Coffee - Blog - Love - Hangout!

6 years of Coffee - Blog - Love - Hangout!

2012-02-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

Another year went by! This is the first time ever that I am writing my blog while sitting in my laboratory. It turns out, the experiment is such that I am bored waiting for the computation to end. But, anyways, I am here to tell you about another amazing year for my blog. On February 5, Coffee - Blog - Love - Hangout turned 6! How cool is that? In this last year, there are many things I have reflected upon in my writings. Aah, I wished I had written more, but, you know, how this works. Right now I am in a more relaxed state of mind, so let me think of the wonderful moments in the last one year, that I have shared on my blog.

The year 2011 began with the rumors of a new iPhone Nano, which of course never became a reality. But what is amazing here is the anticipation of a "then Apple fanboy-me" who was crazy to hear about the successor to the iPhone 4. February-March 2011 saw me take my second visit to India to meet my family and friends. It was also the cricket world cup time. I had the opportunity to enjoy a few games in the comfort of my home while my mother made some delicious ("delicious" is an understatement here, mind it) food for me. I had a wonderful trip. I visited Calcutta (yes, I like the name the original way) with my parents and sister. That is where we celebrated my parents 26th marriage anniversary. I was disappointed that I could spend only a couple days with my sweet sister. We then returned to Bhopal, where my father lives now. I enjoyed a tour of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (Indira Gandhi Museum of Mankind), Bhopal, where my father currently holds the position of the director. After a few days of enjoying the "maa-ke-haath-ka-khaana", I traveled to Bombay (yes, Bombay it is) to visit my friends and cousin. This was my first "proper" visit to Bombay. I just loved the atmosphere, the people, the places, the food, and of course, the Indian Naval Service's (INS) dock. We were lucky to get a tour of one of the newest ships INS procured; all thanks to my cousin- Lieutenant Commander Mainak Mishra. The trip also included a short trip of my hometown- Hyderabad. On the whole, it was a great trip with lots of travel, food and fun! I was also privileged to make a short special trip to meet Amrutha and visit her family. I just love Hyderabad! Who doesn't?

So, I was back to Rapid City in mid-march and I enjoyed watching the rest of the world cup matches and was thrilled to watch team India lift the world cup. Soon to follow was the NFL season. In September, the New Orleans Saints opened the NFL regular season with a game against the defending champions from the 2010 season, the Packers. I bought an iPhone 4 for myself and was enjoying the hype surrounding the iPhone 4S/5. But, after Apple released the iPhone 4S and its iCloud services, I was not very impressed by the iPhone anymore. I wanted change, for the better. And the change came in the form of Windows Phone. I was sick of trying to jailbreak, and install custom themes, and all other s**t you need to do to make the iPhone work for you the way you want it to.On September 14, my father received the Presidential Award from the president of India Smt. Pratibha Patil, on Hindi Divas for his contribution to the Museum of Mankind. What a proud moment that was! We are proud of you , Dad!

On January 2, 2012, on Monday Night Football, Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke the NFL record for the highest passing yardage in a single season of 5087 previously held by Dan Marino. What a moment it was! Later, the Saints had the best NFL season in many years, to advance to the wildcard round and then the divisional playoffs but fell to the San Francisco 49ers. The New York Giants later went to defeat the New England Patriots to win the Vince Lombardi Superbowl XLVI trophy on February 5.

Well, it seems like that was a long summary of the last year. What's interesting is that if you have all such events documented in the blog, it then becomes easy to recollect those memories later. I have always enjoyed this journey with Coffee - Blog - Love - Hangout and I thank all my readers for the support throughout, and especially for reading this unusually long post. I should now get back to my experiment. It is already 108 minutes, and the eTomo software is still reconstructing the 3D electron tomograph image of my nanofiber sample. Cheers!

50 Followers. Thank You!

2012-01-25T01:52:00.002-07:00

Ever since Google introduced the new "Join This Site" application, I have been waiting to watch my blog "followers" count to reach a significant figure. Now I am pleased to announce that I have 50 followers of my blog on Google. Yay! Although I do not know most of the people following me, I would like to thank each one of them and all my other readers for being an inspiration for me to keep writing. I hope I can continually keep working on writing quality posts for casual reading. Please keep visiting my blog for updates and please feel free to comment, as this greatly inspires all of us to write. If you haven't already joined, click on the "Join this site" icon on the right column to become one of the members following my blog. Thanks and cheers!

[Lifehacker] 10 Stubborn Body Myths That Just Won't Die

2012-01-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

Following a friend's updates on my Google+ account, I stumbled upon a wonderful website- www.lifehacker.com. This website has stuff that you can read and gain a lot of informational enlightenment.(sounded whacky, right?). But, anyways, here I present, in brief one very interesting post about body myths that I was almost convinced was real. Read on, after the break.

Myth 1: Body Hair Grows Back Thicker When You Shave It

Strong scientific evidence disproves these claims. As early as 1928, a clinical trial showed that shaving had no effect on hair growth. More recent studies confirm that shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth. In addition, shaving removes the dead portion of hair, not the living section lying below the skin's surface, so it is unlikely to affect the rate or type of growth. Shaved hair lacks the finer taper seen at the ends of unshaven hair, giving an impression of coarseness. Similarly, the new hair has not yet been lightened by the sun or other chemical exposures, resulting in an appearance that seems darker than existing hair. Basically, shaved hair feels coarse and that leads you to believe it's thicker. In reality you're just fooling yourself and your hair remains the same.

Myth 2: Calories Counting Is All That Matters for Weight Management and Health

We might like to believe that calories-in-equals-calories-out is a sufficient weight loss theory, but that means we have to accept our bodies are pretty simple. While consuming fewer calories can certainly have an impact, not all foods have the same impact once we stuff them down our throats. If you want to think about it in a very simple way, consider the difference between a candy bar and a cucumber (in equal caloric amounts). They taste different, they consist of different nutritional elements, and are not the same thing. It doesn't make sense that they'd be used by your body in the same way. The problem with the idea of calories being the only necessary metric is that we think of a calorie as a physical thing. Calories are just a means of measuring heat, and they weren't initially a term used in reference to food. A calorie, according to Wikipedia, "approximates the energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius." Basically, calories are a measurement and not something your body uses for fuel. What your body does use is what it finds in the foods and liquids it digests. If you put crap in your body, you're not going to be better off just because of a low-calorie rating.

Myth 3: You Need Eight Hours of Sleep Per Day

We're told we need to sleep eight hours each night, and while that's true for some it isn't true for all. The Hindustan Times points to a European study that showed people who possessed a gene known as ABCC9 could sleep for significantly fewer hours than the average person. Finding the same gene in fruit flies, the scientists found that by manipulating it they could also manipulate the amount of time the fruit flies spent in a restful state. When we asked you how much sleep you require, the results varied quite a bit. For some, eight hours was necessary. For others, it was too much. Your experiences match this study.

Myth 4: Reading in Dim Light Ruins Your Eyes

Reading in dim light is supposed to be bad for you, which is somewhat evidenced by a surviving bedside lamp and book light industry. If not, you've certainly been told to turn on a light when reading in the near-dark. While reading without sufficient lighting can cause eye strain, according to children's health researcher Rachel C. Vreeman and assistant professor of pediatrics Aaron E. Carrol it won't cause any serious and permanent damage:

The majority consensus in ophthalmology, as outlined in a collection of educational material for patients, is that reading in dim light does not damage your eyes. Although it can cause eye strain with multiple temporary negative effects, it is unlikely to cause a permanent change on the function or structure of the eyes. Even in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease that features inflammation in certain glands of the body), decreased functional visual acuity associated with strained reading improves when they stop reading. One review article on myopia concludes that increased use of one's eyes, such as reading in dim light or holding books too close to the face, could result in impaired ocular growth and refractive error. The primary evidence cited was epidemiological evidence of the increased prevalence of myopia and the high incidence of myopia in people with more academic experience. The author notes that this hypothesis is just beginning to "gain scientific credence." In the past reading conditions involved even less light, relying on candles or lanterns, so increased rates of myopia over the past several centuries does not necessarily support that dim reading conditions are to blame. In contrast to that review, hundreds of online expert opinions conclude that reading in low light does not hurt your eyes.

Myth 5: Urinating on a Jellyfish Sting will Sooth the Pain

The popular TV show Friends once had an episode where Monica was stung by a jellyfish and Joey remembered that urinating on the sting would soothe the pain. This was a situation for comedy—as the show was a sitcom, after all—but it still helped to propagate the myth that peeing on your friends is a good idea during the right situation. It's not. Mark Leyner and Dr. Billy Goldberg, authors of Why Do Men Have Nipples?, explain:

The following guideline can be applied to most jellyﬁsh stings: The patient should remove any visible tentacles, using gloves if possible. The area of the sting should be rinsed with household vinegar. The acetic acid of the vinegar can block discharge of the remaining nematocysts (stinging cells) on the skin and should be applied liberally. If vinegar is not available, salt water can be used to wash off the nematocysts. In laboratory tests, urine, ammonia, and alcohol can cause active stinging cells to ﬁre, which means applying them has the potential to make a minor sting worse, so urinating on a jellyﬁsh sting is both gross and painful.

Myth 6: Your Slow Metabolism Makes You Fat

When you have a fast metabolism, your body is burning more calories. That means that fit and healthy people have faster metabolisms, right? Not necessarily. ABC News interviewed Dr. Jim Levine, an obesity researcher at the Mayo Clinic, who studied the human metabolism in both thin and heavy people. What he found was the opposite of the myth we believe. Referring to lean patient Kathy Strickland and heavier patient Dawn Campion, he said:

Dawn's numbers are actually higher because we find continuously is that people with weight problems who have obesity have a higher basal metabolism compared to people who are lean. Your basal metabolism is the calories you burn to keep your body going, so if your body is bigger of course your basal metabolism is greater. If your body is smaller your basal metabolism is less.

Myth 7: You'll Catch a Cold from Cold (and Wet) Weather Conditions

Did your mother ever tell you to put on a jacket or you'll catch a cold? Did you ever feel like you were coming down with something nasty after taking a dip in cold water only to be exposed to freezing air? While your comfort levels may have been reduced, you can't actually catch a cold from feeling cold. It's a virus—rhinovirus, to be exact—and you need to catch it through transmission. Mark Leyner and Dr. Billy Goldberg, authors of the book Why Do Men Have Nipples?, explain:

Cold or wet weather does not cause a cold, but nobody seems to want to accept this. The is common cold is caused by a virus. These viruses are everywhere and it is difficult to avoid them. When you are exposed to someone who has a cold, you are more likely to get ill yourself, so be careful about close contact and definitely wash your hands. Not getting enough sleep or eating poorly can also reduce your resistance to infection. Remember that antibiotics won't fight your everyday cold. Antibiotics work only against bacteria. To take care of a cold, rest, eat well, and a little chicken soup couldn't hurt.

Myth 8: More Heat Escapes Through Your Head

This myth probably originated with an old military study in which scientists put subjects in arctic survival suits (but no hats) and measured their heat loss in extremely cold temperatures. Because it was the only part of the subjects' bodies that was exposed to the cold, they lost the most heat through their heads. Experts say, however, that had this experiment been performed with subjects wearing only swimsuits, they would not have lost more than 10% of their body heat through their heads. A more recent study confirms that there is nothing special about the head and heat loss. Any uncovered part of the body loses heat and will reduce the core body temperature proportionally. So, if it is cold outside, you should protect your body. But whether you want to keep your head covered or not is up to you.

Myth 9: You Can Cure a Snake Bite by Sucking Out the Poison

Although it would be pretty bad ass if it were true, sucking on a snake bite to remove the poison is not only gross but a bad idea. According to Mark Leyner and Dr. Billy Goldberg, authors of Why Do Men Have Nipples?, doing so can even lead to an infection at the wound site. Instead, do what the American Red Cross suggests:

Wash the bite with soap and water.
Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.
Get medical help.

In some cases it may also be recommended to loosely apply a tourniquet to slow the spread of the venom. So do those things. Don't try to suck it out.

Myth 10: It's Dangerous to Wake a Sleepwalker

It's actually dangerous to not wake a sleepwalker, but many have believed this myth for ages because, perhaps, a few of them have gotten smacked when they woke up their startled somnambulatory friends. Sleepwalkers are certainly prone to feeling that surprise when they don't wake up in their beds but, rather, at the outer limits of their camping grounds. (Oh wait, that was me when I was 10.) Because this is so disorienting, many woken sleepwalkers won't know who you are and become frightened. That said, letting them just walk wherever they want is far less safe than a little fear. The New York Times interviewed Dr. Ana C. Krieger, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at New York University, who suggested that the best thing to do is guide a sleepwalker back to bed. Wake them if you have to, but better to just help them get to where they should be in the first place.

[Video] Herald Haas: Wireless Data From Every Light Bulb

2012-01-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

What if every light bulb in the world could also transmit data? At TEDGlobal, Harald Haas demonstrates, for the first time, a device that could do exactly that. By flickering the light from a single LED, a change too quick for the human eye to detect, he can transmit far more data than a cellular tower -- and do it in a way that's more efficient, secure and widespread.

Harald Haas is the pioneer behind a new type of light bulb that can communicate as well as illuminate – access the Internet using light instead of radio waves.

