Continuing with Social Networking Sites and other utility applications

Bill Gates is a very rich man today... and do you want to know why? The answer is one word: versions - Dave Barry

This week was the continuation of being ‘at it’. It was relentless pursuit with satisfaction and hope that whatever one can imagine; the same can materialize with computer application.

What started as zeal of using this electronic machine to communicate, has evolved as a tool to every aspect of my life. Commenced somewhere around 1996, with some initial inertia, it took off with the advent of Internet. Many would recapitulate me promoting use of Computers and Internet among medical professionals for professional productivity at scientific meets and conferences.

If one recapitulates, Rajiv Gandhi was the first high profile non-professional who popularised use and spread of computers in India to various spheres of life. Incidentally, I met the then Chairman, Electronic Commission of India, Mr. P. S. Deodhar at Mt.Abu. While interacting with him, I asked, ‘How do you rate Rajiv Gandhi? Whether he visualized the rough print of the revolution we see today? He said, ‘Rajiv Gandhi had the fancy of gizmos. He had the normal curiosity of knowing about each one of them. I don’t think he had a clear plan for telecommunication and electronics’. Slowly, Rajiv Gandhi, Prof. Deodhar and Sam Pitroda while working in tandem started dreaming of the common man using these electronic devices.

Ideas just start backed sometimes by unexplainable intuition. Initially, ideas start developing; things start becoming clearer and a team sharing the common vision start falling into place. Thereafter, one starts visualizing instead of dreaming. One pursues, circumstances aid and propel to reach a recognisable destination. That’s an acknowledgeable pedestal.

Social networking Sites

Whether there is anything more to Social networking sites than just catching up with friends and reconnecting with long lost schoolmates? That’s what I intend to explore.

Let me share some discoveries of the last fortnight. It has been a pleasant surprise to connect to our students especially Post Graduate students. Having connected to one of a batch, one is able to get connected to the rest in the network.

Secondly, is you are interested in following your professional idol, spiritual guru or a potential mentor, Twitter is the place to be. It is believed that one can glimpse at what ideas are journeying through them. Immediately, the question arises, ‘How do we get their twitter id’. If you type their name in Twitter or Google search, one can probably get to their id. They are here at the networking site to share and connect and not to mask themselves.

Picking the right network group: Some guidelines
· Check for activity levels – when was the most recent post made?
· How many members are there in the community?
· Quality Check – Are there only questions and no answer.

Used well these networks might open opportunities for freelancers.

Moxilla Firefox
Even though my email id is on the Google portal, I never explored the various applications available with them. I am extremely happy using Moxilla Firefox browser with Google task bar attached to it. It is very fast and pleasant to operate. Google Earth, Google Images and Picasa photo album are worth trying. Google Spy Doctor and Google computer taskbar search interfered with system functioning; therefore, they were uninstalled.

Fine tuning the system
Having adopted some fine-tuning tasks, I have been able to feel a perceptible difference during the functioning of my system. Actually, my system was functioning slowly with some applications getting corrupted. Out of the blue, I recapitulated some inputs given by my computer maintainer.

Going to the programs from start icon > Accessories > system tools > click clean disc. After having done >click Scandisk. Lastly, click System defragmenter. These tools are also available on right clicking on the drive and going to properties.


There one sees the tools tab. I am not trying to give you the help menu (F1) but an overview.

Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant - Mitchell Kapor

Let’s quit.

So long,

Sharad

Arsenic Poisoning Update

Recent media reports reveal the effort of revenue department to acquire another 50 acres of land for Atomic Energy Department as they have found rich source of uranium in this belt. The report also suggests high content of other metals and chemicals in this region.Apart from the relevance that this belt of Gogi & Kidalli Tanda are probably rich source of metals needing assessment by Geology Department, as of now, Uranium as a cause for this malignant region is ruled out

Many people want to know the basic information on safe drinking water and Arsenic metal. Hence, this academic information.

What Construes Safe drinking water?

Safe water is one that cannot harm the consumer, even when ingested over prolonged periods. Further, it should be pleasant to taste and usable for domestic purposes.

There are 4 variables that are taken into consideration while consideration water safe or potable water. They are physical aspects like turbidity, colour, taste/odour; absence of disease causing microorganisms, absence of chemical substances that are in higher concentration than acceptable and lack of any radioactivity in drinking water.

