tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289959642024-03-13T15:48:19.868+05:30hell's last angel speaksThose thoughts that I should have kept to myself...Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-23825674518500823412007-09-25T22:52:00.001+05:302007-09-25T23:25:05.983+05:30Well, I think its high time I blogged about the stuff I actually work on.<br /><br />Currently I am working in the broad field of semiconductor optics. In a more specific way, I try to make really really thin films (~ 50 nm) of tungsten oxide and characterize them.<br /><br />Why tungsten oxide? Cause it is a really interesting substance in the sense that it has a chromogenic nature. Chromogenic materials are ones which have the ability to change their color due to incident signals. Chromogenic materials may be further divided into different types depending on what sort of signal causes the change in color. They can be photochromic ( light signals), electrochromic (electrical signals), gasochromic ( gas signals).<br /><br />The really cool thing about tungsten oxide is it is sensitive to all three types of signals.<br /><br />So right now my job is to make really thin films of tungsten oxide on different host materials (substrates). In order to get these films made, laser pulses are made incident on a tungsten oxide target which then gets deposited on the substrate. By varying the different parameters we can have different sorts of films.<br /><br />These films can then be used to devise sensors.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-55331637826395363982007-09-20T20:20:00.000+05:302007-09-24T01:56:20.491+05:30After a really long hiatus I am back to promising that I will be more regular with my blog. Lots of things have happened since I last typed in anything for the WWW ( whole wide world) to know.<br /><br />Since the last time lots of things have happened and I think theres a need for an update.<br /><br />I have got more used to Chapel Hill. Growing used to the small town and its unique social life. You bump into the same people everywhere you go, giving it the close knit feel that you expect from a town of around fifty thousand people. I have discovered quiet a few new watering holes in this town.<br /><br />Unlike earlier where our weekends meant time spent at Fuse and nowhere else, we have started other places as well. Most notably Milltown. Its a really cool place with a lot of outdoor sitting, which is always great because of the awesome Carolina weather. Also it has a really long list of European and American beers to chose from. The only notably negative side of Milltown is that the service really starts to suck after 1 am. Also if you really just want to have alcohol and you are in no mood to enjoy the weather and you think PBR would do as good a job, Fuse is a better place for purely economical reasons.<br /><br />Other places which have become quiet a favorite include Elmo's, which serves awesome breakfast food. This has become quiet a regular sunday brunch place for us. The only downside is that it seems to be regular sunday thing for a lot of other people as well, which translates to a 40-45 minutes wait every time.<br /><br />However, if you are in a hurry you can always go to Panzanella or Weaver Street Market and its still real good.<br /><br />There have been other changes too...but I will get to them soon enough...Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-83570854432766018282007-03-08T07:58:00.000+05:302007-03-08T08:09:54.617+05:30After a long time, here I am back to typing in my two cents worth.<br /><br />For those non believers ( which included me till five minutes ago) heres the fact. As those chain mails say, Coke or Pepsi is bad. Trust me, I didnt think that I had to see the day when I would be sick from the carbonated sugary syrup. But nearly two litres of coke in a time span of around 2 hrs is not a good idea. I did it, and then thrown up, and felt miserable...and unlike being drunk when theres those few precious moments of incoherence, you are completely aware of the unease all through.<br /><br />I hate those free refills.<br /><br />And I hate not being able to see soccer matches on the telly. No offence, but the Americans need to learn that there are better games than what they play.<br /><br />It looks like all the games here need people to be huge.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-29865860371278920432007-02-11T04:41:00.000+05:302007-01-18T10:28:03.684+05:30I consider myself to be a liberal. A person who is pro-change. Liberal is defined as "tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded". And this is where I start asking questions about how liberal I am. Is it that I am so liberal, that any ideas that do not supprt my <span style="font-style: italic;">liberal</span> view becomes unbearable to me. Isnt it that then I am just becoming another person in the other camp?<br /><br />When I look around I dont see ourselves as much different from the liliputs in Gulliver's Travels, who fought over something as trivial as how to break an egg. We fight over race, color, money, religion, sexuality....<br /><br />And we never learn.<br /><br />Why do we fight over how someone else looks or makes love if we are happy with ourselves. All causes of fighting are because of a sense of insecurity in us that forces us to prove to ourselves and others that we are strong.<br /><br />Why do we think that the whites, blacks, browns or yellows are superior to one another?