We joined the company on June 1st, 2006. Around a hundred odd of us fresh graduates. And we wanted a freshers' party. It seemed as if this wasn't to be, but one fine day, we received word that we will have a "party" at a five star hotel. It was titled "Ice Breaking and Team Building Program". All of the partyheaded people just concentrated on the "ice breaking" in the name and forgot to look beyond the title into the itinerary for the day which clearly indicated a full day of "fun".
Something fishy, don't you think. An all-day-long party. Now that's not gonna happen, is it. So anyhoo, we reached the designated place, and "surprise", there was no party. It was in-fact just another day of the programs that all HR divisions in companies speak of with unprecedented glee, some kinda motivational talk/lecture that was to continue for all the day. Some party.
Then again, we are all a bunch of hotheaded newcomers into the corporate world of treachery and backstabbing. We agitated against the wrongs that had been done to us, or rather "protested" (as my dad would like us to call it - protest is a positive word compared to agitation). Surprisingly, our protests did not go to waste. We got a mail that we will be having a “Poolside” dinner with the HR Big Boss and our “buddies” who have been recently appointed to guide us during our training and accompany us on the outbound. Word spread around of the party, and some more digging around brought to light the facts the there will be a DJ, and most importantly (for a majority, not everyone) booze.
And a party it was. I got to drive the car to the venue, a privilege level that I have only recently achieved. Picked up a few friends on the way, and reached there really late, thanks to the Delhi-Gurgaon traffic jam. At first, it seemed that the digging around hadn’t given the correct information, but soon all that was promised was delivered.
The DJ, the dance floor and the rest of the stuff. Almost two hours of almost non-stop dancing (and in my case, jumping around on the dance floor) to the beats. Flashes of cameras capturing the moments. Shouts of excited people. The smiles on the faces of the “grown-ups” who preferred to sit and watch. And it was also a good day for one of us whose birthday coincided with the party.
The food was brilliant, with a wide selection of tasty items. The cake and the ice cream as a part of the dessert were nice. The three hours spent there were real great. My numb and “still in pain” legs are a testament to the party mood. (Trust me, I don’t usually jump around on dance floors). It really was a lot of fun. It was what parties are supposed to be :)
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
the Unmetalled Highway of Life
The Unmetalled Highway of life is a tough road to ride upon. There are twists and turns. There are bumps and potholes. You ride over some smaller obstacles, you swerve through some larger ones, but then the inevitable happens.
You have a fall. You get hurt but the bruises do not appear on your skin. You are in pain but have nothing to show for the fall you just had.
And then when you look ahead, the highway streches on ahead of you for millions of miles. You try to shrug off the fall, shake the dust off yourself, get back on your ride and try to carry on. With the hope that perhaps next time you will be able to maneuver past the bumps and prevent another fall.
You have a fall. You get hurt but the bruises do not appear on your skin. You are in pain but have nothing to show for the fall you just had.
And then when you look ahead, the highway streches on ahead of you for millions of miles. You try to shrug off the fall, shake the dust off yourself, get back on your ride and try to carry on. With the hope that perhaps next time you will be able to maneuver past the bumps and prevent another fall.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
of Holidays and Non-Working Days
"What about holidays and non-working days?" a voice asks.
I simply reply, "They should not exist."
"And why so?" the voice speaks again.
"You've nothing to do. Your mind wanders. You think about things. You get sad. And then your parents walk into your room and ask 'why are you looking so sad and sleepy?' And you cannot even reply to their query." I respond. "Holidays and Non-Working days are a really bad idea."
I simply reply, "They should not exist."
"And why so?" the voice speaks again.
"You've nothing to do. Your mind wanders. You think about things. You get sad. And then your parents walk into your room and ask 'why are you looking so sad and sleepy?' And you cannot even reply to their query." I respond. "Holidays and Non-Working days are a really bad idea."
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Custom Message v2.0
It has been quite some time since I last wrote about the custom status messages that have been gracing messenger windows, both mine and also some friends’. This time around, apart from status messages, there will also be some one-liners that I have at times used as forum signatures.
Well the status messages are usually for expressing yourself at that time, but if one does not feel like it, there’s a way as HellFragger aptly displayed
“I don’t have a status right now.”
Then there always are status messages that show you the philosophical side of life. Koba let me know that “Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans for the future.”
More about life from the self proclaimed undead Vampire A.k.a PJ
“Life’s not what they think it is, but it’s also not what you think it is.”
Manuj adds that “the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” Not too bad a solution I guess.
Then there are people who still hate Newton for getting pissed at the apple that fell on his head centuries ago. They say gravity makes everything fall, but these people prefer to differ.
“There’s no such thing as Gravity. Actually the Earth sucks.” – RiDo
“Gravitation doesn’t make people fall in love.” – Nilanjan
Then there are those who use cryptic methods of self expression through these status messages. De-abbreviated messages are one method.
SIERRA TANGO FOXTROT UNIFORM – Arvind
FOXTROT UNIFORM BRAVO ALPHA ROMEO – Sudu
These messages were seen at the same time, and are sort of complementary. You are likely to say the first when in the second state.
Some creative people can put things we see daily into something really striking, and this is what Sonik has done
“Black stars in a white sky…….. Spiders on the roof”
“I am so self centered that I carry my own photo in my wallet.”
The post would not be complete without a geeky message, and Ravemz’s message fit the bill perfectly
“You know it’s Love when you memorize her IP address to skip DNS overhead”
Work-pressure can drive you to the limits, and then the mind comes up with explanations
“If you think your boss is stupid, remember you wouldn’t have a job if he were any smarter” – Bhavesh
UPDATE: Something about life from Bhavesh: "Life is like quotations. Sometimes, it makes you laugh. Sometimes, it makes you cry. Most of the time, you don't get it." /UPDATE
Work also makes one realize the truth, as in the case of Mallu uncle.
“There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about.”
“The world has ended, you’re just in denial”
Exam time is always a good time to look out for freaky status messages. This one was contributed by a friend.
“A rose would smell the same, whether I know the f***ing structure of geraniol or not”
(Geraniol is an alcohol with fragrance like that of a rose. Maybe it is found in rose petals, only the biotech professor who set the examination paper would know about this for sure.)
Then there are some quotes in movies and stuff that are worth a lot more than the few seconds they linger on screen.
“The Hell I send him to will feel like heaven after what I’ve done to him”, quote from the cult movie Sin City and also Drummie’s status message.
“It’s not the fall that kills you. It’s the sudden stop at the bottom that does.” From the game Chronicles of Riddick
“If your head hurts, it’s your brain trying to comprehend its own stupidity”, Red’s wisdom from That 70’s show.
The last two have been my signatures at the forums that I haunt.
I solemnly swear that I am completely apolitical, but this message here deserves a mention. Was Recca chan’s.
“If cons are the opposite of pros, then congress is the opposite of progress.”
Well the status messages are usually for expressing yourself at that time, but if one does not feel like it, there’s a way as HellFragger aptly displayed
“I don’t have a status right now.”
Then there always are status messages that show you the philosophical side of life. Koba let me know that “Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans for the future.”
More about life from the self proclaimed undead Vampire A.k.a PJ
“Life’s not what they think it is, but it’s also not what you think it is.”
Manuj adds that “the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” Not too bad a solution I guess.
Then there are people who still hate Newton for getting pissed at the apple that fell on his head centuries ago. They say gravity makes everything fall, but these people prefer to differ.
“There’s no such thing as Gravity. Actually the Earth sucks.” – RiDo
“Gravitation doesn’t make people fall in love.” – Nilanjan
Then there are those who use cryptic methods of self expression through these status messages. De-abbreviated messages are one method.
SIERRA TANGO FOXTROT UNIFORM – Arvind
FOXTROT UNIFORM BRAVO ALPHA ROMEO – Sudu
These messages were seen at the same time, and are sort of complementary. You are likely to say the first when in the second state.
Some creative people can put things we see daily into something really striking, and this is what Sonik has done
“Black stars in a white sky…….. Spiders on the roof”
“I am so self centered that I carry my own photo in my wallet.”
The post would not be complete without a geeky message, and Ravemz’s message fit the bill perfectly
“You know it’s Love when you memorize her IP address to skip DNS overhead”
Work-pressure can drive you to the limits, and then the mind comes up with explanations
“If you think your boss is stupid, remember you wouldn’t have a job if he were any smarter” – Bhavesh
UPDATE: Something about life from Bhavesh: "Life is like quotations. Sometimes, it makes you laugh. Sometimes, it makes you cry. Most of the time, you don't get it." /UPDATE
Work also makes one realize the truth, as in the case of Mallu uncle.
