Today was the last day for Bill Gates as a full time employee at Microsoft Corporation, and I’m sure it would have been an emotional day for almost everyone who had Bill as a friend, colleague, and as a mentor like Steve Ballmer.

I was watching them speak today via a webcast, and it was so fun to watch them talking about their older Harvard stories, and how they got together again. Steve was all the way telling that he just had belief on Bill’s vision, and he just believed him and stayed with Microsoft.

I’m sure you’d have already watched this video, but here is it – his last day video – it was created with fun, and character which typically shows what a person Bill is (with some fun note of course).

You can also watch some of his videos here.

For me as a Microsoftie it is a very hard feeling to think that Bill Gates is no more a full time employee, but he leaves his Microsoft Empire which was built from his vision and dream to some safe hands like Steve Ballmer, Ray Ozzie, Craig Mundie, et al.

I just wanted to say this to you Bill - “This world still needs your vision and dream to make some poor child just born in some remote corner of this world to get proper food, education, and healthy life. Good luck!”

I should admit that I was totally against this tweets – short messages or blogs. I never thought that it’d become this huge.

Here is my Twitter page – http://twitter.com/rakkimk

Although not sure about its reach in India, it has a wide spread in US. I was an early adopter of this, but stopped using this. I should admit that I was too lazy to use this when this started, and I didn’t understand that this is just for those lazy bloggers who want to blog, but too lazy to blog.

It is very easy to let the world know what you do – through web, sms, mobile web, et al. You can follow people, and know what’s up with them – stay connected with them.

And, also I found this not only useful for a lazy blogger like me, but also for some who might want to blog later, but wanted to keep a track of what’s going on. For example, I posted the below tweets when I was going for a party on Sunday night.

crashed in bed after an awesome party.. it was gr8, had loads of fun 01:14 AM June 23, 2008 from web

reached d party... waiting for my friends to join 06:56 PM June 22, 2008 from web

slow movind traffic only in d signal.. roads were free.. reaching venue.. the grand ashok 06:48 PM June 22, 2008 from web

slow moving traffic near mekhri circle 06:46 PM June 22, 2008 from web

going on cab to the party! should be fun there 06:36 PM June 22, 2008 from web

This allows me to get my memory refreshed, so that I can compile a long post on what happened there (but, I won’t do it :-)). In fact, I tried to do this for the entire party – but, I felt I can’t do this on a party where I would have a good time, and can’t update it every now and then which would spoil the fun of the party. So, I stopped tweeting using my HTC touch (IE), and involved myself into the party where I had loads of fun.

I know this is little too much, but I loved that tattoo and my pose :) Between the party went off very well, and it had some exciting announcements too. Check out Jigar’s post for more.

I would soon upload the photos, and an awesome video :-) Neha Bhasin from Viva group really rocked the floor, and almost everybody were on their foots. It was fun, and a great way to welcome the new FY09.

| RM

It does a lot like this.... http://infosysblogs.com/. Specific on MSFT technologies.. http://infosysblogs.com/microsoft

I don’t know if any other Indian IT company does similar to that. I might be wrong. Do you know of any other one?

Here are a few of my videos which I took in Tanjore Big Temple. It’s an awesome site, and I still feel the excitement when I think about this great temple, and its marvelous architecture.

 
Video: Tanjore BIG Temple

 
Video: Tanjore BIG Temple

 
Video: Tanjore BIG Temple

 
Video: Tanjore - Big temple

If you are watching closely the news about Phoenix Mars lander, here are few official links which has images, videos sent from the Mars lander.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/main.php

and, this is interesting..

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/images.php?fileID=11046

Is that Ice? I think we'd start occupying Mars soon - a human colony in Mars. Does humans need another place to settle down since Earth has become so crowded?

Although I enjoy, read, share all these Space exploration information, I do not agree to the fact that we humans (as whole - be it USA, UK, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, or even India) spend a lot of money on these space explorations but not concentrating on the real world issues like poverty, illiteracy, diseases, natural calamities, et al.

Who's listening?

I wanted to visit this great temple for a long time. I've heard about this temple a lot, and wanted to be there to enjoy the marvelous architecture of this Chola temple. What a gigantic gopuram it has! It was awesome, breath taking! I've never visited any place in my life which excited me this much. It was an wonderful feeling when I started walking into this temple, but came out with a different feeling. Read on to know that.

I'll say less about this temple which has been said already very briefly here. But, one thing which I wanted to mention is - the below pictures.

And, this one..

And this one..

I should say that the temple is very badly maintained, and losing all its charm. Strange thing is there is no dustbins kept inside the temple, and the people are just putting all the waste (eatables, papers, etc) inside the temple itself (on the grass grounds inside). I don't know whether you can keep dustbins inside temple, but it should help. At least the people should be advised not to litter inside the temple.

I see a lot of people trying to build many new temples, but who thinks of maintaining the existing temples? I heard there is a new golden temple constructed near Vellore. Is that really needed to spend a lot of money to build temples, if you can't maintain the existing temples? That too a historical temple like this one. This left me with a sick feeling once I came out of the temple.

Who's listening?

IPL was a great tournament overall, and I miss it everyday now. It was a long 6 week tournament, with 1 match everyday, and 2 matches on the weekends. It was all fun, entertainment, color, and of course cricket.

In the end, the team which I supported from the very beginning of this tournament finished 2nd only to Rajasthan Royals. I should say that Chennai Superkings deserved to win, but in the end it was Rajasthan which won a cliffhanger.

All said and done, it was a great tournament over all, and surely being missed. Waiting for the next season - IPL'09. Till then, Peace out!