Archive for December, 2006|Monthly archive page
GoodBye 2006, Welcome 2007!!!!
Leave a CommentFamily, Friends, Sweets, Party time, drinks, music etc. Need I say more?
Its time to say Goodbye to year 2006 and Welcome 2007.
Time to look back at what we have achieved, lost, joy, every moment of life and learn to make things better this year.
Time for celebration, promises, new commitments, new relations(Caution: Do not change ur wife).
Time to start everything in a fresh way, new spirits and good mood.
I take this moment, to wish everyone of you and your families a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2007.
I pray to God to bless you all with what you deserve, and not what you desire coz all you folks Deserve a lot.
Are you still in front of your machine? Come on, Go out, collect friends, part hard buddy.
I will write you next year, this year I am “bit” busy!!!!!
Cheers
Sridhar
Saddam Executed!!!
Leave a CommentAfter 3 years of court procedures, finally Saddam has been executed.
Some look at it as a Black day and for some(Shiyas) its a new year gift in Iraq. It has received global attention with all Nations external affairs ministry putting their final words on the execution.
All I understand and know is that voilence in Iraq will not be completely erased, But what I would pray is that it should not lead to more voilence and destruction.
I dont say America has done right, nor do I deny the fact that Saddam was gulity. At the end of the day, week, month and year it is humanity which has to pay.
Sridhar
A Sad Ending, A Fresh Start!!!!
Leave a CommentI have taken a very tough and painful decision.I am ending up my long association(not contribution) with Indictrans!!!!
Indictrans has been very close to me, both on professional and personal fronts. From the heavyness of being a part to feeling a loner is pretty painful.
No wonder, its my fault.
I wish Indictrans team all the best from core of my heart.
Cheers
Shri
Free Calls on Christmas Day from Jajah
Jajah, officially annouced that the registered users can make “free calls” to other users on 25th Dec 06 on the eve of Christmas.
Guys, this is an awesome offer, specially those in “deep-n-true” love. Keep talking all day, all night!!!!
Before you start dialing number, dont forget to register yourself.
Jajah has brought back the VoIP technology which Skpye has once successfully executed. Does technology really matter to you? All that does really matter is making calls for free.
So Go Jijah, Go Talking.
Cheers
Shridhar
For Adults & Parents to save their Children:
In the digitally shrinking global world, the world is more about Technology, reach and likes. Which is now making children more vulnerable.
Adults and Parents are unaware with the young kids getting exposed to strangers with all kinds of intensions!!!
If you havent tracked the top story of Brandon quitting Microsoft blasting mails to Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer etc in 1999, you can read the story here.
He quitted coz he thought, he was not doing any innovative job staying at Micsrosoft. But was doing a routine cash flow business.
He started his own startup firm IMSafer, which helps parents to protect their children from all kinds of online threats either be financial, sexual or any kind.
The plugin can be used with Yahoo, Aol, MSN now, but the press release says functionality will soon be released for Gmail and Skype.
Please spread this message for all either in form of Mails or Blogs.
Cheers
Shridhar
India 2.0: Online Gaming Zones
Gaming and Game development are the next Big things in India. With ADAE(Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises) entering into this market recently with their gaming portal Zapak.com has boosted this field even more.
Already in race are players like:
These are till now hotties. But, yes I have to add my views on it.
Gaming is recertainly picking up as hot market and ofcourse as next outsourcing product. Lot of companies are having their Offshore Development Centers to develop some world class games. Heard of RedOctane, Jammag???
Most of these online gaming portals are built in flash, so they lack the effects and look-n-feel of a real desktop based games like XBox 360, NFS, Mission IGI etc etc [a very big list], in which you go wild to kill the enemy or score a extra goal.
Since, multiplayer games are also open. This leads to one of its kind of networking as well.
For now, you stay tuned with this Gaming corner for more hot stuff.
B good. B Game!!!
Cheers
Shridhar
A for Apple, S for Steve
I bet, all those who have been using Mac for long or been inspired by how Apple brought revolution, must be knowing Steve Woznaik.
