[Aug 23, 2006] New home for my blog at WordPress

Hi guys,

Well, I’ve decided to have a NEW home for my blog

http://eyesofcalvin.wordpress.com 

Looking forward to your visit there.

Luv …

[July 02, 2006] Template for a Pocketmod

Ever since I discovered GTD, a technique advocated by David Allen to increase personal productivity and time management, I had tried putting it to use in many forms. Even tried using my Sony Ericsson K750i but that required too many buttons to push and didn’t provide a uniform view. As I don’t have a PDA, so I was looking for alternatives which suit my lifestyle and requirements. Moleskins, Hipster PDA etc are too bulky for me. I needed something affordable and handy to take my notes and ‘next actions’.

I came across PocketMod.com and have been a fan ever since. This website provides a Flash utility which offers some nicely designed templates for To-Do lists, planners, calendars, simple games, formulas etc to be printed out on an A4 size paper which folds into a small 8-page booklet. Its cheap, looks cool and very handy. But the geek I am, I wanted MORE ! I wanted the ability to get my next actions to be printed instead of being written by hand. PocketMod team is working on that functionality yet but I couldn’t wait. I guessed someone must have created some utility to do that already or at least a Word template. I looked on the Net but nothing for me. So I’ve decided to design my own and share it with PocketMod fans

Click here to go to my new blog to download the template in DOC format.

I designed this for myself and your needs might be different so you can edit the template as you wish and maybe forward it to me also. Or drop me a mail about what you think about it. Till then, Enjoy!

[July 02, 2006] Deadly sins? Really?

“So many people/so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind,
Is all the sad world needs.”

                                                           -Ella Wheeler Wilcox

 

I came across this article [Deadly Sins] by Khushwant Singh, a renowned Indian author, who has a talent of writing in simple vocabulary. In this particular piece, he writes about the so-called 7 sins in Christianity and 5 sins in Hinduism. Are they really so bad for humanity that they could be termed as ’sins’ ?! How come that both these religions don’t include ‘violence’ in these lists of sins? Should’nt hurting a fellow being be considered sinful? Although we all consider violence as morally incorrect, but putting it in this list would might help end much misery from the world which we live in.

[June 29, 2006] I want tag clouds !!!

The battle of clouds continues. I have tried a way suggested by Gerrit (Thanx pal), that to copy paste the tag-cloud. And it works !!! But the problm now is that this cloud is only static i.e. it will not show any future additions. blog (8), coldfusion (1), css (1), fordipika (1), gtd (5), howto (1), interesting (9), k750i (1), motivation (1), mp3 (1), music (1), organization (4), productivity (11), reference (2), tipstricks (5), topdf (3), toread (8), tutorials (2), webdesign (2)

[June 27, 2006] Created del.icio.us tag cloud

I had always wondered if Yahoo 360 supported tags, or even catagories for posts. But I’ve not found any such feature as yet in 360. I had heard/read a lot about del.icio.us tagging and thought that tag-clouds were cool and a very intuitive way to present content highlighting it with accosiated importance. So here is my latest addition to my 360 page

---

Edit: HTML Code from del.icio.us did not work   The post editor did not allow to put me the script. But I’ve found a similar tag-cloud functionality from MyWebYahoo (I was expecting that, you see) so I’m trying the Yahoo tag-cloud now. If every thing goes fine then it should be visible here —

.myweb2badge{border:1px solid black;font:normal 90%/1.2em arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;padding:10px;} .myweb2badge #taglist ul{margin:1em 0 !important;padding:0 !important;list-style:none !important;} .myweb2badge #taglist li{margin:0 !important;padding:0 !important;list-style:none;display:inline;} .myweb2badge #taglist li em {font-style:normal !important;} .myweb2badge em.one{font-size:100%;}.myweb2badge em.two{font-size:120%;}.myweb2badge em.three{font-size:140%;}.myweb2badge em.four{font-size:150%;}.myweb2badge em.five{font-size:170%;}

— but as you can see … no luck! If any one can figure this out then please let me know.

[Jun 17, 2006] Tips for Music on K750i

I’ve been listening to MP3s a lot on K750i. Some notes and tips -

The supplied head phones are very good. Fit nicely in my ears. Bass output is also good especially when MegaBass is on. I just need to plug in the USB cable in the computer and it recognises K750i  as a flash drive. I can browse/cut/copy/paste contents to and fro the memory card and the File Explorer. So all I have to do is that find the MP3s files on my computer and copy/paste them in the \MP3 folder or in \MSSEMC\Media files\audio in the memory card. Simple.

The inbuilt Media Player shows the files in Artist-Title format. So if you want your playlist to look neat and clean then right-click on the MP3 Properties>Summary>Advanced and change the Artist value to the artist name, album name or whatever you want to display in the playlist. Then change the Title value to the song name.

Tip :-
- You will need to change the Title value individually for each file but you can give a common Artist value to multiple files. Keep the CTRL pressed and select the related files with the mouse. Then right-click Properties>Summary>Advanced and change the Artist value. This will be applied to all the files.
- Another tip you might find useful. Create folders according to artist/album on the phone memory card. Then while creating playlists on the phone, you can select the folder and all the files will be put in the playlist.

