Google Wave: the Messaging system of the Future

Last updated on: May 31, 2009 at 2:05 pm By Desh Kapoor

Google just came out with its new tool called Google Wave. Wave is a radically new kind of tool which enables people to interact simultaneously and real time in a framework that takes Emails/IMs to the next level. (Demo at the end of this message) Remember how Google started the "Conversations" thing in the Emails? Well, they have gone further and used that conversations as the central point of the entire messaging universe. Up until now, Emails were "push" conversations. They were not real time. In fact, even IMs were not real time as in one had to wait for the other person to completely type his or her message to view it. All that can change now! They have also made the embedding feature for the web sites and blogs really cool. Such that the conversations can be carried on there and the Wave client itself simultaneously. Now, this was unveiled in the Google I/O conference to enable the developers at large to start building Apps using its APIs. So, that when this App is read by later this year, the Apps by these developers, which will surely enhance the appeal of Wave, will also be ready! Such a powerful way to build a product's lead.... and for free! This is truly a revolutionary way of looking at the messaging of the future! I am thinking that maybe... just maybe this could serve as the centerpiece of a collaborative and real time Business Intelligence system of the future! Read more

Pakistan ready with Second Strike Nuke Capability

Last updated on: May 31, 2009 at 12:40 am By Desh Kapoor

Last year, Asif Ali Zardari announced Pakistan was abandoning its "First Use Nuke policy". Which meant that Pakistan would not use the Nukes first on India. Although Pakistan's "Defense Analysts" and past ISI and Pak Army personnel have kept on the rhetoric of using these Nukes right away. Now, the reason why Zardari make that announcement comes out. Pakistan is now ready with the Second Strike Nuclear Capability. It seems that the work on it started right after 9-11 on the insistence of Musharraf, because given the US poster, he worried that they may hit the Nukes along the way if Pakistan did not bend as they wanted. So, the Nukes were dispersed and buried deep. The formal procedures include some possible hard and deeply buried storage and launch facilities, road-mobile missiles, air defenses around strategic sites, and concealment measures. Read more

The Jehadists Frankenstein, Masood Azhers & Sheikh Omers

Last updated on: May 30, 2009 at 3:51 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is a guest blog written by a friend from Pakistan, Ali K. Chisti. AKC is a lawyer and a blogger from Pakistan. Editor's Note: Our guest blogs are invited from special friends. Drishtikone may or may not agree with all the views but the views are meant to enhance dialog and foster understanding of the world. The Mumbai attacks in India was a devastating blow to the peace process and composite dialogue initiated by India & Pakistan, post Agra Summit which resulted in bringing some form of normalcy in relations between India and Pakistan – both nuclear powers in South Asia. The Indian media although is all out to blame Pakistan behind the barbaric terrorist attacks in Mumbai where more then 190 people lost there lives and 400 injured whereas, the Indian government understandably hawkish is trying to be bring some sort of face-saving to her incompetence of pre-empting the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. On the other hand, Pakistan is under pressure from all fronts and allies including the US & China to help investigate and practically take steps in combating terrorists or the rouge elements, President Zardari rightly pointed the other day as “stateless actors”. Ignoring most of the conspiracy theorists in Pakistan and taking the attacks on it’s face value – the attacks has all the hall marks of Al-Queda and certain actor’s in both India & Pakistan who do not want stability in both India & Pakistan. Leaving all the Indian allegations aside and forgetting the Mumbai Attack. There has to be something very grave that the entire world is condemning Pakistan? Even Chinese are not happy about our role which is alarming. The majority of Pakistani’s are emotional about Jihad and Kashmir while forgetting the world’s sensibilities and that the world they live is not ideal and this is not Saladin’s time. Read more

Truth has no Fixed Abode

Last updated on: May 30, 2009 at 3:16 pm By Desh Kapoor

Is God to be found by seeking him out? Can you search after the unknowable? To find, you must know what you are seeking. If you seek to find, what you find will be a self-projection; it will be what you desire, and the creation of desire is not truth. To seek truth is to deny it. Truth has no fixed abode; there is no path, no guide to it, and the word is not truth. Is truth to be found in a particular setting, in a special climate, among certain people? Is it here and not there? Is that one the guide to truth and not another? Is there a guide at all? Read more

