Expanding horizons

If you are not natural at making conversations, don't fret. Approach each and every interaction with a systematic approach. With consistent practice it will come naturally to you.

I am in Chicago airport today, and it is Easter Sunday. Not a lot of people here. My flight is delayed. Many stores (duty free, gift shops) just has cashiers with less traffic. I was wandering to each store and window shopping. As I was shopping I was making conversations with them. It amazed me to how much many opened up. Talking about cultures and finding commonality between us. I enjoyed the conversation, and got to know a little bit more about somebody.

The best day to visit a big airport is during not so peak times. Folks are available to chat. Ask them how is their day is and know a little about them with each interaction. It is eye-opening and provides a different perspective from a complete stranger.

Hornets Rock

And Chris Paul is amazing.


Hornets tamed the Spurs. (101-82)

Kobe Bryant

Congratulations Kobe!

You finally get the most deserved and long due MVP award.

I wish Kobe and Lakers win the NBA 2008 championship.

How to be an excellent student

The following text was originally written by David Kaufman (Sorry! I don't have his address)

How To Be An Excellent Student (Version 2)
-----------------------------------------

Proper Attitude: Learn the material required by each teacher.
---------------
* Focus wholly and solely on the material to be learned.
* Put in the needed time to do each task well.
* Develop the skills needed to use time efficiently.
* Learn which corners to cut.

Proper Daily Studying Efforts: Be determined to do the best
----------------------------- to be an A student.

1. Before Studying: Make a list of what should be done.
* Do an overview of the assignments. List how many
pages to read, problems to solve, questions to
answer, pages to write, etc.

* Estimate the minimum time needed to do each task.
Also estimate the maximum time expected
to complete each task.

* Establish priorities. State the order of the
assignments and how well they should be learned.
Then set aside the time slots to get the homework
done. Work in 2 to 3 hour stretches of
concentrated effort with 5 or 10 minute breaks
at the end of each hour of work, if needed.

* During the breaks: meditate *, or snack (an
ounce of raisons and an ounce of nuts,
if hungry, should continue to maintain
alertness when one resumes studying) or take a
short walk or exercise.

* Study in 1 to 3 shifts daily of 1 to 3 hour
periods. For example, after school, study
4 to 7 PM, and again 8 to 11 PM. Or perhaps
study 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 11 PM.
Study at least 2 hours daily.

* Through extra study, become an expert in some
field of interest.

2. While Learning: Keep track of the time to do each
task. Learn how to cut corners.

* Try to get more done in less time. Evaluate
the study efforts and results after each task.

* Do an overview of the task. For example,
before reading the assigned pages, look at the
headings, pictures, tables and graphs. Then
read the first sentence of each paragraph.
Consider what should be learned.

* Read the material carefully noting the key
details. Ask question that give meaning to the
material while reading. Reread material that is
not well understood.

* Make brief notes about what is understood and
what is not clearly understood. Note pages that
may need clarification with a brief reason why.

3. After Studying the Material Carefully, spend time on the
following:
* Make sure all the homework is completed on time.

* Summarize what is important. Where helpful, also
make pneumonic words, where each letter represents
a related key idea. For example, to remember the 5
Great Lakes in the USA use the word, “HOMES” where
H = Huron, O = Ontario, M = Michigan, E = Erie and
S = Superior. This is a good way to remember many
related points when writing essays for exams.

* While summarizing, quickly reread the material to
help outline key ideas.

* Ask others for help when needed.

4. To Be An Exceptional Student: Do a useful project related
to course work.
* Teach others what’s essential and required.
* Apply the material learned to a useful or new
situation.
* Read the same material from another author’s view.

5. The day before the exam: review the related chapters,
notes and all the work done and required.
* During the exam: Answer the easiest questions with
the most value first. Then answer the more difficult
questions. Work quickly.
* Review all answers and work. Reread the questions to
make sure the answers given are what is asked for.
* After the exam, learn the material that was not well
understood.

Proper Space: Work in a quiet space at a desk organized for work.
-------------
* Have a computer monitor on the left side of the desk
& a desk lamp on the right side (or vice versa). The
desk should be empty except for a pen, pencil, mouse
and mouse pad to the right side of the desktop (if
right handed), and a keyboard in the center at the
outer edge of the desktop (or if not needed on
the left side in front of the monitor). Have a
comfortable chair (a swivel chair without arms is
effective).

