Archive for February, 2006
Feeds
Hey! Looks like you are a new visitor, you may want to subscribe to my Lens RSS feed. Or my shared links Convex RSSThanks for visiting!
I had been wanting to do this “How-to” and “about feeds” post for quite sometime now. I wanted to do it coz I am tired of explaining each person separately (each of those whom I suggested/forced to start a blog or each of those friends who find it difficult or forget to visit my site).
I came across two useful links: this quick start guide on bloglines and By Chetan
Extract:
If you’re new to Feed subscription
You’re familiar with e-mail, right? You read it as you receive it. Well, feeds are similar in analogy. For receiving and reading your email, you’d either need a software client (like Outlook Express, Outlook, Eudora or others) or a service (such as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail or others). Similarly, for reading site feeds, you’ll need a feed software (like FeedReader, Greatnews, FeedDemon, NetNewsWire, Newsgator or Sage extension for Firefox) or a service (such as Bloglines, My Yahoo!, Newsgator Online, Newsburst or Kinja online).
All these software (or services) will have an option to add new feed. Click on it (or select), cut and paste the feed link from the above list and your software or service will query the site for new posts and sync it in your client. So, actually you’re letting your software or service pull the latest posts, news from websites for you. Simple, eh?
If you read a lot of websites in the conventional way, i.e., via a web browser (like Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox or Safari), then change that habit, let your software (or service) notify you of new things instead of you checking them out everyday. That way, you save precious time and also read more content rather than just browsing.
With blogs and sites that get updated often, including your favorite newspapers, feeds are becoming a standard method of offering content to their readers without requiring any details from the readers like their email addresses.
What are those colored buttons that I see on websites?
You mean those orange or those blue ones? Yup, those are the feed links. And don’t worry about the color or XML, RSS, Atom, RDF written over them. XML is the technology feeds use to provide you the updated content and all those terms are the derivatives of this technology. Some clients don’t support all types of feeds, in which case, you may try the alternative feed, if available. Generally, most clients (software or service) provide a minimum RSS and Atom support.
Feed links spit out junk code
A common phenomenon that I’ve been a victim of, before I understood how feeds work. Feed links are not meant to be actually clicked. Since the code that you actually see is a machine readable language and is really meant for your software to sync and interpret it for you. So, the next time you see feed links, copy them instead of clicking on them and use them in your feed reader software (or web based feed service).
What software, service do you recommend?
FeedDemon is my favorite feed reader software and I have raves for it, but that doesn’t mean that others aren’t good, especially if you’re looking for something free to start with. Greatnews seems to be a wonderful free alternative. Among the web-based feed-services, I like Bloglines.
I can read the feed, but it looks so pale compared to the website
Well, look at it this way: if the content is more important to you and you want to read the updates regularly, then consider the feed. If instead, you love reading them on the website in its full graphical glory, you could always use the article link and open it in your web browser, but keep yourself automatically updated via a feed reader. Sounds fun? Thought so.
Any other advantages of using a feed, besides updates?
Well, the speed for one. If you’re on a dial-up network, you’ll appreciate the download time. All the posts on certain clients are actually downloaded and saved as cache, so you could read them offline too (just like your e-mail). In addition, you’ll also be doing site owners a favor by reading their content via feed that has lesser bandwidth requirement.
And in my site itself(with semilogic theme) there is a link that explains about feeds:
What is this feed thing everyone is talking about?
It’s a standardized format that lets you subscribe to a web site using a tool called a news reader or aggregator.
The orange XML and RSS buttons are scarecrows meant to put newbies off let you locate feeds in one quick glance.
Why should I care about feeds?The reasons you should care about feeds reportedly are:
* You want to be notified of updates from the many web sites that you read without visiting them one by one
* You prefer to read your favorite web sites from one convenient location without any interface clutterIn practice, the reasons you should and do care about feeds are:
* You want to be notified of updates from the many web sites that you don’t trust enough to reveal them your email address
* You want to reorganize the raw information that is available for syndication as you see fitWhat are XML, RSS and Atom anyway?
