50 Cent To Release Two Albums This Year - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Quoted from http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607095/20090316/50_cent.jhtml:

50 Cent To Release Two Albums This Year - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

"What they don't know ... the new announcement is that I'm dropping two albums," Fif smiled. "I've had an opportunity to record since I thought I was releasing an album in December

Testing Contribute

This is a test entry to test contribute server and see how it works with Blogspot.

This will be used for demonstration to the people.

This blog has moved...

This blog has moved to a new address - http://www.prayank.net/blog/

Shifting of blog address.

Hi All I have shifted my blog to a new address - http://www.prayank.net/blog / Check out my blog at this new address.

No man is an island ... but the island that maketh the continent

No man is an island ... I came across this line while watching "About a boy" - one of the English movies that I relished watching. The quote is attribute to John Donne, a poet from the Renaissance period. (While reading the imdb.org review of the movie, I came to know that the movie is based on Nick Hornby's novel by the same name. I have made a mental note to add the book to my reading list) This quote forced me to think about another quote that I hold close to my heart, and which has oft made me think so deep that it hurts - "Know thy self" (wikipedia entry) Why the former makes me think of the latter is because the duo suggest that I cannot know myself without knowing those that effect my life, my self, my soul. But isn't it confusing that to know yourself you have to know others? I think we are all guilty of having a lazy attitude (if not a blind-eye) to our own fallacies of character. And thus, I do look for some assessment of myself from those I know. But then again, one cannot/should not take every advice they get - you have to take it with a pinch of salt. And this is where I like to say - "Know thy friends". But the more important point I want us to focus on is to "Know thy self". This one quote is about :

• self-knowledge,
• self-assessment and,
• most importantly - self-love.

Self-knowledge It about knowing my strengths, my weaknesses, how do I react in different situations? , how do I behave with different people? ,why do I do what I do? ,what do I like/dislike? , who do I like/dislike? What are my goals in life? These are the questions that I feel hold the key to what I am and what I want to be. Self-assessment This is about measuring how close I am to what I want to achieve in my life. (From the little experience in life I have, I realize that to get the max out of my life I need to keep some of those short term, medium term and long term goals). I have to assess my self continously and keep checking whether I am on the right track or not. Self-love For any person to have a pleasing/confident personality I think this is the most important thing one should do. Unfortunately, I really don't know much about this thing myself - at least at current, but I keep reading stuff about it. Know thy self - I better get started.

Some random thoughts on a rainy night.

Its 11.30 pm, and raining heavily outside. The rains this season have possessed a personality, I had never seen : pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter ... a teasing drizzle or an angry cats and dogs show. I sit in my room with the windows and doors open, the cool breeze that is rain's companion meets me here, for our privacy I have drawn the blinds and switched off the lights. Its just me and the rain here. (Yeah I know I'm not getting drench ... but then try observing how the rain talks to you when you dont get wet.) Rain reminds me of the happy moments of my life, she talks to you in her melodious voice ... pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

Java synchronization

Consider the following cases of synchronization, and think of what should be the result in each case: 1. Object "obj" has two methods - M1() and M2(). None of them is synchronized. Two threads T1 and T2, want to run M1() and M2() respectively. Both threads share a common obj object. What will be the result? Result: Each thread will be able to execute its desired method. 2. Object "obj" has two methods - M1() and M2(). Only M2 is synchronized. Two threads T1 and T2, want to run M1() and M2() respectively. Both threads share a common obj object. What will be the result? Result: Each thread will be able to execute its desired method. Since T1 does not need a lock on obj to execute M1(). 3. Object "obj" has two methods - M1() and M2(). Both are synchronized. Two threads T1 and T2, want to run M1() and M2() respectively. Both threads share a common obj object. What will be the result? Result: Since to execute each method a lock is needed on the object, the first thread to get a lock on obj will be able to execute its desired method. 4. Object "obj" has one synchronized - M() . Two threads T1 and T2, want to run M(). Both threads have share a common obj object. What will be the result? Result: The thread that first gets the lock is able to execute the method first. And if this thread does not leave the object lock, then the other thread keeps on waiting. Since each thread needs a lock on obj. Download source code here. Exercise : What will happen if the methods above are static?

Karma and Birthdays!

