Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Posted by
Arun
comments (2)
So recently, the linux craze has been catching many, including me. Even right now, I'm on Ubuntu 9.04. The main reason being the long booting time for windows – not to mention the time for the start-up services to load. Yet I feel, maybe since I'm used to working on windows for around 10 years, something is missing in linux – I guess I can even say some things “are “ missing.
Nautilus
The file explorer seems too primitive to me. We are so much used to the comfort of windows explorer. And I couldn't fins a proper replacement. XFE was sort of okay (it resembled windows explorer somewhat), but it didn't have NTFS support.
Video Codecs
If I try playing RMVB files with low bitrate on VLC, it keep stopping every now and then. So I use totem for that one. Makes me miss Media Player Classic, which played every video file perfectly.
Task Manager
Ubuntu doesn't have a task manager, though I suppose Mandriva does. And if an application stops functioning (many believe it never happens in linux, but trust me - linux ain't so fool proof either), there are times I just move it to another workspace, coz there's nothing left to do. Of course, if you have a “Force Quit” button on hand, it's useful.
Download Manager
Even after SK Downloader, Wget, Gwget, Tucan, etc etc, I feel the lack of a proper non java-based download manager, which supports multi-threaded downloads – something like IDM in short. If anyone knows of any such application, do lemme know.
Unclean Shutdown
Every time you don't shutdown the system properly, you'll have to go through the pain of disk-checking and sometimes, running the fsck command to correct the inode errors. I wish it would auto-correct all the time and stop asking my permission for correcting each and every error.
Yet, I'll stick to Ubuntu coz in spite of this this, it's way faster than windows. And it has it's own advantages. I've high hopes pinned on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala – maybe it can make me forget windows once and for all.
Nautilus
The file explorer seems too primitive to me. We are so much used to the comfort of windows explorer. And I couldn't fins a proper replacement. XFE was sort of okay (it resembled windows explorer somewhat), but it didn't have NTFS support.
Video Codecs
If I try playing RMVB files with low bitrate on VLC, it keep stopping every now and then. So I use totem for that one. Makes me miss Media Player Classic, which played every video file perfectly.
Task Manager
Ubuntu doesn't have a task manager, though I suppose Mandriva does. And if an application stops functioning (many believe it never happens in linux, but trust me - linux ain't so fool proof either), there are times I just move it to another workspace, coz there's nothing left to do. Of course, if you have a “Force Quit” button on hand, it's useful.
Download Manager
Even after SK Downloader, Wget, Gwget, Tucan, etc etc, I feel the lack of a proper non java-based download manager, which supports multi-threaded downloads – something like IDM in short. If anyone knows of any such application, do lemme know.
Unclean Shutdown
Every time you don't shutdown the system properly, you'll have to go through the pain of disk-checking and sometimes, running the fsck command to correct the inode errors. I wish it would auto-correct all the time and stop asking my permission for correcting each and every error.
Yet, I'll stick to Ubuntu coz in spite of this this, it's way faster than windows. And it has it's own advantages. I've high hopes pinned on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala – maybe it can make me forget windows once and for all.
Posted by
Arun
comments (0)
So following the tradition of NITW, we have a mass bunk this year as well for Durga Puja or/and Dushera or/and Vijaydashmi or/and Saraswati Puja – the list goes on and on.
However, it's only Saraswati Puja that takes the centerstage in my home – which incidentally falls on navami, the day before Vijaydashmi. Everyone turns into a busybody early in the day – and it's really hectic cleaning each and every article. However, it's just another occasion for the whole family to be together, doing household chores and stuff – quite fun at times.
Now Goddess Saraswati possesses the powers of speech, wisdom and learning. And we students are the ones who should be worshipping her. Yet we bunk college (where we are supposed to study, though most of us don't) to come home to worship Goddess Saraswati to bestow her blessings upon us. Moreover, this year, we are bunking a midlab exam as well – all coz of one stubborn teacher. Maybe its right on our part, maybe its wrong – no one really bothered to think about all that. We had walked 99 steps forward – and forcing 1 step forward is easier than going 99 steps backward.
