Journey...

The mid twenties

2007-11-14T13:56:00.000-08:00

I frequently find myself wiki'ing and googling the age of film stars who are well built and get a feeling of ecstasy after finding out they are in there mid 30s or 40s cauz that means theoretically I still have lots of time. I dont really care for money as much anymore and have been thinking of quitting computers for something that i am more interested in. Its kind of insane and in a few moments I will be thinking of how to convert the 6 years of comp science studies into money, and quickly.

BTW: Every Indian in his/her 20s should read the book "India after Gandhi". Its the stuff that they forgot to add after 'India's struggle for Independence' in our 10th grade history books. And i don't think the reason why its NOT there is cauz its 800 pages long. Just that its unbiased, neutral, factually correct and is RELEVANT TO THE PRESENT which, as we all know, is ignorant, messed up and EVIL.

Indian Procession in New York

2007-08-11T11:28:00.001-07:00

Muahahaha Indian people doing the procession thingy, blocking traffic, making noise and putting up a very good example. The Indian empire is merciful Seig Heil! Seig Heil!

Universe....us...God???

2007-07-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

So believers say that God created the universe, that he breathed life into what we now have as the laws/equations/theories of physics or set into motion the sequence of events that have led to everything till now. Hawkings says that once the so called everything theory that combines relativity with quantum theory has been successfully formulated, we will be actually able to unveil the mind of God.
Now this God created the universe of which we still know less than an iota of and are still not able to explain everything that we see. The black holes, the big bang, the endless boundless expanse of the universe, whats in a black hole, whats beyond the universe, how did it begin, how will it end, are we inside a black hole......???
In the infinity which is the universe, we are tiny, weeny, puny, insignificant. We were created by a chain of events that led to what we ourselves defined as life. Likewise we defined death, objects which are NOT alive, God, religion, heaven, hell, the universe, black holes. We defined good, bad, right, wrong, justice, injustice...
The fact that we teach ourselves our entirety which we made up ourselves doesn't stop us being, at best, matter with "unique properties" or a collection of particles, like any other object in this universe.
And believers want me to believe that a God is up there pulling strings, rewarding right and punishing wrong, even though the sufferings of millions of innocents over the world and bastards getting away with there wickedness is direct evidence of the contrary. That there is an afterlife, a reward of heaven or a punishment of hell waiting for me in the afterlife.
You think we would ever be able to comprehend the force that is behind everything, IF it exists?
And if it exists in the form that you want me to believe in, do you think He would give a shit??

If the screen in front of our eyes is even real or is it just one objects interpretation of everything else? "Absolute" is after all something that just doesn't exist, does it.

Moving on...

2007-07-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

Been so long since i last wrote here, i dont know if anyone even cares to check it out anymore...
Anyways, i am through one of the most stressful times of my life and i feel wiser and grounded. I never imagined so many things could go wrong with me at the same time but then when i think about it, most if not all of it could have been prevented.
It seems like things are falling in place slowly for me, and though my position right now isn't exactly something to write home about, i am pretty sure i will be in a reasonably good position or somewhere close in the next couple months.
Life here (Jersey City) is lonely and the fact that i have a circle of friends at work doesnt really help a lot. Coming back home, going around New York, watching a movie, drinking with friends, going to work....nothing really makes me happy. The good thing is i got a cell phone and so i am atleast in touch with family in India and her and Gautam and friends in Iowa City so it never gets too lonely.
I do understand the reason behind feeling lonely and sad at this point and i am aware of the solution for it. Its just that for all sorts of reasons, that solution is not really an option that i have.
On another note, Prof Pablo and another student is working on the research that i did with him in the last semester and if the study leads to good results, i will have a publication in what is probably the most prestigious HCI conference in the world (SIGCHI).

satresss

2007-04-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

Just for the record, this is one of the most stressful phases of my life. I want a way out and I know there's none.

Hindu Punjabi

2007-02-12T13:17:00.000-08:00

I hear and read this stuff all the time about how sikh, jat, gujjar, baloch, pathan, maratha, rajput, dogra etc etc were classified as martial races by the British...certain people were more suitable to serve in the Queen's (British) army as soldiers. I recently found this on the British Battles website: "The Indian regiments that invaded Afghanistan in 1878.......were predominantly recruited from the “martial” races: Jats, Sikhs, Muslim and Hindu Punjabis, Pathans, Baluchis and Gurkhas."
Notice the "Hindu Punjabis"?? This just brings me to something. A lot of people feel that Sikhs are the original ethnic inhabitants of the Indian Punjab and thus the "real" Punjabis and Hindus are basically outsiders and ethnically not Punjabi.
This is what i've got to say about that. In brief, Persians used the word "Hindu" for "Sindhu", referring to the people who lived near or on the other side of the Sindhu River as "Hindus", and their religion later became known as "Hinduism." Prior to that time, Hindus had called their religion Sanātana Dharma.