Two days ago, yours truly became a quarter-century old! let me rephrase it: I've lived quarter of a century! The eve of my birthday, saw another of my mood swings - ones which make me dwell on life as such. When I'm in such a mood, I end up in melancholy. Every birthday starts with my reflection on what I have achieved so far in life. What has been my karma? And have I been successful in my dharma? All my friends say that I try to do much. And I say I'm just trying to enjoy my life, in truth I do feel that one life is too less. I guess now I understand why some people strive for immortality, because we find the world around us too intriguing, too beautiful and too lovely to leave. We want to know all the mysteries of life. I will not be there when we first talk to aliens. I will not be there when we can travel at the speed of light. I will not be there when we travel to new worlds. I will not be there when we get to know new civilizations. I will not be there when we get to know new stories and tales. I will not be there when the world we live is changed forever. But I want to be! Come to think of it, I also want to live in the past. I was not there when Ramayana happened in India. I was not there when Mahabharata occured. I was not there when Mughals ruled India. I was not there when India fought for its Independence. I was not there when the World Wars happened. But I wish I was. I feel a subliminal attraction to the thought of birth-rebirth. Was I a soldier in Tipu Sultan's army. Was I with the Pandavas or the Kauravas? Did I ever meet Lord Krishna? I do not know what other lives I have lived. But I want to know. And then there is this life. One day I shall die, and I shall be born again, and I shall have no rememberance of this life. Yet, I want to live this life to the fullest too. For, life is precious it has allowed me live all these long years, meet all the people I like or dislike, see all these things, visit all the places - my life a beautiful life. And yet again I ponder, what is my karma? What is it that for which I was reborn in this world?

When does finally() block run in the Java?

Consider the following code: What will be the output? (NOTE: The answers are in the color of the background so select the text, so see the answer) public class FinallyTest { public static void main(String[] args) { try { int x = Integer.parseInt(args[0]); return; } catch(Exception e) { System.out.println("There was an exception"); } finally { System.out.println("Ran the finally code"); } } } ******************************* Scenario 1 : No input is given Result: There was an exception Ran the finally code Scenario 2 : Pass '1' as argument on command line Result: Ran the finally code ******************************* Now consider this code: public class FinallyTest 2 { public static void main(String[] args) { try { int x = Integer.parseInt(args[0]); } catch(Exception e) { System.out.println("There was an exception"); return; } finally { System.out.println("Ran the finally code"); } } } ******************************* Scenario 1 : No input is given Result: There was an exception Ran the finally code Scenario 2 : Pass '1' as argument on command line Result: Ran the finally code ******************************* Now consider this code: public class FinallyTest { public static void main(String[] args) { try { int x = Integer.parseInt(args[0]); } catch(Exception e) { System.out.println("There was an exception"); System.exit(0); } finally { System.out.println("Ran the finally code"); } } } ******************************* Scenario 1 : No input is given Result: There was an exception Scenario 2 : Pass '1' as argument on command line Result: Ran the finally code ******************************* Now consider this code: public class FinallyTest { public static void main(String[] args) { try { int x = Integer.parseInt(args[0]); System.exit(0); } catch(Exception e) { System.out.println("There was an exception"); } finally { System.out.println("Ran the finally code"); } } } ******************************* Scenario 1 : No input is given Result: There was an exception Ran the finally code Scenario 2 : Pass '1' as argument on command line Result: No output *******************************

HashCode() and Equals()

/** This code tries to explain the why it is necessary to carefully examine changes to equals() and hashCode() methods of an object. The equals method of an object should be: - Reflexive. - Symmetric. - Transitive. - consistent with the hashcode. */ import java.util.*; public class HashEqualsDemonstration { public static void main(String[] args) { HashMap h = new HashMap(); Arbitrary A = new Arbitrary(1); Arbitrary B = new Arbitrary(1); h.put(A,new String("Sample value for key value = 1")); System.out.println(h.get(B)); //since our key to hashmap is a mutable type we can change the value //but since our hashmap is not based on the state //we will get erroneous result. A.setValue(2); //this should be null since A has changed System.out.println(h.get(A)); //hence hashmap should be based on the state of the object //in case of a mutable type. } } class Arbitrary { int value; public Arbitrary() { value = -1; } public Arbitrary(int val) { value = val; } public int getValue() { return value; } public void setValue(int i) { value = i; } public boolean equals(Object o) { if(this == o) return true; if(!(o instanceof Arbitrary)) return false; Arbitrary temp = (Arbitrary) o; return (value == temp.getValue()); } public int hashCode() { return super.hashCode(); } };

Rate your life quiz.

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	6.8
Mind:	7.3
Body:	5.6
Spirit:	8.8
Friends/Family:	3.2
Love:	0
Finance:	8.7
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

I like taking such kind of quizzes just for the sake of it. You could say, I might be enjoying them seriously! Ha! This one tries to rate your life and its components - Mind, Body, Spirit, Friends/Family, Love and Finance, on a scale of 10. I guess you might be wondering why my Love score is a big O - .. hehe.. keep guessing. Try and take the test yourself.