And that lab exam is scheduled to start in another 30 min or so – bless us and knock some sense into that teacher. At least make him realise he can't conduct an exam with zero attendance.
Posted by
Arun
comments (2)
They say vengeance is in a snake’s blood, but does this theory extend to other poisonous creatures as well - scorpions for instance???
The Midnight Wanderer!!!
Well, there was a function in our house and I had to go pick up my relatives from the bus stop. So I was practically roaming around on my bike almost the whole time from 8 pm to midnight. It was during these journeys that I – or rather my cousin – found out this pretty strange phenomenon.
So there’s this house - right under the street lamp. So the area in front of it is always well-lit even during the night. It was here that we found a scorpion moving back and forth for about an hour continuously. Now scorpions are among those one can call nocturnal – they don’t usually move in enlightened places. Yet this scorpion kept moving right under the light, rather than in the shadows. Quite surprising right – and the two of us had pretty different hypotheses to put forward (though none of them have any scientific basis – might even be termed foolhardy)….
“It’s Guarding the House!!!”
This was what my cousin suggested – that the scorpion is acting guardian angel to the house. Quite expected from an optimistic person. But a watch-scorpion (guess that’s what you can call it – a man guarding a house is a watchman; a dog guarding a house is a guard dog)??? The idea doesn’t seem right even in my head – so how can it be really happening???
Though bizarre events aren’t really rare in this world, but I know that the dwellers don’t have any such “pet”. So this idea seemed pretty far-fetched. Then she asked me what I felt. And I have never believed that this world is full of goody-goody non-violent creatures. My usual responses to such situations – “An eye for an eye”….
“It Seeks Revenge!!!”
Well, this one had to be better than the last one. “Tit for tat” has been around for ages. So if someone does some harm to you, it’s not out of this world to retaliate. So maybe the scorpion wants to get back at someone for harming it and it’s awaiting the right opportunity!!! Vengeance can drive many mad to do crazy things…..
Right now, even this seems highly improbable to me – maybe the scorpion was just too foolish to do that!!!
It’s just another out-of-the-ordinary event. Maybe it would make a decent enough news report…..but who knows???
The Midnight Wanderer!!!
Well, there was a function in our house and I had to go pick up my relatives from the bus stop. So I was practically roaming around on my bike almost the whole time from 8 pm to midnight. It was during these journeys that I – or rather my cousin – found out this pretty strange phenomenon.
So there’s this house - right under the street lamp. So the area in front of it is always well-lit even during the night. It was here that we found a scorpion moving back and forth for about an hour continuously. Now scorpions are among those one can call nocturnal – they don’t usually move in enlightened places. Yet this scorpion kept moving right under the light, rather than in the shadows. Quite surprising right – and the two of us had pretty different hypotheses to put forward (though none of them have any scientific basis – might even be termed foolhardy)….
“It’s Guarding the House!!!”
This was what my cousin suggested – that the scorpion is acting guardian angel to the house. Quite expected from an optimistic person. But a watch-scorpion (guess that’s what you can call it – a man guarding a house is a watchman; a dog guarding a house is a guard dog)??? The idea doesn’t seem right even in my head – so how can it be really happening???
Though bizarre events aren’t really rare in this world, but I know that the dwellers don’t have any such “pet”. So this idea seemed pretty far-fetched. Then she asked me what I felt. And I have never believed that this world is full of goody-goody non-violent creatures. My usual responses to such situations – “An eye for an eye”….
“It Seeks Revenge!!!”
Well, this one had to be better than the last one. “Tit for tat” has been around for ages. So if someone does some harm to you, it’s not out of this world to retaliate. So maybe the scorpion wants to get back at someone for harming it and it’s awaiting the right opportunity!!! Vengeance can drive many mad to do crazy things…..
