Friday, July 16, 2010
i remember i tried to learn Li...
i remember i tried to learn Linux in the 8th standard. No one in my school, including etchers had any exposure.Tried old Red Hat. Goofed up
went to a Oxford bookstore tod...
went to a Oxford bookstore today. they use openoffice. ISRO's been using since long back. why is there such a lot of hue & cry then?
@gauravpaliwal why man? its go…
@gauravpaliwal why man? its good if put to proper use. like they say about science & every other thing. there's bound to me misude ;) LOL
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Raavan ki Raajneeti
Recently I watched the movies Raajneeti & Raavan that have been loosely based on the two great Hindu epics Mahabhrata & Ramayana. They are even being hailed as modern adaptations of the same by many.
However, the callousness of the filmmakers to make populist cinema loosely based on controversial present-day politics to gain cheap publicity is clear. To quote a friend, "A film that begins with romanticizing left politics & ends with the glorification of casteist, dynastic, status quoist, sexist, money and muscle power politics-Pretty much sums up the career of a film maker who in his early days made the socially sensitive "Damul" and finished with "Rajneeti". (Am I being too optimistic when I say "finished"?)" This is being completely disregarded by popular media. The similarities with Sonia Gandhi of the character played by Katrina gave it cheap publicity. All films seem to pitch the same way now-a-days. Take My Name Is Khan for an example.
Raajneeti clearly seems to be aiming for the Oscars. When Ranbir's love interest in the movie says that she's Irish & has seen much violence, somewhere it reminds of "The Departed". This was the only way he could justify how all the main characters of the film died. There was just too mush violence. On the other hand Raavan was more conservative in approach.
Both the movies have been compared to the epics & they clearly bring out the the bias even in our religious epics that always favoured the powerful- referred to as "brave" in the epics. Worse, they might even have been commissioned by the rulers of those times. However, there has hardly been any hue & cry over it. The role of the censor board & political parties is to be applauded. In a sense, we may be heading towards a cultural Hindu renaissance. The realism of the masses is also much greater in India. The Da Vinci Code produced much furore. This slow but sure & silent change was much awaited.
Raajneeti was almost crystal clear & just like Mahabharata, the flaws in the characters were openly shown. However, Raavan on the lines of Ramayana has a lot of finer hidden details. Though the movie lacked proper narration, relying too heavily on cinematography, the hidden details are numerous. Another reason for Raavan's failure might be that there were high expectations after Raajneeti's release & Mani Ratnam is always a hot favourite. At one point, I even feel the lack of violence (colloquially "action") was missing. Even as kids, we preferred watching Mahabharata to Ramayana on Doordarshan.
Both the films have covered leftism- Raajneeti mainstream communism in the idealist Bhaskar Sanyal & Raavan in the Maoist Beera. Beera is shown as a hydra-headed monster but a Robin Hood of sorts for the poor locals. Here, I feel, naxalism has been painted in a very romantic way. Though the freedom of expression of intellectuals should be there, I was shocked to see no protests over Raavan, when we have controversies over petty issues.It was too pro-Maoist. The movie seemed to be a propaganda channel. Sinatra & many other popular people in Hollywood are linked to the Mob. In Bollywood too, links to the underworld is not new. However this is outrageous. After the series of recent Maoist offences, it seems everyone is still deaf to the threat. The admiration of Maoism in mainstream Indian politics is really sad. You cannot do a right thing the wrong way. The path has to be correct. In this regard, I want to quote my friend's father, who belongs to a royal family. He said, " These people are criminals because they kill people. There are oppressed people but they don't resort to violence unless some act of violence is carried out against them; and even then most don't resort to violence." Its as simple as that.
Beera's character draws heavily of two real personalities. Gaddar (Gummadi Vittal Rao) is clearly being supported by Mani Ratnam if not Maoism as a whole. Maoists also don't operate in small groups as shown. May be it suggests splinter groups but the manner of execution of Beera shows similarities with that of Veerappan. He too was killed in an encounter involving comparatively less number of forces. Veerappan too had a Robin Hood like image among the locals.
Further, it is hinted that Beera has split-personality or may be he's just a master manipulator. There are just too many loopholes in the story.This might be too reduce comparisons with Gaddar or Veerappan. The dressing however was strikingly similar to Gaddar. The dhoti(golchi) & gongali (a thick blanket made of rough wool) was striking. Even the locale is very similar to that around Warrangal & Vizag.
Raavan does show the class bar perfectly & this is how it tries to bias people into being Maoist sympathisers. Aishwarya's exposure to art, her teaching dance to kids, etc. point toward the same. She, however, has no knowledge of the real rural India. It is the typical stereotyped life of a bureaucrat's wife. However, her outlook broadened on being kidnapped by Beera (Abhishek), she suffers from Stockholm syndrome, i.e. she begins to emphathise & symthathise with his lot.
Both movies have their share of grey characters. Just like the rosy-tinted Ramayana, Raavan on the same lines has given naxalism a too idealistic picture. Raajneeti was realistic but in a way surrounded by dynastic politics. However, Raajneeti hardly showed any bias & showed things as they are.
Ramayana had blown out of proportions the Aryan-Dravidian conflict. The caste-bar then created is present even today & there's nothing great about it. Mani Ratnam does justice in dismissing the notion of Ram-rajya completely. Mahabharata introduced the theory of karma of clear one's own conscience, get rid of guilt. However, even there religious philosophy has been made dogmatic & twisted the way Mathematical logic can be into fallacies, but the very essence is that its a fallacy- an illusion- a lie- incorrect. Improper usage of the theory of karma can be disasterous. Raajneeti doesn't favour it but at the same time dawns upon realism- " Raajneeti me yehi dekhi jaati hai ki jeet kiski hoti hai". This keeps us rooted to reality, though it may be ugly.