The man who did not stop smiling.

Cyril Trobé, wore a worn-out upper lip, a lip that you get by excessive smiling. He had had more smiles in one day that any normal person would have in a whole week. It was not that he had a life much different from the average joe, but that somehow he got afflicted by probably a 'compulsive smiling' disorder - he would see the stars in the sky and smile, he would not be able to see the stars in the sky and that would make him smile too, he would notice a pretty girl gazing at him and he would smile, he would even smile at being pointedly ignored by the same pretty girl too. Once his mother had been overly puzzled at his smiling at seeing disgusting beggars in the market streetn and even more scandalised when his smile turned into a wide grin at observing some "mature" movie posters on the market walls. His habit had left quite a few people around him perplexed, they felt alienated as if they have been left out of a joke or that one had been made on their expense. As a child he had been constantly punished by teachers for they felt that he found something funny about them or he had done something mischevious and theyd never know. So punish him might as well. What was even more frustrating was the he would smile even during the punishment, as if he found it funny and was the least bothered. His non-chalance was greatly disturbing to some of the teachers. I used to sometimes wonder about why were people so worried about a person smiling? Especially since he smiled in a warm cordial way, the manner which personality development books say would make you very popular among everyone. The smile in itself should have been no problem, it was not a toothy grin - the one that gives the wearer a devious look, nor was it a suppressed smile - one that gives the feeling of a well-kept secret, neither it was a broad ear-to-ear grin one that makes you think probably the situation more funnier than you thought. After some thinking, I thought it was not the smile but the length at which Cyril kept on smiling. Morning,afternoon,twilight,evening,night - in fact I think he smiled in his sleep, dreams and nightmares too. The very thought was extremely alien to me, how could somebody be all the time, he was too idealistically content. No one can afford to be content nowadays, they say being content makes you too casual in your job, in your studies, in your relationships - so you should always be trying to reach the next level. What is the next level you didnt know, no problems, those who advocated this approach said that you had to define the next level yourself since it had not been done yet. The result is that everyone compares what they do or have or even their friends, boyfriends, girlfriends with what the others around them have, or those filmstars in the newspapers have - and they know they have not reached the next level an they are not content. This made Cyril a problem for many people. It appears that around Cyril people began to doubt their own sense of humor and some even began to question their own personality and lives. (to be continued in next post ....)

A short diagnosis of my worries.

I've been lately beset by interleaved bouts of melancholy and glee. It keeps puzzling me that my mood has become so fickle on a regular basis. I guess I've overdone my act of keeping myself busy, so much so that the mind rejects what the heart wants to do. No doubt, I have the disquiet in my mind that I need silence, lest it lead way to anguish. I really liked the idea of "pensieves", of which JK Rowling talks about in her books of Harry Potter - an apparatus to separate out and study your thoughts as if in a microscope. It might not be fun, but I think it would help me uncover my own nature and mindset. To observe your thoughts as organisms which lend their influence on my pysche - a stepstone to a logical and rational life with unwarranted worries? Since I don't have these fantastic pensieves at my disposal, I guess I have to do with this digital one-dimensional text. Of late I have been doing a lot of strange things, such that I sometimes feel are not of my own will or those that I do for want of seeking solace in the unexplored paths of life.

1. I shall be teaching classes at a MBA coaching institute beginning this weekend.
2. Will be involved the NGO interaction committee of my company.
3. I keep planning to finish a book a week, and have a backlog of around 4-5 weeks!
4. Have to finish of my own office work too, lest my manager think less of me.
5. Some personal growth - what about the languages I have to learn? (I flunked the Japanese test, need to retake it this Nov. And, I might take up French classes starting this month)
6. I keep missing my home and family too much. (I guess I had enough of Bangalore)
7. Have to send my apps to the schools, the deadlines keep looming as they come closer, and I start to procastinate - a habit I dislike in others and abhor in myself, but sooner or later it catches hold of me.
8. What of the algorithms, that I had planned to practice?

This is what afflicts me, my mind, my thoughts. I hope I have written everything of it down. A doctor could say this is my diagnosis. But what is the cure? Oh wait, there is something else too, that is not in the list. Something that is missing, something that I don't know myself. I'm not able to exactly put a finger to it. But it is there nagging my mind, poking at me. What is it? I can't say. The cure ? - hmm... maybe it is to just lead my life and take everything in my stride. Maybe.

The girl with a thousand dreams.