Right now, even this seems highly improbable to me – maybe the scorpion was just too foolish to do that!!!
It’s just another out-of-the-ordinary event. Maybe it would make a decent enough news report…..but who knows???
Posted by
Arun
comments (0)
I’ve studied over quite a few places – making new friends on the way. And I believe I’ve this knack of getting good Bengali friends everywhere…
And they do share quite a few similarities. All of them have been in the same league as me in academics, but always ended up getting a shade lower than me. All of them have handwritings, well better than the untidy scrawl prominent among the masses.
(I had to choose four and these four were the ones who came into my mind while writing this post. Others might forgive me if I forgot to mention them.)
KV 2(AF) Jodhpur – Shankhmoy!!!
He was my first Bengali friend – at least as far I remember. We were classmates only for a year – when we were in IV class. Then this father was transferred to Jamnagar, while I stayed there for another 3 years. So there we were, kids aged 8-9, playing pithoo, climbing trees and doing everything possible to exert our mightiness in the little world we knew. Well, even after he left we kept exchanging letters for a few months. But eventually even that link broke and we lost touch with each other for years. But last year, all thanks to orkut, we got in touch again (Hail internet!). Now he’s in Auckland and I, here. But I’m sure we will meet someday – for sure. Destiny didn’t bring us back in touch for nothing….
KV 1(AF) Bangalore – Mainak!!!
We joined the school in the same year – 2002, separated by a few months. And we rose in a jiffy to the top two academic positions in the class. He was perhaps the best rival I ever had. We were always at each other’s backs, trying to outwit the other. And most of the times, I pipped him with one or two marks. I still can’t forget the Green Olympiad 2004-05 when I got 73 and he, 72. And this kept continuing as long as we studied together, culminating in the board exams. Three long years – which I miss the most in my life!
Then he moved to Delhi and I stayed. But we never lost touch even once during this period. Now he’s in IITKgp and I’m in NITW – Choosing different ways to the top! But I believe I’ll meet him soon – within 3 weeks of this post unless I’m mistaken!
KV 1(AF) Bangalore – Shreyasi!!!
Actually, it was the three of us entering KV 1 in the same year – Shreyasi, Mainak and I. Shreyasi left right after VIII, and frankly speaking, I don’t remember ever talking to her in class. And I didn’t even remember who Shreyasi was when Mainak told me, “Shreyasi scrapped me” last year. My memory failed me I believe. But ever since, we’ve been in touch and I’ve had the good luck of meeting her a couple of times last year. We are two of a kind I believe – teasing, taunting. She’s always telling me,”Sudhar jao” and I always say,”What to do? Difficult to change now.” I can’t keep quoting every quote else it’ll take hours. So I’ll finish this one here. And I believe this is the second year of our friendship. Hope it keeps going!
NITW – Maji!!!
Arnab Maji, known as Maji coz there are just so many Arnab’s over there in NITW. So I never knew this guy in first year – guess I must’ve seen him a couple of times and that was it. I was in ‘A’ section while he was in ‘D’. But in second year, we became classmates as we entered the Dept. of Computer Science. And with both our names beginning with the letter ‘A’, we ended up in the same lab batch as well. So it all began – in the lab. And the bonds have just grown stronger as the year has passed. We’ve studied together, dined together and most importantly, played FIFA together (or rather, against each other!). So one year up, two more to go - looking forward to chit-chatting in next year’s lab!
I accept this post might be a little on the boring side, but I scribble whatever comes into my mind. And this too popped up – after all, it’s friends who make most of the memories!!!
And they do share quite a few similarities. All of them have been in the same league as me in academics, but always ended up getting a shade lower than me. All of them have handwritings, well better than the untidy scrawl prominent among the masses.
(I had to choose four and these four were the ones who came into my mind while writing this post. Others might forgive me if I forgot to mention them.)
KV 2(AF) Jodhpur – Shankhmoy!!!
