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| 02 October 2011
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| India VIX
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India VIX: blog on India VIX, volatility futures & options, Nifty, NSE and more
Read this regularly updated blog on India VIX, other volatility indices and derivatives (futures & options), Nifty weekly & monthly prediction, NSE (National Stock Exchange) and more
keywords: india vix, volatility index, nifty, nse, vix futures, vix derivatives, nifty prediction |
posted by Rohit
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| 04 May 2010
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| A K Capital: LTP 331.40: Strong Buy: Target: 500-600 in one year
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I am a big fan of Warren Buffett. I have read all his shareholder letters available here.
When Warren Buffett analyses a company for investment, there are four characteristics that he looks at:
1. Favorable industry
2. Robust financials
3. Capable management
4. Attractive valuation
About A K Capital:
A K Capital is one of India’s leading Merchant Banker for the Indian Corporate Debt / Fixed Income Securities market through Private Placement / Public Issues and for Management Consultancy, Advisory Services, Financial Restructuring, etc. It is the largest mobiliser of debt through private placement of bonds and non convertible debentures for eight consecutive years. It's clientele includes several well-known names and is available at http://www.akcapindia.com/clientele.htm . Recently, It's rating was upgraded from A- to A by CARE. It's not a fraud company.
Operational:
It derives its earnings primarily from Investment Banking fees and Investment Income. Its revenue has grown from Rs. 27 crores in FY06 to Rs. 134 crores in FY09, and the growth has been consistent @70% y-o-y.
The amazing part is that it has done so while maintaining profit margin (PAT) between 25% and 40% consistently. As a result, its net worth has grown at a CAGR of 75% over these years.
It's eps has grown at a CAGR of 50% over these years.
Also, the firm has been paying regular dividends.
Valuation:
The stock is currently trading at a P/E (ttm) of 4.5 and P/BV of 1.9. It has a ROE of 30-45%.
It was trading at a P/E (quarterly) of 14-17 from 2Q07 to 1Q08. From 2Q08 to 2Q09, it was trading at a P/E (quarterly) of 20-33. Since then to 3Q10, it has been trading at a P/E (quarterly) of 8-13. The good news is that the P/E (quarterly) is inching upwards from 8.2 (in 4Q09) to 10.7 (in 1Q10) to 11.2 (in 2Q10) to 12.9 (in 3Q10) in the last four quarters. Assuming it reaches a P/E (quarterly) of 20 and eps increases at 50% over one year from now, the stock should touch Rs. 600 within a year. Not bad, considering that the price today is around Rs. 331.50. Near doubling of investments over one year is not a bad deal at all.
A stock expands either due to expanding eps or expanding P/E. This stock will expand due to both.
Warren Buffett is a very patient investor who will wait for years for lack of any investable opportunity. But, once he spots an attractive opportunity, he doesn't waste time over-analyzing, instead he goes out and makes the investment.
Several fund managers maintain a 2x2 matrix with operational performance on vertical axis and valuation on horizontal axis. They refuse to look at companies with bad operational performance with expensive valuation. Similarly, they disregard companies with bad operational performance but cheap valuation. If they find a company with a good operational performance but expensive valuation, they will wait till the valuation reaches a more comfortable level. However, if they find a company with good operational performance and cheap valuation, they jump right on to it.
This stock has very good operational performance and is available at a very cheap valuation.
Risks:
1. Shareholding pattern - The promoters own 60% of the stock
2. Low volumes - On an average, only around 500 shares are traded everyday, hence there is nothing stopping an irrational movement.
3. FII/DII holding - Zero
4. It is not listed on NSE
Disclaimer: I hold this stock. Of course. Why wouldn't I?
Note: P/E (quarterly): Numerator consists of Average Share Price over that quarter and Denominator consists of earnings of that quarter. Hence P/E (quarterly) is roughly one-fourth of P/E (current) |
| posted by Rohit
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| 26 March 2010
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| (American) Football Movies
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This post is designed to serve as a guide towards all major (American) football hollywood movies:
The movies have been ranked by IMDB rating as of the day of this post.
The aspect of football on which the movie is based has also been mentioned.
7.9 - The Blind Side - Offensive Left Tackle
7.6 - The Damned United - Coach
7.5 - Remember the Titans - Coach
7.3 - Rudy - Playing for Notre Dame
7.2 - Jerry Maguire - Sports Agent
7.2 - Friday Night Lights -
7.1 - We Are Marshall - Coach
7.0 - Invincible -
6.6 - Father Was A Fullback -
6.3 - The Game Plan - Quarterback
6.2 - The Replacements - Quarterback
6.2 - The Longest Yard - Team formation
6.0 - Facing The Giants - CoachLabels: american football, football |
| posted by Rohit
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| 14 November 2009
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| ABC of driving
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Driving a car entails a very simple lesson... it's as simple as ABC...
A for Accelerator - uses up fuel
B for Brake - wastes fuel
C for Clutch - wastes fuel
Apparently, all that can be done by foot during driving uses up or wastes fuel.
Steering wheel, on the other hand, points you in the right direction and hence doesn't use or waste fuel.
Enlightened?Labels: car |
| posted by Rohit
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| 29 August 2009
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| Amazing website
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Here's an amazing commercial website with an idea so fabulous it's amazing I didn't think of it before...
http://fastfollowers.com
It is designed to increase the number of twitter followers. It offers a credit-based system that allows a user to follow others to gain credits and lets others follow you to use up those credits. You can set how many credits you'd like to place yourself on. You can also buy credits for dollars. You can also blog about the website to earn credits.
Amazing... isn't it?
Oh ya... btw, I tweet @ http://twitter.com/FireboITLabels: twitter |
| posted by Rohit
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| 18 August 2009
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| Comparison
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Look at the two videos below and compare:
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OIvyixfYf4
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sf_yWEyGS8Labels: india, video |
| posted by Rohit
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| 03 January 2009
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| the toughest decision of my life
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About 4 years back, while shopping for a bottle, I came across two such identical bottles, one costing Rs. 100 and the other Rs. 300, apparently identical in every aspect apart from a label of "MILTON" stuck to the latter one. After much deliberation, I bought the latter.
... it's been 4 years and I still wonder if I made the right decision? |
| posted by Rohit
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| 29 December 2008
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| ...and they said comics would die
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 (source: http://www.shinubi.net/upload/2008/12/200812142312071318.gif )
It's so amazing to discover how powerful a message can be delivered so easily and simply by a cartoon strip!!! |
| posted by Rohit
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| 11 November 2008
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| update
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Just to keep this blog updated...
I've secured a summer internship opportunity at ICICI Prudential Asset Management Division (or whatever they call it) |
| posted by Rohit
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| 18 September 2008
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| Progress...
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I'm one-sixth of an MBA now {(provisionally) (excluding summers) (including probable exchange)}
...yippie
btw... if one notices carefully, one finds that the motivation of ALL the MBA courses is profit maximization.
there should be a social-MBA also |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 09 September 2008
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| what did I learn today - IV
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Now you'd wonder why I've put this pic up here.
Look closer.
PS: Someone please report this to Hard Rock Cafe |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 01 September 2008
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| the two-mode theory
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life here has reduced to just two modes
(i) Working towards a deadline
(ii) Partying |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 27 August 2008
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| Life@Hel(L)-II
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As correctly pointed out by Mr. Simarjit Singh, life has been reduced to just two (non-overlapping and exhaustive) phases now
1. Deadlines
2. Partying |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 28 July 2008
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| Life@Hel(L)
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It's hell out here... hot and humid... more humid than hot... compels me to bathe atleast thrice daily...
and oh yeah there are those regular never-ending countless projects with pressing deadlines, topped up with frequent quisses, some announced, some surprise, and yeah the monthly mid-terms and end-terms
so obviously no time for regular blogging
PS: the once-a-month insti-party is one of the reasons i'm still here |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 24 June 2008
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| moving
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| moving from rohitagarwaliitd@gmail.com to rohitagarwal257@gmail.com |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 31 May 2008
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| what did i learn today - III
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A good quality frame for a pair of spectacles is MUCH MUCH More expensive than a good quality pair of spectacle lenses...
I guess it tells us something about the society we live in, and also our personal desires and expectations... |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 15 March 2008
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| coming soon...
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coming soon...
