Finished Dan Brown's 'Deception Point' today. Again, it was a marathon reading - I couldn't afford to give the book more than to-day, as it would eat into my study time (if you are searching for logic here, you are doomed ...).
It's a nice book, and although the plot is again mostly predictable, it is predictable in a way you (or rather I) would want it to be, which kept me glued to the book. The one or two real twists that do come up are too comic-book-dramatic to be believable.
Dan Brown is not a very popular figure in my college. There is this friend who argued that if Dan Brown wants to publish a bunch of lies, he shouldn't mix it up with true facts. The reference was to Dannie's 'Da Vinci Code'. I told her that she was wrong. The book clearly states that it's fiction, and as Steven Spielberg had said - If you want to sell a story, make everything else around it as real as possible. I was discussing this with Pascal today, and although I think I discussed this matter in a rather improper way, he would largely agree with me.
As an other friend, Adil, put it - don't blame the shopkeeper for selling junk you don't need, blame yourself for buying it.
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April 23, 2005
April 21, 2005
TCS
TCS was in our college today, for an "interactive session" with the students. Was mostly useless ... all that was told is easily found on their website. And it lasted barely an hour, simply not enough for us to judge them or them to judge us. The HR person probably had a good lunch though, maybe that is why they visit all the colleges.
April 17, 2005
Musings of an idle mind
What have I learnt in all these days?
Engineering colleges in Mumbai are worthless. At least when it comes to computer engineering. Rohit had written about this a long time ago, about the growing irrelevance of computer engineering. Not that I disagreed with him then, but sometimes some things just make those beliefs stronger. Like the fact that many times in our classrooms, students actually know more than their teachers ...
Emacs rules! It is the best editor around! Now, only if someone could add code completion in it ...
For those who study Theoretical Computer Science : friendship is NOT a reflexive relationship.
Windowmaker is one of the best window managers out there. Download it, and see your productivity multiply! The support for hot-keys is amazing! (actually, it's possible in KDE too, but it simply hogs too much memory).
Real people have real problems. Forget assignments, forget project deadlines, forget submissions ... most have other issues to deal with. Most of us have built superficial relationships all around us. How many of those people are really going to be there when you really need them?
You can't trust blogs anymore (except this one ;). A flurry of fake blogs has dented the credibility of blogs. I read this somewhere on the BBC website. Even I wrote an article regarding ethics for bloggers in the college magazine. Will put it up if possible.
You don't always get what you want. Forget the past, and try to move on, however hard that might be. Keeping others happy doesn't always mean that YOU have to be a part of their happiness. Just let go.
Open source rules! Dhruv just patched XMMS to give me some improved functionality (not that I asked for it, but did anyone ASK for sliced bread? Or the TV remote?).
Rasputin lives. Many still prefer to listen to people who tell them what they like to hear, not what they should hear.
"An OS is a simple program, with complex data structures". How true. After reading up on operating systems, you feel as if the development of OSes has followed a very natural and obvious path, and if it were for you, you too would have probably come up with the same concepts. However, you do find a few gems in the course, for example, the time dependent priorities of Unix processes.
Some people don't work unless forced too. And not all people possess the capability to force them to work. Those that do, are probably good managers. Chingi, someday I'll learn. And brilliant people aren't necessarily the best managers. Noticed this about a teacher of mine.
The CSI National Convention isn't "national" at all. It isn't even fit to be called a local festival. What a colossal waste of resources! The Microsoft guy actually complained about the low attendance, the rest were probably too timid to complain about the largely empty auditorium. And some of the competitions had less than five participants! At least give me good food people.
Most people live artificially. They aren't what they show themselves to be in public. Sometimes, the real person is better than the artificial one. I hope the people for whom this stands true realize it soon.
I need to study.
Engineering colleges in Mumbai are worthless. At least when it comes to computer engineering. Rohit had written about this a long time ago, about the growing irrelevance of computer engineering. Not that I disagreed with him then, but sometimes some things just make those beliefs stronger. Like the fact that many times in our classrooms, students actually know more than their teachers ...
Emacs rules! It is the best editor around! Now, only if someone could add code completion in it ...
For those who study Theoretical Computer Science : friendship is NOT a reflexive relationship.
Windowmaker is one of the best window managers out there. Download it, and see your productivity multiply! The support for hot-keys is amazing! (actually, it's possible in KDE too, but it simply hogs too much memory).
Real people have real problems. Forget assignments, forget project deadlines, forget submissions ... most have other issues to deal with. Most of us have built superficial relationships all around us. How many of those people are really going to be there when you really need them?
You can't trust blogs anymore (except this one ;). A flurry of fake blogs has dented the credibility of blogs. I read this somewhere on the BBC website. Even I wrote an article regarding ethics for bloggers in the college magazine. Will put it up if possible.
You don't always get what you want. Forget the past, and try to move on, however hard that might be. Keeping others happy doesn't always mean that YOU have to be a part of their happiness. Just let go.
