~•••[ One step at a time ]•••~

[Happy New Year]

2011-12-31T15:31:00.006-05:00

Life, at times, can appear like a long never ending night and you are that lonely traveler, who must navigate meticulously and often erroneously through it. You must have remained vigilant and worked patiently to safeguard your cause, only to find that your ways were not working. You needed light. You needed direction.

Let the onset of 2012 be like a dawn of the most beautiful morning in your life, where tender and purposeful rays of light, offer you hope, give you direction and most importantly get you to feel that success that you have been looking for.

Happy New Year - 2012, a year that finally turns the tide in your favor.

...

[...]

2011-12-05T02:24:00.001-05:00

Eventually, everything we do, will be a distant memory. Gather as much and as diverse experiences as possible and then towards the end cherish them.

...

[...]

2011-11-18T17:45:00.002-05:00

I got the best gift for the birthday - An Inspirational Talk by Dean Kamen.

...

[...]

2011-11-10T01:33:00.000-05:00

It will come to me. I believe in it.

...

[Between One Eye Blink]

2011-10-31T17:51:00.001-04:00

There was a time when your eyes opened in this world for the first time. There will be a time when your eyes will close in this world for the last time. Between this one eye blink your whole life is defined and is given a meaning.

Focus on the big picture and dream without constraints and execute your dreams by adding those constraints. Live your life well and for a purpose.

...

[Song: In The Arms Of An Angel]

2011-10-16T20:51:00.001-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of listening to Angel by Sarah Mclachlan. This deeply moving and meaningful song is very understated and underrated. Tune into it and decide for yourself. Song and Lyrics.

...

[...]

2011-10-05T23:08:00.003-04:00

It is a sad day. Steve Jobs is no more.

...

[Life]

2011-08-14T01:22:00.001-04:00

There is something very magical and surreal about life. When we are working through our lives, hardly having any time, we fail to realize the purpose and promise it holds.

In the fog of life, where we are welcomed to this world through our parents, we find siblings, and meet new friends, rarely do we acknowledge the true purpose of living a life.

A life is lived for the dreams we envision for it. A life is not lived for the objects of possession. Though objects make our lives convenient, they don't necessarily provide us the path or give us a clue as to where our next step will come from.

When this fog of life gets thick, we stumble, cower, even question our dreams and their futility as the reality strikes us. The idealism of youth of capturing the sky, gives way to daily grind of meeting a milestone, delivering products and contributing to the society.

Stop for a moment now to consider how did that innocent dream got transformed into milestones, products and contributions. It doesn't mean that milestones, products and contributions are bad. They are the effect of the steps taken by you when you walked towards your dreams, wanting to make a difference.

That innocent dream of flying in the air made you become an airline pilot, it was the best thing you could do. Surely, you were flying, you were with the sky and the planets were nearer to you than anyone else on the earth.

Your dream, like a guide, held your hand and walked you through a maze of decisions, terms and logic that you didn't understand to start with, and transformed what you wanted into something in this reality around us.

Some left their dreams, citing reality as a reason, others modified it to suit themselves. There were some, working at that dream, not for some award or incentive but for the sheer joy of realizing it someday.

They didn't care about the odds, they didn't listen to the reasons this world threw at them. They just worked at their dreams, night and day. There was also another thing about working towards your dreams.

If someone realized his or her childhood dream and we couldn't, even if stranger, we empathized with them and felt as if we realized our dreams. Perhaps in our moment of reconciliation when the twilight was waiting for us, with our quivering lips, offered a prayer for that person's cause and realization.

You can be the person who realizes your childhood dream or you can be the person who reconciles when all is said and done. It's never late to start dreaming and never too late to start acting on them. One advice.

Dream big, because it will make those milestones, products and contributions more overarching and have positive influence on the society.

And when the twilight awaits you, in your very defining moment, say those prayers, as a dream achiever and as a person who empathized with the one. In that moment you will be the union of both those spirits.

...

[Peace]

2011-08-14T00:36:00.001-04:00

I am going to love what I do and I am going to do what I love.

...

[A Pale Blue Dot]

2011-07-17T05:33:00.001-04:00

Carl Sagan gave a profound message in a very elegant and concise manner. We will do well to understand his key message. Here's that message.

The transcript is as follows.

From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Look again at that dot. That's here, that's home, that's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

...

[Perceiving Dynamic Landscape of Privacy]

2011-07-17T05:01:00.002-04:00

I believe that, for all practical reasons, privacy is nonexistent. As long as we are interested in 'what others do', we will find reasons and ways to feed on it. I believe sharing our state is the most basic of human desires.

The basic reason behind knowing about someone, is to anticipate or predict their course of actions. Whether those actions lead to economic gains, sustaining the overall state of security of society, or at the very least provide an emotional payoff for keeping up with the friends, is open to debate.

While we may agree that lack of privacy is undesirable, several of us promote it through our own contributions. In particular, through our research.

Let's take an example. We have witnessed that letting applications (either running on smartphones, web or an interface of your choice) know of your locations have interesting ramifications.

You get to select a cheaper gas station within your vicinity. You get targeted advertisements based on your locations. They even tell you if any of your friends are nearby, when you are in a neighborhood location. So far so good.

When our location is not private, it enables construction of a context, which can be used to predict several things about us. More importantly, when fused with other forms of data, it leads to even more interesting outcomes.

