tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61418122024-03-07T14:36:31.240-08:00Finding my wayRealize soon that its the journey that matters and not the destination...before you get to the final destination!chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-54046939865658262542008-11-11T13:54:00.000-08:002008-11-11T14:09:57.214-08:00In an absorbing interview in 60 minutes, the Obama campaign team gives an idea of how they executed possibly the best campaign in US (and probably world) history.Some factors that differentiated them, (and obviously the keys for success) were:- organizing volunteers at the local level to expand the electorate- revisiting the strategy of demarcating red and blue states- leveraging online tools to chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-51425473003232495252008-11-06T09:08:00.000-08:002008-11-06T09:22:18.067-08:00Barack Hussein Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America!Now the thing to watch for is the cabinet he selects. Besides his excellent VP pick, there are some really interesting people that he has indicated he will approach for the positions. Exciting picks in my opinion include:Secretary of State - Bill RichardsonCommerce - Kathleen SebeliusEnergy - Arnold SchwarzeneggerDefense -chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-55278016891604117172008-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:002008-01-18T13:56:11.068-08:00Resolutions for 2008Not really a big fan of resolutions since I almost never keep them. But I guess I can try once more. These are my resolutions for 2008. 1. Read a book that increases understanding of core computer science fundamentals like algorithms, compilers and programming in general. This year, it will most likely be "Structure and Interpretation of Computer programs". 2. Invest more chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-32926877446786762072007-08-28T10:34:00.000-07:002007-08-28T10:38:38.918-07:00"I am proud to american." "I am proud to be indian". "I am proud to be [insert country/race/family here]"I have heard the above a million times. I think there's definitely a phase in most people's lives where they find out about what country, race or family tree they are from and then out of curiosity, do some more research with the hope that they will know more about who they are. But along the chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-7865239039703112732007-08-24T12:55:00.000-07:002007-08-24T13:00:50.956-07:00The wisdom of George CarlinHere's what the brilliant (arguably the best ever) comedian, George Carlin says about religion:"I want you to know, when it comes to believing in god- I really tried. I really really tried. I tried to believe that there is a god who created each one of us in his own image and likeness, loves us very much and keeps a close eye on things. ""I really tried to believe chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-63575100009959268742007-04-10T08:08:00.000-07:002007-04-10T08:29:43.718-07:00Yes ladies and gentlemen, there's still hope! Yes ladies and gentlemen, there's still hope!Of a charismatic, articulate and inspiring president.Of being proud of your president.Of a renewed america that regains its standing in the world as a leader and trend-setter.Because even though I will always have a soft corner and warm memories of my native country, the fact that this is the country that chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1168961835077595652007-01-16T07:27:00.000-08:002007-01-16T07:37:15.106-08:00Now and then again, I stop what I am doing and thank the immortal spirit of Pancham a.k.a Rahul Dev Burman. If he had not existed, I would have not found my biggest passion in this life - his songs. Here are 10 songs composed by him (of the many) I couldnt live without:1. Suno sitamgar mere (Zabardast)2. Jeevan mein jab aise pal aayenge (Harjaaee)3. Waadon ki shaam aayee (Anand aur anand)4. chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1141410692757279202006-03-03T10:31:00.000-08:002006-03-03T10:31:32.806-08:00V-day is coming!No folks, I am not talking about Valentine's day. I know its come and gone, and even if its not, I would not be too thrilled about that day. I am not very excited about having "specific" days where we acknowledge our loved ones (like fathers day, mothers day, etc.). I think they are all gimmicks, but perhaps that rant is a topic for another post.The thing I am excited about is the movie V for chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1131549537411222382005-11-09T07:18:00.000-08:002005-11-09T07:18:57.470-08:00Start SMART and end up WISE!My friend Anand posted a blog entry which states that each letter of the word "SMART" can be used as a reminder to lead a healthy life. This is definitely a very good start for people who have been completely neglecting their health. But there are certain other things one needs to do to go beyond just being healthy on average to being fit. By fit, I mean have good muscle tone and stamina. To do chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1127322477255747802005-09-21T10:07:00.000-07:002005-09-21T10:07:57.290-07:00Spirituality and the existence of god"I have often been asked if I believe that God exists. At this point, I am comfortable just saying I dont know." - meWhy do have have to take a stand on the existence of God? Why cant we just say "I dont know"? It however does not mean that I am not spiritually inclined. On the contrary, I am enamored by spirituality and have a great desire to explore it. But I have a belief that religion is not chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1122997019616978042005-08-02T08:36:00.000-07:002005-08-04T08:02:28.653-07:00OSCON - a true programmer's paradiseIts finally here. Right as I am at my work place, exercising my neurons over a programming task, the OReilly Open Source Convention 2005 is going on. Its one conference that I would have killed to be in, if I did not have other vacations already planned at other times of the year. This is not some Java conference or a Microsoft conference where a lot of people are usually in the mindset of chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1122497806989724592005-07-27T13:56:00.000-07:002005-07-27T13:56:47.023-07:00Not a bad thing to remember"If you are in good health, not in a lot of debt, and have at least one passion, there is no real reason you should be depressed"Remember this when you think you are depressed.chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1121707502972266732005-07-18T10:25:00.000-07:002005-07-18T10:25:03.013-07:00School