This card from my bro/sil pretty much sums it up.
Archive for December, 2003
I just realised that its been a year since I actively started blogging. Although my first post on Freeroller was on the 22nd of March, I started blogging regularly about 9 months later(Yeah that was the procrastination recovery time!) Well, this has been a interesting year so far. What satisfies me the most is that I have not given this up like my other hobbies. I know the frequency is much lower in the last 8 weeks, but this has largely been due to the other things that are going on in life. (A rather lame excuse 
). The year end typically is a time to reflect on, here are some highs and lows of this blog!
Best post: Outsourcing : A perspective
Worst post: American Cricket Team?
Funniest post: Roof sex
Most Visited: Book Bonanza – List of free java books to download
Most Linked: How did they get their names?
Distinctions:
Named one of 10 best Java blogs.
Featured on Feed of the Day on Feedster.com
I have found blogging an interesting medium to converse with others and interact with them. I have realised that a combination of interesting links and a write up on thoughts is what keeps readers entertained. Its just not about posting interesting links. My blog has been a reflection of my mind. I have been fortunate enough to make some friends in fellow bloggers.
I also would like to take the time to set goals for next year. First and foremost, I’d like to be blogging till the next anniversary. Id like to get my link blog & photo blogging working.
Many thanks to you readers for the continued support!
Merry christmas & a happy new year to you and your family. Im taking a break for the end of the year. Spending the last few days of the year in Texas enjoying the warm and sunny weather here! Hope the new year brings good things in life!
Peace!
I have been resisting the temptation to buy an ipod for a while now(2 years +)! Infact I started to drive down to the Apple Store near back and pick it when realised that the Mac Conference was on the 6th of Jan. IPod is nearly perfect! The only things that I need on a Ipod are a FM tuner and bluetooth/WiFi support built. (I know there is a add on for the FM tuner, but Id like it to be integrated).. The sad part is that I have not heard any rumours about the next release of Ipod, excepting that a smaller version (sub $100) is being planned.
Come what may, im picking up an IPod, first week of Jan. I have shown enormous restraint and cannot handle it anymore!
Got to love this! These days one does not need to move his/her rear end to get information. All one needs to do is to look at the right places and information flows one’s way! Anyways this conference is in Jan and has an impressive list of speakers! Here’s a list
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Allan Wille
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Anil Dash
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Bill French
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Chad Dickerson
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Chris Pirillo
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Cynthia Carlson
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Dave Winer
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Graham Rasmussen
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Greg Lloyd
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Greg Reinacker
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>J. Scott Johnson
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Jon Udell
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Matt McAlister
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Robert Scoble
” src=”http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/styles/user/rsswinterfest/nav-subitem-bullet.gif” width=12 border=0>Ross Mayfiled
Too bad they dont have anyone representing Atom, wish Sam Ruby was there!
Some amazing pictures, a moment to reflect upon the year and realise that theres more to life!
I thought I’d take a moment to post about the JRoller theme contest. If you have been in the mailing list then this is old news, otherwise heres a little teaser
A theme contest is being planned by Javalobby & JRoller. Exciting prizes are to be given away. Roller developers have agreed to judge the contest! So all you design & CSS gurus out there get those designs started! Use your christmas vacation to win some really cool gadgets(Hint! hint!) among other things ..
Can’t wait to hear more? Just await a Jroller blog detailing the contest .. Stay tuned!
You can always email me(arjunram[at]myway[dot]com) if you have any questions.
Everyone seems to update the look & feel of their blogs. Take Marc Canter, Scoble & Dave Winer, all of them have spent time changing the L & F of their blogs and these are some of the top bloggers mind you. Makes one wonder what percentage of their readers use RSS? Scoble responded to my comment and felt only 15% of his users read his blog thro RSS. Interesting dont you think? Who uses RSS aggregators to read blogs? I read the common blogs at work on their sites otherwise just use my RSS reader. One of the main reasons I hate to fire up my RSS aggregator, is the number of feeds that I subscribe to. So I get pulled into the reading all the feeds and no longer remains a quick read. Alrite, I can just read a category of blogs, but that never happens!
