OSX look and feel on Linux

On one of Joel Spolsky's Blog posts, he had said that to build the configurability one needs, one has to build much more configurability than one needs. Being a software developer, I know how true this is. Building configurability needs calendar time and a lot of commitment. Building stable configurability - even more so. And that's why the configurability built in GNOME amazes me.



My desktop running Ubuntu (Gutsy) configured to look like Mac. A Windows installation is running on the open-source edition of VirtualBox. It takes effort and some narrow escapes from shark attacks, but at least it can be done.

Finally, here is a desktop equivalent of mera wala pink.

To be fair to VirtualBox, here's a screenshot of how seemlessly it runs (read "can run") Windows over Ubuntu. No pointer absences, no Ctrl+Alts, well blended Alt+Tab, Super+Tab - It works (can work) as if IE/Editplus/Other Windows apps were launched directly from Ubuntu's Applications menu.

Does God get Flu?

Seems like he does.

I've hosted my website with Google and the hosted mail-account (also with Google) is down since last 30 hours. It's supposed to be a "Temporary Error (502)".

Not only does God get Flu, he doesn't even know how to get well fast enough.

In the toy shop

"I want the one towards your right"
"You see the big one? yeah, the one next to that"
"Not that one, the one behind the one behind it"
"The one in the middle of the rightmost shelf please"
It was so crazy out there
Everyone seemed so excited
And they knew so well
Which is the one they want
And the keeper in such a generous mood
And I am so sorry
But I got carried away
And I asked for one too
So full with anticipation
I couldn't shout,
I just whispered
"On the left corner, there is an empty space
I need the one that used to be there"
And the keeper had to stop the whole trade
To let everyone know
DREAMS FROM PAST / NOT SOLD HERE
I am so sorry for spoiling everyone's evening.

A Yellow Ribbon

Over the mountains,
across the foothills,
into the plains beyond ..

Flying uncertain,
composing idylls,
towards a morning born ..

Orange skies,
blue shadows,
and a golden sun ..

A painter's eyes,
few cupid's arrows,
and a yellow ribbon ?

Inspired by an image that won a yellow ribbon on dpchallenge - http://dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=602312
Photographer's profile on dpchallenge - http://dpchallenge.com/profile.php?USER_ID=30049

Dilbert codes in Java

To the delight of Java programmers, Scott Adams confirmed that Dilbert codes in Java in yesterday's strip ...


It is the second strip of a two-strip story and the first strip ...

... is arguably funnier.

Lesson for an Entrepreneur Part III

Love all you may, friends and fellow comrades;
And share all you may - songs, blood and blades;
But remember the lesson from defeat in wars -
Is all there is that's yours -
At the end, every battle is fought alone.

And laugh all you may, be joyous while you can;
And enjoy the sweet company - of wine, dance and clan;
But remember the lesson from victory in wars -
Is all there is that's yours -
At the end, every victor stands alone.

Lesson for an Entrepreneur Part II

What I learn

What I seek
Is the Perch
And the Flight

What I ask
Is the Entirety
Un-applied

What I learn
Is the Grey
And the White

And that what matters
Is not the Dog
But his Fight.

Bewildered of this -
Ever blackening darkness
Whenever I cried

What I found
Was morning
By my side.

What fate plays
Is the Seek
And the Hide

What results
Is the Man
And his Might.

Lesson for an Entrepreneur Part I

From success, from progress, from duress -
There is only one thing to learn.
There is only one thing to learn
From loss, from profit, from no, from yes :

Even worlds below the sea follow Jungle Rule -
The big fish will eat the small one,
The small fish will eat the little one,
And the littlest - Will die a fool.

Blue Canvas

Pigeons!
Ships!
Tigers!
Trees!!
Hearts!
Cupids!
Hills!
And seas!!
Flowing,
Blowing,
Glowing,
Such pomp and show!
Orange,
Yellow,
Purple,
Even Indigo!
...
The clouds are out playing today:
FANCY DRESS COMPETITION

While Girls Dance

While girls dance
And boys repair toys
While boys play
And girls play boys
While pigeons laugh
And stars fall rolling
While moms smile
And buddies come calling
While moons rise
While friends win
While trees grow
While dads sing ..
Oh yes, you can live those
And find on your own
That God doesn't like prose
And whenever he is all alone
He takes these times
(The recipe is a mystery -
May be just adds rhymes)
And (wow!) creates poetry

I introduced a lawn in a short Hindi poem earlier, and later translated it into English. The same lawn is the inspiration behind this work. For the record, I am a non believer. Still, I wonder if the creator takes a break every evening at 6pm just to watch kids play in that small lawn.