in the Grand Vizier's kitchen.
Now, you can't let loose black holes inside a Vizier's kitchen without the Galactic Council coming to know of it. In an emergency session, the Council decided to send a fact finding team to Earth and it's colonized planets to find out the facts. It did not take long for the fact finding team to determine the fact that the whole problem was caused because humans had discovered how to rebel in the year 65,000,000,000 B.C. or thereabouts.
The only solution that the Council could think of was to destroy all humans and human populated planets. In any case the Council had not destroyed any race in the Galaxy for more than five hundred years and the Councillors wanted to have their share of fame too. By all accounts, the human race was not indispensable in the Galactic Scheme of Things.
Thus it came to pass that the planet Earth and all other meteoroids and planetoids and planets inhabited by the human species were destroyed on December the 15th, in the year A.D. 2047. This was accomplished by "transporting a large google into the Earth's central plasmoid which created a whirling pool of jelly and destroyed all life forms on the planet" - at least that's what the Council announced and nobody knew enough about googles or plasmoids to question that story. Of course, the humans living after 2047 came to know about this and they were not very pleased with the idea of having no history. Some philosophers argued about how it was a good thing and how the human race could now benefit from a fresh start, but as usual nobody paid any attention to them. Some physicists wondered how the destruction of one's past did not affect the present, but they were laughed upon since it was obvious to everyone that since they existed it could only mean that the past could not affect the present in any way.
Of course, the astute reader would already have realized what had happened. Someone from A.D. 2047+ had travelled back in time and prevented the destruction of the human race. Needless to say, the Council realized this too; and since there's no such thing as too late when you have a time machine, the human race is now constantly disappearing from history only to be reinstated when someone else goes back to rescue it... such is life.
The reaction came from the very place where it was expected - The National University of Universal Physics. The students rebelled at having to learn Laws of Physics that changed from place to place and time to time and person to person. There were different Laws for two different persons in the same time and two same persons in different times and two same persons in same times and different places... you get the idea. The thing got even more weird when there were two different persons in the same time and the same place. And the Mathematics involved was simply stupendous.
The rebelling students turned violent when the Grand Vizier of the Everlasting Sultanate of the Imperial Planet of Mars was seen giving the same lecture on democracy in fifteen different halls in the University at the same time. Paramilitary forces had to be brought out when the students let loose a black hole right in the middle of New York City and using the Theory of Duplicity of Mass made it appear at the same time in the Grand Vizier's kitchen.
Now, you can't let loose black holes inside a Vizier's kitchen without the Galactic Council coming to know of it. In an emergency session, the Council decided to send a fact finding team to Earth and it's colonized planets to find out the facts. It did not take long for the fact finding team to determine the fact that the whole problem was caused because humans had discovered how to rebel in the year 65,000,000,000 B.C. or thereabouts.
The only solution that the Council could think of was to destroy all humans and human populated planets. In any case the Council had not destroyed any race in the Galaxy for more than five hundred years and the Councillors wanted to have their share of fame too. By all accounts, the human race was not indispensable in the Galactic Scheme of Things.
Thus it came to pass that the planet Earth and all other meteoroids and planetoids and planets inhabited by the human species were destroyed on December the 15th, in the year A.D. 2047. This was accomplished by "transporting a large google into the Earth's central plasmoid which created a whirling pool of jelly and destroyed all life forms on the planet" - at least that's what the Council announced and nobody knew enough about googles or plasmoids to question that story. Of course, the humans living after 2047 came to know about this and they were not very pleased with the idea of having no history. Some philosophers argued about how it was a good thing and how the human race could now benefit from a fresh start, but as usual nobody paid any attention to them. Some physicists wondered how the destruction of one's past did not affect the present, but they were laughed upon since it was obvious to everyone that since they existed it could only mean that the past could not affect the present in any way.
Of course, the astute reader would already have realized what had happened. Someone from A.D. 2047+ had travelled back in time and prevented the destruction of the human race. Needless to say, the Council realized this too; and since there's no such thing as too late when you have a time machine, the human race is now constantly disappearing from history only to be reinstated when someone else goes back to rescue it... such is life.
Gentle reader...
What follows is a reworked version of "The Destruction of Earth", since the earlier one had a rather lame ending. I had to work real hard to make it absolutely crippled...
A Spot of Blogs - Alok Naik
We sifted through the spoils, looking at each object in wonder. No, they were not spoils of war; they were the spoils of archaeology. And they weren’t spoiled at all, come to think of it. Most of the objects were made of plastic, some were metal. Large boxes with sharp edges, shiny circular pieces of plastic, coiled metal wires, small cylinders which we knew to be writing instruments, shards of glass. Other objects which we couldn’t identify, presumably they had been of use to the late twenty first century humans. The professor would know. He was old; not very old, but old enough to have a lot of knowledge about these things. He had devoted most of his life to it.
The digging site was on the edge of what was supposed to have been a thriving city. The floods and wars had changed that. There were no thriving cities on the planet now, no cities of any kind for that matter. Auto-controlled gun turrets dotted the landscape; and there were news reports once in a while of whole teams of archaeologists being wiped out by them. The offending turret would be deactivated as soon as something like this happened, but there was no known way to destroy them altogether. Legacy of a distant past, you learnt to live with it.
The professor was delighted with what we had collected. “We” being a bunch of students and digging bots. The students did the gross digging; the fine work of excavating the objects of interest was entrusted only to the bots. The professor always maintained that students no longer had the same enthusiasm and interest, that they were getting more and more careless by the day. His teachers probably said the same thing about him. He picked up each artifact carefully, turning it in the fading sunlight to note all the minor details. His voice was an interminable monologue, lecturing upon each find for the benefit of us students.
He termed this site wonderful. It would fill an important gap in the understanding of human culture of the twenty first century. More importantly for us, we could probably write a couple of papers on this and finally graduate. Commercial archaeology was much more lucrative.
“Late twentieth, or early twenty first,” said the professor, “it’s difficult to tell exactly. Their technology was so stagnant at that time.” He was holding up one of the shiny discs. There were twenty or so of them, all in protective plastic casing. “These were a means of storing data at the time, primitive though it may sound,” he droned on. “I have rigged up a device to read them; it is similar to the way they did it in those days. We think these discs were called ‘CD roams’, probably denoting the fact that they were portable.” He wiped the disc with a soft piece of fabric and held it up again for all of us to admire. We dutifully admired it. “Let’s see if it works”, he smiled as he said this and led the way to the device he had ‘rigged up’.
He powered on the device which he had hooked up to an energy cell and a viewer, and then pressed a knob on the front of the device. We all gasped as a section of the device actually moved and slid out of the main box! “Nothing to be afraid of,” smirked the professor. “I just place the disc in the tray like this.” He put the disc onto the section that had moved out and pressed the knob on the front again. The movable “tray” smoothly slid back into the box. “We are coming to the conclusion that these people may actually have been better at mechanical stuff than us,” the professor explained, a bit ruefully. A low pitched whine filled the room. “The plastic disc apparently rotates inside the box, that’s what’s making the sound,” the professor said and disconnected the box. “I think I’ll check it out in the night sometime. But I have a feeling that we are on the edge of some great discovery. The rotation mechanism of the box had set me thinking last week. It’s very similar to the systems we use. Perhaps they were more advanced in their technology than we previously imagined.”
Early next morning we found the professor sitting on a rock, sunk deep in thought. He looked up and smiled sadly as we walked up to him. “Our entire civilization is a sham. A lie,” he said. We were distracted by the sound of a large military vehicle which made its way towards us over the horizon. Within minutes, dozens of armed bots surrounded the professor and marched him into the vehicle.
(To be continued..... :D too lazy to type more...)
The digging site was on the edge of what was supposed to have been a thriving city. The floods and wars had changed that. There were no thriving cities on the planet now, no cities of any kind for that matter. Auto-controlled gun turrets dotted the landscape; and there were news reports once in a while of whole teams of archaeologists being wiped out by them. The offending turret would be deactivated as soon as something like this happened, but there was no known way to destroy them altogether. Legacy of a distant past, you learnt to live with it.
The professor was delighted with what we had collected. “We” being a bunch of students and digging bots. The students did the gross digging; the fine work of excavating the objects of interest was entrusted only to the bots. The professor always maintained that students no longer had the same enthusiasm and interest, that they were getting more and more careless by the day. His teachers probably said the same thing about him. He picked up each artifact carefully, turning it in the fading sunlight to note all the minor details. His voice was an interminable monologue, lecturing upon each find for the benefit of us students.
He termed this site wonderful. It would fill an important gap in the understanding of human culture of the twenty first century. More importantly for us, we could probably write a couple of papers on this and finally graduate. Commercial archaeology was much more lucrative.
“Late twentieth, or early twenty first,” said the professor, “it’s difficult to tell exactly. Their technology was so stagnant at that time.” He was holding up one of the shiny discs. There were twenty or so of them, all in protective plastic casing. “These were a means of storing data at the time, primitive though it may sound,” he droned on. “I have rigged up a device to read them; it is similar to the way they did it in those days. We think these discs were called ‘CD roams’, probably denoting the fact that they were portable.” He wiped the disc with a soft piece of fabric and held it up again for all of us to admire. We dutifully admired it. “Let’s see if it works”, he smiled as he said this and led the way to the device he had ‘rigged up’.
He powered on the device which he had hooked up to an energy cell and a viewer, and then pressed a knob on the front of the device. We all gasped as a section of the device actually moved and slid out of the main box! “Nothing to be afraid of,” smirked the professor. “I just place the disc in the tray like this.” He put the disc onto the section that had moved out and pressed the knob on the front again. The movable “tray” smoothly slid back into the box. “We are coming to the conclusion that these people may actually have been better at mechanical stuff than us,” the professor explained, a bit ruefully. A low pitched whine filled the room. “The plastic disc apparently rotates inside the box, that’s what’s making the sound,” the professor said and disconnected the box. “I think I’ll check it out in the night sometime. But I have a feeling that we are on the edge of some great discovery. The rotation mechanism of the box had set me thinking last week. It’s very similar to the systems we use. Perhaps they were more advanced in their technology than we previously imagined.”
Early next morning we found the professor sitting on a rock, sunk deep in thought. He looked up and smiled sadly as we walked up to him. “Our entire civilization is a sham. A lie,” he said. We were distracted by the sound of a large military vehicle which made its way towards us over the horizon. Within minutes, dozens of armed bots surrounded the professor and marched him into the vehicle.
(To be continued..... :D too lazy to type more...)
Here's a nice link ;)
Nigritude Ultramarine
Nigritude Ultramarine is the keyword that has to be searched for in google. If the words Nigritude Ultramarine appear in your page and it happens to be the top result in google then you get a prize. No prizes for guessing why these words "Nigritude Ultramarine" appear so many times on many different pages! If I were to link to all the pages that have Nigritude Ultramarine on them I wouldn't have time to write Nigritude Ultramarine myself! So, Nigritude Ultramarine !!
