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."

The countdown starts now

Apple has made its products ubiquitous. Be it listening to music, watching videos, or even study for an exam. You name it, Apple has it. It will be interesting to watch Apple's foray into cellular phone market. As the countdown nears for the release of iPhone, people are getting crazy. The commercials are simply superb. David Pogue provides a very good review.

Changing style of watching videos

It was watching movies on computers, then laptops. Then, we projected the movies on a standard vga projector. Later we extended the laptop screen to a TV screen with the help of S-Video cable. Recently, DVI / HDMI cables took to the forefront.

Then came the Apple TV to cater an increasing number HDTV audience. Apple TV ignored the old standard Television set users.

The best thing about an Apple TV is that it can work very well with other apple products

Excerpts from NYTimes:

Apple TV also syncs movies and TV shows with video-capable iPods, which means you can start watching a movie on the train ride home, pause for dinner, then resume on the living room HDTV, right where you left off.

Now, its time for another revolution: vudu. Vudu is a device that plans to avoid the intermediate computer or cable device. We will have to watch how successful this device would be.

Excerpts from NYTimes:

The company promises ... to offer 5,000 movies to watch directly on the TV without a PC, cable or satellite box. It says it has closed deals with seven major motion picture studios. The catch? Yet another appliance in your home. The Vudu device is expected to go on sale this summer, but no price has been announced.

Bollywood on NBC

Yesterday, I accidentally watched the last 5 minutes of America's Got Talent on NBC. There was this Pakistani guy who danced for Ek Pal Ka Jeena from Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai. Guess what? The audience love him. The judges, after some initial face making, were intrigued at the steps.

Oh! Did I tell you? He got selected.

Drivers' Ten Commandments

I really admire the Vatican for coming up with this list of ten commandments for drivers. This list is really appealing to the drivers and makes a lot of sense.

1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

You Cheer You Loose

This is one moment where you wouldn’t want to cheer your ward.

In Indianapolis, public school officials this year began removing cheering parents and relatives. At one school, the superintendent interrupted the graduation program in the gymnasium last month and had the police remove a woman.

DET vs CLE

Can Cavaliers terminate Pistons and advance to finals?

After an impressive performance by Lebron James in Game 5, that is the question in the minds of all the Cleveland fans who are watching the NBA East Finals Game 6.

At the end of first quarter, Cavaliers lead Pistons 27/21. Check the live scorecard to the right. The first quarter has been good for Cavaliers with Varejao performing pretty good.

There has been a delay in the game during the break in the 2nd quarter as the game clock and scoreboard is malfunctioning. Is this technology going awry? The officials are going to use air horn and stop clock.

Looks like the Pistons are gaining in on the second quarter. Varejao got greedy in the second quarter. All he has to do was pass the ball to King James. But, he preferred to basket it all by himself and fumbled badly.

Fiction becomes Reality

Somewhere in the space scientists find an earth-like planet.

The next time you talk to a person, are you sure you are talking to that person. With the technology improving and science We are getting closer to a point where we will find aliens and human-like robots. Fictions like Starwars, Terminator or IRobot may become true.

India's Broadband Portal

While youtube and metacafe making an impact all over the world India has its own portal by Rajshri.

The website has a good collection of Indian television serials and old movies, which provides reminiscences of my childhood.

Car shopping

Online shopping has taken a new turn. There is a paradigm shift in shopping for a car. driverTV is an awesome website which has all videos of the models of the cars just as in the show room. With the fuel prices rising, I can’t wait till 2010 for Chevy volt, the hybrid concept car from Chevy.

Source: AutoblogGreen

Excerpts from G.M.’s Mr. Horsepower Has an Electric Conversion:

With the same enthusiasm that he has long used to describe high torque ratings and engine displacements, Mr. Lutz touted the Volt’s mileage, which he estimated will reach 151 miles per gallon, fueled by a combination of electricity and gasoline.

But G.M. is also moving ahead with the Volt, even though it hasn’t yet developed the lithium-ion battery that is needed to power it. Even so, Mr. Lutz has said G.M. hopes to sell it by 2010.

Printers War

Kodak Printers is a Mac-PC commercial spoof on NY Times. Kodak and HP debate over each other's marketing and pricing policies. I recommend watching this video till the end.

[Source: http://www.nytimes.com]