It is all meaningless to you ? No worries …most self proclaimed experts have absolutely no idea of what they are talking about either.In short, though:
* RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and Atom are two XML (eXtended Markup Language) formats that are competing one another
* XML — and Web Services — is the latest means to clutter IT resources, by letting you do the same thing as ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) and RPC (Remote Procedure Call) in a less efficient mannerHistory-wise:
* Dave Winer reportedly invented RSS and syndication
* Apple reportedly innovated by using RSS feeds to create active desktops
* Microsoft released an Active Desktop with — *cough* — Windows 95Standards-wise:
* There are a dozen incompatible flavors of RSS and Atom that are labeled as standard
* RSS is a standardized XML format that does not comply with the recommended XML date format
* Some geeks report that Atom is better than RSS, but noone really cares
* RSS will prevail in the end; simply because it is adopted by MicrosoftProtocol-wise:
* Feeds use a dumb protocol that is equivalent to setting up a distributed denial of service attack on your own web site
And in practice:
* Many feed subscribers are automated web sites set up by spammers who republish your content alongside ads (spam blogs, or “splogs”)
As already explained, feed readers are basically two kinds - web based readers or installable softwares.
The benefit of using web based readers is two-fold:
* A web-based service means your favorite feeds will remain available when you change computers
* Search engines (will) provide tools to organize feeds by topic and relevance rather than by site and date
Among the web based, the popular one and the best for beginners is bloglines:
What is a “feed”?
It’s a Web product that allows you easily to see (and read, if you wish) what’s new on the Web sites and Web logs you visit most often.
Why can’t I just visit these sites myself, one by one?
You can. This way is easier. Your Bloglines home page will tell you at a glance when there’s nothing new to you on a site. It’s a very systematic way of keeping up and keeping track.
Is Bloglines the only such service or the best such service?
No and I don’t know. It works well for me and it’s free.
How do I get started?
To get started, go to the link for detailed Quick start guide.
These days almost all websites (which change over a period of time, irrespective of their content or type-text/pics/audio) provide RSS/Atom feeds.
Once comfortable, see these too:
Top 10 RSS Hacks
Taking RSS beyond headlines
links for 2006-02-27
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Most importantly, no oil and dependence on fuel cells. Also, VoIP and WiMax. Whats Internet2?
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Wisdom…l
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Left hand traffic meets right hand traffic is beautiful
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Water in zero gravity
links for 2006-02-20
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for free download
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Heh!
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Who has not played and amused about the stone that when thrown in a flat manner goes skipping on the water. It can be repeated countless times & is most beautiful way of spending time near a calm water body, wondering about how long the ripples last and h
links for 2006-02-19
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There is no such thing as a blogger. Blogging is just writing — writing using a particularly efficient type of publishing technology. Even though I tend to first use Microsoft Word on the way to being published, I am not, say, a Worder or Wordder.
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Dogs know calculus
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Interesting read if you know about Reddit/Digg and Control Systems.
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The creators of C, C++ and Java (Old interview…but nevertheless good insights.)
links for 2006-02-18
links for 2006-02-17
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- Blogging is truly one of the most significant business and social changes in our lifetime.
- It has given me the worst case of attention deficit disorder in history
- I am very passionate about entrepreneurship as the key to the abolition of poverty
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Fortune’s article on Slashdot and Sourceforge:“Everybody’s talking about the participation age, but we’ve been living it for eight years.” Each month, 24 million customers — if one can call them that since they pay nothing — download 50 million copies of software products from the site
links for 2006-02-16
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Madhu Menon, a restaurant owner who was earlier an IT professional gives tips. Practical advises. Btw, a visit to the restaurant is long pending.
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Forty-three years ago, I saw India’s history. Last week, I saw India’s future.
Many other thoughts, similar to Thomas Friedman’s. -
Simple, easy and good tips. Go read! I was already doing some of them without actually knowing them, but there is still scope for improvement and there are few tips I could never know!