Nigritude Ultramarine is the keyword that has to be searched for in google. If the words Nigritude Ultramarine appear in your page and it happens to be the top result in google then you get a prize. No prizes for guessing why these words "Nigritude Ultramarine" appear so many times on many different pages! If I were to link to all the pages that have Nigritude Ultramarine on them I wouldn't have time to write Nigritude Ultramarine myself! So, Nigritude Ultramarine !!
Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page
Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page
This is one cool utility. Quoting from the page: "Memtest86 is thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are a quick, cursory check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86. "
This is one cool utility. Quoting from the page: "Memtest86 is thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are a quick, cursory check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86. "
eVGA.com Monthly Contests
eVGA.com Home Page
The site for today is eVGA's monthly contest site. eVGA is in the graphics card business. I've got myself an eVGA GeForce FX 5900SE card.
The site for today is eVGA's monthly contest site. eVGA is in the graphics card business. I've got myself an eVGA GeForce FX 5900SE card.
eMachines PCs start at $399.99
eMachines M6805 laptop
I'm getting one!
Specifications
Display: 15.4" Widescreen TFT LCD WXGA (1280 x 800 max. resolution)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
CPU: Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 3000+ Processor
64-bit Architecture operates at 1.800 GHz
System Bus uses HyperTransport™
Technology operating at 1600 MHz
1 MB L2 Cache
Memory: 512 MB DDR SODIMM (PC 2700)
Hard Drive: 60 GB HDD
Optical Drives: CDRW/DVD Combo Drive (24x24x24 CD-RW; 8x max. DVD-ROM)
Media Reader: 6-in-1 Digital Media Manger (Compact Flash, Micro Drive, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro)
Video: ATI® Mobility RADEON™ 9600 with 64 MB Video RAM
Sound: PC2001 Compliant AC '97 Audio
Built-in Stereo Speakers
Modem: 56K* ITU V.92 Fax/Modem
Network: 802.11g Built-in Wireless (up to 54Mbps)
10/100Mbps built-in Ethernet
Pointing Device: Touchpad with Vertical Scroll Zone
Battery: 8-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Dimensions: 1.6"h x 14.0"w x 10.4"d
I'm getting one!
Specifications
Display: 15.4" Widescreen TFT LCD WXGA (1280 x 800 max. resolution)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
CPU: Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 3000+ Processor
64-bit Architecture operates at 1.800 GHz
System Bus uses HyperTransport™
Technology operating at 1600 MHz
1 MB L2 Cache
Memory: 512 MB DDR SODIMM (PC 2700)
Hard Drive: 60 GB HDD
Optical Drives: CDRW/DVD Combo Drive (24x24x24 CD-RW; 8x max. DVD-ROM)
Media Reader: 6-in-1 Digital Media Manger (Compact Flash, Micro Drive, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro)
Video: ATI® Mobility RADEON™ 9600 with 64 MB Video RAM
Sound: PC2001 Compliant AC '97 Audio
Built-in Stereo Speakers
Modem: 56K* ITU V.92 Fax/Modem
Network: 802.11g Built-in Wireless (up to 54Mbps)
10/100Mbps built-in Ethernet
Pointing Device: Touchpad with Vertical Scroll Zone
Battery: 8-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Dimensions: 1.6"h x 14.0"w x 10.4"d
Pondicherry
I'll be making a trip to Pondicherry over the weekend. The plan is to stay in a tree house. Let's see how that turns out...
eMachines M6805 laptop
Yeah, I did get this laptop (finally). It's pretty good, lives up to all the reviews one finds on the web.
Display: 15.4" Widescreen TFT LCD WXGA (1280 x 800 max. resolution)
Yes, it's a widescreen display, and you don't get to see that too often in India :) Display is crisp, nothing to complain about. The graphics system has an option to stretch the display if the video mode is not 1280x800, this is usually OK but it does distort the aspect ratio.
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Nothing to complain about here either. You can always replace it with Linux.
CPU: Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 3000+ Processor
64-bit Architecture operates at 1.800 GHz
System Bus uses HyperTransport™ Technology operating at 1600 MHz
1 MB L2 Cache
No problems with this one! Windows is responsive, games run smooth (thanks to the 9600 too). Games being run - NFS Hot Pursuit II, NFS Underground, Rise of Nations, UT2004, Ghost Recon, Call of Duty, Age of Mythology... I haven't yet run any benchmarks to see if it really is comparable to a 3GHz processor. 64bit doesn't mean anything right now, as long as a 64bit Windows version is not readily available. There is a beta, but I've heard there aren't drivers available for it. On the other hand, I can't think of anything that you'd want to do on a laptop as of now that would want a 64bit processor.
On a purely qualitative note, it does seem to be at least as good as the dekstops I use at home and at work (Athlon XP 2600+ and P4 2.4HT). Games are MUCH better on the laptop than on that P4, mainly because the P4 is on Intel integrated graphics, which, of course, the 9600 blows away. The Athlon XP puts up a better fight - it has a 128MB Nvidia 5900.
It also has a lot of boast value, 64-bit, 1600MHz HyperTransport, and all the rest; for those who understand the terms.
Memory: 512 MB DDR SODIMM (PC 2700)
Hard Drive: 60 GB HDD
Optical Drives: CDRW/DVD Combo Drive (24x24x24 CD-RW; 8x max. DVD-ROM)
512 MB is good. I've got the 4200rpm hard disk, but I couldn't really notice much difference in performance from my desktop drives (one is 5400, another is 7200rpm). Then again, I don't really do anything with this machine that would be limited by the HDD... sigh.
CDRW works fine, not noisy at all. In fact, the whole laptop is not noisy, and the fans turn on only once in a while.
Media Reader: 6-in-1 Digital Media Manger (Compact Flash, Micro Drive, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro)
Used this to transfer data from my cell phone's (Nokia 3650) memory card. Works fine, considering I had to use an infrared dongle to do it with my desktop. Should be good for digital cameras too.
Video: ATI® Mobility RADEON™ 9600 with 64 MB Video RAM
Rocks! This would be considered to be at higher end for even a desktop in India ;) I've downloaded the Omega drivers, let's see where overclocking can take this system.
Sound: PC2001 Compliant AC '97 Audio
Built-in Stereo Speakers
Acceptable. Not too loud, but external speakers are always an option. I'm not an audiophile, so this works just fine for me.
Modem: 56K* ITU V.92 Fax/Modem
Haven't tried it out, but how can it be any different from other modems?
Network: 802.11g Built-in Wireless (up to 54Mbps)
10/100Mbps built-in Ethernet
Haven't tried the wireless. Ethernet works.
Pointing Device: Touchpad with Vertical Scroll Zone
Vertical scroll zone is cool. I get really mad when I don't find it on my friends' laptops now.
Battery: 8-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Always on AC power; I'm not really interested in finding out how long the battery lasts and I'm not going to crib if it doesn't last as long as other laptops.
Dimensions: 1.6"h x 14.0"w x 10.4"d
Big. Because of the screen.
Overall, it has been a pretty nice experience. If you're looking for portability in a laptop, then perhaps this system is not for you. It has MS Works bundled with it, but MS Money is of no use to someone like me, and I've installed Office anyway. NAV comes with a 3 months subscription, I guess I'll replace it with AVG once those 3 months are up. I miss the mouse when gaming, getting used to the touchpad for games is going to be an uphill task. USB ports on the left side of the box really help, as many people have pointed out in reviews all over the web. It's the equivalent of having front USB ports on a desktop case. No PS2 ports, no infrared (I have a dongle tho, so no harm done), no serial port, no parallel port. No need for any of these, come to think of it, everything is USB now (or FireWire).
If anyone has specific questions, please let me know.
Display: 15.4" Widescreen TFT LCD WXGA (1280 x 800 max. resolution)
Yes, it's a widescreen display, and you don't get to see that too often in India :) Display is crisp, nothing to complain about. The graphics system has an option to stretch the display if the video mode is not 1280x800, this is usually OK but it does distort the aspect ratio.
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Nothing to complain about here either. You can always replace it with Linux.
CPU: Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 3000+ Processor
64-bit Architecture operates at 1.800 GHz
System Bus uses HyperTransport™ Technology operating at 1600 MHz
1 MB L2 Cache
No problems with this one! Windows is responsive, games run smooth (thanks to the 9600 too). Games being run - NFS Hot Pursuit II, NFS Underground, Rise of Nations, UT2004, Ghost Recon, Call of Duty, Age of Mythology... I haven't yet run any benchmarks to see if it really is comparable to a 3GHz processor. 64bit doesn't mean anything right now, as long as a 64bit Windows version is not readily available. There is a beta, but I've heard there aren't drivers available for it. On the other hand, I can't think of anything that you'd want to do on a laptop as of now that would want a 64bit processor.
On a purely qualitative note, it does seem to be at least as good as the dekstops I use at home and at work (Athlon XP 2600+ and P4 2.4HT). Games are MUCH better on the laptop than on that P4, mainly because the P4 is on Intel integrated graphics, which, of course, the 9600 blows away. The Athlon XP puts up a better fight - it has a 128MB Nvidia 5900.
It also has a lot of boast value, 64-bit, 1600MHz HyperTransport, and all the rest; for those who understand the terms.
Memory: 512 MB DDR SODIMM (PC 2700)
Hard Drive: 60 GB HDD
Optical Drives: CDRW/DVD Combo Drive (24x24x24 CD-RW; 8x max. DVD-ROM)
512 MB is good. I've got the 4200rpm hard disk, but I couldn't really notice much difference in performance from my desktop drives (one is 5400, another is 7200rpm). Then again, I don't really do anything with this machine that would be limited by the HDD... sigh.
CDRW works fine, not noisy at all. In fact, the whole laptop is not noisy, and the fans turn on only once in a while.
Media Reader: 6-in-1 Digital Media Manger (Compact Flash, Micro Drive, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro)
Used this to transfer data from my cell phone's (Nokia 3650) memory card. Works fine, considering I had to use an infrared dongle to do it with my desktop. Should be good for digital cameras too.
Video: ATI® Mobility RADEON™ 9600 with 64 MB Video RAM
Rocks! This would be considered to be at higher end for even a desktop in India ;) I've downloaded the Omega drivers, let's see where overclocking can take this system.
Sound: PC2001 Compliant AC '97 Audio
Built-in Stereo Speakers
Acceptable. Not too loud, but external speakers are always an option. I'm not an audiophile, so this works just fine for me.
Modem: 56K* ITU V.92 Fax/Modem
Haven't tried it out, but how can it be any different from other modems?
Network: 802.11g Built-in Wireless (up to 54Mbps)
10/100Mbps built-in Ethernet
Haven't tried the wireless. Ethernet works.
Pointing Device: Touchpad with Vertical Scroll Zone
Vertical scroll zone is cool. I get really mad when I don't find it on my friends' laptops now.
Battery: 8-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Always on AC power; I'm not really interested in finding out how long the battery lasts and I'm not going to crib if it doesn't last as long as other laptops.
Dimensions: 1.6"h x 14.0"w x 10.4"d
Big. Because of the screen.
