Posting from my new setup!

Its been a long time now since I updated this space. We've recently set up a new desktop at home, so here comes a post from and about it..

The new set up is nice - we assembled components for this system at home, starting from a barebone CPU. The order came with the tower, a power supply and a motherboard with the CPU of our choice installed. We ordered it at http://www.portatech.com and they delivered the unit promptly and in good condition.

We ordered the other components separately - some RAM, a 500 GB hard disk, a keyboard and a mouse, a wireless adapter and a DVD drive. The interesting thing this time was learning about SATA; we realized that we needed Sata cables for both the DVD and hard disk drives. This was new to me, since the last time I saw a hard disk, it did not use these cables. Anyway, turns out these cables are pretty nifty and easy to use; no more headaches trying to figure out how to connect the cables ! Amazon.com has been quite nice to review stuff and buy them with free shipping !

Next, we burnt a DVD with Ubuntu's latest and ran it on the new system. Installing was quite a breeze, and I loved how the set up recognized all the hardware comfortably and everything worked so well ! Ubuntu is pretty good to use too.

Some nice points:

We'd ordered a HDTV / monitor from LG, and used that as the display. The resolution being a little large, I was afraid whether it will require special configuration, but no, Ubuntu took care of it by itself !

Sound was next, and we connected our mini Logitech speaker system, so thoughtfully gifted by Sandeep. The sound is quite awesome now !

One other fun part was how nicely our old HP printer works ! We'd replaced the cartridges with newer ones from cartridge world, but windows on our laptops refused to print. We were almost ready to give up and buy something new, but Ubuntu came along and is printing B&W and color merrily!

We haven't missed any Microsoft products so far; Ubuntu seems to have a fairly reasonable alternative to everything we've needed so far. Drivers work well, Open Office works beautifully, the printer and wireless adapter needed no configuration and even VPN got installed like a charm !

My final IT trouble at home was connecting to the office network from Linux; I'd tried to get it working on the older Ubuntu on my laptop, but it just refused. The new Ubuntu liked the Cisco VPN software, and I am enjoying wfh on this fine setup. We were looking at a window on unix inside windows inside unix, and decided this warranted a post!

The best part is switching the display between the computer and TV !

Oracle Gym and clever invitations

Our gym's weekly newsletter uses clever ways of keeping the reader entertained and interested in their events. Here is one from today that I found hilarious:

You'll need this info if you cheat on your taxes and have to run from the IRS:
Are you Wearing the Right Running or Walking Shoe?
Wednesday, April 22nd
11:00am - 1:00pm
Club Oracle 1st Floor Weight Room

Erdos number

My Erdos number is 3 !

A friend/labmate of mine from ASU just got her PHd. In a congratulatory exchange of messages, she was recalling our talk of the Erdos number many years ago, and mentioned I am indeed going to be 3 now. Seems that the paper in question has been published. She will, of course, be Erdos 2.

If only our paper was mathematical, it could have been real. Here is my older post on the topic.
Congratulations, Toni !

Winds

Its crazily windy outside today. So much so, a couple of the lifts at work did not work! Apparently, someone needs to keep the door closed for it to 'sense' that finally there is no one trying to walk in, and get about it's business.

Its crazy.

mangala gao re..

Time: Early morning, saturday, 23 Nov 2008
Place: Redmond, WA

After a cup of coffee, with light sunshine streaming in to the hall, Sandeep and Archana started singing, and an impromptu song came about. I was sitting nearby on the laptop, and recorded it without letting them know.

Here is the result: (Scroll down to find the recording)
http://www.esnips.com/web/harishbsStuff

How much wood, I say ?

While creating an elevate membership id for myself (Virgin America's membership points), I found the following hilarious question: How much wood would a wood chuck chuck, if a wood chuck could chuck wood ?

I was so tempted to choose this as my security question, but no one answer was obvious to remember later. This is the best I could do - As much wood as a wood chuck could chuck.