Chitra Singh's daughter commits Suicide

Last updated on: May 29, 2009 at 7:26 pm By Desh Kapoor

A very sad news - just announced on the local radio here in context of Jagjit Singh. Chitra Singh's daughter - Monica Chowdhri - has committed suicide. She was Chitra's daughter from her marriage prior to Jagjit Singh. She was 46. She was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her suburban apartment. Jagjit and Chitra Singh are in the US on a tour. Police said that "she had a troubled life and was in a state of depression." Jagjit Singh is now returning back to India on a flight today and all his concerts will be canceled including the one in Dallas and Houston. Read more

James Bond in Pune

Last updated on: May 29, 2009 at 1:57 pm By Desh Kapoor

Enjoy a PJ.... From a friend's quotes (Berry) Once James Bond comes to Pune and he travels by rickshaw. His bill comes out to Rs 22.50. But he pays only Rs. 20 Read more

Free TV channels from around the world via Internet

Last updated on: May 29, 2009 at 4:41 am By Desh Kapoor

Do you want to watch TV channels on the internet? Here is a link to the site where you can check out a lot of channels conveniently categorized under News, Music, Religion, Movies, etc. I was watching the Dawn News, which was pretty good. Although the B4U was not so fast. If you have the HDMI cable and a compatible TV then you could see all that on your TV itself. Try the channels and let us know what you think about them. Read more

Popularity of Indian TV soaps in China

Last updated on: May 28, 2009 at 5:43 am By Desh Kapoor

I had posted the YouTube clip of the Taiwanese guy singing the song from "Rab ne Bana di Jodi", where we had mentioned the popularity of Indian TV soaps in China. Well, one thing that a lot of media outlets in India missed was how Sandhya Mridul, the actress in Koshish: Ek Asha was invited as a jury member for the Shanghai Television Festival last year in 2008. The entire soap was actually dubbed in Chinese (Mandarin) and telecast in China. A Chinese TV network bought the rights in 2005 to telecast all the episodes in China. The serial was definitely worth it because I have seen it and really liked it. Sandhya, it seems, is now a "household name" in China after the serial and she was obviously surprised and happy at the serendipitous happening. Said she: “It is an honour to be sitting on a jury panel comprising producers, directors, actors and critics from all over the world. I’m very ecstatic about being a jury member here. The section I’m judging has international films that have been made specifically for television.” Read more

Taiwanese Idol contestant singing "Tujh mein Rab dikhta hai"

Last updated on: May 27, 2009 at 9:21 pm By Desh Kapoor

India Conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border ~ Hu ShihThis is incredible video! Now, this proves that music had no language.. here is this contestant from the Taiwanese Idol type music reality show singing "Tujh mein rab dikhta hai yaara main kya karoon" from the Shahrukh starrer Rab ne bana di jodi. Unfortunately, cannot understand Chinese to make out what the folks were saying before and after his singing 🙂 [sent in my Sumit] It seems that these days Bollywood has caught the fancy of Chinese and Taiwanese. Hindi TV Serials are now being dubbed in Mandarin and broadcast all over China. Read more

Culmination of 7 days of Isha

Last updated on: May 27, 2009 at 5:35 pm By Desh Kapoor

Yesterday was the finale of the 7 day program from Isha Yoga (Inner Engineering). I think many would share my sentiments when I say that probably for us the life would not be the same any more. Many, I am sure, will become vegetarians and those who were already vegetarians - will start looking at veggie diet afresh .. specifically from the Pranic standpoint. We will obviously do our meditations etc. But I think the biggest gain has been that one now feels more in touch with the inner consciousness. It might be just a "make-believe" now.. since some of that feeling may be because of the atmosphere.. but there is a certain sense of inner peace. I want to go for the complete course all the way through in this series. It won't be right away but I will go to the "end". It is tough to get this kind of opportunity and it is best that one avails of it. So if I am following "a" path.. then was Krishnamurti wrong? No. The Pranic energy that rises as the Kundalini can be taken step by step to the penultimate "station" between the eyes. But for the last journey 'Sahasra Chakra", which IS the leap from the finite existence to the Infinite... there is no path. There is no instruction for it either. There is no one who can tell you how to go about it. You just know. And when someone like a Guru pushes you further, or you can make that jump on your own initiative - then you go "beyond". Read more