This seems to be a lot of work but I don’t mind doing this coz it hlps me keep my playlist neat. This will be also helpful in sorting the list by Artist or Title

To Do :-
- Try playing  .M3U playlist files. Have’nt tried this.
- Finetune media synchronization with Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player has synchronization feature with portable devices. I’ve tried using it and it put files on the root of the memory card or in a Music folder. Both these are not acceptable coz phone plays files only from \MP3 folder or \MSSEMC\Media files\audio folder. I’ll try again and post updates. I’m surprized this topic is not discussed in any forum!

[Jun 17, 2006] Stuff I’m Doing With My K750i

I’m using my K750i for the following activities -

- Making Calls (of course)
- Listening music (Some tip and tricks …)
- Watching videos
- Net Surfing (limited to Airtel Live service and Yahoo)
- PIM (Calendar + ToDo Lists + Notes)
- Reading Articles and Novels (currently reading Dan Brown-Angels & Demons)
- Clicking Photos
- SMS
- Transfering files betwen Home and Office as Flash Drive

I’ve found these features to be most useful -

- Flash Light This is basically a LED light to be used as a flash with camera but as it can be kept on like a torch so I’m using it to find my way around the house when I come back late from work. I’ve made a shortcut to it in my Activity Menu for quick access. Another quick way to start the light is to slide open the camera shutter and press * (Bottom-left button)
- Active Screen It is possible to create a note in K750i and display it on the standby screen at all times. Open that note in the phone and select the More > Show In Standby option. I use this to show important ToDo items or Reminders so that I’m reminded of them everytime I use the phone.
- USB Charging I don’t need to carry a charger to my office bcause I carry my data-cable to office anyway.

[Jun 09, 2006] My New K750i

My quest for a perfect mobile phone is over. After delibrating over Nokia 3230, 6680, N70, Moto Razr, O2 XDA-II, XDA II Mini and XDA Atom, I finally decided on Sony Ericsson K750i. Although it was nowhere in my initial research items, I instantly decided to go for it when I got to see its feature list.

The factors which were in consideration while I was in research mode, were -

• Screen size (pixels)
• Weight
• Price (of course!)
• PIM featres (Calendar and a To-Do list were essential)
• Bluetooth
• Audio/Video formats supported
• USB flash drive, and
• Camera features

Click on this link if you wish to see a side-by-side feature comparison. As you will see that K750i has an advantage in weight, phonebook, internal memory and camera megapixels. The features which I consider as bonus are FM radio, camera flash as night-light and camera auto-focus.

Now the cons … yes K750i has some cons too … ! The call drop rate is more than my previous phone, Nokia 3120. My office cafeteria is point-in-case (or case-in-point, however that is said). I used to have voice breakage when I took a call on Nokia set and occasional call drops too. But I’ve felt that K750i is dropping more calls and there is some hissing noise too!

The speaker phone volume is less as compared to Nokia handsets, but I won’t be using the speaker phone much for calls or music playback so it is okay with me.

Another issue worrying me is the longetivity of the joystick. SE phons are notorious for joystick problems. Although I have used Ericsson T68i whose joystick is working perfectly after so many years. But that is Ericsson … and this is Sony-Ericsson!

Now the disturbing news. The keypad of my K750i stopped working on the third day!!! I got my phone on May 27, 2006. I checked the phone features, the sound quality and the stuff and admittedly was quite glad about my decision to go for K750i. But on the morning of May 29, 2006, I was not able to stop the alarm in my sleep-induced-stupor. I did’nt think much of it and attributed it to the sleep-induced-stupor. Then there was an incoming call and I was not able to reject it. My sleep-induced-stupor was gone and with my eyes wide open, I realized that only 4 buttons of the keypad were responding to user-inputs (i.e. my frantic pressing). The joystick was only accepting press inputs, not nudge inputs.

Later in the day, I was consoled by guy at the service-centre and their assurance to replace my handset. I got the replacement on June 1, 2006. Till then I used T68i. BTW, the service-centre told me that they will be giving me a new handset but i’ll get to keep my existing accessories. I agreed because three days old accessories are as good as new for me, but was I supposed to get a box replacement?! Was I ripped?! Anyway, now, that I have got a new set, I’m enjoying the music features a lot and discovering shortcuts to avoid using the joystick as much as possible.

Well, nothing in this world is perfect. One has to decide how much of imperfection is acceptable.

P.S. – I plan to write about my user experience in detail later.

[Mar 08, 2006] Yamaha RD 350

One of my dreams has come true! I have got a Yamaha RD350 cc motorbike for myself. Period.

Chain of Events …

March 5 – Attend Khushwant’s wedding at Khanna. Go to KKP along with Jugnu, Indu and Vicky Brar.