The much awaited autobiography of Steve Woznaik, iWoz has been released on 17th Dec 06. In this book he explains everything about changing Technology, friends, Apple and above all partner Steve Jobs. Woznaik along with Steve Jobs started Apple and the truth that till date remains is Jobs never coded even a single line. It was this ‘Electronic Kid’ woznaik, who had a mastermind of making technology work and had vision for Next Gen devices.
Woznaik was the perfect nerd and a great techie and Jobs was great at Management. Together they made what they call Apple Computers Inc, for rest of us it remains innovation Factory.
Those who are looking out to grab a copy can do it either on eBay or Amazon. For rest like me, wait till it hits the Asian subcontinent stores[may be a pirated version].
Cheers
Shridhar
AJAX Tutorial: Part#2
Hmmm so you are really crazy about AJAX? I love it, when you say “s”!!!
OKay, so in my previuos tutorial I gave a link in which you enter a zip code value and the values of state and city gets populated without reloading the whole page. Did you really do that? oh great, I must tell you, you have almost mastered AJAX.
Now, lets do some simple coding and make it more impressive.
So, lets add some more lines of code to the output function. And lets try to make a fainting result display.
Fainting the colors of either image, textbox, label or background of document have become common now a days.
All you need to add is to use DHTML code. DHTML, dont panic. Its not tough. Its just the same regular routine job of what you have already mastered.
Only difference being, that the elements of the HTMl are created at runtime. Simple ah? okay.
How do we create any element at runtime?
input1 = document.createElement(‘input’); //defining the element.
input1.class=”faint” // assign a class name
input1.type=’text’; // creating a simple textbox
input1.value=’Hit Me Hard!!!’; // assign some value
Now, we have created a element and gave some property values.
Lets add to our document.
window.document.appendChild(‘input1′);
Hurrah!!!! we have just dynamically created and added a textbox.
The other way of doing the same:
<input type=”text” value=”Hit Me Hard”>
OKay, now we go ahead and create a faint function
<script type=”javascript”>
function Faint() {
var input1 = document.getElementByID(‘faint’); // class name that we just gave in runtime.
input1.style.opacity=”0.50px”; // will make things opaque by 50%.
input1.style.background=”yellow”; // put bgcolor as yellow
setTimeout(“reset()”,1000); // call reset function after 1000 milliseconds
}
function reset() {
var input1 = document.getElementByID(‘faint’);
input1.style.background=”lightgray”; // changed the color
input.style.opacity=”"; // reset the visiblity mode 100%
}
</script>
Here, we go!!! when you insert this piece of code inside the result[reponse code], you should the miracle of fainting and changing visiblity mode.
I have a full working copy of the same, those who really want to hack this. Mail me, I promise to send you the code.
In our next tutorial of AJAX, we will see how “Google-suggest” works and How to build our own “version” of the suggest which is called as “Type Ahead Suggest”.
Till then, just b good. and keep hacking!!!
Cheers
Shridhar
If you are reading article, you might also be interested in the PHP and Scriptaculous Book I have authored.
The book gives you insights about effects, drag-n-drop, slideshows, applications, auto-completion, in-place editing and more. Complete code snippets and explanations.
CHECK out and BUY the PHP and Script.aculo.us book {My Book} at Packt official site
http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book
First take on AJAX : Part#1
After 5 long nights struggle, last night I managed to hack a piece of code I was working on. Not that I am that dumb, but the code was pretty messy one!!!
I am covering introduction and basics of AJAX in this article, later we will get into much complex code.
What is AJAX?
Acronym stand for Asynchrounous Javascript and XML. It forms the core of web 2.0. The term web 2.0 was first conied during an O’reily Conference.
The main components of web 2.0 are:
1.AJAX
2.Democracy
3. Not to Maltreat Users
AJAX is “Not” a new language, but its a new technique of how we access our data and information. Have you wondered how Google maps work? or in that case even new Yahoo Mail Beta? Gmail? Flickr? cumon, you really must have !!!!
One thing you must have notcied is the “whole” page doesnt get refreshed, but only a part of it. Thats what is AJAX. Thats what AJAX is meant for.
XMlHttpRequest is the main object and I am sure you are hearing this word for the first time. So I must tell you, yes the name may sound bit’ complex but it is not.
The other languages that you need are Html, CSS, Javascript and XMl. I must tell you, you dont have to be a master or expert in all these. Rather even a lilttle knowledge about these all can even work.
