TIME's 50 Best Websites for 2008

This is my next post, a sequel to the last one. Every year, or rather I should say, everyday, so many new websites come into existence in cyberspace. Some survive, some don't. Out of the few which survive, a handful are considered to be the best in some aspect. And it's not just about the site design, cool flashy looks, those catchy flash applications etc., it is about their content and its usefulness to its audience. And then, not everyone is able to see all those useful websites. This is where TIME's 50 Best Websites for 2008 comes handy.

I suggest you to go over this list and I am sure you will some new useful website, which you haven't heard of. There were some in this list, which were a pleasant surprise for me. After all, there is only a limited I spend online everyday (Those who know me know that I am kidding).

No.1 on the list is GasBuddy. Even though MapQuest was first to bring Gas Prices link on their website, GasBuddy scored over them by bringing a more comprehensive and real-time update of prices, updated by their users.

Below are my favorites from this list:

2. Howcast: A video how-to site with a Wiki section for users to contribute.
6. Tripkick: Get inside information of various hotels. Which rooms are best, have best views, and which ones to be avoided. Now, you can make a specific booking request while making hotel reservations.
7. WikiTravel: Tradition of Wiki continues with best, concise up-to-date travel & tourist information.
10.Afrigadget:"a site dedicated to simple, sustainable inventions in Africa" per TIME.
16. RateMyProfessors: Yes, now students can anonymously rate their professors.
20.MapJack: A fantastic alternative to Google Maps. High-res photos of cities and very easy to
navigate.

TIME's Best Inventions of 2008

It is that time of year again. The end of the year, when you start seeing those lists, such as, best inventions, best websites, best moments, best pictures etc. And I am always waiting for these lists. No matter how much I read articles, blogs, books, etc. I am always surprised to see the new items in these lists.

This time, the surprising items were in the list: TIME's Best Inventions of 2008. Click here to see the list. Here is a preview of the list:

1. Peek Email Device
2. T-Mobile G1
3. MacBook
4. iPod Touch
5. Eye-Fi SD Card.

G1 certainly came as a surprise to me. Maybe, mainly because I am a loyal iPhone user. Actually, when I started using iPhone, I was amazed at the device's capabilities and functions. Maybe G1 has something in it to make it to this list.

My favorite was the No.5. A SD card capable of uploading your pictures directly online to any photo service? A SD Card which directly beam images to your hard-drive? A SD card which can geo-tag the pictures, right where they ar taken. Come on!!! you must be kidding me.

But then, this is purely an invention. And the bsuiness apportunity is huge here. Think about all those camera owners, who don't to buy a new camera equipped with bluetooth or wi-fi, but still want all these features. I am such a photographer and I'd love to have this card..asap!

Review: Word$uccess

If you are looking for a simple text which can provide you with some useful tools and habits to improve your communication skills, Word$uccess by Pete Geissler is the right book for you.

Author has demonstrated the importance of articulation and ability to clearly express your views in one's professional career. He has presented the art of communication through interviews of some successful professionals and also tells how they have achieved it.

Your key learning will be:

1. What habits one need to practice, to develop effective communication skills.
2. What are the simple tools to achieve Articulation.
3. Audience Profile Worksheet to understand and know your audience well and form your message accordingly.

To summarize, I learned a lot from this text and have started to practice the tools....

Blogs for Sale

Yes, no kidding..this is real as I feel from this email below, which I received 4 days ago. Someone is interested in buying my blog, since there has not been much activity here lately. This has come as a great surprise to me. For one reason, there are so many blogs in this blogosphere and hardly there are as many readers. Secondly, what made this gentleman interested in making this offer to my blog. My blog's title or address do not match any company, brand or product's name either. So I am wondering, why me...????

I have asked him these questions and he maybe kind enough to respond back to my email...I hope....!!!

Dear owner of justkanishk.blogspot.com,

I noticed that your blog "justkanishk.blogspot.com" hasn't been updated for a while. I'd like to buy this blog.

I assume that you are not interested in running it anymore.

I can buy this blog for $50.

What do you think?

ABCD XYZ
(Real name not shown intentionally)

Blink: Power of Thinking Without Thinking

blink: the Power of Thinking Without Thinking, the title itself is attractive enough to make someone interested in reading this text by Malcolm Gladwell. Author has done a great job in weaving examples from a wide variety of professions, functions and areas like relationships, politics, military, medical, crime, personality, connoisseurs, etc. to illustrate his main point:
The Power of Adaptive Unconscious of Human Mind.

