Prag Máttik

With a flick of the magic wand, interactive lessons

2010-10-25T08:12:00.001-07:00

Got Featured in a newspaper article.
With a flick of the magic wand, interactive lessons

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Latest ones in US

2008-10-23T07:42:00.001-07:00

Life short Live Every Moment

Latest Pic - no more latest..

2007-12-17T03:41:00.000-08:00

Life short Live Every Moment.. Yahoo..

Microsoft huh....

2006-11-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

If u cant be like/match them , be a part of them or rather collaborate. That's what Microsoft, World's biggest software firm has done. It recently signed a pact with with Novell to provide support for Suse a very popular Linux Release.. Gud going MS..I am impressed , man they know wht it takes to b at the top..Microsoft Linux LinkUp

All About Happiness

2006-10-11T03:39:00.001-07:00

hav nothing really to write , but was feeling i shud write somthng, so decided to post few lines written by outgoing teammate amit:-
Happiness is not a thing to search
It is found in the core of your heart

People say they are unhappy because they are tense
But I think this statement has no sense

Problems are part and parcel of life
But you don’t have to stuck up like a blunt knife

Happiness is a thing to share
But I am afraid few people are aware

Happiness when shared reached high proportions
But when kept gets distortion

Happiness is not money
But it tastes as good as honey

So if you are wise
Take my advise

Happiness if you choose
You will win the battle of life which you were going to lose

Schumi saying GudBye F1 :(

2006-09-11T00:23:00.001-07:00

THERE have been so many fairytale moments in Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary career in Formula One — and there have been nightmares too — but yesterday, in the sunshine of Ferrari’s home track, he announced his impending retirement amid the adulation of his most loyal fans after a textbook victory in the Italian Grand Prix.What was also written in advance, but also drew emotion from the crowd - now amassed on the track to celebrate the victory - was the announcement that Schumacher said he would make about his future in the sport he has dominated for more than a decade.

"This is going to be my last Monza race. At the end of the year, I have decided together with the team that I am going to retire from racing. It has been an exceptional, really exceptional time that motor sport, in more than 30 years, has given to me."

"It's been a very special day, to finish it in this style, looking at the championship, but much more at what's going to happen in the future," Schumacher, 37, said in response to the first question in the post-race press conference broadcast through loudspeakers to the spectators and television.

The word legend is used in sport too loosely these days, but whatever your feelings about him, Schumacher is one of them. His leaving marks the end of an era in motor racing that he has defined by his mere presence. So many wins, so many pole positions, so many fastest laps, so many defeated opponents, most of whom have long since disappeared into the sunset — and two or three awful moments that let him down in 16 years behind the wheel at the highest level.

P.S. - Extracts from various news articles.

First Job

2006-08-30T06:07:00.000-07:00

First Job, first salary -- hmmm, ready for a bash.. bt nt for me ... my first month was rather boring and still waiting to get my first cheque cleared :(.. Moreover a s/w job in my terms is no more that exciting , sitting at the same place, rather cube all day ..huh..

Finally Its Time to Say Gud Bye :-)

2006-05-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

SO its over , my last week in KGP rather IIT Kgp. Two years of sweet memories, fun and excitement, a small flashback reveals it all. It has been 2 years of self-exploration on the learning spree for me.. i have learned more than wht i did all my life. The people i met here had gud zeal, wits, with broad minded approach towards life and totally down-earthed. U cant ask for a better company or a guide in life... Wll everythng tht begins has to end , so is my stay here, but this stay has transformed me and my approach towards life ... hail Kgp(iit)....:-)

Exit Pramod Mahajan.... :(

2006-05-03T23:45:00.000-07:00

"Brain-drain is always discussed in our country. But today the brain-drain of the 60's or the 70's is paying us back by giving a reverse brain-drain. These are the same people who were cursed to the level of calling them traitors, they have created a name not only for themselves but for India in the IT sector today. IT has almost become a brand name for India and we will have to thank the same brain-drain for that." were the words of the man, who was one of the prominent, dynamic, charismatic politicians of modern indian politics. He had graduate degrees in Jounalism and physics and was a visionary... It was a big shock tp BJP and indian politics. The info-tech savvy Mahajan breathed his last at 4:10 p.m. 3rd may 2006. rest in peace -- strategist..

