You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Google is taking over your life.
Google is making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out
Who's naughty and nice.
Google is taking over your life.
Google knows when you're offline.
Google knows when you're online.
Google knows if you've been looking at pr0n or god,
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh, you better watch out!
You better not cry.
Better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Google is taking over your life.
Google is taking over your life.
Author - Anonymous (== not\ me)
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Credit Crunch and The Techie
Last night I watched a speech delivered by US presidential candidate Barak Obama in the congress.. I think he delivered one of the speeches of our time. Finally I think he managed to convince the congress to vote for the $700 bn US bail out plan. Anyway the bail-out plan is approved but we need to sit back and see whether it'll be enough to take us out of this mess created by Wall St. executives. Even yesterday alone there were around 1200 job cuts here in London. Financial sector is the worst hit area by this. Technical jobs are still safe for the time being but I don't how long that will last. I hope it won't be anything like late 90s free fall. Below is an article I found how current credit crunch will effect the techie. I hope it'll be informational to my techie friends.
What the credit crunch means for IT
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Getting piece of the elastic cloud ( Amazon EC2 HowTo) --- Part - 1
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It is designed to make web-scale computing easier for developers. As for amazon...
"Amazon EC2's simple web service interface allows you to obtain and configure capacity with minimal friction. It provides you with complete control of your computing resources and lets you run on Amazon's proven computing environment. Amazon EC2 reduces the time required to obtain and boot new server instances to minutes, allowing you to quickly scale capacity, both up and down, as your computing requirements change. Amazon EC2 changes the economics of computing by allowing you to pay only for capacity that you actually use. Amazon EC2 provides developers the tools to build failure resilient applications and isolate themselves from common failure scenarios."
"http://aws.amazon.com/ec2"
Ok so thats EC2.. Lets start the exciting bit now.. Lets look at the things you need to create EC2,
* First of all you need to have an Amazon Web Services (AWS) account. Well the glitch is , this is not free. Amazon will charge you $0.10 per hour and there will be additional charges based on the usage. You can create account by clicking here. Also remember to download X.509 keys from Access Identifiers Page in your account. You need to create a new X.509 key and then you'll be able to download X.509 certificate and private key file.
* You need to have ElasticFox plugin for Mozilla Firefox. Then you'll be able to control EC2 instance easily using your browser. To install the plugin click here.
* Then you need to create a Amazon Machine Image. Amazon has a collection pre-build AMIs here. But if we use this, where's the fun ?? So anyway I'll tell how to create an AMIs and upload it to EC2 in good old way...
* Also you need AMI (link) tool package, which use to create AMIs and upload then to EC2 and EC2 command line tools bundle (link), which can use in generic tasks such as creating and controlling EC2 instances.
Alright I think thats the checklist.. So I by now I hope you have created the account and downloaded the key files. My advise is key all your key and file in one location, So i did the following
# mkdir -p ~/ec2/.keys # mv ~/Desktop/*.pem ~/ec2/.keys
Always keep you amazon downloads in,
#mkdir ~/ec2/downloads
Ok thats the easy part.. Lets start the fun part.. Creating an AMI...
* First of all we need create a "loopback file" to install Linux. Advantage of a loopback file is we can use it as a hard disk and we don't have to go through the hassle of installing an OS in to a separate drive. Best way to create loopback file in Linux is using dd command.
# cd ~/ec2/
# dd if=/dev/zero of=debianimage.fs count=1024 bs=1M
* Right now we have raw disk. Now we need to create a file system. We can use mke2fs command.
# mke2fs -F -j ~/ec2/debianimage.fs
* Now you have hard disk which can use to install a Linux image. Mount the new hard disk.
# mkdir /mnt/debianimage # mount -o loop ~/ec2/debianimage.fs /mnt/debianimage
* To install debian into this file system we can use debootstrap. This program can setup a basic debian Linux system any given file system. If its not in your system, you should install it first.
