There is this guy called Mark Zuckerberg who ventured a social-networking site Facebook . Check out... Here is the link that narrates the journey from a small startup to the latest buzz of Silicon Valley.
Mark, like almost all entrepreneurs, was a prodigious child. He and his friend built a MP3 plugin for Winamp that adapts to the test of your music and accordingly creates play list. Upon seeing their software under freely-downloaded category, Yahoo! came calling. Both of them turned down an offer of Yahoo and pursued their graduation in Harvard and Yale.
Harvard was reluctant to give away the information of the students and that made Mark to hack into Harvard's server. That is the birth of a new baby-Facebook. After dropping out from the University, Mark and his colleagues devoted themselves to a new startup .Starting from a normal web-portal, Facebook engrossed into a multi-million dollar company that never looked back. It even turned down a lucrative buyout offer of $1 billion from Yahoo!
I think, to be a successful entrepreneur, one needs a sight to foresee the things, and a immense self-motivating force, an ability to take risks. Naturally, one needs to have an "Out of box" thinking which anticipates the changing colors of market. Nowadays, we see IITians, IIM graduates getting caught by an entrepreneur bug. But being a successful person, doesn't need any tag of IIT or IIM. It all depends on how alert we are.
I always dreamed of starting my own software firm. There are certain steps that I am taking to achieve it. And I wish one day that dream will come true.
Amen...
Friday, April 20, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Namesake
A perfect treat for those who like watching soft, real life stories. And why not? When Jhumpa Lahiri's narration and Mira Nair's adroit direction comes hand in hand, no wonders we meet some great creation. The title of movie itself is quite meaningful. If a person, place, or thing is named after a different person, place, or thing, then one is said to be the namesake of the other.
The story begins with a first generation of immigrant Bengali family to the United States of America. Right from acclimating with a cold weather to getting accustomed with totally different culture, we see lot of small situations making an impact on the couple's lifestyle. Ashoke Ganguly (Irrfan Khan ) and Ashmita (Tabbu) manage themselves to a new country, but the problem comes with their next generation. Nikhil "Gogol" Ganguli, and Sonia Ganguli, both are americanized are unaware of Indian culture. Then comes the tragedy of the family. Of course, this seems to be a tragedy to an Indian, not to an American because of the cultural differences.
The reason why Ashoke names his son after Nikolai Gogol, is very touchable. The bond of emotions between Ashoke and his son Gogol is presented in fantastic way. The pros and cons of an American culture make us think.
Irrfan Khan as always puts a solid performance. He easily manages to speak Bengali and English in an Indian's accent. But I have to say who acted best in the movie, I will select Tabbu. She presents an orthodox middle class woman Ashmita, who comes to an unknown country with her husband. Shouldering her responsibility of growing up her children and finally when everyone settles in their lives, she quietly returns to those things which she always wanted to do. Kal Penn, Gogol looks like a perfect ABCD (American Born Confused Desi). He lives his life his own way, an American's way and looses his love twice, struggles through emotional decline but settles.
One last thing to mention, the music. Truly melodious. The background scores give a typical Bengali look to the film.
A must see movie...
The story begins with a first generation of immigrant Bengali family to the United States of America. Right from acclimating with a cold weather to getting accustomed with totally different culture, we see lot of small situations making an impact on the couple's lifestyle. Ashoke Ganguly (Irrfan Khan ) and Ashmita (Tabbu) manage themselves to a new country, but the problem comes with their next generation. Nikhil "Gogol" Ganguli, and Sonia Ganguli, both are americanized are unaware of Indian culture. Then comes the tragedy of the family. Of course, this seems to be a tragedy to an Indian, not to an American because of the cultural differences.
The reason why Ashoke names his son after Nikolai Gogol, is very touchable. The bond of emotions between Ashoke and his son Gogol is presented in fantastic way. The pros and cons of an American culture make us think.
Irrfan Khan as always puts a solid performance. He easily manages to speak Bengali and English in an Indian's accent. But I have to say who acted best in the movie, I will select Tabbu. She presents an orthodox middle class woman Ashmita, who comes to an unknown country with her husband. Shouldering her responsibility of growing up her children and finally when everyone settles in their lives, she quietly returns to those things which she always wanted to do. Kal Penn, Gogol looks like a perfect ABCD (American Born Confused Desi). He lives his life his own way, an American's way and looses his love twice, struggles through emotional decline but settles.