For example, by knowing your locations over a period of time, it is possible to create a spatial map of your location activity. It will show that you prefer certain locations over the rest. And there will be a good reason behind it.

When this map is combined with time data, it will show your desire to be at certain locations at certain time of the day. Each location has a specific designation, purpose, and a set of actions that you perform. Ergo, knowing a location is a handle to predicting your actions with respect to that location.

When actions can be predicted spatio-temporally, it enables the 'system' to act based on the 'profiles' of people within it. I will not indulge you by painting a bleak Orwellian society.

The only point I make is that - I am one of those who, in part, enable such outcomes through my research. Therefore, from this unique vantage point, I bear and taste the fruits of my own labor. Whether it suffocates or liberates is hard to predict as of now.

...

[March on]

2011-06-20T22:53:00.000-04:00

Remember the very beginning of this journey and march on. Gather what you have got and march on. Here's a link to a very soulful and unsettling song by One Republic: Marching On. It's lyrics are here.

...

[Microcosm]

2011-06-05T12:44:00.002-04:00

If you have been to a relative's house for a short vacation, you would have experienced the following pattern - You are full of emotions on arrival, get involved with the host's household activities during the middle, and are a bit sad and perhaps contented at the time of departure.

Isn't this true for our life in general. When you arrive to live, aren't you full of emotions. During the stay, you get involved with life, and when the time comes to leave, you are satisfied with whatever life you lived and a bit sad that it won't last longer.

During your stay as a guest at the relative's house, you get to view the life in it's entirety. You can see the similarity between the stay at relative's house and the stay on this earth during your life.

During your stay in life, you achieve, lose, make friends and enemies, much like your stay at the relative's house. The only difference is that short verbal spats with your nephew seem inconsequential due to smaller scale and severity.

So if you are living your life as a whole and in parts in a similar manner, then why not strive to learn the lessons from your stay at the relative's house and apply on to your life.

Know that you have already arrived in life. Know that the departure is inevitable. Thus, while you engage in life, learn to overlook trivialities and focus on the true meaning of living the life.

Overlook spats, losses, disappointments, sorrow, dejection, and failure. Standup and claim your life and live the whole life as if you are living only a part of it.

A time will come when you will depart, make your stay worthwhile while it lasts.

...

[Advice from a friend]

2011-04-11T20:19:00.002-04:00

Believe that more people are with you.

...

[Congratulations]

2011-04-02T13:27:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Team India for the World Cup 2011 win. Very Inspirational Indeed.

...

[Interesting Concept]

2011-03-28T12:05:00.000-04:00

I recently watched a movie called Limitless. The movie has an intriguing plot and engages your mind to test many hypothesis about life in general. Spare some moments of your life to watch this movie, it is time well spent. Maybe the movie is the pill you need to unlock your potential.

...

[Imagine]

2011-03-05T23:33:00.000-05:00

I recently spared some moments of my life to listen to "Imagine" by John Lennon. It has beautiful lyrics and flowing music that lifts your soul. It is also inspirational in many ways. Here is the song and here are the lyrics.

...

[New Meaning]

2011-02-14T16:05:00.009-05:00

In life there comes a time when you discover new meanings in old wisdom. I am going through a phase of life, when introspection has become a second nature. In this pursuit to deeply understand life, I am gifted with solitude. Time has lost its meaning in my silent room.

There are certain aspects of my life that require immediate action. However, I must bide this time, counting every grain of it and learning from it. I must also find timelessness, for my thoughts to flourish. Certain past actions have given new meanings to my life. My present and future are fortunate to have them for company.

Someday when all the pieces of puzzle will settle in their positions, I want to see the picture that emerges. So far it is unpredictable. One can only strive to give their best in short term in a hope that long term will be taken care of automatically.

What it is like taking a grain of sand from hourglass, counting it and then keeping it aside ? There is a paradox here. Timelessness implies having no sense of time. That is, you dont know how much less or more time is. But you must live it. Have you waited for a bus, a friend, or a rain shower to stop ? You know that every second appeared so much more. How about when you read a book while waiting for a bus ? Did you balanced timelessness and value for time ?

So what is it when time has no meaning but you must live it ? How do you measure it when you seek focus somewhere else ?

...

[Need Inspiration ?]

2011-01-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for some inspiration ? Try this soul-stirring song

...

[Failed Promise]

2011-01-09T08:13:00.003-05:00

There are so many failed promises. I intend to change that.

...

[Wishes for New Year]

2010-12-31T00:23:00.000-05:00

As the end of year draws nearer and new year beckons, it is an ideal time to contemplate, to find new meanings in your experiences, to chart a course for a promising future.

Maybe you have found what you have been looking for. Maybe you are still short. Maybe you are very close to solving an important problem or finding it hard to muster courage.

I wish and hope that 2011 gives you enough strength, vision, and discipline to achieve what you set out for.

My best wishes for your New Year.

...

[Merry Christmas]

2010-12-24T21:59:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas to all.

...

[Final Chance]

2010-11-04T16:53:00.000-04:00

I have only one chance to prove whether I can do it or not. God I need your hand on me.

...

[Signpost on the road to Perfection]

2010-10-17T13:41:00.005-04:00

For all days prepare and take them ever alike, when you are the anvil, bear, when you are the hammer, strike.

...

[What do you believe in ?]