FIREBOLT NATIONAL EQUITY FUND
...check this space regularly for more updatesLabels: hedge fund |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 14 February 2008
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| on life
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Conversation between Mr. Linderman and Nathan Petrelli in "Heroes 118 - Parasite"
...Are you happy, Nathan?
Not especially. I guess I have a few issues that plague me.
Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear that. You see I think there comes a time when a man has to ask himself whether he wants a life of happiness or a life of meaning.
I'd like to have both.
Hahaha. Can't be done. Two very different paths. I mean to be truly happy a man must live absolutely in the present, no thought of what's gone before and no thought of what lies ahead. But, a life of meaning, a man is condemned to wallow in the past and obsess about the future...
Made me think. |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 22 January 2008
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| What is our deepest fear?
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Q. What is our deepest fear?
A. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Timo Cruz to Coach Ken Carter in Coach Carter, 2005
Inspite of this, Coach Carter is in the "top-10-best-ever-movies" list.
References
1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393162/quotes
Labels: movies, pride |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 21 January 2008
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| On why not to shop at Select CITYWALK, Saket
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Like several of my previous posts, the target audience of this post is the male of this species. The females may either choose to switch over to something else more interesting of read or continue.
Special Disclaimer : This post is not suitable for Select CITYWALK fans, so they are requested to kindly refrain from continuing reading this post. Any comments (positive or negative) from the concerned parties would not be appreciated.
Statistics:
| S.no | Name of category | Number of stores | Male-Female catering ratio | Male-Female score |
| 1. | Anchors and Major shops | 9 | 0.50:0.50 | 4.50:4.50 |
| 2. | Watches and Jewellery | 8 | 0.3125:0.6875 | 2.50:5.50 |
| 3. | Perfumes and Cosmetics | 10 | 0.0:1.0 | 0.00:10.00 |
| 4. | Books, Cards, Gifts and Music | 5 | 0.50:0.50 | 2.50:2.50 |
| 5. | Apparel - Designer | 4 | 0.0:1.0 | 0.00:4.00 |
| 6. | Apparel - Ethnic | 4 | 0.0:1.0 | 0.00:4.00 |
| 7. | Apparel - Men/Women | 24 | 0.50:0.50 | 12.00:12.00 |
| 8. | Bags, Belts and Fashion Accessories | 9 | 0.00:1.00 | 0.00:9.00 |
| 9. | Optical and Sunglasses | 1 | 0.50:0.50 | 0.50:0.50 |
| 10. | Footwear | 7 | 0.50:0.50 | 3.50:3.50 |
| 11. | Sportswear | 3 | 0.50:0.50 | 1.50:1.50 |
| 12. | Lingerie | 2 | 0.00:1.00 | 0.00:2.00 |
| 13. | Kidswear and Infantcare | 8 | 0.50:0.50 | 4.00:4.00 |
| 14. | Home | 5 | 0.50:0.50 | 2.50:2.50 |
| 15. | Mobile phones and Electronics | 3 | 0.50:0.50 | 1.50:1.50 |
| 16. | Food, Grocery and Confectionary | 4 | 0.50:0.50 | 2.00:2.00 |
| 17. | Cafes, Bars, and Restaurants | 12 | 0.50:0.50 | 6.00:6.00 |
| 18. | Services, Specialty Shops and Travel | 13 | 0.50:0.50 | 6.50:6.50 |
TOTAL:
Male score : 49.50
Female score : 81.50
Neither does this blend with the spirit of India nor does it make economic sense because of the
1. Skewed sex-ratio
2. Patriarchal society
PS: I so hope that the Left comes across this piece of information.
References:
1. http://www.selectcitywalk.com/store_dr.htmLabels: facts, generosity, shopping, yesterday |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 11 steps on how NOT to shop
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A quick list of do-NOT's on how NOT to shop...
1. DON'T make a plan to go shopping with 3 similarly severely cash-constrained friends of yours.
2. If step 1 not executed, DON'T select a Sunday afternoon.
3. If step 2 not executed, DON'T go to Select CITYWALK at Saket.
4. If step 3 not executed, DON'T let PANTALOONS be the first store you enter.
5. If step 4 not executed, DON'T leave the above-mentioned store before buying anything at dirt-cheap prices and iron-heavy discounts in search of finding greener pastures elsewhere.
6. If step 5 not executed, DON'T spend hours entering other stores expecting similar discounts and similar prices.
7. If step 6 not executed, DON'T leave the above-mentioned stores without buying anything while planning to return to PANTALOONS to buy the cheap stuff.
8. If step 7 not executed, DON'T return to PANTALOONS.
9. If step 8 not executed, DON'T get disappointed by not being able to find any stuff of quality even comparable to the stores mentioned in step-6.
10. If step 9 not executed, DON'T return to the stores mentioned in step-6 to buy the stuff you had earlier rejected either due to higher price or lower discount.
11. If step 10 not executed, DON'T buy from the stores mentioned in step-6.Labels: faith and temperance, shopping, yesterday |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 05 December 2007
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| knock knock joke...
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Q. How do you know you are in Subrat Kar's room?
A. You knock on the door and ask politely while leaning against it to keep it from closing, "Sir, may I come in?" and "You're already in", he replies, without even looking at you.Labels: ee, humour, joke |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| Mission Accomplished
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Mission: Prison Break Season I : Episodes 01E01 to 01E22
Duration: 42x22 m
Deadline: Two and a half days
Result: AccomplishedLabels: serials, zeal |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 01 December 2007
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| Just a survey...
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Now who else wishes that songs should last 60 seconds... maybe 90 seconds... but definitely not more than 2 minutes...
5 minutes is a lot... sometimes enough to bore someone to suicide...
prune the redundant start and the end... and don't repeat the same lines over and over again... if we like what you just said then we'll play it again in our head, we don't want you to play it again and again and irritate everyone else...Labels: comments, songs |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| Most common word of the English language
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Just a fact I discovered today:
The most commonly used word in spoken English is not "a",
not even "but",
not even "can" ,
not even "fuck",
not even "give",
not even "good",
not even "have",
not even "here",
not even "is",
not even "love",
not even "no",
not even "please",
not even "sex",
not even "so",
not even "sorry",
not even "thanks",
not even "the",
not even "thing",
not even "to",
not even "yes"
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It's "I"
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How egotist we all have become... |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 17 October 2007
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| black October
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It happened in 1929. It happened again in 1987. It's happening again in 2007. All in October.
The stock market is crashing. run, run, run,
The heavily over-valued BSE and NSE indices opened with a huge negative gap of around 1500 and 500 points respectively. The trading has been closed for an hour and will resume at 10:55 AM.
This is a response not just to the govt. announcing clamping on Participatory notes for FII's but also to the heavy volatility that has been evident in the recent days.
As traders try to book profits and exit from the market as soon as the market opens, we can only expect the market to go down further. The question is not that will the market go down or go up once it reopens, but how further will it go down, and for how long.
Also, rupee fell drastically from 39.31 sthg to 39.81 sthg, the biggest fall atleast in the recent past. Hard to say that it couldn't be related.
For those planning to enter the market, today afternoon or tomorrow would be the best time to buy low and then sell high at a later time.
After all bulls and bears is just a part of life
[published at 10:18 AM]
Obviously I turned out to be wrong, but does being wrong everytime mean that I can foresee the market? |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 16 October 2007
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| The story of rock and me
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I am entitled to make remarks because I have experienced life while belonging to the category.
I was, not very long ago, not a very big admirer of rock music. At that time, rock was nothing but noise to me. There are hardly any lyrics. And it's so difficult to figure out what the whole fuss is about. And I decided to stay at a safe distance from all the rock-followers. They are generally alcohol-drinking, cigarette-smoking, drug-doping, weapon-yielding , maybe outlaws too, definitely dangerous. I couldn't understand why they all claim to like rock music, why they all claim to be die-hard fans of hard rock. I thought it was just a cult whose participation entitles glances, admiration and attention. I thought that a rock follower was just someone who claims to like Marilyn Mansion whereas the reality is that he/she secretly listens to Backstreet Boys (which is pop) privately. It was just a show-off, I thought.
Then came college life, and along with it came the freedom to listen to music the way it's meant to be listened. At FULL VOLUME. So, I downloaded a couple of "rock" songs on recommendations of my fellow roommate. "Somewhere I Belong" and "In the End". Both by a rock band known as "Linkin Park". I plugged in the earphones, turned the volume to its maximum level, and listened. And then I listened again. And again. I kept listening. I was hooked.
