History of Computer

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/01/25/the-wonderful-world-of-early-computing/

Reykjavik Hits 22 degree

Isn´t it amazing Reykjavik city had 22 degree last week ? In my three years,in iceland, this is the highest temperature I witnessed. Complete sunny day with such a high temperature is something unusual in Iceland - Perhaps this is due to Global warming !!! But Iceland sure had a wonderful summer at least for a day or two recently.

In earlier post I had mentioed, Iceland have three month for summer and if lucky we get summer like this. Most of the time weather been very frustating and hostile. But tempreature like this has certainly welcomed Icelanders to enjoy, get more tann and travell across the country. Fisherman holiday which is also regarded as Bank Holiday Monday in Iceland is next weekned. People had already started travelling across the country to witnesss more hot temprature and off course celebrate Bank holiday - "Verslunarmannahelgi".

New Bike

Since my older bike got stolen I have been looking for cheap, best and reliable bike to ride for summer and use to go to work, Finally I found the bike I was looking for. Yes, I brought it today.

Although I am not sure this is good bike or not but it was in sale with affordable price so I took a chance. Well, perhaps this bike might not suit for professional but this will do for me - I guess.

Now, my plan is stop using car for this summer to go to work instead use my new bike. Lets hope weather will also permit my plan during this summer.

Holiday in "Spain"

I have been on holiday for two weeks hence some delay in posts. Hot temprature is really not for me espically 29 degree to 30 degree but I choose to go to there anyway. "Tenerif", a small island in spain which we choose for this year´s holiday. This was my family holiday so every moment we had a tremendous time there.

"Las Americas", the city in Tenerif where we stayed and is a very famous for toursit destination. Beach was just minutes walk from our aparatment, swimming poor was in next door. Everything was in walking distacnce which added more flexibility in do much thigns. The capital of Tenerif "Santa Cruz" - I wish I should not have gone. I wasted money in taxi all the way to see execiment but was nothing there and everythign was closed at the time.

Dolphin show was the amazing, fasicating and very intersting trip I had ever been. What a animal is this!! I had never been in such a trip but in spain - even that tempreature I went to see such a lovely animal with artistic show.

" Rain in Spain never happens" - the pharse I always heard proved me worng. Remaiing last two of our holiday weather been very bad - bit of rain and cloudy. Temperature was still 24. Local resident marked as very cold weather in the island. Well they yet to visit Iceland druing winter.

Republic of Nepal

Two hundred fifty years monarchy is now over and the "Royals" are deleted from Nepal´s chapter. The newly elected constitution assembly declared Nepal as "Republic of Nepal". Kingdom of Nepal is now just a history. Ex- Royals are now normal citizen of Nepal.

However outcome of new constitution and "New Nepal" is yet be observed. It will be tough exercise to build new Nepal but, however if they exercise properly it will be achieved.

Earthquake in Reykjavik

I was at work (29th of May) discussing with colleague how wonderful weather been this week. Suddenly tremor started. Chairs, desk, computers and whole house shaking crazily. That lasted for very short time about 5-10 seconds. Everyone went outside for safe. Later I gathered it was 6.7 Richter scale earthquake started from near by city Selfoss. Although this was very short and did not damage heavily but did destroy in small scale. Thank god no casualty. If this was for more than 5-10 seconds it would have certainly destroy a lot - God bless. Recently China had slightly bigger than this but for longer time - that has killed million people and damage very roughly.

Walking in ESJA (Asia) Mountain

Weather was beautiful last Saturday. I decided to go to walk Esja Mountain, pronounced as Asia, which is located outskirt of Reykjavik. ESJA Mountain is just 914 meters high. While walking up to the mountain it remind me going to my village back home where there are no roads but walking for 3 hours to get our cousin’s house. I estimated hour and half for up and down. I started at 13:22 and reached at the top at 14:20, took me an hour. I was in my Jeans trouser otherwise would have reached on the top earlier than hour ;). It was not for set the record however. It took me while to come down due to Elías - I had to help him all the way down. He was really tried and pain in his legs. There were two path which is also called easy path (longer way) and difficult path (shorter way). I took the shorter way. I had to leave Elías way down as he was struggling to walk - understandable he is just 10 years old. But at least he tried.

I enjoyed this walking all the way up. The view from the mountain was magnificent and even from the top Reykjavik was simply fantastic. This was my first mountain walk in Iceland. I wanted to stay bit more on the top but crazy cold wind forced not me to stay longer but two minutes.

Phulchoki - the mountain 2829m/ 9050ft. high which surrounds the valley of Kathmandu - The place I come from and the capital of Nepal. People stands a good chance of scaling the peak in less than three hours.

It was a tremendous enjoyment and experience walking up to ESJA Mountain. There are twenty nine mountains in Iceland and the highest one is 2111 Meters, called "Hvannadalshnjukur", 2nd highest is 2,000 Meters. Twenty three (23) of them in between 1,999 to 1,000 Meters and four are between 767 to 998 Meters. I will try to conquer some of the mountain this summer if weather favours.