However, the callousness of the filmmakers to make populist cinema loosely based on controversial present-day politics to gain cheap publicity is clear. To quote a friend, "A film that begins with romanticizing left politics & ends with the glorification of casteist, dynastic, status quoist, sexist, money and muscle power politics-Pretty much sums up the career of a film maker who in his early days made the socially sensitive "Damul" and finished with "Rajneeti". (Am I being too optimistic when I say "finished"?)" This is being completely disregarded by popular media. The similarities with Sonia Gandhi of the character played by Katrina gave it cheap publicity. All films seem to pitch the same way now-a-days. Take My Name Is Khan for an example.
Raajneeti clearly seems to be aiming for the Oscars. When Ranbir's love interest in the movie says that she's Irish & has seen much violence, somewhere it reminds of "The Departed". This was the only way he could justify how all the main characters of the film died. There was just too mush violence. On the other hand Raavan was more conservative in approach.
Both the movies have been compared to the epics & they clearly bring out the the bias even in our religious epics that always favoured the powerful- referred to as "brave" in the epics. Worse, they might even have been commissioned by the rulers of those times. However, there has hardly been any hue & cry over it. The role of the censor board & political parties is to be applauded. In a sense, we may be heading towards a cultural Hindu renaissance. The realism of the masses is also much greater in India. The Da Vinci Code produced much furore. This slow but sure & silent change was much awaited.
Raajneeti was almost crystal clear & just like Mahabharata, the flaws in the characters were openly shown. However, Raavan on the lines of Ramayana has a lot of finer hidden details. Though the movie lacked proper narration, relying too heavily on cinematography, the hidden details are numerous. Another reason for Raavan's failure might be that there were high expectations after Raajneeti's release & Mani Ratnam is always a hot favourite. At one point, I even feel the lack of violence (colloquially "action") was missing. Even as kids, we preferred watching Mahabharata to Ramayana on Doordarshan.
Both the films have covered leftism- Raajneeti mainstream communism in the idealist Bhaskar Sanyal & Raavan in the Maoist Beera. Beera is shown as a hydra-headed monster but a Robin Hood of sorts for the poor locals. Here, I feel, naxalism has been painted in a very romantic way. Though the freedom of expression of intellectuals should be there, I was shocked to see no protests over Raavan, when we have controversies over petty issues.It was too pro-Maoist. The movie seemed to be a propaganda channel. Sinatra & many other popular people in Hollywood are linked to the Mob. In Bollywood too, links to the underworld is not new. However this is outrageous. After the series of recent Maoist offences, it seems everyone is still deaf to the threat. The admiration of Maoism in mainstream Indian politics is really sad. You cannot do a right thing the wrong way. The path has to be correct. In this regard, I want to quote my friend's father, who belongs to a royal family. He said, " These people are criminals because they kill people. There are oppressed people but they don't resort to violence unless some act of violence is carried out against them; and even then most don't resort to violence." Its as simple as that.
Beera's character draws heavily of two real personalities. Gaddar (Gummadi Vittal Rao) is clearly being supported by Mani Ratnam if not Maoism as a whole. Maoists also don't operate in small groups as shown. May be it suggests splinter groups but the manner of execution of Beera shows similarities with that of Veerappan. He too was killed in an encounter involving comparatively less number of forces. Veerappan too had a Robin Hood like image among the locals.
Further, it is hinted that Beera has split-personality or may be he's just a master manipulator. There are just too many loopholes in the story.This might be too reduce comparisons with Gaddar or Veerappan. The dressing however was strikingly similar to Gaddar. The dhoti(golchi) & gongali (a thick blanket made of rough wool) was striking. Even the locale is very similar to that around Warrangal & Vizag.
Raavan does show the class bar perfectly & this is how it tries to bias people into being Maoist sympathisers. Aishwarya's exposure to art, her teaching dance to kids, etc. point toward the same. She, however, has no knowledge of the real rural India. It is the typical stereotyped life of a bureaucrat's wife. However, her outlook broadened on being kidnapped by Beera (Abhishek), she suffers from Stockholm syndrome, i.e. she begins to emphathise & symthathise with his lot.
Both movies have their share of grey characters. Just like the rosy-tinted Ramayana, Raavan on the same lines has given naxalism a too idealistic picture. Raajneeti was realistic but in a way surrounded by dynastic politics. However, Raajneeti hardly showed any bias & showed things as they are.
Ramayana had blown out of proportions the Aryan-Dravidian conflict. The caste-bar then created is present even today & there's nothing great about it. Mani Ratnam does justice in dismissing the notion of Ram-rajya completely. Mahabharata introduced the theory of karma of clear one's own conscience, get rid of guilt. However, even there religious philosophy has been made dogmatic & twisted the way Mathematical logic can be into fallacies, but the very essence is that its a fallacy- an illusion- a lie- incorrect. Improper usage of the theory of karma can be disasterous. Raajneeti doesn't favour it but at the same time dawns upon realism- " Raajneeti me yehi dekhi jaati hai ki jeet kiski hoti hai". This keeps us rooted to reality, though it may be ugly.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Problems connecting to Freenode channels on IRC via Windows (Mibbit client)?