<br /><br />Why do we think that it is important to read the Bible, the Quran, the Gita?<br /><br />Why do we think its natural for a man to love a woman only?<br /><br />Why do we think that if we are allowed to flaunt our WMDs, should someone else have to hide it?<br /><br />Why do we believe that a certain part of the world is ours only and everyone else who wants to be there is an illegal immigrant?<br /><br />What makes us feel that our language is superior?<br /><br />What makes us feel that our deeds are being kept note of and we will be treated accordingly later?<br /><br />Why do we think that we deserve better when there are others dying even before they can ask that question?<br /><br />Why do we think that it is better to bring a child into a world where it will never be loved, than to kill it even before it can feel its death?<br /><br />Why do we think that a girl-child is a burden?<br /><br />Why do we think that a gun is going to keep us safe?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Why do we act as liliputs when we could be giants?</span>Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-63663412725264549512007-01-18T10:12:00.000+05:302007-01-18T10:28:03.709+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >MICRONATION SEALAND<br /><br /><br /></span></div>How many times have you wanted to be a king. To be the premier of all those around you. And then you have realised that you cannot be a king in these days of the overrated form of governance known as democracy. And then what do you do, you move on in life being another petty subject of a country of millions.<br /><br />Not everyone in this world gives up that easily though. There are some amongst us who will go to any lengths to be king.<br /><br />One such example is Paddy Roy Bates, the premier or king of the Principality of Sealand. This "country" has its own constitution, own flag and even issued passports. However, according to wikipedia it consists of "man-made off-shore installation named HM Fort Roughs, a former Maunsell Sea Fort located in the North Sea 10 kilometres (six miles) off the coast of Suffolk, England, as well as territorial waters in a twelve-nautical-mile radius."<br /><br />This micronation is only a part of a sea fort built by the British during WWII, and abandoned and allowed to sink. However part of it is still above water, looking like an abandoned oil rig. However, small as it might be it is a proud nation. It has held its own against an attempt of invasion by the British.<br /><br />It has a hereditary constitutional monarchy and a total population of less than ten permanent residents. However the royal family has put up the nation for sale. Some of you with a load of cash may bid for it.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-4814416376048698182007-01-17T08:35:00.000+05:302007-01-17T08:58:22.275+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">PARK STREET</span></span><br /></div><br /><br />What can a stretch of road in the middle of a busy city mean to anyone. A road where when you walk by you are just another anonymous person, another entity in the countless millions, another ant in the bustling ant colony. Can a street, an alley, a road grow into being a part of you. A Road that is in no way yours, a road that you share with thousands of other people whom you dont know or have no intention of knowing.<br /><br />There are relationships that you get into, not because you want to or because you have to, but just because you happened to be there. My relationship with Park Street is something of that sort. A relationship that started of with the usual flirtings during the teenage years. Walking down the streets, with nothing at all to do...gazing at the cars flow by, the beautiful girls walk away and the once in a while useful trip to some fancy restaurant.<br /><br />And then came the college days. Three years of knowing each other. Three years during which I walked her length innumerable times, getting to be part of her daily crowd. Three years during which I had fights, friendships, laughter, tears thats I shared with her.<br /><br />Those daily ritual of walking back with friends to the bus stop, walking for 45 minutes what would normally take 15 or less. Shouting on the middle of the road as if we owned the world. Feeling so much at home.<br /><br />Those treats at Peipings or Bar-B-q, those intellectual rounds at Oxford, killing time at Music World. And visiting the cemetery. And the bribing of cops for running a trafic light, did it all.<br /><br />All thanks to Park Street...Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-44294491289936947292007-01-16T10:35:00.000+05:302007-01-17T08:59:57.791+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">WALK</span></span><br /></div><br /><br />Recently, I have been walking a lot. Yeah, a lot. Mostly its from my new apartment to school or back. The walk to school is bad, trust me. 1.5 miles uphill is a pain. However on the bright side I guess I will be getting some much needed exercise.<br /><br />For those not impressed by 1.5 miles walk here are some facts.<br /><br />the Mt. Everest is roughly 5.7 miles high. That means if I walk the distance four times I walk just as much...and then they make a big deal about climbing the highest peak in the world...<br /><br />also the highest building in the world is Petronas Towers at a measly .4 miles high...I will see how easily you go up to the top of that using the stairs smartass....