Greetings all! Been a while since I blogged because I’ve been occupied with tons and tons of other work, mainly Pragyan ‘09. I handle the blog over there, so until Valentine’s day, I’m kinda busy.. *grin*.
Gonna plug the site now. Go to www.pragyan.org and check it out! Tell us what you think, we’ve worked hard on it, pulled many all-nighters, and also gotten many copy cats ripping us off already..
See ya’ll soon, hopefully at Pragyan ‘09!
I don’t put news on my blog, but this I think is critical for everyone. Please do it asap! Personally, I use Firefox, the coolest browser around but since IE is installed by default I ended up updating it just in case some nut tried to open IE on my system *grin*.
For all of you who are using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, your computer is at serious risk. Update and patch your IE asap. This is official and the patch was released yesterday. Best to use Windows Update as it gauges which one you need on its own. But if you got that switched off, download it over here:
This security update resolves a publicly disclosed vulnerability. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
This security update is rated Critical for Internet Explorer 5.01, Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1, and Internet Explorer 7.
External details here
My internet is over the limit. Nothing new, it usually happens when I get home. But this month it’s an issue as the month has barely started, and I am home for the whole of it! I usually take care not to let this happen, but it still manages to happen. Almost all the time. I did not download any big file, or any updates. I guess my surfing patterns have just become more intense!
I hardly have a minute free, wondering what I can do when I am online. It’s not necessarily work, but my workspace is constantly buzzing and full of activity. And by workspace I mean my dear Firefox window (which by the way is the coolest browser. Ever. If you’re using anything else, I pity you). The past few months like I mentioned in my previous posts have been a bit different. I’m now using the web in more ways than before. Earlier, it was primarily the forums where I moderate, gmail, NITTians.com, orkut at times and meebo. Now, the list reads something like this: Updates all the time, gmail (which is getting better everyday), NITTians.com, meebo (the awesomest chat client ever), Facebook, (No more orkut, I got sick of it after it linked my chat account to it, grr) Google Reader, Delicious, Digg, PCWorld, Pragyan, Washington Post, Dave Barry (If you don’t know this guy or haven’t read his stuff, you’re missing out on a LOT!), and the numerous places that I am led through via reader! Now that’s quite a lot and as you can see I spend a lot of time reading online. I love to read absolutely. The title of this post is from one of Jeffery Deaver’s novels. For all you computer guys out there, hackers, and techno lovers, pick this one up – you’ll love it. (You don’t need to necessarily be fundoo-ish either to enjoy it.)
The lovely thing about Web 2.0 is that you constantly have things to do, it’s interactive and updates keep streaming in. RSS has made life simple, gmail is no longer just mail, I get to know what’s hot through social bookmarking and also have a chance to have my word in it. Since I hardly read the paper anymore I have custom news delivered to me. I still get to know what’s happening in the world, but without the bits and pieces I detest.
…and my internet is still over the limit *grin*. So until next time -
Hasta manana.
I’m back! It really has been a while since I’ve blogged. Unlike what my last post might’ve suggested, I was not taking any kind of break nor was I frustrated to blog! It just happened that my last post happened to be that. I’m on vacation and it’s a much needed break after a long time. Been a while since I have not been working or doing something important during the holidays and I have decided that this one is to be lazy, to be a pig, to be a glutton, to sleep, to roam and basically enjoy.
Now as to what has been keeping me busy. University applications, Pragyan work, Magic work, and unfortunately a bit of course work as well. I have had long days editing those very important SOPs, resumes, recos, and what not. Thankfully I finished mine quite in advance and was able to settle down and give whatever input I could to my friends. These days my gmail inbox is bulging outwards like no other. I have resorted to creating 3 new labels! And that for me is not normal! I like things being all neat and organized starting from my gmail *grin*. After realizing that I’m getting stuff which I will have to postpone or atleast segregate so that I remain sane, I took the big step.
Another crazy thing happened between me and gmail a few weeks back was when they released their new themes (which I think frankly suck, and look gay). I have a habit of never signing off and leaving my account open for ages and ages. The theme implementation began during one of these stretches and to my shock gmail changed me into some horrid looking color scheme – which I could not change! Argh! There was no ‘theme’ button in my settings and I had to sit for 2 whole days with ugly blues and purples stinging my eyes. Finally though, gmail decided to take pity on me I was able to choose my own mode of ocular irritation.