Freenode no longer supports Mibbit. Discoverd it today, while helping a friend in a cyber cafe via gtalk.
Just use this & solve your problems- http://webchat.freenode.net/
If you do not have a registered “nick”(user id), then try out any you wish & if already registered try another choice. do register your “nick” later if you are regular on the IRC. Nick setup help.
Just use this & solve your problems- http://webchat.freenode.net/
If you do not have a registered “nick”(user id), then try out any you wish & if already registered try another choice. do register your “nick” later if you are regular on the IRC. Nick setup help.
Some online magazines & journals pertaining to GNU/Linux
1. The Linux journal-www.linuxjournal.com
2. Linux Magazine–www.linux-mag.com & its namesake http://www.linux-magazine.com/
3.Linux Format–http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/ ; TuxRadar–http://www.tuxradar.com/
4.Linux User & Developer–http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/
5.Full Circle Magazine–http://fullcirclemagazine.org/
2. Linux Magazine–www.linux-mag.com & its namesake http://www.linux-magazine.com/
3.Linux Format–http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/ ; TuxRadar–http://www.tuxradar.com/
4.Linux User & Developer–http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/
5.Full Circle Magazine–http://fullcirclemagazine.org/
Some forums & mailing lists# FOSS, GNU/Linux
Here is the list(exhaustive)–
www.linuxquestions.org
A full list of Red Hat & Fedora mailing lists –http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo
Fedora forum– http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=25252
Open SuSE mailing list-opensuse@opensuse.org
Ubuntu mailing lists & forums–https://lists.ubuntu.com
http://ubuntuforums.org
www.linuxquestions.org
A full list of Red Hat & Fedora mailing lists –http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo
Fedora forum– http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=25252
Open SuSE mailing list-opensuse@opensuse.org
Ubuntu mailing lists & forums–https://lists.ubuntu.com
http://ubuntuforums.org
So easy to add devices in GNU/Linux
I used my printer on both my laptop & desktop so easily. It is a HP psc 1210, an all-in-one printer & scanner.
I added it without need to use any CD/DVD as is required in Windows to install drivers. All the drivers are pre-loaded. I just clicked on add printer. Just a one minute job.
FOSS rocks!!
I added it without need to use any CD/DVD as is required in Windows to install drivers. All the drivers are pre-loaded. I just clicked on add printer. Just a one minute job.
FOSS rocks!!
Faster way to download youtube videos
I found the youtube downloaders too slow. So, I found another way out.
I opened youtube, let the full video be streamed. Then I went to the temp(temporary) directory & copied the video file after the full video got streamed.
Upto 50% quicker!! Works same ways with Windows. All files are copied to the directory, even the pictures you view on a webpage. They are erased as soon as you close the webpage.
In Linux, the directory is /temp. Find out the flash video file(.flv) or try to find the file whose size is increasing & is of size suitable t be the video file. Try playing it by VLC player.
For Windows XP, the directory is C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8axcg82l.default\Cache for Firefox. …./User/….may also have your own username. Just find the file of increasing size. Rename as.flv if you don’t wish to select the program used to open it repeatedly.
Sadly, the cache of Google Chrome is cached & you cannot copy easily from there.
I opened youtube, let the full video be streamed. Then I went to the temp(temporary) directory & copied the video file after the full video got streamed.
Upto 50% quicker!! Works same ways with Windows. All files are copied to the directory, even the pictures you view on a webpage. They are erased as soon as you close the webpage.
In Linux, the directory is /temp. Find out the flash video file(.flv) or try to find the file whose size is increasing & is of size suitable t be the video file. Try playing it by VLC player.
For Windows XP, the directory is C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8axcg82l.default\Cache for Firefox. …./User/….may also have your own username. Just find the file of increasing size. Rename as
Sadly, the cache of Google Chrome is cached & you cannot copy easily from there.
Making your own radio station?
Making your own radio-station?
Try GNU Radio-http://gnuradio.org/
I am to do the same for my college radio at NIT Agartala, India.
Being Open Source, it is cheap & much more reliable. It has been extensively tested for bugs by various users. It has a vibrant community & they are willing to help you for any problems that you face for free.
The USRP2 costs around $1,500(USD) outside of the USA for organizations but is extremely robust.
For details visit-http://www.ettus.com/sales
Try GNU Radio-http://gnuradio.org/
I am to do the same for my college radio at NIT Agartala, India.
Being Open Source, it is cheap & much more reliable. It has been extensively tested for bugs by various users. It has a vibrant community & they are willing to help you for any problems that you face for free.
The USRP2 costs around $1,500(USD) outside of the USA for organizations but is extremely robust.
For details visit-http://www.ettus.com/sales
BASICS OF STORAGE CONCEPTS – for junior school students
Almost every book on computer applications at the school level skip the beauty of the mathematics behind it
In fact basic counting principles are very easy to understand & should be part of every curricula
Excluding it leaves the interesting & easy but important basic part
The concept of 2
Most of the computational data is stored & evaluated as binary numbers
Each digit of a binary number(base 2) is either 0 or 1(one less than the base of the system)
Why just 2 ?
