"A meek endeavor to the triumph" by Sampath Jayarathna

Friday, June 26, 2009

Mobile Fun - Everything Mobile (web review)

When I saw the index page of the Mobile Fun web page, I thought OK, something is out of touch here, something makes the page bit odd? I guess the first two items which are on sale, the thumbnail of those icons are too big! I know those should be different from what on the bottom of the Latest products, but I feel they should be in similar size, and may be using different method to show out them as on sale? May be placing all of them in the same size and then use the on sale icon already in the page to make them special? May be a cool animation to pop them up several times when the page loads for the first time?

Another quick thought on the same on sale items. I thought those items are rotating, I mean they are changing every time someone refresh the page or log in. Seems to me those are just static continent? I guess only those 2 items, jabra bluetooth headsets, and other types of headsets on sale, plus nano Bluetooth dongle on sale are the only items in this category. If you just have few, why you want to pop them to show? It makes the site bit cheap.

I know there is a big demand for Bluetooth Headphones, bluetooth car kit and all those small gadgets. But most the people want to see, and like to see, some featured mobile phoned you have. This will give you a better view on the site and the items on the Mobile Fun page (just a thought). In my opinion, mobile gadgets are in second consideration, and first priority is for Mobile Phones, at least as a customer, thats what I’m looking for. First buy a mobile phone and then buy other gadget stuff. Why don’t you move all the featured mobile phones up on the list and then show the other accessories?

Another quick thought on the layout of the index page. There are lots of information on the left side panel, currently Mobile Fun page is listing all the Mobile accessories, and Sim free mobile phones with showing all available brand names. Personally its OK for me to have them in a drop down box and its easy to go through the phones that way. You are categorizing phones bases on the popularity I guess. But why don’t you have a drop down list and then put them in alphabetical order of the brand name? This makes easy for customers to find the item or the brand they want. And this will help Mobile Fun web to save some space on the side panel and use it for some other task.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

“The Man from Earth” – truly a remarkable movie………………..

Update (12/18/2011): I just watched the movie for the 10th time, and still enjoying it. And also I noticed my post is coming up higher in Google search and also, the Producer of the movie Eric D. Wilkinson had left a comment in this blog post :) suprise, suprise. Yes, as he mentioned, please buy a copy from Amazon, watch it and spread the word. This is truly a one of a kind movie. 


I just spend astonishing hour on watching this master piece. I’m thrilled and no words to say. Never saw a movie like this (except Da Vinci Code and National Treasure, both brilliant in their own way…..). This is the first time I watched a movie which plays in the same location without actions packed and tack ticks…….I liked how it speaks about Buddhism and how Christianity emerged from Buddhism……. 

Here’s a comment from its official page…….
...every so often you will see a film or hear a story that will take your breath away and leave you wondering...this is one of those stories. That said it is probably not for everyone. If you don't want your believes challenged you should probably stay away from this one. The film is all about the characters and their dialog, it is what makes or breaks the film, and I must say they did an excellent job, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, wanting to hear more. All this topped with great acting makes this a film really worth seeing.

It goes to show that you can make great films these days without explosions and killings...so simple yet so effective. Great movie!


The story plot from the Wiki……………….


The movie begins with Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) packing his belongings onto his truck preparing to move to a new home. His colleagues show up to give him an unexpected farewell party: Harry (John Billingsley, a biologist); Edith (Ellen Crawford, a fellow professor and devout Christian); Dan (Tony Todd, an anthropologist); and Sandy (Annika Peterson), a historian who is in love with John. Edith spots in John's belongings next to his truck an unknown Van Gogh painting of John's with the note "To my friend, Jacques Borne" on the back written in French. Once inside, his friends persistently ask John why he is leaving.


Another friend, Art Jenkins (William Katt), an archeologist, and his student Linda Murphy (Alexis Thorpe), arrive and John's friends continue to pressure him for the reason for his departure. John poses the question, "What if a man, from the Upper Paleolithic survived until the present day?" They assume that John is working on a science fiction story and play along with the discussion. As the film progresses, John slowly reveals that he is the "caveman" under discussion when he mentions that he was given a chance to sail with Christopher Columbus in the 15th century. The revelation starts off with John's recollection of the terrain of prehistoric Earth and John's origins, which happens to be roughly 14,000 years ago. John reveals that he was once Jacques Borne, a friend of Van Gogh's, and he is now "moving on" since some people have noticed his lack of aging.


As they take a break from the discussion, Art – who is concerned about John's sanity – telephones another friend, Dr. Will Gruber (Richard Riehle), an elderly psychologist, explaining the odd situation and asks him to come over right away. In the meantime, Sandy confesses to John that she loves him, but John tells her they can never be together because of his immortality. John resumes his story by stating that he was once a Sumerian for 2000 years, then a Babylonian under Hammurabi, and finally a disciple of Gautama Buddha. Dr. Gruber arrives, at which point Dan mentions that John's tale is as impossible to be disproved as it is to be verified, a response to the many attempts to poke holes in John's story by his colleagues. The discussion takes a turn into the biological and physical condition of John and the topic of death. Gruber propels the discussion deeper into the topic of death and tension rises as Gruber interrogates John on that subject. The tension culminates with Gruber pointing a gun at John. After the drama ends with the departure of Gruber, Harry reveals that Gruber's wife has died the day before and the profession of John's immortality had hit Gruber very hard. Art and Edith are upset with John's story, while Harry, Dan, Sandy, and Linda appear to be more sympathetic.

