Burgeoning Mind

Ubuntu 9.10 - painless upgrade

2009-11-10T10:56:00.003-06:00

The Ubuntu upgrade from 9.04 to 9.10 has been pretty smooth on a Dimension 8400 and an Optiplex GX620.

Firefox-Google start page

2009-11-10T09:52:00.009-06:00

To change the start page of the google toolbar in Firefox 3.5, edit the SearchForm value in the google.xml file found under the following location:For XP:C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchpluginsFor Ubuntu:/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US

Pidgin looking better

2009-05-06T16:42:00.009-05:00

With just one tool to rule them all (msn/yahoo/gmail/icq/local jabber etc) I was pretty happy with Pidgin. Unfortunately, the look&feel started getting boring very soon and I started missing the other clients. So while exploring a couple of gnome/gtk sites, a pretty good looking background image turned up. Going through a bunch of docs and with some luck I got the background to stick.To set the

Ubuntu workstation tweaks

2008-08-29T09:28:00.006-05:00

After going through another hardware issue, I've decided to record the post-install tweaks needed on the way back to productivity... The list will likely grow as its only my first day.Change terminal colors to white-on-blackEnable terminal transparencyInstall emacs 22Install and config synergyShare folder with win pc which turns out to be buggy in HardyEnable share on folder for current user

Emacs - enable default syntax highlighting

2008-08-14T09:45:00.002-05:00

Add the following line to the .emacs file in your home folder:(global-font-lock-mode 1)Reference:Emacs Faq

Emacs - indenting entire document

2008-08-14T09:43:00.001-05:00

To select the entire buffer:C-x hTo indent the selected regionC-M-\Reference:http://emacseditor.tribe.net/thread/e59ec61b-8005-41e7-8c01-0c95dd90f932

Let the games begin

2008-06-17T11:18:00.000-05:00

First Steps: Java

2008-05-29T15:15:00.004-05:00

Prerequisite:Install the java development kit and add the bin folder to your pathExercising java:Click Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Command PromptType the command "javac" and hit enterYou should see the following outputC:\>javacUsage: javac where possible options include:-g Generate all debugging info-g:none Generate no

Extract Unix/Linux file timestamp

2008-05-21T14:56:00.004-05:00

Today, I had the need to archive remote files by renaming them with their last modified dates. For example, foo.txt modified on April 5th 1946 should become foo_04-05-1946.txt.After spending an hour reading up on sed, awk, and eval, the single line command to get the month/date/year combo kept eluding me. At this point I decided to have James (our admin) take a look at this. After tinkering

Hibernate tutorial using Maven

2008-05-14T00:08:00.018-05:00

The next tool to get familiarized with on my list was Hibernate. The project site hosts a simple tutorial that exercises a standalone application. A couple of work related projects gave me exposure to maven and so decided to supplant Ant. Here are a few notes from this episode.The entire zipped tutorial is available here.Create a maven jar project (Maven intro). The next step is the setup of

And along came a fork...

2008-04-09T14:07:00.006-05:00

A tricky click, whence you shall tumble after!

Sun JDK on Ubuntu

2008-04-09T10:56:00.003-05:00

Installing the Java development kit on Ubuntu proved simple enough:sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jdkGetting to the jdk home folder was a matter of following the crumbs...export JAVA_HOME='/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.03/'

Maven Intro

2008-01-09T21:20:00.000-06:00

After twiddling with version management systems a bit, the next stop is to setup a project environment that leveraged this infrastructure. Ant is a wonderful tool to manage project build, documentation and deployment in a friendly way. It comes with quite extensive documentation and a selection of good off-line resources to introduce concepts to beginners.Maven is a newer tool that builds on

2008-01-04T14:36:00.000-06:00

Simple CVS tutorialHere is a beginners tutorial for setting up a cvs repository on linux. The flavor of linux i'm using is ubuntu and it didn't come preloaded with cvs.The following command gets and installs the package.>sudo apt-get install cvsThe next thing is to setup a local cvs repository. This is the place where cvs stores project information and so shouldn't reside in a user folder.>

2007-10-31T11:58:00.000-05:00

Ubuntu terminal modeWhen trying to add Composite Extensions with xorg.conf i managed to crash the GNOME Desktop Manager on startup. Ctrl + Alt + F2 combination gave the option to login into text mode and revert the config file bringing GDM backup. Looks like the lack of 3D capabilities on VmWare's virtual SVGA graphics driver will remain a block for now.

