Rohit's nukkad

Saturday, February 24, 2007

New Daylight Saving TIme

Generally the daylight saving time is on the first sunday of April (eg. 2nd April 2006) but from 2007, it has been changed to the second sunday of March (this year it is 11th March). The idea behind this to save energy.
Though it's not a big deal but some folks look as a major software bug after the Y2K scare. But I think it is more of an "American overhpye" thing. Over hype since it is just matter to couple seconds (on personal machine) to hours (large servers managing thousands of computers) and major software vendors have provided a patch to fix the problem. Since vendors are more aware about the effects on their clients. Some software providers like Apple are automatically updating their users with the patch , some like Microsoft Windows home users have to get the patch from the Support Center.
So if you have not got the patch yet follow the links towards the end of this post for Windows XP and other Microsoft users.

Windows XP home users
Microsoft Support (other Window users)

Monday, February 19, 2007

Nigerian Prince Inheritance

A lot of times I have received emails from some lawyer in Nigeria ( or some other African country) stating that some rich oil magnate or prince has died and he has been my long lost uncle and has chosen me (of all people) to inherit his fortune tuned to be in millions of dollars. To gain access to the money I have to contact the lawyer (he/she give his name, address, phone number and email id in the mail) so that they know I am for real. I generally used to neglect such mails and used to put them in trash. But the mails kept coming though may be with a different heading or different contact address but one thing never changed "me being the lucky one".
One time out of curiosity I replied back to the email. To which I got a response from the concern person asking me to send in my bank account number so that the money be wired to me. This just confirmed my doubts about the money making scam.
It seems that such types of mails are pretty common and a lot of people have been fooled by it.
But since this trick has become somewhat old a new method used is about rare dog breed which will be send to you if you can send in the shipping charges for the dog from Africa. A lot of people complained about this to a local radio station in San Francisco. To prove it as a money making scandal the radio jockey, on live program called up the number of the concerned person ( the lawyer or the breeder), and after the usual greetings the jockey asked for some proof if the dogs are for real. To which the reply came whoof whoof..............whoof whoof .

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Gossip News telecast

American News channel really know how to turn the television into idiot box. In the last couple of days two news stories that has dominated the news channels have been the astronaut love triangle and the Ann Nicole Smith's mysterious death (well this one continues to dominate with a new twist added every day).
Among the news channels CNN and FOX news stand tall with there amazing ability to put gossip news as prime time news. CNN made a coverage for straight 90 minutes without commercial break during the death of Ann Nicole Smith, such is the importance of that news story. This was longer than the President's address to the nation but slightly less than the commercial free coverage on 9/11 ( reference The Daily Report by Jon Stewart).
These channels bombard you time and again with the same story thinking they are delivering news. I have no doubt that 24 hour news channel originated from the US with 24 hours dominated with gossip and sports news. It is really pathetic and to see such channels as the most top rated channels.
But such type of new coverage is gaining ground in India too. Channels like Aaj Tak, IBN-CNN ( no doubt CNN is it partner) are following the footsteps of there American associates.
A similar gossip news to dominate these Indian channels on prime time is the engagement of two Bollywood stars. The irony was none of the news channels had pictures or confirmation about the news and the only thing they had was to show the clipping from the engaged stars old movies. But they still kept on planning it over and over again.
A piece of advice, an interesting article to keep one brain more active states that one should watch less television and put more time in other activity like reading or family time.
Thanks to such great channels gossip news will always be breaking news.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Efficient use of Public Transportation

I recently read an interesting post on Dumb little man, about two amazing websites Google Transit and Hopstop. These websites provide an efficent way to plan your intracity travel using the public transport systems in couple of major US cities. One needs to enter in the starting and destination address and the time of travelling and these websites will pull the most efficient way to reach ones destination with details about the subway and/or bus system to be used along with the distance and timing details throughout the trip. It is like taking Yahoo maps or Google maps with out your personal vehicle and replacing with the respective public transport system.
Hopstop caters to major North eastern cities like New York, Boston , Chicago etc, while Google transit has been focusing more on California cites and random cities throughout the country. However Google transit is expanding to other cities.
So next time when you make a trip to one of the big cities try using these websites to plan your public transport system, giving you more time to enjoy the city.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Neena aa gaya tera kameena

Don't be surprised by the title of this post. It is one of the dialogues from the movie Spiderman 1.
Surpirsed ...to be precise Spiderman 1 dubbed in Punjabi. Yes, somebody took the efforts to make the audio track in Punjabi and the results are hilarious.
The movie is uploaded in parts on Youtube, with each clip running for about 6 - 7 mins.
Peter Parker is named Murali and Mary Jane as Nina.
Now, without leaking anymore details about the Punjabi Spiderman. I will let you enjoy for yourself.

SpiderMan in Punjabi -1