A computer or any other electronics device generally uses logically 0 & 1 to represent either if any 2 states-one for 0; the other for 1
It is not necessary that 0 always represents low/off/false. That depends on the predefined logic
Most common situations are such that there are only two possible answers/outcomes/values for it
For example, a CFL can either glow(ON) or not(OFF) depending on the switch position
A coin generally when tossed either gives a head or a tail; in many movies we have seen a funny situation arising when the coin lands on its rim(neither head nor tail)
If we also consider this outcome, how many possibilities are there? Simply 3
Taking the base of the number system to be equal to the number of possibilities we reduce the chances of redundant data & wastage of memory
WASTAGE OF MEMORY. HOW?
Here I will go into very basic counting problems to explain the memory allocation. It is part of the +2 mathematics syllabus as well
#1. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
2
#2. Two coins are tossed. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
4
how?
Representing head by H & tail by T, I point out the possibilities
HH
HT
TH
TT
Now you must be thinking that this is such a lengthy process ! In face there is a theorem in mathematics that states that no matter how many independent processes are carried one after the other the outcome is their product.
Now the process of tossing a coin doesn’t affect the results we obtain on tossing the other coin; hence they are independent processes.
#3. A two digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
4; this is a situation analogous to #2
the possibilities are-
00
01
10
11
#4. A 100 digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
2^100, its a huge number
quite boring. I too feel the same. Answer the next question & you will not feel the same.
#5. How many mobile numbers are possible in India at present? Assume that the first digit is always 9, the rest can be anything(0 to 9).
10^9
Recently it was reported in the news papers that TRAI is considering adding an extra 9 to the beginning
of all mobile numbers. Any idea why??
In our case it was a ten digit mobile number beginning with 9, now its a eleven digit mobile number beginning with 9. So how many mobile numbers are possible now? 10^10; 10 times the previous
NOTE : you may ask why not simply let the first digit start with any number(0-9). Then there can be 10^10 number of possible 10-digit mobile numbers. True
I don’t know the reason & will update this part of the text after finding it out
#6. Now this final question will illustrate the memory wastage on using say, a base-7 number system, to store values that have 2 possible outcomes.
How many possible values can a 10-digit base 7 number have? This is exactly its storage capacity.
Obviously, 7*7*7…..=7^10
In how many possible ways, can a combination of a serial-array of ten bulbs be lighted? This is exactly the storage that will be used.
Ten bulbs A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, I, J are arranged in a line ABCDEFGHIJ. The various ways they can be lighted equals 2*2*2…=2^10, each bulb can either be on or off.
So if the base-7 system is used to store values then the wasted memory=?
7^10 – 2^10, a huge number.
#7. then why are hexadecimal & octal numbers used by computers?
This is the basic concept, that once understood , will not ever create confusion.
The last question, asked for a storage of a 10-digit binary linear array into a 7-digit octal linear array.
However, a binary number can be converted to any base. Not just binary numbers, any number in a given base-n can be converted to its corresponding equal number in another base-m.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 10? 1010
how? It can be found in any standard textbook
10=1*(2^3) + 0*(2^2)+ 1*(2^1)+0*(2^0)
noticed any pattern? Each digit of the decimal number is multiplied by 2 raised to its positional-index(numbered from 0 & not 1).
noticed anything else?
The same number required 4-digits in the binary system but required only 2 in the decimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, the number of digits would be even less-one for the decimal number 10, represented by the hexadecimal number A.
So what exactly is our benefit if the number of digits s less or more?
Less number of digits implies less number of electronics signals have to be transmitted
next-cylinders, storage units(mb,gb,etc), meta data, why does a 250 GB hard disk have less available space, etc..
In fact basic counting principles are very easy to understand & should be part of every curricula
Excluding it leaves the interesting & easy but important basic part
The concept of 2
Most of the computational data is stored & evaluated as binary numbers
Each digit of a binary number(base 2) is either 0 or 1(one less than the base of the system)
Why just 2 ?
A computer or any other electronics device generally uses logically 0 & 1 to represent either if any 2 states-one for 0; the other for 1
It is not necessary that 0 always represents low/off/false. That depends on the predefined logic
Most common situations are such that there are only two possible answers/outcomes/values for it
For example, a CFL can either glow(ON) or not(OFF) depending on the switch position
A coin generally when tossed either gives a head or a tail; in many movies we have seen a funny situation arising when the coin lands on its rim(neither head nor tail)
If we also consider this outcome, how many possibilities are there? Simply 3
Taking the base of the number system to be equal to the number of possibilities we reduce the chances of redundant data & wastage of memory
WASTAGE OF MEMORY. HOW?
Here I will go into very basic counting problems to explain the memory allocation. It is part of the +2 mathematics syllabus as well
#1. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
2
#2. Two coins are tossed. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
4
how?
Representing head by H & tail by T, I point out the possibilities
HH
HT
TH
TT
Now you must be thinking that this is such a lengthy process ! In face there is a theorem in mathematics that states that no matter how many independent processes are carried one after the other the outcome is their product.
Now the process of tossing a coin doesn’t affect the results we obtain on tossing the other coin; hence they are independent processes.
#3. A two digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
4; this is a situation analogous to #2
the possibilities are-
00
01
10
11
#4. A 100 digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
2^100, its a huge number
quite boring. I too feel the same. Answer the next question & you will not feel the same.
#5. How many mobile numbers are possible in India at present? Assume that the first digit is always 9, the rest can be anything(0 to 9).
10^9
Recently it was reported in the news papers that TRAI is considering adding an extra 9 to the beginning
of all mobile numbers. Any idea why??
