Thursday, October 20, 2011

Corruption - Varying degrees

There has been lot of noise about Kiran Bedi and her inflated ticket costs (Inflated travel cost) wrong as it might be or at the least debatable. See no reason why that by itself would discredit her and the larger anti corruption movement by team Anna (I have had points of disagreements articulated in an earlier post  Anna circus). Earlier there was news around Arvind Kejriwal (Arvind Kejriwal IT notice) There seems to be an an ongoing effort to tarnish the members of team Anna which have been petty to say the least.

Relatively and qualitatively, the scams such as the CWG, 2G, Adarsh housing and many others found, not found  and never to be found scams Vs misdeeds such as inflated travel expense, waived bonds could by no stretch of imagination be painted with the same brush. Flaws they both are, but the difference in quantum and magnitude must count for some. (even legally, when reprimanded the degree is considered)

One Plus of reading online

One big plus I find of reading online, be it news or blogs or whatever else, is the easy access to the dictionary. Over the years have stumbled on words and at times have continued to stumble upon the same words, without knowing their exact meanings, most times the context of the line or the piece allows us to comprehend and hence we move on. The sheer effort of having to reach out for the dictionary, the need to leave a cozy chair or bed or where ever one is, many a times is more than enough to put it away for latter. A 'later' which rarely comes. The lethargy, inertia,potential of loosing continuity in our reading, does us in....

When reading online all it takes is opening a new tab with the dictionary on it (Which now for me is an habit http://dictionary.reference.com/ is perpetually open in one tab). The advantages are many, more so for some one as lazy and unorganized as me. One does not have to go hunting for the dictionary, that done one would have to flip through pages and search the word out. If all that was not enough, if the word being hunted down is a slang or a relatively newer word which does not find a place in that edition, the hunt ends futile. Further, for some one like me whose understanding of phonetics would make a ten year old jump with joy and a sense of superiority..... An online dictionary is a sure blessing, where one could choose to listen to the word being called out. Not only does one get the meaning but also the correct pronunciation  of the word.

I for one, sure prefer cut & paste (ctrl c , ctrl v) to flipping through pages... Call me lazy!!!All this pretty much in real time, without having to move one's derriere or hinder one's reading by much...

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Movies I liked

This list is not necessarily a comprehensive and an all inclusive one, there could be movies I have liked and missed out here. Guess this is going to stay dynamic. There would be movies which would be added as and when I watch something and like, also there could be some dropped if on a watching again it is not liked as much.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Information Technology - Well used, Indian railways & Banking sector

Edmondson cardboard ticket
computerised - I-ticket
Any Science or development fructifies when it goes on to effect and simply our lives. We in India today talk so much about information technology be it as a career choice or in terms of e-governance or commerce all leading to a better a life, and many a times it is a hyperbole....no doubt they have contributed significantly...
E-ticket

Two areas where the change and its effect has been felt widely are the Indian railways and the banking sector.