# apt-cache search debootstrap
# apt-get install debootstrap
# cd /mnt
# debootstrap --arch 1386 etch debianimage
"Amazon EC2's simple web service interface allows you to obtain and configure capacity with minimal friction. It provides you with complete control of your computing resources and lets you run on Amazon's proven computing environment. Amazon EC2 reduces the time required to obtain and boot new server instances to minutes, allowing you to quickly scale capacity, both up and down, as your computing requirements change. Amazon EC2 changes the economics of computing by allowing you to pay only for capacity that you actually use. Amazon EC2 provides developers the tools to build failure resilient applications and isolate themselves from common failure scenarios."
"http://aws.amazon.com/ec2"
Ok so thats EC2.. Lets start the exciting bit now.. Lets look at the things you need to create EC2,
* First of all you need to have an Amazon Web Services (AWS) account. Well the glitch is , this is not free. Amazon will charge you $0.10 per hour and there will be additional charges based on the usage. You can create account by clicking here. Also remember to download X.509 keys from Access Identifiers Page in your account. You need to create a new X.509 key and then you'll be able to download X.509 certificate and private key file.
* You need to have ElasticFox plugin for Mozilla Firefox. Then you'll be able to control EC2 instance easily using your browser. To install the plugin click here.
* Then you need to create a Amazon Machine Image. Amazon has a collection pre-build AMIs here. But if we use this, where's the fun ?? So anyway I'll tell how to create an AMIs and upload it to EC2 in good old way...
* Also you need AMI (link) tool package, which use to create AMIs and upload then to EC2 and EC2 command line tools bundle (link), which can use in generic tasks such as creating and controlling EC2 instances.
Alright I think thats the checklist.. So I by now I hope you have created the account and downloaded the key files. My advise is key all your key and file in one location, So i did the following
# mkdir -p ~/ec2/.keys # mv ~/Desktop/*.pem ~/ec2/.keys
Always keep you amazon downloads in,
#mkdir ~/ec2/downloads
Ok thats the easy part.. Lets start the fun part.. Creating an AMI...
* First of all we need create a "loopback file" to install Linux. Advantage of a loopback file is we can use it as a hard disk and we don't have to go through the hassle of installing an OS in to a separate drive. Best way to create loopback file in Linux is using dd command.
# cd ~/ec2/
# dd if=/dev/zero of=debianimage.fs count=1024 bs=1M
* Right now we have raw disk. Now we need to create a file system. We can use mke2fs command.
# mke2fs -F -j ~/ec2/debianimage.fs
* Now you have hard disk which can use to install a Linux image. Mount the new hard disk.
# mkdir /mnt/debianimage # mount -o loop ~/ec2/debianimage.fs /mnt/debianimage
* To install debian into this file system we can use debootstrap. This program can setup a basic debian Linux system any given file system. If its not in your system, you should install it first.
# apt-cache search debootstrap
# apt-get install debootstrap
# cd /mnt
# debootstrap --arch 1386 etch debianimage
If all went well you should see something like above. This will go for few mins depending on your connection and will give a installed successful notice. Now if you look inside the debianimage file you will full Linux file system.
* Now is the best time to copy the repository of your current system into the new system and chroot to the new system and mount the proc file system. The main reason to chroot into the system is to change root password, install new packages etc.
# cp /etc/apt/sources.list /mnt/debianimage/etc/apt/sources.list
# chroot /mnt/debianimage/
# mount -t proc none proc
# passwd
* This is the best time to update the repository and install new packages like ssh and apache.
# apt-get update
# apt-get install apache2
# apt-get install openssh-server
* Check whether your interfaces are set to take an IP from a DHCP.
# vi /etc/network/interfaces
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp
* Finally add the following two lines to your file system and exit from the image
# vi /etc/fstab
/dev/sda2 /mnt ext3 defaults 1 2
/dev/sda3 swap swap defaults 0 0
# exit
#umount /mnt/debianimage
Now we are almost there... Now we need to prepare the Linux image we created and upload it to EC2...