Then I went to my first rock concert at a college fest, wearing a black t-shirt similar to what I had seen other rock fans adorn. I don't remember much about the concert now, but two things that I vividly remember indulging myself into were
1. Sitting just in front of the 20000 W speakers, feeling the bass shake my body down to the core. I still remember checking my cellphone to see if it was vibrating, not once or twice but several times during the concert.
2. Joining the rank of head-bangers and doing the head-banging stuff myself. I can't
explain in words how that felt, but I remember that my eyes were closed so that I could appreciate it completely.
After that day, I have been to several rock concerts in my city, inside and outside my college, and I have had similar experiences everytime. And its not just the concerts. Whenever I'm feeling low, or high, I listen to rock on my earphones at full volume. Why do I do that? Because I feel it communicates to me, on some level, and that I can relate to it.
Now, when I look back at those who have (unfortunately) been untouched by the magnanimity of the rock and wonder what they feel about us. I am not surprised to discover them going through the same phase that I had myself gone through once. I try, but am unsuccessful, in my attempts to make them believe that it is not just crap or a show-off. I rock even when I'm alone. I headband even when I'm alone. But they are unable to appreciate it.
The only way for you to understand us is to become one of us. If you haven't experienced the spirituality of rock, you have no right to reject rock.
Just keep rocking. |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 10 October 2007
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| want to piss off someone?
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Want to piss off someone?
Just tell him he's not a very big risk-taker.
With the surge of financial companies coming in for placements and the colossal demand for investment banks, no one wants to be labelled as incompetent for the investment banking job by being called risk-averse
PS: it always works on our mamoo |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 25 August 2007
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| A joke
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Ok, this one is a modified version of a joke by Patel.
A person, person X, is standing next to an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, smoking, when another person, person Y, comes to him and asks him
"What are you doing?"
"Smoking"
"What are you smoking?"
"Cigar"
"Which cigar?"
"Romeo y Julieta"
"When did you start smoking?"
"At 18"
"And what is your age now?"
"48"
Person Y does some mental calculations and says
"You know what, if you hadn't been smoking, you could have saved enough to own this car you are standing next to"
Now Person X asks, "Do you smoke?"
"No"
"What's your age?"
"52"
"So, do you own this car?"
"No"
"I do", and then he opens the door of his car, gets in it, revs up the engine, and drives off... |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 23 August 2007
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| 20000
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Now what does 20000 have to do with this post? It obviously isn't the 20000th post by me on blogger
Well, I completed 20000 km on my bajaj pulsar 150 dtsi yesterday!
And 20200 km today!
And just two years from now it didn't even belong to me (hard to remember those time)
Well, now what's so great about 20000? For the geeks, earth's radius is around 6,356.750 km. Doesn't ring any bells? Well, the circumference comes out to be around 41071.6 km. Divide it by two and you get 20535.8 km (or approx 20000 km). Now what does this mean? This means that assuming the earth to be covered by land everywhere and that I can ride my pulsar over any terrain, I CAN REACH ANY POINT ANYWHERE ON EARTH FROM ANY POINT ANYWHERE ON EARTH IF I CAN TRAVEL 20000 km.
Anywhere to Anywhere!
Phew... that's a lot of traveling!
There's also something else which is special about 20000.
Assuming I walk for about 40 minutes everyday (a reasonable estimate, I believe), at an average speed of 4 km per hour (again a reasonable estimate), then on an average, I travel around 2.66 km on foot everyday (sounds reasonable). Now, let's assume that for one week in a year, I am ill, or just not in a mood to walk. So, I walk around 952.28 km every year. Now, if I have been walking since I was one year old (which is true), then I can say that I have walked for around 21 years. So, I can say that I've traveled around 20000 km on foot in my lifetime.
I've traveled the same on my pulsar.
A coincidence?Labels: bike, travel, zeal |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 23 July 2007
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| statistics says
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statistics says that every time a person boards an airplane, he/she loses 15 minutes of his/her life...
do I quit my belief in statistics or do I quit boarding airplanes? or do I stop fearing?
Disclaimer: The statement mentioned above is an unverified fact that can also be not true... it has been taken from the comment of some news article and has not been verified. It has been included in the blog just to express a sentiment rather than anything else.Labels: amusing, facts, faith and temperance |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 16 July 2007
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| The ABC of driving
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Food for thought:
Three main levers accessible by the feet while driving a vehicle are:
1. Accelerator : The harder it is pressed, the more fuel is consumed.
CONCLUSION: It should be used sparingly for an economical drive.
2. Brake : The harder it is pressed, the more speed the car loses, hence more fuel will be consumed to restore the vehicle to it original speed.
CONCLUSION: It should be used sparingly for an economical drive.
3. Clutch : The harder it is pressed, the more fuel is not utilized to gain speed, hence more fuel will be required for the same acceleration.
CONCLUSION: It should be used sparingly for an economical drive.
RESULT: Economical drive necessitates minimal use of the levers.
RESULT: Economical drive doesn't exist.
RESULT: Economical drive is an oxymoron.
RESULT: Wanna go for an Economical drive? Stay at home.Labels: bike, drive, food for thought, self control |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 11 July 2007
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| Today
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The drive from my home to my office was very smooth today... less traffic... less red lights... less potholes... less narrow lanes... less pedestrians trying to cross the road as if today's the last day of their lives...
how boring......
I'd rather take the longer route next time onwards...Labels: bike, drive, greed |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 06 July 2007
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| Something stupid
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I have absolutely no idea why I'm doing this but maybe it has something to do with the fact that on some level, maybe, these lines touch my heart in some way which I am consciously absolutely unaware of.
"Something Stupid"
- Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman
I know I stand in line
Until you think you have the time
To spend an evening with me
And if we go someplace to dance
I know that there's a chance
You won't be leaving with me
Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I can see it in your eyes
You still despise the same old lines
You heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
And never seemed so right before
I practice every day to find some clever
lines to say
To make the meaning come true
But then I think I'll wait until the evening
gets late
And I'm alone with you
The time is right
Your perfume fills my head
The stars get red
And oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I love you...
Labels: love, lyrics, something stupid |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 29 June 2007
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| if only......
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I would definitely participate in a competition which involves driving around the world on my bike without holding it with my hands
IF
1. There was a mechanism which allowed me to accelerate, or to use the clutch without using the handlebar
AND
2. Such a competition existedLabels: bike, competition, zeal |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 28 June 2007
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| A few words about dancing (and foreign language)
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WHY DANCING IS LIKE LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE...
1. One has got to know some words (steps)
2. One can easily manage if one know even a few words (steps)
3. But its better if one know more
4. And there's practically no limit to the total number of words (steps), they keep coming up like everyday
5. The process of learning a new language includes understanding the grammar (learning the steps), reading the literature (watching how others do it) and speaking it fluently (performing a dance)
6. There is no use of understanding the grammar and reading the literature if you are unable to speak it.
7. Regular practice is required for a couple of months, till fluency is achieved, but if not regularly practiced, can be forgotten.
8. There is no downside of learning a new language, it can come in handy anytime unexpected.
9. One can practice it alone, but doing it with a partner makes it more enjoyable and a good learning experience.
10. It is a great way to make new friends or to impress someone.
WHY DANCING IS NOT LIKE LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE...
1. The dance steps are not always the same for him and her.
2. One can appreciate a dance even without knowing anything about it beforehand.Labels: analogy, dance, language, self control |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 25 June 2007
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| Why I hate ice-creams (and most of the other sweets)
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| Now this is a very stupid question because it should be me asking you who would like to eat a piece of brightly-colored artificially-flavoured frozen water that supports itself on nothing but a wooden piece of stick and requires you to constantly lick its exposed surface with your bare tongue otherwise little-little drops of sticky (read yuck) brightly-colored artificially-flavoured water fall down on your shirt, pants, arms, legs, and everywhere else where you least want it to and leave spots which are not very easy to remove. Labels: gluttony, ice-cream, sweets, yuck |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 23 June 2007
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| Six words
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"For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn"Back in the 1920's , a young newspaperman bet his colleagues $10 - a princely in those days - that he could write a complete story in just 6 words. Ernest Hemingway later bragged that the six words above constituted one of his greatest stories. Flash fiction, characterized by extreme brevity, is a piece of fiction less than 1,000 words long. The above-mentioned flash is a result of this concept taken to its extreme. Other authors decided to take a shot themselves. The result is compiled at http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/sixwords.html . Here are a few of my other favorites: Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer? - Eileen Gunn
It cost too much, staying human. - Bruce Sterling
Don’t marry her. Buy a house. - Stephen R. Donaldson
TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! … nobody there … - Harry Harrison
New genes demand expression -- third eye. - Greg Bear
I saw, darling, but do lie. - Orson Scott Card
Will this do (lazy writer asked)? - Ken MacLeod
Labels: hemingway, love, pride |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 22 June 2007
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| Of PG and SLEWG
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Pride
Gluttony
Sloth
Lust
Envy
Wrath
Greed
These are the seven deadly sins according to the Bible which when committed destroy the life of grace unless confessed or forgiven.