“There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about.”
“The world has ended, you’re just in denial”
Exam time is always a good time to look out for freaky status messages. This one was contributed by a friend.
“A rose would smell the same, whether I know the f***ing structure of geraniol or not”
(Geraniol is an alcohol with fragrance like that of a rose. Maybe it is found in rose petals, only the biotech professor who set the examination paper would know about this for sure.)
Then there are some quotes in movies and stuff that are worth a lot more than the few seconds they linger on screen.
“The Hell I send him to will feel like heaven after what I’ve done to him”, quote from the cult movie Sin City and also Drummie’s status message.
“It’s not the fall that kills you. It’s the sudden stop at the bottom that does.” From the game Chronicles of Riddick
“If your head hurts, it’s your brain trying to comprehend its own stupidity”, Red’s wisdom from That 70’s show.
The last two have been my signatures at the forums that I haunt.
I solemnly swear that I am completely apolitical, but this message here deserves a mention. Was Recca chan’s.
“If cons are the opposite of pros, then congress is the opposite of progress.”
New Template and dual monitor
So I recently saw anshul's blog. with this newfangled dynamic template that scrolled up and down, and I hadta do something about my blog template as well. Went to his template provider's site and found one that was suitable. Also, having that background image was necessary, so modifying the available one was inevitable.
Well, here's the result, hope you like it.
And oh yeah, this modification process was made really easy by having a dual monitor setup handy, helps in comparing codes and watching previews while the main workspace always remains maximised. The clutter of wires and power cables running around the room matters not.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Status Quo
As I listen to High Hopes by Pink Floyd for the umpteenth time in my permanent “repeat” Winamp play-list, I realize that my life has also become the same. A repeating play-list of sorts. A constant state of deja-vu prevails, with each day so similar to the last one that the only thing that differentiates them is the date display on my watch.
The days, and even weeks are so similar and monotonous that an onlooker would be able to set his watch by my actions. Up early, leave for office at 0800, in punch at 0820, lunch at 1300, out punch at 1731, and back home. Stare at the computer monitor for a few hours, take dinner and bed. Rinse and repeat this every working day of the week. Then comes Sunday which goes flashing by at a hundred miles an hour. The only thing that changes with each passing week is the list of “to-do things” that grows longer and longer.
Things like rearranging the bookshelf to remove all the papers I dump there, properly file those and put them away at some safe place, rebuilding that old computer to working condition, completing the tag that some other blogger has tagged me with, finishing that videogame I have played till midway, hanging the world map that fell off the wall because of a broken string, going on that bike ride I have been thinking of for ages, starting photography as a hobby, recoding the blog template.....
The list goes on and on, always increasing in length. They say Sundays are for doing these of things. I say Sunday is for taking some rest because come Monday and it will be another long and tiring week at the office. The gloomy repeat play-list haunts me again with the same songs. Dad says I need to do some exercise to lift my spirits. I say I am tired enough already.
As the play-list takes me to Hurt by Johnny Cash, I realize that the purpose I started writing this post was not to rant about how there is an endless list of things to do, but to try and find an outlet for troubles and worries and fears and thoughts that have been burdening me as much as Atlas would be burdened if the planet he carried were Saturn or Jupiter. Turns out they are so deep rooted and I am so f***ing afraid that I won’t even be able to write them down on a private diary, let alone this blog that is theoretically accessible to billions. Turns out I am not strong enough to face them. Turns out they need to be kept buried in the folds of the grey matter filled inside my head. Turns out I need to stick to this monotony called life. Turns out that I need to live this gloomy deja-vu to the end of time.
The days, and even weeks are so similar and monotonous that an onlooker would be able to set his watch by my actions. Up early, leave for office at 0800, in punch at 0820, lunch at 1300, out punch at 1731, and back home. Stare at the computer monitor for a few hours, take dinner and bed. Rinse and repeat this every working day of the week. Then comes Sunday which goes flashing by at a hundred miles an hour. The only thing that changes with each passing week is the list of “to-do things” that grows longer and longer.
Things like rearranging the bookshelf to remove all the papers I dump there, properly file those and put them away at some safe place, rebuilding that old computer to working condition, completing the tag that some other blogger has tagged me with, finishing that videogame I have played till midway, hanging the world map that fell off the wall because of a broken string, going on that bike ride I have been thinking of for ages, starting photography as a hobby, recoding the blog template.....
The list goes on and on, always increasing in length. They say Sundays are for doing these of things. I say Sunday is for taking some rest because come Monday and it will be another long and tiring week at the office. The gloomy repeat play-list haunts me again with the same songs. Dad says I need to do some exercise to lift my spirits. I say I am tired enough already.
As the play-list takes me to Hurt by Johnny Cash, I realize that the purpose I started writing this post was not to rant about how there is an endless list of things to do, but to try and find an outlet for troubles and worries and fears and thoughts that have been burdening me as much as Atlas would be burdened if the planet he carried were Saturn or Jupiter. Turns out they are so deep rooted and I am so f***ing afraid that I won’t even be able to write them down on a private diary, let alone this blog that is theoretically accessible to billions. Turns out I am not strong enough to face them. Turns out they need to be kept buried in the folds of the grey matter filled inside my head. Turns out I need to stick to this monotony called life. Turns out that I need to live this gloomy deja-vu to the end of time.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
the Red Baron says goodbye
Today kinda marked the end of an era in the world of motorsports. Formula 1 to be precise. Today was the day when the greatest F1 driver of all times, Michael Schumacher announced his retirement after winning the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix with relative ease.
His career statistics are perhaps the best that will ever be seen in Formula 1. Perhaps no driver would ever be able to match what he has achieved in the 16 years that he has been in the sport. As of today (10th September 2006, after the 2006 Italian Grand prix) from 247 Formula 1 races, he has 90 wins, 68 pole positions, 153 podium finishes, a total tally of 1354 points scored, 7 world championships (with his sights set on an 8th), and a whole flurry of other records that can be seen here. With three more races to go before he hangs up his gloves, these stats can only get better. (Will update the stats at the end of the season).
Having been given nicknames like "the rainmaster" for his prowess in the wet track conditions, "red baron" for his dominating track presence in Ferrari's trademark red color, and even "cannibal" for his dominance of formula 1 and record breaking style, his has been a career with both ups and downs. Seven world championships and zillions of other records on one hand, and another zillion controversies on the other. His was an era of Formula 1 that will never be matched again.
When we see the last of Schumacher on a F1 track at the Brazilian Grand Prix on October 22nd, it will be a sad day. It will be the day when the best ever Formula 1 driver waves goodbye. Whether or not he wins or loses the 2006 Formula 1 drivers' championship, that'll be a day when his fans will have tears in their eyes, yours truly perhaps among them.
His career statistics are perhaps the best that will ever be seen in Formula 1. Perhaps no driver would ever be able to match what he has achieved in the 16 years that he has been in the sport. As of today (10th September 2006, after the 2006 Italian Grand prix) from 247 Formula 1 races, he has 90 wins, 68 pole positions, 153 podium finishes, a total tally of 1354 points scored, 7 world championships (with his sights set on an 8th), and a whole flurry of other records that can be seen here. With three more races to go before he hangs up his gloves, these stats can only get better. (Will update the stats at the end of the season).
Having been given nicknames like "the rainmaster" for his prowess in the wet track conditions, "red baron" for his dominating track presence in Ferrari's trademark red color, and even "cannibal" for his dominance of formula 1 and record breaking style, his has been a career with both ups and downs. Seven world championships and zillions of other records on one hand, and another zillion controversies on the other. His was an era of Formula 1 that will never be matched again.
When we see the last of Schumacher on a F1 track at the Brazilian Grand Prix on October 22nd, it will be a sad day. It will be the day when the best ever Formula 1 driver waves goodbye. Whether or not he wins or loses the 2006 Formula 1 drivers' championship, that'll be a day when his fans will have tears in their eyes, yours truly perhaps among them.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Tag 25
No, this isn't the 25th tag I am doing, this is the third. I name 'em on the basis of the number of questions or something similar. The previous two (se7en and ei8ht) were quite nerve-wracking, but this one is quite different and pleasant.
So without further ado, let's start with it.
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18 and find line 4.
