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Excursions

Microsoft's Secret of Success Lies in.....

There has always been this indelible discussion to find out what makes all these successful corporates and biggies attain the status they hold. Be it Google, Apple, Ubuntu or Microsoft. One question would be why just these four? I would say they lead where they are. Anyways a general consensus is formed over work ethics and culture and innovation and customer satisfaction and blah blah blah. But I feel the reason lies somewhere in the logo they hold. I thought if that was really the case, then one can surely see a statement from each of these biggies as follows:

Google: "Dude logos are important. We have a special group assigned for that. Moreover there is a daily 2% 'Logo time' for each employee. Look at our color combination. Look at its display. Look how we repeat the colors. Look how letters flow. Look at their inclinations. Buddy, thats the secret behind our success."

Apple (after iPhone): "Obviously man. Do you think we don't take logos seriously. We spend millions of dollars over deciding what colors to choose, what shape to choose. Look at our logo. See the shape of the apple, the leaf. Look how just a single bite is out of that", with more of a sadistic smile "as if ready to eat Microsoft up. Buddy, thats the secret behind our success."

Ubuntu: "Boss, do you think we are mad to neglect importance of logos? We build our softwares afterward. First thing is to decide upon the logo. We make each member of open source community to come up with his own version and select best through voting. Look at the delicate design formed. Look at the font used. Look at the curves. Buddy, thats the secret behind our success."

Microsoft (after Vista): "Obviously man. Do you think we are mad to neglect importance of logos? Dude logos are important. We have a special group assigned for that. We build our softwares afterward. First thing is to decide upon the logo. We spend millions of dollars over deciding what colors to choose, what shape to choose. Look at our color combination. Look at its display. Look at the delicate design formed. Look at the font used. Look at the curves."

One guy with zero credibility senselessly stands up and puts a sensible question. "Sir, sorry to interrupt you. But whatever you are saying is a simple amalgamation of what Google, Apple and Ubuntu say. That is a copy from different sources."

In comes the reply from Microsoft guy, in the coolest possible way: "Buddy, thats the secret behind our success."

[PS: The above situation is completely a virtual (truth). No hard feelings intended. Yes but if someone does get hurt, I would just say one thing: "Go to hell".]

Thats tagged as:

Quality 'Confidus' for Softwares!!!

First thought one may get is what this title really mean. Truly speaking not something amazingly mind blogging. But I just kept scratching my bum over searching for the right word which i hardly could. So just replaced it with something sensefull and thought who cares. After all thats how new words are born and as an ardent user of English language its my even responsibility to add to its vast sea of gibberishes.

Ahh so backing to the topic, recently i heard about this CMM5 quality guru and an incident that happened with him. Forgive me I am bad at remembering the names. But anyways how does that really matter what you call him. In my senses lets say Mr D . This supposedly techie guy used to resurrect the importance of quality in software projects. It so happened that D had this kiddish habit of forcing his listeners into some situations and then try screw them when they answer. However this time around he promoted himself to a sadistic charm. He had a group of project leads as his listeners. Yawny as they always are, Mr D put them into a bit of critical situation. Here goes the conversation, obviously a spicy virtual one:

Mr D: Suppose you are boarding an aircraft which is a fully high tech one with Auto Pilot system, lights running all around, virtual air hostesses of shape and size of your choices. But the catch here is the whole software running is developed by your project group. There are no parachutes or any kind of emergency exit system. So in case your software fails, you rest in peace in your cosy container. Choice is yours; board the plane or pain your board.

Leads by now were pulled back to their senses. Seeing there life at stake, everyone hesitated to even walk in the aircraft. Their minds were running on a track somewhat as: "What the heck. Dude am least comfortable with aircrafts running with software developed by these geeks under me. Who knows these bastards left some untied piece inside. I don't understand a shit and they don't give a damn." Actually speaking, Mr D was bubbling inside as this was his chance of scoring goal on quality. But suddenly a hand rose. Not only D but every single 'D'umbo inside was shocked.

Mr D: Buddy lemme get it clear. Is it some kind of joke or you really are that confident. Dude this isn't something what i expected. Tell me how are you so confident with your team. What do you run for so much quality control. Speak up before everyone leaves this room and rush to book a call with you.
The One(cool and yawny as always): Cool down man. Am least worried to board the aircraft. And I know nothing is gonna happen to me. Rather I am not gonna go anywhere. Just for the simple reason that if the aircraft is build by my team, it can never take off. Engines would never kick off."

Just a midget silence and the whole room roared up into a huge burst of laughter. It got virtually transfered to a ball room where no one except performer cares how he perform. Mr D needed hardly anything to prove his point.