<br /><br />the deepest ocean trench is about 7 miles deep and not too many people have gone that deep, and here I am going an equal distance every trips I make and still get no credit...<br /><br />if instead of walking on the earth if I was walking straight away from it, I would reach the top of the troposphere in roughly 6 days...<br /><br />the only thing that you could you hold against me is the speed...yeah I am not Roger Bannister...and take nearly half an hour walking the distance...Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-20293691912978779732007-01-12T08:15:00.000+05:302007-01-17T09:00:36.517+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >POKER</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br />I have recently been watching a lot of poker on tv. Have been taught the basic rules by my roommate who seems to be quite a poker lover. Thats an assumption based on the number of Cardplayer magazines lying around in our loo.<br /><br />The game itself in the basic form is pretty easy to understand. And from the layman's eyes, it looks awfully like a game of luck. However if you look closely you will realise that in the big games it is usually the same big guys winning. And that is when you realise that there is much more to the game than just the factor of luck. True whether you win or lose depends on the set of cards that you finally have. And it is true that the cards you have are completely random events.<br /><br />However poker is much more than that. It is a reading of the thoughts of your competitors, of your ability to equate the risks you take to the odds of pulling it off. And most importantly to know when to back off and when to pull the trigger.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-54724627178184598122007-01-11T11:25:00.000+05:302007-01-11T11:37:59.648+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">MAZE<br /><br /></span></span></div>Have you ever been a maze, a maze so confusing that anybody who does not know the exact turns is bound to get lost. And have you ever felt confident that you know the maze inside out. Have you ever felt that the maze was yours. Have you ever felt proud to be part of the maze that confused all aliens. The maze that gave you your identity, your freedom, your self assurance.<br /><br />And have you ever been taken away from that maze and put out on a road. A long straight road. With no turns at all. A place so so easy to move in, that it is frightening. A place which is so transparent that there are no corners to hide yourself in. A place where the sun hits you in the eye, brightness that you want to get away from. A place where the sense of security is the cause of feeling of insecurity. A place that has only sharp corners, no worn down edges.<br /><br />And have you ever realized that all you could see while roaming aimlessly in the maze was the brightness of the straight road far away. And all you ever wanted was to be part of that sanitized brightness. And have you ever felt that you dont know what you want, the feeling of being one with yourself or wanting to be someone else.<br /><br />And have you ever seen how the maze was trying to sharpen its edges while the brightness was trying to lose its sheen.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-80936481686223601282007-01-11T07:21:00.000+05:302007-01-17T09:01:11.022+05:30I just thought it was about time to salvage my precious blog from the ignonimity of irregular post. Its been 20 long days since my last post. 20 interesting days. Yeah the break was not as boring as it was supposed to be.<br /><br />However its back to the grind now. Classes, labs and grading are just about lurking in the corner and making themselves briefly visible right now. However, soon they will be moving in more confidently, and a few more days later they will be baring their fangs and claws. And before I know it, it will be time when they will move in together to hunt me down...man this worlds a jungle.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-89763238256630833952006-12-21T07:52:00.000+05:302006-12-21T08:44:47.222+05:30The last issue of the Time magazine every year features the person of the year. Its one of the most prestigious of yearly awards internationally and Presidents, business tycoons, athletes, celebrities of all hues and colours want to be on the year end cover of Time. This time around Time decided on a rather strange entity as its Person of the Year.<br /><br />It selected YOU. Yes, the cover had a picture of a computer with a silver foil in place of the screen. <br /><br />Pretty neat. The Time argued that with the recent surge in activities on the internet through the use of words, pictures and videos the power had finally beenreturned to where it should always have been. To the PEOPLE. <br /><br />It is true however that this use of the media has been much more marked in the developed countries like the USA or the nations of western Europe. These have always been places where the public has always been a very important part of the decision making. <br /><br />However it would be a true year of the people when the voices of the laymen in countries with dictatorships like Cuba or Pakistan is heard and feared by those on the steering wheel. In countries like China and Iran theres a huge level of censorship on the media and what reaches the people. These have to go. Even in countries like India, supposedly the largest democracy of the world, the voice of the common man is barely heard. However things are surely changing.