You may never heard of George Mallory as I was till I read Jeffery Archer's "Paths Of Glory". He would be the most unfortunate person in Earth if he had achieved his lifetime ambition. The last sentence might sound like oxymoron though its true in Mallory's case.
Mallory is a climber whose life time ambition is climbing Chomolungma (Everest). In his time no one knows what will happen to man in 25,000 feet. Even aircraft did not touch that height at that time. Mount Everest club of Britain arranged first expedition, for that Mallory was leader. There were not a consensus on using oxygen bottles to use in high altitudes. Mallory's friend George Finch reached highest altitude 27300 feet with the help of Oxygen bottles. The first expedition failed with 7 causalities.
In the second expedition after a long patience, Mallory left the last camp(5 th camp) to the summit with his partner Andrew Irvine on 8 June 1924. Mallory and Irvine was spotted by his long time partner Guy Bullock just between last obstacle and Chomolungma summit. And it was the last time Mallory was spotted.
After 75 years Mallory body was found in Chomolungma. His belongings Wallet,Goggle and Jacket were intact in that cold environment except his wife Ruth photo that he always keeps in his wallet. He had promised his wife that he will leave her photo on the Chomolungma summit when he reached that.
"why do you want to climb Mt. Everest?" -Reporter
"because it's there" - Mallory
PS: I recommend you to read "Paths Of Glory" a inspiration story about George Mallory. At least read this Wikipedia article.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Every one is from same pond
Recently I read Barga Dutt's article in NDTV site in reply to the critics about " Irresponsible Mumbai Terror Coverage by Media" arised by some people. In that article, Dutt defend her news team by saying that " Not available dos and dont rule list for Media coverage" and quoting some emotional things. After reading that article, I had some comments against her view so I went on to post the below.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Story.aspx?ID=COLEN20080075194&type=opinion
Really good work done by the NDTV team. But some posted critics have some valid points.
1. There is much difference between the "what was happened" and "what is going to happen". The marine commanders told in that interview about what was happened inside the Taj and what they did . The news abt " NSG is going for Final assault", " NSG going to storm" and the position and whereabouts of commandos are nothing going to help the people and NSGs. It would have led to suffer of the NSGs and might helped the terrorists. Terrorists would have prepared for the assault. During the interview marcos were within their limits but media was not during their telecast of the attack. Consider this, what if the terrorist had seen ur broadcast and knew about the NSG going to storm and prepared his position well?. What would help for country either " the unknown attack" or "Known attack"? This is not a cricket match or any good event for the minute by minute update of what is going to happen and what is happening. Such telecast at the most misfortune time would have cost a life of our heroes.
2. Your excuse about the "do's and don'ts" list are much sounds like our politician excuse. Definitely brilliant reporters like u may know other countries(like Israel) media rules and behavior during this type of attacks. Even common man like me worried about the minute by minute media reports didn't any of your media teams think of that?. And you took a excuse by "not breaking rules". What would be your news report for "Corruption by not breaking the rules"? Would u accept that?.
I submitted the comment but it requires approval of moderator for publication. So I waited for some time though it never happened. And a fact that most of the comments for that article are mostly positive and appreciating the effort done by the NDTV and other posts were mildly negative.
I got frustrated about the rejection as the comments is not written in abusive language and I just pointed out some points against her view. It leads to some serious questions about the media and their behavior.
http://www.ndtv.com/
Really good work done by the NDTV team. But some posted critics have some valid points.
1. There is much difference between the "what was happened" and "what is going to happen". The marine commanders told in that interview about what was happened inside the Taj and what they did . The news abt " NSG is going for Final assault", " NSG going to storm" and the position and whereabouts of commandos are nothing going to help the people and NSGs. It would have led to suffer of the NSGs and might helped the terrorists. Terrorists would have prepared for the assault. During the interview marcos were within their limits but media was not during their telecast of the attack. Consider this, what if the terrorist had seen ur broadcast and knew about the NSG going to storm and prepared his position well?. What would help for country either " the unknown attack" or "Known attack"? This is not a cricket match or any good event for the minute by minute update of what is going to happen and what is happening. Such telecast at the most misfortune time would have cost a life of our heroes.
2. Your excuse about the "do's and don'ts" list are much sounds like our politician excuse. Definitely brilliant reporters like u may know other countries(like Israel) media rules and behavior during this type of attacks. Even common man like me worried about the minute by minute media reports didn't any of your media teams think of that?. And you took a excuse by "not breaking rules". What would be your news report for "Corruption by not breaking the rules"? Would u accept that?.
I submitted the comment but it requires approval of moderator for publication. So I waited for some time though it never happened. And a fact that most of the comments for that article are mostly positive and appreciating the effort done by the NDTV and other posts were mildly negative.
I got frustrated about the rejection as the comments is not written in abusive language and I just pointed out some points against her view. It leads to some serious questions about the media and their behavior.
- This is a small comment and it would not be noticed by many people. Are they want to stubborn in their point by hiding the critics even if it is noted by small number of people?
- Are they trying to impose their views to us by hiding their opposite views?
- How the hell these people wants openness from the politician?
- How extend their news would not be aggregated for "Media Publicity"?
