An antacid tablet reacts with water in space

Inferences...

Social networks have become prevalent - there is one for every purpose, career, travel, books etc. People are spending a lot of time on it, sharing minute details of their lives on it. So I had a question : Can the information that is shared by a person on social networking sites be used to infer that person's personality. Specifically, can the photographs that a person shares on such sites be used. The profile pic is probably the first one anyone intending to do such an analysis could look at. Follow that up with the photos one posts, looking for specifics like : how many have people in it, how many are of family, how many have that person itself, what is the mood of that person in the photograph, what activity does it show the person doing?

Can one draw an inference like : X's photos always have X. So, X is a very gregarious person. But X's photos do not have family. So X guards his/her privacy when it comes to friends and relatives.

Maybe something else like: Y's photographs do not show him/her, therefore "place some inference about Y".

Or something rather obvious: Z's photos show Z in lots of outdoor activity. Z likes adventure.

I bet such a study has already been done or is in progress in some psychology/sociology department in some university. The question is how could such information about us be used for/against us. The most obvious being targeted ads. But as a revenue model, that is so passe. Something's gotta give and something is definitely in store for us. Sooner rather than later.

3 idiots

Managed to watch the movie in its entireity. I guess that statement sums up my 'review' of the movie that has been the subject of many positive reviews, topical discussions and resounding financial success. The movie is an adaptation of 5 Point Someone. I've seen the theatrical performance by Evam, which was wonderfully done.

The movie definitely makes its point against the Indian undergrad education system. But as a cinematic experience, it was a letdown, especially after what Rajkumar Hirani has given us in the past - the well made Munnabhai movies. One can understand some amount of drama added to the script to cater to popular taste, but a cast that has two 40+ year old men playing the part of 20 year olds is difficult to digest. The ridiculous wig and accent that Boman Irani's character had were probably not necessary. Not to mention many recycled jokes - which we shall forgive. The last straw was the newborn baby coming 'back to life' (?) when it hears 'All is Well'.

Chetan Bhagat is alleging that he wasn't given due credit. If I were him, I would actually not bother about credits and actually try to distance myself from the movie.

Simply put: "Movie देखके मज़ा नहीं आया".

If I have to see '3 Idiots', I'll look at myself in the mirror; thrice over. That's sufficient.

Hitler reacts to auto strike in Bangalore

Obviously, this video is filled with kannada expletives and swear words, and is not recommended for young viewers (less than 18 yrs).

Social Networking

Indian companies say social networking sites (like Facebook) are affecting productivity. Not surprising. But,
the 'revelation' has come ~3 years after the PhD-Comics strip below.

Skhizein (Jérémy Clapin,2008)

Wow!

For all his flaws, Modi seems to do good too

The Gujarat assembly has passed a law that makes it mandatory for people to vote in local body polls. This MUST be extended to larger levels - state and general assemblies. This bill does add a fair share of work for government agencies - ensuring that all the eligible people in the constituency are listed in the voter's lists and maintaining up-to-date. And for the citizens, ensuring that their names are in the list corresponding to the constituency they reside in. Its generally accepted that India has been repeatedly plagued by low voter turnout, especially in the urban areas (though I need to show figures to prove this). 62% (in 2009 General Elections, as reported by The Hindu Business Line) is still too close to 50% for my comfort. I couldn't cast my (postal) vote 'coz my name was missing from the voter's list, though apparently it mysteriously re-appeared on the day of voting. Let's see how effective this move is.

Life in the Freezer

GUBA has the 6 episode BBC series Life in the Freezer (1993) dealing with the life of the flora and fauna on and around the Antarctic continent. Yes, Sir David Attenborough does the narration. :) The videos are embedded below, chronologically from parts 1 through 6.



http://www.guba.com/watch/2000878117



http://www.guba.com/watch/2000878176





http://www.guba.com/watch/2000878527



http://www.guba.com/watch/2000878524



http://www.guba.com/watch/2000878175



http://www.guba.com/watch/2000878186

The Knack

TheKnack
Uploaded by jamsoun. - See more comedy videos.

value education

I dont know if it is supposed to be called comedy or tragedy but imagine being stuck between four walls and learning “values”. Values themselves are conditions that tell us what is supposed to be good or bad and it tries to tame the natural human instinct. This human who is claiming to have an interactive session about values has left his senses at home and is trying to teach values to people who have gone beyond rules, beyond values or even beyond civilization. What this person is doing here is meta-value education, teaching conditions within closed conditional doors. He is asking us “Who are you?” and we are supposed to try and find out an answer and the answer is something unique in the individual. My question is “Who is he?” To teach about values you have to move away from it, just like we understand the presence of something by its absence. The person seems so obsessed that he probably breathes values. Being and orator and giving juvenile activities to adults who can think for themselves is not enough knowledge to talk about the much hyped values. This person says “In order to be a good human being you should have these values...you can copy down” I felt like i was undergoing torture where something was being forced down my throat even though I did not like it. Who is he to define a good human being? This itself shows that values are criteria that one has to satisfy in order to be called good. Does just values make up a human being? I guess this person probably needs a lecture on how to let people grow and have them develop a personality of their own. More derogatory (as i consider it) was “Are you from science, because science girls do not talk”. Really? Please somebody teach him some essential skills to understand that if somebody does not interact, it could indicate “Will you please shut up because we are not listening”. His eyes are clouded and the person cannot see for himself and is trying to cloud our eyes, make us all a “bakra” (like my friend termed it) so we look at life in a better way. Paradox or what?