..and I have fallen in love with Google Reader. For those of you who don’t use it or know about it, do give it a try and explore it. It has taken a place in my computer dashboard on sites I always open once I go live on the interweb. More info on this, Pragyan, social bookmarking, landing pages, live feeds, news, and much more of the things I have started or discovered during my hiatus shortly. Done for now, but will be back!
Hasta manana.
Everything seems to be a blur. I’m a machine with no feelings. I don’t care, I don’t bother. Lodge me into a canon and blast me away to some far off land. I wish I could. The world is a strange, queer place filled with depressing creatures. The newspaper is full of negativity, the television is filled with carnage and suffering, people killing each other, violence, hatred, and recently status messages on my chat lists also depress me! I’ve cut down heavily and lost interest in the former two. The latter is not something that I will be able to get rid off very soon. It is rare to see a happy person. I cannot claim that I am the happiest person in the world, but I try to be. Well, atleast I try to keep the people around me happy.
It’s just all very boring, mechanical, repeated, overdone, trite, and hackneyed. In some ways, you could probably have a no worries attitude like the joker. That’s probably taking it to the extreme but you see what I mean. Stop cribbing about dumb things, thinking about depressing things about the past and taking ages to get over it. Looks like I’m vented out too much frustration today. I’m taking a chill pill now.
Hasta manana.
Sometimes it’s difficult to judge people. Human emotion is something that wavers a lot. I’ve seen it going from extremely bubbly and happy to just sour and bitter. It’s weird and I’ll probably never understand it completely like I wish to. But oh well, if I was that good I would be elsewhere. Anyways today was a day of mixed emotions; not exactly for me but for one of my good friends. I really don’t know clearly what’s bothering her but I hope it goes away and she gets back to normal. So.. if you’re reading this, go cheer up and gimme a big smile buddy *grin!*. However, I plan to defer this post by a day since I’ve already blogged today and that’s possible because of this lovely feature in wordpress.
I was supposed to have a meeting at 5:30 today, and was supposed to meet someone else a bit before that. My lab got over earlier as usual and I headed to the lab to chill out on the interweb. Felt lazy to go back to my room and come back after changing outta my lab clothes so I decided to look smart and attend the meeting in my brilliant brown attire, heh. As luck would have it, the meeting was called off and that meant more time spent on the interweb. And I actually ended up sitting here till 8:45. However the last hour was kinda forced as it started pouring once I decided to head out to dinner. So there went my dinner plans, down the drain literally. It stopped raining and I took the mushy, goopy, watery walk back to hostel via the mess. Looks like the food was nearly done (nothing new) and just as I sat down to eat, we lost power (again as scheduled from 9pm for an hour; I just hardly remember things like this). So I ate what I could and realized what a phenomenal waste of effort and time it was to head to the mess to eat that stuff in the first place. Then began the mushy, goopy, watery and now dark walk back to the lab. And now, here I am typing this out.
I love the rain, but rain coupled with hunger, slimy ground, dark environment, large dirty puddles, and having to walk through it all is just plain yuck.
Before I end, I’d like you all to check out this link: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/did-you-know-india-won-two-gold-medals-at-beijing/72600-3.html
Hasta manana.
One of the things I’m in charge of for the next few months is to build a solid foundation for the years to come. And this involves plenty of notes, keeping track, updates, documenting, etc. A couple of years back this may have sounded like plenty of paper work. And it probably still does to an extent. I’ve always been a fan of digitizing what is possible and today I felt some pain in transfering stuff into ’soft’ form which was suggested and probably should have been soft in the first place.
So, I’ve decided that everything else (alteast most of it) will be ’soft’ and easily accessible and editable. Tons of stuff can be carried in your pocket. I just hope it doesn’t result in ‘chaos’ *wink*.
Last night’s dinner was amazing. Had a wonderful time chilling with a good friend. It’s amazing how time flies when you’re with special people *grin*! I wish there are many more moments such as those. Everyday would become something to look forward to. There was something we were discussing on the way back that just came to my mind. Is there a point in worrying about something that you may really have no control over? Let’s take the example we discussed. We had to be back by 10pm. We were on the bus. The bus was headed towards our destination. This is the fastest way to get back. However, there’s a feeling inside us that keeps saying, “Uh oh.. I’m probably gonna get late!!” Now, the bus ride and speed and all those factors really aren’t under our control. Regardless of anything there’s nothing we can do to go faster (unless of course you are extreme and have guerilla training). So, why worry about it at all?! (<– note the interrobang) I would say just take it easy, relax and let things come and go. Live in the present and take it easy; atleast in situations like these where nothing can really be manipulated. Well, that’s what I think. And this is my blog so I write what I think. Yeah – go me!
