updates

I have been horribly delinquent on this blog but in order to push some of the other posts down I am doing this random list of thoughts:

1. MySQL is way faster when you take out the MySQL part.  And you can use it both ways.  So all you NoSQL people let it go.
2. I completed my master's thesis at the beginning of September (a system called Dixie), and submitted a paper to Eurosys which probably won't get in, but that's ok!
3. Despite that, I am not quitting grad school, so everyone stop asking me when I'm leaving.
4. I have seen the following artists recently:  Sinden, Rusko, Crystal Castles, Holy Fuck (twice), Caribou, the Drums, Sleigh Bells, LCD Soundsystem (twice), Four Tet (twice),  Miike Snow, El Ten Eleven, !!!, Die Antwoord, Deadmau5, and Connector (friends' band).
5. After months of auditioning, I bought a pair of kickass new speakers, a new amplifier and a DAC which probably deserves its own post.  I am officially an audiophile.  My soundsystem is amazing and I love it.
6. I just got back from a week long trip to SF and it was fantastic.  I stayed with Niniane which was awesome (slumber party!) and realized that I could live there again.  There are so many things I love and hate about San Francisco.  Hard decisions in my future!
7. I'm going to India for three weeks in November.  New Delhi for most of the time, Goa, and then either Rajasthan or Mumbai.  Advice on SIM cards and internet connectivity would be greatly appreciated!
8. I am trying to figure out what new computers to buy.  I want a very lightweight laptop, and am thinking one of the new Macbook Airs pending reviews.  But then I also want some kind of home server/media center, and I'm not sure if I should buy one of those little boxes or get a massively powerful linux server or what.

finally learning how to cook indian food

So I made one of my favorites, baingan bharta. Or as I like to call it, bangin' berta.

Onions, garlic, jalapeno, and tomatoes. The base for any indian sabji.

roasted eggplant.  I baked it in the toaster oven for 45 minutes at 450 degrees.  I think it could've gone a little longer.

the mush

done! By the way, this is the first time i have EVER COOKED INDIAN FOOD by myself.  I only had to call my parents from the grocery store and beforehand to get the recipe :).  Not bad.

Edit:  Here's the requested recipe.

1.  Bake 1 large or 2 medium sized eggplants in the oven at 450 for 45 minutes to an hour.  Poke holes in them first to vent, and line the tray with aluminum foil because they will leak a lot.  My dad wanted me to roast them over an open stove flame for 30 minutes but I used the toaster oven which was way easier.  When it's done remove the skin and mush/chop it all up.

2.  Chop up 2 onions (I did 1.5), 2 tomatoes, 3 cloves of garlic, and 1 jalapeno pepper

3.  Add a few tablespoons of oil to a pot, brown the onions.  At the halfway point add the garlic and continue browning.

4.  Add the tomatoes and jalapeno, stir and cook for a few minutes

5.  Add (this is really rough) salt to taste (half a teaspoon?), half a teaspoon of tumeric, and however much red pepper you want

6.  Add the eggplant.  Cook for a little while longer, stirring frequently.  Add some garam masala at the end and garnish with cilantro if you have it.  Done!  Serve with naan, roti, pitas, or rice.

fat robot

I am going to rename this blog "crazy shit my family says"

Megan: my friend has an android next to their name

  ODES THAT MEAN THEY ARE GCHATTING FROM THE NEXUS

 me: or an android like yours

 Megan: DO I GET AN ANDROID

  WHEN I AM GHATTING FROM THERE

9:47 PM me: yes

 Megan: OMG

  OMG

 me: oh dear.

 Megan: I DO

 me: well try it now

 Megan: why didn't you tell me

  ok

  i signed in

  but i'm also online on my comp

  which does it choose

  HAVE YOU SEEN AN ANDROID NEXT TO ME

 me: sign off your comp

  no.

9:48 PM Megan: it won't sign me in

  for some reason

  something is wrong :(

 me: well fix it.

 Megan: omg i want an android

  next to my name

  he is so CUTE

  do you see any

 me: no.

9:49 PM oh, any?

  yes

 Megan: oh

 me: i see 2

  currently.

 Megan: there is an option to show mobile indicator to friends

  perhaps that is it

9:51 PM me: well?

  did you do it?

 Megan: no

  phone is unhappy

 me: no android for you.

  there is an android on the back of my nexus

  waving a flag

 Megan: i know

  i have one too

  he is fat

 me: with a FLAG?

 Megan: ok now i'm on

  NOW I"M ON

  WHAT DOES IT SAY

 me: and a qcode

  you are a fat robot.

9:52 PM Megan: I AM

  I AM

  !!!!!!!!!!!!

  !!!!!!!!

  AM I REALLY

  don't lie

 me: yes.

 Megan: sawweeeeeeeeeeeet

 me: how do i take a screen shot on a mac?

 Megan: i dunno

  oh man

  this is awesome

  how come i'm not a fat robot on my screen

kind of disturbed

My dad:

my car
2 messages

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Neha Narula	Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 2:55 PM
To: anarulamd
is on its way!!! also, i lost my MIT id a few weeks ago and had to get another one, and i just found the old one.  do you want it? neha

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arun narula	Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 2:58 PM
To: Neha Narula
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS [Quoted text hidden] -- Arun Narula