Things I must tell you before we dwell inside:
1. AJAX is not complex and tough
2. It will take some time for you to understand the basics.
3. You will master it, if you follow above two points carefully.
So, I am not going to put my butts,sit and type a tutorial for you. But trust me on that I have worked enough hard to search in all possible sites and discussion forums to get you the best of the breed available tutorials.
So for this part, you have to work on this tutorial which is very short, sweet and simple.
Tools you will need to execute this code:
1. Web server {I prefer Apache}
2. PHP
3.Mysql Database
Go ahead with it.
http://www.webpasties.com/xmlHttpRequest/
Try the code by typing. you will understand, how simple it is. Please have patience to read every line. Every word counts.
I have executed this tutorial as a begineer, so I am suggesting this for you. The code is a working copy and it should work for you.
All the best. Drop me a mail if you execute it successfully. I would gald to help you further.
Cheers
Sridhar
If you are reading article, you might also be interested in the PHP and Scriptaculous Book I have authored.
The book gives you insights about effects, drag-n-drop, slideshows, applications, auto-completion, in-place editing and more. Complete code snippets and explanations.
CHECK out and BUY the PHP and Script.aculo.us book {My Book} at Packt official site
http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book
Still proud to be an Indian?
Are you? Yes, I can see you nooding your head. But read this and tell me, you still proud to be an Indian?
Mr.Bush, people call him terrorist. What was his crime? Osama led group Al-qaida and Sadam Hussain & Co attacked USA. He tried his level best to destroy them ofcourse using military power. I dont think he has done anything wrong. When I say that, I have justification.
Atleast Mr.Bush can produly say he has led an example and created a fear among the devil forces that if they even dare to think of destroying US, they will be pushined, badly.
Now, talking about Indian context. Parliament, India’s most powerful and influential building was attacked by terrorists, 9 brave indian soliders sacrificed their lifes to save the “corrupt-uneducated-illitrate-uncivilized-orthodox” MP’s and MLA’s by gunning down the terrorists.
After 6 months of “serious” investigation, the CBI caught hold of Mohammad Afzal, the master mind behind the attack.
Md.Afzal went to Pakistan in 1999, got training in a millitary base for 15 days. Afterwards stayed in srinagar for 1 month. He brought with him 5 pakistani residents[terrorists in Indian version] after 3 months of hard survey of which place to be attacked some key places where Embassy Park, Parliament and other Govt offices.and then the man named “Gazi Baba” hidden somewhere in Srinagar, ordered them to destroy the parliament.
The above data and information was given by the guilty Md. Afzal. Now, why he is not been executed a death Sentence?
Oh my god, I forgot, we will in a land where for votes people are ready to sell their character, religion and above all their souls.
The politicians are delaying the execution. Why will any terrorist be ever afraid of Indian govt, given that when he is caught, the “investigation” goes on for almost 5 years????
On the other side, the brave soliders who died, their families are begging for justice from the same people who were saved by their children during the attack. Yesterday, the suffering families returned all the “metal pieces” called medals back to Govt saying, its an insult to keep them.
Proud. Huh?
Who is responsible for this?
Just because of “cheap” people like Md.Afzal, the whole Muslim community is executed. I personally have many friends, who are Indians first like anyone else in nation, then Muslims or which ever religion.What is their crime? People like Md.Afzal can never be of any Country, Religion at worst not even for their families.
Now, why dont people and social groups call strike, band or whatever is legal thing to see to it that people like Md.Afzal are executed? And, Nation will start burning when rakhi sawant swings on some item track? Proud ah?
I wish and pray, if ever any terrorist groups plans to attack any political place and kill politicians, I would say “Aameen”
So, now question to you. You still proud to be an Indian?
A great surprise!!!!
I am shocked. And trust me I am shocked to an extent that I dont have words to express my feelings right now.
Just out of curiosity, today I checked out my blog status. I never expected such response.
479 views till now and 73 views today[night is still up and running]!!! It is something that doesnt happen everyday? Does it?
I always wrote whatever I felt was right. And ofcourse the way I thought was right[atleast I think so]
But, now coz many people are reading[I believe], I promise to write stuff which folks can use, learn and ofcourse implement them in daily life.