All the best
A fortnight back I was witness to a laugh riot that happened behind Ravindra Kalakshetra, an account of it I record now.
On seeing the programmes in the cultural section of the newspaper, something that caught my attention - a twin package of food and comical drama by a well known troupe. The name “All the best” was heard of and on noting it was 350th show, I had no second thoughts on how that evening would be spent. The tickets were booked in advance and the presence at the venue was on time.
The open air theater was, surprisingly, not full to its capacity even though the tickets were sold out. So we were requested to wait, during which a documentary was shown on the achievements of the team and the plays. The team is “Guru Samsthe of Hubli” headed by Yeshwant Sardeshpande [the same person behind the dialogues of Rama Bhama Shama and the person who made Kamal Hassan recite the north karnataka kannada dialogues] and they have won laurels for All the best and other 2 plays which they are performing all over the state in a three day programme which is known as “Aarogyakkagi haasya, aarogyakkagi aahara” (Laughter for health and food for health) and thus includes a complementary meal from the sponsors MTR. That day’s show was All the best followed by a 50th show of “Sahi ri sahi ri” and a debut of “Dil maange more”.
As the sky turned dark, the stage was lit up. The three protagonists of the play are each challenged - one blind, one deaf and the other dumb. They have a code language (either in terms of written cards or hand sign) to communicate to each other and they compliment each other and are able to make up for the loss of ability. Then a girl enters their lives, whom all of them like. They go out to achieve individually to impress her and to win her over only to find at the end that she is already engaged to another man.
The above might suggest a sentimental setup (and I guess it was that setup which drowned the film “123″ which had the same story and enacted by Prabhudeva & brothers with Jyothika) but in the play, the comedy is the king and there is no time for sentiments. Once in the war, one constantly tries to save himself from the onset of bullets firing. Once in the seat, there is continuous bullets in the form of dialogues, mannerisms and jokes and what not - only difference is no one tries to save himself from them but welcomes them with open hands. Infact lapse of concentration for a second is sure to cause loss of laughter for a minute! No wonder the audience was finding it difficult not to roll on the floor laughing (for there was no space) and hence held on to their seats tightly with one hand and the other was either on stomach or on mouth trying to control laughter. The heat generated due to such rigorous activity kept the cold away but the freezing wind made its presence felt during intermission. But for the shivering, the combination of starry sky and the open air theater cold on a friday evening was a dream setup.
When I think, it was not as much jokes, but they way it was presented and carried out, that made the difference. Of course, once a barrier is broken , it is easy to keep the audience laughing - like once ball overcomes inertia and starts rolling, it is easy to keep it rolling.
On 350th show, the show is surely what it is expected to be - devoid of holes. All the three actors (Yeshwant Sardeshpande and the person who played dumb were better than the third) did their part superbly, had impeccable timing and more importantly complemented each other. Sarika has very good facial expressions and her dress sense was superb. Each time she looked different and attractive than before 
On finishing the play, all headed to relish the MTR delicacies which was a feast for just realised hunger.
Before leaving, I made sure I bought tickets for my parents[my judgement that next day would also be good, was confirmed later. Even though they resisted, I knew they would not regret!] and later suggested few to see it. If I could, I could have been present on all the three days.
Sitcoms shown on TV which forcibly include a laugh track in the background as a hint to audience that they are supposed to laugh, when they meekly try to smile but fail, should learn a thing or two from these shows.
Situational comedies when in good hands has unbelievable ability to make the audience laugh hysterically. It is not great jokes, but in contrast simple jokes, which are supported by good dialogue delivery, body language and timing.
Happy Valentine’s Day
They say, it is western culture. They say love and feelings are present everyday and question the need to celebrate one particular day. They say it is all a great scam and hype by greeting card companies and other gift article producers.
I agree. But any reasoning does not justify opposing it or more importantly forcing others not to follow it. It is a western culture. So what ? If there are feelings everyday, you don’t buy gifts everyday, do you ? God, too, is present everywhere and is present everyday. Why do you go to temples in search of Him, then ? And why do you prepare sweets on His birthday and not everyday ? Scam by greeting card companies - to an extent, it might be true. But whom are you gifting anyways ! Most importantly, are these companies forcing you to buy them and beat you up if you don’t buy ?
