Amit Trivedi, you are the new A. R. Rahman

Subah ki kirno ko rokein jo salaakhein hai kahan
Jo khayalon pe pehre daale woh aankhein hai kahan
Par khulne ki deri hai parinde udh ke choomenge
Aasman aasman aasman

Such a beautiful song !
Take a moment and imagine a melody for this amazing song in your mind.
But then listen to how Amit Trivedi does it .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFr6f5qp7Gs

Do you know what is so great about a Bollywood Music Composer ?
-- The fact that he has to compose songs for so many genres [Sufi, dance, pop, rock, Punjabi, classical ]
    in the same movie and all of this in a given length of time without being repetitive.

Do you know what is common in these movies show below ?
--Besides the fact that Amit Trivedi is the music director for all of them, I would like to say Amit has
   infused some NEW AND FRESH music in the industry through these movies.

Well then, how come Amit has never won any well known and prestigious music awards ?
--He has won a few filmfare awards like for background score in Dev-D and Udaan and for best
   music direction in Ishaqzaade. I do not know why he has not won many awards. Can't speculate
   either. But his success story is that of the small kid playing street soccer until his talent get recognized
   by people looking for fresh talent. He brings fresh music to the industry, that counts. He is still young.

And what if others don't like Amit's music. What if I am biased ?
--I have tried this with my friends. I  have setup my SAAVN app in the phone with Amit Trivedi's playlist
  and played it in presence of my friends. And I have always been asked, which movie ? I tell them
  forget the movie, remember the music director.

Which songs do I listen to ?
--
wake up sid (2009) : song: iktarra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyauNfiMh7E

Udaan(2010) : song Aazaadiyan  Inspirational Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFr6f5qp7Gs

Aisha(2010) : song Sham   Very less background score. Unplugged. Vocal sweetness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFyXcX-s0C8

Aisha(2010) : song Suno Aisha   Uses woodwind instruments and electronic music as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAzO3s7Dgnw

Aisha(2010) : song Gal mithi mithi bol   Fun Punjabi Dance song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rno-Spyx94E

No One Killed Jessica (2011) : song Aali re  dhin chuk song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRnbmQYAIp0

Chillar Party (2011) : song  Ek School Banana Hai   simple rhythm and nice melody. Song by kids :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd2VTTw_7t0

Trishna (2011) : song lagan lagi  amazing female song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBPgxnpAWfw

Ishaqzaade (2012) : All songs are amazing :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFdfwaOoLAs

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012) : All songs are amazing :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky1I9GtZhfA

English Vinglish (2012) : All songs are amazing :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKM11ebl4WM

Ghanchakkar (2013) : All songs are just fine :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnYQKgB7Z04

Queen (2014) : All songs are ROCKING !!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mqhI2pActU

-Shreekant

How to find a well tested laptop / Phone / Tablet ?

Here's how I used to check reviews of a product that I was interested in.
1. check editor reviews on engadget.com
2. check editor reviews on CNET.com
3. check video reviews on youtube

After absorbing all the rich mixed media, I believed that I had enough confidence to take the decision.
Especially after the reassurances from the editors on CNET/Engadget, I was satisfied with my research until one of friends went
"BUT, I heard a lot of complaints about......"

Back to the scratch board [search-bar] this time checking for Actual User Reviews.
Thinking in my mind I will prove that my friend was wrong.
1. check user reviews on Amazon.com. Especially read reviews with 1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars.
2. check user reviews on Bestbuy.com and other retailers. Especially read reviews with 1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars.

But it turns out he was right. I would end up seeing lots of red flags in the product.
Then how come I did not see the red flags earlier while reading the editor reviews ?

Problem....huh! What's the solution then?
I found one -- go to www.notebookcheck.net

Here's why ?
Unlike other websites, notebookcheck.net has posted ALL the actual results (EVIDENCE)
of the tests conducted. All the editors use the same criteria and procedure for testing hence making it easy to compare competing products. Check the link below.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Our-Test-Criteria.15394.0.html

Some tests are really cool like these ones.
-Display tests: gridwise maximum brightness, contrast, color space reproduction,
                outdoor screen brightness, screen brightness when the screen is tilted.
-Mass Storage PCs: read/ write speed test.
-Emissions: Noise level in idle and max load, Gridwise Temperature in max load and idle states.
            These results are really helpful if you are considering buying a laptop for dusty environments [India !].
-Battery Life tests: High Performance profile tests are used instead of some easy tests.