P.S.-- I am nt into politics , bt it thght him as sum gud ones around.

Last Shot @KGP

2006-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

So its finally here , the grand finalle-- final month of my 2 yr stay at IIT KGP.. Whtever take it fud, place , etc .. nt only me , my other batchmates have hated the place like crazy.. But now i feel the place is not tht bad, the greenary, weather, pollution-free enviroment and down to earth people,, no show-off rather they dont now wht this means.
So finally we did our last batch KGP shoot moving around the campus and having sum real gud time...The shoot wll always be a sweet memory and remind abt the nite-outs, bhaating and pulling legs -- ..Whtever KGP rocks -- tempo high hai ...

Crashed Linux..(gr8 1 got frm reddit.com link on flickr.com)

2006-03-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

Everyone is familiar with blue-screening kiosks and travel information displays, but this one was pretty new to me. The route display on this Air Algerie Airbus a330 was visibly experiencing some disk issues. (They rebooted the aircraft in midair, everything was fine after).

Still, the thought of flying around in something that is controlled by Redmonds' finest scares me even more :-)

[Note after 53000 views: No, this is not a normal Linux boot sequence. See the original sized version for the gory details. Also it got stuck here for a long time (~10 mins) until they restarted the app. And as some pointed out below, I doubt very much that up until this point off-the shelf OS'es are used for anything mission critical. Duh.] courtesy milliped@flickr.com

did u know abt cheapest software pack

2006-03-07T05:39:00.000-08:00

If you still run Windows or your a linux user with Windows computers you might want to try the google pack, its this thing that has all the software availible in one package. Its the type of stuff that Windows XP should have pre installed as part of the operating system like PDF viewing, virus scanning, etc. This is a very good download if you just built a computer or you are doing a fresh formatting and reinstall. And last but not the least it is real cheap.. go give a tryGoogle Pack and thanx google and me.. haha

Placements done...

2006-02-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhhhh, the thing called ON CAMPUS PLACEMENT is done for me. After some fight , i got into Conexant. The profile is basically like a typical S/W, but i have opted for their HYD center , bcoz of their linux grp their. Moreover till dated our whole CSE batch is placed , time for peace marooo.

PPT started

2005-10-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

On 3rd i attended my first formal PPT( pre placement talk) , as in my Btech days our college suked big time and we raely had any company visiting our campus, the management of the college was pathetic and sucked big time.
Its was nice to hear the Intel Guy some chatterjee/Bannerjee talk about its valuse and ethics, i donno whether they really follow. The offer they made was reasonable for us.
Well i am looking to futher talks , as i have heard they give goodies sometime...

Nice surprise

2005-09-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

On 19th i got a good surprise from project mate Chandan -"Our project got selected in Intel's Contest IntelIISRC results
Just two days to write synopsis and more by Chandan, it was nice to visit bangalore for free picnic in Nov. Well good things in life come unseen...

Its Hot...........

2005-09-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Presenting to All the best car ever made and termed as ' most beautiful car on the roads' and also my favourite Aston Martin - DBR9 by Top Gear (@BBC)
Hold your breath

Geeks and Nerds for Better Romance..watch out gals..

2005-09-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

This article is orginaly seemed to be written by some lady. Have a look:

"In the wide world of dating, there are many options. Do you go for the flashy guy with the smooth smile, or the dude in the corner typing away on his laptop? The following are reasons why I think my fellow females should pay more attention to the quiet geeks and nerds, and less attention to the flashy boys.