2007-10-16T16:11:00.000-05:00

JSP Highlighting in EmacsWhile going through files in Emacs, I was disappointed in not being able to get much highlighting out of jsp pages. Searched high and wide for some extension and finally settled on HappyEmacs. This was not entirely without issues as both the menu bar and tool bar had been taken out. Since I'm a bit of a newbie to Emacs and screen real-estate wasn't that big of an issue

2007-04-16T17:10:00.000-05:00

Whats so special...Nothing special??Hint: Take a peek at about 2:07

2007-04-09T17:21:00.000-05:00

Only to smell the lead…Brandishing a machine gun, I've enjoyed sneaking up on quite a few of my buddies for the sake of dropping a grenade or unloading a barrage of bullets. As they jump out of their skins, it would be unfair to picture me not being at the receiving end and quite a few times I've used the opportunity to re-spawn and replenishing my supplies. But Halo 2 really gets interesting

2007-04-06T00:23:00.000-05:00

Behind the curtainsFrom the silence, comes a feeling of words, not uttered, yet eliciting a response. As one traverses a world that evokes the senses, rarely do we halt to listen to the stillness of an empty mind. While some may frown upon the very notion of such a state, it is from this quiet dark room that the voices speak. And we wage battle in our worlds to carve out a larger pie in the

2007-03-14T17:47:00.000-05:00

Free at last!Since this entry primarily deals with a developer mindset, brace yourselves in case you're not savvy with that. The premise of this elucidation is this: If one were to assume that a piece of code working on one system can be always be moved to another system with reasonable effort, one would be WRONG!Conducting myself daily upon proprietary tools for the past few months, I’ve had

2007-01-21T12:49:00.000-06:00

White TrailsFor a few years now, the lack of any personal documentation on the winters in Manhattan has nibbled away at the back of my mind. As the slower than usual recovery from jet lag had me up and about at 8:30 am on this Sunday morning, I decided to make good on the old fancy. Wishing all a safe and cozy winter in Manhattan.

2006-10-13T16:11:00.000-05:00

Veggie ExpressionsLately, I've seen quite a few transactions performed at various local joints such as Taco Bell and Dillon’s to appease sudden hunger urges. While the quality of meat at some places is a tad shoddy, it wasn't quite a disqualifying factor. The real uproar to my senses arrived on opening the credit statement and I resolved to strive for a home cooked meal at least once a day.So,

2006-10-09T18:00:00.000-05:00

The fall of the dominoesWhile flipping through the innumerable channels searching for anything interesting, I had nearly lost all faith in being entertained by the pre-programmed shows running at midnight. Having been spent over the weekend, I was ready to call it a night and figured one more run through the tube before hitting the sack. On reaching Channel 25, the screen seemed peppered with “

2006-10-03T15:03:00.000-05:00

Veritable Vanquishing in the Vacancy of the Venerable Vanguard: Victory VociferouslyAnd why would I title this that, you ask? For one, it is not everyday that I surge ahead of my poker peers toward chip heaven and secondly, reaching second the second time around isn’t a bad way to finish the morning either. Some noteworthy aspects did have a say in the developments toward success, the least of

2006-09-26T17:40:00.000-05:00

A shift in tide…Since the recent drop in gas prices, my spirits have been buoyed by the prospect of a long drive. A pattern that emerges from analyzing weekends past is the long drawn out hibernations interrupted by the lone thrill seeking, high-intensity weekend. Perhaps a more uniform sprinkling of excitement is a way to correct points such as now, when I miss the adventures on the

2006-09-18T14:59:00.000-05:00

S for Suspense...It is a quarter past seven and save the few lonely souls meandering aimlessly, the battlefield lies bare as premonitions of impending doom suffocates the lone swashbuckler. The singular fact that the opponent is masked behind a superfluous title elicits a slight accrual in his heart rate as KLN continues a practice session of rigor. Whilst stealing a casual glance at the

2006-09-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

Road Trip VThe trip to colorado was made possible by our good friend Sada. His generous accomodations kept us comfy and his knowledge of the locale helped shave many a minute from the GPS generated routes.Apart from rafting, Sada showed us around this great falls. And finally, one truly appreciates the intuitive reasoning Sada brings to many a puzzle...

2006-09-09T20:28:00.000-05:00

Road Trip IVThe main attraction of this trip was white-water rafting eleven miles on the Arkansas River right through the Royal Gorge. What was a Level 4 ride got notched up one level due to the lower volume of water flow and turned out to be quite the experience. Many a times, our guide steered the raft sideways through a slew of menacing rock formations gracefully as the paddlers tried to

2006-09-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

Road Trip IIIOne of the first attractions we visited was Bear Lake near Estes Park. The tranquil lake reflected the greenery around and the blue above to form a visual treat. The fauna seemed unperturbed by our movement and one willingly stepped out for a pose!Some in our group decided to perch up a hill and launch a sly ambush only to find their armaments out of range from the rest of us.