2010-09-28T13:38:00.000-04:00

Most, if not all, smart people reduce the occurrence or existence of phenomenon to a set of well defined rules within a body of knowledge (e.g., A particle physicist anticipates and describes particle collisions within the framework of conservation of energy, desire of colliding particles to maintain low-energy states etc.). To them, God is also a phenomenon or concept whose occurrence or existence must be characterized through set of rules and followed up with evidence. When other people attribute unfathomable complexity, diversity, and order in the universe as a proof of existence of God, smart people tend to describe it through a repeated construction theory (i.e., Assembling simple things in certain order to arrive on a larger scale of ordered things such as fractals).

The smartest people in this smart people group possess the knack of filling the gaps with reasonable logic that withstands the scrutiny of lesser mortals. Part of their behavior also comes from a occurrence that often happens (i.e., Discovery of a property of the concept in question that cannot be described through the existing set of rules. Such a property is said to exist outside the axiomatic rules of given system). To them, until a reasonable framework exists within which God can be described through a set of rules and subsequently a repeatable evidence can be found, denying seems more logical and consistent. In effect, they have reduced the existence of God as a question that can be explained within a logical framework. The beauty of argument is the co-existence of diverging framework (i.e., those who believe in existence of God and those who don't) within single realm or plane. It makes me realize the shortcoming of either one of them.

...

[Where the mind is without fear]

2010-09-08T14:51:00.002-04:00

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,

Where knowledge is free,
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments,
By narrow domestic walls,
Where words come out from the depth of truth,
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection,
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way,
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit,
Where the mind is led forward by thee,
Into ever-widening thought and action,
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake,

...

[Set free]

2010-07-19T13:56:00.002-04:00

I learnt many positive things today. I will remember this day throughout my life.

01. Believe that everyone has good side

02. Strive to forgive people

03. Have courage to stand up for your convictions

04. Only the path chosen and hard work matters

05. Imbibe the key lessons learnt from everyone

06. Wake up to your higher purpose

07. Trials of life are meant to test the strength of your resolve

08. In the end, you will only be known for what you did

09. Lose a cent to win a dime

10. The struggle of outside is part of the struggle of inside

...

[In Pursuit of Happyness]

2010-07-17T12:56:00.000-04:00

I recently saw a movie called In Pursuit of Happyness. I could draw parallels between the characters in movie and my life. Take a moment to watch this movie. Decode the principles depicted in it.

...

[Manifold Destiny]

2010-07-01T18:35:00.001-04:00

In a field that requires integrity and character, it is difficult to understand why a person would surrender ethics, even after winning many accolades. The story of Grigory Perelman, who solved Poincaré Conjecture but was forced to quit his field, is a lesson that even the most accomplished people amongst us are fallible. In the quest of lasting fame, many famous people will bite the dust.

The thin line between ethics, control, influence, and desire will challenge only upright individuals. The rest will never be examined.

...

[Inspiration, Anybody ?]

2010-06-18T19:50:00.000-04:00

Looking for inspiration ? Watch this movie.

...

[Lasting Understanding]

2010-05-03T16:18:00.000-04:00

You never forget things you've worked out yourself.

- Rod Marsh

[Reassess]

2010-04-23T13:45:00.002-04:00

Life is fast and hardly offers you time to think about your direction, and decisions. Take a moment to reassess your motivations by watching this video.

[Focus]

2010-03-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

My focus is on only one goal now.
...

[Will]

2010-02-02T13:01:00.000-05:00

I will continue in the direction of my work, even in the absence of success.

...

[Prayer]

2010-01-14T17:33:00.002-05:00

May God give peace and happiness to earthquake victims in Haiti.

...

[Steady Rise]

2010-01-05T19:54:00.000-05:00

Appreciate the steady ascension and consider it as a gift.

...

[Thank You]

2009-11-10T00:55:00.003-05:00

Its all happening because of you God.

...

[A lesson]

2009-11-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Watching Sachin Tendulkar bat today made me realize that if I strive as hard as he does in what I do, there is nothing that I cannot achieve.

...

[God is great]

2009-10-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

God is great. We cannot physically touch him but he manifests in mother nature. He enables us to have peace within us and seek the higher path to self-realization. A path which does not isolate you from worldly duplicity, but allows you to live with it in harmony.

So that you don't feel bad about your job, even if it is. So that you open your arms to other people, who are more unfortunate than you are. So that you realize that the purpose of doing what you are doing and why it is important.

Surrender to God. Yes ! raise your white flags and peace will come to you and do your work by thinking that he is working through you.

If the ill hounds you, or negative thoughts chase you, let God handle them, but you surrender to him.

...

[Inspirational Video]

2009-09-07T22:24:00.002-04:00

Recently, my friend Enamul gave me a link to this inspirational video. I suppose this is the best gift a friend can give to another.

Thanks Enamul

...

[To move on]

2009-07-19T15:54:00.002-04:00

If all around you is stifling and discouraging. Make a promise to rise and neglect what you see and experience.
...

[Star Trek NG and Fermat's Last Theorem]

2009-06-07T23:06:00.002-04:00

In the closing scene of season 2 episode 12 ("The Royale"), Jean Luc Picard - Captain of Federation Starship USS Enterprise-D suggests that Fermat's Last Theorem remains unsolved. However, it is no longer true. As we know, the solution to Fermat's Last Theorem has been found by mathematician Andrew Wiles. It appears in retrospect that the future has changed from an event in the past, at least in fiction.
...

