Blog://Shriram.net

Updates coming!

2011-09-09T09:05:00.002-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have made a conscious decision to revive this blog. I will strive to keep posting stuff that's happening. I feel like I've left this blog stale long enough and I'm no longer willing to keep it that way.

So, here we go...more updates and posts coming very soon!

A concerted effort...

2011-02-21T17:29:00.004-05:00

A Concerted Effort - that's what's needed to keep this blog running. With the advent of Facebook, there's no need to write a detailed essay on my thoughts. The "status" boxes of the Facebooks, the Orkuts, the Twitters have essentially became a think-out-loud, write-out-short kind of communication mediums (media, for the non-American speakers). And suddenly, writing a blog seems so -- what to say -- "yesterday's in thing", so "mid 2000s", so "back in the day".

While lethargy and laziness could be blamed to a certain extent in my case for not writing blog entries, the very motive and the usefulness of personal blogs is questionable, debatable, and useful. While the social media lets me instantly share my "thoughts" to my friends and "friends" around the world, blogs -- especially personal blogs -- seem to me like their predecessory ancestors. But as a person working more or less in the academia, I still believe there is some sexiness in writing up a paragraph or two (or even an essay) about what you consider most important. Having said that, I'm genuinely scared for the next generation of kids, who seem to write anything and everything as if they are writing a text message (u c wat i meen?). But hey, who knows, may be the text-message version of English will become the standard lingua anglica by time we get old. We can then tell our grand kids how people used to write up blogs with words, sentences, paragraphs -- all to be read by people on their "fast" internet connections.

That should make a good story.

2011!

2011-01-01T21:12:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!
С Новым Годом!

Annual Spring Beauty of DC

2010-04-11T17:56:00.004-04:00

Yet another year, yet another spring, yet another post on Cherry Blossoms. The annual Cherry Blossom festival just concluded in Washington, DC this weekend. This annual event of breathtakingly beautiful proportions turns Washington in to a tourist hotspot with millions descending down on to the town. I gladly make my way downtown each year, donning my tourist hat and enjoying the hustle-bustle and large crowds that I long forgot since I left India. This year the festival coincided with the "National Pillow Fight" (yes! it is mad!). Pictures from this event and also the National Kite Festival are included in the album below...

Here are pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2532395&id=5734033&l=7bc0dc6249

Choices, Choices, Choices.

2010-03-23T21:15:00.003-04:00

During the course of our lives, we encounter times when we have to make choices. Believe it or not, it is my opinion that choices related to lifestyle changes and place changes are the hardest to make. Over the past two years, I have come across situations where I had to make choices. To make it even worse, there were more than three GOOD choices to make. My mind went around and around simulating various scenarios: choose 1, this will be good. choose 2, something else is good. choose 3, it might include choice 2, but will have something uncool. I've had repeat experiences with choosing - choosing place, choosing a job vs going to school, choosing to stay put or change...it ain't easy. To pick among too many choices - good choices at that - is never easy. I've realized that the best way to move forward is to think hard, measure positives vs. negatives, and make a hard choices. If all choices are good, whatever you choose will turn out OK. Doesn't it? ; )

2010!

2010-01-02T01:07:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

С Новым Годом!

Ice Skating Progress Updates...

2009-12-24T17:54:00.003-05:00

After this Spring, I returned to the skating rink to slide, to glide, and to go wild. I must say that I've improved quite a bit compared to the last time.

Here are some latest updates:

Hope you enjoyed these videos : ) L

Home Sweet Home!

2009-10-15T12:07:00.005-04:00

I have just returned from a trip home to India. Boy, what a trip that was! For starters, there were two additions of our family: one, my two-year-old nephew who was born just after I returned from India last time, and two, my newly born niece. It was a long time sine I was home last time, and frankly, it is a shame that I haven't seen my little nephew and niece. Not to mention, my mom was asking me every other day about my plans to visit home.

So, I did. I went home for about 10 days. since I wasn't home for two years, my plan was to just stay home and NOT go anywhere. No aunts, no uncles, no friends, no acquaintances. My 10-day trip was too short to miss out on spending time with my mother and the two little ones. Plus, 10 days is too little to gobble up all my favorite home-cooked food. My trip went something like this: Airport in the USA - Airport in India - Drive home - STAY AT HOME - Drive back to airport - Airport in India - Airport in USA. That's all - airport to airport to home!