"... dominated the heavens." from Arthur C Clarke's Sci-Fi novel "Rama 2".
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
The Wall of my room, the string to pull the curtain across the window. A foot lower is a huge voltage stabilizer.
3. What is the last thing you watched on the TV?
The Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday, 6th August 2006. If watching TV series on computer counts, then episode after episode of That '70s Show. Hello Wisconsin!!!
4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
1330 Hrs.
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
1229 Hrs. Niceeeeeeee.
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The ceiling fan.
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Day before yesterday. Went to the market and visited some relatives next to next town.
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Messenger windows.
9. What are you wearing?
Shirt and pajamas with the right leg folded above the knee level. Stupid bruised knee.
10. Did you dream last night?
Nopes, I hardly ever do. Or rather, I hardly ever remember the dreams that I have.
11. When did you last laugh?
Guess it was last night before goin' to bed, during the marathon run of That '70s Show.
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Some old photos of mine, a National Geographic World Map, a storage place above the door, and one wall is kinda replaced by a huge window.
13. Seen anything weird lately?
Guess not.
14. What do you think of this quiz (tag)?
Is way better than the last two.
15. What is the last film you saw?
Omkara.
16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
Dunno for sure, but a lot of computer stuff for sure. Can never have enough of it. :D
17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.
What you don't know about me I could just about fit into the grand canyon. For starters, you should know that I made a fully working car during the summer vacations after 8th class.
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Stop the USA from acting like it owns the whole world.
19. Do you like to dance?
Hell NO!!!
20. George Bush...
...has perhaps had more brickbats hurled towards him than all former US Presidents put together. Poor chap.
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you name her?
Not decided yet.
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you name him?
Not decided yet. Maybe Karan, after my best friend.
23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes and No. Yes in case it is a temporary thing. No because your home country is your home country after all.
24. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Umm, we are facing some problems in the central server computer. Could you take a look at it?
25. People tagged further.
Vivek Malewar, post a blog entry this time or I'll come down to Chennai to kick ya.
Saurabh Kumar, been long since you posted anything.
Vaninder Singh, You too, get back to blogging.
Vishal Anand
So without further ado, let's start with it.
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18 and find line 4.
"... dominated the heavens." from Arthur C Clarke's Sci-Fi novel "Rama 2".
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
The Wall of my room, the string to pull the curtain across the window. A foot lower is a huge voltage stabilizer.
3. What is the last thing you watched on the TV?
The Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday, 6th August 2006. If watching TV series on computer counts, then episode after episode of That '70s Show. Hello Wisconsin!!!
4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
1330 Hrs.
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
1229 Hrs. Niceeeeeeee.
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The ceiling fan.
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Day before yesterday. Went to the market and visited some relatives next to next town.
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Messenger windows.
9. What are you wearing?
Shirt and pajamas with the right leg folded above the knee level. Stupid bruised knee.
10. Did you dream last night?
Nopes, I hardly ever do. Or rather, I hardly ever remember the dreams that I have.
11. When did you last laugh?
Guess it was last night before goin' to bed, during the marathon run of That '70s Show.
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Some old photos of mine, a National Geographic World Map, a storage place above the door, and one wall is kinda replaced by a huge window.
13. Seen anything weird lately?
Guess not.
14. What do you think of this quiz (tag)?
Is way better than the last two.
15. What is the last film you saw?
Omkara.
16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
Dunno for sure, but a lot of computer stuff for sure. Can never have enough of it. :D
17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.
What you don't know about me I could just about fit into the grand canyon. For starters, you should know that I made a fully working car during the summer vacations after 8th class.
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Stop the USA from acting like it owns the whole world.
19. Do you like to dance?
Hell NO!!!
20. George Bush...
...has perhaps had more brickbats hurled towards him than all former US Presidents put together. Poor chap.
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you name her?
Not decided yet.
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you name him?
Not decided yet. Maybe Karan, after my best friend.
23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes and No. Yes in case it is a temporary thing. No because your home country is your home country after all.
24. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Umm, we are facing some problems in the central server computer. Could you take a look at it?
25. People tagged further.
Vivek Malewar, post a blog entry this time or I'll come down to Chennai to kick ya.
Saurabh Kumar, been long since you posted anything.
Vaninder Singh, You too, get back to blogging.
Vishal Anand
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
My Precioussss.............
More than a year of pre-planning.....
More than six months of planning to buy it.....
About three months of delibrating in deciding upon it.....
About a month and a half of purchase planning.....
About a fortnight of the after purchase wait.....
And then on 15th July, 2006, I finally got it, My Precioussss.....
The Gainward Bliss 7900GTX, based on the nVidia G71 7th Generation GPU, all 278 million transistors of 90nm silicon goodness at 650MHz core speed, all 512 Megabytes of GDDR3 memory at 1600MHz effective speed. I'm Lovin it :D.
More than six months of planning to buy it.....
About three months of delibrating in deciding upon it.....
About a month and a half of purchase planning.....
About a fortnight of the after purchase wait.....
And then on 15th July, 2006, I finally got it, My Precioussss.....
The Gainward Bliss 7900GTX, based on the nVidia G71 7th Generation GPU, all 278 million transistors of 90nm silicon goodness at 650MHz core speed, all 512 Megabytes of GDDR3 memory at 1600MHz effective speed. I'm Lovin it :D.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Paycheck
No, I'm not talking about the Ben Affleck movie (decent movie though, worth a watch if you haven't already). Here, I am talking about me getting my first ever paycheck. Well, not exactly a paycheck but rather a transfer of my first ever salary to my bank account. Anyhoo, paycheck sounds a good word and that's what I will use.
Feels damn good today, after a month (well not exactly a month, there was a full shutdown week), of toiling (:P), I finally get the dough.
What do I plan to do with it, well, I seriously dunno. Gotta get some gifts for my parents first. After that it will just lie in the bank for the time being. Will see later what to do. Maybe another computer upgrade :D.
Feels damn good today, after a month (well not exactly a month, there was a full shutdown week), of toiling (:P), I finally get the dough.
What do I plan to do with it, well, I seriously dunno. Gotta get some gifts for my parents first. After that it will just lie in the bank for the time being. Will see later what to do. Maybe another computer upgrade :D.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
A (computer) geek's life in numbers
There are a lot of numbers in a (computer)geek's life, and below is a collection of those that I could recall from the top of my head.
This post is just an attempt to reaffirm my geekdom, as I have been doing some pretty ungeeky stuff for the last few days. :~|
- 0 : Zero, NULL, NADA, nothing, yet half of everything in the world of computers.
- 1 : Zero's complement, and with it the basis of all there is.
- 7 : socket seven, the home of processors for long, and at a time when the PC was spreading like wildfire in households.
- 8 : bits in a byte.
- 168 : The number of contact pins on a SDRAM DIMM.
- 184 : The number of contact pins on a DDR SDRAM DIMM.
- 240 : The number of contact pins on a DDR2 SDRAM DIMM.
- 370 : The socket of the venerable Pentium 3 processor.
- 462 : The number of pins in the home of the Athlon and Duron processors for long.
- 478 : The socket of the good part of the life of the Pentium 4 Processor.
- 754 : The socket of the original Athlon64 processor and later for value class semprons.
- 775 : The socket of the bad part of the life of the Pentium 4 Processor. And that of the promising "Core 2" conroe processors.
- 939 : The socket of choice for enthusiast grade Athlon64 processors for about two years, now replaced by the socket AM2.
- 1024 : The one grand for geeks.
- 7900 : (nVidia GeForce, GTX)As of now, one of the most powerful graphics cards on the market, and one will soon be inside my machine :D.
- 9800 : (ATi Radeon, pro/XT)The card that was last the clearcut winner of the performance race. Not so clear competetive offerings since then.
This post is just an attempt to reaffirm my geekdom, as I have been doing some pretty ungeeky stuff for the last few days. :~|
Sunday, June 11, 2006
(kick)Starting Maruti
While one does not usually kickstart a car (it is either cranked or self-started), I still would use the word "kickstart" here, not because I am actually going to kick a car, but because it is the kickstart of my professional career, with Maruti Udyog Limited.
Maruti Udyog Limited had a very early joining date for its Graduate Engineer Trainees, and this meant that I did not get much time to relax ("maarofy peace" as some would say). It was practically college to factory.
The joining process on Thursday, June 1st, 2006, was a mellow affair. A final medical checkup followed by filing of pre-filled forms, and filling and filing of some new one, and getting that green uniform. After that, it was just lounging around in a huge seminar room till 5:30 in the evening when we could finally go back.