[Effect of unbounded memory on time-complexity]

2009-05-29T10:45:00.011-04:00

[Background]

Often algorithmic efficiency is measured in time-complexity. In determining the time required by an algorithm for a given set of inputs, the algorithm makes use of bounded memory. Within this bounded memory, an algorithm is better than another algorithm, if it takes less steps to come to a solution.

However, there exists a most-optimal way to determine a solution for any given problem. This involves removing the restriction of bounded memory access. The structure of this algorithm would be as follows

[Algorithm]

MostOptimalAlgorithmForAnyProblem(Problem Instance, Input)
{
Step 1. Find an optimal-algorithm for a given problem given the constraints of bounded memory
Step 2. For all sets of input, produce a solution using the optimal-algorithm
Step 3. Save all the instances of (Problem Instance, Input, Solution) in an unbounded-memory
Step 4. For all subsequent need of finding a solution, lookup in the unbounded-memory and report
Step 5. Stop
}

Steps 1-3 is the pre-processing stage of the algorithm. If one performs amortized analysis of the aforementioned algorithm (Step 4), it will eventually take constant time on all sets of input.

[Question(s)]

1. How to have unbounded-memory ?
2. Is there a way by which unbounded memory can be "simulated" using bounded memory ?

[Implication]

Imagine, every problem that has an algorithm which takes T(n) time to find solution, with unbounded memory condition, it will take constant time. It can shake the foundations of systems and their theories. Areas include complexity theory, cryptography and more

[Side Thought]

Recently, oracles have been introduced into computation model, they are "magical" in the sense that they can solve computationally hard problems in constant time. Any algorithm can use them as a sub-routine and hence the algorithm itself becomes computationally "easy".

Would'nt oracles need unbounded memory to perform their "magical" tasks ?

[Interesting Relationship]

2009-04-28T22:05:00.020-04:00

Recently, while solving some recurrence relations for divide and conquer algorithms, I stumbled and re-stumbled across a pattern between algorithms those that divide the problems into 2 sub-problems per step and those that divide the problems into 2^K sub-problems per step.

An interesting case-in-point is MergeSort() algorithm viewed as 2 un-sorted list per step. Its variants can be viewed as 2^K un-sorted list per step.

When you solve the recurrence for K = 1, 2, 3 ...M, you get worst-case time-complexity as Theta(nLog_₂n) for K = 1, Theta(nLog_₄n) for K = 2 and so on. In general you get Theta(nLog_₂^Mn) for K = M. There are 2 key things to observe:

* The constants are hidden in the asymptotic description of the time complexity.

* Given 2^Kdivision per step (here K > 1), Log() term with base 2^K is reducible to Log() term with base 2 in asymptotic description of the time complexity.

This means that even if division per step is power-of-2, the resulting time complexity can be reduced to Log() term with base 2. Hence, variants of MergeSort() can be expressed with time-complexity similar to original version.

I extracted the relationship between 2 divisions per step and 2^K divisions per step. This leads to the following relationship between Log_₂n and Log_₂^Mn:

Since the constants are hidden within the asymptotic description of time complexity, you can express Theta(nLog_₄n) as Theta(nLog_₂n), factoring out 1/M as the constant (here M = 2).

Here is another interesting perspective, for MergeSort() performing 2^K divisions per step, the time complexity can be expressed in two forms as follows:

* Theta(nLog_₂^Kn) in original form.

* Theta(nLog_₂n) in reduced form (factoring out 1/K as constant).

This means that without considering the constants, the comparison of the time complexities can be done in a way, where one form {Theta(nLog_₂^Kn)} is quantitatively lesser than the other form {Theta(nLog_₂n)}.

Also, the above differentiation of divisions of 2 and 2^K per steps, respectively, extends for other numbers as well.

...

[Success is counted sweetest]

2009-02-24T06:10:00.001-05:00

Success is counted sweetest
By those who never succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory!

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
...

It is a wonderful poem by Emily Dickinson. What an insight !

[Inspirational Music]

2009-02-23T07:52:00.004-05:00

If you hold a goal in your heart and you find that life is a fog with clarity of few moments, give yourself an assuring hand.

Gather all inspiration you can.

One such source is Yanni's music

...

[Happy New Year]

2009-01-01T21:57:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year - 2009

...

[A Thin Line]

2008-12-23T22:27:00.017-05:00

It is astounding to see, what as human beings we have accomplished.

We have devised profound theories of how world around us works. We have implemented large scale systems to suit various aspects of our need.

Take a moment and consider, in your busy schedule, when you lift your phone, go for a drive, sit and discuss things across the planet, without moving from the place and more.

The complex set of rules, systems and models, which we have invented in such a short span (historically) is captivating.

All of us contribute to this living dream. It is evident in us, while we are growing up. Our understanding of milieu expands. With this expands, our desire to modify it as per our requirement.

Think about this, in a timeless moment. What makes us create, improve, destroy the world around us ?

Ofcourse, we being agents of change, can suggest - we do it to transform and advance life. A dream, by the time we near our end, we pass on to next generation.

Like passing a baton in a marathon race.

Consider this, organically, our friends or fellow human beings choose so many diverse fields. Out of their own liking, out of an interface to advance life. This leads to so many offshoots of fields of knowledge. Later on the next generation, in their moment of choice, decides on one of it and moves on.

