Thursday, December 21, 2006

New Year wishes to those who..

To those who love to sleep but always wake up in a good mood,
to those who still kiss when they say hello,
to those who work hard and have even more fun,
to those who rush to work, but don't honk at the traffic lights ,
to those who arrive late but don't look for excuses,
to those who switch off the television to make conversation,
to those who are happy when they do twice as much,
to those who wake up early to help a friend,
to those who have the enthusiasm of a child and the thoughts of an adult,
to those who only see black when it is dark,
to those who don't wait until New year time to start new good habit to be a better human being

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!!

Monday, December 18, 2006

too late yet too soon...its..'You' finally

So the Time person of the year is you. Otherwise know as "US".

Time magazine is catchup instead of leading. what new about 'You'? already, BBC called 2005 as 'Year of Digital Citizen'

"Twelve months ago, it was clear the mass consumer was going to have at his or her disposal many more gadgets with greater capacity to record, store and share content. It was going to be a year in which people started to challenge those who traditionally provide us with content, be it news, music, or movies....
- BBC
OK, masses have never really had a very powerful voice until technology, the internet and blogging have turned everything upside down and reversed the power based.

"But look at 2006 through a different lens and you’ll see another story, one that isn’t about conflict or great men. It’s a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. . . . It’s about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes. . . .

The new Web is a very different thing. It’s a tool for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter. Silicon Valley consultants call it Web 2.0, as if it were a new version of some old software. But it’s really a revolution. . . .

And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME’s Person of the Year for 2006 is you. . . .
- Times
Remember reading interesting argument - its both too soon and too late to recognize “You” because, what will make “You” interesting hasn’t happened yet. Yes, “You” are TiVo-ing, customizing ringtones and downloading music/movies, but in numbers that matter “You” aren’t yet uploading your own television commercials, forming your own social networks, creating newscasts or even linking to each other’s blogs. Perhaps, in a year in which so much has happened involving so many notable people, “They” couldn’t decide. Or perhaps “They” they were being clever. Or lazy. But wise? “I” don’t think so.

for better IQ.. if that matters

was reading an article about IQ. IQ(Intelligence Quotient) is ratio of tested mental age to chronological age, usually expressed as a quotient multiplied by 100.

I always thought- having good IQ proves nothing and does not means success, because :

  • I never to manage to score high. I loved it when E.I. book was published (wow, now I have offical study/excuse).
  • Test pattern sure does have a problem since recent IQ test asked which of four fruits was different. It was the one with more than one seed; but what if you were not familiar with these fruits? Obviously this test is culturally biased. You are assumed to have certain knowledge, yet you are being tested for intelligence, not knowledge. Similar rearranging words to name places, country, ocean,etc.. clearly this would be found thru method of elimination. clearly this a test-taking-ability. so a person bound to score higher than another person of equal intelligence who hasn't learned simple techniques for scoring higher on multiple - choice tests.
  • Reality: Do we know IQ for Sachin Tendulkar? who cares? Now, good example is Laloo's is new avatur. the man is doing what he doing by surrounding himself with intelligent people.
Ofcourse, an imperfect test is better than no test. I and may be you agreeing IQ test methods are not perfect doesnt prove anything. You are bound to ask my IQ scores and so do others with you. right?!

I noticed few interesting 'to-do' points from a study for better brainpower :
  • Good thinking habits: Just use a problem solving technique for several weeks and it will become a habit. Redesign everything you see for a while, and that will become a habit. You can develop many good thinking habits with some effort, and then be more resourceful effortlessly from that point on. Use the power of habit. may be you would want to start with Sudoku.
  • Learn a language: Learning a new language has been shown to halt the age-related decline in brain function. It also introduces your mind to new concepts and new ways of looking at things (in English we are afraid, whereas in Spanish we have fear). It is one of the best brain exercises.
  • Blog: Yes, that you read correctly 'Blog'. Writing is good for your mind in a number of ways. It is a way to tell your memory what is important, so you'll recall things more easily in the future. It is a way to clarify your thinking.
  • Ask questions: This is a great way to keep your brain in shape. Just get in the habit of asking questions often, even if it is only in your own mind.
  • Imaginary friends: Talking to and getting advice from characters in your mind can be a great way to access the information in your subconscious mind. Imagine a conversation with a person who has a lot of knowledge in the area you want advice in.
  • Talk: Talking is only good for the brain if you are actually exercising it, of course. Try explaining something that you don't understand very well to a friend, though, and you'll notice that the process of explaining will help you clarify your understanding.
  • Adjust your beliefs: Believe you are smarter, and you'll become smarter.
  • Model others: Find others that are creative, intelligent, or very productive. Do what they do, and think what they think. (ofcourse, take advices NOT decisions)
  • Breath deep: More air in means more oxygen in the blood and therefore in the brain. Breath through your nose and you'll notice that you use your diaphragm more, drawing air deeper into your lungs. Several deep breaths can also help to relax you, which is conducive to clearer thinking.
  • Sleep better: As long as you get a certain amount of sleep - probably a minimum of five hours - the quality seems to be more important than the quantity.
  • Sit up straight: Posture affects your thinking process. Prove it to yourself by doing math in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do the mental math while sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards. You'll notice that it's easier to think with the latter posture.
  • Food: Eat less, Eat breakfast, Olive oil is good, drink wine. Vitamin E, C(organe juice)

