Its raining cats and dogs in my forest

I translated a tamil sentence literally.. Peripaetia , the sudden change of fortune or one's fate.I deem this semester as an eye opener for myself and my future life/career.I have gone through several agonising periods for the past two years in my college life.Still some 12-14 months remaining.I have heard people saying we have to wait patiently and pray steadfastly ro G-d since when His good time comes, we vanishes our troubles like mist and stands by our side in all our endeavour.He gives us courage which we would have never experienced in a mysterious way which we ourselves can't acknowledge.Once He showers like blessings, it just like an bolt from the sky.Everyone around us will know about it.It rains cats and dogs! Thats what I mean by the title :-)

Radio to computer interface

Imagine a computer that has an antenna and able to detect FM wave on its own.And then using its own Pentium processor to process the signals and provide a graphical interface like a lollipop to the user.You can store,record and even make an adaptive noise removal techniques based on the input.Geez, its too much for now.. I have other work to do before talking about things which I am not going to look after again(probably)... :-)

India Vs Russia - Information Technology

Its been a while I sent my last post.I came across an article on The Hindu page no.13 on the topic
"IT oppurtunities and Challenges in Russia" which triggered this post.

A country which started its IT firm inspired by Bangalore's "Silicon Valley" is all set to overtake us in the next decade.What is the impetus behind this behemoth growth? Russian Engineers generally spend five to six years before taking up their career.Moreover they are specialists in their own fields(Maths,Physics,Chemistry) besides equipping themselves with hardcore programming skills.I have come across an Russian Mechanical Engineering student Petr who stayed first in TopCoder Programming contests for a commendable period(even now he won't be far from the top 5 slot).I felt something strange and odd on what was happening. :-) .Now I understand after all!




President of Intel Russia said that the Russians are the best in tackling complex problems."The policy we have at Intel is simple",he said in an interview "If we can,we commit difficult problems to the US engg.If the task is very labour-intensive ,we assign it to Indian specialists.If the problem cannot be solved we offer it to Russians".A statement worth byhearting.

This point by Deutsche Bank's Daniel Marovitz vividly portrays the difference between Indian and Russian Programmers."In India , people want to say 'yes' to please and to follow instructions.That can create problem sometimes.In Russia people aren't afraid to tell you that you have a silly idea that makes no sense whatsoever.But thats what you need".
Though our Indian programmers are good at solving complex problems, it is the willingness to take risk that we lack."Job Security" is the ultimate goal of every Engineer who graduates every year( invariably), except for a few rare exceptions.This has hindered us from producing high end products.How long can we serve as someone's pleaser programming what they need(outsourcing)? We need to set a standard for ourselves in the IT market.What we need is not a big "Microsoft" in India rather the efforts put by Bill Gates before starting Microsoft.For the heavy IT workforce we have in India , have we produced anything superior or atleast something in par with top notch products? Its high time Indian IT companies take a closer look at the Global market.(Vladimir Praveen :-) ).

Recently seen movies and their comments(brief)

• Kingdom of heaven starring Orlando Bloom(2005) - 8.6/10

Directed by Ridley scott(Gladiator,Black Hawk Down) and written by William Manohan - starring big names in Hollywood like Bloom,Eva Green,Liam Neeson.Feast for historical movie lovers(Its a fiction anyway :-|)! The war to capture the holy city Jerusalem - Who is Saladin ? Get to know historical answers from this movie

• Forrest Gump(1994) - 8.4/10
  

Directed by Robert Zemeckis based on a novel by Winston Groom."Tom Hanks rocks" - Its still an understatement :-) . Won Oscar award for best acting , best direction and many more..Rated in the top 10 by imdb.com

• Shawshank redemption - 9/10

Rated the best movie next only to God father by imdb.com.The movie stars Tim Robbins as Andy Dufrne and Morgan Freeman as Redding.The story happens in the milieu of the Shawshank prison located at maines.The dialogues are a class apart , sparing the narrations by Morgan Freeman which are extra ordinary.Directed by Frank Darabont based on a novel by Stephen King.