Some of us have become great physicists, musicians, doctors, engineers, administrators, civil and military leaders, astronauts and more. Some of us strive to meet the ends.

If the physical attributes are equally distributed in all of us. Ask, why there is so much variation, in terms of what some of us are doing. Variation in terms of quality of choice. Variation that leads some of us to devise plans that serves us all.

If you ponder for some time, in the timeless moment. You will see a pattern. A pattern, which some of us saw earlier. A pattern that made some of us to move in a direction of grand scheme.

While the move was an outcome or effect. Ask, what was the cause ? What triggered it ?

In the same timeless moment, you will start seeing the stroke of brush, painting vividly on the landscape of human mind.

A canvas, which changes. A canvas, which perceives. A canvas, which desires.

And then you will realize, there is a superior force than this ever-changing mind. A force, which harnesses this mind. To lead it in a direction. To lead it to a shape. To lead it to a set of colors, which determines what we end up being.

We all are cogs in this grand scheme. Even if our contribution to the movement of big wheel is small. But, it is decisive.

And the amount of contribution is determined by a very thin line. A line that separates us. This line is in our mind.

Nudge or tap that force.

...

[A moment in sands of time]

2008-12-17T02:14:00.007-05:00

Recently, I have been able to file a patent in the field of computer security. The work relates to providing theft-resistant mechanism for portable artifacts such as iPod, MP3 player, Smartphone, Valet, Bag etc. This work is dedicated to my parents, my professors (at IIT Roorkee and IIT Kanpur), my friends and whosoever stood by me. I must thank my co-inventors, Sunil Vuppala and Puneet Gupta for believing in me and providing inputs, whenever it was required.

Thank you God.

...

[Happy Diwali]

2008-10-28T13:46:00.001-04:00

I wish you a Happy and Prosperous Diwali. May this festival brings hope, vision, courage and patience towards your goals.
...

[Inspirational Quotes]

2008-08-31T10:23:00.001-04:00

An inspirational side of Mr. Ratan Tata. Link

...

[Rest In Peace]

2008-07-26T02:44:00.001-04:00

Prof. Randy Pausch will forever remain my inspiration. Rest in Peace Sir. Here is a link to his last lecture
...

[RFID and Security Blog]

2008-07-04T15:34:00.001-04:00

I have recently created 2 blogs to aggregate theme-based research in RFID and Security. Please take time to review them.

RFID Blog: http://nanorfid.blogspot.com
Security Blog: http://nanocrypto.blogspot.com

Your suggestions are welcome.

...

[Promise to self]

2008-06-27T19:32:00.006-04:00

It is often that we forget our childhood dreams, in this fog of life.

Someone wants to be doctor, but now sits in cubicle of a software company.

Someone wants to be astronaut, but now paints sky on canvas.

Someone wants to be ..., but now does ....

You will find these examples, all around you. Sometimes during a nostalgic talk, sometimes during a honest confession. Most of the time, it will not be said or told.

To realize one's childhood dream holds a mystic promise. To be able to carry the burden and joy, when it culminates.

On this day, I see towards the sky, hoping to get some heavenly grace on me - to realize my childhood dreams.

And I wish your dreams come true, too.

...

[Thank you Karin | Microsoft]

2008-06-25T17:21:00.002-04:00

Today, praise came unexpectedly, Thank you Karin and Microsoft. Here is the link to: Article
...

[Tenth Dimension]

2008-05-26T19:13:00.002-04:00

Checkout this interesting concept: Tenth Dimension

...

[I need your hand on me, GOD]

2008-04-13T15:39:00.000-04:00

Yes.

...

[Earth Hour]

2008-03-29T03:05:00.002-04:00

Let's join the symbolic movement of Earth Hour, to protect the world from effects of climate change.

On 29th March, 2008 at 8 PM, turn off your lights for 1 hour.

As a sign of taking part. As a sign of contribution for your Earth.

...

[What is most prized ?]

2008-03-19T05:35:00.002-04:00

Once, it was asked to the victor, who won accolades and awards for his spectacular win, "what is that you cherish ?". The answer was:

"Of all the awards that this world bestow on me, I cherish my wounds most. They tell me, it was tough and that I won in spite of them."

...

[Inspirational Quote]

2008-03-13T11:07:00.003-04:00

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.

- Thomas Jefferson

...

[Interesting Concept]

2008-03-01T20:45:00.001-05:00

Checkout this interesting Nokia concept.
...

[I * I Site]

2008-02-15T15:09:00.003-05:00

Here is an informative and inspiring website: http://www.honeywellscience.com/home/

...

[Inspirational Interview]

2008-01-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

Here is an inspirational interview of Mr. Ratan Tata on the launch of Nano. I bow to you Sir.

...

[3 Cheers for Aurora]

2008-01-10T04:52:00.000-05:00

If I say, I am elated it will be an understatement. I am poignant and moved beyond sane mind to say that few of my friends at IIT Kanpur have succeeded in doing, what epitomizes my vision. These 5 brave men have done it with Aurora. I bow to these courageous people.

God Bless Them.

...

[A worthy movie]

2008-01-02T00:18:00.000-05:00

I recently had an opportunity to see: Taare Zameen Par. It cannot be described in words.

...

[Happy New Year]

2008-01-01T03:18:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year. I hope to achieve.

...