Author states that human mind works through two strategies, the conscious strategy and through adaptive unconscious. First strategy is when use data, information and analysis to draw a conclusion and make decision, whereas second is when we make decisions on basis of that "gut feeling". This is when we act instantly on a thought which flashes in our mind and forces us to make a decision. The question now is: Is the accuracy or quality of a decision is directly related to the time and effort spent into making it? Per Gladwell, "Decisions made very quickly can be every bit as good as decisions made cautiously and deliberately."

Author has used technique of "thin slicing" i.e. power of our unconscious (the internal computer) to create a subjective impression using very little information., to explain this kind of decision-making. He has also cited some erroneous decisions (Warren Harding Error & an encounter in Bronx) and some great decisions from medical and military, (Cook County Hospital in Chicago & Van Riper, respectively).

In my opinion, our brain certainly has that great power of making a split-second decision, but it is upto us, how we develop and tap that unusual potential. We can use these techniques like mid reading, facial expression recognition etc but it certainly requires practice and a certain level of expertise to utilize them for our benefit. I would recommend reading this book with an unbiased mind and think, don't just blink.

Read my post blink vs Six Sigma

The Real Oops!!!

This is a tribute to one of my previous post, which was dedicated to my laptop. My laptop has been one of my proud possession, as I configured a state-of-the-art system in April 2005. At least, thats what I thought at that time and my dream was to make it a multimedia powerhouse, which I truly accomplished. My laptop became a desktop connected to nine USB 2.0 devices through a hub and a great 22" monitor, keyboard, external sound card and Bose speakers. I was excited and was utilizing it aptly, but it seems like laptop didn't liked the dull and boring life of staying at top of a hutch of a table.

One Friday evening, while I was trying to connect some wires at the back, it jumped from the shelf of the hutch, bumped on the table and landed on the floor. And there I was, at the back of the table in an awkward position (which I will not describe...), entangled in about 12 wires (remember 9 devices..!) with no view of the rest of the world. The sound made me feel the real Oops...!!! I think I almost visualized the oops for first time in my life. Anyway, the sturdy system sustained a lot of damage to the hing, keys and top. It cannot be closed now, so it is essentially a desktop. This post is being posted through the same tough Dell Inspiron....Hats Off to My Lapi...!!! Check the pictures for better visualization.

Did You Know 2.0

I recently saw the 2.0 version of the famous Did You Know presentation from 2005. This new version came out in June'2007 and is made by the same authors Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. both the presentations are now on YouTube in form of a video (not surprised...).

This second version talks about the fast pace of development in the world in terms of internet and information overloading and asks us how well we are prepared to handle it. Most importantly, it asks how well our coming generations will be able to cope with the rapidly evolving world and become successful in increasingly competitive, informative and capable population.

Check the video below:

My Girlfriend

A thought crossed my mind while reading the article in my earlier post and then thinking about this relationship stuff. The question is : Who has the potential to be one's partner/girlfriend ?

Let me first go through the traits of a potential partner:
1. The one with whom you like to spend most of your time of the day and is close to you.
2. The one to whom you can express your feelings.
3. The one who lets you do what you want to.
4. The one who does not interferes with your deeds and gives you your "personal space".
5. The one with whom you sleep.
6. The one whom you'd like to see every morning as soon as you wake up.

After a careful thought-process, brainstorming and checking all these requirements on the potential candidates for "My Girlfriend", I have given this privilege to my laptop, whom I call "My Lapi". Today I wont hesitate to express my deep love for My Lapi. And interesting thing is that there are qualities apart from above ones which are there in My Lapi and go in her favor e.g. she entertains me by songs and videos, keeps me in touch with the whole world, let me express myself through blogging, bears my frustrations and anger (when I am hard on keyboard) and never says a word. A small problem is to decide the gender of a laptop. Some may say M, some may say F. So, given this flexibility in the gender determination of a laptop and my own preferences, I have aptly granted her the status of my girlfriend. See her picture..how cute she looks. I love you sweetheart.....