* Have flat surfaces (other desks or tables) to the left
and right of the work area (to form a U shape to work
in) for needed books, papers, folders, a yellow legal
pad 8.5” by 14” (for notes) and a reading stand.
These items should be moved on and off the work desk
as needed.

* Have a file system nearby for folders for storing and
retrieving important papers and projects.

Proper Food: If mentally sluggish or physically sleepy, eat less.
----------- Explore what quality foods will maintain alertness.

* To Improve Concentration, Meditate during study breaks for 5 or
10 minutes by doing as follows:
Get comfortable preferably in a sitting position where one can
remain completely still while meditating. Then (with the eyes
closed and ignored) look with the inner attention from a point
between and behind the eyebrows (called, “the third eye”) into
the middle of the darkness or light that lies in front. Look out
continuously into the middle of whatever is seen with the attention
only without any strain. To stop distracting thoughts, repeat
some inspiring words with the mind only. For example, repeat with
the tongue of thought only, “May peace and joy manifest, May peace
and joy manifest, May peace and joy manifest, ...” Another form of
this meditation is to stop the mental repetition and to listen
continuously to any sounds that may occur at the point of focus
which should remain steadfastly at the third eye.

Giants vs. Patriots

It's Giants versus Patriots in Super Bowl XLII

The Pats had it easy when compared to Giants to reach the superbowl on Feb 3rd. I am eagerly waiting for the super week: Feb 3rd: super bowl, Feb 5th: super tuesday.

Play-list while working out

What song are you listening to while working out at the gym?
The following articles are good reads.
Tunes for every tribe and Time to work out

COSTCO at Coors

COSTCO has opened a new store at Coors Blvd in December 2007.

The recession news does not seem to affect COSTCO.

Bill Richardson quits

Bill Richardson seems to have given up his presidential bid.

The New York Times reports that Bill Richardson is ending his presidential bid. I think he did a good job of bringing New Mexico to the forefront in all the debates. People now know him and he was a charmer who always made audience laugh in the debates.

More Interesting Links

Lighter Side of Bill Richardson

Shopping coupons

Many of us forget to redeem the shopping coupons that we receive through mail.

A better way to organize them is to upload information about them in a calendar. Some coupons (COSTCO, for example) have a range of dates through which the coupons are valid. A software-based calendar would help us plan a trip to the store and avail the coupons that one is interested in.
I created a Google calendar with short notes about those COSTCO coupons that are of interest to me.

Presidential Candidates - Debate in NH

Contesting in Presidential elections is a challenging task.

I personally liked John Edwards. He seized the moment and explained the audience how personal his contest is. I think the audience connected with him. He got his message through conveniently and successfully.

The presidential candidates in the republican debate were beating around the bush. There were no direct answers. For instance, the Republicans failed to answer a simple of question from the President. The president asked for the principles based on which they are running. Most of them gave out their policies.
I think the correct language here is to first list out their principle and state an example from the past and state an example from the future.

The democrats kept repeating what they did earlier. Only John Edwards was different and he really got his message through by citing a personal situation. He said running for President for him was personal.

Apart from this, whatever happened to humbleness. All the candidates were boasting about their achievements. I guess that is the language of politics. Bill Richardson kept on repeating his energy secretary experience and foreign policy. Hillary Clinton about her 25 years of experience. Obama about his fresh face. John Edwards seems to me as a reasonable guy who showed positive energy when debating.

A comparison table such as the "issues matrix" is a must see for voters before the choose sides.

Procrastination

Productivity can be significantly reduced by procrastinating the "hardest" or "boring" tasks.

Tomorrow’s professor blog has a very good posting on overcoming procrastination. The article uses metaphors cleverly so that the reader can relate to everyday tasks. Although this article is supposed to be for academics, I believe it can be extended to any person who wants to be productive. While stressing the regular mantra of “Get Started Now!” the post explains 3 different methods to overcome procrastination:

The Tolerable Ten

If you've been putting something off, it helps to start small. Begin working for just ten minutes on the daunting tasks of your life.

The Weightlifter's Guide

Think of weightlifters in training: If a weightlifter tries on Monday to bench press 200 pounds and can't lift the bar, does she try to lift 250 pounds the next day?