The second day was worse still, with identity card formalities completed quickly in the morning, we were left to get bored to death in the same seminar hall again. Lucky that crosswords, sudokus, jumbles and stuff in various newspapers came to our rescue.
Things finally got into overdrive on the third day, with addresses to the GET's by the MD, the Joint MD's and the HR head. Thus began the week-long orientation program, comprised of interaction sessions with various senior executives of the company telling about the various divisions and departments of the company.
The plant visits were held on the two penultimate days of the orientation programme, and they were good. Seeing a car being made on a 66 stage assembly line is a bliss for a car geek. However, the last day of the orientation process was as bad as the second day on the job, maybe even worse. Just one interaction session was planned, and that too at 4 in the afternoon. This meant another day of lounging around, and to top it, the seminar hall was also not free for three hours after lunch.
Anyway, after the 4 PM session on Quality Assurance and Inspection, we were finally given our training rotation schedule, and come Monday, 12th June, I will be down on the production line, making(???) cars for real. Lets see how many I break...
Maruti Udyog Limited had a very early joining date for its Graduate Engineer Trainees, and this meant that I did not get much time to relax ("maarofy peace" as some would say). It was practically college to factory.
The joining process on Thursday, June 1st, 2006, was a mellow affair. A final medical checkup followed by filing of pre-filled forms, and filling and filing of some new one, and getting that green uniform. After that, it was just lounging around in a huge seminar room till 5:30 in the evening when we could finally go back.
The second day was worse still, with identity card formalities completed quickly in the morning, we were left to get bored to death in the same seminar hall again. Lucky that crosswords, sudokus, jumbles and stuff in various newspapers came to our rescue.
Things finally got into overdrive on the third day, with addresses to the GET's by the MD, the Joint MD's and the HR head. Thus began the week-long orientation program, comprised of interaction sessions with various senior executives of the company telling about the various divisions and departments of the company.
The plant visits were held on the two penultimate days of the orientation programme, and they were good. Seeing a car being made on a 66 stage assembly line is a bliss for a car geek. However, the last day of the orientation process was as bad as the second day on the job, maybe even worse. Just one interaction session was planned, and that too at 4 in the afternoon. This meant another day of lounging around, and to top it, the seminar hall was also not free for three hours after lunch.
Anyway, after the 4 PM session on Quality Assurance and Inspection, we were finally given our training rotation schedule, and come Monday, 12th June, I will be down on the production line, making(???) cars for real. Lets see how many I break...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Goodbye, Graduation and more Goodbyes....
So it finally began, the process of friends leaving Kharagpur. The first one to leave was a wingoo, who said his goodbyes to this place in the morning of May 11th, 2006.
The next big event wasn't a farewell, but my Masters' Degree Project Evaluation, the final academic engagement I had left in Kharagpur. It went pretty smoothly, and yours truly became a "Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Thermal, Energy and Environmental Engineering" (provisionally atleast), and now all work that I have left here is the paperwork of clearance and stuff.
The next person to leave was a fellow mutterite, Nitzee. Goodbye to him was something like three hours before he actually left, because I had to sleep and get up early next day to arrange for myself saying goodbye (read booking my train ticket).
The final goodbye (as of now) was another wingoo, who left at the break of dawn of May 12th, 2006. The next wingoo is scheduled to depart tomorrow (13th May) sometime, and after that is my number, on May 17th, 2006, 1535 Hrs. How I end up dealing with it remains to be seen.....
The next big event wasn't a farewell, but my Masters' Degree Project Evaluation, the final academic engagement I had left in Kharagpur. It went pretty smoothly, and yours truly became a "Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Thermal, Energy and Environmental Engineering" (provisionally atleast), and now all work that I have left here is the paperwork of clearance and stuff.
The next person to leave was a fellow mutterite, Nitzee. Goodbye to him was something like three hours before he actually left, because I had to sleep and get up early next day to arrange for myself saying goodbye (read booking my train ticket).
The final goodbye (as of now) was another wingoo, who left at the break of dawn of May 12th, 2006. The next wingoo is scheduled to depart tomorrow (13th May) sometime, and after that is my number, on May 17th, 2006, 1535 Hrs. How I end up dealing with it remains to be seen.....
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Psycho's Last Day Out
While I had not expected this, I should have known that one of these "days out" will also become a part of the lasts that I had been vehemently counting in my last semester at KGP. For those keeping count, this was v4.0 and my last because I am gone in twenty odd days.
It seems that somehow, all of KGP knew that I was making one of these Cal trips. For the orders kept pouring in, and I was desperately trying to get more people to accompany me so that the workload would get reduced. These efforts turned out to be futile, because just as one person got added to the list, another dropped out. Finally, it was just a party of four that left for the computer market of Kolkata. The order list, it was HUGE. And there were additions to the list even after we had reached the shop, phonecalls requesting more stuff.
This time around, we had a Cal-Wasi amongst us, so we took a different route to reach Chandni Market, and not the regular "KGP - Howrah - Ferry - Walk - Metro" one. As usual, we were running a bit late, and got on the Steel Express after it had started moving off the platform at KGP station. And instead of making the full journey to Howrah, we got off at Santragachi and took a bus ride to the nearest metro station, Rabindra Sadan. The metro ride to Chandni Chowk was a bit longer than usual but once we reached there, I was back on my turf.
We go straight to the favourite shop and then try to recall all the orders. It turns out that we have to buy eight Hard Disk Drives, a DVD Burner, a hundred and eighty DVD Blanks, five or six trifling computer things, and on top of that half a computer itself. It takes us some time to sort out the order and place it with the shopkeeper, and even at this stage, one item was not what we actually wanted. It wasn't until after we returned from a good lunch (pizzas and uttapams - and a strong coffee to keep me awake) that the shopkeeper pleasantly surprised us by telling that he had somehow arranged the graphics card that we were looking for.
And like this, it was once more off to the ATM machine to get the dough. Multiple cards swiped, a huge amount of cash withdrawn and the line outside quadrupled. I was worried that the ATM might just refuse to give us anything with a "Out of Cash" warning, but luckily that didn't happen. Back to the shop, get the computer assembled, get the invoices made separately for all the orders, pay up and get ready to come back to KGP.
And as usual, this was the part of the day I dread the most. We had missed the express train because it took us an hour to settle the nine separate invoices, and it was again a local train ride back. Luckily, it wasn't nowhere near as bad as the return journey from last time. We actually managed to get seats right in the beginning and also the train wasn't as crowded as last time. Phew. Back home at 9PM.
But the day wasn't over yet! We still had to play some new games on that newly assembled gaming rig, and as soon as we were able to do that, the day was totally worth it.
You've crossed the finish line
Won the race but lost your mind
Was it worth it after all
Hell Yeah!!!
It seems that somehow, all of KGP knew that I was making one of these Cal trips. For the orders kept pouring in, and I was desperately trying to get more people to accompany me so that the workload would get reduced. These efforts turned out to be futile, because just as one person got added to the list, another dropped out. Finally, it was just a party of four that left for the computer market of Kolkata. The order list, it was HUGE. And there were additions to the list even after we had reached the shop, phonecalls requesting more stuff.
This time around, we had a Cal-Wasi amongst us, so we took a different route to reach Chandni Market, and not the regular "KGP - Howrah - Ferry - Walk - Metro" one. As usual, we were running a bit late, and got on the Steel Express after it had started moving off the platform at KGP station. And instead of making the full journey to Howrah, we got off at Santragachi and took a bus ride to the nearest metro station, Rabindra Sadan. The metro ride to Chandni Chowk was a bit longer than usual but once we reached there, I was back on my turf.
We go straight to the favourite shop and then try to recall all the orders. It turns out that we have to buy eight Hard Disk Drives, a DVD Burner, a hundred and eighty DVD Blanks, five or six trifling computer things, and on top of that half a computer itself. It takes us some time to sort out the order and place it with the shopkeeper, and even at this stage, one item was not what we actually wanted. It wasn't until after we returned from a good lunch (pizzas and uttapams - and a strong coffee to keep me awake) that the shopkeeper pleasantly surprised us by telling that he had somehow arranged the graphics card that we were looking for.