One last thing to mention, the music. Truly melodious. The background scores give a typical Bengali look to the film.
A must see movie...
Monday, April 02, 2007
In the times of TOI
On this Sunday, I happened to read Times of India. There is a small supplement called Time, we get these days. And guess who we had this time? It was a male stripper. The punchline was 'The confession of a male stripper'.
I am reading TOI from last 5 years. But from last 1-2 years I could see a debacle in its overall quality. TOI was never well-known for its editorials. I read it just for the sake of reading. I am living with my roomies and all of them except me love Times. So, I fall in minority.
If we look at past 2 years of TOI, we could see a drastic change. Earlier there were no Page-3 news, neither were useless articles gossiping Bollywood/Hollywood actors/actresses. I don't claim that it was an ideal paper. But these days what I am seeing is TOI doesn't have anything worth reading.
Try retrospecting Time, we had 'A confession of a bar dancer', so called bold interview with a girl who left her home in her early ages with a man whom she though she loved, a new metro sexual man... the list goes on. My question is , is this a real India? Is this what we think when we dream of a modern India?
One more thing I feel contradictory is the news that we see in Pune Times. Now what does Pune have to do with Hollywood's current affairs?
I came across an editorial of Lokmat, a Marathi newspaper. There was some comment from Dr. P.C. Alexander. I don't remember the actual wording, it was about the non-sense news that media is spreading these days.
I think, instead of wasting those soft pages on pairs of Aishwarya-Abhishek, Liz Hurley-Arun Nair, better talk of something really useful.
Let people know that there are mavericks out here who devoted their lives for some good cause. Let them know that there are still some figure who stood tall against throughout their fight and whom we see as a source of inspiration.
I don't know if TOI have a time for its introspection, but for now I am switching over from 'The Times of India' to 'The Hindu'. At least, I could read some good Edi's here.
I am reading TOI from last 5 years. But from last 1-2 years I could see a debacle in its overall quality. TOI was never well-known for its editorials. I read it just for the sake of reading. I am living with my roomies and all of them except me love Times. So, I fall in minority.
If we look at past 2 years of TOI, we could see a drastic change. Earlier there were no Page-3 news, neither were useless articles gossiping Bollywood/Hollywood actors/actresses. I don't claim that it was an ideal paper. But these days what I am seeing is TOI doesn't have anything worth reading.
Try retrospecting Time, we had 'A confession of a bar dancer', so called bold interview with a girl who left her home in her early ages with a man whom she though she loved, a new metro sexual man... the list goes on. My question is , is this a real India? Is this what we think when we dream of a modern India?
One more thing I feel contradictory is the news that we see in Pune Times. Now what does Pune have to do with Hollywood's current affairs?
I came across an editorial of Lokmat, a Marathi newspaper. There was some comment from Dr. P.C. Alexander. I don't remember the actual wording, it was about the non-sense news that media is spreading these days.
I think, instead of wasting those soft pages on pairs of Aishwarya-Abhishek, Liz Hurley-Arun Nair, better talk of something really useful.
Let people know that there are mavericks out here who devoted their lives for some good cause. Let them know that there are still some figure who stood tall against throughout their fight and whom we see as a source of inspiration.
I don't know if TOI have a time for its introspection, but for now I am switching over from 'The Times of India' to 'The Hindu'. At least, I could read some good Edi's here.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Pursuit of HappYness
I saw this movie last weekend. I will say, after a long time I saw a stunning performance. This movie should be considered as the best-of Will Smith. Although, Smith didn't get the best actor's award this year, but man, he makes you cry and he makes you clap. We see an emotional push throughout the movie and at the end we see an inspiration, that shows us the imperishable power of love and determination.
First thing, a fantastic script and storyline. Chris Gardner's life an inspiration for all those who want to pursue an American Dream. He struggles all the way, for everything in his life. Right from his homeless fatherhood to his apprenticeship in the stock market. He struggles and finally he wins.He cries, he claps, he celebrates. Just like a common,hard-working man. This is what strikes our mind and touches our hearts.