The Internet Deferment Decree

Use the Internet as a reward rather than a precursor to your toughest tasks. Even if you are waiting to see if you've gotten your grant, are expecting an important message from your advisor, or need to do a new literature search on the computer, first work on your most important academic project for just ten minutes before "examining" anything else.

Quotes from Luis Alvarez

I read The Cuckoo’s Egg by Cliff Stoll. I found some very inspiring quotes from Luis Alvarez. I present here some quotes, which can be found in pages 105 and 106 of the book. The book is a good read.

...When you are doing real research, you never know what it’ll cost, how much time it’ll take, or what you’ll find. You just know there’s unexplored territory and a chance to discover what’s out there.

Don’t try to be a cop, be a scientist. Research the connections, the techniques, the holes. Apply physical principles. Find new methods to solve problems. Compile statistics, publish your results, and only trust what you can prove. But don’t exclude improbable solutions–keep your mind open.

Dead ends are illusory. When did you ever let a ‘Do Not Enter’ sign keep you away from anything? Go around the brick walls. When you can’t go around, climb over or dig under. Just don’t give up.

Permission, bah. Funding, forget it. Nobody will pay for research; they’re only interested in results.

Area code 575

I received a message from T-Mobile about the new area code for my telephone number. Here is more information.

Beginning on Oct. 7, 2007, Socorro’s area code moves from 505 to 575. (Actually, the 575 code works already, but Oct. 7 is the official starting date.)

From Oct. 7 until Oct. 5, 2008 (almost a year later) BOTH area codes will work. After Oct. 5, 2008, ONLY 575 will work.

That gives you a year to

• re-program all your phones
• let all your friends, relatives, business contacts, and other important people know;
• use up all your business cards, letterhead, brochures, and other printed things,
• print new business cards, letterhead, brochures, etc, with the 575 area code.

At first, it really looked simple and there was no reason to panic. I already am getting complaints that I am not reachable from some parts of the world. I hope the hitches are rectified soon.

Excellent Job

Excellent work! Amazing job! Do you always fish for such phrases from others?
Here is a quote from the former US President Harry S Truman:

"It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit."

Accomplishment is achieving a goal. While a positive reinforcement in the form of praise or a pat in the back is a motivating factor, but that should never be the reason for doing something.

       

Albuquerque Aquarium

       

What’s in a name?

How would you explain a mystery that you interpreted in simple terms?

A moniker is so important for a scientist to communicate with the general audience. He could use either “metaphorical tools” or “rhetorical tools.” But, many audiences convert the figurative speech into a literal sense.

Scientists have been using different types of figures (God, Cosmic religion, Cosmic mystery, Old One, God’s Particle ) to explain the mystery they have encountered. But, it seems that they use the God metaphor frequently.

This article shares my viewpoint.

“…physicists groan when they hear it referred to as the “God particle” in newspapers and elsewhere (and the temptation to repeat it, given science reporters’ desperate need for colorful phrases in an abstract and daunting field, is irresistible). Even when these physicists approve of what you have written about their craft, they grumble that the media are engaging in sensationalism, or worse.”
My guide in all of this, of course, the biggest name-dropper in science, is Albert Einstein, who mentioned God often enough that one could imagine he and the “Old One” had a standing date for coffee or tennis. To wit: “The Lord is subtle, but malicious he is not.”

Smooth Resignation

Are you planning to quit your current job?

Here are some FAQs that will help you in a smooth transition.

Personally, I have followed the following tip, when I resigned my job for pursuing higher studies:

Make an appointment to talk to your manager. Morning is usually best, because it gives your boss a chance to absorb the news and to start on a plan for your transition, including the paperwork that will need to be completed, how and when your job will be posted and who best to train to handle your duties until someone else is hired,… Have a resignation letter prepared to hand to your boss, either at your meeting or shortly afterward.

And I wish I had followed this suggestion about writing a resignation letter:

The letter should include a formal statement that you are leaving, the timetable for your departure and a restatement of your plan for returning company property and transferring confidential information.
... remind your manager how long you’ve been at the company and all that you’ve accomplished.

Tips on going green

Here is a good article on green computing from msn.

Marijuana as a seasoning

Marijuana is considered an illegal drug in many countries. But, it has its advantages. Go to http://www.marijuana.com/ for more information and facts about marijuana. I know that marijuana has medicinal purposes. But, I never thought that it could be used as a seasoning in curry.

Indonesian VP said: "It is all right to use it as a food seasoning, but it should not be fully legalized."