Blogging at Intel

I have started to actively blog on Intel Software Network website externally. Well .. it is targeted specically around Manageability related technology. Do check out my blog. Well, this is not the only reason I have not been active here .. I will get back to scribble my thoughts here soon.

Read/WriteWeb: Search 2.0 vs Traditional Search

Read/WriteWeb: Search 2.0 vs Traditional Search

Although, search 2.0 seems catchy and following the ever growing fad around web2.0 but I think the whole concept of social networking and users driving the relevancy as opposed to a search engine is a concept nobody can dismiss. The new era of community driven search engines is where you will find the "next google". I am really impressed by "swicki" and "rollyo" as they enable you to narrow your search based on the collective wisdom of the community thus making the results more relevant.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3

My favorite internet browser for sometime has been Maxthon. I simply love the tabbed interface and the important "Ad Blocker" capability. I also use Maxthon as my RSS feed aggregator. Couple of downsides of Maxthon include the support of custom toolbars like google toolbar and del.icio.us buttons.
The promise and capabilities of Microsoft IE 7 seemed pretty good, so I decided to install the beta 3 product. I have been using this only for a day ... and my first impressions are really POSITIVE. It appears to me that Microsoft is finally listening to its users and have incorporated some of the key capabilities that I have come to expect from any browser (like the tabbed interface, integrated RSS capabilities, popup blocker, etc.). I will blog more about my experience with IE7 after I start using it more regularly.

Reinventing this Blog

I plan to reinvent this blog and bring some clear focus to it. Originally I wanted this blog to be purely a collection of ramdom thoughts and notes with the target audience being just me and maybe a couple of my close friends, but I have realized that this lacks passion around any specific topic. So, I intend to reinvent this space to talk about my passion which is all about web and mostly around web2.0. "Tune-in" to hear me rant about all the great things happening around this amazing phenomenon "web2.0".

Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years

I often spend time looking at new book releases related to Technology & Marketing and I have actually noticed this trend of “learn X in Y days” type of books. If you seriously believe like I do that it takes time, effort and practice to master any new thing(spoken language, programming language, some new technology, etc.) then you must read this article as it clearly reinforces this message.

Dog Mountain Hike (Columbia River Gorge)

I went for the dog mountain hike this weekend. I think this one ranks as one of the best hikes around the Columbia river gorge area at least during this time of the year (May – June). The best part of the hike was the spectacular wild flower blooms around the trail. I think we picked a perfect day for this hike because it was not too hot and it was an incredibly clear day. Very clear unobstructed views of Mt. Hood, St. Helens and Mt. Adams …. Not to mention the stunning views of the Columbia Gorge.

Hike: Dog MountainDetails: 7 mile loop with a total of 2900 ft. elevation gain. Rated as Difficult because of the elevation gain.
Views: Unobstructed views of the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens and dazzling wild flower blooms in May/June
Notes: Carry plenty of water, require good shoes (some loose gravel at some spots), and a light jacket (it can get a little windy closer to the top). You will need to carry the NW forest pass for the parking.
Directions:Take 84E (exit #44 cascade locks), Cross the Bridge of Gods, right on Washington highway 14 (12 miles) and you will see the dog mountain trail head on the left.

How to stretch your major muscle groups

I am begining to see the great benefits from stretching after a regular cardio routine. A 10-15min stretch after the cool down period can make a big difference the next day, it basically gets the body prepared for the next day and prevents long term injury. Check this great link from Mayo clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stretching/SM00043&slide=1 for some regular routines.

Math will rock your world

I really feel that this article is a must read for all the mathematics professors out there, because universities should teach mathematics from a practical stand point. Most of the focus in schools is highly theoretical and it would be really great to give some real life examples where these theories can be applied and put to practical use.

Also, my secret intention here is to influence my Mother-In-Law who happens to be a Mathematics professor in the Mysore University. I would like to see that see adds a practical touch to her classes. :-)