Ek Kathak Aur Uski Kathayen

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

SEX !!

And now that I have your attention*, we can talk about software; the most functional, most used and abused word in the lexicon today!!

We have this subject Electronic Measurement and on page 425 of the local author there is this digital FFT analyser. Of course when you talk of FFT there have to be complex mathematical equations and butterflies and all things of the kind, however they're not in focus as of now. So, somewhere in the middle of a lecture...

"What happens after analog to digital conversion of the input signal"
"Sir, the FFT is computed"
"Yes. How do you compute the FFT"
"Sir... the software does it"

Cut to, Communication Networks class with this really low on IQ woman trying her best to explain something with the terms "framing", "error control" and "flow control" w.r.t the data link layer, but she is - as always - unsuccessful in every attempt and finally goes back to

"Its impossible to teach your class. Accha toh tell me ki how many layers are there in OSI reference model"
No.... not, not again!
"7"
"Now tell me are these physical layers or logical layers"
Murmurs of "physical" and "logical" all over the class... (with just two possibilities, the probability of each is a good 50%) The woman shaking her head in disgust again and after some time somehow we manage to freeze on logical, though we cannot be sure, yet.
"Arrey baba, now tell why are logical layers called logical layers?"
"Ma'am.... err.... because they're not actually there" Very logical?
"Then what is there"
And then ofcourse what you all have been waiting for "Ma'am..... software!"
And then the software is being blamed(!) for everything that could be there!

Cut to, Consumer Electronics.
Now, with consumer electronics you'll expect a lot of electronics
(and a lot of television all over again, but anyway)
So, the IT God was talking about Compact Disc recording and playback, when

"If there are errors on the bits stamped onto the CD, then how are these errors rectified"
"Sir, when the disc is being read, the error correcting codes take care of the errors"
"Yes, but where"
And I give you no prizes for guessing the correct answer "Sir, in the software!"

And the IT God was genuinely amused that in spite of the availability of complex data processing electronic circuitry we talk about software! And of course, the sound of "complex data processing electronic circuitry" is so potent that makes you want to work on it, right then right there!
And to quote the great man, the IT God, "Software, its a word you can use everywhere these days, eh?"

And, then to corroborate the truth in the wise words of teh IT God, we have our project to recon with. Now any questions to our project guide return just one answer "We'll take care of it in the software"

Yes, it's a strange world.

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* I believe this is how subway advertised in some country, where the billboard screamed "SEX", and then they said "Now that we have your attention, eat at subway" !!

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen

Can I have the pleasure to re-direct you here!

I know it's not like me to send my readers away from my blog to praise someone else, however I think my baby sister deserves this one!

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Was it?

She stood facing the sea.
The waves rushing to her feet and receding back.
The wind blowing through her hair.
The water and the wind in their own element.

She stood there, gazing into the horizon. You could never be sure if it were the memories of the past or the picture of a perfect future that she was looking into. Her face never conveyed any emotion other than wistfulness; sometimes it missed that also, altogether.

She stood there, trying to hold a fistful of sand, tightly in the palm of her hand. Trying to hold onto every grain; all it did was slip away through her fingers. She stood there again, with a fistful of sand, in the palm of her hand, only for it to be blown away by the wind.

The sand never was hers, was it?

Friday, February 04, 2005

Black - Review

"Okayish... good? "
That was my reply to Danny when the lights came on in the theatre after the movie.

Black, is a movie about a girl who is blind and deaf and as a result doesn't speak either. And about her quest for independence in a world where kids like her would be totally dependent on someone else. The movie did have its weird moments (which elicit the
okayish reaction) but a few things are worth mentioning and the director deserves credit for. Firstly, the movie doesn't drag much, and in my opinion it is very simple to drag a movie as against keep it short and yet communicate with the audience.

Bansali and his camera man have captured the chemistry between Rani and Mr. Bachchan beautifully. Another thing I really liked was the use of colour and photography to bring out the girl's inner turmoil. The background score, adds to the effect created by the colour. And something that should go right on top - the character Michelle McNally itself is enchanting, to say the least.

Thinking about it again, I think I was rather hard on the movie when I said "okayish", its definitely better than that and worth a watch!

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Torn to Shreds

Sudhakar found an old pulled down webpage of mine, and one of the links in there had this song that I really like. More than like, this song has this totally absurd effect on me, something I can't describe in words!

It's by Def Leppard and its called "Torn to Shreds"

I don't wanna fall in love
But it's been taken outta my hands
And right now I realize
I don't wanna say goodbye

I miss you more than words can say
They never turn out right, but here goes anyway

Everyday I miss your touch
Never thought it would mean so much
All the words I could've said got me reeling torn to shreds
Every road I go is nowhere
But I know you're out there somewhere
These voices in my head got me feeling torn to shreds

I can't help the way I feel
That something's got a hold of my heart
It hurts but I can't let go
Yeah, I just wanna let you know

I need you more than words can say
They never turn out right, but here goes anyway

Everyday I miss your touch
Never thought it would mean so much
All the words I could've said got me reeling torn to shreds
Every road I go is nowhere
But I know you're out there somewhere
These voices in my head got me feeling torn to shreds

If I ever get myself together
And it takes whatever it takes
To get myself back to you

Everyday I miss your touch
Never thought it would mean so much
All the words I could've said got me reeling torn to shreds
Every road I go is nowhere
But I know you're out there somewhere
These voices in my head got me feeling torn to shreds