Java2D or not 2D?

I've become frustrated with the jungle of image processing options available in Java. It is a good thing that there is a lot of choice, unfortunately there arent any great rangers who have charted this vast territory. This is more or less pushing me to create some tutorials of my own and hack through the dense undergrowth.

another shocking loss in SRM 235

This is a third time in a row, and that too in such a manner - with the 500 pt submission being successfully challenged. I was only good enought to wrangle any points for the 250 pt problem, but looks like I now have a fresh set of ego wounds - with salt rubbed into them! Yaaaaargh! Another whiplash! This is humiliation !

What is "neoconservatism"?

Though I personally do not follow any political ideology, yet it is interesting to know what are the various goods floating around in the market - just in case, I need to ascribe to one. Or for that matter, I have come to the realization that political discussions evoke such an animated and varied emotional response from my lunch companions that I think it is good to invest some of my energies in discovering these gems which are capable of providing ample entertainment at the luncheon - in fact, sometimes becoming the piéce-de-résistance themselves. Ah, so more seriously what is actually "neoconservatism". My interest in this term was piqued when I came to know that the US invasion of Iraq has been attributed to a particular sect of people called the "neocons" or more simply those who ascribe to the political doctrine of neoconservatism. I'm still quite unknowledgeable to comment about neocons, however to get you interested into the subject I can tell you this: 1. Neoconservatism is more or less a political ideology popularised in US of A. 2. It has everything to do with US foreign policy, and nothing to do with US domestic policy. Irving Kristol - the publicly acclaimed father of neocons has written an explanation of contemporary neoconservatism ideology. My time permits me to write only as much for today, but I should put in more inputs on this probably tommorow.

of demagogues and US visas

On March 18, 2005 - the United States of America, rejected Mr. Narendra Modi's visa application while simultaneously revoking his tourist/business visa under Section 212(a)(2)(g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. It is another matter that Mr. Modi's application for a diplomatic visa was denied under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the U.S. Government has clarified that Mr. Modi was visiting the United States for a purpose that did not "qualify for a diplomatic visa" - this purpose as the media has reported -" was ostensibly to address the Asian-American Hotel Owners' Association and meet business leaders." While hundreds of visas are evidently refused by the US consulate, this event is being used as a medium of building political sympathy for Mr. Modi by the NDA - while the more important question of the US consular's jurisprudence has been neglected. At least Mr. Modi knows why his visa application was refused. But nobody has raised the question of the august US office (almost revered by most software engineers and others alike), giving no reason to other applicants for refusing their applications. If Mr. Modi has been branded by the US as "... foreign government official who was responsible or had directly carried out, at any time, particular severe violations of religious freedom". Why cant the embassy provide such a comprehensive statement to the other applicants? Though this is not the main focus of the issue that this event has germinated. This incident is being touted by the Indian demagogues as an "attack on national sovereignity", I dont recall such a fast and immediate response to the incidents at Godhra by the NDA. Interestingly enough though the UPA whence in opposition branded Mr. Modi as a destroyer of comity - the External Affairs Department has put forth a polite request to the US consular for reconsidering this decision. Mr. Modi is indeed an elected representative of the people of Gujarat, though he was elected in a situation that was already anathematized by the communal riots. I do not question his credibility, at least he has worked hard to gain his office. It is quite understandable that he would cry foul when the fruits of his labour will be denied from him, and it is also understandable that the remaining indian politico fraternity would support him in his time of need - after all more than half of these have criminal cases registered against them - what if tommorow none of them are able to see the Big Apple? In my viewpoint, this is a correct denial. Will India provide a visa to Mr. Saddam Hussein (I wish no disrespect to Mr. Modi) - who is also an elected leader, of course he no longer holds the cherished post quite unlike Mr. Modi. In Mr. Hussein's case too, his people will squarely support him and justify his visit to a large democracy like India. But will we give him an Indian visa?

a failed SRM234

Today's SRM at Topcoder, left me grasping for breath. I think I was more pysched out by the context in which I viewed the problems than anything else. The 500 point problem - splitting fractions into unit fractions - I racked my brains on it for quite a while, then finally gave into the desperate measure to look up something on the net. And found something called Egyptian fractions. Though I noticed the first line of the page later on, after the match finished, I chided myself for being so stupid. It simply said: "The most natural and obvious method of finding an Egyptian fraction representation for a given number is to approximate the number as closely as possible by a single unit fraction, and then to use the same method to represent the remainder. For instance, the largest unit fraction less than 5/6 is 1/2, and removing 1/2 from 5/6 leaves 1/3, so this idea leads to the representation 1/2+1/3 mentioned above. There are several ways of translating this idea into a specific algorithm." How dumb could I be to not think of this myself? The 1000 pt problem completely bowled me over with context free grammars, and I started thinking around Finite Automata's and regular languages - an overkill. When a guy from China, finished the damn problem with simple case by case solution. Dude ! I need more practice.

Impossible !

This is one of my favourite pieces from ADIDAS - Impossible ad campaigns: Impossible is just a BIG word, thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in a world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a FACT. It's an OPINION. Impossible is not a declaration. Impossible is a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.

Why the name?

My previous experiences with blogging have been found wanting of more attention and effort . I have this habit of not being a regular (and hence the name)- a situation I want to make amends to. Though starting afresh is a very bad habit, for whatever has been built is lost. Yet it has its own benefits - that I imagine - of having a freshness quite alike to the cold morning on the beach hidden in the alcoves of the emerald mountains on a yet undiscovered island - hidden from our world by a veil of mist, known only to the sea around it. But today this veil has been removed, this island has come forth to your view. So ephemeral is the notion of freshness, it is lost at first touch. In our case, this island will lose its own the moment you have seen it. Exploring the concealed, the treacherous, the newly created parts of the island is what you might do. In my case, I have the power of the creator in my hands - I can control what you see here, what you feel here, what you shall perceive - and this is my island. You might like what you see here, and you might not. But now you have discovered it. And so be it.