Indexing Electron Diffraction Patterns

2012-01-04T17:48:00.002-07:00

In this post, I want to include something I have been working on since a long time- electron diffraction. Electron diffraction patters are those which are generated by scattering of electrons by certain lattice planes in a crystal, causing a pattern of spots or rings to form. This pattern represents the reciprocal lattice vector (k) in reciprocal space. Anyways, the point here is that if the electron diffraction pattern is a ring-like pattern, then the diameter of each ring is equal to 2/d where, d is the inter-atomic spacing in a crystal lattice, which is characteristic of the material. Below are two transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of TiO2 (titania) nanofibers which have been differently heat-treated. In the inset are the electron diffraction patterns which have been indexed up to the first 5 rings. Those rings correspond to the two structurally distinct phases of titania- anatase (represented by A) and rutile (R). The diameters of the rings obtained and the corresponding indexing order is listed below:

Sample: aHT07a

2/d (1/nm) d (nm)        Plane
5.84    0.34 A(101)
8.80            0.23           R (200)
11.011        0.18           A (200)
12.29          0.16           R (220) /A (211)
14.13          0.14           R (221)
-------------------------------------------

[TEM image of TiO2/Ag nanofiber aHT07a; inset: electron diffraction from the same sample.]

[TEM image of TiO2/Ag nanofiber aHT07b; inset: electron diffraction from the same sample.]

Similarly, for electron diffraction patterns which are more of a spot-like appearance, the distance between the two corresponding spots from the same k vector will be 2/d. This information about the d-spacings can also be obtained from high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM) imaging. As an example, the d-spacing in the TEM image below corresponds to the distance between two parallel lattice fringes. The parallel lines that you see in the image below are distinct planes of atoms of Ag (silver) arranged in a specific manner to form a single crystal. The Ag nanoparticle in the image below seems to be comprised of about 3 such crystals, called twins.

The types of characterization techniques possible with electron microscopy are many. All these different techniques give us material scientists information about physical structure, chemical composition, crystallinity, phases, distribution, and even 3D reconstruction of nanoscale models.

[This article is also published in the blog, Nano Pulse, here: link.]

On Drew Brees' Record

2012-01-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

On Monday Night Football (MNF) on ESPN, New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees (#9) created history by breaking the 27-year old record of the highest passing yardage in a single NFL season of 5084 held by Dan Marino (he was the Miami Dolphins QB when he held the record , back in 1984). But more than just the record, what was remarkable was the stage and the timing of the breaking of the record. Drew Brees broke the record in the final 3 minutes of the 4th quarter with a 9-yard touchdown pass to running-back Darren Sproles, which sealed a victory for the Saints, winning the NFC South division, on prime-time MNF, at their home ground in the Superdome, beating their rivials in week 16 (the Atlanta Falcons), with one more game to go.

Incidentally, 27 years ago, when Dan Marino set the record, it was on MNF also. Incidentally, the third place for the total passing yardage (5069 yards) is also in the name of Drew Brees during the 2008 regular NFL season.

Here's a snippet of the news article on the official NO Saints website (www.neworleanssaints.com):

Saints QB pushes season total to 5,087 - a new NFL record.

With a nine-yard touchdown pass from QB Drew Brees to RB Darren Sproles, the signal-caller increased his passing yardage total on the season to 5,087, breaking a 27-year old record, also capping the Saints NFC-South clinching win over the Falcons Sunday night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“It feels great to be division champs,” said Brees. “It feels great to do what we just did on Monday night with the world watching. This game couldn’t be more important than it was. Our hopes and aspirations of winning the division championships and getting the (No.) 2 seed – the next step was winning the division. It was a good night.”

As Saints head into the playoffs, and with the current winning momentum of the Saints, it is going to be a tough job for any team to beat the Saints. Go Saints!

Let me leave you with the video clip of the moment.

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Hola! Here's me wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year 2012! As we leave 2011 and enter 2012, there are lot of things we can contemplate upon and wish we could have done better. Well, now is the chance; new year is just another reason to do it. So, speaking of contemplation, I have decided to share with you some of my new year resolutions. Have you made some of your own? I know it sounds silly, but I guess it doesn't hurt to try. Read my new year resolutions after the break.

So, I have given this a lot of thought. It is not something specific, but I've realized it's more of a holistic approach to my self. So here it goes:

1. Be a better son;
2. Be a better brother;
3. Be a better friend;
4. Be a better person.

I know, you must sitting there going, "what the hell!", but, yes, that summarizes it. It all boils down to number 4- "be a better person". We have all done a lot of things that can be rectified, even be it a small thing. So, for me, here is the time to look back upon the year 2011 and rectify the things that have caused damage to people, property or self. It doesn't hurt to try to be a better person, right? In my case, I have to do this, for my own good, and for all the people I love in my life- because the people who care for you are the people you must care for the most. I hope this is not getting too sentimental. A very happy new year to all ya-people-out-there and I wish everybody best of luck, health, wealth, prosperity, love, and peace. I'll leave you with this beautiful quote. See you on the other side.

"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective." - G. K. Chesterton

[Video] Maddi Jane - If This Was A Movie (Taylor Swift)

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Masakali

2011-12-06T17:38:00.001-07:00

I just love this song, and the video, and Sonam kapoor, of course. So, enjoy!

Everyday I'm Shuffling

2011-11-03T14:43:00.000-06:00

L L A

2011-09-21T00:32:00.002-06:00

Living.. started living..
not knowing of this world
came here-- follow rules
living on..

where is life?
who is calling?
where to go?
want love-- to be loved..
life for whom?
living for whom?

why uncodified darkness>>
with dress of bright princess
take in arms and fly high>>
drop u down and break ur neck..

living for whom.. where the **** is life?
leaving all border cordoned..
amidst suffering and displeasure
disguised in fate and luck
we are here sent with-- life package

survive or die
clear map or get shot
what's aim? know anyone?
know?
know?
no?

living for whom, whom?

NFL 2011 Kickoff: Saints at Packers

2011-08-22T11:50:00.000-06:00

The 2011 NFL season kicks-off on September 8. For the kickoff game, the New Orleans Saints take on the 2010 champions, the Green Bay Packers. It's about 2 weeks away from the kickoff, and it's the right time for NBC to promote their Sunday Night Football. I am very excited for the regular season to start; to watch Drew Brees and his men take to the field. Here's the promo for the September 8 kickoff of the NFL 2011. Enjoy! Go Saints!

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Love, Life and Beyond

2011-08-14T03:50:00.000-06:00

Pink Floyd: Hey You

2011-07-07T15:48:00.000-06:00

Here's one of my favorite Pink Floyd tracks- "Hey you". Just love it!

DreamBoard Is Now Free On Cydia

2011-07-02T16:54:00.004-06:00

Ever since the first iPhone was jailbroken, there was one clear strong reason to do so- themes. People wanted change, and so they wanted to change the appearance of their iPhone's springboard. There have been some really cool tweaks that you can download to change certain parts of the iPhone's springboard, for example, LockInfo, ClockHide, FakeOperator, etc. There are also many themes on Cydia that you can install using Winterboard. But, of all, I found DreamBoard the most easy, efficient, intuitive and it-just-works kind of theme-management tweak. And best of all, on Cydia, now DreamBoard is $0. Yes, it's free.

One of the themes that DreamBoard v1.1.4 comes bundled with is called "Endroid". In this post, I want to share my thoughts, and a tutorial for installing Endroid usind DreamBoard. Firstly, you have to have a jailbroken iPhone (here's another reason to jailbreak your iDevice). Open up Cydia, and search for DreamBoard. DreamBoard is part of the ModMyi repository. Install and respring your device. Below are some screenshots.

Now, it's very simple. Just tap on the DreamBoard app icon, and, boom! What do you see? A very beautiful transition into the DreamBoard app, where you can see all the installed themes. You will find a default iPhone theme and a pre-installed Endroid theme.

Just tap on the Endroid thumbnail, and that's it. Endroid is running on your springboard. Of coarse, Endroid is just a theme. That means, you will not see full Android functionality, but just an Android cover on top of your iPhone. Below are some screenshots of Endroid in action.

Please feel free to comment. Let me know what you think of DreamBoard. If you have a jailbroken iPhone, you must definitely check it out. Even at $2.99, DreamBoard would have been worth it, but, now with a "free" price-tag, it is all the more hard to resist. What do you think?

Maddi Jane: Rolling In The Deep (Cover)

2011-06-29T13:24:00.000-06:00

Another fantastic cover by Maddi Jane. This time, it's the Rolling In The Deep cover from Adele's latest album, 21.

iTunes in the Cloud

2011-06-28T19:03:00.005-06:00

On June 6, at the World Wide Developer's Conference (WWDC) 2011, at San Francisco, Apple announced their newest, most revamped, most extensive and most anticipated iOS update ever- iOS 5. Along with that, Steve Jobs announced Apple's new cloud-based service for all Macs and iOS devices- iCloud. iOS 5 and iCloud will be launched this Fall. But what's more interesting is that the newest update to iTunes (10.3.1) allows you to use part of the iCloud features on your current iOS device running iOS 4.3.3.

iTunes in the Cloud (Beta)

After learning about this, it goes without saying that I wanted to try this out on my iPhone 3GS. So, I first upgraded from iOS 4.1 to 4.3.3. Then, updated my iTunes on my mac to the latest- 10.3.1. On the iPhone>Settings.app>Store, you can choose how you want iTunes to manage your music, apps and Books. Now the fun starts. If you download/purchase a new app/music/book in iTunes on your mac or iOS device, iCloud automatically sends/syncs the purchase to other devices registered under the same Apple ID. If you have previously downloaded apps on your iTunes (on mac), you can now view them on your iOS device in iTunes.app>Purchases>Not On This iDevice. Clicking on the 'cloud' button next to the app downloads that app to the device.

This has been a major request from iPhone users. If you buy a new iPhone, or restore, or update your iPhone, then you would have to sync with your computer to get all your previous settings (restore from backup). But, now, with iCloud, you also have PC-free over-the-air updates and syncing. This means that you will not need to connect your iOS 5-based device to a computer to restore to previously saved settings, or to download previous apps.

This is just the beginning of the use of iCloud. iTunes on the Cloud is currently beta, and we can hope to see the magic in action sometime this fall (maybe September). And mind you, all this iCloud service comes to you at no cost. Yes, it's completely free. This might make Google unhappy, as we wait to hear about their pricing for their cloud-based-service - Google Music.

All features you need to know about iCloud: here.

What do you think about iCloud, and iTunes on the Cloud?

Camping (Spoken Word Poetry?)

2011-04-25T15:37:00.002-06:00

Here's my first take at spoken word poetry. Days after I wrote these lines, I realized that this is actually spoken word poetry. So, here it goes...

The day will come when the stars will shine and the sun will set. And water will wave across like a net; when wolves will relax and fire will flame, marshmallows will burn and chicken will grill. And a lucky few will warm their palms with the fire that flames, and morning will see men and women swim in the great lakes and camping it will be called when them and us will unite and celebrate the joy called life.

The first time I learned about spoken word poetry was from a video by Sarah Kay, on YouTube. For those of you who want to know more about this, check-out the video below of Sarah Kay performing "Hands" when she was 18 years old.

Sarah Kay speaking at TED:

What do you think?

Saints, Packers to open 2011 NFL season

2011-04-20T00:33:00.001-06:00

In a matchup between the Super Bowl XLIV and XLV Champions, the New Orleans Saints will open the 2011 regular season at Green Bay, it was announced by the NFL today. Four prime-time night games are on the club’s 16-game schedule, including the traditional kickoff of the entire NFL slate on Thursday, Sept. 8 at the defending champion Green Bay Packers on NBC (7:30 p.m. CT). The Saints will be one of the teams kicking off the NFL campaign for the second consecutive season and third time in five years.

After taking on the Packers at Lambeau Field, the Saints will host the Chicago Bears in their home opener in the Louisiana Superdome on Sept. 18 (noon CT). It will be the first meeting between the two clubs since 2008 and the first time the Bears come to the Superdome since 2003.

The Saints will then face two consecutive AFC South opponents when they host the Houston Texans at the Superdome on Sept. 25 (noon CT) and then travel to Everbank Field to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 2 (noon CT) in the start of a three-game road trip.

The Saints will open their 2011 NFC South slate when they travel to Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 9 and play the Carolina Panthers (noon CT). In 2010, New Orleans swept their divisional rivals for the first time since 2001. The Saints three-game swing away from the Superdome at Raymond James Stadium when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 16. The Saints are 22-16 all-time against the Buccaneers after the two clubs split both meetings in 2010.

New Orleans will then make their second appearance on prime-time on Oct. 23, when they host the Indianapolis on NBC’s Sunday Night Football (7:20 p.m. CT) in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIV, when the Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 on Feb. 7, 2010. The following Sunday, the Saints will travel to the St. Louis Rams (noon CT) to close out their October slate.

The Saints will then face two straight NFC South opponents, starting when they host Tampa Bay at the Superdome on Nov. 6 (noon CT). They will then travel to the Georgia Dome to face the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 13. The game, which falls on the tenth week of the NFL season, marks the beginning of the NFL’s flex scheduling format and the contest, as well as four others are subject to be moved to different time slots. The game is slated to be kicked off at noon CT. The Saints will then have their bye in week 11. This will be the latest weekend the club has had off since the NFL’s institution of the bye system in 1990.

The Black-and-Gold will return to the Monday Night Football spotlight following their bye when they host the New York Giants (7:30 p.m. CT) on Nov. 28. Since Sean Payton became head coach in 2006, the Saints have enjoyed a 7-2 record on Monday nights, including five straight wins.

New Orleans then hosts the Detroit Lions in a game scheduled for noon on Dec. 4, followed by a road matchup at the Tennessee Titans, Dec. 11. The Saints will then travel to Minnesota for a Dec. 18 game at the Vikings before closing the regular season against two straight NFC South opponents.