Just one question though: How many of the landmark achievements in the history of mankind (and womankind) can you recall which can be claimed to be free from these 'sins'? How many great men (and women) can you recall who remained aloof of these 'sins'? How far would the human civilization have progressed had it abstained itself from these 'sins'?
Would you personally prefer the above to the below?
Humility
Faith and Temperance
Zeal
Self control
Love
Kindness
Generosity
ALSO: Vivekanand spoke for 72 hours non-stop on "Zero"Labels: envy, faith and temperance, generosity, gluttony, greed, humility, kindness, love, lust, pride, self control, sloth, vivekanand, wrath, zeal |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 03 June 2007
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| 21 things a surface can do
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MICROSOFT SURFACE
This newest thing from Microsoft (www.microsoft.com/surface) is also unarguably the best thing from Microsoft in the recent past. Ever wondered what all a surface can do?
1. view playlist and transfer songs from one mp3 player to another
2. view photos from a wi-fi camera and transfer it to another
3. use GPS-enabled phones to plan travel and then store the travel plans in the phone
4. pay bills using credit card
5. view photos and videos and also rotate and enlarge them
6. compose and send mail
7. play with water droplets when served with a drink
8. order from menu
9. view features of a mobile phone and compare it to another
10. make a playlist
11. simulate water
12. make sketches using fingers or brush
13. view a photo album
14. send an ecard
15. recharge phone credit using recharge cards
16. listen to ringtones and load them on the phone and also associate each ringtone to each person on the phonebook
17. check coverage of mobile phone network
18. solve a video puzzle
19. view the list of items ordered in the past from a credit card
20. pay tip using the credit card
21. check out all the rewards available (courtesy a reward program) and also make reservations/purchase concert tickets/view concert clippings
--
"is there sthg this thing can't do?"
"what will version 2.0 be like?"
"is this what surfaces have become?"Labels: amazing, latest tech gizmos, lust, microsoft, surface |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 12 April 2007
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| a-less girls
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Ever wondered how many Indian (non-punjabi) girls' names can you think of which don't end with an 'a'?
aanchal
aditi
anjali
anu
basubi
bhagyashree
bharti
bindu
charu
chhavi
deepti
devi
ginni
himani
jahanavi
jinni
jugnu
juhi
jyothirmayee
jyoti
kajol
kanu
kiran
kirti
kokil
komal
krati
madhu
madhuri
mini
mohini
neeti
nidhi
niki
nupur
pallavi
parul
pinky
preeti
ragini
rajni
rani
rashi
rhythm
rupakshi
sakshi
saloni
saral
saroj
shagun
shashi
shilpi
shiny
shruti
sonali
sonam
stuti
suman
sunidhi
suniti
surbhee
swati
tanu
tanushree
tanvvi
vibhuti
vasu
Post open for comments only if you want to add to the existing list...
Contributed by (in alphabetical order)
Kartik
Shaveta
Shilpi
Stuti
SuneetaLabels: comments, girl names, puzzle, sloth |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 26 March 2007
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| S-T-O-P
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"I've become invisible I melt away at night,
Dreams for once so colorful become black and white.
Loving once so wonderful is no longer here,
So I'll keep this feeling like a souvenir."
"I've become invisible I melt away at night"
>> How does one become invisible?
If I knew that, I wouldn't be telling you.
>> What melts away at night?
Night is supposed to be colder than the day, and as such stuff either freezes or condenses, not melts.
"Dreams were once so colorful become black and white"
>> What defines the color of a dream?
I don't recall having any non-monochrome dream. Can't say the same about anyone else.
"Loving once so wonderful is no longer here"
>> Under what circumstances is it possible for the perception of love to get degraded?
When one has been dumped by someone beloved.
"So I'll keep this feeling like a souvenir"
>> What all feelings are kept like souvenir?
Those which can't be replicated.
50 % illogical, 50% redundant.... but still guys like me love them
REFERENCES:
[1] http://www.nuvirgos.com/static.php?page=12 Labels: lust, lyrics, nu virgos, video |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 28 February 2007
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| the surprise that never was
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ANNOUNCEMENT: A teacher announces in the class that she will take a surprise quiz in the next week.
DEFINITIONS:
1) a: exactly one i.e. ((quiz on Xday)AND(quiz on Yday)) = FALSE [for all Xday and Yday]
2) surprise: it can never be determined with 100 % confidence on which day the quiz will be held i.e. (quiz on Xday) != TRUE [for any Xday]
3) in the next week: ((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)OR(quiz on Friday)) = TRUE
CLAIM 1: One of the student gets up and says that the surprise quiz cannot be on Friday, because
CLAIM 1.(i)
If ((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)) = TRUE
Then (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
PROOF 1.(i)
Case I: (quiz on Monday) = TRUE
==> ((quiz on Monday)AND(quiz on Friday)) = FALSE [exactly one quiz]
but since (quiz on Monday) = TRUE
hence, (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
Case II: (quiz on Tuesday) = TRUE
==> ((quiz on Tuesday)AND(quiz on Friday)) = FALSE [exactly one quiz]
but since (quiz on Tuesday) = TRUE
hence, (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
Case III: (quiz on Wednesday) = TRUE
==> ((quiz on Wednesday)AND(quiz on Friday)) = FALSE [exactly one quiz]
but since (quiz on Wednesday) = TRUE
hence, (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
Case IV: (quiz on Thursday) = TRUE
==> ((quiz on Thursday)AND(quiz on Friday)) = FALSE [exactly one quiz]
but since (quiz on Thursday) = TRUE
hence, (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
Case V: ((quiz on Monday = FALSE)AND(quiz on Tuesday = FALSE)AND(quiz on Wednesday = FALSE)AND(quiz on Thursday = FALSE)) = TRUE [for completeness of all the CASES]
Let's take complement of both the sides,
==> ((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)) = FALSE
But it contradicts with our assumption
Hence, Case I to Case IV are complete representation of the given assumption.
In Case I to Case IV, (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
Hence,
If ((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)) = TRUE
Then (quiz on Friday) = FALSE
CLAIM 1.(ii)
((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)) = TRUE always
PROOF 1.(ii)
Let's prove by contradiction.
Let's assume that,
((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)) = FALSE
But,
((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)OR(quiz on Friday)) = TRUE [as per the ANNOUNCEMENT]
Hence,
(quiz on Friday) = TRUE
But, this contradicts with our definition of "surprise"
Hence, this case is not possible
Combining both the claims, we get that (quiz on Friday) = FALSE always
Hence, we can update our definition of "in the next week"
DEFINITIONS(update):
3) in the next week: ((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)) = TRUE
CLAIM 2: Assuming CLAIM 1 to be true (and updated definitions), the quiz cannot be on Thursday
CLAIM 2.(i)
If ((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)) = TRUE
Then (quiz on Thursday) = FALSE
PROOF 2.(i)
[Similar to PROOF 1.(i)]
CLAIM 2.(ii)
((quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)) = TRUE always
PROOF 2.(ii)
[Similar to PROOF 1.(ii)]
Combining both the claims, we get that (quiz on Thursday) = FALSE always
Continuing, we get
(quiz on Wednesday) = FALSE, and
(quiz on Tuesday) = FALSE
But, it was our initial assumption that
(quiz on Monday)OR(quiz on Tuesday)OR(quiz on Wednesday)OR(quiz on Thursday)OR(quiz on Friday) = TRUE
Hence,
(quiz on Monday) = TRUE
But, this contradicts with our definition of "surprise"
Hence, this case is not possible.