This whole lack of quality confidus (got something to do with confidence, but i though thats not the perfect word ;) may rise to a level which would lead to a new breed of IT conversations. I am dressing it up. It would rise soon. Something by the name: Programmer's Panico !!! Do hook up.

Google and Firefox drowns me in a mystery !!!

On my way while crawling the web, I noticed something which may be I was inadvertent to. I saw a time stamp next to the link which I opened. The screenshot below displays what i mean by that. I remember reading something along the same lines. But as i tried searching for a reference for the behavior, the efforts didn't throw success.

However, the story doesn't end at this stage. When I tried to playback the same in Internet Explorer, I was stunned to see no such behavior. So thinking that this has to do something with Firefox, I tried scanning other search engines for the display of time stamp, nothing really happen. So bulged a question. Is this behavior related with Google searches in Firefox? If so, whats so different in Firefox than IE? Moreover I am using the latest updated versions of both. I even tested it on a fresh version of Firefox. So i assumed it has least to do with mozilla extensions.

As if these questions weren't enough, something more happened that assisted the assumptions. As i deleted the cookies, I wasn't that hoo-haa seeing no stamp. But what baffled me was I was unable to redraw the same behavior.

So another question popped up in my mind. Does Google have some playing hours on internet, when they just put in some behavior into there search and pop it out as soon as they test it? Mozilla couldn't do that because thats something that resides on my system. And if it does put something without my consent, I see some good time ahead of me. Anyways currently I have employed myself to demystify this abruptness.

Update: One thought each one gets first is about add-ons in mozilla. But as i mentioned, I tested it out with a fresh version of firefox without any extensions too. So addons have zilch part to play. Moreover the abrupt display and hiding of the time stamp continues now too.

Update2: After a lot of trial and errors and with the help of a very useful comment by whoblah, i was able to understand the behavior. Rather i shouldn't call it a mystery as it really wasn't. It was just an ignorance on my part. Thought let me reveal the solution because there is possibility that there would be many others ignorant enough. In nutshell, the issue has to do with Google's web history, where in for the above behavior to work, one needs to be logged into his Google account. If you are, you can see the complete history about when and how many times have you opened a particular link from Google search. So don't panic if you ever see a time stamp next to the search. Thats Google history at work!!!

Decoding IM's !!!

A drowsy Friday afternoon. One sits at his desk, gazing at his clock arms strolling round its face. Just when he is completely down; about to dream his imaginations, a sudden buzz of "Hi" rises at the south-east end of his desktop. A smile props up at his face thinking 'Thanks buddy for a bit of relief'. And suddenly something happens and he, the savior, is gone with his work done. You sit there stunned, trying to grasp what really stormed out. But plain abortive attempts! Incidents like these have happened with me many times now. Just another similar incident and i thought there is an exigent need to decrypt what the incoming messages really mean. So here i am penning down meanings of just a few abrupt messages which i have been decoding for quite sometime now ...

HI (all caps) - "Look here u idiot... am too busy unlike u"
hi - "am bored like hell ... and its a command u should talk to me. Anyways everyone knows how much work you do .... lol!!!"
hi ... rut or u there- "reply soon u dumb... am in hurry and have some important work for you"
what's up or kya chal raha hain - "i am least interested in what you reply, but for formality. and even i know your answer is going to be the same ... 'am fine' "
thankxx - "am done with my work .... don't expect any more messages after this"
uhhhh - "go to hell"
hhahha - "buddy i have to run ... ok ok .. that was good ... stop it for haven's sake now"
hmmmm - "my mind's empty now boss ... have nothing sensible to say.. "
ok ok bye - "thats the last statement from me dude. nothing here after; even if u keep shouting your stomach out"
abe sun %$%^* - usual entry statement by a member of RandomBots

These are just a few messages which i was somehow able to demystify. May be not always do they convey the same meaning as stated. But then it goes for any decoded stuff boss. It's meaning is not always what it is decoded as. However, there are many others which are enthusiastically popping to get naked. But they just keep fluctuating there meanings even more often than Sachin Tendulkar's form. I am working part-time to decrypt those. Truly speaking, without really getting paid. Or am I? ;)

Powerpoints??? Good Gracious!!! Save Me

  • "Following slide talks about the XYZ. As Some Dude defined, XYZ is blah blah blah, more blah blah blah. This blah blah further blah blah blahs.... "
  • "As the figure shows, the blah grows over time making it correlate with some blah .. so that ..."
Just a sec. Look at the listener boss. He is a mere dozing reader enthralled completely into what the slide pukes at him. Numerous occasions throughout my student as well as professional life, have I confronted such expressions myself. On several other occasions, i made others to peep that expression at me. Yes indeed powerpoint slides are the presenters buddy. But there is a way how powerpoints slides are not to be made and if they are, be ready for a fun ride with a very few drooling listeners who are either unluckily close enough to you or not in enough senses to flee as remainders did.