The point in discussion is presence of chemical substance, heavy metal Arsenic. A provisional guideline value for arsenic in drinking water of .05mg/lite is established.

What is Arsenic?

Arsenic is a poison used in fruit sprays, weed killers insecticides, rat poisons, calico printing etc. That means to say these people of Kirdali Tanda were ignorantly consuming slow poison for ages. Actually Arsenic is a known poison used for non-violent murders. One can recapitulate Sherlock Holmes and other detective episodes for this mode of homicides.

Arsenic is used for homicidal poisoning, as it is cheap, colourless having neither smell nor taste. Therefore, it can be easily administered with food or drink.

In suspicious deaths, hairs, nails and skin are sent for forensic analysis for presence of Arsenic, as this heavy mental is known to be present in these tissues for months after poisoning. Actually, it can be detected in completely decomposed bodies and even in charred bones or ashes.

Government follow up

The district administration is pursuing the alternate source of water to the Tanda. Also, compensatory rehabilitation is being worked out in the form of people availing handicap allowances, women welfare and old age pension. The cruz of the problem it hasn't reached the beneficiaries yet.

Political hue has seen it drawing the attention of authorities at the state level including the Chief Minister.

Rare, one of its kind known in recent times, it needs all the help to rehabilitate the community.

Coverage by 'THE HINDU'

All this time this issue was Vijay Karnataka's problem as they were lucky to take the lead. I am told this is the norm in media industry. By taking up the issue, The Hindu has made it a people's issue. Today's issue covers this revelation on the Front page. I am made to understand that it has had National Coverage as well. Atleast, the THE HINDU website covers it on the front page. Thanks to T. V. Sivanandan.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/06/13/stories/2009061358580100.htm

Sharad M. Tanga

My exploration with social networking sites

Though the concept of social networking sites has been there for quite some time, the notoriety of it being used by teenagers for aimless chatting and the lack of clarity of the real utility to a professional never enthused me to try them out.

But, today, social network sites have become common parlance, occupying glaring print space frequently. Organizations, religious heads, celebrities and others are quoted of harvesting the potential of these sites. Consequently, I decided to explore the world of social networking sites restricting myself to Facebook, Orkut, Twitter, hi5, Linkedin, and Mydailyflog.

It took me almost 10 days of dedicated time to work on this. Enthused with the marvel of technology, it was unending urge to be at the laptop exploring. At times it was frustrating, it interfered with normal commitments, even hampering my daily rituals and schedules. It reminded me of the early days of Internet, when we used to adapt to the erratic dial up connection, stay up late nights so that the connection speed would be better and uninterrupted.

It is frustrating with us because the closed medical fraternity is not that net savvy. There are hardly few people who have been harnessing the benefits of Internet. A simple, small step would keep you stumbled for agonisingly long periods. To overcome this, the approach of reading the Help manual of the site would be beneficial. That circumvents many basic apprehensions and provides keys to initial utility.

Actually, this is the reason; I thought it prudent to pen this short try-out of last fortnight.

Overview
For people who have well organised windows address book/Microsoft outlook/outlook express reaching out to friends would not be difficult. However, social network sites facilitate linking you to friend’s friends and people whom you have lost touch while chasing your dreams. They all can be searched, reached and connected on one single platform.

Twitter like platform where a message of where one is or what he is thinking or doing can be posted on the wall for all to see. Here there is no scope for individualized communication, unless one opts for the message mode, which connects one to the addressed individual only.

Group creation serves a small part of this function, but it lacks openness and additional features of a networking site.

Apart from these benefits, the professional productivity seems meagre for the amount of time you spend working on your site. Out of about 1000 odd email addresses I have, about 100 people were using this medium. That’s 10%.

The satisfaction of knowing the nuances of the happening place and the sense of elation for having harnessed the recent technology that keeps you in the conduit for next few years will be achieved.

Amateur opinion is jotted down for the sake of communication.

Facebook: Site visited and used by most elites across the globe. When enquired with friends who have been using it earlier, ‘It is a site for non-professionals, not so serious guys’. For professionals, Linkedin social network site might be better. I was able to find about 10 friends who were using this site.

Linkedin: Linkedin site is tailor made for professionals. There seems to be a business network angle to it also. A site, where sourcing and targeting can be contemplated. I found 78years old Dr. Shankar Patil, former Dean and present Director of MRMC registered here. This site had about 30 common contacts registered.