March 6 – Pick up the bike from FDK at Jiya’s place. Some engine-oil leakage. “Nothing much”, I’m told. “No problem”, I say. A mere ‘oil-leakage’ is not gonna stop me from taking this away. Starts wonderfully. Some clunking noise from engine … piston rings. No problemo. Jugnu does a small wheelie. He has been riding this for more than four years now. We both go to his showroom to pick up the papers for the bike … which actually is only a FIR stating that the original documents are lost! 500 ml engine-oil is put into the RD350 to compensate for the loss. We have tea-and-tips session on the road-side. I’m enlightened with a few quick tips. Last night’s drizzle has made it pleasant outside. Jugnu’s borrowed goggles and wind-cheater will be useful. I start at 11:10 AM … with my next stop to be the Reliance petrol pump.

The bike just eats up those 15 kms. I’m exhilarated! I VRROOOM into the petrol station. With around 2 litres already in the tank, I ask for 8 litres more. With around 10.5 ltrs in the tank, I kick the starter … RD350 does not starts. It takes me 20 minutes … with a few calls to Jugnu … to finally have it vrooming again. I move again … planning not to stop throughout. But fate had plans of its own. Barely 5 kms later, RD350 starts spluttering. As I slowed down, I could feel the heat emanating from the engine. Engine seizure was my worst nightmare! I had to stop as the bike was not responding to the throttle. I don’t blame the mzachine, I guess i had somehow managed to get the choke-knob stuck somehow, in my desperation to start the bike at the petrol station. I try to roll the bike to get it into neutral. As I do this, I realize that the clutch seems to be too soft. The clutch wire was broken! $%^&*

Here I’m standing, in the middle of no where, barely 20 kms from my starting point, with a over-heated RD350 without a clutch wire. I decide to move on without a clutch. I have managed to get other two-wheelers moving in the same situation, this should be no different, i reckon. But the biggest problem is starting the bike again. Same situation as that at the petrol station. Me kicking … checking the ignition switch, the petrol knob, the choke lever, and kicking again. I repeat this God-knows-how-many-times. People whom I had overtaken like a flash earlier are crossing by me. I’m sweating like anything and decide that the weather is not all that pleasant. My goggles are in the wind-cheater’s inner pocket and the wind-cheater on my left shoulder. I decide to give it a break.

What to do? that is the question. I contemplate about the idea of calling up Jugnu to arrange for a pick-up. Of course it is a better idea to go back 20 kms than risk moving ahead 110 kms. As I’m thinking about all this, my phone vibrates silently. A SMS has arrived. With nothing else to do I open the Inbox. The SMS is from a dear friend. It was one of those ‘From Shirdi Sai Baba-Pass On To 5 People For Good Luck’ kind of message. Is this some kind of a sign? An Omen? I am in deep trouble and I get this kind of message! Paulo Coelho says – Belive in signs. I do something contrary to my beliefs – I pass on the message to six people with a silent prayer to Shirdi Sai Baba that I should reach home somehow. Before calling up for the ’emergency-rescue-team-to pick-me-up’, I decide to go for it one last time. After a few attempts, some sputtering is there. A few more attempts later, RD350’s engine roars back to life. I’m grinning like anything. I love my friend, I love SMSes and I love Shirdi Sai Baba.

It takes me two attempts to roll the RD350 some distance and engage the first gear. Then second gear, then third, all the way till sixth … and we are going to Ibiza. I have to be careful at railway crossings and small towns. I drag the RD350 across the traffic lights in a major city. Rest of the journey was wonderful. I forgot all my misery every time I overtook a car. Although the speedometer was not working but i guess i travelled at speeds greater than 110 kph with the engine sounding effortless! This despite the fact that one of the pistons was defective and making so much jingling noise.

[Feb 03, 2006] RDB Effect

Watched Rang De Basanti today. Orient, where else?! Didn’t get tickets at the window so Sherry had to pull some strings! This is India meri jaan!

One of the most moving work i’ve seen in recent times. The best thing i liked was Aamir’s acting, of course, and the screenplay. Very nicely interwoven between the past and the present. This ‘past and present’ phrase reminds me of one dialogue from the movie And btw, dialogues were good too.

But the question remains in my mind that how long does the effect , or the message of the movie stays with you! Clapping while the dialogue is being given is alright but how many people will actually contemplate about the theme.

Will things change? CAN things change?! Or will film makers continue to interpret Bhagat, Aazad, Ashfaq, Ram, Durga in modern context, as done in this case? Will “Maar do” be the new catch phrase? Will ‘Singhanias’ of our society continue to be rest assured that law is in their briefcases? Will politicians be ever answerable to the public … and to the law? Will the new generation say no to the ‘tradition’ of corruption and really take the lead to be proactive by joining Police, Judiciary, Politics etc? Sherry asked me this and I said that things will improve as people become educated, aware, responsible. But then this thought occured to me. Have things improved in metros? Metros have the highest density of educated people … but are things better there? Corruption is still there, albeit behind a different mask, with a different face.

So what is the solution? “Line mein khada kar ke goli se uda do” ??? How many? Till when?