It's in part 2...
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
If I put this is in simple plain English... This is a 27 km ring which built by bunch of scientists at CERN to test the big-bang theory. This will launch its first real experiment this Wednesday (10/09/08).
LHC particle accelerator complex, which intends to collide opposing beams of 7 TeV Protons.
"The collider is currently undergoing commissioning while being cooled down to its final operating temperature of approximately 1.9 K (−271.25 °C). Initial particle beam injections were successfully carried out on 8-11 August 2008, the first attempt to circulate a beam through the entire LHC is scheduled for 10 September 2008,and the first high-energy collisions are planned to take place after the LHC is officially unveiled, on 21 October 2008."
This is capable to reach light speed when the protons enters the LHC.. after accelerating through series of outer rings. According to CERN scientists, in theory LHC is capable to produce elusive Higgis Boson.
The main motive behind the tests is to fill the gaps in the current standard model of physics. The scientist at CERN believes this test will answer physics mysterious such as,
* How elementary particle acquire properties such as mass
* Are there any extra dimensions
* The nature of the Dark Matter ?? ( ring any bells ??? Read "Northern Lights" by Philip Pullman.. Still no bells,....? well the movie Golden Compass...)
* Nature of the Big Bang.. How known particles born
So this is going to be an exciting week as we hope to make new strides in physics.. So I eagerly waiting to see the outcome of these tests..
All this project boast large distributed network known as LHC computing grid.. In theory project expected to generate 27 TB of raw data.. So the network consist of private and public internet fiber optic cable links to transfer this massive data..
Well there are some bunch of guys, think activating the LHC will end the earth.. They say by emulating a big bang, it'll create a black hole and it'll consume the earth from inside..
So anyways we have just 2 days to find out the truth :D.. I hope you'll enjoy those two days, you know just in case IF something goes wrong..
LHC particle accelerator complex, which intends to collide opposing beams of 7 TeV Protons.
"The collider is currently undergoing commissioning while being cooled down to its final operating temperature of approximately 1.9 K (−271.25 °C). Initial particle beam injections were successfully carried out on 8-11 August 2008, the first attempt to circulate a beam through the entire LHC is scheduled for 10 September 2008,and the first high-energy collisions are planned to take place after the LHC is officially unveiled, on 21 October 2008."
This is capable to reach light speed when the protons enters the LHC.. after accelerating through series of outer rings. According to CERN scientists, in theory LHC is capable to produce elusive Higgis Boson.
The main motive behind the tests is to fill the gaps in the current standard model of physics. The scientist at CERN believes this test will answer physics mysterious such as,
* How elementary particle acquire properties such as mass
* Are there any extra dimensions
* The nature of the Dark Matter ?? ( ring any bells ??? Read "Northern Lights" by Philip Pullman.. Still no bells,....? well the movie Golden Compass...)
* Nature of the Big Bang.. How known particles born
So this is going to be an exciting week as we hope to make new strides in physics.. So I eagerly waiting to see the outcome of these tests..
All this project boast large distributed network known as LHC computing grid.. In theory project expected to generate 27 TB of raw data.. So the network consist of private and public internet fiber optic cable links to transfer this massive data..
Well there are some bunch of guys, think activating the LHC will end the earth.. They say by emulating a big bang, it'll create a black hole and it'll consume the earth from inside..
So anyways we have just 2 days to find out the truth :D.. I hope you'll enjoy those two days, you know just in case IF something goes wrong..
Monday, 8 September 2008
Sex and the Olympics
This is very interesting.. I hope this will help someone out there to be motivated, to become an Olympic athlete...
Sex and the Olympics
Sex and the Olympics
Googalization.....
Googling or Google - The verb to google (also spelled to Google) refers to using the Google search engine to obtain information on the Web. A neologism arising from the popularity and dominance[1] of the eponymous search engine, the American Dialect Society chose it as the "most useful word of 2002."
