Variform

Why Do Managers Do Engineering?

2009-04-24T00:10:00.003+05:30

India is a great country with many variations & recently the country has been inundated with engineering colleges. Year after year, students are goaded to work hard in coaching institutes to secure a position in the top colleges like the IITs, BITS, etc.

Naturally, not all succeed but there are so many engineering colleges that most secure admissions in some or the other college.

Despite having institutes like IITs, India is lacking in good quality engineers. Although, this lack may not be conspicuous at the present yet in the times to come it is going to manifest into a gigantic problem.

The basic problem of our nation is that most of the brilliant minds, which opt for engineering stream, do so only to later qualify a management exam and become a CEO or something… This may be justified if the person is from not-so-good college or realizes his/her true interests at this stage. However, many students, who are selected in IITs or other prestigious institutes, use it only to brand themselves. My question to such people is -

“Why the hell do you join such good institutes and reduce the total number of seats available, if the only work you have got to do is to switch to management?”

I am neither a control-freak nor against B-schools but I do not understand the imbecile way most people choose to go there? Whatever a person studies in engineering college, is washed away when he/she completes his/her post-graduation from a B-school. If you want to be in business in the “conventional way”, why do not you opt for BBA or something of its sort? We simply waste our resources on such sort of persons, hoping that, in their turn, they will provide technical know-how to the country but what is the outcome? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

The basic cause why so many would-be engineers run towards B-schools is that they get a fat salary. Therefore, after branding themselves as an alumnus of an engineering college, they trademark themselves as a “management guru”. If such persons do not go for competitive exams of engineering, we could really get engineers. I too like business and I am from science stream but I know one thing that I am not gonna crowd around the B-schools like bees around nectar.

Making An Invisible Folder

2009-04-19T12:40:00.001+05:30

· Choose the folder want to make invisible.

· Rename it with a space by pressing Alt+0160 or Alt+255 [ use the Numpad and not the keys on the top of the keyboard ]

· Right-click on the selected folder, and select “Properties”.

· Go to Customize > Change Icon.

· A dialog-box will come up showing a variety of icons.

· In the dialog-box displayed,you'll find empty spaces between icons.Select one and press OK.

· Press OK in the Properties dialog-box.

· Your folder would have become invisible! However, you can still use it as a normal folder.

Writing in zip file!

2009-04-17T14:25:00.001+05:30

Here is a new trick, discovered by me today itself. Well it is a very simple trick to keep away your little bros and sis from your personal documents.

Steps:

• Create a simple .zip file.

[Do not use any software like WinZip, I am not sure whether it works with the professional softwares but I will soon let you know].

• Right-click on the zip file and open it with Wordpad.

• Type the text that you want to hide.

• Save the file and close Wordpad.

• Open the Command prompt [ Start > Run & type “cmd” { without quotes } ].

• Write this command:

ATTRIB +S [path] [filename]

{ REPLACE THE “path” WITH THE PATH OF YOUR ZIP FILE AND THE “filename” WITH THE NAME OF YOUR ZIP FILE }.

This will make the zip file a system file and if you will delete it, it will show a warning!

• Now, to read/edit your file simply open the zip file with Wordpad.

• Keep this zip file safe so that you do not delete it accidentally.

Note- Do not put anything in the zip file else, all that you have written will be lost. In order to prevent this,

simply delete the first line when you open the zip file, for the first time, in Wordpad. This will make

the zip file corrupted and will prevent automatic addition of any content.

Hiding Your Files In A Pic

2009-04-16T21:36:00.001+05:30

Requirement: WinRAR

1. Collect all the files which you wish to hide.

2. Place them in any folder. [I chose E:\NF].

3. Make a RAR archive [ I made qwerty.rar ] in the same folder [ here E:\NF] and add all the files that you want to hide in this archive.

4. Take a JPEG picture file [ I have taken rose.jpg ].

5. Paste this JPEG picture file in your folder/directory [ e.g.- I posted rose.jpg in E:\NF ].

6. Go to Start > Run and type cmd to open Command Prompt [ Alternatively, you can open the Command Prompt from the Start Menu ].

7. Make your directory as your working directory.
e.g. – My Command Prompt displayed  H:\Documents and Settings\HHH>

The steps are-

• H:\Documents and Settings\HHH> E:

• E:\>cd NF

• E:\NF>

8. Type :

COPY /B rose.jpg + qwerty.rar hide.jpg

NOTE- rose.jpg is the picture you selected

qwerty.rar is the archive in which you have hidden your files

hide.jpg is the new file that contains both the above-mentioned files

/B is a switch indicating a binary file

9. Open your folder [ like I will open NF in drive E: ].

10. You will get a file hide.jpg [ or of any other name, if you had selected a different name].

11. Double clicking it will display the photograph.

12. To see the hidden files simply open it with WinRAR.

THIS TRICK WORKS IN XP BUT I AM NOT SURE ABOUT VISTA.

