Vidarshana's

Dr. Randy Paucsh passed away

2008-07-26T00:20:00.000-07:00

Dr. Randy Pausch whom inspired millions by his “last lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” as well by “Time Management” passed away on the morning of July 25th, 2008 – 22 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and given only 3 to 6 months. One of his last inspirational speeches was given at CMU is below:

The Political Compass

2008-05-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Roshan Godaliyadda told me about the political compass, probably the most successful political mapping I've ever seen. Rather than having a traditional right-left linear differentiation, political compass map people into a two dimensional map; one axis being the social policy and the other being the economic policy.

Although I felt a scrutiny on Rightist policies is noticeably higher compared to Leftist policies.

My friend Nuwan Subasingha did a wonderful job in his blog post on the political compass. Most valuable piece work he has done is the mapping of a wide range of popular politicians to the map.

Randy Pausch Lecture: Time Management Hits #1 in google search for "Time Management"

2008-05-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

Prof. Randy Pausch's lecture on "Time Management" which he did in University of Virginia hit #1 in Google search results for "Time Management". He claims to be most proud of this lecture out of the series of lectures he's been doing over the years.

Don't forget to check my first post which is also on Randy Pausch, if you haven't done so.

Sir Arthur C Clarke passed away

2008-03-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

One of the world’s most celebrated science fiction writers Sir Arthur C Clarke passed away today (March 19^th, 2008). We commemorate him for his most famous novel 2001: A Space Odyssey which he collaborated with director Stanley Kubrick, for proposing satellite communication in 1945, and many more.

The following is video made on his 90th orbit around the sun :-)
The full transcript of the talk is at
http://www.tveap.org/news/0712art_transcript_01.html

Sir Arthur C Clarke: 90th Birthday Reflections

Continental Climate - the Beauty in St. Cloud

2008-03-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

I went on a couple of little photo shoots, first on July 28^th, 2007 - mid summer, and the second on March 9^th, 2008 - late winter (it was a long winter). This comparison would have been more interesting, if I could do the second around mid winter - but I'm sorry, I guess I'm not that insane (it's Minnesota :) ).

My Apartment

My Apartment - another view

University Village Townhomes

16^th Street Southeast

Talahi Kindergarten School

A House that reminds me Disneyland

A Dam in Mississippi

Huskey Stadium Looking over Mississippi

St. Cloud State University Looking over Mississippi

The Mississippi

Clemens Munsinger Garden - An Entrance

Clemens Munsinger Garden - Another view

Clemens Munsinger Garden - The Park

Check the above photos in full size.

Vidarshana's

What are your answers ??

2008-03-05T19:45:00.000-08:00

My good friend Nuwan Subasingha asked me the following questions.

1. Who is the most influential* person in human history?

2. Who is the most influential person in 20th century?

3. Who is the greatest person in human history?

4. Who is the greatest person in 20th century?

5. Who is the greatest military commander in human history?

6. Who is the greatest military commander in 20th century?

----------
* when you say "influential" it could be good or bad

What I really liked about these questions is that, they really got me to think, what I consider as "influence", "greatness", and "command".

Randy Pausch: Childhood Dreams Lecture

2008-03-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.