Ready-Set-Facebook!

The title says it all.

The fad is infecting all and it is getting so addicting that now I am feeling that I would need a parental control tool for my own self! There is so much useless amusement about the internet that it takes some effort to switch to useful work while online.

By the way, a friend suggested a cool site for listening free Indian music online http://www.muzikwar.com/. Is it legal? Anyways listening to a nostalgic song by Safri Boys: Rahe rahe jaan waliye (Hey you fair lady walking along the way). The lyrics promising a love-till-death, unconditional, unending. The love that love should be. A nice way to recharge after spending a really hectic day at office!

Reminds me when I used to listen to a lot of music when I was schooling. Even switching off the fans so that I can enjoy every note of the song in solitary room for a few minutes. Sweating was ignored in favor of great food for soul: music.

Still a fan of music that used to captivate during those old days. More now when I often get out of sync with the latest bands and albums, I enjoy those tracks all the more.

Few days ago, someone asked me when I find time for bogging as I am working, studying and reading (technical) stuff at the same time. My answer: We can always spare some time for what we like to do. Just as we find time for whom we love.

Well, I think I went a little astray. Got to get back to work. Remember 5 are still to go? Actually 4 now.

Off I go. Take care.

Visit to old age home

One of my friends had his birthday and invited me to accompany him on a visit to old age home where they were providing lunch for the day.

It was a gloomy sight to see abandoned old men and women only passing their days. The facility was providing only the basic amenities and some recreation. But what good is all the recreation if you are not in the best frame of your mind? Ill-treated, abandoned or separated from dear ones by acts of God. They probably have no more objectives in life and just living on...

The staff of the facility deserves a mention and a token of respect who are definitely more patient and caring than the ones whom these old men and women bore and brought up: to their own ill luck.

Life has its facets. Got to live with it. All we can do is contribute to make their life a bit easier. I think we all should add this to our lists to do some charity for these institutions. Whenever we feel like throwing a bash, we should also keep aside a small share of our recreational budget to empower these institutions.

I will, are you joining in?

Holi for India but not the humanity

I saw the markets perched up with colors and curious apparatus that are a kid's delight because these toys give them the power to spew colorful water on each other to commemorate what they might have no idea about. Saw eager shopkeepers, curious kids and cautious parents trying, testing, bargaining and buying toys and colors to celebrate the holy festival - Holi.

Witnessing all this was also a mind that was loud aware of latest crisis that has fell upon humanity. Japan's quake, tsunami and radiation. Civil war in Bahrain that happens to be my birth place also and still home to one of my cousins, The war of independence in  Libya and Cholera in Haiti. The Hiranyakashipu has already struck this time and Holika was too late to save Prahlada.

Amidst all these thoughts racing through my mind, I was also wondering if human civilization really shares the suffering across distances? Do we care more about Japan's situation than a mention of awe about the happening? Does being connected with rest of the world means only to be informed. Should it not also raise concern and pain?

My point here is not about acting upon the crisis and running out to help. Although that would be a noble thing to do. Donating and helping always is, but I behold a deep-felt sorrow for a troubled race above an act of donation and charity because latter might be a consequence of ego and pride rather than a sense of responsibility and concern.

I wonder how many of us would postpone the ideas of having fun because of sorrow and grief being shouldered by far away inhabitants of the same kind we are.

Do we really belong to one race? Of do we believe more in living in our own niche and rejoicing, feeling sad and acting about only what affects our own haven?

On a second thought, I think it would be inappropriate to gauge the concern of people participating in the above hustle about the crisis human race is facing from mere participation in shopping for the festival. The shopkeeper might be (or have to) sell for bread for his kids, the parent want the kids to be happy and the kids are still too innocent to be concerned.

[Just a stream of thoughts]

One down, five to go

Exams they are! It has been almost two decades that I have been appearing in exams now.

One sec...! Did I mention decades to refer to a time span in my life? Damn! What do you call a person who measures his age in decades? Forget it...I'm still a student :-)

Back to the point, examinations always turn on the same cycle of thoughts. Am I prepared? Will I finish on time? Am I nervous?

To say honestly I feel no different that a 5th grader going for the exams. Some nervousness, doubt about preparation, double check stationary, loss of appetite and all are still the same :-) and in some way they are good too for if you care the least, you might end up too confident and when that happens, bad things happen.

Busy month ahead and a visit to this page tends to refresh me a bit. Going to get freshen up and get back to business with my books till sleep-does-us-apart.

You take care. Bye

The headlight leveling device - 1

Hi there again!

I mentioned a headlight leveling device that I plan to build (or fail on it) for my bike. Overall I am looking for some DIY fun. (Look for other posts with the labels in this post)

Till now I know that this apparatus is going to be a contraption of some electronics, limit switches, reduction motor, worm-gear and wiring. And also that it has to be housed in a water tight enclosure. So, it left me wondering how I will construct a container for such an arrangement. Because the components have to be precise, I needed some very finely built container that can house all the components and also allow them to operate (adjust the headlight up and down).

Acrylic sheets was the first option. But where to find them. Maybe some glazier has them. I could have also used aluminum sheet but working on that might be a bit tough with the tools I have got. So acrylic was the way.

Now there comes another need to cut it in precise shapes and that too in correct alignment. Don't think it is just a box that will be needed. Although I have not drawn anything out yet on paper, I can imagine that there will be holes, slides, locks etc to hold various components in place in the assembly. Quite interesting!

The moment of discovery was when I went to get my car's acrylic number plate fixed. I saw that they can cut quite precise shapes and pretty small fonts out of a 5-10 mm acrylic sheet!

"Cool", I thought and asked the owner that if I get them an engineering drawing sort of image, can they cut that out of one of those sheets?

He said, "why not"?

So there we are! All I have to do is get a drawing of each component that makes up the whole housing of the leveling device and get them cut out from them. I may have to file or sand or even get some redone but there is a very good possibility that I can get any kind of contraption cut out of my choice of acrylic sheet and then screw them together in shape. Although nothing is on paper yet, this, I would say is the R&D phase. :-)

Stay tuned!