On Monday, Dec. 26, the Saints will host Atlanta in the Superdome for an ESPN-broadcast showdown with the Falcons (7:30 p.m. CT). The game will mark the third-consecutive year that the Saints will face the Falcons on Monday Night Football and the sixth time in the last seven seasons after the two clubs had never faced each other on Monday until 2005. New Orleans will then close out their regular season on Jan. 1, hosting Carolina at the Superdome (noon CT).

[From www.NewOrleansSaints.com]

India are World Champions 2011

2011-04-05T15:05:00.002-06:00

It was exhilarating! It was the greatest victory for team India in the last 28 years. It was the ICC Cricket World Cup- the Cup that counts; and Dhoni had finished off in style.

It was April 2, 2011- a day that many cricket fans in India will remember for a long time to come. Sri Lanka - India finals at the Wankhede in Mumbai was the home ground of Tendulkar. Sri Lanka had posted a competitive 275 target for India to chase. India stumble to 31/2 after losing Sehwag and Tendulkar. In come Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, who put up 83 (97 balls) in partnership that steadied the boat for India. A crucial 109 (120 balls) partnership between Dhoni and Gambhir was the deal-setter after Kohli was out for a decent 35.

Dhoni and Yuvraj saw India through to the target with some excellent stroke-play and composure from the Indian captain. It was the innings of his lifetime. He had played a captain's knock. With just 4 runs required off the last 11 deliveries, Dhoni hits a straight lofted six over long-on to seal the deal, and lift the World Cup for India. What a game!

I was watching the game at ISI with friends, and the win made us all erupt! We were all in joy, tears, hugs and high-fives, as we watched our team win the Cup after 28 years! There have been very strong critics of the team's performance, including myself, and this performance and win will keep "their mouths shut."

Maddi Jane

2011-03-28T11:55:00.002-06:00

I had to share this with you guys. Maddi Jane is apparently 11 years old, and sings fantastically well. I stumbled on these videos while randomly browsing, and it immediately caught my ears. What a contrast to many other singing "stars" and their videos floating around on YouTube. See for yourself.

Maddi Jane - Price tag (cover)

Maddi Jane - Just the way you are (cover)

I thought this was something that is really different song to sing. Great job here:

Maddi Jane - Impossible (cover)

Now that's some talent! What do you think?

Doctors warn about Facebook use and teen depression

2011-03-28T11:33:00.002-06:00

From the Rapid City Journal:

Follow this link for the story.

I guess, that will be another reason/explanation for why I quit "the legendary" Facebook. ;)

Peace!

iPhone 5 Rumors

2011-03-23T12:07:00.000-06:00

With the next iPhone (maybe "iPhone 5") around the corner, there has been a huge uproar of rumors surrounding the design, features and other aspects of it. While some rumors can be seen as next to impossible to be real, most of them can be expected to be plausible. NowhereElse has the following interesting cartoon.(Click to view full size)

Team India and Reliance Netconnect both suck!

2011-03-12T14:21:00.002-07:00

Photo: Dale Steyn took some tap in his first five overs, but came back to finish with 5 for 50 as India collapsed from 267 for 1 to 296 all out. © Getty Images.

Cricket teams India and England are the two most sloppiest sides in the Cricket World Cup 2011. These two sides are the most unpredictable, inconsistent and legitimately incapable of lifting the World Cup 2011. After India's defeat in the hands of South Africa tonight at Nagpur, I have lost hopes of the team winning the Cup. You cannot win the ICC World Cup unless you are consistent, and winning. India has, so far, a tie and a defeat against the other two probables for the quarter-finals in Group B- England and South Africa, respectively. India still has to play West Indies in the league games.

Coming back to the Ind-SA game tonight; I was extremely disappointed. India won the toss, batted first, and fell for 296 in less than 49 overs, after being 267/1 after 40 overs. Shame! After such a magnificent century from Sachin Tendulkar, was it not appropriate for the rest of the team to play decently to at least put up 330 on the board? India was definitely short of 20-30 runs in the end, and it was proved when SA reached the target in the 50th over. After the India's devastating batting powerplay, Dhoni had to say this: "You don't play for the crowd, you play for the country." My *ss! I have this feeling that cricket is one sport where the spectator, a.k.a. fan, a.k.a. patron is not respected. We have seen fans being lathi-charged and beaten at Bengaluru and Nagpur while purchasing tickets to watch their team India play. Television channels have the least respect for the game, I must say. They start playing commercials before the last bowl of the over is bowled, and after the first bowl of an over is bowled. Star Cricket and ESPN are in this league, too. What a shame! I think we must learn from the broadcasting and presenting ethics from the gameday telecasts of football games in the United States.

Bottom-line: My predictions for the World Cup 2011 are the following. India doesn't progress to the semi-final stage. Australia and Pakistan face-off in the finals.

And what's up with Reliance Netconnect? It sucks; big time! You get an astounding 230.4 Kbps speed when you pay for a 3.1 Mbps broadband connection. The connection to the www is very inconsistent, and I am losing my nerves trying to load a single web page. All this is piling up to my frustration right now.

Peace!

Supermoon may cause natural disasters next week

2011-03-10T13:53:00.003-07:00

On March 19th 2011, the moon will make its closest approach to Earth in almost 20 years, possibly triggering earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters. The phenomenon, called lunar perigee or Supermoon, happens when the moon reaches its absolute closest point to Earth. On March 19, the natural satellite will be only 221,567 miles away from our planet.There were Supermoons in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005, and these years had their share of extreme weather conditions, too. Although there are scientific laws that say the moon affects the Earth, it's still ambiguous whether the lunar perigee and natural disasters is coincidence or not.British freelance weatherman John Kettley was quoted as saying "A moon can't cause a geological event like an earthquake, but it will cause a difference to the tide. If that combines with certain weather conditions, then that could cause a few problems for coastal areas." While hoping for a non-disastrous ‘moon giant’, point your eyes and camera lenses toward the night sky on 19th. If the sky is clear, you’re gonna get an exceptional celestial treat.

[From Yahoo! News India]

5 years of Coffee - Blog - Love - Hangout!

2011-03-02T15:11:00.003-07:00

"If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden." - Unknown.

Many thanks to all my readers, well-wishers, visitors, critics, friends, love, some people known, and some unknown, and above all, blogger for helping me keep my zeal, will and interest to keep writing alive. I write this as my blog completes five years of existence. Ever since my first post on February 5, 2006, there have been tremendous changes in the appearance and design of the blog. Things have changed over the years. You might even notice change in the writing patters and language. Well, all this is a good record of all the things in my life over the years, and is a good place to hangout on a chill winter afternoon, while having some hot cappuccino sitting near the window. For all first-timers out there, and aspiring bloggers, I would strongly recommend you to start blogging- start writing. You will experience it [blogging] in your own way, and that is what makes the whole blogging community vibrant. Coming back to my blog- I think it is celebration time as this blog has seen all my good, bad, happy and sad times, and has stood witness to all things, good and bad, that have happened over the last five years.

With that, here's Srujan signing off with the first blog of the sixth year. To Coffee - Blog - Love - Hangout! Cheers!

The New iPhone Nano

2011-02-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

I was going through my daily appetizer of iDB (www.iphonedownloadblog.com) when I came across this video of the Ellen Degeneres Show. She has a prototype of the next generation iPhone- the iPhone Nano. Check it out:

"Fuck You!"

2011-01-26T13:06:00.005-07:00

Weird morning! This morning I was walking from the parking lot in my University to my office. Everything was quiet. It as 10 a.m., so students were in their 10 a.m. classes. It was bright and sunny. The sun had finally shown up after weeks of torturous cold. I was walking on the side-walk, telling myself what beautiful day it was. I saw a silver Pontiac approaching. Then something completely out-of-the-blue happened. The driver of the car took his hands off the wheel, stretched out both his hands towards me, sprung out his two middle fingers, and angrily shouted aloud, "fuck you!". It was loud enough that I could hear it from outside, even with the car windows pulled up.

"Wow! Really?", I thought to myself. I was in complete disbelief and in awe, as this happened. This was not because the guy sweared at me, but, because I didn't know the reason why he did it. He must have been a poor soul, who was probably pissed-off at his girlfriend, or at his professor.

For me, it was weird. Your take on this?

UPDATE: Later, on the same day, I learnt via a campus-wide e-mail that the same guy had been arrested by the RCPD and was now banned on the School campus. Apparently, he was a School drop-out and was furious about something. He was required by law to stay away from the campus premises.

Avril Lavigne - What The Hell

2011-01-12T02:13:00.002-07:00

Avril's new single, What The Hell, released on 1/07/2011. Here's the song:

Saints Road to the Superbowl 2009

2010-12-17T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of the final moments of the NFC Championship game between Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, New Orleans, LA. The game is tied at 28 and the teams go in to overtime. Saints score a field goal to seal victory and move on to the Superbowl at Miami against the AFC Champions last year- Indianapolis Colts. Of coarse, the Saints win the Superbowl last year and are the new NFL Champions! Go Saints!

Enjoy the video!

Why Cydia is Called Cydia?

2010-12-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

From www.iphonedownloadblog.com. (Written by Alex)

I stumbled upon this interesting article on Cydia. I really never did much research into finding what the most important application which forms the basis of an iDevice jailbreak, Cydia, means. So, I thought I would share it with you.

Cydia is a household name in the jailbreak community. Anyone who has jailbroken their iDevice has most likely used Cydia. Some of us may even know that Cydia is the brainchild of Jay “saurik” Freeman, whom most consider the father of the jailbreak.

Cydia is used by millions of people, but how many know why it has such a weird name? I mean, “Cydia?” What in the world does that mean? There has even been dispute as how to say the word “Cydia.” Little do most know, there is an interesting reason for the odd title behind the icon that every jailbreaker recognizes.

Cydia is actually named after a moth. Cydia pomonella is the scientific name for the “coddling moth,” or what we would most likely recognize as the stereotypical apple worm.

The Wikipedia article on the Cydia pomonella is actually quite ironic in light of Apple’s iPhone: “[it] has proved to be a problematic pest on several fruit trees, including apples and pears. The caterpillars burrow into the fruit, rendering it un-sellable. Traditional insecticides are of limited use, as some strains have acquired resistance to several insecticides.”

Cydia has turned out to be quite the worm to Apple’s ecosystem. With the “jailbreak” becoming more prevalent in the mainstream, Cydia has proven its authority.

While Freeman has been open to any corrections from Latin experts, he has said that the correct pronunciation of the name is “sih-DEE-uh.” If anyone says Cydia a different way, you are free to correct them.

So, Cydia is named after a moth. Pretty cool, huh?

Enable 720p HD video recording on iPhone 3GS

2010-11-02T21:52:00.000-06:00

This is a brief tutorial showing how to enable 720p HD video recording on your jailbroken iPhone 3GS. At the time of the video, I am running iOS 4.1 jailbroken using limera1n.

Step by step guide:
http://www.redmondpie.com/enable-hd-v...

Download HDvideo3GS.zip file: http://blog.mikepan.com/wp-content/up...

Please comment and tell me if this worked for you!

Fall is here

2010-10-28T14:19:00.001-06:00

It's the year 2010. October. Rapid City. The landscape is changing. The severe and rough winter is approaching. It's fall time.

It's the season of halloween, it's time for football, and it's the festive season of the year! But what is more fascinating is the changes the trees undergo. The leaves change color, and start to shed. The grass is green no more. In this part of the country, change in grass color indicates the onset of snowfall. Walking by trees on a breezy Sunday afternoon, I was greeted by the yellowish-brown leaves falling off from the trees. The sidewalk was covered with fallen leaves, which were once decorating the trees. Some leaves turn yellow, some brown, and some, even red! It's such a fascinating sight! Putting my gloomy self aside, I take a few snapshots of the trees.

They tell, there is always a calm before the storm. In analogy, if the beautiful, scenic, magnificent, and breath-taking fall colors are the 'calm', then the freezing winter with snowfall would be the 'storm'. I guess it's time to bring those warm clothes on, as fall is here, and freezing temperatures are around the corner. This is the time to enjoy the sun, and all his offerings, before the weather god overpowers him!

Firework

2010-10-26T16:28:00.000-06:00

Youtube: lyrics video of Katy Perry's "firework"- another lovely song from her album Teenage Dream. Enjoy!

PJ

2010-10-23T01:41:00.001-06:00

Mrs. Santa Singh caught her husband Santa Singh searching high and low all around his living room.

Mrs. Santa Singh: What are you searching for?

Santa: Hidden cameras!

Mrs. Santa Singh: And what makes you think that there are hidden cameras here?Santa: That guy on TV knows exactly what I am doing. Why every few minutes he keeps saying, You are watching the Star World channel. How does he know that?

courtesy: white chrysanthemums (http://whitechrysanthemums.blogspot.com/)

Apple to launch Lion in Summer '11

2010-10-20T15:39:00.000-06:00

Steve Jobs today announced the arrival of the next major OS X upgrade- Lion (after Leopard and Snow Leopard's success), in summer of 2011. He gave a sneak peak to what Lion would offer. It seems like Apple has made an effort to bring together Mac OS X and iOS devices like iPhone, iPod and iPad, in Lion. Here are some images I ripped off from www.apple.com.