Pictures

Eurovison

Eurovision song contest is very famous once a year in Europe, especially Eastern Europe and Nordic countries. Although England competes every year but this show has never been popular in UK. While I lived in London for seven years I did not hear about the programme until I moved to Iceland. Perhaps English premiership has dominated and sidelined this programme. This year Russia managed to grab the first place with comfortable vote from across the Europe. I am not a great music fan but there were other songs deserve to win - I guess.

Eurovision is something special event in Iceland too. People prepare to watch this program ahead and organize parties with friends & family. Roads are empty – off course whole nation eager to see their country performing and desperate to vote others. You can see hardly any transport on the road - "clean environment". Some cyclist quoted “Best day for cycling”. Sadly Iceland did not manage to come in top ten -perhaps next year and good luck to them.

New Nepal and Politics of Nepal

Politics in Nepal been always unstable and somehow politicians never did the real politics. It’s sad to see country going back rather forward for development. After years in jungle fighting for their ideology "Maoist" won the majority of seat in constitution election recently. Despite their "terrorist tag" by US, Maoist winning majority seat not only surprised Nepali people but it has surprised whole international community. Nepalese voted them not because they are rebels, moist or so but one can certainly think this is due to frustration of what other major parties did in the past when they were in government. Maoist has now opportunity to prove themselves that they actually differ from others. It will be difficult for them to work under those circumstances but this time Nepalese people voted them to re-build the New Nepal. Thousands of lives had lost during the insurgency.

For me and perhaps many Nepalese, whoever comes in the government - they should exercise clean politics, bring development agenda and off course keep the country peace. Let’s be positive and hopeful that they will do something new and make real "New Nepal" otherwise they knows Nepali people will not tolerate.

Summer started - A special day!

Today is a special day in Iceland and a national holiday. It is not something religious, milestones or spiritual holiday but its a celebration of official summer start. Summer is very short in Iceland(Approximately three month) and perhaps applies to other Nordic countries too. Winter is very long and daylight is very short, on top snow, heavy rain, strong wind and aggressive thunders.
So, this day is marked to welcome the summer - at least for three month people can enjoy SUN. 24 hour daylight also begins from this day. City is busy with full of activities and people exchanging their happy summer wish to their friends, family and loved ones.

Happy Summer!!

Language Skill Test

Although I took very few hours in learning Icelandic but being around with native Icelanders and my own effort to talk in Icelandic I realized that my language skills has also improved. So, I decided to take a test if I am really acquiring at least minimum knowledge on this. Today I went to place called FJÖLMENNING to measure my language skills. Initially they said it will take more than an hour and off course I was very scared because I only had very basic knowledge. I was confident that I will fail the test. On top it has a three series of test Listening, writing and speaking. But surprisingly I finished all the test in less than half an hour and got "PASSED". I was so happy to get at least pass. In the past I had given up many times to learn this language but having sitting in this test has alerted me that my languague skills has progressed unknowingly. Now I can actually say "I can speak Icelandic", not like native Icelanders however.

Shiva Ratri - Smoke Free

Today - a day to remember in hindu countries "Shiva Ratri" and public holiday in Nepal. Shiva - the name of God, Ratri means evening. So, it refers to God´s Evening. A hindu festival celebrated widely in Nepal & India every year. On this day smoking marijuana is almost acceptable. Here is the link for more

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri

"Jai Sambhoo Kailash Pati" - a phrase uses for this God

University Student Again

I have been exploring all the possibilities to do some kind of degree program that will help in my further studies particularly in research. Choices in Iceland are very limited and sometimes barrier to take such programme due to language skills. Recently I visited my old university in London and meet all my lectures, professors and co-workers. It is always nice to meet them. As I spoke to one of my professor about my interest in research. Interestingly LSBU is starting a new degree programme from this summer which fulfill my desire and help in my other circumstances for example travel etc. Entry requirements is Master degree and several years experience in the area you will be doing research. Professor confirmed for the entry this summer and am very excited to start. This will be collaboration between my work and LSBU. Beginning of May I will be writing research proposal and begin my field of interest. If everything goes well end of the programme I will be awarded Msc in Research. This will off course open door for me if I ever wants to do PhD.

A Computer

I found this machine at my work´s library room. Was playing with this small computer, I actually liked it. Introduced in 1984, weight 3.8Lbs, CPU 80c85, 2.4 MHZ with 32K, 64 Max, bar code reader, 300 Baud Modem and 40X8 Character display. OS Microsoft Basic v1.1 in ROM. It works perfectly fine and perhaps it was the great device at the time. Imagine today with 2 GB RAM, 200 GB storage, 2.5 GHz with L2 cache with extensive audio video, how fast things can be done - shall I say this is technology revolution ? Yes it is. Application require more memory, cpu speed and storage so normal configuration like this is beyond the scope today. Faster faster - don´t know how fast it will be in next 5 to 10 years time. old stuff can be found here .

http://oldcomputers.net

American Pie - The song I always fan of

Not long ago, Valberg used to tease me because I always pick up this song when we used to Karaoke. Not only him perhaps some of my other friends are also irritated when I sing this song but whatever they feel, I just love this song since I was at school.

Many song writers inspired by something as Don MacLean inspired by memories of the death of Buddy Holly in 1959. This song is one of the best ever and still played in many many pubs, clubs and parties.