noopman goes to France

I'm off. Tonight I go to London and then in the morning I am flying away to France. A new country for a good month, new experiences, new people and new beer.

Lets see how things turn out... to find out more... keep watching this space...;)

time to move again

In a couple of weeks I will be in France on a field campaign. I'm going to be in Roscoff for more than a month. It's funny how once you settle down in a place, it's time to start moving again. I like it though, you get to see new places and meet new people. Also it fits in well with my aim of trying to understand chemistry in different parts of the world. I don't think I would be able to a PhD in chemistry where I have to sit in the lad trying to solve a problem.

I don't mean it in a nasty way coz some of the best times I have had have been in the lab. But at this juncture in my life, I want to move around, see the world and if I can solve some questions while I am at it, then why not eh?

I found this song which is based on doing a PhD... it's quite cool. It's been made by the same guys who write the Pile Higher and Deeper (PhD) comics. You should have a look at them some time, they are really funny.

mactopia

So it's been two and a half weeks since I ordered the Mac, and it's finally here. My Chinese brothers who came across the seas on a rowing boat deserve their kudos. But for now, I am in love.

When I bought the Mac, one reason I had stated was that it was beautiful. Well, it's not just beautiful but it's stunning, gorgeous and really really sexy. And I don't know how to operate it for nuts.

There are so many things which are completely different from windows and will take me time to explore. This obviously means that I need to spend a lot of time with it, which is not a bad thing. I am leaving for a field trip soon and this is what shall keep me company during the entire month that I am away. Yesterday I watched my first film on it... Sideways, which is a pleasant comedy which definitely deserves one watch.

Yesterday when it came in, I felt like a little kid at Christmas. You should ask Dwight about my reactions and simple and plain joy on my face. I was happy and am still very very happy. It's been the biggest investment which I have made on my own and so far it seems totally worth it. I will put up all the pictures soon, and will upload them from my new Mac

buttocks with tranquilisers

If you have ever watched cricket you will know that Pakistan are a pretty good team. Also they have the most entertaining captain of all. He's this overweight lazy lethargic man who moves like an elephant. Inzamam-ul-Haq is a charismatic leader, but I hope the other players don't follow his lead on the pitch.

In his last game he lost his balance trying to play a shot and fell over because of his excess weight.

Yesterday I read something that some commentator said about him, which made me laugh. Here's to Inzy... the funniest captain.

"Inzy is strolling up and down the pitch like a large animal that has just been shot in the buttocks with a tranquiliser dart."
TMS commentators' take on Inzamam-ul-Haq as he fields.

why an apple?

This is a question that has been asked about a million times ever since I decided to buy the MacBook. Many people thought I was being foolish spending so much money on a system I have never worked on before. So why exactly am I planning to buy one?

There are things which completely change the world. Some of them change it for the good. And being a part of this is the main reason why I am buying a Mac. They came around years ago when I was just born. Started from a small garage Apple developed into a million dollar company in a few years. And in these few years, they have managed to change the way people function, people communicate, people live.

I like the founder of Apple. Steve Jobs was one of the founders of the company which fired him later. A true visionary, a man with great hunger, a person who loves what he does. In life it is important to look in the right directions, and to have a role model like Steve wouldn't be too bad for anyone.

My love with Mac started when I saw this film called Pirates of the Silicon Valley. It was this completely intriguing film about the war between Microsoft and Apple. Though Microsoft eventually wins the war, Apple did manage to win my heart.

It is important to keep learning something new all the time. I have been working with Windows for years now. So it was time to take on a new challenge. Apple seems like a small step to take and possibly the first step too. I want to learn more about programs, so that I can understand in detail about what is happening. But before I switch onto Linux or Unix, I need to get a little more confidence.

So why not a Mac?

It's my way of trying to stay hungry and foolish.

This is a speech given by Steve Jobs in 2005 for the Stanford Commencement. Listen to it if you have some time.

Random Anoop Mahajan (RAM)

So, the computer is still not here and I won't spend any more time talking about it lest I shall get depressed and angry.

So what have I been doing?

Writing programs, helping pack up the instrument which is soon to go to France, making travel arrangements, booking hotels, looking for a place to house the instrument in and writing reports.

No science.

It's bloody frustrating.

follow that apple

So I had ordered the apple on the 19th. And they said that the estimated arrival date is on the 8th of August. But inside I have been praying that it gets here before that time. And this hope, this terrible hope, this bloody hope has kept me awake at nights going on the website and saying.. TRACK APPLE

Date	Place	Estimated arrival
30 jul 06	flight departed Asus Alpha, Shanghai	03 aug 06
29 jul 06	Flight Booked Kuehne & Nagel Shanghai
28 jul 06	handover at supplier Asus Alpha, Shanghai	07 aug 06
28 jul 06	Picking confirmed, EDI received Asus Alpha, Shanghai
28 jul 06	Departed from source Asus Alpha, Shanghai	03 aug 06
28 jul 06	Consignment Booking received from supplier Asus Alpha, Shanghai	07 aug 06

So I have been sitting here, parched of sleep, tired as hell, day dreaming of a beautiful white mac, hoping it gets here soon.

Mine precious....we shallst have it? Yesss.. sooon sooon. We shall have ours precious.

ups and downs

There are times when you wake up in the morning and feel completely depressed. This happened to me a couple of days ago. I don't normally get down easily, but suddenly you wake up and you hate the world. And that is what really led to the 'depressing' poem early on. Sometimes you want to sit back and contemplate about what direction your life is heading in. And if this is the right direction. Academically I couldn't be happier but personal life is a whole new ball game isn't it? But it helps to have a few good friends around whom you can chat with and not worry about what they think of you.

But noopman is back. I feel rejuvenated again and ready to take on anything that is thrown at me. The one thing that helped was saying exactly what I felt. To let you everything without worrying about the consequences. Also what is brilliant is the fact that I have booked my tickets to India.

I will be going home after a year and a half and some friends from here will be coming along for that. The trip sounds really exciting with lots of traveling, food and sleep. Can't hardly wait.