Thursday, November 30, 2006

Titanic song (Celine Dion) remake in Orkut

Every time in my Orkut

I see you. I scrap you.

That is how I know you go on.



Far across the Scrap Book

And testimonials between us

You have come to show yourself " single".

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the friends list does go on



Once more you logged on

And you're here in my scrap book

And my scrap book will go on and on



Testimonials can touch us one time

And last for sometime

And never let go till we're friends

Love was when I saw your friends list

One true time I hold to

In my life I'll surely view her/his profile

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the friends list does go on



Once more you logged on

And you're here in my scrap book

And my scrap book will go on and on

There is some amazing profile that will not go away



You're here, there's so much to fear,

And I know that my friend will know I checked her/him out

We'll stay forever this way

You are safe in my friends list

And my friends list go on and on

Ballmer: Linux users owe Microsoft

In comments confirming the open-source community's suspicions,
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Thursday declared his belief that the Linux
operating system infringes on Microsoft's intellectual property.



FUD at its creative best...





Link: Computerworld - Ballmer: Linux users owe Microsoft

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Paramount, 20th Century Fox embrace BitTorrent

BitTorrent is going places !! Now major entertainment companies are embracing it.

Good start ...



Link: Paramount, 20th Century Fox embrace BitTorrent

PS3 Nike shoes for $5,000

$5000 for a pair of shoes !! If any further proof was necessary that some humans are crazy, this is it ..



Link: PS3 Nike shoes for $5,000

Expiring e-mail addresses

Snippet from the CNET site:

--- Start Snippet ---

I'm sure you're as sick of spam as I am. Much of it comes from sites that require people to provide e-mail addresses to sign up. Those registrations result in unwanted e-mail from those sites as well as any others that your e-mail address gets passed on to.

There's a new Web site designed to solve this problem. Called 10 Minute Mail, it generates fresh e-mail addresses for people that expire after 10 minutes, or longer if the user requests that. You can use it to sign up for a service and then forget about it.

--- End Snippet ---

Link: Expiring e-mail addresses News.blog CNET News.com

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Firefox gone wild


What happens if you install all the Firefox extensions that you possibly can?

Link: Firefox gone wild (PNG Image, 1229x632 pixels)


1 year later, face transplant woman can smile

Isabelle Dinoire, from Amiens, France, received a face transplant via a graft from a brain-dead donor after being mauled by her dog.



One year on, her surgeon Bernard Devauchelle said she continued to make excellent progress and that he had plans to carry out more operations.



Full story: BBC NEWS | Health | Face transplant woman can smile

STD codes of Indian Cities (Telephone area codes)

I modified the title less someone mistakes it for something else (Indians have so many types of STD that they actually have codes for them??? :-D )



Telephone Area codes for Indian cities : STD codes of Indian Cities

Live Satellite channels

A site that has a few live Satellite channels. One Hindi channel too ..



Link: http://tv.sirfparvez.com/

Monday, November 27, 2006

Usability links

Usability is one of the most important things for any product. Sadly, it is one of the most neglected aspects in software design.



Companies spend millions of dollars in making new software, and the end result is something that is way below par as far as the end user's experience is concerned. How many times have you said "This software costs so much and they couldn't give me a better interface???"



Some links on good usability guidelines, practices tips:



  1. Apple Human Interface Guidelines
  2. Yale Web Style Guide
  3. Telstra Online Standards
  4. User Interface Guidelines for Oracle BLAF (Browser Look and Feel) applications
  5. IBM Web Design Guidelines
  6. AJAX and Interface design
  7. Top 10 problems with web application usability



Sunday, November 26, 2006

The 25 Funniest Analogies ever

New transparent household electronics

What will the Japanese think of next? This time they have come up with transparent household goods -- a transparent fridge, transparent washing machine .....



Tokyomango: New transparent household electronics.

A Woman

Something nice that I read ....


This is written in the Hebrew Talmud, the book where all of the sayings and preaching of Rabbis are conserved over time.

It says: "Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears .


The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on.


Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal.


Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved."

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Poetry: Koshish Karne Waalon Ki Kabhi Haar Nahin Hoti


Today I am in a poetic mood. So here's a beautiful poem by Harivansh Rai Bacchhan....


