Hey all ! I am back with my softwares list after a long time. As you all know, I am pretty crazy about using new softwares and trying them, crashing my operating system and then give the verdict. Glad to announce that I have lost the habit of crashing my system and I now run a very stable windows. Surprising, isn’t it? A stable windows! Here is the list of open source softwares I use,
- Open Office
- CCleaner
- Gimp2
- Firefox (Yeah, pretty sure all of you have this)
- PDF – Xchange viewer
There is a list of other softwares I use which are free, not open source. I am not a programmer, so I never play with the codes, but open source is the best way to get the best stuff on net.
A list of other softwares I generally use
- Avira
- mu torrent
- Google desktop (forced to run in 64 bit, no problems so far
)
Here is a list of links from where you can get some good open source softwares
http://www.opensourcewindows.org/
http://sourceforge.net/
http://osswin.sourceforge.net/
http://downloadpedia.org/Open_Source_Windows
Ending note – Vista sucks, Microsoft even worse. Apple rules, MAC forever !
Why has Steve Jobs become my guru for innovation ? Why has Apple brand taken over my senses with a violent force ? I cannot stop myself from seeing Steve’s videos on you tube, be his speeches or his presentations. It just encourages me.
It will not be long before Apple is dominant than Microsoft in the Operating System sector. I know, 88% of the market share goes to Microsoft and around 8% belongs to Apple. As Steve said, its not between Mac and Microsoft anymore, I agree, but Change happens, truth occurs. Apple will very soon dominate the world of OS. One of the reasons why I am not able to shift to Mac is because of its pricing. Its way too expensive. But then, to buy an Apple you have to be special. Altering what is said for Porsche, “There is a time when you like an Apple, there is a time when you want to buy one and then there is a time when you will own one”.
Why do I think Apple is going to out beat Microsoft in the coming future? Apple’s innovation in every aspect, Apple’s commitment to give the best and nothing lesser than the best. I have not used a single Apple device, but I would love to have all my electronic items to be Apple. Iphone, Imac, Mac pro, Ipod and even Apple TV. That completes my list of electronic devices I would use.
Talking about Steve, what a crazy fan following he has. A guy who has the control to push for innovation. Microsoft with loads of talented guys cannot innovate like the way Apple does. Vista was too similar to Leopard, I do not have to talk about Vista, the world speaks about it.
Anyway, peace. Apple will dominate in the near future. Anyway, this is a blog about Apple from an enthusiastic fan of Apple and Steve Jobs. I am presently studying their financial reports and their performance, it amazes me. Its a company worth studying in your economic class or even outside
From an article written by Ramachandra Guha on BBC news site.
In the first weeks of 1967, the Times of London dispatched a reporter to cover the Indian elections. Travelling around the country, he saw – or thought he saw – a mood of apathy and helplessness.
Some Indians he talked to had expressed a “readiness for the rejection of parliamentary democracy”. The journalist himself was dismayed by the conflict and the corruption. He could spy “the already fraying fabric of the nation itself”, with the states “already beginning to act like sub-nations”.
We still behave like sub-nations and treat the victorious as kings. Karunanidhi openly expressing his desire to have his family members in the cabinet and those victorious eyeing for greater power. The states fight like dogs over a loaf of bread, this happening within a country is disheartening. Although I am not a supporter of the Congress, it is very good for the country to have one party as the majority. Decisions will be made faster, although its implementation would never be on time. Having a single party rule at the center is vital for a country like India, there would be no outward pull in different directions from different parties. Congress has won and has made a roaring come back. The reason being Rahul Gandhi’s idea to go ahead with Uttar pradesh and other states as a solo team, Manmohan Singh’’s calm approach to all the heap of comments on him and Sonia Gandhi’s shadow rule of India. Sonia’s impressive win in Rae Baerali shows the people support for her.
BJP on the other hand has lost miserably with L. K. Advani deciding to resign the leader of the opposition post. His last chance of being the Prime Minister in shambles. Modi is a capable administrator, the PM in waiting but his administrative skills are being overshadowed by the attack on Muslims. The 2009 results has one thing to say, as long as any party indicates religion as its main color, people would hesitate to vote for it. People are pushing forward for development, growth and I hope the next elections would have more sensible voters with caste, money and religion out of its way.
Irrespective of whether Congress is good for the country or not, its good for a country to have a single party in power. Where India establishes in this world in the next 10 years could very well be sculpted in the next 5 yearsof the UPA rule.