He was my first Bengali friend – at least as far I remember. We were classmates only for a year – when we were in IV class. Then this father was transferred to Jamnagar, while I stayed there for another 3 years. So there we were, kids aged 8-9, playing pithoo, climbing trees and doing everything possible to exert our mightiness in the little world we knew. Well, even after he left we kept exchanging letters for a few months. But eventually even that link broke and we lost touch with each other for years. But last year, all thanks to orkut, we got in touch again (Hail internet!). Now he’s in Auckland and I, here. But I’m sure we will meet someday – for sure. Destiny didn’t bring us back in touch for nothing….
KV 1(AF) Bangalore – Mainak!!!
We joined the school in the same year – 2002, separated by a few months. And we rose in a jiffy to the top two academic positions in the class. He was perhaps the best rival I ever had. We were always at each other’s backs, trying to outwit the other. And most of the times, I pipped him with one or two marks. I still can’t forget the Green Olympiad 2004-05 when I got 73 and he, 72. And this kept continuing as long as we studied together, culminating in the board exams. Three long years – which I miss the most in my life!
Then he moved to Delhi and I stayed. But we never lost touch even once during this period. Now he’s in IITKgp and I’m in NITW – Choosing different ways to the top! But I believe I’ll meet him soon – within 3 weeks of this post unless I’m mistaken!
KV 1(AF) Bangalore – Shreyasi!!!
Actually, it was the three of us entering KV 1 in the same year – Shreyasi, Mainak and I. Shreyasi left right after VIII, and frankly speaking, I don’t remember ever talking to her in class. And I didn’t even remember who Shreyasi was when Mainak told me, “Shreyasi scrapped me” last year. My memory failed me I believe. But ever since, we’ve been in touch and I’ve had the good luck of meeting her a couple of times last year. We are two of a kind I believe – teasing, taunting. She’s always telling me,”Sudhar jao” and I always say,”What to do? Difficult to change now.” I can’t keep quoting every quote else it’ll take hours. So I’ll finish this one here. And I believe this is the second year of our friendship. Hope it keeps going!
NITW – Maji!!!
Arnab Maji, known as Maji coz there are just so many Arnab’s over there in NITW. So I never knew this guy in first year – guess I must’ve seen him a couple of times and that was it. I was in ‘A’ section while he was in ‘D’. But in second year, we became classmates as we entered the Dept. of Computer Science. And with both our names beginning with the letter ‘A’, we ended up in the same lab batch as well. So it all began – in the lab. And the bonds have just grown stronger as the year has passed. We’ve studied together, dined together and most importantly, played FIFA together (or rather, against each other!). So one year up, two more to go - looking forward to chit-chatting in next year’s lab!
I accept this post might be a little on the boring side, but I scribble whatever comes into my mind. And this too popped up – after all, it’s friends who make most of the memories!!!
Posted by
Arun
comments (0)
Snakes have been among the creatures most fear. But I, for one, ain’t really afraid of them. Only one reason – I believe that something without limbs can’t hurt me. Maybe it’s a misconception, but I’m happy this way!
The Place Where I Live!
Well, our township is still in its developing stages – houses have not yet being built on all the sites. And the empty ones remain covered by bushes and shrubs. So it’s natural to say that they are full of snakes, lizards and the sort. And behind our current residence - no nearby houses. Guess the nearest one is around 200 metres away. So that’s not something you can call “near”. As a result, you only see trees and bushes if you look out. Among these, a mango plant (around 5 ft tall I guess) leaned towards the compound wall, touching it. Quite harmless as such. But then – a baby snake decided to use it as a ramp to climb over the compound wall!
“Is It Really a Snake???”
Well, I didn’t realize it was a baby snake when I first saw it. It was quite small. I thought it must be a somewhat long earthworm (after all, I’ve read in a ‘Believe It or Not’ column in a newspaper that the longest earthworm was 22 feet long – I wonder if it’s true!?). But my mom, she suspected it to be a snake the moment she set her eyes on it. She had heard stories about snakes barging into people’s houses nearby. So she felt as though her worst fears had come true.