Lion will have new features like "Mission Control", which kinda combines expose and widgets; "Mac App Store", that will bring the App Store to the Mac where users can download and use the 1 billion apps available in the store today. I think that is a very nice addition to the Mac. This move was pretty much anticipated after the success of the iPad. Apple had to bring the app world full-fledgedly to the OS X before some other competitor would do the same. Anyways, the good news is that Mac App Store will be released in 90 days from today, meaning, you don't have to wait for Lion to release.

Another major software leap was the introduction of FaceTime calling on Macs. Yes! Now, FaceTime video calls can be made from any Mac to any iPod Touch, Mac or iPhone 4- for free! This new application for the Mac is available for download today in beta version (for Mac on Snow Leopard or later).

Some other updates like iLife '11, were also announced at the October 20 Apple Special Event today. These updates along with the new line of MacBook Air was announced. This is another leap in the Apple industry, as now, unlike ever before, phone, computer and entertainment devices will start to sync together in our lives! Kudos, Apple!

Limera1n is out!

2010-10-11T16:02:00.000-06:00

So, finally, geohot makes a comeback with a bang! Limera1n released on 10/10/10, before the release of the Chronic Dev Team's GreenPois0n. In fact, greenpois0n is now delayed so as to not give away both exploits (SHAtter and Limera1n's exploit) to Apple to patch in their next iOS update. There are also rumors that geohot might also release an unlock for the new baseband on iOS 4.1, called limesn0w. If that's the case, then it might be party-time for many iPhone users, who are not on AT&T. Kudos, Geohot!

GreenPois0n iOS 4.1 jailbreak coming 10/10/10

2010-10-07T15:02:00.001-06:00

Hey all ya folks out there.. great news for people waiting for the iOS 4.1 jailbreak: greenpois0n jailbreak will be out this Sunday. Yes, that's 10/10/10, at 10:10:10 a.m. I can't wait. Here's a quick tweet from the Chronic Dev Team (chronicdevteam):

Now I can jailbreak and hacktivate iPhone 3GS, but, have to wait for the unlock to be released by ultrasn0w. But, anyways, Sunday should be fun! Can't wait! Thanks a ton, Chronic Dev Team!

Links:
greenpois0n
@chronicdevteam
@srujanmishra
@p0sixninja

SHAttering news: iPhone 4.1 jailbreak

2010-09-29T11:53:00.002-06:00

From redmondpie.com:

In our earth-SHAttering honest efforts in bringing you the latest and greatest news from the world of jailbreaks and unlocks, we often publish posts that arise from simple tweets from some very important people. This is another one of those posts and it’s coming from none other than the Chronic Dev Team (the guys behind the upcoming GreenPois0n jailbreaking tool).

Folks eagerly waiting for the iOS 4.1 jailbreak + unlock for iPhone 4 / iPod touch 4GiPhone, and Chronic Dev Teams are hard at work on the SHAtter-exploit based Greenpois0n jailbreak. The tool will be released soon. But there is a bit of bad news: the carrier-unlock isn’t being worked on right now.

Chronic Dev Team tweeted:

To those asking about unlock: At this time, only the jailbreak is being worked on, as it requires the team’s full attention.

Developing the GreenPois0n tool is taking quite a bit of an effort from the two Dev Teams involved and as a consequence, the unlocking tool for iOS 4.1 will be delayed somewhat. For people who were waiting for the unlock on their iPhone 4, please be patient! Good things come to those who wait !

I guess it will be a while before greenpois0n comes up with a jailbreak and an unlock for the iOS 4.1. Will have to wait and see!

NFL 2010: Saints vs Falcons

2010-09-24T11:38:00.000-06:00

This Sunday, New Orleans Saints will play their third game of the 2010 season against the Atlanta Falcons at home. The Superdome has been a very successful breeding ground for the Saints. Saints come in to this game on Sunday with a 2-0, after defeating San Francisco 49ers last Monday night. This should be an exciting game! Go Saints!

Sights of Portland- A drive

2010-08-17T15:53:00.001-06:00

Here's a video of my drive along interstate 5, through Portland, Oregon. I was at Portland, from August 1-6, for a conference. I was really impressed by the light-rail (TriMet) service that connects almost every part of the city. It was a great experience to visit such a modern and well-planned city.

The Nokia N79

2010-08-12T15:54:00.001-06:00

Can't wait to get my hands on this one. I should be expecting it to arrive tomorrow!! Then I can write a review of the N79 on my blog. The reason I am so excited is because this is the first Nokia N series phone that I will be using after my favorite N72 that I was using in India!! Yippie!

Here's the CNET video review of the N79. I also preferred N79 over the bulky and slow N96.

Google Setting Itself Up To Make $10 Billion Per Year From Android?

2010-07-29T15:19:00.000-06:00

With a skyrocketing number of Android device activations each day, Google is setting itself up for an opportunity to make what their CEO, Eric Schmidt thinks could be, billions. After being called a “one-trick pony” as a company making almost all of its revenue from online ads, the next step for the search giant is one many saw them positioning themselves for long ago…

He also said Google is positioning itself to earn $10 billion or more per year in the mobile device business, thanks to its Android operating system.
Google is giving away the Android software for free to device makers, who are using it to power dozens of popular devices. By spreading Android, which is growing at a rate of 160,000 new handset activations per day, the company ensures that its Internet search, maps and other ad-supported services will endure as users shift to mobile devices.
“If we have a billion people using Android, you think we can’t make money from that?” Schmidt asked rhetorically. All it would take, he said, is $10 per user per year. Among other things, Google might earn such sums from selling access to digital content from newspapers.

Looks like we’re on the right side of the wall on this one. +1 Android!

Source: The Wall Street Journal, via. droid-life.com.

iPhone 4 vs Droid X: Antenna issue

2010-07-27T15:24:00.002-06:00

The whole thing about Apple demonstrating how the Droid X can loose signal strength might be true and valid. But, if you observe the video carefully, please notice that the way the guy holds the phone is not an usual way to hold the device. Besides, the Droid X has a very wide profile and is not very easy to hold it in the hands in that way. Every phone truly has one or more weak spots, but this is not the most common way of holding a phone that can trigger attenuation, unlike the iPhone 4. All said and done, iPhone 4 is one of the best smartphones out there in the market. I personally own a Motorola Droid, but I still want to get my hands on an iPhone 4.

Apple's version of Droid X signal attenuation:

Droid-life's demonstration of the same:

Adding a bumper to the iPhone 4 would slightly increase the gap between the fingers and the weak spot making it slightly better in terms of signal reception. Based on Steve Jobs’ media conference on July 16, the statistics that show that only a mere 0.55% of iPhone 4 users called AppleCare about antenna issues, is a startling difference from what has been projected by the hype around the so-called ‘antennagate’.

Steve Jobs' July 16 press address:

I hope Apple comes up with a better solution to all this fuss. But, we must remember that Apple and their iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry and really has set the standards for all competitors. The fact that Apple develop their own software to fit the hardware, makes it more easy to address issues and gives them more control over the overall device experience. We must still spare a thought for Apple, and criticize Microsoft for their not-so-great Kins. Sure, Microsoft didn’t hype their phones but this is not the right context to discuss that.

iPhone 4 craze

2010-07-11T19:30:00.000-06:00

I just stumbled upon this cnet video on iPhone 4, and about all those crazy folks out there who stood in the line to get their hands on one. I personally feel, it's a great device- new design, new features, new OS, and new craze. Based on the carrier constraint, Apple service, Apple AppStore experience, and smartphone competition in the market, I would overall rate the iPhone 4 as "good". I would give it a 8/10. Watch this video, enjoy!

Rushaholic, me?

2010-06-21T11:12:00.001-06:00

I stumbled upon this word on a blog: 'rushaholism'. Here's the definition of 'rushaholic' from the Urban Dictionary:

rushaholic

a person who is always busy rushing and actually enjoys it. on certain occasions, they are addicted to staying busy.

I am starting to realize that, maybe, I have a rushaholic in me. Good, as long as it is for the benefit. Personal recommendation: do not be a rushaholic. Take it nice, smooth and easy. ;)

Photo courtesy: The King Crimson seminal debut album cover.

Summer, and Android 2.2

2010-06-16T01:14:00.003-06:00

Summer is finally here in Rapid City! There were some days of heavy rain ('hydro-bliss', as I termed it), which was rather a pain. I generally love rain, more so, because RC is a dry place- some rain is really a bliss. But, only some; not thunderstorms. Last weekend saw heavy flash-flood warning flashing across all television channels. It also did interrupt the Lakers-Celtics finals game # 5. That was an awesome game. I was rooting for Lakers, but Boston did well to satisfy the home crowd to get a 3-2 lead in the NBA finals. How much I wish I was like Coby, but I am happy the way I am. Anyway, today's game 6 belonged to the LA Lakers- every bit of it. It was a substantial defeat and Coby's men will sleep happily tonight.

Talking of sleeping, I am going to bed early morning these days. I really mean mornings. Last Sunday, I slept at 6, after grabbing a Starbucks Cappuccino. Summers are like this, I guess. Boating, driving, cricket, volleyball- you name it. But, I should be more working on completing my thesis ASAP. I ain't got no time left. July is around the corner, and I have to wrap-up my MS by the end of July. Big task ahead of me!

This summer is also the season of marriages. Some of my old friends are now married, or are getting married. Some of my new friends are also getting married; some, who are even younger than me. I wish them great luck and a very happy married life. I would be making my second visit to the city which never sleeps- Las Vegas, a week from Friday. I am excited! It's my friend's friend's bachelor party. Sounds fun, ain't it? I have to make some plans pretty soon here.

I am now really waiting for the Android 2.2 (code-named Froyo) to release for the Motorola Droid. I want it. Now! The Android 2.2 has some new and exciting features over the previous 2.1 (Eclair). It's fast, it's got support for flash 10.1 (f*** Apple for closing their doors to flash), it's got 5 home screens, it's got a faster browser, it's got support for portable wi-fi hotspot and USB tethering, and many more... This is evident from what 2.1 users, like me, have to say, like this one guy says, "The more I read about 2.2, the more I want it! I suppose the newness of the EVO will have to hold me over until 2.2 shows up for it."

[Screenshots from Android 2.2 on Google Nexus One. Photo courtesy: www.smarterware.org]

Can't wait until Froyo comes out for the Droid. It should be sometime this summer. Apple released their new iPhone 4, which I think is another excellent device from Apple. It now sports a 5 MP camera with flash, a front-facing camera for video-chatting (Facetime), a much higher resolution 'retina' display (w/ 326 pixels/in), and of course the new iOS 4.0. Sounds really exciting. A new stainless-steel design and glass on front and rear make it more adorable to hold in the hand, I would suppose. Anyway, I love my Droid, and love the open-standard Android OS, giving more flexibility to customize ROM and access root of the OS to flash ROMs.

Well, that's what I think of these new smartphones. I am feeling more impressed by the growth of such smartphone usage, especially, by the recent release of Android-based HTC EVO 4G. I just wish Verizon makes some changes to their data plans, so that such smartphones can be more affordable. Cheers to summer, such great devices and software flood the markets.

I guess I must stop here and go to bed early tonight (it's 'just' 1.04 a.m.) Gotta wrap-up lotsa things this week. I hope you guys too enjoy the summer and cheer for the Lakers as they go to their last game against the Celtics later this week.

Skyline Dr, Rapid City

2010-05-26T16:09:00.005-06:00

Among the many places to see in Rapid City, my definitely favorite would be the Skyline Drive. The Quincy Street quietly becomes Dinosaur Park Rd which becomes the Skyline Dr. The drive is the most spectacular view of the city, especially if you drive after dark. More than the view, the feel of the drive and the emotions associated with it make it a perfect getaway if you:

1. get a call from a friend (maama, chal starbucks coffee leke skyline dr chalte hain)
2. just wanna get away from school/research and need an instant vacation
3. want to check-out the weather
4. are missing someone dear
5. want to celebrate
6. want to drive while listening to old hindi songs
7. want to get some fresh (cooler) air
8. want to make friends with fellow-citizens who share the same sense of feeling about the chill in the summer
9. want to see some bikers
10. want to see the setting sun at the horizon of Rapid City (towards the I-90, canyon lake rd side)
11. want to see how beautiful the Black Hills are
12. want to get reminded of the road connecting Durga and Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad
13. want to enjoy the rain in Rapid City
14. want a perfect hangout
15. want to just drive.

The Skyline Dr (s.d.)was the first most amazing place I visited after arriving here in August 2007. Most of of my friends have shared an emotional moment or two at the s.d. This place makes for a great view of the city during snowfall, or heavy rain. The s.d. loop can end either by getting down onto the Tower Rd. or by merging onto the Mt. Rushmore highway (US-16).

It is 4 pm now, with 77 F and cloudy (actually great weather for Rapid City this time of the year!). I guess I'll call my friends, grab a 'tall cappuccino with 4 sugars' at Starbucks coffee, and drive down to Skyline Dr to check-out the weather :) Voila!

Three reasons why India failed

2010-05-18T11:31:00.000-06:00

Copyright: Harsha Bhogle, Cricinfo.com. LINK HERE. I do not own any part of this post.

Harsha Bhogle is a commentator, television presenter and writer.

So India go out again, having delivered a box-office dud. It will lead to much breast-beating and ranting, a demonstration or two will begin somewhere, and doubtless, television cameras will be there. But beyond providing an outlet for our frustration, allowing for catharsis, all that will achieve little. Those who call for the heads of our cricketers are among those who bow deferentially at the first opportunity. Currently we are armed with hindsight, that greatest of all selectors. It bestows on us great wisdom and sagacity but delivers no results.