<br /><br />It would be easier to talk of these changes with a few examples. I will stick to India because that where I am originally from and the I know more of the following examples than I would be if i wrote about something that I had just read on the internet.<br /><br />The first was the verdict of the Delhi High Court in the Jessica Lall murder case. Jessica Lall was shot dead while she was bartending at Tamarind Court on the evening of April 29, 1999. The chief accused was Manu Sharma, son of Venod Sharma a Minister in Harayana. He was accompanied with amongst others by Vikas Yadav, son of D P Yadav, a minister in UP. The case was initially tried in the trial court of S L Bhayana.<br /><br />All the accused were acquitted. <br /><br />Here is where the story usually ends for crimes committed by politicians or their kins. Thats what they thought. They made one simple miscalculation. The power of the people. The verdict outraged the people. The media fuelled the emotions and the people wanted justice. The power of sms, blogs, phones and the communication system as a whole came into full force as a country united to make sure that justice was served. The Delhi police under tremendous public pressure filed appeal against the decision in Delhi High court. <br /><br />Result, Manu Sharma was awarded life sentence. <br /><br />Power to the people.....<br /><br />It would have been really good news but still would not have caused a change the way we look at our judicial system if it was just a one off case. No it was not. <br /><br />In a series of recent judicial activity there have been some hope. Shibu Soren sentenced for life for killing an aide. Another case was the death sentence to Santosh Kumar Singh, the son of a Police Inspector-General for the rape and murder of Priyadarshani Mattoo. <br /><br />Not only through the judicial system, but through the electoral process itself, the people of India have made their voices heard. Lalloo Prasad Yadav lost in Bihar which was pretty much unthinkable.<br /><br />The only other instance that i would like to mention did not happen in India. The people of Nepal rose up in arms to bring down a dictatorship and to setup a democratic process of their own. Yet another time when the fate of a country was decided by the vast majority of its citizens.<br /><br />Its the best thing to happen. The people have risen, and they mean business.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-43126953595467838212006-12-20T03:35:00.000+05:302006-12-20T04:14:08.776+05:30Heres some more strange news that I just found. <br /><br />The first one is set in London. We have all heard of those cases where the smoker sues the tobacco company for causing him cancer, of the woman who took her plastic surgeon to court because her silicon breasts after the surgery were not of the same size and so on...However the recent one that I read off seemed a bit too much. <br /><br />So theres this dude who while working in a bicycle warehouse falls on his head. Well then he goes into coma. Miraculously he gets out of it. And then just as he thought that life was back to normal, he realised that he had somehow turned into this sex maniac. Somehow the fall had so boosted his libido that he had turned to pornography and prostitutes. This caused his newly wed wife to divorce him.<br />So, he sues his employer and wins 3 million dollar in damages. I mean this is the greatest fall that anybody has ever fallen. You are stupid and fall while working, and what do you get out of it. A boosted libido and 3 million dollars. <br />I wont be surprised if theres a sudden spurt of "falling on the head" accident at workplace occurs after this news hits the headlines. <br />I am pretty sure that guy is going to be on a high for sometime. Speaking of high brings me to my next story.<br /><br />Well, pretty often we see that the USA makes strange decisions. You cannot blame a country for making strange and erratic decisions when their top cash crop is marijuana. yes you heard me right, the top cash crop is MARIJUANA...yes also known as Cannabis, Pot, Hemp, Bhang, Marijuana, Joint, Reefer, Wahupta [Sioux], Dope, Ganja, Smoke, Weed, Hash or what else you want to call your magic poison. <br />Yeah I thought it would be wheat or corn too. But no its not. Actually the total worth of marijuana produced in the USA is 35 billion dollars which is more than the combined worth of wheat and corn produced annually. <br /><br />Staying on drugs for my third odd news of the day. I know people act crazy when the are on drugs. But how crazy could you get to actually go up and complain to a cop that you have been sold bad crack. This actually happened. This lady goes upto a cop and takes out a piece of crack and puts it in front of the cop foer him to inspect it. She says that some guy sold her crack mixed with wax and cocaine instead of just the real thing.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-39722046054617578702006-12-18T14:40:00.000+05:302006-12-18T14:56:27.122+05:30Here's some strange news that I have heard recently.<br />This year's Heisman Trophy was won by OSU quarterback Troy Smith. No thats not the strange news. The strange news is that he was not allowed to carry the trophy on the plane due to security reasons. That to me was strange. I mean being cautious is good, but to suspect that the trophy that has been awarded for the last seventy years will be used as a WMD is a bit of a stretch. <br />Guess if the Nobel peace prize winner, Mohammed Yunus was to try to enter the USA with his award of the year, he would be in big trouble. Such are the times.