John also mentions that he is not a follower of a particular religion, and he doesn't believe in an omnipotent God. John's audience is shocked when he reveals how he survived the crucifixion when he was Jesus by "blocking the pain", a technique he learned in India. He explains the origin of the Resurrection, Moses, and other events and people in the Bible. Tempers and emotions rise as Edith pressures John to recant his story, which offends her deep-rooted faith in the Bible. Dr. Gruber returns to the scene and apologizes to John for his "infantile behavior". As John continues to pack his belongings onto the truck, his colleagues begin to talk about the possibility of John being mentally ill or high on drugs.


The discussions of John being Jesus, Christianity, and the Bible continue and Edith, unable to take John's tale anymore, breaks down crying. Emotions in the room run high. Gruber takes charge of the situation and sternly demands that John end his "high tale" and give closure to the story; he threatens John with the possibility of locking him up for observation. John apologizes to everyone and, as he doesn't want to further upset any of his friends, he tells them that all he just told them is just a story.


As each of John's friends leave, John apologizes to Harry and Edith, while Art and Linda leave without many parting words. When it is Dan's turn to say goodbye, it is hinted that Dan believes John's story. After everyone but Dr. Gruber and Sandy has left, Dr. Gruber overhears John relating to Sandy some of the other pseudonyms he has used over the years. One used over 60 years ago was the name of Gruber's father, a chemistry professor from Harvard, who had left the family. Gruber, shocked and over-excited, suffers a heart attack and dies. After Gruber's body is taken away, the movie ends with Sandy walking towards John (sitting in his truck); at the last minute he changes his mind to spend some part of his life with her.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Cricket without Cricket........awsome video......

Another awesome video!

This is what I like about Sri Lankan Cricket…….simple, fun and no aggression at all……..People, Players, and everybody around enjoying the movement. If we lose the match, that’s not the end of the world,
we never throw stones at cricketers homes,
we never throw stuff to the ground (including bottles, trash, bill boards….) when the other team is winning,
we never lit things and try to burn the anger due to a lost…….
we used to say “those buggers lost……what to do……they are not good now……….may be next match……..”. That’s all………..that’s what we called Island Cricket………
Cheers Sri Lankan Cricket……………..


Friday, June 12, 2009

We found the next unorthodox cricketer…….guess who?

We got all sort of unorthodox cricket players at international level (Sri Lanka). Recently, we found the final quite unorthodoxy with the fielding too.

Here’s a remarkable piece of fielding by Angelo Mathews, a definite six, or may be a four, but finally it was unimaginable react and stop by young cricketer. Great job…………thumbs up, Sri Lankan cricket…………..

It’s not fair, if we forget all other unconventional Sri Lankan players……..

Sanath Jayasuriya
Master blaster…….remember what happen to Indian bowler Manoj Prabhakar ……..?

Lasith Malinga
One and only one with 4 wickets………..and the hair cut too..

Muttiah Muralitharan
Best bowler ever……….

Ajantha Mendis
Variation in bowling………….

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Roshan Mahanama
Outstanding fielding (still Jonty Rhodes is the #01)

Asanka Gurusinghe
Slowest batting……(we used to hate this guy….)

Not sure we can put Angelo to this list yet……but hopefully he will for sure, later on…………


Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Nanotube chip could store data for a billion years....

Time for a terabytes, probably petabytes pen drive!

Researchers have demonstrated a form of archive memory using carbon nanotubes that can theoretically store a trillion bits of data per square inch for a billion years.

The technology could easily be incorporated into today's silicon processing systems and it could be available in the next two years, a lead researcher said.

The scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California said the new technology can potentially pack thousands of times more data into one square inch of space than today's chips.

"We've developed a new mechanism for digital memory storage that consists of a crystalline iron nanoparticle shuttle enclosed within the hollow of a multiwalled carbon nanotube," said physicist Alex Zettl, who led this research.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

No more Kwai Chang Caine (Kung Fu) , Actor David Carradine found hanged in his luxury hotel room in Bangkok

Actor David Carradine, star of the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" who also had a wide-ranging career in the movies, has been found dead in the Thai capital, Bangkok. A news report said he was found hanged in his hotel room and was believed to have committed suicide.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, confirmed the death of the 72-year-old actor. He said the embassy was informed by Thai authorities that Carradine died either late Wednesday or early Thursday, but he could not provide further details out of consideration for his family.

The Web site of the Thai newspaper The Nation cited unidentified police sources as saying Carradine was found Thursday hanged in his luxury hotel room.