[Poem: The Will To Win]

2007-11-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

If you want a thing bad enough

To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and
your sleep for it

If only desire of it
Makes you quite mad enough
Never to tire of it,
Makes you hold all other things tawdry
and cheap for it

If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,

If gladly you'll sweat for it,
Fret for it, Plan for it,
Lose all your terror of God or man for it,

If you'll simply go after that thing that you want.
With all your capacity,
Strength and sagacity,
Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity,

If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
Nor sickness nor pain
Of body or brain
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,

If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You'll get it!

This is an awesome poem by Berton Braley. Thanks Berton.

....

[Time]

2007-11-03T23:24:00.001-04:00

Time is the best friend and the worst foe, I have.

...

[Separating acknowledgment from passion for work]

2007-11-03T19:48:00.000-04:00

Everything we do is insufficient, eventually.

If you do a non-trivial work at a level, it will turn out to be trivial at higher level.

Sometimes, in this continuous flow of demanding work, we seek acknowledgments for the things we did particularly well.

We seek a pat on back.

In the absence of which, we feel demotivated, cheated or even sullen.

Aren't we paid money ?

Wasn't it suppose to reimburse us of ills of demanding work ?

Why do we seek pat on back, even if we are paid money ?

It is evident, human being is not contended with money alone.

S/he needs acknowledgments.

S/he must be told about their achievements and citations.

S/he must be given medals/awards.

What happens, when prologned work doesn't bring the laurels, awards, citations ?

S/he becomes sullen and sad.

What we must do, to stop ills of this lack of acknowledgment from affecting the sane person in us ?

Separate our passion for work from this desire of acknowledgment.

If it comes, take it with skepticism, if it doesn't stay happy.

And work more.

Remember, you are following a stream of thoughts, not because you are seeking money or acknowledgment, but because you like it.

As if those stream of thoughts are oxygen to your mind.

Guard them.

...

[Website]

2007-09-28T15:15:00.001-04:00

My new website is up and running. Feel free to drop by and review.

[www.cs.virginia.edu/~kc5dm/index.html]

...

[One Wish]

2007-09-27T01:04:00.000-04:00

There is only one wish now - To be on top of what I do. On this day, I ask for strength from God.

...

[High IQ Society]

2007-08-19T18:31:00.000-04:00

Today, I became eligible to join International High IQ society.

Check out: http://www.highiqsociety.org/

...

[Happy Independence Day]

2007-08-14T21:49:00.000-04:00

May the best thing come to India from all sides starting this historical day.

...

[Charlottesville]

2007-08-11T13:17:00.001-04:00

I have recently joined University of Virginia [a.k.a UVA]. It is a vibrant place.

Here is the link to Computer Science department: www.cs.virginia.edu

Let's see how things turn out.

...

[For Mom & Dad]

2007-08-05T11:59:00.000-04:00

It starts now.

...

[Lowest Common Denominator]

2007-07-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

Be it wars, civil unrests, glitzy shopping malls, swanky apartments, therapeutic massage parlours, sky high towers, ocean exploration, drug discovery, rovers on Mars, Crepe de souffle or anything you could lay your finger on - around you, lies a common thing.

It's not about challenges these oppurtunities offer, it's about the most under-rated and often the poor child, called - Hard work. It is this lowest common denominator, which transcends you to higher realms of worldly recognition.

Often the buck is passed in the favor of luck, intelligence and other cousins of this hapless child. Alone it stands, when the world celebrates the triumph.

Often it finds a mention with much toil and without grace.

I wonder, which characteristic feature would award givers will cite for Andrew Wiles and his resolve.

I wonder, which characteristic feature would award givers will cite for Albert Einstein and his theories.

I wonder, which characteristic feature each year Nobel Award Committee cite for wannabe laureates.

I wonder, if anybody can cite a characteristic feature of a small boy, who serves you a glass of water in your favorite restaurant.

3 cheers for this poor little child - Hard Work, for it remains behind the scenes, while its ostentatious cousins take the front seat.

...

[What do you remember about 4th of July ?]

2007-07-04T05:52:00.000-04:00

When I think of 4th of July, I think of two things:

1. A day when United States of America got Independence from its colonial rulers.

2. A day when Dr. David Levinson of MIT was able to upload virus into alien machine to bring the shields down in the movie called 'Independence Day'.

What do you remember about 4th of July ?

Share ! (Please do not visit BBC's On This Day website)

...

[Song: Sleep with me Tonight]

2007-04-01T05:35:00.004-04:00

If you have ear for fog-horn, bells, deep haunting voice, you will like this song. Thank you Conjure. The lyrics of the song are here: http://www.lyricsdir.com/conjure-one-sleep-lyrics.html

...

[Song: Good or Bad]

2007-03-12T19:55:00.000-04:00

Life is chimerical, janus-faced mosaic. If you are sad, there is something good in it. If you are running fast, you are bound to become slow. In this interplay of dual-nature of life, lies judgement of human being - Good or Bad.

By looking at furrow of dad,
Feeling the breeze sifted of his head,
Did I gained or lost instead ?
Is it good or bad ?

By turning back on the road,
Seeing who left or moved ahead,
Did I gained or lost instead ?
Is it good or bad ?

By leaving the joy stoned,
Giving up to let atoned,
Did I gained or lost instead ?
Is it good or bad ?

By walking through the pain around,
I wonder - Who claim, he found,
Did I gained or lost instead ?
Is it good or bad ?

By asking to self - Who made,
Life full of colorful roses with blade,
Did I gained or lost instead ?
Is it good or bad ?