<br />Next strange thing to happen was a shooting. So heres what happened, some young student stole some newly launched PS3. The police goes up to the suspects residence and shoots of the guy. Pretty much as entertaining as a video game.<br />The stranger part is that the Grand Jury investigating the charges against the cop declares him guilty. Next day theres mor surprise, the Grand Jury says there was a mistake and the wrong box was marked by mistake. They actually wanted to acquit the cop but had pronounced him guilty by mistake. <br />How dumb is that.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-74864741066427954802006-12-09T08:32:00.000+05:302006-12-09T09:04:14.167+05:30Theres this strange thing about Bollywood. They take really good plots and then about go about perfectly screwing things from then onwards. The result is a yuck movie.<br />A case in point is Fanaa. If you look at the bare skeleton, it will be obviously strikingly ingenuous.<br />A blind girl, while on a tour to the capital, falls for a guide. Theres a bomb blast in which the guide supposedy gets killed. In actuality the guide is not killed at all but was the one who caused the bomb blast and then vanishes off into the network unknown faces.<br />How badly can you screw up with something starting off like this.<br />Well, pretty badly, if it is made in Bollywood in general and with some directors it would be appaling.<br />Fanaa happens to be one of the most disappointing movies i have ever watched. What makes it worse is the fact that it could have actually been a really good one.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2WL03Qa9CVU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2WL03Qa9CVU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />If you see the teaser above, you will see how well the story is hidden yet attractive to potential audiences. Yeah there are the crazy dance and song sequences, they are something that you just cant make a hindi film without. But you would be going in to the movie expecting something pretty spectacular. And when you realise the true identity of Aamir Khan just before interval you expect a movie that is not going to be really another messed up job. But thats what it is ultimately.<br />I was so disappointed with this movie.<br /><br />Speaking of hindi movies without songs i think the only one i can remember is Kaun. A truly remarkable movie with only four member cast and shot completely inside a house. One of the really good hindi movies that I have seen.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-5074290418875492352006-12-08T07:46:00.000+05:302006-12-08T08:14:26.895+05:30For those of you wondering how I am coping with the cold, heres an update. This is the forecast of the weather at Chapel Hill for the next five days. And it does not look sunny, literally.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjN-Gb0MII/AAAAAAAAAAM/3z3GR5EmT-s/s1600-h/chapel+hill.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 542px; height: 93px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjN-Gb0MII/AAAAAAAAAAM/3z3GR5EmT-s/s400/chapel+hill.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005977452585169026" border="0" /></a><br />Every time I say its too cold to anyone willing to hear the same familiar complaint from me for the millionth time, all they say is"Its not cold yet, wait for a few more days". Pretty encouraging to a guy who has always seen winters like,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjOymb0MJI/AAAAAAAAAAU/jsh3iTz1zsM/s1600-h/calcutta.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 106px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjOymb0MJI/AAAAAAAAAAU/jsh3iTz1zsM/s400/calcutta.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005978354528301202" border="0" /></a><br />and then was spoilt by some more winter of the same sort last year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjPZWb0MKI/AAAAAAAAAAc/fjqSYVxTDGo/s1600-h/bombay.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 104px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjPZWb0MKI/AAAAAAAAAAc/fjqSYVxTDGo/s400/bombay.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005979020248232098" border="0" /></a><br />It seems that it is only going to get colder, and a smart way to solve the problem as suggested by my friends Krishanu, Sanhita and Saurish is to get together at a place which has weather like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjQP2b0MLI/AAAAAAAAAAk/qShshZuYS_Y/s1600-h/rochester.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 122px;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjQP2b0MLI/AAAAAAAAAAk/qShshZuYS_Y/s400/rochester.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005979956551102642" border="0" /></a><br />Guys haven't you heard that you are supposed to go south for winter, or were you guys always in the southern hemisphere. Last week of the year in Rchester is not a good idea.<br /><br />However the only other place I might go for December is Columbus which has a weather like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjRDWb0MMI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Y7KdT9zXzZY/s1600-h/columbus.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 502px; height: 126px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ODZZcgDlB9c/RXjRDWb0MMI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Y7KdT9zXzZY/s400/columbus.