Tech Women

During my routine email check, one particular newsletter caught my attention highlighting the role of women in technology by Ellinor Mills for CNet News. If you are a woman passionately in the tech-world, read on and be inspired.

An extract: : 

Three tech leaders, Google's Marissa Mayer, Flickr founder Catarina Fake, and Padmasree Warrior of Cisco--speak on how woman have broken through the gender imbalance in the tech world. According to Mills, all three agree that progress  has been made, but that there's still a long way to go to get more women into the technology field. When Marissa Mayer joined Google in 1999, she was the first female engineer the search start-up hired. Now, vice president of location and local services at Google, she has overseen much of the technology and user interface features on Google Search. Catarine Fake who co-founded Flickr, emphasizes the fact that, although people  may stereotype referring your ways of doing things, as a very female approach to product design and technology, your role is to be that person - to be mindful of the humanity in the technology.

Padmashree who grew up in Viyawada in South India joined Motorola in 1984 following her higher studies at Cornell University, was named chief technology officer in 2003. Currently, she is CTO at Cisco. She points out the fact that as women in the tech world, we are  different and noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry, this is something we can leverage upon as an advantage.

source : http://ces.cnet.com/8301-33494_1-57353446/tech-execs-its-a-good-time-to-be-a-woman-in-tech-live-blog/

These women  have worked hard and excelled in a male-dominated field in positions with a handful, if any female counterparts.  Nevertheless, I feel this era has witnessed a clear boom of women embracing 'techy' jobs, from those in my generation especially which would continue to grow into the following generations. Behold the future! the imbalance shall soon be wiped out with more and more tech-women currently being molded.

Worthy to mention, Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906 – January 1, 1992), a pioneer in the field, a computer scientist and United States Navy officer who developed the first compiler for a computer programming language. Her conceptualization of a machine-independent programming language led to COBOL.

       

Seeing the spectacular curves of Oprah House

My first ever visit to one of the most profound and iconic building sites of this century,  the Oprah house in Sydney, a master piece by Danish architect John Utzon. I was surprised to learn that it all started off back in 1957, when he won the design competition amidst 233 entries by architects from 32 countries across the world.  It is also considered to be one of the first examples of the use of computer-aided-design. Modern architecture paves the way half a century ago!

Solo Piano Radio and Kawai

If you happen to be a piano lover and at any moment feel low, www.solopianoradio.com (Whisperings Solo Piano Radio) is a dedicated solo piano radio broadcast via the world wide web to uplift your spirits! Beautiful recitals can be listened to for free (they do have a subscription broadcast too of $30 a year! obviously, with a much larger collection).

Whisperings is partnered with Kawai piano, I presume these soulful compositions were played on Kawai pianos during studio recordings.  At a time of discovering this solo piano radio on web, I'm away across continents from my Kawai piano which I miss badly.  Kawai has built a reputation over the last 80 years for outstanding quality and craftsmanship in producing world class pianos. The Kawai upright has grabbed the Acoustic piano of the year consecutively from 2008 to 2010. Cheers to Kawai Pianos. I miss my Kawai Black Beauty!

Nuwara Eliya, the splendor of central highlands - Part 2

These pictures continue my incribe of  a city dear to my heart, Nuwara Eliya in one of my previous posts (Nuwara-eliya-splendor-central-highlands). The tranquil of plush tea estates  romancing the fresh mint breeze and tingling flowers in brilliant colours at the Nuwara Eliya Park are magnificent to indulge your eyes in.   

Google powers Image Search with Image

Alas, Google rolls out the image search with an image! I'm not aware though when really this feature was introduced by Google search engine, but I was pretty thrilled to see it today.

I simply click on the 'camera' icon (in the images tab) and paste an image URL or even upload an image via the 'Search by image' pop-up.

I uploaded an image of mine taken at sunset. I was impressed with the results!

Nuwara Eliya, the splendor of central highlands

Just approximately 180Km from Colombo lies Nuwara Eliya at an altitude of 1868m (to be precise), a beautiful and breathtaking city in the central highlands of Sri Lanka surrounded with mountains, streams and valleys, plush water falls, meadows & streches of tea plantations (being one of the largest exporters of finest tea in the world), flora and fauna and boasts of the highest set botanical gardens in the world between 5000 - 6000 feet in elevation.