Overall, it has been a pretty nice experience. If you're looking for portability in a laptop, then perhaps this system is not for you. It has MS Works bundled with it, but MS Money is of no use to someone like me, and I've installed Office anyway. NAV comes with a 3 months subscription, I guess I'll replace it with AVG once those 3 months are up. I miss the mouse when gaming, getting used to the touchpad for games is going to be an uphill task. USB ports on the left side of the box really help, as many people have pointed out in reviews all over the web. It's the equivalent of having front USB ports on a desktop case. No PS2 ports, no infrared (I have a dongle tho, so no harm done), no serial port, no parallel port. No need for any of these, come to think of it, everything is USB now (or FireWire).
If anyone has specific questions, please let me know.
Darwin Awards
This is the Darwin Awards website.
"The Darwin Awards honor those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it. Of necessity, this honor is bestowed posthumously."
"The Darwin Awards honor those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it. Of necessity, this honor is bestowed posthumously."
APOD: 2000 November 27 - Earth at Night
Astronomy Picture of the Day site atAPOD: 2000 November 27 - Earth at Night
A composite picture of the planet as seen at night.
A composite picture of the planet as seen at night.
Notebook Forums
Notebook Forums - powered by vBulletin
Requires you to be registered with them for posting or viewing attachments, but you can browse thru the posts without registering or logging in. It doesn't accept free webmail ids for the registration though - rejected my gmail as well as eml email ids.
Requires you to be registered with them for posting or viewing attachments, but you can browse thru the posts without registering or logging in. It doesn't accept free webmail ids for the registration though - rejected my gmail as well as eml email ids.
Cassini-Huygens: 2 new moons for Saturn!
Cassini-Huygens - News-Press Releases-2004
"With eyes sharper than any that have peered at Saturn before, the Cassini spacecraft has uncovered two moons, which may be the smallest bodies so far seen around the ringed planet."
"With eyes sharper than any that have peered at Saturn before, the Cassini spacecraft has uncovered two moons, which may be the smallest bodies so far seen around the ringed planet."
Punishments meted out in our schools
Akash:
- Standing out of the class (English Maam)
- Murga bano (Social Studies Sir) murga in princi office (vice prince)
- Spreading the arms with bricks on both palms and then bending around the knees (PT Sir)
- Do the assignment 25 Times (Maths Sir)
- Extra Homework (Hindi Maam)
- Standing on the desk
- Standing in front of the assembly with ur hands stretched up
- Kneeling down in front of the whole school
- Impositions
- Sitting in between two (studious) girls // this one was the worst
- 10 Laps of the Playfield
- Sit on the ground in front of the black board.
- No games period for 2 weeks.
- Ref. Alok below: Being hit on the knuckles with a ruler. (This is generally a convent school punishment)
- Saying sorry in front of the school during the assembly.
- Being made to sit with kids from 2 classes junior to you.
- Being made to sit alone and answer the Unit test (believe me that hurts)
- Biggest Dhamki :: "Call your parents tomorrow"
- Detention. Bringing two tiffins and doing your homework after school. So when you reach home, you can hit the playgrounds straight away!!
- Probably a unique one: being made to sit on top of the class cupboard and being threatened about not being allowed to go home. (I or II std)
- Suspension from school for a week. (Principal's decision)
- Being hit on the knuckles with a ruler. (almost everyone who taught me in school)
- Having a duster thrown at you (most people in the class would manage to catch it though) (Physics Sir?)
- Being sent to the principal's office and being lectured on what was not expected from me. again, almost everyone who taught me in school)
- Having the teacher run out of the class in tears, and then having a horde of other teachers coming and lecturing the class on behaviour. (one pathetic Maths teacher)
- Bigger dhamki than what Akash mentions above: "I'm coming to see your parents today evening." - Principal. He didn't actually come to my home because I convinced him it wasn't my fault...
- No library access for a week.
- No computer lab access for a week. (a week seems to be the least count for such types of punishment)
- Notes in the diary for parents to sign.
- Come and sit on the front desk.
- Read out the lesson loudly in front of the whole class
- On the right hand corner of the blackboard your name is mentioned in as the BLACK-STARS of the class. These students were the most notorious and their names went to the principal every week. Hmmm to few it was a honor to set their name right in front of everyone !!
IE Address Bar Spoofing
Secunia - Internet Explorer Address Bar Spoofing Test Popup
More problems with Internet Explorer... Test to see if your browser is vulnerable to the "Internet Explorer Address Bar Spoofing Vulnerability" on the Secunia site. This link has the details about this vulnerability, which they have categorized as 'moderately critical'.
More problems with Internet Explorer... Test to see if your browser is vulnerable to the "Internet Explorer Address Bar Spoofing Vulnerability" on the Secunia site. This link has the details about this vulnerability, which they have categorized as 'moderately critical'.
Smallest flying robot
Epson has developed the world's smallest and lightest micro-flying robot. It has Bluetooth wireless control. The website has a video of the robot flying.
Hotmail to offer 2GB in September
The Inquirer says that Hotmail may offer 2GB of storage space in September. Attachment size limit will be 20MB. GMail has really put the cat amongst the pigeons!
Visitors!
I've been checking my visitor statistics and I see people being directed here from search engines - many of them seem to be searching for information on the eMachines M6805 or on widescreen panels. If you are one of them, please do leave a comment on this page and I shall help if I can!
AnandTech
The ATI Mobility Radeon 9800 is being reviewed by AnandTech! Just when I thought I was at the cutting edge (well, almost) with a Mobility Radeon 9600... Quoting from the article "The MR9800 actually supports all the features of the Radeon X800, as it is simply a cut down version of the chip with some enhanced power management features." And it has 256MB onboard RAM... sigh.
I'd like to see how much better it fares against the 9600...
I'd like to see how much better it fares against the 9600...
Intel slashes 560 P4 by 35%.
Grrr.... I wouldn't complain if prices dropped gradually over the years (or months). This really puts me off buying new hardware (not that I have any plans for it right now). Sayeth the article: "The price of the 3.40GHz Extreme Edition with 2MB of Gallatin L3 cache, stays stable at $999." Hm... The 560 is the new name for the P4 Prescott 3.6 GHz 800MHz FSB, which is now available for just over $400.
Reiser4 is released.
Check this page for "Reasons why Reiser4 is great for you"...
Quote:
"Reiser4 is the fastest filesystem, and here are the benchmarks.
Reiser4 is an atomic filesystem, which means that your filesystem operations either entirely occur, or they entirely don't, and they don't corrupt due to half occuring. We do this without significant performance losses, because we invented algorithms to do it without copying the data twice.
Reiser4 uses dancing trees, which obsolete the balanced tree algorithms used in databases (see farther down). This makes Reiser4 more space efficient than other filesystems because we squish small files together rather than wasting space due to block alignment like they do. It also means that Reiser4 scales better than any other filesystem. Do you want a million files in a directory, and want to create them fast? No problem.
Reiser4 is based on plugins, which means that it will attract many outside contributors, and you'll be able to upgrade to their innovations without reformatting your disk. If you like to code, you'll really like plugins....
Reiser4 is architected for military grade security. You'll find it is easy to audit the code, and that assertions guard the entrance to every function."
Quote:
"Reiser4 is the fastest filesystem, and here are the benchmarks.
Reiser4 is an atomic filesystem, which means that your filesystem operations either entirely occur, or they entirely don't, and they don't corrupt due to half occuring. We do this without significant performance losses, because we invented algorithms to do it without copying the data twice.
Reiser4 uses dancing trees, which obsolete the balanced tree algorithms used in databases (see farther down). This makes Reiser4 more space efficient than other filesystems because we squish small files together rather than wasting space due to block alignment like they do. It also means that Reiser4 scales better than any other filesystem. Do you want a million files in a directory, and want to create them fast? No problem.
Reiser4 is based on plugins, which means that it will attract many outside contributors, and you'll be able to upgrade to their innovations without reformatting your disk. If you like to code, you'll really like plugins....
Reiser4 is architected for military grade security. You'll find it is easy to audit the code, and that assertions guard the entrance to every function."
SillySearches
Phoenyx.net has a list of silly searches that led websurfers to that site. Must read this one! Especially since the webmaster has put up comments on each of them...
GmailFS - Gmail Filesystem
GmailFS - Gmail Filesystem
"GmailFS provides a mountable Linux filesystem which uses your Gmail account as its storage medium."
'GmailFS supports most file operations such as read, write, open, close, stat, symlink, link, unlink, truncate and rename. This means that you can use all your favourite unix command line tools to operate on files stored on Gmail (e.g. cp, ls, mv, rm, ln, grep etc. etc.)."
Hmm... word fail me.
"GmailFS provides a mountable Linux filesystem which uses your Gmail account as its storage medium."
'GmailFS supports most file operations such as read, write, open, close, stat, symlink, link, unlink, truncate and rename. This means that you can use all your favourite unix command line tools to operate on files stored on Gmail (e.g. cp, ls, mv, rm, ln, grep etc. etc.)."
Hmm... word fail me.
The Internet is 35
CNN.com - The Internet at 35: Still evolving - Aug 29, 2004
Says CNN: "Thirty-five years after computer scientists at UCLA linked two bulky computers using a 15-foot gray cable, testing a new way to exchange data over networks, what would ultimately become the Internet remains a work in progress."
It's been a long time ;)
Says CNN: "Thirty-five years after computer scientists at UCLA linked two bulky computers using a 15-foot gray cable, testing a new way to exchange data over networks, what would ultimately become the Internet remains a work in progress."
It's been a long time ;)
Problems with XP SP2 and AMD ?
Geek News Central Revealing Links & Useful Technical Information
Great. This might explain why SP2RC2 SCREWED UP my laptop!
"In an article posted in the Knowledge Base section of its Web site, Microsoft says that Service Pack 2 may not work with computers running Advanced Micro Devices' 64-bit microprocessors. The Redmond, Washington-based company said earlier that owners of such PCs may want to bypass the update completely, but has now come up with a workaround. "
However, the ZDNET article goes on to say that AMD thinks only one application causes this problem with SP2 and I don't have it. In any case I guess I'll be delaying installing anything related to SP2 on either laptop or desktop. Everything's working fine enough...
Great. This might explain why SP2RC2 SCREWED UP my laptop!
"In an article posted in the Knowledge Base section of its Web site, Microsoft says that Service Pack 2 may not work with computers running Advanced Micro Devices' 64-bit microprocessors. The Redmond, Washington-based company said earlier that owners of such PCs may want to bypass the update completely, but has now come up with a workaround. "
However, the ZDNET article goes on to say that AMD thinks only one application causes this problem with SP2 and I don't have it. In any case I guess I'll be delaying installing anything related to SP2 on either laptop or desktop. Everything's working fine enough...
Apple - iMac G5
The new Apple - iMac G5 is seriously cool!
Upto 20" widescreen LCD... drool.
1.8GHz G5... drool.
160GB SATA 7200 rpm drive... drool.
Too expensive for me... but maybe someday...
Upto 20" widescreen LCD... drool.
1.8GHz G5... drool.
160GB SATA 7200 rpm drive... drool.
Too expensive for me... but maybe someday...
'The Terminal'
Guardian Unlimited Film | Features | Paul Berczeller on the man who inspired Steven Spielberg's Terminal
Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal" is based on a true story..
Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal" is based on a true story..
Alienware - 4GHz desktop
Alienware powers up a 4GHz desktop says news.com ...
"In addition to the 4GHz Pentium 4 and a liquid-cooling system, the most basic Area-51 ALX desktop comes with 1GB of RAM, a CD-burner, ATI Technology's Radeon X800 graphics card, a 74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000 rpm hard drive and a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS High Definition sound card.
Pumping up the machine with 4GB of RAM, Nvidia's GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics card, twin 74GB Raptor hard drives and a DVD-burner increases the price to about $5,700."
"In addition to the 4GHz Pentium 4 and a liquid-cooling system, the most basic Area-51 ALX desktop comes with 1GB of RAM, a CD-burner, ATI Technology's Radeon X800 graphics card, a 74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000 rpm hard drive and a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS High Definition sound card.
Pumping up the machine with 4GB of RAM, Nvidia's GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics card, twin 74GB Raptor hard drives and a DVD-burner increases the price to about $5,700."
Gmail
Some gmail invites are available. Strangely enough, it seems that now everyone has a gmail account and nobody is interested in my invites!
Lots of game demos!
There are a lot of games on the market and what better way to decide which one to spend your hard earned money on than to play a demo?
http://www.demoindex.com/
Demoindex has a very well categorized bunch of game demos, along with screen shots, brief descriptions, lists of top ranked games, game movies and even games for your mobile phone (the link for which takes you to jeumobile.com).
The only crib I have with the whole demo thing is that the files are mostly in excess of 100MB, which makes it a tad difficult to download when your monthly data transfer quota is 400MB!
http://www.demoindex.com/
Demoindex has a very well categorized bunch of game demos, along with screen shots, brief descriptions, lists of top ranked games, game movies and even games for your mobile phone (the link for which takes you to jeumobile.com).
The only crib I have with the whole demo thing is that the files are mostly in excess of 100MB, which makes it a tad difficult to download when your monthly data transfer quota is 400MB!
AMD CPU Roadmap
AnandTech has a good article on the AMD roadmap.
XbitLabs shows that the overclocked Sempron 3100+ beats the Pentium 4 3.4GHz in a lot of tests as well as the very best Athlon 64's ! "Thanks to its clock rate, which is higher than that of any Athlon 64, the (overclocked) Sempron 3100+ outperforms the Athlon 64 3400+ as well as both Pentium 4 with a frequency of 3.4GHz!"
XbitLabs shows that the overclocked Sempron 3100+ beats the Pentium 4 3.4GHz in a lot of tests as well as the very best Athlon 64's ! "Thanks to its clock rate, which is higher than that of any Athlon 64, the (overclocked) Sempron 3100+ outperforms the Athlon 64 3400+ as well as both Pentium 4 with a frequency of 3.4GHz!"
Graphics Cards Charts
VGA Charts IV
Handy reference on Tom's Hardware Guide to graphics cards and their operating frequencies, memory frequencies, bus width and pipelines.
Handy reference on Tom's Hardware Guide to graphics cards and their operating frequencies, memory frequencies, bus width and pipelines.
Long time no write
I haven't posted to this blog for a VERY long time. Meanwhile, I was monitoring the hits to this site. I have an average of 2 visitors per day, even without anything new in here! The referral logs show that most of them are from search engines that somehow find random words in my blog matching very odd search queries.
For example, there's this person searching for "murga punishments"! I won't hazard a guess to why he needs this information, but the fact is that he keeps hitting my site every so often. Of course, I absolutely decline to post anything that might interest him here.
Then there are the poor souls trying to find drivers for the M6805. The drivers are all there on the DVD that came with the system, and are probably available on many places on the web too. If you need anything specific, leave a comment and I'll try to help. If you need video drivers for the Mobility Radeon 9600, they are not there on the ATi website. ATi wants you to download them from your system manufacturer's site, and of course they are not there on emachine's site. The normal 9600 drivers from ATi's site don't work. You can try the Omega drivers instead, just google for "Omega drivers ATi", you can't miss it.
Finally, I did see a few people redirected from Veera's blog. Since the time I stopped writing here and started posting random links (and then stopped that too), I've seen that my friends' blogs are collecting a small but loyal readership. The key is certainly frequent updates, but I'm not motivated enough to do that unless I know I have readers and I won't have readers unless I update, etc.
Voyager I and II
I've been following the reports from these two spacecraft since I was a child. Of course all that almost came to a stop when I was in college and later, probably because there wasn't much excitement once they left the planets behind.
Voyager Enters Solar System's Final Frontier
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered the solar system's final frontier, a vast, turbulent expanse where the Sun's influence ends and the solar wind crashes into the thin gas between stars.
Here's the link, the site has some nice photos too...
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/voyager_agu.html
Voyager Enters Solar System's Final Frontier
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered the solar system's final frontier, a vast, turbulent expanse where the Sun's influence ends and the solar wind crashes into the thin gas between stars.
Here's the link, the site has some nice photos too...
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/voyager_agu.html
Blogspot?
Just noticed that I've got some random hits by people clicking on the blogspot bar at the top to go to the "next blog". I've never done that myself, but the fact that some people do it shows... what?
Assembler
Spent some time this weekend helping to get my friend's new PC up and running. Unlike most of my upgrades over the past few years, this was a new system altogether; that's always an experience in itself.
We would have done this long ago, except that the parts that my friend wanted were not really available all in one shot. He was even thinking of ordering a motherboard and a graphics card from a dealer in Kolkata... but finally we got everything out here in Bangalore.
His new system is an Athlon64 3200+ with 512MB x 2, 120GB SATA disk, MSI Platinum motherboard with SLI (though I don't think he's ever going to use that feature) and an MSI 6600GT graphics card (with 128MB of DDR3 RAM). Cost him a lot of money, come to think of it. Putting the heat sink onto the CPU was a nightmare in itself, I kept thinking that the plastic arm would break off altogether. Then we had a lot of fun opening up the front of the case to put together the front-USB ports, one works while the other one doesn't. His cabinet has openings for USB at the top as well, but we didn't put anything there yet.
Got myself a new monitor too: http://www.samsung.com/in/products/monitors/CRTMonitors/professionalrange/997df.asp
We would have done this long ago, except that the parts that my friend wanted were not really available all in one shot. He was even thinking of ordering a motherboard and a graphics card from a dealer in Kolkata... but finally we got everything out here in Bangalore.
His new system is an Athlon64 3200+ with 512MB x 2, 120GB SATA disk, MSI Platinum motherboard with SLI (though I don't think he's ever going to use that feature) and an MSI 6600GT graphics card (with 128MB of DDR3 RAM). Cost him a lot of money, come to think of it. Putting the heat sink onto the CPU was a nightmare in itself, I kept thinking that the plastic arm would break off altogether. Then we had a lot of fun opening up the front of the case to put together the front-USB ports, one works while the other one doesn't. His cabinet has openings for USB at the top as well, but we didn't put anything there yet.
Got myself a new monitor too: http://www.samsung.com/in/products/monitors/CRTMonitors/professionalrange/997df.asp
Life elsewhere
Interesting poll and interesting results....
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/extraterrestrial/poll.html
Now, this was a poll on whether extra-terrestrial life exists and whether we (as in, humans) would make contact with above mentioned life forms and so on; and it was conducted via live TV with respondents sending in their opinions through SMS (and maybe through a telephone survey). I don't know about you but I don't really think that the "great unwashed masses" are the right people to be asking about aliens. I can understand polls for what should happen to the evil 'bahu' on the many serials-starting-with-the-letter-K on Indian TV channels, but aliens...?! I'm sure the general TV-watching public in any country wouldn't be all that different from that out here. It would be really amusing to have this poll on Indian TV too... but I would love to ask people to send in detailed answers (100 words, 10 marks anyone?) explaining their choice(s).
Here's an example:
15. If beings from another planet sent a message to us through deep space, do you think we would be able to figure out what they were saying?
50% Yes
38% No
11% Don't Know
I wonder how so many people (going by the percentages, of course) can have strong positive or negative views about something that is essentially unknown. Even if I were to have to make a decision about either of the first two choices, I would tend more towards the No than the Yes - people can barely understand others speaking the same language with a different accent, but here they are, claiming that we would positively be able to undertand what beings from another planet have to say!
Slashdot always has something to say about everything. Here are some choice comments on this topic:
"I read somewhere (lost the link) that on some surveys more young people believe that aliens exist than that they will get anything from the social security system."
"They should also ask if the Earth is flat or the Sun revolves around the Earth. This would separate the science types who base their 'Yes' on sound scientific reasoning and the new-age type who will believe anything just so long as the government denies or refuses to comment on it."
"Do you really believe that the average person even knows that UFO is an acronym and tell you what it stands for? Most people probably believe that UFO means alien aircraft, not anything else. As for whether "aliens exist", again, your question is pretty specific. Unless the poll was asking the scientific community, the average person doesn't consider the odds of life existing based on the large number of planets, but rather they exist or not, period."
"Meanwhile, only a resounding 5% of life on other planets believes that there is intelligent life on Earth."
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/extraterrestrial/poll.html
Now, this was a poll on whether extra-terrestrial life exists and whether we (as in, humans) would make contact with above mentioned life forms and so on; and it was conducted via live TV with respondents sending in their opinions through SMS (and maybe through a telephone survey). I don't know about you but I don't really think that the "great unwashed masses" are the right people to be asking about aliens. I can understand polls for what should happen to the evil 'bahu' on the many serials-starting-with-the-letter-K on Indian TV channels, but aliens...?! I'm sure the general TV-watching public in any country wouldn't be all that different from that out here. It would be really amusing to have this poll on Indian TV too... but I would love to ask people to send in detailed answers (100 words, 10 marks anyone?) explaining their choice(s).
Here's an example:
15. If beings from another planet sent a message to us through deep space, do you think we would be able to figure out what they were saying?
50% Yes
38% No
11% Don't Know
I wonder how so many people (going by the percentages, of course) can have strong positive or negative views about something that is essentially unknown. Even if I were to have to make a decision about either of the first two choices, I would tend more towards the No than the Yes - people can barely understand others speaking the same language with a different accent, but here they are, claiming that we would positively be able to undertand what beings from another planet have to say!
Slashdot always has something to say about everything. Here are some choice comments on this topic:
"I read somewhere (lost the link) that on some surveys more young people believe that aliens exist than that they will get anything from the social security system."
"They should also ask if the Earth is flat or the Sun revolves around the Earth. This would separate the science types who base their 'Yes' on sound scientific reasoning and the new-age type who will believe anything just so long as the government denies or refuses to comment on it."
"Do you really believe that the average person even knows that UFO is an acronym and tell you what it stands for? Most people probably believe that UFO means alien aircraft, not anything else. As for whether "aliens exist", again, your question is pretty specific. Unless the poll was asking the scientific community, the average person doesn't consider the odds of life existing based on the large number of planets, but rather they exist or not, period."
"Meanwhile, only a resounding 5% of life on other planets believes that there is intelligent life on Earth."
Too much homework...