“greatest inspiration comes from biographies of great men” this person said. I think the greatest inspiration can be from oneself. The reason why we do not have enough biographies or people reading it is because we keep looking outside for inspiration and not within oneself. The inspiration for this tyrannical rant (as my brother would call it) is when I disagreed with everything he spoke and looked within myself as to why I did not agree...if I had not done what I did then I would have probably been writing notes.

“you should join satsang, have a guru and not leave the path of karma”. Interpreting this in kannada, “sat” means the dead, “sang” is association and “karma” means pain in the ass. This man here has been in the association of wrong people, has become brain dead and he cant think for himself and he is a big karma for his listeners.

All that values do is curtail individuality and the one who propagates it wants everybody else to be “good human beings” like themselves.

God bless the needy and not the greedy!

Re-envisioning HCI

10/GUI from C. Miller on Vimeo.

LOTR! Alternate Story

Reposted from Funny Junk.

Oliver Sacks: Tales of Music and the Brain

Watch Oliver Sacks: Tales of Music and the Brain in Educational & How-To  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

A 5-minute preview of the documentary Tales of Music and the Brain. For full 50-minute documentary, click the video or the link below it to Veoh.

Manning Park Trip

E.C. Manning Park is a large natural reserve ~200 KM from Vancouver. We folks from my research lab went on a weekend camping trip to the place over the long weekend ending on Labour Day in Canada (7th Sep).


View Larger Map

Most of us landed, Friday evening at the Lightning Lake camp site. No idea why it is called Lightning Lake, might be a native name translated to English.


View Larger Map

There wasn't any activity on Friday barring dinner. Saturday, we went on a 13 km hike around the lake, followed by a late lunch, some football/volleyball & dinner. It was quite cold Saturday evening, and I woke up with body ache the next day. The cold had 'penetrated' my sleeping pad and bag. It was a 'civilised' camping, and the campsite had well maintained bathrooms and hot water. A hot shower was all it took to relieve the pain. :)

Sunday was mostly lazy. Some folks had to leave; and they did. The rest played a bit of volleyball and then went boating on Lightning Lake.

I was rudely woken up Monday morning by the sound of my alarm going off. Till then I was sleeping peacefully in the warmth of my sleeping bag. I woke up, but unable to open my eyes (my skull cap had slipped over my eyes) or move (I was in a stage similar to anesthetic awareness for a moment), the first thing that crossed my mind "Has the tent collapsed!?". Looking back, that moment was really fun. Luckily, I was back in my senses quickly and was able to extricate myself from the confines of my sleeping bag and tent.

Breakfast was followed by departure - and we were back at our respective homes by late afternoon.

Sita Sings the Blues

Part 1

Full Playlist on YouTube.

Come Fast Krishna

I was traveling in Bangalore recently, when, from somewhere, the song “Krishna nee begane baaro...” crossed my mind. I began contemplating and saw how “begane” our lives were moving.  Going at this pace, we might be extinct by the time Krishna arrives. Twenty two years it has been my journey, and God knows how many more to come. I do not remember the day I was born, but my childhood feels like it was only yesterday that i used to play with my baby sitting friends and then school, college and now even post-grad studies! Looking back at my own life, I want to attempt to answer the question "What am I?" a little different from what is generally asked by most teenagers. Yes, I know I am human, but I do not intend to settle with answers like that. Have i done anything significant in these years? And what can be considered significant? If I go on like this, then there will be way too many things that require explanations. Apart from being stuck in the race to be the best, learning that tomato is a fruit and Freud is a maniac, have these 22 years been helpful to understand or answer the question I have been waiting to answer? I heard Bob Marley's words, “The plant takes you to yourself”. No, I am not advertising illegal substances, but can just something as simple as grass (the plant) show you what you are? I am waiting... to try, to investigate, to discover.

As I type. it is a year since I left home to catch my flight to Vancouver. Been a journey since then.

Starter

I am just another software company employee who is so busy that i hardly get time for anything. This has been talked about too many times. Even my girlfriend keeps hanging up cos i do not spend time with her, “I am sorry my dear compaq with core 2 duo..I still love you” ya thats the way I get my laptop working. Anyway I recently suffered from lots of problems like backache and common cold that never saw its culmination. Thanks to all of that my doctor prohibited me from touching my second girlfriend “Bajaj Wind 125”. I had also heard about so many efforts to save energy and use public transport etc so I thought it might be a good move not only to increase my environment credentials and also try and set right my health. I waited at a shelter-less bus stop near my house and boarded a bus that was quite empty so I even got a seat. I was getting used to the bumpy ride when this guy in khakhi clothes stood next to me. I looked at him and said “boss full tank”. He was just staring at me and it was only after that I realized I was not in a petrol bunk. It was my first bus ride and I am sure to remember it.

Nostalgia... 1996

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been news articles about the arrest of an African-American scholar by some white police officer in the USA. This led to a row over racial profiling forcing US President Obama to intervene.

The entire event however reminded me of a Sam Jackson-Nicholas Cage movie titled Amos and Andrew. I had to force myself to watch this movie on the evening of 21st Oct, 1996. How do I remember the exact date? Was the movie so bad that it left an indelible mark on me? No.

21st Oct 1996 was also the day that India faced Australia in Bangalore in the 3rd match of the Titan Cup. After restricting Aus to 215, India lost wickets early and were on the verge of losing. But Tendulkar and batting heroics by Srinath and Kumble ensured India won - last ball of last over, 2 wickets to spare.

I had to watch the match, but also couldn't - India was losing, can't bear that! So was switching channels between Star Movies and Star Sports. Nice match, nice memories, I like. :)