Hence, the ANNOUNCEMENT cannot be true.
Hence, no surprise quiz was held in the week :-)
Labels: comments, faith and temperance, intellectual, paradox, question, surprise quiz |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 23 February 2007
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| more about europe (through the eyes of an intern)
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shorty: when u were in italy
me: i ws in france... went to italy only ghoomne ke liye
shorty: ok...
me: venice is v nice
me: and also paris
shorty: tell me smthing abt that place..
me: and amsterdam too ;-)
which city?
shorty: k..
all of them
me: amsterdam is v nice v different
shorty: k..
me: its the most liberal city in the world
many drugs like marijuana r legal
shorty: what!!
me: gays and lesbian marriages are legal
even prostitution is legal...... prostitutes pay taxes
apart frm there there is madam tussard's museum
bt entry takes 2-3 hrs
paris is v nice
v big
almost the size of delhi
good : ....
me : rest all european cities are walkable on foot
shorty: okkkkkk
me: bt eiffel tower isnt as good as it is supposed to be
louvre is nice nd v big
it is a heaven for an art-lover
good : okkk
n r u 1?
me: nd innumerable places to visit in paris
not much.......
i cant appreciate it much.... i like different type of art
it also has disneyland
entry is arnd 50 euros
nd going thr takes 10 more
shorty: okkkkk
me: bt its the best way to spend a day
all the amazing rides and rollercoasters
nd line is v long.... bt moves v fast
shorty: okkk
me: innumerable places in paris.... i went there arnd 5-6 times nd still dint see half of paris
shorty: hmmm..
me: rome is v beautiful nd impressive
it has such large building
huge and massive
and imposing
as in one can feel the power of the roman empire
nd the best thing abt rome is tht
old buildings nd modern lifestyle intermix
shorty: okkkk
me: its an altogether different part of the world
on every half a kilometer... theres a historical monument
shorty: mast!!
me: nd water is free
though it gets terribly hot in summers... as hot as delhi..... unbearable
shorty: ohkkk
me: going to venice one feels an out-of-the world experience
its a one-of-its-kind place
it doesnt hv road
any road
or buses
shorty: thn wat??
me: or cars
or even cycles
it has canals
nd water ferries in place of buses
shorty: wow!!!
me: its the best romantic spot.... or maybe paris...
its v beautiful
shorty: u r telling me all that i m missing i
me: gondola ride is a bit expensive... 60-100 euros..... bt its not sthg which is to be missed
shorty: k..
me: san marco in venice is v nice
v big place
u know wht.....
actually no one lives in venice the whole yr round
shorty: wat?
then?
me: it gets flooded heavily in winters
good : k..
me : so tourism is the only means of living there
nd tht too only in summers
bt then it gets too crowded
shorty: k..
me: i tuk a buss-pass for 12 euros
nd spent the whole day on boats
going from one place to other
it also has a lot of small islands
each famous for a special thing
shorty: u knw wat... u r making a drm 4 me...
me: connectd thru water
drm?
shorty: a plc in frnt f me whr i wud love 2 go
me: nd u knw wht.... there are lamp-posts on water.... which shine wen its night
shorty: a drm place
wow!!
me: dream?
its all too amazing....
good : hmm
me : nd theres burano... a small island near venice
it hs small houses
good : :)
me: of the same shapes tht we used to draw wen we were kids
shorty: wow!!
me: nd each house is painted with a different color
its famous for laces
theres another island murano
its famous for its glass work
shorty: okkkkkkkk
me: hv u seen my previous pics on orkut?
shorty: yes i hv
me: nd theres pisa
leaning tower of pisa
shorty: haan
me: fun place... u can tk lots of fotos there
shorty: i cud c that
me: i hd jst 3 hrs in tht small city
nd i still njoyd a lot
nd theres french riviera
shorty: thats so gud!!
me: nice in france
it has pretty nice beaches
nd the hotels are damn cheap
shorty: k.
me: startg 20 euros a night
as cheap as a youth hostel
shorty: hmm
me: hs great places to eat
shorty: k..
me: i ate in some delhi restaurant in nice
i also met a pakistani... who gave me his address nd tel. no.
good : k..
me : nd the beaches there are pebble beaches
shorty: delhi restaurant in paris??
me: in nice
i ordered shahi panner - the chef made it especially for me... coz it wasnt there on the menu
good : mast!!
me: bt way too expensive
shorty: hw was it?
me: it ws good
reminded me of india
bruxelles is also a v nice
shorty: :)
me: bt small city
it has one main city centre....
thts almost it
and han
shorty: ?
me: it also has "manekan piss"
its a statue of a small cute boy
who is pissing
nd theres a museum dedicated to it
shorty: :)
me: in which they put hundreds of costumes on this cute boy
luks v nic
bt no photos allowd :(
shorty: wow!! so cute
me: nd also belgian chocolates r really mast
i also went to stuttgart
shorty: what is that?
me: nd on tht day there ws this match for the 3rd place
FIFA
in germany
it ws germany vs. protugal
shorty: okkkk
me: nd the crowd was HUGE
literally huge
shorty: u had so much fun!!
me: i had lots
nd i spent lots of euros too
shorty: wo toh pta hi lag rha hai
me: the atmosphere ws amazing
i can never forget those days....
"those were the best days of my life"
shorty: :)
me: nd barcelona
shorty: summer of '69!!
me: the beaches are awesome......
v large beaches
huge crowd
shorty: okkk
me: u knw wht.... water is more expensive than petrol over there
petrol is 1 euro per litre
shorty: oh god!! so cheap!
me: nd water is 1.5 or 2 euros per litre
nd more so in the trains
good : ohkkkkk
me: whrever i went i carried atleast 2 lts of water nd 3-4 lts of juice
nd lots of bread
nd jam
aahh... i forgot rennes
shorty: :d
me: this ws the place in which i ws living
shorty: :D
me: nd if i have a chance.... ill settle in tht place
shorty: hmmm
me: it hs a crime rate of ABSOLUTE ZERO
ppl r v honest
shorty: nt a bad idea
me: nd extremely helpful
i luv tht place
no1 has any tension
every1 is happy
lively
shorty: wow!!
me: every1 is enjoyg
shorty: its sooo gud!
me: its the smallest city to have a metro
nd let me tell u... of all the european cities i went to (arnd 20).... rennes's metro is the best
good : mast
me : almost as good as delhi metro
shorty: ok...
me: metro in paris is the worst u can think of
its sthg like wht local trains in mumbai must be
bt still they usually dont get delayed
nd the metro network is amazing
shorty: coz they r metros
me: i never sat in a bus in paris
any place in paris is atmost 1 km from a metro station
or mayb 500 ms
its so well connected
it hs around 20 lines
shorty: gud hai
me: nd every line meets every other line.....
good : mast
me : so to go frm ny place to any place... i jst need to take a metro nd ill change atmost twice
once... not twice
thts jst abt it... all the big cities
good : k...
me : luxembourg is a v small city
i coverd it up in only 2 hrs
bt theyve still tried to attract tourists over there
haan... lille also
its a small city in north of france
i liked it v much
i went there alone......
it has such huge shopping malls
amazing
shorty: it really is
me: gurgaon ones are nothg compared to it
bt in germany.. its nice..... coz its totally computerized.... nd the software they use is good
shorty: mast hai...
me: now ive bored with u with all my memories
shorty: no u hv nt
i m loving it
:)
me: nd im missg it
shorty: obviously!!!!!
me: french wine is awesome.... it comes at atleast double the price in india.......
shorty: k...
me: u knw wht
shorty: wat?
me: italy is like the bihar of europe
all the trains are late
good : :))
me : frm 30 mins to 2 hrs is usual
nd it can b more than tht too
shorty: hey bhaggu
me: nd ppl spit here nd there
in italy
bargaining there also
shorty: oh mast!
me: pretty much like in india
tht gongola ride i ws tellg abt
initially tht person will say 100 euros
good : badiya hai!!
me: bt on bargaining he can cum down to 60
vatican city....
its inside rome
its a walled city
shorty: k..
me: it hs the biggest church in the world
pope lives there
shorty: i love 2 go 2 a church
me: its v huge
if u go there... ull get bored
shorty: i hv been 2 1 in kasauli
its so serene
n calm
me: ya
i also lov the atmosphere inside
good : peaceful
me: pretty much like rennes, i shd say...... ;-)
shorty: :)
me: salzburg is also nice
mozart ws born over there
shorty: who is this nw?