2006-09-07T17:42:00.003-05:00

Road Trip IIThe drive during the colorado trip was truly breathtaking and this being my third visit did nothing to dampen the awe. A 1 Gig card came in real handy during this trip and some good photographers (myself included!) froze some of these good moments in time. Heres a few to start with ...

2006-09-05T16:44:00.000-05:00

Road TripWith the Labor Day weekend complete, further dilly-dallying on entering the events that transpired would be inexcusable. At the same time, spewing out information by the bucket load would wary many a reader. So, a measured approach to document the adventures part-by-part seems sensible.Rather than being conventional, my first pick from the amalgam of happenings would be unrelated to

2006-08-29T17:20:00.000-05:00

Numero UnoDuring the last week, an incident occured that is relevant and worth mentioning. Eons ago, someone displayed wisdom by figuring out that it is failures that build character. This entry though, is about the success that is interspaced far and between.It has been over three months since picking up no-limit poker and having played quite a few games, victory has always eluded me. That

2006-08-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

Gone are the days of yoreAs the many legions of players formed since the ISA badminton tournament, throng at the gateway to the intramural singles competition, the path of the victor is made ever more steep. Differing markedly from doubles competitions, the singles player needs to exude flexibility and stamina while showing remarkable temperament in grounding welling disappointment.An avid

2006-08-23T17:23:00.000-05:00

Lightsaber DroolRecently, I've had the good opportunity to dole a few words of wisdom regarding rackets to a couple of friends. With comparable budgets and styles of play, they ended up with similar racket options and finally landed on the same selection. My fascination in this affair lay with seeing through the metrics, into the physics of racket motion and stress points on the

2006-08-21T17:03:00.000-05:00

Food for thoughtWhile at a dinner courtesy of Sanjeev & Sanghamitra, a loud conversation regarding the crudeness of Indian politics twirled among the stuffed crowd. From the humble right to romanticize intimately on a beach, we traversed through the bipartisan vs. coalition forms of government and finally solved the taxing problem with the Prime Minister's inertness by suggesting genealogical

2006-08-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

AlohaThe last couple of days had been filled with meetings and to-dos, though I am grateful for the myriad flat screens at my disposal! Apart from badminton and all the poker, the Independence Day celebrations come to mind as I chronicle the recent undocumented past. Both the location and weather was impeccable during the celebrations and I enjoyed the Indian snacks.Having parked near the

2006-08-14T13:50:00.000-05:00

Men's final @ the recToday, the men's finals conclude with Praveen & Sethu taking on Sairam & Kazuhiro. Early performances seemed to indicate a one-sided result, but having played a few recent games with Kazuhiro, there does seem reason to hope. The improvements noticed are in his ability to smash as well as in greater court coverage. If Kazuhiro completes a few good finishing moves, there is

2006-08-11T13:27:00.000-05:00

And then there was one...I've played quite a few card games over the years and when it comes to building and losing fortunes, poker stands out for its fast paced action. It is also a mind game involving second guesses and some theatrics. Playing the weak hand often leads to an early exit though holding out for good hands at any cost can only get you so far. The former style is prominent to the

2006-08-10T15:47:00.000-05:00

The grass is green nowExtending an olive branch, I commend the spirit of our adversaries as they braved consistency, power and accuracy in a fitting finale. You have drawn the best in us and braved the fiercest storm unfazed; and that is fitting of a victor. This then, will be your edge as you face formidable opponents.Having completed this mixed portion of the tournament, I am happy for the

2006-08-09T14:09:00.000-05:00

Eye of the stormAs the men's doubles tournament spirals in a plume toward certainty, the mixed doubles kindles tales of an unadulterated smash fest. Though my intent at being unbiased is honorable, I fear my mind deceives the self. Being the weak link in a mixed partnership speaks volumes of my teammate's ability, to those who have faced me; and conjures courage, should I falter. Today, as far

2006-08-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

Build upSo far, most men's doubles games in the ISA Badminton tournament have been one-sided. The fact that no game has reached the third set is an indication to this effect. Today though, all is set to change and there is some real possibility of a drawn-out dramatic match. Two teams will cross rackets and both teams have reasonably comparable players.The team of Sushant and Satya is all about