Vivekananda said, all bad things will perish themselves and good things will stand by their own worth. Of course, there is a need of law, order and punishment, but what crime is expressing love ? I wonder about the time wasted to stop Valentine’s day by taking out morcha and by damaging stores, if used for some other purpose that would have helped other mankind and thus an oppurtunity to display the love to whole of mankind on Valentine’s day.
Love is such a beautiful feeling and I can not understand the motives of people who hate its celebration. According to me, celebration is important, no matter the reason behind it. Vivekananda also said:
Do not hate anybody, because that hatred which comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you, completing the circle.
Happy Valentine’s day everyone and a hug from me.
links for 2006-02-14
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Your personalized startpage to the Web!
Hey…liked this very much. Give it a try…
Please tell me.
Update: Result is out. Majority feel that the link posts are to be removed out of main page as it is confusing and page looks cluttered. Using my wish (which got one vote!) the result for second poll is tied. So I will leave it as it is.
So in effect, link posts out of main page but not out of main feed.
But, it will be sometime before I can make the changes.
**
Request you to help me make a decision, please :
I understand that third option beats the whole purpose of polls, just request you not to vote for that!!
An ever confused and ever opinion/feedback seeking guy I am, you will see such polls more often 
links for 2006-02-13
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Features of web2.0 pages.
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Mother of lists !
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Interesting talk with Gregory David Robert. When am I going to read his book ? At least before he finishes writing sequel to it ?
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A movie lovers thoughts ….
links for 2006-02-12
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Worst film awards
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!
Rang de Basanti
Intelligent. Entertaining.Balanced.
There are few promos and build up that makes some films must watch. Of course promos misguide often, but RDB is not one among them.
Very recently there have been series of movies on freedom struggle (including multiple Bhagat Singhs releasing on the same day) and any more period films after the debacle called Mangal Pandey has no takers. And how many times do we read history and feel that they have no practical relevance today?
And DCH faced with the criticism of addressing no issues, even though all it wanted was to promptly reflect a comman man’s life and fun.
So to address both parties, the team behind RDB went into smart mixing of history with today’s story, that is why I call it intelligent. This blend according to me gave half the winning points as the plot allowed for both DCH kinda fun and seriousness of Yuva. [Yes, in short RDB is DCH+Yuva]. Along with the creation of situations that allowed the characters to replay the roles of freedom strugglers, the other contributing factors were the performances, music, dialogues and of course a story and its narration which does not let the audience’s attention slip by. The pace is slow and steady and the story is already engulfing you within it. That is rare.
Highlights in no particular order : There are lot of simple yet fun moments that gives instant smile. The campus shot where the boys bend to drink beer was indicative of the heights they could go to, if need arises. It was intelligent way in which the events of Bhagat Singh etc were mapped to current situation. My favorite song Khalbali is at a prominent point in the story and all songs’ picturisation is fresh and beautiful.
Random observations:I got early clues about Ajay’s death, in fact from the title card itself where he is mentioned as special appearance and later repeated references to death of a soldier. Also was expecting one incident that should bring seriousness in the happy-go-lucky attitude of protagonists. Some other events were also highly predictable, like Karan killing his father. Of course did not like the idea of them entering AIR to bring in the revolution. It was not strong enough. What happened to documentary ? For me, Siddharth easily overshadows mighty Aamir and no-mistake Atul Kulkarni, even with out having as many good lines others had and is easily my favorite of the lot (also Karan’s role would be my pick). Film is balanced in many ways: right fun, right seriousness. One more worth mentioning relief - there were no ads! I am seriously fed up of and I hate ads in films, however much they are ‘a part of’ film.Update: I take back the claim after being reminded (in comments) of in-the-face NDTV mic(ads). Embedded flashbacks are one of the finest I have seen. Even when it is supposed to end, there is still time for a song ?!(It is a different matter that I like that song)
One of my favorite scenes is the one where DJ(Aamir Khan) sitting in the car explains Sue about how friendship and all ends at campus…tomorrow each one goes their way.[Don't know how many times I have told this to myself] And that he hangs around campus even after 5 years of finishing the course.”Aaj hum life ko nachate hain, kal life hum ko nachata hai”. Another favorite scene apart from the obvious favorite climax scene, is when they hang out in the fields/fort and have absolute fun forgetting the whole world.
