[via Stefan] here is another way to spend your time watching tech videos/.The cool thing is the script goes by and highlights where the speaker is at..just cool stuff.

ensoy.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am doing some Web2 style development for a hobby project and have started re-writing my procedure style web2 html page to more of a OO style javascript using closures/anonymous functions et al. I have started to bookmark resources I used to educate myself last night on this topic. The concept is pretty straight forward and can be picked up in couple of hours of reading (even if you dont understand closures). The links on my del.icio.us can be found here.

This brings me to an important point - that I need to pick up SICP again. There is no way to explain the feeling you get when you can rework a simple Javascript app into a fancy Java style app using Javascript- here I mean FANCYness as in the design of the code rather than the look of the app. Ofcourse since Javascript can be more succint, you end up with lesser line of code than Java.

I can now attest to Dave Thomas, ESR and the likes - learning LISP and coding/learning in multiple languages definitely makes you a better thinker/programmer/problem solver.

Navarathri is a 9 night (literally means that in tamil) festival dedicated to the Tinity Godesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvathi). In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated with arranging and displaying dolls and various figureines. My Mom also invites friends, neighbors to visit and exchange wishes. The mythology behind this is that an Asura was killed at the end of fighting 9 nights by Shakthi (Godesses) and hence the 10th day (Oct 2nd this year) is celebrated as Vijaya Dasami (translates to victorious tenth day). I will write more about this day before Oct2. We celebrated today, by Stef cooking Dosas, Rasam, Rice and Curry. To top it all of, Sam did his presentation about India and scored major points with his buddies. The teachers liked it as well. Go Sam!

In parts of North India, they celebrate this festival as Durga Pooja (in honor of the Godesses slaying the Asura).

I am writing a Web2.0 style app for a personal hobby project. What I discovered quick is that my Rhino book, came in handy big. So did my CSS book and Google (with its all knowing links and pointers). I cranked out a basic web page that does CRUD against a Domino database using AJAX; the UI is a simplistic DHTML page with fly in menu’s etc. I plan to make it part of my Part3 in the series of DXL articles, on developerWorks.

My Javascript skill is lame; I am still writing scripts the way I learnt it few years ago. What I am discovering is that Javascript is akin to LISP in making functions be passed as data. The concept of closures, anonymous functions etc. has been talked about by Joel in one of his posts. I also saw some pretty serious OO Javascripts as part of the EMF lite code from Eclipse. This makes me want to relearn JS and re-write my simple webpage using some of the constructs. Its like learning to drive stick shift and then doing unimaginable speeds on AutoBahn rather than being satisfied with just automatic. As much as its not much work to drive a Ford Tauras and its pretty effortless, you loose all the fun of driving a Porsche.
update Stevey posted his recent post on DHTML/Javascipt and AJAX

When Ro (my 3year old) was 2, saw Star Wars with his brothers, invented a character called HOBAR. He would make it a big deal about him. The way he would say it was deep breathing with mouth covered and it sounded HOO — BAAA.

We figured it had to be Lord Vader, but upon number of confirmations, it became clear that it was not Vader. So who can it be?? As he grew up and the boys would watch Star Wars, he would throw the biggest hissy fit to make sure HOBAR was in the movie. We would patiently walk through all the episode one by one with the DVD cover out and ask if HOBAR is in this one, to that he would say nope…Sammy (my 10year old) would loose it over his brother’s mysterious character. Needless to say HOBAR bothered us for a while.
This went on for ever that the entire family gave up on the HOBAR mystery. Finally last week on the way back from India, Ro says HOBAR is Darth Vader. He even covered his mouth and did the deep breathing bit by saying HOBAR in the Vader masked breathing voice. I will have mini snippet of Ro saying HOBAR on a wav or mp3 file out as soon as I can get him to record one.

So much for the HOBAR mystery…

This is the first time ever that I feel a calling towards my motherland - not in the sense of going back home, but to discover more about the traditions, history, people and what makes us unique. May be it had something to do with taking my kids to India or maybe it is a sign of me getting old.

To this effect I have re-prioritized my task list to move “Learn Sanskrit” to the top of my list, above learning OCAML (the cool computer language). I have also been reading about Vivekananda on and off whenever I can get some time. I also plan to make some changes in my personal life and how I live. I am still going thru’ remnants of jet-lag and once I am through fully, I will renew these activities.

I posted the pics on my flickr site - Schroskat. The private ones are on this website with passowrd protection. If you want to see it, please drop me a note.

Overall the trip to India was pleasant and full. We did a lot of things - shopped for sarees, jewelry, books, visited family, cricket bat/ball, toys, celebrated my Grandmom’s 80th bd, visited temples and renewed our vows. The kids took in as much as one can. The air trip was very tiring on the way back, not to mention some of the local van rides. In the end, each of them seemed to have taken something back - in the form of memories and treasure toves.

Sam is presenting his trip as a photo journal to his class next week. I will make that available here for you to see.

Next time we plan to visit Karnataka and take in the coastal areas of Canaras and inland temples.

Here is one of my newest heroes - Terry Tao of UCLA. I have been blown away by his industrious acumen. His insights in number theory (especially Prime Numbers) has been phenomenal..

We just got back to Austn after 2 week trip to India. I will have pics, and more thoughts, events and updates as I parse thru’ my emails and digitize my journals. Until then…