Watch the following hilarious video "Life After Death by PowerPoint" by "Don McMillan" and one gigglingly gets into the groove of what not to do in powerpoints.




Add to My Profile | More Videos

Smoking N Choking out ... Are we really???

Shave and bath sensibly? Walking even though you own a car? Use Recycle Bags? Switch to a small cars from SUV's?

I have heard all these things a zillion times now. After all, the only answer my mind shouted was "Buddy, how does that matter. World's not worried, let me be imperturbable on this too." But then thought there are tons of other things i do perfunctory. To what extent does my following these things going to affect me. Not much really. So ... Anyways what is this carbon footprint and why the damn i should care? Why Singapore is looked after as a place following well thought solutions? IBN does try and provide answers for these.

Indeed what the video tries to convey does seem quite convincing. But just when I was about to bend my mind to digest this all, I was struck with a thought. I wondered are we, the humans, only protagonists in the so called global warming saga? Does CO2 emission by human have a significant threat to our environment? Is there any such global warming threat being seen? Are predictions of climate change perfect and not a mere prejudice? Is it proved by experts that we are causing global warming? Is global warming really that bad? Will the money-gulping efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions really stop climate from changing? Further, aren't they just bursting the state's budget? Rather, shouldn't money be flowing towards perennial and pernicious threats? An article published in heartlander does try and provide an answer to these all. What it concludes is to follow the call to the common sense and just put this "Global Warming" Scam to end.

Further the movie below tries and put this whole saga under the name "a vested political interest creating panic" to turn more money towards climate science. CO2 indeed has very little to do with the climate change. I do feel even this view of scientists at other side of this scam needs to be looked at before we go and follow the call for morality.



Then what is the path for me to follow? At the end, I find just trapped in yet another polemic. Unable to figure out, which way to lead myself!!!

Wordpress Through Eyes of a Blogger!!!

"Howdy"!!! ... Thats how i was welcomed to the Wordpress' blogosphere. Frankly speaking, i got little freaked. Buddy, why this 'too-dudishness' ? Anyways, this blog of mine was more due to my urge to try out new options for what i already own (however, the urge doesn't show up for each thing i own). Backing to track, let blogger's eyes view wordpress....

 

 Yes, wordpress looks, or rather, is more organized than blogger. Nice options to manage one's space. Vision smoothening look. No Doubt, Ajax has worked hard to dress it up so well. Nice presentation choices including few elegant templates and useful widgets. Facility to create more than one pages. I did find this option interesting for it allows one to virtually transfer the blog into his website. Import and Export of posts and widgets. One's own uploading space. And last but not the least, a complete stat-pack providing all the required information about the reader and feed traffic on the blog. Yes, no need for all the foolish external widgets for tracking. Wish google understands this need of a blogger.

 

But wait .... Hey, a bad editor and worst saving option. Am writing this part again when i already did it. Thanks to a you, Mr editor. Further, i feel these options are too many to for a novice to get hold of. And again, google scores where it always does. User Friendliness. Google knows what i want and where i want that. No wonder, blogging starts with Blogger. To illustrate, a user has to struggle here just to get his image inlined in his post. The reason why am writing this again with some weirdly placed images. Cudn't find any? Yeah i removed them for the weirdness they were incorporating in the post.

 

To pack up, wordpress is a beautiful and elegantly designed blogger tool. But blogging is not as easy as compared to Blogger. Anyways, wish to put this space of mine to some use. Currently surfing my mind to reasonify this blog!!!

Talk the universal language !!!

Time: 6:55 am Venue: Koramangala Bus Stop


It was a silent morning one can often confront in Bangalore, just before it bursts into its raw-dusty look. For me though, the silentness was pouring further dubiety in my already crowded mind. Crowded indeed it was, with anxiety n excitement n tons of questions. About to emerge was my first day in employee world; another significant turn in my life. And then there was that sudden roar. Silentness just boomed. In the park behind were few ages' bubbling with laughter, leaping and clinging each other, everyone trying his best to outdo everyone else. I could see dawn getting outrageous, looking at its lost soundlessness; like a gritty kid who has been denied a toy. Stood in front of me, a laughter club. Frankly speaking, i did find the whole raga rather funny. Each person trying to trouble oneself and catch one's breath. But little did i know what they were trying, was to change the world.

