February 1976: “An open letter to hobbyists”
This was first published in the Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter in response to the actions of some within the hobbyist tech community at that time - where hobbyists distributed copies of Microsoft software free of charge in the club meetings without paying Microsoft anything. Bill Gates wrote this open letter to the community to make them realize how it is hurting software innovation. Interesting read.
Remote Desktop? No! Remote Mangni? Yes!!
Talking about how technology affects human lives, well, here is a great example. I was talking to Munir some time back and suddenly he started giggling as if somebody finally gave him a "chocolate" after 2 years' gap. Once he felt he can settle down and type something else than just 'hahaha' or 'lol' or 'hehehe', he told me that his boss at his previous workplace is getting engaged this Sunday - but the twist? he is in Bahrain - and the rest of the necessary people to be involved are in Pakistan. So, it's going to be a "Remote Mangni" - nice buzz word after "web 2.0". We've been hearing about such stories of "online nikah" and all that - but we find it inconvenient for some reason. But is it really inconvenient? or just unconventional?
I'm sharing (with Munir's permission, of course) this chat transcript between him and his boss:
Boss says:
arranged hae
Munir says:
nice
Munir says:
buhat buhat mubarak ho
Boss says:
yes
..but I am in bahrain
Munir
says:
phir?
Boss says:
remote ho gi..mairi taraf say ammi pehnayen
geen ring
Munir says:
really
Munir says:
lush
Howz that!? =)
Indian Movie “Iqbal” : what indian cinema should more be like
I was able to watch this Indian movie titled "Iqbal" - which is a story of a farmer's boy who wants to become a member of the Indian Cricket Team. The movie is good in itself with some really touching scenes - and as expected from an Indian movie: a lot of emotions.
Iqbal stars Naseeruddin Shah as the mentor of Iqbal, and a host of other characters. I loved how Iqbal's family members have acted in the movie. Especially Khatija, Iqbal's younger sister who helps him in every way possible - and is Iqbal's official interpreter - since Iqbal cannot hear or talk by birth.
I think movies like this should be more frequent from the Indian cinema. I have lately grown sick of the usual indian masala films that I cannot digest even if I have to see them for about 20 minutes.
I remember Satya, which I really liked - and it is one of my most favorite movies for some reason - and I always feel that Indian film makers should come up with similar stories more and more frequently. I agree that such movies may not generate the amount of revenue any masala film usually generates - but the situation is changing - and there are always people who are interested in intelligent cinema - that consumes you for a long term message - and not just a couple of hours of non-sense.
Additionall, I think it is the responsibility of the film makers to change the taste of those addicted to useless nonsense by introducing movies like this. Nagesh Kukunoor, the director of Iqbal is one of those people I guess, who want to change the taste of the audience by incorporating entertainment and real life values, to create a better experience. He has already directed similar kind of movies such as Rockford and Hyderabad Blues.
Kuch Log Aisey Hain
One of my very good friends wrote this poem and shared it with me. I really liked this one, so posting it here after permission from my friend who asked me not to show his name here for some reason. Read on and I think you'll like it too.
Kuch Log Aisey Hain
Jo Hawa Mei Urtey Hain
Azad Rehte Hain
Aur Gungunatey Hain
Ik Soch Rakhtey Hain
Khamosh Rehtey Hain
Kuch Log Aisey Hain
Jo Muskuratey Hain
Aasman Chhutey Hain
Per Zameen Pe Rehtey Hain
Buntey Nahi Sitarey
Roshni Detey Hain
Kuch Log Aisey Hain
Jo Hawa Mei Urtey Hain
Azad Rehtey Hain
Aur Gungunatey Hain
Pizza One with Shoaib Bhai and Sarfoo & Meetup with Akram
Sarfoo's elder bro Shoaib bhai had come from Dubai after quite a long time. We decided we'd try out Pizza One - a new one in the market - is actually pretty good. The experience was really good for us first timers.
Shoaib bhai is a really cool guy and we had a good time together. He is a Java guru (for real) and is a Sun Certified Java Professional (that too for real). He has a Masters degree in CS from NED and a BS in CS from Sir Syed.
The Pizza One that we went to is located right besides the Pizza Hut at Tariq Road. Their prices are somewhat low as well as compared to Pizza Hut with similar quality.
I've bookmarked Pizza One so there's a chance I might go there again. Their appetizers were really good I'd say.
Anyways, Shoaib bhai left for Dubai today so all the best to him again.
I met Akram today, long time baby! Aku's been busy with his job at this massive advertising agency handling their internal software development single handedly. He's now got an assistant a couple of days back so hopefully he'll be a bit relieved now.
We had a nice meal together and then the ice cream and a great amount of chat. Time well spent I'd say!
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is Crap!
I went to the Capri cinema a few days back to see this movie with a fair bit of excitement as this is "Indiana Jones"... BUT I was utterly disappointed, and not just me but everyone around! This time the move makers try to be 'oh so cute' rather than focusing on something that makes sense.
One reviewer on IMDB got it right when he said:
When you come out of the cinema screen, turn around and look at the expressions of the people walking out behind you. I did, and it was a collective 'Has someone just farted?'
I went with Ahmed, Adeel and Hamid, and we had good fun together but we all were dissapointed with the movie.
OK, let's face it: Indiana Jones survives a nuclear blast just by hiding himself inside a fridge! and that fridge was inside the house where the nuclear explosion took place. Everything in that house literally melted of that massive nuclear explosion but here we go, our indi jones is well and alive and the fridge is just fine left after everything just vanished.
Here's another one: The enemies are an army of their own with advanced weaponry in their hands all the time and they're shown having machine guns firing with full flow onto the indi jones and crew, yet none of the indi jones members are hit by even a single bullet.. i'm pretty much sure those enemies weren't blind.. and they were soldiers so shouldn't miss a shot from 6 to 8 feet distance.
Now this one: In the end, out of no where does this UFO come into place and flies away.. i kinda laughed a lot at it.
There are so many other moments during the movie that you just literally get shocked to see: surviving three consecutive deadly waterfall jumps and landing safe in a boat in two of them and just safely in the water in the third (and most disasterous) one. That was so lame honestly.
well, i was so wrong when i felt that ppl like Lucas and Spielberg can't make stupid things.. actually they're humans and they just proved that! I'd still give it a 3 out of 10 for some eye candy/stunts and some funny moments...
2nd Prize for Computer Graphics Project
Well, We just got done with our projects submission and exhibition on the 29th of May. I got 2nd prize for the computer graphics project I did. It's not too cool if an art student looks at it but for a computer science department, it was good enough to get 2nd prize. The group that came 1st did some software for Network Programming. I was just 0.75 marks behind the group who came 1st but well, whatever happens, it happens for good I guess.
I had to do all of it in a hurry, I had so many plans for this animation, but all went in vain as I just ignored those plans in order to get the animation done in time along with other course projects such as Network Programming and IS Audit (I hate you). But again, everybody has their bit of stories and reasons for most things all the time.