• Schindler's list(2.1/4) - 8.9/10

This is based on a real story which happened during World War II in Germany.It was the time when Hitler massacred countless Jews.Oscar Schindler , a german industrialist started a company and rescued the lives of some 1100 Jews.Directed by Steven Spielberg starring Liam Neeson.I haven't seen the full movie and wish to see it soon.

Sea Change

I saw "Kaloori" by Sakthivel who directed Kathal - a romantic tragedy.This one seems like its sequel.Its too early to mark it as such.Produced by Shankar again , amidst high expectations , the movie has lived upto its name till the end except for the climax.The directors benchmark has distorted the sweet castles built up in the film.When people see films , some relate their past experiences with the scenes as they roll out.I even smiled unconscionably recalling the greatest moments I had with my friends.Yup , everything in the movie happens with a theme of friendship in the Background.The new faces Akil, Kalai selvi(in the film ) , the two "guys" and the rest of the crew have lived upto their given characters.The film gurantees a bright future for them.But we have to remind ourselves that our Tamil Cinema Industry is unpredictable as it was always.Lets leave that part to God to bring them up.
The camera works and art settings professional though , lacks certain essential elements of the modern era.Director Sakthivel is almost flawless.But we must prepare ourselves to bear the excruciating pain inflicted by his "romantic tragedy" climax.It suitably suggests that the Director has desperately eyed for some "award".I would give a 8.75/10 for this coveted movie.Joshua Sridhar has once again ignited our minds with this ebullient music.It invigorates our soul and transcends them to a new world to enjoy our youthful days(I mean in imagination :-) ).The momentum generated in the second part will definitely win accolades for the Director and the Film Crew.Tammana Bhatia deserves special mention because of her coquettish smile and charming look.(Love at first sight !).

GRE

• Seen many cars but nothing is as conspicuous as Audi R8.The diaphanous gown worn by the made her conspicuous at workplace.
• gestalt phenomenon - a tricky word used to denote sth which is unified as a whole and difficult to obtain by the summation of its components.Where the fish do they use the word?
• When we refer to a group of people , their ideas or their qualities , a word called "constellation" comes handy. eg.The constellation of qualities she inherited made her the right pick for the job.
• I surmised that he committed this murder from the look on his face! surmised - suppose , guess.
• How will you denote the seperation of solid and liquid - its curdling.Figuratively a blood-curdling experience denotes a really frightening one!
• When two roads meet , we call it a junction.When two rivers meet , its called confluence.Can be used figuratively also.St.George Memorial is at the confluence of Missisipi and Ganges.
• People who are not cultured are said to be with philistine attitudes.They lack interest or do not understand art,literature and music.
• Epicurean is an extremist who is devoted to pleasure in any form.
• comatose due to lack of sleep - got it? lethargic,torpid,tardy
• When you are calm and cool , you are said to be nonchalant.Excessive dose infuraites the people besides you.. His nonchalant behaviour infuriated him.
• hetergenous mixture of something..how do you call it? commingle :-) His books are a commingle of sarcasm and jokes.
• Tantamount t0-equivalent to sth(bad esp.,) His resignation would be tantamount to admitting that he was guilty.
  

GRE

• Otherwords used to mean country brute are yokel,groundling,lumpkin,canaille,Hoi Polloi.
• If you want to curse someone use these words - imprecation,interdiction(stop someone from moving to a different place),malediction,anathema.
• If you argue or in a mood for a duel , you are belligerent,bellicose,pugnacious,jingoist
• If you commit a crime in India , Australian government cannot try you legally, because there's something called purlieu.
• If you don't care or mind what's happening - you are said to be fussy
• You are squeamish when you faint on seeing blood.
• If you are interested in your dress/style, yor are foppish as well as finicky.
• Politics is more like floating on a piece of iceberg in the artic, no one will know when you will plummet. Quagmire , morass , bog,fen,slough - wet land.
• If you are caught red handed copying in an exam hall, you are into predicament.
• Love for books - Nerd ; Love for sad and unpleasant things - morbid