IF IT DOES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ABOUT IT.

Is Upgrading Really A Good Choice?

2009-04-15T00:50:00.001+05:30

I use a computer having Windows XP SP (Service Pack) 2 as OS with a Core 2 Duo processor and 1 GB RAM and have been many times criticized by some persons, I know well, as being “stuck up to the oldies…” [ because I use many old versions of softwares, but it does not include my antivirus !]. Many people consider old hardware and/or softwares as a waste and get their hands on the latest updates/upgrades. The choice of the computer platform on which one works is closely related to one’s lifestyle and work. If you are an architect or an avid gamer you would always need a fast CPU and good graphic card like add-ons but if you are a simple student preparing some damned school report (like I do) or a mediocre gamer (again like me!) you can manage well (albeit with some irritation) with 256MB-512MB RAM even!

I know many people would contradict what I’m telling you but it is the truth. It just takes some brains to extract the best from your PC! I tell so because I’ve been, for the past 7 years, working on a computer equipped with mere 128 MB RAM and a Pentium 4 Processor (well its still a very good processor!) first with only Windows 98, then with _98_ and XP Professional, then with XP SP 2. Believe me that my computer has crashed less than many other peoples higher RAM and better processor computers (My computer usually crashed because I… frequently used to play with its settings and registry. Of course, it was an idiotic thing to do and I still do it but don’t ever try it with your PC!). I got it upgraded only when I had done some-to put it mildly-damage to its hard disk through some modifications… (it was totally unintentional and lets draw a curtain of charity over it!). It was then that I got my computer upgraded with the afore-mentioned configuration.

Even after upgrading my computer, my choice of OS has been criticized in favour of Windows Vista. The reason why I chose XP is simple and it is- “XP IS FASTER AND EASIER FOR A COMMON MAN”. Vista does make the PC sluggish. I’m not criticizing Vista, no not at all.

It’s great software with many improvements but many of its features have to be DISCOVERED which isn’t always easy for a common user! I’ve to install anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, etc. both in XP as well as in Vista to protect my computer. Of course, Vista has many built-in security features but you’ll always need professional software. The other major problem is with drivers. If you simply install Vista, chances are high that your old hardware won’t function and you have to make them

“VISTA-READY”. The reason why Vista is so large is that it has to be made so that it runs even the old programs (the term is called “BACKWARD COMPABILITY”). I would rather go for LINUX than Vista because many of its features are at par with Vista and there are things, like a software management feature, which Vista lack

Leave Vista and come to other common softwares. This text has been typed in MS-WORD 2003. Why not the latest one? Well, because “Office-2003” is fine for me! I don’t have the latest Adobe Reader 9.1 (again a great software) but and older version and I don’t have any problems as again the software is fine for me. I run the Disk Defragmenter time to time unlike many of my friends because it does help my computer to be a good one. I check my computer’s drives for errors as it again helps my PC. I have many softwares but I don’t use them all. If I can run a file with many softwares, I would go for one or two unlike many people who would install all of them (it usually happens with music files where one installs a number of players that one is never going to use). Many of my friends have upgraded to the new Internet Explorer and are telling how good it is. In response to it, I have an old (and still good) IE besides the latest Opera and Firefox!

The choice of hardware and software and their use depends a lot upon your requirements. If you have XP and don’t plan to change to Vista then why the hell should you be stressed on buying a Ready-Boost supporting flash-drive? If you are a ordinary student, a 160 GB Hard-Disk is very good for you. Upgrading isn’t always the best thing. Before running behind an update just care to think whether you really need it or you are just cluttering your PC with junk!

ASCII Codes

2009-04-15T00:16:00.005+05:30

Here are some common ASCII codes. When used at the proper place they produce good results and form a part of many tips and tricks:

(Alt+)

space = 0160 or 016032

♂ = 11

ï = 321

Ö = 153

Ä = 654 or 016068

ô = 778899

ƒ = 159

± = 753 or 016049

§ = 789 or 016039

• = 7 or 016021

¬ = 426

Ç = 426624 or 016071

º = 2471 or 016058

ç = 543345543345543

] = 605

µ = 230 or 016053

∙ = 505

~ = 445566

∞ = 4455660

È = 0456

î = 77708

¥ = 157 or 016037

≈ = 759

Ñ = 165

) = 1065

Ü = 10650

ê = 778899665544

≥ = 754

° = 5880 or 016048

ÿ = 920

l = 7894455660

‹ = 016011

Œ = 016012

Ž = 016014

‘ = 016017

’ = 016018

“ = 016019

” = 016020

– = 016022

— = 016023

˜ = 016024

™ = 016025

š = 016026

› = 016027

œ = 016028

ž = 016030

… = 0133

Ÿ = 016031

¡ = 016033

¢ = 016034

£ = 016035

¤ = 016036 or 0160932

¦ = 016038

¨ = 016040

© = 016041

ª = 016042

« = 016043

new line = 010

¬ = 016044

® = 016046

¯ = 016047

/ = 47

³ = 016051

´ = 016052

¶ = 016054

· = 016055

¸ = 016056

¹ = 016057

¼ = 016060

½ = 016061

¾ = 016062

¿ = 016063

À = 016064

Á = 016065

Â = 016066

Ã = 016067

Å = 016069

Æ = 016070

È = 016072

É = 016073

Ê = 016074

Ë = 016075

Ì = 016076

Í = 016077

Î = 016078

Ï = 016079

Ð = 016080

Ñ = 016081

Ò = 016082

Ó = 016083

Ô = 016084

Õ = 016085

Ö = 016086

× = 016087

Ø = 016088

Ù = 016089

Ú = 016090

Û = 016091

Ü = 016092

Ý = 016093

Þ = 016094

ß = 016095

à = 016096

á = 016097

â = 016098

ã = 016099

ä = 016100

å = 016101

$ = 036 or 36

è = 650

÷ = 758

æ = 145

¬ = 1450

ñ = 14500

¢ = 155

› = 0155

‘ = 0145

ª = 166

= 1660

ú = 163

τ = 999

ç = 0999

Threat to The Web!

2008-11-17T15:33:00.005+05:30

A new report on online security has brought to the limelight a new type of threat, to the internet, known as the DDOS-Distributed Denial of Service.

It is a cyber-weapon which is being used to shut down/close large websites by overwhelming their networks. In these attacks, computer networks are hijacked and data packets are spread all over the internet in a random manner which inundates the capacity of the networks of various websites and brings them down. This data-flooding is steadily on rise and has now even started to affect those organizations & operators which form the very backbone of the internet.

The only known way to prevent this attack of data is to have networks of higher capacity which would be capable to absorb the data-shocks generated against them.

Till then surf the web!

Lunar Aliens Are Building Weapons To Attack Earth!

2008-11-14T22:04:00.001+05:30

The recent Chandrayan-I, sent by India to study the moon has made a shocking set of revelations. The images captured by this lunar probe have proved the existence of aliens on the Moon. The images not only show alien colonies thriving in the deep polar craters but they also reveal a complex array of structures and weapons. Shocked by this discovery, ISRO, NASA, and the European Space Agency are trying to cover up the whole issue.

Our special correspondent at ISRO told that the scientists think that these weapons are based on technologies which are yet unknown to humans and are aimed at wiping out life from the Earth! Most probably the weapons include high energy lasers, concentrated photon beams and plasma cannons alongwith other sophisticated weapons and technologies about which we humans don’t even have an idea. But there is no need to panic bcoz the governments all over the world are already preparing for the combat and above all, this article is only a parody and entirely fictious!

The Triumph of Change

2008-11-11T21:59:00.002+05:30

W00t! that would the Democrats be saying had they been on an internet gaming portal.Barack Hussein Obama deserves accolades for smothering life out of the Republicans by making a landmark win over the dyed-in-wool Republican, John MacCain,in the US presidential election.”Country First” has been vanquished by “Change We Need”.The news of Obama’s victory is significant in many ways.

Firstly, it has come from a country which has seen the end of slavery only a mere 150 years ago.The victory of a black to the highest office in one of the most racist country does represent the changing moral Zeitgeist.Today every American can raise his/her head proudly & say that “America is the land of miracles”. The fair-skinned ones have paid in this manner for the ill-treatment meted out to the blacks in their country.Of course,racialism & inter-ethnic feuds may still be prevalent in USA but it has shown the world that it is really a leader of the New Secular Order .

Obama’s victory is significant in a second way too It has won love for the US in many of its arch-rivals & critics.

Thirdly,people all over the world are hopeful that the economic meltdown would be contained.

Barack Obama would naturally drive a little left than the centrist Bill Clinton but that does not stop him from deserving a hurrah for rescuing the US & the world from past eight calamitous George W. Bush years next and four MacCain-Palin years.Although, the change is a small one but it is bound to bring a paradigm shift in the American & the world politics for the times to come.