I'm afraid India weren't good enough. Sometimes that is difficult to accept, but that is indeed the truth. A different batsman might have been picked, another spinner might have made his way here, but there was no Bradman or Sobers left behind. Yes, there was a Tendulkar but that chapter is already part of history. It could be argued that those picked were men of great skill, but that is an ally that only fights a quarter of a war at best. Beyond that, attitude is the weapon to possess, and whether or not that weapon was rusty is a question that must be asked and answered dispassionately.

So why were India not good enough? Among many reasons three stand out.

The new ball, in the hands of India's bowlers, made no statement. It wasn't the first serve, as it should have been. It was merely a formality that had to be achieved for a game to start, just a pawn that was pushed forward with little intent. The new ball on flat pitches and on grounds with short boundaries is like a toy for a pampered child to toss around, but here it had fangs. India's openers were shown them, the opposition weren't. It is a serious issue. New-ball bowlers have to be cultivated and nurtured so that they grow into handsome trees; they cannot, at the first sight of a storm, wither away.

India's fielding stood out. Like a radio might, or like my old phone does. It was like a retro movie. When it comes to fielding or athleticism, India make an occasional concession to modernity, flirt with the latest and slip back towards the old and the comfortable. When Australia took the field, I thought more than once that their hockey players had arrived. They were smooth, they glided around and made what might otherwise have been a three a two. Great catches arrived with the frequency of a politician's quotes. It was beautiful to watch but I do not think our young cricketers are watching. They demand the latest sometimes but they do not demonstrate it.

Once India's finest, Yuvraj stood at mid-on, the abode of the tired fast bowler and the slow-moving spinner. At long-on and fine leg, the limbs had to be cranked to start. It was painful because of what should have been. He is a cricketer who is richly blessed, and a period of humble introspection might just be the right prescription. The turn he took a kilometre ago was the wrong one.

And India could not play the rising ball. Few enjoy it but everyone has to live with it. The modern game led some people towards thinking that they could ignore it, but here in the West Indies, as last year in England, has come the realisation that even in Twenty20 cricket you can be found out. Even very accomplished cricketers like Gautam Gambhir looked out of sorts. He looked tired as the ball came at him with ferocity. And Suresh Raina, the brightest of India's young cricketers, has to come up with a solution.

Not one of these three shortcomings was unknown, and it would be easy to blame the system and the coaches for it. Teachers don't write exams, students do, and eventually they must figure it out themselves, and so we must return to attitude. There is no point blaming the pitches and the bowlers in domestic cricket for the inability to play short-pitched bowling. Gavaskar emerged from the same school, as did Tendulkar, Dravid and even Laxman. Abhinav Bindra and Saina Nehwal are products of such a system. Azharuddin emerged as one of the world's finest fielders. Greatness lies in rising beyond the system. It isn't the system, therefore, but work ethic that lies at the heart of success. I'm not saying India's cricketers don't possess it, it's just that they don't display it often enough.

From here on, India's young cricketers need to ask themselves whether they want to be rich also-rans or want a place in history. It is a choice they must make. Currently they are not good enough, but pelting abuse, and the odd stone, at them will not solve the issue, only point fingers at ourselves.

7000 visits

2010-03-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone!

Khuda Jaane Ye Kyun Hua

2010-02-22T23:06:00.003-07:00

Summer of 2008.

Romantic Chicago Drive

2010-02-14T01:24:00.008-07:00

On the occasion of Valentine's Day, I have a wish: may the spirit of love engulf the world and end all evil and hatred. Dedicated to you.

"The stars, the sky, the song, the moving city lights- they add to the romance. To you, valentine."

Browser War

2010-02-03T15:12:00.005-07:00

On a boring Wednesday afternoon, I decided to do the following experiment on the three most popular browsers (for Mac). [Please note that Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Macintosh was stopped back in 2003. (More reading here.)] So, what did I want to see? Well- system memory usage, for starters, and also the number of processor threads used. Here's some standard background information:

Platform: Macintosh
OS: Snow Leopard- Mac OS X 10.6.2
Browsers:
1. Apple Safari 4.0.4, running as 64-bit process
2. Google Chrome 4.0.249.49
3. Mozilla Firefox 3.6

So, I opened each browser and opened a same web-page on all three and checked out the Activity Monitor.

[Left-right: Safari, Firefox and Chrome.]

Interestingly, I found that Firefox was using the most memory (86.3 MB) and threads (17). Safari was slightly lower with 65.2 MB memory usage. Chrome appeared to use the lowest memory (38.5 MB) and almost tricked me to believe that it was the fastest, but then I realized that Chrome uses a supplementary "Google Chrome Helper" which eats-up another 35.6 MB for flash support.

[Activity Monitor]

So, here's total memory usage (with the same conditions):
Safari: 65.2 MB
Chrome: 77.1 MB
Firefox: 86.3 MB

Verdict: The Apple Safari (even running as 64-bit process) emerged as the fastest browser on the Mac OS X 10.6.2. But, I found a few issues with Safari and Chrome. Safari doesn't support text formatting and flash-related-architecture on some web-pages and Chrome has "unexpectedly quit" on me on many silly occasions. Therefore, I would recommend Mac users to use the new Firefox 3.6 even though it takes up more memory and uses up lot more processor threads than its counterparts; Firefox turned out to be more stable, more compatible with web-pages and now even customizable with themes.

Please let me know your views too. Happy browsing!

Apple Rumors

2010-01-26T22:08:00.002-07:00

There have been many rumors about the latest product from the Apple stable. There have been rumors that it might be named- iSlate or iPad or iTablet. It might be a Apple-style touch screen tablet interface, some say. It might have a Mac based interface; it might have an iPhone-like application based interface, some say. There are even rumors of the design on the Internet.

Whatever may be the case, I am pretty sure that Apple will come up with something very creative, innovative and an useful product which makes sense. I don't know if it s a rumor or not, but they say- Apple will release it's next big thing on January 27, 2010, just about 2 hours from now. I am eagerly waiting, like any other Apple enthusiast, to see what's next in offering from the commercial semiconductor-electronics giant, Apple.

This article is also published on the India Club @ SDSMT blog.

Indian Republic Day

2010-01-26T12:36:00.001-07:00

Wishing all Indians a very happy 60th Republic Day! May our nation keep moving ahead with pride, enthusiasm and sovereignty. Jai Hind!

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak braves blanket fog to attend a street parade marking Republic Day, India’s largest national celebration in front of the presidential palace in New Delhi, Tueday. Lee was invited to the annual event as the country's "Chief Guest." First lady Kim Yoon-ok is on the right in the background.

/ Korea Times Photo
by Sohn Yong-seok

Kallu Moosi Yochisthey

2009-12-21T16:07:00.001-07:00

Dedicated to you.

Finger on a Mac?

2009-12-01T17:09:00.004-07:00

[Click image to enlarge. You must check it out.]

While browsing my Mac for 'connecting to a computer on the WLAN/ over the VPN', I found this interesting utility called 'Network Utility' under the Utilities folder in Applications. Then while browsing through the tabs at the top, I found the 'Finger' tab. So, I decided to finger it. And guess what I found- "Enter a user name and domain address to finger that user." I just couldn't stop myself from laughing! I guess, it's one of the funny sides of computer-human interface. Lol!

Friend Request?

2009-11-19T13:39:00.005-07:00

We get lots of 'friend requests' on social networking communities online every now and then from people we don't even know. Folks, here's what one guy had to say to justify his 'need' for being a friend of this girl on Facebook. Name and details withheld, for obvious reasons!

Hi my friend

Im a positively possessive attitude that fuels the undying zeal to work for broader prospects puts me where I am today. A young lad hailing from anantapur but since 7 years in hyderabad who has seen the dark side of the life only to light up the future. A man with proven track in advertizing (I have own advertising agency) and i have one my own software company, now turned out to be a new generation film maker in tollywood and done as associate director for several Tollywood movies like NACHAVULE. Now im planning to make movie in my own direction, present under pre production. By the bye my name is "S****** *****Y" with thirty two years of experience on the earth. I would like to make friendship with u if u are interested please mail back or feel free to call.. Awaiting for your reply or feel free to call....

Take care

with love

S***

mail: s***@gmail.com mobile: 09***5.

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Chatrapathi Spoof: Our first movie

2009-10-30T04:34:00.004-06:00

This is what we made on one fine Wednesday evening. It was completely spontaneous and the acting was hilariously brilliant! Great job! Watch it and enjoy!

Happy Diwali

2009-10-18T16:04:00.002-06:00

Happy Diwali 2009 to all of you! I miss home, but I know that we are all together on every occasion and every step of our lives. Miss you, family!

Facebook blues!

2009-10-15T10:29:00.005-06:00

From: Yahoo Tech- Blogs:

Why do stories like this continue to surprise me?
Just when I think I've seen it all online comes a tale like the one of Tennessee's Sharon D. Jackson, who was arrested last month. Her crime? Sending a "poke" to another woman via the Facebook social network.
In my experience, few people really ever use the "poke" feature. ABC News calls it the "digital equivalent of waving at someone from across a crowded room." Others would call it the online version of a "what's up?" text message.
Either way it's an awfully harmless little feature... unless, it seems, you have a restraining order filed against you preventing you from contacting the person you poked.
It's unclear why the victim of the poke, Dana M. Hannah, has a restraining order against Jackson, but as of June, Jackson had been prohibited from "telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the petitioner, directly or indirectly." It's equally unclear why Jackson poked Hannah -- or whether someone else did the poking in question under her guise -- as well as whether a poke constitutes either contact or communication.
Either way she's now in custody, as Jackson's lawyer tries "to get my hands on some Facebook documentation so we can better assess the situation." If convicted, violation of the earlier restraining order could net Jackson nearly a year in jail.
Important lessons here, folks. If you've been stalking someone to the point where they seek a legal remedy to keep you away from them, it's probably not a good idea to interact with them in any way online -- even with an innocent "poke." In fact, you might consider de-friending them on Facebook altogether to avoid the temptation.

[Article link: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/152816/dont-poke-me-bro-facebook-poke-leads-to-arrest/]

Avril Rocks!

2009-10-07T17:53:00.003-06:00

Dedicated to Avril's 25th birthday on Sep 27, 2009. Here's one of her best recent concerts, and one of my favorite songs, "I'm with you"- live in Toronto!

Gandhi Google?

2009-10-02T13:44:00.003-06:00

Really?

[Snapshot of google.com page on Oct 02, 2009]

A day to remember and honor the father of our nation. To this great man who once lived and brought us independence... Cheers!

Happy Gandhi Jayanthi!

Yellowstone National Park Trip

2009-09-13T02:53:00.006-06:00

Sat, Sep 05; 4:30 AM

It was the recreational vehicle (RV) we had hired out to spend the long Labor Day long weekend. The destination- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, about 470 miles west of Rapid City. We had a RV campground booked at the Park for Saturday and Sunday. The very idea of going in an RV was fun! It’s a huge vehicle, the ideal American family recreational vehicle. It is a complete house inside- couches, bedroom, kitchen, washroom- all powered by this 4.7 L Ford engine. Our route: 350 mi on the I 90 west, then the rest on the US 14/ US 14A highway. This is not my first trip to the YNP, but with 10 people on board, it is a huge trip. We had beer, played blackjack and had lots of fun during the 10-hour-long drive.

Sun, Sep 05; 2.42 PM

We are driving through the Park roads, the one leading to our next stop, the famous Old Faithful geyser. The route is scenic, the weather is great, and the RV is all cleaned up after last night’s beer-burger-drumstick party at the campground. The Old Faithful geyser erupts every 45 minutes. The next eruption is predicted at 3.17 PM.

4.46 PM

The Old Faithful was absolutely awesome. The eruption rose to almost 100-120 ft. The scene was spectacular. Hundreds of tourists gathered the site to view the geyser go off. We’re now headed to Yellowstone Grand Canyon after a brief stop at the Yellowstone Lake. The lake is spread over 21 sq mi. The view is breathtaking. I cannot describe how beautiful is the park and the park routes. Tall, thin trees are partially green and brown. The roads are like forest highways. The Yellowstone Lake is accompanying us since the last 21 mi. The landscape is unending and breathtaking. From rains in the last few weeks, the mountains are covered with a blanket of greenery. The bisons are all over. The hot springs present a colorful picture with algae and other organisms growing all over. At one spring, the temperature was mentioned as 75 C/ 160 F. No wonder, the Yellowstone National Park is the world’s biggest, naturally preserved, geyser-basin.

Bear Sighting

Luckily for us, while we were on our way back from the Park, we saw this huge crowd of people hastily clicking pictures of a baby grizzly bear few feet away from the shoulder. There were Park Rangers with pepper spray handy, in case of any eventualities. It was a fitting end to our trip, as we were just talking about citing a bear in the Park. But when it was finally in front of us, it was a treat to our eyes. The bear was happily grazing on the green twigs and grass; not very bothered by the crowd.

Our journey back home was as exciting as it was while going. We had lunch, dinner, played cards and stopped at scenic spots to enjoy the most of nature. Overall, it was a memorable trip with a hell ‘o a vehicle, and the company of friends!

5000 visits

2009-09-11T11:49:00.004-06:00

It's an achievement; it's a milestone. My blog has received 5000 hits since August 27, 2007 (although I started blogging from February 2006)! That's a good figure. Maybe I must work on making my blog more popular; maybe I must write more frequently. I am so glad to see many new people start blogging, and I am still encouraging some friends to start their own blog.

This just gives me some motivation to keep blogging, nevertheless, my very purpose of writing would be defeated if I didn't do justice to my blog.