Hi5: Glaringly this site had the maximum common contacts registered. About 60 members were already registered. They were all belonging to my intimate group. Commercial merchandizing by the site appeared more here.

Orkut: I was told it is site for teenagers. Nothing kept me hooked to that site.

Mydailyflog: This is networking site, which facilitates posting photographs daily.

Twitter: ‘Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?’

‘If you aren't familiar with Twitter, it is one of those things, like MySpace, that sounds totally ridiculous and stupid when you first hear about it. But once you start using it, you realize how much fun it is.’

These are promotional quotes at the site. Having tried it, it is nothing but a site that facilitates messaging on the net or phone to the tune of 160 alphabets.

A journalist friend based in B’lore using Twitter for quite some time said, ‘It’s going to be technology of the future.’ On quizzing for real examples, he quoted his professional benefit. Within an hour of the swine flue outbreak, they were able to get a twitter alert. For me, being at this site was not practical.


Conclusion: As an initial professional response, it’s a tool worth working on one site alone. These sites facilitate communication rather than any professional indulgence. I have deleted my account at sites that I couldn’t pursue.

Soliciting your experiences.

Sharad

Acknowledgments: Inputs of Mr. Syed Khaja, Mr Sandeep Ratkal & Mr. Desai

Hummingbird & Shrimp Plant

Hummingbird & Shrimp Plant, originally uploaded by phillips8. A Gateway to the World of Nature

Dr. J. P. Krishne Gowda: Dependable & Helpful to one and all.

Dr. Krishne Gowda of Chickmagalur, is a familiar name in Kannada literary circuit and social activities. A pleasing and helpful personality, he is alumni of M R Medical College and brother-in-law of my colleague, Dr. Ravindra Dhaded. This is the commemorative article written on the eve of Dr. Gowda’s 60 years.

A Commemorative article

He was standing quietly at one of the corners of the dinning table making the guests comfortable at his brother in law, Dr. Ravindra Dhaded’s residence. Actively involved in the arrangements, he was seen asking for replacements and helping guests with servings. Bringing order out of chaos seemed instinctive with him.

It was a small gathering on one of the informal get-together occasions. Pleasant and friendly vibes brought us to exchange pleasantries. That was the first occasion of my interaction with Dr. J. P Krishne Gowda. He was kind of guest who was happily helping the hosts!

Though I had heard about his truly cooperative personality by most who have interacted, I was taken aback by his really simple down to earth personality. We are no contemporaries nor do we have any professional common ground yet a chance meet at my balanced fair-minded colleague & friend Dr. Ravindra Dhaded progressed.
Some time after my father’s demise, at the MRMC Alumni meet, many of my father’s
students came to express their condolences. Dr. Krishne Gowda was one among the group in the college campus. He didn’t speak, holding my hands he said, ‘I will come and see you at your residence’. The warmth and consideration was perceptible.

His daughter’s marriage card was unique, stamped with his trademark qualities. Printed in chaste Kannada, it was glaringly interspersed with quotes addressing social issues. For me it seemed novel idea to use the periphery of the envelope effectively. Flawless, exacting with fine & neat print represents Dr. Krishne Gowda’s traits of meticulousness, perfection and social concern. Till this date, the card is preserved with me.

‘We enjoyed Dr. Krishne Gowda’s hospitality at Chikmagalur. He personally took care of us and made us at ease during our recent visit to Chikmagalur’ opine all doctors and others from Gulbarga who undertook the journey to that cooler thick gardens.

For reasons mentioned earlier, I interviewed Dr. Ravindra Dhaded to a get a glimpse of the nuances of Dr. Krishne Gowda. ‘Though he is one of the son-in-law’s of our family, he never behaves like one’. He continues ‘we always consult him for any input on major issues. He is the first one we depend on ’.

‘Her son-in-law is caring & nursing my mother today!’ says Ravindra Dhaded. Vegetarian by choice, he is known to have concern with unselfish devotion to family, friends and those weaker. ‘Once a friend, always a friend’ is Dr. Krishne Gowda’s outlook.

Wherever there is an issue to be resolved, he is the first one to step in to turn things right with no motive except to serve. Gentle, cooperative and spiritual, he wants a decent, honest and genuine relationship.

It’s a pleasure to be writing about Dr. Krishne Gowda on the eve of his 60 years commemorative occasion. We wish him and his family Health and Cheerfulness to continue his work on a wider canvas purposefully.

Sharad