Reconnect with Mother Tongue

मेरा मात्रभाषा प्रेम
काफी समय से मैं हिंदी के चिट्ठे पढ रहा हूं ऐवम् अपनी मात्रभाषा को चिट्ठों की दुनिया में सजीव देखकर मुझे बहुत प्रसन्नता होती है । कभी‍‍‍‍‍‌‍कभी ऐसा महसूस होता है जैसे मानो की इंगलिश ने मुझे हर दिशा से कसके जकड़ रखा है । कहा जाता है कि समय के साथ मस्तिष्क का विकास होता है, सोचने‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌-समझने की शक्ति बढती है, विचार बढते हैं, लेकिन यहाँ तो कमबख्त, विचारों की भाषा ही बदल गयी । मैंने सोचा की इससे पहले की स्थिति काबू से बाहर हो जाये, जरा स्वयं को हरकत मे लाया जाये और अपनी मात्रभाषा से फिर से सम्बन्ध जोड़ा जाये । बस फिर क्या था, शुरू हुई एक जद्दोजहद, हिंदी की लिपि और अंतर्जाल पर उसकी उपलब्धि पर एक छोटा सा अनुसंधान, अन्य चिट्ठाकारों से सलाह मशविरा और अंतः अपनी एक कोशिश, जो आपके सामने है । मिर्ची सेठ ने बताया, तो पता चला की गूगल का ये ब्लॉगर हिंदी को सपोर्ट करता है ऐवम् प्रयोग करने में भी आसान है । लेकिन समस्या यह हुई की एक ही चिट्ठे में दो भाषाओं का समागम हो नहीं सकता और मेरे कंधो पर पहले से ही दो चिट्ठों का भार है और कंधे भी मेरे दो ही हैं, भई आखिर हम भी इसी पृथ्वी के हैं, मंगल से थोड़े ही टपके हैं । इस समस्या का समाधान भी थोड़ा सोच विचार के खोज ही लिया, कर दिया पूरब और पश्चिम का मिलाप और प्रस्तुत कर दी आपके समक्ष अपनी पहली प्रविष्टि।
हिंदी में चिट्ठे बनाने के संदर्भ में और जानकारी के लिये पढ़ें अक्षरग्राम ।

**********************************************************************************

This is an effort to reconnect myself with my mother tongue. I have been reading the hindi blogs for quite a while and felt good that people are working to make my language internet-compatible. I have felt that slowly slowly english, aptly tagged as father-tongue of India, has covered my thought process. In spring this year, I met a student working on a linguistics project and needed help with the script and pronunciation of Hindi. To my surprise, I had to do some effort to write grammatically accurate hindi. This is a bad sign. Then I started reading hindi websites, news and eventually blogs. And today, I started posting in hindi......I am happy.

For offline hindi typing, I am using Takhti, a very convenient and easy-to-use application. For more help in hindi blogging, check Akshargram.

Education is Life itself ????

Yesterday, I added the links on my blog about the schools I have been to. While going over my undergrad school's (Punjab Engineering College) website, I saw this picture showing the my college's philosophy. It says:

Education is a social process...

Education is growth...

Education is not only preparation for life,

Education is Life Itself.

I went down the memory lane, about 7 years ago on August 18,1998, my first day in college after I got admission there. I was sitting on the stairs in front of the entrance of the auditorium, exactly in front of this sign. At that time, I found it really kool, fandoo, awesome, impressive etc. I am sure now that I dint understood the real meaning, the real depth in this statement. But now I do understand the importance of education. Education doesnt mean just the degree or diploma you get....it means how much you have learnt. Each phrase of this statement is so meaningful (if you think about it). The four memorable years, I spent in PEC, I dint just learned from the books or classes, but I learned through the life there. Seven years ago, I found this phrase really kool, fandoo, awesome and impressive, but today, I find it inspiring, meaningful and sensible...................... because, now I am educated !!!

War Against Bloggers

A serious incident has recently grabbed international attention amongst bloggers. A private MBA institue in India has started harrassing eminent and well known Indian bloggers, Rashmi Bansal and Gaurav Sabnis for their posts. Rashmi Bansal has done a serious attempt to expose the false claims made by this institute in her monthly youth magazine JAM. Gaurav Sabnis has posted to bring out the fine prints in the tall claims made by this institute. I wont even write the name of this institute or post any of its link. They have served legal notices to these two people and Varna alleging that these guys are defaming their prestigious institute (another false claim). Within a few days, lots of fake blogs have come up with only one post against Rashmi and Gaurav. Gaurav Sabnis has resigned from his job. For a detailed and regularly updated post on this war between a rogue institute using its money and influence and eminent bloggers using their faith in freedom of speech, please go to DesiPundit and support the bloggers.