I am honored to see that people find my stuff useful or atleast enjoy reading. I would really appreciate you,after reading if you can drop a comment, mail or so.
Your feedback will help me write better…….
So pals,be good, keep hanging around…the best from me is still to come.
Thanks again!!!!
Cheers
Shridhar
Community Power: Open Source Web Design
Are you among the ones who like beauty, creativity and simplicity? If you are among the ones I am talking, read further. For the rest,I am planning to write an article on Mallika Sherawat so you have to wait till then.
Coming back to the point, things when free are best. I agree. All great men in past and present will agree 
Open Source Web Design, OSWD is a community portal where people share their creativity, simplicity and beauty in their Web designs.
If you are looking out to hire someone ‘professional’ designer. Please dont do it blindly. First check out all the designs available at OSWD. I am sure you will fall in love with them.
OSWD designs strictly follows the W3C.org rules and regulations. Hence, the designs are best of breed.
The Designers can make use of only HTML, CSS, XHTML. What I really like about this site is the color combinations. One should see the artistic talent that comes out in the form of tables and forms.
Getting inspired by which even I have made two designs, which I am planning to post in some days. Somewhere I cant deny that I am more interested into UI business.
Let it be HTML, CSS or Flash. I am now working on AJAX.
For those who are not aware of it. please dont Panic. I repeat it is AJAX and not AJAY{Some people understand this language}!!!!
Okay, Ajax stands for Asynchronous Javascript and XML. Its not a “new” language but just a new way of accessing data.
I am trying to hack a small piece of code I got while surfing. once I am done, I will write in detail.
Morale of the article:
1. Before starting any design/website check out whts free @ OSWD
2. Make the UI far more simpler. Dont let users “only” use but make them fall in love with your site.
3. Bring AJAX into action asap, as the web is now web 2.0 and soon the world will be world 2.0
CSP Team Outing@Eagleton, Bangalore on 9th Dec 06
Customer Solutions Practice group went for outing @Eagleton, Bangalore on 9th Dec 06.
These are kool pics I have retained…Check them out.
From left: Yogesh , Me and Satish
Our group….missing Vijay Raja…in this pic.
I have many pics to upload but u know me well, a lazy goofy!!! So for now adjust with only few pics.
YOgesh said he will transfer rest pics “soon”. I understood how much time he is going to take. Do u have any idea how much it takes when he says “soon”???
U better figure it out!!!!
Cheers
Shri
An article from Mrs.Sudha Murthy
This particular article is written by Sudha Murthy, wife of ex-Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys. I personally felt the touch of this article, cant even dare to imagine how it feels to Mrs.Murthy. But, such experiences should be shared so that many people like me get inspired.
Go ahead read it.
It was probably the April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and gulmohars were blooming at the IISc campus. I was the only girl in my postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies’ hostel. Other girls were pursuing research in different departments of Science.
I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in computer science. I had been offered scholarships from Universities in the US. I had not thought of taking up a job in India.One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard
job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco (now Tata Motors). It stated that the company required young, bright engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background, etc. At the bottom was a small line: “Lady candidates need not apply.”
I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up against gender discrimination.
Though I was not keen on taking up the job, I saw it as a
challenge. I had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male peers. Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful.After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the topmost person in Telco’s management about the injustice the company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there was a problem: I did not know who headed TelcoI thought it must be one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was the company’s chairman then) I took the card, addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote. “The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who started the basic infrastructure industries in India, such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives They have cared for higher education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I
study there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is discriminating on the basis of gender.”
I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco’s Pune facility at the company’s expense. I was taken aback by the telegram. My hostel mate told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free of cost and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap!
I collected Rs 30 each from everyone who wanted a sari When I look back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good enough to make the trip.
It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city.
To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways.
As directed, I went to Telco’s Pimpri office for the interview. There were six people on the panel and I realised then that this was serious business.
“This is the girl who wrote to JRD,” I heard somebody whisper as soon as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not get the job. The realisation abolished all fear from my mind, so I was rather cool while the interview was being conducted.
Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I told them, rather impolitely, “I hope this is only a technical interview.”
They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed about my attitude. The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them.
Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, “Do you know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work in research laboratories.”
I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited place.