And like this, it was once more off to the ATM machine to get the dough. Multiple cards swiped, a huge amount of cash withdrawn and the line outside quadrupled. I was worried that the ATM might just refuse to give us anything with a "Out of Cash" warning, but luckily that didn't happen. Back to the shop, get the computer assembled, get the invoices made separately for all the orders, pay up and get ready to come back to KGP.
And as usual, this was the part of the day I dread the most. We had missed the express train because it took us an hour to settle the nine separate invoices, and it was again a local train ride back. Luckily, it wasn't nowhere near as bad as the return journey from last time. We actually managed to get seats right in the beginning and also the train wasn't as crowded as last time. Phew. Back home at 9PM.
But the day wasn't over yet! We still had to play some new games on that newly assembled gaming rig, and as soon as we were able to do that, the day was totally worth it.
You've crossed the finish line
Won the race but lost your mind
Was it worth it after all
Hell Yeah!!!
Friday, April 28, 2006
End of Sems
Sometimes, it really does come abruptly. One moment you are in the middle of the semester, and the next its goodbye to the semester and along with that to semesters themselves. That's what happens when you go out and write your final examination at IIT Kharagpur. The place somehow starts to seem unfriendly. It does not feel like your own turf anymore. Agreed there still are a few more things to do before going away, but the end of the examinations and the fact that there will not be anymore of these is a heavy thing to take. It might be the thing you have been waiting for four (or five) years, but when it comes a little part of you wishes that it didn't. That perhaps is the magic of this place.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
The sky oh so blue
Sometimes I remember
the good old days.
When the times were simpler
and there was no craze.
When I used to live in a small town
under the sky oh so blue.
When the world was a smaller place
and really colourful in its hue.
When I used to go to a school
but never worried about anything.
When I used to play for hours on end
but still completed everything.
Sometimes I wonder
what it would be like to go back to that time.
It makes me realise
that living in today's world is almost like a crime.
Sometimes I still remember
the good old days.
When the times were simpler
and there was no craze.
To return to that place and time
anything I will do.
Where the life was simpler
and the sky was oh so blue.
the good old days.
When the times were simpler
and there was no craze.
When I used to live in a small town
under the sky oh so blue.
When the world was a smaller place
and really colourful in its hue.
When I used to go to a school
but never worried about anything.
When I used to play for hours on end
but still completed everything.
Sometimes I wonder
what it would be like to go back to that time.
It makes me realise
that living in today's world is almost like a crime.
Sometimes I still remember
the good old days.
When the times were simpler
and there was no craze.
To return to that place and time
anything I will do.
Where the life was simpler
and the sky was oh so blue.
This piece is dedicated to a small hill-station called Lansdowne, where I lived for six wonderful years.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Custom Message
This post is (mostly) about the status messages of friends that caught my eye on the instant messengers. Quirky, funny and sometimes serious, status messages are a really great way of expressing oneself. So without further ado, lets get into the thick of things.
"I am so pissed that I want to dump my gf... unfortunately I don't have any...!!"
This was Nitzee's status message till a few days back. Awesome message, funny at first glance but it encompasses the life story of a lot of geeks.
"Ab Bas 56"
Sudu's take on the movie Ab Tak 56. This was his status message when we had an estimated 56 days left in KGP.
"Only a biker knows why a dog sticks its head out the car window."
These words of wisdom graced my messenger window a few days back when Arvind was about to get himself a bike. Too bad my full face helmet prevents me from experiencing the bliss hands/face on!
UPDATE:
"Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."
Another one from Arvind.
"These are the times precisely due to which I tend to believe in GOD (help !!)"
Thesis submissions can make people do anything, and Saurabh Kumar decided to reaffirm his faith.
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."
And you end up with a sun burnt face :P.
"The BEST thing abt the future is that it comes only one DAY at a TIME"
Hell yeah we'd be in a big jam if it came all at once.
These two were SAm..'s messages.
"Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."
Don't remember whose status message it was, saw it a long time ago. Was reminded of it when heard the quote in a movie.
The following two were contributed by a friend with whom I was discussing putting up this post.
"Why do men chase women they don't intend to marry?....... the same reason dogs chase cars they don't intend to drive."
"Another wicket down....... unfortunately I am playing footer."
The first one is a bit philosophical, the second one is plain ironic - representing life as it is.
And while this last one is not a status message, it still struck me as a real quirky piece.
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
Taken from the "About Me" section of Siva's Orkut Profile.
"I am so pissed that I want to dump my gf... unfortunately I don't have any...!!"
This was Nitzee's status message till a few days back. Awesome message, funny at first glance but it encompasses the life story of a lot of geeks.
"Ab Bas 56"
Sudu's take on the movie Ab Tak 56. This was his status message when we had an estimated 56 days left in KGP.
"Only a biker knows why a dog sticks its head out the car window."
These words of wisdom graced my messenger window a few days back when Arvind was about to get himself a bike. Too bad my full face helmet prevents me from experiencing the bliss hands/face on!
UPDATE:
"Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."
Another one from Arvind.
"These are the times precisely due to which I tend to believe in GOD (help !!)"
Thesis submissions can make people do anything, and Saurabh Kumar decided to reaffirm his faith.
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."
And you end up with a sun burnt face :P.
"The BEST thing abt the future is that it comes only one DAY at a TIME"
Hell yeah we'd be in a big jam if it came all at once.
These two were SAm..'s messages.
"Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."
Don't remember whose status message it was, saw it a long time ago. Was reminded of it when heard the quote in a movie.
The following two were contributed by a friend with whom I was discussing putting up this post.
"Why do men chase women they don't intend to marry?....... the same reason dogs chase cars they don't intend to drive."
"Another wicket down....... unfortunately I am playing footer."
The first one is a bit philosophical, the second one is plain ironic - representing life as it is.
And while this last one is not a status message, it still struck me as a real quirky piece.
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
Taken from the "About Me" section of Siva's Orkut Profile.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
For Friends
This post is something like a compilation of short testimonials. I got the idea when I saw Sonik'’s blog post about her friend. I simply could not pick out any single friend, so this is for the awesome people who have made my five years in KGP a wonderful time.
The Wingoo Junta
AG Sudarshan: This fellow has been my closest friend in the last five years, and a next door neighbour for the last three years. This oversized and lazy chap is an awesome friend to have. Know him since the first week of the first year and in the last five years we have had some wonderful times, flamethrowers and snake watching included. And once more I repeat, "Live Life Sudu Size".
The other wingoos, Apratim, Kanishka, Indrava, Vihang, Sumit, and the four wingoos emeritus, Arvind, Nikhil, Guddu and Mahananda are wonderful people to be with in groups. Have spent some really enjoyable times with them, and am looking forward to enjoying the last month at KGP with them to the max.
The Department Junta
Ajay Tomer: Ajay was my best friend throughout the first year, and he got me through it. The best part is that we'll again be at the same place once I'm outta here. Lookin forward to it. :)
Jai Vohra: Also known as Sardar Jai Singh Vohra Singh, I knew him since first year. In the beginning of second year he got a department change to my dep. and also was allotted LLR hall with me. Nice fellow to be with, always full of jokes and laughter.
Nitin Mohta a.k.a Tintin. I've know him since the beginning of my first year. Always being full of tempo, and giving more than 100% are two of his qualities. My gracious host at Calcutta for the times when I want to escape KGP holi :D. 1st day ITC job crack means he is in for an awesome future.
Now cometh the time for the Mech. Dual Thermal Triad. Saurabh Kumar a.k.a Kone Wala, Sandeep Saha a.k.a Sandy and Vivek Malewar a.k.a Mallu Uncle. Three awesome people to do all your classes with, more so because they pay more attention in them than you. Wonderful study buddies, and great friends. All those nightouts while preparing for various exams were really enjoyable because these guys were around to help and have fun along with.
The muTTer Junta
Being a geek has certain advantages. You get to know some people through forums and stuff that you might never have ever met. So here are the friends that being a geek helped me make.
Karan Rawat a.k.a Nukem. Lord Nuke, our benevolent dictator, the sehenshah of the kingdom of muTTer. Kudos to this guy for providing an awesome platform to meet more like minded people. A total game and anime freak, he got me hooked to Japanime. Thanx Nuke :D
Nitin Dhawan a.k.a Nitzee. Geek and coder par excellence. And a fan of survival horror games, got me hooked. But I can't seem to play alone as effectively as we did in a team.
Abhishek Agarwal a.k.a Recca, the basketballer + gamer. Real cool chap to have as a friend.
