In the computer networking industry, the latest buzzwords are to do with Virtualization. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is the latest trend and every day, there is a lot written about and talked about on this front. At a high level, it deals with virtualizing the functions that are today being performed by dedicated hardware components. For example, if you have a Wifi router device in your house today, the idea is to move that functionality on to your PC or laptop so there is no need for a separate device that performs that function. Or in a typical use case, the equipment on the customer premises (CPE) now moves to the Service Provider domain in a virtualized form where they can deploy multiple such CPE’s (in an apartment complex for example) in a single PC or laptop device. Virtualization is probably known to all of us first-up, as Virtual reality. This link to Virtual Reality on HowStuffWorks probably explains it
What’s in a name?
Having recently been through the experience of choosing a name for my daughter, my thoughts went to the identity formed by a name. There have been careers built around the spelling to be used in name – ask the numerologists. In the traditional South Indian tradition, the sound or the syllable that the new born baby’s name should start with, is decided by the way the stars align at the time of birth. It is not uncommon for parents in this part of the world to look for names that begin with “Re”, “La”, “Shi” or “Tha”after a baby is born. The English translation of some of these syllables is intriguing. As made popular in the movie “Chupke Chupke” about 30 years back, why are “go” and “to” pronounced so differently in English? An exact pronunciation of a Sanskrit word in English is not easy. Nowadays, more visible than ever before is the change in the spelling of the name
Plateau
Adal was returning home after a long day at work. He was tired. He had had a conversation with his Manager that had left him emotionally and mentally drained. The discussion had centered around the annual compensation increase that was being given to him. It had gone on for a long time and he had ended up feeling undervalued in the organization. Once again, he had been overlooked for a key promotion that he had been working hard towards and he had been denied as the company policy had changed and promotions were few and hard to come by in this scenario. Adal was left feeling demotivated although the Manager was honest and praised the work that he was putting in. At the end of the day, the cost of living in a big city was always on the increase and he was looking forward to investing in a new house for his family. With this minimal increase, his dreams
Football
In my childhood days, our sport of choice in the evenings would be a reflection of the current international sporting event. If India were playing cricket in a test series or a one-day international series, then we would become the latest sensation of the time while batting, bowling or fielding. If badminton was the flavor of the day via the Asia Cup or the Thomas and Uber Cup, we would shift seamlessly to playing badminton. During times of the Euro Cup or the FIFA World Cup, it would be time for some football action on the streets around the house. Fast forward to XX years later, and my blog posts reflect the current craze on sports and news channels across the world! Le Jogo Bonito is being watched by more than half the population of the world. The FIFA has more members than the United Nations, for God’s sake! Put that in perspective – if FIFA so wishes, it could
Online shopping
I begin with a search for an item. I log into my favorite website, click a few times, search, narrow the search down a little further. In the time that the search engine at the website narrows down the selection, my fingers move to open a new tab – another website opens, more items are listed and the same operation continues. I revert to the main tab – this time, I spend some time looking at the items there. Hmmm. Maybe I should look at what others looking for this item also bought. I might find something I (don’t) need? Click on that item. Switch back to the other tab. Scroll through the entire list. Naw! Not what I want. This site sucks anyway. I should try this another website. Maybe they have something that I missed the last time. They must have updated their stocks by now! Surely, if they are serious about doing their business, they must! Hours can
Mithun's Musings 