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Google Analytics for blogs

for all those who dont care about reader traffic/count on there blog sites - Good bye for now and do stopover for next post. Others read on



Google Analytics is free service to monitor and understand your site traffice. adding the Google Analytics tracking code to your website is easy—simply add the JavaScript snippet to the source code. Web analytics is the analysis of the data generated by visitors to Web sites -- the pages they visit, the ads they click on, and various related metrics -- for the purpose of marketing and content optimization. Google Analytics has been updated to integrate with the company's AdWords advertising service, enabling marketers to obtain ROI metrics without the need to import ad campaign data. It also includes new summary views of traffic and trends, preformatted for executives, marketers, and Webmasters.

Big advantage - since I already have gmail id, I dont need to create new account/id.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

rain rain... come again..

its raining in my part of the world.. so what do I do..!?, take photographs.

wow, Rain is such delight. I like the feeling of it fall on my face....

reminds me those raindays - while running back from school through the puddles to got soaked.. looking at open sky hoping to catch all drop in my mouth...

...Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts...- Charles Dickens

Monday, December 11, 2006

Remote access to your PC from anywhere

LogMeIn(http://www.logmein.com/) is a free service which allows you to login your home PC from anywhere via brandband.

How: Create logmein account. Install necessary free application for your home PC and add your home PC to your logmein account. Make sure logmein runs as service in your home PC. Signin to your logmein account from else where to access your home PC.

I haven't tested this myself yet. but very excitied to do so(may be overthe weekend). If it works as promissed than uses are mulitple:

  • I dont need to upload photos & video for my family to see instead, I can simple copy to my home PC
  • I can access songs/movies from home PC.
  • Guests Invie - allows you to share your pc for remote collaboration on some tasks.
(watch-out)will test & blog my experience

Meanwhile if anyone already tried this service, please post your comments.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Ganguly.. rescued India

Sourav Ganguly batted with a mission in raising the highest score yet by an Indian batsman on the tour so far, on the first day of the warm-up game against Rest of South Africa on Thursday.

His score of unbeaten 70 helped India to reach 184/5 at end of day1.

wish n pray,.. he does well and silence his critics.. he was best captain ever for India and he deserve better signoff from the game...

Good Luck Daba..

Friday, December 08, 2006

Kiran Desai in news again..

Kiran Desai's first novel "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" was published to some acclaim. Did well in aboard but in india. She was criticized for romanticizing India; all this exoticism about guavas and mangoes didn't sit well with people for whom those fruits are as familiar as apples are to us.

Now her second book "The Inheritance of Loss" is also in news. It has created a hullabaloo in Nepal with readers calling her insensitive, colonial and prejudiced. wonder, what its all about? guess, I will need to buy the book after-all.
Book had already won the Man Booker prize for fiction this year.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

mapping my "Chennai"

for my organization's internal magazine, I was asked write about my hometown. hope this(below) would gives good intro to the city.

mapping my "Chennai"
Madras, which recently reverted to its historical name Chennai, is the capital of the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is the fourth largest metropolis of India, located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal where the sea is a rhapsodist blue, hugging the second largest beach in the world.

The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort Saint George and gradually absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. Despite the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional culture and effectively blended it with the foreign influence. Even after almost 60years of free India, one cannot fail to notice the dominant British influences in the form of old cathedrals and buildings. However, though the English legacy is undeniable, Chennai has continued to be a centre, which has blended the foreign influence with the traditional Tamil-Hindu culture. Chennai's culture reflects its diverse population estimated close to 7 million. The city is also famous for its classical dance (Bharatanatyam) shows. It hosts five week-long Music season during Nov-Dec every year, which has been described as one of the world's largest cultural events.

Chennai has many monuments and temples exemplyfying the contributions of the ancient dynasties of Dravidian civilization. Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Thanjavur are good examples of temple towns where within the temple fortifications grew a multi layered society that preached faith and grew from social harmony. Kanchipuram, also called Kanjeevaram, is famous throughout the country as the center where lustrous silk sarees are woven. Likewise Thanjavur is an important center for bronze figure casting. Mahabalipuram, with its wealth of sculptures, is located by the seaside and has excellent resorts.

Particularly charming features of Chennai are its allegiance to ancient traditions, no matter how modernized it has become, and its willingness to spread out further rather than develop into a multi-storey concrete jungle. The result is a widespread city still open to skies; green, airy city with several vestiges of its rural past; a city that adheres to the leisurely tempo of life of a world of yesterday; a city whose values of another day still survive midst of the humdrum bustle of today; a city that still retains the charm, culture and courtesies of the ages, a city which will always remain close to my heart, a city which had seen my youth and most certainly, which will see my old days as well.