Monday, October 11, 2010

Blog Action Day – 2010 : Fight for H2O is on!

October 15 is the day, participate and be part of the change…

http://blogactionday.change.org/register is the link to register your blog and participation.


Couldn't get my creative juices in full speed hence decided to participate by at least posting some water pictures to understand the importance of water.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Agumbe Rainforest Expedition

Recently went on a photographic expedition to Agumbe Rainforest with Amogavarsha. The entire article and the entire set of pictures and videos can be accessed in the below link.

Comment and critique most welcome.


The frog - Tigrina

The link for the article + pictures + videos - Agumbe Rainforest.

m.m


Thursday, August 12, 2010

A Bug Called Shutterbug - 2

Here is the second attempt at making a book, but this time it is a flip book.

Do visit the below link to view the latest book and please provide your comments, critique and feedback.

A Bug Called Shutterbug – 2
Author – Monish Matthias
Type – FlipBook
Pages - 20
Category – Abstract, People, Wildlife, Nature
Date – 10 August 2010

Link to view (best viewed in firefox) the entire book - A Bug Called Shutterbug - 2

If you are using IE - use this link.

The Book download as a PDF can be found here.

ABCS2.JPG



PS: The first book link is here.


m.m

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Java in 16 days

Learn Java, Basics of J2EE, Open Source Frameworks etc in under 16 days. A free tutorial with links to good content from Sun Java and with to do exercise.

We (Nagarajan and me) prepared a curriculum for interns fresh from college, freshers and people taking up JAVA as a new programming language.

It is a 16 day learning exercise broken down into smaller chunks of contents to read and understand and a small to do exercise at the end of each learning content.








The link to access the document is here - Java learning Curriculum.

It is similar to a Java tutorial for freshers.

m.m

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Coorg / Madikeri Trip

Have published the pictures and journal of my 3 day trip.

Here is the complete run down and album -
http://www.wow-wonderworks.blogspot.com/2010/07/coorg-madikeri.html

Would love comment and critique.

A small sample of the entire album (3 out of 30+)

Stamp of authority

Wonders of the insect kingdom

Life is beautiful


m.m

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Java File Loading in Web Application

Different applications, different technologies, different designs, different packaging, different servers, different developers... Everything is different in web applications the loading of files becomes really difficult.

So how does one load files (with relative path / with absolute path) in the project structure in their java code within web applications.



1) Get the real path of the file from ServletContext or HttpServletRequest
ServletContext sc = (ServletContext)context;
sc.getRealPath("temp.txt");

or

HttpServletRequest hsrTemp = (HttpServletRequest)context;
hsrTemp.getRealPath("temp.txt");

2) Try with context path
HttpServletRequest hsrTemp = (HttpServletRequest)context;
File fileTemp = new File(hsrTemp.getContextPath()+"/resources/temp.txt");

3) Input stream - file in classes folder
InputStream inpStrTemp = this.getClass().getResourceAsStream("temp.txt");

4) resource url - file in classes folder
URL urlTemp = this.getClass().getResource("temp.txt");

5) Try this one.....................the magic one :) (all four above failed for me, this worked and yes I wrote it on my own ...)

URL currentClassFolder = TestClass.class.getResource(""); //this gives you the package reference of the test class
String pathFromUrl = currentClassFolder.getPath(); //this gives the actual path
String finalPath = pathFromUrl.substring(0,pathFromUrl.indexOf("WEB-INF/classes/com/test/web/")); //navigate to where ever you want to
finalPath = finalPath.replaceAll("% 20", " "); //command prompt doesn't like % 20'

Hope it helps, if it does - do leave a comment!

m.m

Monday, July 12, 2010

Netgear Wifi + Nortel VPN Issues?

I was troubled by the long list of issues that I was facing when I used to connect via VPN through wifi, the connection used to be refused and the office help desk would ask me to seek help from the ISP and vice versa.

Finally one day (a week back), I sat down tried to break my head over it and solved it under 2 hours. Quite pleased with the effort.