Among the performances, Aamir Khan is loveable (and is lucky to get to re-live his both roles in parts - that of DCH and that of Mangal Pandey). His punjabi dialogue delivery is music to ears which was matched well by phoren lady’s(Alice Patten) Hindi! Karan’s reclusive attitude was beautifully lived by Siddharth in every frame. His eyes spoke volumes. Ever dependable Atul Kulkarni does not disappoint, he once again[may be time for a change ? ] triumphs in a role that suppresses anger and breathes normally. Madhavan and other two guys fill the gaps. Soha Ali Khan Pataudi shows promise and the Sue is refreshing ! Music was quite complementary to film. Binodh Pradan’s cinematography makes you pack and leave on a holiday immediately! Best part is patriotism and romance were present enough to leave an impression but were not over the top, which gives the whole package a sense of reality and meaning.
Little preachy and provocative, but give me such films (Swades, Yuva) any day rather than the candy-floss-plus-europe tour or triangle-love-stories or underworld-voilence. It is dangerous, yet probably true, to think that the politicians of today are no way different to the rulers before independence. It echoes the sentiment that we have to regain our freedom but this time by our own men - whom we have elected. But what is the message exactly. To kill whoever is wrong? This was told to us by Krantiveer too. In fact its ending speech by Nana was more provocative and powerful than a simple radio station confession. Some answers were given by Karan’s Q and A session. However, from the film’s perspective the ending is meaningful considering all they wanted was to let public know and to awaken them and to believe that the spark ignites the fire which spreads across - exactly the way Azad and Co did.
Rakesh and team, thanks!
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About seeing films itself:
I had to postpone seeing this long itself is a story. And then when I did, I had load on my mind about the deadline. I kept shivering for most part (due to a/c probably). Then there was a constantly crying cute kid right next to my seat (Aaargh..), even worse was few front benchers who kept making fun[they had seen earlier] and commenting and talking loudly during the silent scenes. It was irritating to say the least.
I had kept myself away from all the news and reviews about this[this film is a delight for film lovers, bloggers and movie reviewers for so many things can be told/written about it!], should go and catch them now
Update:
The blogosphere is full of reviews, both positive and negative, of RDB after reading which I thought of doing a second round ! I do not think any previous movie was so passionately reviewed in recent times - whether positive or negative, which itself must be a relief for Rakesh whose sole intention was to convey the message. Even if you have pages against the very way of working, the very thoughts of the film, it still made you think !!
I am surprised that many people forget that it was just a film! If the wrong means is provocative enough, has it not been done in Bollywood before ?! There have been countless films, both which created quite a thunder in box office and those which left without a noise, have earlier suggested wrong means to achieve right end. And If I am not wrong, people just dont follow what is shown on screen (same logic applies to banning smoking in films) and not more “Satya” have been created because the voilence was glorified on screen than the situations created themselves. I have also consciously noted that good films often get scolded for its wrong doings - its like finding a wrong grain in the heap (or in Kannada - mosaralli kallu hudikidante). Many were troubled about a change made to the “story” of Devdas in SLB’s version while the glamorisation and bollywoodisation of Asoka’s(actual king) story did not raise questions! It is another story that Asoka bombed in boxoffice while Devdas succeeded, which again shows that more the popular the film more criticisms it receives.
I know the no-logic of the second half as well as the *wrong path*, the exaggeration, the hurried approach et all, but for me as a film it was quite refreshing and very entertaining having right mix of various ingredients. An experiment that was carried out well and as a result I am assured of quality entertainment for 3 hours, which is more important than anything else. If it does change the way some people talk about our nation or is someone awakens because of this, it is an added bonus and if it does not, no harm done.