... can be counterproductive. According to two Penn State researchers. Here's a link: http://physorg.com/news4333.html
These guys are brilliant. It's always the same thing. They come up with something that would really have been useful (for me) a decade ago! I was one of the good guys who would usually do all the homework assigned to us kids, even the abominable holiday essay "How I spent my Summer Vacation".
One vivid memory I have is that of my friend's grandpa commenting on some Geography homework that we were doing. We had to write out the points of difference between the east coast and the west coast (of India, duh). I was stuggling with vegetation, soil (I think), kind of topography and so on. Along comes gramps and says, "East and West coasts? One is on the east, the other's on the west. What's all the fuss about?"
These guys are brilliant. It's always the same thing. They come up with something that would really have been useful (for me) a decade ago! I was one of the good guys who would usually do all the homework assigned to us kids, even the abominable holiday essay "How I spent my Summer Vacation".
One vivid memory I have is that of my friend's grandpa commenting on some Geography homework that we were doing. We had to write out the points of difference between the east coast and the west coast (of India, duh). I was stuggling with vegetation, soil (I think), kind of topography and so on. Along comes gramps and says, "East and West coasts? One is on the east, the other's on the west. What's all the fuss about?"
What is the...
... world coming to? http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jun/02exam.htm says that kids may no longer have board exams! I don't see why.
We'll soon have a world of whiners who think they deserve something without working just because someone else has it.
I accept that some people may not be academically good but can be successful in other areas of life. In which case, what should be done is to provide schools for such "other areas" and have exams for them.
We'll soon have a world of whiners who think they deserve something without working just because someone else has it.
I accept that some people may not be academically good but can be successful in other areas of life. In which case, what should be done is to provide schools for such "other areas" and have exams for them.
Electric car, anyone?
This link has info about a new electric motor. Hardly any noise, no air pollution. So, what's new?
A car with such motors could run as fast as a Ferrari.
Quoting from the article:
"...the motor provides enough torque at one revolution per minute to put a vehicle into motion..."
"Theoretically an electric racing car driven by four of the motors - one for each wheel - could hold its own in Formula One."
"If he finds the right automotive partner, a prototype electric car that would put a smile on Michael Schumacher's face could be ready within two years."
Hooray for technology!
Airport Road flyover
It looks like Bangaloreans are protesting about the delay in the completion of the Airport Road flyover. I suppose it's wrong to say "are protesting" since everyone I know has been shouting themselves hoarse about it for months. The difference this time, is that the protests might be heard because they are in the form of a silent gathering on Airport Road itself.
http://www.pacindia.org/bangaloredemandaction
http://www.pacindia.org/bangaloredemandaction
Strange...
... people. I read this in a news report about the flyover protests:
"BDA officials are upset. They point out that there are other pending projects —Rajajinagar underpass and the National College flyover. “Why have they chosen the flyover for the protest,’’ they ask."
Made me think... "I am upset. There are other pending projects - the old module I never got down to writing code for, the bugs lined up in my queue. Why have you chosen my last project for blasting me about?" Naah... it'll never work on my boss.
"BDA officials are upset. They point out that there are other pending projects —Rajajinagar underpass and the National College flyover. “Why have they chosen the flyover for the protest,’’ they ask."
Made me think... "I am upset. There are other pending projects - the old module I never got down to writing code for, the bugs lined up in my queue. Why have you chosen my last project for blasting me about?" Naah... it'll never work on my boss.
School
This is the website of my old school in Indore. I studied here from the 7th to the 12th standard, long long ago.
http://sathyasaiindore.com/sathyasai/default.asp
No doubt a lot of things have changed there since the time I last saw it.
http://sathyasaiindore.com/sathyasai/default.asp
No doubt a lot of things have changed there since the time I last saw it.
Revenge...
... of the Sith. Saw it this weekend. I was looking forward to ... hold your breath for this one... General Grievous. And he did not disappoint.
Here's a link: http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/generalgrievous/
It was a good enough movie overall, for someone who's not a fanatical fan of the series. It was a pain in the neck to watch it from the front row though. And as usual, there were a bunch of idiots who refused to turn their cellphone ringers off, and also answered calls in the middle of the movie.
Also helped a friend to move to his new place in Bangalore (he's recently returned from Mumbai). Only to find out that another single software pro in the same building was robbed blind by some guy who climbed up to the first floor, opened the windows, stuck his hand in and opened the door, and cleaned out the house while this guy was fast asleep. Took everything he could lay his hands on, including the toothbrush.
Here's a link: http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/generalgrievous/
It was a good enough movie overall, for someone who's not a fanatical fan of the series. It was a pain in the neck to watch it from the front row though. And as usual, there were a bunch of idiots who refused to turn their cellphone ringers off, and also answered calls in the middle of the movie.
Also helped a friend to move to his new place in Bangalore (he's recently returned from Mumbai). Only to find out that another single software pro in the same building was robbed blind by some guy who climbed up to the first floor, opened the windows, stuck his hand in and opened the door, and cleaned out the house while this guy was fast asleep. Took everything he could lay his hands on, including the toothbrush.
Book bug?
What's the web coming too? We've got people writing about their reading habits for everyone to see! And then they expect other people to do the same thing! Book bug, indeed.
Now, let's see... this is a series of questions to which I don't really know the answers. However, I can pretend to be a great book lover and just google to get a list of impressive sounding book names. Maybe I can earn some brownie points.
Number of books I own? Huh, I don't know, I never counted 'em. Lots, certainly. As Veera pointed out, there are lots of types of books lying around in my house, some are read often, others are packed up in large cardboard boxes waiting for the next move. So, how many? Hundreds certainly (leaving the magazines and newspapers out, Veera!).
Recently bought books... I'll pass. The only book I remember buying in the recent past is The Da Vinci Code; I'm not the reader I used to be.
Last book I read? Groan. Thinking in C++ is a book that qualifies, right? Just borrowed Men are from Mars etc. from a friend, skimmed through it but I don't think it applies to me.
Books that mean a lot to me. Who comes up with these "bugs" anyway? Calvin and Hobbes means a lot to me. Sherlock Holmes means a lot to me. Catch 22 means a lot to me. The Mahabharata means a lot to me, though I don't remember where I put it the last time I read my copy. More interesting are books that don't mean anything to me. All management books. All self-help books. All home improvement books. All books that come with a moral. All books that tell me to do things that I don't do. All books that claim that my life would be much better off if I just did what they want me to do. So there!
Spread it to 5 other people? Makes me feel like I'm contagious! No thanks, I don't think I'll do that. The bug stops here.
Talking of books, I'm rather surprised that nobody has talked about ebooks (in the bug reports that I saw on other people's blogs). I've a bunch of P.G.W. ebooks that I'm trying to complete. All the works of Shakspeare too, maybe I'll start on that someday. Maybe someday I can afford a tablet PC, and then I will read all those ebooks I have collected but find difficult to read off a monitor.
Now, let's see... this is a series of questions to which I don't really know the answers. However, I can pretend to be a great book lover and just google to get a list of impressive sounding book names. Maybe I can earn some brownie points.
Number of books I own? Huh, I don't know, I never counted 'em. Lots, certainly. As Veera pointed out, there are lots of types of books lying around in my house, some are read often, others are packed up in large cardboard boxes waiting for the next move. So, how many? Hundreds certainly (leaving the magazines and newspapers out, Veera!).
Recently bought books... I'll pass. The only book I remember buying in the recent past is The Da Vinci Code; I'm not the reader I used to be.
Last book I read? Groan. Thinking in C++ is a book that qualifies, right? Just borrowed Men are from Mars etc. from a friend, skimmed through it but I don't think it applies to me.
Books that mean a lot to me. Who comes up with these "bugs" anyway? Calvin and Hobbes means a lot to me. Sherlock Holmes means a lot to me. Catch 22 means a lot to me. The Mahabharata means a lot to me, though I don't remember where I put it the last time I read my copy. More interesting are books that don't mean anything to me. All management books. All self-help books. All home improvement books. All books that come with a moral. All books that tell me to do things that I don't do. All books that claim that my life would be much better off if I just did what they want me to do. So there!
Spread it to 5 other people? Makes me feel like I'm contagious! No thanks, I don't think I'll do that. The bug stops here.
Talking of books, I'm rather surprised that nobody has talked about ebooks (in the bug reports that I saw on other people's blogs). I've a bunch of P.G.W. ebooks that I'm trying to complete. All the works of Shakspeare too, maybe I'll start on that someday. Maybe someday I can afford a tablet PC, and then I will read all those ebooks I have collected but find difficult to read off a monitor.
Will it?
Or won't it? Happen, that is. I hope it will. But it may not. Which would be bad. I think. Or not.
Is it the unknowns of life that make it worth living? I don't know. Right now I feel I'd love to know what's in store.
Is it the unknowns of life that make it worth living? I don't know. Right now I feel I'd love to know what's in store.
Virus
What's with virus attacks and dumb users? Not dumb in the normal sense of the word, they are intelligent, perhaps even clever folk. But why must they open an attachment that has virus-worm written all over it? I can understand it if it's a sneak attack using a vulnerability of the system that lets the virus/worm in. Sigh, I've been deleting warning emails all day.
M6805
eMachines has released a BIOS update that apparently solves some problems with the M6805 and Windows XP SP2. Not that I have seen any problems with SP2 myself. My main gripe with the BIOS is that it doesn't have many settings to change. And I haven't found any way around that.
ebook
Reader Veera brings up the interesting issue of what exactly is an "ebook".
A definition I found, and which I think sounds correct is: An electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer and/or an eBook reader. An eBook reader may be a software program used on a personal computer or a portable reading device.
So yes, it is indeed a "softcopy", in the same sense that "email" is a softcopy version of real mail. For those not in the loop, look at this site: http://www.gutenberg.org/ "Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today."
This should tell you why someone would find ebooks interesting - they can sometimes be obtained for free. Especially those older books whose copyright has run out and which are in the so-called public domain. If you want a print version of the book, you still have to pay for it; while the ebook can be free. The problem with ebooks is the device that you use to read them on, it does get a bit irritating to keep scrolling on a notebook or on a PC. That said, I think there are ebook readers available that can do the scrolling automatically for you and will also format the contents to your liking. Adobe has an ebook reader, though I haven't used it. Then there are software that can actually read (vocalize) the book for you, but personally I think it sounds creepy.
A definition I found, and which I think sounds correct is: An electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer and/or an eBook reader. An eBook reader may be a software program used on a personal computer or a portable reading device.
So yes, it is indeed a "softcopy", in the same sense that "email" is a softcopy version of real mail. For those not in the loop, look at this site: http://www.gutenberg.org/ "Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today."
This should tell you why someone would find ebooks interesting - they can sometimes be obtained for free. Especially those older books whose copyright has run out and which are in the so-called public domain. If you want a print version of the book, you still have to pay for it; while the ebook can be free. The problem with ebooks is the device that you use to read them on, it does get a bit irritating to keep scrolling on a notebook or on a PC. That said, I think there are ebook readers available that can do the scrolling automatically for you and will also format the contents to your liking. Adobe has an ebook reader, though I haven't used it. Then there are software that can actually read (vocalize) the book for you, but personally I think it sounds creepy.