Some of the scenes are truly marvelous piece of acting and direction.
First- The conversation between Chris and his son, when they play basket-ball. "Do not let anyone tell you that you can't do it." , "You have to dream and you have protect your dream"...awesome.
Second- The scene at the tram-station. Smith tells his child that the machine he is carrying is a time machine. The homeless child being very innocent, follows his dad and sleeps in a toilet. Smith cries.
Third- (This is the best one...)Smith gets selected and his interviewer offers him a job. He accepts it. His eyes speak. He walks out of the room to the pathway, remembers his hardships, cries and claps. He goes to his son, hugs him with all of his joys... "There is a little place called heart and there lies the happyness..."
Hats off to Gabriel Muccino ,Will Smith, and Jaden Smith.
Outstanding!!!
First thing, a fantastic script and storyline. Chris Gardner's life an inspiration for all those who want to pursue an American Dream. He struggles all the way, for everything in his life. Right from his homeless fatherhood to his apprenticeship in the stock market. He struggles and finally he wins.He cries, he claps, he celebrates. Just like a common,hard-working man. This is what strikes our mind and touches our hearts.
Some of the scenes are truly marvelous piece of acting and direction.
First- The conversation between Chris and his son, when they play basket-ball. "Do not let anyone tell you that you can't do it." , "You have to dream and you have protect your dream"...awesome.
Second- The scene at the tram-station. Smith tells his child that the machine he is carrying is a time machine. The homeless child being very innocent, follows his dad and sleeps in a toilet. Smith cries.
Third- (This is the best one...)Smith gets selected and his interviewer offers him a job. He accepts it. His eyes speak. He walks out of the room to the pathway, remembers his hardships, cries and claps. He goes to his son, hugs him with all of his joys... "There is a little place called heart and there lies the happyness..."
Hats off to Gabriel Muccino ,Will Smith, and Jaden Smith.
Outstanding!!!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Women's day special...
It was Women's day yesterday. We had a small discussion in my room about women's contribution towards the computer related fields. We could hardly come up with some names. And so, at the end, we concluded that women are "weak" in computations. Today, I was passing time, and came across some information that I was unaware of.
Here are some of the womens who are remembered for their pioneering efforts in the field of computation.
1. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), promoter of Charles Babbage's analytical engine
2. Grace Hopper (1906-1992), first programmer for the Mark I Calculator
3. Kay McNulty, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, Betty Jennings, and Fran Bilas, original programmers of the ENIAC
4. Jean E. Sammet (1928), mathematician and computer scientist; developed FORMAC programming language
5. Barbara H. Liskov (1939), first American female Doctorate of Computer Science (1968)
6. Irma Wyman, first Honeywell CIO
7. Sally Floyd (computer scientist), most renowned for her work on Transmission Control Protocol[1]
8. Frances E. Allen, first female recipient of the ACM'S Turing Award
9. Anita Borg, the founding director of the Institute for Women and Technology (IWT)
10. Shafi Goldwasser, theoretical computer scientist, two time recipient of the Godel Prize
11. Eva Tardos, recipient of the Fulkerson Prize
This list was sufficient to prove the fallacy of our conclusion!!!
Happy Women's Day... :)
Here are some of the womens who are remembered for their pioneering efforts in the field of computation.
1. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), promoter of Charles Babbage's analytical engine
2. Grace Hopper (1906-1992), first programmer for the Mark I Calculator
3. Kay McNulty, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, Betty Jennings, and Fran Bilas, original programmers of the ENIAC
4. Jean E. Sammet (1928), mathematician and computer scientist; developed FORMAC programming language
5. Barbara H. Liskov (1939), first American female Doctorate of Computer Science (1968)
6. Irma Wyman, first Honeywell CIO
7. Sally Floyd (computer scientist), most renowned for her work on Transmission Control Protocol[1]
8. Frances E. Allen, first female recipient of the ACM'S Turing Award
9. Anita Borg, the founding director of the Institute for Women and Technology (IWT)
10. Shafi Goldwasser, theoretical computer scientist, two time recipient of the Godel Prize
11. Eva Tardos, recipient of the Fulkerson Prize
This list was sufficient to prove the fallacy of our conclusion!!!
Happy Women's Day... :)
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