I truly envy my mother as she spent her childhood in this town of mountains thanks to my grand father who was attached to the 'government-kacheri' for many years. She often relates how she walks to school in the comfort of her woolen sweater yet shivering through the mist in the early hours of the morning and returns home after school only after visiting her berry-bush; she claims she kept hidden from the eyes of many for a very long time sparring every berry in her 'berry-trees'. 

The architecture of the city resembles an English country town inherited from the days of British colonisation. Green roofs, chimneys, well-groomed lawns filled with flower beds, pine tress, the horse race-course and the NuwaraEliya park are some of my favourite hallmarks of Nuwara Eliya town.  The sub-tropical climate enhances the aura of this majical jewel right in the heart of this paradise island. I love the drive up-hill to Nuwara Eliya (especially through the Hatton Road alternative to Kandy Road), it greets me with fresh-minted solemly chilled air with splendid scenary and coloured petals captivating not only my eyes but all my heart and soul. A trip to this city rejuvanates my entire body and mind. I'm sharing some shots taken uphill looking down on a magnificent view of Nuwara Eliya town taken during a visit with my family. 

Rain Syndrome

The rainy days are back in Colombo after many many weeks of skin-burning sunny spells and heat waves that felt almost a far-away dessert.

This tropical island can ignite with lust of the orange sun and then snap into a cooling sensation with crystal rain drops plunging down from hasty clouds soothing the earth.

In Colombo, it may not be an exaggeration, if I write that showers are meant for rush hours! Yes, in the mornings when kids are stumbling to school and their folks are getting to work; rain makes no delay in battering the ground into the evenings and ofcourse those returning home.

The other day, opposite my home, I clicked a poor crow worriedly swinging on a cob-web of street lines not very pleased at the grey clouds rushing in carrying tons of water to pour!

The Climb to Victory

A good friend of mine lent me a beautiful book which she said was an immense source of support in bolstering her faith at a time of struggle. That’s the key to overcoming troubles-faith. It reminded me that we are not spared from storms, but He has promised to be with us through them. And He has been! "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

"My help comes in a variety of forms. It may not always come in the form you expect, but it will come. I will never leave you to struggle on your own. I can help your spirit rise above the storms of life."- FROM JESUS WITH LOVE - FOR TROUBLED TIMES. To me, it has also come in the form of humans whom I call human-angels; in the form of family, friends, colleagues and perhaps even strangers. I've shared two passages extracted from this wonderful book of assurance. 

The climb to victory

The rugged climb doesn't dissuade the determined mountain climber, he revels in the challenge. Nothing can stop him from pressing on until he reaches his goal. No adversity can cause him to turn back. When he looks at the steep cliffs ahead, he doesn't focus on the danger but on the toeholds and narrow rock ledges that will take him to the peak. He isn't held back by the harshness of his surroundings or the toll the climb is taking on his body; he is propelled onward and upward by the thought of triumph.

There are many obstacles to surmount in life, but each one you conquer is another one behind you. When the going gets tough, lean on Me. Let Me lead the way and guide you up the rugged cliffs. I know all the danger spots and how to get past them. Together we will surmount each obstacle, together we will reach the summit, and together we will plant the flag of victory. Follow Me!

Ever-present help

You can find comfort in knowing that good can come of anything and that I allow trials in your life not to make you misrable, but better. Still at times it is hard to be so philosophical-all you want is some relief! You don't want to hear, "All this is for your good" - you just want to be free of the problem.

I know how you feel. When I was on the cross, the pain was so excruciating that I just wanted it to be over. I kept reminding Myself that I was enduring this so that you and a whole world full of sinners like you could be brought to salvation. I knew it was worth it, but it was a supreme struggle to keep such altruistic thoughts foremost in My mind. In My Father's time, the suffering did cease and I was released into the spiritual realm where such agony could no longer touch Me, but what an ordeal that was!

At the time of My suffering, My Father could not intervene. I had to go through that for you. But now that I have, I am always there to help through your times of pain and suffering. I left Myself be separated from divine help for that time so you could always have it available. So hold on. The victory, comfort, and surcease from suffering will come.