Thus, Sikhs are basically those people who came under the influence of the ten Sikh Gurus from 1469 to 1708 AD and chose to adopt the way of life as preached by the Gurus. They are ethnically, no different from any of the other tribes/ethnic groups/communities in the Punjab. Though the way of life that has been followed by the Sikhs for hundreds of years has resulted in them being a very distinct community and has given them quite a unique identity, this in no way means that Sikhs are the only ethnic Punjabi's.
Even though the term "Ethnic Punjabi" is debatable and is out of context here...

Fucking Indian Professors

2007-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

I have had the chance to work with one Indian Professor after i came in here and since he was an IIM graduate, he wasnt really the typical Indian Professor. This semester is gonna be bad though.
I just dont like the way they condescend on you and look at you with those doubtful eyes. I mean, man i am here now, someone whom they call the "Director" of the department assigned me to this job, dont look at me like that. I respect you, respect me back and trust me to do the fucking job. Or just deal with it anyways if u have a problem trusting me but dont give me that FUCKING LOOK.
Instead of giving me space and understanding the fact that i am not really used to this Comp Architecture shit, he is like "I expect fucking this and fucking that by tomorrow". I didnt ask for this, someone GAVE IT TO ME, DEAL WITH IT!
And for Gods sake, dont order me around, i am not used to that anymore.
And i like the way my profile pic goes with my mood right now (*tries to smile but lets out a snort instead*)
Maybe i shud have shaved b4 the meeting, whatever, screw him.
Katherine is so nice though, helps you out with a smile on her face, most graceful, if she wasnt the overworked department secretary i would talk to her everyday.

update

2007-01-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

Bhangra night was so muh funnnnnn, danced and danced and then danced some more, AWESOME!
Prof Pablo was very encouraging, he told me he would be very happy to right a letter of recommendation for me OR he could just pull up my file and write on it that he wanted Aditya accepted :)

2007-01-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Jujhar for being the first one to ever leave a comment on this unpopular blog. For anyone who would care to read, Jujhar Singh must be one of the brightest guys i have met. We used to goto the same professor for out of school coaching in mathematics, got into the same college and then lived together in the same house for 6 months during our internship in Chandigarh. This guy managed to publish a paper in a technical journal while we were still figuring out innovative methods of getting some attention from hot Chandigarh dee kudeez. Also, topped the entire university in his stream (Electronics and Comm which, for the record, attracts the bestustis students). Right now is pursuing "higher education" in a very prestigious institute in Paris, France.
On a different note, i am back from Michigan. The vacation might be my best ever. It was nice to spend time with her parents and meet their friends and relatives. Future dad-in-law got me a 150 bux jacket plus food supplies that lasted two weeks. Also, got along with her sister nicely and was much more comfortable with her this time.
My jaan took good care of me, like she always does and i feel closer than ever to her. Shes the best of the best of the.....
As of now, the vacations are as gud as over and even thinking about all the shit that needs to be done this semester is freaking me out.
Have to meet with Prof Pablo soon, have to get some real work done b4 that...

Just for the record...

2006-12-14T19:46:00.000-08:00

Prof Pablo:

"Very good and thorough review. One of the best I read. You showed a good grasp of all the concepts we covered in class."

"........+ 2 points for excellent work in HW2 and hall of fame/shame presentation..."

Hehe, not that i am a dork but this was the most enjoyable class ever for me and i want to cling on to some good memories...

Crap Crap

2006-12-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

Ok so some ppl have asked me the reson for "adi-helios". Helios in Greek means The Sun, my real name, Aditya, in Hindi means the sun too. I thought using Greek would be cool...
On a different note, this is the second time i didnt get an A+ after being so close which doesnt really feel nice, more so when u know that you were the second highest scorer and 2-3 points made the difference. Anyways, i have another final tomorrow after which i am FREEEE. Will go to Ritesh's place at night (thats whats the plan is for now) and will ride off to Michigan the next day for a 10 day break which i am really looking forward to. This time i am gonna spend some time at her parents place which should be nice.
I gotta get back to studying now.

Feedback :)

2006-12-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

Comments by Prof Hourcade on HCI Project:
I very much enjoyed your presentation as well as going through your write-up for phase three. You made great improvements from phase two and used many of the ideas and examples we discussed in class. You showed your understanding of class material through your project, which is exactly what I hoped for. I particularly liked iterative filtering capabilities and the integration of searching and browsing. You had the right ideas and concentrated on providing powerful interactions rather than pretty pictures, which is what I was looking for in this project. I think you also demonstrated that you have the right ideas as to how you would proceed with the project if you had more time. One semester only gives you a chance to provide a feel for what a technology would be like, and you did that well. I was left wishing I could have a media player like the one you designed.

AWESOME! Such a nice feeling when ur hardwork is appreciated heehee i am excited :)

Jee Ayaan Nu

2006-12-09T23:52:00.000-08:00

loshay loshay vai vai!
I have a blog!
Ok so the reason for setting this up is that when i go through my journal, i see stuff that i would like my friends (and others) to see. Some thoughts/musings/craziness that i would like to share. Now offcourse i wouldnt want anyone to be able to see my journal so BEHOLD! You are about to witness the subset of a great diary that will be awesomely popular after i die and my lawyer passes the password on to my kids/wife with my wills (bills?)....