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005980841314365634" border="0" /></a>Waiting for summer.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-9632084474736486432006-12-04T08:45:00.000+05:302006-12-04T09:58:43.656+05:30I usually am pretty happy posting two articles every month, so if there are two posts in a day, there has to be some inspiration. Well, to be inspired by the idiot box should bnot be a good sign. However thats exactly what happened.<br /><br />Firstly there was Family Guy on tv and they were showing the episode where Stewie beats up Brian real bad for money. I just loved the show. Heres it for all you people.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESLNb7RyQ9s"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESLNb7RyQ9s" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />The other one was on CNBC. Yes sometimes I do watch some of that serious stuff as well.<br /><br />What got my attention initially to the show was that on a high profile chat show in the USA there were this two gentlemen who happened to be akumni of my undergraduate and graduate colleges back home. It was a show about how India is the new hub of economic boom. The guest were the current Indian minister of commerce, Kamal Nath who did his B. Com from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata and he was accompanied by the CEO of Infosys, Nandan Nilekani, an alumnus of IIT Bombay.<br /><br />Feels good to know that the institutes that I attended made such movers and shakers.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-14067310005083141142006-12-04T00:47:00.000+05:302006-12-04T00:59:01.652+05:30The wheel has finally turned, after the season of football infamy in which unc lost all but 2 of their games , good thing they beat both the close-by schools though, its time for some winning. I was constantly being told that once the basketball season started things would be real GOOOOOOOOD. And it has been till now, but for the odd loss to Ginzaga, the Tarheels have been GOOOOOOOOD. Besides basketball the other game that makes UNC the real champions are the women's soccer team. They seem to be on their way to their to their 17th national championships. Considering that the NCAA championships started only in 1982, making this the 25th year that is as ood a record in college championships that you will ever see.<br />GO HEELSRudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-61658337707915408732006-12-01T03:48:00.000+05:302006-12-01T05:00:42.462+05:30<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:180%;" >GOODBYE</span><br /></div>Its time to thank all my students for being able to tolerate me for 9 lab sessions (phew...if I was teaching myself for 9 sessions...I would be pissed).<br />Honestly guys you had made the lab sessions really enjoyable, and made my transition to the American way of life a lot simpler. I come from a part of the world were theres always loads of people around and always somebody to talk to, and i sorely missed that in Chapel Hill. So the lab sessions were a really refreshing two hours, when I could interact with so many people at the same time ( I am pretty confident nobody else thought of the labs as refreshing...I wouldnt if I were in your position). So those of you stayed on the lab late was actually doing me a favour ;).<br /><br />Although this might sound really cliched, but I think I learnt a lot more than I taught from the time I spent with you guys in the lab. I will be honest, its true that compared to what we were taught at high school you people start off a rung below. However, what I was really surprised with is the amount of effort that each of you put in to learn new stuff. And honestly I have seen very few of my peers back at home put that amount of effort in. The way each of you went about trying to do the job as best as you could. It might seem like something very natural to you but to me it was pretty surprising.<br /><br />If I was the one in charge I would have given each of you a 100 for each lab just for the effort you put in. Its been great teaching you guys.<br /><br />I wish you all the very best.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-15602143028624660222006-11-23T20:08:00.000+05:302006-11-23T20:55:20.626+05:30Wishing everybody happy THANKSGIVING.<br /><br /><br />Ok, so heres a review of the much awaited, much hyped and much praised latest James Bond flick...Casino Royal. Went out with my sister and bro-in-law last evening and we decided we wanted to watch it too. So with the customary soda and pop corn, we walked into the theatre. It was far from being sold out, guess part of the reason being that most people were at home with family or shopping their brains out.<br />Its not that I am a big Bond fan, but then again whos not fascinated by the flair, style and super sleekness of 007. Most of the Bond movies i have watched have had Pierce brosnan as the secret agent and so I was curious to know how the new Bond, Daniel Craig measured up.<br />This was the first of the Bond stories written. The usual tech stuff that you associate with 007 is missing. However, the storyline itself is pretty good.<br />However their seems to be a bit too much of emotional drama, something that you dont usually expect in a Bond movie.