Issue: Nortel VPN not connecting via wifi router (netgear in my case) but connects via LAN (directly to the modem)

What I did:

You can access your Modem's application as follows
Link - http://192.168.1.1/
Username / password - admin / password (usually but if it doesn't work search in the net for the right one)

Wifi Router
Netgear router
Link -
http://www.routerlogin.net
or
http://10.0.0.1/
Username / password - admin / password (usually but if it doesn't work search in the net for the right one) [for the virgin media provided wifi router it is virgin/password]

For the VPN to work

Add port triggering for the following ports 50, 80, 500, 4500, 1701, 1723 under both the Wifi and modem's application.
And then Navigate to the wan setup under the wifi router's application and
check the Disable SPI Firewall.

Restart the modem and your system and connect to VPN and voila you connect and if it works drop a comment :)

m.m

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Hassled by Traffic & Their Guardians!

Every commuter yes the same citizen of India (Consumer is king???) has a daily dose of hassle commuting from East Bangalore - the silicon hub of Bangalore a.k.a Whitefield side to South Bangalore. Adding to the irritation is the honking noise, the dust pollution from the construction debris. If it is the English / British tradition to never let a conversation end without referring to the weather, we @ Bangalore never end a day without quoting the great trouble that we face in the form of traffic jams.

Trapped like a bee
Snack


Last two day's the traffic jam's have behaved decently but not their guardians, the nice trendy guys with their blackberries and ever itching fingers to print out a ticket for some violation or the other. These guardians wear the color of peace - white neat uniforms but are hellbent upon creating violence by booking each one they meet under some section or the other. Yes the world is competitive and they have their monthly targets as well!!

Case 1 - Friday
Every commuter knows Bellandur, Agara, SILKBOARD (minimum 15 - 30 minutes) have regular bottlenecks so what does one do?? drive at a decent speed where ever the road is free and where one can drive freely, basically this is common sense. I followed the same logic and was driving at a decent speed on the outer ring road near the More - Mega store, EMC2 office, suddenly I was flagged off the road by an army of traffic cops say about 6 - 8 cops, I went for about 300 metres (though I was so far away didn't have the smallest temptation of running away due to the respect for cops), stopped, parked my bike and got of. A nice young junior cop came and spoke to me in crisp English and asked me why I was cruising at a place where the speed limit was 50 KMs. I asked out of sheer surprise 50 KMs / hr in a 6 lane road with two service roads which makes it almost an 8 lane road. He said yes sir this is a BBMP blah blah blah, I went to the senior person and asked him boss this is unfair etc. etc.. but I am sensible enough to understand a 'stupid' rule has been broken and I cough up RS 300 and get the receipt.

Pros
1) Not once was corruption evident with the young police force.
2) Professional equipment to print the ticket and receipt system.

Cons + questions from few fellow commuters
1) Another commuter who was held up asked the cop "What are you doing in such vacant roads when we really need your clearly over sized team in places where we suffer everyday from traffic jams" - He got no reply - sad!
2) Another commuter asked - "What is your target for today, and what is your monthly target?" - The answer was a blank and fallen face - very sad!
3) My question is - "When you fine us for over speeding, CAN WE FINE YOU & YOUR DEPT FOR under-speeding caused every day in many long stretches? Our average speed would be a mere 0 - 10 kms/hr.
4) Need to have some limits.. one guy was 5 KM over the limit and was fined, anyone heard of something called common sense??