Update 2: This is a best way to review a film
Update 3: Whatever I wanted to say, said better.
Death is an angel
Paulo Coelho’s interview in Indian Express
On India
..there is a very important lesson that I think your country teaches the whole world and that is tolerance.
Turning point:
Then, there was a moment in my life when I was 38. I had nearly everything, love, money, a house, but I was not happy. Then came the turning point. I said, why am I unhappy? I am unhappy because I am not doing what I want to do and that was to write.
On being sent to asylum:
It was because they said you have to be home by 11 o’clock. I said no, I’ll be home whenever I want. That was the last, I would say, drop in the glass.
About jail experience
But in the jails, they are only trying to suppress you as a human being, to put you in a state of fear.
On death:
A beautiful angel. Death’s going to kiss me.
About himself:
I am a very emotional person, yes; sometimes I am very calm and sometimes I am a warrior — it’s the same contradiction that you see in nature.
A message:
You have to face your fears, you have to overcome your moments of doubt, you have to believe that if you look for it there is always a solution….But to do that, you have to be brave. Brave enough to fight for things that are meaningful to you.
A game
links for 2006-02-09
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Devaraj Urs started doing the puja and it was a debacle. Gundu Rao came next in 1974, he too fell. Bangarappa attempeted it and he also went home. It was same with Veerappa Moily. In 2006, it was Dharam Singh and now Kumaraswamy is coming. Huh
links for 2006-02-07
links for 2006-02-06
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Goobuntu coming soon ?!
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What makes you a better bathroom singer than otherwise?
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The device can impersonate a multitude of different wireless devices since it uses reconfigurable software to carry out the tasks normally performed by static hardware
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About speed reading…ironically can’t read it now…so saving it for later.
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With Hamachi you can organize two or more computers with an Internet connection into their own virtual network for direct secure communication. Need to try it.
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Super….
Thats (not) a four!
A tag passed on to me by Pradeep to list the 4 things. Here I go…
Four jobs I’ve had in my life:
(pass…)
Four movies I can watch over and over:
1.DCH (Dil Chahta Hai)
2.Swades
3.Lagaan
4.The Matrix
[My fav movies list post is pending since some time....]
Four books I can read over and over(a tough one, so pass)
Four TV shows I love to watch:
I don’t watch TV now nor have I watched it for good time previously. But here goes my short list that I had enjoyed watching (and don’t mind the reruns)
1.Hip Hip Hurray
2.Malgudi Days
3.Mahabharata
4.Sa Re Ga Ma
and few others like Mayamruga, Stone Boy, Saaya..
Four places I’ve been on vacation:
(Four is restrictive…I guess it means my most remembered four vacations)
1.Goa
2.South Indian Tour and North Indian Tour(lots of places covered).
3.Yelagiri
4,Wayanad
5.Munnar
6.Pondicherry
There are lot more on which no travelogues have been recorded and few can be found here
Four of my favorite dishes:
1.Anything my mother cooks. (Again four is too less a number!)
2.Icecream
3.Sweets
4.Chocolates
[The list was too general ? Yes, my tastes are simple, no particular favourite...]
Four websites I visit daily:
1.Gmail
2.Bloglines(this will route to many other sites if required…)
3.
4.Lens !
Four places I would rather be right now:
1.Home, home, home…
2.Australia, on a vacation
3.In a small hut, deep inside a forest, preferably in Malenadu
4.Holding hand-in-hand, seeing eye-in-eye, in a peaceful ambience, with … (in one word, on my bed, dreaming!)
Four bloggers I am tagging (as in “tag! You’e it!” I guess)
Let me slip the count again…tagging 5 ppl…
1.Shashikiran(my bro, new kid on the blogging block)
2.Chaitra
3.Nagaraj
4.Chitra
5.Sathish Kumar
Do it soon and leave a comment…pls.
