Friday, February 25, 2005
the xalam to xalan!
heard of xalan.jar?? the java jar file u use alongwith xercesImpl.jar for xml parsing and other stuff .. ever wondered where the weird sounding name came from? here it is .. it originated from the "xalam" - a west african (senegal, to be precise) stringed instrument (http://www.geocities.com/jbenhill/xalam.html) .. just like other jargon in the java world, which includes the word "java" itself (some noteworthy others being apache, xerces, geronimo, jakarta, lenya, struts, batik and so on), this too has some good history behind it .. now why the javagurus choose such weirdo names is a mystery to me .. but it's nice to have some history behind such things .. it takes ur mind off the mundane (read 'coding and designing') and once in a while delve into west african jungles or martian soils!
Friday, February 11, 2005
Valentine!
Does this always happen? I mean, to everybody who’s in love and is desperately thinking of some sweet nothing to give to his loved one? Well, it’s happened to me, on more than one occasion. Last year same time and this year, now.
Okay, so is it going to be boring 1-800-FLOWERS? Or just go round the corner to QuickChek and pick up something that she’d like? Walk her hand in hand to the lakeside on Valentine’s morning and hand her a bunch of flaming red roses and a warm hug? I think the latter would be welcomed more on these wintry mornings! Alright alright .. What have we here?
- A box of Godiva chocolates with a bunch of red roses? Or ..
- A cuddly teddy and tulips-in-a-vase? Or ..
- Dinner and movie followed by a night of violent lovemaking? Or ..
- All the above?
God save me! Am I bad at these things! Or should I like a dumbass go and ask her what she likes most? Perhaps even give her these choices, just in case she’s one too. At this rate I’ll wake up on the fourteenth to a sweet little kiss and a bye-bye just like any other morning. Well, I’m not complaining about all these mornings. They’re as good as love gets, believe me! But, St.Valentine destined this day to be different, didn’t he?
I’m sure two more days will pass and I still wouldn’t have decided what exactly to do. I’d rather sit back, listen to some light music, and relax. We’re still on the threshold of a life spread anew, king-size, just for us. Looking back on the times we jumped with joy, kissed with passion, and cried with trust. And looking fondly into the future, thinking – of forgotten footsteps by the seaside, of candle-lit dinners atop revolving restaurants, of misty morning walks with Bozo in tow, of across-the-country car drives, of graying hair and the woods, of Salsa and Merengue. All, of course, sitting on my bean-bag with her in my arms. Oh, St.Valentine! Where art thou?!
Okay, so is it going to be boring 1-800-FLOWERS? Or just go round the corner to QuickChek and pick up something that she’d like? Walk her hand in hand to the lakeside on Valentine’s morning and hand her a bunch of flaming red roses and a warm hug? I think the latter would be welcomed more on these wintry mornings! Alright alright .. What have we here?
- A box of Godiva chocolates with a bunch of red roses? Or ..
- A cuddly teddy and tulips-in-a-vase? Or ..
- Dinner and movie followed by a night of violent lovemaking? Or ..
- All the above?
God save me! Am I bad at these things! Or should I like a dumbass go and ask her what she likes most? Perhaps even give her these choices, just in case she’s one too. At this rate I’ll wake up on the fourteenth to a sweet little kiss and a bye-bye just like any other morning. Well, I’m not complaining about all these mornings. They’re as good as love gets, believe me! But, St.Valentine destined this day to be different, didn’t he?
I’m sure two more days will pass and I still wouldn’t have decided what exactly to do. I’d rather sit back, listen to some light music, and relax. We’re still on the threshold of a life spread anew, king-size, just for us. Looking back on the times we jumped with joy, kissed with passion, and cried with trust. And looking fondly into the future, thinking – of forgotten footsteps by the seaside, of candle-lit dinners atop revolving restaurants, of misty morning walks with Bozo in tow, of across-the-country car drives, of graying hair and the woods, of Salsa and Merengue. All, of course, sitting on my bean-bag with her in my arms. Oh, St.Valentine! Where art thou?!
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