For a fact I know 99% of the techies out there use Google Search engine... Also another fact is most techies wish if they work in Google.. This morning I had a chat with one my of buddies from home.. He and his colleagues were checking out Google campus photos.. As always wondering wheels in my mind started spinning.
Let's just see how much we are dependent on Google.. Another annoying thing is when ever I type Google in simple letters, firefox says I'm making a spelling mistakes, thats shows how far google ooopss I mean Google has gone... ok back to the main topic.. So below is my list..
1. I use a gmail account as my main email address
2. I use blogspot as my blogger
3. I use Google adwords
4. I use Google search engine to search "things" on Internet
5. I use Google news to see whats going on, in our little messed up world
6. I use YouTube to watch all the free videos form sane to insane
7. I use Google gadgets in my Ubuntu desktop
8. I use Google Maps to find my way
9. I use Google Books to quickly refer chapters
10. I use Google notes to keep tabs of my work and reminders
11. Soo its always Google this and Google that....
So thats my list... I hope you'll spare a minute think about your list..
The recent court order against Google kind of freaked me out.. Google KNOWS everything you do in the Internet.. It keeps track of all the searches you have done.. all the videos you have seen... all your emails.. all your blogs thats published, un-published, deleted... etc etc etc etc etc..... and the list goes on buddy...
Anyway Its still early and Google is still growing and consuming.. So far Google is the solution for everything and good news is Google is on the good side..
Sometimes the rate that Google exploit, enter, acquire, open and invent new things freaks me out... Since I'm a pessimist by nature, I like to concentrate on the worst case scenario.. what IF Google turn out to be the bad guy.... ? Nature always balance things out... well in Matrix, It crated the Agent Smith to balance out Neo.. So who will balance out Google.. Will it be Yahoo or MSN ? I doubt it and I haven't seen anyone who is capable to challenge Google's supremacy yet..
So I really wonder, whether I should be more worried about Globalization or Googalization .......?
For a fact I know 99% of the techies out there use Google Search engine... Also another fact is most techies wish if they work in Google.. This morning I had a chat with one my of buddies from home.. He and his colleagues were checking out Google campus photos.. As always wondering wheels in my mind started spinning.
Let's just see how much we are dependent on Google.. Another annoying thing is when ever I type Google in simple letters, firefox says I'm making a spelling mistakes, thats shows how far google ooopss I mean Google has gone... ok back to the main topic.. So below is my list..
1. I use a gmail account as my main email address
2. I use blogspot as my blogger
3. I use Google adwords
4. I use Google search engine to search "things" on Internet
5. I use Google news to see whats going on, in our little messed up world
6. I use YouTube to watch all the free videos form sane to insane
7. I use Google gadgets in my Ubuntu desktop
8. I use Google Maps to find my way
9. I use Google Books to quickly refer chapters
10. I use Google notes to keep tabs of my work and reminders
11. Soo its always Google this and Google that....
So thats my list... I hope you'll spare a minute think about your list..
The recent court order against Google kind of freaked me out.. Google KNOWS everything you do in the Internet.. It keeps track of all the searches you have done.. all the videos you have seen... all your emails.. all your blogs thats published, un-published, deleted... etc etc etc etc etc..... and the list goes on buddy...
Anyway Its still early and Google is still growing and consuming.. So far Google is the solution for everything and good news is Google is on the good side..
Sometimes the rate that Google exploit, enter, acquire, open and invent new things freaks me out... Since I'm a pessimist by nature, I like to concentrate on the worst case scenario.. what IF Google turn out to be the bad guy.... ? Nature always balance things out... well in Matrix, It crated the Agent Smith to balance out Neo.. So who will balance out Google.. Will it be Yahoo or MSN ? I doubt it and I haven't seen anyone who is capable to challenge Google's supremacy yet..
So I really wonder, whether I should be more worried about Globalization or Googalization .......?