"Mommy, I'm ill. I think there is something wrong with my head.", said the girl. "Why do you say that honey? ... And don't pull your hair like that, they'll come off. Haven't you seen Sharma uncle next doors? you'll be as bald as it gets!" "Really? Then I'm definitely ill, there is something wrong with my head and I'll go bald. I'm scared mommy!" "Now now my honey. If you don't pull your hair, you wouldn't get bald. There nice girl!", the mother smiled. "My cutie pie, now smile." "Ok, if you say so mama. But I'm definitely ill!" "Why do you say so honey?", the mother inquired. "Because, I cannot see dreams anymore. You know the last dream I had was three weeks ago, when we went to Riya's birthday party. I remember it, I was a science teacher in it. I scolded all the students ... hehe ... it was fun! But ... but, I don't get dreams anymore now. Is something wrong with my head? I will not pull my hair again, will I get more dreams then?" "Of course you will, don't worry. People get dreams when they do not sleep properly, or when they forget to brush their teeth before they goto bed. You have been brushing your teeth daily before going to bed?" "Yes momma, but I really like to see dreams in sleep. I use to get a lot of them before the last one. I want to see more dreams ! I want to see more dreams !", the girl started to cry. "Can I not brush my teeth today? I want to see a dream!" "Hush! Keep quiet! If you don't brush your teeth they will rot, and you will look like a crooked hag. What is it with dreams and you?" "I really like them. I get to see new places, new people, and sometimes I get to play with new toys too! There is a place in my dreams where I keep all my toys! I have more than a thousand toys now ... ", chuckled the girl. "One toy for each dream! I always get a new toy in my dreams!" "Really? Who gives you the toys? How do you get them?" "Oh that! Everytime I meet someone in the dream and help them they give me a new toy." "You meet a new person in every dream? But you dont know that many people dear, you are just 6 years old!" "No no mama, they are new people. Each person is different from the next, and each one gives me a new toy. But sometimes I meet people I know also ma, you know I met Kavita auntie at the barber shop in a dream once. She was getting her hair red colored. I asked her why was she doing this, but she said she didn't know why, she just felt like doing it. I asked her was it because she had a red haired doll? And she got really happy, and gave me a lollipop! It was too good." "You met Kavita auntie? Who else did you meet, that we know?" "Oh I met the rickshawalla that drops me to school, he was stealing mangoes from a mangrove. He taught me how to aim perfectly and bring down mangoes using pebbles ... he he ... we use to run and hide whenever the keeper used to try and catch us. But he never caught me, I always hid in the rabbit hole. And then Ruia (the rickshawalla), gave me a mango as a gift. He has a very funny smile too, it stretches from one ear to the other. He never smiles when he drops me off to school, he just keeps sweating and grunting. I liked him in the dream, he was much better there. I think he had a bath in the dream. I'll tell him to have a bath tommorow."

The child continued. "I met an uncle once, he was wearing all white. His hair, his beard, his coat, his tie, his pants, his socks, his shoes, his shirt - everything was white. I met him at the top of a mountain, it was very cold. There was ice everywhere!" "You mean 'snow', honey.." "Yes yes ... snow ... it was so beautiful! but it was very cold! He asked me if I liked it there? So I told him it was beautiful but it was very cold. So he gave me hot chocolate to drink, and a big teddy bear to hug. The teddy bear was very warm, I liked it too. Then he asked me if I liked my dreams. I told him I liked them." "But why did he ask that?" "Oh ! he said he creates dreams and puts them in our heads. Sometimes he puts two people in one dream and the same dream in two people's heads, so that they can share a dream. So I asked him if he could put me and Rahul in one dream. You know Rahul na ... that tall boy in my class. He just laughed, then he gave me a kiss on my head and I woke up! I would like to meet him again, he promised I will see Rahul in a dream. But I'm not getting any dreams! I want to see more dreams ! Mummy!" "Honey I think you should sleep now! You have to goto school tommorow." ------- "Aey aadu ! ek min earing bana kar aati hoon .. jhooti mooti ki! " - there goes my sweetheart Ananya childfully innocent.

The man who knew the color of life.