math, brain power, age and everythingThe sum of the consecutive numbers starting from 1 to any number N is N*(N+1)/2. I was reading the proof of this in some blog or article. It went like this:1 + 2 + 3 + .... NRearranging so that the higher numbers are alongside the lower numbers, we get1 + N + 2 + N-1 + 3 + N-2 + ... Now since the number of terms will differ if N is either odd or even, we consider each case separately.If N is chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1121362358866866782005-07-14T10:32:00.000-07:002005-07-14T10:32:38.913-07:00Mind-boggling concept of special relativity!Uncle Bob, one of my favorite software authors, is also a science enthusiast. He writes about how special relativity says that one is always traveling at a velocity of the speed of light (C). This is startling at first. If one is sitting at one place, is he traveling at the velocity of light? The idea is to consider space and time as different dimensions. So one's velocity in the universe is chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1120744652216813532005-07-07T06:57:00.000-07:002005-07-07T06:57:32.250-07:00On that note...Was listening to a song this morning that I thought would share with the world. Its amazing how sometimes when you are a little down in the dumps, the appropriate message reaches you bang on target in some way or the other. The one particular stanza in between in the song that seemed sweet goes like this:Tujhe pyaar bhi mile path mein to samajhna yahi,Ye hai raaste ki chhaon, saathi teri manzil chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1119448005304700942005-06-22T06:46:00.000-07:002005-06-22T06:46:45.340-07:00SHSFIf you havent done so already, I urge you to read Steve Jobs' Commencement address at Stanford. Its one of those things that strikes a chord with you. Heres one of the many parts of it that really influenced me..."for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1119039546341329602005-06-17T13:19:00.000-07:002005-06-17T13:19:06.380-07:00Race resultsI managed to complete the 3.5 miler in 37 minutes. I was somewhat depressed because in the 3.5 mile practice sessions at the treadmill I was doing 33. On the other hand, I feel that taken by itself, 37 minutes is not bad for someone not having run a race in 4 years.Things that I took away from this race:- Running on a treadmill gives you a drastically different idea of how the race is going to bechandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1116535085019860152005-05-19T13:38:00.000-07:002005-05-20T10:19:05.546-07:00Bring that funky track back!I signed up for the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge 3.5 mile run. This is my first race after 4 years, the last being a 3 mile race that I did in Buffalo in 2001. After that, I guess I just wallowed in my success for quite a while! Its gonna be hard to have (even a little) restriction on what I eat, constantly keep up my strength training workouts (especially for the legs) and doing regular chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1115321807918588302005-05-05T12:36:00.000-07:002005-05-05T12:36:47.953-07:00Ahh New York!I am not a big fan of ice cream. In my childhood days, my parents or elders could never bribe me with ice cream, like they used to do with my brothers and cousins. They were obviously surprised and tagged it as another one of those idiosyncrasies of mine (and were also surprised at how long that list was getting!). Well, anyway, I am still pretty much the same. I say "pretty much" and not "very chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1113859947417960062005-04-18T14:32:00.000-07:002005-04-18T14:32:27.416-07:00Bloglearning!A couple of weeks back, a very cool gentleman named Al Abut posted in his blog that he was going to learn the computer scripting language Ruby. Ruby is of course becoming popular at a blazing speed in the software community and so another announcement to learn it was nothing new. But what was cool about this was the way he planned to do it. He said that he would be doing a chapter a day and chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1109786249404146902005-03-02T09:57:00.000-08:002005-03-02T09:57:29.406-08:00Why did I do that?I was wondering today - whats the motivator for my doing things? If someone asked me to do something would I do it? What would be the rules that the request would have to pass for me to actually make it an action? I think I have only two criteria:( If it is something I believe to be right, which means it is in accordance with my principles or values ) &chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1108140975463246922005-02-11T08:56:00.000-08:002005-02-11T08:57:57.766-08:00Just testing posting from wbloggar. This would be extremely helpful to my blogging!chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1104257299251489222004-12-28T09:40:00.000-08:002004-12-28T10:08:19.250-08:00Would you like some quotes with that?
I have always enjoyed famous quotations. I think the reason a quotation seems nice to one is that it re-inforces something the person believes in. Some of my favorite quotations are - "Its the journey that matters and not the destination" and "Love like you have never been hurt, work like you dont need the money, and dance like nobody's watching!".
This is chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1103668166858789642004-12-21T14:02:00.000-08:002004-12-21T14:29:26.856-08:00Its all about the attitude!
I have always been interested in learning different computer languages although I havent been able to sit down and work with one long enough....call it laziness or what you will. But then I started to think - is it really important to know many languages? What would be a fairly reasonable evaluation of a "good" programmer? If I were looking for work, would I hire me??chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141812.post-1102531253301053382004-12-08T10:23:00.000-08:002004-12-08T10:40:53.303-08:00Just found this gem of an article by Steve McConnell on his site. McConell in a nutshell says that there are different ways to read a technical article. The actual source for the article is a book called "How to read a book" by Mortimer J.Adler, which he summarizes and puts forth some important points. Basically there are 4 types of reading:
Elementary - where one learns to recognize individual chandrakanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14510468393909662305noreply@blogger.com0