Case 2 - Saturday
Was happily house hunting in Whitefield. Near the hope farm circle (while coming from ITPL), wanted to take the 'U' turn. Apparently there is a board there says no 'U' turn allowed. I turned my indicator to turn and stood there, there were many cops there again beaming their blackberries proudly. [Lets remember that if I wanted to break a rule, I wouldn't dare to do it in front of cops, thats common sense] This junior cop, a slightly aged gentleman from the other side calls me to come, I was wondering why? At this point I was only standing in the intersection and had not violated any rule in the rule book, he calls me so I gently move to the other side and he says you have violated the U turn rule. I completely lost my cool and now lost all my respect for these cops. If he was genuine he would have told me there is no U turn - (i.e) when I was standing at the intersection wondering where I need to go. He called me to the other side, made me violate a rule and fined me. I got off my vehicle went to the senior cop and explained that I am from South Bangalore and not familiar with the routes in this part of town and that the other cop made me violate the rule by calling rather ordering me to cross the road. I spoke in what ever Kannada I knew and filled the gaps with Tamil, Hindi and English. I explained my issue, he was hellbent upon typing in his new blackberry, I started losing my cool, people around the place noticed how these guys were cheating me. I told them in a clear loud voice that they were cheating me and committing something very wrong. But I guess it was equivalent to the effect of rain falling on a fat buffalo. He printed a slip, I paid the fine, threw the sheet down in disgust and walked away clearly ashamed of the apathy that these guys exhibit. As I start my vehicle I can hear him speaking in the local language saying "The next time you meet policemen, talk less" YES RIGHT, next time I will fold my hands, greet you with a namastey, serve some snacks and juice and then stay bowed and speak to you, cause you have the so called "powers". The cop's name is "Rajanna" near Hope Farm Circle. If you haven't guessed I was fuming at the end of all this and made it very clear to the senior guy that I wasn't amused or happy by the whole experience.

Pros
1) NONE what so ever

Cons + questions from few fellow commuters
1) Stupidity
2) Lack of common sense
3) Misuse of power
4) Cheating
5) Can't speak or understand English
6) Not to help or educate the common man / citizen

Anyways at the end I do agree there are tons of awesome cops who make our life simply great, hats off to you guys and a big thank you.

m.m

Friday, June 18, 2010

Is there a correlation?

Don't know if this is the effect of reading "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything". It is a 2005 non-fiction book by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner.

Scene out of the world

Case 1 - I have noticed this general scenario in India which includes me as well - Save more, Spend less - Save more for a happy future even if it means being Frugal now. The quote 'Save for a Rainy Day' is so commonly used in most of the households.

Case 2 - I have noticed many friends & other people (am guilty as well) - while eating a good meal we keep our favorite dish say fried chicken or a sweet dish for eating it at the end of the meal, we finish all the relatively ordinary dishes and then leisurely eat the relatively superior or tastier or favored dish.

Are case 1 & case 2 related? Do they have any vague correlation?

If I were to become the rogue economist and get into the shoes of Levitt or Dubner, I would say the following.

Analysis of Case 1 - yes the mindset in few countries are heavily biased over saving and not spending, it means you forgo certain pleasures of life at the peak of your health & early age and keep saving up for the future when you might not be able to utilize it to the maximum possible fun & happiness.

Analysis of Case 2 - yes the mindset in few countries are heavily biased over saving your best assets and not wasting / spending / using it rashly (or fast) [almost works on a principle of conservative rationing], it means you forgo tasting the best dish when you were really hungry (& could eat more) and keeping it for later times thinking you can enjoy it leisurely but the reality is by then your stomach is quite full and you end up just stuffing yourself and not relishing it.

Now do you get the correlation? There is a strong invisible mindset within most of us which influences most of our actions. Conclusion: The two cases have been proved to have a link.


"I always feel sorry for people who think more about a rainy day ahead than sunshine today." - Rae Foley

m.m

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Attrition Management - An IIMB Casestudy


Attrition Management & Analysis


A case study prepared by us for a module under the guidance of IIMB Professor Mr. Narendra Agarwal. It also contains details of a live survey collected among a diverse audience across the IT sector.