I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their
difficulties, so I answered, “But you must start somewhere,
otherwise no woman will ever be able to work in your factories.”
Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would take up a job in Pune. I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we became good friends and we got married. It was only after joining Telco that I realized who JRD was: the uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay. One day I had to show some reports to Mr Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as SM.
I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House (the Tata headquarters) when, suddenly JRD walked in. That was the first time I saw “appro JRD”. Appro means “our” in Gujarati. This was the affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.
I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM introduced me nicely, “Jeh (that’s what his close associates called him), this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate. She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor.” JRD looked
at me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my interview (or the postcard that preceded it).
Thankfully, he didn’t. Instead, he remarked. “It is nice that girls are getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your name?”
“When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir,” I replied. “Now I am Sudha Murthy.” He smiled and kindly smile and started a discussion with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.
After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had in common. I was in awe of him.
One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard. Looking back, I realise JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a small incident for him, but not so for me.
“Young lady, why are you here?” he asked. “Office time is over.” I said, “Sir, I’m waiting for my husband to come and pick me up.” JRD said, “It is getting dark and there’s no one in the corridor.
I’ll wait with you till your husband comes.”
I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting alongside made me extremely uncomfortable.
I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There wasn’t any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, “Look at this person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee.”
Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out. JRD called and said, “Young lady, tell your husband never to make his wife wait again.” In 1982 I had to resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was
absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him, so I stopped. He saw me and paused.
Gently, he said, “So what are you doing, Mrs Kulkarni?” (That was the way he always addressed me.) “Sir, I am leaving Telco.”
“Where are you going?” he asked. “Pune, Sir. My husband is starting a company called Infosys and I’m shifting to Pune.”
“Oh! And what will you do when you are successful.”
“Sir, I don’t know whether we will be successful.” “Never start with diffidence,” he advised me “Always start with confidence. When you are successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we must reciprocate. I wish you all the best.”
Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.
Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay House, occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, “It was nice hearing about Jeh from you. The sad part is that he’s not alive to see you today.”
I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice. He must have received thousands of letters everyday. He could have thrown mine away, but he didn’t do that. He respected the intentions of that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money , and gave her an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he changed her life and mindset forever.
Close to 50 per cent of the students in today’s engineering
colleges are girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry segments. I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it wholeheartedly.
My love and respect for the House of Tata remains undiminished by the passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he
took of his employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the same vastness and magnificence.
( Sudha Murthy is a widely published writer and chairperson of the Infosys Foundation involved in a number of social development initiatives. Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy is her husband.)
If you are reading article, you might also be interested in the PHP and Scriptaculous Book I have authored.
The book gives you insights about effects, drag-n-drop, slideshows, applications, auto-completion, in-place editing and more. Complete code snippets and explanations.
CHECK out and BUY the PHP and Script.aculo.us book at Packt official site
http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book
ideas for start-ups:
Friend: from where does the ideas come to people who wish to start their own firm?
Me: I dont know
Friend: May be they have ‘gifted natural talent’
Me: And you mean god hasn’t given that 3 golden word feature to us?
Friend: How do I know?
Me: then lets figure it out!!!!
That was a part of conversation I had with one of my friend, who had some sort of feelings that I have to be a Entrepreneur.
Then the conversation ended but my mind still racing on how ideas get generated?
Did Caterina Fake loved photos before she started Flickr? What made Larry and Sergy start Google?
Yes, the obvious answer I concluded was, the ideas are not generated inside but they come from surrondings. We see things and we dont like many out of them. That “dont like things” becomes your idea.
We have to see what is missing in our surroundings? If its already there, what’s gonna be next gen apps?
These are some questions which I feel can help you get a good idea to start.
One the same note, let me add this point too. Some people think to start a company they need a ‘zillion-dollar-worth’ idea. CRAP
No idea can be a Great one!!!! Because you have to see what your users really want and in which way. Using red and yellow colors just coz u like them will leave you no where. you have to keep improving according to user demands.
So morale of this note:
1. Keeping looking your surroundings for new ideas
2. You just have to ask people what they really want? their pain points and then ofcourse solve them.
3. Feedback is the most important aspect. Dont maltreat your users.
Rest ideas keep on floating.
Cheers
Shri