But then, it started wriggling the way snakes do and I realize – It’s true!!!
“Kill It!” “Why?”
That was mom’s first reaction. And she runs off to get a stick or a broom to beat the life out of the tiny fellow. I felt otherwise – why kill the poor guy when he hasn’t done anything to us? So mom comes back fully prepared to attack, but I stopped her. Somehow I managed to convince her to throw her outside the compound. So we decide to grab it (mind, grabbing snakes isn’t easy at all). But then, something struck me – a thought many might call foolhardiness!!!
“I Wanna Take a Photo!”
That was the thing that came into my mind. After all, it’s not every day that you find a snake in your house. I’ve never wished to a wildlife photographer or anything, but the prospect was just too inviting. It was a once in a blue moon opportunity. I told mom I wanted to take a picture of the baby snake. As expected, she asked, “You gone mad???” She couldn’t imagine that a normal person is behaving this way (she should realize I ‘m not what you can call normal). Somehow, after coaxing her and telling her it’ll take only a few seconds, I finally manage to get her permission. So I tell her to monitor the movements of the baby snake and now it was my turn to rush around! I grab my camera and manage to take a snap! Yippeeee!!!
Then I get another weird idea! I should have a photo with the snake (like two friends side-by-side maybe!). But mom, already furious, won’t listen to me anymore. And she manages to take the struggling snake on a piece of cardboard with the help of a broom and haul it over the wall.
So shattered my dreams of having a picture taken with a snake at home. Well, another snake might find its way to our house someday and I’ll make sure I won’t miss another opportunity!!! (But I think I’d prefer it’d be non-poisonous – don’t wanna meet a cobra!)
The Place Where I Live!
Well, our township is still in its developing stages – houses have not yet being built on all the sites. And the empty ones remain covered by bushes and shrubs. So it’s natural to say that they are full of snakes, lizards and the sort. And behind our current residence - no nearby houses. Guess the nearest one is around 200 metres away. So that’s not something you can call “near”. As a result, you only see trees and bushes if you look out. Among these, a mango plant (around 5 ft tall I guess) leaned towards the compound wall, touching it. Quite harmless as such. But then – a baby snake decided to use it as a ramp to climb over the compound wall!
“Is It Really a Snake???”
Well, I didn’t realize it was a baby snake when I first saw it. It was quite small. I thought it must be a somewhat long earthworm (after all, I’ve read in a ‘Believe It or Not’ column in a newspaper that the longest earthworm was 22 feet long – I wonder if it’s true!?). But my mom, she suspected it to be a snake the moment she set her eyes on it. She had heard stories about snakes barging into people’s houses nearby. So she felt as though her worst fears had come true.
But then, it started wriggling the way snakes do and I realize – It’s true!!!
“Kill It!” “Why?”
That was mom’s first reaction. And she runs off to get a stick or a broom to beat the life out of the tiny fellow. I felt otherwise – why kill the poor guy when he hasn’t done anything to us? So mom comes back fully prepared to attack, but I stopped her. Somehow I managed to convince her to throw her outside the compound. So we decide to grab it (mind, grabbing snakes isn’t easy at all). But then, something struck me – a thought many might call foolhardiness!!!
“I Wanna Take a Photo!”
That was the thing that came into my mind. After all, it’s not every day that you find a snake in your house. I’ve never wished to a wildlife photographer or anything, but the prospect was just too inviting. It was a once in a blue moon opportunity. I told mom I wanted to take a picture of the baby snake. As expected, she asked, “You gone mad???” She couldn’t imagine that a normal person is behaving this way (she should realize I ‘m not what you can call normal). Somehow, after coaxing her and telling her it’ll take only a few seconds, I finally manage to get her permission. So I tell her to monitor the movements of the baby snake and now it was my turn to rush around! I grab my camera and manage to take a snap! Yippeeee!!!