In our case it was a ten digit mobile number beginning with 9, now its a eleven digit mobile number beginning with 9. So how many mobile numbers are possible now? 10^10; 10 times the previous
NOTE : you may ask why not simply let the first digit start with any number(0-9). Then there can be 10^10 number of possible 10-digit mobile numbers. True
I don’t know the reason & will update this part of the text after finding it out
#6. Now this final question will illustrate the memory wastage on using say, a base-7 number system, to store values that have 2 possible outcomes.
How many possible values can a 10-digit base 7 number have? This is exactly its storage capacity.
Obviously, 7*7*7…..=7^10
In how many possible ways, can a combination of a serial-array of ten bulbs be lighted? This is exactly the storage that will be used.
Ten bulbs A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, I, J are arranged in a line ABCDEFGHIJ. The various ways they can be lighted equals 2*2*2…=2^10, each bulb can either be on or off.
So if the base-7 system is used to store values then the wasted memory=?
7^10 – 2^10, a huge number.
#7. then why are hexadecimal & octal numbers used by computers?
This is the basic concept, that once understood , will not ever create confusion.
The last question, asked for a storage of a 10-digit binary linear array into a 7-digit octal linear array.
However, a binary number can be converted to any base. Not just binary numbers, any number in a given base-n can be converted to its corresponding equal number in another base-m.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 10? 1010
how? It can be found in any standard textbook
10=1*(2^3) + 0*(2^2)+ 1*(2^1)+0*(2^0)
noticed any pattern? Each digit of the decimal number is multiplied by 2 raised to its positional-index(numbered from 0 & not 1).
noticed anything else?
The same number required 4-digits in the binary system but required only 2 in the decimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, the number of digits would be even less-one for the decimal number 10, represented by the hexadecimal number A.
So what exactly is our benefit if the number of digits s less or more?
Less number of digits implies less number of electronics signals have to be transmitted
next-cylinders, storage units(mb,gb,etc), meta data, why does a 250 GB hard disk have less available space, etc..
Thursday, January 28, 2010
BASICS OF STORAGE CONCEPTS – for junior school students
Almost every book on computer applications at the school level skip the beauty of the mathematics behind it
In fact basic counting principles are very easy to understand & should be part of every curricula
Excluding it leaves the interesting & easy but important basic part
The concept of 2
Most of the computational data is stored & evaluated as binary numbers
Each digit of a binary number(base 2) is either 0 or 1(one less than the base of the system)
Why just 2 ?
A computer or any other electronics device generally uses logically 0 & 1 to represent either if any 2 states-one for 0; the other for 1
It is not necessary that 0 always represents low/off/false. That depends on the predefined logic
Most common situations are such that there are only two possible answers/outcomes/values for it
For example, a CFL can either glow(ON) or not(OFF) depending on the switch position
A coin generally when tossed either gives a head or a tail; in many movies we have seen a funny situation arising when the coin lands on its rim(neither head nor tail)
If we also consider this outcome, how many possibilities are there? Simply 3
Taking the base of the number system to be equal to the number of possibilities we reduce the chances of redundant data & wastage of memory
WASTAGE OF MEMORY. HOW?
Here I will go into very basic counting problems to explain the memory allocation. It is part of the +2 mathematics syllabus as well
#1. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
2
#2. Two coins are tossed. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
4
how?
Representing head by H & tail by T, I point out the possibilities
HH
HT
TH
TT
Now you must be thinking that this is such a lengthy process ! In face there is a theorem in mathematics that states that no matter how many independent processes are carried one after the other the outcome is their product.
Now the process of tossing a coin doesn't affect the results we obtain on tossing the other coin; hence they are independent processes.
#3. A two digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
4; this is a situation analogous to #2
the possibilities are-
00
01
10
11
#4. A 100 digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
2^100, its a huge number
quite boring. I too feel the same. Answer the next question & you will not feel the same.
#5. How many mobile numbers are possible in India at present? Assume that the first digit is always 9, the rest can be anything(0 to 9).
10^9
Recently it was reported in the news papers that TRAI is considering adding an extra 9 to the beginning
of all mobile numbers. Any idea why??
In our case it was a ten digit mobile number beginning with 9, now its a eleven digit mobile number beginning with 9. So how many mobile numbers are possible now? 10^10; 10 times the previous
NOTE : you may ask why not simply let the first digit start with any number(0-9). Then there can be 10^10 number of possible 10-digit mobile numbers. True
I don't know the reason & will update this part of the text after finding it out
#6. Now this final question will illustrate the memory wastage on using say, a base-7 number system, to store values that have 2 possible outcomes.
How many possible values can a 10-digit base 7 number have? This is exactly its storage capacity.
Obviously, 7*7*7.....=7^10
In how many possible ways, can a combination of a serial-array of ten bulbs be lighted? This is exactly the storage that will be used.
Ten bulbs A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, I, J are arranged in a line ABCDEFGHIJ. The various ways they can be lighted equals 2*2*2...=2^10, each bulb can either be on or off.
So if the base-7 system is used to store values then the wasted memory=?
7^10 – 2^10, a huge number.
#7. then why are hexadecimal & octal numbers used by computers?
This is the basic concept, that once understood , will not ever create confusion.
The last question, asked for a storage of a 10-digit binary linear array into a 7-digit octal linear array.
However, a binary number can be converted to any base. Not just binary numbers, any number in a given base-n can be converted to its corresponding equal number in another base-m.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 10? 1010
how? It can be found in any standard textbook
10=1*(2^3) + 0*(2^2)+ 1*(2^1)+0*(2^0)
noticed any pattern? Each digit of the decimal number is multiplied by 2 raised to its positional-index(numbered from 0 & not 1).
noticed anything else?