Links
Some links from my browser bookmarks.
- Gamespot
- Quotations Page
- Straight Dope
- The onion
- Metric Prefixes
- Whitespace
- Useless
- WHOIS
- AbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzAbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzAbcdefghijk.com
- The World's Longest Alphabetical Email Address - Theme Songs
- FilePlanet
- GrAwL Gamerips
- Blame India Watch
- Micro Java board games for wireless devices - Network Mobile Chess - Downloads
- APNIC
- Refactoring Home
- WINSHELL
- WinXPcentral - WinXP Post SP2 TCP-IP Connection Speed Tweak
- MP3
- audiosrch
- BOOKS
- TCL
- DX
- C&CMOD
- VEERA
- ROMS
- All About
Symbian Forums - Nokia 3650, 3660, and 3620 - Gutenberg
- Salon.com
Virtual IT Online Shopping - Computer Ware House Price List in bangalore, Krnataka
- BOOKS
- Game Downloads - Game Revolution
- Toms Hardware
- Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
- /.
- kbps explan
- rediff
- GUIdebook Longhorn 4015
- Under the Hood, MSJ February 1998
- The Scalability Problem - How does one design today's games for high-end and low-end PCs at the same time?
- Microsoft Interview Questions
- eml
- Y!brifcase
- ring
- AGE
- [H]ardForum - Valve sucks
- Microsoft reinvents its own wheel
- networks
- MP3RAID
- Arima
- GLOSSARY
- Notebook Forums - Gateway/ Emachines Support (peer to peer)
- http://www.tmk.com/ftp/humor/computer-error-messages.txt
- chaotic moments
- Humour
- CHAPTER 1 GDSII format
- AOE3
- Microsoft Interview Questions!
- Reflections on Relativity
- Torpedo
- X-RayPc Spyware Remover Process Analyzer from Xblock Systems
- Desktop Processor Quick Reference Guide
Gaming PC
PCQuest (the magazine) has an article on what they claim to be India's fastest gaming machine. It has some awesome specs. I don't remember them all right now but it was something like Athlon FX (2.4 or 2.6 GHz?), 2GB DDR2 RAM, dual 6800 Ultras with either 256MB or 512MB RAM each running in SLI, one funky looking case, I think a 19" monitor, and oddly enough as far as I remember a 40GB 7200rpm disk.
Hmm... how does that stack up against my desktop system? AthlonXP 2600+ (the 333MHz FSB one, no less), 1GB DDR RAM (one stick of 333MHz, the other of 400MHz, so effectively running at 333MHz), 5900 SE with 128MB RAM, 19" Samsung monitor and 60GB + 40GB internal HDDs + 250GB external HDD. Not too bad considering that the monster PC is close to 245,000 Indian rupees (with free shipping, that gets my goat - free shipping, indeed).
Now where can I get a two hundred thousand odd rupees? Any generous readers? Um... any readers at all?
Hmm... how does that stack up against my desktop system? AthlonXP 2600+ (the 333MHz FSB one, no less), 1GB DDR RAM (one stick of 333MHz, the other of 400MHz, so effectively running at 333MHz), 5900 SE with 128MB RAM, 19" Samsung monitor and 60GB + 40GB internal HDDs + 250GB external HDD. Not too bad considering that the monster PC is close to 245,000 Indian rupees (with free shipping, that gets my goat - free shipping, indeed).
Now where can I get a two hundred thousand odd rupees? Any generous readers? Um... any readers at all?
Broadband
I'm out searching for a good broadband provider. So was one of my friends, he finally decided upon AirTel. It's been some days since he applied, but they are tardy, dare I say as usual. One would think they didn't want his business. From the reviews I have read, I've come to believe that MTNL and BSNL, the state players, might be the better options after all. Does it mean that private players entering the market is good? It does seem to have had a bettering effect on the government players who have to compete with the new folks.
My own hunting around indicates that the tariff plans that all these companies have are expensive. So far my company used to reimburse me for the broadband access, so I didn't worry about it so much. But now, having to pay almost a thousand bucks per month... I wouldn't mind it so much if the speed and quality of service was good and if there were no caps on the data transfer. I would pay, I think, a thousand bucks for 512kbps (not UP TO 512kbps, which is a term that all these companies are fond of using), uncapped, or capped to a high number like 75GB.
My own hunting around indicates that the tariff plans that all these companies have are expensive. So far my company used to reimburse me for the broadband access, so I didn't worry about it so much. But now, having to pay almost a thousand bucks per month... I wouldn't mind it so much if the speed and quality of service was good and if there were no caps on the data transfer. I would pay, I think, a thousand bucks for 512kbps (not UP TO 512kbps, which is a term that all these companies are fond of using), uncapped, or capped to a high number like 75GB.
Life goes on...
It's been some time and I still haven't managed to find a place to live. It's not that there is a severe lack of housing this side of the universe. However, at this point in life I think I can afford to be a bit picky about where I live. One estate agent showed me a place that was dank and dark and seemed very dirty besides. Uneven flooring, small cupboards, dirty kitchen. And he quoted the normal rates for a posh flat.
So all said and done, I'm looking at the outskirts of the city, where there are decent apartments to be found, with electricity backup via a generator, RO water (that's reverse osmosis water treatment plant, for those back home), lawns in the front; all the works.
The broadband connection comes much later, though it does seem that there are some smaller operators out here, some who even offer WiFi connections (though I don't even want to think about the price for that one). As for Veera's comment - it's not the lack of operators that is the problem. It's the cost/benefit ratio that I'm concerned about. I just don't think it's affordable to pay a thousand bucks for a limited connection. I don't want to think twice before letting my OS updates go through or before downloading a demo for the game I want to buy. A 400-500MB limit just doesn't cut it.
So all said and done, I'm looking at the outskirts of the city, where there are decent apartments to be found, with electricity backup via a generator, RO water (that's reverse osmosis water treatment plant, for those back home), lawns in the front; all the works.
The broadband connection comes much later, though it does seem that there are some smaller operators out here, some who even offer WiFi connections (though I don't even want to think about the price for that one). As for Veera's comment - it's not the lack of operators that is the problem. It's the cost/benefit ratio that I'm concerned about. I just don't think it's affordable to pay a thousand bucks for a limited connection. I don't want to think twice before letting my OS updates go through or before downloading a demo for the game I want to buy. A 400-500MB limit just doesn't cut it.
New bike
Got me a new bike - a Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSi ES. Running fine, as expected. But the run-in is too much, for the first 1000 kilometers I'm restricted to 65kmph.
The DSL adventures continue
I decided to check out Airtel first, since I know people who have had experience with them and it seems to me that these folks are easy to deal with. I've heard stories of how things can go wrong with Airtel, but it all points to the fact that if they can provide a connection they will do it with minimum fuss, if they cannot there's nothing they can do about it.
Unfortunately the person at their customer care helpline said they don't have service in the area in which I live. He did take down my name and address but that's probably just to populate their database, I don't see any indications of them coming to my area in the near future.
Then I thought of the wireless telephone providers, Reliance and Tata Indicom. Problem with these folks is that the internet access speed is limited, and I have heard horror stories of billing problems - even though people now say that all those have been sorted out. Decided to keep these as my final option.
Then I turned towards BSNL. People have good things to say about their access speeds and uptime, and the cost is also reasonable, i.e. in line with other providers. I'm not too keen on their red tape though. Besides someone from my area expressed his doubts as to whether they have DSL service in my area, though they do have an exchange there. I filled out the online form at BSNL's site in any case, and I got a call from them a few days later - saying that I could go to a specific exchange for my connection or to any other exchange near me. That was on a Saturday. I decided I would go on Monday or Tuesday and as usual I didn't. On Tuesday I actually got a follow up call asking whether I was still interested and if yes I could go to the exchange and fill out the form.
In my opinion, this is the big difference between BSNL and the private players, even though BSNL is being proactive in pursuing a potential customer. Airtel would have sent a person over with the forms and the authority to collect a cheque.
I did rustle up enough enthusiasm to make a trip to the ATM (since I have had previous bad expriences with BSNL where they accept only a draft or cash and no cheques), and landed up at the exchange the next day. I walked up the stairs and spent some time wandering around trying to figure out where to go! There were no proper signs that would have helped a first timer, though I daresay there were some faded pieces of paper on various doors that might have had something written on them. I even wandered into a central excise office once. The counter where people are supposed to pay their bills was shutting down even though it was just around 3 in the afternoon. Finally after asking a few people (who in the traditional manner sent me to difference places) I finally found the right room. Asked another young guy sitting at a computer and listening to music, and got redirected to another person who sitting at a desk and being angry at some other customer. Another customer had some billing problem which was solved by sending him to someone else and it was finally my turn. I asked for a broadband form, I didn't think he would care about the fact that I had filled out the same form online earlier. He decided to get angry at me too, and said I should pay the amount first before I came to him. I said I wanted a form, and I had no idea how much I was to pay, so he grudgingly took out a form from his desk and told me the cash counter was closed and that I "should have come before 2:30". I took my form and escaped and am still wondering whether I should actually go back to submit it.
So here's the other big difference. The BSNL website says that they have customer help desks manned from 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening without any breaks. I don't know whether the person I met in that dark dingy room was such a customer service guy, but what's the use of having an 8 to 8 desk if I can't pay my initial fees after 2:30? What's with the afternoon deadline? Can't they have a drop box or something like Airtel does? Can't they have service people who are not gruff as soon as they see a customer? I was prepared to sit there, fill out the form(s), pay my money and come back hoping to get a telephone and a broadband connection in a few days.
That's another point I'm sure I will have a confrontation over. Do I need to fill out separate forms for the telephone and the broadband connection? The broadband form says that I should have a phone before I can apply for broadband. Fair enough. But then the form also has a column asking whether I am an existing BSNL customer. The online form that I filled initially also had a box for whether I want a new connection. I am printing out a telephone connection form and taking it along just in case, but I fully expect to be chewed out by the customer service guy for not having the common sense to apply for a telephone before I asked for broadband.
I only hope they accept printed forms (their website says they will). I've had an experience with HDFC bank when they refused to accept a printed form that I had downloaded from their own website.
More after my next visit to the exchange... phew.
Unfortunately the person at their customer care helpline said they don't have service in the area in which I live. He did take down my name and address but that's probably just to populate their database, I don't see any indications of them coming to my area in the near future.
Then I thought of the wireless telephone providers, Reliance and Tata Indicom. Problem with these folks is that the internet access speed is limited, and I have heard horror stories of billing problems - even though people now say that all those have been sorted out. Decided to keep these as my final option.
Then I turned towards BSNL. People have good things to say about their access speeds and uptime, and the cost is also reasonable, i.e. in line with other providers. I'm not too keen on their red tape though. Besides someone from my area expressed his doubts as to whether they have DSL service in my area, though they do have an exchange there. I filled out the online form at BSNL's site in any case, and I got a call from them a few days later - saying that I could go to a specific exchange for my connection or to any other exchange near me. That was on a Saturday. I decided I would go on Monday or Tuesday and as usual I didn't. On Tuesday I actually got a follow up call asking whether I was still interested and if yes I could go to the exchange and fill out the form.