Open source rules! Dhruv just patched XMMS to give me some improved functionality (not that I asked for it, but did anyone ASK for sliced bread? Or the TV remote?).
Rasputin lives. Many still prefer to listen to people who tell them what they like to hear, not what they should hear.
"An OS is a simple program, with complex data structures". How true. After reading up on operating systems, you feel as if the development of OSes has followed a very natural and obvious path, and if it were for you, you too would have probably come up with the same concepts. However, you do find a few gems in the course, for example, the time dependent priorities of Unix processes.
Some people don't work unless forced too. And not all people possess the capability to force them to work. Those that do, are probably good managers. Chingi, someday I'll learn. And brilliant people aren't necessarily the best managers. Noticed this about a teacher of mine.
The CSI National Convention isn't "national" at all. It isn't even fit to be called a local festival. What a colossal waste of resources! The Microsoft guy actually complained about the low attendance, the rest were probably too timid to complain about the largely empty auditorium. And some of the competitions had less than five participants! At least give me good food people.
Most people live artificially. They aren't what they show themselves to be in public. Sometimes, the real person is better than the artificial one. I hope the people for whom this stands true realize it soon.
I need to study.
Knock knock ...
Question : Is this really you?
Answer : Yes, this really is me, Sandesh Singh.
Q: Where the hell were you all this while?
A: Well, the modem I used was a borrowed one, and one fine day the person who lent it to me found use for it, so I was left without ...
Q: ... But didn't you get a modem when you bought that PC of yours?
A: Yes I did, but it is a worthless Motorola SM56 which is out of production, and it's drivers are hard to come by. Forget Linux, I couldn't get the XP driver working.
Q: Linux?
A: Yes Linux. It's been my primary OS for months now. Although XP remains, for Quake III Arena, and academic purposes.
Q: So Windows still rules ...
A: Excuse me? No, it doesn't. But it does have it's place in society. More on that later.
Q: So you finally bought a modem ...
A: Uh ... no ... actually, a good friend of mine had a friend who switched over to broadband, so I get to use his modem.
Q: You are one cheap fellow ...
A: Hey ... gimme a broadband connection, I am ready to pay, but I wont spend another paisa on this worthless 56Kbps !
Q: So, what have you been upto?
A: Many things, actually. I have learnt quite a few lessons too. More of that will come up in soon-to-come posts.
Q: How soon?
A: Leave me alone! My vivas are due in a week ... yaar, I need to study too. But I will write as soon as I get the time.
Q: As if I am dying to read your posts ...
A: You aren't?? Crap, what the hell did I write all this
Answer : Yes, this really is me, Sandesh Singh.
Q: Where the hell were you all this while?
A: Well, the modem I used was a borrowed one, and one fine day the person who lent it to me found use for it, so I was left without ...
Q: ... But didn't you get a modem when you bought that PC of yours?
A: Yes I did, but it is a worthless Motorola SM56 which is out of production, and it's drivers are hard to come by. Forget Linux, I couldn't get the XP driver working.
Q: Linux?
A: Yes Linux. It's been my primary OS for months now. Although XP remains, for Quake III Arena, and academic purposes.
Q: So Windows still rules ...
A: Excuse me? No, it doesn't. But it does have it's place in society. More on that later.
Q: So you finally bought a modem ...
A: Uh ... no ... actually, a good friend of mine had a friend who switched over to broadband, so I get to use his modem.
Q: You are one cheap fellow ...
A: Hey ... gimme a broadband connection, I am ready to pay, but I wont spend another paisa on this worthless 56Kbps !
Q: So, what have you been upto?
A: Many things, actually. I have learnt quite a few lessons too. More of that will come up in soon-to-come posts.
Q: How soon?
A: Leave me alone! My vivas are due in a week ... yaar, I need to study too. But I will write as soon as I get the time.
Q: As if I am dying to read your posts ...
A: You aren't?? Crap, what the hell did I write all this
%^&# for, then!?February 25, 2005
God, or no God?
I just finished reading Stephen Hawking's 'A brief History of Time'. Excellent book, people should write more like those ... or maybe I just haven't read enough books.
Among other things, the book rekindled my long lost love for physics. I used to spend hours in the 11th and 12th thinking about why things are the way they are, and I was lucky to have really good teachers at that time, who used to answer my questions. I used to come with so many theories ... trivial, yes, but important to me nevertheless. I have forgotten most of them now, but I don't think I am missing out on any Nobels!
Also, the world-renowned physicist carefully separates those theories that support the existence of God from those that don't. Personally, I have always been on a see-saw in this matter, so I wont make any comments. I am too confused myself, and this book didn't do anything to help me. But it did make me realize that nothing can be branded as un-scientific, not even the question of the existence of God. In fact, the Church routinely inspects new scientific theories and separates those that support the existence of God from those that don't. And scientists, while researching, keep in mind which concepts support the existence of God and which don't. In fact, some even reject theories based on the direction they take!
It really doesn't matter to me. Work is worship. God or no God, that remains my policy.