Then I get another weird idea! I should have a photo with the snake (like two friends side-by-side maybe!). But mom, already furious, won’t listen to me anymore. And she manages to take the struggling snake on a piece of cardboard with the help of a broom and haul it over the wall.
So shattered my dreams of having a picture taken with a snake at home. Well, another snake might find its way to our house someday and I’ll make sure I won’t miss another opportunity!!! (But I think I’d prefer it’d be non-poisonous – don’t wanna meet a cobra!)
Posted by
Arun
comments (5)
This life is for making friends and friends make life more memorable. And I’ve had the good fortune of making friends as if I’ve been born for making friends. Of course, majority of friendships arise from either being together in class or being neighbours. But few originate through the internet – and yet are strong enough to last a lifetime!
“Me!? Online???”
I always felt I wasn’t a guy to be associated with the internet. It was only after I was thrust into becoming member of think.com that I started using the net. Of course, it was only out of curiosity – wanting to know what was it that fascinated everyone! And eventually I too became a sort of an internet freak!
I joined orkut pretty early but never bothered to do anything about it, until I joined college. That’s a different story. So coming back. Google chat was a sort of revelation at that time; chatting wasn’t actually that popular in India then – at least in the world around me! So even I became a once-in-a-while user of it. Of course, I never was addicted to it. So it resulted in making a few friends online, and the perhaps my best “catch” at that time was Varsha.
Varsha vs. Shower – the Never-ending Battle!!!
It’s a question she still asks me, “Which is better – Varsha or Shower?” Of course, I’ve always known her by the name Shower rather than by the name Varsha. So I’m always inclined to answer Shower. But trying to be diplomatic, I answer, “Both of them are good enough”. Still, she won’t rest till I chose one.
Guess that name fascinated me – I myself don’t know why! Maybe coz I loved rainfall – no qualms about getting sick (Mom was there to take care, after all!)
Those Sunday Mornings!
It used to be our weekly practice to meet online on Sunday mornings. Both of us were students – and KV students at that. Studying 6 days a week – Sunday provided the only relief. So it used to be what I call a “showery” start to the weekend (I never considered Saturdays as weekends then, now of course it’s a different story). Then we used to exchange our experiences about the week – cursing the teachers for giving so much homework, sharing the funny things that happened in class, discussing even about exams if they were near (She was in IX and I in XI; so it wasn’t something one can call self-study – rather something like wondering how we will fare). I often felt we were a pair of conspirators, talking in secret!
How I miss those Sundays now!
One of a Kind!!!
She was (and still is) one of her kind to me - too much of emotions packed into her. A cut aside the rest I can say! But change is the spice of life, after all! Guess her presence prevents monotony from creeping into life – a life full of pulling others’ legs and getting your legs pulled in return. So a bit of serious talk, devoid of poor jokes comes like a cool breeze in a desert full of grains of sarcasm!
And she never changes – I don’t know why! I’ve seen people, including me, change as time passes by. But guess she’s stubborn as a mule. And maybe that’s not a bad thing either. Some things are never supposed to change. Maybe she is too much busy with herself that she found no time to change!
One quote befitting her
Some friends forget…
Some move away…
Some remain silent…
Some just change…
But I’m not one of them…
I’m here for just two moments…
Now and…….forever!!!
“Me!? Online???”
I always felt I wasn’t a guy to be associated with the internet. It was only after I was thrust into becoming member of think.com that I started using the net. Of course, it was only out of curiosity – wanting to know what was it that fascinated everyone! And eventually I too became a sort of an internet freak!
I joined orkut pretty early but never bothered to do anything about it, until I joined college. That’s a different story. So coming back. Google chat was a sort of revelation at that time; chatting wasn’t actually that popular in India then – at least in the world around me! So even I became a once-in-a-while user of it. Of course, I never was addicted to it. So it resulted in making a few friends online, and the perhaps my best “catch” at that time was Varsha.
Varsha vs. Shower – the Never-ending Battle!!!