You Me & The Bourgeoisie

2009-09-01T23:22:00.004-06:00

I heard this song on the Apple iPhone 3G-S TV ad on the Apple website. And guess what, I instantly loved it. Here it is. Enjoy!

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Phil Collins: "In the air tonight"

2009-08-16T04:57:00.003-06:00

i can feel it comin' in the air tonight
oh lord
i've been waiting for this moment for all my life
oh lord

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Now they can guess your Social Security Number

2009-07-07T14:20:00.002-06:00

From Yahoo Tech Blog:

By now we've had it beaten into our thick skulls: Protect your Social Security Number at all costs, because those nine magic digits are the gateway to your entire life. Financial history, medical records... just about everything hinges on your SSN remaining private.

As such, large-scale thefts of SSN and other private information continue to make headlines, but this piece of news takes the cake: Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have now figured out a way to roughly reverse engineer the way in which Social Security Numbers are assigned. Armed with your date of birth and the state in which you were born, it's now possible to generate a quite small set of digits that are likely to contain your actual SSN.

How is this possible? Mainly because SSNs aren't just randomly generated. The first three digits are tied to your state of birth, and the next two digits (the "group number") are used sequentially as SSNs are handed out over time. The final four digits are supposedly random, but using a public database called the Death Master File, which lists SSNs that were held by the deceased, patterns emerged in those digits, as well.

The result is that, depending on the state and year of birth (the older you are and the larger your state of birth, the harder it is to guess your SSN), the researchers could guess a Social Security Number's first five digits with up to 90 percent accuracy, and the last four digits with up to 5 percent accuracy. Considering the odds of getting a SSN right by random guess really ought to be 1 in a billion, that's a phenomenal success rate.

And if those numbers seem small, consider that with the use of commonly-available botnets, computers could correctly guess dozens of SSNs every minute by simple brute force as they apply for bogus credit cards en masse. The Ars Technica story linked above also notes that many credit card verification services allow for a couple of digits in an SSN to be wrong, as a convenience for forgetful applicants, opening the door a little wider for hackers.

What happens now? It's hard to imagine an organization as venerable and bureaucratic as the Social Security Administration to change the way it works, but it's hard not to think that the nine-digit SSN may have at last outlived its utility, and its security. Still, just try to imagine the upheaval should the country attempt to move to longer numbers...

The Rules of the Car

2009-06-25T13:26:00.007-06:00

The rules of the car:

Rule number 1: Respect a man's car.

Rule number 2: Greet the man.

Rule number 3: Wear your seat belt.
Rule number 4: Never make a promise you cannot keep.

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Numbers from iWork '09

2009-06-09T15:52:00.005-06:00

Apple has made Mac products keeping in mind that most Mac users have moved from a Windows PC experience. That is a very good thing about Mac and it's products. Numbers from iWork 09 is extremely streamlined and brilliant in appearance. I have been using Microsoft Office Excel for the past 5 years, and switching over to iWork Numbers was initially more of a comparison. I used to look for all the features of Excel in Numbers and found a few glitches. Foremost, it was a little inconvenient to select a box with the mouse. Sometimes you have to concentrate hard if you need to move a box. Excel was easier to use and selecting boxes with the mouse and moving it around was easier. Other than this, I found Numbers very streamlined and productive tool.

The 'templates' feature is good, and easier for the 'not-so-technical' user to create specific spreadsheets with ease. I bought iWork for $79 while I could have got a $10 discount with the 'Apple student store'. Numbers is nice, I use it for my homework at School and for planning road trips and organizing events. I love the 'export-to-PDF' feature on iWork which helps me create an instant PDF out of the entire document or even part of it.

Numbers '09 also can export the document in the format you want, including Office Excel. I would sure recommend Numbers to my friends!

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All images from apple.com.

India election paves way for economic reform

2009-05-17T23:32:00.000-06:00

From Yahoo news:

MUMBAI, India – India Inc. breathed a huge sigh of relief Sunday, a day after the ruling Congress Party won one of the most definitive electoral victories in nearly two decades of fractious coalition politics.

Congress' victory — and the near-collapse of India's once-powerfulcommunist parties — means key reforms in insurance, pension funds, banking and retail are now likely to get enacted.

But that doesn't translate into a mandate for sweeping pro-market liberalization, analysts say.

The global financial crisis has tempered India's appetite for deeper foreign investment and looser regulation. Moreover, Congress, which oversaw an unprecedented four-year boom, has cast itself as the party of "inclusive growth," a policy approach aimed at helping India's vast underclass while also pushing free-market reforms. It is unlikely to roll back costly social welfare programs that helped the party win the election — but also added to the nation's burgeoning fiscal deficit.

With the Congress-led coalition capturing 262 seats in India's 543-seat Parliament, Congress officials were in talks Sunday to finalize their political alliance — seeking the 10 additional spots needed to nudge them over the halfway mark in Parliament.

Mumbai attack suspect pleads not guilty

2009-05-06T06:05:00.001-06:00

From Yahoo! News:

MUMBAI, India – The only surviving suspected gunman in last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai pleaded not guilty Wednesday to all charges against him, including waging war against India and murder.

Prosecutors told the court that Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was one of 10 attackers responsible for killing 166 people and wounding 234 more during the three-day siege of India's financial capital last November. Nine other suspected gunmen were killed during the attacks.

Judge M.L. Tahiliyani, who is presiding over the trial, read out all the charges against Kasab in a Mumbai courtroom Wednesday. Kasab responded with a plea of not guilty and said, "I don't accept these charges."

Kasab will face the death penalty if convicted.

Kasab also told the court that he was 21 years old, prompting laughter in the courtroom because of the defense's recent attempts to prove that Kasab was a minor — under 18 years — which would have meant lighter penalties. After several medical examinations, Tahiliyani ruled that Kasab was 21 and would be tried as an adult.

Kasab also said that he was a laborer from the town of Faridkot in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Prosecutors claim the attacks were masterminded by the Muslim militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, and say investigations are ongoing to determine the scope of Pakistani involvement in the attack.

The attacks raised tensions between India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed rivals who have fought three wars against each other since gaining independence in 1947.

Kasab's two co-defendants — both Indians accused of helping plot the attack — also pleaded not guilty to a string of charges that included murder and waging war against India. They also face the death penalty.

Five Hundred Rupees

2009-04-29T14:19:00.003-06:00

I found this video recently. Just shows how the value of Rs. 500 (USD 10) is different for different people. Must watch.

Please watch before you spend.

Musings on a Monday blizzard

2009-03-30T20:05:00.006-06:00

That's how the Monday started- with a blizzard! The heavy winds with snow from Sunday midnight made sure that we get a day off from School. Yes, the School was closed, we were at home, nowhere to go, nothing to do, and we let our minds go wild... and we tried crazy things.

We had mango ice cream.. tried mix n match with that. Imagine adding couple of Ferrero Rocher chocolate balls, pepsi, guava nectar, orange juice and finally some California red wine! It tasted like some margarita in the end! Then we had things to eat like chapatis with mutton and dal.. we ate random stuff like cashews, popcorn... I learned more about the father of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne and his band, Black Sabbath. Also taught some of my friends little bit of Oriya.. ;)

It was fun watching people across the road maneuvering in the heavy snow with their 4x4 pick -up trucks and getting stuck. One guy almost got his Dodge Durango perpendicular to the 2-ft thick snow-covered road. I could see the trees covered with snow and the heavy wind was again blowing the snow off the trees and the roads were covered with heaps of snow-dunes. Watching the cars getting stuck, we had a debate on the difference between 4-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.. [Mechanical engineers, anyone?]

This was the second snow blizzard in the past one month in Rapid City, and the 5th time the School was closed in the past 8 months. Perfect time to do some cooking at home. So we decided to cook different things, and I would now make some chilli-chicken. The day is coming to an end, but there is something to take away from this blizzard. Life's also like a snow blizzard. Sometimes in life it becomes really chilly and u are struck by a blizzard that leaves you paralyzed for some time period. Some others enjoy it, while some find it very depressing; for some, it means change from the routine, and for some, it leaves a permanent impression in their lives, and for many, it becomes long a forgotten, long-gone affair. The blizzard teaches you how to plan for the eventualities, like my room mates shopped for groceries last night before the blizzard began at 2 am.

Overall, the day was fun, staying indoors, listening to songs, and writing on my blog. I remember the blizzard in December last year which was the time when I got back on my feet, made a stringent decision.. and tried myself to get back up.. Reminds me of that Linkin Park song- "take everything from the inside and throw it all away.. 'coz i swear for the last time, i will trust myself with you..."

Man! I love Linkin Park.

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Nee Kosam

2009-03-24T18:17:00.003-06:00

For you.

3 years of blogging

2009-03-13T03:09:00.006-06:00

I first began blogging on Feb 6, 2006. I had a lot of excitement, fun and overall, lots of expectations from my blog. These were the very first lines I had ever written in the blog-o-sphere:

My first blog!....

Ok .. well..... what do i write???

Well, this is my first web'blog', and i am still ought to explore the entire thing... I hope i have lots of fun and hope to cherish the old memories.. when i would view my blogs later!

That was what has exactly happened; much to my joy! My blog serves as a very fine reminder of the good-ol' times and all the good and bad reminder of all events in my life since Feb 2006. I have tried my best to record all my emotions intertwined with a splash of freshness so it is readable and presentable. I have enjoyed my experience so far blogging since 3 years. I would like to thank all my readers, vis-a-vis, friends, who have also been an inspiration to start writing on the web-log.

Now here's a never-before-heard-fact. What motivated me to start blogging? I have always been excited, and tried to explore the possibilities of the internet, and had always wished to have a 'website' of my own which people all over the world can see. It was first when, in 2006, the college magazine team was publicizing our magazine- Musings 06. Part of the publicity was its blog- musings06.blogspot.com. That was the first time I saw a blog, and then I ran my search and research on what a blog was! I took no time to register on blogger.com and there was it- my first blog!

As is the case with any blog, Coffee - Love - Blog - Hangout! has kept evolving over time. Some posts have been spontaneous, while some required thinking. My blog has, many-a-times, served as a vent to my uncontrollable emotions. I used to write a diary, and that has its own speciality. I might have lost my 'diary' handwriting, but blogging has made me keep in touch with myself.

Cheers!

[I wanted to write more, but I wanna keep it sweet n short. Thanks to blogger and all of you for reading. :)]

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Reliving DDLJ

2009-02-07T13:47:00.005-07:00

I love listening to the initial part of the video, which has the DDLJ instrumental- tujhe dekha to ye jaana sanam. Of course, i love the rest of the song too... ahista ahista... Very lively, enlivens your spirit!

Enjoy!

{watch in high quality}

Contains content from Yash Raj Films.

That reminds me of something

2009-01-21T22:49:00.001-07:00

When was the last time you heard that old song and it reminded you of that lovely moment in your life? When was the last time you did that thing and it reminded you of a special incident of the past? Ain't it funny!

[Sylvan Lake near Rapid City, SD. May 2008]

Our human mind is such a beautiful thing. Our mind (a.k.a. we) remember things by associating it with another event.

It was that smell that reminded me of that moment of my life. It was that 'Boys' song that reminded me of my 1st year in college. It's that 'Bachna Ae Haseeno' song that reminds me of that sad moment of my life. It's that voice that reminds me of that care and nurture that my parents have provided me. It's that old shirt that reminds me of my Intermediate class. It's that old friend's call that reminded me of the fun times we spent in Hyderabad. It's that television series that reminds me of my childhood.

It is so true when someone said, "move on!". I guess, it feels so great to move on, maybe I was so much stuck with my past that I never thought of moving on... But, yes baby, 'life moves on'... Life is so much a thing to nourish and enjoy every bit of. Life's got more meaning now. Life's different, it's changing. Everyday, it's changing.

[Flagstaff, near Phoenix, AZ. December 2007]

So, relish those memories that keep reminding you of things in life, good and bad; but there is so much to the coming day that keeps me so overwhelmingly occupied, that sometimes I think it is better to let go those old memories, and absorb the new things. New is the word.

Get a life!

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India razes slums, leaves poor homeless

2009-01-14T22:42:00.004-07:00

I read the following article on cnn.com. It was very sad to hear this. All this comes to say one thing- there is no prior planning on the part of the Indian Government on issues pertaining to human health, hygiene, city and town planning, and overall human values. It's a shame.

Watch Video:

From CNN Asia:

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Hanso Devi moved to New Delhi from Rajasthan with just one hope -- to make a better life for herself and her family. Hanso Devi says she and her family have nowhere else to go. She, her husband, five children and other relatives erected a hut to live in --- a home that provided shelter and a base for her husband's streetside blacksmith business. The problem is that the land they built on belongs to the government. And the government has decided to take it back.

[Hanso Devi says she and her family have nowhere else to go.]

In a matter of minutes bulldozers level the place, leaving Devi and her family perched on a bed atop a sea of rubble. They have nowhere to go. "They did it so fast that there was no time to take out anything. And the bulldozer broke everything on the way," Devi said. "It's like we were picked up and thrown away," she said. Bulldozers razed the makeshift home and hundreds of others earlier this month as the Indian government moves to improve New Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

[This 90-year-old woman sits on a bed atop the ruins of her demolished house.]

Officials say the land is for a road and the demolitions are simply part of a master plan to clean up the city and move slum-dwellers to proper housing. But, the government says, there will be no relocation for families like Hanso Devi's because they do not meet relocation requirements. The government says they are squatting too close to the road, and are located in a major development zone. "You see they have encroached on the specific project lengths -- there will be no notice, no relocation projects for them," said New Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra, who says she and the city are worried about those who have been left homeless. About 3 million people live in New Delhi's slums, the government estimates.