2006-08-04T09:33:00.000-05:00

A teary road is mine...Having hailed from a nation that is hardly surprised by any taste sensation, I wallowed in playful mockery at many a cuisine's ability to do just that. During my study at K-State, I had gone through various Marathi and Andhra dishes with hardly a peep, and so my confidence was not really misplaced. All that was about to change though, in ways I could not predict...The

2006-08-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

One more, pleaseDuring the last few weeks, an unusual event has taken grip over our precious existence. Wave after wave, the same subject line has attacked the mail server in what could easily fit the profile of a malicious worm. As sinister as it may seem, this confluence of messages is nothing more than a localized attempt at solving lateral puzzles.A mind that is adept at exploration has a

2006-08-01T09:52:00.000-05:00

In search of a silver liningAfter the debacle that was yesterday, I am glad to have learned a few good lessons. Defeat being a bitter pill to swallow, does provide an opportunity for some good character grooming. Reminiscing the moments in the court, I wish there were many things that went different. The one constant I would count again on is persistence to the very end. To live the mind that

2006-07-31T14:44:00.000-05:00

... As the leaf glides ever serenelyAll the hours spent in practice and for the few games played, the men's doubles has been a genteel affair. The few hours in training which may seem mundane at first glance, has brought our team to an understanding of our strengths and weaknesses. It is also fortunate to have the opportunity to play with various opponents and contrast their styles to

2006-07-28T10:38:00.000-05:00

Poker bluesA disproportionate amount of time has whiled since the last poker meet and this has led to feverish attempts at going "All In" in the strangest of places. At the spontaneous table-tennis match, the tennis match and the friggin' outdoor mini-soccer match. Is this one of the first tell-tale signs of an addiction or is it just me hallucinating over the good times round the poker table?

2006-07-27T10:34:00.000-05:00

For lack of an identity...Having won our first round match in the badminton tournament, I find my team lacking in one specific area more than others. To rise above the individual and highlight our formation, we need a name. A few flashes of inspiration including The Irregulars, The Underdogs, The Slick Flicks, Unusual Suspects, Fu Fighters and Warriors Within come to mind. A critique on some

2006-07-18T16:48:00.000-05:00

Tournament williesWith the announcement of the badminton doubles tournament, the Indian Students Association at Manhattan, KS has kicked off a storm of activity at the Recreation Complex. Where once, one needed to use all available communication devices to coax the ever illusive fourth player, getting a spot to practice has become an exercise in patience. A positive aspect to the situation is

2006-07-11T09:31:00.000-05:00

The Greatest GameDuring the span of the last month, the world held its breath as the pride and skill of nations both great and small were put to the fiery test before an audience that was truly unprecedented. In a setting of this magnitude there also brews on its sides, the elixirs of chivalry and controversy. The last of the great soccer matches was no exception; it will take a life of its own

2006-07-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

ClosureLooks like we've hit a routine. For the third week in a row, the badminton courts are unavailable on Fridays due to various other camps. Maybe we need to get smart about it and find another schedule. Today though, we may have to dribble a little on the soccer ball.

2006-07-07T10:08:00.000-05:00

Badminton movesGoing through some earlier doubles games, the plays that most impress me were the ones that were easily executable. Taking advantage of the relative positions of opposing players along with body movements based on instinctive reactions help set up some of the best deceptions. Such a strategy eliminates the need for focused power and protracted volleys. It also builds uncertainty

2006-07-06T16:38:00.000-05:00

World cup FinalsWe should be in for some good football as Germany takes on Portugal. Germany is coming in with the home crowd and have my support for the third place. Either ways, this matchup should have more goals scored than the finals.For having played remarkably poor early on, Italy is a team that needs to keep improving. Less appeals and more consistency from striker Luca Toni and

2006-07-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

Little discoveries...After a few games of badminton, I was pretty famished and had my mind set on Chinese. For a change, I decided to sway from my routine and try the fried rice. I must congratulate the chef at Happy Valley for a remarkable dish, as there is now a new reason to frequent his shop.

2006-07-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

Hold'em blindsAfter a few rounds of breaking sub-zero's spine, the conversation tipped into an earlier argument regarding increasing blinds. Some discussion later, there was minority agreement that a big blind of 2 is too small and ramping that to 8 would be more appropriate. The consensus needs to be tested on the start of the weekend.

2006-07-05T16:12:00.000-05:00

France vs Italy finals...Let the rootin tootin begin. I haven't made up my mind yet.

2006-07-05T13:46:00.000-05:00

France Vs PortugalSince teams i've rooted for (ecuador, ghana, brazil and germany) have all fallen burning, my hopes are pinned on France winning this matchup.