I am told - I stayed

...

In a short song, I tried to convey - in the mosaic called life, you may get different set of pieces, some colorful, some, which beg to be colored. However, the purpose of life is to offer that pieces and let you color it and not the mosaic. Here pieces and mosaic are used as metaphor for experience and goal. So, in essence - life is a goal, but it doesnt decides itself for a particular goal. A human being gets the pieces and makes the mosaic and calls it - the goal.

Genuine comments needed, if someone has alternate or similar views to share.

[Uncountable things from countable people]

2007-03-04T08:55:00.000-05:00

So many things in computer science, are result of vision and work of so few people.

A few of them are shown here: http://se.ethz.ch/~meyer/gallery/

...

[Song: Say it Right]

2007-02-27T14:38:00.002-05:00

A soulful song with blend of percusssion, nature sounds, shrill distinctive bells and soothing music, check this song by Nelly Furtado. Thank you ! Nelly:

Song Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB1zyI3Q7kM

The lyrics of song are given here: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nellyfurtado/sayitright.html

...

[A few awesome people]

2007-02-27T03:51:00.000-05:00

A few people persisted with me in my rather unusual times, few names who made all the difference in my life.

They are the people, who didn't gave me a "literal pat" on my back but nevertheless believed in me.

They made me appreciate few things in life, either by their actions or words.

Some of them told me, what to do.

Some of them told me, what not to do.

I like to say "thank you" to these awesome people (in alphabetical order):

Prabhakar Kr. Singh
Ritesh Sisodiya

Salony Agrawal
Santosh Joshi

Sathyanarayana A. N.

Sunil Kr. Vuppala
Swetank Kr. Mishra

Mr. Conscience became moral and emotional support.

I refer to my conscience as a person, because it keeps on talking to me at all times, when the aforementioned people, aren't around. It tells me to get up, to solve, to take bath, to sleep in short breaks, to change the keyboard as my palm pains sometimes, to write songs, to dream, to strive, to have patience, to cry or to laugh

There are few names which I can't write here - names of my Professors and Family members.

All these people, in their own way, have made a contribution [knowingly, unknowingly, good, bad]

I don't know what my future is: But I hope that they get what they seek.

Amen !

...

[I am back]

2007-02-26T06:03:00.000-05:00

When I stepped out of thinking and took break,

I thought: I would have a nice vacation, :)

But I figured I was coaxed into solving math problems of yore.

It's good to be back. I am anxious and this week seems to be promising.

...

[Vacation]

2007-02-16T04:18:00.000-05:00

It is said: "Great work is only achieved by enthusiam, passion and a pat on back". I need a break to find that passion and enthusiam in my work - which is the only thing now that defines me.

My right hand is in acute pain as I write this. I will take a break from - dreaming, thinking and telling.

...

[Song: In my heart I see]

2007-02-14T15:55:00.000-05:00

Ever wondered, what lies in heart of silence, what lies in the heart of bliss, what lies in the heart of sorrow:

In the honor of thee,

Lay tears of silence; to be,

Shades of joy and sorrow,

In my heart I could see,

Moments of white and black,

Play upon my mind,

Shades of joy and sorrow,

In my heart I could find,

Broken is the river,

Broken are stars at the bay,

Shades of joy and sorrow,

In my heart I could say,

Moon is still, so I am,

Gleam of light; to come,

Shades of joy and sorrow,

In my heart I hold some,

Silent are my hands,

Falter; when I fray,

Shades of joy and sorrow,

In my heart I pray

...

I thank all of you, who take moments of their life, which will never be returned, to come here and read this. Do tell me about your views on it.

[What do you think ?]

2007-02-13T10:15:00.000-05:00

If you are given power to make recipes of food and medicine exactly you see on television or internet, will it help you ? Check this out:

Tell me what do you think ?

...

[LEGO: Mindstorm]

2007-02-13T03:29:00.000-05:00

Imagine what can you do with: LEGO Mindstorm

Check it here: http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/Overview/default.aspx

...

[My Alma Mater: IIT Roorkee]

2007-02-13T03:27:00.001-05:00

[Poem: No one like you]

2007-02-12T10:17:00.000-05:00

Continuing from my previous post on Valentine's day and the people who have one, here is a poem for all those, who want to gift something to their sweethearts, however a diamond is costly at the moment and hence can use this as a way to defer the demand of diamond for sometime (I am not so sure about eventually):

There aren't many who make me smile,

Few have walked with me upto this mile,

Every morning, I see you in the dew,

Every evening, I see you in the hue,

With you beside me, all is easy,

You make my heart go wild, "you see !!",

I cannot live without you for a second,

Nothing equals you, even if it's a diamond,

...

However, I strongly suggest that when you do recite this poem, try to look warm-blooded or atleast have a smile. All the best.

[Song: Borrowed Heaven]

2007-02-12T05:22:00.003-05:00

Recently, I had an opportunity to listened to a soul stirring song from CORRS. It's called "Borrowed Heaven". The ideal ambiance to listen to this song is: Terrace, Moon-lit night and Yes ! you should be alone.

Song Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB1zyI3Q7kM

Check the lyrics here:
http://www.lyrics007.com/The%20Corrs%20Lyrics/Borrowed%20Heaven%20Lyrics.html

...

[Happy Valentine's Day]

2007-02-12T01:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's day to all of you (who have one) and for the rest (including myself) - take a light lonely evening stroll on that day.