The same number required 4-digits in the binary system but required only 2 in the decimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, the number of digits would be even less-one for the decimal number 10, represented by the hexadecimal number A.
So what exactly is our benefit if the number of digits s less or more?
Less number of digits implies less number of electronics signals have to be transmitted
next-cylinders, storage units(mb,gb,etc), meta data, why does a 250 GB hard disk have less available space, etc..
In fact basic counting principles are very easy to understand & should be part of every curricula
Excluding it leaves the interesting & easy but important basic part
The concept of 2
Most of the computational data is stored & evaluated as binary numbers
Each digit of a binary number(base 2) is either 0 or 1(one less than the base of the system)
Why just 2 ?
A computer or any other electronics device generally uses logically 0 & 1 to represent either if any 2 states-one for 0; the other for 1
It is not necessary that 0 always represents low/off/false. That depends on the predefined logic
Most common situations are such that there are only two possible answers/outcomes/values for it
For example, a CFL can either glow(ON) or not(OFF) depending on the switch position
A coin generally when tossed either gives a head or a tail; in many movies we have seen a funny situation arising when the coin lands on its rim(neither head nor tail)
If we also consider this outcome, how many possibilities are there? Simply 3
Taking the base of the number system to be equal to the number of possibilities we reduce the chances of redundant data & wastage of memory
WASTAGE OF MEMORY. HOW?
Here I will go into very basic counting problems to explain the memory allocation. It is part of the +2 mathematics syllabus as well
#1. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
2
#2. Two coins are tossed. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
4
how?
Representing head by H & tail by T, I point out the possibilities
HH
HT
TH
TT
Now you must be thinking that this is such a lengthy process ! In face there is a theorem in mathematics that states that no matter how many independent processes are carried one after the other the outcome is their product.
Now the process of tossing a coin doesn't affect the results we obtain on tossing the other coin; hence they are independent processes.
#3. A two digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
4; this is a situation analogous to #2
the possibilities are-
00
01
10
11
#4. A 100 digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
2^100, its a huge number
quite boring. I too feel the same. Answer the next question & you will not feel the same.
#5. How many mobile numbers are possible in India at present? Assume that the first digit is always 9, the rest can be anything(0 to 9).
10^9
Recently it was reported in the news papers that TRAI is considering adding an extra 9 to the beginning
of all mobile numbers. Any idea why??
In our case it was a ten digit mobile number beginning with 9, now its a eleven digit mobile number beginning with 9. So how many mobile numbers are possible now? 10^10; 10 times the previous
NOTE : you may ask why not simply let the first digit start with any number(0-9). Then there can be 10^10 number of possible 10-digit mobile numbers. True
I don't know the reason & will update this part of the text after finding it out
#6. Now this final question will illustrate the memory wastage on using say, a base-7 number system, to store values that have 2 possible outcomes.
How many possible values can a 10-digit base 7 number have? This is exactly its storage capacity.
Obviously, 7*7*7.....=7^10
In how many possible ways, can a combination of a serial-array of ten bulbs be lighted? This is exactly the storage that will be used.
Ten bulbs A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, I, J are arranged in a line ABCDEFGHIJ. The various ways they can be lighted equals 2*2*2...=2^10, each bulb can either be on or off.
So if the base-7 system is used to store values then the wasted memory=?
7^10 – 2^10, a huge number.
#7. then why are hexadecimal & octal numbers used by computers?
This is the basic concept, that once understood , will not ever create confusion.
The last question, asked for a storage of a 10-digit binary linear array into a 7-digit octal linear array.
However, a binary number can be converted to any base. Not just binary numbers, any number in a given base-n can be converted to its corresponding equal number in another base-m.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 10? 1010
how? It can be found in any standard textbook
10=1*(2^3) + 0*(2^2)+ 1*(2^1)+0*(2^0)
noticed any pattern? Each digit of the decimal number is multiplied by 2 raised to its positional-index(numbered from 0 & not 1).
noticed anything else?
The same number required 4-digits in the binary system but required only 2 in the decimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, the number of digits would be even less-one for the decimal number 10, represented by the hexadecimal number A.
So what exactly is our benefit if the number of digits s less or more?
Less number of digits implies less number of electronics signals have to be transmitted
next-cylinders, storage units(mb,gb,etc), meta data, why does a 250 GB hard disk have less available space, etc..
BASICS OF STORAGE CONCEPTS - for junior school students
Almost every book on computer applications at the school level skip the beauty of the mathematics behind it
In fact basic counting principles are very easy to understand & should be part of every curricula
Excluding it leaves the interesting & easy but important basic part
The concept of 2
Most of the computational data is stored & evaluated as binary numbers
Each digit of a binary number(base 2) is either 0 or 1(one less than the base of the system)
Why just 2 ?
A computer or any other electronics device generally uses logically 0 & 1 to represent either if any 2 states-one for 0; the other for 1
It is not necessary that 0 always represents low/off/false. That depends on the predefined logic
Most common situations are such that there are only two possible answers/outcomes/values for it
For example, a CFL can either glow(ON) or not(OFF) depending on the switch position
A coin generally when tossed either gives a head or a tail; in many movies we have seen a funny situation arising when the coin lands on its rim(neither head nor tail)
If we also consider this outcome, how many possibilities are there? Simply 3
Taking the base of the number system to be equal to the number of possibilities we reduce the chances of redundant data & wastage of memory
WASTAGE OF MEMORY. HOW?