Although I feel that congress is not good for the country, it is best to have one party dominating the results. It is best to the country to have such a one sided result. There are two reasons for this,
1. Developments, changes, aggressive plans can now be initiated and would not need the opinion of the parties
2. Any failure would now be the responsibility of one party, the blame game would stop
More comments and reactions of people from around the world -
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6445&edition=2&ttl=20090517174645
We, Indians are bought up in a society where we are surrounded by people and family members who take care of various issues which has to be handled by the family. A collective society, a place where sadness or happiness is shared. Happiness gets multiplied, sadness gets divided. Coming to United States of America, I was lost and felt I was in middle of a group of evil men who cared only about their own interests and living. What is wrong? Who defines evil? Its the same society we live in. What is acceptable and regarded in high esteem in the East may be trivial to the West and what is considered a taboo in the East is a common aspect in the Western culture. Who defines rules, ethics? If at all life has taught something to me so far, its about surviving. The United States is an individualistic country. You pursue your dreams and satisfy your needs, the simplest rule of any living organism. But a reprieve, you do it in a cultured and systematic environment. In order to survive, you have to pursue and never hesitate. Throw your attitude around and just think about yourself. Its not wrong, you are living your life, trying to do what you want to. People would envy you, curse you for your success although you have never spoiled their opportunities. People seldom realize that its being hesitant is the greatest evil within us. Do I make a point here ? I am not speaking Ayn Rands’ philosophy, but I am trying to realize my own existence. Being hesitant has been playing a spoilsport in my life. Man always savors his success only when an authority confirms it.
Lets talk about individualism here. I was under a wrong perception that pursuing under one’s own dreams without caring for others is being selfish, after coming here I felt it funny. If people are reaching the top position in their life, its because of this selfishness. Selfishness which does not harm others’ existence in most cases. Living the dream you want to without harming and disrupting others’ life is the way life has to lived. But why are we hesitant? Why do we always consider some authority higher to us and bend before them? I had a tough time coming out of this behavior. To be successful, you have to be confident and bold. And its not evil to be selfish.
Being in the USA, you need to throw out your dilemmas out of the window. You cannot be stuck living the Indian life if you cannot lead, if you cannot be confident. Networking is important just like it was in your home country, but here you need to have an attitude. Now is it good to be selfish? Yes.
This was a mail forward, I really loved the mail.
“Romance” short story contest – English- From New York, with love…
Dearest Appa, 27th Jan’1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have missed this winter’s biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa. You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan, Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil, filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Physics Department and of course Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn’t brought his name in this letter.But not to worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you thought it was best for your daughter. I still remember Amma wiping her silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I told you about Sakthi. Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20 is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected greatly by my ‘mistake’, the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you’d still have objected and offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk. Visu on the other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man.
Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous. Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn’t speak Bengali and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood. Do you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn’t ask, he just did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri’s son and that made it imposible for Subramania Iyer’s daughter Kalyani to marry him.
I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don’t think I can make it to Seenu’s Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal, I don’t use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 20th Oct’1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they sounded like ‘Dosai’. But Visu claims it’s just gibberish. From your previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his school final exams. Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi’s father, your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother’s wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu’s mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn’t have used it anyway, I haven’t seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess. Visu is making sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and Bharathiyaar’s poetry when I am alone with him. It’s more of reading to myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi, it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold your breath Appa, he didn’t throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no question. He said it is okay and that he doesn’t mind. And then he told me of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 3rd June’1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam and vaazhai ilai here. Visu’s relieved to be back in America. I left a set of my books there. If it’s not in Trichy it must be in Visu’s parents’ place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out Sakthi’s present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long. You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika.
He called me. You know what, he’s still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He didn’t revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him, when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Ra ra Venu Gopala. That’s when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then, I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy; after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call, I tried singing ‘Kurai Onrum Illai’. I could not rquite reach Charanam, because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and daughter could not just wait for me to finish!
By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu’s parents. It was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening. Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour – I finally got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I’m reminded of AIR, almost! I’m circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is, I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English speaking nation.
The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you, Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don’t find an answer, Appa. Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted. Researcher, American Post Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 14th Apr’1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. In fact, they did most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.
Dearest Appa, 20th Jan’ 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you. Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn’t want to go further. Society, I know. Family… I know… And all these letters would have only wounded you more. Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr. Sakthivel’s untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters mean a life that could have been.
Kalyani Viswanathan.
———————-
Found an interesting article related to the mind set of many young students who have finished their Under Graduation. Here is the link. ET article
With funding being low in many universities and job not assured after completing Masters, one has to think the necessity and benefits of studying in the United States. I have regretted for not taking up MBA and opting for MS in Industrial Engineering. Irrespective of what this country holds for me, I somehow plan to face these obstacles to see what I can extract before I book my flight back home for good. Most of my friends who graduated in the month of December 2008 are now returning back to India, I doubt whether there would be any brighter opportunities back in India at this point of time.
At this trend, I strongly believe India would be a country filled with brilliant minds waiting and raring to display their skill. Its the government which has to direct the resources for young aspiring students in order the harness their potentials. Coruption and bad politics has done enough damage to India, can there be a change ? A change which millions of students would love to see. Will the common citizen be wise enough to vote for a change? I hope people take the elections coming up in May to shout their minds out, to make a point.