"Blue. ", said the Man. "Blue?", I asked. "Yes, Blue - it is the color of life. The color you should use to paint 'life' on your canvas." "But, why Blue? I always thought life has so many colors in it, isn't life a painting? Everybody, has different colors in their life." "What do you mean different colors? Life is not a painting, it is Blue. Everybody's life is blue." "But, my life is different from yours. I have different experiences, different hopes, my happiness and sadness are different from yours. Surely you are mistaken." "Hopes, happiness, sadness - each have their own colors. I'll tell you colors for each of them - hope is green, happiness is yellow, and sadness is ..." "What about sadness?" "Sadness is colorless." "Colorless? I don't understand." Man sighs. "I'll explain. But don't interrupt me." "Ok" "Life, hope, happiness, sadness - these are colors. There is another color too - luck." "But, luck ! it ..." "Listen! Don't interrupt! Luck is a color too, but it is difficult to describe it. It is a shade of orange, the one that the sky is when sun sets in the ocean at twilight. Have you ever wondered which color your dreams are? Or which color can you see more often when you feel angry? Or why the candle seems so bright, when you are calm? It is because you can see these colors with your own eyes - blue, hope, happiness, luck - when you are happy, calm, lucky. When you are sad, you don't see anything because sadness has no color." "All this is not making any sense at all! My eyes don't see these things." "They do, but nobody has told you about them, so you never knew to what to look out for? You have to look carefully, and with practice you will be able to see them. Look at your friends when they are happy, look at their edges, you will see happiness. When they are angry, you will not be able to see any color. Have you never noticed, that when your friends are happy they look bright? And when they look angry they appear to be dark? The reason is because happiness colors them in brightness of yellow, and when they are angry sadness colors them but because it is colorless it consumes the shine of other colors." "I don't think I understand too much, but I'll keep an eye out for detail. I guess I should get back to my painting then." "I hope you figure out why each color is why what it is. Best of luck!"

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you Are loosing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with the crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much, If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! --Rudyard Kipling

Staying connected

Malcom Gladwell in his "Tipping point", discussed about Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. It is an interesting read, and quite an interesting theory to explain a lot of small revolutions as well. Of the three kinds of people who help about bringing in revolutions, I think I fit the "Connectors" part the most. For quite some time, I have liked to meet new people and stay in touch. Though I should also be honest in that I have not been able to keep up with my network of people as frequently as I would want to. I just simply like the idea of getting to know people hitherto unknown to you and understand them at a level more than that of a formality. In the former part though I have been quite successful, for it is not really difficult for me - of course, I like to speak so much and to anyone for that matter. But the latter is more difficult, what I have found out is that there are three kinds of people in my network - seekers, regulars and dormants. The seekers are just as enthusiastic about meeting ppl as I am, they turn out to be great ppl to hang out with, of course this is definitely within the constraints of our daily lives that how much are we able to meet. The regulars are the ones who are ok with their flow of lifes they dont try to come across to you, but if you meet them halfway across the river or in the sea of humanity in the mall, they wouldn't mind hanging out with you. Also, the "regulars" have a special category - the ones that appreciate the kind of network that I have and once in a blue moon drop in a request for some work to be done with my help. Which is actually great coz it helps in getting to know them more. The third kind of people are the dormants, this is the difficult bunch - one which has given me more painful nights than anybody else, these are the ones whom I really like know but they never show up anywhere, they only return your calls, but they would never call you up themselves not even for a random sporadic job they would like me to do for them, case in point are long lost school friends, college friends, old company acquaintances etc. I have some theories on how to strengthen this network of friends more on this later. Forthcoming : Brand value of a man.

Japanese words

As an assignment from my sensei (teacher), I've got to memorise these japanese words:

	Pronunciation	Meaning
	watashi	I
	watashi-tachi	we
	anata	you
	annohito	that person (he/she)
	menasan	Ladies and gentlemen / all of you
	sensei	teacher
	kenshu-sei	trainee
	daare	who?
	donata (polite form)	who?
	hai	yes
	eeye	no
	nihongo	japanese language
	nihon/nippon	japan
	chugoku	china
	tai	thailand
	maresia (in japanese 'la' => re)	malaysia
	otoko	male
	onna	female
	yeigo	english language
	hito	person
	kata	person
	firifin	phillipines
	korey (kono)	this
	sorey soro)	that (far from speaker, closer to listener)
	arey (ano)	that (far from both)
	ohi'yogozaimas	good morning
	kuneechewa	hello
	konbanwa	Good evening/Good night
	Hajme mashite	How do you do?
	Dozo yoro shiku	Nice to meet you
	indo	india

Sushi in Bangalore?

I was trying to find out places where I could eat real good sushi in Bangalore and I came across an Hindu article discoursing about an authentic Japanese restaurant - Harima turned up. I would probably check out the place soon. This is a wonderful link for knowing what is exactly sushi, and how to order it and enjoy it at the sushi bar - sushi-howto

learning Japanese

I've decided to put more effort into learning this language. I think it will be a good idea to share some of the links to basic free lessons that I have found: 1. Nice website starts from basics 2. Another very basic site 3. This is more detailed (also has information on how to write the characters of Kanji) 4. Not a great site but you can check out the forums Japanese readings : short stories for kids another digital library

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.