In my opinion, this is the big difference between BSNL and the private players, even though BSNL is being proactive in pursuing a potential customer. Airtel would have sent a person over with the forms and the authority to collect a cheque.
I did rustle up enough enthusiasm to make a trip to the ATM (since I have had previous bad expriences with BSNL where they accept only a draft or cash and no cheques), and landed up at the exchange the next day. I walked up the stairs and spent some time wandering around trying to figure out where to go! There were no proper signs that would have helped a first timer, though I daresay there were some faded pieces of paper on various doors that might have had something written on them. I even wandered into a central excise office once. The counter where people are supposed to pay their bills was shutting down even though it was just around 3 in the afternoon. Finally after asking a few people (who in the traditional manner sent me to difference places) I finally found the right room. Asked another young guy sitting at a computer and listening to music, and got redirected to another person who sitting at a desk and being angry at some other customer. Another customer had some billing problem which was solved by sending him to someone else and it was finally my turn. I asked for a broadband form, I didn't think he would care about the fact that I had filled out the same form online earlier. He decided to get angry at me too, and said I should pay the amount first before I came to him. I said I wanted a form, and I had no idea how much I was to pay, so he grudgingly took out a form from his desk and told me the cash counter was closed and that I "should have come before 2:30". I took my form and escaped and am still wondering whether I should actually go back to submit it.
So here's the other big difference. The BSNL website says that they have customer help desks manned from 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening without any breaks. I don't know whether the person I met in that dark dingy room was such a customer service guy, but what's the use of having an 8 to 8 desk if I can't pay my initial fees after 2:30? What's with the afternoon deadline? Can't they have a drop box or something like Airtel does? Can't they have service people who are not gruff as soon as they see a customer? I was prepared to sit there, fill out the form(s), pay my money and come back hoping to get a telephone and a broadband connection in a few days.
That's another point I'm sure I will have a confrontation over. Do I need to fill out separate forms for the telephone and the broadband connection? The broadband form says that I should have a phone before I can apply for broadband. Fair enough. But then the form also has a column asking whether I am an existing BSNL customer. The online form that I filled initially also had a box for whether I want a new connection. I am printing out a telephone connection form and taking it along just in case, but I fully expect to be chewed out by the customer service guy for not having the common sense to apply for a telephone before I asked for broadband.
I only hope they accept printed forms (their website says they will). I've had an experience with HDFC bank when they refused to accept a printed form that I had downloaded from their own website.
More after my next visit to the exchange... phew.
Ban on camera phones?
rediff.com has this message board article on how some Telugu Desam party member in the Rajya Sabha moved a private member bill in the House... "She demanded a ban on camera phones in public places arguing that these phones are increasingly being used to pry into private lives of people. She also wanted the legislation to regulate the use of such phones by children."
(I don't like rediff insisting on having a rediff id to be able to post comments, but I can certainly post my comments on my own blog!)
Being the proud owner of just such a phone, this does affect me personally. But more than that, I am filled with a sense of disbelief. Hello! Lady! Doesn't something not make sense here? "Private lives" of people and ban on camera phones in "public places"? Does she want to ban non-cellphone cameras in public places too? Do I have to wear blinkers in case I have a freaking photographic memory? Will I be allowed to sit on the roadside and paint what I see, or will that offend your sense of privacy too?
I can understand that if someone puts a camera into your house without your knowledge and permission, then it can be categorized under invasion of privacy. But then why target cellphones? Any old camera would suffice.
rediff's questions:
(I don't like rediff insisting on having a rediff id to be able to post comments, but I can certainly post my comments on my own blog!)
Being the proud owner of just such a phone, this does affect me personally. But more than that, I am filled with a sense of disbelief. Hello! Lady! Doesn't something not make sense here? "Private lives" of people and ban on camera phones in "public places"? Does she want to ban non-cellphone cameras in public places too? Do I have to wear blinkers in case I have a freaking photographic memory? Will I be allowed to sit on the roadside and paint what I see, or will that offend your sense of privacy too?
I can understand that if someone puts a camera into your house without your knowledge and permission, then it can be categorized under invasion of privacy. But then why target cellphones? Any old camera would suffice.
rediff's questions:
Now, does Geetha have a point here?
Of course she does. But it's not what she thinks it is.
Do you think the use of these latest gizmos in public places is a threat to your privacy?
I don't have any reasonable expectation of privacy in a public place. So, no, nothing is a threat to my privacy in a public place.
Or are these merely fun tools as their manufacturers would want us to believe?
Fun tools? I don't know. I rarely use the phone camera, it's quality is simply not good enough to take pictures that I want to keep. I do use it for casual photos, if I see something interesting or unusual on the road or if I make an unplanned trip and don't have a proper camera with me. That said, I have seen models becoming more powerful by the day and have read about one that actually has an optical zoom lens in the cellphone. Go figure. But all said and done, all cameras are fun tools for all of us who are not professional photographers, whether they are inside a cellphone or not.
And, also, should they come with the statutory warning, "Keep out of reach of children"?
I don't really have any opinion on that. I would certainly think twice before I gave anything that costly into a child's hands, but of course my concerns are probably not the same as those of the author of the article. I would have LOVED to have something like that when I was a kid. But then, I didn't have any opportunities to invade anyone's privacy, so such a phone would have not been of much use to cause offence. I do think however, that children could perhaps be taught about such gadgets and the possible ways that phones can be used and abused.
Come to think about it, some adults in the Rajya Sabha might possibly benefit from such instruction too..
Electricity.
There's been something going on in this part of the universe that many of you might have missed. After all, it's local news.
What happened some weeks ago is that the local electricity companies in Delhi got the rates hiked by 10 percent. Which is something that seems to happen all the time, all over the place, in all industries. What is different is that this time the locals decided not to accept it. There was a big "grassroots" level movement and many RWAs (that's residents welfare associations) protested and decided to deduct 10% from their monthly bills before paying them.
Seeing the issue snowballing, the powers-that-be decided to roll the hike back. And they did this how? By issuing a subsidy to the power companies! So the taxpayer gets to pay for the electricity hike that the electricity user doesn't have to pay for.
I always thought that privatization was a good thing. That it would make companies more accountable to their customers and that they couldn't depend on the government to bail them out of problems caused due to their sheer lack of motivation. That's because I mistakenly assumed privatization = dismantling of monopoly. Clearly this is not the case. Competetion is good (for the consumer), regardless of who actually owns the company, as long as the same rules apply to all players.
When you are the only company that people can pay to provide them with electricity, why would you care that a big chunk of what you produce is lost to "transmission losses"?
Now, if only someone would look at the cable TV monopoly...
What happened some weeks ago is that the local electricity companies in Delhi got the rates hiked by 10 percent. Which is something that seems to happen all the time, all over the place, in all industries. What is different is that this time the locals decided not to accept it. There was a big "grassroots" level movement and many RWAs (that's residents welfare associations) protested and decided to deduct 10% from their monthly bills before paying them.
Seeing the issue snowballing, the powers-that-be decided to roll the hike back. And they did this how? By issuing a subsidy to the power companies! So the taxpayer gets to pay for the electricity hike that the electricity user doesn't have to pay for.
I always thought that privatization was a good thing. That it would make companies more accountable to their customers and that they couldn't depend on the government to bail them out of problems caused due to their sheer lack of motivation. That's because I mistakenly assumed privatization = dismantling of monopoly. Clearly this is not the case. Competetion is good (for the consumer), regardless of who actually owns the company, as long as the same rules apply to all players.
When you are the only company that people can pay to provide them with electricity, why would you care that a big chunk of what you produce is lost to "transmission losses"?
Now, if only someone would look at the cable TV monopoly...
Camera phones, part 2
I went back to the rediff article on banning camera phones to see what people had written (there were exactly 0 comments when I first saw it). It was a big eye opener because there were people in support of the ban , even though their reasons were not quite clear.
But it was pretty obvious that a lot of the people responding were thinking in terms of the various video clips that have been floating around, apparently being forwarded via MMS. On a side node, I think the MMS service is too expensive. If I had a picture or a video clip that I wanted to share I'd do it through email.
Coming back to the comments on the article, I felt that these people were, in fact, in favour of banning cameras in phones altogether! Someone actually said camera phones are a threat to national security. He didn't elaborate though.
Perhaps it's not so much about the fact that a cellphone has an integrated camera, it's more about the camera being disguised. When you go around with a handycam, everyone knows that you're taking video shots. Soon everyone will know that if you go around with a cellphone with a lens, you're taking pictures or video.
All righty then, enough of ranting over cellphones. And Veera, the bike is black, as usual.
But it was pretty obvious that a lot of the people responding were thinking in terms of the various video clips that have been floating around, apparently being forwarded via MMS. On a side node, I think the MMS service is too expensive. If I had a picture or a video clip that I wanted to share I'd do it through email.
Coming back to the comments on the article, I felt that these people were, in fact, in favour of banning cameras in phones altogether! Someone actually said camera phones are a threat to national security. He didn't elaborate though.
Perhaps it's not so much about the fact that a cellphone has an integrated camera, it's more about the camera being disguised. When you go around with a handycam, everyone knows that you're taking video shots. Soon everyone will know that if you go around with a cellphone with a lens, you're taking pictures or video.
All righty then, enough of ranting over cellphones. And Veera, the bike is black, as usual.
Broadband woes over?
Ditched DSL altogether.
That's right, I decided to go with hotwire (http://hotwireindia.com/) since a friend of mine in the same complex that I live in gave me good feedback about it. I've gone in for the nighttime unlimited pack, so my cribs about data transfer limits have been addressed. They do have alltime unlimited packs too, but since I'm not at home during working hours I won't really use the connection.
Installation was quick and painless. They run an ethernet cable to your home so no modem required. Everything was done in about half an hour. Haven't managed to test it out, since it's a nighttime pack and I got it installed in the morning. So it will only be tonight after 9p.m. that I really get to see how this thing works. It's a prepaid account and I have to call the provider up every month to pay for the next month. That's actually better than my earlier experiences of having to post a cheque to the provider which would be delayed and cause a lot of headache. Even better, I can change the pack from month to month without the hassle of filling out forms! In fact, I didn't have to fill out any papers for this connection; which is strange now that I think about it. I did get a receipt though, and all the filling out was online. Good! I liked it.
Now to get all my computers up to speed with the latest updates and antivirus signatures...
That's right, I decided to go with hotwire (http://hotwireindia.com/) since a friend of mine in the same complex that I live in gave me good feedback about it. I've gone in for the nighttime unlimited pack, so my cribs about data transfer limits have been addressed. They do have alltime unlimited packs too, but since I'm not at home during working hours I won't really use the connection.
