Writing
Wed
06
Jan
2010
Dragon Wing
by VyomaI just came back from a vacation, and happened to come across a second hand book sale. While I has helping my wife catch hold of some books by Robin Cook, I chanced upon Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the first book of The Death Gate Cycle series.
For past couple of months, I was on a staple diet of Star Wars novels, and I felt a read from the Fantasy genre would be a nice refesher.
Though set in very far future of Earth, it is fantasy fiction. The novel revolves around a set of characters that seem quite independent and driven. None of their actions are superfluous. It gives you that wholesome feel when you read it.
The plot as such is about Haplo, a powerful minon of a powerful lord sent out to disrupt a world and gauge the opponents strength. Apart from the stock races of Humans, Elves and Dwarves, the series has two more, the Sartan and the Patryn. Though there are only few you would encounter in this story, they weave pretty well with the rest of the characters, like Hugh the Hand (an assassin), the child Bane, a powerful wizard's son, and of course his servant Alfred. I resist from saying anymore of the story because discovering it as it unravels is pretty delightful.
I felt it was a very good bargain, as I got it at lower rate since it was a used book, but I would not have minded buying it off the shelf either.
Thu
12
Mar
2009
ನಮ್ಮವರ ಪರಿ
by Vyomaಅಬ್ಬಬ್ಬಾ! ಈ ಎರಡು ಘಂಟೆ ಇಂಟರ್-ನೆಟ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುವವರನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಿದೆ. ಹಲವಾರು ಜನರು ಬರೆಯುವವರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕೆಲವು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಆಂಗ್ಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದರೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆಲವರು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೇ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಬರೆದದ್ದನ್ನು ಓದಿದರೆ ತುಂಬ ಕೆಟ್ಟದೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.
ಕೆಲವು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಸಿನೆಮಾ, ಗಾಸಿಪ್ ನಂತಃ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಯೇನೂ ಬರೆದಂತೆ ತೋರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆಲವರು ಬರೆದದ್ದನ್ನು ಓದಿದರೆ, ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವಲ್ಲದೆ ಬೆರೆ ವಿಷಯಗಳೇ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಎಂದು ಯೋಚಿಸಬೇಕು. ಈ ಎರಡನೇ ಪಂಗಡಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದವರು ಬಹಳ ಒರಟರಂತೆ ತೋರುತ್ತಾರೆ – ಬಾವಿಯೊಳಗಿನ ಕಪ್ಪೆಗಳಂತೆ.
ಕನ್ನಡಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸುವವರು ಜಗತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಜನರನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಬಹಳ ಕಮ್ಮಿ. ಆದರೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಷಯ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡರೆ, ಆ ವಿಷಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಹಲವರಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರು ಪರಭಾಷೆಯವರಾಗಿರ ಬಹುದು. ಅವರೆಲ್ಲರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಲು ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ಮೂರನೇಯ ಭಾಷೆ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸ ಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಹೀಗೆ ಹೋದಿಕೊಂಡು ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇರೆಯವರಿಗೆ ಪುನಃ ಹೇಳಿಯೋ, ಬರೆದೋ ಮಾಡದೆ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಯುತ್ತಿದೆಯೆಂದು ಬೊಬ್ಬೆ ಹಾಕಿದರೆ ಏನು ಪಯೋಜನ? ಗೊತ್ತಿದೆ – ನಾನು ಈಗ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರತಲ್ಲ.
ನಾನು ಕನ್ನಡದವನಾದರೂ, ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತಾಡುವುದು ಹಳೆಗನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಲುವ ಹವ್ಯಕ. ನನ್ನ ಒಂದರಿಂದ ಮೂರನೇ ತರಗತಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಪುಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಓದು ಹಾಗು ಅನುಶೋಧನೆ ಆಂಗ್ಲದಲ್ಲೇ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಇರಲಿ – ಮುಂದೆ ಬರುವ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನೂ ಆ ಎರಡನೇಯ ಪಂಗಡಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರುತ್ತೇನೆಯೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಎಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುವುದು. :)
Wed
11
Mar
2009
ಕನ್ನಡ ಬರೆಯಲು ಗೊಂದಲ
by Vyomaನನ್ನ ಈ ವೆಬ್-ಸೈಟ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಭಾಗ ಇಡುವುದೋ ಬೇಡವೋಯೆಂದು ಯೋಚಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ನ್ನನ ಯೋಚನೆ ಇಂತಃ ಕವಲುದಾರಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಲ್ಲಲು ಎರಡು ಕಾರಣವಿದೆ.
ಒಂದು – ವಿಷಯಗಳು. ಯಾವ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆಯಲಿ? ನನಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ತಿಳುವಳಿಕೆ ಹಾಗು ಅಭಿರುಚಿ ಇರುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಕಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ತಂತ್ರಜ್ನಾನ. ಈ ಎರಡು ವಿಷಯಗಳೂ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯಲು ನನಗೆ ಕಠಿಣವೆಂದು ತೋರುತ್ತದೆ.
ಎರಡು – ಓದುಗರು. ಯೇನೋ ಕಷ್ಟ ಪಟ್ಟು ಬರೆದರೇನು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನ? ಓದುವವರಾರು? ಮುಂಚೆ ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆ ಗಣಕ ಯಂತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವೋದಲು ಬಲ್ಲವರು ಬಹಳ ಕಮ್ಮಿ. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೇ ಓದುವವರು ಬಹಳ ಕಮ್ಮಿ. ಓದುವವರಿದ್ದರೂ ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ಇಂಟರ್-ನೆಟ್ ಸಂಪರ್ಕವಿಲ್ಲ.