==========================================
Lehron se Darkar naukaa paar nahi hoti
Koshish karne waalon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti

Nanhi cheenti daana lekar chalti hai
chadhti hai deevaar par sau baar fisalti hai
Man kaa vishwaas ragon me saahas bharta hai
chadhkar girna, girkar chadhna nahi akharta hai
mehnat uski bekaar har baar nahi hoti
koshish karne waalon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti

Dubkiyan sindhoo me gotaakhor lagata hai
jaa jaakar khaali haath lautkar aata hai
milte na sahaj hi moti gehre paani me
badhta doona vishwaas isi hairaani me
mutthi uski khaali harbaar nahi hoti
koshish karne waalon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti

Asafalta ek chunauti hai sweekar karo
kya kami reh gayi hai dekho aur sudhaar karo
jab tak naa safal hon chain neend ko tyago tumm...
Koshish karne walaon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti.................

--Harivansh Rai Bacchhan


==========================================

Thursday, November 23, 2006

LSI Logic patents doubly linked list !!

U N B E L I E V A B L E !!





Link: Linked list - US Patent 7028023

Giant Airplanes

There are airplanes, big airplanes and ... Giant Airplanes!! Some of these are really amazing .. worth a look.



Link: Fogonazos: Giant airplanes

The Most Famous Photographs

Some photographs that made history. This site keeps on changing, so refresh your browser for each visit that you make ...



Link: The Most Famous Photographs

How to make an origami paper balloon

Steps for making a paper balloon.



Link: Balloon - Let's Make Origami!

Avoiding RSI (Repetitive Stress Injuries)

If you use a computer for many hours per day, read this !!



It has very useful information that can save you a lot of pain ...



Link: Official Google Blog: Avoiding RSI

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Amazing Lego creations: Music bands

Band members made from Legos. A lot of musicians - from Bob Dylan to U2!!



There are other good creations as well -- just click the "Random" link at the top of the page to see some neat stuff like the Stringray.



Link: Brickshelf Gallery

Monday, November 20, 2006

Shortcut keys for Microsoft Excel


Keys for windows and dialog boxes

In a window, to

Press

Switch to the next program

ALT+TAB

Switch to the previous program

ALT+SHIFT+TAB

Show the Windows Start menu

CTRL+ESC

Close the active workbook window

CTRL+W

Restore the active workbook window

CTRL+F5

Switch to the next workbook window

CTRL+F6

Switch to the previous workbook window

CTRL+SHIFT+F6

Carry out the Move command (workbook icon menu, menu bar)

CTRL+F7

Carry out the Size command (workbook icon menu, menu bar)

CTRL+F8

Minimize the workbook window to an icon

CTRL+F9

Maximize or restore the workbook window

CTRL+F10

Select a folder in the Open or Save As dialog box (File menu)

ALT+0 to select the folder list; arrow keys to select a folder

Choose a toolbar button in the Open or Save As dialog box (File menu)

ALT+ number (1 is the leftmost button, 2 is the next, and so on)

Update the files visible in the Open or Save As dialog box (File menu)

F5



In a dialog box, to

Press

Switch to the next tab in a dialog box

CTRL+TAB or CTRL+PAGE DOWN

Switch to the previous tab in a dialog box

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB or CTRL+PAGE UP

Move to the next option or option group

TAB

Move to the previous option or option group

SHIFT+TAB

Move between options in the active drop-down list box or between some options in a group of options

Arrow keys

Perform the action assigned to the active button (the button with the dotted outline), or select or clear the active check box

SPACEBAR

Move to an option in a drop-down list box

Letter key for the first letter in the option name you want (when a drop-down list box is selected)

Select an option, or select or clear a check box

ALT+ letter, where letter is the key for the underlined letter in the option name

Open the selected drop-down list box

ALT+DOWN ARROW

Close the selected drop-down list box

ESC

Perform the action assigned to the default command button in the dialog box (the button with the bold outline ¾ often the OK button)

ENTER

Cancel the command and close the dialog box

ESC



In a text box, to

Press

Move to the beginning of the entry

HOME

Move to the end of the entry

END

Move one character to the left or right

LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW

Move one word to the left or right

CTRL+LEFT ARROW or CTRL+RIGHT ARROW

Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry

SHIFT+HOME

Select from the insertion point to the end of the entry

SHIFT+END

Select or unselect one character to the left

SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

Select or unselect one character to the right

SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW

Select or unselect one word to the left

CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW

Select or unselect one word to the right

CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW





Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Mega Machu Picchu

Get yer mega photos right here!! That's right, ladies and gentlemen - 1.5 Giga Pixel photos of Machu Pichu (Peru).

Over 400 images, Over 1500 Megapixels !!



P.S. Try saying "Mega Machu Picchu" really fast over and over again ...





Link: Mega Machu Picchu - 1.5 GigaPixel

The most beautiful images you can find

A site that lists the top images currently available on the net (this is via a voting system, so it is actually the top pictures that people have voted for).