Corrosion of a Mind

Sometimes life brings one to a certain point where the person feels standstill, simply standstill, no motion, no activity. It feels good initially because he can relax; he can chill out and regain his passion and zeal. But when this period stretches beyond the expected limit, it creates some different kind of emotions like uncertainty, insecurity, ambiguity and even despair. After awhile, it gives the feeling of being corroded. Corrosion is the process of gradual decay and deterioration when anything is left on its own subjected to the natural reactants (common example is rusting of iron). The most dangerous trait of this corrosion process is that it is irreversible. Whatever has been corroded cannot be converted back to its original form. On a closer perspective, it can be seen that even human beings are also susceptible to this dangerous phenomenon. However, in humans the loss is not in terms of physical matter, but rather of intellectual matter. As long as our life is in our control, our intellectual matter keeps on developing and evolving. But when our life gets dependent on some external parameters and comes to a standstill, we start experiencing corrosion, the degradation. This is dangerous, extremely dangerous. In order to grow ahead in life, we need to evolve continuously …without any standstill….!!!

Moverz n Shakerz

Two weeks ago, I moved out of the city where I did my Masters and moved to a friend’s place in the area, where I am interested to live and work. Anyway, that’s not a big deal. Everyone does so…known as: moving to greener pastures (however I have moved to north which is mostly white of snow). Now this process of moving is a painstaking one. You ought to take so many binary decisions. Either you can keep something and pack it (considered 1) or just trash it (considered 0). Decision 1 is not dependent just on your desire and attachment to that particular thing, but rather subjected to the availability of space in your suitcase and boxes. Decision 0 is affected by your ability to sever your attachment with that thing and respectfully place it in the trash can. Once placed, there is no turning back. By the time you will go to take it out from trash can (hats off to you), your roommate must have dumped some more garbage over it (sometimes roommates act faster than you think). Since I am moving every year from past 7 years, my packing skills have greatly improved. The fine print here is that my ability to part away from my belongings has decreased. Then, I run into the great conflict of volume vs. weight. All airlines have meticulously fixed their baggage policies in such a way that it is literally impossible to fix the stuff in the bag without exceeding the weight requirements. After making several combinations and adjustments, I finally made my mind to pay extra charges to the airlines (assuming it to be act of generosity and making a major contribution to prevent one more airline going bankrupt). Finally, thou moved safely…..!!!

Life@Airport

Its been quite a while when I last posted something on this blog and I think, I should better get regular here before others like you stop visiting my realm altogether. Well right now I am sitting at a place, where no one would like to sit and relax until forced to do so. Any guesses…well…before your mind wanders, let me break the silence….I am sitting at an airport waiting for my next connection which will take after 2 hours (hopefully…always to be added when talking about air-travel). There is something strange about an airport. So many people arrive here and leave; so many flights land here and take-off, so many bookstores, cafes, bars, restaurants are full of people here yet no single soul would ever express his/her desire to stay at an airport. Have you ever heard of someone planning his trip and saying lets fly from Atlanta, GA to Denver, CO visiting JFK in New York, O’Hare in Detroit and then San Francisco International Airport in our way ? Well, airports have everything ranging from a McDonalds to posh Sports Bar & Grills, Starbucks, bookstores, restrooms, lounges, wireless connection etc which are essential for one’s life. There is a possibility of meeting strangers and making friends or maybe more than that. I agree that cost of living is a little high at airports and it would be hard to find a place to sleep, but still it’s not a bad place to spend a couple of hours.

I have spent quite a lot of time at airports (my sincere thanks to the airlines and unpredictable weather conditions) and observed them closely. I have spent long layovers at airports which were actually not in my itinerary altogether. While coming from India, I spent 3 days in Boston, where I was not at all supposed to be. Last Sunday while enjoying one layover at Cincinnati airport, I met a guy whom I have met more than 5 years ago for a few minutes during one of my summer internship in India. He didn’t remember me (evident from the big ? mark on his face) and was amazed (evident from the * in his eyes) at my memory (I don’t forget people until I want to). Without digressing from my pont, lest ask this question: Would someone be willing to accept a grand prize of staying at a posh airport for 3 days and 2 nights?

Edited after sitting at this airport for 1.5 hrs: I completely agree with the fact that chairs at airports are not comfortable esp while sitting with a laptop.

Kim 'The Babe' shines !!

So, finally the Belgian Toughness shines in the US Open after defeating the top seeds of Tennis i.e.Sharapova 'the tigress', Venus Williams 'the powerhouse' and Mary Pierce 'the slammer staging a comeback' !!! Wow..what an achievement. This was the first time I had watched Kim Clijsters game completely and analyzed her performance. Her coverage of the court by exceptional stretching and reaching the ball was simply remarkable. She must have made her mom (Belgian Gymnastic champ) and dad (outstanding soccer player) proud of themselves. Her game has the technique, strategy and tenacity and offcourse excellent physical abilities. And then she had the determination to remove the black spot of not having any grand slam title. So, she got the US Open 2005 trophy. Her game against Maria Sharapova was a 'not to be missed one' and I dint missed it either.