It’s a question she still asks me, “Which is better – Varsha or Shower?” Of course, I’ve always known her by the name Shower rather than by the name Varsha. So I’m always inclined to answer Shower. But trying to be diplomatic, I answer, “Both of them are good enough”. Still, she won’t rest till I chose one.
Guess that name fascinated me – I myself don’t know why! Maybe coz I loved rainfall – no qualms about getting sick (Mom was there to take care, after all!)
Those Sunday Mornings!
It used to be our weekly practice to meet online on Sunday mornings. Both of us were students – and KV students at that. Studying 6 days a week – Sunday provided the only relief. So it used to be what I call a “showery” start to the weekend (I never considered Saturdays as weekends then, now of course it’s a different story). Then we used to exchange our experiences about the week – cursing the teachers for giving so much homework, sharing the funny things that happened in class, discussing even about exams if they were near (She was in IX and I in XI; so it wasn’t something one can call self-study – rather something like wondering how we will fare). I often felt we were a pair of conspirators, talking in secret!
How I miss those Sundays now!
One of a Kind!!!
She was (and still is) one of her kind to me - too much of emotions packed into her. A cut aside the rest I can say! But change is the spice of life, after all! Guess her presence prevents monotony from creeping into life – a life full of pulling others’ legs and getting your legs pulled in return. So a bit of serious talk, devoid of poor jokes comes like a cool breeze in a desert full of grains of sarcasm!
And she never changes – I don’t know why! I’ve seen people, including me, change as time passes by. But guess she’s stubborn as a mule. And maybe that’s not a bad thing either. Some things are never supposed to change. Maybe she is too much busy with herself that she found no time to change!
One quote befitting her
Some friends forget…
Some move away…
Some remain silent…
Some just change…
But I’m not one of them…
I’m here for just two moments…
Now and…….forever!!!
Posted by
Arun
comments (0)
It was a rather innovative idea of Oracle – creating an online platform where students and teachers from different schools in different places could interact and share ideas. I wasn’t very internet-friendly at that time. Rather I was never fascinated by the ‘set-of- boxes’ called computer. Yet I became one of the most active members of think.com!
“Someone from Bio!? That’s Fine, But Why Me???”
I was introduced, or rather forced into joining, think.com during class XI. Every student had an account in it. And it was left to our discretion whether to use it or not. Though many were excited, I wasn’t. I was a biology student and had no interest in computers (This speaks of how much I’ve changed since now I’m in CSE). But our biology teacher, Mrs. Latha was quite an active member of the internet-faction in our school. So she wanted some of her own students to become active members (she couldn’t ask XII students as they were supposedly struggling with their studies). And I, being the topper became the natural choice. So it all started, and we started “thinking”.
But I realized she did the right thing – as think.com changed from a seminar hall to a cafeteria!
What it was Intended For! And what it Became!
Think.com was supposed to be concerned with serious stuff – a step towards revolutionizing the methodology concerned with studies. Teachers giving assignments to be done on the computer. Students uploading it on think.com. Online doubt-clearing. Online tests. Online evaluation. To be frank, all this seemed far-fetched to me. And very few of these actually materialized.
Rather think.com became a place for meeting new people, knowing about them and making new friends. It became a cultural forum, instead of an educational one. I think it resembled a mini-orkut. It still might, but I’ve no means of finding out. The account remains active only till the student remains in school. So I lost mine when I graduated. Think.com might not be a part of my life anymore but it did bring about new friends into my life!
Some Never Forget!!!
I made loads of friends. And I climbed to the top of the ‘Hot Hits’ list of my school thanks to them. But once I passed out of school, most of the threads connecting us snapped. But few didn’t - Aashal, Arundhati, Suman and Varsha to name a few. Now don’t ask me why all of them are girls – its fate!
Gradually it changed from thinking to orkutting. But the passing years have done nothing but strengthen the bonds. Two people – with different backgrounds, knowing nothing about each other, never even seen the face of the other – can end up being great friends, after all! Hope there’s still more to come!
