Test entry from my iPhone. 

I guess it should work. I have the lite version of the app so no pic uploading is there but text is allowed.

what is this?

Could anyone tell me what is the use of the bulb like structure on most power cords. I have seen them on many data cords too, like ethernet cables.

Please leave a comment or email me at slI1Ilm@gmail.com
Thanks.





++++++++++++

Update: Nov 2007-> This is a ferrite choke or a ferrite bead.

Good people

I emailed two strangers recently and they both were good (I do not know what would be the most appropriate word here). They replied to my emails and one even called me.

I was not happy yesterday and today when I got a call from Barbara E. Ford I was delighted (see her website http://www.tangrammit.com/). She was so generous as to offer me one of her products. You made my day Barbara. Email Barbara at barbara@tangrammit.com about her books or products.

The other person is Dr. Frances W. Pritchett (see his website at http://www.columbia.edu/~fp7/). He is doing many projects related to Urdu poetry. I like his project “ A desertful of roses” which is based on the works of Mirza Ghalib. Email him at fp7@columbia.edu

They say “the world is not for good people. I don’t think so. These two people are two inspiring people and no doubt they are good.

The one thing I liked really was that they must be very busy people still they addressed all the issues in my email. The took time to talk to a stranger (albeit their big fan).

You inspire me to continue to 'be good'.
+++++++++++
Update: Nov 2007->Prof Frances is a woman, not a man! I wouldn't know coz I only communicated to her through emails... but know I know.....

2.4:1 down to 4:3

I hate fullscreen versions of dvds. I hate 4:3 if it is used for movies. If the movie was shot in some aspect ratio, it is cruel to change it when digitizing it for us viewers. I just saw my friend watch a dvd of "The Incredibles" in 4:3. I looked at the case of the DVD. It had Fullscreen version written in bold on the top of it as if it is something to boast about. On the back I read this "rendered in Family-friendly full screen version"..Family-friendly my foot...Why don't they make it more friendly by giving us a black and white version and get rid of the 5.1 or 7.1 surround. How about mono sound. That would be pretty friendly..huh.. I say " We still use a black and white tv with mono sound and 1:1 aspect ratio...so anything more advanced is useless and certainly very unfriendly for our family." The ironical part is that my friend watched it on his laptop which had a screen in 16:9 aspect ratio, so he had two vertical black strips on his screen. Most of the TVs today are in 16:9. Why the #$%@# do movies still come out in this stupid 4:3 version. 4:3 is for old people. Nowadays even commercials and video games are coming in 16:9 aspect ratio. If you see really old movies then they will be in 4:3 or may be narrower versions but nowadays when they are shooting in 2.4:1 why do these people format it to "fit our screens"...How the #$%# do YOU know what screen I have. I saw the movie "The testament of Dr. Mabuse" It was in 1.09:1 (I don't remember the exact ratio but it was much narrower then 4:3). The Dvd makers acknowledged this and preserved the ratio. If it were for these friendly dvd-makers they would have chopped off the top (and) bottom portions to leave it in 4:3.

To all the dvd makers "Preserve the aspect and for Pete’s sake forget what ratio screen we have."

Me in Detroit Dwontown today.

IMAX 3D and IMAX DOME

Once discovery was showing the top 100 things to do or experience before one dies. I missed the most part of the show and saw only the top 10 or so. The top one was swimming with dolphins. I love dolphins but I doubt if that would be THE BEST EXPERIENCE one can have.

I recently saw a movie in an IMAX DOME. It was called Mystery of the Nile. Check out the official site http://www.nilefilm.com . Though not a great fan of the Egytian stuff but the experience of watching a movie that fills the eyeview was exhilarating. It was like being there. Though the sound was not too great as most of it was probably written after the movie was shot and was mostly foley sound of water etc.

Another great experience which one MUST go through is the experience of watching a 3D IMAX film. If you want to read more about the IMAX go to: www.answers.com and type IMAX or List of IMAX venues etc. I know both the experiences are similiar but there is a difference and you should check them out if you happen to be in a city having such a theater. I saw the movie Aliens of the deep by James Cameron in Battle Creek and I still remember how much me and my friends enjoyed the whole thing.

Jagjit And Ghalib

My favourite Ghazal singer is Jagjit. I knew that his son Vivek had died in an accident, after which his wife stopped singing. But I was surprised to see his youth pics. He is a sardar and used to tie a turban in his youth. Check out the article http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/arts/JagjitSingh/jagjitsingh.htm

Today while coming back from the gym, I listened to his ghazal zulmat-kade main mere which is written by my favourite poet, Ghalib. Sahi kaha hai :

hain aur bhi duniya mein sukhanwar bahut achche
kehte hain ke Ghalib ka hai andaz-e-bayan aur

I had heard the ghazal many times before and I thought I need to read about this one today. The maqta(last sher of the ghazal) revealed that it is Ghalib's. I came home and did a little search to understand the meaning. Here is the maqta:

aate hain gaib se yih mazaamiin khayaal main
Gaalib sariir-e khaamah navaa-e sarosh hai

The meanings of the words used are:

Gaib->'Absence; invisibility; concealment; anything that is absent, or invisible, or hidden (from sight or mental perception); a mystery, secret; an event of futurity; the invisible world, the future state' eg Gaib-e-gaib->Absence Of Absence
mazaamii->topics
Khaama->Pen eg Khaamah farsaa'i karna->Write
Sareer->Scratching Sound (eg Made By A Pen, Throne)
Navaa->Sound, Voice
Dil nawaaz->Lenient, Soothing (The Mind)
Sarosh->Angel

For the explanation see http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ghalib/169/169_13.html

my intials using the intials of my yahoo id

A queen in Australia

My first post on any blog...hmmm

I read today that the Queen of England is the constitutional head of Canada. She is the head of state of Australia too....I would never accept a person as a Queen or King. It is so archaic. I was shocked to read that even in these developed countries they have constitutional monarchy. When I was a kid...I read about Kings in comic books and fables. It is a reality is some news. Moreover these countries have monarch heads from different countries is even more BIZARRE to me.

Read:
http://www.answers.com/topic/commonwealth-of-nations
http://www.answers.com/monarchy%20in%20Canada

Actually, I had seen many coins of Canada and the Queen on the heads side of the penny but never thought why?

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=2r6iagogb0jq4?tname=penny-canadian-coin&method=6&sbid=lc08a