Among other things, the book rekindled my long lost love for physics. I used to spend hours in the 11th and 12th thinking about why things are the way they are, and I was lucky to have really good teachers at that time, who used to answer my questions. I used to come with so many theories ... trivial, yes, but important to me nevertheless. I have forgotten most of them now, but I don't think I am missing out on any Nobels!
Also, the world-renowned physicist carefully separates those theories that support the existence of God from those that don't. Personally, I have always been on a see-saw in this matter, so I wont make any comments. I am too confused myself, and this book didn't do anything to help me. But it did make me realize that nothing can be branded as un-scientific, not even the question of the existence of God. In fact, the Church routinely inspects new scientific theories and separates those that support the existence of God from those that don't. And scientists, while researching, keep in mind which concepts support the existence of God and which don't. In fact, some even reject theories based on the direction they take!
It really doesn't matter to me. Work is worship. God or no God, that remains my policy.
February 24, 2005
Computers in the human body ???
A question : how many of you believe that the brain is the computer in the human body?
There was a TPP competition in our college as a part of an intra-college fest. One of the entries was on DNA computing (which eventually won the first place). One of the team members, during the presentation, made a statement which went something like "... the DNA molecules in the human body are nothing but computers ...".
The guy sitting next to me got pissed at this. According to him, we statements like "the brain is the human computer" are utter nonsense. The computer is an attempted imitation of the human brain. And a very poor one at that.
Hmm. Will make me think the next time I am comparing the two.
There was a TPP competition in our college as a part of an intra-college fest. One of the entries was on DNA computing (which eventually won the first place). One of the team members, during the presentation, made a statement which went something like "... the DNA molecules in the human body are nothing but computers ...".
The guy sitting next to me got pissed at this. According to him, we statements like "the brain is the human computer" are utter nonsense. The computer is an attempted imitation of the human brain. And a very poor one at that.
Hmm. Will make me think the next time I am comparing the two.
February 13, 2005
Rappelling @ ZEAL 2005
Spiderman, Spiderman,
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies
Look Out!
Here comes the Spiderman.
Is he strong?
Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood.
Can he swing from a thread
Take a look overhead
Hey, there
There goes the Spiderman.
In the chill of night
At the scene of a crime
Like a streak of light
He arrives just in time.
Spiderman, Spiderman
Friendly neighborhood Spiderman
Wealth and fame
He's ingnored
Action is his reward.
To him, life is a great big bang up
Whenever there's a hang up
You'll find the Spider man.
See for yourself ! [ http://sandesh247.freestarthost.com/gallery/rappelling/ ]
February 12, 2005
The beach
Picture this - someone important in a college expires, a holiday is declared, and the students, instead of mourning, decide to make a day of it by going on the beach! Then something goes wrong at the beach - a day that started wonderfully for the students doesn't end as well as expected.
Sounds like fiction? Well, it isn't. This is exactly what happened with our class today. I wont go into the details, but please, if you do go to the beach in a group, be careful. A lot of mischief happens, most of it is not intended to harm anyone, but all you need is one wrong move and someone could get hurt.
It was good however that none of us lost our cool, and got the person hospitalized nearby. Most of us had no previous experience with emergencies, and thankfully, we did not do anything that put the victim into more trouble (although we did come to know later that one of the guys was performing a medical procedure the wrong way).
However, all is well that ends well. The person is now doing just fine. In fact, it turned out to be nothing serious. But maybe we were lucky. Don't let the same happen to any of you.
Sounds like fiction? Well, it isn't. This is exactly what happened with our class today. I wont go into the details, but please, if you do go to the beach in a group, be careful. A lot of mischief happens, most of it is not intended to harm anyone, but all you need is one wrong move and someone could get hurt.
It was good however that none of us lost our cool, and got the person hospitalized nearby. Most of us had no previous experience with emergencies, and thankfully, we did not do anything that put the victim into more trouble (although we did come to know later that one of the guys was performing a medical procedure the wrong way).
However, all is well that ends well. The person is now doing just fine. In fact, it turned out to be nothing serious. But maybe we were lucky. Don't let the same happen to any of you.
February 06, 2005
Adios ... ZEAL
Phew !! Just finished with the intra-college fest of ours, ZEAL 2005. Didn't take up much responsibilities this time, therefore I wasn't really that busy, like some of my friends. I have really begun to hate the politics at such fests - this time, too, there was a major argument among the event heads, with some of them threatening to resign. I still don't know whether matters have been settled yet.
Anyway, ZEAL has gone now, with me having burst balloons, threaded needles, scaled down a building, danced, sung ... etc. I also won the 2nd place in the mock interview. I had a lot of fun, and it's really disappointing to have to go to college now to sit in the classrooms.
BTW, my results came out a few days back. I passed with 60%.
Anyway, ZEAL has gone now, with me having burst balloons, threaded needles, scaled down a building, danced, sung ... etc. I also won the 2nd place in the mock interview. I had a lot of fun, and it's really disappointing to have to go to college now to sit in the classrooms.
BTW, my results came out a few days back. I passed with 60%.
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