Going on a Hiatus!

Sad but true!!! I won't be able to contribute much to this blog till October as i am tied up with few things...:(

To keep you interested i am listing down some of the topics that i intend to cover once i am back ::

A) The hype about iPhone.
B) The books that i plan to buy and read in my holidays.
C) Waterfall vs Agile Process Modelling.
D) Our friend Leggy!

Stay tuned and see you all after the break ...:)

Goa - Paradise on Earth!

Why am i writing about Goa?Hmm....let me think....maybe i am expecting the Goa tourism department to reward me with a free trip to Goa for advertizing their heaven......;).To be frank, i was mesmerised and intrigued by its beauty and serenity and wanted everyone in the blogging world to experience it!

It's a perfect holiday destination for those who are looking for fun as well as those who want a calm and tranquil time-off. It just depends on the time of your visit.Most of the tourists prefer the Xmas and new year season for Goa(thats what we did last year too) when it's bustling with activity.....lots of singing , dancing, cruise parties, shopping, feni and Goan food.
Rest of the year, it's calmer and duller and thats when we love it. Our 2nd visit was in August i.e last month...(ya, that makes it the 2nd one in 7 months...cant help it!!). Both of us being peace-loving creatures, we enjoyed a lot more this time.....;). The lonely sandy beaches, cloudy weather with light drizzles, empty lanes, bike rides along the sea and port wine with fried fish just made it perfect!!!

How to go there? Where to stay? Any cheap hotels? What are the tourist attractions? Don't worry, the internet is filled up with all the needed details. Another option would be to go with Makemytrip or Yatra.....they will take care of everything!
So, those of you who have not visited this wonderland till now......just pack your bags and "GO"!!!

है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है !

Awesome poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan....every line carries a beautiful and "difficult to extract" meaning....reminds me of those tough Hindi classes in school where missing such a class was directly proportional to less marks.....:)

So, here goes another of my favourites -

कल्पना के हाथ से कमनीय जो मंदिर बना था
भावना के हाथ ने जिसमें वितानों को तना था
स्वप्न ने अपने करों से था जिसे रुचि से सँवारा
स्वर्ग के दुष्प्राप्य रंगों से, रसों से जो सना था
ढह गया वह तो जुटाकर ईंट, पत्थर, कंकड़ों को
एक अपनी शांति की कुटिया बनाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

बादलों के अश्रु से धोया गया नभ-नील नीलम
का बनाया था गया मधुपात्र मनमोहक, मनोरम
प्रथम ऊषा की किरण की लालिमा-सी लाल मदिरा
थी उसी में चमचमाती नव घनों में चंचला सम
वह अगर टूटा मिलाकर हाथ की दोनों हथेली
एक निर्मल स्रोत से तृष्णा बुझाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

क्या घड़ी थी, एक भी चिंता नहीं थी पास आई
कालिमा तो दूर, छाया भी पलक पर थी न छाई
आँख से मस्ती झपकती, बात से मस्ती टपकती
थी हँसी ऐसी जिसे सुन बादलों ने शर्म खाई
वह गई तो ले गई उल्लास के आधार, माना
पर अथिरता पर समय की मुसकराना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

हाय, वे उन्माद के झोंके कि जिनमें राग जागा
वैभवों से फेर आँखें गान का वरदान माँगा
एक अंतर से ध्वनित हों दूसरे में जो निरंतर
भर दिया अंबर-अवनि को मत्तता के गीत गा-गा
अंत उनका हो गया तो मन बहलने के लिए ही
ले अधूरी पंक्ति कोई गुनगुनाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

हाय, वे साथी कि चुंबक लौह-से जो पास आए
पास क्या आए, हृदय के बीच ही गोया समाए
दिन कटे ऐसे कि कोई तार वीणा के मिलाकर
एक मीठा और प्यारा ज़िन्दगी का गीत गाए
वे गए तो सोचकर यह लौटने वाले नहीं वे
खोज मन का मीत कोई लौ लगाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

क्या हवाएँ थीं कि उजड़ा प्यार का वह आशियाना
कुछ न आया काम तेरा शोर करना, गुल मचाना
नाश की उन शक्तियों के साथ चलता ज़ोर किसका
किंतु ऐ निर्माण के प्रतिनिधि, तुझे होगा बताना
जो बसे हैं वे उजड़ते हैं प्रकृति के जड़ नियम से
पर किसी उजड़े हुए को फिर बसाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

The Making Of RAZR !

Couple of years back, a friend of mine (AB) forwarded this article to me that talks about the creation of RAZR. It covers almost everything; the conception of the idea from Jellicoe's sketches in a Libertyville pub, the formation of the RAZR team, the time constraints, focus on the "style factor", the daily status meetings that always got extended, the secrecy, the brainstorming sessions on the antenna and battery positioning, rule breaking and not to forget, Geoffrey Frost's marketing stunts!

My favourite part in the article is the end portion that says -

Last July several key players from the RAZR development team were asked to appear at a meeting of top executives at company headquarters. They weren't told why.
"Even when we were sitting in the room waiting to be called in, nobody was really quite sure what was going to happen," says Tadd Scarpelli, the young engineer who designed the RAZR's antenna.
Then, as the team members filed in, the executives awaiting them rose in applause, delivering a standing ovation - followed by news that the team members would also be rewarded with a boatload of stock options.
"It was surreal," says Scarpelli, who to this day approaches strangers in airports and asks them if they like "his" phone. Successful rule breakers, after all, have certain privileges.

The RAZR certainly has the 'wow' factor, but the way it was created is surprisingly simple, few innovative new components and space management by simple rearrangement of components.

I have lost count of the number of times i have read this story, but whenever i do, this inspiring tale gives me goose pimples...:)