The other things that I love about their website are
THE CENTER COLUMN provides a quick overview and overall satisfaction rate.
Besides if you are in a hurry and don't have time to read through the entire material then
JUST LOOK OUT FOR THE TEXT IN BOLD. They provide the main highlights and the RED FLAGS :) of the device.

And finally let me put actually put the website to test.
I have collected the RED FLAGS from 4 sources as you can see below.
I am trying to use the User reviews as a reference and trying to figure out
which editor was able to find most of the issues faced by users early on.
More the match, the better job he did.

CNET vs User Reviews:
3/5 Matches. nobody complained about dimmer screen or bad voice quality.

Engadget vs User Reviews:
2/2 Matches. Amazing Job.

notebookcheck.net vs User Reviews:
7/8 Matches. Isn't that a good number now ?

Overall I feel, if you want to collect your RED FLAGS quickly always read User Review + notebookcheck.net.

Some of the peculiar street names in Austin

Escarpment Blvd. 

An escarpment is a relatively steep face that separates two regions by a markedly different elevation . But how is escarpment related to Austin? The next time you drive from Austin to San Antonio on I-35, observe the 300-feet high grounds along the highway at certain places. This is called the Balcones escarpment. It extends from Del Rio to red river in a curved line. The escarpment is visible eastward from Del Rio, where it is about 1,000 feet high. But along the I-35, it is only about 300 feet high. Watch some of the other escarpment pics here at discovery link. 
Balcones escarpment is a surface expression of the Balcones Fault line. Although the Balcones Fault zone has recently been active, it is in one of the lowest-risk zones for earthquakes in the United States.
 
MoPac Expressway.

 
Originally the road was owned by the company Missouri Pacific Railroad. Hence the short name MoPac. Even though the road was later bought by City of Austin, MoPac has remained a popular name amongst the locals. The official name of the highway is Texas Loop 1.

A particular section of the road has railroad running in the median. Today the railroad is mostly used by the Goods train and rarely by Amtrak. MoPac serves a very important purpose in Austin. It's the only other freeway after I-35 that takes Autinites to their downtown and their beloved Zilker Park which is also near downtown. MoPac can become really crowded especially during major events in downtown.

And because of the increasing population in Austin, A MoPac Improvement Project was initiated. One of the latest plans is to lay down express lanes for Emergency Vehicles, public transit buses and registered van pools. Check out this website: MoPac Improvement Project 

public transit buses, registered van pools, and emergency vehicles - See more at: http://www.mopacexpress.com/express-lanes/index.php#sthash.VC18Yl3h.dpuf

public transit buses, registered van pools, and emergency vehicles - See more at: http://www.mopacexpress.com/express-lanes/index.php#sthash.VC18Yl3h.dpuf

 Streets in Austin Downtown.  
The street names Rio Grande, Nueces, San Antonio, Guadalupe, Lavaca, Colorado, Brazos, San Jacinto, Trinity, Neches, Red River, Sabine are names of Texas rivers which run from North to South just like these streets. Also these streets are named in the same order in which these rivers are present from west of Texas to east of Texas.

 



source:
http://www.texasstories.com/library/program2.html?loc=pc_austin_waterloo_lib.html
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/geo/ggtc/ch3.html
http://www.mochaonline.org/StephenFSlaughterArticle.pdf
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/texas/rivers/labeled.shtml

Interesting Facts about Austin

After Texas became an independent country in 1836, the then Texas Congress had to decide a new site for it's capital. At that time a place named Waterloo was selected because of it's beautiful hills, waterways, and pleasant surroundings. Later the name Waterloo was changed to Austin.

Austin back then was not a popular place to live. Only after completion of the Capitol Building and UT Austin in the 1880s, the population rose. And so did the city limits.

 



State Capitol Building: State Capitol Building is the largest State Capitol Building in the US.
The Dome stands 7' taller than the Capitol Building in DC.
And the structure is made up of pink granite.

Largest Urban Bat Population: Austin, Texas is the home to 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats which live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Every evening at around 8pm, people come to see these bats fly from their homes. This happens from the months of March to October, after which the bats migrate to Mexico.






UT Austin:
It is one of the largest college universities in the nation. The University of Texas at Austin has the fifth-largest single-campus enrollment in the nation. The current enrollment is over 50,000 students. This also puts it at the largest enrollment of all colleges in Texas.
 

