Parshuraam

It was interesting to learn that Parshuraam was the guru of Bhishmapitaamaha, Guru Dronacharya, and Karna.

Karna went to Parshuraam to teach him the valuable knowledge he had. When asked whether he was a Kshatriya, Karna denied since he wasn't aware of the fact that he is indeed a Kshatriya. Eventually the incident with the bumble-bee revealed that Karna was a Kshatriya and not a brahmin. When Parshuraam was resting with his head in Karna's lap, Shri Krishna comes as a bumble-bee to bite Karna and reveal his secrets. The Guru refuses to teach Karna further.

So had Parshuraam had decided only to teach Brahmins or was it to non-Kshatriyas only, was Bhishmapitaamaha a brahmin?

The old and the dear

Happiness and sadness
I feel both at the same time
Time flows so fast yet so slow
It feels like I'm losing all of them
The ones far away and near by in heart
Wish I can be with them all
To tell them how much they mean
While they are here
Life is passing away
Like sand held in hands
Will I ever be able to hold it
Like I did before once again?

February 24, 2007

Ay...ay...ay...ay...ay... Indexers!

Indexers provide array-like access to any objects. Here's an example that demonstrates how to use them:

class myIndexerGeneric
{
  private T[] indxr = new T[10];
  public T this[int i]
  {
    get { return indxr[i]; }
    set { indxr[i] = value; }
  }
}

private void TestIndexer()
{
  ArrayList a = new ArrayList();
  a.Add("TextIn");
 
  myIndexerGeneric<ArrayList> g = new myIndexerGeneric<ArrayList>();
  g[0] = a;
 
  ArrayList b = new ArrayList();
  b = g[0];
}

Arrays vs ArrayLists in C#

Initially, I had a very hard time understanding the concept of Arrays vs. ArrayLists. So finally after browsing and searching on google and four textbooks for an explanation that makes sense, I put together these lists:

Arrays
- Require a counter for accessing elements
- Need to use ReDim Preserve
- Type specific - data types must be same throughout the array
- Homogeneous data - same data type

ArrayLists
- Do not require a counter
- No need to use ReDim Preserve
- Items can be removed
- Items can be sorted
- Items can be searched
- Items can be added at runtime
- Items can be replaced
- Can hold objects (custom or defined) and it is possible to have more than one data type objects in one arraylist
- Heterogeneous data - data type can differ from object to object
- Is a DataStructure in .NET
- Its capacity is increased if required as objects are added to it. So it frees programmer from the worries of array overflow.
- Can be made read only after adding elements to prevent unintentional modifications.
- Provides an overloaded method to perform binary search on Its objects.
- Implements IList interface using an array.

Broken Heart

In his eyes I feel that sorrow
in his voice I feel that pain
of losing a friend whom he wished
to know dearly but as a dream
it is just passing by
as cruel reality dawns upon him
tomorrow will be the day
the dream will be shattered
in a million pieces.

February 16, 2007

An interesting reflection: Slow Down Culture

Got this in an email today from Urmi.

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Dear all,

An interesting reflection: Slow Down Culture

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think? Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalize world.

By XYZ

Entry for February 06, 2007

Videsheshu dhanam vidya
Vyasaneshu dhanam matihi
Parloke dhanam dharmaha
Sheelam sarvatra vaidhanam

Translation:

In foreign land, your education is your wealth.
In bad times, your wisdom is your wealth.
In heaven (other world where the soul goes after death), your dharma (duty, sprituality) is your wealth.
Your character is your wealth everywhere.