The other reason, that I have to visit the site/blog is when I have to comment or read comments. This is where, IMHO RSS aggregators have failed. Why not just have a interface like Outlook or email reader and create a tree which includes comments. Something along the likes of a newsgroup reader. Im not sure if any RSS readers do that.
In the early days of RSS readers, you had to spend time to import your feeds and get it up and running. But these days RSS readers come with preloaded RSS feeds which contain a gamut of feeds. The only reason that I see this stopping folks, is the number of feeds. May be this warrants a new feature in RSS aggregators, levels of feeds. Supposing there were 3 levels of feeds basic, medium and advanced, where in basic would contain the top 5 feeds, medium containing the top 10 feeds and advanced containing all the feeds then it would kick butt! Im getting lazy here but isnt that the duty of a software. To make me feel pampered and make me lazy! *grin*
The other reason that I hate using my RSS reader is the RSS feeds, some of these feeds are just teasers, they dont provide you with the full feed. I anyway need to visit the site to read the whole text, but that is rather a lame excuse.
Then again, there is the ongoing battle of Atom/Pie Vs RSS 2.0. Its amazing how long this debate has gone on. When Sam Ruby took it up and said that he would be official spending time on it, it thought something would be out in 3+ months. Its been a while and nothing concrete has come out as yet. but then on the brighter side of things, Microsoft seems to be adapting RSS for longhorn. Once microsoft adopts something all hell breaks loose and all kinds of tools and innovation pops up and then the java/linux folks catch up!
My dream RSS aggregator App would download the RSS feeds convert them into a mp3 (hopefully a nice voice) that I can hear while Im driving to work and back! Call it height of laziness
At any rate, if you are not using a RSS aggregator please start using one. Heres a few that you can try out link, link. Its not for the elite!
It seems like people are starting move their rear ends and do something about the nation that well ranked among the corrupt nations. The recent uproar is about an IIT alumni (satyendra Dubey) murder because he wrote to the primeministers office about the incident. Read all about it below
- http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=36263
- http://www.dailypioneer.com/foray.asp
- http://www.indianexpress.com/full_coverage.php?coverage_id=33&from=7
- http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/dec/10dilip.htm
It is outrageous! Period! Unless people take the matter into their own hands, this issues is bound to burried under the carpet in a while. The root problem needs to be addressed and tackled. The only reason this issue has gotten its limelight is because the person was an IIT alumni. Im glad that the well known people have taken a person stake it making sure something is done about it and its getting the due attention that it needs. Unless, the punishment for Corruption is stiff and treated with a stern hand & the law is taken seriously.
However, I find it equally proposterous when I find some IIT’ians use this as an excuse to leave the country. IMHO, it is ok for one to go out and experience to the world and bring back perspectives to improve the country. One also expects more from the IIT’ians bcos their TOP class education is subsidised. A few years back, when an average indian would be about 800$ a year, an average IIT’ian would pay 40$ the remainder was sponsored by the Indian government. Although, I do whole heartedly agree that many NRIs end up doing more for the country than the local folks, a fact that is often side lined. I guess, its fair to say that I have mixed feelings about this issue.
Coming back to the issue, a petition has been opened at http://www.petitiononline.com/sdubey/petition.html so feel free to sign up. Im not a fan of petitions, have seen to many petitions offlate and have yet to see any concrete results. I would much rather see the news organisations like BBC, NDTV take up the issue with the prime minister and president and grill them on prime time television. I think it would have a far reaching impact than signing up a petition. Its too bad that India does not have a “Meet the Press” which gives a forum to grill the top brass of the government and make them accoutable. (May be they are similar ones in the same lines these days).
Accountability is missing in Indian politics! Its time to “Take it to the mattress”
Update:
Here is dedicated site http://www.skdubeyfoundation.org/ sent by my sis-in-law (Is that how its said in the US?) Hmm, Anyways she is a IIT alumni & has passionately taken up this cause. I’d better put this up before I get my rear end kicked On a serious note, please take a moment to look @ the site and contribute in your own way.