- How much credibility does their news have?
- What about the other channels when quality of the most reliable news channel in this country is like this?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
God on the off-side
As a ardent Sachin fan, I hate Ganguly while Ganguly fans are around. Though Dada entertained us a lot on and off the field. He taught how to win in overseas, nurture a lot of youngsters they are now part of the team and more importantly he brings the aggressiveness and fighting spirit attitude. I remember some of Dada's memories I never forget
Here is the one of the finest knock by Ganguly
- When the entire Indian team including Sachin was struggled with the "outside the offstump outswinger" strategy crafted by Srilankans and followed by all Teams in 1996 world cup and even after, Dada is the only one who revived the team with his elegant and effortless off side strokes. Timely entry by God on the off-side.
- He was leading the attack in India's first 300+ successful chase in Dhaka.
- First one to score ODI Century in Australia against Australia.
- The great blitzkrig Indian ODI I have ever seen is against Srilanka in 1999 worldcup. Dada scored 183 and tried to break the 194 Anwar record by hitting two sixes in last two balls. This is the one of the ruthless attack against Muralidharan.
- Shirt took off show in Lords
- Never give up attitude. Even in 2003 world cup final he didn't give up and tried his chances by hitting Mighty McGrath over the rope. And it was unbelievable when he was struggling so much against the Pigeon.
- When the Oz challenged dada the "chin music" in 2003 Australia tour, Dada responded them with a spectacular 144 in an opening Brisbane test. To add the Ozs frustrations Dada went on to say that "If rain doesn't interrupt we would win this match!!!". It was regarded as a bluff when people remembered the last Australian tour but the remaining series showed that how much he motivated the team. India dominated that series for the first time in Australia.
- His ruthless attacks on left arm spinners like vettori and lehmann. But unlucky Dada got response like "Very weak against leftie spinners" by stupid medias in his career end when he bowled out by Brad hogg and Katich for a couple of times.
Here is the one of the finest knock by Ganguly
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sarah Palin
I was following the American election in the last 3 months especially after Sarah's entry into the stage. The Sarah had fed a lot of enthusiasm in the campaign and also great entertainment by her "wordsworth". Here is the collection
* "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'" - as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council
* "They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." - speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, October 5, 2008
* "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." - explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, September 24, 2008
* "They're in charge of the US Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom." - Getting the vice president's constitutional role wrong after being asked by a third grader what the vice president does, interview with NBC affiliate KUSA in Colorado, October 21, 2008
* "We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, DC. ... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation." - Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in Greensoboro, NC, October 16, 2008
* "Well, let's see. There's - of course - in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings." - unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, October 1, 2008
* "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." - speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008
* "As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?" - interview with CNBC's "Kudlow & Co," July 31, 2008
* "I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." - She was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it
Here is a sample video and surely you get hundreds of entertaining humorous videos like this if you just type sarah palin in youtube. Also dont forget that she is the probable Presidential candidate for 2012 election. God please save America one more time!!!
* "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'" - as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council
* "They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." - speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, October 5, 2008
* "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." - explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, September 24, 2008
* "They're in charge of the US Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom." - Getting the vice president's constitutional role wrong after being asked by a third grader what the vice president does, interview with NBC affiliate KUSA in Colorado, October 21, 2008
* "We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, DC. ... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation." - Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in Greensoboro, NC, October 16, 2008
* "Well, let's see. There's - of course - in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings." - unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, October 1, 2008
* "Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." - speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008
* "As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?" - interview with CNBC's "Kudlow & Co," July 31, 2008
* "I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." - She was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it
Here is a sample video and surely you get hundreds of entertaining humorous videos like this if you just type sarah palin in youtube. Also dont forget that she is the probable Presidential candidate for 2012 election. God please save America one more time!!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Chrome Vs Firefox
As a linux user (Thanks to AdventNet!!!) for a past three years I'm not able to give a try for chrome and also not happy with Google's Linux importance. To pacify me, I begun to compare the feature list of chrome with firefox.
Here is my comparison
Tabbed Interface
Now its a Neanderthal feature and its essential one, without this you can't live in browser space.
Dockable Windows
Using this you can move a tab into window and vice versa. I tried this in firefox by splitting some tabs across windows but it doesnt comfort for me. Believe me!!!
The omnibox
Chrome suggest you the URLs while you type the names and its also search full text and fetch the related url from history. F3 provide this and i'm comfortable with F3 search. The one thing missed in F3 is suggestion from google. The custom keyword in F3 Bookmarks is more powerful for multi site custom search.( sample list is here)
Most visited page
when u open a blank tab in chrome it shows u most visited site as thumbnails. By default its not available in F3 but u can get this by installing a add-on
Privacy mode
this is a key feature and may capture the entire browser market for google yeah chrome doesn't leave any trace of your visited sites if u choose this mode (Parent Safe!!!). The poor F3 needs some four to five steps for this.
Pop in new tab
still can't find any alternatives for this in F3
sand boxing
chrome opens every tab in a new process and each process on its own. As a 30+ tab user i can't imagine 30+ processes in my process list time will answer this. However i love the task window concept and expect similar in F4.