Live Music Capital of the world:
With more than 100 live music venues this city is considered the live music capital of the world. Austin also hosts the popular Music Festival called the Austin City Limits which features 130 bands in over 3 days. Initially it was created to celebrate the music of Texas but now the series features regional, national and international artists performing a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, alternative country, alternative rock, folk music, and jam band.

Mount Bonnell:
It's highest point in Austin standing at 785 feet. Not very high, but for Texas that is quite a hike. Most of the state is flat land so Mount Bonnell is a diamond in the rough. Mount Bonnell is quite the tourist attraction as well. From the top you will find breathtaking views of beautiful Lake Austin.

Bored in Austin ?

It is Friday already and you have not made any weekend plans ? Shame on you....
But can't blame you cause there are less places to go around.
But if you ask a true austinite, he will more than happy to show you some of these places.
Some really beautiful parks, train rides, historical sites,

--Parks
McKinney Falls State Park:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/mckinney-falls
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g30196-d109512-Reviews-McKinney_Falls_State_Park-Austin_Texas.html

Mayfield Park Cottage and Garden:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g30196-d560368-Reviews-Mayfield_Park_Cottage_and_Gardens-Austin_Texas.html
http://mayfieldpark.org/

Capitol Building:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g30196-d139482-Reviews-Capitol_Complex_Visitors_Center-Austin_Texas.html

Westcave preserve:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g30196-d144286-Reviews-Westcave_Preserve-Austin_Texas.html
http://westcave.org/



Zilker Zephyr Miniature Trail:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g30196-d144285-Reviews-Zilker_Zephyr_Miniature_Train-Austin_Texas.html

 

Try something new for 30 Days

What do I do when go home ? well I don't feel like doing much, I always end up watching some TV show. In the back of my mind I am thinking, I want to run a marathon or write blogs or follow a new sport. But I never reach the point to push myself out of my comfort zone. But nonetheless it did happen finally when I watched the video by Matt Cutts on TED.com 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfBXjWm7hc

Nagarjun had seen this video first and he showed it to us. After watching it carefully we decided amongst ourselves to give it a try. The rules were simple.

Select a new task and do it every day continuously for 30 days.

Do something that you have never done but always wanted to do.

And Don't go to sleep until you have completed the assigned stuff.

We followed the instructions and we did it in a group to track our progress and get a feedback from each other. As Matt says 30 days is enough to test yourself and to habituate yourself to do something new or get rid of some unwanted habit. Nagarjun, Bharat and me followed this exact principle and today we completed our respective tasks after 30 days.

We had decided to do these tasks:

A blog a day for 30 days

Green tea everyday for 30 days

No non-veg food for 30 days

Each one of us did achieve something new in this process. We got to learn a little more about ourselves.And it felt really good.

We had also thought about:

A pic a day for 30 days

Reading/ Research a finance article everyday for 30 days

Low salt meals for 30 days

Cycle to work for 30 days

etc.....

Lastly I would like to say that let this be an inspiration for you to try something new for 30 days ! Nobody is judging you and ultimately it's your own prerogative. But the only thing I can say is TRY IT and you will feel the difference.

Engineering telepathy

Many Bollywood movies have shown us the typical telepathic emotion transfer between two twins. The last time you got hiccups, I am pretty sure your friend or relative must have made a joke that  somebody was remembering you?  But is there any logical or scientific explanation for telepathy ? Michio Kaku, a physicist says that it cannot be even related to quantum entanglement so he claims even the most complicated rules of quantum mechanics do not support telepathy.

But many years from now if they ever find some explanation for this mystery how would it be engineered in everyday life. The crazy scientists and engineers would gather and create a device called the Telepathic Unit (TU) which could be worn over your head to enhance your feelings and to transport them. And just like internet addresses, each one of us would get a unique telepathic address (TA).

Now with the this basic setup of TU and TA, you can call anybody in this world, across oceans. With such a contraption, we could not only pass simple messages but feelings like passion, pain and happiness. I guess the best usage of these devices would be at a call center or a customer care agency . Consider calling a 1-800 number and not just explaining the problem but sharing the pain literally with the representative...that would make life easier, I guess.

But what would happen if you end up in a fight with your girlfriend. Moments later you would end up telepathizing with her point of view. A war no man has ever won.