Amazing adult[?] video!

The guys at badmash have posted this trailer of their latest video. With a title like "Girls Gone Badmash", I am sure a this will find a lot of takers..

so go on ... see it ... and let me know how you liked it :-).

-A

A revolution in India education

M sent me this article about a revolution in Indian education, from rediff.com.

It is really nice to know about these things. I hope things get better with this new addition.

Back to work now!
-A

Highest-ever rain in India's history

M sent me this article about the highest-ever rain in India's history, which happened in Mumbai recently.

Pictures here.

My heart goes to all Mumbaikars and all others affected by these rains. I shall pray for them.

-A

Nice Game

Anupam sent this very interesting puzzle.

Zack and I solved it in 10 minutes. Lets see what you do! Remember to post your solutions in the comments section.



"Mr. A chooses a digit and Mr. B puts it anywhere in place of one of these 8 dashes -

_ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _

(So these are actually two 4 digit numbers, one being subtracted from the other )

Now Mr. A repeatedly keeps on the choosing a digit and giving it to Mr. B and Mr. B keeps on putting it in somewhere in place of the dashes, till all the dashes fill up.

Now the game is that Mr.A is trying to maximize the final difference (which will be obtained after finally subtracting these two numbers), and Mr. B is trying to minimize it.

What difference will be obtained if both players play their best in the game :-)"


Answers to FAQs:
- Numbers from 0 to 9, repetition allowed. The "difference" we are talking about here is algebraic, so negative numbers are smaller than positive numbers.


cheers
-A

Google maps go hybrid

This had to happen.
Today I was looking at google maps to plan a hike, and I see a new button next to the "satellite" and "maps" button. I click on "hybrid" and viola! I can now see street names superimposed on satellite maps!

see for yourself

Too cool... The hike planning went well... lets see what happens tomorrow!

cheers
-A

The day of the teacher

Guru Gobind dou khade
Kake lage pamv
Balihari Guru apno
jin Gobind diyo batai.
-- [Bhojpuri couplet/doha written by Kabir]

If Guru and Govinda [the Supreme Consciousness] appear simultaneously, you
have to pay your obeisance to Guru only, because the Guru made you realize
Govinda.

Today [July 20, 2005] is Guru Purnima, the day hindus thanks their gurus for the knowledge they have imparted them.

Thank you all! All the way from kindergarten to grad school... teachers have taught me a lot. Thanks also to all those from whom I have learnt the ways of life, most importantly my parents!

-A
P.S. For some more dohas of Kabir, go here

Oil meant for Indian Army replaced with water!

Many sources are reporting on how Oil is being siphoned off from tankers to Ladakh meant for the Indian Army!

This is sad. I believe that such crimes [that harm the defense system] should be more severely punished.

In other news... go and see Google Moon

cheers
-A

Hiking at Temescal Canyon

This is my snap during the hike at Temescal Canyon on Saturday.

You can see my latest gear, the backpack, the sunglasses, the hat and the hiking sticks! Boy those sticks make hiking so much easier!

Anyways... back to work now.
-A

Please don't go near the Gorilla!

I recently read New this article on NewScientist about how humans are passing infetions like influenza to Gorillas in wildlife preserves.

So if you love animals, go and visit them... in the wild.. where they are free.. but please do not go so near that your germs can harm them.

cheers
-A

Music of Mangal Pandey: The Rising

Maggie asked me to check out the music of Mangal Pandey: The Rising today and boy, is it GOOD!

Rehman has done a nice job. I especially like the "Main Vari Vari" song.

So go on and listen to it. I am sure it will be on Desi Radio soon.

-A

P.S. Saw the trailor of The Warrior, felt proud that an Indian movie got so many awards and is on Apple.com. I wonder why such movies do not get publicity on the Indian Media [like TOI for example]

Baby Pandas... very cute :-)

I came across this site about baby Pandas while searching for some panda pics. Very nice.

Remember to scroll down all the way for more pics. Please leave your comments.

Also, from the links below the page, this article is very cute... also has a video.

so, are _you_ also in love with Pandas?
-A

Slashdotted!

Hi all,
Slashdot finally accepted my article.
Read it here!

Me happy :-).

The visit count already shows 88 views... Welcome slashdotters!
-A

Study on time wasted at work

[just submitted this to slashdot.. lets see.. Thanks to Maggie for sending this]

C|Net News has this article about a survey of people's goofing off habits.

The article says

"It's interesting to note that the Internet was cited as the leading time-wasting activity. It goes to show how integrated it has become to the daily functions of our personal and professional lives," Samara Jaffe, a director at America Online, said in a statement. "Today, there are so many useful tools and Web sites on the Internet that have enabled people to become more efficient with accomplishing multiple tasks in a shorter amount of time."

They forgot to talk about the useless ones :-).

So, what fraction of time do you spend loitering around on the world wide web?

Long time no post..

Hi all,
Have not been able to post for some days now... keeping very busy with the coursework and research work!

Anyways, saw this new blog today. It is of Cecilia, the geek girl from the PhD Comics. I read the comincs regularly... pretty cute :-).

Enjoy the comics.. while I get back to work!
cheers
-A

Mahabharat Movie.. A trilogy

Samip sent me a link to an article about a Mahabharat Movie Trilogy being made with SRK, Aamir and Rani.

"The trilogy will capture the battles, intrigues, spiritual complexity and cultural aesthetics of India, 4,000 years ago. This will be my big project for the next three years," says Bedi, adding that he discovered the power of the Mahabharata's storyline after reading Girish Karnad's script for Agnivarsha.

Read the article for character insights. Mani Ratnam is said to direct this one.

Good... I always believed that the Indian Epics have great potential as mega movies... lets hope it gets made properly.

What do you people think?

-A

Real Life Hero...

Rahul sent me this story about a real life hero from India, who saved his wife and kid and 70 other people during the recent flood-stranded-train incident.

Pretty cool. Goes on to show what can be done with determination.

The best part was [from the article]

"If a single man could successfully enter the waters and rescue people, why could the administration not do it with all the facilities at its disposal,"

-A
Do you also want to post an article online but do not have the time/enthu/madness to maintain a regular blog? Send the link to me and maybe I will post it on my blog [with your homepage url in the credits, of course]. Please note that this method will not be 100% reliable, so don't flame me if your suggestion does not get posted.