Exciting Contents Inside the PPT
Abstract
Basic Definitions
Pictorial Definition
Case Study Definition
Introduction
Organization Chart
Scenario
Scenario Analysis
Summary of the ‘Live Industry Survey’
Snapshot of ‘Live Industry Survey’
Decipher data from the ‘Live Industry Survey’
Comments from the Participants of the Survey
Charts and Diagrams
Survey Result Analysis
Closing Note


m.m

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

My learning's on KM

My learning's from the Assignment Creating An Organizational Culture for Knowledge Management at IIMB are as follows,

1) Learn't from the article on how to create a culture and environment conducive for Knowledge Sharing.
2) Also learn't the importance & power of Knowledge Management where available knowledge is sieved and reused.
3) Understood the role of Knowledge Management in increasing productivity and the power of harnessing the implicit and explicit knowledge within the organization.
4) Before the assignment I didn't see Knowledge Management in a bigger picture, I was seeing it in bits and pieces and as mere applications.
5) After the assignment I am able to appreciate that the various modules / applications of Knowledge Management co exist and works harmoniously as the spokes of a wheel and that each are needed for smooth running of the Knowledge Management Initiative.
6) Apart from the 90, 270, 360, 720 feedback systems, the real need is to have open loop feedback systems and not closed loop feedback systems.
7) Also learnt that the Knowledge Management must evolve as fast as technology advances like having e-learning systems, wiki, discussion threads etc.
8) Also learnt good usable content management systems need to be in place for people to use them effectively.
9) Also learnt the difference between Proactive learning and Adaptive learning.
10) Understood Knowledge Management is the collection of processes that promotes the creation, dissemination, and utilization of knowledge. Learnt this from the article by Brian (Bo)Newman.


11) Understood creating a KM culture or environment means - creation of supportive organizational structures, facilitation of organizational members, putting IT-instruments with emphasis on teamwork and diffusion of knowledge (as e.g. groupware) into place. Learnt this from the article by Thomas Bertels.
12) Knowledge has started been treated as a resource by itself.
13) Learnt about the following sub modules Knowledge Analysis (KA), Knowledge Planning (KP), Knowledge Technology (KT), Computer Supported Work Systems (CSWS).
14) Knowledge management complements and enhances other organizational initiatives such as total quality management (TQM), business process re-engineering (BPR) and organizational learning, providing a new and urgent focus to sustain competitive position.
15) KM is used to serve customers well and to remain in business companies must: reduce their cycle times, operate with minimum fixed assets and overhead (people, inventory and facilities), shorten product development time, improve customer service, empower employees, innovate and deliver high quality products, enhance flexibility and adaption, capture information, create knowledge, share and learn. KM proves as a framework promoting all these initiatives.
16) KM implementation should not be blind, it should be - Develop and monitor the value proposition, Secure top management commitment, sponsorship, and leadership, Create business unit knowledge sharing performance measures, Develop an implementation and migration strategy, Define knowledge sharing processes, Define knowledge sharing roles and responsibilities, Define requirements for involvement, Create and implement a communication plan,Develop and deliver a training program, Address incentive issues, Develop proper user support, Model system design on work processes, Investigate traditional methods as well as emerging technologies, Establish a standardised knowledge management architecture, Define operations standards.
17) Knowledge Communities or COP - Communities of practice are very useful.
18) The barriers of KM are Mindset, Concepts breathing life, Operational issues, Incentive based issues.

m.m

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Rock Agama - Part 2

My interest in this species started off a few months back when I was walking near a empty plot in JP Nagar 7th Phase, I spotted the colorful male and a few days later spotted the beautiful black and white female. This pair remained elusive for a couple of weeks and finally I could spot them and photograph them.

I usually commute to office via Kannakapura road and then through the Thurahalli range. Once while returning back home, I decided to take a deviation away from my usual route to do a bit of birding. In this route suddenly I saw a couple of lizards and rock agama’s basking in the sun.


For more read here - http://www.wow-wonderworks.blogspot.com/2010/05/rock-agama-part-2.html


A snapshot of pictures, the complete 2 - 3 weeks of tracking is in the above link.

An unusual Pair


Lying in wait


Hunched look


m.m