Chronic Downloader

Check out this article at downloadsquad. Despite the length of the article, I associate with almost every line of it. Yes, I am a chronic downloader. I also have better names for the same thing - "Freeware Tools Guru" for one ;-)

Back to the unblocked state

So this hasn't been as bad as earlier. Around 2.5-3 years ago, Indian govt. had asked the ISPs to block a certain yahoo group, and the ISPs ended up blocking the whole yahoo groups website itself (deja vu anyone). That block lasted for more than a month. Thankfully this time around, its been only a few days.
While most people do not even remember the above mentioned event, it was good to see that this time around, people used legal ways (one guy asked for clarification under RTI act, another one filed a PIL) to counter this irresponsible step.
Also check out this satirical post by greatbong.

At the same time, another point that one of my friends raises is the indirect effects of terrorism. How many times has it happened that you go to a mall/theatre and get annoyed by the extra security checks. Or talking a walk late at night and constables start questioning you about your intentions. Or this particular case, when thousands of blogs got blocked in India. Several of those blogs would have been revenue sources for their owners. Lots of those blogs had technical articles that help me in my work. This shows how blasts in mumbai can effect work of a software engineer in delhi or revenues of an american guy in California.
I am yet to see terrorism providing any tangible benefits to anyone.

This blog is blocked !!

So here's the story ... Yesterday, I completed 1 year in my current company. I thought about writing a post, but somehow this blog wouldn't open. Then I tried opening gullu's blog but that wouldn't open either. Neither would Anurag's.

Looked like blogger has been down for maintenance. I checked out Blogger Status, but that doesn't show any planned outages/network down for maintenance. Day ends, I come back home, try opening my blog again but it still doesn't open. How big can be an outage?

Today I get to read about this on newspaper (It rarely happens that I get to know technical news via newspapers). But what!!! blogspot is banned in India. What the !@#$%^&. How could this be true???

So India is now in the proud league of Pakistan and Iran. Check out Pkblogs It asks on top

Is your blog blocked in India, Pakistan, Iran or China?

Yes it is. Well, is there a lawyer out there who can tell me how to sue the govt. for its irresponsible actions?

For the time-being, access this blog via this link(I know it's a catch 22 situation, but there is nothing much I can do). I would soon write a complete post on how to circumvent all such situations.

Life moves on

sahi aur galat ka faisla karna to bahut aasan hai, lekin do sahi rasto main behtar chunna, aur do galat rasto main munasib chunna, yahi zindagi ka faisla karte hai.
While I really wouldn't give Fanaa the top rating, philosophical punchlines like these do sometimes get relevance in one's life.

Life never ceases to amaze me, sometimes it crawls at a snail pace and at other times, it become too fast for comfort. The same me can be a hero to some, a villain to few and a ordinary guy for most, depending upon my decisions on various big and small events that life throws at me.

Lot many events happened in past some time, lots of movies, a trip to nainital, squash and football games and some noticeable loss in weight. My blogging frequency doesn't do justice to any of them, but there is one lesson I have learned.

Life Moves On. Take out the +ves and make them your happy memories. Take out the -ves, analyze them and make them your experience. Move On.

Technical Advice

I have always been one of those computer guys out here to help friends with their daily computer problems. I have seen over time that most of these problems are repetitive in nature. And solving the same problem for 20 people giving them the same instruction set isn't my idea of fun. I could make my like easier by writing the instruction set somewhere so that everyone can access it and get help from it.

Hence I have started my own Technical Advice column where I would be writing my advice for various issues people face with regards to computers. I would also be suggesting techniques to improve productivity/make life easier using software.

I can be contacted at goel.shakti+tech@gmail.com for all such queries.

Reservation in Indian Cricket Team

I was reading a news where Makaya Ntini destroyed New Zealand and took South Africa to victory a few days ago. The same Ntini whose first inclusion in the team had raised voices that his selection was based on his being black rather than his performance.
He proved all those people wrong and the SA cricket board right. But what if Indian govt. makes a law of 50% reservation based on caste in the Cricket Team.

Now this isn't a stupid thought without reason. With the govt planning 50% reservation in all engineering and management schools including IITs and IIMs and also in private sector jobs, why should cricket be spared. After all it is also a job that till now only few people get after going through an extremely competitive route. And it also brings pride to the country, just like IITs and IIMs have brought so far. Only so far that is.

I remember during my JEE preparation days how University of Roorkee, despite being the oldest and one of the best universities in India was losing all its reputation as compared to IITs due to almost 50% reservation in its entry system. And I was so pleased when it became IIT Roorkee as that immediately brought it at par with the IITs with similar performance based entry system.

And for all those who think that the govt is helping the poor and oppressed class by increasing reservation quota, let me tell you that being studied, and made friends with a lot many of these guys in college, I know how many actually got helped or even needed this help at the first place. I can count them on fingers.

Building up reputation takes decades, ruining it is just a matter of a couple of years. Sone ki murgi ka pet nahi katna chahiye.

The Ganga Rafting Trip

Last weekend we went for a company trip to Rishikesh for rafting on Ganga river. And what a trip it was. I have been to lots of places in the country, but most of those were sight seeing/small trekking trips. This one, on the contrary, was a truely adventure trip and I enjoyed it to the fullest. The scariest part of the trip was diving from a 25 ft cliff into water. I did it twice, but believe me, I was scared as hell. I have dropped all my bungee jumping plans for now.

If there is a trip I would recommend to everyone atleast once in a lifetime, this is it.

Playing with the sand.

Your majestic

A game of beach volleyball

Raring to go

Trying to be cool

After Rappelling moments

Kayaking in peaceful times.