Online Radio

After the recent boring stint with local songs (mp3s in my local machine), switched to online radio.

RadioTime lists all the Online India Radio Stations
http://radiotime.com/region/c_100355/India.aspx

Some of the good tamil radios
Suryan FM - kelunga kelunga
Radio Of India -Tamil
Shyam Radio - Online Tamil FM Radio Station

The reasons behind switching over
1. Variety in content (mix of old and new songs)
2. Surprise element in what comes next

Do not leave ethics at home

While discussing with my dad about the aspects of this materialistic world, he mentioned a couple of adages that he read in an article published in "The Hindu". The following is the excerpt of the complete article.

In today’s world there are seven deadly sins that mankind is witnessing. They are:

•politics without principle

•wealth without work

•pleasure without conscience

•knowledge without character

•business without morality

•service without humanity

•worship without sacrifice

The adage “People leave ethics at home when they move with world” is very apt today. Many refuse to adapt human values and culture. But, it is a proven fact that people who live ethical and moral lives are much happier than those who live without it.

People chase wealth. They show concern in accumulating wealth in their prime. But, in the later stages they end up using the entire wealth to restore their health. We do not realise that the most important asset in the world are our children. They bring meaning to one’s life. Parents should show some concern in grooming children in moral and ethical values, and not only in making money.

It is this that will make them succeed in their professional and personal life. Lack of ethics and morality have been major factors behind the downfall of many firms and corporates, in spite of them having excellent vision and mission.

It is in the hands of parents and elders to bring about the needed change in children and youth to make future generations strong in character. As Einstein said, “Try not to be a man of success, but rather try to be a man of human values”, children should be made to realise that only human and moral values preserve the culture of a country.

DR. K. ANANDAN

Reader and Head,
Department of Physics, NGM College,
Pollachi.

Appealing Home Food in Potluck

A few months back a new restaurant got opened in our vicinity, named "Potluck". Yesterday took a chance to try out the dishes. As per their caption, "Home is where the food is...", the food really tasted like home made food. Less oily, not much spicy. The look of the food wont appeal like a rich dish, but simple and great!

http://www.potluck.in/

They serve authentic north indian food. Do home delivery.

(Note: Heard that this is run by a IIT-K graduate)

Downloading videos from internet

A novel plugin with Firefox enables you to download the online videos from the video portals like Google Video, MySpace, YouTube, etc. The step by step procedure can be found in the following post.

http://www.gilsmethod.com/htdownloadvideosfromtheinternet

Original post:
http://www.dvdhelp.us/php/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=120&t=3910

Excerpt from the post:

1. Download & install Firefox (You need firefox for the extension to work)

2. Download & install the Video Downloader extension for Firefox (The video downloader extension allows you to save videos from popular websites like Myspace, YouTube, Google, and others.)

3. Download & install Media Coder (This encoder converts the video you download into .avi files which allow you to view and store them at your won discretion)

4. Find the video you wish to save. Once you are on the page click the Video Downloader Button in the bottom right part of your Firefox Browser window.

5. A window will pop-up. Click the button that says Download Link

6. When prompted select Save to Disk and then click OK

>>>>>Please note that if the file you download does not have the extension .flv, then rename the file and end the name with .flv <<<<<

7. Start up MediaCoder

8. Click on the I agree radio button and on the Skip Setup Wizard button, then close the window that appears after that.

9. Drag and drop the .flv files you downloaded into the large white area in Media Coder

10. Click on the Video tab in the lower left-hand section on the window and select XviD in the Format drop-down menu.

11. Click the large Start buttonon the top toolbar window to start transcoding your video.

12. When completed a window will propmt you saying that transcoding is completed, go your file's original location and an .AVI file shoudl be there with the same file name. Now you can play it with Windows Media or your favorite media player.

Googled

Just after a few hours of posting about the Shivanasamudra falls trip, I could see my blog post listed in Google search results.

Shivanasamudra falls and Talakad Trip

Over the last weekend, as a mark of celebrating the friendship day, 8 friends hit the road to Shivanasamudra falls and Talakad. This trip which started as a pre-planned trip ended up in a real adventure due to bad roads.

Route:
Bangalore - Kanakapura - Malavalli - Shivanasamudra - Talakkad - Malavalli - Maddur - Bangalore.
Total distance: 300Kms
Food:
Breakfast - Kanakapura
Lunch - packed home food
Dinner - Maddur Tiffinys

Trivia:
For around 80 kms the road is in real bad condition. Completely dug up. We could barely manage an average of about 20 kms/hr.

Photos (Shot using SE K550i)


(Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls)




(Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls)


(Riverflow)


(Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls)


(Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls)


(Gaganachukki falls)


(Pit stop for lunch - in a school ground en route to Talakkad)


(View of Tree at dusk near Talakkad)