...

[Prevalent anti-theft mechanisms]

2007-02-07T06:03:00.000-05:00

Here are a few anti-theft mechanism available for various kinds of devices:

1. [IMEI + Databases]
Site: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/rtte/workshopantitheft/report/introdreport.pdf
Device: Mobile Phones

2. [Immobilise]
Site: https://www.immobilise.com/howitworks.ikml
Device: Mobile Phones

3. [CompuTrace]
Site: http://www.absolute.com/Public/computracecomplete/faqs.asp
Device: Laptops

4. [PodoLock]
Site: http://www.podolock.com/index.html
Device: iPods

5. [iDisguise]
Site: http://www.idisguise.com/
Device: iPods

6. [Anti-theft device for Blackberry]
Site: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/rims-working-on-an-antitheft-device-for-blackberries-202073.php
Device: Blackberry

7. [Assest Senty by CISCOR]
Site: http://www.ciscor.com/sys/anti_theft_device_asset_tracking_system.html
Device: Multiple non-portable devices

8. [Using SIM/PhoneBAK]
Site: http://www.bak2u.com/phonebak.php
Device: PDAs, Laptops and mobile phones

9. [Anti-theft RFID clothing]
Site: http://www.rfidgazette.org/2005/07/rfid_makes_clot.html
Device: Person, Baby

10. [TIRIS by TI]
Site: http://www.ti.com/rfid/docs/news/news_releases/90s/rel06-01-99.shtml
Device: Vehicles

11. [EAS shelf-based anti-theft system]
Site: http://www.vuetechnology.com/solutions/mss.aspx#combined
Device: Shelves in stores

12. [PATS: PSP Anti-Theft System]
Site: http://pspupdates.qj.net/PSP-Anti-Theft-System-PATS-3-released-/pg/49/aid/52096
Device: PSP

[Thank you Microsoft]

2007-02-04T03:59:00.000-05:00

Recently, 1 MSDN blog entry was reason enough to make my day. I am thankful to Microsoft (Karin) for this appreciation. However, I truly believe it wasn't possible without their help (motivation, bugs resolution, ...). The NewCrypt work details are here: NewCrypt

[Song: What Can I Do ?]

2007-02-04T01:52:00.002-05:00

Recently, I had an opportunity to listen to a song by "C.O.R.R.S - What Can I do ?" I think song as well as the lyrics are awesome. So far I have recommended to few friends and everyone has liked it - that's 100 % conversion rate.

Song Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wTHjYcsdQ0

Lyrics:

http://www.lyrics007.com/The%20Corrs%20Lyrics/What%20Can%20I%20Do%20Lyrics.html

Thank you, C.O.R.R.S for this beautiful song.

...

[Poem: Victory Song]

2007-01-27T13:11:00.000-05:00

And I sit down and dream,

Waiting for the future - to be seen,

Never ever I felt so strong,

Maybe its me or air around,

Finally, the grass is green,

Walking towards the sheen,

Never ever I felt so strong,

Maybe its me or air around,

Having seen the drizzle and dust,

Making most of few and far but must,

Never ever I felt so strong,

Maybe its me or air around,

As I move on the ground,

Running over the leaves; abound,

Keeping head high so long,

For my own victory song,

Yeah ! for my own victory song

...

If someone wants to sing it, I suggest try it with evening and friends-who-matter and yes ! a guitar is must. Just finished writing it.

[A message from a man with vision]

2007-01-25T12:29:00.000-05:00

On the eve of India's 58th Republic Day. I draw power from the words of a man, who happens to be the President of India - His Excellency, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam:

"Courage to think different,

Courage to invent,

Courage to discover the impossible,

Courage to travel into an unexplored path,

Courage to share knowledge,

Courage to remove pain,

Courage to reach the unreached,

Courage to combat problems,

And Succeed"

...

I bow to you Sir

[Universal Semantic Communication]

2007-01-23T13:30:00.000-05:00

In the hypothetical scenario, where humans are supposed to decode signals from outer space and define the notion of its intelligibility, I ask:

1. How does a human classifies intelligence per se which is not human ?

2. Does it involve classifying intelligence ?

3. Does intelligence of an alien has to pass certain human verifiable and set tests ?

4. How does an intelligence of an alien different from a machine invented by human ?

5. What if an alien is made to fail on CAPTCHA ?

6. Does failure to pass such tests suggests proof of being non-human ?

7. Does it prove that it is non-human or a machine ?

8. Is being a machine same as being an alien ?

9. How does our proofs, one way functions and randomness can be measured by another intelligence ?

10. Is it that all these proofs are human intelligible and therefore bound only human intelligence ?

11. What if an alien intelligence also has set of rules, which may cut through our proofs ?

...

I don't know and I don't know who will tell me.

[Project Progress]

2007-01-19T12:04:00.000-05:00

I am on the verge of finishing NewCrypt project - thanks to Microsoft Crypto team (Karin, Art) at Redmond.

I have already finished RFID project - some minor changes are required.

BED is progressing well.

I just have to hold my horses and start my old routine of jogging and "go get lost in nature" !

:) Thank you ! God

...

[A way to invent future]

2007-01-12T16:48:00.000-05:00

The best way to invent future is to have committed present.

...

[Peace]

2007-01-12T08:45:00.000-05:00

I wish for peace; for everyone.
...