Dick@Work: New episodes
Posted a few more episodes of Dick@Work last night to lighten your friday. Enjoy!
Add comment October 21st, 2005
Posts filed under 'Den'
On Jakob Neilsen's Top 10 Blog Design Mistakes
Thanks to Richard for pointing this out. Being a long time Jakob Neilsen fan, I am happy to see him share his thoughts on blog usability.
I found it interesting that the #1 and #2 on the list is about the identity of the blog/blogger. I have ranted about anonymous blogging before, see this and this, so I am really glad that someone this issue get attention from someone who is an authority on usability.
Anyway, looks like I personally am guilty of #8 (”Mixing Topics”). But, I am not sure I can keep my blog focussed on one topic alone. I don’t really feel like having multiple blogs and I do really want to write on several topics. That is why I named this blog “Whatever…” because I could not decide (still cannot) what the singular focus of this blog should be. So the question is if a blog is about personality or an idea/profession. If it is about the latter, then it is easier to keep the blog focussed to a single or related topics. Professionally speaking, I am passionate about software architecture, design, analysis, patterns, refactorings, programming and related stuff. So I have created these categories on my blog, which I hope will provide the necessary focus for the only 3 people across the world reading this blog anyway. 
Add comment October 17th, 2005
Dick@Work: An Encounter with Blog Comment Math
Sorry could not resist capturing this experience by DHN …
Based on true stories and personal experiences…
Real identities not revealed to protect the guilty!
October 17: Dick@Work is moved to its own site: http://www.dickatwork.com
…
Add comment October 17th, 2005
Introducing Dick @ Work
Based on true stories and personal experiences…
Real identities not revealed to protect the guilty!
October 17: Dick@Work is moved to its own site: http://www.dickatwork.com
Cartoon Comic
Add comment October 13th, 2005
Kitten Rescued, Dog Not Amused!
Look
what we found in a parking lot all alone, hungry and tired….it was a kitten.
My daughter looked at us for a moment, and before I could say anything, my wife
and daughter had already picked that little kitty up in their arms. So, what
was I going to say. But, I had one big worry and she was a 60 pound boxer called
Ally, already at home. We had rescued Ally over two years ago and she
has adjusted well to the family. But, one thing I have learnt about Ally is,
she…um…well…is not fond of cats. Not, not, not! I have seen her chase
the neighborhood cats around. But, too late to think about it.! Because turns
out we are already on our way home because the little fella is hungry and meowing
all the way. The girls even started brainstorming about a name for the kitten
and had one by the time we arrived home. We get inside and immediately Ally
is all agitated to see what we brought home. What the!!! Who the!!! But, Why!
Oh, No!!!!!!
So for the last two days, we have been telling my daughter that the kitty is
going to the shelter. But, everytime the topic comes up, her tears start flowing
instantly and incessantly. She claims that the kitty was God’s gift for her
birthday this week. How can I argue? So, I don’t know how, but we are keeping
the little critter. His new name is Smokey.
He eats, sleeps, plays…much to the annoyance of Ally. He
loves my daughter’s
room, especially the cushion on her chair. But, worst of all,
he makes a cute
little mean scowl whenever he sees Ally and Ally just goes b-e-s-e-r-k. Well,
now we have to work on getting them to be friends!
What are the odds of that
happening? Who knows.
I never thought I would have a cat living with us. Never, never, never. Well,
that’s life.
Add comment October 4th, 2005
Fix. Save. Donate! How My Old Bike Helps Victims of Hurricane Katrina…
I confess I did not plan it this way, but this is how it ended up. I had asked a question a while ago whether I should buy a new bike or fix my old one?
Anyway, I decided to remodel my bicycle instead of buying a new one even though
I was pretty tempted to get a new one. But, I had a lot of fun making over my bike during
the 2 weekends. Basically, I had to fix my old bike’s brakes (cost me nothing to
do it with the tools and parts I already had) and add a new saddle cover that
cost me $15. To get rid of the old look, I spray painted the old bike with a
bright yellow color (cost me $10 for the paints) for the frame and metallic
black for the wheel rims. I then designed and ordered a new set of decals (vinyl
strickers - cost me around $30!) to re-brand my old bike into my very own custom
bike. So here is introducing my own brand - Coorg Mountain Bikes!
Instead of fixing my old bike, if I had gone out and bought a new bike, I am sure I would have spent atleast $250 if not more.
So what did I do with the money I saved? After my earlier posting, Hurricane Katrina has struck the country hard. We all have to do our little parts.
So, I put the money not spent buying a new bike and then some more into good
use to help the victims of Katrina. A lot more is needed,
so please consider giving,
if you haven’t already. Please, Please, Please! I did it with a bike, you can
do it with your bike or something else. Fix. Save. Donate.
[For the curious: Mercara
is the capital of Coorg
& what can I say about Caffeine
other than I love coffee and we grow it well in Coorg.]
Add comment September 7th, 2005
Should I get a new bike?
Since my return from India, my six-year old has been asking me to go bike riding with her. She just got a new bike last week and is really excited to ride with me around our neighborhood. But, I have this really old mountain bike (approx 10 years old) that is…
Add comment August 24th, 2005
I am back!
I was on a month long trip to India. Hence the silence on my blog. Just got back during the weekend and still kind of jetlagged.
While in India, I spent most of my time in my most favorite place in the world called Coorg. I doubt if people outside India know about it, but it is somewhat well known in India, well at least in the southern states. Coorg is for me the most beautiful place in the world, words can’t describe it. I grew up as a little kid in Coorg and have lots of memories and experiences that I will carry with me always. Coorg is also known as Kodagu and is a small but precious district in the state of Karnataka, India. Coorg is well known for many things, but prominently for its brave soldiers, bold and beautiful women, wild life, mountains, honey, cardamom, black pepper and most of all Coffee! Yes, we grow great Coffee in India! I don’t care what anyone thinks, Coorg coffee is way better than Columbian!
PS: I have lots of pictures, but don’t have time to sort them out right now. Here are three random pictures from my trip to give you an idea of the greenery and scenery. If I get time, I will share in the future. No promises.
Add comment August 2nd, 2005
More on Blogging Tips: Adding an image at top of entry
Rich Burridge gives some very useful blogging tips . In one of the tips he points out how he embeds a image at the top of most of his postings. He uses a HTML table to do that. As you will see on my blog, I too provide images to most of my posts and I do…
Add comment July 1st, 2005