Very simple Interface
I hate simple "search text box" approach in browser. I use 35+ add ons regularly in F3, some of them has short cuts in the tool bars. To the extreme i love the flock interface.
Easy download system.
come on u can find hundreds of add ons in F3 add on page.
Apart from this, the mozilla community need to answer the Webkit and V8 javascript engine questions. The close watchers of browsers doen't think firefox will adobt webkit for rendering as its the base for add ons and UI. However the F3 did a major revamping in their Gecko engine and reduced the memory consumption a lot. Hope F4 will do a magic.
For chrome It'll be quite difficult to create a developer community like the one mozilla has, Even for google.
This give me relief some what and waiting for notification from google.
Here is my comparison
Tabbed Interface
Now its a Neanderthal feature and its essential one, without this you can't live in browser space.
Dockable Windows
Using this you can move a tab into window and vice versa. I tried this in firefox by splitting some tabs across windows but it doesnt comfort for me. Believe me!!!
The omnibox
Chrome suggest you the URLs while you type the names and its also search full text and fetch the related url from history. F3 provide this and i'm comfortable with F3 search. The one thing missed in F3 is suggestion from google. The custom keyword in F3 Bookmarks is more powerful for multi site custom search.( sample list is here)
Most visited page
when u open a blank tab in chrome it shows u most visited site as thumbnails. By default its not available in F3 but u can get this by installing a add-on
Privacy mode
this is a key feature and may capture the entire browser market for google yeah chrome doesn't leave any trace of your visited sites if u choose this mode (Parent Safe!!!). The poor F3 needs some four to five steps for this.
Pop in new tab
still can't find any alternatives for this in F3
sand boxing
chrome opens every tab in a new process and each process on its own. As a 30+ tab user i can't imagine 30+ processes in my process list time will answer this. However i love the task window concept and expect similar in F4.
Very simple Interface
I hate simple "search text box" approach in browser. I use 35+ add ons regularly in F3, some of them has short cuts in the tool bars. To the extreme i love the flock interface.
Easy download system.
come on u can find hundreds of add ons in F3 add on page.
Apart from this, the mozilla community need to answer the Webkit and V8 javascript engine questions. The close watchers of browsers doen't think firefox will adobt webkit for rendering as its the base for add ons and UI. However the F3 did a major revamping in their Gecko engine and reduced the memory consumption a lot. Hope F4 will do a magic.
For chrome It'll be quite difficult to create a developer community like the one mozilla has, Even for google.
This give me relief some what and waiting for notification from google.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
"Its a democratic right"
"I don't think he had expressed such an opinion. If he had said so, then it is wrong,"
"undesirable from a communist leader"
"It is very unfortunate"
"fundamental right"
"Its a democratic right. How can it be curbed?
These are reply to the Buddhadeb opinion about the bandh by our leading political parties. The actual speech of Buddhadeb is
"Personally, I don't support bandhs. Bandhs do not help us or the country. Unfortunately, I belong to a political party. They call strikes and I keep mum. But I have decided to open up the next time,Its illegal and unethical"
The Times of India article is here.
And see the list of past bandhs in kerala here. Here only you can able to see unity among all parties. Dont forget to see the upcoming harthal schedule!!!!!
Vazha Jananayagam !!!!!!
"undesirable from a communist leader"
"It is very unfortunate"
"fundamental right"
"Its a democratic right. How can it be curbed?
These are reply to the Buddhadeb opinion about the bandh by our leading political parties. The actual speech of Buddhadeb is
"Personally, I don't support bandhs. Bandhs do not help us or the country. Unfortunately, I belong to a political party. They call strikes and I keep mum. But I have decided to open up the next time,Its illegal and unethical"
The Times of India article is here.
And see the list of past bandhs in kerala here. Here only you can able to see unity among all parties. Dont forget to see the upcoming harthal schedule!!!!!
Vazha Jananayagam !!!!!!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Finally finished "Last Don"
Recently I successfully finished the reading of a novel "Last don" by Mario Puzo. The first thirty pages of the book introduce you around 50 characters(All Italian names) of a mafia family & their business people. I had tried to read the book three times before my successful attempt and in each attempt i could not get time to read the book after 25 pages. When i came back, the mafia family was changed and wives were changed dramatically among the family. This forced me to start from the prologue. Unfortunately this cycle happened thrice. At last after some muck-up i reached 100 pages and after wards i could not put down the book.
The novel narrates about a mafia family,their business and their egos. You'll get every part of the mafia life in this book and the narration makes this novel a different one. Mario describes the characters,sequence of events and how the events drive the story into its end. Even you could guess what will happen next in some part of the story but that doesn't slows the speed.
This is the book that have most number of characters(100-150!!) i have ever read in English. I got a very good entertainer for my patience.
The novel narrates about a mafia family,their business and their egos. You'll get every part of the mafia life in this book and the narration makes this novel a different one. Mario describes the characters,sequence of events and how the events drive the story into its end. Even you could guess what will happen next in some part of the story but that doesn't slows the speed.
This is the book that have most number of characters(100-150!!) i have ever read in English. I got a very good entertainer for my patience.
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