Rantings
Public Speaking
I had to do a presentation today at work in front of a relatively large group (~50). It was received relatively well, but this is one area I would really like to improve on. No matter what you do, one is never prepared for the anxiety and excitement for public speeches. Couple of notes that helped me
1) Prepare for the meeting. Unless you are a Bill Clinton, you need to have some notes :).
2) Run a practise session. Helps to review the first step and also time your presentation.
3) Don’t go into details!!!
4) And speak LOUDLY and c-l-e-a-r-l-y. The first part is an issue for me :).
spam stats
While following this threat on slasdot, I came across this site by a system admin who tracks where the spam he fights on a daily basis originates from. This is further proof to break the myth of spamming that “Most spam originates from outside the US”. From this site, we can see that ~35% of spam originates from the US. I am not sure how the author is getting the country of origin from the IP address. I work at an ISP and know that even though all the IP addresses belong (are allocated) to us, they are all allocated to our customers (located outside the US). And we don’t SWIP them as we are required to :). So if any of our customers send out spam, for the rest of the world, it would look as if though it is originating from the US. Wonder how much of the 35% is made up of such spammers.
Outsourcing
Tim O’Brien, a colleague from one of my previous jobs maintains a blog on his website. I like his ideology and style of writing. Be sure to check out his latest blog about how outsourcing effected him and his thoughts on it.
Not saying No, means Yes!!
I subscribed to the Honolulu Advertiser back in August for 9 weeks. At the end of the 9 weeks I kept getting notifications to renew the subscription, but since I didn’t want the paper any more, I kept ignoring the notices. And as any normal person would think, if you have not asked someone to renew your subscription or paid for it, they should just stop delivering the paper right.. WRONG!! They delivered the paper for a couple more weeks and then call me today saying “Sir, you are overdue on your payment”. I was really mad, but then the poor lady who called is not responsible for that, so I was cool and paid the bill. So people beware…You should say “NO” :), or be ready to fork out the cash.
How ironical
I came across this news item on the BBC’ website. Isn’t it amazing that we need studies and scientific findings nowadays to come to common sense deductions. Is there a sane person in this world who doesn’t know that we are pillaging mother earth? But still we try to cover up by saying that there “isn’t enough evidence“. But I guess it is human nature. Once we get used to comforts in life, it is pretty hard to give them up.
After all this ranting, I go and get two 19” pizzas just because they have a 2 for $22 special. And we wonder why we are fat!!!!
Books
I have always been a bookworm. But due to lack of time because of a crazy work schedule, I haven’t had a lot of time to read anything interesting recently. Luckily, a request from one of my cousins made me go back to the library. I have been looking at some interesting books. The topic in general is “Media Manipulation”. It is amazing how much the news, events around us are manipulated. I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but come on let us be frank. The news that we watch/read everyday is not objective. Before it was very subtle, but good ol’ Fox has taken it a whole new level.
I also finished reading the new book by Michael Moore Dude, where’s my country?. I read his previous book “Stupid white men” too. Some of the information he reveals in the book is amazing. I do agree with him on a lot of topics, but he takes it to a whole new level with his “hate” of Bush :). I strongly recommend reading this, if you are in the US.
It's been a while
Let’s blame it on running :). You see, I try to run regularly. I have improved from nothing to ~1.5 miles now. And I found that everyday I run, I am more consious of my health [I guess because you realize how painful it is to loose those extra inches 😉 ], I watch what I eat and I even try to clean up my room (!!!). So for the last week or so I haven’t been running. I have been putting it off by saying.. there is always tomorrow. I finally got my lazy a$%# off the couch and went running today. So here I am, your ever faithful :).
Well..a lot has happened in the last week. The Cubs have turned from heros to loosers. If any of you watched the 7th game, I pity you :). I didn’t even have the heart to watch the game. I was too nervous. And then there was the whole fiasco in the 6th game with the fan who tried to catch a ball as a sovenier. I feel so sorry for that guy. It is amazing how many details of this personal life have been released into the public. He should seriously consider leaving the city :).
CUBs vs. MARLINs
And another great show by the CUBs :). One more game and we make it to the world series. It is so close guys, don’t screw this up :).
What a day, What a game, What an election
If anyone watched the Cubs vs. Marlins game today, you will understand what I mean :). I was on a company wide conference call and watching the game at the same time. I couldn’t control my emotions when Sammy hit a homer, and made the score even in the 8th inning, I jumped up with joy. The CEO and VP were like “Huh.. and we hired this guy!!” :). But all that effort didn’t help us. In the end, it was a Marlins victory. And across the country, an actor becomes the new Governor of California. Where is this country going to? Hope Clark will make it out in the 2004 presidential election. Looks like the one with the biggest war chest wins elections nowadays rather than people with genuine public interest. But I am an optimist :). As they say, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings [or something to that effect].