Here I will go into very basic counting problems to explain the memory allocation. It is part of the +2 mathematics syllabus as well
#1. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
2
#2. Two coins are tossed. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
4
how?
Representing head by H & tail by T, I point out the possibilities
HH
HT
TH
TT
Now you must be thinking that this is such a lengthy process ! In face there is a theorem in mathematics that states that no matter how many independent processes are carried one after the other the outcome is their product.
Now the process of tossing a coin doesn't affect the results we obtain on tossing the other coin; hence they are independent processes.
#3. A two digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
4; this is a situation analogous to #2
the possibilities are-
00
01
10
11
#4. A 100 digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
2^100, its a huge number
quite boring. I too feel the same. Answer the next question & you will not feel the same.
#5. How many mobile numbers are possible in India at present? Assume that the first digit is always 9, the rest can be anything(0 to 9).
10^9
Recently it was reported in the news papers that TRAI is considering adding an extra 9 to the beginning
of all mobile numbers. Any idea why??
In our case it was a ten digit mobile number beginning with 9, now its a eleven digit mobile number beginning with 9. So how many mobile numbers are possible now? 10^10; 10 times the previous
NOTE : you may ask why not simply let the first digit start with any number(0-9). Then there can be 10^10 number of possible 10-digit mobile numbers. True
I don't know the reason & will update this part of the text after finding it out
#6. Now this final question will illustrate the memory wastage on using say, a base-7 number system, to store values that have 2 possible outcomes.
How many possible values can a 10-digit base 7 number have? This is exactly its storage capacity.
Obviously, 7*7*7.....=7^10
In how many possible ways, can a combination of a serial-array of ten bulbs be lighted? This is exactly the storage that will be used.
Ten bulbs A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, I, J are arranged in a line ABCDEFGHIJ. The various ways they can be lighted equals 2*2*2...=2^10, each bulb can either be on or off.
So if the base-7 system is used to store values then the wasted memory=?
7^10 – 2^10, a huge number.
#7. then why are hexadecimal & octal numbers used by computers?
This is the basic concept, that once understood , will not ever create confusion.
The last question, asked for a storage of a 10-digit binary linear array into a 7-digit octal linear array.
However, a binary number can be converted to any base. Not just binary numbers, any number in a given base-n can be converted to its corresponding equal number in another base-m.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 10? 1010
how? It can be found in any standard textbook
10=1*(2^3) + 0*(2^2)+ 1*(2^1)+0*(2^0)
noticed any pattern? Each digit of the decimal number is multiplied by 2 raised to its positional-index(numbered from 0 & not 1).
noticed anything else?
The same number required 4-digits in the binary system but required only 2 in the decimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, the number of digits would be even less-one for the decimal number 10, represented by the hexadecimal number A.
So what exactly is our benefit if the number of digits s less or more?
Less number of digits implies less number of electronics signals have to be transmitted
next-cylinders, storage units(mb,gb,etc), meta data, why does a 250 GB hard disk have less available space, etc..
In fact basic counting principles are very easy to understand & should be part of every curricula
Excluding it leaves the interesting & easy but important basic part
The concept of 2
Most of the computational data is stored & evaluated as binary numbers
Each digit of a binary number(base 2) is either 0 or 1(one less than the base of the system)
Why just 2 ?
A computer or any other electronics device generally uses logically 0 & 1 to represent either if any 2 states-one for 0; the other for 1
It is not necessary that 0 always represents low/off/false. That depends on the predefined logic
Most common situations are such that there are only two possible answers/outcomes/values for it
For example, a CFL can either glow(ON) or not(OFF) depending on the switch position
A coin generally when tossed either gives a head or a tail; in many movies we have seen a funny situation arising when the coin lands on its rim(neither head nor tail)
If we also consider this outcome, how many possibilities are there? Simply 3
Taking the base of the number system to be equal to the number of possibilities we reduce the chances of redundant data & wastage of memory
WASTAGE OF MEMORY. HOW?
Here I will go into very basic counting problems to explain the memory allocation. It is part of the +2 mathematics syllabus as well
#1. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
2
#2. Two coins are tossed. A coin on being tossed either results in a head or a tail. How many outcomes are possible?
4
how?
Representing head by H & tail by T, I point out the possibilities
HH
HT
TH
TT
Now you must be thinking that this is such a lengthy process ! In face there is a theorem in mathematics that states that no matter how many independent processes are carried one after the other the outcome is their product.
Now the process of tossing a coin doesn't affect the results we obtain on tossing the other coin; hence they are independent processes.
#3. A two digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
4; this is a situation analogous to #2
the possibilities are-
00
01
10
11
#4. A 100 digit binary storage unit can store how many numbers?
2^100, its a huge number
quite boring. I too feel the same. Answer the next question & you will not feel the same.
#5. How many mobile numbers are possible in India at present? Assume that the first digit is always 9, the rest can be anything(0 to 9).
10^9
Recently it was reported in the news papers that TRAI is considering adding an extra 9 to the beginning
of all mobile numbers. Any idea why??
In our case it was a ten digit mobile number beginning with 9, now its a eleven digit mobile number beginning with 9. So how many mobile numbers are possible now? 10^10; 10 times the previous
NOTE : you may ask why not simply let the first digit start with any number(0-9). Then there can be 10^10 number of possible 10-digit mobile numbers. True
I don't know the reason & will update this part of the text after finding it out
#6. Now this final question will illustrate the memory wastage on using say, a base-7 number system, to store values that have 2 possible outcomes.
