Dark keys to craziness

After the “Geek Week”, some of you might know what kind of keyboards I really like. After I got my new keyboard, I was just waiting to have a relaxed/lazy weekend for the following… :)

Key-plucking was half way through when it occurred to me that I could document it.

Here are my tools:

Now the towering keys… :)

 
And the keyless keyboard..

 
Finally, the final product… :)

Even otherwise not many people have found it very comfortable to use such huge and ergonomic keyboard. Now this one would drive some to craziness if they have to use my keyboard. :P

(I had to do this ASAP because it was German layout, slightly different from the international one and as someone said in facebook, “naargh... different keyboard layouts are quite annoying..” and I was starting to get really annoyed)

Have a nice week all of you.. :)

Signing off, Sands.

Codename: MusicGirl… alias MG.

Having moved back to the city, my slightly-suffered social life is blossoming again. I had the first visit from friends and the first movie night. (Watch the film August Rush, you will like it.)

Since morning, I had been really wanting to have a decent bear hug. But didn’t know whom to ask. I put it in my status message.. someone gave me e-hugs, wished me luck.

(I felt, I was acting like a kid… but who cares?)
(would’ve been awkward to be hugged by a man)

I had known all day that Ewelina and Daniela would visit me in the evening and would take care of me. I just asked for a long hug and got more than I wanted. :) :)

It is funny, you know? 4 of my friends here were quite close with me even earlier. But there was some connection missing at times, because I had an inhibition to open myself up.

Then something happened at the end of August and they stood by my side when I needed. The missing thing was established and all turned A M A Z I N G.

A different topic: If you are doing computer science (theoretical) or maths, you should be a girl…. otherwise, life can be really dry.

During a party at my chair, I observed the umpteenth time – we are all <16> males (plus the secretary). Oh boy, life can be so dry without ‘birds’ in your office.

Last week, during the course organisation meeting too, there were only two girls in the 20 member team.

The strength of women in CS/Math departments is less than 5%.

As a gender-equality-advocate and as a single-unattached-man, I find it important that more women come to the field.

In this post I am more of the latter though.
I, at least compensate with many female friends outside the university! ;)

That brings us to the title : the latest potential female friend is code-named “MusicGirl”. Someone who’s quitting doctoral studies in physics and going to learn music. She’s slowly giving me introduction to western classical music.

A girl who could very well do stand-up comedy. Amazing verbal skills, very rich vocabulary and sharp/snappy dialogue delivery too.

And a beyond-acceptably-rude user interface. But a real sweet heart.

It does take balls to quit doctoral studies (Extraterrestrial Physics at Max Planck institute) and go to be a singer. Hats off to that courage.

Finally: Either I am a too nice chap (which I doubt ;) ) or people are treating me much better than I really deserve.

OR I have some rosy glasses!

Whichever be the case, most people are just very nice to me.

The only plus I see in me is that I am VISIBLY happy – ALWAYS!. (anyway, no complaints against most people treating me well ;) )

Signing off, Sands.

PS: If you are indeed a girl in the aforementioned departments, you’ll be frustrated beyond belief, because … <i’ll let you guess>. :P

Relocation, The baby I killed; and Anecdotes

Relocating is an act which I have become an expert of, in the past few years. In the last 20 months, I have relocated 4 times. More than a dozen times in the past 5-6 years.

I have become such an expert that, I woke up at 10 in the morning and before 9 in the evening, everything was packed and moved to the new place, the old place was cleaned and the room was white-washed as in the contract. :)

Missed my white-washing companion! :(

By the way, this relocation is going to cost me all the fun I have on my way to Uni. Now on, I’ll see only the dark/grey inside of underground tunnels instead of the things you see in the pics here! :(

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Don’t be shocked when I say I killed my baby. You’ll know more if you have ever heard THIS Tamil song (go to 2 min 9 seconds). (if you don’t know Tamil, read on).

Two days ago, I woke up and decided to do it: shave my moustache - my constant companion for the past 5+ years - something which I had always pampered as if it were my baby. (Spontaneous decisions are fun, aren’t they?)

Every math problem, every algorithm about which I thought about had taken a toll on those bristles (I pull them while thinking). 

I couldn’t recognize myself afterwards. Most people say I look better. Two of them even said that I look much younger now! (22 years old – apparently, that’s when I started growing it)

No photos for a couple of months!  :P

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I played a small Mr. Holmes yesterday. I moved in, went to the kitchen and one of the apartment mates was there. I offered my hand and said “Hi, I am Sandeep”.

She hurried, took a towel, wiped her wet hands, shook my hand and said “Hi, I am J”.

I said, I am from India and after a small pause - “And you are from Bonn, Right?”

She opened her mouth. Then closed.. then opened again. 

I said - “you are wondering, how I know that. I shall tell you later”. Then I went to my room. :P (Curiosity kills ;) )

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He sat against me in the restaurant. For the first time, he opened his heart:

Sandeep, I am confused. I had told her that I will always be available for her. She is still unmarried, single – what shall  I do? Shall I go to her and talk?

Obviously, I didn’t know what to say. But it was strange to see a friend in the same boat. I was fearing that I will never get out of <you-know-what> :( . Stupid me?

Love is amazing right? It sometimes gives you this pain… still you love to love. Still you think/dream about that person obsessively. How long would it last? Who knows?

Ok guys, you get me in a weak moment. I’ll go get a cup of tea and enjoy a nice evening, and prepare myself for the hectic weak ahead.

All the same, I am having a lovely time of my life. I just am teeming with energy and excited ALL the time. Just lovely! :)

Signing off,
Yours truly,
Sands.

PS: The pictures are copyrighted to me. Of course.

Tongue Tying Charm : feeling stupid

Have you ever had a strange feeling/experience of stumbling-bumbling while speaking with some people? Something like your tongue is tied? or your brain is turned off? Making mistakes with something you know very well?

When I was in Microsoft, I experienced it. Whenever I spoke with Neo (only with him), I made mistakes, even with simple/silly things. I don't know why, but it just happened.

Then I experienced the same a few months ago. Can you believe that I got 'mutually exclusive' and 'independent' events in probability theory mixed up? I also made stupid remarks concerning regular expressions. (picture)

In fact, regular expressions, probability theory etc. are MY topics and I KNOW them well. Still…

Being with this person sometimes froze the technical part of my brain.

And finally, now something strange is happening - which tops all these. I met a person about a month ago, and I make so many mistakes (English) when I talk to this X. Silly, sillier, silliest kind of mistakes. Yet again, it riddles me.

Yesterday, I had to travel with X; and during the 20+20 minutes, I was being corrected.  Not so surprisingly, X enjoys my company very well. :( [Who doesn't like to pull someone's leg :) … What went around came around ]

Some common friends remarked: finally there is someone who could make Sandeep silent. What a pity! :(

Do these people know some tongue tying charm? Or brain confusing charm? Well, if that be the case, I need to learn some defence against dark arts.

After meeting X, I have become an ardent fan of Mark Twain, because Mr. Twain had said - "It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid than to open your mouth and remove all the doubt".

Why don't you share your experiences? Or are you a fan of Mr. Twain? :)

Signing off,
Sands.

PS: I know that Attractive Women Make Men Temporarily Stupid. But that theory is applicable in only one of the aforementioned cases.

PPS:

Insider Joke for Tamil people: I got a Bulb while correcting X.