me: mozart's garden is v nice nd colorful
shorty: k..
me: its in austria
mozart... u dont knw the name?
never heard of it?
hes a v famous music composer
nd v old
shorty: ok...
me: some 17th or 18th century
fort is also v gud
bt entry is expensive
nd buses are most expensive in salzburg
2 euros sthg for one trip
shorty: k..
me: heidelberg, germany is also similar
shorty: okkkkkk
me: i found a 1 euro shop in heidelberg
everythg thr ws for 1 euro only
shorty: mast
me: nd i took item worth 20 euros
shorty: :D
me: i got 3-4 tshirts
shorty: gr8!!
me: a small toy-fan
shorty: cute!!
me: u knw wht... theres no fan in europe
nd it does get hot over there
so ppl jst go on vacation
mass vacation.... no one is there to work
banks also almost close down
shorty: kya baat hai1!!
mast hai...
me: they hv to hire interns to work in summers... coz real employees go off for vacation
even my prof ws on vacation in july
shorty: :))
me: it gets v hot nd stuffy
shorty: vaah!!
me: bt theres no sweating
so its like u r being roasted
nd sumshine lasts till 10 in the night
*sunshine
during summers
so it gets even hotter
nd without any fan around..... it gets horrible
good : soch kar hi ghabrahat ho rahi hai
me: i used to take a bath twice everyday atleast
shorty: lena padta hi hoga
me: the office i ws workg in
it ws v modern
the corridor lights turn up automatically
wen u step on the floow
shorty: mast
me: or wen the lift door open
u knw wht... europeans dont take the lift... they prefer to climb the stairs
even if the office is on the 4th floor
nd water is drinkable everywhere
shorty: mast hai... waise kis khushi mein?
me: even in the sinks
god only knows
ive seen europeans sunbathing inside the office complex.......
wearg u-knw-wht kind of clothes
ive also seen them jogging
shorty: hey prabhu!!
me: at noon, at 2 pm, even at 3 pm
sometimes i think europeans are crazy
shorty: evn i do nw
me: bt hey... its their lifestyle
shorty: hmmm
dat is also thr
me: some europeans jst dont drink water
shorty: ????/
me: they never drunk water for many years
some who do drink water.. drink only aerated water....
soda, in short
nd some who do drink plain water
shorty: kyun??????
me: drink only of one brand
as in only aquafina... no bisleri.... no kinley
they take wine or juices
they hv a wine with every meal... even kids take it
shorty: gaah!!!!!!
me: even with their families
shorty: hadd!!!!!!
me: they love their pets
they take their pets for a walk
bt most of the time... the roads are deserted
shorty: k..
me: u go thru a colony... densly inhabited... bt u think tht u r in the middle of a desert
coz theres no activity
no1 is moving
no1 is there on the roads
shorty: hw boring!!
me: theres no sound of tv... or even cars
u knw wht... once i ws roaming
nd i found a guy....
shorty: ??
me: who was apparently lost
for 30 mins
nd he cudnt find ny1
for these 30 mins... to ask for directions
bt wen theres some festival or occasion..... lots of ppl cum out
shorty: k...
me: nd usually there r more girls than boys
i hv lots of memories
i can bore u the whole night.....
bt i guess ill let u go to bed...
shorty: m nt bored
me: nd go to my bed tooLabels: europe, travel, zeal |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 21 February 2007
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| rohit.agarwal@mail2.iitd.ac.in
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Hats off to IITD....... Finally (phew!) It has done it.... better late than never.... provided email addresses based on the names to students... no more waiting endlessly for the HTML version of gmail to load.... while the other IIT's (all?) had done it quite some time back.....
nd then IITD claims to be the best?
PS: Logon to http://10.10.1.5 and the best parts of it is that
1. you can use your favourite browser (Mozilla Firefox)
2. and also the mails are getting delivered immediately (atleast for now)
...........Why do I start feeling like I really belong here?
my apping had been more fruitful had this thing happened two years back...Labels: generosity, iitd, new email address |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 07 February 2007
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| Linux or Windows? (Part II - Why Windows?)
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Why Windows?
For this part, I will simply put the "human factor" into each of the factors previously mentioned.
1. Free - You've just bought a computer for yourself. You didn't want to compromise on quality, because you don't want to get frustated later on. So, you bought the best you could (obviously within your budget). You insisted on original parts and expected warranty on all items, even though it would cost extra. Now you want to load an operating system. It's your call? Do you want to spend nothing and get something for free - something that has no guarantee? something that is an outcome of just a hobby of someone who has developed this in his free time? something for which no one is ready to claim any responsibility? Or you think sensibly and decide to invest a couple of thousand more on buying your OS from a 'reliable' source? which offers you regular and automatic updates? which has the backing of the world's richest man behind itself? which is tested and certified by millions others who are just like you? Operating System is the most important software on your computer, without which your PC would be just like a furniture. Please don't mess with it.
DON'T BE A SCROOGE
If you are travelling in a train and someone you don't know offers you a chocolate for free, will you take it? Atleast I wont.
2. Open Source - It's extremely good that Linux is open-source. Everyone can have a peek at the code and update it according to his wish. But on the other side, there is no "standard" linux. Every minute there is a new update available for what you have. And it's not always proven to be "stable". Or would you like to invest in something that is "standard"? that is updated only by those who are paid to do their job well? that which has a backup of thousands of full-time employees behind itself who are paid quite handsomely?
APPRECIATE ESTABLISHED REPUTATION
3. Powerful - No doubt linux if more powerful? But do I need a 7500cc/400bhp/16 cylinder vehicle with a maximum torque of 9500 Nm at 3500rpm to go from my home to my office? Think of the costs involved in its maintenance, and costs, not only in terms of money but hours per week to ensure that the car is in its best possible condition. Or would you rather settle for an average car that is not as better as the original but requires very little, if any, efforts for maintenance? What is the use of having a car that can reach 250 kph mark when you hardly ever cross 100? Why not settle for a 200 kph car instead?
BE PRACTICAL
4. Faster - Linux is faster because it has a strong text-based support? Let me ask you why are you using a computer? To make your life easier? So that what earlier took you hours and a paper and pencil can now be done in seconds. You want your life to be easier so that you can devote your time and efforts to other things in life. And what makes your life easier? A text console where you have to memorise a mammoth set of instructions alongwith all their subtler details or a graphical menu where you have to choose what you want to do by simply clicking on a set of buttons that are placed ergonomically.
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE
5. Virus resistant - The primary reason why linux has very less no. of viruses is not because it is more resistant to viruses, but because it is not much popular. If people like you and me start using it, inevitably the number of viruses for linux will also increase. Infact, since the source of Linux is open, the virus-maker can very easily make even deadlier virus. So, do you really want to take the harder route?
GET OUT OF THE TRAP
6. Large no. of softwares - A large number of softwares are available for Linux due to its open-source nature. But Windows has even more number of softwares due to the huge number of users. Also the softwares for Windows are properly documented and are developed in a proper and organised manner by handsomely-paid experts, not by an amateur dilletante who one day decides to make a software for linux and the other day itself forget what his software is supposed to do.
THINK BEFORE MAKING A DECISION
7. Stability and Regular Updates - Linux gets updated regularly. Infact, it gets updated so frequently that most of the time there is consistency-mismatch. Also, before a user is able to comprehend what the utility of the update is, there is an even newer update available. Also, a lot of time is wasted downloading the updates and installing them and resolving dependency problems.
SAVE TIME AND EFFORT, USE WINDOWS
8. Backward Compatibility - Who wants to run an operating system on a century-old processor when a microprocessor of more than double the functionality is available at less than half the cost?
MOVE WITH THE TIME
9. No fragmentation - Defragmentation of the disk is not a very big problem in Windows - leaving the computer on once a night solves the problem for atleast a month. Just switching to Linux for this reason would be a pretty lame excuse.
DON'T MAKE DUMB EXCUSES
10. Easily upgradeable - Who wants the hassle of upgrading every week when your system is stable and running satisfactorily? Why unnecessarily give yourself the pain and trouble?
DON'T BE IMPULSIVE, THINK LOGICALLY
Do you need any more reasons?