Afterall my belief in 'a true fighter fights till the end' became stronger than ever...Yes !!!!

Fighting spirit at US Open

Today I did one of my favorite thing..watched tennis whole evening..the Women's singles quarterfinals of US Open. (yes..there was more to watch than mere women!) The two challenging matches I witnessed today lying on my couch sipping Coke Classic [no beer :(] were worth watching 'Live'. First was between Nadia Petrova (9) and the glamorous russian champ Sharapova (1). Sharapova has been the cynosure of all eyes this season not just because of her looks, but because of her fitness, practice and vigor. But today the champ had a hard time. Even though she won finally, but whole time I was favoring Petrova. Because for me, she was a true fighter. Her spirits in the game were awesome and worth appreciating.

I dont know why, but I always have this penchant to support the person who is fighting and struggling against a champion or against all odds. Maybe the true feeling of victory or achievement will come if you defeat a champ. In another words "The more challenging it is, more exciting it becomes !". Sometimes, I see myself in there and start supporting that person aggressively. The comeback of Nadia with well-placed shots and good serves after loosing at 1-4 was truly awesome. Even though she lost finally, but she did gave the feel of 'loosing' in second set. It was visible in Maria's errors and misdirected shots. Hats off to Petrova.

Second match was between Kim Clijsters (4) and Venus Williams (10). Venus is making a comeback and was ousted by the Belgian Bomber. Here I was in favor of Clijsters, not just because she is cute and athletic, but because of her determination. William's game is more governed by powerful shots and aggressiveness whereas there can be something more to the game i.e. technique, finding opponents shortcomings and using them, strength and high amount of agility and flexibility. Thats what Clijsters demonstarted on the courts. Her flexibility by taking shots at the end of the courts by stretching legs, endurance during long volleys were so great. Though she lost the first game, but then she fought back and finally won. She said, "Even though I probably wasn't playing my best tennis at all, for a set and a half, I still kept fighting." Thats what I like, "the spirit to fight".

This makes me realize that I also have to fight against all odds to get the career of my choice. Afterall, A true fighter fights till the end !!!

As for the tournament, as it shrinks to the final stages, the challenges will grow bigger, competition will become stiffer, stakes will be higher and excitement will increase to new heights....so will my beer consumption.

Power of Nature

After seeing the aftermaths of deadly Katrina, I am wondering about the power of nature.

Claude Monet once said:
"The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration".

The nature is definitely not the source for my inspiration right now..!!!

Thesis goes online

After much efforts, my Masters thesis is available for the enthusiastics on World Wide Web. For any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Mesoscopic Simulation of Grain Boundary Diffusion Creep in Inhomogeneous Microstructures

While browsing over the vast online library of Electronic Thesis & Dissertations(ETD) of my university, I was just wondering...if my thesis is another speck in the heap. Maybe for others..but not for me. For me, its my prized possession.... for which I toiled for two years !!!

Lull before the storm

So, now are waiting for tropical storm to hit the coast in the form of a major hurricane..named as Katrina. The mere fact that this storm is named after a sexy n sleek model cum actress of Indo-British origin doesnt make it as seductive and welcome. In any case, I wont like this dangerous Katrina to come and sit in my lap with hands around my waist (even though she is wet ;-) ). But had it been the other Katrina, I would have no second thoughts.


Jokes apart, this hurricane is going to be one of the worst in US with 4th worst in terms of low pressure. It wil strike the coast with winds as speedy as 160 mph and spanning a wide area of 200 miles almost. Its rated as 5 on some 'arbit' kind of scale used for rating hurricanes (like Ritcher for earthquakes), which is very high. So now we are waiting with our stock of drinking water, food and fingers crossed for thunderstorms, downpours and extreme winds. Lets see how much it stays on its projected path and estimated decimation.

Here are some pictures of the satellite images of this hurricane from weather.com. Check it out and enjoy with a feeling of thrill and sensation..!!!

Today..its just an eerie silence outside...the lull before the storm..!!!

Another Saying

The only fall where you feel elevated and on the top of the world is "falling in love".

-Wise Men

Now this is in contradiction to the previous saying....conflicting ..isnt it?
Now I wonder which set of wise men is actually wise..?? Any comments !!!