I returned back to the 'States after a well-deserved and well-enjoyed vacation with my lovely family and FANTASTIC food.

Hello from Tuscany!

2009-08-02T17:35:00.005-04:00

I'm in Tuscany for the weekend! What a beautiful place this is! I must say that this place definitely stands up to its reputation as a beautiful place with its maginificent landscape, along with its hills and villas and plazas and piazzas and fountains. I took a high-speed train from Rome to Pisa in Tuscany. I had always wanted to see the Leaning Tower since my childhood. So naturally, I was quite excited to get a glimpse of it. I didn't climb the tower itself as the maddening crowds of the summer season were lining up. Besides, I was enjoying it more from the outside. I walked around the Tower, and the adjacent Duomo (Dome/Cathedral). I later grabbed a sandwich and sat down for a mini picnic in the shade of the tower.

A few hours later, I boarded the train to head to Florence. My! What an incredible town it is! On the way to my hotel from the train station, I walked past the humongous Florence Duomo, admiring the mind-blowing scale of both the cathedral dome and the tower. After a quick rest, I headed to see the town. As it is very common in Italy, every single street, piazza, and river bank is incredibly beautiful!

As I made my way through the city, I saw Michelangelo's David, the famous Florence Uffizzi museum, etc., etc. But ladies and gentlemen, the best panoramic view I saw in my life is at the Piazzale Michelangelo (Read about it on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazzale_Michelangelo). You must see the sunset from here and I tell you, it is one of the most romantic spots you'd ever see. In terms of "romantic-ness", this place will certainly beat out the likes of the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, or the Golden Gate Bridge. Here's a picture of Piazzale Michelangelo and you'll see what I'm getting at:

Check out more pictures here:

Florence: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2453269&id=5734033&l=36fb3b46ea

Pisa: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2443381&id=5734033&l=651d1053d3

Off to the beach!

2009-07-21T15:45:00.004-04:00

What else is better than going to the beach in Summer! What else is even better? Living close (OK, close enough) to the beach. The beach is just a 2-3 hour drive away from where I live. Now there's no excuse for not going to the beach, is there? : )

My Birthday!

2009-07-17T11:54:00.004-04:00

I'm 28 on July 15!

[ Me, in Georgetown ]

July 4th - Independence Day in the Nation's Capital

2009-07-11T01:43:00.005-04:00

Well, July 4th is always a festive time in Washington. Throngs of people arrive to the National Mall just in time to enjoy the spectacle of fireworks, some of the best you'd ever see. As residents of the D.C. metro area, we are luck every year to just drive down 20 minutes to see America celebrate its birthday. We've arrived at the Lincoln memorial as seen to the right.

I found just the right place to set up my tripod on its short legs. As you can see it is just a perfect spot to photograph. The feeling was surreal once the fireworks began. Since we were sitting on the Lincoln's memorial's raised platform, the fireworks felt as if they were going off right in front of our eyes. Check out the picture to see what I mean!

Here are a few pictures from my camera. More pics, as usual, are on my Facebook. Just follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2432284&id=5734033&l=a2d204b5e4

GRE-fied!

2009-06-24T17:28:00.005-04:00

Recently, I took the GRE general test. (Note: it is NOT "GREs". *The* GRE is singular, FYI). Why? I will tell you, but just not yet!

The results of the test surprised me in one aspect. Here's how: I did poorly in the Math section! I still can't believe that my score in the Math section is unmentionably low - especially for a computer science graduate! But you know, this is very well compensated by my verbal section, where I scored in the 94th percentile, and got an almost perfect score in the analytical writing section (5.5 out of a possible 6.0).

Considering my preparation was for about 20 days, I'm quite satisfied with the result. Thankfully for me, this GRE is just an "attempt"; I'm grateful I got a decent score.

Parking "Infraction" : Toronto Style!

2009-06-16T08:21:00.006-04:00

Sign implies: No parking enforced between 9 PM and 8 AM...

However....

Officer Cockburn (that's a real name!) thinks otherwise:

(click to enlarge)

Yours truly thinks: This is DUMB!