CONCLUSION :
"If you are the kind of person who wants to know all the details about the working of a car before buying one, go for LINUX. However, if you are sensible, practical and wise, go for WINDOWS"Labels: linux, pride, windows |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 03 February 2007
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| Linux or Windows? (Part I - Why Linux?)
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OK. This one has been waiting to come out of me for a very long time now. Through this medium of public communication, I intend to first enumerate the broad features of both the major categories of Operating Systems, and towards the end I will summarize.
Why Linux?
1. Free - A major consideration. On the other hand a copy of the other OS costs atleast a couple of thousand rupees. It is especially important for large corporates houses and for small families, both of which can't afford to spend a lot of money on an operating system.
2. Open Source - Another very big advantage. Open source is synonymous to "Right to Information". Making the source open means that everybody has the right to view it, upgrade it, and distribute it, often free of cost. Hence, user customization is possible to a level unreachable by the other OS.
3. Powerful - The list of functionalities that can be achieved by a machine running on Linux is much much greater than what can be achieved by the other OS.
4. Faster - Since Linux has a strong text-based support, and is highly customizable, hence execution of a set of instructions is inevitably faster in Linux than in the other OS.
5. Virus resistant - Because of constant monitoring by a wide and distributed network of open-source contributors and because of the source being open, it is much more resistant to viruses, trojans, malwares, etc.
6. Large no. of softwares - Linux users have consolidated their efforts and have formed a close-knit community. Lots of users develop their own programs and distribute it freely to the other members of the community. This has resulted in uncountably large number of softwares which are supported by Linux.
7. Stability and Regular updates - The large Linux community remains awake all the time and is very prompt in solving any flaw detected in the previous versions and the updated version is made available quite soon.
8. Backward Compatibility - Linux is very much compatible on old hardwares, which are rendered useless in case of other OS.
9. No Fragmentation - Fragmentation of the hard disk occurs with regular usage over a decent period of time. Regular defragmentation is required to keep the system performance to an optimum level. However, Linux has been designed in such a way that there is no fragmentation of the harddisk.
10. Easily upgradeable - Upgrading from one version of Linux to the other doesnt always require a complete format or loss of data.Labels: linux, pride, windows |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 02 February 2007
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| Epic Journey to the Core (Updated)
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Long since, man has been fascinated by the journey to the core, to the centre, the focus, the essence, the substance. And he has always succumbed to the painstakingly gruesome desire to fulfill his wishes. More often than not, though, he returns disheartened and with a sense of being cheated and betrayed. But, still, not undermined by his failure, he again undertakes the 'custom', or rather the 'tradition', as it eventually becomes.... but what happens exactly during his sojourn?
I met with a similar experience lately, in fact less than 12 hours ago. My laptop, now prediluvian, was once purchased in July 2003 from a showroom in posh Dubai. After some initial hiccups, exclusive ownership was passed down to me. Since then, it has been subjected to eclectic stresses, testing it to its limit, and a few times, to an almost catastrophic results. The reasons for the same were my experimental nature and probably the first full-time laptop running only Windows available with a B. Tech student in Nilgiri since his first year. The list of the almost-fatal hardships would definitely include the transportation between the hostel room and exhibition hall on a typical monsoon day, the trip to France, besides the usual stuff. Inspite of all this, it pretty much stands (or rather stood, till about 12 hours back) just as it once did, the petty differences include the complete failure of CD writer or DVD reader and the special functionality of detecting only home-made CD's (piracy?), physical bruises, LCD coating infringement, spilling of liquid (dont ask me which) on both the keyboard and the touchpad (more than once) causing rather atypical consequences, breakage of the SD card slot (or whatever it is), expansion of the RJ45 slot, phenomenon battery backup of 67 seconds (unmatchable?), But still, it stood much the same, that was until I let curiosity overcome conscience. I dint realise that it was curiosity which had once killed the cat.
So, I had this great new idea to open up my lappie to clean the interiors, and particularly the fan, which I had just now noticed making unacceptable level of 'noise'. So, I tried to arrange for a set of screwdrivers, but it just wasnt my day. Having wasted around 1000 precious seconds on the same, I settled for a knife, which was pitted against a metallic strap of watch, a plastic scale, a staple pin, a pen cap and a couple of other similar stationary stuff. It worked quite fine, as though it had been optimised for this functionality. I took a random guess as to where to start first, and luckily luck was by my side, if only for this moment. As I progressed, I almost wrecked another smartly concealed screw. Sanity overcame, and saved the screw from further destruction. As I removed the plastic flap, what I saw I could not have expected.
It was so mesmerizing, so beautiful, that I cannot explain it in words. So, I took pictures, which I shall "hopefully" update in another 24 hours. I did not know whether curiosity is good or bad, but decided that the decision can be postponed for now. So, I opened even more screws, It was like the peels on the skin of an onion, one concealed beneath the other, and all so beautifully.
So, here I was, staring at the dust. I blew it away and wiped with a soft cloth. But how could I let this moment go away so easily. So, I decided to proceed with my basic instinct, ignoring any premonition that I could encounter. There lay the keyboard, an assembly of around a 100 something buttons all rolled in a plane with white symbols on a black background. I took it out too, practically ripping it off the trunk of the laptop. But what I got in my hands I can not compare with any mortal object that I have seen in my 20+ years of existence. A thin sheet of aluminium or two, pasted together, and on top of those were pasted this set of buttons. So thin, so delicate, so light, I felt like I could literally roll it up and carry it around in my pocket. Just holding it in my hands gave me the pleasure of thousand orgasms (ok thats a little bit of exaggeration). It was a touch no femme fatale could equal. It was a sight no caricature could compare. It was a smell no lily could rival. All this in my very own hands, what else could I have asked for? Thank you ACER. Thank you very much.
As I proceeded more, I wanted to go deeper and deeper. So, I took out the whole fan and the heatsink. The fan was ugly, a blot to the intricate atmosphere, or maybe a complement. Under the heatsink was hidden the heart of the computer, the CPU, so small, so tiny, so cute, and yet so dusty. Contended, I cleaned it up.
Somewhere down the line of disassembly, I accidently pressed the power button. The laptop getting started was the only predictable part, what was unpredictable was the dominant reddish tint all over the LCD screen, virtually replacing every pixel of black and leaving its impression on all others. Scared to death, I turned it off immediately, OK not that immediately.
It was then that I recalled I had a meeting to attend, so I ran out, leaving my beloved in a complete state of mess. I came back a couple of hours later, to find her in the same state as I had left her in......Labels: laptop, travel, zeal |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 26 January 2007
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| The Fountainhead
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Not a very long time ago, when I was just hanging out at CP, I saw a bookstore. Curious as I have always been about libraries and bookstores, I decided it's now high time I pay it a visit. So, I stepped inside. And what I saw I couldn't have imagined.
Lots and lots of books. Classified into lots and lots of sections. And the prospective customers reviewing the lots and lots of books to choose which ones to pick. I mean, every book is readable. If it wasn't, why would it be published? Isn't it? So what's the use of spending so much time on choosing which ones to read? Moreover, how can anyone decide whether the book is worth the price by a mere glance at the coverpage or by reading the brief gist at the backpage? Anyways, I decided to go ahead.
Now which book to choose? I could have easily picked the first book I laid my eyes upon, but it turned out to be the ATLAS. Irritated, I went to the other end of the bookstore, only to pick up 'Harry Potter'. Irritated, I was at a loss of what to do. So I took my friend's advice. He suggested I should check out "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. So I searched for that book, and after a few tiring moments, found it. On the way to the counter, my eyes glanced at the section of books by "Osho" under the Philosophy Section. Curious again, I decided to give that a try too. If I could read Osho, I could read anything else. So I came out the bookstore richer by two books and but otherwise totally impecunious.
The night I came back, I thought I'll start with the Osho book : "The First Principle: Talks on ZEN". So I started reading it. And I still haven't been able to go beyond the second chapter. The book is all about crap. It suggests that the First Principle is something which cant be said, if done so it will become the Second Principle. Nowhere in the whole book is there a mention of what First Principle actually is. But I guess it taught be something very important in life which I can find good use of : how to beat around the bush....
So I started with the second book. By this time I had acquired knowledge that "The Fountainhead" is a highly acclaimed novel. So, enthusiastically I started the process of reading the book. This process started exactly 11 days back and finished it just yesterday. With the page count of around 700 pages, I read around 70 each day, not bad by my standards. The Review? Well here it goes.