Can you do better ?

Puns Intended

Yesterday at dusk, the two of us were strolling along shoreline, when a couple of people who were jogging laggardly stopped us, and asked to make a call on our cell phone. The tall girl called her mother, and left a voicemail, saying 'Mom, no pun intended, but we are running late' ! It turned out that they were running for 4 1/2 hours, and had run 17 miles !

Today on NPR, someone was talking about the Democratic national convention, and mentioned 'Unintentional pun, but conventional wisdom says .."

Ah, the world is a punny place!

Bangalore

- The direct flight from Hong Kong to Bangalore is a fantastic idea.

- Its a huge difference to have company on international flights. Huge.

- Bangalore's new airport and the roads leading to it are awesome.

- I flew in the first Dragon Air flight to Bangalore, and our plane was welcomed to the tarmac by the fire engines spraying water all over the plane from two sides, like an abhishekha.

- When we stepped out, we were greeted by silk saree wearing smiling ladies handing out bronze deepas to all passengers, and photographers clicking away like we were celebrities. All the passengers were mostly bleary eyed in contrast. The pilots and air hostesses got garlanded and were looking fabulous and surprised.

- The old airport's major bottlenecks appear to have been addressed well. No wait at the swanky immigration counters, no crowd/push-pull near the luggage carousals, all taxies were on one lane, while private parties had plenty of parking, and everyone was courteous and smiling. I had a fabulous experience.

Bangalore seems improving by leaps and bounds, and in contrast the US seems to be somewhat stuck and slow moving. The ambiance and the energy here is fantastic. Everytime I come home, I want to stay back. I already want to this trip.

Scrubs

I am impressed by Scrubs. Difficult, sensitive topics. Comedy. Hard look at life. Hilarious at times. It doesn't leave me feeling mindless, like some of the other comedies on TV.

Today evening seems to be TV time. Cash Cab, Jeopardy and now Scrubs. Oh well.

Why I love Jeopardy.

Isaac Asimov coined the word Millihelen, to measure what ?
The amount of beauty to launch one ship.

Wah, the elegance of it all! Brings science and art together beautifully, doesn't it ?

Blessed

ತರಂಗ (Taranga) is a popular kannada magazine. In my reckoning, it is one of the top two, along with ಸುಧಾ(Sudha). The latest edition carries an article, in which is featured my grandfather ! I had lost track of time recently, but the article reminded me that he will turn 103 in a few days time. So many of my fond childhood memories feature him and Tirthalli, so this is very pleasant and touching. You go, Bhava !

For those who don't read Kannada, here is an rough English translation. The article doesn't really do justice to him, I suppose I would write it differently. But then, he is my grandfather after all.

Translation:

Only 5-6 kilometers from Tirthahalli is a little village called Doorvasapura, also known as Mulubagilu. Mulubagilu is famous for it's advaita Mutt and for the dwaita mutt in nearby Bhimana katte.

There is another reason for it's fame, though. A senior person lives there. Name Sakkare Shamacharya (Born: August 5th 1906). He is now 103 years. Except for some weakened sight and hearing due to his age, no disease has dared come near him. His strong body, straight posture and limited use of a walking stick embarrasses youngsters. His hobbies include making jokes in English.

All guests to his home, whether old or young are treated with the same trust. He always makes humorous talk. He used to work as a teacher in Tirthahalli's high school. He used to teach Kannada and Sanskrit to children. Everyday, he would wear his white kachhe panche and Petha and travel to the school in Tirthalli either on his cycle or by walk. He had gained the trust of the students. Religious, and extremely interested in music. He also used to play the tabla.

Even today, after his daily activities, he has a lengthy session of prayer everyday. A vegetarian meal at around 12, snacks in the evening and dinner at night around 7 or 8. He never tracked the amount of coffee he drank, even from his youth. He still is crazy about coffee.

His house on the banks of the Tunga is a garden home. Until very recently, he used to handle oversight of the lands. Devoid of bad habits, his healthy lifestyle has been the secret of his long life.