DC's Annual Spring Beauty! (2009 Edition)

2009-05-11T16:07:00.005-04:00

Come April, DC turns in to a blossoming beauty, thanks to the numerous cherry blossom trees. The city (and the country) marks this event by holding a festival, aptly named Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Throngs of crowds pour down in to DC to watch the legendary blossoms, enjoy the free museums, and make trips to the Capitol and other attractions in town. Needless to say, I really enjoy watching the blossoms and feel proud to be living in this town, and call the power center of the world to be "my" town! Pictures are coming shortly...enjoy.

Recent Travels: Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Tucson

2009-05-08T23:19:00.013-04:00

Las Vegas.

I attended the annual Association of American Geographers' conference in Vegas. While I was mostly at the conference during the day, nighttime was an entirely different deal. I had a chance to walk the famed Las Vegas strip many, many times and enjoy the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas' nightscape. Leisurely walking along the strip with my camera and tripod, I had a nice chance to capture the eye-dazzling Las Vegas lights. I had posted some of these photos to my Facebook; As always, here's the link to my Facebook album:

View Photos: Glitz: Las Vegas at Night

The Grand Canyon.

Well, what can I say about the Grand Canyon. This is one of the places that I have always wanted to visit even before coming to America. I have long been waiting to go visit the Grand Canyon, and I finally had a chance last month. We drove from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon and stayed overnight, so that we can catch the Sunset and enjoy the canyon during the morning time. the Grand Canyon amazed me with it's sheer expanse and awe-striking views - like the view of the Canyon at the sunset, when the red shades of the canyon are brought out by the setting sun. Another memorable experience was the night sky at the Canyon - it was the brightest sky I have ever seen! I have never really seen so many bright stars in the sky! When back from the Canyon, the brightness of the stars was so striking that I pulled over to enjoy a quick moment looking at the sky. Well, overall, it was such a great experience! For my next trip, I would like to stay longer and hike the Canyon.

View Photos: Grand Canyon's South Rim

Tucson, AZ

After the pleasant stays in Vegas and the Grand Canyon village, I drove to Tucson to meet my UNI friends Masha and Val. The last time I met Masha was in Russia; I still remember that bitter color November day! Masha gave me a beautiful tour of the Peter-Paul Cathedral - even as she was freezing! Anyhow, it was wonderful to see her and her hubby, my friend Val in the warm and sunny Tucson. I loved the landscape and the environs of Tucson. We visited the University of Arizona campus and then headed off to see the Desert Museum. We spent a day and half in Tucson, when we had to (grudgingly) drive back to Las Vegas to catch the flights back to Washington. For a moment, I just wanted to stay back in Tucson - the sun, the desert, the town...all seemed to be so different and attractive that I just didn't feel like coming back at all! : )

View Photos: Tucson, AZ

AAG 2009 Conference

2009-04-03T15:52:00.007-04:00

I was in Las Vegas for the annual Association of American Geographers' conference. Boy, the conference was great; I learned quite a bit from the conference. However, the sheer number of presentations in this conference makes it impossible to attend all the interesting presentations. Also, I really dislike (yes, dislike) Las Vegas as a conference venue. Whoever thought that we can walk through smoke-filled casinos with drunks and their margarita bongs, and proceed to the conference halls for intellectual conversations!!

I participated in a panel discussion on Open Source GIS and I also gave a presentation about the research I am working on. I just found today that somebody took our picture while at the panel discussion. Here it is...

Anyhow, post-conference, we drove to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Boy, was it wonderful or WHAT! I will reserve that topic for another blog post. We also traveled to Tucson, AZ to see a couple of friends of mine. It was total fun.

Greetings from the fabulous Las Vegas!!

2009-03-24T17:56:00.001-04:00

I'm in Vegas for a week for the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers. The conference is great..and the city is OK too. Believe it or not, I'm not a big fan of Vegas! Since I've been here already last year, there is not a lot of excitement. But since I have a nice SLR camera, I'm having fun capturing the dizzying glitz of night-time Vegas. Photos will be available soon. :)

Ice Skating Video #2.

2009-03-16T12:55:00.004-04:00

This video is from Week #4 of my ice skating lessons. I see a visible improvement, do you? : ) Now, I am happy to announce that I achieved my goal of "navigating" on ice. I can stand, stop, move, glide... overall, I can skate OK now. I plan to buy my own skates soon and plan to skate through the summer in one of them indoor skating rinks.

(video coming soon)

My First Steps on Ice

2009-03-14T18:50:00.003-04:00

Here's a short, 8-sec clip of my first steps on ice. As I've been reporting, I've been taking lessons for ice-skating. Here's my progress so far:

So far, so good. I have gotten much better than what you see in this video, but I thought my first steps on ice are always fun to watch. Enjoy.