The main characters of the story are
1. "Howard Roark", modern architect, builds to please himself, not to please others. Unwilling to compromise. Egotist. Appreciates art.
2. "Peter Keating", School topper, ace architect, popular mass appeal, works in the best architect's company, sensible and follows public sentiments.
3. "Ellsworth M. Toohey", popular sociologist, philosopher, orator, mass gatherer and mass leader, influences public easily.
4. "Gail Wynand", started penniless, by 40 was the owner of the biggest newspaper empire in the US, doesnt hesitate in using illegal ways in getting work done and loathed by the public for the same
5. "Dominique" (Female), Writer in Wynand's newspaper, very beautiful and attractive, loyal and obedient wife, dynamic and radical bachelerotte
6. "Catherine" (Female), Lives with Toohey, very soft-spoken and homely kind of a lady, doesn't-like-going-to-parties kind of a lady, down-to-earth, modest, humble, cares more about others than about self, never-complaining.
However the relations that these people share with each other are even more interesting than their individual personalities.
5 is attracted towards 2. But then she realizes that she loves 1. But she denounces 1 in public. But then one day, she marries 2. Then one day, she divorces 2 and marries 4, though she has never loved 4. In the end, 5 makes her affair with 1 public and later marries 1 after divorcing 4.
2 knows that 6 loves her, so one day asks her to marry him the next day. 6 agrees, but 2 marries 5 instead that very night.
2 is initially a very good friend of 1, but then becomes his enemy and arch-rival. But in the end, he again regains his friendship.
There are a lot of other relationships too which I guess you would like to unfold yourself. The book ends on a very predictable note with everything going as it should have.
I still dont understand why "The Fountainhead" is highly acclaimed.... And it was certainly not worth the time I spent on it... I would have rather watched 10 movies in the same amount of time and enjoyed a hundred times more...
If you want to, then read it at your own risk... Don't blame me afterwards....Labels: book, greed, intellectual |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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| 15 January 2007
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| God Or Science? Why Not Both?
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The conflict between God and Science is century old and has resulted in many catastrophes over the years. However much the Science has progressed, it has not been able to explain everything. And in this vacancy lies the basis of the existence of God.
According to Science, the early man was very much afraid of nature, of the floods, the earthquakes, the eclipses, the thunder, the night, the hurricane. And out of this fear he sought comfort in God. He said when there is no one by your side, there is God. And this fear manifested over the centuries and gave birth to numerous religion all over the world.
However, the other side says that God is one. He made the universe, the earth, the sun, the moon, the man, the plants, the animals, the wind, the water, the air, and that he is omnipresent and omnipotent and omniscient. God is one, but still God is everywhere. And it is God who is responsible for our existence and for everything else too.
What is the truth I dont know, and I shall hence not comment on it. All I am presenting below is quotations from the novel "Angels and Demons" written by "Dan Brown" which I found highly enlightening and relevant to the topic.
"To the Illuminati and to those of science, let me say this.You have won the war.
The wheels have been in motion for a long time, Your victory has been inevitable. Never before has it been as obvious as it is at this moment. Science is the new God.
Medicine, electronic communications, space travel, genetic manipulation . . . these are the miracles about which we now tell our children. These are the miracles we herald as proof that science will bring us the answers. The ancient stories of immaculate conceptions, burning bushes, and parting seas are no longer relevant. God has become obsolete. Science has won the battle. We concede.
But science’s victory, has cost every one of us. And it has cost us deeply. Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provided an array of gadgetry for our entertainment and convenience, but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations. Even our self-worth as human beings has been destroyed. Science proclaims that Planet Earth and its inhabitants are a meaningless speck in the grand scheme. A cosmic accident.
Even the technology that promises to unite us, divides us. Each of us is now electronically connected to the globe, and yet we feel utterly alone. We are bombarded with violence, division, fracture, and betrayal. Skepticism has become a virtue.
Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history? Does science hold anything sacred? Science looks for answers by probing our unborn fetuses. Science even presumes to rearrange our own DNA. It shatters God’s world into smaller and smaller pieces in quest of meaning . . . and all it finds is more questions.
The ancient war between science and religion is over, You have won. But you have not won fairly. You have not won by providing answers. You have won by so radically reorienting our society that the truths we once saw as signposts now seem inapplicable. Religion cannot keep up. Scientific growth is exponential. It feeds on itself like a virus. Every new breakthrough opens doors for new breakthroughs. Mankind took thousands of years to progress from the wheel to the car. Yet only decades from the car into space. Now we measure scientific progress in weeks. We are spinning out of control. The rift between us grows deeper and deeper, and as religion is left behind, people find themselves in a spiritual void. We cry out for meaning. And believe me, we do cry out. We see UFOs, engage in channeling, spirit contact, out-of-body experiences, mindquests -all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational. They are the desperate cry of the modern soul, lonely and tormented, crippled by its own enlightenment and its inability to accept meaning in anything removed from technology.
Science, you say, will save us. Science, I say, has destroyed us. Since the days of Galileo, the church has tried to slow the relentless march of science, sometimes with misguided means, but always with benevolent intention. Even so, the temptations are too great for man to resist. I warn you, look around yourselves. The promises of science have not been kept. Promises of efficiency and simplicity have bred nothing but pollution and chaos. We are a fractured and frantic species . . . moving down a path of destruction.
Who is this God science? Who is the God who offers his people power but no moral framework to tell you how to use that power? What kind of God gives a child fire but does not warn the child of its dangers? The language of science comes with no signposts about good and bad. Science textbooks tell us how to create a nuclear reaction, and yet they contain no chapter asking us if it is a good or a bad idea.
To science, I say this. The church is tired. We are exhausted from trying to be your signposts. Our resources are drying up from our campaign to be the voice of balance as you plow blindly on in your quest for smaller chips and larger profits. We ask not why you will not govern yourselves, but how can you? Your world moves so fast that if you stop even for an instant to consider the implications of your actions, someone more efficient will whip past you in a blur. So you move on. You proliferate weapons of mass destruction, but it is the Pope who travels the world beseeching leaders to use restraint. You clone living creatures, but it is the church reminding us to consider the moral implications of our actions. You encourage people to interact on phones, video screens, and computers, but it is the church who opens its doors and reminds us to commune in person as we were meant to do. You even murder unborn babies in the name of research that will save lives. Again, it is the church who points out the fallacy of this reasoning.
And all the while, you proclaim the church is ignorant. But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power? This church is reaching out to you. Reaching out to everyone. And yet the more we reach, the more you push us away. Show me proof there is a God, you say. I say use your telescopes to look to the heavens, and tell me how there could not be a God! You ask what does God look like. I say, where did that question come from? The answers are one and the same. Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him! You proclaim that even the slightest change in the force of gravity or the weight of an atom would have rendered our universe a lifeless mist rather than our magnificent sea of heavenly bodies, and yet you fail to see God’s hand in this? Is it really so much easier to believe that we simply chose the right card from a deck of billions? Have we become so spiritually bankrupt that we would rather believe in mathematical impossibility than in a power greater than us?
Whether or not you believe in God, you must believe this. When we as a species abandon our trust in the power greater than us, we abandon our sense of accountability. Faith . . . all faiths . . . are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable . . . With faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do . . . looking beyond the ritual of these walls . . . they would see a modern miracle . . . a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control.
Are we obsolete? Are these men dinosaurs? Am I? Does the world really need a voice for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the unborn child? Do we really need souls like these who, though imperfect, spend their lives imploring each of us to read the signposts of morality and not lose our way?
Tonight we are perched on a precipice, None of us can afford to be apathetic. Whether you see this evil as Satan, corruption, or immorality . . . the dark force is alive and growing every day. Do not ignore it. The force, though mighty, is not invincible. Goodness can prevail. Listen to your hearts. Listen to God. Together we can step back from this abyss.
Pray with me."
I became a fan of Dan Brown after reading this. What he intends to say that Science is truth, but this truth is incomplete in itself. Science tells us what all can be done, but it does not tell us if it should be done or not. Science exists, but only in harmony with God. Otherwise there would only be chaos and nothing else. If Science is the vehicle, then God is the driver. Together both of them have to drive on the path of peace and prosperity. None can exist without the other.
What do you think?Labels: book, faith and temperance, intellectual |
| posted by Rohit Agarwal
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