Mehra says New Delhi is slated to build 100,000 new apartments, though only 6,800 are under construction. Critics say demolishing housing that has been here for years and relocating some residents but not others will hurt many who live on the margins of society. "They'll be pushed to the brink," said A.K. Roy of the Hazards Centre Sanchal Foundation, a non-governmental organization. "Eventually I think what the planners are doing, they are not realizing they'll be building up a pool of violence."

[At night, familes huddle together around fires to keep warm.]

The people who live in New Delhi's slums are some of the city's maids, drivers, street vendors and day laborers. Roy argues the city could not survive without the services that the slum dwellers provide. The slums may not have looked like much to outsiders, but to families who had lived there for years, they were everything. Their businesses, homes and temples were there. Now they are lost.

Some huts are still standing, for now. Among them is the home of Sheila Naurang Lal, built more than 20 years ago by the family who still lives there. But that is little comfort for Lal as she sees what has happened to the homes a few yards from her house. "I came to the road yesterday after being scared seeing the bulldozer," Lal says. "You must have seen the front part has been broken." It has been two days since the latest slum eradication, but families are still eking out a living amid the ruins.

A mother cooks for her children, a 90-year-old woman with a walker sits on her bed and someone's pet goat is tied up at a shrine, waiting for its owner. Hanso Devi looks around as night falls. She will spend another night in the open with nothing to keep her warm but a small fire. "We are going to sleep right here. There is no place other than this."

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`Slumdog Millionaire' wins top honor at Globes

2009-01-11T21:18:00.002-07:00

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – "Slumdog Millionaire" has lived up to its underdog theme at the Golden Globes, sweeping all four of its categories, including best drama and director for Danny Boyle.

Kate Winslet has won two Globes all on her own, best dramatic actress for "Revolutionary Road" and supporting actress for "The Reader." "The Wrestler" also has two, dramatic actor for Mickey Rourke and best song for Bruce Springsteen.

"Slumdog Millionaire" also won best screenplay and musical score, firming up its prospects for the Academy Awards. Featuring a generally unknown cast in a story set on the streets of Mumbai, "Slumdog Millionaire" knocked off four other nominated films featuring such stars as Brad Pitt, Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Source: Yahoo! News.

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Happy New Year 2009

2009-01-01T22:06:00.001-07:00

It's new year time again, and it's a pleasure to wish you all a very Happy New Year 2009! May this new year bring you all the happiness, love, peace and prosperity you have wanted. God bless everyone.

[Image: comments101.com]

Stop blogging... damn!

2008-12-22T12:39:00.002-07:00

I must stop blogging and first finish my project that was due last Tuesday!

Mumbai gunman's confession sheds light on massacre

2008-12-13T22:27:00.003-07:00

From Yahoo News.

MUMBAI, India – The gunman captured in last month's Mumbai attacks had originally intended to seize hostages and outline demands in a series of dramatic calls to the media, according to his confession obtained Saturday by The Associated Press. Mohammed Ajmal Kasab said he and his partner, who massacred dozens of people in the city's main train station, had planned a rooftop standoff, but abandoned the plans because they couldn't find a suitable building, the statement to police says.

Kasab's seven-page confession, given to police over repeated interrogations, offers chilling new details of the three-day rampage through India's commercial center that left 164 people plus nine gunmen dead. He said the assault, which started Nov. 26, was initially set for Sept. 27, though he doesn't explain why it was delayed. The gunmen had been told by their handlers to carry out the attacks during rush hours when the station is teeming with commuters.

After reaching Mumbai, Kasab and his partner, Ismail Khan, the group's ringleader, headed to the train station by taxi. "Ismail and myself went to the common toilet, took out the weapons from our sacks, loaded them, came out of toilet and started firing indiscriminately toward the passengers," Kasab told police. As a police officer opened fire, the two militants retaliated with grenades before entering another part of the station and randomly shooting more commuters.

The men then searched for a building with a rooftop where they had been told to hold hostages and call a contact named Chacha, whom Kasab identified as Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the suspected mastermind behind the attacks. Chacha, which means "uncle" in Hindi, would supply phone numbers for media outlets and specify what demands the two should make. "This was the general strategy decided by our trainers," Kasab said. Taking heavy fire from police, the two had trouble finding a "suitable building" and stormed a hospital they mistook for an apartment building. There, they searched for hostages and traded more gunfire with security forces. It's unclear if they ever held hostages.

When they left, a police van pulled up and the two tried to take shelter behind a bush during the shootout. Kasab was hit in the hand as Khan returned fire. "They got injured and the firing from their side stopped," he said. Police have confirmed the van was carrying top police officials, including the head of the anti-terror squad who was killed.

In the confession, Kasab, 21, describes his conversion from an aspiring street criminal to a loyal soldier for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the terrorist group banned by Pakistan in 2002 and blamed by India in the attacks. He came to the organization last year while looking to buy guns to commit robberies after quitting a low-paying job at a catering business. The search led him to several Lashkar "stalls" at a bazaar in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, he said.

Kasab went on to receive rigorous training in weapons handling and other skills, attending at least six Lashkar camps and visiting his parents twice during breaks, he said. Lashkar operatives even lectured recruits on India security and intelligence agencies, and taught them how to evade pursuing security forces.He said they were shown "clippings highlighting the atrocities on Muslims in India," images of Mumbai locations on Google Earth, and film footage of the train station. "We were instructed to carry out the firing at rush hour in the morning between 7 to 11 hours and between 7 and 11 hours in the evening," he said. The attacks ultimately started around 9:30 p.m.

After Kasab and nine others were picked among a group of 32 recruits, they headed to Karachi in September and practiced traveling on speed boats. On Nov. 23, the group was transported to a ship called the Al-Huseini far out at sea. Shortly after boarding, "each of us was given a sack containing 8 grenades, one AK47 rifle, 200 cartridges, two magazines and one cell phone for communication," he said. The Al-Huseini's crew, he said, later hijacked an Indian vessel, killing all but one crew member who was temporality kept alive and held at gunpoint to guide them into Mumbai's coastal waters. "When we were at some distance from the shore, Ismail and (another militant) killed the Indian seaman" before the group boarded a dinghy and came ashore "per the instructions received earlier."

Police said Saturday that Kasab, who's facing a criminal case in the attacks, has written to Pakistani officials to request legal help. In a letter written Thursday, he asked for "legal aid" from the Pakistani consulate and requested a meeting with a consular representative, said Rakesh Maria, Mumbai's chief investigator. The letter was forwarded to India's government to relay to Pakistani officials, but it was unclear whether it had been delivered, Maria said. Pakistani officials were not immediately available for comment. A number of Indian lawyers — including a prominent group of Mumbai attorneys — have refused to defend Kasab against criminal charges amid outrage over the attacks.

Kasab is being held on 12 offenses, including murder and waging war against the country, but has not yet been formally charged. Islamabad has refused to acknowledge Kasab's nationality, complaining that India has yet to furnish any evidence.

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India is the new Australia: Akram

2008-12-11T12:20:00.003-07:00

An article from NDTVcricket.com

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership has changed the face of Indian cricket, according to Pakistan's pace legend Wasim Akram who believes it is a matter of time before India upstages Australia as the number one team in the world.

Akram said Dhoni has completely transformed the team ever since he took over the mantle of captaincy and that Indian cricket was on the right track with a number of talented players in their ranks.

"Dhoni has changed the face of Indian cricket, there is no doubt about that. He leads from the front, he has charisma and players like him. You can't ask for anything more," Akram said in a telephonic interview.

"He has given the team the confidence. The players now believe that they can go and beat any team and it is this confidence that has helped India to bring about the desired results," the former Pakistan captain said.

Akram, regarded as one of the finest left-arm speedsters with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets to his credit in a career spanning nearly 17 years, said Dhoni had also brought about a refreshing change in his attitude and approach to matches.

"It does not matter whether Sachin Tendulkar is resting or some other players are injured, the Indians are so confident that they go out and do the job. It was not the case about six or seven years ago, India did not have that confidence," he observed.

"If the captain leads from the front, half the job is done. That is what I like about Dhoni. He is cool, comes out with few quotes and gets the best out of his players," Akram said.

"Leading the Chennai team in the upcoming Champions League will be a good challenge for him since there will be a lot of international teams," he said.

Asked whether India would be able to topple Australia as the number one team in the near future, Akram said "India is the new Australia. I think they are on the right track to achieve that".

Akram also lavished praise on India's new pace sensation Ishant Sharma saying the Delhi youngster had improved by leaps and bounds in the last few months.

"Ishant has been a revelation. He has really improved in the last few months and I think he is a real asset to India," Akram said about the paceman who emerged as the man-of-the-series in the recent Test series against Australia.

"After the Australian tour late last year, his length was slightly short. But he has now rectified that and was simply brilliant in the recent series against Australia. The way he bowled, it seemed he had been around in Test cricket for five years or so," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator said Ishant will only get better with time but also cautioned that the youngster needed to be handled well to prolong his career.

"He (Ishant) will get quicker and better with time, there is no doubt about it. He just has to keep himself fit as fast bowling is hard work," Akram pointed out.

He said the Indian bowling line-up looked quite balanced at the moment and the presence of an in-form Zaheer Khan has provided a lot more sting.

"Zaheer has been fantastic. He has bowled the reverse swing well, got the ball to swing in and out... he has become a complete bowler now. He really provides that cutting edge to the attack," he said.

"India always had good spinners but I am happy to see these pacemen developing. They are winning matches for India", Akram said.

The ex-pacer said Harbhajan Singh was capable enough to shoulder the responsibility in the spin department following the retirement of champion leg spinner Anil Kumble.

"Harbhajan is a good spinner. It is now upto him to take upon the responsibility in the spin department. I think he is capable of doing it and also has the experience".

Akram also credited India's rise as a cricketing nation to the planning done by the BCCI over the last few years.

"Credit must also go the BCCI for India's rise in recent times. They have planned and implemented everything well. The results have started coming now," he added.

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Jobless, yet busy

2008-12-03T17:55:00.006-07:00

Taking inspiration from Sid's post which said, even if you have nothing to say, then just blog about it, I am now doing the exact same thing. Maybe to account for at least one post a month. :P I am here again playing stickcricket online and since the last so many days I have been trying to defeat this one team (Sri Lanka). Finally I did it today! They were the number 4 team in the World Domination list (all this is stickcricket.com lingo). With a target of 507 in 20 overs, it was a tough ask. I punched my fist in air when I won :)

[click to enlarge]

It was a cold winter morning. With heavy snowfall last evening, the roads in Rapid City were decorated with snow and it got worse when the roads started becoming slippery. My Nissan Altima with its front-wheel-drive merely could manage to get me to School. Before I get to School everyday I remind myself of the pile of work I need to wrap-up before it gets too late but once I am at School, I am sleepy! I had a class at 1, and then I had all the time in the world to play stickcricket.

I had been struggling to defeat Sri Lanka because of the huge target of over 500 in 20 overs. I could barely reach 470 in earlier attempts against this team. Today was 'the' day. Everything went on perfect- a perfect start, a perfect 368-run 1st wicket partnership, a whopping run-rate of over 28 runs an over, and lots of sixes! I was so elated to see just 15 runs required off the last over, that I knew I had made it. Every other time I needed over 70 runs off the last over! Anyways, I finished it off with a six, and with 2 balls to spare in the last over! (psst...)

Now with only about a fortnight remaining for the semester to end, I have the following tasks to complete. 5 assignments, a project, 2 final exams and research briefing. Yet another year is coming to an end, and I just keep reflecting upon myself how hard this year has been for me. Just so much alone with none by my side to walk hand-in-hand and share all the sad and the success stories. Guess that's what's life, and yeah, as some say, "grow up; life moves on!".

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At my jobless best: part 2

2008-11-02T01:32:00.002-06:00

Here I am more jobless through the weekend.. With my girlfriend not talking to me for over a year and a half, with only 1 assignment to finish, with no outdoor activities, with no much money to spend outside, with the cold forcing us to stay indoors, with the brain becoming increasing idle, with food in tummy, with sleep not coming, with laptop in hand, with no fruitful site to visit, with no constructive work to do, the only option remaining is to play stickcricket.com- World Domination; wherein playing against #5 team Pakistan and having 504 to chase in 20 overs, it is but natural to get aggressive and play some aggressive (stick)cricket! Here is what the scorecard looked like after the victory, coming in almost 6 attempts!

At my jobless best

2008-10-26T05:41:00.005-06:00

This is what I did one night... played stickcricket.com! And voila! What a record! This is my second best 20-over score, and personal best individual score!!

[Click to enlarge]

Test series in India a big challenge: Brett Lee

2008-09-24T15:51:00.003-06:00

From Yahoo India Sports News:

Jaipur, Sept 23 (ANI): Australian cricket team's fast bowler, Brett Lee on Tuesday said that the upcoming Test Series in India would be a big challenge for the young Australian side. Addressing a news conference in Jaipur, where the Australian cricket team will be training for a week, Lee said that it would be good for the Australian side to face India. "The younger guys have to start somewhere and what better stage than to play here in India. It's a wonderful place to tour - the country, the people, the culture, the cricket's pretty hard work, so we have to make sure our plans are in place."