Vaninder Singh, the "Vanishing Nerd". Another real cool fella to have as a friend and discuss computer stuff all day long. And he can really match his nickname, vanishes for some long time streches, no reply on phone. gtalk or anything :P.
There are a lot more people whose names I have not been able to include here. They too have been an indispensable part of these years.
All I can say is, THANK YOU for being my friends.
The Wingoo Junta
AG Sudarshan: This fellow has been my closest friend in the last five years, and a next door neighbour for the last three years. This oversized and lazy chap is an awesome friend to have. Know him since the first week of the first year and in the last five years we have had some wonderful times, flamethrowers and snake watching included. And once more I repeat, "Live Life Sudu Size".
The other wingoos, Apratim, Kanishka, Indrava, Vihang, Sumit, and the four wingoos emeritus, Arvind, Nikhil, Guddu and Mahananda are wonderful people to be with in groups. Have spent some really enjoyable times with them, and am looking forward to enjoying the last month at KGP with them to the max.
The Department Junta
Ajay Tomer: Ajay was my best friend throughout the first year, and he got me through it. The best part is that we'll again be at the same place once I'm outta here. Lookin forward to it. :)
Jai Vohra: Also known as Sardar Jai Singh Vohra Singh, I knew him since first year. In the beginning of second year he got a department change to my dep. and also was allotted LLR hall with me. Nice fellow to be with, always full of jokes and laughter.
Nitin Mohta a.k.a Tintin. I've know him since the beginning of my first year. Always being full of tempo, and giving more than 100% are two of his qualities. My gracious host at Calcutta for the times when I want to escape KGP holi :D. 1st day ITC job crack means he is in for an awesome future.
Now cometh the time for the Mech. Dual Thermal Triad. Saurabh Kumar a.k.a Kone Wala, Sandeep Saha a.k.a Sandy and Vivek Malewar a.k.a Mallu Uncle. Three awesome people to do all your classes with, more so because they pay more attention in them than you. Wonderful study buddies, and great friends. All those nightouts while preparing for various exams were really enjoyable because these guys were around to help and have fun along with.
The muTTer Junta
Being a geek has certain advantages. You get to know some people through forums and stuff that you might never have ever met. So here are the friends that being a geek helped me make.
Karan Rawat a.k.a Nukem. Lord Nuke, our benevolent dictator, the sehenshah of the kingdom of muTTer. Kudos to this guy for providing an awesome platform to meet more like minded people. A total game and anime freak, he got me hooked to Japanime. Thanx Nuke :D
Nitin Dhawan a.k.a Nitzee. Geek and coder par excellence. And a fan of survival horror games, got me hooked. But I can't seem to play alone as effectively as we did in a team.
Abhishek Agarwal a.k.a Recca, the basketballer + gamer. Real cool chap to have as a friend.
Vaninder Singh, the "Vanishing Nerd". Another real cool fella to have as a friend and discuss computer stuff all day long. And he can really match his nickname, vanishes for some long time streches, no reply on phone. gtalk or anything :P.
There are a lot more people whose names I have not been able to include here. They too have been an indispensable part of these years.
All I can say is, THANK YOU for being my friends.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Psycho's Day Out!! Version 3.0
Why Version 3.0 you may ask, when after the original Day Out, there was no version 2.0. Lets just say that we don't talk about the version 2.0 day.
The Version 1.0 stock of DVD's had been spent, and the HDD was stuffed full to its gills. So it was time to go back. Favourable was the fact that two friends also had business to deal with, and hence we set off for a good day's work. Travel to Howrah is always very similar, a suitably timed express train that is fast enough not to bore you to death before it reaches its destination. Another ferry ride, then the walk to the metro station, a quick metro ride and we are back in business.
First job is to deal with one friend's graphics card. First shop, no luck. Second shop, no luck again. We curse the superfast progress of the computers that has left those with a bit old piece of hardware to have no upgrade options. Even more so if you try to obtain a high end video card in India. Anyway, placing an order for a bulk purchase of DVD's, we move on.
For the second part, we travel a pretty long distance to another part of the city, walk some more, and finally give the goner HDD for replacement (All hail the five year warranty). Then we meet another friend, go to his place and relax for sometime. Then its back to the second shop to pick up the blanks.
A visit to the ATM later, we have with us 400 Blank DVD's and a keyboard. Then the Calcutta-wasi friend takes us for a small treat (wonderful ice creams). After that we take another walk (can't never have enough of these, can we) and then a bus ride back to Howrah station.
Call it the will of the gods or the stupid timing of our actions, we end up in a local train that is stuffed full of daily travelers. While they are used to it, this makes for THE WORST journey back to KGP. At least till halfway where the train finally got empty. Finally got back at about 11PM, took another walk with friends and then crashed on my bed.
Just saying "400 DVD's and a keyboard" might suffice as the explanation of a day well spent, but then the magic is in the details, isn't it.
The Version 1.0 stock of DVD's had been spent, and the HDD was stuffed full to its gills. So it was time to go back. Favourable was the fact that two friends also had business to deal with, and hence we set off for a good day's work. Travel to Howrah is always very similar, a suitably timed express train that is fast enough not to bore you to death before it reaches its destination. Another ferry ride, then the walk to the metro station, a quick metro ride and we are back in business.
First job is to deal with one friend's graphics card. First shop, no luck. Second shop, no luck again. We curse the superfast progress of the computers that has left those with a bit old piece of hardware to have no upgrade options. Even more so if you try to obtain a high end video card in India. Anyway, placing an order for a bulk purchase of DVD's, we move on.
For the second part, we travel a pretty long distance to another part of the city, walk some more, and finally give the goner HDD for replacement (All hail the five year warranty). Then we meet another friend, go to his place and relax for sometime. Then its back to the second shop to pick up the blanks.
A visit to the ATM later, we have with us 400 Blank DVD's and a keyboard. Then the Calcutta-wasi friend takes us for a small treat (wonderful ice creams). After that we take another walk (can't never have enough of these, can we) and then a bus ride back to Howrah station.
Call it the will of the gods or the stupid timing of our actions, we end up in a local train that is stuffed full of daily travelers. While they are used to it, this makes for THE WORST journey back to KGP. At least till halfway where the train finally got empty. Finally got back at about 11PM, took another walk with friends and then crashed on my bed.
Just saying "400 DVD's and a keyboard" might suffice as the explanation of a day well spent, but then the magic is in the details, isn't it.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Quote UnQuote
"You know the deal with friends, if they love 'em you have to love 'em, wether you like it or not" - Dr Bob Kelso, Scrubs 514, March 14, 2006.
Now this one got me thinking hard. You gotta like the people your friends like, no exceptions. While I have never been in such a situation before, I just hope I have the strength to do this if ever I have to.
"About how pride defines who we are. As far as Bob Kelso goes, I know that sometimes even the good things he does are for the wrong reasons. Still I also know I wouldn't want to have to make any of the decisions that he makes. But when all is said and done, I'd like to think he does care a little. ..Even if he's too proud to show it." - JD, Scrubs 504, January 10, 2006.
Pride is an all too significant part of our lives, and I am sometimes too proud to admit that I might be wrong. Has gotten me into a fair bit of trouble this pride. Guess I will have to learn to swallow it.
One more thing that these quotes taught me is that I have been watching too much of Scrubs. Time to watch something else, or to get some work done for a change.
Now this one got me thinking hard. You gotta like the people your friends like, no exceptions. While I have never been in such a situation before, I just hope I have the strength to do this if ever I have to.
"About how pride defines who we are. As far as Bob Kelso goes, I know that sometimes even the good things he does are for the wrong reasons. Still I also know I wouldn't want to have to make any of the decisions that he makes. But when all is said and done, I'd like to think he does care a little. ..Even if he's too proud to show it." - JD, Scrubs 504, January 10, 2006.
Pride is an all too significant part of our lives, and I am sometimes too proud to admit that I might be wrong. Has gotten me into a fair bit of trouble this pride. Guess I will have to learn to swallow it.
One more thing that these quotes taught me is that I have been watching too much of Scrubs. Time to watch something else, or to get some work done for a change.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Tag: Ei8ht
Tagged! Again! This time by Dipanjan.
The last tag itself was a pretty draining experience, and this one is tougher still. Last time around I was happy that we are playing tag online. Now I think this game is better restricted to the playgrounds. Anyway, here goes nothing.