It said Carradine was in Bangkok to shoot a movie and had been staying at the hotel since Tuesday.
The newspaper said Carradine could not be contacted after he failed to appear for a meal with the rest of the film crew on Wednesday, and that his body was found by a hotel maid at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. The name of the movie was not immediately available.


It said a preliminary police investigation found that he had hanged himself with a cord used with the room's curtains. It cited police as saying he had been dead at least 12 hours and there was no sign that he had been assaulted.

A police officer at Bangkok's Lumpini precinct station would not confirm the identity of the dead man, but said the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park hotel had reported that a male guest killed himself there.
Carradine was a leading member of a venerable Hollywood acting family that included his father, character actor John Carradine, and brother Keith.

In all, he appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. One of his prominent early film roles was as singer Woody Guthrie in Ashby's 1976 biopic "Bound for Glory."

But he was best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest traveling the 1800s American frontier West in the TV series "Kung Fu," which aired in 1972-75.He reprised the role in a mid-1980s TV movie and played Caine's grandson in the 1990s syndicated series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues."He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill."The character, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates.In "Kill Bill — Vol. 2," released in 2004, Thurman's character comes face to face again with Bill himself. The role brought Carradine a Golden Globe nomination as best supporting actor.

Bill was a complete contrast to his TV character Kwai Chang Caine, the soft-spoken refugee from a Shaolin monastery, serenely spreading wisdom and battling bad guys in the Old West. He left after three seasons, saying the show had started to repeat itself.
After "Kung Fu," Carradine starred in the 1975 cult flick "Death Race 2000." He starred with Liv Ullmann in Bergman's "The Serpent's Egg" in 1977 and with his brothers in the 1980 Western "The Long Riders."But after the early 1980s, he spent two decades doing mostly low-budget films. Tarantino's films changed that. "All I've ever needed since I more or less retired from studio films a couple of decades ago ... is just to be in one," Carradine told The Associated Press in 2004.
"There isn't anything that Anthony Hopkins or Clint Eastwood or Sean Connery or any of those old guys are doing that I couldn't do," he said. "All that was ever required was somebody with Quentin's courage to take and put me in the spotlight." One thing remained a constant after "Kung Fu": Carradine's interest in Oriental herbs, exercise and philosophy. He wrote a personal memoir called "Spirit of Shaolin" and continued to make instructional videos on tai chi and other martial arts.
In the 2004 interview, Carradine talked candidly about his past boozing and narcotics use, but said he had put all that behind him and stuck to coffee and cigarettes. "I didn't like the way I looked, for one thing. You're kind of out of control emotionally when you drink that much. I was quicker to anger."


"You're probably witnessing the last time I will ever answer those questions," Carradine said. "Because this is a regeneration. It is a renaissance. It is the start of a new career for me.


"It's time to do nothing but look forward."

Omio - Ultimate Phone Comparison Site (Web review)

When I looked at the Omio web for the first time, I felt something wrong with the color selection for the outer background. “Sky blue” is nice, I like it as a color, but for the Omio web site, I guess its not a matching one. I’m thinking may be little bit dark color, or may be the outer color of the “MS word” window I’m using, which I guess a better choice for the Omio? Another quick thing, I guess the orange on Omio logo and sky blue is not a good match, I guess even any blue is not a matching color for orange.

OK, no fancy menu? I mean at least something bit bigger or taller than currently has in Home, Deals, and Phones…….menu? I felt no connection when I looked at it due to a short (I mean the size) menu and probably something better needs to be selected for it. If you look at the T-Mobile web site, you will understand what I’m trying to say. There should be at least one inch title section, for a better impression on viewer, which should consists of the Logo, Title menu, join, login, About page. And also may be option to show the page in a different language. Another quick thought, its better if Omio can develop their own search rather the Google custom search. This makes the site bit cheaper.

When you come to Mobile phone deals, Omio did a great job by creating sliders with information. I guess even big companies like T-Mobile, or At&T wants to see this, thumbs up, and good job Omio.

The section where the Mobile phones news, I feel its bit congest, and longer for any customer. If Omio wants to give Mobile Phones information, better choose something related. If you really want to have this in your page, a better choice is a one line news page with (may be a flash box) with rotating or flashing news. Same thing for the Latest Mobile phone reviews section, where some reviews on phones like Nokia Phones, Sony Ericsson etc is handled. If you can reduce this space, you can provide better information for your customers.

Do you really need the left panel to show that information? There is a better choice already by making it with colorful Browse by Mobile Phone Deals on the Omio index page. I feel it’s repetitive, and better use it for some other thing. I guess Omio choose it as a standard, but there is no particular need to have a left panel in your page for navigation.


As a suggestion, Omio can show more mobile phones in the index (not just 5) by removing the news and review section, and this will attract more customers, because they are here to look at mobile phones they like. If they want to hear news or reviews they will choose the Mobile phone they want to hear. Then you can start providing reviews and news on them.