Installation was quick and painless. They run an ethernet cable to your home so no modem required. Everything was done in about half an hour. Haven't managed to test it out, since it's a nighttime pack and I got it installed in the morning. So it will only be tonight after 9p.m. that I really get to see how this thing works. It's a prepaid account and I have to call the provider up every month to pay for the next month. That's actually better than my earlier experiences of having to post a cheque to the provider which would be delayed and cause a lot of headache. Even better, I can change the pack from month to month without the hassle of filling out forms! In fact, I didn't have to fill out any papers for this connection; which is strange now that I think about it. I did get a receipt though, and all the filling out was online. Good! I liked it.
Now to get all my computers up to speed with the latest updates and antivirus signatures...
My first attempt at the download failed, the file was corrupted. This is where the unlimited part of the connection that I've been so keen about helped - I simply downloaded the file once more.
I have a fairly decent computer to run this on, but it looks like it's getting old now. High resolution, high quality and high frames rates - it's starting to get difficult to get all of these together. AOE3 runs just fine at the lower settings but obviously doesn't look as good as it is capable of.
I have a fairly decent computer to run this on, but it looks like it's getting old now. High resolution, high quality and high frames rates - it's starting to get difficult to get all of these together. AOE3 runs just fine at the lower settings but obviously doesn't look as good as it is capable of.
Even more on camera phones
This article says that there is software in the works that will allow camera phones to be used as scanners, and along with basic OCR functions will allow text capture. "3 to 5 seconds" to capture an A4 sized page.
The world is changing faster than ever before...
The world is changing faster than ever before...
Grrrr.
Why, oh why, must people try to make money out of EVERYthing? I refer to the comment spam phenomenon, of course.
On a related note, my forehead advertising space is free again. Interested people can leave a comment and quote their offer. Conditions apply. Void where prohibited by law.
On a related note, my forehead advertising space is free again. Interested people can leave a comment and quote their offer. Conditions apply. Void where prohibited by law.
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
(American Idiot, Green Day Lyrics)
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
.
.
.
(American Idiot, Green Day Lyrics)
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
.
.
.
Blogicide!
Veera is threatening blogicide! No great loss, one would say; but still… it’s not a very pleasant thing, is it?
His chief complaint, as is mine, is that nobody seems to read the blog. Is it because our blogs are simply not interesting? Not quite true, I’ve seen much worse blogs getting a lot of hits and comments. But come to think about it, there simply isn’t anything in either of our blogs that would cause people to come back the next day or next week to check up on. For that matter there are very few blogs that I go back to read, the few that I do read regularly are of people I know personally.
Perhaps more regular updates would help, something like Windows patches?
His chief complaint, as is mine, is that nobody seems to read the blog. Is it because our blogs are simply not interesting? Not quite true, I’ve seen much worse blogs getting a lot of hits and comments. But come to think about it, there simply isn’t anything in either of our blogs that would cause people to come back the next day or next week to check up on. For that matter there are very few blogs that I go back to read, the few that I do read regularly are of people I know personally.
Perhaps more regular updates would help, something like Windows patches?
Half Life 2
Half Life 2. 99%. Will it run this time?
Like the lazy bum that I am, I refused to reinstall HL2 from my CDs when I reinstalled the OS. I’m trying to make do with the installation I had earlier and a Steam update. The problem is that there is some graphics issue and HL2 says it won’t run on pre-DirectX 7 hardware. Which is rather strange because I have a perfectly fine 5900.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand a word of this, it probably only means that you have a life.
Like the lazy bum that I am, I refused to reinstall HL2 from my CDs when I reinstalled the OS. I’m trying to make do with the installation I had earlier and a Steam update. The problem is that there is some graphics issue and HL2 says it won’t run on pre-DirectX 7 hardware. Which is rather strange because I have a perfectly fine 5900.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand a word of this, it probably only means that you have a life.
Me? Cosmopolitan?
The word brings back memories... Ahem. This tagging business is getting out of hand (did I already say this when I was tagged the last time?). Especially since I know that nobody actually reads these blog entries.
The latest tag is about the cities one has lived in. And it comes at a time when I am looking for the perfect DVD player. Not that the two are related, but if anyone has a recommendation, please do drop a line.
Now let's see. Pune, Indore, Nadiad, Indore, Nashik, Trichy, Hyderabad, Bangalore, (Chennai,) Noida. Yeah, Indore appears twice. Actually the chronology is confusing at best, because my family did a bit of moving around; when I was in studying in a godforsaken land, for example. Chennai is in brackets because I never lived there myself, but my sister was there and I had shifted my mom and granny there to live with her, so it's sort of a pseudo-home.
I won't write any more right now. It's close to midnight and you know what happens to me at midnight, right? Yes, I fall asleep.
Suffice to say that I studied with Chaos in the same college and, to my everlasting misfortune, in the same class too. He has written a few words about the city and none about the college itself - we could probably write a book to rival Five Point Someone (without the lurid parts, sigh).
The latest tag is about the cities one has lived in. And it comes at a time when I am looking for the perfect DVD player. Not that the two are related, but if anyone has a recommendation, please do drop a line.
Now let's see. Pune, Indore, Nadiad, Indore, Nashik, Trichy, Hyderabad, Bangalore, (Chennai,) Noida. Yeah, Indore appears twice. Actually the chronology is confusing at best, because my family did a bit of moving around; when I was in studying in a godforsaken land, for example. Chennai is in brackets because I never lived there myself, but my sister was there and I had shifted my mom and granny there to live with her, so it's sort of a pseudo-home.
I won't write any more right now. It's close to midnight and you know what happens to me at midnight, right? Yes, I fall asleep.
Suffice to say that I studied with Chaos in the same college and, to my everlasting misfortune, in the same class too. He has written a few words about the city and none about the college itself - we could probably write a book to rival Five Point Someone (without the lurid parts, sigh).
The book and the DVD player.
Nope, we won't rewrite Five Point Something, we will write "Seventy and Counting" (seventy being the percentage that would mark you as an excellent student in my class). Of course, this book will be about us elite people and the adventures we had in the middle of nowhere. In fact, I invite Chaos to contribute chapters to this book (profits, if any, will be shared in proportion to the number of pages contributed to the book*). Any other RECTian who's not already in a lucrative line of work can contribute too. Especially those with lurid details which we are woefully short of.
I was actually looking at a Panasonic model on the web (For the context-switching-impaired readers - we're talking about DVD players now). This one is for my folks in Bangalore, I aleady have two DVD readers (one each on the desktop and laptop). The point is that the older generation does not wish to be at the mercy of us young folk to turn on the PC and start the software for playing DVDs/VCDs. DVD players are easier to use. And they are pretty cheap nowadays too. Things I thought of that a player should ideally have:
- multi-format support
- photo cd support + functions like browse
- play slow motion / fast / single frame advance
- zoom / pan
- good remote control features (i.e. easy to use)
- THX sound
- dts/dolby built-in decoders
- multi disc / cd changer
- continue on power cycle
- 10 bit video DAC (also saw a model with 4 bit DAC!)
- progressive scan (I don't need this right now, but the future is uncertain)
- virtual surround sound
- 24 bit audio DAC
- optical & coax audio out
From what I see on the web, pretty much all players have most of these features (except maybe the CD changer and continue-on-power-cycle). Considering it's Diwali time and everyone seems to be putting out discounts and offers, it might be a good time to buy something like this.
* Conditions apply. Acceptance of chapters at the sole discretion of this author. Contents may be edited for clarity. Font size and line spacing will be consistent across pages of the published book. Pictures/photos will not be considered for sharing of profits. Void where prohibited. No warranty, express or implied, is made for fitness of purpose. All rights reserved. May require some assembly. Batteries not included. Results may vary.
I was actually looking at a Panasonic model on the web (For the context-switching-impaired readers - we're talking about DVD players now). This one is for my folks in Bangalore, I aleady have two DVD readers (one each on the desktop and laptop). The point is that the older generation does not wish to be at the mercy of us young folk to turn on the PC and start the software for playing DVDs/VCDs. DVD players are easier to use. And they are pretty cheap nowadays too. Things I thought of that a player should ideally have:
- multi-format support
- photo cd support + functions like browse
- play slow motion / fast / single frame advance
- zoom / pan
- good remote control features (i.e. easy to use)
- THX sound
- dts/dolby built-in decoders
- multi disc / cd changer
- continue on power cycle
- 10 bit video DAC (also saw a model with 4 bit DAC!)
- progressive scan (I don't need this right now, but the future is uncertain)
- virtual surround sound
- 24 bit audio DAC
- optical & coax audio out
From what I see on the web, pretty much all players have most of these features (except maybe the CD changer and continue-on-power-cycle). Considering it's Diwali time and everyone seems to be putting out discounts and offers, it might be a good time to buy something like this.
* Conditions apply. Acceptance of chapters at the sole discretion of this author. Contents may be edited for clarity. Font size and line spacing will be consistent across pages of the published book. Pictures/photos will not be considered for sharing of profits. Void where prohibited. No warranty, express or implied, is made for fitness of purpose. All rights reserved. May require some assembly. Batteries not included. Results may vary.
Rant...
Let's see. What can I rant about today?
How about the fact that the flats in the building next to the one in which I live are going for a minimum of 80 lakhs? No doubt they're made by a famous builder and have nice landscaping, but 80 lakhs?! I think I could live forever in my rented apartment for 80 lakhs, and it too is nothing to sneeze at.
Finally got cable TV, got my TV running, got my TV tuner running... and there's nothing to see on TV!
The weekend looms large, and nothing to do except sleep the hours away.
Sigh. Such is life.
How about the fact that the flats in the building next to the one in which I live are going for a minimum of 80 lakhs? No doubt they're made by a famous builder and have nice landscaping, but 80 lakhs?! I think I could live forever in my rented apartment for 80 lakhs, and it too is nothing to sneeze at.
Finally got cable TV, got my TV running, got my TV tuner running... and there's nothing to see on TV!
The weekend looms large, and nothing to do except sleep the hours away.
Sigh. Such is life.
The Book
Ah, Kaddu. Happily married man. I doubt if he would be interested in collaborating on something so mundane as a book.
That was us in college - roll numbers 1, 2 and 3. Three very different people, who landed up in very different places too. Wonder if all those years studying were worth it.
That was us in college - roll numbers 1, 2 and 3. Three very different people, who landed up in very different places too. Wonder if all those years studying were worth it.
Uhhhhh....
Techtree.com sends me a newsletter every day. The one I see today has this:
Bi-directional printing: Printing in which not only does your PC send data to the printer, but the printer sends data to the PC, like information on the current printer status (for example, out of paper).
Maybe I'm mistaken here but I thought that bi-di printing was back in the good old days of dot matrix printing where the printer head would actually print one line in one direction and the other in the reverse direction, to save the time required for the carriage return. Those good old days!
Can anyone tell me if I am correct? (Of course I am, I just want to see if there are any other people left over from the good old days.)
Bi-directional printing: Printing in which not only does your PC send data to the printer, but the printer sends data to the PC, like information on the current printer status (for example, out of paper).
Maybe I'm mistaken here but I thought that bi-di printing was back in the good old days of dot matrix printing where the printer head would actually print one line in one direction and the other in the reverse direction, to save the time required for the carriage return. Those good old days!
Can anyone tell me if I am correct? (Of course I am, I just want to see if there are any other people left over from the good old days.)
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