LoNo's Space

One of my friends introduced me to this new search engine called Clusty. On comparing against Google, the results seem almost same. What i find interesting is the way it categorizes ( clusters - that's why the name Clusty) the results. You get 3 options i.e. Topics, Sources & URL and twisties as well :).

My favourite - the Preview Frame feature.

Musem of Media History has created this interesting presentation on the future of Google. Put the speakers on before clicking this link.

A Fishy Problem
The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther out into sea. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste. To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan?

The human mind is fickle. To be or not to be is an epithet that is as applicable to each one of us as it was to Shakespeare's Hamlet. We're always chasing dreams. It's good. In order to exploit the best that life has to offer, it is necessary to keep striving and searching for the "more" that we can get out of life. Problem is, that as soon as we reach our goals, such as finding the right mate, meeting our business targets, getting the right career breaks or whatever else it may be, we tend to lose our passion about it. You no longer feel the need to work so hard as you did when you were trying to get where you are, so you tend to get lax. It's the same problem wealthy heirs who never grow up and bored homemakers who get addicted to prescription drugs. So, how do we handle this? Does that mean, one should be continuously chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Does it necessarily mean that success will bring lethargy and a laid back attitude in it's wake. On the contrary ... like the Japanese fish problem, the best solution is simple. Add a zing of challenge to life. It keeps the fizz in and ensures that boredom doesn't set in.

Benefits of a Challenge
The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you will enjoy a good problem. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you will be happy. You will think of your challenges and get energized. You will be excited to try new solutions. You will have fun. You will be truly alive!

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh ?
To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are challenged.

Recommendations
Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them. Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous, do not give up. Failing makes you tired. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge, more help. If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society, even mankind. Don't create success and lie in it. You have resources, skills and abilities to make a difference.

Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!

Jake has redesigned his Codestore. Its definately worth a look, specially the fonts and the overall simplicity. Lots of new features added in this phase and many more to come. Well done Jake .. keep it up :)

Edited : changed blog to codestore

Joe Kraus, CEO of JotSpot.com, is betting on a future explosion of so-called Wikis, a type of Web page that can be edited by anyone. Read this article titled Tools to ease Web collaboration.

Finally it has struck them, releasing a new browser is the only way to give the hackers a break .. but it wont be long for them to pounce back on some new meat :). Read here & here.

My friend Subhan just cleared his certification on IBM DB2. So all your queries can be routed to him :)
Congrats again !!

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that there will be Formula 1 race held in India within 3 years of time. Hurray :)

One of the Radicati View Of 2004 And 2005 has come true. MS has full on plans to acquire an anti-virus firm. Read on.

Microsoft's and IBM's collaboration software strategies are headed for a clash this spring when they pit, respectively, all-in-one products against integrated, a la carte offerings. Approaches to licensing could prove to be the big differentiator. Read on.