The Australian team will fly to Hyderabad for a four-day match against the Indian team from October 2. The team landed in Mumbai on Monday and then flew to Rajasthan. Brett Lee also added that All-rounder Andrew Symonds would be missed and added, "But we surely have other great players here who can hopefully almost step into Andrew's shoes." Andrew Symonds was dropped from the team for the one-day series with Bangladesh in Darwin earlier this month after he missed a team meeting and went fishing instead and was not included for the India series as well.

Australia will be counting on their pace attack, not spin, to beat India in the four-test series that begins next month, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch had said on Friday. The Kiwis named the uncapped Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle in their 15-man squad to provide back up to the front line trio of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson for the series. Captain Ricky Ponting and opening batsman Matthew Hayden have been included after they returned home injured from West Indies tour. Ponting had surgery while Hayden underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme, with both missing the recent one-day series in Darwin.The first test begins in Bangalore on October 9, followed by matches in Mohali (October 17-21), Delhi (October 29-November 2) and in Nagpur (November 5-9). Hilditch said the series was becoming as important to Australia as the Ashes series with England.

Post URL: Here.

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Indifferent

2008-09-19T23:10:00.005-06:00

It feels so sad when someone you treasure so much in your life starts being so indifferent to you.. What if I tell you that I have been experiencing this for over a year now!! It feels so sick that the person cannot spare even a minute to talk/mail/scrap you.. when they have time for others.. What if I say that I have not come to terms with this feeling. Is this fair? Is it fair to punish someone to the extent that he breaks down emotionally pretty often and is in tatters every second of his life? Please think.. please be fair... please..

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Cry Me a River

2008-09-13T10:24:00.002-06:00

I have lost the habit of being loved. Maybe not really. Getting away from home again for the second time is all-the-more difficult for me as this is easily not the greatest of feelings. Especially, after visiting home in a year. But people say, life moves on. For me, it’s simply difficult. I have been through a lot lately. Things aren’t the way I’d expected. There is something called love that’s taking the toll on me. And no questions asked; no reasons explained. Maybe this is the paradox with love!

Why is it that people who love each other so much have to be parted eventually? Is this some kind of a f*****’ rule? Why doesn’t love take precedence over social dogma? Makes me feel so sick! Isn’t it a f*****’ crime to keep two people who love away from each other physically and emotionally? But, life moves on! I had always thought that love knew no boundaries, love knew no distance, and love knew no obstacles, but I have learnt that that love is even beyond all this- love knows nothing!

I have had the better half of the waiting times to get some good moments in my life. Some moments which are easily the most beautiful didn’t come by as easily as they would have. I had to actually wait to win those moments, and when the moment arrived, it was inexpressible. I guess I have become used to such situations wherein the wait was worthwhile, while in this case the wait brought me immense pain and discomfort. I sometimes feel that I have lost the reason to live. The very penchant for life is missing. The worst part is the misunderstanding. I must confess, no relationship is genuine without some petty quarrels. And that’s what makes a relationship stronger than before. It must not be misunderstood or misrepresented as ‘the very sickening’ “break-up”! Please.

Is really everything that happens, happens for good? I do not know yet, but all I know is that whatever happens is practical and has never been anticipated earlier. Sometimes, never even thought of! Maybe that’s why it is convenient to hide the pain in the pretext of “happens for (f*****’) good!” And ya, you think life moves on? Ask me. These entire thoughts gush through my mind while I am far away from home sitting at Gate 52 of Terminal 1 of the London Heathrow Airport awaiting my connecting flight to Chicago and watching the news of hurricane Ike ripping across Texas. Feels like something has ripped through my heart, too. It’s not all about me, it’s about us.

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Wo Hyderabad nahin raha..

2008-08-22T00:22:00.002-06:00

Dekha tha maine ek Hyderabad
Jaana tha maine jis shehar ko..
Wo shehar nahin raha,
Pyaar kiya tha maine jis ko..
Wo pyaar nahin raha..
Bahut dukh aur dard ki baat hai, ke..
Hyderabad wo Hyderabad nahin raha..

10 days to go!

2008-07-24T13:09:00.002-06:00

Nickelback - Savin' me

2008-07-10T19:14:00.000-06:00

Goodbye to XP?

2008-06-30T23:55:00.004-06:00

[From msn.com ]

Wave goodbye to Windows XP, as the nearly seven year old operating system will finally be closing its doors because Microsoft has announced that it will no longer sell the operating system after June 30, according to reports.

Before you start having an aneurysm, there's a few key exceptions to allow you to get your XP fix beyond today. Versions of XP will still be on sale at smaller PC shops until the end of January and Microsoft will continue to produce a version of XP exclusively for low-end laptops like the Asus Eee. Dell and other PC manufacturers will also allow you to revert to XP when you buy high-end Vista systems.

Don't hold onto the XP past

Of course, you could always sign a petition, but really, what good will that do? The demise of XP is one that is long overdue and despite what the Windows faithful may think, there's other options out there. Apple's OS X has proved itself as a worthy contender and Linux is always waiting in the wings as a solid choice. And let's not forget about Vista.

Like that old and ratty teddy bear, it's time to hang up XP and move on. There's greener pastures out there, and they go by the name Vista, but the haze of years of bad publicity has made it hard to see.

Karan Johar's next film

2008-05-20T15:53:00.013-06:00

Karan Johar is busy working on Koffee With Karan, but he has been on a secret hush-hush mission to the States. Now one would think why is he in the USA? The reason is that he is meeting world leaders and ambassadors for a film on terrorism. Yes, I said it. Terrorism is the subject of Karan Johar’s next big directorial venture. It is a sensitive and topical global issue that requires a lot of research. “Unlike my other films, my next directorial venture goes into an area that I need to get completely right before going on the floors. I’m therefore in the US for three weeks meeting people from various religious, social and humanitarian organisations. None of my films so far have required me to go much beyond my imagination,” says Karan. He says it’s too early to elaborate on his project. “But it raises issues that concern us in an immediate way. We cannot turn away from them, because they stare into our faces and conscience every morning from the newspapers,” says Karan.

All he is ready to divulge now is that it will have Shah Rukh Khan in it for sure. But not only that, the film itself will be titled ‘Khan’. Karan Johar will keep the letter K, as he has for his last three films, and this time around it will be named after the star himself. No other actors have yet been cast, but insiders say that Karan has a script, and is doing the final touches to it.

One final hot news about the film, it will have no songs. This will be a first for Karan Johar, as his films rely on the popularity of its music, and sometimes the music tends to be better than the films themselves. ‘Khan’ will have soundtrack, similar to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black, but no songs as per normal in Bollywood. As a matter of fact, Karan was inspired by Bhansali, “You could say that,” says Karan. “I’ve always admired Sanjay’s work and made no bones about it. To go song-less in my next directorial venture is a decision dictated more by the theme than by any extraneous forces. I can’t see songs breaking into my next film’s narrative. But it isn’t as if there will be no songs! Though no one will sing, there will definitely be music and songs in the background.” Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are favourites to pen the score again.

On when he will make an official announcement, Karan says “I will soon announce my next film. I have not done it because I am so tied up with my new season of `Koffee With Karan’.”

Karan has not revealed the story to anyone, but a little about it is known. ‘Khan’ will see Shah Rukh Khan play a world renowned peace activist, who is kidnapped by ‘Islamic’ terrorists, and has to negotiate his own way out. The difference in this story is that ‘Khan’ will be more affectionate towards his kidnappers, and once out of captive, begins to work for the goal they are trying to achieve. He reaches his goal and makes peace where no one thought was possible. The film’s first part will be similar to Tom Cruise’s epic ‘The Last Samurai’. However, the second part will be totally inventive and fresh. Karan hopes to send out a global message to ‘terrorists’ and world leaders through this film. The film could release as early as Diwali 2008.

Blacksmithing at the School of Mines

2008-05-15T15:06:00.008-06:00

NEWS FROM THE S.D. School of Mines

Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Dana Medlin and colleagues are Back in Black.

Medlin, associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, is the principal investigator on the project, which is a course, curriculum, and laboratory improvement project that focuses on integrating the art and science of blacksmithing into the engineering curriculum. Medlin is joined on the project by Dr. Jon Kellar, chair and professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Stuart Kellogg, chair and Pietz professor, industrial engineering; James Rattling Leaf of Sinte Gleska University, Dr. Michael West, assistant professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, and Ms. Deborah Mitchell, associate professor, humanities, and director of the APEX Gallery.

The project took root several years ago when materials and metallurgical engineering faculty encountered high school students that had developed an interest in blacksmithing. These students were unique in that they were interested in both the hands-on aspect of the craft and the engineering behind it. These encounters triggered discussions among the faculty as to how they could use blacksmithing as a tool to garner student interest and understanding in metallurgical engineering, physical science, and engineering as a whole.

During the summer of 2006, they worked with a number of summer camp students on metalworking, and the results were so encouraging that the concept was introduced to more than 200 School of Mines students in an introduction to engineering course. The interest garnered from these students led to the creation of an extracurricular program called the weekly Hammer-In. The Hammer-In is an open forge time every Friday afternoon that attracts an average of 15-20 students each week.

The interest shown by students wasn't the only positive, though--Medlin noticed in course discussions that those students with hands-on experience with blacksmithing techniques had a better grasp of many metallurgical engineering concepts.

"We wanted to use blacksmithing as a gateway to improve the undergraduate student understanding and application of fundamental structure/property relationships relevant to all materials," Medlin said. "Blacksmithing will give students more of a hands-on approach to learning these concepts early in their academic career and hopefully better comprehension and application of these concepts in the more advanced metallurgical engineering courses."

Sophomore through senior laboratories are being redesigned to include metalworking components with the thought that integrating the hands-on aspects of blacksmithing into the curriculum will lead to improved student understanding.

Another important aspect of the project is outreach. The outreach portion of the projects was implemented with the goal of increasing participation in engineering by females and minority students."We found that most middle school, high school, and even undergraduate students are not familiar with metallurgical engineering until their second or third year of college. Usually, this is too late to successfully recruit new students into the program," Medlin said. "Using blacksmithing as an outreach tool captures students' attention, even at the middle school level, and gives them a memorable hands-on blacksmithing experience that also introduces them to the basic concepts of metallurgical engineering."

These hands-on demonstrations will also occur with middle- and high-school students that are on campus for activities and summer camps, such as the Youth Engineering Adventure, Science Technology Engineering Preview Summer Camp for Girls, and Engineer's Week activities.

The power of blacksmithing allows the students to take something old and create something new. Back in Black uses that idea to transform traditional engineering into something exciting and dynamic, and shows the students that they can shape their education as readily as the metal they are working with.

Source: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology- News.

Volkswagen 1-Liter car in 2010?

2008-05-09T12:31:00.000-06:00

Although you can definitely pre-order an Aptera if you're okay with space-aged design, Volkswagen is hoping to provide another option for those looking for ridiculous MPG and a little bit of normalcy in construction. Okay, so maybe the 1-Liter isn't exactly standard fare -- with its plastic / magnesium shell and all-glass roof -- but at least it packs four whole wheels and an iconic VW badge, right? According to Motor Authority, the automaker will be producing said vehicle and pushing it to market as early as 2010, and while the minuscule engine will only take you to 75MPH, it will still seat two people -- one in front of the other, though -- and get around 235MPG!! (Believe that!!) No word on a price or any of that good stuff, it's heard that they'll only be produced in "limited numbers" whenever they're launched. For sure, this will be better than Tata's Nano, which I'm sure cannot beat the mileage of this VW. Well, just keeps me wondering if there's any end to the possibilities of imagination and creation by the human mind and engineers. Kudos, Volkswagon!

To read more, follow these links: Link 1, Link 2.

I'm with you

2008-05-08T16:43:00.009-06:00

I'm With You is a pop rock song written by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne and The Matrix (Scott Spock, Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards) for Lavigne's debut album, Let Go, and was Lavigne's first ballad released as a single.

It was released as the album's third single in 2002 and 2003. It reached number one in Mexico, the top five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (Lavigne's third single to reach the top ten), the top ten in the United Kingdom and the top twenty in Canada. "I'm With You" received radio and television airplay in Australia, but it was not released there so that sales of the album Let Go would increase. It was used in the film Bruce Almighty. The single's music video, directed by renowned photographer David LaChapelle, involves Lavigne, who is seen alone, trying to find someone. Most of the video is in slow motion but Lavigne's mouth movements are in sync with the song's vocals. This was achieved by recording the footage while the song was played twice as fast. "I'm With You" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Song of the Year, and for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance but lost to Luther Vandross's "Dance with My Father" and Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" respectively.

And of course, it's one of my favorite tracks and videos of Avril.

Dedicated to my love. I am with you. Always.

My Golden Miss: Revisited

2008-04-02T23:29:00.001-06:00

May my Golden Miss glitter tonight. May she be loved by all. May she unleash the beauty and warmth of her smile and engulf the world. May my Golden Miss be loved, cared and pampered by all. May the light of good, faith, wisdom and love shower on her and keep her protected and cared. May hatred and darkness never prevail on my Golden Miss. May she have the best of everything life has to offer.

I wish my Golden Miss remains the way she is and keeps the spirit of nature's solidarity alive and remain as beautiful as ever. Wish that the Almighty takes away her tears and give her all the love and affection she deserves. I wish to see my Golden Miss in all her glory and shine above all mortals in this world.

May your heart live as beautifully and gracefully as ever and continue to fill love in my heart and bring smiles to all the lovely people around you. Love u, my Golden Miss.

When you're gone

2008-02-03T01:36:00.002-07:00

This is Avril Lavigne performing live at Calgary, Canada. This 'has become' one of my favorite tracks of Avril, of late. Enjoy it in hi-def!