The incident rose before me just a few days back when i learnt that as i was yawning in my bed at "not-so-dawny" time, there were few people who were celebrating a "World Laughter Day" on 6th May. Thought why not know something about this chapter in "blah blah Day's" Saga. What i found were many views on how laughter scientifically, spiritually, socially can make a person, and thus the world around him, better. Each view was clear enough to subscribe one to the thoughts.

A question may arise why this sudden gyan on laughter. Even i don't know the answer. But one thing needs to be marked. Do laugh off some part of your day. In fact, there is something happening deep inside you; fighting to make you better. And there are few who do believe you are thus adding to the world peace. So don't wonder if you face a bang on first Sunday of May. Just note its those few talking a universal language. Over-ambitiously!!!

Anyways, follows a nice song "Sadho Re" by band Agnee (First Jal, Then Raeth and now this one. I feel Yavu is on its way). A striking song with beautiful lyrics. Why i place it here? I would say it speaks out today's world's unrest; which makes this peace-talk further important.



[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch

Answers Unquestioned!!!

Just personifying the randomness, i thought of few answers to some trifling questions. I know these are the answers unquestioned, but my mind said, at least for me, these are questions unanswered too.


1) Greenview, a hospital in Jakassandra area, was named so because of the view a person sees when he peeps out of a window, irrespective of the side he is on. In the front, a dark green gutter with water bubbling and scenting its way forward, welcomes him. Behind he sees a rock solid demented garbage. Numerous occasions has BMC tried to move it, but thanks to its insane determination, the garbage continues to zero all the BMC's efforts. Either sides provide a deserted plot, green as they are, all credit to the numerous organisms decomposing 'em off. So thanks to the hospital management's endeavors, patients have something to green about. Finally, thats what he requires the most.

2) A shop-keeper on Hosur road has his shop named *7%^& (this is something in Kannada, so couldn't understand that. A humble call, not to be misinterpreted with its usual meaning :D) Tnasportions. I feel, he just wanted to make it clear what his shop was about. Because he felt not everyone can make sense of something in Kannada. But English, boss its a universal language. I am still waiting to see it unclosed one day. Curious as i am about his work.

3) Auto and truck drivers are really eager to know how a person following him looks; does he deserve following him or not. So a simple solution they found was to write "Stop" at their bum. Now, dignified persons as they are, they face a problem. After all, who likes others staring at their posterior. So what they do is just add an "OK" tag to tell, "Enough gazing my rear boss."

Enough answering unquestioned questions. There are few more answers waiting to burst out of my mind. But as of now, I am busy slanting my mind to digest these first.

A Wake Up Call!!!

Hats off to the Supreme Court!!! On numerous occasions have i seen the politicians using the law at their own will. Heating and bashing the law suits, molding them and coining as much money as possible. It doesn't matter even if they stroll over fortunes of thousands. The week saw two decisions taken by SC which do pour water on their motives. Quota dispute and the cauvery row have been the most vexed issues for some time. Cauvery issue though not that significant nation-wide, but i did find the verdict as really interesting. Honest disclosure, am not here to pass my judgment over the issues. But really could not hold myself from lauding the SC's respective benches.

Quota dispute has been one of the hottest topic of discussions over the last one year. The year saw huge rallies, protests and discussions among "so-called" leaders presenting (or rather forcing) their views. Nebulous were the intentions of the political parties; the restlessness of thousands of the youths following them, with a hope to get some respite. What was rather clear was that the decision cannot and should not be taken with 75 year old data as yardstick. And thats what SC acquainted and slapped Center Government to "determine who is socially and economically backward". OBC quota gets a stay order, with aspiring students getting a bit of relief. Observation of the bench was "Reservation cannot be permanent and appear to perpetuate backwardness". Harsh though, but true to the core. What I further fancied was the SC's verdict for center's plea to vacate the stay order. Slammed was the government "to stop playing the game first and then framing the rules". This was a proper slap to the self-centered politicians trying to cash the issue during the elections. Way to go, Division Bench!!!

Cauvery verdict has also seen huge protests in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu post HC decision. SC passed a verdict asking CM's of the two states to show some "Statesmanship". A simple reason was stated that "any order passed is bound to trigger protests in the aggrieved states". Not only have the bench members refrained from deciding the fortune of the debated dispute but also provided an option to confront the nation wide water-scarcity issue. Hope the "Statesmen" do understand the humble intentions.

Both the verdicts are indeed wake-up calls for the politicians. But what i fear is that the problem is still far away from being solved. Center's not ready to give up the quota issue so easily, eying the elections. IIMs are still not clear on how to carry the admission process forward. Students stand midway, confused, staring at their hazy future. Our politicians are engrossed completely in debating what literally statesmanship is. And We, the mute and deaf people, are busy blabbering and listening to our Mp3's. Paradoxical Indeed!!!