.. oh and I figured some interesting stuff about the word digitalization. Some places claim it’s not a word. And it’s a medical term to those who recognize its existence which means, “The administration of digitalis in a dosage schedule designed to produce and then maintain optimal therapeutic concentrations of its cardiotonic glycosides.” Cool sounding.
Hasta manana.
Been a couple of days since I sat down to scribble. I’ve just been a bit more swamped than usual and ironically my last post was about ‘Peace‘, ha! I see a lot of activity these days on nittians.com, and we have crossed 22,000 views! And it looks like my blog has crossed 1,000 views a few days back as well, hurrah!
There’s been a lot going on of late, cycle tests, inductions, finalizations, drama, confusion, anxiety and to add to it all – power failures. The last one probably being the most irritating of them all. It’s weird that we lose power SO many times in a day. I believe according to schedule it’s between 10am and 11am everyday. However I’ve noticed that this is by far not the only schedule the electric guys are following. I remember a day when the power was shut off between 5pm and 6pm, and then again between 10pm and 11pm, and sometime early in the morning as well. Come on, that’s close to 1/6 of the day! But, none of us use candles and lamps and actually stay up burning the midnight oil *grin*. It’s just a convenient excuse to take a break from cramming.
Apart from that I’m trying to find some time to squeeze out the changes I have in mind for nittians.com. Hopefully soon a newer version will go live. I’m still yet to put in the new version of WP into it, but seriously I don’t think it matters much. I’ve modded my admin panel over there to suit me, and I have all the plugins I need. I’m a bit apprehensive that some of the plugins won’t have upward support.
The magic scene seems to be going pretty well and Festember 08 is just around the corner. Looks like I’ll probably be strolling around this year as well with a pack of cards *grin*. Just like the earlier editions, you’ll probably get some more live footage which I will share if it turns out well. And remember – no sleeves!
Hasta manana.
I’m at peace. Atleast for a week. Took an exam today and it went decently well. As always my travel plans are usually kinda messed up and screwy and end up being last minute decisions. I had a ticket to return tonight but then decided against it. Bunking tomorrow and the day after and then heading back to campus on Sunday with my other ticket. Not much of a difference considering that I was ‘present’ for 2/3rds of the day today even being around 200 miles away. Thanks to some good friends *grin*! Nothing really happening, but I do have some plans for this week. Or atleast I think I do; if not I should probably get to making them.
Hasta manana.
I got an email yesterday asking to confirm that I would be doing a lab tour today at 2pm. Everything was fine and I was ready to do it. The only problem is that I am 8,000 miles away from the lab. So, I shot a reply back saying that I would love to do it but it was a bit of a short notice thing and I wouldn’t be able to make it (And of course with a proper reason *grin*!). Anyways, I thought it was pretty cool. It’s amazing that email has become such an essential part of life these days. Schedules, appointments, meetings, almost everything is conveyed over email. I would probably not meet a person for a week, but am still in close touch with them. I can do so much from here including logging into a computer 8,000 miles away or pretending to be a person located 8,000 miles away. Maybe one day I can control the way our college runs from Azerbaijan. Well, maybe not. I would do better things with such power, mwhaha!
I think the physical divide is yet to be conquered. Maybe soon that will be overcome. Moving objects remotely, making things happen a couple of miles away. We already have spaceships and remote controls, but something on a smaller, more accessible scale. Ok, enough with the geek stuff.
Yesterday Skype renewed my free US calling plan. Not that I had asked for it. What’s weird is that I kept getting a notification saying that my account was about to expire and to renew. I knew that and decided that I wouldn’t need a renewal. However, it looks like I was subscribed to this service and it’s on automatic renewal. Brilliant. Anyways, it’s not a bad thing, I’ll probably find good use for it nevertheless. These auto credit card renewals are helpful but sometimes can catch you off guard. I guess that’s a reason there’s a large population in debt when it comes to countries that survive on plastic money.
Hasta manana.