Da Rules: (Ofcourse copy-pasted from DD's page)
Da Easy Part
I have never seriously thought about my perfect lover, and hence the following eight points are mere guidelines that pulled out from the depths of my (mostly dormant) grey cells. These points are what I think would help a relationship(if I ever get into one that is) go along smoothly. So my perfect girl(or bandi for those more comfortable with KGP lingo) should.....
Da Tough Part
Da Ending Part
Now cometh the time to tag eight more people.
Vivek Malewar(start ur blog yaar), Saurabh Kumar, Abhishek Agarwal, Nitin Dhawan(restart blog posting man), Sonali, Nimesh, Nipun Narang and Amit Joshi.
The last tag itself was a pretty draining experience, and this one is tougher still. Last time around I was happy that we are playing tag online. Now I think this game is better restricted to the playgrounds. Anyway, here goes nothing.
Da Rules: (Ofcourse copy-pasted from DD's page)
- The tagged victim has to come up with 8 different points of their perfect lover.
- You have to mention the sex of the target.
- Tag 8 victims to join this game and leave a comment on their comments saying they've been tagged.
- If tagged the 2nd time, there's no need to post again.
Da Easy Part
I have never seriously thought about my perfect lover, and hence the following eight points are mere guidelines that pulled out from the depths of my (mostly dormant) grey cells. These points are what I think would help a relationship(if I ever get into one that is) go along smoothly. So my perfect girl(or bandi for those more comfortable with KGP lingo) should.....
Da Tough Part
- be a treat to talk to. I should be able to talk to her endlessly about anything and everything.
- be interested in Computers, gadgets and modern technology.(now this point filters out perhaps 99.999% of the girls out there I guess)
- be strong willed and independent.
- be cool minded to counter my (sometimes)random mood swings.
- have a nice, sweet personality and a positive outlook towards life.
- understand my weird passions and liking in life, which we may/may not share.
- be attractive as a person.
- love me more than anything in this world.
Da Ending Part
Now cometh the time to tag eight more people.
Vivek Malewar(start ur blog yaar), Saurabh Kumar, Abhishek Agarwal, Nitin Dhawan(restart blog posting man), Sonali, Nimesh, Nipun Narang and Amit Joshi.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Template Change
Switched to a Floating Text on Image template.
Inspired by The Bourgeois Buffoon, original floating text on image template by Blogger templates.
Inspired by The Bourgeois Buffoon, original floating text on image template by Blogger templates.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Midsems and Midnight Strolls.
While in the last few days lots of things have been happening, and some more are to happen in the coming few, I am taking some time to describe the two that I feel are the best to talk about.
So lets take up the midsems first. The last ever midsems... Two of 'em in total. One on a Monday afternoon, the other on the next morning. Pretty easy ones also, so was able to attempt 90% of the first and 100% of the second. Lets see what the endsems hold for me and then I can think about the grades.
Now that we are done talking about midsems and acads and all related boring topics, we can move on to midnight strolls. As summer has decided to descend upon us pretty early this year, the only time when one can go out and wander about is around midnight. And hence, our wing decided to take midnight strolls.
The first of these was a night-time visit to the SBI ATM, and because the one at the bank was shuttered, we went to the tech-market one and found a long queue there. At bloody 11PM. After about half an hour, after dealing with the ATM business, we decided the weather was fine enough to wander around, because all we had to do after coming back to our rooms was sit in front of the monitor. We had a good time and decided to make these a regular feature of our otherwise dull days.
The next day, we took off around midnight, and wandered along a curved road. The road followed such a path that one of us got totally disoriented when we ended up at a main road seemingly in a direction opposite to where we were heading.
The third trip was undoubtedly the best. While going towards the RDC, someone mentioned Vikramshila Top and it was immediately decided that we had to scale it. After about an hour of searching for the stairway to the top, we finally stumbled upon it left of the stage in the under-construction Kaildasa Auditorium. Then it was off to the top, but my slight phobia of heights prevented me from scaling the last ladder. Maybe next time...
Exams and stuff have brought a break into this ritual, but I am looking forward to starting again when the wing gets back to strength. Till then, I am as usual sitting in front of my monitor.
So lets take up the midsems first. The last ever midsems... Two of 'em in total. One on a Monday afternoon, the other on the next morning. Pretty easy ones also, so was able to attempt 90% of the first and 100% of the second. Lets see what the endsems hold for me and then I can think about the grades.
Now that we are done talking about midsems and acads and all related boring topics, we can move on to midnight strolls. As summer has decided to descend upon us pretty early this year, the only time when one can go out and wander about is around midnight. And hence, our wing decided to take midnight strolls.
The first of these was a night-time visit to the SBI ATM, and because the one at the bank was shuttered, we went to the tech-market one and found a long queue there. At bloody 11PM. After about half an hour, after dealing with the ATM business, we decided the weather was fine enough to wander around, because all we had to do after coming back to our rooms was sit in front of the monitor. We had a good time and decided to make these a regular feature of our otherwise dull days.
The next day, we took off around midnight, and wandered along a curved road. The road followed such a path that one of us got totally disoriented when we ended up at a main road seemingly in a direction opposite to where we were heading.
The third trip was undoubtedly the best. While going towards the RDC, someone mentioned Vikramshila Top and it was immediately decided that we had to scale it. After about an hour of searching for the stairway to the top, we finally stumbled upon it left of the stage in the under-construction Kaildasa Auditorium. Then it was off to the top, but my slight phobia of heights prevented me from scaling the last ladder. Maybe next time...
Exams and stuff have brought a break into this ritual, but I am looking forward to starting again when the wing gets back to strength. Till then, I am as usual sitting in front of my monitor.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Lousy Day :(
I don't know why, but today has been a really lousy day. And on top of that, I can't figure out why.
Woke up at 8:30AM on my day off(well, was woken by a phone call). Anyhoo (Dr. Bob Kelso/Scrubs style), I started the rest of the day in my usual fashion, check the websites and forums that I frequent, listen to some music, watch an episode or two of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, have lunch, recheck the forums and websites. The usual. But I started slipping into a lousy mood by mid afternoon.
I don't remember when I nodded off to sleep, but when I was woken up for dinner by wingooz, I was at the rock bottom of the mood chart. Dinner was a decent affair at Billoz, where we made and unmade plans for watching a movie tomorrow(doh!). While we were there, I was supposedly so bummed out that my friends even didn't make a joke about it.
It's been three hours since then, and while my mood has lightened up a bit, it still seems as if something is amiss. Maybe I am trying to get this feeling out by writing this blog. Maybe the movie I am gonna watch next will help. Maybe, and I wish with all I have, that I will be able to sleep this feeling off. But why do we have such days anyway. Wish I knew....
Woke up at 8:30AM on my day off(well, was woken by a phone call). Anyhoo (Dr. Bob Kelso/Scrubs style), I started the rest of the day in my usual fashion, check the websites and forums that I frequent, listen to some music, watch an episode or two of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, have lunch, recheck the forums and websites. The usual. But I started slipping into a lousy mood by mid afternoon.
I don't remember when I nodded off to sleep, but when I was woken up for dinner by wingooz, I was at the rock bottom of the mood chart. Dinner was a decent affair at Billoz, where we made and unmade plans for watching a movie tomorrow(doh!). While we were there, I was supposedly so bummed out that my friends even didn't make a joke about it.
It's been three hours since then, and while my mood has lightened up a bit, it still seems as if something is amiss. Maybe I am trying to get this feeling out by writing this blog. Maybe the movie I am gonna watch next will help. Maybe, and I wish with all I have, that I will be able to sleep this feeling off. But why do we have such days anyway. Wish I knew....
Friday, January 27, 2006
The Lasts
Now this being the last semester of my stay in KGP, it has finally begun to dawn upon me that in three-and-a-half months I will be getting out of KGP for good. This place has been home for the last four-and-a-half years, and suddenly you're outta here.
While you always know that you will be going away sometime, certain things can rub the reality into your face pretty hard. For me, these things were "The Lasts". Some of them are small enough to be overlooked, but some are pretty huge to escape from.
I have already talked about the "first last", the registration for the last semester (damn it was one crappy day), there have been further events that make you realise that the clock is ticking, and days slipping out of your hands. Be it the last "first mess meal" of the semester or the last "first class" that you attend, you are always dreading the moment when these things will be no more. And then the big one hits you. The Last Spring Fest.