Link: http://thefairest.info/top.html

Amazing photo of the Earth

This photo is just too good !! Click for a bigger picture ...



Link: Amazing photo of the earth (NASA)





http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/136048main_bm_012004.jpg


The 10 Best (and 10 Worst) Companies for Customer Service

A list of the companies that treat their customers like kings. Also the other side: companies that treat you like dirt.



Obviously, go to the top 10 and beware of the bottom 10.



Link: CRM Lowdown: The 10 Best (and 10 Worst) Companies ...

Monday, November 13, 2006

Java: Sun GPLs Java

My, how times change!! Sun absolutely refused to make Java open source. Now it is doing it :-).
Anyway, better late than never.

Link:  Sun GPLs Java

Friday, November 10, 2006

Guidelines for being a good corporate citizen

These are general guidelines for being a good corporate citizen. Taken from a news group thread in my office.

Note: I work in a software firm in India. But most of these guidelines are general purpose and universally applicable.

  1. If someone is parking his/ her vehicle do not come in intimidating distances till the other person is done. If you have a driver who is waiting in the car, make sure that your car is not obstructing path of others.

  2. If you are taking the elevator please see if someone is coming or trying to get the elevator, rather then pretending not to see and poking buttons on the Blackberry. Everyone's time is important.

  3. In elevator if standing close to the buttons ask which floor. This will not make you a liftman / lift operator but demonstrate that you are a good person. If someone asks you the floor and pushes button for you please say thank you.

  4. While waiting for the lift (elevator) please see to it that people in elevator come out first
    and you provide ample room to them.
  5. If you are stepping into any confined zone, please let people in that zone move out before you move in. Basically wait for people to exit. Walking into a lift, corridor, lobby, aisle or conference room all fits.

  6. Always stand in queue for anything (taking food in the cafeteria, etc.). Do not cut in line.

  7. If you are parking your bike make sure you park it straight and such that it takes only 1 bike space (park it on the main stand).
    Don't park it haphazardly and take up 2 bike space and leave only that much space between bikes as is required for easily taking it out!

  8. Talk softly on the phone. The phone mics are very powerful and you don't need to talk that loud for the other person to hear. Also consider other folks sitting in adjacent cubes.
    1. Put your cell phones to "vibrating" modes as soon as you enter office. No one, repeat no one, is interested in hearing your "just downloaded fantastic mp3 tune". It is very, very disturbing - especially while you are concentrating on something.
    2. Put your ringer volume at reasonable levels on your desk phone, especially when you are not at your desk.

  9. Switch off phones or put them on silent during all-hands, meetings etc. It is not only irritating to others, it is an insult to the speaker.

  10. Don't chat in groups in pantries - it causes lot of inconvenience to others who come for tea/coffee/snacks.

  11. Don't send huge emails' (even work related) - it is a royal pain to download them at home on slow speeds. Not everyone has a broadband connection! Have a central place for documents, and send out a link in the email. It also keeps the network happy!

  12. If you spill liquid on floor, make sure it is mopped up by the office support staff, before you leave. Or clean it yourself.

  13. For smokers - throw the stubs in dustbins / ashtrays. The smoking zone floor is not the right place.

  14. If you read newspaper kept in the common area, make sure to re-arrange it properly when you keep it back. No one likes to read a crumpled, unsorted newspaper - even you don't!

  15. Treat the pantries' as you treat your kitchen - keep them clean, and tidy. It does not take much effort to close the lid of the biscuit box, and keep the used cup in the wash-basin! Don't keep the used cups' at any place in office - especially conference rooms.

  16. Switch off lights in the conf. room once you are done. Also make sure to wipe off the white board, before you leave.

  17. Respect every person in the office - including the office-support staff (which includes, but is not restricted to, office-boys, cleaners', drivers, security personnel).

  18. While parking, honor the words of the security personnel - and don't try to be oversmart.

  19. DO NOT *spit*. Anywhere.

  20. Avoid pressing buttons to call multiple lifts simultaneously.

  21. Please ensure that the discussions on any topic, however profound/ technical intensive are not done near the workplaces in loud volumes. You may be disturbing people. Best way is to put conference rooms to use for this purpose.

  22. Stairs are there for a purpose other than having coffee on. And leaving the cups on the stairs, is not only unacceptable, its also dangerous for people who use the stairs. Same goes for the terrace, balconies, etc.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

BSOD screen saver


One of the most infamous items in the computer industry is the BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) from Windows NT. Sysinternals has come up with a screen saver that mimicks a BSOD.
Get it for old times' sake :-).

Link: BlueScreen Screen Saver v3.2