1.) While geeks and nerds may be awkward, they’re well-meaning 9 out of 10 times. That smooth dude with the sly grin and the spider hands? Wonder what HIS intentions are... plus, I’ve never had a geek guy not call me when he said he would. Score major points THERE.

2.) They’re useful. In this tech-savvy world, it’s great to have a b/f who can make your laptop, desktop, and just about anything else that plugs into a wall behave itself.

3.) They’re more romantic than they’re given credit for. Ok true, their idea of romance might be to make up a spiffy web-page with all the reasons why they love you, with links to pics of you and sonnets and such... but hey. It lasts longer than flowers, plus you can show your friends.

4.) Due to their neglected status, there are plenty to choose from. You like ‘em tall and slender? There are plenty of geeks/nerds who are. You like ‘em smaller with more meat on their bones? Got that too.

5.) They’ve got brains. Come on now, how can intelligence be a bad thing?

6.) Most are quite good at remembering dates. Like birthdates and such, especially if they know it’ll make you happy. Due again to their neglected status, they’re more attentive than guys who “have more options”. Plus, with all that down time without a steady girlfriend, they’ll likely have mental lists of all the things they’d love to do once they GOT a girlfriend.

7.) Sex. Yep. Sex. I’m not really familiar with this myself, but I’ve friends who’ve been intimate with geek guys and it’s raves all around. They say a virgin wrote the Kama Sutra... all that time thinking about sex, imagining sex, dreaming about sex, (they are male after all) coupled with a desire to make you happy? Use your imagination.

8.) They’re relatively low-maintenance. Most can be fueled on pizza, Twinkies and Mt Dew. No complicated dinners needed here, so if you’re not the best cook, eh. Can you order a pizza?

9.) Most frequent bars as often as slugs frequent salt mines. You won’t have to worry much about your geek guy getting his “groove” on with club hotties because, frankly, he’ll be too busy rooting around under his computer wondering where that spare cable went. You won’t have to worry about him flirting with other women because, 9 out of 10 times, he’ll zip right by them in a perfect b-line towards the nearest electronics store. I’ve seen this happen.
Me: “Eww. Victoria Secret’s Models... They’re so skinny. How is that feminine? You can see her ribs!”
Geek Guy: “ooooooo...”
Me: “Hey!” *notices he is staring lustfully towards the computer store*
Geek Guy: “What?”
Me: “Never mind...”

10.) Although he may not want to go to every outing with you, you can arrange swaps, as in, you’ll go to his Gamer Con dressed as an elf princess if he’ll take you to the ballet. Plus, if he doesn’t want to go someplace with you, you won’t have to worry much about what he’s up to. You’ll probably come home to find him asleep on his keyboard in a sea of Mt. Dew cans with code blinking from the screen. It’s ok. He’s used to this. Just toss a blanket over him and turn out the light.

11.) His friends aren’t jerks. I can’t stress this enough. You’ll more likely get “Omg! A GIRL!! Can I see?!” than “Hey hot stuff back that ass up here and let me get some grub on...” They’re awkward geeks too and will, 9 times out of 10, treat you with the utmost respect and, more than likely, a note of awe. A cute girl picked one of their clan to date? It could happen to them! Hope! Drag some of your single girlfriends over, open up a pack of Mt. Dew, crack open the DnD set and get working. Nothing impresses geek guys more than a girl who can hack-n-slash (well ok maybe if she can code... a geek can dream).

12.) They’re rarely if ever possessive. They trust you, so you can be yourself around them. You like to walk around the house in a ratty t-shirt for comfort? He won’t care. He does too! They won’t get pissy if you don’t wear make-up or don’t want to bother primping your hair. If you gain a few pounds, they won’t try their best to make you feel like crap.

13.) They’re usually very well educated. Physics majors and the like. See #5. You won’t have to listen to him blathering on about his car (ok maybe a little), he’ll have loads of other interesting things to talk about. Politics, world events, how much the chicken burgers down at the local place rock, so long as you douse them in hot sauce...