How many possible values can a 10-digit base 7 number have? This is exactly its storage capacity.
Obviously, 7*7*7.....=7^10
In how many possible ways, can a combination of a serial-array of ten bulbs be lighted? This is exactly the storage that will be used.
Ten bulbs A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, I, J are arranged in a line ABCDEFGHIJ. The various ways they can be lighted equals 2*2*2...=2^10, each bulb can either be on or off.
So if the base-7 system is used to store values then the wasted memory=?
7^10 – 2^10, a huge number.
#7. then why are hexadecimal & octal numbers used by computers?
This is the basic concept, that once understood , will not ever create confusion.
The last question, asked for a storage of a 10-digit binary linear array into a 7-digit octal linear array.
However, a binary number can be converted to any base. Not just binary numbers, any number in a given base-n can be converted to its corresponding equal number in another base-m.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 10? 1010
how? It can be found in any standard textbook
10=1*(2^3) + 0*(2^2)+ 1*(2^1)+0*(2^0)
noticed any pattern? Each digit of the decimal number is multiplied by 2 raised to its positional-index(numbered from 0 & not 1).
noticed anything else?
The same number required 4-digits in the binary system but required only 2 in the decimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, the number of digits would be even less-one for the decimal number 10, represented by the hexadecimal number A.
So what exactly is our benefit if the number of digits s less or more?
Less number of digits implies less number of electronics signals have to be transmitted
next-cylinders, storage units(mb,gb,etc), meta data, why does a 250 GB hard disk have less available space, etc..
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Bookmarks & history inaccessible in Firefox 3.5?
I have the same problem. i got a pop-up suggestion in Firefox itself(enclosing screenshot). I am also providing the link to the Mozilla help page I was led to-http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/The+bookmarks+and+history+system+will+not+be+functional?style_mode=inproduct
I have still not used it due to lack of time but will do it soon & also update the post then.
I have still not used it due to lack of time but will do it soon & also update the post then.
Bookmarks & history inaccessible in Firefox 3.5?
I have the same problem. i got a pop-up suggestion in Firefox itself(enclosing screenshot). I am also providing the link to the Mozilla help page I was led to-http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/The+bookmarks+and+history+system+will+not+be+functional?style_mode=inproduct
I have still not used it due to lack of time but will do it soon & also update the post then.
I have still not used it due to lack of time but will do it soon & also update the post then.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
What should I do if Fedora 11 shows "Hard Disc Failing"?
What should I do if Fedora 11 shows "Hard Disc Failing"?
Is it anything serious?
I am attaching the screen-shots here on my blog-http:// aveek.wordpress.com/ & also uploading to the NIT Durgapur GLUG-named aveek1.png & aveek2.png.
[gallery link="file" orderby="title"]
If you go through the links provided by Indranil Das Gupta on the NIT Durgapur LUG mailing list(link above), we would see its NOTHING to worry about in most cases.
Is it anything serious?
I am attaching the screen-shots here on my blog-http:// aveek.wordpress.com/ & also uploading to the NIT Durgapur GLUG-named aveek1.png & aveek2.png.
[gallery link="file" orderby="title"]
If you go through the links provided by Indranil Das Gupta on the NIT Durgapur LUG mailing list(link above), we would see its NOTHING to worry about in most cases.
What should I do if Fedora 11 shows "Hard Disc Failing"?
What should I do if Fedora 11 shows "Hard Disc Failing"?
Is it anything serious?
I am attaching the screen-shots here on my blog-http:// aveek.wordpress.com/ & also uploading to the NIT Durgapur GLUG-named aveek1.png & aveek2.png.
[gallery link="file" orderby="title"]
If you go through the links provided by Indranil Das Gupta on the NIT Durgapur LUG mailing list(link above), we would see its NOTHING to worry about in most cases.
Is it anything serious?
I am attaching the screen-shots here on my blog-http:// aveek.wordpress.com/ & also uploading to the NIT Durgapur GLUG-named aveek1.png & aveek2.png.
[gallery link="file" orderby="title"]
If you go through the links provided by Indranil Das Gupta on the NIT Durgapur LUG mailing list(link above), we would see its NOTHING to worry about in most cases.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Using wireless data card(EVDO) in Linux
I got my BSNL EVDO card today itself. I used it for some time on my friend's laptop with Windows XP. I had to install a driver. The attached disc with the EVDO(manufacturer-ZTE), had a file on Linux that stated that I had to modify the Kernel source code & all. However, all I did on my Fedora 11 was to edit network connections & add a "Mobile broadband"-->CDMA. I don't know why the vendor's default option didn't work(i got 3 options-vendor's, GSM & CDMA). I saved my username & password & I was instantly connected.
What is EVDO?
What is EVDO?
Using wireless data card(EVDO) in Linux
I got my BSNL EVDO card today itself. I used it for some time on my friend's laptop with Windows XP. I had to install a driver. The attached disc with the EVDO(manufacturer-ZTE), had a file on Linux that stated that I had to modify the Kernel source code & all. However, all I did on my Fedora 11 was to edit network connections & add a "Mobile broadband"-->CDMA. I don't know why the vendor's default option didn't work(i got 3 options-vendor's, GSM & CDMA). I saved my username & password & I was instantly connected.
What is EVDO?
What is EVDO?
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