ಅದಲ್ಲದೆ ನನ್ನ ಕನ್ನಡ “ಕೌಶಲ್ಯ” ಅಷ್ಟೇನು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ. ನನ್ನ ತಾಯಿ ನಾನು ಚಿಕ್ಕವನಿರುವಾಗ ಎಷ್ಟು ಬಾರಿ ನನ್ನ ಬರವಣಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ತಿದ್ದಿದ್ದಾರೋ ತಿಳಿಯದು. :P ಈ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬರೆಯುವ “ಚಟ” ಎಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಇರುತ್ತದೆಂದು ನೋಡಬೇಕಷ್ಟೆ.
Thu
05
Mar
2009
Writing a blog entry in Kannada ( ಕನ್ನಡ )
by Vyomaದ್ರುಪಾಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. Google ನ indicTransliteration ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿ ಈ ಪುಟವನ್ನು ಬರೆದೆ. ಆಮೇಲೆ Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿ ದ್ರುಪಾಲ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಇರಿಸಿದೆ. ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುವ ಕಾರಣ ವಿಚಿತ್ರವೆನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.
English translation:
I am trying to write in Kannada in Drupal. Using Google's indicTransliteration, I wrote this page. After that, using Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V I got it into Drupal. Since, after a long time I am writing in Kannada, it feels weird. :)
Mon
18
Aug
2008
Blogging through Ubuntu + BloGTK + Drupal
by VyomaI am attempting to blog through desktop client for Ubuntu called BloGTK.
The install was a breeze through the Synaptic Package Manager of Ubuntu. Activating the BlogAPI module in Drupal was as simple as checking one box to turn it on, and then selecting the list of contents I should be able to post through the Desktop client.
It took me a bit of search to find out the exact URL to be put in the account settings (server address + xmlrpc.php), but once done it is pretty straight forward.
One notable limitation of using BloGTK is that I am not able to choose multiple categories. I use categories extensively and attach the same post to multiple applicable categories. Not sure if I am missing any settings. I even tried Drivel Journal Editor (search for "drivel" in Ubuntu's package manager) and that too seems to have the same limitation.
Fri
14
Dec
2007
My first Moleskine® Sketchbook
by Vyoma
Today I just got my first Moleskine® sketchbook.
Moleskine is the legendary notebook used by European artists and thinkers for the past two centuries, from Van Gogh to Picasso, from Ernest Hemingway to Bruce Chatwin.This trusty, pocket-size travel companion held sketches, notes, stories and ideas before they were turned into famous images or pages of beloved books.
Not sure how "legendary" my works would be, but I got pushed over the edge after reading Thord's entry about "analog writing".
As much as my other blogs and this one records my stray thoughs, I am not online most of the time. And the ideas just never stop popping into my head, and even if I do not wish, I do forget to get those ideas into writing somewhere.
I have been intending on getting a notebook for myself so that I write notes and draw sketches whenever I feel like and am not restricted to times when I have access to a computer or internet.
I got the Moleskine® sketchbook one because I would be doodling a lot as much as I would be writing, and the heavy acid-free 80 pages book seems to have good "tooth" for sketching.
Now, I just need to see for how long I can stick to the routine of recording the ideas as they pop into my head, and also how I can catalog it and use it in my works.
Photography: Arun Sasidharan © 2007
Sat
15
Sep
2007
Chaos And Order Writeups Added
by VyomaI had written quite a bit on a realm - Chaos And Order which was developed by a friend, a cousin and me. And there were some more writeups I did for last years NaNoWriMo participation.
I have edited few of them a bit and uploaded here - it may get used in some other projects.
- Fabric Of The Realm
- Genesis Of Naras And Firmans
- Kala - The Time
- History Of Pipurim
- Magic, Tantara And Other Skills
There might be more updates on this in near future. But that is about it for today.
Thu
14
Jun
2007
Know Thy Readers
by VyomaI had this talk with a friend yesterday. I was working on some articles, (based on a jolt I had from past), and I wanted his review to see that I had got all the facts right.
So, he went through it, and told me to read 'some digital circuits' book. I was a bit perplexed and asked him if there was anything I had written that was grossly wrong. He summed up saying that, 'it shows you are a software engineer'. That followed by, 'the terminology is different'.
I was offended. Grossly offended. How dare he say I am just a software engineer. Hell, I was the best solderer of circuits in our project group - may be topped only by Sushil. I had done my share of hard-core engineering when it came to me. How dare he say I was just a 'soft'ware engineer!
I guess, I will stop the rant and get to the point. The reason I did not use the specific words used in digital circuit text books while writing those articles were because I was not writing it for electronic engineers. There was no point in writing it for eletronic engineers - because they would be already knowing what I was writing about. They would know much more than what I am capable of writing on the subject for now.
On the other hand, there would be some computer savvy people, who out of interest or my threats may end up reading the article. Getting educated as an Electronics engineer and then working in the IT industry has given me a perspective, that lets me tell something that would generally not be told to software people.
So, since I got the chance, I thought I will explain them the intricacies of the electronics world, in their language - the way they would understand.
In short, before you write something, know who your readers are, and choose the lingo that is best suited for them.
PS: Venkatesh Acharya is a nice guy. No, really. He is. He did not bribe me for this. (He is the guy who I verbally abused in this post). He just happened to be the guinea pig for my rant. :) Venkatesh is very well versend in the field that I was writing about, and naturally, I asked his help. :)
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