14.) You’ll almost never have to hear, “Yaw dawg whazzap!!” plop out of their mouths. Unless it’s in jest. They spell properly, use correct punctuation, and are able to tell the difference between the toilet and the floor. They almost never get “wasted”, so you won’t have to worry about coming home to find him and his friends passed out on the floor amidst a pile of beer bottles. Mt. Dew cans, perhaps...

15.) And the final reason why geeks and nerds make great boyfriends: They actually give a damn about you. Not how you look (though that’s a plus), not how skinny you are, not how much make-up you primp yourself up with, but they like you for you. That kind of thing lasts longer than “DaMN baby you got a fine ass!!!” Believe me."

Look At Microsoft's Dareness..

2005-09-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

Finally, something to brighten up your Monday - an amusing story, as shared by Eric S Raymond. Last week, the well-known open source advocate was approached by none other than Microsoft Corporation - with a job offer!

Now, if you are new to Linux and the open source movement, here is a little background. Among the many other claims to fame, Eric S Raymond is the author of The Cathedral and the Bazaar, a 1991 book that discusses the differences between a centralised software development model (i.e. cathedral = proprietary software) and the open and decentralised development model (i.e. bazaar = open source software). He is also the person who has published and commented the famous Halloween documents, a series of Microsoft internal memoranda discussing strategies to fight (and destroy) Linux and other open source software. To illustrate the stance of Eric S Raymond, here is his comment accompanying one of the Halloween documents:

"For Microsoft (or at least its present business model) to survive, open source must die. It's a lot like the Cold War was; peaceful coexistence could be a stable solution for us, but it can never be for them, because they can't tolerate the corrosive effect on their customer relationships of comparisons with a more open system. (Anyone who thinks I'm being perfervid or overly melodramatic about this should review the direct long-term revenue and platform threat language from Halloween I. Other people may fool themselves about what this means, but Microsoft never has.)."

So even if you haven't heard of Eric S Raymond before, you should know by now that he is no friend of Microsoft -- and that's if we put it mildly. Now imagine the utter shock the following email must have caused when it appeared in Eric's mailbox last week:

"I am a member of the Microsoft Central Sourcing Team. Microsoft is seeking world class engineers to help create products that help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential. Your name and contact info was brought to my attention as someone who could potentially be a contributor at Microsoft. I would love an opportunity to speak with you in detail about your interest in a career at Microsoft, along with your experience, background and qualifications. I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have and can also provide you with any information I have available in regard to the positions and work life at Microsoft."

Not surprisingly, this outrageous offer resulted in a reply that the Microsoft executive will never forget for as long as he lives:

"I'd thank you for your offer of employment at Microsoft, except that it indicates that either you or your research team (or both) couldn't get a clue if it were pounded into you with baseball bats. What were you going to do with the rest of your afternoon, offer jobs to Richard Stallman and Linus Torvalds? Or were you going to stick to something easier, like talking Pope Benedict into presiding at a Satanist orgy?"

Later in the email response, Eric continues to pile on more analogies on the hapless Microsoft executive:

"On the day *I* go to work for Microsoft, faint oinking sounds will be heard from far overhead, the moon will not merely turn blue but develop polkadots, and hell will freeze over so solid the brimstone will go superconductive. But I must thank you for dropping a good joke on my afternoon. On that hopefully not too far distant day that I piss on Microsoft's grave, I sincerely hope none of it will splash on you."

2nd yr life in Mtech

2005-09-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Life in Masters (Technology) is really peace bhai log, except for some days when thery r really hectic due to guide's strict requirements. Waking up late in the noon has got into habit and a movie a day is average . But as placement times are approaching the pressure is mounting , so need to cut down the amount of masti and movie reviews.
Wll still 3 cheers to Mtech @nd yr life

Mid sems r over

2004-09-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

Atlast my mid sems are over .They went ok but were quite different from wht i used 2 face in my btech days