<br />When news initially got out that Daniel Craig was the next Bond-to-be there was a lot of talk that he might not actually fit the bill. After watching the movie, I am in two minds. He looks pretty cool at times, but it seems that the action hero in him tries to overwhelm the Bond air sometimes. It might be that its a flaw in the script, but somehow those usual Bond jokes loaded with their double meanings seemed to be missing. Sure the new Bond is hot and stuff but he seems to be missing the class and polish that is Bond's signature.<br />Maybe he will become the best Bond sometimes later, however right now I guess he needs to get some class.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-42428411610835441002006-11-20T09:29:00.000+05:302006-11-20T10:13:40.894+05:30Guess what? I am tired being of this multi billionaire celebrity. I really need some breathing space of my own. I know what you guys are thinking, he's saying it because he has it all. Trust me guys its not that easy being in the spotlight.<br />Hell, when was the last time I went out with a girl for a movie to the theatre. Everytime I have a date with one of those "Playboy" playmates and want to watch a movie, all I can do is go to my own private auditorium in my obscenely plush bungalow in Malibu. Thats so cruel. I would give an arm to queue up with the rest of you lesser mortals to get a ticket from the box office in the neighborhood rundown theatre. And dinner, when did I last go to a Wendy's or McDonalds to pick up a "dollar meal"...I love those...all I have is what my private fat French chef ( who by the way had earned his <span style="font-style: italic;">cordon bleu</span>)cooks up...and then I have to nibble on the Camembort or Roquefort while I sip on some <span class="mainarttxt">Bordeaux, a 1787 Chateau Lafite (no less). Man isnt that a torture.<br />Its not only these things that are a torture. Every morning when I get ready to work, I have to go through the same difficult choice of choosing what suit I must wear. You know it would not do justice to my innumerable fans if they could actually ever see me without me consulting my "appearance speacialist".<br />Just think of the message I would be sending out the message if they saw me in my formal suits in my Porsche or in my sweat shirt in my Cadillac. I really envy those guys who get to travel in those crowded buses.<br />I am really ready to give up on these, point is how do I find a good substitute for my position. I have actually thought of a grand idea...I will have a nation-wide, no a global, contest called "Who wants to be Celebrity X". We are then going to judge them and put the most obnoxious no good dickhead on this prestigious job.<br /></span>Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-20835605706074494562006-11-19T05:14:00.000+05:302006-11-19T05:27:58.294+05:30I dont know why people find it funny that there are elephants on the roads of India, or that we meet tigers on the road while going to work. I mean, next I will hear people surprised at the idea that all we Indians look forward to in life is nirvana. Hey guys we are born so spiritually advanced that all we need to do is chant "Om" and "Shanti" thrice a day to gain salvation.<br />Also I hope you know that India is an under developed country, so all you see on the roads are bullock-carts and small unfed children forced to beg. Also there are Maharajas dressed in fantastic attires and adorned with diamonds the size of the large rocks. O yeah, I am an expert in all forms of yoga just like the rest of all my country men, and we all play the sarod, sitar and the tabla with the ease of one born with them.<br />And for most of the time all we eat is one or the other form of extremely spicy curry. And our favorite drink is the p*** of the holy cows which we treat better than any human being. I would love to write more but my pet python is trying to gobble up my other pet, the cobra.<br />Need to run.<br />Namaste...Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-1162760461068225882006-11-06T02:19:00.000+05:302006-11-16T11:51:12.974+05:30Its strange how situations change our tastes, a once upon a time "metal and rock" addict has changed into a hindi music buff. Yep thats me. Till around four months ago, my musical world was inhabited by Axle Rose, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi and the like. And right now Smashit.com belts out DCH, RDB and other desi music at all odd hours of the day.<br />In my quest for new sources of hindi film music I have searched the net all over and found out that along with Smashits.com, raaga.com and the online radio at live365 play some pretty awesome music. The advantage of the first two is that its like your own online music collection where you can choose your songs, while live365 is like your good old radio, where the minimal work of choosing your genre of music is left to you. The rest of the work is done by the web.<br />Besides the above mentioned filmy music was recently listening to the hauntings of Indian Ocean and Silk route. Indian Ocean in their soundtrack for Black Friday makes sure the pain and suffering that the movie portrays comes through to hit you right across your face every time you listen to them.<br />Silk Route was a real favorite. It seems that after the intense performance in theor first album, they somehow went into hibernation. It would be good to hear them pouring out some of the old wine from a new bottle.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-1162714698258773302006-11-05T13:36:00.000+05:302006-11-16T11:51:12.913+05:30There was once upon a time that I used to watch four movies in less than 24 hours, that time was nearly 26 hours ago.