More blogging?

2009-03-11T17:29:00.003-04:00

Of late, I feel the urge to blog more often. Write down random thoughts and emotions. But then again, I stop and think... who the heck would be interested in reading all the pouring details of my personal life. I figured when I feel the urge to blog ever-so-often, I'd first draft it and then leave it in "incubation" for a while. After a week or so, I look at it again, and see if it is ready for "graduation" on to the blogosphere. This approach has been working real well for me!

PS: This blog post didn't go through the "incubation" process. It is one of those straight-to-blog gems. Cheers!

Microblogging? What?! And more importantly, why?

2009-03-05T15:49:00.002-05:00

I'm writing this blog article risking being thought of as "old school". Anyhow, here's what I think about the latest rage, Microblogging. Microblogging is essentially blogging, but just with a limited number of characters. You just update your "status", essentially telling your followers what are you up to right now, what are you doing, etc. You can also post a question, ask for opinions, etc. The advent of our smart phones made microblogging a huge crazy rage.

Now, my issue with microblogging is that we might risk the art of writing once and for all. As it is right now, handwriting is something that most of us do not do on a daily basis (When was the last time you wrote a letter.. I mean on a paper, with a pen?). Apart from my research papers, my blog is my only place where I write once in a while. I'm afraid this microblogging thingey will take us farther apart from our writing abilities. Now, I'm in no way recommending to write on paper. However, electronic writing is something that I grew fond of and it should not be replaced anytime soon :) While microblogging is wonderfully sweet and extremely userful, I think it should not replace blogging.

Vegas Calling....again!

2009-03-04T11:22:00.001-05:00

This year's annual geography conference (AAG) will be in Vegas. That means I will be in Vegas for a week; I look forward to the conference, AND spending some time photographing the beautiful vegas at night time. Look out for photos and stories.

Reporting some progress on the Ice....

2009-03-04T11:17:00.006-05:00

It has been two sessions of my ice skating classes so far and I'm glad to say that I made some process on the ice. The skating lessons are around 10:30 every Saturday morning (Yup, what better reason to get up a bit early on Saturdays!) The first lesson was pretty much walking around the ice and get a feel for it. My instructor called it "marching" on the ice. It felt a bit funny to walk around the ice ever so slowly, trying to balance myself. That's how it must have felt when I tried to walk and balance as a baby. Of course, not to mention a little embarrassment to see little kids on the other end of the rink skating, gliding, and doing all sort of figure skating stuff. But hey, I'm not ashamed or anything. In fact, I'm happy to get a chance to take lessons from certified trainers. I have a feeling I will be able to skate OK by the end of my 6-class session. I will post updates, photos, and perhaps a video or two here.

Ice Skating....

2009-02-18T14:06:00.003-05:00

After years (at least four) of being "determined" about learning how to skate on ice, I have finally signed up for ice-skating lessons. Evidently, growing up in the tropical belt of our Earth in India, the only time I saw any "ice" was in my refrigerator. Hence it goes without saying that after arriving in the United States, when I saw people ice skating and enjoying it, I figured I should give it a try. Heck, it seems quite a bit of fun and as I later discovered, there's a lot of fun in enjoying a nice winter evening ice skating, followed by a hot cup of hot chocolate.

Now, I tried skating on ice on a few occasions. I must say I didn't do all that well, but I didn't suck either. On my first try, I was able to balance, stand, "navigate", and stand-back-up after falling. The craziest experience was in Moscow, where I went with my friends to the "Moscow Skating Rink", where people's skill ranged from a hardened hockey player to a pro-level figure skater. I was the only newbie, not to mention the only non Russian there. People were generally OK, but it was crazy to see a 4-year old whizz by, skating past me. I also skated here in Washington a few times, each time improving my walking abilities on skates and ice.

After much postponing, I decided to sign up for the ice skating lessons. There is a skating rink nearby, but their lesson schedules are out of whack, and they offer lessons only once a week. I found another rink that's about a 30-minute drive from my home; better still, they were offering lessons on a very convenient schedule!

I'm looking forward to making some progress in being able to skate on ice. Anything more than just walking on the ice would be just wonderful! Oh, if I could glide, slide, and actually skate, that would be pure bliss!