mere funde

This is why – they are distasteful, and they destroy the usability. Ads should not be larger than the actual post under any circumstance.

As are Facebook ads. I thought Google knew better about ads.

I have been using the Windows Vista on my brother’s Sony Vaio for a couple of weeks now, and am amazed at the uselessness of the OS. I would say that XP is at least a thousand times more user friendly and smarter OS. In fact it is so irritating at times that you feel like gnawing your arm off!!

1. The UAC – Stupid. You are making an OS for people. Not for asses. If I click on Windows Update and want to go ahead with installing some update by clicking on “Install Updates”, it means I want it done. Please do not ask me if I want to continue with it!! If I did not want it, I would not have made two effing clicks.

2. The Windows Update – The Vista applied some updates everyday till yesterday, and suddenly decided today morning to install the SP1. Can someone tell why the fuck did it not do it at the first go itself instead of installing a copy of those updates individually earlier when the SP1 has been available for months now?? Further, it would not allow me to install SP1 till I plugged my laptop into a power supply despite having 90% battery life left. For God’s sake – Stop being my mom!!

3. Stability – Its a joke. It hangs more than Windows 98 I would say despite having very few installed software, latest drivers, and all OS updates.

4. Speed – Yeah right!!

Thankfully Vaio provides all XP drivers on its website and I am thinking of “upgrading” to Windows XP within the next couple of weeks. I think the Vista team can let go of the Mojave, and start being smart.

“Get into Mallika’s pants”

After a lot of hue and cry over the blogosphere over the similarity between Campfire and HuddleChat, a sample application for the Google AppEngine, Google team has decided to take down the app.

While I appreciate the quick action over the reaction of a lot bloggers, I find it pretty stupid. The web is full of examples of similar apps, and taking down one because it is similar to other, even though it is simpler and free, is just plain stupid. I have no idea why the bloggers took offense at it in the first place! While I do agree that the similarity was pretty obvious (from screenshots that is – never got a chance to use it), doesn’t the same logic apply to MS Office & OpenOffice??

Come on people, grow up. People are going to develop similar apps, only that they would be easier to use and FREE – not paid. I was looking forward to using it

… Daruwala. We have the 2008 predictions courtesy Aadisht. Never has some much ass-kicking been put in one single post. Ok, ok, in 2008 at least.

 ”Batsmen usually say to each other ‘you take care of this bowler etc’. [In] this match the Indians might have to say ‘you take care of Bucknor, I will take care of Benson’.”

Ian Chappell on commentary during the final day of the Sydney Test following two doubtful decisions that went against India.

A wife walks into the lounge room where her husband is watching the match on television. “New Zealand is winning,” he says. She responds, “What, aren’t the umpires playing?”

Source.

PS: I was away to IIT Roorkee for campus recruitment. More on that and the events at the SCG later.

I have pretty busy over the past many weekends, and this one was no different. Debo was in town and it was nice spending time with him.

Anyways a few interesting nuggets from the web.

• Upgrade to XP from Vista says CodingSanity – I agree. Too many warnings. Let me use it please. I not a effing retard you know. [Link via FSJ]
• Vicky Nanjappa asks Scorpions if they would introduce hip hop into their music. Yes. And they are also thinking of hiring Anu Malik as their composer and Himesh Baba as their lead singer. [Link via India Uncut]
• For the IP Geeks – Espacenet is thinking of allowing download of search results in XML/CSV format. Good going folks. I remember having given a similar suggestion to Google Patents team. But they seem to have gone into hibernation.
• Finally, Apar has great series going on here. Must read.

This one comes from the group of people who took jokes on themselves better than anyone else. Accha ok, the supposed religious head of such people at least.

The Sikhs are enraged at some joke spread via Reliance Mobile and have demanded an unconditional apology. Some people take offense so often that one wonders how they live. If it is offensive, don’t read the stupid joke!

I found someone’s brain lying on the road, and it seems that it has never been used. I think it belongs to one of the following three.

1. Avinash Mahatekar
2. Prakash Ambedkar
3. Udit Raj

Or maybe, all three lost theirs. They are fuming over the use of the word “mochi” in a song. Thats right. Mochi as in cobbler. They think (can they??) that it is casteist and derogatory. WTF. I mean seriously. Do these guys smoke hash everymorning or something?

Some updates on stuff that happened while I was gone.

1. Most important – revived a friendship I think. Hope that this time it works better.
2. Misra got promoted – Yay! I bet he has to treat.
3. It is confirmed that Debo broke his leg.
4. My knee is healing up.
5. Albus Dumbledore is gay – Great!! Now I feel so weird about being rated as closest to Dumbledore on that Facebook app!! Maybe it is time to bid it farewell.
6. Rediff copies the article blatantly – or almost. I know they do mention LA Times in passing, but try to pull off the whole thing as theirs! (removed after an email and IM discussion with Ojas and Amit Varma)