<br />After the marathon six hour X-Men trilogy session last night went out and watched yet another movie today. It was the much awaited <a href="http://www.boratonline.co.uk/">Borat</a>. The movie was rib-tickling, tummy splitting laugh riot. There were parts which could be termed gross, though overall it was a satire in a sense.<br />Also went about most of Raleigh, Cary and Durham while deciding on where to go for the movie, after a dinner of biryani, sheesh kebabs and chilly paneer. Enjoyed the really lively conversation with loads of jokes that kept me laughing. Was one of those rare days when it felt like I was with friends even though of the seven people, I met five of them for the first time.<br />The weekends been a pretty difficult on the tummy with the huge buffet for the lunch yesterday, the absolutely delicious cookies and the really good biryani tonight. Might try to be on a milder diet for tomorrow.<br />About time that I got back to work and wait for another weekend soon to rejuvenate myself.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-1160353213408246092006-10-09T05:00:00.000+05:302006-11-16T11:51:12.852+05:30Heres promising that from now on I will be more regular with my blog. Its not that i dont have things to write about or am just not in the mood. Honestly its just that I am too freaking lazy most of the time. Regularity is something that just doesnt happen...until its forced...<br /> However, heres just hoping that I will atleast be posting stuff from time to time...<br />Ok so lets start at the begining...<br /> I landed in the USA on the 1st of August after a long and non stop flight from Delhi. And from then on life has been a mix of "yeah I know it" and "o really" expressions. The world today is more or less uniform, with the same products, places and people all around. But that does not mean that there are no surprises left if you get to a new place anymore.<br />I will try to list what are the new things that I have seen/ felt since I came...<br />Firstly, for somebody born and brought up in Calcutta a city "of population of almost 5 million, with an extended metropolitan population of over 14 million, making it the third-largest urban agglomeration and the fourth-largest city in India" moving to a Chapel Hill, a small university town with population of around 50 thousand is quiet a change.<br /> Well, lets try describing Chapel Hill....from what I guess its a town that grew up around the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the oldest public university in the USA. The population is more or less completely made up of people studying, working or somehow connected to UNC. Everything about the town itself has UNC written all over it.<br />restaurants, coffee shops, the novelties all scream out UNC.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2728/3079/1600/test%20091.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2728/3079/320/test%20091.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> The "happening" place is a stretch in front of the University on Franklin Street. Its where you get all the usual hangouts that you would expect students to frequent...book/ cd shops,elty shops which sell you your loyalty to the alma mater and so on. Besides there are the banks and post office for those who need it. But thats all and it would be less than half the length of Park Street overall.<br /> So getting back to the point...what are the new things that I have seen.<br /> Firstly, people are usually really polite, greeting everyone with a nod or a smile or the customary "hey, hows it going". I guess its a trait that is part of the small town relaxed atmosphere. In the cut throat world in Calcutta or Bombay, it seems people are just itchng for a fight. Yeah is true that people in both the cities are usually really helpful when someones in trouble but the daily tension of existence out there rubs on and people are usually not in a mood to spare a smile to a passerby.<br /> Secondly, the public transport system is really great,when it runs. The buses are free and follow a schedule. So yo know when you need to go to the bus stop. However there are only a limited number of buses and the service does not run ( at least not on all routes) late into the night. Also they have limited services on saturdays and none on sundays. So during the weekends for somebody without a car (read me) it becomes pretty difficult to move around.<br /> Well thats about all that I have the enthu to write in right now, will try to add to this in sometime soon.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995964.post-1153016908909561592006-07-16T07:46:00.000+05:302006-11-16T11:51:12.770+05:30Well after a long time and many bytes later I have finally managed to upload some of the latest pics on tripod. Well it is basically three sets of pictures. The first one is of my third year in <a href="http://www.sxccal.edu/start.htm">St. Xavier's College</a>. The pics of those wonderful days are <a href="http://rgcollegedays.tripod.com/">here</a>. The second set were taken during my second year at <a href="http://www.iitb.ac.in/">IIT Bombay</a>. It was my rare puja not in Calcutta. However we had gone on a tour of the various Durga Pujas in Bombay and <a href="http://rgbombaydurgapuja.tripod.com/">here</a>. The final set are taken on the way to Mahabaleshwar and our trek all over the place. They can be found <a href="http://rgtomahabaleshwar.tripod.com/index.html">here</a>.Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522415202543533121noreply@blogger.com1