“Was it Such a Good Report!?”
We also ended up doing some sort of educational work too. We were the chosen twos - Nishant and I. We had to create a presentation on Genetically Modified Foods. We were in XII then and the time limit was around a week. So what to do – copy and paste. That was all we did. Copy articles, copy pictures and paste them, adding a bibliography at the end. Nothing great, but we organized it in a way, which gave the illusion as though we had done a diligent job. Our biology teacher was pretty happy with our efforts, and I remember her giving us kangaroo-shaped badges – a memento to keep!
So last year after finishing second year at college, I went to school, as I usually do. Then I met Latha mam there. And she had something to say about that report – about which I had momentarily forgotten, but she ruffled it up. She said she had been to a regional convention about think.com and there the spoke about that report – how well-organised it was and how it can provide the basic layout for a good report. I couldn’t help but smile. The scribbling of two kids seems to have been taken like calligraphy.
If you plant a seed, the fruits will come no matter how long it takes! But be there to relish them!!!
“Someone from Bio!? That’s Fine, But Why Me???”
I was introduced, or rather forced into joining, think.com during class XI. Every student had an account in it. And it was left to our discretion whether to use it or not. Though many were excited, I wasn’t. I was a biology student and had no interest in computers (This speaks of how much I’ve changed since now I’m in CSE). But our biology teacher, Mrs. Latha was quite an active member of the internet-faction in our school. So she wanted some of her own students to become active members (she couldn’t ask XII students as they were supposedly struggling with their studies). And I, being the topper became the natural choice. So it all started, and we started “thinking”.
But I realized she did the right thing – as think.com changed from a seminar hall to a cafeteria!
What it was Intended For! And what it Became!
Think.com was supposed to be concerned with serious stuff – a step towards revolutionizing the methodology concerned with studies. Teachers giving assignments to be done on the computer. Students uploading it on think.com. Online doubt-clearing. Online tests. Online evaluation. To be frank, all this seemed far-fetched to me. And very few of these actually materialized.
Rather think.com became a place for meeting new people, knowing about them and making new friends. It became a cultural forum, instead of an educational one. I think it resembled a mini-orkut. It still might, but I’ve no means of finding out. The account remains active only till the student remains in school. So I lost mine when I graduated. Think.com might not be a part of my life anymore but it did bring about new friends into my life!
Some Never Forget!!!
I made loads of friends. And I climbed to the top of the ‘Hot Hits’ list of my school thanks to them. But once I passed out of school, most of the threads connecting us snapped. But few didn’t - Aashal, Arundhati, Suman and Varsha to name a few. Now don’t ask me why all of them are girls – its fate!
Gradually it changed from thinking to orkutting. But the passing years have done nothing but strengthen the bonds. Two people – with different backgrounds, knowing nothing about each other, never even seen the face of the other – can end up being great friends, after all! Hope there’s still more to come!
“Was it Such a Good Report!?”
We also ended up doing some sort of educational work too. We were the chosen twos - Nishant and I. We had to create a presentation on Genetically Modified Foods. We were in XII then and the time limit was around a week. So what to do – copy and paste. That was all we did. Copy articles, copy pictures and paste them, adding a bibliography at the end. Nothing great, but we organized it in a way, which gave the illusion as though we had done a diligent job. Our biology teacher was pretty happy with our efforts, and I remember her giving us kangaroo-shaped badges – a memento to keep!
So last year after finishing second year at college, I went to school, as I usually do. Then I met Latha mam there. And she had something to say about that report – about which I had momentarily forgotten, but she ruffled it up. She said she had been to a regional convention about think.com and there the spoke about that report – how well-organised it was and how it can provide the basic layout for a good report. I couldn’t help but smile. The scribbling of two kids seems to have been taken like calligraphy.
If you plant a seed, the fruits will come no matter how long it takes! But be there to relish them!!!