In 2006, a function was organized in Tirthahalli to honor him for being a centurion.

The time he has received pension for, has exceeded the time he has spent working in his Government job. Saying that we are all unnecessary burdens on the Government, he displays his social concern. Sakkare Shamachar has a rare personality.

Commentary:
-Was he born in 1906 ? The article is factually incorrect, it seems. If I remember right (ya, right!) he was born in 1905 !

- The last few times we talked, he has been talking to me in English. Apparently, he must think the US has made me forget Kannada, and the little bit of Sanskrit he had taught us.

- He also apparently played the mrudangam. In fact, he gave me his to practice, when I was learning the instrument long ago.

- Bhimana katte is so named for a reason. There is a large carving in the rocks, in the form of a mace resting on the ground. Folklore has it that Bhima rested his mace there, and caused the impression. So, folks from all around worship the place. No, really. So they called it Bhimana katte.

What are the chances that

Out of 8 people sitting next to each other at work, 5 are Kannada speakers. This ratio is likely even higher than in Bangalore, what with the mix of cultures and languages happening there now....

Are you sure I am not in Karnataka ?

Help !

I really need to find new topics to write about. Some body help. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday !

Vanity

Makes me want to fix it anyway, when my good American friend in QA writes to me:
It is not 100% reproducible. Will keep Sri Sri posted.

Ah, vanity!

Cool places to travel

It's interesting, how my laptop gets to travel to cool locations, which I myself haven't managed to visit. She's already been to Shanghai in China, Anchorage in Alaska and Indianapolis on her journey towards me. And I bet she will travel to a couple of other nice places before coming home.

I wouldn't mind visiting any of those places. Never been to mainland China, would be fun. Alaska sounds very distant and exotic, and Indiana could give me a chance to see Obama. Darn.

Obelix says: Toc Toc Toc, these Fedex guys are crazy.

Earth shattering guy!

Happy birthday to you, O Shakespeare.

(with apologies to Tarang, it's my turn for a PJ)

Mad hops !

We had our final game of the league today. The mad hops are runners up in the intermediate league. We all got T shirts to show off, and our picture will be posted on the Oracle gym walls.

Fantastic memories and friendships. Sorry to see the injuries to some of us. Very happy to have played with you all - Kathy, Rajiv, Yimin, Charles, Robin, Jen and Sridhar. And oh, Charles' daughter.

I feel a little sad it's all over. 

Radioactive cat humor

Today's articles on slashdot included a radioactive cat traveling in a car on I-5, which the Feds pulled over. Apparently, the Feds monitor traffic for signs of 'dirty bombs'. Very funny, I thought, snidely.

Two comments had me rolling, though.
One was about cat scans, and another about cats having 18 half lives. Ha ha. And to think, my friends rib me for my poor jokes.

Pacman !

The very first computer game I ever played was pacman. It must have been in the early 90s, in my cousin's place in Bangalore. He had an Atarisoft home computer, and would set this game up for us.

We would play for hours together. He, his brother and sister, I and my brother and everyone else who came by. I remember the excitement of getting 10,000 points and extra lives! What an achievement it was, back then !

Over the years, while I found the game in various forms here and there, none really matched the old game I was used to playing. Until now. I was so thrilled to chance upon this, I played for several hours yesterday, and put this up on my web page as well : http://bharish.googlepages.com

Enjoy, and hope you enjoy Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde chasing you all day.

Nephew's gem of wisdom

So, I was chatting with my nephew at work, and he happened to come up with this old gem, a Kannada saying even I had forgotten / barely seen people use.

(9:41:11 AM) bharath maniyal: ha ha... beda bidu... nam indian pourusha avaru withstand madala, sumne yake gubbi mele bramhastra?:-)

I couldn't help laughing. And when I stopped, I found it a pleasant feeling to know that the next generation of kannadigas will carry the torch forward.