Four days of an endless series of events (OK OK, it stops officially at 11:30PM each day), star nights, competitions, dancing at perpz, eating good pizza(the only time of the year this is possible in KGP), and hanging out with your friends, with the mind free of all worries, atleast for these four days. But for me, this was the last one. Perhaps the last time hanging out with friends like there is no tomorrow. And when you think of something like this, whole of the last five years flash before your eyes, times with friends, having fun, no worries.
Afterwards, you are left with a horribly empty feeling, and I can't make out what it really is. Just plain despair at the thought of having to lose times like these. Maybe ten years hence I will be able to look back and cherish these times and memories, but right now I cannot think of what I will do after 20th May, away from my home of five years.
Anyway, I still have a few "lasts" tucked away, to unfold as the semester passes, and the only way to be happy is to hope that you have your friends around you at these time :).
EDIT: In Koba's words of a year ago, leaving KGP will hurt, It will really hurt like hell.
While you always know that you will be going away sometime, certain things can rub the reality into your face pretty hard. For me, these things were "The Lasts". Some of them are small enough to be overlooked, but some are pretty huge to escape from.
I have already talked about the "first last", the registration for the last semester (damn it was one crappy day), there have been further events that make you realise that the clock is ticking, and days slipping out of your hands. Be it the last "first mess meal" of the semester or the last "first class" that you attend, you are always dreading the moment when these things will be no more. And then the big one hits you. The Last Spring Fest.
Four days of an endless series of events (OK OK, it stops officially at 11:30PM each day), star nights, competitions, dancing at perpz, eating good pizza(the only time of the year this is possible in KGP), and hanging out with your friends, with the mind free of all worries, atleast for these four days. But for me, this was the last one. Perhaps the last time hanging out with friends like there is no tomorrow. And when you think of something like this, whole of the last five years flash before your eyes, times with friends, having fun, no worries.
Afterwards, you are left with a horribly empty feeling, and I can't make out what it really is. Just plain despair at the thought of having to lose times like these. Maybe ten years hence I will be able to look back and cherish these times and memories, but right now I cannot think of what I will do after 20th May, away from my home of five years.
Anyway, I still have a few "lasts" tucked away, to unfold as the semester passes, and the only way to be happy is to hope that you have your friends around you at these time :).
EDIT: In Koba's words of a year ago, leaving KGP will hurt, It will really hurt like hell.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Potholes on the highway!!!
Let me come straight to the point. So far, 2006 has not been as good as I wished it to be. Not that any of the following things are of much significance, but they sure add up to put you in a bad mood.
First of all, there is the academic registration, which has quite a few hitches in it. Of the four subjects offered (two to be picked) we have already done two so it is back to the usual, forced electives. And on top of that, the remaining subjects are not the most enjoyable (not that subjects ever are...). Anyway, uttering the word "Whatever" once more, I take these subjects, but not before another even tougher subject (which I wouldn't touch with a fourty foot pole) is wrestled into the options by deliberations with the HOD and letters to the DOAA.
Anyway, elective subjects are not the matter of prime concern these days. Its the (unseasonal) placement season and hence we gotta worry about placements. And while the placements are going well for KGP as a whole, the picture is a bit gloomy for us belonging to the 2001 batch. We are sandwiched between the B.Techs of 2002 batch (Magguz with hoohaa CG's) and the Post Graduates, and things are not as we would like them to be. Anyway, with some more people placed and a wingoo getting a schol, things are getting better now.
All this would have been OK if it wasn't for my bruised knee. Curse the "Under Construction" road that has been all mud and stones for the last seven-eight months, and the useless bicyclist who does not know any road manners. Shoulda run him down into the dust.
Hope that things get better soon. Don't wanna go into SF with such a lousy mood......
First of all, there is the academic registration, which has quite a few hitches in it. Of the four subjects offered (two to be picked) we have already done two so it is back to the usual, forced electives. And on top of that, the remaining subjects are not the most enjoyable (not that subjects ever are...). Anyway, uttering the word "Whatever" once more, I take these subjects, but not before another even tougher subject (which I wouldn't touch with a fourty foot pole) is wrestled into the options by deliberations with the HOD and letters to the DOAA.
Anyway, elective subjects are not the matter of prime concern these days. Its the (unseasonal) placement season and hence we gotta worry about placements. And while the placements are going well for KGP as a whole, the picture is a bit gloomy for us belonging to the 2001 batch. We are sandwiched between the B.Techs of 2002 batch (Magguz with hoohaa CG's) and the Post Graduates, and things are not as we would like them to be. Anyway, with some more people placed and a wingoo getting a schol, things are getting better now.
All this would have been OK if it wasn't for my bruised knee. Curse the "Under Construction" road that has been all mud and stones for the last seven-eight months, and the useless bicyclist who does not know any road manners. Shoulda run him down into the dust.
Hope that things get better soon. Don't wanna go into SF with such a lousy mood......
Sunday, January 01, 2006
A Bonfire and "Patthar Paneer"!!!
This is what we did at New Year's Eve this time around. :). Let me explain the full story in chronological order.
Planning for the eve
First of all, there was supposed to be a trip to Cal on 31st December, with the New Year's Eve being spent in some party. This plan could not gain wide acceptance. So it was scrapped. The second plan was to go to Chandipur and spend the eve at the beach, but watching the susnset, spending twelve hours on the cold beach and then watching the sunrise was not everyone's cup of tea. So this plan also goes down.
So when Cal and Chandipur were both outta the picture, we decided to stay back home (KGP) and do something. A bonfire was on the table for the Chandipur trip, and its location was shifted about a hundred miles into the C-Ground of LLR Hall of Residence. And then there is always some grub required.
Of "Patthar Paneer" and the like
When the venue was decided to be our backyard, we also decided to prepare our own grub. Thus we went about marinating Paneer(cheese) and boiled potatoes with curd, mint paste, chilli paste and coriander leaf paste. The plan was to roast/bake/fry these on a stone slab heated by charcoal fire. Or something like that.
The Appointed Hour(s)
So finally the appointed hour arrives. We try to burn the charcoal but it turns out to be more or less black mud cakes. Whatever wood burns cracks the stone slab, so it is rearranged to a smaller size and using wood fire, some paneer and potatoes are prepared. They were awesome. The rest of the goods like chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, potato wafer chips and sodas were all right. But nothing like self made hot "Patthar Paneer". :))
At midnight, there was a small gathering of people from the Hall and it was time to exchange new year wishes, and take a GPL. I was perhaps the first KGPian to get a GPL in 2006. Not a very good start to the year eh! Anyway some music and weird steps dancing later, it was time to get to bed, and that's what we did.
The first and last New Year's Eve in KGP was really good. I just wish that I can have times like these in the future also.
:wq 2005.year (sorry Dipanjan, this was too good to resist, the geek inside me is more powerful than ever.)
Planning for the eve
First of all, there was supposed to be a trip to Cal on 31st December, with the New Year's Eve being spent in some party. This plan could not gain wide acceptance. So it was scrapped. The second plan was to go to Chandipur and spend the eve at the beach, but watching the susnset, spending twelve hours on the cold beach and then watching the sunrise was not everyone's cup of tea. So this plan also goes down.
So when Cal and Chandipur were both outta the picture, we decided to stay back home (KGP) and do something. A bonfire was on the table for the Chandipur trip, and its location was shifted about a hundred miles into the C-Ground of LLR Hall of Residence. And then there is always some grub required.
Of "Patthar Paneer" and the like
When the venue was decided to be our backyard, we also decided to prepare our own grub. Thus we went about marinating Paneer(cheese) and boiled potatoes with curd, mint paste, chilli paste and coriander leaf paste. The plan was to roast/bake/fry these on a stone slab heated by charcoal fire. Or something like that.
The Appointed Hour(s)
So finally the appointed hour arrives. We try to burn the charcoal but it turns out to be more or less black mud cakes. Whatever wood burns cracks the stone slab, so it is rearranged to a smaller size and using wood fire, some paneer and potatoes are prepared. They were awesome. The rest of the goods like chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, potato wafer chips and sodas were all right. But nothing like self made hot "Patthar Paneer". :))
At midnight, there was a small gathering of people from the Hall and it was time to exchange new year wishes, and take a GPL. I was perhaps the first KGPian to get a GPL in 2006. Not a very good start to the year eh! Anyway some music and weird steps dancing later, it was time to get to bed, and that's what we did.
The first and last New Year's Eve in KGP was really good. I just wish that I can have times like these in the future also.
:wq 2005.year (sorry Dipanjan, this was too good to resist, the geek inside me is more powerful than ever.)
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